Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Great One

I don't usually post news from professional golf here, but for the original Artful One, I'll make an exception. On the heels of entertainers Justin Timberlake and George Lopez being named hosts of their own PGA Tour events, the Nationwide Tour announced on Monday that a new tournament will include the name of its own great one. Check that. The Great One.


Wayne Gretzky, The Great One

Named for the NHL's all-time leading scorer, the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic will be held June 26-29 at The Georgian Bay Club and the Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay, located on the shores of Georgian Bay, northwest of Toronto.

"I have always had tremendous respect for the Nationwide Tour and the platform it provides for aspiring golfers," said Gretzky, who has competed in multiple celebrity events on both the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour. "I am thrilled to host an event that will recognize the hard work and dedication these players put in week after week on tour."

The tournament will feature a unique format, with 160 Nationwide Tour players paired with 160 celebrities/amateurs for a minimum of two days. One professional will be paired with one celebrity or amateur on Thursday and Friday, June 26 and 27, and the teams alternating between The Georgian Bay Club and Lora Bay courses both days. Ten pro/amateur teams will compete on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 for the Pro-Celebrity/Amateur title at The Georgian Bay Club.

After 20 NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers, Gretzky is currently a managing partner and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. The Wayne Gretzky Foundation, founded by Gretzky in 2002, will be the primary beneficiary of the event.

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Golf as Art

When you disappear, Golf as Art shows up. The resulting void is where all the important discoveries, personal development, satisfaction, joy and fulfillment take place.
–Fred Shoemaker, Extraordinary Golf

Swing motion at its highest level is the uninterrupted flow of natural rhythm from within.
–Tom Woods, True Golf

Your enemy is expectation. Your ally is detachment. The game isn't the process, the game is the dream.
–Kris Barkway, The Magician's Way

A great golf shot is a thing of beauty. Repeating it is an art.
–Mark Guadagnoli, Practice to Win

Golf is performance art and there's no right and wrong in art. You're free to play however you want.
–Grayden Provis, Golf = Life

Artful Milestones

  • Mar 05 - Started playing (1 rd/week)
  • Jun 05 - Broke 80 (21st round)
  • Nov 05 - Increased play (2 rds/week)
  • Jan 06 - Under 10 Index (54th round)
  • Jan 06 - 10 GIR (62nd round)
  • Mar 06 - Less than 30 Putts (75th round)
  • Aug 06 - First Eagle (124th round)
  • Aug 06 - 5 Birdies (138th round)
  • Sep 06 - Broke 76 (146th round)
  • Oct 06 - First ACE (161st round)
  • Oct 06 - Under 5 Index (166th round)
  • Oct 06 - 13 Fairways (169th round)
  • Dec 06 - Broke 72 (184th round)
  • Dec 06 - 70's Streak (9/10 rounds)
  • Feb 07 - Under 4 Index (219th round)
  • Feb 07 - 15 GIR (219th round)
  • Oct 07 - 24 Putts (298th round)
  • Jan 08 - 70's Streak (12 rounds)
  • Jan 08 - Second ACE (332nd round)
  • Apr 08 - Par from Tips (370th round)
  • May 08 - Under 3 Index (382nd round)
  • Aug 08 - 50th Course (420th round)
  • Nov 08 - Broke 70 (460th round)
  • Dec 08 - 16 GIR (472nd round)
  • May 09 - 60th Course (510th round)
  • May 09 - 7 Birdies (511th round)
  • May 09 - Broke 70 (511th round)
  • May 09 - Under Par Streak (2 rounds)
  • May 09 - Under 80 Streak (13 rounds)
  • May 09 - Broke 70 (520th round)
  • May 09 - Under 2 Index (520th round)
  • Jun 09 - 70th Course (538th round)
  • Aug 09 - Third ACE (556th round)
  • Aug 09 - Broke 70 (559th round)
  • Jul 10 - 100 Holes at Even-Par (670th round)