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Matty G's Top 10 Most Affordable Courses In The Country (5-1)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:08:26 -0500

Repeating explanation: In almost every trip to report an Away Game, I try to find a round of affordable golf to include in my itinerary. "Affordable" is as relative a term as a list like this is subjective. So for the purpose of this list, here’s how I’m defining affordable: A course that charges less than $125 on weekends during peak season for non-residents. I’m ranking them in reverse order, based on the green fee. The least expensive on my list earns the top spot. (Courses 10-6 on my list are in the previous post.)

No. 5--The Quarry and The Legend at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. ($89). I’m grouping them together because if you were willing to get to Biwabik, which is practically in Canada, you’d never play just one. I prefer The Legend (opened in 1997, ranked No. 72 on our list of America’s 100 Greatest Public), over The Quarry (opened in 2003, ranked No. 20), but it's splitting rocks because they’re both good and they’re both a bargain. Two different looks, The Legend (pictured above) runs along a river and a lake and sits at the base of what functions as a ski resort most of the year. When it opened, my colleague, Ron Whitten, wrote a review of the Quarry: “Hands down, the finest course in Minnesota. It’s a combination of Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, Merion and Tobacco Road, with a bit of architectural Tabasco sauce sprinkled in for the occasional jolt.” That might be a bit of literary hot sauce, but you get the idea. (Twilight, $60, start time varies. Replay rate is $58.)

No. 4--The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash. ($76, includes a cart). Washington golf isn’t all Chambers Bay. When I was in town to scout the future Open venue, I was told I had to get to Gold Mountain, which is covered in trees. And now I’m passing on the tip. The Olympic course hosted the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and it will host the 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur. The cold, wet weather is obviously a factor, but I love the deal they’re running until March: Pay $100 and get 30 days of unlimited golf. (Twilight, $27, starts at 3 p.m.)

No. 3--Black Forest at Wilderness Valley in Gaylord, Mich. ($75). Tom Doak has built only two public courses in his home state of Michigan. He told me Black Forest is where he was experimenting with a lot of bunkering techniques that he still uses today, and that if he had to do it all over again, he’d make this course more playable for the masses. It’s tough, but far from unfair. The blue tees (6,496 yards) have a slope of 143. The slope from the white tees (6,129 yards) drops to 127. I played a combination of both tees and had all I could handle. One of Doak’s favorite holes is the 10th, and it’s my favorite as well. It’s a long and narrow par 5--tunneling ants have had more room to work. (Twilight, $50, starts at 3 p.m.)

No. 2--Wailua Municipal Golf Course on Kauai, Hawaii ($70). The Bethpage Black of Hawaii, Wailua has hosted three U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships. The first nine was built in the 1930’s; the second nine was added in 1961. It’s only three miles from the Lihue airport, so it’s an easy stop on your way to or from the North Shore. It has several holes running along the water, including my favorite, the “signature” 173-yard 17th. You will not be run over with polish--if there’s a dress code, they don’t enforce it--but you might be run over by the pace of the locals, so I suggest you keep up with the group in front of you. (Twilight, $30, starts at 3 p.m., and it’s first come, first serve.)

No. 1--Coronado Municipal Golf Course in Coronado, Calif. ($35). If Bethpage Black is my favorite course near my favorite city in the country, Coronado (pictured below) is my favorite course near San Diego, my second favorite city. The last time I played there was with my brother and a best friend from high school. Most of my brother’s clubs ended up in the neighboring San Diego Bay (I think he kept his driver and his putter). It was quite a scene at a course known for its high quality and a low fee. Advanced tee times (8-14 days) are $60. All other tee times can be obtained through a daily lottery and phone calls. (Twilight, $15, starts at 1 p.m. in the winter.)

So there you have it, my list of top 25 public courses, and a list of top 10 based on value. Any other lists you're looking for? I'm taking requests.

If you want a useful link, click here for the list of America's 100 Greatest, re-ranked by price.

--Matty G.

Matty G's Top 10 Most Affordable Courses In the Country (10-6)

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:26:32 -0500

In almost every trip to report an Away Game, I try to find a round of affordable golf to include in my itinerary. "Affordable" is as relative a term as a list like this is subjective. So for the purpose of this list, here’s how I’m defining affordable: A course that charges less than $125 on weekends during peak season for non-residents. I’m ranking them in reverse order, based on the green fee. The least expensive on my list earns the top spot. It seems only fitting to pick up where I left off:

No. 10--Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmingdale, N.Y. ($120). I wrote an extensive review in my list of my top five public courses in the country. The Black is my favorite. Here's a link to that review. (Or, you can click next to "previous post" at the bottom of this page.)

No. 9--French Lick Resort (Donald Ross Course) in French Lick, Ind. ($120, includes a cart). The Pete Dye Course, just up the street, received the Golf Digest award for Best New Public Course in 2009, but the green fee is silly ($350) and the Ross Course gives you more fun for your buck. The par-70, 7,000-yard layout is also plenty of test, even for the best golfer of your group. Built in 1917, the Ross Course hosted the 1924 PGA Championship (won by Walter Hagen) and still features flat-bottom bunkers, square greens and a series of par 3s that will give you fits. (Twilight, $65, starts at 4 p.m.)

