"If we all played golf like Mac Smith, the National Open Championship could be played on one course every day in the year and never a divot mark would scar the beautiful fairway. He treats the grass of a golf course as though it were an altar cloth." --Tommy Armour

World Sand Golf Championship set

Some of the world's best golfers are playing this week at the Dubai Desert Classic, but a few of the competitors are planning to stay an extra day for the Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championship.

Players scheduled to appear in the Pro-Am event include Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Ian Woosnam, Jean Van de Velde and Paul McGinley. The format uses the professional's score and one amateur score on each hole.

The event will be played at Al Ghazal Golf Club, regarded as the leading desert golf course in the world. It is located next to Abu Dhabi International Airport and was opened in November 1997.

The 18-hole, par-71 course, measures 6,487 yards off the white tees. While playing a course that's almost completely sand may be novel to many golfers, it is said to offer a challenge to both the novice and the experienced players.

The course has no greens. Instead, there are "browns," created by compacting rolled and treated sand. These browns, players quickly discover, give an extremely true putting surface.

Footprints are a problem, of course, so the rules allow the browns to be swept at any time to smooth them out. Which means players will have no one else to blame for an uneven putting surface.

Al Ghazal's par 35 front nine is built around an archaeological site on what, thousands of years ago, was the original Abu Dhabi coastline. The par 36 back nine was constructed on flatter reclaimed land.

With only sand for fairways and rough, some modifications to the Rules of Golf are required. Green posts that are positioned at 10-yard intervals define fairways and a ball is considered on the fairway if any portion of it is visible on the fairway side of the marker.

If their ball is on the fairway the player can play it as it lies or lift, clean and place it within six inches.

But their most desirable option is to use their own personal fairway. Each player is provided and Astroturf mat which can be placed immediately behind the ball. Then the ball can be lifted, cleaned and placed on the mat. It must be at least two inches from the outer edge.

Third market added for Play Golf America Days

Reed Exhibitions, The PGA of America and PGA Magazine have added a third market and date for Play Golf America Days.

Organized in conjunction with the golf industry’s new Play Golf America player development program, these three initial events will involve PGA clinics, tune-up lessons, multiple manufacturers, and special events.

The three Play Golf America Day events being staged in 2004 will be in the PGA’s Carolina Section, the Middle Atlantic Section and the Michigan Section.

The Carolina Section event will be Sat., April 17, at Regent Park Golf Academy, seven miles south of Charlotte, N.C., in Fort Mill, S.C.

The second event will be held on Sat., May 8, at the Hilltop Golf Club, Alexandria, Va. Additional markets will be added in future years.

The third, and newest, event will be hosted by Michigan Section of the PGA in Plymouth, Mich., May 22, at the St. John’s Golf and Conference Center and Carl’s Golfland.

Working with The PGA and its local PGA Sections, Play Golf America Days will offer golfers a special day of clinics, tune-up lessons with PGA Professionals, skill challenges and contests, and the opportunity to demo the newest technology from a variety of leading manufacturers. Long range, short game and putting areas will allow consumers to test equipment, while off-range areas will be dedicated to introducing golfers and non-golfers to Play Golf America programs.

Fazio and Haas to honor superintendents

Tom Fazio and Jay Haas will serve as patrons for the 50th anniversary of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association.

Fazio, a golf course architect, was recently ranked among the 10 most influential people in golf according to Golf Digest magazine. Haas is a winner of nine PGA Tour titles and more than $12 million in prize money.

Haas said he wants to use the opportunity to increase awareness and appreciation of the role of golf course superintendents.

"I don't think the great majority of golfers, professionals or amateurs, understand what goes into making a golf course green, playable and beautiful to everyone involved," he said. "For me personally, I can't thank golf course superintendents enough for all they do."

Fazio echoed the tribute, saying, "I have had the honor and pleasure to work on more than 30 courses in this region throughout my career, and I know first hand the dedication, knowledge, and hard work done by the superintendents that has made this region so special. The Carolinas golf experience is second to none and it is the golf course superintendents that make the golf course special on a day-to-day basis."

Haas also said television coverage of PGA Tour events is one of the greatest challenges confronting golf course superintendents.

"I think every golfer in the country needs to remember that the golf courses they see on TV are prepared for one specific week," he said. "We're spoiled as Tour players because we get to see the golf course in its best condition of the year. But you have to build up to that point through the seasons. No golf course is going to be in 100 percent great shape the entire year. "

Bob Warner, Carolinas GCSA president, said the willingness of Haas and Fazio to support the association's anniversary reflects the growing stature of golf course superintendents.

"Golf course superintendents have always strived to provide the best playing conditions possible," he said. "But golfer expectations and the government regulations we need to satisfy have never been greater. For individuals like Jay Haas and Tom Fazio to serve as patrons of our 50th year, I think, says a lot about how we are meeting those demands year in, year out."

EIFG adds to Advisory Council

Six respected and successful members of the golf industry have agreed to become members of The Environmental Institute for Golf Advisory Council.

The five newest members are:

• Tom Crow, founder of Cobra Golf
• Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon Golf
• R.D. Hubbard, owner of Bighorn Golf Club
• Robert Sillerman, CEO of FXM, Inc
• Frank Weed, COO of Medallist Developments

In addition, Jamie Ortiz-Patiño, owner, president and golf course superintendent at Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain, agreed to serve on the Advisory Council in last September.

"These six gentlemen have a passion for the game of golf and ensuring that it continues to exist in harmony with the environment," said Greg Norman, chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises. "They will play a vital role in helping advance the work of The Institute through their ability to convey the importance of environmental stewardship to other individuals and organizations. I am delighted that these gentlemen have joined me in making a commitment to advance environmental practices on the golf course."

Norman, who is also an Institute trustee, chairs the seven-person advisory council. The goal is to have at least 10 members by the end of 2004 and increase it to 30 over the next three years.

For more on The Institute visit http://www.eifg.org.