The following are my columns I have
written going back to 2001.
Click on the Adobe PDF logo next to the
title of the column you want to read in order to open the file.
(By agreement, my content for
South Africa's Universal Golf Magazine will not be
available here)
You'll need Adobe's Acrobat
Reader to open/view these files. If you need it (i.e. you click on the
icon and nothing happens or you get an error message), click
here to get it FREE! |
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1 |
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"Sportsmanship and
Alarm Clocks" 08.06.01
A look at the troubles Ian
Woosnam encountered on the final day of the 130th British Open and over the following two
weeks and how these events reinforce the spirit of the game of golf. |
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2 |
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"The Other Spy
Plane Incident" 08.08.01
Desperate times call for
desperate measures when one of the country's most sacred courses keeps the wraps on a
comprehensive renovation project. |
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3 |
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"8,000 Yards with
a Bullet" 08.31.01
The magic number used to be 7,000
yards...now it's around 7,200 yards. What is the limit on length and what
unknown impact does excessive golf course length have on the average player? |
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4 |
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"A Day with Pete
Dye" 08.13.01
I had the pleasure of spending a
day with Pete Dye not too long ago and, despite the weather, had a great time
listening to and learning from a living legend. |
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5 |
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"Protecting Golf
Courses Against Technology on the PGA Tour" 08.20.01
In light of the whipping the
Atlanta Athletic Club's 7,200+ yard course took at the 83rd PGA Championship recently and
renewed calls for restrictions on technology, I say one simple solution is being
over-looked. |
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6 |
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"When it Comes to
Advertising Revenues, He's G-R-R-R-R-EAT!" 08.21.01
It's no stretch of the
imagination to say that Tiger Woods has had an impact on advertising dollars spent on golf
in recent years, but you may be surprised at how strong the connection really is. |
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7 |
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"Callaway &
Titleist: Playing Fair or Just Playing Favorites?" 12.17.01
Do recent advertising campaigns
by two of golf's biggest industry icons say anything about the changing marketplace and
its impact on marketing techniques? |
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8 |
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"The Young Guns of
the 2002 Tour" 01.21.02
There's much debate about turning
professional at too young an age; but for these guys, it's all about rediscovering the
feeling of youth and giving the Tour a needed shot in the arm as well. |
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9 |
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"The Wannamaker,
the Claret Jug...now where did I put that green jacket?" 02.13.02
In light of John Daly's solid
play lately, people are asking "What's next for Big John?" I say "How
about a green jacket and some Masters hardware for the trophy case?" |
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10 |
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"Testosterone
& Technology: Why Golf Courses are Under Fire" 03.17.02
Ever wonder where recent trends
in golf equipment got started? The answer may be as close to you as the cozy
confines of your sports utility vehicle..... |
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11 |
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"An Hour Before
Sundown" 04.24.02
My favorite course is not so much
of matter of "where," but "when"..... |
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12 |
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"The Core of the
Course" 05.25.02
What does the future hold?
Probably not too many courses with no ties to real estate development..... |
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13 |
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"The Venerable Mr.
