Proposal: WGC Dell Match Play Proceeds To Help Save Muny

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Year three of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play is in the books and while there is still quibbling over the format, this is very much a PGA Tour success story combining course, sponsor and operations to make a tricky venue work. 

As I explain in this Golfweek item with news on the future, the Austin vibe that has been embraced by this event should extend in the tournament's charitable giving.

Having attended the Save Muny party Friday night, it's apparent that the sense of community in Austin would embrace a one or two-year donation of charitable proceeds to saving Lions Municipal. This is not to suggest the tournament's current beneficiaries aren't find charities, but given how many golf courses are under siege in the United States and how consistently the Five Families have passed at opportunities to help them survive as genuine "grow the game" facilities, wouldn't it be fun to see Muny saved by tourney proceeds?

Charity is at the heart of the PGA Tour!

Here's a good background story on the proposal and pleas from Ben Crenshaw.

Some images from Friday night's fundraiser hosted by the good folks at Criquet Shirts.

Day or night, same message. #savemuny

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489 Yards: Dustin's Drive Won't Count As Tour's Longest Drive Ever

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Dustin Johnson hit a 489-yard driving during his round 3, 2018 WGC Dell Match Play face-off with Kevin Kisner (eventually losing the match 4&3). 

As Rex Hoggard explains for GolfChannel.com, the drive does not count as the longest in PGA Tour history because the Match Play records are not included. But remember, the numbers at non-major venues, and non-match play venues are flat so these more athletic players today are not hitting it longer except when they are.

State Of The Game 76: Zac Blair (@z_blair)

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Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and yours truly caught professional golfer Zac Blair before he was off to go play to talk the distance debate and various architecture subjects.

Thanks to Zac for taking the time and listening to old men grumble about distance and as always, to Lloyd Cole for the musical intro. 

If you aren't following Zac on Twitter, you can find him here.

The episode's permanent link is here. 

The MP3 link here.

The show's iTunes store link here.

Episode 76 on iTunes here.

Or the episode here:

Pepperell: Should Golf Change With The Times?

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Recent tournament winner Eddie Pepperell's latest blog entry rightfully questions whether golf (and his European Tour) should be adapting to a changing (and unhealthy) society by trying to shorten, speed-up and coolify the golf experience.

As always, I urge you to read the entire piece for context and to understand his premise, but I think it's well worth you time.  But a sampling:

All of these things I believe have huge potential in dealing with chronic illnesses, whether that be physical or mental. I would imagine golf as a form of healing from depression could be enormous due to what I’ve outlined above. Plus, why change a sport to simply ‘conform’ to what we believe society ‘wants.’ Conformity is boring, each sport is different in its nature and we should celebrate that, not the opposite.

When it comes to the changes we can make as professional golfers to ensure the viewing experience is better, I do believe like many others that there are things that can be done. We should be making an example of players taking way too long to hit simple shots. We shouldn’t be advocating pre shot routines where you close your eyes, breathe slowly and pretend to be a Power Ranger. Golf can be played faster at tournament level, as well as club level. But it can never be played in 2 hours. And I don’t want golf to change itself in such a way to make that possible. I think it would ultimately be a bad move for the game and risk dilution, the same way Cricket has done.

Chief Executive Keith Pelley will not be calling on Pepperell to helm any of his cutting edge initiatives anytime soon.

We may currently have an ‘image problem’ in golf, but we don’t need to add schizophrenia to that. 40 second shot clocks may reduce a round of golf to 4 hours from 4 hours 30 minutes in a 3-Ball, but that’s still 4 hours, and in my opinion that’s not enough of a change to direct attention away from our sport being ‘too slow.’

PGA Distance Survey Is In And The Results Will Not Shock!

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The PGA of America's survey on distance is in and they are against a rollback that has not been proposed. The votes mirror the PGA board's position, as outlined prior to the vote by PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua.

As the process makes taking the results seriously almost impossible, you do have to wonder about all of the PGA members who voted about the joys of distance as their dues are used to fund aggressive grow-the-game campaigns. You know, campaigns deemed necessary because the technology era has not grown the game and the PGA of America is pursuing a long list of growth initiatives.

