Tim Elliott teed it up in the Insperity Invitational on the USA Champions Tour last week, courtesy of his 2014 season finish and Order of Merit on the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour. Making the most of the on and off-course opportunities, Elliot has blogged for us about his time on tour.

Blog by Tim Elliott

What a privilege to play in this event and by far the best tournament I have ever played in.

The hospitality was second to none, from being picked up at the airport on arrival and then given a four wheel drive truck to drive for the week!

With my daughter Flick as caddy for the tournament, we arrived in Houston on the Saturday afternoon and headed straight to the course for practise and familiarisation with The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course.

Monday saw the first pro-am and the rain soaked track was playing every inch of its 7000 yards!

With no run at all, panic set in as I was having to hit 3 woods and long irons into greens over water. But as the week went on and the course dried out and I was feeling more confident.

By Wednesday I’m on the range with Kenny Perry, Tom Kite on one side of me and Tom Leman, Hale Erwin and Mark Calcavecchia on the other side and I was soaking it all in as I prepared for the pro-am that day. After the pro-am it was off to the exclusive Kirby’s Steak House, the host restaurant for the week for a real Texas steak!

The next day I spent practising on the range, in my delegated, named space and in the evening we attended the Players Pro-am dinner. The evening, hosted by Jim Nance from CBS, saw players Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Weiskopf interviewed for about 90 of the most entertaining minutes I’ve ever heard pro golfers speak. It was a pleasure and an honour to be in the same room with some of golfs greats and my childhood heroes.

Oh and also on Thursday the kind folk of Insperity Invitational took the wives jewellery shopping and seeing my wife wasn’t there they took my daughter, which was a worry at what she could spend, but my fears were unfounded as Donoho’s Jewellers gave Flick a $500 dollar gift voucher to get started!

Friday finally came at last and I’m drawn in the last group off the 10th tee and shoot a respectable 72 par. After the round it was time for a quick shower and then back to Kirby’s for dinner which by the way was closed to the public and only open for Insperity guests.

Following dinner we went to the Elton John concert, again guests of Insperity, sitting with 40 of my new friends from the Champions Tour.
Saturday I was a little tired but managed to shoot 73 and by now I needed a quiet night.
Sunday last round, I was drawn with Bob Tway and Tom Byrum and playing ok until the 4th hole where I hit two balls in the water and take triple bogey. Then I hit another ball in the water on the 14th hole and my second shot on the 17th also found the water. It is then I realise I only have one ball left. I manage to get my second shot on the green and make a double bogey.

Finally I reach the 18th and with the pin tucked far right with no bailout I have 168 meters to carry the water for my 2nd shot into quite a strong wind. I smash a 3 iron and managed to limp to a finish. The tally for the round is a costly 81, but I know I’ll be better from the experience.
Post round I had a couple of beers with some of the players I met during the week and watched Woosie win.

As we were flying out late on Monday, my daughter Flick and myself played tourist and went to the NASA Johnston Space Station which was really worth visiting.

All in all, my first foray on the Champions Tour was the best week on Tour ever.