Johnny Miller’s Career Is Taking New Course

Johnny Miller stood on the 17th tee and took a practice swing. When he hit the golf ball, there was an uncharacteristic clang, and it rolled forward no more than 20 feet.

It’s not often the former champion of the U.S. and British opens tees off with a shovel.

Miller was in central England to begin work on a golf course he has designed and which is scheduled for completion in two years.

Now 40, Miller is devoting more time to course design.

“When I got to 40, I knew I was on borrowed time as far as winning tournaments was concerned, although there’s a little fire still burning in me. Until that flame goes completely out, you will have to put up with my name a little longer,” said Miller, winner of January’s AT&T; National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, Calif.

“But designing a new course is a very creative, exciting business.

“Even when I’m long gone, it’s nice to know that people will be taking divots out of Johnny Miller golf courses.”

His creation, part of an $80 million leisure project called Collingtree Park Golf Village, is the second U.S.-designed course in Britain, but it’s Miller’s first in Europe.

The complex also will house Britain’s first golf academy with three practice holes, the only one of its kind in Europe.

Many U.S. tour players avoid Scottish and English courses because of their wild rough and spongy greens.

Miller had this message for British golf followers: “In the past, your courses have been made upstairs (by nature) rather than by man. That’s OK as long as it is perfect.”

“This course will be manicured, there will be nothing wild. We want to build a golf course which will entice people to come and play it,” Miller said.

He said his aim was to design courses that encouraged players, not frighten them.

“I won’t put water hazards and penal bunkers in the average driving area from the tee. I put them where they are likely to penalize the top players--the ones who need the challenge.

“I also believe you should reward the straight shot. There should always be an entrance to every green,” he said.

Miller said the Collingtree course would be built to USGA specifications but with a British greenskeeper.

“It’s a perfect site for a pro golf course with a beautiful rolling landscape. We are going to move some 400,000 cubic meters of earth to make each hole an entity in itself,” he said.

Miller said he would be returning to the course to monitor progress as often as possible. But he warned he may not make it for the British Open at Muirfield in mid-July.

He said he had a growth on the little finger of his right hand, and it rubbed against a knuckle of the left hand whenever he gripped a club.

“It needs an operation, and the only break in my schedule is pretty close to the British Open. It might keep me out of the tournament. I hope it doesn’t, but I’ll have to see what the doctors say.”

Miller said the AT&T; victory was not the big surprise others felt it had been.

“I’m playing good golf, playing really well tee to green. Its just my putting that’s keeping me from winning,” he said.

“But I’m planning very little in the summer. I want to be home with the (six) kids during their vacation. Unfortunately, that’s when a lot of the important tournaments are.

“I have made a decision to let golf in the summer take a back seat to the family,” said Miller, who added he still wants to take in all the big tournaments.

“I’ll play the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open, and I’ll play the British Open if I can.”