The 2010 season on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and other pro tours, will once again be dotted with more than 30 golfers who have deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses. It's tough to pin the exact number these days because more golfers move to the area seemingly everyday, but the following is a guide to the official websites of the most new-media friendly Las Vegas golfers who include Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Adam Scott and new resident Rickie Fowler.
As a note, we classify a pro as having deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses if he or she qualifies in one or more of the following categories: once lived here for a substantial amount of time (more than five years), currently lives in Las Vegas; and/or attended and played golf at UNLV. Those not qualifying who earn honorable mention but are not included as official Vegas golfers are those that work with Las Vegas resident Butch Harmon, and spend time at the Harmon School located at Rio Secco Golf Club. Two examples: Stewart Cink and Phil Mickleson.
The following are direct links to the official websites of many of the tour players with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. You can continue reading this article for more detailed information about each of the websites. The following are the direct links: Erica Blasberg, Alex Cejka, Rickie Fowler, Robert Gamez, Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Kevin Na, Adam Scott, Nick Watney, and Dean Wilson. Information on the various other Las Vegas golfers who either don't have official websites or we were unable to locate them can be found at the official tour websites. Those other Las Vegas golfers include Scott Piercy, Chris Riley, Inbee Park, Kim Hall, Stephanie Louden, Chad Campbell, Tommy Armour III, Craig Barlow, Ryan Moore, and others.
Not only are many pros with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses embracing online information, but a fact about playing golf in Las Vegas is that the official websites of Las Vegas golf courses is where you will find the best Las Vegas golf rates. The Las Vegas golf region is home to more than 50 world class golf courses and most have good websites that offer online Las Vegas golf tee times and Las Vegas golf packages, plus up-to-date information about the best rates and deals. And this website offers you direct access to many of these official websites. The featured course for this article is Rhodes Ranch Golf Club, a Ted Robinson Las Vegas golf course that offers a nice set of par 3 holes plus typical Robinson fun and challenge.
Rickie Fowler (rickie-fowler.com) tops the list of "new media friendly" Las Vegas golfers. Fowler is arguably the newest official pro with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. Fowler moved to Las Vegas in October, just one week before the playing of Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Fowler now lives in Summerlin and plays and practices at Las Vegas golf courses TPC Las Vegas and TPC Summlerin. TPC Las Vegas is a resort Las Vegas golf course where visiting and local Las Vegas golfers are always welcome. Fowler is adept at Facebook, Twitter and his team continually updates his website. A latest tweet: "Out grindin with D Woo at Summerlin." Fowler is the new generation of golfer and we believe "D Woo" is fellow Las Vegas resident and PGA Tour player Dean Wilson.
The aformentioned Dean Wilson is also online at DeanWilsonGolf.com, a website hosted and created by 808Golf.com, a publishing company that highlights Wilson's native land of Hawaii. Wilson's website features regular updates about his PGA Tour events plus information about his background and does list a blog that isn't updated very often. Wilson has lived in Las Vegas for several years and is one of the many who regularly play and practice at Las Vegas' TPC golf courses.
Natalie Gulbis (nataliegulbis.com) ranks up there with Fowler as one of the best at embracing new media technology. Gulbis continually posts to her journal on her official website, plus is always promoting various events and/or products. A recent Gulbis post breaks the news about an upcoming appearance on the hit show CSI that is based in Las Vegas. "I recently had the opportunity to make a guest appearance for an upcoming episode of CSI. I have been a fan for many years and was excited to be part of the show! It was fun to have the chance to see firsthand what goes into the production. Be sure to tune in to check out the episode on Thursday, January 21, 2010 on CBS at 9pm!" Gulbis has lived in the Lake Las Vegas Resort community for many years and practices at SouthShore Golf Club in addition to spending time with Harmon at his school.
Another Las Vegas LPGA Tour player and resident is Erica Blasberg (ericablasberg.com), who has played professional golf since 2005 following a career at the University of Arizona. Blasberg has earned more than $320,000 in her LPGA Tour career through 2009, but had a tough 2009 season as she finished 128th on the money list, earning $26,408. Blasberg did play in the LPGA Tour Championship to end the season, earning another $3000. Blasberg's website features up-to-date current news about her game but the "my thoughts" section on the website isn't updated very regularly.
Former UNLV golfer Adam Scott (adamscott.com.au) is also very new-media friendly, as he keeps an up-to-date blog at his official website. Scott formerly trained with Harmon, but the two haven't worked together for awhile. Scott recently won his home-country major, the Australian Open, capping a tough year and updated fans via his blog. "I've been meaning to write for a few days now and the days keep getting away from me. It's been a good end to the season and I've been enjoying some down time. I was pleased with finishing the year with 4 top ten finishes including winning my first national championship on home soil! I've been close at home, but I never got over the line until this year. I think winning the Australian Open makes it even sweeter. Unfortunately I had to go through about six months of just playing pretty awful but that's how the game is. I feel like my game is stronger and I'm definitely a better player and learned a great deal by going through the rough patch. It was also very special that Greg Norman was at the Aussie Open and presented me with the trophy." Scott no longer lives in Las Vegas.
Former UNLV All-American and current Las Vegas resident Charley Hoffman (charleyhoffman.com) works hard at his official website where he offers a clothing line to help raise funds for his new foundation. Hoffman's website also offers updated news and a blog in addition to ways to support his charitable efforts. You can buy "Think Green" shirts or Hoffman gear featuring the slogan, "This guy is good!".
Las Vegas resident and European golfer Alex Cejka (alex-cejka.com) has an official website which is written in his native German language, but is updated often. The site features news and information plus a kids corner and more. By using the website freetranslation.com you can cut and paste Cejka's words and have them translated into English. A recent post about his 2009 season: "Yes, I can be satisfied. I am very proud that I had to fight this year neither for the tour card or (had to play) the Qualifying School. With my season, I was very satisfied, for I played well. At the beginning, it was, on the basis of my injury, (difficult), but in the course of the year, I found my form." Cejka earned $953,664 and finished 95th on the official PGA Tour money list.
Most of the official website of Las Vegas native Robert Gamez (robertgamez.com) is dedicated to his annual fundraiser for his foundation. Gamez now lives in Florida but recently held his event at ChampionsGate golf course. The event included a gala evening highlighted by comedian Gary Valentine of King and Queens fame.
Fairly new Las Vegas resident Nick Watney is alive in the new media world via Facebook where a regularly-updated page features news and posts from Watney, who also works with Harmon. A recent post at the page reveals that Watney, who attended Fresno State, was recently honored as the Sacrament Bee Athlete of the Year. The Facebook page also lists his website as his profile page on PGATour.com. Lastly, Las Vegas resident Kevin Na, a native of South Korea, has a very limited web presence at KevinNa.com.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Roseville gains a toehold ontot the Ladies European Professional Golf Tour
Del Paso Country Club is reducing its initiation fee by $30,000 in the latest signal that a sagging economy and abundance of competition for the golfing dollar continues to take a toll on area private clubs.
The cost to join Del Paso is dropping from $75,000 to $45,000. The move is intended to stimulate new membership interest, general manager Bob Kunz said.
"The factors outside of our walls have changed," Kunz said. "We need to offer a price point that is relevant to a new normal."
Del Paso generated significant new membership interest when it renovated its course and reopened in July 2006 after an 18-month closure. The cost to join swelled from $60,000 to $75,000 and the number of members reached 485, the club's ceiling. Del Paso now has 400 members, Kunz said.
Hal Drury, a Del Paso member since 1950 when he paid an initiation fee of $1,400, said he believes it's the first time the cost to join the member-owned club has decreased in the past 59 years.
Granite Bay, with an initiation fee of $60,000, takes over as the area's most expensive club. The club attracted 25 new members in 2009 and is at its 475-member cap, membership director Michael Lee said.
Granite Bay discussed lowering the initiation fee it has maintained for seven years, but last year instead increased the percentage it refunds to outgoing members from 50 to 75 percent of the listed fee. That made current and prospective members happy, Lee said.
Granite Bay is owned and operated by ClubCorp.
How does Lee feel about Granite Bay being the new top dog in town?
"I'm pretty proud of it, to be honest," Lee said. "It says a lot about Granite Bay and product that we have."
Serrano costs $35,000 after having recently dipped to $20,000 in a temporary membership push.
Catta Verdera is $20,000, but general manager Jeff Wilson said he intends to implement a plan in the first quarter of 2010 that will significantly reduce that fee to stimulate new membership.
North Ridge is $9,500.
Winchester, which had an initiation fee of $60,000, went into foreclosure last year, its members losing all of their equity.
Welch carries on
Kim Welch remains the queen of pro golf's fringes.
The Roseville resident continued a frustrating streak last week in Spain, gaining a toehold onto the Ladies European Professional Golf Tour but falling one stroke short of gaining tour membership and exempt status.
After three prequaliyfing and four qualifying rounds, she finished a stroke out of the magic top 30. A second-round 80 in the final stage that included a quadruple 9 didn't help. She had an eagle 3 on the 18th hole in the final round.
Welch, a St. Francis High School graduate and winner of the Golf Channel's "Big Break: Ka'anapali" reality series last year, was a member of the LPGA Tour in 2009 but with status so low she gained entrance into just four tournaments.
She's again an LPGA Tour member for 2010, but with similar status.
The cost to join Del Paso is dropping from $75,000 to $45,000. The move is intended to stimulate new membership interest, general manager Bob Kunz said.
"The factors outside of our walls have changed," Kunz said. "We need to offer a price point that is relevant to a new normal."
Del Paso generated significant new membership interest when it renovated its course and reopened in July 2006 after an 18-month closure. The cost to join swelled from $60,000 to $75,000 and the number of members reached 485, the club's ceiling. Del Paso now has 400 members, Kunz said.
Hal Drury, a Del Paso member since 1950 when he paid an initiation fee of $1,400, said he believes it's the first time the cost to join the member-owned club has decreased in the past 59 years.
Granite Bay, with an initiation fee of $60,000, takes over as the area's most expensive club. The club attracted 25 new members in 2009 and is at its 475-member cap, membership director Michael Lee said.
Granite Bay discussed lowering the initiation fee it has maintained for seven years, but last year instead increased the percentage it refunds to outgoing members from 50 to 75 percent of the listed fee. That made current and prospective members happy, Lee said.
Granite Bay is owned and operated by ClubCorp.
How does Lee feel about Granite Bay being the new top dog in town?
"I'm pretty proud of it, to be honest," Lee said. "It says a lot about Granite Bay and product that we have."
Serrano costs $35,000 after having recently dipped to $20,000 in a temporary membership push.
Catta Verdera is $20,000, but general manager Jeff Wilson said he intends to implement a plan in the first quarter of 2010 that will significantly reduce that fee to stimulate new membership.
North Ridge is $9,500.
Winchester, which had an initiation fee of $60,000, went into foreclosure last year, its members losing all of their equity.
Welch carries on
Kim Welch remains the queen of pro golf's fringes.
The Roseville resident continued a frustrating streak last week in Spain, gaining a toehold onto the Ladies European Professional Golf Tour but falling one stroke short of gaining tour membership and exempt status.
After three prequaliyfing and four qualifying rounds, she finished a stroke out of the magic top 30. A second-round 80 in the final stage that included a quadruple 9 didn't help. She had an eagle 3 on the 18th hole in the final round.
Welch, a St. Francis High School graduate and winner of the Golf Channel's "Big Break: Ka'anapali" reality series last year, was a member of the LPGA Tour in 2009 but with status so low she gained entrance into just four tournaments.
She's again an LPGA Tour member for 2010, but with similar status.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
the golf tour event at Dakota Dunes
Even though, economically, 2009 was a challenging year for some, tourism in Saskatoon had many success stories.
