PGA Tour, PGA of America Issue Statements On Georgia Voting Law, Stand By Upcoming Events

G.C. Digital has the statements from the PGA Tour (Tour Championship, RSM Classic) and PGA of America (KPMG Women’s PGA) standing by their upcoming events in Georgia after MLB pulled its All-Star Game over the state Senate’s move to change voting laws.

The PGA Tour statement rightfully leans heavily on East Lake’s mission as the basis to stay put:

At the heart of the PGA Tour’s charitable mission is a commitment to serving and supporting communities where we play, across the country and around the world. In Georgia, this commitment has resulted in more than $38 million generated for local charitable organizations since the Tour Championship – our season-ending event – moved to Atlanta in 1998. The Tour Championship’s commitment to East Lake has helped our partners transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and thriving ones, which is a key to ending the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

The charitable and economic benefits that have led to these substantial changes would not continue if we simply walked away from those in need. We intend to maintain our commitment to the East Lake Foundation, Grove Park Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and First Tee of Metro Atlanta by staging the Tour Championship at the East Lake Golf Club in September. We love these partners, and we will work with them to continue to deliver much-needed support and influence positive change.

Our intention to stage an event in a particular market should not be construed as indifference to the current national conversation around voting rights. The PGA Tour fully supports efforts to protect the right of all Americans to vote and to eliminate any barriers that may prevent citizens’ voices from being heard and counted. It is the foundation of our great country and a critical national priority to listen to the concerns about voter suppression – especially from communities of color that have been marginalized in the past – and work together to make voting easier for all citizens.

The PGA of America is "monitoring developments”:

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a partnership between three organizations committed to diversity, equity and inclusion: PGA of America, LPGA and KPMG. Like many entities, we are monitoring developments related to the new state legislation on voting access. We believe elections should be accessible, fair and secure, and support broad voter participation.

Even PGA National Is Getting Into The Fun Game

Before we settle in for the Bear’s Trap references as an uninspired Honda Classic field gets around PGA National, very close by avictory for the “f word” effort is underway.

Len Ziehm explains how PGA National Resort and Spa “is undergoing a major change” by letting architect Andy Staples redo the 1983 George and Tom Fazio “Squire” course into something…fun!

One of Staples’ works will be a nine-hole par-3 course that utilizes the space that was The Squire’s first and 18th holes. The remaining 16 holes are being transformed into a shorter 5,744-yard 18-hole course. Staples calls the dual project a “reimagining” rather than a renovation.

Yes, in the name of fun. The word that used to be so scary not long ago.

Staples:

“I had said, ‘You’ve got the difficult golf.’ You can get your brains beat out in playing The Champion, then come out here (to the nearby new courses) and actually like golf,” Staples said. “The greens (on the new courses) will be challenging, but they’ll be a completely different offering than the tough golf you get on the other courses.”

The par-3 course will have no set tee markers. One hole is designed to be played with a putter or with a rescue club chip. The real eye-catcher, though, will be the designated No. 5 hole. Players will be encouraged to tee off out of a bunker, and their 50-yard shot to the green is partially over water.

Ok that’s bold, but we’ll keep an open mind. Maybe more impressive than getting a place like PGA National to embrace the fun word? The transformation is taking place on a classic real estate development.

Great for the PGA of America to have this nearby as an example of how to re-imagine something for a modern game more receptive to fun.

Wait, you said what? They’re moving the headquarters? To Frisco? Ok, scratch that last PGA National though.

Timetable Offered For Resurrection Of West Palm Beach Muni

Tony Doris reports good news from West Palm Beach where a community trust will restore the shuttered muni. (Thanks to reader John for this.)

PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh is the primary figure helping bring together all sides and donations for the project hoping to start this summer with a fall 2022 reopening planned. The site will return 18 holes designed by Gil Hanse along with a short course, full range and modest clubhouse.

Doris writes:

To date, $22 million has been committed by donors, he said. The founding group is prepared to contribute about $3 million and is looking for like-minded Palm Beach County golfers to join them, he said.

The total of $35 million required to build and sustain the project will include no money from city coffers. It will come from individual donors and a limited number of corporate partners, Waugh said.

The entrance will be off Georgia Avenue, no longer off Forest Hill Boulevard and Parker Avenue. Assistant City Administrator Armando Fana said that Georgia Avenue might require landscaping or other beautification but what form that would take and who would pay has not been decided.

2022 Drive, Chip And Putt Registration Opens, Stellar Set Of Regional Sites Await

Parents and kids you probably know the drill by now: create an account and sign up for the next Drive, Chip and Putt in 2022.

And because it’s the world we live in, they’ve added Health and Safety Guidelines to read up on. But it’s all worth the opportunity to get to Augusta National or even the regional finals.

