What's Going On?

There are some big changes in the works at Houston Links, and we're all excited about the next few months.

Currently we're in the process of looking at an overhaul of our website, www.houstonlinksmagazine.com. Up until now it has been a skeleton job who's basic function is to host our media kit and allow people to sign up for free home delivery. We stopped updating it back in September once we knew we were going to revamp it.

I, for one, am bouncing off the walls with ideas for our new page. Kevin has had to reign me in a bit, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that he would be willing to host this blog on the parent site. We're also knocking around a bunch of other neat ideas.

-------------------------------------------

I covered the AJGA's season kickoff at Redstone two weeks ago. The Houston Boys Invitational was won by New Jersey's Morgan Hoffman. Dallas' Cody Gribble (No Relation) finished bogey-quad after holding the lead after 16. He showed real class though afterwards in talking to the media and warmly congratulating Hoffman. AJGA Invitationals are loaded with the top junior golfers in the country. The Tournament Course was set up less than 200 yards shorter than it will play for the PGA Tour pros. Looks like we're in for a good show.

In other junior news, Cory Whitsett has leap-frogged good friend Peter Uihlein for the No. 1 spot in the AJGA's Polo Junior Golf Rankings. Cory's response?

"It only matters if you're No. 1 at the end of the year."

True dat.

--------------------------------------------------

The TGA season kicked off last weekend with the South Four-Ball. Houston Links' 2007 Mid-Am of the Year John Dowdall and his partner Jonathan Shipley (who we almost picked) shot a blistering final-round 62 for the win. Both of them are great guys and two of the best mid-ams Houston has. Glad to here they started off 2008 the right way, with a win.

---------------------------------------------------

Look, I like Tiger as much as anyone, but after reading the stuff people are writing you think he invented the game. No doubt Tiger will shatter Jack and the Slammer's respective records, but is he golf's greatest champion? Don't think so. I still say it's Bob Jones, who won 62 percent of the majors he played in, won 13 championships in 7 years, and retired at 28. This was a time when he had to play against amateurs like Francis Ouimet, Jerry Travers, Lawson Little, Chick Evans, and Johnny Goodman, who all won U.S. Opens. He also had to beat World Golf Hall of Fame professionals Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Leo Diegel, Mac Smith, and Tommy Armour. Oh yeah, and also did it while earning degrees from Georgia Tech, Harvard, attending law school and passing the bar.

I would say that Tiger Woods is the best mental player ever. That's why I like to watch him. In contrast, it was Jones' nerves and the strains of championship golf that made him decide to retire early.

-------------------------------------------

Glad someone decided to crack down on this

-------------------------------------------

Troubling report: More Americans are giving up golf than ever before. From my perspective, I would say that golf is one of the least accessible sports to take up. Unless you can afford to join a private club, the most sensible option for beginning golfers are public courses, where there is a greater fear of embarrassment because of larger crowds. Cost really is a factor. I would bet that most beginning golfers are like me: just entering the workplace. After college, cost is a factor. One way to alleviate this? Walk. I'm of the Robert McKinney School. I enjoy the game better walking. It's better for you, you see more of the course, and you can go straight to your ball. I think carts should only used for people who can't comfortably walk. Hey, if that sounds codgery, I yam what I yam. As my friend and journalism teacher Melanie Hauser once said:

"You're a throwback, so you don't count."