TERRE HAUTE —
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
How about Vijay Singh taking home the big prize without hitting a shot in the final tournament? The excitement never ends. Also, in years gone by a player could win a tournament and then be bounced out of the running by the time the next tournament was completed.
At any rate, you would think that a format could be devised that would adequately depict a deserving player who would be worthy of the title PGA Tour Champion.
The Europeans simply identify the winner of the British Open as The Champion Golfer of that particular year.
The old tourney called The World Series of Golf played at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, appeared to do what it needed to do: Call attention to those players who had distinguished themselves by stellar play and were worthy of the designation of “Tour Champion.”
The Fed Ex now begins trimming their field each week until by the time it stretches to the last tourney, it has taken on the excitement usually reserved for a paint-drying contest.
All in all, the Fed Ex does serve a worthwhile purpose, it serves as a curtain raiser for a tournament that won’t pass out millions to an individual winner, but it will be contested for national pride, and that would be The Ryder Cup.
A few years back, Tiger Woods bellyached that he should be paid for participating in the battle for the cup since he was the dominant “draw” for the competition.
Eldrick, in a news conference last Tuesday, was asked about his feelings regarding being picked as a captain’s choice rather than earning his way for a spot on the team. Tiger indicated how important it was for him to be on the team.
If Woods plays as poorly as he has played recently, Team Captain, Corey Pavin, could end up with egg on his face. A couple of other reasons Tiger could have been a poor pick would be the fact that El Tigre has a rather dismal, losing record in Ryder Cup play.
Finally, Woods has never refuted the fact that he’s not a team player.
Add to this the possibility that his brain has not fully recovered from his well-publicized indiscretions brought on by his gal-pals who popped out of the woodwork like termites at an Orkin convention, not to mention his recent divorce proceedings.
So after the Fed Ex is relegated to the archives, Sam Ryder’s contribution to the world of professional golf will be “front and center.” It definitely will be a welcome improvement for those who are fed up with the Fed Ex.
I I I
It is always gratifying to get a visit from one of my Terre Haute South golfers from years gone by, but not forgotten. Phil Jones and his wife Tama now make their home in Jacksonville (FL). Phil was an excellent player on South Varsity golf team from 1977 to 1980. He now has climbed the corporate ladder with Frito-Lay.
Phil was a superb ball striker who got better and better each year while helping his team to the IHSAA golf finals.
Phil’s dad passed away not too long ago. It was always a pleasure to talk with him and keep up with his son’s progress in golf and the corporate world. For many years the elder Jones drove a Frito truck and was known affectionately as “Frito Jones” in local golf circles.
These days Phil and his wife are volunteers in the First Tee program where they donate their time giving golf lessons to young and aspiring golfers.
Their zeal for their jobs is readily seen in the enthusiasm they exude in discussing their duties with First Tee.
After 30 years it is always great to renew memories with one of my players, especially one of my best.
Congratulations are in order for Terre Haute’s Club Champions. It is always gratifying to be the “big man” at your respective course or club.
Veteran Dave Brown took home the Rea Park title whereas Chris Cassell was the Hulman Links winner. Phillip Myers and Lloyd Driggers were club champions at Country Club of Terre Haute and Idle Creek respectively.
Nice work gentlemen. Much of the time club champions are awarded the number one position on their inter-club teams.
In days of yore club champions were often rewarded with a season ticket for the upcoming year a trophy and/or a merchandise certificate.
Another honor was an invitation to “The Roundup of Champions”, a tourney hosted by Country Club of Terre Haute where club champs from throughout the Wabash Valley were invited to lunch, dinner and a presentation to winners in the Club Champions Division as well as awards to other entries. Club champs were not required to pay an entry fee, as were the rank and file players. Pari-mutual betting was also a part of the day’s festivities.
John Tribble, Mark Rogers’ assistant at Forest Park, advises a couple of events are on the docket. A senior shamble is slated for 8 a.m. on Thursday September 16. Entry fee is $25 plus cart with lunch included.
Oct. 2-3 is the date for the popular two man better ball event, which will be flighted, for Sunday’s action. Entry is $50 plus cart with ham and beans available on Sunday.
• Tip of the week — Holding the putter up about a quarter of an inch above the surface of the green can improve a putting stroke that seems to be leaving putts short of the hole consistently. This will insure that the putter strikes the ball in its equator and will prevent the ball from “skipping” off the face of the putter.
• Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Rub of the Green
RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
- Rub of the Green
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
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Snedeker the big winner after FedEx Championship
The season-long FedEx Championship has finally come to an end and Brandt Snedeker may need a Brinks truck to haul his winnings to the bank.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Memories of Crooked Stick
The BMW tournament that concluded Sept. 9 at Crooked Stick in Carmel brought back a flood of memories.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: "Fair Joe" known expects rules to be followed in local hunts
Fair Joe is the name and golf is the game when referring to Joe Bukovack, who has sponsored hunts in Terre Haute as well as throughout Indiana during the past 25 years.
The “Fair” in Joe’s title refers to the fact that players who wish to participate in Bukovack’s competition must be willing to follow the rules of golf to the letter, otherwise they will not be invited to participate. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Enjoying the game after all these years
When golf is referred to as “The Game for a Lifetime,” you’ve got to believe that description is definitely on target. For example, there is the Danny Williams hunt that converges on the first tee at The Landing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Many players are in their 70s and retired dentist, Bill Aikin, has seen 92 birthdays.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hunts still popular on golf course
There is something about golf that lends itself to some friendly competition and in times gone by, the competitions were called “choose-ups.” Somewhere along the line, choose-ups became “hunts.” Regardless of what you call them, they remain a most popular mode of play for Terre Haute divot-diggers on courses throughout the Wabash Valley.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Heat doesn’t deter Terre Haute golfers
“When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.” Those are the words of country singer Jerry Reed and they apply to golfers as well.
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Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today
I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hogan, small of stature, left big footprints
With the Crowne Plaza Invitational being played at Colonial Country Club today, it conjures up images of the man himself, Bantam Ben Hogan, who won so often at Colonial it became known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
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Rub of the Green: Bowling or golf? Both provide plenty of challenge
The question has been raised in the past, is it bowling or golf that is the more difficult endeavor?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Sometimes this can be a confounding game
To be sure, the great Sam Snead certainly knew what he was talking about when he delivered his favorite axiom, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Grayless takes over as golf professional at Hulman Links
Ed Grayless has assumed the “head man’s” position at the Links after Ryan Klopfenstein resigned as Hulman Links golf professional in order to pursue other interests.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Young players should match course to skills
One of the biggest mistakes a beginning golfer can make is to keep playing a golf course that is far too difficult for the ability demonstrated by that player.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
Darrell Davis carries a 240 bowling average which obviously puts him in some strong company on the alleys, but he feels that golf is a much more difficult sport than keggling.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Loquacious golfers can provide priceless quotes
Golfers always seem to have a great deal to say, but determining who said what and who said it first can be a problem.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Rick Fernandes can look back on a great golf career
What does an outstanding golfer have left when an accident has robbed him of the consummate skills he once possessed? The answer most assuredly would be one word, “Memories.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
David Feherty is an extremely funny man. If you have read his book written a few years ago, you might have guessed what to expect from him. The book, entitled “Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot,” set the stage for his far out brand of humor, most of which is directed at himself.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: It's all in your head
A pair of divot diggers had been discussing their favorite sport when one could be heard saying, “You know, I think this game is 90 percent mental.” After a short pause his friend replied, “Well, I think you’re about 10 percent short in your estimation.”
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Golf: ‘The Game You Love to Hate’
Golf has been called “The Game You Love to Hate.” In addition, love-hate relationships have been around since the beginning of time.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf is only sport that offers both hilarity, pathos
It’s been stated more than once that “golf is a microcosm for life itself.”
This writer would heartily agree. No sport or game can offer combinations of happiness and sadness, hilarity and pathos as evidenced by an activity called “cow pasture pool” by some of its practitioners. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Even golfers say there is drug problem on Tour
Are professional golfers using performance-enhancing drugs? This writer wouldn’t have the foggiest, but if you asked Gary Player, one of the game’s greatest, the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Not all golfers display their trophies
Back in the “old days,” let’s say the 1940s, most of the time when you won something in a golf tournament your prize came in the form of a trophy. That was it, just a dust catcher. Later, merchandise prizes were added.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf full of colorful characters
Every sport has its own cast of characters and golf is definitely no exception. Whether it is diving head first into a greenside bunker or tying an unreliable putter to a car’s bumper and dragging it down the road, golfers can do some strange things.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Winter made golf impossible this year
Old Man Winter along with Mother Nature must have something against area golfers. They have joined forces to sabotage a sport called winter golf, an activity many Wabash Valley players have enjoyed in years gone by.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf instruction a strenuous art
Few who have ever tried their hands at playing the game of golf would describe the sport as “easy”. In fact, just the opposite would be the case.
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BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: THGA tournaments include variety, long history
In days gone by, the Terre Haute Golf Association has always offered more than just a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
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Rub of the Green: Golf can be roller coaster for young pros
Dustin Johnson may be best remembered for his appearances in the major tournaments in 2010, but not because he won. He didn’t win. But he came awfully close.
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Rub of the Green: One size does NOT fit all when it comes to golfing ability
Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of golf instruction, and we can be certain they all agree on one fundamental, always keep your head stationary throughout the swing.
Right? Nope, wrong as it could be! How’s that, you say? As examples both David Duval and Annika Sorenstam at one time were rated the world’s No. 1 professional golfers, respectively, and both swiveled their heads well before their clubheads reached the impact zone. In fact, Duval is one of a select few who has a 59 to his credit on the PGA Tour. - More Rub of the Green Headlines
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