5 Golf Book Titles To Celebrate
I have no awareness of why I have torn through five different golfing books in the past month. There have been no injuries, no layoffs from work, no two-week vacations on tropical islands with nothing to do. Simply put, in the time that presented itself, I became a voracious reader. Without delay, here are five worthwhile golfing books that you can pick up in a local new , used or online book store.
THE RUB OF THE GREEN (1988) You’ll have to find this one on abebooks.com or some other used book seller. Long out of print (the second printing was 1989), it shouldn’t be. The initial offering from William Hallberg, RUB tells the story of Ted Kendall, an Ohioan who absorbs his mother’s death and deflects his father’s inequities to earn a college golfing scholarship and PGA Tour card. He also earns an 18-month stay in prison. Hallberg tells parallel tales of Kendall’s prison and golfing lives. Suffice it to say that a life-changing event takes place within prison confines and that the two stories ultimately merge in a complex way. Hallberg has a wide vocabulary that enables him to not sound pedantic, ever. Reading this book is an easy undertaking, even with a few unfortunate holes along the way. The most glaring is, how did Ted Kendall become an agronomy expert? Other than that, a great volume.
GOLFING WITH GOD (2007) Roland Merullo spins an other-worldly tale about a mission assigned to a dead club professional by none other than the creator ownself. Fairly contented in his cloud-side condo and challenging celestial country club, Hank Winston is shaken from his doldrums by an assignment: help God recover her/his game. Merullo seems unsure of certain fictional elements, such as how to handle platonic/sexual love between God and Winston. After all, the Christion god invites all to love her/him. The hints at sexuality between the two figures are awkward, adolescent, and either misguided or unneeded. Unlike Hallberg above, who describes two specific scenes of sexual encounter with expertise and confidence, Merullo embarks on certain tangents for which he lacks the confidence necessary to conclude. In spite of these flaws, the basic story is an unexpected and interesting one, and is also worth the investment of time and cash.
MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN (2006) Bob Mitchell must be a professor at some New England college or university. He imbues his protagonist, a professor of comparative literature, with all the characteristics of his own world, circles and life. There can be no doubt that writing in the voice of a completely different self is unnerving and demanding beyond all comprehension. Nevertheless, it is the mark of a great writer and great writing. Would that we might have such a taken risk here. MATCH is the story of a dying man given the opportunity to play a match against God for his life. On the first tee, instead of facing the Almighty, Elliott Goodman (really? couldn’t do any better than Goodman?) faces off against an unforeseen foe that is anyone but God. The Almighty sends emmisaries, famous figures of history, to combat Goodman. The novel employs a didactic technique to teach Elliott and the reader a series of life lessons. It never descends into preachy, superior tones. As one might guess, the selection of influential historical figures is limited to 18 (for the number of holes in the match) and could easily have excluded some and included others. Somewhat controversial and certainly readable.
JENKINS AT THE MAJORS (2009) Please take a moment to read the following series of quotes:
“It’s entirely possible that Dr. Cary Middlecoff gave up dentistry becuase people couldn’t hold their mouths open that long.”
“And now hes was the PGA Tour’s first player to draw an indefinite suspension for using too many Elizabethan words in front of innocent listeners.”
“Finally, on Sunday morning, the USGA felt compelled to make a citizen’s arrest of Bobby Clampett, a fine amateur, for conduct considered ‘demeaning’ to the Open.”
“Pate had said to Ben, ‘Gentle, you’re my pick tomorrow. I believe you can rope-a-dope that old hook yours right into victory lane.’ It was noted by a listener that Jerry had put three different sports into one sentence, proving he’d gone to the University of Alabama.”
“It was a wondrous moment in golf. Harry Vardon was inventing the grip again. Arnold Palmer was hitching up his trowsers again. Bobby Jones was impregnably quadrilateraling again.”