Now about the competition: Subregional, Regional and National Finals are again part of the equation.

Once again the USGA, PGA of America and Augusta National Golf Club have secured some amazing venues for the Regional Finals. So even if a trip to Augusta doesn’t happen, just making the Regional final will expose the youngsters to a very special place in the game. And Quail Hollow too.

From the DCP press release:

These regional venues, featuring several USGA and PGA Championship sites, include: Medinah Country Club, Oak Hill Country Club, Colorado Golf Club, Quail Hollow Club, TPC River Highlands, Pebble Beach Golf Links, TPC Scottsdale, Alotian Club, The Bear’s Club and Oakland Hills Country Club.

Saturday, September 11 | Medinah Country Club (Site of four USGA championships, including three U.S. Opens; and host of two PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup)

Sunday, September 19 | Oak Hill Country Club (Site of six USGA championships, including three U.S. Opens; and host of three PGA Championships, the 1995 Ryder Cup and two KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships. Oak Hill will also host the 2023 PGA Championship)

Sunday, September 19 | Colorado Golf Club (Site of the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and 2010 Senior PGA Championship)

Saturday, September 25 | Quail Hollow Club (Site of the 2017 PGA Championship and the host of the 2025 PGA Championship)

Poor Presidents Cup.

Sunday, September 26 | TPC River Highlands (Site of the Travelers Championship)

Sunday, September 26 | Pebble Beach Golf Links (Site of 13 USGA championships, including six U.S. Opens, and the future site of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open and 2027 U.S. Open; and host of the 1977 PGA Championship)

Sunday, September 26 | TPC Scottsdale (Site of the Waste Management Phoenix Open)

Saturday, October 2 | Alotian Club (Site of the 2013 Western Amateur Championship and 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup)

Sunday, October 3 | The Bear’s Club (Founded December 31, 1999 by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus)

Saturday, October 16 | Oakland Hills Country Club (Site of 11 USGA championships, including six U.S. Opens; and host of three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup)

The (Current) Major Pecking Order, Part II

The week-long wait is over and paying Quadrilateral subscribers have received The (Current) Major Pecking Order, Part II.

Part I is here.

For more on The Quadrilateral go here or sign up now!

News And Notes: Major Media Move Speculation, Landmark (Watch) Deals

This week’s major notes cover the gamut with a little Ryder Cup news thrown in.

The media items alone are fun to consider—unless your job depends on it—and suggest we’re in for a lively period of change in how and where we consume the big events.

The weekly notes are free for all subscribers so sign up. And here is more on how The Quadrilateral works, now one month and 17 editions in. Thanks to all who’ve signed up.

PGA Tour: No Rangefinders In The Foreseeable Future

Well you can cross one theory off the list: the PGA of America was not doing the PGA Tour a favor by allowing rangefinders at their majors.

In Alex Miceli’s MorningRead.com in-depth story on the use of distance measuring devices at the PGA of America majors, he features a statement from the Tour:

“The PGA Tour conducted a four-tournament test of Distance Measuring Devices on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017, with varying results,” the Tour said in a statement released Tuesday. “We decided at the time to continue to prohibit their use in official competitions on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour for the foreseeable future. We will evaluate the impact rangefinders have on the competition at the PGA of America's championships in 2021 and will then review the matter with our player directors and the Player Advisory Council.”

Players are welcoming the news but also suggesting they don’t see the devices as a vital tool in competition. Brentley Romine reports for GolfChannel.com.

Caddies are even less excited, reports GolfDigest.com’s Brian Wacker.

Quadrilateral: What Drove The PGA To Allow Rangefinders?

My Quadrilateral take on today’s random news from the PGA of America.

The announcement on rangefinders is here.

This latest newsletter is for my trusty paid subscribers. Thanks again for the support! For more on the Quadrilateral check out the standalone site here.

PGA Of America To Allow Rangefinders At Its Majors, Effective Immediately

A couple of oddities with this PGA of America announcement:

• It was made by the current president, with no quote or comment from the CEO or Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh.

• The use of the world “flow” instead of speed of play (perhaps because faster rounds are a myth?).

• No supporting evidence of or evidence how “flow” is improved.

• No mention of demand from players for their use, examples of such use in elite professional competition, or support of other leading organizations.

• No clarification whether the senior-athlete golfers in the KitchenAid will be able to also access their cart GPS systems. Those are common within the game as well.

The full press release is here.

PGA OF AMERICA TO ALLOW FOR USE OF DISTANCE-MEASURING DEVICES DURING ITS MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEGINNING IN 2021

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (February 9, 2021) – The PGA of America today announced that, beginning in 2021, the use of distance-measuring devices will be allowed during competition rounds at its three annual Major Championships: the PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

“We’re always interested in methods that may help improve the flow of play during our Championships,” said Jim Richerson, President of the PGA of America. “The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf.  Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”

With this announcement, the distance-measuring devices used by players and/or caddies in PGA of America Championships will need to conform to the Rules of Golf regarding their use and performance:

Rule 4.3a (1)

Distance and Directional Information.

