I CAN THINK of one terrible golfer and Auburn alum who was pleased with his Tigers’ 22-19 BCS title game victory over Oregon on Monday night.
His name is Charles Barkley.
Barkley, he of the Jim Furyk-esque swing but none of the Jim Furyk-esque shot-making, was the first person featured on influential swing coach Hank Haney’s Golf Channel program “The Haney Project.”
Haney was unable to help Sir Charles with his swing and struggled with the goal of helping Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond break 80.
He’s hoping the third iteration of the show will be the charm.
The third season debuted on the Golf Channel on Tuesday night and features right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh.
It will replay this evening at 8 p.m. and Thursday at 5 p.m.
Seven more episodes are scheduled to air at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Like Romano, Limbaugh, who counts himself between an 18-20 handicap, would like to see himself break 80 during the series.
No word yet on the commentator’s golfing abilities but based on his political ideology, I would expect his right-handed shots to start out wide-right like a hook and instead of over-correcting to the left, to continue to ride to the right like a slice.
Midwinter scramble
Sequim’s SkyRidge Golf Course, 7015 Old Olympic Highway, will host its Midwinter Open three-person Scramble on Saturday.
The tournament will open with a frost-free 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $90 per team with gross and net prizes, range balls, two team KPs and a late afternoon lunch included.
The optional honey pot is $60 per team, and a team long putt is available for $5.
Each team must have a total handicap index of 15 or higher to play.
And each team has to use at least three drives per player.
For more information, stop by the course or phone 360-683-3673.
Arctic Open on tap
Port Townsend Golf Club held its first tournament of the new year last Saturday.
The blind-draw scramble format saw the team of Gabriel Tonan, Jerry Spieckerman and Bruce Madsen narrowly edge Michael Lux, Bob Erb and Hank Albiso for top honors by the score of 48.9 to 49.1.
Port Townsend’s next tournament is the always popular Arctic Open on Feb. 12-13.
The past couple of months have given golfers a good chance to practice in many types of weather: snow, rain, freezing cold, etc.
Players who went out in the conditions should have a heads-up experience-wise for the Arctic Open, which is played in any type of weather.
The golf course also holds an all-day $10 skins game on Saturdays.
It’s $10 for the game and $10 for greens fees.
The course’s three-month long Winter Eclectic began on New Year’s Day.
For more information on any Port Townsend Golf Club event, phone the course at 360-385-4547.
Mark it on calendar
7 Cedars Casino, and by extension, Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course, is one of five presenting sponsors for the annual Seattle Golf & Travel Show at the Qwest Field Event Center on Feb. 11-13.
All the big names in the world of golf equipment and apparel will be on hand for the event.
If golfers want to make an evening of it in the big city, the Crowne Plaza of Seattle is offering a special Seattle Golf Show rate of $99 for single/double occupancy.
Book your rooms at www.cphotelseattle.com, or phone 877-410-2551 and ask for the Seattle Golf Show rate.
Reservations for that rate are good through Jan. 26.
It also includes a 50-percent off rate for parking.
Miller to visit in 2011
Former U.S. Open champion and current NBC golf television commentator Johnny Miller will visit Bremerton in mid-July during the U.S. Junior Amateur.
That tournament will be held at Gold Mountain’s Olympic Course.
Miller and Tiger Woods are the only golfers to win the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Open in a career.
He will address the youngsters during a dinner at Naval Base Kitsap.
I’ve never really enjoyed Miller.
I find him to come across as somewhat bitter and a little condescending toward modern players, and I think it skews his commentary toward the negative.
He doesn’t get excited about what he’s watching, and truthfully, I think he’s a little bored out there covering events.
The man did win 25 PGA Tour titles and two majors, a U.S. Open and British Open, so I suppose he’s earned the right to be a little jaded.
With that glowing endorsement, patron sponsorships are still available for those who are fans of his.
For more information, visit www.goldmtn.com. ________
Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.