The 10th at Riviera's advertising

[David Stamm]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed on the site, but if you check GS's site he has a photo of the extremely tacky logo on the 10th hole in front of the tee to the left and before the fw depicting Northern Trust. Way to go NT, nice first impression! What's next, floating ad's off the 18th at Pebble?? I know, let's put Dunkin Doughnuts around the bunker on 6! IMHO, this is not the way one of the very best courses in the world and one of the classiest clubs in the country should be presented by the tour or the sponsors. It's a disservice to the great course and a disservice to the esteemed members.

[Steve_Lovett]

Interesting observation.  Unfortunately, the courses that host tournament golf have become really nothing more than "stadiums".  I'm often alarmed by how close the bleachers and luxury boxes are to the green surrounds on many finishing holes of of tour and championship events.  It ruins the context of the hole to its surroundings and minimizes recovery shots as some players play "into the bleachers" only to get a free drop just yards from the edge of the green. 

Whats on the photo is the same "stadium" philosophy with corporate logos, etc.  I can't recall seeing it painted onto the golf course turfgrass before - but I've seen plenty of sponsor logos on signage or in flowerbeds.

[TEPaul]

David:

It is tacky, but it brings in the money hopefully for the greater good of the tournament or whatever and we have to remember tacky things like that are not permanent or altering of the actual golf hole (hopefully).

To me one of the oddest things of all about bigtime tournament golf is to either know a couse well and to see how different things look when the circus of a bigtime tournament is in town---or conversely to see a course you've never seen before when the circus is in town and then see it afterwards when the circus has left and how different things look.

[John Kavanaugh]

I thought Geoff was banned from the grounds.  I guess they let anyone on during tournament week.  I grow tired of his Riviera bashing as it smells of racism.

[Kalen Braley]

I don't understand why this is news to anyone...they have been doing this stuff at tourneys for years now.  When Rich Beam made that hole in one last year at Riveria, whats the first thing he did?

A hint:  It involved jumping on a car...

[David Stamm]

I don't understand why this is news to anyone...they have been doing this stuff at tourneys for years now.  When Rich Beam made that hole in one last year at Riveria, whats the first thing he did?

A hint:  It involved jumping on a car...

Kalen, to me, spray painting a logo into the rough is a little different. Call me crazy, you wouldn't be the first.....

[David Stamm]

David:

It is tacky, but it brings in the money hopefully for the greater good of the tournament or whatever and we have to remember tacky things like that are not permanent or altering of the actual golf hole (hopefully).

To me one of the oddest things of all about bigtime tournament golf is to either know a couse well and to see how different things look when the circus of a bigtime tournament is in town---or conversely to see a course you've never seen before when the circus is in town and then see it afterwards when the circus has left and how different things look.

Tom, I know it's not permanent and is no way a reflection of the architecture, and I understand the need for advertising, it just seems very tacky to me. Something beneath a place like Riviera and not befitting such a wonderful place.

[Chuck Brown]

There oughtta be a law...

[Jeremy Rivando]

I agree that it looks pretty tacky, especially on one of the world's great golf holes, but is it any worse than the billboards you see lining the fairways on some of the European Tour courses?

[Matt_Cohn]

Is it any worse than those signs (*everywhere*) at the Open Championship?

Advertising that's in view, yet low-profile. What's the big deal?

[rjsimper]

More comical to me than anything else - as others have said, there are bleachers around the greens, ropes all over the place, snack bars, hospitality tents, and other such corporate provisions - just comical but I ain't offended.

They could have done the super-imposed ads on television like they did a few years back for the Wendy's 3-tour challenge where they put something like "Nationwide" on the bunkers. 

Complaining about the spray paint on the 10th at Riviera is like saying the steak for dinner on the Titanic is a little overcooked....many other and bigger problems to worry about

[TEPaul]

"I thought Geoff was banned from the grounds.  I guess they let anyone on during tournament week.  I grow tired of his Riviera bashing as it smells of racism."

JohnK:

You are wrong Kemosabe. GeoffShac pretty much bashes all races, colors and creeds with equal alacrity. But when it comes to bashing the Riviera ownership that's of Japanese heritage, Geoff, being the expert researcher he is, understands that the Ohlhome indian tribe of California put a 10 generation curse on all people of Japanese descent on Dec 8, 1941 and he understands that Ohlhome indian curse permits Japanese bashing for any reason including gratuitous ones. It's sort of an American indian version of the pale-face's belief in the "Sins of Our Fathers" sort of thing.

