US Open

Wow......those greens are lightening. When you land behind the hole and it rolls off the front of the green.......Well ask Bubba who went from six over to nine over playing mini golf where a windmill kept blowing his ball down the hill.....

Slocum and Bo Weekly have fallen off the radar screen, but the Milton kids have done well, and despite their outside interests......it is an incredibly difficult game to keep performing at the highest level. I hoped he would buy the Moors and get it open because there were rumors, but I would bet Bubba is making more on endorsements than he is on his golf, and tax shelters and building business alternatives are wise moves. I have not been to his candy store, but I cannot see that being profitable, and opening a golf course after thousands have closed in the last ten years would be a tough challenge when folks in Illinois are paying eighteen bucks for a cart and 18 holes.....I remember paying 65 bucks at the Moors......would not do that today, but to reopen that facility with such a large fixed overhead, 20 buck greens fees is not going to cover it. He would have to spend time there, and possibly look to develop a hotel where people would come to his course......I think probably less risk in candy and the Wahoos.

I am still mystified as to why Bubba decided on a candy and ice cream store (opening in July, Sea, so you couldn't have gone there yet).  Such a strange thing to do, hawking sugar and extra calories to our already-obese, diabetic youth when, as an athlete, you should be the first one recommending a healthy lifestyle.  Just seems to me this is the last thing our youth need.  Yes, sure, everyone deserves a treat once in a while, but a store like this thrives on repeat business.  
I seem to recall Quint Studer was involved in the concept, too, if not also an investor, and that, also, seems strange since he's been so big in the health field, supporting the Y, etc. .   Anyone else wondering about this?  I mean, I'm no skinny lady and should be the last person to criticize anyone else's indulging, but this is our kids we're influencing, via their local golf hero.   Just seems all wrong to me.  I'll get over it.

I had a non resident membership at Tiger Point, so I got to play four courses besides Tiger and did not get to play the Moors that much, but every time I drive by I am thinking what an incredible piece of property. I enjoyed playing it with some buddies who got tired of Tiger Point and we loved it. I had Slocum's dad do some sub contracting for me back about ten years ago when his son, and Weekly were doing quite well.......he claimed he coached all three and had a driving range or golf course in LA before settling in the Milton area......he was looking at properties before the crash to do a golf course, but the economics of a golf course are crazy. I have a friend who built a course in Speaker of the House Ryan's Rock County Wisconsin home, and it boomed for about three years and then they started laying folks off at the GM plant and eventually closed it in the downturn.....he and his three partners got slaughtered and walked away from the course. However, Bubba has name recognition, and I get him showing his asz as a kid, but the folks who market national brands love him, and I can see him making a lot of money for many years after his golf peaks.....two time Master's winners are in a select club.

I think he is very happy with the wife and the kids.....sometimes becoming a parent can help mature an individual. He does wear his emotions on his sleeve sometimes, and you can sense that there is some pain in his past.