Phil, Bill, and Jean - That Is Why It's Called Risk

While catching up on my blogroll this evening, I came across an interesting article that I found myself taking some exception to, i.e. a provocative article about a good topic. The post in question is from the Waggle Room blog and is titled "Bigger Idiot: Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot or Bill Belichick Last Night?"

For those unaware what this article might be referring to, on Sunday Night Football this past weekend, Bill Belichick, the well-known head coach of the New England Patriots football squad, made the decision to go for a first down on a 4th & 2 on their own 30 with just over 2 minutes left playing with a 6 point lead over the Indianapolis Colts in Indy. The play called was a quick out from Tom Brady to Kevin Faulk that was almost, barely, good enough, but after a brief bobble netted about a half of a yard, and gave the Colts the ball on the Pats' 30 with two minutes remaining and needing seven points to win.

I trust you can guess from the title of the article above, or from reading or watching anything sports related over the last 48 hours, that the Colts did indeed score the necessary 7 points, and Belichick quickly grew a little chin beard, short horns, and those crazy devil eyes (oh, wait, those were already there, they just became more apparent). Yes, for a change, Belichick was the goat, and lost what would have been a huge win for the Patriots.

If you hadn't already guessed, I'm not the biggest Bill Belichick fan (as if he cares), and I do think the decision was stupid (again, as if he cares). Bill Belichick has won 3 Super Bowls, and has coached the only 16-0 regular season record in NFL history. With the loss on Sunday night, his current team is 6-3, and still in good position to win the AFC East and once again head to the playoffs. I would bet a tremendous sum of money (OK, so right now I only have $22.64, but that's a lot for me) that Belichick and the Pats have already moved on to next Sunday's game against their rival Jets. So why can't the media? Because they are paid to talk and write about how Belichick should never have made that decision, that's why.

This is not a blog about football, though I do so very much love football. This is a golf blog, so on to the topic we go. The article in question (written by Ryan Ballengee) makes a comparison between Belichick's decision Sunday and Phil Mickelson's decision on the 18th hole of the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot that ultimately cost him the major, and handed it to Geoff Ogilvy. In an unnecessarily cruel spin, he even brought poor old Jean van de Velde into the three-way comparison. Though I do find Mr. Ballengee's blog to be entertaining, I disagree with the comparison for the following reason; football is a team sport, and Belichick a coach while golf is an individual sport with Mickelson the player.

Sure, Phil has Jim "Bones" Mackay by his side playing the good angel on his right shoulder dressed in his all-whites while the dark-attired Phil sits on Phil's other shoulder suggesting a backwards flop shot swinging a draw biased driver right-handed from his knees, but Mackay is not Phil's coach. On the 18th hole of the 2006 U.S. Open, needing a par 4 to win, Phil made an aggressive decision and hit driver off the tee, blasting it well left and hitting a hospitality tent before making a not-temporary-enough home in the woods. He followed that shot with a mighty attempt to hit a high drawing 6-iron over the trees that found only more trees, then put the next shot, from an even more ghastly lie, into the greenside bunker. From there he hit a respectable bunker shot, but missed the putt that would have sent it to a playoff allowing Ogilvy to take the victory.

For many, many years, NFL football has been founded in risk-aversion, and while not very exciting to watch, did provide a blueprint for how to win. That blueprint has been changed quite a bit over the years, but if you look at Super Bowl winners over the last 10, 20, or even 30 years, the overwhelming majority of them based their teams on ball-protection, short, manageable plays, and solid defense. There are also certain decisions that should simply not be made, and one of those was made by Belichick the other night. What Belichick could not know was how each one of the 11 players on the offense felt at that moment, or more accurately, how pumped each of the 11 players on the Colts defense felt. Additionally, he had the lead of more than a Field Goal, and could have forced the opponent to earn points from much further away to win. The Patriots were not going to lose points in any scenario, and needed no additional points to win at the time of the decision. Ultimately, the failed execution gave the Colts a much easier task of earning the seven points they needed to win when three points was not an option.

Golf is different in a couple of key ways. First, golf is an individual sport. Nobody is more qualified to make decisions nor more responsible for the results than the player. The player must assess the situation, make many decisions, and execute the shot with nothing more than a variable amount of guidance and support from his or her caddie. It is also a sport where the idea is not to gain "points" but to lose them. Finally, golf is a sport where your opponents have no way of physically preventing you from playing well, though including some tackling or shot deflection might be fun to watch.

Though Phil Mickelson has been quoted calling himself an "idiot" for his decision, lots of players hit driver on 18, and he had been hitting it all weekend. It isn't like it was my foursome playing out there, hoping that our slices would only slice a little this time. Phil is one of the most talented golfers to have ever played the game, and has hit solid shots with his driver probably millions of times. On his second shot, he felt understandably trapped, and wanted to win so bad that he likely thought there was no way he wouldn't be successful with that 6-iron. Even standing in that bunker, I'll bet he thought he would force a playoff.

And, oh, by the way, Colin Montgomery could also have won the tournament on 18, but lost instead. Hey, guess what, Montgomery didn't hit driver off the tee, was hitting his second shot from the middle of the fairway, and also made a double bogey on the final hole to lose by one stroke. Had stodgy old Colin made birdie, and Phil a par, Phil would have lost anyway. And that isn't all, Jim Furyk missed a 5-foot putt for a par that would have forced a playoff as well. Phil was trying to play his best shots to win the tournament and failed to execute on a decision that is made all the time.

Yes, I consider myself a fan of Phil Mickelson. I have heard so many refer to him as plastic, insincere, and yes, stupid, but that isn't what I see. I see a man who is genuinely happy to be making an incredibly good living doing something he loves, and is very talented at. I see a man who loves his family, and understands the relationship he needs to have with his fans. I see a man who is incredibly generous be it the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation or his handing a fan $200 out of his pocket immediately after striking and breaking the fan's wristwatch with an errant shot during the 2006 Ford Championship. Perhaps most of all, I see a man who tries things on the golf course that we all wish we could do, in the heat of competition, on television! He succeeds with regularity, and many times each tournament saves himself several shots with his inventive and daring strategy. On that day in 2006, however, he failed to execute not a daring shot, or even a risky shot, but perhaps one that could have been played more conservatively, you know, like Monty did.

So, let's be careful how hard we are on risk takers in professional sports. After all, if they didn't take risks and fail once in a while, you could never write about how they should never have taken the risk and failed so that you wouldn't have to write about it...right?

Fairways and Greens!

Top 20 Golf Courses in Chicagoland

Just for the sake of argument, I have decided to publish my own personal list of the Top 20 Public Golf Courses in Chicagoland. This is completely unscientific, but takes into account playability, price, walkability, risk/reward opportunities, course condition, customer service, aura/tradition, and pace of play. I expect there will be some disagreement to my list, and I strongly encourage others to openly debate me via the comments area of this blog post.

Without further ado..."the" list:

1. Cantigny Golf

2. Thunderhawk Golf Club

3. Prairie Landing Golf Club

4. Pine Meadow Golf Course

5. Cog Hill - Course #4 "Dubsdread"

6. The Glen Club

7. Ravisloe Country Club

8. Stonewall Orchard Golf Club

9. Bolingbrook Golf Club

10. Harborside International - Starboard Course

11. Orchard Valley Golf Course

12. Harborside International - Port Course

13. White Deer Run Golf Club

14. Prairie Bluff Golf Course

15. Mistwood Golf Club

16. Balmoral Woods Country Club

17. Heritage Bluffs Golf Club

18. Oak Grove Golf Course

19. Makray Memorial Golf Club

20. Bowe's Creek Country Club

Fairways and Greens!

Prairie Landing Excels at Events

I wasn't planning on writing a review for Prairie Landing again, especially this late in the season, but when a course does something exceedingly well, I really need to recognize them.

