‘Wild Thing’ John Daly can Return to US PGA Tour

Following a successful return to competitive action in Europe, ‘Wild Thing’ John Daly will be allowed to compete once more on the US PGA now that his suspension has expired.

Daly had been suspended by the tour for six months in November 2008 after a series of off-course incidents brought both the player and the tour some unwanted publicity, and eventually saw the American spending a night in a North Carolina jail-cell.

During his suspension, Daly played eight times overseas which included a month on the European circuit where he finished second at the Italian Open.

Speaking from Wentworth, where he tied for 72nd at the BMW PGA Championship, Daly said that he would be ready to play again on the US tour and will be giving it his all,

“I’m not going to be half-trying like I’ve done in the past. I know I may not play the tour if something good doesn’t happen. It’s making me work harder.”

Daly’s last PGA Tour victory came in the Buick Invitational, five years ago, while in the past two years he has failed to retain his tour card; instead relying on sponsor invitations and appearances at tournaments he has won previously, such as the British Open and PGA Championship.

Daly’s first return to the US PGA will be via a sponsor’s invitation to the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, held between June 11-14, while he has also received an exemption to the Buick Open in July. Daly also hopes to attract other invitations and has requested an exemption to nearly every PGA Tour event, although he will need to play at least three more times on the European Tour to be eligible for Dubai.

Daly, who has seemingly put his off-course problems behind him – he has had a gastric band fitted in an attempt to lose weight and has worked stoically on his game has also signed a clothing deal with Loudmouth Golf, a firm which specialises in wild and colourful patterned clothing. Daly sported a shocking pink ensemble during his final round at Wentworth in support of Phil Mickelson’s wife, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Davis Love III Qualifies for British Open as Parnevik Misses Out.

Davis Love III secured his place for this year’s Open Championship at Turnberry after securing a place via the US leg of international qualifying, held at Gleneagles.

The veteran American will be making his 23rd consecutive appearance in the season’s third major title after rounds of 67 and 65 saw him card a ten-under par total of 132, although the player thought he’d have to shoot even lower to ensure his place. However, his total was enough to tie for third place out of a total of 78 entrants.

“I actually thought the scores would be a bit lower than this so I was glad to get in … It’s my favourite major – the way they set up the course and the tradition. It’s certainly the one where I feel like I have a real good chance to be competitive.”

Joining Love in the field for Turnberry will be fellow American, Matt Kuchar; who will make his fifth appearance at the British Open following rounds of 63 and 66 to take the top-spot. Countrymen Jeff Overton and James Driscoll also qualified, along with Britain’s Martin Laird and Swedes Richard S Johnson and Frederik Jacobsen. The final qualifying spot was filled by New Zealander, Tim Wilkinson.

Kucher, the 1997 US amateur champion, has missed the cut on each of his four previous appearances in the British Open but will be hoping for better luck at the Ayrshire course, while Laird qualified for his first professional event to be held in his native country.

“I’ve only played the (US) Nationwide and PGA Tour so this is going to be great,” said the 26-year-old Glaswegian after tying Love for third place.

However, Jesper Parnevik, who finished second behind Zimbabwe’s Nick Price in the 1994 British Open – also held at Turnberry – failed to qualify from Gleneagles despite being among the early pace-setters following a morning 64. The Swede carded an afternoon round of 70 to slip back into a tie for 16th place and may now miss out on appearing at Turnberry. Germany’s Alex Cekja, also failed to qualify for Turnberry.

Hawkstone Park & De Vere Venues Wychwood Park Review

Went away last weekend to two superb venues in the North West of England – De Vere Venues Wychwood Park and Hawkstone Park. Had a great time and can recommend the nightlife near to both venues!

Hawkstone Park:-

2 Championship Courses,
The Hawkstone is a traditional English Parkland course with spectacular scenery especially holes 7-13 are great with 10 (Road Hole) being the signature hole

Championship Course (Windmill Course) American Target Golf course very open, 14 is a dogleg right par 5 with a big lake on the right, a longer course but not as scenic

Service – friendly very helpful staff, changed from silver service in Feb to plated service

Food & Drink – one bar and restaurant in the main hotel and the same over in the golf centre, menu is a set menu of (4,4,4) reasonably priced, very traditional setting for the hotel restaurant and Bar, Smart casual dress code.

Nightlife – Shrewsbury 20 mins away great night out lots of girls out cheap and a good laugh, plenty of different bars and clubs, the boys tried out Montgomery towers and the Liquid and Diva, Got back to Hawkstone at 4:30 £15.00 taxi ride

Wychwood Park:-

1 Championship Course, Very long and tough more of an American style course that is more open and uses the contours of the land it is set in very well. So fantastic par 3’s Hoping to hold the Seniors Tour next year as well as the Europro Tour

Service – Friendly and very helpful, pre-book taxis etc for nights out. More of a corporate hotel

Food & Drink – One Bar in the hotel and also the one Restaurant, very good breakfast! Dinner is a set menu (4,4,4) not a great but enough to fill you up. Staff in the restaurant helpful in making suggestions for Wine and food. Bar is fairly expensive

Nightlife – Nantwich-  Cershaw great fun, doors close on the only club at 1:00 am

All in all two quality resorts each with very good value deals. Hawkstone starts from just £59 and Wychwood from £89.

Villaitana Golf Resort Review

Villaitana Golf Resort, Alicante (near Benidorm)

I visited this resort over the May Bank Holiday and was suitably impressed. For golfers and non-golfers there is plenty to do and would recommend it to anyone. Firstly it’s a massive property, the first thing you are given when you check in is a map.

Location –
35 minutes north of Alicante airport, 5 euros in a taxi to Benidorm.
Drive from Alicante is easy and the roads are all really decent and fast paced (speed limit on AP7 is 120 kmph most people do 150-160 on it).

When coming out of Alicante airport follow signs towards Alicante and get on the AP7 (toll road – 3.5 euros each way) until you reach signs for Benidorm (take the exit marked Levante -Benidorm).

Hotels –
The resort has two hotels both of which are of a decent standard. I stayed in the 4-star hotel (Hotel Villaitana) which gives you easier access to the larger swimming pools of the resort. Rooms were large and easily of a 4-star standard, views are typically of the swimming pools and have balconies which are large enough for two people to have a drink on in the evening.

The other hotel on site (Gran Villaitana) is a five-star property and overlooks the golf courses (mainly the Levante).  Rooms are slightly larger and is a bit more intimate, definitely worth considering the upgrade (approx. £40 per room per night). Still has a massive network of swimming pools as well as a heated one, loads of sun loungers and only a hundred yards from a few of the holes on the Levante course.
Food –
7 restaurants on site most are open for lunch and dinner, you are given restaurant opening times when you arrive so you know what is open etc. Breakfast is taken in the four-star hotel in La Casa Verde, this overlooks the massive swimming pools and the breakfast is good. Full English as well as pastries etc all available. Breakfast in the five-star is taken in Los Naranjos, this is a bit smaller than the Casa Verde and can be taken just next to the pool which again overlooks golf courses and Benidorm, sea and beach etc.

Beers in the hotels during the day are either taken in the Gran Villaitana bar or alternatively Papa Mambo which is really nice – in the courtyard which separates the two hotels.
There is also some cheap food and beer to be had at the golf club house (2 min walk from the hotel or they can take you up in a buggy if you are lazy). Has a nice veranda overlooking course, beer was cheap and cold and fairly busy. Clubhouse also has a pool table with big tv and comfy chairs.

Golf –
Both courses are Nicklaus design with the Levante fairly open and as you can see the sea from the course it feels a bit like a links course, lots of bunkers and a bit of water. It looks like a decent layout and would be suitable for any player (you can hit is almost anywhere off the tee). It’s fairly flat so you could walk it but most people were playing in buggies. The Pontiente is a lot shorter but tighter, you need a buggy to play it because it’s very up and down – apparently it’s actually preferred by the low-handicappers so definitely worth a round when visiting this region. A bit more jungle is in play off the tee (small scrubby bushes and baranca).
Good driving range (50 metres from clubhouse towards Levante course), chipping green and putting green next to clubhouse.

Leisure facilities –
Huge swimming pools as mentioned before. Also has 6 tennis courts (opposite the golf clubhouse), I didn’t see these used once during my stay, there are nice Astroturf and good for anyone wanting a bit more to do other than golf or sunbathing. Spa is pretty big, it’s a separate building 50 metres from hotel reception. Spa access costs 18 euros per person, and you get to use all the thermal suite (saunas, floatation tanks and ice fountain), it’s got some more swimming pools and outdoor Jacuzzis as well as private sun terrace (over looking 1st on Levante). Nice and perfect for the ladies while the lads are out golfing. Also got treatment rooms if you want massages etc.
The hotel is also 5 mins from a massive waterpark and theme park if you fancy that.

Benidorm –
5 euros in a taxi. It’s split up into 2 parts – Levante beach and Pontiente beach. Levante is full of English with loads of bars, pubs and clubs. Lots of cheap deals in the pubs – 1 and 2 euros for a beer. Was pretty lively even when I was there, beach is nice, lots of stag and hen dos along with Karoke and everything you’d expect from a Brits abroad place.

Pontiente is a really good place to have some food, lots of tapas places which are absolutely rammed with Spanish. Food is decent and cheap – first night with drinks for two – 18 euros, second night with drinks for two a whopping 25 euros. Still lots of bars but more Spanish than English, reckon the older chaps would be quite happy there.
In short, I’d feel really happy recommending to our clients, Benidorm is pretty much as expected, high rise with English lager louts, but the resort is far enough away for it not to bother you if you don’t want to take it on.

Hotels are well designed and cater for our animal groups as well as couples. Golf is decent and will soon be exclusively for members and hotel guests  – great selling point.

Your Golf Travel.com Golf Resort rating – 8 out of 10.

Montgomerie to miss out on US Open slot?

After a disastrous closing round of 80 at the 3 Irish Open, Colin Montgomerie now finds himself in danger of missing out on a slot at the US Open next month.

The round, which dropped Montgomerie from joint seventh on the leaderboard to a lowly 41st, now means Montgomerie needs to qualify for the US Open at Walton Heath next Monday due to having slipped further down the world rankings as a result of his closing round at the rain-lashed County Louth venue.

Montgomerie has now dropped to 182nd place in the rankings, meaning that even a victory at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, which has a massive first prize of £650,000, wouldn’t be enough to earn him automatic qualification.

What’s more, Monty cannot make the top five in the Race to Dubai, which provides another route to the year’s second Major, to be held at Bethpage Black, New York.

Montogomerie, 46 next month is an eight-time European number one, but the European Ryder Cup captain for the 2010 renewal currently finds himself languishing in 97th place on the Order of Merit and faces an uphill challenge if he is to maintain a record of never having finished outside the top 30 since he was Rookie of the Year in 1988.

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