USGA, Lexus And Amateurs Getting Cars

In the recently announced USGA-Lexus partnership, it is noted that courtesy cars will be available for player use.  Included in this is the U.S. Amateur, where a large portion of the field is under 25 (can't even rent a car) and nearly as many contestants are NCAA golfers.

So I'm wondering if these college golfers accept a courtesy car from the USGA (I'm still having trouble envisioning 312 actually being delivered for the U.S. Am), would they be allowed to accept this gift and the free gas that comes with it?

Any NCAA and amateur status gurus out there have thoughts on this? 

Torrey's Blind Shot

People say Torrey Pines lacks design subtlty or even the wonderfully quirky blind shots that you find on great links.

But I say they are wrong!

Did you see Tiger's third shot to 18 during the final round of the Buick? Yes, it appeared to be a blind shot!

Granted, it was that lovely Las Vegas-inspired fountain ejaculating so fiercely that it appeared on television to be an obstructed view of the flagstick! 

A masterful blend of design genius and algae control there at Torrey Pines.

Howell Takes FedEx Cup Lead; Media Wanted To Ask About It...

...but forgot? Ran out of time? Simply didn't care?

Nice going guys! It's okay, we don't care either.

But, if you have absolutely nothing to do, here are the standings.

And yes I'll say what needs to be said. It's tough to address these things, but someone has to do it.

If the FedEx Cup playoffs started today, Todd Hamilton would not be in them.

But just think of the storylines! 

Not So Pat Question and Pat-hetic Answer

Kudos to Peter Kostis for slipping in the "where will we see you next" question of Tiger in his post-final round Buick interview. Word has been quietly filtering out that he's likely not going to play at Riviera, and this was seemingly confirmed by Tiger's absurd answer about the long trip to Dubai and needing time to rest (though it did set up a nice zinger from Faldo about the trevails of traveling on a G5!).

Look Tiger, whether it's the traffic, the lousy weather, the poa greens, the lousy threadcount on the sheets at the Malibu beach house you rented, it doesn't matter. But don't claim fatigue with a week off after Dubai. You are more creative than that! 

But it also seems one of the writers (who!?) was pretty skeptical of Tiger's reasoning for likely skipping Riviera, and judging by the answer he received, the question hit a little too close to home...

 Q. If you don't play Nissan for whatever reason, if you're not ready or what-have-you, there will probably be some speculation like at East Lake where you're now at a point where you're trying to protect your streak, especially at a place like Riviera where you've never come close to winning; what would your answer be to that?

TIGER WOODS: People can say whatever they want. That's their opinion. They are entitled to it.

Pat Questions and Pat Answers

Besides Nick Faldo's debut, CBS introduced new graphics and going to one commercial, Jim Nantz plugged everything imaginable, and some cool Killers music reminiscent of an ABC telecast briefly appeared (but lots of tired Yanni for the most part).

The only highlight was the pairing of those two lovebirds, Tiger Woods and Peter Kostis. I'm not sure what exactly gave the love-hate away. The lack of eye contact? The distance between the two, or the general feel of a dentist office conversation?

Well as promised, Kostis delivered pat questions.

Your thoughts on today's round?

How did you feel in terms of your competitive spirit with three rounds under your belt this year?

How do you feel about the overall state of your swing and game?

Thoughts about tomorrow?

Credit for Kostis for not asking any pending fatherhood questions. Those are getting really old. And we have 6 months to go! 

"I sure hope there never comes a day where a kid says, 'I have this putt to win the FedExCup.'"

There's another donation for charity!

From Rich Beem's post second round press conference at Torrey Pines, courtesy of reader Scott:

 Q. Do you think kids will be wanting to win the FedExCup as much as the Masters or U.S. Open?

RICH BEEM: To be honest with you, this is an honest answer, I sure hope not. Because I think that that would be demeaning towards the majors and what everybody grows up -- I mean when I'm out practicing, when you see kids out there practicing, you know, seven-, eight-, nine-year-olds, even 15-, 16-year-olds, "I've got this putt to win the U.S. Open. I've got this putt to win The Masters."
I sure hope there never comes a day where a kid says, "I have this putt to win the FedExCup." I hate to say that because it sound like I'm bashing on the TOUR and the FedExCup and I'm not. I really hope that the kids are dreaming about winning a major championship and winning a title instead of winning something else. I just sure hope not.

JOE CHEMCYZ: Thanks, Rich.

RICH BEEM: Wow.

"I hope 112 years from now, American Express and Lexus will still be involved in a partnership with us."

Travelgolf's Chris Baldwin, talking to USGA Executive Committee members Irv Fish about the Lexus partnership:

"When we were looking at potential partners we were excruciatingly deliberate," Fish told me as waiters circled the room with smoked salmon and crab cake creations. "We passed on several opportunities that would have meant more money but didn’t fit as well. I’m confident that all the good we stand for will remain in place."

Fish is already envisioning a near nirvana future of feel-good Lexus ads.

"I can honestly see these partnerships lasting as long as we went without," Fish said. "We went 112 years without a sponsor. And I hope 112 years from now, American Express and Lexus will still be involved in a partnership with us."

There's always hope!

Say, just typing out loud here. Wouldn't you be more concerned that there be a USGA in 112 years?

It must be nice living inside that little USGA Executive Committee bubble where Blackberry's buzz and groupthink festers.

"I don't get the GOLF CHANNEL so I didn't see any of it."

Thanks to reader Scott for noticing this fun exchange between Brandt Snedeker and the scribblers. He's talking about how excited his parents were at his play and that they were watching it on The Golf Channel GOLF CHANNEL (thanks ASAP for reminding me it goes in caps). Snedeker is staying at the Hampton Inn where, well, he couldn't watch with them.

 Q. You keep on talking about your dad; is he here?
BRANDT SNEDEKER: He's not. He's at home watching on TV probably more nervous than I will ever be. He's sweating it out at home.

Q. Did you talk to him? What did he say?
BRANDT SNEDEKER: I talked to him last night. He's giddy as a school girl on cloud nine, could not be happier, just loving every minute of it. He and my mom are watching it on TV, they were watching the replay last night and I don't get the GOLF CHANNEL so I didn't see any of it. They said, give me play-by-play, and it's like, I was out there -- (laughter).
It was a good experience. They are excited and it's great to see them that fired up.

Q. What are their names?
BRANDT SNEDEKER: Larry and Candy. Staying at Hampton Inn. I'm not going to be Will MacKenzie and give you the room number. (Laughter.)

"It's a very rare to find a cross- promotional partner that shares so many brand attributes"

It's official, with this latest bit, I'm starting a Corporatespeak category. I just can't keep up with the latest lingo and what better way to relive the doublespeak than with a its very own journal topic listing.

Greg Hardwig in the Naples News shares these gems from Ed Kiernan of Peter Jacobsen Productions, talking about engineering the USGA-Lexus partnership.

"It's a very rare to find a cross- promotional partner that shares so many brand attributes, but in this instance we have found it," said Ed Kiernan, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Peter Jacobsen Productions.

"The key factors to fostering this relationship stem from Lexus' ongoing commitment to the game and their unwavering support of golf at all levels. The four USGA championships provide Lexus with a one-of-a-kind marketing platform to reach multiple stakeholders through tailored events, select ticket and hospitality opportunities, dealer engagement, co-branded promotions and critically important premium experiences."

Here's the buried money quote on the real reason behind the USGA partnership...

"It's a sizable deal. It's a big deal," Kiernan said. "They bought a sizable NBC package as well. ...

And...

"It's really going to mirror what they've done with the USTA (United States Tennis Association) and the U.S. Tennis Open."

And we know what great shape the USTA is in. Love the corporate banners all over the place too. Hope we get the same interaction opportunities at golf's U.S. Open.

Last month, American Express became the USGA's first corporate partner in its 112-year history.

One of the byproducts of that deal was that American Express card members could purchase sold-out Trophy Club tickets to the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

"We are pleased to play a part in this historic union between golf's governing body and the top-selling luxury nameplate in the U.S.," Kiernan said.

Bet you are jotting that one down right now. Top selling luxury nameplate...priceless. 

North Course Watch

Reader Marty notes that there were only four rounds over par during round 1 play at Torrey Pines's North Course.

 

Bryce Molder, Jerry Kelly, J. P. Hayes shot 73 and David Podas shot 76. Everybody else (74 players) matched or beat par.

Naturally, this will lead to the inevitable calls that the course is too easy and needs a renovation. Even though the North functions beautifully 51 weeks a year, someone is bound to declare that it has become outdated by today's "better athletes."

 

Let's see if anyone writes a North Course obit, or at least laments that Rees Jones didn't get to flick his magic wand on this outdated gem. 

"I welcome a partnership like this, where the shared expertise of two leading companies can help us all do more to benefit the game."

You're thinking, which two companies would that be that Annika Sorenstam is referring to? Why, Lexus and the USGA!

From USGA.org's news division (shouldn't that be USGA.com, if they're a company?): 

USGA Signs Corporate Partnership With Lexus

January 25, 2007

Far Hills, N.J. – Lexus and the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced an unprecedented multi-year partnership that makes Lexus the automotive partner of the USGA and the official car of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Amateur. As a result of this landmark agreement, which was announced at a press conference featuring Annika Sorenstam, Lexus becomes the first automotive partner in the USGA’s 112-year history.

Yes, the U.S. Amateur. Uh Mr. Ouimet, do you remember which color your Lexus is? The valet's can't seem to find it! We have 312 of them!

"Lexus has been involved with golf for many years, but we see how passionate our customers are about this sport and we wanted to step up our involvement," said Deborah Meyer, vice president of marketing for Lexus. "This is a tremendous opportunity for us to partner at a very high level in the sport and engage our customers in unprecedented ways."

The USGA agreement strengthens the relationship that Lexus has with the game of golf and allows the company to use this partnership and USGA championships as opportunities to provide its customers with premium experiences around the sport of golf.

Ah, more $pecial acce$$ for $pecial people.

"The obvious fit is that the USGA will now be able to offer Lexus vehicles and provide the players with an enhanced experience at selected USGA national championships while Lexus gets to showcase its product line at the very top events in golf—the USGA national championships," said USGA President Walter Driver. "We are looking at all of the possibilities and the things we can do together for the benefit of golf."

It's for the good of the game! 

Possibilities? That means Walter is really having trouble deciding between oak or mahogany for the dash of his new LS.

Lexus plans to support this corporate partnership through an integrated marketing and communications campaign that includes advertising, public relations, direct marketing, promotions, dealer events, interactive support and online marketing as well as a number of specific USGA membership and onsite activities at championships, such as hospitality, clinics, charitable tie-ins, signage and special events.

Exciting, isn't it? Ah, and now our money quote:

"I’m proud to represent the Lexus brand and the high quality it represents," said Sorenstam, a top member of the Lexus team in golf and the defending Women’s Open champion. "Certainly I welcome a partnership like this, where the shared expertise of two leading companies can help us all do more to benefit the game."

Hey, she's really not that far off. But are they a private or publicly traded company?

And for those of you keeping score at home, the USGA at least had the good taste to omit this graph from the emailed copy when posting it on their web site:

In addition to announcing its USGA corporate partnership, Lexus also introduced its 2007 team of professional golfers. Lexus golfers Annika Sorenstam, Peter Jacobsen, Raymond Floyd and Nick Watney are joined by golfers previously in the Toyota stable:

Key word stable... 

Mark O’Meara, Jeff Gallagher, Trevor Dodds (PGA), Janice Moodie (LPGA), Gil Morgan, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Mark Pfeil, Charles Sifford (PGA Champions), Greg Twiggs and Esteban Toledo (PGA Nationwide) to the team. 

"It's soft rolling hills in Jackie Kennedy horse country. It's designed for majors..."

Michael McCarthy files a nauseating puff piece on Donald Trump's desire to bring a U.S. Open to Trump Bedminster.

"Literally every single aspect of (Bedminster) has been designed for the highest standards of the USGA," says the 60-year-old tycoon-turned-TV-star of NBC's "The Apprentice." "It's 20 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel. It's soft rolling hills in Jackie Kennedy horse country. It's designed for majors - and I'd be honored to have them.

Soft rolling hills in Jackie Kennedy horse country. You have to love The Donald! 

"The only thing that would stop Donald is the USGA being terrified he'll upstage the tournament by grandstanding - which he probably will," says Eamon Lynch, senior editor of Golf Magazine. "There's no question Bedminster can handle a U.S. Open. But some people will oppose anything Donald Trump is involved in. Why? Because golf is still full of stuffy people with cravats and blue blazers. They frown at anything that wasn't in existence when Old Tom Morris (a four-time British Open champion and golf pioneer in the 19th century) was playing the game.""

I know, how lame of golf to want to cling to the past when when its present could be represented by that bastion of class, Donald Trump!

And I guess this is why he makes $600,000 a year...

David Fay, executive director of the USGA, is a member of the private club and plays frequently, says Trump. And what a coincidence: Trump has placed Fay's locker right across from his own in a private corner of the men's clubhouse.

Fay is a man of the people...is he closing in on the 14-club limit?

