by Doug McAllister
Much has been said in recent days about long putters. Moreover, a whole lotta rationalizing has been done, on the part of some of the world's best golfers, about how the proverbial "horse has bolted from the barn" and, therefore cannot be brought back to the stable. Makes me wonder whether we're talking more about professional rodeo or horse racing than about golf.
Here's my take on the whole mess. First off, I agree with Tom Watson, one of the greatest putters in the game. Watson observes that anchoring the putter to your body — whether the belly or the chest — creates a stroke that provides an unfair advantage and, therefore, should be prohibited. Watson also states that the stroke used with long putters is not a golf stroke at all.
Interesting!
But, apparently, that is neither here nor there in the minds of the USGA and the R&A, golf's ruling organizations. They are currently spinning their wheels and wasting time trying to look like they are taking action when, actually, they apparently don't want to spoil the current "horse ride!"
But, wait a minute! It's really more simple than anyone wants to admit and I am monumentally surprised that memories in golf circles seem to be so short!
It's been just a few months since the golf world was rocked by the determination to outlaw offending grooves — especially grooves on shorter irons and wedges. I ask you, HOW LONG HAD THAT HORSE BEEN AWAY FROM THE BARN? Way back in 1987, Mark Calcavecchia hit his "shot heard round the world" of golf from deep rough with a Ping Eye 2 iron that feature U-grooves. A shot that screamed to a halt so fast that a collective gasp was heard echoing, not only from the gallery at hand, but also from TV watchers everywhere. Remember? According to the rationale of long putter proponents, the barn door was wide open for golf club technology that would be radically game changing in nature.
So let's add things up. Hmmm. Let's see... 1987 to 2011. 24 some odd years, if my calculation is correct, that the horse was loping all over the place. But after 24 years the USGA and R&A still managed to lasso the elusive equine and bring it back to the so-called barn! The appropriate ban was struck and all of golf is now — albeit grudgingly, in many cases — working to adhere to the new rule.
Which brings us back to the question of long putters. It has certainly NOT been nearly a quarter century — as it was with wedges and short irons — that long putters have been in use. So why is it that so many are vehemently arguing that it is too late to appropriately ban the offending putters?
Resolved! Let's just rein in the out-of-the-barn horse. Time to say no to the long putter and get back to golf as usual. And let's all take a deep breath and recognize that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BANNING GROOVES AND BANNING LONG PUTTER SHAFTS! PERIOD!
So, go out today to your local putting green and, with a putter of correct length...
Hit 'em (or putt 'em) Long & Straight!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
THE DOWNSIDE OF THANKSGIVING POINT
by Doug McAllister
When Thanksgiving Point Golf Course first hit the scene it immediately began the process of proclaiming that it was the premier golf course in Utah. Why? Because it was designed by Johnny Miller. Because it offered "resort golf at public prices." Because it was bound to be included as the venue in the near future for a PGA Tour event.
Because. Because. Because! So what's my take on the inimitable Thanksgiving Point? Overrated. Overrated. Overrated!
Let's look at the "becauses" one by one and consider whether each is fact or fiction.
1. BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED BY JOHNNY MILLER
Fiction!
Mind you. Thanksgiving Point was designed by Johnny Miller. The fiction I refer to here is that Thanksgiving Point should be considered as Utah's premier course on the basis of its designer. Thanksgiving Point used to go to ridiculous lengths to brand the course as a Miller course. The course's head pro was featured on TV commercials drooling and gushing about Miller designing the track with the Hall of Famer embarrassingly standing by.
The proof of the pudding is, indeed, in the tasting and, very likely, there are all sorts of golfers who relish rounds at Thanksgiving Point. I just don't happen to be one of them. Give me, rather, Tuhaye, the excellent Mark O'Meara course in Kamas or any of Gene Bates courses, especially Talon's Cove in Saratoga Springs. Any of these course is far superior to Thanksgiving Point.
2. BECAUSE IT OFFERS RESORT GOLF AT PUBLIC PRICES!
Fiction!
Thanksgiving Point is currently priced for 18 holes at $65 during the week (Monday thru Thursday) and $85 for weekend play (Friday thru Sunday). Interesting. Up Provo Canyon and a bit farther in Midway, Utah, is the Homestead Resort. The place boasts a fine 18-hole golf course. Given Thanksgiving Point's claim to offer "resort golf and public course prices," it should stand to reason that its fees, listed above, should be less than those of The Homestead Resort. Not quite. Currently golfers can play the 18 holes, including a cart, at the Homestead for $55 during the week (Monday thru Thursday) and for $60 during weekend play (Friday thru Sunday).
