Golf’s Animal Kingdom of Player Nicknames
For as long as there have been pro golfers, there have been nicknames. Tommy Armour, The Silver Scot, was one of the trailblazers of the trend. Since then, golf writers and fans have coined nicknames for all of their favorite players. Headlines referred to Walter Hagen as Sir Walter because of his lavish lifestyle. Tony […]
First Peek: Tiger Woods’ Payne’s Valley
By Erik Matuszewski Big Cedar Lodge’s Mountain Top clubhouse first comes into view on the winding drive up to the resort’s newest golf course, Payne’s Valley. At a distance, it looks small atop a massive ridge and limestone wall almost 200 feet high—the highest point on the property in southwest Missouri. It’s just […]
Goat Herding: Who is the Game’s Best Ever?
Some thoughts on Jack, Tiger, and the question of which is the game’s best ever As Jack Nicklaus celebrates his 80th birthday this year, my thoughts turn to the day I met him. It didn’t go well. This was late September of 1976 in Pinehurst, where a tournament called the World Open was being played. […]
PopStroke: Tiger Woods’s New Venture
The gamification of golf—it’s a term we’ve heard a lot lately, especially in this Topgolf world we live in. The latest attempt to increase the fun factor for the golf masses has 15-time major champion Tiger Woods on board as the architect of enjoyment. PopStroke opened its first location in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in […]
Characters: Justin Ray – The Answer Man
As Adam Hadwin picked apart Colonial Country Club—hitting its first 13 fairways in regulation during the second round of the 2015 Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas—Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee wondered when was the last time anyone had hit every fairway and every green on the course known as “Hogan’s Alley.” But Chamblee […]
Consummate Cabo
Let me start by giving Cabo the ultimate compliment: I’d go even if there were no golf. I’d go for the resorts, dining, water sports, whale watching and deep-sea fishing, culture and history, nightlife (both touristy and authentic), beaches, and the weather. Especially the weather. Even without clubs, you’ll have a wonderful time. Add golf and Cabo is a […]
Inside the TaylorMade Kingdom Experience
On a recent trip to San Diego I was able to take in some of the SoCal golf sights. Tiger at Torrey Pines, Aviara Golf Club (home of the LPGA’s Kia Classic), and the TaylorMade Kingdom where PGA Tour pros were visiting to get properly fitted for TaylorMade’s new SIM metal woods. The name itself […]
Booming Baja: Cabo San Lucas
Between devastating storms and travel advisories, Cabo San Lucas—the sparkling jewel at the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula—has taken its share of hits the past few years. But things are looking sunnier, especially for golfers, at this sun-soaked stop that has been a favorite of Hollywood stars and is one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations. If you haven’t checked out the offerings […]
Royal Melbourne—The International Team’s Only Hope?
By Nick Edmund According to the form book and every available statistic, this week’s 13th rendition of the Presidents Cup was unlikely to be a close encounter. Here’s the proverbial case for the prosecution: the International team had triumphed in only one of the previous dozen matches and that was more than two […]
The Future of Municipal Golf Courses
The future of municipal courses in America is a subject of great concern with course closures on pace to exceed openings for yet another year. Many of the approximately 2,500 municipal golf facilities in the U.S. face an uncertain future despite making positive impacts with an often-conflicting responsibility—providing an affordable community recreation option while still […]