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Online Edition Archives - DFW Links Just click on any image below to launch the edition of DFW Links Magazine that you would like to read. Please note that these are low-resolution PDF files to keep the file sizes as small as possible, so some images and text may not be as crisp as our print edition. Each edition ranges in size from 12-14 MB. We have included some of the highlights of each edition to help you find the edition you are looking for.
	November 2009 This isn’t your grandmother’s LPGA Tour. Today’s LPGA is younger, sexier, deeper, more athletic and more global than its predecessor, but it still faces an ongoing battle for sports marketing dollars. As the LPGA returned to Texas this month, we take a look at the new-look LPGA…We profile Angela Stanford, who with the help of Shady Oaks pro Mike Wright, has become one of the tour’s biggest stars…LPGA star Paula Creamer captained the United States team at The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship that included Dallas’ Jordan Spieth. We previewed the championship at Whispering Pines…Fort Worth’s Mina Hardin appeared to have a gold medal within reach at the US Women’s Mid-Am until she ran into women’s amateur legend Virginia Derby Grimes…Former state champions Robert McKinney and Chip Stewart teamed up to win the TGA State Senior Four-Ball…Tim Thelen of The Falls Resort won the national assistant pros championship…We reviewed historic Cedar Crest, which was designed by A.W. Tillinghast and hosted the 1927 PGA Championship.
	October 2009 With Tom Watson in Houston, we sat down for a conversation with the living legend. The world watched on the edge of its seat as Watson’s heroic bid to become the oldest major champion, and capture a sixth British Open, came up heartbreakingly short at the 2009 Open at Turnberry. Mark Button talked to Watson about his life, career, and the Open…Fort Worth’s John Grace and Carolyn Creekmore and Charlie Holland of Dallas narrowly missed out on winning three different USGA championships…We visited the Texas Hill Country in a special pull-out section, which has a long tradition as a golf hotbed, a tradition that has only grown deeper with the opening of fantastic new courses…One of the last players to get in the field, Austin’s Cameron Osler rallied in the final round and prevailed in a sudden-death playoff to win the Texas State Mid-Amateur…Dallas’ Anthony Paolucci, one of the top juniors the country, moved to San Diego…We tell the story of the exclusive nine-hole course Starr Hollow, which iconic impresario Marvin Leonard built after Colonial.
	September 2009 Dallas’ Jordan Spieth lived up to his No. 1 national ranking by winning the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur in dominating fashion. His victory gives the state of Texas two national junior titles in the past three years…Texas, and Dallas in particular, lost two legends of golf. Both Toni Wiesner and Dick Rundle passed away. Wiesner played in more than 50 USGA championships, including a runner-up at the 2008 USGA Senior Women’s Am, and won five state titles. Rundle had a far-reaching impact on the Texas amateur golf scene. An influential rules official and USGA volunteer, he changed the way amateur golf tournaments in the state were run…Alex Blair took a trip to the tiny town of Utopia, which served as the inspiration of Dr. David Cook’s popular little book about golf and life, Golf’s Sacred Journey…Huntsville’s Stacy Dennis won her second WTGA State Amateur title by out-dueling Texas Tech’s Rosalyn Kim in the final match at Waco’s Ridgewood Country Club… Dallas’ Steve Galko edged Kyle Flodder for the Texas Mid-Am Match-Play…Katy’s David Pocknall edged Jerry Hudgins in a playoff for the Texas State Senior at Comanche Trace in Kerrville…Dallas’ Rob Couture extended his dominance in TGA play with a five-stroke victory at the North Texas Amateur. It was Couture’s fifth TGA title in two years.
	August 2009 Lubbock’s Mikel Martinson was a late-bloomer who was overlooked by most major colleges, and played at Wayland Baptist. But no one was overlooking him when he prevailed in a three-way battle for the Texas State Open, edging Matthew Rosenfeld by one shot and Randy Lowry by three at The Cascades in Tyler…She is not a household name, but Grand Prairie’s Bettye Danoff is one of the last living founders of the LPGA Tour. She talks about her life as a pioneer of women’s golf, and what it was like to beat Babe Zaharias…We profile The First Tee of Dallas, now under the auspices of the Texas Golf Association, which is teaching underprivileged kids life skills through golf…Recent TCU grad James Sachek swooped in and captured the State Amateur when home-crowd favorite Bronson Burgoon stumbled…With the field bearing down on her, Australia’s Katy Jarochowicz closed with three straight pars to hold on for a one-shot victory at the annual Texas Women’s Open at Eastern Hills…The good times always roll in Louisiana, and it’s also true of its golf courses. Executive Editor Mark Button took us on a tour of on some of the 12 courses on the state’s Audubon Golf Trail.
	July 2009 Five years after he caught lightning in a bottle to win the British Open, Todd Hamilton is still not a household name and must grind it out to keep his Tour card. We ask whatever happened to Todd Hamilton?...Rory Sabbatini of Fort Worth got emotional after winning his fifth PGA Tour title at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, showing there really is more to some people than what you read in the papers…Steve Stricker blitzed Colonial with twin 63s to start, but needed some help from Tim Clark to prevail in a one-hole playoff…The NCAA switched its golf championship format to match play hoping for some excitement. Texas A&M”S Bronson Burgoon made them look like geniuses with a miracle shot on the final hole that gave the underdog Aggies their first national championship in any sport since 1987…No man or woman dominated Texas amateur golf more than Mary Ann Morrison. She won nine Texas State Amateurs. We told the incredible story of one of the greatest women golfers that never turned pro… In a Golf Destination piece, we explore WinStar Golf Course and Casino, a great place for golf and gambling.
	June 2009 Few people knew Ben Hogan’s swing better than Texas Amateur legend Bob Rawlins, known as “Dark Cloud” for his gloomy outlook and dark sense of humor. Rawlins watched Hogan hit hundreds of thousands of shots, and translated what he learned into a stellar amateur career…We mourned the passing of Bud Shrake, Fort Worth native and legendary sportswriter. Although he will always be remembered for helping Harvey Penick with the Little Red Book and its sequels, Shrake was an incredibly versatile writer, and penned 10 novels and three screenplays…We broke the story that the LPGA would be returning to Texas in November, when it would play its season-ending Tour Championship in Houston…The Texas State Amateur celebrated its 100th anniversary this month at Miramont Country Club. We looked back on the history and the past champions of one of the nation’s most prestigious amateur golf events...Complete coverage of the state high school golf championships as Jordan Spieth, Cody Gribble, Chelsea Mocio, the Richardson Pearce boys and the Southlake Carroll girls brought home state titles.
