Top 10 Golf Things We’re Thankful For – ‘09

As we feast on turkey for Thanksgiving, we reflect on the Top 10 things we’re thankful for from the 2009 golf season. No, it’s not The Skins Game.

10. Friends & Partners- Having only created NiceBallz earlier this year, we’re thankful for our readers. Dozens of them. We’re thankful for our partners, including Speaking of Golf, who have embraced NiceBallz as a unique source for great golf content. And, we appreciate the small handful of other golf addicts without whom we wouldn’t have a regular weekly golf game. Suckers!

9. Fights!- Controversy makes for great coverage and the professional golf ranks, well, rankled some people this year. LPGA players fighting with then commissioner Carolyn Bivens. Players fighting with each other included Anthony Kim and Robert Allenby, and Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie, who showed that the so-called “gentleman’s game” is not above pissyness and smack talk. Bad for them, good for bloggers.

8. Technology - The Internet and social media has leveled the playing field and given rise to emerging media like NiceBallz and other blogs. And, innovation in golf club and ball technology helps us all play the game better. Technology has expanded and brought the game to places unimagined before, if not unnecessary.

7. Left Coast - Give it up for the West Coast. California, Oregon and Washington are back on the national golf map. The U.S. Open was at Torrey Pines in 2008 and will be at Pebble Beach next year and Chambers Bay in Washington in 2015. The U.S. Senior Open will be held at Sahalee near Seattle next summer. The Presidents Cup was recently played in San Francisco. Major amateur and junior amateur tournaments have been held in Oregon in recent years and the U.S. Amateur goes to Chambers Bay in 2010. The national golf scene finally extends beyond New York and Ohio. The Left Coast is the best coast. We matter dammit.

6. Recession - What? Yes, the recession sucks overall, but it rocks for golf value. Great deals on golf gear and creative green fee specials are the best thing to happen to average golfers in years.

5. John Daly - Whether you love him, like him, pity him or are simply fascinated by him, big-hitting John Daly is an interesting character and he gives us someone other than Tiger Woods to talk about. Lately, we’re thankful that he seems like he’s on the straight and narrow even if his golf game is a little crooked.

4. LPGA- The LPGA was more interesting this year for the sideshow of controversy and collapse than for the compelling storylines inside the ropes. Ousters. Bickering. Nudity. But, we think – hopefully – the LPGA has bottomed out. They have a new commissioner. Michelle Wie finally won.  The game has gone international. Lot’s of assets and optimism.

3. Competition- Phil Mickelson’s got his putter back, Y.E. Yang took down Tiger at the PGA and several other players won majors who were not named Woods. Could it be that ‘the field’ has finally stepped up? Or is it all just a big fake out heading into 2010 where Tiger will lay the smack down? Regardless, while we love seeing Tiger win, competition is good for the game, and 2009 had it. 

2. Tom Watson - Old dude done good.  Three-and-a-half days of brilliant golf from a then 59-year-old in Britain was exciting, inspiring and eye-opening. He was story of the year in some ways and if he hadn’t captivated us at the British Open the world’s oldest golf tournament could have also been the most boring.

1. Tiger Woods (and his left knee) - Duh. Tiger Woods’ successful return from injury brought golf back from the grave. There’s a huge void when he’s gone. He brings the excitement even when he doesn’t win a major championship and throws clubs and has temper tantrums.

What are you thankful for? Pumpkin pie? Your first hole-in-one? A job? Whatever it is, take time this week to remind yourself of it and sound off.

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