Merion - Drama, Comedy and Tragedy

June 2008
It's not often that I re-post a course write-up. I got a chance to play Merion again earlier this year with my digital camera in tow and have posted some great new pictures with this new posting.

Shockingly, many of my readers inform me that they like my pictures more than my prose. Humbug.



Most major cities have their well-healed suburbs - in New York Greenwich and Darien. In Chicago, the communities along the North Shore of Lake Michigan. In Philadelphia, the affluent leafy suburbs are known as The Main Line. Named after the train line west of the city, the Main Line is old world, understated and rich. Merion is located in the heart of Philadelphia's Main Line and plays the part well. The land that the course and clubhouse are on trace their title back to William Penn.

Memory is not one of my strengths. One minute after meeting someone, I don't remember their name. Many times I have had to look at the bag tag of the member I'm playing with every three holes to remember his name and not make a complete fool of myself. And, I have gotten very good at not saying names. "Nice shot" instead of "Nice Shot, Dave", in case his name is in fact Bob.

There is, however, a part of my memory that works very well when it sees greatness. I have found that the mark of a truly great course is how well you remember it both immediately after a round and six months later. Using this measure, Merion is a truly great course. After playing it once I could describe every hole in detail. The shape, terrain, bunkers, doglegs, green contours, etc. At Pebble Beach you sort of feel compelled to like the course because it is so pretty and everybody raves about. But, if you're being honest with yourself, aside from the 18th hole, can you visually remember all 18 holes at Pebble? I'll bet you can't. Merion is seared into my memory. So far this has happened to me on only three courses in the world: Merion, The National Golf Links of America and Cruden Bay.



18th green from the locker room


What makes Merion so memorable? It is the ultimate strategic golf course. It is not a terribly long course. At Merion, you have to hit the fairways or it will be a long day. Second, you have to be on the correct side of every fairway in order to have a decent shot at the green. And finally, you have to be on the correct part of the green or you're in three putt territory. On every green. Also, the shot variety is really good as are the changes in direction, doglegs and uphill/downhill shots. No monotony here. As if the golf course itself is not good enough (and it is) you also have the grandeur and majesty of the clubhouse and the Bobby Jones history.


Bobby Jones with his grand slam trophies

If there was ever a course that new equipment has destroyed, it is Merion. It is too bad that the U.S.G.A and R. & A. have let the situation get out of hand and length is now the primary driver of competitive golf. It would be a shame if this course is lost from major competition forever. Hopefully, the rule making bodies will make changes prior to the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.

I consider Merion to be the spiritual home of golf in the U.S. due to its greatness, its history, its association with Bobby Jones and the architecture of the course and the clubhouse.

This is the first course Bobby played a major on (the 1916 Amateur), the first course he won a major on (the 1924 Amateur) and the last course he played competitive golf on (the 1930 Amateur), completing the fourth leg of the Grand Slam at Merion in September 1930. Also, the classic photograph which is the golfing equivalent of the sailor on V.J. day kissing a woman in Times Square was taken at Merion.


Ben Hogan on Merion's 18th hole


Taken by Life Magazine photographer, Hy Peskin, it shows Ben Hogan hitting a one iron on the 18th hole in the 1950 U.S. Open. It is an iconic picture of this great player at one of the most historic of courses in a perfect finish position. Hogan almost stopped playing during this final round because he was in such a state of fatigue recovering from a near fatal car accident the year before. Hogan hit the one iron onto the green and made a par to qualify for a three man playoff the next day which he would go on to win. It is one of the most heroic finishes of all time.

13th hole closeup

Merion has many unique characteristics: the red wicker baskets as flags, the bunkers with clumps of grass in the middle (known as the white faces of Merion) and the scene around the first tee. You tee off right next to the outside patio with members and guests about five feet away from the tee box. It is one of the best opening holes in golf. The view in all directions is impressive; the clubhouse building with its white-washed stone and porch, the green awnings, the mature trees, the wicker baskets. Merion also still has what has unfortunately become a rare entity in American golf: Experienced caddies, and lots of them. The clubhouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the golfing equivalent of St. Peter's. Also, like the Vatican, Merion upholds the traditional and the conservative in the game and in many ways is truer to the traditions than golf's governing bodies because they don't have to compromise with the equipment manufacturers.

In the clubhouse and on the course at Merion you naturally speak in hushed tones and in a respectful manner. It sounds absurd but it is close to a religious experience.


Looking back from the first tee at Merion

The first tee as seen from the 18th green

One of the best opening holes in golf, along with Prestwick and The Old Course at St. Andrews. The tee box is located right next to the dark green awning next to the big tree. Since you are standing five feet from the membership having breakfast or lunch, it is a high pressure tee shot.

4th green


The fourth hole (above) is a downhill par five that requires a precision shot, normally from a downhill lie, to a well bunkered green over a creek.

