Does the designation of British in The Open diminish the Championship?

I don't understand what all of the hullabaloo is about regarding adding the term "British" to "The Open Championship" yet it seems to be a sticking point for some golf fans.

When I posted this question on my Golf4Beginners Twitter page, "British Open or The Open Championship?" the responses came at me fast and furious. 

There were those folks who were adamantly against adding the term "British" such as @ray_matthew, " according to the R&A it's #TheOpenChampionship end of story" and the @Mobitee golf rep who said, "The Open Championship is what's on their site so that's what it's called."

While it is true that The Open Championship has officially been in existence since 1860, people on this side of the pond add "British" simply as an identifier to assist the more casual fan and is in no way, in my opinion,  a sign of disrespect nor does it lessen the importance of the event.

 hat being said, when I questioned the group as to how Golf Channel and NBC Sports continually preface The Open Championship with "British", @Matt_Dart91 responded, "Just because they work in TV doesn't mean whatever they say is correct. It's The Open, nothing else." 

Tiger Woods and Bubba Watson are two PGA Tour golfers who use the term #BritishOpen both with hastag and conversationally:

Tiger Woods, on his official website states, “You can have so many different weather conditions. You just don’t know. That’s one of the unique things about the British Open and why it’s my favorite Major championship.”

Tweeters who agreed with Tiger and Bubba were equally as vocal on the subject:

@rdjames01 commented, "I call it the British Open because I live in the US! Drop the country when you are from there!" and @LVGolfInsider who stated, "official name for sure is The Open Championship but leaves room for confusion here in States...Name Confusion for casual fan, speaking as one who writes about the game..."

@MilesDowsett claimed, "It's obviously The Open as it was the first one and thus oldest.....case closed."

But is the case really closed? Just because Ford was the first mass produced automobile, does that make it "The Car" with all other autos having name designations?

 In my opinion, I think anything that identifies a tournament to attract the most viewers is good for the game. I guess whatever makes the fans tune in is the best name for The Open Championship. Would I officially change the name of this major tournament? No, but I personally like adding "British" to the name. When I hear the name "The Open" I often wonder which Open?

“What’s in a name?

That which we call a rose      

By any other name would smell as sweet”  …Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare.

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Larry David and his Acceptance of Fore in his golf game

Research shows that about twenty percent of all golfers regularly score better than ninety for eighteen holes on a regulation length golf course; on a course rated seventy-two, that score translates into an eighteen handicap.

Enter the trials and tribulations of Larry David, who, in the current issue of The New Yorker Magazine, discusses the stages of his golf game which led from anger to denial and finally to his acceptance of the word 'fore'.

It's amazing how even the most jocular sorts turn dead serious when discussing their golf game and have even injected golf into their "schtick".

Ray Romano's character in "Men of A Certain Age" is a scratch golfer attempting to gain entrance to the Senior Tour. Larry David, ever the sad-sack golfer in "Curb Your Enthusiasm", enlightens readers in this article as to why he should probably never again play golf at Riviera Country Club.

Both comedians love the sport and both are relatively good golfers: Romano's handicap (12.6) and David's handicap (13.6) fluctuate but are within a few strokes of each other. The difference is the way each celebrity golfer approaches the game.

Romano practices regularly and has even engaged the services of Hank Haney in order to try and break eighty. On the other hand, although Larry David (with a bit of help) could perhaps one-day become a single-digit handicapper, he has chosen to accept his shortcomings maintaining, "I’ll never be good. It’s just not something I’m suited for. That’s O.K."

What irks me is how Larry David habitually belittles his ability, "golf is just a hobby I stink at", when the average guy can barely break 100!

Curb Your Enthusiasm Larry...

photo credit: Larry David on Myspace


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Happy with par at Zurich Kodak Challenge Hole #17?

Although there have been a few aces in the history of the 215-yard 17th golf hole at TPC Louisiana, many golfers at the Zurich Classic consider this Kodak Challenge hole to be a very long and difficult par-3.

Darron Stiles may have used a 7-iron to ace the 17th hole in 2005 with Daniel Chopra needing a 5-iron to do the same in the final round of the 2007 New Orleans Zurich Classic but the vision of water and newly reshaped green may be problematic for the players.

Tournament Director Rommy Fonseca conveyed about TPC Louisiana's Hole #17, "This is a unique hole that has proved very challenging for the players. It has also provided some great play over the years."

RotoExperts.com assessed that the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina caused the redesign of the 17th...

"...giving Dye the opportunity to move some bunkers around, redesign the green and generally make it hell for everyone who dares to gaze upon it from the tee box. Last year, the hole was ferocious, ceding just 38 birdies against 85 bogeys. The 17th claimed another 26 double-bogeys or worse. With a scoring average of 3.23, par will be considered a victory."

Photo Credit: WamGolf.com

WamGolf.com affirmed the 17th golf hole as a favorite, detailing the way an average golfer might play it (from about 70 yards forward):

"This was clearly a different hole from the TOUR Tees than our tees. From our tee box there was almost no forced carry over the water which runs down the left side of this hole. If you miss the green left, you're wet. A tee shot right and you're left with a chip shot to a green running away from you. It's a long green and a back left pin placement makes this hole more challenging. I was fortunate enough to hit the green in one and then three putt."


Luke Donald, looking for a way to win the Zurich Classic this weekend and take the number-one spot in the OWGR from Lee Westwood had a different version of the hole, saying a birdie at 17 during the opening round helped him to get back on track.

“I was playing great, 2 under, just not holing the putts when I had the chances," mentioned Donald. "It will make dinner feel a lot better with those birdies on 17 and 18. I played really solid today. I only missed a couple of greens. It was as good a display of iron play as I’ve done all year.”




Watch as Brad Faxon drops in a 27-foot putt for birdie on TPC Louisiana at the par-3 17th Kodak Challenge hole...opening round of the 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans:





Will the wind wreak havoc this week at the Kodak Challenge Hole #17 or will one of the PGA Tour players ace the hole creating a Kodak moment?



About the Kodak Challenge

The Kodak Challenge highlights many of golf's most exciting and picturesque holes in 2011 as players take on "the greatest scorecard in golf."

Created to celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf, the Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition on the PGA TOUR. Players must play at least 18 of 30 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to qualify. The golfer with the best Kodak Challenge score relative to par at the end of the season will win the Kodak Challenge trophy and $1 million dollars.


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PGA Tour players twitter on Wives golf game

The golf world went a-twitter yesterday as Tour Pros caddied for a cause at the annual PGA Tour Wives Golf Classic at Sea Pines Resort in South Carolina.

Hosted by The Heritage, the goal of the friendly 9-hole shootout was to raise over $100,000 for charity. Hilton Head Heroes in South Carolina will receive half of this week's bounty with remaining donations distributed by the Association.

Among the notables, Jason Day drove the golf cart for Ellie and Pat Perez looped for wife Athena (@athenaperez12).



Ellie and Jason Day: Found in Keith Allison's photostream

Nimbled fingered Jeff Klauk (@JEFFKLAUKpga) was busily snapping photos as PGA Tour rookie golfer Scott Stallings (@stallingsgolf) showed the world how his wife Jen (@jwhitestallings) marks her Titleist golf ball.  http://yfrog.com/h65gzqj

Yfrog and Twitvid were "off-the-grid" busy, with up-to-the minute updates to record all of the action.

Picture credit: @stallingsgolf

Although Sportscaster Steve Phillips (@StevePhillips) maintained that it was, "More fun than I usually have in a bunker," with @StallingsGolf uploading a picture that looked more like a day at the beach than a serious golf tournament, the real question to ask is:

Do the ladies have game?

Although there were plenty of mulligans given and a fun day had by all, the objective of the PGA Tour Wives Assn is to make a difference in the lives of others. That being said...



PGA Tour Pro Bobby Gates' wife, Lauren Gates @LmjGates "cleaned house" winning (as mentioned by @stallingsgolf) "all the prizes in the PGA Tour Wives golf tournament" which were "the closest to the pin prize with a great 4-iron and then the longest drive." His team finished "a mere 9-under thru 9-holes."

Here is the Twitvid that Brian Gay (@BrianGayPGA) uploaded of his wife (@Kimberlygay1) off the first tee:
http://www.twitvid.com/VFAUL


Although Kimberly tweeted that she had a fun day playing golf with her husband, when she told him, "We should start playing together for kicks, Brian said, "Probably not."

Although Bubba Watson is usually one of the nimblest tweeters on Tour, I don't believe he or his wife attended the event. For those who are curious to see the golf swing of Angie Watson, PGA Tour golfer Bubba Watson's wife, here she is at the Bob Hope Classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncx5ANZdAuA




Plaid and argyle will probably now make a "statement" on the PGA Tour, especially since the winner is awarded a plaid jacket, but I think the pattern definitely is more appealing on the ladies!

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Golf fans policing PGA Tour: Good or bad for the game?

Tim Finchem created a buzz in the golf media world with the admission that if fans want to call in a rules infraction, it is their right to do so. This will create thousands of call-ins by armchair golfers who think they see, or possibly do see, something.

 

For the most part, PGA Tour golfers know the rules but, Ian Poulter even reluctantly admitted, "I still dont know all the rules, there's too many."

Although there are Tour golfers who admit they don't know every rule, is "see something, say something" always the best idea?

Why encourage fans to police the PGA Tour?

With social media being an integral part of the world we live in, it is quite easy to reach the PGA Tour via Twitter or Facebook with a comment or an @ statement. Although seemingly harmless, not every fan with a Rules of Golf book should be an armchair referee.

 

"Cutting them (fans) off is not an option at this point"  said Finchem, and he has a point. With the PGA Tour grasping for audience, the Commissioner isn't turning away any viewers but, rather, welcoming them in as pseudo-refs.

 

Telephoning the Tour is an option but would create a glut of calls for every piece of dirt that a fan thought was moved illegally. Perhaps Finchem will set up a special hotline that he could man during each event?

 

One good thing that may come out of all of this is that fans may actually dust off their copies of the Rules of Golf. Golfers may finally READ and understand the rules!

Should the game of golf remain pure or should the new media be welcomed into the sport? Paddy Miller mentioned that the Commissioner has compromised the integrity of the game and is jeopardizing the tradition of golf itself.

Golf has always been a sport of honor in which golfers call an infractions on themselves...if they know that an infraction was created.

If a Tour player, however, didn't realize that he broke a rule, he could go on to win the event which would be unfair to the other golfers. With money and position at stake and knowing that technology now rules the airwaves, it is impossible to keep the tradition of the game completely status quo. Hopefully a resolution that is fair to all will be achieved.

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"Fun" Phil or "Safe" Mickelson?

One article on the Phil Mickelson website mentioned that "fun" Phil reappeared at Torrey Pines but will the "let it ride" or "safe" Mickelson attitude win more PGA Tour events this season?

On Sunday, Mickelson's play on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines gave fans mixed signals about what to expect from Lefty's game.

Did Mickelson make a hasty decision by carving a safe shot out of the rough before watching how Bubba Watson played the 18th? Should Phil have gone for the green or lay-up as he ultimately chose to do?

Mickelson's usual risk-taking attitude gave way to a safe out handing Watson his second victory. Although risk could have equaled reward, (an eagle and a playoff), it could have also equated to folly.  Perhaps Phil could have been thinking back to his 2006 US Open disaster in which he double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Winged Foot losing a one-stroke lead and dropping into a tie for second place.

As Phil said,
"I'm not ever going to forget it, that's obvious!"

Throwing around the word "strategy" hasn't come easy for Phil but, knowing the changes that have been made to Torrey Pines has made Mickelson more cautious about how to play the course.

"The biggest thing for me is I'm not taking on anywhere near as much risk," Phil explained Saturday after getting into a tie with Bill Haas. "I'm just playing it much more conservative, because the reward isn't there. This course doesn't reward you for taking on any challenge. And my more conservative approach into the greens, albeit boring, has led me to be on top of the leaderboard."

Although a conservative finish didn't get him the trophy, without the pressure of having to win on 18 Mickelson dazzled fans with a tremendous wedge to within three-feet of a tie. If the ball would have spun a little more, there could have been a playoff.

So, perhaps there is room for both fun Phil and safe Mickelson to co-exist with positive results?

