While the first couple days of the Presidents Cup were humiliating for us American fans, it was ironic that it brought the one thing we’d been begging for in the week leading up to the event: some drama.

We’d bent over backward trying to come up with changes to the format to make the singles matches more exciting, and it turned out the answer was there this whole time. We just needed the U.S. team to play like absolute dogshit for a couple of days. Regardless, it was a fun finish, and I even got some Cam Young top U.S. scorer home (bet at 10/1 but chopped to pieces by dead heat rules).

Now the fall is truly upon us as we head into a solid two months of off-season golf. As always, let’s take a look at an excert from Ron’s preview to get started:nd now….

Black Desert Resort

Black Desert’s golf course is part of a 650-acre resort located in Ivins, just about 40 miles away from Zion National Park. The course is a par-71 layout that measures at 7,421 yards and features three par 5s, four par 3s, and 11 par 4s. The front nine opened in November 2022, while the back nine opened in May 2023. The course was shaped from the black lava rock that is pervasive in this corner of southwest Utah. From the green fairways and the blue lakes to the red rock mountains and the black lava, the course offers a visually stunning combination of landscapes.

Nick Taylor, who played in the inaugural tournament, remarked, “When I think desert, I think I default to TPC Scottsdale or Summerlin in Vegas. But with the lava rock around, it’s not really a playable desert. There are so many things about this course that are unique. It’s a lot of fun to come here.”

The entrance to Snow Canyon is visible from nearly every hole, and as you make your way back to the clubhouse on the back nine, it’s as if you’re hitting right into the mouth of the canyon. Though appearing very tight on some tee boxes, the course is much more open and forgiving than you would expect for a course sitting on top of a lava field. As for dealing with the lava when building the course, Weiskopf saw it as a feature instead of a hindrance.

Said Ken Yates, Black Desert Resort’s superintendent, “The way they put the golf course all around the natural lava, it’s like it was meant to be there.” Creating the fairways by clearing the lava was one of the most difficult challenges the design team encountered. They had to dynamite every square inch of the routing, blasting away more than 100 acres of what would become turf. Then the routing was capped with three feet of sand, half a million cubic yards in total. It’s the depth of that sand capping that allows for such smooth fairways amid the lava, Smith said. The edges of each hole might be jagged, but the course itself is perfectly contoured. The sand also provides excellent drainage and the firm, bouncy conditions that are a hallmark of great courses…

Betting

I looked for some golfers I liked from a ball-striking standpoint and had had success at the lower levels or were coming in a bit hot. A theme here is a few guys with very suspect short games, but with ARG out the window this week, I just need some of the putting competence we’ve seen of late to keep up (looking at you Shipley).

Keefer +4250
Kohles +6550
Shipley +5750
Smotherman +11000

You can view mine and other expert models on site. Don’t have a sub? Get one for as little as $5!

How to Watch

Television

• Thursday, October 1: 5 pm - 8 pm (Golf Channel)

• Friday, October 2: 5 pm - 8 pm (Golf Channel)

• Saturday, October 3: 5 pm - 8 pm (Golf Channel)

• Sunday, October 4: 5 pm - 8 pm (Golf Channel)

Streaming

• Thursday, October 1: 9:45 am - 8 pm (ESPN+)

• Friday, October 2: 9:45 am - 8 pm (ESPN+)

• Saturday, October 3: 5 pm - 8 pm (Golf Channel app and golfchannel.com, cable login)

• Sunday, October 4: 5 pm - 8 pm (Golf Channel app and golfchannel.com, cable login)

Featured-group coverage streams on PGA Tour Live (ESPN+) starting Thursday and Friday morning. Golf Channel's telecast also streams live on the Golf Channel app and golfchannel.com with a cable login. There is no NBC or CBS window this week, so there is no Peacock or Paramount+ simulcast. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ covers only the first two rounds this week, so there is no ESPN+ coverage on Saturday or Sunday. The weekend stream is the Golf Channel telecast.

All times ET.

Weather

Very unremarkable weather outside of the high temps I suppose. But no real wind to speak of and basically a zero percent chance of rain. So, not a factor this week, just enjoy the views!

News and Notes

Let’s not forget we have DPWT action as well

TV Numbers for the year!

I had no idea this was even a thing, but it seems like a no-brainer to do away with

As always, bet responsibly, have fun, and watch out for LAVA.

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