The Bedminster course, nicknamed "Trumpminster" by Sports Illustrated, passes all the benchmarks to host a major, says the course's designer, Tom Fazio.

He would know, with all the major championship venues courses that he's messed up  claimed to have restored  designed worked with.

Update on 2007-01-26 17:55 by Geoff

A reader forwarded this regarding Donald Trump's assertion that his course is 20 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel:

The only way the Lincoln Tunnel is 20 minutes from Bedminster is by helicopter. According to mapquest it's 43.4 miles and a travel time of 48 minutes. On a good day.

"The culling of courses is not viewed as a negative by NGF."

Picked this up off the GCSAA newsletter:

According to the National Golf Foundation, there was negative net growth in golf facilities in 2006 for the first time in 60 years, as the number of courses that closed (146 18-hole equivalents) was greater than the number of openings (119.5).

In releasing the data, NGF said it was not an alarming occurrence, but a confluence of events – openings returning to more normal levels and weaker facilities being culled.

In the late 1980s, the number of openings was about 100 per year. There followed a wave of increased construction in the 1990s that peaked in 2000 with nearly 400 openings. Since then the wave has subsided to near historic levels.

The culling of courses is not viewed as a negative by NGF. The organization expects overall course supply to stop expanding in the absence of increases in demand. It is primarily the weaker courses that are closing and, in many cases, owners who sell are profiting from long-term real estate appreciation. Finally, a better quality overall golf supply means a better quality experience for players.

It's great that the course-a-day advocates are now okay with "culling."  

Thanks to reader Scott for this story on one course that would like to cull, or at least, cull portions in favor of housing, but can't thanks to a judge's order. 

The Times They Are A Changin

Auslan Cramb in the Daily Telegraph reports that Bob Dylan and his brother have purchased a Scottish mansion and speculates that the purchase was driven by the singer/songwriter's love of golf.

(Because the Scots can't fathom why else someone with a home in Malibu would want to live there?) Cramb writes:

Dylan's interest in Scotland was also revealed in 2004 when he accepted an honorary degree from St Andrews University. The only other degree he had accepted was from Princeton in 1970.

The arrival of the 65-year-old star was the talk of Nethybridge yesterday, but Dylan's status as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the modern era appears not have fazed the residents.

Stuart Black, a local resident, said: "It should be a bit of a boost for the area. But I don't think he will be pursued by any groupies any more as I think most of his fans are now in the middle-aged bracket."

Dylan is a keen golfer and plays off a 17 handicap at Malibu Country Club in California. His new home is close to the more utilitarian Abernethy golf club, where a day ticket costs just £10, but membership is never a foregone conclusion.

Jack McCool, the treasurer, said: "Mr Dylan would have to apply in writing just like everyone else and be vetted by the committee.

"If there were no objections then he would be a member after paying the membership fee, which at present is £105."

Update on 2007-01-25 17:36 by Geoff

Adam Sweeting follows up with an interesting piece on the link between musicians and golfers, with several quotes from Lawrence Donegan.

He also has this fun note for Killers fans:

Stranger still is the new wave of rockers, and even rappers, who have tooled up with Callaway clubs, preposterous trousers and spiked shoes.

Brandon Flowers, vocalist with the Killers, says: "Golf was my main thing when I was a teenager, and that's what I wanted to do."

Flowers's cousin, Craig Barlow, was a golf pro on the PGA tour until he decided the game was interfering with his Mormon faith and quit. Some credit hip hop pioneers the Beastie Boys with inventing "golf punk" fashion, while Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and 2 Live Crew's Luther Campbell are enthusiastic players.

Johnny On "Hall of Fame Guys"

Here's another nugget from Jaime Diaz's Golf Digest piece on televised golf. He's talking to Johnny Miller about his relationship with Tiger:

Miller's relationship with Woods, for example, is respectful from afar. "Tiger's not a chummy guy, and I'm not a chummy guy," says Miller. "Hall of Fame guys are not really talkative with other males, you know. But I've treated Tiger fairly, said what I had to say." Despite not having a great voice or being much of a wordsmith, Miller has an uncanny instinct for seeing what's most interesting about the game.

I guess since Tiger's never shot 63 in a major, Johnny couldn't refer to "63-in-a-major guys."

And you know, come to think of it, I've sensed the same kind of lack of chumminess at golf tournaments since my third place finish in the Golf Writer's Association of America writing contest. Golf Writer's Award winners just aren't talkative with other award winning males, you know.