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By Shir Haberman
shaberman@seacoastonline.com
May 06, 2009 1:34 PM

NORTH HAMPTON – Traditionally, when a golfer hits a hole in one, he or she receives the accolades of the members of his foursome, the congratulations of his friends and family, his name on a plaque in the course’s clubhouse and, perhaps, a few free drinks.

When that golfer happens to be 10 years old, the accomplishment garners national recognition and the Internet is a-flutter with the story.

That’s what has happened to Seacoast resident Ryan Quinn.

On Sunday, April 26, Ryan, a North Hampton School fourth grader, and his father, Tim, were playing their weekly 18 holes at the Sagamore-Hampton Golf Course. Each was having a good round with two holes left to play.

Ryan stepped up to the red tee box on the par 3, 164-yard, 17th hole and took out his 3 wood. He hit the ball well, and both he and his father knew it.

The drive landed about eight feet from the pin and rolled into the cup for the youngster’s first hole in one and the first one of the season at Sagamore.

That garnered Ryan much more than an older golfer would have gotten for the same feat. Ever since the story appeared in Seacoast Media Group’s Portsmouth Herald, Hampton Union and on the Seacoastonline.com Web site, his name has appeared on virtually every sports and golf Internet site in the country.

And that’s not all. He has been contacted by representatives of several radio stations and even the Jay Leno and Ellen Degeneres shows, his father confirmed.

“It seems everybody is looking for that feel-good story,” Tim Quinn said.

However, Quinn said his son has turned down the radio interviews and, while he did speak to representatives of the Leno and Degeneres shows, he doubts Ryan will ultimately appear on TV, despite the proddings of his older brother.

“He’s a quiet kid, and these things take weeks to set up,” Tim said. “Leno is wrapping up his season, so there isn’t time for Ryan to appear on that show, but they might be able to squeeze him onto the Ellen show.

“If we don’t hear in a few weeks, it probably won’t happen,” he said.

The inability – or unwillingness – to appear on radio or television can’t dampen the joy Ryan said he felt when that ball went in the hole or how unique the feat was for the 10-year-old.

“I hit the ball and it was going right at the hole, then it rolled in,” Ryan said just after he hit the hole in one. “We jumped up and down yelled. I was very surprised.”

Sagamore-Hampton General Manager Tyler Sanborn said Quinn shattered the mark of the youngest golfer to hit a hole in one at the course.

“It’s definitely a thing where the more you think about it, the more amazing it is,” Sanborn said. “Getting a hole in one is a pretty special thing, but when a 10-year-old does it, it really blows your mind. It’s pretty neat.”

Tim Quinn who aced Sagamore’s par-3, 14th hole in 2006 could not be more proud his son, who started playing the game when he was six.

“It was special,” Tim said. “When he hit the ball, I told him he was going to like it and then we watched it drop in.”

“We went nuts. There were four guys on the 18th tee waiting to hit and they saw it,” Tim said. “They knew it was (Ryan) who got it.

“It’s a tough green to hit,” Tim said. “He’s a pretty good golfer.”

Ryan has been telling his dad that he was going to get a hole in one first for years.

“He always said he was going to get a hole in one before me,” Tim said. “I was pretty relieved to get mine first. Now, the race is on for No. 2.”

Every time the two get to the 14th hole, Ryan says, “Dad, this is your hole.”

“Now, the 17th is his,” Tim said.

Portsmouth Herald reporter Jay Pinsonnault contributed to this article.

Less than a year after reopening, Brian Silva’s dramatic restoration of the classic 18-hole championship course at Mount Washington Resort has earned the #1 spot in Golfweek’s state-by-state golf course ratings list. Voted on by a dedicated panel of experts and avid golfers, the Golfweek ratings are among the most prestigious in the golf industry.

Brian Klein, architecture editor stated, “Brian Silva’s restoration has made the Mount Washington Course more interesting and more compelling than I ever thought it could be. He sharpened the bunker delineation, brought out the green contours and enabled the long views of the Presidential Mountains to stand in dramatic contrast with the recurring look backs at the magnificent Hotel building itself. He also created a few bold holes to resolve some routing limitations; these holes are far stronger than the originals– all while making them fit in as part of the whole Donald Ross composition.”

The Mount Washington Course, which opened in 1915, was designed by legendary golf course architect Donald Ross, originally from Scotland. Brian Silva of Brian Siva Design, an award-winning golf course architect based in Dover, NH led the restoration project, rebuilding the golf course based on Donald Ross’ original design plans which had been preserved over the years at the Resort.

With the original Ross plans for the Mount Washington Course in hand, Silva discovered the 18-hole Course was not simply the “flat thing” that he recalled during earlier visits to the Resort in the early 1970s and late 1980s. By comparing the original Ross plans to those of the Course in 2007, Silva skillfully unveiled the original intent of Ross, which had been lost or buried over the years. In particular, fairway bunkers, crafted with classic Ross flair, perpendicular to the line of play, were unearthed, including the discovery of Ross’ signature “Principal’s Nose” bunker on the 4th hole. In keeping with Ross’ “meadowland” design, which features expansive views, Silva significantly enhanced the Course’s wide open vistas by strategically removing trees. Silva also made use of the natural rolls and swells of the ancient river bed upon which the Course was built when placing tees, fairways, bunkers and greens, as did Ross in his original plans.

Silva also restored the Resort’s testy nine-hole Mount Pleasant Course, originally opened in 1895.

Matt Massei, the Resort’s General Manager, came to Mount Washington Resort after a fifteen year career at storied Pinehurst in North Carolina, where he oversaw the PGA National Club Professional Championships in 1997 and 1998 and the US Open in 2005. Massei noted, “The early recognition of the significance of the Course’s potential will go a long way in assisting us in achieving our goal of becoming New England’s #1 golf resort and hosting one of the thirteen  USGA championship events here at Mount Washington Resort within the next five years.

The courses are scheduled to open the first weekend in May (weather permitting) for the 2009 season. For tee times, packages and more information visit the Mount Washington Resort or call 1-877-873-0626.

From Mount Washington Resort Press Release.

We all know that no pirate is complete without his parrot on the shoulder.  Well, a pirate golfer’s attire isn’t complete without a parrot golf shirt!

Check out our newest golf shirt design- Shoot A Birdie. Featuring our cool colorful parrot perched on a  golf club and slinging a musket. His bandana and eye patch complete the look.  A pirate golfer ye arrrh…when yer wearing our latest pirate golf shirt.

You are probably wondering who the fabulous artist is that created our awesome designs…I have to take credit for the concepts and ideas, but must give credit to our artist/illustrator Diana Levin for her magic.  Check out her websites- Diana Levin Illustration and Wicked Widow to see her amazing artwork and designs.

Here’s a tip to save some money in your wallet, so you can buy a rack or two of cold ones instead!

Put on a pair of jeans, heavy socks, short sleeve shirt and a light jacket (for crashing through the pricker bushes) with a good pair of hiking shoes, leash the dog, put a couple beers in your pockets and head for a heavily played golf course that you know well, and think where the duffers hit most of their duff shots (or your duff shots), and its to rough and thick to get their miss hit balls.

A plus for finding good golf balls is the fact that the time limit a golfer has to make his shot, then moves along (usually drops another new “cheat” ball) This creates the new golf ball left behind for….me! You see, I am an expert in this field, and I make it fun & relaxing too, for my golden retriever Mulligan, and me!

We stroll across the fairway (eying up the fairway for when I play it again), enjoying the weather and refreshment to our preplanned hunting spot. I can find and pick-up about 60 balls in very good condition in 15-25 minutes time. Sometimes I bend down to pick up one, and there’s another right next to the one I was about to pick up! Sometimes I pick up 3 or 4 at once! When I see 3 or 4 within 10 inches of each other, I often wonder how this happens. Four duff shots in the exact same landing zone?

