Church Golf Scramble

Saturday a group of maybe 50 or so guys played in a scramble (best ball) at Sherrill Park Course 2. I had a blast. Playing with people who are fun to be around in general makes the day much more relaxing and enjoyable. This is my 3rd outing with this group and I can't wait for the next. Some highlights from our team:

• Mark somehow teeing off with a 5-iron and hitting it 300 yards. Then his dad out-driving him...
• Actually using my drives in the round. That is definitely a first.
• Russell driving the ball through a parking lot and inadvertently cutting the dogleg left.
• Me hitting a 3-wood recovery shot that barely skimmed a dune and somehow landed in perfect position.
• Tom being the solid player that saved us several times.
• Russell sticking his approach shot on 18 less than 2 feet from the pin. Thus clinching our solid 68.
• The chocolate milkshake at Country Burger after being in 102 degree heat for 7 hours.

Round Up

. : Sports : .


It's time for the Cowboys to kick it in to high gear. It is once again football season and the spirit around town is that it is about time. Saturday night kicked off a new season that is already full of controversial water cooler topics. The Tony Romo debate is in full swing and I for one am on his side. I am ready for a new franchise quarterback, but I am not sure how ready Jerry Jones is.


Baseball has been dragging on, and with a team constantly doing its best not to be in first place, most people have given up on the season. The Rangers are only about 5 games out, but I would be surprised to see them make that up. They have had several good signs of late and I think that the team looks promising for next year.

The PGA Championship starts on Thursday and should be pretty good. The fact that Tiger is back on his game makes it even more appealing to watch. I am going to be one of the < 1% of America that thinks a guy not named Tiger or Phil will win it... we will see how that pans out.

Movie Review

. : Special : .

The Greatest Game Ever Played - 4.5/5

I can't even begin to describe how much I enjoyed this film. And for all of you non-golfers out there, my wife enjoyed it too. This is the story of a non-elite normal boy being given the opportunity of a lifetime and proving his worth. As much as this is a movie about golf, it is equally a movie about class status or a caste system that I frankly take for granted these days. For instance, I am going to play golf in two days and pay about 20 dollars for green fees and a cart. This simple public course was non existent in the early 1900s and portrayed as even forbidden.

The movie did an excellent job of displaying the mental side of golf, which non golfers rarely see and which haunts pros and amateurs alike. The old style clubs were fun to see. I am sure that the courses were easier back then and shorter as well, but with the equipment that they had, it was certainly a challenge.

This movie really showcased sportsmanship in several of the players and the opposite in many others. I was very impressed with the main character, Francis Ouimet, and even more impressed that they didn't 'fluff' up his character too much for the movie. The opponent, if you could call him that, was Harry Vardon. I loved his non-flamboyant style combined with his competitive tactics.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.

Back in the Saddle Again

. : Sports : .

It looks like Rangers are once again trying to play themselves out of a championship. The AL West is still up for grabs and they just can't seem to take the leap and claim it. Pitching as usual has been spotty, but so have the bats.

The first NFL game kicked into gear and brought about football excitement for the first time in a while. I am ready to see the Cowboys light up some people. The big story around here has been Oklahoma dumping its quarterback because he got caught taking money on the side. He is getting railed for getting caught... that's about it.

I am not sure who to pull for in the college ranks. It seems like there is a void at the top that unfortunately strength of schedule will decide. I am certainly hearing it from the Notre Dame media blitz, but I will believe it when I see it. Their schedule is brutal and they just haven't shown me much in many many years. Let me know who you want me to root for, although make sure that they have a tangible mascot.

Tiger has pulled out of what I thought was a really bad hole. I thought this would be an off year and had written him off until next season, but he keeps on proving me wrong on that one and keeping up his high standards.