7th green

11th hole green

When you play the 11th hole, where Jones finished his match in the 1930 Amateur to win the Grand Slam, you have chills up and down your spine. I have, on the half dozen times I've been fortunate enough to play. Like most holes at Merion, there is just no margin for error on approach shots to the green. Dan Jenkins describes the shot into the 11th green with absolute clarity as, "There is hardly any shot that will do except the perfect one."

13th green - short par 3 near the clubhouse

16th "Quarry" hole approach to green


The 16th, 17th and 18th play through an old quarry and are demanding finishing holes.

Sun setting on the 18th green

The finest American golf writer ever, Herbert Warren Wind, described Merion as a three-act play: The Drama of the first six demanding holes; the Comedy of the next seven short, precision holes; and the Tragedy of the last five punishing holes.

If you get invited to play Merion, by all means make the pilgrimage.

Merion's Web Site

Finals Day - Tee-off Times

June 2008
Stop Press:

We have just received the tee-off times for Finals Days. These will be as follows:

0900 Ladies Scratch
0907 Gents Scratch
0915 Ladies Handicap
0922 Gents Handicap
1300 Ladies Scratch
1307 Gents Scratch
1030 to 1200 or as required Texas Scramble over 12 holes

So, if you want to play, get your names down for the scramble, or, alternatively just come along and cheer your chosen favourite on, whether it be Matt or Iain, Jack or Grant.

Monies & Printouts

June 2008
Due to an unforseen problem with the printer (its FUBAR - Google it if you don't understand), there have been no prints produced for this weeks events. The knock-on to this has been a delay in producing the weekly winnings for this weeks Ronnie Stevenson Memorial Trophy. Apologies to those that this affects, however it is hoped to rectify this as soon as possible.

Magners Qualifying Medal

June 2008
Sunday sees the clubs Magners Scottish Gold Championship Qualifying Medal take place. Two qualifiers from the field will go forward and represent the club at the Regional Final to be held at Crieff on Wed 17 Sep. These representatives will be:

a. The golfer with a handicap of 12 or less who records the Best Nett score.

b. The golfer with a handicap of 13 and above who records the Best Nett score.

Juniors are not eligible to be put forward to the Regional events due to the nature of the sponsors.

The draw for Sunday is as follows:

Early Shift.

0800: M Scott & I Butchart
0807: G Miller, M Tinker & G Martin (Jnr)
0815: M Bell (Jnr), F Martin & J Scott
0822: W McGregor, S Stewart & C Fairweather
0830: M Hill, D Douglas & K Macleod
0837: B Simpson, D Gordon & S Schofield
0845: R Milligan, L Bushby & R Miller
0852: I Gray, M Grieve & D Fenner
0900: R Howkins, P Simpson & C Davidson
0907: K Band, M Melville & J Torrie

Mid Shift.

1200: A Aird, A Ross & S Robertson
1207: P Barnett, A Ramsay & DM Alexander
1215: I Scott, D Gillespie & C McKenna
1222: S Thomson, R Michie & M Truswell
1230: D Robinson, C McDonald & C Brand

Good Luck to all taking part.

Trophies

June 2008
The following Trophies have not yet been returned to the club. Would those holding return them as soon as possible in order for them to be engraved:

Endurance Trophy - Best Nett - K James
Spring Meeting - Best Nett - M Bell (Jnr)
George Black Memorial - M Bell (Jnr)
Summer League - Best Gross -
Summer League - Best Nett -
Club Championship Runner-Up Shield - Allan Easton (Jnr)
Tankard Trophy - Runner-Up Shield - Iain Butchart.

Your co-operation in the return of these trophies is appreciated.

No "gimmees" for Michelle Wie at 2008 U.S. Women's Open and how to tee it up for an iron

June 2008

Click here to listen.




Michelle Wie has spent countless hours preparing for the 2008 U.S. Women's Open with coach David Leadbetter in the hopes of reversing the downward spiral which has been her albatross since last year. Although Wie recently commented that she felt herself "re-emerging as a new player, a new person," she also reluctantly mentioned what has gone before, asserting, "I'm not ever going to think about before I broke my wrist. That was then and this is now."

Perhaps Wie has been going through a metamorphosis of sorts since her dismissal from the columns of many a golf writer who believed her to be washed up by her eighteenth birthday.

Her recent victory of sorts, a sixth place finish at the Ladies German Open as well as a genuine qualification into a major event instead the ritual "gimmees" offered to her by sponsors, has put Wie back on track. Now that appearance offers are no longer easily forthcoming (2008 Sony Open, 2008 Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam), Michelle seems to be developing a sense of humble graciousness, coming to the realization that it takes talent, not youth or the appearance of ability, in order to gain recognition in her chosen field.

"It's been a long time since I had to qualify for something, and it made me want it even more," a seemingly more grown-up Wie stated. "I think going through that qualifying humbled me a lot as a player, as a person. Sometimes, you have to go back to your roots to become a better player and a better person."



This week's Golf for Beginners podcast discusses Michelle Wie's potential to pick up where she left off, before the wrist injury. Can she let go of her past and focus on the future? We'll know more after the 2008 U.S. Women's Open!

We also offer golf tips on hitting an iron flush off the tee.

Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Grand Bahama Vacations, 1-800-422-7466.

Photo Credit: Houston's Clear Thinkers

Trophies - Reminder

June 2008
Could all people who are currently in possession of a club trophy from last season please return them to the club as soon as possible.

Magner's Qualifier

June 2008
This week's competition, the Magner's Qualifier will take place on Sunday 29th June. Two players from the club will go forward from this event to play in the Regional final, the best Nett score recorded by a player with a handicap of 12 and under, along with the best Nett score recorded by a player with a handicap of 13 or over, as per the competition rules.

So this being a wide open event for players of all handicaps, get your names down on the entry sheet before Thursday, when the draw for Sunday will be made.

Belhaven Qualifying Medal

June 2008
This weekend saw the Club's Qualifying Medal Competition for the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship. The two best Nett scores will go forward to the Regional Final, which in the case of Strathmore Golf Club, will be held at Forfar. 52 players took part in this event, and the final placings are as follows:

1st. R Milligan - Nett 68
2nd. Allan Easton - Nett 69*
3rd. Jim Torrie - Nett 69
4th. Ray Miller - Nett 70

* Unfortunately for Allan, he cannot go forward to the Regional Final as he is U-18 and also as he is a Junior, is ineligible for a Sweep Prize.

And so, representing the club at the Regional Final will be Rob and Jim. Well done both. Please contact the Comps Sec for further details on the Regional Final.

Handicaps

The following players received Handip Reducations as a result of this competition:

Rob Milligan - New Playing Handicap - 11
Allan Easton - New Playing Handicap - 6
Donald Thomson - New Playing Handicap - 22

The following player suffered an up-revision:

Gus Miller - New Playing Handicap - 11

2's

Four players achieved 2's during this competition, all on the 6th. They were Kerr Taylor, Robert Howkins, Mark Melville and Iain Butchart.

Once again, congratulations to Rob and Jim.

Finals Day - 5th July

June 2008
And so it came to pass that the warriors competed on the battlefield, ever reducing their numbers till only 4 remained. The final trials will take place on Strathmore Rannareloch on 5th July with Iain Butchart taking on Mathew Bell over 36 holes for the Club Championship and Jack Scott taking on Grant Martin over 18 holes for the Tankard Trophy. Congratulations to all four for making it this far.

So who will triumph in the battles between two former Club Captains and the current Junior Captain and Vice Captain? It promises to be a superb clash of the generations, and I hope you can all free this date in your diary and spend some time witnessing these final head-to-head contests.

Bellhaven Medal

June 2008
The draw for this Saturday's Bellhaven Qualifying Medal is as follows:

Crack of Dawn Squad:

0800: G Miller & J Grant
0807: R Miller & G Hunter
0815: G Scrimegour, S Bolderson & J Torrie
0822: K Taylor, GS Allan & L Duncan
0830: R Howkins, D Gordon & C Fairweather
0837: I Gall, S Stewart & S Schofield
0845: D Fenner, G Ironside & C McDonald
0852: R Milligan, M O'Toole & M Melville
0900: M Grieve, A Jones & A Ramsay
0907: M Hill, AM Blair & K Macleod
0915: M Bell, A Docherty & P Crockart

We Need a Lie-In Lot

1207: GN Hunter, D Gillespie & A Hughes
1215: R Michie, J Menzies & S Thomson
1222: R Tinker (Jnr), DJ Alexander & A Easton (Jnr)
1230: A Aird, C Thoms & W MacGregor
1237, D Robinson, D Thomson & I Butchart
1245: A Ross, S Robertson & M Truswell
1252: G Martin (Jnr), J Morrison & DM Alexander
1300: P Barnett, C McKenna & M Bell (Jnr)
1307: F Martin, I Scott & E Gray

Please note the slightly later first tee-time in the afternoon. This is due to the Ladies having a very full filed for their competition. As usual, all monies to be deposited in the box, prior to taking to the tee, and please stick strictly to your times, the course is very full, jumping the gun will only lead to delays and frustration!

Play well!

U.S. Open Pressure-Tiger Woods persevered, Phil Mickelson collapsed and Rocco Mediate had fun with it. Adidas, "golf equipment for your eyes" and Stac

June 2008
Click here to listen.



Poor Tiger Woods! Yes, he has won his fourth U.S. Open but was it at the expense of his knee? Is winning a trophy more important that your health? The answer? Season-ending knee surgery!

Tiger's message to his adoring fans let on that his injury is more aggravated than he made it look this week.




"I think I need to shut it down for a little bit. I pushed it pretty hard this week and I just want to enjoy it. And we're going to reevaluate after this event and see what happens," claimed a tightlipped Woods who may have been grimacing from the inside but, with his elevated mental focus, it was anyone's guess as to what was really going on after twisting his knee on several occasions this past week.

