Shack Show Episode 14 With Guest Damon Hack

A former New York Times and Sports Illustrated reporter, Damon Hack has transformed himself into a television personality as co-host of Golf Channel’s Morning Drive.

In response to the death of George Floyd and protests around the United States, Hack penned this column for GolfChannel.com that went viral and has hopefully commenced more dialogue within the golf community.

I chatted with him for this week’s Shack Show about the piece, the reaction he’s received and his life in golf. Plus much more about the state of affairs in golf. You can listen here or past shows via Apple podcasts or in the iHeart app or wherever you get your shows.

Show Notes:

Hack’s GolfChannel.com column.

His story on Jay Monahan grappling with how the PGA Tour should respond.

Maurice Allen’s commentary on GolfDigest.com.

Maurice Allen On "Being Black In A White Sport"

Maurice Allen, the 2018 World Long Drive champion, shared his thoughts in a GolfDigest.com guest piece on “being black in a white sport.” The thoughts are jarring and upsetting but well worth your time to digest.

Allen also goes pretty deep into some of the bizarre psyche’s permeating parts of the game and which we all have possibly sensed, but maybe tried to not think about.

Of course there are things like this…

In my part of the game, the long-drive arena, we’re supposed to be flashy, to be entertainers. Except white long drivers are praised for being colorful and flamboyant, while I’m called a showboat.

But this is the paragraph that proved most unnerving and applicable to way too many elements of the sport.

That’s what breaks my heart about golf. It’s supposed to be a game of integrity. I’ve found it to be anything but. I’m not talking about it being elitist. I’m talking about its entitlement. To me, that word means something different. Because when you’re entitled, you have a responsibility to use that privilege in a meaningful way. Instead, golf acts as a club. It’s often hard to get in, or it makes excuses for the errors of those in the club. We have given so many excuses for foolishness that you delay change. You’re not dealing with the actual situation. If we have a problem, we have to address it.

Troubled Times Prompt Golf Digest Pledge To Better Reflect The Game, Society

Golf Digest Executive Editor Jerry Tarde penned an intriguing piece outlining the magazine’s intent to “accelerate golf’s journey of understanding” on a number of issues at the forefront. After a nice setup detailing the sport’s history with race and inequality issues, Tarde outlines the pledges:

—We at Golf Digest will commit to making the images and subjects of our golf content as well as our staff better reflect the diversity of the world around us. Both the game’s population and our own record here have been inadequate.

—We will continue to advocate for more access and affordability.

Continue, start, either would be great!

—We will increase our coverage of municipal golf—the lifeblood for attracting minority participation.

—We will support the golf industry’s collective efforts through The First Tee, in which 48 percent of participants represent minorities.

—We will promote sustainability in all its forms, because we know the ravages of climate change hit the poor and minorities the hardest.

—And we golfers promise to use our voice and influence to make gentle the life of this world.

Obviously this is a wonderful goal and a welcome pivot. Unfortunately, it’s way too late.

For decades Golf Digest has supported ideals contrary to the values pledged above. In repeatedly rewarding difficult, expensive, ridiculously-conditioned and ultra-private golf via the influential Golf Digest rankings and awards for a solid forty years, untold damage has been done to the sustainability prospects of the game.

Decades of editorial apathy and even hostility to the notion of equipment regulation or those taking stance with sustainability in mind has been partly driven by protecting commercial interests. The resulting expansion of golf’s scale, cost and environmental footprint has not made the game healthier.

The bad news for Golf Digest? Advocacy efforts highlighting the need to move in a different direction have been taken up by a variety of independent outlets that recognized long ago who had the game’s best interests at heart.

Golf Figures Adding To The National Dialogue: LPGA, Varner, Rodgers, Pieters, Woods And Hack

As athletes in other sports shared their support for anti-racism forces protesting within the United States, the golf world has been deliberate in chiming in. Something, Morning Read’s Alex Miceli points out, would be irresponsible at best.

That said, as many cities are under curfew orders and the sports grapples with how to respond, some in golf have chimed in. Notably, on the sports organization front, the LPGA was the first with this statement:

pic.twitter.com/bKL0GcOM9Z

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 1, 2020

Among pro golf set, Harold Varner posted this:

There is a lot of of beauty and love in this world. I pray for equality & social justice as we all so desperately deserve that in this day and age. I pray for humanity even more because regardless of color, WE need each other to make that change. Stay safe. Love you guys ✊🏿✊🏽✊🏻 pic.twitter.com/LrFEff94IF

— Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 1, 2020

Other pros to weigh in so far are Patrick Rodgers, Thomas Pieters and Tiger Woods:

View this post on Instagram

I have a voice, and this is a time and a matter to use it. #blacklivesmatter Ways to take action: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

A post shared by Patrick Rodgers (@prodgersgolf) on May 31, 2020 at 7:16pm PDT

Black lives matter. I would want my American friends I met at U of I and across America to not be treated any different because of the color of their skin. As a president please unite your people now and give them solutions.

— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) June 1, 2020

pic.twitter.com/Wn7EoTInzU

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 2, 2020

And Golf Channel Morning Drive host Damon Hack posted this column on GolfChannel.com as he struggles with the times and the deja-vu all-over-again state of affairs.

Not again. 

What can I do?

What can the golf industry do?

The sports world?

My country?

Can I share my pain with you or does my pain not count, since I’m on TV and all?

You’ve made it. What do you have to be mad about? You should be grateful.

Thing is, I am grateful. But I’m also sad and tired and incredulous that I’m having the exact same conversations with my sons that my father had with me.

NY Post: "NYC golf courses devastated by continued coronavirus shutdown"

While most Americans and the world are safely returning to golf—97% of U.S. courses according to National Golf Foundation surveys—the situation in New York is less rosy for golfers. In the New York city area, Mark Cannizzaro reports on the 13 courses in the five burroughs remaining closed.

“It’s devastating,’’ Rich McDonough, the director of golf at Marine Park in Brooklyn, told The Post on Friday. “You’re talking about multi-million-dollars-a-year businesses that have absolutely no ability to operate, and there’s no reason whatsoever why they’re not open.’’

Mike Giordano, who operates Marine Park as the concessionaire, said he “thought initially it was going to end in a couple weeks, then it became a month now we’re into our third month.’’
“This could be a death blow to us,’’ Giordano told The Post. “Nobody has unlimited funds. You exhaust your funds as the clock keeps ticking.’’

Giordano said he’s spending $100,000 per month to maintain the golf course with no revenue coming in and — most appallingly — no communication from City Hall.

Upstate, Sal Maiorana, James Johnson and Brodie Inguaggiato, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle look at how recreational pursuits were faring and focused on the troubles of golf courses dealing with mass food and beverage cancellations, and tee-time spacing.

Clearly, the food and beverage end of the golf business is suffering, but so, too, is the actual playing of the game.

Edmister said Blue Heron Hills had a flurry of early play in March thanks to unusually cooperative weather, and when the one-week, state-mandated shutdown of golf facilities was lifted in early April, the golfers were back out playing, but certainly not at the numbers you’d typically see.

The continued guidelines imposed by the state on social distancing, the prohibition of cart use, which has only recently been lifted — along with the fact that some people simply aren’t comfortable leaving their homes yet — have cut deeply into the bottom line. 

“The PGA of America is recommending 10- to 15-minute intervals for tee times,” Edmister said. “That hurts you at the end of the day when you might have 80 tee times and now you’re down to 40.”

In contrast, reader Gary sent me this note today, which mirrors what I’ve been seeing on social media and in conversations with golfers who have been out playing.

I live in Nassau County, Long Island and play at the public county course (Eisenhower Park. The county guidelines have tee times split 16 minutes apart. Golf is so much more enjoyable this way as the pace of play has been reduces by about 30-40 minutes. While I understand that the economics of this reduces revenue, the enjoyability factor is much greater.

NGF: 97% Of U.S. Courses, 80% Of Retail Now Open

The latest COVID-19 update from the National Golf Foundation features quite a bit on the retail sector now that 97% of U.S. courses have reopened for play.

Over 80% of golf retail stores are now open, though only 12% of golfers surveyed say they’ve visited.

This longer story highlights some of the retail sector findings.

And here is the update on the course side, where the 97% number is up from 44% in early April.

Flashback: Tim Finchem Predicted There Would Be More Than 50 Million Golfers By 2020

Adam Schupak considers the condition of the golf industry and there are plenty of cautionary signs despite full tee sheets after COVID-19 lockdowns. Check out the piece as there are several interesting components to consider if you are in the industry, including the issues facing courses reliant on more than green fees.

But in the piece reminded us that this was the year we were going to have 50 million golfers and NFL style ratings. At least, in a now-buried presentation Tim Finchem from November 17, 2000.

Actually, he predicted 55 million golfers and a billion rounds a year (slide above).

NGF: 95% Of U.S. Courses Open, Golfers Finding Normalcy On Course Than Elsewhere

The week-of-May 17th National Golf Foundation COVID-19 pandemic report shows a lot of positive signs in the way of course re-openings, consumer sentiment and maybe most fascinating of all: golfers finding more “normalcy” at the golf course than other places in their lives.

The graph here grabbed for posterity:

The NGF’s CEO, Joe Beditz, was on The Shack Show to shed light on this important work to keep the golf industry informed in these bizarre and awful times. As I noted then, these kinds of stats compiled by the NGF are going to have an incredible calming and informative effect that will hopefully guide the U.S. game through this difficult time.

The Shack Show Episode 11: Hank Haney Joins The Bifurcation Crowd

In these dark times it does not take much to make a bifurcationista happy, but hearing on The Hank Haney Show that Hank Haney is now pro-bifurcation after seeing 350-yard-plus drives on a soggy course, well, it’s enough to make a bifurcationista shed a tear of joy.

Not only did the legendary instructor and analyst come around on his post TaylorMade Driving Relief show, but on a follow up pod as well.

So naturally (and because my name was mentioned), I had to flesh out this charming and very respectable change of position on a matter of crucial consequence.

Oh, Hank’s new instruction book.

The Apple podcasts link.

UK Clubs, Green Fees And Replacing Lost Tourism Revenue

The UK Golf Guy has done some incredible research into guest green fee spikes at the UK’s famous courses.

Given the state of affairs, with some centuries old clubs facing potential calamity and many others seeing a huge revenue hit, he argues that lowering fees and welcoming some domestic tourism could be vital to survive the downturn.

Some of the research on green fee changes is really impressive, so hit the link and give him a follow. But

I’ve looked at the increase in green fees for a selection of top courses since 2000. The average summer weekend green fee for these courses in 2000 was £88. Coming in to summer 2020, the average for that same group is over £240. Had the cost increased in line with UK inflation then the average would be only £145.

The highest percentage rises have come at three Open courses - Royal St George’s, Carnoustie and Muirfield. All have gone from sub-£80 a round to over £250. Others, like North Berwick and Cruden Bay, have seen improvements in their course rankings which will have been a catalyst for their increases.

The great Australian golfer, and professor/student of the game, Peter Thomson said that no golf course in the world should charge more than a round at the Old Course, but now a round at Turnberry is almost twice as much.

The increases have been eye-watering, but tee-time sheets have still been filled. There have always been enough visitors willing to pay the prices, while the local market has largely been priced out of playing some of the nation’s most revered courses.

“We’re Out of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer—and Golf Pushcarts?”

Pre-pandemic, push carts were already infinitely more accepted in the United States than at any point in my lifetime. Largely due to college golfers adopting them in the last seven years or so, pre-pandemic American golfers were increasingly overcoming the supposed embarrassment of using one over a motorized golf cart.

The rest of the world has always been perfectly fine with push carts, pull carts, trolleys, etc… and now, with physical distancing rules or some courses limiting cart usage, the day has arrived when we are witnessing not only an appreciation but a run on the simple devices. Some of the finest courses in the world where they were once forbidden are now okay with push carts. AND golfers changing their shoes in the parking lot.

(Visualize shocked Emoji here.)

Of course any form of walking, even with a push cart is better exercise, connects you with the course and your group (if all walking) and is just a quieter, calmer, more centered experience.

I’ve heard from golfers enjoying the push cart (Charlie Rymer discussed on Shack Show Ep. 2 about his golf in Myrtle Beach with his beloved electric push cart and how much more he’s enjoying non-cart golf). And frequently, I’ve heard from others asking if I know a guy who knows a guy who might have an extra for sale.

Jason Scott Deegan was the first to cover the topic for GolfAdvisor and covered many elements for those needing a reference piece.

But this on the manufacturing side is noteworthy.

"There's been a tremendous rush for push carts," said Craig Ramsbottom, the president of Dynamic Brands, which sells popular BagBoy models like the Nitron. "It caught us off-guard. The demand, it’s hard to describe. ... Over the last week, we got down to zero carts. It's amazing. Whether it was a slower moving model or color, anything and everything sold."

The Wall Street Journal’s Andrew Beaton has tackled the topic as well in a piece “We’re Out of Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer—and Golf Pushcarts?”

Suddenly, people eager to trade the misery of sheltering in place for the frustration of chasing around a tiny ball realize they need a pushcart.

Mr. Hansen is the national sales manager for ProActive Sports Group, which distributes Clicgear, a line hyped as the “Rolls-Royce of pushcarts.” His firm typically has a strong sense of how much inventory it needs for a season. It takes the estimates, adds a fudge factor and places orders long in advance.

None of its statistical models accounted for a pandemic. As soon as golf courses changed protocols, pushcarts began flying off shelves. Courses tried to order them in bulk. Retailers that sold out wanted more. Individuals went hunting online.

The U.S. has no strategic pushcart reserve. Distributors say it can take weeks or months to get new shipments, a process hardly made easier by coronavirus supply-chain disruptions.

Regular golf carts are never going away and a significant profit motive will always keep them safe. Besides, way too many courses are tough to play without one. But in this bizarre time, let the push cart join things like better tee time spacing, unraked bunkers and slower green speeds as having gained fans.

"Coronavirus is retiring the handshake. Here’s why that could change sports forever"

The LA Times’ David Wharton got the Column One slot to make a substantial consideration of the hand shake in sports going forward.

A sampler but as always, I recommend hitting the link for the full piece:

“It’s just one thing that should change and probably will change,” University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari said on the “BBN Live” show. “The game ends, you point. ‘See you after.’ Call the guy on the phone. These kids stay in touch anyway.”

If the custom fades — and not everyone thinks it will — experts hope something else will take its place.

Contact might not be required, the mere orientation of the hand conveying fundamental information. Think of a friend raising his hand in greeting or people turning their palms upward in exasperation or confusion.

So a simple nod and wave might suffice, or maybe the Hindu greeting of namaste, with hands pressed together as in prayer. When the PGA Tour returns with a tournament next month, officials have asked players to consider “a tip of the cap or an air fist bump or something from a distance.”

“You wouldn’t get the full effect of the actual touch,” Givens said. “But the recognition of another’s physical presence, you’re taking them seriously.”

Air chest bumps have already been a thing in golf.

And maybe Bubba and Chairman Payne were onto something in 2012, minus the face touching.

Tiger On The "Gear Effect" Of Old Persimmon Heads

You may recall that Justin Thomas posted about a seemingly random round with Rickie Fowler playing a persimmon driver.

Turns out, that was inspired by a round a few days prior when Tiger Woods brought out his high school driver for a birthday celebration round with Thomas, Fowler and Bud Cauley. He told GolfTV’s Hennie Zuel that it’s “fun to see those guys try and hit something that small”.

And then this for those who’d like to see pros play a slightly smaller driver head.

“The gear effect is incredible. You hit the ball off the heel, it starts so far left. You hit the ball off the toe, it starts so far right. But it always comes back. Our drivers don’t come back anymore. They don’t have that gear effect. 

The full clip from GolfTV:

The story of @TigerWoods making JT and Rickie hit his high school driver. pic.twitter.com/pLFGhWJ97a

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) May 14, 2020

World's Seventh Oldest Club Offering Membership Specials

The incredible Fraserburgh is offering options for membership to help raise funds for both domestic and international players. I wrote about the course here for GolfDigest.com and Ran Morrissett published this profile many years back.

You can check out the primary offerings here and the more extensive options here.

A Seminole Primer And Preview Plus A Distance Debate Note

Michael Bamberger predicts that Seminole will be the real star of Sunday, May 17th’s TaylorMade Driving Relief Skins Game.

The club’s history with elite players dates to Ben Hogan’s era and his affinity for the place, as Jim McCabe writes for PGATour.com.

Making its national TV debut Sunday on NBC and Golf Channel (2 pm ET), the Donald Ross design could come off a bit underwhelming with limited production values due to safety concerns. But Andy Johnson’s article about the Ross approach to a tough site is worth a read as well as for Jeffrey Bertch’s photos.

David Normoyle also looks at Seminole and captures some of what makes it special.

Seminole is admirable and worthy of study because Donald Ross, helped by several other architects since 1929, offers for us today a course in the swamps of Florida very much like St. Andrews and the National in that: 1) it is remarkably easy for a group of average golfers to get around quickly, while 2) being remarkably difficult for an expert in that same group to get the ball into the hole quickly.

That is the holy grail in golf design, and Seminole achieves it. Few others do, though many more should.

Finally, there is the foursome taking on the course and what Mssrs. McIlroy, Fowler, Johnson and Wolff might do to make Seminole look like a museum piece.

Bamberger has a theory that this could be one final eye-opener to kick start distance regulation conversations currently on hold.

Henry Kissinger likes to say that great historical events begin with great personalities. The resurrection of the 560-yard par-5 may not qualify as a great historical event, but it would make for better golf.

Rees Jones, a Seminole member and the course-architect sometimes called The Open Doctor, believes that. Mike Davis, the USGA’s CEO, is a Seminole member and a driving force behind the USGA’s recent Distance Report, believes that. Nick Price, a Seminole member and USGA executive committee member, believes that.

Seminole will be the site of next year’s Walker Cup match. That will give Jimmy Dunne, the Seminole president, and Mike Davis plenty of opportunity to compare notes and their wish lists. McIlroy, as the son of a Seminole member, as a U.S. Open winner, as a former GB&I Walker Cupper, can offer his insights. He can help chart a course. He can persuade the lodge brothers — his fellow touring pros — that the time has come.

Tipping points are movements. Movements start with people. They start with a message. Enter Rory, a microphone under his chin.