On The Road to Schytherbolle

Yes the natives are friendly and bilingual and the caddies at Royal Dornoch are very well behaved and only require modest recompense.

It's a Royal Burgh
It's on record that golf was played at Dornoch in 1616 and that makes it the third oldest golf course in the world after St Andrews and Leith
And it's where Madonna got hitched

Here's a wee glimpse of my ancestral home near Dornoch
Well to be honest, not my home but there's a connection.
It belongs to the Chief of the Sutherland Clan -The Countess of Sutherland

Lorne Rubenstein decided to spend a summer in Dornoch to clear the muddle from his golfing mind and to rediscover the natural charms of the game he loves and came up with
A Season in Dornoch

And how about this from Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun
Mind you it was written a wee while ago
The links at Dornoch were ‘the fairest and lairgist links (or grein fields) of any part of Scotland’ and ‘They do far surpasse the fields off Montrois or Saint andrews’. (sic)

Quite by coincidence, yesterday I borrowed from the city library -
Golf's Greatest Moments: An Illustrated History by the Game's Finest Writers
and there's a chapter about Dornoch

Bob Weisgerber had this to say about this very fine book - Are you listening Santa Claus?

The second article that I’d like to point out is Herbert Warren Wind’s article titled North to the Links of Dornoch. Wind is arguably the greatest American golf writer of all time and Royal Dornoch is a course in the north of Scotland that nearly defies description with a 270 degree view of the North Sea and copious amounts of yellow-blooming gorse that presents eye-candy while threatening your golf game.

Aren't you glad this is just a blog? I could go on for ages and pages

Following up on yesterday's Geez Jack post
This from Frank Beard's golf column in SI

Gerrit Jan Stobbe - Question
Tiger Woods has said that Americans are at a disadvantage in the Ryder Cup because they also have to play the President's Cup also. Is it unfair that Americans have to play two tournaments, or are they looking for excuses, beyond the fact that the Europeans play as a real team and not as 12 individuals.--Gerrit Jan Stobbe, Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Frank Beard reply
Turn your question around and make a statement out of it and you have your answer. Some of our professional golfers are very spoiled, and I'm sorry it is so apparent to someone so far away.

You'll note if you go there Frank also makes some comments about the Women's pro tour.
But I won't go there since there's already too many females who consider me a male chauvinist of the worst kind - A Scottish chauvinist. And some of them could well be reading this blog. And they'd never believe that I'm being objective - more like objectionable.

Also, as with Jack, can't agree. This time with McGinley wants Irish leader

The next part of my world wide golf tour on the www continues tomorrow.
To whet your appetite here's a great photo shot of Royal Dornoch

I'm not looking for an argument with The Golden Bear but had to blog this for posterity
Nicklaus seeks Ryder revamp

"I’ve been saying this for years. It definitely makes a difference having to get up for an important team event every year as opposed to doing it every two years, like the Europeans," said Nicklaus."

Geez Jack, you were instrumental in helping to bring the Europeans into the Ryder Cup but this idea and reasoning?

I knew when I started this blog that the time would come when the Ryder Cup would be over and we'd be into the silly season where of course they still play for serious money.
So time to move on and familiarize you with my dream scenarios and golf courses starting with...

Nope I'm not going to start with Royal Dornoch or wax poetic about the rugged remoteness of Machrihanish.

I'm off California dreaming
As you're probably we Scots took Tom Watson to our hearts and souls and anything recommended by Tom is good enough for me. Especially when he writes "Spanish Bay is so like Scotland, you can almost hear the bagpipes."

But don't let that put you off they're not allowed to play them after dark.
And unlike the Queen when at Royal Balmoral - Your wake up call won't be in the form of a skirl o' the pipes

The Links at Spanish Bay looks like a good place to start my world wide golf tour on the world wide web.
And this picture of the Lone Cypress on 17 Mile Drive Drive takes me back and makes we want to go back.

And here's one for you Chief Executives who also have a passion for cars and in particular BMW's 645Ci
And don't bother emailing as to what kind of drink is an Arnold Palmer I wouldn't have a Scottish clue

Enjoy

A couple of weeks back, in the clubhouse and waxing poetic about the joys of Scottish links golf I was advised that 18 holes of golf became the norm because it took that many holes for the average member of the R&A to finish off a bottle of Scotch.