That focus and determination to not allow any distractions was best related by Tiger's dad, Earl, during a Nike commercial that aired for Father's Day weekend in which dad related to both his son and the audience, "I promise you that you will never meet another person as mentally tough as you your entire life. And he hasn't, and he never will."

This week's Golf for Beginners podcast wonders how Tiger Woods can remain so steadfast in his determination to win a golf tournament while Phil Mickelson, who mentally and physically prepared for this event, fell apart. Other players such as Rocco Mediate and Lee Westwood didn't feel the pressure as much believing that they were "long shots" in the event.

This week's show also reviews the latest advances in golf-specific eyewear from Adidas. The new Adivista sunglasses for men and Adilibria Shield for women should be viewed as necessary golf equipment rather than just fashion-forward apparel, although the fact that Natalie Gulbis had input into the design of the women's glasses truly make them hotter than the average eyewear!




Both Adivista and Adilibria Shield are super-comfortable to wear and protect your eyes from the sun's damaging rays with UV protection, offering scratch and fog-resistant polycarbonate lenses. Listen to this week's show to hear why we recommend these new Adidas sunglasses and why you should try them too!

Finally, while testing my new Adilibria Shield sunglasses in the sand trap (where it did a fabulous job of protecting my eyes against particles of sand), alas, it couldn't help me to get out of the sand. I wonder if Adidas can help find a cure for my sand trap woes?


Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here
to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!

"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.


Photo Credits: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times, VisionMonday.com

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It's A Busy Week

June 2008
This week sees the course taking a bit of a pounding as the KO stages of the Club Championships get underway, culminating in the Semi-Finals being played on Friday evening. The 2nd Summer League Card is also being played this week and to finish the week off, on Saturday we have the Belhaven Medal Qualifier, with the winner going forward to represent the club at a Regional Qualifier, so if you fancy your chances, sign yourself up before the draw is made on Thursday.

Best of luck to all those playing this week.

June Medal Results

June 2008
The June Medal saw another fair sized field shoot some decent golf, with the pick of the bunch being Martin MacGillvary with Gross 70 for a Nett 63. Well done Martin. Divisional Medals go to Martin MacGillvary, Alfie Docherty and Shaun Stewart. Full results are posted in the clubhouse and the main scores are as follows:

Sweep

1st. Martin MacGillvary - Nett 63
2nd. Shaun Stewart - Nett 69 (BIH)
3rd. A Docherty - Nett 69

Divisional Winners

Gold - Martin MacGillvary
Silver - Alfie Docherty
Bronze - Shaun Stewart

2's

Only 3 2's recorded this week, Brian McGowan and Martin MacGillvary on the 4th, with Gus Miller also recording a 2 on the 6th.

Handicaps

Reductions

The following players had playing handicap reductions as a result of this competition:

Alfie Docherty - New Playing Handicap - 11
Mike Grieve - New Playing Handicap - 15
Shaun Stewart - New Playing Handicap - 20
Martin MacGillvary - New Playing Handicap - 5

Up-Revisions

The following player had a handicap up-revision as a result of this competition:

Mark Melville - New Playing Handicap - 15

Oakland Hills Country Club

June 2008

The Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course (ranked #25 in the world), was originally designed by Donald Ross in 1918. Walter Hagen was the first head pro at Oakland Hills. The South Course has played host to the U.S. Open six times: 1924, 1937, 1951, 1961, 1985 and 1996. It also hosted the 2004 Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship in 1972, 1979 and again this year.

Oakland Hills represents my 75th course played out of the top 100, only 25 to go!


The Oakland Hills Clubhouse, which was modeled after Mount Vernon



Oakland Hills is located in the affluent Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills. The club has two courses - the South Course which hosts the championships and also a North Course across West Maple Road. Oakland Hills is similar to several other championship venues that play host to major championships: two courses, a big clubhouse and a lot of property for tents, concession stands, etc. I found it similar in this regard to Oak Hill, Winged Foot, Medinah and Baltusrol. The memorabilia in the clubhouse attest to its esteemed place in the golf world, especially the walk down the long white corridor between the grill room and the pro shop, lined with pictures and signed competitor displays.



Near the first tee of the South Course are plaques of all the players who have won championships at Oakland Hills. The most famous, of course, was Ben Hogan's victory in the 1951 U.S. Open when he famously said, "I am glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees." He also said that it was "the greatest test of golf I have ever played and the toughest course." Oakland Hills was an early example of a real estate development linked to the building of golf course. When originally conceived in the early nineteen-teens lots were laid out for sale encircling the golf course.

Robert Trent Jones made significant changes to the course prior to the '51 Open and is credited with making the course a lot more strenuous. The sixth hole, seen below, is representative of what makes it a difficult course: its well placed bunkering, along with its length and tough greens. This hole also has a two-tiered green. As you would expect at a championship course of this calibre, the greens are very fast and have many challenging pin placements.


The 6th hole

I wasn't wowed by the front nine. It is a demanding set of holes of championship quality, but nothing that jumps out at you. The best hole on the front is the difficult par four fifth hole, the #1 handicap. It plays 490 yards from the championship tees to an elevated, elongated green with bunkers very close to the green surface. In my view, the course really begins on the tenth tee.

