Posts Tagged ‘longwood’

5 Free Golf Winners in August

Congrats to Matt Kuchar who won The Barclays yesterday with an improbable playoff against Martin Laird.  It’s painful to watch a golf professional 3 putt from 25 feet, but reminds us amateurs how tough golf really is.

For the regular Houston Golf Nut readers (if you exist), you know that I have a man-crush on Tiger Woods and I optimistically picked him to win the British Open.  Okay, I was wrong there, but you have to admit he’s close.  If he had putted better on Friday and Saturday (and not hit that wayward opening tee shot on Saturday), Tiger would have been in contention on Sunday.

Most of the year, golf writers and media folks have been writing Tiger’s career off, like he may never even win again, much less beat Nicklaus’s major record.  Well, where is the same criticism when it comes to Phil?  Here’s a guy who is consistently picked to win tournaments week in and week out, who’s had a small myriad of chances to take over the #1 spot, and hasn’t succeeded.  He didn’t even make the cut this week.

Logically, how can they act like Mickelson walks on water (age 40) and Tiger might as well quit (age 34)?  Doesn’t make any sense to me.  Well, that ends my latest Tiger rant for the week.

Okay, now what you all have really visited the site for.  The August Trivia Contest has ended.  The question was:

In match play, through the green, a player accidentally kicks and moves his ball during search. Which one of the following is TRUE?

(A) The player incurs no penalty.
(B) The player incurs a one-stroke penalty and he must drop the ball within one club-length of its original position.
(C) The player incurs a one-stroke penalty and he must play the ball as it lies.
(D) The player incurs a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

This Rules of Golf question and answer were pulled directly from the USGA.org site.  The answer is (D), according to Rule 18-2a:

18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
a. General
When a player’s ball is in play, if:

(i) the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or

(ii)equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

Under the Rules there is no penalty if a player accidentally causes his ball to move in the following circumstances:

• In searching for a ball in a hazard covered by loose impediments or sand, for a ball in an obstruction or abnormal ground condition or for a ball believed to be in water in a water hazard – Rule 12-1
• In repairing a hole plug or ball mark – Rule 16-1c
• In measuring – Rule 18-6
• In lifting a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-1
• In placing or replacing a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-3a
• In removing a loose impediment on the putting green – Rule 23-1

The winners were chosen at random from the 19 correct answers.  They are:

Carrie Rosado – Free Golf* at Bear Creek Golf World (for 2)
Paul Thompson – Free Golf* at Clear Creek Golf Club (for 1)
Russell Bancroft – Free Golf* at Fort Bend Country Club (for 1)
Brad Rochman – Free Golf* at Houston National Golf Club (for 2)
Joshua Long – Free Golf* at Longwood Golf Club (for 4)

Congrats to all the winners and thanks to everybody who entered.  If you’re not already on the Contest Notification list, please add your email address to be notified for future contests.

*some restrictions may apply

One Contest – Five Winners

New putting grip sweeping the nation

This is the last contest before Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer.  For many people, this means that their golf season is winding down.  Not for us Houstonians though!  For many of us, the end of the summer heat ignites a surge in weekend golf outings.

The August Trivia Contest will be unique in that there will be 5 (count’em 5) winners.  Out of all the correct entrants, the 5 winners will be chosen at random.

The prizes up for grabs are:

• Free Golf* at Bear Creek Golf World (for 2)
• Free Golf* at Clear Creek Golf Club (for 1)
• Free Golf* at Fort Bend Country Club (for 1)
• Free Golf* at Houston National Golf Club (for 2)
• Free Golf* at Longwood Golf Club (for 4)

Read the rules and enter the contest by clicking on the August 2010 Trivia Contest Link or click on the banner in the header bar.  Good luck!

*some restrictions apply

More Monday Golf Winners – Casual Water Trivia

From the personal front, I played a full round on Saturday and hit the ball pretty well but still had some blow-up holes which killed my score.  Which if I think about it, is where I was about 2 years ago.  Damn!

I feel like I’m close (again).  I’m still reverting to my over-the-top swing at times, but when I hit the ball well, it’s better than when I hit the ball well in the past.  Next week, I’ll post another update on my lessons at golfTEC.

This past trivia contest (July part 3) didn’t have a clear answer among entrants.  Let me refresh your memory:

Well, with all the rain the last few weeks, it’s only appropriate to clarify what qualifies as casual water.  Which is correct regarding casual water?

A) Overflow from a water hazard is not casual water.
B) Soft, mushy earth without water visible on the surface is casual water.
C) A ball lying in a pitch-mark through the green filled with water is in casual water.

About 50% voted for A and the other 50% voted for C.  According to the USGA Rules, the answer is C.  Here’s an excerpt from the corresponding Rules Decisions:

25/1  Soft, Mushy Earth
Q. Is soft, mushy earth casual water?
A. No. Soft, mushy earth is not casual water unless water is visible on the surface before or after the player takes his stance — see Definition of “Casual Water.”

25/2  Overflow from Water Hazard
Q. If a pond (water hazard) has overflowed, is the overflow casual water?
A. Yes. Any overflow of water from a water hazard which is outside the margin of the hazard is casual water.

