I couldn't disagree more with my GolfDigest.com colleague Joel Beall who felt robbed watching the World Long Drive Championship, suggesting what he saw reinforced why it's a "fringe event." He also suggests the Long Drive needs new presentation and format ideas, but as someone whose watched the event the last few years, including in person in 2013, I'd counter that the extended match play format had players better prepared when we got to the final nights. I just wish the landing grid was about 10 yards wider.

But more to the big picture status of the event: I love Long Drive because it genuine presents real athletes using their athleticism in a different way than PGA Tour players, featuring real stories of golfers doing amazing things to a ball. Beall is right that some of the PGA Tour driving distances make today's 400-yarders in the Long Drive seem less impressive, but considering the contest faced some headwinds, I found the numbers pretty astounding.

It's also refreshing to see different forms of golf succeed beyond the weekly stroke play. But golf is so tradition-based and uptight that the theatrics presented in the Long Drive make many uncomfortable. I get that. But as a lover of tradition, I'm also open to anything that shows how golf can be embraced in divergent ways that ultimately are about exposing us to people of extraordinary skill.

Meanwhile, the news was positive for new Long Drive owner Golf Channel, as Tuesday's rating for the live Round of 16 was up 263% over 2014, while the final night saw a 43% increase over 2014. Both ratings were in the vicinity of last week's Frys.com Open numbers. With replays and NBC airing in December, the Long Drive will be seen by many more eyeballs than any of the fall PGA Tour events.

Here is GolfChannel.com's video of the final match won by Tim Burke, now a two-time long drive champion.

October 22, 2015

$1.98 Million: C.B. Macdonald's Chicago House For Sale

October 22, 2015/ Geoff Shackelford

Bob Goldsborough of the Chicago Tribune says the father of

October 22, 2015

Deals Coming! Communists Ban China Golf Club Memberships

October 22, 2015/ Geoff Shackelford

Looks like the grow the game intiatives may need to look beyond China, as reports say the Chinese Communist Party has banned all 88 million of its members from joining golf clubs.

Thanks to everyone who sent the unbylined BBC story on the party updating is "discipline rules," which also targeted things like extravagant eating and drinking and abuse of power. And golf club memberships.

The new rule on golf states that members are banned from "obtaining, holding or using membership cards for gyms, clubs, golf clubs, or various other types of consumer cards, or entering private clubs".

If caught, members could either receive a warning or be removed from the party, depending on the severity of the violation.

October 21, 2015

USGA Sounds Positively Thrilled About Mid-Am's Fundraising

October 21, 2015/ Geoff Shackelford

Jeff Babineau of Golfweek, who covered Sammy Schmitz's U.S. Mid-Amateur win, considers the fundraising effort by the presumed Masters invitee.

Babineau tried to contact Schmitz but did not get a return call, only a written statement. But it's the cold, crisp statement from the USGA that is more telling:

A spokesperson for the USGA released the following: “Raising funds for reasonable competition expenses is permissible under the Rules of Amateur Status as long as a state and/or regional golf association is involved in the administration of the fund and any donations remain anonymous. The USGA has and will continue to work with all parties involved.”

In this case, any unused money would be passed on to the Minnesota Golf Association. The USGA will pass along names and contact information from the fund’s list of “anonymous” donors to Schmitz, who plans to thank those who have supported him so generously.

That chill has me putting on a sweater as we mutually share this moment in genuine warmth.