What Makes A Great Golf Course?

    Have you ever wondered what makes a great golf course? In my 55 years of playing the great game, I have played a lot of courses, some great and some not. Let's take a minute here and talk about what I think makes a great golf course.

     I have to confess that I am an "Old Style" golf course kind of guy.  A well designed course in among a grove of trees with small, fast greens is really what I love. You don't have to have forced carries and enough water to mimic the Pacific Ocean in order to make a wonderful layout. Greens don't have to be the size of Siberia in order to make up a great course and those greens don't have to be faster than the cars running at Daytona Speedway on the third weekend in February--I'm a NASCAR fan so I thought I would throw that in--just fast enough to get a good roll to the hole.
     What do I think make a "Great Course"?   Recently I stopped to think about that and maybe it is time to share those attributes to you.  Remember now, I am an eighteen handicap player so this is more from the point of view of an average player.  You also have to keep in mind that I am not a course designer and these are my opinions.  Please feel free to disagree with any of these points.  I give you that permission.

1.)  The course has to be enjoyable to a player who has never played the course before.  Let me explain this. I have played a lot of courses that have required a lot of local knowledge as far as where to place the ball on certain shots. Many times I have hit what I thought was a good shot, and the ball winds up somewhere that cost me a lot of strokes. It went there because of the course design and not how I hit the shot. Local knowledge is fine, but don't penalize a player who has never played the course.

2.)  I feel that forced carries are OK and add to the character of a course.  However, a great course allows the player to carry the "carry" and not have to pull off an impossible shot to get over the barranca or water hazard. I have played courses like that where there is no way I am going to get over the barranca or water hazard. Not all players like to "go for it" or do they have that ability.  There should be a safe landing area for laying up. You can have forced carries, but make them so there is a bailout area or they are at least "carryable" for the average golfer.

3.)  Greens should be fair and not punitive.  There should be break and they can be lightning fast but don't make them putt like the holes on the local miniature golf course.  Ant hills don't have any place on a real golf course.

4.)  The course should not be so "gimmicked" up that it is not enjoyable to play.  In other words, why have a hole that has a creek running through it where the average golfer cannot find the proper landing areas?  I can see double fairways, but don't punish the average golfer with an impossibly long shot into the green after hitting the shorter route fairway. The course should reward a good shot, not penalize the golfer with an impossible next shot.  And don't tell me to play the forward tees either, because you are still not going to make it over that barranca.

5.)  I like an "Old Style" golf course. Greens don't have to be fast, but they need to putt true and be well maintained.  I prefer courses that have tree lined fairways, but I enjoy "links style" golf as long as the course isn't "tricked up".  Undulations in the fairways are good and the course does not have to be flat. The course should basically say, "I'm an old school course.  I'm not going to throw anything funny at you.  Take your best shot and beat me if you can."  Riverside Golf Course in Fresno, California and Bayonet Golf Course in Seaside California come to mind when I say that.

6)  I'm going to show my West Coast bias here.  One of the things that make a course a "Great Course" is a course that is on, has views of or you can hear The Pacific Ocean.  That's all I'm going to say about that one. It kind of speaks for itself.

     That's my list.  Of course it is only my opinion.

What can I say?

Come Join The Family of Golfers

   It has been said that golf is an elitist sport.  I guess looking at just the face of it that can be said.  But is it the true nature of golf.  I get angered when the media puts that face forward.  Golf is not a white man's elitist sport.  In fact when you dig a little deeper you find that true golf is very egalitarian in it's nature. Golf in the trenches is not the PGA tournament that you see on TV. Come and see the true game of golf and who is playing it. Come to Rancho Del Rey or Riverside Golf Course.

     Many people outside of golf see only one world and that is the closed world of the private golf course. They also see the very closed world of the PGA Tour.  The media reports loudly on decisions made by some of the old ruling bodies of golf that seem anti-women.  The good news in that respect is things are changing. It has to change because the game is much more multi-cultural multi-colored and played by the ladies than what is shown on TV and women are the biggest growth area of golf today. Golf, especially at the public course level, is more diverse than people want to give credit. Most public course golfers know this. Please don't take that as a hit on private courses either, because the memberships in most private clubs is changing to reflect a more diverse population.

     As I have said in previous posts I play and worked as a marshal at a local semi-private course.  Most of the members that play at our course can be described as "working class".  Our course is open to whomever wants to play and the advantages of being a member are basically reduced green fees. State golf association memberships are extra.  It's great to see the diverse nature of those golfers who play the course and who are members with almost no distinction between members and public players.

     We have all kinds of people with different backgrounds playing at Rancho Del Rey. It is not unusual to see a foursome or fivesome--we do allow fivesomes on non-busy days during the week--that are made up of hispanic, black, asian and white players. We have a very active contingent of Mexican American Golf Association players whose membership included white guys and African Americans.We even have a gentleman from Puerto Rico who looks and sound just like ChiChi Rodriguez. I think it is his brother, but I don't know. I haven't seen him for awhile. It seems as though he moved to Minnesota.

        Women play right along side of men and are very active in the Player's Club. In fact, our ladies have formed their own player's club and their membership is growing.  A good piece of advice here is don't get into a money game with one of our ladies.

    We have a very active senior's club. Our club is made up of a very diverse background of players, both ethnically and if you look at where our members come from occupationally. We have teachers, plumbers, construction workers, delivery drivers and even a couple of retired Marines. As far as the ethnic background of our members it is truly a rainbow of colors and we even have a member from of all places, Guam. 

  
     Come take a look at our nineteenth hole.  The place is jumping with conversations and color, religion, sex or national heritage doesn't stop the conversations. Most of the conversations are centered around golf as this is the cornerstone of the family. We are family here. The only distinction that is made is that we are all golfers, and some non-golfers. The main question is not who are you but more importantly, what is your handicap?

Of Golf, Sunshine, The Bay and the Rock--Morro Bay Golf Course

     When it gets cold and foggy in the winter or scorching hot during the summer here in California's Central Valley, most residents escape to nearby getaways. In winter the aim is to escape the cold, foggy, overcast chilly days and find the sun. During the summer we hunt for cooler climates in order to find relief from the 100 degree plus heat. We go to where the sun is away from the fog in winter and travel to cooler places during the summer. You have two options, the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains or the Pacific Coast.
     I enjoy going to the mountains occasionally, but I prefer the Coast.  My roots are Greek and my grandfather was a merchant seaman so the ocean calls loudly to me.  I am an ocean person, and that is where I go to escape when I need a change from the Central Valley weather extremes. San Luis Obispo County is my ocean place and I normally end up in the small town of Morro Bay, California.  Of course, many time when I take the two and a half hour drive there I play golf at Morro Bay Golf Course.
     Morro Bay Golf is located just south of town and is built on the side of a mountain within the boundaries of Morro Bay State Park. If you are driving to the course from the south, be careful because the road up the hill which takes you to the course is not marked and sort of sneaks up on you.  That's OK because if you do miss the turn, you are in for a real treat.  The road loops around the State Park and campground besides the bay and you get a delightful view of the course on the right with the bay and Morro Rock on your left. Finally, you come to the city side of the course and the road which is marked that takes you to the clubhouse. This is the other end of the cut off that you may of missed that takes you to the clubhouse from the south.
     With the views from the course of Morro Rock, Morro Bay and the Pacific Ocean beyond the course has the nickname of "A Poor Man's Pebble Beach". Although the course is not directly situated on the ocean, it is easy to see why it has been called this.  The views from the course are breathtaking, and each hole comes with different sort of vista. Golf and this kind of beauty, it just doesn't get any better.
     The course is an old style course built on the side of a hill. The "Old Girl" never looks her age as the course is always in great shape given the amount of rounds played on her each year. Fairways are lined by huge eucalyptus and cypress trees and the greens are small. Speaking of the greens, they are quick and very hard to read. When you are reading the greens always remember where you are in relation to Black's Mountain--the volcanic peak towering behind the golf course--and the bay.  Notice I didn't say ocean.  The course is kind of on a peninsula so just remember that the greens generally break away from the mountain and toward the water, wherever you are in relationship to the water. I would highly suggest that you take note of where the green is as you are walking up to it to putt which will give you a better idea of the orientation of the green in relationship to the hill.. When you are on the green, don't trust your eyes.  Remember where the mountain is and where the water is. By about the third hole I can almost guarantee that you will be talking to yourself. Don't worry about scoring though, just have fun and enjoy the views. If you do score well, that's a plus.
     Don't worry too much about bunkers.  I talked to a man who plays the course regularly and he said there are only six of them. There is a reason for this. The course was built in 1925 as a nine hole track and then was extended to eighteen at a later date. The course was tremendously busy, so in order to speed up play most of the original bunkers were removed. It was later discovered that this didn't speed up play and that it was the difficult to read greens that were slowing up play. The bunkers were not replaced, so when you played the course you just had to sit back and enjoy the experience. With the opening up of more courses in the San Lus Obispo County area, the play logjam has lightened up considerably and the pace of play has picked up. Expect a four and a half hour round when you play the course at a leisurely pace. But you don't want to rush so enjoy the course and the views.
     I have been asked many time what my favorite hole is on the course. Honestly, I don't have a favorite.  How could I?  Each hole has just a bit of a different flavor and a different view. I will say that after battling the slopes and side hills of the front nine, I enjoy playing the back nine a bit more than the front nine. It's a bit more on the level side, but you still play up the hill the last few holes to get back to the clubhouse. If I am partial to a hole, I would have to say number 10 a downhill par three. This is because of the view and it is just a lot of fun to play.
     Of all the courses that I have played, this course goes high on my list of favorites. It is always different and you never quite know what to expect. It is a fun course and will challenge your game. And the views--what can I say?

The tenth hole at Morro Bay

   
   

What's Old Has Become New Again--Paso Robles Golf Club

     How many times have I traveled from Fresno in California's Central Valley to the Central Pacific Coast of California and passed through Paso Robles.  The answer to that question almost scares me and I really don't think I can count that high. Each time I make the turn from California Highway 46 onto U.S. Highway 101, I think about Paso Robles Golf Club, and that I should play it some day when I come to the coast but I am always on my way somewhere to do something else. It is one of those courses that you put on your "I Gotta Play This Course" list, but never seem to stop to play. A couple of weeks ago, I got to cross it off that list and played it wondering why I had waited so long.
     The course was designed by noted golf architect Bert Stamps and opened as a private country club, Paso Robles Country Club. In 1996, the course changed hands with the new owners not exactly taking the best care of the facility. This kind of acted as a double whammy as far as the number of rounds played at the course. Even though the course was opened to public play in 1996, it was still thought to be private and so the public never quite showed up as the old owners who took it public didn't get the word out. Most people thought you just couldn't get on the course because it was still private. Those who did play the course saw that the condition of the course just wasn't up to snuff.  With the misconception that the course was still private and the fact that the new owners were not taking care of what could be a wonderful place to play golf, play all but dried up. I have to say that I was one of these people that really didn't have a burning desire to play Paso Robles.
     Enter Mike Rawitser who also operates Santa Teresa and San Jose Municipal, both located in San Jose, California.  He saw that this course and facility was truly a "diamond in the rough" and he purchased the course in 2011. He saw the course not for what it was at the time, but what it could be.
     Changes were made almost immediately, bringing in a dynamic leadership team to run the course. The clubhouse was remodeled  in 2012 to improve the restaurant and bar.  The pro shop was brought from a dilapidated mobile home set on pillars above the first tee into a corner of the remodeled clubhouse. The old pro shop was torn down giving a better view of the course from the new pro shop and a wider selection of merchandise was made available. Another new building was built that would serve as a cart barn, club fitting facility and learning center. A lot of money was spent on improving fairways and greens, as well as relocating the number fourteen green. All of this done to bring an exceptional level of quality play to the golfing public. I have to say that it is working.
     Paso Robles Golf Course is an "old style" golf course. Bert Stamps who was the architect took basically a flat piece of land and built the golf course using the terrain that he had to work with. The land had one big asset going for it though, and that was the number of huge oak trees that were on the property. He built the course around those huge trees and used them in a very strategic manner. Fairways are not lined by trees, but the big oaks come into play as do several lakes. The greens are small, well bunkered and putt true. I would describe the course as being "sneaky tough". First glaces and opinions can be deceiving as the course is a good test of your golf skills and is a lot of fun to play.
    Two holes stood out in my mind. The fourth is an uphill par three at 150 yards from the white tees. The hole is built in an area off by itself and has a creek running through it at the bottom of the gully. The green is protected by a bunker in the left front and an oak.  You want to stay right on this hole, but not too far right otherwise you will have more huge oaks to bother you that are to the right, especially that big one just off the green. This is a great par three and is very pleasing to the eye as well.
     The fifth hole is a short par four of 317 yards off the white tees. The fairway doglegs to the right and is tucked away into a bit of a forest on the right side. You want to put your tee shot out to the left, because if you are on the right side you put the forest that is on the right in play and you have a couple of oaks to contend with to get to the green.  I know, I was there and it wasn't any fun. Even though I didn't play it well it was a fun hole and a pretty one at that.  Although these were the two most noteworthy holes, each hole had its own character and beauty.
     I felt right at home at Paso Robles Golf Club from the minute I drove up to the course.  The staff was very friendly and helpful. Should you be in the Paso Robles area and looking for a game of golf on a great course, stop by and play the course. It is time that you took Paso Robles Golf Club off your "I Gotta Play That Course Someday" list.  Like me, you will be glad that you took the time to play it.