Todd Brandt says a newer festival in the city, the Fireworks Festival, was a huge success and the weather cooperated.
Unfortunately that was not the case for the Cameco Canada Remembers Air Show, which was cursed with excessive rain.
Brandt adds that convention activity was steady and the summer months had the usual strong line-up including the Children's Festival, Folkfest, and the Jazz Festival.
He lists the B-MO Canadian Figure Skating Championships, the golf tour event at Dakota Dunes, NASCAR at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway and the World Junior Hockey Championships as sporting highlights for 2009 in Saskatoon.
Doing some number crunching of various events, Brandt says something like the World Junior Hockey Championships will have an economic impact of 44-million dollars in the province, but even a smaller event could bring in anywhere from 400-thousand to a million dollars in activity to the city.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The money was raised from the John A. DiNapoli Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament
On Tuesday, more than 100 family members, friends and colleagues of slain police officer John A. DiNapoli gathered across from the Appleton Street police headquarters to pay their respects to DiNapoli, who was shot dead in his police cruiser 10 years ago, and to two other city police officers killed in the line of duty.
DiNapoli's son and daughter, Andrew D. DiNapoli, a nine-year city police officer, and Jobeth DiNapoli, stood with Jamie B. Gonsor, daughter of late police officer James E. Gatzounas, stood beside the memorial as the Police Department's honor guard brought a wreath to the memorial. Gonsor is also John DiNapoli's goddaughter.
DiNapoli, well-known for his knack for telling jokes and his laughing way of interacting with children, was 52 and had been a police officer for 22 years when he answered a disturbance call on Dec. 22, 1999. Unarmed and in an unmarked police cruiser, DiNapoli encountered Eddie O. Morales, who shot a 9 mm gun at DiNapoli 10 times. DiNapoli was struck five times. Morales is serving a life sentence after a first-degree murder conviction.
"Today, I'm happy and sad," said officer Gary G. Wagner, one of DiNapoli's close friends and a member of the department's honor guard. "I'm sad I don't have my friend, but I'm happy to see his memory has not been lost."
For his closest family members, like his children, his mother, Myra DiNapoli, and his sister, June A. Sullivan, the memories of the day 10 years ago never go away. "What can I say? He was the best there was," said Myra DiNapoli, now 91. "You couldn't ask for a better son."
Sullivan was at the Holyoke Public Library, about a block away from the shooting, when her brother was killed. She remembers seeing the police helicopters and wondering what was going on as she returned to her job at a career center on High Street. She got the bad news shortly after when her husband Edwin J. "Snooky" Sullivan came to her office.
Because the shooting happened shortly before Christmas, it has cast a pall over the holidays for the entire family every year since, she said.
"We had his presents under the tree that he never opened," Sullivan said. Over the years she has given them to other people.
Sullivan said she and her mother and other family members usually get together on the anniversary of the shooting."It's a sad day for her," she said.
"It's hard on everybody, and it doesn't get any easier for my grandmother, even after 10 years," added Garrison J. Rivard, John DiNapoli's nephew and godson as well as a former police officer who was among the first responders to the shooting scene. "I served with John for 18 years; I was in the ambulance with him on the way to the hospital. I held him the whole way there."
Before the ceremony, Wagner presented the Rev. Robert A. Gentile, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, with a donation for Blessed Sacrament School. The money was raised from the John A. DiNapoli Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament.
The ceremony started 8:45 a.m. At 8:52 a.m., the exact time DiNapoli responded to a call for a disturbance at Sargeant and Walnut streets on Dec. 22, 1999, the police dispatcher put out a call for "Holyoke Police Department, all cars and units."
"We are having a moment of silence for fallen officers John P. Driscoll, James Gatzounas and John DiNapoli, who died in the line of duty this day in 1999," the dispatcher said, her voice carrying above the crowd encircling the memorial that shows DiNapoli with two small children.
Gatzounas died of a heart attack at age 28 after responding to a disturbance on Jan. 1, 1977. His then-wife, Beth Gonsor, was pregnant at the time. Gonsor and DiNapoli's ex-wife, Joanne Silvestris, are sisters.
Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, also a friend of John DiNapoli's, said he has a difficult time believing a decade has passed. His voice breaking, Sullivan offered his condolences to DiNapoli's family and friends.
"Like it says on the back of the monument, it's not how they died but how they lived their lives," Sullivan said.
DiNapoli's son and daughter, Andrew D. DiNapoli, a nine-year city police officer, and Jobeth DiNapoli, stood with Jamie B. Gonsor, daughter of late police officer James E. Gatzounas, stood beside the memorial as the Police Department's honor guard brought a wreath to the memorial. Gonsor is also John DiNapoli's goddaughter.
DiNapoli, well-known for his knack for telling jokes and his laughing way of interacting with children, was 52 and had been a police officer for 22 years when he answered a disturbance call on Dec. 22, 1999. Unarmed and in an unmarked police cruiser, DiNapoli encountered Eddie O. Morales, who shot a 9 mm gun at DiNapoli 10 times. DiNapoli was struck five times. Morales is serving a life sentence after a first-degree murder conviction.
"Today, I'm happy and sad," said officer Gary G. Wagner, one of DiNapoli's close friends and a member of the department's honor guard. "I'm sad I don't have my friend, but I'm happy to see his memory has not been lost."
For his closest family members, like his children, his mother, Myra DiNapoli, and his sister, June A. Sullivan, the memories of the day 10 years ago never go away. "What can I say? He was the best there was," said Myra DiNapoli, now 91. "You couldn't ask for a better son."
Sullivan was at the Holyoke Public Library, about a block away from the shooting, when her brother was killed. She remembers seeing the police helicopters and wondering what was going on as she returned to her job at a career center on High Street. She got the bad news shortly after when her husband Edwin J. "Snooky" Sullivan came to her office.
Because the shooting happened shortly before Christmas, it has cast a pall over the holidays for the entire family every year since, she said.
"We had his presents under the tree that he never opened," Sullivan said. Over the years she has given them to other people.
Sullivan said she and her mother and other family members usually get together on the anniversary of the shooting."It's a sad day for her," she said.
"It's hard on everybody, and it doesn't get any easier for my grandmother, even after 10 years," added Garrison J. Rivard, John DiNapoli's nephew and godson as well as a former police officer who was among the first responders to the shooting scene. "I served with John for 18 years; I was in the ambulance with him on the way to the hospital. I held him the whole way there."
Before the ceremony, Wagner presented the Rev. Robert A. Gentile, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, with a donation for Blessed Sacrament School. The money was raised from the John A. DiNapoli Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament.
The ceremony started 8:45 a.m. At 8:52 a.m., the exact time DiNapoli responded to a call for a disturbance at Sargeant and Walnut streets on Dec. 22, 1999, the police dispatcher put out a call for "Holyoke Police Department, all cars and units."
"We are having a moment of silence for fallen officers John P. Driscoll, James Gatzounas and John DiNapoli, who died in the line of duty this day in 1999," the dispatcher said, her voice carrying above the crowd encircling the memorial that shows DiNapoli with two small children.
Gatzounas died of a heart attack at age 28 after responding to a disturbance on Jan. 1, 1977. His then-wife, Beth Gonsor, was pregnant at the time. Gonsor and DiNapoli's ex-wife, Joanne Silvestris, are sisters.
Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, also a friend of John DiNapoli's, said he has a difficult time believing a decade has passed. His voice breaking, Sullivan offered his condolences to DiNapoli's family and friends.
"Like it says on the back of the monument, it's not how they died but how they lived their lives," Sullivan said.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wonderful, He wins it.
Tiger Woods has been voted male Golfer of the Year in the annual Golf Writers of America Awards, the PGA Tour said on Thursday.
Woods received 84 percent of the vote (168 votes) with 10 percent for Steve Stricker and six percent for PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun.
The American was a runaway winner of the award for the 10th time in 13 seasons despite the recent tabloid revelations about his personal life.
Woods has taken an "indefinite break" from the game after admitting to being unfaithful to his wife.
South Korean Jiyai Shin, the LPGA’s Rookie of the Year, won the female player award while Loren Roberts won the senior player of the year prize.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Maybe it's time for golf to be calm down
European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has said that American golfer Tiger Woods' marriage crisis could have destroyed him personally, and his return as the world's top golfer is in doubt.
Montgomerie also said the shock revelations about Woods' infidelity could make it easier for his rivals to win in future.
"I think the mystique has gone. He is suddenly, and I hate to say it, more normal now. Let's hope golf is not damaged by that. It shouldn't be," The Mirror quoted Montgomerie, as saying.
"It will have an impact on every tournament Tiger plays. There was an aura, but that has been split. It gives you more opportunity of winning these events," he added.
Meanwhile, talking about Woods indefinite break from the sport, European Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley said that he is hopeful that Woods's absence will last just months rather than years.
"Obviously Tiger's main priority now has got to be to rebuild his life. And at the age of 34, he can take as much time as he needs to get it right. But golf needs him back, and sooner rather than later," McGinley said.
"With the economic downturn and with competition from so many other sports, golf has to have all hands on deck and Tiger is the biggest hand there is," he added.
Montgomerie also said the shock revelations about Woods' infidelity could make it easier for his rivals to win in future.
"I think the mystique has gone. He is suddenly, and I hate to say it, more normal now. Let's hope golf is not damaged by that. It shouldn't be," The Mirror quoted Montgomerie, as saying.
"It will have an impact on every tournament Tiger plays. There was an aura, but that has been split. It gives you more opportunity of winning these events," he added.
Meanwhile, talking about Woods indefinite break from the sport, European Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley said that he is hopeful that Woods's absence will last just months rather than years.
"Obviously Tiger's main priority now has got to be to rebuild his life. And at the age of 34, he can take as much time as he needs to get it right. But golf needs him back, and sooner rather than later," McGinley said.
"With the economic downturn and with competition from so many other sports, golf has to have all hands on deck and Tiger is the biggest hand there is," he added.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Tiger Woods' infidelity has been anything but a "good thing" for Tiger's family
“God bless Tiger Woods,” says Yahoo’s chief executive Carol Bartz.
Although Tiger Woods' infidelity has been anything but a "good thing" for Tiger's family, major corporate sponsors, and even the sport of golf, it is good for one thing - popular search engine juggernaut Yahoo.
According to Bartz, Tiger Woods infidelity could prove even better for driving web traffic than Michael Jackson's death was.
Speaking to the audience at the UBS Media Conference last week, Bartz says the Tiger Woods sex scandal could very well prove the story of the year and the most widely profitable headline in recent memory.
But don't look for Tiger Woods to benefit from the headlines.
With the prospect of major sponsorships being cut and lost revenue from Tiger Woods' withdrawing from the sport of golf indefinitely, the only way Tiger Woods can conceivably profit from his scandal, according to some media industry analysts, is to write a book.
But as an intensely private individual, Tiger Woods is unlikely to do so.
So what will Tiger Woods do next? No one really knows for sure - even Tiger Woods.
Although Tiger Woods' infidelity has been anything but a "good thing" for Tiger's family, major corporate sponsors, and even the sport of golf, it is good for one thing - popular search engine juggernaut Yahoo.
According to Bartz, Tiger Woods infidelity could prove even better for driving web traffic than Michael Jackson's death was.
Speaking to the audience at the UBS Media Conference last week, Bartz says the Tiger Woods sex scandal could very well prove the story of the year and the most widely profitable headline in recent memory.
But don't look for Tiger Woods to benefit from the headlines.
With the prospect of major sponsorships being cut and lost revenue from Tiger Woods' withdrawing from the sport of golf indefinitely, the only way Tiger Woods can conceivably profit from his scandal, according to some media industry analysts, is to write a book.
But as an intensely private individual, Tiger Woods is unlikely to do so.
