Let’s have a look at how they break down.

• It costs too much (33%, 142 Votes)
• Slow play (29%, 123 Votes)
• Lack of general etiquette (9%, 38 Votes)
• Cheating or lack of integrity among fellow players (8%, 36 Votes)
• It takes too long to play (aside from the issue of slow play) (7%, 32 Votes)
• Perception that the game is only for certain kinds of people (i.e. wealthy Caucasians, etc.) (6%, 25 Votes)
• The game is too difficult (4%, 15 Votes)
• Insufficient access (i.e. not enough courses, courses already overcrowded) (2%, 9 Votes)
• Bias of some kind (i.e. sexism, racism, etc. in clubs or organizations) (2%, 5 Votes)

There’s a little bit of error in the results because someone voted for “Cheating or lack of integrity among fellow players” around 18 times because I didn’t realize when I did a major site upgrade that I hadn’t remembered to configure the poll plugin correctly again. Either way, those votes don’t drastically change any of the results.

It’s kind of ironic that someone tried to game the poll and that’s the option that was chosen. In fairness, though, it’s not like I ask that people only vote once, and it’s all in fun, so it’s not big deal. I’ve even been known to vote twice because I’m tired of clicking “view results” when I’m reading from different locations.

Anyway, way back when I first put up the poll, you may remember that I had done a post or two about slow play and my prediction was that it would win handily. Unfortunately, I was completely wrong about that.

Cost was the number one response, with 33% of the vote and slow play was right behind it with 29% of the vote.

I guess it had to be expected, with the economy in the United States the way it is right now. Money is a little tighter and the unemployment rate is still relatively high. I’m not sure how the economies of other nations are holding up, but my guess is, people are feeling the crunch in many places all over the world.

On the other hand, I’m a little surprised that the number one problem is cost. Don’t get me wrong, golf can be a costly hobby, even for occasional players. At the same time – and this is by no means scientific –  at my local courses (before I moved, anyway), prices haven’t changed too much for the past decade, if not longer.

Maybe prices have risen ever so slightly, but given the up-tick in prices of things like fuel and food and the like, golf seems like it’s been stable around southern New Jersey. And a trip to Myrtle Beach last November showed me that prices didn’t change much there in the past decade or so.

I suppose when the economy tightens up, the big-ticket luxuries like golf seem like a much bigger expense, and in reality, when money is scarce, golf can certainly become a luxury that people have to give up for a while.

Cost and slow play accounted for the vast majority of responses, with no other answer accounting for more than 9% of the total vote.

I’m glad to see that the two answers involving real or perceived bias or class differences don’t account for a significant percentage of the result. While issues like that may never go away completely, there was a time that situations like that were the accepted norm, so it’s a positive thing that golf has become more inclusive.

And, to be fair, the game of golf has never been non-inclusive. It has always been clubs and organizations built on the game that have exhibited bias. The game has always been about getting a little ball into a little hole in the fewest strokes possible. Still, it’s good that just about everyone is able to do that these days.

So, what do you think? Did the results breakdown like you think they should? Are there any big problems in the game today that aren’t represented in the poll? Or, is the game in great shape, just like is always has been?

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

The Biggest Problem with Golf Today

I designed the previous theme myself from the ground-up. Despite the fact that I am a software engineer by trade, I’m was a rookie when it came to WordPress and its associated technologies. The site was OK, but it was a little unwieldy behind the scenes. I decided to join the 20th century and build a new theme on top of the Genesis Framework.

Taking advantage of Genesis, as well as the things that WordPress has come to do better over the last few years, has allowed me to do some nifty things. For instance, you’ll notice that the comments section is now threaded. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to old posts, but from here on out, discussions will be easier to follow.

I’ve also tried to remove some cruft and make the overall experience more simple and clean. Since I tend to write long posts, the front page was insanely huge. So, I’ve switched to using excerpts on the front page, which you can then obviously click through to read the whole post.

