Sunday, July 25, 2010

Oh Canada, No Respect

Oh Canada, No Respect

The Canadian Open has one thing in common with Rodney Dangerfield, no respect. The PGA Tour has pushed the Canadian Open around in regards to scheduling. Currently the Canadian Open is the week following the Open Championship. This is not the easiest commute for the contestants and many of the top ranked players also take the week off after a major championship.

Tim Finchem if you are listening why not elevate the status of the Canadian Open as a World Golf event or better yet, part of the Fed Ex Cup, or heaven forbid a major. The last one is doubtful, but hey why not.

The Canadian Open was first contested in 1904 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. The Canadian Open has a great history and the champion’s names on the trophy reflect this. Arnold Palmer’s first PGA Tour victory in 1955 was the Canadian Open. Palmer scored 265 (23 under par) at the Weston Golf Club, and we all know what happened to Arnold’s career after that.

The list of past winners of the Canadian Open is a virtual who’s who in professional golf. How about this for a list of “Hall of Fame” winners: Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Sam Sneed, Byron Nelson, Tommy Armour, Greg Norman, Nick Price, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh just to name a few. The only name missing from the trophy is Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus has finished 2nd seven times.

Golf Canada (formally referred to as the Royal Canadian Golf Association) has been able to pry the Canadian Open away from the blasé golf course that hosted the tournament 25 times. I refer to the Glen Abbey Golf Club that was a staple of the event from 1981 through 1996. In the last ten years the Canadian Open has visited some excellent golf courses; Royal Montreal, Angus Glen, Hamilton and Shaughnessy. This year the St. Georges Golf & Country Club is hosting and the PGA Tour players will be impressed.

The position of the Canadian Open on the PGA Tour schedule should be two weeks away from the US Open in early June. This would increase the amount of international golfers competing. Depending where the US Open is played the Canadian Open could be played in the same time zone to alleviate travel. The golf course conditioning and set up could be similar to the US Open, possibly attracting the more of the top ranked players. Canada deserves a high profile golf tournament; a prelude to the US Open would provide that.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Friday @ the Sr British Open

It would only be two rounds for Davy Gilchrist at the Sr British Open, but it would be a memorable two days. A second round of 78 would see Gilchrist miss the cut. The experience of playing with the world's best professional golfers on the over 50 tour will be a lifetime memory for Gilchrist.

Friday began with a breakfast in the player's lounge across for Tom Watson. The two seemed to be crossing paths often at Carnoustie. There was a terrific photograph of Gilchrist and Watson on the practice tee Wednesday that appeared in The Herald newspaper on Thursday morning. On Thursday both would occupy the 4th and 14th double green at the same time. Watson and Gilchrist were far too busy to exchange pleasantries.

A fantastic finish on the closing three holes would keep Gilchrist in the seventies. On the par 3 16th a sand save from a green side bunker gave Gilchrist a well deserved par. Another up down at the 17th produced a par at the difficult hole named "Island". The 18th would see the sand wedge in use again at a green side bunker. A 10 foot putt for par found its way to the bottom of the hole receiving a good Scottish cheer from those at the 18th green. This capped off a great week for Gilchrist.

Family and friends certainly enjoyed the two days. Davy's good friend George Tullis was seen proudly strolling the fairways with a Cleveland golf bag on his shoulder and the name of "Gilchrist" on the back of his caddy bib.

Davy's card for both days can been seen at

www.europeantour.com

Friday, July 23, 2010

Round One @ The British Senior's Open Championship

Davy Gilchrist, playing in his first pro tournament in the 50+ division, could not have picked a bigger event to make his debut. The British Sr. Open is a major tournament on the Sr. Circuit and is being contested over one of the most difficult links courses in the world; Carnoustie.

Gilchrist was off to a good start with a par at the 1st and a respectable bogey at the long par four second, after finding a pot bunker off the tee. The best drive of the day for Gilchrist was at the Par 5 sixth where he took his tee shot between the fairway bunkers and the O.B. fence. This area is known as Hogan's Alley. In the 1953 Open Championship Hogan drove between the bunkers and the O.B. all four rounds.

A dropped shot at the seventh and the ninth resulted in an outward nine of 39. A great par save at the tenth would make for a good start on the inward half. Unfortunately the 15th hole would be the site of Gilchrist's unravelling. A triple bogey 7 was a crushing blow and left Gilchrist with only the final difficult finishing three holes to recover.

A wonderful par at the Par 3 16th rejuvenated the Kingsbarns Caddie Master and sent him to the 17th with a bounce in his step. Gilchrist would bogey the final two holes for a 9 over par 80. After the leaving the scoring tent you would have thought Gilchrist had scored level par or better, as the smile that was on his face all day remained. I don't think you could have wiped that smile off with a wire brush.

I had the pleasure of following Davy on Thursday and was proud of his play, which certainly did not reflect his score. An early birdie or two may have resulted in a much better outcome. Considering the lack of golf Davy plays it is quite an accomplishment just to qualify for the event. I believe that day two will see a return to form for the amateur from Glenrothes.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Gilchrist Qualifies for Senior British Open @ Carnoustie

Davy Gilchrist of Ladybank Golf Club qualified Monday for the British Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie. Gilchrist scored a three over par 73 at Panmure Golf Club on Monday July 19th. Gilchrist also survived a 9 man playoff for 7 spots. Gilchrist pared the first extra hole and then went through with a birdie four at the par 5 second hole.