●      Allowed: Getting information on distance or direction (such as from a distance-measuring device or compass).

●      Not Allowed: Measuring elevation changes, or, interpreting distance or directional information (such as using a device to get a recommended line of play or club selection based on the location of the player's ball).

This policy will debut with the 2021 PGA Championship, which will be played at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, from May 17-23. The PGA Championship perennially features the strongest field in golf based on the Official World Golf Rankings.

Strong field super-human athletes apparently needing the support of a petite and pricey device.

Shocking Equipment Proposal Sets Up Major(s) Skirmish

My latest in The Quadrilateral takes a look at the surprising aggressiveness of the governing bodies proposing equipment rule changes and how the men’s majors will get caught in the middle.

One follow-up note since this paid subscriber-only piece was posted: the PGA of America offered a statement in response to my request for comment.

"We look forward to providing feedback once we have the opportunity to review the areas of interest."

Augusta National Golf Club has not responded to a request regarding Tuesday’s rollout and what it might mean for The Masters.

Southern Hills Lands The 2022 PGA Championship And Why That's A Tremendous "Get"

The PGA of America selects Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., to host the 2022 PGA Championship from May 16-22. Excited to return to SHCC for the fifth time. The course offers a tough-but-fair test for the strongest field in golf. pic.twitter.com/Etkh81dC0X

— PGA of America (@PGA) January 25, 2021

The more I looked back at all of the wacky things that have gone on at Southern Hills the more I got excited by two things: this time around the course will have more refined architecture and fewer trees, meaning we might even see some of those cool features.

And it won’t be 100 degrees. Every PGA at Southern Hills I attended or read about has seen temps in the mid-90s to topping the century mark. That’s not conducive to anything but butt sweats, dehydration and dead bent.

My Quadrilateral assessment of the PGA of America scoring the best possible outcome for 2022 with so little time to find a Trump Bedminster replacement. And as reader Kevin noted in the comments, the decision to avoid a quick return to Bethpage protects their golfers and protects the 2025 Ryder Cup there. A similar thing could be said for Valhalla, which remains in 2024 and the time away will be good for fans and players.

I wrote a past letter about the need to find a course that can stand with other elite 2022 venues. Mission accomplished.

The PGA of America did not issue a press release as of this post but did send this announcement to their members:

Besides the May date and the club’s history of hosting, the restoration will be of great interest this spring and next. The Fried Egg’s excellent coverage of the Hanse Design “resto-vation” and featuring Garrett Morrison’s write up.

There is also this fantastic overview of drone footage that should get the 2022 juices flowing.

News And Notes From The Majors: Par 3 Contest, Chambers And The PGA, Plus More

Here is my second ever Thursday news and notes newsletter, this time landing on an actual Thursday. If you subscribed it’s already in your inbox in Substack’s gloriously readable format.

Check out here at the Quadrilateral’s home page to read more on the Masters Par 3 contest, Chambers Bay, early Ryder Cup rumblings and a nice designation for Chicago Golf Club.

If you’ve been in a coma, here is my easy explainer site for the newsletter.

Past issues can be read here now for free, but some content will soon be behind the dreaded paywall including a piece I’m excited about (likely next week depending on Friday news dumps).

And here to subscribe.

Thanks to all for the amazing early support!

PGA's 2022 Decision: Brookline, The Old Course And...?

From golfmajorchampionships.com

In the latest edition of The Quadrilateral, subscribers will already have seen my case that the PGA of America needs to consider how their 2022 PGA site will look next to The Country Club and Old Course.

If bizarro favorite Liberty National gets the call, that means Jersey City, Brookline and St Andrews? No offense to Jersey City, but probably not the place to play in a year you’re going to the home of Ouimet and the birthplace of golf.

Major(s) News Week: January 15, 2021

A new edition of The Quadrilateral is out to subscribers.

A wrap-up of majors news, including the historic pivot from Donald Trump plus other random notes, heavily tilted toward The Masters just 84 days from now.

Learn more here or just go ahead and subscribe here. The options; Free, $5 a month, $49 a year or a $150 founding membership that includes a free subscription for a friend.

"A Different Order Of Magnitude" For Trump In Losing Major Championship Ties

There was no intention to neglect the blog this week for The Quadrilateral but as I mentioned in explaining the newsletter, major championship news happens year-round.

Today I recap Donald Trump’s not-surprising reaction to the PGA and R&A cutting all ties with the outgoing President and also have a lighter note on the 2022 betting race.

Yes, you can get a price on venues decided on by a board of golf professionals. What a world.