This "gush" stems from the experience that I and three of my friends had on Halloween morning during the Prairie Landing annual 4-man Fall Scramble. Of course, this scramble doesn't always fall on Halloween, but this year it did, and it only made the event that much more enjoyable.

If you have never participated in a 4-man (or woman) scramble anywhere, I strongly recommend it. For those new to the game, in a 4-man scramble, each member of a team hits the ball from the tee, then all four take their second shot from the location of the best drive, then all four take their third shot from the location of the best second shot, and so on. Often there will be "local" rules such as a team having to use at least two drives from each player, or not holing out a "gimme" putt until all four have putted the previous stroke, etc. Typically, winning scores in 4-man scrambles are at least around 60, and can dip well into the upper 50s (and that isn't always the weather). Birdies are the norm, and close approach shots along with solid putting are the only way to win. Perhaps the best thing about the 4-man scramble is that you don't feel the same stress over each shot, as generally your teammates will cover for your bad shots, and vice versa...generally.

Many courses offer scramble events throughout the year, but a fair number of them are featured in the early Spring and late Fall to bookend the regular season. What this can mean is some pretty dicey weather, though you can get lucky here in Chicago too. Halloween 2009 was not a lucky weather day. When we arrived at the course at 8:00 am to utilize Prairie Landing's excellent practice area, it was barely 40 degrees, and the wind was howling making it feel much colder. It stayed like that through the entire round, with the wind frequently piercing even the most inner of the many layers we all wore. Alas, everyone has to deal with the same weather at this shotgun start event, so it can not explain the results.

Being Halloween, the Prairie Landing staff was in the spirit of the day, and each was decked out as a character from the Wizard of Oz...right down to the little dog Toto, yes a real dog! Our intrepid leader, Jim Larson endured the cold and wind dressed as Auntie Em, and no, he/she was not wearing warm stockings under that dress. Bravo!

The day began with continental breakfast and a grand Bloody Mary bar that looked so nice I almost forgot how I despise Bloody Marys. We were sent off to our respective starting tees, the Par 3 3rd for my team, along with door prizes such as a cap, towel, and sleeve of balls. Perhaps my only suggestion for the future would be to give the same prize to all participants next time to avoid the ugly wrestling matches that spontaneously broke out for possession of the 1 per team caps.

It is important to note that though the weather was the same for all, nobody on my team had even picked up a club in at least 5 weeks prior to this event, and one of our players who shall remain nameless, BRUCE, barely made the tee time, so took his first swing on the 1st tee. We scrambled to make par on our first four holes, then barely missed birdie on our next three before hitting the clubhouse at even par (not good). At the "turn" we were given dogs and burgers, soft drinks, and delicious fudge brownies before heading back out into the cold.

We finally made our first bird on 10, then got back to scrambling for par on 11-15. As we approached the long Par 4 16th playing at just over 410 yards directly into the wind on a 40-degree day, we felt a bit hopeless. On the previous hole, playing in the same direction, our best drives were solidly struck and went about 190 yards, so we knew 16 was going to be near impossible. Well, I managed to strike an heroic 3-wood to about 15 feet from the cup from about 210 yards away, and then jarred the putt for the always satisfying "all me" birdie, net eagle! If nothing else, we felt confident in a skin there. After another par on 17, we birdied 18 and found ourselves on the leader board with two to play.

Ah yes, the leader board! Yet another great feature at Prairie Landing is the real-time leader board on the cart's built in GPS screen. At this event, it displayed both net leaders and their gross score as well. As much as I despise golf carts, this feature makes the event incredibly enjoyable, and with the way we played the later holes, kept us pumped to finish strong...we were "making a move"!

Numbers one and two were our final holes, and both headed straight back into the wind. After finding the fairway, and needing birdie, I was again able to muster some heroics and placed a knockdown 7-iron to about 12 feet away from a tucked pin. Brad made the putt on our fourth attempt to seal yet another birdie. Number two found me again hitting a high-pressure approach with a 5-iron uphill and again into the howling wind. I pulled it off, and Bruce, looking for some redemption, stepped up on our first putt and drained a 25 footer for birdie and a round of 5-under 67, net 59. Not bad after our tough start, but alas not enough as we finished narrowly out of the money on both gross and net. Ah, but we still had a skin coming, right? Wrong, turns out one other team scored a net eagle on 16 - cheaters - so we missed our skin.

