Bad news for my home state. Golf courses are getting more expensive in Florida, as they are elsewhere. I thought the golf gods had started to address this issue, one of the main reasons golfers drop out of the game and why non-golfers often never start. The Sarasota Parks and Recreation Dept gave a report to county commissioners that said, in part: “The trend in new golf course construction is following the trend in real estate to very high end, exclusive developments…” Sarasota has 40 courses in the county, and only 24 are semi-private or public access. It’s lost three courses – ... full post »

One of my favorite short stories was by, I believe, a writer named Harlan Ellison. I read it many years ago, so the details may be off a bit. Basically, a group of people were sitting around after having attended a friend’s funeral. “What a great guy,” they all said. “Salt of the earth.” And so forth, which is typical of funerals. Finally, one man couldn’t stand it any more. “What a jerk,” he blurted, or words to that effect. “What a complete jerk.” And all the others silently nodded in agreement. By all accounts, Gerald Ford was a very friendly guy, with ... full post »

The Ocean course at Kiawah Island was recently picked to hold the 94th PGA Championship in 2012. Observation: Many of us, hopefully not including me, won’t be around in 2012. Why do they have to pick these things so far ahead of time? Any number of things can happen before then. A hurricane, certainly, maybe several. Fungus. Terrorists. Locust infestation. Secession from the United States. What, are they going to start preparing now? I’m not griping about the selection. The Ocean course is one of my favorite courses in the world. It endeared itself to me even more when it recently announced ... full post »

It is a triumph of modern-day marketing suckers that Tiger Woods is demanding fees of $25 million to design golf courses. It’s all about “branding.” Those suckers in Dubai couldn’t care less that Woods has never designed a golf course, never served any sort of apprenticeship with a real golf course architect. Even Jack Nicklaus apprenticed, with Pete Dye. Still, people like Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer aren’t even close to the top tier of real golf architects, yet are among those who command the highest salaries. Woods is selling his soul to rich Dubai developers, who won’t care that a course ... full post »

I hereby offer any odds, for any amount of money, from any bettor, golfer, housewife or bricklayer, that Michelle Wie will not last longer than two years at Stanford. That’s about how long Tiger Woods made it at Stanford before turning pro. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great the wunderkind is going to college. Even if she doesn’t get a degree, going to college enriches lives in so many ways. But, she won’t see it all the way through. She will drop out way before she is graduated (Note my proper grammar – see, I went to college). There is ... full post »

I understand we’re living in the age of global terrorism, and we must all be hyper-vigilant. I myself am constantly scanning the danger zone for Al-Quaeda, from the Piggly-Wiggly down the street where I buy my Skoal, to the Red Dog Saloon where I occasionally stop in for a shot. But, my fellow Americans and all civilized people around the globe, I suggest to you we must all become even more vigilant against a movement more powerful even than the armies of the night. You know of whom I speak – that name we dare not speak ill of, lest we be ... full post »

I’m not one of those golfers who bows to the east and says hosannahs every time the name Donald Ross’ name is invoked, but I’ve always enjoyed playing his courses. I like his small greens, false fronts and the fact you have to be high and extremely accurate with your irons to get even remotely close to the hole. I like the old-fashioned and settled look of his designs. I’ve played many of his courses, and most are short because in those days, they were normal humans with normal human strength. And I’ve always gotten a kick out of those courses that ... full post »

The Blue Monster at Doral just re-opened after closing for three summer months and a $1.5 million renovation. This Miami classic looks great, though if you haven’t played it for a few years, it will look quite different. First of all, it’s lost about 1,000 trees because of the storms of the last few years. All 18 greens were re-grassed, and all the bunkers were re-done. They also added new cart paths and planted flower gardens to break up the spaces between holes. But, make no mistake, it is still a monster. The rough is 2 1/2 inch-thick Bermuda and will be even ... full post »

As a native Floridian, one of the good things about this job is re-visiting areas of the state I haven’t seen for 20 years. Despite the fact I should have learned by now, I’m always a little surprised at the changes. I used to come to Lakeland as a teenager, to visit relatives. It was a classic small, easy-going central Florida city, with orange groves and a nice, slow pace of life. Now, it’s a bustling area with about a quarter of a million people in its environs. There are traffic jams. The good part is that it really hasn’t succumbed to ... full post »

Found another good muni for you, though anyone who lives or visits Lakeland, Florida regularly knows about Cleveland Heights. Those of you who read this blog regularly, and they extend to the farthest reaches of the globe, know I’m always on the hunt for good, city-owned courses, because they are usually cheap and available to anyone. Cleveland Heights is a good find. It’s essentially in downtown Lakeland, but it has a variety of wildlife, including alligators, hawks, eagles and other Florida animals. It was built back in 1927 and designed by a man named W.S. Flynn, a contemporary of Donald Ross, who obviously ... full post »

Ernie Els was supposed to be on the comeback trail. He won the Alfred Dunhill last December after a five-month layoff due to a knee injury. It was the second tourney after his comeback. Then he finished second in the South Africa Open. Since then – zip. No wins in the 2006 calendar year. It appears there are some lingering doubts, mostly mental, after his knee injury. Els says his knee is fine, but it’s caused problems with that famously smooth swing of his. He also says his admittedly – shall we say portly? – body isn’t helping matters. “If the accident had ... full post »

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is soon to become a walking-only facility in the mornings, beginning January 1, 2007. “Walking has been a fundamental part of the game of golf since the first ball was struck on the seaside links of Scotland,” Brian Gerard, Kiawah’s Director of Golf, said in a press release. “Our guests have enthusiastically embraced walking The Ocean Course, since we implemented the caddie program six years ago to the point where 50 percent currently walk. We feel this move will enhance our guest’s experience by embracing the great traditions of the game.” All guests wanting ... full post »

Some years ago, when I played on the sixth grade football team, the fifth-grade football team was short a man. The fifth-grade coach asked me if I would play, even though he knew it was illegal. I was still in my pads from practice, and I said sure – if an adult said it was OK, it must have been OK. I intercepted two passes, both of which I ran back for touchdowns. We killed them, and everyone congratulated me, but I felt kind of sleazy. I knew I had cheated. I was playing with smaller, lesser-skilled kids. I never again ... full post »

Myrtle Beach likes to rave about its great marsh courses, with good reason – the Grand Strand has some excellent marsh courses. So do, obviously, many other parts of the East Coast. But, for pure views, I’ll take the Hampton Club on Georgia’s St. Simons Island. At Hampton, you’re IN the marsh. They built four holes that are basically islands out in the marsh, connected by bridges. You’re out there with the ospreys, bald eagles and other marsh critters. It’s a unique place and will probably stay that way, since there is virtually no way developers would be allowed to build that way ... full post »