UK Clubs, Green Fees And Replacing Lost Tourism Revenue

The UK Golf Guy has done some incredible research into guest green fee spikes at the UK’s famous courses.

Given the state of affairs, with some centuries old clubs facing potential calamity and many others seeing a huge revenue hit, he argues that lowering fees and welcoming some domestic tourism could be vital to survive the downturn.

Some of the research on green fee changes is really impressive, so hit the link and give him a follow. But

I’ve looked at the increase in green fees for a selection of top courses since 2000. The average summer weekend green fee for these courses in 2000 was £88. Coming in to summer 2020, the average for that same group is over £240. Had the cost increased in line with UK inflation then the average would be only £145.

The highest percentage rises have come at three Open courses - Royal St George’s, Carnoustie and Muirfield. All have gone from sub-£80 a round to over £250. Others, like North Berwick and Cruden Bay, have seen improvements in their course rankings which will have been a catalyst for their increases.

The great Australian golfer, and professor/student of the game, Peter Thomson said that no golf course in the world should charge more than a round at the Old Course, but now a round at Turnberry is almost twice as much.

The increases have been eye-watering, but tee-time sheets have still been filled. There have always been enough visitors willing to pay the prices, while the local market has largely been priced out of playing some of the nation’s most revered courses.

Phil On Brady And Manning In Sunday's Match: "There is going to be a unique pressure"

USA Today’s Steve DiMeglio talks to Phil Mickelson about Sunday’s charity match fearing Tiger Woods/Peyton Manning vs. Mickelson/Tom Brady.

I’ve heard some apathy at the event despite what could be huge amounts of charitable dollars raised, but lost in some of that is just how difficult this will be for Brady and Manning. After all, we saw loose shots from four elite players in last Sunday’s TaylorMade Driving Relief event, and Mickelson notes that the two legendary quarterbacks will undoubtedly be humiliated by the game on national TV.

This alternate-shot wrinkle puts a lot of pressure on Brady and Manning.

“I give them a lot of credit for putting themselves out there because there is going to be a unique pressure,” Mickelson said. “But that’s why it’s going to be so much fun, because we are going to have mishaps and we are going to have some bad shots and we are going to laugh at ourselves.”

Mickelson also said there will be plenty of ribbing, unlike the near silence during his and Woods’ first match in Las Vegas. Each of the four players will be mic’d up, with each riding in their own cart. There will be no caddies or spectators.

I wish they could revisit the carts part, as it was pretty refreshing watching Rory and friends carrying their clubs Sunday.

“We’re Out of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer—and Golf Pushcarts?”

Pre-pandemic, push carts were already infinitely more accepted in the United States than at any point in my lifetime. Largely due to college golfers adopting them in the last seven years or so, pre-pandemic American golfers were increasingly overcoming the supposed embarrassment of using one over a motorized golf cart.

The rest of the world has always been perfectly fine with push carts, pull carts, trolleys, etc… and now, with physical distancing rules or some courses limiting cart usage, the day has arrived when we are witnessing not only an appreciation but a run on the simple devices. Some of the finest courses in the world where they were once forbidden are now okay with push carts. AND golfers changing their shoes in the parking lot.

(Visualize shocked Emoji here.)

Of course any form of walking, even with a push cart is better exercise, connects you with the course and your group (if all walking) and is just a quieter, calmer, more centered experience.

I’ve heard from golfers enjoying the push cart (Charlie Rymer discussed on Shack Show Ep. 2 about his golf in Myrtle Beach with his beloved electric push cart and how much more he’s enjoying non-cart golf). And frequently, I’ve heard from others asking if I know a guy who knows a guy who might have an extra for sale.

Jason Scott Deegan was the first to cover the topic for GolfAdvisor and covered many elements for those needing a reference piece.

But this on the manufacturing side is noteworthy.

"There's been a tremendous rush for push carts," said Craig Ramsbottom, the president of Dynamic Brands, which sells popular BagBoy models like the Nitron. "It caught us off-guard. The demand, it’s hard to describe. ... Over the last week, we got down to zero carts. It's amazing. Whether it was a slower moving model or color, anything and everything sold."

The Wall Street Journal’s Andrew Beaton has tackled the topic as well in a piece “We’re Out of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer—and Golf Pushcarts?”

Suddenly, people eager to trade the misery of sheltering in place for the frustration of chasing around a tiny ball realize they need a pushcart.

Mr. Hansen is the national sales manager for ProActive Sports Group, which distributes Clicgear, a line hyped as the “Rolls-Royce of pushcarts.” His firm typically has a strong sense of how much inventory it needs for a season. It takes the estimates, adds a fudge factor and places orders long in advance.

None of its statistical models accounted for a pandemic. As soon as golf courses changed protocols, pushcarts began flying off shelves. Courses tried to order them in bulk. Retailers that sold out wanted more. Individuals went hunting online.

The U.S. has no strategic pushcart reserve. Distributors say it can take weeks or months to get new shipments, a process hardly made easier by coronavirus supply-chain disruptions.

Regular golf carts are never going away and a significant profit motive will always keep them safe. Besides, way too many courses are tough to play without one. But in this bizarre time, let the push cart join things like better tee time spacing, unraked bunkers and slower green speeds as having gained fans.

"Coronavirus is retiring the handshake. Here’s why that could change sports forever"

The LA Times’ David Wharton got the Column One slot to make a substantial consideration of the hand shake in sports going forward.

A sampler but as always, I recommend hitting the link for the full piece:

“It’s just one thing that should change and probably will change,” University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari said on the “BBN Live” show. “The game ends, you point. ‘See you after.’ Call the guy on the phone. These kids stay in touch anyway.”

If the custom fades — and not everyone thinks it will — experts hope something else will take its place.

Contact might not be required, the mere orientation of the hand conveying fundamental information. Think of a friend raising his hand in greeting or people turning their palms upward in exasperation or confusion.

So a simple nod and wave might suffice, or maybe the Hindu greeting of namaste, with hands pressed together as in prayer. When the PGA Tour returns with a tournament next month, officials have asked players to consider “a tip of the cap or an air fist bump or something from a distance.”

“You wouldn’t get the full effect of the actual touch,” Givens said. “But the recognition of another’s physical presence, you’re taking them seriously.”

Air chest bumps have already been a thing in golf.

And maybe Bubba and Chairman Payne were onto something in 2012, minus the face touching.

R&A Launches £7 million Support Fund For Golf In The UK

The R&A has launched a £7 million funding package called The R&A Covid-19 Support Fund, with a focus on helping “national associations and other affiliated bodies in Great Britain and Ireland.”

While regional associations will have final say over the funds, it appears the program is designed to assist UK golf clubs facing total losses of outside revenue or existing members.

The full press release:

The R&A today launched a £7 million funding package, The R&A Covid-19 Support Fund, to help golf deal with the impact of the pandemic.

The fund will be largely aimed at national associations and other affiliated bodies in Great Britain and Ireland.

Assistance for clubs and facilities

With the global pandemic leading to widespread temporary course closures and drastic reductions in domestic and international travel, many golf clubs and facilities are facing serious financial difficulties. The fund is being provided to help The R&A’s affiliated national associations to support those clubs and facilities, although some of the money may be used for other activities key to the future health of the sport.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on golf and many clubs are facing dire financial situations through no fault of their own. Golf is in our DNA and we want to see the sport continue to thrive from grassroots right through to the top level on the professional tours. We have a responsibility to do what we can to help in such a crisis.

“The R&A Covid-19 Support Fund will enable national associations and other key bodies to provide support to some of their members. We know that many challenges lie ahead but club golf is the bedrock of our sport and hopefully this fund will help to begin the process of recovery.”

How to access The R&A Covid-19 Fund

The R&A is working with its national associations and other selected organisations on communications, with each body being responsible for controlling and allocating its share.

The R&A reinvests the proceeds from the success of The Open, golf’s original championship, in growing and supporting golf and already provides financial support to a wide range of organisations in addition to national associations, including the European Tour, the LET, the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland and the Golf Foundation.

Tiger On The "Gear Effect" Of Old Persimmon Heads

You may recall that Justin Thomas posted about a seemingly random round with Rickie Fowler playing a persimmon driver.

Turns out, that was inspired by a round a few days prior when Tiger Woods brought out his high school driver for a birthday celebration round with Thomas, Fowler and Bud Cauley. He told GolfTV’s Hennie Zuel that it’s “fun to see those guys try and hit something that small”.

And then this for those who’d like to see pros play a slightly smaller driver head.

“The gear effect is incredible. You hit the ball off the heel, it starts so far left. You hit the ball off the toe, it starts so far right. But it always comes back. Our drivers don’t come back anymore. They don’t have that gear effect. 

The full clip from GolfTV:

The story of @TigerWoods making JT and Rickie hit his high school driver. pic.twitter.com/pLFGhWJ97a

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) May 14, 2020

California Governor Opens The Door To Possible Sports Events In June

Looking highly unlikely just days ago, PGA of America officials must be pleased to see California Governor Gavin Newsom opening the door to a possible return of sports in California.

Fans are out for the foreseeable future and many other conditions must be met, but the early August PGA still has a shot at being played. However, major changes in rules for world travel would need to change if the PGA wants to play with a traditional international field.

Recently, Tommy Fleetwood said he would not be partaking in the PGA Tour’s June return due to rules on quaranting on both sides of the Atlantic.

The governor’s remarks:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state could see pro sports return by the first week of June without fans. pic.twitter.com/j4PPg56Yn7

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 18, 2020

Ratings: "Driving Relief" Draws A Traditional Tour Event-Sized Audience

While NASCAR’s return garnered massive ratings, golf’s “live” return up against most of the first race back did not stand a chance. Why the attempt at competing with non-exhibition sports, we’ll never know. (Golf was the second biggest sports event of the week in terms of eyeballs and just held off a strong challenge from the Beverly Hills Dog Show.)

More importantly: the only number from TaylorMade Driving Relief that matters: $5.5 million and counting raised for COVID-19 related causes, with United Health and Farmers doing the biggest check-writing.

As for the TV audience, golf fans returned. But when the release compares the exhibition with 2019 Tour events, it becomes clear sports fans probably went with NASCAR.

For Immediate Release:

TAYLORMADE DRIVING RELIEF EARNS 2.35 MILLION VIEWERS (TAD) ACROSS NBC, GOLF CHANNEL, NBCSN & STREAMING

Golf’s Return to Television Has Raised More Than $5.5 Million for COVID-19

Relief Efforts So Far; Donations Continue via PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 18, 2020) – Live golf returned for the first time in two months on Sunday, with TaylorMade Driving Relief supported by UnitedHealth Group, which saw a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.35 million average viewers (2-6:33p ET; P2+) across NBC, GOLF Channel, NBCSN, along with NBC Sports and PGA TOUR streaming platforms. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson defeated Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a charity skins match that has raised more than $5.5 million for COVID-19 relief efforts. Donations are continuing at PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief.

“Sunday’s telecast helped raise awareness for the American Nurses Foundation, CDC Foundation and Off Their Plate, three organizations on the frontlines of COVID-19 relief efforts. It’s a credit to the PGA TOUR, corporate partners and the players for making this event a terrific success,” said Pete Bevacqua, president, NBC Sports Group. “On top of the funds raised for these charitable entities, audiences were treated to their first look at Seminole Golf Club, which ultimately was the fifth star on Sunday in its television debut.”

A 2.35 million TAD for Sunday’s live broadcast is relatively flat for average viewership compared to CBS’ and NBC’s 2nd Quarter 2019 PGA TOUR Final Round average (2.32M vs 2.38M average viewership, -2%). Additionally, Persons 25-54 garnered 762,000 average viewers, up 44% vs. CBS/NBC’s 2019 2nd Quarter PGA TOUR Final Round average.

Instant Poll: Should The 2020 U.S. Open Go Forward As An Invitational?

As GolfDigest.com’s Daniel Rapaport notes, no one is happy about the U.S. Open having to be an invitational this year, on the slim chance it’s even played at Winged Foot this September 17-20.

The charm of an open national championship has become so profound, the USGA found a few extra pennies to come up with golf’s second worst slogan that is now in a sprint with Live Under Par to the trash heap of ad agency asininity.

So, put me down for conflicted, wanting to see a U.S. Open at Winged Foot but wondering how it can be called a U.S. Open when it’s no longer open. Which is my cowardly way of asking for a deciding vote on whether this is a good idea.

By the way before you vote, can you imagine what His Ownself is saying right now that the U.S. Open has been announced as an invitational while the USGA won’t credit Hogan with a fifth (Hale America) U.S. Open?

Should the U.S. Open be played as an invitational-only event or cancelled?

Yes, cancel it's just not an Open

No, any U.S. Open is a U.S. Open

 

pollcode.com free polls

From Many, None: Report Says USGA Cancels Local And Sectional Qualifying; No Fans On Site If 2020 U.S. Open Is Played

An unbylined Golfweek item, since deleted, offered a detailed report on the USGA cancelling local and sectional qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Open. The tournament was postponed to September 17-20, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club and would feature an all-exempt invitational field that the USGA is still working through along with many other details designed to play some form of a championship.

From the lengthy item (still posted at MSN’s golf page), which certainly did not appear to be an incomplete report, just perhaps an incorrectly timed release and delivering the not-surprising relating that large crowds will not happen:

Nor could the USGA’s championship team adequately function amid the pandemic. “The USGA is headquartered in New Jersey, the second most hard-hit state in the country with a higher mortality rate than the global average,” said Craig Annis, the chief brand officer. “Our ability to effectively put on all 14 championships with qualifiers when we can’t be physically together, can’t fly, and in some instances would need to quarantine for 14 days before being able to operate in some states, is severely limited.”

The new COVID-19 reality will be apparent even at the championships that are staged, especially at Winged Foot. The customary number of volunteers at a U.S. Open—between 5,500 and 6,000—will be cut to around 200. “Most of the volunteers at our qualifying and championships are of an age demographic that is at high risk,” Bodenhamer explained.

The targeted number of people permitted to be on-site each day at the Open will be around 2,000. With a typical complement of fans, that number would usually be around 40,000.

“We know with the U.S. Open it’s going to be significantly scaled back. We are trying to get our numbers as low as possible to get the necessary approvals to play,” Bodenhamer said. “Whatever we’re permitted to do by governments, we will build on that.”

The US Amateur and US Women’s Amateur remain scheduled.

**Subsequent reports say a decision has not been made on fans but at 2,000 people on site, any crowds would be relegated to tiny numbers after allotting for players, entourages, television, media, security and other essential personnel.

World's Seventh Oldest Club Offering Membership Specials

The incredible Fraserburgh is offering options for membership to help raise funds for both domestic and international players. I wrote about the course here for GolfDigest.com and Ran Morrissett published this profile many years back.

You can check out the primary offerings here and the more extensive options here.

Video: Seminole Portion Of The Donald Ross Doc

Before Seminole goes away a bit until the 2021 Walker Cup, the course might have intrigued you enough to here a few more minutes about what Donald Ross thought was one of his finest efforts.

This clip is from Cob Carlson’s documentary and viewable online:

Seminole - excerpt from 'Donald Ross: Discovering the Legend" from Cob Carlson on Vimeo.

Guardian: "UK's old university towns hit by Covid-19 'double whammy'"

The Guardian’s Caroline Davies considers the state of United Kingdom university towns and while several have ties to golf, there is really only one: St Andrews.

From her story:

Around 9,000 students make up one-third of the population, and Scotland’s oldest university, which generated £268.6m for the local economy in 2018, is the town’s major employer, supporting 4,260 jobs.

With the scenic coastline of north-east Fife, and the Royal and Ancient a golfing destination par excellence, tourism is the second major employer.

“But we are a long way from knowing how students will be able to come, and how many. It’s very difficult to see how international students will be able to return in any numbers at all if normal term times are able to start again,” said Alan Mitchell, chief executive of the Fife chamber of commerce. “Equally, it’s hard to see international golf tourism happening any time soon.”

TaylorMade Driving Relief Roundup: Good Reviews But Then, What's There To Quibble About

Well, there were problems. A few doozies though all well-intentioned unless you’re tired of decisions based on chasing a broader audience, made by folks not comfortable enough to just trust the product: super golfers, great course and enough modern television tricks to put on a good show.

Anyway! Overall, in between too many bad production choices was an impressive telecast visually given only six cameras and a plane view—funds were raised for good causes, as Doug Ferguson notes in his AP story.

PGA Tour Charities allowed for online donations during the telecast, raising more than $1 million. The donations will continue until Tuesday. When the exhibition ended, more than $5.5 million had been pledged, starting with the $3 million guarantee from UnitedHeath Group.

Players carried their own bags.

The bag carrying was a great look and arguably the highlight for most golfers. Those caddies should not lose any sleep, as Alan Shipnuck and Dylan Dethier noted in the Golf.com roundtable, there appeared a few moments the players needed a caddy to lean on.

Shipnuck: I think it had more to do with rust, and some wind, but a lot of times they looked off by half-a-club. Makes me wonder if caddies could have had them more dialed in. And nobody made any putts besides Fowler. Again, Seminole’s greens are tough, but I think these guys missed the ritual of confirming their reads.

Dethier: I think a good caddie helps his player commit to shots. A couple of these guys looked like they could have used some help in that department.

Bob Harig at ESPN said there was plenty to wonder about, but mostly appreciated seeing live golf again.

But more than anything, golfers competing and getting a chance to watch them was the star attraction.

"It's a lot of fun to get out here, do something fun and do something for charity,'' Johnson said during the NBC broadcast. "Feels good to get to the golf course and have a little competition. I know we're all looking forward to playing some golf.''

Johnson rather sheepishly admitted earlier in the week that he had not played a round of golf since the Players Championship until May 10. And at times, his game looked a bit ragged, as did parts of the proceedings.

In a perfect world, perhaps there would be some nit-picking, but in the one we are a part of now, this event should be celebrated more than analyzed.

Sam Weinman makes the astute point that from a sports perspective, only one thing mattered: safety, and the relief fund effort passed that taste despite some dreadful physical distancing several times (Ford walking the players in from the parking lot, first Sands interview) and jokes that probably didn’t fit the times (McIlroy on FedExCup money won and Wolff making a testing crack before quickly realizing it wasn’t great).

Two handed out largely positive grades, with me wishing I had David Dusek at Golfweek as my professor, and Dylan Dethier at Golf.com handing out a few D’s and F’s underneath mostly good grades.

Trump On Driving Relief Telecast: Normal Return Means Big Crowds, No Masks At Golf Tournaments

Doug Ferguson reports on President Donald Trump’s 10-minute phone appearance during the COVID-19 relief event at Seminole that started with his views on China and some other odd moments.

From a golf perspective, Trump addressed what he sees as a return as part of his push to reopen the American economy.

“After that, hopefully, it will be back,” Trump said in his interview with NBC host Mike Tirico. “We really want to see it back to normal so when we have all these thousands, tens of thousands of people going to your majors and going to golf tournaments, we want them to be having that same experience. We don’t want them having to wear masks and be doing what we’ve been doing for the last number of months. Because that’s not getting back to normal.”

Will Gray also noted the President’s comments about slightly reduced numbers of fans at the Masters.

The appearance appeared to lose a lot of viewers based on the post-Trump slowdown in social activity.

As Jay Rigdon notes for Awful Announcing, with the appearance on top of a predictably painful Bill Murray segment on top of Trump’s chat, the combination stunted any momentum for the broadcast.

There was also some over-interpretation of Mike Tirico’s “kick-in” putt comment—I’m sensed some had not heard that phrase, a “tap in” alternative—rounded up here by Yahoo’s Jason Owens.