The Ike Championship: Sudden Death at Somerset Hills

via MGAgolfer

A classic playoff battle on an enchanting golden age golf course. It doesn't get much better than that, and so went the MGA's 56th Ike Championship.

The event took place over two days at Somerset Hills Country Club in the pastoral countryside of Northern New Jersey. The course, built on the site of a former racetrack by A.W.Tillinghast in 1917, features a layout that contrasts open expanses with rolling woodlands, and has often been described as charming. As a spectator it's a delightful stroll, but after 41 holes yesterday, nutmegger Tommy McDonagh was clearly glad to see the 493-yard ninth in his rear view mirror. You see, the Norwalk, CT native has been playing an awful lot of golf lately; just prior to his battle at Somerset Hills McDonagh had played in the grueling Connecticut Amateur Championship… and won it!

The Ike Championship had been on my calendar for months, and I'd been looking forward to getting back to Somerset Hills having fallen in love with the place several years ago when I was there for a fund raiser. In the end, life got in the way and I wasn't able to swing it... but fortunately, the Metropolitian Golf Association has a stellar social media team and they did an amazing job with ultra-timely updates on Facebook, and Twitter, daily photos and videos, and even an exciting live chat animated by the with the always engaging Billy Condon. It was the next best thing to being there.

Only Two Things - Sexy Scrambles Gals Can Enjoy

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In early October... right around the same time the Ryder Cup was taking place at at a rain soaked Celtic Manor...  Jordan and I spent a glorious Autumnal afternoon at historic Dellwood Country Club.

We were there for The New York Playboy Scramble. Part of what Playboy Golf calls the the nation's hottest golf tournament.  Our day at Dellwood had been postponed from earlier in the summer due to inclement weather and we'd been looking forward the rescheduled event. 

The Playboy Scramble is actually a series of regional events that take place on distinctive courses across the country... as well as in Canada and Australia...   leading up to a final competition (and VIP extravaganza) in Southern California, for the leading regional teams.

We got to Dellwood... which is about an hour north of Mid-town Manhattan... at about 11:00.  The teams had just taken off and the Tillinghast course was resplendent against a backdrop of rolling hills draped in peak fall color.  Before we hopped into our cart we were able to chat a bit with Ajay Pathak,  Playboy Golf's forward thinking President & CEO.

Though we'd been looking forward to this event, we told him we'd also been a bit hesitant, not knowing if... as women... we'd fit in.  In the weeks leading up to the event it was clear some of our friends and fellow golfers didn't think we would... at all.  There were some who surmised that a Playboy golf tournament would be like "a salacious strip club but with fairways and greens" and others who suggested that "any "normal woman" would feel intimidated by the beauty of the Playmate hostesses"... implying,  I suppose, that we were "normal women" and as such wouldn't enjoy the event.

And that's the thing.  As Mr. Pathak explained, Playboy golf events are fun, inclusive, and totally NOT intimidating.  They're set up in such a way that the most competitive players will be challenged, while beginners and less skilled golfers will also be able to have an awesome time.  Plus, Playboy's Girl's of Golf are perfect hostesses and they make sure the experience is stellar... for both men and women... from start to finish.

We saw all of this during our day at Dellwood, and that's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET.   The Playboy Golf experience and how awsome it can be for women... as well as men.  We'll be joined by special guest,  Donna Tavoso, Chief Marketing Officer for Playboy Golf, who we also met at Dellwood Country Club.  We look forward to talking to her tonight about some of the fun experiences she's had ... and the interesting people she's met though Playboy Golf.

It promises to be a fun show, and we'd love to have you call in and tell us about some of the unique tournaments you've participated in.  You can do that on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592.  ~ Or join the conversation in the chat room on the show page, or just listen at "Only Two Things" on BlogTalkRadio.