Six rounds of Hell

[Bill Brightly]

OK guys, our man Jim McGovern is -3 through 3 today, in second all alone!

[Jerry Kluger]

I marshalled at the US Open in 1997 and Chris Smith played and was a really nice guy - made the cut but not low enough for automatic entry the next year.  In 1998, I went to the final round qualifying and Chris was there - I spoke with him again - just a decent guy from Indiana who was just thrilled about his experience playing in the Open - how nice everyone was to him and his family - just appreciated what a great life it was being a professional golfer.  His problem seems to be a balky putter as he usually does well in driving distance and greens in reg.

[John_Conley]

A friend of mine is in the finals of Q School this week. Anyone know anything about Crooked Cat and Panther Lake?

I couldn't even find the architects when I went on their website. These courses any good?

The credit was split three ways:

Isao Aoki - celebrity professional designer
Phil Ritson - renowned instructor and driving force behind the project
Dave Harman - the dirt guy

Panther Lake is a blast to play.  Big golf on a very good rolling piece of land.  Several fun holes.  The routing is a mess, but everyone is in a golf car so you just amble around from hole to hole.

Crooked Cat is a tad bland.  A few good holes, but more or less basic "big golf".

The venue is a wonderful host for Qualifying School.  Darn near perfect, which is why they came right back.  Weren't they here just two years ago?

The courses were lengthened to about 7,500 yards each to prepare for the 2005 event.  Several trees were planted off the fairways in an attempt to impose some kind of penalty for wayward shots.  All they had before was rough.  I have not been back in two years to see how they have matured.

If in the area, be sure to play Panther Lake if you have a week.  Not the best course in the Orlando area, but one of the better ones.  Usually immaculate too.

[Doug Ralston]

Certainly doesn't compare to the 'wonderful' [say 'hard as hell'] Pete Dye's PGA West. THAT was a tough course to have to keep playing!

I love the Tournament. Every years it is at least as exciting as a Major. And it certainly affects more lives.

Doug

[Bruce Katona]

I've been following Jim McGovern (a Jersey guy like me) since he won at Houston....saw him play at Shinny at the Open and follow how he does most every week.....I'm keeping my fingers crossed he gets his card back.

[Michael Ryan]

I caddied for a friend of mine when he made it to Finals at OC National in 2005.  My buddy is a club pro in New England and while he didn't play very well, we had the great pleasure of being paired with Jim McGovern for the first two days.  I grew up about 45 minutes north of where Jim is from just into NY State.  One, he could not have been nicer to my buddy Jeff, who was obviously out of his comfort zone for an ass't pro.  Two, I have never talked more sports for 2 days then when we were paired with Jim.  We quickly realized we pull for the same teams (mainly the NY Giants) and when I asked him how Bergen Catholic football fared that year, his eyes lit up and he told me about the current team and more important, the 8th graders they had coming in the next year.  

Sorry to get off topic, but I felt like I should back up the sentiment on Jim and add that I pull for him every week like no other.  

As for the courses, the place is picture perfect for Q school.  Two challenging courses, good length, relatively fair (you get what you deserve).  They also have one of the largest driving ranges you will ever see.  Put 300 tour pros at a place for over a week, and they will leave some divots, this place can handle it.  

In my 8 trips around OC National (2 practice rounds and 6 tournament rounds) I can't say I saw consecutive 62's...that is amazing what Lickliter did.

Mike

[Bill Brightly]

Well, Jimmy was 2 over after 10 holes today, then made 3 birdies on the fnial 8 eight holes, including 17 and 18, to get to -15 and tied for 6th place.

Looks like -17 under may be the number...

[Dan Kelly]

Nervous time for Jimmy Mac fans.

Where's that muttering caddie when we need him? "Here we go again" might be the ticket right about now!

(Apropos of even less: I've been watching a lot of old "Perry Mason"s lately. "The Case of the Muttering Caddie" would have been a great "Perry Mason" title.)

[Rick Shefchik]

Dan, weren't most of the Perry Mason case title alliterative? I'm thinking "The Case of the Loose-tongued Looper."

[Rick Shefchik]

A friend of mine is in the finals of Q School this week. Anyone know anything about Crooked Cat and Panther Lake?

I couldn't even find the architects when I went on their website. These courses any good?

The credit was split three ways:

Isao Aoki - celebrity professional designer
Phil Ritson - renowned instructor and driving force behind the project
Dave Harman - the dirt guy

Panther Lake is a blast to play.  Big golf on a very good rolling piece of land.  Several fun holes.  The routing is a mess, but everyone is in a golf car so you just amble around from hole to hole.

Crooked Cat is a tad bland.  A few good holes, but more or less basic "big golf".

The venue is a wonderful host for Qualifying School.  Darn near perfect, which is why they came right back.  Weren't they here just two years ago?

The courses were lengthened to about 7,500 yards each to prepare for the 2005 event.  Several trees were planted off the fairways in an attempt to impose some kind of penalty for wayward shots.  All they had before was rough.  I have not been back in two years to see how they have matured.

If in the area, be sure to play Panther Lake if you have a week.  Not the best course in the Orlando area, but one of the better ones.  Usually immaculate too.

John,

Here's a great example of a course (or two courses) that don't look very appealing on TV, but are apparently "a blast to play." Based on what I've seen on the golf channel, I wouldn't cross the street to play these tracks, but on your recommendation I'd certainly go if I were in the area. How many courses are there that seem so charmless on the tube but are highly regraded by those who've played them?

[Dan Kelly]

Dan, weren't most of the Perry Mason case title alliterative? I'm thinking "The Case of the Loose-tongued Looper."

Or: ... the Loose-Lipped Looper?

I have two discs from Season 2 in front of me. They contain these cases:

The Case of the ...

Corresponding Corpse
Lucky Loser
Pint-Sized Client
Sardonic Sergeant
Curious Bride
Buried Clock
Married Moonlighter
Jilted Jockey

Five of eight, alliterative. Yep, that's most!

[Bill Brightly]

I guess I should folllow up to report that Jim McGovern got his card back! He shot 71 today, finishing at 417 to make it with one to spare. (Thanks to all you guys who sent me notes saying what a great guy Jimmy is!)

Todd Demsey shot 64 today to come from outside the number to make it, as did Duffy Waldorf with a 65 Sunday and 66 today.  

Bob Sowards eagled 17 to make it on the number.

But Miguel Angel Carballo doubled 16, bogied 17, bogied 18 and missed by one shot...Yikes!

[Jay Flemma]

I played those courses last January...they put me to sleep architecturally...and I froze my keister in 35 degree weather!

[Michael Ryan]

Bill Brightly,

I hope you got a chance to watch the coverage of the final round of Q School.  I happened to turn it on as they interviewed Jim McGovern.  The look of relief and accomplishment was something to see, and for anyone who knows him like you do, hearing the emotion in his voice at the end of the interview tells you how hard he has worked to get back to "The Show".  

Mike