I have at least six more pages marked for similar ejaculations but, really, can anyone…does anyone write this way, anymore? Does Dan Jenkins even write this way, anymore? No, of course not. Read this volume chronicalling and recapping 50 years of his covering golf’s majors and you will visit the bygone days of a bygone writer of immeasurable and unequalled comedic brilliance.
A DISORDERLY COMPENDIUM OF GOLF (2006) In the days of B.I. (Before Internet), you had to travel to Toronto to read Lorne Rubenstein’s thoughts on golf. Now, you can visit The Globe and Mail’s website and read his work any of seven days each week. It might not be something new, but it will be his own. For some unknown reason, Rubenstein and co-editor Jeff Neuman took it upon themselves to abandon their wives and write a misguided encyclopedia on the happenings of golf. The thing is a beast and can be read in so many directions that it feels like a work of magical realism by some over-tall Argentine writer named Cortazar. This is not a bad thing. On one page, you’re reading about Harry “Beer Bottle” Bradshaw and WHAMMY, on you go to 1899 Rules of Etiquette, Golf’s Myths Exposed and (say her name three times fast) Jenny Chuasiriporn. The COMPENDIUM is the perfect bar room tome for settling bets, creating dares, and challenging curmudgeons. If you have only one golf reference work on your book shelf (you should purchase many, but far be it from me to tell you what to do), this one is my winner.
Mo’ Golf
Brief Bio-Mo’ Golf is a very experienced golf travel writer having written for some of the leading golf publications. He is also the man behind Buffalo Golf, a great site dedicated to golf in the greater Buffalo Area.
$2.7 MILLION RENOVATION NEARS COMPLETION AT BADLANDS GOLF CLUB
All 27 Greens Receive Major Upgrades to Enhance Quality
Scottsdale, Arizona - Troon Golf,® the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing is pleased to announce that a $2.7 million renovation at Badlands Golf Club, located in Las Vegas, Nev., is near completion. When overseeding is completed in late October, players will notice a major improvement in the putting surfaces on the Desperado, Diablo and Outlaw greens. Badlands will continue to have 18 holes open for play during the overseeding process.
The renovation, which began in May 2007, was aimed at enhancing the “feel” and improving the drainage of all 27 greens at Badlands. Starting with the Desperado course and finishing with Diablo and Outlaw, every green was removed to the subsurface and completely rebuilt. The greens were also grassed with upgraded Pennlinks Bentgrass putting surfaces, marking the first time in the club’s history that all three courses feature consistent surfaces.
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the renovation,” stated Chad Pettingill, general manager, Badlands Golf Club. “We believe the improvements help establish Badlands as a premier place to play in the Las Vegas area.”
In addition to upgraded greens, Badlands also improved several bunkers, added new tee boxes and completely resurfaced numerous others. The driving range tee was also resurfaced during the renovation and the practice green was greatly increased in size. A brand new short-game practice area will also be complete in October and will feature a pitching & chipping area, practice bunker and an additional putting green.
Set against majestic red rock canyons, Badlands Golf Club features a Johnny Miller design with 27 holes of breathtaking beauty. A true masterpiece, the Desperado, Diablo and Outlaw courses offer distinct layouts that challenge players of all levels. Spanning across more than 220 acres, the course crosses over deep flowing arroyos, canyons and natural washes.
Badlands Golf Club is managed by Troon Golf. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon Golf is the world’s largest golf management company, overseeing operations at more than 200 courses located in 31 states and 31 countries. Additionally, 36 Troon Golf facilities enjoy a Top 100 ranking by national or international publications. Troon Golf properties include Oneida Golf and Country Club, Green Bay, Wis.; Talking Stick Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.; The Clubs at St. James Plantation, Southport, N.C.; Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.; Playa Mujeres Golf Club, Cancun, Mexico; and The Grove, London, England.
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For more detailed information on The Badlands Golf Club, click here. To check availability, pricing, or to book a tee time, click here.
