When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Ryan Ballangee interviews Steve Elling about unbylined "Where the Balance" commentary at Titleist.com.
Make sure to stay tuned for the second segment where Ballangee discusses his encounter with a Titleist-sponsored shill blogger.
Ryan Ballangee at The SportsFan and 19th Hole Golf Show looks at Titleist's "Where's The Balance" commentary. After you look at what Ryan wrote, you might want to check out the Where's The Balance comment thread on this site. Fun debate.
Anyway, check out Ballangee's piece. It's short. But just in case it vanishes into cyberspace someday...
It does not take a very keen set of eyes to notice that the game is fizzling. Further, it is only too convenient that the decline in rounds played and Tour fan base has occurred at a time when there has never been greater technology to allow professionals to hit the ball further than ever. Journalists have put two and two together and yelled "fore" about the bad direction that the game is going because of uncurbed technology. (This serious column needed some terrible humor.)
As it turns out, I am not the only one calling it as I see it. Other golf writers - who I have great respect for - are also calling for stronger regulation of golf technology now before the game gets out of control. Apparently, the golf equipment companies have been taking notice and they feel they are being gipped. Now, they're fighting back - anonymously.
Frank Bridgewater in the Honolulu Star Bulletin elaborates on the LPGA's photo policy and shares details not previously reported. Hard to see how there was a misunderstanding here:
"ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT LPGA EVENTS ARE TO BE USED SOLELY BY THE SPECIFIC NEWS MEDIA OUTLET FOR WHICH THE CREDENTIAL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND FOR NO PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE NEWS COVERAGE FOR THE PARTICULAR LPGA EVENT AT WHICH THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN."
And...
"the LPGA shall have an unlimited, perpetual, nonexclusive right to use ... photographs taken at LPGA events for the noncommercial promotion of the LPGA and LPGA events, at no additional expense, in any form worldwide."
And several thousand dollars of legal fees later, the corrected language:
"Notwithstanding any other provisions of the LPGA Photographer and Journalist Media Credential Regulations, media outlets may make unrestricted editorial use of any images or articles they create pursuant to their access to any LPGA event."
...but the PR damage was done. You have to figure that Commissioner Bivens will be getting a second look from golf publications in the coming weeks.
The Arizona Daily Star's Charles Durrenberger reveals his agenda to bring down the ball companies by writing about the emergence of power thanks to technology.
Despite lengthening the Catalina Course by some 500 yards, the big hitters still have a huge advantage — especially on the par 5s — which yielded a record 54 eagles in 2005.
For example, [Bubba] Watson can carry the bunkers on the redesigned par-5 eighth hole, some 305 yards off the tee. Purdy says he has trouble reaching the green in two.
"It's become a big man's sport," added Purdy, who ranked 131st in driving distance last year. "The technology and equipment have allowed players to hit it further than ever."
See, it was the writer's agenda to put those words in Purdy's mouth.
Veteran Nick Price said technology and equipment have had the biggest effect on the game since he turned pro 29 years ago.
"Younger guys know more about the swing than I did at their age," Price said. "And the sweet spot on these drivers is as big as a plum. You can swing a lot harder without losing it."
See, Nick Price was just spellbound by the swaying stopwatch that Durrenberger dangled before him, repeating whatever Durrenberger wants to spread the gospel of anti-technology!
It's been a while since they posted a unbylined complaint over at Titleist.com, but it's good to know the theme never changes. Yes, that's right, we're back to the golf media's "anti-golf ball technology agenda":
But what is disturbing is when members of the golf media use their position to advance their anti-technology and anti-golf ball technology agenda to golfers without providing their readers the opportunity to learn from an opposing view.
That's right, you cannot pick up a golf magazine without reading that anti-ball technology propaganda. It's stifling, I tell you!
While free speech is a wonderful thing, and the golf media has every right to provide editorial opinions, it is disillusioning to know that the opposing facts are often conveniently overlooked. Where then do the 25 million golfers in the U.S. get exposed to a balanced perspective on the long-standing technology and tradition debate?
I nominate Titleist.com. No agenda there!