	May 2009 Our 38-page preview section for the Byron Nelson and Colonial contained features on two of the most popular professional golfers in Dallas-Fort Worth, Everybody’s All-American Phil Mickelson and local boy Justin Leonard, who is still trying to capture his hometown event. As well as a complete spectator guide and recent history of the renovation of both tournament venues…A trip to Augusta is like a pilgrimage for most golfers. Managing Editor Alex Blair went to great lengths to get there, even if it meant serving as a parking valet. He shares the sights, sounds, and smells of his first trip to the Masters…Charlie Epps wrote about his round with the late, great Byron Nelson, and the indelible impression he made with his humble, quiet demeanor, and how the world could use more like him…Publisher Kevin Newberry concludes the tale of his guys’ trip to Vegas, featuring blisters from too much golf, the Super Bowl, and being a dice jinx for his friend Dave.
	April 2009 The troubling news coming out of Wall Street and Washington had people concerned about the DFW area’s twin PGA Tour events, the Byron Nelson and the Colonial. But the events’ organizers reported that despite a sagging economy their worst fears were not realized, and that the 2009 events would be a success…The were no signs of a the apocalypse for the golf industry at the North Texas Golf Expo, where people waited 90 minutes to get in. We talked to people from the local golf business about the strength og the industry at show…Our publisher Kevin Newberry headed to Vegas for a golf getaway and penned the first of his two-part recap of his adventures…Four former Aggies, including a Junction Boy, stepped up to save the financially troubled Traditions Club in Bryan…We reviewed Squaw Valley in Glen Rose, which feature two distinct courses after a recent renovation…Texas golf courses reported a 35.4% surge in rounds played…Rick Houston and Bill Steen captured the North Four-Ball while Tim Thompson and James Dalthorp III won the South Four-Ball, marking the beginning of the Texas Golf Association’s season…Annike Sorenstam appeared at SMU’s Athletic Forum and talked about her life after retiring from competitive golf, as well as the state of the LPGA.
	March 2009 We spent a glorious day with 50 members of Arnie’s Army with the man most responsible for golf being the big business it is today. Arnold Palmer was in Port Aransas for the grand opening of Newport Dunes Golf Club, where he created a beautiful yet challenging seaside links course…Golf pros from throughout North Texas gathered in late January at the Four Seasons Resort to share strategies to deal with the economic downturn. The pros are hoping for the best but bracing for the worst…The LPGA was poised to bring its season-ending championship to Houston, but those plans are now up in the air after the SEC charged the events sponsor with a $9.2 billion fraud… Dallas’ Jordan Spieth lost on the second playoff hole at the AJGA’s HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods… In a follow-up to our February cover story, we list the items missing from the Texas Golf Hall of Fame collections in the hopes that someone will locate them…More top junior golfers are turning to fitness as the final piece of the puzzle to reach the highest levels…Saginaw’s Angela Stanford picked up where she left off in 2008 by outdueling Michelle Wie in the LPGA season-opener.
	February 2009 When the Texas Golf Hall of Fame closed its doors in 1997 it possessed a collection of treasured artifacts. But 12 years later, as many as two-thirds of the people who donated items never received them back and no one seems to know why or where the items are. We weren’t able to find an answer but we talked to all key players involved in order to give the clearest picture of what happened… Northern Texas PGA Darrell Crall sat down with executive editor Mark Button for a State of the Game discussion. While expressing concerns on many fronts, he remains optimistic…Dallas’ Dick Rundle won the 2009 Joe Dey Award for meritorious services as a volunteer…We tell the story of the No. 1 golf course in the state, Huntsville’s Whispering Pines, which exists solely to raise money for charity… We showcase the 2009 competitive schedule for men, women, senior and junior golfers.
	January 2009 DFW Links’ first annual Players of the Year issue featured a bumper crop of excellent golfers. Texas Longhorn Charlie Holland advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur and is our Men’s Amateur of the Year. SMU’s Kate Ackerson, our Women’s Amateur of the Year, overcame a debilitating wrist injury to play in two USGA championships. Rob Couture, our Mid-Amateur of the Year, finally won an individual state championship and it happened to be the State Mid-Am at his home course. Mina Hardin was the first Mexican to play on the LPGA Tour, but she has had a successful amateur career since then and was our Women’s Mid-Am of the Year. John Grace has his amateur status back after a stab at the senior tour, and as if he never left he is our Senior of the Year. Carolyn Creekmore is our Women’s Senior of the Year after a resurgent 2008. For the juniors, Jordan Spieth had a breakout season and Indian transplant Tanya Wadha became the youngest winner of Texas Women’s Open…The Texas golf industry measures a $7.8 impact on the state economy… Texans Stacy Lewis, Robert Thompson, and Harrison Frazar swept the Q-Schools for the LPGA, Champions and PGA Tours, and much more.
	September 2008 In our debut issue we preview the major events coming to the DFW area this fall. In November the best golfers in the world not on the PGA Tour play for their tour cards at the Nationwide Tour Championship at Craig Ranch. Two of the headlining golfers are local boys Colt Knost and Matt Weibring. But first up is the USGA, who will host the U.S. Senior Amateur at Shady Oaks in September. We preview the championship and tell the story of Shady Oaks founders Ben Hogan and Marvin Leonard…We catch up with Fort Worth legend John Grace who is now getting back into the amateur game after a brief stint as a senior pro...Speaking of legends, we look back on the four greatest golfers in Texas amateur history: Gus Moreland, Spec Goldman, George Rotan and Ed White…It was a senior to remember for Dallas juniors. Jordan Spieth made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Junior and Anthony Paolucci captured the PGA Junior Championship…We review the Honor’s Club, which has reinvented itself as a serious players’ haven…Tournament coverage including the State Senior Amateur, the State Women’s Amateur and the North Texas Amateur…Other local news and instruction
Online Edition Archives - Houston Links Just click on any image below to launch the edition of Houston Links that you would like to read. Please note that these are low-resolution PDF files to keep the file sizes as small as possible, so some images and text may not be as crisp as our print edition. Each edition ranges in size from 12-14 MB. We have included some of the highlights of each edition to help you find the edition you are looking for.
	November 2009 This isn’t your grandmother’s LPGA Tour. Today’s LPGA is younger, sexier, deeper, more athletic and more global than its predecessor, but it still faces an ongoing battle for sports marketing dollars. As the LPGA returned to Texas this month, we take a look at the new-look LPGA…We profile Angela Stanford, who with the help of Shady Oaks pro Mike Wright, has become one of the tour’s biggest stars…LPGA star Paula Creamer captained the United States team at The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship that included Dallas’ Jordan Spieth. We previewed the championship at Whispering Pines…John Cook may have won the tournament, but golf fans in Houston were the big winner at the 2009 Administaff Small Business Classic. Admission was free, and fans got to see Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson…Hunter Nelson relied on the confidence he gained during summer USGA events to rally to victory at the Greater Houston City Senior…Former state champions Robert McKinney and Chip Stewart teamed up to win the TGA State Senior Four-Ball.
