By D.A. Weibring
This week the Champions Tour travels to the Monterey Peninsula, one of the most beautiful places in the world to play one of the most unique professional tournaments in the world, the First Tee Open sponsored by WalMart at Pebble Beach and Del Monte Golf Club. For two of the three rounds we are paired with junior players. Many of the kids are from the inner-city, or small towns where golf is not very common. For a young person to qualify to play in the event requires more than golf skills; players also need to display strong character, and good grades, plus each participant has to write an essay.
It's a great opportunity for the kids as well as those of us who are lucky enough to play golf for a living; it's a great chance to give something back by mentoring these youngsters. And, to a man, the players have been impressed with the quality of the young boys and girls that play in this event. I'm really looking forward to meeting the youngsters this week. It's one of the real positive aspects of professional golf.
One of the many other benefits of playing professional golf is that you get to visit beautiful places and play great golf courses, and one of the most beautiful places in Oregon is Bandon Dunes, which is also one of the most talked about golf resorts in the country. They have three golf courses. We played the Pacific Dunes course on Monday and toured Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails courses. It is beautiful, wild and remote, and although it's a bit difficult to get there, once you arrive you'll discover a wonderful and unique flavor of golf. The land is still unbelievably raw with natural feeling golf holes cut through the dunes on the cliffs in Oregon overlooking the Pacific. It's a great experience, which I fully recommend.
The traveling and being away from home is difficult, but now that we've arrived at one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Pebble Beach Golf Club on the Monterey Peninsula for this week's tournament. I realize how lucky I am to be able to play the best golf venues in the world.
See you next week.