Venturi" 06.17.02
An era has come to an
end--hopefully the younger generation will remember Ken Venturi as more than just the
"guy in the tower behind the 18th green" on CBS's coverage of the PGA Tour. |
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14 |
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"The Man Behind
'Da Man' " 07.21.02
How important are caddies to
their players? Very important. But some may see Tiger Woods' caddie, Steve
Williams, as a crucial piece of his success on Tour. |
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15 |
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"A New Grip on
Life's Lessons" 08.16.02
Perhaps more important than how
aggravating a nervous twitch can be to other players and spectators is how one of the
game's top players overcame his problem--and who was there to support him. |
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16 |
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"Assessing the
Unassessable" 10.22.02
Life sometimes has a strange way
of issuing you a "wake up call". Take it from me, pay attention to the
things important in life before your "wake up call" comes in--you may not be as
lucky as I was. |
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17 |
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"Anyone Know the
Heimlich?" 11.18.02
Everyone who plays golf knows
that one thing is inevitable--you'll eventually choke when the pressure is on. But
this is a problem for the world's best players too. Take an in-depth look at this
psychological phenomenon. |
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18 |
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"Are Dogwoods and
Azaleas from Mars?" 12.20.02
Hootie vs. Martha has been
brewing at Augusta national for months now, so has anyone considered the REAL reason this
issue will still be around when the 2003 Masters kicks off? |
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19 |
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"It's a Man's
World...Sort of." 01.23.03
Some say the "glass
ceiling" still puts women at a disadvantage in the business world. Others say
that women can't get the same treatment at the golf course as men. One woman proved
them wrong...in her own unique way! |
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20 |
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"Annika
Stabsuzyinthebackenstam" 02.17.03
Annika Sorenstam accepts an
invitation to play in the PGA Tour's Colonial. What should she do next? Step
aside and not play... |
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21 |
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"Call Me When He
Wins Eleven" 03.19.03
They say records are made to be
broken, but there's one even Tiger may not be able to touch... |
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22 |
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"Diagnosis: Furyk
Fever" 04.20.03
Who's the best player to not have
won a major? Maybe not who you think... |
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23 |
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"Rules of
Engagement" 05.18.03
Since they're the best golfers in
the world, Tour players should know the rules better than anyone, right? Wrong! |
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24 |
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"An Open Letter to
David Duval" 06.18.03
Not too long ago, he was on top
of the golfing world--ranked No. 1 on the face of the Earth! So what happened to
David Duval and when will he be back? |
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25 |
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"Rules of
Engagement -- Part 2" 07.19.03
As unfortunate as Mark Roes
situation was after the third round of the British Open, does it really constitute the
outcry for such a fundamental a change to the Rules of Golf? |
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26 |
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"Are You
Hot?" 08.25.03
Are you hot? How about your
driver? You may not even know if your clubs conform to the USGA's Rules. And
you may not care anyway--but does the USGA really care? |
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27 |
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"The Young and the
Restless" 09.21.03
The trend toward younger
superstars has a growing foothold in professional golf. But how young is too young
and who is watching out for these young stars? It might not be who you would
think... |
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28 |
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"Split
Decision" 10.21.03
Does a LPGA Tour star get special
treatment because she's dating the Commissioner? Not unless it helps her win a
tournament. Then again, the jury is still out on this one. |
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29 |
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"We're Number
One!" 11.19.03
Is it the money? Or is it
the wins? What about the quality of wins? The quality of the player?
There's got to be a better way to decide Player of the Year on the PGA Tour! |
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30 |
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"Long Distance
Love Affair" 12.16.03
If the USGA doesn't do something
about hot equipment, the game may be in danger. Don't believe me? Have you
seen the Tour stats for 2003? It's there in black and white. |
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31 |
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"The Defense
Rests, Your Honor" 01.23.04
When did keeping the media hounds
and fans happy become more important than taking care of your family and spending time
with your kids? The Tour life is tough enough for Mickelson & Duval without the
nay sayers. |
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32 |
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"Gentlemen, Start
Your...Shirts?" 02.26.04
We all accept that professional
athletes can make a lot of money with sponsorships and endorsements. But how much is
too much? |
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33 |
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"It's Miller
Time...or not." 03.25.04
Most people either love him or
hate him. That's probably why NBC keeps Johnny Miller in the booth behind the 18th
green. But don't be too quick to judge either side. |
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34 |
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"The
Best of the Best?" 04.23.04
Some think
this year's Masters may be one of the best, second only to the
Nicklaus title in 1996. But for my money, I could watch the
Sunday round of the 2004 Masters day after day as a little
"pick me up." |
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35 |
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"The
Ties that Bind." 05.26.04
Many things
have changed in the game of golf since Bobby Jones dominated the
sport in the
early 20th century. But some things are better left
