Cheap Bastard, whose real name was Percy Ramirez-Epstein, reportedly stowed away on a cargo boat heading to the African nation. Sources close to WorldGolf.com have told us the boat was raided by pirates off the coast of Florida. Everyone on the boat survived the raid, except for Percy.

In his final blog post, he wrote about his excitement in going to Zimbabwe on a golf review trip.

Yes, President/Dictator Robert Mugabe has sent the Prince of Pennies an invitation to try out some of his nation’s golf courses and see what a great vacation spot Zimbabwe truly is.

I’ll be traveling soon, bringing my loyal and fabulous readers some amazing things from this African nation, showcasing the amazing deals that can arise from political turmoil. Ah, political turmoil, where would we be without it?

We at WorldGolf.com will miss Cheap Bastard and his Budget Golfer posts. And on a personal note, having dated Percy briefly in 2005, I would like to add that Percy was a complex, interesting man, who far exceeded his humble beginnings of being a vague concept and a random photo lifted off a “before” picture on a long-defunct weight-loss advertisement. In the end, he was so much more than that.

Goodbye, Cheap Bastard. Feel free to use the comment section of this post to relay your memories and thoughts of the legendary Cheap Bastard.

Heather McMichael, Percy Ramirez-Epstein
and Mark Nessmith at the 2005
WorldGolf.com awards ceremony.

• At LasVegasGolf.com, they have a new blogger and it’s none other than John Daly! Ok, not thatJohn Daly (though he’d be a perfect Las Vegas blogger, wouldn’t he?) But this Daly is also famous, known internationally as host of Real-TV and House Detective (HGTV), and is a long-time Las Vegas resident. Take a look at his blog - The Daly Golf Show - as well as his latest post, where he takes a look at GolfTEC.

• At Golf for Women, our old friend Kristen Williams asks “Are you a stylish golf chick?”

• At The Golf Blog, Mulligan wonders if Tiger Woods will be at risk for arthritis on his recuperating knee.

• The Armchair Golfer has an exclusive interview with Ian O’Conner, author of the Book “Arnie and Jack.”

• Want to find out how to best combine golf, martinis and sex? Head over to Scruffy’s Word to find out.

Keep Blogging!!

• New golf bloggers take notice! Tony at the Hooked on Golf Blog and The Golf Space knows how to run a blog. When the big events are here, he’s all over them. Head over to see the U.S. Open work Tony’s put in thus far.

• Other old favorites keeping us consistently updated are Armchair Golf Blog, The Golf Blog, and Geoff Shackelford.

• Of course, I’d be remiss to not point out that WorldGolf.com’s own Chris Baldwin is live at Torrey Pines, getting all the U.S. action to you.

• The Mental Golf Guru is agog at Tiger’s beautiful mind.

• Ron Mon makes as little sense as possible, but makes it clear(?) that he has an opinion and it likely is about Tiger Woods.

• 
  Dogs That Chase Cars is looking back at Tiger’s amazing putt to force the playoff.

• Brandon Tucker wonders: Tiger Woods vs. Rocco Mediate? Who do you root for?

Keep Blogging!!

• There’s a new podcast in town: LasVegasGolf.com On The Air, hosted by famed broadcaster Dave Berner. Take a listen as he talks to some experts about Siena Golf Course, TPC Las Vegas and other great Sin City golf venues.

• Drop by and say hi to Jack at Pour me Another One. He’s got some things to say about John Daly plus he has a mustache to be proud of!

• Let’s hear it for a couple of my favorite golf bloggers who are doing their thing now at Golf for Women, as well as handling duties at their own blogs. So Golf Chick and Golf Girl, congrats on your new gig, I’m really proud of you both! And you too, Golf Gal.

• Speaking of golf girls, In Golf We Trust is celebrating the birthday of women’s golf pioneer Patty Berg. And may I add, the In Golf We Trust site is looking fantastic!

• The Aspiring Golfer is glad to hear that Colin Montgomerie isn’t aspiring to get naked, among other things.

• The Artful Golfer has a new artful putter - a hockey stick putter designed by David Graham!

Keep Blogging!!

• The Armchair Golfer writes about the two different Torrey Pines Tiger and the PGA Tour will be seeing in 2008.

• Primary Rough predicts big things for Tiger in 2008. And I mean big things.

• Albert Bianchi at DeJuiced reports on Woods’ horrifying collapse at the Buick Invitational. Leading him to win by a paltry eight shots.

• Mulligan at The Golf Blog mulls whether Tiger will end 2008 owning 17 major titles.

• The Golf Chick has done her research, and sees even more success for Tiger, and herself, in the stars.

• The Golf for Beginners podcast takes a look at English Premiere League footballer Matthew Upson, who is improving his mental game by taking a look at golf’s No. 1 player.

• Mike Pedersen writes that if we only learn one thing from Tiger Woods, it’s this - hard work pays off.

• 
  At Fore! Four Two, David O’Connor wonders if Adam Scott will be the one who derails Tiger this year.

Keep Blogging!!

• The Hooked on Golf Blog has a ton of fantastic videos from the show that you need to see.

• OobGolf has some pictures of the show for you to see.

• Brandon Tucker takes a look at the fashion winners and losers from Orlando.

• Joel Zuckerman checks in with his own report from the show, which missed some of the big names of the sport.

• Geoff Shackelford points you to a sign that things are getting more and more eclectic in the golf world.

• What’s the final word from the show? Hybrids, says Tim McDonald.

Keep Blogging!!

• The always-excellent Sports Law Blog points out that it’s no laughing matter:

  “None of the excuses can excuse a joke that ties lynching with an African American because it dismisses and insults those who care about unjustified brutal killings. Historians note that between 1889 and 1918, a total of 2,522 black Americans were lynched, 50 of them women.”

• The Golf Blog takes a look at why the intent of Tilghman’s “lynch” Tiger comment doesn’t matter.

• Over at Fan Nation, they report that Fuzzy Zoeller has some helpful advice for Tilghman.

• Bill Wolfrum takes a drastic stance - with only one African-American on the PGA Tour, why not remove him to remove the problem of racism in golf.

• Robert Thompson wonders how this Golf Channel drama would have played out if Tilghman were male.

• Chris Baldwin is tired of people saying that Tilghman went to Duke so she should have known better.

• If you haven’t seen Tilghman’s comments live, Golf’s Daily Slice has the video.

Keep Blogging!!

• Yes, Monopoly has a golf version. If you think that your favorite golfer would like it, find out more from Golf Chick.

• The Golf Blogger has some golf gift certificates available for shoppers running late and looking for the perfect gift for their favorite golfer.

• Mark it down, In Golf We Trust wants a froghair rain jacket this Christmas.

• If it’s tacky golf gifts you’re after, Buzzin Golf has the lowdown.

• The Golf Girl (who happens to be the love of Cheap Bastard’s life) talks about putting up the Christmas tree this year.

• The Golf Rewound Forum is asking what’s on your Christmas list.

• The Deep Rough gives a complete rundown of dos and don’ts when shopping for a golfer this holiday season.

• The ravishing Brent Kelley offers up some golf gift ideas of his own at About Golf.

Keep Blogging and Happy Holidays!!

• Say what you will about Carolyn Bivens, but the LPGA Commissioner sure knows how to get paid, reports Geoff Shakelford.

• Brandon Tucker has decided he no longer believes that golfers should walk - after encountering a 12-foot alligator.

• The Deep Rough takes a look at AboutGolf Simulators.

• Don’t give Andrew at OobGolf a golf T-shirt this holiday season. You’ve been warned.

• The Hireko Golf Blog will help you decide whether a new square driver is for you or not.

• The Artful Golfer is looking for some balance in his life after spending the last two years golfing like crazy.

• Eagle Par Birdie says all evidence points that improved mechanics have helped ball flight through the years as much or more than improved equipment.

Keep Blogging!!

• Would Tiger Woods have dominated in years past with the older equipment? That’s what Mulligan is asking at The Golf Blog.

• Luke Swilor didn’t have the season he wanted in 2007, so now is the time to forget about him … Just kidding, Luke! We’re always behind our favorite golfing blogger, and we were thrilled to see his recent update where he lets you know how he copes with the snow and talks about how excited he is for 2008.

• If anyone can understand Luke’s plight it’s the Golf Chick. Seems Kristen didn’t have the year she hoped for and is planning to get her game back on track in 2008.

• Geoff Shackelford gives us a rundown of Golf Digest’s picks for the best new courses of 2007.

• Our friend Larry Olmsted at USA Today is taking his shots at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation. With guns, golf and booze, Olmsted gives this Georgia resort some high praise.

