When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Finally: Amateur Golfers Can Cash In On NIL! Just Don't Charge For A Lesson
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It was a brief but glorious time in which college golfers could cash in on their name, image, likeness and really good golfing ability—as long as they didn’t give a less or accept cash prizes over $750. And now it’s over, as all amateur golfers of all ages can cash in on endorsements, assuming such deals are not in conflict with their league eligibility. See your local compliance officer for more details.
Below is the press release. You’re better off going to one of these links:
Guidance Notes (scroll a lot to get to the above embedded portion on how to go full logoclad).
Glorious infographics for those golfers who like pretty pictures instead of that pesky fine print.
For Immediate Release:
Golf's Modernized Rules of Amateur Status Published
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. USA AND ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Oct. 26, 2021) - Golf’s new Rules of Amateur Status have been published by the USGA and The R&A ahead of their January 1, 2022, effective date.
The work is the latest step by the governing bodies to make the Rules easier to understand and apply and follows the modernization process of the Rules of Golf in 2019. The new Rules were informed by golfer and golf industry feedback as a part of a comprehensive review, to ensure they continue to reflect how the modern game is played by millions of golfers around the world.
This review, along with the global feedback received when the proposals were publicly shared earlier this year, reaffirmed amateur golf’s important position in the game and the value in maintaining amateur status Rules.
The result is a set of Rules that removes many of the restrictions that previously applied to amateur golfers, while ensuring that the integrity of the game is protected by limiting the form and value of the prizes an amateur golfer can accept.
As part of the modernization effort, the new Rules identify only the following acts that will result in a golfer losing their amateur status:
Accepting a prize with a value exceeding the prize limit ($1000/£700) or accepting prize money in a handicap competition.
Playing as a professional.
Accepting payment for giving instruction (although all current exceptions still apply, such as coaching at educational institutions and assisting with approved programs).
Accepting employment as a golf club professional or membership of an association of professional golfers
To achieve this simplified approach, the following key changes have been introduced:
Distinguishing between scratch and handicap competitions in terms of the prizes that may be accepted.
The prize rule applies only to tee-to-hole competitions played on a golf course or a simulator, but no longer apply to long-drive, putting and skills competitions that are not played as part of a tee-to-hole competition.
Eliminating all advertising, expense-related and sponsorship restrictions.
The new opportunities provided by lifting sponsorship restrictions and the ability to accept prize money up to the increased limit of $1000 or £700 in scratch-only competitions will be of significant benefit to elite amateur golfers looking for ways to fund golf-related expenses.
“Golf is unique in its broad appeal to both recreational and competitive players,” said Craig Winter, USGA senior director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status. “This was emphasized in the feedback we received earlier this year and we believe these updates will help simplify these Rules and ensure the long-term health of the amateur game, not only to those who compete at the highest level of amateur golf, but for the millions of golfers at every age and skill level who enjoy competitive events at their home courses.”
Grant Moir, Director of Rules at The R&A, said, “We are delighted to be rolling out the modernized Rules of Amateur Status today. These Rules play an important role in protecting the integrity of our self-regulating sport, but the code must evolve to meet the needs of the modern game. This is particularly important for modern elite amateur golf, where many of the players need financial support to compete and develop to their full potential. The new Rules give them this opportunity and will help to make the game even more inclusive.”
The new Rules are accompanied by guidance notes, an overview document and explanations that detail the rationale for why changes have been made and, in some instances, why they have stayed the same.
These materials can be found at www.usga.org/amateurstatus
"Pro golf is approaching its own mental health reckoning"
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There’s a lot to take in via Daniel Rapaport’s GolfDigest.com story on pro golf “approaching a mental health reckoning”, including some frank disclosures from players and predictions of mental health becoming a big topic in years to come.
But this stood out from Dr. Michael Lardon, a clinical psychiatrist “who has worked with Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Will Zalatoris and dozens of other tour professionals.”
Rapaport writes:
But meditating and blocking Twitter only go so far if there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. A growing number of tour players are seeking professional help not only from the types of sports psychologists that have hung around the tour for decades, but from medical doctors like Dr. Lardon, who can diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe medication to treat them.