The tenth hole as seen from the tee


According to the club history, when Ross started routing the course, he started it with #10 and #11, two world-class holes. The tenth hole is a 462 yard par four where the entire fairway falls off to the right. The tee shot requires precision and all but the perfect shot will feed down the hill to the right side of the fairway, leaving a blind or semi-blind shot to the elevated green. What makes it such a tricky tee shot is that visually off the tee you have to hit it at the tree you see on the left side of the fairway. The tee box and visuals trick you into hitting it to the right side. It is very well done.

The 11th hole from the tee


The 11th hole plays parallel to the 10th in the opposite direction. The trick on the 11th hole is to favor the left side off the tee. On this hole the fairway also slopes severely left to right off the tee, where a shot that is not struck well will leave you a blind shot to a difficult green.

The 11th hole with its twisting hills


If you hit it to the correct spot over the hill, the fairway then slopes severely right to left. The effective landing area you hit into is quite narrow. In our group, all four of the golfers hit into the rough on the left. You need to take the perfect angle to hit the shot correctly. I have never seen this type of hole before: a sharp hill that is used to create two very distinct landing areas that slope off in opposite directions so abruptly.


The 11th green



There is no respite once you get to this two-tiered green. The green is highly elevated from the fairway and slopes back to front. A less-than-ideal shot will roll back perhaps fifty or sixty yards to the bottom of the fairway.

Ross used the natural contours of the land here to create two fantastic back-to-back holes that announce to the golfer that the back nine is going to beat you up if you don't bring your 'A' game.

The par three 13th

You can see the beautiful bunkering at Oakland Hills as seen on the 191 yard par three 13th hole. This plays downhill and is the shortest hole on the course, which tells you a lot about what kind of golf you will play at Oakland hills. There are par fours of 446 yards (the 4th), 490 yards (the 5th), 462 yards (the 10th) and 455 yards (the 11th). They believe in long holes at Oakland Hills. The par threes play at 198 yards (the 3rd), 257 yards (the 9th), 191 yards (the 13th) and 238 yards (the 17th). To add insult to injury, the 17th plays longer than its 238 yards since the green sits well above the tee.



The 15th hole



The back nine offers no letup at Oakland Hills. The 15th hole, a dogleg left, for example, has two huge bunkers in the middle of the fairway. You can choose to hit it left of the bunkers into a 10 yard-wide fairway or right of the bunkers into a 15 yard-wide fairway. It's no wonder that many choose to play it short and leave a significant second shot to the small elevated inverted-saucer shaped green.


The 16th hole


Sixteen is the signature hole at Oakland Hills with a second shot that plays over water.

The 16th hole



Similar to Valderrama's 17th hole, the 16th at Oakland Hills features a shaved area near the green that feeds shots hit short into the water.


Shaved area near the 16th green


The finishing hole at Oakland Hills is a 498 yard par five that the pros play as a par four. I wouldn't describe it so much as a dogleg right as I would a semi-circle. It is an interesting shaped hole that uses the hilly terrain well.

Oakland Hills doesn't feel like a Ross design in the same way Pinehurst #2 or Seminole does, probably attributable to Jones' changes. The course has a more wide open feel to it than some of the other PGA courses I have played such as Oak Hill or Winged Foot, which I like, since I'm not a fan of tight tree-lined fairways.

As Robert Trent Jones wrote after his redesign of the course and the 1951 Open, "the field was thrown into utter confusion. Golfers of reputation staggered home with rounds high in the 70's and occasionally in the 80's." After playing the course, it is not hard to see why. Hogan aptly called it "A Monster".


June 2008

June Medal Draw

June 2008
The draw for the June Medal, taking place this Saturday is as follows:

Dawn Patrol:

0800: M Scott, L Bushby & K Taylor
0807: L Duncan, B McGowan & D Douglas
0815: M O'Toole, R Miller & G Miller
0822: M Bell, A Docherty & I Gall
0830: D Gordon, G Ironside & B Simpson
0837: M Melville, C Davidson & A Ramsay
0845: K Macleod, M Grieve & C Fairweather
0852: S Schofield, P Crockart & M Hill
0900: I Ellvers, P Simpson & S Stewart
0907: C Thoms, J Torrie & A Jones
0915: C McDonald, D Fenner & D Findlay

Twelve O'Clock Heroes

1200: C McKenna & I Butchart
1207: D Gillespie, J Scott & S Thomson
1215: A Easton (Jnr), M Bell (Jnr) & M MacGillvary
1222: I Scott, G Martin (Jnr) & A Aird
1230: S Robertson, DM Alexander & DJ Alexander
1237: P Barnett, E Ritchie & A Low
1245: F Moran, D Robinson & F Martin
1252: A Hughes, C Brand & D Thomson
1300: A Ross, E Gray & FJ Moran (Jnr)

Another fine sized field for this medal competition, thanks to all who entered. Hopefully, another fine day and another good days golf. Best of luck to all those taking part.

