This Week at TravelGolf.com: Sept. 07, 2004

Any parent who has tried to play a round of golf with their young child will appreciate this week's column by Staff Writer Michael Patrick Shiels, who decided to examine the challenges of youth golf after he and his 7-year-old son encountered several problems last month.

While Shiels won't be returning to two courses where he received terrible service, there is a hint of optimism in his report. A variety of family programs are available in your community by visiting playgolfamerica.com, and Shiels says the PGA of America seems to be recognizing the challenges of youth golf. Unfortunately, there will always be course officials with a bias against young golfers. Our hope is that this important issue receives even more attention in the coming years.

Before wrapping up, a quick congratulations to Los Angeles bellhop Tony Marquez, bell captain at the Hotel Bel-Air. Recently named by the Mobil Travel Guide as the best hotel worker in America, Marquez represents the many hotel employees who excel at their job. If only there were more like him. As always, your comments are welcome on any topic, including your ideas on how to make youth golf more rewarding for everyone. Have a great week.

Fans watch as Palmer
passes torch to Mickelson

Senior writer Jason Scott reports from the Turning Point Invitational, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Palmer's 1954 U.S. Amateur victory at the Country Club of Detroit. Palmer, along with 24 other past U.S. Amateur champions, helped raise nearly $6 million for Cornerstone Schools in Detroit, but it was the 3,000 golf fans on the course who were the real winners. "It was a true golf love-fest," Scott writes.

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Clevelanders will
fall for these great fall trips

It's soon going to be fall and that means some great golfing weather in the Midwest. But that begs the question: Where can you go to get in a little golf, then maybe enjoy one of those annual Midwestern festivals where there's apple cider and pumpkin carving? Well, Staff Writer Jason Stahl reports there are several destinations are perfect for just that, and easy on the wallet, too. Not that you have to leave Ohio for fall scenery, but why not?

Full story | Ohio Golf Courses

Olympic golf is for
amateurs, unless in Moscow

Every four years about this time, people start asking why golf isn't an Olympic sport. National Golf Editor Tim McDonald is no exception. In this week's commentary, McDonald argues against adding golf. There's really no need, he writes, since golf is already a global sport. "If golf is to be an Olympic sport, open it only to amateurs," says McDonald. "And since that will never happen, I say leave it out altogether."

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