• Bill Wolfrum is back from a road trip that taught him about golf in France, as well as how to predict NFL scores, it appears.

• Mike at Perform Better Golf posts about feeling more at home on the golf course.

• Quick, head over to GolfNow.com and see if you can win yourself a free wedge from Feel Golf by answering today’s question.

Keep Blogging!!

• Geoff Shakelford is reporting that Phil Mickelson is among the 250,000 that have been evacuated due to fires in the San Diego area.

• Curbed Los Angeles is reporting on the fire in Lake Arrowhead and that it is burning near the lake and Grass Valley Golf Course. No word of damage to the course but homes have reportedly been lost. An Ordinary Life has more on it.

• The Google Earth Blog has satellite images of the wildfires wrecking havoc throughout So. Cal.

• LiveLeak.com has video of a helicopter grabbing water from the lake at the ninth hole of the TPC Valencia Golf Course to fight fires in the areas.

While this is a golf site and we’d like to hear about any damage to Southern California golf courses, we know that’s a minor concern at the matter for so many affected by these horrible fires. So please feel free to leave any comments, thoughts or information in comments.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Southern California or has family in affected areas during this frightening time. Good luck to all of you.

-H

• Golf Blogger asks the question: Who had a better year, Tiger Woods or Lorena Ochoa. I pick Lorena.

• Luke Swilor feels his game is coming around and he shot a 73 at a one-day Golden State Tour event. Keep checking back with Luke, as soon he’ll be telling you all about his efforts at Q-school.

• Tony at the Hooked on Golf Blog was minding his own business at the Albuquerque airport and ended up getting some video testimonials for Black Mesa Golf Course. He also has some photos of the course for you to peruse.

• If you happen to be in Brunei, don’t miss GolfPunks open house.

• Want to learn how to hit a fried egg bunker shot? Our friend The Golf Chick will tell you how.

• The Blogging Poet asks: Do golf courses really need to be green?

• It appears that rogue Cheap Bastard has been hanging out with the Myrtle Beach Insider. Nothing good can come from that.

• Sports Frog takes a look at Jason Sobel of ESPN moonlighting as a caddie.

Keep Blogging!!

• Sports By Brooks is highlighting a little Tiger Woods gossip.

• Golf Girl’s Diary is going straight to video - check out Episode Two of GGTV.

• It’s going to be a golf party at the Australian Open, and Golf Punk Online is hoping to be there.

• Tim McDonald notes the retirement of Fred Klauk, superintendent of the TPC Sawgrass.

• Planning on going to the 2008 Masters? Say hi to the Armchair Golfer, who’ll be there in Augusta.

• What’s the secret to selling putters? Ask Nolan Matthias.

• Mike Pedersen Golf is the place to be if you’re looking to find out about getting your golf swing more consistent.

• The Aspiring Golfer was happy to see nice guy Nick Dougherty win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Keep Blogging!!

• Robert Thompson reports that the International team didn’t feel that they truly had the home course advantage at Royal Montreal.

• Golf for Beginners say that Mike Weir proved Tiger Woods is human, though Chris Baldwin thinks the Canadians need to tone down the Weir celebration. Still, the Golf Blog says to give Weir some credit.

• Golf Blogger says it was the foursomes that sunk the International side in the end.

• Hooked on Golf Blog has a news flash: The Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup are not the same thing.

• Even Par Round thinks Scott Verplank made Tom Lehman’s decision to underutilize him at the Ryder Cup look silly.

• The PGA Punter has nothing but praise for Phil Mickelson.

• OobGolf agrees with Jack Nicklaus that it would be interesting to see the Presidents Cup make its way to Asia eventually.

Keep Blogging!!

• Colt Knost is turning pro and will make his debut at the PGA Tour Texas Open in San Antonio next week, says Texas Golf.

• Golf Talk Online looks at the PGA Tour’s new drug policy.

• At the Pinemeadow Golf Blog, Tom is wondering when his game will catch up with golf technology.

• Excited about the President’s Cup but not completely sure of the rules? Let Golf Blogger help you out with a guide to match play.

• The Golf Chick was hanging out with Jamie Foxx recently at a charity event for UNICEF.

• In good or bad times, golf remains the greatest game, says Dr. Gary Wiren.

• Business Golf thinks golf is ready to hit another crossroad.

• Please note, the kindly folks at Golf Punk Online are duly impressed by Ping’s mini site.

Keep Blogging!!