Poulter Says Wentworth Changes Still Stink; Ernie Will Take It Lightly
/"It's not fun. I was here as a kid watching those great shots but you can't remember them now. We'll have to fill up the archive with some new ones."
When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Shafts That Increase Spin "By As Much As 700+ RPM"?
/Several of you have noted the claims from True Temper that they can increase spin with wedge shots via their new shaft. Anyone know if this claim has any merit? Thanks to reader Jack for the ad:
Read More"There is no such thing as a really terrible golf course. If you’re playing golf on it, how awful can it be?"
/
On Monday, Charles McGrath wrote about the beauty of even the most apparently wretched courses, even citing one of note that might look a little rough but which is actually great fun and well worth repeat visits: George Thomas's Marion.Monty Fired By His Caddy On Monday, Posts 69 Thursday!
/Monty regrouped from getting fired by his caddie to shoot 69 at Wentworth. Paul Mahoney reports.
Read More“While we would describe Tiger as a distressed product, he’s still a premium brand."
/I know a lot of you haven't been able to sleep since the news broke that IMG let Mark Steinberg (and likely Tiger Woods) leave. Well, we mustn't have you fretting over the holiday weekend, which is where Randall Mell comes in with a look at Steiny and Tiger's options.
Read MoreAnother NBC Departure; Tour TV Negotiation Underway?
/John Ourand reports on the retirement of Ken Schanzer, the longtime, golf-friendly NBC Sports #2 man and suggests Schanzer is staying on briefly to be part of PGA Tour television pact negotiations which may now be underway.
Read MoreThe 4-Year-Old Nemesis To The Range Picking Industry!
/Thanks to Jeff Ritter for posting this classic video of a 4-year-old nemesis of range pickers everywhere. And what a setup and swing!
Jack's Still Not A Fan Of Sand-Filled Divots
/Thanks to Mike O'Malley for Tweeting this chat between Jack Nicklaus and Mike Davis about the dilemma of sand-filled divots. Jack's not a fan, but Davis explains why the USGA can't deem them GUR.
Read More"That's kind of the golden ticket these days."
/Doug Ferguson asks a question that needs to be asked frequently of the world golf ranking: "What's the value of being in the top 50?" Apparently, it's worth more than winning.
"I have no problem with facial hair, depending on the individual and how it looks."
/I finally got around to Tim Rosaforte's "Hairy Situation" story in last week's Golf World (not posted) and while the entire look at the tour and facial hair is great fun, Commissioner Adrian Monk came through with some of his most tortured logic ever.
Read More"Confirm or deny: Was that Tiger Woods limping into a Toronto hospital, twice in the past month or so?"
/The Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons posed this question to readers:
Confirm or deny: Was that Tiger Woods limping into a Toronto hospital, twice in the past month or so? Sure looked like him...
You know they say the quality of health care is better in Canada!
Anyone know of any good sports medicine guys up there?
"Woods is fairly loyal to the crew around him, which means if Steinberg wants to continue as his management mouthpiece, he'll darned likely get the chance."
/Steve Elling thinks Mark Steinberg's split with IMG is definitely going to mean a fewer opportunities for Tiger.
Read MoreNew Book On History Of Equipment Regulation, Brought To You By Titleist!
/Remember, I just copy and paste this stuff and slap it under the you-can't-make-this-stuff-up-files. From Titleist PR:
FROM STICKS AND STONES: AN ESSENTIAL READ FOR ALL GOLF ENTHUSIASTS
Former USGA Technical Director Frank Thomas Details the Evolution of Golf Equipment Rules
Fairhaven, MA (May 25, 2011) – One of the men most involved in writing the rules that set the boundaries for today’s golf equipment is setting the record straight in his new book, From Sticks and Stones, a comprehensive history and analysis of golf’s equipment regulations and their effects on the game.
Wow, how courageous, he's going to reveal how he blew the pooch! Got to love a good tell-all.
Written by Frank Thomas with Valerie Melvin, From Sticks and Stones dissects all the equipment-related provisions in the Rules of Golf, and explains why they were written, what they were meant to achieve and evaluates their relevance today.
I'm sure that'll have quite the honest, forthright look. It's not like Wally himself is contributing a press release blurb or anything.
"Frank Thomas has written the definitive book on the evolution of equipment as it pertains to the Rules of Golf,” said Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO, Acushnet Company, manufacturer of the Titleist and FootJoy golf brands. “As the Technical Director of the United States Golf Association for more than a quarter century, Thomas was at the forefront of the decision-making process by the game's ruling bodies during the most active and critical periods in the history of golf. He always kept the best intentions of the game top of mind and provided a voice of reason, often in the face of criticism. From Sticks and Stones is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the game and how golf equipment has evolved over the past century."
Well, at least I know what'll be my light, whimsical summer reading.
Today In Bad Golf Course Business News...
/
J. Scott Trubey and Bill Torpy do a full autopsy on the Reynold's Plantation situation and its uncertain future.
“They were the Cadillac of development; they under-promised and over-delivered,” said state Rep. Mickey Channell, R-Greensboro, a 25-year Reynolds Plantation homeowner. “Based on their history, it was assumed they’d get through this.”
But the 3,600 Reynolds property owners soundly rejected Reynolds’ plan. After the vote, his business was placed into receivership, a move short of foreclosure. Now, a guardian is managing the Plantation and three other communities owned by Reynolds while the banks try to find a buyer or work out another deal with him. In all, 9,000 acres of his corporations’ property, about half its holdings, is held as collateral, is at stake.
And thanks to reader Del for Toby Tobin's analysis of Palm Coast golf courses dropping 71% in assessed value since 2008.
"There was nothing mutual about it."
/SBJ's Liz Mullen followed up the news of Mark Steinberg's departure from IMG with this item suggesting we won't hear a peep until June 1 when he is free to talk. As for the departure, it seems there are different opinions about how mutual the agreement was.
Read More
