Carbrook reroutes golf course in the name of fun

Carbrook is welcoming golfers to play their golf course in a crazy new way.

Anyone who has ever had a golf course to themselves may have been tempted to play it in a slightly different way? Ever wondered if you can hit the 13th green from the 11th tee? Or playing the 7th hole backwards then putt out on the 6th green? Or is that just me?

The folks at Carbrook Golf Course (now famously known for sharks in its water hazard) seemed to have had similar thoughts and are allowing the sort of golf to be played that most stuffy members may turn their noses up at. For one day Carbrook are re-routing their golf course to be played in a way that was never intended.

Zach Johnson breaks the rules and still wins golf tournament

In the spirit of reporting on golf news that could potentially affect us all, we bring you another rules reminder courtesy of Crowne Plaza Invitational winner, Zach Johnson.

Zach Johnson won the PGA Tour Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial today (see video below), but the details of his one-stroke victory over Jason Dufner is interesting and a reminder to us all about marking your golf ball correctly.

[Also: McDowell penalised for moving his golf ball]

Johnson was three shots ahead going into the final hole and a five-foot par putt sat between him and a tournament victory. Johnson marked his ball and shifted it to one side to allow Dufner a line to the hole without interference from his marker. The problem came when he went to make his own putt. He forgot all about shifting his ball back to its original position.

McDowell penalised for moving his golf ball

Careful where you step when walking towards your golf ball.

   

We highlighted a couple of week's ago (with tongue firmly in check) how golf is much easier on the professional tour thanks to grandstands you can use to guide your ball around the golf course.

Conversely, golf is becoming more difficult for professional golfers on the big tours thanks to TV coverage. It seems like every month there is a rules infringement that was ultimately decided after a review of the TV footage, and this month, it's Graeme McDowell's turn.

Top 10 recovery shots on PGA Tour: video

The latest in the long line of the PGA Tour Top-10 video series features the best recovery shots of all time.

   

Check them out, and have a go at a few of them next weekend.

Can you use clubs for alignment during a round of golf?

A little rules reminder today on about alignment aids during a round of golf.

It concerns the act of aligning yourself with golf clubs during a round of golf. I'm guessing that most golfers were guess that aligning yourself with foreign objects (e.g. sticks, swing guides) are probably illegal during the course of as round, but what about with your own golf clubs? Can you place them on the ground before you swing to line yourself up towards your intended line?

Rating Australia's Top 9 golf courses

Australian golf writer rates his best Australian golf courses.

Australian golf writer Ben Everill recently listed his Top 9 Australian golf courses for the new Back 9 Network website. These sorts of lists are usually wrought with controversy but by and large, this list by Everill seems to have everyone in agreement (Geoff Shackleford aside).

Flanagan takes bounce off cameraman to win on Nationwide Tour

Why professional golf is easier than amateur golf.

While the drought continues on the US PGA Tour for Australians, Nick Flanagan won the Nationwide Tour tournament this week in dramatic fashion.

Flanagan eventually beat fellow Australian Cameron Percy in a three hole playoff but Percy can consider himself very unlucky not to have won the tournament in regulation.

Nick Flanagan needed to birdie the final hole to force a playoff but his approach shot sailed the green. It bounced off a TV cameraman's chest and bounced back onto the green for a birdie attempt. Flanagan made the birdie putt and then beat Percy in three playoff holes.

Mickelson plays a Mickelson-like shot, and we're not surprised

It is never really surprising when you see Phil Mickelson play a golf shot that is nothing short of extraordinary. 

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Here Phil Mickelson plays a hybrid from just under 100 metres around a tree and on to the green, during the second round of the HP Byron Nelson Championship. No prizes for guessing if he makes the birdie putt or not. The to-and-fro between the commentators adds a nice little touch to it all. who could possibly bet against Mickelson pulling off any sort of golf shot?

While this shot is not as astounding as the incredible flop shot he played during the 2012 US Masters, it is still a nice way to start the week.

Young Aussie golf champion to return to Australia

Jake Stirling chats to Aussie Golfer about his victory in his final American collegiate golf tournament.

Jake Stirling could be a name to remember in Australian golf. The 22-year-old from Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne won his final American collegiate golf tournament last Friday. Aussie Golfer managed to get in touch  with Stirling before he flies back to Australia to talk about the victory and his future plans.

Representing Meridian Community College in Mississippi, Stirling won the individual title at the 2012 NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship in Kansas. In his final collegiate event, Stirling managed to take the lead with two holes to play of the four round tournament, and held on with a couple of clutch pars over the final two holes to claim victory in some extremely tough conditions.

Australian golfer wins American Junior College Golf Championship

Young Melbourne golfer wins junior college golf championship.

Update: Contrary to early reports, Jake Stirling is the second Australian to win the individual medal at the NJCAA Div I Men's Golf Championship.

Australian golfer Jake Stirling has become the second Australian to win the individual medal at the 2012 NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship.

Stirling, 22, is a member of Victoria Golf Club and has spent several years at Meridian Community College in Mississippi. He claimed the individual title at the prestigious championship by taking the lead and then making crucial pars on his final two holes to edge out his nearest rival by just one shot.