Seeking rosier outlook for golf

I was standing at the gas pump the other day and noticed that gas prices have dropped by over fifty cents since their peak a while back, to a low, low $3.41.  I noted that even with the price dip, it was still over $50 to fill the tank, and a tank of gas for me lasts about a week.

We have two cars that we use regularly, so at double that amount, we spend a minimum of about $450 a month on gas alone – just for the privilege of driving to work and the store, the kids to their activities and of course, church on Sunday.

My daughter also noted (strange how such keen observations can come from the young) that the price for chicken tacos at Chipotle went up 35 cents since our last visit — and for those who are paying attention, all the prices at the supermarket are creeping up in a similar fashion.  In the economic sense, that’s called inflation – for the family budget, that means fewer dollars to spend on things we really enjoy, instead of just needing to survive.

How does this translate to golf?  I’ve seen a lot fewer full foursomes at the local courses recently, and it’s rarely difficult to find a tee time at semi-private and upscale public access courses anymore.  Munis seem busier than ever – perhaps they’re absorbing the overflow from the pricier courses with empty fairways.

But the sad state of the economy is definitely trickling down to golf – and it seems obvious that the game is hurting.  I talked to a gentleman who works at a well-known (and respected) resort recently, and he said “our members are keeping us going, because the public traffic isn’t nearly what it used to be.”

But is it because of money alone?

Many a golf architect has mentioned that the problems go much deeper than that – the game’s too difficult to learn, too expensive, takes too much time, and there’s simply a glut of golf courses to choose from.  I haven’t checked lately, but those courses tied to new housing developments have to be suffering the most, because buying a new home is an awfully tough proposition when there’s little money for a down payment and lending criteria (by force of necessity) have been tightened considerably.

If the homes aren’t being sold, the capital invested in the golf course weighs down the owners just that much more.  Golf is a draw to bring people in, but with a healthy number of vacant homes (not to mention foreclosures), golf communities have to compete with the rest of the market for buyers.

Even here in the nation’s capital region, the trend is unmistakable – and with the overwhelming federal government presence, this area is as insulated from the recession as any in the country.  Public courses are sparsely populated and private clubs are even opening up to limited public play just to stay open.

Golf can still be the escape that it’s always been, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your ball land near the pin.  But without time and money to practice (and/or take lessons), those moments come dear in today’s world, because they’re too far in between.

It’s hard not to be pessimistic with all of these factors coming together.  And it’s sad to see that the state of the game can be surmised just by pumping gas – but if there is someone out there with a rosier picture, please fill us in.

We can use a little good news.

Nice guys sometimes do finish first

Watching 44-year-old Steve Stricker win the Memorial a week ago was worth watching, not only for the entertainment value that virtually all PGA events provide (and Jack Nicklaus’ commentary didn’t hurt), but also because we were witnessing one of the game’s true “good guys” succeed. Far be it from me to say, but seeing Stricker shake Nicklaus’s hand after finishing up on 18 brought a real case of the warm fuzzies.

Contrast that scene in Ohio with the over-the-top exceedingly contrived circus that is the NBA Finals, and you’ve come to realize that “bad boys” aren’t always the ones who deserve accolades and attention. The Miami Heat’s LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh probably wouldn’t qualify as “bad boys” in the sense that they’ve frequented police blotters or are known for gross transgressions to traditional American culture, but there’s an element that sees big-time basketball as just an extension of the American pop scene — and that’s just not found in golf. The loud music, the even louder public address systems (and announcers), the tattoos, the in-your-face advertising – it’s just gotten too much.

For a guy who grew up watching the great Lakers/Celtics duels in the 80’s, today’s NBA just ain’t the same.

Switching back to the gentle Steve Stricker, here’s a guy who sank to the depths of his professional sport just a few years ago — and now he’s on top of the American contingent in the world rankings (having reached the lofty #4 slot after his win on Sunday). Maybe it’s because we all identify with what it’s like to truly struggle with something, but I doubt there were many golf fans who were rooting against Stricker on Sunday – and it’s not because he’s dramatic or overpowering, like so many of golf’s other leading personalities.

People like Stricker because he’s boring.

Perhaps boring is the wrong word – he’s pleasantly unruffled (how’s that for an exercise in vocabulary?). Stricker doesn’t get real high when he succeeds (as his three eagles within the span of a few holes the other day would indicate) or too low when he’s in trouble. He’s got a demeanor that all of us wish we could emulate on the golf course, and in life.

CBS’s announcers went out of their way to highlight the fact that Stricker is seen as the all-around “good guy” on Tour, and even Nicklaus emphasized how “nice” Stricker has come across as a member of the Presidents Cup teams that the legend has captained.

What, no fist pumps, massive galleries, personal scandals or other colorful adjectives to describe Stricker? Maybe the most ‘striking’ thing about Stricker was the way the TV screen distorted his striped shirt – almost made it sparkle.

It’s a tribute to the game that a good, wholesome family man who still lives in a cold climate (to be near family) can still climb to the top that is truly remarkable about Steve Stricker. He’s the guy who lives next door, the guy who’s waiting to join your group on the first tee and the guy behind the counter at the local club, all in one.

And it’s almost like the fact that he doesn’t get noticed is the most distinguishing thing about him. He’s professional, he’s steady, and he’s a good guy.  In my book, that makes him fun to watch, and notable.

One thing’s for sure: golf could use a lot more Steve Strickers.

Golf Journalists and Tiger Woods

It’s safe to say all of us were shocked to hear the news of Tiger Woods being injured in an auto accident the day after Thanksgiving, with accompanying thoughts of the potential impact any serious injuries would have on his quest to surpass Jack Nicklaus’s record for majors, let alone what the golf world would do without him if he was forced to rehabilitate and perhaps be unable to return.

In the subsequent days and weeks as reports of Tiger’s personal problems were brought to the surface, we stopped thinking about Tiger’s status as a player and started pondering how his image might be changed by the whole sordid affair.  After all, Tiger’s famous face is everywhere, and not just on golf advertisements.

In addition to the canned reaction from the talking heads of various news outlets and the feeding frenzy taking place amongst the tabloids, I’ve sensed a real sense of betrayal – not only from wives everywhere and Tiger’s fans, but from golf journalists themselves.  A good share of them don’t seem to care much about what Tiger did, it’s the fact that Tiger’s carefully crafted ‘good guy’ image has turned out to be so phony after all this time – and how those covering him have bought into the charade (and perpetuated it) throughout his career.

It’s always appeared to me that golf journalism concerning the PGA Tour has been about fearing the ‘wrath’ of Tiger.  Earl Woods used to say the door only swings one way into Tiger’s doghouse, and as a result, golf journalists have gone out of their way to make sure they weren’t trapped on the bad side of the door.

There has been a plethora of stories about Tiger’s charity work, his fondness for kids and the good work that his Foundation is doing to serve the next generation – all well and good.  There’ve also been many stories and testimonials from friends who’ve claimed that Tiger is ‘misunderstood,’ and he’s really a normal guy to those who know him.  Tiger’s been immortalized as a great athlete, but also as someone to be looked up to.  The positive news coverage almost placed him on a level no one could reach.  Golf journalists led the way in this respect.

As a result, Tiger’s atrocious on-course behavior has been largely overlooked for years, and the fact that this tremendously talented athlete really didn’t serve as much of a role model while ‘performing’ on stage didn’t receive a lot of say so.  How can someone report the stroke-by-stroke results without commenting that Tiger’s spoiled-brat behavior was just as noteworthy?  How many kids have witnessed in person the f-bombs, throwing clubs, scowls and piercing stare of this man – only to see stories written about how they should ‘be like Tiger’ and advertisements asking them to favor Tiger’s products?

That’s the image of Tiger we’ve seen in public – the details of his private life have only been a recent revelation.

Something hasn’t been right for a long, long time when it comes to Tiger.  Did we ever suspect that he would be revealed as a serial adulterer?  Hardly.  But it also seemed obvious that something would emerge to reveal a darker side of the man who’s been so careful on the record to steer things the way he wanted them steered, yet can’t control himself while partaking in a game where he’s the best in the world.