So what will Tiger Woods do next? No one really knows for sure - even Tiger Woods.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Most of us have not been singled out by massive corporations to sell products to people who trust Tiger Woods or Greg Norman
Woods had not put a foot wrong in public life since he emerged as the greatest player the game has seen nearly a decade ago. He was from a solid, middle-class family, with a father figure who was a perfect mentor. His sense of self-discipline was unmatched in the sporting world and he was always charming.
Tiger was machine-like in the way he went about his business. Occasionally, there was a sign of ill-temper when the golf ball didn't do what it was told (there is now speculation that the mood swings could have been as a result of prescription drugs).
Generally, though, Tiger Woods Inc was a well-oiled machine with endorsements only an all-American, handsome lad like him could have attracted.
This week, Tiger Woods must be wishing he was not a master of the universe. Like the fictional Tom Wolfe character in Bonfire Of The Vanities, who disintegrated as a human being, our real-life sporting master is doing the same before our very eyes.
Today he is publicly disgraced, locked inside his home with an enraged, sad and embittered wife and two young children. From a public relations point of view, it is a very, very long journey back.The backlash against the media invasion of his privacy has started. Greg Norman has said big sporting stars should be allowed to have a private life away from the spotlight.
Radio commentator Alan Jones said he believed Tiger deserved to be left alone. "After all, these women all knew he was married," he said. They have missed the point. While most media commentators are not angels themselves, they have every right to continue to uncover the trail of destruction Tiger Woods left behind with little regard for anyone but himself.
Norman, Jones et al have overlooked that so far 11 alleged mistresses have come forward and there is the promise of more. This is not a one-off. The women reflect, by the nature of their work, a behavioural pattern in the world's best golfer that must be disturbing to those who have placed their trust in him for so long.
Norman is one who believes that sportsmen should not attract media scrutiny of their private lives - that they are not public figures. That is a nonsense. Tiger Woods and Norman are not your everyday knockabouts.
Most of us do not seek to earn $900 million from endorsements. Most of us have not been singled out by massive corporations to sell products to people who trust Tiger Woods or Greg Norman. Most of us have not put ourselves on such a lofty pedestal that we command millions of dollars just to turn up at an event.
Take the marital issues out of the equation and look at Tiger Woods, the brand. He tells us we should trust his watch maker, his shaver and his sports drink because he uses them. We must use Nike golf clubs because they never let you down.
But the very person endorsing these most lofty of brands is not someone we can trust anymore. Those minders who have protected his lifestyle for so long must now be wondering how on earth Woods can ever come back from here.
They, too, have a lot to answer for. These are the men we are told set up a cordon of protection around Tiger that allegedly included lining him up with a legion of women over a long period and guarding his image so zealously that they fooled almost all of us.
Even more alarming is that if Elin Woods hadn't called 911, we might not know now. The myth would have gone on and we would have continued to look like naive fools in love with the idea that a sportsman and superstar could actually be nearly perfect.
That Elin Woods may stay is a matter for her. Whether we, as Tiger's former disciples, keep adoring him is the question that really matters. We forgave Shane Warne and didn't think we could. But Tiger is not nearly as likable or imperfect as Warnie always was - we loved Woods for very different reasons.
Can we forgive a bloke who built a reputation on perfection? The love affair Woods has had with us, his adoring public, was based on what we now know was myth. He was never really who he appeared to be. Spin doctors and public relations minders can try their guts out to mend his reputation but Tiger Woods has knocked the stuffing out of himself.
Tiger, the man, will never be fully redeemed.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wood carvings by Irv Brownstein and Bob Franza, including relief and in the round
The 10th annual Arts and Crafts Festival hosted Saturday by the Del Webb's Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club Arts and Crafts League was proof the seniors at the adult community lead an active and productive life.
The event turned the Horizon Center Ballroom into a bazaar reminiscent of a town square or fairground where crowds turn out to admire the handiwork of artisans - friends, neighbors and fellow seniors - who have found new avenues of creativity and self expression, or expanded and rekindled old ones.
The league's more than 300 members learn, teach, share and support one another. Classes are taught by members or professionals from the area. A craft room in the community center offers communal work space, with an array of tools and two kilns for baking ceramics, pottery and other handiwork.
"We have really talented people," said league president Mike Johnson. "I'm amazed every time we have one of these events at the stuff that comes out; such creative people."
He marveled at the mediums represented: "Needle craft, fine art, jewelry, ceramics, woodcarving, knitting and crocheting, basketry, quilting and more."
Johnson also pointed out some of the good work the group does for the greater community,
"Our needle crafters do beautiful work for the hospital making hats for cancer victims, and next week we are doing a fundraiser for The Community Gratitude Food Bank in Ocklawaha," he said.
While the festival serves as an outlet for exhibitors to connect with the SCGCC community and see their work enjoyed, the primary mission is to raise funds for Hospice of Marion County, the league's chosen charity.
Adding to the "fair like" quality, raffle tickets were sold at the door and Gene Ryan announced winners throughout the event. Prizes included donations from each of the 51 exhibitors and gift certificates from a number of local businesses.
According to event chairwoman Mary Ann Schuyler, proceeds from table rentals, the raffle and a hot dog/hamburger lunch amounted to $2,066 donated to hospice.
"I like coming to these; it's one of the nicer things we do," said Joyce McGrath, a former HOA board member. "It's a great place to buy Christmas gifts."
There were rows of tables filled with beautiful items, such as:
Linda Lingenfelter's crocheted purses from grocery bags and sparkling belts from aluminum pop tops.
Carol Pardell's pine needle baskets with bottoms made from wood carvings, jewelry, seashells or other items, which are then boiled in bees wax and paraffin
Billie Capps' etched and painted gourds; decorative bottles and ceramics.
Emmalou Huston's pastel oil and water color paintings of angels and children.
Joyce Kudron's ornamental jewelry designs, with help from Donna Mould.
Harley Olson's tiny cartoon-like animals and characters in "sculpy clay."
Wood carvings by Irv Brownstein and Bob Franza, including relief and in the round.
Tom Hargarten surveyed the room while his wife, Ginny, did some serious shopping.
"Beautiful, very artistic; there is so much talent here," he said.
Exhibitor Bernice Wernick, who does scrap booking, among other crafts, said, "I feel like I live at summer camp ... and this is arts and crafts!"
Monday, December 7, 2009
The so-called monster rock band, meanwhile, was on hand to promote a business chain called Monster Mini Golf.
One hint that Sunday’s 30th annual Taunton Christmas Parade was a rousing success: by noon, the eastbound lane of High Street was backed up all the way from Ingell to Winthrop streets.
More telling than any mundane traffic diversion, however, was the fact that thousands of people lined Broadway to watch one of the more colorful and varied Christmas processions in recent memory.
From a mini-contingent of Philadelphia-based Mummers to a live rock band made up of mini-golf “monsters,” this year’s parade had a little bit of something for everyone. That’s not to say there wasn’t the usual array of civic-and municipal-oriented participants — among which were members of the Taunton police and fire departments, Berkley Fire Department and Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.
But for many in the crowd it was a personal connection of some sort that drew them in.
Fawn, a 32-year-old mother of four, admitted that she had an ulterior motive for showing up: Her 14-year-old son Jacob plays trumpet in the Taunton High School marching band.
Originally from Boston’s Dorchester section, she said that since moving to Taunton eight years ago with her husband and children, she has come to appreciate the quality of the marching bands that participate year after year.
“The bands here are amazing compared to the ones in Boston,” she said, as she kept hold of a leash attached to Douglas, her 2-year-old mostly Beagle mixed breed.
It turns out it wasn’t Taunton High but one of the out-of-town bands that took all of the honors Sunday as this year’s best marching band: Somerset High School band took a majority of votes across three categories — appearance, sound and marching ability.
Their performance — played for six judges standing in a reviewing stand in front of Taunton Green — featured intricate ensemble work, particularly within the percussion section, on an unorthodox song that was more in the style of contemporary classical than John Philip Sousa.
Another highlight was the Build A Band For Santa, a nearly 400-strong, highly-organized collaboration made up of students from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High, East Providence High and Portsmouth High schools.
This year’s Christmas parade, like others, began at the intersection of Broadway and East Britannia Street. The largest crowds could be found standing along the parade route near side streets on that section of Broadway.
The award for best float went to the non-profit Triumph Head Start, whose “Just Like We Used to Know” featured young children seated around a recreation of Christmas as it might have looked 100 years ago. The float was simple and sparse, with small firs, lanterns and tots wearing old-fashioned fur hats.
“The voting was very close,” said judge Ray Correia. “But they did a lot of research [into] the antique toys, gifts and costumes.”
The Irish American String Mummer Band, which made a rare appearance, performs every New Year’s Day in the much larger Philadelphia Mummers Parade procession. Their bizarrely garish costumes and odd collection of banjos, saxophones and a mandolin went over well with the crowed.
The so-called monster rock band, meanwhile, was on hand to promote a business chain called Monster Mini Golf.
A humorous, although unintended, moment occurred when, during a procession of classic American cars from the 1950s and ‘60s, an early ‘60s Dodge Dart — with a 383-horsepower engine — stalled and died in front of Taunton Green. With four men pushing, the muscle car managed to make its way down Main Street to City Hall.
Bringing up the rear was none other than Santa Claus.
As the parade ended and people began to leave the downtown area, the only procession left to be seen was that of baby strollers being pushed by parents.
More telling than any mundane traffic diversion, however, was the fact that thousands of people lined Broadway to watch one of the more colorful and varied Christmas processions in recent memory.
From a mini-contingent of Philadelphia-based Mummers to a live rock band made up of mini-golf “monsters,” this year’s parade had a little bit of something for everyone. That’s not to say there wasn’t the usual array of civic-and municipal-oriented participants — among which were members of the Taunton police and fire departments, Berkley Fire Department and Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.
But for many in the crowd it was a personal connection of some sort that drew them in.
Fawn, a 32-year-old mother of four, admitted that she had an ulterior motive for showing up: Her 14-year-old son Jacob plays trumpet in the Taunton High School marching band.
Originally from Boston’s Dorchester section, she said that since moving to Taunton eight years ago with her husband and children, she has come to appreciate the quality of the marching bands that participate year after year.
“The bands here are amazing compared to the ones in Boston,” she said, as she kept hold of a leash attached to Douglas, her 2-year-old mostly Beagle mixed breed.
It turns out it wasn’t Taunton High but one of the out-of-town bands that took all of the honors Sunday as this year’s best marching band: Somerset High School band took a majority of votes across three categories — appearance, sound and marching ability.
Their performance — played for six judges standing in a reviewing stand in front of Taunton Green — featured intricate ensemble work, particularly within the percussion section, on an unorthodox song that was more in the style of contemporary classical than John Philip Sousa.
Another highlight was the Build A Band For Santa, a nearly 400-strong, highly-organized collaboration made up of students from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High, East Providence High and Portsmouth High schools.
This year’s Christmas parade, like others, began at the intersection of Broadway and East Britannia Street. The largest crowds could be found standing along the parade route near side streets on that section of Broadway.
The award for best float went to the non-profit Triumph Head Start, whose “Just Like We Used to Know” featured young children seated around a recreation of Christmas as it might have looked 100 years ago. The float was simple and sparse, with small firs, lanterns and tots wearing old-fashioned fur hats.
“The voting was very close,” said judge Ray Correia. “But they did a lot of research [into] the antique toys, gifts and costumes.”
The Irish American String Mummer Band, which made a rare appearance, performs every New Year’s Day in the much larger Philadelphia Mummers Parade procession. Their bizarrely garish costumes and odd collection of banjos, saxophones and a mandolin went over well with the crowed.
The so-called monster rock band, meanwhile, was on hand to promote a business chain called Monster Mini Golf.
