Craziness at the Colosseum

The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is considered the loudest hole in golf. In 1997, nearly 10,000 fans were present when Tiger Woods hit "the shot heard around the world," his hole-in-one from 145 yards with a 9-iron. Thousands of people erupted and were heard for miles while throwing plastic beer cups across the hole. In the recent years, that number has doubled in attendance. 20,000 people, that's like small university. In fact, the fans it attracts are mostly students from Arizona State University.

It is no different than attending a college football game where the beer flows like water, and the trash talk is just as common as the "boo's". Yes, the fans do "boo" you if you miss the green. The atmosphere, actually, is exactly like a college football game, rather than a golf tournament.

Now it even looks like a college football game. Tournament officials have decided to build general admission grandstands that completely surround the hole. Making this more of a stadium than simply a golf hole for spectators to view.

Players will have to bring their best game with them in order to block out the rowdy and uncontrolling fans. Especially those who tee off later than others. As the day goes on and the beer gets cheaper, the sun also gets hotter, and the buzz gets a lot stronger, which is bad news for the players. Golf has been prided on its sportsmanship and honest qualities, but at the Colosseum at TPC Scottsdale, all that flies out of the window and into a $10 adult beverage. It would be the same as Phil Mickelson hitting a 150 yard shot inside of a miniature Doak Campbell Stadium.


Tiger's "shot heard around the world," before the additions and with half the number of people it will hold today.

God is Good, All the Time

Everyone knows who God is. Even though people around the world worship different gods, the fact is, there is worship taking place. For those of us in the golf world, there is one man who is above all, he is God.

Please, sit back, relax and enjoy this rare footage of the beauty that is the golf swing at its most perfect form illustrated by God, himself.



Golf is hard. Unless you are Tiger Woods, it's not going to get any easier. Like most people in the world, I enjoy everything about this harsh, cruel, mostly unfulfillable game that they call golf. Why I try to master it is beyond me, but there's the idea that at some time in my future, unknown by me, I will be successful at it and hopefully make a living out of it.

There are a lot of people in the golf world. With the difficulty that the sport brings, a reward is always attainable. Some know what they are doing when it comes to swinging a golf club. Some have absolutely no clue. But that's the beauty of this sport, anyone can play. I don't know how many 65 year-old's you see strapping up for the Retirement Home's Annual Tackle Football game, or how many old people you see putting on their helmet before taking the ice in their senior-citizens championship hockey game. But you do see them teeing up on #1 at their local golf course. Golf is like sex, you don't have to be good at it to enjoy it.