The First Dimpled Ball

Supposed to golf tomorrow...it's going to rain...how predictable was that ?
This is where I normally break into song..." Nobody knows - the trouble
I've seen.." Big deal - lots of time for golf ..In fact I played nine holes earlier
this week...picture this if you will.
I'm driving to Barrington Passage to pick up my Mom whose visiting Aunt Glo
and Uncle Lou...I'm due there at around 11AM...So , I deduce that it would
be effective use of my time to get up two hours early and begin the three hour
trek at 5:45AM and arrive in time to stop in at RiverHills Golf and Country
Club and drop off a CD of the Golf Shop Radio Program in which they were
recently featured...And I further decide to walk nine holes and try out my
custom fitted clubs....
8:45....there's a welcome chill in the air...light breeze..sun has just barely
managed to peel a light frost off the not yet green fairways...it's blinding
as you look out from the eleventh tee to the uphill par five ahead. The tee shot's
key on this hole. Start it out over the right edge and ease it back not quite
to centre..good contact will put you on a flat for your second shot.
Six shots later and you're in the hole and you've resuscitated every
excuse you used all last year and invented a couple of new ones -
but hey - it's alright...it's early...and it's only game...and the short game's
always the last thing to come back...and who could have read that putt
to break just before the hole like that...and no one could have made that
eight footer coming back...and that's just bad luck when the ball rims out
like that...even on your fourth putt.....Golf Season has started again -
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.... Is it just me or is this year's Byron Nelson Classic a
little less compelling than normal ? Is Tiger's absence a factor ? Phil
being there's not helping. Maybe it's just me - If I'd been out for more than
nine holes so far maybe I'd be more keen.
I hate square drivers....square drivers and long putters should be banned.
I'm on record. While we're at it - I'm really not a fan of the claw grip much,
either...reminds me of riding side-saddle. That's just me....
I am reading a book I am truly enjoying..Golf for Enlightment by Deepak Chopra.
Highly recommend it...so does my subtle inside self.
I have to go jacket shopping...buy for now....
Til next time....hitttem long and straight....and if you're not doing anything
and it's 6pm Friday night ( Halifax time ) or 8AM Saturday...www.cjch.ca..
and tune in the Golf Shop...find out what Bill Taylor's best remembered for.
Don..

My Favorite Maritime Golf Courses

1/ Lynx at Kingswood Park
2/ Dundarave
3/ The Highlands
4/ Abercrombie
5/ Digby Pines
6/ Links at Penn Hills
7/ Fox Harb'r
8/ Mactaquac
9/ Royal Oaks
10/ Mill River
11/ Glen Arbour
12/ Dundee
13/ Fox Meadow
14/ Paragon
15/ Le Portage
16/ Osprey Ridge
17/ Chester
18/ Algonquin
19/ Bell Bay
20/ Oakfield
21/ Ken Wo
22/ New Ashburn
23/ Truro
24/Granite Springs
25/Hartlen Point
26/Stanhope

