Congratulations to Steve Stricker! His win today and Phil's 45th place finish makes him the #2 golfer in the world rankings.
Many of you might have not watched the finish of the Northern Open Trust to turn to Super Bowl festivities, but Roger Maltbie talked about how PGA Tour Commissioner Finchem said the Tour needs 150 more Steve Strickers. Commissioner Finchem was talking about not only his on course demeanor (no swearing or club throwing), but also how he treats his sponsors.
Then, when interviewing Stricker, Maltbie asked Stricker how it feels to come from where he was four years ago nearly quitting the game to where he is today. Stricker responded humbly in tears that it's been a hard fight, including today's final round with Luke Donald cutting into his lead.
It's nice to see Stricker's gratitude, class, and humility. Enjoy your success, Steve!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Golf Is Fighting Back
The media has tainted golf with a bad image this last year. Corporate sponsors of tournaments or executives playing golf with clients to deepen their business relationships are targeted as extravagant, wasteful spenders. In reality these corporations and executives are using golf as a tool to maintain, and even strengthen, their client relationships during our troubled economic times. If clients continue to use golf for business, it would be foolish for businesses and executives to stop doing so.
One way that the PGA Tour has responded to the heightened criticism of corporate sponsorships is by creating the Tour Club. It is a yearly membership that gives an insiders' access to tournaments for its members. At the Northern Trust Open, for example, its members got to set pins with tournament officials and attend a breakfast meeting with Jerry West, the famed basketball player and the Tournament's Executive Director. At the Masters, members will have dinner with a Master's legend, and at the Players Championship, members will tour the Golf Channel broadcast location. It sounds like a great experience for executives and high-worth clients to enjoy together.
Another response to the negative media attention is a coalition of golf organizations called "We Are Golf." The group represents club pros, course superintendents, course owners and club managers, and aims to convince U.S. policy makers in Washington that golf is an important, job-creating industry that ought to be supported, not denounced. The coalition's central point is that golf is responsible for roughly two million jobs in the U.S. paying $61 billion in wages.
I'm responding to the attack on golf as well with a series of interviews (that I'll be launching soon) with golf and business celebrities about how they use golf for their personal, professional, and financial abundance. For the uninformed, golf may look like a silly game. But for those who use golf as a business tool, it's part of their repertoire to building their businesses and success.
I'm glad to see the industry is starting to bolster golf's image.
One way that the PGA Tour has responded to the heightened criticism of corporate sponsorships is by creating the Tour Club. It is a yearly membership that gives an insiders' access to tournaments for its members. At the Northern Trust Open, for example, its members got to set pins with tournament officials and attend a breakfast meeting with Jerry West, the famed basketball player and the Tournament's Executive Director. At the Masters, members will have dinner with a Master's legend, and at the Players Championship, members will tour the Golf Channel broadcast location. It sounds like a great experience for executives and high-worth clients to enjoy together.
Another response to the negative media attention is a coalition of golf organizations called "We Are Golf." The group represents club pros, course superintendents, course owners and club managers, and aims to convince U.S. policy makers in Washington that golf is an important, job-creating industry that ought to be supported, not denounced. The coalition's central point is that golf is responsible for roughly two million jobs in the U.S. paying $61 billion in wages.
I'm responding to the attack on golf as well with a series of interviews (that I'll be launching soon) with golf and business celebrities about how they use golf for their personal, professional, and financial abundance. For the uninformed, golf may look like a silly game. But for those who use golf as a business tool, it's part of their repertoire to building their businesses and success.
I'm glad to see the industry is starting to bolster golf's image.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
More Controversy on PGA Tour -- Phil's Turn
You probably know that the PGA Tour required players this year to stop hitting U-groove wedges and go back to V-grooves. Some players, including Phil Mickelson, are hitting the Ping Eye 2 wedge that was controversial when it came out 30 years ago because it has U-grooves.
Phil and other players using it say the PGA Tour approved the use of that club as part of a legal settlement back in the 80s. Others, including Robert Allenby and Scott McCarron, claim using the Ping wedge is skirting the new rule against the use of the U-groove wedge and want the PGA Tour to prohibit its use. McCarron even used the C-word: cheating.
As an attorney, the players using the Ping wedge appear to be within the Rules because the wedge has been approved by the PGA Tour. When the Tour drafted the ruling against the use of the U-grooves, it carelessly forgot about the Ping wedge and will need to amend its Rule.
Is it cheating though? Cheating to me is the intentional or even unintentional violation of a Rule. Players using the Ping wedge haven't violated the Rule as its currently written, so I can't go so far as saying they're cheating.
Would I continue to use that club since this controversy started? No. I wouldn't want to win the tournament with a questionable advantage over the rest of the field. I'd also be concerned that every time I used the wedge I unconsciously would have doubt creep into my game and somehow have it affect my shot. It wouldn't be worth it to me and my piece of mind.
How about you? What would you do if you were Phil or another player playing the Ping wedge? Keep hitting it? Or, put it back where you left it 30 years ago?
Enjoy the rest of the Farmers Insurance Open at beautiful Torrey Pines.
Phil and other players using it say the PGA Tour approved the use of that club as part of a legal settlement back in the 80s. Others, including Robert Allenby and Scott McCarron, claim using the Ping wedge is skirting the new rule against the use of the U-groove wedge and want the PGA Tour to prohibit its use. McCarron even used the C-word: cheating.