And now golf journalists don’t care about being in Tiger’s doghouse anymore, either – it’s open season on the man, with many of those same writers feeling liberated to say anything they want – on Tiger’s morality, his legacy and finally ‘revealing’ the fact that Tiger’s robotic behavior off the course was never looked upon very highly by the profession.

I’ve never been a fan of Tiger’s – I’ve admired his accomplishments and his unique ability to perform under intense pressure – so the fact that he’s now naked before the world as an imperfect human being, if anything, will only make him more interesting to watch.  Welcome to the human race, Tiger!

One way or another, it’s a heck of an end to quite a decade in golf – and we can only hope that things clear up in the months to come.

2009 season preview on GolfTheMidAtlantic.com

It seems like an eternity since the leaves fell last November – but with the warmer temperatures and blooming flowers of late, spring 2009 has finally arrived in the Mid-Atlantic.

There are other signs as well.  The PGA Tour season’s already in full swing, and Tiger Woods is back hoisting winner’s trophies again – the planets appear to be aligning for another interesting and productive season all around.

Here at GolfTheMidAtlantic.com, we spent the off season dreaming about warm weather, experiencing a little bit of it ourselves (on a western Caribbean cruise), and making up for lost time.  For a multitude of reasons, the 2007 and 2008 seasons didn’t turn out the way we’d planned, but we’re happy to say that in 2009, we expect to provide full coverage of the best in Mid-Atlantic golf once again.

Towards that end, we have all new stories on the home page (completed over the winter), and we expect the site will be regularly updated in the coming season.

In addition to our full complement of local coverage, we will also offer our usual travel features, pictorials and product reviews of some of the best equipment in the golf industry.  We also hope to expand our coverage of the local golf scene.

We’d also appreciate your input – are there any subjects you would like to see, or courses or resorts that we haven’t been to in awhile, or aren’t in the archives?  Leave a comment below, or email jrendall@golfthemidatlantic.com, and we’ll see what we can do.

Here’s a link to the archives:  http://www.golfthemidatlantic.com/index.php?view=1&archive=true

We’re also in the process of updating the rate information at the bottom of the archived course and resort reviews – be patient, it will take awhile.

Here’s to a terrific 2009 season – and as always, we welcome suggestions and comments!

Jeff Rendall
Editor

GolfTheMidAtlantic.com journeys to Hawaii

Just got back from a trip to Hawaii (Maui), truly a great place to play golf.

Here are a few thoughts on Hawaii and golf travel these days:

First, traveling with golf clubs certainly isn’t getting any easier.  With airlines charging for extra bags, chances are it’ll cost you at least an additional $25 just to bring your clubs.

Second, make sure you’ve got a durable golf travel bag.  I’ve had good luck with Ogio, both with my older all-in-one ‘bag’ that doubles as a travel container, affectionately known as  ‘The Rig,’ and also their latest product (which will appear in an updated Ogio piece), called ‘Mammoth.’  True to its name, ‘Mammoth’ is huge, and acts as a cover for your regular cart bag – but also includes pockets for shoes, hats, and extra storage.

One note – be careful to keep it at or under 50 pounds – or the airlines will charge you for that, too.

It may be just me, but it seems like travel bags have been taking more than their usual beating from the airlines in recent trips.  The bag covers have come through with obvious signs of rough treatment – be wary.

Golf travel isn’t cheap – and with resorts often offering ‘discounted’ golf with different promotions (timeshare sales tours come to mind), courses are getting more and more crowded.  Is this a problem?  No.  We weren’t delayed any inordinate amount of time – just plan ahead and make tee times well in advance.

I can remember making trips to Hawaii where you wouldn’t see a soul on these beautiful golf courses – those days are gone.

I would certainly recommend golf in Hawaii as well as any resort destination that I’ve been, as long as you go prepared to pay for it – don’t expect to play in a tropical environment without a hefty ‘scenery tariff’ thrown in.  That being said, the experience alone is worth the money, and the quality of the courses is as good as what you see on TV.

We played the two courses at Kaanapali Golf Resort – Royal and Kai – made famous recently by the Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’ reality show.  I only saw glimpses of the competition on TV, but these courses are incredibly convenient to the hotels and resorts along Kaanapali Beach in western Maui.  Both courses have recently been renovated and the conditions were excellent.

It was fun to putt on Bermuda greens as well – assessing grain and keeping the setting sun in mind.  I’ve never seen so many slow downhill putts if they happened to be against the grain.

One day we ventured to the southeastern part of Maui to play the island’s ‘best kept secret,’ the North Course at Makena.  Makena has two Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed layouts, but the South Course will be closed until late 2009 – so again, make your tee times well in advance.  Wailea Resort’s three courses are nearby, so there’s still plenty of golf in the area.

Finally, we took on what one visitor commented was the ‘hardest course I’ve ever played,’ The Plantation Course at Kapalua – yes, the one you see every January during the PGA’s inaugural tournament, the Mercedes Championship.

We only played a few of the ‘exhibition’ tees (where the pros play from), which lends a new appreciation to the distances that professionals hit the ball.

The day we played was pretty windy – but according to the staff, it was only a gentle breeze compared to many days out there.  There are certain holes on the Plantation Course that are barely playable for some regular players – take that into account, swallow your ego and move to the forward tees if need be.

I didn’t share the ‘hardest course I’ve ever played’ opinion – but the par five ninth hole, which plays uphill and against the trade winds – would rank up there in the most difficult holes I’ve ever played category.

The Plantation course is very wide in most spots with plenty of room to spray the ball.  The bunkers are challenging but not ridiculous, and the greens are huge – a very fair golf course.

All in all, playing golf in Hawaii was a tremendous experience, and you can easily build your trip around it (with the above precautionary tips) if you choose.

Aloha!

Jeff Rendall

GolfTheMidAtlantic.com Blog — We’re back!

Dear GolfTheMidAtlantic.com Visitor –

For many of you who are (or were) familiar with this site, you’re probably wondering what’s been happening with it. 

I’d like to employ our new blog to help provide the answer(s).  I launched GolfTheMidAtlantic.com in 2002 with the idea of providing comprehensive coverage of golf in the Mid-Atlantic region – and for several years, we took some big strides towards accomplishing that goal.

However, life’s circumstances changed two years ago – changes that impacted my (our) ability to work on the site.  The most striking ‘change’ was the surprise pregnancy and birth of our third child, Matthew (in late December, 2006).  Another departure was a change in my work situation.  GolfTheMidAtlantic.com has always been part of my writing portfolio – but ever since Matthew’s birth, it’s been a smaller part.

Working out of the home office, it was difficult to juggle taking care of my new son, taking on a new major writing client and also maintaining the work on GolfTheMidAtlantic.com.

We also switched over to a new web host, and adding new content became much more time consuming.  I’m not blaming my old partner, but the new situation contributed to the slowdown in work on GolfTheMidAtlantic.com.

I’m pleased to say, my other writing clients have also been providing me with a lot of work – but it’s certainly detracted from my ability to produce regular updates on GolfTheMidAtlantic.com, which includes the newsletter many of you were familiar with.

As a result, the site has not changed a great deal in the past couple seasons.

I’m also pleased to report that the site will be updated more regularly, especially this blog.  Will we be able to produce 40-50 new stories a year as we did in the past?  It’s hard to tell.  All I can promise is we’ll do our best to tell the story of Mid-Atlantic golf as we’ve done since 2002 – present the best of the new courses as well as the classics in this region, along with the latest and greatest in golf products and entertaining features to round out the site.

I’d like to send along my apologies to those who’ve been disappointed by the lack of updates on the site – and thank those who continue to make our click-through numbers impressive!  The archives is full of stories that are just as relevant today as they were when published, though the ‘rates’ numbers probably have changed for the individual courses and resorts.

Here’s to the future.  The life of the site is reader participation, so please share your comments!

Jeff Rendall