Category: golf

  • A true test

    17th @ SawgrassFew holes in golf bring so much fear as the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. It’s all mental. At just 137 yards the par 3 should be a slam dunk. For most PGA Tour professionals they would hit this large green 95 out of 100 times. It should be an automatic par or birdie.

    So why is this hole consistently one of the hardest in golf? Well, the green is completely surrounded by water. The island green rattles the nerves of the most tested names in golf. Woods, Michelson, Els,
    and Garcia all quake as they approach the hole.

    Leaders have won the tournament on this hole and leaders have lost the tournament on this hole. It is one of the few holes that TV commentators keep a running, career tally of how players have done on the hole. Phil Michelson is +15 on the hole in his professional career.

    They key to the mental anxiety of this hole is an island about 60 yards to the right of the tee box. This acts as a visual trick. Players eyes lie to them about the hole based on that island tree. Players who ignore that and ignore the sucker pin on Sunday’s do well just hitting the ball 140 to the center of the green.
    Players who come to the hole looking to make a statement or take a risk are often rewarded with a new ball and a pitch from the drop zone.

    It’s the same in life. Life often puts a sucker pin and a floating tree to distract you from you. Those who succeed admire the game, admire the sucker pins temptation, and the floating tree is just an amusement.

    What’s your sucker pin? What’s your floating tree?

  • Buick Open Date

    TigerKristen and I made a return trip to Warrick Hills yesterday to watch the third round of the Buick Open. It was a lot of fun to traverse the grounds as a spectator. Here are some highlights.

    A place to sit We spent the early part of the day trying to find a place to get a good view. Generally, we sit on the grass… but the rains the other day left the ground too wet to comfortably sit. So… we made our way to the "beer hole," the 17th. This is a very nice little par 3 and it’s virtually surrounded by stands. We sat there from about 1:30 PM-5:30 PM. We managed to see darn near everyone. The stands were great for their comrodarie too. I talked to an old timer for quite a while and then a couple other people later on.

    John Daly, super Detroit Tigers fan     At the "beer hole" John Daly and his group waited their turn to hit. Daly is one of the PGA Tours favorite players and draws quite a following. A "beer guy" himself, Daly planned to suprise the local fans with a little local knowledge. Just before they hit, the entire group swapped their hats for Detroit Tigers hats. The crowd went nuts. Then, just for good measure… Big John knocked it stiff. More screams and high fives.

    Off the hizzle On the 18th hole, Kristen and I joined the mob of people following Tiger Woods. (We’re talking something like 10,000 people following one guy around a golf course… crazy!) We found a place along the ropes of the left fairway. I peered around a tree to watch Tiger tee off. I saw it leave the clubface and take off down the fairway. Then I saw it start to make a familiar driving hook around the tree that I was looking through. I’ve got that shot in my bad too… it’s ugly. You heard a "Ooo" as the ball thumped a guy along the ropes about 50 feet past us. The guy had covered his face to protect himself… good idea. The ball pelted the back of his hand and bounced into the fairway. As Tiger made his way over there he put on the Tiger smile and apologized. He was a class act, he told the guy he was sorry that he got hurt. He gave him a signed glove and shock his hand. The guy who got plunked said, "Go get ’em Tiger." Of course, TW took advantage of the fairway off the hizzie and dropped it on the green 7 feet from the hole and grabbed his second straight birdie.

    Great day, better time with Kristen Is that enough said? We needed a whole game all by ourselves.

  • You’re like the cat lady

    Yes, it’s true. I have another website to take care of. Why not just make it a baker’s dozen? But seriously, this one is a pleasure and it’s going to be very easy… especially since I am only supporting the site and not running it. Go to Macomb Junior Golf Classics.

  • golf, golf, golf

    Golf, golf, golf. It seems like everywhere I look I am consumed by the game. Yesterday I played 18, then spent 2 more hours practicing. When I arrived home, I got a notice from the USGA about the upcoming qualifier. Also, I was invited to volunteer at next weeks Champions Tour event in Grand Rapids. I’ve got a golf team meeting next week, and then the junior tour season is underway. Winter is now but a distant memory.

    What else is going on? Lots this weekend. I’ll be enjoying time with the family today as well as all day Monday. The only bad thing is that the weather looks real bad beyond today. We’re all hoping that the weather forcasts are wrong.

    Let this be te first rant about my neighbors. I don’t like them very much. The adults are always either drinking or smoking outside. It’s bad enough you want to kill yourself over a 20 year period… but do I have to watch? Also, they never supervise their children. There are constantly kids outside who are nosey and we have to chase off of Megan’s outside toys. I don’t easily annoy, but this is annoying to no end. I can’t even go outside and get something from the car without playing 20 questions with some snot nosed kid.

  • Another Round

    Last night was pretty small, but a good youth group night. It’s kind of funny, but we played perhaps the simplest youth group game in the history of youth group, volleyball, and everyone loved it. What a reminder that the simplest way is often the best way.

    It was a pleasure and an honor to talk about legacies and mention great names last night. More than that, it was amazing to talk about Mr. Wendt and his "already evident" legacy exhibited by his sons. It’s hard to believe it’s already been 3 weeks since Larry passed away.

    In the golf world. What a tale of 2 halves of a round. 6 consecutive bogies. But went birdie, par, par on the last 3 holes for an ugly 41. Best part about it though, I’m hitting some fairways again. Been a long time since I found the short stuff.

    Last lunch with my students at Romeo HS today. It’s amazing that most people are still shocked that I go. I love my job… and there is no finer time then spending quality time with Americus Highschoolucus in their native environment. I am constantly praying that the 2 junior highs will allow me on campus for lunches in the fall.