If you thought Disney’s feature film “The Greatest Game Ever Played” was all fiction, then you may be surprised to know that you can see Francis Ouimet’s golf clubs, golf ball, and scorecard used in his stunning victory at the 1913 U.S. Open June 3 when the USGA unveils the new Palmer Center in the totally renovated and expanded USGA museum on the grounds of USGA Headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey.
Under construction for nearly 3 years the new center updates what was the first museum in the U.S. dedicated entirely to a sport-- a venue older than even the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
The new museum houses over 40,000 artifacts and memorabilia, 500,000 photographic images, plus thousands of hours of historic film, video, and audio recordings. Together, the museum's collections present a comprehensive history of the game's development in the United States over the course of nearly 250 years.
Oimet’s treasures are among more than 2,000 golf artifacts that will be on public display, many for the first time. The centerpiece of the expanded museum is a gallery that celebrates the life and career of Arnold Palmer. The Palmer Room showcases more than 100 items from Palmer’s personal collection arranged as an exploration of his career both on and off the golf course.
At the center of the Palmer Room is a remarkable portrait created by James David Chase, and composed of more than 22,000 words to create an image of Palmer An interactive kiosk enables visitors to explore the portrait in detail.
For more information about the USGA and Opening Day events, click here.
(Ivan this links to USGA site. See MGL Homepage)
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Tiger and Lorena Keep Rolling
Just a month or two into the 2008 golf season and already Tiger Woods and Lorena Ochoa have demonstrated that their extraordinary performances from 2007 may have been nothing more than previews of coming attractions.
From his dramatic winning putt on the 72nd hole of the Arnold Palmer Invitational to Ochoa’s 11 shot runaway victory in Singapore and 7 shot win in Arizona in her first two Spring 2008 outings, these two phenomenon have created an excitement and heightened interest in the game of gold that has not been seen for two generations. For those of you who are not enough, that’s since Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer dueled what seemed every week over thirty years ago.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of how Tiger and Lorena perform so well week to week is their resilience in the face of the level of ‘noise’ around such athletes today. There is more media coverage and outlets, driven by more technology, plus longer tougher courses, and more tournaments, period.
Maintaining the level of play required to win so many times in any season, never mind in back-to-back seasons, makes their accomplishments all the more special. Add to this their personal schedules and endorsement commitments and the dominance factor becomes astounding. As enthusiasts for the sport, we get to watch, be entertained and enjoy. And, that’s special to.
From his dramatic winning putt on the 72nd hole of the Arnold Palmer Invitational to Ochoa’s 11 shot runaway victory in Singapore and 7 shot win in Arizona in her first two Spring 2008 outings, these two phenomenon have created an excitement and heightened interest in the game of gold that has not been seen for two generations. For those of you who are not enough, that’s since Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer dueled what seemed every week over thirty years ago.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of how Tiger and Lorena perform so well week to week is their resilience in the face of the level of ‘noise’ around such athletes today. There is more media coverage and outlets, driven by more technology, plus longer tougher courses, and more tournaments, period.
Maintaining the level of play required to win so many times in any season, never mind in back-to-back seasons, makes their accomplishments all the more special. Add to this their personal schedules and endorsement commitments and the dominance factor becomes astounding. As enthusiasts for the sport, we get to watch, be entertained and enjoy. And, that’s special to.
Friday, January 11, 2008
USGA issues new Rules of Golf changes
The USGA has published the first comprehensive changes to the Rules of Golf in 4 years. The changes to the Rules generally fall into two broad categories: “(1) those that improve the clarity of the Rules and (2) those that reduce the penalties in certain circumstances to ensure that they are proportionate…”
Most of the rules changes are minor word tweaks, but we found a few of them to be significant and address some common questions that players have while out on a course. Here are some examples:
A ball is deemed “lost’’ if:
“a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or
"b. The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place; or
"c. The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 27-1a); or
"d. The player has put another ball into play because it is known or virtually certain that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (see
Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule 26-1); or
"e. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.”
Here is another rule we've had a lot of discussion about on the course:
“If a ball lying in or on an obstruction or in an abnormal ground condition is accidentally moved during search, there is no penalty…”
“If a player has reason to believe a ball at rest is his and it is necessary to lift the ball in order to identify it, he may lift it. If the ball is the player’s ball and he lifts his ball in order to identify it when not necessary to do so, he incurs a penalty
of one stroke…”
And the many changes that have been made to equipment in the last 4 years are also dealt with in some of the Rule changes, including what a player may carry in his bag during tournament play, and identification requirements for new drivers. For example, a Tournament Committee “may require, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), that any driver the player carries must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, that is named on
the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA.”
The USGA, in conjunction with the R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Through an agreement with the R&A, the Rules jurisdiction of the USGA includes only the United States, its possessions and Mexico. The latest version went into effect Jan. 1, 2004, with the next revision taking effect Jan. 1, 2008.
For a complete look at the Rules changes, or to purchase a copy of the Rules, visit the USGA web site at:
http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/pdf/2008Principal_Changes.pdf
Most of the rules changes are minor word tweaks, but we found a few of them to be significant and address some common questions that players have while out on a course. Here are some examples:
A ball is deemed “lost’’ if:
“a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or
"b. The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place; or
"c. The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 27-1a); or
"d. The player has put another ball into play because it is known or virtually certain that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (see
Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule 26-1); or
"e. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.”
Here is another rule we've had a lot of discussion about on the course:
“If a ball lying in or on an obstruction or in an abnormal ground condition is accidentally moved during search, there is no penalty…”
“If a player has reason to believe a ball at rest is his and it is necessary to lift the ball in order to identify it, he may lift it. If the ball is the player’s ball and he lifts his ball in order to identify it when not necessary to do so, he incurs a penalty
of one stroke…”
And the many changes that have been made to equipment in the last 4 years are also dealt with in some of the Rule changes, including what a player may carry in his bag during tournament play, and identification requirements for new drivers. For example, a Tournament Committee “may require, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), that any driver the player carries must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, that is named on
the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the USGA.”
The USGA, in conjunction with the R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Through an agreement with the R&A, the Rules jurisdiction of the USGA includes only the United States, its possessions and Mexico. The latest version went into effect Jan. 1, 2004, with the next revision taking effect Jan. 1, 2008.
For a complete look at the Rules changes, or to purchase a copy of the Rules, visit the USGA web site at:
http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/pdf/2008Principal_Changes.pdf
Saturday, December 29, 2007
When & How To Use a 3-Wood
There was a short, but interesting article in this month's Golf Digest that may have gone unnoticed because of all the chatter around it (like the interview with Jack Nicholson). The article is a step-by-step instruction from Annika Sorenstam on how to use the 3-wood off the tee. The simplicity of her tips are great.
First, she says the reason you use a 3-wood off the tee is to keep the ball in the fairway when sand or water narrows the drive zone. The 3-wood is about control which, she says, you lose the moment you swing too hard thinking that you need to compensate for not using a driver.
Second, tee the ball like you do a driver, but play the ball an inch farther back than your drive stance. We all know football isn't the only game of inches.
Third, stay in balance by swinging at one speed...about a 6 out of 10 on the effort scale.
Thanks Annika.
First, she says the reason you use a 3-wood off the tee is to keep the ball in the fairway when sand or water narrows the drive zone. The 3-wood is about control which, she says, you lose the moment you swing too hard thinking that you need to compensate for not using a driver.
Second, tee the ball like you do a driver, but play the ball an inch farther back than your drive stance. We all know football isn't the only game of inches.
Third, stay in balance by swinging at one speed...about a 6 out of 10 on the effort scale.
Thanks Annika.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Do You Know The Rules For Using The New Adjustable Clubs?
If you are like me, you already have at least two adjustable clubs in your bag…anything to improve your game, right? Well, believe it or not, the USGA has rules on how to use them in a stipulated round of golf such as local tournaments.
First, you can only use adjustable clubs that require a specific hand tool like an Allen wrench to make an adjustment. So, if you are looking to buy a club and see one advertised that uses a hand adjustment control that ‘makes it easier,’ don’t buy it…you can’t use it legally.
Second, the adjustable parts must be fixed and not loose. But, if they come loose during your round you can re-tighten (not readjust them during the round) using the appropriate tool.
Third, you can’t change the playing characteristics of any club, so that it does something outside the manufacturer’s specifications. I haven’t seen any after-market appendages for a club lately, but they must be out there because the USGA has taken the time to include these restrictions in Rule 4-2A of its ‘Club and Ball Rules.’
The penalty for misusing an adjustable club is disqualification. So, be careful about how much you want to impress your friends with a new club during a tournament.
First, you can only use adjustable clubs that require a specific hand tool like an Allen wrench to make an adjustment. So, if you are looking to buy a club and see one advertised that uses a hand adjustment control that ‘makes it easier,’ don’t buy it…you can’t use it legally.
