My Daily Slice of Golf...the Blog: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

School record

Quick: Which college loves playing golf across the pond?

Answer: Georgia Tech: 3 British Open wins: Bobby Jones, David Duval and Stewart Cink.

BTW: Stewart Cink played with another Tech alum during his victory: Bryce Molder. If he keeps playing well, he will make it a fourth on the firth.

I remember back in the day, Cink winning the Nike Tour Championship (now it's called the Nationwide Tour) at Settindown Creek in Atlanta. A links course that stimped 15 on the final day. I was a scorer for a group a couple groups back...there names escape me now...fame is so fleeting...but I do remember Stewart Cink mowing the field down like a weedwacker on auto-pilot.
He was good at Tech. Everyone knew he was the next big deal out of the storied golf team of Georgia Tech. He almost won the US Open if not for a screwed-up final hole that was harder than #6 at Joe's Mini-Golf and Ice Cream Emporium...save for the windmill.

I still don't agree with belly-putters, but, until the USGA bans it, we have to accept it, and it has revitalized a great player...and it doesn't take away the fact that Cink beat a field on Scotland's hallowed turf only reserved for the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

Stewart Cink was to Tom Watson what Nick Faldo was to Greg Norman...what was a written script, only to be snatched away, scribbled, erased and edited.

Difference is, this editor took us all along for the ride with his Twitter account. He's a helluva, helluva engineer!

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Golf Rally Cry

Excerpt from Golf, Naked
Used by permission:

If I Ruled the World:

Here’s an idea for a new holiday. What if one day a year every golf course in the country opened its gates and allowed anyone to play for a predetermined, reasonable,and standardized rate? Can you imagine how cool Golf Day would be?
We would need some sort of lottery or limitation to who could play where depending on age,
state of residence, years on a waiting list, or something. Whatever. Someone else can work out the details. I’m just the idea guy.

A nationwide day for golf would be awesome. It would allow each of us to live out our dreams of playing courses that have filled the pages of history books and hosted epic tournaments—most of which we’d never otherwise have a chance to see.

Imagine knowing that during the next decade you’re going to play Cypress, Congressional, Medina, Merion, Baltusrol, Oakmont, Augusta National, Pine Valley, Pebble Beach, and Cherry Hills. Wouldn’t that be incredible?

I believe it would have a massive impact on the entire golfing industry. Playing golf at a premier facility, even only once a year, would give millions of golfers a reason to keep their games in tip-top shape. Merchandise sales would go through the roof (at least for the day). Rounds, lessons, and range ball sales would all increase, everywhere. Think about it—if you knew you were going to play Augusta National next year, I’ll bet you wouldn’t travel all that way to lay a big fat egg. Rather, you’d work hard on your game, and go there in hopes of posting a respectable score.

Wouldn’t you?

Golf course owners and private club members everywhere — come on, unite. For the good of the game, you can do this!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Golf, Naked

Everyone has heard the phrase "fake it 'till you make it", but how do you apply the fake it part...I mean, without knowledge of how the right way to act or to be seen before we can fake it, we all just look like ants running for the same leftover sandwich.

In golf, faking it is a very complicated process. Many nuances of being proper, can put the best intentioned soul fighting for his life amongst weathered veterans...because they themselves were once learning these same unwritten rules. It's a tough crowd that is more than willing to throw a hazing party for a newbie.

Thankfully, Greg Rowley's Golf, Naked, has given us an irreverent look at golf etiquette, and has put together a very enjoyable read of being proper in golf.

Golf, Naked is a great book for a beginner, or a seasoned golfer that has just been introduced into new golf-social circles like Country clubs, tournaments, and golf trips.
I feel it is a must-read for anyone who aspires to golf at work. In today's tough economy, if you find a job that requires the occasional golf day...you will be lost without knowing the basic ways to be proper, laid down in this book.

This book appealed to me on numerous fronts, but I kept thinking to myself that I wished I would have known these ways to act or be seen years ago when I was just learning the game.

This is not an instructional book (although the basic fundamentals are covered). This book is about what you do when you want to turn golf into a social tool for you. It's what you do before, during and after the game. This book will guarantee that you will be invited back to a very addictive game.

And for that, we thank you Greg!

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB