PGA Tour Wine

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102505PGA_feat.jpgI know you've been holding off on two-buck-Chuck purchases (eh, it's a west coast thing) to buy the PGA Tour's new wine. Aged in only the finest creosote protected railroad ties from the original TPC Sawgrass oak, "The portfolio currently consists of three distinctive flights at various price points."

The concept behind PGA TOUR Wines was to combine excellent wines with sophisticated packaging to reflect the high quality and standards of the PGA TOUR brand and the lifestyle of golfers. “The TOUR is very excited about this new relationship as it extends our brand to our fans and friends in a unique way that reflects their chosen lifestyle,” said Leo McCullagh, Vice President of Marketing and Retail Licensing for the PGA TOUR.  

Is the Tour on Board?

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After enduring the expected moaning from Blue Blazer over my characterization of the Jim Vernon speech, Blazer and another USGA observer wondered why more attention was not paid to the potential political significance (or lack of) with this graph:

I also want to acknowledge the support shown by Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour.  They repeatedly have acknowledged that the USGA and the R&A are the appropriate rule-making bodies for regulating golf equipment.  They have publicly supported our research efforts, particularly our ball project—and have recognized that it is only through that research that we can define what options are available to regulate club and ball performance and can make educated assessments of the effects of those options. And they have given us full access to the data generated by their new ShotLink System for every shot at every tour event. As a result, we have a far clearer picture of how the game is being played by the best players.  Actual data has replaced speculation and opinion because of ShotLink.

I will use this moment to register my usual complaint about the USGA touting ShotLink but not using it at the U.S. Open. Okay, moving right along...

Blue Blazer pointed out that the USGA in all likelihood went public on this new and somewhat bold stance  with the PGA Tour's blessing.

After all, the two organizations may have no choice but to join at the hip should a manufacturer decide to file a lawsuit over equipment regulation.

So if a manufacturer decides to sue, here's how the Tour may become a co-defendant: if there is a rule change and the Tour just says "we play by USGA rules," the suing plaintiff may point out the Tour once banned U grooves on its own and suggest that the Tour could do whatever they want.

Keeping in mind the recent mention of PGA Tour-USGA meetings by David Fay (while being asked about private jet travel), there appears to be a coordinated defense of some kind. If they could include the Hootie and the hapless R&A, their position could be very strong.

Something else that the the Vernon speech may signal: the Executive Committee contingent clinging to the hope that the problems would go away, may now be in the minority.  

More WGC Talk

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An AP story on the lack of world in World Golf Championships.

 "We're in the planning process," Finchem said. "We would like to play a full-fledged World Golf Championship in the fall in Asia. It's premature to say where, but our intent is to do something next year."

This might be the only avenue Finchem has to Asia, a market he covets.

Covets it so much that I understand from a reliable source that they've already signed on with a site in Asia.

So why are they waiting to announce it? 

Huggan On WGC's

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WGCNEC05logo.gifWell so much for wondering when writers would notice that the PGA Tour has anchored the "World Golf Championships" in the U.S.

John Huggan vents on Golfobserver. Make sure you read all of this one. The highlights:

There was, given the reaction of the other Federation members, not so much as a warning phone call from Ponte Vedra. Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA Tour, had simply done what was financially expedient for his organization and members. And everyone else? They could, as my granny used to say, take a running jump to themselves.

As an example of corporate arrogance, it was breathtaking. As an example of international cooperation and friendship, it was, to put it in crude Scottish parlance, piss-taking. 

It was also, of course, an example of blatant hypocrisy. While the PGA Tour wants the kudos that goes with being seen to metaphorically join hands with their 'friends' across the oceans, they also have no intention of listening to anything said in anything but an American accent. 

Make sure to check out the chart of WGC venue sites accompanying the column. 

Lanny On Young Players

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Bill Nichols in the Dallas Morning News talks to Lanny Wadkins about the next generation of 20-somethings. He echoes what many have noticed about Tuesdays at a PGA Tour event: European and Australians out playing money games, Americans beating balls.

"They all look like worldbeaters, but when they go on the golf course, they have that same practice-tee mentality," said CBS golf analyst Lanny Wadkins of Dallas, winner of 21 PGA Tour events.

And...

Wadkins theorizes that many current prospects are suffering paralysis by analysis. Armed with space-age technology, some young players spend too much time breaking down videos and too little time playing. He doesn't discount the competitive edge he developed playing for lunch money at Wake Forest.

