www.GolfLasVegasNow.com is your Link to Las Vegas Golf and offers complete Las Vegas golf information and online bookings. Visit the website now for the complete stories that include Las Vegas golf news, deals and more. Highlights for this week include Las Vegas residents winning on the PGA Tour and another making the United States Ryder Cup team.

 

Las Vegas' Charley Hoffman Joins Neighbor as 2010 PGA Tour Champion

Picking a winner of a PGA Tour event, especially with a few bucks on the line, is a difficult proposition. In year's past, Tiger Woods basically won about one out of every four tournaments, so you had a bit of a feeling, but these days, you never know who can win. According to the Las Vegas golf PGA Tour betting experts, Las Vegas Golf Region resident Charley Hoffman was a part of the field bet last week (4/1) when he won the Deutsche Bank Championship. The week prior, Matt Kuchar went off at 30/1 according to the Las Vegas odds before winning the Barclays. This week at the BMW Championship, Woods is the favorite at 6/1 followed by Steve Stricker (12/1) and Phil Mickelson (15/1). The Las Vegas odds don't show much hope for a repeat by Hoffman as he was released at 50/1.

http://www.golflasvegasnow.com/las-vegas-golf-pros/93-robert-gamez/1442-las-vegas-pga-tour-golf-star-charley-hoffman-goes-low-to-join-neighbor-as-2010-champ.html

 

Rickie Fowler Picked By Captain Corey Pavin To Play for U.S. In Ryder Cup

There were said to be at least three Las Vegas residents under consideration for one of the four Captain's picks for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The good news: one Las Vegas golfer was picked. The bad news: two Las Vegas golfers weren't. Rickie Fowler, who purchased a home in Las Vegas about this time a year ago, was picked by Captain Corey Pavin, while fellow Las Vegas Golf Region residents Charley Hoffman and Nick Watney were left off the team. Each of the three play and practice at Las Vegas golf courses, but Fowler isn't the only tie to Las Vegas for the team.

http://www.golflasvegasnow.com/las-vegas-golf-pros/93-robert-gamez/1443-ryder-cup-us-team-has-many-strong-ties-to-las-vegas-golf-courses-with-addition-of-rickie-fowler.html

 

Jack Nicklaus' The Chase To Be Host Site for Las Vegas Golf Pro-Am Event

When it opened in 2008, The Chase at Coyote Springs was immediately included on seemingly every "Best New Course" list of the major golf publications. This Las Vegas Golf Region course, located about 50 miles north of the Las Vegas Strip, was noted by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, and Travel & Leisure Magazine, among other publications. Now this Jack Nicklaus design is hosting the Inaugural Coyote Classic Pro-Am November 14-16. Click now to view the details from the official website of The Chase

http://www.golflasvegasnow.com/las-vegas-golf-events/70-las-vegas-golf-events/1440-jack-nicklaus-the-chase-to-be-host-site-for-las-vegas-golf-pro-am-event.html

 

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He has arthritis, survived cancer, lost his wife of more than four decades to cancer but still is known as The King. Arnold Palmer may be on the second nine of life and his golf game may not be up to the high standards to which he formerly played, he is though beloved by virtually every fan.

 

Arnie still plays or practices almost every day whether at his Bay Hill club in suburban Orlando or the course in Latrobe where he grew up and is now the owner.

 

To give an idea of his magnetism, charisma or whatever you want to call it; a few years ago some visitors from California were driving past the eighteenth tee at Bay Hill when Palmer’s foursome was hitting their tee shots. The Californians couldn’t believe their eyes (“My God, there’s Arnold Palmer”), quickly came to a stop and stuck a camera out the window.

 

The King noticed them, hit his tee ball and then walked to the edge of the tee box near the street waving so they would have a good picture and a great memory. There aren’t a lot of touring professionals who would do that, much less be grinning and obviously having a good time.

 

At 81, Arnie could be said to be nine over par but he’s a no-bogey 59 in the fans’ hearts.

