Membership Has Its Privileges...

The big news for USGA members is posted at USGA.org...

Far Hills, N.J. – The United States Golf Association is pleased to announce a new partnership with the ESPN Golf Schools, presented by American Express, that will offer special rates and benefits to USGA Members.

What, no room for Lexus, RBS and IBM in there, too?

ESPN Golf Schools, which were launched in 2003, provide instruction for golfers of all ages and abilities at premier golf courses and facilities around the country. The programs consist of three-day resort schools and one-day touring schools for adults and juniors at more than 50 sites across the U.S.

As a result of the partnership between the USGA and ESPN Golf Schools, a discounted rate of $375 will be exclusively offered to USGA Members for an education-only version of each one-day touring school:

    * 3-Club Tour™ – Visiting more than 50 U.S. cities, this one-day program focuses on three clubs: driver, putter and wedge. ESPN brand representative Chris Berman will demonstrate how to throw each club while reeling off a list of obscenity laden tirade that would make Tommy Lasorda blush.

    * The Power Tour® – A one-day program that aims to help students hit the golf ball farther by applying the key elements of fitness and flexibility. Executive Director David Fay will explain how distance advances only come through better conditioning, not thanks to technology in any way, shape or form.

    * Beginners Tour® – A one-day introduction to the game of golf that provides basic instruction for novices, including grip, posture, scoring, golf etiquette and other fundamentals. Included will be a clinic by ESPN technical staff on how to bring a beginner's feel to Open Championship coverage by cutting away at the key moment to show a clip package on Jean van de Velde that had already been played to death.

Okay, I fleshed the curriculum out just a bit.

"We’re very excited to announce this new benefit to USGA Members," said Fiona Dolan, director of the USGA Members Program. "Many of our Members have indicated that a top priority is the desire to improve their game. We believe this partnership with ESPN Golf Schools will give our Members better access to useful instructional tools such as swing assessment and Rules and etiquette education."

Reasons like that this make me so happy I'm not a member! 

Comments

[dbh]

Man, do I live a sheltered life. I had to read this twice (and google to boot) to realize 'ESPN Golf Schools' wasn't part of the satire.

[Smolmania]

But gee these USGA notepads sure are nice. Guess they figured that'd be enough for me to sign up again.

[BF]

Can't wait until the World Wide Leader puts its own spin on golf.

Soon enough we'll all be exclaiming "Boo Yah!!" when we make a putt, "Back, back, back!!!" after crushing a a long drive, and engaging in lively debates as to "Who's Now?" in the golf world.

Talk about unholy alliances.

[Bob G]

Notepads? I didn't get notepads!

[Four-putt]

Yet another superb effort by the USGA to make the game better.

I'm telling ya, logos on the 18 Open greens isn't that far away. They'll go for 3x what it will cost to advertise on the tee boxes.

Smols -- notepads? I was using them for something else, one sheet at a time.

4p

[Iggy]

I'll give them nothing, and they'll like it.

[Papa Bing]

Notepads? We don't need no stinking notepads!

[looper]

Notepads? Walter Driver has sent me over a dozen over the last year. Does the R&A have a members program?

[Smolmania]

4p,apparently a certain portion of your anatomy is a lot tougher than mine -- surprising when you compare our respective occupations (lawyer vs. journalist). I'll stick with the Charmin thank you very much.