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
Rich Lerner wonders about today's players and poses the "soft" question to Paul Goydos.
"There are 10 Lee Trevinos today," he said. "And the only time there's more depth than today is tomorrow."
Goydos makes valid points, but as Tiger keeps winning he not only burnishes his own reputation as perhaps the best ever, he also diminishes the stature of those he's beating, fairly or unfairly.
Looks like there's a provocative story about Bobby Ginn on Tuesday's Golf in America.
I finally read up on swimming's governing body realizing their sport was hurt by the hi-tech body suits that led to world records. Karen Crouse's NY Times story should give you a nice background on the issue, while this Amy Shipley story explains coach Bob Bowman's outrage at the time it will take to implement the ban.
But in light of the groove rule change saga and the desire to do anything but roll back the ball, reader Ryan offers this:
With what could be called swimsuit-gate at the current World Championships, where the EQUIPMENT (ie/ the suits themselves) are being credited with increased performance and world records shattered, and thus the history of the sport being changed, governing bodies have decided to BAN these ultra-buoyant new suits for next year (2010). They are apparently reverting back to standardized suit construction from 1996, and the predicted result is that Phelp will be just THAT much better than everyone else who was falsely lifted (pardon the pun) by these suits (due to sponsorships, Phelps of course, can't wear the newest of the new technology).
The crossover point, of course, is the golf ball, and perhaps adds more fuel to the battle here. If swimming can do it at the drop of a hat, why can't golf? Imagine a world with the 1996 Titleist Professional!
It is fascinating that Michael Phelps will probably be even more dominant with this rollback, just as many of us believe that Tiger Woods (and probably Phil Mickelson) would benefit from a golf ball rollback more than your average professional.
Also interesting is the notion that breaking world records finally made some say enough.
Perhaps a similar boiling point would have been reached in golf were it not for all of the fairway narrowing, hole tucking and rough harvesting of the last ten years?
Thanks to reader Jim for Ron Green Jr.'s take on a old favorite. I can't say I disagree with any of his ten wishes, especially this one:
10 No cars, fountains or signs in water hazards
The only things allowed in water hazards are whitecaps, algae, Titleists, disobedient putters, ducks, rocks and bass. And Tiger Woods' 9-iron Steve Williams dropped in the pond at the K Club in Ireland three years ago.
While we wait for an answer on the groove condition of competition, I saw this Tweet on Golfweek's Forecaddie account Monday:
Not that The Man Out Front is a chop, but riddle me this on grooves: Do we really need to make this game more DIFFICULT than it already is?
This is a pretty common refrain about the grooves, the ball, and any other talk of regulation. And nothing speaks better to the ever softening America culture that wants to eliminate any need for skill.
I'd just like to know from those who find all of this equipment regulation so offensive: what would you like your clubs to do for you that it doesn't do now?
Tom English and Marc Horne interview Gary Player, who drops this little jab at Muirfield, which does not have any female members.
"Golf would not be the game it is without women. Winston Churchill said that change is the price of survival. I agree with that. I just don't see the point of excluding any member of society."
The veteran added: "That policy is their business. It's a decision they've made and they've got to live with it.
"I have designed many golf courses all over the world and I wouldn't like to think any of them would exclude women."
And who says they don't fight back at these old stodgy places?
Club secretary Alastair Brown was taken aback by Player's comments. He said: "We are a private members' club and we conduct our own affairs. We don't have lady members, but ladies play here every day as guests.
"I'm interested in Gary's comments. His views haven't stopped him from returning to the club with a group of people in a week's time."
John Huggan on the possibility that the PGA Tour won't adopt the groove rule change:
When it comes to the rules, the book says it is the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association. But you have to wonder sometimes.
Take the recent news that the PGA Tour, urged on by equipment manufacturers, is unlikely to adopt the new regulations for grooves on wedges come 1 January. The likes of Titleist, TaylorMade and Callaway are claiming they can't make clubs and balls the leading players will be happy with in time to meet the deadline. Aye right.
Verdict: Meet golf's real supremo, Wally Uihlein, chairman and CEO of Titleist.
Larry Dorman helms a New York Times 30-second Q&A with David Fay following the U.S. Open at Bethpage.
Q. It rains a lot in the Northeast in June. West Coast Open venues looking better?
A. After a week like the last one? Sure, dry clothes and clean shoes are a plus. But while you may not deal with rain and thunderstorms on the West Coast, fog can gum things up. And there’s that little thing called earthquakes. I like the idea of the Open and all our championships being movable feasts.
I'm always fascinated by the earthquake excuse for hosting fewer majors in the west...wait, that's a new one!
Seriously, the Open has outgrown many courses for a variety of reasons. Is it so big now that maybe it's outgrown places where the weather is less predictable?
I did enjoy his answer on this. And because of our little economic downturn, it's starting to happen more and more.
Q. You have been designated the golf god, and whatever you say goes. Speak.
A. American golfers expect the doors of private clubs to fly open when they travel to the U.K. and, by and large and thankfully, that’s what happens. Wouldn’t it be nice if some of our great clubs had the same approach? The golf course doesn’t ask your income or your status. Treat the course with respect, play quickly, and replace all divots and tidy up the bunkers. Oh yeah, and pay your guest green fee. Simple, eh?
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