There are still some things that need tweaking, but if you notice anything out of place, broken, or missing, please let me know. I’ll be addressing issues over the next few days. For instance, you’ll notice a tag cloud in the footer. There are hardly any tags there because I haven’t been tagging posts all these years, but I’m going to go through and start adding tags.

I’d like to know if you like the look and I’m certainly happy to entertain any and all suggestions. Please feel free to contact me or to leave comments.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

There’s still one slot open to test the Polara anti-slice/hook golf balls. If you’ve been kind of thinking about it but figured it was too late, it’s not. If you’re just shy, then I’ll just say that I promise I won’t bite. At first.

Here’s your chance to try out a piece of golf equipment and actually to be heard by the company. Your feedback matters and Polara is listening.

Check out the original post for all the details. If you’d like to do it, then please contact me. The first e-mail I receive gets all the glory. Well, there’s not much glory, but it will probably be fun and/or interesting, at least.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

Quick Note

However, in this case, I got something from the PGA of America regarding Jobs in Golf Month. Since there are probably some aspiring pros out there aside from me (and some current ones too), I thought this might be useful.

I omitted the e-mail addresses of the contacts so the spam bots don’t get them, but if you want them, let me know and I’ll send them on individually.

Read on for the full text of the release.

—————

For Immediate Release:

January 21, 2011

Contact:

Michael Abramowitz
(561) 624-8458

Ari Edelman
(908) 313-7861

THE PGA OF AMERICA HIGHLIGHTS JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

TO KICK OFF THE 10^th ANNUAL JOBS IN GOLF MONTH
Golf Industry Career Fair at 58^th PGA Merchandise Show will Place Qualified Industry Professionals

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The PGA of America’s 10^th Annual Jobs in Golf Month which highlights online employment resource tools and a breadth of jobs within the industry – will kick off at the 58^th PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-29, with a Career Fair for the second-consecutive year, and continue promoting employment in golf throughout the month of February.

Building on the success of its inaugural campaign at the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show, The PGA of America’s golf industry Career Fair (located at Booth #2401) will highlight job opportunities that are currently posted on PGAJobfinder.com.  The Career Fair features recruitment services by leading industry employers; a variety of golf-related job posting boards; on-site interviewing for industry positions; employment workshops; resume posting boards; and comprehensive PGA Employment Services.

In addition, PGA.com/employment, home to PGA Employment Services, is the centerpiece of the Jobs In Golf Month initiative, and serves as the golf industry’s online resource for jobs.  In support of Jobs in Golf Month, PGA Employment Services is ramping up its available resources to ensure that PGA members continue to find and maximize their career opportunities.

“The PGA of America is delighted to present Jobs in Golf Month for the 10^th consecutive year,” said PGA President Allen Wronowski.  “In 2011, the emphasis on job placement is central to the growth of our field and the overall economy.  The exciting positions offered during Jobs in Golf Month provide an opportunity to achieve a dream career within the golf industry, which employs more than 2 million people nationwide.”

PGA Employment Services was developed to serve as the golf industry’s hiring resource and a support mechanism to help ensure the 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals have the necessary tools to secure employment.  In addition to serving as a vehicle for PGA Professionals, PGA Employment Services offers a direct communication link between golf industry employers and individuals seeking to gain employment in the golf industry.

PGA Employment Services is supported by 12 regional PGA Employment Consultants based throughout the country.  These employment consultants serve as an invaluable resource for both PGA members and golf industry employers, working tirelessly to match applicants with appropriate employers that are seeking to hire talented and dynamic PGA Professionals.  These Employment Consultants are also charged with further educating employers on the unmatched benefits of hiring a PGA Professional.

Employment-related education seminars are also being featured at the PGA Member Business Center, and will be led by the PGA Employment Consultants.  Some of the featured seminar topics include “Tools to Build a Stronger Relationship with Your Employer,”  “Solving the Job Search Puzzle,” “Demonstrating Your Value,” “The Interview, How to Get There, How to Be Successful,” and “Utilizing PGA Resources: Your Competitive Edge,” among others.

