:: February 16, 2012 ::
|
Goin' Deep - U.S. Open Edition Welcome to "Goin' Deep," now in its third season as the official blog of South Carolina men's golf. As we enter the offseason, we turn our attention to the biggest tournament of the year - the U.S. Open. Former Gamecock Mark Silvers III qualified for the tournament for the first time in his career, and he's got Head Coach Bill McDonald on the bag at Pebble Beach. The next several posts will detail their journey around the fabled Pebble Beach Golf Links as Silvers begins his quest for golf's national championship.Silvers finished his first trip to the U.S. Open Championship with a two-day score of 82-82=164 and did not make the cut for the weekend's play. But as Coach McDonald describes below, it was all about the experience for the 2009 South Carolina graduate. June 18, 2010
Normally rounds of 82-82 would sound pretty bad for a professional golfer, but Mark actually played well at times the past two days. He started out strong (Thursday) with a birdie on No. 1 and was playing solidly until he had a tough three-bogey stretch on holes eight through 10. Just when we thought the tide was turning, he ran into the worst lie I have ever seen on number 16. Numbers 17 and 18 were not too kind, either, and the day ended on a poor note. Mark came out with a great attitude (Friday) and was even-par through four holes until the diabolical 14th green snagged us. Mark actually got up and down for triple bogey! That green is about as whacked as anything I have ever seen. Mark kept steady for a while afterward, but a shot out of the rough on 6 tweaked his shoulder and he lost several shots coming home. The hurt shoulder, combined with off and on "banana hands" - a swelling of the hands condition that he struggles with from time to time - made life pretty difficult out there. The golf course the past two days has been so hard to judge from all aspects. Tricky winds, bumpy firm greens and the atmosphere in general have been quite the test for everyone. I am so proud of Mark for not just qualifying, but the way the way he handled himself in the direct face of adversity the past two days was something to behold. He made a lot fans this week for sure. "This week has been an incredible experience for me," Mark said. "While I am obviously disappointed with my play, I am excited about taking this learning experience forward and getting better. At the end of the day, it's all about learning how to get it in the hole. I want to thank all of my friends and family for making the trip out here. It was great having so much support." Getting a chance to be inside the ropes for a major was a great experience for me personally. What a great experience this week has been. A big thanks to Mark for asking me to caddy for him! GO COCKS!! Bill McDonald
June 16, 2010
One more day... Today was a very light day compared to the previous few. Mark played with Ross Fisher who was very impressive and also another very nice guy. Mark has been so lucky this week to have played with professionals who truly personify what it is to be world class golfers and gentlemen. We played 13 holes today and practiced a little bit. I walked the course this morning and took some amazing pictures. The weather here today was absolutely beautiful. While I was walking the course alone today I realized just how lucky I was to get the opportunity to experience golf at this level and at this incredible venue. We tee off at 2:30 tomorrow and hopefully the course will be playable by that time. It was obvious today that the USGA didn't mow the greens and they were watering throughout the afternoon. It was everyone's consensus that the greens were getting out of control yesterday, so the USGA probably did everyone a favor by softening them a little bit. "It is obviously my first US Open and I am more than a little nervous, but like most things, the more you do it the better you get at it," Mark said. Tomorrow will be an exciting day. Let's hope that the ninja force is with us. Bill McDonald June 15, 2010
Tuesday @ Pebble Beach 2010 U.S. Open Blog: Wow what a day! Mark played with Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker and Brendon de Jonge. It was amazing how many people were at the golf course this morning for a Tuesday practice round. Today was the first day that we have had any tough wind to speak of, and the golf course continues to get firmer. Davis was great to Mark. It seems he would rather talk about fishing or hunting than anything else. All of the guys and their caddies were very helpful to Mark. Mark played solid again today, and we both continue to be amazed at how inconsistent the rough is. "The rough is really spotty, but I am learning quickly that it's not the length that gets you but the thickness. Balls that seem to be sitting nicely sometimes just don't come out like you would want them to," Mark said. Tomorrow we will play a leisurely late-afternoon round and get rested for a 2:30 start on Thursday. Thankfully Mark's new PING staff bag is a lot heavier than I thought it would be. David Duval's caddy hooked me up with a double strap for the bag, and I think that a hug was an insufficient way to say thanks. To say that I have a newfound respect for the Tour caddy would be an understatement. Caddying is definitely a cure for insomnia. Bill McDonald June 14, 2010
Day 2: 2010 U.S. Open @ Pebble Beach Golf Links Mark and I had another productive and exciting day. We started our practice round on number 10 in an effort to get acquainted with the shuttle system to the 10th tee. This might the first time I have ever taken a shuttle so that you can then take another shuttle. We played the first seven holes in relative peace and anonymity - and then we reached the famous, par-3 17th hole. People all of a sudden were everywhere with half of the grandstand full by the green. Mark got a little nervous, but it was really cool seeing that many people on one hole for a Monday practice round! Luke Donald asked to join us at the turn and he was a very classy guy. Mark played well again today and the golf course continues to firm up. Today was cooler with lots of cloud cover. A misty fog enveloped us for most of the day and the ball was noticeably not traveling as far. Mark loves the course: "There are some birdie holes out here, but with it being so tight, you just have to find a way to fit it in," he said. Tomorrow Mark plays with Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker and Brendon de Jonge. We hope to get a little more comfortable playing in front of the crowds. Mark got a big tour staff bag today and that was great for me. I needed something a little heavier to carry as I was feeling too frisky with the carry bag we had yesterday. Mark says that I did a better job caddying today, but after yesterday's debacle I had no place to go but up. Coach Billymc June 13, 2010
