Scottsdale’s TPC Champions Course

photo credit: Phil Sexton   The TPC Champions course is located directly across from Scottsdale, Arizona’s  TPC Stadium Course, home of the FBR Open.  It is what many would call “a real sleeper.”  The Champions course rests below the beautiful McDowell Mountains in the north section of Scottsdale.

The bunkers are finely groomed with soft, fluffy sand.  The fairways are cut to perfection and the rough isn’t intimidating for the average player.  Pine trees are strategically located throughout the layout adding to the challenge..

The course does not have many water hazards but makes up for it with it’s length.  Par 4s over 400 yards are plentiful.

Out of 10 this course is a solid 8 1/2.  The reasonable greens fees and friendly customer service,  make this course a real bargain!

Nature Valley Amateur Tournaments

photo credit: Brian J. McDermott   Play like a pro at the Nature Valley Amateur Tournaments being held nationwide through the end of August 2010.  There will be 2000 golfers with four flights, playing the following 18 championship golf courses.  TPC Tampa Bay 6.7.10, TPC Snoqualmie Ridge 6.7.10, TPC Jasna Polana 6.28.10, TPC River’s Bend 6.28.10, TPC River Highlands 7.5.10, Atlanta National Golf Club 7.12.10, Cog Hill-Dubsdreak 7.19.10, TPC Stonebrae 8.2.10, TPC LasVegas 8.9.10, TPC Piper Glen 8.16.10, Torrey Pines (S. Course) 8.16.10, TPC Myrtle Beach 8.27.10, TPC Las Colinas 8.30.10, TPC Michigan 9.13.10, TPC San Antonio 9.13.10, TPC Scottsdale 9.20.10, TPC Blue Monster at Doral 9.20.10, TPC Deere Run 9.27.10.  The Championship Event will be played at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach FL., 11.5.10 & 11.6.10.  For more information go to www.naturevalleygolf.com.

Pebble Beach Golf Links

photo credit: splashypants   Rated no. 1 by GOLF DIGEST magazine, Pebble Beach Golf Links will be home to the U.S. Open 1n 2010.  Designed and built by Jack Neville, the public course is 7,024 yards and plays to a par 72. 

Green fees are nearly $500 and if you are fortunate enough to play this masterpiece, be prepared to deal with the wind.  Adapt to windy conditions by reducing clubhead speed, which in turn, reduces backspin on the ball.  Less active wrists will also reduce backspin.  Grip down on your club for more control and less backspin.  Less backspin means lower trajectory and more roll and that is the key to playing Pebble Beach. 

Play normal shots when hitting downwind but take one or two less clubs.

Muirfield Villiage, Ohio

photo credit: waldo483   Muirfield Village is considered one of America’s top 25 courses and was created specifically for televised events.  Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Muirfield Village is the home of The Memorial Tournament, often referred to as “the fifth major.” 

When playing Muirfield, it is important to be aware of the frequent blind spots.  Using the yardage book on this course is an absolute necessity.  It will help you locate hazards like bunkers and the many streams that flow through this wonderful golf course.

Each year changes and alterations are made to the course which accommodate developments in the game. They also increase the playing experience for both members and spectators alike.  Fairways have been lengthened to accommodate the big hitters.  Re-arrangement is common at Muirfield Village.

Gleneagles, Scotland

photo credit: Pamela Walencewicz   One of the most scenic courses in the British Isles, Gleneagles is Scotland’s most luxurious golf resort.  Created in 1919, it is a 6,471 yard, par 70 layout.

Gleneagles has three championship courses, the King’s, Queen’s and PGA Centenary course.  On the King’s course, each hole has been given a Gaelic name reflecting it’s character. 

James Braid’s masterful architectural design will leave you guessing about the slopes and angles of the terrain.  Braid’s design creates optical illusions.  Some greens appear to be flat when they are actually sloping away from the fairway.  Other greens look uphill but are actually flat.

If you have the good fortune to play this course and can find the time to look away from the gorgeous scenery, don’t be fooled by the optical illusions.

