Mountain Creek & Crystal Springs – New Jersey’s Burgeoning Vacation and Real Estate Destination

Recreational activities

Tucked away in the Northwest corner of New Jersey lie two little known gems – Mountain Creek Resort & Crystal Springs Golf Resort (affiliated with the Minerals Resort). far and away the top ski and snowboard destination in New Jersey, Mountain Creek offers not only fabulous skiing and snowboarding, but a top notch water park for those hot summer months. Being at elevation in quaint Vernon, NJ not only serves the skiers well but helps to keep the temperature an average of ten degrees warmer in summer.

The snow resort is home to classic beginner-through-expert terrain on Vernon and Granite Peaks. First-timers, families and all leisure skiers and snowboarders spend their time playing then choose where to relax for a break. Discount lift tickets are available for much less than the retail price. there are myriad places in nearby Vernon, Warwick NY, and other small towns which offer a tremendous selection of activities for both singles and families. more about this below.

Mountain Creek – formerly known as Vernon Valley or Great Gorge – has long been a fixture in the NJ Skylands region. In the 70′s Action Park was the summer attraction. It has long since been revamped and modernized and is now called the Mountain Creek Water Park, a truly unique park carved into the natural mountainside, and featuring over 26 rides and attractions.

When mountain biking became popular in the 80′s the designers sculpted out an internationally renowned mountain bike course. Diablo Freeride Park has risen to the top of every thrill-seeking mountain biker’s must ride list. Playing host to the U.S. Open of Mountain Biking, Diablo features challenging terrain serviced by the open air gondola used by skiers and snowboarders in winter.

If golf is your game, you can experience world class golfing just minutes from Mountain Creek. Choose from six award-winning golf courses, each with its own set of characteristics and challenges. From beginners to experts, the courses offer something for everyone. there are 6 distinct and challenging courses to choose from:
- Crystal Spring Golf Club in Hardyston, NJ
- Wild Turkey Golf Club – Hardyston, NJ
- Great Gorge Country Club – McAfee, NJ
- Minerals Golf Club – Vernon, NJ
- Ballyowen Golf Club – Hamburg, NJ (rated #1 public golf course in NJ)
- Black Bear Golf Club – Franklin, NJ

Real Estate
As urban and suburban areas get more and more congested, people are increasingly moving further and further from NYC and the more congested areas of NJ.

The Village at Crystal Springs is an exclusive, northern New Jersey real estate community in a comfortable resort setting. Nestled in the scenic Kittatinny Mountains, the collection of luxurious New Jersey homes are situated in the Northeast’s premier four-season residential resort.

This choice selection of prime real estate in New Jersey is complemented by Crystal Springs Resort’s 7 award-winning golf courses, 2 luxury spas, world-class dining and wine-cellar – and is just 47 miles from Manhattan.

Whether you’re looking to buy a primary residence, vacation getaway spot or investment property, you’ll find a variety of home styles and floor plans to meet every taste.

The Elements Spa is located at Crystal Springs Resort (often called Minerals Resort) is ranked in the top 20 spas in America and #1 in NJ. This Northern New Jersey luxury spa was designed in such a way that the healing powers of the earth have been incorporated into breathtaking design and rejuvenating services.

Reflections Spa
The brand-new Reflections Spa is certain to challenge Elements for the honor of being the # 1 ranked spa in NJ Reflections’ Service Menu includes many themes and elements of the resort and local environment, such as The Wine Cellar featuring treatments using wine and grape seed extracts.

Other local attractions and activities in the NJ Skylands region:

There are a plethora of things to do year round in this area. Pumpkin and apple picking, hayrides, wineries, vineyards, and distillers. Experience how wine is made and life on the orchard.

Explore the Appalachian trail through the Kitatinny range in Northern, NJ. You’ll find amazing scenery and you only need a day to hike a portion of beautiful New Jersey. Hot air balloon rides are offered by abovethecloudsinc.com

They are located just over the border in Harriman, NY.

Located fifty-five miles from New York City, The Town of Warwick has a distinctly rural character with rolling hills and farmland dotted with red barns and gracious old farmhouses. The Town of Warwick spans 104 square miles and includes three villages (Florida, Greenwood Lake, and Warwick) and five hamlets (Amity, Bellvale, Edenville, New Milford and Pine Island). Warwick’s natural beauty extends beyond its farmland to mountains, streams and lakes. Greenwood Lake, the closest lake to New York City large enough to accommodate water sports, has long been a popular summer resort of such famous entertainment and sports figures as Babe Ruth. The ten-mile-long lake straddles the New York / New Jersey border.

