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| A Look Back: Nov. 21 1938: Babe Hiskey, former PGA Tour member, is born in Burley, Idaho. 1952: Gary Koch, PGA Tour member and current NBC golf analyst, is born in Baton Rouge, La. 1965: Al Besselink wins the Caracas Open. 1967: P.J. Cowan, former Buy.com Tour member, is born in Hicksville, N.Y. 1973: Garrett Willis, who won his first PGA Tour start of 2001, the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open, is born in Charlotte, N.C. |
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Business
Deere &
Company reports worldwide net losses of $320.1 million, or $1.36 per share,
for the fourth quarter and $64.0 million, or $0.27 per share, for the year ended
October 31. After-tax charges related to early retirement programs, the decision
to exit the hand-held consumer-products business and the restructuring of certain
manufacturing and marketing operations affected the results.
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more...
PROform
Golf, which runs Destination Golf Schools at golf resorts and facilities nationwide,
appoints Capital Suisse Securities to act as a financial consultant. During the
six-month period of the agreement, Capital Suisse will help PROform get listed
on the American Stock Exchange and deal with brokers, analysts and investors.
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Victor
Industries, makers of the Putt Perfect system for greenskeepers, signs a distribution
agreement with Green Greens to sell its product in Florida. Putt Perfect holds
water and nutrients close to the surface of the green, conserving water and reducing
the amount of chemicals used.
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more...
Events
Ten people will
have a chance to win $1 million by making a hole-in-one at the American Stoke
Challenge at the World Golf Village Nov. 20. The contestants, randomly selected
from a Bayer Aspirin-sponsored sweepstakes, will also play a round of golf with
professional golfers Meg Mallon and Justin Leonard, and one participant will win
a 2001 Volkswagen Golf.
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more...
Technology
Software
distributor Pause Golf Solutions partners with POSONE to create food and
beverage point of sale systems for golf club dining facilities. The software,
NextPOS, is available to courses using the Pause Golf distributorship.
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more...
Associations
The National
Golf Course Owners Association broke ground on its new headquarters building
in Charleston, S.C., Nov. 9. The association represents more than 4,500 golf courses
across the United States, Canada and Europe.
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more...
Equipment
The number
of PGA Professionals enrolled in Softspikes' program with Golf Retirement
Plus rises more than 110 percent so far in 2001. This is the second year of Softspikes'
support for GRP, a program where pros earn retirement benefits based on purchases
of Softspikes brand cleats and accessories.
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more...
Courses
Caribbean
development company Grupo del Caribe announces plans for a multi-billion-dollar
resort project, Cap Cana, in the Dominican Republic that will feature three
Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf courses. The first of the Nicklaus courses
will be completed by the end of 2002, and the other two completed within the following
year.
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more...
Golf
facilities operated by Troon Golf raise more than $26,000 to benefit victims
of the Sept. 11 attacks. Courses hosted benefits, donated a percentage of greens
fees and matched employee donations to earn the money for the American Red Cross
Relief Fund.
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Commentary
Palmer Still Has Precious
Moments
Arnold Palmer just does not have it in him to play competitively the way he would like. He said as much last week in the days prior to the UBS Warburg Cup, and who should question someone as sage as Palmer at age 72.
Yet there he was on Sunday at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C., acting as if it were 1961 or '71 rather than 2001. Palmer, playing captain of the United States in this senior version of the Ryder Cup, raced to a 4-up lead over long-time rival Gary Player through 12 holes en route to a 2-and-1 victory. The one point helped the U.S. rally to win the inaugural event by a 12 1/2 to 11 1/2 margin over the Rest of the World team.
There are those who agree with Palmer when he says that his competitive days have passed him by. On days like the first round of the Senior PGA Championship last May when he shot 71, you have to disagree.
Increasingly, though, the rounds are more ceremonial than competitive. What other explanation is there for an 83-89-92--264 (+48) performance such as the 3M Championship last August? And more often the rounds are closer to 80 than they are par.
There was a time before Sept. 11 when maybe Palmer should have graciously declined the chance to tee it up in events. But it's after Sept. 11 and we need reminding of our history, need to celebrate the success stories of country.
NBC anchor Tom Brokaw wrote "The Greatest Generation" a few years ago, a book that told the stories of men and women who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War, and influenced the building of America. Palmer was born as the Depression was beginning, so he does not fall into the specific category that Brokaw pays tribute. But in many ways Palmer had just as profound an impact on this country -- even if it was limited to the golf course and how our view of the game changed.
So as Palmer dispatched of Player in Sunday's singles match, playing a significant role in an event seeking significance, the memories of his younger years took hold. Maybe Palmer's best days, as he said, are behind him.
But, as he showed, he still has his moments. And that's worth him still playing.
| The
Wire Publication Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, The Wire will take Thursday and Friday off. Our next issue will be published Monday, Nov. 26. |