ON THE TEE
⛳️ According to a book excerpt, Phil Mickelson’s gambling losses totaled $40 million from 2010-14. Doesn’t that explain much of his behavior the last few months?
⛳️ Morning Read’s Bob Harig reminds us what a remarkable phenom Mickelson was as a junior and college player in his new book, “Tiger and Phil: Golf’s Most Fascinating Rivalry.” Then Woods came along.
⛳️ If there are odds on Mickelson playing the PGA Championship, is Phil placing a large bet?
⛳️ Greg Norman is officially disappointed the R&A didn’t grant him a special exemption to the British Open at St. Andrews. But is he really surprised?
⛳️ Joe Buck’s first assignment for ESPN is a “Manningcast” show during the PGA Championship with ESPN “personality” and former caddie Michael Collins. Will you watch? Even if the guests are good?
⛳️ Lee Westwood has asked for a release to play in the first LIV Golf event in England. Apparently, he has no problem with the Saudis — as long as the check clears. Does anything speak louder than money?
⛳️ Premier Golf League still insists it’s a player in the renegade golf tour sweepstakes. Doesn’t this look like a desperation heave?
⛳️ Lydia Ko flummoxed Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz when she explained back pain as “that time of the month.” Foltz couldn’t muster a follow-up question and millions of women applauded.
⛳️ Would you rather hit bombs or get it up-and-down from the ball washer?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Coore & Crenshaw: The cornerstones of success
As they approach the 40th anniversary of their partnership, the esteemed course designers reflect on their humble beginning and the philosophy that has paid dividends over the years
Golf books that have left a lasting impression
Readers of The First Call offer an eclectic reading list of their favorite golf books
BOOKMARKED
Good reads that are mainly about golf, but not always …
📖 Pure Heart: The thrilling life and emotional death of Secretariat
[William Nack | Sports Illustrated | 06.04.1990]
📖 The Multitudes Within Mickelson
[Alan Shipnuck | Fire Pit Collective | 05.05.2022]
📖 Untangling the Complex History of One of America's Most Popular Cocktails — The Mint Julep
[Brian Freedman | Food & Wine | 04.20.2022]
📖 Playing ‘on a medical’: The PGA Tour’s injury exemption program explained
[Dave Shedloski | Golf Digest | 05.02.2022]
DESIGN NOTES
The latest news and notes in golf course architecture.
➡️ The Hyderabad Golf Association in Telangana, India, has chosen Richardson | Danner Golf Course Architects to redesign and make additions to Hyderabad Golf Club. Among the priorities are to design and integrate new state-of-the-art practice facilities and an academy to help grow the game and provide opportunities to train golfers coming out of Hyderabad for competitive play.
"Our mission is to bring international exposure to the City of Hyderabad," said Hyderabad Golf Association’s president Dayakar Reddy. "We are looking to the future to train athletes for the Olympics and to play internationally. As part of this goal, we will transform the course to be able to host major tournaments, while preserving and enhancing the golf experience for members and local residents."
Hyderabad Golf Club is one of the world’s unique golf courses, with golf holes built within a protected monument, the Golconda Fort. The original construction of the course in 1992 came about as a result of the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation’s objective to create a sustainable recreation and tourism facility for the State of Telangana on the Indian Peninsula.
A redesign took place in 2010, with local architect Nandan Heblikar assisting. In 2014, some holes were rerouted and four new holes were constructed. Portions of the course play along the fort’s granite walls that were built between 1512 and 1687, an era when Bahamani rulers took possession of Golconda Hill and created the fort to protect its citizens. Over the years, the fort’s walls and structures have been restored with the golf course carefully conforming to the Archaeological Survey of India, which is responsible for preserving the fort.
"Hyderabad Golf Club is an amazing story of preservation, while at the same time, providing an opportunity for more international exposure," said Jeff Danner, who will manage the project for Richardson | Danner. "It also allows for people to learn about one of the greatest archeological sites in India. The course has evolved over time and has been carefully constructed with the fort, expanding gradually from three holes to its present-day 18-hole version. It’s a diamond in the rough."
Forrest Richardson, principal golf course architect with Richardson | Danner and a former president of the ASGCA, has identified three primary objectives with the upcoming work.
"We are here to preserve, improve and prepare," he said.
Richardson | Danner will work with the club and local authorities to lengthen the current 6,300-yard layout through the use of additional land that may become available.
RELATED: Design Notes archive
➡️ Seattle Golf Club reopens this month after a renovation by Thad Layton of Arnold Palmer Design Company. Layton developed a master plan in 2017 for the venerable club, which played host to the 1952 U.S. Amateur and the 1961 Walker Cup, among many significant amateur events. Arnold Palmer and his team redesigned the course in 1996. Layton oversaw the renovation of greens, greenside bunkers and green surrounds and endeavored to boost the playability of the layout for all levels of players.
"Years of sand splash buildup from greenside bunkers had eliminated some of the most interesting hole positions," Layton said. "On these greens, we restored the old perimeters and elevations to increase pinnable areas and to promote drainage. We also completely rebuilt five greens to permanently solve playability issues that arose from severe internal slopes."
Layton also changed fairway bunkering on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 10th holes and new tees were added at 1, 5, 9 and 16.
"Our objective was to maintain Seattle Golf Club’s storied past while enhancing the strategic options and beauty of one of the most iconic clubs in the Pacific Northwest," Layton said. "That amounted to a three-pronged approach of restoration, renovation and remodel. We tightened up the relationship of greenside bunkers and eliminated sand in key areas to increase recovery options. We also replaced organics in the approaches with sand to get the ball rolling in what can be a very wet climate."
