Hard work really does pay off

Hats off to my very good friend Jay Flemma. He’s about the hardest working golf writer I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen dozens first hand at the many events I’ve attended. Jay’s hard work has paid off with a gig as travel writer for The Golf Channel. There’s nobody better for this gig because Jay’s knowledge of golf courses, course design, golf course architecture and golf travel are unmatched.

Check out Jay’s first Golf Channel article on the Detroit golf scene here or click on the image.

Tonight I tip back a chianti and make a toast to Jay and his success!

As many of you may know, I’ll be down in Palm Springs this Fri-Sun at the Pro Sports Team Challenge. This is an event in which the four major sports in the USA (football, basketball, hockey & baseball) are represented by four all-star players on the golf course. The main beneficiary is the four charities each team will be donating to.

I’ll be playing in the Pro-Am with Michael Strahan of the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants Friday, and I’ll have “inside the ropes” access to all the athletes. I can talk to them and interview them.

So help me out. What question have you always wanted to ask John Elway, George Brett, Mario Lemieux?

Here’s the list of players:

Football:
John Elway, Michael Strahan, LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees

Basketball:
Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Jason Kidd, George Gervin, Clyde Drexler

Baseball:
Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Vince Coleman, Bret Saberhagen

Hockey:
Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull, Grant Fuhr, Pierre Larouche

Submit your questions here in the comments and I’ll do my best to get some answered!

The following celebrities will be making an appearance at the Team Challenge, which I’ll be blogcasting live from, this Friday-Sunday:

Dennis Haysbert - 24, The Unit, Allstate spokesperson
Kevin Sorbo - Hercules
Flex Alexander - Actor, comedian
Joel Gretsch - Played Bobby Jones in The Legend of Bagger Vance
Gregory Itzin - President Logan in 24

Forget golf for a moment!

Contrary to what people who frequent my many golf web sites may think, the golf course is not my favorite place to visit. That distinction belongs to Arches National Park.

Location

Arches is 239 miles southwest of my home, in South-Eastern Utah. Arches is two miles north of Moab, Utah. Moab is a small town whose primary industry is tourism. Tourists hit Moab for mountain biking on the famous “slickrock trail,” rafting down the Colorado River or visiting Arches NP, Canyonlands National Park or Dead Horse Point. Moab draws a very “green” and yuppie crowd. There are more granola bars and “organic” food items per square inch there than any place on Earth. Good luck finding a non organic Pop Tart in that town because I couldn’t.

About Arches

Arches is a spectacular area of land which contains the highest density of natural arches in the word. The high desert landscape of Arches has very little precipitation and extreme temperature variations. Red sandstone formations and fins have undergone millions of years of erosion, which result in visually stunning visuals and 2000 documented arches.

Attractions

Delicate Arch

Utah’s license plates have an arch from Arches on them. This is Delicate Arch. Delicate Arch is probably the most famous natural arch in the world. Getting to Delicate Arch requires some good calorie burning hiking uphill, about 1.5 miles. The arch itself is at the edge of a huge sandstone cliff, with an amazing sandstone bowl above. You can go right up and sit under the arch (see pictures), and that drop off the cliff is less than 10 feet through the arch.

I’ve happily made this rigorous uphill 1.5 mile hike in 100+ degree desert heat dozens of times, including yesterday. No matter how tired and sweaty I am when I get there, I completely forget all of that the second I turn the corner and see what I believe to be one of the most amazing and breathtaking formations anywhere. I’m completely awestruck by the beauty of Delicate Arch.

Suggestion: Plan your photos for early morning or late evening when the lighting is the best. And also be sure to cut your toenails! The hike down from Delicate Arch can really cause you grief if your toenails are rubbing against the front of your shoes!

READ MORE ->>

I’m SO tired. I hiked 20 miles in two days in the hot desert of Arches National Park. Arches National Park is my favorite place on this planet, or any other.

I’m a bit gimpy right now, because of the huge blister on my left foot.

I’m just washing all the sand out of my ears now. But soon I’ll post some details and pictures of my incredible four day excursion!

My sites always go down when I’m out of town

I guess The Golf Space went down for a bit while I was hiking amongst the red rocks. Scruffy (Dan Smith) gets some major kudos (and karma) for helping me out and letting me know the site went down. I was on the road but found a nice place which let me get online to fix up the site and get it back up. Special thanks to the Holiday Inn Express in Moab, Utah. Yes, just like the Holiday Inn Express ads: “How did I get the site back up and running? At a Holiday Inn Express…”

New Bobby Jones clubs

There were some golf clubs on my door step waiting for me when I got back. Can’t wait to tell you about them. Soon to be reviewed will be the new Bobby Jones driver and Bobby Jones wedges!

This is an automated post. If you’re reading this today (”Day one” Thursday the 21st) between the hours of 8am-1pm Eastern Time, I’m on the road driving South. If you’re reading between 1pm-6pm I’m at The Ledges (pictured below).

This Winter here has been brutal to say the least. The courses in Salt Lake are still closed. I can usually squeeze in 10-20 rounds over the Winter between November and March. This year, 15 holes. We’re at more that 150% of our annual average snow fall. Needless to say, the courses should be nice and green this year with all the extra water.

Every February, I go on a golf trip with about 20 of my closest friends to Southern Utah. This year I’m more stoked than ever to go, since the cold has been so bad.

Day one: The Ledges

I’ve done a review of The Ledges already. Click here to read it.

I’ll be checking out the course again to see any improvements and what’s new.

Day two: Green Spring

Green Spring is a great course with some amazing holes.

There are also a couple of “circus” holes too, but it’s a fun track.

Day three & four: Sunbrook

Sunbrook is a 27 hole course with some amazing holes.

I’d call Sunbrook a “big boy” course. One day I’ll do a review of Sunbrook.

This is an automated post.

Today I’m on the plane from the frozen tundra of Salt Lake, to the warmth of Orlando and the 2008 PGA Merchandise show. My blog is automatically posting this note while I travel.

Starting tomorrow (Thursday the 17th) I’ll be BLOGGING LIVE FROM THE PGA SHOW for three straight days. Stay tuned here for blogs, pictures and video of the newest releases and news in the golf world.

Also, I’ll be doing a live radio broadcast on Saturday morning with Mike and Billy of Golf Talk Radio on ESPN Radio 1280 from Bakersfield, California. You can listen live at http://www.espnradio1280.com/ by clicking on the “Listen Here” button located in the upper left hand corner of the page.

Meet me, HOG friends and The Golf Space members at the show!

Where: “Zone 22″ BOOTH #3305
When: 3:30PM-4PM FRIDAY
Click here for more info.

SPECIAL SECTION!
2007 Masters Blog

Augusta & Masters Photos

2007 Masters Finish
2007 Masters Sunday Blog
Fuzzy Zoeller F-Bomb
2007 Masters Saturday
2007 Masters Sunday Pairings
Masters.org Sunday Coverage

2007 Masters Friday Carnage
2007 Masters Thursday!
Arnie starts, I cry
Mark O’Meara Wins Par 3

2007 Masters Photos!
Thurs & Fri Pairings
Palmer ceremonial starter
Phil Mickelson’s Club Setup
Vote for your favorite hole
Augusta National Score Card
Masters Blogger Leaderboard
Masters.org Tuesday
Masters Video Chat 1
Masters.org Monday
Masters Quiz
2007 Masters Field