Happy Halloween

October 2009

What is scary about golf?

Bears


Crocodiles


Black Mambas - read why

Holiday Gift Ideas - 20% Discount

October 2009

It's that time of year again, so if you're looking for a holiday gift for the avid golfer, here are two options with a 20% discount provided.

Golf Record Book full description

Stat Book and Log for Golfers full description


Discount Code: 20WhoL20

Type in the code at checkout at WWW.THE20THHOLE.COM to receive the discount.

Happy Holidays!

What to look for this week

October 2009

World Match Play Championships:
Anthony Kim dominates Goosen and Casey on day one and he may end up playing Allenby. That would be an interesting scenario.


Singapore Open:
Poulter leads by one over Els and three over Phil. Can Phil keep up the momentum from his Tour Championship win and his 4-0-1 record at the Presidents Cup?


Viking Classic:
One player to watch is David Duval as he's 125th on money list and needs a strong finish to secure his card. Rickie Fowler might secure his card in only his 3rd professional start. John Daly makes his return which always provides some type of story, for better or worse.

Golf in Spain

October 2009

Spain is an ideal golfing destination due to the excellent weather and geographic diversity. There are a number of fantastic courses throughout the country and more continue to be developed as the popularity of golf grows there. Golf in Spain offers a tremendous variety including courses set under the 9000 foot Pyrenees as well as the consistent good weather of the southern coasts and islands.

One of the top golfing resorts to visit in Spain is the La Manga Las Lomas Village. It has been voted European golfing resort of the year many times, strongly in part to three top notch championship courses it consists of. The resort features the South, North, and West courses with the South being the premiere layout. The par 73 was redesigned by Arnold Palmer in the early 90s and frequently hosts prestigious regional and national events.

La Manga also features a golf academy which runs regular competitions that guests can enter. Once the golf is finished, the resort also has a casino for the gamblers and a nearby beach. It doesn't get much better than golf, gambling, and soaking up rays at the beach.

Read about the different golfing regions in Spain.

Sergio Garcia, Spain's most popular player, is currently playing in the World Match Play Championships in Casares, Spain. He lost his first match to Oliver Wilson of England and then halved his second match with Australian Robert Allenby.

After almost winning both the 2008 British Open and PGA Championship before losing to Padraig Harrington, Garcia has struggled since and didn't contend in any majors in 2009. He had a difficult year both on and off the golf course, and looks to rebound for a strong 2010.

Garcia photo credit - AP / Manu Fernandez

Golf Lesson #2, Hitting Your Irons Better.

October 2009

Whether you are a long hitter or a short hitter, having a solid iron game is key to a great golf game. Hitting long drives is great, but knocking it close is even better.

There are a lot of things that can lead to striking your irons well. So, I'm going to touch on something that I would rank as most important for hitting good irons.

Balance:

Balance has always been my favorite lesson. It truly is the key to hitting great irons. When you are balanced it means that a lot of good things are happening, so I'll list them. First off it means you are swinging within yourself. If you were to swing as hard as you could, while still trying to stay in control, this would be considered 110%. A balanced swing usually falls into the 65% - 75% of total swing power. This type of swing is calm and with tempo. It is the kind of swing that when it is finished, you stay standing with your arms finished above or behind your head. It is also the swing that allows the feet to not slip during the swing. A great way to monitor your balance is to hit golf balls on the range. After every swing, take notice of your finished swing and answer some of these questions.

Are you still standing in the same place that you started?

Is your left foot still planted in it's starting position, or did it spin out and leave your left foot's toes pointing more towards your target?

Is most of your weight balanced over your left foot, or are you still putting weight on your right foot?

Is your right foot up on it's toes supporting no weight, or is it kicked out to the right side?

Did you fall back? forward? to the left? to the right?

If you answered "YES" to some of these questions, then balance is definitely something to work on. A lot of these results mentioned above are factors of swinging outside your comfort zone. If you swing in the 65% to 75% range, you should stay very balanced. There will be some sacrificed distance, but the pay off will be much greater. For instance, you normally hit a 7 iron 165, but you often lose your balance after the shot, and you hit your 7 iron great only 50% of the time. If you could tone it down a little, and swing within yourself, you could hit a balanced 7 iron 155 - 160, but you would hit it great 75% of the time.

It really comes down to how important your ego is. If you don't mind hitting a 7 iron 10 yards shorter, but great most the time, then you have excepted the importance of accuracy over distance.

