Thanks to the wonderful generousity of Kelly Blake Moran and the folks at the Hideout G.C., my mom and dad had a chance to play Kelly’s wonderful private design which is the flagship in SW Florida. Mom said: “The par-5s were terrific. The fairways were wide so you had alot of playing angles. The waste bunkers were really interesting and made for a lot of...
My Houston colleague Tom Kirkendall attended Dick’s funeral this week and covers the fond farewell remembrances with grace and wit. His piece is over at his website Houston’s Clear Thinkers, so please give it a read. I’m reprinting the highlight of the services here, direct from Tom’s site: “Best crack of the funeral came from brother...
Jim Engh and Tim Hartnett sent me a couple pix of the new nine Jim is building at Carne. The top pic is 9…the dunes pinch at the landing area. The bottom pic is 7, looking towards the green. Both holes needed almost no grading and the holes will look the same with the fairway and rough cut. Grading is almost done. Jim is going over in May to start green...
The Golf World lost one of its greatest instructors and gentlemen yesterday. Dick Harmon died unexpectedly at the age of 58 from complications to pneumonia. Houston Native Tom Kirkendall has written a glowing tribute to Dick. Click here to read Tom’s Blog Houston’s Clear Thinkers. Since Tom’s piece says everything best, there’s really nothing...
I got trapped in a bar last night with a bunch of drunk NYC cops who never follow golf, but sure follow Tiger. “Yoooooooooooooooo! Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiger!” they screamed through a beer-fueled haze between “Where day playins? San Diego? Aww dat’s buddaful!” ‘e’s gunna win right now!” Yeeesh, is was like a hangover...
Have a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2006! Something a little different today before I get to back to golf. I want to thank A. Vitullo & Sons of Utica, NY for many years of terrfic formal and businesswear. Being an Italian from Upstate New York, it’s a miracle I’m literate. (Relax everybody! It’s a joke!) But even though upstate New...
…and as the shephards lay in their field an angel of the lord appeared to them and they were frightened, but the angel said to them “Fear not, for I bring you glad tidings of great joy! For this day, in the city of David, a messiah is born and this child shall save you from all your sins.” And then suddenly the sky was filled with a great light and...
I’m happy to announce details for the New Years 2006 tour, which will have two separate legs and a total of eight courses, including one private layout which opened a mere few weeks ago. First, I’ll be reporting live each day from Las Vegas over the New Year’s holiday winding up that run with the creme de la creme of Vegas courses, Wolf Creek...
I love Christmas. You get to be nice to everybody for no reason. You get to smile and spread good cheer and clap friends on the back – all without Paxil (except you, Steve…you still need it;) You also get winter and bad weather, which is the perfect time to warm the heart of the golfer closest to you, especially if they are crazy enough to play in it...
2005 JAZZY AWARDS – BEST GOLF HOLE: #4 at BLACK ROCK, Boston, MA After seeing close to 100 courses this year, many ranked in the top 10 in America in either the public or private rankings, this was exceptionally difficult. I played many incredible, creative, beautiful, and strategic golf holes. In one stretch, I played Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and Monterey...
by Peter Black, Jr. The New York State Bar Association CLE lecture at Fordham University Friday featured some litigation shots that may have far reaching implications in the world of golf. New York intellectual property law expert Robert Clarida of Cowan Liebowitz & Latman in Manhattan argued that golf holes are no different than sculptures and that the more...
Three bits of housekeeping today. First, Tifosi, a Georgia company sent me two pairs of sunglasses to try on the golf course. The specs are supposed to cut out not only harmful UV rays, but are designed to provide sharp clarity of vision. I hate wearing sunglasses on the golf course, no matter how bright, but I have to say after being completely skeptical, I have...
Reason number 1,000,000 why the lore of Sawgrass is every bit as storied as any major venue. Noone who saw Tom Watson chip in at the 17th at Pebble Beach to edge Jack Nicklaus and win the U.S. Open will ever forget it. The next year, in an effort to capitalize on the shot’s legend, the U.S.G.A. asked Watson to reenact the shot, but at 17 at Sawgrass. With the...
The view from the 16th teebox at Pradera, near castle Rock, Colorado. Randomly placed pot bunkers place a premium on strategy.
The 4th at Lakota