The Advent of Social Media in Professional Golf:

The fashion, amongst the media that covers golf, is to pontificate about the game and PGA Tour via a barrage of witty twitter-zings. They do so, with all due respect, watching the game from the relative comfort of the media center (or in some cases their couches – you know who you are!)

I on the other hand, am not paid to watch and write (nor do I have the skills to do so). I along with my 20lbs of gear, have to hoof it and tell my story one photo at a time.

Over the course of the PGA Championship, I walked a total of 119,368 very difficult Whistling Straits steps; trust me, I have the pedometer to prove it… I waited out the fog delays amidst the caddies and their pro’s, listing to jokes and stories while showing them how to use their phones. I witnessed an unknown kid from China make the greatest up-&-down I have ever seen on his last hole to shoot 64. I quietly followed Tiger & Stevie as they walked, sans gallery or fanfare, back out to the course to restart their 2nd round early Saturday morning. I shared an umbrella with Sean Foley during Wednesday’s torrential downpour and drank a few pints with some of the tour best caddies following a round. I got Rex Hoggard from the Golf Channel to give me an impromptu on-course interview and Jason Day to tell me how badly he wanted to play with Tiger. I was there when Dustin took the lead with a clutch putt on 17 and when he grounded his club on the next…..

I truly love what I do and relish my exclusive access to the PGA Tour’s elite.  I would not trade my access and unique view of the game for all of the air conditioning in the media center.

~

Heading into the PGA Championship I made a conscious decision to provide my twitter followers with an All-Access pass to the action inside-the-ropes and day-to-day life on Tour.

In lieu of my usual post, I’m going to focus on my tweets and tearsheets (images used by publication) and the technology that helped enable me to make it all happen.

While Martin Kaymer may have won Tournament, the storyline for the 92nd playing of the PGA Championship was about Dustin Johnson.

As soon as I arrived on the scene I knew I wanted a different shot.  Little did I know that my photo of the actual shot would get the least amount of publicity.

As you are well aware, Dustin Johnson, leading the tournament with one hole to play, hit his drive into the gallery and his ball ended up in a ‘bunker’.

Instead of setting up with all of the other photographers, I fought though the crowd and got into position behind the ball just as Johnson arrived — I had just enough time to take this photo and send a tweet.

In the crowd with dustin johnson http://twitpic.com/2f531y

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My tweet was retweeted by the @2010PGA (official twitter account for the PGA Championship) and @PGATour amongst others.

Not a bunker retweets

~

Getting into position was a challenge unlike anything I have ever experienced.  While the very polite Wisconsin crowd let me squeeze in, I was a mere four feet behind Johnson and his ankle high practice swings were whooshing just in front of my lens.

After a few interacts with the crowd and marshalls, Johnson got set and  I pushed back further into the crowd and ended up with this….

Dustin Johnson during the PGA Championship published in LA Times

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Immediately after Johnson hit, I was engulfed by the crowd as they started cheering and pushing forward.  None the wiser to the ‘grounding’, I made my way to the green to continue following the action.

As soon as I heard that Johnson had been assessed a two penalty I made my way back to the area.  I knew that Johnson had not grounded his clubs during his practice swings and wanted to inform the PGA Officials of this.  By the time I arrived the PGA Officials were long gone but a fan had left a note in the spot Johnson’s ball had landed reading, “Not A Bunker”.

I took a photo, sent out a tweet and ended up submitting it to my wire service (US Presswire).

Not A Bunker photo taken during the PGA Championship regarding Dustin Johnson published in USA Today and on ESPN.com with Motorola Droid X.

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As it turns out, this photo was picked up by USA Today, ran as a double-truck in Global Golf Post, was headline image on ESPN.com and used by Stephanie Wei of the Wall Street Journal.

And now the best part of the story..

With all of my fancy camera gear (Canon 1D Mark IV, 300 2.8, 5D Mark II, 70-200mm and 50mm), all of my tweets, including, “Not A Bunker” were all taken with my Verizon Motorola Droid X.

Not A Bunker photo taken during the PGA Championship regarding Dustin Johnson published in USA Today and on ESPN.com with Motorola Droid X.

A Golf Chronicles photograph of Dustin Johnson - Not a Bunker - note by fan during the PGA Championship is published in USA Today

A Golf Chronicles photograph of Dustin Johnson Bunker during the PGA Championship is published in ESPN Golf

Along these lines, heading into the PGA Championship I set of goal of providing my twitter followers with a completely different view of Professional Golf.   As such, I took around 30 +/- photos and videos with my Droid X and sent them out as tweets to my followers including these….

Sunday I saw Rickie Fowler on the putting green and asked him if he wanted to do a “GO TIME!!” video tweet.  He liked the idea and added that he wanted to make a putt and then walk up to the camera.After a few takes (he missed a couple of putts, I had the phone on camera mode instead of video mode), we got our act together and recorded this.

@RickieFowlerPGA Go Time

Unfortunately it was really windy but for Rickie fans it did not matter, they loved watching him do his first in-person “GO TIME!!!!”  Click to watch.

Here are some of my favorites photos with tweet included in caption.

A Golf Chronicles photograph of Rickie Fowler Headcover during the PGA Championship is published in @golfchronicles twitter.

1 guess who's on the other side of this hill. gotta love the fluffy clouds

it's almost time for the 10:44 grp. will today's performance provide answers or create more questions?

ahh. the glamorous life of pro sports photography

Behind the tee of the first, with her gorgeous curves on full display, she beckons all to take her home

Can you spot the two time major champion waiting out the fog delay with the caddies.

at f/0, Bulb, 0mm, 0 ISO, Manual

PS #1:

Verizon’s Motorola Droid X is a game changer for me and not just because of the incredible camera and ability to tweet.  As it turns out, the Droid was also instrumental in helping me with my official coverage.

Without giving away too many of my secrets, all of the below published photographs (with the exception of Tiger Woods with Corey Paven) were taken with my normal Canon equipment and transmitted to my editor via the the phones 3G Mobile hotspot feature :- ).

PS #2:

As a side note, a good buddy at Getty Images sent me a text on Monday as I was about to depart from Chicago.

Him — You are in USA Today and Golf World Monday
Me — Me personally or one of my pics?
Him — You in Andy’s snap
Me — :- )

Andy Lyons of Getty Images was setup perfectly to catch me doing what I love to do.

GolfWorld Monday - Dustin Johnson hits from the bunker on 18

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~ Published Photographs from the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits ~

Martin Kaymer during the PGA Championship published in CBSSports.com

Martin Kaymer during the PGA Championship published in ESPN

A Golf Chronicles photograph of Tiger Woods during the PGA Championship is published in ESPN The Life - Pictures of the Week

Tiger Woods and Corey Pavin during the PGA Championship published in USA Today

Nick Watney during the PGA Championship published in CBSSports.com

Nick Watney during the PGA Championship published in USA Today Photos

Tiger Woods and Corey Pavin during the PGA Championship published in USA Today

Tiger Woods during the PGA Championship published in CBS Sports.com

Tiger Woods during the PGA Championship published in CBS Sports.com

Tiger Woods during the PGA Championship published in USA Today

Tiger Woods during the PGA Championship published in USA Today

Tiger Woods during the PGA Championship published in USA Today

Slideshow Gallery of Favorite Photos from 2010 PGA Championship

As a photojournalist it’s easy to get sucked into the Tiger-trap; spend your day following him and neglect the rest of the field.

When he’s ON his game, he’s electrifying. And when he’s NOT, you wish he was!

After covering Woods extensively for the first two rounds of the Open, I committed to limiting Saturday’s Tiger-time. As luck would have it, I stuck to my game-plan and proceeded to miss his historic run; a 66 that included 8 birdie and three fiery fist pumps (I was repeatedly reminded of this by my peers).

My only saving grace, making it to the 18th as he stood over his second shot with 3-wood in hand.

For your viewing pleasure and my constant dismay, a frame-by-frame playback of my shot that never was.

The scene was perfect for a top-of-the-backswing photo so I switched my camera to silent mode (see frame #4). Even at 75+ downwind yards away, that kid has ears like a hawk and better safe than sorry.

Anyway, all was well until the sixth frame (when Tiger is nothing but a blur).  In silent mode my camera only shoots 1 frame per second and could not keep up with him as he made a quick dash to his left and then crouched.

I quickly realized I had to change my settings back to normal (10 frames per second) and…

… Camera away from eye, quick setting change, camera back to eye. Where is he? Other side of tree. Okay got him. Fire away.

What I neglected to notice (clearly), the stupid TV sound guy with the fuzzy microphone in the middle of my frame. While easy enough to crop out, I had arguably lost out on the best sequence of the Open; Tiger and Stevie as they watch the ball cut over the Pacific, land in the narrow trough on the skirt of the green, skip over the bunker and finally come to rest 20 paces behind the pin leaving Woods with a chance at eagle. But so it goes….

Covering Tiger: I’m often asked what it’s like to cover Tiger. As a golfer it’s an incredible experience. As a photojournalist, the nostalgia wears off quickly. Security is tighter, tee boxes more crowded and the overflow of fans makes it exponentially harder to get around.

Inside-the-ropes it’s not much easier. A constant rush and crush amongst the minions jockeying for position on Golf’s perennial superstar. Don’t get me wrong, I love the experience but it takes a lot more time and patience and is often a pain in the ass.

Speaking of, Tiger, when he’s NOT on his game, is a pain in the ass. Regardless of his suit and tie promises, in Sunday red there’s still plenty of moping & sobbing and cussing & flailing of clubs.

A quick quip in this regard: Sunday on the fourth hole, Woods had just jacked his layup drive into the left front fairway bunker.  I decide to setup on the right side of the fairway (by the pier) and use the grandstands as my backdrop.

En route I feel my phone buzz (text message) and proceed to respond, with big lens over shoulder, while cutting across the fairway.

Oblivious to my surroundings, I neglected to notice Woods and his escorts walking up on me.

From directly behind me I hear, “f*ck, god damn, mother f*cking, f*ck.”

Bewildered I stop and turn and in the process nearly clock Woods with my 300mm 2.8 as he walks past.

Turns out he had taken a potty break after his tee shot. I guess he needs more time in the john than most of us to cool off.

My favorites photographs of Tiger Woods during the 110th playing of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Prints available for purchase – Click here.

Checkout all of the action from the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach:

About Golf Chronicles and Allan Henry:
Through Golf Chronicles, the photography of Allan Henry is routinely featured in the world’s leading golf publications and newspaper including: GolfWorld / Golf Digests, Sports Illustrated / Golf Magazine, ESPN, Yahoo!, Global Golf Post, LA Times and USA Today.

As part of a new program specifically tailored to the needs of bloggers covering professional golf, Golf Chronicles imagery is now available to those passionate about sharing their take on the game.

Licensing is affordable and flexible, ranging from single image to unlimited tournament access. Looking for a specific shot, on-demand photograph is available as well. To learn more about this program, please contact.

Prints, for personal use only, can be purchase directly thought the site. Please contact if you are interested in custom and fine-art photography.

“Hi, I’m Phil,” as if the walking scorers and marshals assigned to Sunday’s 40th group of the day did not know.

It was Sunday afternoon of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and Phil Mickelson along with caddy Jim ‘Bones’ MacKay were on the the tee of the first hole.

Mickelson was introducing himself to the volunteers assigned to the group, “Cheryl did you say, nice to meet you.”

As I watched Mickelson go through this exercise, an exercise performed countless times each week by PGA Tour pros, I realized why Phil Mickelson is so beloved.

More than any other player, Mickelson leaves an impression on the people fans he encounters.

Prints available for purchase – Click here.

Don’t believe me, compare Mickelson with the rest of the field during his next Tournament.  Count how many ‘knocks’ he reciprocates between green and tee.  Then add in the nods and grins (regardless of position on the leaderboard) and Mickelson is off the charts.

Psst.  There’s more of this stuff you don’t see.  I’ve watched him chat with lonely Marshals stationed on outlying holes, thank fans while signing autographs after a round and for those in his Pro-Am group,  nobody is better (he reads putts, cleans clubs, helps with swings, makes jokes, call everyone by their first name, etc…).

It’s not all good however.  We differ on 5 Guys and with his slight hang-back at impact, his face is often out of focus in my photos.

These ‘issues’ aside, what does any of this have to do with the U.S. Open?

Candidly not much outside of getting you to look at my photographs and the reason why I wrote this piece.

During Open week I happened to bump into Bones off the course.  Between pleasantries the conversation touched on a sore topic, the undercurrent of animosity that has permeated Mickelson’s career.

“I don’t understand it, it’s been there for a longtime and not deserved,” said MacKay, Mickelson’s caddy since he turned pro in 1993.

The culprit as we both know, an old article from Gentlemen’s Quarterly, an article that in full disclosure, jaded my perspective for a number of years.

If you recall the piece, it’s dead wrong.  If you don’t, all the better!  Mickelson mea culpa.

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Checkout all of the action from the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach:

About Golf Chronicles and Allan Henry:
Through Golf Chronicles, the photography of Allan Henry is routinely featured in the world’s leading golf publications and newspaper including: GolfWorld / Golf Digests, Sports Illustrated / Golf Magazine, ESPN, Yahoo!, Global Golf Post, LA Times and USA Today.

As part of a new program specifically tailored to the needs of bloggers covering professional golf, Golf Chronicles imagery is now available to those passionate about sharing their take on the game.

Licensing is affordable and flexible, ranging from single image to unlimited tournament access. Looking for a specific shot, on-demand photograph is available as well. To learn more about this program, please contact.

Prints, for personal use only, can be purchase directly thought the site. Please contact if you are interested in custom and fine-art photography.

One of the first things I saw upon arriving at Pebble was Lefty eating a cookie.

Sitting calmly in the back of a golf cart, this Lefty is in training to be Pebble Beach’s next – keep the geese off the greens – dog.

Assuming the reference to Mickelson, I asked about the choice of name.  “Really? Didn’t think of that,” came the response from the greenskeeper, “perhaps it will bring him some good luck.”

Lefty, along with the rest of the field would need all the luck they could muster whilst tackling a very different Pebble Beach.

Prints available for purchase – Click here.

If I had to pick one course, a course to shoot every day, it would be Pebble Beach. I got my first taste during the AT&T Pro-Am and immediately fell in love. With it’s sweeping ocean vistas, intimate forest trails and incredible routing and angles, Pebble Beach is a golf photographers dream.

I was last at Pebble for the AT&T.  In large part I chose to cover the Pro-Am in preparation for the Open walking the course numerous times and scouting the various holes.

And as with those who played the Pro-Am with goal of preparing their games, found that Pebble Beach – U.S. Open style – to be a completely different beast.

Thick native fescue now surrounded the bunkers, gnarly rough encroached upon the already tight fairways and the greens, as Mr. Woods so eloquently stated, “the greens, awful.“

And whilst these conditions reeked havoc on the players and their game’s, as I photographer I found myself positivity smitten by the USGA’s additions.

Finally Pebble without the manicured resort facade.  A Pebble true to her Links golf heritage.

I decided that I liked this Pebble better, rugged and coastal – think Tom Watson in his trademark polo sweater and a Graeme McDowell style beard.

U.S. Open Pebble Beach Golf Links, a sight to behold!

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Checkout all of the action from the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach:

About Golf Chronicles and Allan Henry:
Through Golf Chronicles, the photography of Allan Henry is routinely featured in the world’s leading golf publications and newspaper including: GolfWorld / Golf Digests, Sports Illustrated / Golf Magazine, ESPN, Yahoo!, Global Golf Post, LA Times and USA Today.

As part of a new program specifically tailored to the needs of bloggers covering professional golf, Golf Chronicles imagery is now available to those passionate about sharing their take on the game.

Licensing is affordable and flexible, ranging from single image to unlimited tournament access.  Looking for a specific shot, on-demand photograph is available as well.    To learn more about this program, please contact.

Prints, for personal use only, can be purchase directly thought the site. Please contact if you are interested in custom and fine-art photography.

As I listened to Graeme McDowell recall his final round, I could not help but think of Ben Crane and his win at Torrey Pines.

No, this has nothing to do with pace of play.

