"Why golf’s toughest job is growing harder"

While the golf industry is enjoying a renaissance, Bradley Klein asks “at what cost to superintendents?”

Besides the strains of the pandemic and other issues with the labor market, he points out several factors of concern for all in maintenance and at golf courses. Including this:

Retention of labor at a golf course has always been an issue. It is perennially difficult to find folks who are willing and able to show up at 5:30 a.m. on weekends. Most crews are now on flexed schedules allowing alternate weekends or weekend days off, for example. But the telltale signs of inexperience are there. I recall, for example, one example of a superintendent who has to scout the greens each morning and repair damaged cups from sloppy cup cutting.

Courses have all had to increase their wage rates to retain labor in the face of stringent challenges from ancillary job sectors like landscape, building construction and home repair. And at the skilled level, the shortage is evident in the difficulty superintendents have had in recruiting qualified technicians and assistants. The ranks of the country’s university level golf agronomy programs are depleted. Golf is a great game but, increasingly, it is not being perceived as a great career.

Bryson To Winged Foot Kids: Focus On Recovery After Your Speed Training

Winged Foot welcomed back 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and he gave a clinic to what could easily be misconstrued as an annual gathering of the Young Spalding Smails Society.

But he brought a sensible message of speed training and recovery talk to the kids, reports Golf.com’s Luke Kerr-Dineen.

“Take two days out of the week, and on those days for an hour swing with as much effort as you can,” DeChambeau said. By simply swinging with maximum effort, DeChambeau says, you’ll be building your golf muscles and breaking the neurological barriers that prevent you from maximizing your potential.

And after that, take your time to relax, he says. Allow your muscles to recover, work on increasing your flexibility and get your body ready for its next session.

“Recovery is key,” DeChambeau says. “Those 48 hours after speed training, are so important. Giving your muscles time to recover, and your nervous system to rest is so important, and not something I thought about when I started [speed training].”

And kids, whatever you do, don’t bet away the trust fund, ok?

“Walking is now here to stay”

After years of New York Times story on golf’s decline it’s nice to see the enterprise acknowledging its resurgence. The latest is a super Bill Pennington piece filled with great stats about the resurgence of walking during the pandemic and now continuing after golf cart restrictions have been lifted.

“People discovered they liked walking and even when Covid rules were lifted this year and carts came back, people were like, ‘No, we’re going to keep walking,’” said Jerramy Hainline, the senior vice president of GolfNow, an online tee-time service with nearly four million registered golfers that provides technology to more than 9,000 golf courses. “Walking is now here to stay.”

If that remains true, it will bring new light to recent studies that have championed golf’s health benefits. In 2018, a consortium of public health experts, with help from several governing bodies including the World Golf Foundation, researched 342 previously published studies on the sport and linked playing golf with better strength and balance and a lower risk of heart disease. A 2008 Swedish study of 300,000 golfers found the death rate for golfers to be 40 percent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which translated to a five-year increase in life expectancy. Golfers with lower handicaps were the healthiest, perhaps because they played more.

And the M’s are playing a huge part in the shift according to Pennington.

A survey of nearly 25,000 golfers released last month by KemperSports, which manages 120 golf facilities nationwide, discovered that players new to the game since last year’s pandemic were almost 33 percent girls or women, which is nearly 10 percent higher than the industry average. More than 26 percent of the new golfers were 18 to 34 years old, roughly four percent above the national average.

“We had been missing the Millennials and Gen Z demographic in golf,” Steven Skinner, the Kemper Sports chief executive officer, said. “But they’re into fitness and more willing to throw a bag on their back and walk. That’s been part of why they’ve really jumped into the game.”

This doesn’t bode well for the Shark Experience that was destined to break the governing body “cast iron” fist.

