Atlanta Mess: Bobby Jones Golf Course Purchased By State, City Passes On Non-Profit Takeover

/

The news out of Atlanta isn't good for the beleaguered public course system, as John Ruch reports on a non-profit's effort to operate the city muni's was rejected by the city council.

The story could just be an aberation related to politics, but also will not bode well when future non-profit fans of the game attempt to rescue the many terribly-run city or state courses which, with some repairs, could be made better.

Buckhead's Bobby Jones Golf Course was partially saved thanks to a long-discussed purchase by the state, with a plan to reduce it to 9-holes but add multiple amenities. Everett Catts reports.

With the sale finalized, the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation announced it has entered into a 50-year lease with the authority for the course, which was built in 1932 as a tribute to golf legend Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones Jr.

As part of the state’s ownership plan, the course will be transformed from an 18-hole one to a nine-hole one with a driving range and a wee links for children 12 and under. The wee links will be named the Cupp Links in honor of golf course architect Bob Cupp, who designed the new course before he died in August.

The foundation is partnering with the Georgia State Golf Association and the Georgia section of the PGA of America to create the Georgia Golf House, a new facility that will become a hub for golf in the state. Those organizations, plus Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Junior Golf Association and others will call the Georgia Golf House home.

The new course and facilities will remain open to the public. The course will also be the new home of the Georgia State University golf teams.

Video: Kangaroos Fighting Over A Green Complex Design?

/

Or something like trivial that. Not nearly as adorable as the kangaroo that played with the flagstick, but almost as entertaining in a "what do they really think will be accomplished here" way.

From Ian Baker-Finch, who is back Down Under and presumably will be heard on the upcoming string of Aussie tournaments, starting with Wednesday's Australian Open.

Boxing Kangaroos #twinwatersgolfclub

A video posted by IanBakerFinch (@ianbakerfinch) on

European Tour Unveils "Innovative" Rolex Series: 4 $7M Events

/

The press release and announcement tout this as an innovative and a significant advancement for the European Tour. Certainly there are promises of the events in question offering enhanced digital and television converage touches (see video midway down this page). But the Rolex Series sounds more like an effort to make the strongest pockets of the schedule a bit stronger, with nice add-ons inspired by a longtime and loyal golf sponsor.

Essentially the European Tour is going to offer enhanced purses at four key events and three  former "Race to Dubai" playoff events which already drew decent fields. Maybe that's why Chief Executive Keith (Elton) Pelley won't shift to some Rolex-green frames until a few more events are added to the rotation.

Pros?

-Rory's Irish Open, the Scottish Open and the Italian Open all become stronger.

-Elite player pocketbooks (and maybe wristwatches winners) are improved.

-Each event should draw enhanced fields (though the BMW PGA already does fine), with more incentive for non-European Tour stars to appear in the UK especially. Each event should get more media attention, at least from what media remains.

Cons?

-Creates greater separation between events in the Rolex Series and those not in, making the already bloated European Tour schedule look like it's carrying even more dead weight.

-Strengthens events that stars were already likely to play instead of events needing a boost.

-Ensures the World Golf Championship events are stuck in neutral as a four-tournament, mostly U.S.-centric concept * How could I forget, a second WGC heads to Mexico City next year! Players are SO excited too!

The full press release: 

EUROPEAN TOUR LAUNCHES THE ROLEX SERIES

The European Tour is proud to officially announce the Rolex Series, an exciting new alliance of leading tournaments which will strengthen the golf schedule from the 2017 season onwards.

The innovative concept — launched today with the European Tour’s longest standing partner, Rolex — is one of the most significant advancements in the Tour’s 44 years and will enhance both the competitive and entertainment experience for members and fans around the world. 

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to unveil the Rolex Series today and we are committed to developing and building on it over the coming years.

“The Rolex Series will celebrate the highest quality of golf and the international spirit of the game; values that Rolex and the European Tour strengthen with this announcement. We are tremendously proud to have Rolex as our partner in this exciting new venture and we thank them for their continued support.”

Today’s announcement deepens the historic bond between Rolex and the European Tour, which has seen the Swiss company be the proud partner and Official Timekeeper of the Tour since 1997.

Rolex Director of Communication & Image, Arnaud Boetsch, said: “It is with great enthusiasm that Rolex will reinforce its longstanding partnership with the European Tour by supporting the Rolex Series, an innovative advancement in professional European golf.

“Rolex has enjoyed a unique alliance with golf for over fifty years and this is the most recent development of Rolex’s enduring commitment to the game. 

“Across junior, amateur and elite levels, Rolex is devoted to golf’s development worldwide, and we look forward to being a part of the flourishing future of The European Tour.”

In 2017, the Rolex Series will feature a minimum of seven tournaments in seven iconic golfing locations across the world, all offering minimum prize funds of US$ 7 million, with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai featuring a prize fund of US$ 8 million. Plans are in place to increase the number of Rolex Series tournaments in future seasons as part of the multi-year commitment made to the European Tour by the world’s leading Swiss watchmaker.

As the scope of the European Tour expands around the world, golf fans will be brought closer than ever to the leading professionals on the world’s best courses thanks to significantly enhanced television and digital production as well as increased hours of coverage distributed worldwide.

The 2017 Rolex Series will begin in May with the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England and will be followed by two tournaments in July: the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation at Portstewart; and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald.

The fourth tournament of the Rolex Series next year will be the Italian Open at the Olgiata Golf Club in Rome in October while the final three Rolex Series events will be in November, comprised of the Turkish Airlines Open at Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort; the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in South Africa; and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The news prompted this Instagram image from Dubai:

 

9th In The World: Who Is Alex Noren?

/

With the European Tour limping toward its Race To Dubai conclusion and featuring a Masters winner who "wants his life" back (according to Derek Lawrenson), attention will turn to Alex Noren.

Noren's won four times since July and has risen to 9th in the world after being outside the top 100 in June according to Will Gray, yet he never received any Ryder Cup consideration and would probably need ID to walk onto any major championship range. He's at least dropped to 80/1 in Masters futures odds, but is still behind Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods.

Finding a good profile on Noren was tough, but maybe because he's done it best on by his very ownself. Sure, his blog hasn't been updated since 2012, but Noren's website includes his first person life story if you click on "My Story" in the lower left.

I forgot that the 34-year-old--that's right millennials, you can like him!--went to Oklahoma State and unlike many Euros, stayed for four years. But with all of the talk about short courses, Himalayas greens and growing the game (including today on Morning Drive), this really stood out:

My fight to reach my dreams began 23 years earlier at my home course Haninge GK in Sweden.

The putting green served as a natural kinder garden and it was located in the middle of two straight lines of oak trees. The green was narrow and long and gave us enough creativity to try the craziest shots when having chipping contests. The bet was always ice cream to the winner. We played golf all day. Our parents had to bring food out on the course because dinner wasn't our first priority; lowering our handicap was. We usually played together; sometimes we let our parents join up if we weren't enough kids around. I think the opportunity to play around and not being instructed by anyone gave us the complete joy and love for the game. We could not get enough of it.

Kansas Course Adopts Ancient Sustainability Program

/

John Green of the Hutchinson News reports on Crazy Horse Sport Club and Golf Course turning their native roughs over to three goats who will eat any weed, including poison ivy.

Green writes:

“They love the weeds,” said Matt Seitz, general manager of the now Crazy Horse Sport Club and Golf Course, 922 Crazy Horse Road. “Especially the poison ivy. I saw them running along and they just stopped and started gobbling it up. It’s like candy to them.”

Jon Mollhagen, the Lorraine rancher and businessman who bought the course earlier this year, obtained the three female animals from a friend, said Seitz, who did not know their breed.

“This a good way of controlling the weeds without chemicals,” Seitz explained. “We used to spray it, but it’s hard to control and we’d rather do it without all the herbicides and stuff.”

Besides, Seitz said, “they’re good at getting people talking. It’s something new.”

Of course it's not actually news, but the way many links once had their roughs maintained. In fact, quite a few could borrow the Crazy Horse practices and maybe give us healthier natives while saving a few balls. 

Will A Donald Trump Presidency Be Good For Golf?

/

It's a trivial question given what's at stake. But now that the world can focus again following another Bernhard Langer win in the Schwab Cup, the complex question of Donald Trump's presidency-to-be turns to the entirely inconsequential question of what having a president-elect golfer means.

His direct ties to the game are more significant than any president before him, including Presidents Bush 41 and 43, whose ties to the Walker Cup were obviously strong. Yet having a family tie to an important amateur event pales given Trump's ownership of marquee properties hosting major tournaments.

He told Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes Sunday night that he doesn't care about his businesses compared to governing America, yet project-related conflicts will inevitably arise. Besides his curiosity with projects he was very closely involved in, matters will get inevitably awkward when trying to gauge his positions. The most obvious: his campaign position on climate change conflicting with his company stance regarding a changing shoreline at Doonbeg.

With Trump's view that golf is aspirational, it's pretty safe to assume a WPA-style project to restore municipal courses won't be on the agenda to grow the game and salvage deteriorating properties. And given his criticism of Barack Obama using his time to play golf instead of helping Louisiana flood victims, we probably won't see him working the House and Senate on the golf course...oh wait, maybe we will.

There is also the likelihood of his golf properties gaining prominence from presidential visits, as this Maggie Haberman/Ashley Parker NY Times story suggests he will be spending a great deal of time outside of Washington.

Jaime Diaz of GolfDigest.com attempts to consider how Trump will perform "through the prism of golf" and besides reporting that golf has hardly been on his mind for a few months now, the ties will continue to be inescapable.

On the negative side, Trump is polarizing. He has deeply offended many with his comments (even in golf, in land use conflicts while building Trump Aberdeen), and probably will again. Also, he sees the game as “aspirational” (to some a dog whistle word that means keep the riff-raff out), reflected in an average green fee of about $250 on his public courses. Some who have played with Trump have claimed he cheats. In short, he can be seen as an easy caricature of the entitled, vulgar American golfer, a version of Judge Smails from “Caddyshack.”

Here is where things will get interesting: it's pretty well known that Presidents rarely turn into nicer, healthier or saner individuals after living in the White House. Golf has long been the primary go-to sport for presidents seeking rest, relaxation and camaraderie. Trump certainly has shown a love for the game and presumably will need days off. Will he play?

The stakes for golf in that situation are significant for the sport, insignificant compared to most other presidential matters. Because if Trump continues to avoid using golf because the imagery plays poorly with the working-class voters who helped elect him, then sterotypes mentioned by Diaz are reinforced.

Yet if Trump does use the golf course to socialize, relax or make deals, does that negatively reinforce the view of golf as merely an aspirational game for the rich and powerful?

Golf probably can't win no matter what happens, but given the badgering the sport has taken in recent years, I'm not sure golfers will be affected either way.