Holding the fort

TRURO - Truro Golf Club members taking part in this week's Nova Scotia men's amateur championship are feeling a little like Kevin McCallister these days.

During a scene in the first of the Home Alone trilogy of movies, which features a child warding off would-be burglars from his house while accidentally being left home by his family, the young character, played by Macaulay Culkin, is quoted as saying, "This is my house. I have to defend it."

Such is the case for golfers like Eric Banks and Pat MacCormack. They'll be on home turf when the 72-hole event kicks off Wednesday at the 6,330-yard course, and like Culkin, will be looking to use it to their advantage.

"I know it like the back of my hand," said Banks, an 18-year-old who plays the course at least once a day and practices his chipping, driving and putting for another few hours there as well. "I know the tee shots and the lines and the breaks of the greens."

MacCormack, a 24-year-old who gets out for a round four to five times per week and who won a rain-shortened Truro Invitational two weeks ago, agreed.

"I've been playing Truro for 10 years now so it's a pretty big advantage to play a course for that long," he said. "You know where to make shots as opposed to playing a different course you don't know that well. It's going to be important."

Also representing Truro at the event will be John Archibald, Craig Dale, Brian and Kevin Hayden, Trevor Jordan and Chris Topshee along with 29 others. Other Colchester golfers include Brookfield's Mike Penny, Fox Hollow's Terry Clarke and Mountain Golf Club's Nevin Fisher and Bill Cole.

Although they are defending their home turf against the field of 164 golfers, Banks said he's not putting any extra pressure on himself.

"Not more than any other tournament," said the national junior team member who's attending the University of Florida this fall. "I always put pressure on myself to play my best. Winning is the goal but I don't really think about it. I'm just going to try to play my own game and hit good shots."

The top three finishers earn a spot on Nova Scotia's Willingdon Cup team, which will compete at the Canadian championship Aug. 9 to 14 at Niakwa Country Club & Elmhurst Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg. The fourth-place finisher is named to the team as an alternate.

Banks was a member of the team that went to London, Ont., last year.

Although both golfers agreed taking things one shot at a time is key to keeping scores low at any tournament, Banks added handling the course's notorious wind will also be a factor in the scores golfers come back to the clubhouse with.

Arizona Golf – A Golfer's Paradise | Southern Arizona

Arizona is truly a golfer’s dream. I don’t think so, you’re thinking. I’ve heard about your summers. Yes, they are hot. Really hot. But, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, Let’s hear the rest of the story.

Arizona is a golfer’s dream for two major reasons its weather and its magnificent golf courses.

Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot summers, and mild winters, but the high country in the north features pine forests and mountain ranges with cooler weather than the lower deserts. In the summer, when the temperatures climb into triple digits on the desert, simply pack your clubs and go north. Flagstaff will welcome you with open tees. In the winter, head for Phoenix, Tucson or Yuma where lush greens and perfect days await you. The entire state boasts the lowest number of rainy days in the country generally assuring golf weather you can count on.. The average number of sunny days in its major cities

Phoenix 318

Tucson 299

Flagstaff 270

Yuma 335

Arizona also boasts of some of the greatest golf courses in the country. Some of the top courses are

Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia – In Golf Digest’s most recent 2008-2009 edition of its Places to Play guide, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia was one of only 23 golf club’s nationwide – and the only golf course in the state of Arizona – to earn the publication’s coveted 5-Star designation. The 5-Star designation is determined by combining the opinions of official Golf Digest raters with the feedback provided by the general public on Golf Digest’s Web site. Golf Digest defines the 5-Star rating as Superb. Golf at its absolute best. Pay any price to play at least once in your life.

Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia in Peoria is not just another Arizona desert course you play once … this is an experience that will leave you wanting more. Crafted by Gary Panks, Trilogy stops just short of the split rail-surrounded tee boxes that mark such historic courses as St. Andrews, Royal Troon or Maidstone, and has the taste of a Shinnecock Hills. Rolling fairways, intimidating native grasses and beautiful bunkering highlight this gem.

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