Pate Designs a New Career

What would a golf course designed by a player whose nickname is the Volcano look like? Combustible tee markers? Lava flows instead of water hazards? Roped-off club-throwing areas?

Steve Pate, who earned a reputation for his temper during his 23-year PGA Tour career, didn’t actually include any of those features in the first course he helped design, Monarch Dunes at Nipomo, which officially opens today.

Pate, who turns 45 this month, is a six-time PGA Tour winner and a former All-American at UCLA, where he played with Duffy Waldorf, Corey Pavin, Tom Pernice Jr. and Jay Delsing.

He hooked up with architect Damian Pascuzzo on the Monarch Dunes project and would like to do more.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Pate, whose influence at Monarch Dunes involved shot value, playability, bunkering, slopes of greens and play around the greens.

“It should be hard enough to be interesting for a good player, but an average guy can still get around. It bothers me, some of these so-called modern course architects, like [Jack] Nicklaus, where there’s only one way to get to the green. You miss the green and they’re all the same.”

Pate hasn’t won a PGA Tour event in eight years and has not finished in the top 125 on the money list since 2000.

He may play only the B.C. Open on the PGA Tour the rest of the year.

“I’ve got about four years until I’m 50 and the senior tour,” he said. “It’s hard to say which came first, poor play or lack of interest, but they’re both there. I’m putting far more effort into course design.”

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The Skins Game has a new title sponsor under a three-year deal -- LG Electronics, taking over from Merrill Lynch. The $1-million event, which will be televised on ABC Nov. 25-26, will be played at Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta.

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Willie Gault, Bobby Grich, Mitch Gaylord, Pam Teeguarden, Kermit Alexander and Brian Goodell are expected to play in the third Aliso Viejo celebrity community cup tournament May 19 at the Aliso Viejo Golf Club. The event benefits children and families living in Aliso Viejo. Details: (760) 632-7770.

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This week

*--* PGA TOUR Byron Nelson Championship

*--*

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas (7,016 yards, par 70) and Cottonwood Valley Course (6,847, par 70); Irving, Texas.

* Television: USA (today-Friday, 4-6 p.m, delayed) and Ch. 2 (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).

* 2005 winner: Ted Purdy.

*--* LPGA TOUR Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill

*--*

* When: Today-Sunday.

* Where: Kingsmill Golf Club, River Course (6,306 yards, par 71); Williamsburg, Va.

* Television: ESPN2 (Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday, 1-3 p.m.).

* 2005 winner: Cristie Kerr.

*--* CHAMPIONS TOUR Boeing Championship

*--*

* When: Friday-Sunday.

* Where: The Raven Golf Club at Sandestin (6,931 yards, par 71); Sandestin, Fla.

* Television: The Golf Channel (Friday-Sunday, 3-5:30 p.m.).

* 2005 winner: Jim Thorpe.