While the PGA of America offers additional resources to promote Jobs in Golf Month and the benefits of hiring PGA Professionals throughout the month of February, the Association’s expansive employment services division, which caters to PGA Professionals, golf industry employers, and individuals seeking a position within the golf industry, is an everyday commitment throughout the year.

Among the many service options from the Employment Center, The PGA offers CareerLinks, a complimentary employment referral service with PGA Employment Consultants based throughout the country to provide support to employers and PGA Professionals.  With this service, PGA Employment Consultants help employers identify the skills and experiences that are necessary to perform a specific job, and then enter the search specifications into the CareerLinks database to identify qualified PGA candidates.  Last year, more than 445 positions were filled through the CareerLinks service.

Other employment services include PGA Jobfinder, an online tool located at www.PGA.com/employment, which helps golf industry employers fill a variety of golf industry positions from PGA Teaching Professionals to Clubhouse Staff to Manufacturer’s Sales Representatives.  The PGA also retains the services of a wage-and-hour consultant to help PGA Professionals and employers interpret labor laws and wage-and-hour information.  Since last January, more than 2,730 jobs for PGA Professional positions were posted on PGALinks.com and nearly 1,720 positions were listed on the public job board on PGA.com.

About PGA Jobs in Golf Month

Launched in 2002, the Jobs in Golf Month campaign is designed to promote employment services to golf employers and potential employees.  The PGA Jobs in Golf Month campaign works with the PGA Employment Center located online at www.PGA.com/employment.

About The PGA of America

Celebrating its 95^th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

Jobs in Golf Month

After having been under a crunch at the day-job, it was obvious that I needed another. My brother planted the seed that we should go to Myrtle Beach again, the destination of my previous golf-getaway. With his brainwashing taking hold, I started my planning.

The plan was hatched, reservations were made, and we headed south. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was the destination. My brother Tony, our friend Keith, and I loaded up our rented SUV ready for 4-nights, 3-rounds of golf madness. We decided to keep it relatively short because we left the weekend before Thanksgiving and wanted to get back in plenty of time before the holiday.

We had a great time and I thought I’d let this post serve as part course review, part vacation guide, and part travel log. I’m amazed at how low the overall price was.

The Courses

This time around, we decided to play two new courses and one course we played last time we were in the area. We chose Pine Lakes based on a little write-up we saw in Golf Digest right before we started planning. River Club, down in Pawleys Island, is the course we played previously and liked it enough for a repeat. Our third choice, Caledonia, is one of the gems of the region. We wanted to spend some bucks to play a high-end place and we weren’t disappointed.

Pine Lakes

One of the cool things about Pine Lakes is that it was built in 1927. Of course, the current course has undergone a complete restoration and things have undoubtedly changed a lot since then, but it certainly still has the feel of an old course.

One of the lasting impressions I have of the place is the gorgeous clubhouse. It has a definite old country club feel to it.

The course is well-maintained and plays 6675 yards from the back tees. I felt like the holes had a lot of character without feeling “tricked up” like you might see in some modern courses in resort places. The use of bunkers and other design features help to maintain the classical feel of the course while still providing a challenge.

At the time of year we went, the rough was pretty short and was becoming dormant. The fairways and tees were in nice shape. The greens were also in good shape. The course did show some signs of the extreme summer heat that blanketed the area only a few months back, but it certainly wasn’t a detraction.

Click here for more information about Pine Lakes

River Club

We played this course eight or nine years ago last time we were in the Myrtle Beach area. The three of us liked it enough to play it again. Last time I was there, the layout felt a lot more tight, with homes along many of the holes. However, this time around, I’m in much greater control of my game, so it wasn’t an issue.

Generally, the course is challenging, with water on a majority of the holes. I personally find a couple of the holes on the front nine to be a little lackluster, but the rest of the layout is fun and interesting.