Mountain Creek & Crystal Springs – New Jersey’s Burgeoning Vacation and Real Estate Destination

Golf – Dream starts and grand rewards

THE National Final of this year’s MercedesTrophy, held on June 20, was the stuff dreams are made of. eight finalists found a fairytale ending to their dream start in the amateur golf competition for Mercedes-Benz owners and earned grand rewards.seven of the finalists booked their berths in the Asian Final, which will be held at the Sanctuary Cove in Gold Coast, Australia, from Aug 8 to 10. the eighth participant won a trip to the Open Championship at the Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club in Lytham St Anne’s in Lancashire, England, from July 18 to 23.”It is beyond my wildest dreams to be able to go to the British Open,” says Ahmad Shukri Abdul Shukor, who won the biggest prize in the history of the tournament for landing his ball three inches from the line in the “Drive to the Major — the Straightest Drive to the Open Championship” novelty event.”I consider myself the luckiest guy as it is many golfers’ dream to go to the major. it is a combination of skill and luck that earned me this trip,” says the engineer, who, like most avid golfers, watches the majors live on television.

Shukri says his outing at the MercedesTrophy was unforgettable. “It was truly a money-can’t-buy experience,” says the 11-handicapper, who achieved the feat at the 503-yard par-5 Hole 13 of the Palm Course at the Saujana Golf and Country Club. “I drove 220 yards, the ball passed the bunker on the left of the fairway and kicked right, rolling quite a distance before stopping just three inches from the line.”This was the first time I took part in the MercedesTrophy. I had a dream start as I qualified for the National Final. it was at the Final that a stroke of good luck led to my biggest win ever in a golf competition.”Shukri, who drives a C200 Kompressor, says: “It’s Merc for life for me. This [competition] is really a very effective way for Mercedes-Benz to interact with and reward its customers.”Just as ecstatic were the seven finalists who earned themselves an all-expense-paid trip and the chance to take on other finalists from the region in the Asian Final.Medal B runner-up Choke Hiang Heng regained his winning touch after having laid off golf for three to four years.”My last win in a local golf competition was 10 years ago,” says the businessman, who got back into the swing of things four years ago. “I am surprised as this was my first effort at the MercedesTrophy. I golf regularly with a group of friends and we play in most of the courses in the Klang Valley. my short game really helped me. my chipping worked and I had many two-putts, but I blew a few holes when I three-putted.”Medal a winner Chong Chit Heng, who was a first-time participant at the MercedesTrophy, also has a busy schedule but finds golf irresistible. “It is an effective platform to interact with others and, at the same time, it is a great form of exercise,” he says. “Due to my work commitment, I travel quite a bit, but I find time to golf with my friends. we golf once a week.”Medal C winner Lim Lean Kuan was full of praises for the MercedesTrophy. “There is a feel-good factor in this competition,” he says, giving the thumbs up to the organisers of the event and the door gift, which he says was fitting for golfers.at the Malaysian Final, the top two winners in each handicap category for the Men’s medals (A, B and C) and the winner of the Women’s medal (D) qualified for the Asian Final at Sanctuary Cove. the winner of each handicap category at the Asian Final will qualify for the World Final in Stuttgart, Germany, from Sept 13 to 17.Held annually, the MercedesTrophy has attracted many avid golfers. This year’s competition was played over eight qualifying rounds.the biggest winner this year, contractor P Gunaseelan, didn’t qualify for the National Final but achieved an amazing feat and received a reward unmatched by any other in an amateur golf competition.

the seven Gold Coast-bound finalists with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Folger Thumbs up from the junior golfers seen here with Kai Schlickum, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice-president, sales and marketing

