Bad Idea: 4400 Miles Between Tournaments
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 27, 2010 10:53 AM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintSomeone must have looked at an off-year calendar when planning the Champions Tour's major double dip. Last weekend, the 50+ set held their second major of the year with the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie. Unfortunately, a number of possible contenders never made it to Scotland because of what they would be eying for travel plans that Sunday.
The US Senior Open - bizarrely played in consecutive weeks with the Senior Open Championship - is at Sahalee Country Club in Washington state. The total journey? 4,422 miles - direct.
Naturally, that caused some problems for Yanks that wanted to relive the '98 PGA Championship held there.
It's a cute idea when the Opens are at least directly on the shores of one side of the Pond. The Concorde has been grounded, people. Tacking on another few thousand miles is probably a bad idea, and definitely merits a week break.
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I agree with ya about
the fact that it shouldn’t have been scheduled like that, however it’s only about a 10 hour flight direct from the UK to the west coast and you gain about 8 hrs or so in time zone changes. On top of that I can assure you that these guys are not sitting in the middle seat in coach, eating peanuts, served up to them by overly enthusiastic flight attendents on South West Airlines Bad scheduling for sure but I don’t feel sorry for them one bit. Think about KJ Choi or Jimenez or the Els the Aussie’s or any number of Korean woman on the LPGA that have to make a 16 plus hour flight to play in their respected tournaments on a regular basis. Time for the old guys to take off their Depends and put on their BIG BOY pants and “Man Up.”
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Hey Jump
what are those DEPENDS yur talkin about ?….heheheSTUB
These guys have it rough. lol
Especially when they have to ride for 8-10 hrs on one of these. http://www.ellejet.com/private-jet-airports.php And you all know that the meals can be quite troublesome when your forced to eat things like Lobster Thermidor or Veal Chops or Lord help them having “Boeuf en Croute” ( Filet Mignon wrapped in puff pastry ). Not to mention the sleeping arrangements with paltry 800 thread count sheets and down feather pillows. Life can be rough at 42,000 ft. LOL
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I’m coming at this from the perspective of a guy who has never flown in first class, much less on a charter jet :)
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 27, 2010 11:35 AM EDT reply actions
ok , In that case
“Please pass the peanuts” I hear ya Ryan, I was just trying to show you the story behind the story as it relates to the majority of the tour players, especially the seniors who have plenty of $$ to come and go as they see fit and believe me they travel well.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I’d be curious to know the travel arrangements for these guys. I’d bet a lot have the sweet plane, but not sure.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 27, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Wimps!
Be interesting to know how many international players didn’t travel to Washington for the same reason. Business people make these trips all the time and are expected to go straight into decision-making meetings. I’ve done the red-eye many a time!
Having said that – yes, the scheduling could be better.
Business people don’t have to walk off a plane and hit 300 yard drives, then make delicate chips and putts the next day, either. Comparing an office guy to someone who makes a living doing something athletic doesn’t work.
And flying in a charter may be a tad more comfortable, but you’re still inside an artificially pressurized tube barely taller than some of these guys, and they aren’t sleeping on beds. Even a first class seat can be uncomfortable when you’re in it for 10 hours.
Business people don’t like it, either.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Nonsense - players don't walk off the plane straight into the tournament.
They can rest for a day or two, practise as much or as little as they want until the pro-am or the Thursday.
you’ve been on these flights – the next day still feels like walking straight to the course. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Worse time was coming back from San Franciso
took me at least 2 days to come down to earth – felt like I had been on something illegal for a week (still had to go to work the next day though).
You want to try working shifts.
I do 2 12 hour days, then 3 12 hour nights, 4 days off then repeat. Permanent jet lag for 31 years. It takes me 2 days to get over each spell. I work my socks off. Don’t ever tell me a Pro golfer has it tough. Fly to Sahalee from Carnoustie ? Try sleeping for 3 hours between 2 12 hour nightshifts and keep your sense of humour. Pros might be a little jet lagged and lose some touch around the green for a day or two, but will recover after a few days. This pampering of Pros who have such a charmed life is a joke. Wendy is right…wimps, lol.
I couldn't do it, Easing
I LOVE my sleep! Mmm, now let me see – Bernard wins back to back over 8 time zones, whilst Freddie stayed home? Nothing against Freddie – I know the weather at Carnoustie would be hell for his back. Just wanted to make the point re international travel not being that tough.
Wendy darlin....
were the eyes red from the good wine, or lack of sleep….Surly, if it was a night flight, you did have a pillow and a blankie…no ?…STUB
You usually get a chatty American next to you
who wants to know all the best places to visit ;o) Actually, I find it impossible to sleep on planes, trains, etc.
Really !!!!
I can usually feign sleep, well that is, unless it’s some long legged sweet thing….jist saying…..STUB
It's just another normal day.
They finish on Sunday late afternoon, get driven to the runway in a courtesy car, board the plane with no waiting, have their dinner at around 7:30 pm and then get to sleep for the normal 8 hrs until landing. It’s not really any different than a normal routine in anyones daily life and besides they are used to it being a normal routine on the road.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
The British senior Open has to follow the Open.
So move the US senior open on a week if the old boys are going to cry.
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