Barwench Games Desktop Golf GameApril 20, 2018 Barwench Games Desktop Golf Game Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week...Read More & CommentThere’s More To Golf In Morocco Than The Trophee Hassan IIApril 19, 2018There’s More To Golf In Morocco Than The Trophee Hassan II This week, the European Tour stops in Morocco for the Trophee Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. The Robert Trent Jones course is a classic layout, with cork-tree-lined fairways, long rectangular tee boxes, strategic fairway bunkers and tough greens complexes. It is beautiful, and I am grateful that I had the chance to visit Morocco and play Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in 2016 as a guest of the Moroccan National Tourist Office. In all, I spent most of a week in Morocco and discovered a country that exceeded my expectations and shattered my pre-conceived notions. Morocco is beautiful, friendly and cultured. If you’re on a golf trip to Morocco, you are selling yourself short if fail to visit some of the sights in Rabat, Marrakech, Casablanca and the country’s other legendary locales. In Rabat, start with the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. One of the most important shrines in Morocco, it is the final resting place of Mohammed V and his sons Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. Read more about the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat here. Then, head over to Old Town Rabat, the fortress of the Kasbah des Oudaias, an exotic maze of narrow, blue-walled streets. Visit the Andalusian gardens, and stop for a snack in a restaurant overlooking the Bou Regreg River. Read more about Old Town Rabat here. Finally, go shopping in the Medina in Rabat. During my time in Rabat, I stayed at the amazing Villa Mandarine. I wish I could go back and just spend a week there relaxing. After playing in Rabat, head to the luxury resort, Mazagan. On the shores of the Atlantic, you’ll find a different type of golf in Morocco than the cork lined fairways in Rabat. Mazagan has a Gary Player designed seaside golf links that accompanies a massive casino resort complex. After golf, hang out at the pool, get a massage and then eat in one of the hotel’s many restaurants. The resort is as modern as any you will find. In opulence, it exceeded pretty much every hotel I have ever visited.Three hours drive further down the road is Marrakech. Anyone remember the Crosby, Stills and Nash song? Take the train from Casablanca going south Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my my, my, my, my mouth Colored cottons hang in air Charming cobras in the square Striped Djellebas we can wear at home Don’t you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express Golf in Morocco is a growing interest in Marrakech, which is the home of some twenty golf courses. Not to be missed is Royal Palm at the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech Golf & Country Club. Royal Palm is exactly what you would want in a resort course: interesting, without beating you up; value for shot-making, but not overly penal for mistakes. It was a much fun as I have ever had on a golf course. Another great course is Amelkis, designed by Cabell Robinson in 1995. The layout is more of a desert experience than Royal Palm, with islands of green set amidst sandy waste. Unfortunately, my group only got to play half the course. Dark skies led to serious thunderstorms which drove everyone to the shelter of the very nice clubhouse. Golf aside, no trip to Marrakech is complete without stopping at the internationally famous Medina and the souk at Jemaa el-Fnaa. It is a vast eating, shopping and entertainment district that is something out of an Arabian Nights fantasy. The photo above was taken from a balcony overlooking the main square. Within the boundaries of the Medina, I think you could find anything your heart desires. Also not to be missed is the Bab Agnaou, one of nineteen gates in Marrakech dating to the 12th century. Behind the gate lies a kasbah — a shopping district. Marrakech’s Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century is a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture. The palace and its grounds stretch out over some 20 acres. The Bahia Palace and adjacent garden grounds has been used for scenes in many movies, including the Jewel of the Nile, The Man Who Would Be King, Brideshead Revisited and Alexander. And then there’s the food. I love Moroccan cuisine. Skip the touristy Americanized fare and try tangine, couscous, pastilla, Harira and taktouka. The flavor profile is unique, with garlic, cumin, ginger, paprika, saffron, tumeric, allspice, and plenty of lemon and olive. Their seafood dishes are amazing. Plan a trip to play golf in Morocco. And give yourself plenty of time to take in the culture and history. It will be the experience of a lifetime. For my part, I hope to someday be able to return, and this time, to take Mrs. GolfBlogger. There is much more I would like to see in places like Casablanca, Fez and Tangier. Important Links: Moroccan Tourist Board Villa Mandarine, Rabat Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech ...Read More & CommentColor Footage Of The Masters – 1950April 19, 2018This is an amazing sequence of color videos from the 1950 Masters. Shot mostly at the driving range, it shows the classic and beautiful swings of Hogan, Nelson, Demaret and more. They’re like poetry in motion. The video’s owner wrote on YouTube: Here’s something only about 15 people have ever seen so far, color footage from the 1950 Masters. My grandfather shot this himself with an 8 MM/16 MM camera.. I found the film roles amongst several others at my grandmothers house and had them digitally restored not knowing what was on any of them. If you are a golfer or a fan of the Masters, this is must see TV. Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret, and more. ...Read More & CommentSeiko Presage Automatic Blue Cocktail Time WatchApril 19, 2018Seiko Presage Automatic Blue Moon Cocktail Time Watch This beautiful watch from Seiko features: Cal. 4R35 Movement, 23 Jewels, 21,600 vibrations per hour, Made in Japan Magnetic resistance 4,800 A/m Power reserve: approximately 41 hours Second hand halt mechanism (Hacking) Box-shaped Hardlex crystal The Cocktail Time name refers to the collaboration on watch design between Seiko and Ishigaki Shinobu, founder and owner of Ishinohana Bar. Shinobu is a legendary barkeep and mixologist, having won several international competitions. The watch is fairly reasonably priced, as far as higher-end automatics go: $374. On the downside, it has a hardlex crystal, and not the tougher sapphire. The specs:Brand, Seller, or Collection Name SeikoModel number SRPB41J1Part Number SRPB41J1Model Year 2017Item Shape RoundDial window material type Box-shaped Hardlex crystalDisplay Type AnalogClasp Deployment-clasp-with-push-buttonCase material Stainless steelCase diameter 40.5 millimetersCase Thickness 14.5 millimetersBand Material Stainless steelBand length Men’s StandardBand width 20 millimetersBand Color SilverDial color blue gradientCalendar DateSpecial features Made in JapanItem weight 4.80 OuncesMovement Automatic/ Hand windingWater resistant depth 50 Meters...Read More & CommentIn The Mail: A Course Called ScotlandApril 18, 2018In The Mail: A Course Called Scotland In the mail for review this week is Tom Coyne’s latest book, A Course Called Scotland. I really enjoyed Coyne’s A Course Called Ireland, so I’m looking forward to this one. From the publisher’s description: From Tom Coyne—the author of the New York Times bestselling A Course Called Ireland, hailed as “a joy from start to finish” by The Wall Street Journal—comes the heartfelt and humorous celebration of his quest to play golf on every links course in Scotland, the birthplace of the game he loves. For much of his adult life, bestselling author Tom Coyne has been chasing a golf ball around the globe. When he was in college, studying abroad in London, he entered the lottery for a prized tee time in Scotland, grabbing his clubs and jumping the train to St. Andrews as his friends partied in Amsterdam; later, he golfed the entirety of Ireland’s coastline, chased pros through the mini-tours, and attended grueling Qualifying Schools in Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Yet, as he watched the greats compete, he felt something was missing. Then one day a friend suggested he attempt to play every links course in Scotland, and qualify for the greatest championship in golf. The result is A Course Called Scotland, a hilarious golf and travel adventure throughout the birthplace of the sport and home to some of the oldest and most beloved courses in the world, including St. Andrews, Turnberry, Dornoch, Prestwick, Troon, and Carnoustie. With his signature blend of storytelling, humor, history, and insight, Coyne weaves together his journey to more than 100 legendary links courses in Scotland with compelling threads of golf history and witty insights into the contemporary home of golf. As he journeys Scotland in search of the game’s secrets, he discovers new and old friends, rediscovers the peace and power of the sport, and, most importantly, reaffirms the ultimate connection between the game and the soul. It is a rollicking love letter to Scotland and golf as no one has attempted it before. I’ll have a full review as soon as I finish. ...Read More & CommentFive West Virginia Golfers Earn Big 12 Academic HonorsApril 18, 2018Five West Virginia Golfers Earn Big 12 Academic Honors MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (April 17, 2018) – Five members of the West Virginia golf team were honored as part of the 2018 Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Golf Teams, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. West Virginia golfers Drew Dewald, Etienne Papineau, Avery Schneider and Max Sear were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Junior Tristan Nicholls earned Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honors. “All the credit goes to these student-athletes and our academic support staff, especially our academic advisor Stephanie White,” coach Sean Covich said. “They have all found a way to balance our golf travel schedule and their demanding academic requirements. I’m really proud of the standard these guys have set for our young program.” Dewald, who joined the Mountaineers out of McLennan Community College in 2016, is a senior management major. Schneider is a senior biology major who hails from New Albany, Ohio and joins Dewald in earning his first Big 12 honor. Sear, a junior management major from Unionville, Ontario, also earns his first Big 12 honor. Papineau is a sophomore hailing from Quebec, Canada, and is majoring in sport and exercise psychology. He earns his first Academic All-Big 12 honor after being named to the All-Rookie Team last season. Nicholls, a junior economics major from Queensland, Australia, was previously named to the 2016 Big 12 All-Rookie Team. Fifty-one student-athletes were honored as part of the 2018 Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Golf Team. Forty-three golfers earned first team accolades, while eight were named to the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible. The Mountaineers travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, next week to participate in the 2018 Big 12 Men’s Golf Championship. The event is set to take place April 23-25 at Southern Hills Country Club. Via WVU Sports. Follow @WVUSports and @WVUGolf on Twitter...Read More & CommentHugel-JTBC LA Open Winners and HistoryApril 18, 2018Hugel-JTBC LA Open Winners and History New for 2018 on the LPGA Tour is the Hugel-JTBC LA Open. The tournament is held at the Wilshire Country Club and will feature a field of 144 vying for a $1.5 million purse. It has been ten years since the LPGA had a tournament in the Los Angeles area. Wilshire has previously hosted tournaments on the LPGA, PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Hugel is a South Korea based maker of beauty products, including botox treatments. JTBC is a South Korean cable company with golf specialized channels. “HUGEL and JTBC are very excited to sponsor a new tournament in downtown L.A. and bring it to historic Wilshire Country Club,” said Tournament Chairman Sung Bum Hong. “I hope this tournament will provide a valuable opportunity for female professional players to show their best talents and abilities, and hope to do my part to make it into one of the prominent tournaments on the LPGA tour.” Hong is the founder of HUGEL, and President/CEO of Shanghai Seouleaguer Hospital....Read More & CommentFootJoy DryJoy LTS Golf Rain JacketApril 18, 2018FootJoy DryJoy LTS Golf Rain Jacket A good rain jacket is a golf bag essential in Michigan, where the spring weather can change in a heartbeat. This DryJoy LTS rain jacket features:A ThermoLite bonded liner combined with hollow-core fibers entrap insulated air to deliver constant temperature regulation. A protected chest pocket gives you access to your scorecard, glove, wallet, without exposure to the elements. Durable Water Repellent finish, which is constructed with a 3-layer bonded four way stretch shell. Five panel design reduces bulk, improve smobility, and maximizes waterproof protection. Side pockets for hand comfort and warmth. Adjustable waterproof cuffs offer a custom fit and waterproof protection....Read More & CommentRoyal Golf Dar Es Salam – Host of The European Tour’s Trophee Hassan IIApril 17, 2018This week, the European Tour visits Morocco for the Trophee Hassan II. The tournament has me excited because it is held at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, a course I played on my trip to Morocco in November 2016. It is always exciting for me to play courses used for top level Championships, and it is even better to be able to see the course played on television. Among those on my “trophy wall”: The Colonial, Torrey Pines, Oakland Hills, Erin Hills, Blackwolf Run (US Women’s Open), Indianwood (US Senior Open), Harbor Shores (Senior PGA), Emerald Bay (Web.Com), and Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (European Tour). Read my full Royal Golf Dar Es Salam review here. I visited the course through the good auspices of Moroccan National Tourist Office Royal Golf Dar Es Salem is in Morocco’s Capital, Rabat. It’s a Robert Trent Jones design with an interesting back story. In the excellent Robert Trent Jones, Sr. biography, A Difficult Par, James Hansen wrote about Jones’ construction of the course: In 1969, King Hassan II of Morocco asked Jones to design a golf course for him near his summer palace in Rabat, the nation’s capital. The king, to put it mildly, was a golf nut. He first became interested in the game in 1968, after his physician recommended that he give up tennis because of a cardiac condition. Plunging into the game, he brought Claude Harmon, who he was told was the world’s greatest golf instructor, to Morocco for weeks of lessons. When he decided to build his own royal golf courses, he asked who was the world’s greatest golf architect and was told it was Robert Trent Jones. So the monarch dispatched a messenger to bring Trent Jones to Rabat. Trent brought his son Bobby with him, and when they first met the king, they “found him inside the palace walls playing golf on a little course he had constructed there, pausing every once in a while to sign some papers.” During that first visit, the King told Jones he wanted him to build the “most magnificent” golf courses the world had ever seen … Between 1969 and 1974, Jones built two 18 hole layouts plus an additional nine at Royal Dar Es Salaam, seven and a half miles southeast of Rabat in the Temara Forest. The courses were built by the Moroccan Army. The Red Course, completed in 1970, was an extremely long course, 7, 523 yards from the back tees and played to an unusual par of 73. The Blue Course, finished in 1974, was not nearly as long, but hardly short at 7, 685 yards. Both courses lay on undulating terrain covered by more than a thousand acres of cork oak forest.” I thought that Royal Golf Dar Es Salam fit Robert Trent Jones’ design philosophy very neatly: For the pros, the holes should be a difficult par, but an easy bogey. The course is quite long and made strategically difficult by RTJ’s bunkering and greens complexes. A photo tour of Royal Golf Dar Es Salam follows:...Read More & CommentValero Texas Open PreviewApril 17, 20182018 Valero Texas Open Preview Dates: April 16-22, 2018 Where: San Antonio, Texas Course: TPC San Antonio – AT&T Oaks Course Par/Yardage: 36-36–72/7,435 yards Field size: 156 2017 champion: Kevin Chappell Purse: $6,200,000 ($1,116,000/winner) FedExCup: 500 points to the winner Format: 72-hole stroke play Twitter: @valerotxopen The 2017 Valero Texas OpenTwenty-five players began the final round of last year’s Valero Texas Open at or within five strokes of Kevin Chappell’s 8-under 208 lead. With eight birdies against just one bogey, good for a 7-under 65, Brooks Koepka posted a total of 11- under 277 30 minutes before Chappell finished. Also at 11-under, Chappell came to the par-5 18th needing birdie to avoid sudden death and claim his first career PGA TOUR victory. A solid chip for his third shot was followed by an 8’ 2” putt for birdie which dropped and resulted in the Chappell win at 12-under 276. Chappell’s win in San Antonio came a year after a T4 finish in the event. His last eight rounds at TPC San Antonio (2016-17) have been sub-par scores. Each of the six rounds leading up to 2016 were over-par scores.More on Kevin ChappellKevin Chappell’s win at last year’s Valero Texas Open marked his third top-5 finish in the event in eight starts (1st/2017, T4/2016, T2/2011). With his win in San Antonio, Chappell advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs for a seventh consecutive season and to the FedExCup Playoffs finale, the TOUR Championship, for a second straight season. Chappell’s win at the 2017 Valero Texas Open also helped earn him a spot onto the American squad for the Presidents Cup Team (1-1-1). Chappell teamed with 2016 Valero Texas Open champion Charley Hoffman in Four-ball competition on day two, where they posted a convincing 6-and-5 win over Anirban Lahiri and Charl Schwartzel. So far this season, Chappell has collected three top-10 finishes; T6/CareerBuilder Challenge, T8/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T7/Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Valero Texas Open and the FedExCupEach year, the Valero Texas Open proves pivotal in the race for the FedExCup. Since being moved to its current spot on the schedule in 2009, the winner of the Valero Texas Open has made it through at least two Playoffs events seven of nine times. Kevin Chappell (2017) Jimmy Walker (2015), Adam Scott (2010) and Zach Johnson (2009) made it through the season-ending TOUR Championship. Field Notes Sergio Garcia2017 Masters Tournament winner and TPC San Antonio design consultant will be making a third start in the Valero Texas Open and first since 2010 (T45) Prior to a missed cut at the Masters Tournament two weeks ago, claimed three consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR; T7/World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, 4th/Valspar Championship, T9/Dell Technologies Match Play In search of his 11th career TOUR victory in his 329th start this weekCharley Hoffman2016 Valero Texas Open winner will be making his 13th consecutive start in the event, where he has never missed a cut Has finished in the top-15 10 times, including a 1st, T2 and T3 showing in 2016, 2011 and 2013, respectively. Finished T40 in 2017 Is a collective 41-under par since 2010 (when the event moved to TPC San Antonio) Is two weeks removed from a T12 finish at the Masters Tournament Is in search of his fifth career PGA TOUR win and first since the 2016 Valero Texas Open As one of Steve Stricker’s captain’s picks in 2017, turned in a 1-2 record in his first Presidents CupJimmy Walker2015 Valero Texas Open champion and nearby Boerne resident set to make 13th start in the event In addition to 2015’s victory, also finished inside the top five in 2010 (T3). Finished T13 last year Is coming off a T20 finish at the Masters two weeks ago Lone top-10 finish of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season is a T8 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmAdam Scott2010 Valero Texas Open winner poised to make first start at TPC San Antonio since 2011 (T23) Winner of 13 PGA TOUR events, most recently the 2016 The Honda Classic and World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship a week late Will be making his ninth start of the 2017-18 season and first since finishing T32 at the MastersMatt KucharWill be making his 14th start at the Valero Texas Open, and seventh straight Best finish at TPC San Antonio is a T4 in 2014 (finished T2 at La Cantera in 2001) In search of his eighth career TOUR win in his 414th start. Last win came at the 2014 RBC HeritageJoaquin NiemannChile native and World No. 1 amateur poised to make his professional debut at Valero Texas Open Niemann, 19, closed with a final-round, 8-under 63 to win the Latin America Amateur Championship in January, worth an invitation into the 2018 Masters (MC In his only other PGA TOUR starts, finished T29 at the 2017 Greenbrier Classic and missed the cut at the 2017 U.S. OpenCameron ChampFormer Texas A&M standout will be making his sixth start on the PGA TOUR and fourth as a professional He missed the cut in each of the three starts as a pro in the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season (OHL Classic at Mayakoba, The RSM Classic, Genesis Open) Earned his spot into the field at the Genesis Open as the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption recipient Qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open, where he was T4 through 36 holes, before finishing T32 Will be playing the Valero Texas Open on a Sponsor exemptionTournament notesPast FedExCup winners in the field: Jim Furyk (2010), Bill Haas (2011), Brandt Snedeker (2012), Billy Horschel (2014). Players in the Valero Texas Open with Texas collegiate connections include:Baylor University – Jimmy Walker Lamar University – Chris Stroud, Shawn Stefani TCU – J.J. Henry, Tom Hoge Texas A&M – Ryan Palmer, Cameron Champ o University of Texas – Bob Estes, Cody Gribble, Beau Hossler2018 marks the ninth consecutive year of the Valero Texas Open being contested at TPC San Antonio, a Greg Norman design with Sergio Garcia serving as design consultant. Adam Scott won the first playing of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in 2010. Past Valero Texas Open champions in the field (9): Bob Estes (1994), Zach Johnson (2008, 2009), Adam Scott (2010), Brendan Steele (2011), Martin Laird (2013), Steven Bowditch (2014), Jimmy Walker (2015), Charley Hoffman (2016) and Kevin Chappell (2017). Since 1970, there have only been four international winners of the Valero Texas Open, three of whom emerged since 2010: Steven Bowditch (2014), Martin Laird (2013), Adam Scott (2010). The fourth, Nick Price, defeated Steve Elkington in 1992 in sudden death at Oak Hills CC. Dating to 1922, the Valero Texas Open is the third-oldest non-major on the PGA TOUR calendar behind only the BMW Championship (1899) and RBC Canadian Open (1904). It’s also the longest-running event on the PGA TOUR to be held in the same city....Read More & CommentTaylorMade 2018 Project (s) Golf Balls — Matte OrangeApril 17, 2018TaylorMade 2018 Project (s) Golf Balls — Matte Orange, Yellow and White TaylorMade gets into the colored matte finish golf ball market with its Project (s) line. The bright, matte finish balls, pioneered by Volvik, seem to be all the rage at this point. The Project (s) matte finish golf balls feature:Durable and soft IOTHANE cover Impact propulsion core for longer carry Great feel and increased spin around the greens Patented dimple design for straighter flight UV resistant matte paint; non-fade UV inhibiter paintI personally really like the Matte finish on golf balls. It makes them easier to see, and the color makes them seem larger and easier to hit. I wouldn’t play a ball simply because it had a matte orange finish, but if a ball I like comes in matte orange or green, I’d play it....Read More & CommentValero Texas Open Winners and HistoryApril 17, 2018Valero Texas Open Winners and History The third oldest event on the PGA Tour, the Valero Texas Open started life as the Texas Open in 1922. While it has always been played in San Antonio, the venue as well as the name have changed over the years. It was variously known as the Texas Open, San Antonio Texas Open, Texas Open Invitational, San Antonio Open Invitational. It was the HEB Texas Open from 1990 – 1993, the La Cantera Texas Open from 1995 – 1997, the Westin Texas Open from 1998 – 2000 and since 2002, the Valero Texas Open. Valero is a Fortune 500 oil and gas company based in San Antonio. In spite of the rumors in my area, it is NOT owned by the dictators in Venezuela. The name comes from Misión San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo. The Texas Open has been held at a large number of venues over the years. It was played at Brackenridge Park Golf Course from 1922 to 1940, with a brief 1927-1928 switch to the Willow Springs Golf Course. It returned to that course from 1941 – 1949. Willow Springs Golf Club was the host from 1941 – 1949; and then either Brackenridge Park or the Ft. Sam Houston Golf Course until 1960. From 1961 – 1966, it was played at Oak Hills Country Club, before moving for the 1967 – 1970 seasons to Pecan Valley Golf Club. The years 1972 – 1976 found the tournament at Woodlake Golf Club. Oak Hills Country Club got the tournament back from 1977 to 1994. From 1995 – 2009, it was played at the Resort Course at La Cantera. Finally, in 2010, it began playing at the TPC at San Antonio. The tournament is notable for several reasons. First, it was there in 2003 that Tommy Armour set a PGA Tour record low score of 254 for a 72 hole tournament. The Tour’s first 60 was shot there in 1951 by Al Brosch. It’s also the site of Texas native and PGA Tour legend Ben Crenshaw’s first Tour victory. The List of Valero Texas Open Winners Follows:...Read More & CommentTrophee Hassan II Winners and HistoryApril 16, 2018Although a European Tour event only since 2010, the Trophee Hassan II Golf Tournament has been played most years since 1971. It was established in 1971 by the late King Hassan II, and continues “under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.” The tournament is played at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. The tournament drew interest almost immediately, counting Sam Snead and Johnny Miller among the big names at the inaugural edition. That year, Orville Moody finished first. Over the years, the tournament has had its hare of big name winners, including Billy Casper (1972 and 1975), Lee Trevino, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart, Nick Price, Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington. Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros have put in appearances. The tournament currently offers a prize of 1.5 million Euros. Interestingly, the Ladies European Tour event Lala Meryem Golf Cup is played the same week at Golf de l’Ocean in Morocco. In November 2016, checked off a bucket list opportunity when I had the opportunity to visit Morocco and one of the courses that I played was Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, the host of the tournament....Read More & CommentAT&T Byron Nelson Championship Winners and HistoryApril 16, 2018AT&T Byron Nelson Championship Winners and History One of just two PGA Tour tournaments named after a former player (the other, of course, is the Arnold Palmer), the HP Byron Nelson Championship is the ninth longest running active tournament on the PGA Tour schedule. The tournament has its earliest origins in 1926 as the Dallas Open, won by MacDonald Smith. It then went on hiatus until 1944 when it reemerged as the Texas Victory Open. That tournament was played at Dallas’ Lakewood Country Club and was won by none other than Byron Nelson. The 1945 event was played at the Dallas Country Club, and was won by Sam Snead. Ben Hogan won at the Brook Hollow Golf Club in 1946. The longtime hosts of the tournament is the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and benefits the Salesman Club Youth and Family Centers. No tournaments were held form 1946 until 1956, when two events were held in the same year . From 1958 – 1967, it was played at the Oak Cliff Country Club. In 1968, the Dallas Open Invitational was renamed The Byron Nelson Classic. It’s held that name—albeit with different title sponsors—ever since. The event currently is contested at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. For many years, Byron Nelson was a very real presence at his namesake tournament. Even in his final years—well into his 90s—Nelson could be seen in a pavilion overlooking the eighteenth green and greeting players as they finished. Nelson, who had a reputation as one of the game’s true gentlemen, also has lent his name to two prizes which are awarded at the Byron Nelson Championship. The Byron Nelson Prize is awarded annually to a person or organization who “exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and philanthropy that Byron Nelson personified.” It carries a $100,000 contribution to the recipient’s favorite charity. The 2010 winner is Tom Watson. Past recipients were Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer and Ken Venturi. In addition, the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards” recognize the achievements of junior golfers around the world who distinguish themselves with a high level of junior tournament play as well as excellence in academics, exceptional character and a commitment to community service.” Both are fitting tributes to a man who was a giant in the sport. A quote from Nelson about the tournament says a lot about the man: This tournament is the best thing that’s ever happened to me in golf. Better than winning the Masters or the US Open or eleven in a row. Because it helps people. The Official Tournament website has the final word on Nelson’s legacy: Byron Nelson’s accomplishments as a professional golfer were as impressive as his golf swing. There is a reason why he was the first PGA professional golfer to have a PGA TOUR tournament named in his honor. Mr. Nelson won 54 career victories, including winning two Masters (1937 and 1942), two PGA Championships (1940 and 1945), and the U.S. Open (1939). He is one of only two golfers to be named “Male Athlete of the Year” twice by the Associated Press, and the World Golf Hall of Fame honored Byron Nelson in 2004 by featuring an exhibit entitled “Byron Nelson: A Champion…A Gentleman.” While Mr. Nelson obtained the status as a world-class athlete, it was his humanitarian efforts that were truly first class. He was a champion for the underprivileged and gave his time, talents, and funds to make this a better world. Byron Nelson and the HP Byron Nelson Championship have raised more than $112 million for the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a nonprofit agency that provides education and mental health services for more than 7,000 children and their families in the greater Dallas area. Additionally, the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endowment Fund had provided over $1.5 million in endowment funds to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. Another example of his service was his dedication to the Metroport Meals on Wheels which provides daily, home-delivered, hot lunch for the frail, elderly and chronically ill residents. Byron Nelson was an active honorary chairman since 1992. A list of AT&T Byron Nelson Championship Winners follows:...Read More & CommentTaylorMade M3 Fairway WoodApril 16, 2018TaylorMade M3 Fairway Wood The TaylorMade M3 Fairway Woods feature:Lighter 5-layer carbon crown and sole frees up 8g of weight for a lower more powerful CG location. Lengthened speed pocket provides more flexibility and more ball speed low on the face Improved playability: new Track overhang delivers precise and consistent turf interaction More left-to-right adjustability due to a heavier, 29g movable weight. More streamlined, 12-position 4 degree loft sleeve...Read More & CommentThe RBC Heritage Winners and HistoryApril 15, 2018 First played in 1969, the Heritage is one of just five of the Tour’s Invitationals. That means that it has a reduced field of 132 players (as opposed to the usual 156). There is no Monday qualifier, and the tournament does not have to fill its field according the the Priority Ranking Field. Throughout its history, the site for The Heritage has Pete Dye’s now-famous Harbor Town Golf Links, with the exception of 1972, when the first two rounds were played at both the Harbor Town Golf Links and the Ocean Course at Sea Pines. The tournament is sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada for 2012. It had no sponsor in 2011. From 1987 to 2010, it was sponsored by either MCI (under either the MCI or WorldCom name), and by Verizon. Prior to that, the tournament was known variously as The Heritage Classic, The Sea Pines Heritage Classic, and the Sea Pines Heritage. The Tournament’s position on the Tour schedule has changed quite a bit. From 1968 to 1972, it was played in November. In 1973, September. From 1974 to 1982, it was played two weeks before the Masters; and from 1983 to 2010, it usually was one week after the Masters. In 2011, it’s positioned two weeks after the Masters. Harbortown is a relatively short drive from Augusta, and the date following the Masters apparently has been popular for the players. Tournament winners receive a red plaid jacket. Davis Love, III has won the tournament five times. A list of RBC Heritage Winners o follows:Year Player Country Score To par 1st Prize ($) Purse ($)The RBC Heritage2018 Satoshi Kodaira Japan 272 -12 1,206,000 6,700,0002017 Wesley Bryan United States 271 -13 1,170,000 6,500,0002016 Branden Grace South Africa 275 -9 1,062,000 5,900,0002015 Jim Furyk United States 266 -18 1,062,000 5,900,0002014 Matt Kuchar United States 273 -11 1,044,000 5,800,0002013 Graeme McDowell Northern Ireland 275 -9 1,044,000 5,800,0002012 Carl Petterson Sweden 270 -14 1,026,000 5,700,0002011 Brandt Snedeker United States 272 -12 1,026,000 5,700,000Verizon Heritage2010 Jim Furyk United States 271 -13 1,026,000 5,700,0002009 Brian Gay United States 264 -20 1,026,000 5,700,0002008 Boo Weekley United States 269 -15 990,000 5,500,0002007 Boo Weekley United States 270 -14 972,000 5,400,0002006 Aaron Baddeley Australia 269 -15 954,000 5,300,000MCI Heritage2005 Peter Lonard Australia 277 -7 936,000 5,200,0002004 Stewart Cink United States 274 -10 864,000 4,800,0002003 Davis Love III United States 271 -13 810,000 4,500,000WorldCom Classic – The Heritage of Golf2002 Justin Leonard United States 270 -14 720,000 4,000,0002001 José Cóceres Argentina 273 -11 630,000 3,500,000MCI Classic2000 Stewart Cink United States 270 -14 540,000 3,000,0001999 Glen Day United States 274 -10 450,000 2,500,0001998 Davis Love III United States 266 -18 342,000 1,900,0001997 Nick Price Zimbabwe 269 -15 270,000 1,500,0001996 Loren Roberts United States 265 -19 252,000 1,400,0001995 Bob Tway United States 275 -9 234,000 1,300,000MCI Heritage Golf Classic1994 Hale Irwin United States 266 -18 225,000 1,250,0001993 David Edwards United States 273 -11 202,500 1,125,0001992 Davis Love III United States 269 -15 180,000 1,000,0001991 Davis Love III United States 271 -13 180,000 1,000,0001990 Payne Stewart United States 276 -8 180,000 1,000,0001989 Payne Stewart United States 268 -16 144,000 800,0001988 Greg Norman Australia 271 -13 126,000 700,0001987 Davis Love III United States 271 -13 117,000 650,000Sea Pines Heritage1986 Fuzzy Zoeller United States 276 -8 81,000 450,0001985 Bernhard Langer West Germany 273 -11 72,000 400,0001984 Nick Faldo England 270 -14 72,000 400,0001983 Fuzzy Zoeller United States 275 -9 63,000 350,0001982 Tom Watson United States 280 -4 54,000 300,0001981 Bill Rogers United States 278 -6 54,000 300,0001980 Doug Tewell United States 280 -4 54,000 300,000Sea Pines Heritage Classic1979 Tom Watson United States 270 -14 54,000 300,000Heritage Classic1978 Hubert Green United States 277 -7 45,000 225,0001977 Graham Marsh Australia 273 -11 45,000 225,000Sea Pines Heritage Classic1976 Hubert Green United States 274 -10 43,000 215,0001975 Jack Nicklaus United States 271 -13 40,000 200,0001974 Johnny Miller United States 276 -8 40,000 200,0001973 Hale Irwin United States 272 -12 30,000 150,0001972 Johnny Miller United States 281 -4 25,000 125,0001971 Hale Irwin United States 279 -5 22,000 110,000Heritage Golf Classic1970 Bob Goalby United States 280 -4 20,000 100,0001969 Arnold Palmer United States 283 -1 20,000 100,000...Read More & Comment
