UPDATE: Brooklyn Open

A while back I mentioned the first-ever Brooklyn Open golf tournament, to be held on October 21st. Originally it was to be a gross-score competition open only to 10 handicaps and lower.

Now, as Legitimategolfer John Furr has brought to my attention, some notable changes have been made to the tournament.

Legitimategolf Diaries volume 6: birthday spanking

Last week I celebrated a birthday. As we did the year before Ms. Legitgolf and I drove about an hour and a half outside the city to play at a fancy course. Last year we had a memorable round at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Mansion Ridge in upstate NY. This year I picked out Crystal Springs, a resort course located up in northernmost New Jersey in the Appalachian Mountains, part of a massive seven-course complex.

A Guide to Losing Balls or how I learned to stop worrying and love the provisional

The ninth hole of my local course is bounded all along the left side by a chainlink fence that separates the course from the adjacent avenue and sidewalk. The overwhelming majority of people here miss their shots to the right, but still, it doesn't take that bad of a leftward shot to clear the short fence. When it does happen, it is painfully obvious that your ball's not only out of play--it's clean off the property. It's completely abandoned the domain of anything golf-related. In other words it is, beyond all doubt, out of bounds.

The 1st Brooklyn Open

A few months ago I heard a rumor that this event might be happening sometime in the fall and now, it's been announced. The first ever Brooklyn Open will be held on Monday, October 21st at Marine Park GC. It's an 18-hole medal play competition open to professionals and am's with a 10.0 or lower handicap. The official website has more details.

This is great news for the area in general. I'm not sure if an event like this ever existed. Marine Park is definitely a fitting course. I'm curious to see what the turnout's like. If I can shave a stroke and some change off my current handicap before the October 14th deadline for entry I'd be eligible, in which case I'd consider entering.

Anyone else interested?

Ghetto Golf, volume 5: Van Cortlandt Park GC, The Bronx

This week, the LGNYCGT (Legitimategolf New York City Golf Tour) rolled into the oldest freakin' public course in North America, Van Cortlandt Park GC in northwest Bronx. Let's think about that. All the slow play, rules-flouting, all the terrible hacky muni golf we've all come to know and love... it all began here. Wow--humbling.

Creeps of the Week

The first two Legitimate Golf Creep of the Week awards recognized some high-profile douchebaggery. But this week, we train the spotlight on the ordinary folks, the unsung jerks who make golf so miserable at the local level, in our own day-to-day lives.

As part of the LGNYCGT ("Legitimate Golf New York City Golf Tour"), I found myself in the Bronx the other day. A full-write up of the excursion is coming soon but for now I wanted to quickly vent about some of the foul people I had the misfortune of crossing paths with. Originally I thought of just posting this away on some safe, obscure little corner of the internet.

But screw that--I have been working hard to build up this bully pulpit and dammit, why shouldn't I use it to lash out at the people who make me (and all other reasonable people) mad?

A Guide to Putting Out

No, this is not a dating advice column. We're talking about how to proceed once your golf ball's within a few feet from the hole.

Recently I was paired at the local muni with a newbie, who's just a couple years into it. But a pretty decent player given that much experience. After one bad hole though, his ball lying seven or whatever it was, on the green ten feet from the hole he said "That's enough" and went to it pick up. Seeing that the people in front of us had only just teed off I said that he might as well putt out--we'll be waiting on the next tee anyways, no need to rush. He gave it a go, but seemed sort of uneasy about it. It occurred to me then that this topic warrants a discussion.

Creep of the Week

[photo courtesy of Brandel Chamblee Hater Page on Facebook]

Brandel Chamblee is the mouthpiece of the Golf Channel. His prominent position is a testament to the belief that negativity sells. Like an O'Reilly or a Limbaugh, Brandel's job is simply to enflame, to irritate, to provoke via harshly critical opinions--often unfounded--delivered with a near-religious fervor and dogmatism.

Summer In Review

Summer officially ended and quite frankly, good. Those who know, know that fall's a better season for playing better golf anyways. Around here at least. The sweat-soaked clothes, the ruined gloves, the constant rehydrating, the slathering of greasy sunblock. And the heat for god's sake, the plain old wilting heat... See you next year, is what I say to all that. Don't get me wrong--the summer solstice is a magical time. I still say that being outside playing golf well past eight o'clock is one of life's special joys.