Flashback: Three Regrets From The 1922 Walker Cup

Golf Illustrated's R.E. Porter wrote a fantastic (and upbeat) account of the 1922 Walker Cup at The National Golf Links of America.

But he did have "three regrets" worth noting for a variety of reasons, but especially considering the amazing flag-raising ceremony.

First, the fact that the British captain, Robert Harris, was forced to forego the pleasure of playing as a member of the team owing to a sudden illness, although Bernard Darwin stepped manfully into the breach. Second, that the National Golf Links are so far from a metropolitan centre and that no provisions were made for the comfort or convenience of the vast golfing public that was undoubtedly interested. Some of those who had charge of the matches were perhaps unconsciously selfish or absent-minded in making the arrangements, and that brings me to the third regret, that there was no British flag flying from any flagstaff in courtesy to the visitors. It was a curious oversight in comparison to the flying of the Union Jack at the Engineers Club during the visit of the Canadian team and at Brookline during the National Amateur and to the flying of the Stars and Stripes at Hoylake last year when the American team visited the British Isles. Someone blundered, but who and why?

It was strange how once again, in 2013, the flags of the countries involved disappeared during the competition, especially since The National Golf Links has one of the great flag poles in the world. And flying the USA, GB and Irish flags might have caused an enebriated boater to think he'd come upon the Irish coast, it would have been worth the risk to raise the flags above The National.

Should The Walker Cup Be Played Over Three Days?

Ryan Lavner explores a great topic which is likely not going to go anywhere because the organizations involved are so conservative, but it's still worth kicking around if you care about the Walker Cup competition.

Three days instead of two?

“The event is so big now,” said Alabama’s Cory Whitsett, “that it almost owes it to itself.”

Unlike the Ryder Cup and Curtis Cup, the Walker Cup has never been played over three days. The format has changed over the years, however, and it currently calls for two days of double sessions: foursomes then singles.

That’s a lot of high-stakes golf to cram into two days, and it leaves little time for the suspense to build, particularly before Sunday singles. With the U.S. leading 10-6 heading into the final session Sunday, the Americans had less than an hour to eat lunch and practice before heading right back onto the course. Some drama.

“It took a long time to get to the matches,” Cal’s Michael Kim said, “but once it was here, it seems like it just went by real quick.”

While I never thing we need to add more days or prolong events in our sport that is already oversaturated, the pacing of the Presidents Cup should be noted in this discussion. It's just a better feel for everyone involved to play that one over four days instead of three (like the Ryder Cup). The same would happen with the Walker Cup if they opened with a flag raising ceremony, played foursomes. Then played singles Sunday (with all twenty players please) followed by the 36-hole day of foursomes and singles on Sunday.

Since the USGA appears committed to taking this event to really special courses, selfishly two days is not enough to give the public a chance to eavesdrop on gems like National or LACC. A third day would not change the equation for the club except perhaps in making Thursday another day of shuttling spectators and manning concession stands.

But if golf is the most important thing, a third day allows the players a better chance to perform and gives the event a better chance of being seen both in person and on television.

Golf Channel Producer Loses Gigs Over Tell-All Book

Martin Kaufman reports that Golf Channel removed longtime producer Keith Hirshland from his assignment to produce the 2013 Walker Cup telecast after the release of his self-published memoir. The move took place two weeks ago and also covers upcoming work on PGA Tour coverage, though his future status with the network is unclear.

Not to worry though, Hirshland could land at Fox Sports soon enough. You may recall it was his wife, Sarah, who engineered the USGA's television contract move to Fox Sports. 

In a brief email exchange, a Golf Channel spokesman indicated the USGA’s decision had no bearing on the decision to remove Hirshland. The spokesman said the reason was based on “100 percent book.” He declined further comment.

Reached by Golfweek, Hirshland declined to comment.

2013 Walker Cup Sunday Morning Photos And Wrap

All four closely contested matches produced some fine golf as the U.S. split the session, holding on to a 10-6 lead heading into the ten singles matches. A late arriving crowd managed to shed their church wear in time to greet the matches as they made the closing stretch from the 14th on in. Excessively difficult hole locations for any format but especially for foursomes took away some of the Sunday morning fun but National continues to shine.

Ryan Herrington reports that the USA needs just 3.5 points to capture the Walker Cup.

Tokyo Lands 2020 Olympics, Kasumigaseki To Host?

USA Today's Kelly Whiteside with the news from Buenos Aires, where Tokyo landed the 2020 Olympic Games beating out Istanbul and Madrid.

The Wakasu links was the course nominated to be the host golf according to Wikipedia, but the Tokyo bid committee's website (acting up from massive hits when I tried to access) apparently says the masterful C.H. Alison-redesigned Kasumigaseki's East Course will be host. (Former NBC Olympic producer Molly Solomon also tweeted this.)

Here is the club's English history.

Update on 2013-09-08 11:45 by Geoff

**A 2010 Golf Club Atlas thread by Andrew Bertram shows what Kasumigaseki Country Club looks like these days.

W Provides Much Needed Levity To Walker Cup Flag Ceremony

The National Golf Links of America put on a classy, once-in-a-lifetime flag raising ceremony on picture-perfect Southampton day overlooking Peconic Bay, and it was President George W. Bush, who made the occasion one to remember.

Granted, as a former president whose great-grandfather created the event at hand so he has a bit more leeway in the speechmaking department. Still, it was Mr. Bush's levity, respect for history and sense of humility that brightened an otherwise bordering-on-somber ceremony to kick off the 44th Walker Cup. Perhaps had the remarks been televised "W" might not have been so glib, but thankfully those fortunate enough to have been there, we'll never know!