Without a doubt, the 18th hole is a dramatic finisher. A dog-leg par-5, long hitters can cut across the water for a shot at eagle. Standing in the 18th fairway gives a wonderful view of the clubhouse in the distance (the photo above is actually taken from the 9th hole).

Again, there was evidence of the oppressive heat from the recent summer. The River Club showed a little more leftover heat stress than Pine Lakes did, especially on the greens. However, the course was still very playable.

Click here for more information about River Club.

Caledonia

I’m struggling to find words to describe the beauty of Caledonia.

Originally, the property was an old plantation. The golf course is fairly new, opening in 1994, but it feels like it has been there for 200 years. When you enter the gate, you drive up an avenue lined with 150-year old oak trees. Right up to what they describe as an antebellum-style (pre-Civil War) clubhouse. While certainly not that old, I would immediately believe it if you told me it was.

The course itself has been named in various top-100 lists, including some from Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek. The holes are wide open, with plenty of room for errant shots. I can only recall two holes where homes could be seen. And holes internal to the property are separated by enough distance that there doesn’t feel like there’s any danger of interfering with the play on other holes.

I can’t recall any holes that I didn’t like for one reason or another. The website says the course “has been described as having ’18 signature holes.’” I have to agree with that statement. Whether it’s the 18th hole that has a dramatic approach over a lake toward the clubhouse, or the 7th hole with a giant, old tree guarding the right side of the green, every hole has something to offer in terms of challenge and aesthetic beauty.

The property is filled with stately, old trees, covered with Spanish moss. In wooded areas between holes and the like, the ground is clear from debris, so there are fewer places where balls can become lost.

The manicuring of the course was on a level I’ve never seen before (keeping in mind, I’ve never played any of the famous big-named courses). Virtually everything from tee to green was immaculate. The turf on the greens was so tight-knit that fixing ball marks felt like trying to work with actual carpet.

There was little or no evidence of the harsh summer like there was at the other two courses. It’s easy to see why when you look around and see an army of workers hand-raking bunkers, spraying tees, watering holes, etc.

Click here for more information about Caledonia

The Stay

As consumers, we really benefit from the fact that Myrtle Beach has an off-season that’s not exactly a poor time to visit. Going there in the second half of November, we definitely risked having some foul weather, but it was gorgeous. However, that, coupled with the shorter days, means that many people won’t make the trip at that time of year.

Consequently, we were able to get a two-bedroom suite at the Holiday Inn Express in Murrell’s Inlet for $88/night (which is the AAA rate). It was a beautiful, well-kept hotel, and yet the parking lot was over half empty every night.

We kind of noticed similar situations at restaurants and on the golf courses themselves. Our tee times were in the 12 o’clock hour and none of our rounds took longer than 4 hours and 15 minutes. Once or twice, it seemed like we might have been the last players of the day, which was great with us because we could move along well while not feeling rushed when needing to search for a ball.

We ate at a variety of places while we were there, but my favorite remains TBonz, a steak joint just above Myrtle Beach International Airport (with another location in the northern part of the region). It’s a nice place with a great atmosphere and they sure can cook a steak.

Conclusion

From beginning to end, this was a great trip. We played three courses that we liked at lot, stayed in a great hotel, and definitely felt the fact that we were there in the off-season, both with less crowds and lower prices. I basically booked the hotel and tee times around three weeks before the trip, with no trouble getting any of it coordinated.

Overall, the cost for golf and hotel was around $400 each. Add in the cost of a rental SUV, gas to drive down from New Jersey, and the cost of meals, and we were in the neighborhood of $600-$700 or so for a 5-day trip. In reality, a good chunk of that was for Caledonia which cost $140 each. Had we chosen to play a more run-of-the-mill place, the price would have been noticeably less.

If you haven’t taken a golf getaway to Myrtle Beach, I highly recommend it. It’s an affordable time in a great location. I’m looking forward to getting down there again. Hopefully, I won’t wait another decade to do it again.

