November 2010: Editors' Blog: Golf Digest

Golf World's Arts Issue draws praise, suggestions

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 Comments

Golf World's Arts Issue, and the "Strokes of Genius" story, prompted several letters, some suggesting other artists the magazine might have included.

I particularly enjoyed your Arts Issue and the very informative article on golf art. I did not see a name from Britain who I and my son, Eric, a European Tour caddie, personally met at the British Open at Carnoustie in 2007: British artist Graeme Baxter. We are now proudly displaying a signed and numbered and striking print of the 15th at Carnoustie at our home here in Minnesota.

R.T. Endres, St Paul, MN

I enjoyed "Strokes of Genius." I realize it was not a comprehensive study of "golf art", but I was a bit disappointed not to find mention of two of my favorite golf artists--Donald Voorhees and Graeme Baxter. I have collected a number of golf prints over the years and have found these two to be exceptional painters. I am wondering if you've heard of them? Baxter, especially is brilliant in his detail. From a distance, his prints look like photographs--exquisite.

Jim Guernsey,Twinsburg, OH

Good suggestions in Graeme Baxter and Donald Vorhees. Obviously, Golf World could not cover the entire "landscape," given space. To Baxter, let me add Richard Chorley, a wonderful painter of golf scenes, and suggest that readers interested in golf art will find the Academy of Golf Art, comprising both painters and photographers, of interest.

Bob Carney

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Re Mark Frost: Correcting the record

Saturday, November 27, 2010 Comments

Golf World's story on Mark Frost (below), with references to The Greatest Game Ever Played, his book and the Disney movie by the same name, prompted this corrective letter from Ken Janke. Janke, a Michigan Hall of Fame inductee and an author in is own right, takes time to enumerate mistakes incorporated into the movie, on which Frost was listed as screenwriter.

When the movie was released, there were several errors and it was not true to the book. I don't know if Mr. Frost was a consultant for the film, but he was credited with writing the script. First was that Wilfrid Reid was a British Amateur champion. Reid turned professional at the age of 17 and never won the Amateur, nor did he compete in the 1913 U.S. Open as an amateur.

Johnny McDermott was shown in the film as giving a talk at that U.S. Open being critical of Vardon and Ray. McDermott's comments actually happened in Pennsylvania at the Shawnee Open earlier that year when McDermott won the tournament. He stated that he wanted the U.S. Open trophy to remain in American hands. USGA officials almost denied him entry into the 1913 Championship because of his remarks even though he was the two-time defending champion. The film also shows McDermott collapsing in the championship and not to be a factor. In the final standings, he finished in the top ten, being joint seventh. McDermott never gave up, nor did he fall on the ground and drop his clubs. He was a competitor, trying until the end.

Another scene depicted Ouimet having to play a stymie. The movie showed a ball between his and the cup and so he took a lofted club to hit the shot over the other ball. The stymie was used only in match play, not in stroke play as the U.S. Open is and always was conducted.

To make the film more dramatic, it showed the playoff as one that was decided on the final hole with Ouimet winning with a 72 to Vardon's 73. The championship was actually in the bag for Francis as Vardon shot 77 and the victory was basically assured when they arrived at the final green. It is a shame that a wonderful story, so accurate in book form had errors in the film. I have a feeling that the author who has done such extensive research in his books had to swallow hard to allow the inaccuracies in the movie version.

Ken Janke, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Thanks for the letter, Ken, and for the details that "Greatest Story" had wrong. Let's face it, movies take liberties, even movies that call themselves true stories. The point is, Frost's book inspired an exciting, entertaining film that a 10-year-old in our house loved, and winning him over was no mean feat. Factual inaccuracies or no, it was the best golf drama I've seen. And thanks to Mark Frost for that.

Bob Carney

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"Hogan's Last Round" brings memories

Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Comments

The December story, "Ben Hogan's Last Round," taken from former LPGA player Kris Tschetter's new book on her relationship with Hogan, drew several letters. In a video accompanying the story, Tschetter explains that she wrote Mr. Hogan, The Man I Knew, with Steve Eubanks, to reveal Hogan the man, whom few people knew, as opposed to Hogan the golfer, who most thought they did. "I felt like I wanted to set the record straight about the person I saw every day," said Tschetter, who was a member with Hogan for years at Shady Oaks in Texas. "I don't think many saw the side of him that I saw."

For one Michigan reader that message resonated.

I enjoyed your article. My grandfather who enjoyed Hogan quite a bit, turned me on to golf when I was 12. We played many a round together and regardless of the score, we always enjoyed the bond golf had created between us. I relate to the Hogan story in that I was fortunate to be the last one to play 9 holes with my grandfather, then well into his 80s. He could still hit it straight down the middle. Though he doesn't play anymore at the age of 90, we still have golf in common. His eyes sparkle when I describe a recent round; discuss the latest tournament, or tell him about the developing golf skills of his great-grandchildren. I'm thankful I was able to send him this article and let him know how much he still means to me.

Dan Hoffmann, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Bob Carney

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More of your ire about "leasing" golf balls

Friday, November 19, 2010 Comments

Here's another letter on the Digest item by Ron Kaspriske suggesting, tongue in cheek, that golf ball owners not mark their golf balls too garishly so that when they lose those balls and we find them we're not embarrassed to play with them. Some of you didn't see, or didn't care to see the tongue there in the cheek....

The "Stop Treating Your Ball Like It's Yours" column in the December's issue was ridiculous. Who does Ron Kaspriske think he is to tell me how I should or shouldn't mark or personalize my golf ball? I understand his point, (serious or in jest) but if I'm going to pay $4 a golf ball, I'm pretty darn sure I'm going to do whatever the heck I want to it. (Outside of drawing hateful or hurtful images or words. etc...) When I buy a pack of balls, there is no contract which states "please be respectful for the future finders of this ball and only mark it modestly," and last time I checked Ron, the way in which one marks or personalizes one's golf ball is not included in the Rules of Golf. Let's hope it stays that way.

Greg Freitag, Baltmore, MD

Amen.

Bob Carney

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Hannigan's rules story draws fire

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 Comments

In this year of seemingly bizarre golf rules incidents--see Juli Inkster's swing aid and Dustin Johnson's well-populated bunker--former USGA Executive Director Frank Hannigan in the December Golf Digest defended the rules and suggested that easy "fixes" only made matters worse. Several readers took exception, with this one arguing that most golf rules are a waste of time anyway.

Mr. Hannigan's article shows that he, as a typical representative of USGA, has no "common sense." He is just another taliking head from that group. The USGA consistently ignores the majority of golfers in this country, those of us who play the game for fun and don't give a damn for the USGA rules. For us losing a ball is penalty enough for hitting a ball in a lake. We really don't care how many clubs we have in our bag. If we could find a driver we could hit long and straight, the USGA moment-of-inertia rule would not stop us from buying it. There is nothing wrong with a "mulligan." We don't play tournaments. We can't spin a ball on the green, so what difference does changing the grooves mean to us? It is time for the USGA to get realistic and cut out trying to produce meaningless rules for the majority of the golfers. Just admit that tha USGA is an arm of the PGA and the club manufacturers, and make rules for the pros only. By the way, we are probably the most prolific buyers of golf products in a dying sport, so try not to draw our animosity.

Brian B. Torsney Sr., Palm Desert, CA

Please note that Hannigan left the USGA 20 years ago and would not be described in Far Hills as an unwavering supporter of the association. He just happens to believe in the Rules of Golf and thinks most of the amendments suggested post-PGA Championship don't improve things. But your point, Brian, is well taken. We sometimes forget that most golfers play by what we once called "the reasonable man's rules of golf," not the laws of serious competitions. The point is to have fun, right? My only issue with "reasonable" rules is that--and this has been proven by the events of 26 years of golf trips--those rules lead to almost as many infractions and fracases as the real ones.

Bob Carney

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Golf Balls: Are you out of your minds?

Monday, November 15, 2010 Comments

In Golf Digest's December issue Ron Kaspriske, editor of the Digest section, wrote: "If you think about it, you don't really own a golf ball; you lease it ... That's why it's important to leave as little evidence as possible of your time spent with the ball." Ron complained that he hated finding "a shiny, tour-caliber golf ball, only to turn it over and see that someone marked it by drawing the pirate from one of those art-school tests."

Kaspriske's opinion did not sit well with many of you. In fact, it set you off.

Give me a break! Surely the piece by Ron Kaspriske, "Stop treating your ball like it's yours," in your December 2010 issue, is just a joke. Right? First of all, every golf ball I have ever bought came with a receipt. I have never gotten a lease agreement as I did when I leased my car. I bought the ball; it's mine! Secondly, I don't lose every ball I ever buy. Some of them I retire to the shag bag and then--well I don't know where they go. So when Kaspriske does find the ball that I lost, does that give him the right to claim it as his and use it? Did he ever think of turning it in to lost and found so that I can reclaim it? I doubt it (a little joke of my own). So when I buy (not lease) a ball, I have every right to do anything I want with it, including paint the Mona Lisa on it if I want to. Kaspriske doesn't have to play a ball if he doesn't like what has been drawn on it. It never was his ball in the first place, so what has he lost? Oh, yeah, that's right, he found it while looking for his own lost ball. Tell him to be "considerate" and stop whining. Yes, I have put a used ball into play before and I don't care what is drawn on the ball. And if I didn't like it that much, I would toss it back and leave it for the next lucky soul. Ron should do the same.

Myron Donesky, California

I suspect Ron Kaspriske has missed the whole point, despite the use of the defining word "your" in the title. When I spend $46-a-dozen, they become "mine," free, within legal limits, to do with them exactly what I want. Free to leave them unmarked, or to reproduce my best effort of the Mona Lisa on them. The lend process only commences when the owner loses the ball. Kaspriske is obviously one of those hackers who never buys new balls, but hides this fact behind his passion for the lease theory. I can understand why he gets cut up when he finds a "desecrated" ball. Maybe that pirate he sees on the ball is his own image as he raids the bushes for his next treasure. He should practice his own preach for consideration, by not prescribing how owners mark their ball. Next time Ron finds a marked ball, he has the option of 1) forging a role as eco-golfer by removinging the offending balls from the environment and disposing of them; 2) placing an unacceptably marked ball back where he finds it, free to be leased by the less disparaging golfer, or 3) simply using it and no doubt returning it to the "lend" cycle quickly !!!

Michael Lortan, Grapevine, TX

Point taken, gentlemen: You pay, you paint any damn thing you want on your ball. But for the record, I prefer colorful little dots, no big circles, no initials and please, no smiley faces. Just saying.

For those of you who want new golf balls and don't want to pay $46 a dozen, check out the Golf Digest Golf Ball Hot List. You'll find some very pretty bargains there.

Bob Carney

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Thanks for Golf World's Charities Issue

Monday, November 15, 2010 Comments

Golf World's first Charities Issue struck a chord. It reminded readers that golf generates an incredible amount of charity dollars--$3.4 billion by some estimates--and that tour professionals are a huge contributor to that. The listing of tour-pro charities and especially the story of Brad Faxon's and Billy Andrade's Charities for Children drew immediate response.

I'm a long-time Golf World subscriber, and I believe the dual articles, "Oasis of Hope" and "Helping Hands," are by far the most important and uplifting pieces you've ever published -- absolutely inspired editorship and writing. I encourage you to print much more about the ongoing efforts of the Tour and its great people to help others less fortunate. How about each week, or at least once a month, spotlighting one of the causes such as those noted in "Helping Hands" with a full article that provides web site addresses and contact information so that inspired, caring readers might easily act to donate or volunteer on behalf of these wonderful organizations? I believe this has every bit as much a place as a regular feature of Golf World as any golf course or equipment information you provide. It reminds us of human frailty, that we are all in this life together, and of the beautiful, loving people that play our game. Thank you for a great issue.

David Younker, Aliso Viejo, CA

Thank you for recognizing the charitable work of Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade in your recent article Oasis of Hope in the November 1st issue. I am privileged to have been a board member of the Andrade/Faxon Charities for Children Foundation since its inception. I have personally witnessed the wonderful work that Billy and Brad, along with their wives, Jody and Dory have done to help fund children's related charities over the years. They are sincerely and genuinely concerned for the welfare of needy children and have worked tirelessly to raise funds. It is a great deal of work for them but it is for a great cause and they throughly enjoy it. I also applaud your recognition of the other golf related charities in the November 1st issue.

Denny Glass, Barrington, RI

Enjoyed the article. iThe money tour pros generate is indeed signficant. It might be interesting to your readers to be made aware of local groups which also generate funds for their community charities. We have a group of 90 local businessmen who have formed a group called "Racing Mules." Me have a tournament once a month at area golf courses where we raise funds through our competitions as well as enjoy "buddy" time at the tournament. We have many ways we generate the funds. This year we donated $15, 000 to area charities and in the short time we have existed have donated in excess of $100,000. This is small time compared to the pros, but significant in our valley.

Bryan Whiting, Glenwood Springs, CO

Congratulations, Bryan, for your great work. It's the efforts of thousands of charities like yours that add up to those billions of dollars. You're right; the tours and their professionals do a great job. But so do amateurs like you who are making huge differences in your communities.

David, thank you for your suggestions. Great ideas.

Bob Carney

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I'm no sandbagger, cont'd

Saturday, November 13, 2010 Comments

Our December story on sandbaggers in the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Championship ("Busted") continues to generate mail, much of it of the defensive variety.

I read with great interest your article abour "cheaters" that post an artificially high handicap. It was very interesting, but I really have to object to some of the things you stated in there. I have been accused of being a sandbagger in the past (having won several club invitationals). My handicap has been between 18 and 20 for most of my life (37-years-old now). I hit the ball a ton off the tee (more than 275 on most drives) but I don't know where it is going. During the year, I will post rounds anywhere between 83-105 depending on how my driving is going. If I am keeping the ball in play (not really caring if I am hitting fairways), I will be playing sand wedge up against my competitor's 7-iron. I am not your typical 18-20 handicap. I am probably a 12-14 that has on average 2 to 3 blow-up holes per round, and that drives up my cap up. It is not intentional, but has gotten me disqualified from tournaments. The last club invitational I played I shot 83-86-86 (with an even par on the first round). I post every round I play and play as well as I can every round. Please take note that there are people out there that don't fit into your statistical snap shot.

Brian Schumacher, Canton, MI

Brian, you are one of the reasons why I pray there is a gross division in any club tournament I play. A 17-handicap who hits it 275 yards and only has 2 or 3 blow-up holes is my worst nightmare. Good for you, but I think Contributing Editor Dean Knuth, who advised the Myrtle Beach authorities on their handicap reviews, would suggest that the odds of you shooting some of the rounds you have, especially back to back to back, are astronomical, and that you should have a lower number. I assume you are using Equitable Stroke Control when calculating those "blow-up" holes, meaning that at an 18-handicap, for example, you may not record more than a 7 on any hole. Those holes should not inflate your handicap as much as you suggest that they have.

It also really hurts to admit that the last round I entered was an 88. I'm a 5.

Bob Carney

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Who's a sandbagger?!!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Comments

Our December issue includes an account, on page 58, of sandbag "busting" at the World Amateur Championship in Myrtle Beach, with comments and analysis from handicap expert and Golf Digest Contributing Editor Dean Knuth. Like most articles related to handicapping and especially sandbagging, it drew immediate response.

After reading "Busted"in the December issue, I felt compelled to write. Having only started playing golf in May 2008 I am unbelievably passionate about all aspects of the game. It's code of honor is one of them. Every score gets logged, but, if I have an unusually bad stretch where I can legitimately look in the mirror and say it is an abberation, then that is one of the few times I do not record a score. Just to avoid the appearance of "sandbagging." I work hard at my game using smart practice and my handicap continues to come down fairly quickly. Last year I was a 22; now I am a 12.5 and trending down. Further, when playing in tournaments I play smart. The hardest hole, despite being a par 4, is a par 5 in my mind and I play it conservatively, etc. I rarely try "hero" shots. Compared to my normal rounds when I am legitimately trying, but willing to take more chances and try new things, I score better. Looking at all my tournament scores, I beat or match my then current course handicap more than 75 per cent of the time. I have called otherewise unseen penalties on myself twice during tournaments. And I am not one of the ones who regularly violates the Rules of Golf, istead playing it as it lies, putting out, etc. I applaud and agree with any efforts to stop "sandbagging," "vanity handicaps" and use of the "hand wedge." Golf is one of the last bastions of honor in the sporting world. Yet, I could be labeled a sandbagger. How about a more in-depth article?

George Lichti, Sierra Vista, AZ

George, I agree that it's sometimes baffling. In one of the cases addressed in the piece, an 8.8 handicap shoots two 78s and an 80 and is disqualified. It seems like I run into that kind of performance every weekend at my club. But Dean's point is that the odds of a player doing that for three straight rounds are extremely high. Your point, though, is a good one. What if that player had spent the month before working on his game and discovered, discovered a flaw and fixed it. Dean would say that the odds of that player taking that change into competition and performing that well are still astronomical. You make another point that's very important, though. Some players take casual rounds much less seriously than tournament rounds; some don't. Some perform better, not worse in competition--you included. My feeling is that we make too much of casual rounds in our handicap computation--perhaps we should throw them out altogether, as the Brits do. But I'll doubt that will ever happen.

I understand the handicap system and its calculations but I'm not aware of an algorithm (or table) to equate a probability to any particular score vs. course handicap. I've looked on the USGA handicap site to no avail. Can you help? I believe many clubs and tourneys would apply adjustments if such odds were known.

Tom Mulligan, St. Charles, IL

Dean replies: Check out my web site, popeofslope.com, and in particular the section on sandbagging. For one-round events, a player is disqualified for exceeding 100-to-1 odds. For two-round events, any combination of one round greater than 50-to-1 and the other 20-to-1 earns disqualification. For any 3-round events, if all 3 rounds hit the table at greater than 10-to-1 odds, the person is also disqualified.

Thanks, Dean.

Bob Carney

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Facebook fraud and Calc

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 Comments

Golf World's report on Facebook fraud aimed, at tour professionals, included mention of Champions Tour player Mark Calcavecchia.

At first, Mark Calcavecchia thought the posts on his Facebook page were funny. Like the one that said he might skip a Champions Tour event because he had to attend the Economic Summit. “I thought that was kind of hilarious,” he said.

One problem: Calcavecchia has never created a Facebook page for himself, and none of the posts under his name were written by him. It became an issue when the posts took a less happy tone, such as one that read: “Was out drinking all night; had to stagger to the first tee.” Said Calcavecchia: “That was kind of irritating. I don’t want people to think I’m a jerk. And I know I’m not the only player this has been happening to.”

One of our readers met up with Calc and his wife about the that time as he played in the Schwab Cup Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco.

I attended the Charles Schwab tournament this past weekend at Harding Park. On Saturday we followed Mark Calcavecchia around the course, my wife and I are big fans of his. His back was hurting and he was not putting well. After the tournament my wife and I ran into Mark and Brenda Calcavecchia at a restaurant close by Harding Park. I wanted to introduce myself and my wife and tell him we have been longtime fans, he and his wife could not have been more cordial and inviting, we all had a nice time talking as we waited for our tables. When I got home I received my Golf World magazine, with the article about golfers targets of Facebook fraud. Now you would think a guy who just went through something like this, and also an annoying back bothering him, would have said, "Can you leave us alone," but the true professional in him and his wife came out. We both appreciated the time we spent with them and will not forget it. Mark and Brenda, you're a great couple.

Rob Del Sarto, Emerald Hills, CA

It's nice to get letters like this. In the case of Mark Calcavecchia, not surprising, but still nice.

Bob Carney

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