Gleneagles Kings To Get Braid Restorative Touches

Paul Reoch reports that the vaunted King's Course at Gleneagles, a 1919 James Braid design, will enjoy restoration efforts in advance of its 100th birthday.

I'm not sure it's a masterpiece, but it certainly should be hosting any events Gleneagles acquires (but isn't).

From Reoch's report:

They include re-aligning selected fairways to return them to Braid’s design, bringing several bunkers back into play, and reinstating heather stands around the course.

The installation of the latest bunker drainage and lining technology, as well as an extensive aeration and sanding programme, will be undertaken.

Scott Fenwick, Gleneagles golf courses and estate manager, said the aim was to return the King’s Course “closer” to Braid’s original vision.

He said: “We’ll widen the approaches to some of the green complexes to enable traditional pitch and run shots to be played, reintroduce tighter mown turf on green surrounds and reshape the bunkers and raise the sand lines."

Zac Blair: "Eat, sleep, golf, repeat"

I'm catching up on some post-Sony reading and it was nice to see solid features from Sean Martin and Tim Rosaforte on Zac Blair, a real likeable chap who has gotten the golf architecture bug.

From Rosaforte's item, a strong endorsement from legendary looper Andy Martinez:

With no status, Blair played his way on the PGA Tour’s Latinoamérica and Canadian circuits, ultimately needing a second-place finish at the Web.com Tour Championship to lock down a tour card.

“It was a long 15 months, kind of always on the bubble, in that zone where you never know,” Jimmy said. “He just had to keep grinding through it.”

Having Andy Martinez, Miller’s former caddie, on the bag, helped Blair deal with the grind of being in the last group on Sunday with proven-winner Brandt Snedeker and FedEx Cup points leader Kevin Kisner in contention. While coming up a stroke shy of the playoff between winner Fabian Gomez and Brandt Snedeker, Blair’s best career finish on tour brought with it confidence.

“This won’t be the last time he’s in contention,” Martinez said. “I expect to be knocking on the door a lot of times with this guy.”

And from Martin, Blair's interest in golf and architecture:

Then there are the marathon days of golf. Zac is usually the one to call for an E9, or emergency nine, to extend the day's play. He hasn’t slowed much, even though his 34 starts were the second-most in the 2014-15 season. He also squeezed in recreational rounds at Pine Valley, Cypress Point, The Country Club of Brookline and Los Angeles Country Club during tournament weeks in 2015. That's a list that would make even the most privileged player envious.

Like his father, Zac wants to do more than play, though.

He's looking for land in Utah on which to build his dream course, a layout that will draw off the design principles of architecture’s golden age. He wants to build a course that's wide enough for high handicappers while challenging better players to make strategic decisions.

“I think Utah deserves a course that has those principles of the old architects,” Zac said, citing Mackenzie, MacDonald, Seth Raynor and Harry Colt as his inspirations. “You have to think your way around those courses.”

Video: Flyover Of Proposed Royal Portrush Changes

Nice work by Golf Central Daily to note Wild Atlantic Golf's post of the flyover video depicting the architect's vision for two new holes at Royal Portrush.

The firm of Mackenzie and Ebert's course changes, prompted by ex R&A Chief Executive/Architect Peter Dawson, calls for numerous bunker additions. The film covers the conversion of holes 17 and 18 on the existing course into a tent village for the 2019 Open Championship and shows us the two new holes being added. The narrator is Maureen Madill.

First aerial look at the course changes to Royal Portrush ahead of its staging The 2019 Open Championship.

Posted by North and West Coast Links Golf on Thursday, January 14, 2016

Awards! Ross To Bamberger, Jones To Bell, PGA To Peper

On the day the only more racially imbalanced awards on the planet were announced, golf's annual effort to obtain good dinner speakers and maybe recognize some contributions means we know who will win the Donald Ross, Bobby Jones and PGA Lifetime Achievement Media awards.

From the ASGCA on Michael Bamberger receiving the Donald Ross Award:

Michael Bamberger – a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and author of several books on golf – has been chosen by the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) as the 2016 recipient of the Donald Ross Award. The award, given annually since 1976, is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. It will be presented to Bamberger at the 2016 ASGCA Annual Meeting on April 24 in Bethesda, Maryland.
 
“Almost every golf fan over the past 30 years has read and been impacted by Michael’s writing, in newspapers, on the pages of Sports Illustrated, on the web or in his books,” said President Steve Smyers, ASGCA. “He brings his readers to the places they want to go – from major championships to traveling along on the European Tour – and shows them unique views of the golf world they might not otherwise experience. Michael’s keen observations about the game provide the casual golfer a greater understanding of the art of the game.
 
“We’re thrilled a writer of Michael’s caliber is devoting his talent to keeping the game front and center among sports fans,” he continued. “ASGCA respects his knowledge and perspective, and appreciates how his efforts benefit the game of golf.”
 
Bamberger grew up in Patchogue, New York, and was introduced to golf in an eighth-grade gym class. He first played on the public courses of Suffolk County and on the Patchogue-Medford High School golf team. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania he became a newspaper reporter, working for the Vineyard Gazette, on Martha’s Vineyard, and later for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Since 1995, Bamberger has been a senior writer at Sports Illustrated. He also contributes regularly to golf.com and writes a back-page column for Golf magazine.
 
His books on golf include “The Green Road Home” (1986), about his experiences as a caddie on the PGA Tour in 1985; “To the Linksland” (1992), about an extended honeymoon trip Bamberger and his wife, Christine, made on the European golf tour and through coastal Scotland; and “Men in Green” (2015), a then-and-now look at various golf legends from the 1970s. He is the inventor of The E-Club, a utility golf club for which he was issued a U.S. patent.
 
Bamberger joins an impressive list of journalists who have received the Donald Ross Award, including Herbert Warren Wind, Peter Dobereiner, Charles Price, Dick Taylor, Ron Whitten, George Peper, James Dodson and Bradley S. Klein.

The USGA on Judy Bell, their 2016 Bob Jones award winner:

USGA to Honor Judy Bell with 2016 Bob Jones Award

FAR HILLS, N.J. (Jan. 14, 2016) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) will bestow its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, to Judy Bell, of Colorado Springs, Colo., at an award ceremony on June 14, 2016, during the week of the 116th U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

Presented annually since 1955, the Bob Jones Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones, winner of nine USGA championships.

Known for her generous spirit and larger-than-life personality, Bell, a native of Wichita, Kan., has championed a welcoming and accessible game as one of its most prominent ambassadors for more than six decades.

“Judy is a towering presence in golf and her contributions to shaping the USGA can be seen to this day,” said Tom O’Toole Jr., president of the USGA. “Her devotion to the game makes her a worthy recipient of our organization’s most prestigious honor. From her earliest days as an accomplished player through her tenure as USGA president, Judy has been a staunch advocate and diplomat for the game. Those mantles were always delivered with her unique kindness and infectious personality. Judy is a real treasure!”

The youngest of four children and the only girl, Bell largely credits her mother’s tenacious, straightforward and generous personality, as well as her can-do attitude as her strongest influences. The USGA’s first female president (1996-1997), Bell possesses a passion for women’s and girl’s golf that continues today, particularly through the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program, which she helped found.

Her two-year USGA presidential tenure was hallmarked by the establishment of the “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which dedicated more than $65 million toward national and local projects devoted to improving the lives of communities through accessible golf. Bell was the program’s director from 1999-2010, and asserted hands-on service focused on providing opportunity to and building character among countless youth, particularly minorities, girls and those with disabilities.

“I grew up around people who volunteered and it was something I felt strongly about, even as a child,” said Bell in her 2002 book, Breaking the Mold. “We all believed that if you’re asked and you have an opportunity to give back, you just step up to the plate and do what you can.”

Bell was also instrumental in the development and management of the USGA Foundation’s leadership and service fellowship program, which provided two-year, graduate-level training to nearly 70 young professionals interested in careers in the non-profit sector. Many fellows continue to serve in leadership roles for a variety of service-based organizations and associations. The program fostered strong relationships within the golf community to promote accessibility, particularly through state and regional golf associations.  

“Judy has an amazing capacity to connect with people of all walks of life,” said Steve Czarnecki, a fellow of the USGA Foundation and its assistant director of grants and fellowship for 13 years. “To her, the USGA committee member, golf course superintendent at a host club, USGA staff member or state and regional golf association representative is every bit as important as anyone else in the sport – herself included. Judy wanted everyone to have an opportunity to experience the game and benefit from the many wonderful lessons it conveys.”

