Fan Mail!

We just got our first fan mail - and it's international! All the way from St. Andrews - the birthplace of golf.



"I have read quite a few golf blogs and keenly follow most of the discussions taking place and I must confess this is a wonderful blog that you guys have. It is always wonderful to hear about the exploits of fellow golfers on different courses and the best part is that it also serves the purpose of bringing us up to date with most of these wonderful courses which may never have revealed themselves to the rest of the world."



Check out his Web site.

Tot Hill Farm

I am a 15 handicap and Amy is around an 18. Tot Hill Farm is ranked the 7th toughest golf course in America according to Golf Digest. To put that into perspective, Bethpage Black - where they just played the men's U.S. Open, is ranked 6th. I shot 81, Amy shot 84. It seems persistence and practice are finally paying off.

Enough is never enough, so we'll probably play Birdsfoot tomorrow and Sunday once we get home. But, I imagine our disappointment if we fail to become scratch golfers on our home course after playing so well on these extremely challenging courses in Moore County, North Carolina.

Next up for this blog, Amy and I will both be reviewing our scorecards and photos, and providing more commentary on the courses, specifically, rather than this most recent anecdotal drivel. But until then, I highly encourage you to view the pics of Tot Hill Farm here. It's like nothing I've ever seen, and doubt the pictures we took do it justice.

What a way to end what was a memorable, challenging, fun and, in the end, triumphant golf vacation.

Tobacco Road GC

Tobacco Road. Mike Strantz. Elephants buried in the centers of the greens. Fast. Slope of 141. Waste areas, blind shots and thick rough. Rated by Golf Digest as the 10th toughest course in America.

We shot a pair of 85's - saved our best for the best.

Tired. Crispy. Hungry and thirsty. Worth every penny. See more pics here.

Tomorrow, Tot Hill Farm. Mike Strantz designed it, too. Ranked by Golf Digest as the 7th toughest course in America. I forecast a pair of 80's.

Bring it, Mike Strantz.

I Was Misiformed

I don't think Pine Needles is where they shot the movie "Tin Cup" as I'd thought. No where on the course did I face an eagle opportunity if I merely had the guts to hit a three-wood over a lake, down hill, into a green that slopes back toward said lake.

My apologies for passing along erroneous, trivial fodder.

What I did find at Pine Needles ... I'm still trying to put into words. While I struggle, check out the photos here.

For All My Ladies Who Fear the Fairways

Five years ago I viewed golf as a sport that gave me and Jared time apart and one that I was not at all interested in trying – it was his hobby, not mine. I assumed he loved being with just his guy friends and I always loved the opportunity to clean the house without him getting in the way. A few years ago, though, Jared bought me a set of starter clubs thinking I would want to give it a shot. I had always been athletic as I was involved in soccer and tennis, and Jared and I never had a dull moment when we would talk sports. So, I guess he thought I might want to try this mysterious sport of golf. Well, I gave him a fake smile and a thank you as I wondered where we would store this set of clubs to collect dust. Much to my surprise, he ignited a spark in me that I never imagined.

At first I struggled. Jared was very encouraging as he pointed out that I was quickly learning the basics and seemed to be grasping the game. I still wasn’t convinced. I practiced every so often, but mostly at the driving range. The thought of a “big golf course” intimidated me and I tried my best to avoid ever having to play one.

However, I was slowly encouraged to give it a shot and I could just pick up my ball and ride along in the cart if I hated it. As time went on I really started to enjoy the game and the time I got to spend with Jared. We do have our squabbles on the course as each of us gets frustrated with the sport, but overall we are a great support for each other. Jared and I have been paired up with many men that have said, “I’ve tried to get my wife to play, but she’s not really interested.” It makes me really appreciate that Jared was willing to take the time to teach me the game and the patience to put up with my struggles on the course over the last few years.

Here we are in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina. Did I ever think I would be on a vacation that involved six rounds (maybe more) of golf? Absolutely not. Four years ago I thought a tee box was a place where you kept your tees, and here I am at a golf vacation hot spot – and playing golf to boot. A vacation for me used to be the beach and shopping, and I can honestly say I appreciate and enjoy this vacation completely.

The courses here in North Carolina are different. So far, I have enjoyed each of them, though The Carolina was my least favorite. It wasn’t as aesthetically appealing and was more difficult. Not to mention, there were a lot of bugs. Jared didn’t seem to notice, but it was as if every gnat, dragon fly and bee was drawn to me, even though I avoid perfume and hairspray when I get ready to golf.

We played The Pit today and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a fairly good round, considering the difficulty of the course and the 90 degree heat. It was quiet and peaceful, which was nice, but it allowed me a lot of time to get inside my own head and think too much. Overall, I was able to make adjustments to have a good round. I am looking forward to the next few days and the courses that are on our agenda. I have realized that it’s important to keep an open mind. The old saying “don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” sure fits in with my situation. I thought I hated golf, but I had never tried it. I never expected to enjoy a golf vacation, but I love it.

(hyperlinks provided by Jared)

The Pit Golf Links

Today it was The Pit Golf Links - when I have a chance to further research the course, I'll let you know why they named it "The Pit," as the course has a railroad theme as the undertone to a remarkably scenic and playable, yet challenging golf course. I made the mistake of wearing a black shirt on the hottest day we've seen thus far - 91 degrees at 10 a.m., so it made for a difficult round. I thought it'd be OK, since I've seen Mickelson wear black quite a bit, but he has to swing (move) much less than me, so probably stays cooler.

Amy and I were both glad that The Pit was everything the course's accolades claimed, after what we considered a disappointment in yesterday's round at The Carolina. And it never hurts when you rebound and play better, as we did today. The Pit was in much better condition, with soft fairways and greens that ran fast and true (although the greens were a bit hard, and held few shots over a short chip...perhaps the time of year is the reason for this...). Look to your right and click on the Flickr logo for photos - a picture's worth more than my paltry words.

An interesting turn of events - I am relatively good at keeping my composure after a poor shot, while Amy is still working on that old saying, "the toughest shot in the game of golf is the six inches between your ears." Today, however, I got frustrated and bent the shaft of my 5-iron after in skulled one into a marsh. I got stuck in my own head and paid for it...missed several short par putts, and got very inconsistent across the board. Anyone know a good golf club repair shop in the 15222 area?

As I write this, Amy is composing something of her own - she played well and must have been visited by a golf muse. I imagine that she played much better today because she kept her composure (friends, she beat me by a stroke today...). I didn't play well, lost my composure, my muse never showed up - deal with my boring writing today.

Well, this is very random and I just gorged myself with rib eye and king crab legs at The Lob Steer Inn - a recommendation from our friends at Golf Escapes, Inc. They have yet to let us down...we are in an upgraded suite, we haven't gotten lost once, their meal recommendations have been spot on, and I could go on. I anticipate nothing less than a great experience through the second half of this adventure.

Tomorrow, Pine Needles, where I will be certain to repeat the infamous blow up scene from "Tin Cup."

Arnold Palmer Hates Me

We played Arnold Palmer's Carolina Club today, and I'm quite convinced that somewhere along the way, that sweet old man developed a deep resent for me. I can find no other rationale as to why and how he would foresee today's round, and strategically place bunkers and waste areas where half of my shots landed.

The reality is that I just plan stunk today - shanks, fat iron shots, etc. the kind of stuff you can get away with on an easier course, but are imprisoned by on a more challenging one. When I was in the fairways or greenside rough, I played fairly well. Same can be said for Amy.

But, there were few areas to miss.

I suppose it was good to get that one out of the way - a local art dealer in the Village of Pinehurst says The Carolina is the locals' least favorite. Fortunately, the rest of our itinerary ranks high on this peddler's list.

More to follow.

Pinehurst Day One Surprise

The first day of our trip to Pinehurst was intended to be spent in the car, eagerly anticipating a Monday morning start of the golfing fun. However, my lead foot and relatively traffic-free roads allowed us to arrive in time to sneak in an afternoon round. Rather unknowingly, we chose The Legacy. I asked Amy to pick something close to our hotel, and it just happened to be this Nicklaus gem. The greens were shockingly slow, but we played well and, for $37, this little bonus was the perfect way to start our trip - followed by a nice rare Ahi steak at Bonefish.

More to follow, but check out some of the cool Legacy pics here.

Oh - our hotel is the Hampton Inn and Suites. It's only about two years old, spacious, comfortable and clean. But, it feels like we're in The Shining - I think we're the only people here. Fortunately, this week is all play and no work, so Jared will not be a dull boy.

Redrum; Flog.

And finally, not sure if it's ever been said before, but I might have coined a new phrase:

"Amy, golf is a game of good shots and better excuses." - after Amy took a mulligan because she heard someone talking in the distance.

Cheers!

Erectile Dysfunction

I'm not sure if erectile dysfunction an appropriate golf term, but I have it. I noticed over the weekend that I was addressing the ball too upright - or erect - and thus hideously shanking everything rather dysfunctionally. So I have erectile dysfunction in my golf game. Wonder of Pfizer has a little green pill for that. I bet if I were to tell a guy with real E.D. how he could shank everything in sight, he'd call me crazy and then ask how. I digress.

Turns out I didn't need a pill. I was standing too wide, so I was standing too upright so that the club face would be flush to the ball at address. So I closed my legs a bit, bent over a little, and my erectile dysfunction was cured. I wouldn't recommend that for just anybody, but it feels so nice to finally strike an iron stiff again.

My E.D., combined with the fact that I've played nowhere aside from Birdsfoot (review still forthcoming) for the last month or so, has left me little to blog about.

However, we recently got our itinerary from Golf Escapes, Inc. for the upcoming anniversary outing to Southern Pines, NC. If you are planning an outing this year, next year, or in a decade from today, I highly recommend you first get a quote from Golf Escapes, Inc. They are professional, courteous, helpful and, chiefly - they have terrific rates. Our epic review of the Southern Pines trip will likely again pay homage to the Golf Escapes, Inc. staff.

So, we're pretty excited. We aren't playing any of the "real" Pinehurst courses, however, I'll be sure to get a picture of #2's #18, which I believe you can see from the front porch of the club house, along with a group photo of me, Amy and Payne.

But we are playing The Carolina, The Pit, Pine Needles, Tobacco Road and Tot Hill Farm.

I've played The Carolina and The Pit before, and both are quite challenging, but not as aesthetically pleasing as you might think. I've never played Pine Needles, but plan to dunk a few in the water like Tin Cup - which is the primary reason I wanted to play Pine Needles.

Aesthetics alone are Tobacco Road's and Tot Hill Farm's raison d'être on our itinerary. These are less golf courses, and more theme parks and carnivals set up as golf courses. I can't wait to see and share the pictures of these two gems.

It should prove to be quite the challenge in Southern Pines, but at least my E.D. is gone.

For Jim

Amy's grandfather. James, passed away last week after a long bout with cancer. Among many talents and admirable qualities, Jim was the type of golfer I aspire to be. Even into his later years, he still managed what I would guess to be an 8 handicap. He understood that it wasn't about 300 yard drives and power fades. It's just moving the ball forward, and having the hands around the greens. Jim must have had some sense of touch, as his home course was a long one, and he routinely reported scores in the low 80s and even some in the 70s.

I'll miss Jim. I'll miss talking about the game of golf with him, learning how he - some 40 years my senior - could outplay me any day of the week. I'll miss watching PGA tournaments with him while other family members found entertainment through other means. Just this past Easter, we watched the final round of the Masters together while the rest of the family caught up on other things. Everyone seemed to have a special bond with Jim, including me. Ours was golf, although that is a passion he shared with anyone who was willing to talk golf.

Beyond golf, Jim was one of the most understanding, non-judgemental people I've ever met. And without getting into too many details, I've given Jim and the rest of my in-laws plenty of reasons to resent me. Jim was the easiest for me re-approach after I'd made a life error. He had that sage wisdom about him - "kids will be kids" - and I immediately felt comfortable around him, as I did the first day we met and we discussed his service in the Airforce (at that time, I was working as a civilian for the Navy).

I'm sure there are many great qualities that, through heredity, Jim left his family. I see a lot of Jim in Amy's talent and passion for the game of golf. In just three years, her swing is spot on in terms of mechanics, she knows how to manage a course, not just play it, and always strives to do better. I've never seen anyone so disappointed when they come up a few strokes over their target score than Amy. Like many men of his generation, Jim might not have mentioned to Amy how proud he was of her golf prowess (although I cannot say he never did), but I'm sure in his heart he beamed with pride that his loved granddaughter had taken a shine to the game he loved so dearly.

Unfortunately, I never had the chance to play golf with Jim, as he was fairly deep into his illness as we grew closer. But many of his friends and family members speak of the golfer that he was, the golfer - the man - I hope to be, and the golfer that Amy is becoming.

We'll miss you, Jim. And if you find the time, send a few birdies our way.