Turnberry: Where Golf Balls Go to Die

↵↵We’re just a few days away from the start of the British Open at Turnberry. (For those of you keeping track, you’ll have to get up at 4:09 a.m. ET to see Tiger Woods tee off. Full tee time listings can be found here.) But while the real thing isn’t under way yet, there was a recent members-only event that produced results that should strike fear into the hearts of men:↵

↵↵⇥Turnberry has been lengthened significantly, and a wet spring has created lush conditions, which can be fearsome for those who can’t seem to keep it straight off the tee. Colin Montgomerie told of a tournament for club members within the last few weeks in which 480 golf balls were lost in the rough.↵↵↵Four hundred eighty? OK, I have no idea how many people played in this event, I’ll say that right off the top. I’m guessing two things though: 1. People who are members at Turnberry are probably better than you, me or the average hacker you play public courses with on any given weekend. 2. There probably weren’t 480 players.↵

↵↵But hey, if the weather holds up, I’m sure the pros will be able to make the best of a tough course. Say, how’s the forecast looking this week?↵

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↵↵Uh oh.↵

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