Golfers To Drive The Hydrogen Highway

Golfers driving the fairways at WCI's (NYSE:WCI) Venetian Golf & River Club are helping pave the way for what many believe will be the energy source of future generations: hydrogen.

With the Country's dependence on fossil fuels hitting an all time high, and consumers paying the price at the gas pump with prices approaching the $2.00 mark, the recent installation of a hydrogen fuel cell at the Venetian Golf & River Club in Venice, Florida marks the first partnership of its kind between Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and a builder-developer for fuel cell research in the State of Florida. Other partners have included governments and universities.

"At WCI we're committed to building sustainable communities and pushing the industry as a whole to build homes and communities that are healthy and viable for both residents and our environment," said Karen Childress, WCI's environmental stewardship manager. "By supporting FPL's hydrogen fuel cell research today, we believe we're helping to build the foundation for hydrogen-powered homes of tomorrow."

A hydrogen fuel cell manufactured by industry leader Plug Power (Nasdaq:PLUG) was installed adjacent to the Venetian's golf cart barn in late March. FPL will monitor the performance activity and availability of the fuel cell over the course of the next year for both scientific research and education purposes. Residents will be able to observe the fuel cell and learn about the benefits of hydrogen as a future energy source throughout the term of the research project. In addition, a limited amount of power generated by the fuel cell will be used to help charge Venetian golf carts on a regular basis.

"We thank WCI for partnering with FPL to evaluate and test fuel cell technology at the Venetian property, and for their commitment to environmentally friendly building practices," said Bill Hamilton, vice president of customer service for FPL.

Hydrogen fuel cells offer the potential for a clean, reliable and efficient energy source for vehicles, commercial buildings, homes and small devices such as computers. By using energy in the air around us to make electricity, without combustion, the conversion process combines hydrogen from natural gas and oxygen from air to make power, and producing as a byproduct mainly water and heat.

"Hydrogen fuel cells will be a viable solution to help meet the long term energy needs and escalating costs facing our Country," said Plug Power President Roger Saillant. "Research projects like the one with WCI are critical to reduce the timeframe of bringing alternative energy sources to the marketplace and I applaud their leadership role in this arena."

The Venetian is an ideal community in which to conduct research into alternative energy sources. Built with a vigilant respect for the environment, Venetian is a benchmark sustainable community demonstrating a commitment to careful treatment of the land and to building healthy and energy efficient homes that are certifiable by the Florida Green Building Coalition. In addition, this month the Venetian will receive its certification as an Audubon International Gold Signature Community for its land development practices and, the community has been designated as an FPL energy efficient BuildSmart community.

Today it's golf carts on the hydrogen highway, and tomorrow, with the help of companies like WCI, the sky's the limit.

Pressel Turns Pro, Eyes Q-School In Florida

U.S. Open runner-up Morgan Pressel turned pro on Thursday, two weeks before the American goes through the final stage of Q-school and six months before she's old enough to join the LPGA Tour.

Pressel, however, has not given up hope that she can be an LPGA member before her 18th birthday.

If she gets her card through qualifying school on Dec. 1-5 in Daytona Beach Florida, her grandfather said they would ask the LPGA to reconsider its policy that players cannot join the tour until they are 18.

"If she doesn't get through Q-school, it's irrelevant," Herb Krickstein said at St. Andrews Country Club, where Pressel announced she had signed with IMG. "If she gets through Q-school, we might revisit the issue and consider other options."

Asked to elaborate on other options, Krickstein smiled and said, "I don't know."

Pressel, who turns 18 on May 23, in June petitioned the LPGA Tour to waive its minimum age policy. A week later, she finished second in the U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills when Birdie Kim holed an improbable bunker shot on the 18th hole.

Pressel won the U.S. Women's Amateur two months later, and became the first player to sweep the five biggest events on the American Junior Golf Association circuit.

The LPGA Tour denied her request, but allowed her to go through Q-school playing on florida golf courses instead of making her wait one year. She can play up to six tournaments on sponsors' exemptions until she can join May 23, although whatever money she earns will not count toward the money list.

LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens was in meetings on Thursday and not available for comment, although her staff said she was unlikely to make an exception. Pressel's petition was denied by then-commissioner Ty Votaw, and supported by Bivens, who took over in September.

Bivens will be hosting a forum on Dec. 7 in New York called "Phenoms to Professionals." David Stern of the NBA and Gary Bettman of the NHL will join a dozen other commissioners to talk about teenagers turning pro.