The par three fourth hole. 

   
   




   
   

   

Ryder Cup Thoughts--Part 3

     Yet again, my mind reluctantly comes to thoughts of the Ryder Cup.  I wasn't going to comment about the loss to the Europeans as my opinion is that it is what it is. We lost, It's just that plain and simple. I will give you the simple, unabridged version about why we lost.
     The reason we lost has to do with mathematics. Here it is.  The Europeans had 161/2 points and we had 121/2. You can discuss it all you want to, but those are the facts. The U.S. Team got beat, and beat bad. That is the bottom line.
     I do have to ask a question here. How important were statistics to Tom Watson.  What was the criteria that he used to make the pairings? I have to admit that I didn't look at this question very closely, but it did have to come up.  I think that Phil Mickelson's comments at the Ryder Cup news conference may have had a ring of truth to them, but I don't know.
     Maybe Tom Watson should have used the pods system and broke the competition down into segments.  Who knows. Maybe Phil should have played in the afternoon, I don't know. We will never know if this would have changed the outcome. Phil is a tough competitor, and any tough competitor hates to be pulled from the game. Let me share what I do know and that is that Europe is coming over here in 2016, and we will see what happens then.
     Please visit some of my sponsor's websites and see what they have to offer.  There are some great specials running on Golfsmith right now so check them out. In the meantime, hit 'em long and straight. Don't leave that birdie putt short!

Kind of a Scottish feel to it, eh Laddie?

Ryder Cup Thoughts--Part 2

     Again, I will be honest with you.  I have not been following the Ryder Cup matches that closely. The conclusion that I think I am coming to is that the Europeans are handing the Americans another bitter defeat. This seems to be the rule these days in Ryder Cup competition.
    Last night I turned on the Golf Channel to see just what the score was and it wasn't pretty.  I didn't catch the score but what I did catch was that The Americans had to win 8 out of 12 matches in today's single matches. I must say that it is not impossible, but a miracle at best. I hate to be a skeptic, but that is WIN 8 matches.  A halve won't help. I do wish the American team luck and have them start thinking about two years from now when the Ryder Cup Matches return to the U.S.
     I do remember the time when we dominated the Europeans. Our string of Ryder Cup victories was long but so was the America's Cup string of victories which of course was broken. Dominance in sports, any sports is hard to achieve in our times. Eventually, the competition will swing the other way and we Americans will be enjoying a string of Ryder Cup victories.  If not a string of victories then at least achieve a balance of wins between The United States and The European Team.
     Got to run to church now. So, hit 'em long and straight. Don't leave that birdie putt short.

Go out and play golf today.  Good luck USA in the Ryder Cup.

Get Fit And Play Better Golf--Part 3

     I just got back from the gym a few minutes ago and am now enjoying my first cup of coffee of the day.  I feel great and I have lost four pounds since Monday.  I know the weight loss is prob ably just water, but it feels good.  My blood pressure is also down and I haven't taken my medications this morning.  That will come later after breakfast. Life is good and the quality of my life is getting better. My game should improve.
     My workout routing as I said before includes cardio, a stretching routine which includes loosening my bad back, crunches and leg lifts with the whole thing finishing up with a circuit training weight lifting component. Later, to reward myself for the work that I am doing I will spend some time in the sauna and the jacuzzi. This works very well for me, and the key is being consistent.  I loose weight quickly.  The funny thing is that when I work out, I'm not as hungry either, so I do shed the pounds.
     How does all of this effect my game. I know what the experts would say, but I want to tell it from my point of view but the experts are very much right.  My game improves when I work out.
     In my case, I see a marked improvement in my game in four areas.  Today I will talk briefly about two of those areas.  Remember now, this is a sharing of my experience although I am sure that others have had similar results.  I can generate more club speed and have more strength. These two are related in that I can hit the ball farther. I can also say that my stamina improves and my attitude becomes more positive which I will talk about in a later blog.
     I can tell that I am becoming a bit more flexible.  This translates to swinging the club with more speed without exerting more energy.  As my weight goes down and my muscles tone, I don't have as much bulk to move. The energy that I am expending is more efficient and translates into moving the club, not excess weight. Believe me, taking away thirty pounds of  "dead weight" fat and replacing it with muscle creates a definitely more powerful swing. The ball goes farther because the club is traveling faster with the energy of the swing being more efficient to the task at hand, that of striking the ball, not clumsily moving dead weight in order to swing the club.
     With the toning of muscles comes added strength. The mere fact that you are able to do more because your muscles are working better is very important. You become stronger because you are working your muscles, not sitting at a computer writing a blog or a book all day. I picked up at least 15 yards on my drives and about one club distance in my game after I started working out. You become stronger and the club becomes easier to swing and feels lighter. Since you are stronger and a bit lighter, you can control the club much better. Simple, isn't it?
     In Part 4 I will cover the other two aspects of my quest for conditioning. In the meantime, don't forget to visit the sites of my sponsors, they are all good people. GolfSmith has some great deals going on now and you can't go wrong using TripAdvisor. I you could also click on my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com, there is a lot going on there too. I am including one of my videos here http://youtu.be/_Kx3Qrv18IE about Stevinson Ranch in Stevinson, California. It is about the tournament I played in using the TaylorMade 15 inch cups. So, hit 'em long and straight.  Remember that it is embarrassing to leave a perfectly good birdie putt short.  I have on many occasions.

Weight loss, strength and greater flexibility would allow me to have a better follow through and weight transfer to my front foot. Hey, I'm working on it.

Get Fit and Play Better Golf--Part 2

     In yesterday's blog I talked about the importance of improved fitness and how that is important to your golf game.  At this point, I want to make it clear that you don't have to become an Olympic athlete, just take steps to improve your health and physical well being.  As I said before, this is important.  I have taken those steps and even though yesterday was my second workout, I feel great.  Yes, a little sore, but it's a good sore.
     Right now, my game probably won't show signs of improvement because of my working out.  Besides, I'm not playing that much right now, about once or twice a month.  Yes, I know that is not enough golf and especially for a guy that is so involved in golf. I should be out playing, but I'm not. At any rate, back to conditioning in golf and what I did.
     As I said earlier, I lost 60 pounds.  Most of this was done by working out three times a week on a program of stretching, cardio and circuit training.  The great part of this was that I did this gradually and my exercise routine caused me a minimum of sore muscles. The goals I set for myself were tone, flexibility and weight loss. During this time I pretty much ate what I wanted and when I wanted but cut down on the amounts.  I controlled my portions and consciously left food on my plate. I did change my food choices adding more fruits and vegetables.  Sugar was not forbidden, but I made the concerted effort to just not eat sweets and cut down on sugar.
     Diet sodas are a waste to me. I eliminated them for one very important practical reason.  They just didn't quench my thirst.  I would drink one or have a glass of soda, and I was still thirsty. What I would do is make a pitcher of  water and add some crystal light to it.  I know Crystal Light has Asparatame in it as do diet sodas, but I was told that was ok and I also increased my intake of plain water as well--with lemon juice of course.  
    How did all of this and the weight loss change my game.  I will talk about this in my next blog.
Take some time to look at the sponsors I have on this blog. I am really impressed with Luggage Forward. Wouldn't it be great to have your luggage and precious golf clubs delivered directly to your hotel or cabin door wherever you are traveling?  Luggage Forward will do that for you. Take a look at their service as well as the other services.
    That's it for now.  Hit 'em long and straight...don't leave that birdie putt short.