 

These times are for information purposes only. The official groupings and starting times are posted at the tournament site. Thursday & Friday, September 09 & 10, 2010
Rnd 1 1 Tee	Rnd 2 10 Tee
8:00am	12:00pm	Marc Leishman Melbourne, AUS	Ryan Moore Tacoma, WA
8:10	12:10	Kevin Na Las Vegas, NV	Heath Slocum Alpharetta, GA
8:20	12:20	Rickie Fowler Murrieta, CA	Kevin Streelman Wheaton, IL
8:30	12:30	Bo Van Pelt Tulsa, OK	J.B. Holmes Campbellsville, KY
8:40	12:40	Jeff Overton Evansville, IN	Retief Goosen Polokwane, RSA
8:50	12:50	Adam Scott Queensland, AUS	Dustin Johnson Myrtle Beach, SC
9:00	1:00	Carl Pettersson Raleigh, NC	Brendon de Jonge Charlotte, NC
9:10	1:10	Fredrik Jacobson Gothenburg, SWE	Brian Gay Windermere, FL
9:20	1:20	Stephen Ames Calgary, AB, CAN	Scott Verplank Edmond, OK
Rnd 1 10 Tee	Rnd 2 1 Tee
8:00am	12:00pm	Vijay Singh Fiji Islands	Matt Jones Sydney, AUS
8:10	12:10	Brian Davis London, ENG	Tom Gillis Lake Orion, MI
8:20	12:20	Brandt Snedeker Nashville, TN	Vaughn Taylor Augusta, GA
8:30	12:30	Geoff Ogilvy Melbourne, AUS	Justin Rose London, ENG
8:40	12:40	Luke Donald High Wycombe, ENG	Martin Laird Glasgow, SCO
8:50	12:50	Matt Kuchar Atlanta, GA	Charley Hoffman Las Vegas, NV
9:00	1:00	Camilo Villegas Medellin, COL	Anthony Kim Dallas, TX
9:10	1:10	Angel Cabrera Cordoba, ARG	Sean O'Hair West Chester, PA
9:20	1:20	David Toms Shreveport, LA	Andres Romero Tucuman, ARG
Rnd 1 1 Tee	Rnd 2 10 Tee
12:00pm	8:00am	Y.E. Yang Jeju Island, KOR	Greg Chalmers Sydney, AUS
12:10	8:10	Rory Sabbatini Ft. Worth, TX	Jason Bohn Acworth, GA
12:20	8:20	Rory McIlroy Lougherne, NIR	Nick Watney Las Vegas, NV
12:30	8:30	Jim Furyk Ponte Vedra Bch, FL	Bubba Watson Bagdad, FL
12:40	8:40	Ernie Els South Africa	Hunter Mahan Colleyville, TX
12:50	8:50	Steve Stricker Madison, WI	Jason Day Brisbane, AUS
1:00	9:00	Stewart Cink Duluth, GA	D.J. Trahan Mt. Pleasant, SC
1:10	9:10	Tiger Woods Windermere, FL	K.J. Choi Dallas, TX
1:20	9:20	Jason Dufner Auburn, AL	Tim Petrovic Austin, TX
Rnd 1 10 Tee	Rnd 2 1 Tee
12:00pm	8:00am	Justin Leonard Dallas, TX	Bryce Molder Conway, AR
12:10	8:10	Stuart Appleby Victoria, AUS	Ian Poulter Woburn, ENG
12:20	8:20	Robert Allenby Melbourne, AUS	Bill Haas Greenville, SC
12:30	8:30	Paul Casey Surrey, ENG	Tim Clark Scottsdale, AZ
12:40	8:40	Zach Johnson Cedar Rapids, IA	Ben Crane Beaverton, OR
12:50	8:50	Ryan Palmer Amarillo, TX	Phil Mickelson Rancho Santa Fe, CA
1:00	9:00	Charlie Wi Westlake Village, CA	John Senden Brisbane, AUS
1:10	9:10	Michael Sim Perth, AUS	Ricky Barnes Phoenix, AZ
NOTE: App Starting Times for Sat: 7:30-9:30am/1 & 10 tees/3's Sun: 7:30am - 1:00pm/1 tee/2's Finish Times for Sat: 2:30pm/Sun: 5:00pm Tee Times: 630-257-1899