The good news is, as your sense of balance becomes more refined, your ability to swing faster and harder will increase as well. Hence regaining your distance and retaining your accuracy. And in most cases, gaining even more distance.

Go to the range and take notice of your swing's finish. The result can always trace you back to the cause.


Here is a tip to help you swing smoother and within your self.

Some might think this a bit odd, but proper breathing can really loosen up a swing. Try this drill to swing within yourself.

Just before you take your swing, take in a deep breath and let it out immediately. Once the air has left your lungs, you will notice that your rib cage is no longer tight. Your lungs are not holding in very much air and you will see that you can turn much easier. You will feel that your core muscles won't have to fight the tension of your lungs and diaphragm containing all that air during the golf swing. The release of air and deep breathing will also slow you down before you pull the trigger. Try this before every swing and you will see yourself swinging more relaxed and within yourself.

Bogey Pro Golf Gear and Apparel

October 2009

Amusing website : BogeyPro.com

Golf, Hotels and Non-Stop Las Vegas Action

October 2009

When I first visited Las Vegas in 1994, it was to see if the lights and attractions on the Strip would in any way blind me like a deer in headlights. At that time I did not play golf so the visit was purely for the "glamor" experience: to check out the myriad of marquees, dress for dinner, see top entertainers perform, visit the sites and to try my luck at the variety of casinos.

The question was, how does the City of Lights, which is an approximate six hour connecting flight from my house compare with Atlantic City, only two-and-a-half hours from New York? Is Las Vegas worth a return trip?

There are so many new mammoth-sized hotspots in Las Vegas filled with undeniably dramatic touches that it boggles the mind! In recent years travel from casino to casino got much easier with the creation of a new monorail system than when I initially rented the hottest Ford Mustang I could find those fifteen years ago.

In Atlantic City, you can easily walk the boardwalk in an hour or so (depending on how fast your feet travel) without stopping in a casino, which dominates each hotel. On the other hand, during the summer, the beach is laden with bars and live music so you might walk a few hundred feet, stop for a Malibu Bay Breeze and a snack and then stroll to the next. Flying a kite and watching sculptors create visions in the sand are Atlantic City staples too...

But, Mandalay Bay has created its very own beach, complete with lazy river!

Even though Las Vegas is in the desert, the sand cannot possibly be the same, however the attractions are all bigger and never stop, from one oversized vision to the next!

The hotels in Las Vegas trump the boutique-sized ones in Atlantic City, that's a fact.

Caesar's is probably the largest connecting group of hotels on the A/C boardwalk encompassing Bally's and the Wild West Casino but, in comparison to say, Caesar's in Las Vegas, you may be able to fit it inside the Nevada structure! Also, the moving statues in Caesar's Las Vegas mall are unbelievable and just one of the amazing attractions to keep mouth ajar during a stay on the Strip.

Resorts complete with casinos featuring the hottest action, the greatest gastronomic delights and high-energy nightlife every night (try to find live music to dance to during an off-season weekday in Atlantic City) can be found in both cities but the hotels in Las Vegas create a spectacle at every turn. From the artwork at the Venetian to Cirque du Soleil at Bellagio, you would have to stay at least a month to see everything there is to see and you would never have to leave the Strip to do so.

Also, now that I am a somewhat "respectable" golfer, able to play from any one of different length tee boxes and challenges, I was happy to see that there are so many golf courses in Las Vegas' surrounding areas. Of course my chances of competing at the 2009 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship is slim and none, but, with over 10,000 competitors attempting to qualify for the finals, golf must take on a whole new meaning now in Las Vegas.

Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite, Nevada, is the venue for the RE/MAX World Golf Championships and is said  by Cory Clemetson in VegasGolfer Magazine to "put a smile on people's faces. That's our goal." That is my desire too, Cory...that is to smile after 18 holes instead of hiding my golf card in the sand!

Bali Hai Golf Club directly on the Las Vegas Strip is legendary and a place where celebrity-sighting is not unusual. Accolades from "America's Top 40 Resort Courses" by Golfweek to "Best High End Resort Course in Las Vegas" by VegasGolfer makes this public course a must-see while in Nevada.

Angel Park Golf Club boasts spectacular Red Rock Canyon views and bloody-nose elevation. This public golf course has also received strong praise and is more "reasonable" than other area courses, without giving up it's natural splendor.

