Quick Nine: Motivations, Ideal Golf Trips, and the Origins of CRG

The founders of California Republic Golf sit down to outline the genesis of their project.

Why did you feel compelled to start a golf and travel blog?

Geoff: I had a very stressful job. While getting ready in the morning, I watched golf videos to relax before a chaotic day. I listened to golf podcasts on the drive in and I’d hear people recap the courses they played, the places they visited, and the people they met. I appreciated the journey they conveyed, and I daydreamed about doing something similar in my own way. After meeting Troy, I realized we shared a common desire to explore the golfing landscapes in our own backyard. Troy is an excellent photographer and I’ve always been drawn to writing. Until now, I never had an excuse to do it with frequency. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to see more of my home state and bring others along for the ride.

Troy: I’ve shot landscape photography for over a decade. I decided I should start taking my camera to the course. Now that I’ve been taking photos, we needed a way to tell the stories of our adventures. Geoff has always been a prolific writer, so it was an easy decision as to who could tell some of these stories. I noticed the lack of long form personal blogs about public golf. I’ve always loved podcasts like MuniciPals and No Laying Up. I love reading articles by The Fried Egg, but they focus on bucket list courses. What about the nine-hole “goat tracks” that have epic skins games? Or local gems like Olivas Links and Soule Park? I felt we could highlight some of these places with well thought-out articles supported by photography as we wander around the state.

What was your introduction to the sport?

Geoff: When I was five years old, my dad took up golf. My first memories are of him hitting chunks and shanks on the driving range during lessons. Somewhere along the way, I grabbed a club and began hitting balls. I remember being fascinated by the sparks created when his driver caught the pebbles beneath the grass.

Troy: My dad played my whole life. I grew up playing hockey and racing dirt bikes. Golf was the last thing on my mind. Growing up, I watched the majors with my dad, but I never took a liking to the game. In 2010, I was bored on a Sunday afternoon in April. Sure enough, I caught the final round of The Masters. Then, the switch flipped. I got clubs and a range key and the rest is history.

What does golf mean to you?

Geoff: So many things. As a child, it was a way to connect with my dad. As an adolescent, it was the place and activity where I felt most at home. Now, it’s a gathering place for people of common interests to meet and share in the pursuit of self-improvement. Well, that and maybe having a few cold ones.

Troy: Golf means rolling with the punches. I used to be “aggro.” I’d throw clubs and blame bad shots on someone else. Over the past five years, I’ve changed my perspective and realized golf is the game of life: You take what’s thrown at you. Good intentions can lead to bad swings and it’s how you approach the next shot that matters. Golf is also the conduit for so many incredible relationships in my life, both solidifying old friendships and creating new ones that are destined to be lifelong. No other sport will ever put you in the position to forge strong relationships like golf.

Explain the dynamic between you and your co-founder.

Geoff: As an adult, you can tell almost immediately when you and another person click. Friendship at this stage is mostly a yes or no deal. Clearly, the interaction between us was a yes. Troy exhibits a lot of the traits I strive to embody. He’s friendly to everyone, opinionated but not overbearing, light-hearted but well-read, and intelligent. Above all, there’s a ton of mutual respect. We share a common passion for public golf and although that leads to some “inspired” conversations, we’re always able to meet at the table and hash things out.

Troy: Geoff and I met a year ago through our local No Laying Up Roost. We instantly hit it off. Now, we’re bound by blood to provide you content. Our skills complement each other and we’re able to fill in the gaps. With Geoff’s writing skill and my creative eye, we’re able to create something really fun!

Define your perfect golf trip?

Geoff: It’s about the people, the place, and the experience. All three of those elements are key. The perfect golf trip requires the right collection of people to share it, a destination that is either new and full of anticipation, or familiar and nostalgic. Lastly, the experience should be unique. Either by some mixture of the three elements or by one standalone itself.

Troy: Good greens, good attitudes, fun matches, and plenty of post-round laughs at the bar. I’ll sleep on the floor or in a car if all the above is guaranteed.

How do you examine a golf course?

Geoff: Troy is the golf architecture buff. I look at a course on a salivation scale. When I get there, is my mouth wide open with drool running? It could be the course design, the conditioning, the location, the playability, or even the story to be told.

Troy: I examine a golf course in a few areas: What’s the shot value? Are the greens good? What’s the vibe from the staff and patrons? There are some great courses that do a poor job with those details. I enjoy course layouts that promote creativity and allow multiple options to play the hole. I appreciate give-and-take between the demands off the tee and approaches into the green. Overall, I want to enjoy my time and walk away with a few good shots to remember from each round.

What’s your favorite golf course? And one you’ve been dying to play.

Geoff: La Purisima in Lompoc, CA holds a lot of sentimental value (which I hope to unpack for the site soon). It’s a tremendous blend of fair and difficult. My favorite thing about it is the isolation. If you’re driving to Lompoc, you’re either visiting the federal prison or you’re going to play golf. There’s a sense of purposeful destination when you make the drive.

I’m going to ignore the bucket list courses momentarily (Riviera, Pebble Beach, Monterey Peninsula, and any of the Bandon courses) and focus on the more obtainable. Cypress Ridge in Arroyo Grande, CA has been on the list for at least a year, but I haven’t committed to making the drive. That may change soon. Honorable mention goes to Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, CA. I love their take on golf and can’t wait to get “Goated.”

Troy: My favorite course is Chambers Bay near Tacoma, WA. I first played there in 2015, just three weeks after they hosted the US Open. I’ve gone back almost annually to visit family nearby. The course always plays differently. I don’t think I’ve hit the same shot twice in seven rounds. The staff are incredible, and the way they allow the community to use the land is just amazing.

I’m dying to play Los Angeles Country Club (LACC). I’ve been fortunate to play Riviera and Bel Air Country Clubs. Playing LACC would cap off the holy trinity of “C-Suite” courses designed by George Thomas in Los Angeles.

Would you rather have LPGA Tour driving accuracy or PGA Tour distance?

Geoff: As a self-identifying short-hitter, I’m taking the PGA Tour distance. But, with the condition that I don’t have to go on the Bryson DeChambeau diet.

Troy: For how bad I drive the ball; I’d take the accuracy all day.

Is cereal a soup?

Geoff: It’s a borderline dessert. I’ve had more bowls of cereal after dinner than to start my day. Hell, it’s almost a deconstructed cake. There’s milk, sugar, flour, and sometimes cinnamon or chocolate… Wait, what was the question?

Troy: I don’t know. Is ketchup a smoothie…? Who knows anymore, it’s all a simulation.