Archives for: March 2009
After Guatemala, Pete Dye and Perry turn their attention to the Black Pearl off the coast of Honduras
Monday March 30, 2009 | 11:13:06 pm 172 words, 2056 views
With Fuego Maya at La Reunion in Guatemala, Pete Dye and son Perry have completed their first golf course in Central America, but it’s not their last. Some of the partners of La Reunion Golf Resort near Antigua, Guatemala, also are working with the Dyes on another Central American golf course.
This one is called Pristine Bay Resort, and it’s located on the island of Roatan about 35 miles off the coast of Honduras. It includes a golf course, five-star hotel, spa, deep-water marina, beach club and a variety of residential projects.
The golf course, which will be grassed in salt-water resistant ...
Forecaddie program at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Dove Mountain spot on
Sunday March 29, 2009 | 08:15:44 pm 266 words, 2158 views
MARANA, Ariz. – I’m not always a big fan of forecaddie programs, but the one at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain deserves kudos.
Our forecaddie, Shaun DeSilva, went above and beyond in a quiet, unobtrusive manner. He was there when you needed him, at the right place at the right time, but you hardly noticed him otherwise. On each hole, he let you know the down and distance, then gave you info on landing areas, and he was a ball hawk if you hit it in the desert.
On the greens, his reads were right on nearly every time. And ...
Jack Nicklaus fires a few shots during grand opening at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain
Sunday March 29, 2009 | 02:09:07 am 352 words, 2011 views
MARANA, Ariz. – Although the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain has been open since January, today was the official opening as designer Jack Nicklaus flew in to join owner/developer David Mehl for opening ceremonies.
With a good bit of fanfare that included the release of doves, Native American music and dance, and a couple of hundred or so guests, Nicklaus and Mehl hit the ceremonial first shots at the course that played host to the WGC Accenture Match Play in February.
I’ve seen Nicklaus do a few of these openings, and it’s always impressive. Even at age 69, it’s still a lot ...
Golf in the morning at Pete Dye's new Fuego Maya; Antigua, Guatemala at night
Thursday March 26, 2009 | 10:03:17 am 323 words, 2156 views
Playing golf at the new Pete and Perry Dye-designed Fuego Maya Golf Course here at La Reunion in Guatemala has been a great experience, but what really sets off a trip like this is having a chance to explore nearby Antigua.
I got a crash course yesterday afternoon and evening in the culture there, visiting several of the churches, seeing some of the ruins and capping it off with dinner at Casa Santo Domingo, a hotel and museum that has to be seen to be believed.
Casa Santo Domingo, which once sheltered the followers of the order of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, ...
Playing golf in Guatemala at La Reunion: Pete Dye still makes them tough
Wednesday March 25, 2009 | 01:37:13 am 265 words, 2264 views
Having been in Guatemala and at the new La Reunion resort near Antigua for a little more than 24 hours, here are some of my initial impressions on my first trip to this beautiful country:
Pete Dye, even at age 83, hasn’t mellowed a whole lot – at least in terms of designing golf courses. He and son Perry created the new Fuego Maya Golf Course here at La Reunion, and it’s as tough as any golf course I’ve ever played – especially from the back tees at 7,302 yards. Built on the slope of the 10,000-foot Fuego Volcano, the course ...
Tom Lehman leading the Transitions Championship proves there is golf beyond Tiger Woods
Saturday March 21, 2009 | 07:24:00 pm 175 words, 1969 views
I don’t know about you, but I want to tune in tomorrow to see if 50-year-old Tom Lehman can take it to the house at the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla., near Tampa.
The fact that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson aren’t in the field makes little difference as far as I’m concerned. Seeing Lehman beat guys who are half his age is entertaining.
The former British Open winner hasn’t won on tour since the 2000 Phoenix Open, but he is in position after three rounds.
His 8-under-par total is one stroke clear of Retief ...
Computer golf at its finest in the LasVegasGolf.com Challenge
Friday March 20, 2009 | 11:17:10 pm 119 words, 1947 views
Over on LasVegasGolf.com, we just posted a story I wrote on a nine-hole computer golf skills challenge contest the folks at LasVegasGolf.com are sponsoring with the World Golf Tour.
The World Golf Tour is a new Internet-based computer golf game, and entry into the LasVegasGolf.com Challenge, which is played on a virtual Bali Hai golf course, is free. It’s easy to sign up, easy to learn how to play, and easy to get addicted.
Plus, you can play as many times as you want. And if you place among the low three scores, you can win Visa gift cards from LasVegasGolf.com as ...
Hope renewed: Phil Mickelson to share his secrets in new video
Wednesday March 18, 2009 | 11:58:27 pm 360 words, 2069 views
I really try not to bite the hook of every new golf video or instruction book, but it’s difficult sometimes. Now, we learn that Phil Mickelson has a new DVD series on the short game coming out called ” Phil Mickelson: Secrets of the Short Game.”
Considering what Mickelson did in winning the WGC CA Doral Championship, I’m probably biting. My gosh, he chipped in four times, which was more than the difference in the tournament.
There’s also relatively very little out there – save Dave Pelz – that addresses the short game, and Mickelson is regarded by many to have the ...
