Katieshack

Golf balls will stop the oil leak!

I caught an interesting video snippet online this morning, which said that BP, in its effort to stop the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, will pump a "junk shot" into the Deepwater Horizon oil well if its current efforts do not work.

So what does this "junk" consist of? Mud, rubber tire shreds, knotted rope and GOLF BALLS!

Most of us golf aficionados certainly wouldn't consider golf balls to be junk, in general at least. Or on a good day. But hey, whatever works.

Thad Allen, U.S. Coast Guard commandant, told the Times Online that the junk shot is an exotic concept, where "They’re actually going to take a bunch of debris - shredded up tires, golf balls and things like that - and under very high pressure shoot it in...and see if they can clog it up and stop the leak.”

So why golf balls, one may ask? As Slate.com noted, the theory is that golf balls are small enough to fill gaps between the other junk, in addition to being sturdy. Think about it: Most golf balls are designed to withstand 2,000 pounds of force from a club. So in fact, the golf ball should not be considered junk at all, rather the finisher, the closer, the hero.

Slate also had this to say:

"BP has already lowered a set of pipes containing the junk to the ocean floor. The garbage is lined up inside the pipes in 10 layers, with the bigger items—the tires and rope—set to enter the blowout preventer first. Then comes the golf balls, the electrical wires, and bits of junk of further decreasing size. That way, the big items will be pushed up against the inner wall of the tower, blocking the smaller stuff from passing through the leaking valves. If all goes according to plan, the golf balls will help stopper the well while themselves being trapped in a net of rope and rubber."

Certainly interesting and food for thought next time you're teeing it up. I hope BP figures a way out of this literal mess before it resorts to the elusive junk shot, but otherwise, this is just another example of golf (and its gear) saving the day.

Romanos and Zingers and Spieths, oh my.

Katie's Recommended Reading: Just a few of the more interesting and entertaining headlines that jumped out at me today while cruisin' the golf news and boards. Along with my priceless and witty commentary, of course.

Mark Calcavecchia to end PGA Tour career at Memorial

But wait, don't be sad! Calcaveccia, who turns 50 on June 12, is teeing it up in 11 of  the 12 events on the Champions Tour. Here's to new beginnings! Oh, and while I'm on my soap box about the Champions Tour, I highly recommend taking in your local Champions Tour event at the nearest golf course. Crowds are MUCH smaller than PGA Tour events, and it's a great way to take in some high-caliber golf up close and personal. Here in SoCal, watch for the Toshiba at Newport Beach Country Club and the AT&T at Valencia Country Club next spring.

Ray Romano can't crack 90, let alone 80 goal

FORE contributer and San Diego Union-Tribune golf writer Tod Leonard comes through again with another entertaining golf story, this focusing around Hank Haney's latest project, Ray Romano. He teed it up at (hottie) Drew Brees' Cox Celebrity Championship at Morgan Run Resort, shooting 93-92 (hey, what's wrong with that?!?). Who knew Jack Wagner was so handy with the sticks though? He shot a 73 to win it.

Jordan Spieth preparing for finals, more golf

Watching such a talented kid makes one forget that he, at the tender age of 16, is still just a high school student. "It's been different," Spieth told reporters on his second day back at school in Dallas. "A couple of classes gave me standing ovations. All my friends realized that I don't want that to happen, so they've been the same around me. But it has been a little crazy." Jordan will play in his second PGA Tour event next month.

Two Kiwis to play golf for 365 days to help The First Tee

It's day 143 and these crazy vagabonds have landed at PGA West, after a round with Doors guitarist Robby Krieger at Riviera and purchasing a $2,000 Dodge truck upon landing in California. Now they're on their way to tear up TPC Scottsdale, making their way east to benefit The First Tee of New Zealand. They're going to be SO sore by day 300. Good luck.

