A Few Quick Thoughts & Images From The Highlands

/

I'm still investigating many things in the hopes of providing you tips on Highlands golf and elsewhere, but I'm already floored by a few things from my visit: value, options and golfers branching out to lesser known courses.

While there is still a ways to go in making this an East Lothian/St. Andrews pilgramage destination, for the record I want it known there was a tour bus at Lossiemouth today (aka Moray Golf Club). I couldn't have been more pleased! Americans testing the craft architecture!

And while I've pondered what Herbert Warren Wind would make of the masses pulling up to Dornoch and tackling the place with passion, ultimately I concluded from the epic Links House Dornoch that he would be utterly thrilled to see so many making the journey here for northernmost links golf.

Anyhow, as I said, more to investigate while you hopefully enjoy the Scottish Open at nearby Castle Stuart. But my findings will be here and at GolfDigest.com.

In the meantime, a few photos I Tweeted today:








Brexit! Open Championship Purse Up, Value Way Down

/

As Joel Beall explains at GolfDigest.com, a small bump in The Open Championship purse is offset and then some by the plummeting pound, which hit a new low Tuesday.

Beal writes of what the drop means to first place money:

Meaning that, while Johnson took home a $1.8 million payday for winning the British Open, this year's champ will receive close to $1.54 million, a significant cut in earnings.

The full purse announced Tuesday by the R&A:

Prize money

Place    £                                             Place    £

1          £1,175,000                             36        £34,000

2          £675,000                                37        £32,500

3          £433,000                                38        £31,000

4          £337,000                                39        £30,000

5          £271,000                                40        £28,750

6          £235,000                                41        £27,500

7          £201,000                                42        £26,250

8          £170,000                                43        £25,000

9          £149,000                                44        £23,750

10        £135,000                                45        £22,500

11        £122,000                                46        £21,500

12        £108,750                                47        £20,500

13        £102,000                                48        £19,500

14        £95,500                                  49        £18,700

15        £89,500                                  50        £18,300

16        £82,000                                  51        £17,900

17        £78,000                                  52        £17,500

18        £74,000                                  53        £17,250

19        £71,000                                  54        £17,000

20        £68,000                                  55        £16,750

21        £64,500                                  56        £16,500

22        £61,500                                  57        £16,300

23        £58,250                                  58        £16,200

24        £55,000                                  59        £16,100

25        £53,000                                  60        £16,000

26        £50,750                                  61        £15,900

27        £48,750                                  62        £15,800

28        £47,000                                  63        £15,700

29        £45,000                                  64        £15,600

30        £43,250                                  65        £15,500

31        £41,500                                  66        £15,400

32        £39,250                                  67        £15,300

33        £38,000                                  68        £15,200

34        £36,750                                  69        £15,100

35        £35,500                                  70        £15,000

Troon: Members Vote On Women By Show Of Hands

/

Not that I'm questioning the tally, just fascinated that Royal Troon settled it's women-only issue with a vote by show of hands and no actual printed vote total. Given how the Brexit vote went, a good thing!

Christopher Clarey with that and other details from Troon's vote as it prepares to host the 145th Open, cincluding this from club captain Martin Cheyne.

But Cheyne said the club had reviewed more than the issue of women’s membership in recent months. “The focus was on all categories of membership and how we could become more involved in promoting golf, a sport which is currently declining: declining in male, female and junior membership,” he said. “What we did tonight was focus on the single issue of women’s members, but we need to focus on how we can encourage young people to play this game.”

“Our custom and practice in the golf club is a straight show of hands,” he said. “We don’t do a count. It was overwhelming.”

Royal Troon’s constitution mandates that only members who are present may take part in such votes, and Cheyne said 360 of the club’s 861 members had been in attendance on Friday night.

Anyone know what Troon's junior member program looks like? If it's an affordable one that appeals to aspiring players, get the word out. A lot of clubs around the world need to get or serious about such programs and need prominent examples.

Reminder: Golf's Greatest Rounds: 1989 Open Championship

/

The 118th Open saw Mark Calcavecchia capture his lone major, defeating Greg Norman (64 final round!) and Wayne Grady in the first aggregate playoff at Royal Troon.

Catch Golf Greatest Rounds: 1982 Open Championship, Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Cue me some more Jim McKay and Dave Marr!

Jimmy Roberts with a recap...


NBC Promising "Most Live Coverage Ever" For The Open

/

140 hours of The Open...night owls rejoice!

For Immediate Release:

NBC SPORTS TO DELIVER MOST LIVE COVERAGE EVER FOR A MAJOR AT THE 145TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, JULY 14-17

From First Tee Shot to Final Putt, NBC Sports’ Live Coverage Includes Golf Channel’s First-Ever Telecast of a Men’s Major Championship and Return of The Open to Broadcast Television on NBC

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 17, 2016) – With the most live hours of tournament coverage ever dedicated to one of golf’s major championships, The R&A and NBC Sports Group’s long-term media partnership kicks off its inaugural year with a record number of planned programming hours. The 145TH Open will return to U.S. live broadcast coverage through Golf Channel and NBC’s nearly 140 hours of television coverage from Royal Troon Golf Club throughout the week. It also will represent Golf Channel’s first coverage of a men’s major championship.

“The unprecedented coverage of The Open will provide a unique showcase of the world’s best golfers on an iconic links course, navigating the often dramatic weather conditions and ultimately adding to the history that embodies golf’s original championship,” said Mike McCarley, President, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “We’re honored to provide complete coverage of The Open for the first time on Golf Channel and NBC. Fans will be able to see the opening tee shot through the final putt, culminating with the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ raising the Claret Jug.”

“We are delighted to be working with NBC Sports Group and are looking forward to their comprehensive coverage of The 145TH Open,” said Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A. “Our fans in the United States will be able to enjoy every shot over the four days of the Championship and will be part of a true celebration of golf at Royal Troon.”

NBC Sports Group Tournament Coverage: 78.5 Total Hours: NBC Sports Group will devote 49.5 live hours of tournament coverage to The 145TH Open from July 14-17, including 14.5 live hours on Golf Channel over each of the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday; 10.5 live hours across Golf Channel and NBC during the third round on Saturday; and 10 live hours across Golf Channel and NBC during the final round on Sunday. In total, NBC Sports Group will provide 78.5 hours, including the live coverage of all four rounds, as well as two highlight specials on NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, and encore presentations of each round on Golf Channel. All coverage will be streamed via NBC Sports Live Extra and Golf Live Extra, and additional digital extensions will be announced at a later date.

Golf Channel’s Wraparound News with Golf Central Live From The Open: 59 Total Hours: Golf Channel’s signature news programs, Morning Drive and Golf Central Live From The Open, will provide 31.5 live hours of comprehensive news coverage the week of The Open. Golf Central’s Live From The Open will be onsite throughout the week with 25.5 live hours from Royal Troon, which will be hosting The Open for the ninth time in its history. Morning Drive will kick things off from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET before The Open’s first round to lead into live coverage of the opening tee shot. Coverage will be complemented by comprehensive news and highlights via NBC Sports Digital, Golf Channel Digital and social media platforms throughout the week.

Tournament Team: In order to cover this unprecedented coverage of a major championship, Johnny Miller (1976 Open Champion), Nick Faldo (1987, 1990, 1992 Open Champion) and Frank Nobilo will rotate as lead analyst in the 18th tower. In addition, a team of NBC Sports’ analysts will contribute to the nearly 50 hours of coverage, including David Feherty, Peter Jacobson, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing, Tom Abbott, Notah Begay, Billy Ray Brown, Curt Byrum, and Jerry Foltz. And Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon, Jimmy Roberts, Steve Sands and Todd Lewis will handle announcing and reporting duties.