COURSE REVIEW: WIND MAKES OLIVAS PARK A CHALLENGE.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

VENTURA - Breezy Olivas Park Golf Course will be in for some lengthy refurbishing soon, similar to the 10-month reworking completed recently on sister course Buena Ventura, located about 2 miles south on Olivas Park Drive.

But before that work begins and an expected one-year-plus Olivas Park shutdown takes effect, probably in August, visitors to this seaside course can enjoy not only a predictably good test of wind golf - especially in the afternoon - but also relatively crowd-free conditions.

Many golfers - from Ventura County and elsewhere - who normally play both Olivas Park and Buena Ventura are playing more rounds at Buena Ventura following the reopening of that course in March.

``A lot of people are playing there now because they want to see the changes,'' Ventura resident and Olivas Park regular Bill Hayden said during a recent early-morning round in the 70s among the many palm trees at Olivas Park.

Hayden plans to test the new-look Buena Ventura as well, but he also likes the fact interest in that course has led to easier access to Olivas Park.

That's an especially nice bonus for those trying to get in an early round ahead of the wind that comes up like clockwork just before noon and can change the nature of play dramatically from morning to afternoon.

Predictable wind also is what is fun and challenging about wide-open Olivas Park, which can treat visitors this week to especially nice course conditions - following the 36-hole Ventura City Championship played Saturday and Sunday.

High school senior Nick Geyer of Viewpoint of Calabasas took advantage of the conditions to open with a 69 at par-72 Olivas Park and rode that momentum to a closing 66 at par-70 Buena Ventura for 135, good for a four-shot margin for his first Ventura City title.

As a late starter in his opening round, Geyer also rode the wind and liked the challenge.

``I do like it,'' said Geyer, who has claimed a berth in this month's State Amateur and received a golf scholarship from New Mexico. ``I seem to play well in adversity, and I think wind is going to be a factor there almost any time you play the back nine.''

The wind, which can be such a defining factor at Olivas Park - especially on the into-the-wind, 405-yard, par-4 ninth hole and 544-yard, par-5 18th - is what makes a seaside course special.

At Olivas Park, most holes play either into or with the wind, making club selection important. Water, which can come into play on 10 holes, makes the breeze even more interesting.

Few holes play as interesting in the afternoon as No. 16, a 398-yard, par-4, dogleg-left challenge requiring a tee shot into the wind. Drives must be hit close to or over a large left-side lake for those hoping to have a mid-iron approach shot to an elevated green.

It's not only one of the most enjoyable/frustrating holes on the course in the wind, but one of the prettiest on a clear, calm day.

Olivas Park has no shortage of good-looking, interesting holes. High on the attention list of most course first- timers would be the par-4 11th hole. Relatively short at 357 yards, it can play not only much longer into the wind, but also challenges golfers with a lake that runs most of the right side of the fairway.

Another beauty is the 142-yard, par-3 third hole. One of the few at Olivas Park that plays crosswind, it also has a water-fronted green. Play it early on a sunny morning, with not a ripple on the lake, and it presents one of the prettiest tee-views on the course. Play it in the afternoon, with wind gusting left to right, and beauty can become the beast - although No. 3 is rated the second-easiest hole on the course.

Toughest-hole honors go to the par-4 ninth, not just for its 400-plus yards and into-the-wind afternoon challenge, but for a lake on the right side of the fairway. It's a larger version of right-side lake that makes the adjacent par-5 18th a problem for long-hitters trying to reach the green in two shots.

There's plenty of challenges and much to like at Olivas Park, apart from any numbers that wind up on the scorecard.

And, if reaction to the recent refurbishment at Buena Ventura is any barometer, there will be plenty more to like next summer, when Olivas Park is expected to have a links look suitable to its seaside environment.

Dave Shelburne, [phone]

dave.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Olivas Park regular Bill Hayden plays No. 16, one of the course's more interesting holes.

Dave Shelburne/Daily News

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