
PHOTO BY PETER LOCKLEY / THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Billy Andrade looks out over the fairway on the 18th hole at Avenel Golf Course in 2006 as heavy rain pour down during the final round of the Booz Allen Classic.It’s that time of year again, golf geeks — time for the Greater Washington Weather Delay Open.
Our PGA tournament has been known by many names over the years — the Kemper Open, the FBR Capital Open, the Booz Allen Classic, That Thing Over at Avenel and now, in its latest and greatest incarnation, the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods. But no matter what the moniker, it has always been synonymous with “a 50 percent chance of rain and possible lightning.”
Not that it’s alone in this regard. All events on the PGA Tour are at the mercy of meteorology, and many, like the one here, routinely have to work around the weather. Why, we just had a U.S. Open that, thanks to a succession of storms, spilled over into Monday. Worse, there’s never anything for the fans to do during these interruptions — other than hold impromptu wet T-shirt contests.
I keep waiting for that to change, for the Tour to acknowledge the reality of the situation and come up with ways to entertain the customers during these soggy stoppages. Lord knows, they deserve it. But there doesn’t seem to be any movement on that front, if you’ll pardon the expression, so here are some ideas for Tim Finchem and his staff to consider, a few things that popped into my head while watching the grounds crew squeegee the 18th green at Bethpage Black:
• Stage a long-drive contest on the practice tee among, say, the top 10 players in the field in driving distance. Have each of them compete on behalf of a fan, who would receive any prize the player wins. Give everybody three whacks at the ball. If the weather delay drags on, invite some of the spectators to join in.
• Have a Legends of Golf Race — like the Presidents Race at Nationals Park. Who wouldn’t want to see Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus sprinting down a cart path, huge heads bobbling? Try to talk Tiger into running against them - or at least firing the starter’s pistol.
• Let the fans play Capture the Flagstick.
• Or if they’d prefer, allow them to test-drive the players’ courtesy cars.
• Permit swimming in the pond behind Congressional’s 18th green. Erect a temporary diving board so spectators can do cannonballs. Diving for lost balls should also be encouraged. Players who miss the cut can serve as lifeguards.
• Bring in Comcast’s Rick Dempsey to do his famous Babe Ruth Rain Delay Routine.
• Hold a lollapalooza, one-time-only sale in the pro shop: All rain gear 50 percent off.
• Announce over the P.A. system: “Party at John Daly’s bus!”
• Enlist fans to help build a pontoon bridge to the parking lot.
• Make the club’s laundry room available, free of charge, to anyone who wants to run his clothes through the dryer.
• Set up a tent capable of accommodating several thousand spectators. Show golf-themed movies like “Tin Cup,” “Happy Gilmore” or W.C. Fields’ first talkie, “The Golf Specialist.” (Masters and U.S. Open highlight films are also acceptable. “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is not.)
View Entire Story
Dan Daly has been writing about sports for the Washington Times since 1982. He has won numerous national and local awards, appears regularly in NFL Films’ historical features and is the co-author of “The Pro Football Chronicle,” a decade-by-decade history of the game. Follow Dan on Twitter at @dandalyonsports –- or e-mail him at ddaly@washingtontimes.com.
By Dr. Milton R. Wolf
Victory requires Mitt to complete his conversion

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times
Mitt Romney won Maine’s caucuses on Saturday, with the announcement coming just hours after he ...

By Bassem Mroue - Associated Press
Gunmen assassinated an army general in Damascus Saturday in the first killing of a high ...

By Paul Elias - Associated Press
Human remains uncovered in Northern California with the help of a convicted serial killer have ...
Independent voices from the TWT Communities

Political satirist and Christian apologist Bob Siegel discusses religion and politics.

How does the Bible continue to have such an impact on modern American faith?

Despite cynicism about the law, it can provide you justice, protection, and ensure your rights. It can be exasperating, and at times, wildly entertaining.