Taking an early leave on Thursday afternoon to slip over and meet a friend at Southern Pines Golf Club, the venerable old Donald Ross jewel, we couldn't believe how lush the course and the greens were. The rain has really helped local golf courses. At S.P. there was only one wet area in the fairway, despite five inches of rain this week, and the soft greens rolled true and kindly accepted good shots to them. After that two week period of Iraqi desert-like heat, grass at local courses was looking a little singed in places, and it had to be really tough trying to keep the greens healthy. We're only halfway through the traditional period of prolonged heat, but Mother Nature has given courses a reprieve for the time being. It's a great time to get out there, Southern Pines was as pretty as I've seen it. And if drive-by looks and a couple of rounds at other courses are any indication, the rest of them are looking great and playing sweet right now, too.

• Print print this page
• Discuss Comment, Blog about
• Share this Email, Facebook, Twitter