Hey, Centurions. That was an awesome cartoon.
I broke 100 at Hallettsville Golf Club on June 22. Even with a few blow-up holes (was choking like a dog) I managed to shoot 98. Look out, Medalist Golf Association.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Quail Valley
As many of you have heard by now, Quail Valley CC is now a municipal course. Missouri City declared eminent domain on the property after the whole Renaissance Golf debacle (Out With Inwood, pg. 18, March 2007; Missouri City Fights Back, pg. 16, April 2007). Two weeks ago a board of three country commissioners set the price of the property at $3.1 million. Renaissance had asked for more than $9 million. The city place the money in the county registry and assumed management of the club on July 3. All memberships were voided, and the club is now open to the public with a temporary green fee of $23. The city is currently deciding on special rates.
My uncle and I headed over to check it out last week. Clearly the place had been neglected. Quail Valley originally consisted of two 18-hole courses, a par 3 course, and an executive course. Renaissance closed all but the La Quinta 18. From the looks of things they were doing a good job of trying to close it, too. The bunkers were probably the worst I have ever seen. They were full of rocks and one was full of stagnant green water. No. 18 was a fiasco. The original hole was a par 4 with a creek crossing in front of the tee box and down the right hand side. Well the bridge crossing the creek to access the tee box, so Renaissance blocked it off and put the tee markers in the middle of the fairway, making the hole a par 3. I don't know whether the bridge collapse was the cause or effect of making the hole a par 3. In any case the hole is uphill, so when it rains the "tee box" is a mess.
But all in all I am pretty pleased. The greens are nice and Quail Valley could fill a much-needed niche for affordable golf in this part of town. I live off Hwy 6 in Sugar Land and play at Gus Wortham. I have to go to Stafford to even find a driving range.
My uncle and I headed over to check it out last week. Clearly the place had been neglected. Quail Valley originally consisted of two 18-hole courses, a par 3 course, and an executive course. Renaissance closed all but the La Quinta 18. From the looks of things they were doing a good job of trying to close it, too. The bunkers were probably the worst I have ever seen. They were full of rocks and one was full of stagnant green water. No. 18 was a fiasco. The original hole was a par 4 with a creek crossing in front of the tee box and down the right hand side. Well the bridge crossing the creek to access the tee box, so Renaissance blocked it off and put the tee markers in the middle of the fairway, making the hole a par 3. I don't know whether the bridge collapse was the cause or effect of making the hole a par 3. In any case the hole is uphill, so when it rains the "tee box" is a mess.
But all in all I am pretty pleased. The greens are nice and Quail Valley could fill a much-needed niche for affordable golf in this part of town. I live off Hwy 6 in Sugar Land and play at Gus Wortham. I have to go to Stafford to even find a driving range.
The Fall of Hermann
Hermann Park was Houston's first municipal course and as always been one of its more popular courses despite some controversial redesigns that have radically altered the classic John Bredemus routing.
I have never played Hermann, but I have heard some troubling news. Our main man Kenny Hand played it with a friend several weeks ago and was disgusted. There was trash and cigarette butts everywhere. Rumor is that the management company the CoH hired to run Hermann has basically mailed it in because their contract is about to run out. I was talking to a friend who played it last weekend. Here is a transcript of our chat:
Corey: "As far as herman goes, for the most part it was ok, except 3 holes had the greens closed and they were moved up into the fairway which sucked."
me: "You mean the tee boxes were closed. They didn't actually cut the holes in the fairway did they?"
Corey: "Yes. It was awful."
me: "Mother of God."
I have never played Hermann, but I have heard some troubling news. Our main man Kenny Hand played it with a friend several weeks ago and was disgusted. There was trash and cigarette butts everywhere. Rumor is that the management company the CoH hired to run Hermann has basically mailed it in because their contract is about to run out. I was talking to a friend who played it last weekend. Here is a transcript of our chat:
Corey: "As far as herman goes, for the most part it was ok, except 3 holes had the greens closed and they were moved up into the fairway which sucked."
me: "You mean the tee boxes were closed. They didn't actually cut the holes in the fairway did they?"
Corey: "Yes. It was awful."
me: "Mother of God."
Nez
I'm pumped to report that the USGA has informed me that Nex Muhleman is on the list for consideration for the Joe Dey Award!
Many of you know Nez from her work in area junior golf for the past 25 years. She's currently battling lung cancer for the second time, and kicking its ass I might add! The Joe Dey Award is basically the lifetime achievment Oscar for golf volunteers. Keep your fingers crossed for her!
NOTE: Rather than tell you that the U.S. Open was awesome a month after the fact, I encourage you to check out my column in the forthcoming August edition on Dad and I's experience!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
US Open Diaries
So while the rest of the world is working Dad and I took the week off and are at the U.S. Open. All together now, SUCKAAAAZ!!!
We were on hand for Tiger's unconscious 30 on the back nine. Following Tiger in contention at a major...nothing better. It was a pretty pro-Phil, Tiger-neutral crowd. The best way I could describe the buzz is stunned, which quickly gave way to can-you-believe-this?! celebration.
San Diego is kind of like Diet Austin with better weather and an ocean view. It's like someone dropped a city right in the middle of a national park. I've seen so many trees that I've never seen before. What the eff is that? is a constant question. It feels like humans shouldn't live here.
Torrey Pines is just amazing. It's perched right on the cliffs North of San Diego with ravines and canyons cutting in and out and (thanks to Rees Jones' 21st Century redesign) coming into play. Good for incredible vistas and hazards, not very good spectator course. The frequent bottlenecks that the USGA has created by moving the gallery ropes WAY too far back haven't helped either. Nonetheless it's a thrill being out here. The undulation and elevation changes are radically different from anything you'll see in Houston.
