This Week at WorldGolf.com: Oct. 05, 2005

Twenty years ago, another
obsessed golfer was born

In Sparks, Nev. recently, Lee Best shot a career-best round of 76. There was no media coverage and his career as a golfer continues to go virtually unnoticed.

I know about the 76 because Lee Best is my brother-in-law. So when I called him a few days back, he had very little interest in discussing my new job, his new grandchild, New Orleans, etc. All he wanted to talk about was that 76.

Who can blame him, really? I think he's dabbled in the high 70s before but the 76 was pretty remarkable. And sure, I'm proud of him and all that nonsense, but part of me has that pain that only competitiveness can bring. Or maybe I'm just jealous. Because the fact is this: I taught my brother-in-law to play golf about 20 years ago. And now, he has not just surpassed me, he's lapped me a couple times.

My jealousy is somewhat diminished because, over the last 20 years, I've played maybe 100 rounds of golf. Lee has likely played more than 1,000. But there's a reason for that. My brother-in-law is a golfer. He's so into it, the word golfer actually has to be italicized.

He has good golf shoes, clubs, bag and I believe even his tees are made from some material that makes a ball fly straighter. The guy has golf wallpaper in one of his bathrooms. I'm not joking.

That's how golf is, though. There are players who play some, wish they could play more and secretly dream of playing with top-of-the-line equipment. And then there are the 100-hole-a-week guys. They're easy to spot, usually, because they're the guys with a tee stuck behind their ear at church.

My best round ever was an 85 but I was 18 then and I'm just about positive I cheated. I have broken 90 a few other times though, so the ability is there if I just get to the range more. And maybe play about 35 or so rounds a year for the next couple years.

But I know it's a pipe dream. I may give it a few token efforts but I doubt I'll ever catch up to my former protege. He got the bug and will play anywhere at any time. I actually played a round with him in Reno once when freezing rain was pelting us. He wanted to play 36.

It's as simple as that. Some of us just want to play some golf from time to time and notch a few pars on our scorecard. Others are just obsessed.

Twenty years ago, Lee was a skiing, off-road-driving kind of guy who was just waiting for the X Games to be created. But I helped him veer off that course and gave golf another obsessed player. And Lee doesn't seem bothered by that one bit.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

No ocean view, but St. Lucia
brings great golf to the Caribbean

While you may miss out on a 'Wow' view of the ocean, St. Lucia Golf and Country Club makes up for it in many other ways, writes National Golf Editor Tim McDonald. Taking advantage of the natural landscape, St. Lucia's gives golfers a wild ride through the islands, replete with wildlife, coconut-shell tee markers and rum truffles at the coffee shop. It's also a course with a 139 slope rating, so bring extra balls.

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Some silver linings appearing
in ravaged Gulf Coast region

After Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the Gulf Coast region, many thought all golf courses in the area were likely destroyed. However, while there was damage on an almost unprecedented scale to the area, many golf courses have either re-opened or plan to by the end of the year. Now the Gulf Coast Golf Association is asking golfers to come back to play their courses to help bring tourist dollars back to the battered region.

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Want great, cheap golf?
Look past the corporate powers

Chris Baldwin has noticed a common denominator in quality, low-priced golf: The best deals are usually found at courses owned by individuals, not big corporations. In fact, ownership status is a great predictor of value, he writes. "Arnold Palmer said we had to look at ways to make golf more affordable," an independent owner tells Baldwin. "It was sort of funny to me, because have you seen what they charge at a lot of Arnold Palmer designs?"

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