Around the course

Random notes from the rough: Golf architect Graham Cooke apparently landed the job “restoring” Brantford Golf & CC because he played a number of competitive rounds at the course. That might be the worst reason I’ve ever heard for hiring an architect … Ottawa tech billionaire Terry Matthews wants the Canadian Open at his Marshes Golf Club in Kanata, according to a report. When asked if he wanted to host the Canadian Open, Matthews said: “I think so. We would need to spend some money increasing the size of the golf facilities. I don’t like to do anything second rate. First, I have to get the Ryder Cup course completed. There are still three holes to complete and I have to get a new clubhouse under my belt before I can put the focus over here (on Brookstreet).” Matthews then reached into his pants’ pocket and turned it inside-out. “There are limits to how far the pocket goes down,” he chuckled. Might help if the Marshes was a better golf course, instead of an average course built behind some office buildings. It might be the least attractive site for a golf course in recent memory … Think everyone is in love with Phil. Think again. Without Tiger in the Open, ratings were stinky. In fact, Saturday ratings were the lowest since 1982 … Colin Montgomerie had an altercation with a police officer after screwing up the final hole at Winged Foot … Jack Nicklaus has only played 11 rounds of golf over the last year, according to a story from Canadian Press. He still managed to shoot 68 in PEI in an exhibition versus Tom Watson … Given the amount of money that PEI is said to have spent on the Nicklaus/Watson event, it is hard to imagine how the island will ever garner enough visitors to pay for it … Adam Scott skipped a ride on Ernie Els’ plane to go back to Winged Foot and congratulate countryman Geoff Ogilvy … Now that Ogilvy has won the U.S. Open, do you think people will stop confusing him with Joe Ogilvie? I doubt it.