Yes, Tiger Woods won his first match at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. But if you bothered to look beyond his birdie-eagle start Wednesday, you saw a golf superstar so far off his game that I bet it even surprised Woods. Did you see some of those wild shots he hit Thursday (actually, both days)? It would be hard to pick which one was the worst. Hey, that Nike commercial was great, you know the one where everybody’s having a great time, and then suddenly Woods walks in and the locker room goes silent? Well, maybe the students are still shooting ...

Just got the new TaylorMade R9 Driver late Tuesday, and dude, it is a hot piece of machinery! Don’t bother running down to your local golf shop to get it, either. It won’t be in stores for at least a couple weeks, or as TaylorMade so succinctly put in their promo material, “3.06.09.” I’ll be test driving it Wednesday, before Tiger Woods enraptures the golf world with his comeback at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz. A more detailed review will come later. With its clean lines and aerodynamic shape, if this ...

You might not be able to play the famed Blue Monster course during this particular stay at Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Seems Tiger Woods likely will have a tee time that weekend while trying to win another World Golf Championships – CA Championship title that weekend. But you certainly can have a front row seat to watch one of the top PGA Tour events March 12-15, when the Miami resort is offering a 15% discount on its tournament golf packages. The bargains start at $349 per night ($399 for double occupancy) and include daily tickets that give ...

Tough times for the golf industry hasn’t stopped Rosen Shingle Creek resort from saying thanks to those who serve our country. From now through September, the Orlando golf destination has put in special rates for active duty, reserve and retired military personnel. Service members can play for $59 until April 5, then $49 from April 6 through May 17. The summer rate is $39 from May 18 to September 30. Price includes greens fees and golf cart at Shingle Creek Golf Club. It’s a deep discount, too. Rates usually run between $79 and $149 during those dates. ...

PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - I really didn’t feel like going. But I’m glad I did. Any trip to a golf destination or vacation resort includes one of those moments. Golf might be the first priority, but you’ve got to put the sticks down occasionally and enjoy a little history and culture. Hey, if you want to be a lug, stay home and don’t crowd the courses and sites for the rest of us! This time, I got in the car and drove from Callaway Gardens through the FDR State Park, taking Highway 190 along Pine Mountain. The gorgeous views west ...

Random thoughts on the first day of a trip to Callaway Gardens (Lake View and Mountain View courses) in Pine Mountain, Ga.: There are no bounds to the idiocy of our airlines. And the Japanese Paper Kite is a very cool butterfly. Did AirTran, Delta, American and every other airline figure that charging people to check bags only encourages people not to check them? Which causes even more people to try and jam their luggage onto planes? You know who you all are, and after listening to a gate attendant in Sarasota berate boarding customers several times, I was ...

Seems a good number of golf destinations and resort hotels have been renovating, refurbishing, remodeling (or whatever you want to call it) their properties lately. Which could be a hopeful economic indicator for the industry and the travelers they want to attract. I’m headed this week to Callaway Gardens Golf Resort, a property in Pine Mountain, Ga., that has been rejuvenated. They’ve got two courses, the Lake View and Mountain View layouts, a spa and all the amenities. The storied Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida recently announced it has completed a $220 million refurbishment. ...

Another day, another Tiger Woods update. He’s going full bore in practice sessions, his knee is stronger than ever, surgery hasn’t changed his swing … Yawn. Meanwhile, television, tournaments and the PGA Tour wait for the bailout that only Tiger can provide. Like he’ll single-handedly turn every 55-inch flat screen back to golf and rescue the game from economic ruin. If anybody could, it’s him. A lot is riding on Woods’ return, and not just for Tiger. But I’m just wondering if it’s possible to put too much on Woods’ formidable shoulders. On the course, he ...