And if the PGA Tour is going to measure the perception of the public relative to distance to consider whether additional rule modifications are desirable, and media coverage is imbalanced, then one can hardly expect golfers/fans of the PGA Tour to have an open mind.
It really is all the media's fault. Well, and are they implying that the average golfer is not smart enough to weed through the bias and come to their own conclusions?
Semantics are another powerful tool used to influence readers' reactions. When referring to the USGA, he uses derogatory terms like "apparently awakened from a Rip Van Winkle-length coma" and a "dawdling organization". He notes that Kenny Perry is feeling "increasingly obsolete" or "something's out of whack when Perry ranked 11th in the world, feels like a Lilliputian." The fact is Kenny Perry will turn 46 this August. In how many professional sports can a 46-year old still remain competitive let alone, be ranked 11th in the world in their chosen sport?
You might want to check out the story that has upset the writer so. Here's what Perry said that Steve Elling characterized as increasingly obsolete: "Skill? That's kind of where the tour has gone. You can hit it 50 yards off-line and hit a wedge out of the rough. They can still fire at the flagstick. That's the way golf has played out the last couple of years."
Those semantics! Not obsolete. He just feels really good about being left behind.
What is even more alarming is digging behind the scenes to the actual press conference and reading the unequivocally biased "questions" asked of J.B. Holmes:
Q. John, with the way that you have been piping it out there the last few years, now that you are out here with the big boys, and blowing it past all of them, there has been sort of a negative side to it to, people are saying he hits it too far, they need to rein that in. What's your response to all of that? You can become the poster boy for the USGA making rules changes.
Q. You don't think there has been a lessening of the skill factor because you only have to hit your 3-iron, 4-iron, 5-iron a couple of times per tournament? It's mostly a wedge, 9-iron. These are some of the points that have been raised. You are just overwhelming golf courses.
These aren't questions. They are "leading the witness" statements by a reporter with an agenda.
You know, another S word comes to mind to describe those new Cobra ads where David Feherty, CBS's on-course announcer and member of the Cobra staff, is drooling all over Cobra's J.B. Holmes during the FBR final round and conveniently, his final day raves appear in a new Cobra ad campaign.
Now that's synergy, baby! Of course, you can be the judge by checking the ad out over at Cobra's web site, a company owned by Fortune Brands, the same folks who own Titleist.
After a rant about no one celebrating Arron Oberholser's short driving and great putting en route to victory at Pebble Beach, we get to the heart of the matter:
The game has changed. But that is hardly new as this timeless deep-rooted debate about technological advancement is as old as the game itself. Where is the evidence to support that the game has been harmed?
Uh, how about this: Lousy ratings? Or flat rounds despite equipment that has never made the game easier.
No, I know, the NGF, Nielson, shoot, they're all biased!
The Titleist commentary left out a remark about the enormous financial gains that these anti-technology folks stand to gain from their agendas.
As opposed to the equipment companies, who are in this purely for the love of the game.
The piece also does not explain all these famous golfers like Palmer, Nicklaus, Norman and Woods who are saying something should be done about distance.
I guess they've been bamboozled by the media's anti-technology agenda, too?
GolfDigest.com debuts a blog from La Costa. John Hawkins weighs in with two promising entries on the state of the event and on his bad choice to win the event.
If you wonder why many believe the hiring of LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens is not looking too hot, this story ought to give you some idea where things are headed for a tour that is otherwise on the rise.
Actually, before you read it, keep in mind a little behind the scenes saga that was just averted last week.
It seems that Bivens wanted to give USA Today (where she used to work!) first right to release and print the new Rolex World Ranking. The AP and others questioned the fairness (and logic) behind the move.
Until the last moment, it appeared Bivens was going to follow through with the USA Today fiasco. Someone obviously changed her mind because all news agencies received the rankings at the same time, except weekly magazines that needed them in advance of presstime midday Monday.
So now it seems the LPGA wants control of photographs taken at their events. To receive a credential, reporters and photographers must sign away rights that say the use of any photograph used after the event covered requires LPGA approval. 
This AP story spells out what may become exhibit A in why Bivens may not be the right person for the LPGA job, bypassing her handling of longtime official Barb Trammell, the suspect Annika-Creamer ruling or her first press conference.
