Get Ready for Spieth Slam

Will 24-year-old Jordan Spieth achieve the career Grand Slam by winning the PGA Championship (August 10-13) at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina?

Yes.

While there will be no shortage of young guns vying for the Wanamaker Trophy such as Rory McIlory, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler to name a few, nobody comes into the last major of the year with more mojo and confidence than Spieth.

His comeback from a crash-and-burn round at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, was, as Jim Nance would say, "one for the ages". My gosh, after Spieth's disastrous first twelve holes, I thought they might start etching Matt Kuchar's name on to the Claret Jug.

Quite possibly, that one miraculous Spieth swing from the driving range next to a couple of equipment trailers, while playing the 13th hole, might have erased all the negative thoughts from blowing a three stroke lead and maybe allowed him, in the big picture, to finally put the 2016 Masters debacle in his rear view mirror.

Soon after hoisting the Claret Jug, Spieth said, "This is as much of a high as I've ever experienced in my golfing life."

Spieth is rapidly advancing to the rarified air of Nicklaus and Woods. In fact, Spieth and Nicklaus are the only players to win three different majors at the age of 23. The numbers don't lie, either. On the PGA TOUR, Spieth is No. 1 in scoring average (69.080), No. 2 in greens in regulation (70.58), No. 1 on the Official Money List and No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings. He's also tied with his friend Justin Thomas with 8 top ten finishes this season.

Arguably, the most impressive number is that Spieth wins 9% of the time, which is absolutely phenomenal when you consider the best players in the world only win around 5% of the time.

When you consider Spieth's momentum, confidence and statistics, he must be considered the consensus favorite to take home the 2017 PGA Championship. Enhancing his chances is an out-of-this-world, clutch short game, amazing prowess on putts over 15 feet and Michael Greller, who many consider to be the best caddie in the game and very experienced in major championships.

A win for Spieth would be great for golf. After all of the bad news concerning Tiger's troubles on and off-the-course, a victory at the PGA Championship to capture the career Grand Slam will give the golf world a huge headline and further enhance Spieth's status as the face of American golf around the world.

Masters Week Golf at Champions Retreat

If you're attending the Masters this year and you're looking for an exceptional place to tee up, I've got a terrific suggestion. In many respects, it's possibly the next best thing to playing Augusta National.

At the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, I spoke with Cameron Wiebe, general manager of Champions Retreat, a phenomenal 27-hole private club located 15 miles northwest of Augusta.

Wiebe said the club, which is exclusively private the rest of the year, accepts tee times from non-members during Masters Week (Monday April 3 to Sunday April 9 this year).

Perhaps you may have heard of the designers of the three separate 9 hole layouts? The gentlemen architects who fashioned the layouts are icons Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, aka The Big 3. Champions Retreat is the only place in the world with nines designed by the former Masters Champions.

Reportedly, Player presented the idea to Arnie and the Golden Bear at the Champions Dinner at Augusta National in 1999. They each selected a parcel of land for their nine and, voila, Champions Retreat was born.

The beautifully conditioned courses, with superb bentgrass greens, are set on rolling landscape dotted with tall pines, old hardwoods and wetlands alongside the Savannah River. 

"Champions Retreat is a pure golf experience," Wiebe said. "It's conveniently just minutes away from Augusta National and you play on wonderfully designed courses in a quiet, scenic setting away from the crowds."

Tee times are for 4 players. Each Masters Week tee time will be accompanied by one (1) forecaddie. The tee time price includes practice facility access, greens fees, forecaddie base fee (required), cart fee, tax, and all you can eat and drink for breakfast and lunch. Selections will include breakfast items, lunch items, snack items, soft drinks, sports drinks, domestic beer and well-liquor drinks. Tee times do not include the forecaddie gratuity.

Tee Time Rates for Champions Retreat Masters Week 2017:

Monday and Tuesday: $2,200

Wednesday--Saturday: $2,500

Sunday: $2,200

Monday, April 10th: Available for private outings.

In addition, there will also be live entertainment and other activities during the week. 