I the short good looking guy on the right, sixty pounds heavier of course.

A Hearty THANK YOU!

     This post will be extremely brief.  I want to thank all of you for reading this blog. We achieved a milestone today in a fairly short time. Today marked my 3,000th visitor and reader.  Again, Thank You very much and I want to say that the best is yet to come.

Thank You! Keep coming back, there's more to come.

CATALINA!

  It is official! 

Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance, romance, romance, romance

Actually, romance isn't waiting for me there and it is only 22 miles, but golf is waiting. I am finally going to play Catalina Golf Course.  Thank you Mark!
     You probably didn't know that Catalina Island had a golf course.  It does, and a good one at that.  It is a 9 hole track, 18 from a second set of tees, set in the canyons above Avalon the main town on Catalina. I have been told that it is the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi River that has been in continuous operation since it was opened as a three hole course.  I don't want to totally get into the history of the course, but I do want to let you know that I have been invited to play the course and do a You-Tube video and feature it on my website.  I will also let you know what the course was like here on my blog. 
     Catalina and I go back about 18 years to the first Carnival Cruise I took there in 1996 with my family.  Each time I have been there it has been on a cruise ship as a port of call. I have been there several times and have yet to totally explore the island. I'm told that there is a lot to see, especially the buffalo.  That's another story. Let's face it folks, I am a golfer, not a naturalist.  I tend to focus in on what golf options there are in a location. On this trip we took a golf cart tour and it stopped at the course. at the time I didn't stop in, but I did say, hmmm--I have to play this course some day. 
     I have been to the course several time and have chatted in depth with Mark the pro there.  He is a great guy to talk to. You can tell he really knows his course taking the time to talk about it at great leangth. Every time I go up there, he remembers me and always cordially invites me to experience his course. To this point I have been unable to play the course for a number of reasons while I'm there. I have decided it is time and so in a couple of weeks, again on a cruise I am going to play the course and take pictures.  I only hope that what I produce is as good as it can be. 
    I have some other stories that I will share with you as the time gets closer about my visits to Catalina Golf Course.  I have to run now.  Don't forget to visit my website, http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com.  If you would also be so kind to take a look at my new video about The Golf Course Travel Bag and myself on You Tube, I would truly appreciate it.  don't make me beg. Here is the URL http://youtu.be/2VSgOYis-M8
 and I hope you will enjoy it as well as my other videos you can find on my website.  Just remember to hit 'em long and straight...don't leave that birdie putt short.  One last thing, it's only 22 miles.

Yes Virgina, there really is a golf course on Catalina Island. Move your finger when you take the picture, will you.  Sorry, I'm not used to taking pictures with a phone.  Isn't that what a camera is for?

New High Tech Clubs

     I finally gave in to the high tech club craze. The last time I played my old clubs, I knew it was time to change to something a little more modern that truly fit my game given my age and strength.  The search was on.
    I visited a lot of golf stores wanting to find the sticks that fit properly. All the well known brands were in the mix, Taylor Made, Callaway, Nike, Mizuno and I really liked the Adams clubs.  What I chose was the most high tech I could get.
    These clubs had some very interesting characteristics. They were made out of a new material that is beginning to show up in golf, a polymer that is supposed to help your game.  The price was right as well as they didn't cost an arm and a leg, $3.99 at Wal-mart including three brand new balls. Such a deal!  These clubs should really improve my game.
     I am thinking very seriously of putting together a group of golfers to play together on a trip to a location somewhere in California.  I haven't quite come up with the location, and wanted to get some input from you. It will probably happen sometime in the spring of 2015 and will be from three to five days. If you could give me some ideas of where we should go, that would be great.
    In the meantime, don't forget to visit my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com and take a look at some great instructional videos as well as some videos of a few outstanding golf courses. Hit 'em long and straight--don't leave that birdie putt short.

The new sticks. They should slash strokes off my game.

 

Ten Reasons I Play Golf

     I was listening to a radio broadcast last night on my way home from a trip, and the subject was how this generation of children growing up never suffer from boredom.  With all digital virtual world that our children live in, there is very little time to just sit there and be bored. There is no "down time" for the brain, and creativity is not given time to grow because their brain is always on. It's an interesting idea, and I don't want to discuss or debate the full intricacies of the argument but the idea has merit.  The bottom line was the speakers son took up golf and loved it because it was natural and creative.
     This got me thinking. Why do I love golf so much?  Here are ten reasons:

1. Golf is natural. You are playing it and it is unfolding as you play. You are not playing a microchip, but experiencing a game that is real, not created in cyberspace. Besides, there is nothing like the natural sound of a club, any club, striking the ball on a good shot. One of the best natural sounds in the world is that of a golf ball dropping into the cup for a birdie. That lake is real, not cyberwater.

2.  Golf exercises your creativity and imagination, and in a real way. How do I hit that shot around the tree and get the ball to the green? Believe me, I have had to do that on several occasions. Do I carry out the shot every time, no.  I still have to create the shot in my mind. Whether I pull it off may be fantasy, but I still have to think it up.  Again, this is all real, not cyberspace.

3.  Golf is good exercise. Whether you walk and carry, walk and pull a cart or ride in a golf cart, golf is exercise.  There is a lot of physical activity involved in swinging that club. You still have to swing a club and hit a ball. Even if you ride a cart, you still have to get out of the cart and hit the ball and do't forget walking from the cart to the tee, or the cart up to the green and depending on some greens keepers and where they put the cart signs, that can be quite a hike.

4.   Golf is played in the real outdoors on some very beautiful pieces of land. This is true wherever the course is. The worst "goat track" still is much prettier than a city alley. It is real as opposed to created in cyberspace. If you have played The Club at Crazy Horse Ranch, Stevinson Ranch, DeLaveaga or Coronado, you know what I mean. Go to my You Tube Video page on my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com and see what I mean. These are real sights, sounds and smells.

