June 22: 5 Things About The Travelers Championship

Today's Weather:

There is a 40 percent chance of rain today, likely after 10 a.m. Today's high temperature is 77 °F. The wind will come from the north at a speed of 8 mph. There is a 90 percent chance of rain tonight and the overnight low is 64 °F. The wind will come from the southwest at a speed of 7 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Travelers Championship/Greater Hartford Open memories courtesy Vernon Local Editor Chris Dehnel:

1. At a Pro-Am day held about a decade ago, baseball legend Yogi Berra was standing on the first tee, waiting to begin his game. He was paired with then-Gov. John Rowland, who was drawing quite a crowd. "Hey Yogi, you're playing with the governor, there he is," someone said to Berra. Berra looked up and deadpanned, "The governor? Yeah, I think I know him.''

2. One of the more bizarre sequences in the history of the tournament took place in the early 1980s, when it was held at Wethrsfield Country Club. There was one par 5 hole where the caddies went out ahead of the players. The players hit away and the caddie for Tommy Armour III kicked Armour's ball accidentally, distracted while looking at some ladies in the gallery. Tournament officials went to go look for a tour official, but a tire blew out on their cart. By the time Armour took his supervised drop, an entire hole had opened up between Armour's group and the group ahead – a big no-no.

3. Hailed as the largest professional sporting event in Connecticut and the only PGA tour stop in the Northeast in early summer, the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am (part of Travelers Championship week) takes place today at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. Today and for the remainder of the week, Connecticut will be welcoming the world’s best golfers, including some talented celebrities, and more than 200,000 fans to the event, which benefits the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the Greater Hartford Jaycees. Golfers will include:
 

• Ray Allen, Boston Celtics player and UConn alum
• Chris Berman, ESPN sportscaster
• George Blaney, UConn Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
• Michael Bolton, singer/songwriter
• Scott Burrell, Former NBA player and UConn alum
• Jim Calhoun, UConn men’s basketball head coach
• Chris Dailey, UConn women’s basketball associate head coach
• Doug Flutie, Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL and CFL player
• Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots tight end
• Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, WWE wrestling star
• Eddie Money, singer/songwriter
• Tom Moore, Quinnipiac men’s basketball head coach
• James Naughton, actor
• Kevin Ollie, UConn men’s basketball assistant coach
• Joe Pesci, actor
• Ahmad Rashad, sportscaster
• Karl Ravech, ESPN sportscaster
• Andre Tippett, NFL Hall of Famer

 
For schedule and ticket information, visit TravelersChampionship.com.
 
4. As if a full day of golf isn’t enough, live music will take place tonight and again on Saturday night. As part of the REACH Concert Series, Eddie Money will perform this evening and Huey Lewis and the News will perform on Saturday. The concerts will begin around 7 p.m. following the last golfer of the day ending their course time. Concerts will be held at the Subway Fan Zone, located in the center of the course. Fans can attend the REACH Concert Series by purchasing a one day ticket, which gives fans access to the tournament and all of the entertainment throughout the day. For more information on the concerts, visit reachconcertseries.com.
 
5. Has all this golf inspired you to get back into the swing of the game? Are you looking for a golf partner? If so, visit the Connecticut Playing Partners Message Board on the CTGolfer website, which has a list of golfers looking for fellow players. Looking for instruction? visit this link for instructors in East Granby, South Windsor, Glastonbury and other areas.
 
For your convenience, here is a list of local public golf courses:
www.airwaysgolf.com - West Suffield (Airways Golf)
www.cedarknobgolfcourse.com - Somers (Cedar Knob Golf Course)
www.rollingmeadowscountryclub.com - Ellington (Rolling Meadows Country Club)
www.ctgolfland.com/  - Vernon (Connecticut Golf Land)
www.copperhillgolf.com/ - East Granby (Cooper Hill Golf Club)
www.grassmerecountryclub.com/ - Enfield (Grassmere Country Club)
www.mancc.com/ - Manchester (Manchester Country Club)
http://www.ctgolfer.com/directory/public.php?id=151&keywords=&region=All&type=Public&sort=name&holes=All&subtype=All&miles=10&zip=&showmap= - Windsor (Tradition Golf Club)
http://www.ctgolfer.com/directory/public.php?id=151&keywords=&region=All&type=Public&sort=name&holes=All&subtype=All&miles=10&zip=&showmap= - Storrs (Villa Hills Golf Course)
www.twinhillscountryclub.com/ - Coventry (Twin Hills Country Club)