Reluctant to enlighten the gentleman since I didn't have all the facts I refrained from suggesting that the person was "blethering"
Blethering - The Scottish expletive equivalent of Bull****

So say it again Sam Groves, curator of the British Golf Museum"In 1858, the R&A issued new rules for its members; Rule 1 stated 'one round of the Links or 18 holes is reckoned a match..."

And since we're into the history of golf on this otherwise uneventful Monday.
Here's another one I'd like to share with you.During my time as a member of the Alister MacKenzie designed Titirangi
I never did find out the orgin of the name Redan although I was aware of many famous holes throughout the world called Redan.
The recent cock up at Shinnecock's Redan comes to mind as an example.

So read on about the origins of Redan

I've just added the Scottish Golf web site to the permablogs on the left and to cheer me up after some indifferent golf this weekend. I thought I'd cheer myself and maybe give you a laugh too..
This is from their 19th hole jokes

George walks into the locker room about to play a round and meets his pal Fred, who's just finished.
'Hello mate, how did you play?' he asks.
Fred says: 'I started eight, eight, eight, eight, nine.'
'Nine?' says George, with surprise.
'Well', says Fred: 'I'm not a bloody machine.'

Dreaming my day away thinking how one day I'd like to play in at least one of the

Drambuie Classics



I came across this wee sorry but true tale



The climax of the third Drambuie Golf Classic brought perhaps the most bizarre two-stroke penalty applicable to any unfortunate golfer, a penalty that cost the player concerned the overall victory in the event.

Having asked his partner to attend the pin at the 18th at Kingsbarns (his 72nd and final hole) Longniddry club member Ronnie Nisbet, watched as his ball rolled past the hole and struck the pin being held behind the back of one of his group. Following a confab in the clubhouse it was confirmed that his excellent 37-point total had been reduced to 35, a reduction that dropped him into second place one behind the final winner Averil Sutcliffe.

So what was the ruling? Well the rule was clear enough and never in dispute, the big debate afterwards was how fair was it for a player to lose an event due to the error of an opponent? Well technically by asking player two to hold the pin player one had handed him his responsibility and that is ultimately what the penalty is applied for. Fair? Well the rules are there and are fairly applied. It was certainly a tough way to lose an event that had been lead from start almost to finish but we reckon that Ronnie Nisbet may in future be able to explain the rules regarding flags and greens.



And if your dream has come true how you've won the lottery.

Get going now and send in your entry

- The Drambuie Classics are very popular



5th - 9th June 2005

Drambuie Fife Golf Classic

Kingsbarns

St Andrews Bay (Devlin)

St Andrews Bay (Torrance)

Ladybank

And believe me Ladybank isn't just there to make up the numbers

Or ask the Golden Bear or Seve who played an exhibition match there

in weather 'fit for gods'.

OK I hear what you're saying.

The blog says golf and travel.

So how about three golf courses I've played and in countries where I've worked.

Although, in the case of the first two places, played is a bit of an exaggeration

Turnberry Ailsa

Was a guest of one of my hometown's wealthier members of the community.

We got as far as the 4th and had to call it a day because it was so foggy.

Can you believe it? I still find it hard to believe.

And so the most memorable event was eating ravioli for lunch in the Turnberry Hotel dining room

So why was it memorable?

Hey we're talking about the 60s and in Scotland at that time, Pasta was something the Ities ate and we well built Scotsmen got stuck into a man's meal of Mince and tatties.

And a word of touring advice. Be on the look out for the Electric Brae when you go there



And then there was Capilano Golf & Country Club in Vancouver

The boss shouted me this one and he was shouting in the bar much sooner than we thought.

I seem to recall it was around the 6th when the heavens opened up and fortunately the bar was open.

Another bit of believe it or not. It was one whole month before the skies cleared up enough for me to see Grouse Mountain from downtown Vancouver - And I left Scotland thinking. Well if nothing else is better the weather will - Yea right. So don't go there any later than late September.



And then the sun shone for me in Durban South Africa,

and in particular Durban Country Club.

Although I must add Royal Durban is a stiffer test of golf.

And how can I ever forget the quick 18 holes I got in at Royal Durban before I had to rush off and get married at the Old Fort Chapel.