For the Seremban-based businessman, a birthday present turned out to a rewarding gift and a huge bonus. When he turned 58 on April 26, his son bought him a TaylorMade Burner 3-wood, which he made a point to use when he took part in the third leg of the MercedesTrophy at Staffield Country Resort in Mantin, Negri Sembilan, on may 10.”My son is not a golfer but he bought me this 3-wood for my birthday,” says Gunaseelan. “It means a lot to me. that is why I told myself I had to use this club during the competition,”Stepping up to the tee box on the 164m Hole 17, Gunaseelan knew he would be over-clubbed with a 3-wood, but he decided to go with it for sentimental reasons. Faced with a long water carry to a large green, he needed to land the ball to the right of the flag.”I took a controlled and easy swing and the ball flew to the right of the pin. it landed about six or seven feet from the flag and rolled in.” the prize was a Mercedes-Benz E200 CGI worth RM368,888.at the MercedesTrophy Malaysian Final, a special lucky draw saw Si Toh Heap Chin walking away with an EPOS Collection Emotion Chronomoon Watch worth RM12,989, courtesy of EPOS.Junior swingMercedes-Benz Malaysia conducted a junior golf clinic at the driving range and practice greens of Saujana Golf and Country Club on June 8, in conjunction with the MercedesTrophy Golf Challenge in Malaysia.Led by top professional golfers from the marketing partners of MercedesTrophy 2011 — Crestlink and TaylorMade — the clinic was part of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s commitment to nurture and develop a pool of junior golfers in the Klang Valley. For the children, it was an exciting learning experience to discover what golf had to offer and, at the same time, have fun. it was also an interesting experience as they had never been coached by top professionals in Malaysia before.at the golf clinic, the junior golfers learned the basics of the game and picked up some tips from the professional golfers.the junior golfers, aged 5 to 17, were the children of Mercedes-Benz customers. the professional golfers, Roger Loo and Chong Chee Ming, were sponsored by TaylorMade while the services of Ayoub Ossar and Jason Voon were provided by Crestlink.the children were divided into four groups for their coaching session with the professional golfers. There was an air of excitement and enthusiasm as the children learned how to swing better with irons and practised the finer points of chipping and putting.the highlight of the day was the chipping and putting competition. the children were given three attempts to putt a ball into a hole or get it as near as possible.the winners were:Group a (5-7 years old)Syady Sheikh IsmailGroup B (8-9 years old)Tang Li ShinGroup C (10-11 years old)Bryan NgGroup D (12-15 years old)Kenny LimThis story appeared in the Edge on July 2, 2012.

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Golf – Dream starts and grand rewards

GOLF: Golfers face a tough, scenic challenge in Maine Am

July 9

By Tom Chard Writer

If the players in the 93rd Maine Amateur at the Sunday River Golf Club in Newry pause for a moment before that slippery, downhill putt or a five-iron to an elevated green and soak in the scenery, that three-footer may not seem so important.

Situated in the Jordan Bowl, the golf course has 360 degrees of world class views. And as for the golf, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course will provide a stern test for the 132-player field.

From the black tee markers, the par-72 course measures 7,130 yards, the course rating from those markers is 75.2 with a slope of 146. the 54-hole tournament, which starts Tuesday and runs through Thursday, will likely be played from a yardage in between the black and blue tee markers, likely between 6,700 and 6,800 yards. That’s plenty of golf for the state’s top amateurs.

A cut to the low 40 and ties will be made after Wednesday’s round.

"the course will be fair," said Sam Marzenell, tournament director for the Maine State Golf Association.

"the winner will be someone who hits it very straight and is a great putter. the greens are very undulating and fast. "

Traditionally, Maine’s country clubs have hosted the bulk of the state amateurs. Golf courses like the Augusta Country Club, Portland CC, Martindale CC, Penobscot Valley CC and Kebo Valley Club have seen the most tournaments. this is the first time the tournament will be played significantly above sea level. Sunday River opened 18 holes in 2005.

"It’s going to be a good tournament," said head professional James Gilleon.

"the course is in really good condition. I feel the course requires a lot of local knowledge. There’s a certain group of players in the tournament who have played the course a few times. I’m sure the golfers who haven’t played here have had a practice round or two," he said.

While appearing imposing, the course offers one quality which could keep scores from soaring as a whole. the fairways are wide.

"the landing areas are generous," said Jeff Harris, president of Harris Golf, the course owner.

"the players should be able to keep the ball in play all day. It’s the approach shots that are tough. we built it that way. the greens are large and will be quick, but fair for the tournament.

Harris said the first two rounds should be played from a yardage mixing the blue and black tees, but he would like to see the final round played closer to the black tees.

"It’s a great test of golf from the black tees," he said.

