"[Rees is] already so busy doing jobs that pay him $1 million, what motivation would he have for a job that he might not want or where he might not get the work?" Jemsek said. "But he seems to be the most complimented [architect] by the USGA and the players. We'll keep on trying."

So the recruitment of Jones continues -- even though it's not a given that his hiring would bring the Open to Lemont.

"I've not been told by the USGA that [Jones needed to be hired] to get the Open,'' Jemsek said. "And if we did get him, I haven't been guaranteed that we'd get one.''

However, two friends close to the USGA and living in different parts of the country have advised Jemsek to hire Jones.

"They're people I trust, and they said that's what they've heard," Jemsek said. "I don't know if they were telling me [to get Jones] or if the USGA was telling me."

Well we know the USGA would never advocate changes to a course or recommend certain architects. Ziehm also looks at slow play on the Tour with a rundown of Tour policy. Interesting bit: Sabbatini played with Ben Crane the first three days at the Booz Allen as well. No wonder he flipped!

When evaluating a course for our Top 50 list, we also consider the environment for women. Are there at least two sets of tees rated for women? Are the forward tees as well tended as the others? Are they level? Are there ball washers on all the tees? If your glove has worn out, can you buy a new one that will fit you in the pro shop? Are there enough bathrooms on the course? Are there women on the teaching and pro-shop staffs? Are you treated as an equal, or does the marshal seem to stalk you (and only you) to make sure you're not holding up the half-drunken men behind you, all earnestly plumb-bobbing putts they'll miss by 10 feet?

Oh, but they don’t focus only on meaningless things, Not entirely:

We look at other things, too, such as memorability and conditioning. Is the course a visual treat? Does it offer up a varied, intriguing playing experience? Are there flowers? Do they pull the weeds? Do they pick up the trash and cigarette butts that can be spotted off to the sides?

Yes, just when you thought the Golf Digest list had hit rock bottom, here comes their uh, sister publication, Golf for Women, to make America's Top 100 Courses look brilliant. Finally, some comments on the various top 50 courses:

There aren't many flat lies, but the course is forgiving from the forward tees.

The clincher: three air-conditioned on-course restrooms and women forecaddies.

A new spa adds to the overall "ah" factor.

As our raters put it, the course is "immaculately groomed" and has "the fastest, purest greens" and an "excellent golf academy."

I think it was Tillinghast who said whatever you do, always make sure to have an excellent golf academy and most of all, build air-conditioned restrooms.

Donald Trump (but who else?) gives viewers “a unique business mid-year review of the PGA TOUR season. From CEOs like Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh, to rising ‘corporate stars’ like Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott, it’s a fun look at the TOUR’s exciting season.” Oh it gets better when “Len Mattiace, a native New Yorker, will join a host of TOUR players for a matinee performance of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.’” And we get to be there!

Don't stop rolling your eyes just yet. Because Cybergolf's Tony Dear has a rant on the USGA possibly taking away his right to buy the latest equipment with some hilarious comments from Taylor Made's Benoit Vincent.

“How many more useless rules need to be created?” Vincent asks. “How much more complex research will be conducted before we conclude that setting the course up correctly and designing tougher courses is the right way to go? Let technology go as far as it can, but regulate the game with the environment – tougher, but fair, conditions.”

Sometimes I wonder how golf survived nearly 300 years without rough and equipment manufacturers? It's a miracle really.

Pinehurst, 1999: Fwys 38.8%, Greens 40.6, Distance 268.0.

Southern Hills, 2001: Fwys 35.1%, Greens 44.5%, Distance 297.0.

Pinehurst, 2005: Fwys 30%, Greens 43. 3%, Distance 300.3.

The talented John Feinstein is relegated to writing about the USGA ad with the kid making the hole in one(!?). Well, the kid, Utah's Andy Griffin, hasn’t graduated from college as was predicted here last week. Instead he’s just about to enter Weber State. The article talks about how everyone loves the ad and how we’ll keep seeing it forever. Feinstein says that even the USGA’s David Fay, “not exactly known as a sentimentalist,” admits he “swallows hard” whenever he sees the spot.

Here's another odd thing about the Feinstein story. It includes a photo of Andy Griffin today re-enacting his hole-in-one jump. The photo was supplied by the USGA. So, does that qualify as synergy, or maybe it's cross-polinating brand platforms?

Finally, in John Strege’s Local Knowledge column, he reports that Michelle Wie can accept a chartered flight from the Women’s British Open to the Women’s Amateur in Georgia because she's a junior golfer. Strege confirms with the USGA’s David Fay that “it made no difference who paid for the private plane—even if it were a golf equipment company.”

Uh Bob Wood, B.J. Kim is in line 1. He says he needs a G5 because the G4 would require a refueling stop.

Although the company has not disclosed the offer to shareholders, there were indications that Wall Street had gotten wind of the bid. After hitting a 2005 low in April of $10.78 a share, Callaway's stock has been drifting upward, closing Wednesday at $13.58, up 18 cents. Analysts said that rally could not be attributed to any changes in the company's performance or outlook. "Even the ratings for the U.S. Open were lackluster," said Dennis McAlpine of McAlpine Associates, referring to the number of TV viewers who watched the Open, won Sunday by Michael Campbell, using Callaway clubs.

Foley and Thomas Lee would take Callaway private, cut costs and try to revitalize its brands, sources say. Top Callaway executives back the idea because they believe that product quality and innovation have suffered because of the quarter-to-quarter growth demanded by Wall Street, insiders say. In their view, removing such pressures would revive the spirit of innovation that distinguished the company under its late founder.

Without clueless Wall Street analysts breathing down their back, might a privately held Callaway be more likely to take a chance on introducing a competition or classic course ball?

Hardly any interesting U.S. Women’s Open preview stories. Might have to chalk that up to the brilliant idea to play it the week after the men’s, all so NBC can plug it during the telecast. Here’s one story: for those of you wondering, they will be playing 18 at Cherry Hills as a par-4 at 459 yards. Even in the altitude, that'll be a long 459 for most of the contestants.

The Broadmoor will host the 2008 U.S. Senior Open , Saucon Valley gets the 2009 Women's Open, while the Ocean Course looks like it'll be getting a PGA Championship, making 2012 a very interesting hurricane season! In a complete coincidence, Roger Warren, the Director of Golf for Kiawah Island Resorts, just happens to be the current president of the PGA of America.