One of my favorite Donald Ross courses is Maketewah Country Club. Tom Dendelow´s original tract was redesigned and refined by Ross just before golf´s “Roaring Twenties.”  Just north of Cincinnati, Maketewah is a jewel among the rolling hills of southwest Ohio.  The beautifully tree lined layout has been a favorite USGA U.S. Open qualifying site for over forty years.

Always meticulously maintained, Maketewah is a golfer´s treat.  While many courses created during the 1920s have been rendered obsolete by modern-day technology, Maketewah remains a challenge to both professional and amateur alike.

One hole in particular is Number 11.  The elevated tee leads to a further elevated green that is steeply sloped while tucked neatly at the end of a 321-yard dog-leg left, tree lined fairway that lies true to the hills and vales Ross utilizes so well. The pin is fiercely protected by three strategically positioned bunkers that Ross knew would give golfers pause to consider each approach shot.

This hole offers many options for risk and reward.  As the course guide indicates, fairway accuracy is the key to maintaining par.  Place your tee shot in the fairway anywhere up the hill and Ross provides a statistically safe shot to the green.  A well executed iron can set up a birdie opportunity; however, depending on the placement of the pin, you could have your work cut out for you.  As the guide says, “you may 4 putt.”

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to play Maketewah with my son, who served as an assistant pro at the club.  After a well-played first nine, we arrived at the eleventh.  We made our way to the tee-box and sized up the conditions of the day.  An ever so slight breeze was rustling the leaves.  It was a beautiful afternoon – one that stirs the senses.  My son took out his driver and teed up his ball. “Going for all the marbles?” I asked. “It just takes one shot, Dad.”

He struck a powerful drive that cut the left tree line then faded from view. “Wow!”  I exclaimed, “That could be the shot of the day.”  “Or, it could be in that first trap,” Geoff countered.  Whatever the ball´s fate, it was what I imagined a perfect Donald Ross signature risk/reward shot to be.

I followed the course guide and placed my ball in the fairway along the left side. My second shot was short and to the right.  I figured I would need a good wedge to get the ball close to the pin and tap in for par.  Satisfied with my plan, I drove up the hill with Geoff in anticipation of where his drive had come to rest.  There, not 18 inches from the pin, was the ball.  He had executed a pure flight path which set up his eagle.  As Geoff stood over the ball, I marveled again at the awesome trajectory of that small, white sphere as it tracked a path laid out by a gentleman of the game over 90 years ago.  In this day of “instant disposable” everything, it´s nice to see the work of one man surviving while providing golfers a great venue for recreation and contemplation.  Thanks Mr. Ross!

Text © 2011, The iQuest Group, LLC

allan@iquestgolf.com

www.iquestgolf.com

Steve Williams and Adam Scott at the AT&T National. Steve now carries Adam´s bag

It´s official.  Things have changed.  The twelve-year relationship with Tiger Woods is kaput.  Steve Williams has been part of thirteen of Tiger′s fourteen major wins.  A lot of water has flowed under their bridge.  But, it seems as though, according to Steve, Tiger has completely blown up that bridge and is moving on.

You knew it was coming.  The fallout from Tiger′s extra-curricular affairs is not over.  Even fair Elin is finding it hard to trust men after it was revealed that her new interest has had dalliances with one of Tiger´s main flings, Rachel Uchitel.  Who can blame Elin?  Sir Walter Scott said it best when he said, ”Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!”  Or, if you′re a country fan, then it´s Harlan Howard′s, “I′ve got heartaches but the number, troubles by the score.”

One thing is for sure, Tiger needs to reinvent himself if he has any hopes of playing competitive golf again.  Part of his plan is putting a new team together.  And, that sucks for Steve.  Hopefully, Tiger can succeed in picking up the pieces, getting his knee and ankle back to 100%, and taking control on the course again.  His presence on the course has been missed; but, regardless, there has been a lot of good golf  played lately.