Following the round, the Prairie Landing staff served up free pitchers of beer and a chili bar before holding an entertaining, if not somewhat disappointing awards ceremony. The reception was raucous at times, and it appeared as though everyone really enjoyed themselves. You can view the official results and photos here.

Finally, at a scramble, you want to see lots of side prizes, and due to the layout at Prairie Landing, there are a bunch. With five Par 3s came five closest to the pin contests, and man, every winner was hit stiff...great shots were needed to win. Hole nine featured a longest putt contest, and hole ten the prestigious longest drive contest where I striped my drive down the middle of the fairway and was a good 30 yards short of the eventual winner! I am sure it was that damn shag bag ball I was playing - wink, wink.

So, my thanks to Prairie Landing Gold Club for a great event! Well done! I, and my teammates are sure to be out there for at least two of their events again next year, and hopefully can get at least 20 more degrees of warmth from Mother Nature in the future.

Fairways and Greens!

GOLF COURSE REVIEW: Bowes Creek Country Club

One of my desires in life is to play some of the most famous courses in the world. I have played several, but unfortunately, a great many of them are private, and not available to someone of my limited means and connections. Admittedly, I have not put forth much of an effort to see exactly how difficult it is to get onto some of these courses, e.g. Shinnecock, Pine Valley, Sand Hills, etc. In fact, I am going to put a little research into it, and write a future article on the subject. In the meantime, my private course experience had to be relegated to Stonehenge Golf Club and a round at Mission Viejo Country Club thanks to a generous business acquaintance back in February 2003.

Last Friday, September 25th, I added one more to my "bucket" by taking advantage of a late season offer to play the newly opened Bowes Creek Country Club in Elgin, IL. In fact, I and my playing partners were some of the first few to play the course as it was opening day. I may not play here often, but not because of the quality of the course, but rather because it is so far from my current home in Chicago.

Bowes Creek is approaching the struggling golf market with a new approach, and I must say it is refreshing. They will be offering individual memberships for those who want the privileges of membership, and live near enough to play this course all the time. For those not in that class, Bowes Creek will be offering a program that they call "Member For a Day". As a Member of the Day, you will pay a flat rate for unlimited golf, a cart w/GPS, and practice facility. At a projected maximum of $95 for a weekend day, this is not a bad deal. They will even be offering Twilight and Late Night rates, and believe it or not...forecaddies! While this is certainly not in the class of the courses I mentioned above, it is a challenging and aesthetically pleasing golf experience with two distinct nines, and plenty of course for even highly accomplished players.

As we pulled up after an easy but long drive from downtown Chicago, we realized just how new the place was. The driveway looked as though it had just been poured and painted the day before, and the Pro Shop was still gilded with traces of sawdust. The large and airy pub across from the Pro Shop was still not complete, but by appearances will be a nice place to sit and enjoy a burger with a pint while watching fellow golfers struggle up the 18th hole.

The staff was in a bit of disarray learning the new systems, and even the course rules. I went expecting an advertised promotional rate of $70, but was charged $89, and later realized that my partner was only charged $80...go figure. We also were told by the Pro Shop that walking was not an option on this "carts-only" course (ludicrous), but were told by the starter, and perhaps the Head Pro that it was 100% OK that we walk, which we did, of course. It was their first day, so a little chaos in the Pro Shop can be forgiven assuming they will pull it together before the members start arriving.

The driving range is nice with several targets at good distances. They even have some lounge chairs out there, I guess so one can just relax and watch others hack up a perfectly nice spread of turf?

On the way to the first tee we noticed what appeared to be a chipping green nearing completion, so passed by and utilized the small-ish putting green overlooking the first and tenth tees. It could be larger with a few more targets, but it is sufficient, I suppose.