Irwin, Kite, Langer, Nelson, Price and Strange to compete in Champions Tour event

Triangle-area golf fans will have an opportunity to see some of golf’s greatest players when the SAS Championship presented by Bloomberg Businessweek returns to Prestonwood Country in Cary, Sept.24 – 26. Tournament officials today announced the field will feature six World Golf Hall of Fame members. Tom Kite, Larry Nelson, Nick Price and Curtis Strange join previously committed Hall of Famers Hale Irwin and Bernhard Langer in the field.

“We are excited to have six Hall of Fame members in our field this year and hope to still add more,” said Tournament Director Jeff Kleiber. “Not only are these golfers some of the best in the game, but they are also extremely fan-friendly. Fans of all ages will have a chance to see them up close and personal at this year’s SAS Championship.”

A 2004 inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Kite owns 19 PGA TOUR titles, 10 Champions Tour titles and the 1972 NCAA Individual Championship trophy. He was the runner-up to Eduardo Romero in the 2008 SAS Championship and also holds the tournament course record with a final-round 61 in 2004.

Nelson, a two-time PGA Championship winner (1981, 1987) and the 1983 U.S. Open champion, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. Since joining the Champions Tour in 1997, Nelson has won 19 events.

Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003, Price was regarded as one of the best golfers in the world in the mid-1990s. During his prime, Price captured three major championships including back-to-back majors at the 1994 British Open and PGA Championship. A native of South Africa, Price has won three career events on the Champions Tour including two in 2010.

 

Strange was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. One of the most dominant golfers of the 1980s, Strange carded 16 of his 17 PGA TOUR victories during that decade. Named the PGA TOUR’s Player of the Year in 1988, Strange won back-to-back U.S. Open tournaments in 1988 and 1989.

 

A 1992 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and three-time U.S. Open champion, Irwin holds the Champions Tour record with 45 career victories and was the Tour’s Player of the Year in 1997, 1998 and 2002. Irwin’s victory at the 2005 SAS Championship, his 44^th on the Champions Tour, is one of the top 10 moments in the tournament’s 10-year history.

 

Langer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. A two-time Masters champion (1985, 1993) while a member of the PGA TOUR, Langer has competed on the Champions Tour since 2007. This season, Langer won the first two Champions Tour majors of his career in back-to-back events, The Senior Open Championship and the U.S. Senior Open Championship.

 

The SAS Championship presented by Bloomberg Businessweek is being held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, September 24 – 26. Tickets to the tournament can be purchased online at www.SASChampionship.com or by calling (919) 531-GOLF (4653). The SAS Championship and Triangle area have become one of the most popular stops on the Champions Tour, annually drawing elite fields and tremendous community support.

 

For more information on the SAS Championship, visit www.SASChampionship.com or find the tournament on Facebook and Twitter atwww.facebook.com/SASChampionship and www.twitter.com/SASChampionship.

 

About SAS

SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. With innovative business applications supported by an enterprise intelligence platform, SAS helps customers at 44,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW^®.

 

About the Champions Tour

Collectively, the Champions Tour has the most recognizable and accomplished players in the game with 16 World Golf Hall of Fame members actively competing in its events and numerous other major championship winners among its members. The Champions Tour is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000. The Champions Tour will conduct 26 official Charles Schwab Cup events in 2010 offering $51.5 million in official prize money, with the average tournament purse of $1.98 million. The Champions Tour's primary purpose is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for its members, to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events generate significant sums of money for charity. The Commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem. Mike Stevens is President of the Champions Tour. TOUR headquarters is

in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The web site address is www.PGATOUR.com.

 

About Octagon Golf & Outdoors

Octagon Golf & Outdoors is a division of Octagon, the world’s largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency. Octagon Golf & Outdoors focuses on premium event/property management, developing key player relationships and providing strategic corporate solutions.  The division currently manages two Champions Tour events, three LPGA Tour events, one Nationwide Tour event and the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. For more information, visitwww.octagongolf.com.