In my opinion though, it′s not going to be that easy for Tiger to come back.  I see Tiger leaving the world of golf, sooner than later, and taking up a more social and political agenda.  His world recognition and the money he has banked will lead him in a new direction.  Whether it will be good or bad is to be determined.  That new horizon has yet to be crystallized.  If not that, he has his handlers that will suggest what to do.

Good thing is… Steve is a very competent caddie.  He has landed a spot with fellow Aussie, Adam Scott.  I′m thinking that it′s a good match for both.  I believe that Adam will gain from Steve′s experience on the bag.

The caddie arrangement with Tiger has left Steve fixed financially; however, you gotta know that his next windfall of cash isn′t going to be carrying the bag for Scott.  It will be realized when he chronicles his travels with Tiger.  That will be a mega-best-seller!  That is, unless Tiger′s team pays him off – sometimes, world figures do that.  What do you think?

Text © 2011, The iQuest Group, LLC

allan@iquestgolf.com

www.iquestgolf.com/blog

Phil Mickelson, battling the elements and his “demons of the linksland,” along with Dustin Johnson tied for second with a revitalized Anthony Kim, Chad Campbell, and the  young super-star Rickie Fowler sharing fifth place.  A determined Davis Love III rounded out the American effort to capture this year´s Open Championship.

Six of this year´s top ten finishers were Americans; only Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, Englishman Simon Dyson, crowd favorite Sergio Garcia, and front-runner Thomas Bjorn were numbered among the elite top-ten.

Tournament Golf  tests the mettle of each player that calls himself a golfer.  Each year, The Open Championship offers up the premier test of nature´s unpredictable elements and the game.  This year Darren Clarke rose to the challenge, showed his mettle over four days of intense competition and took hold of the Claret Jug.  Each year there is only one champion; but, to be inscribed on the Claret Jug is forever.  Congratulations Darren!

Text © 2011, The iQuest Group, LLC

allan@iquestgolf.com

www.iquestgolf.com/blog

2011 Open Championship

“So, who’s going to win The Open this year?” It was a simple question from my friend, Mike, as we were lining up putts waiting for our tee time. “I like McIlroy’s chances,” I said, as I pushed a putt outside a thirty foot breaker.  ”Not even close,” chipped in Tom who was the third in our foursome.  ”If the wind is blowing and the rain falls, I think Royal St. George´s puts the brakes on Rory’s game. I think that Luke Donald or Ian Poulter has an excellent chance this year.”  I nodded; intent on getting the feel of the greens with another putt that this time curled to within two inches of the cup.

“You’re all wrong!” Geoff exclaimed.  He was picking his ball from a cup nearby; his confidence embolden by the fact that his game this year has been spectacular. “This year’s winner is going to be an American.  Remember 2003 when Ben Curtis won at St. George. He was ranked what… 390-something?  It’s America’s time to shine.  I’m thinking Jeff Overton.”

I thought about that for a moment and quickly dismissed it from my mind.  I’d love to see Overton become the next Ben Curtis but he is ranked 58th in the world, not 390-something; for that matter, I like to see Phil win the jug. But then, Phil always struggles at The Open.

Americans have been taking it on the chin lately.  It’s been the young, Euro-South African guns that have shot their way onto the winner’s platform with regularity and it seems that, for the majors, the trend is growing.  Maybe Bubba or Dustin has a chance.  Steve Stricker or David Duval would make for a great story; however, nothing like the Shark’s win in 1993 – that was four rounds of golfing magic.  Maybe Sergio’s got it in him this year…  Martin Kaymer? Doubtful… Nick Watney? Could be… he is American.

Royal St. George's - one of golf's finest links courses.

Mike said he would like to see Luke Donald or Lee Westwood claim this year’s prize.  Graeme McDowell is another favorite of mine.  One thing about all three, they learned their trade on the American collegiate circuit; so, can we call them American-Europeans?  I shook my head and grinned inwardly.