For a golfer, finding the perfect vacation courses, fair prices and a good deal of challenge while, at the same time a memorable experience, can be just as important as choosing a hotel on the Strip. Each hotel/casino has a theme and, if conducive to what you picture from a hotel, it is easy to determine if your picture suits reality.

With the myriad of options available of hotels, casinos and golf courses, the mostly beautiful year-round weather available and the non-stop entertainment, Las Vegas is certainly an attractive must-see for all vacationers. Be prepared to spend about a week and make sure to bring your golf clubs!


For further reading check out this  casino guide.

Centre Xmas Party

October 2009

David has organised a Xmas Party at the Centre. The link below will open up the poster for this event.

Xmas Party Poster

Ballmark Repair and Divot Party

October 2009

Our First Ballmark Repair and Divot party took place last Friday. We had a great turnout of 20 members. They were able to complete all 18 holes in about one hour.

We started at 400pm on friday with a tutorial on ballmark repair. I explained to our group that using a tee can be detrimental to the surface and starting from the apex of the ballmark and pushing down and forward as you work your way around the ballmark. Many members had great questions on the importance of ballmark repair. The one that I think many people have is, "Is it worth fixing an old ballmark that has already turned brown?" The answer is yes. Even if the ballmark has turned brown. Leveling the surface and pushing some of the healthy grass closer together will help repair that spot quicker than if it remains un-repaired.

The members then split up into foursomes and we started off of number one and number ten. With ten members on each side we were able to quickly make our way through the whole course. The members did a great job filling divots and fixing ballmarks. A special thanks to Don Davis Golf Course Superintendent of Chaparral Pines for assisting in keeping the members stocked with sand and seed. It couldn't have been done without his help.

I would like to thank all of our attendees for making time to help the course. It was great to see a wonderful turnout. Hopefully this post will show how much devotion our members have with the course. It was a great to see everyone take time from their busy schedules to make a difference on the course.

The next party will be held in the spring. With the weather turning much colder and play slowing down we will start our winter clean up. If you would like to join us at the next party keep your eye out for a letter closer to warm weather when play begins to pick up.


Justin Ruiz, CGCS
justinr@therimgolfclub.org

Frys.com Open

October 2009

Cool shot of Tom Lehman at the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. (AP / Matt York)

Day One update and slideshow from the Frys.com Open
Day Two update and slideshow from the Frys.com Open

Divot and Ballmark Party

October 2009

Tomorrow is the day we have our Divot and Ballmark Party. All of you that have signed up or will be showing up to help will have a great time socializing with other members while helping the our course become better.

Once everyone arrives we will get started with a quick tutorial on the proper way to fix a ballmark. Once we have finished our instruction we will break up in groups depending on how many people show up and start filling divots and fixing ballmarks. We will have two carts full of sand and seed going with each group. We will also supply everyone with ballmark repair tools to take to the greens.

After we are finished we will all meet in the lounge for happy hour. This will give a chance to everyone to ask any questions about the course. It will be the first Divot and ballmark repair party at The Rim so we can gather information that will help us streamline the process.

This may be the last chance this season for the work party but next season we are planning on scheduling more. Hope everyone enjoys and if you have any question feel free to contact me.

Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS

justinr@therimgolfclub.org

928-951-3421 cell

Barkley gives advice to Kim?

October 2009

Charles Barkley seems to be pretty cool and he's definitely an entertaining personality, especially for people witnessing his golf swing. I'm just not sure why a 45 year old guy who recently got out of jail for DWI and is absolutely atrocious at golf is giving advice about drinking to a 24 year old who hasn't got in trouble (yet) and is one of the best players in the world.

From Golf.com

"I have become friends with Anthony Kim and I was talking to him the other day trying to tell him: Let this B.S. with Robert Allenby go. Nothing good is going to happen if you all are going back-and-forth. The one thing that I will say about Tiger is that when we go out, he can drink. He drinks but he never drinks when he has got a tournament. So I think you distinguish those two. If we are just going to Vegas to screw around or we are just going around, he might have a couple of beers or something. If he has got a tournament, he does not drink. .... You can have fun when you are off: Ok, I got a tournament this week. Tiger won’t even do caffeine the week of a tournament. He thought that it screwed up his putting stroke. You know how sometimes caffeine has got you jittery? I mean just simple stuff like that."


I'm sure he is just trying to help out AK and his statements are very interesting about Tiger. The part about no caffeine during tournament weeks makes a lot of sense. If you've ever drank a lot of coffee or soda on the course, or smoked cigarettes while playing, you know it can cause some jitters and shaking.

