If the FedEx(Lax) Cup had any shred of credibility remaining, it is danger of loosing those last few threads. Ernie Els has now bailed on the second event of the Playoffs. (I capitalized that word so Finchem would think it was important.) Ernie said something like, “I’m skipping the second FedEx(Lax) Cup thingy.”
First it was Tiger who ditched FedEx(Lax) Cup 1 because he said he was a little tired from kicking everyone’s ass for two weeks. Now it’s Ernie who is apparently heading home to the U.K. (I though he was from S.A.?!) to help his kids buy pens, pencils and paper and get ready for school. Quite admirable for Ernie.
I would been interesting to hear Finchem’s reaction when he got the news.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Book Review: Golfing on the Roof of the World
Excuse me if all this sound familiar. Golf books come in all shapes and sizes, forms and fashions, literally and figuratively. There seems to be an unlimited number of topics and angles. The subject matter may get stretched at times, but that is one of the more endearing aspects of golf journalism. The genre has an endless range. Yes, this intro has the same ring as the one I used in my last book review. But, it is appropriate for Rick Lipsey’s Golfing on the Roof of the World. Lipsey is a staff golf writer at Sports Illustrated. He has a previous golf volume entitled In Every Kid There lurks a Tiger. In this current effort Lipsey takes us to the country of Bhutan, a neighbor of Tibet high in the Himalayas.
Golfing on the Roof… does not focus on the golf in Bhutan. You see, there is just one golf course in Bhutan, a nine-holer called Royal Thimphu. Rather, Lipsey uses golf as a backdrop to confide to us his love for the country and share his adventures within the culture. It gives us a picturesque description of the country and an introduction to the life and culture of Bhutan. Golf was merely the catalyst that got Lipsey to the country. Vacationing in Bhutan in 2000 Lipsey played Royal Thimphu and was subsequently asked to do a stint as the golf professional. Lipsey is not a golf professional by trade but nevertheless agreed. His enthusiasm for the task at hand became infectious in the country and has, hopefully, developed an awakening for the game
In my last review, Don’t Ask What I Shot, I discovered a book that shows the influence that golf has had on a nation. With Golfing on the Roof…you can discover the potential that golf has to impact the development of a country. Don’t expect a true golf book here, but do anticipate a fun read as Lipsey chronicles his time in Bhutan.
Golfing on the Roof… does not focus on the golf in Bhutan. You see, there is just one golf course in Bhutan, a nine-holer called Royal Thimphu. Rather, Lipsey uses golf as a backdrop to confide to us his love for the country and share his adventures within the culture. It gives us a picturesque description of the country and an introduction to the life and culture of Bhutan. Golf was merely the catalyst that got Lipsey to the country. Vacationing in Bhutan in 2000 Lipsey played Royal Thimphu and was subsequently asked to do a stint as the golf professional. Lipsey is not a golf professional by trade but nevertheless agreed. His enthusiasm for the task at hand became infectious in the country and has, hopefully, developed an awakening for the game
In my last review, Don’t Ask What I Shot, I discovered a book that shows the influence that golf has had on a nation. With Golfing on the Roof…you can discover the potential that golf has to impact the development of a country. Don’t expect a true golf book here, but do anticipate a fun read as Lipsey chronicles his time in Bhutan.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Book Review: Don't Ask What I Shot
Golf books come in all shapes and sizes, forms and fashions, literally and figuratively. There appears to be an unlimited number of topic and angles. The subject matter may get stretched at times, but that is one of the more endearing aspects of golf journalism. The genre has an endless range. So, when I saw Catherine Lewis’ new volume, Don’t Ask What I Shot: How Eisenhower’s Love of Golf Helped Shape 1950's America, I was not quite sure what to expect, at least from the golf perspective. Lewis is an associate professor of history at Kennesaw State University and also a curator at the Atlanta History Center. But she also has a bit of a golf journalism background with the previous publication of Bobby Jones and the Quest for the Grand Slam. I must admit, while about one-third of the way through the book, I thought perhaps this should be a history volume with the world golf thrown in a few times. But as I progressed, I realized this is a golf history book also. Lewis has produced a volume that can be used as a college text and also provides scholarly insight concerning the influence that golf had on the American society in the 1950’s.
Using Ike’s love of golf Lewis presents to us his approach to the presidency which at times, according to his critics, had misguided priorities. You’ll learn to love Ike for his ability to relax in the midst of the most stressful job on earth and to despise him for his apparent disregard of his responsibilities. (He played more than 800 rounds of golf during his two terms in office.) But most of all you’ll get a great appreciation for how Ike helped to generate the golf boom in the U.S. In the end Lewis gives us an interesting historical perspective on Eisenhower’s presidency.
This is not a golf history book, but rather a book that demonstrates how golf has influenced history. Baby Boomers who grew up and discovered golf in this period should find Don’t Ask What I Shot a most fascinating read. Golfers in general should read this to explore how golf became so popular in the United States.
Using Ike’s love of golf Lewis presents to us his approach to the presidency which at times, according to his critics, had misguided priorities. You’ll learn to love Ike for his ability to relax in the midst of the most stressful job on earth and to despise him for his apparent disregard of his responsibilities. (He played more than 800 rounds of golf during his two terms in office.) But most of all you’ll get a great appreciation for how Ike helped to generate the golf boom in the U.S. In the end Lewis gives us an interesting historical perspective on Eisenhower’s presidency.
This is not a golf history book, but rather a book that demonstrates how golf has influenced history. Baby Boomers who grew up and discovered golf in this period should find Don’t Ask What I Shot a most fascinating read. Golfers in general should read this to explore how golf became so popular in the United States.
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