Greetings to all! I hope you had a great weekend of fun and excitement. I feel like I’ve been reborn, personally. I was able to get out and play nine holes for the first time since November. So, you’ll have to excuse my unbridled (and renewed) enthusiasm for golf.
This week’s Hittin’ The Links is dedicated to the pro golf tours. Many avid golf enthusiasts are aware of the major tours such as the PGA Tour, European Tour, Champions Tour etc, etc. However, I’ve decided to peruse the information superhighway and see what else is out there for an aspiring golf professional. If my tone seems somewhat overtly boisterous, I beg your pardon, but I’ve recently purchased a 12 pack of Samuel Adams White Ale. It’s superb to say the least.
Hole 1: The Australasian Tour
I won’t give you any hints to where this tour is centrally located, but I will tell you that none other than Kevin Stadler is at the top of its order of merit. [link]
Hole 2: The Asian Tour
In my opinion, the Asian Tour is the next big thing in the world of golf. Players like Thongchai Jaidee, Simon Dyson, Charlie Wie, Thaworn Wiratchant, and Jyoti Randhawa are staples on this tour as well as on the European Tour. [link]
Hole 3: The Sunshine Tour
Although this tour is somewhat small, but so is the country of South Africa where it is based. This tour along with the Australasian and Asian tours often combine their talents to have multi-tour events which is great for developing talent. [link]
Hole 4: The Canadian Tour
You didn’t think I would forget about my friendly neighbors to the north did you? I’ll be honest, I often dream about becoming Canadian. Not just for the universal health care, the ridiculously low crime rates, the availability to watch curling whenever I want or to play on some of the greatest golf courses in the northern hemisphere, but in Canada, both Labatt and Molson are domestic beers. [link]
Hole 5: The Hooters Tour
The breeding ground for greatness. I.E. Sean O’Hair, Chad Campbell, Lucas Glover, Shane Bertsch, Ben Curtis, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, and David Toms just to name a few. [link]
Hole 6: The Futures Tour
I see this tour as the female response to the Nationwide Tour. The majority of Big Breakers this season come from this tour as well as several LPGA Tour card holders such as Cristie Kerr, Grace Park, Jill McGill, and Christina Kim. [link]
Hole 7: The Tight Lies Tour
Sponsored by none other than Adams Golf, this developmental tour is proud to boast such great graduates as Tim Herron (a.k.a. Lumpy), Shane Bertsch (again), JL Lewis, Ryan Palmer, and Bubba Watson. [link]
Hole 8: The A.G. Spanos Tour
The Spanos schedule spans seven months. From February to August, this California-based tour is the outgrowth of what was once known as the California Golf Tour of Northern California and the Golden State Golf Tour of Southern California. Players who have risen through the ranks and further have been Duffy Waldorf, Kirk Triplett, Aaron Oberholser, Scott McCarron, and 2006 Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman. [link]
Hole 9: The NCAA
I know, I know, it’s not a tour, but the NCAA is responsible for a countless number of golfers who compete on a number of tours all across the world. It is the proving ground where one decides to either take that next step or not. The competition is deep and the rewards can be very fulfilling upon graduation or professional announcement. [link] and [link]