A humorous, although unintended, moment occurred when, during a procession of classic American cars from the 1950s and ‘60s, an early ‘60s Dodge Dart — with a 383-horsepower engine — stalled and died in front of Taunton Green. With four men pushing, the muscle car managed to make its way down Main Street to City Hall.
Bringing up the rear was none other than Santa Claus.
As the parade ended and people began to leave the downtown area, the only procession left to be seen was that of baby strollers being pushed by parents.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Woods is due to start the campaign for his fifth Chevron World Challenge title on Tuesday
Tiger Woods was facing police questions today after officers investigating the champion golfer's mysterious early morning car crash were denied an interview opportunity for the second day in a row.
Florida Highway Patrol officers had been preparing to quiz the world number one yesterday about how he came to crash his car into a fire hydrant and tree outside his luxury home in Isleworth, Florida.
A bloodied Woods, 33, was found in the early hours of Friday lying in the road with wife Elin Nordegren, who police said used a golf club to smash out the back window and help get the golfer out.
He was taken to Health Central Hospital in nearby Ocoee where he was "admitted, treated and released in good condition" later that day, a joint statement by his office and the hospital said.
State troopers wanted to hear the 14-time Major winner's version of events yesterday, said police spokesman Sgt Kim Montes, but last night the officer issued a statement saying the planned interview had not taken place.
The delay came as the authorities prepared to release the tape of the emergency 911 call made after the accident.
Sgt Montes said: "Florida Highway Patrol has received information that Tiger Woods and his wife were not available to be interviewed by state troopers, as we had previously scheduled.
"This announcement came from his agent. Troopers were asked to return (today)."
Earlier yesterday, Sgt Montes had stressed Woods was not being treated differently to other drivers in similar situations having failed to meet troopers visiting his home on Friday.
"A couple of troopers were sent to the hospital to talk to Mr Woods on Friday to get his side of what happened as the driver of the vehicle," she said.
"He had already been discharged so we went by the house and Mrs Woods invited us in and when she went to go back, Tiger was sleeping.
"So we agreed to come back (yesterday), though that's not preferential treatment. We've done that on other crashes."
Sgt Montes said troopers had been due to return to the golfer's house shortly after 8pm GMT yesterday to "give Mr Woods an opportunity to tell us what happened".
She added that the troopers were specifically interested in the particulars of the accident.
"There's a lot of rumours and scenarios that are being thrown out there about all kinds of different things that may have happened but right now the only evidence that we have is that this is just a traffic crash.
"If our investigation takes us in a different direction then we'll let the media know. We will investigate every part of this and that's just a normal part of our investigation to help us figure out why he lost control and struck the fire hydrant and the tree."
Windermere Police Chief Daniel Saylor said Woods' wife used a golf club to smash out the car's window and helped to get the golfer out of the car following the crash.
Ms Nordegren told officers she was in the house when she heard the accident and came outside, he said.
The golfer, who has been married for five years and has two young children, has recently been the subject of tabloid allegations about his private life.
Asked about reports the couple had been arguing in the hours leading up to the crash, police said they were treating the incident as a traffic accident and not a domestic issue.
Sgt Montes said investigators had not yet reviewed the tape of the emergency 911 call made after the accident but the content would be released once those reviews had taken place.
The crash happened just yards outside his £1.5 million home in the gated waterfront community.
He pulled out of his driveway, struck a fire hydrant, and then drove into a tree at about 2.25am local time (7.25am GMT) yesterday, police said.
The FHP report read: "Driver had just pulled out of the driveway at his residence... As V1 began to drive on Deacon Circle, V1 struck a fire hydrant. The front of V1 then struck a tree. The driver was transported to Health Central Hospital. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending."
The officer used Woods' full name, Eldrick Tiger Woods, and originally noted that his injuries were "serious", alcohol was not a factor and that it was unknown whether Woods had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Hundreds of fans posted messages on Woods' website, telling him to get well soon and expressing their hopes for a speedy return to the golf course.
According to the website, Woods is due to start the campaign for his fifth Chevron World Challenge title on Tuesday.
Woods, the tournament's host, won the event in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007 but missed last year's tournament while recovering from knee surgery.
"We do not know if Tiger is playing; we are anticipating a great week of competition," said Greg McLaughlin, the tournament director and president of his foundation.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
New Zealand is tied for seventh after the second round of the World Cup of Golf in China
New Zealand is tied for seventh after the second round of the World Cup of Golf in China.
A four under par 68 in the second round foursomes has the kiwi team of David Smail and Danny Lee at nine under, some nine shots behind runaway leader Ireland.
Smail said playing foursomes is tricky as one mistake can cost your partner.
Ireland holds a three shot lead over second placed Sweden.
Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell who stumbled on the back nine but recovered to retain a three-stroke lead after the second-round foursomes.
The Ulstermen, who shot a 58 in the first round fourballs, finished with two birdies in their last three holes to keep the defending champion Swedes at bay with a four-under-par 68 for an 18-under total.
"Still leading which is great. We started out the day with a three shot lead and we still have a three shot lead," the 20-year-old McIlroy told reporters.
"Apart from the couple of mistakes on the back nine, we could have got a really good score in there. But I think in the end we showed really good character to come back with two birdies on 16 and 17."
Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, looking to make Sweden the first country to win back-to-back titles since the US in 2000, carded seven birdies in the only blemish-free round of the day for a 65 and second place.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Gemba reported to the panel that Olympic sports gave up half their commercial rights for little money and claims the AOC makes 35 per cent profit
THE Australian Olympic Committee is preparing legal action against a company behind the Federal Government's report into the future of Australian sport.
The Crawford report, which last week called for a shift in funding away from Olympic sports towards professional and ''national pysche'' sports, paid for advice from a company part-owned by former AFL star James Hird.
The company, Gemba Group, criticised the AOC, comparing it unfavourably to the US Olympic Committee in its report to the panel of experts.
But, the AOC considered the advice so flawed and the figures so wrong it has initiated legal action against Gemba for misrepresentation.
Coincidentally, nine of the ''national psyche'' sports recommended for increased fundings are listed as clients of Gemba on its website.
Gemba Group is part-owned by former Nike executive Ben Crowe -who was on the Richmond's coaching selection committee - and former adidas executive Robert Mills, who has worked with several AFL clubs on sponsorship.
The input of Gemba adds more AFL input to the Crawford report into the structure and funding of sport.
The panel, appointed by Minister for Sport Kate Ellis, consisted of businessman David Crawford, Sam Mostyn, who is an AFL commissioner, and Colin Carter, a former AFL commissioner. NRL sponsor Mark Bouris left the panel because of filming commitments with The Apprentice, leaving hockey expert Pam Tye as the only non-AFL voice.
The report has come under fire for its stance towards professional sports such as AFL, NRL and cricket, and its recommendation funding be skewed towards professional sports and others such as surf lifesaving and swimming, which are part of the national pysche, at the expense of broad-based Olympic sports.
Gemba says in its report it has three years of working with the government, golf, tennis, cricket, AFL, cycling, hockey, triathlon and netball, but gives no commercial details. But, Gemba's Mills said that because of confidential commercial information, only a dozen pages of the 73-page report had been made public.
''I am unaware of legal action and we were employed because we have a broad cross-section of experience with sport - most of our work in the past 18 months has been with Olympic sports rather than commercial sports,'' said Mills.
Gemba reported to the panel that Olympic sports gave up half their commercial rights for little money and claims the AOC makes 35 per cent profit. But, the AOC says that money is an allocation from the Australian Olympic Foundation (which invested the $99 million it earned in a deal divvying up marketing rights to the Sydney Olympic Games) and is used to pay the costs of preparing the Olympic and winter Olympic teams for competition.
Comparisons to the US Olympic Committee are flawed because the Americans receive 12.5 per cent of NBC's television broadcast rights fees, while the AOC receives nothing from television broadcast rights fees.
The Crawford report, which last week called for a shift in funding away from Olympic sports towards professional and ''national pysche'' sports, paid for advice from a company part-owned by former AFL star James Hird.
The company, Gemba Group, criticised the AOC, comparing it unfavourably to the US Olympic Committee in its report to the panel of experts.
But, the AOC considered the advice so flawed and the figures so wrong it has initiated legal action against Gemba for misrepresentation.
Coincidentally, nine of the ''national psyche'' sports recommended for increased fundings are listed as clients of Gemba on its website.
Gemba Group is part-owned by former Nike executive Ben Crowe -who was on the Richmond's coaching selection committee - and former adidas executive Robert Mills, who has worked with several AFL clubs on sponsorship.
The input of Gemba adds more AFL input to the Crawford report into the structure and funding of sport.
The panel, appointed by Minister for Sport Kate Ellis, consisted of businessman David Crawford, Sam Mostyn, who is an AFL commissioner, and Colin Carter, a former AFL commissioner. NRL sponsor Mark Bouris left the panel because of filming commitments with The Apprentice, leaving hockey expert Pam Tye as the only non-AFL voice.
The report has come under fire for its stance towards professional sports such as AFL, NRL and cricket, and its recommendation funding be skewed towards professional sports and others such as surf lifesaving and swimming, which are part of the national pysche, at the expense of broad-based Olympic sports.
Gemba says in its report it has three years of working with the government, golf, tennis, cricket, AFL, cycling, hockey, triathlon and netball, but gives no commercial details. But, Gemba's Mills said that because of confidential commercial information, only a dozen pages of the 73-page report had been made public.
''I am unaware of legal action and we were employed because we have a broad cross-section of experience with sport - most of our work in the past 18 months has been with Olympic sports rather than commercial sports,'' said Mills.
Gemba reported to the panel that Olympic sports gave up half their commercial rights for little money and claims the AOC makes 35 per cent profit. But, the AOC says that money is an allocation from the Australian Olympic Foundation (which invested the $99 million it earned in a deal divvying up marketing rights to the Sydney Olympic Games) and is used to pay the costs of preparing the Olympic and winter Olympic teams for competition.
Comparisons to the US Olympic Committee are flawed because the Americans receive 12.5 per cent of NBC's television broadcast rights fees, while the AOC receives nothing from television broadcast rights fees.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Westwood is one of four players with a chance of winning Europe's inaugural Race to Dubai
Lee Westwood must banish the memory of one of his worst displays of the year when he goes in search of the European order of merit title
at this week's season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The 36-year-old Briton was all at sea on the greens in last week's Hong Kong Open and finished down the field in joint 54th position on his first visit to Fanling.
Apart from missing the cut in the PGA Championship at Wentworth, the only other time the consistent Westwood has been outside the top 50 this season was when he was tied 61st at the WGC-CA Championship in Florida in March.
"Last week was a bit of an off week, nothing really went for me and I couldn't get anything going," the world number five said on Tuesday.
"I don't think it will have an effect on me. I am fairly optimistic and I have been playing this game long enough not to let one (bad) week bother me."
Westwood is one of four players with a chance of winning Europe's inaugural Race to Dubai.
The Englishman led the money list going into the Hong Kong Open but Rory McIlroy's second-place finish in Hong Kong took the 20-year-old from Northern Ireland more than 128,000 euros ($190,700) clear at the top.
EARTH COURSE
German Martin Kaymer, third on the money list, knows the lucrative first prize of 830,675 euros ($1.24 million) at the Dubai World Championship would guarantee him the order of merit crown while fourth-placed Briton Ross Fisher is also in contention.
The Greg Norman-designed Earth layout at Jumeirah Golf Estates will be making its European Tour debut in Thursday's opening round of the Dubai World Championship.
"I don't know anything about the course but it will be a new experience for everybody so they will be in the same boat as I was in Hong Kong," said Westwood.
McIlroy knows he simply has to finish higher than his three rivals this week to top the Race to Dubai but said his chief concern was victory in the tournament.
"I won't be trying to protect a lead or finish ahead of this guy or that guy," he said. "I want to win. If I win it will take care of everything."
Asked how it would feel to pick up both trophies, McIlroy replied: "It would be fantastic and that's my aim. I was 11-under for the two rounds at the weekend in Hong Kong so I have good momentum going into the final week."
The 36-year-old Briton was all at sea on the greens in last week's Hong Kong Open and finished down the field in joint 54th position on his first visit to Fanling.
Apart from missing the cut in the PGA Championship at Wentworth, the only other time the consistent Westwood has been outside the top 50 this season was when he was tied 61st at the WGC-CA Championship in Florida in March.
"Last week was a bit of an off week, nothing really went for me and I couldn't get anything going," the world number five said on Tuesday.
"I don't think it will have an effect on me. I am fairly optimistic and I have been playing this game long enough not to let one (bad) week bother me."
Westwood is one of four players with a chance of winning Europe's inaugural Race to Dubai.
The Englishman led the money list going into the Hong Kong Open but Rory McIlroy's second-place finish in Hong Kong took the 20-year-old from Northern Ireland more than 128,000 euros ($190,700) clear at the top.
EARTH COURSE
German Martin Kaymer, third on the money list, knows the lucrative first prize of 830,675 euros ($1.24 million) at the Dubai World Championship would guarantee him the order of merit crown while fourth-placed Briton Ross Fisher is also in contention.
The Greg Norman-designed Earth layout at Jumeirah Golf Estates will be making its European Tour debut in Thursday's opening round of the Dubai World Championship.
"I don't know anything about the course but it will be a new experience for everybody so they will be in the same boat as I was in Hong Kong," said Westwood.
McIlroy knows he simply has to finish higher than his three rivals this week to top the Race to Dubai but said his chief concern was victory in the tournament.
"I won't be trying to protect a lead or finish ahead of this guy or that guy," he said. "I want to win. If I win it will take care of everything."
Asked how it would feel to pick up both trophies, McIlroy replied: "It would be fantastic and that's my aim. I was 11-under for the two rounds at the weekend in Hong Kong so I have good momentum going into the final week."
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thaksin planned to visit the famed Angkor Wat temple and may play golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra accused his country’s rulers of “false patriotism” as he delivered a lecture in his new role as Cambodia’s economic adviser Thursday.
The billionaire, ousted in a 2006 coup and living abroad to avoid jail for graft, addressed some 300 members of business and government at Cambodia’s finance ministry amid tensions over Phnom Penh’s refusal to extradite him.
“I see a lot of synergy between your country and mine. What is good for you will also be good for my country. Of course not all my compatriots see it that way right now,” Thaksin said.
“I do not believe those who do not share our vision right now are myopic. Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism. Let’s pray that they too will one day appreciate this partnership for the best,” he added.
Security officials ushered reporters out of the room three minutes into the Thaksin lecture titled, “Cambodia and the World after the Financial Crisis”.
Cambodia outraged Thailand on Wednesday by rejecting its request to extradite Thaksin, saying the charges on which the ousted Thai leader had been sentenced in absentia to two years in prison were politically motivated.
Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon praised Thaksin’s reduction of rural poverty and introduction of universal healthcare in Thailand as “eye-catching policies that distinguished him from his predecessors”.
After his lecture Thaksin planned to visit the famed Angkor Wat temple and may play golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, said cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan.
The billionaire, ousted in a 2006 coup and living abroad to avoid jail for graft, addressed some 300 members of business and government at Cambodia’s finance ministry amid tensions over Phnom Penh’s refusal to extradite him.
“I see a lot of synergy between your country and mine. What is good for you will also be good for my country. Of course not all my compatriots see it that way right now,” Thaksin said.
“I do not believe those who do not share our vision right now are myopic. Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism. Let’s pray that they too will one day appreciate this partnership for the best,” he added.
Security officials ushered reporters out of the room three minutes into the Thaksin lecture titled, “Cambodia and the World after the Financial Crisis”.
Cambodia outraged Thailand on Wednesday by rejecting its request to extradite Thaksin, saying the charges on which the ousted Thai leader had been sentenced in absentia to two years in prison were politically motivated.
Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon praised Thaksin’s reduction of rural poverty and introduction of universal healthcare in Thailand as “eye-catching policies that distinguished him from his predecessors”.
After his lecture Thaksin planned to visit the famed Angkor Wat temple and may play golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, said cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
tiger wood's golf area is everywhere
Tiger Woods, who is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time has a new yacht. Can you just thinking about this? nothing that more enjoyable in this world than have what we like everywhere, every time without create any confused.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
McDowell finally ended with a 74 to be three off the pace in fifth, alongside Denmark's Anders Hansen and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel
Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter won his first European Tour event in three years on Sunday when he rode his luck to clinch the Barclays Singapore Open by a shot from China's Liang Wenchong.
The Englishman, colour-coordinated in pink shoes, trousers and shirt, played a gruelling 30 holes in the weather-affected tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, and it was a topsy-turvy ride.
He had seen a five-stroke halfway lead wiped out in just six holes of his third round on Saturday after paying the price for an aggressive approach before a thunderstorm halted play.
But he returned on Sunday morning to complete the round and carded five birdies against two bogeys to remain on course for victory, one head of Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell.
Poulter stretched that lead to two shots by the sixth hole but four bogeys in the next six saw him one behind the Irishman.
The pressure, though, got to McDowell, and three consecutive bogeys allowed Poulter to regain the lead and he hung on, claiming his first European win since the Madrid Masters in 2006 with a 10-under-par 274.
"I missed some shots but that made it interesting," said Poulter, whose victory will push him up towards the world's top 10.
"It was too close for comfort but I am happy to get there."
He said the run of bogeys that almost blew his chance was frustrating but he used them to his advantage.
"I was getting angry," he said. "I played so well in spurts and let easy holes slip. I felt I had to do something and I did."
Poulter now heads to Shanghai for the WGC-HSBC Champions and is confident of carrying over his form against Tiger Woods and a world-class field.
"I'm really looking forward to Shanghai. I haven't been in the winners' circle for a few years and it's really nice to get back."
Liang proved to be his closest challenger with the former Asian number one finishing with a 70 for his best showing in Singapore since he was fourth in 2006.
Liang was happy with his week, despite missing out on the title.
"There are no regrets. Golf is like that. I have to accept how I played," said China's top player, who moved up to second on the Asian Order of Merit behind Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
"Overall I am satisfied with how I played all week. It was good that I maintained my form the entire week. I will try to maintain my form for the rest of the year."
McDowell finally ended with a 74 to be three off the pace in fifth, alongside Denmark's Anders Hansen and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel.
Australia's Scott Hend was third, two behind Poulter, along with resurgent compatriot Adam Scott.
Scott only just made the cut but raced up the leaderboard with a third round 65 as he recovered some form after a miserable year of missed cuts.
The former world number three, who won the tournament in 2005 and 2006, carried his new-found touch into the final round with a 68 for his best result since the Sony Open in January.
World number two Phil Mickelson tied for 14th after an inconsistent week marred by too many bogeys. He now heads to Shanghai to renew his rivalry with arch-rival Woods.
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington will also be in China after a disappointing weekend in Singapore, where he finished tied 38th to end any realistic hope he had of finishing the year as Europe's number one.
The Englishman, colour-coordinated in pink shoes, trousers and shirt, played a gruelling 30 holes in the weather-affected tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, and it was a topsy-turvy ride.
He had seen a five-stroke halfway lead wiped out in just six holes of his third round on Saturday after paying the price for an aggressive approach before a thunderstorm halted play.
But he returned on Sunday morning to complete the round and carded five birdies against two bogeys to remain on course for victory, one head of Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell.
Poulter stretched that lead to two shots by the sixth hole but four bogeys in the next six saw him one behind the Irishman.
The pressure, though, got to McDowell, and three consecutive bogeys allowed Poulter to regain the lead and he hung on, claiming his first European win since the Madrid Masters in 2006 with a 10-under-par 274.
"I missed some shots but that made it interesting," said Poulter, whose victory will push him up towards the world's top 10.
"It was too close for comfort but I am happy to get there."
He said the run of bogeys that almost blew his chance was frustrating but he used them to his advantage.
"I was getting angry," he said. "I played so well in spurts and let easy holes slip. I felt I had to do something and I did."
Poulter now heads to Shanghai for the WGC-HSBC Champions and is confident of carrying over his form against Tiger Woods and a world-class field.
"I'm really looking forward to Shanghai. I haven't been in the winners' circle for a few years and it's really nice to get back."
Liang proved to be his closest challenger with the former Asian number one finishing with a 70 for his best showing in Singapore since he was fourth in 2006.
Liang was happy with his week, despite missing out on the title.
"There are no regrets. Golf is like that. I have to accept how I played," said China's top player, who moved up to second on the Asian Order of Merit behind Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
"Overall I am satisfied with how I played all week. It was good that I maintained my form the entire week. I will try to maintain my form for the rest of the year."
McDowell finally ended with a 74 to be three off the pace in fifth, alongside Denmark's Anders Hansen and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel.
Australia's Scott Hend was third, two behind Poulter, along with resurgent compatriot Adam Scott.
Scott only just made the cut but raced up the leaderboard with a third round 65 as he recovered some form after a miserable year of missed cuts.
The former world number three, who won the tournament in 2005 and 2006, carried his new-found touch into the final round with a 68 for his best result since the Sony Open in January.
World number two Phil Mickelson tied for 14th after an inconsistent week marred by too many bogeys. He now heads to Shanghai to renew his rivalry with arch-rival Woods.
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington will also be in China after a disappointing weekend in Singapore, where he finished tied 38th to end any realistic hope he had of finishing the year as Europe's number one.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Matteson sets Tour record to lead
American Troy Matteson will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Frys.com Open after breaking a PGA Tour record with a second straight 61.
The 29-year-old hit 10 birdies in his second consecutive nine-under round to reach 16 under in Scottsdale, Arizona.
His total of 122 for successive rounds broke countryman Steve Stricker's mark of 123 set at the Bob Hope in January.
Chris Stroud, Webb Simpson and Tim Clark were second, with Martin Laird nine under and Greg Owen eight under.
A delighted Matteson said afterwards: "With the year I've had, it's - first of all - it's indescribable. Two days ago, if you'd have asked me what I was going to shoot on Friday, I would have said 'I'll take anything in the red'.
"It's amazing how fast golf changes. It's just one day something clicks, and all of a sudden you get on a little run.
"Hopefully I can keep it going. It's nice to have some good rounds with the year I've had. It's getting towards a nice ending."
American rookie Rickie Fowler, joint second-round leader, finished four shots off the pace along with first-round leader Nick O'Hern of Australia.
The pair were joined on 12 under by Bill Lunde, Ryan Moore and Jamie Lovemark.
England's Owen, who like Fowler posted 65 on Thursday and 64 on Friday to share the lead at the halfway stage, slipped back to joint 19th on Saturday after recording five bogeys in a disappointing three-over 73.
Scotland's Laird, who won his maiden PGA Tour title last week, answered Friday's 72 to make the cut with no room to spare with a 62 to climb into a tie for 16th.
The 29-year-old hit 10 birdies in his second consecutive nine-under round to reach 16 under in Scottsdale, Arizona.
His total of 122 for successive rounds broke countryman Steve Stricker's mark of 123 set at the Bob Hope in January.
Chris Stroud, Webb Simpson and Tim Clark were second, with Martin Laird nine under and Greg Owen eight under.
A delighted Matteson said afterwards: "With the year I've had, it's - first of all - it's indescribable. Two days ago, if you'd have asked me what I was going to shoot on Friday, I would have said 'I'll take anything in the red'.
"It's amazing how fast golf changes. It's just one day something clicks, and all of a sudden you get on a little run.
"Hopefully I can keep it going. It's nice to have some good rounds with the year I've had. It's getting towards a nice ending."