unchanged...hopefully. |
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36 |
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"New
York State of Mind." 06.22.04
I love
New York as much as the next guy--just not as much as the USGA
apparently does. For that matter, they seem to not only
strongly favor the Northeast, but the Eastern U.S. in general...or
do they? |
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37 |
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"And
the Winner Is..." 07.23.04
Everyone
thinks they know who the favorite is to win the year's final
Major, but I'll give you the REAL inside scoop on how the
professional broadcasters do their determinations. |
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38 |
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"Jinxes,
Curses and the Golf gods." 08.25.04
Hard work
and skill will get you a long way. A little luck can help
you win. But there are times when it seems as though a power
you cannot control is what controls your destiny....especially in
golf. |
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39 |
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"Acute
Ryderdespondency." 09.21.04
Is it
just me, or did the American team just get taken to the woodshed
by the Euros again? We have the best players, but the
concept of the Ryder Cup goes well beyond that--and now it's time
for some changes. |
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40 |
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"Marathon
Man." 10.25.04
What can
we learn about old-fashioned American values from a native
Fijian? Hard work and determination still pay off in these
days of instant gratification. Just
ask Vijay. |
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41 |
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"All
I Want for Christmas...the 2004 Edition." 11.15.04
My annual
list of what I would give the game of golf if I could. Or at
least what I think it needs this Holiday Season to makes things
better in 2005. |
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42 |
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"A
Story Worth Telling." 12.26.04
There are
many great stories with better stories behind them. In the
case of Copper Mill Golf Club--selected by Golf Digest as
the "Best New Affordable Public Course in America"--the
story only scratches the surface. |
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43 |
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"An
Open Letter to David Duval--Part 2." 01.26.05
He was
once one of the best players in the game. So why can't the
silent man from Georgia Tech seem to be able to regain his former
self? And why is everyone doubting that he can? |
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44 |
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"Drawing
the Line." 02.25.05
Now that
the Ladies' European Tours have decided to do away with their
"female at birth" clauses, what's the next move for the
LPGA? And where should the line be drawn? |
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45 |
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"Just
Gimme a Few Seconds...Please." 03.21.05
The
recent increase in "slips of the tongue" on live
television could be eliminated with one simple policy. So
why won't the networks do it and protect the image of the
professional tours? |
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46 |
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"USGA
Puts Its Foot Down...Almost. " 04.25.05
The
USGA came awfully close to putting its foot down regarding the out
of control growth of technology and especially the ball
itself...but they fell short yet again." |
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47 |
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"Whose
Rules Are These Anyway." 05.25.05
Some say
there can't be a golf ball for amateurs and another for the pros
because it would create two sets of rules...but, honestly, whose
rules are these anyway? |
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48 |
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"Pulling
for the Underdog." 06.26.05
We all
found ourselves pulling for Jason Gore at the US Open at
Pinehurst, but what is it about sports that has us pulling for the
underdog every time?" |
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49 |
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"The
Elephant in the Room." 07.21.05
Things
may be changing in the golf
equipment industry quicker than we realize...or quicker than some
may want to admit. |
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50 |
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"Precious
Metals." 08.22.05
Gold may
be a sound investment; but looking at the PGA Tour, you would
think that the metal on some of the players' shoes is even more
valuable--despite a petition attempt by other players. |
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51 |
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"A
Loss for Words." 09.22.05
Hurricane
Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast and her impact on the
economy of Coastal communities and their tourism industries could
take years to overcome. But for some, it is more personal
than that. |
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52 |
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"Rebuilding,
Reinvesting." 10.20.05
Part 2 in
a two part series on the effects of the 2005 hurricane season on
the Gulf Coast region and how it may impact not only golf, but
also life in the region. |
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53 |
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"All
I Want for Christmas -- 2005 Edition." 11.14.05
It's time
once again for the annual list of things I want (and need) for the
golf industry and other things golf-related...and a few other
things as well. |
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54 |
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"Cat
Scratch Fever." 12.21.05
Some
think that a handful of talented young player will save the LPGA
Tour and help it to reinvent itself. But I think what they
really need is a good ol' fashioned cat fight to make things
interesting. |
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55 |
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"No
GO Zone." 01.24.06
Hurricane
Katrina left the Gulf Coast looking for help to re-build and some
of that help has come in the form of low interest Gulf Opportunity
Zone (or GO Zone) loans...unless you happen to be a golf course
owner. |
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56 |
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"A
Gentlemen's Game." 02.23.06
Women
seem to be making huge in roads in the
golf industry from inside
the ropes to inside the board room, but is golf really still a
gentlemen's game? |
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57 |
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"Hallowed
Ground." 03.04.06
Augusta
