Tagged: golf
Q&A with Fernando, plus first look at his bobblehead
Fernando Valenzuela participated in yesterday’s 10th Annual Dodgers Dream Foundation Charity Golf Invitational at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. His foursome included representatives from MillerCoors, a Dodger partner. Valenzuela’s group got off to a fairly slow start on the front 9, only 3 under par. The breathtaking view on the course that overlooks the Pacific Ocean might have been a distraction to a couple men in the foursome who were playing Trump National for the first time. However, after a Morton’s catered lunch, the team caught fire and birdied 5 of the last 9 holes to finish 8 under for the round.
Below is a Q&A conducted while riding around the course with the legendary lefty:
How long have you been golfing?
A long time. About 20 years. I started in the late 80s. One of my first times, I went out with Rick Honeycutt in Atlantic City, New York. When I was still playing, I golfed mostly in the offseason.
You took to the game quickly. Any attempts to go pro?
(Laughs) No, but when I stopped playing (baseball) in 1997, for about 4 to 5 years, I played (golf) almost every day.
Did you ever play with other teammates? Who was the best golfer?
I played with many of my teammates like Bob Welch, Alejandro Peña and Orel Hershiser. Orel was the best.
Which PGA pro would you most like to golf with?
I played with Arnold Palmer once at the Bob Hope Classic. I played a round with Peter Jacobsen in the late 80s.
What is your favorite course?
Riviera in Pacific Palisades
What’s your favorite club in your bag?
My driver, but I can’t tell you what it is.
What was the best prize you’ve won at a golf tournament?
Three years ago here at the Dodgers Dream Foundation tournament, I won the prize at hole 15 and it was an autographed photo of myself. (Laughs)
Which course would you like to play that you haven’t already?
Pebble Beach
How many rounds of golf do you player per week?
About 2 rounds per week
What was the best game you’ve ever golfed?
I’ve had a few good games. I shot 74 at Riviera which is 3 over par there.
This season, the Dodgers celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Fernandomania” all season long in 2011. Valenzuela’s “Fernandomania” bobblehead giveaway is July 26 (vs. COL). Below is a first look at the bobblehead!
Tickets are available here or by calling 866-DODGERS.
Oops
Looks like this morning, when I posted Eric Collins’ blog about yesterday’s Dodgers Dream Foundation golf tourney, I accidentally posted it to Inside the Dodgers. My bad. It’s been re-posted over at Psychollingy.
In the meantime, here’s tonight’s lineup:
Pierre, LF
Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Ethier, RF
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Kemp, CF
Blake, 3B
Kershaw, P
And in case you haven’t heard, X Paul is headed to the DL with a skin infection to his left leg, so Jamie Hoffmann is headed to the big leagues. Great story…a non-drafted free agent makes it all the way to the Majors. Great guy, too, so we’re very happy for him.
A round of golf
Spent yesterday exploring Trump National Golf Club at the Dodgers Dream Foundation Charity Golf Invitational. Our five-some headed up by Ken Smith didn’t win the thing … but we had a blast. The course is tricked out and tough, with pin placements that were worthy of a Masters Sunday. But I guess it wasn’t that hard for Ken Landreaux’s group. They finished 17-under to come in first. Mixed into that score was a hole-in-one … one of two aces posted on the day. Hard to believe, but true.
A couple of thoughts from the day: My partner Steve Lyons can talk the talk and walk the walk. He’s a world-class chirper … but he can swing the sticks. He’s got an impressive game. I’m starting to think that he is just a real good athlete. If there is anything on the line, I won’t even play him in darts.
A who’s who of Dodger legends showed up. Billy Ashley (he can crush the ball), Rudy Law (no one has more fun), Eric Karros (a handshake like a vise grip), Bobby Castillo (he promised to teach me the screwball), Rick Monday (surprisingly plays right-handed), Bill Russell, Bob Welch, Fernando Valenzuela and a bunch more.
Chad Billingsley and Randy Wolf headed their groups. I’m told that Randy just picked up the game but he’s going to be good pretty soon. His swing looked smooth. It’s my belief that pitchers are better golfers than hitters. I don’t know why that is. Actually taking it a step further … pitchers, hockey players and place-kickers seem to be at the top of the golfing heap. Rick Rhoden, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux are all elite golfers. Maybe it’s all the time between starts. Glavine also has the benefit of being a former high-level hockey player. I wonder if he can place-kick?
On the subject of pitcher/golfers I’m reminded of one of the most stunning athletic feats I’ve ever witnessed. Ten years ago this summer I played a round of golf with former Chicago White Sox and Cub pitcher Greg Hibbard. Hibby was a couple of years removed from his playing days and had taken up golf to try and fill the athletic void. We played a course in Sioux Falls, SD and Hibby shot an even-par round of 72 … without a birdie or eagle! He parred all 18 holes. It was amazing. He really didn’t have too many makeable birdie looks. He just drove the ball straight (and short), hit the green (anywhere) and two-putted. Amazing consistency. I should have learned something that day … but I didn’t.
The latest…
Props go to Joe Beimel, whose fivesome took home first place at yesterday’s Dodgers Dream Foundation Charity Golf Invitational with a score of -17 under. As for the media groups, we did okay but were hardly contenders. A fivesome of myself and Mark Rogoff from our office was joined by Yahoo’s Tim Brown, KABC’s Josh Suchon and LA Times.com blogger Brian Kamenetzky and finished 10 under par. Joe Jareck from our office led a group with FSN’s Michael Eaves and Lya Vallat, KFWB’s Bill Seward and our TV stage director (Vin’s right-hand mand) Boyd Robertson and they were five under par.
But more importantly, we raised six figures again for the foundation, which is what really matters.
Some good chatter yesterday regarding Blake DeWitt’s year-end projections and not surprisingly, there were three “off-day” stories on him, as his hometown Cardinals are here for three games. Tony Jackson’s Daily News piece, Diamond Leung’s article in the Press Enterprise, and Dylan Hernandez’s feature in the L.A. Times. They’re all good reading about a very humble and talented third baseman.
As for today, Raffy is not yet ready to come off the DL, so no moves will be made today. And nothing new yet on the Kershaw front, though speculation is certainly running rampant.
Here’s the lineup:
Pierre, LF
Ethier, RF
Martin, C
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Kemp, CF
DeWitt, 3B
Hu, SS
Lowe, P
Inside the Dodgers 