Incredible Article

[Jeff_Lewis]

Thanks to Geoff Shac for posting this on his site.
Wow.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/SPORTS15/607260360/1063

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Here's a better URL:

http://tinyurl.com/gcwpo


Here's my response to this alleged golf writer as modified from my posted response at GS's website:

 Let's see.... tennis has 4 majors:

Australian on composite courts

French on clay courts

Wimbledon on grass courts

US on hard courts

Why can't golf have 1 major on a links course? It's where golf began.

Monarrez is really a golf writer? One would never know from this article. I guess he was disappointed that there were no water hazards or Fazio waterfalls at Hoylake.

[Steve_Roths]

That was a riot.  Thanks for sharing.  

[ForkaB]

I think the guy is wrong, but he certainly has a right to say what he believes (or believes will sell papers).  It's a big old Tom Paul world of golf out there, and I would bet there are more people in that world who agree with the article than don't.  Quite frankly, I don't know why Geoff and others are getting their knickers in a twist about this.  Trash talking is an accepted art form in the world of sports and sports writing, isn't it?

[Dan Kelly]

I'd love to read this guy's e-mails today.

[JSlonis]

I sent him one.

[Brian_Sleeman]

I also wrote a quick one.  When their usual golfwriter visits I will be sure to ask him about it - if he's in the same boat as Carlos, he will most likely hate Greywalls...

[Gary Daughters]

I'm with Rich.  I don't agree with the writer either, but his opinions are no more tiresome than the group think that exists among some of us "purists."

And, yes, I would liked to have seen the driver in play a bit more.

[Tom Huckaby]

I'm also with Rich.  If you think the Open and it's courses are universally beloved, or ought to be, you are spending WAY too much time in here.  Man I played last Sunday morning at a decent muni and the conversation by one and all was along the lines of "did you see that dogtrack they're playing the British Open on?"

This writer is FAR FAR FAR from alone in his sentiments.

TH

[Brian_Ewen]

For some reason Mr Shaffer's comment :

""Why can't golf have 1 major on a links course? It's where golf began.""

annoys me much more .

[Kevin_Reilly]

I'm tired of the Brits calling it "the Open championship," as if it were the only golf tournament with the name Open.

I'm also tired of Augusta calling it "the Masters Tournament" as if it were the only golf tournament with the name Masters.  

[Doug Ralston]

Is it possible this entire article was written 'tongue in cheek'? I thought it perhaps sounded like he was trying to get a rise out of people.

I personally feel more comfortable on 'target golf'; or 'high ball' golf courses. But that doesn't mean I don't want to play the great links-style courses also. Let's face it, if you have the land he described, links courses is what is natural for that property. But if you have green mountains, verdant valleys and deep woodland, we-ell, 'target city!'. A links course, if it could be created there, would look absurdly unnatural. [as would the foolish expired golfers who tried to 'walk the course' instead of recognizing the nature of the situation].

My point is, when I go to those sandy plains, Sand Hills is what I expect. If somone importanted trees, manmade lots of lakes, and over-cultivated to get verdant green grass, it would look silly there. Build what the land calls for. All types, IF DONE WELL, are worthy of getting play.

Doug

[Gary Daughters]

Huck,

You'll never hear me siding with the "goat track" idiots, but what bugs me is when "our side" betrays the same degree of thoughtlessness that "their side" does.

Did Hoylake really play "fast and firm?"  I believe I read here that some of the fairways were so baked out that the exposed sand stunted the roll of the ball.  Blame the weather, whatever.. but that's not good.  I've been away, but have we spent much time talking about that as opposed to glorifying Holylake for tradition's sake?

[Tom Huckaby]

Gary - you know, I don't think that part has been covered.  Most of the talk has been uniform praise of the firm and fast conditions.

On the other hand, I don't think Hoylake has been overly glorified just for tradition's sake... A lot of talk has been about how it played out - Woods winning with irons where all others used drivers - as well as other strategic issues.