	October 2009 In advance of the Administaff Small Business Classic, we sat down for a conversation with Tom Watson. The world watched on the edge of its seat as Watson’s heroic bid to become the oldest major champion, and capture a sixth British Open, came up heartbreakingly short at the 2009 Open at Turnberry. Mark Button talked to Watson about his life, career, and the Open…We profiled River Oaks pro Bruce Davidson, who has done a good job trying to fill the shoes of the great Dick Harmon, and has gained a reputation as one of the game’s top teachers…Fort Worth’s John Grace and Carolyn Creekmore and Charlie Holland of Dallas narrowly missed out on winning three different USGA championships…We visited the Texas Hill Country in a special pull-out section, which has a long tradition as a golf hotbed, a tradition that has only grown deeper with the opening of fantastic new courses…One of the last players to get in the field, Austin’s Cameron Osler rallied in the final round and prevailed in a sudden-death playoff to win the Texas State Mid-Amateur…Rolex signed on as presenting sponsor as final preparations were underway for the LPGA Tour Championship...We profile Royal Oaks Country Club, one of the Houston area’s first-class private clubs.
	September 2009 Dallas’ Jordan Spieth lived up to his No. 1 national ranking by winning the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur in dominating fashion. His victory gives the state of Texas two national junior titles in the past three years…Texas lost two legends of golf, as both Toni Wiesner and Dick Rundle passed away. Wiesner played in more than 50 USGA championships, including a runner-up at the 2008 USGA Senior Women’s Am, and won five state titles. Rundle had a far-reaching impact on the Texas amateur golf scene. An influential rules official and USGA volunteer, he changed the way amateur golf tournaments in the state were run…Alex Blair took a trip to the tiny town of Utopia, which served as the inspiration of Dr. David Cook’s popular little book about golf and life, Golf’s Sacred Journey…Huntsville’s Stacy Dennis won her second WTGA State Amateur title by out-dueling Texas Tech’s Rosalyn Kim in the final match at Waco’s Ridgewood Country Club…Katy’s David Pocknall edged Jerry Hudgins in a playoff for the Texas State Senior at Comanche Trace in Kerrville…Dallas’ Steve Galko edged Kyle Flodder for the Texas Mid-Am Match-Play…Rice golfer Michael Whitehead overcame lengthy rain delays in a dominating win at the South Texas Amateur.
	August 2009 The good times always roll in Louisiana, and it’s also true of its golf courses. Executive Editor Mark Button took us on a tour of on some of the 12 courses on the state’s Audubon Golf Trail…She is not a household name, but Grand Prairie’s Bettye Danoff is one of the last living founders of the LPGA Tour. She talks about her life as a pioneer of women’s golf, and what it was like to beat Babe Zaharias…Playing in front of a home crowd at Miramont Country Club in Bryan didn’t help Aggie Bronson Burgoon, as he came unraveled on the back nine at the Texas State Am. Recent TCU grad James Sachek swooped in and captured the title…With the field bearing down on her, Australia’s Katy Jarochowicz closed with three straight pars to hold on for a one-shot victory at the annual Texas Women’s Open at Eastern Hills…Lubbock’s Mikel Martinson prevailed in a three-way battle for the Texas State Open, edging Matthew Rosenfeld by one shot and Randy Lowry by three…We profile 76-year-old George Carter, dean of the Champions GC caddies and perhaps Houston’s oldest living looper…We explore the science and methodology of custom putter-fitting with Houston’s Rick Wright.
	July 2009 The NCAA switched its golf championship format to match play hoping for some excitement. Texas A&M”S Bronson Burgoon made them look like geniuses with a miracle shot in the final hole of the final match of his college career. Burgoon hit a wedge to inches for a birdie that gave the underdog Aggies their first national championship in any sport since 1987…No man or woman dominated Texas amateur golf more than Mary Ann Morrison. The longtime Houston resident won nine Texas State Amateurs. We told the incredible story of one of the greatest women golfers that never turned pro…Five years after he caught lightning in a bottle to win the British Open, Todd Hamilton is still not a household name and must grind it out to keep his Tour card. We ask whatever happened to Todd Hamilton?...The LPGA made its return to Texas official, as it announced that the LPGA Tour Championship would be played at The Houstonian Golf and Country Club…While paying his way toward a mechanical engineering degree, Corey Moore has become one of Houston’s top caddies. In our profile, Moore said that Plan B would be caddying on the PGA Tour…In a Golf Destination piece, we explore WinStar Golf Course and Casino, a great place for golf and gambling.
	June 2009 Even though it lost its title sponsor, we broke the story that the LPGA officially is bringing its season-ending Tour Championship to Houston in November. Stanford Financial was set to sponsor the event but those plans were scrapped by scandal. It would be the first time the LPGA played in Houston since 2001…We profile Texas Amateur legend Bob Rawlins, known as “Dark Cloud” for his gloomy outlook and dark sense of humor. Rawlins watched the great Ben Hogan hit hundreds of thousands of shots, and translated what he learned into a stellar amateur career…The Texas State Amateur celebrated its 100th anniversary this month at Miramont Country Club. We looked back on the history and the past champions of one of the nation’s most prestigious amateur golf events...Complete coverage of the state high school golf championships as Clements’ Portland Rosen and Montgomery High girls brought home state titles…Sugar Land’s Joey Rippel didn’t let cancer stop him from his dream of college golf and raising money for a cure. We tell his story as well as profile charity golf events that are succeeding despite the economy…Young pastor Tim Gould has also made a name for himself as a premier caddy at River Oaks CC…Seth Thornton and Nick Kondra won the State Four-Ball at The Woodlands.
	May 2009 Mark O’Meara moved to Houston to be with his new girlfriend and also to work with River Oaks pro Bruce Davidson. The 1998 Masters and British Open champion and 30-time PGA Tour winner was hoping to recapture his form as he began a new chapter of his career on the Champions Tour…A trip to Augusta is like a pilgrimage for most golfers. Managing Editor Alex Blair went to great lengths to get there, even if it meant serving as a parking valet. He shares the sights, sounds, and smells of his first trip to the Masters…Houston’s Cory Whitsett, the 2008 Junior Amateur champion, had his pick of the best college programs of the country and decided on Alabama. The Crimson Tide golf program is on the rise and Whitsett said that Alabama just felt like home...Great Britain’s Paul Casey captured the 2009 Shell Houston Open by edging a hard-charging J.B. Holmes on the first hole of sudden death. The tournament will long be remembered for the windy conditions, which caused a suspension of the first round…Publisher Kevin Newberry concludes the tale of his guys’ trip to Vegas, featuring blisters from too much golf, the Super Bowl, and being a dice jinx for his friend Dave.