No. 8--The Classic at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minn. ($119). Madden’s Resort had a few courses on property but in the mid-’90s they wanted a bigger draw for serious golfers. They went out and hired none other than . . . their superintendent, Scott Hoffman. As I stood on the 10th tee, Hoffman came out and explained he had to cut down some trees, move a few rocks and very little earth because the course was already there, he just started mowing the grass. In a Tom Doakian display of minimalism, that’s exactly how it feels as you make your way around a beautiful piece of property, 60 feet of elevation change and sweeping views of enticing approach shots with a backdrop of red oaks. If my favorite public courses in the country list went to 30, instead of just 25, this course would be on it. It ranks No. 40 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public. (Twilight, $80, starts at 3 p.m.)

No. 7--The Bog in Saukville, Wis. ($95). An Arnold Palmer design that opened in 1995, the course is named after the neighboring Cedarburg Bog, 1,750 acres of a national landmark. It’s located 25 minutes from the Milwaukee airport and 35 minutes from the American Club, so it’s perfect for a round on the front or back end of a trip to Kohler (or Erin Hills). Buyer beware: the week of this year’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straits (Aug. 9-15), the Bog is going to gouge you with an inflated green fee. Prices will be $150 on Monday and Tuesday, and $175 for 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. shotguns, Wednesday through Sunday. But that just means it will go from a status of “sweet deal” to “decent value” during the week of a major. (Twilight, $79, starts at 3 p.m.)

No. 6--Montauk Downs State Park in Montauk, N.Y. ($92). Listed as a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, locals say the great C.B. Macdonald had some say in the original layout back in 1928, when they charged $3.50 on weekends. Rees Jones is currently involved in a renovation of the course (pictured below), located 120 miles east of New York City (there are only a few more miles left before you hit the Atlantic Ocean). Montauk is my favorite small town in the country and after I had two eagles in one round at “The Downs,” that solidified its spot on this list forever. It reminds me (a little) of Bethpage Black and they’re both owned and operated by the state. (Twilight, $54, starts at 4 p.m.)

I'll post my top 5 on Friday . . .

If you want a useful link, click here for the list of America's 100 Greatest, re-ranked by price.

--Matty G.

Matty G's Top 25 Public Courses In the Country (1-5)

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:13:49 -0500

This is it, the last five of my top 25 favorite public courses in the country:

Repeating disclaimer: My unofficial scoring system is obviously based on the quality of the golf course, but I also factor in service, green fee, a pinch of nostalgia and a smaller pinch of how I played. (It's hard not to like a course when you break 80.)

No. 1--Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmingdale, N.Y. ($54 for state residents, $120 for everyone else). The positive: It’s everything that’s right in an overbuilt, overpriced and overprivatized industry. As the world of golf makes layered adjustments, I hope for a future of more parks with multiple golf courses that cater to state-residents, but don’t gouge the out-of-towners. The Black is my favorite, not just because of the way the golf course builds with a steady stream of intensity, climaxing first at holes 10 through 12, and then again at 15 through 17, but I also appreciate the following: it’s always in great condition, it’s walking only, the extra space built in between tee times, you don’t see any houses throughout the course and it’s void of typical pretentiousness at a place with a rich history. The lineage of design goes back to A.W. Tillinghast (some say Joe Burbeck). Regardless, we owe a degree of gratitude to the USGA for putting the spotlight back on blue-collar golf when it rediscovered the Black in 2002. The negative: Trying to get a tee time (the price you pay for affordable and accessible). I suggest trying mid-week afternoons during shoulder seasons. A lot of people criticize the 18th hole (pictured above) for being a weak finish, but I'm OK with it. After holes 15 through 17, I'm grateful for a short par 4. Favorite hole: No. 15, because it reminds me I have a lot of work to do before I can consider myself a real golfer.

No. 2--Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach ($340). The positive: Yes, it’s hard (a 75.5 course rating from the back tees), but it’s not unfair. Hole by hole, it’s a better course than Pebble Beach. After you finish this Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, you’ll be exhausted and humbled, but your lasting impression will be more respect and admiration than frustration. Don’t rush your tee shot on the third hole--look to your left and admire a slice of Cypress Point, one of my top 3 (public or private) courses in the world. The negative: The price. Favorite hole: No. 4, because of the shape of the green (here's a link the diagram of the hole), No. 12, a round-wrecking par 3 (link), No. 14 (link), a double dogleg par 5 with a little water as a last line of defense.

