Posted: April-22-2009 at 1:47am | IP Logged	Tweet

Golfer Bobby Jones, is he the greatest golfer of all-time? Some say he is. And when you look at all Jones accomplished in his storied career, he just might be the greatest golfer of all-time.

What's so incredible is, Jones never turned professional. He won all his matches as an amateur. He's the only golfer in history to capture the Grand Slam, winning all four majors in the same season.

Some will argue that Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer are the greatest of all-time, and there are many other talented golfers, too.

Usually every Tuesday night I will look on The Golf Channel to see what golf-themed movie they're showing. And last night I really enjoyed watching "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius."

If you've never watched the movie, I highly recommend you try to view it. You won't be disappointed.

Posted: April-22-2009 at 7:05am | IP Logged	Tweet

Bobby Jones was by far the greatest golfer of all-time. His feat of winning the Grand-Slam may never be duplicated although Tiger Woods did win 4 majors in a row, however not in the same year as Bobby accomplished...

...that's why they call it the "Tiger Slam".

Posted: April-22-2009 at 11:12pm | IP Logged	Tweet

The "Tiger-Slam" as you mentioned "BugMan," a couple of my buddies, we were talking about the "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius" movie today and how that Tiger's come close by winning four-straight. Just not all in the same year.

Hey "ptnray," I've never actually gotten to attend The Masters. But I have been down once for the Par-3 Tournament, in 2002. All the family on my dad's side live around the North Georgia region (Toccoa, Cornelia, Clarksville, Mt. Airy, Gainesville and Lavonia). One of my cousin's attends the Par-3 Tournament every year, and he generally rounds up access to The Masters.

Being the Bobby Jones movie wasn't out when I was at Augusta National, to be quite honest, I didn't know until reading some info at August National that Bobby Jones is who built the course.

I'm like you "ptnray," there at the end of the movie, when Bobby pulled into that field and then got out and hit the golf ball, and said "This will be the first tee." Then it fades in and shows Augusta National. Man, that made cold chills run all over my body.

I watch quite a bit of golf on TV, but by far the most of any tournament I'll watch is The Masters.

I'm kind of like Bobby Jones when he first went over to the British Open and he walked off. That place is nothing more than a glorified cow-field. Sure, a lot of tradition evolves around that tournament. But I don't care. The playing conditions are the same for each player, but I've seen British Opens when it was so cold the players wore winter clothes. To me, that's not how golf's supposed to be played. I consider golf to be a warm weather sport. The same way I do baseball. I just have a hard time watching baseball in April and then in October, when it's bone-chillin' cold for some games. Baseball is the "Game of Summer."

I really enjoyed "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius." I'm going to buy a DVD of the movie.

Posted: April-23-2009 at 4:14pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Ah yes, the mighty TPS at Sawgrass. I love it! Often referred to as "The 5th Major", the stadium course is as fan friendly as it gets. Outside of the Big 4, it is my favorite.

I have never been to a major tourney on the PGA tour, but I have had the opportunity to play some courses on which majors and Ryder Cup events have been played. I can say without question that I felt like I was on hallowed grounds each time, particularly at Pinehurst #2, site of Payne Stewart's dramatic US Open victory over Phil Michelson in 1999 and The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, site of the even more dramatic USA comeback victory in the 1991 Ryder Cup, as well as the 2012 PGA Championship and I believe the Senior PGA event was played there recently. I felt like I could still see Mark Calcavechia with his head in his hands on the bank behind the 18th green after he thought he had blown it.

Another course I really love to play is the World Tour Golf Links in Myrtle Beach. It's a "replica" course, with holes designed as close to their counterparts around the world as possible. It has it's own "Amen Corner" (Masters), it's own island green par 3 (TPC at Sawgrass hole 17), the dizzying super-dogleg par 5 from Valderrama, and one of the nostalgic finishing holes on one of its three nine hole courses, the 18th at St Andrews. The course is always in perfect shape, and from the time you hit the gates until the time you leave, you are treated as if you are a PGA touring professional by design. I would recommend that experience to any golfer.

Posted: April-24-2009 at 1:48pm | IP Logged	Tweet

I haven't had the pleasure of playing Tobacco Road, but have heard from a few friends that it is "saaaweeeet"!

My favorite 9 at World Tour is by far the Championship 9, which is the one with the replica "Amen Corner". The 5th, which is like the 12th at The Masters couldn't have been installed in a better place because the wind makes it so similar.

I played it 2 days in a row. The first day I hit a trap 7 iron to within 2 ft (the hole was low and left). The second day, I tried a high cut 4-iron right on the screws into its "Sunday pin"...I thought I was all over it...it landed in the front bunker, LOL!

Played those 3 holes bogey, birdie, birdie on day one and double-bogey, bogey, bogey on day 2. From the back tee, the 11th (technically the 4th at WT) plays way longer than its 455 yds (par 4). Brutal, just brutal.

I think the two prettiest holes there are both on the International 9. Both are par 5's. The Par 5 2nd, inspired by Valderrama's Par 5 4th is absolutely gorgeous with its waterfall encircling the entire right side of its green. The other one is the par 5 6th, inspired by the 15th at Seminole. I had this one mixed up in an earlier post. This is the one that has so many choices and sweeps right like a half-moon. The par 3 3rd (Royal Troon #8), is the most intimidating 125 yd hole you'll ever see from the tee box if one is an average duffer like me. All you can see between you and the flag is sea-grass and cattails. Only part of the green is visible.

Myrtle Beach golf is really fun for me. I used to live there back in the early 1980's when the place was just beginning to explode. Back then, "The Dunes" was the place everyone wanted to play. To me, it still is.