Posted: 28 Feb 2010 02:01 AM PST

Any cigar-chomping poser with three Benjamins can find a golf game in Phoenix during spring training, but where does the savvy, price-conscious player find bargains during peak golf season?

"I refuse to fork over $100 a round," says Benny Ruiz, a Scottsdale resident who aggressively scouts spring discounts. "Otherwise, I couldn't afford to play around here until it's 105 degrees outside."

The Cubs' possible new spring training home is just a long tee shot away from the 18-hole desert-style Longbow Golf Club in East Mesa, Ariz.

Batter up: It's spring training season in Mesa, Arizona Hotel pitches new package to Sox, Cubs fans

Here's a quick guide to bargain golf in Phoenix in March. At one end of the list is unadulterated affordability, as in, how low can you go? At the other lies pricier golf at a rate that represents value, solid course conditioning, shot values and layout. Somewhere in the middle lies that "sweet spot" combination of price and conditions.
To minimize driving, we're keeping our choices reasonably close to the White Sox games in Glendale and Cubs games in Mesa:
•Ken McDonald, a Tempe municipal course, built in 1974. There's nothing sexy about this flat, palm-lined, 18-hole, par-72 track except the price, solid course maintenance and a downscale yet vibrant "muni" feel you get walking up the breezeway to a patio overlooking a course packed with locals; $32 to walk, $54 to ride. (480) 350-5250.
•Dobson Ranch Golf Club, a Mesa municipal course, 18 holes, par 72. Designed in 1973 by Red Lawrence. Named Golf Digest's "Best Muni in Arizona" in 2009. Flat, walkable, well-maintained. Closest course to HoHoKam Stadium and a favorite of British Airways pilots laying over from London, say the pro shop guys; $45 to ride every day. (480) 644-2291.
•Aguila Golf Course, a Phoenix municipal course southwest of the city limits, 18 holes, par 72. Designed in 1999 by Gary Panks. Rolling terrain yet walkable. Huge, sculpted bunkers make you feel like you're playing a country club. A bit of a drive, but just $43 to walk, $57 to ride. (602) 237-9601.
•TPC Scottsdale Champions Course. Opened in 2007, 18 holes, par 71. Younger sister to the more famous TPC Stadium Course next door. Ask for the unpublicized year-round walking rate: $44 for residents and non-residents. No. 19 on GolfWeek's 2009 list of "Best Municipal Courses." (480) 585-4334.
•Cave Creek Golf Club, Phoenix municipal course, opened in 1984, 18 holes, par 72. Designed by William F. Bell, who also did Torrey Pines. Not far from Sox games at Camelback Ranch in Glendale. One of the busiest courses in the area; $43 to walk, $57 to ride. (602) 866-8076.
•Sun City West's Grandview Golf Course, northwest of Glendale, 18 holes, par 72. A private course that recently opened to the public on weekends. Layout is flat, with plenty of water and palms as it winds through a Del Webb development; $59 to ride. (623) 544-6013.
•ASU Karsten Golf Course, Tempe, 18 holes, par 72, opened in 1989. Designed by Pete Dye. Home of Arizona State alum Phil Mickelson. Hilly, reminiscent of Scottish links. Eight minutes to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport; $98 to ride weekdays. (480) 921-8070.
•Longbow Golf Club, East Mesa, 18 holes, par 72, opened in 1997. Desert style with deftly placed fairway bunkers. If the Cubs move from HoHoKam in 2011, this course could be across the street from the new stadium. Book online eight to 60 days out and ride for $98 Monday through Friday. (480) 807-5400.
•Papago Golf Course, a Phoenix muni administered by the Arizona Golf Association. Restored in 2008 to William F. Bell's original 1963 vision with new greens, irrigation and removal of unwanted vegetation. One of the best layouts in metro Phoenix. No. 21 on GolfWeek's 2009 list of "Best Municipal Courses." Nine minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport; $99 to ride. (602) 275-8428.
Dan Vukelich, a former Chicagoan, is editor of Sun Country Golf magazine in Albuquerque, N.M., and makes frequent golf trips to the Phoenix area.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Man found in golf pond; officials uncertain about cause of death (The Arizona Republic)

Posted: 28 Feb 2010 12:23 AM PST

Mesa fire officials hope to determine whether an elderly man pulled from a golf course pond Saturday afternoon drowned or died from a medical emergency.

