William K. WolfrumThis Week at TravelGolf.com: Feb. 14, 2006

Another week, another win for Tiger -
this one coming off the golf course

It's easy to turn columns and blogs and other missives into long rant sessions. People just have a fantastic tendency toward idiocy, so it's hard to help yourself from railing on about it.

Take U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney shooting his 78-year-old hunting partner after mistaking him for Dan Quayle on a hunting trip.

Wait, he mistook him for an actual quail??!!!!! Jeez, that's much more stupid. You'd expect more from the man who drew up plans for the U.S. to be an imperialistic juggernaut.

So while it's easy to get riled up, let us not forget the good. And right now, on this physical plane, there are few things better than Tiger Woods. First of all, he jumps out of bed and wins the first two tournaments he enters in 2006. But that's nothing compared to what he did next.

On Sunday, with former President Bill Clinton and California First Lady Maria Shriver at his side, Woods opened his $25-million learning center for children in California.

The 35,000-square-foot facility is located next to the H-G Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim where Woods played when he was in high school.

After-school programs will include math, science and technology and the facility has a three-acre, 18-hole putting course. The center was created to serve students in fourth through 12th grade who will be able to take classes not offered at other schools. Nearly 3,000 students are expected to attend classes at the center during its first year, with 85 percent of those students coming from families below the poverty level.

Woods donated $6 million of his own money to the project, and spearheaded efforts to gain more donations, as well as state and federal grants for the center.

"He has come home, and he is sharing what he has learned and all the great things that have happened to him," Shriver told the Orange County Register.

Woods' friend, former NFL player Vencie Glenn, told the Orange County Register that he is not surprised that Woods gave back to his community. "Tiger is a better human being than a golfer," Glenn said. "That's hard to believe, but it's true."

Bravo, Tiger. It's great to see someone playing so well, both on and off the course.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.



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