 

There is sometimes confusion amongst golfers as to who has the honour on the teeing ground. For example, many players observe a convention that the lowest handicap player has the honour on the first tee, which strictly speaking is incorrect. Rule 10-2 states that in stroke play;

"The competitor who has the honor at the first teeing ground is determined by the order of the draw. In the absence of a draw, the honor should be decided by lot."

 Deciding by lot can be achieved by such means as tossing coins, choosing different size tees from a closed hand, or throwing balls in the air to see which lands nearest to a predetermined spot. Of course, in stroke play there is no penalty for playing out of turn, which is why the convention referred to above has flourished; but it is not according to the Rules.

Another misunderstanding is that the competitor with the lowest score at a hole always takes the honor at the next teeing ground and if two or more competitors have the same score at a hole, they play from the next teeing ground in the same order as at the previous teeing ground. This is certainly true for ‘strokes’ competitions, where players have to hole out on every hole, with the handicap adjustments only being taken into account when the round is completed. However in handicap bogey, par and Stableford competitions it is different as Rule 32-1 confirms;

“In handicap bogey, par and Stableford competitions, the competitor with the lowest net score at a hole takes the honor at the next teeing ground.”

For example, on the index 11 hole in a Stableford competition, player A (handicap 9), scores 4, and player B (handicap 14) scores 5, net 4. If player B had the honour on the hole he would retain it on the next teeing ground even though his gross score was higher than A’s.

What is the correct order of play if one player’s ball is in a bunker fourteen feet from the hole, another player’s ball is on the fringe ten feet away and a third player’s ball is thirty feet away, but on the putting green, as in the illustration above? Rule 10-2b states;

“After the competitors have started play of the hole, the ball farthest from the hole is played first. If two or more balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot.”

So, in this example the player whose ball lies on the putting green should play first, the player in the bunker second, and the player on the fringe third. However, as previously noted, in stroke play there is no penalty for playing out of turn and, particularly where it helps to speed up play, there may be a case for inviting the player whose ball is in the bunker to play first.

There is also no penalty for playing out of turn in match play, but there is an important difference in that an opponent may immediately require the player who has played out of turn to cancel the stroke so made and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played. Probably the most famous incident of this occurred during the 2000 Solheim Cup, which brought Annika Sorenstam to tears. Here is a  link for an account of the incident by a Sports Illustrated journalist; http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1739786,00.html

I have three more reminders concerning order of play; First, in four-ball competitions balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best (Rules 30-3b and 31-4). Second, in stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball (Rule 22-2). Third, if a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, they must do so after their opponent or fellow-competitor has made their first stroke.

Good golfing,

Barry Rhodes

http://www.barryrhodes.com - miscellaneous content on the Rules of Golf

Tour Links at the NYSE Tour Links joins the PGA and Cory Pavin at the NYSE as Tour Links proudly joins with the PGA at the event.   New York, NY - 9/07/2010 - RYDER CUP NEWS CONFERENCE LIVE COVERAGE AT 10:30 on the Golf Channel as Cory Pavin announces his Ryder Cup Captain's Pics at the New York Stock Exchange.  A Tour Links Putting Green will also be in attendance at the event as Tour Links joins with the PGA and proves once more the ability to build a Tour Links Putting Green virtually anywhere. Click picture for product information   Tour Links at the request of the PGA of America brings the 15' x 17 putting golf green to the New York Stock Exchange anfor the Cory Pavin Ryder Cup announcement media event.   Tour Links is once again proud to be a partner with the PGA. They are all at the NY Stock Exchange with Cory Pavin as he announces his Ryder Cup Captain's Picks this morning. Live coverage we are told, will be starting at 10:30 on the Golf Channel. Be sure to tune in!

See the Live Coverage of the Ryder Cup News Conference at 10:30

Westwood, Kansas -Tom Watson Productions announced today that it has begun shipping the English language version of  'Tom Watson - Lessons of a Lifetime' to South Korea from Tom Watson's website: tomwatson.com and amazon.com in the U.S. The program also includes English subtitles.

Tom Watson will be in South Korea competing in the Posco E & C Songdo Championship in Songdo, Korea September 10 - 12.  This event boasts a purse of $3,000,000 with $455,000 going to the tournament winner. 

The two-DVD set containing close to three hours of golf instruction and an accompanying booklet of 44 lessons was filmed at The Greenbrier Resort in the United States, where Watson is Golf Professional Emeritus. This instructional program is the ultimate learning experience, covering all facets of the game-from the grip to full shots, to chipping, putting and the secret of his timeless swing, plus specialty shots including those required in strong wind conditions.

Directed by award-winning Terry Jastrow, 'Lessons of a Lifetime' embodies the practical experiences and competitive winning strategies that have earned Watson professional recognition as one of the greatest players of all time. "Tom Watson applies the same sense of determination and purpose in his new DVD instructional set," says Jastrow, "as he has to his competitive golf game. It's fifty years of experience from one of the game's masters."

Watson ranks 6th on the list of total major championship victories with more wins than Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson. Watson is one of only fourteen players to have won at least three of the four golfing major titles.

Encyclopedic in its skill and strategy coverage, 'Lessons of a Lifetime' is a defining instructional medium and will be a must for beginning golfers and weekend warriors as well as experienced golfers wanting to step up their game.  Watson shares the knowledge of the golf swing and game that he learned as a student, competitor and peer of golf legends Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino and others. Watson says, "It's very important that golfers-whether they are beginners or have played for 50 years-learn and understand the fundamentals. These are the building blocks every golfer needs to have in order to play up to their potential but, more importantly, to have fun."

From playing in the wind, to hooking and slicing, antidotes to fearless putting, Watson breaks them down in an easy-to-understand manner. Golfers can begin applying these lessons of a lifetime the next time they stand on the first tee with their friends. Watson teaches his lessons of his lifetime as if golfers are there with him.

"I was fortunate to have received excellent instruction early in my life," says Watson, a Kansas City, Missouri, native who shows no signs of slowing down.  "When I was 6 years old, my father, Ray Watson, cut down a hickory-shafted 5-iron, then proceeded to teach me the grip, and how to hook and slice the ball-all the basic fundamentals of the game. It's all this knowledge I've accumulated that I'd like to share with golfers in 'Lessons of a Lifetime.' "

Consistency, contact, alignment, firmness of grip, pivot points, release, rhythm and legendary coach, Harvey Penick's "dead-aim" philosophy are all covered in the two comprehensive DVDs. Watson's instruction comes across in an easy-to-understand manner making it seem your standing right beside him on the tee or green.

Watson, a graduate of Stanford University, was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988 and owns 39 PGA TOUR victories, including five British Opens, two Masters and one U.S. Open. The latter victory was keyed by Watson's 71st-hole birdie chip-in at Pebble Beach, a shot many historians consider to be the shot of the 20th century.

Last year Watson pulled off one of sports history’s most-memorable moments when he made an incredible bid for his sixth Open Championship title, taking Stewart Cink to a four-hole playoff at Turnberry. Four of Watson’s seven top-10 finishes on the 2009 Champions Tour came in major championships.

This year Watson opened his season by teaming with Jack Nicklaus to win the Wendy's Champions Skins Game. The following week, Watson birdied the final two holes for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke victory over Champions Tour rookie sensation Fred Couples in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

Watson has long-standing professional relationships with Adams Golf, Golf Digest, The Greenbrier Resort, MasterCard and Polo Ralph Lauren.

The two-DVD set finishes with a moving tribute to Watson's 'caddie for life', Bruce Edwards, who passed away in April 2004 from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. The tribute concludes with a song written and composed by Watson's stepdaughter, Kelly Paige.  A portion of the sales of  'Lessons of a Lifetime' will go to help find a cure for this dreaded,  life-ending disease. 

