R.I.P. Palm Springs Country Club

It's kinda sad when a golf course with some history, like Palm Springs Country Club, in Coachella Valley becomes a vacant piece of desert wasteland. Just look at it now, pathetic:

President Dwight Eisenhower and Rat Pack member Frank Sinatra used to play at Palm Springs Country Club. But the course closed on President's Day in 2007 for good.

A developer planned to build 450 homes on the site, but he died. And now the course is nothing more than dirt with remnants of a playground for the rich and famous. It must suck living in the gated community next door and looking out at what once was a beautiful golf course.

But the people of Palm Springs aren't alone... No Three Putts was once within months of living next to a golf course that went bankrupt (although I didn't know it at the time) too. A bit of background...

In 2001, right before my second son was born, my wife and I put our house on the market so we could move nearer my office. At the time we were living in Wellington, Florida on the 11th hole of Binks Forest Golf Club.

A Carolina style golf course, with almost no palm trees - unusual for Palm Beach County and southern Florida in general.

Well, just 2 months after we moved, Binks Forest Golf Course went bankrupt, closed down and home values plummeted. It looked like a cow pasture for many years.

Luckily, Binks Forest finally reopened a couple of years ago. I haven't made it back out there to play a round yet, but I will.

Michael Jackson the Golf Course?

Gary, Indiana, the hometown of the late and great Michael Jackson plans to honor MJ by building a ginormous theme park. The design of said park will be a mix of Jackson's Neverland Ranch and Chicago's former Riverview amusement park.

There will also be a Jackson family museum, a performing arts center and a 300-room hotel on roughly 100 acres.

That's nice... but here's why I'm writing today: The plans also include a golf course.

WTF? When I think of Michael Jackson I don't think of golf. Do you? I didn't think so. I guess the folks in Gary will do anything to cash-in on the "King of Pops" name.

The cost of this project is expected to hit $1 billion over the 10-year period it takes for construction.

My prediction for this project and the golf course: It will never happen. Why? Because where in the world are folks in Indiana going to come up with a billion dollars to fund it... Good luck.

First African American Golf Course Owner Bill Powell Dies at 93

Bill Powell, was the grandson of Alabama slaves, who went on to do amazing things in golf...

He became the first African American to build, own and operate a golf course. Powell built Clearview Golf Club, in East Canton, Ohio after serving our country in World War II.

Sadly, he died Dec. 31, 2009 at Aultman Hospital in Canton, OH after having a stroke at the age of 93.

Video of Barack Obama at Mid Pacific County Club

Here's a video of President Obama greeting people who live on the Mid Pacific Country Club golf course in Kailua, Hawaii. Unfortunately, we don't get to check out his golf swing. But he does drive his own golf cart.

A Sorta Funny Tiger Woods Thought...

I certainly can't and won't take credit for this, but I thought it was kinda funny. So here it goes:

"A Lion would never cheat on his wife.. but a Tiger wood."

It really should read: "A Lion would never cheat on his wife.. but a Tiger wood, sixteen times."

Phil Mickelson's Man Boobs

Here's a pretty funny story Steve Williams (Tiger's caddy, if you didn't know) told about Phil Mickelson's man boobs before the start of the 2009 season...

Woods and Mickelson were paired together during the US Open. They were fighting for third round lead. On the way up the 17th hole Tiger waved to a full grandstand of about 5000 people. The crowd yelled and cheered.

The crowd quickly became silent and a fan yelled out "Phil." There was no response from Mickelson. He yelled "Phil" again. No response again. The fan tried a different approach yelling, "Hey, Mr Mickelson."

This got Phil's attention and he turned and waved. The fan screamed "Nice tits." The crowd burst out in laughter... Mickelson booked a double bogey, bogey and his chances of winning the tournament were over.

What's funny is that Phil claims he had lost 20 pounds leading up to the Open. I'm sure if he hadn't lost the weight his man boobs would have been bigger and the catcalls more frequent.

By the way, Williams also said: "I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player ... 'cause I hate the prick."

Guess what Steve Williams, I'm sure Mickelson hates you and I absolutely know No Three Putts hates you.

And Phil, how about keeping a strict diet and working out a bit in 2010 so we don't have to see your Man Boobs.

Is 2010 the Year of Phil Mickelson?

With Tiger Woods not playing golf until April (I think he'll be back for the Masters), will 2010 be a breakout year for Phil Mickelson?

I predict will be, here's why... In 2009 Mickelson won 4 tournaments:

• HSBC Championship
• Northern Trust Open
• Tour Championship
• WGC-CA Championship at Doral

That's the most wins he's had since 2005, and the fourth time in his career he's had a four win season. But he did this even with the stress of his wife Amy Mickelson, a former Phoenix Suns cheerleader, having breast cancer. Here's a picture of the Mickelson family:

So, if he can have a great season with his Amy having cancer... just imagine what he will do with her being healthy, and Tiger Woods on the sidelines.

I look forward to watching Phil Mickelson dominate the PGA Tour in 2010.

Go get 'em Lefty!

If want more info on Phil, you can check out Phil's Mickelson's website here.