Golfing News & Blog Articles

Jim Walsh in the Cherry Hill Courier-Post paints quite the bizarre picture of a ballot initiative facing the eleven constituents of the borough of Pine Valley. Yes, that Pine Valley.

The club’s George Crump and H.S. Colt course is typically ranked first in most rankings of top American courses despite losing some aesthetic and architectural edge in recent years. The “borough” of Pine Valley now appears to be adhering to Governor Phil Murphy’s push for shared services between boroughs with lower property taxes as the end goal.

So this November 3rd, you Pine Valley borougherers—all eleven of the thirteen registered to vote—you must decide whether to form a citizens’ commission to decide shared services in the region!

“This is a preliminary step, but an important one that the borough believes is prudent to consider,” Pine Valley Mayor Mike Kennedy said in a statement provided to the Courier-Post.

The ballot question – to be decided by the borough’s 11 registered voters — is “consistent with these goals,” Kennedy said.

The Camden County borough, which was incorporated in 1929, keeps a low profile in a forested area behind a rail line along East Atlantic Avenue.

There’s an understatement. I wonder if there are lawn signs with the lucky few Pine Valley residents announcing their position?

In Joe Beditz’s National Golf Foundation analysis of August’s 20.6% year-over-year increase, this was interesting:

But nothing about the past few months seems structurally different for golf, whether with the product itself, the service that supports it, or the overall user experience … unless you count extended tee time intervals, which for a time seemed to produce faster, smoother and more enjoyable rounds. Either way, we weren’t suddenly marketing ourselves differently, onboarding new players differently, or managing customer relationships differently. (In fact, remote check-in procedures may have made it more impersonal.)

Time, time, time, safe, time and safe.

And more on the huge summer for retail, already noted here with regard to evening golf becoming popular. Beditz writes:

Total sales of golf equipment on- and off-course were $331 million in August, extending a record-setting summer for the retail side of the business.

Golf retail sales in August were up 32% over the same period in 2019 ($251 million) and readily surpassed the previous record for the month of $287 million in 2006. Golf Datatech has been tracking golf retail sales since 1997.

Five equipment categories set all-time sales records for August: balls, irons, wedges, bags and gloves. Bags were the best-performing equipment category for the month, up 55% over last year.

It would have been a somber, fan or partially fan-free Ryder Cup last weekend played under ideal weather conditions. But with Wisconsin reporting 2000 new cases four days in a row and a huge positivity rate as well, combined with the lack of fan access, and it looks like the 2020-In-2021 Ryder Cup looks like a wise postponement to 2021.

While I still think toning down the fan element and other theatrics would have been a good thing, a date the week after the rescheduled U.S. Open was, in hindsight, less than ideal and might have led to a severely diminished event.

The Golf.com Confidential crew addressed and noted things lost, all of which might not have had their usual luster set against the 2020 backdrop.

Shipnuck: Being right. I have no doubt the young, talented Americans who have been dominating the golf world were going to win to touch off a decade of dominance. Now, who knows how much momentum will be lost over the next year. Alas, Europe even wins the pandemics.

Dethier: The crowds. The frenzied Midwestern crowds waking up on a crisp Wisconsin morning, getting out in some hideous star-spangled garb and rooting on their beloved Yanks in a too-close Ryder Cup on a super-fun golf course. Oh, and figuring out if Tiger Woods should be on the team — that would have been a blast of a debate too, no doubt.

Bamberger: The parades of the WAGs. The parade of self-importance, pre, post and during. 

Piastowski: The fans. They made the right call to not go on without them. It’s the event that needs a crowd the most. The one event where you can cheer for your team – and get after the other one. 

The rescheduled 2020 U.S. Open was a success despite the horror of a six-under-par winning score and the West Course not getting the treatment from NBC’s budget-conscious approach vs. what CBS has been doing of late or what Fox’s Mark Loomis and crew might have provided with a normal budget.