INDIAN WELLS GOLF RESORT RECOGNIZED BY GOLF INDUSTRY’S TOP PUBLICATIONS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2009
CONTACTS: Nancy Samuelson, City of Indian Wells
(760) 346-2489
nsamuelson@indianwells.com
Jeff Locke, Communication Links
(480) 348-7540
jlocke@commlinks.com
INDIAN WELLS GOLF RESORT RECOGNIZED BY
GOLF INDUSTRY’S TOP PUBLICATIONS
“Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play” in California, ‘08 - Players Course No. 20, Celebrity Course No. 15
“Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play” in California, ‘09 - Players Course No. 10, Celebrity Course No. 14
“Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses You Can Play” in the Nation, ‘07-’08 - Players No. 3, Celebrity No. 7
“Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses You Can Play” in the Nation, ‘08-’09 - Players No. 7, Celebrity No. 6
“Golfweek’s Best Tour Courses You Can Play” - Celebrity Course No. 18
“Golfweek’s Best New Courses You Can Play” in the Nation, ‘07 - Players Course No. 30
Golf Magazine: California’s Top 30 Public-Access Golf Courses: Players No. 13, Celebrity No. 16
Golf Digest Golf Guide: Players Course earned 4 ½ stars out of 5 in “Best Places You Can Play”
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Not resting on its laurels, Indian Wells Golf Resort continues to garner awards and accolades from the golf industry’s top golf publications.
Golfweek magazine honored Indian Wells Golf Resort with several of its prestigious golf course awards. Recently, both golf courses at Indian Wells Golf Resort were listed on Golfweek’s ranking of the “Best Courses You Can Play” in the state of California for 2009. The Players Course came in at No. 10 and the Celebrity Course at No. 14 out of the 25 top courses in the Golden State. Indian Wells Golf Resort was one of only two 36-hole facilities with both golf courses receiving the award. This marks the second year in a row that both courses earned this award with the Celebrity moving up one spot from 2008 to 2009 and Players moving up a remarkable 10 spots from 2008 to 2009.
In another recently released ranking, Golfweek honored Indian Wells Golf Resort on a larger stage by listing both golf courses for the second years in a row to its ranking of “Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses You Can Play” in the Nation. In the 2008-2009 municipal course ranking, Golfweek featured the Players Course at No. 7 and the Celebrity Course at No. 6, among other notable golf clubs such as Bethpage Black (1), Chambers Bay GC (2), Torrey Pines South (3) and SilverRock (32), the only other golf club from the Coachella Valley that was honored. In last year’s 2007-2008 ranking, Golfweek featured the Players Course at No. 3 and the Celebrity Course at No. 7, among other notable municipal clubs such as Bethpage Black (1), Chambers Bay GC (2) and Torrey Pines South (5), no other golf clubs from the Coachella Valley were honored that year.
Indian Wells Golf Resort is no stranger to competitive golf at the highest level. For its role as the host of the LG SKINS GAME, the Celebrity Course was honored by Golfweek as one of “Golfweek’s Best Tour Courses You Can Play.” The ranking noted the top 45 course that held a tour event during the 2008-2009 season, and the Celebrity Course earned the 18th spot on that ranking. Other distinguished California clubs to make the ranking include Spyglass Hill Golf Club (3), Classic Club (13), Torrey Pines: South (15) & North (32), SilverRock (41) and Poppy Hills Golf Course (44).
Rounding out the list of Golfweek awards garnered by Indian Wells Golf Resort, the Players Course came in at No. 30 on “Golfweek’s Best New Courses You Can Play” rankings for the year the golf course opened, 2007.
Other heavy-hitters in the golf world also weighed in on Indian Wells Golf Resort. For example, Golf Magazine named both golf courses to its list of “California’s Top 30 Public-Access Golf Courses: Players Course No. 13; Celebrity Course No. 16. And Players Course earned 4 ½ stars out of 5 in Golf Digest’s “Best Places You Can Play” golf guide.
