January 2007

Do you have a favorite golf tournament ? I have several, but one of my favorites is always the John Deere Classic.

Why ? Well, being an old country boy, I love John Deere tractors. Cracker Barrel, one of my favorite places to eat, sells the memorabilia, their colors match my blog and any tournament that can continue to prosper in the midwest in these years of too much money and star golfers that won’t play but 15 events, gets my vote as overcomers.

And prosper they have. Here’s some of the press release that came out after the last event there.

” EAST MOLINE, Illinois (October 30, 2006) . John Deere Classic officials today announced that this year’s tournament helped raise more than $3.9 million for charity, an increase of more than $800,000 over last year.

“Every year, the people and businesses of the Quad Cities and neighboring communities out-do themselves in terms of their generosity, compassion, and civic mindedness,” Peterson said. “The John Deere Classic and our sponsor, John Deere, are honored to be associated with them.”

The 2006 charity total of $3.9 million was up from 2005’s total of just under $3.1 million. Charitable contributions were generated by a combination of tournament revenues, direct donations, and the highly successful John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity program.

The $3.9 million total translates to a per-capita contribution of $10.40 for every man, woman and child living the Quad Cities based on a population of 375,000. That makes the John Deere Classic one of only a handful of PGA Tour events to exceed $3 million in money raised for charity and easily makes it the No. 1-ranked tournament for per-capita giving on the PGA Tour.

“The PGA TOUR would like to congratulate the John Deere Classic on this remarkable charitable achievement,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Everyone associated with the event, including Deere & Company and other corporate sponsors, tournament staff and volunteers, and the countless fans who supported the tournament should take a great deal of pride in raising this very significant sum for those in need throughout the Quad Cities. The John Deere Classic has truly taken a leadership position in supporting the TOUR’s mission of giving back in communities in which we play.”

PGA Tour veteran John Senden won the 2006 John Deere Classic on Sunday, July 16 at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. It was the native Australian’s first PGA Tour victory.

After having recently unveiled the “new look” Blue Monster, Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort, one of the world’s premier golf destinations, today announced two new golf packages for the 2006-2007 fall and winter seasons. These new packages are designed to highlight the recently renovated Great White Golf Course, and the famed Blue Monster Golf Course, home of the 2007 CA World Golf Championship.

The new Blue Monster Golf Package includes two nights of luxury accommodations in a beautifully appointed garden view room, 18-holes of golf on the Blue Monster Course, and 18-holes on the Great White Course, cart included. Also included in this package is a $25 gift card per night per player, unlimited driving range usage, golf bag storage, one day introductory golf clinic, and advance tee-times. Rates start from $309 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, and must be booked at least 60 days in advance. This package is also available in a 3-night stay, which includes three nights of accommodations, one round on the Blue, one round on the White and one round on the Red, Gold, or Silver Courses. Rates start from $289 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, and must be booked at least 60 days in advance.

Also available at Doral is the Championship Golf Package, which includes one night of luxurious accommodations in a beautifully appointed garden view room and 18-holes of golf on one of Doral’s Championship courses, cart included. Included in this package is a $25 gift card per night per player, unlimited driving range usage, golf bag storage, one day introductory golf clinic, and advance tee-times. Rates start from $219 per person, per night based on double occupancy, and must be booked at least 60 days in advance.

The 693-room Doral Resort, which is managed by Marriott International and is officially named the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort, joined Marriott’s first-class portfolio of 60 resorts worldwide in August of 2004. In managing the golf business operations at Doral, Marriott International enlisted its in-house golf management arm, Marriott Golf, the world’s largest resort golf management company, and the first in-house golf management team ever established by a lodging company. Currently, Marriott Golf oversees more than 150,000 rounds of golf per year on Doral’s five championship golf courses, managing more than 500 corporate and group outings per year.

” For reservations call (800) 713-6725 or visit www.marriott.com, and enter GOF for promotional code. “

I just got an email from golf pro Chuck Evans, who I met on another blog.

I added his blog to my Blog Roll and he graciously added Travelling Golfer to his.

He has a wealth of golf info on his sites and I’m going to give you a link to two of them and I’ll be reviewing his book for you.

For now, click over to Chuck Evans Golf , then head over to his golf blog, called Golf Tips, Secrets & News and see if that’s not one good looking golf blog.

Maybe we can find a way to hear more from Chuck in the future, but for now, head over and start learning.