Paul Azinger lobbyed hard for 2010 Ryder Cup

He'll be remembered as helping the U.S. to its first Ryder Cup victory in nearly a decade in 2008, thanks to a Navy SEALs type strategy. The Zinger, though, is taking a backseat to Corey Pavin this year. A good Q&A by ESPN's Jason Sobel about Paul's new book and thoughts on the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup squad.

San Diego teen scores 6-under-par in three holes at Barona

In the category of "all teenagers are apparently better golfers than me," 16-year-old Xander Schauffele of Scripps Ranch scored a double eagle, a birdie and an eagle on consecutive holes at Barona Creek Golf Club, shooting 6-under par for three holes. Wow.

As reported by Tod Leonard, FORE Magazine contributer and golf writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, the feat this kid accomplished is so rare, the PGA Tour doesn't even have a record of it happening. The odds of shooting a double-eagle are actually much higher than a hole-in-one also (12,000-to-1 for an ace compared to anywhere from 1-million- to 6-million-to-1 for an albatross), making Xander's hotstreak even more impressive.

Playing with dad Stefan and with PGA teaching professionals Ross Marcano (of Barona) and Paul Marchewka, Xander told the Union-Tribune that “I was so happy I couldn’t stop smiling. I had a face cramp from smiling...It’ll be a good story for my kids. This will never wear off.”

If you want to be depressed about your game, read the entire story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The USGA's Q&A with U.S. Open Agronomist Pat Gross

I backed into an interesting April Q&A this morning with the USGA's Pat Gross, U.S. Open Agronomist and director of the USGA's Green Section Southwest Region. Based here in Southern California, I've talked with Pat several times and not only is he a great guy, but a real expert in the areas of turfgrass and championship conditions.

The USGA's digital media writer, Dave Shefter, asked Pat several questions regarding this year's U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, and all of the factors that go into hosting a championship at a course that experiences its fair share of weather and coastal implications (anyone who's seen the 18th hole and watched the waves splash up on the fairway on a stormy day had to wonder about that hole eroding!). Some of the questions are listed below, and you can read the entire Q&A on the U.S. Open website, including all of the environmental improvements Pebble Beach has made in recent years. Enjoy!

How are things looking for the 2010 U.S. Open?
Gross: Fantastic. They’re in great shape [and] ahead of schedule. We’re really comfortable with all the preparations and programs.

Was there any unforeseen weather conditions or other issues that left anyone concerned about the prep work for the U.S. Open?
Gross: Not at all. Their worry every year – and it’s not just for the U.S. Open – are the waves crashing against that sea wall from the winter storms along the 18th fairway. It will kill grass on the tee and affect the fairway, but they are prepared. They’ve done different things to counteract the situation, and they go in the late winter/early spring and sod any damaged areas.

How do they prevent the coastal erosion from the sea?
Gross: They re-engineered the sea wall along 18 and created an angled wall to to redirect the waves. They’ve also stabilized the area and utilized engineered rock, and it looks natural. If you went out there, you couldn’t tell which one was fake and which one was natural. The other interesting thing they did several years ago under the previous superintendent Tom Huesgen, was used a sub-surface air evacuation device. They put in pipes that can be hooked up to a vacuum. So when the seawater is going onto the fairway they turn on the sprinkler to dilute that water and then they have that drainage suction system to evacuate it and minimize the salt and sodium damage. It was put in around 2003.

What are some of the agronomic procedures being done between now and the start of the Open?
Gross: April is a big push month. All of the aeration gets done on greens, tees and fairways. It's also the perfect time, temperature-wise, to stimulate the turf and get it growing with a good fertilizer application. Then in the middle of the month, they will start growing the rough. That’s a delicate balance because they are open for resort play and if we were to start growing 3-inch or 4-inch rough, it just isn’t golfer-friendly and it would slow the pace of play. They bring it up gradually, and to the point where we can make progress through the month of May and then into June.

