What Goes On In Vegas . . . . . .

I know, what does Las Vegas got to do with golf and ministry . . . plenty. It is a well attended event every year by the Players with their caddies because many of them (The Players) are still trying to keep their playing card (The top 125 keep their card). So we come here with the hopes of reaching out to some. If you know anything about this ministry, it all began here in Las Vegas in October of 1991. These past 17 years has hopefully produced some fruit in the lives of those we affectionately call the PGA Touring Caddy!

Please join us in prayer as we share the gospel with whomever the Spirit of God directs us to. We are their October 15-18.

Meet Your USA Ryder Cup Team!

After months of speculation about who would finish out the Ryder Cup team, USA Captain Paul Azinger made his selections public earlier this week. While the team will be missing the most famous golfer in the world in Tiger Woods, Kentuckians can be happy as two of its own made the final roster, including 2004 Ryder Cup member Kenny Perry and newcomer and University of Kentucky graduate, JB Holmes. The final four selections will join the original 8 members who were awarded spots on the team based on their final PGA points total.

The automatic 8 members are as follows:

Stewart Cink: This 35 year-old Ryder Cup veteran has been on three previous Ryder Cup teams, posting a 3-5-4 record. Cink attended Georgia Tech and turned professional in 1995.

Ben Curtis: Curtis joins the 2008 team as a first-timer in the Ryder Cup. The 31 year-old is a graduate of Kent State and turned professional in 2000.

Jim Furyk:: The 2008 Ryder Cup will be Furyk’s fifth time as a member of the US team. This graduate of Arizona University boasts a career Ryder Cup record of 4-9-2.

Anthony Kim: Another Ryder Cup rookie, Kim is the youngest of the members of the US team at age 23. Kim graduated from the University of Oklahoma.

Justin Leonard: Leonard returns to the US Ryder Cup team since his last appearance in 1999. Leonard graduated from Texas and has played in 8 Ryder Cup matches, posting a 0-3-5 career record.

Phil Mickelson: With the most impressive Ryder Cup resume on the 2008 team, Mickelson has a career record of 9-8-3 during the Cup. He ranks as the most experienced Ryder Cup member, having played for the US team 5 prior times.

Kenny Perry: Kentuckian Kenny Perry returns to the Ryder Cup for a second time, coming in 3rd place in PGA points. With an 0-2-0 record, this Western Kentucky graduate comes in as a local favorite.

Boo Weekley: The last of the automatic qualifiers, Weekley comes into this year’s Ryder Cup as a rookie, and attended perhaps the least known of the players’ colleges: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

The last four chosen:

Chad Campbell: One of the last four of the Captain’s picks, Campbell brings prior Ryder Cup experience to this year’s team. A UNLV graduate, Campbell turned professional in 1996.

J.B. Holmes: The second Kentuckian to make this year’s team, this Campbellsville, KY native is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. It will be his first time on a Ryder Cup team.

Hunter Mahan: Mahan also joins this year’s team as a rookie. Hunter Is 26 years old and attended Oklahoma State University, turning pro in 2003.

Steve Stricker: The oldest member of the US Ryder Cup team at 41, Strickler will be another of the six total US members who have never been on a Ryder Cup team.

Azinger brings a relatively inexperienced group of players to Valhalla for this world-class golfing contest. However with names like Mickelson, Furyk and Cink on your team, coupled with two home state competitors, all bets are off as the host nation hopes to bring the trophy home.

'I'M ALL RIGHT, DON'T NOBODY WORRY 'BOUT ME'

Call it the Caddyshack moment of The Barclays. As in gophers digging under the course. After Sergio Garcia hit his second shot behind a tree on the second playoff hole -- the par-5 17th -- he sought and received relief for what Garcia called "gopher holes." Or more to the point, gopher tunnels.
"It was not where my ball was, but like about five or six feet left, (the ground) was actually moving," Garcia said. "You could see the grass going up and down."
Because the unstable ground threatened to impact Garcia's shot, he was allowed to drop one club length away, per rule 25-1 for abnormal ground condition that interferes with a player's stance or the area of his intended swing.
Meanwhile, Vijay Singh had to wait after hitting a superb second shot that left him 20 feet for an eagle putt (and eventual two-putt for the birdie and the win).
"I wasn't really concerned about him," Singh said. "I just wanted to know why he got a drop. There was obviously a mole there, and he was burrowing at the moment -- you could see him popping out."
The only thing missing in this scene, evidently, was Carl Spackler.