The first hole is a short Par 4 with some water on the left to catch only the most wayward of hooks. I hit a 3-wood adequately off the tee and ended up only 120 yards from the green in the left center of the fairway...I would guess that would be a good option for most. The greens, being brand new, were very firm, and very fast with a good deal of break in most of them. The first hole was no exception.

The second hole is another Par 4, but much more challenging. Wetlands run all the way up the right side of the fairway, and will catch anything sliced even just a bit, while well placed bunkers await strong drives that wander too far left. The green is elevated from the fairway and well protected with some of the wild bunkers you will see often around the course. Being new, there is a lot of sand in those bunkers, so don't be afraid to take a big swing in them.

The third hole is a straightforward, medium length Par 3 with lots of water lurking on the left. The green is HUGE, and we had a right pin placement, so it took the water mostly out of play, but it didn't make the hole easy, as the green broke a bunch right around the pin. I left my drive short of the green and gave a stroke to the course (one of many to come), while my buddy took an unfortunate triple bogey after missing the green into the rough on the right.

The fourth is another short Par 4, this time with a lake creating a decision off the tee. You can cut off a lot of the water if you hit your driver well, and can hold off a hook, but the smarter play is probably a fairway wood, or even a hybrid aimed between the first and second fairway bunkers on the right. I don't remember this green being overly challenging, but it was fast.

The fifth hole is nasty. From the Blue tees, the hole measures 215 yards, and we played it directly into a strong wind. Both my partners hit Driver off this tee, and both got onto the front right of the green. Despite leaving a terrific 3-wood with a draw about 30 feet short of the back left tucked pin, I was closest to the hole. Had any of us missed left, there are some deep bunkers to make things even tougher, then some more of those lovely wetlands to steal a stroke from you. The back pin was over a steep ridge, so the first two missed their putts long...one off the green. You'd think I would learn, but still hit mine well past the hole onto the fringe. Note, just get it over the ridge, and let gravity do the rest.

The sixth hole is a reachable Par 5, but again makes you think. Play to the narrow right side of the fairway for a good look at the green, and some are to leave a less than perfect shot safe as a stream bisects the fairway diagonally ending just to the left of the green with layup fairway on the right side of it. Play safer off the tee to the left side of the fairway, and getting home in two becomes much more of a chore. Lots of ways to lose a stroke here, but played well can give you a birdie.

The seventh hole is another challenging hole. With more wetlands along the right, this long Par 4 calls for a well struck fade off the tee, then an excellent approach to an elevated green. You can lose some strokes here if you try to do too much, so play the hole as it should be played, and bogey isn't the worst thing that could happen.

Number eight is the hardest rated hole on the course according to the card...trust me, it is not. What it does have is length, and though it can be reached, it isn't necessary to do anything heroic to make a birdie. The fairway is wide and receptive, and even the second shot provides little to fear. Make a solid approach shot, and all should be well.

The ninth is another decision hole. A short Par 4, you would be well advised to approach this one from the left side of the fairway, and hit anything from long iron to driver off the tee to get to your most comfortable distance. The green is very challenging. Shots missed left will careen down into a low under some trees leaving a very difficult up-and-down, while shots missed right will end up in another tough bunker, potentially bringing double into play. Good hole that will drive you nuts.

The tenth hole is really strange, and probably the consensus least favorite hole on the course. At 490 yards, this short Par 5 is protected by a large tree growing right where you want to hit your drive. The fairway winds around the right side of that tree, then left again around a patch of wetland swamp waiting for your approach shot. Past that wetland is a lot of fairway collection area, but beware, the green is very long and even more narrow, so when approached from the side will be a nightmare. I think I understand what they are trying to do with this hole, but I am not a fan, and my double bogey didn't help any.

The 11th hole begins a stretch of holes that feels completely different from the front nine, and plays much more like another Rick Jacobson course I have reviewed before, Spirit Hollow in Burlington, IA. The 11th is yet another short Par 4 which calls for another aggressive fade around a stand of trees protecting the right side, and preventing shots directly at the green. No big deal if you want to hit a fairway wood or hybrid and lay back a bit, but get far enough that those trees don't block a shot at a right pin. This green is one of the easier to putt out here.

