World Amateur Championship and Hooters Tour.

Made it to Myrtle Beach for four days of the Golf.com World Amateur Championship. Thankfully, I didn't make it to the Finals on Friday, because after the 18 hour drive there and four days of golf I was ready to drop.

Weekend after Myrtle Beach was the 3-day Hooters Amateur Tour Championship.
I lead my flight after the first day. The second day I played so poorly buzzards were circling overhead and other golfers were offering to buy my clubs just to get me out of there so they could get on with their game rather than watching my hack job. (Note: don't take a lesson that involves being coached into a complete swing change two days before a tournament. Guess who did just that?) Third day echoed the second day, until I strained my right shoulder. I finished playing but each shot, even a putt, was nothing but pain - this time for me as well as those watching me.

And so ended the 2011 tournament season.
Good news: the new swing change was from my John Daly "too much backswing for an old fart like me" swing, to a much more comfortable Steve Stricker three-quarter, "look Ma, no wrists" swing. The hurt shoulder forced me to practice the new swing at the swing speed of a snail (really, they do play golf). And guess what? Some of those teaching books are right: correct club face contact does make a difference. At 60mph instead of trying for 150mph I was able to hit the ball square and in the sweet spot. Much more accurate and incredibly, more distance. Voila, a golfer is born. Now, I just have to wait thru Winter until next season to prove to the others that I'm not the same hack I was the last time they saw me.

Have now played Lowest Altitude and Highest Altitude courses in the U.S.

"Ace" Middleton and myself set off a week or a lifetime ago to a town near Denver to visit an old high-school buddy (of course we're all now "old" high school buddies). With our friend, Paul, driving his 4-wheel drive Suburban, we went over Loveland Pass and made our way to Copper Creek Golf Course at Copper Mountain, billed as the highest 18-hole golf course in the U.S. (Played lowest elevation course, Furnace Creek GC in Death Valley, last year). Paul didn't play but rode along in the golf cart and was our official photographer and rules official (although he knows nothing about golf). We were joined by two gentleman who are retired and play the course regularly; I hope very regularly, as they kicked our butts! It should however be added that the Copper Creek course was designed by Pete Dye (yep that diabolical Pete Dye); meaning the course was beautiful but very tricky, especially playing it for the first time. Thankfully, our retired playing partners gave us good instructions on where to try to hit the ball and where to try to avoid hitting the ball. Once or twice Ace and I were able to follow their instructions.
We'd heard that the 9-hole Mount Massive Golf Course about thirty miles away in Leadville was actually a little higher in elevation in some spots than Copper Creek. So, to make sure we could legitimately make the claim to playing the highest elevation course we enjoyed the ride over to Leadville. Stayed the night in the 125 year old Delaware Hotel (past residence of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Doc Holliday). Next morning, we found and played the 9 holes at Mount Massive. After the constant elevation changes (beautiful but taxing at almost 2 miles elevation) of Copper Creek, the flat Mount Massive course looked to be an easy challenge. A nicely groomed course, it proved to not be the easy challenge we'd expected; or at least that I'd expected. Ace again demonstrated how to play golf; I demonstrated how not to. I'll blame it on the altitude.

Just as a warning, if you decide to emulate our glorious trip (made more glorious by the fact the temperatures back home were 114 while we were playing in temps in the 70's) DO NOT attempt to cross over Mosquito Pass. We did - barely, after getting stuck and shoveling out of snow and boulders at 13,000 feet using bare hands and golf clubs. Made for quite a memorable adventure, one we never, ever want to repeat. The sign at the start of the "road" leading to the Pass states "Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles Only." It should read "Burros Only;" or better yet, "Jackasses Only."

Another Hooters win!

Well, surprised everyone, especially myself by winning a Hooter's two-day tournament that was a World Amateur Championship qualifier. Especially surprising as, after my past two wins, I'd been moved up to a better players flight (not sure what the politcally correct description should be). First tournament a couple weeks ago in the new flight I'd come in fifth. But, this time got lucky. Went to a playoff against another player and first hole we both bogied; second playoff hole I parred and he failed to; so, another cool trophy, a Titleist Hooter's Amateur Tour golf bag and my entry fee to the World Ams in Myrtle Beach paid for.
Oh, btw, know how all the golf advise books say to practice your "short game." Well, they're right. That's how I've won each of my events. The other guys outdrive me. But, we're all usually off the green some after our approach shots; but, thanks to all the short game practice I've put in, I usually get up and down; whereas the others have a little tougher time. So, practice those 25 yard chip/pitch shots and lag putts.

However, I found that two days of 18 holes in a row took a tole on my old body; so, a four-day World Ams tournament is going to be torture. But, I think I'll eventually recover. Like practicing your short game (which is easier on us old farts who can't endure hitting buckets of drivers at the range); you should always do what's best for your game. For me right now that unfortunately means staying away from golf as much as possible and hopefully all or at least some of my aches and pains will go away. I sure hope so. I imagine my co-workers are getting tired of hanging around someone who smells like BenGay all the time.