Here is the letter from current PGA President Paul Levy (of no actual golf facility) telling the members how they voted and how the PGA board will protect their wishes:

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Taylor Made CEO: "We stand with Titleist."

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It's fascinating on several fronts to hear that the CEO of Taylor Made is anti-bifurcation, oddly joining him with Titleist and...by the people he's imploring not to bifurcate: the anti-bifurcation USGA and R&A.

The potential for splitting the rules or playing tour-only specs prompted Taylor Made's David Abeles to issue a statement both reinforcing the importance of the rules while declaring that they should not change. 

"The TaylorMade Golf Company opposes any potential roll back of product performance or bifurcation of the rules in any form as we believe these movements will be detrimental to the game at every level," Abeles said. "Any separation from the rules or any step backward in performance would be disadvantageous to the growth of the game."

The full statement:

Rory: "It's not the ball, it's not the equipment, it's the people that have got more athletic and have more speed."

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A Sky Sports roundup at the Valspar Championship talks to European players commenting on the distance debate includes Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.

All downplay any issues for different reasons, but McIlroy's comments were of note given his views on equipment influences. 

"For me there's no concern. It's not the ball, it's not the equipment, it's the people that have got more athletic and have more speed.

"The guys train better, they know what they're doing more, they have Trackmans so they can figure out how to swing it fasters and be more efficient. It's not the golf balls, it's not the golf clubs, I think it's just fine the way it is."

So if the equipment is not a factor--a farcical statement but let's work with the theory--then what's the harm in tweaks to the rules for elite players to keep courses a sustainable distance?  

I'm not sure I understand the line of rhetorical questions posed by Rose:

"Is the golf ball going further? Yes. Are we stronger? Yes. Is it a problem? Golf isn't getting any easier for the amateur and it isn't getting much easier for the pro.

"Are we getting make some courses obsolete by the distances we're hitting? Yes, but then again great designed golf courses don't need to be long."

So they're obsolete, but the courses do not need to respond to a changing game?

Obsolete would imply they are outmoded and in need of replacement. 

Onward...

A Thermal Exhaust Port In The PGA Of America's Distance Poll?

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In his daily newsletter, The Fried Egg's Andy Johnson points out questions about the PGA of America's distance survey methodology.

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You may recall that the organization took a stand against rolling back the distance of the golf ball, specifically citing the ball and taking a stance against a position that had not been officially suggested by the USGA and R&A's distance report issued on Monday.

Besides taking a premature stand before polling its membership for views from the trenches, the poll itself struck many as odd. Including Johnson, who writes in his daily newsletter of CEO Pete Bevacqua's organizational stance and subsequent polling:

Perhaps in an effort to swiftly bolster his quick statement, the PGA solicited the opinion of its members via a "survey" sent via email to its 29,000 members. The "survey" looks like it was put together by a high school intern and shuns virtually any semblance of scientific poll-taking. The "survey" can be completed by anyone with the link, and (at least to outward appearances) responses can be submitted as many times as one likes. It is, by any definition, completely worthless.
Since the PGA of America has forfeited any pretense of fairness in this "survey," go ahead and vote yourself! You, non-PGA professional, can express your voice by voting here at the link.

I asked the PGA of America for an explanation and here is the response:

The questions were formulated with the help of the National Golf Foundation.  Only PGA member votes are recorded and only their first time accessing the poll counts.  There will be no multiple votes counted by any single PGA member and, in addition, no non-PGA member votes are recorded in any manner.

While that is comforting, it seems odd that there were no cookies telling me I had already voted or telling me I'm not a PGA of America member and therefore the vote will not count. 

This vulnerability in the thermal exhaust port is all probably a moot point given that the PGA of America board has already decided where it stands. 

"This is a simulation. (And it's still golf!)"

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Luke Kerr-Dineen challenges the golf industry to grow the game via simulators, arguing (correctly) that they are more space friendly and more visually interesting compared to a Topgolf.

