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March 29, 2007

Bandon does it again

Just when you thought Bandon Dunes had won all the accolades it possibly could, another one comes along. This time, the Oregon resort was named 'Best Course' by the Zagat Survey in their annual report.

The runner-up? Whistling Straits.

In addition to the honors bestowed upon the country's best golf courses in a variety of categories, the survey also gives a glimpse into the state of golf in America.

Click here to read the entire report. It's worth a glance.

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March 28, 2007

Oregon course does its part

I got word Tuesday that Aspen Lakes and the Oregon Food Bank had teamed up to help stock the shelves for those in need. Golfers got to play the beautiful Central Oregon course for free when they donated three non-perishable items before they got started on March 27th and 28th.

Awesome.

It's another example of how golfers and golf courses are working together to make our region better. My hat's off to the Cyrus family and to management at the course for putting this great fundraiser together.

It's nice knowing that NW Golf Adventures continues to work with the best courses. So next time you're at Aspen Lakes, be sure you tell them what a great job they're doing for their community and for the rest of the state.

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March 26, 2007

The field is set

The field for The Masters has been set, officially starting the two week run in which we all get to speculate on who will be wearing the green jacket after 72 holes of competitive play at Augusta National.

Sure, there are all the usual names at the top of most lists. Guys like Tiger, Phil, Vijay, Goosen and others are sure to garner the most interest. But what about some of the lesser known guys who have played well as of late?

My brother, also well placed in the golf industry, has put his money on Henrik Stenson to win his first green jacket. I'd be surprised not to see someone like Brett Wetterich or another long ball hitter lurking near the top of the leaderboard.

Starting next Monday, you'll have your chance to predict the winner. NW Golf Adventures has teamed with NewsRadio 750 KXL to provide the most comprehensive coverage of The Masters, as well a pick-the-winner contest. Come back one week from today to enter!

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March 23, 2007

Time to post

I can hardly believe it, but the time for posting scores has returned to the Northwest. In both Oregon and Washington, players are now required to post all rounds played so they count for handicap purposes.

That also means that tournament time is upon us. Now is the time to check the schedule at your favorite courses to find out whether they have any individual or team events your interested in. If you've been working on your game over the Winter, early Spring tournaments can be a great place to cash in as most of the entrants probably haven't played that much in recent months.

If you're looking for events to play in over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, check back here later for information on NewsRadio 750 KXL's Golfing for the Guard and the SW Washington Open, presented by NW Golf Adventures!

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March 12, 2007

Big John says he's out

Citing a rib and shoulder injury that will sideline him for up to two weeks, Big John Daly says that he'll be forced to the miss the Arnold Palmer invitational. He promises to return for the Houston Shell Open, the week before The Masters.

Doctors told Daly he was suffering from a dislocated rib and right shoulder, suffered when he tried to stop his swing when a spectator started taking pictures Friday at the PODS Championship. When asked about the injury, Daly said he couldn't 'even lift an ashtray.'

While Daly hasn't been as competitive lately as he has in the past, he's still a fan favorite wherever he goes. He's so popular, in fact, that even fantasy golf players can't help but choose him anytime he tees it up. I know I've fallen into that trap because you just never.

Get well John, we'll see you soon.

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March 8, 2007

AT&T steps up, again

The PGA TOUR and the Tiger Woods Foundation announced Wednesday that AT&T would be the title sponsor for Tiger's July 4th tour stop in Washington, DC. It's another in a long-line of TOUR sponsored events for the telecommunications company.

The AT&T National will take the place of The International, the stableford event held near Denver. Congressional Country Club is the most likely venue, at least for 2007 and 2008 (membership will vote soon on whether or not to host the event).

As for Tiger Woods, who will become the youngest tournament host, he said he wants to create a tournament that adds to the game of golf. "Not too many people are fortunate to have an opportunity like this," Woods said. "What Bobby Jones did for golf and starting the Masters, that won't be touched. As far as what Jack has done at the Memorial, or Arnold at Bay Hill or Mr. Nelson in Dallas, those have been true legends of the game. They made a tremendous impact on our sport.

I like that the July 4th event will be a tribute to the nation's birthday and a tribute to the troops fighting overseas. I will say, though, that it's too bad a truly unique event (The International) had to go by the wayside. It'd be nice to see the stableford format resurrected down the road.

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March 7, 2007

Jobe returns to the PGA Tour

If you follow golf, you'll know who Brandt Jobe is. If you don't, you'll be interested in today's post only because it shows that injuries can be overcome and you can continue playing golf at the highest levels after them.

Jobe's never won a PGA Tour event, but over the last 28 years of professional golf, he's amassed over $6 million in earnings. In 2003, though, he broke his left wrist; a year later, he broke it again. Both times, he returned to competitive golf and continued to play well.

Last year, Jobe was sweeping his garage when the broom broke and the tips of the fingers on his right hand were sliced off. He was able to find a doctor who specialized in re-attachments and he's now making his return to the PGA Tour.

The PODS Championship this week will be Jobe's first event of 2007.

While many would have thought his career would have ground to a halt with the wrist injuries, this most recent comeback shows just how much can be overcome when you want to continue playing a game you love. Let's all think about that the next time we have a bad round and swear we're gonna give up the game.

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March 5, 2007

Good Golf, Bad Golf

Watching the final round of the Honda Classic on Sunday was a little like watching Jerry Springer. It was ugly and I wanted to change the channel, but there was also some compelling about it.

It appeared that Boo Weekley was going to wrap it all up in regulation and notch his first PGA Tour win. I guess he forgot about the 40" putt he had to make to get it all done. Then there was that crazy playoff that featured all four players hitting at least one bad shot, yet all making par to move on.

So there's the question. Would you rather watch a tournament that featured elite players blowing away the field, or would you rather watch a bunch of guys fighting for their first win and not playing the best golf. For the life of me, I can't decide.

Let me know what you think by e-mailing me at kris@oregongolfadventures.com.

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March 1, 2007

More golf on ESPN

ESPN and the USGA announced that they had extended their television agreement through the year 2014, ensuring fans exclusive cable access to the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open.

"We're thrilled to remain the home of USGA championships," said ESPN's George Bodenheimer in a release. "The USGA has long embraced our multimedia approach which will continue to provide compelling content to golf fans and present opportunities to expand the audience of the sport."

Most of you are probably wondering why I've bothered to bring this to you attention, but there's a good reason. The deal also includes enriching the fans' experience online. In addition to the continued television covereage, ESPN.com will offer inside looks and videos with their ESPN360 system. It all boils down to more great golf content from some of the best venues in the game.

If you're like me, you want to get all you can, and this extended deal does just that.

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