Review: Trump Turnberry

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I made two visits to Turnberry around The Open at Troon, and as The Donald prepares to accept the nomination, I hope you can set your views aside and just appreciate what he and his family have done to replinish and update Turnberry.

Every element of the experience is exceptional. Granted, I'm happy at the Brora's and Cruden Bays of the world, but I don't knock the person with money wanting to enjoy a luxurious, five-star experience. Trump and his team, spearheaded by golf architect Martin Ebert, has delivered for that audience and brought new life to one of the world's most amazing resorts, as envisioned over 100 years ago.

My review at GolfDigest.com.

Rota Fun: Clubs May Be Getting Annoyed With Stingy R&A

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Lewine Mair in Global Golf Post considers the Muirfield situation and, it turns out, that the vote over female members might have been tainted by members feeling the R&A hasn't been generous enough.

Included in the overheard gripes: only one free pass per member. She also talks to a member at another rota course and it's not just the famous club in Scotland that feels the R&A, enjoying plenty of revenues, should be more generous with the courses hosting The Open.

Four-Ball: The USGA Is Headed Back To Chambers Bay

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It will be interesting to see if any modifications are made to the course or surrounding mounding...

For Immediate Release...

USGA Selects Chambers Bay as Site for 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship

The Home Course To Serve As Stroke-Play Co-Host

FAR HILLS, N.J. (July 20, 2016) – Chambers Bay, in University Place, Wash., has been selected by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the site of the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. The dates of the championship are May 25-29.

The Home Course, in DuPont, Wash., which is cooperatively owned and operated by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) and the Washington State Golf Association (WSGA), will serve as the stroke-play co-host.

The 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball is the third USGA championship to be held at Chambers Bay, which is owned by Pierce County. The public facility also hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur, won by Peter Uihlein, and the 2015 U.S. Open, won by Jordan Spieth.

“Bringing the USGA’s newest men’s championship to Chambers Bay underscores our strong relationship with Pierce County as well as with the PNGA and the WSGA, since it will be the third USGA championship there in a decade,” said Stuart Francis, chairman of the USGA Championship Committee. “We have a long history of returning to host sites with excellent golf courses, where we have conducted successful and memorable championships.”

Chambers Bay, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened in 2007. The Home Course was designed by Mike Asmundson and also opened in 2007. The Home Course was the stroke-play co-host for the 2010 U.S. Amateur, as well as the site of the final U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in 2014, won by Fumie (Alice) Jo.

“We are thrilled to welcome the USGA back to Chambers Bay and the Pacific Northwest for the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship,” said Pat McCarthy, Pierce County executive. “Our community wrapped its collective arms around the record-setting 2015 U.S. Open and I’m confident we will host another successful championship in 2019.”

The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship is strictly for amateurs with no age restrictions. Partners comprising teams or sides will not be required to be from the same club, state or country. Entry is limited to individuals with a Handicap Index® not to exceed 5.4.

The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball will consist of 128 two-player teams each playing their own ball throughout the round. Each team’s score will be determined by using the lower score of the partners for each hole. After 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying, the field will be reduced to the low 32 teams for the championship’s match-play bracket (all matches contested at 18 holes).

In 2017, the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be conducted at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C., and in 2018, the championship will be conducted at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla.

The Open In The UK: 3 Million Fewer Viewers, Pricing Out Some?

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While the move to NBC actually expanded the number of homes for The Open, the shift from BBC to Sky Sports in the UK was expected to mean a drop in audience size.

John Westerby in The Times wrote about a variety of topics, including the Sky ratings. The drop is pretty staggering.

Peak viewing figures on Sunday were around 1.2 million, compared with the 4.7 who watched Johnson's victory on the BBC on the extra day at St. Andrews last year. The highlights package on BBC2 on Sunday attracted about 1.5 million viewers.

On Monday in Glasgow, I had a random chat with a 22-year-old fan who was raving about the final round drama. I asked why he didn't go and it was cost related. He was genuinely dejected by the lost opportunity. When returning my car, the representative also raved about the final round and said his father attended, sitting on 18 all day. I asked why he didn't go. Again, cost was cited.

