Issue link: https://digital.insidegolfmedia.com/i/1334149
INSIDER Q&A > click here to visit travelin' Joe online ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 by a beer-drinking donkey – played with 47 different archi- tects and with a fistful of athletes and celebrities. But as my 7th grade math teacher told me while I was struggling with a multiple choice test, "Go with your first instinct." So, what comes to mind immediately is when I was paired with Tiger Woods for the opening of his first course design, Diamante's El Cardonal in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I beat him on the first hole. After he hooked his drive into the desert, he wound up lip- ping out for par. I bunted a drive down the middle, struck a shaky 8-iron to 10 feet and even though I was choking beyond descrip- tion, I managed to two-putt. I was one up on Tiger Woods after one. It can't get much better than that. uuu can you tell us about your website, travelinJoegolf.com? In 2021, I plan on spending more time with my site, TravelinJoe- Golf.com. There's so much to cover out there, from new courses to design trends to travel opening up again. I definitely want to make my website a go-to place for folks seeking entertaining and inform- ative takes on courses, resorts, history and design. uuu the west coast swing is right around the corner. what makes each of these courses worthy of a pga tour event? PGA West: Pete Dye's 1986 West Coast answer to Sawgrass is less terror-inducing to the pros than it was in its big-hair '80s heyday, but it remains a formida- ble challenge, thanks to its arse- nal of nightmarishly deep bunkers, Vail ski-hill moguls and exacting carries over water and desert. Torrey Pines: The city-owned, cliff-top South course may boast stunning Pacific Ocean vistas, but it's the breeze-fueled length of 7,600 yards that renders the layout a straightforward, if brutish quality that severely tests the game's best players. TPC Scottsdale: The largest, most raucous galleries on Tour create a circus-like atmosphere that forces players to find an- other level in order to thrive. It also features two sensational risk-reward holes down the stretch, the island-green par-5 15th and the drivable par-4 17th that amp up the drama every year. Pebble Beach: One hundred years of history alone makes it worthy of PGA Tour glory, but it's the ocean holes and the tiny greens that place a demand on shotmaking that yield one of the greatest tests the pros face. Riviera Country Club: The baffling kikuyu grass that grabs shots like Velcro, the tough holes that play into the afternoon west winds, the Tour's best short risk- reward hole, the par-4 10th, and the memorable par-4 18th that concludes in an amphitheater with a spectacular hillside club- house make Riviera one of the most loved and respected PGA Tour courses. national treasures w e asked Travelin' Joe: What are your top five courses na- tionwide and why? 1) cypress point club. Wind, waves, deer, gnarled Cypress trees and near-isolation make walking this layout a spiritual experience. 2) shinnecock hills. Heaving, links-like undulations, a seaside set- ting, and a remarkably varied rout- ing make this the greatest tournament course in America. 3) augusta national golf club. The aura of playing here is nearly overwhelming, but its friendly width, stunning beauty and risk-reward challenges that make it as enjoyable for the weekend player as for the pros might be impossible to top. 4) pebble beach golf links. With its unparalleled collection of bluff- top oceanside holes, there is no more exhilarating course to play. 5) pine valley golf club. Even though it's not my favorite to play in my top 5 because of its relentless, target-style difficulty, this is the best course of the bunch in my opinion because it features the greatest number of memorable holes. all-time top 5 WATCH! Travelin' Joe recounts a story about caddying for Jack Nicklaus in Los Cabos, Mexico – until being replaced by a beer-drinking donkey. .............................................................................................................