The Associated Press was denied credentials to cover the LPGA Fields Open tournament Wednesday in a dispute over new restrictions on use of its stories and photos.
AP reporter Jaymes Song was not allowed on the course during Wednesday's practice rounds or in the media room to cover Michelle Wie's pretournament news conference after refusing to sign the credential form with the new restrictions. Freelance photographer Ronen Zilberman also refused to sign the form and was denied a credential.
It's one thing to ban the photographer from the East Valley Penny Saver, but you don't mess with AP when you are already begging for media coverage in newspapers.
The Honolulu paper joins AP in not covering the event. I forgot that Michelle Wie is playing in this event. Nice.
According to this story, a golf magazine called "The Green" managed to provoke outrage over a recent cover.
(February 21, 2006) The Green Magazine recently learned that the management of the Sports Authority retail stores issued a nationwide directive to destroy all copies of the February/March issues because of customer complaints about the cover image. The issue, which celebrates African American and Women's history, has a cover image of a 1784 sign advertising "Negroes For Sale."Obviously the Sports Authority folks haven't seen any of Golf Magazine's recent covers.
An Arizona-based Sports Authority employee, who noticed the magazine because of the email from his superiors, contacted the magazine's offices to say that the image was "just rude to be on the cover of a golf magazine."
Sorry, continue...
The Green Magazine, which carries the slogan “golf beyond the links,” is privately owned and operated by Ina and Rafael Martinez. The publisher says he founded the magazine because of a distinct multicultural void in the editorial content of mainstream golf publications.
"I think we have an obligation to provoke people to think and ask questions about slavery and many, many other issues we are clearly still grappling with," said Ina Martinez. "I stand by our decision and welcome the dialogue."
And the publicity! After all, I wondered what the magazine is, and found this on their website:
Vision Media & Communications is a privately-owned multimedia publishing firm committed to reaching the untapped affluent multicultural market through print and broadcast venues. Since its June 2004 inception, The Green Magazine has enjoyed an international audience that continues to grow. Vision Media is planning a network/cable television program to complement The Green's focus on travel, luxury, and golf called “The Green TV.” The projected timeline for the program's launch is 2006.
You won't hear a conversation like this on U.S. television this weekend:
RENTON LAIDLAW: You were talking about the difference in equipment and how it has affected the game, Ken.
KEN BROWN: Well the modern ball not only goes a long way, but it goes very straight as well. So the dispersion of your iron shots going to greens, where you were going with 5s and 6s, now your going with 8s. Certainly the bunkerings now a bit remote. 230 yards used to be a big carry with the driver.
RENTON LAIDLAW: Is all this big hitting affecting the game? Is it a detriment to the game?
MIKE CLAYTON: Well I think it is. I think it cost a fortune to change golf courses. And people change golf courses for people people who are never going to play them. At Lake Karrinyup, we had a meeting and we had to explain that there is no point designing a course for Ernie Els. He plays there once ever ten years, and its a members course. And you start seeing ridiculously long courses that people can never play. I don't know how you design golf courses for pros. You need to make them 8,000 yards and if you make them that long--even 7,500 yards--you don't have any great short holes and it seems to me this is why the game is in a mess. They need to do something about it. J.B. Holmes is not going to be the only guy driving it 350 yards.
KEN BROWN: But who is going to do something about it?
MIKE CLAYTON: Well, the people who run the game. Does Titleist run the game or does the USGA run the game?
RENTON LAIDLAW: Kevin Flint for par [laughing].
KEN BROWN: You're very quiet Renton.
RENTON LAIDLAW: [Laughing]
KEN BROWN: An R&A member.
RENTON LAIDLAW: I don't think that really has anything to do with it. It's not at all relevant. [Laughing]
This has to be scary for anyone dreaming of winning the Masters this year:
TIGER WOODS: I just have to my list of things I needed to work on is a lot shorter than it was last year at the same time. And I just felt like I didn't have this ability at this time last year to turn things around, because I had so many things to try and work onto get things to where I could do that, and my understanding of my new swing.
But after another year of experience with it, I had that ability now to turn things around because I have an understanding of ball flight and my swing and the mechanics that [instructor] Hank [Haney] has been trying to teach me.
And I'm not sure if this qualifies as a rally killer, a point misser, or a point missing rally killer?
Q. Did it ever cross your mind as you were going back on the 18th tee that you don't like that hole and Ernie Els has a fantastic record on that hole?
TIGER WOODS: No. I thought the hole was playing pretty easy for me today because it was into the wind. If I hit the ball on the line like I did earlier in the week, I can't get to the hazard. So it eliminates an obstacle for me. So even if I hit a straight ball, I'm still fine. I'm still going to be in the fairway. And so I don't have to turn it that much and the wind is coming off the right a little bit, just hit a straight ball at the indicate, kind of bring it over, and I can't run into the hazard. So for me, I thought it was playing easier being into the wind than it was downwind.
Q. Going back to memories, what is your fondest memory at Stanford?TIGER WOODS: At Stanford? [Here Tiger's thinking huh!? But you'd never guess it...] There's so many, there really are...
Regular readers of this site may know of my personal struggle to receive golf publications in a reasonable amount of time. Or at all.
Over the years customer service reps have insisted that the late service is caused by my choosing to live in the far west, or because of nearby postal delivery personnel mysteriously choosing my Golf World or Golfweek to read.
Even Golfdom usually arrives at the end of the month it was intended to arrive. That's a solid 2-3 weeks after east coast readers have sent me their hate email. Frustrating, you know. By then I can't even remember what I wrote that upset them so.
But imagine the shock when I opened my mailbox to find the February 4 issue of Golfweek...on February 2! Lately, the trade publication has been a real favorite of the gang manning the 90403 mail distribution center. Not this week. Maybe it's Tiger fatigue. He's on the cover. (And it's a great issue too).
Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my first SI Golf Plus of the new year. After three calls so far, no luck. However, Jamiqua (sp?) dared to go where other customer service reps would not. She has written a note to the distribution plant to find out why they can't get me my beloved Golf Plus. She says I may see a Golf Plus in a couple of weeks.
Golf World, meanwhile has been unusually timely since the new year. As in, arriving the week of its publication date.
I know you all feel so much better knowing all of this.
But I'm curious how many others have trouble getting their magazines in the mail? And if so, does it send you to the internet for more information? I've set up a thread under the Technology section if you should feel compelled to post on this absolutely vital topic.
Crack questions from a scribbler at the FBR Wednesday after Bill Murray (God only knows why) stopped by the press room after his pro-am round.
Q. With Caddyshack and what it's meant to people, people rate it as the Top 5 sports movies of all time, is there a thought of maybe coming back, let's do it again, let's maybe do a Star Wars theme type of deal?
BILL MURRAY: Do Caddyshack again?
Q. Do a Caddyshack II?
BILL MURRAY: They did a Caddyshack II. It's guys like you that made Caddyshack II.
Q. Revise it one more time with all the technology that's out there.
BILL MURRAY: You know, I'm under a doctor's care (laughter). You know, Caddyshack was a great thing. There were some extraordinary people in it, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield, the guy who played the bishop, these are people who have passed away. They were great people, great actors and lots of fun, and it was an unusual thing. Can't you be happy with having seen it and watched it? You want it again? You're one of those guys that wants to make love twice a week. Once is plenty (laughter).
SI's Chris Lewis takes on the Bubba Watson and his eye-opening drives, but instead of focusing on Bubba and what car he drives or what he thinks of yoga, Lewis actually explores the concept of how the game is played (really!). Even more scary? He considers the ramifications.
Lewis says the main 2006 PGA Tour plotline will be "the Bashers vs. the Artists."
Subtitle: In which the ever-growing ranks of PGA Tour dogleg-cutting, tree-flying, dimpled-ball bombardiers finally and forever vanquish the ever-shrinking number of short-hitting, fairway-dwelling, shot-shaping sissies.
Besides Bubba, he looks at other bashers and artists. And he explores why John Holmes changes his Tour name to J.B.
Reporter: Why go from John B. [Holmes] at Q-school to J.B. [Holmes] here?
Holmes: You know the answer to that.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
