Smooth 73 Has Me Thinking…

Shot a smooth little 73 today at a muni in Madisonville, KY. 38-35. I got beat, though, by Bill Knapp, with his 38-32=70. Golfer’s luck. Shoot the round of your year and you’ll get beat…everytime.

It did get me thinking, though. About the PGA. No, not the Tour. The tournament.

It’s going to be played at the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. August 11th - 14th. If you live anywhere near there, you have got to go. Everyone should go watch Major Championship Golf in person, at least once. I was fortunate enough to be at Valhalla in 2000 when Bob May took Tiger Woods to the edge. Living in Louisville made it easy to be at practice rounds and all 4 rounds of the tournament. My oldest daughter, Emily, went with me on Friday. We got there around sunrise and got home around 10:30 PM. Stayed until dark. Notah Begay and Scott Verplank were easy to talk to. Barbara Nicklaus, Amy Mayfair and Amy Mickelson walked and talked to her for several holes. Golfers would be nicer to fans, if the people with Marshal shirts would get out of the way.

Baltusrol, if you remember back to ‘93, was home to a 630 yard par 5. The 17th hole. Big John Daly hit it with driver ( 325 yards ) and his infamous 0 iron ( 305 yards ). It was a 13 degree iron that only he could have hit, at the time.

This year they made it longer, 647 yards, but the ball goes further and the players have better equipment and are in better shape. I’m sure several will be able to get there in two, but it will still be a monster.

I’ve played a longer hole. About 715 yards. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Fightin’ Joe course. Florence, Alabama. This past November. Driver, 3 wood and 3 iron. Two putts. Easy par.

Oh, by the way, it’s about 8092 yards from the back tees. Enjoy.

Lee Janzen won at Baltusrol in ‘93, but won’t be one of the favorites this year. The late Payne Stewart was runner up, I believe, in ‘93 and will be missed, as he is everywhere the Tour goes.

You will be able to watch it this year on TNT and CBS. Thanks to the golf Gods for giving us David Feherty.

For more info on New Jersey golf, click here.