“We are thrilled to receive so many awards from these industry-leading publications,” said Greg Johnson, city manager for the City of Indian Wells. “It’s truly gratifying to see our vision of Indian Wells Golf Resort come to life. Although we knew all along that its future was bright, being recognized by several of the most prominent publications in golf is certainly special. Congratulations to everyone who poured their efforts into boosting Indian Wells Golf Resort into a category occupied by the finest golf facilities in the country, if not the world.”
Players Course
Conceived in the spirit of a classic American design style, The Players Course features wide playing corridors, traditional rectangular tee boxes and sculpted bunkers. Most of the holes are oriented to take full advantage of jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountain ranges and majestic Eisenhower Mountain to the south. As a “core golf” layout, no roads or homes intrude into the golf course, and each hole is designed to be somewhat sheltered from the others to elicit a feeling of solitude. Uniquely, Fought was able to utilize many of the mature trees found on the original East Course property to impart the feel of a venerable facility while at the same time delivering a modern approach to golf course design. But to be clear, the mature tree cover and geographical location are about the only two things that the original East Course (opened in 1986) and the new Players Course have in common. By design, the Players Course is completely different than the original golf course.
Celebrity Course
Clive Clark’s much anticipated new Celebrity Course opened November 1, 2006 to rave reviews. In addition to spectacular mountain views, the new Par-72 Celebrity Course features undulating fairways, and flowing water in the form of streams, brooks, and split-level lakes connected by striking waterfalls, with vibrant floral detail.
From start to finish, the Celebrity Course offers an unmatched golf experience ideal for golfers of all levels of play. In fact, the Celebrity Course was on full display, as it played host to the 2007 and 2008 LG SKINS GAME. In 2007, Stephen Ames took top honors and KJ Choi bested his fellow competitors in the 2008 event. The Celebrity Course’s many risk/reward challenges and fine conditioning provided the ideal arena for the world’s best to display their abilities.
Indian Wells Golf Resort
The Indian Wells Golf Resort has been a popular golf travel destination for nearly 20 years with its two golf courses, four adjacent hotel/resorts and great winter climate leading the way. The City of Indian Wells, owner of the golf resort, decided to further elevate the Indian Wells golf experience by embarking on an ambitious facility-wide project that yielded two new golf courses - Celebrity Course opened November of 2006 and Players Course followed November of 2007. In addition, the spectacular IW Club (clubhouse) opened to the public in 2008. Soon after opening, it won 1st Place in the 2008 Golf Inc. magazine Clubhouse Competition. The richly appointed IW Club houses an impressive array of amenities including the Callaway Performance Center, fine and casual dining, jaw-dropping golf shop, sprawling patios, nine-hole lighted putting course, complete practice facility and a host of other amenities.
Awards and Accolades, at a glance
- “Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play” in California, ‘08 - Players Course No. 20, Celebrity Course No. 15
- “Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play” in California, ‘09 - Players Course No. 10, Celebrity Course No. 14
- “Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses You Can Play” in the Nation, ‘07-’08 - Players No. 3, Celebrity No. 7
- “Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses You Can Play” in the Nation, ‘08 -’09 - Players No. 7, Celebrity No. 6
- “Golfweek’s Best Tour Courses You Can Play” - Celebrity Course No. 18
- “Golfweek’s Best New Courses You Can Play” in the Nation, ‘07 - Players Course No. 30
- Golf Magazine: California’s Top 30 Public-Access Golf Courses: Players No. 13, Celebrity No. 16
- Golf Digest Golf Guide: Players Course earned 4 ½ stars out of 5 in “Best Places You Can Play”
- 2009 Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses of Distinction
- IW Club placed 1st in the 2008 Golf Inc. magazine Clubhouse Competition
- IW Club, 1 of the “13 Best New Restaurants” - Palm Springs Life
To book this great facility, please call 760-471-6023 or visit http://www.showtimegolf.com/palmsprings/courses/courses_indianwells.php
To Overseed OR Not To Overseed, That Is The Question.
Does it look prettier when you overseed? Yes. Is it always practical? No.
And no, the operators have not stopped watering because the course is struggling financially. The answer is that the Bermuda grass – which is the primary turf throughout mopst San Diego area courses – goes dormant for the winter. like an animal that hibernates, warm-season grasses like Bermuda “shut down” until the warm temperatures return in the spring. this “shut down” occurs when ground temperature (not to be confused with the air temperature) goes below 62 degrees. Since the grass is no longer growing, the playing surface turns an off-color yellow or white and becomes very fast and “tight”.
So why are the tees and greens green? First, different grasses are for different purposes. Second, the tees are green because most courses overseed them with a winter rye grass, and the greens are green because they are Bent grass; which also grows less during the winter months but does not go dormant.
If you overseed the tees, why can’t you overseed the fairways like courses that do overseed? Sometimes when a course is new or may not have a strong foudation, it takes several years for the turf to mature and establish a solid base. If you introduce a different grass outside your primary turf, you are creating a scenario where the grasses will compete against one another to survive. While the rye will look green and thrive during the winter months, it will also be choking out the Bermuda. This is because even though the Bermuda is dormant and not growing, it still needs sunlight to survive.
Why don’t you use rye year round? Since rye grass is a cool season turf, it will need more and more water to survive as the weather warms. Rye is also a less durable turf than Bermuda and will struggle and thin during the summer months especially under all the cart traffic. Add the drought and water restrictions California faces along with the use of reclaimed water (which is much harsher and contains a much higher salt content than potable water) and the conditions for the rye to survive diminish even further. This leads back to a solid and healthy Bermuda base that goes dormant during the winter is still a much better alternative than struggling with your turf conditions over the summer months. The bottom line is this: the course’s turf is the most important asset of any golf course. I can assure you he management team and the course operators are committed to making the best decisions for the course’s long-term health and longevity.
The previous article was paraphrased from a newsleeter put out by The Crossing’s at Carlsbad’s General Manager, Jeff Perry in reponse to some member questions about overseeding.
To book The Crossings at Carlsbad, please call 760-471-6023 for Ocean views, breezes, and quite a little challenge!
Forget the Flowers, Mom really wants to Golf
Still don’t know what to get Mom for Mother’s Day this year (May 10th is less than a week away!)? Skip the predictable flowers and jewelry and send Mom on a luxurious golf vacation. Showtime Golf (760-471-6023) can arrange a day on the links or a 3-day getaway complete with spa treatments, first class transportation and even a custom fitting for a new set of clubs. Here are a few of our top Mother’s Day picks:
Our top 3 for Mom:
La Quinta Resort and Spa in Palm Springs is not only one of the most beautiful and popular in the area, but it also has a fantastic spa. A weekend of leisure and luxury will surely make her smile. Call us at (866) 661-2334 and ask about our Best of the West vacation package.
Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas is challenging for golfers of all levels and features breathtaking views. Who doesn’t want a Las Vegas get-away?
Aviara at the Four Seasons Resort is one of the finest courses in San Diego and hands down one of our personal faves. The gorgeous landscapes and impeccable greens really make Aviara a stand out. Call us at (866) 661-2334 to inquire about our Aviara vacation packages.
Don’t forget that Showtime Golf also offers gift certificates, which are good at any of our 75+ golf courses in San Diego, Palm Springs, Las Vegas or Phoenix areas. These gift certificates make the perfect last minute gift. We can process and email mom’s golf gift certificate in only a few minutes so don’t sweat it, order your gift certificate today and make mom proud of you!
And, as an added bonus, if you reserve a golf package, tee time or gift certificate today, we will throw in a FREE one year subscription to Golf Digest for mom! Simply enter promo code “MOMGD” when booking your tee time, gift certificate or golf package to receive your free subscription.
