Saturday
Feb102007
"Just came across the tracks.''
Doug Ferguson filed a follow up to the Vickers-Finchem press conference stories by going to the Commish so that he could rebut the Vickers post-press conference claims. (Wouldn't it have been easier if they were just honest when the mikes were on?)
The PGA Tour has narrowed it search to four cities to replace the International, and commissioner Tim Finchem said Friday that a return to Washington likely would be the first choice if all options were equal.
The other cities being considered for the Fourth of July spot on the schedule are Portland, Ore., Minneapolis and another market he declined to identify that "just came across the tracks.''
Nothing like a good railroad metaphor.
"When we get done and we're ready to prioritize, if all is about equal and Washington was one of them, we would probably prioritize Washington because we know it's a great time with the Fourth of July ... and it would be nice to have members of Congress involved.''
Why would it be nice to have members of Congress involved? Am I missing something?
Finchem said Congress has been supportive of The First Tee, a program aimed at getting kids involved with golf.
Uh huh.
"On the one hand, the Tour's asking for a new five- or six-year commitment and you've got a one-man show out there right now that is the big difference,'' Vickers said Thursday.
Finchem disagreed. He said if that were true, "we would have a schedule of 18 events.''
"That's just not the case,'' Finchem said. "When Tiger Woods plays, more people watch on TV and more tickets are sold. When he doesn't play, a lot of tickets are sold, a lot of money is raised for charity and our TV numbers are solid for the value of a sponsor.''
Uh huh.
Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 07:35 PM
Reader Comments (17)
I know Finchem's busy trying to keep up with the title sponsors he has left VS. those bailing on him, but how could he have missed the TV ratings announcement for Golf Channel's coverage of Mercedes, SONY and Chrysler? The new home (doghouse) of PGA Tour golf averaged 380,000 households, which shook up the TV richter scale at a whopping .52 average per telecast. When Tim Finchem starts sighting value, it must be in reference to a happy meal!
I am shocked, Finchem's got 7 tournaments on his fall finish and he's BRANDING other (DC) potential sites!
Tim, your kidding us, right? Fry's, after sponsoring two fall finish classics in addition to ponying up $ 9 million can't get a single platform out of you?
WoW, this guys dangerous, he's asleep at the wheel.
Finchem on TW....
He'll be coming round the mountain IF he comes...
He'll be coming round the mountain IF he comes....
He'll be driving 6 white horses ......
He'll be driving 6 white horses IF he ........
ok, cut, cut.....never mind.......he's not coming!
Tim, Congress? That's a great idea, Bob (Combs) and I will get Jack Abramoff and Scooter Libby on the horn, get them pressing the key members right away, should we pay them in the usual fashion? yeah, thought so, we'll get this DC venue back on track, and fast!
Turning Stone Resort Championship
Purse: $6,000,000
Agreed Tap In, New York in July makes more sense than third week in September.
I'd kind of like to see the boys in Las Vegas on July 4th, see them tackle a desert course during desert conditions. They use to play in Williamsburg Va. on July 4th when the heat index was 115 degrees, 105 to 110 without humidity is a walk in the park for comparision.
"When we get done and we're ready to prioritize, if all is about equal and Washington was one of them, we would probably prioritize Washington because we know it's a great time with the Fourth of July ... and it would be nice to have members of Congress involved.''
Meaning: His 7 Fall Finish Title Sponsors are not part of his priority.
Something just came across the tracks INDEED, what about the 7 Title Sponsors Timmy Flinchem that already crossed the tracks and signed up with you for 5 and 6 year commitments?
Tim Finchem is a buffoon!
"Finchem said if Washington was the Fourth of July choice, Avenel would not be ready until 2009 because of planned renovations, and even then he would not guarantee a tournament would return there."
WoW, this makes sense when its in reference to Tim Finchem. He begins a $ 26 Million dollar renovation for TPC Avenel, and then says he could not guarantee a tournament would be played there.
BTW, Mr. Commissioner, whose money are you spending on the TPC Avenel reconstruction? If it were any of my business I'd be asking who authorized that expenditure and how it benefits the Tour players membership. Seems like a real waste of (REAL) money if your planning on not returning to Avenel, is it a political expenditure called in by your friends on the Hill?
