As I look back at the 90th playing of the Masters Tournament, which was won by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, there were a number of newsworthy events that took place during Masters week. Here are my reflections and memories of Masters week: MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY ONE: Columbia’s Maria Jose Marin won this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur golf tournament. The final round was played on Saturday, April 4 at the Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters Tournament. This year marked the seventh edition of this premier amateur women’s golf tournament. Marin shot a four-under-par round of…
Author: Mike May
Mike May
Mike May is a freelance golf writer based in Wellington, Florida. Mike, an avid golfer, is also a member of the Golf Writers Association of America. He traces his roots as a golf writer to the 1983 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale -- which he attended for all four days -- and then voluntarily wrote his own account of that major championship event. In addition to being a golf writer, Mike coaches girls high school basketball, officiates high school soccer, and works with a cause (PHIT America) that is focused on bringing daily P.E. back to all U.S. schools. Mike is a 1985 graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a degree in broadcasting. Mike can be reached on email at: mmaymarketing@gmail.com
At this year’s 153rd (British) Open Championship (July 17-20), which was contested on the Dunluce Links at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, one of the ‘small cogs in the big wheel’ was longtime LPGA rules official Mitch Moon, who is a resident and native of the Midwest – specifically in the small town of West Branch, Iowa. At The Open, Moon worked as a walking referee. His job for the four rounds of the 72-hole tournament was to walk with a group of golfers and be present in case of any potential rules issues, questions, or concerns. …
There’s an old saying that the keys to being a successful golf caddie are your ability ‘to show up, keep up, and shut up.’ In other words, you must be on time, be able to carry a 30-35 pound golf bag for 18 holes, and know when to talk and when to be quiet. It also helps to know a little bit about golf. One of those individuals with the unique job title of a professional golf caddy – and unique skill set — is Sarah Butler of suburban Minneapolis. She grew up in Roseau, Minnesota. Since June 2021, Butler…
There are many unique elements of the Masters golf tournament which make it one of the world’s greatest sports events. When you think about the Masters, you expect to see coverage by CBS, the Par 3 Contest being played on the day before the tournament’s first round, those in attendance enjoying pimento cheese sandwiches, and loud roars emanating from Amen Corner. Another great Masters tradition is having the chance to stay at The Partridge Inn, widely regarded as the grand dame of Augusta’s hotels. For decades, The Partridge Inn has established itself as the premier overnight accommodation destination for people…
Forty years ago, in 1983, The Open Championship was held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England – not far from where this year’s Open is being contested at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course (July 20-23) in Wirral, England. I was fortunate to attend all four days of The Open back in 1983. The memories remain vivid. During the opening round of the tournament, an R & A official (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews) asked me to be a part-time employee. He wanted me to be a ball marker along the first fairway to…
While world-renowned golf course architect Pete Dye, native of Urbana, Ohio, is famous for designing the Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the annual home of The Players Championship, the Maple Creek Golf and Country Club, located on the east side of Indianapolis, is actually Dye’s first 18-hole golf course design. Originally opened as Heather Hills Golf and Country Club in 1961, this 18-hole layout was created in partnership with his wife, Alice. Today, the Maple Creek Golf and Country Club (10501 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, Indiana; 317-894-3343; www.maplecreekgc.com) features small tees and greens, narrow fairways lined with mature…
The Crown Jewel of Golf in Kent As you tune-in to watch the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s Golf Club this month (July 15-18), there are 16 ‘Fast Facts’ about the Royal St. George’s Golf Club which are worth reading and remembering: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: This championship links course is located in the southeast of England at Sandwich Bay with stunning views of the iconic White Cliffs, just outside the charming medieval coastal town of Sandwich in the county of Kent – located in the extreme southeast of England. Geographically, Royal St. George’s is less than a two-hour drive…
There are many unique elements of the Masters golf tournament which make it one of the world’s greatest events in sports – either as a participant or an attending patron. When you think about the Masters, you expect to see coverage by CBS, the Par 3 Contest being played on the day before the tournament’s first round, those in attendance enjoying pimento cheese sandwiches on-site, and loud roars emanating from Amen Corner. This year, the only constant will be coverage by CBS, as spectators, er, patrons, will not be permitted on the premises due to COVID-19 concerns. Just because patrons…
Thanks to a very generous gift from Ned and Sue Pfau, the golf program at Indiana University has received a much-appreciated ‘shot in the arm.’ The championship golf course at Indiana University (1350 South State Road 446, Bloomington, Indiana; 812-855-7543), which first opened in 1955, has re-opened after a complete re-design by highly acclaimed golf course architect Steve Smyers. Smyers’ track record in the golf business made him the perfect candidate to oversee this project, as his resume includes work on 90 golf courses on six different continents since the late 1980s. “We built a brand new golf course. This…
Cornwall’s Top Ten Golf Clubs, Historic Road, Top Hotel, & Native Food When people conjure up images of England’s most southwesterly county of Cornwall, they often think about the area’s rugged, cove-filled coastlines, its beautiful beaches, the many quaint seaside villages, the BBC-TV shows Poldark and Doc Martin, which are filmed in Cornwall, and this area’s famous foods such as Cornish clotted cream, Cornish pasties and freshly caught seafood, which is hauled in from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. In addition to being one of Great Britain’s more popular vacation destinations, Cornwall is home to a number of first-class golf courses…