October 2009

END OF SEASON TRIAM

Saturday, 24th October

11.00 R Fraser - D Grant - E Gray

11.07 J Scott - M Scott - S Scott

11.15 J Taylor - S Balderson - D Gordon

11.22 F Moran(Jr) - F Moran - J Moran

11.30 F Johnston - B Johnston - J McGowan

11.37 DJ Alexander - DM Alexander - R Michie

11.45 J Grant - G Hunter - G Scrimgeour

11.52 D Butchart - I Butchart - J Griffiths

12.00 J Davidson - S Bailey - R McGeoghegan

12.07 J Groom - B Groom - M Robertson

12.15 M Tinker - R Tinker - D Tinker

12.22 S Schofield - D Findlay - B Jackson

12.30 E Ritchie - A Easton - S Murray

12.37 G Allardice - E Ralston - P Maxwell

12.45 C McNab - S Fenner - S Peacock

12.52 J Smith - I Taylor - D Norman

13.00 G McLuskey - T Ogg - D Robinson

There will be a two course meal available afterwards for anyone wishing to stay.

Home Videos Channels Change Player Size Watch this video in a new window Golf Short Game Lesson #15 - Drills - Correct Action

October 2009

Golf Lesson #1, Hip Rotation

October 2009

Problem: Many golfers believe that a proper swing contains open hips at impact. Jim Hardy's "The Plane Truth", Is a huge supporter of very open hips at impact. Indeed, open hips at impact are essential to a sound swing. The question to ask is how much. The answer is as little as possible, despite Hardy's Theory. If you can swing, and return the hips as close to their starting position as possible at impact, you will have a very consistent golf swing. If at impact you tend to have more open hips, you will have a very inconsistent swing, no matter how athletic you are. you'll have good and bad days. The reasons are this:

#1 If the swing is started with lower body rotation towards the target, a natural occurrence of the hands following the swing occurs. When the hands are trailing, this causes the right elbow to get slotted behind the right side of the body resulting in the common phrase "stuck." There are 2 ways to hit the ball when in this position. Maintain the current swing and enter the impact area with late hands resulting in a severely open face causing a monstrous block with a slice. Or speeding up the rotation of the hands that causes a plethora of timing issues in the impact zone most likely resulting in a snap hook. The blocked slice is the most common occurrence.

#2 A quick release of the hips also causes open shoulders at impact further reducing an accurate golf swing, also limiting the desired swing thought of extending through the impact zone to your target. Open shoulders cause the swing path to continue to the left resulting in an unfinished and abbreviated follow through.

#3 A quick release of the hips will also increase the "X factor." (An occurrence when viewed from the top of the swing that results in the shoulders and the hips in a twisted state on the spine creating an X). This occurrence does create more club head speed. As this factor increases, the ability to hit a golf ball a certain distance and in the desired direction is reduced dramatically.

#4 A quick release also drives the right side into the ball much to aggressively, resulting in a right foot supporting that swing on it's toes. With soft spikes today, this almost always results in back foot slippage during an aggressive swing furthering the inaccuracy of such a practice.



Y.E.Yang is a great example of athleticism. He did well at the PGA Championship. Unfortunately his game deteriorated at the Presidents Cup. I would elude to his hip turn as being a possible cause for inconsistency.

Solution: First off, the most successful golfers in the world have this element of slightly opened hips in common. To name a few, Sam Snead and Tiger Woods (post swing change). This element of a "quiet" lower body increases accuracy and the ability to work the ball. This also allows the hands to have ample room between the hips and the hands to do their job. Quiet hips allows the feet to stay on the ground. When I mention this it refers to the soles of both feet maintaining connection with the ground from start to impact. Feet on the ground results in great balance and proper weight shift. Sure their might be a slight reduction in distance on the fly, but your accuracy will be much improved and the roll you get from each drive landing in the fairway will greatly out measure the distance carried into the rough.

Tip: The best drill to date that works on quiet hips and increases balance is a drill that I learned from an article in golf digest written years ago by Davis Love III. His drill was to hit balls using 1/2 swings and 3/4 swings at the practice range with your feet close together. This forces you to start your swing with the upper body. A good note to keep in mind is to start the down swing with the left shoulder. This also improves balance because of the narrow stance. If you practice this drill with 30-50 swings on the range, every time you go hit a bucket, your swing will get more accurate and more balanced.