Where do Radio Tay go on Holiday?

June 2008
Ken's been on holiday folks, and this is where he went. Spent a lot of time in the bar, but not upstairs, allegedly.

Gent's Away Day

June 2008

The annual Away Day has been booked for the 28th June at Glenisla Golf Club with the 1st tee booked at 9.52 through to 10.45

The price of the Away Day will be £35.00 and this includes the following: coffee & bacon roll on arrival, 1 round of golf and a 2 course meal afterwards.

If you wish to pack your travel bag and head into the wild blue yonder, well, a couple of miles up the road anyway, please sign up on the sheet posted at the Club.

Club Championship Knock-out Stages

June 2008
The following players pre-qualified for the last 16 of the Club Championship:

Mark Scott - 153
Iain Butchart - 154
Gary McDonald - 155
Scott Robertson - 157
Craig McKenna - 159
Lee Bushby - 159
Allan Easton (Jnr) - 160
Matthew Bell (Jnr)- 160
Martin MacGillvary - 161
Grant Martin (Jnr)- 162
Ray Miller - 163
M Tinker - 163
Ian Scott - 172
Rob Milligan - 173
Alistair Aird* - 175
Ian Clark* - 175

Alistair and Ian have notified the Comps Sec that they are unable to compete during the KO stages, thus the final places go to Sandy Robertson and Scott Thomson, both on 177.

The KO Draw is as follows:

Top Half

M Scott v S Thomson
M Bell (Jnr) v M MacGillvary
SA Robertson v I Scott
C McKenna v M Tinker

Bottom Half

I Butchart v S Robertson
A Easton (Jnr) v G Martin (Jnr)
G McDonald v R Milligan
L Bushby v R Miller

All first round KO ties are to be played on Mon 16th Jun at a time mutually convenient to both players. The Centre have blocked off a number of evening tee-times for these ties. The Quarter-final are to be played on Wed 18th Jun, again at a time mutually convenient to both players, however once again the Centre have blocked off a number of tee-times for these ties. The semi-finals will take place on Fri 20th Jun at 1730 and 1737.

Good Luck all those who made it through.

Club Championship Qualifying Round 2

June 2008
The second qualifying round of the Club Championship was held on the 8th June and the weekly results are below. Yet again there were some very good scores, and some not so good. (I am stilling waiting on the fully story of past-Captain Jack Scott's 10 on the 10th!). 2 of the top 3 Nett scores returned were by Jnrs in the field, so a big well done to Grant and Allan. And so to the weekly winners with the sweep scores first:

Sweep

1st. Grant Martin (Jnr)- Nett 68
2nd. Mark Scott - Nett 70
3rd. Allan Easton (Jnr) - Nett 70
4th. Ray Miller - Nett 70
5th. Iain Butchart - Nett 71

As Grant and Allan are Juniors, they cannot enter the sweep, hence the listing of the top five places.

Top 3 Gross

1st. Mark Scott - 74
2nd. Allan Easton - 77
3rd. Iain Butchart - 78

Well done Mark on shooting the lowest Gross.

There were no handicap reductions or increases this week.

2's

5 players scored 2's this week, Rob Milligan, Sandy Robertson and Martin MacGillvary on the 4th, Ken Mcleod and Grant Martin on the 6th. Well done all.

Golf Freek

June 2008


I am always on the lookout for new ways to gain access to a course I have not yet played. I also like to keep up on the activities of my fellow golf enthusiasts.

It was in this vein that I recently read a copy of Golf Freek by Stephen Eubanks. I was enticed by the sub-title of the book, One Mans Quest To Play As Many Rounds of Golf as Possible, For Free. The last two words in particular caught my attention. For Free. I set about reading it looking for some new tricks and some short cuts.

Bottom line, there are none. Eubanks is a golf writer and is really connected in the world of golf. A former golf professional, he is a member of eighteen golf clubs and has written twelve other golf books, including Augusta: Home of the Masters Tournament. Eubanks was also a friend of Mark McCormick, the former chairman of IMG, agent for Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, etc.

As a golf writer he gets compted, or as he explains in the book, takes "FAM" trips. "FAM" standing for familiarization trip. Or as he accurately describes them: "expensive bribe, free junkets, all expenses paid trips". This is why you will never see a negative article in a golf publication about a new course or a resort being reviewed. It would be extremely rude to insult your host after they paid for your trip and golf. Why bite the hand that feeds you?

Your trusted blogger here has never taken a "FAM" trip in his life, something I state with both pride and irritation, as it keeps my opinion pure. But who wouldn't love a free golf junket all expenses paid.

Eubanks was comped for a fabulous trip he took to Ireland to get P.R. for Doonbeg. He raves about the course and you have to wonder about his motivations. I have talked with a half dozen very well traveled golfers and they universally thought Doonbeg was over-rated and tricked up.