In describing a perfect golf day that I've experienced it has to be at Durban Country Club

The sun shone from dawn to dusk

The course was in its usual excellent condition and the snakes well behaved and hidden

The caddies were so cheap I, a Scotsman, was prepared to dig into my sporran and hire one

A great round of golf and a superb lunch - Indian curry washed down with a cold Castle

And then a walk of a few hundred yards across to King's Park to watch some first class Springbok rugby

After the game, back to Country Club and enjoying another cold Castle before most cars had left the King's Park car park.

And here's the hottest spot in Durban where you'll find a cure for problems with your Mother-in-Law

Reading Al Shipnuck's latest SI Random Ryder Cup thoughts article got me thinking
He usually does.
His mention of Chip Beck at the Masters brought to mind how Chip didn't seize the day.
But first Al's interesting comment on the Ryder Cup.

Think about this: If Justin Leonard's 45 foot putt in '99 doesn't go in and Langer's five-footer in '91 does, the U.S. would have lost nine of the last 10 Ryder Cups.

In the same article there's this passage.

The American rookies, on the other hand, were old guys (Fred Funk, Kenny Perry) or creampuffs (Chris Riley, Chad Campbell). Poor Riley is going to go down as the symbol of this Ryder Cup just as Chip Beck's layup at the Masters has come to embody the decline of American golf in the '90's.

Ah yes Chip chickening out and Bernhard Langer seizing the day. A classic tale.

Is it any wonder that Bernhard has just gone on to captain a very successful Ryder Cup team and some of you reading this are asking yourselves "Chip who?"

Digging through Rick Reilly's archives I found this

Germany's Bernhard Langer put on a gutsy show to maintain Europe's stranglehold on the Masters

Scroll down quite a bit and you'll read all about Chip and read of how he didn't seize the day. Including this passage.

As Langer and caddie Coleman walked ahead, they were sure Beck would go for it on 15. ''He's got to,'' Coleman said. ''If he wants any chance to win this tournament, he's got to.''

Ah well such is life for those who don't seize the day.

Come tomorrow when I'm out there and on a roll I'll try to remember the moral of this story - Like saying to myself.
"Carpe diem, So what! So it's a very fast sneaky downhill putt, I've sunk heaps in my time." But then there were the many other times. Ummmh!
I'll keep you posted.

European Tour adds NZ stop

Next January's New Zealand Open will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, New Zealand Golf announced on Thursday.
The Australasian Tour event, which starts on 20 January at Gulf Harbour in Auckland, becomes one of the country's richest sporting events.
As to the venue Gulf Harbour.
The last time I played there I birdied the hole in the centre photo.
Met up with a bridal couple who were having their wedding pics taken on a tee near to where they shot the pic on the left. And yes the last few holes are very scenic except the last hole.

But - Controversy surrounded the lead-up to the announcement, after New Zealand's No 1 golfer Michael Campbell earlier this month slated Gulf Harbour, calling it the worst designed course he's ever played on

Here's a tip if you're planning on visting NZ at that time and feel inclined to watch the NZ Open. Bring your clubs because just right next door there's the friendliest Goat track in the world - in my global experience.

Coming soon to this blog - A tour around New Zealand and my recommendations on how to mix golfing pleasure and great scenery

Like most days one of my first visits is to see if Alan Shipnuck has penned something new for SI.
Alas no new Shipnuck but Frank Beard had something to say about the Ryder Cup
No fire, no desire
It was clear the Europeans wanted the Ryder Cup more than the U.S.

And then I remembered in Shipnuck's archives there's My top 50 golf courses

What blew me away the first time I read it was that he'd ranked Cruden Bay
number 2. Wedged between Pebble Beach at number 1 and Cypress Point at 3

I've never played the California Coast but every year, many years ago we'd take off for a weekend at Cruden Bay.
Ah the joys of youth. I must've been young and daft too.
To actually dive into the surf for a swim with the water somewhat cooler than California Coast temperatures
It was there for the first and only time I actually met and had a wee drink with Eric Brown - The Brown Bomber.

