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| A Look Back: Nov. 22 1911: Three-time major winner Ralph Guldahl is born in Dallas, Texas. 1936: Denny Shute defeats Jimmy Thomson, 3 and 2, to win his first PGA Championship. 1964: Miller Barber earns his first PGA Tour trophy at the Cajun Classic. 1981: Larry Gilbert defeats Don Padgett on the second playoff hole to win his first PGA Club Pro title. 1987: Gene Littler wins the Gus Machado Senior Classic. |
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Technology
Oakwing Golf
Club in Alexandria, La., picks the Cybergolf Broadcast
System for use at its facility. The system includes email blast marketing,
online survey creator and web-coupon maker among its features. Cybergolf
will also build and host a Web site for the club.
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more...
Crescent Systems
signs Bayou Country Club in Thibodaux, La., to use its club management
software package.
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more...
Tours
LPGA
Tour Commissioner Ty Votaw releases the tour's 29-event 2003
schedule through mid-October. More than 40 percent of the events on the
schedule have raised their purses for next year to make $2.625 million
more available in prize money.
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Events
The Trick Shot Master, Peter Johncke, announces a new
routine where he hits golf balls from 4-inch to 5-foot tees while on his
knees. He will be performing the show live tomorrow at the ADT Championship.
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more...
Colleges
Three highly-rated prep golfers will join the Wake Forest men's
program in the 2003-04 season, as announced by WFU head coach Jerry Haas.
Matt McLean, of Miami, Fla., Sean Moore of Marshville, N.C. and Chad Wilcox
of Peoria, Ariz. all signed national letters-of-intent during the early
signing period, which began last week.
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more...
Associations
Becoming the organization's 100th open facility, The First Tee
of Richmond, Va., opens at the city's newly renovated Elson Redmond Memorial
Driving Range. It's the second First Tee facility to open in the Richmond
area under the direction and leadership of Fred Tattersall, president
of Richmond First Tee.
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more...
Equipment
Spalding Sports Worldwide adds two new golf balls to
its STRATA brand line. The STRATA Tour Ace has a four-piece design for
length with a urethane cover for control, while the STRATA Tour Ultimate
+ has higher launch angles for more distance and a Tungsten Energy core
for spin.
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more...
People
Joe Munsch will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer
at Evergreen Alliance Golf Limited following the resignation of Bob Williams.
Munsch already serves as EAGL's President and Chief Operating Officer.
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more...
Tournaments
The Omega Hong Kong Open, sanctioned for the second year
in a row by the Davidoff Tour and European Tour, will have 31 winners
from the European Tour in the field Nov. 28-Dec. 1 at the Hong Kong Golf
Club.
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more...
Briefly
Never Compromise introduces Stubby, a training putter
designed to help golfers focus on consistently hitting the ball on the
sweet spot of the putter head. It will begin shipping immediately and
will retail for $79.95. ...
From the European team's thrilling victory over the United States team in the Ryder Cup to Ernie Els' unbelievable performance to win the British Open, The Golf Channel will remember the 2002 golf year during Greatest Golf Moments Week, Dec. 16-22. ...
Swing Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the David Leadbetter LaserBall, seeks a business partner to launch a national direct response media campaign. The training program incorporates laser technology with the same fundamentals Leadbetter teaches his students regarding putting alignment, feel and technique. ...
The Diamond Tee Company offers golfers, gift-givers, courses and golf events a large selection of beautiful, one of a kind diamond golf tees set in platinum, 14k white gold, 14k gold and sterling silver.
Casual
Friday
Don't
Make History with Boycott
Casual Friday is all about having fun, hence the name. It's not about the worries of the world, but about being light-hearted, poking fun at items in and around golf. After all it is just a game.
But even Casual Friday has its moments of getting riled up and earlier this week was one of them. The New York Times spoke out on the Augusta National Golf Club all-male membership issue and suggested that world No. 1 Tiger Woods boycott next April's Masters.
In short, the editorial said: "A tournament without Mr. Woods would send a powerful message that discrimination isn't good for the golfing business." Now Casual Friday is not going to get on a soap box and preach - especially with the weekend fast approaching - but why should this rest solely on Woods' shoulders?
Yes, he is the Arnold Palmer of this era in terms of bringing golf to the masses. And, yes, his popularity transcends his sport, just like Muhammed Ali and Michael Jordan reached outside theirs.
But boycotting the Masters should be left to Woods to decide. Like Jack Nicklaus, Woods has become very adept at not abusing his popularity or power and taking a public position on every issue that arises. Woods knows how - and when - to take a stance.
Playing in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan this week, Woods once again offered his thoughts on the subject, saying: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I think there should be women members, but it's not up to me. I don't have voting rights, I'm just an honorary member."
Casual Friday is not about to step into the fray, because doing so would go against the mantra of having fun. But Woods has the potential to make history in one of two ways next April.
If he boycotts, he would become the first Masters champion to boycott the event. If he plays and wins he would become the first player to win three consecutive Masters.
Most likely, history would show that playing and winning would have more of an impact than boycotting.
Now can we get back to playing golf?
FIRST CUT
Seventy-year-old golf analyst Ben Wright is making a return to the tube. He is working the inaugural World Club Championship, a taped event that will be shown during a two-hour telecast Dec. 11. ... Dan Moschetti, host of the syndicated The Golf GuysÇ Radio Show died of a heart attack earlier this week. He was 53. ... Best golf book for the holiday season? "The Greatest Game Ever Played" (Mark Frost, Hyperion). The book recounts the week of the 1913 U.S. Open at Brookline, when local amateur Francis Ouimet defeated British heavyweights Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff.
DOUBLE CLICK
www.japangolf.com
In honor of this week's Dunlop Phoenix, which has attracted a first-class field in Japan, Casual Friday introduces its readers to this site, which covers the game both home and abroad. One word of advice: Brush up on your Japanese.
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Reader's
Forum Recent legislation proposed by the NCAA could lead to the elimination of the fall collegiate golf season and would limit the playing and practice time of NCAA student-athletes in every sport, including out-of-season weight training and conditioning, summer weight training and conditioning and foreign tours. The reasoning for this is that athletes need to limit their time on the field of play in order to study and enjoy a collegiate social life. But traditionally, collegiate golfers maintain among the highest grade-point averages and graduation rates on campus. Should golf be treated differently from other collegiate sports? Let us know your opinions by sending your responses to info@gpagolf.com with the subject line RE: College. Also include your first initial and last name, along with your city and state or country. |