Tomorrow #500- The Old Course!!!

                                                                                                                              June 17,2013

When your arms are limber you will stay out of the timber-Craig Shankland

2013 Scotland Trip

Starting to firm tee times up and travel plans for this years British Isles trip. I expect to fill in another 5 or 6 courses by the time the trip is over. Hoping to get another round on the Old Course through the Ballot process. Will be spending a week each in the St Andrews and Dornoch regions.
6/13 North Berwick West
6/15  Carnoustie
6/16  Balcomie/ and Craighead at Crail
6/17  Old Course
6/18  New Course
6/19  Kingsbarns
6/20  Castle Course/ and Old Course
6/21  Abernethy(9)
6/22  Boat of Garten
6/23  Moray New
6/24  Nairn/ and Nairn Dunbar
6/25  Castle Stuart
6/26  Golspie/ and Brora
6/27  Royal Dornoch x 2
6/28  Tain
6/29  Fortrose and Rosemarkie

It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.

My favorite shots are the practice swing and the conceded putt. The rest can never be mastered- Lord Robertson

Busy Day at the Office

My Boss phoned me today. He said "Is everything OK at the office?"

I said "It is all under control. It has been a very busy day. I haven't stopped to take a break all day."

"Can you do me a favor", he asked.

I said, "Of course, what is it?"

"Pick up the pace a little. I am in the foursome behind you."

Why did it take over 12 hours to make a ruling on Tiger at the Masters?

For the governing bodies of golf to take over 12 hours to make a decision on Tiger Woods rules violation is just another example of the hypocrisy of these organizations. They rule against long putters but allow courses to become obsolete due to hotter golf balls and metal faced drivers. Why don't they care for long putters, because the putting stroke just doesn't look like golf was meant to be played in their opinion. They say it threatens the integrity of the game.

So here we are at the 2013 Masters and the worlds top player commits a rules violation and signs a card without taking a two stroke penalty. After 12 hours the committee comes up with a rationalization that will make it all right for Tiger to continue even though you and I would have been disqualified (DQ) at any other event.

Do I think Tiger initially knew he was breaking the rule on his drop at #15? Certainly not. In the heat of the moment I would probably have made the same mistake and not gone back on a line with the pin from where the ball actually "entered the water" to make a drop but where it crossed the water. Tiger admitted he dropped his ball ""2 yards behind" where he initially hit his 3rd shot and he was going to "dial it down a little" on the subsequent shot. He was dropping on an incorrect tangent line which gave him an unfair advantage. Even though he had no intent to break the rule, the fact is he did and signed an incorrect scorecard. Automatic DQ!

After signing the scorecard and Tiger realizing  he had violated a rule he should have disqualified himself, obviously he did not and the ball was thrown into the committee's court. The committee should have ruled and disqualified Tiger Woods but what ramifications would they now face? Without the games marque player who was on the first page of the leader board in the Masters, Augusta National and CBS would lose millions of $$$$ due to a drop in the TV ratings. With the history at Augusta of not allowing blacks or females membership until recently, no way did they want to stir up that hornets nest again by disqualifying the only black player in the field. So they find a loophole in a relatively new rule that would allow Tiger to compete.

It is the two year old so called HD TV rule 33-7, that allowed the committee to circumvent Tiger's rule violation and now threatens the Integrity of the game of golf with this precedence. Rule 33-7 is for minute movements of the ball that most would not see, not a 6 foot error of ball replacement. The loophole in this rule that was used states "in exceptional individual cases" they can waive a disqualification. The rule didn't apply in this instance! Do you really think that a lessor known player who was at the bottom of the leader board would have gotten this reprieve? The Game of Golf has always held it self to very high standards that even if no one else sees you violate the rules you are bound to call it on ones self. It now appears that you don't even have to know the rules or even attempt to call them on yourself and you will be allowed to play on depending on who you are.

Setting Tiger Woods personal ethics and morals aside, he is the last person I would take a youth golfer to follow at a golf event. His continued profanity and actions during a round of play is the worst example set by ANY professional golfer on tour today for our young golfers to emulate. But the PGA doesn't appear to be noticing his actions and continue to let the Golden Goose act as he wishes. The commentators tell us he is working on his temper but I have seen no signs of any change in his four letter vocabulary. Only yesterday on the 18th hole, when he discovered he had gone past the hole did he drop another F bomb on live TV. Do you think Tiger acts this way in front of his own children?

Tiger had the opportunity to gain back the respect of the golfing world by doing what most every other ethical golfer would do and had done before him by disqualifying himself from further play in the this years Masters. It would have been a shining moment in the history of golf, just as when Bobby Jones called the penalty on himself in the 1925 US Open. It would have set an example for the young golfers coming into the game today why golf is so very special to many of us. Unfortunately he like many others in our society today, take what they can no matter whether they deserve it or not and move on. Come late Sunday afternoon, if Tiger is on the leader board we will see if he has any conscious. I doubt it.

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?-John Wooden

Polite way to call someone a Bastard

A guy was getting ready to tee off on the first hole when a second golfer approached and asked if he could join him. The first said that he usually played alone, but agreed to the twosome.
They were even after the first few holes. The second guy said, "We're about evenly matched, how about playing for five bucks a hole?"
The first guy said that he wasn't much for betting, but agreed to the terms.
The second guy won the remaining sixteen holes with ease.
As they were walking off number eighteen, the second guy was busy counting his $80.00.
He confessed that he was the pro at a neighboring course and liked to pick on suckers.
The first fellow revealed that he was the Parish Priest.
The pro was flustered and apologetic, offering to return the money. The Priest said, "You won fair and square and I was foolish to bet with you. You keep your winnings."
The pro said, "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
The Priest said, "Well, you could come to Mass on Sunday and make a donation......And, if you want to bring your mother and father along, I'll marry  them.

Would this count as your 15th club??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx_cmAIyaDQ

Range' Golf Balls- The most used in golf

http://youtu.be/DIR3oCQMQBE

Update-Most Courses Played

Last December, for those who have been following my blog, you recall that when I was at Black Diamond Ranch I had the pleasure of playing with 72-year old Terry Inslee. At the time Terry had played 2,610* different courses and had not heard of anyone else playing that many. Pretty astonishing accomplishment, as most people will never even come close to playing that many rounds in their life. He mentioned to me that there was a youngster who had played 1400+ and would probably eventually catch him. But we all knew that Tiger was a lock to break Jack's major record right.

As fate would have it, when I played Erin Hills in late September I was paired with the heir apparent to Terry's throne. Forty-something Darryl Boe, from South Carolina, was at 1,486 courses and well over half way toward breaking the unofficial record.

Last week I read in Golfweek that one of their course raters claims over 3000. 68-year old, Welshman,  Derek Dobbs says he has bag tags from all those courses on his basement walls which are organized by countries and states. If the course didn't have a tag he simply made one himself. I must admit I am a bit skeptical about this guy, as he didn't produce an exact number.

So, it appears that Terry has relinquished the "Unofficial World" crown sooner than he thought. Darryl and who knows whoever else is out there are still in hot pursuit of the Welshman. If I got really motivated and played a new course everyday for the next 8 or 9 years I could catch them all. NO CHANCE unless some companies out there want to sponsor me- Aleve, Geritol, AARP, Golf Channel, Humana Medicare, golf equipment makers, RV companies, golf magazines, are a few that come to mind. I would gladly wear more corporate logos on my golf shirt than John Daly.

*Terry is currently at 2,850, as of the 2015 PGA Show, and still going strong.

Golf on Christmas

Four old timers were playing their weekly game of golf, one remarked how nice it would be to wake up on Christmas morning, roll out of bed and without an argument go directly to the golf course, meet his buddies and play a round.

His buddies all chimed in said, "Let's do it! We'll make it a priority; figure out a way and meet here early, Christmas morning."

Months later, that special morning arrives, and there they are on the golf course. The first guy says, "Boy this game cost me a fortune! I bought my wife a diamond ring that she can't take her eyes off."

The second guy says, "I spent a ton too. My wife is at home planning the cruise I gave her. She was up to her eyeballs in brochures."

The third guy says "Well my wife is at home admiring her new car, reading the manual."

They all turned to the last guy in the group who is staring at them like they have lost their minds.

"Jeez, I can't believe you all went to such expense for this golf game. I slapped my wife on the butt and said, 'Well babe, Merry Christmas! It's a great morning -- Intercourse or GolfCourse' .....

 

She said, 'Don’t forget your sweater!' "

Golf Handicap

   A businessman was attending a conference in Africa . He had a free day and wanted to play a round of golf and was directed to a golf course in the nearby jungle. After a short journey, he arrived at the course and asked the pro if he could get on.
   Sure, said the pro, What's your handicap?
   Not wanting to admit that he had an 18 handicap, he decided to cut it a bit. Well, it's 16, said the businessman, but what's the relevance since I'll be playing alone?
   It's very important for us to know, said the pro, who then called a caddy.
   Go out with this gentleman, said the pro, his handicap is 16. 
   The businessman was very surprised at this constant reference to his handicap. The caddy picked up the businessman's bag and a large rifle. Again, the businessman was surprised, but decided to ask no questions. They arrived on the 1st hole, a par-4.
   It's wise to avoid those trees on the left, said the caddy. Needless to say, the businessman duck-hooked his ball into the trees. He found his ball and was about to punch it out when he heard the loud crack of the rifle and a large snake fell dead from a tree above his head. 
   The caddy stood next to him with the rifle smoking in his hand. That's the Black Mamba, the most poisonous snake in all Africa . You're lucky I was here with you.
   After taking a bogey, they moved to the 2nd hole, a par-5. Good to avoid those bushes on the right, says the caddy. Of course, the businessman's ball went straight into the bushes. As he went to pick up his ball, he heard the loud crack of the caddy's rifle once again, and a huge lion fell dead at his feet.
   I've saved your life again, said the caddy.
   The 3rd hole was a par-3 with a lake in front of the green. The businessman's ball came up just short of the green and rolled back to the edge of the water. To take a shot, he had to stand with one foot in the lake. As he was about to swing, a large crocodile emerged from the water and bit off much of his right leg. As he fell to the ground bleeding and in great pain, he saw the caddy with the rifle propped at his side, looking on unconcernedly.
   Why didn't you kill it asked the man incredulously?
   I'm sorry, sir, said the caddy. This is the 17th handicap hole. You don't get a shot here.
   And that, my golfing friends, is why you should never lie about your handicap!

Rosapenna Golf Resort acquires St. Patrick's 36 holes-Future Bandon Dunes Of Ireland?

The recent news of  Rosapenna's Golf Resort's (45 holes) acquisition of St.Patrick's Golf Links (36 holes) has finally motivated me to write an article on this slice of heaven in northwest Ireland. On my first Emerald Isle excursion in 2011, I had opportunity to play the Pat Ruddy design Sandy Hills course at Rosapenna Resort. Up until that point I had walked all the previous rounds and it was my intent to walk Sandy Hills as well. Fortunately for me, Director of Golf, Frank Casey Jr insisted on me taking a power cart this day. I was one of only a few people playing and half way through my round I was hit with a cold front of rain that lasted for a couple of hours. I had already played through a whole round of drenching rain at Ballyliffin and wasn't looking forward to playing in another soaker, so I backed my cart up against a dune out of the wind near the 11th tee and was ready to wait it out. After about 45 minutes of continuous wind and rain, dropping temps, and a short nap I headed back into to the Golf Pavillion for some hot tea and cookies. After another hour the weather finally cleared up and I went back out to finish my round. The round surely wouldn't have been as enjoyable if not for the kindness of Frank giving me a cart to use.