On the course, Bell was a passionate and well-respected amateur player who competed in 38 USGA championships, including three trips to the U.S. Women’s Amateur quarterfinals and one U.S. Girls’ Junior semifinals appearance. She also won three consecutive Kansas State Women’s Amateur titles from 1952-1954, the first at age 15. Bell also competed for the victorious 1960 and 1962 USA Curtis Cup Teams and captained the 1986 and 1988 USA Teams. The Women’s State Team Championship Trophy was named after her in 1998.

“Judy was the most fun captain I had in my playing career,” said Carol Semple Thompson, a seven-time USGA champion and 12-time USA Curtis Cup Team member. “She makes everyone feel welcome and happy. She is also a pioneer, becoming one of the most important women in golf administration. Her advancement to the Executive Committee and presidency was a natural progression of her hard work, her passion for the amateur game, and her relationships with so many players and people in golf.”

Bell’s volunteer career with the USGA began as a member of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship Committee (1961-1964). She served 17 years on the USGA Women’s Committee beginning in 1968, including four years as chairman (1981-1984). In 1987, Bell became the first woman named to the USGA’s Executive Committee and served on nearly every committee before becoming the Association’s 54th president in 1996.

“Tom O'Toole called me the other night and we chatted a while,” said Bell. “Then he told me that I was going to get the Bob Jones Award. I was floored and in denial. Tom is a great friend and finally convinced me it was real. I'm honored beyond words.” 

A phone call from Tom O'Toole? And you say these award winners don't earn their keep!

And the PGA of America's Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism...

George Peper of Vero Beach, Florida, the former Editor-in-Chief of GOLF Magazine for a quarter century and the author, co-author or editor of 20-plus golf books, has been named the recipient of the 2016 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.

Peper, 65, will be honored on April 6, during the ISPS HANDA 44th Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) Annual Awards Dinner at Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Augusta, Georgia.
Peper is the 27th recipient of the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism, which honors members of the media for their steadfast promotion of golf, both locally and nationally.

“George is simply a living legend in golf journalism—there is no other way to put it,” said PGA President Derek Sprague. “His leadership and quality of work at GOLF Magazine for more than 25 years, and now at LINKS Magazine, is unsurpassed. This dedication to his craft, along with his love of golf, resulted in his traveling the world as a golf ambassador and authoring numerous books on the subject. George is a true friend of the game who has enlightened us with his passion, candor and wit. We are fortunate he chose our sport to immortalize.”

A graduate of Princeton University, Peper was working toward a doctorate in comparative literature at Yale University when in 1976 he joined GOLF Magazine, becoming its chief editor a year later at the age of 27.  For the last 13 years, he has written for LINKS Magazine, and in 2011, he became the magazine’s editor.

“What a thrill to be recognized in this way by the PGA of America,” said Peper. “I’m not sure I deserve an award after 40 years of having fun, but to join the distinguished company of the previous recipients—every one of whom I’ve been privileged to know—is both a humbling experience and a tremendous honor."

While at GOLF, Peper originated the magazine’s “Top 100 Courses in the World,” “America’s Top 100 Teachers” and the “World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.” In 1988, he had a heavy hand in bringing together the game’s allied associations for the once-in-a-lifetime Centennial of Golf in America celebration.

Peper’s published works include, among others, “Golf Courses of the PGA Tour” (1984) and “Two Years in St. Andrews” (2006). He has co-authored books with Greg Norman and Bill Murray and edited several memorable works, including “Golf in America: The First 100 Years” (1988) and “The World’s 500 Best Golf Holes” (2000). In 1999 his script for the PBS documentary “The Story of Golf” was nominated for a sports Emmy.

A former board member for the National Golf Foundation and the Golf Writers Association of America, Peper also served on the USGA’s Bob Jones Award Committee.

In 2008, Peper was presented the Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects for his contributions to golf and golf course architecture. A year later, he received the Lincoln Werden Award from the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association for his contributions to golf journalism.

Peper and his wife of 37 years, Libby, have two grown sons, Tim and Scott.

A New Look Waialae CC This Week And Beyond?

From the cascading, grand scale of Kapalua to lay-of-the-land (flat) Waialae, the one-two Hawaii swing offers a pair of distinct designs.

