Olympic Golf

The Course Layout: Image Courtesy French Creek Golf

It is official and it has been for a while. Golf will be a sport in the 2016 Summer Olympics. This is pretty cool for golf fans everywhere.

Has golf ever been in any of the Olympics? The answer is yes. Though most and even the best golf historians will tell you it has not. This is not true. In the Summer Olympics of 1900, held in Paris France, golf was apart of the Olympics. It is true that since then golf has been excluded from all the other Olympics, until this next year. Rio De Janeiro has planned and constructed a course for the games. The course looks decent. I do not know how the professionals will react to it, but I believe they are just happy to be playing. Despite condition, I am ready for it to open and be played. I am very excited to see players from all different countries doing so.

Got a Little Ways to Go: Image Courtesy Golf Digest

I have heard from many people that as soon as an activity is entered into the Olympics, it is an official sport. So, Mr. Parker, there you have it. Golf beginning the summer of next year will be an official sport. Oh wait, silly me, it has been for the past 115 years thanks to Paris. I can wait a year for all of those golf haters to see it reoccur in Brazil.

This "new"sport brings many questions into my mind. What made Brazil want to bring golf back into the Olympics? Also, why has it taken 115 years to reenter golf into the Summer Olympics? How will countries compete?

Getting Closer: Image Courtesy Inside Golf

If you have any other questions please comment them. If you know any of the answers to mine, please answer them also in the comment section.

Bears and Golf?

This past week has been an interesting one for Park City Utah. Extremely interesting! It all started around Monday of last week in Jeremy Ranch. A black bear was spotted in the area.  There happens to be a golf course right there in Jeremy Ranch. Therefore the chances that this bear went for a stroll at night or during the day on the course are very likely.

Image Courtesy: KSL 

The story of this two year old black bear just gets better and better. Tuesday the bear had disappeared and all seemed well until Wednesday when another report of the bear came into police. Park City schools were under lock down as police searched for the black bear. Though it was never found, you will never guess where the black bear was spotted at first. The black bear was spotted in Park Meadows! This doesn't have any relevance unless you live in Park City. Coincidentally, Park Meadows also has a golf course. And it turned out that the bear was sited near the course. I'm just guessing that this bear had walked the course as well.

As of Thursday the bear was gone. Though the DWR set traps to catch and relocate the black bear. I do not believe that we should call it a black bear anymore. I think we call it the "course bear". The course bear has disappeared. And though the DWR is asking where he has gone. I think the real question is where is the nearest course. I wonder which course the course bear will choose next.

Follow Up

I have lately received a question repeatedly. I felt that I had cover this question though now reflecting on my past blogs, I found that I have not answered this question fully.

Image Courtesy PCHS: Boys State
Golf  Team

"Is golf fun?" Such a simple question. Though this is short answer, there is more depth in it. Yes, golf is extremely fun. However, it is not just fun because you get to hit a ball. That is boring. There are certain things that you come, as a golfer, to enjoy about the game. People enjoy golf for multiple reasons, though some of the reasons that I really enjoy golf are as follows. Obviously when you have a really good shot, it makes you feel successful and it also helps you to realize that practice does actually pay off in the long run. I have also come to love playing in the evening and walking the course as the sun sets. This really gets me in a good mood and the views that are seen from holes on The Jeremy Ranch golf course are amazing. I usually golf around six on the weekends and it extremely fun. Another aspect of golf that fun, is when you are golfing with friends and or team mates. Golf you could say is a social sport. It allows for conversation. I enjoy playing golf with my friends and being able to talk and play is a ton of fun.

Though I have mentioned a few things that make golf a fun sport there is one part about golf that really makes it the most enjoyable for me. I have not yet mention it, though it deals with golfing with people and more specifically friends. Some of my best friends are my siblings and parents. I really do find that my best memories golfing, have been with them. When we are all together and out on the course I never have had such a great time. Playing golf with my family is what I golf for. It makes golf worth it. So, yes golf is fun. If you want to have an enjoyable time out on the course, I recommend you grab a friend or family member and head out. Enjoy!

No Snow, Golf's A Go

Image Courtesy: Park City Mountain Resort

Due to the lack of snow, skiing has not been good this year. I will take this opportunity to state the fact that I have only been skiing this season five times. I am such a die hard skier. All break long I ski. Whenever I have the opportunity to ski, I am doing it. Not at all. I honestly am one of the worst skiers that there is. The confidence that I have in my skiing is bad due to past experiences, and I just do not enjoy it. However, my parents make me go. I understand that this is ethical. They did pay for a seasons pass after all and I should have used it more. It is amazing to me how much I took snow and skiing for granted. I had the opportunity to sit with a tourist from Taiwan on the lift. It was fascinating how much she was enjoying the garbage snow. She asked me how many times that I had been skiing in the season (keep in mind this was around December or January) and at the time, I had replied none. This was my first time and this lady flipped out!! With the little english that she knew she was going crazy! She asked me why I had not skied and I told her that the snow was not good. She automatically knew from that response that I had to be a local. She gave me some more garbage about how I should be skiing snow. That snow is snow, and all snow is good. This was eye opening. I really didn't think of snow being snow. From then on I realized how much I have taken for granted, and that I need to ski more.