While perhaps they lack the huge community vibe of a Topgolf, the intimacy of the experience, if presented properly, seems a more logical way to bring golf to people in places where they don't easily have access to it. 

Kerr-Dineen writes for Golf World:

The golf industry often talks about the need for a cheaper, faster experience to grow the game. If the success of Topgolf and Golfzon prove anything, it's that people happily flood into golf when the prohibitive barriers to entry are lowered. But unlike Topgolf, golf simulators can be brought closer to people because they require less space to build. They also present a uniquely natural bridge to traditional golf: The courses people play exist, after all, the equipment people use is real, and the game you're playing isn't golf-inspired. It's a simulation of golf itself.
To truly thrive among today's generation, golf needs to go where the people are. It needs to embrace its cities, and use golf simulators as its vehicle to doing so. Only then will the game thrive for generations to come.

Instagram Roundup: Tiger's Swing Looks Tight, India's Deep Packed Bunker, Jimmy Walker's USGA Plea And Na Touts A Tour-Only Pro V1

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As Tiger Woods prepares for his first Valspar, his swing looks just that much more tighter and impressive, but as Dan Kilbridge reports, Wednesday's pro-am round did suggest (6 of 18 greens) that Woods is still adjusting to Innisbrook's tough approach shots. 

The Hero Indian Open at DLF Golf And Country Club features a bunker getting a lot of attention this week. 

🙏🏼 📷 @plarrazabal #HIO2018

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Jimmy Walker is making a plea to the USGA on behalf of everyday golfers...

Kevin Na posted his improvement in ball speed with a new Pro V 1x ball not available to the public but on the conforming list. Presumably, if all comments over the last week are to be believed, this will not amount to more distance for him. The post is no longer on Na's account.

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If The Onion Were To Take On The Technology Debate...

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Alex Miceli has beat them to it with this for the MorningRead.com, only, sadly, he actually sees a distance rollback imploding the entire business model of golf. 

Is limiting distance by rolling back the ball or any other method worth putting the millions of dollars in charitable contributions in jeopardy? An argument, which Bjorn was making, could force golf’s manufacturers out of supporting professional and amateur golf, leaving little or no backing.

That's right, they could put their money into cricketers. Or Federer! 

Most amateurs would be uninterested in giving up distance, so equipment manufacturers likely would limit their TV, digital and print advertising if Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and the game’s most visible stars would be forced to play other, inferior equipment.

A loss of that advertising, promotion and support by the equipment companies ultimately would challenge the PGA Tour’s system of rights fees by the TV networks and cable outlets as a large part of the advertising inventory would be available if the equipment manufacturers were to flee.

80% of a PGA Tour event ad inventory is purchased by the event sponsors. The other 20% props the whole things up? Interesting theory!

If golf lost those advertisers, it would be difficult to fill the void, forcing the cost of advertising inventory down and ultimately pushing rights fees lower.
With the PGA Tour and its tournaments responsible for $180 million in charitable contributions in 2017 alone, is it conceivable to put such largess in peril?

How on earth did golf's participation levels peak when we were hitting persimmons and steel? Shoot, how did the planet earth survive that dark time when 280 yards led the tour in driving distance. It's minor miracle.

The notion that pro golf exists as a means to move golf equipment product would not portend well if true. Mercifully, at least as of now, people still watch to be entertained, not to be told what to buy. They have the Home Shopping Network for that. 

Titleist Rebuttal To The Governing Bodies: Distance Is Flat

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It's always a fascinating thing to watch a company advertising more distance and then arguing against distance gains taking place. But I digress...

Noteworthy here is the CEO of Titleist making a more restrained argument than the PGA Tour Commissioner, and even a less misleading case than the PGA of America CEO in communicating his organization's likely stance on something not even proposed by the USGA and R&A.

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Wacky days!

For Immediate Release...and again, revel in the even-keeled tone used by Acushnet CEO David Maher, a nice change from Wally Uihlein's alarmest rhetoric. I don't agree with his points but Maher presents his rebuttal in a way suggesting he would be a productive voice at any distance discussions. 

Distance Study 2017: Equipment Regulations Remain Effective 

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (March 5, 2018) – As a proud stakeholder in the game, Acushnet Company is deeply committed to golf’s future health. Following today's publication of the 2017 Distance Report by the USGA and The R&A, it is important to ensure this topic is considered with balance and through a wide lens. 

"As a leader in the golf equipment industry, our team is conditioned to evaluate data to best understand contributing factors and root causes," said David Maher, CEO and President of Acushnet Company. "It is with this intent that we analyzed the 2017 Distance Report, and our findings continue to support the fact that equipment regulations have been effective. 

“A closer look into the numbers in the Report underscores the complexity of making any meaningful year-to-year comparisons,” continued Maher. “There were several contributing variables in 2017, including course selection and set-up, agronomical conditions and weather, which need to be considered when assessing the data." 

It's only been sixteen years since the Joint Statement. Twenty years before jumping to conclusions?

Below is a sampling of key findings from our research that impacted distance results in 2017: 

• At the 33 PGA Tour events conducted at the same venue in 2016 and 2017, where data was collected, the average driving distance increased +0.5 yards. At the eight events held at new venues in 2017, the average distance increased +8.0 yards. 

Imagine if there had not been a new Pro V1 flying new distances (as advertised) in 2017, there might have even been a dip in distance!

Oh, and about those major courses where the driving distances were longer: the driver was freely and regularly used at Erin Hills and Quail Hollow. Not much lay-up in those two courses. Last I heard, the golf ball, when hit with driver, goes longer than with a three-wood or iron.  

• Of these 33 PGA Tour events conducted at the same venue, 15 tournaments had a decline in average driving distance with one event flat to prior year. This highlights the year to year variability in distance. 

Don't make anything of those charts over many years where the lines start low on the left and rise to a higher spot on the right.

• The major championships conducted at new venues represented one-third of the total average driving distance gained in 2017: U.S. Open (Erin Hills vs. Oakmont +20.4 yards), Open Championship (Royal Birkdale vs. Royal Troon +8.1 yards) and PGA Championship (Quail Hollow vs. Baltusrol +7.0 yards). 

It's amazing what happens when a field of top players are free to hit driver off the tee instead of finding their play restricted by pinched landing areas.

  • The 2017 Masters average driving distance declined -0.4 yards. 

Take away the grainy fairway cut pushed down toward the tee and we'd actually get to see agronomy play a roll in distance averages. 

• Of the 25 Web.com graduates in 2016, 24 had shorter average driving distance on the 2017 PGA Tour, with an average decrease of -6.6 yards.  For the years 2015 to 2017, 74 of the 75 graduates had shorter average driving distance on the PGA Tour the following year. This can be attributed to course set-up. 

Yes, course setup may certainly play a roll in reducing the number of times players hit driver. 

“In any given year there are variables that impact distance, and any movement as in 2017 is not suddenly indicative of a harmful trend,” said Maher.

He's not wrong about 2017. It started long ago. 

“We continue to believe equipment innovation has benefitted golfers at all levels, and our analysis of the 2017 Distance Report affirms that the USGA and The R&A have effective regulations in place to ensure the game’s health and sustainability. We look forward to continued dialogue with the governing bodies and stakeholders as we seek to position the great game of golf for future success.” 

Wally, Wally, Wally...not even a technophobic media reference! You sure you picked the right guy?

The Two PGA's: Clemenza's Five Families Rule Sadly Coming To Fruition With Distance Report Reaction

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Monday March 5th, 2018 may end up being the day that the PGA Tour, PGA of America and various shills boxed the governing bodies and Masters into a distance solution that they'll hate. Only time will tell who wins a war as brazen as shooting The Don while he's patronizing a fruit stand.

But as Clemenza explained to Michael in The Godfather, apparently these silly wars are necessary ever ten years. 

I explain for Golfweek.com why the odd reactions by Pete Bevacqua and Jay Monahan were unproductive for golf governing peace.