• Sharing 99 reasons to be thankful for golf

  • By Jason Sobel | November 11, 2009 5:34:52 AM PST
Ah, Thanksgiving. The one day each year when we convene with those closest to us (the other guys in the usual foursome) in the most comfortable surroundings (the 19th hole) for a celebratory feast (a few pints) to discuss exactly what we're most thankful for.

Just in case you needed some assistance for your annual thank-you think tank, here are 99 ideas for those who love the game.

1. Tiger Woods. He owns 65 career PGA Tour wins and 14 major titles before his 33rd birthday. You're watching history unfold before your eyes. Enjoy it.

2. The Tao of Boo. It takes a special guy to turn the word "camaraderie" into a verb. Weekley is that guy.

3. Hot dogs at the turn and pints in the clubhouse. Some say it's not a sport if you can eat and drink while competing. I say that just makes it a better sport.

4. Annika Sorenstam's failure to use the "r" word. She's stepping away, not retiring, meaning the door is always open for a comeback.

5. Ian Poulter's naked photo. Hey, it could have been Tim Herron!

6. Sweeping the dew at 6 a.m. There's nothing better …

7. Playing a quick 18 after work. … unless you're not a morning person.

8. Paul Azinger's brilliant scheme. Before this year, there had been 36 editions of the Ryder Cup … and never before had a captain broken his team into three smaller groups? There hasn't been a well-thought-out idea that was this simple since Newton summed up gravity.

9. Playing hooky for a few days every April. Don't worry -- your boss is doing the exact same thing.

10. A kinder, gentler USGA. For a while there, the degree of difficulty at the U.S. Open was bordering on sadism, but Mike Davis has instilled a keen eye into the operation.

11. Free tees in the pro shop. Don't pretend you don't stuff your pockets. It's OK, I won't tell.

12. The wit and wisdom of Mark Calcavecchia, Rocco Mediate and Paul Goydos. If they don't make your PGA Tour All-Quote team, well, you just haven't been listening carefully enough.

13. The ever-changing runners-up. What do Sergio Garcia and Yani Tseng have in common? They recently supplanted Phil Mickelson and Annika Sorenstam, respectively, as the No. 2-ranked players in the world. Hooray for parity.

14. The invention of the DVR. If the 2008 U.S. Open final round and playoff didn't receive "Save until I delete" status, nothing should.

15. The Duramed Futures Tour. Seeing those players makes it fun to watch golf again.

16. Danny Lee, Rickie Fowler and Ryo Ishikawa. Maybe none of these teens will be the Next Tiger Woods, but at least one of 'em will live up to the moniker of Next Anthony Kim.

17. You can buy this. Sure, you need a seven-figure bank account and a backyard big enough to ensure it won't be the first Nicklaus-designed mini-golf course, but those are minor details. Hey, buy six of 'em and you've got your own 18-hole track!

18. "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09" video game. Anytime you can play St. Andrews or Pebble Beach in your pajamas, it's a good thing.

19. Holes-in-one. Either you've had one and can't stop talking about it, or you've just missed … and can't stop talking about it.

20. Pros earn what they make. If an underachieving shortstop hits .180, he still pulls in a multimillion-dollar salary. If a top-ranked golfer misses every cut of the season, he makes absolutely nothing.

21. Erik Compton's long road back. After two heart transplants, the 29-year-old pro came within one 4-foot putt of reaching the final stage of Q-school and earning status on either the PGA or Nationwide Tour.

22. And Casey Martin, for that matter. Without him blazing the trail, Compton would have been left cart-less and, therefore, hopeless.

23. Handicaps. You vs. Roger Federer in a tennis match? Unfair. You vs. Michael Phelps in the freestyle? No shot. You vs. Tiger Woods? Mark up the scorecard and take your best shot. At least it's (sort of) a fair fight.

24. Your club's glowball tournament. Golf at night is fun enough, but looking out over a dark course to see dozens of little glowing orbs is the coolest part.

25. Vijay Singh's work ethic. Nobody works harder on his game, and nobody deserves his success like the big Fijian.

26. Oct. 3, 2009. That would be Fred Couples' 50th birthday. If you think he's cleaned up over the years during the Silly Season, just wait 'til he hits the Champions Tour.

27. Your fantasy golf team. Admit it: If not for fantasy, you really wouldn't have cared all that much about Harrison Frazar's birdie putt on the 16th hole in Round 2 of the Puerto Rico Open.

28. In your mind, Woosie is still partying. Even though the video of victorious European captain Ian Woosnam turning champagne into a snotbubbler in 2006 has been removed from YouTube, the sidesplitting image is indelibly ingrained on your memory forever.

29. Camilo Villegas "only" finished 15th in putting this season. Any better and you'd be forced to recreate his lotus position when lining up putts.

30. Ryan Moore's hats, Anthony Kim's belt buckles and Ian Poulter's pants. Golf was depressingly khaki for way too long. At least these guys dress like they care.

31. The twilight rate. Twenty bucks off after 2 p.m.? Half-price after 3? All you can play after 4? Yes, yes and yes.

32. The Golf Channel. How did we ever survive without live coverage of the Portugal Masters each morning and unending "Playing Lessons with the Pros" reruns all night?

