Bayonet Golf Course to Host 37th Four-Ball Championship

SEASIDE, CA – Twelve miles northeast of Monterey Peninsula’s golf mecca lies Bayonet-Black Horse Golf Club. Once a U.S. Army fort, the spectacular 36-hole facility is now one of the game’s best public golf destinations. Next week, from Sept. 11-14, competitors in the 37th Trans-Mississippi Four-Ball Championship will storm the history-rich Bayonet Course in search of red numbers.
 
The emerald landscape, stretching between tall cypress and California oaks, embodies a revered golf and military history while capturing scenic views of one of the most iconic peninsulas in the continental U.S.
 
“We are excited to host such a great amateur event,” said Mike Spiller, Bayonet Black Horse golf professional. “Getting an event like the Trans-Miss Four-Ball is another great notch under our belt.”
 
The Trans-Mississippi Four-Ball, an annual team best-ball championship, is scheduled for 54 holes of stroke play with three divisions: Championship (for Mid-Amateurs), Senior (55 and older) and Super Senior (65 and older). Each division plays from separate tees and yardages and a champion will be crowned in each of the three divisions.
 
In 1954, Gen. Robert B. McClure developed Bayonet Golf Course on the U.S. Army training facility, Fort Ord. Gen. McClure, the Commanding Officer of the post at the time, named the golf course after the Army’s 7^th infantry Division (the first major unit to occupy Fort Ord nicknamed the “Bayonet Division”).
 
Gen. McClure, a left-handed golfer, advantageously designed the course to suit his game. His intent is evident through a series of sharp doglegs left (holes 11-15) spaced only by a long par-3 widely known as “Combat Corner.” The 7,104-yard track features tight landing areas and narrow playing corridors. The uphill, 476-yard, par-4 ninth hole exemplifies the Bayonet experience: a challenging layout with stunning views of Monterey Bay.
 
In 2008, Gene Bates, an award-winning golf course architect, renovated Bayonet. The project expanded views of the bay while retaining Bayonet’s classic, tree-lined character. Bates repositioned bunkers and reshaped green complexes to usher in golf’s new era.
 
“The fairway bunkering was set at the right distance,” Spiller said. “Every bunker is strategically placed and are relevant from each set of tees.”
 
Bayonet is no stranger to hosting premier golf championships. The storied course hosted the 45th PGA Professional National Championship in 2012 and the 26th Senior PGA Professional National Championship in 2015. Bayonet is a top-20 course in California according to Golfweek and ranked as one of GolfNow.com’s top-100 courses in the country.
 
“We want to grow the reputation of the course and I think partnering with an event like the Trans-Miss is a good way to grow that and get people out to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula,” Spiller said.

About the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association

The Trans-Mississippi Golf Association is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf organizations in the United States. Established in 1901, the Trans-Mississippi is composed of over 200 member clubs located throughout the country. The Association is governed by a board of independent directors and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.