Here are a few more photos from the trip. For even more, visit the Life in the Rough photo gallery.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

My Fantastic Voyage – Of Golf

1. At one point, I was certain that Tiger Woods would get a little time past his infamous marriage troubles and then would be right back to his old major-winning self. Now, I’m not so sure we’ll ever see that again. I’m not sure we won’t either. How’s that for a definitive prediction? If I straddle that fence much longer, I’m going to get splinters in my rear.
2. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough to hit forged blade irons. They might not be as forgiving, but when you hit them right, there’s nothing like it. And when you don’t hit them right, it’s not as bad as they make it out to be. Of course, if your handicap is high, then you’re probably not getting the same kind of benefit to justify the cost, but don’t ever let anyone make you feel unworthy.
3. I just read in David Feherty’s Sidespin column that he had the same type of weight loss surgery that I did. I knew that he carried around some extra weight, but I didn’t realize how much. I was shocked that he was in a position to pursue that option. Still, he wasn’t even in the same universe as me, size-wise.



4. The pile of books by my bed is getting bigger. There are some there that I really want to get to, but I just can’t seem to catch up. For instance: Golf My Way, by Jack Nicklaus, The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley,  The Impact Zone by Bobby Clampett, and The Eight-Step Swing by Jim McLean. Oh, and Zen Golf.
5. It’s been a few years, but I just cannot condone the format of the FedEx cup. Yes, things have gotten better, but look at it like the playoffs and championship in any other sport: the winner of the final game is the winner, period. This year, it worked out that way, but it easily could have gone differently. For the Tour Championship, forget the points and just say winner takes all. That’s how a championship works.
6. I constantly bounce back and forth between wanting to carry three wedges and wanting to carry four. I like having four wedges, but I certainly don’t like the price of another Vokey Spin Milled wedge.
7. Which reminds me…. to the jerk that took the two Vokey wedges that I mistakenly left next to the first green (my last hole of the day) after my league match this summer. If I ever find out who you are, it’s not going to be pretty.
8. I play golf in the hot weather and in the cold weather. But I most certainly dislike the transition periods between the two.
9. Taking a golf vacation is a lot of fun, but truth be told, in the back of my mind I can’t shake the idea that it’s actually going to upset my regular practice routine.
10. The more I think about it, the more I wish the USGA would drop stroke and distance penalties. Play out of bounds shots like lateral hazards with a two stroke penalty instead of one. It’s virtually impossible to play by the rules on busy public courses without upsetting people or feeling like the bad guy.
11. Isn’t it kind of mind-blowing that even with the major advancements in technology, golf handicaps aren’t significantly better than they were twenty years ago?
12. Actually, now that I think about it, I’m not that blown away. Given people’s learning and practice habits, I’m not surprised at all.
13. One of the most monumental changes I can make as a golfer is changing my favorite brand and model of golf ball. It’s like moving a mountain to get me to change, though it does happen.
14. I’m quickly becoming a fan of Dustin Johnson. Some people act like he’s a dunce for the bunker fiasco at the PGA Championship this year, but I don’t think so. I defy them to be put in a situation like that and then pretend later that things are so simple and clear cut.
15. I used to look forward to the cold weather. These days, it’s just a nuisance that keeps me off the golf course.
16. Sometimes I wonder if I were wealthy, would I become part of the elite country club crowd. My guess is no. I’m not even part of the public club crowd.
17. Sometimes I wonder what could be done to encourage more walking on golf courses. About the only thing I can come up with would be to make the price of carts astronomical. That might work for the clubs too because carts cause a lot of the damage that they have to spend money to fix. I’ve never seen walkers wearing ruts next to the “No Carts” signs, running over stakes and ropes, or parking next to greens.
18. Pace of play would definitely be helped if people walked. There, I said it. If I see one more pair of [expletive]s drive to one guy’s ball, wait for the green to clear, prepare for and eventually hit the shot, and then drive to the other guy’s ball to repeat it all over again, I’m going to scream.
19. While I’m ranting about pace of play, let me point a finger at the winners that walk 50 yards from the cart to survey a lie without a club in hand. Come on, people, there are only so many possible shots that can be played from there. Grab a few clubs and go. If you take three or more clubs and still have to go back because you didn’t get the right club the first time, then fine, I’ll settle for that. There’s just no excuse for taking the walk empty handed.
20. The odds are against it, but I have a strong feeling that I’m going to get a hole in one before too long. Check back with me in three years to see if I did it.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

