To: RonMon’s multitude of followers From: RonMon RE: Impending madness of RonMon To the flock…2009 has been one of my better golfing years. My handicap index is down to a 4.7, despite not having played the same course twice. I’ve been fortunate to visit a number of campos increibles, as Seve might put it, returning numbers to be proud of. Most of the credit can be placed in two bushels: Discover Golf Buffalo’s fitness program and my trusty Wilson 8813 putter. My game is better from tee to green, due to Bob Gosch’s tutelage; my ... full post »

The folks from the New York Golf Trail (www.nygolftrail.com) have been hitting the golf show circuit for two years. Given the success of the time of the various southern golf trails in Alabama, South Carolina and other states, the time seemed proper for an Empire State route of fine golfing destinations. In the truest spirit of irony, however, it was difficult to add to the original five courses for a few years. Perhaps courses felt that they were doing just fine on their own, perhaps there were other reasons. It might just be coincidence that the trail has nearly tripled ... full post »

I have not read very much on this issue, but when a group of players stages a planned publicity event with a letter of no confidence at the core, I certainly have much interest in the resolution. To put it into perspective, there has not been such an ouster in the history of the PGA Tour. Joseph Dey served as commissioner for five years and was replaced by former tour player Deanne Beman. Relations between Beman and the players were not always amicable, but a CEO does not necessarily answer to all constituents on all issues. Beman moved ... full post »

Some days are simply better than others. In the end, sitting in a Motel 6 Room in Brattleboro, Vermont, using a $2.99 wireless card, looking back on a 6.5 hour trip, a 3-hour course review and photo shoot, and a running-on-fumes dash through the Massachusetts countryside, it certainly was all good. Let us break it down: 6.5 hour dash from Buffalo to Brattleboro to drop son off for summer job. Lunch with son and son’s girlfriend at funky sandwich shop with view of New Hampshire across the way. Quick run up to Motel 6 to check in solo. Drive to ... full post »

I cannot help but think that Tiger Woods scripted this one perfectly. He waited to see how the field would shake out, then played decently enough to ensure a tied-for-first, final-round-pairing with Anthony Kim. The Host v. The Defender for all the marbles on Independence Weekend. Is this a movie? Where are Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum? full post »

Take a look at the first-round leaderboard of the Jamie Farr Classic and you’ll see Carolyn Bivens’ dream come to life. You have the wily veteran (Laura Diaz), the Nordic queens (Suzann Pettersen and Minea Blomqvist), the Korean trio (Song Hee Kim, Jiyai Shin and Jee Young Lee), the American upstarts (Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie) and a couple more lasses (Inbee Park and Cristie Kerr) to make things interesting. After the failed “You Must Learn English” coup, the constant criticism of Bivens’ exorcising the smaller-market events (Corning, Toledo, et al.) from the LPGA schedule, and the loss of the ... full post »