The Golf Scribe ~ Inside the Ropes

Bigger In Texas? Golf in the Big Bend National Park area proves ‘It is So’.

2011-11-04T14:07:00.000-05:00

This is the first in a series of articles about Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa

When our group first arrived at Lajitas International Airport my first thought was “Where in the world are we?” Then next was, let’s hit the golf course!

Thanks to Mr. Warren for his hospitality

Now, let’s back up just a bit. I was among a group of journalists and marketing folks invited for a special preview of the recently redesigned and renovated Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Club, which is part of the redeveloped Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa.

Lajitas is not easy to get to, but it’s well worth the trip. We were fortunate to be able to hop a ride on one of the private jets in the fleet belonging to Kelcy Warren, who is the owner of Lajitas.

Our group met up at the Million Air Executive Terminal in Addison, Texas for the short flight to Lajitas. If you are offered the opportunity to fly on a private jet, I highly recommend it. Lucky for us that this was a short trip, though, as the Lavatory could not be accessed due to all of our golf gear being in the way. And with our duly appointed in-flight bartender taking care to ensure no empty glasses, a longer flight might not have been so friendly.

What a group!

Shortly after wheels up in Addison, we arrived in Lajitas. The approach to the airfield was breathtaking in of itself. We were met at the plane by some of the outstanding crew that makes Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa such a special place. We loaded up the vehicles and made the short trip to the resort.

The GPS says the golf course is just over there!

Upon checking in and getting to our rooms (more on the resort accommodations in an upcoming article), we met up for a nice quick lunch and headed to the golf course.

I’ve been fortunate to play a variety of courses around the globe, and from my experience, there is no other golf course like Black Jack’s Crossing anywhere in Texas. I only know a bit about the former layout that was washed away for good in the “500 year flood of 2008”, which was the third in less than 100 years! From what I have been told, the previous layout was very flat and unexciting. I can tell you this, the Lanny Wadkins version is neither!

There are at least seven elevated tees, where you can what seems to be hundreds of miles in almost every direction. The mountains, buttes, mesas and other rock formations (lajitas means flat stones) are breathtaking. The tee shots are exhilarating, and Wadkins created a golf course where every hole is memorable. The 7,400-yard course – named for General John “Black Jack” Pershing, who reportedly chased Pancho Villa around in these parts–is unique indeed.

Tony Vaught is an international golf writer based in Texas. He currently serves as Vice President of the Texas Golf Writers Association and has been a special contributor to Golfer’s Guide for over 10 years.

Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa

2011-11-01T17:37:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I am using this as a teaser for the upcoming series of articles I am doing on Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa and Black Jacks Crossing Golf Club.

Stay tuned ... really!

Couples Wins AT&T by Seven Shots

2011-10-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

Fred Couples ran away with the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship, shooting a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Sunday for a seven-stroke victory — the largest margin on the 50-and-over tour this year.

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Couples opened with rounds of 65 and 62 and finished at 23 under on TPC San Antonio’s Canyons Course. He won for the second time this season and sixth time in two seasons on the tour.

“I haven’t had a seven-shot lead since ‘92 or ‘90 or whenever the heck it was,” said Couples, who teed it up ahead by seven to start the day. “I probably may never ever get another one. It’s a weird feeling, and I was kind of unnerved (on the front side). But once we got to the back nine I played much better and I pulled away to a lead that was plenty.”

Mark Calcavecchia shot a 66 to finish second. Charles Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman and John Cook tied for third at 14 under. They also closed with 66s.

The closest anyone came in the final round was four strokes when Calcavecchia holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole, but Couples birdied five of the last eight holes, including the final two. Last year at The Woodlands outside Houston, he also had a seven-stroke victory.

Couples’ 54-hole total of 193 broke the tournament record of 195 set by Mark McNulty in 2005 on the par-71 Oak Hills Country Club course.

Couples earned $270,000, giving him $957,753 in nine starts on the Champions Tour this year. He’s the U.S. captain for The Presidents Cup next month in Australia.

Couples birdied the first three holes to start each of the opening two rounds. On Sunday, he parred the first five holes. His first birdie came on the par-5 sixth, but Calcavecchia matched it to stay six back.

Calcavecchia, second in the Schwab Cup standings, made it a bit interesting. After Couples lipped out a birdie putt from about 5 feet on the seventh, Calcavecchia stuck his tee shot on the par-3 eighth to 10 feet and sank the putt. And his 12-footer on No. 10 cut Couples’ lead to four.

“Even then I knew I was in a battle for second,” Calcavecchia said, “and that’s what I was aiming for.”
Calcavecchia left a birdie putt on the edge on No. 11 from 15 feet, and Couples made his from 8 to get the lead back to five. He holed a 10-footer No. 12 to go to 20 under and six ahead.

