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For most of us wanna-be (but never gonna be) tour pros, playing the courses that the PGA Tour plays is a powerful draw. One place where you can do that this fall is at CordeValle, which has just hosted the Frys.com Open.

Now that the tournament has ended, golfers can take advantage of CordeValle’s Ultimate Golf Package, which runs through the end of the year. The package provides each golfer with a PGA Tour-like playing experience, as well as access to the facilities and amenities at CordeValle in either a one-night deal or for multiple nights and rounds.

When it comes to golf, Branson, Mo., is developing into a mini-Myrtle Beach, with a variety of golf courses mixed in with its wide variety of other family-friendly entertainment activities. And like Myrtle Beach, there are some very attractive autumn golf deals available.

Green fees at most of the dozen or so Branson-area courses easily start under $100 per round through October, while temperatures are still in the 60s and 70s, and some are well below the $100 mark. Here are some examples of fall green fees:

Sad news was announced on Saturday after Doug Brecht, 62, a longtime rules official and vice president of competitions for the LPGA, passed away near his home in Oklahoma Friday night after battling West Nile Virus for two months.

Brecht contracted the virus in Toledo, Ohio, while working the Jamie Farr Classic. He was hospitalized there and later transported to another facility in Oklahoma City. 

In what seems like the best possible result to what had become a painful situation to anyone interested in the preservation of golf history, the Greenbrier Resort is buying Oakhurst Links. Greenbrier owner Jim Justice confirmed the deal on Friday, saying the price was less than $1 million but more than the throwback layout was set to sell for at auction over the summer.

Seems like almost all the news surrounding golf course construction in the United States in recent years has been downbeat – courses closing, new development projects postponed or cancelled. But there’s great news down in the border town of Laredo, Texas, where a new city-owned course is set to open next weekend (Oct. 19).

The Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course – already nicknamed "the Max" -- is the first city-owned golf facility in Laredo, as well as one of only a handful of new courses to open in the United States this year.

Orlimar has rolled out its new Montego putter, a milled mallet with a unique 360-degree alignment and aiming system.

"The Montego will appeal to golfers of all ability levels," said Orlimar Product Development Manager Nigel Matthews. "The milled putter face provides a soft feel and visual cues not only to help the golfer align the putter head to the target but also to ensure proper positioning over the ball. Consumers who have tested the putter find the alignment technology easy to use and very effective."

File this item under freak golf injuries. PGA Tour player Spencer Levin is out for the remainder of the year after tearing a ligament in his left thumb – simply by mishandling his belly putter.

While practicing three weeks ago, Levin tweaked his thumb while holding his belly putter, according to The Sacramento Bee. He tried resting a couple weeks, but his thumb wasn’t improving.