By Phil Kosin in Advertising on April 2, 2009
By Phil Kosin in Great thoughts on July 3, 2009
Declaration of Independence
Here is the complete text of the Declaration of Independence. The original spelling and capitalization have been retained.
(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)
The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Read More…
By Phil Kosin in Chicagoland Golf Radio Show on July 3, 2009
July 4
Marty Joyce, Long Drive champion, trick shot artist
Mike Small, Illini golf coach, 2009 PGA Professional National Champion
Call-in number: 312-644-6767
Or email your questions & comments to: info@chicagolandgolf.com. Guests subject to change.
The Chicagoland Golf Radio Show is heard in 38 states and four Canadian provinces on CBS Radio 50,000-watt clear channel WSCR TheScore 670 AM. You can listen live at www.670thescore.com or download or listen to a podcast here.
__________________________________________________________________
For the interesting and revealing article discussed on the show
– with illustrative videos –
“You Call That a Strike?! Why does Major League Baseball
use an outdated, misleading camera angle to show the batter and pitcher?
click here.
Marty Joyce may be reached for lessons and trick shot shows
by calling (708) 212-4653
By Phil Kosin in PGA Tour, There Oughta be a Law on July 2, 2009
 From our friend Gary D’Amato at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on vandalism at Brown Deer Park, which hosts the PGA Tour U.S. Bank Championship July 9-12, starting seven days from today:
“The golf course maintenance staff at Brown Deer Park is in a race against time to get the 17th green in playable condition just two weeks before the 42nd annual U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
“About 60% of the putting surface on No. 17 was damaged by vandals on the night of June 23, according to tournament director Dan Croak. The damage likely was caused by a motorcycle or motorcycles.”
By Phil Kosin in Golf equipment, Rules of Golf, USGA on June 30, 2009
Misapplying sports terminology, the PGA Tour Policy Board decided to punt today on the grooves issue.
There wasn’t even a vote. No explanation was given, but by their inaction the four players on the board avoided conflicts of interest with the equipment companies that pay them handsomely to use their equipment.
Most equipment companies have been in favor of postponing the change or abandoning it altogether.
So the ultimate decision was left to PGA Tour commish Tim Finchem, who decided that to postpone the groove change would be detrimental. It will take effect as proposed, on January 1, 2010, putting the PGA Tour in lockstep with the R&A and USGA, who cooked up the new specs. Read More…
By Phil Kosin in Golf equipment, Legal actions, PGA Tour, Royal & Ancient, Rules of Golf, USGA on June 30, 2009
 Today the PGA Tour Policy Board will vote on the adoption of a Condition of Competition regarding the USGA’s new groove rule. Click on the link for an easy-to-understand primer and history of groove rules as a refresher.
This is a very, very big deal for all golfers. Reasons below.
PGA Tour commish Tim Finchem will find out just how much influence he has on the board. Informal polls say rank-and-file players are against the adoption of the new grooves specs for 2010 by at least 3-1. The players on the policy board will vote no, too. Votes from all five non-player members on the board could override the players’ votes, but that has never happened.
Titleist CEO Wally Uihlein wants the groove change postponed, citing the current economy as one reason. Read More…
By Phil Kosin in Chicago events, Local golf on June 30, 2009
These arrived via email and were originally published May 15, 2009. I brought this post back to the top and will keep it there because it is still very active. Please feel free to add your own sentiments in “Comments”:
City Am Jackson Park
I am interested to know what your readers and players think of what Casper golf is charging for the City Amateur. Last year [under KemperSports] it was $60.00 for qualifying and once you qualified that was the full price. Now it is $150.00 and no qualifying. We are all interested in what you at Chicagoland Golf think is a fair price.
– DC10Captain
Kosin reply: What, no coupon deal for this? Seriously, I can’t believe they’re making wholesale changes in the first year of a new contract in this economy. I think the old format and prices were just fine. Nothing was broke and needed fixing. Did they ask the golfers themselves for any input?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Keep the City Am Alive!!! Phil Kosin!
I am writing about what Billy Casper Golf is and maybe trying to do to the Chicago City Am. First off, they have just inherited 4 of Chicago’s amateur golf tournaments. The Cook County at Marquette Golf course, The city am at Jackson Park (Over 100 years old one of the oldest am tourneys in the world), The midwest am at Marovitz golf course, and The International at R. Black GC. Read More…
By Phil Kosin in Chicagoland Golf Radio Show on June 26, 2009
June 27
Roy Biancalana, Former Tour player now life coach
Todd Sones, Top 50 instructor, founder Coutour Golf
Call-in number: 312-644-6767
Or email your questions & comments to: info@chicagolandgolf.com. Guests subject to change.