No. 3--Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore. ($275). The positive: It’s Tom Doak’s highest ranking public course in the country, and I consider Doak the best of the most modern architects. This will sound sappy, but I’m being sincere: The ocean views from the tops of the dunes on the edges of the coastline can be described as none other than a spiritual experience--especially if you’re alone with a caddie in a rainstorm, hat-to-Softspikes in Gore-Tex, score no longer matters, you’re just happy to be alive and playing golf at Bandon Dunes. The negative: I think I’ve covered anything that could be considered a negative when I reviewed the other two courses on the property--Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails (see list 6-10). And if $275 is out of your price range but you want to experience all that Bandon Dunes has to offer, click here for a recent Ambush detailing the resort's off-season deal. Favorite hole(s): 4, 7 and 13--three of the better par 4s, west of Bethpage Black.

No. 4--Pinehurst (No. 2) in N.C. ($410). The positive: You won’t play anything like it anywhere else in the world. The walk through the mini-museum that is the main clubhouse, the Southern setting, caddies with character, the history of the course and resort, all add to the experience. The fact that Jack Nicklaus told me it’s his all-time favorite design isn’t a horrible endorsement. He said, “If I had one golf course, from a design standpoint, one that I really love, it would probably be Pinehurst. There's a totally tree-lined golf course where trees are not a part of the strategy.” The negative: The trees impact my strategy, the price impacts how often I can play, and those damn greens that never hold my low approach shots impact my score. (Also worth noting, Pinehurst has been running a ridiculously good off-season deal: A night of lodging, a buffet breakfast and a green fee at No. 2 for $222). Favorite hole: No. 5 (442-yard par 4) that I insist is a par 6.

No. 5--Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, Mich. ($150). The positive: An ambitious staff, the unique Adirondack architecture of the clubhouse, a spacious practice area and a well designed course that’s in impeccable shape, all for a relatively reasonable green fee (see other prices of courses on this list). It’s a Tom Weiskopf design that was basically abandoned for a few years, but it was well worth the rescue. Trust me, it’s not in my top 5 because it sucks. The negative: Roscommon is commonly referred to as, “Middleofnowhere, Michigan” because it’s not easy to get to (about 70 miles from the Traverse City airport). Favorite hole: No. 17, a short par 4 (278 yards) with a long history of humbling chops like me.

My list of Top 10 Affordable Courses in the Country will post on Wednesday.

--Matty G.

Click on the "previous post" below for courses 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and then 21-25.

Matty G's Top 25 Public Courses In the Country (6-10)

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:13:38 -0500

The release of my favorite public courses in the country continues . . .

Repeating disclaimer: My unofficial scoring system is obviously based on the quality of the golf course, but I also factor in service, green fee, a pinch of nostalgia and a smaller pinch of how I played. (It's hard not to like a course when you break 80.)

No. 6--Whistling Straits Golf Club (Straits) in Sheboygan, WI. ($340). The positive: I’m giving Pete Dye one in my top 10, and my guess is, it will forever be the Straits course (I think I've seen the best U.S.-based courses he has to offer.) Yes, it’s too much course for me, but I caught it in calm conditions and I flirted with a great score, relatively speaking. Unlike the Ocean Course at Kiawah, you feel like Dye took into account the potential for wind (and the amateur golfer) when he built Whistling Straits. It’s another spiritual spot where you look around a lot and remind yourself: life is short so you might as well enjoy it. The negative: It’s expensive, but it is one of the premiere Big League Ballparks in the country. The fifth hole is an odd fit. The four par 3s are spectacular, but they teeter on being repetitive. Favorite hole: No. 17, a par 3 (pictured above).

No. 7--Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Ore. ($275). The positive: It was phase one of Mike Keiser’s grand plan--it had to be good or the empire never gets off the ground; my compliments to David McLay Kidd for not screwing it up. You’ll appreciate the views of the Pacific Ocean and get used to an internal speech pattern: “Could I figure out a way to live here?” Especially standing on the 16th green and 17th tee. The negative: There can be extreme wind and weather, so pack accordingly. I don’t love the finishing hole. The resort is hard to get to, but they’ve made it easier with improvements and flight frequency to the “Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend” (the name of the airport is also a negative). Favorite hole: No. 5, it's top 5 best par 4s on the planet of public golf.

No. 8--Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif. ($220). The positive: Two holes into the round I was in love (and I was also 3-over). An Alister Mackenzie design, updated for 10 years by Tom Doak, there aren’t any bad holes. I use Pasatiempo as a benchmark of a combination of quality, value and mystique--not many public courses can compare. You’ll want to play it at least twice (replay rate is $110). The negative: I said there aren’t any bad holes, but a few might be out of order. I didn’t like finishing on a par 3. Favorite hole: No. 3, it hurts so good.

No. 9--Pebble Beach in Calif. ($495). The positive: History, an iconic coastline, 17-Mile Drive and six (or seven) of the greatest holes in the world. The negative: In this current state of the game (and economy), the fact that they haven’t dropped their green fee is a flagstick-sized middle finger to the world of golf. As the so-called “best in the business,” if they go down to $300, or even $350, that forces all of the other over-priced courses to drop, respectively. Even worse, Pebble has developed a pay, play and get out of our way attitude. At that price I expect Sea Islandesque hospitality with a small bucket of humility. I realize they don’t care what I say, but I’ll keep saying it. Favorite hole: No. 8, if there's a better approach shot in golf, I haven't played it.

