Glenn Frey The Golfer

Tim Rosaforte reviews the life of Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey, who passed away last week after a long bout with various cruel diseases.

Frey was very active in the west coast swing pro-ams and at several west coast clubs, including Bel-Air and The Madison Club.

Rosaforte writes:

Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade befriended Frey by playing in the singer’s pro-am in Aspen, Colo. As a return favor, Frey provided entertainment at their charity event every summer in Rhode Island. “Glenn would always say, ‘Ever see me at the piano, I’ve had too much to drink,’ ” Faxon said. “Inevitably he’d be at the piano singing with Joe Pesci.”

Above the desk in Faxon’s office is a photograph of Frey as his caddie in overalls at the Masters Par-3 Contest. Faxon remembers asking Frey why he didn’t start playing golf until the 1990s. “I had to wait,” Frey joked, “until the clothes got better.”

Rosaforte also reminds us that in 2002's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Frey "made enough net birdies to win the inaugural Jack Lemmon Award, given to the amateur that helped his pro the most, aiding Stadler 31 shots over 72 holes."

On the charitable side, Dale Strode writes about Frey's fondness for Aspen Junior Golf and his willingness to call in a favor with Tiger Woods.

At the height of his golfing glory, Tiger Woods made a pair of visits to Aspen to fulfill a promise he had made to Glenn Frey.

“Tiger was in his prime then. That was a major coup,” Rohrbaugh said. “Everyone wanted a piece of him. But for us, it was huge.”

Woods’ presence alone raised $400,000 in two years for the charities as benefactors bid to play a round with Tiger Woods in Aspen.

"Once-popular golf course falls victim to controversial border wall, drug cartel battles"

Thanks to reader Daniel for this sadder-than-normal golf course closure story from Brownsville, Texas, where the historic Fort Brown Memorial has been closed in what its owner Robert Lucio says is a product of the border debate, drug cartel battles in Mexico and a temporary fence installed across the Rio Grande Valley.

Aaron Nelsen reports.

Yet the demise of Lucio’s business is seen by observers as a poignant reminder of the enduring effect the fence has had on border communities, especially as leading Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has rekindled the contentious debate with his proposal to continue building a wall along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico.

“I think it’s really unfortunate that the community’s recreational spaces were sacrificed for a symbolic effort to look tough on immigration,” said Denise Gilman, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law and a member of the UT Working Group on Human Rights and the Border Wall. “It takes its toll on people’s psyche.”

Laid on the ruins of Fort Brown, the 6,000-yard, 165-acre course debuted in the 1950s as a reasonably priced alternative to the Brownsville country club. It quickly became the training ground for generations of Brownsville golfers, including Lucio, and home to the Pan American Golf Association, which promoted the sport in the impoverished and predominantly Hispanic community.

Nine Days Of Christmas: Buy A Book From Peter Yagi For 20% Off

To recap, so far we've had deals on between Seamus, Johnnie-O, St Andrews, Lululemon pants, Wybranski major art, Photobucket printing to canvas for your golf pics, Mack Daddy wedges and Sun Mountain's travel cover glider.

Our year-end nine hole round concludes with no specific gift you can buy yourself, but instead, an introduction to one of the few trusted golf booksellers left: Peter Yagi Golf Books. His catalog must be requested by email (pete@moneytolend.com) or via his mailing list for those who enjoy receiving Peter's twice-a-year printed catalog by mail.

As a courtesy to GeoffShackelford.com readers, Peter is extending his After-Christmas 20% off sale a little early, so email him now for the catalog and buy yourself a classy addition to the shelves in the form of a great golf book. Oh sure you're relatives might have spotted one of these...but I doubt it.

Just a few that caught my eye on Peter's current list, which includes a strong collection of Darwins. Merry Christmas!

13)AITCHISON, THOMAS S., LORIMER, GEORGE.  Reminiscences of the Old Bruntsfield Links Golf Club.   1866-1874.  1902, printed for private circulation.  Contains some of their Lays (poems) and early golf history.  $995

61)BAHTO, GEORGE.  The Evangelist of Golf.  The Story of Charles Blair MacDonald.  2002.  Fine, DJ.  Bahto inscribed.  MacDonald article laid in.  A spectacular book, quickly has become extremely collectible and scarce.  $495

167)BOLT, TOMMY.  How to Keep Your Temper on the Golf Course.  1969.  VG, DJ.  By ‘Tempestuous Tommy’.  $20

