Divot Mix

"Golf is more exacting than racing, cards, speculation or matrimony. In almost all other games you pit yourself against a mortal foe; in golf it is yourself against the world: no human being stays your progress as you drive your ball over the face of the earth." -- Arnold Haultain, "The Mystery of Golf, 1908"

New Tiger Woods game offers "Tigerproofing"

EA Sports, makers of the new Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2005, say the new game gives players the opportunity to become golf course superintendents.

In an imitation of real life, gamers can "Tigerproof" their digital golf courses, changing the width and pattern of fairways, sizes of greens, height of rough and depth of bunkers.

Of course, being a digital course, the changes don't require a grow-in, and there are some things available that even the best of real golf course superintendents might find difficult--like changing the color of the leaves on the trees.

For more on how it works, visit Tigerproofing made simple on the EA Sports Web site.

Can golf go underground?

With people throughout the golf industry looking for ways to attract new golfers into the fold, one of the questions that gets asked is, "How do we make golf 'cool' again?"

Well, for one golf club in the Soho district of London, that is apparently not a problem. It has already attracted customers like Justin Timberlake. And if track record is important, then the fact that one of its investors was behind the merchandising of the Spice Girls has to count for something.

But unlike most golf facilities, Urban Golf is in a Soho basement, and instead of fairways and greens, it has a half-dozen golf simulators. Its "clubhouse" does offer the usual libations, but it has exposed brick and white walls instead of more traditional country club surroundings, and the kitchen will serve up a plate of sushi with the player's beer.

It does, however, offer lessons from the club's professional, and soon will be selling custom-fitted clubs from Callaway.

The owners have their sights set on bringing the concept to New York City. So perhaps the more intriguing question is, "Can Urban Golf make regular golf 'cool?'"

For more, check out an article by Christian Broughton at http://www.independent.co.uk/.

APHIS publishes notice of intent issued impact statement

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has published a notice of intent to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement on genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant creeping bentgrass.

Last week , The Scotts Co. announced that it had learned of the impending EIS. A company spokesman said Scotts welcomed the opportunity to have its petition reviewed.

The official notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement and proposed scope of study is now available online at the Government Printing Office. (Search for "creeping bentgrass.")

GCSAA board candidates selected

GCSAA has ratified the official slate of candidates for its 2005 elections. Voting members of the association will elect three officers and three directors at the 2005 Annual Meeting, Friday, Feb. 11, held in conjunction with the 2005 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Fla. (Feb. 7-12)

The following individuals will appear on the ballot:

For president: Timothy T. O'Neill, CGCS at the Country Club of Darien (Conn.)

For vice president: Sean A. Hoolehan, CGCS at Wildhorse Resort Golf Course in Pendleton, Ore.

For secretary/treasurer: David S. Downing II, CGCS, director of golf operations at The Pearl Golf Links and Ocean Isle Beach Golf Course in Sunset Beach, N.C. and Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, general manager at The Golf Club Star Ranch in Austin, Texas

Candidates for director are:

• Gregg A. Blew, CGCS at Wellshire Golf Club in Denver, Colo.
• James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, director/superintendent at the Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Course in North Quincy, Mass.
• Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.
• Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla.

Jon D. Maddern, CGCS, immediate past president, and Robert J. Maibusch, CGCS, MG, director, are both retiring from the board of directors.

Mark J. Woodward, CGCS, will serve on the board for one year as immediate past president. Gary K. Carls, CGCS, has one year remaining on his two-year director's term.