Unfortunately, the entirety of his remarks are not on YouTube, and none of the much needed levity comes through. Still, Jessica Marksbury does host a short wrap up for YouTube.

The USGA's official photos from the ceremony.

A few of my really dreadful shots from the audience:

Walker Cup: The National Is Ready To Go!

Just 91 years later The National Golf Links of America makes a triumphant return to USGA golf with the 44th Walker Cup. This is also the first chance to see arguably the most important golf course ever built.

Golf Channel covers from 4-6 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.

At least three inches of rain hit the course Tuesday and while it softened things a bit, the speed of the greens is just fine and any faster would be silly considering the contours. I can't wait to watch today's players take on C.B. Macdonald's masterpiece.

Let the Walker Cup begin!

Your Saturday matches:

Saturday Foursomes

7:15 a.m. - Nathan Kimsey and Max Orrin - GB&I vs. Cory Whitsett and Bobby Wyatt - USA

7:30 a.m. - Matthew Fitzpatrick and Neil Raymond - GB&Ivs. Jordan Niebrugge and Nathan Smith - USA

7:45 a.m. - Garrick Porteous and Rhys Pugh - GB&I vs. Michael Weaver and Todd White - USA

8 a.m. - Gavin Moynihan and Kevin Phelan - GB&I vs. Patrick Rodgers and Justin Thomas – USA

Saturday Singles

GB&I vs. USA

1 p.m. - Neil Raymond vs. Bobby Wyatt

1:11 p.m. - Max Orrin vs. Max Homa

1:22 p.m. - Callum Shinkwin vs. Michael Kim

1:33 p.m. - Jordan Smith vs. Cory Whitsett

1:44 p.m. - Garrick Porteous vs. Jordan Niebrugge

1:55 p.m. - Matthew Fitzpatrick vs. Michael Weaver

2:06 p.m.  - Nathan Kimsey vs. Justin Thomas

2:17 p.m. - Gavin Moynihan vs. Patrick Rodgers

Quick Video: Looking At NGLA's Sahara, Alps & Punchbowl

Course creator C.B. Macdonald was pretty high on his Sahara hole, National Golf Links' 2nd.

Here's what he wrote:

The Sahara of the Royal St. George's at Sandwich I found in our second hole. In one sense it is not a replica, but it is a mental picture of that fine hole, embodying the underlying principle--a golfer's reward is granted to him who can negotiate the carry he is capable of accomplishing. The real carry on the line of the hole is over an immense bunker calling for 210 to 220 yards. The ball then can run to the putting green. Less powerful players must satisfy themselves with placing their ball from the tee advantageously to reach the green in two. I am confident that it is a much better hole than the original Sahara.

 Here are three short, very rough videos from the course looking at the Sahara, Alps back tee and the Punchbowl (16).

Today In PGA Tour Sponsorship News...Tampa, Maui Editions

Nice Friday afternoon news from the PGA Tour if you like the Tampa and Kapalua stops.

First, Tampa:

Valspar Commits to Four-Year Title Sponsorship of
PGA TOUR Event in Tampa Bay and is Named 
“Official Paint Supplier” of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour

Valspar Championship to be Played in March at Innisbrook Resort;
 BB&T Named Local Presenting Sponsor

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and MINNEAPOLIS (September 6, 2013) – The Valspar Corporation (NYSE: VAL), a global leader in the paint and coatings industry, and the PGA TOUR today announced a four-year agreement for Valspar to become the title sponsor of the Tampa Bay area’s professional golf tournament on the PGA TOUR.

Named the Valspar Championship, the tournament will be contested March 13-16, 2014 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. The Valspar Championship will be the third of four straight tournament weeks in Florida.

In addition to the sponsorship, Valspar will join the PGA TOUR’s Official Marketing Partner program and receive the exclusive designation as “Official Paint Supplier of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”

And Maui...

Hyundai Renews Title Sponsorship of Tournament of Champions

Two-year deal carries through the 2014-2015 PGA TOUR season

COSTA MESA, CA, and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (September 6, 2013) – The PGA TOUR and Hyundai Motor America announced today a two-year extension of Hyundai’s title sponsorship of the exclusive field Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, through the 2014-2015 season.

The upcoming Hyundai Tournament of Champions will be held January 3-6 at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, and will mark the PGA TOUR’s resumption in January following a 1½-month break of the 2013-2014 tournament schedule.

“We are very pleased to have Hyundai continue as title sponsor of the Tournament of Champions, which has played a distinctive role on the PGA TOUR for more than 60 years by inviting only tournament winners from the previous year,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Hyundai has been very active in promoting the tournament and using it to broaden awareness of its brand and products. We look forward to continuing to work with Hyundai over these next two years to meet its objectives as title sponsor.”    

“The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is an ideal platform to share Hyundai’s premium lineup with golf fans around the world,” said Steve Shannon, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “The tournament has continued to grow the past three years with ratings up more than 75 percent in 2013. Not surprisingly, the ratings increase and our involvement with the PGA TOUR has coincided with market share growth of our premium vehicles, Genesis and the flagship Equus. This tournament is a great fit for our brand.”

In addition to Hyundai’s sponsorship, Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) continues its relationship with the tournament, under terms of a 10-year agreement that began in 2010. Serving as the tournament’s title sponsor that first year, SBS had the opportunity to bring Hyundai in as title sponsor in 2011, at which time the tournament’s original “Tournament of Champions” name was reintroduced to highlight the exclusive nature of its field. Originally introduced as the Tournament of Champions in 1953, the limited-field event maintained the “T of C” identity in its title until 1994.

A broadcasting partner of the PGA TOUR for nearly 20 years, SBS also will continue to televise PGA TOUR tournaments in Korea through 2019.