It has sure been a while since my last update, and finally have some time to post to the blog. Well, since my last posting I have played in 3 events and had 2 poor showings and one decent tournament. I played in a Tar Heel event and shot 149 (78-71) as well as a Hooters event in South Bend, Indiana and actually had the poorest showing of the year 163 (80-83). I also played in the local US Open qualifier in West Virginia and shot 79 (37-42). No good. No excuses. My swing has been in a bit of a funk, as well as my mental frame of mind, and it culminated with my play in South Bend.

One of the best things I have learned about tournament golf this year has been that once a tournament is over, there is always next week and the next event. There is little time to dwell on the past, other than to learn from it and move on. I have played in 18 events thus far in 2006, and I believe that schedule has been a little heavy, especially for a first year professional. The thinking was to jump into playing as many tournaments as possible, and I really have not allowed for much rest (physical as well as mental) or practice. Next year I will definitely space my play earlier in the year so that I am fresher for every event and give myself the best chance to play well. I have mentioned before that this year has been one of adjusting to playing professional golf vs. casual or amateur golf, and I have come to understand and value the importance of scheduling as it relates to preparation and performance.

That catches us up to my most recent tournament. I played this week in a Sunbelt Seniors tournament in Pinehurst and finished 10th with scores of 70-69-70=209. I was able to play fairly well for 3 days, and cashed a check of $700. Not great by any means, but an improvement over past weeks and something on which to build. Playing well builds confidence, and I need a shot of confidence right now.

I have one more tournament before the baby comes, and will take a few weeks off to help my sweetie. This time will give me a chance get some much need practice in and rest up for the second half of the year.

Over the past few weeks many folks have helped out while traveling. Ken Budd hosted me at his beautiful mountain home in Glade Springs, and caddied for me as well in the US Open qualifier. I stayed with Larry and Janie Guy in South Bend (members of Knollwood CC) and they were perfect hosts. Stephen caddied for me and did a great job. We were able to take in a few of the sights while in South Bend, including Notre Dame and the College Football Hall of Fame. We even went to daily Mass 2 times at the Basilica on campus.

Phil Warshauer's parents hosted me in Pinehurst, and Stu and Retts were great as well. I particularly enjoyed playing a few holes with Stu in the late afternoons at Pinehurst CC, one of my favorite places in the world.

It is evident that I have faced some challenges so far in this first year of playing professional golf. My resolve is strong, and I will continue to build upon the positives. I know the second half of the year will be better, and the challenges of the first five months will make me stronger. It is hard to explain in writing what goes through your mind playing at this level without actually experiencing it, and I know that I am tougher now than when I started. This toughness is acquired through some pain and failure, and you have to experience it in order to improve. Here's to continuous improvement!!

I have played in two events since last posting. The Tarheel Tour event in Bermuda Run was a minor disappointment. I shot 77-70=147 to miss the cut by 4. I had a double each round, and keeping the big numbers out of my rounds continues to challenge me. The good news is that I played well the second day and shot 31 on the back nine. I even had a gallery! Joey Perkins and Bryan Andrews came out to follow my final 9, and I told them they need to travel with me all the time. Walter Hall also watched me play, as he is recovering from wrist surgery and home in Winston-Salem for a few weeks.

This past week I was in Lagrange GA. for a Sunbelt event. I had my first round in the 60's, shooting 69 in the second round with 5 birdies and an eagle. Unfortunately I sandwiched that round with a pair of 76's that hurt my chances of placing well. I actually had my best ball striking tournament of the year, which is encouraging. Again, I had a double each round and was unable to make pars when I got a little off cycle. My up-n-down percentage was better, and the practice I am putting in is starting to pay off.

Next week I am playing in a Tarheel event in China Grove, and the following week I will go to West Virginia for the local US Open qualifying, and then to South Bend for the Hooters event there May 17-21.

I did learn some good news recently about one of my sponsors. Brian Cook and Traci are expecting twins in October!! They live in Jacksonville and have been very kind by allowing me to stay with them while traveling. Those days may be numbered once the babies arrive, and I told Brian that I would happily give up the guest room and sleep with "Deacon" their dog out by the pool! More after China Grove.