So there you have it...My favorite Maritime Golf Courses...on any given day
the order might change a little - but these are the courses about which
I smile when I think an opportunity might be coming to play them.
Please do not misunderstand - I have not necessarily played spectacularly
well at any of them...even for me. But for the most part I remember holes ,
or series of holes, hospitality, layout, or something about them that makes
them a place to which I'd return in a heartbeat.
In some cases - they are far from exquisitely manicured - but they have a
place that is well defined, they serve a community and a purpose well.
Are they the best ? In my mind, for my purposes, today...yes - they represent
the best Atlantic Canada has to offer.
The first question I can hear is.."What about Crowbush ?" Could be a great golf
course..but for two holes. Blow those two bad boys up and you're off to the
races...In fact, using the back tees on the par five which should be a par
six or seven...they could create a short par three to take the place of
the astronomically nonsensical # 17 and a small but tricky par four over
the environmental area and they could have two decent holes - which
would make Crowbush - a very good golf course indeed.
Another PEI standard that's missing from the list is Brudenelle about which
I am admittedly conflicted. There are many things to like about Brudenelle.
It is a nice playable golf course with a couple of really nice holes - but I think
much too much is made of the 6 par 3's, 6 par 4's and 6 par fives...
I would much prefer to play Glasgow Hills, Andersons Creek, or Eagles Glen
than I would Brudenelle....By my memory you get more course for the money.
I will be expanding on my picks on the Golf Shop Radio Program over the
summer if my rationale is of interest.
Something else I am going to start doing is golf equipment reviews.
Whose irons are best ? Whose making the best driver ? When you buy
golf balls where is your money best spent ? Be listening.
Now...I don't care what they tell you..I beleive it's time that some new
talent emerge from the frozen north to take the place of Lorie Kane and
Mike Weir...Sorry, I am fans of them both, but I don't see either reclaiming
their share of the golf limelight ever again. Here's my theory...Both Lorie
and Mike had to work like the devil to win on their respective professional
tours - both had to sacrifice and dedicate and commit to a level that most of
us will never know. Both Mike Weir and Lorie Kane made it ! Multiple winners
on the grand stage. But after the seductive influences of success, I have
to believe it would be very difficult to go back to the driven, uncompromising existence that got you there. They will continue to compete - they may again
flirt with big prizes but names will remain prominent in an ever shrinking
circle. I don't think either would expect us to feel badly for them.
So..the NHL Playoffs...too much...I'm sorry..even as a hockey fan we are
being over exposed. The NHL was a much better product when you had to
wait all week to see one game..even when that game was bad. The problem is that even though we're seeing some good hockey now, there is so much of it it becomes easy to ignore.
Go Jays !
Now..how sweet is it that the Raptors play Vince in the first round of the
NBA Playoffs ? As easy as it is to dislike most obnoxious professional athletes,
Vince Carter has taken "Arseface" to a whole new level. ( isn't that lovely and
articulate sounding ? ) In what kind of world does he exist ? Does he not know
that his teammates can't trust him, can't depend on him, can't possibly respect
him, because his evident complete lack of character ? Is he not aware that
with a backbone somewhat akin to an eclair, his teammates and Nets fans
expect him to fall down and lie on the hardwood grimacing in pain when things go badly ? What kind of a mirror do people like Vince Carter look at ?
With all his talent , all his money, all his fame, Vince Carter will never
be a winner, never be admired and at best someday may be universally
pitied. Ya...that's what I want to be when I grow up ! I only hope that
Chris Bosh never gets lured to the dark side and that he continues to act
and play like someone around which a franchise can grow - and be proud !
And that Sports Fans..is all she wrote..
Til next time - Hittem Long and Hittem Straight
Don

Oh My...It Is A Familiar Pain

I don't often find myself agreeing with "hockey insider" and TV airbag Bob
McKenzie -but in this case - I have to say - he hit the proverbial nail on
the head.
The Leafs are pretenders ! The Leafs had no business actually vying for
a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While you have to love their heart - the Leafs have given fans every
indication in the past few weeks just how limited their future is.
You cannot contend in any competition over the long haul if you habitually
surrender healthy leads.
Those who follow the Blue and White have seen more than their share of
opposing miracle comebacks particularly of late. The Leafs are proof perfect
that shots on goal mean nothing - that territorial advantage means nothing -
and that scrappy, blue collar goals are not the things on which you find a
Stanley Cup perched. While the Maple Leafs have scored more replay
worthy goals of late, they aren't known as a team that is going to bring
fans out of their seats with an end to end rush - and this is not
a season that will be remembered for it's sterling playmaking - ala Oates
to Hull or Oates to Cam Neeley...
No this season will be remembered for absolutely atrocious defensive
end coverage. How many goals did the Leafs surrender in the past month
when they had control of the puck in their own zone and failed to clear ?
How many times have opposing forwards had both "space and time" in
front of the Leaf net ? Wellwood, Gill, Antropov, and Ponikarovsky all give
me shivers when they have the puck in their own zone...
Sadly..it's all a forty year refrain...no horses.
Raycroft is not Bower, or Sawchuk, or Joseph, or Belfour...but he should not
shoulder the blame.
I think Paul Maurice did a marvellous job with what he had and reclamation
projects like Devereaux and Kilger proved his keen eye. The fact that he
stuck with Stajan and Steen will pay off in years ahead...but ...this year
is another that Leaf fans will bury in the compost hoping that by the fall,
a richer , nutrient - flushed base will be foundation of a more fruitfull
campaign...It is a wish...and a hope...something we Leafs fans sadly see
where what we'd rather be looking at - is a Cup...
Now having said all that....wouldn't it be a blast to get the chance to play that
golf course on which Adam Scott won the Shell Houston Open. Nice putt to win.
The Tournament Course at Redstone proved a wonderful venue to spring
the PGA Tour onto Augusta this week.
What is your favorite Masters Memory ? Please dial in the Golf Shop this week
Friday evening at 6PM or Saturday morning at 8AM..our season begins
this week on Masters weekend. Can't get 92 CJCH on the radio ? Dial us
up on the web where we are streamed at www.cjch.ca...
Gotta go..promos to write and presentations to send off..
Til next time..hittem long and hittem straight..
Don