The 18th hole on the River Course at Black Wolf Run in Kohler, Wisconsin is a tough finishing hole.

Even Annika Sorenstam has had trouble here.

Named for golf course architect Pete Dye, the 18th is aptly called Dyehard. The yardage guide gives you this advice:

” … Drive it with all you have down the right center to avoid the waste are that stretchs the length of the hole. The open front green will allow a long iron to run up if necessary. ”

For more info on a golf vacation at Black wolf Run or to just play some spectacular golf holes, visit Destination Kohler.

The next time you’re headed to Phoenix to play a little golf … or maybe a lot of golf, let me give you a couple of ‘can’t miss’ destinations.

First there’s Pizzeria Bianco, which you see in the image to the right.

Click on it for a better view of a beautiful building.

Then drop by and get in line, because there’s almost always a line if you’re the least bit late for dinner.

Why ? The mozzarella is homemade and the sweet onions are wood-roasted to bring ‘em to full flavor. The no take-out and there’s no compromises in quality. ‘Nuff said.

Then go play one of the most challenging desert golf courses I’ve ever played.

Here’s a shot of the 12th hole. again, you can click on it for a larger view.

From their website: ” Las Sendas Golf Course was designed byRobert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened for public play in February of 1995.

The course has matured into one of the most beautiful and challenging Golf courses in the country. Acclaimed by avid golfers and sports writers, Las Sendas is the 12th most challenging, and one of the top 50 courses in the nation according to two ZAGAT Surveys.

So… Come along and navigate our web site, see our special course photos and the services offered. You might just consider booking your tee time direct from the specials page. ”

I can attest to the challenge offered at Las Sendas, as the last time I was there it was part of a 6 day, 5 course trip and it was the only course that I was glad to see in the rear-view mirror.

Beautiful, challenging, beautiful… did I mention beautiful ?

To best play the 8th hole at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links, you need to tee it up over the aiming rock and note the wind conditions.

A well placed drive of 240 yards will leave you with a middle iron shot across a deep oceanic chasm. Take a deep breath and fire to the middle of the green here, but take heed … this green is sloped severely from back to front.

It’s a par 4 and from the Blue Tee’s it plays around 416 yards.

Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and unique challenge of Pebble Beach Golf Links has thrilled golfers and spectators alike.

Pebble Beach has been the site of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, including the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the 1972, ‘82, ‘92 and 2000 U.S. Open Championships.

Pebble Beach Golf Links is ranked the No. 1 Public Course in America by Golf Digest in 2005.

Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course hugs the rugged coastline, providing wide-open vistas, cliffside fairways and sloping greens. It’s a real challenge players of every handicap.

Pebble Beach Golf Links also includes chipping and putting greens and the Peter Hay Par-Three Golf Course and practice range.

For more info on this magnificent 8th hole and the rest of the great holes at Pebble Beach, follow that link to their website.

In this shot, you get a view of one of my favorite cities to play golf.

Being a Kentuckian, I don’t want to come here to play football, but for ribs and golf, it’s okay.

Where am I ? Knoxville, TN. Home of River Islands Golf Club.

As for the golf games part, I just found this great guide to golf games, written by Rick Martino and published in the online version of the KnoxNews .

You can print it out and take it with you the next time you get to play. I’m looking forward to playing some of these with some of the suckers, er … guys I play golf with.

Click thru and enjoy.

Mike Holder (former Oklahoma State’s Men’s Golf Coach) convinced Tom Fazio to design one of the most challenging golf courses in the country.

On May 9th, 1994, Karsten Creek opened, and was named the “Best New Course” in the country by Golf Digest for that same year.

The zoysia fairways are cut from a forest of oaks, complemented by terrain that is unusually undulating for this part of the country.

The 110 acre Lake Louise comes into play on many of the spectacular holes.

Since opening in 1994, Karsten Creek has continued to receive accolades throughout the golfing community.

This straight ahead par 5 looks like a pushover … until you consider that it plays into a prevailing southerly wind.

From the tee box, it’s downhill, but the fairway slopes right to left and adds an element of danger to your tee ball.

Hitting your drive into the rough on the left or into the trees will stop any thoughts you might have of going for this green in two.

The green also happens to be about 40 yards deep, so three putts can be easily found here.

For more info or to visit the Karsten Creek website, follow that link and enjoy some great Oklahoma golf !