I will forever remember Crane for what he didn’t do that day; look at a leaderboard.  After putting-out to win the Tournament, a none the wiser Crane casually turned to shake playing partner Ryuji Imada’s hand.

Imada in turn, informed Crane that he had just won.

Prints available for purchase – Click here.

For his part, Graeme McDowell didn’t peaked at the leaderboard until after his second bogey of the day, “I bogeyed 9 and 10, I looked up at the leaderboard and I was surprised to be 2 ahead, I really was.”

While the winners of 21 combined Majors crumbled around him, the little known Irishman had only one competitor to worry about, an unknown Frenchman ranked 391st in the world.

“I was surprised that Gregory Havret was the guy closest to me. No disrespect to Gregory, he’s a great player, but when you have Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els obviously there, you’re not expecting Gregory Havret to be the guy you’ve got to fend off.”

In the end he did just that, knowing exactly what needed to do to win the Tournament. “When I saw him (Gregory Havret) not birdie 18, I had my decision made.”

McDowell, after a short chat with caddy Ken Comboy, played the 18th as a classic par 5 laying up to 100 yards and two putting for his first major.

Moments after tapping-in, McDowell was rushed by father Kenny and given a big hug. “My father said there’s only thing he wanted for Father’s Day, and I wasn’t quite sure whether I was going to be able to deliver that.”

As touching as it was to hear him speak about his father and credit him for much of his success in golf, McDowell should have been thanking the person who’s name is etched two spots above his on the trophy.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Graeme McDowell is the 110th U.S. Open Champion because of Tiger Woods and his Thanksgiving night fender-bender.

Hear me out on this……

As a result of the accident and all that followed, Woods pulled out, withdrew, choose not to play in his invitational, the Chevron World Challenge and Graeme McDowell was his last minute replacement

- McDowell’s world ranking the week of the Chevron… 55th
- McDowell’s world ranking the week after the Chevron… 38th (he finished solo second)
- McDowell’s world ranking inside the top-50… Priceless*
*The top 50 in the world receive automatic exemptions into the Majors.

Over the next 13 tournaments McDowell missed a few cuts, had a few top 10 finishes and by the time the cut-off for the U.S. Open came around (May 25th), his slowly slipping world ranking was just good enough.

While he may have snuck into the U.S. Open as the 49th best player in the world, McDowell was fresh off a victory at the Celtic Manor Wales Open; making him the most recent winner in the field.

As it turns out, this was his special sauce, “This time in Wales I felt like I was ready to use that victory for big things. Little did I know what was around the corner. I couldn’t imagine this week, but I felt ready for it, I really did. I felt calm and I felt confident this week.”

One of only a handful of players to not make double bogey all week, McDowell played well within himself channeling his disappointments from majors past, “I’ve played in plenty of tournaments where I made the mistakes. I feel like I’ve served my apprenticeship a few times. I’ve been in positions going into a weekend at majors and not done the job.”

Well on this week in June, the Irishman in a heather-gray cardigan was the only one who did.

My favorites photographs of the 110th U.S. Open Champion Graeme McDowell winning at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Prints available for purchase – Click here.

Checkout all of the action from the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach:

About Golf Chronicles and Allan Henry:
Through Golf Chronicles, the photography of Allan Henry is routinely featured in the world’s leading golf publications and newspaper including: GolfWorld / Golf Digests, Sports Illustrated / Golf Magazine, ESPN, Yahoo!, Global Golf Post, LA Times and USA Today.

As part of a new program specifically tailored to the needs of bloggers covering professional golf, Golf Chronicles imagery is now available to those passionate about sharing their take on the game.

Licensing is affordable and flexible and ranges from single image and unlimited access to on-demand photography. To learn more about this program, please contact.

Prints, for personal use only, can be purchase directly thought the site. Please contact if you are interested in custom and fine-art photography.

I decided to take a walk late Wednesday afternoon and saw a group gathered down on the beach below the 10th hole.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/8000 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Turns out Sky Sports (UK TV Channel) had ‘borrowed’ the U.S. Open Trophy and was filming a few vignettes.

As many of you know, there are numerous copies of the trophy.. ala the Lexus tent.

Not the real deal!!

Turns out this guy was the real deal.

THE REAL DEAL!!