Just a couple of cuties!

What can I say? I think these pictures speak for themselves. I love my GRANDBABIES!

The Canadian Open

My friend Steve Hulka, aka, The Hulk, has been caddying for an Englishman named, Brian Davis. Hulk, up till last week, was sharing the bag with another caddie, splitting the earnings with each other. Not a bad deal! From this week till the end of the season Steve will be on the bag full time. He has done well with Brian. This week at the Canadian Open, they are tied for 10th place going into Sunday's final round.

Catch the final round on CBS! GO HULKA!

Who Would of Thought?

I think this is just INCREDIBLE! A 53 year old sort of washed up player is in 2nd place at The Open Championship. Who would of thought that this would be the headline.

Keep your eye on Phil. He made a tremendous comeback today. The weekend looks to be pretty exciting!

The Open Championship This Week!

With Tiger out this year every pundit is picking Sergio to Win (he was in a play-off with Harrington last year at Carnoustie, and lost). My bet is on Phil. I think he is primed to win another Major, why not the The Open? I know, he missed the cut last year. Yea, and Trevor IMMELMAN, finished tied for 60th and won the Master's this year

Remember Caddy Shack?

Wow! I can't remember the last time I watched this classic. Check it out tonight all you crazy golf nuts. This one is a keeper!!!!

Is this the sweetest thing?

I know, I know! I haven't kept you all up to date with the pictures of the heirs to the throne. Well, here is the princess with her former princess Mommy. She is now about 10 weeks. She laughs and cries, she has a great smile.

She and big brother love each other or should I say, big brother loves to kiss on her!

Well, there you have it. I am truly blessed!

Keeping Your Distance GPS vs. laser: Which best answers 'how far to the hole?

Sometime ago I got a used "Skycaddie" from a golfing buddy of mine. It only cost me a box of Pro V1x's. Not a bad deal considering how much they cost. I have used it several times on courses around where I live. My subscription ran out so I renewed with the US plan (a whole lot more courses than I'll play). I plan to play several courses in Vegas next week and then a couple in New Mexico in August. It's cost? $49 for a subscription for the year.
I have to say that I think it is ideal for the average player (me) and will help the yardage part of the game immensely! The Wall Street Journal ran an article in today's Weekend Journal section
Use a friend's Skycaddie before you run out a buy one!

The Three . . . Two Caddies!

 
This picture was taken at a course outside of Fort Worth while attending The Colonial. This is Mike (Fluff) Cowan, Jim Furyk's caddie and my friend Steve Hulka who caddies for Brian Davis. Steve also has a business on the Tour where he tranports the players clubs and luggage from tournament to tournament. It was a great day for a friendly round of golf at a very nice course . . . Squall Valley.

How Sweet Is This?

Well, she is finally here! Alyssa Evelyn Moreland arrived on April 23, 2008 at 2:08 am in Riverside, CA. She weighed 7 lbs and 5oz, 17 inches long. Mommy and little Princess are doing fine at home in Highland. What does Big Brother think of her? More later on him . . . .

It's Tee Time At The Master's!

Wow! Wow! What can I say? This time of year has got to be the most incredible time in the life of sporting events. March Madness, Final 4, Opening Day in the Major League Baseball, and of course . . . .THE MASTER'S. If you have never been to Augusta and in particular, the Master's, then . . . .pray and ask God for a miracle! I have had the privilege of going 4 times. The best time I ever had was when I was able to take my son Chris, for his college graduation present in 2000. That was unforgettable, to say the least.

My predication for this year's winner is . . . . Geoff Ogilvy! He is in my opinion is playing some great golf. He has won once this year and could just be the dark horse. Keep an eye on him.

Tune in this Thursday for some of golf's finest moments. Just remember the old saying, "The Master's is won on the back nine on Sunday afternoon!"

Where Have I Been . . . .?

My son has been on my case to get back to blogging. I guess I've been away for no apparent reason other than I have not been out on the Tour to minister to caddies in that setting. Although, I have been in touch with a couple of my caddie-buddies, Steve Hulka and Chico Fernandez. They both had a good off season of rest and are ready (already are)to hit the trail. Steve more so than Chico.

One of the things that has been occupying my time has been the need to work with a team of students whom I will be leading on a trip to India in June of this year. We have meetings every week and other types of training exercises. I will be out of country for 3 weeks. It looks to be a very profitable trip to say the least.

I am making plans to be in Fort Worth in May for the Colonial. I look forward to that opportunity. My good friend Bill French lets me stay with he and his wife Linda. They enjoy going to the tournament. I enjoy being with them and their family.

So, there, I did it son! Now back to my other blog . . . .

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way Home!

I attended the Fry's.com Open in Las Vegas last week to spend some time with a few caddie friends . One of my closest friends Steve Hulka, was working once again for PGA Professional Joey Sindelar. At the close of the the 2nd round on Friday it looked like the cut line was going to be -5 par. Joey was at -4 par. He decided that he wasn't going to make it in, so he got on a flight to New York, his home. Later that evening after the scores were all in, the cut was at . . . you guessed it, -4 par. There was no way he was going to make it back. He WD (withdrew).

The year before he and Steve finished tied for 9th. To think he could have done that or better. We'll never know.

My First Visit to U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago!

Last Friday night with my very good caddie friend, Steve, "The Hulk," Hulka, I attended for the very first time a Sox game at their own U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. This is where the legendary Comisky Field once stood for years. If you look at the diagram picture in this post and specifically the yellow section behind home plate . . . THIS IS WHERE I SAT! AWESOME, DUDE! There. I feel much better.
It was an incredible evening. Paul Kenerko (he played for the San Bernardino CAL League while I was chaplain) and Jim Thome both hit home runs. And let me tell you about BOBBY JENKS, OKAY! Sorry about that, I'm still excited about the evening. Back to BOBBY JENKS. He came in the top of ninth to pitch his 40th save of the season. As he came out of the bull pen the crowd were on their feet screaming, "Bobby! Bobby! It was deafening to say the least.

The game ended with the Sox beating DET, 5-2. What a great night for baseball!

Good For Phil!

If you have followed Phil Michelson at all, you know that he is a guy who, since he got married, has taken his marriage vows very seriously and is in fact, a family man. His decision not to play this week is in my estimation a virtuous move on his part. I applaud the fact that he would want to be home and see his kids off to the start of school. It would seem to me that the money in this tournament does not compare to family values.
I have always liked this guy when he first appeared on the scene and I still like him. GO PHIL!!!!!!!!!!!

A Bash At the Chuckmeister Cheese Factory

Here's the King at his Party. Check out the cake his Mom made!

King KamehaAyden's 2nd Birthday

Nothing like being a day late and a dollar short! My grandson's birthday was Wednesday of this week and of course, he's "2"! We are having his birthday party tonight at the world famous Chucky Cheese. I will post some pictures of the event tomorrow. So hang in there sports fans. The picture you see here was taken in Hawaii last Thanksgiving. Yes, I know, it's a shame that he's so cute and doesn't get to go any where. What can I say!!!

I am, to say the least, totally excited that I will be attending The Player's Championship next week in Jacksonville, Florida. This tournament is the PGA Tour's only "major." It is an incredible week of the PGA Tour and the World's top 125 players, vying for the Crystal Vase, over a million dollars for 1st place, and a 5 year exemption on Tour.




Of course, one of the highlights of the week is the famous "island-green 17th Hole." This hole, more than any other, has crushed the dreams of many an aspiring golfer. I position myself on the island side of the hole and watch players hit into the par 5 16th and then into the island-green 17th. It is a great two-hole display: they can eagle/birdie the 16th and lose it all on the 17th.




I am looking forward to seeing many of the caddies who I have ministered to over the past 15 years and to have a time of prayer, bible study, and sharing together.

On Monday after the tournament, the caddies have their annual tournament and I have been invited to play.

Please pray for the week. I look forward to shaing the gospel with those whom our Heavenly Father is drawing to Himself.