Exclusive: Golf Digest Task Force Set To Rank Golf Task Forces

Golf Digest Magazine--full disclosure: a partner of this blog--will be adding to its internationally-renowned ranking franchises by soon announcing a task force to rank golf's fastest growing marketplace: task forces charging themselves with growing the game.

"It's a hot growth industry and we think our readers will be very interested to learn which task force is doing the best job giving the impression they are doing a good job," confirmed Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde via email.

The task force will be made up of individuals not already on committees sponsored by golf's most influential organizations: the PGA of America, PGA Tour, Augusta National Golf Club, USGA, World Golf Foundation, R&A, International Golf Federation, The First Tee and The Villages retirement community.

"Admittedly, having a task force made up of people not already on a task force has made it more difficult to find quality panelists since so many candidates already sit on committees. But we feel we've put together a quality group," Tarde says.

The unnamed panelists will use specific criteria obtained exclusively by GeoffShackelford.com. The criteria will closely resemble that of the guidance given to Golf Digest course ranking panelists.

In no particular order:

• Activation - How does the task force announce itself to the golfing world via use of celebrity figures, appropriate logo-infused backdrops, press releases and social media?  

• Aesthetics - How does the logo and other branding speak to the aspirational qualities of the task force?

• Messaging Variety - How varied are the task force's ad campaigns in length, configuration and inclusion of a kaleidoscope of golfers?

• Resistance To Substance - How difficult, while still being fair, is the task force to gain access to for someone with EVP experience in golf?

• Shot Values - How well does the task force pose risks and rewards and equally serve to further the reputation of those involved over growing the game?

The first ranking of America's Top 100 Grow The Game Committees will appear in the April, 2015 Golf Digest, with tablet users having the opportunity to download the issue on April 1st, 2015.

Video: Zach Johnson, Others On Valero's Tepid Pace Of Play

Just 71 players on Sunday at the Valero Open and it took them three hours to play the front nine, 5:32 for the last group, so naturally it's the old field size solution wheeled out by Zach Johnson in this Golf Central interview. He also makes some great points, but it was definitely a pot-kettle-black moment. Especially as he leaves out a mention of the players themselves, which is odd to say the least.

Johnson, says the issues are course setup, spacing of tee times, ripple effects, more daylight (!?) and the issue of putting the rules officials in a predicament in who to enforce the rules on and when. But the main solution he suggests entails reducing the size of fields. An oldie and not a very goodie, especially when Sunday proved that even a reduced field just can't get around a tough course quickly.

Great discussion between Ryan Burr, Steve Flesch and Tripp Isenhour follows the interview. Love the passion! Red phone will be ringing on Golf Channel Drive!

State Of The Game Podcast 36: Gil Capps Talking '75 Masters

We talked all things 1975 Masters with Gil Capps, author of the outstanding new book The Magnificent Masters. Capps is a managing editor of the Golf Channel's Editorial Research Unit, and is a longtime member of the NBC golf team. 

We also talk about this year's Masters in a longer-than-usual State of the Game, but considering how bizarre the run-up has been to Augusta there is just a lot ot talk about!

As usual, you can download or listen via iTunes, as an MP3 or listen below.

"To Frank, Golf was always a Game, and the Amateur golfer was its foundation."

Ron Read was a longtime USGA employee who worked under Frank Hannigan. And while we've heard a lot about Frank's writings and contributions to the game, it's nice to hear from someone who worked under Frank and can speak to his management style.

Read writes:

He surrounded himself with “golf
people” who were passionate about serving the Game. His instructions
were minimal. He was not effusive in expressing gratitude for the long and
dedicated hours spent. We did not require it. We knew we had his
confidence.

Some thought Frank lacked diplomacy and was too direct. It was also an
asset. People knew exactly where he stood, and they trusted him.

To Frank, Golf was always a Game, and the Amateur golfer was its 
foundation. He once suggested to me that if the expected “great
earthquake” along the San Andreas Fault occurred during the old “Crosby”,
and the Monterey Peninsula fell into the Pacific, there would still be 30
million golfers enjoying golf on the mainland. The Game, played by
Amateurs, was always will be bigger than its stars in Frank’s world.

A service will be held April 26th at 1 pm for Frank in Saugerties, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the ACLU, Planned Parenthood or your local no-kill dog shelter.