	April 2009 Caddies are some of the most interesting characters in golf, but the advent of the golf cart has led many clubs to abandon caddie programs all-together. Yet the caddie lives. We explores the history of caddies and began a new series to introduce you to Houston’s top caddies…Seven months after Hurricane Ike swept much of Galveston away, we checked in on the Moody Gardens Golf Course, which weathered the storm well but is having trouble attracting golfers to the island…Our publisher Kevin Newberry headed to Vegas for a golf getaway and penned the first of his two-part recap of his adventures…Four former Aggies, including a Junction Boy, stepped up to save the financially troubled Traditions Club in Bryan…Texas golf courses reported a 35.4% surge in rounds played, flying in the face of the country’s economic woes…Rick Houston and Bill Steen captured the North Four-Ball while Tim Thompson and James Dalthorp III won the South Four-Ball, marking the beginning of the Texas Golf Association’s season…Annike Sorenstam appeared at SMU’s Athletic Forum and talked about her life after retiring from competitive golf, as well as the state of the LPGA.
	March 2009 For the third consecutive year since moving to its new date the week before the Masters, the Shell Houston Open will provide a final tuneup to some of the game’s top players before the year’s first major. We preview Houston’s PGA Tour stop, which promises to have one of the strongest fields ever…We report that the LPGA was poised to bring its tour championship to Houston, but that was before sponsor Stanford Financial was charged with fraud and has its assets seized…Executive Editor Mark Button gets up close and personal with Arnold Palmer during the opening of his new course Newport Dunes in Port Aransas…Dallas’ Jordan Spieth lost on the second playoff hole at the AJGA’s HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods…In a follow-up to our February cover story, we list the items missing from the Texas Golf Hall of Fame collections in the hopes that someone will locate them…Missouri City begins a $5.5 million renovation on Quail Valley CC…We review High Meadow Ranch Golf Club in Magnolia.
	February 2009 When the Texas Golf Hall of Fame closed its doors in 1997 it possessed a collection of treasured artifacts. But 12 years later, as many as two-thirds of the people who donated items never received them back and no one seems to know why or where the items are. We weren’t able to find an answer but we talked to all key players involved in order to give the clearest picture of what happened…Southern Texas PGA Mike Ray sat down with executive editor Mark Button for a State of the Game discussion. While expressing concerns on many fronts, he remains optimistic…Claude Harmon III, son of Butch Harmon, and the latest in a long line of instructors with deep connections to Houston, opens a golf school in Dubai…We showcase the 2009 competitive schedule for men, women, senior and junior golfers…We preview the AJGA HP Boys Invitational at the Traditions Club.
	January 2009 It was quite a season for the eight golfers that were named Players of the Year. James Dalthorp III was born in Texas but grew up in California, where he was ranked among the Top 20 junior golfers in the country. He recovered from a disastrous stint in college to become Men’s Amateur of the Year. Shannon Fish was indoctrinated in serious golf during a childhood spent at Champions Golf Club and was named Women’s Amateur of the Year owing to her successful campaign with the Texas Longhorns. Owen Joyner enjoyed more time for golf after selling his business and had a breakthrough season, winning the City Amateur and being named Men’s Mid-Amateur of the Year. Karen Murphy is full-time mom and businesswoman but was named Women’s Mid-Amateur of the Year. David Pocknall and Lecia Alexander were our Seniors of the Year while Cory Whitsett and Portland Rosen were the Juniors…Texans Stacy Lewis, Robert Thompson, and Harrison Frazar swept the Q-Schools for the LPGA, Champions and PGA Tours…The HGA launched a club donation drive for the Galveston Ball HS golf team in the aftermath of Hurricame Ike.
	December 2008 We wrap up an eventful 2008 with our annual Year in Review issue. We marked the 100th Anniversary of Houston Country Club with a look back to the history of golf in our city. The USGA held its annual meeting in Houston in February and announced forthcoming equipment rollbacks. Johnson Wagner was the surprise winner of the Shell Houston Open. The Texas golf industry registered a $7.4 billion impact. Stacy Lewis almost won the U.S. Women’s Open. SMU’s Kelly Kraft won the 99th Texas Amateur. Bernhard Langer repeated as Administaff Small Business Classic champion. And who could forget, who could forget Hurricane Ike’s effect on not just golf, but our city in general?...North Texas defeated the South in the Texas Shootout…Lisa McCloskey set a NCAA scoring record in winning one of her first collegiate events…Redstone CEO David Shindeldecker passed away…James Dalthorp III won his first amateur event at the Medalist Championship.
	November 2008 The annual men’s, women’s, and senior city amateurs at Memorial Park make for compelling tournament golf every year and 2008 was no exception. Karen Murphy was our cover story for her thrilling victory over two-time defending champions Robin Burke in the Women’s City Am… The Men’s Senior City Am was highlighted by nothing less than one of the greatest shots in the history of city competition. Robert McKinney holed a 9-iron for a walkoff eagle and a two-shot win…Owen Joyner chipped in for birdie on 18 to win the Men’s City Amateur… It was a new beginning for the Administaff Small Business Classic but a familiar champion. Bernhard Langer repeated as champion at Houston’s Champions Tour stop, which made its debut at a new venue, The Woodlands Tournament Course…North Texas’ Jeannie Goade birdied the final hole at Whispering Pines to halve the Texas Cup and retain the trophy for the North…The North Texas PGA dominated the South at the Joe Black Texas Cup…We interview country music star Clay Walker about his love of golf and his battle with multiple sclerosis.
	October 2008 Hurricane Ike was one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit the Houston area. At a time like this golf was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. But the game is an important part of the Houston economy, and Houston Links checked in with area courses to see how they weathered the storm…The Administaff Small Business Classic changed venues and moved to the Woodlands Tournament Course, former site of the Houston Open. As 29 of the Top 30 money winners on tour prepared to return to old stomping grounds, we preview Houston’s Champions Tour stop…We review Walden on Lake Conroe. 30 years after bursting onto the Texas golf scene, the layout has remained one of the state’s top private clubs and one the toughest…At the City Junior Championships held at Redstone, two Sugar Land teen’s had dominating turns. Jonathan Chen won the Boy’s Championship by six and Portland Rosen rolled to an 12-shot win. In other junior news Houston’s Cory Whitsett helped the U.S. to a 22-2 victory over Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup…Houston golf said goodbye to an old friend with the passing of Tommy “Thunder” Bolt, who passed away at 92…Rib Couture wins the State Mid-Am while San Antonio’s John Pierce wins the South Texas Amateur…Tim Thelen beat David von Hoffman in a one-hole playoff at the STPGA Championship at Miramont CC in Bryan.