TH

[Mike Nuzzo]

I thought the article was going to be tongue in cheek with a big punch line at the end....

I think he meant every word he said.
Yes, y'all are right he is entitled to his opinion, it just happens to be the opinion of a kook.

Cheers

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Brian

What's so annoying about my comment? The writer has his opinion.Do you want every golf tournament on a links course? I'm trying to figure this out. I think my point was that tennis plays its 4 majors on different types of courts so why shouldn't golf play 1 major on a links course.

[Brian_Ewen]

Steve
I would have been happier if you had said , Why cant the four majors be played on four different surfaces , or god help us , four different parts of the world .

Sorry , it wasn't meant as an attack , your comment just somehow sounded a little similar to how I view the American Golfing Calendar treats the rest of the world .

Best Regards
Brian

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Brian

I agree that the so called "World Golf" events should be played in  countries other than the US. Apparently Finchem and the sponsors don't share our thoughts, at least in the near future.

Steve

[Wayne_Kozun]

Steve
I would have been happier if you had said , Why cant the four majors be played on four different surfaces , or god help us , four different parts of the world .

Why should all of golf's majors be played in only two countries, and three quarters of them in one country?  What about the great courses in other countries like Ireland, Australia, Canada, Japan, etc.  Don't they deserve to host majors?  Or is the best they can hope for a chance to hold an event like the President's Cup or a WGC tournament.

[Kyle Harris]

Steve
I would have been happier if you had said , Why cant the four majors be played on four different surfaces , or god help us , four different parts of the world .

Why should all of golf's majors be played in only two countries, and three quarters of them in one country?  What about the great courses in other countries like Ireland, Australia, Canada, Japan, etc.  Don't they deserve to host majors?  Or is the best they can hope for a chance to hold an event like the President's Cup or a WGC tournament.

Wayne,

Well, it is the PGA of America hosting the PGA.

Augusta National Golf Club is in Augusta, GA.

The United States Golf Association hosts the US Open.

However, this is one reason I like watching European Tour coverage: the courses.

Also the innane commentary from Renton Laidlaw.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Is there any reason why the R&A can't hold the Open Championship outside of the UK.  After all it isn't the British Open, or is it?  What about some of the former colonies mentioned above, many of whom are still Her Majesty's loyal subjects

Maybe we should re-designate majors - they did it on the LPGA tour.

[Kyle Harris]

Is there any reason why the R&A can't hold the Open Championship outside of the UK.  After all it isn't the British Open, or is it?  What about some of the former colonies mentioned above, many of whom are still Her Majesty's loyal subjects

Maybe we should re-designate majors - they did it on the LPGA tour.

Wayne,

They've taken the Open to Portrush, I think.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Is there any reason why the R&A can't hold the Open Championship outside of the UK.  After all it isn't the British Open, or is it?  What about some of the former colonies mentioned above, many of whom are still Her Majesty's loyal subjects

Maybe we should re-designate majors - they did it on the LPGA tour.

Wayne,

They've taken the Open to Portrush, I think.

But Portrush is in Northern Ireland which is part of the UK so it is the same country as England and Scotland.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Wasn't the Australian Open at one time referred to as the "5th major?"

[Chris Perry]

Most of that article was rather odd, but:

Woods didn't say hitting irons off the tee was fun because, well, it isn't. Every good golfer knows there is a time and a place to hit an iron off the tee, such as a tight fairway or a short par four. But be honest. If you played a course that required you to hit nothing but irons to stay out of trouble, would you play it again? Of course not.

He does have a point there, though I think Tiger's modus operandi had more to do with doing what it takes to win a tounament than just playing the course. Put him out there on a casual round and he'd probably blast away with abandon.

As to the issue of where they choose to play on rotation, I'm looking forward to seeing Carnasty again soon, but why can't they play an Open at Wentworth, Sunningdale, or other more inland parkland tracks?

Because they would be the same as any other courses in the US that they play all the time?

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