For more information, contact Lauri DeNicolo by email: lauri@championsretreat.net or call 706-854-6966

On Location: Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

For the Guru, the appeal of this classic Naples, Florida resort starts with the easy accessibility of all its major amenities. You can almost reach out and touch the white sand beach and swimming pool from your room balcony and the golf course and spa are located just a few steps from the front door of the main resort building.

I've visited Naples Beach Hotel & Club several times through the years and on my most recent visit last week (January 13-15, 2017) I was blown away by the enhancements throughout the property, especially the golf course, which has undergone an amazing transformation thanks to the Nicklaus Design Company.

GOLF

If you've played the golf course before, you'll barely recognize the new and decidedly improved version. The Nicklaus Design Company in collaboration with architect John Sanford didn't just renovate the course they essentially recreated it. Sanford's impressive portfolio includes Florida courses Hobe Sound Golf Club, Juliett Falls and Links at Madison.

Re-designed with reconfigured holes, the course has been modernized to stand up to today's equipment and technology. The new par-71 course has five tee settings on each hole playing from 4,800 yards to more than 6,900 yards. Enhancing the total experience is a new practice and teaching range and new golf carts with GPS tracking systems. The entire project cost $9 million and it was money well spent.

"I think those who have played The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club before are in for a pleasant surprise," says Jack Nicklaus. "I believe the golf course has been transformed into a fun, exciting and aesthetically pleasing layout..."

Nicklaus nailed it: I definitely found the course to be lots of fun with a variety of exciting holes and lots of eye candy with beautiful trees, lakes and wonderfully manicured green complexes. Nicklaus and Sanford worked overtime to make sure no two holes even look and play remotely alike.

The new GPS systems are top notch and extremely helpful in getting accurate yardages avoiding hazards, especially for first-time players to the resort. Just as important, they help speed up play.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Set on 125 acres along seven miles of stunning, white sandy beach, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, a AAA Four-Diamond resort, is comprised of six beachfront buildings and 319 guest rooms and suites.

The guest rooms and suites are appointed with high quality furnishings accented by cheery colors and earth tones that exude a sophisticated tropical feel. Chances are, though, you'll spend lots of time on your balcony or patio, which are superb places to enjoy a bottle of wine while you toast your inspiring surroundings.

AMENITIES

--1,000 feet of easily accessible soft white-sand beach and gentle surf ideal for families

--Beachfront pool complex

--Top-notch spa and fitness center 

--Tennis center with six Har-Tru courts

--Retail shops

--Beach umbrella and other rentals

--Complimentary child activity program

--Multiple restaurants and lounges

--34,000 square feet of meeting space

--18-hole golf course

10 Little Things I Liked

1. The wonderful and accommodating Watkins Family. Three generations of the family have owned and operated the resort.

2. Spacious balconies that are ideal for sipping wine and watching amazing sunsets.

3. Convenient self-parking.

4. A great location just minutes from downtown Naples where there's lots of shopping and restaurant choices.

5. The beautiful swimming pool situated a few steps from the beach.

6. The phenomenal blackened grouper sandwich I had after playing golf.

7. The biking, jogging and walking path that conveniently runs in front of the resort.

8. Friendly and helpful golf pro George Willard.

9. The new 300-yard long driving range.

10. The magnificent Banyon trees that dot the golf course.

DINING/LOUNGES

HB's on the Gulf-Offers fine indoor dining with spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico and sunsets as well as al fresco dining. Highlighting the menu is Garlic Shrimp, Pork Shank Bucatini, Stone Crabs and Scallops with Lobster Risotto.

Sunset Beach Bar & Grill-This aptly named restaurant, which sits a few steps from the beach, is arguably one of the best places in Florida to view a sunset. There's an open-air grill, big round group loungers, traditional chaise lounges and cocktail tables and chairs. On Wednesday thru Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. a solo guitarist performs. Menu highlights include Conch Fritters, Coconut Fried Shrimp and Blackened Grouper Sandwich.

Broadwell's-A restaurant at the Golf Club that serves a bountiful breakfast buffet as well as an a la carte menu with items like Ranchero Cubano, Eggs Benedict and Egg White Frittata.