➡️ Midwestern restoration specialist Raymond Hearn is heading east, for a special project in the land of hot wings and great cold-weather football. Moon Brook Country Club, in the Buffalo, New York, area, has chosen Hearn to develop a master plan for a course renovation of its 1918 Willie Park Jr. design. Preliminarily, Hearn is engaged in researching the club and course history and in soliciting a wish list from the membership.
"My work will involve restoring as much of Willie Park’s original design as possible that makes sense with the modern game," Hearn said. "I will embark on specific restoration tasks such as restoring original angles of attack in the fairways, restoring original edges to greens and gaining historic pin placements along with original bunker edges that were lost over time."
Hearn will pair with course superintendent Howard Ellis and the club’s board of directors, committee members and the club historian in the effort to bring back as much Park as possible. Seven of Park’s original holes and 11 of his greens are part of the current course. Hearn calls them “must see examples of Park’s design talents for fans and scholars.
HOME FRONT
The Waterfront Daniel Island | Charleston, SC
Listing: 345 Longshore St #934.
Stats: 3,393 square feet, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom.
Price: $3,410,000.
MLS: 22008860.
About: This waterfront home is Lowcountry inspired and luxury-minded. The residence has sprawling sunrise views of the Wando River and Charleston’s marshland throughout the living space, the bedrooms and the outdoor terrace. Perfectly situated amongst grand oak trees, owners are well positioned within the 22-acre community with access to premier amenities on the last remaining piece of Daniel Island’s waterfront. Owners have direct access to Daniel Island’s newly designed waterfront park, featuring public docks with paddle launch and dog ramp, an interactive fountain, waterfront swings, a hammock garden and children’s play area. In addition, The Waterfront Daniel Island has an array of private amenities, including a pool and pavilion, state-of-the-art fitness center, community outdoor gathering space, onsite property management and access to the boathouse to store kayaks and paddleboards. There also are 25 miles of trails along the water and marsh front, The Kingstide — Daniel Island’s only waterfront restaurant with rooftop bar — and The DIME (Daniel Island Market and Eatery), a gourmet grab-and-go market.
Design Architect: Hart Howerton.
Interior Design: Betsy Berry Interiors.
Local Golf: Daniel Island Club — 5-10 minutes away, home to courses designed by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones, respectfully.
NAMES | NEWS | NUMBERS
BUSINESS
▪️ PXG holds a grand-opening ceremony for its Philadelphia-area store in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. … Tagmarshal renews its partnerships with the Metropolitan PGA and New England PGA. … Troon to manage South Side CC [Decatur, Illinois], including the club's operations, food and beverage, golf course agronomy and membership marketing. … Buffalo Groupe acquires baseball’s World Series of Golf. Moments Live will produce the event at Pebble Beach Resorts, Nov. 29-Dec. 4. … KemperSports holds its annual Leadership Conference, recognizing 2021 achievements and top performers from across the country. … American Golf Industry Coalition readies for its 14th National Golf Day, May 10-11. Members of the golf industry are expected to conduct more than 250 virtual meetings with members of Congress.
COMPETITION
▪️ The LPGA Tour announces that, starting this year, players must compete as professionals in Q-Series, the final stage of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. If an amateur player advances to or is exempt into Q-Series, she must turn professional to compete for the opportunity to earn her tour membership. … The Asian Tour announces free entry for fans to its International Series England event at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, June 2-5 in Hexham, England.
COURSES | DESTINATIONS
▪️ Tripp Davis and Associates completes its bunker renovation work at FarmLinks at Pursell Farms [Sylacanga, Alabama]. The firm renovated all bunkers as well as two chipping green bunkers and changed the fairway mow lines. … Reynolds Lake Oconee [Greensboro, Georgia] offers the 'Kingdom Experience,' which features former PGA Tour professional Blake Adams hosting guests to golf, fish and shoot clays. … The City of Lakewood, Colorado, launches its new golf website, GolfLakewood.com, which showcases its Fox Hollow and Homestead courses.
EQUIPMENT
▪️ Tour Edge reports that the PGA Tour Champions’ Insperity Invitational winner played a 22-degree Exotics C721 Hybrid with an Aldila NV 85 shaft. … Swag Golf announces a multiyear licensing partnership with McLaren Racing to create McLaren-branded golf putters, headcovers and accessories. … PGTAA reviews a sampling of new golf products, including a pair of putter training aids.
INSTRUCTION
▪️ PGTAA announces its Top 10 Teachers list for 2022. … Troon announces that May is Player Development Month at its affiliated facilities, which will increase its golf instruction and lesson opportunities for all levels of players.
NONPROFITS
▪️ On Course Foundation kicks off its annual fundraising campaign, which will benefit wounded veterans who use golf as a vehicle for physical and mental recovery. … Rounds 4 Research‘s national auction raises a record-breaking $482,000 for turfgrass studies. … Youth on Course awards college tuition support to 20 high school students nationally.
PEOPLE
▪️ Boyne Golf [Harbor Springs, Michigan] transitions Bernie Friedrich to director of golf course renovations and development, Josh Richter to senior vice president of golf operations, and Casey Powers to director of golf. … TaylorMade signs four-time major champion Rory McIlroy to a multiyear extension to play TaylorMade equipment and golf ball. … The Royal and Ancient Golf Club [St. Andrews, Scotland] announces that Clive Brown will serve as captain in 2022-23. Brown, who captained the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup teams to wins in 1995 and 1997, will begin his one-year term on Sept. 23.
THE STYLE LINKS
Hats of all styles, shapes and sizes are synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, including the standout one shown here by Vineyard Vines. Derby tradition states that wearing hats are considered a sign of good luck so the bigger the hat, the bigger the luck.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
THE GOOD LIFE
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