Hooters Amateur Tour - Oklahoma

Came across a great local tour (probably find it a little greater in the fact I've my won flight two out of the four tournaments this year. And they are way cool trophys. Kinda the look and feel of a Heisman Trophy. Only, of course, with a lot more prestige. The tour's great, the golfers are great; but, the oddity I'm wanting to write about today is a sudden case of hitting my driver straight. It's about to drive me crazy. My normal driver tee shot has always been a banana ball. However, I actually took a lesson from a PGA Pro. (The rumors are right, that is the place to start.) He had me concentrating on trying to hit hooks. Now I'm hitting it freakishly straight. It's so, so cool to have the confidence walking up to the tee knowing beyound a shadow of a doubt you're going to stripe one exactly the direction you're aiming. But, as we all know, these things come and go; or, at least smaller versions have. I've never had anything this serious "come." But, my fear is: when is it going to "go?"
Of course, all golfers also know that with any good comes some bad. So, although I'm now striping my drives about 235 arrow straight, I'm hitting all my irons suddenly as fat as they come. But where there's a problem there's a solution. Mine has been to carry a carload of hybrids and just work on sweeping the ball on approach shots. I realize that part of my iron trouble is the fact the courses are still pretty much tight, winter lies. As soon as they green out I'm hoping I'll be hitting my irons to match my drives. Then, given my good short game (developed out of necessity to make up for my suck long game) I may just get to have another tropy or two on the ol' mantle.
As if being an addicted Golf Nut in itself wasn't bad enough; I've now found from winning that Lombardi was right "Winning is the only thing." Kind of a shame. I actually used to enjoy just a leisurely round on a beautiful course with good friends.
They say there's always someone better than you; and always some one worse than you. Well, to keep me humble, ol' Ace Middleton and I went out the other day, my two trophys in my corner, his Tulsa Golf Challenge Champion medal in his corner. End of the day, the medal stayed in his corner (by two lousy strokes! Actually, three strokes. We play in case of a tie the current medal holder keeps the medal). But, that was a day or two before "driver straightitis" set in. So, I'm eager for a rematch before the banana ball comes back.
Oh, and anyone having any knowledge whatsoever about the Golf Nuts Society and it's current situation, please write me at golfnut2011@yahoo.com. If you do, it may just give you the good karma to win the lottery. No promises. But I wouldn't be surprised.

Too Much Golf?

Too much golf?
I don't mean for me, of course - even though I've played at least 9 holes about every day so far this year, except Jan 1 (still kicking myself for not playing that day, since it was pretty mild weather).
We've been blessed with unusually great weather for January (although one of my rounds was in 34 degrees).
Nope, the "too much golf" I'm referring to is for my buddy "Ace" Middleton. He's always been a great ball striker and almost always was on the green in regulation (very much unlike me). And if he wasn't on, his chipping was good enough to give lessons to pros (again, very much unlike me). However, his one and only weakness was his putting - which I think was more a confidence thing. And, it was the one point in our play where I had a chance to make up ground. I was an over-confident putter (from playing putting games on practice greens where I kept playing until I 2-putted every hole at least once). However, I got away from my putting practice (to actually play full rounds) and needless to say, after a few blown 3-footers, I now have a phobia about 3-foot putts; and Rusty is whopping the crap out of me. My putting confidence left just as unfortunately his arrived. He can't miss anything 8 feet on in. I can't make anything unless it's at least 8 feet.
Yesterday though, I found a great new practice green, in great shape with tricky pin placements. Just by coincidence the local high-school team was on the driving range right next to the putting green. Nothing like a flock of coeds to either make or break your spirit in putting. Turns out I was putting so well I felt like everyone in the place was probably watching and admiring me, just like as if I was Ben Hogan. (Of course, probably no one noticed me, other than maybe with a "Hey, look at the old gray-haired guy putting. He's pretty good.") Ha! pretty good. If I could have hit the tee shots they were all hitting I might have even worked up the nerve to go rent a bucket of balls; but why spoil a good thing. And now, if I can keep away from playing a while and just go back and practice putting, maybe, just maybe, the coveted Tulsa Golf Challenge Champion medal will come back home to daddy (especially if I bend "Ace's" putter just slightly.)

Coveted Medal passes hands

After a round of golf yesterday characterized by golf balls skidding across frozen ponds and hopping off frozen ponds onto greens; and, of "Ace" Middleton making some spectacular putts (across greens that had striking similarities to features of the surface of the moon) the coveted Tulsa Golf Championship Medal was passed from a tearful "Bogey" Brown to Middleton.
On the positive side, the weathermen's prediction of cold, wind, and possible freezing junk falling from the sky kept everyone else at home in front of their fireplace. However, being true Golf Nuts, Brown and Middleton layered up and went and played - in 50 degree, sunny, no wind conditions; ie, "Perfect" and had the course to themselves (which given one or two or three or four wayward shots, was probably a very good thing.)

John Daly's Annual Boys and Girls Club Tournament

JD posted the following on his Twitter account:
"Just scheduled my Annual "Boys/Girls Club Tourn" at my course Lion's Den in Dardanelle, Ark - June 17-19. Get a Team by calling 479-229-4162."

Very worthy cause at a very beautiful golf course; and, probably get to meet the Man himself. - KB