THINGS TO DO

--Awesome sunset watching every evening at the resort's Sunset Beach Bar & Grill or from your guest room balcony.

--Shopping at nearby fashionable, walkable downtown streets--5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South.

--Shopping at Venetian Village, Waterside Shops, Bayfront and Tin City, which are located within easy driving distance of the resort.

--Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which is located a few blocks from the resort

--Tours of Corkscrew Swamp, The Botanical Gardens and Conservancy Nature Center.

--Deep sea fishing charters in the Gulf of Mexico.

--Shelling and eco tours

--Viewing a spectacular collection of race, classic and antique cars at Revs Institute of Automotive Research.

LOCATION

Located just a few blocks from downtown Naples at 851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North.

GET THE SCOOP

Click to NaplesBeachHotel.com or call 239-261-2222 or 800-237-7600 for reservations or general inquiries.

Best Event to See Golf Legends

Fortunately, most of golf's living legends congregate in one place annually at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

From Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Hale Irwin to John Daly, Nick Price and Nick Faldo, the fairways are teeming with golf icons at the PNC Father Son Challenge, which is staged every December. The unique tournament joins 20 of golf's legends with their son or daughter in a professional competition.

If you want to see some of golf's biggest and most popular stars up close and personal, I highly suggest you attend this tournament. The stars are very approachable off the course and the crowds are limited so you're often just a few feet away on tee boxes and greens from some of the greatest players who've ever picked up a club. Better still, the tickets are very reasonably priced.

The Ritz Carlton Golf Club, which sits behind The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando hotels at Grande Lakes Resort, is fairly flat and an easy walk so you can stroll along with the greats. An excellent resort course, it was designed by Greg Norman.

I've attended the tournament for several years and it's easily become one of my favorites to enjoy and celebrate the great game of golf. No other sport celebrates its great players like golf.

This year the team of John Daly and "Little John" Daly stole the show, so to speak, with their brightly colored pants/shorts, friendly demeanor and long balls off the tee. The tournament winners were David Duval and his stepson Nick Karavites, who out dueled Fred Funk and his son Taylor and Retief Goosen and his son Leo.

Some of the other greats who teed it up at the 2016 PNC Father Son Challenge were Raymond Floyd, Larry Nelson, Vijay Singh, Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Lee Janzen, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer, Stewart Cink, Steve Elkington and Mark O'Meara. All the participating pros must have won a Major or a Players Championship to be part of the field.

The absence of Arnold Palmer was clearly felt this year. Arnie absolutely loved the tournament and participated seven times. Palmer was instrumental in launching the event more than 20 years ago.

Baseball has its Old-Timers games and football greats gather at the Pro Football Hall of Fame every year, but golf has arguably the best way to see and enjoy its greatest stars--it's called the PNC Father Son Challenge.

See you there next year!

Harbour Town Golf Links: When the Lighthouse Beckons

I played Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island (South Carolina) a couple of days ago.

I'm still on a golfer's high with images of luxury boats and a candy stripe lighthouse dancing in my mind.

I first played Harbour Town 13 years ago and had a blast playing with my 10-year old son.

Flash forward to this past weekend and this time around my son is a strapping 23-year old who bombs it off the tee and wonders why "Pops" can't keep up with him.

We struck gold with the weather on our latest trip. It was 68 degree beauty in late October.  Our forecaddie, Lee, said it was one of the best days of the year.

Following the round, my son and I celebrated our good fortune a little differently this time. When he was 10, we went with the ice cream with double sprinkles. On this occasion we retired to the clubhouse bar and celebrated our enviable surroundings with a frosty IPA by the Palmetto Brewing Company of Charleston, South Carolina.

Absolutely, don't miss the cozy bar at the Harbour Town clubhouse. With its framed golf pictures and rich furnishings, it provides the ideal atmosphere to discuss the day's round and toast your good luck.

GURU's HARBOUR TOWN REVIEW

Risking a scolding and impending arrest from the hyperbole police, I view Harbour Town as a course with the elegance of Augusta national, the pine scented ambiance of Pinehurst and the water panorama excitement of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

If you don't believe the hype from yours truly,  PGA TOUR players (in a survey by Golf World) selected Harbour Town Golf Links as their second favorite course right behind Augusta National. Harbour Town hosts the PGA TOUR's RBC Heritage every April.

It's a perfect test for the pros. With tight fairways and small greens, you must control your accuracy and trajectory and be able to work the ball left or right to score well. If you're a weekend hacker or casual player, you must play the correct tees for your skill level or you'll need a calculator to tabulate your score and several sleeves of balls to finish your round.

While Pete Dye (with consultation by Jack Nicklaus) adroitly designed all 18 holes at Harbour Town, I consider the final stretch of holes (number 13 to the lighthouse) among the best anywhere.

No. 14 at Harbour Town Golf Links

Often overlooked by golfers so enamored with the lighthouse and finishing hole are two of the most picturesque and fun-to-play par threes. Number 14 (192 yards from the back tees, 165 yards from the blues and 148 from the whites) incorporates a beautiful pond, a bulkhead framed green, tall pines and moss draped oaks. As you gaze at the setting off the tee, the reflection of the trees off the pond creates a surreal effect.

Number 17 (185 yards from the back tees, 174 from the blues and 152 from the whites) is a scenic gem with an expansive backdrop of the Calibogue Sound. The tee shot, over a lagoon and high grasses, is an adventurous one. A long, narrow bunker skirts the left side of the green and continues up almost to the forward tees and a small, menacing bunker waits to gobble up errant shots right of the green.  Don't wait to take out your camera or phone camera on 18, this beauty deserves a few shots as well.

If you're an avid PGA TOUR fan and watch tournaments regularly on television, you, no doubt, tune in to watch the RBC Heritage. Like Augusta National, you're so familiar with many of the holes at Harbour Town that you feel like you know the course even if you've never played it.

Pete Dye has some marvelous courses around the world at places like Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, but no Dye hit list would be complete without this Sea Pines Resort gem on Hilton Head Island.

What's New for Golf Vacationers in 2014

If you're sick and tired of the constant drumbeat of gloom and doom economic news, I hope I can remedy that problem for you.

Finally, here's some good news about exciting happenings in the golf travel world in 2014:

Slated to debut early 2014 is a luxury 210-room main lodge at Streamsong Resort in Polk County near Lakeland, Florida. Amenities will include three restaurants and two lounge areas, an indoor pool, outdoor infinity pool, fitness center, full-service spa with multiple treatment rooms, retail shopping, hiking, birding tours, sporting clays and lakefront fishing complex with guides, outfitters and boating equipment. Situated 53 miles from Tampa and 69 miles from Orlando, Streamsong is home to two of golf's more celebrated new courses that opened in 2012. Set on formerly mined land, the courses incorporate hills, dramatic land forms, sweeping sand dunes, ridges and vistas. The two 18-hole courses were designed by Tom Doak and Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.


Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup matches, will debut 10 new luxury lodges in 2014, which is part of a planned development of 60 lodges. The large, multi-bedroom log cabins will be named Hunter Lodges. Offering views of the Usk Valley, the lodges will be situated near Celtic Manor's Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course.



The $3.5 billion Baha Mar mega-resort in Nassau's Cable Beach area (Bahamas) will open its 1,000-room casino hotel in December 2014. Opening late this year or early next year is the property's Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Baha Mar.



An 18-hole putting course at Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon is scheduled to open in May 2014. Designed by Tom Doak, the highlights of "The Punchbowl Putting Course" include 15 to 20 feet of elevation change and a 100-foot downhill roller coaster putt.


Expected to open late 2014 is the 444-room Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Set in Disney's ultra-exclusive, luxury master-planned Golden Oaks community near the Tom Fazio designed Osprey Ridge Golf course, the $360 million hotel will be dripping with luxury amenities.



PGA Village Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida has committed to a course conditioning and enhancement program that will significantly improve the overall golf experience at the resort's four golf courses. Veteran superintendent Dick Gray was hired to raise the quality of maintenance and conditioning to unparalleled levels for 2014 and beyond.


The Trump National Doral Miami (formerly named Doral Golf Resort & Spa) is undergoing a massive $250 million renovation and enhancement program. Slated for completion in fall 2014, the transformation will include refurbishment of guest rooms, extensive renovation of the clubhouse and redesign of the "Blue Monster" by architect Gil Hanse. The new "Blue Monster" is scheduled to be ready by early 2014, just prior to the 2014 World Golf Championship/Cadillac Championship in March.

The Indura Resort and Spa on the northern coast of Honduras is scheduled to open early 2014. One of the highlight amenities is an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player and managed by Troon Golf.

Ryder Cup 2014: How To Make it to Gleneagles

I know, I know, it's too early to start thinking about the Ryder Cup, right?

Uh, no, not really.

It's just a year away and if you want to be there, you better start planning now or you might end up spending the night in a pup tent with a flashlight on the beach instead of an amenity-laden room with European linens and designer toiletries.

Afterall, some major hotels are already declaring themselves full for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

To assist in your research and planning process, here's the scoop:

The Site

Gleneagles is a stately upscale hotel set in an 850-acre resort complex amid beautiful countryside in Perthshire, Scotland near the village of Auchterarder. Opened in 1924, the main hotel building was designed in the style of a French chateau. Today, the hotel has 232 guestrooms and 26 suites.

Through the 1920s and 1930s the hotel became the venue for those in high society and for wealthy Americans. Gleneagles closed during World War II and reopened in 1947.

It's a beloved respite for sportsman who can participate in pursuits like shooting, fishing, falconry, equestrian and off-road driving at the resort.

Golf at Gleneagles encompasses three 18-hole championship courses--The King's and Queen's by James Braid, a five-time winner of The Open Championship and the PGA Centenary, a Jack Nicklaus design.

The Ryder Cup Course



Opened in 1993, the PGA Centenary Course takes full advantage of the stunning Perthshire countryside. Nicklaus masterfully routed the course to make every hole visually appealing and challenging. Like other great Nicklaus' courses, the Golden Bear uses his signature features such as huge undulating greens, bold in-your-face bunkering and several high risk/high reward holes to create drama and anxiety for players.

PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles Resort

There are no breather holes on this layout, which is the longest inland golf course in Scotland. Only two holes incorporate water. Nicklaus demands pinpoint accurate approach shots on the PGA Centenary. I played there five years ago and I can attest you don't want to come up short on approach shots or your score will soar. Mr. Nicklaus did a creative job of placing a lot of trouble in front of the greens. For those who consistently under club, you're in for a long day.

From the back tees, the PGA Centenary plays to 7,296 yards, par 72 with a 145 slope. All of the holes have unusual names. Some of my favorites include, No. 4-Gowden Beastie, No. 9-Crock O'Moss and No. 13-Wimplin' Wyne.

Three Ryder Cup '14 Strategies

1. Use a golf travel company that can package accommodations, tickets, transportation and golf as well as give advice on sightseeing, shopping and dining. I highly recommend Atlanta, Georgia-based Premier Golf, which is licensed by the PGA of America as the official distributor of Ryder Cup Travel packages in North America.  Premier Golf's special Ryder Cup 2014 page 
has a comprehensive list of packages at differing price points and hotels.
Among the hotels featured are The Balmoral Edinburgh, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh, Fairmont St. Andrews, Dalmahoy, A Marriott Hotel and Country Club, Radisson Blu in Edinburgh, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Dundee, Malmaison Dundee and Carlton Hotel Edinburgh.

2. Arrange your own trip if you're Internet savvy and have lots of patience. I suggest clicking the Visit Scotland site, which is loaded with information about things to do, hotels and resorts and dining. For those who want to use St Andrews as a sort of convenient base camp (it's about a 70-minute drive from Gleneagles), the Visit St Andrews site is also an excellent user-friendly site. There are a wide variety of accommodations such as boutique hotels, mom and pop B & B's and chain hotels in major cities.

3. Rent a home in places like Stirling, Perth and Edinburgh, which all offer easy access to Gleneagles. To research, Glengolf2014, which helps in the private home renting process, is a good place to start.

Directions and Nearby Sights

Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are less than 50 miles away from Gleneagles. Great North Eastern Railway services stop at Gleneagles, which is on the London to Inverness line.

Here are the distances from Gleneagles to other major courses:

Ladybank Scotscraig St Andrews Old Dukes Course Carnoustie Crail Kingsbarns Western Gailes Glasgow Gailes Royal Troon Prestwick Royal Aberdeen

50 min 1 hour 70 min 70 min 70 min 75 min 80 min 90 min 90 min 1 hour, 40 min 1 hour, 40 min 2 hours

Must see sights near Gleneagles:

Drummond Castle at Crieff (pictured)
Scone Palace
Blair Castle
Stirling Castle
Elcho Castle
Dunblane Cathedral
National Wallace Monument (Braveheart)
Famous Grouse Experience
Tullibardine Distillery

The Town of Auchterarder

Gleneagles is located just outside the village of Aucherarder. Home to 4,000 residents, it's laid out with a long main street (1.5 mile High Street) giving it the nickname of the Lang Toon (meaning long town). For some excellent fish and chips and fried chicken takeaway, try the Top Shop on High Street. 






Why You Should Go

The politically correct answer is because you want to see one of the world's great sports events in person where you can witness passionate players and fans in a dynamic, pulsating spectator environment. Not so politically correct is those darn Euros came back on us in Chicago and it's about time we won the cup back on "their soil".

Scotland is a fascinating place to play golf. Better still, if you can play on some great courses while you're there attending the Ryder Cup to cheer on the Americans (or Europeans, if you so desire), well, as they say, "it doesn't get any better than that" for a golf traveler.

I can't wait till 2014 when chants of "U.S.A.", "U.S.A.", "U.S.A" and "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole" will blast through the Perthshire countryside.

Great golf course designers -- and their styles -- on display in Florida

If you like to play exceptional golf courses designed by some of the best architects like Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Donald Ross, Florida has an enviable menu. Check out my latest post at worldgolf.com:

Great golf course designers -- and their styles -- on display in Florida

5 Best U.S. Opens in the Modern Era

1. 1973--I've never seen a more mesmerizing round of golf than Johnny Miller's 63 on the final day. I remember watching the then 26-year old Miller pin-seeking on just about every hole at Oakmont resulting in a phenomenal birdie barrage that left players like Nicklaus and Trevino behind. The U.S.G.A. was so miffed that Miller essentially embarrassed them by soundly defeating its tough set-up that they came back the following year with near shin-high rough at Winged Foot where winner Hale Irwin shot a 7-over par for the victory.


2. 1999--Staged on Pinehurst No.2, this one had spectacular drama. Payne Stewart, with his wind shirt with cut off sleeves, sunk a treacherous 15-foot par putt on the final hole to beat Phil Mickelson. It was the pinnacle of Stewart's career. Sadly, he never got to defend his title. Stewart died tragically in a plane crash four months after he hoisted the U.S. Open trophy.


3. 2008--Tiger Woods won on a bum leg at Torrey Pines. Limping around the course like he'd been floored by a linebacker, Woods amazingly played at a championship level. Woods bested Rocco Mediate on the first hole of a sudden death playoff following an 18-hole playoff. Then came the fire hydrant at Isleworth, a slew of personal and knee problems and Woods hasn't won a major since.


4. 2011--This was the Rory McIlroy coming out party following his flame out at the Masters two months earlier. The 22-year old Irish lad broke the U.S. Open record by 4 shots with his 268 total at Congressional Country Club. He shot an astonishing 16 under par to win by 8 strokes. He also set the record for the 54-hole record at 199, the 36-hole record at 131 and the most under par at any point at 17 under. Here's what's truly amazing: He finished 8 shots ahead of Australian Jason Day, whose score of 8 under 276 would have been good enough to win 26 of the previous 30 U.S. Opens.


5. 2000--Up until Rory in 2011, this was the gold standard in U.S. Open play. Tiger Woods destroyed the best golfers in the world by shooting 12 under 272 and winning by a whopping 15 strokes over Ernie Els at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Is Tiger Woods Finally Back?

All aboard, we're now loading up on the "Tiger is finally back" bandwagon.

Everybody get your red shirts, black pants, TW caps and those goofy looking white athletic golf shoes because Tiger Woods is back.

With the fire hydrant in Isleworth, sex clinic in Mississippi and Perkins Restaurant distant memories, Woods is finally back on his game following victory at Jack's tournament (The Memorial).

Even the most devoted Tiger hater must appreciate the way Woods sealed the victory. Bringing back memories of his phenomenal chip at the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters, Woods executed a similarly memorable shot at The Memorial.


It was the type of timely shot that only Tiger seemed to hit prior to the Escalade escapade.


Is Tiger back?


No, at least not the invincible Tiger.


This 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 or whatever version of Tiger will probably play more at the level of Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Luke Donald.


Woods will be good, even great at times, but not nearly as dominant as his glory years when he was rattling off Major victories.

At age 36, with a slew of knee and personal problems, there is no way Woods will ever get close to his prime.

When you look back at the year 2000 when Woods was 24 years old, he won an amazing 11 events (9 PGA Tour titles, a European Tour event and the PGA Grand Slam) and three majors (Masters, U.S. Open and British Open).

Let's face it, Tiger set the bar so high that any future accomplishments by him and other golfers pale in comparison to that year. 

You hear all the talking heads rattle on about TW being one of the favorites to win next week's U.S. Open, but nobody really knows which Woods is going to show up.

Will we see the struggling, floundering Woods we saw in the Masters (following his Arnold Palmer Invitational win) or the new, improved Tiger that hits fairways, sinks five foot putts consistently and executes miraculous shots?

To be sure, the ratings for the U.S. Open will be off the charts because of Tiger. 

Both the bandwagon types and haters want to see Tiger either win his first major since 2008-- when he won the U.S. Open on a bum leg-- or crash and burn and miss the cut.

I'll be watching intently. 

Admit it, so will you.


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Golf in France is Magnifique

The spectacular Etretat Golf Club in Normandy.

Phenomenal wine, exquisite cuisine, amazing culture and history and golf courses designed by marquee names like Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye and Gary Player make France an enticing and viable golf destination.

Though France doesn't immediately top the list when thinking of a European golf destination, (Spain and Portugal promote their golf offerings more aggressively), it has all of the necessities for a superb golf-oriented excursion.

France has almost 600 courses, which is more than the rest of continental Europe combined. Equally important is there are only about 300,000 golfers in France resulting in courses that are, for the most part, relatively uncrowded. Visiting golfers are treated respectfully at most French golf clubs and are generally considered members for a day instead of suspicious interlopers like at some snooty European clubs.

The French golf menu is a diverse one ranging from traditional parkland layouts and links courses to dramatic clifftop and mountain courses. The divergent topography has given designers exceptional terrain to fashion courses with high-impact features. You'll be hard pressed to find two courses that look or play the same.

Whether you want to tee up overlooking the French Riviera, along the rugged coast of Normandy, in golf happy Biarritz or Bordeaux, near Paris or other areas of France, rest assured, the settings, food and wine will always be magnifique. 

Omaha Beach Golf Club in Normandy.

Here's a quick glance at some of France's popular golf courses (listed alphabetically):

Etretat Golf Club (Normandy region)--Its famous white cliffs make it one France's most identifiable courses. By all means, bring your camera along when you play this panoramic layout, which has a view from each hole of the ocean.

Evian Masters Golf Club (Rhone-Alpes region)--Situated at the foot of the Alps Mountains on the shores of Lake Geneva, this championship layout hosts the women's Evian Masters. A wonderland of lakes, trees and mountain views, it's one of Europe's most beautiful courses.

Golf de Chantilly (near Paris)--Stunningly beautiful, this wooded 36-hole complex, originally built in 1909, is the quintessential, traditional French golf experience.

Granville (Normandy region)--If you love links golf, this course is for you. The Golf de Granville du Mont St. Michel, originally laid out in 1912 and later redesigned by Harry Colt in 1921, is a 27-hole links golf complex oozing with charm and challenge.

Les Bordes (Loire Valley)--Consistently ranked as one of Europe's best courses, this private, Robert von Hagge layout has an American feel.

Moliet (Biarritz region)--This Robert Trent Jones design is famous for its jagged bunkers and carpet-like fairways.

Morfontaine (Chantilly region)-Annually ranked by many magazines and websites as a Top 50 course in the world, Morfontaine is notoriously private and you'll need to know a member or have a good connection to play this beauty.

Paris International (near Paris)--The only Jack Nicklaus design in France, this undulating parkland layout features high-profile water hazards and island greens. It's only open to non-members in July and August.

Omaha Beach Golf Club (Normandy region)--Located near the beaches where the Americans landed on D-Day, this picturesque layout is a supreme challenge, especially when the wind starts howling.

Seignosse (Biarritz region)--A highly ranked course designed by Robert von Hagge, is a wildly undulating layout dominated by pine and oak trees.

Versailles-Golf International-Albatross (near Paris)--A blend of Scottish links and target golf, this Robert von Hagge design, home to 18 of the last 20 French Opens, will serve as the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.

If you're looking for somebody who thoroughly understands how to combine golf with the French lifestyle,  I'd like to introduce you to Beatrice Martin, managing director of La Haute Couture du Voyage, a boutique style travel agency, with offices in Biarritz, France (+33 689657638) and New York City (917-981-9555) that can help you plan a luxury golf trip  to France. She has programs that incorporate wine appreciation, cooking classes, spa treatments, shopping, historical tours and a variety of other fun and interesting activities away from the fairways.

Here's a sample package to Bordeaux offered by La Haute Couture du Voyage:

*  7 nights accommodation at prestigious chateaux hotels or manors 
*  5 green fees (18 holes)
*  7 days transportation (self drive or with a driver-guide) 
*  daily breakfast
*  5 lunches
*  4 dinners at gourmet restaurants 
*  4 wine tasting visits in some of the famous Grands Crus Classes de Bordeaux 
*  visits to St Emilion medieval village 
*  sightseeing and boat tour in Bassin d’Arcachon and Paris
*  meet and greet at arrival in Bordeaux

Non golfers will enjoy different activities;  Spa treatments, shopping, cooking class, ...
 

Price starts at 4200 Euro per person/dbl room/ group of 6 minimum (approximately $5,560 U.S. dollars)

5 Reasons I Love to Play Golf at Mission Hills Resort in China

1. It has the largest golf course menu on earth with 12 layouts designed by a wide range of architects from Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye to Nick Faldo and Annika Sorenstam.

2. It has more than 3,000 caddies-- an army of cheerful, polite young ladies, who make a round of golf joyful and fun.

3. The open-front concrete structures on the courses serve Chinese noodle soup and ice cold Tsingtao, my favorite Chinese beer.

4. The American-style, high quality maintenance standards at all of the courses provide a fantastic golf experience.

5. The 163-yard, par-3 signature hole on the Faldo course, which is reminiscent of the 17^th at TPC Sawgrass is spectacular. Faldo’s version offers a tee shot from an elevated tee more than 100 feet above a tiny green.

(MissionHills Resort in southern China is situated less than a 30-minute drive from downtown Shenzhen and a 70-minute drive from Hong Kong.)

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The Blue Monster Makeover

Guess who will be re-designing the TPC Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort in Miami?

Gil Hanse. 

He's the little known architect, who was recently selected over Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Gary player design groups to design the 2016 Olympics golf course in Rio de Janeiro with LPGA Hall of Famer Amy Alcott.

Hanse will take orders at Doral from Donald Trump, who purchased Doral for $150 million. Trump reportedly plans to spend a whopping $200 million to revamp the Blue Monster.

Trump already owns golf courses in New York, Washington and California.

Hanse’s most notable designs are Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness, Scotland, Rustic Canyon in Moorpark, California,  and TPC of Boston.

Based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Hanse states several of his philosophies on his website. One of the most intriguing is: “We create courses that are simple and elegant in appearance, yet sophisticated in strategy and interest.”

It’ll be interesting to see what he and Trump come up with for 200 mill.

Rest assured, it will be fun to watch and eventually to play. 

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5 Best Golf Shots Ever

For my list of the 5 Best Golf Shots ever, go to my latest post at Golf Partners Club