PXG's Bob Parsons Unplugged
+ Masters does not disappoint ... well, maybe a few.
ON THE TEE
⛳️ Shouldn’t Rory McIlroy play every round like he was seven or eight shots behind?
⛳️ At what point will Tiger Woods become frustrated with the level of his golf?
⛳️ How old is Scottie Scheffler really?
⛳️ Were you more amazed that Nick Faldo ruined McIlroy’s bunker shot on the 18th on Sunday at the Masters or the fact that he actually admitted a mistake?
⛳️ Is it time for Cam Smith to cut the mullet?
⛳️ If you can hit your 8-iron and not your 5-iron, it’s not the club’s fault. Maybe you should look at a(nother) hybrid.
⛳️ Many of Augusta National’s original investors spent winters in nearby Aiken, S.C., and belonged to Palmetto Golf Club, which is one of the reasons ANGC is in Augusta instead of Atlanta.
⛳️ If you can’t get engaged and focused to play the first round of the Masters, don’t you need some professional help?
⛳️ What’s the maximum length you’ll concede a putt?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Q&A: Bob Parsons | PXG founder / CEO
The 71-year-old billionaire-entrepreneur discusses PXG's latest line of Gen5 clubs and the unorthodox approach to creating golf clubs and doing business
Masters aftermath — the good, the bad ... there was no ugly
The First Call readers offer their perspectives on the recent Masters won by Scottie Scheffler
BOOKMARKED
Good reads that are mainly about golf, but not always …
📖 A day in the life of (almost) every vending machine in the world
[Tom Lamont | The Guardian | 04.14.2022]
📖 The window is open for Scottie Scheffler, but so little is assured in golf
[Barry Svrluga | Washington Post | 04.10.2022]
DESIGN NOTES
The latest news and notes in golf course architecture.
➡️ On Wednesday of Masters week, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley quelled the latest rumors that design changes to the club’s iconic par-5 13th hole were imminent.
“There is no timetable and nothing to announce at this time,” said Ridley. “It’s something we have considered and continue to consider.” At the same time, he commented later in his press conference that altering the 13th is “something we likely will do.”
Virtually all chatter for the past half-dozen years has revolved around lengthening the 510-yard hole to stiffen the challenge. Six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus said in 2018, “In my prime, the 13th was not only one of my favorite holes, but was also one of the best in golf. It presented its risks and rewards perfectly. But the golf ball had changed things. If you’re not going to roll back the golf ball, you really need to lengthen the hole by 30 to 40 yards to test the players of today.”
Augusta National has now acquired the land necessary to permit new back tees to be constructed beyond the existing tees, but hasn’t acted on it yet. Ridley is cautious about pursuing the move.
“Admittedly, and I’ve said this before, the 13th hole doesn’t have the same challenges that it has historically,” said Ridley. “I can just remember as a young guy watching the Masters, some of the triumphs and tragedies and while we still have those, the fact that the players are hitting middle to short irons into that hole is not really how it was designed. Having said that, my reluctance is that it is such an iconic hole. Probably along with 12 and maybe 15, probably the three holes where most history has been made at Augusta National.”
RELATED: Design Notes archive
➡️ River Hills Golf and Country Club [Little River, South Carolina], will close June 20 for a complete greens and bunker renovation project. Founders Group international, the owner-operator of River Hills, worked with the original architect Tom Jackson to develop the renovation plan for the 34-year-old course. Greens will be resurfaced with TifEagle bermudagrass and will be restored to their original dimensions, expanding the size of the current putting surfaces by 40 percent. Every bunker will be renovated as well, elevating sightlines and playability and will feature new Capillary Concrete bunker liners, which will eliminate washouts and improve drainage. Expected reopening date is Aug. 21.
➡️ Ross Golf Design — Brian Ross, not Donald — and co-designer Colton Craig are preparing for the April 28 debut of Park Mammoth Golf Club [Park City, Kentucky]. The Austin, Texas-based Ross, a former associate of Richard Mandell and Oklahoma’s Craig, founder of the Perry Maxwell Society, have effected a complete redesign of an existing 18-hole layout called Cave Valley Golf Club in the south-central section of the state, not far from Mammoth Cave National Park. The scope of the work included re-routing several holes, building 20 new putting greens, 50 new tee boxes and 25 new sand bunkers. The architects also oversaw the installation of a new irrigation system for the public layout.