Kenny Perry is great example of a quiet lower body. He is considered one of the best ball strikers on tour.


*Pictures used in this post are from "Golf Digest Magazine"

Storm Damage Re-cap

October 2009

I wanted to take the time to share with you the damage we received from the storm a little more than a month ago. The storm yielded nearly over 2 inches in about an hour. That much rain in a short amount of time cause massive washouts throughout the course. The following pictures help show the extent of the damage. It took us nearly four days to clean everything up.

That weekend we also had The Gods Must be Crazy tournament. I guess that was fitting since it was a crazy weekend. Some of the damage was worsened by the surrounding firewise work in the native areas. More debris washed down onto the fairways than I have ever seen in the time I have been here.

I also want to thank the members for the positive comments they gave us for the quick cleanup we were able to do. The crew worked hard over the weekend to make the course playable for the tournament. Those guys appreciated all the positive feedback.

If you have any comments or questions please feel free to contact me.

Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS

justinr@therimgolfclub.org

Four Club Challenge

October 2009

Final event of the season results are as follows:

CSS: 71

1st. T Ogg - Nett 73
2nd. F Moran - Nett 74
3rd. I Butchart - Nett 74

Thanls to all who took part.

Golf and Gambling

October 2009

With the Shriners Hospital for Children Open currently going on in Las Vegas, it seems to be a good time to discuss golf and gambling. For many golfers, the two go hand in hand and makes the game more fun while adding additional pressure. There are many different games that golfers can play and betting amounts can be either very small or very large.

Here are a few of the top games to play while betting on the golf course.

NASSAU
A Nassau consists of three bets in one round. You will play your opponent for low round on the front nine, low round on the back nine, and low round overall. For instance, if you are playing a $10 dollar Nassau, and you win all three bets, you win $30.

WOLF
Wolf is a game played with groups of four, and players rotate being the wolf. The Wolf tees off first. Then once the other 3 players hit their tee shots, the wolf can choose who he wants to be partner with for the hole. Or, if he wants to risk more and play against 3 players for the hole, he can do that as well. In some versions of the game, if the wolf chooses to go it alone, he will have to howl like a wolf on the tee.

SNAKE
Snake is a game played on the course that only involves putting. For instance, for any putt your opponent has on the green, especially a long putt (or snake), you can hiss like a snake to initiate the bet. Then, if your opponent 3 putts he owes you money. If he 2 putts, you owe him money. This makes putting a lot more stressful, but the hissing part makes it hilarious.


BARKIE
A barkie is a bet involving a player hitting a tree. If any player hits a tree on a hole but still makes par, the rest of the group owes him or her money.

SANDIE
A sandie is similar to a barkie. If any player gets up and down for par out of the sand, the other players owe him or her money.

There are many other ways to bet on the golf course such as skins games, match play, closest to the hole on par 3s, or paying players for birdies or eagles. Golf is already fun enough but adding games and side action raises the stakes even more.

For people who love both golf and gambling, traveling for golf in Las Vegas is the perfect choice.

For further reading, check out this casino guide.

Pine Needles Turning Yellow

October 2009

Some of the pine trees are starting to shed their old pine needles. I wanted to point this out because each year we have a few questions on the health of our trees. This process is completely natural. The trees around the pro shop and clubhouse are the most noticeable since many people see those as they come in for golf.

If there are any question regarding the pine trees please contact me but I hope this short message answers your questions.

Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS

justinr@therimgolfclub.org

I ♥ Maidstone

October 2009

I have previously written about Maidstone as part of my write-up of Golf in the Hamptons but I don't think I did the course justice. In the category of lucky bastard, the two world ranked courses I have played the most are Merion and Maidstone (M & M). My latest round at Maidstone was in a brisk wind, and it inspired me to post more pictures and write more as the course was shining in all its glory.

The neighborhood Maidstone is located in is impressive, with its manicured hedgerows and deca-million dollar homes.

A hedgerow near Maidstone

In my original writeup of Maidstone, I mentioned how the membership was ultra-wealthy and referenced their private jets. I received this comment recently, "you sound like a complete asshole. the g4s will be irs prop and the members will be locked up." Although the comment was anonymous, it was no doubt from a fellow New Yorker due to its directness, and was clearly written by someone who is pressed for time, since he couldn't take the time to capitalize any words and spell out the word "property."

