Posted: 13 Jan 2011 12:54 PM PST

by Connie Cone Sexton, Republic Columnist - Jan. 13, 2011 12:47 PM
The Arizona Republic

The fate of the Papago Golf Course is in limbo. The management arm of the Arizona Golf Foundation, which has been running the course, filed for bankruptcy in October. Court proceedings likely will continue into February. Phoenix, which owns the course, will have to wait to see if it can fire AGF and find a new company or organization to run the course.

Fans of Papago, 5595 E Moreland St., want to see the course returned to its vibrant past. And they would like to see a new clubhouse, something that would draw old and new players.

Papago Golf Course, Phoenix in limbo | Profile: Papago Golf Course | Papago Park

Forrest Richardson, a golf course architect in Phoenix, hopes Papago can regain its status. Richardson, who has designed courses that include one at the Arizona Grand Resort, near South Mountain, grew up playing Papago.

"I care about it, deeply," he said. "It's a very special golf course with a tremendous setting. With its gently rolling landscape, it's a formidable test of golf but not so challenging but still enjoyable for the lesser player. From the beginning, the course had everything stacked in its favor."

The course had a huge following in its heyday, he said, with golfers showing up before the sun rose. In 1971, it gained fame by hosting the U.S. Public Links Championship.

Phoenix Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Rob Harman agreed about the course's legacy.

"For years, Papago was rated as one of the top municipal courses in the country," he said. "It was designed by William F. Bell, one of the most renowned golf course architects in the country."

Phoenix, like other cities across the country, got into running golf courses to open the field to more players. Decades ago, "the only way you could play was if you belonged to a country club," Harman said. "This was the only way to bring (golf) to the common person."

Phoenix opened the Papago Golf Course in 1963 and continued to build municipal courses through the 1960s and '70s, Harman said.

"But then something happened throughout the country, housing developers and resort hotel owners began building public courses that weren't municipally operated," he said. "So it really changed the paradigm of public golf."

Players at city courses began expecting more and better amenities. Cities tried to keep up when financially possible, in order to retain golfers.

"When the economy is strong and good, municipal golf still provides the public with a reasonable and affordable golf experience," Harman said. "Right now, though, municipal courses are struggling because the private-course rates have fallen and we're now competing with them."

Courses that once charged $80 to $90 rounds are now charging $35 to $40, Harman said. Papago's winter rate is $44 per round without a cart.

Last year, Phoenix municipal courses had a 6 percent drop in rounds and revenue.

The biggest disappointment among Papago's fans is the failure to build a clubhouse after the existing one was razed. The clubhouse is in a trailer until a permanent structure can be built.

For Richardson, it's time to recapture Papago's original glory.

Reach the reporter at connie.sexton@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-6843.

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S. Korea's Noh eyes greater golf glory in 2011

Posted: 12 Jan 2011 10:45 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Korea's teen golf sensation Noh Seung-Yul, the newly crowned Asian Tour number one, says he will be working to build more consistency in his game as he bids for even greater glory in 2011.

The 19-year-old was a big hit in Asia last year, thanks to one victory in Malaysia, four top-10s and commendable performances in the Majors but he will not be resting on his laurels as he seeks to maintain his rise in world golf.

"I want to be more consistent with my game," said Noh.

"On some days I'm good but the next day, I'm bad. I need to be consistent for four days regularly. Once I can do that, I can start thinking about winning the big tournaments including the Majors.

"I will keep working on all parts of my game, not just one or two areas. I think I have learned a lot by playing on the Asian Tour these past few years but there is still more to learn," he added.

One thing that Noh can count upon during his travels across many of the world's finest fairways this season is his father-cum-caddie, Gu-hyeon.

Noh paid tribute to his father, who he said helped him keep his mind on the game.

"There is more focus in my golf and I can play well," said Noh.

"When I first joined the Asian Tour (in 2008), I didn't have many friends. Nobody knew me then and dad was my only friend. It was very important that he travelled and caddied for me and he is good company," he said.

After becoming the youngest Asian Tour Order of Merit winner at the age of 19 years and 204 days, as well as picking up the Players' Player of the Year award, Noh's vision for the future is very clear.

The Korean, who underwent corrective eye surgery last month, has set his sights on winning on European soil this year and intends to break into the world's top-30.

But Noh, presently ranked 64th in the world, is in no rush to contend in the Majors, despite impressive showings at the US Open and PGA Championship last year suggesting he has every chance of emulating countryman Y.E. Yang as a Major champion.

"The Majors are different. We play on difficult courses and totally different conditions," said Noh, who won the Maybank Malaysian Open last season and the 2008 Midea China Classic in his rookie professional year.

"Once I get more experience in the Majors, I can maybe become the second Asian player to win a Major."

As the Asian Tour number one, Noh will automatically qualify for this year's British Open and the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

If he maintains or improves his world ranking, he will also qualify for the WGC-Accenture Match Play next month.

Oklahoma St. QB joins golf team

Posted: 12 Jan 2011 05:53 PM PST

Updated Jan 12, 2011 7:58 PM ET

The No. 2 Oklahoma State golf team will have a new player for the spring season: Brandon Weeden, the Cowboys' All-Big 12 quarterback.

Weeden announced Wednesday that he and All-American wide receiver Justin Blackmon would return for the 2011 football season. He also Tweeted, "I forgot to mention I'm also the newest member of the OSU golf team!!!! Proud to be part of something special! Football and Golf!!!!"

Oklahoma State head coach Mike McGraw was unsure the status of Weeden's game after recently completing the football season, but said Weeden will have a positive impact on the team.

"He's really good friends with the guys on the golf team," McGraw told Golfweek. "There's nothing silly about this at all.

"He loves the game. He'll do everything he can to be better. He's a good leader. He's just a really, really sollid individual and a great kid. I think he'll be a great guy for my guys to be around, the way he takes care of his business.

Weeden was Oklahoma State's first all-conference quarterback of the modern era. In his first year as a starter, the Edmond, Okla., product set school records with 34 touchdown passes, 4,277 passing yards and 4,209 yards of total offense. He set a single-game passing record of 435 yards against Baylor. His 337 passing yards per game ranked third in the NCAA in 2010 and he finished fourth nationally in touchdown passes. His passing efficiency rating of 154.1 led the Big 12.

For more on this story, go to Golfweek.com .

Golf Zone

Thursday, January 13, 2011

“Papago Golf Course fans want it restored to glory” plus 2 more

“Papago Golf Course fans want it restored to glory” plus 2 more

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