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Instruction
Manny Zerman, formerly a top-ranked junior player and a four-time All-American at the University of Arizona, establishes a golf school at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Fla. Zerman will also serve as Director of Instruction.
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Colleges
The 10 finalists for the Ben Hogan Award have been named by the Friends of Golf and Colonial Country Club, in association with the Golf Coaches Association of America. The Ben Hogan Award will be presented to the outstanding male college golfer of the past year on May 13.
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Tournaments
The South Florida Golf Foundation, which organizes and oversees The Genuity Championship, formally initiates a search for a new title sponsor to replace Genuity Inc.
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The Michigan State Golf Championship, set for Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich., Sept. 14-15, will serve as a qualifier for the American Cancer Society's National Golf Championship, Oct. 25-26 at PGA National Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
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The American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, to be played July 15-21 at Edgewood Tahoe, announces that actors Matthew McConaughey, Thomas Gibson of "Dharma and Gregg," Robert Wuhl of "Arliss," tennis legend Jimmy Connors and Chris Webber of the Sacramento Kings have committed to play.
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Equipment
Strategic Shaft Technologies enters into a licensing agreement with NEXT Technology Golf that allows NEXT to SST PURE the shaft of every new NEXT Magnetix 360 driver. NEXT is the first equipment manufacturer to license the SST PURE technology for use across an entire line of clubs.
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Events
GolfSurfin.com announces its first annual Golf Career Fair. The Fair is a month-long event beginning May 1 that allows all North American employers to post their golf-related employment opportunities.
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Players
Lorie Kane, who set a career high in earnings last year with her fourth place finish on the LPGA Tour money list, will play in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez. The tournament is set for April 29-May 5 at Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Ga.
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Media
A Golf Channel production technique debuts on the LPGA Tour this week when network producers will fit a heart-rate monitor to players during competition at the Longs Drugs Challenge in Lincoln, Calif.
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The Weather Channel promotes its Web site's golf section, www.weather.com/golf, which allows golfers to locate courses and weather in their area or favorite vacation spots.
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Business
Meadowbrook Golf, Inc., a Florida-based, full-service golf management and development company, announces the signing of a three-year contract recognizing the Coca-Cola Company as its exclusive fountain beverage provider at 106 of its owned, managed and leased clubs.
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Courses
Billy Casper Golf announces that BCG-managed Stoneleigh Golf Club in Loudoun County, Va., has completed the $1 million capital-enhancement program begun last fall.
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Associations
International Club Suppliers joins the National Golf Course Owners Association preferred suppliers. ICS is the exclusive sales and marketing company for entegra Procurement Services, a division of Sodexho USA and will offer NGCOA members access to a $2.2 billion food purchasing organization.
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Tours
The United America Senior Tour opens its South Carolina spring segment Wednesday in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Tour will remain in the Carolinas until mid-June before returning to Florida for an eight-week summer series.
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Correction
Callaway Golf Company will release its 2002 first quarter results at 2 p.m. PDT Thursday, April 18, not 2 p.m. EDT as reported in Tuesday's issue of The Wire.
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Commentary
Masters Impressions

Editor's note: Last week, John Albers, 25, a frequent contributor to the Golf Press Association, attended his first Masters. Albers took in the sights, sounds and sentiment that was all around Augusta National and filed this report.

Last week's Masters was the first that I have witnessed in person -- the practice round I attended as a wide-eyed 12-year-old does not count -- and it was an experience not soon to be forgotten. Despite the mud-ruined shoes, sunburn and frustrating lack of second nine excitement on Sunday, everything about the weekend was virtually perfect. And that, this Masters neophyte found, is the definition of the Masters.

Everything is so pristine and perfect at Augusta National -- the clubhouse, the cabins, the fairways, the greens ... heck, even the green sandwich wrappers -- that spectators genuinely appreciate being inside the club's gates. The vast majority of patrons, as they are called, exhibit fine etiquette and knowledge of the game during play. Amid the masses, one could hear a pin drop when any of the players stood over a putt or a tee shot last weekend -- with the only possible exception being the sucking sound of mud grabbing at heels as folks strained to watch the action.

For me, the only aspect of the experience that rivaled the play was that of the physical grounds. Perfect green grass grows right up to the edge of every lake and bunker and even non-essential parts of the course are perfectly conditioned. Not a single weed can be found anywhere, nor a food wrapper. The course and grounds are stunning.

Following the conclusion of play Saturday, after all other spectators had, I was waiting my father, who was at work in the media center. I ventured back out to the lake behind the 15th green and in front of the 16th tee to sit in the grass, watch the sun set and just enjoy the atmosphere. Unfortunately, after about 10 minutes I encountered another Masters tradition: a Pinkerton guard. A brisk walk on the maintenance road surrounding the property got me back to the media center about an hour later.

The gorgeous property is not only very well kept but also very well designed for holding a major golf tournament. All golf fans recognize the view down Magnolia Lane from television pictures, as well as the scene behind the clubhouse where the giant old oak tree shades the building's two-story veranda. What many golf enthusiasts have never seen, however, is the panoramic view from the clubhouse out onto the golf course.

Behind the Augusta National clubhouse and old oak sprawls a wide-open green valley that includes parts of hole Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17 and 18. It is this view that surprised me most. It emphasizes the true interconnectedness of Dr. MacKenzie's links-style course design, which allows for excellent spectator access.

With tees situated within a just few yards of the previous green, spectators can follow shots being hit on multiple holes. At Amen Corner fans can sit in one spot and view action from the last half of hole No. 11, all of the par-3 12th and the first half of the 13th. This proximity all over the course enabled me to witness virtually every important shot from the tournament's final three groups on Sunday. This rare vantage point is decidedly uncommon at most other tournaments.

After a long weekend of standing, walking and, most of all, gawking at everything from incredible shots to incredible sights, I came to a simple conclusion during the drive home: I wouldn't mind at all going back for another.

Reader's Forum On Saturday at the Masters, Tiger Woods erased a six-stroke deficit in 26 holes and by day's end was the third-round co-leader with Retief Goosen. Woods then went out on Sunday, shot a 1-under 71 and won his second straight Masters, third overall, and his seventh professional major. And Woods is not yet 27. Is Woods the greatest of all time? If not, who is? Let us know your opinions by sending your responses to stuart@gpagolf.com with the subject line RE: Tiger Woods. Also include your first initial and last name, along with your email address.