Also, after some “golf ball hunting “experience, you can feel golf balls hiding under the grasses with your feet. (These are the heavily duffed areas that you can do the foot find method).

It’s really fun to bring your dog to “hunt”, especially if he loves to jump around in the tall grasses. It can be hilarious! I send my dog to pick up the balls in the mud & deeper waters, and he gets them!

My son does the “snorkel method” in water that’s not too cloudy! You just need a snorkel, mask and a floating bucket for your ball finds! Bathing suits are optional when you’re a pirate golfer…..arrrr !

You can make some cash if you find many bally treasures by selling them at a convenience store or to a practice range! So there you have it! Something to do when you’re low on cash, bored, or you want to get some exercise finding some play balls for your next golf excursion.

Here are a few dangers to watch out for! (That I’ve encountered)

• Don’t you or your dog fall into open water well… Oh well…!
• Careful of hidden bee hives!! OUCH!
• Watch out for fire ant colonies!
• Listen and watch for flying golf balls from a duffer, it could hurt!
• Identify your plants! Like POISON IVY or OAK or SUMAC!
• Always get out of the swamps and gullies before dark!
• Be courteous to the greens keepers! But most of all HAVE FUN!

If ever there was a Pirate Of The Green it would be John Daly! This article is from the Associated Press-

Daly suspended for 6 months by PGA Tour-by Doug Ferguson, AP

John Daly smashed one tee shot off the top of a beer can during a pro-am. At another tournament, he returned from a rain delay with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden as his caddie. And his most memorable photo this year came in an orange jail suit, eyes half-closed.

Daly said Wednesday that such unwelcome publicity is why the PGA Tour suspended him for six months.

The two-time major champion confirmed his suspension to The Associated Press, calling this the low point of an 18-year career during which he has made as much news off the course as he has with his prodigious game.

“Is it fair that I got suspended?” he said. “It’s not fair in reality, but it’s probably fair in perception.”

Daly said he wanted to go public to let fans and tournaments know that he wasn’t abandoning them by taking his game to the European tour. At least until the spring, he simply didn’t have much of a choice.

“I’m not sure this is the smartest thing to do, but I’d rather be honest, especially with the fans,” he said. “It’s hard for me not to play on the West Coast. I love it out there.”

PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw declined comment, even after seeing Daly’s remarks, citing the tour’s longtime policy of not discussing fines or suspensions.

This is the second time the tour has suspended Daly, along with at least two other times when he agreed to sit out the final few months of a season to get his life in order.

He has not played on the PGA Tour since he missed the cut Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. Ten days later, police in Winston-Salem, N.C., said he appeared intoxicated outside a Hooters restaurant, and Daly was taken to jail to sleep it off. That led to his photo in the orange jail suit, which became an Internet sensation.

Still trying to recover from various injuries, Daly made only five cuts in 17 starts on the tour, finishing 232nd on the money list. His world ranking has plunged to No. 736.

Daly isn’t even sure when the suspension began, but he hopes it ends in May. He said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem sent a letter to his agent, Bud Martin of SFX Sports, who passed along the news.

“Tim and his staff have to do what they do,” Daly said. “Truly and honestly, I wish Tim would get to know the facts better before he makes a decision. I would love to sit down and have a nice talk with him, tell him what really happened. But perception is reality in the world, and sometimes they have to do what they have to do.”

Martin would only say the suspension was to end in the spring, adding “it remains confidential with the PGA Tour.” He said Daly wants to use 2009 to turn his career around.

“This is the last negative thing that’s been gnawing at him,” Martin said. “We didn’t make any requests for exemptions, and John wanted to be clear with them. He wanted to play in their tournaments, but he can’t. He didn’t want to let his fans down. He wanted them to know the truth.”

