Golf Magazine Helps You Plan A Buddies Trip To The Kingdom...Of Saudi Arabia

Oh I know you think I’m going all April 1 here and it would seem very foolish to advocate an away game to Saudi Arabia given the scarcity of courses and the Crown Prince’s murderous ways.

But that’s just what Golf Magazine has done in its latest issue as part of an overall package that also included Golf.com relentlessly hawking a new Jack Nicklaus design deal for parent company 8AM Golf.

Based on the screen captures sent my way, the (wisely) unbylined story appears to outline Saudi Arabia’s five courses and gets yet another mention in for the unbuilt Nicklaus project. Since the magazine’s ads are mostly just 8AM companies owned by Howard Milstein and times are clearly tough, the copy apparently must become the ad. Sad. Especially given The Kingdom’s well known sportwashing goals and the absurdity of Americans needing to know about the region for a buddies trip.

I can safely say there are better golf trip alternatives closer to home now and for the next 1000 years.

Oh and I haven’t seen the full copy but I see the Road hole got dragged into this somehow. Charming.

Masters Quietly Offers First-Ever Glamping Experience In 2021

Google Earth view of Camp Masters

Not many people get to spend the night on the grounds of the 2021 Masters.

Few enjoy the privilege besides member accommodations in familiar cabins named after former Presidents, and the lucky amateurs choosing the Crow’s Nest.

But now Augusta National is offering its first ever “glamping” experience for select guests as part of the super-exclusive Berckmans Place hospitality operation. The glorified camping concept appears born out of the pandemic and allows lucky guests to pay a premium price for overnighting on the grounds of Augusta National.  

In a prospectus obtained by GeoffShackelford.com, staging for the Berckmans Place glamp site is just beyond the 12th green on newly acquired land from Augusta Country Club. Club sources say the revenues will help pay for the expensive land acquisition.

Here is the document detailing the Camp Masters offering. No price is listed.

PGA Tour Issues New On-Course Microphone Rules After Player Complaints

Justin Thomas uttering a homophobic slur was not the final straw. Nor were the many other salty language moments picked up by television microphones. 

Multiple sources have shared Commissioner Jay Monahan’s email to players outlining restrictive measures designed to reduce the PGA Tour’s overheard conversations and obscenities. High-quality audio became a focus of player ire in recent weeks when NBC microphones captured balls hitting the water.

“It seemed like it was louder this year and we got agents complaining about player brand damage due to the ker-plunk sound,” said a source.

The news all but dashes hopes of players wearing microphones or placement of mic’s in cups. Players have publicly pushed back at recent broadcaster efforts to share more of on-course conversations and have defied requests for on-course interviews.

Just last week at the WGC Dell Match Play, Jon Rahm told writers it was a privacy issue.

When asked for comment, the PGA Tour deferred all questions to their network partners. However, GeoffShackelford.com obtained the email sent to players by Commissioner Jay Monahan: 

Augusta National Women’s Amateur: In Future Years Practice Rounds May Be Played Following Tournament’s Conclusion

Always looking to fine tune their approach, the committee charged with running the Augusta National Women’s Amateur is considering moving the tournament’s practice round to a different day.

Currently, the “ANWA” underway near Augusta plays two competitive rounds at Champions Retreat and a 36-hole cut is made. The tournament is then stopped to allow the entire field a practice round at Augusta National whether or not the player has made it to Saturday’s final round.

The unusual tournament structure was created to avoid a club tradition.

“Johnny Harris has a popular Scotch foursomes game on Wednesday’s,” said a club source. “So moving the practice round to before the tournament just isn’t in the cards. Speaking of which, Trophy Room card games are also a big part of Mr. Harris’s Wednesday game.”

While playing the practice round after a winner has been decided might seem peculiar, sources within the club think it could make for great television despite the excitement created at the inaugural ANWA where Maria Fassi and Jennifer Kupcho dueled.  

“The Club has looked at how the Par-3 Contest has turned into a family affair,” said the source. “Seeing the women smiling in a more relaxed setting and charting the greens could really grow the women’s game.”

2021 U.S. Open: USGA Looking To Repurpose "From Many, One" Slogan

Two expensive casualties of the pandemic are facing different futures. 

While the PGA Tour’s “Live Under Par” slogan rehabs somewhere in the glossy new Global Home, multiple sources say the USGA is looking to repurpose its qualifying-inspired “From Many, One” campaign for the 2021 U.S. Open.

With Torrey Pines expected to see severely reduced fan capacity, the USGA saw an opportunity to reimagine its expensive spend. Brand experts applaud the organizations dexterity.

“From many spectators to one would confirm to all the severity of the financial hit they are taking while also utilizing existing messaging,” said advertising consultant Action Fitzpatrick. “Most of your creative is already done, so really it’s just a matter of inboarding your lead flows, standing up your rollout and tweaking the font colors to reflect a more somber tonality.”

Whiteboard alternatives of “From Many, One” have been spotted at the USGA’s Far Hills headquarters. A source not authorized to speak shared this image from a conference room:

Note the USGA’s former “For The Good Of The Game” slogan has been crossed off and is an unlikely option.

 The USGA has not responded to a request for comment.