Pressel was asked what she would say if she had a voice on the panel.

"They should consider that if somebody is ready to play, ready to compete, then there should be no problem with it. It shouldn't be an issue," Pressel said. "Let the families decide how they want the careers to progress."

Krickstein has some experience with prodigies. His son, Aaron Krickstein, was the youngest player at age 16 to win on the ATP Tour, and at 17 became the youngest player to be ranked in the top 10.

"I don't know if you can compare young female tennis players or young female golfers who mature very fast ... to 15-year-olds that might want to play in the NBA," Krickstein said. "I don't think they're comparing apples to apples. It's an individual sport. And we're talking about women. They mature faster than boys."

Pressel is the second female American golfer playing on Florida golf courses in as many years to skip university. Paula Creamer was 18 when she turned pro last year. Having finished her high school requirements early, she won Q-school by five shots, then won the LPGA rookie of the year award this year after winning twice and finishing second on the money list.

Pressel and Creamer competed often in junior golf, which gives Pressel extra confidence.

"I knew she was going to play well on a Florida golf course," Pressel said. "Obviously, seeing her play well and having competed with her, I knew I'd be able to ... I don't want to say do the same thing, but I knew I'd be able to go out and do well."

The first step was turning pro, a low-key affair compared with Michelle Wie's splashy announcement in Honolulu last month. Pressel has not signed an equipment deal or any other endorsements, saying they were would be an announcement within a couple of weeks.

She had her agent, Sherry Whay of IMG, to her left and her grandfather to her right, but Pressel did most of the talking while moderating the press conference, and she handled it smoothly.

"My goal is to win Q-school," she said. "Then, my goal is to win as many times as I can and finish as high on the money list. I know it's going to be hard."

Unique Golfing Experiences in Florida

Boasting more courses than any other state in the country, there are plenty of golf experiences in Florida to keep you busy, whether you’re a novice or an experienced golfer. With more than 1,100 courses and many designs by world-renowned architects, Florida’s golf courses can challenge even the most talented golfers. Playing golf in Florida isn’t just another round. It’s a pure golf experience.

Beginning in Northwest Florida, Panama City Beach offers enthusiasts a chance to experience golfing at the Marriott’s Bay Point Resort Village (www.baypointgolf.com). This course exhibits 36 holes of championship golf between two golf courses, including the Nicklaus Golf Course, opening in the fall of 2005. This will be the first Jack Nicklaus design in Northwest Florida. Both courses are incredible practice areas that feature manicured putting greens, sand bunkers and driving ranges. The Meadows Course at Bay Point is meticulously maintained in a beautiful atmosphere. Both courses are situated in Northwest Florida’s natural terrain of scrub oaks, pines and salt-water marshes. Each layout is unique, challenging and unforgettable. Bay Point offers individual and group lessons by PGA professionals, a necessity for those serious about improving their game. Marriott Bay Point Golf Club also offers a club-leasing program for those golf travelers who are seeking the newest and latest technology in clubs.

Going a little farther east, Amelia Island Plantation (www.aipfl.com) offers three extraordinary, challenging and beautiful courses, including five picturesque ocean holes. With the sandy dunes so close to the Atlantic, you can enjoy the scenery without having to leave the course. Ocean Links, designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, is a 36-hole structure including the 6,500-acre Oak Marsh Golf Course and the beautiful, seaside Ocean Links Course. Perhaps the most noted course at Amelia Island is Long Point, designed by Tom Fazio. Long Point challenges its players with natural hazards, tight fairways and elevated greens. The fairways wind through breathtaking settings, including the thick oak and pine forest and scenic oceanfront dunes.

Just south of Jacksonville, the Tournament Players Club (TPC) of Sawgrass is a 6,974-acre course that beckons serious golfers. Considered by many to be Florida’s "Number One" golf destination, TPC was designed by Pete Dye to challenge the world’s best golfers and to offer the ultimate golfing experience. Perhaps the most famed course at TPC is the Stadium Course, home to the PGA’s Player Championship. Golf with the pros at TPC, where you can see professional golfers like Vijah Singh or Jim Furyk hitting buckets of balls on an average day. Consider yourself warned: the demanding courses show off dangerous greens and lots of water.

