Champ Foundation Restoring "A South Los Angeles haven where Black youths can learn golf"

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What a wonderful column filed by the LA Times’ Eric Sondheimer after attending the recent Cameron Champ Foundation Junior Clinic at Chester Washington Golf Course. Held during Genesis Invitational week to raise awareness, Champ’s foundation is attempting to get various junior golf programs going after the course lost a First Tee operation two years ago, and is working with Tee Divas and Tee Dudes to help youth golfers in South L.A..

There was 13-year-old Pierre Campa. He was 18 months old when the Campa family from Riverside adopted him in Haiti just days after that country’s destructive 2010 earthquake. At 5, he saw a movie on Netflix titled “The Short Game” about the best 7-year-old golfers competing at a Pinehurst Resort golf course in North Carolina. Suddenly he was hitting a ball in the house with a plastic flute. His father figured out he was trying to play golf. The rest is history.

Campa can drive a ball 250 yards, plays in junior tournaments and hangs out at a golf course in Jurupa Hills. He became a U.S. citizen, loves PGA star Jordan Spieth and wants to keep playing golf. His father, Eddie, has even learned the sport. “I learned to be a good caddy,” he said.

R&A Issues Statement On Russian Invasion

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The full statement can be read here. The sanctions levied, joining a long list of sports organizations attempting to isolate Russia.  

  • The R&A fully supports the recommendations of the IOC and the International Golf Federation in excluding Russia and Belarus from international team championships.

  • The R&A is not currently expecting entries from Russian or Belarusian golfers in scheduled R&A-qualifying events, championships or international matches in the upcoming season, professional or amateur. In the event that we were to receive entries, we would decline.

  • We are reviewing the implications for matters such as international rankings and the World Handicap System.

  • The R&A will contribute to a humanitarian aid fund and we will offer direct support to the Ukrainian Golf Federation.

Musselburgh: The Cradle Of Golf (Officially) Turns 350

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How nice to see the celebration of Musselburgh’s 350th (official) birthday, even though all signs point to golf having been played there long before that. Mary Queen of Scots may wish she had not teed it up there in 1567 so soon after husband two—her cousin—departed in a mysterious explosion.

Anyhow, The Scotsman’s Martin Dempster covered the birthdate of March 2, 350 years after the earliest recorded round there by Sir John Foulis. He also notes the efforts of locals to keep it as a community centerpiece and even has a story of a Royal visit.

Avril Campbell in the East Lothian Courier recounted some of its key contributions to golf history (the diameter of the cup, mid-round snack bars, fights over bets, etc… and also talked to local golfers who are keeping the place and its incredible history going, with more events planned.

To mark the 350th anniversary of golf at Musselburgh, Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club (MOCGC) – which later this month celebrates the 40th year of its re-founding in 1982 – is hosting a series of events across 2022, ending with a gala dinner in the town in September.

This Saturday, members of MOCGC will contest the club’s 40th Anniversary Stroke-play Championship. On July 4, more than 20 golf clubs and foundations from across Scotland have been invited to participate in an 18-hole tournament on the Old Course.

Sir John Foulis of Ravelston’s game 350 years ago was referenced in The Golf Book Of East Lothian, compiled and documented by John Kerr, M.A, F.R.S.E, F.S.A.Scot, the Minister of Dirleton, which was published in 1896.

Longtime readers know there has been plenty of Musselburgh posting over the years from one of my favorite places on the planet. Sadly, not all of it has been positive since the place or elements surrounding it seem to be under threat every five years or so. This, despite it being the ideal example of a community nine-hole course with multiple purposes and the ability to interest golfers of all levels. Besides being the Cradle of Golf.

Most recently, Cookie Jar golf paid a visit and offered a lovely short film on Musselburgh.

R&A Data Shows Impressive Gains In 9-Hole Rounds

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In announcing the 9-hole challenge set for the Friday before the 150th Open at St Andrews, the R&A also shared 9-hole round data worth noting.

It could be entirely pandemic related, with more employed golfers working from home and getting in an early or late nine. But there are plenty of reasons to believe the increase can also be tied to various worldwide campaigns designed to legitimize 9-hole rounds and encourage golfers to turn in non-18-hole scores for handicapping purposes.

The numbers of note from the R&A’s story to launch the 9-hole challenge:

• In Australia, nine-hole round data has experienced 20% growth with more than 517,000 rounds played in 2020-21.

• In England, nine-hole rounds played for handicap purposes increased from 175,000 in 2019 to 407,000 in 2021.

• In Ireland, nine-hole rounds played for handicap purposes increased from 70,697 in 2018 to 130,751 in 2021.

• In Scotland, nine-hole rounds played increased from 44,834 in 2018 to 113,592 in 2021.

• In Wales, 8% of rounds submitted (to the Wales Golf Clubhouse) were for nine-hole play in 2021.

• In New Zealand, nine-hole rounds played increased from 252,412 in 2018-19 to 341, 534 in 2020-21 as part of the Make Time Play 9 initiative.

This should also (theoretically) bode well for breaking golf free of 18-holes as the only legitimate “round” or option in developing future courses (or in re-imaging an existing facility under threat).

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, March 3rd, 2022

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State Of The Game 119: Well That Escalated Quickly

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Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and yours truly convened to wade into the various issues of the day. And there are plenty. Ball rollback drinking gamers should be pleased, too.

The episode direct link.

The Apple listening option. And the pod remains available wherever you get your shows.

Rory On Phil: "People will welcome him back and be glad that he is back."

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In advance of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy was asked about the fleeing from Phil Mickelson and if it’s gone overboard.

It is unfortunate. I think Phil has been a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf, still is a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf. It's unfortunate that a few comments that he thought he was making in confidence or off the record got out there and were -- not used against him, but this whole situation is unfortunate.

Look, Phil will be back. I think the players want to see him back. He's done such a wonderful job for the game of golf, and he's represented the game of golf very, very well for the entirety of his career.

Look, we all make mistakes. We all say things we want to take back. No one is different in that regard. But we should be allowed to make mistakes, and we should be allowed to ask for forgiveness and for people to forgive us and move on. Hopefully, he comes back at some stage, and he will, and people will welcome him back and be glad that he is back.

Rob Manfred Air-Practicing His Swing May Set The Game Back A Decade

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“Rob Manfred practices his golf stroke as his league melts down Tuesday. (Lynne Sladky/AP)”

While getting harshly criticized—okay, eviscerated on national TV and more thoughtfully in print—for his handling of labor talks, the owners, the Cheating Astros and pretty much everything else under his supervision, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred apparently wanted to drag golf down, too.

Committing the golf equivalent of playing an air guitar on karaoke Tuesday’s, the Commish used his lockout negotiating break to practice his golf swing without a club. Normally he would have been playing the Seminole Pro-Member. Here’s guessing a good time was still had by all.

And now, thanks to AP’s Lynne Sladky capturing the always sad sight of a golfer hopelessly practicing without a club, our sport has been unfairly dragged into baseball’s latest mess.

PIP Comedy: Tiger Ends Up Winning, Bubba Finishes 10th Despite Shocking Meltwater Miss

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The continued comedy that is the PGA Tour’s popularity program has shockingly produced the pre-determined winner. Despite Phil Mickelson’s December declaration of victory and press reports backing him up, the number-crunchers finally tallied the 2021 totals and found that Tiger Woods won.

After saying they would not comment on the PIP, the PGA Tour revealed the Woods victory and Cameron Morfit’s story implies Woods’ return at the PNC Championship put him over the top.

Independent auditor Grant Thornton certified the results. Lucky them.

GolfDigest.com’s Dan Rapaport had the story as well with exclusive numbers.

Despite not hitting a shot until December’s PNC or doing much all year while recuperating from a car accident, Woods rode that deadly combo of Google searches, Meltwater Mentions and Q-Score to victory. Meanwhile, Mickelson will rue his Nielsen and Meltwaters while he takes a hiatus from the game.

Tiger took his victory in stride. Wait you said he invoked emojis to stick it to Phil?

Most compelling—if that’s possible with this “competition”—are some of the category numbers obtained by Golf Digest. The dismal Q-Scores for Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm jump off the page. Get those guys French bulldog puppies and Gram it up!

Bubba Watson also somehow overcame dismal scores in most categories to finish tenth thanks to a first place finish in the MVP Index, bringing $3 million to his account.

Jordan Spieth, finished 19th in the MVP Index co-started by his father, but killed in other categories thanks to about 25 totally sponsor-related and boring social media posts. Long live the PIP!

No Laying Up added the PIP with the other bonus pools to offer a 2021 money list:

"She was first Black woman in a USGA championship. The incredible story of Ann Gregory."

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Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star profiles Ann Gregory, the first Black woman to play in a USGA championship who Arthur Ashe called the “best Black female golfer of the 20th Century.”

For Black History Month, USA Today is publishing a series of 28 Black Stories in 28 Days and Gregory’s life both on and off the course is a genuine inspiration.

Incredibly, she did not pick up a club until age 31 before going on to a successful amateur career.

Guardian: Could Norman And Saudis Turn Attention To The Women's Game?

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The Guardian’s Ewan Murray assesses the state of Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman and Golf Saudi’s efforts to disrupt and raises a question many have had all along: what about the women’s game?

At Newcastle, the Saudis were not attempting to overthrow an existing sporting ecosystem. They are not, either, in women’s golf. Involvement with the Ladies European Tour has seen the lucrative Aramco Series develop without much fuss at all. Industry insiders now believe Norman could turn his attention towards the making of further inroads on that tour, which has a captive audience due to stark economics. Not that a smooth road would be guaranteed; Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A, and his counterpart at the DP World Tour, Keith Pelley, sit on the LET board. Alliances exist between the LET and the US-based LPGA Tour, just as they do between the LPGA Tour and the PGA Tour.

Murray did ignore a key point: women can now eat in restaurants there so…the sky is the limit.

Club Pro Guy Introduces Non-Conforming "Punchout" Club

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Most major manufacturers steadfastly refuse to offer game-improvement clubs that would be deemed non-conforming by the Rules of Golf.

So credit Club Pro Guy for going where the Callaway’s and Taylormade’s refuse by pushing the boundaries in unimaginable ways. Not since the Perfect Club or the C3i have golfers had reason to plunk down $99.95 for something so transformative. CPG’s xe747 Punchout Club can (purportedly) be hit left or right handed while also delivering “state of the art camel toe technology which positions two humps of camel hump grooves on the toe” to give players another option from the woods.

If Mike Stone can sell albums on Golf Channel, this deserves its place on the list of other breakthrough products advertised on the channel:

R&A Adds A Diversity Ambassador

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He’s a strong hoodie advocate and has a name out of central casting, so I wish him all the luck trying to diversify golf in the land of Brexit.

ZANE SCOTLAND BECOMES A DIVERSITY AMBASSADOR FOR THE R&A

01 March 2022, St Andrews, Scotland: The R&A has appointed Zane Scotland as a diversity ambassador to support the development of initiatives that encourage more people from ethnically diverse communities into golf.

As part of the new partnership, Scotland is assisting with the interpretation of research to understand the challenges that exist for ethnically diverse communities and identify actions that can be taken to break down barriers and make golf more welcoming and appealing.

He will also play an important role in engaging with active golf societies including British Black Golfers and the Muslim Golf Association to foster valuable relationships and generate involvement in future activity.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “Our research is clearly showing that powerful role models like Zane are influential in encouraging more people from ethnically diverse backgrounds into golf and creating more positive perceptions of what the sport can really offer to participants.

“Zane’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable in informing education for the industry and developing initiatives that proactively position the sport as inclusive for everyone who wants to play it, not only on the course but also the many other alternative forms of golf off the course that are crucial to attracting new participants from all backgrounds. We look forward to working with him.”

A five-part video series for YouTube has been created to highlight the positive benefits of golf as a sport for everyone and will feature Zane and his father Bernie; the work of British Black Golfers and the Muslim Golf Association; Zane introducing his cycling group to golf; and the perspectives of elite amateur golfers making their way in golf.

Zane Scotland added, “I have said before that golf needs more diversity and challenged those running the game to step up and address the imbalance. I’m really encouraged to see The R&A taking the initiative and making positive steps forward in this area.

“I see our partnership as another means to build on the good work already being done by the likes of the Golf Foundation and within golf societies to open up the sport. I know that there is still a long way to go but I firmly believe that golf stands to benefit greatly if we can change perceptions and show that it is a fun and welcoming activity for everyone.”

As an amateur golfer, Scotland made a name for himself by becoming the youngest ever English golfer to qualify for The Open and earn a place in the Championship at Carnoustie in 1999. In the three years that followed he went on to win amateur championships and gain representative honours in the Great Britain and Ireland teams that won the St Andrews Trophy and Jacques Léglise Trophy.

In 2003, he turned professional but a car crash that resulted in an injury to his neck halted his progress. He recovered to earn a place on the European Tour and more recently has won ten times on the MENA Tour, the most by any player. He made his second appearance in The Open at St Andrews in 2010.

He set up the Zane Scotland Academy to assist in coaching aspiring amateur and elite professional golfers and covers golf as a commentator with Sky Sports and BBC.

The first of three videos referenced above and now on the R&A YouTube page: