Norman May Have Location For His Medalist Shark: Advising China Golf Team Ahead Of 2016 Olympics

I've been worried about the massive mounted Shark that Greg Norman removed from above The Medalist's locker room bar in an uber spat over Bobby Weed's hiring to undo course changes, but I think we have a location!

China Golf Association national training headquarters! That's where, according to this unbylined AP story, he'll be spending thousands of hours heading into Rio 2016 developing "a comprehensive plan of instruction, nutrition, mental training and course management, along with providing his own tournament experience."

And self-confidence instruction too...

"My role is not only to help prepare the China national team for international competition, but to also teach social skills, etiquette, honesty and self-confidence in giving young Chinese golfers a pathway to their future as adults."

What about wine tasting?

Comments

[Doctor]

Finally, the true secrets to becoming a massive underachiever are about to be revealed.

[Meida maven]

Trump and Norman would be a good match of egos... wonder why the Donald doesn't hire Greg or Jack to design *(or redesign) some of his courses...or did Norman already fiddle with Doral?

Norman appears on Morning Drive this AM full of hubris...

[KG]

Norman designed a course at Doral, I think they called it the Silver course. It was dreadful. Needed to be "renovated" after only a few years. One par three, maybe the 3rd or 4th hole was perhaps the single worst golf hole I have ever seen, and that's saying something. Useless bunkers everywhere and all kinds of gimmicks. I frankly could not believe a serious architect built it. Reminded me of some of the homemade designs I have been victim to in my travels to the backwaters of China.
If he ever touched the Monster, I am unaware.

[Colin MacGillivray]

Could this possibly help his wine, golf course design and other businesses?

[Mike Clayton]

Colin,

How could you be so cynical?

[Willie]

What, was TC Chen booked?

[OWGR Fan]

@KG... Jim McLean redesigned the Silver Course @ Doral. IIRC its now called the Jim McLean Course. Normans Great White Course was redesigned in 2004 or 2005 after opening in 1999. Had cruashed shells instead of sand in the traps/waste areas. Must have been pretty bad to have been redesigned so quick.

[Longy]

Shark has just assisted Australia's gold medal chances enormously.

[Digger Dave *is* digsouth]

Wow, Tiger haters are lightweights.

[johnnnycz]

WOW...he just keeps on digging doesn't he?

it's getting harder and harder to pull for him and he was a HUGE reason I took up the game many moons ago.

#feelingrathermelancholyaboutgregthesedays

[gov. lepetomane]

Agree with most of the commenters.
Norman has always come off as a self absorbed egotist, much like Trump, to me. It probably helped him deal with some of his failures in majors. As noted above, one wonders what other motives are behind mentoring the Chinese.

Despite the above I have always been impressed that a guy with little formal education has turned into such a skilled businessman. Seems like everything he has touched turns to gold. Also, I don't know the behind doors details, but it has always appeared to me that he had the original idea for the world golf events, and it was taken from him by the Big Boy Tour. Like an inventor coming up with something big, then someone beating them to the punch on the patent, reaping the profits. (Not like ''The Shark'' needed the cash - but he did need the recognition and fame.)

[Stord]

If Greg were promoting the course in Rio, it would be much much more successful. Very poor decision.

[The Pro from Dover]

He should have given the 'dead fish' to Chrisie as part of the settlement! I have played with Greg and it is all about him, period. Good player on the verge of greatness but couldn't handle the heat in the big ones, period. Crumbled more times than he succeeded in the majjors. Should have won 6-8 easy.

[The Pro from Dover]

"My role is not only to help prepare the China national team for international competition, but to also teach social skills, etiquette, honesty and self-confidence in giving young Chinese golfers a pathway to their future as adults." OMG! You gotta be kidding!?

@media maven They could not get those two egos in the same room at the same time! Neither would share the mic or spotlight with the other. Greg does have better hair, but only barely.

[Bobby D]

""My role is not only to help prepare the China national team for international competition, but to also teach social skills, etiquette, honesty and self-confidence in giving young Chinese golfers a pathway to their future as adults."

Greg Norman is a truly fine individual and a role model for all of us to look up to.

[KG]

Thanks OWGR Fan,
I played it in the early 2000's. I was not surprised when the announced it was going to be redone.
I have yet to play a Norman course I could honestly say I enjoyed, although a few built in Asia by his staff (Harrison, I believe) are ok.