No. 10--Bandon Trails in Bandon, Ore. ($275). The positive: It’s two minutes from two other courses in my top 10, and it has the best greens on property (at least until they open Old Macdonald in June). Tucked into the trees, it’s a different look and a lot less breezy than Pacific and Bandon Dunes. Some people make the horrific mistake of coming to the best golf resort in the country and not playing Trails. Their loss. That just means there’s more room on the tee sheet for you and me. The negative: They’ve made some changes, and it’s getting better, but I still can’t be a fan of the 14th hole (and I’ve never loved 18). Favorite hole: No. 12, a par 3, but standing on the tee you'll think it's a par 4.

My top 5 will post on Monday. I will follow it up with my Top 10 Affordable Courses in the Country.

--Matty G.

Click on the "previous post" below for courses 11-15, 16-20 and then 21-25.

Matty G's Top 25 Public Courses In the Country (11-15)

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:42:59 -0500

The release of my favorite public courses in the country continues . . .

Repeating disclaimer: My unofficial scoring system is obviously based on the quality of the golf course, but I also factor in service, green fee, a pinch of nostalgia and a smaller pinch of how I played. (It's hard not to like a course when you break 80.)

No. 11--Sea Island Resort (Seaside) on St. Simons Island, GA. ($295). The positive: The official term is a redesign, but I still say this is my favorite Tom Fazio design (he basically started from scratch). To have one of the “best golf resorts in the country,” you have to have a great golf option. Seaside (pictured above) rings that bell for Sea Island. It’s an easy walk in a sweet setting, steeped in the ceiling of southern hospitality. The Lodge is the second best mancation destination in the country (behind Bandon Dunes). The negative: The whole place is pricey, but as a result of the owner's financial struggles (and the economy), the resort should get more affordable and more accessible. Favorite hole: No. 4.

No. 12--Caledonia Golf & Fish Club on Pawley’s Island, S.C. ($195). The positive: Built on what was a rice plantation, thanks to the subtle design-style of Mike Strantz, it feels like it has always been a golf course. Strantz left several gifts to the game before his life was tragically cut short by cancer--Caledonia is one of them. It’s my favorite in Myrtle Beach, and a lot of people would agree with me. Don't leave without a beer on the back deck, overlooking the 18th green. The negative: I’m not a fan of the free spicy fish soup at the turn and it’s located at the southern tip of The Grand Strand, so it’s not easy to get to. Favorite hole(s): No. 8 (and 16, and 18).

No. 13--Kapalua Golf Club (Plantation) in Hawaii ($298). The positive: It’s golf’s version of a roller coaster ride. You go out, up, over, up again and then all the way down to where you started. It’s a fun ride and it's my second favorite Coore/Crenshaw (behind Bandon Trails). For as much hype as the back nine gets, and deservedly so, the front nine is not exactly a plugged-lie in a bunker. The views, from what feels like the peak of Maui, are a pleasant distraction. The negative: It can be windy and it’s expensive. (If we get all the way to Hawaii, shouldn’t golf be free?) Favorite hole: No. 18.

No. 14--Pine Needles in Southern Pines, N.C. ($195). The positive: Peggy Kirk Bell is the owner, and like Palmer at Bay Hill, you’re likely to bump into the Hall of Fame instructor (who’s also one of the game's most colorful characters). It’s very female friendly and they recently renovated the Donald Ross design so now the tees and fairways are up to speed with big-hitting men and modern technology. The negative: It sits in the shadow of the all-mighty Pinehurst, which means you might make the mistake of leaving town without playing Pine Needles. Favorite hole: No. 18.

No. 15--TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. ($375). The positive: The three finishing holes for starters. The new clubhouse is the Cowboys Stadium of golf and if you love to play where the pros play, then buckle up and trust your swing. They actually offer what they call the "Tour Player Experience." The negative: The host of the “fifth major” is yet another Pete Dye course where me and my game don’t belong. The price is out of my range as well. Now that I’ve played it once, I’d rather pay $375 to fix a tooth. Favorite hole: It's cliche, but I have to say, No. 17.

--Matty G.

Click on the "previous post" below for courses 16-20 and then 21-25.

Matty G's Top 25 Public Courses In the Country (16-20)

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:33:16 -0500

The release of my favorite public courses in the country continues . . .

Repeating disclaimer: My unofficial scoring system is obviously based on the quality of the golf course, but I also factor in service, green fee, a pinch of nostalgia and a smaller pinch of how I played. (It's hard not to like a course when you break 80.)

