GCSAA Cuts: "The economic recession, particularly in the golf industry, has been deep and severe."

James R. Fitzroy, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America President, writing to his members today after announcing significant staff cuts.

Dear GCSAA Members,

In recent years, my predecessors and I have shared with you the steps we have taken to ensure that GCSAA remains a viable and sustainable organization that delivers value to you, your facility and the golf industry.

The economic recession, particularly in the golf industry, has been deep and severe. Since 2008, GCSAA has reduced expenditures $5.4 million with the objective of having the least amount of impact on members as possible. Earlier this year, the GCSAA Board of Directors conducted an extensive strategic planning session to review our mission and vision, and chart our path for the upcoming years. Our responsibility as leaders is to keep GCSAA strongly positioned for the future by seeking new resources and optimizing the ones we have in order to execute programs and services on the members' behalf.

Therefore, today I am announcing a series of significant actions that will result in reorganization of GCSAA programs and services. Unfortunately, it will also result in reduction of staff. In the last three years, we have reduced staff from 122 to 85, so taking these additional steps places additional responsibility on those that remain. Working with interim CEO Rhett Evans, we will continue to focus on those areas we have deemed to be a priority. There is no denying that we will discontinue some activities and reduce the magnitude of others as we manage the association through this difficult period. But the reductions are also necessary to create the capacity to expand into areas of significant opportunity such as field staff, continued international expansion, advocacy/outreach and professional development, among others.

"Give the man a gold star for six-out-of-six."

Sounds like we really missed a lot with Tiger's presser yesterday. Only thing missing was an "it's all right in front of you" endorsement of Victoria. John Huggan writes:

Which is not to say that Tiger didn't try at all during the 20-minutes or so he spent in front of the gathered media. He did make an effort, a little bit more than normal, if truth be told. But still, much of what went on was little more than an insult to the collective intelligence of those with posteriors in the cheap seats. It was also utterly predictable.

One late-arriving journalist, who missed the Tiger show by a good two hours, was asked to speculate on the content of the world number-two's oratory. He came up with the following:

1) "I love the Sandbelt."
2) "The bunkering here is just fantastic."
3) "I always enjoy coming here to play."
4) "This is just a great course."
5) "We just don't get to play these sorts of courses in the U.S."
6) "The fans here are just tremendous."

Give the man a gold star for six-out-of-six.

Say It Ain't So: Poulter Says He May Have To Pick A Tour

Frankly, I don't know if the PGA Tour could survive if the fashionista, Orlando resident and master Tweeter were to devote himself to Europe.

"Hopefully it won't get more difficult as I will have to make a decision myself," said Poulter ahead of his Singapore Open title defence this week.

Golf Digest Armchair Architect Winner

Golf Digest launched an innovative new Armchair Architect contest that collected submissions using imaginary properties and computer aided designs.

While a couple of the finalist images might make you cringe (a golf cart, really?), I think they highlight just how difficult it is to design a golf hole on a computer.

That said, a great start to what could become a fun annual experiment as more readers become computer savvy. Especially since we won't be seeing many new real holes for a while.

"The PGA Tour needs the players a lot more than the players need the PGA Tour."

Jason Sobel on the accelerated globilization of golf with this week's news:

It remains to be seen what kind of foresight and creativity can be employed to keep more top players competing in the U.S. more often. One thing is certain: This is a critical juncture for the PGA Tour and without a proper plan in place, its power could be severely weakened by those players who wish to ply their craft elsewhere around the world.

How Does The FedExCup Return In 2013?

The PGA Tour's next television contract negotiation will occur in 2011 and with the recent defections of Europeans Westwood and McIlroy citing the FedExCup as the final straw in opting to remain loyal to the European Tour it would seem that the FedExCup foundations are crumbling.

Since many writers have touted the Cup as a success because it brings top players together at a time they wouldn't otherwise play, this latest episode of non-commitment to the tour from Euros would seem to deflate that argument. Throw in the absurd points system, the branding as a playoff with almost no authentic playoff characteristics, and general apathy from fans, and the tour would seem to have no choice but to be radically rethink the cup in every respect.

Thoughts?