Archives for: September 2009
GCSAA hits the mark by tabbing Judy Rankin for Old Tom Morris Award
Monday September 28, 2009 | 10:53:00 pm 397 words, 2582 views
Every year, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America honors somebody in golf with the Old Tom Morris Award. It’s the GCSAA’s most prestigious award, and the 2010 recipient will be Judy Rankin, a most deserving choice.
Named for the old Scottish golf pro and greenskeeper, the award will be presented before the Golf Industry Show in San Diego next February. My guess is that Rankin’s acceptance speech will be eloquent as her golf career.
Most of us, these days, know the World Golf Hall of Fame member from her television work. I think she’s so good as an on-course reporter that ...
Back to the Alamo City to check out fall resort golf
Saturday September 26, 2009 | 11:08:52 pm 175 words, 2403 views
Despite the temperature being in the mid-90s today, this really is the time of year to head to San Antonio for a little golf, which is what I’m doing this weekend. (The next two months are the best time of year in South Texas.)
We recently published a story on the five must-plays in San Antonio on GolfTexas.com.
On that list is the Resort Course, which has hosted the Valero Texas Open for the past decade. There’s also the Palmer Course at La Cantera as well, which gives the resort a really nice 36-hole combination.
I’m heading over to the Westin La ...
Thinking Rocky Mountain golf? You might want to think Montana
Wednesday September 23, 2009 | 12:35:27 am 277 words, 2683 views
I’ve played a lot of golf with spectacular backdrops across the country and the world, and the one thing most of them have in common is that they are pricey.
Not so in the Flathead Valley of northern Montana.
These really are true hidden gems, although Canadians sure seem to know about them.
Canada is just north of here, and northern Montana seems so remote to most Americans.
In truth, though, it’s not that hard to get to. Kalispell, a town of around 70,000, has a pretty decent size airport with jet service from Delta and Northwest Airlines. And once you get here, hotels ...
Kings' Course at Waikoloa Beach Resort in Hawaii passes the test
Monday September 21, 2009 | 09:48:19 am 130 words, 2315 views
The test of a good golf course design is if you took away the natural scenery, which is what you almost always get in Hawaii, would it still be a good golf course?
In the case of the Kings’ Course at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii, the answer is yes. You can check out my review, which we recently posted on HawaiiGolf.com, and find out why.
The Kings’ Course is just another example of the fine work of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. Honestly, I’ve never played a Weiskopf design I didn’t like. There always seems to ...
After FedExCup, Kodak Challenge is golf’s next big prize
Sunday September 13, 2009 | 09:44:50 pm 503 words, 2819 views
Does anybody remember something at the beginning of the year called the Kodak Challenge?
Anyway, it’s been on hiatus while the top players compete for this $10 million FedExCup thing. But my guess is while we’re on the edge of our seat in anticipation of the Tour Championship in two weeks, guys like Kevin Streelman and J.J. Henry are really looking forward to the Fall Series when the Kodak Challenge resumes.
The Kodak Challenge is sort of like the consolation prize compared to the FedExCup, but it’s nothing to sneeze at with $1 million going to the winner. And my guess ...
For some pure golf – and a real playoff – check out the Walker Cup action this weekend
Saturday September 12, 2009 | 12:00:23 am 256 words, 2508 views
Not to tear anybody away from the BMW Championship this week, but there’s another pretty cool event happening this weekend.
I’m talking about the Walker Cup Match, the amateur version of the Ryder Cup Matches. It’s the event so many legendary players have been a part of – guys like Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, etc.
And you can check out the action this weekend on the Golf Channel, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT Saturday and Sunday from the East Course at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.
Like the Ryder Cup, the Walker Cup pits a squad from the ...
Golf's FedExCup is better, but it still doesn't really feel like a 'playoff'
Wednesday September 9, 2009 | 08:23:58 pm 337 words, 2550 views
Is it just me or does the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoffs still not feel like a playoff?
The format is vastly improved over what it was when Tiger Woods in the first year could skip the first playoff event or when Vijay Singh only had to show up for the Tour Championship in 2008 to win the whole shebang.
But shouldn’t a playoff actually end with the guy who wins the last event being crowned the season champion?
Can you imagine if they had awarded the New England Patriots the Super Bowl title a couple of years ago even though ...
Play golf long enough, and you have to get a hole-in-one, right?
Sunday September 6, 2009 | 11:10:43 pm 405 words, 2559 views
I’ve been meaning to share this story for a while, but since I told it a couple of times on my recent trip to Hawaii, I figured I would muse about it now.
About 20 years ago I was playing golf at Waterwood National Resort in East Texas.
Back then, Waterwood, which is near Huntsville, about 70 miles north of Houston, was still in its glory days. Waterwood is where guys like Paul Azinger, Hal Sutton, Chip Beck and Scott Hoch earned their cards when PGA Tour School finals were held there.
Pete Dye’s late brother, Roy, designed Waterwood, although the ...
It's not too late to book some golf this Labor Day weekend
Thursday September 3, 2009 | 08:02:47 pm 255 words, 2661 views
If you haven’t made golf plans yet for Labor Day, it might not be too late. It seems it’s still a buyer’s market with a lot of courses offering specials this weekend as many parts of the country start to experience fall weather.
Several airlines are also running some deals, trying to fill seats to places like Las Vegas and New York City. And some high-end resorts and courses are offering some specials as well.
For example, Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks near Denver is offering a two-for-one special this weekend. All you have to do is call the pro shop ...
How you can support our troops through golf
Tuesday September 1, 2009 | 11:40:37 pm 206 words, 2642 views
If you’d like to show your support for our military personnel, here’s your chance. On and around Sept. 11, golfers at more than 100 courses in 34 states will Tee It Up For The Troops during the fifth annual National Day of Golf.
The event, through tournaments, donations and charity auctions, is designed to support fallen and disabled members of the United States Armed Forces and their families.
One of the venues is Vista Valley Country Club, the only course in the San Diego area to host a TIUFTT event.
All the funds raised this year at Vista Valley on Sept. ...
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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