St. Patrick's Day brings back fond memories of golf in Ireland, Guinness and corned beef in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Monday March 16, 2009 | 11:12:57 pm 253 words, 1859 views
Suddenly, I’ve got a hankering for Guinness and corned beef and cabbage. Must be St. Patrick’s Day.
Oh, the memories are fond.
I’ve been across the pond twice to play golf in Ireland. And both times, the weather was pretty much miserable. It was cold. The wind was blowing, the rain was coming down sideways in sheets, and we played 36 holes a day. We were in heaven.
When we get weather like that here in the Houston area, we don’t leave the house, much less play golf.
But it’s different over there. You expect it. You dress for it, and you know the ...
This Butch Harmon guy can teach golf; just ask WGC Doral winner Phil Mickleson
Sunday March 15, 2009 | 09:38:51 pm 355 words, 1811 views
The measure of success is results, and Butch Harmon’s results continue to impress.
Sometimes the big-name teachers get a little too much credit. But in the case of Harmon, it’s apparently all deserved. Pretty much everybody this guy has worked with has excelled.
This week’s WGC CA Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa is yet another example. Not only did his guy Phil Mickelson win, but also one of his other guys, Nick Watney, battled him the entire weekend to the end. It was, for the most part, a tournament of the Harmon pupils.
And though Mickelson and Watney weren’t perfect, they ...
Mickelson's magic, Tiger's presence could make for interesting weekend at Doral
Thursday March 12, 2009 | 10:22:13 pm 231 words, 1663 views
How many guys could hit it in the water twice and still shoot 65? Not many, but if you had to guess who, it would probably be Phil Mickelson.
How good is this guy’s short game? On one of the instances when he found the water during the opening round at the WGC CA Championship at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, he made par. That came on the par-3 fourth when he chipped in after his drop.
Talk about limiting the damage. A hole earlier he made double bogey when he found the water. He was even par though 8.
After ...
Golf near South Padre Island comes with a few distractions
Tuesday March 10, 2009 | 11:03:23 pm 182 words, 1741 views
Over on GolfTexas.com, we just posted a story I wrote on El Angel course at Rancho Viejo (Texas) Resort & Country Club. Located just a few miles from South Padre Island, the timing couldn’t be better or worse, depending on your perspective.
This week might not be the best time to travel down to South Padre Island if you’re just looking to take in a little golf. I invite you to turn on MTV this week to see what I’m talking about.
It’s that little mayhem called spring break, and I’m told it’s a little wilder than when I was down there ...
It's easy to root for Erik Compton
Sunday March 8, 2009 | 04:25:55 pm 264 words, 1808 views
If you didn’t catch Jimmy Robert’s report on Erik Compton during the final round of the Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., this week, you missed one of the best three or four minutes of NBC’s tournament coverage and one of the most inspirational in recent memory.
Compton, 29, received a sponsor’s exemption this week and will receive another in a couple of weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, March 26-29 at Orlando’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
After a pair of 69s to open the tourney, Compton went 5-over on this par 70 ...
Bring on daylight time, more twilight golf
Saturday March 7, 2009 | 12:36:16 am 280 words, 1946 views
In case you haven’t noticed, daylight-saving time is almost upon us. It used to be that this didn’t happen until April. But now, not only does it come earlier, but also it sticks around longer to November instead of October. Starting this Sunday, you can play golf until 8 p.m. or so instead of just 7.
Personally, I hate winter golf, not because it’s cooler (that’s a plus down here on the Gulf Coast), but because I can’t get in a late afternoon round. Next week, that all changes, and I didn’t have to wait until April like years past.
In truth, ...
Taking a beating at Troon North Golf Club
Tuesday March 3, 2009 | 07:55:46 pm 354 words, 2120 views
I wrote a blog a couple of weeks ago about how nobody cares about what you shoot on the golf course, and today I got a note from colleague Brandon Tucker about a recent round I had. Apparently, your golf performances don’t make the billboards, but they do make the Internet.
It seems that the whipping my partner and me took on the Troon North Pinnacle Course last Friday made it back to Tucker and my boss, Mark Nessmith, who wrote: “I smell a blog post.”
So I’m obliging. I must.
Here’s what went down: I mistakenly asked my new friends on our ...
Spring training baseball, golf represent the perfect vacation
Sunday March 1, 2009 | 07:08:33 pm 208 words, 1831 views
Yesterday, after playing golf at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa here in Scottsdale, Ariz., I attended my first Cactus League spring training baseball game.
It was at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of the Oakland Athletics. The A’s won the game, 1-0, over the Cactus League newcomer Cleveland Indians, but that was really academic.
More significant was the feel of spring – which was more of a hint of summer with temps racing toward 90. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the fresh scent of cold beer, peanuts, hot dogs, suntan lotion and mowed grass.
We had seats behind home ...
The Accidental Golfer
The Accidental Golfer (AKA Mike Bailey) has spent more than 15 years writing about the game that has brought him unbridled joy and temporary bouts of insanity. Now on staff at WorldGolf.com, Bailey is a former senior editor for PGA Magazine, senior writer for Golfweek's SuperNEWS and Turfnet magazines and past president of the Texas Golf Writers Association. He has covered every facet of golf, including the PGA and LPGA Tours, equipment and course architecture, as well as the bane of his golfing existence: instruction. The last has led to at least 30 different golf swings, which all feel different but appear to his playing companions to be the same.
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