Florida Sports Wires

By FRED SEELY JAX GOLF NEWS The World Golf Village has a big weekend ahead. It's October 2-4 and there's something for everyone in what they're calling a Golf Festival. It starts with a golf tournament, includes a chance to visit with two Hall of Famers, and there's also lots of family activities. Here's the deal: Oct. 2: A scramble tournament on the Slammer & Squire. It's $200 includes what they say is a $100-value gift bag. The shotgun is at 1. Oct. 3: A big demo day from noon-4. In attendance will be Hall members Nancy Lopez and David Graham. Then, from 4-6, there's a Family Fun Zone with foot golf, a putt-putt course, free 9-hole rounds of golf for families, bounce house, face painting, and a Pitch, Chip, & Putt Challenge for juniors. Oct. 4: They'll have an Adult-Junior competition starting at 1 that includes a gift bag and dinner. For those who aren't playing, the museum is open at no charge and the Tour Academy will have...

By FRED SEELY Jacksonville Golf News The Palatka Golf Club team won the Jacksonville Area Golf Association's Club Team Championship played last month at Timuquana Country Club. The team consisted of pro Paul Trettner and amateurs Ron Jerin, Ron Millis and David Perkins. The winning score was 29-under-par 115 and there were three teams a stroke behind: Deercreek, Atlantic Beach and Fleming Island. The reason for the low scores: the new rules which allow professionals to carry a handicap. This is a recent trend to equalize the professionals in a pro-am competition, and strokes are now awarded starting with players on the forward most tees. For instance, Charles Raulerson of Fleming Island is one of the state's best players and he was given five strokes.  The complete results: 115: Palatka Golf Club (Paul Trettner, Ron Jerin, Ron Mullis, David Perkins.) 116: Deercreek (Tom Maxwell, Arch Copeland, Lee Fields, Mark Rutland); Atlantic Beach (Spencer Brown, Joe Fitzgera...

By FRED WITT Jax Golf News This year's Gate Invitational was not without controversy. The winner was Dan Olsen, a former Touring pro, but his eligibility was questioned by some of the competitors. The rules say that entrants must be employed PGA pros, but some feel that Olsen's stated”employment” of teaching at local clubs and schools doesn't count if the owner doesn't consider him an employee. Don't fault the Gate. There was a Chapter event the previous week and Olsen was allowed to enter. • There's a lot of sentiment to change the rules governing dropping the ball. No more drops, say the non-purists. Let's all place the ball, thus saving time and making things equal for all. Apparently, there's enough support in the USGA to move it along, but the R&A has doubts. Pro shops will be serviced either by soft goods salespeople, or they'll have to do it on the internet. • Hard to imagine, but Nike has dumped its hard goods r...

By FRED SEELY Jacksonville Golf News The TPC Stadium Course and its surrounding area will get more of a facelift than we've previously heard after the 2016 Players.  The course will get a near-total renovation and that's not all, as the clubhouse will be spiffed up and even the parking lot will be reworked. The only big casualty will be the Web.Com Championship. Even though its Valley Course will be intact, the rest of the place will be a mess so look for it to move to another area course. • Web.Com CEO David Brown sold his oceanfront Atlantic Beach home recently. Buyer was Jaguars QB Blake Bortles. • The Father-Son event in Orlando later this year has an early favorite: Davis and Dru Love. Davis's game is on the upswing as he readies for the Champions Tour and Dru isn't a kid anymore. The rising junior at U. of Alabama won the Georgia Amateur. • You won't see goofy golf for at least another year as the Open will be at Baltusrol and the ...