Latest news with #JimMcDowell
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The story of 'the most famous bench in golf'
For almost 15 years it has been dubbed the most famous bench in golf. Sitting proudly on the sixth tee at Royal Portrush, with views of the beach below and coast for miles either side, it has gone viral at this year's Open. Some of the sport's biggest names - including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm - have all been pictured resting up at the back end of the course. The inscription reads: "Jim McDowell - from just a few of his many golfing friends to mark the occasion of his 70th birthday". But what is the story behind it? It involves camaraderie and friendship, something at the heart of golf. "Dad's not with us any more but he used to play every Wednesday at Royal Portrush with a group of hackers," said Jim's daughter, Zoe. "They had the best time and they would have a wee regroup at the halfway house and play pretty well on the back nine. "They eventually all became friends and it was a really eclectic mix of people that Dad brought together, so they decided on his 70th they would chip in and get him a bench." Zoe said the secretary of Royal Portrush at the time picked the location on the iconic sixth tee and it was unveiled as a surprise to Jim for his big day. "She knew the lie of the land and we think she picked the best spot," Zoe added. "It was a surprise for him and it's been a joy to enjoy it ever since. "Dad was really excited because he was one of the few people to get a bench while they were still alive. He would often sit on it with his friends and have the craic. "There have been a lot of stories and family memories from the bench, and now it's been amazing to see so many people from this Open enjoying it." Claire, Jim's other daughter, said her father "would have absolutely loved" seeing some of the sport's biggest names enjoy his bench at the Open. The sisters added that they come and visit the bench every year to reflect on memories of their dad. In Claire's words, "most people go to a grave. We go to a bench". "We were so excited and we know Dad would have got such a kick from it," she said while enjoying the Open with Zoe on Saturday. "He would have loved it if he was still here. "It's been a bit mad, but we always thought it was the best bench in golf. There was never any dispute around that for us, it's pretty cool." The bench is a legacy of friendship - in a way that only a sport like golf can provide - and now others can enjoy a moment of tranquillity, reflection or craic - including some of the sport's biggest names.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The story of 'the most famous bench in golf'
For almost 15 years it has been dubbed the most famous bench in proudly on the sixth tee at Royal Portrush, with views of the beach below and coast for miles either side, it has gone viral at this year's of the sport's biggest names - including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm - have all been pictured resting up at the back end of the inscription reads: "Jim McDowell - from just a few of his many golfing friends to mark the occasion of his 70th birthday". But what is the story behind it? It involves camaraderie and friendship, something at the heart of golf. "Dad's not with us any more but he used to play every Wednesday at Royal Portrush with a group of hackers," said Jim's daughter, Zoe. "They had the best time and they would have a wee regroup at the halfway house and play pretty well on the back nine. "They eventually all became friends and it was a really eclectic mix of people that Dad brought together, so they decided on his 70th they would chip in and get him a bench." Zoe said the secretary of Royal Portrush at the time picked the location on the iconic sixth tee and it was unveiled as a surprise to Jim for his big day."She knew the lie of the land and we think she picked the best spot," Zoe added."It was a surprise for him and it's been a joy to enjoy it ever since. "Dad was really excited because he was one of the few people to get a bench while they were still alive. He would often sit on it with his friends and have the craic. "There have been a lot of stories and family memories from the bench, and now it's been amazing to see so many people from this Open enjoying it."Claire, Jim's other daughter, said her father "would have absolutely loved" seeing some of the sport's biggest names enjoy his bench at the sisters added that they come and visit the bench every year to reflect on memories of their dad. In Claire's words, "most people go to a grave. We go to a bench"."We were so excited and we know Dad would have got such a kick from it," she said while enjoying the Open with Zoe on Saturday."He would have loved it if he was still here. "It's been a bit mad, but we always thought it was the best bench in golf. There was never any dispute around that for us, it's pretty cool." The bench is a legacy of friendship - in a way that only a sport like golf can provide - and now others can enjoy a moment of tranquillity, reflection or craic - including some of the sport's biggest names.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Trump administration activates 700 Marines in Los Angeles area amid ICE protests
The military has activated about 700 active-duty Marines who could be sent to Los Angeles, joining National Guard troops who were sent to the city to respond to protests, U.S. Northern Command said in a statement. Members of the Marine Corps could start arriving in the Los Angeles area as soon as Tuesday, a defense official told CBS News. The Marines are based in Twentynine Palms, a city east of Los Angeles. Northern Command said the Marines will "seamlessly integrate" with hundreds of members of the National Guard to protect "federal personnel and federal property." They have been trained in "de-escalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force," the military added. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said Monday that around 700 Marines "are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order." Northern Command said the Marines who were activated are from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, an infantry unit based in Twentynine Palms, California, east of Los Angeles. Hegseth said the Marines are being deployed from a different base — Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles. When asked earlier Monday about the possibility of sending in Marines, President Trump said, "We'll see what happens." Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDowell said in a statement that the agency has decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstration and can handle the protests. "The arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles — absent clear coordination — presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city," he said in response to the possible deployment of Marines, adding that there needs to be open communication between all agencies to prevent confusion and avoid escalation. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said on X earlier Monday that it does not believe the Marines have been deployed yet, writing: "From our understanding, this is moving Marines from one base to another base." Newsom suggested late Monday he could take legal action over the planned use of Marines, calling it illegal: "It's a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this," he wrote on X. Mr. Trump deployed National Guard troops to downtown Los Angeles over the weekend to respond to tense protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests. The Trump administration argues the deployment is necessary to protect federal property and ICE agents from violence. Mr. Trump has accused local leaders of not doing enough to deal with violent clashes at the protests. Newsom opposed the deployment, and the state of California is suing the Trump administration over what it argues is an illegal federalization of the National Guard. Some local officials have argued the deployment could aggravate an already caustic situation in downtown Los Angeles, and say state and local police agencies can handle the protests themselves. "We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved," Newsom posted on X Monday.
