Sports Commentary

Our final group of high country wildflowers is as distinctive as the single site serving as the representative location where to expect these beauties.

A good putting round makes up for a lot of full shot hiccups. Many golfers get way too technical when it comes to putting. They put their emphasis on the mechanics. Putting is so much more than mechanics, it is a “feel” activity, a natural response to a target.

Last week, I was at the Western and Southern masters tournament in Cincinnati/Mason, Ohio where the finals between Carlos Alcaraz (19) and Novak Djokovic (36) was like a Grand Slam final (Novak winning in a 3rd set tiebreak) and seventh-seeded Coco Gauff won her first masters championship over Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4.

The highest, coolest hiking in Arizona is home to some of the best loved and most unique plants on Earth.

This is the third in a series of three on how to play golf in a timely manner.

We have a new local sports celebrity in our midst who has burst through the scene in only 8 months on the professional ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour, 28-year-old Andrew Bogdanov.

People have a favorite color like they have a favorite cuisine.

It used to be called the “March to the U.S. Open;” it’s now the US Open Series of men’s and women’s professional tournaments that lead up to the U.S. Open, all held in North America that go from coast to coast.

We are continuing our series on slow play and how to play golf in a timely manner.

Picking up where we left off last time ...

Richard Evans has had a career as a writer, tennis historian, author (of 22 books) even at times working within the tennis network of the ATP and definitely an authority on the world of tennis since its earliest beginnings.

While these mountains bear the name “White,” we will focus on flowers that are reddish, that is red, orange or pink.

May I be frank with you? Or Wayne, or Connie or Bob? Seriously, we all have an ego. You would love to hit that little golf ball farther than you do. Admit it – you want more distance, as you think it will help you lower your score.

Many of you remember the cute little girl from Prescott, who went to Abi Judd elementary school, and learned the game of tennis at the Prescott Racquet Club under the tutelage of Sterling Fetty, and spent lots of time on the surrounding courts of Prescott … practicing, drilling and playing matches.

Now that summer has arrived, it’s time to think about hiking cooler.

The new French Open Champion, Novak Djokovic, not only won his 3rd championship there- which is a crazy feat in itself, he won his 23rd Grand Slam singles title which makes him the GOAT of tennis in so many ways, an achievement that will probably only be broken by himself as he continues his winning ways on the ATP tour.

Two weeks ago, we discussed some common courtesies that as golfers, we should be aware of and apply to make the game of golf better for everyone. Just like before, common courtesies are like common sense.

Thanks to the Friends of Spring Valley Library, I have access to Arizona Highways magazine.

Open up a copy of the Rules of Golf or on your smart phone, load and open the app USGA Rules of Golf. Start with Rule 1-2a, Conduct Expected of All Players.

Recently, I played in a pickleball tournament, have enjoyed a two-hour playing group and played in two tennis tournaments and a league match, so it’s been an interesting time of getting a feel for what I enjoyed about each and what I maybe didn’t like quite as much.

Using the team building exercise, “Two Truths and a Lie,” see if you can spot phony claims as I attempt to use it to provide a clear picture of my “hike” on the north side of Granite Mountain from the Williamson Valley Trailhead.

By now, most of you think I am a little different. Sorry to disappoint you, but I am VERY different, not a little!

I’m only 68, but when you’re out on the court from five to six hours a day, six days a week, your body starts talking to you here and there.

Catalina State Park lies adjacent to the Coronado National Forest, offering many trails inside the Park and beyond.

I have had the privilege of assisting many high schools in the area with their golf programs (teams), providing professional coaching/instruction these past six years.