Considering we played the course before almost anyone in the world, the course was in decent shape. The greens were the slowest I have ever played on but most of the fairways were playable and the sand in the bunkers were nice.
One thing that does concern me about this course is the pace of play. With eight minute tee times, a short Par 4 to start followed by a tough Par 3, it is a recipe for a long day. I was proud of the Tour members and how well we maintained the pace of play, always keeping up to the group ahead.
Jason Gibbons looks to be trying to distance himself from the pack in the Norman flight with another great round of 75. Close on his heels this week was Tony Albino who tied for low net with a gross score of 80. In the Weir flight, Bill Rushton shot an impressive 93 with flight leaders Gaffney and Warner right behind. In his first season on Tour and playing golf really, Ryan Wilson carded an incredible net 72 to finish in second place and already qualify for the season ending Tour Championship.
Some notable shots from this weekend: Jason Gibbons had to chip back onto the fairway on the 4th hole but ended up dunking his 3rd shot from the fairway for an unlikely birdie. Vince Bull, a Weekday Tour member playing on Saturday, chipped in for birdie on the 15th hole from another tee deck !!
The Weekday Tour saw long time Tour member Heiner Rogge post his best round ever, an 87 and easily took the low net win. Low Gross honours were shared by Nils Granholm and Larry Withyman at 86.
This day also saw its share of remarkable shots. One that won't soon be forgotten was the player who hit the wrong ball from the middle of the fairway. On the Par 5 thirteenth hole, three of the four in the group all hit great drives in the fairway. On approaching the balls, I naturally thought I was the shorter one and proceeded to hit the ball just short of the green. After hitting the shot, I walked up to the ball ahead and realized it was mine. I declared the two stroke penalty, hit my correct ball and ended up with a 7, which would have been a fine par if I hadn't of hit the wrong ball. Let the needling begin.
Next up is one of my favourite courses of all time, Grey Silo. Check the tee times that will be posted tomorrow to make sure your name is on it as you don't want to miss this gem of a course.
Monday, June 16, 2008
The U.S. Open on Sunday
The USGA got it right. The set up at Torrey pines was tough but fair, there were par fives that players could use to mount a charge and change the leaderboard with, gasp, birdies. Once again Tiger led a major championship going into the final round, in which he has never lost, 14-0.
It looked early in the round, as Tiger started double-bogey, bogey, that his time had finally come to lose one. Westwood seemed on cruise control and Mediate was there too. Suddenly, over par seemed to be a possible winning score and Mike Weir gave us Canucks something to think about for a bit there.
As the back nine unfolded it was apparent it was a three horse race between Tiger, Lee and Rocco. Not one of those players took control of the Championship and they all had their chances. Number 13 came into play again but for all the wrong reasons. Mediate missed a short putt for birdie and Woods and Westwood had brain cramps in trying to reach or get near the green in two, on a 614 yard hole, and put their shots into a lateral hazard, each dropping a shot.
With Rocco in at -1, both Tiger and Westwood needed to birdie the last hole to force a playoff on Monday. Westwood landed in a fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway, Tiger went into one on the right side. Both laid up on their second shots with Tiger going into the rough. A very good third by Tiger left him with about a 12 footer for birdie. Westwood was first to go and just missed his birdie and it set the stage for Tiger. In this age of "reality" t.v. nothing can compare to an all or nothing moment like this. Make the putt and you continue on, miss it and you lose.
And in typical Tiger fashion, he sank the putt.
Now we can all call in sick tomorrow so we can see what they will do for the encore.
It looked early in the round, as Tiger started double-bogey, bogey, that his time had finally come to lose one. Westwood seemed on cruise control and Mediate was there too. Suddenly, over par seemed to be a possible winning score and Mike Weir gave us Canucks something to think about for a bit there.
As the back nine unfolded it was apparent it was a three horse race between Tiger, Lee and Rocco. Not one of those players took control of the Championship and they all had their chances. Number 13 came into play again but for all the wrong reasons. Mediate missed a short putt for birdie and Woods and Westwood had brain cramps in trying to reach or get near the green in two, on a 614 yard hole, and put their shots into a lateral hazard, each dropping a shot.
With Rocco in at -1, both Tiger and Westwood needed to birdie the last hole to force a playoff on Monday. Westwood landed in a fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway, Tiger went into one on the right side. Both laid up on their second shots with Tiger going into the rough. A very good third by Tiger left him with about a 12 footer for birdie. Westwood was first to go and just missed his birdie and it set the stage for Tiger. In this age of "reality" t.v. nothing can compare to an all or nothing moment like this. Make the putt and you continue on, miss it and you lose.
And in typical Tiger fashion, he sank the putt.
Now we can all call in sick tomorrow so we can see what they will do for the encore.
Watching the U.S. Open this Weekend
Thank goodness the in-laws have a satellite and an understanding of my obsession. My Father-in-law cannot fathom why anyone would want to watch “paint dry” as he calls it. But on Saturday, Tiger, Rocco and Westwood showed all of us why we are riveted to golf’s major championships.
Even Mickelson’s nine on the par 5 thirteenth reminds us of how we all can be humbled by the game at any time. Tiger Woods looked ordinary for most of the day on Saturday until the Par 5 thirteenth. After hitting an awful tee shot way right, a spectacular second, that he almost holed, ended up some 50 feet from the hole, still on the green. What followed will be on every hi-light reel on every newscast across the world. Yes, he made the putt for eagle.
Next hole was a bogey and on seventeen, a relatively short par four, Tiger once again hit his tee shot way right and his approach in the rough on the side of a greenside bunker. Role the video once again as Tiger holes his chip shot on a bounce. As if urged on by the applause for an encore, Tiger hit two magnificent shots to reach the par 5 18th in two and again made the eagle putt to lead the U.S. Open by a shot going into the final round. Even on one good leg, Tiger finds a way to elevate himself above the field and looks poised to do it once again.
Let’s just hope the traffic coming back from cottage country are golf fans and allow me to make it back to watch the final round.
Even Mickelson’s nine on the par 5 thirteenth reminds us of how we all can be humbled by the game at any time. Tiger Woods looked ordinary for most of the day on Saturday until the Par 5 thirteenth. After hitting an awful tee shot way right, a spectacular second, that he almost holed, ended up some 50 feet from the hole, still on the green. What followed will be on every hi-light reel on every newscast across the world. Yes, he made the putt for eagle.
Next hole was a bogey and on seventeen, a relatively short par four, Tiger once again hit his tee shot way right and his approach in the rough on the side of a greenside bunker. Role the video once again as Tiger holes his chip shot on a bounce. As if urged on by the applause for an encore, Tiger hit two magnificent shots to reach the par 5 18th in two and again made the eagle putt to lead the U.S. Open by a shot going into the final round. Even on one good leg, Tiger finds a way to elevate himself above the field and looks poised to do it once again.
Let’s just hope the traffic coming back from cottage country are golf fans and allow me to make it back to watch the final round.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
It had to be this Weekend
What with the third event now in the books for both the Weekend and Weekday Tours and having to calculate everyone's handicaps, flights, net scores - for each event and year to date AND The U.S. Open started today, my wife informs me that she has "volunteered" us to help her parents move this weekend !!
Now I am not saying that I wouldn't love to help my in-laws, who have lived in the same house for 30 years, cart their stuff 200 kms to their oasis in the north. But I have things to do !! (see above) - I may have even snuck in a round tomorrow. However, they want to try and beat the traffic and leave early Friday morning.
What does this mean to you, The Duffer's Dream Tour Member. It means that I will be taking the laptop north with me to finish the website updates but cannot upload them to the website until I get home Sunday night. They don't have internet up north don't ya know.
Sit tight and check back here on Monday and I will have all the dirt on the events that were this past week. We had everything from miraculous chip ins to some knuckle head playing the wrong ball, from the middle of the fairway no less !! He will live in infamy come Monday.
Now I am not saying that I wouldn't love to help my in-laws, who have lived in the same house for 30 years, cart their stuff 200 kms to their oasis in the north. But I have things to do !! (see above) - I may have even snuck in a round tomorrow. However, they want to try and beat the traffic and leave early Friday morning.
What does this mean to you, The Duffer's Dream Tour Member. It means that I will be taking the laptop north with me to finish the website updates but cannot upload them to the website until I get home Sunday night. They don't have internet up north don't ya know.
Sit tight and check back here on Monday and I will have all the dirt on the events that were this past week. We had everything from miraculous chip ins to some knuckle head playing the wrong ball, from the middle of the fairway no less !! He will live in infamy come Monday.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Innerkip Highlands Golf Club
If there was a template of how to build a golf course, Innerkip Highlands would be it. Over the years, the owners have continually made changes and improvements to the golf course that only enhance the enjoyment of the game.
Always a local favourite, it seems the secret is out and Innerkip is no longer the hidden gem it once was. Weekday tee times are becoming scarce, never mind weekends yet the pace of play is fantastic, under 4.5 hours, almost always.
The most recent and most dramatic changes to the couse have come this past off season. There is a new routing, a huge new pond that comes into play on three holes and a waterfall. The first change golfers will notice is the lengthening of the Par 3 second. It used to be 100 yards or so, but they have moved the green back some 30-40 yards making it a little more difficult than the pushover it was.
The most dramatic change is the large pond that has been created with a stunning waterfall. The pond comes into play on holes thirteen (17), sixteen (13) and seventeen (14) - the number in brackets was the old back nine layout.
Considering these changes, including a pond, three new greens and two new fairways, were done since last October, the course is in fantastic shape. If you liked Innerkip before, you owe it to yourself to go back and fall in love all over again.
Always a local favourite, it seems the secret is out and Innerkip is no longer the hidden gem it once was. Weekday tee times are becoming scarce, never mind weekends yet the pace of play is fantastic, under 4.5 hours, almost always.
The most recent and most dramatic changes to the couse have come this past off season. There is a new routing, a huge new pond that comes into play on three holes and a waterfall. The first change golfers will notice is the lengthening of the Par 3 second. It used to be 100 yards or so, but they have moved the green back some 30-40 yards making it a little more difficult than the pushover it was.
The most dramatic change is the large pond that has been created with a stunning waterfall. The pond comes into play on holes thirteen (17), sixteen (13) and seventeen (14) - the number in brackets was the old back nine layout.
Considering these changes, including a pond, three new greens and two new fairways, were done since last October, the course is in fantastic shape. If you liked Innerkip before, you owe it to yourself to go back and fall in love all over again.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Mr. A's Coffee Service Shootout
First off, I would like to thank our sponsor Angelo Simeonidis for his generous donation of gourmet coffee packages to all our participants. In addition, the flight winners will also receive a prize package once the handicaps and flights have been determined.
Windy, tough conditions were the order of day on the Weekend Tour at the Oaks of St. George. The toughest hole of the day was clearly the Par 5 6th, playing into the wind, with an average score of 6.6 . Kudos needs to go to Mitch Oldenburgh who birdied number six and pocketed a skin to boot. Special mention should go to Trevor Gaffney who birdied the always tough 10th hole.
The low round of the day, by six shots no less, was recorded by Jason Gibbons (78). This is Jason's second year on Tour. His previous low round was 75 at, you guessed it, Oaks of St. George, must be something in the water. Honorable mention should go to Michael Quart. It wasn't his lowest score on Tour but in the tough conditions his 91 has to rank as one of his better rounds.
The Weekday Tour faired a little better what with the weather cooperating. Number six was still the toughest hole of the day and Jack Bolzan recorded the only birdie of the day on that hole. I would personally like to than Heiner Rogge for not playing in skins as he and I made the only Pars on #7. John Coy and Charles Orchard picked up three and two skins respectively.
Nils Granholm continued his stellar play and won Low Gross with an 82. Three shots ahead of John Coy and a resurgent Jim Hunter. Mr. Hunter has claimed for two seasons now that he belongs in the Norman Flight and now I can see why, way to go Jim.
In the "I have a good excuse" category, Charles Orchard struggled to an 88. When asked about his round, Charles replied that he had just finished a gruelling three day golf outing representing a Toronto Golf Forum (Toronto Golf Nuts) in their annual Ryder Cup match against an Ottawa Golf Forum. TGN did beat Ottawa to take the Cup and as I understand it Charles was one of the stars of the team, so kudos to Charles and the rest of the TGN crew for their hard fought victory.
Windy, tough conditions were the order of day on the Weekend Tour at the Oaks of St. George. The toughest hole of the day was clearly the Par 5 6th, playing into the wind, with an average score of 6.6 . Kudos needs to go to Mitch Oldenburgh who birdied number six and pocketed a skin to boot. Special mention should go to Trevor Gaffney who birdied the always tough 10th hole.
The low round of the day, by six shots no less, was recorded by Jason Gibbons (78). This is Jason's second year on Tour. His previous low round was 75 at, you guessed it, Oaks of St. George, must be something in the water. Honorable mention should go to Michael Quart. It wasn't his lowest score on Tour but in the tough conditions his 91 has to rank as one of his better rounds.
The Weekday Tour faired a little better what with the weather cooperating. Number six was still the toughest hole of the day and Jack Bolzan recorded the only birdie of the day on that hole. I would personally like to than Heiner Rogge for not playing in skins as he and I made the only Pars on #7. John Coy and Charles Orchard picked up three and two skins respectively.
Nils Granholm continued his stellar play and won Low Gross with an 82. Three shots ahead of John Coy and a resurgent Jim Hunter. Mr. Hunter has claimed for two seasons now that he belongs in the Norman Flight and now I can see why, way to go Jim.
In the "I have a good excuse" category, Charles Orchard struggled to an 88. When asked about his round, Charles replied that he had just finished a gruelling three day golf outing representing a Toronto Golf Forum (Toronto Golf Nuts) in their annual Ryder Cup match against an Ottawa Golf Forum. TGN did beat Ottawa to take the Cup and as I understand it Charles was one of the stars of the team, so kudos to Charles and the rest of the TGN crew for their hard fought victory.
International Pairs Qualifier
Over the past five years, the International Pairs competition has become the fastest growing golf event both in Canada, and in more than 30 other countries around the world. It is a handicapped tournament for amateur golfers. It is a two-person event held at golf clubs across Canada with the winning pair from each club advancing to the Canadian Final. Winners from the Canadian Finals then travel to St. Andrews, Scotland to represent Canada in the World Final ...all expenses paid.
We're getting an early start on promoting our International Pairs Qualifying Tournament. We expect at least 25 teams this year with the possibility of 50 teams and sending TWO teams to the Canadian Finals. (One team for every 25 teams entered)
The Canadian International Pairs final is a two day event on September 29th & 30th at The Raven at Lora Bay, site of the 2007 Telus Skins game and The 2008 Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic as part of the Nationwide Tour.
Winners of OUR qualifier receive entry into the Canadian Finals, overnight accommodations, dinner, prizes and the chance to represent Canada in the World Finals at St. Andrews Scotland. ALL AT NO EXTRA COST !! Just pay the entry fee to the qualifier and winners don't pay any additional costs (maybe some souvenirs).
Our qualifier will be held Saturday July 26 at Victoria Park East starting at 10:00am. All present and PAST Duffer's Dream Tour members and their guests are eligible to compete. The qualifier is a Two-person Net Best Ball format, verifiable handicaps will be required for non-Tour participants.
If you would like to know more about the qualifier and how to register please e-mail us at duffersdream@sympatico.ca
We're getting an early start on promoting our International Pairs Qualifying Tournament. We expect at least 25 teams this year with the possibility of 50 teams and sending TWO teams to the Canadian Finals. (One team for every 25 teams entered)
The Canadian International Pairs final is a two day event on September 29th & 30th at The Raven at Lora Bay, site of the 2007 Telus Skins game and The 2008 Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic as part of the Nationwide Tour.
Winners of OUR qualifier receive entry into the Canadian Finals, overnight accommodations, dinner, prizes and the chance to represent Canada in the World Finals at St. Andrews Scotland. ALL AT NO EXTRA COST !! Just pay the entry fee to the qualifier and winners don't pay any additional costs (maybe some souvenirs).
Our qualifier will be held Saturday July 26 at Victoria Park East starting at 10:00am. All present and PAST Duffer's Dream Tour members and their guests are eligible to compete. The qualifier is a Two-person Net Best Ball format, verifiable handicaps will be required for non-Tour participants.
If you would like to know more about the qualifier and how to register please e-mail us at duffersdream@sympatico.ca
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