However to be completely honest, winter was only fun for maybe the first three weeks. By then I was done with it, and to say the least it was done with me. Winter in Park City did not last long. At first I found myself complaining that winter was too short. Though with time, clearing driveways, wearing shorts, and thinking about summer. I began to hate the snow.

Jeremy Ranch Golf Course: Image Courtesy The Jeremy Ranch

Despite the hatred of snow, I am starting again to miss it. This happens every year. Sometimes you do not know how much you like something until you do not have it anymore. This happens to be the case in with snow. I have only had those thoughts up until this point. At this point they have died away. This point being the opening day of The Jeremy Ranch Golf Course. This excites me! I can finally be back on the green grass with the clubs that I love. Swinging and swinging and swinging, swing after swing. I went over to the driving range the Saturday after it opened. I am pleased to report that after an hour of practice I stunk. I did better than I think that I would do, due to the fact that stinking is better than failing. On the bright side, spring is finally here and so is golf. Golf is off to a pretty good start, and I am ready for it. Bring on the new season! Here goes nothing.

St. George: Come and Gone

Before:
This week Park City students have one of the best breaks. Our break is called "winter break". This break is awesome. While there are some ski bums that stay home and ski on the water that we have this year. Other normal kids, go somewhere where it is warm. I am one of those kids. I have the opportunity to go to St. George Utah. Why do I mention this? I mention this because St. George is supposed to have temperatures in the high 60's and low 70's. In my opinion this is the perfect temperature for golfing. While I would like to say that all I am going to be doing is golfing, this is far from the truth. I enjoy mountain biking as well and the majority of my trip will be filled by doing that.

Bear Claw Poppy: Image Courtesy of MTB Project

Recap:
The first full day I arrived I mountain biked. I biked a trail called Bear Claw Poppy. This trail is really fun we rode it several times and I wrecked on it several times (luckily golf is a safe sport). Sunday I went through grave yards and took pictures of ancestors. On monday I mountain biked and went to a pool. Tuesday was interesting. I biked up to some indian cliff art and then went over to my uncles. At my uncles, I enjoyed helping him move back into his house. He brought with him a tree. Literally a tree that he will use to create bowls and other things. In return for my physical labor, I got what I wanted. Wednesday, I woke up and went golfing at The Ledges. I golfed with my uncle and I did not do so well. I did not keep score so I can not report that side of things. Not that it mattered any way. The golf course that I played was in great condition. The fairways were green which was something that I have not seen in a very long time. I also enjoyed the greens and the course layout was awesome.

The Ledges Golf Course: Image Courtesy The Ledges

St. George was a ton of fun! Everyone should go there to golf at least once. The courses really integrate the red rock and sand stone in cool ways. Most courses in St. George have shots that require you to shoot over a canyon which is also a really awesome experience. Mountain biking was a blast and I really enjoyed it. I just overall loved getting out of the snow and cold and into the sunshine and heat. It felt really good. Being outdoors and active was great.

Tis The Season

Original Golf Course Name. Good Job Stone Bridge.

I had the opportunity last weekend to play the Stone Bridge course in Salt Lake City, Utah. Was it a success? You tell me. I haven't been able to play or even swing since early last November when the courses started closing down. That, is DEFINITELY NOT MY FAULT (extreme sarcasm). At the time, I was done with golf. School had officially started and balancing academics and athletics was not the easiest. Anyway, that story is for another day. My Stone Bridge experience was interesting. To start off, I would like to ask why name a course "Stone Bridge"?! I mean there was a small fake stone bridge, though every time I thought of stone bridge I found myself thinking BridgeStone golf. Which to me is not the most appealing. Despite the problem that I had with the name, the course was decent.

I actually really did like the layout of the course. The only complaint that I had
was that it was not designed for a fade. Though this may just be me not being able to play my fade. Also, my fade wasn't even a fade. Stating that my all my shots faded would be a complete understatement. Calling them cuts would also be a complete understatement. In the words of my uncle "It's not a fade, it is NOT even a cut. You are just playing crappy golf!!!!" So this was the support that I received during the whole round of golf.

The course was in exceptionally good condition considering the circumstances. The greens were great! The fairways were a little bit muddy and wet in some areas. However, this was minimal and was only encountered on parts a few holes. When all said and done, I did not shoot a good score. Perhaps the best score of the year, though not good. I shot 48 on the back and 53 on the front. When considering the conditions and when I last played, I guess 101 is not that bad of a score.

When was the last time that you played? Whats your best score in 2015? Leave a comment, and please help me with ideas!