“Is Rory taking Tiger place?”  I offered up, as I headed towards my bag.  ”No way!” Geoff said emphatically . “His win at Congressional was nothing compared to Tiger’s at Pebble Beach; and while I’m not a big Tiger fan, McIlroy still has a long way to go to catch Tiger.”  “He has the potential,” I replied, as we all started walking to the first tee.  ”All those young guys have potential,” said Tom.  ”You’re right; it looks like Rory has the best chance this week.”  All eyes turned towards Mike as he looked up from his iPhone.  ¨The bookie´s odds are 8/1 that he´ll win.¨ Yes, there is a lot riding on Rory’s shoulders this week – the money, the media, the pressure of being in Tiger´s shadow – the weight of another Open Championship.

We all stood there contemplating the possibilities.  Mike broke the silence, “Gary Player said McIlroy’s going to be the next one to capture the Grand Slam.” I took my driver out of the bag and walked toward the tee box.  ”Maybe,” I replied.  ”However, I don’t think Mr. Jones is too worried about that; nor, for that matter, is Jack worrying about Tiger anymore.”  I paused, put my ball and tee in the ground, turned to my fellow brethren, and asked with a big smile, “Now, how many strokes are we talking here?”

Text © 2011, The iQuest Group, LLC

allan@iquestgolf.com

www.iquestgolf.com/blog

The latest buzz being generated around the new and improved Polara (Aero-X Golf, Inc.) is that it might be one of the answers to speeding up the game – more balls in the fairway, less lost balls, less expense, more fun.  Not to mention that it could bring back many golfers who have abandoned the game out of frustration at not having the swing of Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods.  Isn´t that what the game needs, more players enjoying a fun afternoon with friends; more money being spread around to keep jobs in the golf industry from disappearing?

In the late 70s, Fred Holmstrom and David Nepela solved the hook & slice problem utilizing good, old fashioned aerodynamic physics.  We know what the scoring design and dimples did for the gutta percha ball in the mid-ninetieth and twentieth centuries; and, funny enough, dimples again were the answer to finding the holy grail of straight flight in the 70s.

Of course, back then, a straight flying golf ball incurred the wrath of the USGA (duh!); which is the arbiter of technology as it applies to golf, right? And in 1981 the USGA enacted a rule requiring that the dimple pattern of a golf ball must be symmetrical no matter how the ball was positioned – the symmetry rule.  You see, the Polara ball has got several dimple patterns requiring you to correctly position the ball each time you hit it… ahhhh, there´s the rub… no touchy, no touchy the golf ball!  Well, after the legal dust cleared, and the USGA settled with the Polara company for millions, the self-correcting ball was deemed out-of-bounds (actually non-conforming) and banished to the rough of obscurity.  It was the right call for the time.  But, I´m not so sure today… these times they are a changín.

Let´s face facts… the golf industry is struggling.  I know everyone of you reading this blog is a witness to a course or two, or three that is having money problems, are bankrupt, or starting the proceedings toward bankruptcy.  Superintendents are cutting back on mowing, cutting, manicuring, and rolling. I was talking with a local pro the other day and he said he hopes he can break-even at the end of the year.  Right now, he´s treading water. More golfers are leaving the ranks than are picking up the game.  Tournament and outing revenues are down and everyone is looking for solutions.  If there was a ball that could straighten out your game up to 75% isn´t that something worth considering?

Golf is not a game of perfect; and, I agree that tournament golf needs to be regulated and outings will need to be modified. Elite golfers are a very small percentage of golfers anyway. However, for the 95% of golfers that are playing golf in corporate scrambles, charity events, and other non-handicapping play I say, what is the harm?  Let´s play golf.  Let´s try the Polara.  Line it up where the arrow points and hit it!  The proof is in the pudding.

Now, it´s up to the USGA to get on the fast track to putting fun back in the game.  It worked for the tennis, softball, and the racing industries.  What do you think; can it work for golf?

Text © 2011, The iQuest Group, LLC

allan@iquestgolf.com

www.iquestgolf.com