Below is a link to TomWatsonGolf's Channel on YouTube.  The link below contains 8 DVD excerpts plus a 15 second commercial at the end.

www.youtube.com/user/TomWatsonGolf

The Champions Tour visits New Songdo City in Korea for the inaugural Posco E&C Songdo Championship presented by Gale International. The tournament is the 20th of 26 Charles Schwab Cup events. The purse is $3 million with the winner earning $450,000 and 450 Charles Schwab Cup points. This represents the first time in Champions Tour history that an official event will be held in Korea.

LAST WEEK

Ted Schulz won the Home Care & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach for his first Champions Tour title, holing a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach en route to a one-shot victory over Tom Pernice Jr. Schulz earned his first win since the 1991 Nissan Open on the PGA TOUR.

Ted Schulz’s previous best finish on the Champions Tour was a T15 at the previous week’s Boeing Classic.

After 19 events, Bernhard Langer still leads the season-long Charles Schwab Cup race with 2,791 points. Fred Couples finished fifth this week and earned 86 points. He is in second place with 2,216 points. Tom Lehmanremains a distant third with 1,420 points.

Russ Cochran and his junior partner, Spencer Jones of The First Tee of Cleveland County (Shelby, NC) edged Tom Pernice Jr. and his junior partner, Jason Park of The First Tee of Richmond, VA by one stroke in the pro-junior competition.

Spencer Jones also won the Coca-Cola Champions Challenge when he teamed with John Cook on Thursday of tournament week.

Kenny Perry was 93rd on the FedExCup standings when he withdrew before the start of the Deutsche Bank Championship citing mental and physical exhaustion. Perry is planning his 2011 schedule which will likely include tournaments on both the PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour.

 

Greg Norman had a poor start in his first tournament after shoulder surgery 12 months ago. Norman shot a pair of 75s to miss the cut by nine strokes at the Omega European Masters on the European Tour.

 

Ireland’s Des Smyth won the Senior Masters at Woburn to win for a fifth successive decade and deny England’s Carl Mason a record 24th European Senior Tour victory.

 

Just a few days before Hurricane Earl threatened to disrupt the TOUR event in Boston, Typhoon Kompasu had already done some damage to Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, the venue for the Posco E&C Songdo Championship. The typhoon killed five people in the Seoul area while trees were knocked down, 10 inches of rain fell on the course and windows in the clubhouse were blown out.

 

Here’s a look at the Champions Tour Pick 'Em Challenge leaderboard – nanny911, kazzy53 and dixieneedler are in a three way tie for first place with 443 points after two of the six events have been completed. Visit www.championstourchallenge.comto play.

 

COMING UP

 

The Posco E&C Songdo Championship presented by Gale International has a Champions Tour record $3 million purse.

 

The Posco E&C Songdo Championship features six players who have won this season, including Bernhard Langer, who has posted five victories in 2010. Other 2010 winners scheduled to tee it up are Tom Watson, Mark O’Meara, Fred Funk, David Frost and David Eger.

 

The Posco E&C Songdo Championship represents a significant moment in Champions Tour history. The Tour has ventured outside of the United States to several international destinations such as Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but this is the first official event in the Asian region.

 

Mark Calcavecchia has some history in Korea. The Champions Tour rookie won the 2004 Maekyung Open at the Lakeside CC in Seoul, coming from one stroke back entering the final round. His winning score was 6-under-par and only six players finished below par for the week. He earned US$85,000 for the win.

 

New Songdo City is a completely planned city in South Korea and the most expensive private real estate development in world history. The aim is to create the world’s most livable and futuristic city to become the leading global business hub in Northeast Asia.

 

Posco E&C is a Korean construction giant established in December 1994, recognized world-wide in the steel and ironworks industry. Gale International is the developer of the largest private real estate project in the world today – the US $35 billion Songdo International Business District in South Korea.

 

Jack Nicklaus, the designer of the venue (Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea), will not test his skills in the tournament. However, the Golden Bear will make an appearance at the Gala function on Wednesday and participate in Thursday’s pro-am.