He'd just moved up there after a wonderful career as a touring pro. And in case you think Monty is the only Scotsman who has met with such stupendous success in the Ryder Cup.
Read on.
And if you've never heard of the famous battle between The Brown Bomber and Tommy 'Thunder' Bolt here's a passage from sport.telegraph

The Ryder Cup remained a low-key friendly for more than half century, and probably the only instance of any needle creeping in came in the 1957 match at Lindrick, where Great Britain and Ireland won a rare victory. Eric Brown, the home captain, was a feisty Scot, and Tommy Bolt, his singles opponent, could throw a club almost as far as a modern player hits one.
So the atmosphere was a bit strained, especially when Brown sent his caddie back to the clubhouse for a chair, which he proceeded to sit on by way of letting Bolt know he considered him a desperately slow player. At the end, Bolt said: "I didn't enjoy that match one little bit," to which Brown responded: "After the beating I've just given you, I'm not surprised."

Angus MacVicar, the very fine Scottish golfing correspondent described the scene so well.
"As I watched , no words were exchanged (during the game), but the way they eyed each other reminded me of an encounter I had once observed between two stags in a Highland Glen"

By the way and for the record, Eric's other singles' encounters in the Ryder Cup were -

Wentworth 1953 Beat the American Captain Lloyd Mangrum by two holes
Thunderbird Country Club 1955 Beat Jerry Barber 3 & 2
Lindrick 1957 where as mentioned above, he beat Bolt who it's said broke a club in rage when he got back to the clubhouse.
Eldorado Country Club 1959 Beat Dr Cary Middlecoff 4 & 3

Cruden Bay and Eric Brown. A challenging course and a man they called The Brown Bomber as well as other unprintable names by those who were defeated by this Fire in The Belly Scotsman.
Which kind of takes us back to where we came in and Frank Beard's comments

A report in independent.co.uk gave us an insight to the Irish way of thinking

"I don't think we'll be the favourite next time," said Phil Mickelson. "Well be the underdog."
But, with a gleam in his Irish eyes, Paul McGinley, asked about maintaining their (European Team) "underdog status" for the K Club, said: "We'll find a way."

Continuing on the Irish theme but he's no Irishman - Life of Reilly has a wicked sense of humour including:

Just as England and Ireland were allowed to add Continental Europe in 1981 to restore the balances of these Ryder Cup matches, America will also be allowed to add a region. We take Fiji.

Rick, how about taking Scotland too, since they don't appear on your list.
And the last time I was there it sure wasn't part of Continental Europe.

Gary Van Sickle writes in SI
Don't blame captain Hal Sutton for this loss.
Whereas The The Scotsman gives Hal a hammering.
Cowboy Hal's high noon

Perhaps the most telling passage -

Sutton’s leadership has been littered with eccentricities. He waited, for instance, until the last minute to inform the team of his pairings, convinced that it would force each player to focus only on himself. Phil Mickelson, though, was among those badgering Sutton all week, anxious to know who his partner would be. "They acted to me like they were starving for more information and that’s good," insisted Sutton.

And considering the considerable amount of negativity especially by Sickle it's just as well the the land of the Hammer and Sickle can't play in future Ryder Cup matches.

Which brings me to an interesting after match comment by Kenny Perry who claimed that it would get harder for the United States to win the Ryder Cup or any other international competition.
"It's getting very hard for us to win these type of events when the rest of the world other than the United States is getting bigger and better at golf.
"Just think, you know, you've got countries like Russia and China and all of these other countries that are playing golf - seriously, wait 20 years," he said.

As you are no doubt aware the Ryder Cup breaks new ground in 2006 and goes to Ireland
and the K club

So here's a wee touch of Irish humour to round off what has been an exciting few days.

On the way to the K Club to have a preliminary look at the golf course. America's captain for the 2006 Ryder Cup match pulls in to an Irish petrol station.
Paddy the petrol attendant greets him in typical Irish manner, unaware he was serving a very famous American golfer.
"Top o' the morning to ya". He says, as America's newly appointed Captain gets out of his hired Volvo car and two tees fall out of his pocket.
"So what are those thing my, son?" asks Paddy.
"They're called tees."
"And what would ya be usin 'em for, now?" Paddy inquired.
"Well, they're for resting my balls on when I drive."
"Aw, Jaysus, Mary an' Joseph!" exclaimed Paddy.
"Those fellas working for Volvo think of everything!"

And with this I'll also give it rest except to commend the American players and those
in the gallery for their sportsmanship and good behaviour.