No. 16--Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C. ($200). The positive: Widely considered the best of The Grand Strand (until Caledonia came along). With about 100 courses available to the public in that area, that puts it in the top 2 percent of a golf mecca. It drips history (pictured above) and it has been the lead sled dog of drawing golfers to Myrtle Beach since 1949. The negative: It caters to members. In my Away Game I dinged it for their service to the general public; hopefully they took it as constructive criticism. Favorite hole: No. 4

No. 17--Arcadia Bluffs in Arcadia, Mich. ($180). The positive: If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I was playing along an Eastern or Western coastline--just playing one round at the “Pebble Beach of the Midwest” isn’t enough, especially for under $200, so play it twice. Order two cherry chicken salad sandwiches for lunch--one for each 18. The negative: I still can’t figure out who designed it; was it Rick Smith or Warren Henderson? There’s a sense from some of the staff that they know they’re great. Maybe it’s not cocky, it’s just confident. Favorite hole: No. 11.

No. 18--Pinehurst (No. 8) in N.C. ($239). The positive: This course is the reason why I say I’m a fan of Tom Fazio. It’s a slight visual departure from No. 4 and No. 2. It’s also a slight departure from No. 2 and No. 4--It's two miles from the hub of the resort, so it’s remote and quiet on the course. A stiff test, but passable if you've done your homework. The negative: You’re going to have to stay focused to finish with a good score. When you think Fazio you generally think “easy”--that’s not the case with No. 8. Favorite hole(s): 14 (and 17).

No. 19--Kiawah (Ocean) in S.C. ($350). The positive: This is Pete Dye, trapped in a corner, hair standing up on his back and flashing his fangs. How can a man so sweet build something that is so sour? If there’s a slight breeze, it’s too much golf course for me (I’m a 7 handicap). Everything else is perfect--the setting, the clubhouse and the resort. The negative: The price and you’ve never been so tempted to play from the forward tees. Favorite hole: I didn’t finish enough of them to vote.

No. 20--Tetherow in Bend, Ore. ($195). The positive: David McLay Kidd proves he’s not a one-hit wonder (Bandon Dunes). I’ve heard Kidd has recently gone back and made the course more user-friendly. It’s my favorite in an area loaded with good golf (Sunriver, Pronghorn and Aspen Lakes). The negative: IF and when the empty lots around the course get filled in with houses, it won’t be nearly as scenic (and I'm guessing it will no longer be public). But houses filling in all of those empty lots is a BIG if. Favorite hole: No. 17.

--Matty G.

Click on the "previous post" below for courses 21-25.

Matty G's Top 25 Public Courses In The Country (21-25)

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:17:04 -0500

How do I keep my mind off a delay for de-icing, life-threatening turbulence or waiting in line to declare lost luggage?

I tweak the list of my top 25 public courses in the country.

My unofficial scoring system is obviously based on the quality of the golf course, but I also factor in service, green fee, a pinch of nostalgia and a smaller pinch of how I played. (It's hard not to like a course when I break 80, but this is my blog and this is my list.)

No. 21--Chambers Bay in Wash. ($170). The positive: Other than it will host the U.S. Open in 2015? It's a beacon of hope for Tacoma, I was impressed with what they've done with the scraps of a rock quarry and it's a spectacular setting (pictured above). The negative: The course needs a few more years of growth (and better greens) before I can put it any higher on my list. Favorite hole: No. 17.

No. 22--Pinehurst (No. 4) in N.C. ($239). The positive: You get similar looks to a round at No. 2, you get more reasonable greens (cheaper green fee) and a better chance of feeling good about your existence. The negative: It's the third best course at the resort and it must suffer from an inferiority complex. Favorite hole: No. 13.

No. 23--The Greenbrier (Old White) in W.V. ($225). The positive: In 1995 Sam Snead made his final ace on No. 18 of Old White. The negative: I was paired with Tom Watson when I played the 18th--I hit it to 12-feet and three-putted. Favorite hole: No. 13.

No. 24--Bay Hill Club in Orlando ($225). The positive: I just got back and they've made some improvements to the grass on the greens and drastically upgraded the bunkers. The negative: The "beach bunker" in front of the 17th green has tripled in size. I know--I was in it. And then I was in it again. Favorite hole: No. 6.

No. 25--Turtle Bay Resort (Palmer) in Hawaii ($205). The positive: I visit the North Shore of Oahu at Christmas every year (my brother lives down the street) so I get to play it a lot. It starts out slow but I like the way it ends and there are some great holes in between. The negative: The wind (and the driving range) both blow. Favorite hole: No. 16.

--Matty G.

Tiger As He Pertains To Fantasy (Golf)

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:40:38 -0500

Tim Finchem, The Commissioner of The Real Tour, has been clear: The Show must go on. But what have commissioners of fantasy golf leagues decided to do about a Tigerless tour?

I’m a member of the “Longest-Running Golf Pool” in the country; it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. At the start of every season our league, run by The Czar, conducts an auction--ten teams buy ten players and each owner has $200 to spend. When you’re out of money you wait for everyone else to spend their money and then you fill out the remaining roster spots via a draft.

In our league Tiger has gone for as much as $350. Woods is the only exception where the winning bid can go over $200. The year when he went for $350, the owner paid an extra $150 to the league on top of the $200 entry fee, and then he waited for the draft to start before he could fill out his nine other roster spots. In that case, Tiger drove the team bus, everyone else was along for the ride. (Not far from reality on the PGA Tour.)