There's nature all around. I saw two crows fighting a hawk and the hawk did an awesome BARREL ROLL and tried to rake the crows with its talons. Then about 10 ground squirrels surrounded a couple of rabbits in a turf war for...turf.
I have never seen narrower fairways or higher rough. But on of the most effective hazards is the unpredictable Pacific weather conditions. Dad and I sat in the grandstand on the par 3 11th from 9:00 to 2:30. Right as the morning group finished it got noticeably colder and a wind picked up right into the golfer's face. It had played hard for the morning round, but it was diabolical for the afternoon. We saw pros hit it 10 yards short of the green.
Boo for Mark Calcavecchia. Houstonian and former Sam Houston State golfer Robert Gwin was alternate, waiting for someone to withdraw. Calcavecchia decided to take up a tee time, but only saw fit to play nine holes. He withdrew, citing injury. The fans in the 11th grandstand didn't buy it. They said Calc was just pissed he was playing bad. He was carelessly rapping putts looking to get it over with. He was 8-over when he withdrew.
"It was classless," an anonymous fan said.
My perspective is, if you're hurt enough where you can't play nine holes you probably know it before you tee off. Sean O'Hair knew that his back wasn't up to snuff and gave his spot to someone else deserving. It's another thing if you hurt yourself during the round and withdraw before the second. I think Calc should've had more respect for the championship than he did. I would've much rather seen a young pro like Robert have a chance.
Enjoy work.
We were on hand for Tiger's unconscious 30 on the back nine. Following Tiger in contention at a major...nothing better. It was a pretty pro-Phil, Tiger-neutral crowd. The best way I could describe the buzz is stunned, which quickly gave way to can-you-believe-this?! celebration.
San Diego is kind of like Diet Austin with better weather and an ocean view. It's like someone dropped a city right in the middle of a national park. I've seen so many trees that I've never seen before. What the eff is that? is a constant question. It feels like humans shouldn't live here.
Torrey Pines is just amazing. It's perched right on the cliffs North of San Diego with ravines and canyons cutting in and out and (thanks to Rees Jones' 21st Century redesign) coming into play. Good for incredible vistas and hazards, not very good spectator course. The frequent bottlenecks that the USGA has created by moving the gallery ropes WAY too far back haven't helped either. Nonetheless it's a thrill being out here. The undulation and elevation changes are radically different from anything you'll see in Houston.
There's nature all around. I saw two crows fighting a hawk and the hawk did an awesome BARREL ROLL and tried to rake the crows with its talons. Then about 10 ground squirrels surrounded a couple of rabbits in a turf war for...turf.
I have never seen narrower fairways or higher rough. But on of the most effective hazards is the unpredictable Pacific weather conditions. Dad and I sat in the grandstand on the par 3 11th from 9:00 to 2:30. Right as the morning group finished it got noticeably colder and a wind picked up right into the golfer's face. It had played hard for the morning round, but it was diabolical for the afternoon. We saw pros hit it 10 yards short of the green.
Boo for Mark Calcavecchia. Houstonian and former Sam Houston State golfer Robert Gwin was alternate, waiting for someone to withdraw. Calcavecchia decided to take up a tee time, but only saw fit to play nine holes. He withdrew, citing injury. The fans in the 11th grandstand didn't buy it. They said Calc was just pissed he was playing bad. He was carelessly rapping putts looking to get it over with. He was 8-over when he withdrew.
"It was classless," an anonymous fan said.
My perspective is, if you're hurt enough where you can't play nine holes you probably know it before you tee off. Sean O'Hair knew that his back wasn't up to snuff and gave his spot to someone else deserving. It's another thing if you hurt yourself during the round and withdraw before the second. I think Calc should've had more respect for the championship than he did. I would've much rather seen a young pro like Robert have a chance.
Enjoy work.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Short Game Wizard
wh IZARD!!!
I always think of the Who song "Pinball Wizard" (click on image above) when we're talking about Phil Mickelson, who birdied the 54th hole to get to 12-under and take a one-shot lead over Rod Pampling and Stephen Ames. Maybe it's because he's always described as the game's best short-game wizard. If Jake Trout and the Flounders were still around they would probably do a cover about him using that song.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Colonial
So I'm at the Colonial right now.
The two DFW tour stops are very different from the SHO. The Byron Nelson and the Colonial are EVENTS. What I mean is, during the weeks of those tournaments the entire community responds to the PGA Tour's presence. Many of those attend aren't necessarily golf fans but go to meet up with friends, hang out, and watch people (and occassionally golf). They're closer to the Rodeo than the Shell Houston Open. Think how much attention the rodeo gets while it is in town.
I think the SHO is getting there, though. That kind of community support doesn't happen overnight though and Houston is still getting used to the tournament being out in Humble, and it having a good field.
But both tournaments have a mystique about them that I doubt the SHO will be able to match. Hell, practically no other PGA Tour tournament. It's because of Nelson and Hogan. Byron Nelson sat by the final green and greeted players as they finished for years. It's his tournament.
While not as directly involved in the founding of the Colonial, this is and always will be Hogan's tournament. He won it five times. No one else has won it more than twice. From his statue by the clubhouse, to the Hogan memorbilia display, to the narrow ball-striker's paradise that is the course itself, his presence is unmistakeable. Not to sound over-dramatic, but it's almost spooky being here. It's feels like you could round a corner and run into him...white Kangol cap pulled low, cigarette in hand, with that famous steely glaze sizing you up. Chilling, but I AM a nerd that way.
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