"All of these kids can hit it 270 to 300 yards of the tee. from the back tees, those are the distances the fairways widen. the winner is going to have to buckle down and let it happen. It’s a big, bad golf course when you play it back there."

The yardage the tournament is played at and the pin positions are the call of the Maine State Golf Association which handles course setup.

Joe Alvarez of Hampden knows Sunday River well. He won a state Mid-Amateur title there. Alvarez has finished in the top 10 eight of the last nine years at the Maine Amateur. He won the inaugural state match play championship two years ago at the Augusta CC.

"I’m looking forward to it," said Alvarez,

"the course is in great shape."

Alvarez said a mountain course presents different challenges with the elevation and possibly weather changes.

"There so much elevation that judging distances could be a challenge," he said.

"There are a lot of downhill shots where the ball really flies. the course really tests your accuracy off the tee and on approaches. Putting wise, the greens are probably easier to putt than some of the Donald Ross greens we play," he said.

Ryan Gay of Pittston is the defending champion. If Gay wins again, it will be his fourth Maine Amateur title which would tie him with Sean Gorgone and Issac Merrill Jr.

"You get 18 level lies on the tee boxes and not another one on the course," said Gilleon, the 2001 Maine Open winner.

As for the winning score on this scenic, challenging golf course?

"I feel someone at even par for three rounds will be hoisting the trophy," Gilleon said.

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GOLF: Golfers face a tough, scenic challenge in Maine Am

Golf Tip – The Importance of Golf Club Selection

Every time you strike the ball in golf you have an important decision to make – which club next? apart from when you securely find yourself on the putting surface and instinctively go for a putter, every stroke needs that decision to be made and here are just some of the points you might be considering.

The first consideration is going to be the distance required. if you are just 50 yards from the flag then your driver is not the tool, whilst standing at a tee on a 550 yard hole, anything short of some form of wood is just not going to make much progress.

But, distance is not everything. In the week I was asked the question why do I carry a rescue club with a 150 yard carry and a full range of irons, since at least one of the irons would have the same carry as the rescue club.

This is because different clubs also give different flight patterns and also a better for different lies. An iron is, with my skill level, going to land and then in general the ball will roll a lot. On the other hand, the rescue will land the ball and it will come to a rest within a metre of the spot it lands on.

Also, it very much depends on where the ball is lying when it is approached. a good lie allows a choice of irons, but the ball sitting in a heavy lie might not allow such a good contact and that is where the rescue club really comes into its own, by being able to plough its way through the long grass, or whatever, to make a good contact with the ball. Even a poor contact can be forgiven with this club.

Unfortunately, it all comes down to experience and knowing how you can best get out of a given situation and as near to the pin as possible with this next shot. Going down to the driving range with all of your irons, warming up and then giving the ball a full strike with each will soon teach you the relative distance you can achieve with each. then repeat the exercise with the rest of your clubs – the woods and the shorter clubs.

But, it is important to note not how far each travels, but the relative difference between the distance achieved with each. this is because on a given day, with different balls, wind conditions, colder days and more variables, you will find that you can achieve different distances with the same clubs.

So club selection is all about knowing which clubs you are confident with playing with in certain situations and how far you will hit with each club today. Get that right and you should easily be making some cracking shots

Golf Tip – The Importance of Golf Club Selection

Patience pays off for Gig Harbor golfer Chris Tedesco

Teenagers can be antsy. At least Gig Harbor’s Chris Tedesco recognizes when he starts to get that way on the golf course.

There was not much the field could do Monday in the opening round of the Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla.

A morning thunderstorm, which caused a 21/2-hour delay, and long rounds tested the patience of some of the best amateurs on the West Coast.

And Tedesco, a recent Bellarmine Prep graduate who is headed to Oregon State, passed with flying colors, shooting a 1-under-par 71 to trail co-leaders Cole Lorenzo and Samuel Kloenne by one stroke.

Lorenzo and Kloenne were still on the course when play was suspended Monday night.

Tedesco had one of the four under-par rounds completed.

“(Being patient) is definitely one of the things I have worked on through high school,” Tedesco said. “I used to get bored making pars, and would get frustrated and then I would force stuff. But once I learned hitting good putts and good shots – you will make birdies. that is what I had been doing all year, and that is what I did today.”