 
Credit: Mickelson in 1980...fun Phil?

Looking ahead to this week's PGA Tour event, the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, Mickelson will be playing golf alongside fellow lefty Bubba Watson.

"I played really good golf and gave myself an opportunity," said Mickelson. "Played well on Sunday and had a good tournament. Hopefully, I'll use this as a springboard for (Phoenix)."  I wonder which Phil will be in attendance?

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Golf snitch tweets in DQ, should Poulter be offended?

"An armchair official tweeted in to get Camilo DQ. What is wrong with people have they got nothing better to do?" tweeted an angry Ian Poulter after a fan spotted a rules violation on TV by Villegas and decided to say something about it.

 

In this world where everyone is now connected through the internet and social media, Dave Andrews decided to tweet it. The question was not whether Villegas is guilty of the infraction but whether fans should come forward or leave policing and the outcome of the game to pro golfers?

 

"No one likes a snitch," continued Poulter. True but also no golfer wants to lose a big paycheck and FedEx points at the end of the day...and no golfer wants to win for the wrong reasons.

 

Poulter made a good case on Twitter for why fans should see something, say something, "I still dont know all the rules, theres too many. More to life than eating rule books." 

 

Yes it is difficult to remember all of the rules...there are so many (that is why golfers carry around the Rule Book) but, in this case, the ball did not come to rest as Villegas flicked dirt from its path, possibly affecting its line. Most amateur and even many beginner golfers understand to wait for a golf ball to come to rest before addressing it. The mind focuses on what it wants to and Camilo was probably thinking of his next shot. Villegas understood his infraction and graciously took his medicine learning this lesson in the process:

 

Rule 23-1: ''When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment that might influence the movement of the ball must not be removed.''

 

I wonder how many golfers realize that a hole is not complete until a golf ball drops to (and comes to rest at) the bottom of the cup?

 

Ian Poulter should perhaps also understand that without the avid golf fans who tune in to watch and learn about the sport from professionals (and have nothing to do?), events like the Hyundai Tournament of Champions which could not draw three out of four major winners, would probably never take place. No play day, no pay day for the golfers.

 

"Case closed, yes he should have been punished but it's a shame it wasn't before he signed his card," ended Poulter's tirade.

 

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

Ian Poulter (credit)

 

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Men technical, women more social golfers says LPGA Coach

To meet golf professionals through social media services takes just a single click, a simple "LIKE" or "FOLLOW" and maybe a note asking, "Will you join my professional network on LinkedIn?"

Golf is considered a "social" sport and I believe that interactions and connections made on services such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn may just help to solve fundamental issues and grow the sport for future generations. I continually search out and invite golfers into my professional networks and find that they do the same.

A connection through LinkedIn is how I met Mary Paulson, LPGA Professional Golf Coach at Total Approach® Coaching, Site Director LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of El Cajon and a firefighter in San Diego. Mary's interest in growing the game of golf for girls, ages 7 to 17, to "build lasting friendships and experience competition in a fun, supportive environment," led me to send her a friendly email. With Mary's okay, here is our "chat":

STACY SOLOMON: Do you find it easier to teach men or women?

MARY PAULSON: Men vs Women. Good question! Honestly, I enjoy working with men more than women, but there is also a difference.

With men, they are more technical and they are willing to do whatever I ask and tend to be very receptive to my instruction. They get alot out of it, they want to talk about what they know and they will tell me what is wrong with their game!  It makes it too easy for me! The downside is that I will only see the male golfers once or twice a year!  They get what they need and then they are good for the golfing season.

With women, they want to learn the game. They don't neccessarily know the technical aspects and I find that I need to teach them more basic terms and techniques. They are there to learn for more social reasons, to spend more time with their husbands or to go out with their lady friends. I will hear back from the women and get more returning lessons.

So, yes, I spend more time teaching women and beginners because they take more lessons! But I really enjoy working with the advanced and professionals, who tend to be more men, because we can get deeper into the skills and they will take it and go apply it.

With that said, it can go in the opposite direction too!  My least favorite students are men who are just learning the game, and my absolute favorites are coaching competitive and professional female players!

