The Philadelphia area is one of the great golf regions in the world. More on that later. This week, Tiger Woods and many other great PGA players will be in town for the AT+T National, to be held at Aronimink Golf Club. This is a great opportunity, since the tour does not have a regular stop in the area.
I would love for this event to be well attended, because it would help the region's case for a regular spot. The tournament is here this year and next because its home course near DC is undergoing renovations.
Tournament play starts Thursday, but practice rounds begin today. There are advantages to both. For practice rounds, spectators can interact with the players, who are usually in a more casual mood. Usually, cameras are permitted for practice rounds. However, Mr. Woods himself usually plays his practice rounds very early in the morning, so you probably won't get to see him.
Tournament rounds are carefully scheduled, so you know exactly when your favorite player is teeing off, and can anticipate his appearance at a given hole.
I'll be reporting as the week progresses, but start making your plans.
For ticket and parking information, the official site is found at http://www.attnational.org/home/default.sps
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
McDowell is a great champion
Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open by a single shot over Frenchman Greg Havret and 2 shots over Ernie Els. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods tied for 4th. Be honest now, how many of you golf fans have heard of McDowell before this week. How about Havret? I follow this sport pretty closely, so I had heard of McDowell, but I don't remember hearing of the Frenchman.
It was tough watching Dustin Johnson implode, losing his 3 shot lead early, and going on to shoot an 82. Dustin has a lot of game, so look for him to bounce back strong in the near future.
Meanwhile, Tiger seemed to be playing like dirt, and he still finished 4th. The man is amazing, and I still think he'll win a major this year.
As usual, the USGA put on a great tournament, and it "identified" the world's best golfer this week.
It was tough watching Dustin Johnson implode, losing his 3 shot lead early, and going on to shoot an 82. Dustin has a lot of game, so look for him to bounce back strong in the near future.
Meanwhile, Tiger seemed to be playing like dirt, and he still finished 4th. The man is amazing, and I still think he'll win a major this year.
As usual, the USGA put on a great tournament, and it "identified" the world's best golfer this week.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
U.S. Open starts Thursday
The second Major of the year is being held this week. The U.S. Open starts Thursday at Pebble Beach. Naturally, Tiger Woods is a main character in many of the story lines as he is any time he plays, but even more so since the revelations about his extra marital affairs.
Watch for these story lines: Can Tiger repeat here at Pebble, the site of his amazing 15 shot victory a decade ago at the same venue? Can Tiger win his 15th Major Championship, drawing him 1 closer to Jack Nicklaus’ all time record of 18? Can Tiger shake whatever demons haunt him due to his car accident, revelations of marital infidelity, and hiatus from golf? Can Phil Mickelson win his second major of the year, keeping alive the only chance for a player to win a grand slam this year? Which unexpected player will contend this year, perhaps rising from relative obscurity to prominence, at least among golf fans? How many dads will spend Father’s Day watching the Open?
Watch for these story lines: Can Tiger repeat here at Pebble, the site of his amazing 15 shot victory a decade ago at the same venue? Can Tiger win his 15th Major Championship, drawing him 1 closer to Jack Nicklaus’ all time record of 18? Can Tiger shake whatever demons haunt him due to his car accident, revelations of marital infidelity, and hiatus from golf? Can Phil Mickelson win his second major of the year, keeping alive the only chance for a player to win a grand slam this year? Which unexpected player will contend this year, perhaps rising from relative obscurity to prominence, at least among golf fans? How many dads will spend Father’s Day watching the Open?
Outing season is in full swing.
Outing season is in full swing.
I recently banned myself from playing golf, for conduct injurious to the game. My play has been maddeningly inconsistent. That’s right, even more inconsistent than always. I know what you are thinking. How the heck do you expect to be any good, if you are not going to practice? (Practice? We talking about practice?) Well, the fact is, I don’t expect to be good. I just don’t expect to be this bad.