Mesa Fire spokesman Thor Watson said fire crews were called about 12:45 p.m. to the Farnsworth Golf Course near Baseline and Sossaman Road, where the 72-year-old man had fallen into the pond on the course.

"(The man) was walking with his wife and a couple of friends," Watson said. "As they were walking past the pond, he fell in. We don't know if he tripped or if it was medical."

The man's wife and friends, who are also elderly, struggled to pull him to shore, but managed to do so and started CPR.

Mesa police arrived and took over CPR. EMS crews then transported the man to Mountain Vista Hospital.

"While en route to the hospital, they managed to get a faint pulse on him," Watson said. Despite all efforts, the man died at the hospital.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Crossville girls fall in golf tri-match (The Times-Journal)

Posted: 28 Feb 2010 12:56 PM PST

Subscription Services: Circulation | Home Delivery | Back Issues | Vacation Stops | Newspapers In Education

The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson

811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email

George Brett on his short-game woes, his winning week at Pebble, and the art of hitting (a golf ball) (Golf Magazine)

Posted: 28 Feb 2010 08:10 AM PST

I had the chipping yips really bad a few years back. I worked at it and got to the point where I could hit a few good ones, then chunk it, then skull it. I got so frustrated. It was all in my head. If I knew I was going to play on a certain day, within three minutes of waking up I'd start thinking, Oh God, I have to chip today. Then I found out that when you don't pick up a club for three weeks, those demons leave you. I'm not playing Ping-Pong around the greens anymore.

I love practice as much as I love playing. I live less than a mile from my club [Mission Hills, near Kansas City], so if I have an hour to spare, I jump on my Vespa with my clubs and go practice.

If it's hot and humid, just practice your short game. You get all lathered up hitting balls on the range.

In 1987 I played in the AT&T with Freddie Couples and we won. The only thing I can say about my game back then was that there were brief — very brief — flashes of brilliance, but no consistency. Winning the AT&T wasn't anything like winning the World Series, but playing in it was just as nerveracking. People expect you to be good, and when you don't know where it's going when you hit it, when you three-putt from five feet, or hit a flop shot 150 yards over the green, that's nerve-racking.

I don't enjoy competitive golf. When they put up the ropes and you have to putt out two-footers with a little break, that's not fun.

When I'm home in Kansas City, we play Mission Hills. It's just four hours with friends, and the conversations range from investments, baseball, golf, wine, restaurants, recipes, politics, anything. In the winter, we drink our coffee and ask each other stuff like, "So, do you want to go play cards? Or do you want to go to Costco?"

Charlie Lau was my hitting coach, and he was a golfer. He always stressed that the baseball swing and golf swing were similar, just on a different plane. Until they came up with that stack and tilt thing, it was club back, weight goes back, and at point of contact feel the weight shift to your front leg. That's what Charlie always said.

I love watching golf on TV. You'll never see a Tour player on TV who isn't fully extended at contact. Just like baseball, they hold the club in their fingers, not in the palm. They take a firm grip but they don't choke the club, because that creates tension in your hands and arms.

Whether it's baseball or golf, when you're playing great you don't have to think about fundamentals. There are no negatives — you just hit the ball.

One day at Carnoustie, on a par-4 into the wind, I hit driver, 3-wood, 5-iron and was still short of the green. I thought, God, this is going to be fun! I love links golf. The Old Course is one of my favorites. When you know it's 180 yards and your caddie tells you to hit it 160 and let it bounce up, you hit it 160 and let it bounce up. He knows what he's talking about.

My handicap got lower incrementally. I didn't have a big breakthrough. I never really paid attention to it — you turn in your scores and the next thing you know you're a 9. Then you're a 7. I went to Lyford Cay in the Bahamas after Thanksgiving last year. Shot one over the first day, 75 the next. Then I didn't play at all, went to Hawaii for Christmas with my family, shot 73 one day, 75 the next. Next thing you know you're a 3 handicap.

I'm not sure why I'm playing so well right now. I guess it's just something I figured out. I keep the ball in play and hit a lot of greens. I still worry about my short game. Sometimes I'll be 20 feet off the green and I'll putt it. Sure, it might take me three to get down, but if I chip it it might take me four.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Golf Zone

Sunday, February 28, 2010

“Finding a spring training golf course that fits you to a tee (Chicago Sun-Times)” plus 3 more

“Finding a spring training golf course that fits you to a tee (Chicago Sun-Times)” plus 3 more

0 comments:

Post a Comment

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

Popular Posts