The twelfth hole is just begging you to give it everything you've got. Don't get lulled into playing conservative here, as aiming well left of the green over the large pond still demands almost the same distance off the tee. Go ahead and blast a driver right at the stand of trees across the fairway, or even right at the pin for the biggest hitters, and you may end up putting for eagle. Beware on the green, approach shots and chips alike will run right off the back if struck too hard, or land too far back of center.

The thirteenth hole is quite something to look at. From the elevated tees, it looks like you can hit it anywhere and be OK, but there is plenty of trouble lurking on this innocent looking hole. Those fairway bunkers on the right will easily collect poorly struck drives, and make you pay - they are deep and rugged. The green is guarded on the right side by more rugged bunkers, and is shaped such that a few pin placements can be tucked right behind them. Hit the fairway, but keep it left of center if you can.

The fourteenth hole feels like something in the Carolina sand hills. A relatively short Par 3, rugged bunkering and a right to left green orientation call for a draw if you've got one, though a well-struck shot right at the pin should do just fine. Be careful not to short-side yourself on the left , though one of my partners made a sweet up and down for par from down there.

The fifteenth hole is very similar to the 13th, but longer, and not quite as challenging. The fairway is ample, and the green quite approachable making this, in my opinion, one of the more forgiving on the course. With that said, a fade/slice off the tee will leave you a long approach shot over more green side bunkers to a fast green, so perhaps a few more times here might convince me of its teeth.

The sixteenth is another great-looking hole, and is going to make many of those future members pull their hair out. Measuring a humble 187 yards from the Blue tees, it feels much longer as your drive must carry a wetland marsh almost all the way to the green. The green itself is quite wide, so missing right or left is not as bad as short. Take an extra club, and do your best to ignore the hazard. The green is another quick one, though there are some flat spots on this one to allow the members some solace once in a while. Let me also add kudos for the way the cart path has been removed from the aesthetic of this hole. By winding it into the woods on the left, they have made a much longer walk to the green for those walking, but ensure that shots will not go careening off a path into a hazard here.

The seventeenth hole is another gem. One more taste of a short Par 4, this one again presents a forgiving fairway with an elevated green well-protected by rugged bunkers. We played it with the pin tucked back right, and simply couldn't hold the green. Shots past the pin or long of the green will be coming back downhill, so approach with care.

Finally, the eighteenth hole is a great finishing hole. With the most elevated tee box on the course, the hole is picturesque to say the least. Grab your driver and take aim at the gaping bunker in the middle of the fairway...you probably can't reach it, and even if you hit the distance, you never hit right where you aim, right? The approach shot difficulty depends somewhat on pin placement here, but it is another elevated and fast green so holding a shot presents a challenge on last time. Like almost every hole out here, the putting is fast and breaking, so hold that attention until the ball drops.

The verdict? If you live within an hour, and can get a nice day, try to get out to Bowes Creek for a round this fall. I am a big fan of their Member for a Day concept as it allows those without the means or interest in an annual membership to play a country club style course, and provides the course with a means to augment the income they will get from a limited number of members. Though it isn't in the class of elite private courses like Medinah, Shoreacres, and Olympia Fields, this course is easily as good as the top public courses like Thunderhawk and Stonewall Orchard, though I would put it a notch below Pine Meadow, Cantigny, and Cog Hill #4. The housing development is a bit unnerving with very large houses covered in siding, but alas, that is one of the evils of golf these days. If you have the means to afford membership here, and don't mind an inflated handicap, you may want to look into it, but for me, I will enjoy the Member for a Day program, and hope that there are others of you who can get out to enjoy it as well.

For those other private courses in the Chicagoland area, pay attention. As your memberships dwindle, consider this...there are lots of us who would be more than willing to pay a fair price to play your course, if just given the opportunity. Creativity may be the key to your survival.

Fairways and Greens!