I had to lift the ban on myself, because I had been long signed up for 3 outings, and I wasn’t about to leave my teammates one player short. I will be playing in 3 outings in an 8 day span, beginning last Friday. Last Friday was the Bar Association outing at Bellewood near Pottstown. Monday, Flag Day, was the Magisterial District Judges outing at Pinecrest, and this coming Saturday will be the “Pastor’s Masters” at Skippack. If my scramble team is going to be any good, I need to be, at worst, the third or fourth best player. Last Friday, we won, and I indeed was the third or fourth best player. Yesterday, we came in somewhere near the middle of the pack, but our best player was not good enough for us to compete with the many ringers around the field.
It will be fun to play at Skippack, which used to be my favorite course. I haven’t seen it in years, so it will be interesting to see what has changed.
If you would like to mention or promote your outings, please post to this blog! I’m still figuring out the technical side of this, so please bear with me.
I recently banned myself from playing golf, for conduct injurious to the game. My play has been maddeningly inconsistent. That’s right, even more inconsistent than always. I know what you are thinking. How the heck do you expect to be any good, if you are not going to practice? (Practice? We talking about practice?) Well, the fact is, I don’t expect to be good. I just don’t expect to be this bad.
I had to lift the ban on myself, because I had been long signed up for 3 outings, and I wasn’t about to leave my teammates one player short. I will be playing in 3 outings in an 8 day span, beginning last Friday. Last Friday was the Bar Association outing at Bellewood near Pottstown. Monday, Flag Day, was the Magisterial District Judges outing at Pinecrest, and this coming Saturday will be the “Pastor’s Masters” at Skippack. If my scramble team is going to be any good, I need to be, at worst, the third or fourth best player. Last Friday, we won, and I indeed was the third or fourth best player. Yesterday, we came in somewhere near the middle of the pack, but our best player was not good enough for us to compete with the many ringers around the field.
It will be fun to play at Skippack, which used to be my favorite course. I haven’t seen it in years, so it will be interesting to see what has changed.
If you would like to mention or promote your outings, please post to this blog! I’m still figuring out the technical side of this, so please bear with me.
Bar Association Outing
I had the good fortune to be part of the winning team at the Montgomery Bar Association outing last Friday. The scramble tournament was held at Bellewood, which is about 10 years old and located near Pottstown. This course is a real beauty, with a good layout, excellent greens, and in very good condition.
Primarily responsible for our winning score of 60, 11 under par, was Bobby Harrington, who plays around a scratch at Merion Golf Club. I think Bob would have shot around even par on his own.
Look for some more about Harrington in later posts. He has a ton of great stories about Merion, including his rounds played with notorious golfers Samuel L. Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
The outing benefitted Montgomery County Legal Aid, and was well attended by lawyers and their friends.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Back at the keyboard
It's great to be back in the golf writing world after too long of an absence. I had a great deal of fun during the 4 years I wrote for The Reporter, and I am hoping to have just as good a time now.
It's a good time to start, because a big PGA tournament is scheduled to start late this month less than an hour from Lansdale, and Tiger Woods is scheduled to play the event. Check the tourney's web site for more information.
For those that like ladies golf, and I am one of them, don't miss the LPGA McDonalds, June 11-14.
All of the best lady pros should be there, and the event is considered one of the LPGA tour's Majors.
As many of you know, golf outings are a popular fundraiser, and I am going to invite readers to post information about their outings to help with their causes. Post Away!
As the President of the Montgomery Golf Association, Montgomery Township's golf league, I think it might be fun to post league results. Other leagues should post as well!
I am no stranger to golf, but I am new to blogging, so please, be patient with me. I'll learn as I go along. In the meantime, send in your posts!
Go low!
It's a good time to start, because a big PGA tournament is scheduled to start late this month less than an hour from Lansdale, and Tiger Woods is scheduled to play the event. Check the tourney's web site for more information.
For those that like ladies golf, and I am one of them, don't miss the LPGA McDonalds, June 11-14.
All of the best lady pros should be there, and the event is considered one of the LPGA tour's Majors.
As many of you know, golf outings are a popular fundraiser, and I am going to invite readers to post information about their outings to help with their causes. Post Away!
As the President of the Montgomery Golf Association, Montgomery Township's golf league, I think it might be fun to post league results. Other leagues should post as well!
I am no stranger to golf, but I am new to blogging, so please, be patient with me. I'll learn as I go along. In the meantime, send in your posts!
Go low!
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