| The decline of 1.5% is half of the 3% decrease between 2001-02. The reason? Inclement weather (62%) and the economy (55%). The data is based on a survey of some 1,900 golf facilities conducted by the National Golf Foundation in January and February this year. |
| New course |
| St Andrews, the home of golf, will offer more choices as the St Andrews Links Trust has received permission to build a new 18-hole course. This will add to the Trust's existing six courses, which includes the Old Course, venue for the British Open Championship in 2005. |
| The proposed course, a public facility which will remain open all the year round, is expected to open in 2006. David McLay Kidd, creator of Bandon Dunes on the West Coast of America, will design the course. Currently, 210,000 rounds are played on the Links every year. |
| Woods in fatigues |
| The golf bag gave way to the fatigues at least for a few days. Tiger Woods tried to put a disappointing Masters behind him by joining an elite unit of US Army for four days of military training. Woods, who finished 22nd at Augusta Masters, arrived at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a day after the Masters ended. After his training, Woods is due to give a golf skills exhibition at the base's Stryker Golf Course. |
| Langer to lead |
| Bernhard Langer's dream assignment as the European Ryder Cup captain comes in September when he will plot strategies for this competitive event against the best from the US. |
| However, at the 2004 Masters, Langer, playing his 22nd Masters, put himself into contention at one stage. Just three off the lead after three rounds, he came up to tied second at one stage during the final round. |
| Then a splash into a water hazard cost him a double bogey at the 15th. So, Langer, who last won the Masters in 1993, finished tied for fourth with Sergio Garcia, almost half Langer's age. This year's Ryder Cup will be held at Oakland Hills outside Detroit. |
| Bogeyman |
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