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Technology
Maple Ridge Golf Club chooses Crescent Systems club managment software to run its entire club operations.
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Courses
The Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club, featuring golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., is selected as the site of the men's and women's 2004 World Amateur Team Championships, the World Amateur Golf Council announces.
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Events
The USA/PGA TOUR Youth Golf Clinics conclude with 147 multicultural kids participating at Park Hill Country Club in Denver Aug. 12-16. The clinics introduce youngsters to golf and provide them access to the game, facilities, equipment and instruction.
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Equipment
At The International on the PGA Tour, five of the top-10 finishers wore CHAMP brand spikes and 41 percent of all golfers in the field wore CHAMP spikes.
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Business
Golf management and development company Meadowbrook Golf signs a three-year management contract with Hernando Oaks Partners to operate Hernando Oaks Golf Club in Brooksville, Fla.
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Associations
The Virginia State Golf Association reaffirms its support of the United States Golf Association's and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews rule that sets a uniform, worldwide standard for spring-like effect in drivers.
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Sponsorship
PGA Tour professional Scott Hoch signs on as chief technology advisor for Balance-Certified Golf, makers of Pro-Balance clubs. Hoch has used the company's putter to move to first in putts per green in regulation on the Tour.
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Turf
Huxley Golf offers a new all-weather "Compact" green with the same surface as those used for practice by 12 European Tour Professionals, but at a cost to suit most budgets.
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Briefly
A new Web site, www.myrtlebeachmarket.com, gives golfers a place to request free info from multiple types of businesses in the Myrtle Beach, S.C. area. ...
The next Hardee's Tour event will be played at Elizabethton Golf Course on Aug. 22. Call tour director Jerry Wilson at 423-929-0962 for details. ...
Ten thousand golf balls were dropped from the sky at Royce Brook Golf Club Thursday night as part of the Irish American Institute's Irish Way Golf Tournament fundraiser.

Casual Friday
Tuning Up at the Buick

The PGA Championship is less than a week away and Tiger Woods can be found tuning up by playing in this week's Buick Open. That Woods is playing, instead of resting, prior to a major is both unusual, but not unheard of - especially when it comes to the PGA Championship.

This is just the fourth time as a pro that Woods has played the week prior to a major. In the previous three instances, he played the Buick Open the week prior to the PGA Championship.

While Woods has never won the Buick Open, the results in the PGA have been: tied for 29th in 1997; tied for 10th in 1998; and a win in 2000.

Though he has not made it a habit to play the week prior, he is comfortable with the concept.

"I've won the PGA both ways," Woods said. "I've won by playing this event and I've won by not playing. I just wanted to get one more tournament in before that event because I think I've withdrawn from a couple tournaments this year, L.A. and the Western."

Earlier this week, Woods took a recon trip to Hazeltine to better familiarize himself with the setup and how he will need to shape his game.

He admits to be playing to win this week, but he also has next week prominently in his mind.

"Well, if I'm out there playing, I'm competing and trying to win this tournament, but right now, practice session-wise, I'll probably go out there and try and shape a few shots that I'll probably need for next week," Woods said. "Like I said, I saw it the other day, and get a nice visual on the range and try and picture some of the shots I'm going to have to hit and go ahead and try and execute them."

Woods is all about winning, but it might not be such a bad thing if he just posted a top-10 finish this week. Not since Lee Trevino won the week prior to winning the 1971 British Open has a player won on consecutive weeks, the second win being a major.

DOUBLE CLICK
www.startribune.com/golf

With the PGA Championship upon us, there is plenty of pre-major hype. With this year's event being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club, the Minneapolis Star Tribune is the closest thing to a hometown paper to the venue. This site is already populated with plenty regarding the PGA.

Reader's Forum Tiger Woods won't be contending for the Grand Slam next week at Hazeltine, site of the PGA Championship. Would you like to see Woods win a third major in 2002 or, since the Grand Slam isn't on the line, would you prefer to see another player prevail? Who is your favorite for the year's final major? Let us know your opinions by sending your responses to info@gpagolf.com with the subject line RE: PGA Pick. Also include your first initial and last name, along with your email address.