Staying in the Zone at Sea Trail-Jones: “Breaking Par with Charlie Rymer” Episode 39

We’ve got ourselves a signature hole right here. The par-3 fifth doesn’t play too long, but looks can be deceiving as you’re looking downhill from the tee box. That makes all the water separating you from the green look much more intimidating, but we just need the right club here to get home safely. Let’s see what we got!

So I’m at the extreme northern end of the Grand Strand. We’re in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. This is Sea Trail. It’s a really cool 54-hole facility with the three golf courses designed by the legends Willard Byrd, Dan Maples, and this hole, the par-5 fifth on the Rees Jones Golf Course.

Now, Rees Jones, what has he done in his career? Well, let’s see, 27 golf courses that have either hosted major championships or international team competitions, like the Solheim Cup, the President’s Cup, and the Ryder Cup. He’s touched 27 of those golf courses. So Rees knows what he’s doing, and like the other architects that have designed golf courses here, descendent from golf course architect royalty.

Now there’s a par-3 fifth hole. Obviously, it plays over water. You got a little bit of wind, this being blocked coming off the ocean from these trees, but I can see that flag stick moving a little right to left. Let’s cruise this over there at the right edge. See if we can hit a nice little draw in there.

Giddy up. Giddy up. Whoa, let’s drive, it’s just barely. All right, so I’ve managed to find this green, cool little peninsula green. It works into this pond. I left myself with a little bit of an uphill putt. I like the way the hole is framed by these three cool bunkers in the back. Those are going to be uphill. Maybe we’re going to get just a little bit of ride in it. Let’s see what we got.

Well, that’s a good roll at it. Pushed her just a little bit. This is a hole where I’m sure over the years there’s been some big numbers, but it didn’t get me. He doesn’t like it when you make pars on his holes, and he hates it when you make birdies. I’m just kidding. I think he likes it when you play his golf courses and smile, which is what I do here.

So over the years in golf, I’ve had a chance to meet and become friends and have a relationship with a lot of really great folks. And Rees Jones is one of those people. He’s just… First, I met him actually doing an interview, and we really got along, exchanged numbers and talked a lot over the years, and got to be friends. I got a chance to work with him from time to time, and he is awesome, and really great person, and great man.

And he really knows what he’s doing, obviously in the world of golf, but always a lot of fun to come see one of his courses, especially like this one here at Sea Trail, is one of his first original designs, and a good man. The courses he builds are a lot of fun, too. I’ve been dealing with this whole cancer thing. Rees is one of the guys that would call me quite frequently and just check in on me, cheer me up, see how I’m doing. That’s something I’ll never forget.

I’m sensing a pattern here: can we keep it up? Let’s find out as we make our final stop here at Sea Trail!