Overall, I liked the book. Eubanks goes to some interesting locations including China and Switzerland. The book really shines at the end when he starts to get personal about himself and pays tribute to our brave men and women in the armed forces. He visits Guantanamo Bay to play the nine hole course there and it is quite interesting. His story of the Wounded Warriors at Camp Lejeune helps keep golf and life in perspective and is well done.

Eubanks also recounts his rounds with Alice Cooper and Arnold Palmer, both of which are amusing.

The area where I strongly disagree with Eubanks is with his assessment that "the best links golf in Scotland is in Ireland and the best in England is, well, not very good". Although I would agree that Birkdale is not worthy of many of the worlds great links, Royal Liverpool and Royal St. George's are two of the unquestionable finest links courses in the world and arguably, when your throw in Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Woodhall Spa and Ganton England has better golf than both Ireland and Scotland in total. Perhaps a "FAM" trip to England would enlighten him?


Access to Top 100 Courses on eBay

June 2008
Playing the top golf courses in the world just got easier. I noticed on eBay this morning an auction for a threesome to play a round a Baltimore Country Club. The seller is also auctioning off rounds at Riviera Country Club and The Olympic Club.

Click to view the auction

The seller's username is keepitontheshortgrass and his eBay store is Unique Golf Experiences. "Welcome to my eBay Store. Throughout the year you will see hard to find golf experiences. From top 100 course access to various travel packages. If there is something you do not see let me know and I will keep a look out. If it is important to you than it is important to me. Nothing is impossible."

I'm not endorsing it and I'm not affiliated with it. We'll see if this ends up being for real. I'm not sure how the seller is doing it since high end private clubs often frown on rounds being sold or auctioned off, unless it is for charity.

As Eliot Spitzer figured out, paying for something that you can get free is often fraught with hidden danger.

Club Championship Qualifying Round 2 - Sun 8th June

June 2008
After the exciteent of the Virgin Ballon last weekend (see Ladies and Juniors sites for pics), what surprises will the world have for us this weekend. Hopefully, nothing other than good weather and good golf. The runners and riders for this weekend are as follows:

Breakie Boys

0800: L Bushby & M Scott
0807: R Miller, I Gray & K MacLeod
0815: M Melville, J Torrie & I Clark
0822: P Simpson, M Grieve & M Hill
0830: E Ritchie, B Simpson & G Ironside
0837: SA Robertson, M Bell & R Milligan
0845: S Schofield, R Howkins & D McWilliams (FH)

Lunchtime Lads

1200: G McDonald & S Robertson
1207: I Scott & K Band
1215: A Easton (Jnr), D Gillespie & P Barnett
1222: E Gray, J Scott & M MacGillvary
1230: W MacGregor, A Hughes & S Thomson

Evening Chaps

1700: I Butchart & M Bell (Jnr)
1707: M Tinker & G Martin (Jnr)
1715: F Moran, C McKenna & C Davidson

FH denotes for handicap.
All monies to be deposited in the box priot to moving to the first tee.

Please see Comps Secs previous post regarding availability.

Ochoa and Sorenstam entertain at McDonald's, drive a Callaway get free gas, reduce spin off the tee and casting for golfers/Harley Davidson riders

June 2008

Click here to listen.




In March Callaway Golf, using Morgan Pressel and Ivanka Trump as their celebrity "faces", launched a GEMS golf club set designed specifically for women.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen Ivanka promoting Women's Golf Month with the same enthusiasm, even though she is an avid golfer who is listed on Golf for Women's Twenty-Five best female celebrities. The sport could certainly use an infusion of notables to increase interest in the game.

Perhaps next year Donald Trump will also lend a hand by utilizing his golf courses for the good of the game.

That being said, I had a great time this past Sunday at Knollwood Country Club. PGA representative Walter Janeczko gave a lesson on basics and more to a group of eager ladies who outnumbered his original estimate!

This week, our Golf for Beginners podcast discusses the inability of any female golfer to attain the coveted Grand Slam of Golf in a single year. Lorena Ochoa has a great chance of winning her third major in a row at this week's McDonald's LPGA Championship but with Annika Sorenstam back in form, this could be a battle worth watching! Annika is looking to make this her best year ever, now that she has announced her retirement!

Find out what AOL Food Critic thinks about McDonald's Grilled Chicken Sandwich!


Businesses from every area of the economy are using the rising price of gasoline as a way to utilize rebates and discounts to their advantage. Callaway Golf is no exception as they have joined forces with American Express to offer a $100 gas card when golfers purchase a new driver. Listen for the details on our show.

Also, do you ride a Harley Davidson, love golf and want to appear in a weekly television series? If you live in the New York tri-state area, a casting director wants to hear from you. Send us your information and we'll pass it along!

Finally, with the help of the Golf Learning Center, we focus on how to reduce spin and add distance off of the tee with the driver.


Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.


Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Grand Bahama Vacations, 1-800-422-7466.