And to prove it, one of Pebble Beach’s finest was standing close by at all time.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 200mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Anyway, after they were done, Sky Sports lets some fans take candid photos and I could not resist.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

At first a simple smile.. Then of course a kiss…

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

And then I started booking it down the beach :- )….

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/3.5, 1/4000 sec, 70mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Luckily for me, the Sky Sport video guy was taking the pics and had the presence of mind to keep clicking.

x

x

Can you really blame me for borrowing the title line : -).

Lee Westwood during the St. Jude Classic on the cover of GolfWorld (June 21, 2010).

Lee Westwood during the St. Jude Classic is published in GolfWorld

Here’s are the two images used by GolfWorld, in addition to a few of my other favorites from the week.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/2000 sec, 300mm, 250 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/2000 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

It was agony watching Robert Garrigus ‘aka Cutty’ botching the 18th.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/800 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

So close…

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/800 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

One of my favorite young talents, Rory McILroy.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/500 sec, 300mm, 500 ISO, Manual

How good is that position.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/2, 1/8000 sec, 135mm, 200 ISO, Manual

He came out to support his boy Westwood on the 18th (sans-hat) for the Trophy presentation.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/640 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

And the Brother’s Villegas made their first PGA Tour appearance.

Some great light in the afternoon with the cloud cover.  Heath Slocum from the greenside bunker of the sixth.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/5000 sec, 300mm, 320 ISO, Manual

I was doing a little shopping at the Scottsdale PGA Superstore and saw Bubba Watson hanging out in the Travis Mathew section.

While Bubba and wife Angie are known to visit the Scottsdale location, it was my photo of Bubba set amidst the Fall 2010 Collection that caught my eye.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/200 sec, 50mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Prior to the start of this year Phoenix Open, I did a quick shoot with Bubba while he and fellow PGA pros volunteered their time and expertise to some of the pro-am participants.

In keeping with this theme, I titled the collection “Bubba Gives a Lesson” and submitted to Travis Mathew.

Here’s the select image, entire slideshow after the jump, and be sure to check the Travis Mathew Collection…

Canon EOS 5D Mark II at f/2, 1/5000 sec, 135mm, 200 ISO, Manual

PS:  Bill the store manger told me you can hear the crack of the driver across the entire store (and the store is big) when Angie’s hitting in the range simulators …

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Bubba Gives a Lesson – Images by Allan Henry / golf chronicles

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PHOTO GEEKS ONLY:

All images were shot with the 5D Mark II and the 135mm at f/2.0 using available light.

For golf, I only use prime lenses and my standard walk-around kit includes the 135 along with the 300 2.8 IS and 50 1.4.

These lenses combined with the 5D MII and 1D MIV provides a range from 50mm – 390mm (with the 1D Mark IV crop) without having to compromise on aperture.

PS:  The 135 is also my favorite all around lens and in my opinion, one of Canon’s most underrated as it does not have an ‘L’ distinction (meaning NOT part of Canon’s professional series).   The good news, with the “professional” nomenclature missing, this lens retails for around $1000 and is well worth the price.

Yesterday afternoon, I spent a few hours taking advantage of the weather and my TPC of Scottsdale membership.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2, 1/5000 sec, 135mm, 200 ISO, Manual

After getting done on the range, I made my way over to the infamous 16th hole with camera in-tote and happened upon a foursome readying to tee off.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2, 1/5000 sec, 135mm, 200 ISO, Manual

“This is the 16th hole”, a member of the group asked the caddy as he compared the photo on the scorecard with the 16th hole that lay in-front of him.

As this hole, while beautiful in it’s own right, is but a shell of its former-self without Golf’s version of the Colosseum as it’s surround.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2, 1/6400 sec, 135mm, 250 ISO, Manual

A few of my favorites moments from the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the 16th hole where PGA Pro’s compete as gladiators and vie for crowd approval.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/5000 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/800 sec, 300mm, 250 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.2, 1/5000 sec, 135mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2.8, 1/1000 sec, 300mm, 200 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2, 1/1250 sec, 135mm, 250 ISO, Manual

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV at f/2, 1/2500 sec, 50mm, 250 ISO, Manual