Views of Newport

While I'm on the road the next few days, I can offer a few photos of the wonderful Newport Country Club, host to this week's U.S. Women's Open. I happened to catch it on a nice day for photography in the fall of 2003.

The next few posts will highlight some of my favorite holes and aspects of this charming layout. For more on the course, check out the USGA official site hole-by-hole map. There is also a page devoted to the club's history.

Do note the fairway irrigation-free course is likely to be much, much more green this year due to heavy rains, not because the USGA or club wanted it cleaned up for the championship.

And also remember that the clubhouse has undergone a significant restoration since my visit, so some of the color schemes and other details may be different when you see it this week. 

(click image to enlarge)So, for starters, check out the coolest parking lot in golf. Yes, that's right, grass, with white wood railings that have the initials of members to delineate parking spaces. 

Huggie and Monty

...Sounds like a wonderful BBC movie, but not yet. In the mean time, Huggan has the pen, Monty, well, himself:

There was one big difference between the other challengers and Monty, of course. While they managed to maintain the highest standard of etiquette during what turned out to be a traumatic afternoon for all concerned, the same cannot be said for our tartan hero.

Adding to his already lengthy list of crass and boorish behaviour over the years, Monty managed, in less than half an hour, to alienate the gallery around the 17th tee, make unwarranted physical contact with a New York state trooper and offend the United States Golf Association. This made three mean feats and no mean feat, if you know what I mean.

Auchtertonie On The Old Course

Most who read GolfClubAtlas.com saw this courtesy of Brian Ewen, but just in case you didn't, it's a wonderful short clip of Willie Auchterlonie talking about the Old Course in 1949.

6200 Yards Obsolete On The LPGA Tour Now?

Sal Maiorana at the LPGA event in Rochester:

Karrie Webb may have felt like biting her tongue after completing a disappointing 2-over-par 74 in the first round of the Wegmans LPGA on Thursday.

During a pre-tournament interview, Webb was asked if Locust Hill Country Club — with its lush rough and fast greens — would be an ideal prep course for next week's U.S. Women's Open.

"I think it's perfect for driving the ball because it's really a tough challenge driving the ball," said Webb. "We're going to be facing a lot longer second shots (at Newport Country Club in the Open) into par-4s than we do here. But it's always good to touch up the wedge game and the short irons because if you are missing a few fairways at the Open, you're probably chunking it out to about that distance anyway."

Ouch.

However unintentional her backhanded swipe at Locust Hill may have been, Webb's assessment was right on. Locust Hill, set up the way it is for this tournament, is too short at 6,221 yards by today's standards, and that was definitely proven during the second round Friday.

Yes, the course has built-in defenses with its thick rough bordering firm and narrow fairways, and greens that are fast and often difficult to read. Then there's the fickle Rochester weather. Thursday it was swirling winds.

I get all that. But how do you explain this? During the first round, when the wind was whipping and many of the players said it was really tough to judge distances and select lubs, there were 35 rounds under par of 72, nearly double the first-round average of 19 over the first 29 years at Locust Hill.

Ogilvy: "golf is a better game when the ball goes shorter for us profiessionals"

Geoff Ogilvy talking to Reuters:

"I think golf is a better game when the ball goes shorter for us professionals," the 29-year-old from Melbourne said.

"I don't understand why we have to get to the point where we change the Augusta National... we had it for 70 years so why change it? Courses like that make golf more interesting."

 "We (professionals) are the top 1 per cent of golf and, at the most it's 1 per cent of that 1 per cent who really benefit. It helps the guys who didn't need the help.

"Guys who used to be able to drive 300 yards (274 metres) can now hit it 340 (310 metres). Long term it's not good for the game."

Week(s) In Review, June 10-24: Winged Foot

Posting will be light through early Wednesday, but I will include a few photos of U.S. Women's Open site Newport and some other tidbits.

In the mean time, there is plenty to pore over from the last two weeks. It's fascinating how much occurred with both the LPGA, U.S. Open and technology issues.

Just some of the highlights (and you can always access Journal Topics on the left for individual issues or the 2006 U.S. Open posts):

The Wall Street Journal reported on the USGA's move toward square grooves regulation, prompting reader Scott S to write: "I'm a little bit frightened here, not just because they are throwing up a smoke screen, but because this move towards arguing about grooves is exactly what manufacturers would want. A ball rollback means nothing for them. People buy new balls all the time, and so would not equate to any increase in sales. However, with equipment, which has a longer lifespan in most golfers' bags, any changes would mean new purchase that might have been deferred for an unspecified period. Changes in grooves means everyone having to go out and buy new iron sets and wedges, a major purchase, where changes in the ball means simply buying a new dozen at the start of the year, like always."

