This Week at WorldGolf.com: March 15, 2006

Without an easy March Madness gambling
peg, big time golf is in a world of TV hurt

The reason pro golf will never be a dominant TV sport, will never be as big as Tim Finchem dreams it can be with his NASCAR obsessive vision, can be found in the NCAA brackets on the top of your desk.

You know, the ones that are occupying your every waking thought as you push aside that pressing project (what's a blown deadline with Gonzaga's RPI on the line?), forget your kids' names or even that you have kids (they need some reason to see the shrink at 19, no?), and scour Dick Vitale's bald spot for sleeper clues.

Yes, you're one of those fools that real sports fans hate. The dork from accounting in the sweater vest or the blonde from sales who manages to make Jessica Simpson look like a Mensa member. Someone who doesn't follow sports all year but when the NCAA basketball tournament rolls around becomes fixated on winning the office pool. And often does - by choosing teams based on the cutest mascots, the best marching bands or just good, old fashioned darts.

These are the fans that events like March Madness and the Super Bowl draw that golf never will - even when Tiger Woods wins the real Grand Slam this year. TV executives like to call them "casual fans."

But everyone knows they're gambling fans.

This is why golf will never be as popular on TV as it is to play. Golf is a great game to gamble on as a participant. Play for a $2 Nassau, play for drinks, play to see who has to babysit the boss at the next convention.

Every time you tee it up, chances are there's something on the line.

There's no such action carryover to watching to see whether Phil Mickelson holds it together playing a round with Tiger. It may be right, as William K. Wolfrum charges, that betting on golf is crazy.

But you can be sure it drives PGA Tour honchos crazy that no one's doing it.

There is no easy hook for Finchem to draw the masses, no brackets that can be printed in every newspaper. He has to rely on actual golf fans.

Golf can take solace though. March Madness isn't just one of the biggest times of year for the Las Vegas sports books. It's also one of the most packed times of year for the top Sin City golf courses.

Everyone may put their money on Duke, UConn, Villanova and Murray State. But they're not all spending the day watching them.

Now back to your brackets.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Play it easy at the Grand Strand
and get your groove back

So you've been in Myrtle Beach a few days now. Some of the tougher golf courses have slapped you around and you're all beat up, even starting to wonder why you ever took up golf. What you need is a break. The golf euphemism is "playable" but we all know what they mean by that - easy. So here are some Grand Strand courses that will let you keep your socks and a low scorecard as well.

Also: Ranking the top 10 golf courses in Myrtle Beach

Nike Golf's SasQuatch driver:
a big footprint and big drives

Nike Golf's SasQuatch driver burst on to the PGA Tour with incredible success, as players like Tiger Woods, Carl Pettersson and Chad Cambell used it for victories. Still, what works for the pros doesn't always work so well for the average hacker. After giving the big, squashed-looking driver a try, however, it appears safe to say that Nike's SasQuatch is the type of driver that will enhance anyone's game off the tee.

Blogger: Golf balls should be custom-fit too

An 18-point golfer's guide:
Richmond, Va. Off-Course

As a key player in the Civil War, Richmond, Va. is known for many things. It's the city where Patrick Henry delivered his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. Perhaps more interesting to many travelers, it also happens to be a great town for restaurants. So while Virginia's capital has plenty of golf options nearby, it also has plenty of other diversions for families, singles and everyone in between.

Also: History, golf and family fun in Colonial Williamsburg