KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – This week marks not only the first major championship for Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, but its first professional stroke play tournament period. Only time will tell if it will become a staple of the PGA Championship’s informal rotation, but with a seaside setting, cunning Pete Dye design strategies, no clear pre-tournament...
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – Usually when PGA Championship time rolls around we hear endless repetition of the PGA of America’s mantra for the event – “Glory’s Last Shot.” I’ve never been a huge fan of that slogan. I think it actually dumbs down the importance of the tournament. After all, it is a major golf championship. It...
JF: We hear some interesting things happened while you were building Kiawah Island? PD: Oh I got plenty of stories! Everything happened to us trying to build that golf course. Back then it was owned by Landmark and Eddie Vossler, (you remember him, he won a lot on the PGA Tour), and Joe Walser. They owned PGA West, La Quinta, and Oak Tree – I’ve built 10...
MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ – Continuing their longstanding tradition of giving back to golf, Forsgate Country Club’s charity event on October 6 and 7 will feature Paula Creamer and Gary McCord in a “Battle of the Sexes” hosted by Clown Prince of Golf, David Feherty. “We need the community more than they need us, so we do whatever we can to use...
Gola, Smith, Berger, Flemma Lead NYC Golf Writers to 1st Writer Cup Victory at Forsgate By Rodney Zilla, special to Cybergolf and AWITP MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ – Doug Smith fired a gutsy 75, Dan Berger smoothly powered to a net 70, and co-captains Hank Gola and Jay Flemma also scored for the NY-National golf writing team as they finally defeated their hated arch...
Tomorrow we’ll be live from Forsgate C.C. for the sixth annual Writer Cup, so look for live reports from the tournament as Brew Crew of New York tries to stave off a sixth consecutive defeat to the Fighting Donkeys of Philadelphia. Tune on for all the fun.
Something a little different for us here at AWITP – a photo essay. I had the great privilege to play Teugega C.C. a gorgeous little Donald Ross course nestled cozily in the sleepy colonial era town town of Rome, New York on the shores of Lake Delta. (American History buffs will recall the area is home to Fort Stanwix, where colonial forces stopped the march of...
“Where’s this Royal Lye-Thumb?” Britt asked, thumbing through my nightstand stack of reading material. Usually she’s looking for resorts with spas where she can luxuriate, but seaside golf appeals to the beach lover in her. “It’s pronounced ‘Lytham’ like ‘rhythm.’ The British Open is being held there this...
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – While out covering the U.S. Open two separate sources imparted to me the same information. “Let me let you in a on a little secret Jay. Golf in California isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” they both asserted. I see why they said that. They had just been disappointed yet again by two big ticket resorts that actually...
The R&A announced today that Royal Tron will host the 2016 Open Championship. Here is a list of future Open Championship venues: 2012 – Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s, Blackpool, Lancashire, ENGLAND 2013 – Muirfield Golf links, Gullane, East Lothian, SCOTLAND 2014 – Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, Merseyside, ENGLAND 2015 – The...
Golf architect John Harbottle of Washington died Thursday at the age of 53. While reports are still coming in, John apparently suffered a heart attack while at a California airport. The American Society of Golf Course Architects press release is here. John is best known for his excellent work at the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain, at Pullman’s Palouse Ridge...
Quintessential golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. will be honored tomorrow night at the 2012 Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony, a high recognition given to remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Over 100 Americans descended...
Hat tip to Ryan Ballengee of Golf Channel for this tidbit I had forgotten:
No one has ever repeated as Players champion since the tournament moved to Sawgrass.
Now the question is…why? And what does the architecture have to with it?
Tournament coverage season kicks into fifth gear this next week with live daily reports from Garden City Golf Club for the Travis Invitational, Winged Foot for the Anderson Team Event, and then Olympic Club for the U.S. Open. We’ll also have reports and reviews from no less than six excellent designs nationwide, featuring the work of Emmet, Mackenzie, Hanse...
TALLGRASS GOLF COURSE 24 Cooper Street Shoreham, NY 11786 631.209.9359 www.golfattallgrass.com Architect: Gil Hanse Par: 36-35=71 Highest cost – $79 (weekends, a.m.) Lowest cost – $30 (weekdays after 2 p.m.) Tees Yards Rating Slope Black 6550 72.2 125 White 6148 70.1 123 Gold 5613 67.5 115 Red 5044 68.6 110 Tallgrass is a most welcome addition to the...