Is it easier to do it at Pebble because of the weather versus a Northeast or Midwest site that is coming off of several months of dormant activity?
Gross: Yes, we can depend on good weather throughout the spring. The issue is controlling the height so that it is golfer-friendly. The other thing they did, starting back in November, was re-contour the fairways according to the plan and narrow the fairways where necessary. That work has all been done and is being refined. [Senior director of Rules and competitions] Mike Davis has had a few suggestions once they started doing the cuts. I was there in March and we’re adjusting a few areas. It’s the position of where the intermediate cut starts and then you build upon it from there.

Read the rest of the USGA's interview with Pat Gross.

HP Byron Nelson Championship headlines and tweets

In lieu of reinventing the wheel, here's some of the more interesting story lines revolving around 22-year-old Jason Day's victory in the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Apparently he was so sick during the entire tournament, he almost pulled out before it even started. Way to persevere.

Oh, and the 16-year-old Jordan Spieth kid finished in a tie for 16th, pretty respectable for a first huge PGA Tour showing.

Headlines:

• What they said: Jason Day (interview transcript) (PGA TOUR) 
• Day holds on despite 2 over on Sunday (ESPN/Golfweek) 
• Round 4 Notebook: Facts and tidbits on the day (and Day) (PGA TOUR)
• A Lesson Learned: Jason Day Overcomes Field and Nerves for Win (PGA.com)
• Day wins Nelson, teenager Spieth ties for 16th (golf.com) 

And from those candid Twitter boards:

• From Jason Sobel (@JasonSobel), ESPN Golf Columnist/Blogger: Covered a Nationwide event in 2007. Took straw poll of players on which peer they thought would be most successful. Everyone said Jason Day.
• From Matt Ginella (@WheresMattyG), Senior Travel Editor for Golf Digest and Golf World: PGA: Day over [Brian] Gay, which is weird.
• From Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA), PGA Tour player: Congrats to J Day! Well done mate.

Aside from being a winner, who is Sun Young Yoo?

As the title states, still no one really knows who this player is, but 23-year-old Sun Young Yoo defeated LPGA vet Angela Stanford 3 & 1 today to win the Sybase Match Play Championship. At least No. 1 seed Jiyai Shin salvaged her consolation match against Amy Yang, 3 & 2.

An interesting tidbit to the finale of the inaugural Sybase Match Play was that it is the eighth consecutive LPGA Tour win by a foreign player, and the 25th out 26 events? Wondering who the one non-foreign player was that won? Ms. Michelle Wie, when she won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Before that, it was Christie Kerr, who won the Michelob Ultra Open more than a year ago. Kerr, the No. 5 seed in the Sybase, lost to Sun Young Yoo in their second match.

So now that she's a winner, let's get to know some other facts about Sun Young Yoo:

• She's from South Korea, and turned pro in 2005.
• Her best finish at a major was T12, in the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
• She doesn't have a sponsor.
• Her best score is 64, which she's shot in both 2008 and 2009.
• Best 2009 moment was ending up in her first career playoff at the P&G Beauty, where she square off against none other than Jiyai Shin and Angela Stanford (she lost).

Guess she'll be one to keep an eye on in future events. 

***UPDATE***

The LPGA just released its transcript from the post-round interview with Sun Young Yoo, as well as some interesting background into her life, like the fact that her 27-year-old sister was recently in a serious car accident the same day that Sun Young Yoo had a terrible dream that something was wrong. 

"The sisters believe that when something bad happens, it is 'reverse karma,'" the LPGA wrote, "meaning that something good will happen in return. Yoo believes that this win was that something good in return."

Jordan Spieth's not playing like a teen amateur

Guess what? The HP Byron Nelson Championship is also being played this weekend in Texas, and the most talked-about player barely has a license to drive. 

This Jordan Spieth kid is only 16, but he's good. Very good. Three-consecutive-rounds-under-par good, including a 67 today to put him in a tie for seventh, only six shots behind leader Jason Day. He won the U.S. Junior Amateur last year, one of the many national junior events he's teed it up in. The best part, though, is that given Spieth's amateur status, he's not taking home any money, which as it stands is $180,000 for seventh place. P.S., kudos to Southern Californians Tom Pernice, Jr. (T4, 203) and Corey Pavin, the 2010 Ryder Cup Captain (T7, 204), who are up there in the running also.

