October 2008 Archives

Kent Keller was elected the new SCGA president today. Here's the release from the SCGA:

Charles Maud, Bruce McCormick, Eddie Merrins (aka ``The Little
Pro'', Jim Murray and George C. Thomas Jr. will be inducted into the
Southern California Golf Hall of Fame tomorrow in a luncheon at the
Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City. They'll be inducted for
being instrumental in the growth of golf in Southern California.
Merrins will be in attendance. The other four members are being
inducted posthumously. Maud was the first SCGA president. McCormick
was a two-time California amateur champion and three-time SCGA
champion. Merrins is a respected golf teacher and the long-time pro
at Bel-Air Country Club. Jim Murray was a Pulitzer Prize winning
columnist for the L.A. Times. Thomas Jr. was a golf course architect
and who designed Bel-Air CC, the Los Angeles CC, Riviera and others
in the 1920s.

Anthony Kim of Studio City and Camilo Villegas,have joined the field for next month's HSBC Champions in Shanghai at the Sheshan International Golf Club, Nov. 6-9.
"I have had a great year, winning the Ryder Cup back and winning my first two titles on tour,'' Kim said. ``The cool thing about climbing so high in the world rankings is that I now qualify for the big international tournaments like the HSBC Champions. I would be so pumped if I could win in China and continue my good run this year."

Can you imagine having Tiger Woods as your caddie for a day? One man found out today at Torrey Pines. Click hereto read the story from the Associated Press that ran on espn.com.

The following is a press release on the Simi Hills/Lost Canyons four-ball championship Nov. 8 and 9.

Simi Hills Golf Course and Lost Canyons Golf Club to Host City Four Ball Championship
Simi Valley, CA - Simi Hills Golf Course and Lost Canyons Golf Club will co-host a Simi Valley City Four-Ball
Championship on Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, 2008. This first-ever two-person best ball city tournament
will consist of gross and net flights and is open to any golfer with an established USGA approved handicap.
"This is a great way for golfers to test their skills in a variety of situations," said Brian Reed, Head Golf Professional and
Manager of Simi Hills Golf Course, who is a PGA Golf Professional. "By playing two courses with very different styles,
golfers will find plenty of challenge. We are pleased to be partnering with Lost Canyons for this unique event."
In a four ball tournament, two person teams play each hole, and record the lower of the two scores as the team score on
each hole. Says Jay Colliatie, PGA Golf Professional and Director of Golf at Lost Canyons, "While this is a serious and
challenging format, playing as a team can provide a less stressful, more enjoyable format for many players. The twoplayer
teams can work around bad shots and take advantage of great holes as well. We are expecting to host golfers with
a wide variety of skill levels, and having both gross and net score flights will provide opportunities for all teams to win."
Jackie Cochran, Tournament Director at Simi Hills Golf Course commented, "We are excited to have so many people
qualify to play in this event. I personally look forward to many husband/wife, golf buddy and golf girlfriend teams in the
field. This should be lots of fun for everyone involved!"
According to Adrian Cardoza, PGA, Tournament Coordinator at Lost Canyons, sponsorship opportunities are available to
local businesses. Says Cardoza, "We look forward to the support of many local businesses in this tournament, which
showcases the great variety of golfing experiences available in Simi Valley." Businesses who are interested in sponsoring
the tournament may contact Cardoza at Lost Canyons.
Entry forms for the Simi Valley City Four Ball Championship are available at each course's pro shops and on their
respective websites (lostcanyons.com and simihillsgolf.com).

Click herefor an update on the condition of golfer Seve Ballesteros, who had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Ballesteros - who won five majors - is stable and conscious.

Ben Fox of Studio City was co-medalist in a Monday qualifier and earned a spot in this week's Justin Timberlake's Shriners Hospitals for Childrens Open in Las Vegas. Fox played a practice round Tuesday with Jason Gore (Hart High, Pepperdine) and Mike Weir.

Tiger Woods was just spotted at the Dodgers game wearing a Dodgers cap. It's no surprise he's a Dodgers fan since he grew up in Cypress. Woods was in Los Angeles for a press conference earlier this week to announce a new golf course in Mexico.

Seve Ballesteros, 51, reportedly said he has a brain tumor, according to the Associated Press. Ballesteros was recently admitted to the hospital after complaining of feeling dizzy and lost consciousness. Here's the Associated Press report:

Tiger Woods was in Beverly Hills today to announce his new golf course design project in Ensanada, Mexico. The project - with a price tag of at least $100 million - will feature the ocean from every hole. The course is called ``Punta Brava,'' which means wild point. Will have more on this later.