American rookie Rickie Fowler, joint second-round leader, finished four shots off the pace along with first-round leader Nick O'Hern of Australia.
The pair were joined on 12 under by Bill Lunde, Ryan Moore and Jamie Lovemark.
England's Owen, who like Fowler posted 65 on Thursday and 64 on Friday to share the lead at the halfway stage, slipped back to joint 19th on Saturday after recording five bogeys in a disappointing three-over 73.
Scotland's Laird, who won his maiden PGA Tour title last week, answered Friday's 72 to make the cut with no room to spare with a 62 to climb into a tie for 16th.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a half inch course-the space between your ears-Bobby Jones
Steve Williams’ Hitting The Zone came to hand as I searched the shelves of my favourite second-hand Hard to Find book shop.
Steve's book, co-authored with Hugh de Lacy has been around for some time however having read literally; no let’s not go there, just let's say lots of golf tuition books, I decided I should at least, buy it for my collection.
And then thought it’s about a Kiwi so maybe a wee word about it will fit the bill for a Golf in Godzone blog.
So here’s a few of my Aha! thoughts while reading what turned out to be a very good book.
And I’d go as far as say it’s a must-read for young golfers.
Not because it’s one of these do this, don’t do that kind of mechanistic methodology tuition books.
It focuses on the mind side of playing this great game.
Its focus on the mind, exquisitely explained in the book's opening quote.
“Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a half inch course-the space between your ears-Bobby Jones”
My first Aha!
Steve approves of the use of “shrinks” then writes, “Tiger Woods is an exception-the nearest thing to shrinks on Team Tiger are Steve, and Tiger’s [late] father Earl."
I guess it’s because so much has been written about Tiger’s swing coaches we fail to observe Tiger doesn’t have a favourite “shrink”.
I also liked Steve’s definition of a successful swing and/or performance.
“We could define success in any sport as the natural learned potential stored within the subconscious, minus the negative interference from the conscious.”
-See what I mean when I write it’s a book about the mind rather than mechanical methodology?
Steve’s definition brought to mind Tim Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Golf and Tim’s idea that we have a Self 1 which creates physical and mental interferences with the natural abilities of Self 2.
Steve gets very upset when he hears of his old boss, Greg Norman, being called a “choker”. And I’ll come back to my thoughts on Greg later.
Mention is also made of the rapid fall in form of Ian Baker-Finch but Steve is not naïve enough to suggest he’s got a fast-fix solution for such a huge fall in performance level.
Steve is a great believer in the value of goal-setting and I found this heading kinda cute;
“The pen is mightier than the passing fancy”.
Suggesting that if you don’t put pen to paper and write down your goals. Whatever goal-of-the moment comes to mind is nothing but a passing fancy.
I’m almost there with my Aha! Moments so please bear with me.
A minor factual error but worth commenting on is, when writing about Sam Snead, Sam is attributed with winning the 1946 US Open. Not so it was the 1946 Open at St Andrews.
Sam never did win a US Open and is on record of having said something Greg Norman might have said in reference to his well-documented losses.
Sam said, “It goes without saying that my biggest disappointment was never winning the U.S. Open. I'm reminded of it all the time. It hurts when people remember you for the things you didn't do, rather than for the things you did do.”
The Great White Shark has a great golfing record but alas all too many people focus on the events where he didn’t quite finish the job.
My thought for the day, and something I did today with some success, but more importantly, enjoyment. Comes from Steve’s thoughts on the relaxation.
“Whatever the on-course relaxation routine, Steve says it’s vital for a player to deliberately break his concentration between shots.
It would be absolutely exhausting, if not mentally impossible, to maintain full concentration throughout the four hours or so it takes to play a round of golf.”
Aha! So when I see Steve and Tiger, talking and laughing between shots, there’s an explanation other than a chat between friends. It’s one of the ways to create a break in Tiger’s concentration between shots.
Steve's book, co-authored with Hugh de Lacy has been around for some time however having read literally; no let’s not go there, just let's say lots of golf tuition books, I decided I should at least, buy it for my collection.
And then thought it’s about a Kiwi so maybe a wee word about it will fit the bill for a Golf in Godzone blog.
So here’s a few of my Aha! thoughts while reading what turned out to be a very good book.
And I’d go as far as say it’s a must-read for young golfers.
Not because it’s one of these do this, don’t do that kind of mechanistic methodology tuition books.
It focuses on the mind side of playing this great game.
Its focus on the mind, exquisitely explained in the book's opening quote.
“Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a half inch course-the space between your ears-Bobby Jones”
My first Aha!
Steve approves of the use of “shrinks” then writes, “Tiger Woods is an exception-the nearest thing to shrinks on Team Tiger are Steve, and Tiger’s [late] father Earl."
I guess it’s because so much has been written about Tiger’s swing coaches we fail to observe Tiger doesn’t have a favourite “shrink”.
I also liked Steve’s definition of a successful swing and/or performance.
“We could define success in any sport as the natural learned potential stored within the subconscious, minus the negative interference from the conscious.”
-See what I mean when I write it’s a book about the mind rather than mechanical methodology?
Steve’s definition brought to mind Tim Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Golf and Tim’s idea that we have a Self 1 which creates physical and mental interferences with the natural abilities of Self 2.
Steve gets very upset when he hears of his old boss, Greg Norman, being called a “choker”. And I’ll come back to my thoughts on Greg later.
Mention is also made of the rapid fall in form of Ian Baker-Finch but Steve is not naïve enough to suggest he’s got a fast-fix solution for such a huge fall in performance level.
Steve is a great believer in the value of goal-setting and I found this heading kinda cute;
“The pen is mightier than the passing fancy”.
Suggesting that if you don’t put pen to paper and write down your goals. Whatever goal-of-the moment comes to mind is nothing but a passing fancy.
I’m almost there with my Aha! Moments so please bear with me.
A minor factual error but worth commenting on is, when writing about Sam Snead, Sam is attributed with winning the 1946 US Open. Not so it was the 1946 Open at St Andrews.
Sam never did win a US Open and is on record of having said something Greg Norman might have said in reference to his well-documented losses.
Sam said, “It goes without saying that my biggest disappointment was never winning the U.S. Open. I'm reminded of it all the time. It hurts when people remember you for the things you didn't do, rather than for the things you did do.”
The Great White Shark has a great golfing record but alas all too many people focus on the events where he didn’t quite finish the job.
My thought for the day, and something I did today with some success, but more importantly, enjoyment. Comes from Steve’s thoughts on the relaxation.
“Whatever the on-course relaxation routine, Steve says it’s vital for a player to deliberately break his concentration between shots.
It would be absolutely exhausting, if not mentally impossible, to maintain full concentration throughout the four hours or so it takes to play a round of golf.”
Aha! So when I see Steve and Tiger, talking and laughing between shots, there’s an explanation other than a chat between friends. It’s one of the ways to create a break in Tiger’s concentration between shots.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Buffalo has the industry's most powerful arsenal of leading-edge tools to help keep clients relevant in the minds of their target buyers
Buffalo Communications (Buffalo) has further bolstered its infrastructure by appointing Nicholas Keefe as Director of Information Systems at the global golf-lifestyle public relations, branding and marketing-communications firm that is a division of Billy Casper Golf.
Keefe will expand Buffalo's strategic operating platforms and oversee the firm's six-person team of technology specialists. The investment in Keefe and Internet and internal systems parallels Buffalo's recent addition of high-profile clients and its strength servicing clients in digital and social media.
"Lifestyle purchasing decisions are no longer driven strictly by traditional media coverage, long-term brand loyalty and personal recommendations," says Rich Katz, Managing Director of Buffalo. "The ways people communicate and consume information is evolving, and Buffalo's leadership position ensures clients continue to thrive from being major parts of conversations across all mediums."
A graduate of the Kogod School of Business at American University, Keefe has 13 years high-level systems analysis and project-management experience, with a focus on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of information-technology programs.
"Buffalo has the industry's most powerful arsenal of leading-edge tools to help keep clients relevant in the minds of their target buyers." says Keefe, who in a dual role manages IS for Billy Casper Golf. "Dynamically using these tools to service our clients and journalists helps Buffalo maintain its 95-percent client-retention rate."
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I try to stay out of things in the course of play
Coach Melissa Melahn made a strong statement at the beginning of the Rock Bridge girls golf season. She’s hoping her team will make one at the end.
During the first meeting of the season, Melahn told her team it had the ability to qualify for the state championships. With a win in the Class 2, District 5 tournament earlier this month, the Bruins will be competing in the 35th MSHSAA Girls Golf State Championships on Monday and Tuesday.
The Bruins last sent a team to state 20 years ago.
“We’re all not trying to get nervous about state,” Melahn said. “We’ve had our focus on the district tournament because it’s been so long since it has happened to our program. We certainly have the potential to go to state and be one of those top competitive teams.”
She credits the William Woods tournament, which happened about two weeks before district, as a good moment for the Bruins season. Her team was two strokes away from setting a school record, and she thinks that helped them push each other to be even better.
No. 1 Meghan Mueller, a junior, and No. 2 Kayla Burri, a senior, who both competed individually last season at state, lead the team.
In high school, the number of strokes needed to complete the last five competitions determines rank. The difference between the two is less than a half a stroke.
“At the start of the season, it was a stroke or a stroke-and-a-half,” Melahn said. “Kayla got back in the swing of things, literally. They are so close. One day, one will shoot a 39 and the other a 40, and the next day it’s the exact opposite. They probably haven’t been separated by four or five strokes, max, spread-wise.”
Off the course, however, they’re quite different.
Mueller began golfing at age 7 when her grandfather cut down one of his old clubs to her height. He then gave her a few plastic balls to hit around. She began competing with one of her grandmother’s old set of clubs before her family bought her a set of clubs four years ago. Mueller competed in multiple tours while growing up and is in her sixth season of competing in the Plantations Junior Golf Tour.
She’s also accomplished twice golf’s most challenging shot: a hole in one.
“The first one was amazing because I was so young,” Mueller said. “Most people go their whole lives without getting one. I was 8 or 9.”
The other came in 2007 when she was playing in a tournament in Florida.
“I couldn’t see the hole from where we had teed off from,” Mueller said. “I got up there, and my grandmother started clapping. I said, ‘What?’ She said, ‘Look in the hole.’ That was pretty intense.”
When Burri was young, she had another passion.
“Music,” she said. “I was seven years old, and my brother got his first guitar. And as soon as I heard him strum, just like a chord, it was the coolest thing to me. I just wanted to learn how to play it from then on. I just had the greatest interest in it.”
Burri knows how to play the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, piano and saxophone. She has started a group with one of her friends called Irish Chopsticks and hopes to record a CD in the near future with some music she has written.
Burri began competitive golf her sophomore year and, unlike Mueller, doesn’t have a hole in one.
She does have at least one fan.
“She’ll be out in the cafeteria playing the guitar, and I’ll be out there, just listening to her,” Mueller said. “She’s really good. I’ll definitely listen to her if she made a CD, which I hope she does because she’s really good. It’s definitely not something I could do. I know I can’t. I’m the girl that’ll sing in the shower.”
She and Burri have developed a good competitive balance on the course. An example happened in a competition Sept. 8 in Kirksville.
“She had made a bad shot to the left,” Burri said, “and I just told her, ‘Meghan breath.’ Sometimes it’s take a breath or multiple breaths.”
It’s something Mueller relies upon.
“I guess I can kind of get intense,” she said. “We walk together a lot (during competitions), so she’ll be near me when I hit the shot. I’ll get mad, and I’ll look over at her, and she knows what she needs to say to get me to calm down.”
It's something Melahn is thankful for.
