A PAR-THREE COURSE for multi-millionaire golfers who love to gamble: The Bad Little Nine, at Scottsdale National Golf Club, Arizona, was the brainchild of PXG and GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons, who commissioned golf course architects Jackson-Kahn to create possibly the world’s toughest par three.
A $1,000 prize is offered to the player who finishes under par when the flags are in their trickiest locations.
The Bad Little Nine has holes varying in distance from 79 to 153yds on the 972 yd course. It also has massive boulders on the greens, putting surfaces the size of snooker tables, treacherous bunkers and wickedly sloping surfaces to funnel the ball into cracks and crevices.
While the course can be set up to be fun (so balls feed towards the hole) it’s set up at it’s hardest every Friday for the tempting prize.
Only one player has ever shot one under par on a Friday; James Hahn, but Parsons refused to hand over the cash as Hahn had been for a practice round earlier in the day.
Unfortunately the Bad Little Nine is only open to members of Scottsdale National, which has a
$300,000 joining fee plus $60,000 annual subs. Members and guests play the main course, have a few cold beers then head over to the par three to gamble away loose change (probably enough for a semi-detached in Croydon.) All good fun.
PAUL CASEY LIFTED his 15th trophy on the European Tour after shooting 2-under 70 in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Twenty years after his first victory 43 yr. Old Casey admits he hasn’t enjoyed the past year’s golf. “It’s been totally soul-less, playing without the fans, It’s made me so happy just having some people beside the fairways.”
What’s his problem? We’d be happy with sabre-toothed tigers beside the fairways if only we could play.
DUE TO LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES posed by COVID-19 the WGC-Mexico Championship will not be played in Mexico. The event will be held Feb. 25-28 at The Concession Golf Club in Southwest Florida, kicking off a four-week Florida Swing that also features the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Players Championship and the Honda Classic.
The Concession is named after the memorable occasion when Jack Nicklaus conceded a 2ft putt to Tony Jacklin on the final hole of the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale, making it a tie for the first time in Ryder Cup history.
US Captain Sam Snead, who didn’t actualy do sportsmanship, never really recovered.
DARREN CLARKE won his second straight PGA Tour Champions tournament at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii, after winning the TimberTech Championship in Florida in November, his first tournament win since the 2011 Open at Sandwich. Producing a sizzling 8-under 64 in a bogey-free round he finished two shots ahead of Retief Goosen. Jerry Kelly and Fred Couples were in third and fourth place.
“I love the Champions Tour, the guys have been really good to me out here, so welcoming,” Clarke said happily, oblivious to the gnashing of dentures behind him. “I’m setting my sights on the Open at Sandwich, maybe I could just do it again.” Steady On old chap!
Pete Cowen – One of the most common faults is standing too far away from the ball, and having little control of the butt end of the club. If the butt travels too far back or forward when chipping and pitching, it causes the bottom of the arc to change, causing inconsistencies. Minimise the movement, it will improve consistency.
If you ever get the chance to play golf again, this tip may come in useful.
‘MUSIC FOR TIRED GOLFERS,’ an album by Larry Clinton and his Orchestra, was a big hit in the USA in 1957, and is still available on Amazon. It contained tunes like ‘I talk to the trees,’ ‘I can’t get started,’ ‘Just one more chance’ and ‘Little White Lies.’ Some things never change.
Until next time, Happy dreaming about golf!
Contact Mick the Grip. 638 859 475.