This year five players went for more than Tiger, who I bought for $50. Mickelson went for $85. The other four who went higher than Tiger were: Furyk ($85), Ogilvy ($75), Mahan ($60) and Zach Johnson ($55). Sean O’Hair and Anthony Kim tied Tiger at $50.

The Show is going on, but the uncertainty about the return of the game’s biggest name has him selling like a cheap ticket.

Curious how other leagues and formats are handling my favorite 14-major-winning-former-immortal, I made a few calls.

ESPN.com is doing a majors-only format again this year. "In terms of Tiger, we're going with a wait-and-see approach," said an ESPN rep. CBSSports.com got out of fantasy golf entirely. Yahoo, who joined forces with PGATour.com, does a week-to-week format and is considered the largest manager of fantasy golf leagues. In the Yahoo format each week you pick two A players, four B players and two C players. You start one A, two Bs and one C each day. Individual rounds by your four starters generate a daily score for your team, based on how they finish in relation to the best round of the day. If your guy gets low round of the day, your team gets 20 points. Still with me? I’m not sure it matters. The bottom line:

“We’re not doing anything special to handle Tiger,” says Ed Pankau, Product Manager of Yahoo Sports Fantasy Golf. “Once he plays, people can pick him. It’s not any different than past years.”

A quick spin through our hallways in Wilton, Conn., and I got some more answers. Colleague Stina Sternberg is in a survival pool—pick one player each week, you can only use a player once. If you pick a player and he doesn’t finish in the top 25, you’re off the island. “It will be risky to pick Tiger his first week out,” says Sternberg. “I want to see what kind of form he’s in.”

What if he comes back at the Masters?

“I’ve been burned by picking him at the Masters the last few years,” she says. “If it’s not his first tournament back, I’d consider picking him again this year, assuming I’m still alive at that point in the season. Last year I wasn’t.”

Tiger doesn’t have a good record after coming back from a break. Not the first time back, anyway. Mike Johnson, Equipment Editor for Golf World, points out that after Tiger’s father passed away in 2006, Woods came back to play at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He missed the cut. He tied for second his next time out, followed by SEVEN wins in a row (including a British and a PGA).

After his knee surgery in ’08, Woods came back at the Match Play and was eliminated in the second round. Then he tied for ninth at Doral, followed by a win at Bay Hill.

“This comeback is a different animal,” says Johnson. “Picking him his first time out will be a huge risk, even if he’s coming back at Bay Hill or the Masters. Could he win? Sure. But Tiger has always been a silver bullet. You don’t want to waste him.”

Sternberg and Johnson agree: if you’re in a survival league, picking Woods at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, or the British Open at St. Andrews, is a better option.

“But not if it’s his first event back,” says Johnson.

As the proud owner of Tiger Woods and a vested interest in his return to golf, Finchem and I finally have something in common--both of our busses need a driver.

My complete 2010 roster: Tiger Woods (sore), Sean O'Hair (sore wrist), Y.E. Yang (post-major syndrome?), Nick Watney (had a good start to last season), Dustin Johnson (drives for show, hopefully he putts for my dough), Steve Marino (Dan Marino never won a big one, can Steve save the name?), Martin Laird (so straight he makes Fred Funk look like me off the tee), John Merrick (plays well in majors), Webb Simpson (efficient with the flat stick, but can he do it when it counts?), Troy Matteson (is this the year he stops playing like Helen of Troy?).

How is your league handling the Tiger scenario? Tell me about it in the comments box or click here to send me an e-mail, and I’ll post some of your responses.

--Matty G.

(Photograph by Getty Images)

Intro To Erin Hills

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:31:11 -0500

Bob Lang, former owner of Erin Hills, made several smart moves on his way out of golf: He bought a beautiful piece of property, hired good architects, aligned himself with Jim Reinhart, worked with the USGA and sold to Andy Ziegler. But there were also some bumps along the way.

Here's an audio/video introduction to my recent story about Bob Lang's journey within the game of golf:

Here's a link to the full story, which appears in this week's Golf World.

--Matty G.

Help From High Above

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:07:47 -0500

On my recent flight from LA to NYC, I sat next to Jets QB Mark Sanchez (see post below), I had in-flight wireless and I made a minor contribution to Unicef, the global organization dedicated to helping children in all facets of life, most notably, life itself.

American Airlines has assisted Unicef's fund-raising efforts in the past, and they're doing it again in light of the horrific situation in Haiti. Flight attendants walked around with plastic bags and collected money. According to the attendant on the loudspeaker, the previous flight he worked, which was only half full, raised $500. Our flight, which was full, raised $985. I emptied my wallet, all $4, but then I went to the Unicef website and made a more substantial donation.

If you feel inclined to do the same, take a flight on American Airlines, which has raised over $4 million by working the narrow aisles of airplanes, or click here and go to Unicef's site directly.

--Matty G.