I am caddying for Mark Silvers this week at the U.S. Open and I hope to give a brief description of what each day is like from inside the ropes at Pebble Beach. Today Mark played a practice round with last year's U.S. Open runner-up David Duval. Puggy Blackmon (USC Director of Golf and Duval's personal coach) is out here working with David and we had a great day. David was very helpful and he gave Mark several "local knowledge" tips that could help us a lot. Pebble Beach is a golf course that is almost beyond description. It is absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever seen to play golf. It also is a wonderful test of every skill a player has. The rough is thick but not too high, and the greens are getting pretty firm. They could be scary firm by tournament time on Thursday. Mark's game looks solid. He is excited and nervous. It is a little freaky to see "tour stars" every time you turn around. I think that if Mark can handle the atmosphere he will play well. His game has improved immensely over the past few years and it is so great to see him get a chance to play on the game's greatest stage. Mark loves the golf course and it suits his game. "(The course) is really hard for not being that long," he said. Mark also said that I did a terrible job caddying today, but I reminded him that you get what you pay for...sometimes.
Bill McDonald
November 2, 2009
Temperatures are falling, zoot suits are appropriate attire, and the Gamecock Linksters have concluded one of the most successful fall campaigns in history. With finishes of 5th, T-1st, 1st, and 6th, the 'Cocks are inside the top 10 in several of the national polls and ranking systems. The fall finished fast and furious last week in the sweat box known as Orlando. Stifling temperatures around 90 degrees and the always-borderline pin placements gave the players all they wanted. The boys finished strong on Tuesday and locked down a terrific fall. Senior George Bryan IV made his last collegiate trip around Isleworth most memorable, finishing fifth. It must have been his steady diet of fried chicken, candy bars, and an endless appetite for Cheerwine! As a coaching staff, the most interesting part of the season has now begun. Players have several months to work on their games, catch their breath and finish strong academically. Between now and January is when a player has the opportunity to separate themselves from the pack with a consistent effort to improve themselves on the course and in the weight room. There are always some surprises within the roster when we start back full time in late January. KT likes this time of year! As we prepare for fall recruiting, and players spend time reflecting on the fall with an eye of the spring, we cannot be more thankful for the experiences we are able to share together as a unit. You never know when life will give you an unexpected bad lie, and just like golf, it is all about how we react to the bad breaks. Maybe the most important memory of the fall was to appreciate each other and cherish our teammates, coaching staff, friends and families. As stressful as the locker room, long rides and post-round meetings can be, there seems to be a confident calmness about this group. I think we all learned a valuable lesson this fall to love and appreciate each other in the worst and best of times... and maybe the bogey on the first par 5 isn't that bad after all! As always: no sweats on the road man, and may all your putts fall! GO COCKS! --Michael Burcin April 14, 2009
Close Shave!
The Hootie
Shiver Me Timbers in Hotlanta
On to The SEC Championship
Until next time, no sweets on the road man and give me another plate of that fried chicken please. Coach Billymc
October 14, 2008
Ken Taylor started his motivating workouts with our team in the spring of 08. I had been fortunate enough to have met him when I was in high school. Just talking to him on the course one day about lifting and what I needed to be doing made me want to put my clubs down and hit the gym to get better. When I heard the news that there was a possibility that KT would be working us out I got jacked because I know how intense he is and I knew that it would do nothing but benefit our team. The passion that he shows in the gym towards what he teaches and how he shows us to do things is amazing. KT has a great way of inspiring people to get better, not only in the gym and on the course, but with everything that you do in life. After the last workout we have with KT before a tournament he always pulls us over to the side and just tells us how much he believes in the group of guys we have on the team. You can't help but get fired about playing GAMECOCK GOLF. At the beginning of the season we always have our "beginning of the year," meeting with coach. We always go over our schedule for the year and coach tells us what he expects to see out of our team. We always go over goals and one of our main goals was to get a win in the fall. Going into Vandy's tournament in Nashville we knew everybody was out to try and kick our butts. I cannot tell you how good of a feeling it was walking around that course knowing that we were the highest ranked team there, and know that we were going to run all over everybody that week. When we finally held that trophy the pressure was off and we all just soaked up the moment. Leaving Nashville after the tournament we cranked up a little Queen and made a quick stop to pound out some Japanese food. KT told us before our tournament in Nashville that he had this gut feeling about the group that was traveling and I can promise you that you none of us wanted to face him the next week and tell him that, that gut feeling of his was wrong. He is jacked if you have never seen him. Until next time, SEE A NINJA BE A NINJA. Koondog
September 8, 2008
Speaking of Bryan, his parents Clay and Kim, host us during the tournament and you can always bet on some serious eating going on at their palatial abode. My parents also will play host to the team one night during the tournament. My dad, aka "The Meat Master", will most certainly concoct some kind of meat fest and the detail in which he will describe the marinade and cooking process is sure to keep even the most ADD afflicted entranced. I am also sure that my mom, aka "Side way Sally", will interject at least one interesting tidbit on the preparation. Dalton is best known for carpet, but there are also some great Mexican restaurants there as well. Some people consider it to be the bi-lingual Mecca of the South. Dalton was a great town to grow up in and I always enjoy going back to visit. The people are great and the hospitality is first class. I highly recommend you stop by there on your next trip to see Rock City.