I have played the past 2 weeks with some results that have been better than my recent play, and have been able to take away some positives. I played in the Hooters event in Atlanta and shot 76-75 to miss the cut but I was fairly close to playing well enough to stick around for the weekend. I was even par the second day with 3 holes to go and hit a couple poor shots coming down the stretch that cost me. I was outside the cut line at that point, and hit the ball decent. Brian Petersen caddied for me and did a good job for his first time on a hilly course. Many thanks to Reggie Blackburn for his hospitality, as well as Steph's Uncle Bob for letting me stay with him one night and cooking a great meal!

This week was a Tarheel event in Charlotte and I shot 73-81. The good news was that I played well enough the first day to indeed have something to play for the second day, but I pressed a little bit the latter half of my round and my score reflected it! My 73 the first round was my lowest first day total since turning professional, and I was even through 5 holes the second day. I made stupid bogeys on 8 and 9 to turn in 39, and needed some birdies on the back to be able to make the cut. I bogeyed 11 and 12 and then my round got away from me. I was not as patient as I need to be, and I will learn from that. You always have to take the positives from any tournament, and I hit some quality shots, made some birdies, and was able to sustain a higher level of play for the first 27 holes or so for the first time this year. I was generally able to drive the ball well, and even made a few long putts. Good things lie ahead.

This week I am again playing in a Tarheel Tour event, and it is here just outside Winston-Salem at Bermuda Run. It will be good to stay at home and play courses that I have some familiarity with.

Best wishes to all for a Happy Easter and Passover. More after Bermuda Run.

I have just returned from my first Sunbelt Seniors Tour event and finished 20th with a score of 224. (76-77-71) This event is for guys over 47, and it was well un by Don Barnes and his wife. I played OK and drove it well and hit my irons decent, but struggled with my short game. I actually putted well, but the course was new, and the areas around the greens were bare and it was difficult for me to chip it close consistently. The answer to that dilemma is to hit more greens!

Stephen went with me again and was as always a big help. As a special treat we played TPC Sawgrass on Tuesday after my early round. He had a birdie and 3 pars on the front 9 (from the white tees), and was so excited to be there! He bogeyed 17 after hitting the ball to the front of the green, and we played 18 in total darkness. The pins from Sunday were still in place, and the rough was brutal. Stephen got Vijay Singh, who was practicing at the course, to autograph a ball (no small feat) and we had a great day!

I believe that I am playing better, and have practiced well since I have been home. I leave Monday for the Hooters event in Atlanta, and will be playing the next 4 weeks. I have decided to play in the Tarheel Tour event at Bermuda Run outside of Winston-Salem on April 18-20, and look forward to playing on a course I know well and have had some success on.

The Tarheel Tour (Rock Hill) event this week was shortened to 36 holes (no cut) due to poor weather the first day, and I shot 153 for my 2 rounds. I was +8 after 7 holes and played fairly well thereafter. The good news is I made my first check as a professional!! $250 may not seem like much, but to me it has significance because it is my first check as a pro, and I kept competing down the stretch to earn at least something. I remember reading Jack Nicklaus "Golf My Way", and him writing that his first check was something like $118! These are the things that I am learning to build upon, and will be tougher and better down the road. As an aside, I had vowed to not cut my hair until I made a check, and must admit it was getting a little scruffy. Barrett and Toddy Jr. were certainly rooting a little harder for their Dad as well, being somewhat embarrassed by the major "hat head" Pops has been sporting!

We leave tomorrow for Sanctuary Cove, a new Fred Couples design near Brunswick GA. and my first Sunbelt Seniors (pros 47+) event. Our son Stephen is going along to keep me company. The next week is the Atlanta Hooters event, and I have an all star cast of caddies lined up to tote the bag. Brian (Dead Head) Petersen and Reggie Blackburn have graciously agreed to caddy for me, and it will be fun. Both those guys will certainly keep me loose!