335)COREN, ALAN.  Golfing for Cats.  1975.  VG, DJ.  Has the notorious swastika jacket.  $45

414)DARWIN, BERNARD.  Every Idle Dream.  1948.  VG, owner plate.  $15  And 1948.  VG, DJ edge wear.  $25

490)DOBEREINER, PETER.  Dobereiner on Golf…and more.  Foreword Seve Ballesteros. 1998.  Fine, DJ. Posthumous print.  $20

528)DYE, PETE.  Bury Me in a Pot Bunker.  Foreword Greg Norman.  1995.  Fine, DJ.  Inscribed by Dye.  $45

608)FINEGAN, JAMES W.  Blasted Heaths and Blessed Greens. Pilgrimage Courses of Scotland.  1996.  VG, DJ. JF signed. $30

834)HARRIS, ROBERT.  Sixty Years of Golf.  1953.  VG, DJ.  Top Scottish amateur reflections. Ross Goodner signed. $65

957)HUTCHINSON, HORACE G.  Fifty Years of Golf.  Intro Peter Ryde. 1919, 1985, USGA.  Fine, slipcase.  $45

1007)JOHNSTON, ALASTAIR J, JOHNSTON, JAMES F.  The Chronicles of Golf: 1457 to 1857.  1993.  Fine, DJ, pictorial label slipcase.  Numbered limited edition of 900, signed by authors.  An instant classic, important reference of the early history. $795

1208)LOW, JOHN L.  F.G. Tait a Record.  Being his Life, Letters, and Golfing Diary.  1901.  VG, gilt dec cover, stunning!  $245

1232)MACKENZIE, ALISTER J.  The Spirit of St. Andrews.  The Lost Manuscript.  Foreword Bobby Jones.  1995.  VG, DJ.  $20  And 1995.  Fine, leather, padded clamshell case.  Numbered limited edition of 1500.  Has additional photos, text, gorgeous.  $295

1400)MURDOCH, JOSEPH S.F.  The Library of Golf.  1743-1966 revised, 1967-1977 added.  1978.  VG, PB, lots of pen and brio marks as owner noted books he owned, still very scarce.  Numbered limited edition 13 of only 150. With clean photocopy.  $95

1634)PRICE, CHARLES.  The World of Golf.  A Panorama of Six Centuries of the Game’s History.  Foreword by Bobby Jones.  One of the game’s premier reading histories. 1962.  VG, DJ.  $25

1965)STOWERS, CARLTON.  The Unsinkable Titanic Thompson.  A Gold Ole Boy Who Became a World Super Star Gambler and Hustler.  1982.  Fine, DJ.   $145

2011)THOMAS, GEORGE C.  Golf Architecture in America.  Its Strategy and Construction.  1927.  VG, dec cover.  $495  And 1927, 1997.  Fine, DJ.  Faithful reprint, excellent!  $145

2061)TUFTS, RICHARD S.  The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf.  1960, 2000.  Fine.  $25  And1960.  VG, DJ.  $245  Also 1960, 1989 USGA.  Intro by P.J. Boatwright, Jr.  Fine, slipcase, owner label.  Limited edition of 1500.  $125

2194)WETHERED, H.N. SIMPSON, T.  Design for Golf.  Preface J.C. Squire.  1929, 1952.  VG.  ‘Architectural Side’ reprint.  $65

2235)WIND, HERBERT WARREN.  An Introduction to the Literature of Golf.  1996.  Fine.  37 forewords to CG.  $25

2260)WODEHOUSE, P.G.  The Heart of a Goof.  1926, 4th.  VG, dec cover, some fade, facsimile DJ.  $45

Nine Days Of Christmas: Sun Mountain's Club Glider

First World Problem Alert!!!

So far my suggested holiday gift items that you'll never receive from relatives have been kept at a fairly sane price tag, unless you consider $150 books, $98 pants (but before 25% FARANDSURE discount!) and $128 polyester-ish pants expensive (they are, but both are worth it).

For the second-to-last product that I enjoyed this year, we go up the price ladder a bit with Sun Mountain's Club Glider Travel Bag. Granted, as more folks use Luggage Forward and Ship Sticks, a travel cover doesn't seem like a priority any longer. But knowing how fragile clubs can be, you can never be too safe.

That said, after years of my R2D2-inspired Sun Mountain droid of a travel bag--which thankfully protected my clubs every time they traveled--it was time for an updated travel cover after a wheel finally came off during what was undoubtedly an unusually rough journey. After just one trip using the Sun Mountain "glider" I'm all in (I also bought their suitcase with the same glider wheels and loved it).