“There’s a number on the men’s tour that I help,” says Dr. Lardon, “but we never talk about it. There are some super-high-profile golfers, and ones in the past, that are on medication. And what does the media say? They say what the player’s PR person or agent says. I hurt my back. I got dizzy. I wish more would come out and just be honest about what’s happening, but it’s not my place.”
Of course it’s understandable he wants to normalize the disclosure of mental health issues to help the greater good, but it’s ridiculous to expect media to draw this out of players. It has to come from them.
Is Greg Norman Going To Be Golf (Saudi's) Commissioner?
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Golf Digest Australia’s Brad Clifton is very excited about the rumored prospects of Greg Norman leading Golf Saudi’s theft of the Premier Golf League concept. That’s right, rumors are flying that the Shirtless Shark will be the, gulp, Commissioner of this new team venture taking aim at the PGA Tour.
Clifton writes:
One thing that is certain is the global outreach for such a platform will be equally as significant, if not more.
If the latest Norman rumours are indeed true, it’s the best news golf has received in a long time.
Has there been a more influential innovator in the world of golf over the past 40 years? It’s why ‘The Shark’ is the perfect person to help modernise the game at a time when the PGA Tour hasn’t exactly ticked all the boxes in its efforts to deliver a compelling product and give global golf and sport fans what they really want – the world’s best players competing against each other on a regular basis outside of the Majors and, crucially, outside of the United States.
Would this be a bad time to bring up the Shark Experience? You may recall the Shark’s epic tease a few years back:
“In the middle second quarter of next year, I’ll invite you guys down to my office,” he said. “We will tell you exactly how we’re going to break this cast iron that’s been wrapped around golf for so long. We’re going to shatter it. The institutions (USGA, R&A, PGA of America, PGA Tour) will eventually buy into it because they will have to buy into it. They won’t have a choice.”
Turns out, it was a golf cart that plays music.
Now Norman has apparently turned his focus to helping Golf Saudi in a grander fashion than his initial grifts of some course design work and appearances at their grow-the-game summits.
According to this story in Golf Digest Middle East—oh yes that’s not fiction—Norman has lauded the Saudis as “truly at the forefront” of grassroots development. Guess they liked the Shark Experience!
Time will tell what the Shirtless one’s role will be in the disruptor golf league, if and when it launches.
Meanwhile, more disturbing allegations regarding the Crown Prince were aired on 60 Minutes Sunday. Saad Aljabri, former number two in Saudi intelligence, says Mohammed bin Salman forced him out and is in exile, fearing for his life because he knows too much. Nice people.
21,281 Counterfeit Clubs Seized In China Raids, Integrity Of The Game Threatened?
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Here is David Dusek’s Golfweek report on counterfeit clubs seized in six-raids last month and how consumers can spot the hot stuff.
This seems a tad dramatic though:
“As golf continues to grow in popularity, counterfeiters are taking drastic measures to deceive the public and threaten the integrity of the game,” said Daryl Rocco, Senior Paralegal for Callaway, in a release.
Integrity of the game?
“What’s it going to be like when there is sports live betting everywhere?”
/On the latest Subpar podcast, Brian Zeigler talked about picking up Bryson DeChambeau’s bag this summer and what it was like when his man was subjected to crowd harassment.
This, as noted by Jessica Marksbury at Golf.com, highlights what they saw as the real issue. The shouts of Brooksy were not top of mind.
DeChambeau ultimately lost to Cantlay in a six-hole playoff at the BMW. The PGA Tour later announced that disruptive fans would be removed from tournament grounds going forward, a development that Zeigler said was necessary — especially with the advent of live betting coming to golf.
“What’s it going to be like when there is sports live betting everywhere?” Zeigler asked. “[DeChambeau] had a lot of that running through his mind, and that bothered him more than almost some drunk fan screaming Brooksy.”
"It’s not every day professional golfers play courses the equal of these four Melbourne classics."
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In this Golf Australia story, Mike Clayton explains how the Sandbelt Invitational came together and the thinking he and Geoff Ogilvy have for the four-course event to include pros and amateurs just before Christmas. It’s a continuation of the Australian traditions of mentoring players.
Geoff started his foundation with the simple aim of older players mentoring and playing with the younger ones and during the year we played at least a dozen single day events which came to be known as ‘The Game’. It put the best men and women together in a competitive environment for a whole lot of players who usually would have been travelling the world honing their games.
It’s the traditional way Australia has developed players going all the way back to Norman Von Nida helping a young Peter Thomson on his way in Britain. Thomson in turn advised generations of players including Graham Marsh, Stewart Ginn and Ian Baker-Finch.
This is not a tournament reliant on who is playing or how much money is in the purse. Rather it’s a tournament played on four amazing courses with players happy to be playing in front of crowds appreciative of good, competitive golf.
Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, October 21, 2021
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Today I’m wrapping up the 46-inch local rule ramifications with a succinct statement about what went down and what’s next. Plus, an array of venue news and notes, a new golf film about the 1976 Open's rogue qualifier, another post-op Augusta aerial, Reads and a couple of podcasts to put in the queue.
Here’s more on The Quadrilateral, though as the year ends I’ll be updating the explanatory site in anticipation of evolving the newsletter in 2022. The current price you pay is the one you keep so if you’re tempted this is the time to sign up.
Rory's CJ Cup Win Draws A Small And Annoyed Audience
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The fall wraparound schedule’s dismal ratings were predicted from the outset and remain awful even after the addition of FedExCup points. As if anyone besides family and friends care. Even that is debatable.
The tiny audiences are even manageable if sponsors are willing to pay millions for the privilege of a pro-am round or in the case of the CJ Cup in normal times, bringing the PGA Tour to Korea. But with all sports returning to normal and golf having given viewers more than enough “product” over the last 18 months, something extraordinary must happen to draw a decent audience when going against college football, the NFL, MLB playoffs, WNBA playoffs, NHL and Premier League soccer.
Theoretically, such a rare event occurred at the CJ Cup, where Rickie Fowler led through 54-holes in his quest to win again after a quiet two years. Add Rory McIlroy and reigning Open Champion Collin Morikawa into the mix of pursuers, and this one had something.
But as we now know, the Champions Tour ran 39 minutes late and without a reliable online feed or PGA Tour Live Featured Group coverage, momentum stalled and the day will remembered more for the struggle to actually see any of these young stars play golf.
As Showbuzzdaily.com notes, golf was again at the bottom of the weekend sports ratings by a lot, with the Champions not making the list of discernable audiences. The CJ Cup, with its 5 pm ET scheduled start, at least drew an average audience of 648,000, with just 92,000 of those in the coveted demo.
That was good enough, however, to beat out the 9:05 ET Air Force-Boise State game for non-cataracts-dotted eyeballs.
The 2020 CJ Cup was also played in Las Vegas and drew a 589,000/105,000 for a .36). The Champions also drew ratings last year, unlike 2021.
There is happy ending: executives at the PGA Tour and Golf Channel have reached out to fans, media and sponsors to ensure this scheduling fiasco does not happen again. After all, mistakes do happen who knew the Champions would take that long and…wait, wrong people. My bad. They haven’t said a peep.
Wouldn’t you love to make six or seven figures and not give a hoot about the product you sell or the customers you want to reach?
The Sandbelt Invitational Steps In After Australian Open Cancellations
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Royal Melbourne
Exciting news from Down Under: Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton are teaming up to create The Sandbelt Invitational just before Christmas, December 20-23, 2021. The four course event will feature Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Yarra Yarra and Peninsula Kingswood with men and women, pros and amateurs.
As the feature below lays out, the event has been created to give Australian pros an opportunity to compete after losing this year’s Australian Opens.
My favorite part in this clip? Seeing “Tournament Director” under Mike Clayton’s name!
Satellite Images Of Trump Aberdeen Show Dramatic Changes To Dunes System
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Business Insider’s Thomas Colson looks at Maxar aerials from 2010 and 2021 to spot changes in the dunes system. At the time Donald Trump vowed stabilize the dunes system but scientists now say they’ve been damaged by the introduction of golf:
Despite warnings in 2008 that the construction of an 18-hole course would destroy the sand dunes around it, Trump had pressed ahead, saying: "We will stabilize the dunes. They will be there forever. This will be environmentally better after it [the course] is built than it is before."
But as conservationists predicted, the part of the highly sensitive ecosystem on which Trump International Golf Links was built was largely ruined. Officials announced in December 2020 that the coastal sand dunes Trump's the resort would lose their status as a protected environmental site because they had been partially destroyed.
