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"Having your own golf course is the ultimate piece of art. I fulfill dreams.” - golf course designer, Tom Fazio. He's not wrong—but I also have to respect the 60 degree wedge spin he's put on guiding the Brinks truck up to his garage when a billionaire asks him to design their private course. (More on this in a bit...)
The Skins Game is back!
"HEY, YOU GUYS LIKE SPORTS?" - AMAZON
News this week from Amazon is that they'll be resurrecting The Skins Game as part of their massive Black Friday sports spread.
The Skins Game started in 1983 with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Gary Player on Thanksgiving weekend. The last iteration aired in 2008 and was won by K.J. Choi. All respect to K.J. but I could see perhaps why the event lost some momentum in there somewhere.
The cast this year will be Xander, JT, Kaptain Keegan and Tommy. Overall, solid. And I used the term cast because it does seem like they actually cast this with a set of Pros that would be most likely to serve up some banter and competitive fire as the purses heat up.
For those who aren't familiar, the format is each player wins the designated dollar amount for each hole, and the purse carries over if the hole is tied. The difference with this version is what's called a "reverse purse" where everyone starts with $1 million (of their own money... apparently) and their bankrolls fluctuate as it all plays out. I'm picturing a live stock ticker graphic we'll be seeing throughout like World Series of Poker.
I'll always give these sorts of gimmicks a watch once. Plus, with this airing at 6a PST, my Bears playing at 12p then an NBA double header... Amazon is definitely onto something. Give us the best sports possible and we'll park ourselves in front of your network all day.
A billionaire creates his own heaven
IF YOU BUILD IT... THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME
A splashy story across social and the golf pubs was a Forbes feature about billionaire David D. Halbert (because of course he needs a middle initial) who hired Tom Fazio to design him a private course. And I think the following quote sums it up quite nicely.
"If you don’t have a hole named after you then you’re not a member,” laughs David D. Halbert.
"If you don’t have a hole named after you then you’re not a member,” laughs David D. Halbert.
Haha, oh David D. Halbert.
Yes, the course cost $50 million and it has no membership. It's just David D. Halbert and his family and friends.
The course is a par 72, 7500 yards from the tips, Fazio gem on Lake Granbury, 60 miles southwest of Dallas Fort-Worth airport.
The original idea came from David D. Halbert's wife Kathy who picked up golf but felt self-conscious about playing slow. But all she imagined was a few par-3 holes on the property where she could "swing like an idiot". Fast forward a couple years and David D. Halbert came through big time for his gal.
"It’s an attitude. I can come out here with my girlfriends and a pitcher of margaritas and whack away." - Kathy. Sounds pretty ideal though also a bit concerned about the logisitcs of an entire pitcher of margaritas sloshing around on a golf cart. Admittedly more of a quirk about me and my irrational hate for spilled—well—anything. The concern remains.
Click through the article above for the full story but there's a full-time greenskeeper on staff to maintain the grounds and $7 million in irrigation pumps and maintenance buildings.
Of course, David D. Halbert and his son Patrick do want to invite SOME people out... a list including fellow Dallas National members and PGA superstars Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau as well as Patrick's business partners, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.
Cool, fellas.
And for those who think it's all sunshine and rainbows, Kathy Halbert says, “We do curse a few things, like the Canadian geese.” But to scare them off, she says, “We’re training some dogs.”
Billionaires, they think of everything.
Speaking of rich people designing golf courses...
THE RODEO HYPE TRAIN IS FULL STEAM AHEAD
Preview rounds are LIVE for the newest Mike Kaiser creation in Eastern Colorado—Rodeo Dunes.
Kaiser is the head of Dream Golf. The same minds who brought you Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley as well as another new complex being built in Eastern Texas called Wild Spring Dunes.
Can I just say, all you need to do to get me to want to come play your course is some high quality drone footage at sundown with the shadows casting across the contours of the land. That's literally it.
The early reviews seem to be glowing and considering it's only 50 miles away from central Denver, it's definitely more accessible than your previous Kaiser Kreations.
Play will begin next spring for the Founders members. I applied. Did not get a call back.
And play for the general public will begin in 2027 with spots becoming available in February next year. Calendar reminder set.
While it's only one course, I'm head over heels for this one. A second course is on the way and with over 2000 acres available, there are plans for six courses in total and a putting course coming soon. May the reign of destination golf never end. All hail Kaiser.
Golf is the Gateway Series: Part One
THE MINI-EST OF GOLF
Trying out a new module this week that I'm calling Golf is the Gateway.
The thinking here is that while it will have a tie to golf, this is more a chance to talk about someone doing some awesome things in golf-adjacent or completely unrelated spaces that deserves your respect.
Part one features one of my favorite Instagram follows, miniature artist Tanaka Tatsuya. He creates these elaborate vignettes using mini figures and objects found in real life.
My favorite is his "Cheese Bunker" piece posted a few weeks back. Well worth a follow!