Moving toward Central Florida, Ocean Hammock Golf Club (www.palmcoastresort.com) doesn’t just offer a course—it offers 90 holes of championship golf. Boasting the highest course rating in the state and the only resort with signature designs by three of the game’s greatest players, Nicklaus, Palmer and Player, Ocean Hammock has been called the "Pebble Beach of the East." All five courses located at Ocean Hammock are perfectly manicured with abundant water and wildlife, a diverse terrain that ranges from perfect windswept sand dunes to rich Florida wetlands. In addition, all courses are teamed by PGA pros who offer golfers professional instruction. All the courses also offer electric golf carts, caddies, club rentals, pro shops and snack bars.

In Naples, the LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort (www.laplayaresort.com) is the perfect choice for golfers wishing to experience the most luxurious in Florida golf resorts. The Bob Cupp-designed golf course is new and features a 6907-yard practice area and a 12,000 "square" foot clubhouse. LaPlaya is known for its spectacular sunsets, pure white sands and breathtaking views. LaPlaya Beach and Golf resort is also home to the David Leadbetter golf Academy, which offers golf instruction to both individuals and groups.

Traveling even farther south into the Ft. Lauderdale area, golfers won’t want to miss the Golf Club at Emerald Hills (www.theclubatemeraldhills.com). Considered to be one of the best golf clubs in South Florida, it has been the host site for the Honda Qualifiers for the past ten years. Emerald Hills boasts beautifully maintained greens, rolling hills and challenging traps. The club offers golfers a fully stocked pro shop, free valet parking, beautiful practice facilities and full locker room facilities. This golf course is sure to offer South Florida’s residents and visitors a welcomed challenge.

Whether you are an executive looking to do business while golfing on one of Florida’s many luxurious golf courses, a weekend golfer looking for a way to escape the busy work week, or a beginner looking to improve your game, Florida’s varied golf destinations will fit you to a tee. For more information on golfing in Florida, visit Florida Golf Course (www.flgolfcourse.com).

Damage Light At Many Florida Golf Courses

At Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter, the golfers came back before the power did.

"Believe it or not," said Rob Young, Abacoa's director of golf, "we were open for play Tuesday at noon."

That's last Tuesday, not yesterday. Last Tuesday, as in the day after Hurricane Wilma tore across South Florida.

"We opened up Tuesday at noon," Young said, "did about 65 players, and our power came on at about 3:30 that day. And we've just been crazy ever since."

At The Links at Boynton Beach, the power came back last Wednesday. But it will be some time before the golfers return.

"It's hard to put a date on it, but we're telling people for phone purposes that it's going to be at least 10 days," head pro Dan Hager said on Friday, "and if somebody said right now two weeks, I'd say I'd take it.

"To be back to normal is probably going to be a couple of years."

Just as Wilma divided South Floridians into those who have power and those who don't, it divided golf courses into those that have reopened and those that haven't.

Most have. On Tuesday The Post made phone calls to 55 public courses in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. Thirty-eight courses had reopened and nine more expected to reopen this week. Only four courses indicated they might be closed for an extended time, including one, Mizner Trail Golf Club in Boca Raton, that already was closed for renovation. Four courses could not be reached.

In general, Wilma did more damage in southern Palm Beach County, but some southern courses were able to recover more quickly than others. Winston Trails Golf Club in Lake Worth, just a couple of miles up Jog Road from The Links at Boynton Beach, was back in business Friday.

"We've been slammed since 7 o'clock," Winston Trails course owner Brian Symonds said Friday afternoon. "They're still in line waiting."

Greens a special concern

For the most part, Wilma did its damage with wind, not water. But by knocking out power in most areas, it presented course operators with a water-related problem: how to irrigate fragile greens.

"Normally when trees fall down they tend to rip up irrigation lines," said Scott Wahlin, golf course superintendent at The Links at Boynton Beach. "So the first thing is to get the irrigation up and running."

Without power, Wahlin said, "the first thing is to try to secure a generator large enough to run at least one pump, which is a very significant size generator."

Wahlin located a generator in Texas, but his course's power came on while it was being delivered, so it was diverted to another course, saving The Links some money.

"With those things you're looking at $4,000 just to hook them up and then $1,100 a week to run them."

Because The Links is a city-owned course, it was eligible for FEMA assistance. But apparently not everyone at FEMA understands that golf courses are among its clientele.

"If you call the FEMA number (from a golf course), they'll chastise you, saying their inspectors are too busy inspecting houses, and people don't have roofs over their heads, and get real," Wahlin said. "But the fact of the matter is, those debris inspectors are just as important as anybody else, because they've got to get things open again. They don't inspect houses. These people have a specialized job and the people with FEMA don't necessarily know who they are."

Wahlin considers himself a veteran of three hurricanes — Wilma, last year's Jeanne and Frances (he lumps them together) and Andrew, which devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992 when he was working at Don Shula's Golf Club in Miami Lakes. That's where he learned that golf-course emergency management can create strange situations.

"The executive offices were all shut down. They had vice presidents of the company out with chain saws, and I had their cellphones," he said. "I was in my office on my phones and I had their secretary working for me. Orchestrating the thing and getting all the people together is pretty much the golf course manager's job.

"The other guys, they're in the business of golf and the revenue side is completely shut off, so they might as well pick up sticks."

At most courses, just about everybody picks up sticks.

"We had everybody out there helping, like last year," said Bud Taylor, director of golf at 54-hole PGA Golf Club near Port St. Lucie. "We had our food and beverage department and golf department helping maintenance pick up sticks and get the place back in playable shape.

"That's neat to see everybody pull together and realize how important it is that we get the courses back open."

The longer courses remain closed, the more money they lose. The economic impact on the golf economy of Wilma is still being calculated, but numbers from last year's Florida storms are sobering.

Courses lost $48M in '04

The Adverse Weather Insurance Group, a Sarasota-based company that provides weather insurance to golf courses, estimates that Hurricane Charley cost 4,000 courses a total of $48 million over a three-day period. That figure represents only green fees, and doesn't include lost revenue from canceled resort stays, food and beverage sales or pro shop merchandise.

At the Boca Raton Resort & Club, canceled stays weren't a problem.

"The few groups that did (cancel) have all rescheduled throughout the season, so we're going to recoup that money," said Mike Trinley, co-head professional.

Trinley, fellow head pro Andy McMechan, assistant Jean Phebus and superintendent Al Heath led crews that had the resort's course cleaned up by Saturday.

"As of Saturday afternoon when we left at 3:30, we had all 18 holes cleared," Trinley said. "We just needed the carts to be charged and we were ready to go. Very minimal turf damage. The place looks like nothing ever happened."

Once courses reopened, they found plenty of eager customers.

"Sunday we probably put 170 to 180 golfers out for nine holes," said Rick Durham, head pro at West Palm Beach Golf Course, which has had its front nine open since Friday and hopes to have all 18 holes open today. "We were lined up on the first tee."

"People get cabin fever and they've got to get out and they want something to do," Winston Trails' Symonds said.

Hurricane Wilma A Force On South Florida Golf Courses

The Nationwide Tour came and went without a competitive shot.

Now, Tom Neville mused, Hurricane Wilma might have left his course fit for a European Tour event.

``One more hurricane, and we might as well be a links course in Scotland,'' said Neville, Miccosukee Golf & Country Club of Florida general manager.

Extensive tree damage is the prevailing theme from South Florida's courses, keeping many locales closed a week after Wilma - even some where power has been restored.

``We still have some laying in the fairways right now, some covering up the cart paths,'' said Ernie Ruiz, director of golf at Don Shula's Hotel & Golf Club.

The Miami Lakes layout was one of the area's hardest-hit, with an estimated 200 trees knocked down.

Ruiz said it's possible the course could remain closed all of November.

``Hopefully, it won't be that long,'' he added, ``but we wanted to give plenty of cushion in case there's a change.''

Doral Golf Resort & Spa reopened the first of its five layouts Tuesday, sending golfers out on its Gold course.

The Silver and White courses were slated to open Wednesday; scheduled maintenance will keep the Blue Monster closed another week.

``This time we saw a lot more trees damaged - limbs snapped off, missing palm fronds,'' director of golf Darrin Helfrick said.

The resort was less than halfway through standing up trees felled by Hurricane Katrina when Wilma hit.

Indian Creek CC of Florida called off this week's Raymond Floyd Cup, a two-man event featuring some of the nation's top mid-amateurs.

The club reported a loss of 205 trees, and it won't be ready to reopen until Friday.

The LPGA's visit to Trump International Golf Club in two weeks should experience little impact.

The ADT Championship will be played Nov. 17-20, featuring the LPGA's top-30 money winners.

Despite losing some large oaks, the West Palm Beach venue completed cleanup in a few days and saw its power restored Sunday.

``Two days after the hurricane hit, you could have played the golf course,'' said John Nieporte, Trump's director of golf. ``The losses didn't really affect play of the course at all.''