To be sure, to be sure. It could get even better than The Belfrey

My pick of first round comments

From The Scotsman
WHEN Hal Sutton walked onto the first tee yesterday morning, the American captain was sporting a Stetson hat which made him look like Deputy Dawg. If this was meant to be a statement of gung-ho intent, it backfired on the home side as the cowboys suffered the indignity of watching the Indians take a record number of scalps.
And this one, again from The Scotsman
Montgomerie’s breathtaking chip from the fringe of the eighth green deliberately aimed at an angle into the rough to kill the speed of the ball was arguably the shot of the day.

And to quote Hal on this fabulous chip

Q. You were on a team in '87 at Muirfield that was down by four on the first day. Can you compare and contrast what you went through as a player on that opening day and what you saw in your team today?

HAL SUTTON: I've been seeing this for a long time what's going on. I've preached it all week long. You've got to try to make something happen rather than not make something -- rather than to try to keep something from happening.

A perfect example was Colin Montgomerie's chip on the eighth hole today when he's playing Davis Love and Fred Funk. They are over the green, he's got an impossible shot. He chips it into the fringe on the right-hand side and almost makes it. And I'm standing beside Chris Riley and I said, "Chris, do you think he was concerned with the putt that he was fixing to leave, or the chip for that matter that he was fixing to leave Padraig Harrington with?" He was doing one thing, trying to get that chip close, with no concern of what was fixing to happen the next shot, the next play. And I saw more of the Americans trying to make sure they didn't leave anything of any distance, you know. It's hard to make -- you don't dive these putts in the hole on this golf course, they are breaking too much. I saw so many of our putts die just on the topside of the hole or just on the underside of the hole. At some point we have to get mad and say, "I don't give a damn if we have to make a 6- or 8-footer coming back."

And oh to be a fly on the wall listening in to the American team meeting tonight

Q. Will your approach tonight be one of anger, of cajoling, sympathy, how do you it tonight at this team meeting?

HAL SUTTON: I'm not sure, I don't know. I don't think they want to be consoled. I've felt every one of these emotions in my life. When I get really mad at myself, I don't want somebody patting me on the back and loving on me. I can assure you I'm not going to be loving on them. (Laughter.)

You may recall that at the team meeting on the evening before that final fateful day at Brookline, Ben Crenshaw called upon George W to give a speech and his theme was the "No Surrender" letter by William Barret Travis the commander at the Alamo.
One wonders what Hal has in mind for a theme.- Hopefully not another war time metaphor

As for the Europeans who've already been advised by Sergio about complacency, I'd be very, very afraid of a wounded Tiger

Oops forgot to add to my latest blog.

In a previous blog I mentioned there are one or two, make that three very good new courses in NZ
Last night I came across this about Jack's gem soon to come into play near the shores of Lake Taupo
And just up the road is a golf course where I always get the feeling its the nearest thing to the King's Course in Gleneagles I've played since leaving the Bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond - yet another golf course that's on my dream list - but first it's gotta be Royal Dornoch

Old man (not Sam) Torrance has his say.

Mike Aitken of The Scotsman reports on Bob Torrance
Europe have bigger hearts says Torrance

And adds
Scotland’s finest-ever coach (Bob Torrance - my words ) banged his hand on his chest yesterday and left this observer in no doubt that Europe’s soul men have all the inner qualities required to retain the famous trophy.

There's lots of good historical stuff and stories in this article.

But hey c'mon Mike -Scotland’s finest-ever coach?
Everyone in the know, knows it was Shivas Irons
What you've never heard of Shivas Irons?
Well you've obviously never read Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy

For more information on a really interesting bunch of Shivas Irons devotees see http://www.shivas.org/

The beauty of a blog is that items, web sites and articles you know for sure that one day in the future you'll want to refer to, have their own wee place in internet space.

I've got the feeling Patriotism seems to be last refuge of an American Ryder Cup captain
will be dug up from my archives in a few weeks time and an email sent to James Lawton of independent.co.uk and hopefully advising him: y'all go it wrong.

However, and I've no reason to believe it's not an accurate account, and if so this is a wee bit of a worry.

