This Week at TravelGolf.com: Jan. 13, 2004

Stories I'm already tired of this year (in no particular order): Britney Spears' annulment, Pete Rose's "apology," and the new tests for "hot drivers" on the PGA Tour. To combat the problem of illegal equipment, the Tour has really cracked down by implementing this voluntary test. Why stop there? Where's the voluntary drug testing? Or the voluntary background check?

Tiger Woods calls the test a "step in the right direction," and he's right. But there doesn't seem to be any reason why the test shouldn't be mandatory. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem says it's a non-issue: "There's no doubt in my mind that every player is going to get their driver tested." Time will tell, but I'd be awfully surprised if Finchem is correct. If you really want a level playing field, make everyone test their driver before every event.

Speaking of the Tour, our coverage begins this week with a look at the West Coast Swing, featuring brief previews of events in Hawaii, California, and Arizona. Before this week's Sony Open, be sure to check out our series of stories on the best of 2003, including recaps from Las Vegas and Ohio. As always, feel free to send us your comments on any topic, including your thoughts on the Tour's new testing process. Have a great week.

PGA Tour:
West Coast Swing preview

The West Coast swing has catapulted many professionals to the top of the PGA Tour money list. Last year Ernie Els jumped out to a lightning fast start. K.J. Choi played as well as you can without winning. Now, look for Vijay Singh and Davis Love to be hot on the tracks of Tiger Woods. And it's all going to unfold on a set of courses that's second to none.

Full story | Visit HawaiiGolfGuide.com

California's offers plenty of options

With more than 1,000 golf courses in the state, ranking them requires breaking it down to Northern California and Southern California, and even then, there are still plenty of good courses that get left out. Rebecca Larsen whittles it down for you with her blueprint to the best quality public tracks. In addition to all-time classics, she'll tell you her must plays, the best resorts and point out some gems that deserve more attention.

Full story | A look back at 2003

Thirty minutes with Chi Chi Rodriguez

Rodriguez recently took time out from his busy schedule to discuss his life, the current issues in professional golf and the origins of his trademark celebration with Brendan McEvoy. Chi Chi talks about everything from the Annika and the LPGA Tour to Tiger and how superstardom is good for the game.

Full story | More celebrity profiles