This year's Open did include free entry for those under 16 and special pricing for those 16-21. There was also the camping village to appeal to the festival-goer mindset. But the £80 entry fee, coupled with £15 for parking, is cost prohibitive for many and probably explains the small crowds Thursday through Saturday.

Given the R&A's desire to be accessible to more young people, the combination of millions not seeing the golf and plenty more feeling like they're unable to afford the event, can't be positives for The Open.

Prestwick: "The whole place has the patina of legend about it."

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Before the focus turns away from the west coast of Scotland and the epic 145th Open, I hope we can also remember the importance of Prestwick Golf Club and all that it means to the game. Daydreaming a bit while walking around the clubhouse with club historian Andrew Lockhead, one an easily imagine what that first gathering of professionals was like, capped off by Tom Morris hitting the opening shot. But what strikes most is how, based on the documentation and formality of the proceedings, how those involved knew they were on to something historic.

The Guardian's Paul Weaver took the full tour as well, and captures the essence of this great clubs, which maintains an amazing reverece for its history without the attitude that could come with having such a vital place in golf.

The Archive Room, with pencilled-in scores from the 1860s, tells tales of terrible traumas outside. Darwin added: “Holes and bunkers that can bring down great men with so terrible a crash deserve great names and in these Prestwick is rich; the Slough of Despond, Purgatory, the Goose Dubs, Lion’s Den, the Pill Box, the Precentor’s Desk and Sandy Neuk.” It feels friendlier in the clubhouse.

“I am obviously biased,” says Goodwin, “but I think Prestwick is unquestionably the best golf club in the world. The whole ethos is to have fun, and lots of it.” 

Thanks to Lockhead and secretary Ken Goodwin, I was able to see the magnificent club archives where all of the key old scorecards from the Opens at Prestwick are lovingly bound into a permanent volume, while each important letter related to The Open is still in the club's possession. (We discussed on Morning Drive earlier in the week.)

Check out the actual scorecard from Young Tom Morris' 3 on the then 578-yard first hole:

Detailed look at the face of the belt, from an exact replica on display at The Open this week.

While the initial contest was for the Champion Belt and was essentially an invitational open to those with ties to ten or so clubs, it was the realization that the "world" needed to be part of "Open" competition that proves so mesmerizing to see put on paper. It makes the branding emphasis on open take on greater meaning.


As for Prestwick's architecture, the course retains its playing charm and design fascination, an astounding notion given how so many courses do not age well. The appreciation heard last week for its merits is heartening and offers more evidence that a greater awareness for design is in the game. Just like North Berwick's recent renaissance, Prestwick no longer is getting tagged with a negative "quirky" or "bizarre" labels. Instead, the overall walkability, memorability, variety and at times, audacity of the holes appeals to a broader golf audience than 20 years ago. The fun word is getting throw about too, and never in that demeaning way suggesting the course is too "easy."

The Himalayas remains such a thrill to play, and a great reminder that blind can be exhilarating. What I can't figure out: why the blindness is better received in 2016 than even 2006? Is it the awareness before arriving at Prestwick that has people prepared?  Or just the overall desire to have a sense of a natural adventure that has been re-introduced by more lay-of-the-land courses? Either way...



And the 17th/Alps remains as bizarrely nutty as ever. How did they play this with a baffing spoon!?


Prestwick's place in the game is as vital as the Old Course is today. It was the birthplace of professional golf and a testing ground for golf architecture both manmade and natural. Because of its place through golf history as a joyous locale for the game--continued on by today's club--Prestwick should always be one of your first stops for a Scotland golf pilgrimage.

Furthermore, many clubs with a trace of the history Prestwick enjoys could learn from the way this grand place in the game proudly shares itself with the world for all to come and see and play. Every professional golfer should pay a visit out of respect for those who gave birth to their pastime.

ShackHouse 14: The Open Championship & Scotland

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The Open! For the ages. We kick around all things Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson, Royal Troon and a grand championship.

We are also joined later in the show by Ru Macdonald to give you an appetizer for planning a golf trip to Scotland. Here is Ru's website. 

Here is The Ringer's page for the show.

As always, you can subscribe on iTunes and or just refresh your device subscription page.

Same deal with Soundcloud for the show, and Episode 14 is here.

And the ShackHouse Stitcher page.

Here is Episode 12 that included Henrik Stenson, referenced in today's show.

As always, ShackHouse is brought to you by Callaway, makers of everything in Henrik and Phil's bag and also leader of the putter count at Troon with their Odyssey brand. Also, the Team Callaway Collection is a limited run of meticulously curated Callaway and Odyssey branded items that you can only find on CallawayGolf.com. And visit the Callaway Team Collection. Use promo code HOUSE in your shopping cart to get 20% off. Offer expires 7/31.

We also want to thank Athletes Collective, which makes a great longsleeve I used on my trip as a golf undershirt. They are making solid athletic wear out of some incredible fabrics. Use promo code House for 15% off your first order.

Also, for a limited time, ShackHouse listeners get fifty dollars off the Ring of Security Kit. Go to RING.COM/SHACKHOUSE now.

And of course, drink that Avión responsibly!

The State Of The Rota And Where Turnberry Fits

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These are issues I delved into in this week's Golf World after Troon successful hosts another Open.

With Muirfield's current suspended status leaving the R&A with nine choices, I point out that avoiding Turnberry because of Donald Trump (and after recent improvements) would be a mistake for the rota.

Troon? Very fine venue and every dozen years, is just right for The Open. Shoot, 12 years from now the R&A media hotel suggestion, the Adams Family House, may even have internet and fire extinguishers attached to the walls!

More disconcerting is a likely return to Royal St. George's in 2020 without some restoration and softening of bad modern era tweaks (when the superior Deal/Royal Cinque Ports is available). Throw in possible pouting over The Donald's comments, eliminating Turnberry from the rota, and the R&A will suddenly have a much weaker rota if they avoid Turnberry (and have Muirfield on the outside looking in).

Here is the column.

A more extensive Turnberry review is in the works.

Reminder: Feherty Lands A New Trump Interview

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As Donald Trump heads to the Republican national convention to accept the nomination, David Feherty sits down on June 22 with the nominee (again).

    •     Why he doesn’t consider himself a politician
    •     U.S. Presidents playing golf
    •     Whether or not he will use a teleprompter at the Republican National Convention
    •     Reaction to the PGA TOUR’s decision to move its World Golf Championship (WGC) event from Trump’s Doral property in Miami to Mexico
    •     Distrust for the media: Trump – “The media to me is one of the most dishonest groups of people I’ve ever dealt with.”
    •     Golf’s return to the Olympic Games: Trump – “I think it’s a great thing for golf, having it in the Olympics”
    •     An admiration for professional golfers, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and today’s current wave of young stars
    •     His recent trip to Scotland for the reopening of Turnberry
    •     What’s next if he doesn’t win the presidential nomination
    •     Highlights from Feherty’s initial interview with Trump in May 2012

The first airing is Monday at 6 pm ET:

Lions Muni Added To National Register Of Historic Places

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Ralph K.M. Haurwitz of the Austin American-Statesman reports that Lions Municipal has been added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its place in the civil rights movement.

The University of Texas has wanted to convert course into mixed-use development. The centrally located course was home to Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.

You can read up on some Save Muni posts here and here.

NBC's First Open Off To Solid Ratings Start

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Sports Media Watch breaks down some of the numbers and the real eye opener may be Saturday's third round out-rating the U.S. Open's, which was in the evening presumably when there would be more eyeballs. But who knows! Maybe golfers like their televised play early and June summer evening golf.

From SMW's report:

The 2.75 is the highest for third round coverage of the British Open since 2013 (3.1). The last time third round coverage aired on a broadcast network — ABC in 2009 — it earned a 2.4 overnight.

Of note, Saturday’s telecast scored a higher overnight than the third round of the U.S. Open on FOX (2.5). Keep in mind the U.S. Open aired in a later timeslot (11 AM-8 PM, versus 9 AM-2:30 PM).