Sutton, who is the son of a rich Louisiana oil family, said: "Y'all see that flag? Anything I can summon up, that's what we're going to do." It did not, to be perfectly honest, seem like precisely the action or the form of words guaranteed to calm fears that when the 35th Ryder Cup gets under way here tomorrow, the nightmare of the 17th hole at Brookline Country Club five years ago will at some point be revisited.

Fortunately there will be a pipe band at the official opening - to soothe the fevered brows of those who may get a wee bit carried away.
Incidentally my daughter who's just been visiting a festival in Puducah, Kentucky emailed me to say she heard The Star Spangled Banner being played on the bagpipes.
God bless America and the Americans who had to suffer through that experience.

Ummh
Not much better today with Ryder Cup reports in the media

The Scotsman dishes up these three headlines
Focused Tiger has fireworks up his sleeve
Schofield says it is time to forget about Brookline
Mickelson warns home fans not to goad Montgomerie

And this headline Sutton hails great putters from the BBC brings back bad memories from my early tears (now there's a Freudian slip - I meant years) watching the Brits lose time and time again

Thankfully asapsports.com/ dished up something meatier in the interview with Ian Poulter
Q. You mentioned the slopes of the greens and all that, and that's been interpreted as a big advantage for the American team. Do you think it's going to be, and are you concerned that it could work out that way?
IAN POULTER: I'm not sure whether the greens solely make it more difficult for Europeans. I mean, we are the underdogs. And distance control is going to be key this week. You do need to put it in the fairway, and guys are really, really going to have to be on their yardages this week; hit it in the right spots. That might be 30 feet away. 30 feet away on some of these greens with some of these pin positions is going to be a great shot. It will leave you a tricky 2-putt, but on some of these holes, par is going to be plenty good enough to win some of these holes.

On a lighter note which assumes you like me are a sceptical Scot when it comes to superstitions

Superstitious Spaniard Sergio Garcia has persuaded some of his team-mates to wear the lucky charm bracelets he has been sporting since The Masters.

Please note toasting the lads wi' a wee dram and wishing them "Slainte Mhath" is not considered superstitious

And on a final Slainte Mhath note
Here's an interesting Slainte Mhath golf web site

Some, no make that most, of the Ryder Cup media stuff is getting a wee bit over the top so thought I'd take a break and explain why I've got - Going travelling? - Go here
as a permanent link
Click Here and you'll visit
Welcome to GolfClubAtlas.com presented by Ran Morrissett Southern Pines, NC, USA

Ran's got lots of personal experience reports and photographs of golf courses he's played all over the world in Courses by country

Lots about golf course architecture
And this cutting remark
At some stage, New Zealand developers will attract the finest modern day architects to New Zealand. And the architects will come in droves - the land is that good. Unfortunately, the present 'name' local architects like Bob Charles only muddle up the stunning land they are given.

As someone who is currently a resident of NZ I'd suggest Ran revists NZ
He's probably right about Sir Robert C but hey there's lots (well one or two, make that three) of great new courses. Including one which is soon to open near Lake Taupo - designed by Jack Nicklaus

A Web Brower's Guide to the United Kingdom is a tremendous resource especially if you're interested in out of the way golf courses.

Like did you know that the Machrie golf course on the Isle of Islay (you know that place where they produce some of Scotland's finest malt whisky) is quite famous.

And you better believe what follows is a true statement of fact, not fiction produced while the author had partaken of too many wee drams.

The Machrie Links rose to prominence in 1901 when the great triumvirate of James Braid, John Henry Taylor and Harry Vardon played a competition for a prize of £100, reputed to be the largest prize of its kind at that time in the British Isles. It attracted considerable public and press interest.

And on a final note to encourage you to visit and explore at depth this great golf web site.If you've ever wondered what it looks like to stand on the first tee of one of the greatest opening holes in the world Go Here and scroll down a wee bit.

1st hole, 420 yards: Many call this the best starting hole in the world. With the heroic tee shot over the beach on this cape hole, it certainly has the best opening tee shot in golf.

Liked this one from today's Scotsman
Tales of goodwill give food for thought

ALTHOUGH the Ryder Cup has evolved into a contest which is gleefully depicted in some quarters as the sporting equivalent of Alien versus Predator, the showdown for Samuel Ryder’s trophy has also been a celebration of goodwill over the past 77 years.