Tedesco feasted on the par-5 holes, making birdies on three of them. his last one came at the third hole when his 3-wood approach landed pin high off the green and his chip stopped eight inches from the hole. his tap-in birdie took him to 2-under par.

He bogeyed the next hole, but made a great up-and-down at the par-5 seventh after hitting his drive into a deep pot bunker.

Other locals close to the lead include Enumclaw’s Tyler Salsbury (even-par through four holes), Port Orchard’s Bjorn Bjorke (1-over through 16 holes) and Olympia’s Jarred Bossio (1-over through four holes).

Packer opens with 80: Bonney Lake’s Sean Packer shot a 9-over-par 80 and is tied for 137th after the first day of the 87th U.S. Amateur Public Links at Solider Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah.

The two-time Tacoma City Amateur winner did not have a birdie, and summed up his front-nine 42 in this way: “I had more shots on the front nine where I was (trying) for par off the green than putts at birdie.”

He made eight pars on the back nine, and a triple bogey-7 on the 14th hole.

University of Washington golfer Cheng-Tsung Pan is one of the co-leaders at 67.

Patience pays off for Gig Harbor golfer Chris Tedesco

Golf Capsules: Ten Broeck takes second-round lead at U.S. Senior Open

“I probably wasn’t 100 percent sure until Sunday afternoon,” Maggert said Friday.

Troy Matteson shot a 3-under-par 68 for a one-stroke lead over Maggert and Brian Harman after two rounds of the John Deere Classic on Friday.

Matteson was at 13-under 129.

Maggert’s bogey-free round of 9-under 62 moved him from 39th place after the first round to a tie for second. He birdied half the holes at TPC Deere Run, including five of his last nine.

Harman had a second straight 65, the last two of his seven birdies coming after a 48-minute thunderstorm delay.

Matteson bogeyed the par-4 18th after getting four birdies in the first 17 holes.

Maggert one-putted 10 greens and saved par twice en route to matching his career-low round. He finished by making a 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth hole.

“I saw the putts better today,” Maggert said. “But I’m going to be aggressive tomorrow. I feel I need another really low round Saturday or Sunday, 7- or 8-under, to be in contention. the last few years, guys have really been lighting it up here.”

Maggert birdied four of his first six holes to start his bogey-free round, and kept it up. not bad for someone who was going to take this week and next week off before playing the Canadian Open.

Now, he might have the option of playing in next week’s British Open.

The top finisher among the top five not otherwise eligible gets an exemption to next week’s major.

“I’m not really planning on going,” Maggert said. “Obviously if I were to win or something I might have to reconsider that. but I really need a week off in my game.”

Including Maggert’s 62 and Matteson’s first-round 61, there have been eight rounds of 62 or lower at Deere Run in the past five years, and 11 since the tournament moved to the course in 2000. the best effort was Paul Goydos’ Tour-record-tying 59 two years ago.

Matteson started with a pair of birdies, then had pars on seven straight holes on a day the field was averaging 1.6 strokes under the par of 71. He played the back nine in 1-under 35.

“I’m fairly pleased,” Matteson said. “I was apprehensive coming in. It’s always tough to come to a golf course the day after a low round, you envision yourself playing the same way you did the day before, but the pins are different, and the course is different.”

J.J. Henry, Gary Christian, Robert Garrigus and Ricky Barnes are tied for fourth at 11-under 131.

A trio of players are at 10-under 132, including three-time defending champion Steve Stricker, whose 4-under 67 placed him within striking distance with 36 holes to play. Tommy Biershenk and two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen are also at 132.

Zach Johnson shot 6-under 65 and was at 9-under 133.

Harman, in the next-to-last group, finished off his 65 by chipping in for birdie on the ninth hole.

Henry was 7 under in his first 11 holes, then finished with a 64 despite soft conditions that allowed players to aim shots directly at the hole.

“You jump the leader board when you least expect it,” Henry said. “I was able to make that run today. you make par here, you get run over.”

Christian, a 40-year-old Tour rookie, said that his 5-under-par 66 was achieved “the way I envisioned playing. this would be the nearest thing to approach being in the mythical ‘zone’ — but not quite there.”

An eagle on the par-5 second hole jump-started his day. a bogey on the par-4 15th marred his scorecard, but he’s closer to the lead than he’s been all year, a season with only two top-20 finishes in 18 starts. His best finish was a tie for 14th at the Humana Classic in January.