	September 2008 We review Blaketree National Golf Club in Montgomery. Blaketree was founded as an exclusive private club but has made the transition to a venue open to all golfers...Houston Links traveled to Arkansas to watch Stacy Lewis play in her first regular LPGA Tour event as a professional and to find out about the emerging responsibilities of an emerging pro golf celebrity…Mark Vandermeer and Andre Ware are one of the best sports talk tandems in town. The duo sat down to talk Houston-area sports and their love of golf…Amarillo’s Tom Doughtie won his eighth Texas Golf Associaiton championship when he captured the State Senior Amateur at Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston…New Braunfels’ Terrence Miskell showed why he is considered the best mid-am in Texas by winning the State Mid-Am Match Play at UT Golf Club in Austin…Ohio State golfer Haley Brown won the Women’s State Amateur championship by beating The Woodlands’ Stefanie Page at Dallas Athletic Club…We recap the national Junior Amateur championships, which saw Montgomery’s Lisa McCloksey make a run to the quarterfinals…A round-up a busy month of USGA qualifiers plus other local news and instruction.
	August 2008 Rising gas prices have been one of the stories of 2008. Houston Links makes public a reader survey and talks to local course operators to discover how big of an impact the cost of gas has on the local golf economy, and where the trend is heading…Stacy Lewis surpassed all expectations and almost won the U.S. Women’s Open in her first pro event. She held the 54-hole lead and ended up finishing third behind Korea’s Inbee Park…Managing Editor Alex Blair received some vacation time to attend the U.S. Open with his dad. Little did he know it would be one of the greatest major championships ever. We asked him to write what it was like to be there with his dad. Speaking of the U.S. Open, we profile Sugar Land’s Liem Hutt, who was rescued from war-torn Vietnam by his adoptive parents. Liem won a Golf Channel contest and received an all-expenses paid trip to Torrey Pines with his dad for the Open…Del Rio’s Guy Goodspeed edged Houston’s James Dalthorp in a thrilling 23-hole finale at Memorial Park for the State Publinks title…We review BraeBurn Country Club, which is making a comeback to the days when it was a hotspot for visiting celebs...Other local news and instruction.
	July 2008 Texas’ greatest amateur tournament returned to Houston with the 99th State Amateur at Houston Country Club. SMU golfer Kelly Kraft made an incredible par save on the penultimate hole and shot a final-round 68 to win by two shots over good friend and rival John Peterson of Fort Worth…The LPGA was once based in Houston and Texas has produced many of the greatest players of all time. And yet there is currently no LPGA tournament in Texas. Several Hall of Famers, current pros, and an LPGA executive weigh in on the subject…Stacy Lewis goes undefeated at the Curtis Cup and leads the United States to a resounding victory at the Old Course at St. Andrews…We break the news that ShadowHawk Golf Club in Richmond is in final negotiations to land it’s second USGA championship: the 2011 Men’s Mid-Amateur…In our ongoing Houston golf history we look at the multitude of other clubs that popped up in the wake of Houston Country Club’s founding in 1908…Arkansas’ Lucy Nunn won the 93rd Women’s Southern Amateur at the Clubs of Kingwood… Other local news and instruction plus a review of Jersey Meadow.
	June 2008 Almost two years ago Houston Links told the incredible story of Woodlands resident Stacy Lewis, who overcame severe case of scoliosis and life-altering surgery become the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur. We check in with her as she prepares to end her amateur career after the Curtis Cup and turn pro for the U.S. Open…A new report from the Texas Golf Alliance details just how big of an impact the game has on the state economy. Nearly 100,000 jobs and $2.3 billion in wages are thanks to golf…Both Cory Whitsett and Lisa McCloskey earned individual titles at UIL State High School Golf Championships, but Montgomery High School failed to win a record-tying eighth consecutive title…The Administaff Small Business Classic announced that it would change venues from Augusta Pines to The Woodlands Tournament Course…In our ongoing Houston golf history series we look at the move of Houston Country Club from the original course off Wayside to its current location. We also profile HCC’s head pro Gordon Johnson…In a follow-up from last month we confirm that Canongate has purchased Lake Windcrest…Andy Cooper and John Grace win Carlton Woods Invitational titles… Other local news and instruction plus previews of the State Amateur and the Women’s Southern Amateur.
	May 2008 Galveston Island isn’t known around Texas as a golf hub but that could change with the renovation of two courses that the city hopes will attract tourists and home buyers. We have the story of Moody Gardens’ $16.5 million renovation of the former Galveston Municipal Golf Course and the upgrading of Galveston Country Club…Champions GC looks to bring this country’s national championship back to Houston. The club has inquired with the USGA about hosting it’s second U.S. Open. In other Champions news, members Judd McGlohn and Jeff Ingram out-dueled some of the best mid-ams in the nation to win the 41st Champions Cup … Texan Johnson Wagner upset a star-studded field that included Phil Mickelson to win his first PGA Tour title at the 2008 Shell Houston Open. We have complete wrap-up…We look back to the early 1920s when Houston finally caught up with the rest of Texas and opened its first public course, Hermann Park. We also tell the story of two Houston golf inventions: the golf cart and the sand wedge…Canongate Golf expands with the purchase of Magnolia Creek and another course…Diane Henry wins the Senior Women’s City Amateur…David Pocknall wins the South Texas Mid-am… Other local news and instruction.
	April 2008 There is no better time to be a competitive amateur golfer in Houston than right now. Six area tours allow regular golfers to experience the thrill of head-to-head competition. It’s easy for golfers of all skill levels to find their niche. We profile each tour…Women’s golf in Texas has embarked on a new, exciting frontier the hiring of the Women’s Texas Golf Association’s first full-time executive director, Kelly Kilgo, who sits down for a Q&A…We tell the story of Memorial Park head pro Glenn Childers, who is in charge of one of the municipal layouts in the nation. Speaking of Memorial Park, the course was buzzing in January when 76-year-old Carl Ahrens shot 66. We shine a light on the legendary round…Houston Links remembers the biggest amateur golf tournament west of the Mississippi, the Houston Country Club Invitational, which was played from 1914 to 1953…John Dowdall and Jonathan Shipley win the TGA South Four-Ball…Two course reviews: Gleannloch Pines and South Padre Island Golf Club…Other local golf news, coverage, and instruction.
	March 2008 The Houston golf season truly gets started when the Shell Houston Open is played at Redstone’s immaculate Tournament Course March 31-April 6. Houston Links has everything you need to know about the SHO, including a profile of one of the best fields in recent memory with Phil Mickelson slated to play…Our second installment of our Centennial of Houston Golf series examines the creation of the original Houston Country Club and how it helped raise the popularity of the game in this state…Former president George H.W. Bush received the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, on Feb. 9…Whispering Pines in Trinity was named No. 1 by the Dallas Morning News poll for the third straight year…The nation’s best junior golfers teed it up at Redstone in the AJGA’s Houston Boys Invitational…We profile Westwood Country Club, a once-renowned private club currently in the middle of a renaissance...More unparalleled local golf news, coverage, and instruction.
	February 2008 Bryan-College Station is not a region you typically think of for golf. But in our cover story we profile Miramont Country Club, whose founder set out not to just build a good club for Texas but one of the best, most luxurious clubs in the nation…Houston Country Club celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year. In honor of the oldest club in Houston, we begin a year-long series of articles on the history of Houston golf by taking you back to the game’s origins in our city…We tell the story of Houston Cougar legend Bruce Leitzke, who never let pro golf get in the way of spending time with his family…Outgoing USGA executive committee member Loren Singletary sits down for a Q&A to coincide the USGA Annual Meeting being held in Houston…We review BlackHorse Golf Club’s two outstanding courses…More local golf coverage.
	January 2008 Though he wasn’t born in Houston, Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas showed values we admire in finishing his college education while competing nationally in amateur golf. Vegas was our Amateur of the Year. Stacy Lewis, John Dowdall, Lecia Alexander, Tom McGraw, Cindy Kuykendall, Cory Whitsett, and Lisa McCloskey were also recognized…Houston will have two new members of the PGA Tour, and we talk to Roland Thatcher and Chris Stroud as they prepare to chase their dream…Five-time city champion Ron Schroeder qualifies for the Champions Tour…Houston will host several major tournaments in 2008, including the 99th State Amateur, the State PubLinks, and the 93rd Southern Women’s Amateur...Other local news and instruction.
	December 2007 We look back on another great year in Houston golf with our second annual year-in-review issue. Some of the highlights of 2007 include Cory Whitsett winning the U.S. Junior, Adam Scott winning a thrilling Shell Houston Open, the incredible cancer survival story of Sandy Pierce, and much more…Whitsett, fellow AJGA All-American Peter Uihlein and NCAA All-Americans Tiffany Joh and Amanda Blumenherst almost lead the United States to victory at The Spirit, losing to England by two shots. We recap an exciting week at Whispering Pines…Sharpstown pro Doug Randall saves the life of golfer Robert Carrow with an automatic defibrillator…Houston golf pros play a pivotal role in leading the Southern Texas PGA to victory in the Joe Black Texas Cup, a Ryder-Cup style contest with the North Texas PGA…We also recap the Women’s Texas Cup, the Texas Shootout, and other local golf news.
	November 2007 It’s city championship time. Kip Guidry wins the City Am, Robin Burke the Women’s City Am, and Fred Clark wins the Senior City Am. We provide in-depth coverage of each title…The USGA held both its Men’s State Team, and Women’s State Team Championships at Carlton Woods. The Texas men’s team win their third title in thrilling fashion, with Trip Kuehne birdying the 53rd hole and Terrence Miskell getting up-and-down on the 54th to win by one shot. Two weeks later, Kuehne won the U.S. Mid-Amateur, the sixth USGA title of the year by a Texan…Former PGA Tour great retired to build his dream course in Fredericksburg, Boot Ranch. Sutton has some unvarnished comments about the state of the game…We recap the Administaff Small Business Classic, which Bernhard Langer won in record fashion…Terrence Miskell won the State Mid-Amateur at Miramont…We review Timber Creek Golf Club…Other local golf news and coverage.
	October 2007 The Champions Tour comes to Houston when the Administaff Small Business Classic is held at Augusta Pines Golf Club Oct. 8-15. While the Champions Tour is traditionally viewed as a path to professional golf for talented but graying amateurs or club pros, it is becoming harder and harder to earn playing privileges for golfers who didn’t play on the PGA Tour. Local pro Rodney Thompson finished fourth at Q-School and hasn’t played in a single event…We profile local golf course builder Heritage Links, and get a behind-the-scenes look at golf course construction…We get ready for The Spirit, the Olympics of golf, to be held at Whispering Pines…Lisa McCloskey and Benjamin Thorseth romp to victory at the Girls and Boys City Amateurs…Mike Arnold wins the State Senior Amateur at Dallas Athletic Club…Rockwall’s Anna Schultz wins the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur…Other local tournaments and news.
	September 2007 Cory Whitsett has been a childhood phenom since he was 10. He recently won the U.S. Junior Amateur and put his name on the trophy next to Tiger Woods. Golfers can’t help but wonder if he could be the next Tiger. In our September issue, we cover his Junior Amateur victory with 16 pages of stories and photography. We also preview the USGA State Team Championships, which will be played in Houston in September. We have a Q&A with USGA executive director David Fay. We take you to Lufkin, where Houston’s Kristen Hendrix won the WTGA State Amateur. We take you to Redstone, where Jonathan Mathias won the TGA State Mid-Am Match Play. And we take you on a golf trip to Horseshoe Bay Resort. Plus much more news, features and local event coverage.
	August 2007 In August, we tell the heartwarming story of Sandy Pierce, one of Houston’s top amateurs who also survived one of the most deadly types of melanomas. His doctor told him “I’m going to have to kill you and then bring you back to life” before Pierce underwent 12 grueling months of interferon treatments. Ten years later, he’s still cancer-free and has a new outlook on life. We also tell the story of Charlie Epps’ relationship with U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina and how a putting lesson from Houston’s ‘Golf Doctor) a few months earlier might have been his key to victory. Bill Rogers was the focus of our Texas Legends feature. We talked to Ashley Knoll as she turned pro. Cory Whitsett started his journey to the U.S. Junior Amateur title. Texas and Texas A&M both named new women’s golf coaches. Shelley McGraw and Stacy Brown won the inaugural WTGA State Four-Ball. Terrence Miskell won the State Public Links title….and much more.
	July 2007 Jack Nicklaus was a childhood idol to several generations of golfers. Now retired from competitive golf, we spent an entire day with the Golden Bear at his newest course, Cordillera Ranch, and talked about his legacy in the game. Read about Stacy Lewis' NCAA Championship--the Woodlands resident is the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world and her trophies are piling up. Check out our extensive coverage of the 98th Texas State Amateur Championship won by University of Texas golfer Charlie Holland. We sit down for a Q&A with the founder of Atlanta-based Canongate Golf, which is bringing its one-club/multiple-course business model to Houston. And in a big win for homeowners in golf course communities, House Bill 3232 passed unanimously. Find out what it means for you and your property. All this and the local golf news and event coverage that you’ve come to expect from Houston Links.
	June 2007 After All-America football careers at Texas, Corby Robertson and Chris Gilbert teamed up to start a youth camp. Four decades later, they also wound up with the state’s No. 1 golf course. Read how and why The Woodlands, which was built on golf since George Mitchell created it in the 1970s, decided to sell its original five courses. Matt Boyd, a former Houston junior star who now plays at Virginia Tech, was only 50 yards away from the worst shooting massacre in the nation’s history but a few days later helped the Hokies win the ACC title. Read about how TSU won its first conference title in 21 years. The Professional Golf Management program at Sam Houston State is cranking out pros who know the game of golf, but also the golf business. And the city of Houston takes the first steps toward a renovation of Gus Wortham.
	May 2007 We focus on the unsung heroes of Texas golf history—the state’s greatest career amateurs. George Rotan, Ed White, Gus Moreland and Ed White played for the love of the game but made it into the fall of fame. We introduce HB 3232, a new law that, if passed, would offer protection to consumers who buy homes on golf courses. We recap Adam Scott’s exciting victory in the Shell Houston Open and give player reactions to the Tournament Course at Redstone. Stacy Lewis played on a sponsor’s exemption and finished fifth in the LPGA’s first major of the year. And we take you on a guided tour of Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club, Texas’ only Greg Norman design.
	April 2007 You might recognize Jim Hardy from his best-selling book and DVD, but how much do you really know about the Houston-based golf pro whose theories are revolutionizing the way the game is taught? We talked to Jim on the eve of the release of his follow-up book: “Plane Truth for Golfers: Master Class.” After reading our in-depth profile you’ll never think about your swing the same way again. We also catch up with Houston golf entrepreneur Dennis Wilkerson, and find out how he plans to top his last venture…Tour 18. And Houston Links celebrates the 50th birthday of the HGA Junior Golf program. We talk to former participants and track the program’s growth from a loose collection of raggedy caddies to an example that the rest of the country wants to follow.
	March 2007 Houston’s biggest golf event of the year—the Shell Houston Open—comes a month early this year and will immediately precede the Masters. Don’t miss our 25-page preview, which has all the information you need whether you plan to attend the event or watch the action on TV. We detail how a group of Ohio-based investors are threatening two of Houston’s most historic country clubs and how city of Houston officials are considering a proposal to bulldoze the city’s oldest course to create a soccer complex. We explore the facelift taking place with the Women’s Texas Golf Association, and examine the difficulty of getting a college scholarship. STPGA President David Pilsner gives his “State of the Game” report. And we follow up on Craig Kanada to let you know how he is capitalizing on his big break on the PGA Tour.
	February 2007 Houston Links announces our eight Players of the Year for men and women in four competitive categories—amateur, mid-amateur, senior amateur and juniors—and gives them a chance to explain how they manage to be successful at work and golf. We mourn the passing of former PGA Tour pro Don Massengale, who was a great role model on and off the golf course. We sit down with Tommy Bolt, who grew up in Houston and became one of the most colorful characters of the early pro tour. We take you on a trip to Mont Belvieu, where this tiny town took a giant leap by building an upscale daily-fee course called Eagle Pointe. The late Claude Harmon and his four sons, who became known around the world as the first family of golf instruction, are honored by the Golf Writers Association of America.
	January 2007 As we begin our third year of serious golf coverage, we take you on a final look back at the highlights and lowlights of 2006. The year ended with an incredible success story when Craig Kanada, a 38-year-old journeyman pro from The Woodlands, earned his third trip to the PGA Tour with a victory in front of a hometown crowd at the Nationwide Tour Championship. Don’t miss his compelling story…it is an inspiration to anyone who has ever pursued a dream. Sadly, the year began with the untimely death of Houston golf legend Dick Harmon, who was mourned all over the world. Houston Links devoted our March sharing Dick’s story through the eyes of those who knew him best. In between, there was lots of serious golf action, including Stacy Lewis’ rise to the No. 1 spot in the national amateur rankings.
	November 2006 We celebrate our first anniversary this month with our biggest, best issue yet. Our November edition is 92-pages of wall-to-wall local golf coverage. It includes special farewell to Arnold Palmer, who called it a career at the Administaff Small Business Classic, and the late Byron Nelson. We relive Tom McGraw’s trip to the final of the U.S. Senior Amateur and describe how close he came to bringing home a national championship. And we have a 23-page preview of the upcoming Nationwide Tour Championship, which will feature the game’s rising young stars Nov. 6-12 at The Houstonian Golf & Country Club. And, of course, we have complete coverage of the Houston men’s, women’s and senior city amateur championships. Youth minister Seth Thornton ran off with the men’s title; Robin Burke defended her women’s title; and Jerry Hudgins defended his senior title with a final round of 18 consecutive pars.
	October 2006 Former University of Houston stars Keith Fergus and Tom Jenkins are among the many golfers over 50 who are enjoying the good life on the Champions Tour. They will be joined in Houston this month by Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, Lanny Wadkins and many others at the Administaff Small Business Classic. Our October edition includes a 16-page preview of the event, which will also include a celebrity pro-am hosted by Roger Clemens and Johnny Bench. Redstone CEO David Shindeldecker tells how Redstone got into the golf business. Shelley Richey, our Golf Makeover winner, has her coming out party. Jesper Parnevik, Jeff Maggert, Rich Beem and Tim Thelen share a roundtable discussion on the important role technology plays in golf. Our Men’s, Women’s and Junior sections take provide complete local event coverage. Golf Doctor Charlie Epps and former PGA Tour pro Brad Lardon lead our instructional team’s thought-provoking insights on the swing and the game.
	September 2006 Thanks to spine surgery just three years ago, Stacy Lewis of The Woodlands has overcome a severe case of scoliosis to become the first Houston-area woman to reach the No. 1 spot in the national amateur golf rankings. This month, 66-year-old Mike Rice will defend his title at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. We look back with Rice on his past year and what it meant to become the first Houstonian to win a national amateur title. We look back on the career of developer Bruce Belin, who pioneered the golf course community concept. But he takes us on a tour of his last and best course—Grand Pines at Bentwater. Our Men’s, Women’s and Junior sections take provide complete event coverage. In the first installment of our ongoing series in which readers share their stories on “What Golf Means to Me”, Marlene Summers writes about the role golf has played in three generations of her family. Golf Doctor Charlie Epps and former PGA Tour pro Brad Lardon lead our instructional team’s thought-provoking insights on the swing and the game.
	August 2006 Most people know golf is the game of a lifetime, but it is also a game that teaches youngsters about life. Our cover story explores how exposing children to golf’s core values at a time when their personalities, character and morals are being formed can be more important to your child’s success than a college degree. We also take you to the last day at Treeline Golf Club, which closed its doors and sold its land to residential developers; we interview Lester Hess, an 89-year-old veteran who quit counting how many times he shot his age once he reached 150; we interview executives with Arnold Palmer Golf Management, and how they are attempting to live up to the biggest name in golf; our golf course review team takes you on a trip to The Wilderness; our new Houston Jr. Links section contains 12 pages of junior golf coverage; Steve Gill and son Brett defend their title in the state father-son championship.
	July 2006 The Houston Golf Association has been promoting golf in Houston for the past 60 years, but in an increasingly competitive environment, has enlisted the help of the Houston Texans’ sports marketing arm to raise more money for local charities. Also: local clubs owned by Club Corporation of America and their 20,000 members wait to see how they will be impacted by a possible sale of the company; The Clubs of Kingwood introduce the nation’s first “family-friendly” golf course, equipped with “kid friendly” golf cars; our Men’s Golf section includes 18 pages of tournament coverage, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open qualifiers, the Texas State Amateur, the U.S. Public Links qualifier and the inaugural Carlton Woods Invitational.
	June 2006 As the Texas Golf Association celebrates its centennial anniversary, we honor the founding fathers of Houston golf. Jackie Burke, Jr., shares some of his favorite lessons in excerpts from It’s Only A Game. We go behind the scenes at the Shell Houston Open to honor the more than 1,000 volunteers who make it all happen. We look at the challenges Houston and other cities face operating courses in an increasingly competitive environment. And we provide complete coverage of every major men’s, women’s, senior and junior golf event, as well as a look at what’s coming up. Last but not least, Golf Doctor Charlie Epps joins our instructional team.
	May 2006 Jackie Burke, Jr., is often referred to as the godfather of Houston golf. From his days growing up in the caddie yard at River Oaks Country Club to working as an assistant at Winged Foot to playing the pro tour to founding Champions Golf Club, Burke shares bits of wisdom from his 84 years in golf through excerpts of his hot-selling new book, It's Only A Game. His hard-hitting, straight-talk wisdom is something that every golfer needs to read. We also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Burke’s 1956 Masters victory. He defied the odds by posting the biggest final-round comeback in Masters history in the worst playing conditions on record. More than 60 members of the University of Houston golf team from the past six decades reunited to celebrate their unique place in golf history. The Cougars won 16 national titles between 1957 and 1985 and produced eight individual national titles. Also: HPD Officer Ron Schroeder wins the TGA South Amateur, Cindy Kuykendahl wins the Senior City Amateur and Ashley Knoll of The Woodlands leads Texas A&M to the NCAA Championships.
	April 2006 Jim Nantz parlayed his golf skill and his heavenly voice into the dream job for every golfer and sports enthusiast. He is the voice of CBS Golf, the NFL Today, March Madness and The Masters. Nantz recalls how his career began while playing golf for the University of Houston. Our preview of the Shell Houston Open at the Tournament Course at Redstone is a must read. Two-time defending champion Vijay Singh will try to make it three in a row. Architect Rees Jones takes you on a hole-by-hole tour and we provide the best places to watch, ticket/parking information, event schedule and more. Shelley Richey becomes the first winner of our Golf Makeover contest. Read her winning essay as well as those of other finalists. Our review team learns that “Happy Days Are Here Again” at Cypresswood Golf Club under the new ownership of Foresight .
	March 2006 Dick Harmon devoted his life to promoting golf in Houston and around the world. Dick died suddenly on Feb. 10 at the age of 58, so we have devoted our 68-page March edition to celebrating the life of one of golf's greatest teachers. Through the eyes of more than 30 fellow golf professionals, family members, pupils and employees, we tell the story of Dick's life, his contributions to the game and the lasting legacy that he left behind. Among the many people included in this heartwarming tribute are Charlie Epps, Billy Harmon, Chris Harmon, Ben Crenshaw, Jim Nantz, Lanny Wadkins, Billy Ray Brown, Blaine McCallister, River Oaks' Bruce Davidson, BraeBurn's Ken McDonald, Houston CC's Gordon Johnson and Lakeside's Gary Ray. Also, we review Jackie Burke, Jr.’s new book, It’s Only A Game.
	February 2006 While Tom Penders makes his living as the men’s basketball coach at the University of Houston, he tells Houston Links why he thinks golf is the greatest game. We talk to Penders about his love of golf and his desire to return the Cougar basketball program to its glory days of old. Administaff chairman and CEO Paul Sarvadi talks about the dream golf course he is building in Scotland. In the first of our Texas Legends’ series, Sam Blair sits down with Lee Trevino and tells how he transformed from an urban legend into an international superstar. Our review team crosses the border to Louisiana for the grand opening of Tom Fazio’s new course at L’Auberge du Lac Casino.
	January 2006 At the age of 76, 32 years after he won his last PGA Tour event, Arnold Palmer is still pulling down $22 million a year from endorsements and other business ventures. He tells Houston Links his business success has been as gratifying as his success in golf. The PGA Tour Qualifying School is one of the most difficult tests in all of sport. It is a player's one chance each year to earn privileges on the PGA Tour. We follow the quest of 10 area players and tell you who passed the test. The Houston Golf Association is bringing the top rising young stars on the Nationwide Tour to Houston for the Nationwide Tour Championship. Our review team takes a trip north to Panorama Village, which has been transformed from a private club to a daily-fee facility. Jerry Hudgins won the Senior City Amateur championship. The South team recaptures the coveted Joe Black Cup in the annual Ryder-Cup style competition between the Southern Texas PGA and the North Texas PGA.
	November 2005 Houston’s favorite restaurant owner, Johnny Carrabba, talks about skipping school to play golf and how he learned everything he needed to know on the golf course. At 65, Mike Rice became Houston's first national amateur golf champion with a victory in the U.S. Senior Amateur. Victory tastes sweeter with age, as HPD officer Ron Schroeder claimed his fifth Greater Houston Men's City Amateur title in 13 years. With one of golf's best teachers as her husband and No. 1 fan, Robin Burke wins the Greater Houston women's city amateur title. Benjamin Thorseth and Lisa McCloskey claimed the city junior championships.