National is almost Holy ground to some, but what is the real
reason that this club forced to keep changing the course each year
to defend itself against the world's best players? |
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58 |
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"Phraseiology
101." 04.22.06
There's
only so much a person can take before they can't take
anymore....for me that time has come! |
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59 |
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"He
Said, She Said." 05.24.06
Spin
among politicians is nothing new, but the rate at which propaganda
machines seem to be turning out spin for every new high dollar
golf course on the market is amusing
in the claims that are staked. |
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60 |
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"Snowbirds--Endangered
Species?" 06.28.06
As the
Gulf Coast works to rebuild after Katrina and Rita, some in the
golf industry (and those who depend on tourism for income) have
concerns about when and if the Snowbirds will return. |
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61 |
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"The
Doctor is In!" 07.24.06
After
dissecting the British Open with surgical precision, Dr. Woods
heads back to States where Ms. Medinah sits in the waiting room at
the Tiger Clinic. |
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62 |
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"The
(Ryder) Cup Runneth Over." 08.28.06
There may
be some surprises at this year's Ryder Cup--and the Captain's
picks and those who played their way onto the team in the eleventh
hour may just be the tip of the ice berg. |
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63 |
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"Golf
at the 'K.O.' Club." 09.24.06
Be sure
to read the previous column ("The Ryder Cup Runneth
Over") before you read this one--it will make much more sense
that way....unfortunately. |
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64 |
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"Mr.
125." 10.25.06
Here we
go again! Who will and won't make the top 125 and keep their
Tour cards on the PGA Tour for next year? For me, this beats
any reality show on TV! |
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65 |
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"All
I Want for Christmas--2006." 11.25.06
It's the
most exciting read in golf....my 2006 edition of my Christmas wish
list for the world of golf. See who gets the good stuff and
who gets the lump of coal and sticks. |
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66 |
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"Spare
Me the Disparity." 12.13.06
It's no
secret that there's far more money to be made on the PGA Tour than
on the Nationwide Tour and Tiger Woods seems to keep the lion's
share, but how long can his domination last? |
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67 |
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No
File Available
January
2007
Sorry,
but I was on a family vacation with "She Who Must Be
Obeyed" and the children when this deadline rolled around, so
I did not go back and write anything to fill the void.... |
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68 |
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"The
Bold New World of Corporate Sponsors." 02.19.07
In a bold
move, the USGA is going to sign deals with corporate sponsors for
the first time in the history of the organization. Though
indicative of the times, what happens when the line becomes
blurred? |
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69 |
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"Survey
Says!" 03.27.07
I've
always made it a rule not to try and predict the future in my
writings--at least when it comes to who will win which Majors in a
given year. Of course, rules are made to be broken... |
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70 |
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"Square
Pegs and Round Holes." 04.25.07
Seems
everyone these days is coming out with square drivers, triangular
drivers, and other odd shapes. Is this the wave of the
future of just an experiment in geometry? |
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71 |
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"When
Four is More Than Five." 05.19.07
Why is
there so much commotion about creating a fifth major on the PGA
Tour. This topic comes up every couple of years, but there
are good reasons to leave it alone--including the fact that the
Champions Tour has five! |
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72 |
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"Observations
from Oakmont." 06.28.07
Sure
there's the obvious that Angel Cabrerra is the first Argentine to
win since a lot of you were born and Tiger came oh so close to
winning again, but take a look at the more subtle (and
interesting) notes from my journal. |
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73 |
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"Curse
of the Golf Gods." 07.22.07
Don't
blame Sergio Garcia for folding like a cheap law chair in the
final round of the Open Championship (British Open). It was
his putter's fault and I have proof to back it up! |
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74 |
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"Resurrecting
Donald Ross." 08.28.07
NOTE:
Imagine my surprise to find that Golf Digest's Ron Whitten wrote
pretty much the same story at the same time for Golf Digest this
month and neither knew about the other's column! Great minds
think alike! |
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75 |
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"The
Business of Golf." 09.20.07
It's good
to give credit where it is due and I don't think enough people who
play golf know about the good work
coming from the PGM program at Mississippi State. Of course,
it could just be because I'm a graduate too! |
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76 |
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"The
Reality Race to the Finish." 10.28.07
Each year
at this time, there are guys trying to keep their Tour
cards. For my money, it's the best reality show on
television because when you get kicked off that island, you have
to find a real job. |
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77 |
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"All
I Want for Christmas--2007." 11.26.07
It's time
for my list of what the world of golf needs for Christmas and into
the next year. Will I be able to foresee the future like
last year's list? No one knows--at least not until next year
is over! |
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78 |
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"Much
Ado About Something." 12.20.07
Everyone
has an opinion and I try to listen to all of them. So what's
the big deal with bunkers you may ask--or you may not.
