Nine Days Of Christmas: Links Candles

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Yes, Saturday Night Live did their best two weeks ago to ruin the candle as a gift, even throwing in a little jab at 1980s music and hair to scare you into gifting something besides fine-smelling wax.

But let's ignore that classic bit of satire and focus on the product of 12-year-old, Shark Tank-inspired entrepreneur Lily Green. She has created a line of golf candles evoking scents based on the game, including a special edition sold by Seamus Golf, and her candles are all lovingly packaged with Josh Smith-art of Cabot Links' 16th hole.

So in maintaining the annual Christmas gift guide theme here, buy yourself a golf candle or be bold and gift a collection of candles at a better price. And support a young entrepreneur.

Dottie's Year In Review: Lydia Take Ownership

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As a few year-in-review stories pop up, Dottie Pepper's wrap for ESPN.com ably covers the highs and lows of the season.

Her effort to highlight the activity in Lydia Ko's golf life (firing caddy and instructor, equipment change coming) included this interesting bit related to the now-former teacher David Leadbetter.

Tournament time is when you put your work on auto pilot and play golf, not try to reinvent the wheel with a teacher stuck to you like cellophane. Leadbetter (and he's not alone in this) constantly shows up at the biggest events and is over-involved with the student, not just applying a bit of polish and a pop of confidence. I also found this particular case fascinating because Hogan was Lydia's day-to-day coach, not Leadbetter. But when the biggest events rolled around, Leadbetter was the one present.

Advice to Lydia: Take ownership of everything in your life and do your preparation in the quiet of your home, not in the public eye.

And Ko has, claiming the decision was hers, with consultation of her parents. Bailey Moisier reports for GolfChannel.com.

DOJ: FBI Leaked Confidential Investigation Into Mickelson

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The FBI's on a roll.

David Purdum reports exclusively for ESPN.com that an FBI agent may have leaked word of an investigation into Phil Mickelson and Billy Walters to both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Mickelson has since paid back "ill gotten gains" but will not be charged.

In the filing, the government reveals that an agent "admitted that he was a significant source of confidential information leaked to reporters at the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times about the underlying investigation."

"The agent further admitted that, prior to his Dec. 6 interview, he had hidden those communications with the press from both the USAO and others within the FBI," the letter, submitted by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, states. "Based upon the agent's admissions, which the USAO and the FBI regard with the utmost seriousness, it is now an incontrovertible fact that there were FBI leaks of confidential information to the press regarding this investigation."

The FBI also turned up at The Memorial in one of the more brazen efforts to force a witnesses hand.

Nine Days Of Christmas: Best Layering Option For Golf

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While the kids love their compression shirts and pants, there is a reason most golfers are not flocking to some of the amazing tech fabrics on the market: they are too tight for golf.

There is a fine line between snug and cutting of circulation. Over five hours on the course, golfers need breathability, a little give, just enough support, and a layer that will cover their arms.

We used to have turtlenecks for that but I think most would rather suffer frostbite than join the fleeting movement to make them cool again.

That's why you should treat yourself to Athletes Collective's $25 Long Sleeve.

If you've heard me talk about them on ShackHouse, you know I love their stuff because it's logo-free, ridiculously-priced, well-made, great-fitting and perfect for many uses. I wear the large Long Sleeve for working out and the more snug medium as an undershirt to still freely hit a golf ball in.

So go to AthletesCollective.com and enter the promo code HOUSE to receive 15% off your first order. Throw in some gym shorts while you're at it. Or you can get three of the long sleeves for $66 thanks to their bundling option.

All orders include free shipping and returns to the US or Canada. And 100% satisfaction is guaranteed, as a few ShackHouse listeners have confirmed in emails reporting great follow up service from the AC folks.

Nine Days Of Christmas: State Apparel Fairway Pants

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I know what you're not thinking, last Christmas he said the ABC Pant is the greatest thing ever created. And now? I still think they are in spite of the steep price. Pure comfort, brilliance and ingenuity.

But durability for golf?

That's where the ABC Pant may be imperfect. Not that I've found Lululemon's pants to fall apart, but I do wonder if they can handle the rigors of repeated use for a golfer.

It's that concern about durability that has warmed me to the merits of State Apparel's Fairway Pant as the better golf option. The combination of design cleverness, Made-in-California values and an overall stronger fabric makes them an ideal gift to yourself or a golfer.

When I first tried them on, State's heavier and tougher fabric seemed too weighty compared to the Lululemon's. But after trying them out on a course and twice at the range, I realize the toughness stitched into the slacks makes them a better long-term investment for golfers, especially younger players who are more active.

Initially the black, almost-velvet black lining of the pockets and cuffs struck me as an odd design touch. But remembering how quickly pockets turned dirty and frayed, the design touch adds a whiff of brilliance that makes you feel good putting on the slacks for golf.

You can read the State Apparel story here and here for the explanation about one last pre-shot wiping option. The $135 Fairway pant in white is found on their pants page.

Even better, as a courtesy, State Apparel is offering site readers a 30% discount using the code: HOLIDAYGOLF

Seminole ('21) & Cypress Point ('25) Land Future Walker Cups

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We had an inkling on Seminole, but the Cypress Point announcement is wonderful news. Though I can't fathom how either course will be very testing given their lack of length, unless everyone's ok with lots of driveable par-fours?

The Walker Cup is played at Los Angeles Country Club's North Course in 2017. Tickets are now on sale for that event and a rare chance to watch competitive golf (big bias here) played over an architectural treasure.

For Immediate Release:

USGA ANNOUNCES 2021 AND 2025 WALKER CUP MATCH SITES

Seminole Golf Club and Cypress Point Club Will Host Biennial Team Competition

FAR HILLS, N.J. (Dec. 15, 2016) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced Seminole Golf Club, in Juno Beach, Fla., and Cypress Point Club, in Pebble Beach, Calif., as the host sites for the 2021 Walker Cup Match and 2025 Walker Cup Match, respectively.

The 48th Walker Cup Match is scheduled for May 8-9, 2021. It will mark the first time that the biennial team competition between 10 amateur players representing the United States and 10 amateur players representing Great Britain and Ireland will be held in the spring on U.S. soil. The dates of the 50th Walker Cup Match are Sept. 6-7, 2025. The international competition will return to Cypress Point for the first time since 1981, the club’s only previous USGA competition.

“The selections of Seminole Golf Club and Cypress Point Club as Walker Cup venues are emblematic of what George Herbert Walker intended when he helped create the first Match in 1922,” said Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee chairman. “To have two of the United States’ greatest courses as host sites will not only produce memorable competitions but reinforces the stature of amateur golf in this country.”

Seminole Golf Club will host its first USGA event and the first Walker Cup Match in the state of Florida. The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1929. The course’s routing encompasses two dune ridges, one that peaks to the west and another along the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Members have included U.S. presidents, business and industry leaders and golf elite. Ben Hogan, a four-time U.S. Open champion, practiced and played there, while Henry Picard, who won two major professional titles, served as club professional for 26 years.

Seminole Golf Club has also been a friend to amateur golf and annually hosts the George L. Coleman Invitational. USGA champions and USA Walker Cup Team members Michael McCoy (2015) and Tim Jackson (1995, 1999) are recent Coleman champions.

“Seminole Golf Club is honored to host the 2021 Walker Cup Match and the best amateur players from both sides of the Atlantic,” said Jimmy Dunne, club president. “The club and its membership are proud to showcase Donald Ross’ architectural masterpiece to a worldwide audience.”

Cypress Point Club was designed by Alister MacKenzie in collaboration with Robert Hunter and opened for play in 1929. Beginning in coastal dunes, the course then enters the Del Monte Forest before remerging to rocky coastline along the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the 28th Walker Cup, the club hosted “The Match,” a 1956 four-ball competition between professionals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and amateurs Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward, and was one of three courses used for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for more than 40 years.

The Walker Cup Match will be held in California for the third time and west of the Mississippi River for the fifth time. In 1981 at Cypress Point, the USA defeated Great Britain and Ireland, 15-9. Jodie Mudd, a two-time USGA champion, and Corey Pavin, who went on to win the 1995 U.S. Open, were the USA’s top point producers. GB&I’s Roger Chapman, the 2012 U.S. Senior Open winner, won twice in singles play and one foursomes match.

“The members of the Cypress Point Club are honored to give back to the game of golf and share our wonderful treasure with one of the world’s greatest amateur competitions,” said Peter K. Barker, club president. “We have been proud to host a number of notable match-play events throughout our club’s history. In all, the course and the competitors performed superbly. We enthusiastically look forward to the 2025 Walker Cup.”

Tiger Finds His Ball, Other Nike Guys In Hoarding Mode

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In reading Doug Ferguson's story reporting Tiger's golf ball endorsement deal with Bridgestone, it's fun to read just how neurotic players remain about the ball they put into play.

I'm enjoying the thought of Brooks Koepka parking his cars outside the garage because of his Nike golf ball hoarding now that they are out of the business...

By choosing a new golf ball, Woods went a different direction from two of Nike's highest-ranked players. Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka said they have asked Nike to set aside as many golf balls as possible.

"I have about two to three years' worth," Koepka said in the Bahamas.

David Dusek's Golfweek.com story on the signing of Woods says Bridgestone ran the numbers, Japanese-style.

Corey Consuegra, Bridgestone’s senior director of marketing, said Monday evening that his company has an internal philosophy based on a Japanese phrase, Genbutsu-Genba.

“What that means is that we make fact-based decisions, decisions that are based on data,” he said. “So when we looked into the opportunity to be a partner with Tiger Woods, we studied closely and learned (in focus groups) that our brand perception increases by 50 percent when he is connected to our brand, and the purchase intent of our consumers goes up based on the nature of his credibility.”

Old Course Hotel Takes Better Shelter From Road Hole Tee

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I'm not sure why I found this roofer quote so funny given that he's been tasked to eliminate the £1,500 each week spent by the Old Course Hotel to replace damaged slates, but I will certainly cite this as my reason for hitting the hotel roof twice in 2015.

From an unbylined Sunday Herald story:

Euroshield owner Henry Kamphuis said: “I was stunned when we got the call because it was St Andrews. I was up on the hotel and the gutters are just full of golf balls. It’s very easy to hit the hotel. It’s right in the middle of the fairway.”