I'm going to yield to a great column by ESPN Dallas' Richard Durrett, who profiles the teen and his escapades during the Byron Nelson Championship. It's funny, it's honest, and it's a nice look into this kid's rapidly increasing popularity.

Random thoughts on the Sybase Match Play Championship

The LPGA's inaugural Sybase Match Play Championship has been going on this week at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in New Jersey. I paid tribute to the Garden State today by watching the Style Network's Jerseylicious marathon...good God it's terrifying.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of match play for many reasons, the main one being that unlike stroke play, every hole is a new chance to redeem yourself. Mentally that's a huge benefit to a player, as it's the way we should all be approaching stroke play or any format of the game: One shot, then one hole, at a time. It's my main problem.

So today was the quarterfinals of the Sybase, where among others, Michelle Wie went down 2 & 1 to Jiyai Shin, the No. 1 ranked player in the Rolex Rankings. Also moving on to tomorrow's semis are Angela Stanford, Amy Yang and Sun Young Yoo. Quite honestly, the latter two had zero interesting things to say afterward in the press conference, so I'm not going to write about them. Not a fan of one-word answers. Blah. 

I like Angela Stanford though, the 32-year-old Texan who's ranked 10th by Rolex. She's as good of a speaker as a golfer, and sort of slaughtered Catriona Matthew 5 & 3. Not that being a good speaker has anything to do with playing well, but I appreciate people who are well thought-out. And my favorite answer to a question about City Field? "I'm a Ranger fan, I'm from Texas. Yeah, I'm cheering for the Mets tonight, plus David Wright's kind of cute. You know, if they would let me have some time with him, I probably could (straighten him out)." 

Hehehe, boy crazy.

Now I don't normally make picks, but I'm actually rooting for Jiyai Shin tomorrow. If you're not familiar with the Korean, at the age of 22 she already has six LPGA Tour victories and 23 international victories. Because Jiyai's matches have all ended early, she actually hasn't played the 18th hole all week. Color me impressed. Additionally, Jiyai has only played in match-play competition three times, including this event. I'd like to see this be her 30th victory.

The one thing I'm again miffed at though is that here's this really accomplished woman golfer, and the big news is that Michelle Wie lost. Let's tally Wie's victories, shall we? One. One LPGA Tour victory, the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. End of story.

Rumor has it that rumblings in the tournament media room weren't thrilled of a predominately Korean semifinal, and they're equally not thrilled of writing about it because they don't think the general golf fan base will be interested. Does this warrant any merit? No comment, but I do have the answer for those people who don't like who's coming out on top: Start playing better, everyone! There's lots of players who aren't Korean, step up and win. Lorena's gone, Annika's gone. It's everyone's for the taking. It's not like it's a popularity contest. Play better golf and win. 

So the pairings for tomorrow? Amy Yang vs. Angela Stanford, and Jiyai Shin vs. Sun Young Yoo. Let's hope for a Stanford vs. Shin final tomorrow afternoon. 

Playing by The Rules of Golf can save friendships.

Before I begin, a golf clap for the Dallas Coyboys' Tony Romo, who qualified for U.S. Open Sectionals yesterday in his third attempt. He was one of seven players to move on at The Honors Golf Club in Dallas, birdieing three of his last four holes to shoot a 69 and surviving a four-for-three playoff for the coveted spot. On June 6, he'll attempt to qualify in the U.S. Open Local, the qualifiers of which get a one-way ticket to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. 

Let's all cross our fingers that Romo's go at golf fares a bit better than former baller Jerry Rice. I love Jerry, I really do. Classy guy and such a pleasure to chat with. But yikes on the recent Nationwide Tour try.

Had a great convo last night with my dad, an avid golfer who plays with a set foursome twice a week. Well, they're actually down to three now -- the democracy of the group (excluding my dad) recently voted one guy out. Survival of the fittest. Anyway, the topic of our discussion? How pissed he was at his golf group for their disregard, then denial of disregard, of The Rules of Golf. 

I felt a little twinge of pride that my dad would hold to strongly to the ethics of the game. The Rules, after all, are what sets golf apart from other sports. I mean, sure, we've all fudged a bit in a round or two. Maybe we thought we were doing something correctly and weren't. Maybe we took a mulligan or improved a lie. Whatever. In golf related to the Rules, players are held accountable for their own actions, and must sometimes make a call against themselves. I think it's noble.

So to make a long story short, there was some drama on the golf course in yesterday's round: Some rulings regarding provisional balls, as well as one club- or two club-lengths drops, were questioned, some penalty strokes were recorded incorrectly and final results were compromised. And when final results are compromised...so are the beer hole results. Most importantly, of course. 

Things got a little heated out there. 

"It's the way we've always played it!" proclaimed the Aussie during one offense ("No it's not," was my dad's response). 

"I'm positive I can drop over here and take two club-lengths," argued the one with the moustache on another ("I don't think that's right," replied Dad - afterward asking and receiving confirmation of a breach in the golf shop).

As the debates and debauchery continued into the grill afterward, the festivities ended by my dad packing up his stuff hitting the pavement, ignoring the cries of his friends in the background. No words, no swearing, no middle fingers. Just a calm exit.

"I just don't know what they were talking about," he tried to sort out in the aftermath. "One of them actually said we were playing by group rules, but we've never played THOSE rules in all the year's we've been golfing together. They were defensive over silly things. It was crazy."

"You know what they say, Dad," I interject. "If you're not playing by the Rules, you're not playing golf. You tell them that."

"Hmmpf," he says.

Conversation over. But it made me come to a realization: A lot of groups, probably most, develop their own set of special rules. Maybe it's a lift-clean-replace rule. Maybe it's the distance of gimmies (my radius is 12 feet; I'm fun to play golf with). Maybe it's using a foot or hand wedge out of a bunker instead of a sand wedge -- oh wait, that's my own rule. Regardless, it happens, and it's fine, as long as everyone is having fun and knows what's going on.

But for consistency sake, how much easier would it be if everyone just played by the Rules as the way they were written? Then people don't have to remember all the exceptions and hey, there is that nifty little Rules book too.

In closing, will my dad play with these guys again? Yes. Will he on Sunday, their next scheduled outing? Probably not. But maybe, just maybe, his exit of silence will speak volumes amongst his cohorts, and The Rules will be honored once again.

Or not. We'll see.

Golfweek names Best Course You Can Play: Go California!

Drum roll please...of the 25 California courses named in Golfweek's 2010 Best Courses You Can Play, 12 of the properties awarded are in Southern California! Although the list came out in March, many folks are just getting the print edition in their mailboxes. Pebble Beach Golf Links is at the California helm, but some of golfers' favorites have made this year's list. A quick look at these fine properties, shall we?

4. Barona Creek Golf Club, San Diego (modern): Barona's one of my favorites in San Diego County. A Todd Eckenrode design that recently hosted a U.S. Open Local Qualifier, the course has garnered a number of awards since opening in 2001. Fairways are expansive and forgiving, greens are slick, and golfers can push back as far as 7,300 yards off the tee box. It's beauty, though, with more than 100 bunkers, mature oak trees and the smooth rock formations of the surrounding mountains are what golfers will remember. Stick a couple bucks in the slots at Barona while you're out there. The 5x Pay machines are my fave. Info: barona.com/golf

5. Rustic Canyon Golf Club, Moorpark (modern): Gil Hanse designed the ranch-style Rustic Canyon in 2002, a great open golf course with expansive waste bunkers (I'm always in them!) and native shrubbery. The course was ravaged by flooding in 2005, but amazingly, rebounded a year later when Hanse returned to repair damaged holes including the fourth, which was buried under 4 feet of mud. Great test of golf. Info: rusticcanyongolfcourse.com

6. PGA West TPC Stadium Course, La Quinta (modern): What can be said about this beast of a course that hasn't been said already? It's been the host of PGA Tour Q-School where players are challenged by Alcatraz and other holes, sports beautiful views of Coachella Valley mountains and is one of the toughest tests of golf around. Info: pgawest.com

8. Classic Club, Palm Desert (modern): Classic Club, an Arnold Palmer design, is a thing of beauty right off I-10 in Palm Desert, with its evergreen, rolling fairways and spectacular clubhouse. It's unique in that there's not one palm tree on the course. It's also a past host course of the Bob Hope Classic. Info: classicclubgolf.com

9. Torrey Pines South, San Diego (classic): Who doesn't remember the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines? A Rees Jones design approaching its 40th anniversary, the South offers some of the best ocean views in the Southland and is a great place to make some Open memories of your own. Read about my Torrey Pines experience. Info: torreypinesgolfcourse.com

18 and 19: Indian Wells Golf Resort's Celebrity and Player Courses, Indian Wells (modern): Perhaps one of my favorite properties in Coachella Valley, Indian Wells GR underwent major renovations in a couple of years ago at the hands of Coachella Valley resident Clive Clark (Celebrity Course) and John Fought (Players Course). Each has a distinct look and feel: the Celebrity plays into the Santa Rosa Mountains and Eisenhower Peak and is spotted with an abundance of flowers, while the Player course is classic, rolling and studded with mature trees. Check out the IW Club after a round, it's pretty awesome. Info: indianwellsgolfresort.com

20 and 22: Pelican Hill Golf Club Ocean South and North Courses, Newport Coast (modern): Renovated by Tom Fazio in 2007 and 2008, both the Ocean North and South courses boast unbeatable ocean views on layouts that are very player-friendly. On a clear day Catalina sunsets are some of the best in the area, and the impressive Resort at Pelican Hill, along with its portfolio of restaurants and amenities, offers players a reason to keep coming back. Info: pelicanhill.com

21. Maderas Golf Club, Poway (modern): Maderas is one of North San Diego's hidden gems, rated Zagat Survey's No. 1 golf course in San Diego. Robert Muir Graves and Johnny Miller designed the course in 1999, but only a handful of years ago the fires that ravaged San Diego ripped through the property, fortunately jumping fairways and greens but burning a bridge and rough that revealed hundreds of abandon golf balls. Maderas is as good as new, however, with cliffs, creeks and rock outcroppings providing challenge over six sets of tees. Info: maderasgolf.com

23. Journey at Pechanga, Temecula (modern): On a personal note, this is one of my favorite properties in the Southland, it's breathtaking! Literally 10,000 years in the making is both the course's slogan and reality at the newest property on this list, opened in late 2008. Part of Pechanga Resort and Casino, pure beauty is how this course can be described, routed around ancient burial grounds and rock outcroppings as it "sets out at the base of a large mountain, crosses the Pechanga River...then basically sets off into the sky," said architect Steve Forrest. Afterward, get in a quick hand of Pai Gow at the casino or grab a bite at one of Pechanga's great restaurants. The Journey's End in the clubhouse serves up a delish club sandwich. Info: journeyatpechanga.com

24. Trump National Golf Club, Rancho Palos Verdes (modern): Fabulous views, fabulous clubhouse, it's the only way Donald Trump would have his West Coast golf course. Reborn from what was once Ocean Trails Golf Club before its 18th hole collapsed and was swept into the Pacific in 1999 (making it one of the most expensive holes in golf at $63 million to rebuild), the Pete Dye design was reincarnated into a Donald J. Trump Signature Design in 2002. It's a pricey little venture to play, but the panoramas can't be beat. Info: trumpnationallosangeles.com