THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT, RANTS, RAVES AND MORE
RORY SPEARS AT TPC DEERE RUN
PHOTO VAL RUSSELL CHI-AREA GOLF
THE WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION (WGA) held it's 94th Junior Championship at
Beverly Country Club this past week. It was the first time I have attended the event
and I really enjoyed it.
I wish more people had been out there to enjoy it as well. The event is fantastic and
it was nice to see about 35 Illinois kids in the field to start the event. Memo to the
parents, it's one event that your junior golfer should pencil in on their schedule if
they can. Of course now that I write this, the event will move from the midwest down
to Florida for 2012. The Country Club of Florida will be the host in the town named
"Golf" Florida, yes that's really the name of the town. A town like that should have
golf championships in it. Now if only us media types can get the WGA to schedule
a media day, Oh say about February.
Seeing the WGA Junior Championship, left me anxious for the WGA-Amateur to
start, August 2-6 at the Northshore Country Club in Glenview. Admission is FREE
this year ( A great idea WGA). A stellar field is expected again this year, so come
check out the WGA-AM on this classic Colt-Allison designed layout, that has had
restoration work done Libertyville based architect Rick Jacobson.
KUDOS...to WGA VP of Tournaments Vince Pellegrino and his staff of rules guys
for sending a message to the WGA Jr. field about slow play. Having attended
several junior golf events, and a few college ones. Pace of play seems to be
slowing to a crawl more often than it should.
It seems that during round one at Beverly this past week, rules officials handed
out a dozen penalty strokes for slow play. That's all it took. Day 2 penalty stroke
count for slow play was, if you guessed "zero" you would be correct. Let's hope
more events aren't afraid to send the message.
TEE IT FORWARD PROGRAM...I already have people asking me about this new
promotion designed to make the game "more fun" I guess. Apparently the folks
at Adams Golf are really promoting this, and a few others two.
As for me the jury is still out yet. I know it's common place in society these days
to "Dumb Things Down", to make it easier to get ahead in life, or make things
more fun. But what's the real long term effect is the question.
I know growing up games that I could beat all the time, were fun short term. But
soon it's time to move on and find something else that's actually a challenge.
Maybe that's why I love golf so much. I have played for 38 years now and haven't
broken par yet. Yes I have been close a few times, and while it's frustrating to
not succeed. It's always increased the fire to comeback and try again.
Every once and while I enjoy a scramble, where you can gamble, try and bomb
every shot and not worry if you miss. But I wouldn't want to play one everytime
out. Maybe playing driver-wedge or 9-iron from a shorter yardage would be a
fun event to try, like a scramble. But I'm not sure that's what golf is all about
day in, and day out.
But if this program realizes the need for some courses to add tee boxes that
allow golfers to play at a better yardage, then that's a good thing. I have been
to courses where the tees jump from 6,100 up to 6,750 with nothing in between.
That is going to make everyone with a big headed driver, and hot golf ball back-up
to a yardage they don't belong playing at. We all don't hit it as far as we think we
do, be realistic about the tees you play. It will leave you a challenging golf course,
while still being fun to play.
BECAUSE OF A HECTIC LAST SUNDAY..I finally got around to watching the
final round of the US Open about Wednesday. Yes I'm excited that an Irish kid
named Rory McIlroy is the US Open champion, Rory is a great name for a US
Open champ (LOL). But it's more than that, it's quite obvious from interviews
and the comments of his peers that Rory really "gets it". Runner up Jason Day
called McIlroy the type of person golf needs as an ambassador for the sport.
The US Open won't be McIlroys last major win, I'm not saying he will break the
Jack Nicklaus record of 18, or even pass the injured one with 14. But what
this open showed, was that the baton was passed to the next wave of new
talent.
The NBC broadcast team outside of Johnny Miller doesn't seem to get it
though, with Bob Costas and Dan Hicks still trying to promote Tiger Woods
like he was in the field and competitive. Comments like everyone is waiting
for Tiger to get healthy and comeback to challenge Rory were said. Ah say
what ???..Who is everyone..hey Bob it's more like nobody. Woods had his
day, which isn't over yet. He'll make a splash somewhere, maybe win a tour
event, or win another green jacket. Maybe his kids will get older and motivate
him like David Toms 13 year old son has done for him. Hey dad go show me
you can still play. But expecting World # 18 (and sinking by the week) to go
challenge the likes of the younger generation week in and week out, major
after major isn't going to happen.
HEY ESPN..a visit to ESPN.com during the open shows there is spot in your
golf section where fans can go to the "Tiger Tracker". How well did that work
out last week, did you track him from whirlpool therapy to the couch, and the
refrigerator and back to the recliner.
THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT..are the opinions of Rory Spears, and not
any of my other Golfers on Golf Radio partners, even though they might be
at times. To respond to this column, feedback is welcome at. This website,
Twitter @GogBlogGuy or FB under Rory Spears.
Or call in to Golfers on Golf Radio 6 PM Mondays on AM-1530 WJJG at
(708)-493-1530...GO PLAY IT'S GOLF SEASON.
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