US Bank tournament in Milwaukee wants a peek-see.
Don't forget that they play the Prez Cup at RTJ in Manassas, VA which is a PGA Tour run event and therefore very likely to host a Washington July 4th event this year.
I'm sorry, did I miss read the statement.
"Finchem said if Washington was the Fourth of July choice, Avenel would not be ready until 2009 because of planned renovations, and EVEN THEN he would not guarantee a tournament would return there."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the statement insinuates that after renovation of Avenel is completed in 2009 Finchem would not guarantee a PGA Tour event would be held there.
So in essence, PGA Tour is dumping $ 26 million, or how ever much it is, into an Avenel reconstruction project without a strong desire to return there. As I said before, seems like a real waste of money spent on updating a golf course in the efforts of attracting big name players to the Booze Allen event so that Ralph Schrader could put on a first class tournament. That is what Ralph Schrader disputed with Tim Finchem as to why the venue was weak in attracting strong fields. As proof, Sergio Garcia won at Congressional in 2005 as Avenal was "suppose" to be under reconstruction, then passes up the event as defending champion in 2006 because the event returned to Avenel where no modifications were ever made. Updating Avenel now, based on Finchem's statement, makes no sense from a financial stand point. If Finchem doesn't believe he'd host an event at Avenel after 2009, and with the course reconstruction completed, why spend $ 20 something million?
Correct if I'm wrong but doesn't PGA Tour Properties, the FOR PROFIT side of the PGA Tour, still own the course regardless of it holding a Tour event?
Yes, and you are uninformed Ardmore Ari, as to the purpose of the TPC network. Its main objective is to provide value to players as a cost effective way of hosting PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour events. First and Foremost, where have I read that before? TPC Avenel's membership and housing is sold out, AND it's no longer the site of a PGA Tour sanctioned event. Finchem saying he couldn't guarantee returning to Avenel even after a $25 million dollar reconstruction, thus dumping $25 million into Avenel at this point in time is a total WASTE of money that players would NEVER agree to. Misappropriation of assets is the correct definition for you to acquaint yourself with. Get back to me with a sound economic explanation for Finchem's nonsense.
http://www.tpc.com/about.html
First and foremost, the TPC network is comprised of top-flight golf courses designed by some of the elite contemporary architects, including Dye, Tom Fazio, Bobby Weed, Arthur Hills and PGA TOUR members Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer Gary Player, Tom Weiskopf, Greg Norman, Hale Irwin, Mark McCumber and D.A. Weibring. These courses, maintained to the highest quality, serve as tournament sites and are complemented by quality practice facilities for TOUR members.
"We are meeting the mission we set out for the TPCs as the best golf courses and facilities you will find anywhere," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "They were intended to create venues for tournaments where we can effectively reach the marketplace. The golf courses are built to hold modern golf tournaments, which are always presenting new challenges as they grow and the game becomes more popular. Of course, they achieve many other objectives."
"There’s a magic to playing on a golf course that hosts a PGA TOUR event," said Vernon Kelly, president of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of the PGA TOUR, which owns and/or operates TPC facilities, clubs and licensed facilities. "That’s a huge advantage for us in growth and marketing. We can offer a special experience, and then deliver on that promise with a great golf course that is well maintained and a club that is first-rate."
Benefits are not exclusive at TPCs, however.
Tournament Players Clubs are an important element to the overall strategy of the TOUR to provide value for players, tournaments, fans and corporate sponsors. By providing rent-free venues for tournaments over the past 21 years, TPCs have provided more than $50 million in savings. That has helped boost purses, but more importantly, has increased charitable donations.
"Every time an event moves to a TPC, it improves the quality of the event, its growth and the charity dollars," Kelly said. "The track record speaks for itself."
GEEE, $40 million to improve TPC Sawgrass, wouldn't have been cheaper to have just built 3 new golf courses?
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/index.asp?page_id=5000&article_id=6555
The resort renovation coincides with a $40 million improvement program at the PGA TOUR’s flagship TPC Sawgrass. Extensive renovations to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course and the construction of a spectacular new clubhouse will continue to elevate THE PLAYERS as one of the world’s premier professional golf events.
