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2020 PGA Championship and The Wyndham Preview

Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro NC (Donald Ross)

PGA Championship Wrap-Up

Last week saw a riveting finish to the PGA Tour’s first major of the year. Collin Morikawa fired off a blistering final round 64 to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in winning the PGA Championship at the tender age of 23. Morikawa was calm and collected throughout with a sold round tee to green, while displaying a silky-smooth putting stroke–but two magnificent shots carried the day. On the difficult 14^th hole, facing a delicate uphill chip from a tight lie with little green to work with, where getting it up and down to save par under major championship pressure was no easy task—he chipped in for birdie. And then on the reachable par four sixteenth hole, where many in the field were laying back with irons or hitting 3 wood to leave a short chip, he pulled out his driver and drove the green, shaping a gorgeous fade to about eight feet—and then drilled the putt for eagle. With his two-shot victory over Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson, Morikawa moved all the way up to number 2 in the FedEx Cup standings, closing in on Justin Thomas, who retained his number 1 spot (for now). And with all of the excitement surrounding Morikawa’s huge win, John Rahm’s move to number 1 in the world rankings went almost unnoticed. Brooks Koepka, the pre-tournament favorite and reigning PGA Champion, faded early on Sunday and finished well back with a final round 74. Koepka stirred up a bit of controversy on Saturday with a comment he made about 3^rd round leader Dustin Johnson. When asked if he thought he could catch him and make it three in a row, Koepka pointed out that Johnson only had one major title under his belt, and said “I like my chances.” The comment raised more than a few eyebrows, and brought on a response from Rory McIlroy who said “…sort of hard to knock a guy that’s got 21 wins on the PGA tour, which is three times what Brooks has.” Tiger’s performance was largely uninspiring, and his trusted putter seemed to let him down on every hole, finishing well back at 1 under par (T37). With the level of talent on the PGA Tour right now, Woods will have to raise his game a couple of notches to compete as we head into the FedEx playoffs. And Morikawa wasn’t the only youngster opening eyes at the PGA either, as Scottie Scheffler (Age 24, T4 at -10), Matthew Wolff (Age 21, T4 at -10) and long hitting Cameron Champ (Age 25, T10 at -8) all made a strong run at the championship. When you add so many fresh young faces to an already star-studded field, the next few months is guaranteed to be exciting.

The Wyndham Championship

The Field

The week following a major often doesn’t include a particularly deep field, but with so much talent on the tour right now, in a truncated season, the Wyndham will include plenty of big names, with Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and PGA runner-up Paul Casey all teeing it up. It will be interesting to see how Koepka rebounds from his disappointing finish at the PGA, particularly in light of the remarks he made about Dustin Johnson. Don’t be surprised if Brooks puts the hammer down with big a week at the Wyndham; and keep in mind that Paul Casey went out of his way to say that his wonderful play on Sunday at the PGA was helped by the class Koepka displayed while struggling with his own game in that final round.

The Event

First played in 1938 as the Greater Greensboro Open, The Wyndham Championship is one of the oldest events on the PGA tour. Currently held at the venerable Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, NC, Sam Snead won the championship an astounding eight times. In addition to Snead, champions include legendary players such as Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, Julius Boros, and Seve Ballesteros. J. T. Poston is the reigning champion, and he will be in the field this week to defend his title.

The Course

Sedgefield Country Club, founded in 1925, is an original Donald Ross design that was updated over the years by notable architects including Gene Hamm and Willard Byrd. In 2007 the course was lengthened to accommodate current equipment, and restored to the original Ross layout by Kris Spence, acclaimed for classic course restorations including Memphis Country Club (Donald Ross), Forsyth Country Club (Tillinghast/Ross), and Mimosa Hills Golf Club (Donald Ross).

Find detailed course information here.

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2020 Tour Update-PGA Championship Preview

3M Open

The 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, closed out July with tour journeyman Michael Thompson winning at 19 under par, two shots ahead of runner up, Andrew Long. The win was Thomson’s second tour victory, the first one at the Honda all the way back in 2013. The 2020 season has been difficult for Thomson, making the cut in only 8 of 17 events, but a top 10 at the Heritage in June was a sign that his game was starting to come around. Proving that hard work and fortitude can pay off, Thomson secured a two-year tour exemption along with entry into this week’s PGA Championship at Harding Park and the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in September. In an emotional interview following the final round, Thomson credited his wife, Rachel, for keeping his confidence up and believing in him when things got tough, saying “My wife has been a rock for me.”

WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational

August opened up with the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational, and saw Justin Thomas mount a dramatic come from behind charge to victory with the legendary ‘Bones’ Mackey on his bag. Everyone expected the hard as nails Brooks Koepka to come away with the win, but the pressure Thomas applied seemed to shake a normally unflappable Koepka and he ended with a double bogey six on the last hole, finishing runner-up. This victory gave Thomas a 713-point lead in the FedEx Cup standings over Webb Simpson, currently in the second spot.

Tiger Woods

After a rocky showing at the Memorial Tournament, questions have again started to bubble up with regard to Tiger’s back. Before starting the Memorial, Tiger put the kibosh on speculation about the condition of his back when he said that his delayed return to tournament play was strictly due to an abundance of caution concerning COVID-19. While Tiger didn’t appear to be in obvious pain at any point in the tournament, his swing didn’t have the fluid freedom we saw at the end of 2019, and a pair of 76’s only add fuel to the rumor mill. Tiger says that he just needed to knock off some rust, and we’ll get to see for sure when he continues his pursuit of Jack’s major championship record this week at Harding Park. Stay tuned.

2020 PGA Championship

The Field

As with all major championships, The PGA Championship will include a tremendous field of top-ranked players, each hoping to bring home the Wannamaker Trophy, awarded to the winner by the PGA of America. In addition to Tiger, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, and Phil Mickelson will all be teeing it up this week. The player to watch is most certainly the reigning two-time PGA Champion, Brooks Koepka. Koepka gained momentum at the FedEx, in spite of the hiccup on the final hole. After poor finishes at the Workday, Memorial, and 3M, Koepka turned up his game with a blistering 62 in the opening round, and recorded solid rounds of 68 and 69 over the weekend. With his explosive display at the FedEx, Justin Thomas (also a former PGA Champion) is another player to watch closely this week. Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantley, Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, and Patrick Reed have all been playing well of late, and each would dearly love to add the Wannamaker to his trophy case. And don’t be surprised if Dustin Johnson suddenly jumps in the mix and walks away with his second major victory. Of course, The PGA has been known to deliver the unexpected, suddenly launching an unknown name into the spotlight (John Daly, Rich Beem, Y.E. Yang, Shaun Micheel, Jeff Sluman, and Wayne Grady come to mind). One thing is for sure, this is going to be a great week for watching golf.

The Course

TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California will be hosting a professional major championship for the first time in its venerated history. Harding Park was originally designed by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, opening in 1925. A municipal course, owned by the San Francisco Department of Parks & Recreation, Harding Park hosted the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 1937 and in 1956, and the Lucky International Open on the PGA Tour until 1969. Due to budget cuts, Harding Park’s condition had begun to decline and the tour was ultimately forced to end their relationship. For the next thirty years, Harding Park was largely forgotten, with the most humiliating moment coming when it was used as a parking lot for the 1998 U.S. Open that was played at The Olympic Club. 2002 brought about a revival, however, when Arnold Palmer Golf Management was brought in to operate the park. Former USGA President Sandy Tatum played a key role by enlisting the assistance of Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour, with PGA Tour course architect Chris Gray tasked with returning Harding Park to Watson’s vision—and he did a masterful job. 2005 proved to be another groundbreaking year for Harding Park, as it hosted its first World Golf Championship event (The American Express Championship). Ten years later, the course hosted the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship. Both World Golf events at Harding were thrilling nail-bitters, with Tiger Woods narrowly defeating fan-favorite John Daly in a playoff at the American Express, and Rory McIlroy defeating the hard-charging Gary Woodland at the Cadillac Matchplay. Harding Park also hosted the 2009 Presidents Cup, and is scheduled to host the 2025 Presidents Cup. In 2010, Harding Park became a member of the TPC network, and is now operated by PGA Tour Golf Course Properties. Joining Bethpage, Torrey Pines and Chambers Bay among municipal courses that have hosted a major championship is yet another fitting tribute to Harding Park, and a testament to how far the game has come in making great courses available to everyone.

Get detailed course information at GolfDay.

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Choosing a Private Club

Did you know that there were more than 4,000 private golf clubs in the U.S. at the end of 2019?

If you are considering membership at a private golf club, choosing the right one for you is a decision that should definitely not be taken lightly. We’ve outlined a few important things to consider when weighing your options—keep reading and save yourself a lot of time and money.

Advantages of a Private Golf Club

Since there are more than 12,000 public golf courses to play in the United States, why would anybody want to spend money on a private club? Here’s a few of the best reasons:

Access: Public courses need to book as may rounds as possible to turn a profit, and weekends are obviously the most popular with a premium on the morning. That means it’s likely to be tough finding a tee time at a good golf course if you work during the week and want to get a round in on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Not a problem at a private club, where membership is limited and a good tee time is always available.
Finding a game: Unless you have an extensive network of golf buddies to call on whenever you’re looking for a round, it’s likely you will often be playing with strangers at your local public course. Not the case at a private club, where in very little time you will get to know everybody and finding a game will never be a problem.
Course condition: As mentioned earlier, public courses need a lot of play to maintain profitability, and that means a lot of rounds, seven days a week. All that play takes a toll on the course, and even top-notch public facilities with a high maintenance budget have a tough time keeping up. Not so for the private club, where limited membership translates to far fewer rounds, much less damage to the course, and generally much better conditioning.

When it’s time to choose, ask yourself a few questions:

1. What else can a club membership offer

Family: If you have a young family, look for a club with amenities that include a pool and tennis courts, so while you are out golfing, your spouse and kids can have some fun as well.
Business: The golf course is a great place to interact with clients, so if you’re looking to enhance your business profile, find a club with a quality course and top-notch dining facilities.
Social: If you like to entertain family and friends, ask what kind of special events are held throughout the year such as holiday galas, music, or outdoor festivities like barbaque and fireworks.

2. What is most important to me

Prestige: The year a club was founded and the stature of the architect who originally designed the golf course are directly related to the “prestige” associated with a club. Clubs that were founded a hundred and more years ago with a course designed by one of the master architects (Donald Ross or A. W. Tillinghast for example) will also be among the most prestigious in your area—but likely come with a hefty price tag as well (along with a level of exclusivity whereby acceptance is not necessarily a foregone conclusion).
The track: A course doesn’t have to be a hundred years old to be great, and there are a number of modern-day architects that will be considered among the masters as time marches on (Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio come to mind). If you are a serious golfer and want to be challenged, look to see who designed the course and check the current USGA course and slope rating (a rating of 73 or better along with a slope of 130 or more will likely suit your needs).
Variety: Some clubs offer 27 holes as three 9-hole courses, or two 18-hole courses. In addition to not having to play the same course all the time, it will also help with the pace of play.
Practice facilities: The scope and quality of practice facilities can vary a great deal, even at private clubs. If you like to work on your game, be sure to take a good look at the driving range and short-game facilities—particularly the amount of grass area that is available so you are not hitting from the mats too often.

3. Can I swing it financially

Membership at a private club can be a significant expense, so you need to weigh the benefits outlined above against the costs that will be incurred—the most common of which are listed below:

Initiation fee: An initiation fee is pretty common, generally non-refundable, and can be a pretty big number, so it’s the first question to ask when you are considering a club. It’s also the biggest reason you want to be sure of your decision.
Bond: With private equity clubs, each member owns a portion of the club so you will be required to purchase a bond. Again, the bond can be expensive—but the good news is that the value of the bond is refunded when you leave the club.
Dues: Annual dues are generally paid in advance at the end of each year, although payment may be spread over a period of months or throughout the year.
Minimums: Often a club will require a minimum spend on food and beverage, and if you are a golf-only person it may be tough to meet your monthly nut—but generally a few lunches or dinners will get it done (or even ordering take-away every so often).
Assessments: When a club undertakes extraordinary improvement projects, like updating or remodeling the golf course, expanding the clubhouse, or building a new practice facility, the expenses are shared equally by the membership. Large expenses generally require a majority vote of the members and, if approved, the costs are passed along to all of the members—even if you voted no. The good news is that improvements to the club will increase the value of your bond, while you also enjoy the benefit of an enhanced facility.
Ancillaries: Additional expenses to keep in mind when joining a club include golf bag storage, cart/caddie charges, and guest fees.

What’s my travel time

To get the most from a membership you need to use it often, so you don’t want a haul getting over to the club (and as they say, time is money). Optimal distance is within a 20 minute drive, but you may want to extend that for business accessibility.

Making Your Decision

Choosing a private club is a long-term decision, so you need to give it a lot of thought. Hopefully the considerations we’ve outlined will help bring your choices into focus, and assure that you pick the right club for you.

Check out the GolfDay Rating to see the best private clubs in your area.

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FedEx Cup Playoff Update

East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, GA
July 12, 2020

We are well into July, and although the long lay-off makes it feel like the PGA season only just began, the FedEx Cup playoffs are right around the corner. A number of youngsters have burst onto the scene in a big way, and this year looks to be the most exciting run to the tour championship and $15 million dollar FedEx Cup purse ever.

Currently Webb Simpson is the leader, with 1,660 points on the strength of 6 top ten’s, including two wins in 2019-2020 wrap-around season. After reaching the pinnacle of professional golf with a win at the 2012 US Open, the putter he used to get him there was removed from his bag when the Tour announced in 2013 that “Anchored Putters” would no longer be allowed beginning with the 2016 season. Simpson had to re-build his putting stroke, and even more importantly, his confidence, but it appears that all of his hard work has him ready to add another major to his resume—and perhaps the FedEx Cup as well. Justin Thomas is hot on his heels with 1,543 points. Thomas has recorded 5 top-10’s with two wins thus far, and charged to the third-round lead at the Workday Open at Muirfield Village with consecutive 66’s (he shot 68 in the opening round). With Simpson taking this week off, Thomas can move into the FedEx Cup point lead by finishing 4^th or better. At number 3 is Sungjae Im, a 22 year old from the Republic of Korea, who won the Honda and followed that up with a top-5 at Bay Hill just before the suspension of play. Im recorded a top-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge when play resumed at Colonial in June. In 4^th place is Bryson DeChambou (“The Mad Scientist”), who bombed the field with 350 plus yard drives at Detroit Golf Club to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week. Rory McIlroy is lurking at number 5, with a win and 6 top-10 finishes. While Rory has gotten off to a bit of a slow start since play resumed, expect him to make a charge beginning at the Memorial next week with Tiger in the field. Patrick Reed, dubbed “Captain America” for his gritty play at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, sits just behind McIlroy at number 6. Reed has a win (WGC-Mexico) and 4 top-10’s thus far in the 2019-2020 campaign.

Young Guns

Coming into this week, twenty-one-year-old Californian Colin Morikawa stood at 21st in the FedEx standings, and precision iron play reminiscent of Johnny Miller have him only 3 shots behind Thomas after the 3^rd round at the Workday Open–a big Sunday would vault him into the top 10. Another youngster, 22-year-old Victor Hovland from Norway who played college golf at OSU, stands at 35^th on the FedEx Cup standings. Hovland started the final round at the Workday only 2 shots behind Thomas, and he also would shoot up to the top ten with a win.

Notables

Tiger will be making his first start in 3 months at next week’s Memorial Tournament, and he has won Jack’s event 5 times. All eyes will be glued to the screen to see what he has in store after such a long lay-off (Tiger will also be looking to record his 83^rd Tour win and break Sam Snead’s record). There have been some rumors that his back troubles may have returned, but he looked solid at the end of May in the match with Phil, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Brooks Koepka is another force to be reckoned with down the stretch run. Looking to win an unprecedented three consecutive PGA Championships, Koepka has displayed Tiger-like ability and resolve at the biggest events under maximum pressure. Jordan Spieth has started to show signs of returning to major championship form, but has been unable to put four solid rounds together so far—still, don’t be surprised if he suddenly bursts onto the scene when the FedEx playoffs get going. And coming off his win at the Travelers, Dustin Johnson appears ready to make a move and remind us of why he is number 3 in the world rankings. Keep an eye on Patrick Cantley as well, who has quietly edged closer to the top 30 with his game peaking at exactly the right time. When you add John Rahm (number 2 in the world), Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, and Jason Day to the mix, the next month and half of pure excitement will more than make up for those dreary days when there was no golf to watch.

Get more detailed course information on the East Lake Golf Club courtesy of GolfDay.

