June 3, 2001, Cont'd INSIDE: Top of Utah golfer Jimmy Blair still has the fire to compete, and keep his opponents guessing as well/6C. BRIAN NICHOLSON/ Standard-Examiner death. Later, I heard that the snake had wrapped itself around Jimmy's club. That was one club he never minded losing." Blair tells a much different version of the story, saying the snake was in the fairway and that he had clipped the head off with one swing of his iron. Whichever story is more accurate, it was just one of many stories Blair enjoyed while at BYU. "He loved his time at BYU," sad Tucker. "I think he took a lot of pride in being a part of that team." "We had a lot of players on that team," said Blair. "All six guys held a tour card at one time." Blair's time came in 1984 as a full member of the PGA Tour. He finished 233rd on the money list that season, Mulligan's North Golf and Games _ Jimmy Blair has come up with another gem. If you haven't heard, the popular Northern Utah golfer has made significant improvements to the already popular Mulligan's North Golf and Games. As owner and head professional of the facility, Blair invested $300,000 into the construction of a two-tiered driving range which features heaters, cooling fans and 48 hitting areas. "This is one of the nicest facilities I've seen across the country," offered Blair, who said he spent seven or eight years researching similar facilities around the country. "I tried to take the best of all those other facilities and put them together." The lower tier features stations equipped with fans to cool the hottest days of the summer and heaters, providing the most die-hard golfer a place to stay sharp in the winter. "I think there will be quite a few people that will use it to keep their games sharp or to take a lesson," Blair added. The open-air upper tier, which Blair said is like a novelty for kids and beginners, adds several more driving mats to work on your game. Mulligan's North also features a large grass driving area, a nine-hole executive golf course and a miniature putting course. Blair said plans are underway to make similar improvements to Mulligan's South in South Jordan. Mulligan's North is located at 1690 W. 400 North in Marriott-Slaterville. - Brady Bingham earning $1,786. He has played in a spattering of tournaments on either the PGA Tour of the Buy.com Tour for nearly two decades. At age 46, Blair still has a strong desire to return to the PGA Tour and even perhaps play on the Senior Tour in the future. "I live for the qualifier," Blair said of the PGA Tour's dreaded Q-school, where every year thousands of golfers work their way through three stages of tournaments for the opportunity to play with the likes of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson on the PGA Tour. "It's the only chance I get, really, to get back on tour," Blair said of Q-school. That's because the bulk of Blair's time has been spent building and managing the Mulligan's facilities. In 1988, along with his father and uncle, Blair built Mulligan's North in Slaterville. His management team also runs Mulligan's South in South Jordan and recently took over operations of the Pleasant Valley Golf Center in Washington Terrace. Blair's pride and joy are his two kids Becky, 14, and Zack, 10, whom he raises with his wife Cindy. This week, Blair will play at the sectional qualifying tournament in Southern California for a chance to compete in this month's U.S. Open at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. Don't be surprised if Blair saunters in wearing his trademark yellow hat and Dr. Martin's, be a little bit moody and perhaps rub a few players the wrong way. Also don't be surprised to see Blair sink a few long putts, make a few birdies and perhaps even earn a spot in the U.S. Open. "He's the kind of guy that will frustrate the heck out of you," said Mount Ogden head professional Steve Wathen, who along with Blair has taught golf for decades in the Ogden area. "A lot of people like Jimmy, and a lot of people don't like Jimmy. But, he's also the kind of guy that if you're in a foxhole with him, you can count on him." Brady Bingham covers Utah golf for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at 625-4267 or bbingham@standard.net. 115