Golf in December: Definitely not par for course

Two weeks ago, you were knee deep in snow and planning for a white Christmas.

 

Today, you can crack open that box of Titleists you found under the tree and play 18.

 

The year of the wild weather has taken another unpredictable twist, bringing Friday temperatures in the high-40s across the area and the possibility of a balmy 50 today. That means — for at least one day — it's game on at the local links.

 

"They come out like crazy," said Justin Burrell, assistant manager at the UI Golf Course, "because they have that itch."

 

Of the 10 18-hole public courses in the area, eight confirmed Friday that they'll open their fairways and greens for business this morning. Three of the eight will even let you drive a cart. "As hard as the grounds are, carts can't do any damage," said Harrison Park superintendent Brock Burton.

 

Even Rantoul's Willow Pond will welcome golfers today, weeks into a major renovation. Just be sure to avoid the clubhouse — or what used to be the clubhouse.

"It's a cloud of dust," general manager Kipp Bates said.

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Maiden Golf Awards Held In Accra

Dr Frimpong president of Ghana Golf Association has disclose to news men that come the next Olympic games , Ghana will participate and battle for medals in golf games , as golf now has officially been included in the Olympics games . The maiden golf awards ceremony was also attended by the the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori who noted that Golf is a fair, transparent and honest sport with massive potential to inspire integrity and good leadership, therefore it’s ideal for African leaders to take up and play because it can help promote and inspire good leadership on the continent,

“A game of integrity and of truth, golf is a gentleman’s game without a doubt. A game in which one player goes unto the field all alone, plays and comes back to report that I played seven on that hole and eight on another,” the King of the Akyem people said in his closing remarks as Chairman of the first ever Ghana Golf Awards.

Okyehene added at the lavish ceremony staged at the Events Haven of the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre at La in Accra on Sunday night, December 22, 2013: “Golf speaks to the inner core of integrity. African leaders should play golf and I can assure you if they pick it up, our continent will be a better place.”

Organised by Primeval Ghana, the maiden Gold Awards in this country rewarded the best performers in the year under review and promises to make it a norm for the foreseeable future, all in the bid to entrench golf as a sport worth patronizing by Ghanaians.

Present as guest of honour to witness the recognition of top golfers nationwide was the Minister of Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah who graced the occasion with his wife and pledged to soon begin playing the sport he envisages as one that can help sustain long life and prosperity.

“There is a misconception about golf and I must admit I was one of them but ever since I’ve been interacting with the Ghana Golf Association and even tonight, I’ve learnt a lot. I can boldly tell you that I am a new convert who will be going to any of the golf courses one of these days and I will come with my wife because I think golf is the key to everlasting strength and youth,” Hon. Afriyie Ankrah stated.

In the event, Nana Bonsu of the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi was adjudged the golfer of the year whilst business tycoon, Sir Sam Jonah won the award for the of personality of the year award.

Other award winners included Elizabeth Captan (most promising golfer – female), Emmanuel Quarshie (most promising golfer – male), Herbertina Amezado (Junior golfer of the year – female), Enock Nyarko (Junior golfer of the year – male), Constance Awuni (most improved golfer – female) and Vincent Atila (most improved golfer – male).

Other winners were good old Ama Morgan (senior golfer of the year – female), Seidu Konate (senior golfer of the year – male), International golfer of the year – Daniel List, professional golfer of the year – Brave Mensah, Mona Captan (amateur golfer of the year – female) as well as Peter Amenyo (amateur golfer of the year – male).

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TOC Field at Kapalua Announced

Masters champion Adam Scott headlines the field for next week's Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the first PGA Tour event of 2014 -- although no longer the first event of the season.

 

The PGA Tour went to a wraparound schedule in October, which means the Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort on Maui will be the seventh event of the 2013-14 season.

The format for the 72-hole tournament that begins on Jan. 3 remains the same -- only winners of official PGA Tour events during 2013 are eligible. There were 35 such winners, and 30 of them have signed up for the $5.7 million tournament.

 

As expected, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will skip the event. Neither has played it in years, with Woods last competing in 2005 and Mickelson in '01.

 

Woods is expected to make his season debut next month at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson already has committed to that event, as well as the week prior at a European Tour stop in Abu Dhabi.

 

FedEx Cup and Tour Championship winner Henrik Stenson is also taking a pass at Kapalua, as is U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and RBC Heritage winner Graeme McDowell. The latter three all had hectic schedules on the European Tour at the end of 2013.

 

The tournament boasts 13 first-time winners, including 2013 rookie of the year Jordan Spieth. Others competing are PGA champion Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar, defending champion Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker.

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Golf: Henrik Stenson is looking to break his major duck after a record-breaking year on tour

Henrik Stenson is looking to add a major title to his growing CV after a record-breaking year on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

The Swede dominated the sport from the summer, chalking up seven top 10s from his final nine events on his way to securing the Race To Dubai title and the FedEx Cup.

 

Stenson also topped up his bank balance to the tune of 1m euros with victory in the DP World Tour Championship at Dubai November but it his showing in the majors which gives him hope for the coming year.

 

Second to Phil Mickelson in The Open at Muirfield was followed by a third-placed showing at the USPGA and he believes he now has the game to see him break his duck in 2014.

 

"From the US Open onwards I was on a really, really good run," he told Sky Sports News.

 

"Obviously my game was in good shape but my attitude and state of mind was phenomenal and the success I have had is down to the mental state I was in over that period.

 

"But you have to have a good golf game to back it up as well, and it all came together for me in 2013.

 

"I took so many positives out of my second place at The Open and third at the US PGA and that is what I will be trying to build on for next year, try to up my game that little bit more to put myself right in the mix."

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Stenson Becomes Honorary Member of the PGA Sweden National

 

On the back of the finest season of his career, World Number Three Henrik Stenson has received Honorary Lifetime Membership of the PGA Sweden National.

After finishing runner-up behind Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the Thailand Golf Championship on the Asian Tour, Stenson flew home to his native Sweden to receive the award from Mats Paulsson and Henrik Treschow, respectively the co-owner and chairman of PGA Sweden National, in Malmo.

The Lake Course will host the €1.5 million Nordea Masters for the first time from May 29-June 1, 2014, when Finland’s Mikko Ilonen will defend his title.  

Stenson, who will begin the defence of his Race to Dubai crown in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, said: “It’s a big honour – and now I don’t have to pay any green fees!

“Now that I’m a member of the club, the Nordea Masters will be even more fun, and it goes without saying that I’m aiming for victory.

“I’m obviously in a good position in the World Rankings after last season, but I’m always looking to improve and I’m already looking ahead to next year.”

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