To be continued after the Sunbelt event...

Well, I have just returned from Hilton Head and the Tarheel Tour match play event. I am beginning to see signs of my game improving, and my confidence is higher than it has been. I shot 72 in the qualifier with 5 birdies, and putted better than of late. I lost my first match 3&1, played fairly well, and just got beat. The good news is that I can take some positives from this event and build on it for the future, which is more than I have been able to say after most of my previous events!!

I am off until March 21st, and am looking forward to some rest and home-time. Ann Howell will be home from Chapel Hill for spring break, and I am looking forward to catching up with her in person instead of on the phone. Everybody else is doing well, including Steph and our pending new little one. Amazing stuff!

At the time of this posting I am back home in Winston-Salem for a few days before going to Hilton Head for the Tarheel Tour Matchplay Championship. Parts of my game at this point are in disarray, but others are strong. The last 2 tournaments I have hit the ball well in spurts, particularly my driving, and my putting has been fairly good. It seems that I have been leaving myself in bad spots when I miss greens, and have not been able to make par, and my scores reflect it. My course management in medal play tournaments is continuing to evolve, and it will get better. I was watching ESPN this week in the hotel, and Bobby Knight was telling his players that in order to taste success you first have to experience failure, and I know exactly what he was talking about!

My trip to Guatemala was great, even though my scores were not. A friend from Winston, Gary Hennessey went along and he was a life saver in many ways. Gary's Spanish was pretty good and he got us around fairly easily. I am thankful to have a buddy who wanted to spend a week there with me. San Isidro CC was fantastic, perhaps in the top 10 of courses I have played. The views of Guatemala City and the volcanoes were fantastic, and the greens were about the fastest I have ever putted. If you got on the wrong side of the hole, making par was difficult. Nine over par made the cut, and the winning score was one under (-1). I played the first two rounds with John "Jumbo" Elliott a professional who has played on the PGA Tour 5 times. He hits it a ton, and I learned some things from his that will be beneficial down the road.

Upon returning from Guatemala I played in a Tarheel Tour event in Charleston, and also failed to make the cut. I believe I am in need of some rest, and after having played 7 tournaments in 2 months my mind and body are tired. After Hilton Head I am off for about 2 weeks, and the rest will serve me well. It will also give me some time to practice, something I have not really done as much as necessary.

It may sound like I am a little discouraged, but I am really not. I wish I was scoring more consistently, and I know that will come. So much of what I am doing is new, and there have been many adjustments over these first 60 days. Traveling and being away from my family, adjusting to competing at a higher level, and managing your mental focus (both on and off the course), are things I am working on to be more competitive. I am seeing some improvement but I have a long way to go.

One thing I am going to do is change my schedule slightly to include more Sunbelt Senior Tour events. This tour is for guys 47 and older, and the tournaments are set up as 54 hole events with no cut (just like the Champions Tour).The next few weeks shape up as follows:

March 6-10 Tarheel Match Play
March 21-23 Tarheel - Rock Hill
March 27-29 Sunbelt Senior - St. Simons Island
April 3-9 Hooters - Atlanta
April 10-16 Hooters - Auburn, Alabama
April 19-21 Sunbelt Senior - Braselton, GA.
April 25-27 Sunbelt Senior - LaGrange, GA.

Thanks to all for your continued encouragement and support. Keep it in the fairway and on the green!

My last Grey Goose Gateway Tour event was last week, and I shot 77-73=150. Not a great score, but I can tell I am improving as a professional and am closer to scoring well. I had no big holes, and actually hit the ball fairly well. I need to get my short game a little sharper, and make a few more birdies. These first 5 events have been a good gauge for the things I need to do to get better, and I am excited about the Hooters Tour beginning for me in a few weeks.

My youngest son Stephen went with me on this last trip, and we had a great time. Driving back home we stopped in St. Augustine and toured around the town for a few hours, and it is certainly a neat place. We also visited the World Golf Hall of Fame, and had dinner at the "Caddy Shack" Brian and Traci Cook were kind enough to let us spend the night with them on short notice, and it was good to visit with them and Traci's daughter Chloe. Unfortunately we also watched the Deacs lose another basketball game against Boston College!

