Austin Golf Club Spared From Fires, Sort Of
/Kevin Robbins shares his observations on the Texas fires, including a report on Coore and Crenshaw's Austin Golf Club where many of Gentle Ben's artifacts are displayed.
Read MoreWhen you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
SI Jinx Files: 10-Year-Old Sandbagger DQ'd
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Thanks to reader Don for this unbylined Globe and Mail story on 10-year-old, 30-handicapper Kayla Parsons' DQ from the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship "because officials determined her scores were inconsistent with her handicap." The young lady is a recent graduate of SI's Faces in the Crowd."Shackleford is tough because he runs every time."
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As thrilling as the playoffs are and as frightening as Irene appears to be, my eyes will be on Shackleford's trip in Saratoga's Travers Cup (NBC 5 pm ET), one of the biggest three-year-old races outside the Triple Crown. Jerry Bossert explains that the big guy can lock up the 3-year-old division with a win and even notoriously-stingy-with-praise trainer Bob Baffert compliments Shack, reports Tim Wilkin.
Trainers who are running against Shackleford have nothing but respect. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert watched Coil chase down Shackleford in the Haskell, but he had to fight for it.
"Shackleford is tough because he runs every time," Baffert said. "Dale has done a fantastic job with him and he is tough to get by. In the Preakness, it looked like Animal Kingdom was going to run right by him, and he didn't let him by. He just said, 'No way, Jose. You aren't getting by me.' When Coil got to him (in the Haskell) it looked like he was going to run right by and win by a length and a half. Shackleford is a real good horse."
Jesus Castanon has been riding him in the mornings, which gives him an edge in the karma department.
Here's Shack's final workout and his dirty post-workout rolling around ritual.
Rafa: Injuries Almost Drove Me To Dri...Err...Golf
/It never fails to amaze how some successful athletes do not fathom what it takes to become a great golfer. Add Rafael Nadal to the list.
Read MoreThis Is What It Looks Like When Lightning Strikes...
/Thanks to reader Allen for these cell phone images of Saturday's lightning strike at Hawkshead Links in South Haven, Michigan on Saturday. He writes: "Lighning hit in the eight fairway and blew a hole about 3 feet deep--all the way down to the irrigation line, which ruptured."
If this isn't a good enough reminder to clear the property when the horn sounds, I don't know what is.
Idiocracy Files: Even More Reasons To Walk Instead Of Ride
/Thanks to Jeff Ritter at golf.com for finding this compilation video of golf cart accidents and other assorted unsafe user error. I must say as a blogger one of the great shocks is the monthly story about a golf cart death, but after watching this I have a better idea how these things happen.
Ugh: Fire At Sankaty Head Caddie Camp
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Jeff Silverman reports on the Sankaty Head Caddie Camp on Nantucket Island experiencing a fire after an accident. Photographer Jensen Larson was there photographing for a story and a gallery of depressing images is posted. Good news is, the camp goes on, bad news is that the truck driver who caused the accident is in bad shape.Update On No-Kids Restaurant And Driving Range
/The Today Show profiled the McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center to see how operator Mike Vuick's ban on kids under six is going and found the place busy.
Janet Shamlian files the report and finds other businesses following the McDain's lead. Finally a trend-setting golf facility!
Barry Burn Claims Another Victim
/Tweeted by LPGA Communications Manager Kelly Thesier who is at Carnoustie for the Women's Open Championship. Thanks to reader Rob for catching this.
Read MoreDVR Alert: First Wheelchair Golfer To Play Old Course
/7 ET Tuesday on ESPN's E60. The story:
After Mike Reeder lost both legs in Vietnam, he returned to the U.S. looking for purpose and direction – and found them during a chance encounter in a golf pro shop. Years later, as a devoted golfer, he’s chasing a different dream: to be the first wheelchair golfer to play the Old Course at St. Andrew’s. E:60 follows him to Scotland.
The preview:
"You know, their child—maybe as it should be—is the center of their universe. But they don't realize it's not the center of the universe."
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Lauren at Parenting.com (really!) says McDain's Restaurant & Golf Center outside of Pittsburgh, "may have just won the award for America's least kid-friendly restaurant" after owner Mike Vuick banned kids under the age of six from dining there.What's In A Name Files: 6-Year-Old's Ace
/I hadn't looked very closely at the story on 6-year-old Reagan Kennedy who made a hole in one this week.
Are you kidding me with the name?
The Links at Ireland Grove? ;)
Kate Middleton's (Hot) Sister Taking To Golf!
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While Kate is handling some dreadful sounding Royal duties here in California (Skid Row, really?), Richard Eden says has popular sister has joined a golf club. Thanks to reader Stuart for this Telegraph story.
Perspective On Recent Run Of Major Winners
/Reader J. Michael Kenyon has noticed golf "commentators" are "making a big deal out of how many different guys have won the past 10 or more majors."
Read More"He was our best player and maybe our worst dresser."
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Mike O'Malley notes that it's the 10th anniversary of Pete Farricker's passing. The former equipment editor for Golf Digest was one of the game's great characters. I had the privilege of working with Pete on a project for the 1995 PGA Championship program and loved talking about the game with him. Worth reading if you didn't know the man is Jerry Tarde's salute from the September, 2001 column.
