The Best Reminder Of Why Long Putter Anchoring Is A Farce

Bob Carney posts some recent GolfDigest.com/Golf World letters and shares this from Hank Schlautmann of Port Huron, Michigan.

Years ago Craig Stadler lost $33,333.33 for placing a towel under his knees. I think they called it a stance improvement. Belly-putter users are cheaters as far as I'm concerned. That isn't golf. It should be called by it's real name (BELLY GOLF).

Video: Golf Course Gator Fight

Thanks to the Golf Course Industry team for Tweeting this video of two alligators tussling at Tampa's The Eagles Golf Course. Love the commentary...

U.S. Walker Cup Captain Goes On The Defensive?

The U.S. Walker Cup captain Jim Holtgrieve was asked about his team in today's pre-Cup press conference.

Q. The last American Walker Cup team to come over here, to Royal County Down, proved to be very special. On paper do you think this team looks even better?

JIM HOLTGRIEVE: You know, I know what's been going on with all the conversations. These ten young men are a very, very strong, talented team. Every one to me could beat each one of them any day of the week. I will just tell you that comparing them to the three teams that I played on, it's the most talented ten young men I've ever seen play in a Walker Cup amongst the three teams that I played on.

Excellent answer. Next quest...oh wait...there's more?

Obviously we have a process. We select the guys, and these ten young men earned their way onto this team. They're not only talented in playing golf, but they're very respectful young men who honour the game and have a lot of respect for each other, which has really been quite a daunting -- not a task, but a daunting observation from me. I'll just say that they're just ten great players.

Sounds like the Captain anticipated a John Peterson question!

Walker Cup "Broadcast" Times

College football, U.S. Open tennis and a lousy deal with ESPN means the Walker Cup is buried on ESPN3.com. It's a shame Golf Channel doesn't have the rights on a weekend when there is no PGA Tour or Nationwide golf to compete with.

Here is the "broadcast" schedule, including Sunday's "Encore" show on ESPN2 from 3-5 ET.

SF Mayoral Candidate Proposes Closing MacKenzie's Sharp Park

The San Francisco Chronicle's City Insider blog reports that Mayoral candidate and Supervisor John Avalos went ahead with a proposal to close the Alister MacKenzie-designed course, with a conversion of the property to be managed by the National Park Service.

''A partnership with the National Park Service will make Sharp Park more accessible, while allowing the city to reinvest resources into our neighborhood golf courses, parks and recreation centers,'' said Avalos, a mayoral candidate.

His proposal has the backing of such groups as the Sierra Club, Wild Equity Institute and National Parks Conservation Association. They hope to see the property transitioned back its more natural wetlands state.

The Recreation and Park Department wants to keep the golf course open, but has moved to reconfigure the design to keep golfers out of the most environmentally sensitive areas and has taken other measures to protect the vulnerable critters.

''We have worked to accommodate a diverse range of recreational activities at Sharp Park, including golf, hiking and dog walking, while continuing to pursue a plan with park stakeholders to restore precious habitat for the San Francisco garter snake and the California red-legged frog,'' said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the Recreation and Park Department, which has jurisdiction over the park.

Among those opposed to the proposed transfer of the property to federal jurisdiction are U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, the San Mateo Board of Supervisors, the Pacifica City Council and Public Golf Alliance.

A lawsuit hopes to block any such transfer of the course, but the group faces an uphill battle. In an ideal world, resources would be pouring in from the cash rich organizations charged with running the game to help preserve a course with a fantastic legacy and which serves a diverse audience of golf world.

I profiled the situation at Sharp Park for Golf World in May, 2009.

Jack's Coming To Town To Talk Valhalla Redo

Thanks to reader John for Rick Bozich's Louisville Courier-Journal coverage of Valhalla's latest greens redo, which is prompting a Thursday visit from Jack Nicklaus his ownself. Members have been advised to bring their questions and Jack will provide answers.

In a story for the paper, Jody Demling does not mention the flood damage that had been cited by some as the reason all greens needed to be rebuilt (that would take some flood to get the 9th and 18th greens!). Instead, extreme heat seems to have been the culprit.

The project is expected to begin in September with renovations expected to be complete by next summer.

“The extremes of severe summertime weather these last two years have necessitated the enhancements to begin next month in time for the fall growing season,” Steranka said in a release from the PGA of America.

The PGA said a more heat-tolerant bent grass will be installed. A new irrigation system will replace the existing 25-year old infrastructure, and fairway drainage will be addressed.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed Valhalla has hosted the 1996 and 2000 PGA Championship and the 2008 Ryder Cup along with the Senior PGA in ’04 and ’11.

The course has already undergone three sets of major alterations, including changes before the 2000 and ’04 events.