"If I beat my buddies in school out of six bucks, that meant I got an extra meal at McDonald's or Itty Bitty Chicken," Wadkins said. "We learned on the golf course how to hit shots, make things happen, play with imagination, curve the ball. These kids today go stand on the practice range and hit 7-iron after 7-iron. I don't think it's enabling them to learn the game that it takes to win." 

The Elevated Fee Structure...May Be An Impediment

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virginia_beach_tpc.gifThanks to reader John for the heads up/reminder to post a story by Marisa Taylor in The Virginian-Pilot about the struggling TPC Virginia Beach. Golf World this week picked up the intriguing quote from the PGA Tour Golf Course Properties' Vernon Kelly.

TPC President Vernon Kelly Jr. told city officials his company wants to sell the leasing rights to Sandler because of the course’s financial difficulties.

TPC is South Hampton Roads’ most expensive course, with greens fees of $128 for 18 holes for nonresidents during peak playing season, spring through fall. For Virginia Beach residents, the charge is $96.

“Unfortunately, the association of the TPC with the golf facility has not resulted in the hoped-for financial results,” Kelly wrote to City Manager James K. Spore in a Nov. 29 letter. “In fact, the absolute performance standards associated with that brand ... and the elevated fee structure which is part of the high-end experience may actually be an impediment.”

 Figures on the course’s financial problems are not available. TPC is a private company and does not report its business figures to the city.

The elevated fee structure which is part of the high-end experience may actually be an impediment.

The green fees were too high. 

Player Reactions To TGC Deal

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Thanks to reader C for the heads up on Doug Ferguson's notes column from earlier in the week. A few eye opening comments:

"If we're trying to reach out to non-golf fans, how you leave out ESPN is beyond me." - David Duval, on the PGA Tour giving exclusive cable rights to The Golf Channel in a 15-year deal. 

And... 

"It would be nice to know what's going on," Brent Geiberger said. "It seems like we find out just like everybody else. And it's our tour."

The tour has a 16-man Players Advisory Council and four players on the nine-member policy board.

"But when those players get in the room, they're already outnumbered 5-4," Paul Azinger said. "I wish the players had a little more say."

 

Bubba Drives Interest In The Game

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Tim Rosaforte writes:

If you stayed up late Sunday night to watch David Toms blow out the field at the Sony Open, you were looking for something to keep you from going asleep. Nothing against Toms, who won by five strokes; it just wasn�t much of a final round for drama.

Thankfully, there was Bubba Watson. The purists may think distance is ruining the game. In truth, distance drives the interest in the game.

Distance drives interest in the game? Hmm...so is that why ratings are in the toilet and play is way down? I knew it!

Watson is more than a circus act experiencing his 15 minutes. He is the reason why Tiger Woods went to graphite and why Mickelson was experimenting with a 47-inch shaft this off-season. Watson is the future. He is 6-foot-3, 180 pounds of elasticity, and he didn't appear the least bit nervous on the weekend, finishing with an eagle on Sunday for a check of $244,800 that represented job security.

Bubba is the reason Tiger went to graphite?

Huh, wonder why Tiger's never credited him? Shameful Tiger, shameful.

Exec VP of International Affairs!?

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Ty Votaw's new PGA Tour title:

Executive Vice President, International Affairs

The Executive part is fun because it vaults Votaw to the same all-important title plateau as Charlie Zink and Ed Moorhouse, who are each making over $1 million a year. (Zink made $17 more than Moorehouse last time the numbers were reported, so I wonder if Votaw will be $17 less than Moorhouse?)

Anyway, the Vice President part is fine too because, why not? Everyone else is a VP down there.

be195b1f.jpgBut International Affairs? For someone who had an affair with an international
player, creating problems at his last job? Surely a wordsmith like Tim Finchem could have done better.

Oh and in case you were wondering, Votaw will be the Commissioner's lapdog will report to the Office of the Commissioner.

Another Vice President

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The worst kept secret in golf is out: Ty Votaw has been hired by the PGA Tour because they so desperately need another executive salary feeding some vague position ("strengthening the tour's profile in the global sports marketplace").

The over-under on Tim Finchem deciding to spend more time with the KB Homes board and to pursue other board seats just moved up six months, to November 2007.