20 (More) Random Thoughts About Golf

I wish I could say I was glad to be back, but honestly, I’m not. I could have stayed out on the road for a while longer. There was so much to see and do that I would have liked but that we just couldn’t get to.

I must admit that every time I saw a golf course, it was calling to me to play. Unfortunately, the pulled muscle or whatever I have going on in my rib area isn’t completely healed, though it is much, much better than it was before I left. I’m going to take it easy for a while longer and try to ease back into practicing this week, but I don’t regret not taking my clubs with me because I needed to let myself heal.

I saw a lot of great stuff on the road, and by my count I passed through 16 states. If you haven’t taken advantage of the natural beauty that the United States has to offer, I highly recommend you plan a trip of your own, especially if you already live here.

If you’d like to see a few photos of my epic three-week adventure, click here.

Vacation is over, but I have memories (and photos) to last a lifetime. Now, it’s time to get back to work. Back to my day job and back to working on my golf game.

I don’t really like the way that sounds. I’d better start planning my next road trip. Maybe next time, I’ll make it a golf vacation.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

Did I Miss Anything?

This vacation is certainly well-timed. I know I haven’t done a progress update in a little while, but a week ago at the driving range, I hit a shot, got into my follow-through and immediately felt something blow right along my ribs on my side (kind of more toward my back). It felt like someone sticking a knife between my ribs. Right now, coughing is very painful and sneezing makes me want to cry.

It’s not a back problem or anything like that (I’ve dealt with a herniated disk in the past), so I’m assuming it’s some kind of pulled muscle that just needs rest. Oddly, it doesn’t hurt to walk, sit, drive, or anything like that. So, at least I’ll be able to enjoy the next few weeks.

Healthy or not, I wasn’t planning on playing any golf the next few weeks anyway. I’m headed out on the open road for an epic road trip. On a similar trip in 2008, I only managed to play one round of golf and get to the driving range once, so I think I’m going to leave my clubs home altogether this time and just step away from everything for the whole three weeks. Physically, I need to recuperate and mentally, I can certainly use the break.

I’m leaving New Jersey early Saturday morning and headed through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, down to New Mexico and back, Nebraska, and then back from whence I came.

I’ll be hitting several of the major sites along the way: Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park. I’ll also be visiting an eclectic mix of other places. For instance, how can I pass through Iowa without seeing the Field of Dreams? I’m going to try and make a stop at the Minuteman Missile National Historical Site in South Dakota. A missile silo? You’re on drugs if you think I’m going to pass up visiting a missile silo.

I’ll be driving the Beartooth Highway, recognized as possibly the most scenic byway in the country. I’ll make a stop by the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. How’s this one: I’m going to head down to New Mexico to visit the town where they filmed Red Dawn. WOLVERINES! I might even stop by the set where they filmed Dances with Wolves in South Dakota (the Fort Hayes location).

That’s not enough to fill three weeks! So, I’ll take a day hike in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area in Montana (to Mystic Lake – maybe I actually will do a little fishing there). I’ll drive to the top of Pike’s Peak, ride the 1880 Train in South Dakota, and stop and see the Little Big Horn National Monument. I might even see the Cody Stampede Rodeo in Wyoming. Then, of course, there’s Triple-A baseball in Salt Lake City, Pictograph State Park near Billings, Montana, and the Strategic Air & Space museum in Nebraska.

And I’ll spend a lot of time staring out the window admiring the awe-inspiring scenery that the United States has to offer. Now, we’re talking.

