Mickelson Part Of Group Buying Fairbanks Ranch

The well-located by pretty dreadful design in San Diego that also hosted equestrian events in the 1984 Olympics has been purchased by Union-Tribune publisher Doug Manchester and Phil Mickelson, reports Roger Showley of the Union Tribune.

The group outbid a proposal from Club Corporation of America.

But a former board president, Louis Ferrero, said the Manchester-Mickelson bid came out of an earlier proposal to sell to ClubCorp, operator of the University Club in downtown San Diego, Morgan Run Club & Resort in Rancho Santa Fe and the Shadowridge Golf Club in Vista.

While ClubCorp offered top management credentials, Manchester offered a more ambitious improvement plan and a link to his Grand Del Mar property in Carmel Valley, Ferrero said.

Update on 2014-09-04 03:26 by Geoff

**John Strege with a few more details on why Phil might be getting in the golf course purchasing business.

Vine: Playing With Fire And The Fire Wins

Thanks to Cameron DaSilva at Back9 Network for catching Jo Floyd's brilliant, thoughtful and shrewd thought to hit a golf ball aflame.

Less Than Two Weeks Left To Preview The Billy Walters Estate!

I know the demographics of this blog tend to skew toward high, so just a reminder that you have less than two weeks to check out sports gambler Billy Walters' Rancho Santa Fe house before the August 15th auction.

The Walters have decided to move closer to the coast, according to this San Diego Union Tribune piece by Jonathan Horn. El Milagro was listed for $19.995 million but now will go on the auction block. FBI wiretaps included!

It also includes this Desmond Muirhead-inspired short game area:

Maybe Your Garage Golf Club Collection Isn't So Excessive?

My Loop item on a 20,000 club collection for sale for $7500: read here but brace yourself and if you're a fire marshal, do not look.

Oh and hey, bags are included.

Golf Addiction Cited As Motive In $9,200 Pro Shop Burglary

And now for a little News Of The Weird on the U.S. Open's eve.

From Michael Harthone of KOMO News, reporting on the arrest of a Kirkland, Washington 26-year-old with no prior record who broke into Gold Mountain Golf Course last month.

In addition to some of the stolen equipment, the suspect's apartment included golf paraphernalia, photos of himself playing golf and a hat reading, "Born to Golf, Forced to Work," according to police. Detectives noted the suspect did not appear to be employed and had played at Gold Mountain at least eight times in the past year.

“Burglaries are often the result of addictions – drugs, alcohol or gambling,” Bremerton Police Chief Steve Strachan said in a press release. “I think this is the first one we have seen that looks like a golf addiction.”

Old Postcard: Golf At Indianapolis Motor Speedway

I'm not sure of the date, but I recently found this postcard at a show depicting the golf course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The original 1929 course is attributed to William Diddel and was named Speedway Golf Course.

Today, Brickyard Crossing GC has four holes inside the track and has been redesigned by Pete Dye.

The Indianapolis 500 is raced Sunday.