Guide for Beginning Golfers

I can’t even say his name let alone acknowledge his victory at the British Open but Oostuizen’s  performance and final total score of -16 speaks for itself. The next player, Lee Westwood, finished seven shots back  at -9 which is an indication of how well  Oosthuizen really played for this prestigious tournament at the world’s oldest and most revered golf venue, St. Andrews. I have to admit this years Open was a bit boring for golf fans in the United States as the top American player, Sean O’Hair finished at -6, ten strokes back and tied for seventh place. None of our players even sniffed at  a chance for the top three spots, which is unusual for the U.S. team.

Tiger Woods, who has not yet returned to true form, struggled with the putter and had to settle for a tie for 23rd with a -3 finish total on Sunday. John Daly, who was on the leader board on Thursday with a first  round sixty six, Stewart Cink, last years winner in the Open over Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite, all shot plus one and tied for 48th place, which is not so impressive for these U.S. players. I had high hopes for Phil Mickelson coming into this championship but he his play has been less than stellar since his Masters victory in April of this year.

The British Open has been the second major golf tournament in a row where the European and other top world players have stymied the United States from the leaderboard. In the U.S. Open in June, the top three places went to McDowell, the barely known Frenchman,  Havret and Ernie Els from South Africa. The outcome and lackluster performance by the American players in these last two major venues does not bode well for the U.S. in the coming Ryder Cup championship in September of 2010. Corey Pavin, the captain for the U.S. has his work cut out for him if the Amercian team is to be competitive enough to win this years Ryder Cup. I wish them the best of luck as they may surely need some this year. Our players had better get to the golf range and start hitting golf balls to prepare for the challenge they face ahead.

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I had the opportunity to play Trump National Golf Course located in Colts Neck, New Jersey this past Friday. I must admit that Donald Trump knows how to do things one way, top notch. The course was taken over by the Trump Organization a short time ago and was revitalized to the tune of approximately $10,000,000 in upgrades.

The one upgrade that impressed me the most was the addition of a 19th hole situated at the rear of the club house just off the dining veranda. The hole is scheduled to be completed by the end of June. Anyone having lunch or enjoying a beer or other libation after the golf round can watch the golfers hit their golf balls onto the green or in the water as it is an Island Green for all intents and purposes. This is a fun innovation where all the bets made during the golf round will be doubled or lost, depending on who can handle the pressure better. Donald Trump has added another fine golf course to his portfolio and I look forward to playing there again soon. Happy Golfing to All!

I just returned home from Myrtle Beach last weekend and another spectacular trip under our belts. My seven friends and I had a blast and played over 100 holes of golf in four days. We played our first round at Founder’s Club, on the south Strand, near Pawley’s Island and then played Caledonia and True Blue, two of my favorite and premier golf courses in Myrtle Beach. We arrived at the course early each day, took our golf clubs and hit golf balls at the range to loosen up before our round.

The weather was beautiful, the sun shining each morning, temperatures in the seventies, a little windy but perfect conditions for golf.  On Saturday, which was our last day, we played Indian Wells, a nicely laid out course and convenient as it was located off Rt. 17 in close proximity to Myrtle Beach National Airport. It was a great trip and my friends and I are already planning next years golf getaway. Maybe Pinehurst or Hilton Head? Wherever we choose I have no doubt that it will be great golf and a good time for all. Happy Golfing to All!

The rainy weather is behind us, at least for now and the projected forecast for this coming holiday weekend couldn’t be better. I leave for Myrtle Beach this coming Wednesday and it is important to get some practice in over the next few days if I am to stand a chance with my buddies in our golf wagering competition. I will be heading to the golf course on Saturday and hit some golf balls off the practice mat in our rear yard on Sunday before cleaning my golf clubs prior to packing them for the trip. The golf course pictured is none other than Caledonia Golf and Fish Club located on the South Strand near Pawleys Island, about 20 miles south of RT. 501 and the heart of Myrtle Beach. It is one of the top rated golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area and my #1 pick for all around beauty and playability.

I am looking forward to getting away for a few days as this winter has been tough on the golfers this off season with all the torrential rain, heavy snow and consistently inclement weather in general for the past three or four months. If you have not yet visited Myrtle Beach it is a golfers paradise and I would highly recommend a vacation there. It is not known as “The Golf Capital of the World” for nothing. I have been visiting the Grand Strand for the pasty twenty years or so and I hope to retire in this area one day. There are so many excellent golf courses, all located  in a radius of about 30 miles and one better than the other. I will fill you in on the trip upon my return. Happy Golfing to All!

This past weekend was great for golf and outdoor activities. Golf Fever will quickly catch on as spring is in the air. The plants are budding and the grass is turning green which is a hopeful sign that spring has arrived on time for once. It was a good feeling to see the sun shining again after the harsh winter months and the near hurricane conditions we experienced just last weekend. Cathi and I enjoyed golf at Morgan Hill Country Club in Easton, PA on Saturday. This golf course is tough for the first time out but the warm sunny weather and beautiful mountain backdrop made it well worth the trip and the effort. The only downside to this golf course is that walking is near impossible as the elevation changes are dramatic and tough to traverse even while riding in a golf cart.

Many of the tee boxes are elevated and afford spectacular panaromic views of Easton, the Delaware River and the other areas of the golf course. It felt good to hit golf balls again and shake some of the winter rust off. After golf we enjoyed lunch at the 19th hole in the clubhouse which offers excellent dining and ambiance. We sat outside at a table overlooking the 18th hole and watched the other golfers finish their golf round as we dined and enjoyed some refreshing libations. We are looking forward to playing golf again very soon especially since I need to prepare for my Myrtle Beach trip at the beginning of April during Masters week. I played well this past weekend but I still need to fine tune my game and get the rust off before the trip. My comrades are as competitive as I am so I need to bring my A- Game or I will be paying the tab at the 19th hole which I certainly do not enjoy. Happy Golfing to All!