Dear Friends of Hooked on Golf
I have yet to hear from many of you, some may recall that your ideas and resulting dialogue is at the foundation of this enterprise. Lofty way of saying: Write me at gspaeth@sbcglobal.net
USGA Meeting
The USGA met in San Francisco the first week of February. And what did it accomplish? What should it have accomplished? Remember, this is the organization which represents the interests of golf, and particularly amateurs.
I am told that the ceremony surrounding the presentation of the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, to Louise Suggs, was a sensational and entirely appropriate honor.
Excessive distance golf balls
I noticed in the press releases that there was nothing about dealing with the excessive distance that the golf ball seems to go when hit by professionals and good amateurs, thereby rendering great golf courses no longer worthy. A problem, I think so, unless you make fairways ten yards wide and the rough four inches high, both of which are not “golf”.
Playoff Formats
It was interesting to see the report that the playoff format for the U.S. Women’s Open will be changed to a three-hole play-off. "This makes sense for the players, fans, volunteers, vendors, the general media and our broadcast partners regarding the Women’s Open," said USGA President Walter Driver. Not so sure about the “players?” What about the person in the playoff who finished her round and hour and a half beforehand? Advantage? Disadvantage? Who knows?
That means that the only Championship with a full 18 hole play-off is the United Sates Open. The Open in Britain, the Masters, and the PGA have all changed to brief, quick and immediate play-offs for their titles.
Should the U.S. Open follow in this trend? I want your views. One has to assume that there is pressure to make the change.
It has always been my view that 18 holes is the right “size” event for a shoot out to determine who is our national champion. There is less chance for something fluky to occur. Breaks tend to balance out, the longer the game. Surely the poorer player is given a better chance in a quasi sudden death format than he would have in a conventional 18 hole match. If Frances Ouimet had won in a three hole playoff at Brookline in 1913 would it have been as powerful a happening as what actually happened: He beat Vardon and Ray over 18 holes, and did so decisively.
During my last four years at the USGA we had three play-offs, and what occasions they were! The grounds were absolutely packed. The intensity was enormous and the TV coverage was incredible. Golf courses in pristine condition, with everyone apprehensive and on edge. Good stuff indeed!
In 1989, the U.S. Open outcome was in doubt until the 17th hole. Nick Faldo hit an absolutely superb 7 iron into the back of the green, where the flagstick had been placed, but his ball crept over the green, maybe two feet, but not more than ten true feet from the hole. Curtis Strange pushed his ball into the right bunker but came out unbelievably, inches from the hole. Faldo could not get up and down from his deep lie, and Strange had the Championship.
Hale Irwin, at Medina, was one down at the 18th tee to Mike Donald, who boogied 18 and then lost on the first playoff hole. Unbelievable stuff. Donald slipped in oblivion after that, seldom to be heard from again
At Hazeltine, Payne Stewart came from two down on the 16th tee with a birdie to Scott Simpson’s bogey, to win over Simpson, a fabulous match which went to Stewart on the 17th green.
All in all these were sensational, thorough and complete matches, the winners having earned the title with four hours of very hard, competitive challenge, playing out what we all consider the basic unit of golf, 18 holes.
And it strikes me that the system works. That it is an inconvenience to those running or covering the event should not result in degrading the methodology for crowning the champion. At least that is my view. My friend Jerry Pate, when a TV journalist,used to complain about having to stay over an extra day, cancel planes and other engagements, and that upset him. One time I countered: “Jerry, if you were playing me in a play-off for the US Open, how many holes would you want to play?” Answer, “Obviously, 18”. Enough said.
