Blogs

I don’t know about you, but I spent most of my Friday lying around and watching football on TV. My big achievement was making sure I got some leftovers before they were gone.

Catriona Matthew’s day was a bit more productive. She was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland. The LPGA Tour star received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts as part of Abertay's winter graduation ceremony, in which almost 250 students also received their degrees.

As if it wasn’t dangerous enough already, the 'Road Hole' – the par-4 17th hole on the Old Course at St. Andrews – is getting a makeover that will make it even tougher.

Specifically, the 'Road Bunker' in front of the left part of the green, will be widened by about 18 inches on its right side – toward the center of the green. The green and the fringe near the bunker also will be recontoured so that more balls will roll into what has to be the most famous sand trap in the world.

In our house, we do Thanksgiving a little different than most. And by that, I mean we eat Thanksgiving dinner at dinner time.

This is mainly because we know that if we dined at mid-day, we’d end up eating all day long and would pack on a few thousand more calories than we need to. By eating in the evening, we get the full Thanksigving experience, and then when the inevitable tryptophan coma kicks in, we can just call it a day and fall into bed.

What does the recent national election mean for the golf industry? Robert Helland, an adviser with the law firm Reed Smith and lobbyist for the Golf Course Superintents Association of America, recently offered his analysis to the GCSAA.

Rory McIlroy has used Titleist clubs since he turned pro five years ago and achieved so much at such a young age. He'll use them for the last time this week, when he plays the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, but he says he’s not worried about switching to a new brand starting next season.

Graeme McDowell has gotten engaged to his long-time girlfriend Kristin Stape, he announced on Wednesday in Dubai.

G-Mac took Stape up to the helipad – 656 feet off the ground – at the spectacular Burj al-Arab Hotel in Dubai to propose two weeks ago, he said, then played the Australian Masters before returning to Dubai for this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship on the European Tour.

Missing three footers giving you fits? Ready to snap your driver because you can't find a fairway? Relax, it's just a game - it's supposed to be fun.  The joy of the game is the challenge.  It's not like your efforts are going to put you in a mental institution -- well, unless you're this guy. 

Rickie Fowler fans know that the kid loves motorcycles and fast cars almost as much as he loves golf. He even spent last weekend in Austin hanging out with the Red Bull folks at the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

With the arrival of Thanksgiving Week, golf season around much of the country is winding down -- or at least slowing down -- so it’s a good time to take a look at what kind of a year the industry is having.