5.  Staying along with #4 I give you this reason.  Golf courses are located in some very beautiful places.  Have you ever played Trump National Los Angeles or Pacific Grove Muni? You almost can forget your game and slip into the trance of the surroundings. All this beautiful scenery, and a golf course too. Life doesn't get any better.

6.  You can travel to the places where the golf courses are located. Yes, you can play your wonderful local golf course or you can go to other  places.  I can drive to Monterey and play a course there. Not only do I get to play golf, but I get to enjoy what the city of Monterey, or wherever has to offer.  How about a box of carmel corn from the pier or a seafood dinner with some exceptional clam chowder.  What does cyberchowder taste like anyway?

7.  You use real strategy when you play golf. You don't use a controller to hit the ball, you use a real stick to hit a real ball.  You get the true feeling of a stick impacting the ball. You get the true emotion of hitting a real shot, not a cyber shot. In this, it takes real skill to hit the ball where you want it to go. It takes real skill to drive, hit an iron, chip and putt. With this real skill comes the real emotion of playing the game that is real. What do I do to keep the ball out of the lake?  How do I shape the shot to go around the dog leg?  You get real feedback from the real world that is not possible in the cyber world.

8.  There is more to golf than just hitting a ball and putting in in the hole. There is the "emotion" of golf.  How do you feel after you hit a great shot?  What do you you do when you hit a bad shot? This emotion is real, not created in a cyber world. How many of you have lost a $5 ProV1 in a water hazzard because you shanked a shot?  You know what I'm talking about.

9.  You can get away from the world in a real way for five hours. There are no computers except GPS devices out here. The main computer is left in the pro shop. By the way, turn your cell phones off, please.
Golf can be a refuge from our busy digital world. That is one of the reasons that I think golf will come back. People are tired of the digital world and are searching for a real world.  Golf can provide that real world.

10.  Golf is meant to be played with friends. What did the first players do when they played?  The took a fifth of whiskey and shared it. That is where we get 18 holes, the time a fifth would last share among four golfers. There is nothing like sharing a round with a friend or even making new friends on the course. What about the 19th hole where you swap stories about the round?  "Tis a wonderful thing, laddie.

     That's about it. I guess that I didn't share how I like that golf is also mano-y-mano as well.  You are not playing against someone, you are playing the course.  After all this, I think it boils down to one thing as far as why I enjoy golf so much. It is a heck of a lot of fun.
     Don't forget to stop by my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com and check out the videos. There will be more soon. In the meantime, hit 'em long and straight, don't leave that birdie putt short.

Need I say anything more?

        

     

Money, Money Money Part 4

    Are you ready for the solution to the decline in golf?  I have already talked about courses closing and the supply shrinking. Remember, water seeks its own level. That is a good thing for the sport, to a point. What that equalization point in, I don't know.  The point where the demand for play is stabilized with the number of golf courses to play on will be reached, although I don't know what that point is. I hope it goes slightly in favor of golfers so as to keep green fees down. When there are too many courses, you have a lot of competition for that golfing dollar.
     As I have mentioned before in other posts, some private courses have opened their doors to public play.  Their membership is dwindling or they are in a cash flow crunch and need the play.  I applaud this decision. The Club At Crazy Horse Ranch, formerly Salinas Country Club, has followed this route.  I applaud them for that.  It is a great course and I hope they keep sharing the course with we in the general public. You can get a taste of Crazy Horse Ranch by watching my video of the course on my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com or by going directly to http://youtu.be/ZAF3Ve9VH_A.  Madera Country Club has followed the same path.
     I want to talk briefly here about the high cost of equipment.  You have to ask yourself, do I really need that $300 driver or putter.  Will the ProV1 really improve my game. Don't take me wrong, I love it when I come across a ProV1.  It probably is one of the finest balls in the game today. I'm sorry, but I just can't afford the $50 price tag for the dozen. I will play a less expensive ball that I like. Same thing with equipment. I will stay with that Nike Sasquatch that I won in a tournament. It works, and for me it's the swing and skill not the club. I don't want to pay the advertising budget of Nike or Taylor Made, and even though I love Phil I don't want to pay his salary or Calaway's advertising budget.
     Let's talk about the great big elephant in the room, shall we?  Green fees have got to come down.  I don't know how that will happen, but it must. The average person at present rates cannot afford to play as many rounds as they used too because it is getting too expensive--period.
     Thank God for on-line tee time services such as Tee-Off.com and Golf Now.  They started a trend to bring lower cost golf to the public. Courses had unsold times and these companies spotlighted those times and at a discounted rate to the public. That is a great thing. In most cases, you can find a discounted tee time on just about any course you want and save a lot of money.
     I am seeing special on tee times. One of my favorite courses in the Monterey area whose rack rate is $120 for eighteen holes and cart during the week is offering specials at $559.  I would think twice about paying $120, but for that course $59 is well worth it.
      For the longest time, special rates on green fees were almost taboo in the golf industry. That mindset is changing as the industry comes into this time of marketing. Slow dime or fast nickle, that's what it's all about.  Do you want to turn dollars and get people on your course to play it, or do you want the course sitting and rotting, not generating revenue in order to pay the bills.  Basically, that is what the question is today. Courses have to have cash flow and the way you do that is by reduced green fees to get people on to your course to play it. As far as I am concerned, end of story.
     It's Saturday today and I have some things to do so I will end this. Don't forget to check out my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com. I have some great courses featured on the You-Tube page so take a look.  In the meantime, hit 'em long and straight...don't leave that birdie putt short.

We play some beautiful courses in this game. It is worth the cost.

  

Money, Money, Money--Part 1

     Why the unusual title for this post you may ask?  The reason is simple.  Golf is on the decline as far is play and there are several reasons as I have talked about before. One of the main reasons for this decline is the cost of participating in the sport. Is golf pricing itself out of the market? I kind of think so.
     Golf, as in other things in this world has pretty much forgotten basic economics.  What comes into play here is the basic law of supply and demand. As golfers we would like to think that generally the law of supply and demand do not apply to golf, but it does. When the supply of a product goes up and the demand for that product goes down, what do you do to that product. That product has costs associated with it which must be covered, but the product is not being sold. What you do is to lower the cost to the consumer for that product to stimulate purchase or usage of the product or service. It's just that simple. Sorry I'm bothering you with this.  I'm into this, I used to teach history.
     I used to be in sales. If we had something that wasn't selling, what would we do. Yes, we made a lot of money when we sold a high ticket item with a steep price, but those sales were few and far between. Dollars were not changing hands and we still had the investment of the high priced item. A business is based on cash flow.
     We would call this, "slow dime, fast nickel". What this means is you are making a lot of profit on the expensive item, but unless it sells it is a liability. Something that has less profit built into it makes you less money, but your money is being turned.  You are generating fast revenue or profit. In other words, you don't make money unless it sells. When something wouldn't sell or was priced to high, we would lower the price or put it on what? ON SALE! Stay with me on this one, there will be a prize at the end.
     How does this relate to golf? I will get into that tomorrow. Don't forget to check out my website at http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com. Hit 'em long and straight, don't leave that birdie putt short.

