Home › Monthly archive ›

July 2008

We'd probably starve in Western Colorado

I'm in Montrose, Colorado this week visiting cousins I've never met. This small city is near some of the most beautiful scenery in the lower 48: mountains, canyons, streams, waterfalls and woods. However, the golf courses I saw were basically goat ranches and I suspect golf plays a distant 3rd or 4th in entertainment value out here.

When I travel these days - what little I can do right now- I think about whether the cities I'm visiting might be future places where we would live. These have included Miami, Phoenix, Boston, St Louis, Sacramento, Monterey, Lake Tahoe, Denver and now Montrose. Golf is played in all of these places and I suppose it's possible we could work in the golf industry in any one of them. Whether we could make a living is another question.

The Senior U.S. Open is being played in Colorado Springs the end of this month. Colorado Springs is in the Great Basin directly east of the Rockies. The basin is relatively flat and much better suited for golf courses than where I am now. This city was also voted the #1 city to live in for its size in 2005. I wish it was possible for me to attend the Senior U.S. Open. At least I'll know a few people who'll be there.

Posted on Jul 20, 2008.

Local Pro is Medalist at SR U.S.Open Qualifier

The local golf pro at The Meadows Golf Course in Blue Island qualified for the Senior U.S. Open, which is coming up later this month in Colorado Springs. We know this pro very well. As long as Jerry Vidovic has been the head pro and manager at The Meadows we have done business together.

Jerry played the qualifying round at Hillcrest Country Club in Long Grove, IL, a course and suburb as unlike The Meadows and Blue Island as you can get. You have to live here to appreciate the vast cultural and economic differences between these two places.

Jerry started on the back nine and shot a -4 for a 68 for the day. He was the medallist at this qualifying round, which is a real accomplishment for a guy who spends a lot of his time running a municipal golf course in an economically depressed community.

Jerry told me once during a lesson that if he could manage his putter he would be on the Tour. He was an NCAA All American in 1977-78 and the youngest player ever to win the U.S. Amateur Public Links in 1977. At 51 he outdrives most of the guys who play with him and can place most of his iron shots where he wants them. He clearly outperformed his competition at Hillcrest.

We all like Jerry a lot and hope he continues to do well. Jerry has one of his sons caddying so the story will stay in the family.

Posted on Jul 09, 2008.

July ripples

Just as I noticed how much later the golf season started this year the weather got nice and summer went into cruise mode. This probably happens every July. Right now I notice that our used irons rack is almost empty, close-out shoes dominated the shoe display and we're getting more deals from the reps earlier than usual.

The economy is tough, yet Golfdom magazine reports that golf rounds are flat or even up a bit and that golfers have not significantly reduced their level of play or equipment purchases. This trend fits what we've noticed in the past: recessions affect everyone but golf is a way to escape the stresses of real life and we all need our escapes, especially in July.

Posted on Jul 08, 2008.