New Golf Course Photo Gallery: Cabo del Sol Ocean Course – Los Cabos, Mexico

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013
Categories: Golf Courses • HOG World Tour • Miscellaneous • Site News

Cabo del Sol Ocean Course – Los Cabos – click for more

I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf last week in Los Cabos, Mexico at the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course. It was a pleasure playing with the Director of Golf (DoG) Greg Tallman.

The Ocean Course is a Jack Nicklaus signature design with some great elevation changes and some fantastic seaside holes. The taco stand at the turn is world renowned.

I’ve just uploaded some featured Cabo del Sol Ocean Course photos to the Hooked On Golf Blog image gallery for your enjoyment. I’ll be posting my review later so stay tuned.

Fantasy Golf – Open Championship Winners

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013
Categories: Fantasy Golf • Miscellaneous • Site News

British Open Championship Winner: Chippin’ Fails

Bonus Bridgestone Golf Balls go to:

Chippin’ Fails
bferree3
Sacswacsatit

2013 Fantasy Golf is brought to you by Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space.

SPONSORS/PRIZES

Nike Golf – Nike Covert Driver
FootJoy – Shoes/Apparel
Bridgestone Golf – Bridgestone Golf Balls
Tornado Tee – Very cool golf tees (weekly)

I’m still hammering arrangements for coupon codes to claim the weekly prizes. Stay tuned!

It is never too late to join HOG Space fantasy golf FREE. Follow the easy instructions below:

1. Go to www.buzzfantasyleagues.com
2. Create an account if you don’t have one
3. Click on “Join an Existing League”
4. Enter League ID 233, and Season ID 335
5. Create your team, enter league password “HOG”

Sponsors Wanted

If you wish to sponsor 2013 Fantasy Golf, let me know. Sponsorship would mean providing prizes in exchange for weekly air time, banners and links to your web site via the fantasy golf updates.

Discussion

HOG Space fantasy golf is a dual effort between Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space. Official fantasy golf forum discussion thread is in The Golf Space Forum here.

2013 Open Championship Final Thoughts

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, July 22nd, 2013
Categories: (British) Open Championship • European Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Rory McIlory • Tiger Woods

Phil Mickelson

Unfortunately I was not able to see all of Phil Mickelson’s victory in the British Open because I was traveling. I hope to at least watch his back nine on my DVR soon. This was obviously an impressive victory for Phil. Most people, including Mickelson himself, doubted he would claim a Claret Jug.

Having won the Scottish Open the previous week and now the Open Championship, we can no longer say that Mickelson doesn’t know how to play links golf. Like many others I wondered if having five wedges in the bag was a good idea, but based on the fact that Phil lapped the field Sunday, his approach can’t really be questioned.

Lee Westwood

I wasn’t surprised that Lee Westwood gave up his three shot lead in the final round. He’s certainly one of the best players the European Tour has ever seen, but seems to lack the killer instinct it takes to finish off a major championship. Putting weakness is almost always exposed under major pressure.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods was an 8-1 favorite to win at Muirfied. I would have given anyone those odds and taken on any field bets. Tiger had not played any competitive golf since the U.S. Open and it was impressive that he was close to the lead though. Really though, I don’t think the question should be whether or not he breaks Jack’s record. It should be whether or not he wins another major, ever.

Rory McIlory

Rory McIlory was quoted as saying he was “lost” with his game. Nothing different this week. 79-75 and a missed cut. What’s with Rory? Is it the equipment change? Is he just counting the cash he made with his new endorsement deal with Nike? Or perhaps he’s focused on the hot tennis player girlfriend rather than golf? I look forward to the time when Rory’s game is back on track.

Luke Donald

Speaking of missed cuts, former #1 player in the world Luke Donald fired an 80-72 to miss the cut. We keep hearing how his game is so well suited for majors, and especially being such a great ball striker an Open Championship. Majors are a different game mentally and perhaps Luke is still working out how to deal with the the added pressure.

Hunter Mahan

Hunter Mahan should win a major at some point. He’s knocking on the door quite a bit as of late. I say should. I’m not sure he will.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Miguel Angel Jimenez, a.k.a. the most interesting man in golf, had the lead after Friday. How cool would that have been for him to hold on and win? WIne and cigars all around. T13 finish though at +2.

Final Thoughts

Phil Mickelson’s career is getting better and better. With five major championships he joins an elite crowd which includes Seve Ballesteros, Byron Nelson, Peter Thompson and James Braid. Can he capture a U.S. Open and complete the career grand slam?

New Golf Travel Gallery: Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort – Los Cabos, Mexico

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, July 18th, 2013
Categories: Golf Life • Golf Lifestyle • HOG World Tour • Travel

Greetings from beautiful Los Cabos, Mexico. So glad to be here. Crazy life I live right now. I was on the North Sea in northern Scotland a week or so ago, and now I’m on the Sea of Cortez!

Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort – Los Cabos, Mexico

I’ve just spent some time in the pool with my Nikon and uploaded some photos of the current Hooked On Golf Blog World Tour location, Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort – Los Cabos, Mexico.

Check ’em out by clicking the photo above. More soon.

