The Case For CordeValle

I penned a Golf World Monday item making the case for the Frys.com Open staying at CordeValle Resort. It's under contract for one more year before a hoped-for move to The Institute, the ultra-private course developed by the Frys.

By no means is CordeValle an architectural masterpiece. It's overbuilt and the bunkers are proportioned terribly, but it does have a couple of really nice par-3s and the 17th is fun. The site might make my top-ten all time great site opportunities blown, but the resort has a great vibe, excellent conditioning by Tom Gray and based on player reviews of The Institute, keeps the focus on the players.

Based on the players I talked to, The Institute has the chance of becoming a west coast Liberty National. The players would initially be wowed by conditioning, aesthetics and experience, but when they actually have to play an event on it, they will not be kind.