GolfChannel.com's Most Watched Videos Of 2015

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This was a pretty nice summation of 2015, minus the one retro video of a woman hitting Gerald Ford shots (still fun to watch though). The most watched was a heartwarming story, so there is hope for humanity yet. Others like Spieth's post-Masters presser, the Solheim Cup controversy, Gary Player's Chambers Bay rant were all good to see getting views, though discretion is advised for Rory's club toss at the BMW Championship, which had nothing on his Doral club hurl.

Nine Days Of Christmas: Johnnie-O Pants And More

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Day two of the gift guide for those anticipating receiving nothing they wanted shifts from Seamus Golf's classy accessories to the often agonizing subject of good golf pants. Two suggestions will be part of my gift to you, but only suggestion #1 comes with a discount!

Maybe you wanted a pair of Johnnie-O's under the Christmas tree but were never asked? Well the nice folks at Johnnie-O are providing a discount code just for the readers of this site, even the miserable trolls!

Just enter FARANDSURE and receive 25% off your order!

Now, what to get from this maker of golf-inspired (and cleverly engineered) menswear from midwestern-raised and the decidedly-West Coast converted John O'Donnell?

I've been buying Johnnie-O's clothes for years and sense from my own purchases (along with what I see golfers wearing), that they've dialed in both the fit, color and sensibility of their brand, which is to let you wear something functional on the course, while also owning something you can wear in a non-golf setting.

Golf shirt-wise I love all their offerings, but of late have leaned toward the "Prep-formance" polos because who needs ironing when you're traveling. I've been virtually sleeping in their current golf-friendly vest, one of many new outwear items served up this fall. And for off the course, their button down shirts feature Johnnie's why-didn't-Ralph-Lauren-think-of-that "Tweener" button.

But I'm most excited about Johnnie-O's recent forays into pants because it's hard to find pairs that work for both golf and social settings. You'll notice by the dwindling supplies that their Fillmore cords have been a big hit thanks to three elements: great fit, a touch of stretch in the fabric you don't normally get in a cord, and colors not normally seen in cords.

For year-round golf purposes, check out the Napa pant. It's closer to a traditional cut but still modern enough. The style I've been enjoying most, however, is the Cal pant. It's a jean fit not cut too tight but definitely not a dad jean.

And Merry Christmas at 25% off!

Corrigan On Trump: Golf Needs To Protect Its Participants

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I'm a little behind on reading so I apologize for just now sharing James Corrigan's six-day-old Telegraph assessment of golf's Donald Trump issue.

This was a strong point in a column that Peter Dawson won't be email blasting to his pals.

But then, Trump so scandalously turned Turnberry - beautiful Turnberry - into part of his election trail at the Women’s British Open in August and the penny dropped. Seeing Lizette Salas, the daughter of two Mexican immigrants, being mobbed by news crews immediately after her first round was one of the most pitiful scenes I’ve seen in sport.

Salas was there to compete, not to defend her heritage against Trump, but as soon as his helicopter whirred into view for all the publicity shots, it was inevitable she would be hounded.

Never mind its image, golf first of all needs to protect its participants. It is a sport which claims to be global, for goodness sake, and which is making huge inroads in Asia including in the UAE where Trump unashamedly cosies up to the Sheikhs with his ongoing Dubai development.

That is Trump’s integrity, right there.

Sandy Jones, head of the PGA in the UK, can be added to the list of recent golf organizatinos suggesting in some way that golf will be hurt by ties to Trump. From a BBC report.

"The controversy is not a positive thing for golf," he told BBC Scotland.

"Donald has built some great golf courses and has two in Scotland, in Aberdeen and at Turnberry.

"I'd prefer to see less controversy around the game and sadly Donald is producing it through his political motive, not through his golfing ones. They are bound to be linked, there is no getting away from that."

Dottie: Players Lined Up By Caddies Needs To End

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After the USGA and R&A announced their latest updates to the Rules of Golf, the question of what rule needs changing most seems to come up. Like a stooge, I always nominate something than the most obvious: caddies lining up players.

As Dottie Pepper presented the case in this ESPN.com column on a variety of year-end rules-related issues that will not be getting framed in Far Hills, not only is it a threat to the image of the LPGA Tour, but a far greater violation of the spirit of the rules than other changes made for 2016.

Lining up the shot is the player's responsibility. Period. It is part of being a golfer, part of playing the game. You can have all the help you want on the practice range, but get at it and get at it by yourself on the course. It not only looks bad to the television viewer, but also gives the impression that the player isn't in command of his or her game.

Video: Jack Talking (Sincerely) About Today's Youth Movement

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I'm always uncomfortable when Jack Nicklaus gets asked to talk about today's young players. Not because he's incapable of taking a question, but because it seems oddly disrespectful that someone who has won 18 majors championships is being asked to be excited about players who've won a handful of tour events or maybe a major.

Yet in announcing a Memorial Tournament sponsorship extension and huge purse increase, Nicklaus talked with Golf Central about a variety of topics, including the current crop of exciting young talent. Not only was there an obvious comfort level for him in answering the question, but it was fascinating to hear him essentially say the current wave is just a lot nicer, more accessible and more kind.

Go to the 9:23 mark to hear the comments and stay for the ensuing discussion from Savaricus, Rosaforte and Isenhour.

Brandel: Tiger's The Greatest Golfer Of All Time

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Between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, Brandel Chamblee says Woods is the greatest player of all time. For more watch a special Golf Central on December 30, Woods' 40th birthday.

For those of you keeping score at home, Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee concludes in a year-end special that Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time, edging out that Nicklaus dude.

The clip, where Chamblee boils it down to the dominance of Woods against his peers. The special airs December 30th, and I know Tiger will love spending his birthday hearing from Brandel, Jaime Diaz and Tim Rosaforte!

Trump Loses Wind Farm Battle, Or Does He?

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While he's been cast a big "loser" by the former First Minister in his fight to keep wind farms from scarring the view from Trump International Scotland (they will), I wonder how heartbroken Donald Trump will be to have lost his appeal of the wind farm (Ryan Lavner reports.) After all, he hasn't gone forward with the real estate component of the project and this could allow him to quietly shelve those ambitious plans in what is a hostile.

He is definitely losing with you all, as 62% to 38% (of 747 votes cast) says leading golf organizations should not be playing events at Trump properties going forward.

The loss of appeal has led to a fantastic war of words between Trump and former First Minister Alex Salmond. Once pals (you can see them in happier times here), they've been bickering since the appeal news came out and it's fantastic!

Salmond noted the economic harm caused by the project delay and his view of Trump as a loser, prompting this as reported by The Guardian:

But the Trump Organisation hit back at Salmond in a pointed and characteristically colourful statement: “Does anyone care what this man thinks? He’s a hasbeen and totally irrelevant. The fact that he doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own constituency says it all ... He should go back to doing what he does best: unveiling pompous portraits of himself that pander to his already overinflated ego.”

Nine Days Of Christmas: Something From Seamus Golf

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In looking back on the year, I continue to be amazed by the number of interesting things people are doing to make golf more stylish, cool and retro chic while paying homage to the past. So over the next nine days I'm going to highlight some of my favorite items purchased in 2015 for the gift buyer looking for that special purchase for...themselves.

After all, most golfers don't get what they want and many of the items mentioned here are off the radar of friends and relatives. So how about a little self-indulgence to make up for gifts not received?

There is no better way to kick things off than with something from Seamus Golf, the Oregonian outfit producing classy and cool headcovers along with accessories hand-crafted at their studio. I'm sporting a Musselburgh Tartan headcover as well as a stylish padded pouch for storing your wallet and keys as you play. Compliments abound on both and so far the high quality of production values has meant little sign of wear and tear.

With the proximity to Christmas and uncertainly about delivery times, Seamus is softening the blow of a possible late arriving shipment with a 20% discount on any purchase right now by using PLEASEPLAYTHROUGH

Support this excellent golf-history loving company and buy yourself a Christmas treat!

Weiskopf Focusing On Non-Tour Players In Torrey North Redo

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Tom Weiskopf spoke to the San Diego Union Tribune's Tod Leonard about winning the combined architect/contractor bid to renovate the North Course at Torrey Pines.

The story includes some encouraging remarks from Weiskopf offset by discouraging news that drawings still haven't been seen and greens are going to be redesigned. The North currently has a nice set of greens needing only relatively minor massaging for speeds and sand build up, so any attempts to reimagine their contouring comes with risks.

“I’ve just never tricked up our green designs because of one factor,” Weiskopf said. “The speeds at which we can achieve with mowing equipment these days, if you get real contour you’re just slowing down play and making it harder for the average guy.”

For the bunkering, Weiskopf wants to create a more classic look. He joked that some of the current bunkers on the North “look like they were created with mortar rounds.”

“I always enjoyed the bunker style of the L.A. courses,” he said. “Riviera, L.A. North, Bel-Air Country Club. That’s the style we’re heading to. Those have stood the test of time.”

That'll be interesting. Especially since all three now have very different bunker styles.

There was this as well:

New bids were solicited, and the architects and construction companies that applied were Weiskopf/Wadsworth, Robert Trent Jones Jr./Frontier, Cary Bickler/Landscapes Unlimited, and LPGA Tour player Natalie Gulbis/Heritage Links.

Jones emerged with the highest scores from a city golf committee, but it was then discovered that his company’s bid included work for about $2 million over the established budget. That automatically eliminated Jones from the opportunity, said Kevin Oliver, project officer from the city’s public works department.

Mark Rolfing Will Be Back

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Great news from NBC/Golf Channel reporting that longtime course reporter and all-things-Hawaii has recovered from his cancer battle to return for next month's Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.

"Debi and I would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming support during these past several months, including our Golf Channel and NBC Sports family, friends in the media, players and fans," Rolfing said. "The medical staffs at the University of Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have been amazing. I'm excited to rejoin my colleagues in January in welcoming the PGA Tour back to Hawaii."

Poll: Should Golf's Leading Organizations Continue To Contest Tournaments At Trump Properties?

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A couple of pieces of good news for The Donald heading into tonight's Republican debate: his name is back (in gold!) in Dubai, reports Reuters.

Tim Rosaforte also talked to his R&A sources who are saying Turnberry was never going to be ready to host in 2020 anyway, and that they're monitoring the situation. That's a fairly sharp contrast to The Independent's take.

Cara Robinson and I discussed (carefully!) the weekend news of various snippets coming from the governing bodies. And ultimately beyond the political and societal debate, this still feels like a situation boiling down to whether, going forward, a tournament will be considered safe and cost effective enough to take to Trump properties in light of his comments (and the tendency of a select radicals targeted by his views to react in unimaginably violent ways).

So with that security question in mind, the poll question is this:

Should golf's leading organizations continue to contest tournaments at Trump properties?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Dottie's Year-End Rules Of Golf Christmas Gift: Anchoring Ban

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There are so many nuggets in Dottie Pepper's year-end look at the Rules of Golf changes (or lack of change). The piece is accompanied by an autoplay interview of Bernhard Langer by Michael Collins talking the end of the anchoring era.

Pepper covers many areas but for now, let's just focus on her anchoring ban views as January 1, 2016 looms.

This is fun:

For decades, golf's ruling bodies approved of the anchored method with many of the thoughts being:

1. It will be pretty much confined to senior golf (quickly proven untrue on all professional tours and top-level amateur golf around the world).

2. No one will win a major championship with a long or anchored putter (see Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, Ernie Els and others).

3. No one will ever teach the anchored method to youngsters. (USGA President Tom O'Toole Jr.'s young son was encouraged to learn this method by his professional, thus sending Mr. O'Toole, by his own admission, to his breaking point to take the side of the anchoring ban.

Charming.

She delves into some interesting points on the complexity of the ruling (7 pages!) and how there has yet to be a clear explanation as to why the Kuchar method is kosher. She also makes some key points regarding how this undermines the move to simpler rules.

Finally though, there is this regarding the image affect the ban has had on the governing bodies, a take I've heard from enough everyday golfers to believe this is the legacy of the anchoring ban in the eyes of most.

Furthermore, the reversal of the previous decision and the course of action with the "because we said so" air undermines the authority of the ruling bodies. I applaud the current USGA and R&A leadership and committees for being more active in protecting the integrity and future of the game, but not like this.

A Little Bit Of Valhalla Outside Of Rome!

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Secret Tour Pro Tweeted these images of 2022 Ryder Cup host Marco Simone Golf Club, which is slated to undergo a redo. Let's hope one that involves forklifts moving large electrical wire towers.

Yikes...

Serena!?

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Far be it for me to ever question "The Editors", but it seems they sort of felt compelled to explain how Serena Williams was their Sportsmanperson Of The Year over those who garnered more fan support and buzz.

While Serena's incredible year is in no way to be belittled, Alex Myers notes a few of the reasons that she might not have even been the best tennis player on the planet this year and how here handling of the U.S. Open was less than pretty.

In contrast to Jordan Spieth, who, while only winning a measly two majors handled himself with incredible class in losing the other two majors by a combined four...four strokes.

Then there is American Pharoah, who dominated fan voting with 288,824 fan clicks, and that's for an athlete who never gave an interview in a "dying sport."

As Ray Paulick notes, that's 47%. Spieth came in behind a late closing Stephen Curry (25,546) but well ahead of Serena and her measely 5,520 votes.

Still, as Myers writes:

Spieth had his own claim to the annual award by winning two majors, five tournaments and the FedEx Cup along with its $10 million bonus. And he did it all while being a great sport. Just look at these lasting images from the two majors he didn't win this season. Sticking around after a heartbreaking loss to congratulate Zach Johnson at the Open Championship:

At least Jordan has the Happy Gilmore shot in his bag...

Che Bello! Italy Lands 2022 Ryder Cup

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Marco Simone Golf Club will be totally reconstructed and the Italian Open will see a big purse bump as the course outside of Rome continues the trend of European Ryder Cups near big cities. In this case, the venue will see a total redesign.

The full press release at RyderCup.com includes this:

To that end, the Bid Evaluation Committee judged the candidates on five specific criteria: (i) Demonstrable Government, Political, Institutional and Golfing Community support; (ii) Commitment to the development of a world-class golf facility (new or existing) to host The 2022 Ryder Cup; (iii) Provision of ancillary facilities, suitable access and infrastructure commensurate with the staging of an international sporting event, including proximity to a major international city; (iv) Commercial opportunities available to The Ryder Cup; and (v) Contribution of the Bid Country to the development of golf in terms of Legacy, Contribution to the professional game, Integration of golf within tourism and business communities, Development of levels of golf participation, Professional tournament golf at all levels, and contribution to The Ryder Cup: eg Player eligibility and participation.

Money, money, money! Architecture, not so much.

Constantino Rocca, get fit for an IFB now!

The awarding of The 2022 Ryder Cup will continue Italy’s legacy in the contest which began when Costantino Rocca became the first Italian golfer to play in the match at The Belfry in England in 1993. The United States won on that occasion but Rocca tasted victory on his next two outings – at Oak Hill Country Club in 1995 and at Valderrama in 1997 where he famously beat Tiger Woods 4 and 2 in the final day singles.