THE GORGEOUS FIRST AT MID OCEAN
In this last video of a three part series, Norman Furtado, the superintendent of Mid Ocean, discusses the challenges and rewards of maintaining a world class course in Bermuda. Mid Ocean is short by today’s standards, but is still plenty challenging, especially when the wind is up as it normally is in Bermuda. The PGA Grand Slam was played here in 2007 and 2008, with the wining score over two rounds being -4 both time. (video after jump)
The course has a great rhythm as it starts along the coast and then ducks through a development. The fifth lives up to its reputation, with its great cape tee shot and heaving green. The holes in the middle of the round are all solid holes that require shot making and good putting to score well. The course finishes back along the coast with a spectacular redan 17th and a good finisher.
Like all great courses, the course has a well developed sense of place. The incandescent water along the coast, the large manor houses with their distinctive Bermudan architecture, and tropical lagoons make this a wonderful environment to play the game. The C.B. Macdonald course compliments the surroundings and Norman does a superlative job of maintaining the course and the greens.
N.B. The PGA has video flyovers on its site of each hole on Mid Ocean. They are a great way to see the course, but you might want to hit mute on your computer to avoid the schmaltzy Jim Nantz narration. These videos also confirmed what I thought: that the eighteenth was played as a par five from the second tee, creating a dramatic tee shot over the rocky coastline.
For parts one and two of the interview with Norman Furtado, click here and here.
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