Hall of Fame Coaches! Puggy single-handedly turned the Georgia Tech Golf Team into a national powerhouse. He has had tremendous influence in college golf for over 25 years! I was fortunate enough to play for him at Tech and I could not be more proud. My hope is that giving Puggy some props in this blog will at least give me a little job security considering that he is now my boss...doubtful though. Mike was a multi-sport star at Lampeter-Strasburg High in Lampeter, Pa. You would not know it by looking at him, but Mike is probably one of the best athletes I have ever been around. Trust me on this one, athleticism pays huge dividends in the coaching business when you are opening UPS boxes and chasing down lame rules officials. Mike's athletic prowess extends beyond that however, he moves heavy furniture on a regular basis for his beautiful wife Michelle, and he has also been known to toss some homemade pizza dough like nobody's business. Congrats again to the Hall of Famers and welcome to the highly sought after and heralded freshmen! I am really looking forward to this year. There is no doubt that the "Golf Game" is ON @ CAROLINA! Coach BillyMc
July 2008
As the sweat factor rises, so does the urgency to see where we are going to get our future Gamecocks. Recruiting has always been hectic and labor intensive, but with the landscape of college golf changing, recruiting has been taken to a whole new level. Since we do not have a formal recruiting calendar like most sports, there is no limit as to how often we can be on the road. This could mean some late bloomers are left without an opportunity by top programs. June through September means hot, long days, suntan lotion and a look forward to when we can put on that fancy raingear when cooler weather arrives. With active schedules, early campus visits and earlier decisions junior golfers have put college golf recruiting into fast forward. We have ninth graders and their parents asking to come to campus for unofficial visits. This means we have to be evaluating eighth and ninth graders to put together a tentative list of who we see turning into legitimate SEC players. Early visits mean that kids are making college decisions midway through their junior years. We have spent this summer evaluating 2010 and 2011 student athletes, with an eye on the 2012 class. What this means for our recruiting schedules is constant travel. Midway through July, our staff has been to a combined 15 events, all over the country. This schedule will continue through early September and go through only a minor slow down the remainder of the year. Gotta love bad food, uncomfortable hotel beds and always on time flight departures! As busy as the system may seem, we enjoy the process and look forward to our work paying off every fall when we get back to playing golf. So, if you see our fleet of golf vans on the road, give us a honk, and keep an eye out for your future Gamecock linksters! May all you're your putts fall!
Michael Burcin |
 Sign Up for an Account!
|
 Email this article |
 Printer-friendly format |
Looking back at two days at Pebble Beach...
Editor's Note: Mark Silvers will tee off at 5:31 p.m. ET Thursday in the first round of the 110th United States Open Championship, which will be contested at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif., for the fifth time. Silvers will be paired with Jason Preeo (Stockton, Calif.) and Kevin Phelan (Ireland; sophomore at the University of North Florida) for the first two rounds. Live TV coverage will be on ESPN for the duration of Mark's first round Thursday.
Davis Love III and other pros show Mark and Bill the ropes...
Monday's practice round in the books...
Coach McDonald learning the ropes as a caddy on golf's biggest stage...
Assistant coach Michael Burcin offers his thoughts on the Gamecocks' fall season...
The long awaited return of The Going Deep Blog has returned due to the public outcry for more please!
"There's a fine line between intensity and insanity." -- Ken Taylor (Chuck Norris' daddy)
With the middle of the summer already here, that means one thing for college golf coaches....RECRUITING, TRAVEL, AND HOTEL ROOMS! As important as the fall and spring seasons are to the direct impact of the program, this may be the most important time of the year for the health of a nationally prominent golf program.