Daly said he hopes to play well enough to earn sponsor exemptions on the PGA Tour when the suspension is lifted.

“John’s New Year’s resolution is do everything he can to make positive things happen on the golf course,” Martin said. “I hope he can walk the walk. The talk sounds great. But it’s going to be him working hard and staying out of trouble, and having success on the golf course.”

Daly became an overnight sensation when he won the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick as the ninth alternate, introducing his powerful “grip it and rip it” style to golf. Four years later, he won the British Open at St. Andrews. But his career has been dragged down by two trips to alcohol rehab, four marriages, gambling losses and other off-course episodes that have made him a sideshow to some and a cult figure to others.

Asked why he was suspended, Daly pointed to four incidents during the year.

After a rain delay at Innisbrook during the Florida swing, he emerged from a hospitality tent with Gruden as his caddie for the final seven holes of the round, prompting a split with swing coach Butch Harmon.

“My whole goal for him was he’s got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life,” Harmon said in March. “And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk.”

While promoting a golf course in Missouri, Daly did a regional television interview wearing only blue jeans — no shirt, no shoes — while showing how to play one of the holes. Then at the Buick Open, during a pro-am that featured Kid Rock in overalls, Daly revved up the fans by hitting one drive off the top of a beer can.

He drew the most attention from the night in jail. Daly told the AP that his friends called police when they feared he had passed out, claiming they were unaware he sleeps with his eyes open when he’s had too much to drink. Daly was put in jail under a state law called “Assistance to Intoxicated Persons.”

“The picture didn’t help,” Daly said. “People think I got arrested when I didn’t get arrested. It is what it is. I’ve got to deal with it and go on. Whatever reason the tour has, maybe a positive will come out of this.”

CBS Sports analyst David Feherty, a recovering alcoholic, said after the North Carolina arrest he hoped Daly would get help.

“He’s one of the most generous and one of the kindest souls,” Feherty said. “The stories of his generosity to the people are legendary. The only person he has ever been unkind to is himself.”

Daly has played four times overseas since the PGA Tour suspended him, tying for 17th in the Hong Kong Open and missing the cut at all three tournaments he played in Australia. In the Australian Open, he lost his patience with a fan who put a camera in his face during the round, smashing the camera against a tree.

“This is the lowest I’ve ever been,” Daly said. “There’s always light with me. Right now, my home tour is probably Europe. And I love the European tour. I always have. But my home is the United States. That’s where I would rather play.”

Daly said the publicity cost him his endorsements. His only deals are with Focus Golf Systems, which signed a 15-year agreement in 2006 to sell his golf clubs and apparel in Wal-Mart stores; and Fly Emirates, part of a deal that will pay his travel expenses when he plays the Abu Dhabi Championship, Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic in January.

“This has been the worst year,” he said in the New Year’s Eve interview. “One day left.”

If you have read our first welcome post you read all about “Spanky”, the original pirate golfer and his adventures on the golf course…well now, because it’s cold and snowy out and Spanky can’t golf, he’s going to be contributing to our blog with his wit and wisdom about the game he is so passionate about! Here is his first post-

To have consistently decent golf shots, the body & mind must be in unison. Its good to say to yourself…yes, I can make this shot ! O.K. now that you’ve  been practicing and playing lets swing through the ball smoothly, and hit the ball right on the sweet spot every time !

Even if you’re not practicing and playing a lot ( every other day like I try to do) you can have a reasonably decent round by keeping “body and mind” in unison through nine or eighteen holes.

Its also  important to not get mad at yourself while golfing. That will throw your game shots off drastically!  I have two sons that are in their mid twenties and we golf a lot together. What I’ve noticed, is every time one of them or both of them ( lol ) starts getting mad, their golf game goes away. But, I’ve also noticed that when they pull themselves together mentally to match their athletic talents, all of a sudden they start hitting the ball like a pro player again.

So, in my good play book, lesson number one, is Body and Mind in Unison!  So what are you waiting for! Get out there and hit some golf balls!  From a pirate of the green,  hit a good one ! Spanky

When it’s snowing outside like it is here in Campton, New Hampshire at the moment (…our local course, the Owl’s Nest is covered in 15 inches of snow and it show’s no signs of letting up) and you can’t golf…you can still keep your golf game on track, still learn new techniques, tips, tricks, swing secrets and even some really funny golf jokes with our new golf ebooks being offered at Pirates Of The Green.

Currently the best golf ebooks on the market today! Some with never before revealed information! They come with master resale and distribution rights which means you can sell our books on your website, through google ads, classified ads or eBay and keep all the profits AND at the same time become better at your game! Amaze yourself and your golf buddies!

The titles we currently have available are The Ultimate Guide To Golf, Senior Golf 101, How To Choose A Golf Training Aid, Bring Your Golf Scores To Life and Golf Jokes and The Laws of Golf, all available for immediate download. We are adding new titles on a regular basis so be sure to check back often!

Enjoy the snow and think of snowmobiling on those beautiful snow covered fairways!! Happy Holidays Yo Ho! and thanks for checking out our blog.

The Folks at Pirates Of The Green

Ho Ho Yo Ho! Christmas is fast approaching and for those of you who can still play golf we have some really cool golf shirts, t-shirts, hats and gifts for the golfer in your life. Visit our shop you can find our pirate inspired flame skull logo on a variety of products, as well as our extremely popular “Where’s The Beer Cart Girl?” design! Andi if you have a golf tournament coming up, dress your team mates up in our totally cool golf shirts and make a statement…that your team is going to kick butt!!

Whatever the occasion…Pirates Of The Green has something for that golfer in your life….! Happy shopping and remember….send us a photo of yourself wearing our stuff and we’ll post your picture in our gallery and send you a FREE flame skull logo sticker!

Imagine golfing 360 days a year! If you live in snow country you might want to think about heading out to sin city if you are having golf withdrawal symptons!

There may be a lot of things that Las Vegas is famous for, but golf isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, golf in Las Vegas is becoming a sport for the well-to-do and the common man alike.

Twenty-nine years ago, locals and visitors played at The Tropicana Golf Course, which has been replaced by the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. The Dunes course, since replaced by Bellagio and Monte Carlo Hotels, Desert Inn Country Club, is still there, though it will be gone soon. The Municipal Golf Course, Las Vegas Country Club, Craig Road, Sahara Country Club, Winter Wood, two courses at Nellis and Paradise Country Club, are all still there, though the names may have changed. They were pretty much the only courses in the valley.

Today, there are 57 golf courses in and around Las Vegas. They’re not all up and running yet as that number includes under construction and on the planning board. Also, the number includes courses within a two hour drive of Las Vegas, Mesquite, Primm, Laughlin and Pahrump.
Even so, that’s a lot of golf courses for a city of less than one and a half million. Of course, thirty-six million plus tourists a year add to the profitability of opening one. Greens fees for Las Vegas golf can be quite steep for the common man and many locals have given up local golf for just that reason.

Las Vegas golf courses were designed by the pros who also played them in tournaments every year. Palmer, Nicklaus, Chi Chi Rodriques, Johnny Miller and Fuzzy Zoeller have all designed courses there. All of the major pro tours, PGA, LPGA and the SPGA have annual tourneys here. They started to play Las Vegas in 1953.

Golf is a year-round sport in Las Vegas. Even on those forty days a year that there’s some rain, you still might get 18 holes in. There are only about 5 days a year when you can’t play. In the spring there may be a few days of high winds that postpone your game. On cold days in the winter, you tee off at noon. On hot days from June to September, try to get a tee time from 6-9 am, to be off the course in the afternoon. Call very early for a tee time.

You will have a lot of options when you choose to golf in Las Vegas. But the best part about a Las Vegas golf trip? You can always try out the blackjack tables if your golf game stinks!