U.S. Kids Golf announces Auburn summer schedule

By Joe McAdory

U.S. Kids Golf announced its 2010 Auburn Summer Tour series schedule. The series is open to kids ranging from 6 years old up to high school.

The schedule is as follows:
May 27 – Saugahatchee CC – Auburn, AL
June 10 – Indian Pines GC – Auburn, AL
June 17 – Bull Creek GC – East Course – Columbus, GA
June 24 – Auburn University Club – Auburn, AL
July 1 – Montgomery CC – Montgomery, AL
July 8 – Lagoon Park GC – Montgomery, AL
July 15 – Wynlakes CC – Montgomery, AL
July 22 – Saugahatchee CC – Championship – Auburn, AL

Golf tournament Sunday at Auburn Links

By Joe McAdory

Auburn Links will host a nine-hole Super Bowl Bash Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Entry fee is $20 per player.

The format is a two-person scramble with each player using only three clubs and a putter. Hmm .... I guess I’d take a driver, wedge and 5-iron.

With the Super Bowl kicking off at around 5:30 p.m., there’s no reason why this golf tournament would make you miss kickoff. Those interested in playing should contact John Karabasz at 887-5151.

And the easiest course I’ve played is ...

By Joe McAdory

Yesterday I described the five-most difficult golf courses I’d ever played on ... well, at least they were for me. Today, it’s what I perceive as the least-difficult.

1. Red Oak (Cusseta, Ga.)—Located about 10 minutes south of Fort Benning, this place features wide-open fairways and easy approaches. The greens are very well maintained and not as undulated as some.

2. Orchard Hills (Newnan, Ga.)—Again, the fairways weren’t generally tight. Had a Scottish links flair, which is cool. A few hills too, hence the name.

3. Daytona Beach Golf Club, South Course—Flat. Wide. Just hit it straight. Train tracks from the Florida East Coast Railroad actually splits several of the holes.

4. Riviera (Ormond Beach, Fla.)—Don’t remember any demanding features here. Many holes are straightforward with limited approach hazards.

5. Indian Pines—This popular course in Auburn won’t beat you up like some other ones in town will, but offers a few challenges.

Honorable mention: Augusta (Ga.) Municipal, Lakewood (Phenix City), Royal St. Augustine, Spring Hill (Tifton, Ga.)

I will say this ... any golf course that can be perceived as less difficult as some is also perceived as very enjoyable

Toughest place I’ve played is ...

By Joe McAdory

It’s been a while, I know. When things get busy, blog posts grow thin.

Anyway, thought I’d share what I believe are the five-most difficult golf courses I have played. Some courses are tougher to some people, depending on their game. Some places are easier. Anyway, here are my five-toughest:

1. TPC Sawgrass: It’s kind of a no-brainer. Where there isn’t sand, there’s water. Where there isn’t water, there’s sand. Most greens are protected well, making approach shots difficult. It’s supposed to be tough, otherwise the PGA wouldn’t play there, right?

2. Legacy Golf Club (Sarasota, Fla.): Arnold Palmer designed this water-happy joint, so you know it’s gotta be hard. It has an island green and an island fairway. Many approaches are treacherous.

3. Callahan Golf Links (Waleska, Ga.): Never heard of it, huh? This course in the Georgia mountains combines hilly terrain with a Scottish link flair. The rough is deep and the course is tight.

4. Moore’s Mill, Auburn: Some places are tougher, but Moore’s Mill is a shot-makers course. I am not a shot-maker. This place requires finesse for proper navigation, or you are punished with hazards. I lack finesse, or power for that matter.

5. Auburn University Club: Long course. Undulating greens. This place can beat you up. Hard to believe I shot a 91 here. Very lucky because this place can tear you apart.

Honorable mention: LPGA International (Champions Course), Daytona Beach; Bull Creek, Columbus, Ga.; Oxmoor Valley (Ridge Course), Birmingham; Grand National (Links or Lake Course, either one)

Up next: 5-easiest

Super Bowl Classic Feb. 6 at Grand National

By Joe McAdory

Here’s a note from the folks at Grand National ...
The 4th Annual Super Bowl Classic will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, on the Lake Course at Grand National. The tournament begins at 10:30 a.m. in shotgun format and is a handicap scramble. The entry fee is $55 per person and includes greens fee, cart fee and lunch after play. Additionally, there will be awards for gross and net, a hole-in-one prize and various raffles.The tournament is limited to the first 30 teams, so make sure and sign up as soon as possible.
Call Tommy Barnes @ 334.737.3352 for more information or to register.

I managed to get a few folks together for a team in last year’s event. We froze. We lost. We weren’t very good.