Gilchrist will join the likes of Tom Watson, Sandy Lyle, Tom Lehman, Nick Faldo and defending champion Lorne Roberts.

The Kingsbarns Caddie Master was quite pleased with his performance and looks forward to competing in his first major championship. It should be an experience of a lifetime for the amiable Scotsman.

Gilchrist tees off Thursday Jul 22nd at 11:50 with Pete Oakley and Martin Gray.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

A Day at the Open

The final day at The Open Championship is something all golf fans should attend. For £60 (or roughly $97) you get a full day of golf. Tee times begin at 7:25 am, and the final putt is holed just after 6:30 pm.
I certainly received my money’s worth during my travels around the Old Course on Sunday. I witnessed first hand many of the world’s top professional golfers on the most storied golf course. The only disappointment was the tournament was decided so early in the day.
My best purchase once inside the gates was that of a souvenir radio equipped with headphones. Golf on the radio can be quite interesting when you are on site. The radio broadcast also assisted with keeping up to date on happenings around the golf course. The best part–no commercials.
Louis Oosthuizen’s performance was simply outstanding. Oosthuizen (WUHST’-hy-zen) will be referred to as “The Champion Golfer of the Year”. Louis is well deserving of his title. A seven shot victory in golf’s oldest major is testimony to his world-class status. This was the 139th playing of the Open Championship and the 150th Anniversary of the tournament, which began in 1860 at Prestwick on the west coast of Scotland.
The shot of the day was at the ninth hole, appropriately named “End”, where Louis made an eagle two on the 352-yard par 4. Oosthuizen now had a 4 shot lead he would not relinquish. I was in the grandstand at the 11th green and with the use of my trusty laser yardage device / binoculars, saw Louis hole the putt for an eagle.
There were quite a few eagles on par fours Sunday. I wonder if the contestants had a “Deuce Pot” going; not likely, as professionals don’t play for that small change. For Oosthuizen’s effort this week he received a cheque for over $1,300,000. However, money cannot buy your name onto the Claret Jug or secure your place in golfing history. Winning at the Home of Golf – St. Andrews - will though.
Unflappable golf and an Oosthui”ZEN” like concentration was the key for the South African, whose actual name is Lodewicus Theodorus Oosthuizen. Louis also wished fellow South African Nelson Mandela a Happy 93rd Birthday during his very classy acceptance speech at the closing ceremonies.
The only part of the Open I did understand was why an army of blue clad course marshals halted the charge of the gallery up the 18th. The crowd was held back nearly 175 yards from the 18th green. I remember fondly my first Open Championship at Royal Troon in1989 and the charge of the gallery as the first ever four-hole playoff concluded. I somehow managed to slither my way near the front of the crowd for a great view of the final hole.
The “Auld Grey Toon” will now return to some form of normalcy as the thousands of visitors head homeward. I quite like this, as now I will be able to have an evening walk around the hallowed links. The sweetest walk of the week was Louis Oosthuizen’s stroll up the 18th fairway on Sunday with a seven-stroke lead.
Gord McGarva has attended The Open Championship five times.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Planning a Pilgrimage

With the Open Championship at St. Andrews this year it may inspire you for a journey to Scotland for the first time, or perhaps a return visit.
I have made a few trips across the pond to the “Home of Golf”. Are you passionate about golf? Yes, then you must make a trip to Scotland at least once in your life. Here are a few suggestions that may assist in your planning and enjoyment of a trip to Scotland.
I was reminded the other day of a quote about traveling: “Bring half as many clothes and twice the money”. One part of this is far easier than the other.
Packing the suit case may seems endless: shirts, trousers, socks, sweaters, rain gear, hats, gloves, and a vast supply of golf balls just to mention a few items. Reduce your luggage weight total by taking fewer items. You may purchase some shirts, hats and other souvenirs while traveling. A good rain suit is required (hopefully never to be used); if you currently don’t have one then that would be an excellent item to purchase while in Scotland.
How many golf balls do I bring? This depends on two things: how many rounds will you play, and how often you lose golf balls? Chances are you will find as many golf balls as you lose while looking for your own orb in gorse, heather, “whins”, or the varied vegetation found so close to the fairways and greens. A good rule is 3 golf balls per round. Run out of golf balls and you can always borrow from your golf partners that have brought 6 dozen for a ten day excursion.
Take a caddie or not take a caddie? If you can afford a caddie then you would be crazy not to. Insight to playing a golf course you have never played is invaluable. It will make for a far more enjoyable round of golf and will cut down on the lost golf balls for sure. Another option is to have a fore caddie for the group. One caddie will give you the line of play, yardage, breaks on the greens, and any other pertinent information required.
Don’t focus on your score as links golf can be punishing to a score card. Stableford points are always a good option or best ball games.
More golf courses are offering all day tickets. You can play two rounds for a set price. You best be physically ready for 36 holes of walking before taking on that challenge. A day ticket is money well spent though and the second time around you will have a far better idea of the golf course.
Do not bring more than fourteen clubs. We all have that golf club in our bag that we rarely hit at our home course; leave it at home. Clean out your golf bag of any other items not needed. You may have a caddy but you still have to lug the golf bag in the airport and from the hotel room.
Finally, don’t try to see all the country on one visit. You will just burn yourself out. Pick a region and explore that area. My first choice would be the Kingdom of Fife and the Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Gord McGarva has been playing golf for over 30 years and has traveled to Scotland on ten different occasions. For any individual questions, Gord may be contacted at his blog http://writedownthefairway.blogspot.com/