Guatemala is next up on the schedule. Gary Hennessey, a good friend from Winston-Salem, is going with me to caddy. We leave Sunday the 12th, and the tournament starts on the 16th. I am ready to go, and look forward to playing well and making some putts!

Things are getting better, and my golf is improving!! I finally played somewhat decent in my most recent Grey Goose Gateway event. I was still outside of the cut line, but shot 147 (77-70). Shooting under par for 18 holes for the first time as a professional is one of the good positive signs I need to progress and get better. After making a triple on my first hole, I hung tough and was even for the next 35. I made a change in my putting, returning to left-hand-low that I used a few years ago, and gained some confidence. It is amazing how much easier the game becomes when you know you are putting well and can make putts. I can't wait until Wellington, the next event.

I will be bringing our youngest son Stephen (12 yrs. old) to the next event in Florida, and look forward to spending some time with him. He has been working on his own game in Winston-Salem, and will have fun in sunny Florida.

I have been blessed in many ways in my life, and my wife and children are at the center of my good fortune. We recently learned that my dear wife Stephanie is expecting a baby in late June. We are all thrilled at the pending birth of baby #6, and look forward to a safe delivery. I have also been blessed with many good friends that have encouraged and supported me in my golf efforts. A special thanks goes out to those who have been especially vocal and supportive as this journey begins. Phil Warshauer, Tim McGlue, and Gil Becker, three buddies from Wake Forest have been particularly supportive over this first month. Gil has let me use his home club, Weston Hills, for practice, and Phil and Glugie have given me many kind words of encouragement as I struggled in these early tournaments. Another buddy, Stephen Moglia (better known as Nugget or Beaver) has allowed me to stay at his house in Hollywood when in Florida. It is good to have a friendly face around, and I have found that it certainly makes things easier. Thanks to all.

This next event in Florida will be my last on the Gateway Tour this year. I will be playing most of my golf on the Hooters Tour going forward, and will play some Tarheel Tour events as well. I have enjoyed playing this tour, and plan on going out with a bang next week!

Well, the first three events of the Greygoose Gateway Tour have been a struggle. I knew that playing down here was going to be an adjustment, and it certainly has been! It reminds me of when I began playing competitive golf again several years ago...it took a few tournaments to get comfortable, and then things settled down.

My scores have been high...my average is about 79 strokes. All of my scores are on the Tour website www.thegatewaytour.com My low round is 76, and I have had two nine-hole scores under par. Playing in the wind and putting on these Bermuda greens has been tough. You have to get used to the grain and speed, and I have not putted particularly well, and that has in turn affected my short game. I am getting more comfortable though, and my scores will improve. This whole deal is a marathon not a sprint...but I would like to play well sooner rather than later! Making a few cuts would be good. After three tournaments the areas of my game that need to improve the most are my short game and maintaining a high level of mental focus. Great players all have those two things.

In addition to the adjustments of playing tournament golf, I am adjusting to the travel, being away from home, eating properly, and managing my practice time. I have met some great guys playing out here, and that has helped. I am going home for a few days, and will be back at it January 25.

I have just returned from the Hooters Tour Ranking School in Jacksonville, and my results were better than Q-School! This event was one of four 72 hole events to establish playing priority for 2006. I finished 5th with scores of 77-76-76-73=302. The golf course was a little rough, and the greens were especially tough to putt. I needed to finish in the top 3 to gain full exempt status for 2006; however, I should be able to play in about 15-17 events next year. Not too bad for an old guy. I plan on playing in some Tarheel Tour events to complete my schedule in 2006.

On my way home to Winston-Salem I picked up our daughter Ann Howell in Chapel Hill. She had finished her exams earlier in the day, and she was very excited to be going home. We had a great ride home, and I enjoy very much hearing her updates on life as a freshman at UNC.

Anyway, I will be home for a few weeks and leaving for Florida on January 3. I am excited about playing in the Grey Goose Beach Series, and look forward to the challenge. Best wishes to all for a great Christmas, Hanukkah, and prosperous 2006.

My Hooters Tour ranking school date has been moved to December 13-16 in Jacksonville FL. The weather here in Winston-Salem has been good, so I have been able to practice and workout. After the ranking tournament I will be able to plan the majority of my playing schedule for 2006. Prior to the Hooters Tour beginning, I will be playing in the Grey Goose/Gateway Tour Beach Series in Florida (East Coast), as well as going to Guatemala for a Hooters event there. The schedule is as follows:

• January 6-8 Vero Beach
• January 11-13 Palm Beach Gardens
• January 16-18 Stuart
• January 25-27 Palm City
• February 6-8 Wellington
• February 13-19 Guatemala
• February 22-24 Palm City
• March 6-8 Wellington

This schedule will take me just about to the beginning of the Hooters Tour season. Hopefully I will be able to play right away. If my beginning on the Hooters Tour is delayed, a second Grey Goose/Gateway Series is the backup plan.

If anybody wants to get away from the snow and ice for a few days in January or February, come on down to sunny Florida and hang out! TB

Well, the journey has begun. As my blog mentions, I am a 47 year-old guy who wants to be a professional golfer on the Champions Tour a few years down the road. I convinced my wife I could do this (I already believed it myself), put together a great team of friends willing to invest, and off we are going! The plan is to play in as many events as possible over the next 3 years so that when I turn 50 I will be prepared for the Champions Tour Q-School. Most of my guy friends think it is great (although admittedly most are a little envious); I few think I am nuts. You know, give up the security of a good job to chase a dream with long odds. I say far greater feats have been accomplished against far greater odds than this endeavor. The road is going to be long and hard, but just the kind of challenge I want.

As I write, I have just returned from PGA Tour Q-School (1st Stage at TPC Tampa Bay). I wanted to go to Tour School not so much to play on the Tour as a 47 year old, but for the experience and the benchmark it would provide. Well, to say the least the week was brutal. I knew my first professional event would be tough, but holy cow! I finished in last place out of about 70 golfers, shooting 80-78-78-75=311 (+27). My first professional shot was pushed way right into a lake...talk about a great start to a new career! I had trouble with the back 9 all week, and played the front 9 decent (+3). The experience was invaluable, and I learned alot that will help as I become more comfortable competing professionally...mostly things related to keeping your routine, maintaining focus, and making proper decisions in a stroke play tournament.

Golf is golf, but you have to be in the arena a few times before you feel comfortable. I started playing competitive amatuer golf again a few years ago, and the feeling at Q-School was similar to the first time I played in the NC State Am ( with similar results I might add!). Things got better however, and I became comfortable competing at that level. I qualified for the US Mid-Am this summer, shooting 68 in the qualifier to be medalist, won my club championship at Forsyth CC against a good field, lowered my handicap to +4, shot 62 twice in casual rounds this year, and generally played well most of the summer. I know that being comfortable playing at this level will also come with time.

Anyway, as you can imagine, the ride back to NC could have been somber, except for 3 reasons. First, my oldest daughter Ann Howell was home for Fall break from UNC-Chapel Hill, and I wanted to see her as well as the rest of my crew. Second, golfers need to have a short memory, and this was just one tournament. One of my buddies, Rich Pettorini told me that my expectations were low, and they were certainly met!! Finally, I had played in an event that virtually every golfer dreams about. I fell short of what I had hoped to accomplish, and that stings a little, but that is good. Those scores are out there for public scrutiny and you must accept it and not worry. All you can do is try your best on every shot in every round.

One other cool thing happened last week. I met the author John Feinstein in Tampa. He is doing some research for a book on Q-School, and he was out at the course Thursday. He thought my story was interesting, took my number and said he would call me for his book. He probably says that alot.

Anyway, next week I am off to the Hooters Tour ranking school in south Georgia. I plan on taking all I learned from this past week and putting it to good use there. Wish me luck.