"Web Provided Game Chatter That Matters"

My latest Golf World column, part of a robust 2010 Newsmakers issue, is now posted.

Trump National Engineers!?

Great scoop by Evan Rothman on the members of Engineers getting the chance to vote on becoming part of the Trump National family. Naturally it's tragic news for anyone hoping to see this once epic architectural masterpiece properly restored some day, but given the way the membership has viewed their historic design in the last decade, a match with The Donald seems fitting.

If you are looking for an architecture fix and a fun read, check out Rothman's profile of Devereux Emmet in the Met Golfer. It's also a nice reminder of the Met Golfer's quality and of one of Engineers' architects.

"There's one guy in his 20's who has the physical strength, the putting, the monster ball flight to dominate and win six, seven, eight majors in the next 10-12 years."

I think this was the most intriguing statement from Brandel Chamblee in his Golf Magazine interview, conducted by Connell Barrett. The topic? The Ryo, Rory, Rickie talk and their future in majors.

Who steps up? One of the three R's?

Maybe. But they all lack one thing: size. I like the bigger guys who don't have to swing at 100 percent. Big guys tend to have what I call "big game" — the sky-high ball flight that wins majors. Bigger guys can do that while swinging at 80 percent. Think Tiger, Vijay, Phil. Ryo, Rory and those guys swing full throttle all the time. But there's one guy in his 20's who has the physical strength, the putting, the monster ball flight to dominate and win six, seven, eight majors in the next 10-12 years. And that's Dustin Johnson. Dustin has everything. He has some weaknesses around the greens, but so did Jack. If he doesn't win a Masters or two, I would be shocked.

Monty's Bedroom Secret Revealed!

The Ryder Cup Captain explains a key move he made to take Celtic Manor's 5-foot (!?) long beds with 6-footers. Take that, you tall Americans!

'I looked at the rooms and thought they weren't big enough, so we all got connecting rooms. Then on the Saturday morning we got a removal company in and they brought six-foot beds and took the five-foot beds out.

'We were on the ninth floor and the Americans were on the eighth floor, but they didn't know about it.'
Corey Pavin and his side arrived two days later.

'We also had six physio beds put up on that floor and there were tailors up there as well to make sure all the outfits fitted. It was all laid on.

'You have one hit at this and I wanted to get it right.'

Wally To Vendors: Business As Usual

An email sent to vendors and retailers after the news of Fortune Brands' split up decision that puts the Acushnet brands on the market:

Wally Uihlein
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

December 8, 2010

To all Acushnet Company Trade Partners:

As described in the attached news releases, today Fortune Brands announced that its Board of Directors has approved in principle a separation of the company’s three businesses in order to maximize long-term value for shareholders.  This plan would result in: the continuation of Fortune Brands as an independent, publicly-traded spirits company; the tax-free spin-off to shareholders of the home and security business into an independent, publicly-traded company; and the sale or tax-free spin-off of the Acushnet Company.

I want to give you my personal perspective on what this announcement means for the Acushnet Company and our trade partners, and explain the reasons for my confidence in the future.

The Acushnet Company is the longest running and strongest golf industry success story, and we have been very successful as part of the Fortune Brands family.  We are currently the largest and most profitable golf equipment company in the world.  I fully expect this story – and the story of our brands and our people – to continue in that fashion.  While the Acushnet Company will be sold to a new owner or become an independent publicly-traded company, our primary focus remains on doing what’s made us the leader in our industry, including providing you with the best-in-class products and service you’ve come to expect.

It is especially important to remember that this company has come through many periods of change and challenge, evolving and growing successfully throughout.  For perspective, consider that the Acushnet Company was founded in 1910 and in 1935 the first Titleist golf ball was brought to market.  Fortune Brands acquired the Acushnet Company in 1976 and Acushnet acquired FootJoy in 1985.  Acushnet Company net sales in 1975 were $51 million. Our 2009 Net Sales were more than twenty-fold that number.  Over the past 75 years the Titleist golf ball has become golf’s standard of excellence, while FootJoy has developed number one positions in the shoe, glove, sock and now outerwear categories.

Throughout the history of both brands – and the products and people that are the essence of the brands – there have been any number of challenges and new opportunities, and there have always been shareholders that the business has been accountable to.  We have a strong history of rising to those challenges and taking advantage of those opportunities, while fulfilling our commitments to our shareholders…and to our customers.

As this situation develops and more details become available over the coming months, we will remain in close contact with you.

In the interim, our day-to-day mission remains unchanged. The goal is to continue to provide you with the highest performing, best quality products in golf and to support that with industry-leading, best-in-class customer service.  Although we do not yet know what our new ownership structure will be, it is our intention to make this transition seamless, with no impact to you or your customers.

We greatly appreciate our relationship and your support of our products and brands, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening those relationships as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Wally Uihlein

"The Tour should use golf’s global success to help itself and its events, not stifle growth."

Dottie Pepper says that the PGA Tour needs to rethink their restrictions on foreign players to help struggling events as the television negotiations near.