The New Look Of Amateur Status: Stanford Golfer Announces Agent For NIL Deals
/With name, image and likeness opportunities now available to college golfers, it’s not a surprise to see golfers landing agents or deals.
The first I’ve seen to go public in announcing an agent signing: Stanford’s Rachel Heck, class of 2024 and joining the Excel stable of golf clients that includes Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Gary Woodland. Heck notes her agent contact bio in her Twitter bio as any good NIL pursuer would, but it’s still surreal to see amateur golfers open for business for any number of reasons. Starting with the inconsistency of non-collegiate elite amateur golfers not able to similarly benefit, merely because they do not go to an NCAA institution.
Meanwhile, Heck has competition on the already loaded Stanford women’s team. Freshman Rose Zhang has won the individual title in her first three starts, reports Ryan Herrington, who shares some wild stats from Zhang’s blazing start.
European Tour: The Fastest Hole of Golf, 2021 Guinness World Record Try
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With 27.88 seconds to beat, Sean Crocker, Nicolai Højgaard, Wilco Nienaber and Min Woo Lee were challenged to break the Guinness World Record for the Fastest hole of golf by a team of four. In a European Tour production. On Earth. As with the last effort, some fun moments and creative production values. And no chance the PGA Tour’s finest would do this!
Rory Wins His 20th PGA Tour Title And Viewers Even Got To See Some Of It!
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The CJ Cup relocated to a Fazio built near where Blue Origin lands rockets and despite The Summit offering up his usual insipid design, somehow attracted a stellar leaderboard.
Rickie Fowler wanted back in the winner’s circle but Colin Morikawa and then eventual winner Rory McIlroy passed him down the stretch for his 20th PGA Tour win. And we barely got to see it. At least, by modern golf TV standards.
A predictable confluence of issues arose to deprive American fans of seeing the leaders until their 9th hole when the action started to dull. The PGA Tour Champions’ SAS Championship ran long and then into a sudden death playoff. This cut the first 15 minutes out of the CJ Cup’s three-hour allotted window before Golf Channel tried a split screen that didn’t soothe angry viewers who’d already missed most of the front nine. Soon, the Champions took priority with Bernhard Langer taking his sweet time and Miguel Angel Jimenez trying to pass Lee Janzen. Eventually, the playoff ended, Janzen gave an emotional interview following a winning birdie putt, and those all-important Schwab Cup standings were shown.
The coverage ran 39 minutes late.
What went wrong?
The first groups of the SAS Championship did not tee off until 9:45 am ET, with the leaders going at 11:55 a.m. ET. Apparently the geezers needed their beauty rest?
Also, the Champions played in threesomes. Breaking five hours is out of the question on any tour playing threesomes, meaning the leaders were bound to finish at the CJ Cup’s 5 p.m. ET start. To account for the withering Schwab Cup race pressure and the possibility of a playoff, the Champions should have teed off a least 45 minutes earlier.
Making all of this worse: the Golf Channel app did not work for those attempting to stream the CJ Cup and there is no PGA Tour Live coverage option to run a stream of the coverage. The Comcast-ravaged operation appears to be running out the clock until a new media deal starts in January 2022, one where the PGA Tour takes more control (though they already have a foot in the door when it comes to programming and scheduling, so this weekend’s fiasco is largely a Global Home-based screw-up).
Perhaps in the future the Tour will find a place for this coverage or use other networks when increasingly longer rounds are running into each other? Of course, NBC is also folding their namesake sports channel soon, so that’s one less option. If they care, a major question at this point.
Ultimately this was just bizarre combo platter of bad scheduling, bad tee time math, slow play, a playoff and the leadership worrying about everything but putting out a good product. And boy did they hear about it.
I’ve seen my share of viewer-rage slaughters on social media, and even with most sports fans watching other things Sunday, there was understandable interest in this leaderboard. The rage was intense. But fans need to get used to this. Play not getting any faster as every par-5 is reachable and no one is forced to rush. Coupled with a host network that is just trying to get something on the air and a Tour focused on everything but the way its product looks, this is bound to happen again.
More of the feedback to a pinned PGA Tour Tweet announcing the Sunday start time:
