Popstroke: Tiger Announces Partnership With The Topgolf Of Putt-Putt

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Today’s announcement was the first time I’ve ever heard of Popstroke, which already has one Port St. Lucie, Florida location. But by all appearances the concept is pretty simple: a modernized version of putt-putt courses, apparently minus the bad sound systems, windmills and pirate themes.

Essentially, a Topgolf vibe, only with a fun putting course, better food and TV’s to watch sports. Pricing seems reasonable, assuming the technology works and it’s fun.

Given how much Topgolf is thriving, the concept seems pretty smart. Tiger’s backing can’t hurt.

Adam Schupak with some of the details for Golfweek, including the basic structure of the venture and this related to the experience:

The PopStroke experience is enhanced with a technology platform consisting of the soon-to-be released electronic scorekeeping golf ball, the “iPutt” ball. The ball transmits scores electronically to the custom PopStroke app, which can be downloaded in the Apple and Android App stores. Players will be able to compete against each other in a tournament environment while earning “Pop Bucks” through the PopStroke loyalty rewards app program.

Pricing seems reasonable, assuming the technology works and it’s fun.

Schupak also notes that the company board’s initial makeup includes PopStroke founder Greg Bartoli and Pete Bevacqua, former CEO of the PGA of America and president of NBC Sports.

Compared to Topgolf, the footprint needed for one of these appears quite small. From Google Earth:

Memorial Park Redo Earns Raves, But Will It Draw A Decent Field?

It’s been swell to read all of the positive reviews this week of Tom Doak and Brooks Koepka’s renovation of Memorial Park, host to next year’s Houston Open.

But as Brentley Romine writes, a fall date on the PGA Tour is not an easy sell to players. Will the rejuvenation of a muni make a difference next year?

In a world where many pro events are contested on private or expensive courses, the addition of Memorial Park to the Tour equation in Houston is a breath of fresh air.

“One week out of the year the PGA Tour is going to play an amazing golf course that was actually built for them, built with them in mind, but with the different teeing areas, for the other 51 weeks out of the year, the citizens of Houston are going to be able to play a world-class golf course for a reasonable amount of money,” Harmon said.

“… The city is going to love it. Everybody’s going to want to play there.”

But will the Tour’s stars? This year’s Houston Open field marks the weakest non-opposite-field event in nearly five years, according to the Official World Golf Ranking, which rates the strength of field a 73.

Either way, the story of a public course rejuvenation is always more important to golf than the coming and goings of PGA Tour players who, uh, come and go like ships in the night. So either way, 2020 at Memorial Park should be special.

Butch Harmon posted some nice images of next year’s venue on Instagram:

Stenson Finally Retires His Trusty, Famous And Terribly Outdated Diablo Three-Wood

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There aren’t many clubs of decade-old vintages in professional bags, especially with the history of Henrik Stenson’s Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3-wood. The club was vital to a silver medal, a FedExCup win, a Race to Dubai victory and most famous of all, Stenson’s stunning Open win over Phil Mickelson.

PGATour.com’s Andrew Tursky with the story of how many Diablo’s Stenson went through before a caved face has him ready to move to 2019 technology.

“It’s always sad when one of the trusties has to retire,” Stenson told PGATOUR.COM on Tuesday at the Country Club of Houston.

Stenson’s Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3-wood, initially released to the public in 2011, was famously equipped with a Grafalloy Blue shaft that came out in 2003  -- and  Stenson hit rockets with it.

Having dropped to 207th in the world at the end of 2011 after a difficult year, Stenson regained the kind of form he previously showed in winning the 2009 PLAYERS Championship. By the end of 2013, he was world No. 3.

In 2016, he was forced to change into a backup version of the club due to wear and tear. He then had to give up that backup in 2017 for the same reason but stuck with the same model.

Koepka, Johnson Eager To Grow The Game Again In Saudi Arabia

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Considering the cash grab that was last year’s European Tour stop in Saudi Arabia was played in front of tiny galleries, dented the legacy of Chief Executive Keith Pelley and epitomized the worst imaginable appearance fee looks in modern sports, there was some hope players would say no to the loathsome Kingdom in 2020.

Dustin Johnson at least has the excuse he’s defending champion. Brooks Koepka, who plays for trophies and not for money, just can’t wait to soak up those Red Sea views, according to a quote someone wrote for him.

“I’m excited to be returning to Saudi Arabia, after an enjoyable visit last year,” Koepka said. “The golf course is one of the best I’ve played in the region, with incredible scenery, including some breathtaking views of the Red Sea.

“The event is an opportunity to showcase the work being done to grow the game of golf in the Kingdom, which was evidenced by the enthusiastic fans last year. It is great to be involved with the initiative and I look forward to seeing the progress Golf Saudi has made in the past year.”

Johnson’s quote also wheeled out the dreaded grow word.

“It’s great to see how Golf Saudi has strengthened its commitment to create a world-class golf event and plans to grow golf in the region are in full swing. It’s an honour to be a part of it.”

Why not just say something like, “the appearance fees are amazing, the Crown Prince’s money spends the same as any other direct deposit, and the event falls perfectly on my planned schedule”?

Sheep Ranch To Debut (To The Public, This Time) In June, 2020

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While the mystique of the Sheep Ranch was fun, that such an extraordinary stretch of coastline with Coore and Crenshaw architecture will soon be available to the public, is better.

From Jason Lusk’s Golfweek report on Bandon Dunes resort announcing the official opening date.

The original 13 greens with an unset, play-as-you-like routing built by Tom Doak lay just across Whiskey Run Lane to the north of Old Macdonald, one of four existing 18-hole layouts at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in southwestern Oregon. The property wasn’t walled off or exactly private, but golfers needed to know whom to ask to secure a tee time.

That all changes June 1, 2020, with the highly anticipated opening of the Sheep Ranch.

Bulldozers and construction crews replaced those 13 greens in the past year, as Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed a new 18-hole course that will feature nine greens on the hundred-foot cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.

You can read more at the official site. And here’s a teaser:

2022 Ryder Cup Set For Traditional Fall Date, Images Of Simone Golf Club Revealed

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It’s a go!

Long-rumored to be in jeopardy, the 2022 Ryder Cup outside Rome seems to be on track, and without a power line in sight! Then again they are graphic depictions including the all important buggies so prospective Vice Captains can start planning routes.

 For Immediate Release:

It will be the first time The Ryder Cup has been played in Italy, with the country following England, Scotland, Spain, Ireland, Wales and France as European nations to host the biennial contest between Europe and the United States.

The dates for the 2022 contest – which include the three build-up days of Tuesday September 27, Wednesday September 28 and Thursday September 29, 2022 – were confirmed today by Ryder Cup Europe at the start of the Italian Open week, with six players from Europe’s victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Team – Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose – in the field for the Rolex Series event, alongside the winning 2018 Captain Thomas Bjørn and the 2020 European Captain Padraig Harrington.

Marco Simone, which is on the outskirts of the Italian capital Rome, is currently undergoing an extensive renovation programme in preparation for hosting golf’s greatest team contest.

These graphics, in addition to a flyover animation of the tenth, 11th and 16th holes, offer the first glimpse of what the course will look like when it welcomes some of the world’s leading golfers in three years’ time.

These holes are part of nine constructed since last September and they are now in the growing phase, with the overall project set to enter its second phase this week.

This second phase comprises the construction of the remaining nine holes with work due to be completed by May 2020, allowing growing to take place over that summer. Alongside the work to the course, the clubhouse and practice facilities will also be fully refurbished, to allow Marco Simone to host the Italian Open in autumn 2021.

European Golf Design is responsible for the redesign project, creating a world-class golf course inside the ropes, in addition to a purpose-built venue outside the ropes to allow spectators to view The 2022 Ryder Cup from as many natural vantage points as possible.  

Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The success of Francesco Molinari at last year’s Ryder Cup, alongside his Open Championship and Race to Dubai victories, has been a huge boost for golf in Italy. Interest continues to build and today’s announcement of the dates is another significant milestone in the country’s journey to hosting its first Ryder Cup.”

Gian Paolo Montali, General Director of the Ryder Cup 2022 Project, said: “Our commitment for The Ryder Cup 2022 project is not only to host an iconic sport event, but also to leave a legacy for Italy and the Italian people. With the work being carried out at Marco Simone, The 2022 Ryder Cup course will become a sporting “pilgrimage” site that will continue to attract golfers for many years and will help develop to economic income through golf tourism.

 “We are ambitious and these images give fans around the world a taste of what they can expect in September 2022. Today marks another important step in our journey towards hosting Italy’s first Ryder Cup with the announcement of the dates and we must say thank you once again to Franco Chimenti. He is the one who had the vision and the courage to bring this fascinating competition to Italy.”

Lavinia Biagiotti, President of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, said: “We are very proud to be the host venue of The 2022 Ryder Cup and the announcement of the dates makes today an exciting one for everyone involved at Marco Simone.

“We have been working closely with Ryder Cup Europe and the Italian Golf Federation, along with European Golf Design and Tom Fazio II, to use the natural environment around the millenary tower of the Marco Simone Castle to create a top class venue designed to host The Ryder Cup, one of the world’s biggest sporting events.” 

The impact of The Ryder Cup is also being felt further afield in Italy through the Road to Rome initiative run by the FIG.

Last October, the Road to Rome visited Terrazza dei Cannoni on Castel dell’Ovo in Naples for Golf in the Piazza and a month later, more than 2,500 people visited Città di Lombardia in Milan, where the centrepiece was a putting green inside the Belvedere on the 39th floor of the Palazzo Lombardia.

In February, more than 100 students met the players from Italy’s national teams met at Marco Simone and Golf in the Piazza then visited Parma, with more than 4,000 people attending the event at Piazza Garibaldi.

To launch the Italian Open week, the Ryder Cup visited Villa Borghese for Golf in Piazza for the latest stop on the Road to Rome on Sunday and this Wednesday (Oct 9) the third Junior Road to the 2022 Ryder Cup takes place between two teams of 12 of Italy’s best young players.

The 10th, 11th and 16th holes were posted 10 months ago from European Golf Design working in conjunction with Tom Fazio II. This is the same footage used for the release today:

Sneak preview of the design for the 2022 Ryder Cup Course at Marco Simone in Italy, here are the 10,11 and 16th Holes.

New Look Houston Open Off To Rough Start: No Top 30 Players, No Defending Champion

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Ian Poulter’s signature 2018 Houston Open victory wasn’t enough to draw him away from the European Tour, nor is the move to fall’s more appealing weather attracting any top players to the new-look Houston Open.

Will Gray on Poulter’s decision:

But Poulter's allegiance to Europe also plays a role in his decision. The Italian Open is a lucrative Rolex Series event, bringing with it an increased purse ($7 million versus the $7.5 million up for grabs in Houston) and offering qualification points toward making the 2020 Ryder Cup team. This event was also the site of Poulter's first career Euro Tour win back in 2000, and he also won it in 2002 - the last time that Olgiata Golf Club, this year's venue, hosted the event.

As for the field, headliners put into Featured Groups includes no World Top 30 players, yet its winner earns 500 FedExCup points and a likely invitation to the Masters. (OWGR strength of field numbers have not been posted).

Check this out:

A “weak” 24 level event puts the Houston event in the John Deere Classic, Sanderson Farms, opposite field camp and highlights how, even with a huge golf supporter and friend of the game Jim Crane attempting to maintain a PGA Tour presence in America’s fourth largest (golf loving) city accessible from anywhere in the United States within three hours.

Furthermore, there may be too much “content” when players outside the world top 2000 are getting in on some sort of Tour status. Among the tournament alternates are retirees and volunteer assistant golf coaches.

The tournament director is not hiding his frustration with the field quality, reports Golf.com’s Art Stricklin.

“I’ve been doing this for 13 months and I know I’ve looked a lot of players in the eye who said they were coming and they are not here,” tournament director Colby Callaway told GOLF.com. “So, I’m a little surprised, but it is what it is.”

Meanwhile the European Tour’s Italian Open field also includes Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari and the Champion Golfer of the Year, Shane Lowry.

Every Shot, Live On-Demand To Debut At 2020 Players

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The PGA Tour says in today’s release that the newly-announced every shot, “live on-demand” is the eventual goal for all golf coverage. Bold!

In conjunction with NBC Sports Gold, the tour will roll out the first attempt at the 2020 Players, just weeks prior to the Masters, where a slightly tape-delayed on-demand debuted in 2019 with mostly great success (things were rough at the start and some shots never were captured).

The technology and concept is undoubtedly exciting, but it does the raise the question": how people will watch golf going forward. Given the length of a round, the number of variables involved and the slow nature of the sport, the act of sitting down to watch one or two groups go about their round, minus announcing and other storytelling elements, seems like a big ask. Perhaps those who have fantasy pool or waging implications at stake will pay for the privilege, as will family and friends of players.

The technology seems far more compelling in the Presidents Cup or WGC Dell Match Play, where such formats make you want to follow the mini-dramas within a match. But even then, you need announcing and other production elements to make for compelling viewing.

Anyway, For Immediate Release:

PGA TOUR, and NBC Sports Group announce live streaming of every shot during THE PLAYERS Championship in 2020

Marks the first time ever fans can follow every shot by every player live 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – For the first time ever in golf, every shot by every player will be live-streamed from a full-field tournament when THE PLAYERS Championship returns to TPC Sawgrass, March 12-15, allowing fans to follow any player in the elite field, all four rounds.  All of this revolutionary coverage will be available to PGA TOUR LIVE subscribers on either NBC Sports Gold or Amazon Prime Video Channels.

“The PGA TOUR is the most content-rich sport on the planet and we have been focused on expanding the amount of content we bring to our fans from our competitions,” said Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer for the TOUR.  “Our vision is to bring every shot in every PGA TOUR golf tournament live and on-demand to our fans, and this is the first step to making that happen.”

PGA TOUR Entertainment and NBC Sports Group will accomplish the monumental task of showcasing more than 32,000 shots over 72 holes from a starting field of 144 – live – by utilizing nearly 120 cameras positioned throughout THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, with each group having its own dedicated stream.

“Every shot of THE PLAYERS on PGA TOUR LIVE is a natural next step in the innovative partnership between NBC Sports and the PGA TOUR that spans nearly 60 years,” said Mike McCarley, president, GOLF, NBC Sports Group. “Super-serving golf fans with more comprehensive coverage of THE PLAYERS is emblematic of our commitment to elevating this championship and builds upon our success in adding enhancements to PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold.” 

PGA TOUR LIVE already has expanded its coverage for the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season by adding early round featured groups coverage from seven events between September and December. This includes, for the first time ever, live streaming of “featured matches” all four days of competition from the upcoming Presidents Cup at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia (December 12-15, 2019).

All told, approximately 140 hours of additional live content is available, bringing more than 1,100 total hours to subscribers and extending live content across each month of the calendar year. With NBC Sports Gold and Prime Video Channels being available on dozens of connected devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Chromecast, connected device consumption has spiked to about one-third of total minutes in 2019.

Further, the PGA TOUR will be launching an all-new TOURCast product that will allow fans to follow every shot from each group with a beautiful 3D rendering of the golf course and shot trails.  The new TOURCast platform will also include deep access to the PGA TOUR’s ShotLink powered by CDW data, as well as video clips of every single shot available for fans to see, on demand.  The launch of TOURCast at THE PLAYERS will mark the start of every event in the PGA TOUR Season through the FedExCup Playoffs being offered on the platform. TOURCast will be available on the PGA TOUR’s mobile apps and website.  

“Since the launch of PGA TOUR LIVE four years ago, fans have consistently asked when they would be able to watch every shot of every player's round live as it happens.  We are thrilled to be able to do this for the first time at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2020,” said Luis Goicouria, the TOUR’s Senior Vice President of Media.  “THE PLAYERS Championship has long been the tournament where the TOUR debuts the newest technology, including LIVE@ 17, our first Virtual Reality experience, and the PGA TOUR Augmented Reality iPhone app, just to name a few.”

TOURCast, which originally launched in 2003 as a state-of-the-art graphical scoring platform that provided unprecedented tournament coverage, won an Emmy in 2005. “We’re very excited to bring back a greatly enhanced version of it to a new generation of fans, utilizing the latest technology and data,” Goicouria added.

From the historic competition to an iconic golf course with an unparalleled fan experience, THE PLAYERS is uncompromising in its pursuit to deliver the best. The 144-player field represents the strongest collection of players assembled each season, competing on Pete Dye’s masterpiece, THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, that favors no single style of play and demands excellence in every facet of the game.

THE PLAYERS also was the first tournament conceived with the fan as its focal point. From the original design incorporating viewing mounds, to embracing change to deliver the best experience in the modern game, THE PLAYERS provides the highest expression of hospitality and entertainment. Morgan Stanley, Grant Thornton LLP and Optum are the exclusive Proud Partners of THE PLAYERS.

"Skins game reminds us that money can't buy meaningful rivalries on Tour"

Good stuff from Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch on the upcoming Skins game match-up reminding us that a combination of changing economics and the continued elevation of majors translates to little buzz. Especially when the attempts to create interest fall flat (below).

The Challenge was touted in coordinated social media posts and press releases that exhibited all the spontaneity of a North Korean military parade. “There has always been some friendly banter between us, and that will continue until we get to the first tee,” Woods said with the kind of passion money can’t buy.

“There are so many fun elements to The Challenge that will have me wanting to take home that title,” McIlroy pitched in gamely.

In fairness, the bar is low for this year’s “The Challenge” to outperform last year’s “The Match,” when Woods and Phil Mickelson asked viewers to pay $20 for awkward trash talking that was less amusing than what you’d hear from a couple of over-served middle managers jostling on a crowded commuter train home.

Whitworth Still Golf's Easiest Interview

Kathy Whitworth, the 88-time LPGA winner and certified all-time great recently turned 80. As Beth Ann Nichols writes for Golfweek, a luncheon at last week’s Volunteers of America Classic reminds that she’s one of golf’s great characters.

Just a sampling of the anecdotes shared:

That lesson came from Penick, who told a 17-year-old Whitworth to take the club back like she was getting paid by the hour and not the job.

When Whitworth tells the story, she wrinkles up her brow and pauses: “I’d never had a job before. What’s he talking about?”

Bryson Heads To Denver To Ensure His Neurological Threshold Meets His Mechanical Threshold

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I just copy and paste, remember. Though I do wonder how this will help get him up-and-down around Royal Melbourne’s greens, or any greens. From Ben Everill’s PGATour.com report on Bryson DeChambeau shutting things down for six weeks to work on his conditioning. Excuse me, muscle activation techniques.

He instead uses muscle activation techniques with Greg Roskoph, an important member of his team.

He will start his program on Monday and will include some intense stints in Denver with Roskoph as well.

“We make sure the neurological threshold is just as high as the mechanical threshold,” DeChambeau said.

“In layman's terms, pretty much whatever muscle potentially you have, how big and the muscle spindles you have, you can recruit every single one of them to their full potential throughout the whole range and training the whole range of motion.”

DeChambeau finished T4 in the Shriner’s Hospital For Children Open as its defending champion.

Na Makes Things Interesting (Surprise!), Sets New Putts-Made Mark

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Never dull-Kevin Na triple-bogeyed TPC Summerlin’s 10th hole in bizarre fashion before recovering to force a playoff with Patrick Cantlay.

He sank a 4-footer on the second hole to win the Shriner’s Hospital For Children Open and set a new mark for most feet of putts made since the wondrous ShotLink system has been tracking such things.

From Steve DiMeglio’s Golfweek game story:

Na, who made 202 feet of putts in his second-round 62 and 117 feet of putts in his third-round 61, set the record for most feet of putts made in a 72-hole tournament since the PGA Tour started tracking statistics with ShotLink in 2003. He finished his 72nd hole with 558 feet, 11 inches of putts. That bested the record set by Ben Martin, who made 551 feet, 2 inches of putts in the 2015 Dean and DeLuca Invitational.

Na’s 191 total also set the 54-hole tournament scoring record.

The final round highlights…



Putting For Dough: Na Makes 379 Feet Of Putts In Rounds Of 62-61

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Kevin Na holds the lead heading into Sunday’s Shriner’s Hospital For Children Open on the back of an astounding putting performance.

It’s not often you see a player back up a 62 with a 61. From Steve DiMeglio’s Golfweek report:

A day after making 202 feet of putts en route to firing a 9-under-par 62, the Las Vegas resident made 177 feet of putts Saturday on his way to a 61 and the outright lead through 54 holes of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin.

Two other notes from the PGA Tour Communications staff:

  • Made 445’ 7’’ of putts through 54 holes; Ben Martin holds the record (in the ShotLink era) for most feet of putts made at a PGA TOUR event through 72 holes with 551’ 2” at the 2015 Charles Schwab Challenge

  • Leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting through 54 holes (11.905)

Former Cal Golfer Opens Rustic Canyon Round With 10 Straight Birdies

As co-architect I should be horrified but any course that rewards such incredible play must be a masterpiece, no?

Anyway, enough about me.

The Forecaddie reports on Brandon Beck’s 10-birdie start at Rustic Canyon in August and suggests that it’s a record given how few documented 10-straight moments have been recorded.

Oh, and he lipped out on the 11th.

Trump Aberdeen Has Racked Up £9.4 Million In Losses Since Opening

The once vaunted Trump International Links near Aberdeen has 77 staffers and last year lost , it’s seventh consecutive year failing to profit, reports The Scotsman’s Martyn McLaughlin.

The Martin Hawtree design, where a second course was recently approved for construction, had been projected to generate as many as 6000 jobs after construction of homes and a second course.

From McLauglin’s report:

The company remains reliant on interest free loans provided by Mr Trump worth £40.6m. The latest filings mean that Mr Trump's resort, which he promised would be the "world's greatest," has now run up cumulative losses of more than £9.4m.

In the previous accounts, covering the 12 months to the end of December 2017, its losses ran to £1.25m, with turnover standing at £2.54m. It employed 84 staff.

The latest accounts, signed off by the Trump Organisation's auditors in Scotland, Johnston Carmichael, cover the 12 months to the end of December 2018. They show the employee headcount has since fallen to 77.