It will take some time for this fairway to return to having good grass coverage.

THERE have been plenty of good news stories in the golf world recently, and the occasional ordinary one. Here, I’m going to toss a few bricks and bouquets to those that are deserving of them.

BOUQUET: To the Seven Network, which recently signed on as the free-to-air broadcaster for the Australian Open.

Seven will broadcast all four days of the tournament from 12pm to 5pm. It is understood Sandy Roberts will return to host the coverage, with Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady doing commentary. Pat Welsh will be back striding the fairways again, along with Grant Dodd.

Eight-time major champion Tom Watson will join world No.6 Adam Scott, defending champion Greg Chalmers, former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose in the event starting on December 6.

BOUQUET: To KJ Choi, who not only won the event he hosts in his homeland, the CJ Invitational, he donated all of his $120,000 first prize cheque to his KJ Choi Foundation, which provides assistance for underprivileged children. The 42-year-old (pictured above)did the same thing last year.

“I’ve always said that this tournament is all about giving back to the community and that’s what I’m going to do with my winnings. I’d never be where I’m today if not for golf and the great support from everyone,” Choi said.

BRICK: The three imbeciles who went for a joyride in a ute across several fairways at The Lakes Golf Club, ripping up turf by doing handbrake turns. Thankfully the damage will be fixed in time for the Australian Open next month.

BRICK: To those golfers who don’t repair their divots. How hard is it to drop some sand into your divot, smooth it down and be on your way? Balls that land in unrepaired divots place a golfer at a disadvantage, the same as having to putt over a ball’s pitch mark. By leaving turf unrepaired, it becomes susceptible to disease and/or infestation of weeds, resulting in a lower quality of playing surface. In the picture below it is easy to see just how much damage unfilled divots can cause to a golf course.

BOUQUET: To the 61 PGA professionals who recently teed up in the Parramatta City Junior Golf Pro-Am. The event, now in its 24th year, provides a unique experience for the next generation of golfers as they gain valuable knowledge by playing with the pros, who also spend time giving expert tuition to the talented juniors (pictured above).

For the record, former European Tour pro Matt Millar and Neil Sarkies claimed the top prize after both carded a six-under-par 66.

BOUQUET: Has to go to Stacey Keating, who broke through for her maiden Ladies European Tour victory at the Tenerife Open and then backed up for another win, in the French Open, in her very next start. In just her second season as a professional, the Victorian now sits sixth on the LET Order of Merit.

BRICK: Most definitely goes to the mindless American golf fans, who at times shouted abuse at the European team members during play in the Ryder Cup.

Team captain Jose Maria Olazabal had warned his charges about the rowdy US fans but some players were quite taken back by the comments coming from the gallery.

As Paul Lawrie said later: “I didn’t get abused, but you get comments like ‘top it, shank it, you’re going to lose’, stuff like that on every shot you play. Every shot, that’s what you get.”

BRICK or BOUQUET: Taking the game to parts of the world that are relative newcomers to the sport can have its interesting moments.

We’ve all seen the hysteria that usually accompanies Tiger Woods when he tees up in a tournament. Remember Kingston Heath in 2009 … news choppers overhead, thousands of people crushing each other to get a glimpse.

But there has never been any violence. That was until now.

Woods was standing on the 1st tee waiting to hit off in his opening match of the World Golf Final in Turkey when it is alleged Ahmet Agaoglu, the chairman of the Turkish Golf Federation, felled a photographer with a headbutt.

When I heard this story I couldn’t help but laugh … to think, in all the years that Steve Williams caddied for Tiger all he probably ever wanted to do was headbutt photographers. Now an official has stolen his thunder.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Let me know your thoughts via email at golf@golfaustralia.com.au or simply leave your comment below. Follow me on Twitter @BrendanJames2