Not convinced. The Homestead not really a resort? Okay. Let's compare Thanksgiving Point to a real resort course that I was privileged to play last summer — Arnold Palmer's Teton Pines in Jackson Hole Wyoming. I'll even compare Teton Pines prices during its prime season schedule. From June 18 thru September 30, Teton Pines charges $160 for 18 holes of golf (before 2:00 p.m.) and all the range balls you care to hit! Sure, that's nearly double Thanksgiving Point's weekend rate. But look here: After 2:00 p.m. the rate falls to $120, or just $35 dollars more than you'd pay at "the Point." And is that added amount worth it? Is an Arnold Palmer designed course worth an additional $35? In my humble opinion it certainly is! And I suspect that most individuals who are familiar with Palmer courses versus Miller courses would heartily agree!
3. BECAUSE IT IS BOUND TO BE INCLUDED AS THE VENUE FOR A FUTURE PGA TOUR EVENT!
Fiction!
Thanksgiving Point opened for play in 1997. Since then, the closest the course has come to hosting a PGA Event has been Johnny Miller's Champions Challenge, an event that really boils down to an exhibition match between Miller and some of his buddies. And that's it! Does it look like the course will succeed in luring the PGA to send an event — even a Champions Tour event — its way? Not hardly! The course is now 14 years old and has lost that "New Course Smell!"
SIMPLY NOT UP TO SNUFF!
The real problem with Thanksgiving Point has always been ego. They've always worked overtime to position themselves as a course that's just too good to be true and, all too often, way too good for you!
I played the course today and was disappointed that things simply haven't changed. From its exorbitant pricing to snooty and condescending pro shop personnel. The place reeks of exclusivity and out-and-out silliness.
On one hole, for example, we were confronted by a snotty, pushy and unfriendly "Player Assistant." Was he really interested in "assisting" us? Not hardly! Rather, his whole goal was to push and enforce his supposed authority. Why? Because we committed the unpardonable sin of driving our cart on a fairway that was supposedly closed for carts! Did we disregard warning signs — that happened to be conspicuously staked on other fairways similarly closed — warning us not to take carts on the forbidden fairway? No! we were supposed to read the minds of groundskeepers who simply picketed off the fairway with temporary ropes! And never mind that there were so many cart tracks on the fairway in question BEFORE our venturing thereon that you could easily have dubbed the place "Indianapolis Speedway!" There he stood as we exited, like an elementary school principal who has just caught some truant third graders hiding in the lunch room! And he was actually shaking his head disapprovingly!
Enough said. By all means, play Thanksgiving Point if you have a free pass or if a friend offers to pick up your greens fees. Otherwise, steer clear of the place. After all, you'd be better served to choose Talon's Cove, Wingpointe, Old Mill or Hobble Creek — all of which feature resort golf experiences with actual public course pricing!
HELAS!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
BALL FITTING MYTHOLOGY & DAVIS LOVE III IS REALLY EXCITED!
by Doug McAllister
Well, golf fans, we can all rest a little easier knowing that Davis Love III has found a new sponsor. The perennial Titleist poster boy has now joined Bridgestone (isn't it interesting that he has also apparently sworn off FootJoy shoes? Check out the adiPures from Adidias...) and, as noted, on the Bridgestone web site, Love III is "excited!" Well, that's fine.
WHAT WAS SAID:
In the short video clip on Bridgestone's site, Love III mentions:
"I'm excited to be with Bridgestone! I'm really excited about the technology. I'm really excited about the equipment...One of the things that really attracted me to Bridgestone was the whole ball fitting thing...I'm excited about a fresh start with the Bridgestone ball!"
WHAT WASN'T SAID:
Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to be a "fly on the wall" of Davis' brain. If we had had such a chance, I think we would have heard something a bit like this:
"More than anything, I'm REALLY excited that a sponsor is willing to shovel a truckload of dollars my way at this stage of my career! I haven't won anything in a light year and, I know, I am on my way out. Just trying to survive long enough to skid into the Champion's Tour. Whew! I was really getting nervous there with Titleist. They're all about keeping a stable of the best young golfers, without any loyalty or consideration for someone, like me, who helped put them on the golfing map beyond just golf balls!"
Okay. I don't begrudge Love III having an opportunity to keep an income from a sponsor. It's just fine! What I can't stand is that — among touring professionals — golf is nothing more than money. NOTHING! They change their equipment more often than most of us change our underwear. And, after all, the golf equipment companies are all about getting their pound of flesh out of you and me.
As Davis Love III changes to Bridgestone there's the real chance that many of us might think it's because there is something dramatically wrong with Titleist's ProV1 family of golf balls. After all, Davis wouldn't jump ship if he wasn't getting a better game, right? Truth is, there really isn't that much difference between Titleist and Bridgestone — other than the fact that Bridgestone makes a far better tire for your car!
BALL FITTING MYTHOLOGY
And let's talk about this nonsense of Bridgestone's ball fitting prowess. Have you visited the Bridgestone site and gone through the ball fitting process they offer? Just in case you haven't, here's the content from a chat session about ball fitting that I just completed (the spelling and exchange is exactly as it occurred online):
Well, golf fans, we can all rest a little easier knowing that Davis Love III has found a new sponsor. The perennial Titleist poster boy has now joined Bridgestone (isn't it interesting that he has also apparently sworn off FootJoy shoes? Check out the adiPures from Adidias...) and, as noted, on the Bridgestone web site, Love III is "excited!" Well, that's fine.
WHAT WAS SAID:
In the short video clip on Bridgestone's site, Love III mentions:
"I'm excited to be with Bridgestone! I'm really excited about the technology. I'm really excited about the equipment...One of the things that really attracted me to Bridgestone was the whole ball fitting thing...I'm excited about a fresh start with the Bridgestone ball!"
WHAT WASN'T SAID:
Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to be a "fly on the wall" of Davis' brain. If we had had such a chance, I think we would have heard something a bit like this:
"More than anything, I'm REALLY excited that a sponsor is willing to shovel a truckload of dollars my way at this stage of my career! I haven't won anything in a light year and, I know, I am on my way out. Just trying to survive long enough to skid into the Champion's Tour. Whew! I was really getting nervous there with Titleist. They're all about keeping a stable of the best young golfers, without any loyalty or consideration for someone, like me, who helped put them on the golfing map beyond just golf balls!"
Okay. I don't begrudge Love III having an opportunity to keep an income from a sponsor. It's just fine! What I can't stand is that — among touring professionals — golf is nothing more than money. NOTHING! They change their equipment more often than most of us change our underwear. And, after all, the golf equipment companies are all about getting their pound of flesh out of you and me.
As Davis Love III changes to Bridgestone there's the real chance that many of us might think it's because there is something dramatically wrong with Titleist's ProV1 family of golf balls. After all, Davis wouldn't jump ship if he wasn't getting a better game, right? Truth is, there really isn't that much difference between Titleist and Bridgestone — other than the fact that Bridgestone makes a far better tire for your car!
BALL FITTING MYTHOLOGY
And let's talk about this nonsense of Bridgestone's ball fitting prowess. Have you visited the Bridgestone site and gone through the ball fitting process they offer? Just in case you haven't, here's the content from a chat session about ball fitting that I just completed (the spelling and exchange is exactly as it occurred online):
Jeff: Hi, this is Jeff. Welcome to B-Fit. How can I help you today?
Doug: wanted to use the ball fitter and see which bridgestone ball to use
how do it get started
Jeff: Hey Doug,
Tell me a little about your game and your ball flight.
Doug: i play to a 7 handicap. Hit it pretty straight with a slight fade
Jeff: Do you know what your swing speed is w/ your driver?
Doug: not exactly...but I have a smooth, probably comparatively slow swing
Jeff: Ok.
About how far do you hit an average drive?
Doug: probably 250-270 yds
Jeff: Good.
Are you a low or high ball hitter?
Doug: generally a higher flight
Jeff: Any issues getting your approach shots to stop?
Doug: nope
Jeff: When you hit your driver, do you get much roll?
Doug: on my driver, yes
Jeff: What would you say is more important to you Doug, distance or spin?
Doug: distance
Jeff: Ok.
What ball do you usually play?
Doug: does that really matter?
Jeff: It gives me a point of reference. If you're already playing a raw distance ball, that would be different compared to if you are playing a spin ball for example.
Doug: At this point, I haven't played a Bridgestone ball. I assumed that the fitting process would look at my game and tell me what Bridgestone ball was best for me — independent of what other companies offer. Was I mistaken?
Jeff: I can certainly make a recommendation without know what ball you currently play Doug, but like I said, if I know what type of ball you are currently playing, that helps me decide which direction we may need to go. If you want more distance, and you are currently playing a firm, low launch high spin ball, I might make a differnt suggestion than if you told me you were playing our e6, which is already a really long distance type ball. It's not that big of deal, I've just never had anyone have a problem with it.
