Here’s the best tournament preview. Sal Johnson of Golf Observer breaks it down like a fraction for us. I like this quote: Key stat for the winner: Craig Perks blew the greatest stat the tournament had going for it with his win in 2002. Before his victory, nobody had ever won the Players without a win on the PGA Tour. Matter of fact, other than Perks, every...
That’s right, a crowded Irish pub in Manhattan put the Yankee game on Yes Network on in the most distant TV in the bar, while all eyes were front and center on the PLAYERS. When they tried to change the channel to the baseball game, the entire place screamed to put it back on golf. Don’t worry…they still luv ya, stripey boys. BUt for four days...
The best part of my job is when someone asks me where to play, I tell them, and then they go and have a great time. My sportscaster buddy Steve Czaban – a man who knows a thing or two about golf – asked me what course I should add to his Pinehurst getaway weekend. I told him simply, “if you miss Tobacco Road, you’ll be missing the best course...
What can I say? I’m all for Spanish “Hacienda” style architecture, but the new clubhouse at Sawgrass is so huge, it’s reedonkyulous! [Editor’s note: That’s “ridiculous,” but with a donkey thrown in to show how over the top it is…] Look, call me Egyptian, (or maybe in the case of my deep love for Sawgrass, a...
Welcome aboard, gents. It’s great to have the fans of the best sports broadcaster in America walking these fairways. As a special goodie bag, here’s some classic bits from the archives, just to get you oriented: 1. Wall to wall Potomac Cup coverage Here’s a great line from the event: “We better do something fast” added Marylander Ron...
Picture caption: “Mmmm! This IS…a tasty burger! I’ll have a new piece up on Golf Observer soon comparing Tobacco Road to the movie Pulp Fiction. Here are some excerpts: In his book Grounds For Golf, Geoff Shackelford once compared great golf courses to epic films. For example, he called Pine Valley The Godfather and he called National Golf Links of...
Three bits of housekeeping today while I go get clobbered at Harbour Town. (Well that’s my guess. I played great at Pinehurst and Bulls Bay…86-87. I didn’t break 90 at Wild Dunes and I don’t wanna know what I shot at Kiawah. I got humbled. Great course, but man…relentless.) 1) A.W. Tillinghast won the Architect’s Final Four...
A GREAT CADDIE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE You only have two choices playing Pinehurst No. 2 – take a cart or hire a caddy. Of course, I recommend being old school. (To quote David Carradine in Kill Bill 2, “and you know I’m all about old school.”) Pinehurst is all about old school too. The caddies there must be the best in America. Over 100...
WILD DUNES GOLF CLUB – LINKS COURSE 10001 Back Bay Drive Isle of Palms, SC 843.886.2180 800.845.8880 Architect: Tom Fazio Par – 72 Excitement Level – 8/12 Difficulty – 6/12 Cost – $130 Peak, $45 replay and twilight Yearly memberships – No Design – Three stars (all ratings out of seven) Conditioning – Five and ½ stars...
PINEHURST, NC – GOLFTOWN, USA While covering the 2005 U.S. Open for my first writing gig, I kept an open mind all week as the world debate raged on whether $375 is too much for a round of golf at Pinehurst No. 2, or whether $240 is too much for Nos. 4, 7, and 8. I listened to the good points raised on either side – and there are plenty to go around. Even...
The Jay Train rolls into the Carolinas next week with stops at four epic resorts and three private courses which all have fascinating pedigrees. For the public golfer, I’ll be directly comparing and contrasting the finest resorts Carolina has to offer: Pinehurst No. 2, Wild Dunes, Harbour Town (right after the MCI) and Kiawah Island. I’m really looking...
PGA GOLF CLUB AT THE RESERVE 1916 Perfect Drive Port St. Lucie, FL 800.800.GOLF www.pgavillage.com DYE COURSE Architect: Pete Dye Par 72 Excitement Level – 7/12 Difficulty – 8/12 Design: Five and 1/2 stars Natural setting: Four stars Conditioning – Six stars Cost – $89 peak, $45 reduced Yearly Memberships – No Value – Six and 1/2...
CALEDONIA GOLF AND FISH CLUB 369 Caledonia Drive Pawley’s Island, SC 800.483.6800 www.fishclub.com Architect: Mike Strantz Par 70 Excitement Level – 9/12 Difficulty – 6/12 Conditioning – Four and ½ stars Design – Four and ½ stars Cost – $120 peak, $80 reduced, packages available Yearly Memberships – Yes, and dirt cheap...
THE PIT GOLF LINKS State Hwy 5 Pinehurst, NC 28370 800.574.golf www.pitgolf.com www.maplesgolf.com Architect: Dan Maples Par – 71/72 Excitement Level – 8/12 Difficulty – 5/12 Conditioning – Three stars Cost – $45, excellent packages available Yearly memberships – No Value – Three stars Tees Yards Rating Slope Screw 6600 71.8...
The 6th at Tot Hill Farm