America’s superstars, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, seem unwilling to add events. Why not make it easier to put on the best show possible? McIlroy, Westwood and Martin Kaymer are eligible for the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions but won’t play. I have seen e-mails indicating that Westwood planned to play the season opener but changed his mind because he felt he needed to save starts for later in the year. A new sponsor on Maui is trying to revive a key event, but it’s handcuffed by an outdated rule. And it’s not just the season opener. Other Tour mainstays are in the same spot: Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, Greensboro and Tampa will also suffer.  

"Caddies Of Scotland"

There's an interesting looking new film with a few teasers online worth checking out.

After establishing the origin and subsequent history of Caddies of Scotland, the film then takes a spirited romp through the Highlands and Lowlands stopping at many golfing meccas to hear the wit, reverence and irreverence of Scottish Caddies.



"If Tiger makes that phone call, yes, he breaks the record. If he doesn't make that call, there's only a minute chance."

Connell Barrett's superb Golf Magazine interview with Brandel Chamblee is worth a look and with it being a slow news cyle, well worth parsing, starting with this on Tiger's swing and physique:

Will Woods's swing improve under Sean Foley?

Not if Tiger's goal is winning more majors. Tiger's new swing changes are designed to help him trap the ball and hit it lower. I just don't get it. You have to hit the ball high in majors. Hitting it high made Nicklaus and Watson champions. In 2000 and 2001 under Butch Harmon, Tiger hit sky bombs off the tee. In my opinion, Tiger ruined the greatest swing and the greatest physique in golf history.

You mean he's too muscled up?

Tiger's body was perfect for golf. He was lean, sinewy, quick. He's turned himself into an NFL linebacker — but why? In golf, you don't have to lift a car over your head. You swing an 11-ounce club.

If Tiger calls Butch Harmon and says, "Let's get the band back together," does Woods break Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major wins?

If Tiger makes that phone call, yes, he breaks the record. If he doesn't make that call, there's only a minute chance. To win majors, you need control of your shots. And Tiger's lost that control. He's lost intimidation. He's lost his clear mind. And in 2010, he lost his magic with the putter. He used to be Superman. Now he's just another good player.

Well, so much for a Brandel/Tiger sit down from the new Jupiter digs.

So, what do you think?

Fortune Brands Split; Titleist To Be Spun Off Or Sold

Multiple outlets are reporting the news, a result of activist investor William Ackman's pressure on the company to beef up its stock value.

Michael J. De La Merced reports:

“This is great news for the company and great news for the shareholders,” Mr. Ackman said Tuesday night.

Well, let's be clear, it's great news for one majority shareholder!

And...

Fortune Brands will spin off the home products businesses to its shareholders, and will either sell or spin off the golf businesses, the person with knowledge of the plan said.

This will be fascinating to watch as a merger with nearly every existing ball manufacturer faces anti-trust hurdles and long delays that someone like Ackman won't tolerate.

Look for the suitors for Acushnet to be private equity or a darkhorse Asian-based company. Stay tuned...

Callaway, Ball Speed And A Lamborghini

You know what a sucker I am for entertaining viral product placement videos and this one featuring Stuart Appleby and a Lamborghini is pretty impressive. Of course, I'm more impressed with the car than the golf club, but the branding geniuses don't care about that.

Thanks to reader Kevin who found this over at oobgolf.com.

"Anybody who knows Faz knows you cancel all your appointments for the rest of the afternoon when he calls."

I've just started the Golf Digest "Fun" issue by reading Jerry Tarde's editor's letter. He's telling a fun Henry Cotton story when he interrupts his own column.

I had just finished typing this lead when the phone rang, and it was Tom Fazio. Anybody who knows Faz knows you cancel all your appointments for the rest of the afternoon when he calls.

Does this mean Fazio has all afternoon for a gabfest? Well, the business is slow!

"Barney Adams told me he wrote something for you arguing that we should move up a set of tees to have more fun," Tom said. "We all know that, but how do you get people to do it? I think Golf Digest should say that the ideal length for middle tees is 6,174 yards, or a shocking number like that. Get people to rethink distance. Have tournaments from the forward tees. I'm hoping when the U.S. Open goes to Merion in 2013, we'll see a new appreciation for courses that don't have to be long to be testing or fun."

Now, this is an architect who has lengthened and brutalized some classic courses and who supports the distance explosion, yet he's longing for a day with shorter courses that can't handle the effects of the distance push. Consistency never has been his strong suit.

As for Barney Adams, I love what he's advocating. Unfortunately we have a disagreement on the distance issue since he does not advocate any kind of rules modifications that might rollback distance for elite players and perhaps expedite the desire or practicality of playing courses from shorter sets of tees. In fact, he blames the architects for forcing the manufacturers to create clubs and balls that help propel the ball longer distances. A point which, I've pointed out, is so absurd that it undermines his case.

Still, it's nice to see golf establishment types like Fazio and Adams who profited and ushered us into the little mess we're in and offering suggestions or solutions designed to make the game more fun.

"I have not given interviews because I've tried to respect the family and their loss."

An unbylined golf.com story reveals many of the more provocative details forthcoming in Alan Shipnuck's story on the untimely passing of Erica Blasberg and the role Dr. Thomas Hess played in her death. 

An aside: it appears the story will not posted online based on the newsstand and iTunes plugs trailing the summary.

**Here is the online link.