4/17/20

Updating the update

The PGA Tour officially releases its new schedule, the Greenbrier is out, and we’re a bit worried about college golf

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Did you know that the Sun is halfway through its lifespan? Don’t worry, though, it still has about five billion years to go. We may not have sports, but springtime and sunshine definitely boost our spirits. So thank you, Sun. Hang in there.

News and updates

  • The PGA Tour put out the details of its latest schedule update on Thursday morning. If the government gives the all-clear (a sizable “if”!), the Tour will restart at the Charles Schwab Classic on June 11. Again, this will probably change by next week. New schedule
  • As a part of the new schedule release, the PGA Tour announced that the Greenbrier is permanently out as a tournament host. Will another event become “a Military Tribute”? Only time will tell. Full Story from Will Gray

Newsletter Notes

The 800-pound pigskin in the room

If you’ve kept track of sports news during the pandemic, you’ve heard plenty of scheduling updates from various professional leagues. The NBA tried a HORSE competition, the MLB may isolate every team in Arizona, and the PGA Tour… well, they just seem confused.

Especially uncertain are the schedules of collegiate athletes in the 2020-21 academic year. Everyone seems to assume that competition will resume in the fall, but lots of details remain up in the air. Let’s get right to the point: will college football allow fans?

Often, football ticket sales subsidize other athletic programs. If that money is no longer there, colleges may have to cut funding for other sports, including golf. Already there are signs that schools are worried about their athletic department’s bottom lines. This week, St. Edwards University cut both men’s and women’s golf along with soccer and tennis, and the University of Cincinnati permanently shuttered its men’s soccer team. Those decisions were not, as far as we know, in response to potential declines in football revenue (indeed, St. Edwards does not have a football team), but we’re likely to hear more stories of this kind in the coming weeks.

So college golf is in a dicey position right now. Shortened 2020-21 seasons, one-year cutbacks, or even permanent program cancellations are on the table at many schools. Many athletes are going to be affected, and if they return to action this fall, they could use our support. If you can, head out and watch a college golf event. Let’s try to help these talented young folks make up for lost time.

The Must-Sees of Public Golf Architecture in America

Mt. Prospect Golf Club (Mount Prospect, Illinois)

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For most of the public, the template holes of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor are inaccessible, hidden behind the gates of private clubs. This is true of the Chicago area’s two most revered clubs, Chicago Golf and Shoreacres. So when architect David Esler was hired to renovate the municipal Mt. Prospect Golf Club in Chicago’s northern suburbs, he set out to make the Macdonald-Raynor style of design available to the masses. He built interpretations of the Redan, Eden, Road, Short, and other “ideal holes.” While Mt. Prospect is by no means perfect, it does offer a unique experience for the public golfer at a reasonable rate.

Insider tip: The 13th green is a thing of beauty. Hit a couple extra chip shots if the group behind isn’t pushing you. -Andy Johnson

Photo credit: Andy Johnson

The Latest from The Fried Egg

Credit Hours: Auburn University Women’s Golf – Not only did the Auburn Tigers have a promising season ahead, but three of their players were a month away from a tee time at Augusta National. See how the team is making the most of this tough situation.

The Fried Egg Podcast, Episode 177: Christina Kim

LPGA player Christina Kim joins the program this week. She discusses the importance of individuality, the Ladies European Tour vs. the LPGA, her quick rise as a junior player, her favorite courses around the world, and much more! Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Shotgun Start: Pilgrim Rick, Nicklaus knockout, and the new PGA Tour schedule

This Friday episode begins by answering and discussing a few messages from listeners. What happens if Jack Nicklaus’ putter toss knocked out Doug Sanders? Did Brooksy expose the fan advantage during a recent interview and bolster Andy’s “no fans” idea even more? What bridge at Augusta will be “Woods bridge?” And can we expect any unique activations for a November Masters? Then, in the second half of the podcast, we discuss in detail the new schedule announcement from the PGA Tour. We wish the Tour the best of luck, view it with optimistic glasses, and celebrate some of the more amusing quirks and things we like from the schedule. Could it be a dream scenario for the Tour that the FedExCup is truly the one and only “Ultimate Prize” now for this season? Then we discuss a few of the obvious hurdles, some frustrating quotes about “independent contractors” from Tour reps, and what will have to take place for this to be pulled off. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Pro Shop

Our Spring Cleaning Sale ends today! We still have a limited supply of t-shirts, hats, tumblers, and headcovers. Save 40% with code SPRING2020 at checkout. Shop now!