Monday, July 5, 2010

Sagebrush – If You Build It They Will Come!

Over the past few years I have been fortunate to have played some of the top golf courses in the world: The Old Course at St. Andrews and New Course, Royal St. Georges, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Baltusrol. I can now add one more to that list: Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club, located in the Nicola Valley right here in the B.C. Interior only a 90 minute drive from Kelowna.
The short journey to play links-style golf is well worth the time. Golfers who are truly passionate about the game MUST play Sagebrush. Speaking of passion, Dick Zokol (Chairman and CEO) and Terry Donald (President and COO) have it oozing out of them for Sagebrush. The design team of Zokol, Rod Whitman and Armen Suny have created links golf in a truly amazing setting over-looking the picturesque Nicola Lake and surrounding area.
The concept first started to blossom in August of 2002, and by September of 2002 Dick and Terry had walked the property. Golf courses are not developed overnight; it was in July of 2005 when the routing of holes was completed. On July 15th, 2006 the ground-breaking began, but not much dirt was moved, as the design philosophy was one of “minimalist”. Here is a definition right from the Sagebrush website: “Minimalism being a school of golf design, which put simplistically, attempts to move as little earth as possible and relying on the natural features of the land while designing golf courses.” Old Tom Morris would be proud of what has been created at Sagebrush.
It took a few holes for me to remember the nuances of links golf. After that it was pure joy watching a golf ball bounce and then roll, finally coming to rest 15 to 20 seconds after it had been struck. Golf was meant to be played along the ground as well as in the air. At Sagebrush you can do this and you must, if you want to be rewarded in your shot making.
Links golf is an acquired taste, and for me it took about 30 seconds. The first links course I ever set foot on was Royal St. Georges in the little town of Sandwich in Kent, England. I was hooked after that round and have been a fan of links golf ever since. Spend a day at Sagebrush and you will be too.
I have had the pleasure of traversing over the Kingsbarns Golf Links, in Scotland, as a caddy during the summer months since 2006. I believe that Sagebrush has a very similar feel as Kingsbarns with the ever present wind and spectacular views of water. Combine that with hard running ground and you have a great links golf course.
Will Sagebrush climb up the ladder in ranking of golf courses? That remains yet to be determined. I don’t think the success of Sagebrush for its “Posse” will be based on world wide acclaim. Sagebrush is a place where friends can gather and play golf in a relaxed setting. One of the best things about the course is that on the 13th hole you can stop; have a meal, do some fishing, and basically relax for as long as you want. It is called “The Hideout”. On our day of golf we passed it twice and should have stayed longer. Next time for sure! The food is outstanding and fish are always biting. I could write an entire column about “The Hideout”.
I could be cheeky and profess that my favourite stretch of holes are one through eighteen. Rather than that, the 10th through 14th are my pick. The terrain changes as you move upwards to a wooded area from the sage swept hillside. Hole #12 feels like you have left the property and ended up where someone has built a one hole golf course. The 12th can be best described as a “Fussy Wee Hole” (I borrowed that from the Kingsbarns yardage book commentary). It played 112 yards from the blue tee box and was anything but simple. Hole #14 is a par 5 that allows for some risk reward, and after a fine meal at “The Hideout” you are so relaxed, why not go for it. Patience and three well played shots may be the method to a birdie, but we each choose our own path. I did not put these choices in numerical order because at Sagebrush you don’t have to play the holes in order. Just be courteous not to intrude on another game and play the holes how you like. The 10th hole is a down-hill par three that will test your club selection, ball striking and course management. Once you get to the green it really picks up. A smallish green by Sagebrush standards requires your full concentration for holing out. Chip shots, pitches, and bunker play are not for the faint of heart either. #13 is a driveable par 4, possibly. Downhill and with yardage of 285 from the blue tee box, it provides a warm up for your risk reward strategy.
Red Tail Golf Course north of Toronto near St. Thomas provided further inspiration for Zokol’s dream of a similar course in B.C., Red Tail West if you will. The original plans at Sagebrush may have been altered slightly but have in no way changed what will be an exceptional golfing experience for years to come.

For more information on group or corporate packages please contact Jason Monteleone in Kelowna at 250.860.3134 or by email at jason.monteleone@telus.net. For more information about membership follow the “links” on the Sagebrush website.

Gord McGarva has been playing golf for over 30 years and believes “Links golf is how the game was meant to be played”.