The first tee at Bayonet. This is a great course in the Monterey area and right now are offering some great specials on green fees. 

         

Goodbye Riverbend. I'm Glad I knew You

     I am in mourning today.  I didn't loose a close friend or relative, but I did loose something that was very special in my life for a very long time. Riverbend Golf Course has been sold and they have changed her name. She is no longer Riverbend but Dragonfly, and it is time to say goodbye to a good friend.  With that said I say goodbye Riverbend and may you prosper in your new life as Dragonfly. What more can I say?

Goodbye my friend.  I will miss you.

   

My "Top Ten Favorite Courses I Have Played" List

     You really have backed me into a corner. Many of you have asked me to commit to writing about my favorite ten courses. Let me get one thing straight. All the courses I have played are my favorite. If they have green grass, good greens, a good layout that is fair and some good fairways and I am playing them at the moment, it is my favorite. I know that that is very noncommittal, but sorry I love golf and the courses I play. So, if you ask me what my favorite course is, I would say the one I am playing right now.
     I promised you a list of ten.  Now remember, these are not in any particular order. Please also keep in mind that these are the courses I am thinking about that come to mind off the top of my head. The list is not comprehensive either.  Here  is my list.

1.  Trump National Los Angeles:  The layout of the course and the views of the Pacific Ocean will truly take your breath away. You can see more of this beautiful course by going to my website and reading about it as well as viewing the video. I want to go back and play it, even though the green fee is over $200. Check it out on my website http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com.

2.  Pacific Grove, Pacific Grove, Ca.:  Yep, this really is a poor man't Pebble Beach. It is short, but can give you a headache if you can't make some shots. Views of the Pacific from the back nine will make you stop in mid round and take in all the beauty.  The Pacific Ocean is right across the street and you can literally see and hear the waves crashing on the rocks.  The course isn't anything to gripe about as well. It is a lot of fun and challenging.

3.  Bayonet/Blackhorse, Seaside, Ca. (Monterey Area):  It seems as though many of my favorite courses happen to be in Monterey.  I'm sorry for that, but if you have ever been to Monterey and played golf, you know what I'm talking about. These tow courses are located on the former Fort Ord Army Base in the hills above Monterey which has been closed for a long time. The courses are now owned by The City Of Seaside and are open to the public. Both courses have been renovated and offer some great vistas of Monterey Bay.  The courses aren't too shabby as well with some lush fairways which are lined by Monterey Cyprus trees and some great greens.

4.  Monterey Pines, Monterey, Ca.: Shhhhh!!!!!Don't tell anyone about this one. This course is very well known to golfers who live in Monterey. They know this great track as "The Navy Course" as it is owned by The U.S. Navy and is located above the fairgrounds on the grounds of The Naval Post Graduate School. It is a short course, but very well maintained and tricky.  The greens are always in great shape and the fairways are narrow. This course is truly Monterey's best kept golf secret.

5.  Moro Bay Golf Course, Morro Bay, Ca.:  I really love this course, not because of the beautiful views of Morro Bay and the fact that it is a kick to play but because I have decided that I am a very crazy person. With that said, if you are already crazy this case will not take you there because you already are crazy. It is a great layout, set in the pines above Morro Bay and Morro Bay State Park. I am not sure that there is a level lie on the course but the greens are what sets this course apart. You will be saying things like, "I swear that putt was uphill!" as you ball rolls ten feet past the hole on what was originally a two footer. How about, "Did that break right two feet?  There's no way, just look at that.  It has to break left.". Prepare for a lot of fun when you play Morro Bay.

6.  Metro West, Orlando, Florida: I got to play this course when I was on vacation in Florida.  The kids wanted to go to Disney World and I didn't because they wanted to go to a different kingdom than I did. I played golf here instead.  I found it by accident. The course had some great greens, which were Bermuda by the way. It is an adventure putting on Bermuda Grass. I enjoyed this course very much and found out that grass grows very quickly in Florida and 85 degrees isn't necessarily 85 degrees.

7.  Stevinson Ranch, Stevinson, Ca.: Out in what seems to be the middle of nowhere admidst the farmland, dairies and cattle ranches of the western Central Valley of California lies the little town of Stevinson.  Who would of thought one of the best public golf courses in the United States would be located here.  It is. Stevinson Ranch is a "links style" course which is a lot of fun to play. Although it is basically flat, there is a lot of areas you can get yourself into a ton of trouble. The greens here are large and undulating.  What a kick in the pants.  You can see more of Stevinson in pictures and work by going to my website at http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com where you can watch the video I shot there.

8.  Ridge Creek, Dinuba, Ca.:  Many of you will ask where in the world is Dinuba, Ca? It is a few miles south of Reedley out in the peach orchards. Is there a golf course there?  Yes, there is and it is a good wone.  It is owned by the City of Dinuba and you just wouldn't think that a smalltown would have such a great course.  It does.  This is a "links style" course which has the feel of a course in Scotland. Keep the ball on the fairway, and don't get into any of the fairway or greenside bunkers Laddie, or your score will certainly soar. The pro shop staff is very friendly and helpful.  Hi Rosa, I'm going to come and take pictures of your course soon and do a video.

9.  Sherwood Forest, Reedley, Ca.:  Who would of thought that Reedley would have a course, let alone Dinuba. Whereas Ridge Creek is just out side of Dinuba, Sherwood Forest is out of town about 10 miles and set on the Kings River.  The River runs though this course which is one of the most picturesque courses in the Central Valley. They built this course in a grove of 100 plus year old oak trees with the river running through the course and in play on several holes. The fifteenth is my favorite.  What a beautiful and natural place for a golf course not on the ocean.

10.  Riverside Golf Course, Fresno, Ca.:  Home, what can I say. When E.T. says, "E.T. phone home." he means another planet.  When I phone home, I call Riverside for a tee time. That's not true Denise, but it sounded good. At any rate, Riverside has been my home course for a long time except when I had my membership at River Bend in Madera.  I grew up in golf on Riverside, and it is a great "Old Parkland Style Course".  You can see more of Riverside at my website in my U-Tube page.  Yes it was 108 degrees, but we loved every minute of playing this classic course.