“I try to stay out of things in the course of play,” she said. “I’m not out there for every shot. They have to figure out how to encourage one another, direct one another. In terms of individuals and personalities, I’d say they’re drastically different, which is why it’s fun to see them play that give and take on the golf course. All that other stuff goes away and out here they’re just teammates and golfers.”
Also competing for the Bruins are senior Hadley Thompson, sophomore Morgan Reimler and freshman Kaitlyn Marsh.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
New Hampshire from Winslow State Park one of two state parks on its flanks
Mount Monadnock (3,165 feet) in southwestern New Hampshire has repeatedly been called "the second most climbed mountain in the world," which may be true or not (likely not), but it sounds good. But it is true that Monadnock sees a lot of climbers, especially on a sunny weekend in prime foliage season. (The web addresses for information on individual NH state parks are unwieldy, so go to www.nhstateparks.org. Most of the parks sites have a downloadable/printable hiking map.
Monadnock is popular for a couple of reasons. First it's a climb that most reasonably-fit people can do—yet still enough of a challenge that you feel like you've really accomplished something when you reach the summit.
Second, the summit is wide open, with 360-degree views that takes in all six New England states. Monadnock is really a lovely place. But there are many, many other, mountains to hike. Most of them are quieter than Monadnock. And many of them have rocky, bald summits which make great overlooks to see fall foliage from on high.
My son Justin and I recently climbed Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire from Winslow State Park one of two state parks on its flanks. The other is Rollins State Park. From Rollins, it's a half-mile stroll to the summit. From Winslow, you have two trails to choose from: the Winslow trail which is pretty steep and 1.1 miles long, and the Barlow, more gentle but 1.8 miles long. Together they make a nice loop. There's also the 4.6 mile long Lincoln trail which starts on Kearsarge Valley Road near the golf course.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
River Oaks work continues
Renovations on the Otter nine at the 27-hole River Oaks Golf Club facility have been completed and the holes reopened Thursday. The Fox nine will close Monday for a similar project.
On the Otter nine, which closed July 7, more than 2,000 trees were removed, a number of bunkers were eliminated and others were added, cart paths were improved, and both drainage and irrigation work was done.
American Golf manages River Oaks. Signature Golf Group, a local management company, has been hired to oversee the projects, and designer Craig Schreiner of Myrtle Beach is implementing the changes and improvements.
"Before there were probably 50 to 60 bunkers, and a lot of them weren't really in play but could affect a high-handicap player," said Signature Golf president Dave Downing, the project manager. "We tried to create a better golf course where the good player would still be challenged but it was a little more open for the average player."
The bunker work included new sand, and greenside bunkers on the Otter are now more penal. Some former bunkers were filled in or converted to grass bunkers.
Downing expects the Fox nine to reopen in March, in time for the spring golf season. He said it has yet to be determined when the Bear nine will close for refurbishments. All 27 greens at River Oaks were changed to the high-quality Champions ultra-dwarf Bermudagrass in recent years.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
My arm was hurting me by the end of the day which is why I didn't play well in the final match against Adrian Lewis
STUDLEY'S Andy Smith is aiming to take the momentum gained from his performance at last week's Championship League Darts (CLD) event into the Skybet World Grand Prix which begins at Dublin's Citywest International Event & Conference Centre on Monday.
The Pieman picked up a healthy £1,300 in prize money for his efforts in Group Six of the CLD in winning three of his seven matches against some of the biggest names in the game and, by staying out of the bottom two of the eight players, will return to Essex's Crondon Park Golf Club for Group Seven on October 20.
The event, which is based on world rankings, saw Smith enter at the Group Six stage and sees the winning player from each group qualify for the Winners' Group final on October 22, for which six players - James Wade, Phil Taylor, Mervyn King, Mark Walsh, Wayne Mardle and Colin Osborne - have already booked their place.
Smith therefore has two more chances to book his place in the grand final as there are eight group stages but, regardless of progress to the final day or not, he was delighted to earn the £1,300 from a day's work last Thursday as he earned £50 for each leg won and claimed 6-5, 6-5 and 6-3 victories over Wayne Jones, Denis Ovens and Mark Dudbridge respectively, which left him in good touch ahead of his visit to Ireland.
"It was a pretty good day for me," said Smith, the world number 24 who faces Dutchman Vincent van der Voort in the first round of the World Grand Prix on Monday - a best of three sets match which can be seen on Sky Sports.
"I played some really good darts and also some not so good but that will happen in a day-long event.
"It's a good format and another one of the events which rewards players for their efforts at the floor tournaments over the year because if you earn the right to qualify you can see the good money which it offers.
"My arm was hurting me by the end of the day which is why I didn't play well in the final match against Adrian Lewis, but it's fine now and I am really looking forward to playing Vincent in Dublin.
"He's a good player but I feel confident and if I can make the second round then a game against Colin Lloyd or John Part is not a bad draw. No disrespect to them, they are great players, but the draw could have been worse given the current form of some players."
Smith is targeting a place in the world's top 16 in the near future and knows that this ambition, despite his consistent performances at floor tournaments, will be given a bigger boost by good performances at televised tournaments, of which Dublin brings such a chance.
He added: "My arm has played up before and cost me on TV, but I'm fitter now and really believe that perhaps getting to the semis in Dublin is within my reach.
"I like the double to start format as I was brought up playing that way in the Studley League and it's a good tournament because that format rewards more than just heavy scoring.
"I'm ready for it but as I always say it's hard to set targets because it's all about performance on the day."
The Pieman picked up a healthy £1,300 in prize money for his efforts in Group Six of the CLD in winning three of his seven matches against some of the biggest names in the game and, by staying out of the bottom two of the eight players, will return to Essex's Crondon Park Golf Club for Group Seven on October 20.
The event, which is based on world rankings, saw Smith enter at the Group Six stage and sees the winning player from each group qualify for the Winners' Group final on October 22, for which six players - James Wade, Phil Taylor, Mervyn King, Mark Walsh, Wayne Mardle and Colin Osborne - have already booked their place.
Smith therefore has two more chances to book his place in the grand final as there are eight group stages but, regardless of progress to the final day or not, he was delighted to earn the £1,300 from a day's work last Thursday as he earned £50 for each leg won and claimed 6-5, 6-5 and 6-3 victories over Wayne Jones, Denis Ovens and Mark Dudbridge respectively, which left him in good touch ahead of his visit to Ireland.
"It was a pretty good day for me," said Smith, the world number 24 who faces Dutchman Vincent van der Voort in the first round of the World Grand Prix on Monday - a best of three sets match which can be seen on Sky Sports.
"I played some really good darts and also some not so good but that will happen in a day-long event.
"It's a good format and another one of the events which rewards players for their efforts at the floor tournaments over the year because if you earn the right to qualify you can see the good money which it offers.
"My arm was hurting me by the end of the day which is why I didn't play well in the final match against Adrian Lewis, but it's fine now and I am really looking forward to playing Vincent in Dublin.
"He's a good player but I feel confident and if I can make the second round then a game against Colin Lloyd or John Part is not a bad draw. No disrespect to them, they are great players, but the draw could have been worse given the current form of some players."
Smith is targeting a place in the world's top 16 in the near future and knows that this ambition, despite his consistent performances at floor tournaments, will be given a bigger boost by good performances at televised tournaments, of which Dublin brings such a chance.
He added: "My arm has played up before and cost me on TV, but I'm fitter now and really believe that perhaps getting to the semis in Dublin is within my reach.
"I like the double to start format as I was brought up playing that way in the Studley League and it's a good tournament because that format rewards more than just heavy scoring.
"I'm ready for it but as I always say it's hard to set targets because it's all about performance on the day."
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Texas State entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over Missouri State (MSU) and used a three-under par 69 from Alastair Jones to propel the t
The Texas State men’s golf team claimed the Bob Hurley Auto ORU Shootout for the second straight year, leading the 12-team field by ten strokes with a three-round tournament score of 902 at the Golf Club of Oklahoma in Broken Arrow, OK, Tuesday afternoon.
“We wanted to win,” Texas State head coach Shane Howell said. “We started the year slowly, but we’ve gotten better since and it was just time for these guys to step up and get a win and they did just that.”
Texas State entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over Missouri State (MSU) and used a three-under par 69 from Alastair Jones to propel the team to a 297 final round. MSU finished at 912, Sam Houston State took third place with a three-round score of 920, Stephen F. Austin finished one stroke behind the Bearkats for fourth place and Tulsa closed out the top five with a 926.
Individually, the Bobcats controlled the leader board as Michael Carnes, Jeff Gerlich, Carson Gibson and Jones all finished in the top 20. Tom Moore finished tied for 29th, finishing better than half the competition.
“This win was a total team effort and everyone contributed,” Howell said. “I think it shows the depth of our team. Our fifth man, Alastair Jones, stepped up big today with a 69. Every team member had a hand in the victory this week.”
Carnes fired a 75 in the final round and jumped from fifth-place to third to close out the tournament with an eight-over 224. Gerlich paired a 146 from the opening two rounds with an 80 a day earlier, dropping from the individual lead to sixth-place overall.
Gibson tied for 14th place, shooting a 79 for an overall score of 230. Jones’ 69 combined with a first outing score of 163 brought him to 20th place. Moore shot a two-over par, 74, a career low, for his top 30 finish.
“Although we won, we have a lot of room for improvement,” Howell said. “We will celebrate this victory and then get right back to work on Thursday. We have two big-time tournaments to finish the fall semester and we need to be on top of our games in order to compete.”
The men’s golf team will return to action Oct. 18-19 at the Lone Star Invitational in San Antonio.
“We wanted to win,” Texas State head coach Shane Howell said. “We started the year slowly, but we’ve gotten better since and it was just time for these guys to step up and get a win and they did just that.”
Texas State entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over Missouri State (MSU) and used a three-under par 69 from Alastair Jones to propel the team to a 297 final round. MSU finished at 912, Sam Houston State took third place with a three-round score of 920, Stephen F. Austin finished one stroke behind the Bearkats for fourth place and Tulsa closed out the top five with a 926.
Individually, the Bobcats controlled the leader board as Michael Carnes, Jeff Gerlich, Carson Gibson and Jones all finished in the top 20. Tom Moore finished tied for 29th, finishing better than half the competition.
“This win was a total team effort and everyone contributed,” Howell said. “I think it shows the depth of our team. Our fifth man, Alastair Jones, stepped up big today with a 69. Every team member had a hand in the victory this week.”
Carnes fired a 75 in the final round and jumped from fifth-place to third to close out the tournament with an eight-over 224. Gerlich paired a 146 from the opening two rounds with an 80 a day earlier, dropping from the individual lead to sixth-place overall.
Gibson tied for 14th place, shooting a 79 for an overall score of 230. Jones’ 69 combined with a first outing score of 163 brought him to 20th place. Moore shot a two-over par, 74, a career low, for his top 30 finish.
“Although we won, we have a lot of room for improvement,” Howell said. “We will celebrate this victory and then get right back to work on Thursday. We have two big-time tournaments to finish the fall semester and we need to be on top of our games in order to compete.”
The men’s golf team will return to action Oct. 18-19 at the Lone Star Invitational in San Antonio.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
PGA TOUR EUROPEAN TOUR LPGA TOUR NATIONWIDE TOUR
Weibring will defend his title this week against a field that includes three of the four major champions from this season.
Senior PGA Champion Michael Allen is playing on the PGA Tour this week, while Senior British Open winner Loren Roberts, U.S. Senior Open champ Fred Funk and JELD-WEN Tradition champion Mike Reid will be at Baltimore Country Club with Weibring. Roberts won this title in 2007.
This is the fifth oldest event on the Champions Tour, dating to 1983. There have only been two playoffs and six players won this title in their first appearance.
Golf Channel will have two hours of coverage the first two days, while NBC takes over on Saturday and Sunday.
