Tour Player Warns: “Guys are not going to play for their livelihood with no rakes in the bunker"

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I had not seen the stern warning from Scott Stallings in this James Colgan Golf.com piece, but it sent laughter down my spine and I hope, in these difficult times, you get similar joy from this Grade A, Bobby Joe Grooves level point missing.

Colgan writes:

These changes could see players putting with the flagstick in, playing without rakes in bunkers and pulling their own clubs to minimize contact with caddies, among other adjustments. While the proposed guidelines could allow golf to be played in the near future, Stallings doubts players would get on board with the changes.

“I just don’t think there’s any way guys are going to do that,” he said. “Guys are not going to play for their livelihood with no rakes in the bunker and no caddies. That’s just not going to happen.

“I’m fully confident that there are going to be guys who choose not to play.”

The Golf.com Monday morning roundtable feasted on the Tour player and fitness fanatic’s declaration.

Sean Zak, senior editor (@Sean_Zak): Some probably will, but they’ll really look like sore thumbs. Are you really going to complain about an imperfect bunker when you could just be at home spending your money and not making any? Anyone who complains will not be embraced by fans, but then again, this is the Groupthink Tour. Their opinions tend to all be the same by the end of a tournament.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): Playing for “their livelihood with no rakes in the bunker and no caddies.” Egad. The horrors! Not even Dickens could have dreamed up such hardship. I’m sure Stallings is right. Some players will push back, and they’ll look as ridiculous as the above sounds.

Alan Shipnuck, senior writer (@Alan_Shipnuck): The bunker thing is getting a lot of play, but there could be an easy solution: Why not have one designated raker per hole who cleans up after every player? But the larger point is that sports is going to be different for all of us when it returns, and the players would be wise to get on board.

Michael Bamberger, senior writer: I think the game would be improved at every level without rakes in bunkers. Return to them their dignity. They are traps. They are to be avoided. The players will have to conform, or there won’t be a tournament in which to play.

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I don’t see this being an issue, at least from the Tour’s bigger names. Ever since they officially canceled the Players, it’s been mostly sunshine and roses when it comes to Tour players and the rulesmakers. I would say the far bigger issue would be if players felt there was no effort being made to bring golf back, but that’s clearly not the case. I’m sure Stallings will come around.

Bunker rakes were down my list of golf reset values topics, but I think the topic just moved up the list.

Scotland's Durness Golf Club Needs Help Surviving The Pandemic

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I’m sad to say I have not found time when in the Highlands to get to Durness but the repeated posts on social media have me hoping I someday get the chance to see one of Scotland’s newer gems.

Unfortunately, as Craig Berktram reports for National Club Golfer, a 9-holer that gets half its necessary revenue to survive from guest play needs help. They are offering some nice membership options to get needed funds if you message them on Twitter.

From Bertram’s story:

Head greenkeeper Alistair Morrison said the club had been contacted by people who had played the course and wanted to help and others who had never set foot on the links but wanted to make sure they’d still have the chance.

“I put the post on twitter and within a couple of minutes someone messaged me from India,” he explained. “He had played last April and fell in love with the place and wanted to come and visit again. You wouldn’t imagine it would get around the world so quickly.

“Some (of those who responded) had been here and some hadn’t. Some of their friends had been and they had seen the photos. Anything would be a huge help at the moment.”

Full membership, which offers unlimited golf when the course is open and reciprocals at the likes of Tain, Brora and Golspie, is £185 for 12 months starting from May 1.

Ru Macdonald’s Vlog on the course from two years ago.

And more pics…

Shack Show Quick Take: Why A Fan-Free Ryder Cup Might Be The Right Thing

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After a few guests I felt there was an opening to consider the Ryder Cup/fan matter as a first world news distraction. In part, because after watching some of the recent replays and considering the times, maybe this is the year to tone things down.

It’s only about 9 minutes of my thoughts, so your input on both this Shack Show format and today’s topic is always appreciated.

In lieu of what would have been an 1100 hundred word blog post, you can just listen here at the show’s iHeart page.

Before half of Wisconsin sends hate mail, understand I was initially in the no fans/no Cup camp, and after looking through photos from Versailles in 2018, it pained me to offer this perspective knowing how many American fans were eager to root on their team at Whistling Straits.

McGinley Gently Pushes Back: Have An Open Mind About Different Ryder Cup

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The last time Paul McGinley put his thoughts down on paper to expect a need to expect a different European Tour post COVID-19, the news broke soon after that several cancelled events would not be rescheduled and to expect minimalist build-outs.

McGinley has turned up again at Sky Sports to gently suggest a rush to write off a fan-free Ryder Cup needs further consideration for reasons beyond the fan component. Its not hard to sense his view that the financial strain could be problematic if the Ryder Cup is not kept on schedule.

This is a moment for all stakeholders in golf to continue to collaborate, communicate and support each other. We have no similar experience in modern times to look back on and to learn from. Having open minds could well protect the sport and some of its historic events from spiralling into crisis.

There needs to be collaborative sharing of thinking and a sense of camaraderie. We all want our sports to be back to what they were and, in time, they will be. But in the meantime let us embrace the "new norm" for what it is - an unwanted and unwelcome intruder that we will face together and ultimately control.

In the meantime, let us make the most of whatever degree of playing participation and spectatorship we are able to achieve.

For likely very, very different reasons, I support the idea as I noted in this Shack Show quick take.

"Guerrilla Golfers Sneak Onto Greens Closed by Pandemic"

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I’m not sure how to characterize David Segal’s NY Times story on golfers getting their links fix in Florida counties where the sport is considered non-essential.

Segal may not be sure either, but instead he’s mostly documenting these strange times and in particular the confusing notion of Florida having different golf rules for different counties. (Thanks to reader John for sending this in.)

This from the NGF’s Jay Karens was a tad excessive in a time of pandemic…

The public perception of the industry is reflected in its inclusion on what is informally known as the Internal Revenue Service “sin list,” a group of enterprises that are blocked from all sorts of government initiatives, including disaster relief. Others on the list include massage parlors, racetracks and hot tub facilities.

So far, there’s been no reference to the sin list in any of the coronavirus programs passed in Washington. But Jay Karen, the chief executive of the National Golf Course Owners Association, says he and his colleagues are on alert.

“There’s a bias against the game and the business of golf, and it’s patently unfair,” said Mr. Karen. “The feeling is that golf courses are owned by a bunch of rich guys, which is a very old narrative that no longer holds true.”

Podcast: The Shack Show Episode 6 With Guest Nick Faldo

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We covered a nice gamut in this chat, including the times, the world of travel, the recent Masters replay, radical game transformations, the driver head, Pringle sweaters, par-3 courses and dogs in a time of pandemics. Among other topics.

As always thanks to all who made this possible, starting with Sir Nick, show producer Tim Parotchka, everyone on the iHeart Golf team.

The iHeart show page. The Apple podcast page for episode six. And to subscribe or review the show.

Show notes:

A preview of Faldo’s new CBS Sports Network’s shows debuting Monday at 7:30 pm ET.

Sir Nick and Saxon on Medterra:

Podcasts this week considering Faldo’s career and 1990 Masters win, starting with The Shotgun Start’s two deep effort featuring guest Sean Martin. (Really great discussions for those who’ve forgotte how incredible Faldo’s post-game remake run turned out to be.)

A Pod Unlike Any Other’s look back at the 1989 Masters.

"A fully-operational Shotlink system, according to multiple officials, ranks only behind the players in tournament priority.”

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GolfDigest.com’s Joel Beall and friends took a comprehensive look—with help from tournament officials sharing many financials—at everything required to get a scaled back PGA Tour event to be played in a time of pandemic.

Combined with the Commissioner saying testing is paramount with the continued testing shortfall and the likely need for some from certain locales to 14-day quarantine before turning up in certain regions, and the chances seem remote of a June restart.

As a fan of ShotLink, this part struck me as an odd priority given the tight working space for a ShotLink truck crew and the need for some volunteers to run the system.

“However, there are areas the Tour has identified as essential, chief among them Shotlink. The Tour’s proprietary data content is key for scoring, stats and its gambling relationships, such as with daily fantasy site DraftKings. A fully-operational Shotlink system, according to multiple officials, ranks only behind the players in tournament priority.”

Outside of scoring, I’m not sure how eager fans and players are to have that information versus a simple return to play when it’s safe to do so. Especially if setting up Shotlink impacts COVID-19 testing for those more in need.

Just as expanding fields are being expanded at a time the size of gatherings is under scrutiny, this is a headscratcher. Hundreds and hundreds of golf tournament are played annually without ShotLink but with some form of live scoring. If a “fully operational” ShotLink system is the only way to monitor scoring, a reassessment of priorities is certainly in order.

As an aside, DraftKings began public trading on NASDAQ Friday.

The Match 2: Floridians React About How You'd Expect To Governor's Tweet

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While the PGA Tour works on some of the logistical hurdles before signing off, The Match 2 with Woods, Mickelson, Brady and Manning is such a go that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis put in a social media plug.

As Garry Smits notes for the Times-Union, the news of a for-charity golf match went over about how you’d expect in a state where farmers are suffering and the unemployment process is failing. Well, unless you’re the governor.

As of 5:30 p.m., 45 of the first 53 replies to the DeSantis tweet were from people railing about the state’s inability to fix its unemployment web site, and criticizing DeSantis for trumpeting a golf match.

“I can’t afford cable and I’ll probably have to start selling all my stuff, like my TV ... because I’ve been pending on my unemployment since [March 22],” said one person.

“I can assure you, most people would rather know they’ll be getting paid than watch golf,” posted another.

“Ron, I’ll play you 18 holes for my unemployment benefits,” said another poster.

A date and golf course have not been announced.

Tiger Woods spoke from his padded panic room about the event to GolfTV, summarized here at GolfDigest.com by Daniel Rapaport.



"Gleneagles’ “Go Fund Me” Campaign Needs You!"

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The wokesters and non-top 100 collectors would be descending on San Francisco’s Gleneagles next month when the PGA Championship hits San Francisco. But with that event postponed and rescheduled for August, the “speakeasy of golf courses” needs help, as does another San Francisco brand, State Apparel.

The Save Sharp Park crowd has posted this unbylined story on the efforts to help Gleneagles and show support for the area’s golf brand.

This Spring, the 1-2 punch of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with high City water bills and maintenance costs that did not go away when the City ordered golfers to keep away, has the City’s lessee Tom Hsieh with his back against the wall. So he is conducting a fundraising campaign on “Go Fund Me”, where Tom explains his plight in a heartfealt letter – which we urge you to read in full. An excerpt:

"It appears that without financial assistance, I will not be able to continue operating Gleneagles nor will I be able to maintain it, even minimally in the coming weeks or months. So if you have a soft spot for public golf like no other,  and hope to one day play another round at a community based golf course,  please help. I know there are many more urgent causes out there and I urge you to support them first.  If you have any more capacity then please point it towards Gleneagles.”

Acushnet Brands Offering Incredible Experiences To Benefit COVID-19 Relief

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Nice to see on of golf’s biggest companies going big with its giving back, serving up an auction of experiences to benefit three organizations.

You can view them all here including the early clubhouse leader, a Pebble Beach day fronted by breakfast and a first tee announcement by Jim Nantz, and a 19th hole playing of his backyard 7th hole.

For Immediate Release:

TITLEIST AND FOOTJOY ‘CHIPPING IN’ WITH ONLINE GOLF AUCTION

Raising Funds for COVID-19 Relief with One-of-a-Kind Golf Experiences

Fairhaven, MA (April 23, 2020) – Golfers will have an opportunity to tee it up with a top-ranked tour player, schedule their next golf lesson with a world-renowned instructor, get fit like a professional, or even experience Pebble Beach with a local resident, while ‘Chipping In’ to make a difference with the COVID-19 Relief Charity Golf Auction. 

The week-long online auction, which begins today at 10:00 a.m. EDT and closes on April 30 at 9:00 p.m. EDT, is being presented by Titleist, FootJoy, Vokey, Scotty Cameron and Kjus.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from these one-of-a-kind experiences will benefit the relief efforts of three deserving organizations: CDP COVID-19 Response Fund; the United Way chapters of Greater New Bedford and San Diego County, supporting the local communities where the majority of the Titleist and FootJoy U.S. associates work and live; and, following the lead of the PGA of America and other golf organizations, the Golf Emergency Relief Fund.

Among the 12 unique golf experiences, are rounds of golf with Justin and Mike Thomas, Webb Simpson and Ian Poulter; personal instruction and golf with Butch Harmon, Peter Kostis, James Sieckmann, Cameron McCormick, Michael Breed and Brad Faxon; wedge and putter fittings with Titleist designers Bob Vokey and Scotty Cameron; and a once-in-a-lifetime Pebble Beach experience provided by the longtime voice of Titleist and auction host, Jim Nantz. 

This auction is a continuation of multiple initiatives Acushnet has implemented since the outbreak, including:

• Donating more than 100,000 masks and other PPE supplies to hospitals and those in need in the communities in which we operate around the world.

• Retrofitting processes in our Massachusetts manufacturing facilities to produce PPE items and components.

• Donating 15% of all purchases made on Titleist.com, FootJoy.com, ScottyCameron.com, Vokey.com and Kjus.com, from April 8-30, to the CDP COVID-19 Response Fund.

• Participating in Rain Suits for Responders, a program to collect new or gently used golf rain suits and deliver them directly to healthcare workers on the frontlines.

“Like so many others, the Acushnet team is committed to being a positive force in support of front line health care workers, the local communities in which we operate, golf professionals, and others in the industry who have been most affected by this pandemic,” said David Maher, President and CEO, Acushnet Company. “We are grateful to our many partners, brand ambassadors and associates for their contributions as we work together to endure these challenging times, and collectively look forward to the better days that lie ahead.”

Podcast: The Shack Show Episode 5 With Guest Cliff Drysdale

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If you’ve been watching tennis on ESPN for the last forty years you’ve listened to Cliff Drysdale.

The former grand slam doubles champion, a U.S. Open finalist and International Tennis Hall of Fame member has also served as the first ATP President and popularized the two-handed backhand. Oh and he loves golf.

Knowing how he sprinkles in golf comments, has worked the The Open and played a lot of golf and tennis with Jack Nicklaus, I’ve long wanted to hear from Drysdale on what similarities he sees between golf and tennis. Namely, what he thinks of the shifts to power emphasis, tennis’ effort to dial in a one-dimensional approach, and even the emergence (again) of a team concept as golf considers the Premier Golf League’s dreams of a team competition. We even talked a bit of golf TV vs. tennis TV coverage.

Oh, and I just figured we could all enjoy listening to the 78-year-old’s ageless, calming voice that has made him ESPN’s longest serving on-air presence.

Here’s the iHeart show page, the Apple podcast link and the embed below are good starting places. Or, check out The Shack Show wherever you get your podcasts.

The Ramifications Of A Delayed Ryder Cup

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The Guardian’s Ewan Murray points out the likelihood of a Ryder Cup delay, one he says would have already happened had European been hosting in 2020.

But the dreaded scheduling compaction looms next year with the Olympics back on schedules and a Presidents Cup slated for Quail Hollow. Regarding this year’s issue, he writes:

The players need not fret; there is little or no chance of the joust between the USA and Europe taking place in that form. In public, the competition organisers might have to at least give the impression that all avenues are being explored but there is acknowledgment within the PGA of America and European Tour that a Ryder Cup minus a 1st tee cauldron or jubilant players celebrating with fans isn’t at all valid. Crucially NBC, the host broadcaster in the US, is understood to have no interest in a closed-doors scene either. Sky Sports is similarly cool.

"Right now, every day is Sunday in the cradle of the game."

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Bunkered’s Michael McEwan files as uplifting a look as you can when visiting a locked down St. Andrews.

He covers all elements of the town, operation and details of the limited course maintenance allowed since the lockdown started March 23 to combat COVID-19.

Up and into the heart of the town, there’s only the faintest pulse of life. Auchterlonie’s Golf Shop, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, is shut, as are all of the town’s most famous 19th holes: The Dunvegan, The Keys, The Whey-Pat, The Westport, Greyfriars Inn, Ham’s Hame, The Criterion and more.

The cobbles of Market Street are empty. The six bells of St Salvator's Chapel Tower on the university campus don’t chime. The students have nearly all skipped town. The tourists who top up the population have yet to arrive.

Tiger, Phil Confirm The Match 2 Is On For May With Brady, Manning**

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I’d hate to call this announcement premature since Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both retweeted this report:

However, note in this story from The Action Network’s Darren Rovell (with additional reporting by Jason Sobel), that the PGA Tour has not officially signed off on the event. Even as independent contractors, players must get a release to play in any other competition not already sanctioned by the PGA Tour.

A PGA TOUR official told The Action Network’s Jason Sobel that Tiger and Phil would need to receive a “release form for them to play a televised or streamed event in the U.S.”

A TOUR official told Sobel, “We are still in discussions on a number of items, including ensuring the health and safety for all involved with the event.”

Obviously working through all safety protocols and considering precautions for such an event in the next month is a major process. As of April 1, the early details of this concept were out and the Tour was still mulling its position in these very fluid times.

That said, when the original “Match” was announced in 2018, all parties were aligned in sharing the news.

"The tricky business of restarting the European Tour"

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GolfDigest.com’s John Huggan considers the state of the European Tour and Chief Executive Keith Pelley’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. The quieter and less predictive approach from Europe is a product of style and relying on government experts to green light any tournament dates.

Later in the piece he gets into Sky Sports’ relationship with the Tour and possible business issues looming there as well as the ability of players to make a living if reduced purses come.

But this on Pelley’s handling from Lee Westwood highlights how some players see the PGA Tour’s push to return in June.

“I think Keith has actually made a lot of good decisions,” says European Tour veteran Lee Westwood. “In contrast, the PGA Tour’s plan to play in June is very ambitious. No one has ever seen anything like this. So we have to be so mindful of what is going on in the world. Forget about golf. Yes, we’d all like to have live sport on television, but is that really so important compared with what is going on in society worldwide?

Westwood believes that by holding out on announcing a formal plan, what the Pelley and the European Tour have done is give themselves a bigger window of time to assess the situation and give integrity to what would remain of the season. “There is an opportunity to schedule events at the end of the year,” Westwood says. “The longer you wait, the more chance you have of actually making things happen. And I look at the biggest events and think, if you have to hold them, do it 100 percent. Do them right, or not at all.”