My Flight With Mark Sanchez

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:50:54 -0500

You'll never believe this: I'm flying home from LA with Jets QB, Mark Sanchez. (He's sitting right next to me.)

Sanchez says he woke up this morning, after the Jets 17-14 upset over the Chargers in San Diego, thinking, "I had a great dream." We haven't had time to really dissect the game-- understandably, the former USC Trojan is tired, but no doubt, before we touch down in New York, Sanchez will wax poetic about the high-powered Chargers, with really tall wide receivers, playing right into the Jets' strength and running the ball all game. Brilliant move by Norv Turner, assuming he wanted a new job in a different country.

You gotta love in-flight and on-line. I'm getting it every time I'm on the NY-LA or NY-Las Vegas routes of American Airlines. This trip cost me $12.95 for my window to the World Wide Web.

Worth noting: It looks like Kevin Bacon is also on this flight. He's wearing a black ski cap and sunglasses, sitting up in first class, which is trifecta of indicators he's a BIG celebrity. Not Sanchez, he's back here with the little people, right next to 23J and the bathroom.�

--Matty G.�

(My willing Jets fan is Steve Gips of Mt. Kisco, NY. He met his three brothers in LA and they all went to the game. Gips says Charger fans were a decent bunch, antagonistic on the front end, humbled after the game. They should be.)

Greatest Walk In Golf: 16th At Cypress

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:00:29 -0500

Happy Friday. (There are five of them this month.)

If you're living in the North (and) East, life is like playing from behind an immovable object. Mid-January: the axis of the frigid evil. We're making our way draped in BIG coats, heavy sweaters and suffering from hot haunches. I'm driving around with my seat heater stuck at six; my southern plain is a scorched little Serengeti by the time I reach my destination. My other set of sticks are still zipped up in my travel bag, tucked under my bed since my last brush with the sun. All I can think about is splitting fairways in short sleeves and shorts.

As we get closer to the AT&T at Pebble Beach (lower your green fee), I drift back to my round at Cypress Point. It was over a year ago and I was even through six. It was magic, man. Then the wind picked up and I finished with a 90-something. And that was with a birdie at 18.

Anyway, to break up some psychological ice, here's the video I cut after I made the walk from the 15th green, through a tree tunnel, and onto to the 16th tee. It's no flammable car seat, but watching it heats my heart.

Have a great weekend. There are also five of those this month, which will happen again in May and October. So we have that going for us . . .

--Matty G.

Ambush No. 20: Are You Next?

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:18:42 -0500

Since late December, the Ambush itineraries are coming in at a good clip (135 in the last two weeks). I notice a lot of early-season trips to Myrtle Beach, which is always a popular destination for a buddies golf getaway, but especially popular the first two months of the year.

As I'm going through the itineraries taking place in late January and early February, I've circled a few finalists:

-Walter Freundt of Lehighton, PA. wrote in about the the "Big Dog Summit" being held in Myrtle Beach. "This is by far the best organized trip that I have ever attended," says Freundt. They use a Modified Stableford scoring system and they use USGA software (?) that calculates skins and the best ball of two-man teams each day as they gather around the 19th hole.

-Cal Violette of Fayetteville, NC. is also going to Myrtle Beach. "Our group started off 20 years ago," says Violette, "we were eight coaches getting together after the school year ended. It has grown to over 40 members, it's a great fellowship with mediocre golf skills. We gamble with the weather, January in Myrtle Beach, but we've also had some pleasant surprises. One of our members passed away, so now our trip bears the name of, The Rodney Buhrman Classic."

-Tim Hall of Collinsville, VA. is embarking on his 17th consecutive trip to The Grand Strand. They call themselves the "We Suck But So What." There's 28 in their group, they play bad golf, eat a lot of food and "rag the heck out of each other," says Hall. "We respect the traditions of the game, especially the tradition of getting together with lifelong friends, but you can tell by our name, we don't take it too seriously. We will keep going each January until we are physically unable to climb into the car."

-Burley Campbell of Chesterfield, VA. is in a group of eight going to St. Augustine, FL. "We have some crazy stories to tell," says Chesterfield, "and some we can't tell. We're called the 'The Blind Snake Tour.' That's one of the stories I can't tell."

-Vyomesh Desai of Hixson, TN. has organized eight friends from the East Coast for their first buddies trip. They're going to the RTJ Trail in Alabama, home of some of the best value golf in the country. They're starting at Ross Bridge, ending up at Grand National, with a stop at Capitol Hill. "Four of the guys are married and four are getting close," says Desai, "so this will probably be the last trip as a single guy for some of us."

-Al Smith of Ararat, NC. says, "The annual Poler Bare outing (misspelled on purpose) is 20 to 24 golfers on our eighth trip to Tobacco Road and The Pit in North Carolina. If the course is open, we play. We've actually been lucky with the weather. Only one time have we done the 'Poler Swim.'"

Thanks Al . . . for being straight with us.

--Matty G.

Do you want to share your buddies trip with the readers of Golf Digest? If so, click here to fill out an entry form.

More On Bandon's Fifth Course

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:11:51 -0500

What's my favorite visionary/conservationist up to?

Mike Keiser isn't resting on the release of his fourth course at Bandon Dunes (Old Macdonald is set to open in June). Keiser is working out the details of a fifth course--a 12-hole par-3 to be designed by Bill Coore of Coore/Crenshaw, the team who built Bandon Trails.

I wrote about the news of Bandon's new fifth course on this blog, back in September.

The recent article in The World (a newspaper "serving Oregon's South Coast") provides more details about the proposed plan that went before the Coos County Planning Commission last Thursday (click here for a bigger version of the routing of the course--you might need a Twitter account to view it, but that process is painless):

"According to the proposal, the entire 12-hole course, located just north and west of the opening hole at the Bandon Trails course, will take up 27 acres. But only seven acres will be used for tee boxes, greens and the approaches around the greens. The rest will be used to enhance and expand native plant communities.

Some of the funds generated by the course will be used for that portion of the project, aimed mostly at the native silvery phacelia, a flower that has been listed as threatened in Oregon because of the beach grass, but thrives at the resort.

Bandon Dunes owner Mike Keiser has a reputation as a conservationist, and has been involved in other conservation/restoration projects in the Bandon area. He also has set aside a large portion of the 2,140-acre resort for preservation.

Because only the tees and the areas right around the greens will have turf, golfers will have to fly their shots to the greens instead of running the ball up to the putting surface, which is a technique used often on the four courses at the resort.

According to the proposal, the shortest hole will be 92 yards and the longest 165."

Mike Keiser once told Bob Lang, former owner of Erin Hills, that if Lang wanted a true golf destination, he needed a second course. Apparently Keiser thinks four and two thirds is the new two.

Did you read about my latest Ambush at Bandon Dunes in the February issue of Golf Digest? These guys enjoyed three rounds of golf, three nights of lodging, two dinners, three breakfasts and unlimited practice for less than $600 each. Here's the link to their story about saving $700 per guy and getting weather worthy of shorts the week before Thanksgiving.

Do you take a buddies trip? Do you want to share your story with the readers of Golf Digest? Click here to send in your itinerary.

--Matty G.

Sea Island's Struggles

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:44:31 -0500

Peter Waldman walks Bloomberg BusinessWeek's readers through the financial slide of one of the best golf resorts in the country.

"How Sea Island Became a Paradise Lost--The resort underwent a pricey makeover with easy money, and insider lending that bordered on crony capitalism."

Waldman explains how a storied resort with a history of southern hospitality, a loyal fan-base and an allergy to debt, owes so much money.

"Now Sea Island Co., the company that holds all of Jones' properties, is drowning in debt. With a $35 million payment due by the end of January, (Bill) Jones is trying to rid himself of several properties and sell equity in the Cloister resort. Sea Island Co. has fired more than 400 workers, or 20% of its staff, in the past two years."

Another inflammatory paragraph, leaving Sea Island to douse the flames:

"As Blanchard spoke, Sea Island's real estate office was keeping two sets of sales reports, according to two former real estate executives with the company. One set, for prospective property buyers and bankers who came in to tour the project, showed lots for sale and lots already sold. The other report, dubbed the quiet inventory, was for internal use only and showed a truer picture of Sea Island's health. Sea Island Co.'s corporate office had induced several people to upgrade their lots, say these former executives, who requested anonymity to protect their severance packages from Sea Island. But only the quiet inventory report showed the value of the property that Sea Island had taken back from the buyers in exchange for the upgraded lots, these people say. The reports shown to many outsiders were far rosier, say the executives. 'As a matter of policy, Sea Island Co., as a private firm, does not discuss its business operations,' spokeswoman Merry Tipton wrote in an e-mail to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. 'However, if we are to take from your questions the inference that our company kept two sets of financial information regarding the sale of property, then we must respond by categorically denying such an inference.'"

It's safe to say, Sea Island needs a rescue. Maybe the loyal fan base will come through. Jones tried to get Herb Kohler's help. Everyone does. Kohler seems to be the only guy in golf with capital. Kohler has passed on Sea Island and he passed on Erin Hills in Wisconsin; Kohler ended up saving the building behind the 18th green of the Old Course in St. Andrews, which makes more sense if you consider he owns the Old Course Hotel and the Dukes Golf Course.

I called a contact at Sea Island and wanted to know how the recent developments of Sea Island's financial status would affect us, the golfers:

"The Sea Island golf experience has not and will not change as we are continuing our commitment to providing the finest golf and golf-learning facilities and services in the industry," said Eric Schneider, VP of the resort.

It should be noted that the Cloister and the Lodge are still getting five-star service ratings from Forbes, and that their shared learning center employs high-ranking instructors. And I love the Tom Fazio-designed Seaside course. It's one of my Public Course Top 20.

Put another way: it's good news for the avid golfer, who might soon be paying less for that sweet Sea Island experience.

--Matty G.