2005 Newport Cup: The Photos

The Newport Cup may be over, but with the help of some images, it will live forever.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, you’re about to read one heckuva long story. It’s a story of sorrow (Red Team) and jubilation (Blue Team). It’s a tale of birdies and bogeys (and quadruple bogeys). Of water hazards, bunkers, and pine straw. It’s a story of net holes in one and five-hour rounds in some of the best golf weather to be found. For cryin’ out loud, it’s even got a llama!

Join us as we look back at the weekend that was the 2005 Newport Cup.

The Newport Cup commenced on a dewy, dewy morning. A chill in the air foretold the Blue Team’s slow start. This picture shows the daunting first hole at Talamore, a 609-yard par 5. Who wouldn’t want their first hole in competition to be one of the most difficult on the trip?

The 609-yard par-5 opening hole at Talamore.

Michelle Wie’s boyfriend, Rafi, is seen here checking the yardage book. In the end, Rafi concludes that he’ll need driver, 3-wood, hybrid, 5-iron, wedge to reach the first green.

“I should have gotten it in English, dammit.”

Ed, a member of the Blue Team, practices his putting. Ed can best be described as a “streaky” putter, and that’s not for the streaks his opponents leave in their undershorts when he holes long putt after long putt.

The practice green at Talamore was one of the most undulating we’ve ever seen.

Some hit the practice range before the round. With 54 holes of golf in two days (and 72 in three for some), many were content just to loosen up and let it fly.

Josh, with a British Open vest that many confused for a Newport Cup vest, stretches prior to the first round.

Of course, some people felt that an 8:30am tee time was too early, so they hung out and relaxed in the cart rather than loosen up. Cody hit some balls and then relaxed in the cart.

Cody chooses to go the other way: by relaxing in his cart. Look at all the Titleist headcovers…

The two teams lined up prior to the first round at Talamore for this official shot. Except for Josh’s vest, the symmetry is astounding!

The two teams prior to the first shot in the 2005 Newport Cup.

Speaking of the first shot at the inaugural Newport Cup, the honor of striking that momentous shot belonged to Dave Koster.

Like this tee shot, things went “right” for the Blue Team at the first Newport Cup.

Talamore is famous for its llama caddies. You can get towels, balls, and other souvenirs with llamas on them. Seen here, one of the cherished beasts takes a mid-day rest in a pen beside the 12th tee.

“Stop taking pictures of me or I’ll be forced to spit on you.”

After we completed our morning rounds at Talamore (the Red team held a slim 3½-2½ lead), we ventured to Donald Ross’s Ine Needles. Errr, scratch that, it’s “Pine Needles.”

Pine Needles will host the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open and just underwent a massive reconstruction to do so.

After rubbing the Champion’s Bell, the two teams struck out again for their second eighteen holes on the first day.

Do you recognize any of the names on the Champion’s Bell? It hosts the names of recent club champions, among others.

Just about every course we played in the Newport Cup, but particularly Pine Needles, had plenty of pine straw laying around. The key to playing off of pine straw: play the ball back in your stance and come down quickly on it, almost like a fairway bunker shot. Don’t address your ball or it may move.

The one nice thing about pine straw? It’s easier to find your ball in pine straw than in a bunch of weeds and tall grass.

The third round at Davis Love III’s Anderson Creek began on a chilly morning. I struck the first shot, a slappy heel cut down the middle of the fairway, to begin the Blue Team’s resurgence.

The Red Team, contrary to what you might see here, actually did like each other. Really. We swear.

And with the dramatic come-back, the Blue Team wins the Newport Cup!

Here’s what we were all after. If you look quickly, you won’t even notice that it’s broken!

Dave Koster and Josh Premuda, combatants and opponents on the final day of the Newport Cup, spend some time chit-chatting in the parking lot after the final round. Dave edged Josh on the last hole. Rub it in, Dave, rub it in!

Can you guess who won?

The lovable losers, from left to right: Rafi, Josh, Cody, and Don.

The Red Team had the Newport Cup in their grasp, but a final-day comeback by the Blue Team pulled it away.

The winners of the first Newport Cup, from left to right: Erik, Dave, Jeff, and Ed. The Blue team was created because every member of the team had an “e” in their first name. The Red Team was “e”-less and, in the end, Cup-less too.

Look ma, a gold medal!