Once again you're reminded you'll have to subscribe to get the full story and a great story about Hogan and the Ryder Cup

Was less than impressed with today's coverage by SI
Players prepare for rowdy Ryder Cup at Oakland

Hopefully come tomorrow SI will share a good thought/reminder as per today's Scotsman

And how about this post on BBC Sports' "Have your say on Golf"

Is Thomas Levet not the funniest man in sport. He is getting his caddie to shout abuse at him in the midst of his back swing to prepare himself for the American gallery's. Fantastic.
Mark, Scotland

Got something to say, why not send in a post. However there's no guarantee it will get posted.
Sorry but have no idea who moderates the site.
However cutting remarks are permitted like -

Seems to me that James is already preparing an excuse! Will Monty be the usual whiner?

The reference to James based on his comments on BBC Sport
Former European Ryder Cup captain Mark James fears this year's event could see a repeat of the scenes that marred the 1999 match in America.

Follow up on my blog on going bush at Mangawhai

The village slogan is Magical Mangawhai and by missing out on golf
I was able to watch on TV the magic of "Jack Nicklaus - The Man behind the legend"

It's available on DVD and if I was you I'd put the word around that you'd like a copy of it in your Xmas stocking.
Don't be put off by some of the ratings when you search for a supplier in Google.

This is five star stuff. All the famous shots and for me the greatest "shot" of all.
conceding the putt to Tony Jacklin at the Ryder Cup.

Did I really write in an earlier blog that The Scotsman presents objective comments.
This one sounds a wee bit subjective with a Scottish (European) slant.
Inspired Monty v mediocre Woods

Heck I hope they've not created a bit of hubris and put a hex on Monty.
There's also a good yarn about Mark O'Meara
Tense? My first Cup drive hit a tent

And this next headline doesn't come from the Pommie side of The Pond
It's none other than America's own SI
No longer favorites, Americans want Ryder back

Not sure if the British bookies would agree as to who's the favourite.
Fortunately the frugal Scot in me doesn't bet unless it's a sure thing and this Ryder Cup sure isn't a sure thing or a shoe in for the Europeans.

A final blog before departing for the bush

Great news to kick off the weekend
We (Scots) beat the Auld Enemy

Ramsay and Brown to the rescue in win over England

SCOTLAND’S amateur golfers produced the result that the local crowds craved as they overcame their Auld Enemies England at Prestwick yesterday to stay in the hunt for the Dundas & Wilson Home Internationals title.

I'm going bush in Northland New Zealand for a couple of days - therefore no blogging
And I won't be tempted or will I? To play a very good golf course just down the way called Mangawhai
Chances are if you're in this neck of New Zealand you're heading for The Bay of Islands

So you should be aware that just up the road from Mangawhai en route to The Bay of Islands there's a little bit of Scotland and Scottish history at Waipu.
And a very enjoyable links style golf course

And while on the subject of links style golf courses - So dear to my Scottish heart
When in Auckland - throw of the shackles of other commitments and go vist Muriwai Golf Club

Wishing you good golfing over the weekend

According to The Scotsman - Langer's boys use Cologne to prepare for Ryder Cup

No they're not going to smarten up their golfing senses by wearing Cologne they're actually going to Cologne for the Linde German Masters

TEN of the European side who will defend the Ryder Cup in Detroit next week complete their tournament countdown by appearing in this week’s Linde German Masters in Cologne.

You're reminded that you'll have to subscribe to The Scotsman to read the whole article.
But Hey it's not that difficult for what you'll get out of it.
Come to think of it if you're also a Scottish soccer supporter maybe you should stick with the headlines and not read the whole sad story of the game against Slovenia

And how about this one from Sam Torrance

Torrance, who led the team to victory at The Belfry two years ago, told BBC Sport: "Sometimes it's almost easier going away - there's less expectancy.

Please note Sam said almost. Whereas Monty was more committed when he said (same Scotsman headlines)
Europeans have plenty pedigree and...Bernhard Langer more flexibility than any of his predecessors when the 2004 match begins next week.
So say it again Sam with more positivity

Just had to sneak this one in quickly - for the Kiwi readers in particular.
Michael Campbell reckons
The New Zealand Open should be played on a decent golf course and not Gulf Harbour.
How dare he say such a thing about a Robert Trent Jones II designed golf course.
But hey there Cambo you've got to agree 15, 16 and 17 are very pretty golf holes.