A $40 million dollar enhansement to TPC Sawgrass where the PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP is played is outrageous, but more outrageous is a $20 something million dollar reconstruction for TPC Avenel when PGA Tour, according to Tim Finchem, "couldn't guarantee we'd come back to TPC Avenel after 2009".
The cost of a TPC Avenel reconstruction without a guarantee of returning is of NO VALUE to PGA Tour members. So much for saving the players $50 million in golf tournament course leases over the years, with the $60 million dollar plus expenses in reconfiguring two TPC golf course properties.
Ardmore Ari, question for you, how is dumping $25 million into TPC Avenel at this time, without a tournament scheduled to be played there or a title sponsor in Washington D.C. a value to PGA Tour members? If PGA Tour was coming back to Avenel to conduct an event I could understand the expense, with no tournament in Washington D.C. and no title sponsor in DC to host an event, isn't $25 million unjustified? As I've said for the third time, what a waste of money, do PGA Tour members know of these shenanigans?
I don't have an answer for you but you also don't have to be so antagonistic with your responses. I was merely asking a question and also emphasizing the fact that there is a FOR PROFIT side to the Tour. Please re-read the beginning of my previous post and also take note of punctuation. I would never dare challenge your omniscience on this "dicussion" board.
The only answer I have for you is to keep the place up. It was already considered a marginal course at best, that was consistently frowned upon by Tour players so maybe they are investing (versus spending) $25 mill for the future? Just a question b/c its always how you look at things.
AA
Short Memories....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201843.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
An Improper Send-Off
By Thomas Boswell
Friday, June 23, 2006; Page E01
Golf is the game of sportsmanship and proper manners, the sport that exemplifies respect for others. We even use it to teach values to kids, to instill the idea that conscience defines character.
So this is a week for golf -- at least the crass, ungrateful, traveling-circus PGA Tour version -- to hang its head in shame.
It's no accident that all of the world's four major championships are run by organizations other than the PGA Tour. The tour keeps pumping its own Players Championship to join the elite. But it'll never happen -- not as long as the tour humiliates itself, shows its true colors and drives itself down the scale of social respectability with disasters such as the one it is perpetrating in Washington this week.
Even a golf tournament deserves a decent burial. The funeral for the summer pro golf stop in Washington is being held at TPC Avenel this week. The PGA Tour didn't even have the decency to close the casket.
Washington has supported the PGA Tour since 1980, always with huge crowds that were far bigger than the usually mediocre fields merited. Local volunteers gave millions of dollars worth of free time, just as they do at every tour stop around the country. Without the goodwill of this free workforce, the tour would not have a viable economic model. And exclusive Congressional Country Club has hosted the event eight times, including last year, effectively closing its famous course to its own members for a month.
For this, what does the public get from the PGA Tour?
Sergio Garcia, the defending champion of the Booz Allen Classic, did not come back to Avenel yesterday even though his picture is the only one on the cover of the tournament program. The first rule of decent behavior (and marketing) in pro golf is that the defender comes back, even if he has to play nine holes from a litter before withdrawing. If you take the big check one year, you show up the next. You don't claim the classic dubious excuse -- a bad back -- when you played in the U.S. Open the previous week. Of course, Sergio's back will be healed when the U.S. Open returns to Congressional in 2011.
But Garcia's absence is the rule this week, not the exception. Nobody's showing up for the Booz. The '04 champion, Adam Scott, also withdrew. Even modest drawing cards such as Chris DiMarco, Aaron Baddeley and Geoff Ogilvy pulled out, even though their names had been used to advertise the tournament.
However, as a final kiss-off -- just in case anybody didn't get the message -- even the commissioner of golf swore off the Booz this week. On Wednesday, Tim Finchem didn't show up at Avenel, instead doing a news conference via telephone. Finchem cited bad weather in Columbus, Ohio. What's the matter, Tim? Didn't they have flights from Columbus to Washington yesterday morning?
Finchem doesn't want to face the music here. He just wants to take our money -- more than a quarter of a century of it -- and run to Memphis, where FedEx's $40 million to sponsor the year-end series led to its annual tour stop moving to the week before the U.S. Open, the slot so coveted by the Booz.
Is it possible for Tim Finchem to be enrolled in those first tee educational programs?