Never let it be said that yearbook camp is for geeks. I’ve been at one in Gettysburg for two days now, and I can affirm that I am stronger, faster, and better-looking than when I arrived. Yes, you can pretend that Photoshop is to blame, but we all know the truth. Anyway, on to today’s blog entry. Near Gettysburg (about 30 miles west) is the oasis of Penn National, a 36-hole retreat in the mountains of south-east-central Pennsylvania. I know that Baltimore is close, and that Remember The Titans was filmed nearby, but that’s about ... full post »

Here’s the quickest of blogs for you Michelle-Wie debaters. On the heel of her T2 at Evian, I am struck by the similarities to a young David Duval. We remember, in the days before blogs, when Duval finished highly if not with strength, beggin the question “When?” Recall, too, that he had success on the Nationwide Tour, then on the PGA Tour, before finally winning. It appears that Wie must take a similar road. When she closes the deal, we will continue to ask more of her, even a major. Such is the way ... full post »

Last Summer, John Daly debuted a course in Niagara Falls, Ontario, called Thundering Waters. While exact information on his level of participation is scant, he did hit twenty balls across the gorge, in an attempt to conquer the mighty Niagara. He failed. The course, however, is another matter. What it showed me is that Bo Danoff has a future in golf course design. Danoff took a middling piece of railroad property and transformed it into a course reminiscent of Augusta National, Blackwolf Run, and Crooked Stick. That is, he imitates the masters pretty well, ... full post »

How to make news out of nothing…John Rollins received ten more points for winning the B.C. Open than Chris DiMarco earned for placing 2nd at The “Other” Open. And we care…Why? Rollins vaulted past Vaughn Taylor, Lucas Glover, washed-up Davis Love 3.5 and Fred Couples, and Tim Herron into 10th place. If Rollins stays there, then he earns his spot. If not, he drops out of consideration for a wild-card spot. As things stand right now, none of the highly-touted Young Americans (sorry, Bowie) have done anything to justify inclusion as a wild-card pick, other ... full post »

Journalists have selected 2006 to be the year to complain about the British Open. Be they bloggers or respected journalists, targets have ranged from the quality of the course to the club selections of the champion golfer of the year. One noted pundit gave us an unnecessary up-close-and-personal list of ten-plus reasons why this year’s reunion stunk like feet. I find all this interesting, as opposed to boring and noxious. Having done a bit of television and radio, sometimes you have to adopt a tack you would not logically, sanely take, all for the purpose of generating discourse ... full post »

Well, the good news is that Captain America (Chris DiMarco) moved up to sixth, ejecting Lucas Glover from automatic qualification. Jim Furyk strengthened his hold on third place. Sadly, Vaughn Taylor, Brett Wetterich and J.J. Henry still hold onto automatic q-places. Which one do you think Tiger will pick as his partner? The more I think about it, how bad can it get if those three rooks make the team? Toss them out as chum against Westwood and Montgomerie in alternate shot. What’s the worst they can do, lose? That places them in ... full post »

I know, I know…you’ve called the men in white coats to come and get me. While eyes were trained on the region of Hoyl Lake and the 67s of Woods and O’Hair, I was looking at central New York and the rolling flatlands of Verona and Vernon. The tournament’s final twosomes have yet to cross the 16th green, but the event is over. Moments after Bob May drained a birdie on 18 to get to -18, John Rollins one-upped him by posting an aviator of his own to finish -19. Overnight low Swede Hjertstedt is -1, ... full post »

Many pretenders delude themselves by misleading others that “The Open” championship is under contest this week on a continent other than North America. Upstate New York, specifically Verona, is the site of the true “Open” championship of July, 2006. Forget Royal Liverpool, how about Two Gentlemen of Verona? Old Will (and I’m not talking about the anciente, decrepit Wolfrum) would certainly appreciate the latter reference. The two gentlemen might be the Maruyama boys (no relation.) Daisuke and Shigeki find themselves 3 and 4 strokes (respectively) off the lead, heading into round four. Or they might be ... full post »

I’m sitting here resting my bones…that’s from a song by Otis Redding. Anyway, while I’m resting my bones, I’m reading an article in the August issue of one of the major magazines,by Dave Pelz, on short game distances. In my life at golf, I’ve read two of his books on the short game, and profess that they have helped me beyond words. However, with some time for meditation, I’ve noticed some interesting number gaps in the table he provides for the magazine. Employing a four-wedge scheme, Dave provides distances from 28 yards to 100 yards using a three-length method. In clock ... full post »

The Italian Heritage festival is in full swing on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo. Lots of fattening foods and fun rides for the adults and kids. Lots of attractions whose prior billing may not live up to reality. Funny how entertainment mirrors real life. Hale Irwin, all 60+ years of him, is playing in the Scottish Open on the Euro Tour this week. Old Faithful posted seven birdies, including five in a row, to finish at -3, three strokes behind a couple of no-name leaders. Sure, old Hale had four bogeys, but what a run on the ... full post »

What Tim Finchem planned for 2007, Mother Nature brought about in 2006. The B.C. Open has officially been moved from En-Joie Golf Club to Atunyote Golf Club at Turning Stone Resort, denying the small central New York town one last opportunity to entertain the big boys of the PGA Tour. For those of you who live in metropoli, this is a minor tremor on the richter scale. For folks who live in smaller towns and villages, the B.C. Open represented the last vestiges of a PGA Tour known to our parents and grandparents. In an era known as the ... full post »

Crow Creek is in the right place at the right time. If you are over the age of 25, tired of the madness of Highway 17 North Business, yet not of the age yet to enjoy the extreme tranquility of the towns south of Myrtle (Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, and Georgetown spring to mind), the place to be may be north of North Myrtle, just over the border in Calabash, NC (Google it! I can’t get the link to work.) About an hour from Wilmington, but less than 30 minutes from the Estrande Grande, Calabash is situated to take advantage ... full post »

Wachesaw East is not Wachesaw Plantation. With a 6:30 tee time, Uncle and I had precious little time to waste on screw-ups. We spun our ride around and went the five minutes to the correct Plantation, in time to sneak into our spot, get the First Group flag, and sweep the dew. The foursome behind was champing at the bit to overtake us, but we had a secret arsenal the likes of which make Kim Jung Il blush: we skipped a hole! How many great par threes over water, with pins tight behind bunkers, can you play? I mean, ... full post »

The MonFam arrived in Surfside Beach on Sunday, and Mr. Mon headed to True Blue on Monday for his first taste of Mike Strantz golf. Having read for years about this architect who left us too soon, it was time to experience his worth first-hand. True Blue underwhelmed me at the start, with a modest club drop and practice facility, which is always a good thing. Huh? Well, if you are blown away by the attendants and the range, you might forget that what matters is the course. True Blue is true in senses of the word not yet imagined. Strantz ... full post »