As the USGA and Winged Foot discuss what’s next, including “anchor site” status according to Mike Dougherty’s reporting, another well-known member offered a pre-tournament suggestion for future Opens: a composite of the West and East Courses.

At the risk of getting called before some committee of point missers, CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz offered a way to better highlight the club’s more soulful East Course while retaining the best of the West.

From his Golf Digest column that is now online:

When Winged Foot hosts the U.S. Open next time around, I’d love to see a full representation of its two courses. I’m talking a composite of the famous and familiar West Course, and the lesser known but equally (some say surpassingly) magnificent East Course. On the surface it sounds like a radical idea, but I’ve long believed that a combination of the two would result in a design that is formidable, beautiful, sensible and unique in major-championship golf.

Last week The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn detailed the rather stunning changes at Golf Channel and the likely blurring of editorial lines as the network is moved to Connecticut, with offices in the PGA Tour’s new expensive new headquarters.

The confounding implosion of Arnold Palmer and Joe Gibbs’ successful vision is coming into better focus after two stories emerged connecting more dots.

Palash Gosh at International Business Times reports on activist investor Nelson Peltz acquiring 7.2 million shares in Golf Channel owner Comcast, as first reported in the Wall Street Journal. Peltz’s Trian Fund now holds 20 million shares and a 0.4% stake in the company, believing the stock is undervalued, looks forward to discussions about improving the company, yada, yada.

The Journal commented that Trian is known for “encouraging changes at companies it targets, such as a breakup or sale of underperforming divisions or moves to improve efficiency and better use capital. It often seeks board representation and tries to avoid public spats, unlike some of its more pugnacious rivals.”

However, Comcast may be difficult for Trian to influence as Brian Roberts, its chairman and chief executive officer, controls about one-third of the stock’s voting rights.

Another Wall Street Journal story on the same day—mitzvah time!—not coincidentally details Comcast and NBC’s plan to essentially wind down several key cable channels they see as an “albatross” and put their focus into “individual franchises” for the Peacock app.

An eye-opening U.S. Open, talk of bomb-and-gouge and rollbacks, Winged Foot and so much more with Rod Morri and Mike Clayton. Below, wherever podcasts stream or the iTunes store.

As I noted here, NBC carried eight hours of 2020 U.S. Open coverage last Saturday but Danny Lee’s unbelievable 6-putt meltdown did not make the show. Only after an influencer Tweet did the sequence make it on the Sunday morning pre-game show where it was decried as “not a great look.”

Tuesday, Danny Lee admirably pulled out the old Notes app, typed out an apology and posted it to Twitter. He says he has been battling a wrist issue—the reason cited for his WD—and will be taking some time off.

pic.twitter.com/liZZsTppG5

— Danny Lee (@dannygolf72) September 22, 2020

GolfDigest.com’s Dave Shedloski reports on Mike Davis’s future plans after the USGA announced their current CEO’s plans to depart by the end of 2021 (full release below).

Shedloski says Davis will pursue his well known passion for architecture, which has been instrumental in the USGA returning to classic venues and a huge inspiration for many restorations. Shedloski writes:

The USGA on Tuesday announced that Davis is stepping down as its chief executive officer, effective at the end of 2021, to embark on a career in golf course design and construction. Davis plans to team up with Tom Fazio II to create a new golf course architecture company, Fazio & Davis Golf Design.

“I’ve absolutely loved the USGA, and I hate the idea of leaving,” said Davis, 55, who became the USGA’s seventh executive director in 2011, succeeding David Fay, a role that segued into that of CEO in 2016. “I’ve grown up around here. I mean, it will have been 32 years by the time I leave, and my work in championships and governance and so on is just ... in some ways, I never thought I’d leave.

“But at the heart of this, I have always loved golf course design. I loved learning, seeing, playing, studying golf courses. I’m closer to 60 than I am 50, and there was almost a sense that if I don’t do this, I’m going to regret it.

Here is the full release from the USGA where it says Davis will assist with the “onboarding” of the next CEO, also known as hiring:

USGA CEO Mike Davis Announces Departure in 2021

Showbuzzydaily.com

The rescheduled 2020 U.S. Open provides a rare, and (hopefully) one-off look into what happens when a major championship moves to the fall against the NFL.

The numbers, courtesy of ShowBuzzDaily.com’s Mitch Metcalf, saw Sunday’s final round earn a 1.99 overnight rating, on par with the better “Return to Golf” events but easily a record U.S. Open low.

The previous benchmark for a U.S. Open final round came in 2014 when Martin Kaymer’s runaway win earned a 3.0 on NBC. However, that event was not going up against top-flight NFL matchups on CBS and Fox, where this year’s tournament was crushed by two dynamite games: Cowboys vs. Falcons and Chiefs vs. Chargers.

Against less competition Saturday, the 8-hour third round telecast averaged a 1.92, or 542,000 viewers in the only age group that purportedly shops.

Tim Dahlberg of AP considers what Bryson DeChambeau’s win means for state of the game discussions:

The USGA and R&A are so concerned about the impact of long hitting on the game that they issued a report earlier this year that said, in part, that advances in distance off the tee were threatening to ``undermine the core principle that the challenge of golf is about needing to demonstrate a broad range of skills to be successful.’’

Now they may have to update that report. It was done before DeChambeau added 40 pounds during the pandemic break and began swinging at every tee shot like Barry Bonds used to swing at baseballs.

It was impressive to some, worrying to others. The fact is, golf has always evolved, from the days of hickory shafted clubs and gutta percha balls to today’s big headed drivers and balls that fly far and stop fast. But the beatdown DeChambeau gave Winged Foot this week might have been a tipping point in the debate over just how far the evolution of the game is allowed to go.

Michael Clayton writes for Golf Australia about what the key takeaways will be:

The first was that this was a dominant performance and his final round one to remember.

The second is teachers all over the world will be telling kids who watched on television and dream one day of winning a great championship that they had better learn to hit the ball 330 yards through the air, because there is nothing surer than that’s what the next generation will routinely be playing against.

Ultimately, though, watching DeChambeau with a driver in his hand is no more thrilling than watching Nicklaus, Daly, Woods or, indeed Bobby Jones, drive the ball.

Indeed, his biggest influence on the game is not likely to be his driver; but his understanding of data, statistics, probabilities and how they relate to strategy and the best shot to play.

The key for architects is to work out how best to disrupt the data without resorting to trickery – because this week the winner showed trickery in the form of narrow fairways and long grass can be defeated by power.

Alistair Tait wonders what all of these 375 yard drives mean for the Old Course in 2022 and Augusta, home of the next two majors.

Just amazing in all of this bleak news that the numbers keep showing interest in the sport thanks to safety and increased time for participation.

From GolfDatatech and not one mention of how distance is inspiring this spike in purchases across all equipment categories.

Kissimmee, FL., September 21, 2020 … On the heels of the U.S. Open, golf’s second major of 2020, Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry’s leading independent market research firm for retail sales, consumer and trade trends, has announced that U.S. retail golf equipment sales for August 2020 were up nearly 32% over the same period in 2019, exceeding the previous all-time high August (2006), by 15%.
 
In total, U.S. golf retail equipment sales for August 2020 were $331 million, compared to August 2019, which were $251 million, and the previous record year of August 2006, which were $287 million.  Additionally, five equipment categories, set all-time records for August: balls, irons, wedges, bags and gloves. Overall, golf bags were the best performing equipment category in August, up 55% vs. August 2019, while YTD bag sales are up 5%.

Not $600 drivers? Sorry, I interrupted. Continue.

 “Golf Datatech started tracking golf equipment sales in 1997 and we have never seen a surge like what has happened in the summer of 2020, coming out of the worldwide shutdown from COVID-19,” said John Krzynowek, Partner, Golf Datatech, LLC. “While the overall 2020 U.S. retail golf equipment market is still down 4.1 % YTD from 2019,  this spike is nothing short of remarkable considering the game and business of golf was shut down for a good part of the spring season.”
 
Krzynowek adds, “The August sales record, which followed an all-time record month in July, is great news for the industry moving forward.  It indicates how popular golf is today, especially as an ideal social distancing activity.  Newcomers are coming into the game, existing golfers are playing much more, and  those who once played but left for a while are returning, which is the perfect combination to drive rounds played and spike equipment sales at retail.”

Bryson DeChambeau thanked Netjets and Bentley for their support

Despite all sorts of restrictions on media access to players during last week’s U.S. Open, Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier managed to access all of Bryson DeChambeau’s post-win obligations and the ensuing Trump Westchester celebration.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, isn’t there a bubble restricting on-site media and indoor access to players out of respect for this whole pandemic thing? Picky, picky!

Some media just have all the access. Or a strategic business partnership with the USGA, announced here by another USGA partner, Morning Read, which is owned by their crisis management friends at the Buffalo Groupe. Did I digress?

Anyway, I’m sure safety came first at all times and masks, social distancing and…yeah right.

From the USGA’s notes after Bryson DeChambeau’s 2020 U.S. Open win:

Champion Bryson DeChambeau tied for fifth in greens in regulation (46), despite tying for 26th in fairways hit (23). 

DeChambeau’s total strokes gained of 7.90 is the fourth-highest by a champion since 1960. Johnny Miller (10.77 in 1963), Arnold Palmer (9.29 in 1960) and Jack Nicklaus(8.19 in 1967) were higher.

This was just the third time since 2000 that the champion was the only player in red figures (Tiger Woods in 2000 and 2002).

If the fairways hit number stood out, it was historic but also not that far off from a couple of recent wins.

Xander Schauffele off a fourth-straight excellent U.S. Open performance, sounds conflicted about where things are headed as he saw Bryson DeChambeau overpower Winged Foot.

Q. What are your thoughts on Bryson just in general and what he's done in transforming his body?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, he's a man of his word. I said it last night, if there's anyone that I was worried about, it was him. Everyone talked about hitting fairways out here. It's not about hitting fairways. It's about hitting on the correct side of the hole and hitting it far so you can kind of hit a wedge instead of a 6 iron out of the rough. Yeah, he's sort of trending in the new direction of golf, and he said he wanted to do everything he's doing, and yeah, happy for him. He's playing unbelievable.

This answer was especially fascinating:

Q. Going back to what you said before about Bryson,do you feel like he's revolutionizing the game?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: No. If you look at just people that have dominated, it's always been distance. Obviously, Tiger had the mix of touch and feel and everything. If you look back at he was sort of the first guy to really hit it far with those clubs. Jack hit is really far as well. All the greats hit it pretty far for the most part. It's no longer sort of a touchy-feely game. The only way to make a golf course really hard is to firm up the greens and grow the rough. It's going to make it hard for everyone, and you'd rather be the guy in the rough with a lob wedge than with an 8 iron or 7 iron. Revolutionize? Maybe he's just exposing our game in terms of, if he keeps hitting it further and further, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to win many more U.S. Opens.

If they’re hitting drives like this with a helping breeze, Winged Foot’s 9th might be drivable in 2028, 2031 or whenever Winged Foot hosts the U.S. Open again.

From the 2020 U.S. Open final round where all three players made “eagles” after video game length drives.

Bryson DeChambeau, the “short” one of the group at 374.4:

Matt Wolfe, outdrove himself from Saturday’s 377 yarder and gave himself a wedge approach Sunday after this 388.5 yard tee shot.

And without the aid of a cart path, lucky bounce or any other known assistance beyond strength, launch optimization and some roll, a 418.8-yard drive from Dustin Johnson.

This 2020 U.S. Open post-final round comment from Rory McIlroy has been getting mostly negative reviews and I believe, incorrectly so. McIlroy posted a final round 75 to finish T8 at Winged Foot.

Q. Your golf followed from Tiger's and Tiger's followed from Faldo, Watson, and back to Nicklaus, very kind of straight line. Then you see this guy doing it completely in his own way, and I'm wondering what that says to you about the guy and about the game.

RORY McILROY: So I think -- about the guy, I think it's brilliant, but I think he's taken advantage of where the game is at the minute. Look, again, whether that's good or bad, but it's just the way it is. With the way he approaches it, with the arm-lock putting, with everything, it's just where the game's at right now.I'm not saying that's right or wrong. He's just taking advantage of what we have right now.

DeChambeau’s approach should raise questions about whether this is where the game should head. But you have to admire how he’s taken advantage of technology and put his body on the line in ways no one ever has. McIlroy seems to be saying that with his where the game “is at the minute.”

Which is also code for: where the game is because the governing bodies did not adequately anticipate many things that are happening.

They pulled off a fall U.S. Open and there were many more winners than losers at Winged Foot.

Winners

Bryson DeChambeau – You’ve taken enormous risks, listened to no shortage of doubters and now are a worthy, convincing major championship winner. Most impressive is the accomplishment coming on a course supposedly rigged against your aggressive style of play. Plus, no run-ins with the rules or officials, and you gave credit to your parents for the sacrifices they made. Classy win.

Matthew Wolff –  Just two majors and already a second place and a T4 at age 21. Oh and an ebullient style when so many players look so joyless.  

Westlake Golf Course – Wolff’s home away from home is also where Chris Como, DeChambeau’s distance-boost coach, got his start in the game. What a day for Thousand Oaks. Check out Sean Martin’s story here on the little course that is producing so many characters.

Lee westwood after round 3

Think about all the effort put into juicing the roughs with fertilizer, fine tuning the lines a bit to make the players lay up so the ball doesn’t have to be regulated and the excitement at seeing them punished!

Not happening. At least, not for the 2020 U.S. Open leaders.

The most stout rough we’ve seen in some time is not meaning a darned thing at Winged Foot, as Matthew Wolff takes a two stroke lead into Sunday. Two, also happens to be the number of fairways hit in a 65 that featured two very makeable birdie misses. Wolff has hit 12 fairways after three rounds leaving him tied for 58th. The bottom portion of the fairways hit ranking:

In second place sits Bryson DeChambeau, whose found 17 of 32 fairways, placing him T31 in that category.

Matthew Wolff hit two fairways and twelve greens en route to a sensational third round 65. He leads the U.S. Open at Winged Foot by two over Bryson DeChambeau in what figures to be a wild Sunday race.

Who you got?

Who Will Win The 2020 U.S. Open?Matthew Wolff (-5)Bryson DeChambeau (-3)Louis Oosthuizen (-1)Xander Schauffele (E)Hideki Matsuyama (E)Harris English (E)Rory McIlroy (+1)Someone elsepollcode.com free polls

The short par-4 sixth features such a simple design and yet remains one of the world’s best short par-4’s, even with the fairway shrunken down to counter advancements by today’s physics majors.

Through two rounds of the 2020 U.S. Open, notice how No. 6 played depending on the hole location. The more players tried to drive it, the worse they played it. (3.806 v. 4.028 scoring avg difference).

Yet only a few who laid up in round 2 made birdie, perhaps due to the tricky angle from the fairway center. (The fairway has been moved in on the right.) Those who got their tee shot just in front of the green fared best:

A close up view from round 2 where the best lay-up spot is now rough:

Jump back in time to one of the 1929 U.S. Open’s 36-hole playoff rounds documented by The American Golfer. You can see how much wider the course was and see the role rough plays today for those laying up in what was once fairway. You can also see that Bobby Jones hit a 300-yard drive, to which O.B. Keeler told spectators that it was all in the agronomy. Al Espinosa bogeyed the hole after a tee shot into the fairway bunker.