This has nothing to do with a Dickens’ novel; since the title is so malleable, I’ll use it. Two weeks ago, Retief Goosen plummeted from a three-stroke first-place perch on Saturday evening to a four-way tie for 11th place at the Men’s US Open at Pinehurst. Last weekend, Michelle Wie found herself at +1 for the week after round three, one stroke behind leader Karen Stupples, then did her own free-fall, tumbling all the way to 23rd place. Both were able to play themselves out of contention in spectacular fashion. Goosen authored a final-round 81, eleven ... full post »

There is quite a battle going on in the city by the Falls. The combatants are the curmudgeons that “own” the Hyde Park golf courses and the kids who want to improve them for a new era. The Hyde Park North 18 was the original site of the Niagara Falls Country Club, before the private club moved north to Lewiston and inaugurated the Porter Cup. Another 18 was added on the south side of the street, nine of which are very good holes, and nine of which are abysmal. In 2003, The First Tee brought a program to ... full post »

Once upon a time, the Canadian Women’s Open came to Legends on the Niagara, the superb complex located just shy of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Actually, it was last summer. Meg Mallon was the ultimate victor, making it two national championships in a short span. Given an opportunity to support the LPGA by volunteering, the RonMonster (year, I know, self-reference in the third person) spent a few days handing out golf balls and refilling club-scrub buckets on the driving range. Other than the die-hard local colonials, whose accents and unique views on New Yorkers will remain ... full post »

Three golf courses have opened recently in western New York. All are positioning themselves as upscale, daily fee tracks. There is a lesson to be learned in the manner in which they opened. Course A opened first, pushing its start date to the Spring, and opening nine holes to the public. Although the layout is attractive, the conditioning is below standard, with weeds still to be killed, low-grade sand in the bunkers, and not much delineation between fairway and rough. They got it wrong. Course B opened nine holes to rave reviews in the ... full post »