The Quadrilateral: Oakmont Adds Clarity To Distance Debate

Oakmont’s 10th and 11th holes (Google Earth)

It's time to pucker up and praise today's mega-athletes for their superior intelligence. And then make some long overdue equipment rules changes. That’s the case I make after seeing Oakmont played in positively insane ways during last week’s U.S. Amateur.

This one is for The Quad’s fine paying folks but I’ll be back Thursday for all subscribers with notes and a Carnoustie preview.

Open Letter To Brian Roberts: For The Sake Of Our Sport, Please Sell Golf Channel

I really wanted to dive into the 2021 U.S. Amateur and still will, but Sunday’s musical channels comes on top of other madness in the name of synergy. Golf is getting hosed.

So in the latest Quad open to all, my open letter to the Comcast CEO begging for a sale to one of the obvious options.

State Of The Game: Richard Gillis And The New World Order

On the latest State of the Game, Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and I discussed the European Tour’s future on word of the latest “Strategic Alliance” news.

Check it out here or wherever you get your pods.

Guest Richard Gillis’ Unofficial Partner newsletter was a big part of the discussion. It’s a great subscribe for those interested in sports business. As always, we thank him for coming on the show!

Golf's Top 100 "Value" Courses, 2021 Edition

It’s always fun to see Rustic Canyon ranked, but no list matters more than Golf’s Top 100 Value Courses with a green fee of $150 or less. So to place 4th and therefore best in California, is pretty neat.

Also fun to see recognition for some places I’ve been too or have heard great things about, like Wild Horse, Corica Park, Tanglewood, Aiken, Charleston Muni, Palatka and Presidio.

USGA CEO Whan On Distance: "It would be irresponsible for us not to relook at something that the last significant look was 1976."

Thanks to reader JT for Beth Ann Nichols’ interview of new USGA CEO Mike Whan that was posted July 13th, the week of The Open Championship.

It’s an odd bit of timing given that you’d think they’d not want to stampede on the R&A is having its big week. Either way, I doubt many saw it due to the poor timing. However, Whan makes a few noteworthy comments before the headliner on distance.

• He started the job in mid-May and called word of his July 1 start as “a nice media headline.” That’s because the media did not know otherwise.

• He’s says it’s “embarrassingly past time” for the USGA to jumpstart a “USA Development Team” for young women golfers. “It doesn’t come as a shock me that in my 12 years I think I saw maybe 11 weeks of a U.S. player being No. 1 in the world,” he said. Making the USGA into a talent development organization would certainly be a huge leap in philosophy and yet another eye-off-the-ball move. The U.S. currently has seven women in the world top 25.

On the distance debate he’s taking a smart approach probably shaped by the legal team he’s been meeting with since mid-May: why not review the 1976 Overall Distance Standard?

I’ve said this many times, but the last time really that the USGA (looked at it), in an attempt to establish a maximum distance with perfect launch conditions, was 1976. Think about any other sport or any other business, if the last time you really looked at the farthest standard was 30-plus years ago. The NBA didn’t have a three-point shot or a shot-clock; football’s goal post was on the goal line.

Everybody evolves not only to make the game better, but to make sure it’s great for the next 100 years. It’s important. I won’t lie to you and say it’s going to be popular, but it’s important and I think it would be irresponsible for us not to relook at something that the last significant look was 1976.

I feel like if you want to critique the USGA, the fair critique is why not before now? I think that’s a fair critique. But why now? I think you’re stretching if you don’t think at some point we need to make sure we establish some new parameters.

Nothing to complain about there. Well, in most communities.

Bryson's Bagman Opens Up on Subpar Pod, Shares A Few State Secrets

I couldn’t find a listing on Golf.com for the latest episode—maybe in case staff member Bryson DeChambeau logs on. Mercifully there are multiple podcast outlets where you can listen to caddie Tim Tucker discuss the big breakup with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz.

Besides apologizing for the Rocket Mortgage eve quitting and talking about his new life up at Bandon Dunes running a long planned luxury shuttle service, Tucker reveals how the old boss could be “very demanding” (no kidding!) and this which could be seen as a state secret reveal.

From GolfChannel.com’s Ryan Lavner’s interview highlights:

“That to me is one of the most important things we’ve done – green density,” Tucker said. “Understanding I’m hitting a 7-iron with 6200 (rpm) spin landing into a 2% slope, it’s gonna run out four yards on a 6mm green density. That’s important and it’s predictable.”

Kids, don’t try this at home. Just play a practice round and trust what you feel under your feet.

"Women Golfers Are Embracing the Power Era. Is That a Good Thing?"

Paul Sullivan takes an NY Times look at chasing distance through the eyes of a few LPGA Tour players and it’s fascinating to read that some already regret the effort. But it’s also staggering to see the dispersion of average distances compared to the men.

The difference between the longest hitter on the L.P.G.A. Tour and the 168th ranked player, who is the last one on the list, is 60 yards. On the Ladies European Tour, which co-sanctions the Evian with the L.P.G.A., the difference is 79 yards between first and 168th place.

But even those numbers may downplay how far the longest hitters drive the ball, because the bombers do not always have to reach for their drivers to get maximum distance; they can play it safe with a 3-wood or iron and still be way out there.

By contrast, the difference between the longest hitter on the PGA Tour and number 168 is 33 yards. And almost all of those players are capable of hitting the ball 300 yards or more.

Anyway, it’s a good story and one to bookmark if you’re the parent of an aspiring young woman wondering if distance must be chased.

Langer On Distance Regulation: "They haven't done anything...it's just common sense"

Golf Monthly’s Andy Wright reports on Bernhard Langer’s pre-Senior Open comments regarding distance and rendering venues like this week’s host, Sunningdale, obsolete.

“The R&A and the USGA are making our rules, we try to play by their rules and so far they haven’t done anything really of any great impact to bring the ball back or any of that,” Langer, who is looking to win his 12th senior major this week, said. 

No, they haven’t.

“They’ve obviously put restrictions on the trampolining effect on the driver but people are hitting the ball incredibly far, the young folks. 

“It’s a fascinating part of the game, so it’s a difficult decision and I do get it, because people come out and watch Bryson DeChambeau, right? Because he is the longest guy on tour right now, or one of the longest, and it’s fascinating to watch.

“People came out to watch John Daly because he could hit it really far and if you take that away, then you make the game maybe less attractive.”

Then again, tees can be moved up and depending on the execution of any regulation, a case could be made for real long hitters standing out more, getting a greater advantage for their skill and the thrills of players driving a green or going for a par-5 in two offsetting whatever would be lost in altering today’s version of golf.

“But at the same time, you’re making some golf courses obsolete in terms of the distances that they’re hitting it and golf becomes a little more expensive because you used to have 7,000 yards of golf, now you need 8,000 yards. 

“You need an extra 1,000 yards, more or less that you need to take care of, maintain, rent, buy or whatever you want to call it, water it. It’s just more expensive to do an extra 1,000 yards than not, it’s just common sense.”

Yes it is.

Remember To Thank Your Marshals And Security Guards, Files: Vijay's Flop Shot, Rory's Driver Gets Lifted

While I’d like to find humor in the awertwqret Scottish Open situation involving Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, this could have been a total disaster. Apparently post-COVID there needs to be a reminder that marshals and security guards are needed more than ever to protect players from fans. Or fans from players.

Two beauties over the last two days:

Here's an angle that shows the thieving golf fan prepare to tee off with Rory McIlroy's club and club head cover. But he took to long though... pic.twitter.com/gpdnLQkSMr

— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) July 9, 2021

**Update: the players were asked and were not alarmed by it. They aren’t paid to be smart. From ESPN.com’s Connor O’Halloran’s story:

"I was surprised. Everyone saw what happened on TV," McIlroy said when asked about the incident. "It was handled efficiently and everything was OK. I had no idea who it was."

"Me and Rory didn't say anything," added Jon Rahm, who set the early clubhouse target with a 65 to go 11 under overall on Day 2. "He was holding a 6-iron and I didn't want to get hurt.

"It didn't put anyone off. If anything, it put a smile on our faces. It will be a pretty good story to tell in the future."

The one that comes with a knife next time will be a story to tell, too.

Also, the gentleman treating the trespasser as if he was asking for directions is rather astoundingly kind. We love the Scots and their hospitality but in this case? Where is Stevie Williams when you need him?

An AP account included this statement from the European Tour:

“At approximately 8am on Friday morning, a spectator entered the tenth tee area,” a statement from the European Tour read. “He was quickly escorted from the tee by security personnel and the matter is in the hands of Police Scotland.”

If that’s a quick escort from the tee…

And here is Vijay Singh hitting this recovery shot at the U.S. Senior Open. Why the fans were not moved a little wider is beyond me, or what was in that ball to cause the poor man to go down so hard is also a mystery. I’m sure Vijay got him another beer though.

Turned on the US Senior Open for one second and this is what comes on. @BrendanPorath @the_woke_yolk pic.twitter.com/dYncnextUR

— Ben Cousins (@cousins_ben) July 8, 2021

Video: Brandon Stone Takes A Hickory Test

You may recall Brandon Stone’s wife got him some Longhorn-themed hickories during what turned out to be a victorious 2018 Scottish Open win. While he was mostly enamored with burnt orange grips applied at the Jack White shop in Gullane, the South African and Texas Longhorn went on to take his hickories to the Old Course.

I mention all this to point out he was not going into this sampling session for GolfTV without hitting hickories before. His strikes with the old irons are particularly impressive. And so is Stone’s swing, no matter what club he’s hitting.

How about try old equipment with the modern ball?

— Mark Salazar (@salazama) July 7, 2021

East Lothian Week: All 18 From North Berwick, Plus Scotland Golf Guides

David Jones has given us a few wonderful gifts to kick off Scottish Open week in East Lothian. With things not quite back to normal, don’t expect to see players posting videos of their rounds at North Berwick and Gullane, but that’s where Jones and his UK Golf Guy site come in handy with a fresh look at the West Links.

But before that, I’ve long been meaning to direct you to the fantastic map he’s created of Scotland golf courses. At first glance this might seem unnecessary in a world where we have phone maps. But if you’re planning a trip there, or just dreaming of one, having a hard copy is incredibly helpful thanks in part to elements Jones incorporated of all 550 courses. Key elements:

• Every golf course in Scotland open for public play


• Top 100 courses in Scotland noted by a different color

• Number of holes for courses under 18 holes shown 


• Detailed insets for the Edinburgh and Glasgow areas


• Journey distance times between key courses


• Clear road mapping of mainland and islands


• Ferry routes


The chart for driving distances is worth the price alone, especially when tour operators can be prone to schedule some odd day-to-day adventures for unsuspecting visitors.

The price? £9.99 with free delivery in the UK and £3 for global shipping.

Now, on to the magnificent North Berwick which is pretty well documented, but not like this. I’m normally not one to like rear views but Jones used the super-early light (4:30 am, gulp) and different perspectives to show off the links like we’ve never seen before. It does highlight a few fairway contours that could use some widening to show off even more features, but I won’t quibble. Sit back and enjoy:

And the good folks at Scotland’s Golf Coast have a downloadable guide if you go to their website:

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Shadow Creek Primed To Be The First $1000 Green Fee Course

GolfDigest.com’s Stephen Hennessey with the gory details of Shadow Creek becoming the first $1000 green fee course, though it also requires staying at an MGM property so the price is actually higher.

Good news, it’s only $750 during off-peak months.

Meanwhile Pebble Beach is still below $600, but also requires a Lodge or Spanish Bay stay.