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My player this week is Kim Saiki
Sunday: Just a little
more than two hours down the road, the Bulle Rock course was just too accessible
not to walk and basically had the course to myself. Ran into Alice Miller and Betsy
Rawls and had to complement them on the outstanding condition of this track.
A four inch deluge ravaged Bulle Rock last Friday but it came through with
flying colors. The fairways are soft but in excellent shape with the rough
deep as usual. Last year a heat wave turned many of the greens a crispy
brown, especially the second and third, but trees have been removed to
help facilitate better growing conditions and the root system has taken
hold. They're in much better shape this year. Two distinct additions of
yardage will take it's toll this year. Thirty-six yards onto the fifth and
forty-six to the ninth will make par on both a welcomed score.
Monday: It's a
Monday/Tuesday pro-am and, since we're playing tomorrow afternoon, I
checked out one of the Open qualifying courses (will be working for Dina Ammaccapane)
this morning. The Unabashedly Stupefying Golf Association has outdone themselves this
time. The setup at Woodholme Country Club may be the toughest I've seen in
my almost three decades on tour. Hardly a flat spot on this entire layout,
it has been stretched to a whopping 6,680 yards with severely sloping
greens and deep rough. The coup de grace is the ninth hole. The tee box is
just steps behind the eighth green (a safety hazard besides being in an
area were play will slow, waiting for others to hit) offering a blind tee
shot so a severely slanted right to left fairway (too far left and you're
blocked by a huge tree) leaving a long uphill shot to a well protected
green. Oh, did I mention it's a 424 par four to boot! IDIOTS! There are many
more examples that crack may have been an influence in this "Frankensteinian
folly'" but I feel my blood pressure rising as I compose this synopsis.
Needless to say, if adjustments are not made, scores will reflect the featherbrained
decision to make this track one that few will ever forget. By the way,
there is a gap of 5 and 1/2 hours between each players rounds with the
second course, Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, just a little ways down the
road. Given the fact that rounds stretch to five hours on most of our
courses, there may not be enough time to make your next tee time.
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See ya; Word of two notable no-shows filtered
back to our domicile of the week (the Day's Inn in Aberdeen) and the
consequences were dramatic. "Sir Whiff-a-Lot" (looping for
Jessica Reese-Quayle) did just that, missing their scheduled E-9
before the pro-am and it cost him his job. The second was much more egregious
carrying the stiffest penalty of all, a DQ. Brittany Lang failed to
appear for her 12:40 tee time and will not be playing this week as a
result. Probably a rookie mistake (I'm assuming this) by not checking
the fact sheet. Here, Phoenix and Nabisco may be the only events for a
Monday/Tuesday pro-am and the times were posted last week. Trouble is,
Brittany took the week off and probably had no idea.
Tuesday: 300
yard drives were a frequent occasion from one of our pro-am guys constituting
a day of short game practice. Every once in awhile you need a day like
that.
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Sherri, Angie Rizzo and Worth |
Allison Hanna, in bad
company.
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Auf wiedersehen Herr Steffler; The lure
of the World Cup has claimed one of our most avid football (soccer) devotees.
Jeff (The Brick or The Protector)
Steffler is on his way to the land of sauerkraut and beer to cheer
on the Americanos in the quest of the most sought after title in all
of sport. He has relinquished his regular bag, Tina Barrett, to the charge
of Jackie, an uninitiated cadet and friend of Tina's. Besides the aforementioned
gastronomical goodies, there may be one more added bonus Jeff will
be looking forward to. So
many women, so little time.
Wednesday:
Just played nine today and that seemed to a popular format for
many of the players. Having to play both qualifying courses earlier in the
week saps your energy.
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Best laid plans;
Speaking of qualifying, Yu Ping Lin didn't think she would be in this
week so she planned to qualify back home in California. Well she's
playing, and if she manages to make the cut, has to fly back Sunday
evening to tee it up for two rounds on Monday. A couple of Red
Bulls for breakfast ought to do the trick.
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Take a deep breath;
After doing just that the other day, Christina Kim proclaimed this is
the first time she has been able to get into a size six pants.
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Abandon ship! Is
the LPGA taking on water? Golfweek spells it out.
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Daddy Dearest; Remember
the brouhaha Christina and her dad had back in Williamsburg?
Apparently they have not patched things up cause she took a local last
week and Meg Mallon's cadero, John Kaleen, this week.
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Did I hear right?
We played our practice round with Hillary Lunke and talk of the Rolex
watches presented to tournament winners came up on our final hole. Kim remarked
that her hubby has never worn a watch and has never been late. Hillary
thought she heard laid instead and had to take exception since
they were married. We all had a good laugh over that one.
Thursday: No
one may complain about getting the wrong end of the flop today, both ends
were perfect. Soft fairways and greens, tees up a bit and not enough breeze
to blow out tomorrow's birthday candles on my cake. Kim just wasn't firing
on all cylinders today but still finished one under. This was the easiest
it will play.
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Advice to live by;
Never let it be said that the veteran caddies let the newbies flounder
in their own misapprehensions. Many a tip has been passed along over
the years and today was no exception. Below, Rick Wynn tutors a local
on one of the finer (and often necessary) arts of bag toting on the
LPGA.
Remember, Applebee's, two for
one Coronas, five till seven. Be there.
Friday:
That was a long one. Teed off at 9:05 and didn't finish till
half past dinner time. Overnight rains exceeding one inch, back pins on
the longer holes and a bit of a breeze added plenty of extra yardage on
this track. A double on the seventeenth, after the rain delay, spoiled our
round but we're still even for the event.
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Donna, that's not soda she's drinking. |
Fred, on easy street. |
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Snack time for Chris. |
"Brokeback" moment? |
Saturday:
Plus two for the day but it looks like we didn't lose much
ground. Would like to "bring it" tomorrow for a good check.
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One short; Four
minutes to tee off one of our playing partners, Julieta Granada,
noticed her seven iron was missing. Realizing it was probably in the
trunk of their car, her caddie and mom was determined to retrieve the
errant stick against her daughter's wishes. Off she went promising to
be back on time while Julieta joked that would be the club she would probably
need on our first hole. They were both right. By the way, Julieta is
the real thing. Bubbly personality and a determined competitor. She's
a super addition to the tour.
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Walking wounded;
Is this a contact sport? Add Nicole Castrale to the list as she
twisted her ankle walking to the parking lot yesterday. Paula has her
wrist heavily taped, Jimin withdrew with an ankle injury and Becky Morgan
an aching shoulder.
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Ty tied down;
Heard Sophie and Ty will wed next week. Cheers!
Sunday: Another
+2 round which left us tied for 49th. A so-so tournament but better than a
stick in the eye.
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A Wie bit early;
As I was walking to the parking lot at 9:24, who do I stumble upon but
Michelle Wie and her troupe. Quite surprising since she wasn't teeing
it up till 2:32! She wasn't there just for show either, a stint on the
range followed. Of course, they made her caddie show also. Hope you're
getting some mighty big bucks Greg.
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No rest for the wicked;
My day still wasn't done as I had only walked one of the qualifying
courses. This time it was Green Spring Valley Hunt Club and it could
not have been more of a contrast from Woodholme. I think
"Hunt" refers to finding the next tee because it's such a
screwy lay-out. With daylight running out, I opted to put down $20 for
a buggy and it worked out perfectly.
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