When you think of summertime golf destinations, maybe you think of Bandon Dunes, or some of the truly amazing destinations in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and similar. Maybe you think of Coastal California, or parts of New England. Cool breezes, great food, and amazing vistas.
You probably don’t think of Arizona, but after spending a week in late August in the Grand Canyon State, maybe you should. First off, it’s going to be hot. I could spew nonsense about it being a dry heat (which it is), but over 100 degrees is still over 100 degrees. Even if you play early like I do, it’s still going to be hot. So any visit means that sunscreen (can’t emphasize this enough), hydration and an acceptance of the conditions is a requirement. A hat with good sun protection is vital.
Note: I was not compensated or asked to provide any comments. My opinions are just that- mine. I do not have any kind of business relationship with any of the courses, resorts or restaurants listed. I flew Southwest direct into PHX/Sky Harbor to minimize issues with my clubs (in multiple visits to PHX, my clubs have always been well taken care of). I’ve had good luck with them of late so I’ll stick with them for the time being.
After getting in, we stomped at local favorite Chompies for brunch (several locations in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area). My pastrami sandwich was adequate, and the service was better than expected. Dinner was at local icon Pizzeria Bianco (there’s two locations; the one on 22nd is slightly bigger while the one on 7th is in midtown) I was first exposed to the greatness of this place last December, and it has forever changed the way I look at pizza. I had the margherita without a second thought. What really makes it is that you can actually taste each ingredient. The crust has a unique taste, as does the tomato sauce, the mozzarella cheese and of course the fresh basil.
Best pizza I’ve ever had. By far. I ate it all and regret nothing.
During our time in Phoenix we stayed at the Arizona Biltmore, as it had everything we needed (golf, pools, great vibe). The hotel was fantastic. They had recently renovated and will be celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2029. One of the two courses on-site (the more famous Adobe) was under renovation, so I played the shorter Links course (it maxes out at 6300 yards from the tips which is right in my wheelhouse). Generally flat (the back nine opens up and has some elevation change) and requiring accuracy over length, it was a great course to play after a day of travel. The staff were exceptionally friendly and the starter was very nice without being overbearing. The Arizona summer had done some damage to a few portions, but the course is upgrading to a new strain of Bermuda that won’t require overseeding, which is a win-win. I can’t wait to see what things look like after all this is done. Below are the 3rd, 12th and 15th holes at Biltmore Links course. The next night we dined at Collins Small Batch, which was perfectly adequate. They have a varied menu of locally inspired dishes. Compared to what we’d be eating the next two nights, it seemed a bit pedestrian but that’s probably unfair. The next round was at WeKoPa resort on the Cholla course (there’s also the Saguaro course). Both courses are among the best you can play in the state. Challenging beyond words but still fairly open, they’re fantastic. They look deceptively easy but small mistakes get punished. The staff couldn’t be nicer. i paid $89 to play (in-season can be well into the upper $300’s/low $400’s) Conditions were nothing short of outstanding. Tee boxes, fairways and greens were all superb. I played from the composite tee (a combination of purple and white, something more and more courses are doing), which played at just over 6400 yards. Below are pictures of the 18th (plays downhill), 3rd (watch the rocks in front of the green) and 7th holes. After getting my butt kicked, I deserved a great dinner and had it at Tratto, from the genius behind Pizzeria Bianco. The Van Buren Street location isn’t exactly bougie, and the storefront looks like you’re going to a bail bondsman or buying a 2005 Jeep. But you’d endure this to be inside. It’s semi-family style so portions are meant to be split. The pasta (a ravioli that was out of this world), a bavette steak that I’d crawl over broken glass to eat again and this fruit tarte dessert were transcendent. The menu changes (as you’d expect), but if you’re in Phoenix it’s worth planning a trip around. It’s that good. There’s a good-sized bar (it’s a converted garage) should you need a tipple.
Tratto exterior and dessert.
The next night we dined at Dick’s Hideaway, a local favorite that clearly puts its resources into the food, rather than decorations and design. It’s small, but you won’t care. My carne asada enchiladas were exactly what I wanted (if a bit messy if you go off the shirt stains). We sat next to a few other couples in proximity because of the layout and they were friendlier than they needed to be. The ‘No Kardashians’ sign should be universal.
Rules are rules.
The second stop on our trip was to Sedona, which is about two hours from Phoenix. I had heard things about Sedona, but had never been. The first thing you notice is that the weather is cooler. Not cold, but just a bit refreshing compared to the triple-digit heat of the last several days. It’s beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful. The mountains merit exploration.
Breathtaking views, and photos don’t do it justice.
Golf was at the adjacent Sedona Golf Resort, located south of Sedona. Despite being at elevation it plays less than 6700 yards from the tips (I played from the white tees, which were just south of 6200 yards). Still plenty of course. The course is set against the mountains, but conditions weren’t the best. If not for the view, I’m not sure this course would be as busy or be charging what it does (I paid $129, more expensive than my other rounds). If I had one small complaint it’s that the carts didn’t have GPS. In a touristy area like this, having GPS should be the default (both WeKoPa and the Biltmore had GPS on their carts). It would have been nice mostly so that I could leave my rangefinder at home. Unlike my rounds in Phoenix/Scottsdale which played firm and fast, the fairways were soft and offered little if any roll. The back nine is a par 34 with one par 5 and three par 3’s, the front side being a par 37 with three par 5’s. Below are the 8th, 10th, 13th and 18th holes from Sedona.
The
Dinner our first night in Sedona was at the outstanding Elote Café just off the main drag in downtown Sedona. My carne asada was outstanding along with the margarita. The pinto beans were better than they needed to be; flavorful without being overpowering. They require reservations so book ahead if you plan on going. They also have a great tequila selection if that’s your thing. We also had dinner at Shorebird just off Highway 179. Everything was good and correctly cooked, but after three dinners of otherworldly level, it’s impossible to compare. It’s unfair to compare. Shorebird isn’t bad; it’s quite nice and offers a wonderful view of the mountains at sunset with outdoor seating if that’s your thing. Our last day was for exploring some of the more scenic areas in the city along with the downtown area. Parking can be a challenge on weekends but we managed to find a lot close to downtown and all of the touristy areas. A good barometer is that Sedona is usually 10-15 degrees cooler than Phoenix. In talking to locals, the fall is definitely their big season but I can see late spring and summer (when we were there) was equally amazing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Southwest for doing a great job of handling my clubs. No issues, and nothing was missing or damaged.
Arizona during the summer may seem a bit odd, but with tee times being cheaper, it’s a great time to play in one of the best places to play in North America. Just bring your sunscreen and stay hydrated.
With the Tokyo Olympics now mid-way through the first week, I thought now would be a good time to figure out how to fix the golf format. I have the added bonus of getting to wear an air cast for the next few weeks so it’s not like I’m playing anytime soon. As horrible as the IOC is (I’ve long put them in a sports ‘Axis of Evil’ alongside the NCAA and FIFA, two other entities that serve up their unique brands of corruption, grift and a real hatred of the athletes under their umbrellas), the Olympics continue to provide a shop window that few other sporting events can provide. It’s the only reason to put up with the IOC.
While a 72-hole stroke play event does provide the players (and core fans) with a familiar feel, the truth is that it does seem like ‘just another event’ minus prize money. So let’s make some changes, shall we? I’ve had two bourbons, which is my sweet spot for Good Idea Thinking. Under my format, the players will play five rounds (at the most) instead of four, but with an additional competition. I’ll explain.
This will mean that there will be a total of eight days of competition, which is the same exact amount you currently have so the course would not be used any more/less than it would. I would leave the number of players at 120 (60 men, 60 women). So far, nothing changes. The host club (Riviera in 2028 is a fantastic choice), if private, isn’t being unduly put upon any more than they already were.
In the interest of being fair, I flipped a coin and the women will start their event first (it’s largely interchangeable) rather than the men. The first three days are the women’s team event (30 two-player teams) which will be 54 holes with a cut after two rounds. Then men’s team event is the same format (30 two-player teams, 54 holes). Countries would send players in even numbers based on world rankings. So the men’s and women’s events get cut from 72 to 54 holes to add a 36-hole mixed team event.
Competition Day 1: Women’s Team Event (alternate shot format)
Day 2: Women’s Team Event (foursomes/two-player best ball format).
After the second round, the field is cut to the top 12-18 teams (and ties). I’m flexible on how deep the cut should be. Maybe anyone within 8-10 shots of the lead gets through.
Day 3: Women’s Team event final round. Two-player best-ball format, scores reset so everyone starts the final round at level par.
Medals are awarded in the Women’s Team event.
Then two rest/practice days.
The next event will be a mixed-team event (one male, one female). With 120 players you’d need a two-tee start (apologies in advance to Justine Reed as her husband and his playing partner will undoubtedly get a “late, then early” start time) but with summer you can easily get players around in plenty of time (Brisbane in 2032 could be tight since it won’t be during their summer but it’s still doable; they get around 11 hours of sunlight in August). The women would tee off from a forward tee 12-14% shorter than what the men will play, in line with USGA research.
Day 4: Mixed Team event (alternate shot)
Day 5: Mixed Team event (foursomes/two-player best ball)
Medals are awarded in the Mixed team event.
Two rest/practice days.
Competition Day 6: Men’s Team Event (alternate shot format)
Day 7: Men’s Team Event (foursomes/two-player best ball format).
After the second round, the field is cut to the top 12-18 teams (and ties). As noted earlier, I’m flexible on how deep the cut should be. Maybe anyone within 8-10 shots of the lead gets through.
Day 8: Men’s Team event final round. Two-player best-ball format, scores reset so everyone starts the final round at level par.
Medals are awarded in the Men’s Team event.
Nations would require at least four athletes to be eligible (two men, two women) in the top 300 in the world. This is similar to minimal qualification standards that the IOC already has in place for other events (call it the “Eddie the Eagle” rule). In lieu of professional status, advancing to the quarter-final stage or better in one of several elite amateur events would also suffice (US Amateur, British Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur, etc.).
Restarting the final rounds at 0 for the men’s and women’s events means nobody can play it safe and that any team making that cut has a chance.
This means that there are more medals to compete with, and cutting the men’s and women’s event to 54 holes cuts down on wear and tear and would allow players to arrive late/leave early if they wanted to do that.
Some other rules that I’m adding:
-Men may wear shorts during tournament rounds (the shorts must be the same color as the pants as part of the team’s uniforms, which means if Great Britain is wearing blue pants, players can wear blue shorts) if they choose.
-Max score of double par on any hole during the qualifying rounds (Days 1-2 and 6-7).
-Rangefinders/GPS devices are legal so long as they do not have the slope option engaged.
-American men (looking at you, DJ and others) who qualify and refuse to go over are ineligible for Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup “unless” they have already played in an Olympic event. My long-held belief is that the Olympics should be a “once in a lifetime” thing for athletes. Play once, and the option of opting out of future Olympics if the player chooses. The European Tour can do similar if they choose.
-No caddies (players can use push/pull carts or carry their bags as they prefer) during tournament rounds, however each nation would have a designated non-playing captain (and ONE assistant captain) that the team can consult with prior to and after rounds, along with one three-minute ‘time out’ after the 9th hole. Three minutes between nines isn’t going to hold things up.
-The IOC will work with the R&A and the USGA for a tournament ball which must be used by all competitors in all rounds. This would eliminate any confusion about teams having to figure out what ball to use. The non-playing captain would (for countries with multiple entries) decide who will partner up with whom. The ball should be made available to players at least 90 days before the start of the Olympics to any players who are possibly eligible so they can get used to it.
-Ties for medal places will be decided in a sudden-death playoff.
-Winning an Olympic event (if professional) provides a 4-year exemption on said player’s tour. If you want to elevate the event you have to treat it like one. It also includes entry into the next three years of all major championships.
-The IOC pays for charter flights to take the players from the last tour stop prior to the games to the host city (if they can do it for NHL players they can do it for the best golfers in the world).
So eight days of competition, and six days of practice/off days for a total of 14 days. This would mean that the players would have the opportunity to march in the opening and closing ceremonies if they chose to since for many, this is a huge component of attending. Or, they can opt to come in later/leave earlier. Flexibility.
A team event would level the playing field to a degree and offer something different and unique (and we’ve all been wanting to see a mixed-team event). The idea came to me from watching the mixed curling at the 2018 Winter Olympics (the men and the women had their own separate events in addition to the team competition). The schedule builds rest and practice in which (assuming we’re not dealing with a pandemic in Paris) allows the players to have that Olympic experience in every possible way. Similar, but unique and for most, a true once-in-a-lifetime event which is what the Olympics should be.
Everyone in our group on the green. Someone’s closer! 6th hole, Los Lagos Course at Costa Mesa CC.
There’s an old plot line in movies where the answer to the great mystery was right under their noses the whole time. Whether it’s the murder weapon that was in plain sight or the murderer was someone everyone knew, it’s an old trope. It’s what I’ve been thinking about over the last week.
A month ago, I was at home, enjoying Memorial Day weekend (remembering it was cool and rainy for much of it) and not really thinking about much. I had played a couple rounds this year and hadn’t done that well. Then, a week later things got turned upside down and not in a good way, and I found myself driving out west to Southern California for family reasons (given the complete shit-show that air travel has become, I declined that option, not to mention paying hundreds of dollars a day for a car rental).
Mostly out of habit, I took my clubs with me, thinking (correctly) that I’d have free time to play. Since playing at sunrise is kind of my thing, it worked out, which left me plenty of time for the horror show that the last week-plus has been.
Southern California was where the golf bug first bit me, influenced heavily by my Aunt who was an avid player (not a big hitter off the tee but I remain envious of her short game). While she was a member at a couple private clubs in Texas and Oklahoma, our rounds were played on public (muni) tracks in Southern California (specifically, Orange County). Nondescript places that seemed beneath her, but that she seemed to enjoy playing nonetheless. Still remember her clowning a couple guys we got paired with who weren’t thrilled at getting paired with a female player (she easily beat them by 25 strokes). She died the day of the final round of the 1987 Masters (watching it, of course). Literally on death’s door, watching to see if Greg Norman could finally get over (he didn’t).
Turns out that you can go home again, even if you didn’t really want to.
My golf adventure last month started at the fancily-named (but very much not fancy) Costa Mesa Country Club, a 36-hole facility with a few holes that border a mental hospital, a few holes that border a high school, and a few holes that bordered a jogging/biking path. I played the longer of the two courses (Los Lagos) for both rounds, which runs just over 6500 yards from the tips and a very manageable 6200 yards from the middle tees (I played it twice; once from each set). The course is quite flat with only a few holes having any kind of elevation change. Walking rates are $36 Monday-Thursday, $39 Friday, and $52 Saturday-Sunday. The shorter Mesa Linda course maxes out at just over 5,400 yards and is quite flat. It’s only $29 to walk Monday-Thursday, $34 Friday and $43 Saturday-Sunday. The Mesa Linda would be a GREAT place for a shorter hitter to play. It’s just fun.
First tee at Los Lagos course. Not much of a marine layer on the day.
Fairways are generally pretty generous, rough is minimal. Greens were in good shape; certainly not tour speed but they were rolling consistently with very few burned-out areas. Okay, there were a few bare spots in fairways and some of the paths weren’t pristine (a mix of dirt and rock), but at these rates the course clearly has their priorities in shape. It’s fun. The people you’ll play with are the salt-of-the-earth types who make the game great. Waiting in line to check in for my 5:34 a.m. time, I got to chatting with a few guys who are regulars. The course is quite popular for people who will play the back nine early. If that’s you, get there early. There will be a line.
Pre-sunrise at Costa Mesa CC. Already a dozen or so other cars in the parking lot behind me.
No expense spared on this handy map. But who cares? It’s a great place to play.
Los Lagos starts with back-to-back par 5’s, and finishes with a par 5 as well for a total of five par-5’s on the course with yardages ranging from 520-567 yards (from the tips). Water only comes into play on a few holes. The par 4’s are also widely varied (from 320-420 yards). There’s yardage plates in the middle of the fairways at 200, 150 and 100 yards that can appear to be hidden, so a rangefinder/GPS device isn’t the worst thing to have. If you play in the afternoon expect a breeze off the ocean (only 5-6 miles from the ocean).
Teeing off on #10 at Mile Square (classic). This sums up the vibe pretty well.
My next port of call was Mile Square Golf Course, another 36-hole facility in Fountain Valley, the town where I went to high school and spent some formative years getting into various kinds of trouble (my attorney has advised me from making any additional statements). The town may lack a certain verve and excitement (I mean, the city’s motto is “a nice place to live”) but it gets golf right. There are two main courses (the older ‘Classic’ course and a newer ‘Players’ course that there are rumours about it shuttering; hopefully this doesn’t happen), plus an 18-hole ‘Executive’ course (David L. Baker) on the north side of the park that is lit should you want to play at night (why more courses don’t do this remains a mystery). Of the two main courses, it’ll run you $41 Monday-Thursday and $55 Friday-Sunday to walk. Both courses are easily walkable. Flat and with minimal distances between holes. The majority of people playing either carried or were part of the Push Cart Mafia. There’s a driving range and several practice greens.
Like Costa Mesa CC, the cart paths are beat up, but the fairways (and especially the greens) were in good shape. The greens are especially good. They use recycled water so best to not lick your ball if it rolled in the dew. In the DC area this course would be full at $70-$90. The 9th hole runs parallel to a busy street so going right is highly unadvisable. Both courses are very busy so expect a 4-5 hour round (I played early on a Saturday morning and finished in 4:15; the group in front of us were lagging a bit but they were apologetic about it and were trying to keep up). Like Costa Mesa (and Meadowlark, below) playing in the afternoon means you’re getting a sea breeze coming from the ocean almost every day.
From the rough on #1 at the Classic Course at Mile Square.
Mile Square Park is very much a public park, and it was playing here that a light came on in the normally empty space that is my head. On the front nine, a few holes border a series of baseball fields where kids were out practicing and playing. Soccer fields sat empty but it was obvious that they’d be in use that day. Outdoor basketball courts were visible as well. On the back nine, more soccer fields and several softball fields were getting used, with the softball games drawing heavy crowds. There’s even a nature preserve, and of course lots of running/walking/biking trails.
Unless dirt/rock cart paths bug you (and they don’t bug me), Mile Square is a great place to play. It’s flat (I was at an angle).
The country club set would probably shiver and require fainting couches for having to play amid young girls and their parents cheering wildly at base hits and runs, but I found that it didn’t detract from my round. And shouldn’t THAT be the standard? Why can’t we co-exist? Shouldn’t a public park that has golf (and other sports) be able to exist peacefully? Why yell at each other when it just seems easier to get along.
Flirted with a watery grave on the 14th hole at Mile Square.
If I did have a complaint, it’s for a lack of a short (under 130 yards) par 3. The 13th hole (below) is the shortest hole at 144 yards from the middle tees. The other par 3’s are 155, 170 and 165 yards from the middle tees.
13th hole at Mile Square (classic). Shortest par 3 on the course (144 from the middle tees). Behind us were a few softball fields that had games going on. Wish they were cheering for me but such is life.
My last round was at Meadowlark GC in Huntington Beach. It was a challenge to get on at Meadowlark since they don’t take walk-ins as of this writing but I managed to get a tee time. It would have been nice if I’d have managed to charge my phone to take a few photos but I dropped the ball on that one. Meadowlark is relatively tame on the scorecard, topping out at just over 5,600 yards from the tips. However, the ocean is only a mile or so away so an ocean breeze should be expected most of the time. Meadowlark is tighter than the other courses and wayward shots can bring some challenges into play. Rough was a non-issue; greens were good (all of the courses have poa annua greens if you care; it’s quite common here as are the kikuyu fairways and tee boxes; you’ll find the same down the road at Torrey Pines); maybe not as good as those at Mile Square but decent. Some areas weren’t lush but were burned out a bit, but generally speaking the fairways and greens were more than playable.
The course very much fits on the small plot of land it occupies. With a couple exceptions the course is relatively flat, and the pricing is quite reasonable. Walking rates vary from $34-$50 depending on day of week. When I was there I saw a significant number (close to, but not quite 50%) of players using pull/push carts.
In four rounds, I didn’t lose a single ball. I didn’t play that well and certainly didn’t score well, but I was able to avoid any big trouble (not that these courses have much). Meadowlark probably has a couple holes with water very much in play where losing a ball is fairly easy (water at Mile Square is only on a few holes and a couple at Los Lagos at Costa Mesa). Like Mile Square, there are a couple holes where getting wild puts your ball on a busy street so please don’t.
Look, if you’re visiting Orange County, a trip to some of the tonier public courses (Pelican Hill, Strawberry Farms, Coyote Hills, Tustin Ranch, Monarch Beach) is certainly a fantastic day out especially if money isn’t an object (Pelican Hill’s views are especially fantastic; played it once in 1996 when a colleague paid for us to play), but I’d argue that you don’t need to break the bank in order to play good golf. While Costa Mesa, Mile Square and Meadowlark don’t have million-dollar views, they’re what public golf should be. Affordable, fun, and a vital part of the community and populated by your fellow public golfers who love the game. Mile Square is where I came to love this game, and while she may not be the belle of the ball, she can dance with me anytime she wants. Just don’t go right on #9.
As a rule I don’t watch Inaugurations even though I’ve lived in the DC area for a while. Usually I’m working, and in 2001 (Inauguration fell on a Saturday that year) I was on a flight to the west coast when George W. Bush was sworn in (I was trying to avoid bad weather). It’s nothing political, it’s just not my bag. I’ll probably watch some of the Inaugural address when I have the time to pay attention.
So on this Inauguration Day, since the departing and newly-sworn in POTUS both play (one a lot more than the other), I thought I’d do a deep dive of the worst golf movies. Everyone has their top-5 or top-10. This is a top-7 list. Some of them you’ll recall instantly, and others you’ll have forgotten (or tried to forget) they existed.
Before I jump into the list, I thought it would be helpful if I provided my methodology in how I reviewed these films.
Story. Does the plot make sense? Does the script follow a progression?
Acting. How good are the actors?
Golf. Do the golf scenes look realistic? Do the actors/actresses who are playing golf appear to know what they’re doing (if they’re playing characters who are pros/elite amateurs)? Much like hockey films, this is an area that gets overlooked (I’m looking at you, Mighty Ducks trilogy). The better option is to do what the producers did for the hockey film “Miracle” which is find guys who can play hockey and teach them acting (the hockey scenes are VERY good).
Directing. How are the golf scenes shot? Are there obvious continuity errors? Do the scenes ‘look’ genuine?
Re-watch factor. The best golf films can be re-watched. Would you want to re-watch?
Again, this list is not in any particular order. I took notes, watched films, and that’s it. These films are all uniquely bad for reasons I’ll get into.
Caddyshack II (released 1988). This falls into how I feel about the sequels to Slap Shot (hockey people feel about Slap Shot what golfers feel about Caddyshack; notably the sequel(s) were terrible ideas). They’re terrible, poorly conceived, horribly written and to borrow a phrase, the audience is the worse for having watched it. Much of the original cast is gone and replaced with people who should know better. Robert Stack as the Judge Smails and Jackie Mason as the Al Czervik is all you need to know. Beyond terrible and not even in a “so bad it’s good” way. Insipid. Awful. The best thing I can say about these films is that Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray and Ted Knight had the decency to run away from this flaming turd of a film. The people who made this film should apologize to anyone who’s had to sit through it.
Happy Gilmore (released 1996). I know there are people who like this film as it’s an Adam Sandler film and he has his fans. This ain’t it, chief. Sandler has “one” character he plays with very few exceptions (the odd drama film). He’s playing Adam Sandler Comedic Goof. The golf plotline is terrible and completely divorced from reality. The continuity errors are in the dozens (obviously shot at multiple locations at different times of the year and changing for no reason). Christopher McDonald’s ‘Shooter McGavin’ character is the only thing decent. Again- touring pros AND a then-nascent Golf Channel bought onto this. A poster child for failing to get the details right.
Greatest Game Ever Played (released 2005). A good book does not always make for a good movie. The problems start with Shia Lebeouf, who is awful as the film’s lead Francis Ouimet. His golf swing is god-awful. It’s worse than Matt Damon’s in ‘Bagger Vance’ which is saying something. At no point do you think he’s playing that role. He’s just Shia Lebeouf looking like a 30-handicap chopper in period dress. I wanted to like this film (seriously- the book is good). It’s awful. Shia should apologize to Stephen Dillane who is actually good. The film makes several factual errors that go against what actually happened.
The Tiger Woods Story (released 1998). The Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie enema of golf films. Undoubtedly some smooth-brained troglodyte wearing white shoes and a nose ring thought to greenlight this dumpster fire after his Masters win. The lead (whose name bears not repeating) didn’t really look like Woods, and the golf scenes are awful. It’s consistently awful. No thought was put into this film. It jumps around without ever actually making a point. I had forgotten it existed until I started researching this. I feel gross. The script (assuming there was one) has all the emotion of a manila envelope.
Who’s Your Caddy (released 2007). If you don’t understand golf, don’t do golf films. Not authentic. More of a comedic vehicle. It’s as if they thought “we have this dumpster fire of a script with comedic actors, let’s spin the wheel and find out some details….and hey let’s have them be caddies!” or something. At some point someone is going to make a great film about caddies (Tin Cup does the role ‘some’ justice). This…is not that film. It’s not to say that every golf scene has to involve professionals, but if the actors are playing pros/elite amateurs they should look the part. A good example of not good players in a great scene? The golf scene in ‘Sideways’. Two guys who aren’t any good but who make bad swings and look the part. Anyone who’s played a lot of public golf can relate to Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church being in front of them and the reactions from everyone.
A Gentleman’s Game (released 2002). A 90-minute slog about adolescence and being honest. Less a golf movie and more of an After-School Special (kids, ask your parents) with Gary Sinise. Instead of “Timmy discovers marijuana!?!” it’s “Timmy sees the mean old man cheating and being a racist.” Which is bad. So don’t cheat. Don’t be racist. Be honest. Don’t cheat. Eat your vegetables and bathe daily. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
The Squeeze (released 2015). Directed by former ABC golf producer Terry Jastrow who is well connected in Hollywood and golf circles. Anne Archer was part of the production. Christopher McDonald and Jeremy Sumpter are in it. And yet, it’s not any good. A good third of the film has zero relevancy to the plot (none of it remaining part of answering the basic “What’s the Story?” question). The plot gets in its own way. The golf scenes in the main match are well done, but the rest of the film jumps around. When I heard about it I really thought it would be better. It’s not. Luckily it’s confined to Golf Channel.
So that’s it. Seven golf films not worth your time. Hopefully ‘someone’ can write a script for a golf movie that gets the golf parts correct and can couple that with a good story. Movies, at their best, tell great stories. Let’s hope so.
Not to brag or anything, but in my last blog post I predicted (correctly) that the PGA of America would move the 2022 PGA Championship away from Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey. I didn’t think it would happen this quickly (I tended to lean in the direction that John Feinstein indicated where it would be announced after Joe Biden was sworn in).
"The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster." — Jim Richerson, PGA of America President
Pretty clear. I don’t know if the USGA has put anything out (as of this writing they haven’t), or if there is an internal understanding that they will never pursue that option. Honestly either one works at this point, although on some level Trump has to know that he will never see another major championship (his course in Sterling, Virginia hosted the 2017 Senior PGA Championship and his course in New Jersey hosted the 2017 US Women’s Open) at one of his courses.
So what to do with the 2022 PGA Championship? My thoughts keep going to the idea that 2021 is going to be a ‘highly limited or no fans’ option (in which case you have options you otherwise wouldn’t have) and that Kiawah would be smart to agree to move to 2022, opening up this year. But, the logistics then become a nightmare. So, if you’re hosting it in May of 2022 (and Kiawah isn’t moving off of this year) and need a venue, here are my suggestions, in no particular order:
Bethpage Black. It’s very much on the PGA’s radar, and is slated to host the Ryder Cup in 2025. In the same general area as New Jersey. A good trial balloon for security and routing come 2025, which should be bonkers. Going to a public course would be a good statement about accessibility of the game if that’s something the PGA of America cares about.
Chambers Bay. Has the space to hold a major championship and by all accounts they don’t have the turf issues they had in 2015. Reminder that west coast events mean a prime time finish on the east coast. Also means thunderstorms aren’t really an issue. Do not let anyone from the USGA on course grounds unless they buy a ticket.
Riviera. Move the Genesis Open to Sherwood for one year (which can accommodate fans), and play the PGA at Riviera. West Coast prime time finish on a course that everyone respects. May in California would be perfect.
Hazeltine. One of those PGA shortlist venues that has hosted PGA-run events. May in Minnesota is a bit of a lottery weather-wise, but Minnesotans have long shown they will turn up for events.
TPC Potomac. Not sure if the PGA would ever go to a TPC network course, but it’s shown it holds up to modern pros when you look at scores from the last year of the AT&T National. Not slated to host anything so not like nearby Congressional having to give up their course for renovations, then majors.
Pebble Beach. It “has” hosted a PGA (1977). The ultimate in “plug and play” courses. Long history, everyone knows the course, and west coast takes thunderstorms (and dangerous heat/humidity) out of play.
Why, hello there. It’s New Year’s Day 2021, and we’re all still here. Nobody’s hung over because we were all responsible and stayed home in small groups rather than going out to large parties (unless you’re rich or an elected official, in which case fill your boots on the taxpayer dime). After an off-season of a few weeks, the 2021 PGA Tour golf season starts next week in Hawaii. The LPGA gets things going a few weeks later in Florida (I know I say this all the time, but seriously- if you only have time to watch one tour, watch the LPGA).
I’m sure that there are those who have made predictions on every event already, and while I admire their commitment, I’m not that writer. I just don’t have the time to keep up, and neither do you in all likelihood. However, I’ve put together some prognostications about the game that I’ve broken down into the following categories: Professional Tours, Media/Publications/Equipment, and Local News.
PRO TOURS
One of the California West Coast events is getting moved/postponed/canceled. The COVID situation in Southern California is beyond dire (they’re out of hospital beds and are turning away patients from hospitals). They had to move the Rose Bowl game to Texas. If you look at the events in La Quinta (Amex), La Jolla (Farmers Insurance) and LA (Genesis), it’s hard to see these events taking place unless there is a massive sea change in cases. For the record, I’m hoping that this doesn’t happen and that the caseloads in California plummet and everything reverts to pre-COVID world.
We will see another fan-less West Coast swing and (unfortunately) a fan-less Masters. This isn’t political. COVID isn’t going to go away because of a new administration. If 35-40% of the population keeps going around thinking that it’s some giant hoax, then nothing is going to change.
The 2022 PGA Championship is getting moved. My out-of-the-box suggestion? Cancel the Genesis in February and move the 2021 PGA from Kiawah to Riviera. Then play the 2022 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. If the PGA of America thought the 1990 event was unpleasant, playing the 2022 event where its scheduled to be held will be far worse.
A Canadian man and at least one American woman are going to win majors in 2021.
Bryson DeChambeau will win at least one event and will skip an event due to injury.
Two of the men’s major winners will be first-time winners.
Europe will retain the Ryder Cup.
At least one prominent American male player will opt out of participating in the Olympics.
MEDIA/EQUIPMENT/PUBLICATIONS
CBS and NBC will continue the trial balloon of dumping some weekend coverage onto their over-the-top streaming services (CBS All Access and Peacock respectively). There will be complaints and ratings will be flat/down slightly.
Brandel Chamblee will say something outrageous. It will be forgotten within 72 hours.
Golf Channel will be talking about doing another reboot or possibly pushing the majority of its programming to Peacock by the end of 2021.
CBS and NBC will add another 1-2 minutes of commercials to their weekend coverage, angering viewers. All because they overpaid for the PGA Tour rights package (bidding against who I have no idea) for reasons that make zero sense.
Expect the legacy golf magazines to trim another 1-2 issues per year off the print editions. And yet, there will be at least 27 subscription forms in each copy. Their equipment issues will have the kind of conflicts of interest that would never been allowed a decade ago.
Brick and mortar stores that thrive will figure out the secret sauce that makes them a better option than online. This will start with better size options, and better service. My plea to the stores: make the experience of shopping in your stores better than shopping online. Please. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve gone into a pro shop/store with money to spend and walk out because nothing they have in the store is my size, I could easily pay for a round anywhere except Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass.
2022 is going to be interesting because several NBC/Comcast rights deals (NHL, Premier League) come up for renewal (the NHL deal comes up after this season). Could this open the floodgates for a consolidation of golf TV rights? I know this seems insane, but if I told you that Fox was going to walk away from its USGA package in 2020, would you have thought I was crazy 12 months ago?
LOCAL NEWS
Rounds played in the DMV will take a slight hit when the cicadas make their once-every-17-years appearance this spring. You’ve been warned. Last time was in 2004 (courses without a lot of trees won’t have any issues). The largest factor in the area will remain the weather. If it’s favorable (we have normal rainfall, spring starts when it’s supposed to and it’s not surface of the sun hot for two months straight), then people will show up. This area is still underserved with respect to public courses.
More of a wish, but Columbia Association will decide that they’ve done enough to screw up golf courses (they’re treading dangerously into Everything They Touch Dies territory) and turn over management of both Hobbits Glen and Fairway Hills to one of the big boys of course management (Troon, Kemper Sports, Billy Casper, ClubCorp, hell at this point might as well enlist Club Pro Guy and his fine superintendent Miguel Vega). If anyone at CA is reading this, you have zero clue how to run a golf course and the people who actually work at your courses know this better than I do. Actually, Columbia Association can’t really run a literal one-car parade. They screwed up their gyms, they tried suing to prevent the annual Festival of Lights at Merriweather, and they’re doing their dead level best to continue to piss people off.
No local courses are going to close in 2021. There was enough of a cull in 2018-2019 (and there definitely was one) and 2020 ended up being pretty good in terms of rounds played (once courses opened). For now, all eyes are on DC as we watch to see what happens with the DC courses being redone by The Links Trust (Tom Doak and Gil Hanse working together) and eventually being managed by Troon.
Expect a hurricane, record rainfall, record heat and several other acts of God from August 23-29. The BMW Championship is at Baltimore’s Caves Valley. You think I’m kidding. Not even a bit. I’m old enough to remember the TUESDAY FINISH in 2006 at the then-FBR Open at what is now TPC Potomac. I really hope I’m wrong on this, but history doesn’t exactly bode well.
I will play when I can, and probably maintain the kind of mediocrity that I’m famous for. But I play fast, so there’s that.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year, and let’s all hope that in 12 months we’re remembering 2021 for the good things.
SONG OF THE DAY
This is more than 35 years old and it’s still good. From the OG’s of Goth:
With the news that Golf Channel has closed their Orlando studios and relocated in Stamford, CT (just outside of New York) along with the rest of NBC’s sports programming, it’s time to take a deep dive on how to keep Golf Channel relevant in 2021 and beyond. I had extended family call Stamford home (they’ve since passed), and by all accounts it’s a lovely town (haven’t been back in several years).
As with most things, it took a notepad, two bourbons, and an open mind. These changes don’t require significant investment, and will provide greater depth of coverage.
Bringing Shane Bacon on board to host ‘Golf Today’ (replacing ‘Morning Drive’) is a great first step that has been universally praised (and rightly so). Shane was easily the best part of FOX’s USGA coverage. It helps that nearly everyone who’s met him has said he’s a great guy. He will also be on-site at major events as part of their ‘Life From’ coverage.
However, there are additional changes that are needed. These changes are about adapting and trying to stay ahead of the curve. The goal should be to continue to engage the core audience but also grow their viewership. These changes reflect what I think is an expansion on Arnold Palmer’s vision for the network, while embracing the future of television.
Addition of a rules expert at all PGA/LPGA Tour event coverage. Not just during the majors but every week; the rules person can work out of their studios in Stamford. Think how FOX and CBS each have a rules expert for their NFL and college football coverage who works from their studio. While they’re at it, rules officials at tournaments should be wearing wireless mics so that viewers can easily hear what’s being said. Nothing on this side of the Atlantic will match the master of what this can look like (seriously, Nigel is a cult figure); Slugger White wishes he were Nigel Owens.
Addition of a weekly program devoted to NCAA golf coverage. If they’re going to be serious about showing the NCAA championships and a few random tournaments, start here. A weekly 60-minute show that has tournament highlight clips, previews of upcoming events and rankings isn’t a huge ask. This can and should help them naturally build to their NCAA tournament coverage in April and May (you already have dedicated networks for the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and PAC-12 so it’s just down to assembling clips).
CNBC has to become their default ‘overflow’ option on weekends (I get not wanting to use it during the week when the financial markets are open). I like ‘Shark Tank’ and ‘Undercover Boss’ reruns and I’m sure others do as well, but there’s no reason to not use CNBC as the ‘overflow’ option. It has good market penetration and won’t be a hard-to-find channel for viewers.
Peacock (premium) should be used for next-generation stuff and/or alternate feeds. If you want to try something new or out of the box, use Peacock for it (and go commercial free). I’ve seen other platforms have a ‘fan commentary’ option (one example- having a European fan and a US fan doing commentary during the Ryder Cup). In short, Peacock becomes their lab, which will enhance its value as a “plus” option.
Make movie night great again. Film interviews with the crews who did ‘Caddyshack’, ‘Bagger Vance’, ‘Greatest Game’, ‘Tin Cup’, etc. And while you’re at it, obtain the rights for ‘Dead Solid Perfect’ (you can blur out the nude scene,- just don’t blur out the ice bucket…if you know, you know). Even better- show the films uncut after hours. Fine; you don’t want the kids to hear the swears or see partial nudity at 8:00 p.m., but overnight go wild (BTW, this doesn’t fall under FCC ‘decency’ standards laws because it’s cable). ESPN Classic (when it existed) did this (talk to the filmmakers) for a ton of sports films. MLB Network and NHL Network have done this for a few baseball and hockey films. Go back and insert blurbs on these screenings (“this clip was filmed at Shady Pines CC in June 1981” or “this clip was shot after filming because Craig Stadler stained his pants and there wasn’t backup wardrobe”).
Behind The Scenes at the Ryder Cup. I’ve seen these ‘warts and all’ documentaries done, and when they’re done well they’re fantastic. The Netflix series “Sunderland ‘Til I Die’, the HBO “24/7 Winter Classic (the first year especially when it was the Penguins-Capitals), the HBO “Hard Knocks” and the rugby union Lions Tour behind the scenes documentaries (on YouTube) are great stuff. NBC/Golf Channel should insist on doing one. Bring viewers into the team rooms, into the conference rooms where the team selection is debated, and follow players, captains and assistant captains around.
Movies, Part II. Run a contest for the next great golf film similar to HBO’s ‘Project Greenlight’. Allow submissions, and pick one to option out for production.
In addition to the “Inside The PGA Tour” weekly program, now that the PGA and LPGA Tours have a relationship, there should be an “Inside The LPGA Tour” program as well that gets aired and syndicated. I’d bet Mike Whan would agree to this in about two seconds.
More of a PGA/LPGA Tour issue, but they need to get the collective stick out of their butts when it comes to users posting clips on social media. I understand ‘but muh broadcast rights’ but allowing a user to post 2-3 clips of 60-90 seconds per day on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/TikTok should be embraced. If the Tours want to require their social media accounts are shared along with the video, then great (better social media engagement!). But that clip of Bryson Dechambeau having a meltdown back in the summer was spectacular. Like it or not this is how many people ‘consume’ content.
Find someone who can do long-form interviews. I like David Feherty, but his act has gotten stale (not just his interviews). The person who might be best suited is now at ESPN (Scott Van Pelt), so this may be one of those ‘develop someone internally’ deals.
Nine-hole versions of ‘Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf’ with two-player mixed teams. Three holes alternate shot, three holes shamble, three holes two-person best ball. Something that can be consolidated into a 60-minute show. Nine holes to cut down on time commitments and allow them to film content easier.
In the spirit of ESPN8 (“the ocho”) have 1-2 days a year devoted to infomercials or their older programming (Kessler’s old interviews for starters). They brought back old episodes of ‘The Big Break’ during the shutdown; go deeper and older. Embrace history, but continue to look to the future.
Never stop innovating. I know 2020 was rough on people for a host of reasons, but if you’re reading this, I sincerely hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday/festive season. I think we’re all hoping 2021 is better for everyone. All the best.
Well, it’s December 2020 and as I’m writing this, the final round of the US Women’s Open is getting started. Let that sink in for a moment. A Monday finish for a tournament that was originally scheduled for June that was moved to December is a pretty good indicator of what 2020 was like.
I’m not wearing a mask (hey, another hot take) because I’m at home by myself (the dog doesn’t count) but I’ve got masks in my car and one in my golf bag. Another item in the ‘things that became a thing in 2020’ column. So golf was pretty messed up once COVID showed up. They stopped the Players Championship after one round (and a Chainsmokers concert that became a super-spreader event), took a 3-month hiatus, canceled the Open championship, moved the USPGA from May to August, the US Open from June to September, and the Masters from April to November. The Ryder Cup got canceled and rescheduled for 2021. The women moved the ANA Inspiration from early April to September (Palm Springs in late summer…AWESOME) and the US Open from June to December.
Oh, and no fans at tournaments like nearly every other sport in the US. On the one hand, last month’s Masters were devoid of the roars that make it so great. On the other hand, Trevor and Brock weren’t screaming “MASHED POTATOES” every nine minutes after that second Michelob Ultra, so all in all it’s a win.
FOX bailed on the USGA package because they didn’t want to give up a Sunday of NFL games in September, so welcome back NBC, Golf Channel and (sound of me vomiting) Peacock (NBC’s ‘let’s put all the shit you dirt eaters love on a premium streaming site that sucks ass). Overall this is a win for golf fans especially since Shane Bacon has joined Golf Channel (he was the best thing on FOX by a mile). I have to admit I’m looking forward to NBC putting the Super Bowl on Peacock in a couple years just out of sheer spite while NBC shows a dog show. But if there’s one positive to the USGA package reverting back to NBC, it’s that we now get that Yanni song playing eighty bazillion times per day.
Jack Black is REALLY happy about the USGA package going back to NBC
However, despite all of the upheaval, there is one constant. If it’s early December, it means Golf Digest put out another holiday gift guide, presumably because they had little else to do. They also have a ‘for the golfer who has everything‘ version, which makes zero sense because if they had everything they wouldn’t need this sponsored crap. But, we digress. To make this easier on both of us, I’m not including pictures of the products. You’re not buying any of this shit, and neither am I. So let’s get started.
UNDER ARMOUR MEN’S UA STORM EVOLUTION DAYTONA FULL ZIP
Price: $100
They say: This water-repellent jacket is engineered to adapt to changing temperatures to retain heat in the cold and release heat when the body needs to cool off. The bomber jacket design is on-trend and ultra-breathable for a comfortable fit either layered or as a simple shell.
SGIC says: To borrow from a popular saying, I think it’s time we just admit that Everything Under Armour Touches Dies. You have college teams running from their sponsorship deals. They tried and lost out on deals to outfit NHL and MLB teams as the official uniform supplier. Their stock is in the toilet. And they hitched their golf fortunes to Jordan Spieth, which looked genius in 2015 but now looks like a terrible idea. This jacket looks perfect for suburban dads who don’t play golf. Coming to a kids soccer game near you while dad makes sure everyone has gluten-free oranges for halftime.
SONY WH100MXM3 BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES
Price: $280
They say: Home or away, these ultra-powerful headphones are a saving grace. The noise-cancelling technology is designed to adapt to the sound where you are, so the volume will turn up or down depending on the ambient sound sensed by the headphones. A built-in mic allows for hands-free phone calls, and touch functionality allows you to control the music. The headphones’ “quick attention mode” allows you to cover the right ear to turn down the music for a moment for quick interruptions or conversations. The battery life lasts up to 30 hours.
SGIC says: Every year they put at least one pair of overpriced headphones in their guide and I don’t know why. You’re not wearing these on the golf course. I guess they’re great to avoid hearing your kids yell and scream while you enjoy an Adderall smoothie for breakfast. I’ve never seen someone play wearing these things. I know this seems crazy, but you could actually engage your playing partners in friendly banter while playing. Wearing these on a Zoom meeting just makes you look ridiculous. It won’t hurt.
BULLEIT BOURBON YETI OUTDOOR PACK
Price: $72
They say: The pack comes with one 740mL* bottle of Bulleit Bourbon Kentucky Straight Whiskey, one 375 mL bottle of Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey, and one 10 oz. Bulleit Branded YETI Rambler to regulate the temperature of your drink—either warm or cold.
SGIC says: The bottle of Bulleit is 750ml*, not 740ml and can be found for $25 at most liquor stores. Do the math. You’re getting hosed on this deal. Having said that, Bulleit is actually decent bourbon for the price (if you’re asking, you can include Buffalo Trace as well). I’m not advocating you use an adult sippy cup for day drinking, but if you’re going to day drink, go all in and use the giant size ones. Drink responsibly, kids.
TED BAKER WATPP WATER BOTTLE
Price: $42
They say: This fun, leaf-covered water bottle offers a fun way to stay hydrated throughout the day. The hexagonal top is not only stylish, but it’s easier to open up. If green isn’t your color, the menswear brand has a handful of other color options with the same sophisticated silhouette.
SGIC says: I know that when I’m choosing to survive rather than die from lack of water, it had better be FUN. Because drinking water should be FUN. Which means I’ve been doing it all wrong my entire life! I just drank water because I was thirsty but it was never FUN. Seriously, $42 for a goddamn water bottle? I can buy a dozen PROV1X’s for that right now. Which, if you’re curious, might be a better option for someone who plays golf. And more FUN. Whose mouth is shaped like a hexagon? Mine is oval, so’s yours.
LACOSTE OVAL METAL NOVAK DJOKOVIC COLLECTION SUNGLASSES
Price: $219
They say: While not a golfer, Novak Djokovic’s Capsule Collection will certainly appeal to stylish golfers. The oval shape is flattering to almost any face, while a metal double bridge and acetate rim add a uniquely upscale look and feel. It’s a lightweight pair of shades that can be worn almost anywhere
SGIC says: $200+ for sunglasses that look like they’re from the Joe Biden aviators collection. Best worn for when you want to throw a temper tantrum at the US Open and get defaulted after telling people COVID is fake and then getting it. They look like the sunglasses Guy Who Owns a Boat wears at the yacht club. Ideally matched with a quarter zip sweater worn or tied over his popped collar polo shirt. Get a 10% discount if your name is Todd.
Price: $45 and whatever shroud of dignity you had left.
They say: Get in the holiday spirit with this golf sweatshirt inspired by the ugly Christmas sweater trend. The super-soft cotton crewneck is warm but has a lightweight feel, making it easy to layer with. The festive design paired with the affordable price point make this a worthy gift for the golfer on your list—even if that golfer is you.
SGIC says: To quote Al Czervik, this looks like the kind of sweater that should come with a free bowl of soup (to spill on this abomination), or at the very least some iron covers and maybe a ball retriever. Dark green with FORE written in giant letters on the chest. Gimme two of these (one to shit on, the other to cover it up with). I mean, if you wear this do people think you’re special in the ‘good for you, you cut your meat’ kind of way? And can we please pump the brakes on ugly sweaters? It’s been five-plus years for this fad. Oh, and if you ever see me wearing this monstrosity, you can safely assume I’ve been concussed and/or taken hostage.
TRUE LINKSWEAR SHOE BAG
Price: $45
They say: Even if you’re not a shoe bag kind of golfer, this bag from True Linkswear will come in handy. In addition to a place to put your golf shoes, it has a valuables pouch, tablet sleeve and organized compartments inside the water-resistant zip bag. For organized and disheveled golfers alike, it’s an effective way to keep everything you need tidy and together.
SGIC says: This isn’t terrible. I keep my golf shoes in a cinch sack (the kind with the straps so you can wear it like a backpack) and I’m happy with my cinch sack. But for someone else, this isn’t a bad gift option. Less than $50, and it’s useful. Unlike other options they’ve ‘selected’. Having said that, a tablet sleeve? Really? Who takes their iPad with them when they play?
SONOS MOVE PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
Price: $399
They say: Whether providing the tunes on the course or entertaining at home, this powerful Bluetooth speaker is virtually indestructible—and it sounds great. The shock-resistant case will survive any drops or bumps, and it’s built to survive extreme temperatures and any inclement weather. The charging base is simple to connect to and powers the speaker as it’s in use. It’s a strong gift idea for the golfer who values quality-sounding music—and also needs a portable speaker built with some forgiving qualities.
SGIC says: $400 for a speaker? We’re in a full-blown economic crisis but yeah, the average golfer is throwing down four c-notes on a speaker. You could buy a new disco stick (i.e. driver), or this thing. I bought She Who Is Really In Charge a Bluetooth speaker for $120 a few years ago, and it gets a heavy workout when we’re out on the deck enjoying cocktails with the dog (and it has fantastic sound). Of course, the assholes who buy this are taking it with them on the course, because they’re the exact people who want to share their awful taste in music with everyone else.