Second, the adjustable parts must be fixed and not loose. But, if they come loose during your round you can re-tighten (not readjust them during the round) using the appropriate tool.
Third, you can’t change the playing characteristics of any club, so that it does something outside the manufacturer’s specifications. I haven’t seen any after-market appendages for a club lately, but they must be out there because the USGA has taken the time to include these restrictions in Rule 4-2A of its ‘Club and Ball Rules.’
The penalty for misusing an adjustable club is disqualification. So, be careful about how much you want to impress your friends with a new club during a tournament.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Little Etiquette Helps Everyone Play Better
Now that golf has become a mass market sport (thanks to the popularity of Tiger Woods) people who are really not familiar with the game, or new to the game, are trying to rewrite the rules of etiquette. For example, how annoying is it to be watching a tournament live or televised and as Tiger or anyone hits a drive some yahoo in the gallery thinking that he is being cool, yells “Get in the hole!” Like that’s going to happen from 500 yards out, right.
Then you are playing on what you think is your home course, because you love playing it, and all of a sudden no one knows about allowing players to play through. I have had this experience three times this season. Most recently, I was playing a fine course and came across a “sixsome.” Is there such a thing? Broken rule number one. There were three adults and three kids. None of them were particularly good. They average 6 shots each on every hole. That meant my “twosome” had to wait for 36 shots for every hole. They never even pretended to let us play through. Broken rule number two. Finally, we gave up and walked across the fairway we were on and went to the next hole to tee off. This gentlemen’s’ sport that we have enjoyed for more than a century is getting dumbed down, fast.
How do you prevent that from happening? Well, first, course managers need to be much more diligent with players before and after they start play. There should be starters at every course who explain not just the local rules and conditions, but reinforce the speed of play requirements and not let “sixsomes” on the course in the first place. Most of these ‘new’ golfers never read scorecards closely enough to know how long they have to play each hole, or that they cannot not take an infinite number of shots each hole. They just don’t know the rules, or in some cases just don’t care.
Second, rangers need to work harder and be on the course consistently. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a ranger all this season. And, either the check-in staff or the ranger should ask each group what their level of play is, so that they know what they have out on the course to gauge their management of the speed of play. The irony is that the Rules of Golf (you can get a copy at www.usga.org) are unique among all sports because they are really set up to facilitate play and make it more enjoyable for everyone.
Finally, players should not be afraid to speak up, and let people know when they are violating the Rules, or it is obvious that they have no clue about traditional golf etiquette. If you don’t then the sport will change a lot…for the worse, and so will your game.
Then you are playing on what you think is your home course, because you love playing it, and all of a sudden no one knows about allowing players to play through. I have had this experience three times this season. Most recently, I was playing a fine course and came across a “sixsome.” Is there such a thing? Broken rule number one. There were three adults and three kids. None of them were particularly good. They average 6 shots each on every hole. That meant my “twosome” had to wait for 36 shots for every hole. They never even pretended to let us play through. Broken rule number two. Finally, we gave up and walked across the fairway we were on and went to the next hole to tee off. This gentlemen’s’ sport that we have enjoyed for more than a century is getting dumbed down, fast.
How do you prevent that from happening? Well, first, course managers need to be much more diligent with players before and after they start play. There should be starters at every course who explain not just the local rules and conditions, but reinforce the speed of play requirements and not let “sixsomes” on the course in the first place. Most of these ‘new’ golfers never read scorecards closely enough to know how long they have to play each hole, or that they cannot not take an infinite number of shots each hole. They just don’t know the rules, or in some cases just don’t care.
Second, rangers need to work harder and be on the course consistently. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a ranger all this season. And, either the check-in staff or the ranger should ask each group what their level of play is, so that they know what they have out on the course to gauge their management of the speed of play. The irony is that the Rules of Golf (you can get a copy at www.usga.org) are unique among all sports because they are really set up to facilitate play and make it more enjoyable for everyone.
Finally, players should not be afraid to speak up, and let people know when they are violating the Rules, or it is obvious that they have no clue about traditional golf etiquette. If you don’t then the sport will change a lot…for the worse, and so will your game.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Michelle vs. Jennifer and adolescence lost
Reading a recent article in Golf Digest about the obvious coming of age problems facing Michelle Wie reminded me of one August afternoon back in 1989 when I was sitting at my desk in a Los Angeles advertising agency and got a cold call from a talent agency pitch man who, knowing that we handled a good portion of the Nintendo business, launched into how Jennifer Capriati would be the perfect spokesperson for the tween gaming company.
At the time Capriati was the hottest thing to hit the women's tennis circuit. A phenom. The next Navratilova (who was still beating the bejesus out of everyone). The pitch guy was arrogant, rude and pushy, but trying to do his job I guess. Nevertheless, I ran the idea by the client when she got back from vacation (in the meantime this guy called me every day implying I was not doing my job because he hadn't heard back from me). Nintendo passed on the 'opportunity' because Jennifer had not won The Big One. We agreed that we wanted to see what her staying power was. Everyone including me thought they knew what Jennifer was, and should be. Except Jennifer.
That experience gave me a good dose of what the people are like who create the hype and 'handle' these kids and how they affect our perceptions and expectations. Not much later, Jennifer had a number of highly publicized problems that now seem to have been no more than her trying to prove her adolescence--an adolescence she may have still lost in order to overcome what she had done to live out her point. I remember that, once portraited as a human tennis action figure, all of the news photographs suddenly became as unflattering as they could be.
I think she just wanted to be a kid when everyone around her wanted her to be something different. She made it through, and has been a stalwart on the pro tour for more than a decade even if she may not have played to the expectations others set for her. I'd like to know more about that part of the story.
By all accounts the same thing is happening or about to happen with Michelle Wie. She attends Stanford University now. Yep, Tiger did, too. Must be the water. But, according to the Golf Digest story I read, this is a year Wie, her parents and handlers would probably like to forget. Her former coach Gary Gilchrist is quoted in the article, saying "She hasn't backed up the hype, and everything she does now produces negative commentary and negative energy."
So, what's her problem? Gilchrist thinks her parents may be a lot of it, "B.J. is the strategist and Bo is the perfectionist," Gilchrist is quoted as saying. "...They're arrogant, they stick to themselves, and they don't have many friends out there. A lot of people give them good advice, but they don't seem to listen."
At the time Capriati was the hottest thing to hit the women's tennis circuit. A phenom. The next Navratilova (who was still beating the bejesus out of everyone). The pitch guy was arrogant, rude and pushy, but trying to do his job I guess. Nevertheless, I ran the idea by the client when she got back from vacation (in the meantime this guy called me every day implying I was not doing my job because he hadn't heard back from me). Nintendo passed on the 'opportunity' because Jennifer had not won The Big One. We agreed that we wanted to see what her staying power was. Everyone including me thought they knew what Jennifer was, and should be. Except Jennifer.
That experience gave me a good dose of what the people are like who create the hype and 'handle' these kids and how they affect our perceptions and expectations. Not much later, Jennifer had a number of highly publicized problems that now seem to have been no more than her trying to prove her adolescence--an adolescence she may have still lost in order to overcome what she had done to live out her point. I remember that, once portraited as a human tennis action figure, all of the news photographs suddenly became as unflattering as they could be.
I think she just wanted to be a kid when everyone around her wanted her to be something different. She made it through, and has been a stalwart on the pro tour for more than a decade even if she may not have played to the expectations others set for her. I'd like to know more about that part of the story.
By all accounts the same thing is happening or about to happen with Michelle Wie. She attends Stanford University now. Yep, Tiger did, too. Must be the water. But, according to the Golf Digest story I read, this is a year Wie, her parents and handlers would probably like to forget. Her former coach Gary Gilchrist is quoted in the article, saying "She hasn't backed up the hype, and everything she does now produces negative commentary and negative energy."
So, what's her problem? Gilchrist thinks her parents may be a lot of it, "B.J. is the strategist and Bo is the perfectionist," Gilchrist is quoted as saying. "...They're arrogant, they stick to themselves, and they don't have many friends out there. A lot of people give them good advice, but they don't seem to listen."
Here is the kicker. What does Michelle really like to do? "I like to call back home, talk to my friends, and just listen to their troubles for once and just talk about silly stuff, be stupid and just be goofy and just not think about anything, just not have a care in the world...", she says in the article.
You only have to look at Michelle, Jennifer, Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton to wonder if the real problem here is just bad parenting. So, why critique and criticize everything an 18-year old does when all they'd rather do is talk to their friends on their cell phone, have fun and be adolescent?
I hope Michelle has the courage to assert and be herself. Her talent will take care of the rest. And, I wish Jennifer would talk to her.
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