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Rocket Mortgage Classic and the “Muirfield Double”

Muirfiekd Village Golf Club — Muirfield Village Golf Club
July 7, 2020

DeChambeau wins in Detroit

Last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club delivered not only excitement, but our first bit of controversy as well. Bryson DeChambeau, nicknamed “The Mad Scientist” for his uniquely scientific approach to the golf swing, put the emphasis on “mad” after making a poor shot out of a greenside bunker on the par 5 7^th hole during Saturday’s 3^rd round, failing to get up and down for birdie. After angrily swatting the sand and then muttering various expletives while leaving the green, he then accosted a camera man for filming his less than professional display. Blowing his top at a camera man for simply doing his job raised a few eyebrows, but in spite of the momentary lapse, DeChambeau charged from three shots back of Matthew Wolff with a sizzling 65 on Sunday and cruised to victory. A new found power surge that he credits to an offseason change in diet and robust exercise regimen has him bombing it off the tee (one of his drives was measured at 375 yards). While he won’t be in the field for the first leg of the “Muirfield Double” at Jack’s course in Dublin, OH, we’ll get a chance to see him the week after for the Memorial where he recorded his second career win in 2018. Bryson has also vaulted to the odds-on favorite for winning one or more of the three majors coming up later this year.

The WorkDay Charity Open

The inaugural WorkDay Charity Open, and first leg of the “Muirfield Double” at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio begins this Thursday (July 9). The Jack Nicklaus masterpiece, and venue for the Memorial Tournament, has perennially drawn one of the strongest fields on the PGA Tour—and this year we get to enjoy it two weeks in a row. The powerhouse field will include Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, and Bubba Watson. Brooks Koepka’s younger brother, Chase, will also be teeing it up this week (the Tour graciously added him to the field after he qualified for the Travelers Championship but withdrew after learning that Brooks’ caddie had tested positive for COVID-19). In addition, the deep field will include Xander Schauffele (2017 Tour Championship winner and runner up in 2019), Hideki Matsuyama (2014 Memorial Champion), and Patrick Cantley (the reigning Memorial Champion).

Muirfield Village

Muirfield Village Golf Club was designed and founded by Jack Nicklaus in 1974 while he was at the height of his PGA Tour career (and he won the Memorial twice, in 1977 and 1984). Jack is notorious for designing difficult tracks, and Muirfield may be the toughest of all with a course rating of 78.6 and a slope of 155. In addition to Jack himself, the list of past winners at Muirfield reads like a who’s who among golf’s elite, including Tiger Woods (5-time winner of the Memorial), Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Hale Irwin, Vijay Singh and Fred Couples. Known for its thick rough, tight fairways and firm greens, year in and year out Muirfield provides a test where the biggest names in golf can display their skills, and identifies the player who is at the very top of his game.

Explore more compelling articles with Golf Talk.

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5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Golf Clubs for Beginners

The game of golf is over 600 years old , and continues to be among the most popular sports in America.

A third of Americans hit the links every year, and of those over two million are beginners.

When you are just starting out, the first thing you’ll need is a set of clubs–so here are a few things to consider that will save some time and money.

1. What Length Do I Need?

Standard length clubs are fine for almost everybody (5’6″-5’ll” for men and 5’3″-5’7″ for women). Even if you don’t fall into that range, it’s not worth the expense of being fitted for custom length shafts until you have a few rounds under your belt and talked to the PGA professional at your course or local driving range.

2. What Shaft Weight and Flex is Best?

Optimal shaft flex and weight is generally determined by your swing speed. Lighter and more flexible shafts are better for Juniors and Seniors, while accomplished golfers will want stiffer shafts. The best bet when you are first starting out is to stick with “Regular” shafts for all of your clubs. As you get better and your swing speed increases, you may want to consider stiffer shafts, but that is another decision best made with some guidance from your local PGA professional.

3. Do I need to spend a lot of money?

Clubs can be expensive, and you do not need to spend a lot of money when you are just starting out. Irons, woods, wedges and putter are sold separately so pick up an inexpensive set of irons; 8 clubs, 3-iron through 9 nine iron and pitching wedge (regular shafts, standard head–not “blades”), a 3 wood (15 degrees of loft), a 4 hybrid (22 degrees of loft) a 60 degree wedge with medium “bounce” for the sand and a putter (standard length, medium weight). The Driver is the most important club in the bag, and also the hardest to hit, so it’s best to use your 3 wood until you have played for a while (and it will give you close to the same distance when you hit it well). Long irons are also difficult to master, so your hybrid will be the best bet for longer shots from the fairway. And there is no rule that says you have to carry the full complement of 14 clubs, so a 3 wood, hybrid, mid-iron (5 iron), short iron (8 iron), pitching wedge, 60 degree wedge and putter are all you really need to get the hang of the game and start having fun. As you get better and develop a feel for how far your clubs are going, you can add more clubs to build your arsenal.