Well, I may indeed be an asshole, but at least I'm not angry at the world. While there are a lot of 'For Sale' signs in the area and tough economic times are palpable even here, I'm rooting for my friends at Maidstone to recover so I can keep being invited back to play.

It's too bad that Maidstone is always compared to National and Shinnecock because of where it is located. I'm as guilty as anyone of doing this; the fact is, the course stands on its own as a world-class course. Situated between Hook Pond and the Atlantic Ocean, what makes Maidstone so good is the variety of its routing, the continual change in direction, the quirkiness of the layout and more than a half dozen spectacular golf holes. A course like Maidstone probably will never be built again, at least in the United States. The environmentalists would not permit building holes in the dunes right next the ocean. And, an architect would have to have guts to route the course the way Willie Park did, with tee boxes and greens so close to each other and a couple of awkward tee boxes. In the brilliant, but bizarre way the course is routed, the second hole is detached from the rest of the course, across a road with an out-of-bounds down both sides. It's not a throw-away hole by any means, in fact, this 537 yard par five is the #1 stroke index hole.

One of my favorite holes in the world is the short par three eighth hole (151 yards) with its blind tee shot and a green set behind the dunes. Par threes don't come much better than this one.

The eighth hole from the tee

The green is a challenging one with a sharp fall off short, right and left, and a big dip in the middle.

The eighth hole from behind the green

You hardly have time to recover from the exhilaration of the eighth hole when you walk to the next tee, but the next hole is even better. Standing on the ninth tee box is one of the most beautiful places in the world of golf. In my view, it rivals walking up the 9th fairway at Royal County Down or standing on the 16th tee at Cypress. As you are perched on top of a hill, the par four ninth hole sits among the dunes below you with the Atlantic Ocean in full view.

The ninth hole set within the dunes

Once your tee shot is in the fairway you have a tricky uphill shot to a green that is set at an angle to you. There is a severe drop off to the right of the green and you don't want to miss there.

The par three fourteenth is another one of the brilliant par threes at Maidstone. Only 148 yards from the back tees, it is in an awe inspiring setting among the dunes with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

The world class par four 14th hole at Maidstone

Another design feature that makes Maidstone such a good course is that most of the greens are set at an angle to the fairway. The seventeenth should be an easy hole since it is only 328 yards from tee to green. If you bite off the appropriate amount of the pond, it is not that hard to hit the fairway. You should have a wedge to the green, but it is not a particularly easy shot, since the green is set at an angle, and if you hit long or right you're on the road. The approach to the green is like a mini version of the St. Andrews Road Hole. Park had the foresight to design many of the short holes like this: the first, fifth and seventh are designed similarly. He also interspersed both short and long holes and easy and difficult holes in a way that you rarely see.

The 17th green at Maidstone

Having played Maidstone now in a variety of conditions, I have really come to appreciate that no two holes play in the same direction.

When I originally played Maidstone I thought it had a weak start and a weak finish, but I have now changed my opinion. The first, second, seventeenth and eighteenth holes are more strategic than they first look and require you to place the ball in the appropriate place in order to score well. When the wind is up, 6,423 yards is all Maidstone needs to be a stern test of golf.

This is one of a half-dozen clubs I have played that I would love to join, although its not happening. When I grow up I want to live in East Hampton and be a member of Maidstone.

Extreme Golf Experiences Around the World

October 2009

As the PGA Tour season comes to a close and enters "silly season", it is up to amateur golfers to decide whether or not to stash their golf clubs in a corner of the garage or to embark upon an extreme experience to an exotic locale. The serious player never wants the season to end!

From "ice golf" in Greenland to playing "sand" golf in Dubai, experiences that challenge the senses as well as your ability are worthy of the trek, and the "fun factor" of being on unfamiliar territory will surely be a memorable experience.

Grab a flourescent ball for this golf course: 

Although temperatures rarely climb above -13 degrees celsius and with a wind chill factor that sometimes makes it feel as if it is -50 degrees in the sun, (did I just say negative 50?) Uummannqaq, located north of the Arctic Circle, is home to the World Ice Golf Championships held in March.. I wonder if there is a large crowd on hand to watch the final round? The west side of the island is also home to Santa Claus, who is storied to live in Spraglebugten Bay. I always thought Kris Kringle carried his own clubs by the size of his toy bag!

