My opening moment of glory at Chambers Bay was stolen by a gray sheet of rainy fog. I had heard through the golf rumor mill that the views from the clifftop clubhouse at Chambers Bay, overlooking the sprawling course and the Puget Sound near Tacoma, Washington, were to die for. Unfortunately, the only thing I could see was a misty cloud so thick it reminded me of those old Scooby Doo episodes. The ones when Shaggy and Scooby would cut the fog with a knife and eat it. “Welcome to Scotland gentleman!” a greeter said to a group of golfers dropping ... full post »

I’m packing my Pro-V1s, my Callaways, my Bridgestones for my upcoming trip for some golf in Seattle. I’m just not packing them where I used to. In the good old days, or maybe my naive days, I stuffed my golf bag with sleeves of new balls in preparation for a clash with a new golf destination. One of my biggest fears is stepping up to the tee at Bay Hill or Whistling Straights or Kiawah Island’s Ocean course and having to pull out one of those shag-bag balls at the bottom of my bag. To play your best, you should ... full post »

Right about now, I should be teeing it up at “El Jaguar,” the newest shining star in the Jack Nicklaus course empire near Merida, Mexico. The golf course, part of the Yucatan Country Club at the Yucatan Village and Resort, was all set to have a grand “grand opening” this weekend. Nicklaus was scheduled to talk about his layout and his new Nicklaus Academy. Olympic legend Marc Spitz - a star swimmer who was Michael Phelps before there was a Michael Phelps - was set to unveil his swimming academy. That was before the media frenzy hit about the swine flu. ... full post »