After taking next week off, the Champions Tour returns to action October 16th with the Administaff Small Business Classic, where Bernhard Langer won last year.
PGA TOUR
TURNING STONE RESORT CHAMPIONSHIP, Atunyote Golf Club at Turning Stone Resort, Verona, New York - Dustin Johnson broke through for his first PGA Tour win at this event last year.
Johnson birdied the final two holes to deny Robert Allenby the title. Allenby has won four times on the PGA Tour, but is winless since the 2001 season.
The win for Johnson was especially important since he entered the event ranked 128th on the money list with the top 125 keeping their tour cards for the following season. Not only did he secure his tour card for two years with the victory, he soared into the top 50 on the money list.
Along with that, the win also helped Johnson secure spots in all four majors in 2009. He shared 30th at the Masters, tied for 40th at the U.S. Open, missed the cut at the British and shared 10th place at the PGA Championship.
The Turning Stone Resort kicks off the Fall Finish on the PGA Tour. With the race for the FedEx Cup over, the focus will be one those trying to keep their tour cards for next season.
Among those around the top 125 on the money list entering this week are former PGA Champion Rich Beem, former British Open winners David Duval and Todd Hamilton, Stuart Appleby, Tim Herron, Chris DiMarco and Harrison Frazar, who is No. 125 entering this week.
Golf Channel has coverage of all four rounds this week from 4-6 p.m. (et).
After a week off for the Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour returns to action in Las Vegas with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Marc Turnesa was victorious there last year.
EUROPEAN TOUR
ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP, Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Fife Scotland - The European Tour hosts its annual pro-am this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The event rotates over three courses -- Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course at St. Andrews. The final round will be contested on the Old Course.
Robert Karlsson returned to action last week for the first time since May after dealing with an eye infection. Last year, Karlsson fended off Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer with a birdie on the first playoff hole to secure his ninth European Tour title.
Former champions Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Lee Westwood and Nick Dougherty re all in the field this week.
Golf Channel will broadcast four hours of action the first three days, then five hours of play on Sunday.
The European Tour returns to Spain next week for the Madrid Masters, where Charl Schwartzel won in 2008.
LPGA TOUR
NAVISTAR LPGA CLASSIC, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (Capitol Hill - The Senator), Prattville, Alabama - Lorena Ochoa parred the second playoff hole last year to defeat Candie Kung and Cristie Kerr to win the Navistar LPGA Classic.
The win for Ochoa was her seventh of the season, but first since May. She has won two events this season, but her last crown came in April.
The final round was close throughout as seven players had at least a share of the lead. The three players in the playoff finished one stroke clear of Song- Hee Kim and Shanshan Feng, while five more payers were two shots back.
Along with Ochoa, five of the top 10 players in the world are competing this week. Ochoa will be joined in the field by Suzann Pettersen, Kerr, Yani Tseng and In Kyung Kim.
Golf Channel will have tape-delayed coverage of all four rounds this week. After three weeks off, the LPGA returns to action with the Hana Bank-KOLON Championship, where Kung won last year.
NATIONWIDE TOUR
SOBOBA CLASSIC, The Country Club at Soboba Springs, San Jacinto, California - The Soboba Classic is a new event on the Nationwide Tour and will offer a $1 million purse.
The field this week will include 18 of the top 20 players on the money list. Only No. 1 Michael Sim, who graduated to the PGA Tour with his third win earlier this year, and Mathias Gronberg are scheduled to miss the tournament.
Golf Channel has two hours of coverage all four days. Next week is the Chattanooga Classic, where Arjun Atwal won last year.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Get swinging in support of Peace Ranch
The weather has been great, so keep those golf clubs out and join us for the sixth Annual Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament on Wednesday, September 30. The tournament will take place at Osprey Valley Resorts, located in the scenic Village of Alton.
This tournament is organized annually by the members of Town Council and the funds raised are donated to benefit the community. Each year there is a main not-for-profit organization that benefits significantly, along with smaller contributions to local organizations in each Ward.
The honourary Chair for this year’s tournament is Ward 3 / 4 Area Councillor, Nick deBoer. Caledon Council has proudly selected Peace Ranch as the not-for-profit agency to benefit from the funds raised at the tournament.
Peace Ranch has been serving residents in the Caledon community to provide supportative housing and recreational rehabilitation programs for those with mental illnesses since 1986. Nestled on over 25 acres, Peace Ranch provides an opportunity for adults with serious mental illnesses to work toward a more self-reliant and satisfying life through participation in a residential therapeutic farm community. We are proud that Peace Ranch is located in Caledon, as it is the only working residential, and one of only two therapeutic farm communities in Canada.
The goals of Peace Ranch are: to increase motivation; improve communication and social skills; improve physical fitness; reduce anxiety; improve coping skills; and increase job readiness.
This organization can provide a supervised home for 10 adults coping with schizophrenia. These individuals are taught life skills through normal household routines.
They develop recreational and communication skills while learning to care for animals and gardens on the farm.
The main objective of Peace Ranch is to help its residents achieve independent living in the community.
This organization is mainly funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. They also receive funding from United Way, which has permitted them to expand a day program to offer more assistance to those in need.
This tournament is organized annually by the members of Town Council and the funds raised are donated to benefit the community. Each year there is a main not-for-profit organization that benefits significantly, along with smaller contributions to local organizations in each Ward.
The honourary Chair for this year’s tournament is Ward 3 / 4 Area Councillor, Nick deBoer. Caledon Council has proudly selected Peace Ranch as the not-for-profit agency to benefit from the funds raised at the tournament.
Peace Ranch has been serving residents in the Caledon community to provide supportative housing and recreational rehabilitation programs for those with mental illnesses since 1986. Nestled on over 25 acres, Peace Ranch provides an opportunity for adults with serious mental illnesses to work toward a more self-reliant and satisfying life through participation in a residential therapeutic farm community. We are proud that Peace Ranch is located in Caledon, as it is the only working residential, and one of only two therapeutic farm communities in Canada.
The goals of Peace Ranch are: to increase motivation; improve communication and social skills; improve physical fitness; reduce anxiety; improve coping skills; and increase job readiness.
This organization can provide a supervised home for 10 adults coping with schizophrenia. These individuals are taught life skills through normal household routines.
They develop recreational and communication skills while learning to care for animals and gardens on the farm.
The main objective of Peace Ranch is to help its residents achieve independent living in the community.
This organization is mainly funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. They also receive funding from United Way, which has permitted them to expand a day program to offer more assistance to those in need.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Shandin Hills Golf Club
Built in 1984, this Cary Bickler designed, 18 hole public course is situated on the edge of the foothills northwest of the city of San Bernardino, California.With narrow, tree lined fairways of bermuda / winter rye grass, thick...deep rough, an overabundance of bunkers, and soft but fast greens of poannua / bent grass. this course most certainly has much to offer golfers of all skill levels.
When you take into consideration the very affordable green fees, the friendly staff, the practice range, bar, restaurant and club house facilities, you're sure to walk away from here with a smile on your face, regardless of how well you scored on the course.
And by-the-way, Kirk Triplett holds the course record of 61 !
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Area golf roundup: Watson ties for third in eGolf tournament
Murrells Inlet's Derek Watson shot a final-round 2-under 70 to finish tied for third in the eGolf Professional Tour's South Charlotte Classic, which was played at Cedarwood Country Club (Charlotte, N.C.) and Carolina Lakes Golf Club (Indian Land, N.C.).
Watson finished with a three-day total of 13-under 202, four strokes behind medalist Frank Adams III. Adam earned the winner's check of $30,000, while Watson won $11,166.67.
Wes Homan was runner-up, three strokes back, and earned $19,000.
Pro golf
CALABASH, N.C. | Former Coastal Carolina standout Zack Byrd closed with a 3-under 69 on Friday to win the Grand Strand Pro Golf Tour's event at Crow Creek Golf Club by two strokes.
Byrd, who finished with a two-day total of 10-under 134, fell a stroke off the lead at the turn but rebounded with three birdies in his last eight holes to win in his professional debut.
Senior amateur golf
PINEHURST, N.C. | Denny Adkins of North Myrtle Beach tied for 17th in the 58th Senior Men's North & South Amateur Championship, while John Stokley of Longs tied for fourth in the Super Senior division.
Adkins shot rounds of 73, 76 and 79 for a 12-over 228 in the 99-player Championship division, while Stokley shot an 11-over 77-76-73-226 in the 44-player Super Senior division.
Paul Simpson of Raleigh, N.C., defeated Ted Smith on the second playoff hole after both shot even-par 216 for his third Senior North & South title. He also won two men's North & South titles.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tiger Woods' initial feelings of elation and redemption after winning the 2006 British Open—his first victory following the passing of his father Earl—began to sour when Woods started questioning the validity of his win, saying that it was "awfully convenient" that nobody posed a real threat to his tournament lead, and that he now believes the entire field let him win because he is still in mourning."Phil Mickelson? Where the hell was Phil Mickelson the entire tournament? Am I really 13 shots better than Phil Mickelson?" Woods mused out loud. "And then Sergio [Garcia] shoots 29 on the front nine during the third round, yet in the round he is paired with me, he somehow shoots a 39? Come on, fellas, I know my dad died, but I don't want to win like this."
"When Sergio missed two short putts in a row, I thought maybe he was just intimidated by my presence, like in the old days when I was unshakable and my father was alive," Woods continued. "But, looking back, it's pretty clear that Sergio just felt sorry for me. Unbelievable."
Although PGA Tour officials have denied that Woods' fellow golfers threw the tournament in a deliberate attempt to lift his spirits, Woods cited Adam Scott's shot out of bounds on the 18th, good friend Mark O'Meara's five-over 77 on Saturday, and Nick Faldo's failure to even make the cut as "obvious examples of pity."
"Now it's as plain as day," Woods said. "Nick was clearly trying to atone for the negative comments he made about my swing several weeks before my dad died."
Added Woods: "I'm such a sucker."
According to Woods, the only golfer not playing to lose was fourth-place finisher Hideto Tanihara, whom nobody had heard of prior to the event and whom "probably wouldn't have been in the meeting everyone had while I wasn't looking."
After the event, Woods said he thought he had won his 11th major championship because of his ability to "think his way around the golf course," a quality his father used to say was of the utmost importance in winning golf tournaments—especially the British Open, where there are many different ways to play each hole. However, upon recalling his fellow golfers' poor play and their overly polite attitude toward him throughout the tournament, Woods said he feels his competition simply let him believe the strategy was working just to make him feel better.
The only player who legitimately challenged Woods during the final round was Chris DiMarco, whose mother died on July 4. Woods believes this to be in no way coincidental.
"I think Chris was in on it even though he also lost a parent," Woods said. "Maybe he wasn't at first, but he probably realized how much more heart-wrenching it is to lose a father than a mother right before he missed that easy birdie putt on the par-three 15th."
DiMarco called Woods' claim outrageous, and said that he was actually closer to his mother than his father, to which Woods responded, "Hell, if my mother had died, I would have won the U.S. Open by 10 strokes instead of missing the cut."
Though all the players in the field have stated flatly that Woods' accusations couldn't be further from the truth, maintaining that they were defeated because Woods is simply a superior golfer, an unconvinced Woods said that in order to get back on the winning track, he and his swing coach Hank Haney will just have to work harder.
"Tiger was on the range last night until 4 a.m. trying desperately to get his swing back to where it was before his father passed away," Haney said. "Quite frankly, I haven't really noticed a difference. I thought it looked pretty good last week."
Although Woods continues to insist he "never wanted to win like this, and [hopes] never to win this way again," his infamous hyper-competitive streak showed itself again later that day.
"I want my fellow competitors to know that I do not and never will support their decision to let me win the British Open because of my grief over my father's death," Woods said. "If, say, my wife were to have a tragic fatal accident right before next year's Masters, well, that's another story."
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