Blogs

There was a time in the late going when it looked like the youngster Kyle Stanley was going to out battle the veteran for the 2011 John Deere Classic title, but missing right on the last tee shot, and failing to save par, ultimately opened the door for a dramatic comeback birdie by the now "three in a row" winner.       
What better way could a Dad celebrate Father's Day, than to watch his 22 year old son cruise to victory at the U.S. Open? For many of us, watching it with our own kid, or dad, or playing a Sunday round of our own might top it; but one can't help feeling that Rory McIlroy's dad, Gerry, will have to rank this Father's Day near the top of his list.
 
On a Monday afternoon around 1:00 at The Bar and Grill at Black Lake, in Nipomo, California,  Vintage Team Bogey owns the dining tables, and reminiscing pearls of wisdom fill the air.   Surprisingly, however, stories of the just completed round are not as common as are stories of other courses played on prior dates.   
 
Just when you might have thought that there was not much to be interested in, with the lack of big names in the St. Jude Classic final pairings, a true Team Bogey Tale unfolded, as Harrison Frazer provided an inspirational story for those of us who may have begun to think that our best days might be behind us. 
 

This Memorial Day Holiday provided not only the opportunity to honor our fallen heroes and their families, but to share some of the privileges that their service and sacrifice provides.  On a grand scale, we think of the preservation of the way of life afforded us by our Constitution; which on a more intimate level, thankfully, includes simple pleasures such as ball games and bar-b-ques.  
 
 This Time He Finished The Job!  After a heartbreaking loss on the first playoff hole last week, David Toms recovered from losing a 7 shot lead, and won his first tournament on the PGA tour in over six years at the Crown Plaza Invitational.  It also makes him the latest Team Bogey Battler.          
Just a week ago, at the Players Championship...
                                    
While some will try to find issue with Tiger Woods withdrawing from the Players Championship after shooting six over par through his first nine holes, those who are veterans of sports wars, ligamentous laments, and cartilaginous carnage themselves, will merely say, "I feel your pain", and wish him the will to keep battlin' through his injuries. 
As frivolous as the battle to master the sport of golf may often seem, even more so is the idea that we will win the ultimate battle, and somehow exceed the expiration date with which we all come into this world.  Seve Ballesteros is said to have "lost his battle" with cancer this week, but we will all lose a similar battle sooner or later, and ultimately, we will be judged on the example we set during our short stint on this blue planet.