As an attorney, the players using the Ping wedge appear to be within the Rules because the wedge has been approved by the PGA Tour. When the Tour drafted the ruling against the use of the U-grooves, it carelessly forgot about the Ping wedge and will need to amend its Rule.
Is it cheating though? Cheating to me is the intentional or even unintentional violation of a Rule. Players using the Ping wedge haven't violated the Rule as its currently written, so I can't go so far as saying they're cheating.
Would I continue to use that club since this controversy started? No. I wouldn't want to win the tournament with a questionable advantage over the rest of the field. I'd also be concerned that every time I used the wedge I unconsciously would have doubt creep into my game and somehow have it affect my shot. It wouldn't be worth it to me and my piece of mind.
How about you? What would you do if you were Phil or another player playing the Ping wedge? Keep hitting it? Or, put it back where you left it 30 years ago?
Enjoy the rest of the Farmers Insurance Open at beautiful Torrey Pines.
Friday, January 29, 2010
John Daly Announces He's Done with Golf
After shooting 71 today at Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, Daly announced that he's quitting golf. Does anyone believe that? How many of us have said the same after a frustrating round? I can admit that I certainly have when nothing went right with my game. But, of course, I was out there again the next week.
I suspect it's marketing for his upcoming Golf Channel program, "Being John Daly." And, if it's not, his retirement will be short-lived. He's worked hard to get this far with his surgery, weight loss, better eating regimen, etc..
Sponsors love him because he's still a draw and, without Tiger, golf needs every possible draw. Look forward to seeing you playing again soon, John!
I suspect it's marketing for his upcoming Golf Channel program, "Being John Daly." And, if it's not, his retirement will be short-lived. He's worked hard to get this far with his surgery, weight loss, better eating regimen, etc..
Sponsors love him because he's still a draw and, without Tiger, golf needs every possible draw. Look forward to seeing you playing again soon, John!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Switching Between Champions Tour and the Playoff Games
During the Saints - Vikings game, I switched over to the Golf Channel to see what was happening in golf. The Champions Tour was on, which I normally don't watch. But I started to watch it more than the football game. Freddie Couples was making his debut on the Champions Tour. He and Tom Watson were matching birdies in the last few holes. And on the 18th hole, Watson hit a beautiful shot from the rough to 4 feet from the pin, while Freddie left a 12 footer. When Freddie missed his putt, Watson was able to sink his for the victory. It was pretty darn exciting for the Champions Tour.
By the way, the old adage was at play: Drive for show, putt for dough. Freddie drove the ball 60 yards farther than Watson, but Watson's approach shots came through for him as did his putter.
With the PGA sans Tiger, I'll have to pay more attention to the Champions Tour.
By the way, the old adage was at play: Drive for show, putt for dough. Freddie drove the ball 60 yards farther than Watson, but Watson's approach shots came through for him as did his putter.
With the PGA sans Tiger, I'll have to pay more attention to the Champions Tour.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Innovative Marketing by a Local Golf Course
If you live in Northern California, you know we've been hit by four storms and have had plenty of rain. Golf is not a possibility right now.
I received an e-mail from a course that I like to play, the Links at Bodega Harbour, which is located in Bodega Bay. Did you ever see Hitchcock's The Birds? That movie was filmed in this scenic coastal town.
The e-mail was an offer to buy a tee time for a foursome at $1 per hole for weekdays or $2 per hole for weekends. So for a weekday round, it'll cost $18 for the green fee and $15 for the cart. It's a better rate than their usual weekday round, and you have until April 18th to use the round.
I liked their ingenuity in promoting their course during the storms, and that they're making revenue when no one is even on the course.
If you're in the Bay Area, check out the link above and enjoy Bodega Bay and the Links!
I received an e-mail from a course that I like to play, the Links at Bodega Harbour, which is located in Bodega Bay. Did you ever see Hitchcock's The Birds? That movie was filmed in this scenic coastal town.
The e-mail was an offer to buy a tee time for a foursome at $1 per hole for weekdays or $2 per hole for weekends. So for a weekday round, it'll cost $18 for the green fee and $15 for the cart. It's a better rate than their usual weekday round, and you have until April 18th to use the round.
I liked their ingenuity in promoting their course during the storms, and that they're making revenue when no one is even on the course.
If you're in the Bay Area, check out the link above and enjoy Bodega Bay and the Links!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Happy 2010!
Happy New Year! Hope it's a golf-filled year for you. I can't believe it's been so long since I've written in here. Since last writing, Michelle Wie has won her first LPGA tournament, and we have no idea when Tiger will win his next PGA tournament. Some ups and downs in the world of professional golf, but it shouldn't affect how we continue to play the game and use it to deepen our business relationships.
I've been focused on a new project that I'm very excited about launching in the near future. It's allowed me to interview some business and golf celebrities, and I can't wait to pass on what I've learned from them to you. Each person I've spoken to has taught me something about business golf.
Stay tuned, and happy golfing, if weather permits. In the SF Bay Area, I'm still able to go out and chase that white ball!
I've been focused on a new project that I'm very excited about launching in the near future. It's allowed me to interview some business and golf celebrities, and I can't wait to pass on what I've learned from them to you. Each person I've spoken to has taught me something about business golf.
Stay tuned, and happy golfing, if weather permits. In the SF Bay Area, I'm still able to go out and chase that white ball!
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