Speaking of cold weather golf, although you could just play in your own "backyard" donning an extra sweater and some warm weather gloves, also consider a round at the northernmost USGA golf course in the world: North Star in Alaska. Permafrost creates an ever-changing pattern of dips and swales so no two shots are alike. Be prepared for two games in one when you play here; one event is naturally golf and another is a checklist of the wildlife encountered on the course.

For golfers who want to play whenever the mood strikes, head to North Cape in Norway, in the land of the midnight sun. From mid-May through August, your round can start literally at 10 pm! During your northerly adventure, take the Awesome Eight Golf Challenge. Thought up by extreme athlete Robin Sieger, golfers must complete the challenge by playing "eight of the most remote and climatically most extreme golf courses in the world within the span of a year. The only condition is that they carry their clubs, not using any caddie or cart."

There are some of us who are snowbirds and others who fly south as soon as the temperature falls below 40 degrees. If you can't stand the sight of snow or blue extremities at the end of a round, perhaps the world's hottest locale is a better fit for you.

Merapi Golf Club in Indonesia confirms that they have the world's "hottest" green as well as panoramic views of Mt. Merapi. Also known as "Mountain of Fire" this active volcano not only dominates the surrounding landscape but has been active for 10,000 years and regularly erupts every one-to-five years. I would not want to be putting for birdie when that volcano spews!


For those of us who love the sight of active volcanos, your vacation is not complete without a trip to the Volcano Golf and Country Club located on Hawaii's Big Island. The high altitude makes the golf ball go farther (which is better for shorter hitters) and the views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea mountains (they are snow-capped in winter) are sweeping and memorable.


For golf with no "greens" try a round of sand golf at Dubai's first golf course, one of two located at The Dubai Country Club. Called "browns", the putting areas on these two desert courses are a "mixture of sand and second hand engine oil compressed with rollers". Brooms are located near each hole so that the golfer can "brush" to smooth out footprints.

Of course these are just a few of the marvelous experiences created for golfers around the world. Thanks to the internet, adventure is just a "click" away.

Seek and ye shall find, for the adventurous sort!



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What did we learn at the 2009 Presidents Cup?

October 2009

AK feels Robert Allenby may need to practice a little more in the future. (AP / Marcio Sanchez)

• The United States has now become a very formidable threat in team events. They have a record of 6-1-1 in Presidents Cups and currently hold the Ryder Cup. It will be very interesting to see the U.S. take on the Internationals in Australia in 2011, hopefully with Fred Couples and Greg Normans as captains again.
• Tiger is Tiger
• Phil's game is in tip top shape heading into 2010. Johnny Miller called Phil "the best player in the world" and says next year could be his best year ever.
  
• Steve Stricker is becoming a ridiculous player, especially when he gets the putter rolling. Tiger called Stricker's Saturday afternoon round one of the best putting performances he'd ever seen.
• Who knows if Michael Jordan did anything to really help Sean O'Hair, but regardless, O'Hair played great and destroyed Ernie Els. Not quite sure anyway why O'Hair really needs any help as he's one of the best players in the world now.
• Ryo Ishikawa was the most exciting player to watch on the International team.
• Adam Scott's performance was, to put it mildly, not so good.
  
• The most amusing aspect had to be the comments made by Robert Allenby, when he called Anthony Kim a "loose cannon" and "the new John Daly", after getting drubbed by the American 5 and 3. Even more amusing was Kim's response, when he said "If he feels that way, maybe he should practice more."Good early controversy for 2011 when the cup will be played in Australia.
  

Planet Air on the Greens

October 2009

Yesterday we used the Planet Air on the greens. With the cancellation of the greens aerification this fall, we decided to get some cultivation done. As you can see in the photos disruption is nil. For golf today you will not even notice any difference in the greens. The slices may be noticable but will not effect the ball roll.

Along with the Planet Air on the greens we were able to get fertilizer wall to wall on the golf course. We have about one more month of growing season left and then we will put it to bed with our final fall fertilizer application. We are about half way through with the bunker sand depth check. We are going through and getting any weeds and taking care of any liner that may be showing. I will have a future blog post on the condition of our bunkers. We are also still working on the vertical mowing of the tees. Although slow going and a little disruptive on the greens, the thatch is removed and replaced with sand. This will help firm tees for next season. Also a future blog post will futher explain our process.

Have a great week and if there are any question please contact me. Stay up to date by checking the blog on a regular basis.

Justiin C. Ruiz, CGCS
justinr@therimgolfclub.org