How The USGA Can Spend Fox Money To Grow The Game

Working off of Tom O'Toole's Annual Meeting speech outlining an emphasis on growing the game, Ron Sirak proposes a few ways they can spend Fox's their newfound millions.

The two I liked most:

• The USGA needs to have public golf represented on its 15-person Executive Committee. Not only are all the current members affiliated with private clubs, they come from the most elite clubs in the country. Since the Executive Committee is composed of volunteers -- one told me he spent $60,000 out of his own pocket to attend championships and meetings -- the USGA would have to subsidize public-course representatives. Still, the USGA at its highest level needs to have a direct connection to what life is like at daily-fee and public courses. It would be money well spent.

• It should encourage every private club to grant four "scholarships" a year, giving juniors playing privileges and free lessons. Base the scholarships not on playing ability but community service or grades. The purpose is not to produce pros but rather players for life. Many likely would end up joining their host club.

Reminder: Victoria GC And The Australian Women's Open

Live tonight on Golf Channel, 8 pm PT, the great Victoria Golf Club can be seen for the first time since the 2011 Australian Masters when play kicks off in the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.

Victoria has been lovingly restored by architect Mike Clayton and his team.

Here is my last DVR alert post on Victoria from two years ago.
Cheyenne Woods, last week's winner, is in the field.

Also entered are Stacy Lewis, Lydia Ko and Karrie Webb.

State Of The Game 34: Curt Sampson

Author of 14 books and numerous magazine stories, Curt Sampson joins us for the latest State Of The Game.

As always you can download the mp3 here, listen to this episode on iTunes, or subscribe to this and other episodes via iTunes.

Four Seasons Las Colinas Sells To Blackstone

Steve Brown on the latest ownership change at the Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas, host to the Byron Nelson.

Brown writes:

Since 2010 the 431-room luxury Irving golf course hotel, conference center and spa have been owned by lenders who foreclosed on the property after previous owners defaulted on debt.

Now a company set up by Blackstone Real Estate Advisor has purchased the Four Seasons for an estimated $150 million.

New York-based Blackstone is a major U.S. real estate investor. It acquired the hotel in a private sale from CW Capital, which represented the securitized debt holders on the property.

The TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas may only host the Byron Nelson a few more years as future sponsor AT&T eyes a possible new Coore-Crenshaw design.