I love that you give "the team" the recognition they deserve. The supers and their teams are the only reason we have places to play. IMO every course should list the Superintendent along with the Head Pro on signage and bag tags.
Working on a newsletter start up now for covering the real game growers. Open to a catchy title that captures the kind of viewing that induces migraines, while helping your last six months seem like six years.
Bryson’s interview with ESPN is priceless. Shortly after saying we all have to set our egos aside, he lamented how unfortunate it was that the Tour wanted to penalize him, despite “all I can do for them.” His ego was set aside for roughly two sentences.
Thanks for the course preview, Geoff. I think I am going to drop by the PGA Shop after work tomorrow to beat the crowds. I'm hoping there has been an improvement in terms of selection and pricing vs. last year's mess at Quail Hollow, but the limited edition cheesesteak headcovers are already causing me pause.
Aronimink losing the 1993 PGA, something this golf trivia nut remembers, was ironic because of its reason. The 1962 PGA was played at Aronimink rather than its original selection of Brentwood CC in Los Angles due to fallout from the PGA having a caucassians only rule which the PGA only rescinded in 1961.
Gary Player won his first PGA at Aronimink edging Bob Goalby by one shot.
The 1990 PGA almost wasn't played at Shoal Creek. Does anyone besides me remember where the PGA considered moving the tournament to at the last minute?
Love the detail as always Geoff. It looks as though they removed a fair number of trees in the 2017 resto - did the course have a "forest" period where they overdid planting? BTW, glad to be a quadrllatidegenerate.
Geoff, just got the link. As you pointed out Ron Prichard is not a fan of McGovern's work. The two restorations of Aronimink by Prichard and Gil Hanse are also a contrast in whether you restore to what was designed (Prichard - using Ross' routing map as wells as hole and green field sketches) or what was actually built (Hanse- using old photos, aerials). According to Prichard, McGovern had a habit of dividing some of Ross' larger bunkers into two or three bunkers during construction much to Ross' consternation and can cite a number of courses where this occurred besides Aronimink. My take, Ross was a genius and knew what he was doing, McGovern was one of his lieutenants and although a capable one, a far cry from Ross as an accomplished golf architect. I side with Prichard on this one.
The "tradition" (it feels like it, anyway) of your reviewing the upcoming Major course is sort of like the rush we got as kids when one's parents put up the tree 10 days before Christmas.
- The '77 US Am runner-up, Mr. Fischesser, apparently had a rough day in the final, losing 9-8, but he still played in the Masters and was paired with Mr. Nicklaus in '78. A few years later, he was invited to Augusta again and he was paired with Mr. Player. Wound up in the Indiana Golf Association Hall of Fame. His dad was a 40-year club pro who was involved in the initial organization of the PGA of America. So good for him! How can you not love golf with a story like that? And courses like Aronimink.
- I'm interested to see what the GIR stat will be on the 242-yard Par 3 8th hole. Only 42% last time in 2011? 15 years ago, no super-juiced balls, Tesseract-based irons, or cold-plunge inspired players. Apparently the GIR number for most pros today is still below 50%. My over/under is 60%. Looks like a big green, and more guys are using hybrids.
I love that you give "the team" the recognition they deserve. The supers and their teams are the only reason we have places to play. IMO every course should list the Superintendent along with the Head Pro on signage and bag tags.
They do all the work!
Geoff, really good stuff to get the week started. But keep in mind, there is no "downtown Philadelphia." There is only "Center City."
And I presume if I say City Center I’ll be confirmed as not of Mayflower descendants?
Just be sure to order your cheesesteak correctly.
So it is not like Portrush and its famous downtown.
Good coverage Geoff. You could really up your game by covering YouTube Golf a bit more though.
Working on a newsletter start up now for covering the real game growers. Open to a catchy title that captures the kind of viewing that induces migraines, while helping your last six months seem like six years.
For all the game growers who went to LIV, one deserves some credit. Bubba Watson bought a dumpy driving range in Pensacola and rehabbed it.
Bryson’s interview with ESPN is priceless. Shortly after saying we all have to set our egos aside, he lamented how unfortunate it was that the Tour wanted to penalize him, despite “all I can do for them.” His ego was set aside for roughly two sentences.
Thanks for the course preview, Geoff. I think I am going to drop by the PGA Shop after work tomorrow to beat the crowds. I'm hoping there has been an improvement in terms of selection and pricing vs. last year's mess at Quail Hollow, but the limited edition cheesesteak headcovers are already causing me pause.
As uh, cheesy as that sounds, just be grateful there is no gnome silliness. At least that I’m aware of.
Aronimink losing the 1993 PGA, something this golf trivia nut remembers, was ironic because of its reason. The 1962 PGA was played at Aronimink rather than its original selection of Brentwood CC in Los Angles due to fallout from the PGA having a caucassians only rule which the PGA only rescinded in 1961.
Gary Player won his first PGA at Aronimink edging Bob Goalby by one shot.
The 1990 PGA almost wasn't played at Shoal Creek. Does anyone besides me remember where the PGA considered moving the tournament to at the last minute?
Love the detail as always Geoff. It looks as though they removed a fair number of trees in the 2017 resto - did the course have a "forest" period where they overdid planting? BTW, glad to be a quadrllatidegenerate.
Geoff, just got the link. As you pointed out Ron Prichard is not a fan of McGovern's work. The two restorations of Aronimink by Prichard and Gil Hanse are also a contrast in whether you restore to what was designed (Prichard - using Ross' routing map as wells as hole and green field sketches) or what was actually built (Hanse- using old photos, aerials). According to Prichard, McGovern had a habit of dividing some of Ross' larger bunkers into two or three bunkers during construction much to Ross' consternation and can cite a number of courses where this occurred besides Aronimink. My take, Ross was a genius and knew what he was doing, McGovern was one of his lieutenants and although a capable one, a far cry from Ross as an accomplished golf architect. I side with Prichard on this one.
Brad Becken
The "tradition" (it feels like it, anyway) of your reviewing the upcoming Major course is sort of like the rush we got as kids when one's parents put up the tree 10 days before Christmas.
- The '77 US Am runner-up, Mr. Fischesser, apparently had a rough day in the final, losing 9-8, but he still played in the Masters and was paired with Mr. Nicklaus in '78. A few years later, he was invited to Augusta again and he was paired with Mr. Player. Wound up in the Indiana Golf Association Hall of Fame. His dad was a 40-year club pro who was involved in the initial organization of the PGA of America. So good for him! How can you not love golf with a story like that? And courses like Aronimink.
- I'm interested to see what the GIR stat will be on the 242-yard Par 3 8th hole. Only 42% last time in 2011? 15 years ago, no super-juiced balls, Tesseract-based irons, or cold-plunge inspired players. Apparently the GIR number for most pros today is still below 50%. My over/under is 60%. Looks like a big green, and more guys are using hybrids.
Enjoyed the 1962 recap!
“The little man in black” was the winner.