“Nos. 11 and 12 are very good driving holes and those were probably two of the best drives I hit all day and I birdied them both,” Couples said. “Unless (Calcavecchia) was going to birdie every hole, the odds were against him catching me.”

It was the final full field on the Champions Tour. The top 30 in the point standings are headed to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Nov. 3-6 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

Couples crushes AT&T Championship Field in Record Saturday Round

2011-10-15T22:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday’s second round at the AT&T Championship produced more perfect South Texas weather, more perfect course conditions at the TPC-San Antonio AT&T Canyons course and one perfect golfer, Fred Couples, who romped to a seven-shot lead with a tournament record-tying score of 62.

Couples tied his career low on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour and now holds the largest second round lead on the Champions Tour since 1998, with a 36-hole total of 127, 17-under-par, another tournament record.

“You don’t get leads like this very often,” said Couples, who is looking for his second Champions Tour victory in 2011, after winning four times last year.

“I certainly have the advantage by a lot. 12 birdies today is a lot of birdies, but I still have to play tomorrow. I remember one year at Bay Hill I had an eight-shot lead on the last day and it was down to three by the eighth hole.”

Through two rounds, Mark Calcavecchia sits at second at 66-134, 10-under-par, and Nick Price is alone at third with a 69-135.

“I think it’s a battle for second, I’ll put it that way,” Calcavecchia said. “I think I’ll try to throw Fred off on the first hole by asking him if he knows what the trophy looks like and what he is going to say in his victory speech.”

Price, a former Texas Open champion, was doing an interview when he got the news that Couple shot 62 for the day, with a double bogey on the par-4 fourth hole.

“A 62 with a double bogey,” Price exclaimed. “Why are you talking to me? We are all chasing Fred, but you can never say never.”

In the history of the AT&T Championship, the only two golfers to shoot a 62 were Fred Gibson and Gil Morgan, both at Oak Hills Country Club. Neither of them won the tournament, but they didn’t have the playing background of Couples or take a seven-shot lead into the final day.

Couples had 12 one-putts to accompany his 12 birdies Saturday and had a total of 11 putts on the back nine.

“When I putt well, I think I’m as good of a putter as anybody,” Couples said.

Calcavecchia, who is second to Tom Lehman in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points standing, highlighted his round on the par-4 18th hole. He put his drive in the rocks to the left of the fairway and had to call for a ruling. Then, he knocked his second shot twenty feet left of the pin and rolled in his birdie putt.

Price birdied holes 15-16 to earn his solo third place standing, while John Cook, Peter Senior, Tom Lehman and Scott Simpson all shot 67 to tie for fourth place at 136, nine shots behind Couples.

DID YOU KNOW?
Both Fred Couples and Mark Calcavecchia have a close, personal relationship with their caddies. Couples’ caddie is his girlfriend, Midge Elo Trammell, who is from San Antonio, and Calcavecchia’s wife, Brenda, handles caddie duties.

Champions Tour and Former NBA Stars Align in Lone Star State

2011-10-13T14:20:00.000-05:00

San Antonio, Texas, October 13, 2011 - As with any typical Pro Am, the field is full of who’s who folk.

For the second day, former NBA legend, Bruce Bowen was teeing it up at the AT&T Championship Pro Am. Bowen, a three time NBA Champion, played today with his old buddy Sean Elliott. Yes, the same Sean Elliott who thrust the once mediocre San Antonio Spurs to their first of (so far) 4 NBA titles.
Why all the talk about the NBA on in a golf article on a golf site? Well, you as you know the NBA is in a downward sprial right now. And, as any good journalist would do, I took an opporunity to talk to Bowen and Elliott about the current NBA situation. Unfortunately, both declined to comment.

Today the duo were playing with Corey Pavin, and a couple of local businessmen, from what I was told. “Lucky for us basketball guys that there are a couple of guys in our group that can play golf.” chuckled Bowen as they came toward the first tee (their fourth hole).

Tomorrow is the start of tournament play, with one of the marquee groupings teeing off at 11:07am; Tom Watson, Fred Couples, and Tom Lehman. So, those of you in the San Antonio area, make sure you take off early for the weekend and head out to TPC San Antonio and catch some of the excitement of the Champions Tour.

Texas Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2011

2011-10-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

Texas top teachers Smith, Hardy among Hall of Fame inductees in Monday gala

Two of Texas’ greatest golf instructors, a former major championship and multiple PGA Tour winner, a top amateur and the daughter of Lone Star golf royalty were inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Monday night at a lavish, sold-out ceremony..

Teachers Dallas’ Randy Smith and Houston’s Jim Hardy, who both guided their students, professional and amateur, to greatness and Austin’s Rich Beem who achieved greatness for himself winning the 2002 PGA Championship, were among the Lone Star individuals honored at San Antonio Country Club, capping a day of celebration including the dedication of the Walk of Fame at the new hall facilities..