Photo Credits:Stayfreemagazine.org

Club Championship Qualifier - Round One - The Top 16 So Far

June 2008
After the first qualifying round of the Club Championship, the top 16 Gross scores are as follows:

Scott Robertson - 74
Lee Bushby - 75
Iain Butchart - 76
Gary McDonald - 77
K Band - 78
N Miller - 79*
Mark Scott - 79
Craig McKenna - 79
Mark Tinker - 80
Martin MacGillvary - 80
Mathew Bell (Jnr) - 80
R Milligan - 82
R Miller - 83
Grant Martin (Jnr) - 83
Allan Easton (Jnr) - 83
Kerr Taylor - 85

*Nolan Miller has already indicated that he is unavailable to play during the second stage, thus the final spot, as it currently stands sits with Ian Clark on an 86.

Comp Sec's Note

There are a number of players within the top 16 places, who did not indicate their availability for the KO stages. All players are reminded that they are to do so, before the draw is made for the KO stages. The sign-in sheets are clearly marked and highlighted for this very purpose. Failure to do so could see players excluded from the KO draw. It is therefore in players best interests to do so.

Club Championship Qualifier - Round One

June 2008
A very healthy field turned out for the first qualifying round of the Club Championship on what turned out to be a glorious Saturday afternoon at Strathmore. There were many a golfers suntan on view at the end of the day. You all know the one, 3/4 of the arms, a triangle at the neck and a white left hand! And yet again, the good weather brings out some good scoring, with 8 players shooting Nett Par or better. Scott Robertson shot the best Gross round of the day with a 74, whilst 3 players all shot Nett 69s.

Sweep Results.

1st. Kenny Band - Nett 69 (After Count-back)
2nd. Lee Bushby - Nett 69 (After Count-back)
3rd. Iain Butchart - Nett 69 (After Count-back)

2's

Rob Milligan, Michael O'Toole and Eric Ritchie all grabbed themselves a 2 at the 4th, whilst Nolan Miller and Allan Easton (Jnr) did likewise at the 13th.

Handicaps

The following players have had their playing handicaps reduced as a result of this competition:

Lee Bushby - New Playing Handiap - 5
Iain Butchart - New Playing Handicap of 6

The following players have had their handicap up-revised as a result of this competition:

Scott Thomson - New Playing Handicap - 7
A Aird - New Playing Handiap - 11
Michael Bell - New Playing Handicap - 12
Eric Ritchie - New Playing Handicap - 13
Donald Thomson - New Playing Handicap - 23

Round 2 will take place on Sun 8th June.

Gent's Match v Glenisla

June 2008
Friday 29th May saw Strathmore host Glenisla in a Club Match. The evening was a little overcast however the weather held out, and after the rain from the previous couple of days, the greens were in fantastic condition, something commented on by all the Glenisla players, so a big "Thumbs-Up" to Scott and the team. David and the crew once again provided a delicious after match meal, and Fergus and Craig would like to thank the chef for hanging around until they finished a round of golf where no-one could actually see their balls at the end!

Oh yes, almost forgot, the match was won by Strathmore 3 1/2 - 1 1/2. So well done, Iain and Grant, Eric and Derek, Scott and Stephen, Rob and Ian, Craig and Fergus.

Golf vacation in the Caribbean

June 2008
For any golf player who wants to feel like in the golf paradise, a golf vacation in the Caribbean could be simply breath taking. Golf vacations in the Caribbean are organized in one of the most luxurious golf resorts in the world, in a wonderful climate and an exotic atmosphere. There are golf courses designed to provide gorgeous seascapes and challenging hills and some others who snake around lakes and lagoons enwrapping tourists in a unique embrace. A golf vacation in the Caribbean is tourist bliss and a sporting challenge at the same time.

Golf vacations in the Caribbean are a very rewarding experience even when you don’t get the scores you want. While you check a grip you’ll be enchanted by the waves crashing along the shores and you’ll remain all the time in the comforting shadow of the palm trees. These are the main features of a golf vacation in the Caribbean, and golfers make unique customers for local business. Marketing promotional techniques have come to involve all-inclusive types of resorts for the golf players who choose a golf vacation in the Caribbean together with their families.

A golf vacation in the Caribbean will give you a taste of the islands and the advantage of cherishing special tourist packages with discounted fees. For instance, you may get discounts on a golf vacation in the Caribbean for the most scenic eighteen holes you play. Moreover, the perfect climate makes a golf vacation in the Caribbean a year-round choice. Even if a quick shower gets you on the golf course, you’ll be dry by the time you get to the next hole. It is not uncommon to see the Caribbean golf courses in the list of the best in the world; therefore, a golf vacation in the Caribbean is like going to the Olympics.

You may choose to go on a golf vacation in the Caribbean in the Dominican Republic and stay in the famous all-inclusive golf resort The Teeth of the Dog. It is also true that this is perhaps one of the most expensive places on the island, but it is worth at least a day’s visit here. You can move to other great spots for your golf vacation in the Caribbean that provide all the courses necessary to satisfy any true golfer. At the end of the game, you’ll have a gorgeous beach waiting for you, soft drinks and an unparalleled exotic background.
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