Golf World's Ron Sirak took a closer look at the reign of Carolyn Bivens, with complaints and many others defending the new Commissioner.

That prompted Smolmania to remark: "Where are these great skills that these people keep talking about? What evidence have we seen of them since the branding commissioner took over? The LPGA tour has an opportunity to make huge inroads on the golf market. The Champions/Senior tour loses momentum with every passing day. Jack doesn't play, the King can't, and they won't let Chi Chi. Yes, Jay Haas and Loren Roberts are fabulous players, but people won't come out to see them simply because of who they are."

Bivens also gave an interview in Rochester to share more of her marketing wisdom.

NRH comments: "Hospitality ownership. If I was a marketing VP for product beyond feminine hygiene, cosmetics or groceries and the event was not in the same market as headquarters, I would certainly choose to spend $200k on a PGA Tour tent than $50k for the LPGA. Scores on cell phones?? How original...a service that has been around since 1999. If she wants highlights, maybe she should look at the numbers for ESPN Mobile. Despite a mid 10 figure ad campaign and debut during the Super Bowl, they have sold under 10,000 units to date despite a 50% price reduction. I am sure all of the companies buying airtime on LPGA telecasts are thrilled to hear Bivens touting TiVo."

The USGA's officers held their annual pre-U.S. Open press conference and the questions were awful.

Reader Gregg: Such hardball questions. You would think someone would ask a real question. They should have used your list and at least asked Walter what transportation he used to get to New York."

My senior USGA staff sources say that Mr. Driver flew commercial to Winged Foot. Poor lad!

During Open week, we learned that 2007 U.S. Open host Oakmont wants to furrow their bunkers.

Farouck: "For years they pushed perfectly predictable bunkers. Easily maintainable surrounds with lush green grass for perfect mowing patterns. But we are going to restore the bunkers to the original look while reducing labor. What a fabulous idea! Lets spend $700,000 plus a special irrigation system to keep the grass and sand perfect. The bunkers are no longer hazards we need to make them unpredictable again. What about spending more man hours with special rakes to create an unpredictable predictable sand. Great idea!"

And Gus: "I like the process of de-evolution on the bunkers back toward being hazards, but I'm not sure another specialized maintenance routine is the right approach."

D. Edgard:  Furrowing bunkers in Oakmont 2007 would be a marvellous step towards the origins of the game, would be marvellous to watch and would be much better golf. It´s great only to wonder about!!!

Tom Spousta (I think) in the USA Today had an excellent story on the lost art of shotmaking, with plenty of great quotes from Lee Trevino.  JPB says, "I can't iamgine how a player like trevino feels. He had total control of the golf ball. But now it is hit away, just don't pull it or block it."

And MacDuff: "Likewise craftsmanship - fewer people make things nowadays, we go out and buy them at X-Marts, and usually of an inferior quality. Knowledge of natural bush medicine, which stood us in good stead for thousands of years, is being lost to feed the coffers of large pharmaceutical companies. Sounds similar to golf?"

John Huggan filed a story of Geoff Ogilvy's thoughts on the state of the game as it related to Winged Foot's setup before the Australian's win Sunday. Doug wrote: I can see the USGA officials doing a Sgt. Shultz during this interview: "I see nothing, I hear nothing..."

Huggan also wrote a more exhaustive piece on Golfobserver.com.

I tried a live telecast blog Saturday and Sunday and while I'm not entirely happy with it, it did keep me awake during Saturday's telecast. Even more rewarding was knowledge that I was helping a few folks Down Under who were unable to watch due to a lack of coverage. Your thoughts on this experiment? The sequencing is an issue, I know.

On Brian Hewitt's report that the USGA wants the first green at Winged Foot renovated if it is to hold another Open, reader Jack Vaughn defended the idea of rebuilding a green for four days of play every 20 years or so: "Part of the East Course renovation includes rebuilding several greens because their contours simply do not work when paired with modern speeds. Has it occurred to any of you that the WF members may WANT to redo #1-West or is everything the 'fault' of the evil USGA? If the result of hosting USGA events is so horrible why do these clubs continue to invite the USGA back?"

Reader Brad wrote, "If the USGA hasn't figured out poa annua yet, which is a weed, why consider architectural changes? The USGA keeps putting the cart in front of the horses. Clearly they don't know how to regulate equipment, or run a Championship."

The USGA's Dick Rugge admitted that the organization may have let technology get too far out of hand, which I believe is the first such acknowledgment.

He then went on to lay the groundwork for doing something about grooves!

Reader Jimmy responded: "This US Open reminds me of the Griswald's on vacation. Instead of getting lost in St. Louis, making some wickedly disastrous decisions on direction, proclaiming the 8 myths of distance, stating their position with 'principles' in the balance, continuing on without a road map, looking at each other gleefully after departing the company's net jet on a fact finding mission, why don't they just pull over and get some well founded grasp on reality."

A post allowed you to send your congratulations to all around good guy U.S. Open winner and occasional reader of this site, Geoff Ogilvy, and you can still post something if you'd like.

During Open week, there were spirited discussions on the proximity of the corporate tent to No. 18, debate over Phil's decision making and even one on his weight.

The Winged Foot setup left Peter Kostis feeling disgusted about the bastardizing of classic courses, to which Glyn wrote: Peter, let's agree; wasp-waisted fairways, haystack rough and and parquet-floor greens are bad tricks to be played on classic golf courses. (Not sure about how tricked the Winged Foot greens were in any event, but...)
So what say you about that other trick to be played on one great course after another -- moving tee boxes and fairway bunkers, for no other reason (NO OTHER REASON) than to keep up with the next Pro V x-cess...?"

Tim Finchem weighed in on the bunker furrowing at Muirfield Village, requiring a translation from Glyn: "Does he ever give a straight answer? Let me see if I can translate....'Bottom line is, I think it was a reasonable, healthy exercise that stimulates discussion and focus on different parts of setup philosophy that can contribute to challenges that are good for the competition and also interesting to the spectators.'..translates to..'The players hated it so we are dropping that idea and searching for another idea to counter the rise of technology without offending either the players or the equipment makers.'"
 
And another from Van: "How 'bout, 'Furrowed bunkers has always been a stupid idea, but we're looking at its feasibility, anyway.'"

But I still say the best story of the last two weeks, maybe the year, came from Peoria where the a qualifying for a boys junior event was marred by an over-the-top setup designed to offset the distances the 11 and 12 year olds were hitting it!

The Hazing at Winged Foot

My latest Golfobserver.com column is now posted.

Media Alert!

Well I just can't sit on this any longer. Thanks to reader, well, I better not say because this is such big news, but you know who you are.

It's a moment we've all been waiting for. History in the making, I tell you. Live from New York City (!?)...

FedExCup Announcement
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28
1:15 pm ET

Teleconference Dial-In Numbers
United States: (800) xxx-xxxx
International: (612) xxx-xxxx

Oh yeah, like they'll get a lot of those international calls.

Please join PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, 8-time TOUR winner Stuart Appleby, FedEx Services CEO Mike Glenn and other special guests for a press conference outlining new details on the FedExCup Season and PGA TOUR Playoffs, which debut in 2007.

Should be a special day. Why they are doing it in New York is beyond me. Must be one of those Madison Avenue branding things.

St. Andrews?

In a New York Times story on Ralph Reed's ties to the Jack Abramoff scandal, the paper of record runs a photo "of a 2002 golf trip to St. Andrews in Scotland" that shows, "from left in the front row, the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed, David H. Safavian and Representative Bob Ney, Republican of Ohio."

I don't think that's St. Andrews!

And boy, amazing how those trench coats really slim down Abramoff!

Golf as Antidote To Bonds, Enron and Abramoff!?!?!

The Wall Street Journal's Daniel Henninger pieces together many beautiful sentences in somehow relating the no cell phone policy at Winged Foot (except for the USGA President's PDA), no cargo pants at Congressional and other "traditions" that show golf is above the sins of other sports and politics.

It's just a game. But a game that defines the conditions of its experience with words like "fairway" and "rough" may have something useful to tell the wider world in a time when tradition seems old hat.

We might agree, for instance, that a sense of personal honor, at the most basic level, appears to be an eroding tradition. Enron, Abramoff, Bonds are words that define a new, at-the-edge world of business, politics and sport. Baseball almost surely will admit into Cooperstown several users of steroids because, as any lawyer will tell you, there was no formal rule against it at the time.

Golf, unlike most everything else, is by and large scandal-free.

Oh right!

The Open at Winged Foot last week enforced, with metal detectors, a rule of nearly unimaginable harshness: no cell phones anywhere. "That is a rule which is almost universal in golf at traditional clubs," says Robert Trent Jones Jr., the golf-course architect. "You are out of touch while you are on the property so you come into touch with the game of golf, its friendships, yourself and nature."

And the inevitable technology stuff. I'm not really sure what he was going for, but I suspect it messed up the theme and that's why he brushed right over it.

Of course change comes to golf. Technology can't be capped. Course layouts adjust. Fear persists that the USGA will cave in to the promoters -- the "Taco Bell Shinnecock Open"? Winged Foot's members rolled their eyes at the 36,000-square-foot merchandise tent atop their driving range (not the one Mr. Mickelson hit).

Change in golf is similar to the Founding Fathers' view of new constitutional amendments; it is supposed to be hard, to keep the silliness out. "New ideas have to pass the test of the traditionalists," says Mr. Jones, the architect.

Uh huh.

And when change comes, what was left behind remains in memory. "I miss some of the old sounds," says Kevin O'Brien, a member at Congressional. "The sound of metal spikes on pavement or the sound that a good persimmon driver made."

Golf is a 500-year-old institution. In the U.S. it has 25 million adherents. It is vital not in spite of its traditions but because it refuses to abandon them. Tradition is its wellspring. Other institutions, under great pressure these days, might take note.

Yes, like the USGA for starters! 

Boswell On Tour; Kite On TPC's

Thomas Boswell on the PGA Tour...

Golf is the game of sportsmanship and proper manners, the sport that exemplifies respect for others. We even use it to teach values to kids, to instill the idea that conscience defines character.

So, this is a week for golf -- at least the crass, ungrateful traveling-circus PGA Tour version -- to hang its head in shame.

t's no accident that all of the world's four major championships are run by organizations other than the PGA Tour. The tour keeps pumping its own Players Championship to join the elite. But it'll never happen -- not as long as the tour humiliates itself, shows its true colors, and drives itself down the scale of social respectability with disasters such as the one it is perpetrating in Washington this week.

Even a golf tournament deserves a decent burial. The funeral for the summer pro golf stop in Washington is being held at TPC Avenel this week. The PGA Tour didn't even have the decency to close the casket.

And this from Tom Kite on TPC's...

"The tour has made the mistake of opening [its] TPCs too early many times," Kite said. "We played Memphis too early. We played this one too early. That's probably nothing more than mismanagement -- just not taking the time to pay attention to the golf courses. . . . They've kind of jumped in, tried to make money.

"Unfortunately, that leaves us with some bad names and reputations for the TPCs."

McCabe On Fay's Crop Circles

David Fay can't wait to tell Jim McCabe that the drop circles at Winged Foot were his idea.

Drop areas had cropped up all over Winged Foot -- 50 in all, seven around the 18th. White chalk circles were seemingly at every turn of the head and even worse, they were being used, even if it meant moving the ball closer to the hole.

Good gracious, what's next? Players can buy mulligans on the tee for $5? Gimme putts if they're inside the leather?

Surely, someone in the US Golf Association had goofed. The matter had to be brought to the attention of the executive director, David Fay. Did he know about this?

Turns out he not only knew about it, he initiated it. And he denied my request for two minutes of his time.

``You'll get more than two minutes," said Fay. ``This is my baby. This is why I'm wound up."

Imagine if we could get him this worked up about the ball!

``This slow game has, over the years, gotten slower, and in my judgment part of it was dealing with these things in `big-time golf' called temporary immovable obstructions," said Fay, his reference being all the grandstands and scoreboards that are constructed. Fay estimates that it takes as much as 10 minutes to take a free drop on a ``TIO" ruling, because it involves an array of particulars, like keeping the arc so that the angle of the shot remains similar, not moving the ball closer to the hole, getting patrons out of the way, taking down ropes.

``And time spent doing a TIO drop is time you never get back."

Almost Meeksian in its tone.

Winged Foot Bests Shinnecock...

Thank to Noonan for this John Koblin story declaring Winged Foot superior to Shinnecock because it hosted a glitch free Open. He also compares "The Foot" to Yankee Stadium. Isn't that going to be replaced soon?

Some of the quotes from the Winged Foot member are pretty funny. 

More On Ogilvy

Thanks to Steven T. for this John Davis story on how Ogilvy overcame a temper on the course.

Phil's On Course Sunday Blog

Thanks to reader Pat for this very funny DJ Gallo spoof. Sample:

Posted 7:01 PM ET
Frick! Why did that tree branch jump out and hit my ball? OK, OK -- no problem. Breathe, Phil, breathe. Go to a happy place. You are in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. You are swimming naked through a river of chocolate -- milk chocolate, made from fresh, clean milk suckled by the Wonkas from your very own … cartons.

OK. I'm back. Now the pressure is really on. I have to hit this shot directly over this enormous tree in front of me and land it on the green and one-putt for the win. No problem. With the Wonkas cheering me on in my head, I can't fail.