ALFRED GIRAUD FRENCH MALT WHISKY HERITAGE BY ALFRED GIRAUD
Price: $155
They say: Give the whisky drinker in your life something new to try with this limited-production French malt. For a personalized touch you can add custom engraving for $40 to make this gift a true memento.
SGIC says: So for $195 you can get the boss a bottle of French whisky that says “eat shit you rotten bastard” on it (but engraved). Or, spend $10 on a small bottle (otherwise known as a Mickey) of Olde Oscelot bourbon with a taped sticky note that says “eat shit” on it. I know where I come down on this. The French make fantastic wine, great champagne and I’d trust their cognac, but not sure about whisky. Just saying. I could give you dozens of better whisky options than this.
TRX SLAM BALL
Price: $45
They say: A slam ball is a simple-yet-dynamic add to any home gym setup. It’s helpful for working on explosive power or mixing up ab routines without requiring too much space. A thoughtful gift for the fitness-minded golfer on your list, or the golfer who needs a less destructive way to relieve tension at the end of the round.
SGIC says: Perfect for when you go full Bryson Dechambeau and commit to his ridiculous eating and training habits. When that first bout of roid rage hits, you can throw this through a wall and then start crying. Lovely. Fact: 90% of people who buy this thing will never actually use it. If you want one, wait another year and start hitting yard sales. Five bucks cash money.
SEAMUS DRIFTWOOD HERRINGBONE POUCHES
Price: $65
They say: Handmade to order, these pouches are great for holding the little things on the course—tees, ball markers, a golf ball or two—but they’re are also an excellent place to store a facemask between wears. The regal green herringbone tweed bag is lined with fleece and pulls closed with leather cut cords. It’s also customizable to add initials, a name or a small icon.
SGIC says: You know what is even better is a Crown Royal bag. It’s the official accessory pouch of SGIC Amalgamated Industries. You can find one of these for around $25-$30, and you have the added bonus of a bottle of good utility whiskey. It even comes in a box for easy gift wrapping. What’s not to love? A tumbler of Crown and Coke is one of my go-to drinking options. No, I’m not an alcoholic because I don’t need to attend meetings. I just drink. A Crown Royal pouch will hold a sleeve of balls and enough tees, divot repair tools, ball-markers and whatever else you use. And it’s purple, which means it’s classy.
$30 for the best accessory bag there is. With a bottle of Crown Royal included.
LULULEMON EVOLUTION LONG SLEEVE POLO
Price: $98
They say: For all the golfers** who discovered and now swear by the , this long sleeve polo is a great next step into the Lululemon golf apparel collection. It’s made with anti-stink technology and sweat-wicking fabric to keep things fresh, has enough stretch for activity without losing its shape and comes in five easy-to-match-with color options.
SGIC says: **does not include anyone who can’t fit into their limited size range so suck rocks if you’re not rail-thin. I have a raft of issues with this gong show of a company. Least of which, they don’t know shit about golf and how golf clothing can and should function. Their photo shoots that purport to be people playing golf are hilariously bad. This shirt doesn’t appear to be able to be tucked in, and the sleeves look terrible. Again- does anyone at this goat rodeo company actually play golf?
MUGGO TEMPERATURE CONTROL MUG
Price: $128
They say: Set the exact temperature you want for your coffee in 10 minutes with this smart mug. A rechargeable battery pops into the bottom of the leak-resistant travel mug, so your coffee will never get too cold on the course or on the go.
SGIC says: If I can’t drink my coffee at 125.43 degrees Fahrenheit then someone’s hearing about it. The people at 7-11 and Royal Farms better be reading this. Last time at Royal Farms my coffee was over 130 degrees. I WANNA SPEAK TO THE MANAGER. Maybe if you actually…oh, I don’t know…DRANK YOUR COFFEE this wouldn’t be an issue. Save $100 and buy a Yeti tumbler. It maintains the temperature pretty well. I use one (they don’t pay me, I bought mine like everyone else).
FOOTJOY X SMATHERS & BRANSON NEEDLEPOINT BELT
Price: $175
They say: This hand-stitched needlepoint belt is vintage, luxe and a great gift for golfers who appreciate a fine attention to detail. Available in green, blue or gray, the belt is finished with a solid brass buckle and Italian leather lining.
SGIC says: When Judge Smails invites you to drop by the yacht club, this is the belt you need. It’s the belt Spalding uses to tie off his arm to shoot heroin, so you know that’s quality. It says “trust fund kid” in the most obnoxious way. Perfect for summer soirees at your dad’s place in the Hamptons while listening to Yacht Rock ironically. Seriously, $175 for a goddamn belt? That, or showing up with not one but TWO bottles of Kim Crawford rose. Their commercials are laughable. They sell what others call ‘cougar juice’ that no serious wine drinker would be caught dead anywhere near them. Walking out of your local bodega in yoga pants holding up a bottle of this swill like you discovered oxygen is hilarious.
NIKE DRI-FIT UV WOMENS GOLF TOP
Price: $40
They say: An ultra-versatile basic, this Nike women’s top has all the performance elements she needs for golf—moisture management, UVA sun protection and a stretch fabric—with a soft cotton feel and relaxed fit that’ll go with everything.
SGIC says: I’m not sure how or why, but when did women’s golf shirts become collar-less? Otherwise, this is not bad. Decent price point, not gaudy. Most of the women I know who play (most of whom can beat your ass any day they feel like it so don’t act like you’re better than them- you’re not) prefer collared shirts, but other than that I can’t really make fun of it. It’s almost reasonable.
JONES CLASSIC STAND BAG
Price: $190
They say: You can’t go wrong with a classic stand bag like this one from Jones Sports Co. The single strap golf bag is made with a durable nylon material, has eight pockets and weighs just five pounds. The deep green colorway is a refreshing change from the traditional black and gray golf bags we see all too often.
SGIC says: You can buy better, lighter and cheaper. Sun Mountain and Ping make fantastic bags and have a double strap for easy carrying if you’re not ready to join the Push Cart Mafia. Hell, even my old Titleist carry bag is lighter than that and it’s 8 years old. Five pounds really isn’t bragging. It looks like the generic golf bag they use in print ads when they don’t want to have to edit out a manufacturer’s name.
LINKSOUL GAITER GIFT BOX
Price: $65
They say: A cozy way to stay warm and add a little protection this season, these LinkSoul gaiters are made from the same ultra-soft material the brand uses to make its popular cloud T-shirts. While gaiters are not recommended by the CDC as a facemask, it’s great to wear over an approved mask or provide coverage if you’re in a pinch.
SGIC says: Gaiters in a gift box are a nice ‘2020 in a box’ option even if they don’t offer much in terms of protection. They’re not bad when it’s cooler, however.
JAMESON COLD BREW WITH HOLIDAY SIPS BOX
Price: $67
They say: This Jameson Cold Brew gift set is the perfect antidote to everything 2020 has thrown our way. Tasty on the rocks or in a cocktail this Irish Whiskey is infused with coffee flavors that might change your coffee order for good. It also comes with candies inspired by classic holiday cocktails to add a sweet-yet-boozy touch to gift giving this year.
SGIC says: I’m going to run for President in 2024 solely on an agenda of eliminating this kind of shit. A bottle of Jameson is $25 and not for anything, but it’s great utility Irish whiskey (I say this from experience; most utility whiskeys like Jameson, Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker Black Label and Dewar’s White Label are fine options). I don’t need or want coffee messing up my Jameson. Best way to drink Jameson? Pour some in a glass. Add a few ice cubes. Maybe a lime/lemon wedge. That’s it. If I see a place offering a Jameson Chocolate Martini I will show up with a flame thrower. Stop it. Quit trying to put things in whiskey. We figured whiskey out centuries ago. Basically, this is overpriced whiskey for people who don’t like whiskey. So you’re paying $40 for mediocre coffee. Buy a box of ProV1’s and a bottle of Jameson for what this runs.
PUMA POP TOP MINI BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
Price: $40
They say: The extremely affordable price point of this speaker ($40) makes it an easy last minute gift for golfers this holiday season. Available in black or white, the mini golf speaker attaches to a golf bag and delivers quality sound. It’s also got a built-in ball marker and bottle opener to make sure you have everything you need to have a good time on the course.
SGIC says: Perfect for saying to the people in your group “I don’t care about pace of play; I’m out here to take forever to play while listening to John Tesh or Creed” which is really something. At least it’s not overpriced.
CORKCICLE COOLER BAG:
Price: $130
They say: Store 12 cans in this padded cooler backpack to make sure you never run out of drinks. The synthetic leather bag is a stylish-yet-subtle way to BYOB comfortably.
SGIC says: For $130 it should come with someone carrying it around. Great, now BIG COOLER is trying to gouge people along with seemingly every other industry. If you’re a Costco member they sell a really nice cooler bag for $10 and it has a shoulder strap. It’s not synthetic leather, but put the $120 in your pocket and call it a win. For $120 you can fill that bad boy with some locally-made beer. Winning!
NIKE REPEL MENS SYNTHETIC FILL GOLF JACKET
Price: $160
They say: or those chilly-but-not-freezing rounds, this insulated shirt-jacket should do the trick. It’s a water-repellent jacket that’s lightweight and breathable with insulated material that stays warm even when wet. The versatile collar creates a business-casual look when folded down or can provide additional warmth when turned up and secured with the button closure.
SGIC says: It looks like a puffer vest and the 1977 vinyl jacket got married and spawned in the back of a 1975 AMC Pacer. This was the byproduct. It’s brown. Who exactly thought we needed to see this thing in shit brown? It’s ugly. If it had the Members Only shoulder epaulets it would at least have the cheesy thing going. It doesn’t, so you’re paying $160 for a butt-ugly jacket. One-way plane ticket to North Korea not included.
TOMMY JOHN COOL COTTON BOXER BRIEF
Price: $36
They say: These briefs featuring a snowman playing golf were too fun not to mention. The whimsical pattern is festive without going overboard, and the cool cotton fabric is ultra comfortable. It’s a go-to pair of briefs with a stay-put waistband that guys will appreciate.
SGIC says: We’ve had 300,000 people die of COVID, but hey- my underpants are fun (but not ‘too’ fun) so we’re all good! I’ve been wearing underpants most of my life, and I’ve never had an issue with waistband technology. I put them on and generally, they tend to stay on all by themselves. I achieve this by purchasing the right size, but that’s just me. But for $36 I’m glad they stay put. Can we talk about their commercials? In what universe to people just parade around the house in their underpants and nothing else? Is there some kind of secret society that gets together and just hangs around in their underpants like it’s not a big deal?
BRAZYN MORPH ALPHA FOAM ROLLER
Price: $70
They say: Foam rollers are an excellent tool for golfers to warm up or cool down muscles, but they tend to be a little too bulky to carry around. Brazyn aims to make foam rollers a little more portable with this collapsible tool. Fully expanded, the roller is 5.5 inches in diameter but will collapse flat to about two inches thick.
SGIC says: Finally, we’ve figured out foam roller technology. Let me wipe that giant collection of flop sweat off my forehead and dance around in my underpants as we celebrate this monumental achievement. I’ve never seen someone at a golf course use a foam roller, and I’ve seen some incredibly weird shit. Is this one of those private club things, like the blue water that’s used to clean combs and stuff in the men’s locker room? If you’re using a foam roller at home, is this ‘really’ a problem that you’d need a $70 foam roller?
JACK BLACK MR FRESH SET
Price: $40
They say: Whether the clubhouse is closed or you just need to freshen up on the go, this set from Jack Black is ultra-useful to have on hand. The All-Over Spray and Wipes will leave you feeling clean and hydrated without a shower. And when you finally find one, the All-Over wash can be used on the hair, face or body to provide deep clean without stripping essential moisture.
SGIC says: $40 for goddamn wipes and some body wash. Does the body wash come in a ramekin? Can I get this personalized as a gift for another $20? If you REALLY cared, wouldn’t you just jump in the pond like Carl Spackler and wash up? Natural spring would be good for you, Carl. Doesn’t everyone work from home now? Just go home and take a shower like an adult (and take a beer with you). Seriously, I can’t begin to properly extol the virtues of a Shower Beer. It doesn’t have to be some fancy IPA. It actually works best if it’s shitty beer. Open the beer, get the water going, jump in, and drink up. It feels so wrong, but it’s so right. Trust me.
LULULEMON WOMENS ON THE FLY JOGGER
Price: $118
They say: A fan favorite on or off the course, these comfortable joggers are made with breathable, sweat-wicking fabrics, an athletic four-way stretch and an upscale design.
SGIC says: $118 for sweatpants. SWEATPANTS. Not trousers, not slacks, not a pair of dark jeans. SWEATPANTS. Dropping over $115 on pants that say “you’ve given up all hope” should be a warning sign. Never mind that 90% of people who will spend $118 on these will never jog or do yoga. But they’ll watch 10 hours of Netflix in one setting. It’s like Bunny Calvin from ‘The Wire’ correctly describing the brown paper bag; the perfect vessel for hiding your beer so you can drink in public. It’s the Great Compromise.
PALM GOLF CO LAZY PALM BEANIE
Price: $22
They say: This minimalist beanie is cozy and stylish. Available in a ton of colors, the simple Palm logo will remind you of warmer days to come.
SGIC says: They’re toques, not beanies. A beanie should have propellers on it. A toque (or ski hat) is what you wear during the cold weather. For just over 20 bucks this isn’t bad. A toque is a component of playing in the winter months. Get a good one. A toque.
FLECHA AZUL ANEJO
Price: “Starts” at $108
They say: Golf and tequila fans will love this brand co-founded by Abraham Ancer. The Anejo is aged for 18 months in American oak bourbon barrels and has an ultra-smooth finish with hints of maple, caramel and cinnamon.
SGIC says: $108 (and up) for tequila made by a guy with as many PGA Tour wins as I have? And it’s twice as much as Patron (which is really good)? Sign me up. This celebrity-name-brand alcohol racket is really something. It’s one thing when it’s an actual A-list celebrity (see George Clooney and his Casamigos brand tequila), but a guy who’s never won on the PGA Tour is hawking a 3-figure bottle of tequila takes some serious cojones. I mean, if Phil wants to roll out Tequila For Wellness, then have at it. I’m honestly surprised Nicklaus or Norman haven’t done this yet. Not for anything, but if you’re a Costco member, their Silver ‘Kirkland’ tequila is $20 for a huge bottle, and for $20 it’s a fantastic value and good drinking tequila.
BOSS ITALIAN MADE SLIDES
Price: $88
They say: Made in Italy, these sporty slides have a contoured foot bed that will provide relief post-round without sacrificing support. Available in a variety of colors ranging from bright oranges to a luxe black and gold, the Boss logo is a stylish statement-maker to fit any style.
SGIC says: Made in Italy “and” they’re sporty. Not enough footwear is sporty. More things should be described as being sporty. That gaping head wound you just got…sporty! The liver damage…sporty! That snap-hook on 14…sporty! Never mind comfortable (which these won’t be unless you have relatively narrow feet). Never mind adjustable (they’re not). These slides (otherwise known as shower shoes), go great with a $300 Supreme hoodie and those $120 sweatpants. On the other hand, if Dustin Johnson was wearing these does he slip and fall on the stairs before his first round at Augusta a few years back? I think not.
ADIDAS CODE CHAOS 2K AEROREADY POLO SHIRT
Price $65
They say: Non-shoulder seams allow for a roomy swing and the lightweight fabric is partially made with recycled polyester for a sustainable performance top that’s easy to pair with. This shirt also appeared in the newly released PGA TOUR 2K21 video game, but gamer or not, it’s a polo golfers will love.
SGIC says: Comes in navy blue so you can pair with a pair of navy pants and join your Dustin Johnson cosplay group.
TOVOLO GOLF BALL ICE MOLDS
Price: $15
They say: A small-yet-thoughtful gift for your golf friends, these molds make golf-ball-shaped ice that will melt slowly to avoid watering down your drink. It’s a simple tool that will go a long way for those who appreciate savoring a good drink.
SGIC says: Is there any industry that doesn’t try to push its way into the Christmas buying season? Now we’ve got Big Ice coming in hard and fast. Golf-ball shaped ice? This is ROUND. Repeat. Round. It’s a ball of ice. It’s one big giant ball rather than a few cubes, but we can’t have that, because Big Ice has to get a taste of the action.
ECCO MENS STREET RETRO GOLF SHOES
Price $150
They say: These leather street-shoe-inspired golf shoes are more than just a stylish accessory. The ECCO Hydromax treatment is water-repellent, the high-tech grip system covers 800 traction angles, and the textile collar adds cushioning for all-day comfort.
SGIC says: Please, for the love of everything good, can someone please tell ECCO to start making their shoes in widths? Seriously. They make some of the best shoes you can buy…if you have an average width foot. I don’t, so as much as I’d like to buy ECCO, I can’t. I mean, I could spend a bunch of money to keep Big Ice and Big Sweatpant flushed with money, but when it comes to buying golf shoes I have 2-3 options at best.
B.DRADDY KYLE PULLOVER
Price: $160
They say: This pullover can be dressed up or down easy, and it’s made with Peruvian Pima Cotton, so the soft feel might be akin to your favorite sweatshirt. The four-button placket has horn buttons for a sophisticated finish to the on-trend striped top.
SGIC says: Of course it’s named after Kyle. Peruvian cotton, bitches! None of that inferior cotton! Somewhere, there’s a guy named Kyle Draddy who hasn’t worked a day in his life and never will courtesy of his trust fund. Kyle has opinions about things. Kyle is wearing this pullover, and having mastered pulling it over his head, he decrees that he is, in fact, the smartest Kyle in the history of Kyles. Kyle belongs to daddy’s private club somewhere in the Hamptons and has been 86’d from over a dozen bars. I think if you wear this sweater, you automatically are required to change your name to Kyle. Or Todd.
HOLIDAY SONG
This remains the gold standard. I refuse to acknowledge that someone has covered this. Enjoy your holidays.
Now that it’s after Labor Day, I’ve put my white suits away and the eyes of golf turns to…the US Open because 2020. It’ll be weird with no fans, but it’s still a National Open.
I’m very late to this, but last fall I discovered the No Laying Up guys were more than just being funny on Twitter and the hosts of one of the better (if not the best) golf podcast. I found their YouTube channel, and as they say, that was that. They have a bunch of content on their channel, but the best of the bunch are their Tourist Sauce travelogues and their ‘Strapped’ travel series geared towards golf on a budget in areas that aren’t always in those obvious areas you look at for a golf vacation.
The concept of ‘Strapped’ (for those who haven’t watched) is that two of the guys (Randy and Neil) have to play three rounds and spend two nights in a city for $500 (not counting airfare and a rental car) or less. As great as it would be to have the means to do some of the locations they’ve done in their ‘Tourist Sauce‘ series (Scotland, Ireland, Australia/New Zealand, Carolinas, California), ‘Strapped’ is much more budget-friendly and approachable. The areas that they’ve done ‘Strapped’ episodes in include the following:
-Louisiana
-Iowa
-Reno
-Baltimore
-Northeast US (during the fall)
-Southern California
-Peoria, IL
Not exactly the usual golf-centric destinations, but there’s a reminder in each episode that the people who love this game aren’t always your private club types. Watching each episode, you get the sense (intentionally or not) that they aren’t the stars, but rather, it’s the people. The local pro at Forest Park and KVV in Baltimore being but one example. In fact, as I’ve long argued, the soul of the game remains the people who change their shoes in the parking lot. The Push Cart Mafia types, the folks who play a $2.00 Nassau, and tons of other regular folks (like me) who just hope for one more round with a breeze in our back on a sunny day. People that make the game what it is, even if professional golf went away. There would still be people at the grass roots level doing good work every day.
I found the ‘Strapped’ Baltimore episodes on YouTube around Christmas, and it was a revelation. At first I was angry because this was the kind of production I wanted to do but don’t have the ability to do, yet it was the kind of deep dive I wanted to be able to do when I started this website, and these guys just drank my milkshake AND my bourbon. Then I became blown away at how talented they are at doing these shows. And they’re decent guys (I probably relate to Randy (the taller of the two) the most). I’ve linked to all three episodes with the briefest of explanations (no spoilers). One last thing; their use of drone video is outstanding. The content belongs to No Laying Up. If I have one critique, it’s that they stop using Airbnb.
Part One: They fly into Baltimore, hit Lexington Market for crab cakes, and play at Forest Park (one of five city courses). The people who work at Forest Park are all aces in my book.
Part Two: They play at Rocky Point (Baltimore County course right on the Chesapeake Bay) with ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenberg (who lives in Baltimore), talk about The Wire, eat steamed crabs and drink Natty Boh (think Old Style in Chicago or Iron City in Pittsburgh) at KVV’s house with some Berger Cookies for dessert. Rocky Point is everything public golf should be. Haven’t played it in several years but it’s very much on my ‘must go play’ list to do a proper review.
Part Three: They play at Greystone (part of Baltimore County golf and used to be on Golfweek’s ‘Best You Can Play’ list) with Kevin Van Valkenberg, talk about The Wire some more (if you haven’t seen it and you have HBO…go do that right now) then go for barbecue pork sandwiches. You can read my review of Greystone here. I’m a bit surprised that they didn’t do the pit beef thing at Chaps (where every travel host seems to end up) or any of the other pit beef stands (note- pit beef is a VERY Baltimore thing; it doesn’t exist in MoCo, PG or Frederick counties). Nothing against Chaps but Pioneer Pit Beef in Catonsville is the official pit beef stand for SGIC Enterprises. It’s where the elite meet to eat.
No Laying Up’s website is here, and they have merchandise for sale and a fairly active online community (I’m part of it although I’m not that active lately for several reasons that aren’t important). They have crowd-sourced suggestions on additional episodes. If they’re asking, Detroit, Atlanta and my hometown of Toronto would all be fantastic options. If you have Stadium on your cable system they’ve been running some of their content.
Another PGA Tour season is almost done; after 11 months, a global pandemic, a cancellation of the Open Championship and moving every major around, we’re at the FedEx Cup Tour Championship.
The format last year that’s being carried over this year is that Dustin Johnson starts the tournament with a 10 shot lead over the guy who finishes 30th. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go shake my head and pretend that this isn’t really the case. Of all of the hair-brained ideas to come from professional golf, this might be the dumbest. Why is it that sports I love do the stupidest things on the earth (looking at you, Superleague and your “sure we’ll take free pizzas from a horrible chain as payment for sponsorship” galaxy brain idea)?
To put it as mildly as I can, this goes against everything sports are supposed to be about. What next- give Usain Bolt a 10-meter head start because he’s the defending 100 meter champion? Give the team with the best regular season a 7-point lead to start the Super Bowl? The team with the most regular season points gets a 1-goal lead to start in every game of the Stanley Cup Final? I mean, what the actual hell are we talking about? What’s wrong with you people?
Don’t worry; your faithful scribe has a solution that would treat the FedEx Cup Tour Championship like a real championship; one that balances rewarding regular season performance and require a player to lift their game. Reward regular season performance, and have a final one-day winner take all conclusion that a casual fan can understand. Like any championship, the hard work is getting to that final. So we’re going to start with the final round being it’s own entity. Like the Super Bowl. Simple enough?
The top 30 getting into the Tour Championship is a good number; there isn’t any need to play around with that. I even like finishing on Labor Day weekend with the finale on Monday (when people are off work; ideally the Tour can push so that they ‘own’ Labor Day). Ideally the Tour would look to have the final round on the West Coast for an east coast prime-time finish every other year (non-Ryder Cup years). Courses on the West Coast? Riviera is the obvious choice, but if Chambers Bay is in better shape that’s a second option. I get using East Lake for Ryder Cup years (especially when the US has to fly to Europe as this will cut down on travel time). While we’re at it, the Chicago area should have a permanent slot on the Tour.
The question becomes this- how do you reward season-long excellence while maintaining the integrity of the competition? The same way other sports do it; by seeding and providing other advantages that maintain the integrity of the competition.
My Modest Proposal
So with that being said, let me explain how a five-round (Thursday-Monday) championship would work in a way that would provide a satisfying finale, reward year-round performance and give you a simple, easy-to-identify champion. You start with the top 30 playing three rounds of stroke play; the top 16 get into the fourth round (if there’s a tie for 16th you have a playoff), and then you have one day of match play with the 16 going down to 8 with that final round being a one-and-done entity of itself. In other words, getting to a championship and having one day to win or lose with everyone starting the final round at 0.
Under my Tour Championship Final proposal, the top seed gets the following advantages as a reward for his season-long excellence and being the top seed.
He gets to pick his tee time for the first three rounds and who he plays with. Maybe he likes to go out early. Maybe he wants an early-late-late (he gets to pick). Maybe he wants to take advantage of potential weather or play with someone he’s comfortable with. Call it home field advantage. He has to declare the day before each round so he can pick and choose and give himself the optimal time and opponent. Not a bad reward.
He’s guaranteed to get into the semi-final Sunday round of 16 so even if his game goes to pot during the first three qualifying rounds, he has that second chance (other playoff formats allow the top seeds a ‘double elimination’ of sorts). There’s your tangible reward for regular season excellence; a second chance. Those are two big carrots that don’t turn the competition into a farce but provide a tangible reward for that year-long excellence.
The round of sixteen are seeded based on their first three rounds (your top seed going in would be seeded based on his performance, but if he otherwise didn’t qualify he’d be seeded 16th). Eight matches of match play. Winners go to the Final. Losers are done. Sudden death playoffs if tied after 18 holes. It’s something of a different strategy from stroke play, but designed to force players to think differently for one day.
The eight players who win their matches go to the Championship/Grand Final. One round for everything. Four twosomes; playing partners and order are drawn at random out of a hat. Everything resets for the Championship or Grand Final round. One round. One day. Low score (stroke play) is your Tour/FedEx Cup champion. Tie? Sudden-death playoff. You now have a true Championship Final. What you did before to get there matters not; it’s the player who’s the best on the day who wins. Much like the Super Bowl, Final Four championship, and NBA/NHL/MLB Game 7’s. It’s not what you did before, it’s what you do on the day. Nobody starts the day having to sit on a lead or trying to come from behind. One round. Low score wins. Much like other sports, you had to battle to get into the playoffs and continue to advance. You finished in the top 15/16 of the field after three rounds and beat someone in a match play environment to get to the Championship Final.
The average sports fan couldn’t explain the FedEx Cup, nor could most golf fans. The average sports fan can easily understand “one round, winner take all” events. You’ve competed all year, and everything you did goes out the window. No head start, no being able to play conservatively to protect a lead. Under my proposal, winning the FedEx Cup Championship Final would also earn the winner a 10-year exemption (up from five), a lifetime exemption to the Players Championship, and a guaranteed spot in next year’s playoffs (the first round only). These are all PGA Tour-controlled entities so you’re not having to ask the USGA or PGA of America to get involved.
Having eight players provides NBC or CBS plenty of coverage options so you aren’t just focused on one group and reduces the likelihood of not having any name players. Oh, and no commercials for the last 90 minutes.
Hopefully the Tour decides to adopt this format and give fans a real Championship.
The next night we dined at Collins Small Batch, which was perfectly adequate. They have a varied menu of locally inspired dishes. Compared to what we’d be eating the next two nights, it seemed a bit pedestrian but that’s probably unfair. The next round was at WeKoPa resort on the Cholla course (there’s also the Saguaro course). Both courses are among the best you can play in the state. Challenging beyond words but still fairly open, they’re fantastic. They look deceptively easy but small mistakes get punished. The staff couldn’t be nicer. i paid $89 to play (in-season can be well into the upper $300’s/low $400’s) Conditions were nothing short of outstanding. Tee boxes, fairways and greens were all superb. I played from the composite tee (a combination of purple and white, something more and more courses are doing), which played at just over 6400 yards. Below are pictures of the 18th (plays downhill), 3rd (watch the rocks in front of the green) and 7th holes.
After getting my butt kicked, I deserved a great dinner and had it at Tratto, from the genius behind Pizzeria Bianco. The Van Buren Street location isn’t exactly bougie, and the storefront looks like you’re going to a bail bondsman or buying a 2005 Jeep. But you’d endure this to be inside. It’s semi-family style so portions are meant to be split. The pasta (a ravioli that was out of this world), a bavette steak that I’d crawl over broken glass to eat again and this fruit tarte dessert were transcendent. The menu changes (as you’d expect), but if you’re in Phoenix it’s worth planning a trip around. It’s that good. There’s a good-sized bar (it’s a converted garage) should you need a tipple. 
Dinner our first night in Sedona was at the outstanding Elote Café just off the main drag in downtown Sedona. My carne asada was outstanding along with the margarita. The pinto beans were better than they needed to be; flavorful without being overpowering. They require reservations so book ahead if you plan on going. They also have a great tequila selection if that’s your thing. We also had dinner at Shorebird just off Highway 179. Everything was good and correctly cooked, but after three dinners of otherworldly level, it’s impossible to compare. It’s unfair to compare. Shorebird isn’t bad; it’s quite nice and offers a wonderful view of the mountains at sunset with outdoor seating if that’s your thing. Our last day was for exploring some of the more scenic areas in the city along with the downtown area. Parking can be a challenge on weekends but we managed to find a lot close to downtown and all of the touristy areas. A good barometer is that Sedona is usually 10-15 degrees cooler than Phoenix. In talking to locals, the fall is definitely their big season but I can see late spring and summer (when we were there) was equally amazing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Southwest for doing a great job of handling my clubs. No issues, and nothing was missing or damaged.
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