State Of The Game Podcast, Episode 8: Masters Wrap, Clayton In America

The original cast of State of the Game gets together to talk the Masters, Bubba and mudballs, followed by a review of Mike Clayton's American golf trip that included stops at some of the finest designs in the land.

As always you can listen below, or even better, listen/subscribe through iTunes or access the episode directly there.

Golf's Leaders About To Descend On D.C., This Time Lobbyists In Tow

Bill Pennington reports on National Golf Day this Wednesday where golf's suits travel to Washington to tell the suits there that golf actually generates a lot more economic and charitable revenue than most sports combined.

Facts about golf are surprisingly contrary to the persistent image of a sport at a pricey country club. For example, 70 percent of the golf rounds played in the United States take place at golf courses open to the public. Only 10 percent of 26 million golfers in the United States belong to private clubs. The average price of 18 holes on a weekend, with a golf cart, is about $40.

Golf is a $43 billion industry ($76 billion when tourism and real estate are included), and it employs nearly two million Americans. Golf also generates more than $3 billion in charitable contributions.

“Golf is good for 100 percent of the population, not just the 10 percent of the population that plays golf,” said Mike Hughes, chief executive of the National Golf Course Owners Association. “It’s more than a game. It’s a stable employer, it’s entertainment and it’s recreation. It’s our job in the golf industry to do a better job of telling the complete story of golf in America.

State Of The Game Podcast, Episode 7: Masters Preview

No guests this time, just Rod Morri, John Huggan and I talking about the Masters for about forty minutes or so. Note: this was recorded before Hunter Mahan's win Sunday in Houston, so when we discuss favorites, my "Hunter Mahan flying under the radar" may sound a bit silly. Oh, and yes my predictions were based on last week's weather forecast, which was much more upbeat than the current one.

As usual, there are a few options for listening if you don't want to keep this webpage open. There is the State of the Game page, a direct play option, and the iTunes option where you can also subscribe.

Langer: It's The Ball!

Someone (not me!) teed Bernhard Langer up for a technology discussion at the Toshiba Classic and the normally controversy-resistant dared to suggest the ball has the biggest influence on the distance explosion of late.

BERNHARD LANGER: I am definitely surprised. I watch it on TV and know some of these courses. And, you know, was it Bradley last week at the 8th hole into the wind at Doral, he had like 251 into the wind, and he hit a 3 wood and flew it over the green. So he flew it 260 into the wind, so he carried it probably 275 or 280, if there had been no wind, with a 3 wood. That's just unheard of. Or used to be. But it's a common thing nowadays.

I think what happened is when we switched from the balata round ball to the two or three piece balls, whatever they are now. If you swing the club 10 miles faster than the other guy, you used to get about 10 yards for every mile about a yard.

Now if you swing it 10 miles faster, you get about 20 to 25. So you get a lot more out of the equipment than we used to.

So the guys who swing it faster or harder have, you know, even more of an advantage and that's where these tremendous distances come from.

He went on to mention better athletes too. But coming from a guy who looks just like he did 20 years ago and who clearly takes care of himself, I'm thinking he places athleticism a distant second to advancing technology. Just a guess.

State Of The Game Podcast Episode 5, Slow Play Cures!

Episode 5 looks at the slow play epidemic on the local and professional levels. Rod Morri hosts yours truly, John Huggan and special guest John Small, a tournament organiser and inventor fom Australia whose Solution 240 product is achieving remarkable results in eliminating slow play at two Sydney golf clubs.

As always, you can listen via the player below, on iTunes directly, or more conveniently via an iTunes subscription. It's free! In fact, for good measure, I'll throw in a link to David Owen's Slowest Member blog rant. While supplies last.

Nice, Fun Muni Faces Closure Because Of Bad Greens!?

Thanks to reader Tom for Mark McGregor's disturbing look at the possible demise of Snyder Park, a 1929 muni that Tom says "is 6,300 yds. from the tips" and is "a wonderful old style course and a delightful walk." 

City finances and no direction on how to fix bad greens may cause the city of Springfield, Ohio, to close the place. Perhaps this would be a nice salvation job for the USGA to tap its surplus and the expertise of the Green Section to save a quality place for everyday golf? Oh there I go again.

City Manager Jim Bodenmiller said in a January commission meeting that the city challenged the park district to make Snyder and Reid Park courses self-sufficient. National Trail met that goal in two of three years, but a subsidy was necessary in 2011.

City Finance Director Mark Beckdahl said in the meeting that without the subsidy, the district’s bills and vendors would have gone unpaid.

“We had a rough 2011, there’s no denying that,” Smith said. “It’s tough when you’re dealing with the weather. Not everything you do (to fix turf) works.”

Early estimates to repair the greens range from $15,000 to $20,000. National Trail will know more in a few weeks once a golf turf expert examines the course, determines why conditions deteriorated and how much it will likely cost to restore them.

The city hasn’t decided whether it will pay to redo the greens or if it will instead close the Snyder Park course.