Statesman Champion's Tour Column

Golf Plus - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho

Tamarack Statesman Review

Golf Plus - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho

Oklahoma City

Ryan and I are in Oklahoma City for the Senior PGA Championships The Official Site of the 67th Senior PGA Championship held at Oak Tree, in Edmond, OK.  Course hosted the 1988 PGA. 

Great course, long and tough, played today with Danny and David Edwards, who grew up in Edmond, and both went to Oklahoma State.  It was a fun day, because a lot of people followed us, and we all played real well.  Then played 9 holes with my good friend Doug LaCrosse, who got into the field.  Going to be a great week.

Hopkins Financial

My friend and one of my sponsors, Randy Hopkins President of Hopkins Financial and me at Scotch Pines, in Payette, ID.  I had to give him too many strokes..... 

www.HopkinsFinancial.com

 

 

KTVB.com Interview

Here is an interview that was done on KTVB Channel 7 in Boise, ID.  Portions of which will run over the next 10 days.

http://www.ktvb.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=66002&catId=411&props=EMAG

Destin

Was another step in the right direction, even though, the finish didn't really show it.  I had some really good stretches of golf, including the back nine on Sunday, when with some good putting could have made 5 birdies (I made only two).  Confidence FOLLOWS good play, my game is better than my confidence, and I feel that I will continue to improve.

 

The pre-round routine that Ryan came up with is improving my stress level on the first tee. I've not started wildly since we went to it, the second round in Austin. 

 

My putting needs improvement, I'm going to work hard on that this week and Dave Bartels and I are going to continue to move forward with the full swing.  Laurie and I got back to Idaho yesterday, and I played nine holes with my Dad and son Jeffrey.  Shot 31, with some real solid play.  A month ago, I couldn't break par anywhere.

 

I was making fun of Laurie on Sunday night for packing so early.  Then a thunderstorm hits Destin @ 4am, knocks out the power and I'm packing in the pitch dark.  I think I got home with everything but my pride............she let me know that I'm no Boy Scout.

 

Osprey Meadows at Tamarack www.TamarackIdaho.com is opening this Saturday, I can't wait to get up and play the course.  Weather has been beautiful and supposed to be close to 80 up there this weekend.

 

Thanks again for all the support.  Will talk to you from Oklahoma City and the Sr. PGA, next week.

 

Scott.

Destin

 

Second Round

Boeing Championships

Destin, FL

 

Had a good day, today, shot one under par 70.  Hard to believe but this is my FIRST under par round of the year.  So this is a start.

 

I still didn't putt great, but managed my game much, much better.  The only disappointment was that I three putted #18 from about 50 feet.  It is a really tough hole that has given a lot of players trouble, and I hit a great drive and just misjudged the wind on my second shot.  Hit it quite a bit long and couldn't two putt. 

 

The bermuda greens are still giving me trouble, but I'm just real excited about my game, I think it is finally starting to all come together.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow (Sunday).

 

Ryan has become an excellent caddy, and everyone knows that Laurie is a great cook, so it has been a fun week.  I'll be back in Payette, on Monday, with a week off.   And I always look forward to coming home.

 

 

Ryan and Me in Birmingham

Destin

In Destin, Fl this week for Boeing Championship.  Laurie is with me, which is really nice.  If there was a cooking tour, she would be leading it.....

The Raven Course at Sandestin http://sandestin.com/sandestin_sub_2.asp?sub2_id=1 is quite a contrast to last week.  Narrow, small greens, and heavy, heavy rough, in which the ball goes right to the bottom.  Yesterday, I almost lost a ball that was two steps off the fairway.  The course is playing about 6900 yards, has 6 par threes, and is par 71.  It also has a great variey of lengths of holes.  It is warm, windy and humid, my favorite conditions.  Going to be a good week.

 

Birmingham

 

I had some good things to focus on with my play in Birmingham, even though my finish wasn't one of them. 

 

First of all, Robert and Lawana Low's (Prime, Inc) horse Steppenwolfer finished third in the Kentucky Derby.  WHAT A DEAL!  Congratulations to them.

 

An second of all, I brought some rounds BACK after some poor starts.  I didn't let my frustration bubble over.  I am hitting the ball more solidly, putted better this week, and  am gaining some confidence.   I"ve changed my warm up/practice routine and I seem to be getting to the course more relaxed.  And I will continue to spend a lot of time practicing putting.

 

ONE good week out here can make all the difference........

 

Laurie got into Destin, FL last night, Ryan and I drove in from Birmingham, we are staying right on this week's course, and I'm just going to keep working on relaxing and plugging along.  I'm playing better, I just need to show it with a score.  I've got a another chance this week to succeed.

 

Birmingham

I've actually brought two rounds back from poor starts.  Two over after nine on Friday, and got it back to even at one time, and four over today, and played the last ten holes four under.  All year, I've just gone one direction, never saving a round.  I'm starting to hit the ball well enough to shoot a low score.  Trevino and Gibby Gilbert tomorrow in the rain should be interesting.

Tamarack

The greens look wonderful after coming through the winter and the snow is going fast.  I can't wait to play it.

Barry Bonds

Okay, so here is a question.  I'm working out today with Kent Biggerstaff, who used to be the trainer for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 37 years.  Trained Barry Bonds.......and now me.

Barry Bonds hits 50 home runs this year and passes EVERY drug test.  What does the public think of him then? 

Kent is convinced that Bonds never took an illegal substance and has known Bonds for a long time.  Like he says, you can take any drug you want and not put the bat on the ball like Bonds does.  He has a point.

Birmingham

http://www.rossbridgeresort.com/golf/golf.cfm

Here is the course we are playing this week.  Look at the back tee yardage.  We are playing it at 7484 yards, plenty long and tough.