More Slow Play Violence: "I didn't know golf was a contact sport."

Jim Schoettler reports on the latest slow-play-induced course violence, this time on the 18th green at Jacksonville Beach Municipal Golf Course in Florida. If they make a movie out of this one, I like J.K. Simmons for the old guy who flips out. (Thanks to reader Jon for this.)

Police arrested a 61-year-old Jacksonville man and charged him with slamming his golf cart into a group of bachelor partygoers and then whacking one with his golf club, leading to a brawl ended by other stunned golfers and police.

"It was some guy who must have been having a bad day," said Murdock Hampe, 27, who suffered a badly swollen leg when hit by the golf cart and a long knot when a golf club was broken over his head.

James Alonzo Hines of the 11500 block of Young Road was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, an arrest report said. Hines, who a witness said was bloodied in the brawl, was jailed and later released. No other arrests occurred.

And...

Hampe said he was sitting in a golf cart when shouting erupted between the two groups from a distance. He said Hines then began hitting golf balls at them from about 200 yards away.

That always helps speed people up.

Here's where it becomes apparent this joined the other slow play violence of late (here and here)...

Hampe said at one point Hines shouted he was a veteran of the course and complained about the group of younger golfers taking too long.

"The first thing he said was, 'You need to respect your elders,'" Hampe said. "We said, 'That's no way to conduct yourself in public.'"

Salsbery said he and his buddies had no choice but to subdue Hines.

"We all just went there thinking it was going to be a cool, chilled day and right at the end it got crazy," said Salsbery, 26. "I didn't know golf was a contact sport."

Ravel, 23, called the attack ridiculous.

"If the older group had just held their frustrations in for another five minutes, the whole round would have been over," Ravel said.

Bubba's Masters Final Round, Shot By Shot

Very cool edited video posted (in larger format) at Vimeo of every shot from Bubba Watson's final round, courtesy of reader Rob. Enjoy it before the inevitable copyright claim is made.

Meanwhile coming off a T-18 at the Zurich, Bubba is sounding burned out by the quotes in this Ryan Ballengee item.

Seve's Son Can Play

Nice scores for a law school student making his debut in a pro event...six spots higher than his late dad finished in the satellite event 38 years ago.

The 21-year-old Spanish amateur, who tied 14th in his first professional tournament at the same venue where his father started out in 1974, ended the Peugeot Alps de Barcelona tournament at Sant Cugat on 4-under, 12 strokes behind two-time European Tour champion Pablo Larrazabal.

“I come away satisfied and will gain a lot of confidence from playing here,” said the law student, who fired rounds of 65, 72 and 68.

“I like playing with the pros as I play better. It motivates me and helps me improve.

“My mother and father always supported me to play golf but both always told me that studies come first.

“With every day that passes I enjoy golf more, but I do not plan challenges or set goals. For now I enjoy, have fun.”

USGA Films To Debut With '62 Open Doc; No Plans Yet For Retrospectives On Either Of Lee Janzen's Open Wins

Doug Ferguson on the USGA jumping into the film business in a big way, turning over an idea for a one-hour documentary on the 1962 U.S. Open to the renowned Ross Greenburg, recently of HBO Sports fame.

Greenburg, who won 51 Sports Emmy awards during his tenure at HBO Sports, already has spent two hours with Palmer and Nicklaus. The real treat comes next month when the King and the Golden Bear return to Oakmont.

The hole locations will be where they were that Sunday afternoon for the 18-hole playoff, when Nicklaus built an early lead, withstood a charge by Palmer in the middle of the round and wound up with a 71 for a three-shot victory.

"It literally was a creation of what went on to be the best rivalry in golf we've ever seen, or one of the best," USGA executive director Mike Davis said. "We went to NBC and said, 'What do you think of our concept?' NBC loved the idea. That got us to thinking. Why wouldn't we promote some of this wonderful history? People love the game. And this is a great way to educate people."

Update on 2012-04-30 16:17 by Geoff

**The USGA release...

USGA ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION OF “1962 U.S. OPEN: JACK’S FIRST MAJOR”

New Documentary is the USGA’s First Film Produced for Network Television

One-Hour Feature to Make U.S. Premiere Sunday, June 17 at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC

Far Hills, N.J. (April 30, 2012) – The United States Golf Association today announced the production of “1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major,” the USGA’s first-ever film produced for network television. The one-hour documentary chronicles Jack Nicklaus’ first U.S. Open victory in 1962 at Oakmont Country Club, which set in motion one of the most prolific careers in professional golf and at the same time ignited one of the greatest rivalries in sport between Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

“1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” will premiere in the United States on Sunday, June 17, 2012, at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC (check local listings) prior to the network’s live final-round coverage of the 112th U.S. Open Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. The film will make its international debut Sunday, June 10 on Sky Sports (SS3).

A preview trailer of the documentary film is available at www.usga.org/62usopenfilm.

“We’re proud to make our network television film debut by bringing golf fans around the world this compelling and dramatic documentary that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jack’s first major championship,” said USGA President Glen D. Nager. “This film masterfully tells the story of the turning point in Nicklaus’ career, from successful amateur and collegiate player to U.S. Open champion, which set into motion a major championship record that has remained unmatched for 50 golden years.”

“1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” is a USGA film, produced in collaboration with the USGA Museum and Ross Greenburg Productions, and features archival footage of the 1962 U.S. Open from the Museum’s own collection, and other archival material from Oakmont Country Club, the Jack Nicklaus Museum, Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A, and newsreels of the day. The film also includes fresh interviews with Nicklaus, Palmer and other luminaries from golf and journalism to tell the complete story of the 1962 U.S. Open Championship, from the opening round through the dramatic 18-hole playoff, covering events both on and off the course.

“Jack Nicklaus is one of the most compelling sports figures of the last 50 years, and we’re delighted to tell the story of his win at the 1962 U.S. Open through this new film,” said Robert Williams, director of the USGA Museum. “The 90 holes played at Oakmont proved to be a major turning point in golf history, as the U.S. Open validated Nicklaus’ great potential as a professional through the toughest examination in the game. It is a privilege to partner with the storytelling talents of Ross Greenburg in documenting an exciting period in USGA history and celebrating the emerging era of the ‘Golden Bear.’”

“It is an honor and a thrill to be working for the USGA on this legendary story about the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont,” said Ross Greenburg, a 51-time Sports Emmy Award winner. “It is also a dream come true to spend time with two icons in the world of golf, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, as they document this historic moment in each of their storied careers.”

Narrated by accomplished actor and Emmy Award® winning narrator Peter Coyote, who has lent his rich voice to over 120 films and documentaries, “1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” culminates in a retelling of the final rounds of the 1962 U.S. Open and Sunday’s dramatic 18-hole playoff, exploring the emotions of Nicklaus, the undaunted young champion, and Palmer, the hometown favorite. The film closes with reflections from Nicklaus on what the victory meant to him then and now, and how it set the tone for an unrivaled career—one that included a record-tying four U.S. Open titles and a total of 18 major wins, a record that stands today.

“I have never been one to reflect on past achievements, but this production allowed me the opportunity to look back on and relive a very significant part of my life and career,” Nicklaus said. “To the credit of the USGA Museum and Ross Greenburg Production, their combined research was evident in the interview process. They covered aspects of that U.S. Open that I haven’t thought of in close to 50 years. For example, they unearthed letters exchanged after that U.S. Open between my father and my childhood idol Bob Jones.”

"At that time in 1962, I was a 22-year-old kid with blinders on, focusing on the task at hand which was winning my first professional tournament and our national championship,” added Nicklaus. “Fifty years later, it was nice to take the blinders off and think about all the elements that made for such a meaningful week in my life.”

The film’s high-profile list of interviewees also includes: golf professionals Gary Player, Deane Beman, Dow Finsterwald and Billy Maxwell, all of whom played in the final two rounds of regulation play with Nicklaus; golf journalists Dave Anderson and Marino Parascenzo, who covered the 1962 U.S. Open; USGA Executive Director Mike Davis and Rand Jerris, the USGA’s senior managing director for Public Affairs and noted golf historian.

“1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” is executive-produced by the USGA Museum and Ross Greenburg Productions.

Funding and support for the USGA film has been generously provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), a longtime supporter of Jack Nicklaus and the United States Golf Association. As an RBS Ambassador, Jack Nicklaus represents RBS at business and hospitality functions across the globe.

Verdict Is In On Lexi's Prom Date Stunt: "That her parents or her agent didn't anticipate the backlash here is unfortunate"

Bob Carney with a nice round-up of the mixed-to-negative reaction from commenters at this site and the very negative replies on Twitter to Lexi Thompson's Facebook plea for an older military man to take to her prom. Kind of makes Steiny's latest attempt to wrap his head around social media look charming.

Lexi Thompson is 17. Seventeen-year-olds, even 17-year-old professional golfers with professional handlers, do sweet, naive things. They aren't nearly as clever or calculating as we give them credit for -- or as we are. That her parents or her agent didn't anticipate the backlash here is unfortunate, but it offers us all a lesson.

Patriotism is in season right now. On the campaign trail. On TV. On tour. It is so in-season, in fact, that corporations are "cause marketing" the military. What brand can seem most grateful for our soldiers -- and in the process collect a bit of gratitude for itself. Maybe Lexi reminds us that patriotism isn't that easy. Read the Pulitzer-Prize winning Huffington Post series by David Wood on wounded vets---read it all, as a patriotic act--and you'll see what we mean. Good for Lexi to try to draw attention to their sacrifices. And if you think her video is too calculating, make a contribution to the American Lake Veterans GC and don't tell anyone about it.