Here's a quick lesson on those dastardly contraptions, whether you
want it or not! |
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79 |
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"Fan
Mail, Hate Mail." 01.25.08
You can
please some of the people all of the time and all of the people
some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of
the time. Words to live by...and then there are those can
never be please any of the time. |
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80 |
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"Tin
Cup." 02.25.08
Hard to
believe we've come to drug testing on the PGA Tour, but like
everything else in society, just because it's a gentlemen's game
doesn't mean those whose paycheck depends on it won't look for an
advantage. |
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81 |
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"Seeing
Green." 03.23.08
It's
Masters time again and in addition to golfers across the country,
Augusta National has many other courses green with more than
envy.... |
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82 |
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"Ladies
and Gentlemen." 04.21.08
There's
no doubt who the number one player in men's golf is right now or who
the number one player in women's golf is either.....but can an
argument be made that the latter is better than the former right
now? |
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83 |
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"Cease
and Desist." 05.19.08
You can
practically set your calendar by the time of year the talking heads
in the golf business come around saying that the Tour Championship
should be the "fifth major." Now the PGA Tour has gone so far
as to move it to May. Coincidence? |
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84 |
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"Painful
Gas and Bloating" 06.18.08
Think
you're feeling the pain at the pump? Chances are, so is your
favorite golf course--especially if it's public. |
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85 |
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"*"
(The Asterisk) 07.16.08
With
Tiger out for who knows how long, would you really be surprised for
some talking head in the media to come out and say the whoever eins
the British Open will have an asterisk next to his name because he
"didn't have to beat Tiger?" |
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86 |
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"Ryder
Cup: Red, White, and Bluegrass"
08.14.08
The Ryder
Cup is heading to Louisville (where I was born) and a course that
has been known as the turning point of the softening of Jack
Nicklaus's design career. But how much toughening will the
course need for the USA vs. the Euros? |
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87 |
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"Why
We Play the Game."
09.17.08
This is
the time of year when the endless polls for an election cycle can
drive you nutty. But the National Golf Foundation has just
completed a poll of core golfers that you might actually be
interested in hearing about. |
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88 |
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"What's
Par Got to Do With It?"
10.21.08
I've
finally put to rest one of life's great mysteries--and saved untold
millions of trees in the process. Now that they've let me out
of this straightjacket, I can write about it. |
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89 |
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"All
I Want for Christmas...2008."
11.14.08
Hard to
believe it's Christmas time again and even harder to believe this is
the fifth year in a row I've been writing this Christmas list for
golf as a way to meet a Holiday deadline. If you have the time
to read 'em, I'll make the time to write 'em! |
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90 |
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Taking Some Time Off from Lipouts....
After
nearly 8 years of writing Lipouts each month, I'm taking a little
time off from writing the column to concentrate on writing three mystery
novels that have been floating around in my head for years.
One about a former Tour pro who finds himself up to his neck in
murder, espionage, and treachery at the highest levels of
government--all because he was just trying to help a friend, another
about a World War II hero in New York City, and a third about a
string of strange murder cases in New Orleans. More
information about these can be found at
www.bodolan.com,
www.vincentvino.com, and
www.angelofneworleans.com, respectively.
Other info is
also available at
www.nathancrace.com. I'll be back soon... |
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More to
come soon! |
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