In this autobiographical piece published in Golf Digest you can read an amazing story of Valentino Dixon using his talent for art and his discovery of the serenity of golf course images as a way to help reconcile the time he is spending incarcerated in the Attica New York Correctional Facility.

Considering that he has never played a round of golf in his life, his understanding and interpretation of the peace we all find in the natural surroundings of the game we love is astounding.  An artist must find a subject to interpret and how, from the lonely trappings of a 6 x 10 foot cell, he has landed on golf landscapes as his inspiration is hard to fathom.

His explanation of what his artistic expression means to him in keeping a perspective and hope about righting his situation is moving.  If Bob Dylan played golf he would certainly have written a song about Valentino.  But that is to trivialize his situation and he deserves better than that.

Whether you believe his assertion of innocence or not, you can understand how art has been a vehicle to his survival and that is a testimony to human perseverance on it’s own.

(Click to read Valentino Dixon’s “Drawings From Prison”)

Valentino Dixon

with Max Adler

Golf Digest

July, 2012

One last shared memory for Tim and Winn that only golf could bring (photo by Will Galloway)

Golf has always provided a valuable venue for the development of a father/son relationship.  It offers a unique opportunity to share the joys and disappointments that the game can throw at us-a great learning opportunity on how to deal with challenges in our day to day lives.

This story by John Strege in Golf World magazine documents one of those cherished moments with a very poignant twist.   Winn Galloway, like many young boys, was introduced to golf by his dad Tim as a wee tot and the two of them shared Winn’s developing love for the game through his high school years.

On a family vacation that took them down the California coast they made there way to Pebble Beach where they had the opportunity for a brief visit to the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links.  The two of them decided that some day they would play this storied links together as the ultimate father/son golf experience.

Fast forward a decade and Tim is diagnosed with thyroid cancer and began a valiant battle against the disease that would eventually take his life.  Winn decided they needed one last golf memory that “we could talk about for a long time, and if he passed away, a memory I could hold on to”.

With his health declining quickly and his ability to play the golf course rapidly disappearing Winn arranged for a swan song round at Pebble to create this father/son memory.   As we all know, a golf course can provide a wonderful canvas for documenting a shared experience.

As you will read, Winn gave his Dad the finest Father’s Day present he could ever imagine-a true Pebble Beach memory.

(Click to read John Strege’s heartening article “A Day To Remember”)

John Strege

Golfworld

June, 2012

When it comes to American golf writers  there is little doubt that, as Bing Crosby said,  Herbert Warren Wind was the dean of them all.  In this article by Furman Bisher for Sports Illustrated he talks of Wind’s personal relationship with Bobby Jones and his special connection to the The Masters.

There is a stateliness to the fabric of The Masters.  Much of it has been the result eloquent descriptive writings of people like Wind who seared dramatic images into our memory banks of the golf contested at Augusta.

Bisher knew Herbert Warren Wind rather well, “He and I were, in our prime, course walkers, and there we came to know each better than we would have otherwise. We followed the game wherever our inkling took us, and there was no more inviting venue than Augusta National when the Masters was in play.”

Bisher pays the highest tribute to Wind when he says, “When one writer writes of another writer, such as Herbert Warren Wind, modesty comes easily. Envy is a professional response, and so it is that when I read Herb’s handiwork on golf, and golf at the Masters, I have read golf in its truest form.”

(Click to read Furman Bisher’s article “Gospel Truth”)

Furman Bisher

Sports Illustrated

April, 2011

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Furman Bisher, a columnist for the Atlanta Constitution, has been a “Masters Storyteller” as well, covering the event for 62 consecutive years with insightful prose until his passing in March of 2012.

In this tribute article in Sports Illustrated by Gary Van Sickle you can read a wonderful excerpt from a book Bisher wrote called “Augusta Revisited: An Intimate View”.  It describes the atmosphere once the tournament is over and the award presentations are done.  A delightful description of the remorse we feel when something eagerly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed is over.

Reading this is a wonderful tribute to another gifted American writer who has entertained and educated us for over a half century with his writings on golf.  For all those who follow golf his voice will be greatly missed.

(Click to read Gary Van Sickle’s article “The Long Goodbye”)

Gary Van Sickle

Sports Illustrated

April, 2012

Herbert Warren Wind (usgamuseum.com)

Ever wish you could sneak into the study of a great writer and rummage through their desk to see just where all that genius comes from.  Better yet, how about getting to read some personal letters from major celebrities and stars in the game they wrote so eloquently about.  Well here is your chance.