The beginner male students have egos. They have been watching the golf channel, reading books, watching professional players on TV and they have a preconceived idea of how to swing a golf club. So I am faced with breaking down their egos before I can get them to make a decent swing.

With my female players, they leave their egos at home. They get it. They know their game, they understand the swing concepts and what their swing is. With them, I am able to get past the technical and get into what I truly do best, and that is the Mental & Emotional game!

Does that answer your question?  <haha!>  Although I am guessing that you weren't expecting a one word answer, were you.

STACY SOLOMON: How many of the same lesson does it take before that lesson "sinks in" and the student "gets it".

MARY PAULSON:  You asked about lessons and learning retension.  It's all relative. How does the teacher communicate with the student? Do they use the students' dominant sensories to learn effectively, or do they just show the student the skill movement and tell them to scrape and hit?

Definitely golfers need to practice a skill over and over, when it's new, for about 4-6 weeks until the muscle memory kicks in. Your brain can get the skill down within hours! But if the motor functions don't know what the skill feels like, it won't be consistent, which is why practicing new motor skills are so important. But once your motors get it.... it all now becomes mental and a whole new learning skill! haha!

Simply, for golf Beginners, you MUST get out to the range and practice the swing between lessons. If you don't practice, then you will be spending money on learning the same thing from your last lesson!  At least they will if I'm their teacher. :))

There are 4 sections of the swing. 1/4  1/2  3/4 & full swing. I will start you with the 1/4 swing. If you are unable to hit the ball consistantly with a 1/4 swing, I will not move on to the 1/2 swing. Why? You haven't mastered the 1/4 yet.  See what I mean?  But if you go out and practice 1/4 swings everyday for 2 weeks, then I have every faith in the world that I can advance you to a 1/2 swing. The larger the swing, the longer it takes to master the movement (more moving parts.)


STACY SOLOMON: I would also like to ask you a few more questions about the LPGA National program and how you became interested in being a teacher.

MARY PAULSON:  Why I had chosen to become an LPGA Golf Coach gets a bit complicated. We all have our own journeys and mine would have to begin when I began to learn how to play golf back in 2001.


It was a spiritual epiphany. I was watching Karrie Webb getting ready to win the U.S. Women's Open for the 2nd year in a row. Nobody was close and the TV announcers were putting trivia on the screen because they were following Karrie live back from the 16th hole. One trivial tidbit was showing where the US Women's Open would be played for the next 7 years. In 2008, it would be at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN.  My childhood hometown!!

Instantly I said to myself, "I'm supposed to play in that!"  This was a country club that my family didn't belong to, nor was I ever invited for even a Sunday brunch!  So, when I saw Interlachen CC, I knew that I wanted to play in the most prestigous Amateur/Professional women's golf event!  Ha!  I would not only have brunch there, but play it!

But I didn't play golf yet. In fact I needed clubs, bag, balls, and all the essentials. AND A COACH!  I needed to find someone to show me how to qualify to play in this event in 7 years!

That in itself is a long story. The short end of the story is that my journey to the 2008 U.S. Women's Open sent me to find a support team of the best golf coaches, sports psychologists, spiritualists, trainers, etc., that helped me attain my goal.

What I came to learn during the entire process was that I didn't neccessarily enjoy competing! I really dreaded getting up early and playing in tournaments with the county ladies. Once I was out playing I was fine, but I really didn't have the heart of a competitor. It was okay if I didn't win! In fact, I very rarely tried to win! I just wanted to play my shots the best I could, and what the score was... that's what it was!

But what I LOVED while practicing and playing was showing people how to create shots. I loved watching others play well!  I knew that this journey to the open wasn't about me playying in it; it was about what I would do AFTER 2008. I have the heart of a COACH. That is the spirit of the game for me. 

I did go to the U.S. Women's Open Qualifier and participated as a player. I was able to use that round as:

1) The final lap to my 7 year journey
2) My score qualified me to turn professional and enter the LPGA Teaching & Coaching Division.  I did it!  I had made my goal!

