All About the Journey
18 holes with Tina Mickelson
On August 2, Andre Reed will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The honor celebrates a stellar 16-year career in the NFL. Now that he is retired, he is able to focus on his other favorite game: golf.
Andre’s favorite course in San Diego is Journey at Pechanga, because it requires true target golf and there is no room for error. The challenge of the fast greens, especially when the weather heats up, is also a huge draw. Located in Temecula, it can get pretty warm during the summer months, and when conditions are dry those suckers get up to a 12-13 on the Stimpmeter [which measures how fast the greens are]… and golfers can’t get enough!
When Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest started their design of the golf course, they learned that the oak trees on property were considered sacred and deemed “untouchable.” That meant having to weave around all of those old, mature oaks while honoring the distinctive beauty of the land. Because of that, when the golf course opened it already had a mature and established feel to it.
In addition, there are tribal artifacts, accompanied by small monuments with descriptions, placed in and around the golf course. As you drive from hole to hole, your appreciation grows for the traditions and wonder of this beautiful land.
On holes 6 and 17, the tee boxes are elevated, and during the cooler months there are days you can see the snow-capped mountains of Big Bear. This golf course is the perfect blend of beauty, tradition, serenity, difficulty, fairness, playability, and history. I can see why they claim it was 10,000 years in the making!
