18 Great Par Threes; Ames' return; Trump's Folly

• Ron Whitten in Golf Digest writes an interesting review of a course called Crosswinds in South Carolina that has 18 par threes all designed by different architects. Whitten says: "Yes, it's a gimmick, but it's a gimmick that works. What otherwise might have been just another fun-to-play but quickly forgettable par-3 layout is instead both fun-to-play and rather memorable." The entire story can be found here.
• Michael Grange in the Globe and Mail writes about Stephen Ames' return to play and the fact he expects this season to be much better than 2005 when his wife was battling cancer. Ames told Grange: "It was a difficult year," he said. "Trying to play golf and deal with the problems at home. It was almost impossible to focus. I wanted to be home, but I needed to play in some respects. I could have taken some time off and wasted the whole year, but in the end I learned from it. You learn from the experiences that life gives you." I think Ames is a journeyman, though a good one. It'll be interesting to see how well he can do this year -- he's not a young man, after all. The full story is here.
• There's also an intriguing story in a California newspaper about the low key opening of Donald Trump's Trump National. Doesn't sound like there's much hype behind this one.... "Got $300 burning a hole in your pocket and a burning desire for a bracing game of golf despite the relatively cool temperatures? Then head out to Rancho Palos Verdes' Trump National Golf Club, which quietly opens all 18 holes to the general public for the first time at 7 a.m. today. Plenty of tee times are available." Isn't this the same club of which Trump said, "Some people say this is the best course in California." I know the guys speaks in hyperbole, but who exactly are these people that think this course, with its ridiculous waterfalls, is better than Cypress or Pebble? Source.