Funny, when I began the golf journey to Interlachen CC in Edina MN for 2008, I was doing it to prove something. I don't know who I was trying to prove anything to, nor do I really know WHAT I was trying to prove. But I dedicated my entire life for 7 years to do it!  But by the end, I was a completely different person with a new future. I was a better person, who was no longer needing to prove anything to anyone, but wanting to impart all of the lessons I learned, and from the best in the world, to those younger that do have the heart of a competitor.

I started playing golf at the age of 37. I turned professional at the age of 44, and when I turn 50 I will retire from the Fire Department as a Engineer Driver operator firefighter and travel full-time with my players and prepare them for their qualifiers and tournaments!

So that is why I chose to become a teacher. I have the heart of a coach, and for me, the spirit of the game is creating shots and showing others how to play their best! If you aren't true to your spirit of the game, will not be successful. You will not be at your peak performance.  So, I am a coach. :))

Oh! And I did go to Interlachen CC for the 2008 U.S. Womens Open, not as a player, but as a coach!  

I was lucky enough to participate in a coaching seminar during the Open with my teachers, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. It was wonderful!  They were working with several players in the Tournment and all of us coaches were sent out on to the course to observe 3 players each day, then come back together and discuss what we each observed.

It was wonderful training for me as a coach! No, I never played Interlachen. But the original journey turned out to never be about playing! It was about coaching.

Enjoy your day, and happy 1-putts!

Mary~

You can contact Mary Paulson, LPGA Coaching Professional at:

Total Approach® Coaching
Site Director, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of El Cajon
(619) 414-4495
http://www.totalapproachcoaching.com
http://elcajonlugg.blogspot.com
and, of course, through LinkedIn!


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Tiger Woods makes golf, Twitter look easy!

Tiger Woods makes the game of golf look much easier than it is. Just imagine taking out your lob wedge and pitching a golf ball thirty yards close to the stick and you know what I mean.



Now that Woods is mastering Twitter, he sure is getting good at it (almost 300,000 followers since November)...must have something to do with those billion dollar fingers! Here are a few of Tiger's favorite and not-so-favorite things, from peanut butter to Basketball.




TW's Favorite sport other than golf? Basketball

Woods' Favorite teams? Lakers, Dodgers, Raiders

Favorite film? No movie compares to Caddyshack

Tiger Woods Favorite Golf Course: St. Andrews

Best pre-round meal and snack? Peanut Butter sandwich and almonds

Not so favorite thing? Not being able to grow a goatee

Now that Tiger Woods is proficient at Twitter, when will he join become more active on Facebook?


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Golf Channel's Social Media Experiment needs tweaking.

Some golf fans enjoyed Golf Channel's social media "experiment" on Saturday while others claimed that the format just "did not work" but one thing is for sure; kudos go out for trying!

Golf Channel's Twitter acknowledgment that their announcer-lite format might need work, "Don't worry we have announcers today," was merely a response to angry viewer commentary on the Q and A forum. Sound issues from mic noise and the lack of narration from the broadcasters actually detracted from the Nationwide Tour's Boise Open.


Here are a few fan complaints about the Golf Channel announcer-lite Satuday:


Mark Boyd Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:18 PM EST

“This simply does NOT work!! Should have learned after the NFL tried this tears ago - didn't work for them either!!!!”

albegolfin Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:15 PM EST

“we watch golf every weekend. Commentary free golf is "for the birds". As I timed it, we only get to see about three golf shots and then a whole bunch of commercials. As the cook of the family, I cannot go to the kitchen and listen to what I am missing. When a shot lands on the fairway, we have no information about yardage or obstacles in the players way. Are the players really this quiet in reality? We won't be watching any more of these. PS We do agree with the Johnny Miller comment. We have been muting him for years. ”

bigbwana1 Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:13 PM EST

“No comentary! Who had this bright idea? If I wanted just to watch the golf, I would mute the TV. I especially like to hear what each shot is likely to accomplish, given the condition of the lie, elevation to the green, the slope of the putting surface etc. PLEASE bring it back to normal!!!!!”

In all fairness, some golf fans thought the announcer-lite format worked well:

Shizzle Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:04 PM EST

“Hi Jerry and Curt, I like the format today. It's nice to hear the players thoughts and when they are joking around it's like they are human, not just superhuman! So, can you tell me which player on the Nationwide Tour is the practical joker?? Hunter seems funny... Thanks, Kirk Carter, Elk Grove, CA ”

boardsnower Said on 09/18/2010, at 5:51 PM EST

“This no annoucer format is GREAT! Nothing against Kurt and Bryan but this is how golf was meant to be watched. PLEASE, PLEASE continue with this format more often!!”

As with most new ideas, Golf Channel probably went a bit overboard with this one but perhaps a bit of tweaking will improve this "announcer-lite" format in time for the 2011 PGA Tour season.


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Why the Puerto Rico Open is "Must See TV"

Both the Puerto Rico Open and the WGC-CA Championships are being played this week but Doral doesn't quite hold the same "mystique" as in previous years.

With Tiger Woods opting out of another event on the PGA Tour schedule, fans need excitement and the Puerto Rico Open is an event ready to comply!

Here are just a few reasons to tune in to the 2010 Puerto Rico Open this week:

1. This is the only stop on the PGA Tour that lands in Puerto Rico. In 2009, forty-two year-old Michael Bradley landed an 11-foot birdie putt to seal the deal at the 18th hole on Trump International Golf Club. He will be in the field to defend his win.

2. John Daly received a sponsor's exemption. Expect the Lion's clothes to match his colorful spirit. As he said on Twitter, "Changing out grips and Gettin Ready for a great Week at the Puerto Rico Open."

3. Check out some of Latin America's finest players: Rafael Campos, Max Alverio and Erick Morales. The PGA Tour is not all about Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker, now is it?

4. Champions Tour golfers Tom Pernice Jr. and Fred Funk will be in the field. Let's watch Funk's return after knee surgery I don't think Vijay Singh ever really recovered, do you?

Tom Kite, the course designer of Trump International GC, among other great golfers, will also be in the field.

5. Trump International Golf Club, at 7,526 yards, is one of the longest on the PGA Tour. Scores have been so close in the previous two years of the event which leads to dramatic thrills on the 18th green. Views of El Yunque Rain Forest and the Atlantic Ocean are breathtaking!

Puerto Rico is a 3,350 square mile Commonwealth of the USA. Watching this stop on the PGA Tour may just give you the desire to visit the Shining Star of the Caribbean!

The Golf Channel will cover the event from Thursday through Sunday. Check your local listings.

Golf for Beginners will also be on hand in Puerto Rico! Follow along with Golf4Beginners and PuertoRicoOpen on Twitter!

Surely you cannot miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez smacking his ceremonial first tee shot! I wonder if he'll be swinging his golf club like a sword...

PGA Tour can learn from John Daly's social skills

Although the PGA Tour "communicates" with its fans through online giants Twitter and Facebook, people who follow don't usually receive much of a personal response. Two-way conversation is crucial to opening the doors of social media.

With social networking still in its infancy, the potential for growth within these two vastly contrasting formats is enormous, providing that the PGA Tour is willing to adapt its style to meet the demands of both.

Executive producer of PGA TOUR.com Scott Gutterman feels that by extending reach to Twitter and Facebook, fans will experience a "direct connection" that they crave but admits that "their audience numbers are not as high as the Tour would ultimately like." Guttman understands that "two-way communication of social media doesn’t happen overnight."

ESPN sports analyst and former NBA star Jalen Rose believes that "interaction" is the key to more fans and followers.

"The PGA needs to talk with the fans who are posting on their wall. They need to interact with people talking about golf on Twitter, and even have golfers give live lessons on Ustream! It’s time for the PGA to build a culture where golfers and golf fans come to the PGA’s social media accounts when they want to talk or find out more about the sport."

Various internet studies comparing Twitter and Facebook mention that, although many users have profiles in both communities with some interconnectedness, some celebrities grow a much larger fan base due to the scope and ease of communication through one social medium over the other.

Coincidentally, social media trends indicate that although most Fortune 100 companies have some type of social media presence, Twitter is becoming more popular.

For now, the PGA Tour seems to have a better connection with its Facebook group probably because this social media option is more like its current website.

