"Golf clubs getting some use, snowmobiles are not"

Snowmobilers' frustration is golf's gain reports Scott Seroka of KARE 11 in Minneapolis where the lack of snowcover means golf is an option just days before Christmas.

Turns out we found an industry that didn't mind the proverbial lack of snow on the ground. "We'll do an 11 o'clock shotgun on Sunday," Riverwood Head Golf Pro Steve Fessler said. "The temps sound good. The phone's been ringing off the hook, so we're kind of excited."

Almost 100 golfers hit the links on Tuesday and Wednesday at the course. 
Down the street at Pro Power Sports in Ramsey, business was good, but the mood could be a little better. "The cup is half full. We're waiting for the snow to arrive and we know it will," Michael Kamrad said. "It's lurking in Canada right now, knocking on the border door."

Let's go to the videotape...

"It would be a tragedy...if San Francisco were to host one of the world's two most important golf tournaments, while being in the process of destroying Alister Mackenzie's legacy just 10 miles away."

Bill Fields explains where Sharp Park stands after a Board of Supervisors vote heads to Mayor Lee's desk, and also reveals parts of an impressive letter sent by Ken Venturi.

When considering a veto, Lee will have all that background at his disposal. Plus these words from Venturi, the most famous golfer to come out of a Bay Area muny, who in his letter to Lee, reminded him about the 2012 U.S. Open being held at San Francisco's Olympic Club.

"It would be a tragedy -- and a terrible public statement by the City to the international golf world -- if San Francisco were to host one of the world's two most important golf tournaments, while being in the process of destroying Alister Mackenzie's legacy just 10 miles away," Venturi wrote. "Please don't let that happen."

Lee's veto, however, wouldn't really be about public relations or being nice to a long-gone architect, however great his legacy. More than anything, it would say common sense hasn't gone out of style.

Dan Jenkins, First Living Writer Inducted Into World Golf Hall Of Fame

In the new issue of Golf World, Bill Fields reveals what the World Golf Hall of Fame will be announcing at 2 p.m. ET today: Dan Jenkins will (finally) be inducted.

"I have carried this with me for years and I wanted to get it off my chest."

Check out this story from reader and rules official Pete Blaisdell, who posted a stunning phone call he received regarding a past incident on GolfClubAtlas.com.

"The world changed."

Jennifer Bjorhus reports on another high-profile course closing, this time 8-year-old Tom Lehman-designed Windsong Farm outside of Minneapolis. Quite a statement from the banker...

"The world changed," said club member and shareholder Mark Lewis.

Lewis, a semiretired businessman in Edina, said Windsong Farm was insolvent and unable to renegotiate its loan with Commerce Bank. Two of Windsong Farm's seven employees will remain through the end of the month, he said.

Lewis blamed the club's demise on poor timing and the difficulty of finding new members to pay annual fees of $7,500 in a lumbering economy.

Windsong's 130 equity members and 100 golfing members, who don't hold stock, weren't enough to make the club work financially, Lewis said. He said he doubts the 130 investors will recoup their investment.

James Senske, CEO of Commerce Bank in Geneva, Minn., said the bank won't comment on customer relationships.

"Like many other banks, some customers of Commerce Bank have been hit hard by the current ongoing economic recession," Senske said in a statement. "In these challenging times for its customers, the bank continues to maintain a strong capital position and remains committed to serving its customers in the normal course of business."

Update on 2011-12-14 21:38 by Geoff

**Brad Klein with a few thoughts on Windsong Farm's closure.

Allenby-Ogilvy Reunion At Victoria Will Be Purely Accidental

Martin Blake on the possibility of Presidents Cup mates Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy finding themselves paired together at this week's JBWere Masters at the must-see Victoria GC.

According to the man who creates the groupings, the Australasian PGA Tour's tournaments director Andrew Langford-Jones, it is the last thing golf wants. ''They'll be on opposite sides of the draw, most likely, not together,'' said Langford-Jones yesterday. ''The focus should be on the golf, not on personality clashes.''

Allenby and Ogilvy, teammates in Greg Norman's International team in the Presidents Cup last month, had a public argument in a restaurant area on the last night of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum. Ogilvy is furious Allenby was quoted as blaming him for some of his bad results at the Presidents Cup, where he was the only player of 24 in the field who did not score a point. It has been reported he demanded an apology from Allenby, who had suggested they settle the matter outside.