"If you've ever made a golf trip to Pinehurst, chances are you're familiar with the Pine Crest."

And Ron Green Jr. filed a nice tribute to the venerable Pinehurst inn, which opened for business on November 1, 1913 and began its centennial celebration.

Thanks to reader Chip for this.

Step inside and it's not much different than it was 100 years ago when Mrs. E.C. Bliss of Edgewood, R.I., opened the Pine Crest. The ceilings are low, the floors are gently uneven in spots and the stairway to the second floor creaks.

The Pine Crest Inn is not ultra-modern or part of a chain or terribly expensive. Instead, it's comfortable like your own den. It's a place where people running the place know their guests names and they take pride in making them feel at ease.

Liberty National Largely Undamaged By Sandy

Brian Wacker with a roundup of a few significant venues in the eye of Sandy and Liberty National, home to the 2013 Barclays so CBS can show the Statue Of Liberty 400 times, has gone largely unscathed. Heaven knows, the players will be relieved.

Days after the storm, Cupp, who designed Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., with Tom Kite, was still getting damage reports from up north, which included news that a loose ferry boat ended up about 10 feet from the cart path on the 10th hole.

There was also water in the lower parts of the clubhouse and several trees down on the course, which will host The Barlcays next year.

“The storm surge in Jersey City on the wind side of the bay was 12-15 feet, but the water was not salty because most of the water at that point is from the Hudson River,” Cupp said Thursday via text message. “I’d say they dodged a bullet.”

A reader sent in this photo making the rounds of the ferry in question:

Snedeker: The Halloween Costume

Little Rickie was darn impressive in the two-year-old division but reader Matt grabbed a photo of nine-year-old Timmy Gannon who raised the Halloween costume bar by sporting actual Brandt Snedeker gear.

Apparently Timmy's mum wanted to write "Snedeker" on the back of his shirt to better explain his costume, but Timmy held his ground in the name of authenticity. He also didn't want to be confused with a caddy, and who could blame him?

The hat and glove he is wearing are Brandt's actual hat and glove. Brandt gave them to him after a round at the Wachovia Championship. These guys are good!

Flashback: HSBC Dude Was For Appearance Fees Before He Was Against Them

What's funny about HSBC's Giles Morgan lamenting Tiger and Rory's absence from his WGC event this week in China?

That Rory and Tiger committed (extremely) early to HSBC's January event in Abu Dhabi where they are undoubtedly receiving huge appearance fees? No.

That the Morgan has 13 of the top 20 in the world at the HSBC, and is unhappy, even though a field like that will make it one of the strongest fields of the year?

No, downright LOL funny: speaking on behalf of sponsors who are concerned about star players not teeing up every single week, Morgan apparently forgot that back in January he praised the very thing that is undermining his event this week.

Speaking to Bob Harig in his look at the role of appearance fees, Morgan was defensive about the notion of appearance fees "commercial arrangements" with some players:

"The commercial arrangements we have with some of the players is long seated,'' said Giles Morgan, group head of sponsorship for HSBC, which is in the second year of a five-year contract to sponsor this tournament. It also sponsors the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, as well as several other tournaments.

"Golf is a product and golf is a product particularly in new markets. And you have to ensure that the players are able to showcase what the sport is to the broader public. We are trying to take this sport to a new audience, which means that commercial arrangements are much more likely.''

Of course, such "commercial arrangements" are not allowed at a PGA Tour sanctioned event like the HSBC Champions.

Asia-Pacific Amateur Telecast Times

ESPN is broadcasting the Asia-Pacific Amateur event from Thailand and run by Augusta National with a birth berth in the Masters on the line.

All times Eastern:

Thu., Nov. 1 First Round (live) 4 - 6 a.m. ESPNU, ESPN3
Fri., Nov. 2 Second Round (live) 4 - 6 a.m. ESPNU, ESPN3
Sat., Nov. 3 Third Round (live) 4 - 6 a.m. ESPN2, ESPN3
Sun., Nov. 4 Final Round (live) 3 - 5 a.m. ESPN3
Final Round 4 - 6 a.m. ESPN2
 
Final Round Highlights 4 - 4:30 p.m. ESPN2
Mon., Nov. 5 Final Round Highlights 1 - 1:30 a.m. ESPNU

In two years the event will be played at Royal Melbourne.

HSBC Suit Slams Tiger And Rory For No-Show, Claims To Speak On Behalf Of "The Industry"

James Corrigan with a nice unleashing of misery by Giles Morgan, "group head of sponsorship" at HSBC, who sponsors the soulless $7 million WGC event this week in China.

“On one hand we are delighted to have 13 of the world’s top 20 here, but of course we’re disappointed not to have the two top players in the world,” said Morgan. “Both have sent me apologies but this is an event which should be regarded by all players as it is by the tours and the media as one of the top events in the world.

Well that was thoughtful of them!

This next part was interesting. Especially if you set it to some particularly depressing Schubert's Ave Maria.

“Therefore I feel strongly that the top players should be here. I believe that golfers have a responsibility to their sponsors. Without the sponsors there isn’t professional golf. I speak on behalf of the industry.”

Speaking of thoughtful...

Morgan has been contacted by other sponsors who share his concerns that they will not be able to justify the huge outlays without the top names. “I feel very strongly, as I know a number of sponsors do particularly, in a downturn, particularly when there are financial difficulties around the world, that golf cannot be immune either,” he said.

I hate to break it to the sponsors, but with Commissioner Growth Is My Mantra's "calendar year" schedule, no downtime, and plenty of folks willing to pay appearance fees, the stars will not play more less and will gear their schedule around who pays. I think they call this market forces, no?

Jack: Presidential Election Will Determine Recovery Of Stalled Golf Course Construction Industry

Art Stricklin reports that Jack and Barbara Nicklaus will make more appearances in Ohio for Mitt Romney leading up to the November 6, 2012 election. 

Nicklaus told those gathered at the opening of his new Summit Rock course in Horseshoe Bay, Texas that the future of the golf course construction industry is dependent on the presidential election results.

"It all depends on who is elected next Tuesday," Nicklaus said Tuesday during the opening of Summit Rock, his new course in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, just west of Austin. "It will take longer if the wrong guy is elected."