Garrigus added a 66 to an opening 65.

Stricker’s quest for a fourth straight John Deere title included five birdies after a bogey on his second hole of the day.

“I like the spot I’m in,” Stricker said of being three strokes behind. “I’d rather kind of be there at this point.”

After the round, Stricker went to the putting green to work on his stroke, despite taking only 29 putts.

“I’m hitting better putts,” Stricker said. “I feel my confidence coming back. I’m standing over putts thinking I’ve got a good opportunity to make ‘em, even from 20 to 30 feet.”

The cut came at 4-under 136 and encompassed 77 players, including amateur Jordan Spieth at 5-under 137. Former major champions John Daly, Stewart Cink, David Duval, Shaun Micheel and Todd Hamilton missed the cut. Bryce Molder withdrew after an opening 74.

International

Mickelson shoots 64 at Scottish Open; five off lead

INVERNESS, Scotland (AP) — Phil Mickelson broke out of his slump with an 8-under 64 at the Scottish Open on Friday, leaving him five shots off the second-round lead shared by Alexander Noren and Francesco Molinari.

INVERNESS, Scotland (AP) — Peter Whiteford’s hole in one in his second round at the Scottish Open came too late to capture the 168 bottles of champagne for the feat.

Golf Capsules: Ten Broeck takes second-round lead at U.S. Senior Open

Woods rallies, but still faces big Open deficit

When Tiger Woods rolled in a 60-foot putt on the sixth hole, it looked as though he was ready to make a charge at the British Open.

The fist pump. The big smile. The roar of the gallery, drifting across Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

All the signs were there.

A couple of hours later, Woods tapped in for par at No. 18.

The charge had fizzled. There was still a lot of work to do.

The good news for Woods is he didn’t collapse Saturday, even after a poor start, as opposed to his dismal weekend performance at the U.S. Open last month. but he’s never won any of his 14 major championships by rallying in the final round, and he’ll have to make up a daunting five-shot deficit if he’s going to snatch the claret jug from Adam Scott.

Woods shot a par-70 that kept him in the game.

“Well, I turned it around,” Woods said, looking for the bright side. “I got off to an awful start and battled back and got myself right back in the mix again going into tomorrow. I’m right there.”

Woods began the day four strokes behind Brandt Snedeker, the 36-hole leader. now, the deficit between Woods and the new leader is even larger. plus, there’s two players between Woods and the top spot. Snedeker, who had a miserable day but rallied at the end, and Graeme McDowell, who was solid all the way, are four strokes behind Scott’s 11-under 199 total. Next is Woods at 204.

On moving day, he moved the wrong way, raising the very real possibility that the longest major drought of his career _ a little over four years since he hobbled to victory at the 2008 U.S. Open _ will carry on at this Open.

Of course, it could’ve been worse. Woods started the day by running his tee shot over the green at the par-3 first hole. A tentative chip came up 8 feet short, and he missed the putt. after another bogey at the third, it appeared he was headed for a repeat of the last major championship.

Woods was actually tied for the 36-hole lead at the U.S. Open, but a 75 on Saturday wiped out his chances.

This time, at least, he rallied.

That birdie putt at No. 6, rapped from one side of the green to the other, turned the tide. Woods rolled in a much shorter birdie at the next hole, came up about an inch short of a third straight birdie from the fringe at No. 8, then stuck his tee shot at the par-3 ninth to 4 feet, setting up yet another birdie.

“Considering that I got off to such a bad start, I figured if I could get to 1-over par or even for the day through the turn, that would have been a positive going to the back nine,” Woods said. “I actually happened to turn at 1 under for the day, which was a bonus.”

Woods had a prime opportunity to take off another stroke at the par-5 11th, but he misread the putt and settled for par. another misjudgment at the 15th led to bogey, pretty much snuffing out any chance of getting on a roll coming to the clubhouse.

“I had a few looks on that back nine,” Woods said. “I just didn’t make them.”

For a while, he was at least positioned to play in the final group with Scott, which would have allowed him to put some firsthand pressure on a guy who’s never won a major _ and set up all sorts of intrigue.

Scott’s caddie is Steve Williams, who used to be on Woods’ bag. They were more than just employer and employee, they were good friends. but the collapse of Woods’ personal life put a severe strain on their relationship. Woods decided to change caddies as he struggled to rebuild his game and his reputation.