“I was certainly always aware of the Hall of Fame, but to look at it now and the many inductees, I never thought I would be here,” Smith said. “I’ve been teaching in Texas for 40 years. I hope I’ve helped somebody out.”

Also honored was Fort Worth’s Marty Leonard, a multi-decade contributor to women’s and junior golf, whose father, Marvin, founded Colonial Country Club and first sponsored Ben Hogan on the PGA Tour. Longtime Dallas amateur Don Addington was also inducted.

Colonial was added to the Texas Registry of Historic Courses while architect Ralph Plummer from Fort Worth and golf contributor General Bernard Schreiver from San Antonio, both deceased, were also inducted into the reconstituted Hall of Fame at nearby Brackenridge Park.

Hardy, who moved to Houston in 1983 and is a part owner at Blackhorse Golf Club, said he was surprised and humbled that so many of his professional students, including Olin Browne and Scott Simpson turned out for the induction ceremony at San Antonio Country Club.

“I had tried so many different things, but I think there plan for my life and this was my plan,” an emotional Hardy said. “I’m absolutely floored and flabbergasted with this honor.”

Addington attended the ceremony with his son Rob, the executive director of the Texas Golf Association.

“I’ve won a bunch of amateur events, but this is very special to be inducted in the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. I never expected this,” Addington said.

Beem brought his mentor longtime El Paso pro Bill Eschenbrenner, who was inducted last year.

“It’s such an amazing journey to be in a group like this,” said Beem, who won two other PGA Tour events along with defeating Tiger Woods in a dramatic 2002 PGA Championship.

Earlier in the day, the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Walk of Fame was dedicated with multiple outside markers to Texas’ most historic players.

“It’s nice to see the Hall of Fame back in San Antonio, it’s nice to have it home,” said former TGHOF inductee and U.S. Open winner Tom Kite, who attended the opening ceremony.

Hall Executive Director Reid Meyers also announced a series of grants and contributions at the dinner to aid future hall expansion along with a challenge grant to endow the facility and preserve it as the permanent home of Texas golf history.

Alamo City Golf Trail Executive Director Jim Roschek said the continued improvement at BrackenridgePark, the first public course in Texas, will continue to build on the Texas Golf Hall of Fame legacy.

“This means this municipal course will continue to be the focal point ofTexas golf and that makes us very proud,” he said

NPGT Regional Set for TPC San Antonio

2011-08-27T11:44:00.000-05:00

The San Antonio Classic, conducted by the National Pro Golf Tour presented by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, will be held on the Canyons course at TPC San Antonio August 30-Sept. 2. 90 of the best young professional golfers in the country will be competing for a guaranteed purse of $125,000 in the 72 hole event. There will be a 36 hole cut to the top 48 players and ties.

The San Antonio Classic is the seventh of eight Regional Majors on the 2011 NPGT schedule, each with a guaranteed purse of $125,000. The most recent Regional Major was at the PGA National’s Champions course, won by Mark Baker at 13 under par.

In addition to the eight Regional Majors, the top 50 players on the National Points List competed in The Players Invitational, a 54 hole, no cut event just concluded August 26 at Barton’s Creek in Austin. Mark Walker became the season’s first 2 time winner with a 54 hole total of 195, 18 under par! Walker also won the Sunshine State Open at Grand Cyprus in Orlando, Florida.

Other notable players competing in the San Antonio Classic include previous Regional Major winners Tony Finau, Tom Kalinowski, Jacob Rogers, Jesse Schutte.

The top 80 National Points holders will be eligible for the season ending National Open Championship, November 1-4 at Dove Mountain Resort, home of the WGA Match Play Championship. The National Open Championship will be the largest mini-tour purse in history.

Top 10 Money Leaders as of August 26:

Tony Finau………….….$59,094.00
Jesse Schutte………….$51,692.50
Mark Walker………….$48,440.00
Mark Baker……..…….$38,385.50
Jacob Rogers….………$30,426.83
Drew Stoltz…………….$29,300.00
Scott Harrington..…..$27,733.60
John Ellis………………..$22,500.00
Chad Ginn..……….……$22,250.00
Thomas Kalinowski…$22,000.00

ABOUT THE NPGT

The NPGT is revolutionizing the mini-tour industry. Unlike other developmental tours, the NPGT presented by Arnold Palmer Golf Management conducts major four-day events around the country. The Sunshine State Open is the 5th event of the season. Also unique to the NPGT are our Local Tours, including the Texas tour. Local Tours will conduct over 160 tournaments in major markets around the country. No longer will aspiring touring pros have to spend significant portions of the year on the road and away from home.

For more information contact:
Bob Butte
(317) 903-6907
bbutte@nationalprotour.co
www.nationalprotour.com