Video: The Mood For Merion, 8th Hole Flyover

With no room to lengthen, the 359-yard yard 8th remains a drive and pitch holes as it's been since the day of Jones. In fact an aerial depicting Bobby Jones' tee shots from the 1930 U.S. Amateur show him driving to fairway just in front of the green, a swale that is now rough based on this aerial posted by the USGA and presumably shot last year.

The video also notes that this hole is a candidate to be shortened to tempt the players into driving the green. It's hard to tell from the aerial how wide the throat is that Jones drove to, but with the hay-like native grass visible on both sides and a front bunker it's hard to see how someone would be tempted.

Jack's Plan To SNAG The Game

Jack Nicklaus launched his team learning leagues "powered by SNAG" at today's Memorial Tournament, with a roll-out planned in parks in Columbus, New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. 

For Immediate Release:

Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG® Kick-off in Five Major Cities
 
Golf Icon Takes Bold Step to Energize Youth Participation in Golf
 
North Palm Beach, FL (May 29, 2013) —  To coincide with the 2013 Memorial Tournament, the new Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, will be introduced at select local park and recreation facilities in the Golden Bear’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio, as well as in New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles.  The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues (JNLL) marks the first time that golf will be made available to youngsters as a team sport through local parks and recreation facilities.  The innovative concept, combined with SNAG’s well-established, first-touch development program, will provide a golf learning experience for children, ages 5 through 12, in a safe, affordable and accessible environment.
 
Nicklaus has been an important advocate for growing the game and he envisions that with SNAG’s modified equipment and support, and the active participation of local park and recreation agencies through the National Recreation and Park Association, golf can have a competitive footing with such team sports as soccer, basketball and football.  In an effort to supplement other growth-of-the-game initiatives, JNLL has sought the input and support of organizations such as the PGA of America and The First Tee.
 
“There are so many sports—team sports—played in the park system today,” Nicklaus said. “Kids start playing athletics when they are as young as 4 or 5 years old, and by the time they are just 7, 8 or 9 years old, many of them have picked the two or three sports that they might want to play in the different seasons.  If golf is not part of the sports introduced and available to them at their local park and recreation facilities, they will play other sports and not golf.  So we need to get golf in their local parks and have them play our sport, and I think the team concept is the way to do it.”
 
“The idea is to bring kids into the game, keep them in the game, have them learn, let them have fun, have fun with their friends, and then they can advance to the next level where they get on a golf course and develop.  I just hope these leagues create the same enthusiasm for golf that I discovered at their age.”
 
Some 100 Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues are planned for 2013 and an estimated 300 are projected to launch in 2014.
 
Terry Anton, founder and CEO of SNAG Golf, is enthusiastic about the leadership position of Jack Nicklaus in the establishment of the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues.
 
“Jack Nicklaus’ vision to bring golf to the same venues where other organized sports thrive will make it easier to develop our future golfers,” Anton said. “These leagues will introduce millions of new players to the sport and will help nurture children developing their motor skills and do it in a fun way.  SNAG is honored to have been selected to participate with history’s greatest golfer and the NRPA in the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues.  Our task is to make his vision a reality by implementing SNAG’s programming in the parks and directing this feeder system into all on-course golf programs.  This is an important stepping stone for the industry to capture interest in golf early so that youngsters will transition with confidence to play with actual golf equipment on a traditional course.  The more fun we make golf for children, the more chance they have to play the game for a lifetime.”
 
The use of parent-coaches and turning soccer and other playing fields into venues for this golf competition will be pivotal to the implementation of the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, through the auspices of the National Recreation and Park Association.
 
“Local parks and recreation are the go-to places where children can learn to play sports and develop a connection to healthy activities,” says Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association.  “We are so proud to be bringing the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues and SNAG to park and recreation agencies across the country, because not only is it a great program but it means more children will have the chance to participate in the sport of golf in a fun and unique way and develop a connection to a healthy activity that will last them a lifetime.”
 
The NRPA will administer grants to park and recreation facilities across the U.S. to underwrite the costs associated with providing Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues equipment, coaching and programming.  A 501©3 entity, G.O.L.F. (the Global Outreach for Learning Foundation), is being established to raise the necessary funds.  G.O.L.F.’s mission is to help people develop golf skills and have fun through developmentally appropriate programs.  The goal is to ensure retention and provide a sustainable model for transition to other programs at golf facilities, in order to increase participation for current and future generations. (For information on G.O.L.F. visit www.thegolffoundation.org.)
 
The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues are separated by age groups:  5-6 and 7-8-year-olds with the intention of expanding to 9-10 and 11-12 in the near future.  Each league will have a set number of children per team and incorporate a specialized, age-appropriate format and learning curriculum.

Nicklaus talked about the leagues in his annual state of Jack press conference at Muirfield Village.

Update on 2013-05-29 20:32 by Geoff

**A couple of key comments from Nicklaus today:

From my standpoint, it's 100 percent nonprofit from anything that I do, so everybody knows that.

Secondly, trying to figure out how this thing got started.  We're trying to figure out how do we get the kids?  And the kids today are all going to the parks.  Matter of fact, a lot of the parents are not playing golf anymore, that's part of the issue we talked a lot about earlier.  They're taking their kids to the park to play football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, whatever the sport might be.  I said guys, we've got to get to the parks in talking with the PGA of America, and they talked to Terry about it, because they're familiar with SNAG, and the success he's had with kids in the approach to starting the game of golf for kids.

And...

So we're trying to get where golf becomes one of those sports, whether it's getting kids started, learning the basics, getting a way they can have fun.  And this is a team sport.  You're going to go out and have ‑‑ coaches will draft the kids like they do with every other park sport.  And it's a very simple thing.  It's basically a plastic club with a tennis type ball and a Velcro‑type hole, which is not a hole, it sticks to the Velcro.  And it's actually kind of fun to play.  If I have fun playing it ‑‑ that's the only thing I can play anymore (laughter).  If I have fun playing it, I know the kids are going to have fun playing it.  We had some kids the other day playing it with Gary and me, and we had a good time.

NCAA's: Slow Play Penalty Assessed After Hour-Long Detention!

Ryan Herrington reports on the slow play detention session for Cal's Max Homa, Alabama's Scott Strohmeyer and UCLA's Jonathan Gerrick that resulted in Gerrick being assessed a one-stroke penalty after an hour of discussion.

I'm all for slow play crackdowns, but an hour to give one player a shot penalty?

"You sit there and they actually grill you pretty good," said Alabama coach Jay Seawell about the interview process to determine whether a penalty is warranted. "You feel like you're in a Turkish prison."

"I don't know what a Turkish prison is like," Homa noted after his meeting. "But i felt like I was in detention. They had me sit out side and told me to wait with Strohmeyer. It wasn't fun. I wouldn't wish it on anybody."

Turkish prison? Joey...

Tiger Plays Merion...

Michael Bamberger reports on Tiger's Tuesday visit to rainy Merion where the three-time champion had the U.S. Open site to himself. He got a tour from member and one-time U.S. Amateur nemesis Buddy Marucci.

And there was this:

LaCava walked the course on Monday night and surely discovered what other players and caddies have found out about Merion, a par-70 that measures just under 7,000 yards: Only two or three holes demand driver off the tee. The rough is absolutely punishing, and there is no real graduated rough. If you miss a fairway, you're in deep, wet lush grass from which there are few options. As for the greens, they are as tricky as greens anywhere, much smaller than Augusta's but with wicked movement, even within six feet of the hole. The greens, the rough and the bunkering are the course's defense.

Update on 2013-05-29 19:39 by Geoff

**Jack Nicklaus talked about hitting dirver 2 or 3 times at Merion today at the Memorial. From Rex Hoggard's highlights:

On the idea that players will drastically dial back their games to play Merion: “If they are only going to use (driver) two or three times (per round) they aren’t going to win the golf tournament.”

Rio Olympic Golf Course Visit, May 2013

I made a visit to Rio last week to see the Olympic golf course in the early stages of construction and with things just now moving ahead down there--albeit still too slowly--I'll share some random thoughts for those interested in Gil Hanse's design, Rio and the Olympic course's potential.

--The site exceeded expectations in terms of potential for a "great" golf course (very much so) and its setting in Rio (you know you are in Rio but not excessively so). Gil's also done a super job routing what will be a fun, walker friendly course long after the Olympics. It's the type of site a lot of architects would call boring or flattish, but it's far from that.

-By now most have seen the images with sandy scrub, nice plant material and other attributes that give off a "sandbelt" essence. About half the property is set on dunesy land with the initial clearing exposing some tremendously good bumps, hillocks and swales. The "lower" section is on wetlands created after the original dunes were stripped off the property decades ago.

-With the unfortunately slow pace of the project--has at least afforded Gil the chance to gently scrape off the grasses to preserve these features and to isolate plants, cactus and grasses for preservation or transplanting.

- The quality of the ground on these "upper" dunes holes, along with the potential for some attractive (but not excessive) water holes and a few holes playing through a more forested section down by the water, means the routing will have a bit of everything. But mostly it will exude a very open feel, with links and sandbelt elements (if they had condo buildings and stunning mountain ranges in the distance). If given the time to develop the features--a big "if" as the clock ticks and the host countries' lack of urgency continues--re-vegetating the natives and growing in the course properly becomes a concern. However, if this process is allowed to move along at a proper pace, the Olympic course should exude the type of rugged, natural sense that organizers hope to show the world.

- Design discussions were focused on the 6th, 7th and 16th holes. The 6th is a par-3 playing over a dune in similar fashion to the long-lost Maiden at Royal St. George's. The "bowl" the green will sit it in is essentially there, with almost no modification needed. There will be tees from three different angles and a wide array of yardages possible. I can't wait to play this one and even better, watch Olympic golf played on this one-shotter where there is an ideal spot for a grandstand that will allow crowds to react to the shots for the benefit of players on the tee. Throw in the chance to watch the reachable par-5 5th green and 7th tee shots, and it'll be an electric spectating spot on the course.

- Discussed was how this obstructed view 6th hole--sure to be controversial the first time around depending on hole location and tee used and general revulsion by modern players toward any hint of blindness--will fit in the context of the Olympics. But as I preached to Gil, other Olympic sports with playing fields unique to their respective games where local knowlege is rewarded (downhill skiing, luge, road races, etc…), players will merely have to play practice rounds. No more semi-blindness then!

-I never want to hear how Los Angeles can't host another Olympics until LAX is expanded. It looks like Heaven's airport compared to what Rio currently offers. I can't fathom how Rio will handle the number of visitors expected for the games. The 40 minutes I spent in the customs line snaking around the baggage carousel, did, however, allow for the penning of the first lyrics to my new hit single, "The Customs Line From Ipanema."

-Also strange is the lack of any nod to the Olympics in Rio via logos, signage or any other hint that the country is excited to be hosting. It wasn't something I went looking for, but instead realized upon leaving. Not a big deal 3 years out, just weird.

Below are just a few images, including some dirt shots and the required Christ The Redeemer photo and the view from this engineering, construction and spiritual marvel. One the golf side, I've included a view from the 6th tee playing over the existing dune, as well as the approach to the par-4 7th green where you can see some bunkers rough-shaped in.

Video: The Mood For Merion, 7th Hole Flyover

The 360 yard 7th doglegs left gently around the newly extended 4th tee and features a fairway pushed toward OB and meant to bring trees into play, hardly much to get excited about.

But boy, after looking at this flyover, the club could have a nice rough sod sale after this U.S Open. The fairway in 1930 aerials appears to be twice as wide as todays. What's changed? Oh right, the guys hit about a hundred yards longer!

Taylor Made Prepping Non-Conforming "Bunny Slope" Clubs?

Steve Pike with a report and quote from TaylorMade-adidas Executive Vice President Sean Toulon suggesting the company is working on some non-conforming equipment to help grow the game. Considering how much moaning they've done about the governing bodies, I say (A) it's about time and (B) why not?  We'll find out if the equipment rules are really holding golfers back from playing the game.

“We’ll go right to USGA jail with all this stuff,” said Toulon, the implication being the new clubs will not conform to the USGA Rules of Golf.

1971 U.S. Open Re-broadcast Open Comment Thread

Okay so I'm a little late to post this, but wondering what everyone's impressions were of the Golf Channel re-broadcast? I was watching on an SD tv in a hotel room, so it was hard to see much of the golf course. Or maybe it was all of the shade from trees that have since moved on?

Anyway, what a treat to watch both to see some greats in their prime and to see how much telecasts have evolved.

A few thoughts:

-What color is that for the anchor jackets worn by Byron Nelson and Chris Schenkel?!

-Lord Byron wasn't much on-camera, but he had strong insights once they got to the golf.

-The marshals were dressed like Dr. Beeper

-Several announcers brought the playoff on by mentioning the "P" word way too early and often in the telecast!

-Whoever was feeding Henry Longhurst info and cues could be heard almost as well as Longhurst! Was that a technical screw up or did he have his headset audio too high? Either way it was one of about 200 examples of how far golf on television has come.

-Frank Hannigan did a nice FBI G-man impersonation.

-Frank Gifford was not nearly as bad as I anticipated.

-Was Lee Trevino just standing in the gallery when he was interviewed prior to Nicklaus's 18th hole putt?

-Mr. Nicklaus was painfully slow on the greens.

-Jim Simons appeared to nudge his ball unintentionally on his 18th green chip shot. Who do I call?

Mixed Messages Coming From First Post Anchoring Player Meeting

Alex Miceli with a report on the PAC members meeting at Muirfield Village and joining in by phone. The takeaway? A variety of emotions on anchoring, bifurcation and rules, though he suggested more players were again in favor of the ban for reasons unknown.

According to one participant, some PAC members who were on the fence now seem to be going back to supporting the ban.

Anchoring on its own has unique issues: the potential for limiting high-profile players from competing as they have for years, potential litigation and how the Tour might be perceived if it goes against the anchoring ban.

“We’ve got a process we follow as a Tour, and we're going to let it play out,” said PAC member Bo Van Pelt. “I think that’s what you get with 144 guys. Everybody has a differing opinion.”

Video: Wickedly Good Trick Shot Artist

Many thanks to reader Chris for forwarding Kyle Porter's post on trick shot artist Romain Bechu who uses a GoPro to take the viral video shooting of a golf trick shot to another level.

Now about his music choices...

Golf Channel's '13 US Open Sectional Qualifying Coverage

It was a huge success last year with the epic shots of Dennis Miller's putt and Casey Martin's relieved look upon qualifying at the 2012 sectional qualifier. Martin is in again, as are hundreds of hopefuls trying to qualify for golf's most democratic tournament, the U.S. Open.

Golf Channel will be covering the Sectional qualifying in full force again.

For Immediate Release:

GOLF’S LONGEST DAY Follows Pursuit of U.S. Open Dreams
 
Golf Channel Covers U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying With 17 Consecutive Live Hours From 13 Sites Across the U.S.
 
News, Scores and Insight Offered Across Multiple Platforms; New Golf Channel Digital Studio Makes Debut
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 28, 2013) – On Monday, June 3, a team of more than 50 reporters and production professionals corresponding live from 13 locations around the United States for 17 consecutive hours – what Golf Channel has coined GOLF’S LONGEST DAY – will chronicle U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, when nearly 1,000 amateur and professional golfers of all ages attempt to qualify for less than 70 spots available to compete in the U.S. Open Championship.
 
Starting at 7 a.m. ET and continuing until all the final results are tallied at around Midnight ET, Golf Channel will feature interviews, analysis, highlights and scoring updates from 11 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying locations in the U.S., as well as insight from experts located at Merion Golf Club – site of next month’s U.S. Open – and Golf Channel studios in Orlando.
 
GOLF’S LONGEST DAY will be a colossal television and digital undertaking, originating across multiple platforms.  Television coverage will be hosted by Rich Lerner and Steve Sands from Golf Channel studios, while content produced from Golf Channel’s new digital studio will be hosted by Whit Watson and Ryan Burr.  For fans on the go, streaming content will be available via GolfChannel.com and the Golf Live Extra app, from 7 a.m. to Midnight ET.  The 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. coverage originating exclusively from the digital studio will be available to everyone online and on mobile devices.  Each platform will showcase stories of grit and determination by golfers trying to realize lifelong dreams, as well as those golfers trying to resurrect a career in order to make it back to golf’s brightest stage.
 
GolfChannel.com also will serve as a source for U.S. Open qualifying news and information, with feature stories written by correspondents in the field, scoring updates and posting social media content from Golf Channel reporters covering the Sectional events.  Fans also can join the social media conversation in Golf Channel's social lounge (www.GolfChannel.com/SocialLounge), and follow @GolfChannel on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag, #RoadToMerion.

GOLF’S LONGEST DAY U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Locations and Correspondents:
 
Rockville, Md.                                    Woodmont Country Club                             Kay Cockerill
Cle Elum, Wash.                                Tumble Creek Golf Club                                Win McMurry
Springfield, Ohio                              Springfield Country Club                               Scott Rude
Bradenton, Fla.                                 Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club                Matt Ginella
St. Louis, Mo.                                     Old Warson Country Club                             David Marr III
Dallas, Texas                                      Lakewood Country Club                                George Savaricas
Ball Ground, Ga.                               Hawks Ridge Golf Club                                   Steve Burkowski
Memphis, Tenn.                               Colonial Country Club                                     Scott Walker
Purchase, N.Y.                                   Century Country Club                                    Jerry Foltz
                                                                Old Oaks Country Club
Columbus, Ohio                                Brookside Golf & Country Club                  Todd Lewis
                                                                The Lakes Golf & Country Club
Newport Beach, Calif.                    Big Canyon Country Club                              Rex Hoggard
                                                                Newport Beach Country Club
Ardmore, Penn.                               Merion Golf Club                                Kelly Tilghman & Tim Rosaforte
Orlando, Fla.                                      Golf Channel Studios                             Rich Lerner & Steve Sands
 
Making his Golf Channel debut is new anchor/reporter George Savaricas, who comes to the network from KVOA-TV in Tucson, Ariz.
 
GOLF’S LONGEST DAY Programming Schedule (all times ET):
7 – 11 a.m.                          Morning Drive
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.                GOLF’S LONGEST DAY streaming from Digital Studio on GolfChannel.com and Golf Live Extra
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.                Golf Central Updates on Golf Channel
1 p.m. – Midnight            GOLF’S LONGEST DAY coverage on Golf Channel
7 a.m. – Midnight             GOLF’S LONGEST DAY streaming on GolfChannel.com and Golf Live Extra

Spieth: "The way I can play now kind of frees me up."

For all of the attention paid to 8th graders these days, Golf World's Tim Rosaforte looks at the quietly impressive year of 19-year-old Jordan Spieth.

With no status and questions about why he turned pro, has won over $900,000 after another top 10 at Colonial.

Spieth's ball-striking stats explain his success. After his latest top-10 at Colonial -- which helped him get into this week's Memorial -- the teenager sat 10th in total driving and ninth in the all-around ranking. Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open comes June 3 in Dallas, which could mean 288 holes of competitive golf over a three-week period, including last week's British Open qualifier in Big D, in which a T-22 finish failed to earn him a spot in the field at Muirfield.

If Spieth were eligible for FedEx Cup points, he would be ranked in the top 60. His World Ranking is 141st, up from No. 809 at the start of 2013. "My expectations have changed," he said. "Down the stretch [at tournaments] I'm not worried about seventh-place finishes, like I was in Tampa. I can be more aggressive, which may have hurt me this week, but that's part of learning how to win."

State Of The Game Podcast 22: Anchoring, Race Issues & Rio

We cover a broad spectrum on the latest issue, including the ramifications of the anchoring ban, the recent racial insensitivity and my visit to Rio to see the Olympic course under construction.

Rod Morri hosts Mike Clayton and myself this week. As always, you can subscribe or listen on itunes, or below: