A reader wrote in with a suggestion for fixing slow play, saying the U.S. should go the European route by requiring valid handicap cards before getting on a golf course. That way, the reasoning goes, U.S. golfers would be forced to play from the appropriate tees. Also, did you know some European countries require golfers to TAKE A TEST before they can play? I say, both ideas are beyond absurd. Golf already has a well-deserved reputation as an elitist sport, and this would make it more so. Can you imagine Americans being told they have to take a test and show ... full post »

The slow pace of play in golf is a subject that sparks emotion and fierce debate among both pros and hacks: You either blasted Rory Sabbatini or praised him for his recent actions that spotlighted the problem yet again. Many of you had it right: the problem would be greatly alleviated, if not wiped out altogehter, if only the greedy golf industry – mainly, the golf courses themselves – would make a few simple changes. Ladies and gentelmen, I give you the Thistle Golf Club near Myrtle Beach. In an area that herds golfer in and out like fast food restaurant hell, ... full post »

For those of you who have expressed interest, the Great Press Revolt in Italy was undone by a force more powerful than the Italian government and global media combined: I’m talking about wives. The male golf writers – from England, Germany and the U.S. mainly – who are on a press tour of Italy, spoke openly of revolution, in response to the Italian government’s demands of the writers on the tour. On the bus ride home, from another 18-hour day, the males sounded like Che Guevara. There was NO WAY they were going to have another five-hour dinner that ended at 2 ... full post »

The Italian government is trying hard to promote its golf. The problem is, there are not that many golf courses, only about 200 or so in the whole country, and they are rather spread out. So what do you do? You promote “Golf and more” – the “more” being basically food and wine. So far, some of the courses are good, they are just hours apart. Still, the Italians are never in a hurry, so you just take a slow drive through the Italian countryside, drink some wine, and play golf when you get there. The only problem is, tourism officials want ... full post »

I love to jump on a man when he’s down. It’s the best time to jump because he’s usually defenseless. So I’ll get my shots in on Chris Baldwin, along with the rest of you who have gone nuts over Baldwin’s blog on Retief Goosen being history after his near-death experience at the U.S. Open. Goosen is too cool to let the experience stay with him for long. Oh, it’ll stick in his craw for a while, but he’ll get over it. Look at Greg Norman, the biggest choker in modern day history. He’s still in self-denial, but he came back ... full post »

Anybody know anything about golf in Italy, specifically in the Venice area? I’m heading there today, and staying outside Venice in a place called Udine. I’m bringing my clubs, a taste for good wine and several razors to offer as gifts to women with hairy armpits. So, is that a misguided cliche, or what? Do the women really go au naturel under their sleeves? Do they really drink wine for breakfast? Is there great golf there, like I found on my recent trip to South Africa? What are the “must-sees” in Venice? I’ll be filing Italian travel and golf blogs the next ... full post »

I’m not normally one of those sadists who enjoys seeing the PGA Tour pros tortured, especially by unfair golf courses. But, I have to admit I was braying like a donkey on Ecstasy during Sunday’s U.S. Open finale. Maybe it’s because all of Pinehurst No. 2’s trickery is around the greens, but I loved seeing all those balls…trickle, trickle, trickle off the greens. “Will it hold? Will it stay? Oh, god there it goes!” The announcers acted like there may be a death in the family. Yow! There goes another one. It was like death by a thousand bee stings. I’ve played ... full post »

Paul Casey, the Brit who has made disparaging comments about Americans, withdrew from the U.S. Open after shooting an 85. Casey didn’t deign to give an explanation for his withdrawal, but we can pretty much assume it was because of his bad golf. Bad manners, bad golf, bad judgement. This guy is getting to be more and more of a head case. Why doesn’t he just move back to England. Then he can add bad teeth to all his other “bads.” full post »

What is it about BIG golfers we like so much? Craig Stadler, John Daly, now Jason Gore – all, shall we say husky – golfers. Of course Gore’s story is a little different. He’s become a crowd favorite at Pinehurst No. 2 because he’s such an unlikely candidate to be playing in the last group Sunday. The TV people hate unknowns, but once again, the crowd shows it loves unlikely stories like Gore, who had to go through local and sectional qualifying even to get in the Open field. Sadly, though, they rarely make it all the way through. With an incredibly steady ... full post »

Because of work, I’ve been watching ESPN’s taped replays of the U.S. Open, and I have to say I love listening to Chris Berman. At first, I thought he was a fish out of water, completely inappropriate for the quiet, hushed tones golf announcers usually use. I half expected him to say of a Tiger Woods’ drive: “it’s going left… back, back, back, back,” in his classic baseball fashion. But, his gravelly voice and occasional outburts are a good counterpoint to the usual drab play-by-play. He knows his golf, and his enthusiasm is catching. Now, he needs to start giving the pros his ... full post »

I can’t make up my mind about Retief Goosen. Is he simply a victim of media indifference or is there just nothing there to write about? You have to admit, he never says much during interviews. Not that that’s bad. A big night for Goosen is to go out to a Chinese restaurant with his wife and two kids. Nothing bad there either, but certainly nothing to stir the publuc imagination. His ambivalence doesn’t help any. He always says the lack of attention doesn’t bother him, but in the next sentence he talks about how he uses it for motivation. Until I’m ... full post »

I can’t make up my mind about Retief Goosen. Is he simply a victim of media indifference or is there just nothing there to write about? You have to admit, he never says much during interviews. Not that that’s bad. A big night for Goosen is to go out to a Chinese restaurant with his wife and two kids. Nothing bad there either, but certainly nothing to stir the publuc imagination. His ambivalence doesn’t help any. He always says the lack of attention doesn’t bother him, but in the next sentence he talks about how he uses it for motivation. Until I’m ... full post »

I know a lot of people who have been disappointed with Pinehurst No. 2, site of this year’s U.S. Open. Now, it IS a great course, no doubt about it, but nearly all of its mystique lies in its surreal greens. Trying to stop a long approach on No. 2’s greens is like – like the pros said about TPC Sawgrass in its early days – like trying to stop a ball on the hood of a Volkswagon. And for this, they charge $375 for walk-in green fees! For the average golfer, there are better deals in Pinehurst, for the money. Like ... full post »

Rory Sabbatini felt the need to apologize and issue a statement at the U.S. Open regarding an incident at last week’s Booz Allen tournament. Sabbatini was playing with Ben Crane, a notoriously slow player on tour. Sabbatini stood near the 17th green while Crane was still preparing to hit his approach. When Crane’s shot landed on the green, Sabbatini putted out of turn and then huffed off the hole. He’s getting pilloried for his “rude” play. I say hogwash to all the stuffed shirts in golf who criticize him. How many times have you been so frustrated on the course with slow ... full post »

So Kiel Christiansen, Jennifer Mario and all those other prudes – that’s what they are, despite their disclaimers – are offended by erectile dysfunction ads during golf tournaments? It’s true that I am almost genetically impossible to offend – I’m a huge Jerry Springer fan, for instance, and I always watch George Bush’s press conferences – but frankly I don’t see the problem. Are they any more offensive than ads for feminine hygiene products? Not nearly as much. My squirm factor is much higher for those type ads than during any ED ad. Besides, I think it’s hilarious the ED ads air during ... full post »

I just pulled into Virginia Beach, for the first time ever – after 13 hours on the road. Being a Florida native, and at first glance, I would compare the oceanfront area to the strip at Daytona Beach, only Virginia Beach seems cleaner and more upscale. Even the t-shirt shops look cleaner. But, what is with that “no cruising” law on the strip? What’s a strip without cruising? Anyway, people say Virginia Beach has the best golf in the state, behind only Williamsburg. We’ll see. Anybody have any favorite courses here, or ones I should check out? What about restaurants and nightlife. Any ... full post »

My young and impetuous colleague Chris Baldwin shows once again that his logic is receding as fast as his hairline. Baldwin takes me and the Rebel Blogger to task for pointing out how gutless many travel writers are. Blame the editors, Baldwin rants, with a pass-the-buck mentality all too typical of his misguided and hedonistic generation. He sounds like the head of the SATW who told me personally he thinks the editors should be blamed. Has the word “accountability” disappeared from the English language? Chris, Chris, Chris. It isn’t the editors who are taking all these exotic trips – it’s the ... full post »

I don’t have a problem with a golf course trying to go upscale. But, the Ironhorse Golf Club in Tuscola, Ill. is letting this thing go to its head. First, director of golf Jerry Williams complains to TravelGolf about a recent review, which was overwhelmingly positive. Williams wanted to nitpick about the few negatives in the story, saying he didn’t want anything negative about his course published. Trying to hide something never looks good for your product. Williams told TravelGolf he was not going to honor any coupons from golfers, a fact confirmed by a reader named “Ed” who said the club ... full post »

Brandon Tucker makes some very good points in his blog about golf in the Caribbean, especially his point about the need to go back and take a hard look at some of our old Caribbean copy. A lot of those stories were written by a former editor who seemed to look at the Caribbean with rose-colored glasses and a strong wish to be a public relations hack. I have written quite a bit about the Caribbean, some good and some bad. I stand by that. Still, it isn’t all about rip-off artists and crime. I once lost my wallet on Eleuthera, one ... full post »