Not surprisingly, Williams was none too pleased about being let go. he quickly caught on with Scott, then went off on Woods after his new employer won at Firestone last year. just imagine the possibilities if Woods and Scott had played together in the last group of a major, with Williams right in the midst of things.

Instead, Woods will again play in the next-to-last group, as he did Saturday, paired with Snedeker. McDowell and Scott will bring up the rear.

“Final pairing, whatever it may be, I was just trying to cut into that lead,” Woods insisted. “I’m five back, so Adam is in a great spot right now.”

The forecast Sunday calls for the wind to finally pick up after three days of sterling weather, which might be the best chance for everyone else to run down a leader with a comfortable edge. then again, Woods has never thrived in inclement weather. In perhaps the worst Open conditions he’s faced, a driving wind and rain at Muirfield in 2002, he struggled to an 81 _ his highest score as a professional.

“I’ve just got to execute my game plan,” Woods said. “I know the forecast is one thing, but let’s see what actually happens. Whether the wind blows or not, I’ve still got to go out there and post the round I know I need to post and execute my plan.”

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Woods rallies, but still faces big Open deficit

Callaway Diablo Edge Irons’ Review

Callaway Diablo Edge Irons’ Review

One of the newest and best golf clubs for 2010 is the Callaway Diablo Edge irons which are considered super game improvement irons. Read this review for more information on them.

Just like all the other golf club manufactures, Callaway golf is always creating new golf irons with new technology. 2010 is no different for Callaway golf. They have redesigned several golf iron models, but perhaps the best new Callaway golf iron is the Callaway Diablo Edge.

The Diablo Edge irons are engineered for distance and accuracy.

Designed with a lower, deeper center of gravity, Diablo Edge Irons feature a more accessible sweet spot that is in line with where most amateurs commonly hit the ball on the clubface. The result is longer, consistent distance and improved accuracy. The Solid Impact Sole delivers smooth turf interaction and is designed to mitigate the effects of heavy and thin shots. it also improves the impact location on the face for greater distance.

The irons have strong, sharp lines that draw you right in. most will either love or hate the looks, and I am one that really likes the way they look quite a bit. The splashes of deep red sparkle in the sun as the bag is on the course and the tiny little diablo emblems in the cavity add to the depth even more.

The sole is slightly thick, but no more than most game improvement (GI) irons and has a large number for identifying purposes on it. The topline of the club matches that of the sole and has a sandblasted type of look to it that works well in keeping the sun from producing blinding light off of the chrome.

A lower, deeper center of gravity was used in this irons. this allows the sweet spot to be more accessible at lower impact locations. The end result of this is longer, more consistent shots and improved accuracy. most amateurs hit the ball on the lower portion of the clubface so the lower center of gravity is perfect.

Just like a lot of other golf irons designed for the mid level golfers, the Callaway Diablo Edge irons on the strong side when it comes to loft. their lofts are about two degrees lower resulting in longer shots. this is important to know because “clubbing” off your partner isn’t what it use to be in the old days. Your 6 iron might have a different loft than his 6 iron.

The big question we will find with this iron set is can the ball be “worked” right and left. The short answer is yes, and without much a problem. Like most GI irons, they are built to go high and straight, and the Callaway Diablo Edge irons did that better than most. but playing a cut or a small draw did not seem to be much a problem either. The offset that the irons have, especially in the 5 & 6 iron made it slightly harder to pull off, but in the end, these clubs are built to go straight and they do it well.

In the end, the Callaway irons offer a good feel for a GI iron and provide flat out amazing forgiveness. The hybrids offer great distance and solid forgiveness as well. After testing these out for the last month, I am thoroughly convinced that this set will help quite a bit of golfers take their game to the next level.

HuskyStarcraft, Ro (Nerdy Nummies) and Dodger (PressHeartToContinue) join Jesse for his second night of amazing night of Diablo 3 fun… youtube.com youtube.com youtube.com • Get LEGENDARY OMFGcata gear! goo.gl • Stay updated! Twitter – twitter.com Facebook – facebook.com

Callaway Diablo Edge Irons’ Review

Broadmoor must plant tree buffer if it wants to pitch tent

After months of wrangling, The Broadmoor hotel got what seems like the final OK Tuesday night on a request that it be allowed to erect a gigantic 40,000-square-foot tent every spring on its grounds, without having to ask permission from the city.

