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Sunday, June 14, 1998

Colonial embracing Texas, Fort Worth in bid to capture 2003 Ryder Cup

By MIKE COCHRAN / Associated Press Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Question: What's Billy Bob's monster honky tonk got to do with Fort Worth's zoo, TCU's football stadium, Ross Perot Jr.'s airport, the Cultural District's glittering museums and the renowned Hogan's Alley?

Not to mention the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, the sparkling new Bass Performance Hall and the billionaire Bass boys' Sundance Square and Caravan of Dreams?

Answer: They're all part of Colonial Country Club's audio and video pitch for wooing the Ryder Cup in 2003.

Besides the local charms and venues, you can toss in the Texas Gulf Coast, the mountains of Big Bend and personal appeals from Gov. George W. Bush, Byron Nelson and the late Ben Hogan as part of the Fort Worth club's bid to land the series of matches between the world's best golfers.

"Kind of boggles the mind, doesn't it?" says club president Clark Martin, who admits that some World War II battles were fought with less strategy than Colonial is using to capture the cup matches.

And probably fewer dollars.

The Colonial scheme, which included a glossy, sophisticated presentation to the PGA of America, even involves a new bridge over the Trinity River.

"If we can't go after it in a first-class way, we're not going to do it," says Colonial Tournament Chairman Phil Thomas. "We felt we had a very good chance, and we made a commitment early on."

The unusual mix of saloons, stadiums and so forth is part of a package aimed at answering Ryder Cup concerns about transportation, parking, crowd control, lodging, entertainment, special ceremonies and corporate chalets for high-rolling sponsors.

Quoting an unnamed source with ties to the PGA of America, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in May that Ryder representatives were "blown away" by Colonial's formal presentation.

The source described Colonial as a strong contender.

"I'd say we've got at least a 50-50 shot," suggests Martin, who said he believes the famed Pinehurst 2 course in North Carolina is Colonial's major competitor.

Lanny Wadkins, the 1995 U.S. Ryder captain, and Bruce Lietzke, who is helping captain Ben Crenshaw shape America's 1999 team, agree that Pinehurst and Colonial appear to be the frontrunners.

"It would be wonderful to see it at Colonial," Wadkins told a reporter. "It would be a hell of a benefit to our team because we play that course every year."

Some felt the victorious Europeans had a distinct advantage in the 1997 matches at the Valderrama Golf Club in Spain because of course familiarity.

Besides Colonial and Pinehurst, other courses under consideration are Medinah in Illinois, Congressional in Maryland and, reportedly, Pebble Beach in California.

A decision is expected in August.

Tom Watson, a member of four Ryder Cup teams and the U.S. captain in 1993, said during the recent tournament here that Colonial could be a great Ryder Cup host course.

"It's already a very fine course," said Watson, who, at age 48, won the MasterCard Colonial last month in his 22nd appearance.

"All this course needs is firm greens and a little bit of rough and it would be a great golf course for any tournament or for a Ryder."

In a decision unrelated to the cup matches, but quite timely, Colonial's board of governors planned a facelift next year that includes upgrading the greens and bunkers and planting and removing trees.

Jim Furyk, the Colonial runner-up, said the course already is one of his favorites.

"It would be super for match play," he said. "There are so many different ways to play a hole, it leaves players so many options. Plus, in the fall when the weather is good, the course would be in great shape."

Maybe. Maybe not.

"It would have to go through that summer of stress," Watson pointed out, referring to the torrid Texas heat of June, July and August that often spills over into September, the month of the biennial Ryder matches.

"That's the problem in September here."

Mark Calcavecchia, also in town for the Colonial, said he'd heard concern about the club's ability to handle Cup-style crowds -- large concentrations of fans on a handful of holes.

"You know," he said, "20,000 people following four groups would be kind of tough spectating out there."

Did he perceive the problem as insurmountable?

"Oh, I don't know. Pebble Beach isn't great for that, and neither is Pinehurst. ... We had the Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, so we can have the Ryder Cup anywhere."

Martin, the club president, conceded that Colonial is not the perfect site, but maintains that the committee has answered all the PGA's questions.

Thomas, the tournament chairman, confirmed that Colonial would surrender its coveted May PGA Tour date in 2003 if it gets the Cup matches, but only for one year.

"We would do nothing to harm that relationship," he said. "I think it will be win-win for everyone involved. Colonial is very sensitive to its May date ... and I think it's very special for the tour to have one of its courses picked for the Ryder Cup."

Thomas and Martin insist Colonial's vivid history is a selling point as much as its popularity with the touring pros. With 52 tournaments dating back to 1946, Colonial holds the distinction of being the oldest stop on the PGA circuit to be played at the same site.

Hogan, who died last year, won that first tournament and four other Colonials and gave the course its nickname: "Hogan's Alley."

"His spirit will forever be a part of this event, and his presence will be felt by all who come here," Thomas and Martin said in written welcome to the 1998 tournament.

Pointing recently to Colonial's Wall of Champions at the first tee, Thomas called it the "Who's Who of golf."

The winners include Hogan, Sam Snead, Julius Boros, Billy Casper, Roberto De Vicenzo, Chandler Harper, Gene Littler, Cary Middlecoff, Arnold Palmer, Mike Souchak, Tommy Bolt, Doug Sanders, Dave Stockton, Lee Trevino, Al Geiberger, Fuzzy Zoeller, Peter Jacobsen, Corey Pavin, Wadkins, Lietzke, Nick Price, Tom Lehman and, of course, Watson.

Referring to the former champions, a tearful Watson said winning Colonial was like winning the Masters -- a comment that lit up Colonial's Cup committee like a Christmas tree.

So did a letter from Hogan himself, written more than a year before his death when Colonial decided to make its bid for the matches.

"Being a former Ryder Cup captain ... I would consider it a personal favor if you would give Colonial's application your serious consideration," he wrote in part.

Wryly, but respectfully, Martin told a reporter last week, "It would be a shame not to grant Ben Hogan's death wish."