The Chicagoland Golf Radio Show is heard in 38 states and four Canadian provinces on CBS Radio 50,000-watt clear channel WSCR TheScore 670 AM. You can listen live at www.670thescore.com or download or listen to a podcast here.
By Phil Kosin in TV golf, Tiger Woods, U.S. Open, USGA on June 23, 2009
 109th U.S. Open Championship
Farmingdale, NY - June 18-21, 2009
Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Par: 35-35-7 - 7,426 yards
Weather (Monday): Mostly cloudy. Winds N 15-25 mph. High of 73.
The final round, which got underway at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, was completed on Monday at 1:20 p.m. ET. NBC and ESPN televised live the entire day’s action, which in my opinion was the Best Scrambling of the 2009 National Open, right from the horn to start play just after 9 a.m. Like Ricky Barnes, did you wonder all Sunday night what would evolve from that ugly, bushy lie in the schmutz he had when he marked his ball and called it a day? Now if those guys in green jackets would do likewise for their invitational’s 72 holes, wouldn’t life be grand?
Read More…
By Phil Kosin in TV golf, U.S. Open, USGA on June 21, 2009
If not, he did a great job of clearing the high fescue in front of his ball. You be the judge, click on “comments” to opine.
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 21, 2009
TV Update: Monday on ESPN 8 to 10:30 a.m., then NBC from 10:30 to finish or live on the web starting 8 a.m. at nbcsports.msnbc.com
Sunday weather: Cloudy, muggy with a few sprinkles. Winds N 10-20 mph. High of 70.
Ricky Barnes posted a third-round even-par 70 to sit at 8-under 202, one stroke ahead of Lucas Glover (70) and five clear of David Duval (70) and Ross Fisher (69). But he will restart his final round Monday morning in the knee-high schmutz left of the second fairway. He bogeyed at the first to fall back into a tie with Lucas Glover, his playing partner, at 7-under.
Tiger Woods birdied his final hole (No. 7) in near-darkness and will restart Monday morning on 8 tee at level par. No one ahead of Woods on the leaderboard is under par for the final round. Read More…
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 21, 2009
At this moment they’re trying to get the third round restarted at Bethpage.
As usually happens at a U.S. Open because it is such a tough ticket and not everyone can attend all four days, there are many spectators who partnered up and split a season ticket with others. Most draw straws or cut cards to determine order of choice. The opening round is often the least-desirable choice.
So for them and one-day corporate guests who had Thursday tickets, the Biblical downpours that turned this U.S. Open slopfest (as SI’s Gary Van Sickle is calling it) turns out to be a bonus in disguise. Looks like they will now get to see the final round finish (weather permittin’). From the USGA this morning:
Read More…
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 20, 2009
Note: Sunday TV coverage expanded, now 10 a.m. to finish on NBC
Saturday Weather: Cloudy, with afternoon showers. Winds SE 10-15 mph. High of 66.
The second round resumed at 7:24 a.m. on Saturday and was completed at 4:05 p.m. The third round began at 5:30 p.m. with twosomes off of split tees.
The cut came at 4-over 144, with 60 players advancing to the final two rounds. It equals the second-lowest cut in U.S. Open history:
2003 Olympia Fields 143 (3-over)
1993 Baltusrol 144 (4-over)
2009 Bethpage Black 144 (4-over)
1985 Oakland Hills 145 (5-over)
1989 Oak Hill 145 (5-over)
2004 Shinnecock Hills 145 (5-over)
1990 Medinah 145 (1-over) Read More…
By Phil Kosin in Chicagoland Golf Radio Show on June 19, 2009
June 20
Bob Verdi, Golf World/Golf Digest senior writer from Bethpage Black
Mike Munro, founder MM Players Club
Call-in number: 312-644-6767
Or email your questions & comments to: info@chicagolandgolf.com. Guests subject to change.
The Chicagoland Golf Radio Show is heard in 38 states and four Canadian provinces on CBS Radio 50,000-watt clear channel WSCR TheScore 670 AM. You can listen live at www.670thescore.com or download or listen to a podcast here.
For more information on the MM Players Club, click here.
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 19, 2009
Weather: Mostly cloudy and warmer. Winds variable 4-8 mph. High of 75.
The first round resumed on Friday at 7:26 a.m. and concluded at 5:23 p.m.
Mike Weir opened the 109th U.S. Open Championship with a 6-under 64 to take the first-round lead by two strokes over Peter Hanson, falling just one stroke shy of the championship record of 63, set by Johnny Miller (R4, Oakmont, 1973), Jack Nicklaus (R1, Baltusrol, 1980), Tom Weiskopf (R1, Baltusrol, 1980) and Vijay Singh (R2, Olympia Fields/North, 2003).