Based on what you've told me, I recommend the B330-RX.
The B330-RX is a high performance, 3 piece tour caliber ball designed for players who swing between 85-105 mph. It's the softest urethane covered ball on the market, making it easy to compress for players who have swing speeds less than 105 mph. It offers excellent distance, spin and shot shaping ability.
Doug: no problem with it. I just didn't want my current ball to bias the proper fit from Bridgestone.
Jeff: It doesn't bias it really at all. Some players are already playing a Bridgestone, but if I know which one, I can put that information together with the info I have been given about their ball flight to make a suggestion. The more info I have the better, that's all. No worries.
Doug: it's just that I have done ball fitting before with other companies and, nine times out of ten, when I have told them what competitive ball I play, they suggest their version of the competitor's ball. What good is that, really?
Jeff: I see where you're coming from.
Is there anything else I can help with Doug?
Interesting, don't you think? Did you follow all of that? The key here is simple. After the usual housekeeping items regarding ball flight, distance and spin — the selfsame items used in every ball fitting exchange, regardless of the manufacturer — the HUGE question is: "So what are you playing now?" In short, the whole gig is "we want to know what you are playing now and we will simply tell you to pick up the Bridgestone counterpart." PERIOD!
You should note, as well, that the jump from "I see where you're coming from..." to "Is there anything else I can help with Doug?..." to the session shutting down from Bridgestone's end was a matter of seconds! Jeff, probably sensing that he had hooked into someone who was onto him and his company, ran for his life!
But, I am REALLY excited about Davis Love III being REALLY excited!
HELAS!
Interesting, don't you think? Did you follow all of that? The key here is simple. After the usual housekeeping items regarding ball flight, distance and spin — the selfsame items used in every ball fitting exchange, regardless of the manufacturer — the HUGE question is: "So what are you playing now?" In short, the whole gig is "we want to know what you are playing now and we will simply tell you to pick up the Bridgestone counterpart." PERIOD!
You should note, as well, that the jump from "I see where you're coming from..." to "Is there anything else I can help with Doug?..." to the session shutting down from Bridgestone's end was a matter of seconds! Jeff, probably sensing that he had hooked into someone who was onto him and his company, ran for his life!
But, I am REALLY excited about Davis Love III being REALLY excited!
HELAS!
Friday, January 7, 2011
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO...HERE WE GO AGAIN!!
by Doug McAllister
Well, it's the new year and, with its beginning, its time to get going right where it seems we left off. What am I talking about? Seems Camilo Villegas broke a rule while playing yesterday in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. As a result of the domino effect that ensued, he was DQ'd from the event.
Wow! Must have been something terrible! What'd he do? Punch someone in the gallery? Let all the air out of the cars in the course parking lot? What did he do? Okay...we don't even need to talk about that. Really! We don't!
So what's the problem? Also seems that some television viewer saw the violation — something that all the on-site rules officials missed — and called in and ratted on Villegas! Now, if you've read my stuff before, you know that this makes my blood boil more than taking a snowman on a par 3!
WHERE IS THIS CONTACT INFORMATION?!
Okay, I've heard the first part of this too many times. A television viewer "calls" or "contacts" the USGA or the PGA or the Golf Channel or Golf Snitches Anonymous. Where on earth do you find these phone numbers, email addresses or fax numbers? Where are they listed? It drives me nuts! Even if I wanted to play the stool pigeon — which I don't! — I don't know the numbers!
Which begs the question: why is this information available at all, especially during the course of an event? Heck, I can't even change my Fantasy Golf Foursome after tee off time. Why should there be anyone manning a phone or a fax or a computer during an event with the sole purpose seemingly being waiting for some 25-handicap golf vigilante who couldn't hit a straight putt in a rain gutter to blow the whistle?
AREN'T THE RULES IMPORTANT?
Of course they are! But there is also the human element that has to be taken into consideration and honored just as stridently as the rules of the game! There are officials all over the course at each event and it's their job to monitor things and cite those who break the rules. But do they miss violations here and there? Darn straight!
So now, with the added technological possibilities out there, we have thousands of officials sitting comfortably in their Lazy Boy's and watching for the violation that will get past the paid judges.
ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING?
Hell no! The game is played on the course and not inside a TV camera. Ergo, what happens on the course needs to be called on the course — when and where it happens! And what if a rules violation isn't caught? SO BE IT! Once the day of golf is completed the books on that round should be closed, hermetically sealed and dried hard like last week's cement! This nonsense of officials waiting at the 18th green the next day to deliver the bad news has got to stop!