As we discussed on Golf Central today, Waialae arrives in sharp contrast to last week's venue. But going forward, the Honolulu course will begin to look different this year and beyond. This is good news for those who have scratched their heads wondering how the course could be a Seth Raynor design.

The PGA Tour's on-site advance man for the last eight years, John Lillivis, reports already seeing an improvement from the removal of 230 trees by architect Tom Doak. The removal has allowed for more sunlight and turf growth, leading the club to introduce tight mow around many of the greens according to Lillivas.

New hole locations have been restored on the 4th and 6th greens but probably won't be introduced this year to let the areas mature. Doak is reportedly planning many more changes to greens with Raynor's style in mind. The outcome will be fun to watch as its pretty clear Raynor's bold style was not incorporated at Waialae because of his lack of on-site time. Therefore, Doak will have to balance keeping the course fun, playable and enjoyable for members, while keeping it relevant in today's game. One that expects a challenge along with a certain bunker depth and style if a course wants to call itself a Raynor.

While Jimmy Walker is the defender, my longshot for the week is Peter Malnati, coming off a T6 at Kapalua, but if I were a betting man, I'd make Chris Kirk my choice if he's at a nice price. Yes, he's got new PXG sticks in the bag and may still be working out the kinks, but Kirk has posted only one over-par round there in 20 rounds played, with his 67.45 scoring average being the third lowest in the last thirty years of tour golf at Waialae. (I know this thanks to the crack work of Justin Ray and the Golf Channel Editorial Research Unit.)

As I noted in the Forward Press, coverage begins Thursday at 7 pm ET. (And don't forget the LAAC from Casa De Campo starts at 2 pm ET Thursday.)

Video: Ben Crenshaw's Design Legacy

Using his 64th birthday as an excuse to laud the place Ben Crenshaw holds in the hearts of those who have benefitted from golf's architectural renaissance, we at Morning Drive discussed his legacy. (And Bill Coore also talked to the show via phone about his design partner's role in their many classic designs.)

While it's easy to morph Ben into the category of player-architect, his legacy is much greater than that of famous golfer who helped someone sell real estate. (Because in all honesty, pushing some lot sales is about the extent of most player-architect's legacy in the game.)

But as we discussed, Ben followed the groundwork layed by Pete Dye to revisit links golf and the efforts of our forefathers. His credibility as a lover of golf history and his worship of heros like Macdonald, Tillinghast, Ross, Thomas and MacKenzie opened the eyes of so many, including the host of this site. And by lending his name to book forwards, introductions and epilogues, Crenshaw injected his thoughts via writings that carried much needed weight with readers and decision makers at some of the world's great courses.

So while his legacy will always be tied to his amazing career as a two-time Masters champion, Ben Crenshaw's greatest contribution to golf will ultimately be his work as an advocate, historian, aficionado of golf literature and co-designer of courses.

WSJ: "IRS Tees Off on Golf Courses’ Green Tax Claims"

Thanks to everyone who sent in Richard Rubin's WSJ story on the IRS going after courses taking deductions for conservation areas that may not exist.

As we know, some courses genuinely provide an environmental safe haven for critters and greenery thanks to the native design philosophy and sensible maintenance practices. It sounds from the story as if the IRS is looking to target those serving a less vital purpose, though it's hard to tell from one story. Especially since the story is accompanied by a photo from the IRS's expert showing Canada geese on a course questioned for its conservation easement deductions.

Regarding the main easement break, Rubin writes:

Known as the conservation-easement tax break, the rule lets people claim a charitable deduction for giving away the right to develop land they still own and can use. The measure has encouraged protection of millions of acres of pristine land. It has also spawned litigation requiring judges to wade into dueling testimony from ecologists and appraisers.

Judges have, among other things, lowered the value of preserving the historic terra cotta facade of the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans and told a Virginia landowner that building 30 houses instead of 62 didn’t count as open-space preservation. One case, though, did permit a Michigan couple to claim tax breaks for protecting a famous bald eagle roosting spot.

The cases involve few people and plenty of money. In 2012, the most recent year for which data are available, 1,114 taxpayers took an average deduction of $872,250 based on the rule, according to the IRS, for a total of slightly less than $1 billion. Numbers like that can pique an auditor’s interest.

Dreadful: Cobbs Creek Clubhouse Destroyed By Fire

A terrible loss on many fronts, as the delightful clubhouse building at Cobbs Creek was destroyed in an overnight fire. (Thanks to readers Matt and Len for sending in links.)

The colonial clubhouse has stood for nearly a hundred years, sporting a classic Colonial style and set the perfect tone for the course, which has the potential to be one of the world's premier municipal courses (with a little dusting off.)

Here is a short Philly.com staff report with a surreal image of ice retaking the building after the fire.

NBC Philadelphia's report:

Footage of the fire:

Some of my photos from two years ago, in happier times...

Pete Dye Turns 90!

Golf architect Pete Dye turns 90 (December 29) and isn't slowing down, renovating some of his designs and also creating new ones.

Bradley Klein files a short update on Dye and notes that it may have taken a little bit of urging to get the legend to relent to calls for repairing TPC Sawgrass' 12th into a drivable short par-4.

Previously, Dye has looked askance at such holes, deriding efforts at other championship courses as a way of cheapening the shot value of par 4s. “They have a name for drivable par 4s,” he has said. “Par 3s.”

Garry Smits reported last week on planned changes after the 2016 Players.

Review: Discovering The Legend Film (Donald Ross)

Cob Carlson wrote, produced, directed and edited Donald Ross: Discovering The Legend. This loving two-hour documentary is a combination of classic life story and architectural analysis accurately depicting the incredible journey made by the Dornoch-born Scotsman.

Carlson's film surprises at key moments both early and late in the documentary with its telling of Ross's courageous journey to America, the tragic passing of his first wife and later, his fiance, followed by his late-in-life years of reflections. Aided by strong guest cameos (Nicklaus, Crenshaw) and the reading of letters from Ross's great grandson, Discovering The Legend manages to capture the magnitude of Ross's impact on American golf. More profound than his architectural career is his classic immigrant story and the powerful reminder that so many made courageous journeys to the United States with little more than the tools of their trade.

You can purchase the film for $20 here, as well as see options for multiple copies for your fellow Ross course green committee members. There are also film extras at the offical site.

I was inspired by the film to make a year-end contribution to the Tufts Archives, which is featured in the film and is housing so many Ross plans and artifacts.

Here is the trailer:

Donald Ross Trailer 12/15 from Cob Carlson on Vimeo.

I interviewed Carlson on Morning Drive this week:

We discussed the film and who would play Ross in a feature film after the interview.

Video: 2016 Award Nominees, Redan, Doak's Reversible Course

In the spirit of movie awards season, Gary Williams, Matt Ginella and I kick around who we see grabbing the year-end awards next year as a harmless way to preview some of 2016's starring courses.

Matt Ginella's visit to Tom Doak's reversible course under construction.

Ginella and I discuss the Redan.

Video & Reminder: Architecture Week, Ogilvy-Clayton Friday

The four man team behind Ogilvy-Clayton-Cocking-Mead will be in studio to talk design as Morning Drive's Architecture Week continues. Jack Nicklaus checks in from the PNC Father-Son, and we'll talk about his design influences, plus some other fun features.

In case you missed it today, we talked about the legacy of Pete Dye, defined the Penal Design school, discussed some Keiser/USGA and ASGCA news and covered the re-opening of Innisbrook. Wednesday we had a fun segment with John Cook on the simulator taking us through Old Course strategy.

The fun starts at 7:30 am ET.

Video: The Template Holes And Golf Design

We tried to celebrate the importance of "template" holes like the Redan and Eden on Morning Drive. But I felt it was also important to explain that they were very much devices used by early architects to "brand" a certain kind of strategic golf to turn-of-the-century Americans who only knew geometric rubbish golf courses.
One of the key distinctions, as discussed: applying the principles of the template holes where they fit. Not all architects do that and often are met with resistance from golfers when they do so.

Check out the discussion:

Tillie! Celebrating The Architect Extraordinaire

I try not to think about the induction of A.W. Tillinghast to the World Golf Hall of Fame because all I can see are PGA Tour pros talking about playing a few of his courses.

So with this year's induction still in our tailights, Morning Drive's Architecture Week coverage decided to pay homage to a man who was more than a master golf architect. Tillinghast led one of the most remarkable and productive lives in our game's history, enriching our lives in ways few others have.

Our short tribute and discussion, produced by Katie Miller:

And our discussion: