Church To Take Over and Renovate World Golf Hall Of Fame's PGA Tour Superstore

You know the old saying, if you a PGA Tour Superstore can’t make it in the middle of the World Golf Village off 95…

Colleen Michele Jones reports on the Reverb Church’s purchase of the store adjacent to the World Golf Hall of Fame and expanded PGA Tour Entertainment campus, with plans to build a 32,000 square foot “worship and ministry” by year’s end.

The church’s fundraising campaign has reached $ 250,135 of a goal of $ 500,000 and with at least half of that in the bank, according to the Reverb website, it can begin its renovations to the church. resort’s former golf and pro store, including the addition of a 508-seat auditorium. . Additionally, the new facility will include a Reverb-branded café, a children’s worship theater, and a lobby gathering space for the congregation and community.

This isn’t the first time the church has tried to gain more permanent roots in the county, however. In 2018, Reverb took the first steps to secure a new facility in the Nocatee community.

“We do this by resonating the message of Jesus, making disciples and planting churches,” said Lamoureux. “Our new campus in Nocatee responds to Reverb Church’s long-standing vision of providing a place for families in Nocatee and Ponte Vedra to experience the life-changing gospel message, to grow in their faith and to see the families and children adore together in a vibrant and passionate environment.

You can view more images here of the planned renovation.

This news would not appear to be a good sign for the World Golf Hall of Fame’s future at that location. The cafe has already been shuttered and there have been few signs of recent investment in the Hall of Fame.

The 2022 HOF class will be inducted at the foot of Taj Tim, just up the road in Ponte Vedra.

Living Under Par Has Become Reality And Players Aren't Liking What They're Hearing

After losing a six-hole playoff, Bryson DeChambeau was on his way up the hill and presumably to a cold shower. ESPN.com’s Kevin Van Valkenburg explained what happened next:

A patron waited until DeChambeau had walked by, but was not out of earshot, then sneered from over the rope line, "Great job, Brooksie!" DeChambeau spun around in a rage and began briefly walking in his direction.

"You know what? Get the f--- out!" DeChambeau yelled. He had rage in his eyes.

But then, Van Valkenburg writes, crisis averted.

Thankfully, DeChambeau paused, angrily motioning for a police officer to handle the heckler, then continued his march up the hill. The entire exchange took less than 10 seconds. The PGA Tour declined comment when asked about the incident by ESPN. But we've been building to something like this all summer. And I don't know what the endgame is.

Oh I do!

We knew this day was coming when the PGA Tour went from These Guys Are Good to Live Under Par.

From a golf tour filled with supremely talented and generally good guys to being all about YOU! The fan.

The PGA Tour, ever desperate to lower the average viewer demographic from 65, became a wannabe lifestyle brand where you come, hold up your phones, get drunk and are as much a part of the action as the players.

In case you forgot since your bookmarks to LiveUnderPar.com no longer work, the rollout:

The slogan has been iced due to the pandemic and hopefully never returns. But the philosophy remains the same: do whatever we have to do to get younger, cooler, and less Villages-y and more TikToky.

Throw in once-secret incentive for players to make money for mentions—PIP!—and we get a little rivalry brewing that gives fans a side to take. Now, of course the ad geniuses and Commissioner Jay Monahan cannot be blamed for failing to anticipate fans returning from the pandemic with pent-up energy. But they still should have considered the ramifications of encouraging general obnoxiousness and making fans think they are as much a part of the product as players.

GolfChannel.com’s Brentley Romine talked to players about the DeChambeau heckling before the above incident was reported on by Van Valkenburg. The comments of Harry Higgs from Romine’s story were picked up by several outlets:

“I think it’s wildly inappropriate what goes on,” Higgs told GolfChannel.com on Saturday. “The he and Brooks thing, I don’t really understand it … and neither one of them has acted as they should at times, but you know, no one’s perfect, either. I watched Memphis and it affected Harris, it affected Bryson, and I don’t understand why someone who buys a ticket to an event thinks that they get to have a hand in how it plays out, and there’s starting to be a few too many people who are doing that, and then a lot of those people are following Bryson.

“It’s not in the spirit of the game, it’s not how any of us grew up, it’s not how any of us were ever told to act while at a golf course or competing.”

Except, it was the PGA Tour that told a lot of people to make noise. Live under par. They built an entire image around a campaign inspiring people to act loud and proud. Good luck reeling them in.

Ryder Cup: Teams Take Shape

I watched the BMW Championship with a keen eye on the Ryder Cup race. I’m hear to report: it’s amazing what a week can do.

Because it sure seems both Captain’s are down to one tough decision based on points races, recent play and recent Tweets about driver shafts.

I cover all of that in today’s Quadrilateral for all to read, though only paid subscribers get to make their nominations for those last picks.

Phil Worried About Losing An Inch-And-A-Half Off His (Driver) Shaft

It’s unclear what set off Phil Mickelson but presumably he’s been informed of possible rule changes involving the length of drivers. And he’s not happy with what he’s hearing:

Word is USGA is soon rolling back driver length to 46inches.This is PATHETIC.1st it promotes a shorter more violent swing (injury prone,) doesn’t allow for length of arc to create speed,and during our 1st golf boom in 40 years,our amateur gov body keeps trying to make it less fun

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 27, 2021

I’m not sure this is the vindication he was looking for, but Mickelson received this endorsement from Keegan Bradley:

They have no idea what they’re doing. Sad to watch. https://t.co/UOpQc6EG3V

— Keegan Bradley (@Keegan_Bradley) August 27, 2021

Sad to watch is correct.

Sad that at a time golf is thriving without any sign that an improvement in technology can be attributed to the growth, at a time players are posting absurd scores at the BMW, at a time Mickelson is struggling to make a Ryder Cup team in the year he won the PGA, and at a time his preferred manufacturer’s stock length is under than the possible length in question, thus dispelling the whole injury arguments, this was not his best-timed attack of the USGA.

But there is a positive! Check out the replies and how many people are pushing back at the idea of “hitting bombs” as the soul of the game. Oh there are still plenty of tools looking for his attention and clueless about the topic, but far fewer than we might have seen a few years ago.

The USGA has not commented.

If you need more context on Mickelson’s driver length concerns dating to last fall, Kyle Porter has a summary here.

Video: Craig Stadler Aces 169-Yard Par-3 With A Driver

If you wondered what’s become of former Masters champion Craig Stadler, rule out Pilates instructor or working daily to live a gluten-free life.

But based on this video, one of the most gifted ballstrikers of his era still has it, carving a driver into this par-3 for a great cause. Enjoy!

You gotta love @TheMasters Champion Craig Stadler making an ACE from 169 yards with a driver during @OfficialMauiJim event for #childrenshomeofpeoria@TheWarriorsJrny @AminoVITALGolf @Titleist #countryclubofpeoria pic.twitter.com/u9YCRv6RcR

— Dan (@danboever) August 26, 2021

Nicklaus: “I never got any blowback, and I’m sure I had a ton of it"

If you’ve read any replies to a Jack Nicklaus social media post since his endorsement of Donald Trump and predictions of a “socialist America”, the tone of that endorsement continues to fill up his timeline nine months later.

Well if you wondered if his righthand man Scott Tolley ever is asked to read his “replies”, the answer is a big no.

From Leonard Shapiro writing for the Washington Post on various Nicklaus-related topics, starting with the feedback he’s not gotten.

“This is not a personality contest; it’s about patriotism,” Nicklaus tweeted. “His love for America and its citizens, and putting his country first, has come through loud and clear.

Nicklaus said Monday he paid no attention to the torrent of criticism that followed.

“I never got any blowback, and I’m sure I had a ton of it,” he said. “But I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I didn’t see any of it.”

Nicklaus said he wrote the tweet after Vice President Mike Pence called him shortly before the election and said Trump thought it would be too awkward to personally ask Nicklaus himself.

Ahhhh, such a modest man is The Donald!

Nicklaus also made clear the endorsement was a thank you for a bill provision.

Nicklaus said Trump and Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff, had helped get a provision included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the Cares Act) that provided funds for free-standing children’s hospitals that initially were not included in the bill.

“He went to bat for us,” said Nicklaus, whose foundation has raised close to $200 million for children’s facilities since 2004. “There were 28 free-standing children’s hospitals, and they got $50 million apiece. They were losing money during covid, and it really helped. … I couldn’t help but support the guy.”

Unfortunately, those hospitals became busy places over the last month.

Quick Curtis Cup Primer (Now That It's Started)

I’m a little embarrassed to have forgotten the Curtis Cup is a three-day affair and therefore is well underway at Conwy Golf Club in Wales.

I also know little about the course but this slideshow reveals a very enjoyable and scenic links worth taking this opportunity to scout out.

The lead cart drivers are Sarah Ingram for the U.S. and Elaine Ratcliffe for GB&I. The format:

Thursday, Aug. 26
7:45 a.m. - 8:09 a.m. – Foursomes (three matches)
1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Four-Ball (three matches)

Friday, Aug. 27
7:45 a.m. - 8:09 a.m. – Foursomes (three matches)
1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Four-Ball (three matches)

Saturday, Aug. 28
10 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. – Singles (eight matches)
The Closing Ceremony will immediately follow play

The GB&I team roster.

Team USA.

Live scoring can be viewed here.

I also can’t get the image of a toilet out of my head after someone asked if the logo resembles one:

If you want to continue the links season a little longer and live in the U.S., here are the telecast times:

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, August 26th, 2021

No shortage of major news to cover in this week’s Quadrilateral notes edition, starting with the latest Ryder Cup quotes and potential blame game (hint: 46).

Plus a new look at Augusta's new 11th hole, Women's Open ratings, R&A policy change and the Green Jacket maker is remembered.

Rory On Jaded Fatigue, 7:20 Pro-Am Times And Hurling Drivers Onto The New Jersey Turnpike

It’s an honor and a blessing to have Rory McIlroy in the $9.5 million BMW Championship interview room today, so here’s a softball you can out of Camden Yards: charm us laddie. Regale us with whatever’s on your mind Vice Commissioner, we’re here to fawn. An update on the green reading book ban would be awesome too.

Anyway, go on Prince of Golfpass:

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I think I feel like a lot of guys feel right now, a little jaded, a little tired. End of the season, there's been a lot of golf. Yeah, so a lot of travel.

So yeah, I'm just sort of getting through it, to be honest. I'm going day by day and just trying to get through it as best I can and try to make it to next week. After that, two weeks off before the Ryder Cup.

Yeah, just taking it day by day. The game feels pretty good, okay. Energy levels are somewhat sort of trying to dig deep at this point, but yeah, try and keep going and try and put in a good finish this week to make sure I'm in Atlanta next week.

Almost saved it, almost!

It’s not often the Tour comes to Baltimore so charm the local scribes with a fun anecdote or two.

Q. Just wondering your impressions of Baltimore in general. Not sure if you've been able to see much of the town or where you're staying, but curious what your thoughts are there.

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I saw the airport for about 10 minutes yesterday and then I drove straight here and I'm staying on property, so I don't -- I can't really give you much of an answer on that one.

I can tell you that Caves Valley is beautiful and where we are this week, but haven't -- I've never been to Baltimore before, and I haven't made it downtown yet this week. Hopefully at some point I will.

Uh no that’s not happening.

Q. When it comes to late summer, kind of dog days like you were talking about, what is the most tiring or monotonous part of the week-to-week preparation?

What makes your life so, so, sooooooo hard?

RORY MCILROY: I don't know. I think just the -- I mean, this morning, I was tired. Look, we all had a long week last week, as well, but even just summoning up the effort to get out of bed and go get to your 7:20 pro-am tee time, it look a little more effort today than it usually does.

But yeah, just everything. It's a lot of golf. It's hard to feel fresh at this time in the season. It all just sort of catches up with you. I don't know if I could pinpoint one particular thing. It's just sort of everything blended together.

I can pinpoint! I can pinpoint!

Too many events in a short time spread across the globe.

If only you knew people in a position to address this!

Q. Is there one particular thing you're looking forward to once you do get a break?

Emergency Policy Board conference calls to fend off the Saudis?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I mean, just not traveling for a little bit. I'm going to take a bit of time off after the Ryder Cup, and that'll be nice.

It's been a -- since we came back after the sort of COVID halt, I guess, when we came back in Colonial last year, I think this is my 33rd event since then. Next week will be 34 and then Ryder Cup 35. So all that in a space of 15 months, it's a lot of golf. It's probably too much for me. I've played more than I probably should have and feel like it's just sort of all caught up with me.

Who could have seen this coming!

Q. You were on the range for like ages yesterday working really hard.

Like ages?

Just curious what those practice sessions look like and what you're working on.

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, so I needed to try to get into a new 3-wood and into a new driver. I threw my 3-wood onto the New Jersey Turnpike off the 9th hole yesterday, or on Monday, and so I was without a 3-wood coming here.

The driver I just felt was spinning a little too much last week, so I just needed to get into something that wasn't spinning as much, and that was really it. So going through a bunch of different heads and shafts as you saw yesterday, and feel like I landed on a good driver and got a pretty good 3-wood, too.

That was the purpose of yesterday's range session.

Confirmation of crankiness! But the FedEx checks do clear so…

Q. You said the 3-wood went where exactly, on the New Jersey turnpike?

RORY MCILROY: I mightn't have reached the road but I threw it into the trees off the 9th tee at Liberty National, so if someone wants to go get a 3-wood, there's one in there somewhere.

But the session ends on a good note: he’s thought beyond the playoffs and even though the European Tour’s BMW PGA is not on his schedule now, McIlroy is going to be ready for the Ryder Cup. You know, stuff that really matters to him…

Q. Just talking about kind of the energy deficit you feel right now, it occurs to me that you learned at Hazeltine and I guess all the way back at Medinah that playing a Ryder Cup in America takes a ton of energy, and it can be incredibly taxing. Is that of concern to you at all?

RORY MCILROY: No, I think having two weeks off after the TOUR Championship is going to be nice. Like I sort of was planning to go over to Wentworth to play the BMW, but it's just too much travel, and with what's coming up with Ryder Cup -- yeah, that's a long week, no matter if you're in Europe or the States, especially I haven't missed a session yet. So say I play five sessions again, yeah, it's a really long week. So the two weeks off after the TOUR Championship are going to be well needed, and I'll go in there nice and refreshed and ready to give it my all.

Mahomes: “Golf has become a huge part of everything"

I didn’t realize just how much Patrick Mahomes loves his golf. But after reading Dylan Dethier’s profile of the NFL’s best player I’m pretty sure he’s addicted and yet another top athlete who appreciates the game.

This was fun:

He has been to Bandon Dunes twice; his only regret that those trips came before the official opening of the resort’s fifth course, the Sheep Ranch. “I’ve heard good things,” he says knowingly.

Walking Bandon’s four courses in two days specifically convinced him that golfers are, in fact, athletes. “A few days later I saw Brooks Koepka at the ESPYs,” he recalls. “I was like, ‘Damn, I’m sore, man.’ ” The comment made Koepka’s day.

When he’s not checking off bucket-list destinations, Mahomes calls three courses home: Loch Lloyd and Wolf Creek in Kansas City and Vaquero Golf Club near his home just northwest of Dallas. During the off-season, Mahomes starts his workouts between 6 and 7 a.m. He’s done with throwing exercises by 11. “I realized I needed something,” he says. “Now, whatever time my buddies get off work, between 2 and 4, we can get an afternoon round in.”

Sam Harrop's "The Day That Tony Finau Won Again"

Sam Harrop took to the piano after Tony Finau’s second PGA Tour win. This time, Harrop’s channeling some REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling to seranade Finau.

Harrop said when he originally released "When Will Tony Finau Win Again", Tony “requested a remix when his next win came.” Wasting no time and on point again…

Bryson To Take His Shot At Long Drive

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Bryson DeChambeau announced he’s been invited to participate in the event formerly known as “World Long Drive” the week after this year’s Ryder Cup.

You have to admire the willingness to take a shot, though sadly it comes after Golf Channel attempted to sell the property before mothballing it last year.

Perhaps Bryson’s presence will create a new TV or streaming opportunity?

The current rightsholders explain the new approach to “Long Drive” and while it will not be a “world” event this year, they are forging ahead.

Quadrilateral: As The Ryder Cup Turns

The Golf Gods giveth and taketh, depending on your perspective: Team USA locks in Tony Finau after his big Northern Trust win over a great leaderboard, while Patrick Reed is hospitalized with pneumonia, all but ruling out his Ryder Cup return.

In the latest Quadrilateral for my generous paid subscribers, I consider this news plus the likely team make up and the ramifications of Reed’s non-COVID bout with the pneumonia most commonly associated with COVID-19.

If you weren’t up on the Reed news, here is Cameron Morfit’s story with a statement from Reed letting us know his ankle is better. So he’s got that but pneumonia is serious business.

Todd Lewis was first to report the news of Reed’s illness and hospitalization since Friday, August 20th.

Carnasty, It Was Not: Nordqvist Wins Women’s Open

My Quadrilateral wrap of the 2021 AIG Women’s Open from Carnoustie.

Mother Nature did not deliver but the course still produced an interesting finish and worthy champion in Anna Nordqvist.

Granted, it was hard to tell from a listless NBC broadcast interrupted at all the wrong moments by breaks (where have we heard that before?). That plus other elements from Sunday’s final round are noted in the latest installment.

Boeing Classic: Pampling Wins First Champions Title, Earns Really Oversized Bomber Jacket

Forget a navy blazer with captain’s wings, Boeing went with a bomber’s jacket cut for a very large-sized man. Rod Pampling pulled it off despite the sizeable cut.

Points for the concept, maybe not so many for the execution. Unless Rod wants to turn it into a leather lounge chair to commemorate his first PGA Tour Champions win:

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