The glider is a simple metal bar you push down and pull out, propping your bag up to that you eliminate bending over to pick up the bag and even better, for the times you have a couple of bags and are dragging the clubs along. With the stand down, you simply glide now instead of strain pulling the clubs. First world issues extraordinaire, I grant you, but the difference when you go through the misery of baggage claim, car rental, etc... is significant. Oh and the bag is well-constructed with thick canvas, plenty of padding around clubheads, shoe pockets and Sun Mountain's solid warranty.

One last thing: keep the box if you buy one. The bag folds up very nicely into a small, easily storeable package.

Edwin Watts has a few left of the popular seller here. They also have some nice deals on shipping.

Merry Christmas!

Nine Days Of Christmas: Let Photobucket Make A Canvas Print

With only four days until you do not get the gifts you wanted, hopefully you bought yourself something between Seamus, Johnnie-O, St Andrews, Lululemon pants or Wybranski major art.

My selection of a Wybranski for your office or mancave walls was directed at those who have been to a memorable golf tournament in recent years and just wanted to liven up their walls with a fond memory. And all for 20% off exclusively to readers of this site courtesy of Wybranski.

But if tournment golf isn't your thing, why not just have favorite golf photo of your own enlarged? After all, with apps like Snapseed, there is almost no excuse now to have a bad photo. Even better, most smart phones now take a photo that can be enlarged to sites like Photobucket. Which is why this excellent service comes in to the picture.

For years I've been waiting for someone to offer photos printed on canvas at an affordable price. The look is cool and the extra cost more palatable than framing photo. Canvas-printed photos should also age better.

Having uploaded a few golf course images to Photobucket for printing on canvas, I can wholeheartedly recommend them for quality, service and consistency with the original image. At 80% off their canvas prints right now (enter code: HOLIDAY80), there is no more affordable and classy way to enlarge your favorite golf course images. Photobucket's canvas prints allow for the option to wrap your image around the 1.25 inch thick canvas (or you can go with white and black borders). The canvas' come with UV coating and a surface easily cleaned with a dam cloth. Oh, and they offer every size imaginable starting at  6x6 up to 32x48. At 80% off you can take a chance on images you aren't sure have the resolution or gravitas to be printed on canvas.

Though judging by my early experiences with Photobucket (which has not paid for this post or even knows abvout it). even an average photo will look timeless printed on a canvas.

Merry Christmas!

Nine Days Of Christmas: The ABC Pant

As the big day looms and you figure to receive nothing you actually wanted, we carry on post-Seamus, post-Johnnie-O, post-St Andrews books, and post-Wybranski major art with a Vancouver-designed product that almost never is discounted. While I love sharing a good deal, I'm buying one more day to see what offers turn up related to three of the final choices before recommending. So in the meantime I give you...$128 pants!

What a guy!

Back in February a golfer friend told me of his love for teeing up in Lululemon's ABC Pant. Like most, I only barely knew of the company as female and yoga-centric. Then I found out the price of the ABC Pant and laughed. His reply? No dry cleaning, no ironing, lots of durability and you can wear one pair three times on a trip and they'll never smell or feel dirty.

Pre-millennials are saying right now: this is what they used to say about Sansabelts.

(For millennials: Sansabelts were the hideous beltless polyester pants worn in the 1970s and 80s by professional golfers who would start with a flat hand well above their stomach and hug the skin as they lowered their hand toward their pocket in search of a coin to mark a ball, all the while short of breath because the poly wasn't that comfortable.  They are still made today.)

Lulu's ABC pant does not make you work to get something out of your pocket. Ever better, they breathe. Quite simply, they are the greatest pant ever made and seem like they were created just for golfers. They weren't. In fact, the old CEO (now gone) didn't like golf at all.

To rationalize the cost, ask yourself...

Do you travel a lot?

Play a lot of golf?

Hate ironing?

Hate paying for dry cleaning?

Like to feel like you're wearing your favorite pair of sweat pants all day?

Like a modern cut of pant that gets just the right amount of non-dad jean snugness?

Lululemon's ABC Pant is for you then. Check them out here. And sorry, no discount. Also, be prepared for their scarcity model, which means colors and sizes come and go and vary widely from store to store.

