Following the weekend's LPGA Safeway Classic in Portland, reports have come out that the tour will require all players to learn English.  After two years on tour, those who fail to show a grasp of the language will have their memberships suspended.

According to the report, a written explanation of the policy has yet to be given to the players.

Unlike the PGA Tour, which typically sees only a handful of non-english speakers on a weekly basis, the LPGA's events feature a number of great foreign players (mainly from South Korea).  The numbers continue to grow, meaning more and more players are unable to communicate and relate to the tour's fan base.

Many people are calling the LPGA out on this new policy.  But, like many of the South Korean players, I agree with the tour and call it a good move.  If they want to draw more fans, they need to give them more than just the Gulbis', Pressel's and Creamer' ... Read More »

Over the years, Columbia Edgewater has seen its share of fantastic finishes at the LGPA Safeway Classic.  From Juli Inkster's win to qualify for the Hall of Fame, to Annika Sorenstam to Lorena Ochoa, the course has been a great venue for golf.  Sunday's finish held form.

With the tournament moving to Pumpkin Ridge next year, Columbia Edgewater got one more great tournament that ended with Kristie Kerr winning a three-woman playoff.  It was all made possible by a seven-under 65 on Sunday that allowed her to pick up the four strokes she needed to get back into contention.

After covering the event for years and even volunteering a couple of times, I know the work that goes into staging the tournament each and every year.  However, it's the club's members we should thank for giving us the opportunity to tromp all over their fairways and get an inside look at one of the area's best clubs.

Thanks to all the ladies who come out ... Read More »

It's no joke. 23 firefighters were dispatched to Persimmon Country Club on Monday to fight a fire that broke out near the clubhouse.  Investigators say the blaze started in a cart parked next to the pro shop.

The blaze was contained to two golf carts and some exterior paneling.  Damage to the carts and exterior of the building is estimated at roughly $40,000.

Right now, it like there's nothing suspicious going on, but we'll let you know if further investigation turns up anything.

The Puget Sound area's newest golf course just keeps getting more attention.  In addition to being awarded a US Amateur and a US Open, Chambers Bay has debuted at #8 in Golf Magazine's Top 100 Course List.

In addition to being a great golf course, Chambers Bay is perhaps one of the most accessible golf courses on the Golf Magazine list.  The rest of the top ten, in order, are Pacific Dunes, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, Kiawah Island, Pinehurst #2, Bandon Dunes, Bethpage Black, Spyglass Hill and TPC Sawgrass.  One could argue that both Bandon and Pacific Dunes have the same kind of accessibility, but that's not the case.  Both are much more difficult to get to.

Chambers Bay has a lot going for it because of it's location near a major population area and it's competitive price (when compared to other top ten courses). 

Let us know if you're interested in one of golf packages that can include Cham ... Read More »

Does it matter? Does it really matter to the average golfer?  Probably not, but the USGA issued a press released Tuesday that new rules regarding the grooves on a golf club had been passed.

To sum it up, the new rules pertain to grooves on the cross section of any club with a loft equal to or greater than 25 degrees.  They're aimed at making shots from the rough more difficult by reducing backspin.  The new rules will be in effect for any club manufactured after January 1st, 2010.

What's that mean for Joe Golfer?  Not much, really.  Most golfers don't generate the kind of clubhead speed on chip and pitch shots to be affected by the new rules.  These new rules are really targeting professional-caliber players that have had their way with greenside shots over the last decade.

Here's the full press release:

Read More »