     That's basically it for now. You know I can't boil down all the courses I have played to my ten favorite, that is impossible.  I haven't even scratched the surface.  Stay tuned.
     As I have mentioned, these courses are on my website. Some of the courses have videos, so go to my website and take a look.  Got to http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com and take a look. Until next time, hit 'em long and straight.  Of course, don't you dare leave that birdie putt short.

The short par four  8th at Stevinson Ranch. And the hits just keep on comin'. 

    


















 

10 Things I Don't Like In Golf

     Yesterday, I wrote about the ten things I like in golf.  As I explained in the post, these were not the things I liked most or least, they were just ten things I like. They were not in any order as well and there are many more and I will share those with you later as I think about them. I hope you enjoyed the list.
     This is a polar world we live in.  The world has its North and South Poles. Good has its opposite, bad. Love has its opposite, hate.  So it is with me.  I have what I love about the game, and I have what I don't exactly like or what strikes me as not exactly good. Yesterday was what I liked about golf and today will be what I think is the negative aspect of the game, at least from my perspective.  Here goes.

1.  Golfers that play once a year can really make a round unbearable, especially if you are playing behind them. I'm not talking about the ones who only play once a year and come out because a good friend has asked them to play.  I'm talking about the "Once A Year, Let's Buy A Lot Of Beer And Tear Up The Place Because A Golf Course Is a Great Place To Get Drunk" group.  You know what I'm talking about. In most cases, they come out with no respect for the course and tear it up.

2.  I don't like idiots, sober or drunk who do not respect the course. These are the guys that don't respect the "Keep Carts On The Cart Path" sign.  Now granted, some of the greens keepers have a tendency to put the "No Carts"  signs a bit too far away from the green, but on a par 3 when it says no carts, that means no carts.  These are also guys that take a huge divot out of the fairway, and laugh about it without pouring sand in the divot.

4.  This one is a two for one, I guess. Speaking of not repairing your divots, that is a pet peeve of mine as well. Don't complain about a fairway or green that is like the surface of the moon and not repair your divots on the green and in the fairway. Courses should make sure that there is turf builder, or at least sand in the container on the cart and everyone should carry a divot repair tool for divots on the green.  I repair mine and one more.

5.  I don't like those people who complain about the condition of a course and do not repair their divots.  Most people when they play a "goat track" should expect "goat track" conditions. The same is true for a great course. Respect the course and help manage it and the course will be in good condition.


6. I hate fivesomes that don't play fast. You can visit and have a great time, but make sure you understand that there are others playing behind you.  I have played behind fivesomes that play faster than a lot of twosomes, but that is rare. The stories I could tell you about on this one. Let's just leave it at I don't like slow fivesomes.

7.  When I hook up with a couple of guys on the first tee, I want guys who will chat between shots.  I am a social kind of guy and like to chat about whatever, and especially about the great game we play. If I get hooked up with someone who is taking their round very seriously and not talking almost to the point of ignoring me, I don't like that.  Yes, you keep silent when someone is hitting but between shots is time to visit. I have to admit that when I do play in a tournament, I get very serious most of the time.  I can be guilty of getting in that zone and not being sociable, but that is a different story. Chatting and cracking jokes loosens me up most of the time.

8.  I don't like "hard" distance golf balls. I am not a distance player, but a finesse player.  I like a golf ball that "dances" around the green. The short game is my friend.  I can't do what I do around the green with a hard distance ball.

9.  I don't like "trash talk" in the game of golf.  This is a gentleman's game.  It is not football, basketball or baseball.  There is no place in the game for a trash mouth and trashing another player. Encouragement should be the rule, not tearing someone down. OK, maybe a little bit.

10.  I hate "lip outs" for whatever score, birdie or quadruple bogey.

     I guess that you could say that these are annoyances in the game of golf.  There are many, and most of them involve golfers themselves. With all the annoyances in the game, I love to play the game and won't let those annoyances bother me to the point that I will leave the game. It is a great game, and I love playing it.
     Don't forget to stop by and visit my website. All the courses that are in the course directory I have played personally. You will also find a lot of other great "golf stuff" there as well including course U-Tube videos and some great U-tube videos on instruction and tips. I didn't do the "Tips" videos of course.  Think about that one for a moment.  Would you really want a golfer like me to give you golf tips?  At any rate, check out the website, http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com.
     Until next time, hit 'em long and straight.  Don't you dare leave that birdie putt short.

I would sure like to be playing here.  This is the Ninth Green at Sharp Park. Take a look at my video on Sharp Park.

    

Ten Things I Like In Golf

     I thought about something to write about today in my blog and It was very hard to come up with a subject. I thought and I thought--which as you know if you read my other blog is a very hard thing for me--an mind was blank.  Many of you think this is a common occurrence for me, but actually it isn't.  In fact my mind races all the time.  The problem is I have to focus all those thoughts. Maybe it is time to return to the subject at hand and that is golf. Needless to say, I was having a hard time coming up with something.
    I love the game of golf. What do I like, or should I say love, about the game. If I were to boil it down to ten things I love about the game, what would they be? There are so many things I love about the game, why just ten? I have decided on ten today, because I like that number and I only have limited time and space here to share these with you. In the coming months, you may see more posts about the things I love in golf but today it will be just ten. These are not in any particular order, either and here we go.

1.  I enjoy meeting new people. Many times I will go to the golf course by myself and take pot luck as far as getting up a game. On the first tee, generally I have never met the people I would be playing with. By about the third hole, it is like we have been friends forever. Yes, you do get some guys and galls who are not friendly and don't interact, but generally a good conversation strikes up during the round and by the 18th hole it is like you have known the people you are playing with forever. I like that and golf is the common denominator.

2.  Of course I would have to say the 19th hole. What a lot of people who don't play golf don't understand is that golf is a social game.  Yes, it is fun to play the game but it is also a lot of fun to interact with the people you have played with.  It is fun to hash out the round and to tell some tall golf tales over a soda or lunch at the coffee shop or bar after the round.

3. The sound of a club hitting the ball. There is nothing like it in any other sport.  Baseball has the crack of the bat, but golf has the clunk of the ball hitting the club. That sound, whether it is a good hit or bad miss is still one of the greatest sounds in sport.  It has changed over the years, especially with the woods no longer being made of wood but the sound is still music to my ears.

4.  Sinking a fifty footer on the putting green can make your heart sing. It doesn't matter if it is for birdie or triple bogey, it still is a thrill when it goes in from the cheap seats.

5.  How about taking out a new dozen golf balls and playing them.  It doesn't matter what brand they are and yes I do prefer Titleist but it doesn't matter the brand. When you take that dozen out and open the first sleeve, the newest of the balls and how shiny they are brings a warm and fuzzy feeling. It is too bad they won't stay new for long.

