December 30, 2009–The 2010 season on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and other pro tours, will once again be dotted with more than 30 golfers who have deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses. It's tough to pin the exact number these days because more golfers move to the area seemingly everyday, but the following is a guide to the official websites of the most new-media friendly Las Vegas golfers who include Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Adam Scott and new resident Rickie Fowler.
As a note, we classify a pro as having deep ties to Las Vegas golf courses if he or she qualifies in one or more of the following categories: once lived here for a substantial amount of time (more than five years), currently lives in Las Vegas; and/or attended and played golf at UNLV. Those not qualifying who earn honorable mention but are not included as official Vegas golfers are those that work with Las Vegas resident Butch Harmon, and spend time at the Harmon School located at Rio Secco Golf Club. Two examples: Stewart Cink and Phil Mickleson.
The following are direct links to the official websites of many of the tour players with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. You can continue reading this article for more detailed information about each of the websites. The following are the direct links: Erica Blasberg, Alex Cejka, Rickie Fowler, Robert Gamez, Natalie Gulbis, Charley Hoffman, Kevin Na, Adam Scott, Nick Watney, and Dean Wilson. Information on the various other Las Vegas golfers who either don't have official websites or we were unable to locate them can be found at the official tour websites. Those other Las Vegas golfers include Scott Piercy, Chris Riley, Inbee Park, Kim Hall, Stephanie Louden, Chad Campbell, Tommy Armour III, Craig Barlow, Ryan Moore, and others.
Not only are many pros with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses embracing online information, but a fact about playing golf in Las Vegas is that the official websites of Las Vegas golf courses is where you will find the best Las Vegas golf rates. The Las Vegas golf region is home to more than 50 world class golf courses and most have good websites that offer online Las Vegas golf tee times and Las Vegas golf packages, plus up-to-date information about the best rates and deals. And this website offers you direct access to many of these official websites. The featured course for this article is Rhodes Ranch Golf Club, a Ted Robinson Las Vegas golf course that offers a nice set of par 3 holes plus typical Robinson fun and challenge.
Rickie Fowler (rickie-fowler.com) tops the list of "new media friendly" Las Vegas golfers. Fowler is arguably the newest official pro with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. Fowler moved to Las Vegas in October, just one week before the playing of Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Fowler now lives in Summerlin and plays and practices at Las Vegas golf courses TPC Las Vegas and TPC Summlerin. TPC Las Vegas is a resort Las Vegas golf course where visiting and local Las Vegas golfers are always welcome. Fowler is adept at Facebook, Twitter and his team continually updates his website. A latest tweet: "Out grindin with D Woo at Summerlin." Fowler is the new generation of golfer and we believe "D Woo" is fellow Las Vegas resident and PGA Tour player Dean Wilson.
The aformentioned Dean Wilson is also online at DeanWilsonGolf.com, a website hosted and created by 808Golf.com, a publishing company that highlights Wilson's native land of Hawaii. Wilson's website features regular updates about his PGA Tour events plus information about his background and does list a blog that isn't updated very often. Wilson has lived in Las Vegas for several years and is one of the many who regularly play and practice at Las Vegas' TPC golf courses.
Natalie Gulbis (nataliegulbis.com) ranks up there with Fowler as one of the best at embracing new media technology. Gulbis continually posts to her journal on her official website, plus is always promoting various events and/or products. A recent Gulbis post breaks the news about an upcoming appearance on the hit show CSI that is based in Las Vegas. "I recently had the opportunity to make a guest appearance for an upcoming episode of CSI. I have been a fan for many years and was excited to be part of the show! It was fun to have the chance to see firsthand what goes into the production. Be sure to tune in to check out the episode on Thursday, January 21, 2010 on CBS at 9pm!" Gulbis has lived in the Lake Las Vegas Resort community for many years and practices at SouthShore Golf Club in addition to spending time with Harmon at his school.
Another Las Vegas LPGA Tour player and resident is Erica Blasberg (ericablasberg.com), who has played professional golf since 2005 following a career at the University of Arizona. Blasberg has earned more than $320,000 in her LPGA Tour career through 2009, but had a tough 2009 season as she finished 128th on the money list, earning $26,408. Blasberg did play in the LPGA Tour Championship to end the season, earning another $3000. Blasberg's website features up-to-date current news about her game but the "my thoughts" section on the website isn't updated very regularly.
Former UNLV golfer Adam Scott (adamscott.com.au) is also very new-media friendly, as he keeps an up-to-date blog at his official website. Scott formerly trained with Harmon, but the two haven't worked together for awhile. Scott recently won his home-country major, the Australian Open, capping a tough year and updated fans via his blog. "I've been meaning to write for a few days now and the days keep getting away from me. It's been a good end to the season and I've been enjoying some down time. I was pleased with finishing the year with 4 top ten finishes including winning my first national championship on home soil! I've been close at home, but I never got over the line until this year. I think winning the Australian Open makes it even sweeter. Unfortunately I had to go through about six months of just playing pretty awful but that's how the game is. I feel like my game is stronger and I'm definitely a better player and learned a great deal by going through the rough patch. It was also very special that Greg Norman was at the Aussie Open and presented me with the trophy." Scott no longer lives in Las Vegas.
Former UNLV All-American and current Las Vegas resident Charley Hoffman (charleyhoffman.com) works hard at his official website where he offers a clothing line to help raise funds for his new foundation. Hoffman's website also offers updated news and a blog in addition to ways to support his charitable efforts. You can buy "Think Green" shirts or Hoffman gear featuring the slogan, "This guy is good!".
Las Vegas resident and European golfer Alex Cejka (alex-cejka.com) has an official website which is written in his native German language, but is updated often. The site features news and information plus a kids corner and more. By using the website freetranslation.com you can cut and paste Cejka's words and have them translated into English. A recent post about his 2009 season: "Yes, I can be satisfied. I am very proud that I had to fight this year neither for the tour card or (had to play) the Qualifying School. With my season, I was very satisfied, for I played well. At the beginning, it was, on the basis of my injury, (difficult), but in the course of the year, I found my form." Cejka earned $953,664 and finished 95th on the official PGA Tour money list.
Most of the official website of Las Vegas native Robert Gamez (robertgamez.com) is dedicated to his annual fundraiser for his foundation. Gamez now lives in Florida but recently held his event at ChampionsGate golf course. The event included a gala evening highlighted by comedian Gary Valentine of King and Queens fame.
Fairly new Las Vegas resident Nick Watney is alive in the new media world via Facebook where a regularly-updated page features news and posts from Watney, who also works with Harmon. A recent post at the page reveals that Watney, who attended Fresno State, was recently honored as the Sacrament Bee Athlete of the Year. The Facebook page also lists his website as his profile page on PGATour.com. Lastly, Las Vegas resident Kevin Na, a native of South Korea, has a very limited web presence at KevinNa.com.