➡️ Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck Golf Club in southwest England will be renovated by Tim Lobb + Partners, with the aim of restoring the site’s heathland character. Lobb, who is president of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, has presented a plan that will also widen playing corridors to open up angles on many holes, thus reducing the volume of lost balls, said Lobb.
H.S. Colt designed the present layout in 1925 from an 1893 original; the course enjoys handsome vistas of Southampton Harbor. It’s Lobb’s intent to bring back the past, while also addressing modern sensibilities. “Forward tees are another focus, with the aim of broadening golfing appeal and ensuring we retain and enhance the heath carries as much as possible,” said Lobb. “A limited number of back tees are to be added. Our plans also include increasing the number of pin positions on greens to offer more variety, while the number of closely mown approaches will be increased to add more challenge.” Course consultant David Langheim and course manager David Field are working with Lobb.
NAMES | NEWS | NUMBERS
BUSINESS
▪️Ace Indoor Golf installs custom simulator bay at Golftec headquarters. … BigShots Golf, a tech-driven o be installed at Firestone Country Club [Akron, Ohio]. … Capstone Hospitality names Buffalo Agency as its official public relations partner. … Full Swing to provide golf simulator and launch monitor technology to KemperSports clients and properties across the country. … Junior Golf Hub renews its title sponsorship of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, which hosts events for boys and girls ages 8-18 in 27 states and Canada. … Club Champion acquires Australian clubfitter PureForm Golf. … Golftec opens a new 3,600-square-foot instruction and clubfitting center in Buffalo, New York. … PGA Show Buying and Education Summit, July 11-12 in Las Vegas, to provide early preview of spring 2023 merchandise. … Professional Golf Teachers Association of America is offering a 10% discount off the home study tuition cost of its courses through April. … Sqairz is named official shoe of the United States Golf Challenge and partners with the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour to launch the newly formatted Junior Long Drive Series. … The PGA Tour makes a long-term commitment to staging the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia, with the global team competition returning in 2028 and 2040 at venues to be named later.
CHARITY
▪️BallenIsles Charities Foundation, the nonprofit organization for the BallenIsles Country Club [Palm Beach Gardens, Florida], raises a record $1,129,000 and awards financial grants to 52 nonprofit and civic organizations. … Royal Albartross, Mia's Miracles Foundation partner on a new shoe design that supports children and families facing medical challenges. … Member for a Day, Stake Club Charitable Foundation partner to auction more than 60 rounds of golf at exclusive courses across the country.
COURSES
▪️Troon to manage The Club at Sea Palms [St. Simons Island, Georgia]. … Landscapes Golf Management to operate Dakota Dunes Country Club [Dakota Dunes, South Dakota]. … Entrada at Snow Canyon [St. George, Utah] unveils new David McLay Kidd-designed golf course that originally opened in 1996. … McConnell Golf places all 10 of its North Carolina courses in the North Carolina Golf Panel’s top 100, including a trio of layouts rated among the top 20. … Indigo Sports, Cincinnati Recreation Commission agree to contract extension that could run through 2030.
GEAR
▪️Bloodline Golf partners with the Els for Autism Foundation to produce a limited-edition putter to support World Autism Month in April. The limited-edition Vale putter features blue sight lines and accent colors to match the blue color associated with autism awareness. The putter retails for $279 and for each purchase, Bloodline will donate $30 to the Els for Autism Foundation. … OnCore Golf launches its new Elixir, a second-generation tour-caliber ball. … Miura Golf introduces a new putter line, KM1 and KM2, the first putters released by the Japanese clubmaker in four years. … PXG launches its Gen5 lineup of drivers, fairways, hybrids and irons.
PEOPLE
▪️GCSAA names Ed Several as chief marketing officer in a newly created position that will focus on GCSAA brand marketing and the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.
THE STYLE LINKS
Fun and funny new graphic t-shirts have dropped at William Murray Golf. The shirts have a classic fit and are extra soft for everyday wear. Made from 100 percent Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton with original WMG artwork screen prints. Many more graphics to choose from at a reasonable $35. WilliamMurrayGolf.com.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
THE GOOD LIFE
TUNING IN
PGA Tour: RBC Heritage
Television: Today-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
LPGA Tour: Lotte Championship
Television: Today, 7-11 p.m. (Golf Channel).
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