6.  I would have to say that if I did have a most favorite thing, and my mind would change often, is that my wife plays golf.  She is very competitive as well.  Plus, she knows how to play the game. I don't have to baby her around the course, and I wouldn't want too.  She played basketball, volleyball and softball in college as well as almost going pro in softball.  She know her way around sports.  I very much enjoy the time we spend together on the course.

7.  Along those same lines, I am glad that I have two of my children who play golf.  On is actually starting to give lessons and she is going to get her Class A pro degree.  My son plays as well and loves the game.

8.  I like to hit the green in regulation.  I don't very often right now because I am not playing as much.  When I have that six footer for birdie, which I used to make with regularity but since I don't play much I don't, makes me feel giddy.

9.  Which brings me to the next thing, which goes along with number eight. Believe me it is doesn't happen very often, especially now.  That is sinking that putt for birdie. YES!

10.  Taking pictures of golf courses. I really enjoy sharing those courses I have played in pictures and in words. There is nothing like the feeling of setting up a shot--picture--of a green when the sun is low in the sky. The lighting itself makes it all worth the while.

     That's about it for now. Don't forget to check out my website at http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com.  Remember to hit 'em long and straight.  Don't hit that birdie putt short.

What a great game!

Cherry Island--Elverta Clifornia

     When I lived in the Sacramento area in the early 80's the golf options were few. You had to get up very early and wait on hold for a tee time anywhere in the area.  There were only a few courses available to the golfing public. What would happen is, you would wind up at Haggin Oaks to play the red and blue courses, because that was the only choice you had. I'm not saying that Haggin Oaks is not a bad course and I did enjoy playing the MacKenzie course which back then was called The Eighteen Course. Those were your options.
     Things have changed dramatically in Sacramento and the Sacramento area. Just after I left, there was an explosion of  course building, and now Sacramento has a large number of golf options.  As I talked to some of the pros in the area, almost too many. There are some truly great courses in the Sacramento area and I guess I just need to bite the bullet and spend a week playing as many as I can to write about them and photograph them.
     When I was there, Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation was considering building another course somewhere in the north of Sacramento to take off some of the pressure on their other Sacramento course, Ancil Hoffman. They finally decided it was time, and created Cherry Island.
     I finally got to play Cherry Island a couple of weeks ago.  Much had been said to me about the course, all good of course. I wanted to play it, so when I took my wife to the Sacramento airport I decided if  I had to be up there I might as well put the time to good use and work. I am glad that I did.
     When you look up in the dictionary the definition of "target golf"  you will find a picture of Cherry Island. You definitely have to hit your spots on the course to score well. It helps if you know those spots if you have played the course before. yes, It is a "target golf" course, but I did think that it was fair. As the course winds through the oaks and environmental creek areas, you have to hit your spots.  I didn't.
     Speaking of the oaks and the setting of the course, it is very picturesque with two creeks running through the course. The course designer, famous course designer Robert Muir Graves paid very close attention to the environment as he designed the course around the property which was a Cherry Orchard at one time. The fun starts on the first hole which is a dog leg right where you have to carry a creek that runs through the middle of the hole. You must keep your ball in the fairway, because there is the creek to the right and left as well as environmental areas that surround the hole. It's a lot of fun, trust me on this.
     The course was in fantastic shape, with the greens running at about a 9 on the stimp and putting true. I am not going to review the course in depth here, I will do that on my website. What I have done is produced a U-Tube video that you can go to and see the course and some of the pictures that I took while playing the course. Here's the link, I hope you enjoy it. http://youtu.be/8Yv4tgMLZAA
     I enjoyed playing Cherry Island and recommend it highly. The pro shop staff was friendly and helpful, especially when they had to put up with me and my constant batter. That's it for now. Remember to take a look at my website.  If you are out of town and want to find a course to play, take a look.  Someone asked me how many courses I have played and reviewed and I guess it is close to 100. Each course in my directory I have personally played and experienced.  You will also find some helpful golf tip videos and some course videos as well.  Go to http://the-golf-course-travel-bag.com and take a look. I would appreciate the view. Hit 'em long and sraight, don't leave that birdie putt short.

Women Golfers

     I don't know if I like that term "Woman Golfer" or even "Lady Golfer".  Aren't we who play the sport just that, golfers?  I hope to think so. This should be an egalitarian sport, not one defined by a person's gender. In order to grow the sport, I think that attitudes have to change. Why am I kind of charged up about this?  I saw a U-tube video. Attitudes men have toward women playing the game have to change.
     I have to admit that the video was humorous. I did chuckle.  It shows three guys sitting down in the posh members lounge in an obviously posh English Country Club. They are watching two quite curvaceous, good looking women play golf.  Of course their golf outfits are quite brief, tight and low cut in the bodice. There were the natural snide remarks from the three gentlemen about the ladies, but then they hit some shots. The shots they hit were very good, one going into the cup from off the green.  It was clear that these ladies could play the game.
     My daughter plays golf, as does my wife. Both are very capable of playing from the men's tees and whipping anyone's butt. Both hit long and my daughter played on state championship teams in high school and junior college. My wife played competitive softball and can play any sport with the best of them. You ought to see her play poker. Believe me, they both don't mid beating up on lesser foes, be they male of female.
     I had a family membership at a local golf course and would play often with my daughter. We picked up another twosome one Saturday afternoon and were ready to tee off.  The twosome that joined us would play from the men's back tees and I would on occasion. I stepped up to the back tees as well, and the twosome teed off and then I teed off. My daughter kind of waited until we teed off and then I asked her which set of teed she would like to tee from. She said, "I'll go ahead and play the blues with you guys, if you don't mind."
     She proceeded to go to the back tees with us. One of the guys in the twosome saw this and said,"Are you sure you want to do that, little lady?"
     My daughter's response was, "Yes, I don't want to hold anything up."
     "Are you sure?" was the sort of patronizing reply from the male golfer.
     "I'll be OK." was my daughter's reply.
     These two guys were fairly big hitters who would hit their drives about 240 yards.  My daughter hit her drive and it sailed passed theirs about twenty yards. After she hit her drive, she just picked up her tee, smiled at them and returned to our cart.  I still remember the looks on their faces as the ball flew passed their drives. They could have caught a swarm of flies with the way their jaws dropped. Needless to say, she waxed their tails when the scores were finally tallied at the end of the round.
     Check out some of my U-tube videos on my website.  I am very proud of them. Watch them and enjoy the courses which I hope you get to play some day.  These are some great courses. Go to my website http:the-golf-course-travel-bag.com and take a look.  There is much more on the site as well.  In the meantime, hit 'em long and straight.  And please, don't leave that birdie putt short.

Ho-hum, another 250 yard drive.  I don't think I caught it all. My daughter, I'm proud of her.