Moving on to the next permanent link on the left.

THE Ryder Cup site



And before I forget: Article by Mike Aitken in The Scotsman advises it's going to be a dry Ryder Cup.

Alcohol banned in bid to silence Ryder Cup rowdies



There's a great link on the THE Ryder Cup site dealing with Oakland Hills' history

and a passage about THE MONSTER



"Ben Hogan won with a total of 287 by shooting a final round 67 after which he was quoted as saying “I am glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees.” He also said that it was “the greatest test of golf I have ever played and the toughest course.” The late Clayton Heafner who had a final round of 69, the only other sub-par of the tournament, finished second two strokes back.



And then goes on to advise the reader. "...the natural result of this extremely difficult Open was that from that point on the USGA no longer permitted the host Clubs to control the layout for an Open tournament."



After the Shinnecock shambles it's starting to look like maybe the host club should once again have the final say?

Was determined to only do one post today - lots of other things to do.
But couldn't resist commenting on this one from SI

British media are obsessed with the Ryder Cup

You gotta be joking - Oh nameless one who wrote this article.
Especially when in turn the same scribe wastes good copy space by reporting
"the rumor of a breakup between Tiger Woods and fiancee Elin Nordegren"

At least the media obsessed Brits focus on golf and not gossip

Before I come to the pleading part of this post.

First of all.
Why Auntie BBC in my permanent links? Because they have great live feeds from major golf events. They're always up to date in their golf section and give great coverage of the Ryder Cup
Here's proof of their past record on the Ryder Cup. Need more then try it.

Today's hot news, apart from VJ becoming number No 1 But that was kinda inevitable,
is Seve unhappy at Ryder snub
Not really a snub Seve. Just a wee case of a need for a rethink.
Let's hope that it's not inevitable that the people who have the power to officially invite him will not use lack of a precedent as an excuse.

Sports Illustrated is my number 2 permanent link and just wished they could talk Alan Shipnuck into writing a few more articles for them.

And so with the forthcoming Ryder Cup contest we now have two permanent links to go to
The Scotsman for the Scottish and of course unbiased point of view and the view from across the pond.

Kinda sad that my first post linked to SI is about someone who became known as "The Rain Man of Golf"
If you've never heard of the guy. Do yourself a favour and go to google.com and search under Moe Norman and you won't be disappointed. Not so sure you'll want to copy his style but it's been said by many pros who saw him e.g. Lee Trevino and Ben Hogan that Moe was one of the most precise strikers of a golf ball that ever lived. And as we all know "The Wee Ice Mon"- Hogan himself knew something about how to hit a golf ball

Donald vindicates Langer's faith and Torrance fades away with poor final round

LUKE Donald gave Bernhard Langer the response he was looking for yesterday by romping to victory in the Omega European Masters just a week after being handed the final wild-card for next month's European Ryder Cup team. And a final round 76 ended Sam Torrance's hopes of a second successive victory on the European Seniors Tour, as he fell from joint first on Saturday night to finish equal eighth.

Today's headlines from the Golf section of The Scotsman - My first paper and port of call on my daily rounds and that's why it's the top link on my permanent links on the left.
I'm a big Monty fan and I'm oh so glad their golfing correspondents have stopped giving him a hard time.

Sorry but there no free lunches or links when you're dealing with the Scots or The Scotsman. You'll have to sign up and give them your email address - and then it's free

Check out Gary Van Sickle's
Review of golf's newest goods, from distance irons to putting glasses
Looks like he's confirming for me that the Cobra 440 SZ drive is what I need to regain a bit of length from the tee - and don't I need it.

It was at the 1951 US Open that the THE MONSTER got its name.
Only two players that year had rounds under par. Ben Hogan's 287 total won the Open and after the final round said he was gad to have "brought this course, this monster, to its knees."

Filling in the time before the start of the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills - What you don't know what the Ryder Cup is and why Oakland Hills has been called THE MONSTER- Sorry you've somehow reached the wrong blog. This one's not about going in search of monsters living at Schytherbolle, it's about golf and travel - the best of both worlds.
Twiddling my fingers on the next blog I'll explain why I chose the permanent links.
And by the way. Well done Bernhard you had the good Germanic sense to pick Monty.