The allure of Facebook is long-term community-driven status with the ability to apply pictures, information and a "face" to the Tour while Twitter followers appear to be more chatty and unreserved, wanting information in more immediate, quick bursts. Youtube.com is almost an offshoot of the PGATour.com website so, even though there were 4.4 million uploads of golf videos as well as over 128,000 visits to the site to date, it can hardly be considered "social" media.

Taking into consideration that the PGA Tour has more than double the number of Facebook fans (45,000) over Twitter followers (about 21,000) and that the PGA of America maintains that there are 27 million golfers in the USA, the Tour should be asking what can be done to grow their visibility on both platforms as well as internationally as golf is a worldwide sport.

One way to reach fans en masse and in person? How about on-course during an event: go to where the fans are and seek them out. Although cell phones are considered a "no-no" at events, perhaps the PGA Tour could set up special tents with Twitter on net books close enough to the action where fans could post tweets in exchange for giveaways. The winner gets tickets to a future event or an 'inside the ropes' activity. Sign up as a "follower" and see your name on one of the big boards around the golf course!

Six events are set up for the West Coast Swing alone, which puts into play two Arizona golf courses and four more in California. Followers could be increased by reaching out on-course as opposed to solely through internet strategies.

The list of "fan-friendly" PGA Tour golfers can perhaps also use their power of persuasion by adding the @PGATour link occasionally during a tweet. The connection between professional golfers and the Tour would benefit because the PGA Tour has the more statistical analysis while the golfer could add 'pizzazz'.

John Daly, one of the most vibrant "tweeters" in the world of social media, (@PGA_JohnDaly), currently has over 44,000 fans on Twitter, more than double the number of followers than @PGATour yet falls short on the number of Facebook followers with slightly more than 14,000 fans.

Daly keeps in touch and keeps it "real" and so he appeals more to Twitter fans. When someone asks a question (and he's available) they can expect a response from JD.

John involves the fans with regularity from mounting a Twitter campaign as the Golf Channel's next "Haney project" to offering autographed copies of his new CD. Now that's the way to market yourself!

Of course Daly's eclectic lifestyle makes many fans want to keep track of his larger-than-life status but maybe the PGA Tour should take a tip from JD when it comes to Twitter because communication and putting a face to the tour really helps in adding value to the brand.

Adding fan base may as simple as having a a few surprise celebrity "tweeters" on @PGATour or following a few of the hot golf bloggers to stir things up a little (like @golf4beginners for instance?)

Other PGA and LPGA Tour golfers are enjoying celebrity status on Twitter rather than on Facebook and finding it easier to jot down a quick note while practicing or even just after winning an event.

Ian Poulter, @Ianjamespoulter (7,004 Facebook/ 977,239 Twitter fans) just won his first event ever in the US, a match-play event and, at 2:01am after the event tweeted, "Evening friends, What a day, just sitting on my bed in palm springs, doing cobra commercial tomorrow. 6.45 start, so happy after winning." You can't get much closer to your golf hero than that!

Michelle Wie, @theMichelleWie (2,716 Facebook/14,984 Twitter) told her fans what she was doing on Valentines Day: "spending valentines day writing a paper and listening to Metallica in my hotel room. haha so ideal...not. :)" Who would have thought Michelle Wie to like Metallica!

Stewart Cink (2173 Facebook, 1,226,058 twitter) asked fans about some of their favorite songs: "Just listening to David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on the way to practice. One of few songs I like that include a countdown. Your favorites?"


All of the examples above have both Facebook pages and Twitter accounts but less time is needed for a 140 character update than the investment of time required with Facebook.

With the ability to have tweets directly imported to Facebook, MySpace and other social websites, fans still feel connected but the connection originated with Twitter. Facebook also looks and feels like any other website, with the ability to put up a "wall" separating the fans from personal connection.

That being said, both social media platforms are tools for communication, each with its own unique functionality. Whereas Twitter has become more of a quick way to meet friends and network, Facebook prides itself on a deeper level connection.

Both forms of social media are necessary in order for the PGA Tour to grow on an international level. If only the Tour could find a way to "humanize" itself and add a bit of the celebrity mix which people seem to gravitate towards, it would marry both its online business concern with a more approachable presence.

Written by Stacy Solomon
http://golf-for-beginners.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/golf4beginners
Stacy Solomon on Facebook



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