Ryan Simper:

An overcooked steak is every bit as problematic as your ship going down in the North Atlantic! What's the matter with you, Boy, have you no sense of priority and civilized taste?

[JESII]

The worst crime of this sort I have heard, or will likely ever hear of, was the USGA digging up the first fairway of the 40th ranked course in the country and laying concrete for 200 yards so they could put up a couple of tents for a golf tournament.

Kudos to that club for recently passing on hosting the tournament again any time soon...Riviera has the same option.

[BCrosby]

Sully -

You raise a big issue. I worry that many of the US Open privates may be heading off the rota for those sorts of reasons. There is so much pressure to make money at the US Open. Many of the these courses get hammered in dealing with tournament infrastructure stuff. They don't feel they are being adequately compansated for that hammering and they are opting out.

I hope that doesn't happen, but things seem to be drifting in that direction.

Bob

[JESII]

I think it's a good thing...to the benefit of those in the Northwest...

We've all seen plenty of majors at Winged Foot. It's an amazing course, and I love watching the best in the world fight it out for pars but I was very happy to hear about them declining the next open slot.

In reality, this will probably benefit the three or four of the old guard that remain in the rota...if one or two more opt out, the USGA would likely be more willing to conceded some of these type of demands in the future.

10 million bucks is 10 million bucks, I just don't think all of these old guard US Open clubs need 10 million bucks as desperately as the USGA might think.

[TEPaul]

Sullivan, give the USGA a break, will you. You have your facts all wrong. The proposed concreting of the first fairway had nothing to do with corporate tents. It was a new USGA setup experiment for firm and fast playability.

And Crosby, if you have nothing better to do at work than to waste your time posting on GOLFCLUBATLAS.com, at least waste your time by calling me up so we can talk about some important things like changing golf and architecture for the better.

[JESII]

And Philly the Mick was just trying to bounce the ball down that runway all the way to the green...right?

I always knew that guy was a gambler, but that takes the cake...playing the 72nd hole of the US Open with a one shot lead and trying to bounce the ball off the bordering parking lot onto the green...

[TEPaul]

Sullivan, believe me, Mickelson sees and uses strategic options with mindbending functionality you never even dreamed of! It's guys like Garcia who get a little confused about things like holes and effective strategic scoring. I mean any fool, except perhaps a Spainish one, can tell that the best way to effectively score is probably not by landing a ball on a beautiful girl's belly-button who's laying beside the pool behind a green.

[BCrosby]

Sully -

I think this can be said quite simply.

It will be a loss to future generations of golfers if they are not given the chance to see the US Open at the greatest courses in the US.

Bob

[JESII]

Bob,

Would you agree that these "greatest courses" and clubs must first demonstrate a pride in their asset for us to believe they will be intact for future generations to appreciate?

Remember, the USGA also wanted to flatten the first green...

[BCrosby]

Sully -

The current impasse arises for two reasons. Money and set-up philosophy. Blame for that impasse attaches to both parties. Both are going to have to make some compromises to keep these courses in the rota. I see no reason why that can't happen.

I am pleased, however, that you agree that current tournament set-up policies are misguided.

Bob

[tlavin]

Northern Trust paid huge money and bound itself to the event for five years.  It's a class institution and it will likely do more in golf than this single event, so I'd give them a pass on the tacky factor.  Maybe nobody told them the 10th is the altar that we bow in fealty to!

[JESII]

Sully -


I am pleased, however, that you agree that current tournament set-up policies are misguided.

Bob

Shivas would do well to make an assumptive leap like that...

I don't agree with or disagree with the current set-up policies...my arguments are with the logistical demands placed on the host facility.

I understand why the USGA sets up its courses the way they do, I just wish they were less concerned about green grass...I think that mindset would trickle down to everybody.

[David Stamm]

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. Maybe I'm overeacting, but there is something about this that just rubs me the wrong way. I have no problem with a tournament sponsor promoting themselves. God knows they've paid enough money for the right. I just think that they could've done this tastefully and still accomplished the goal. Emblazoning something into the ground itself just seems strange, especially on the most famous hole there. 

[Michael Powers]

At least we don't have those shameless billboards in the rough yet like they do in Europe.

[Tags:]

Tags: