This Week at WorldGolf.com: May 24, 2005

Mark McGwire now giving golf a bad name

Baseball slugger Mark McGwire has brought his tired act to golf. Mr. "I'm not here to talk about the past" attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open last week and while it went better than his appearance at the congressional hearings on steroids, he still left swinging at air.

Big Mac -- who, amazingly, is not so big anymore -- shot a 77 at Newport Beach Country Club, finishing eight strokes back from the 69 needed to move on to sectional qualifying. Afterwards, McGwire told reporters at the Orange County Register, "I have always loved this game." Meaning golf. Of course, then he quickly said he didn't want to talk about the past, or his "old job" as he put it this time.

Which is just great. Here we have Big Mac, the red-haired embodiment of baseball's steroids era, a real American home run hero until a few months ago, hiding behind "no comments" on the golf course.

It's sort of fitting. For golf always seems to draw the lost from other sports. When they cannot figure out what to do with their millions, aged athletes tend to focus on golf as a great fallback. The only surprise is that Ricky Williams retreated to Tibet rather than Pebble Beach when he bolted the NFL.

Which is usually all fine and good. I'd much rather watch Howie Long try to swing a club than endure the beer truck drivers and washed up old farts on the so-called Champions Tour. Golf is all about entertainment after all and some of these ex-jock duffers are endlessly entertaining. I've seen more than a few that apparently regard golf lessons the same way I do.

In fact, watching Charles Barkley swing is near high-brow theater. Heck, even Tiger Woods breaks into a smile at Sir Charles' wind up.

But McGwire's story is a little different. He's not moving on to golf as much as he's trying to hide in it. It's like he thinks hitting a little white ball distances himself from his apparently artificial exploits hitting a bigger white one. You're not talking about your "other" job? Why do you think anyone's interesting in your golf game?

Do you see the Brett Hulls of the world refusing to talk about their real pathways to fame while pulling out their driver? No, they understand it's part of the gig. If Mark McGwire wants to compete in high-profile amateur events, he can expect questions about baseball and yes, steroids. Reporters aren't chasing him down in his private rounds at San Diego resort hideaway Barona Creek. He was playing for a spot in the U.S. Open!

Save the tired, not-talking-about-the-past lines for Congress. Just answer a few questions (no one but Pete Rose is buying the plausible deniability song, by the way) and then get on with your swings.

WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Planning a golf outing to
Scotland? Take plenty of balls

With the British Open at the Old Course this year, interest has been renewed in Scottish golf vacations. But where do you go? Which courses do you book? Do you stick with the more famous, or do you wander around and trust your luck? Enter Gordon Dagleish, co-owner of Perry Golf, which books packages to Scotland. Here are some of Dagleish's inside tips on how best to enjoy your Scottish golf vacation.
Full story | Blogger: Fancy gear changes nothing

In his latest column, Tim McDonald
blasts lousy travel writing

Today's travel writing is all milk and honey - if you're a travel writer. But if you're trying to decide where to go on vacation - it sucks. It's a profession run amok, a profession that in large part exchanges freebie trips for guaranteed glowing copy, like K Street lobbyists currying favor with politicians. Meanwhile, the Society of American Travel Writers is perfectly positioned to police the industry, yet does nothing, McDonald writes.
Full story | Travel writer blasts Rebel Blogger

Translating the rules of golf is no
easy task - here's a little help

Ever read the USGA rules of golf? Didn't think so. Frankly, the book can be extremely boring. Relax, you can still play by the rules without reading it. In 1982, Golf Magazine along with the USGA published a golden list of rules that has remained timeless. BadGolfer.com is here to help interpret these "golden rules." Bet you didn't know there were so many free drops and loopholes there for the taking!
Full story | A site for the golfer who really sucks!