The Masters Delivers Again

Although turning my shoulder on my family as they did Easter lunch I had a great Masters viewing. I was not going to miss this one with Phil and Tiger charging up the leader board!

The weekend was kicked up a notch with our 19th Hole Wine Club outing Friday, the second round of the tournament at the Presidio in San Francisco.

We had twelve golfers teeing off at 8:00 am and we each picked a player from the Masters field to be out partner. Mike Zaczek won his first major on the 19th Hole Golf Tour with his partner for the day Phil Mickelson (Mike net 72 and Phil 68 with a steller late charge).

Presidio Golf Club was in surprisenly good condition and the weather was pristine. Of course when we played another nine in the afternoon it was blowing and more typical of the old military course.

Video Blog from the Sonoma Valley February 27

Kris Moe continues his reports from the vineyards during the various months of the season.

19th Hole Wines in LA as Lefty wins at Riviera

I had the pleasure of watching the Los Angeles Open Wednesday through Friday. I set up a 19th Hole wine club event on Thursday which gave me a valid excuse to be in Los Angeles.

The players love this gem of a golf course. It's beautiful, straight forward, steeped in history and challenges these guys with all the shots and usually fine weather.

I spent most of my time watching my friend Michael Allen play with two super players, Vaughn Taylor and Bill Haas. I was most impressed with Luke Donald who was the group in front of us. He makes it look really easy, strikes it very solid and boy can he roll the ball on the greens!

I can't imagine a better golf tournament to spectate. It has a great field, it's a nice walk and the holes parallel each other so often times you can jump over to another group.

It's really worth going to one of professional events. I think you'll really benefit from watching these great swings, pure ball striking and the tempo of their shot routines.

George Lopez buys a shot

So here we are at the end of a long day at Poppy Hills Golf Course in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (rounds took over six hours) and the temperature is dropping to into bone chilling levels that only the hearty or drunk can still enjoy.

I'd heard George Lopez interviewed on the KNBR show in the am with Murph and Mac that he continue his tradition of buying a round of Tequila for any that were willing and able in the clubhouse. Sure enough it gave some of a little more motivation to stick around and I'm glad I did.

First off Bill Murray who is the comedian of the ages on the golf course decides to duck into the clubhouse for a drink with his group, in true 19th Hole fashion. I'd been pouring my wines all day on the deck for corporate folks and the NCGA board and guests. So I walk up to old Bill with a bottle of the 19th Hole's finest a bit shyly because I've seen Bill tear into some autograph seekers and I didn't want that same treatment. Thankfully he took the wine graciously and enjoyed it with his friends.

Ten minutes later Mr. Lopez, now to me Sir Patron, walks in and announces that he'd like to buy everyone there a shot of Patron. Off course the bar erupts. I shout, "George Lopez stimulus package". Then he asks that we all join him in singing "God Bless America"! The whole bar and clubhouse sings and as if staged two Marines in camos are there singing with us.

Anyway a great moment I wanted to share. The tournament continues today and the celebs are at Pebble Beach and for most this is their last round with the cut taking place today. The weather great again so try to make it down or least join in the fun through the broadcast. I'm following my buddy Michael Allen whose in the hunt at Poppy Hills.

Cheers!

The view from the Poppy Hills Deck (19th Hole)

Quick update from the ATT where I'm pouring wines on the clubhouse deck overlooking the 18th green at Poppy Hills. Cool spot, lots of great shots into the green and a few eagles from the pros. The celebrities are on this golf course today so we're expecting a big crowd.

Our honorary wine club member Michael Allen fired a smooth 67 at Pebble Beach to position himself for another top finish at the ATT (finished 14th last year).

Check out my audio blogs from the tournament here...http://www.amillioncooks.com/Home/FoodWeekly/tabid/296/Default.aspx

19th Hole Wine at the 19th Hole on the deck at Poppy Hills

Even if you miss our mid-week golf event having a big time at ATT at Pebble Beach Tuesday and Wednesday, I'll be pouring 19th Hole wines at the tournament (Poppy Hills) Thursday through Sunday on the deck overlooking the 18th green.

So come on out and say hello and get a healthy pour of some delicious 19th Hole wine.Let your friends know, we've got some really cool events coming up for the Masters, US Open, British Open and the President's Cup in San Francisco. We play then 19th hole with...19th Hole wines. Because "real golfers 19th Hole".

Chasing the PGA Tour through Pebble Beach

I love going down to Pebble Beach for the Crosby (aka AT&T). Let's face it any excuse to visit the area is hard to turn down.

Well here's an excuse to come down, we're going to meet some fun people at the Pebble Beach driving Tuesday, February 10 at 11:00 am (we actually taxi in from Carmel Valley). We're going to enjoy some ball striking on the range before strolling over to the first tee for the pro shootout at Pebble.

They'll play 1, 2, 3, 17 and 18 (takes about 1.5 hours) and they draw some of the top players in the tournament and it's narrated by a comedian. This just happens to drop us into the Tap Room at Pebble Beach (not a bad place to enjoy a drink and snack).

We then have enough time to taxi or shuttle over to Spanish Bay for a little putting action while the bag piper plays in the back ground. Of course another cocktail is in order at my favorite 19th Hole (Spanish Bay #1).

Dinner is set for Rio Grill in Carmel Valley. Some of us will clean up at our hotels and we're set for 6:30 pm. If our party gets large I've arranged to have a private room at the Carmel River Inn. My buddy will some guitar, we'll enjoy some wines and dinner. Who knows a player or two from the tournament may drop in. Last year Michael Allen (finshed 14th last year and our honorary wine club member) joined us.

Wednesday we're set to golf at Fort Ord's Bayonet. Bring your game because this course doesn't hold back, it's brought grown men and women to tears and fits of self loathing. Still I'll put up some wine for prizes (low net, low gross, a closie or two and something else like prettiest outfit or worst swing).

Call me at 707-529-6458 if you'd like to come out.