33. Lorena Ochoa's impact. She's virtually considered royalty in her native Mexico, as much for her charitable efforts as for her sublime play on the course.

34. The player you love to hate. No, you don't like Rory Sabbatini, but since when is having a player to root against such a bad thing?

35. Dan Jenkins. Nearing his 79th birthday, the venerable author still has his fastball.

36. Augusta's new attitude. From live online streaming video of the Masters to free admission for those aged 8-16, the greencoats are ensuring that the next generation will have as much reverence for their tournament as the current one.

37. Sweater vests. They keep you warm, but don't inhibit your swing. Just ask David Toms, who's rarely seen without one.

38. No. 7 at Pebble Beach. Perhaps the world's most scenic par-3.

39. No. 8 at Pebble Beach. Perhaps the world's most daunting par-4.

40. The Masters Par-3 Contest. It's the closest thing golf has to a home run derby or slam dunk contest.

41. Reclaimed golf balls. Anyone who has ever walked into the woods in search of their Pinnacle and come out with a pair of barely dinged Pro-V1s knows exactly what I'm talking about.

42. Ji-Yai Shin's made-for-Hollywood story. Four years after a car crash that killed her mother and left her brother and sister seriously injured, Shin won the Women's British Open.

43. "Open" championships. Living up to their name -- anyone can play well enough to qualify and compete in such events -- keeping dreams alive since 1860.

44. The All-Around ranking. What's the best measure of a proficient golfer? Greens in regulation numbers? Putts per round? Scoring average? Try the All-Around category, which compiles rankings for players in every important statistic.

45. Jack Nicklaus' philosophy. "The biggest rival I had in my career was me," he said. "I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me."

46. Herbert Warren Wind's induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The legendary journalist was recently honored posthumously -- and deservedly so.

47. Daphne's Headcovers. Tiger's buddy Frank didn't knit himself, you know. But the top-ranked player is hardly alone; there's barely a player on tour who doesn't have a Daphne's original protecting his driver.

48. Bruntsfield Links. Home of the first game of golf in 1456 in Edinburgh, Scotland, as recorded by the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society.

49. The 12-inch Masters mini-putter in the Augusta National pro shop. I plan to buy 'em in bulk next year. Any friends or relatives who become new parents should expect one as a baby gift.

50. Overcast, cloudy days with no rain. Everyone else gets scared off, which leaves a quick round on an empty course for us diehards.

51. Rangefinders. Golf was meant to be played with a caddie. If one isn't available, these little gadgets are the next best thing.

52. The surgeons at La Paz Hospital in Madrid. A month ago, Seve Ballesteros was in critical condition with a malignant brain tumor. Three operations later, he is out of intensive care and, hopefully, on the way to recovery.

53. Drug testing in golf. It's a necessary evil, but one which -- so far -- has proved the sport is clean on its most elite levels.

54. Steve Lowery, Greg Kraft and Chez Reavie. These 2008 PGA Tour champs are proof that all it takes are four great rounds to make a season.

55. Mission Hills Golf Club. Located in Shenzhen, China, this 12-course (yes, 12 courses!) resort features, according to its PR release, "clubhouses the size of Nordstroms and golf courses covering an area the size of five Central Parks," including the Olazabal Course, recent host of the WGC-World Cup.

56. David Duval's possible resurgence. You say he's washed up. I say he boasted eight sub-70 scores in his past 16 rounds this year. If he continues in '09, it will be a huge story.

57. Bomb-and-gouge isn't as prevalent as some think. In 2007, there were 18 players who averaged over 300 yards per drive on the PGA Tour; in '08, that number decreased to 13. And the overall distance number was less than last year, too. There's more to playing well than just hitting it a long way.

58. "Train," by Pete Dexter. There are a lot of terrific golf novels out there. This one is tops on my list.

59. A score of 59. The most daunting number in golf has been compiled only three times on the PGA Tour (Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, David Duval) and once on the LPGA (Annika Sorenstam).

60. Augusta National, Bethpage Black, Turnberry and Hazeltine. The 2009 major championship sites are all first-class venues.

61. Augusta National, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews and Whistling Straits. The 2010 major championship sites are even better.

62. Ricky Barnes' promotion. The former wunderkind amateur toiled on the Nationwide Tour for five years, but was the final player to reach the big leagues this year … by $3,582.

63. Cart girls. Need I say more?

64. Trees are 90 percent air. It's not really true, but it's a good swing thought anyway.

65. Kevin Streelman. The PGA Tour rookie finished 78th on the money and didn't just lead with most rounds in the 60s (54); he might have had the most fun, too.

66. Padraig Harrington's loyalty. After winning three of the past six major championships with Wilson clubs in the bag, Paddy could have left for a more lucrative deal, but instead re-upped with the company.

67. The emergence of golf in Asia. "You have to come and show yourself here," said Sergio Garcia, who recently won the HSBC Champions event. "You can't just play in the U.S. and continental Europe. Asia is definitely a global player."

68. Waking up for the Open Championship. If you can't attend in person, the next best thing is setting the alarm for early morning, then watching the action from the comfort of your couch as the world's best players are getting pelted with sideways rain and 50 mph winds.

69. The "condor." A score of 1-under on any hole is a birdie, 2-under is an eagle, 3-under is an albatross and a hole-in-one on a par-5, according to Wikipedia, is considered a condor. Of course, it's also the punch line to a joke about the priest who plays golf on Sunday morning.

70. No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass. Is the par-3 island green "gimmicky," as Tiger Woods once called it? Sure, but gimmicky can be fun, too. Just ask the thousands who camp out on that hole for four days every May.

71. Match play. If you simply play the game and count up the strokes, you're depriving yourself of golf's best head-to-head format.

72. Joan Smith. The PGA Tour's Volunteer of the Year has donated her time for nearly a half-century at the Buick Invitational.

73. Paula Creamer's fulfilled potential. At 22, the Pink Panther was in danger of getting bypassed by younger peers, but a four-win season has her No. 4 in the world. Next up: Her first major title.

74. The annual buddies golfing trip. Whether it's a weekend trip to another part of the state or 10 days touring Scotland, it's never not a good time.

75. Scramble tournaments. Shooting a 63 never felt so bad.

76. Craigslist, eBay and other online consumer sites. We used to have garage sales and get 10 cents on the dollar for old clubs. Now, thanks to these sites, selling -- not to mention buying -- golf merchandise has never been easier.

77. The globalization of golf at its highest levels. The men's Official World Golf Ranking shows players from eight different countries in the top 10; the women's Rolex Ranking has just one fewer. The next time someone tries to point at a lack of diversity in the game, use this as your counterpoint.

78. Pat Perez's temper. Because sometimes it's nice to see something more than an "Aw, shucks!" reaction when a guy misses a big putt.

79. Metal spikes. Sure, 99 percent of courses won't let you wear 'em anymore, but we can still remember the days when golf shoes would "click-clack" on the cart path.

80. Your lucky quarter. Let the other guys pay $8.95 for an official U.S. Open ball marker. Yours only cost 25 cents.

81. Colonial, Waialae and Harbour Town. Three courses that annually prove a track doesn't need to be 7,500 yards in order to challenge the world's best.

82. Christina Kim's positive attitude. She might not be the best player on the LPGA, but she's definitely the most enthusiastic.

83. Smylie and Luckie Kaufman. The junior golfers from Alabama have raised big-time money for children with cancer by getting sponsors for their marathon days of golf.

84. Paul Azinger's loyal friendship. Payne Stewart would have been a slam-dunk choice as U.S. Ryder Cup captain at some point. His buddy Azinger made sure his spirit was apparent at Valhalla, as Stewart's son Aaron, now a member of the SMU golf team, served as special guest during the week.

85. The UroClub. Like you wouldn't pay $24.95 to "take relief" whenever you needed it on the course?

86. Varadero Golf Club. Cuba's first and only 18-holer represents freedom in a not-so-free society.

87. Your favorite golf photo. Maybe it's the one of you, your dad and your son on the first tee at St. Andrews, or a fraying print of Arnie with his arm around you. It's the one in the frame on your desk that elicits a smile every time you look at it.

88. Todd Demsey's comeback. At 197th on the PGA Tour money list, Demsey's season might not have looked like much of a success -- until you remember that it came after a pair of brain surgeries in recent years.

89. Grass driving ranges. The next time I hit off a mat on the course will be the first time, so why should I have to practice off one, too?

90. "Grandpa" golf. We all know a guy who plays this way. Can't hit it out of his own shadow, but keeps it straight and owns a deadly short game, resulting in lots of pars, a few bogeys and plenty of decent scores.

91. The fitness boom. Credit Tiger if you will, but it's good to see professional athletes -- golfers are athletes, you know -- without muffin tops hanging over their belts.

92. Persimmon woods. Use one and you're sure to lose distance, but you'll make up for it by becoming the coolest guy in your foursome.

93. Pro-ams. You can't play catch with Peyton Manning on Saturday or toss alley-oops to Kobe before a game, but for the right price, anyone can tee it up with a pro in the days before professional events.

94. 4.25 inches. That's the diameter of the little hole in the ground that you're trying to hit your ball into in as few strokes as possible from hundreds of yards away.

95. The PGA Tour's charitable contributions. Say what you will about the increase in purse sizes over the years, but it's not as if the tour doesn't give back, too. Since the first donation in 1938, this number was more than $1.2 billion entering the 2008 season.

96. Lofoten Golf Links. The world's northernmost course, located in Gimsoysand, Norway, offers a package from mid-May through early August in which golfers can play 144 holes in 24 hours.

97. The memory of Tommy Bolt. Though he passed away in September, we'll always remember the guy known as "Thunder" for such flammable quotes as this: "Always throw clubs ahead of you; that way you won't waste any energy going back to pick them up."

98. On-course technology. Back in the day, fans would leave tourneys early to go home and watch the action. Now handheld TVs and radios can keep them up to date and inside the gates.

99. Keeping it under 100. Because double-digit totals aren't always such a bad thing.

Jason Sobel is a golf writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at Jason.Sobel@espn3.com.

Tags:Golf
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