I still say Johnnie-O's are more ideal for most golfers in cut and style, but if you're all about pure function and willing to pay for it, you'll never once entertain thoughts resisting a visit to what was once thought of as only the domain of Yoga instructors: a Lululemon store.

Merry Christmas!*

*PS - go a waist size up. If you're a 30, buy 32s, etc... some sort of Canadian sizing thing.

Nine Days Of Christmas: Johnnie-O Pants And More

Day two of the gift guide for those anticipating receiving nothing they wanted shifts from Seamus Golf's classy accessories to the often agonizing subject of good golf pants. Two suggestions will be part of my gift to you, but only suggestion #1 comes with a discount!

Maybe you wanted a pair of Johnnie-O's under the Christmas tree but were never asked? Well the nice folks at Johnnie-O are providing a discount code just for the readers of this site, even the miserable trolls!

Just enter FARANDSURE and receive 25% off your order!

Now, what to get from this maker of golf-inspired (and cleverly engineered) menswear from midwestern-raised and the decidedly-West Coast converted John O'Donnell?

I've been buying Johnnie-O's clothes for years and sense from my own purchases (along with what I see golfers wearing), that they've dialed in both the fit, color and sensibility of their brand, which is to let you wear something functional on the course, while also owning something you can wear in a non-golf setting.

Golf shirt-wise I love all their offerings, but of late have leaned toward the "Prep-formance" polos because who needs ironing when you're traveling. I've been virtually sleeping in their current golf-friendly vest, one of many new outwear items served up this fall. And for off the course, their button down shirts feature Johnnie's why-didn't-Ralph-Lauren-think-of-that "Tweener" button.

But I'm most excited about Johnnie-O's recent forays into pants because it's hard to find pairs that work for both golf and social settings. You'll notice by the dwindling supplies that their Fillmore cords have been a big hit thanks to three elements: great fit, a touch of stretch in the fabric you don't normally get in a cord, and colors not normally seen in cords.

For year-round golf purposes, check out the Napa pant. It's closer to a traditional cut but still modern enough. The style I've been enjoying most, however, is the Cal pant. It's a jean fit not cut too tight but definitely not a dad jean.

And Merry Christmas at 25% off!

Nine Days Of Christmas: Something From Seamus Golf

In looking back on the year, I continue to be amazed by the number of interesting things people are doing to make golf more stylish, cool and retro chic while paying homage to the past. So over the next nine days I'm going to highlight some of my favorite items purchased in 2015 for the gift buyer looking for that special purchase for...themselves.

After all, most golfers don't get what they want and many of the items mentioned here are off the radar of friends and relatives. So how about a little self-indulgence to make up for gifts not received?

There is no better way to kick things off than with something from Seamus Golf, the Oregonian outfit producing classy and cool headcovers along with accessories hand-crafted at their studio. I'm sporting a Musselburgh Tartan headcover as well as a stylish padded pouch for storing your wallet and keys as you play. Compliments abound on both and so far the high quality of production values has meant little sign of wear and tear.

With the proximity to Christmas and uncertainly about delivery times, Seamus is softening the blow of a possible late arriving shipment with a 20% discount on any purchase right now by using PLEASEPLAYTHROUGH

Support this excellent golf-history loving company and buy yourself a Christmas treat!

Video: Ed Dougherty’s Incredible Story

Longtime golf watchers will remember Ed Dougherty as both successful PGA Tour and Champions Tour player who came to the game after discovering it during his tour of duty in Vietnam. But now he’s battling Agent Orange-related leukemia that can be traced to his combat days.

Of all the excellent Veteran’s Day coverage, this powerful piece of work by Golf Channel producer Dominic Dastoli and hosted by Tim Rosaforte is well worth your time if you missed its live airing.

It's A Wrap: The Links At Petco Park, 1600 Rounds Later

Monday night at Petco Park concluded with over 1600 rounds having been played inside the Padres home stadium. What turned out as a semi-publicity stunt/goodwill effort to share Petco with golfing baseball fans turned into something much larger. ESPN sent Kenny Mayne for a post-MNF feature, local newscasts around the United States showed footage and Golf Channel covered the madness.

What happened here that so intrigued people?

For starters, baseball stadium architecture has always shared similarities with golf architecture in reflecting tastes of the era in which they were built. In the last twenty years, fans have come to see baseball parks as statements about regional architecture. When the ballparks are so good that they become places of civic pride, they take on another level of interest.

Turns out that golfers, already armed with a critical eye, have quietly dreamed of hitting a shot from home plate over the center field wall just to confirm how short the distance is. For good measure, eight more holes meant five days of sold out golf at $50 for each round, with several thousand relegated to a waiting list.

It was surreal to be hitting shots inside a stadium and it all turned out to be shockingly safe. (A tent covered the home plate tee for safety). Every element of the experience was meticulously planned by the Padres, while Callaway handled all of the golf details. There isn't a thing I'd change except maybe the water hazards and even those provided a few laughs.

As for other parks in the future, the obvious dream locales include Fenway, Yankee Stadium, AT&T Park, Dodger Stadium and Wrigley. But this is no small undertaking and the buzz surrounding it may never match what just took place. But if you saw the clips of golfers inside their home park, the joys of this form of Stadium Golf were so great that any promotional value is bound to be superceded by golfer demand. Oh, and it's a nice way to sell a few season seats while reinforing the magic of two great American pastimes: golf and baseball.

My video report after playing the links:

So did #TheLinksAtPetco live up to the hype for @GeoffShac? We followed him around for 9 holes to find out: https://t.co/9h7IwUDr4D

— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) November 5, 2015

If you're a millennial, this is the Skratch look at the course's creation, minus a mention of co-architect Johnny Rodriguez.

Experience the #LinksAtPetco with a tour of the first golf course built in a baseball stadium @CallawayGolf @Padres https://t.co/yuGPjd3XYJ

— SkratchTV (@skratchTV) November 5, 2015

And just to show that there are no new ideas, Gary Player's group tweeted this epic shot of a stadium golf setting from 30 years ago. Take that Johnny!

@CallawayGolf @Padres The stadium looks amazing! Winner takes on @garyplayer who won at Ellis Park 30 years ago #TBT pic.twitter.com/54Kfn8KjXP

— Black Knight Intl (@BlackKnightIntl) November 5, 2015

 And Kenny Mayne just had to dive into one of the ponds.

.@Kenny_Mayne just played #TheLinksAtPetco then celebrated like any normal person would: https://t.co/9dvVqIb4Lh

— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) November 8, 2015

Mayne's ESPN feature as only he can tell a story.

Update on 2015-11-10 15:20 by Geoff

**Two golfers shot 5-under-par 22's: Bob Hauseur and JJ Cavellier.

There were four aces.

The full leaderboard here plus more content and some incredible images.

Update on 2015-11-11 21:18 by Geoff

**Final numbers from the Petco fun:

Photo: Golf Course Gator Gets Python...

I'm not really sure what's more unsettling about this photo from Fiddler's Creek Golf Course: the alligator as predator, or that there was a python of that size in the golf course lake.

Thanks to Andy Zunz for spotting and The Classics Country Club for sharing.

Our Member, Pat Aydelott took this great shot while playing Fiddlers Creek down the street from us. Pat - can you get closer next time so the photo isn't so grainy? Thank you! :-) Caption this!

Posted by The Classics Country Club at Lely Resort on Thursday, November 5, 2015

New President Bush Bio Opens With An Old Golf Story

As George (41) Bush's presidential legacy continues to grow in stature and Rummy's feathers are ruffled (not to mention 43's) over the new biography authored by esteemed historian Jon Meacham, it turns out golf is a nice part of the much-anticipated tome.

While I'm not sure pollsters would buy Jerry Tarde's assertion that President Bush is the "most beloved living president who played the game," we golfers adore anyone who made pace of play a priority and whose family has long been front and center in American golf.

Tarde says the book opens with a golf story about Samuel Prescott Bush standing on top of the Hotel Traymore in Atlantic City. Nucky Thompson was apparently not around, however.

"A prominent Midwestern industrialist, Bush was at the Jersey Shore in the early summer of 1915 to take part in what was described as ‘the highest golf driving contest ever held in the history of the great Scotch game,’ ” Meacham writes. “Facing the Atlantic, in a long-sleeved dress shirt and formal trousers, Bush, driver in hand, took his stance and swung smoothly. He connected just the way he wanted to—cleanly and perfectly.

The ball rose rapidly, a tiny spinning meteor. Bush’s shot streaked out over the sea, soaring over the white-capped waves before disappearing deep in the distance, the sound of its splash lost in the wind and turf.

“Bush won, of course. Though his opponents did what they could, they failed to surpass Bush’s dramatic drive. It was not the most serious of competitions, but that did not matter. The New York Times reported Bush’s triumph. A contest was a contest.”