 

Captain Corey Pavin selected Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler for the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.

 

ON THIS DATE

 

9/11/05– Despite making just one birdie over his final 36 holes, Mark Calcavecchiabecame the oldest winner (45 years, 2 months, 29 days) in the 101-year history of the Bell Canadian Open when he held off Ben Crane and Ryan Moore by one stroke at Shaughnessey Golf and CC in Vancouver. It was his second win in the city, having won the Greater Vancouver Open in 1997.

 

 

QUOTES TO NOTE

 

“I was trying to figure out how we’re going to get that tree cut down where my drive will probably go” – Loren Roberts, referring to the 18th hole at Harding Park GC in San Francisco, during media day for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship last week.

 

“It was amazing. I just pretty much watched it all and cheered for him. I wish I would have brought my pom-poms” – Spencer Jones, on Russ Cochranshooting 29 on the front nine at Pebble Beach. The pair won the pro-junior competition of the Home Care & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

Corey Pavin has displayed his mastery of the bleeding obvious by choosing Tiger Woods for the Ryder Cup team.

In case you need them, here are the reasons why he did the right thing:

He's still the best player in the world. Tiger still executes shots that no one else can (Phil can concieve them, but there's a big "want to"/"can do" gap there).  He's now got his divorce behind him and is settled on the two most important things to him: when he can practice and when he can see his kids. He will be rebuilding his mental fortress along with his swing. You want that guy on your team.

He wants to be there. After the first time, Tiger has probably played Ryder Cup golf as much out of obligation as anything else. Now, he wants to be there, to be a part of the team. Having Tiger care about Ryder Cup as much as he cares about majors should be very scary for Monty.

They owe him. Tiger has made more money for more people than anyone since Sam Rothstein in the movie "Casino". Even if he has been a little off, golf owes this guy a chance to participate in and contribute to one of the many events that he helped to make important. Yes, he did.

This ain't the last Ryder Cup, it's the latest. If golf had said no to Tiger now, when (not if) he gets back to form as a player and an attraction you could count on him telling the establishment to take a long walk in a deep water hazard for the forseeable future. You don't want the best guy around boycotting your only creditable team event.
Good job, Corey. Can't wait to see the pairings. Let the games begin!

Slightly two years after opening, Sweetgrass Golf Club landed a Top 20 ranking in its golf-rich home state, as recognized by GOLF Magazine.

That's great news for the relatively new course in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which opened in 2008 and has been slowly climbing the charts on national polls. Even better news?  The course is reporting a more than 80% increase in golf rounds this year over last year - a great success story amidst golf's benign growth status this year.

Sweetgrass earned the 13^th spot in its top-20 ranking of public golf courses in Michigan, chosen from a pool of more than 700 facilities. The complete list is included in the national magazine’s current September 2010 edition, on stands now.

 

“We knew we had something special when we opened the course,” said Island Resort & Casino General Manager Tom McChesney.  “Beyond its natural beauty, the challenge lies in its rolling topography and test around the greens, especially those where water comes into play.”

 

Among those also listed were Greywalls and Timberstone, courses that have banded together with Sweetgrass to form the Perfect 4Some package.  The stay-and-play offering connects three top-ranked courses in the Upper Peninsula, solidifying its position as a leading Michigan golf destination.  The value-driven $249 rate includes three rounds and overnight stay for two nights, and can be found at sweetgrassgolfclub.com. 

It's the key factor behind Sweetgrass' rising popularity, report casino officials.

 

Sweetgrass Golf Club – part of the Island Resort & Casino in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – is owned and operated by the Hannahville Band of the Potawatomi Nation. Designed by Michigan native Paul Albanese and opened in 2008, the par-72 layout stretches 7,300 yards from the tips, and includes a signature island green amidst its challenging back nine.

 

The course ends on a dual green, shared by the 9^th and 18^th holes, which lies just beyond a cascading waterfall and pond before it.

 

Sweetgrass was also named to Golfweek’s Best New Courses listing last November and Golf Digest’s Best New Courses list last year.

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