Golf Digest recently published this short piece called “Treasured Links:  Letters To Herbert Warren Wind” which are original letters written to him from people like Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Bing Crosby, Arthur Schlesinger, and others.

Herbert Warren Wind wrote about golf and other sports for The New Yorker
and Sports Illustrated for over 50 years,  His famous books include co-authoring Hogan’s “Five Lessons: Modern Fundamentals of Golf” and “Following Through-Writings On Golf” a collection of his writings about everything from The President’s Putter Competition to his first sight of the Links at Ballybunion.

There are some whimsical ones from fellow writers like George Plimpton and P.G. Woodhouse as well as a number of solemn letters from Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen.  My favorite is the one from Bing Crosby thanking him for a wood shafted putter Wind had sent him as a present and giving Wind his thoughts about the U.S. Open coming to Pebble Beach for the first time in 1972.

Revealed in these short letters is evidence of his connection with all the central characters of golf over it’s developmental years.  These relationships helped fashion and enhance the intimacy of his writing.  This was another time when the relationships of writers and protagonists were shaped by mutual conciliation not confrontation.

Unfortunately, with just 13 of these letters, your stay in his study is too short,  There must have been a sound in the hallway that sent you scurrying back out the window.

(Click to read Golf Digest’s presentation of “Letters to Herbert Warren Wind”)

Golf Digest

May, 2012

Much like an investor in a hedge fund to whom the Black Box strategy of investing and the 2% administrator/20% shared profit fees make them wonder whose interest is really being served in this investment, the average golf fan scratches his head when he tries to make sense of the list of the 50 top players in the world as determined by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

As you can read in this Golf World article by Mike Stachura there is a built in set of biases that make the Official World Golf Rankings anything but objective. The points are pre-weighted based on a tournament’s subjectively judged and assigned importance by the gurus of the OWGR. As he says in the article this approach is, “making a methodology based on a pre-weighting of those tours open to charges of randomness and even political favoritism”.

The system was created by Mark McCormack, the original super agent who ran IMG and his agenda was clearly to promote the game through the players from his camp.  Of his effort McCormack said it is the “answer to the grill room question.  I have it all now, the gall, the system and the conviction and am prepared to defend this first statistical presentation of who is the best, regardless of where they play, how much money they win, what their stroke averages are, and all normal ways of judging golfers”.  Now that sounds objective to me.

The system became “official” when it was embraced by the five major tours in 1997 and it’s methods have been tweaked regularly to make it more credible.  But the statistical methodology is still secretive and subject to the same biases so obscure players playing in obscure events benefit from higher rankings than guys who are much more household names to regular golf fans.  In effect the OWGR’s real purpose seems to be as “an effective marketing tool for global golf”.

This article discusses a proposal from two Ivy League professors, Mark Broadie and Richard Rendleman who would like to see the rankings based on more standard statistical models.  They argue their approach would remove the biases and present a more understandable and credible ranking of the best players in the world.  Considering how important a top 50 ranking is to a player’s income flow this would be a welcome change to the tour players.

A more objective approach to the OWGR would put it’s purpose back to answering the simple grill room question and put the marketing of global golf back in the hands of the Madison Avenue crew where it belongs.

(Click to read Mike Stachura’s article “An Outside The Box Proposal”)

Mike Stachura

Golf World

April, 2012

If you want a little less sophisticated but equally intriguing approach to resolving the problems of the current Official World Gold Rankings read this article on J.S. Elliot’s Fantasy Golf Report website.

He would like to see the rankings be based solely on the head-to-head play of the best players in the world so it is all about their performance at the Majors, the World Golf Championships, and The Players Championship.  There is logic to this approach because most fans would agree that surviving the pressure cooker created by these events is the appropriate measure of who is the best player in the world.

(Click to read Fantasy Golf Report’s “FGR World Rankings)

J.S. Elliot

Fantasy Golf Report

April, 2012

Phil Mickelson has a way of connecting with people that brings back memories of Arnie in his heyday.  But, more importantly, Phil and Amy Mickelson have quietly devoted themselves to causes and individuals in the community who need their support.

As you can read in this article by Alan Shipnuck for Golf.Com, the list of folks that have seen their lives improved by the Mickelson’s humble devotion to philanthropy is a long one indeed.  Many of the causes are very visible-the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy that helps train math and science teachers every summer or their Start Smart program that provides kids from low income school districts in San Diego with school supplies and clothing each fall.

Many others are off the radar entirely, like Phil’s relationship with David Finn, a young man who suffers from a mitochondrial disorder that keeps him wheel chair bound and makes communication with others very difficult.  Phil connected with David during a practice round at the 2005 PGA at Baltusrol by greeting him and handing him an autographed golf glove.  When Phil won his second breakthrough major a few days later, he had the presence of mind and concern to ask David if he would like to have a photo taken with Phil and The Wanamaker Trophy.  This was an act of dignity and humility that says all you need to know about Phil.

Maybe the most interesting fact to glean from Shipnuck’s article is that Phil and Amy’s foundation is funded solely by them.  Unlike many other celebrities, their foundation does not solicit money from others.  The causes this foundation supports are the beneficiaries of their personal philanthropic grace.

There are many other touching and revealing stories in this article.  It is evident that Phil and Amy’s impact on the world reaches far beyond the fame he has made for himself in the world of golf.

 (Click to read Alan Shipnuck’s article about Phil Mickelson’s philanthropy)

Alan Shipnuck

Golf.com

May, 2012

Photo-John Munson-Newark Star-Ledger

Talk about thinking out of the box, for the LPGA tour this defines it.  It is so crazy and unlikely to occur it is just worth debating in the abstract.

With the 2014 U.S. Open for both the men and women coming to Pinehurst #2 in succession, it becomes a legitimate conversation to stage major men’s and women’s events on the same course.  Putting the tees and pins in the right place for each group will result in an equally compelling competition with the same riveting factors capturing our attention.

So how cool would it be to see Suzann Pettersen and Yani Tseng agonizing over club selection on #12 or the decision to carry a second shot over Rae’s Creek into #13 while playing Amen Corner.

As Paula says in an intriguing article by Tommy Hicks on AL.com, “Are you kidding me? Of course that would be something. That’s when we’d know we had really made it, if something like that happened.”

You can take all the talk of Augusta being an all men’s club out of the conversation, it would clearly have to have changed for this to happen at all.  Once that occurred any objection on the part of the LPGA players playing there would dissipate in a heartbeat.

The more difficult question is whether the green jacketed decision makers at Augusta would consider giving their course away for another two-week period and whether they thought such an annual event might diminish some of the luster from “the grand daddy of em all” in April.  My suggestion is go to Pink Blazers and couple the event with proceeds supporting breast cancer research.  Talk about a win-win-win situation.

Equally problematic would be how much such an annual event might take away from the Kraft-Nabisco (a.k.a. Dinah Shore) which is the closest thing the ladies tour has to a major event that returns to the same venue every year.  But if you kept enough separation between them on the schedule I think that could be managed with proper PR.

This is not going anywhere but I think it will make for lively conversation among enlightened regular Saturday foursomes.

Who would a thunk we would get to the moon in a decade so this could be…….one small step for Augusta National….one giant leap for the LPGA.

(Click to read Tommy Hicks article on AL.com)

April, 2012

They say that as we get older we lose our conversational filter and share thoughts with others more freely than we would have in our youth.  So it is in a mythical conversation between Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, and Ben Hogan during “magic hour” overlooking the 18^th green from the veranda at Vahalla.

In a piece commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the birthday of three giants of the game, Mark Frost, our generation’s most talented golf historian, shares with us their intimate thoughts on the condition of today’s game.  He captures the individual persona’s of these iconic figures eavesdropping on their  19^th hole banter covering everything from how they used to walk five miles to school through the snow with holes in their shoes to the lack of defining personalities on tour to the effect of technology on the game today.

“The ball’s more jacked up than a Cuban cocktail,” says Sam. “They drive it with thunder sticks the size of toasters and can dial in distances with five different wedges like they’re firing a mortar. And these courses they play get more manicures than a Las Vegas hooker.”

They even weigh in on the fire hydrant incident and the likeliness that it’s protagonist can ever regain his position on the top of the heap.

Cleverly written this piece will make you laugh and contemplate in equal measure.  As only Mark Frost can, he brings refreshing historical perspective to the way we view the game today.

(Click to read Mark Frost’s “Drinks In Vahalla”)

Golf Digest Canada

April 2011

There is nothing more fun than watching old folks sing a song from their youth.  Watching Freddie shoot 67 at Augusta National today to take the second round lead of the Masters at 5 under par is about as fun as it gets.  He sure looked like he was having a good time singing that tune.

In his Los Angeles Times article today Bill Dwyre says, “With a golf club in his hands, Couples is 52 going on 30………In senior citizen centers all over the country, they were high-fiving each other with walking sticks and demanding extra warm milk”.

Augusta National brings out the best in Freddie’s game it always has.  He made the cut there about a bazillion times in a row and won the Green Jacket in 1992.  As Dwyre points out, Freddie has earned well over $2 million walking among these azalea bushes.

If you doubt that he can win this thing just note the spring in his Eccos and the magic in his putting stafff.  In his own words, “Can I win? I believe I can, yes”.

If it was cool to see Jack win the Masters in 1986 at 45 years old, how awesome would it be if Freddie pulled off the same at age 52?  Adrenaline meet nostalgia.  Freddie is seven years younger but this has that misty feel of Watson at Turnberry in 2009.  We just hope that father time doesn’t pay Freddie a rude visit between now and the final hike up 18 on Sunday.

Any way you look at it, there will be legions of Grecian Formula fans rooting for Freddie to keep hope alive for another two days.  Freddie in a Green Jacket when the Fat Lady Sings……that would be cool indeed.

(Click to read Bill Dwyre’s “Putting, Not Puttering, Couples Shares Masters Lead”)

Bill Dwyre

Los Angeles Times

April, 2012

For an amateur who has had the privilege to play The Masters their experience at this revered place began in “The Crow’s Nest”, a secluded living space in the upper reaches of the Augusta National clubhouse.  Many of those amateurs return to play again, many of them become winners of the coveted Green Jacket.  But for all of them, the first Masters memories they have are of this cloistered living space and times of discovery shared with other young men they lived with that week in Georgia.

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Dave Kindred’s wonderful Golf Digest article “Boys To Men” describes the experience of living Masters week as an amateur in the Crow’s Nest at Augusta National.  Through stories told by the young players who carry first images of the place indelibly etched in their minds, he reveals what a rite of passage it is for a player to unveil the mysteries that surround the hallowed place that Bobby Jones built.

Stairway to heaven? (Don Furore golfdigest.com)

The challenge begins with finding the Crow’s Nest.  There are no signs, no directions offered to where it is-just that it is on top of the clubhouse above the second floor.  They eventually discover through a door on the second floor marked TELEPHONE, down a hall, another innocuous looking door that when opened reveals a carpeted stairway that looks like it is ascending to heaven.  Appropriately there is a portrait of Bobby Jones himself staring down at them from above at the top of the stairway.

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The rooms are simple but somewhat surreal.  Kindred says, “If not a dorm room–the place whispers rather than shouts–it might be your grandmother’s place: quiet, cozy, immaculate. Its ancient timbers are painted a white as pure as that of the robes, fringed bedspreads and bathroom ceramics. Sunlight falls in from the high cupola’s four sets of windows. The room is all shining whites and Masters greens.”

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These are stories of 20 year olds who are living a childhood dream of playing in a major tournament and the last thing they were thinking about was decorum and rules.  Indiscretion has them climbing on to the roof in their skivvies to check the morning weather or walking into prohibited places like the Champions locker room or hastily trying to make it to their tee time and nearly running down Gene Sarazen or Byron Nelson in the hallway or staying out so late that they have to clandestinely climb the fence to get back on the property.

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The black and whites on the wall make you realize this is a place of great history.  “Lloyd Mangrum signs autographs for wounded soldiers. Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson walk to the sixth green. Lean and hungry, his arms a blacksmith’s, Arnold Palmer stands in a fairway, young, strong and alive.”

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It is like sleeping in a museum  with voices of the past  whispering from the rafters. This article is a scrapbook of the compiled memories of greats like Nicklaus, Watson, and Crenshaw and lesser greats like Billy Andrade, David Chung, and Don Cherry.  Recollections of youthful fascination and discovery provide a unique perspective on the eve of the annual ritual we call The Masters.

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(Click to read Dave Kindred’s Golf Digest article ‘Boys to Men’)

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Dave Kindred

Golf Digest April, 2012