Weir has been a model of consistency at the U.S. Open, making eight cuts in 10 previous starts and recording seven top-20 finishes. The best outing for the 2003 Masters champion was T3 in 2003, one year after missing the cut with rounds of 78-74 at Bethpage Black. Read More…
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 18, 2009
UPDATED
No matter how anybody attempts to spin this story, the 2009 U.S. Open is going to be a mess. Championship golf was not designed to be played in slop.
Starting at 7:30 Friday morning the opening round will restart. The second round will follow immediately afterwards, around 10 a.m. if all goes well. That’s the first “Big If”. There is a crew of over 200 groundworkers and volunteers from neighboring courses who will work through the night to get the course in condition worthy of a National Open.
Then there’s the weekend, which will see our Friday weather rumble into New York, the second “Big If”. Chances of rain are 80 percent Saturday and 50 percent Sunday. What happens if we get another two days of rain on an already-saturated golf course, with no place for the water to go? Read More…
By Phil Kosin in TV golf, U.S. Open, USGA on June 18, 2009
Television (all times CDST):
Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ESPN; 2 to 4 p.m., NBC Sports; 4 to 6 p.m., ESPN
UPDATE!!! Saturday, 9 a.m. to finish, NBC Sports
UPDATE!!! Sunday, 10 a.m. to finish, NBC Sports
Monday playoff (if necessary), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., ESPN; 1 p.m. to conclusion, NBC Sports.
By Phil Kosin in TV golf, US Women's Open, USGA, Women's golf on June 16, 2009
 Just the other day, she was quoted as saying she’d still wants to be the the first woman to win a men’s (PGA Tour) event.
After the last couple weeks of golf, that goal seems to have drifted even farther away. Michelle Wie failed to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open yesterday after shooting 2-over 74 in the second round of 36-hole qualifying. She missed by one shot at 71-74-145, one stroke out of a playoff for the final eight of 30 spots in a qualifier loaded with LPGA players who played in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship over the weekend.
“I felt like I played great,” the 19-year-old from Hawaii said. “I really don’t think the score reflected my game.
“I feel like I did really well, I feel like I was swinging really well. Everything felt pretty positive. I just couldn’t get anything going, and some of the putts didn’t drop. A couple of sprayed shots here and there [hurt me].” Read More…
By Phil Kosin in Chicago events, Golf architecture, Medinah CC, Of Courses, PGA of America, Ryder Cup on June 16, 2009
 At a time when many of the nation’s recession-weary country clubs are cutting back, Medinah Country Club is stepping up with a view toward the 2012 Ryder Cup.
By a margin of more than 4-1, Medinah’s membership voted Saturday (June 13) to spend upwards of $3 million on a multi-faceted renovation that would see the club’s famed No. 3 Course close August 15 and re-open next June.
“What this overwhelming vote means is that we now will be able to bring our crown jewel up to the world class level where we want it to be,” said club president John Potts. “It will be ready for the 2012 Ryder Cup for the whole world to see. The membership is happy.”
Read More…
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 16, 2009
The U.S. Open remains the only major that has an 18-hole playoff, and USGA executive director David Fay said that’s not about to change.
“We are doggedly determined to go 18 holes,’’ he said.
It was worth it last year at San Diego in one of the most compelling rounds of the year. Tiger Woods, on a wounded knee, built a lead, blew a lead, had to birdie the 18th to force overtime and won on the 19th hole over Rocco Mediate. Some ticket gates were not manned, leading to about 30,000 fans trying to follow two players. The atmosphere was over the top.
Just don’t get the idea that the USGA makes a mint out of the extra day. Quite the opposite.
Read More…
By Phil Kosin in U.S. Open, USGA on June 16, 2009
Dates: Thursday, June 18 - Sunday, June 21
Site: Bethpage State Park (Black Course).
Television (all times CDST): Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ESPN; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., NBC Sports; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., ESPN. UPDATE!!! Saturday, 9 a.m. to finish, NBC Sports,
UPDATE!!! Sunday, 10 a.m. to finish, NBC Sports
Monday playoff (if necessary), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., ESPN; 1 p.m. to conclusion, NBC Sports.
The course: The Black is one of five 18-hole courses at Bethpage State Park, the largest public golf facility in the country. Robert Moses, president of the Long Island State Park Commission, brought in A.W. Tillinghast to design the courses, although parks superintendent Joe Burbeck is credited as the architect, with Tillinghast as the consultant. The Black opened in 1936. The price for a state resident is $50 during the week, and $110 for out-of-state players.
Length: 7,426 yards. Par: 35-35–70. Read More…
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