And Yet More 84 Talk

The shock is wearing off and Gerry Dulac points out the absurdity of a company doing billions in sales and that spared no expense to make the 84 Lumber Classic a significant event, suddenly worrying about the PGA Tour's measely $8 million price tag. Something strange is going on here...

As if a couple million, even $8 million, can even begin to put a dent in $10 billion?

And when did the Hardy family all of a sudden start worrying about a couple of million?

He has poured more than $100 million into making Nemacolin Woodlands the destination of the rich and famous, and that doesn't include the $66 million Falling Rock lodge that is patterned after The Cloister at Sea Island, Ga. After the first year of the tournament, he bought more than 250 acres to build access roads to the golf course and had a driving range constructed that was the envy of other PGA Tour events. What's more, Pete Dye, the architect of Mystic Rock, was brought back so many times to improve the golf course that even he joked, "That's my annuity."

No More Waste Areas...

I'm not sure if this is a victory for the "Play it as it lies" school, or a defeat?  Or none of the above.

Rank and File

Brett Avery's comprehensive Masters stat package is now posted at Golf World, with page two visible here in PDF format.

Talking Points, They Work

Mick Elliott reprints the USGA Distance Myth memo as a column.

Too Many Myths, Vol. 2

So let's look at USGA Distance Myth #1 (which has been endorsed by a posting over at Titleist.com):

Golfers with faster swing speeds get disproportionately greater distance benefits from new golf balls that have been introduced after 2000.

Most have cited the ball as the easiest remedy to the distance issue. However, most would agree that the distance jumps in the last 8-10 years having occurred due to a few circumstances, with ball-club optimization of launch conditions topping the list. Anyway... 

False. Physics, scientific tests, and actual results on the PGA Tour all confirm that faster swinging players have not gained a disproportionate amount of distance from modern golf balls.  An example: Corey Pavin, the shortest hitter in 2000, gained about the same amount of distance from 2000 to 2005 (7.4 yards) as the longest (John Daly at 8.7 yards).

Interesting that these two players were chosen and the myth declared false with so little support.

Also interesting that 2000 was the chosen year when many have actually pointed to 1995 as the year things started happening, and when these two players were in their prime (compared to the other years selected). Factoring in 1995 adds a different twist: 

Player            1995                  2000                2005

Pavin            254.9                 251.3               258.7

Daly              289.0                301.4              310.1 

So in that ten year span, Pavin's increase was under 4 yards, while Daly's was 21 yards.

But back to the "myth" that players with faster clubhead speeds see disproportionately greater distance benefits. You saw what happened to Pavin, who in his U.S. Open winning year was able to drive it 254.9 and was a whopping 3.8 yards longer in 2005. How about some of the longer hitters?

Player               1995                2000             2005

Els                    274.3                278.4            302.9   

Love                 284.6               288.7            305.4

Singh               283.5                279.9            301.1

So just focusing on the 2000-2005 span the USGA cited, Ernie Els is up 25 yards, Davis Love 17 yards and Vijay Singh 22 yards. And on the shorter end of the driving distance spectrum?

Player                  1995              2000             2005

Funk                    256                266.8             270.0

Faxon                  261.2             264.4             274.7

Furyk                  256.2             269.9              280.0

Again, in the 2000-2005 span Funk has picked up 3 yards, Faxon 10 yards and Furyk 10 yards. 

Sullivan on Torrey Pines

The San Diego Union Tribune's Tim Sullivan looks at the snowballing situation at Torrey Pines, where the mayor is now joining the fight over course access and a new clubhouse.

“I would support a recall of the mayor,” Paul Spiegelman said yesterday. “I'm really troubled when a man talks about sunshine and hatches deals in back rooms. I'm very concerned that the process is being manipulated by some very wealthy people.”

Spiegelman, co-founder of the 1,200-member San Diego Municipal Golfers Alliance, says anyone who supports the five-year city golf plan Sanders put forward last week is “betraying the public.” He said his organization is considering recall petitions and weighing whether to request that the United States Golf Association revoke the 2008 U.S. Open from Torrey Pines South.

All this over tee times and greens fees and the machinations of millionaires. Torrey Pines might be the city's prettiest place, but it is also a political mine field.

 And...

Figuratively, at least, Torrey Pines is a spot that has long suffered from political neglect. Contracts have been signed in clear violation of legal settlements and, arguably, the city charter. Private interests have persistently encroached on public land. Plans have been formulated by a privileged few and implemented over the objections of the Average Joe. Cynicism runs rampant.

Among some of Torrey Pines' most frequent players, Sanders' plan is consistent with a pattern in which the little guy keeps getting squeezed for the sake of a grandiose vision advantageous for the adjoining hotels and the Century Club. Those interests, in turn, question the entitlement of entities such as the Torrey Pines Men's and Women's Clubs and, specifically, of Spiegelman, who averages almost three rounds per week.

84 Classic Follow Up

Gerry Dulac has a little more insight into the impact of 84 Lumber's "aggresive three-year business plan," but the end of this emerging event is still a shocker:

The decision came as a surprise to just about everyone because the tournament recently reached a new six-year agreement with the PGA Tour to move the event to mid-June, beginning in 2007 -- a time spot that had long been targeted and desired by tournament host and sponsor Joe Hardy.

What's more, since the inception of the tournament, Mr. Hardy had spent more than $80 million to improve facilities, upgrade the Mystic Rock golf course that hosted the event and make the tournament one of the best late-summer stops on the PGA Tour.

In a statement released yesterday, Maggie Hardy Magerko, owner and president of 84 Lumber Co. and Mr. Hardy's daughter, said the tournament will be discontinued as part of a strategic growth plan in which the company wants to add 125 stores and hit $10 billion in sales by 2009. The firm also plans to close 67 "underperforming" stores; that move would affect 600 employees.

Mrs. Magerko unveiled the financial plan last week and immediately informed PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. But the announcement that the 84 Lumber Classic will cease to exist didn't come until yesterday, when a tournament in Hartford, Conn., sponsored by the St. Paul Travelers Co., was named as a replacement.

"Put that on your soapbox, Mr. Nicklaus"

John Hawkins says the long ball talk going into the Masters turned out to be overrated because, among other things, Tim Clark finished second.

"Put that on your soapbox, Mr. Nicklaus," Hawkins blogs, though wouldn't it be fun to see him say that to Nicklaus's face!

"The course is a better test than ever, modernized to premium effect and willing to reward players of all shapes and sizes."

No mention of the narrowness possibly stripping the course of its identity (and unique place in the Grand Slam concept of differing tests), nor consideration of the overall effort to put players on the defensive to counteract a game out of whack.

I know, picky, picky.

Course Changes Verdict Watch, Vol. 6

Steve Elling in the Orlando Sentinel:

We're not the only ones saying it after seeing it: The final round of the Masters was boring, because there weren't nearly enough red numbers. Responsibility for that widespread characterization falls at the feet of club official Hootie Johnson and the guys who authorized the course changes. In fact, the whole week was rather flat from a fireworks perspective. Of the players who made the cut, a not-so-grand total of 15 broke 70 for the entire week -- and none of them did it twice. Way to go, Hootie.

Hootie and the Boticelli's

My latest GolfOberserver column is now posted.

Course Changes Verdict Watch, Vol. 5

Bob Dicesare in the Buffalo News, writing about the general brilliance of changes at Augusta National:

Someone has to stand up to technology. Someone has to protect the integrity of the course and the tournament.

In other news, Dicesare writes that steroids should be welcomed back into in baseball as long as they raise the fences and grow infield rough to protect the integrity of the game.

Distance Myths, Vol. 1

Just when you thought the USGA was building a case for stronger equipment regulation, it appears the governing body of American golf is more fractured than the Republican party.

Two months removed from a powerful statement on equipment by Equipment Standards Committee Chair Jim Vernon, comes the "Distance Myths" memo authored by Dick Rugge but reeking of Walter Driver and lobbyist Powell-Tate's touch. (Note that in this story, Driver was quoted about the importance of the memo, declaring the "facts" contained within.)

The memo's general theme: we didn't blow it on optimization and we have things under control. 

But the document only raises questions and would seem to threaten any credibility the USGA has with those encouraged by the recent Vernon speech.

Is there a split between the technical staff and the Equipment Standards Committee? Or is this the first airing of a divide between Executive Committee members on the distance/skill issue? How else can you explain two distinct messages coming out of the same organization in such a short period of time?

Either way, if you are Tim Finchem and you are counting on the USGA to bail you out on equipment, the "Distance Myths" memo cannot be comforting.

Here's how the memo was introduced to the media:

Can you separate fact from fiction when it comes to golf equipment performance?

To show how perceptions can be misleading, here below is a list of items prepared by Dick Rugge, senior technical director at the USGA, that separate fact from fiction.

I invite you to use them as written, if you are interested.

As you may know, the United States Golf Association acts to regulate equipment so that skill remains the most important tenant of the sport. The USGA is often asked to address the needs of a game that appears to be changing. Facts and opinion need to be considered when the USGA makes important decisions about golf equipment.

Love the underlying tone that the distance debate is the product of a biased, uninformed media.

..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?

Oops, sorry, that's from an anonymous writer at Titleist, not the USGA. Just seemed like a natural fit.

Before getting into these myths in later posts, I wondered, how is myth defined?

From the American Heritage Dictionary:

# A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology.

So after reading the Rugge memo, it seems to be implying that the distance explosion is pure fiction that has led to an ideological movement.
 

Well as I've told many people, I sure like the company in this little ideological fantasy world of ours.

Medinah's MacKenzie Bunkers

The PGA of America announces that Medinah will be the longest course in major championship history this August. And even better, they have MacKenzie/Tillinghast bunkers.

A world-class field of 156 will converge Aug. 17-20, 2006, at the 88th PGA Championship, competing on the 7,561-yard, par-72 layout, which will be the longest course in major Championship history. (See chart below).

The Championship will be the fifth major to be contested at Medinah, following the 1999 PGA Championship, won by Tiger Woods; and three U.S. Open Championships (1949, 1975, 1990).

"I think the players will notice a different golf course from 1999 when they come here," said Jones. "When players return here, they're going to really see a different golf course, a golf course that really has more definition."

The Jones' restoration featured the removal of 300 trees, which allowed for more of the original Tom Bendelow design to be in play, and eliminated "blind" shots on the first and eighth holes. Additionally, the tee at No. 17 was moved back, the green positioned closer to a pond; and the 18th green was elevated to require a more precise approach shot.

Nice irony there...Bendelow designs it with blind shots, they're restoring his design, and eliminating the blind shots! Sorry...the best part:

"We have classic old-style sculptured bunkers, which are like A.W. Tillinghast or [Alister] Mackenzie bunkers," said Jones. "So it has much more character. The bunkers are deeper, the green contours and sizes of the seven greens that we did are complimentary to the greens that were originally here. I'm very pleased with the results."

PGA Home Library

The PGA of America announces a rare book reprint series...

Toms On Augusta

Thanks to reader Steve and Robert for the heads up on David Toms' Hilton Head gathering with da medja. Lots of interesting stuff here:

Q.   And secondly, if you were to have an audience with Hootie this afternoon and he says that you can change one thing about Augusta National, your answer would be --

DAVID TOMS:   -- so many rules.

Q.   What do you mean by that?

DAVID TOMS:   Well, to me it's still a place where the players walk around on eggshells, and you know, not knowing if they are in the right place; they are worried about their cell phone being on; having to stop by the little place, the hut on the way in, to scan your ticket; to making sure you only have one parking pass and somebody else doesn't get in there; to making sure that the wrong person doesn't get your pass and get thrown in jail and try to sell it to somebody else; to not signing autographs in a certain spots or not asking for an autograph in a certain spot; or sitting down at the table too long.   It's just one thing after another.   It's like, you know, the only place all year where the players don't feel like they are the most important thing there.   That's the way I see it and I don't think that I'm the single opinion on that.   So that would be the only thing.

And this fine follow up...

Q.   You mentioned stopping by the hut to scan the ticket; did you guys have to do that?

DAVID TOMS:   Yeah, when you pull in the parking lot you go by this little hut on the way in to scan your ticket.   I don't even know what it's all about.   It's like CIA stuff, you know what I mean.   I don't know, to me it's just uncalled for.   It's not, you know, you can't have your instructor here, you've got a major championship and you can't have your instructor walk down the fairway with you to prepare for the golf tournament.   You know, it's just one after another.   It's like the book of rules and I just think it's a little over the top, that's all I'll say.

Q.   Do you think Tiger has ever had to stop and get his ticket scanned?

DAVID TOMS:   You know, that's the thing.   That's the thing, if he doesn't, why is he any different than me or the Pub Links Champion?   But, you know, I just feel it's that way.

In a way, it makes it different and it makes it special and it makes it just kind of unique, but then again, it's still a golf tournament in the end.   It's the players that make that tournament.   It's Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods battling down the stretch that headaches that event successful on television around the world.   It's not how green the grass is on No. 1 fairway.   So, you know, we'll see, but I don't see that changing, either.   I don't think I'm going to get my time in front of him until I win the tournament.

Q.   Another Masters question, on the back nine on Sunday, we didn't get that jolt that just makes it feel like The Masters, and I wonder how much of that was the design or just guys not taking advantage of the opportunity, any opinion there?

DAVID TOMS:   It is the design.   You know, it's just different, and I don't think you're going to see that anymore.   You know, you saw it the year that Ernie and Phil were battling down the stretch because you're talking about two of the longest hitters in the game and two of the best players, so they were able to have some dramatics and have the power to do it.

You know, when I'm on 15, I hit a good drive and I still was almost 250 yards out from the middle of the fairway, not only is the chance of eagle not very good, but the chance of birdie is not very good, either.   So it's just the golf course is different nowadays and you're not ever going to see a whole lot of heroics from at least half the field.   You have a handful of players that can create it, but at the same time, it's even more difficult for them.

I don't think you're going to see that a whole lot more, the back nine.   You might see somebody collapse on the back nine because the holes are more difficult but I don't see a big charge.   I don't see myself shooting 29 on the back nine ever again like I did in '98, and I don't see anybody else doing it, either.   So you know, we'll see, and could be wrong, but I don't think so.

Q.   So were guys right in saying it feels more like a U.S. Open, the guys that said that?

DAVID TOMS:   Oh, sure, if you brought in the fairways another five yards on both sides and grew that rough up to where it was four inches, that's exactly what you would have.   You'd have a Masters/Open because the corridors are getting awfully tight with all of the trees they are putting in.   Who knows 20 years from now what it's going to look like with all of the new trees.   And the greens are obviously, they can firm them up because of the sub-air system and they can make it play as difficult as they want.

You're thinking, this guy's on a roll. Maybe his take on this trend in all golf course setup, or what he feels is driving this mentality that the players need to be humiliated?

Q.   Just to change the subject, I'm doing a piece on hole-in-ones, and just kind of asking guys what their first hole in one is and their most memorable hole-in-one.   I'm pretty sure I can guess your most memorable?

Now that is a rally killer!