Courtesy: www.tillinghast.net The fourth at Bethpage Black

How fitting is it that this year's U.S. Open is being played on a public course?

The game that millions around the world love is being served up by the world's finest players on a layout that you and I can play for just a hundred bucks during the week.

And that's if we don't live in New York State. As is often the case with American courses, if you're a resident of the state, you get a break on greens fees. So Bethpage Black would cost a resident of the Empire State just 50 dollars.

50 dollars to play what some claim was designer A.W. Tillinghast's finest work.

The pros will be playing just over 7300 yards of a tight course made tighter by the famed U.S. Open rough.

And it's a public venue. The U.S. Open has been here before, of course - back in 2002 - and to other public courses, demonstrating time and again that a well designed, well maintained course open to the public can also be a fierce test for the professional player.

A sterner test cannot be found this week.

But there is another ominous element: the weather.

The forecast for the entire tournament just stinks. Rain, heavy at times, thunderstorms and showers are the projected story right through until early next week.

The course has already been saturated with rain and the fairways are very soft. That means lots of long irons into greens - the bad news. The good news is the greens are soft, too, so we won't see balls landing and rolling away into trouble.

No doubt organizers have a plan to cope with the extensive weather delays that are bound to occur and that are bound to push this U.S. Open well beyond the weekend.

But do the players? The high anxiety of playing a major is stress enough; combine that with delays, extended stays in hotels or private homes and you have a combination of elements that will make many competitors fade.

In fact, the entire field will be playing against a mountain of challenge much like only one man, Tiger Woods, played against last year with his bum knee and broken leg.

So, from the point of view of sheer mental challenge, the odds favor Woods once again.

However it's too easy to pick Tiger on that basis alone. There is a lot of ball striking that has to happen as well.

One thing is certain: this will be a different U.S. Open and the weather will be the major reason.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

How true, especially these days.

If you have wandered through your favorite department store recently, you've probably seen some pretty amazing deals: 60 percent off, buy one, get two free - that kind of thing.

Retailers are desperate to move merchandise and they're employing inventive strategies.

But what about the recreational golf industry? Frankly, I haven't seen too many club or ball manufacturers offering astonishing deals. I mean, if you are going to play golf, then you're going to buy clubs and golf balls to begin with.

So the equipment makers still have the golfing consumer by the short and curlys.

However, when it comes to golf courses, well, that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

Golf courses need golfers. They need them to populate their fairways so they will filter in to the clubhouse for drinks and food afterwards.

Few people visit a golf course just to have a steak sandwich and a beer.

The first decent marketing measure was probably equity membership. This was a solid answer to private memberships where you plunked down thousands of dollars for the privilege of playing.

Leave the club and you abandon your "investment".

But with an equity stake in the bricks, mortar and turf, you could make money if you had to leave.

These days, of course, equity memberships are being fire-saled.

Then came a unique kind of playing membership that allowed a golfer to enjoy a number of different high-end courses for one membership price.

Club Corp. in Dallas, Texas was the pioneer and it has been used elsewhere, including Canada.

However, the memberships aren't cheap and are often complex. Plus you still pay an annual fee and you're responsible for spending a monthly minimum in the restaurant and bar.

Next came the coupon books and they have really made inroads. The coupon book is perfect for the golfer who can't afford a Club Corp styled membership, an equity stake or the traditional private membership.

These books recruit a wide range of golf courses and then offer the golfer 2-for-1 deals, 4-for-3 deals, free power carts, etc.

The latest variation on the green fee theme comes from southern Ontario - which boasts the highest number of golfers per capita in North America.

It plays on the Club Corp theme by offering annual "memberships" for a few hundred dollars that give golfers enormous discounts on green fees at several dozen courses in the Greater Toronto Area.

Green fees for half price or better are available through this membership deal. And it includes some of the finest - and most expensive - courses in the area.

GTA Golf Club is spearheading this new concept and claims that clubs love the idea because GTA buys the space from the courses and then re-sells it to golfers.

A company spokesman says the old model saw the courses eating the cost of a 2-for-1 green fee deal, for example.

This does mean that the full marketing and advertising effort falls squarely on the shoulders of GTA Golf Club but they seem to be willing to take that on.

As I said at the outset, the need to attract golfers is the impetus behind this and the Great Recession is the reason.

You may have heard this one before but it's timely on this Monday!

God meets the world's greatest golfers as they enter heaven.

God asks Arnie first: 'What do you believe?'

Arnie thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye, and says, 'I believe
in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in
giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans.'

God can't help but see the essential goodness of Palmer, and offers him a
seat to his left.

Then God turns to Nicklaus and says, 'What do you believe?'

Jack says 'I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the
fundamentals Of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I've
always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields.''

God is greatly moved by Jack's high-pitched eloquence, and he offers him a
seat to his right.

Finally, God turns to Woods: 'And you, Tiger, what do you believe?'

Tiger replies, 'I believe you're in my seat.'

Golf in Niagara Falls

Summer is just about upon us in the northern hemisphere - hard to believe.

But there you have it, so it might be time to start thinking about a golf holiday - you know, take a break from the stress and worry of the Great Recession, etc.

If you live close to the greatest undefended border in the world - the Canada/U.S. border - there might be something here for you.

I'm talking specifically of the border between Ontario and New York State, down in the wine country of the Niagara Peninsula.

The economic demise continues to make itself felt in the golf business and that means prices are dropping faster than eagle putts.

In the Niagara region on the Ontario side of the border are no less than 8 courses, ranging from very good to outstanding. And the stay-and-play deals associated with them are begging to be snapped up.

My personal favorites in that part of the world include Whirlpool and the two fine courses at the Legends on the Niagara.

Right now, American golfers won't get much break on the Canadian dollar which has surged ridiculously in the month of May.

But fear not. The greenback is in for another run higher against all major currencies. So the Canadian loonie should begin retreating fairly soon.

For more info on those great golf deals, here's the website link.

Courtesy: Copetown Woods Golf Club

I've been a proponent of PowerPlay Golf for quite some time now. And I've been a supporter based on the theory of this first new twist to the game in decades.

But I hadn't actually played the format until this week.

Canadian PPG representative, Barry Forth, general manager of Copetown Woods Golf Club outside Toronto, hosted a media day to formally introduce the concept to about 25 members of the Canadian golf media on Tuesday.

Copetown is the first club in Canada to introduce the format to recreational players.

On hand was Peter McEvoy, the creator of the format and a man whose amateur career was so stellar that it earned him an OBE from the Queen. McEvoy had flown over from the UK to explain the concept and the plans for making PowerPlay Golf a truly global game.

That is already a reality in many ways. There are now 21 countries involved, or more specifically, at least one golf club in each of those countries has become the first venue for the concept.

I won't rehash the idea here. Visit the PowerPlay Golf website for more details if you haven't read my previous posts.

During the press conference, there were several points that became clear. Made-for-television tournaments involving professional tour players are essential to the success of PPG and are indeed in the works with IMG, the global sports marketing company. And PPG is working with the national golf body in each country to help firmly plant the seeds at the recreational level.

So the strategy - or is it a hope? - then is this: the pros embrace the idea, play for money in made-for-TV tournaments organized by IMG and recreational golfers then buy into the concept as well.

In the end, any success will ultimately depend on how golfers like playing this unique version of the venerable game which uses the Stableford scoring system.

And that brings us back to our first taste of it on Tuesday at Copetown Woods west of Toronto.

We played the back nine in threesomes, starting on the par 5 tenth hole, 471 yards from the blue tees. I forgot to declare on the tee that I would go for the black (PowerPlay) flag on that hole and smoked my tee shot. My second rolled off the back of the green only about 25 feet from the black flag. Except I was going for the easier white flag pin placement.

First lesson: remember to declare on the tee!

What felt odd was how our threesome broke apart on the green to putt out. One or two of us might be putting to the white pin position while, elsewhere on the green, another would be putting out at the PowerPlay pin location.

A small observation perhaps but it felt unusual.

I will say this in hindsight: for two or more casual golfers playing this format, try the match play format first. I have a feeling that PowerPlay Golf would be a ton of fun using match play rather than stroke play, Stableford point scoring and factoring handicaps.

You and your partners will know where you stand on each tee because the player who scores best at the PowerPlay pin position will win the hole. In the case of a tie such as when two players par or birdie the black flag, then you could use the closest-to-the-hole method to decide the winner.

Otherwise, the format becomes tricky. You need to know the Stableford scoring system, you need to know your handicap (what a chance for serious sandbagging) and then you must add up your net points at the end of the round to settle up.

At any rate, the PowerPlay golf version of the game has serious merit. It's new and I think that given time, some of the tricky bits in the rules will be ironed out.

The best part is that you won't - or shouldn't - pay any more to play 9 holes of PowerPlay golf than a straightforward 9 and it will be a lot more fun.

Bye-bye, Badds!

It's not unusual for professional golfers to change their swings and their swing coaches.

Tiger Woods has done it several times - and if it's okay for him, then it must be okay for everyone else.

Usually, the spotlight follows the player, shifting to the new coach. It rarely remains on the old coach.

Or, in this case, "coaches".

Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, creators and purveyors of the Stack and Tilt swing method - which some say is nothing more than golf swing voodoo - have recently lost two of their stars in Aaron Baddeley and former Masters winner, Mike Weir.

Baddeley announced on his website in April that he was abandoning the method and returning to his old teacher, Dale Lynch.

In an orchestrated question and answer with the person who manages his site, he said he was focusing on his long game, "…hitting more fairways and greens…"

This is strange since the primary results for those who adopt the Stack and Tilt methodology are said to be straighter iron and tee shots.

What is also strange is that while Badds says he's "using that knowledge as I move forward with Dale…" and "will be making some changes that Dale and I think we need to", there are still numerous references on his site to the Stack and Tilt method.

In fact, look under the "Badds" section, click on Q and A and there's a question -dated January 13, 2009 - in which a fan asks about specific drills for Stack and Tilt!

And Badds willingly supplies some. Two months later, he walks away from the method. Go figure.

As for Mike Weir, he made the announcement on his website at the beginning of this month.

Like Baddeley, Weir is returning to his former teacher, Mike Wilson. And like Baddeley, Weir is diplomatic in his reasons: "I have a lot of respect for Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer…this being said, I want to make sure that I am constantly challenging myself…to get the best results".

So, is something up? Two talented pros who have used Stack and Tilt for 2 years or so are abandoning it.

Badds is clear about why; he's not hitting enough fairways. Weir won more than once with Stack and Tilt but obviously he has fallen out with the method.

And yet, for thousands of amateur golfers, the swing technique has been a savior, at least in the short term.

So, what's up? Probably nothing at all.

I mean, how many times have you heard about tour players abandoning the Jim Ballard method or giving up on the One Plane Swing?

This time it's attracting attention simply because Stack and Tilt has been controversial from day one.

© Supermac1961

Golf holidays in Spain: how could you think of anything else at the moment? Spring is here, and Spain beckons...

• Hotel La Manga Club ​-​ Principe Felipe - Located in La Manga, Los Belones, Cartagena, 41 miles SW of Murcia, 77 miles SW of Alicante, province of Murcia, with three outstanding championship courses and comprehensive facilities, the high standards here have repeatedly allowed it to be named European Golf Resort of the Year.
  
  


• La Torre Golf Resort - Located 19 miles North of Cartagena, 20 miles SE of Murcia, province of Murcia, this course was created by the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, this 18-hole championship course reflects the personality of golf's most successful player of all times. Nicklaus heads a golf course design company that is responsible for some of the most amazing new courses in recent times. The lush fairways here remind you of Florida's golf resorts.
  
  


• Almerimar Hotel and Golf Club -Located in El Ejido, 24 miles SW of Almeria, province of Almeria, the course has a layout conceived by the legendary South African, Gary Player (with a little help from Ron Kirby), this is a truely outstanding resort course. Almerimar has a good variety of tees, to ensure that there is a suitable challenge for every visitor. Incredible water hazards add to both the challenge and the beauty.
  
  


• La Cala Golf Resort - Located in Mijas Costa, 12 miles East of Marbella, 24 miles SW of Malaga, this is the biggest golf complex in Spain, La Cala is also a spa. The resort has three superb 18-hole championship golf courses, plus an executive 6 hole par 3 course, all set within the magnificent rolling hills of Mijas.
  
  


• Hotel Almenara - Located in Sotogrande, 15 miles NE of Gibraltar, 18 miles SW of Estepona, 71 miles SW of Malaga, this is Spain's top golf resort, Hotel Almenara is situated in the heart of Sotogrande, Almenara. Built in the traditional Andalucian style, the hotel is graced with classic terracotta colourstaht have made the region famous.

You can find what you need to plan your trip at YourGolfTravel.com. What better time to go than now...?

Courtesy: bleacherreport.com

They have been calling it "the 5th major" for some years, now.

Yet, The Players Championship is as far away from becoming golf's fifth major as it was on the day it was conceived.

I'm not sure how a golf tournament of stature climbs the final rung on the ladder to become a major. Perhaps it's like moving to a small town. You can live there for decades and still be regarded as an outsider.

That doesn't diminish the TPC course on which the tournament is played or the great golf that we witnessed last week.

Henrik Stenson was in my Masters pool last month. I've long thought the guy had the right stuff to win on the PGA Tour and yesterday he broke through.

It was tough to see Alex Cejka, a fine golfer indeed, blow his 5 shot lead but I put that down more to the tough course than any nerves he might have had.

He still finished higher than his playing partner, didn't he?

And speaking of Tiger Woods, one might be asking the question "what the hell is going on?"

Of course, when asking that about Tiger, keep in mind he has had one victory and 4 top tens since his return in February. And he hasn't played every event, either.

But he seems to have some old swing issues creeping back in. Whenever Woods goes sour with his driver, it's manifested in pushed shots. And that's exactly what happened throughout the tournament, forcing Tiger to rely on his other-worldly recovery game to post some strong numbers.

One wonders if Hank Haney is having any positive effect during Tiger's "comeback".

But I also wonder if Woods is not devoting quite the same amount of time to practice that he did before he had kids.

He now has two children, of course, and I have a sneaking hunch that he makes time in his punishingly busy schedule to be with his family at the expense of practice.

Perhaps not. But then you could ask if he's practicing sufficiently, is he just not playing enough tournaments?

Don't know the answers and maybe they're the wrong questions to begin with.

One thing is certain. You rarely see Tiger drop shots in the final round of a big tournament when he's in the last group and has a chance to win.

© Philip Larson

Golf holidays in Florida are on everyone's summer wish list at the moment. and with good reason. Florida offers some incredible course, some beautiful scenery, and a nice dose of pampered luxury to the golfers who visit the state.

It's hard to narrow Florida's offerings down to just a handful, but if I had to pick the top five...

• Fifth: - REUNION RESORT . Located in Reunion, 26 miles southwest of Orlando and just 13 miles south of Disney World. The Reunion complex boasts three championship golf courses - designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.
  
  


• Fourth: - INNISBROOK RESORT & GOLF CLUB. Located in Palm Harbour, 25 miles northwest of Tampa. Four championship courses including the legendary Copperhead Course is the annual host of the PODS Championship on the PGA Tou.
  
  


• Third: - FAIRMONT TURNBERRY ISLE RESORT & CLUB. Located in Miami. The resort is spread over 300 coast acres and has recently undergone a $100 million renovation, making it one of the finest golf and leisure destinations in Florida.
  
  


• Second: - SAWGRASS MARRIOTT GOLF RESORT & SPA. Located in Ponte Vedra Beach, about 30 miles southeast of Jacksonville), this TPC Stadium Course has five championship layouts. The course is the annual host to the so-called 'fifth major', the Players Championship.
  
  


• First - PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA. Located in Palm Beach Gardens, 12 miles North of West Palm Beach, 54 miles North of Fort Lauderdale, 83 miles North of Miami. The course is the backbone of PGA National's outstanding golfing heritage, originally designed by Tom Fazio and subsequently reworked by Jack Nicklaus in 1990. A top class tournament venue, the Champion played host to the 1983 Ryder Cup matches and the 1987 PGA Championship, while it is now the annual home of the US Tour's Honda Classic.

With summer just around the corner, how can you not think about where you'll golf in Florida this year?

Courtesy: PGATour.com

Many may recall how I harped on about The Masters not taking proper advantage of live video streaming on the web during last month's classic tournament.

I said then and still say today that the web is the future for video, not TV. And I mean the near-future, too.

AT&T streamed live video for the second year running and the quality was superb.

So why, then, is the PGA Tour not taking advantage of the same thing?

I came across this press release from the Tour stating that they were making another "official film" of the Players Championship this year, the third in what is becoming an annual undertaking.

Fair enough. But the Tour also says it's taking pre-orders for DVDs at a cost of $19.95 U.S.

Now, let me ask you something. Would you prefer to buy a DVD and pay shipping and handling on top of the sticker price or would you prefer a one-time download of this year's tournament for, say, $2.99 U.S.?

It isn't a technology issue for the Tour. Their website currently boasts all kinds of streaming video.

Maybe I'm different from the average golf consumer but buying a DVD of one event is like buying a novel; I'll read it once and never pick it up again.

Fortunately most novels are cheap enough.

But would I watch a DVD of the 2009 Players Championship a second time? I doubt it.

There's nothing as old as yesterday's golf news…