4. What about Juniors?

It is not a good idea to give a youngster an old set of standard clubs when they are first starting out. Junior beginner sets with 4 or 5 clubs are pretty inexpensive, and they are shorter in length, much more flexible and a lot easier to hit. Most important is that the they build confidence and have fun. As they grow and get better at the game, more complete Junior golf sets are available that are tailored to each age group.

5. Do I Need Custom Clubs?

Club fitting can take your game to a new level, but first you need to develop a consistent swing. Far better to invest in lessons with a pro and time on the range before spending money on custom clubs. If you take first things first and build a fundamentally sound golf swing, your game will improve rapidly. A seasoned pro will know when it’s time for you to move on to better clubs, and can advise on club specifications that will maximize your performance. You will hear terms like “lie angle” and “kick point,” which are important, but remember that to get the most from your clubs, you need consistency. See your pro–you’ll be glad you did.

Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Golf Clubs

Choosing golf clubs doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive, or complicated. The fun part is working on your game and improving every day.

Remember that golf is a journey, so don’t get frustrated. Just play and have fun!

Ready to tee up? Find a golf course near you today!

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2020 Travelers at TPC River Highlands

Beautiful landscape at TPC River Highlands — TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT
June 25, 2020

The Travelers Championship starts today at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT. and while the previous three tournaments provided plenty of thrills, I have a feeling the Travelers may be the best yet.

The Field

First some unfortunate news–Brooks Koepka announced yesterday that he was withdrawing from the tournament because his caddie, Ricky Elliot, had tested positive for Covid-19. Web Simpson, Cameron Champ and Chase Koepka (Brook’s younger brother) also announced that they would withdraw. Although none of the players have tested positive, they each had been in close proximity to Brooks and his caddie, so felt that caution was the most prudent course—hopefully they will be returning soon. The field, however, will still be packed with big stars like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed. Now that Phil has joined the 50+ club, it will be interesting to see how he fares. A two-time winner at the Travelers, Phil is comfortable with the layout at River Highlands and with his window of opportunity closing a little bit more in a star-studded field, don’t be surprised if we see the hyper-aggressive Phil of years past. The Travelers will be the third tournament in a row for Thomas, Spieth, Rose, Johnson, Rahm, and McIlroy, so fatigue may start to become a factor—although they may also be super sharp after playing so much competitive golf. And with the exception of Johnson and McIlroy, all of them were in the hunt at the previous two events, but came up just short. Meanwhile, we are still eagerly awaiting the debut of Tiger Woods. While no official date has been set, Tiger was seen playing golf with his son Charlie on St. Simon’s Island, so perhaps he is starting to tune up for a return in the near future (The Memorial is a good bet, since Tiger has rarely missed Jack’s event).

The Course

The Travelers Championship is held at TPC River Highlands, a private club in Cromwell CT. The course, originally name Edgewood Country Club, was designed in 1928 by Robert R. Ross. Pete Dye did a redesign in 1982, modernizing and stiffening the course to stand up to current equipment as a TPC course, while maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape and layout. In 1989, the course underwent further remodeling and updating by Bobby Weed. As a par 70 measuring 6,841 yards from the tips, the softness of the course makes it play significantly longer, and tight fairways with small greens will present a challenge to the players. Still, River Highlands is considered one of the less demanding courses on the Tour schedule (USGA course rating of 73/Slope rating of 131). The course record of 58 was set by Jim Furyk in 2016, but the fact that he did not go on to win is evidence that River Highlands has teeth and can bite back.

History

Past champions at the Travelers include bombers like Bubba Watson (twice), Phil Mickelson (twice), and Greg Norman, as well as great putters like Jordan Spieth and Brad Faxon. Illustrious ball strikes including Nick Price, Paul Azinger and Lanny Wadkins have also claimed this championship, but precision and grit can carry the day—as seen with the reigning champion, Chez Reavie. Other past winners here include David Frost, Curtis Strange and Peter Jacobsen (twice).

Wrap up

With this field, on a course that allows so many different styles of play the opportunity to win, we should be in for a treat. Be sure to tune in, you will be glad you did.

Get the course details on the TPC River Highlands

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Trump National Los Angeles

A Dye Design

Trump National Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to a great many world-renowned golf courses. Although many are private, there are a number of notable tracks that are open to the public. Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, designed by Pete and Perry Dye, has been consistently ranked among the top public courses in California since opening in 2006 (currently ranked number 30 by Golfweek).

History

Located about a half-hour drive south of Los Angeles International Airport on the Palos Altos Peninsula near San Pedro, Trump National got off to a rocky start (literally). Originally named Ocean Trails Golf Club and built in 1999, the course sits on high bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean with beautiful views of Catalina Island in the distance. Unfortunately, the location and features that contribute to the extraordinary beauty of the property also make it highly susceptible to landslides. Before the course could open, a slide heavily damaged the 16^th and 17^th holes while the 18^th hole completely disappeared into ocean. The expense to stabilize the property and rebuild the closing holes was so high (approximately $20 Million) that the original owner was forced into bankruptcy. In 2002 the Trump Organization purchased the property, finalized reconstruction, and Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles opened for play in 2006.

The Course

The unique location of Trump National makes it one of the most scenic cThe unique location of Trump National make it one of the most scenic courses in the state, with gorgeous views from almost every hole. Although not known as one of Pete Dye’s most difficult layouts (USGA Rating of 74.6 with a slope of 144), at over 7,000 yards from the tips with strategically placed bunkers and gusty coastal breezes coming off of the Pacific just a stone’s throw away on so many holes, Trump National Los Angeles is a stiff test of golf for players of any level. While there are few dog legs and very wide fairways, there is not a great deal of rough, so shots that are not well placed run the risk of rolling out into a hazard. And the greens, while perfect, are highly undulated, so strong putting is at a premium. All in all, this course was definitely built for the low-handicapper, but multiple tee boxes and wide fairways also give novice golfers the chance to have a fun day while enjoying the stunning views and classic Pete Dye layout.

Trump National offers quality practice facilities as well, with a manicured grass driving range featuring multiple targets as well as putting and chipping greens.

Rick Smith Golf Academy

Trump National Los Angeles is also home to the highly acclaimed Rick Smith Golf Academy, offering private lessons, multi-day schools, clinics, video analysis and junior golf programs. Rick has worked with some of the towering figures in golf, including Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson—so your game is guaranteed to improve with one of the programs the Academy has to offer.

Accommodations

The South Bay area offers a variety of wonderful hotels only minutes from Trump National, including the Terranea Resort, the Doubletree Hotel San Pedro, the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Pedro and the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club at Redondo Beach.

Rates

The greens fees at Trump National Los Angeles are a bit high (averaging between $200. and $300.), but they come down quite a bit in the late afternoon. There are also a variety of “VIP” programs that make the course more affordable (the standard program is $795 per year and locks your rate at $160 throughout the day with unlimited use of the practice facilities.)

The GolfDay Rating

GolfDay gives Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles a rating of 93.5, number 12 among all public courses in California.

For more details: Trump National Los Angeles

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2020 Charles Schwab Invitational—The PGA Tour is back!

A view from the green at the Colonial Country Club

While the Woods/Manning v Mickelson/Brady match delivered far beyond our expectations, and quelled a bit of our PGA Tour withdrawal,I think we all still long for a return of regular tournament play. That is why I’m pleased to remind all golf fans out there that the tour is finally returning with the Charles Schwab Challenge next week (June 11-14) at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

A Fitting Start

It seems fitting for the tour to return at Colonial, since the first tour event hosted at the legendary course was played in 1946, making it the longest running tour event continuously played at the same venue. Colonial is a tough track with a USGA course rating of 75.1 and slope rating of 138. Tight fairways and quick, undulated greens, make precision a requirement for success on this classic layout. Ranked nationally and among the top five courses in Texas by Golf Digest, Colonial has seen all the games greatest players battle it out to have their name etched on the Wall of Champions next to the first tee. Colonial will be forever associated with the legendary Ben Hogan, who resided in Fort Worth and won five times there. While the Colonial puts a premium on accuracy, short game, and putting, winners at Colonial also include some of the longest hitters in the game—including Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson. What makes Colonial unique in an era of power golf, is the opportunity it gives for players like Corey Pavin and Zach Johnson (both past champions) to display their immense skills at shaping shots and controlling ball flight without needing to hit it 340 yards off the tee.

Colonial Country Club History

Colonial was founded in in 1936 and originally designed by John Bredemus, with later renovations by Perry Maxwell and updates by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Dick Wilson. The members at Colonial have maintained their commitment to improving the course over the years with contributions coming from accomplished modern-day architects including Jay Morrish, Bob Cupp, and Keith Foster. Bredemus is relatively obscure, but he designed a great many excellent courses in Texas, as well as quite a few in Mexico, including Guadalajara Country Club, one of the top ranked courses in the country. Maxwell is known for his contributions to Augusta National, Pine Valley, Merion, and Westchester, all of which emphasize the necessity for accurate driving and strong putting.

Major Championships Held at the Colonial

Colonial has hosted three major championships over the years, including the 1941 U.S. Open as well as the 1975 Players Championship and the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open.

2020 Charles Schwab Invitational

With the re-opening of tournament play after such a long lay-off, this year’s event will have a packed field of stars. Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, John Rahm, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, and Jim Furyk are all expected to tee it up. With a field like this, golf fans can expect fireworks and thrills right down to the back nine on Sunday. And don’t count out the defending champ Kevin Na, who had a top ten earlier in the year at the World Golf Championship in Mexico, or Tony Finau who finished second last year and can attack pins from short range if he’s finding fairways.

And away we go.

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Florida Top 3 Private Golf Clubs

Florida is home to more golf courses than any other state in the country with over 1,200. But even with all of those courses to choose from, selecting the one that is right for you may not be as easy as it seems.

Not only does Florida have perfect golf weather year-round, there are the beaches, restaurants and family-oriented activities that make it a wonderful place to live for people wanting to maintain an active lifestyle.

If you’re a captain of industry, travel in the circles of the rich and famous, or just an avid golfer with enough money and connections, here are three private clubs in Florida that should go to the top of your bucket-list.

Seminole Golf Club

Perennially ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the U.S. by Golf Digest and currently at number 12, this Donald Ross classic is home to a who’s who of the business elite and golf royalty. Founded by E. F. Hutton and built in 1926, the links style layout at Seminole is arguably the crowning achievement of Ross’ distinguished career. Don’t bother looking for the website—they don’t have one. The members at Seminole guard their privacy and you won’t catch a glimpse of the clubhouse or golf course through the hedges along Route 1 in Juno Beach, but you will have a chance to see it on May 17 when Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Rickey Fowler and Mathew Wolff tee it up in a televised skins game match for COVID-19 relief. As with all pure links golf courses, the wind will be a determining factor in how these great players attack the course—and we are all in for a special treat with this rare opportunity for a look at this historic club.

Seminole will also host the Walker Cup in 2021, so if you miss this match, you’ll have another chance next year—but the opportunity to see Seminole is something you never want to pass up. We rank Seminole at the top of the list as the best private club in Florida.

Jupiter Hills Club

Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, FL is the vision and legacy of George Fazio, and also launched the spectacular architectural career of his nephew, Tom Fazio. The club boasts two great courses, the Hills and the Villages, laid down on a unique piece of property just north of Palm Beach that offers elevation change and contour provided by Seminole Ridge—a pretty rare feature in a state that’s known for being extremely flat. The Hills course is ranked among the best in Florida and the crowning achievement of George Fazio’s architectural career. With a course rating of 77.1 and slope of 150, the many top flight golfers who call Jupiter Hills home can test their skill to the max every time they tee it up. And the Village course, designed by Tom Fazio, is no slouch either with a USGA rating of 73.9 and a slope of 147. Known as a player’s club, Jupiter Hills is the place to be if you’ve got game and live in south-east Florida.

Mountain Lake Country Club

Number 3 on our list is Mountain Lake Country Club in Lake Wales. A Seth Raynor masterpiece that often flies under the radar, Golf Digest currently ranks Mountain Lake number ten among all of the courses that Florida has to offer. The club engaged Ron Prichard and Tyler Rae on a recently completed restoration to bring back many of the subtle Raynor features that were lost over the more than 100 years since the course was built in 1917. As always, Prichard and Rae were meticulous with their effort and the result was perfection. In addition to the wonderful course, Mountain Lake is a full service, family-oriented club with pure class, grounded in tradition, and a membership that is committed to maintaining values of the highest standard.

A few others to consider

In addition to these great clubs, The Concession Golf Club is a spectacular Jack Nicklaus design in Bradenton and Belleair Country Club on the gulf coast near Tampa-St. Petersburg offers 36 holes designed by Donald Ross in a stunningly scenic setting.

For more information on the best golf courses in your state, visit GolfDay for everything you need to know.

Informative?

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