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Some “Page-Turners” for the Holiday Season

We tossed up a few movies for your consideration in our last BCgolfguide BLOG entry, with the Holiday Season fast approaching.

This time around, we have something for folks who might prefer an old school concept – reading a book!

Here are a handful of my favourites for your consumption.

The Real Monty (2002): Colin Montgomerie was a polarizing figure in professional golf, but his autobiography provided some incredible insight.

He won the European Tour Order of Merit seven straight times between 1993 and 1999, then again in 2005. However, many onlookers ignore this amazing feat. They choose instead to suggest he never did validated that greatness by winning in the USA on the PGA Tour. Nor did he ever win a major championship.

If not for a chance round of golf with a pair of agents from IMG, Monty may never have pursued playing the tour. It’s a terrific story in itself, one of many interesting snippets he shares.

An absolute star in the Ryder Cup, folks in British Columbia may also remember Monty as quite an entertainer during the week he appeared in the 2008 Telus Skins Game at Predator Ridge.

 

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Golf Movies for the Holiday Season

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, it seems likely we’ll all probably be sticking pretty close to home.

And so, we present a few golf movies to consider as you munch on some snacks and sip a few egg nogs.

The first two are my personal favorites. But beyond that, the rest are in no particular order.

Dead Solid Perfect (1988):  I really hope golfers can figure out a way to get their hands on this movie! Written by legendary journalist Dan Jenkins, the movie is hilarious. However, if foul language grates on you or you’re offended by occasional nudity, maybe take a pass on this film.

Dead Solid Perfect
Randy Quaid and Larry Riley

Kenny Lee (Quaid) is a journeyman tour professional who has yet to strike it rich. So, he moonlights gambling among the rich folks. Guys like his caddy “Spec” and the money man – “Bad Hair” Wimberly are terrific characters. And, how many of us remember the ravishing Kathryn Harrold? Lee screws up a couple of relationships along the way, but finally settles in for a great week at the U.S. Open.

The crummy thing is I can’t find this movie on Bluray, but I believe a DVD exists. It’s frustrating for HD snobs, but the first few times I watched the film, it was a VHS tape, which I still own! The novel is also terrific and if you ever spend time on the road, give the audiobook a listen.  It’s great stuff. Jenkins is a genius!

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Let’s live our lives

Reflecting on a tumultuous 2020 in the golf travel business has made for some interesting conversations.

Amid so much uncertainty, the ability of the industry to convince government officials across Canada that the game could be a safe activity during the pandemic was a giant first step. Implementing effective operational protocols then became the priority and golf courses were allowed to open for business.

And then, golfers came in droves until old man winter arrived.

But the conversations about the 2020 season have not all been so much about “what happened”.

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