Officials found their biggest concern in initial reports that power might not be restored in the area until Nov. 22.

``Now that would have caused some problems,'' assistant director Kevin Krisle said.

Girl, 12, Gets LPGA Invite For Dying Mom's Wish

A cancer-striken mother's dying wish has earned a 12-year-old Florida girl an exemption to play in an LPGA tournament next April.

Dakoda Dowd of Palm Harbor, Fla., received a sponsor's exemption to the April 27-30 Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open near Orlando after real estate developer Bobby Ginn learned of Dowd's mother's wish.

"It's the right thing to do," Ginn told The Tampa Tribune. "Sometimes you hear about stories, but there is nothing one can do. This was a situation where we were able to do something."

Ginn had read about Dowd mother's condition in a story about the young golfer last summer.

"My mother is dying," said Dowd, who played on a girls' state championship golf team last year.

Her mother, 40-year-old Kelly Jo Dowd, is suffering from incurable cancer.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 but appeared cancer-free for more than two years after treatment. The cancer returned this year in an aggressive form in her organs and bones. The pain increases daily, The Tribune reported.

Her daughter said in last summer's newspaper article she hoped to play on the LPGA Tour some day.

Kelly Jo Dowd, asked about the remark, said her dream was to one day see Dakoda play on the LPGA tour.

Ginn said he knew at the time he wanted to make the dream come true but the announcement was delayed until this week.

"Hopefully she'll be there to see it," Dakoda Dowd said.

Doctors last July measured her mother's life expectancy in months, The Tribune reported. Now, although she has been hospitalized recently for a compound fracture of a vertebra, there is new determination.

"I'm fighting for my daughter," Kelly Jo Dowd told USA Today. "God willing, if I can make it to April, I'll get to see her play."

Pressel Survives Playoff In Adieu To Amateurs

Pressel, the St. Andrew's senior and No. 1-ranked women's amateur in the United States, needed a 10-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to earn the victory, outlasting Vicky Hurst at the Saints Golf Course on Wednesday.

The victory was Pressel's third in a row, tying the girls' record with three other golfers.With that clutch putt, a professional career awaits."I'm ready to do something else," Pressel said. "Hope to start playing full time in May."Pressel will compete in the finals of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach Nov. 30-Dec. 4. The top 30 players will qualify for a tour card. Pressel will make her professional debut under a sponsor's exemption March 16-19 at the Safeway Classic in Phoenix.It wasn't until her final round drew to a close that Pressel began to realize her prized amateur career was about to conclude."I said to Stefanie [Kenoyer] walking to the 10th hole, `This is [the] last nine holes. I'm never going to carry my bag again,'" Pressel said. "Little did I know I had to go two more holes."Pressel needed to birdie her last two holes to force a playoff. Hurst, who played her 18th hole on the front nine, birdied her final hole as well. Pressel and Hurst each finished with consecutive rounds of 5-under-par 67.Pressel failed to birdie the par-5 15th hole after making birdies on the previous six par-5s. That forced her to make some big shots down the stretch."After [Tuesday] I was like, `I really don't want to be in a playoff because it would be really hard,'" Hurst said. "It was harder than I thought."Hurst admitted nerves got the best of her when playing with Pressel."I could barely swing [the putter on the second playoff hole]," Hurst said. "I was really nervous. It was fun and a good experience."When the ball dropped on the second playoff hole on the 11th green, Pressel showed some emotion with a mild fist pump."That wasn't very much emotion," Pressel said. "That was OK, we're done."If [Hurst] would have beaten me in the playoff, she would have deserved it."Last year she shattered the tournament record as a junior with a final-round 62 and a two-day total of 128, winning by 15 strokes. Pressel has never finished worse than second at the tournament, that coming in her freshman year.Looking back, Pressel made no bones about defending her title her senior year."I've had so much fun these four years, and I will remember that forever," she said. "It was something I wanted to do."

Golfing Around Polk County

With more than three dozen challenging courses, Polk County offers some of the finest golfing in Florida, and the highest number of un-crowded golf courses in the southeast. A wide range of quality golf tournaments, including the Senior's Pro Tour, offer golf fans an opportunity to watch, and to participate.

Award-winning designs, beautiful resorts and housing, and ideal climate combine to make Polk County Florida a golfers paradise. Some of the best include...

Oakwood Golf Club
This beautiful and challenging course winds through the woodlands and dunes of the Ridge, offering affordable championship golf. Broad fairways and one of the largest bunkers in the world give way to a few links-style holes. The Florida wildlife and scenery is super, along with some spectacular views of Historic Bok Sanctuary on nearby Iron Mountain.


Highland Park Hills
One of the most interesting courses in Florida, with its hilly layout high on the Lake Wales Ridge. More than one hundred feet of vertical relief and beautiful views make this historic course a delight. Set in the quiet of a private preserve, with an adjoining lakeside resort and inn.


Grenelefe
One of the top golf resorts in the United States, with three championship-level courses to challenge even the most dedicated golfers. A full-service resort, Grenelefe features restaurants, convention facilities, quality lodging, and a beautifully landscaped, quiet country setting.

Stonegate
Residents and visitors alike are welcomed at the semi-private Stonegate Golf Club, a spectacular golf course designed by Ron Garl. Also, within the expansive village you'll find The Grille at Stonegate, a casual restaurant and watering hole; a well-stocked pro shop; and men's and women's locker facilities. Outside is a deck overlooking the course, a driving range, and practice chipping and putting greens.

Bryant Leaves Them In The Dust

The final image of the PGA Tour season is of a man in tan pants and a white shirt, with a homespun swing and a mustache from another time.

Bart Bryant, a man of few words but of many fairways, fooled them all week at East Lake Golf Club, burying his competitors Sunday to win the Tour Championship by six strokes over Tiger Woods in the last official PGA event of the year.

With his wife, Cathy, and his daughters, Kristen and Michelle, looking on, the 42-year-old Bryant shot a three-under-par 67 and finished the 29-man tournament with a record score, 17-under-par 263. That broke Phil Mickelson's mark of 267 set in 2000.

"I feared choking my guts out all week long," said Bryant, who led after every round for his third career victory. "I didn't think I could make it into the Tour Championship, and I certainly didn't think I could win the Tour Championship."

Bryant earned $1.17 million, more than he had made in any of his 12 years of sporadic play on the Tour between 1986 and 2003. Before his first victory, in the Texas Open last year, Bryant said he used to sit in bed at night and think about quitting golf so that he could give his family a better life.

On Saturday night, he said he thought only about making birdies.

"I feel like I belong more and more," said Bryant, who won Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament in June. "I certainly don't put myself in the same category as Retief Goosen and Vijay and Davis Love and Tiger Woods. They hit the ball very far and they can play any golf course well.

"But I have found out that if I'm on top of my game under the right conditions, I definitely can compete with these guys."

Bryant may be 30 yards shorter off the tee than the longest players, but he was first in hitting fairways (45 of 56) and greens (58 of 72). His claw-style putting grip and efficient swing have made him the latest 40-something to find his best years late in his career, joining golfers like Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry.

"He was very consistent all week," said Woods, who shot 69 and finished runner-up in the Tour Championship for the third time. "He didn't have any bad stretches where he could have lost it."

Bryant said he felt vulnerable when he hit his tee shot into the water on the 168-yard, par-3 sixth hole and had to play from the drop area. "I started sweating a little bit at that point," he said. "I started having things going on in my mind like, 'How many can we chunk in the water from this ball drop?' "

Instead, Bryant pitched to 8 feet and made the putt for a bogey. "At other points in my career I wouldn't have been able to do that," he said.

Bryant, who has had surgery on his elbows and his left shoulder during his career, said he had a minor arthroscopic procedure planned for his left knee Tuesday for a nagging problem. He said the knee did not bother him during the tournament, and nothing else seemed to, either.

As Bryant left East Lake with a crystal trophy and a burnished reputation, his wife clutched a homemade sign for keeps: "Atlanta loves Bryant's cool mustache."

Northern Florida Golf Draws Interest

If there's one thing that's a constant among recreational golfers, it's their never-ending pursuit of that great golf course and, even better, that great golf destination. Every year, thousands head south in that search, targeting central to south Florida.

A new player is emerging, however, in that destination search. Northern Florida has begun a process of putting its best fairways and greens forward with the hope of someday competing at some level with its in-state neighbors further south.

The crown jewels in that effort are the SouthWood Golf Club just outside Tallahassee and the Camp Creek Golf Club which is about three hours west, not far from Panama City. Sounds like a considerable journey but, as golfers have proven over the years, few distances are too great for the pursuit of good golf.

Tallahassee has long been known primarily as the capital of Florida and home of the Florida State Seminoles. But since the opening of SouthWood in November 2002, that has begun to change. The course, which is the centerpiece of this 3,200-acre, master-planned community, was designed by the Fred Couples/Gene Bates combo and, not surprisingly, the back tees are known as the "Boom Boom" tees.

The course gives the feel of a South Carolina/ Georgia course, thanks in great part to the presence of many moss-covered live oaks. But it also has rolling topography --changes of elevation rare in Florida -- lowlands, secluded woodlands and open fields.

SouthWood, which is the home to the Florida State golf teams -- carries greens fees of between $50-$65, depending on season and weekday/weekend.

The Tallahassee area has long been known as a place where golf was played, but not played by the masses from the north. But officials of the St. Joe Company, a publicly held company based in Jacksonville and one of Florida's largest real estate operating companies that is behind both SouthWood and Camp Creek, are banking on the always-growing golf market in the state.

While SouthWood provides a great taste of the Old South and that unique hospitality, Camp Creek serves up an in-your-face portion of Tom Fazio, who is perhaps the preeminent course designer in the business.

Camp Creek is a typical Fazio course, lots of visually striking bunkers, wider-than-they-appear fairways and putting surfaces that demand your attention. And don't forget the water that can come into play on as many as 11 holes.

This resort course can play as long as 7,159 yards from the back tees and has been described as a player's course, a strong test on an amazing piece of land.

Fazio was given a blank canvas to create Camp Creek, a course that has no housing or commercial development around it. That allows it to have a raw, stark look, somewhat intimidating but definitely challenging.

The course is located just a few miles from WaterColor, one of those quaint coastal communities that are along the coast. People there label the area as "a coastal resort with a southern accent."

Plenty of accommodations are available there, from the WaterColor Inn to home rentals to other hotels in the area.

In addition to Camp Creek, the PGA Tour's Davis Love III plans to build a six-hole course and another nine-hole layout to increase the scope of the complex.

Greens fees at Camp Creek are a little more pricey, $125, but Camp Creek is worth it.

Who knows? One of these days, there might even be a trail of golf courses across Northern Florida, maybe similar to the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama

Guests of the Celebration Hotel enjoy all the amenities of a luxury resort as well as the convenience of in-town recreation and leisure activities.

The hotel's fitness center, lakeside heated outdoor pool and whirlpool spa will keep you invigorated. Close by, bicycle, Segway and NEV (Neighborhood Electrical Vehicles) rentals provide an excellent way to see the town. Guests enjoy privileges at the championship Celebration Golf Club in Florida, and pampering day spas, as well as complimentary transportation to these destinations. Nearby, miles of walking paths and nature trails, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, airboat tours, and downtown horse & carriage rides present wonderful possibilities.

Celebration Golf Club

Guests at the Celebration Hotel enjoy privileges at Celebration Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole course designed by the world-renowned father and son team of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Jr. A distinguished host of events such as the 2002 U.S. Senior Open Qualifier, it has received Golf Digest's four-star rating. The enchanting course is sculpted from a natural wetland environment featuring rolling terrain, shimmering lakes and clusters of native trees. Five sets of tees on each hole invite competition for every skill level, and strategically placed hazards test your accuracy. Extensive practice facilities include a putting green, full-service aqua driving range and practice short-game hole. The pro shop features equipment rentals and a dazzling selection of top merchandise including Ralph Lauren Polo, Sport Haley and Cutter & Buck. In addition, the Club’s experienced staff is available to help plan special golf activities for your group, from small outings to sanctioned tournaments.

A Celebration Golf Academy offers friendly instruction to help newcomers learn the basics of a healthy swing, rules, scoring and etiquette. Celebration Golf Academy positive learning environment allows you to progress at your own pace while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow golfers at your skill level.

Celebration Golf Club Features:

18-Hole Robert Trent Jones, Sr. & Jr. Course
Extensive Practice Facilities
Celebration Golf Academy
Customized/Group Golf Activities
Refreshment Cart Service
Fully Stocked Pro Shop
Quality Callaway® Club & Etonic® Shoe Rental
Clubhouse & The Windmill Tavern Restaurant
Function Space for Up to 150 Guests
Additional Golf Options
Our concierge will gladly help you arrange tee times at additional premier courses nearby, including ChampionsGate Golf Club; Falcon’s Fire Golf Club; and Reunion Golf Course.

