The fantasy golf season is winding down with only 5 weeks to play.  But, it's playoff time, right?  At least according to Tim Finchem.  As the next couple of weeks come to pass the number of players in the field will diminish.  If you are behind at this point, you better make a run now when there are lots of players to choose from.  As we get to the last two weeks, options and opportunities to make a move to the top of your league will be few.

This week, I like Anthony Kim.  He's been picked by a lot of people this week and I can see how hungry the guy is to make his mark on the golf world.  Isn't that what you want to see in any athlete?

Until next week - Stay out of the rough!

    

Playing on amateur tours can be a lot of fun and gives us weekend hackers a little taste of competition.  This year on the Golf Galaxy Amateur Tour in Chicago, some of the players were complaining that ringers were playing on the tour.  The problem I had with suggesting there were ringers on the tour is that a ringer, in my mind, is a professional player playing with amateurs.  Now, sometimes a ringer is associated with a collegiate player or a semi-pro.

The so-called "ringers" were single digit handicaps.  Pro's there were not!  They are very good amateur players.  If you don't know about the Golf Galaxy tour, this year 1st place could pay out upwards of over $300 per player.  Not bad, right?  It's enough coin to get the attention of better amateur golfers.  The bottom line was that some of the complainers wanted to win 1st place with a mid to upper 70's score in a best ball format.

The word "ringer" has been abused when referencing good players.  Please look at the big picture. 

    

If you find yourself near Philadelphia, PA., head over the bridge to New Jersey and visit Pennsauken Country Club.  It's a short drive but well worth the trip.  It's a fun golf course that's nicely manicured and many holes that will test your grit.

More than the course, the people there are the best, bar none.  They are friendly and go above and beyond the call to make sure your visit is enjoyable.  Go visit the bar and restaurant.  The bar prices are very reasonable, especially for a good Yuengling.  Get a finely crafted beer from the oldest brewery in the U.S.  Also, make sure you get the tuna melt, unbelievably delicious.  Sitting at the bar, don't be surprised to have a local talk you up for awhile about anything sports related.

Visit this gem of a place for it's people and golf course.  Trust me, you won't regret it.

    

The last major without El Tigre.  It's a golden opportunity for all.  The names being thrown out there this year are Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Geoff Ogilvy, Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen.  What?  No, Phil?

The players not getting any love from the media are Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Bubba Watson, Chez Reavie and Vaughn Taylor.  Writing off Ernie is a mistake.  The guy's got a lot left in the tank.  Scott hasn't played his best lately and the experts could be right about him.

The pick is Phil Mickelson.  I consider him an underdog in this tournament which is a little crazy.  He hasn't had the best year, but when the chips are down, he usually plays well.  He'll have a re-newed vigor this week and take home the trophy again.

Go get em Sir Lips A Lot!

    

There are two common questions I've heard people ask when it comes to golf.  The first is why do people yell "fore" when a ball could possibly strike another person or golfer?  Golfers used to yell "forewarn" back in the day.  Like most words, we like to shorten them and thus "fore" caught on and is now the warning yelled all over courses everyday.

The second is where did the word "golf" come from?  An old wives tale goes that those gents that started the game centuries ago were looking to get away from their wives and it stood for, "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden."  Actually, I've read that it derives from medieval Dutch and old Scots languages.  The medieval Dutch word "kolf" was to mean "club."  Apparently the Scots took it and made it "gouf."  Shortly thereafter, "golf" was the standard and the name we use today.

Visit about.com for more details.

    

I'm not going to discuss last week.  Why look backward when we should be looking forward?  This week should be fun.  There are a lot of choices for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.  Looks like the top choices I've been hearing are Furyk, Anthony Kim, Padraig, Stewey, Allenby, Appleby and Kenny Perry.

My ears haven't been ringing this week.  There is something about Kenny Perry that makes him my choice this week.  Maybe it's his 3 wins this year?  He's just been such a solid player that my expectation is he'll have another strong week this week.

Enjoy the tournament!

    

We are very proud to announce our first golf outing has been scheduled for September 14, 2008.  Our host course will be The Traditions at Chevy Chase in Wheeling, Illinois near Chicago.

The golf outing is intended to help players manage the course and with the help of a mentor playing partner, reach a dream round of breaking 100, 90 or 80.  If you are interested in participating, visit the Golf Die Hard home page for all the details.

Helping Golfers Reach New Lows! 

    

Oh, Caaaannnnaaaadaa!  Get your Loonies and Toonies ready (Canadian $1 and $2 coins respectively).  I wouldn't say last week was stellar but I did say Padraig could pull it off, which he did.  That was last week and it's time to make this week's picks.  There are three guys that everyone seems to like:  Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim and Mike Weir.  Retief Goosen is playing which is strange since we hardly ever see him in Canada, but I'm still not going to put him in on the starting roster.  Mistake?  Maybe.

Mikey Weir is the sentimental choice, but I'm not sentimental.  AK showed a lot of guts at the British and should do well again this week.  Keep an eye on Tom Pernice, Jr.  And, the pick this week is Furyk.  He had a solid British and is poised for a strong week.

As always, use this advice with extreme caution! 

    

The World's Largest Amateur Golf Tournament will be held August 25 - 29, 2008 in Myrtle Beach, SC.  The entry fee is $550.  Here are the selling points for the 4,000 player amateur tournament taken from their web site:

2008 TOURNAMENT FORMAT

• Four rounds of net stroke tournament play on a different course each day
• Flights assigned by handicap index within six divisions: Men (49 & Under), Sr. Men (50-59), Mid Sr. Men (60-69), Super Sr. Men (70+), Women (49 & Under), Sr. Women (50+)
• Top ten individuals in each flight receive a gift certificate to PGA TOUR Superstore and trophy. Daily low net, long drive, closest-to-the-pin, closest-to-the-line, and hole-in-ones also share the spoils of victory. Over $130,000 in gift certificates will be awarded as flight prizes 
• A gift bag upon arrival with tournament logo'd golf merchandise all with a retail value of over $150
• Four evenings of food, drinks, golf expo, games, and live entertainment at the World's Largest 19th Hole for you and a guest
• A final day championship playoff on Friday, August 29th (Flight winners and ties)
• On Thursday evening every participant will be eligible for our random drawing for prizes such as full sets of golf clubs, playing spots in next years World Amateur, golf vacations to Myrtle Beach and other exotic locations.
• An annual subscription to GOLF MAGAZINE will be included with all World Amateur Handicap Tournament entry fees. Each player will receive a one-year subscription (12 issues valued at $10.00) 

I've talked directly with some participants from past tournaments.  It's a great time.  The only caveat is don't sandbag.  They take it very seriously and if caught, players are disqualified.

    

I've read and heard some whispers around golf that I'm not exactly thrilled to be even mentioned.  There seems to be a small movement, dedicated to widening the circumference of the hole for entertainment purposes.  So we would now make the hole, what?  Twice as big?  There's something that I just don't like about this idea.  It reminds me of bumpers for bowling.  You know, the blow up side rails that kids play on so they don't get any gutter balls.

There's been one constant in the game and that has been the golf hole itself.  The grass has been changed, greens more sloped, fairways tightened, courses lengthened, etc.  I see the golf hole as a sacred standard for the game.  Would it be novel to change the hole for charity outings or amateur golf tournaments?  Yes it would!  Can I see it catching on?  Yes!  I just don't like the idea.  Maybe I'm old school.  Scratch that, I am old school.  But, we can change the equipment and the balls with technology, but please leave the golf hole alone.