“Rio 2016 is not aware of any changes to the ownership of the land"

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AroundTheRings.com follows up with Rio 2016 spokesman Carlos Villanova who doesn't seem to feel anything has changed with the golf course property selected for the first Olympic golf course.

“Rio 2016 is not aware of any changes to the ownership of the land where the City Hall intends to build the golf course,” Villanova said in an email to Around the Rings.

“We fully trust that City Hall will meet the deadlines for the planning, construction, and operation of the course.”

AP reported last Friday about a land ownership dispute that threatens the course's creation and construction.

R&A's Dawson: Distance Explosion Caused By Geezers Going Away, Flatbellies Taking Their Place

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I finally worked my way through the R&A media day transcripts and there are the usual insights and occasional comments that Peter Dawson will probably regret. There are some fun comments about Peter Alliss and slow play. But mostly, there's the indefensible discussion of remodeling courses to accommodate regulatory ineptitude, starting with this suggestion as to why the added distance at Lytham is not a big deal.

So the course is two and a half percent longer.  As I always say every year, instead of hitting it 100 yards, you'll have to hit it 102?.  So it's not revolutionary on length, but it does bring the course up closer to many of the others in overall distance.

So if you are only adding 2 yards to an approach shot, and it's not revolutionary, then why set such a bad example or commit to the expense in the first place?

Q.  Is Lytham pushed to the limit in terms of yardage?  I know it's a tight site.

PETER DAWSON:  There's always room to do something, but we're very close to the maximum to be honest.  There are one or two holes you could perhaps get another 20 yards out of, but that would probably spoil the holes, so we're happy at this length.  As you know, we've said that if hitting distances start to increase, we'll have to do something about it to that end.  But this golf course, as many others on The Open‑‑ that we use for The Open are at the distance they're going to be.  We don't envisage lengthening courses going forward.

Ohhh....there's a statement he'll regret!

Here was the inevitable next phase of the spin cycle...

Q.  (Inaudible.)

PETER DAWSON:  Well, what we've seen in the last year is an uptick of four yards I think it is on the PGA Tour but not on the European Tour or elsewhere in the world.  When you analyse that uptick, it's largely caused by new young players coming into the field and replacing older players who are moving on to the Senior Tour rather than individual players hitting the ball further.  That isn't happening.

And while there certainly is truth to a Corey Pavin being replaced by a Keegan Bradley, does he really think such activity is moving the PGA Tour number four yards? More importantly: "that isn't happening." Distance increases.

But we have our eye closely on it, and I think it's still true to say that we have not seen a significant uptick since the joint statement of principles in 2002.  But we've got our eye very closely on it.

Very closely!

And now for the rally killer of the day...

Q.  This will be the third time in four years they've played a par‑70.  Is that a concern?

And our worst question of 2012 goes to the man in the back from the Lytham Light And Shopper.

On Peter Aliss, who ESPN now slips into the Open telecast for about 15 minutes while someone takes a bathroom break.

Q.  I appreciate the BBC's trump card is the fact that the coverage is available to everyone.  How much of a trump card does Peter Alliss remain to you?

PETER DAWSON:  Well, you've still got the odd gem in there.  I know Peter causes quite a lot of polarisation of opinions, and many people I talk to still enjoy him very, very much and a number don't.  I think on balance he's an asset, but he's getting‑‑ not getting any younger.  I don't think so how long he'll carry on for.  But he's been the voice of golf for a long, long time over here.  And very interesting, if you go to America and talk about Peter Alliss, they think he is the God of the profession.

And this on long putters...

The subject is being looked at more from a rules of golf and method of stroke angle than it is from a length of club angle, and the reason for that is that if you thought you were going to do something about long putters by saying the putter may be no more than 40 inches long, that would still allow short people perhaps to belly putt but not tall people. 

That'd have to be someone pretty short!

Jim McArthur of the championship department made an interesting comment in response to the slow play question.

JIM McARTHUR:  Interestingly enough, I think when Bobby Locke won his Open Championship here at Royal Lytham he was reprimanded for slow play, and he took three and a half hours.

PETER DAWSON:  If you go back long enough when people were playing two rounds in a day at the Open, it's an indicator how pace of play has moved.

JIM McARTHUR:  We are very concerned about it, but we're doing everything we possibly can.  It is something where we need cooperation from other organisations, as well, to do anything.

Translation: Until the PGA Tour sets the precedent, the USGA and R&A are handcuffed. And we know the PGA Tour does not believe slow play is a problem. Well, Tim Finchem does not.

And finally, back to messing with golf courses...Dawson says his work is done!

Q.  (Inaudible.)

PETER DAWSON:  Well, usually we, first of all, discuss the need for modifications with the venue, with the club, and if the club is happy to embark on a programme of modifications, it's a process between the club, the R&A and the architect.  Sometimes the club will have architects that are experienced in its course, and other times we have used architects that we have been accustomed to, if you like, and used at Open venues.  That has resulted in a slightly closed process, which has troubled me once or twice, but the work that Martin Hawtrey (SP.) and Martin Ebert have done for us has been of a very high quality, and we're very happy with it.

I think we're coming to the end now of the course adjustment programme that we started ten years ago.  Of the upcoming venues, they have all now had the treatment, as it were, so we've pretty much finished the programme.  But we've been very happy with the work that's been done, and I think all the clubs and venues have, too.

The treatment work, as it were, is done. We shall see!

R&A Announces Course Lengthening Designed To Make 'Tee It Forward' Appealing To Royal Lytham Members

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Bernie McGuire with the gory details on this year's R&A rejigged venue.

Dawson said the biggest changes were made to the seventh, 10th and 11th holes. The 10th is 52 yards longer compared to 11 years ago, while No. 7 is 35 yards longer and has a completely new green. The 11th now measures 592 yards - 56 yards longer than last time.

The only holes that have not been changed are the par-4 fourth and par-3 12th.

"The course will still be a challenge for the modern player, and players will have to remember there are over 200 bunkers on Royal Lytham," Dawson said at a news conference.

And how many of those were added by the R&A?

"Is Bubba Watson going to be a true star?"

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Thoughtful analysis from Jaime Diaz on Bubba Watson now that the Masters dust has settled. Also love Streeter Lecka's image accompanying the story and the epic cover.

Watson's unique shapes are reminiscent of the way soft shafts, persimmon heads and balata balls allowed shots to be worked in past eras, except with extra zip and ADD-fueled creativity. Bubba's best example was the mind-bendingly hooked gap wedge from oblivion in sudden death that won him the Masters. Not since the similarly self-taught Lee Trevino came from nowhere to win the 1968 U.S. Open has a method and style almost instantly gone from being regarded as limited to transcendent.

More Q-School Demise Fallout: Walker Cup Captain Scouring Junior Ranks For Possible Players

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I think Scott Michaux was a bit stunned to find 2013 Walker Cup Captain Jim Holtgrieve scouting players at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, now in its second year of glorious excess. Holtgrieve confirms he is hitting the junior golf trail in anticipation of Q-School's demise causing top players to turn pro long before the Walker Cup at The National Golf Links.

“I’m going to be a little more cognizant about junior play because I think that’s probably where it’s going to go,” Holtgrieve said of the Walker Cup selection process. That’s a safe bet considering 2011 Sage Valley runner-up Patrick Rodgers made Holtgrieve’s 10-man roster last fall.

“Last year having Patrick Rodgers on the team was eye-opening,” said George Cunningham, 15, of Tucson, Ariz., who played in his second Junior Invitational.

Because of the pending changes to Q-School, Holtgrieve has received every indication that top American collegians Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth will pass up hanging around as amateurs another year in order to participate in the final Q-School that hands out PGA Tour cards. Cantlay and Spieth were Holtgrieve’s top point-getters with 2.5 each in last year’s Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen, and they would have been the expected leaders for next year’s campaign to win back the cup.

“Nobody is a lock, but there’s no doubt about it that both of them are great players and great ambassadors for the United States,” Holtgrieve said. “So selfishly I’m hoping they stay amateur and try to make the team again.”

Realistically, he knows that won’t happen. Because Holtgrieve understands that amateur and collegiate golf are all the unintended victims of the death of Q-School.

“Absolutely,” he said when the trickle-down consequence of Q-School’s demise was broached.

By the way, if you get weepy seeing the yellow jacket ceremony at the Junior Invitational presented by Electrolux, or nauseous at the sight of 16 year olds with caddies in white overalls, don't watch the final round highlights produced by PGA Tour Productions. They also had W on hand for the banquet.

Four Greens at TPC San Antonio To Be Rebuilt

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Golf World Monday's Ron Sirak notes the Valero Texas Open's inability to draw a field and the TPC San Antonio's AT&T Oaks Course, which was 50th of 53 in the Golf World player survey, appears to be the problem. He reports that four greens will be rebuilt and the unplayable lies just out of play will need to be addressed.

When Greg Norman and Pete Dye were selected to design the 36 holes at San Antonio, a policy board member famously suggested budgeting for the inevitable post-opening redo. Wonder if the Commissioner listened? Wait, what was I thinking. I'm sorry for wasting that last 15 seconds of your time.