25/3  Pitch-Mark Filled with Casual Water
Q. A player’s ball plugged deeply in short rough. No casual water was visible on the surface, but the pitch-mark in which the ball came to rest is filled with water. Was the player’s ball in casual water?
A. Yes.

Out of the correct entrants, 2 winners were chosen at random.  They are:

Robert Jones – Longwood Golf Club
Bryan Kinsler – Southwyck Golf Club

Congrats to both gentlemen!  Contest update: next Guess that Hole is August 17th; next Trivia is August 24th.  I’m introducing a new type of contest within the next week or so.

Omaha Steaks is sponsoring a golf contest in August.   Check back on Wednesday for details and there’s a surprise giveaway on Thursday at 11am CST.  Check back exactly at that time for more details and a chance to win.

Creative Email Addresses

Yesterday, Houston Golf Nut had its first in-store promotional event – a raffle for a free 4some to Longwood Golf Club (cart fees included, Mon-Thurs).  It was at the Golfsmith golf and tennis superstore in the Galleria area (Richmond and West Loop).  Thanks to Jay, WahSun, and the rest of the staff for making it a lot of fun.

We had great customer participation.  Imagine that?  I mean, who wouldn’t want a shot at free golf, right.  The winner of the free 4some at Longwood Golf Club is:

Mark McConnell

Congrats Mark!  And thanks to everyone who entered.  Even to the old guy who was playing around and put his email address as:

And here’s a quick pic of my setup at the store:

Oh, and I was wearing pants the whole time.

Longwood Golf Club June Pricing Specials

Longwood Golf Club has some great pricing for June.  The course conditions are really good and are getting better each day.

Special rates are:
Monday – Thursday $35
Friday $39
Saturday $59
Sunday $54

Seniors (60+)
Monday – Thursday $27
Saturday and Sunday $39

Don’t forget, these rates include Breakfast, Lunch and 2 Beers!

Call 281-373-4100 to book a tee time!

Guess That Hole Winner and More Free Houston Golf

What Trace and his friends may look like when teeing off with their free rounds of golf

The correct answer for the May Guess That Hole contest is Longwood Golf Club, Pine #2.  Congrats to

Trace Lawrence

for winning a free 4some at Longwood and thanks to Karl and Jason at Longwood for sponsoring this contest.

For all of you looking for free rounds of golf in Houston, check out the new Trivia contest that is starting today.  The prize is a free round of golf at Clear Creek.

Thanks to everyone who visits the site and participates in the contests.  Trace is our 10th winner of free golf on the site and we’re averaging between 5 and 6 new winners every month now.

As new Houston golf courses get added into our program, we’ll have more winners every month.  If your favorite course isn’t on our list yet, have them contact Chris Koss at houstongolfnut@gmail.com for information on joining our Course Partnership Program.

More Free Golf in April

Okay, Houston Golf Nut has a few announcements today.  First, let’s talk about the April Trivia Contest.  I think practically everyone got the answer right: Nick Faldo in 1996.  That’s the year when the Shark totally collapsed and Sir Nick Faldo was there to pick up the pieces.

There were over 25 correct entries to this contest and the winner, chosen at random, is Scott Simmons.  Congrats to Scott who won a free 4some at Longwood Golf Club.

Now to some even better news.  Houston Golf Nut is starting April Trivia Contest Part 2 today!  This contest will run through Sunday, April 25th.  Go to the Trivia page to find out the question, read the rules, and enter the contest.  Good luck to everyone!  (Oh, the winner of this contest gets a free 4some to Bear Creek Golf World, an awesome prize indeed.)

Win Free Golf at Longwood

In honor of the Masters just ending (and me sick of hearing the word “patrons”), our next Trivia contest is about the Masters.  To see the question and enter the contest, either click on the banner in the top, click from our Contests page, or click directly to the Houston Golf Nut Trivia page.

The winner gets free golf for a 4some at Longwood Golf Club.  Good luck!

Cypress Cares Golf Tourney to Support Our Troops

Cypress Cares is an organization here in Houston that supports US troops by shipping care packages to them during deployments. Cypress Cares hosting a golf tournament at Longwood Golf Club on Sunday, 18 April, to raise funds for our troop support effort.

Cypress Cares is run by Raquel Cunningham (a prior service US Army Reserves officer) and a retired US Naval Captain and they have about 250 volunteers who work with us.  They are 100% volunteer and operate entirely on contributions from the general public. With luck, this golf tournament will raise enough for them to finance all of their shipping costs for 2010, which are expected to exceed $17,000.

Any help they can get to make this event a success is appreciated. To participate or get more info, download the Cypress Cares flier or visit their site http://cypress-cares.org/.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES – Cypress Cares applied for a $25,000 grant from Pepsi.  In order to win, they need “an entire Army of votes”.  Vote here: http://www.refresheverything.com/cypresscares.  Email Raquel at info@cypress-cares.org to get a daily reminder!

Join the Party!

Gotta give a warm welcome to the two newest featured Houston golf courses on our site: Bear Creek and Longwood.  Houston Golf Nut is excited to have them on board.  Thanks to Neil Sherrod and Jason Kargel for their help.