Before arriving at Rosapenna I had been on my trip for 15 rounds and had talked a lot of golf with the ever friendly Irish and the consensus was that you should play Sandy Hills once, but it might not be your most enjoyable round due to its design difficulty. Having previously played Glashedy, Portsalon, and most recently The European Club I have to agree that Sandy Hills is the most difficult of these Ruddy courses. Pat Ruddy has done a marvelous job tweaking the European Club over the past 20 years and I bet if he had opportunity that he might have some ideas to soften Sandy Hills a bit. When I visited with Mr.Ruddy I asked him if he had any plans of doing any new courses, and he told me he was too busy fixing what he had already designed. Much like Pete Dye, who seems to be forever tweaking his courses, I find it very refreshing that Mr. Ruddy is always looking for ways to make his creations more enjoyable. The day I played The European Club was also not the best weather, in the mid 40's with the usual wind, clouds, and sprinkles. I felt it was in the top 5 of any courses I played in Ireland. Sandy Hills nestled along Sheephaven Bay is one of the most beautiful dune lands you will find in all of Ireland. I found it challenging and would have liked to have time to have played it again. It is a course that you really need to play more than once.

I put the Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort in my top 10 places I would want to return to in all of  Ireland. The rooms where some of the most spacious and luxurious, the dining and view of the bay outstanding, and the golf ,spa, and pool facilities great. Everything physically is already in place to seamlessly incorporate another 36 holes. So what would I do with Sandy Hills? I really believe that perception is reality and ones first and last impressions are the strongest.

I am an advocate of easing one into a round but the first two holes at Sandy Hills are two of its toughest. I doubt very few golfers are even par after those two and may be somewhat discouraged with their start. I would lengthen the opening hole a few yards and change it to a short par 5, making the course par 72, which would still be a challenging hole as it plays uphill. The second hole I hit two good shots but didn't get the usual run out of my approach that I would expect on a true links course. I would contour the front right portion of the fairway to allow a better chance of a shot ending up on the putting surface. I must admit this links course felt like it was on steroids compared to most of the others I played in Ireland. I am sure Mr. Ruddy could make a few more tweaks over the next several holes but the view on the final approach shot I felt was out of character of the isolation and sense of serenity which I felt throughout the round. What distracted me was a parking lot behind the 18th green. A large berm producing a punchbowl effect would nicely hide that view behind the green and soften up the hole a tad. Maybe those playing Sandy Hills in the future will feel they have a more enjoyable experience which should dispel its current too difficult reputation. Like The European Club has over the years, Sandy Hills could benefit from a few tweaks and ascend the worlds golf rankings.

https://picasaweb.google.com/InPursuitof1000/SandyHills?authuser=0&feat=directlink

In the press release, I read that Tom Doak was interested in possibly being involved in the redevelopment of the St. Patricks parcel. If I had to pick one firm to construct me a course, it would be Renaissance Design. From a selfish standpoint I am hoping that when Spring rolls around they are breaking ground for a new layout and possibly another outstanding architect gets involved in the parcel. Like Bandon Dunes Resort if you build great links courses golfers will come in droves. I found that it is actually less money to come to Ireland from the East coast of the USA to play golf as going to Oregon. I will be anxiously waiting to see what happens with this now 1100+ acre parcel, in one of the most beautiful, remote areas of the golfing world and looking forward to a return visit.

New Olympic Sport??

With golf being in the Olympics for 2016, why not make Synchronized Putting another venue. Below is a six man team, I think we could have have eight and ten man teams also. May be my last chance to win Olympic Gold.

http://digital.globalgolfpost.com/globalgolfpost/20121105#pg46

Golf balls are like eggs

They are white, they are sold by the dozens, and a week later you have to buy more!

