Golf: Snakes if not sandtraps

Amid all the publicity for Retief Goosen's victory over Phil Mickelson in the United States Open, Johnny Gonzales' one-shot victory over Gary Gladysz seems to have been overlooked.

Which hardly seems fair seeing as how, while golf's superstars had to cope merely with fast greens and deep rough, Gonzales battled the rattlesnakes, scorpions, blood-seeking cacti, biting black gnats, rockslides and the harsh desert sun of Socorro, New Mexico.

His triumph came in the annual Elfego Baca Golf Shoot - a combination of America's wild west history and modern-day golfing challenge.

For the past 30 years these mad-cap golfers-cum-rock climbers have headed to Socorro Peak, 2200m above sea level, to contest a one-hole shootout.

The town below is justifiably proud of the event and their story.

The elusive hole is 5km and 800m below on the campus of New Mexico Tech. The shoot is named for a famous former townsman and sheriff who as a 19-year-old decided to singlehandedly control the desperadoes in the area.

But unlike the players in the shoot, this sheriff endured many more shots to achieve his goal. One legend has Baca being holed up in an abandoned adobe for a couple of days while outlaws pumped some 4000 shots into the hut.

Somehow Baca lived to tell the story.

The shoot's competitors arrive with all the necessities - clubs, clothing for the thin air and three spotters.

There's umpteen more traps around than your usual golf course including old mine shafts.


Each competitor is allowed 10 balls and must finish with at least one.

Gonzales took 17 shots this year to pip Gladysz by one.

While Goosen and Mickelson pocketed cheques for millions, the contestants at Socorro got free breakfast and water.

Gonzales won US$500 ($760) and Gladysz US$400.

NEW Zealand Golf is negotiating a rota of Auckland courses to stage the NZ Open. Among the candidates for a once in five or so years slot are The Grange, Titirangi, Auckland and Remuera. Gulf Harbour has been in the frame for next January's event.

BEN Curtis may be the reigning British Open golf champion but as far as Britain's bookmakers are concerned he remains in the same category as the unknown qualifier who triumphed last year.

The 27-year-old will embark on the defence of his title at Royal Troon this morning with the dubious distinction of being the least-fancied champion ever to tee off in an Open Championship.

If the slight of being ranked a 150-1 shot to retain his one and only title rankles, Curtis was doing a good job of disguising it as he discussed his prospects on the eve of the tournament.

"You don't get to defend your title too much, especially in a major, so it will be something special," he said.

"I'm just going to try and take it all in and enjoy it. I'm hopefully going to go out there and not worry about what's at stake, just play some golf and have some fun."

Curtis takes issue with those who suggest a player who has missed 11 cuts in the 12 months since he stunned the golfing world at Royal St George's has no chance of repeating that feat on Royal Troon's equally testing links.

"Anyone who defends their title, they're a threat, especially in a major."