Best new Public Courses

photo credit: dhilgart   The following is a list of GOLF DIGEST”S best new public courses:  (1.)  French Lick Resort, French Lick, Indiana $350  (888 936-9360) www.Frenchlick.com.  (2.)  Palouse Ridge G.C. at Wash. State Univ., $89  (509 335-4342) www.palouseridge.com.  (3.)  Tetherow G.C., Bend, Ore., $175  (866 948-2582)  www.tetherow.com.  (4.)  Pound Ridge, Pound Ridge, NY. $235  (914 764-5771)  www.poundridgegolf.com.  (5.)  Blue Top Ridge at Riverside, Riverside, Iowa $80  (877 677-3456)  www.riversidecasinoandresort.com.  (6.)  Wild Rock G.C., Wisconsin Dells, Wis. $99  (608 253-4653)  www.wildrockgolf.com.  (7.)  Sand Hollow Resort (Championship), Hurricane, Utah$125   (435 656-4653)  www.sandhollowresort.com.  

Some of the best architects and designers were incorporated to design and build these courses including Pete Dye, John Harbottle, David Mclay Kidd, Perry Dye, Rees Jones, Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, John Fought and Andrew Staples.  All of the above courses are over 7,000 yards in length.

Grasses Part ll

Fescues (grasses) are often found in coastal areas and thus on links courses.  Fescue is a hardy grass.  It can be used for roughs or even be used for fairways.  Cultivation of fescue requires excellent drainage, low fertility, and light traffic.  Heavy rain will out-compete fescue.  Also, heavy cart usage compromises fescues and makes it nearly impossible for the turf to thrive. 

Sand Hills golf course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.  It is located on the plains of Nebraska and originally contained fescue fairways, but were converted to bluegrass because the ferocious and icy winds that blew across the flat-lands of Nebraska burned it badly.  The fescue grass just wasn’t hardy enough to withstand Nebraska’s harsh weather.

Grasses Part 1

photo credit: danperry.com   Turfgrasses are divided according to whether they thrive under cool or warm conditions.  Cool-season grasses grow best in temperature ranges between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.  Warm-season grasses grow best between 75 and 95 degrees.  In the US, cool-season grasses are usually bentgrasses, bluegrasses or fescues.  Warm weather grasses are usually Bermuda grasses.

Cool-season grasses tolerate cold but not heat; the reason northern courses favor bentgrasses for greens.  They can be closely mown to create lightning fast greens.  Bentgrass is of a fine texture and the ball rolls smoothly, seemingly on top of the turf, rather than through the blades which tour players love.

Warm-season grasses have thicker blades than bentgrasses.  There is more grain in Bermuda grass.  With modern methods,  it is now possible to cut Bermuda grass closely for faster greens.

Augusta Golf Holes

photo credit: Ryan Somma   Each hole at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, is named for a tree or plant that is predominant along its fringes, a practice that recalls the property’s prior life as a commercial nursery.  They are as follows:  Hole No.1)  Tea Olive  2)  Pink Dogwood  3)  Flowering Peach  4)  Flowering Crab-apple  5)  Magnolia  6)  Juniper  7)  Pampas  8)  Yellow Jasmine  9)  Carolina Cherry  10)  Camellia  11)  White Dogwood  12)  Golden Bell  13)  Azalea  14)  Chinese Fir  15)  Fire Thorn  16)  Red Bud  17)  Nandina  18)  Holly.

Augusta National is also known for its Azaleas and Magnolia trees.  During the tournament, Amen corner is bursting with color from the Azalea bushes surrounding the fairway.  One of the most famous drives in all of golf is Magnolia Lane, which is the main entrance-way to the course.

GOLF MAGAZINE’S Top 10 Courses

photo credit: Caveman 92223 — Great to be Home   Top 10 U.S. Courses:  #1  Pine Valley, Pine Valley, N.J.  #2  Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, CA.  #3  Augusta National, Augusta, GA.  #4  Shinnecock Hills, Southhampton, N.Y.  #5  Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA.  #6  Oakmont, Oakmont, PA.  #7  Merion (East), Ardmore, PA.  #8  Sand Hills, Mullen, Neb.  #9  National Golf Links of America, Southhampton, N.Y.  #10  Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Ore.

Top 10 World Courses:  #1  Pine Valley, Pine Valley, N.J.  #2  Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, CA.  #3  Augusta National, Augusta, GA.  #4  St. Andrews (Old Course), St. Andrews, Scottland.  #5  Royal County Down, Newcastle, N. Ireland.  #6  Shinnecock Hills, Southhampton, N.J.  #7  Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA.  #8  Oakmont, Oakmont, PA.  #9  Muirfield, Gullans, Scottland.  #10  Merion (East), Ardmore, PA.

Next Page »