If profanity had any influence on the flight of a golf ball, most everyone would play better.

90 days suspension from club

 A golfer claims in court that a country club wrongfully suspended his membership for jokingly referring to a fellow golfer as a "dickhead." Robert Yick Jr., sued the Richmond Country Club, general manager MacDonald Niven, president Stuart Offer and the club's board of directors in Contra Costa Superior Court.Yick says he regularly golfs with a group dubbed the "Dick Brothers Traveling Golf Club."
"The members of the aforesaid Traveling Golf Club refer to themselves as 'Dickheads' and other such names reflecting upon the ability, or lack thereof, of said members' proficiency on the golf course," his lawsuit states. Niven was allegedly stalking the group in the pro shop on July 4 when he overheard Yick calling a fellow golfer a "dickhead" in jest.
Niven, who had been targeting Yick for complaining about his inappropriate management style, reported the incident and recommended that Yick be "reprimanded, fined, and/or suspended or expelled" from the country club, according to the lawsuit. Yick says Niven claimed that the nickname was "unacceptable" and violated the country club's policy against "foul or abusive language."
He says the board voted to suspend his membership for 90 days for simply exercising his right to free speech.

Golf Trip

Four guys have been going on the same golf trip for many years.
This year, Ralph's wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going.
And thus he calls his buddies and tells them the bad news.
Two days later, the other guys arrive at the resort to begin their yearly golf getaway.
And of all things, they find Ralph sitting there with his clubs already set up on his cart.
"Dang Ralphie boy, how did you talk your missus into letting you go?"
"Well, yesterday evening, after my wife finished reading "Fifty Shades Of Gray,"
she pulled me into our bedroom. On the bed she had handcuffs and ropes!
She told me to tie and cuff her to the bed, and I did."
Then she said, "Do whatever you want." So, Here I am!

I've spent most of my life golfing. The rest I've just wasted.

Ireland 2011-12 Photo Highlights

For those who don't have the time to view the over 5000 photos/34 courses, from my Ireland golf trips, I will post a condensed version to give you a quick glimpse of the beautiful Irish golf courses. Just click on the directlink below or the corresponding one on the left side of blog under Slideshows.

Part 1 (5/27-6/2/2011) Dublin to Belfast-8 courses
https://picasaweb.google.com/InPursuitof1000/IrelandPartI?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Part 2 (6/3-6/7) Portrush to Rosapenna-7 courses
https://picasaweb.google.com/InPursuitof1000/IrelandPart2?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Part 3 (6/8-6/14) Nairn to Belmullet-7 courses
https://picasaweb.google.com/InPursuitof1000/IrelandPart3?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Part 4 (5/9-5/16/2012) European Club to Tralee-6 courses
https://picasaweb.google.com/InPursuitof1000/IrelandPart4?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Part 5 (5/17-5/21) Ballybunion to Dublin-6 courses
https://picasaweb.google.com/InPursuitof1000/IrelandPart5?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Black Rated Irish golf courses- Bk**

To earn a Black Rating, it has to have been an exceptional golfing experience and/or a great design. I played 12 courses that I consider Bk** out of the 34. The following order is where I would return to play first.

Royal County Down
Old Head
Royal Portrush
The European Club
Ballybunion
Lahinch
Waterville
Doonbeg
Rosapenna-Sandy Hills
Portmarnock
County Sligo/Rosses Point
County Louth/Baltry

Top Ten Irish course designs

I played 34 coastal courses and these are my Top 10 course designs:

1. Royal County Down
2. Royal Portrush
3. Ballybunion
4. Lahinch
5. The European Club
6. Waterville
7. Portmarnock
8. The Island
9. Rosses Point
10. Baltry

Notables: Enniscrone, Doonbeg, Glashedy, Portstewart F9, Tralee B9, Sandy Hills

You're not old until You'd rather play Golf than have sex.