The City Council approved the hotel’s request on a 5-1 vote, upholding an earlier decision by the city Planning Commission. The hotel had asked that it be allowed to bypass the permitting process, which had held up organizing for the annual Space Symposium that the hotel hosts each spring.

In an attempt to pacify angry neighbors of The Broadmoor, the council required that the hotel install at least 20 trees around its border, to help shield the hotel’s four-acre parking lot where the tent is erected. The trees must be no more than 20 feet apart, and between eight and 10 feet high.

Dennis Keegan, who has lived across the street from The Broadmoor for more than three decades, is one resident who sees a fenced-in parking lot every time he looks out his front door. when he first moved into his house, he said, the area was covered in grass and flowers.

He told council members the neighborhood has been “raped.”

“I’ve put up with their development for 32 years, and I’ve never said a word until now,” said Keegan, who is a former public relations director of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “I no longer want to be a neighbor of The Broadmoor.”

Several residents joined Keegan in furiously protesting that the hotel has been encroaching further and further into the neighborhood. The parking lot, which is only partially paved, was constructed by the hotel in 2003 without permission from the city. that grated on many of the hotel’s neighbors, and the tent was the last straw.

A formal complaint was filed in March by Hannah Polmer, whose home is bordered on two sides by The Broadmoor. Attorney Howard Alpern, who represents Polmer, argued that the parking lot, and therefore the tent, are illegal because they don’t measure up to city requirements.

Alpern expressed frustration at the council’s vote, and charged that the hotel and its patrons are held to a lower standard than the rest of the city.

John Maynard, an urban design specialist who spoke for The Broadmoor, said the tent was erected because the Space Symposium had grown to the point that the hotel itself couldn’t hold all the participants.

The tent was a logical solution, he said, and a perfectly legal one. The same standards they used in building the lot are used by other institutions around the city, including Colorado College.

Maynard added that aside from the income it brings to the hotel, the symposium brings in $25 million each year to the local economy.

The battle may not be over, though. Alpern said Polmer is considering taking the matter to court.

“She’s going to sleep on it,” Alpern said.

Contact John Schroyer: 476-4825

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Broadmoor must plant tree buffer if it wants to pitch tent

Ryan not concerned about perception around NFL

Copyright ©2010. The Associated Press. Copyright ©2010. The Associated Press. all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Matt Ryan likes to undersell his athleticism in a self-deprecating manner.

The Atlanta Falcons’ fifth-year quarterback doesn’t talk much about it publicly, but Ryan is usually among the first to poke fun at his speed and arm strength.

“Matt is a very humble guy, and Matt is a better athlete than you think,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said on Monday. “We’ll just let everybody think Matt’s not a very good athlete, and I think that’s something people will find out when they play him.”

Despite a 43-19 record in the regular season, Ryan knows he will be judged on winning and losing in the playoffs. he is 0-3 in the postseason and until he guides the Falcons to a playoff victory, Ryan understands he must live with the results.

But has this assumed lack of pizazz affected his level of respect outside the Falcons’ complex? he shrugged when asked why the NFL Network last month left him off its list of top 100 players for 2012.

Thirteen quarterbacks were chosen on the list, which was compiled from votes by current NFL players. Even new York Jets backup QB Tim Tebow, at No. 95, made the list.

“I mean it’s not something I worry about or even think about for that matter,” Ryan told The Associated Press. “I know what I’m capable of doing. I’ve got complete confidence in my abilities. I know that I can make a positive impact on our team, and we can win a lot of games. Beyond that, it doesn’t much matter.”

At 6-foot-4, 217 pounds, Ryan isn’t built for speed, and he’s had to work hard lifting weights to add arm strength, but Smith isn’t concerned about his quarterback’s ability to make plays.

“He has very good awareness in the pocket,” Smith said. “Now, is he going to go 80 (yards on a run)? No, we’re not going to see that, but is he going to get you a first down when you don’t think he will get a first down? He’s done it many times. is he going to be able to slide in the pocket to the right or to the left, step up and either throw the ball or get 5 or 6 yards and get the first down? He’s going to do that.”

With the Falcons five days into training camp, Ryan is more concerned with honing the offense’s commitment to a screen passing attack that was all but absent last season.

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Ryan not concerned about perception around NFL

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