An Important random thought

Hey, it's Superbowl Sunday this weekend. WHO GIVES A SHIT!?!?

I'm quite sure that half of the bozo's who host/throw idiot Super Bowl parties are marginal NFL fans at best. However, given the chance to throw a sausage fest of a party with beer, nachos and completely un-skilled poker who wouldn't jump at the chance?

Go Ryan Moore!

2009 Canadian Course Reviews - Part 3

#9 St. Georges Golf & Country Club

February is almost here. You know what that means? Only two more months until we'll be out there with no timing, feel or swing for that matter. I can't wait. In this installment of my course reviews I decided to review the Top three courses on the Score Golf's Top 100 list. Although they are pretty tough to get onto unless you know someone, I suggest you try your best. In my opinion these really are the best golf experiences our country has to offer.

Hamilton Golf and Country Club - Since 1894 Hamilton has been one of the very best private clubs in the country. Re-located and re-designed by Harry Colt in 1914 Hamilton re-opened in 1916 and hasn't looked back since. Construction on a new nine holes began in 1973 and was completed a year later. With the addition of the "new nine" some changes were made to the old course and the courses were renamed for playing purposes, East, West and South. Hamilton has held a variety of major events recently hosting the 2003 Canadian Open. The course received rave reviews by the players, and for good reason. It's one of the very best Parkland style golf course you'll ever play.

St. Georges Golf and Country Club - St. Georges is my favorite course in the country. I've played hundreds, and it still is the one I most enjoy. Opened in 1929 St. Georges has been host to the Canadian Open four times, and the LPGA Classic five. The Canadian Open will again be held at St. Georges again in 2010. I'm positive it will receive similar reviews from the players like those from Hamilton. It's a simply stunning Golf course, on a simply stunning piece of property. Playing 7025 yards from the tips at a par of 71, you're sure to be challenged here no matter your skill level. It's impossible for me to even pick a favorite hole as they're all so good. It's no wonder there is a seven year waiting list for a golf membership there. I'm often a fan of Stanley Thompson designs, but this one is pure genius. I'd rank it number one every year if I had a vote, though it being in the top three pretty much every year should tell you something. I've never met someone who didn't enjoy this track.

The National Golf Club of Canada - If you enjoy punishment, then you'll enjoy your round here. The National is one of the toughest courses I've ever played, period. True I played it from the back, but it just wears you down. Everything is placed exactly where it should be. Bunkers are in perfect spots. The greens are as true as anything I've ever putt on, and the condition of the course is always spectacular. Yes, it's difficult to get onto, but worth trying to just once. I don't think I'd have the stomach to play this course every day. Anyone who loves golf though, will appreciate this piece of land.

There's a reason these three gems are always at the top of the rankings. You can't find better courses anywhere in the country. There are dozens of amazing clubs, but these stand head and shoulders above the rest. If you haven't already, make the trip and see for yourself.

It's the weekend to be from Arizona

The Cardianals are in the Superbowl and the FBR kicks off today for what is sure to be one crazy weekend down in the desert. What a time to be from the Zona. I wonder if the Cardinals in the big game will affect the attendance of the FBR? If I was a betting man, I'd say there isn't even a chance. So before you head out to the LCBO or wherever you purchase your adult beverages, make sure you check out the following:

The Golf Girl and "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" Montgomerie hook up in France circa 2007.
Jason Logan shares his views on Nick Faldo among other things over at the Score.
Reporters with nothing at all to do get ripped on over at Ghostrunner.
Toronto sports and insight above and beyond with eyebleaf at sports and the city.

The 16th at the FBR is now entirely enclosed by bleachers with capacity for over 20,000 fans. All they need to do now is put a roof over it, add a jumbotron at one end and we'll be set. Do yourself a favour come Sunday. Everytime someone misses the green on 16, drink a beer. It's the only time of year it's allowed, expected and awesome.

Are all the points across the Pond?

Many people probably hadn't heard the name Alvaro Quiros prior to his Qatar Masters win last weekend, but with his jump from #74 to #28 in the World rankings following the victory they'll be hearing it more. By winning he assured himself a place in the next couple of WGC events and a likely appearence at Augusta this Spring.

Chad Campbell tied for eighth at the Hope and actually fell four spots from #64 to #68. Runner-up in Qatar Louis Oosthuizen, Anders Hansen, who was T12 in Qatar and Hope winner Pat Perez all passed him. So even after a top 10 finish at the PGA stop, Campbell will now be hard pressed to make the top 64 for the Accenture Match Play. All this shuffling has fueled talk that the European Tour is the place to vault up the World Rankings.

In the past two weeks the European Tour has offered a substantially larger number of World Ranking points. For instance, Quiros received 54 points for his Qatar win, while Perez received 32 for this victory at the Hope.

Really this speculation is a mirage. Over the course of the entire season a victory on the PGA Tour will garner a player an average of 50.17 points while a victory across the pond will get you an average of 40.65 points. The strongest fields from last season were the four majors, the three WCG events and the Players. After those a dozen more PGA tour events were also stronger. The Strength of field is determined by a combination of the players ranking and their position on the money list for that tour. This recent swing on the European tour is really an anomaly and that's it.

What makes them the best?

What is it that truly seperates the good, the great and the very best? Why is it that the same names are consistently at the top of the leaderboard? Is it a coindidence? What makes them so much different than the rest? A huge amount of talent is needed to rise to the top of any sport. A drive to be the best and the willingness to put in whatever it takes to get there is something else common among all great athletes.

There are hundreds and hundreds of amazing golfers. Many of the guys slumming it on the mini tours have just as much talent as many of the guys on the PGA Tour. For whatever reason, they just can't keep it together for four rounds, don't have the mental toughness or can't handle the pressure like others. The same can be said for many of the guys on the PGA tour. They're great players, some of the most talented in the World but even they struggle to keep their cards every year. Playing a great round of golf can be done. Hell, I've done it. You've probably done it also. Try doing it for four rounds in a row, with thousands watching you, on tougher courses than you'll probably ever see with your livelihood depending on just how well you play. Then, it becomes different. Of all the great players on all the tours across the World, there are but a few who have what it takes to be the very best. To be able to grind it out, week after week, tournament after tournament, when things aren't going well there are but a handful who have the thing that the best in every other sport share, grit.

Think of the very best players of all time. Those guys had true grit. It didn't matter how many shots back they were, how many they were ahead by or how good or bad the round was going. They always dug deep, deeper than you thought was even possible, and somehow pulled together a memorable performance. Just think of Tiger's 2008 performance at Torrey Pines. If that wasn't on of the grittiest performances you've ever seen. Then you're clearly lost. Or how about Ben Hogan's victory at the 1950 U.S. Open just over a year after a car accident that almost killed him. That, was pure grit. It's what seperates the great from the best. Look at any other sports and it's greats. Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, Willie Mays, Gordie Howe, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player...the list goes on, but I'm sure you get it.

If you don't have grit, all the talent in the world is useless.