Divot Mix

"The modern player has grown so accustomed to having a special club for every conceivable stroke that he fails to realize how much of his vaunted skill is due to the science of the club makers, who have introduced limber shafts to give him greater length, spade-faced lofted clubs to put stop on his approach shots, and blasters and sand wedges of amazing design to dig him out of the bunkers that a better man would never have got into." -- Robert Browning, A History of Golf, 1955

USGA releases "Championship Philosophy"

With questions being asked about the course setup at recent U.S. Open Championships, the United States Golf Association has released a list of 14 points that guide the process of conducting the tournament.

According to this "Championship Philosophy," the USGA selects venues for the U.S. Open that rank among the most challenging courses in the United States, and it intends that the U.S. Open be the most rigorous examination of golfers.

It says, in part, "A U.S. Open course should test all forms of shot making, mental tenacity, and physical endurance under conditions of extreme pressure found only at the highest levels of championship golf."

In addition, according to the statement, the association tries to ensure that a well-played stroke produces a positive result for an Open competitor. The process includes a detailed, careful plan for conducting the Open over four-to-five days, but the tournament staff realizes that unanticipated variations in weather and other conditions may force consideration of daily adjustments to maintain appropriate playing conditions.

The USGA noted that the mix of factors varies from course to course, year to year.

The list of 14 factors is:

• Length, variation and playing characteristics of individual holes
• Length of overall golf course relative to total par
• Teeing ground locations (i.e., angles of play, variation of distance day to day)
• Fairway width and contours
• Fairway firmness and speed
• Green speed relative to percentage slopes and contours of the putting greens
• Putting green firmness
• Rough height, density and stages of severity
• Bunker preparation (i.e., create challenge of recovery)
• Green surrounds (e.g. closely mown areas -vs.- primary rough)
• Hole locations (relative difficulty, balance in location of left-vs.-right, front-vs.-back, anticipated wind, anticipated length of approach shot)
• Risk and reward options
• Anticipated weather conditions
• Pace of play

According to the statement, there is no target score for a U.S. Open. It says, "While the final score at some U.S. Open sites will be at or near par, the USGA does not try to formulate a course set up that will only produce a winning score of at or near even par. "

Preparing for a major championship like the U.S. Open is a long process, which the USGA typically begins five to seven years in advance. The complexities of course set up, gallery management, traffic, transportation and parking, lodging, security, volunteers, media, corporate hospitality, and player needs increase annually. The goal is to provide everyone attending a U.S. Open with the finest experience possible, whether they are located inside or outside the ropes.

Women's Golf Week set for June 4-11

Thousands of women nationwide will be treated to free golf lessons and golf-related social activities at several hundred public, resort and private golf courses from Saturday, June 4 through June 11, 2005, as part of Women's Golf Week – a precedent-setting collaboration of the top U.S. golf organizations aimed at increasing the participation of women in golf.

The week is a grass roots player development program spearheaded by GOLF 20/20, in association with the LPGA, PGA Tour, PGA of America, USGA, The First Tee, the Executive Women's Golf Association, NGCOA and the World Golf Hall of Fame. It is being presented by Golf For Women magazine. This year is a pilot program. Next year additional partners, including GCSAA, will participate.

The program is designed to make learning and playing golf fun in a women-friendly environment. Women 14 years of age and older who are new to golf, as well as continuing golfers interested in honing their skills, can participate in complimentary clinics, while adult women can also take advantage of networking sessions with others who share their passion for the game.

World Golf Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, LPGA and PGA of America professional Suzy Whaley and nationally recognized instructor and author Cindy Reid serve as national spokespersons of Women's Golf Week . A kick-off event will be held on Friday, June 3 at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla.

Women interested in the program can visit http://www.womensgolfweek.com to locate a participating host course in their area and to learn more about the specific events offered. Participants may register online and at participating host courses in advance of and on the day of each event.

In addition to complimentary golf instruction on Saturday, June 4, participating courses will offer activities such as networking receptions, golf rules and etiquette seminars, club fitting and equipment demonstrations, golf apparel fashion shows, luncheons and contests, all customized by each host facility.

People vs. the Pros looking for courses

People vs. the Pros--a made for TV golf event presented by BASF and sponsored by GCSAA--is looking for golf courses to host qualifying tournaments.

The finals feature one amateur in each of two age divisions playing a match, at handicap, against a Tour pro to be aired Sept. 19 on ESPN. The amateurs have the opportunity to win $100,000.

The program has showcased GCSAA and the work golf course superintendents do to make America's golf courses enjoyable to play. The one-hour telecast includes a special feature on superintendents and presents highlights of the BASF Superintendents Cup Match where two superintendents play a head-to-head match for $10,000 cash and $10,000 in BASF products.

This year's event will be played at Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, Sept. 9-12. Texans Justin Leonard and Ben Crenshaw, GCSAA's 1997 Old Tom Morris Award recipient, are the featured pros.

Local Qualifiers are one way to earn a spot in the 54-Hole finals and People vs. the Pros is trying to schedule qualifiers within a 16-hour drive of Austin. They are asking golf course superintendents to encourage their facilities to host a PVP qualifier during the June 18 to July 17 Local Qualifier Period.

People vs. the Pros provides the tournament format, operations support via a toll free number, plus a complete package of promotional materials and a targeted email campaign.

GCSAA member's courses qualify for a 33-percent discount on the licensing fee. To become a host course, cont act (877) 257-3184.

The event is also offering a limited number of guaranteed player slots in the finals through eBay and a sweepstakes.

The guaranteed player slots on eBay are being sold for $1,500 each. Players must be 18 years of age or older and have an established index by May 1, 2005, which is endorsed by the USGA or RCGA. Visit http://www.ebay.com/peoplevsthepros.

In the sweepstakes, 20 slots will be given available. Entries are being taken through the Web site until July 14, 2005, and are limited to one per person.

A very limited number of VIP packages are also available. Contact http://www.pvpgolf.com, (877) 257-3184.

Roundup goes racing

Roush Racing and Scotts Team Racing have announced that the No. 99 Ford of Carl Edwards will carry the Roundup Extended Control logo and new paint scheme as the primary sponsor for a race May 14 at Richmond, and for the Coca Cola 500, May 28 at Charlotte.

"We're really excited to have Roundup on the No. 99 Ford this coming weekend," said Edwards. "Roundup Extended Control is the third brand in the Scotts lawn and garden stable to support the No. 99 as a primary sponsor this year, and Miracle-Gro has occupied a highly visible associate position as well."

Edwards will run the same car he drove to a seventh place finish at Phoenix a few weeks ago. Edwards tested at Richmond last week in the Busch car and feels like he learned some things to help both the Busch and Cup programs this coming week.

Edwards and the No. 99 team have bounced in and out of the top-10 over the last several weeks dropping to 14th after a wreck at Talladega placed Edwards 32nd. With a good finish at Richmond, Edwards could get back into the top-10 then begin to solidify a place in "The Chase."

Contact http://www.roundup.com, http://www.scotts.com, (800) 246-7219. For more information on the No. 99, visit http://www.roushracing.com.

Could a daylight-saving change impact golf?

As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress is considering extending daylight-saving time an hour at each end, which might have an impact on the golf industry.

The bill, which has passed the House, would move the start of daylight-saving time to the first Saturday in March, and extend it through the last Sunday in November. Currently, those dates are in April and October.

Some in the golf industry think a change like that might make a difference. In areas where late fall and early spring are ideal golf weather, another hour of afternoon daylight might bring additional play.

Of course, the Senate still has to act on the legislation.