RESOLUTION
It's simple. To the governing bodies of the game at sanctioned events: once the tournament commences do us all the decency of turning off every communications device you own. Turn off your cell phones (and get new numbers, while your at it, so viewers won't be able to call you), shut down your computers. And for Pete's sake, get off Facebook and Twitter! (Everyone knows that real golfers are NOT actively involved in social networking! It causes slicing and hooking!) Make it a New Year's resolution to accept that golf is a game played by fallible human beings and officiated by the same! Yeah, do your darnedest to see that the rules are upheld but, when they're not, don't have kittens over it!
Determine now that what happens on the course will be handled on the course and — regardless of how well-meaning they may seem — resolve to NOT take any tips, phone calls, Facebook posts or tweets from anybody! Not even from your sainted mothers!
Golf doesn't need an instant replay. NO INSTANT REPLAY! Remember? It's supposed to be the game where the players call penalties on themselves. Not the game that allows faceless, nameless, brainless fools to do it for them!
What golf needs is for more of the armchair rules officials to get off their butts and get out their and try to...
Hit 'Em Long and Straight!
Well, it's the new year and, with its beginning, its time to get going right where it seems we left off. What am I talking about? Seems Camilo Villegas broke a rule while playing yesterday in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. As a result of the domino effect that ensued, he was DQ'd from the event.
Wow! Must have been something terrible! What'd he do? Punch someone in the gallery? Let all the air out of the cars in the course parking lot? What did he do? Okay...we don't even need to talk about that. Really! We don't!
So what's the problem? Also seems that some television viewer saw the violation — something that all the on-site rules officials missed — and called in and ratted on Villegas! Now, if you've read my stuff before, you know that this makes my blood boil more than taking a snowman on a par 3!
WHERE IS THIS CONTACT INFORMATION?!
Okay, I've heard the first part of this too many times. A television viewer "calls" or "contacts" the USGA or the PGA or the Golf Channel or Golf Snitches Anonymous. Where on earth do you find these phone numbers, email addresses or fax numbers? Where are they listed? It drives me nuts! Even if I wanted to play the stool pigeon — which I don't! — I don't know the numbers!
Which begs the question: why is this information available at all, especially during the course of an event? Heck, I can't even change my Fantasy Golf Foursome after tee off time. Why should there be anyone manning a phone or a fax or a computer during an event with the sole purpose seemingly being waiting for some 25-handicap golf vigilante who couldn't hit a straight putt in a rain gutter to blow the whistle?
AREN'T THE RULES IMPORTANT?
Of course they are! But there is also the human element that has to be taken into consideration and honored just as stridently as the rules of the game! There are officials all over the course at each event and it's their job to monitor things and cite those who break the rules. But do they miss violations here and there? Darn straight!
So now, with the added technological possibilities out there, we have thousands of officials sitting comfortably in their Lazy Boy's and watching for the violation that will get past the paid judges.
ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING?
Hell no! The game is played on the course and not inside a TV camera. Ergo, what happens on the course needs to be called on the course — when and where it happens! And what if a rules violation isn't caught? SO BE IT! Once the day of golf is completed the books on that round should be closed, hermetically sealed and dried hard like last week's cement! This nonsense of officials waiting at the 18th green the next day to deliver the bad news has got to stop!
RESOLUTION
It's simple. To the governing bodies of the game at sanctioned events: once the tournament commences do us all the decency of turning off every communications device you own. Turn off your cell phones (and get new numbers, while your at it, so viewers won't be able to call you), shut down your computers. And for Pete's sake, get off Facebook and Twitter! (Everyone knows that real golfers are NOT actively involved in social networking! It causes slicing and hooking!) Make it a New Year's resolution to accept that golf is a game played by fallible human beings and officiated by the same! Yeah, do your darnedest to see that the rules are upheld but, when they're not, don't have kittens over it!
Determine now that what happens on the course will be handled on the course and — regardless of how well-meaning they may seem — resolve to NOT take any tips, phone calls, Facebook posts or tweets from anybody! Not even from your sainted mothers!
Golf doesn't need an instant replay. NO INSTANT REPLAY! Remember? It's supposed to be the game where the players call penalties on themselves. Not the game that allows faceless, nameless, brainless fools to do it for them!
What golf needs is for more of the armchair rules officials to get off their butts and get out their and try to...
Hit 'Em Long and Straight!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
