Golf: A room with a view -- coastal fog could be the worst hazard

for Hyundai Matches

Richard Dunn

Not to put a damper on anything, but ... the reality is that recent

coastal fog, which has at times blanketed much of Newport, is a concern

for those with high stakes in the Hyundai Team Matches at Pelican Hill

Golf Club.

Fog is no friend to network television, which arrives next week with

its made-for-ABC-cameras event at Pelican Hill’s Ocean North course.

“The weather lately has been nice and the golf course is in superb

condition, but a little rain early next week wouldn’t hurt us,”

tournament director Gary Pollard said Wednesday. “We’re hoping for nice,

clear weather later next week for television. We’re anticipating

everything to be just fantastic. It’s very exciting.”

I’m certainly not going to predict the weather for Dec. 16-17, but my

guess is that it will probably be similar to today, yesterday and

tomorrow.

It is more likely to be dry than wet, and it’s almost assured that

Gaylord Event Television, which produces the Hyundai Matches, and the

Irvine Co., which owns Pelican Hill, are chomping at the bit, while

checking future weather forecasts and praying for color. Preferably, the

colors of ocean and sky blue. Anything but fog, or anything that cancels

the Pacific Ocean views, which happened here not too long ago.

In September, Pelican Hill was the site of a live, two-hour broadcast

of “Power Lunch” on CNBC, the new station for the Senior PGA Tour

beginning in January.

But, the one day it was foggy that week, was the morning of the

broadcast.

“Supposedly,” show host Bill Griffeth said on the air that day at

Pelican Hill, “there are gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean from here.

But not this morning.”

For the Irvine Co., clear skies for the Hyundai Matches will certainly

sell more real estate in Newport Coast, and no doubt increase ticket

sales for the bottom line.

At least ABC isn’t scheduled to hit the airwaves until the afternoon

for the Hyundai Matches, shown from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16-17 (Saturday

and Sunday).

Speaking of Newport Coast, earlier this year officials from the

Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau argued that the televised area

for the Hyundai Matches should be referred to as “Newport Beach” and not

“Newport Coast.”

Tournament officials Wednesday confirmed that “Newport Coast” will be

the term used throughout the broadcast.

Prior to and during the “Power Lunch” telecast, CNBC referred to the

area as “Newport Beach.”

A change in the date for the Hyundai Matches, a week later on the

calendar than last year’s Diners Club Matches at Pelican Hill, has

affected the playing field.

Pollard was trying hard to lure Karrie Webb, the LPGA Tour’s leading

money winner in 2000, but she had already scheduled to return home to

Australia this week, and making a trip back to the U.S. was too much

travel for the so-called offseason.

“If the event was a week earlier, maybe she would’ve stayed in the

U.S.,” Pollard said. “But it’s 10 days later (than last year) and (Dec.

16-17) didn’t work out in her schedule.”

Defending champions automatically qualify for the event, while the

sponsor is allowed to invite six players (a two-player team from each of

the three major tours).

Rules of the event, sanctioned by the PGA Tour, stipulates that the

remaining 12 spots be filled by the year’s leading money winners,

starting from the top of the list, on each of three tours.

Larry Nelson, the 2000 leading money winner on the Senior PGA Tour,

declined to play in the Hyundai Matches because of various physical

ailments and offseason surgeries, Pollard said.

Tiger Woods, the PGA Tour leading money winner, turned down the offer

to play in early October.

For tickets to the Hyundai Matches call (949) 759-5175 or Ticketmaster

at (877) 484-3014.

This month, Newport Beach Golf Course is hosting two unique events

geared for juniors: The final leg of Yardley VII on Monday and the second

annual Holiday Invitational Pro-Am Dec. 21.

Yardley VII, played last June, benefits the Newport Harbor High golf

program. But members of the team, inspired by former tournament chairman

Buck Johns, have been involved in a community outreach with Olive Crest

Homes & Services For Abused Children.

After providing the children with several golf lessons in the fall via

a portable driving range, Newport Harbor boys will take the Olive Crest

children out for the real deal Monday beginning at 3 p.m. They’ll play

until dark, then enjoy a succulent buffet together, 2000 tournament

director Mark Whitfield said.

Tee times for three foursomes are on the house, thanks to Newport

Beach Golf Course owner Steve Lane.

For Newport team members, especially seniors, it’s an excellent avenue

into community service, which is important on college applications.

“We found that type of activity had significant impact when Mitch

(Johns) was going through that (college application) process,” Buck Johns

said of his son, a former Harbor golfer now attending USC.

When the program started last year, the reactions of the Olive Crest

children were poignant, according to Bruce Akins, a volunteer parent who

will serve as tournament chairman in 2001.

“(The children) were interested more in the interaction with our

kids,” Akins once said. “For them, it was more important for our kids

just showing up and being friendly.”

The strategy for the outreach is to continue with the Newport Harbor

girls golf team.

The Holiday Invitational Pro-Am, directed by affable Newport Beach

Golf Course starter Keith Wyrick, last year benefited a boy and a girl

with cystic fibrosis.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.