Anyway, hold down the fort for the next three weeks and I’ll be back and all recharged. Hopefully this rib thing heals by then because I’m already missing playing golf and it’s only been a week. By the end of three more weeks, my hands are going to be shaking from withdrawal. I’ve been making nice progress too, but it’s going to have to wait a little longer.

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

Gone Fishin’

Winners will be determined over the weekend and I’ll contact each winner via e-mail and post the results shortly thereafter.

Don’t forget – eligible individuals may enter all four contests and winning any one will not disqualify you from winning any (or all) of the others.

Here are links to the four contests.  Be sure to get your entries in before the deadline for each.

Big May Golf Book Giveaway, Day 1 – Golf Courses of the World: 365 Days
Big May Golf Book Giveaway, Day 2 – GOLF Magazine Private Lessons
Big May Golf Book Giveaway, Day 3 – Bad Lies
Big May Golf Book Giveaway, Day 4 – Moment of Glory

© 2007-2011 Life in the Rough. All Rights Reserved.

Last Call for the Big May Golf Book Giveaway

Every year the cream of the crop in the field of golf descends on Augusta for the Masters tournament.  The Augusta National Golf Club, first opened in January of 1933 for play, has hosted the Masters since 1934. Currently ranked the number one golf course in the United States by Golf Digest, it’s one of the top courses in the world. The course, known to be unforgiving, is the ultimate challenge to any golfer. But why? What makes the Augusta national golf course so tough?

Golfers who have had the chance to play Augusta, quite often talk of the “mystery” of the course.  It is said that knowledge of the course is just as important, or perhaps more important, than a player’s actual golf skill.  Players study the course, sometimes drawing diagrams to get a feel for it. Not understanding Augusta National Golf Course can result in disaster and a very poorly played game. And studying and getting a feel for the course isn’t easy: over the past few decades several changes have been made to the course, resulting in an additional 500 yards. So, what you learned about the course last year may not hold up this year.

Augusta golf course is very topical, with lots of peaks and valleys. This in and of itself makes for a difficult course. The course designer, Alister MacKenzie, definitely knew what he was doing.  With a difficult topography, sometimes even standing correctly can be a challenge. A slope on the fairway can make balance an issue, greatly throwing off a player’s swing.

Placement of waterways, trees and other greenery also makes the course extremely difficult.  Add the tightness of the fairways and you can see why this is one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. It can get the best of even the most talented players in the field, as witnessed by Tiger Wood’s 4^th place standing at this year’s Masters.

Weather and wind can also change this course drastically, so players need to be completely on their game every time they attempt to play and get the best of the course. This means paying attention to the daily conditions and being extra careful in deciding which club to use for which stroke.

Ray Floyd, who played the Masters 45 times and announced his retirement this year at Augusta, says that when players discuss how well they think they will do at Augusta, they tend to talk in code.

“They say, ‘I have a good eye for the course,’ or ‘I feel confident with the golf course,’ ” Floyd said.  “What they’re saying is that they have enough knowledge to play it. They know where to hit the ball. They know when they can be aggressive and when they can’t.”

Players respect the course, and while they recognize its difficulty, they also treat it with reverence. It’s a stunningly beautiful course, and they know it. Augusta also isn’t for the faint of heart. A pro golfer can spend his whole career battling this golf course, never feeling like he won.

Some players and fans of the game of golf think that the course is actually too difficult and makes it almost impossible for someone to play his best. They argue that if a course is too difficult to play, it takes not only the fun, but the sport out of the game. But others, like golfer Kenny Perry, appreciate the difficulties associated with the course.

Perry sums it up nicely: “It’s an ingenious design. I don’t know why someone doesn’t design another course like it.” Someone may have, but I’ve never played it if it’s out there.

About the Author:

Dr. Eric Wilson is a PGA Master Professional in Instruction at the College of Golf, a Keiser University school in Port St. Lucie, FL. The College of Golf offers students the opportunity to study at a professional golfers career college.

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Augusta National Golf Course: The Ultimate Test For Any Golfer