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Colleges
UNLV coach Dwaine Knight and Arizona coach Rick LaRose have been selected for induction to the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. The class of 2002 will be officially inducted at the association's National Awards Dinner on Wednesday, January 22 as part of the 16th annual GCAA National Coaches Convention at the Sheraton World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
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People
The Virginia State Golf Association joins the golfing community in mourning the loss of longtime Lynwood Golf and Country Club head PGA professional Wayne Haley, 67, who died Nov. 6 following a heart attack.
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Technology
Huxley Golf, maker of all-weather surfaces for golf, redesigns its Web site at www.huxleygolf.co.uk to include a complete online catalog of all its products.
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Players
The World Golf Hall of Fame will open six new exhibits, one to follow the life and career of each of its new inductees. Tommy Bolt, Ben Crenshaw, Tony Jacklin, Marlene Hagge, Bernard Langer and the late Harvey Penick will all be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Nov. 15.
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Courses
Meadowbrook Golf, the Florida-based, full-service golf management and development company, is awarded a five-year management contract by the City of Brigantine to operate Brigantine Golf Links located in New Jersey, just north of Atlantic City.
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Events
Viktor "Swing Kong" Johansson joins Peter "Trick Shot Master" Johncke in an act that includes several new power routines.
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Briefly
Greg Norman, who earlier in the day will announce whether or not he will rejoin the PGA TOUR in 2003, will discuss his decision publicly for the first time on Golf Talk Live, Monday at 8 p.m. ET on The Golf Channel.

Reader's Forum With the conclusion of the regular golf season, professional golf fans now enter the "Silly Season" zone - a period of time when the best golfers in the world compete for big bucks in a variety of match play, partner and skins competitions. Do you enjoy watching Silly Season events? Which Silly Season event would you most like to see continue, and which do you think should be done away with? Let us know your opinions by sending your responses to info@gpagolf.com with the subject line RE: Silly. Also include your first initial and last name, along with your city and state or country.

Casual Friday
Swimming with the Shark

Greg Norman, one of the towering figures in golf over the past 20 years, will announce on Monday his intentions toward the game.

Specifically, Norman will tell us if he intends to rejoin the PGA Tour next season. He plans to discuss his decision later on Monday on Golf Talk Live on The Golf Channel.

The Shark could not fit in the required number of tournaments (12) in 2001 to remain a tour member, so gave up his tour membership. In 2002, however, he played 13 events and did quite well for a part-time player. His best finish was a fourth at The International behind Rich Beem. Norman missed only two cuts (he withdrew from one event) and made $467,988. He competed just enough for all of us to see that his game is just a notch away from being very, very good.

Casual Friday is certainly one of those who would like to see the 47-year-old Australian play as many tour stops as possible.

Norman is undeniably one of the game's great players and great personalities. Whenever Norman is in the field, he draws fans. When he is in contention, he generates excitement that few other players can. He is an asset to the game and the game needs him.

Of course, these days Norman is a business conglomerate unto himself, and those businesses have taken more of his time the past few years. Norman has his own line of clothing, a golf course design firm, a turf company, an event management company, a winery, an interactive and e-content company and a restaurant. And that's not even all of his businesses.

It is easy to see why, as Norman tries to become as successful a businessman as he has been a golfer, he has trouble fitting golf tournaments into his schedule. Not to mention wanting to spend time with his family. And while Norman is within shouting distance of moving to the Champions Tour, does anyone really doubt that he could win again against the 20-somethings? And Norman, a fitness fanatic, remains in great shape.

Loren Roberts, also 47, won this past season, and as good as Roberts is, he's never had the game that Norman does.

Norman's achievements in golf are lengthier than his business concerns -- first player to win $12 million, first to win $10 million, 18 career PGA wins, two majors, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. He stayed inside the top 50 in the World Rankings for an amazing 700 consecutive weeks.

Norman is one of those figures who has always had an aura about him. No one in the gallery has to ask a buddy who is on the tee when Norman steps up. As great as Norman has been, he is frequently remembered more for his failures than his successes. There was the year of the Saturday Slam in 1986, when he led all four majors after the third round but won only the British Open.

Then came the '96 Masters, when after opening with a 63, he held a six-shot lead entering the final round and lost by shooting a 78 to Nick Faldo's 67. For many people, it was the most painful afternoon of golf they have even seen. Norman's graciousness toward Faldo on the 18th green only punctuated the pain.

Could there be a more perfect scenario for 2003 than Greg Norman dusting off his game, a la Jack Nicklaus in '86 when the Golden Bear himself was 46 years old, and winning the Masters at long last?

Casual Friday would be hard-pressed to come up with a better moment for Norman or for golf.

CORPORATE TIP: Asking Your Partner To Read Your Putt

How many times have you played golf with a partner who reads every putt likes it's the final putt for the Master's Championship? This can be very annoying most of the time but on your next Corporate Round of Golf its a great opportunity. After the 4th or 5th hole ask your partner (the one who reads every break of every putt) to help read your putt. You simply say, "Client's name, I noticed your really good at reading putts. I'm having a hard time reading this putt. Can you help me?" By doing this you are placing your trust in your client's hands. You are asking for his help and trusting his advice. Your client will notice this and continue to give advice and will slowly begin to trust your advice as your round continues. This is one of the first steps of creating rapport between two people which will develop into a strong business relationship.

Are your sales executives prepared for their next five hour appointment on the golf course? Magnolia Golf Group provides corporate seminars and keynote speaking engagements throughout the country teaching Corporate Golf: Building Business Relationships Through the Game of Golf. The seminar is effective for sales groups, corporate managers and business executives during meetings, retreats, or conventions. Participants learn conversation techniques, unique strategies for buiding rapport, and skills for developing strong business relationships. Magnolia Golf Group will share one corporate golf tip each month to help you succeed in your next Corporate Round of Golf. For additional information please visit www.magnoliagolfgroup.com.