New Respect for the Old Course

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, July 18th, 2013
Categories: Golf Life • Hackers • HOG World Tour • Life

Its (British) Open Championship week. Lots of previews and prognostications by golf writers, bloggers and media as to whether Tiger Woods will win. Lots of people predicting a flame-out for Rory McIlory or that Phil Mickelson’s FIVE wedges and no driver will get him his first Claret Jug. No need for me to post another nauseatingly repetitive preview. Instead, I’m chronicling my recent rounds on the golf course which has hosted more Open Championships than any other…

My pal Boynie (left) and myself at the Home of Golf – 2011

2011

I have to admit that after my trip to St. Andrews in 2011, I thought the Old Course was not a terribly difficult golf course. I’d come into that trip hoping to break 80 (2-3 handicap) on the Old Course. Despite my nerves, I shot 80-77 my two rounds there, from the tips. I didn’t find the course to be overly difficult or long and felt like I lost a few shots to simply not having any experience in links style golf. I found one bunker in two rounds on the Old Course, hole #4, which led to a double bogey. The rough was manageable. I could hit even a longer iron from the rough and hit a green in regulation or get close enough to have putter in hand for the next shot.

There were tough holes like #11 (par-3) and the Road Hole. I was +4 on those two holes for the two rounds.

2013

When I arrived in St. Andrews a couple of weeks ago I had thoughts of breaking my record on the Old, 77. I could do it if I didn’t make double on #4 or bogey #11 and/or I could make birdie on the easy 8th or 9th holes. It was definitely possible in my mind, shooting a round in the low 70’s.

My ball striking was better than it was two years ago coming into this trip. New, great irons, a new and longer driver. Solid putting as always. I thought my game, despite being one stroke higher in handicap index, could produce some magic on the Old.

I keep saying “I thought” or “had thoughts.” Yes those are all past tense. The Old Lady had other plans for me. I was about to learn a lesson. I was about to see a tougher side of the Old and it would expose parts of my game which I didn’t realize were as weak as they were. Perhaps it was just the mental part which was weak. Maybe it was just that the conditions were tough and I’m being a little hard on myself.

All of the above.

The conditions these two past rounds on the Old were far different than back in 2011. Yes the ground was still as hard as Interstate 15. Yes there were some new tweaks to the course, like the two new bunkers on hole #2 short right of the green. I did manage to test those bunkers out first hand. They’re penal.

The wind this time around was much stronger and on most holes was a cross wind. It was strong enough to force my driver sight lines some 40-50 yards from the intended area where the ball was to finish. That messed with my brain. A gag reflex in my normally solid driver swing ensued. On hole number one in 2011 I hit wedge into the green both times. With a very strong hurt-wind, I hit hybrid on day one and 5-iron on day two. That’s a little different than wedge. Hole one is short. Having to hit hybrid into that green is crazy!

All the “out” holes on the front were extremely tough with a that hard, hurting cross wind. In attempts to hit the ball low or draw it, I’d either smother them low left or hit a double-cross, giant ballooning slice which would be insanely magnified by the wind. Those shots looked like they’d blow all the way to Carnoustie. Needless to say my fine caddie and friend John Boyne had his work cut out for him just finding my tee shots. We found all but one. The ones we did find though, were more often than not in bad situations like bunkers, sides of dunes or in the hellishly long rough.

YOU try to get out of this!

More on the rough.

The Old Course is the host of the 2013 Women’s British Open Championship, coming up a couple of weeks after the trip. The course was already transforming into “championship” form and the rough was waist deep in some places. They were already putting up the fencing and grandstands.

The rough was extremely difficult, not manageable like 2011. On the 2nd round for example, I made it into the rough left of the Road Hole. I took out my sand wedge and attempted to blast it out to the fairway. Three mighty lashes later my ball was out. The first mighty lash advanced my ball about one foot. It was a fine shot. The ball went nice and straight. If those ladies in the Women’s Open find that rough they’ll be in trouble.

Many holes during those two rounds had similar stories. Missed fairways led to deep rough or those very difficult bunkers. Hitting either one meant a guaranteed bogey or worse.

There were many “bogey or worse” situations.

I became a bit beaten down by the conditions and my score. The Lady sensed my lack of respect the last couple of years and took it to me. I resolved myself to simply enjoy the moment of playing the Old Course, and not worrying about the number on the scorecard or the level of my play. That helped. I tried to enjoy each shot as best I could, whether it was my solid tee shot on the par-3 8th the 2nd day, which I had to play 20-30 yards right of the green due to the wind, or my 8th shot (yes, 8th) on the Road Hole. That 8th shot was a perfectly executed running 9-iron from about 50 yards which ran up the false front and snuggled to about two feet from the pin. The one-putt capped off a “solid nine” on the Road Hole.

At least I finished in style. By the time I reached the 18th hole on the 2nd round, the wind was helping. It seemed like that was the first hole of the 36 where the wind didn’t hurt. My tee shot was far past Granny Clark’s Wynd, the road which dissects holes #1 and #18. I was almost to the Valley of Sin. I hit a less-than-stellar running 9-iron to about 25 feet, leaving me with a severely breaking putt from left to right, a back right pin.

I made the birdie putt.

9-3. Quintuple bogey-birdie. A fine finish on the Old. Only golf can produce such painfully joyous irony. The birdie on 18 was my 2nd birdie in four rounds on the Old, the other two rounds being par. On the positive side I’m -2 lifetime on the finishing hole of the most famous golf course in the world.

A Little Scared, or Scarred

I had a couple of opportunities, though unlikely, to take on the Old Lady again before the trip was over. I didn’t work it too hard, rather preferring to play somewhere else, which I did. I was a bit relieved. I realize that sounds completely ridiculous. Having the chance to play the Old Course and feeling relieved not to does sound crazy. I’d had enough though. The lovely Old Lady had proven her point. She sent me home with the two highest scores I’ve shot all season, on any course.

Even more nutty is to consider that I paid thousands of dollars to fly to Scotland for such punishment.

I can’t wait to do it again.

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