Spa & Fitness
Celebration Health Fitness Centre & Day Spa
Guests of the Celebration Hotel have privileges at Celebration Health Fitness Centre & Day Spa, a 60,000-square-foot facility with remarkable equipment and services—aerobics, cardio theatre, sauna, steam, lap pool, and weight-strength training are just a few of the many amenities. Complimentary transportation is provided for your convenience.

Voted “Best Gym in Orlando” by readers of Orlando Magazine, the Fitness Centre offers the following features:

Aerobic Studios
Cardio Theatre Entertainment
Day Spa
Health Educational Services
Sauna/Steam Rooms
Warm-Water Therapy Pool
Cycle Reebok®
Gymnasiums for Basketball and Volleyball
Lap Swimming Pool & Tread Wall
Weight/Strength Training Areas
The Day Spa offers sumptuous treatments including:

Swedish Massage
Aromatherapy Massage
Therapeutic Massage
Warm Stone Massage
Reflexology
Head, Neck & Back Massage
Sea Salt Body Polish
Aromatherapy Massage & Wrap
Pampering Manicures & Pedicures
Spa Packages
Salon 720 – Beauty and Body Spa
Just one block from the hotel is Salon 720 – Beauty and Body Spa. Delight in a broad range of services from massage and therapeutic bodywork, to skin and body treatments, aromatherapy and ayurvedic ingredients. A full day of beauty can be arranged and lunch will be provided by the Salon.
3 Treatment Rooms
Facials & Massage Treatments
Hair Care Services
Hair Coloring
Hand & Foot Services
Waxing Services
Spa Packages

PGA Seeks World Series On A Florida Golf Course

For almost 50 years, the golf season has been defined by four major championships that start in April with The Masters and end in August with the PGA Championship.

What the PGA Tour wants is a World Series, its own version of a Fall Classic.
Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is pulling together the final pieces of a radical shift in the schedule to feature a shorter season and a points race that intensifies after the majors.

The plan is for three blockbuster events to qualify for the Tour Championship, with perhaps a $10 million payoff to the winner.

Multiple sources involved in the discussion, all speaking on condition of anonymity because the changes have not been announced, say the three tournaments will be the Barclays Classic in New York, the Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston and the Western Open in Chicago.

Still undecided is a title sponsor for the Western Open, with Chrysler(Florida) in negotiations over the weekend.

Finchem will give his State of the Tour address on Wednesday at the Tour Championship, although he might only be able to provide an outline of the proposed changes.

"I'm not quite sure what I'm going to say," Finchem said. "We've got so many things going on. Given where we are, on the brink of going to TV [negotiations], I don't want to mislead anyone. But I want to give folks a broad sense of what we're looking at."

A PGA Tour source said Finchem might be in position to announce The Players Championship moving from the end of March to the beginning of May, which would give golf a major event every month from April to August.

The changes are designed to put some sizzle into the end of the year, when TV ratings plummet as golf struggles to compete with football.

The Tour Championship has lost some of its zest in recent years. Its prize money, $6.5 million this year, is less than the World Golf Championships ($7.5 million) and not much more than tournaments such as the Wachovia Championship. Plus the Tour Championship has not decided player of the year seven of the 10 past years. The new model would not allow for that.

Tiger Woods already has won two majors, two World Golf Championships and has clinched the money title. One source privy to the discussion said under the new model, points would be adjusted after the PGA Championship so that up to 70 players would still have a chance to qualify for the Tour Championship and win the points chase.

The source said the latest proposal is for the points race to start at the season-opening Mercedes Championships and run through the PGA Championship. Then points would be staggered for the final month of the season, much like NASCAR's championship.

The Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone would switch to the week before the PGA Championship instead of the week after. That means players like Woods or Phil Mickelson might have to compete in six events in seven weeks.

The one fear about change is the demise of tournaments that have languished in the fall with bad fields and low TV ratings.

But as the tour gets closer to its finished product, it appears more likely that those events will be played after the Tour Championship and give some players a chance to still finish in the top 125 and keep their tour cards.

Pettersson Claims First PGA Tour Win On A Florida Golf Course(Innisbrook Copperhead)

Carl Pettersson only managed an even-par 71 on Sunday, but it was enough to give him his first PGA Tour victory at the Chrysler Championship in Palm Harbor Florida. He finished at nine-under-par 275, which was good for a one-shot win over Chad Campbell at the Copperhead Course at Westin Innisbrook Resort. It is nice to see a 1st PGA Tour win happen on a Florida Golf Course.