Over the Green

Following on the heels of the news the great city of San Francisco has outlawed McDonalds’ Happy Meals the next item in my in-basket was information from the World Golf Foundation (WGF). It seemed to be an interesting juxtaposition of topics; dealing with overweight youngsters living by the Bay and the state of golf in America. I’m not trying to draw any parallels or expound deep philosophical truths. It just struck me as one of those odd bits of life’s randomness.

The WGF does many things to promote the game not of least of which is the industry-wide forum Golf 20/20, Get Golf Ready to develop new players and the We Are Golf program to improve the image and visibility of golf with government and regulatory bodies. MORE…

It’s the nature of the beast but golf journalists tend to focus on the negative things going on in our game and not the positive. Proactive programs like the immense effort being put forth by the PGA of America to bring back former players to the course and recruit new golfers often get scant attention.
So far the programs (Play Golf America, etc.) have been about a wash with as many leaving as starting but in these economic times that could be construed as a win of pretty large proportions.

Another positive is golf is more affordable than any time in the last 20 years or maybe longer because fewer players (mirrored by the closing of courses) has meant a relentless downward pressure on greens fees and other prices. Additionally all but very a few equipment makers have a low priced but hi-tech line of clubs (and balls). They don’t promote them as “low priced” but they obviously are and meant to fill the need at the low end price point.

On the professional side Tiger Woods should be back with a vengeance next year trying to salvage his place in golf history and catch Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships. With four more to tie the Golden Bear and Tiger having plenty of playing years ahead he should be able to do it. Setting a new major win record is not the cast iron lock it may have once been but still he is not someone to bet against. Aside from trying to wipe out the stain on his record book pages of the personal and professional ugliness of 2010, Woods signed a reportedly $110 million (not $600 million like was speculated) divorce settlement with former spouse Elin Nordegen. Could that be viewed as a half a billion dollar win?

Phil Mickelson’s wife and mother seem to have survived their cancer battles and it remains to be seen whether Lefty’s chronic and incurable psoriatic arthritis will end his Hall of Fame career. At 40 Mickelson is a respected winner (41 worldwide, 38 in U.S. with 4 majors) and its not outside the realm of speculation he could win a lot more including more majors like the U.S. Open where he has so often contended. He did a great job mentoring younger Ryder Cup team members in Wales, raising his status in the profession even higher.

The young Americans seem to be on the prowl too with Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler and Anthony Kim recently in the spotlight. Seemly fearless they are fun to watch – now they have to become frequent winners. There may even be hope for Hunter Mahan in that he could use his Ryder Cup experience and the final match loss to be stronger and more competitive.

Euros are better than ever. Justin Rose, Roy McIlroy, U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and PGA winner Martin Kaymer lead the list and could Lee Westwood take a turn as world number one ranked player? Sergio Garcia may be ready to play to his potential and if not, the 17-year old Italian Matteo Manassero (winner of the Castello Masters, youngest European Tour winner…ever) has the looks and game to be an attraction. If fans like competition, and all claim they do, the operative statistic is Euros won three of the four 2010 majors and the Ryder Cup so they may be at, at last, parity with the Americans.

Speaking of non-Americans, extremely popular 41-year old Ernie Els has made the decision to live full time in Florida to play more on the PGA Tour. One can’t help but think of another international player who played out of a base in the Sunshine State, concentrated on the U.S. events, and after the age of 40 won 26 times worldwide (24 times in this country including one major) and who has been induced into the Hall of Fame. Wouldn’t it be exciting if the Big Easy could do the same as Vijay Singh?

So the next one of your friends goes into a dissertation about the sad state of golf you can remind him or her there are some very positive things going on.

Any visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla. is enjoyable and frequent visitors often say they discover new items of interest each time they go. The Hall of Fame staff believes bringing in new exhibits and updating the permanent exhibits as their primary task and now they have initiated a new feature which promises to enhance and broaden a tour of the Hall.

Called “Voices from the Hall,” it is an audio guide device letting visitors hear Arnold Palmer tell stories of his close friend “Ike, ” President Dwight Eisenhower, or Byron Nelson telling of his early days as a professional or “Terrible” Tommy Bolt speaking about his legendary temper on the course.

Thirty-five members of the Hall of Fame contributed to these personal audio memories, two and one-half hours of which are available to provide visitors with a more information and anecdotes than can be had simply viewing the exhibits. The audio guide device is activated at 175 numbered stops in the museum. In addition to Palmer, Nelson and Bolt some of the other Hall members whose voices can be heard include Ben Crenshaw, Pete Dye, Carol Mann, Sandra Haynie, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Larry Nelson and Curtis Strange.

“Visitors will love stepping into the stories and personal accounts straight from the World Golf Hall of Fame members and other notable golf figures and historians heard on ‘Voices from the Hall’,” said Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “We are certain this audio tour will add great value to each guest’s visit and will leave them with even more information and special details they can only get here at the Hall.”

Five years in development, “Voices from the Hall” according to Peter will add more voices as new member are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

A few days before the Induction Ceremony for the 2009 class into the World Golf Hall of Fame Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive, took the time to sit down for an interview covering a wide range of topics.

The World Golf Hall of Fame, opened in 1998, is part of the sprawling World Golf Village development bordering Interstate 95 outside St. Augustine, Fla., and run by the not-for-profit World Golf Foundation. Support for the Foundation comes from the world’s golf tours and associations such as the PGA Tour, United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient plus major corporate help from Shell Oil and Ketel One Vodka. More…