For Old Times Sake

by marktwainwhite on December 28, 2010

There is good news and not so good news about Holly Kai Golf, folks. The good news is that golf will be free beginning immediately and last until January 8, 2011. So get out your clubs, clean up your shoes and get those plaid pants and or knickerbockers out and play the hell out of the Ocean Nine (the Shore Nine disappeared a few months ago).

The BAD news is that after the sun goes down on January 8, Holly Kai Golf will go the way of the Dodo Bird, that extinct flightless bird with a name equal to its weird looks.

Inside the Clubhouse

Inside the Clubhouse

So why not change your SL habits for a week or so and hang out at the clubhouse. Reminisce about old times at Holly Kai. Come share your “remember when?” stories. Come hear the “remember when” stories of your golf buddies.

And when it comes to all those folks who played here there are a few that gave Holly Kai some bragging rights. For example. At one time our club pro was a real life professional  who was playing for his green card to qualify for the PGA tour.

Another time our staff pro was a retired gentleman that had been the director at one of the great old Scottish Links clubs from the birthplace of the game in Scotland.

One interesting golfer we had for a time was actually and editor at GOLF DIGEST magazine. Sorry, I was sworn to secrecy. We were trying to work out some cross promotional opportunities where in Holly Kai would be sponsored by Golf Digest Magazine and would get occasional coverage from the golf architecture angle. Unfortunately that did come about.

And then there was the time that we were contacted about building a golf course for the in world sims of Orange, the major telecommunication  company in Europe (Sort of the ATT of Europe).

One of the most interesting events in the history of Holly Kai Golf Club was on Opening Day (July 1, 2006)  when Philip Linden (Philip Rosedale, CEO of Linden Lab) played in the first foursome with myself, Nber, and floG! creator Kanker Greenacre. What was particularly interesting about that opening round was that Philip was headed east on an Interstate in the Southwest during the round. His wife drove while Philip used a satellite connection to play the game. He had no lag to speak of. Amazing!

Of course both Nber and I are very sad to have to turn off the lights. We keep it going for a long time beyond what any reasonable person would have.

First Tee Area

First Tee Area

I was not willing to let the course designs die. I really loved studying golf architecture and design. I bought what books I could find on golf architecture and devoured them. I search the existing literature and internet for details on the great holes of golf around the world. Most of you will have recognized some of those holes. If not, be sure to get over to the Ocean Course and read the notecards given out at each tee. It’s worth the trip over to Holly Kai, even if you don’t take the time to play free golf.

We held on a long time after it was clear that golf was always going to be a money drain. Nber held on for a long long time crunching the tournament results and the monthy points leader results. I think what keep her plugging along was that she really cared about the players.

Shore #7

shore #7

What I enjoyed was making a truly fun experience for the golfers. My view is that playing golf at Holly Kai had to be fun. However, I did not say it had to be easy. Sometimes fun can be defined as facing the 7th hole of the Shore Course (based on Pebble Beach #7), a steep drop to a par three green with the ocean as the backdrop. The wind is howling so hard you need to allow a crosswind drift that is nearly the entire width of the green. Your fingers shake thru the three click swing, the ball rockets out in a high arch that would drop you in the right side sandtrap were it calm. The ball begins to draw back towards the green then time slows to a crawl as you watch your ball descend from the sky, past the horizon line, past a sailboat in near the shoreline and plop just short of the cup, the ball takes one  bounce and drops into the hole with a clunk and the crowd cheers! Now THAT’s fun.

So come on over for one last round, one last stop at the 19th Hole, one final visit to the old clubhouse.

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MarkTwain White did a rather nasty thing for the October Tournament. He strategically placed PUMPKINS on the green of each hole.  On the 9th green, he placed the pumpkin over the hole.  Luckily he decided to make it phantom. JuanCruz Zarco won the tournament for A-Flight and newer golfer Shane Japiri took B-Flight honors.  Shane also posted an under par round this month, so next month he will be an A-Flight golfer.  Good job to both JuanCruz and to Shane! Overall results for the tournament are posted below.

The overall points competition was won by Aeries Takaaki and Xandria Demonia. Congratulations to both of you for playing a LOT at Holly Kai.  Thanks!  All the details for the month are available HERE.

Below is the calendar for November.  It is also posted in the Clubhouse.

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September Points Competition and Monthly Tournament Results

September 26, 2010

Yesterday the September Tournament was played. We had two new players join us – please help welcome Lloyd Clemenceau and Shane Japri to the Golfers of Holly Kai!  Lloyd won B-Flight.  Congratulations. Dillon Speculaas took the A-Flight honors with a score of 31.  Well done Dillon! In the monthly points competition, Aeries Takaaki and Xandra [...]

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August Results – And a Shore Course Honor Roll

September 9, 2010

It has been hard for me to write up the August Results as I’ve been a bit down about closing the Shore Course.  I know that we have made the right decision, but it still has been hard.  We very much appreciate the support of all the golfers over the years.  Thanks to all of [...]

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September Golf Calendar – and the Shore Course Closes

August 31, 2010

For those of you that might have missed the notice:  it is with heavy heart that we are closing the Shore Course of Holly Kai Golf Club.  The notice went out on Sunday that: “On Thursday we predict a major flood will hit the Shore Course flooding it. Since FEMA will be in charge of [...]

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Amazing Shot!

August 2, 2010

In case you might have missed this, I wanted to show this to you. “The British Open was a riot, wasn’t it? You can’t beat watching some of the world’s finest finding their balls buried in shrubbery much like yours typically are. There was more brilliance on display than blunders, the highlight of which being [...]

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July Tournament Report and Points Standings

August 1, 2010

We had seven golfers (all A Flight) play in the July tournament and ALL of them scored under par.  Way to go!  JuanCruz Zarco came in first with a score of 29, followed by Getme Somme with a score of 30.  Three golfers had a four under par round of 32 (Aeries Takaaki, Pussy Fanshaw, [...]

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Holly Kai Points and MUCH More!

July 24, 2010

A lot to report on today! The results of the Big Ben Putting Tournament are presented below. As you can see we had a NUMBER of new players come and join us. Not only did they play in this tournament, but they have gone on to play full rounds and mini-tournaments.  I will be distributing [...]

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Big Ben Putting Tournament Video

July 13, 2010

I thought you might like to take a look at this impromptu video that I did of the Tournament on Saturday morning. A lot of new faces. If you happen to see Ruff Redgrave, Ajvarman Grigorovich, Kemmi Avium, or Elise Fugazi on the course… please welcome them. Experienced players seaone Bunyip, Xandra Demonia, and Aeries [...]

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HKC Update July 8, 2010

July 8, 2010

Things are hopping over at Holly Kai Golf Club. We have had more new players play in the past two weeks than in all of the first six months of 2010! Thank you to those members who have been working hard to bring friends over and to promote the club in recent days. Thanks also [...]

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