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Results for October 2010 Back to Editors' Blog Index

You challenge our retirement package....

Friday, October 29, 2010 Comments
Our November package on retirement--we tracked 5 couples at 5 different economic levels--has drawn several letters suggesting that we set our financial sites too high and left "reality" behind. Here are two of those letters. Before you decide who's right, look at the story and also the subsequent comments on Golfdigest.com, which suggest that even within the retirement areas chosen there are more options than highlighted in the story. As Aquidneck, one of those commenters said about the Villages, one of the places we reported on: "They used the most expensive home they could find. The average home here in The Villages is more like $175,000 and not $600,000." Among our five, it should be noted, was a $250,000 townhouse. 

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I read Peter Finch's article on the cost of golf in retirement in your November, 2010 issue and was disappointed that he didn't include less expensive options. Maybe that's another article. I am not sure of your magazine's demographics, but the illustrations Peter Finch provided seem to represent something outside the reach of most of us. For example, my wife and I are retired and play over a 100 rounds of golf a year. We belong to semi-private golf club (Edelweiss Chalet Country Club in New Glarus, WI). There is no initiation fee and annual cost for two is about $2,000 for unlimited golf,cart rental, and food minimum. In addition, we have agreements with about 9 other area courses where we get free play and only pay for cart rental. It is like belonging to 10 country clubs. You can own a nice house nearby for about $220,000. The property taxes would be near $4,000. The sales tax is 5.5%. The state sales tax is competitive if not slightly above average, but you get great public services and education for your buck. You are also about 30 minutes from a great college town and cultural center. We can play golf in New Glarus on average 8 months a year. We then take some of the money we saved by living and playing here and rent a condo in Scottsdale for two months. The cost of our condo rental is $4,000 and we spend another $2,000 on Arizona golf. 
Brian Hanke, Wisconsin

I have read your book for years and I do enjoy read the golf tips and personel articles and the equip. reviews but this last article you wrote about golf retirement hit a sore spot. I wonder how many real retired people in your reading audience can afford a 2.6 million dollar home in Scottsdale. After reading that article I told my wife I was ready throw that book in the trash and cancel my subscription. How about writing an article that 90% of retires could really use? Places where a husband and wife can golf and afford it. Idaho sucks when it comes to golf communities and private affordable golf clubs. I like your magazine and will keep reading it because I can't get to mad over one article but it does hit a sore spot concerning how much money we have all lost because of the weathly greed in this country and our current government. 
Dennnis Holste, Nampa, ID

I have been a long time subscriber to Golf Digest. I have been reading about retirement communities in your current magazine. Please write another with more affordable places to retire. Many can't afford $500,000 homes. I just want a nice place to live and a good place to play golf. It doesn't have to be an expensive resort. 
David Dorn, Burlington, IA

Bob Carney
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Collectibles

Thursday, October 28, 2010 Comments
Dear Editor: I bought a tapestry before the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black right before the Twin Towers were blown up. The tapestry depicts the golf tournament with the towers on it. Also, right affter the terrible incident, the tapestry was discontinued, but I still got mine. Is it wanted by anyone that you know of? It is eerily beautiful. It almost looks like there is smoke coming from behind the towers. 
Cindy Hummel 

Dear Ms. Hummel, thanks for your note. Our advice would be to contact the Golf Collectors' Society. Although its members are known for collecting equipment,  that's not all they collect. The Collectors' site can direct you to auctions. You can, of course, check auction sites such as Ebay to see if other copies have been offered for sales. Sounds like a beautiful piece.

Bob Carney
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Rules: With friends like these...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 Comments
Dear Editor: 
When playing with my Saturday morning "friends," we were on the green when I placed my plastic ball marker to mark my ball position. i picked up my ball and tapped down my marker with my putter. because the green and my club were wet, the marker adhered to the club and was thus removed from the playing surface. my playing opponents then declared a two stroke penalty for removing the ball and the marker. was this a correct interpretation of the rules?
Bill Cross, Orlando, FL

Where did you find these friends, Bill? The rules can be severe, but they are not unforgiving--and certainly more compassionate than your buddies. The Decisions accompanying the Rules of Golf address your specific situation. They allow you to replace the marker with no penalty.  You can find the Decision at the USGA web site.

20-1/6  Ball-Marker Moved Accidentally by Player in Process of Marking Position of Ball

Q. A player marked the position of his ball with a coin, lifted the ball and pressed down the coin with the sole of his putter. He walked to the edge of the green and then noticed that the coin had stuck to the sole of the putter. What is the ruling?

A. In this case, the movement of the ball-marker was directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of the ball.

Accordingly, no penalty is incurred and the ball or the ball-marker must be replaced. If the spot where the ball or ball-marker lay is not known, it must be placed as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole (Rule20-3c).

Bob Carney
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Rocco saves the day!

Monday, October 25, 2010 Comments
Think "Groundhog Day" and you think Bill Murray reliving one day over and over again. But the following groundhog day, we venture to say, will never be repeated. And we don't mean that Rocco Mediate part....images.jpeg

Just wanted to thank Rocco Mediate for saving my day! I was watching the Frys.com tournament on TV, and thought it was sensational. I had to quickly go out at 5 p.m. to feed my horses, when a rabid groundhog attacked me outside my house. I fell down trying to run away, but sheer terror got me up. I had to kick the groundhog several times, to keep him from biting me. My husband went outside and finally shot the animal. While waiting for Animal Control, I decided to tape the program. We were missing some great golf!! When Animal Control finally left it was after 6 o'clock. While opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate my survival, and my husband's heroic effort, we watched Rocco hole out on No. 17. I totally forgot my horrific experience and got back into the tournament. It was pure joy to see Rocco win. 
Anita Baarns, Round Hill, VA

Upon receiving this remarkable letter, we did a bit of research and learned that Ms. Baarns is an accomplished painter of equestrian scenes. Her work is worth checking out. Our only question is how she has time to play golf and maintain an 18.7 handicap. At any rate, we're happy that the groundhog lost.

Bob Carney

Photo: ecoactionteams.ca
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Most Beautiful Golfer Contest revisited

Friday, October 22, 2010 Comments
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It's been some time since we revisited the Most Beautiful Golfer contest as part of our 60th anniversary celebration. But the web being timeless, and chivalry being not yet dead, we thought we ought to rectify an obvious oversight. Here is Paula West Moore, one of those golfers, and the letter that prompted us to run her photo. 
 
I just looked through your web story of the past "Most Beautiful Golfers" and noted that my photo was not included, as Co-Winner of 1955 contest; only Betty Jean Martinez was shown. You really know how to hurt a 73-year old lady, who still swings a mean club. It has been, over all these many years such an honor to have been included in "The Most Beautiful Golfer" story in Golf Digest. I don't know if anything can be done to change what is presented on the web page. If there is, I would like to be contacted for correct information. If you have any questions regarding my claim as the co-winner, please refer to your October 1973 article "What ever happened to." It will show my photo. My maiden name was Paula Ann West from Sacramento, CA, and I was the California State Champion in 1955. I have retired from AAA, which your 1973 article showed as my career. I now travel full time in a 40-foot motor home, traveling the southwest and playing golf along the way. Thank you for any consideration you can give to soothe my hurt feelings. 
Paula (West) Moore, Livingston, TX

Thanks for writing, Paula. Safe travels and hit 'em straight.
Bob Carney
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Private club rules: Where change worked

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 Comments
We've heard from a lot of private club members about Jerry Tarde's opinion in the October issue that clubs need to consider changing rules and regulations that turn off potential members, no matter how well-meaning their intent. Most of those letters took issue with Tarde's position. Not this one from a North Carolina reader.
 
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Mr. Tarde, I read with interest, your Editor's Letter "The Case For Change At Private Clubs." I guess you could call the following letter a verification of your analysis to a large degree. Several years ago we asked our members what they wanted from their club. As a result of the survey we have made substantial changes. Our first expenditure was up fitting our dining and bar facilities while at thowe same time making them much less formal. No ties required. Jackets suggested on weekends in the main dining room and dress jeans allowed in the club house (not on the golf courses). Our dining and bar business rebounded nicely. The men's and women's locker rooms also received a major face lift. Our next big investment was to double the size of our health club to rival any health club facility in town. Again, the members responded in large numbers. At six o'clock on weekday mornings the parking lot is full. It has become a major asset in selling our club to new young members. Applicants between the ages of 21 and 40 can join under a special initiation fee financing program which is interest-- free. All of our memberships have full privileges. 

Our next big investment was on our golf courses. We are independent of city water on our Farm Course, which was newly designed by Donald Steel. We are very proud of this new course and [Golf Digest Architecture Editor] Ron Whitten has already seen it. We are about halfway home on a similar water project at our Irving Park Course. There is no restriction on tee times for women and juniors can play any time a tee time is open. We haven't gotten to caps-on-backward or push carts yet but we do have substantial rounds played while walking and carrying one's bag. We have focused the club on being the center of recreation and social activities for the whole family. Our membership is diverse. Golf, tennis & swimming programs for kids are emphasized. The kids' swim team has over 100 youngsters and has won the city swim championship three out of the last four years. All of this has resulted in our being able to attract a steady stream of new members while other clubs in our market have had to abandon all initiation fees. I hope this is of some interest.
Jerry Highsmith, President, Greensboro Country Club Greensboro, N. C.

Your comments are well taken. Our Connecticut club has made similar changes over the past decade.  Our dress code hasn't changed much--members are opposed to those backward hats, and we don't allow cargo shorts--but as with your club, deeper changes have kept us attractive to new members. Had we not made these changes, almost all involving some level of conflict, we couldn't be saying that. 

Bob Carney
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Driver story: Long and short of it

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Comments
Max Adlers's "Tired of Being the Short Hitter?" story in October, which presented a collection of new drivers, moved one reader to go shopping, not for a new driver, but for a used one via online auction. His serendipitous discovery about shaft length is worth a read, and maybe a few extra yards.

After reading Max Adler's article on being the short hitter I felt compelled to let you know what happened to me the last 30 days. I am an avid golfer playing 2-3 times a week and consistently being the shortest hitter at the club or participating in the Golf Channel Amateur Tour events (GCAT). I am a 9 handicap with a 82 m.p.h. swing speed. I accidently discovered a method to increase my driving distance 30 yards. How you ask? I purchased a used driver off Ebay--a Ping G10, 10.5 degree-draw driver with a regular flex--and when I received it the shaft was 1.75 inches longer than stock. I was at first disappointed; however, out almost $100 bucks I took it to the course. The first day I left everything right of target. Gradually, after a few rounds, I became much more adept in keeping it in the fairway. I would have never thought to add 1.75 inches to my driver length; however, it has truly become a miracle that my average has gone from 215 yards to over 245. My longest drive last week was 288 yards, with several over 260. I want your readers to consider this when length is holding them back. I would never have given it a thought before my new found revelation. Having a slow tempo still gives me the accurancy I had with a shorter shafted driver. Wanted to share this with the short hitters. 
Tommy Tolbert,  Snelville, GA

On behalf of all short hitters, myself included, thank you, Tommy. I remember once watching a fellow at a New Jersey driving range hit balls with a 50-inch driver (44 or 45 being standard). Tempo, as you point out, was key. His was slow and steady and the tee shots were immense. If you get quick with a longer shaft, you're headed for long grass or worse. Thanks for sharing this with us. To all our readers, it's worth checking with your pro to see if he thinks longer is better for you. 

Bob Carney
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Are you kidding? Golf course smoking bans?!

Monday, October 18, 2010 Comments
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is adamant in his desire to eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke in New York, and, after banning indoor smoking, he's now attacking outdoor venues, city-owned golf courses among them. News of the proposed ban awoke a regular Golf Digest correspondent from Wisconsin. He makes a darn good point, as we say in the Midwest.

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One has to find it ironic that Mayor Bloomberg would try to ban smoking on city golf courses while collecting millions of dollars in tax revenue from the tobacco tax. Wouldn't it be more logical to stop collecting the revenue if it's such a hazard to those of us who enjoy the outdoors? Also, there has never been one study that has proven that second hand smoke in the outdoors is a health risk. This is a political stunt to classify smokers as second class citizens. Smokers are not as snooty as the Mayor and his rich friends! Hey, Mayor, smokers vote too!
Dave Riffey Sr., Shell Lake, WI

A few years back, at a Los Angeles Dodgers home game, we were hooted and hollered by other fans for smoking a cigar, albeit in an section isolated from other patrons. I don't think carcinogens were the issue, I think it was the smell. My wife, for example, can smell cigarette smoke from three miles, and is quick to complain about it. New Yorkers being New Yorkers, I'll bet Mayor Bloomberg has had his fill of those complaints. Nor is our magazine immune from complaint when we merely depict smoking. 

As for your tax issue, Dave, I suspect Bloomberg's position would be that taxation discourages and suppresses the habit, and if there's revenue attached to that good deed, well that's just a byproduct. Kind of like second-hand smoke.

Bob Carney

Photo: Surprisinger.com
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Another objection to short-hitter photo

Sunday, October 17, 2010 Comments
A couple of days ago we published two letters objecting to the language and especially illustration of the "Tired of being the short hitter?" piece in the October issue. Some readers took offense at an illustration they deemed sexist and we apologized. We received another letter this weekend. 

As a subscriber of Golf Digest, I was more than a little stunned by Max Adler's choice of image to accompany his article, "Tired of being the short hitter?" I might have written off its derogatory nature except that several weeks ago I was also taken aback by the tone of the headline "Why Women Can't Putt." I am left wondering, what is the guiding principle that your editorial team follows? Is it simply to sell magazines to men, regardless of its affect on the industry? What effect are you striving to have on your readers, your staff, their daughters, and on the game of golf? Further, is this really what golf needs right now? With numbers of players consistently dropping, I would think that Golf Digest and its advertisers need every man, woman, and child playing in order to survive or to grow. This condescending attitude seems illogical considering the largest growing segment of golfers is women, many of whom are raising future golfers. Now I do realize that women are a very small demographic for Golf Digest; however how is this tactic helping to improve your readership or advertising base? What legacy could Golf Digest create for golf if it were more inclusive? I for one look forward to seeing what might be. For the love of the game... 
Elizabeth Noblitt, Bellevue, WA 

For the record, the putting article used new research to make the case that women don't putt as well as men. But the entire putting package, entitled, "Why you can't putt," made the case that all of us are pretty hopeless on the greens. 

Bob Carney
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How's that funny, Golf Digest?

Thursday, October 14, 2010 Comments
The illustration accompanying Golf Digest's November story on new drivers--"Tired of being a short hitter?"--left some readers disappointed and worse. Humor is always dicey, more so when you're using images that touch on gender, and these two readers responded quickly. 

Just got my November 2010 issue. As a pretty good golfer with a pretty good sense of humor, I was disappointed by Max Adler's article "Tired of being the short hitter?" and the accompanying photo of a dude wearing a pink blouse, pink glove, pearls, and lipstick. Not funny. "But don't let tears ruin your makeup just yet." ...  "It's also possible you simply need a lesson, Sally." What a laugh riot this writer is. C'mon guys. Where's the editor? ...  It would have been an informative article save the slamming of the "fairer sex." Real men are confident in themselves enough to realize that there is no comparison between men and women. At least the men in my life live that way. They don't put down women and I don't put down men. But, hey, I did put down your magazine. 
Cristina Klema, McLean, VA 

I am an avid golfer and a long time subscriber to your magazine. Since there aren't any more "woman's golf" magazines, yours is the only game in town. I was very disheartened when I turned to page 67 of my recent issue and see a man with a scruffy beard with a pink golf glove, pink shirt, putting on red lipstick with pearls around his neck and the title of the article, "Tired of being the short hitter?" Is this supposed to be humorous, or just poking fun at men who don't hit the ball far (not knowing what their reasons may be)?  I thought your magazine had more class and more respect for women. I guess I was wrong. By the way, pink is not his color, black and blue would seem more appropriate and you forgot the earring.
Lynda Hollander, West Orange, NJ 

We intended the illustration to be funny and silly. We apologize for offending you.

Bob Carney
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