This report just in from TPN's roving reporter. Recent weather conditions have prompted operational changes at PGC. Following this report below, please take time to view the safety tips in the entry below under: Safety Tips from TPN's Golf Division.
ASGC Image
American Spirit Golf Is Here!! Click Now!
Golf Now HTML Banner
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Safety Tips From TPN's Golf Division
Due to the recent rains, Three Putt News offers you these safety tips when preparing to play in inclement weather:
Thursday, March 18, 2010
TPN PGC Course Conditions Update
March 18, 2010
Bedford - Signs of life are starting to appear at PGC. The Course Superintendant has begun to ready for the season and will be getting the grounds/maintenance crew on board in short order. I walked each hole on the course to get a close up of the challenges. And there are many.
Going in order:
1st Hole. It is looking pretty good. The area immediately beyond the creek (on the green side of the creek) is still soft, but is drying well. This warm spell (and mild breeze) will go a long way towards making it playable. In general, there is little to worry about there.
2nd hole: I did not go down that fairway but took a good look from aside the third green. I suspect the area in front of the tee box is damp as it usually is due to the tree overhang and lack of sunlight. The remainder of the fairway from approximately equal to the 4th tee box onward towards the green looked good.
3rd hole: By and large the area in front of the white tee boxes and all the way to the green is dry. There is some residual water aside the white tee box (on the side of 6th), extending back to the blues, circling behind the box. That area really has no run off and is traditionally damp in the spring.
4th hole: The 4th sustained a lot of water in the rain storms, but has drained well. While it is still soft underfoot, there is little left in the way of actual water. A little residual water remains around the trees near the paved road, but the area is drying out nicely
5th Hole: Same as four, perhaps even a little better. I remember in years past, even last year, that area getting pretty soft, but for whatever reason, it is in pretty good shape as is the consistency of one, four, and five all from that same creek.
6th Hole: This was interesting too. There was a small collection of water around the white tee box, but the areas that are usually soaked are in pretty good shape. The water hazard is not near at peak - nor was the hazard on three. The passage by the hazard is dry - which is usually wet. The remainder of the sixth hole is unbelievably dry. The water that usually comes out from the right tree line is not even near the fairway or rough. Again - another oddity compared to times past.
7th hole: Here is where we start running into a bit more trouble, but not as much as I thought we would. The last 130 yards from fairway into green is damp, but drying nicely. A few sizeable, but dead, limbs came down from the tree line separating 7 from
8. Consistent with the other holes, there is little in the way of any visible water, soft underfoot, but sans any more heavy rains should be fine. The usual water collection behind the 7th green is there and will take added time before any utility vehicles or golf carts go behind it. That is all part and parcel of the problems from the cart underpass on 8, that caused the problems for that hole. That is where there are collections of debris, causing the backup.
8th hole: While there was significant water damage in front of the tee box and overflowing the cart path a few days ago, repairs have begun, the water receded to allow a makeshift bridge across it, and the creek needs to be cleaned out and the debris from the underpasses cleared for the water to flow. Still yet, if that creek is supposed to link up with the one coming across 5,4, and 1 and I suspect it does, that probably needs to be cleared first to accommodate the increase in water egress that will come from the repairs on 8. All that said, it is just the area of rough that has been affected and where the fairway starts rising up that small hill (across and short of where the General used to be) is fine. With the tee boxes up, it is only about 75 yards to the fairway anyway, so with some repairs on the bridge and creek, the left side should dry out. However, there is no way a cart is going over that for some time, so unless they route the carts around the side of the 8th tee box closest to the 9th green and restrict passage to the right side of the fairway/rough, I can't see how they will allow the carts at all. The left side is going to be damp for sometime to come, unless the fill that hole area with stone, gravel, and top soil after the repairs. The only problem with that is it puts the cart riders in a more direct line of fire from errant shots coming down the 9th. Permits are being pulled and the heavy work is to beginning. It's going to take some doing to make it passable. I know little about landscaping and ground repair, so I'm just spitballing theory here, anyway.
9th hole: That didn't fair too badly either. Usually in the spring we see a soaked first 150 yards in front of the tee boxes, but the area is drying up pretty well, with just a few small puddles visible. Again, with the heavy rains I expected this area to be completely soaked, but it was not. The area in front of the creek of course, still needs some drying, but only at the lowest, flat portion where fairway turns to rough before the creek.
Greens: The greens look fabulous, They are in playable condition right now.
Traps: Well, most of them are hard enough to accommodate patio furniture at this point. I won't beat that dead horse. We all know the problem. However, one interesting note is that as I mentioned, the water hazard on three was at near normal level, but I cannot say the same for the trap immediately to the left of the green. That sucker is full of water.
Summary: There is not doubt a lot of cosmetic work to be done and some more drying out needed in the aforementioned areas, but by and large I was quite surprised how well the course held up under the immense rainfall we had. Credit has to go to JC who was working quit hard at the end of last year to clean out of lot of the dead tree limbs and debris that amassed over the years. I suspect this had a lot to do with how well I think the course held up in the deluge of downpours we had. Right now, PGC plans on holding to it's April 8 or 9 opening date.
Bedford - Signs of life are starting to appear at PGC. The Course Superintendant has begun to ready for the season and will be getting the grounds/maintenance crew on board in short order. I walked each hole on the course to get a close up of the challenges. And there are many.
Going in order:
1st Hole. It is looking pretty good. The area immediately beyond the creek (on the green side of the creek) is still soft, but is drying well. This warm spell (and mild breeze) will go a long way towards making it playable. In general, there is little to worry about there.
2nd hole: I did not go down that fairway but took a good look from aside the third green. I suspect the area in front of the tee box is damp as it usually is due to the tree overhang and lack of sunlight. The remainder of the fairway from approximately equal to the 4th tee box onward towards the green looked good.
3rd hole: By and large the area in front of the white tee boxes and all the way to the green is dry. There is some residual water aside the white tee box (on the side of 6th), extending back to the blues, circling behind the box. That area really has no run off and is traditionally damp in the spring.
4th hole: The 4th sustained a lot of water in the rain storms, but has drained well. While it is still soft underfoot, there is little left in the way of actual water. A little residual water remains around the trees near the paved road, but the area is drying out nicely
5th Hole: Same as four, perhaps even a little better. I remember in years past, even last year, that area getting pretty soft, but for whatever reason, it is in pretty good shape as is the consistency of one, four, and five all from that same creek.
6th Hole: This was interesting too. There was a small collection of water around the white tee box, but the areas that are usually soaked are in pretty good shape. The water hazard is not near at peak - nor was the hazard on three. The passage by the hazard is dry - which is usually wet. The remainder of the sixth hole is unbelievably dry. The water that usually comes out from the right tree line is not even near the fairway or rough. Again - another oddity compared to times past.
7th hole: Here is where we start running into a bit more trouble, but not as much as I thought we would. The last 130 yards from fairway into green is damp, but drying nicely. A few sizeable, but dead, limbs came down from the tree line separating 7 from
8. Consistent with the other holes, there is little in the way of any visible water, soft underfoot, but sans any more heavy rains should be fine. The usual water collection behind the 7th green is there and will take added time before any utility vehicles or golf carts go behind it. That is all part and parcel of the problems from the cart underpass on 8, that caused the problems for that hole. That is where there are collections of debris, causing the backup.
8th hole: While there was significant water damage in front of the tee box and overflowing the cart path a few days ago, repairs have begun, the water receded to allow a makeshift bridge across it, and the creek needs to be cleaned out and the debris from the underpasses cleared for the water to flow. Still yet, if that creek is supposed to link up with the one coming across 5,4, and 1 and I suspect it does, that probably needs to be cleared first to accommodate the increase in water egress that will come from the repairs on 8. All that said, it is just the area of rough that has been affected and where the fairway starts rising up that small hill (across and short of where the General used to be) is fine. With the tee boxes up, it is only about 75 yards to the fairway anyway, so with some repairs on the bridge and creek, the left side should dry out. However, there is no way a cart is going over that for some time, so unless they route the carts around the side of the 8th tee box closest to the 9th green and restrict passage to the right side of the fairway/rough, I can't see how they will allow the carts at all. The left side is going to be damp for sometime to come, unless the fill that hole area with stone, gravel, and top soil after the repairs. The only problem with that is it puts the cart riders in a more direct line of fire from errant shots coming down the 9th. Permits are being pulled and the heavy work is to beginning. It's going to take some doing to make it passable. I know little about landscaping and ground repair, so I'm just spitballing theory here, anyway.
9th hole: That didn't fair too badly either. Usually in the spring we see a soaked first 150 yards in front of the tee boxes, but the area is drying up pretty well, with just a few small puddles visible. Again, with the heavy rains I expected this area to be completely soaked, but it was not. The area in front of the creek of course, still needs some drying, but only at the lowest, flat portion where fairway turns to rough before the creek.
Greens: The greens look fabulous, They are in playable condition right now.
Traps: Well, most of them are hard enough to accommodate patio furniture at this point. I won't beat that dead horse. We all know the problem. However, one interesting note is that as I mentioned, the water hazard on three was at near normal level, but I cannot say the same for the trap immediately to the left of the green. That sucker is full of water.
Summary: There is not doubt a lot of cosmetic work to be done and some more drying out needed in the aforementioned areas, but by and large I was quite surprised how well the course held up under the immense rainfall we had. Credit has to go to JC who was working quit hard at the end of last year to clean out of lot of the dead tree limbs and debris that amassed over the years. I suspect this had a lot to do with how well I think the course held up in the deluge of downpours we had. Right now, PGC plans on holding to it's April 8 or 9 opening date.
Photo Below: Looking down the 9th Fairway from 9th Tee
Next: From behind 1st Tee box
Next: 3rd Green from third fairway
Next: 6th Tee box from 3rd Fairway
Next: Damage in front of 8th Tee from 8th Fairway
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
TPN Update - the pool is open!
This exclusive TPN video just in from our remote van stationed at PGC. Just when you thought it was safe to take the clubs out of the garage........
Click below for our roving reporter's scoop!
Click below for our roving reporter's scoop!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Flood Warning 8:21 am EDT
Issued by The National Weather Service
Boston, MA
8:21 am EDT, Mon., Mar. 15, 2010
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE MERRIMACK RIVER AT LOWELL. * FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO TUESDAY EVENING... OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED. * AT 7:30 AM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 50.3 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 52.0 FEET. * FORECAST... RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO RISE TO NEAR 52.5 FEET BY AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON. * IMPACT... AT 52.0 FEET... LOWLAND FLOODING IS LIKELY ALONG THE MERRIMACK RIVER. MOST OF THE IMPACT WILL BE FELT BY BUSINESSES AND MILLS WHERE BASEMENT FLOODING IS LIKELY.
More Information
... THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN CONNECTICUT... MASSACHUSETTS... NEW HAMPSHIRE... RHODE ISLAND.. FARMINGTON RIVER AT SIMSBURY AFFECTING HARTFORD COUNTY MERRIMACK RIVER AT LOWELL AFFECTING ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES CONTOOCOOK RIVER AT PETERBOROUGH AFFECTING CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES PISCATAQUOG RIVER NEAR GOFFSTOWN AFFECTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SOUHEGAN RIVER AT MERRIMACK AFFECTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ASSABET RIVER AT MAYNARD AFFECTING MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTER COUNTIES NASHUA RIVER AT EAST PEPPERELL AFFECTING MIDDLESEX... WORCESTER AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES NORTH NASHUA RIVER AT FITCHBURG AFFECTING WORCESTER COUNTY SPICKET RIVER NEAR METHUEN AFFECTING ESSEX AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES
SQUANNACOOK RIVER AT WEST GROTON AFFECTING MIDDLESEX COUNTY SUDBURY RIVER AT SAXONVILLE AFFECTING MIDDLESEX COUNTY CONCORD RIVER AT LOWELL AFFECTING MIDDLESEX COUNTY SHAWSHEEN RIVER NEAR WILMINGTON AFFECTING ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES BLACKSTONE RIVER AT WOONSOCKET AFFECTING WORCESTER AND PROVIDENCE COUNTIES CHARLES RIVER AT DOVER AFFECTING MIDDLESEX AND NORFOLK COUNTIES NEPONSET RIVER AT NORWOOD AFFECTING NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES PAWTUXET RIVER AT CRANSTON AFFECTING KENT AND PROVIDENCE COUNTIES
VERY SERIOUS FLOODING WILL BE OCCURRING IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS... AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND TODAY. ANOTHER SLUG OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN TODAY WILL CAUSE MANY STREAMS TO CONTINUE TO RISE OR RISE TO A NEW CREST. THIS IS EVOLVING INTO DANGEROUS FLOODING IN SOME LOCATIONS ALONG STREAMS AND URBAN POOR DRAINAGE LOCATIONS. SEVERAL STREAMS HAVE REACHED OR WILL REACH INTO THE MODERATE OR MAJOR FLOOD CATEGORY.
IN THE CASE OF THE PAWTUXET IN RHODE ISLAND... THAT RIVER MAY START TO RECEDE..BUT ANOTHER ONE INCH OF RAIN IS LIKELY ACROSS THAT BASIN LATER THIS MORNING. THIS WILL PROBABLY KEEP THE PAWTUXET IN THE MAJOR FLOOD CATEGORY INTO THIS AFTERNOON.
FLOODING WILL ALSO BE EXACERBATED NEAR THE COAST WHERE THE HIGH TIDE WILL CAUSE THE FRESH WATER RUNOFF TO BACK UP ONTO CITY STREETS.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLOOD SITUATION. STAY WELL CLEAR OF FAST FLOWING WATER AND DO NOT ATTEMPT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO DRIVE THROUGH ANY FLOODED ROADWAYS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FLOOD STATEMENT PROVIDING THE LATEST INFORMATION IN THIS FLOOD EVENT WILL BE ISSUED WITHIN THE NEXT 8 HOURS... OR EARLIER IF NEEDED.
DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY NEAR SWOLLEN RIVERS... STREAMS OR CULVERTS. SWIFTLY MOVING WATER CAN POSE AN IMMINENT THREAT TO LIFE.
&&
Boston, MA
8:21 am EDT, Mon., Mar. 15, 2010
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE MERRIMACK RIVER AT LOWELL. * FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO TUESDAY EVENING... OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED. * AT 7:30 AM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 50.3 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 52.0 FEET. * FORECAST... RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO RISE TO NEAR 52.5 FEET BY AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON. * IMPACT... AT 52.0 FEET... LOWLAND FLOODING IS LIKELY ALONG THE MERRIMACK RIVER. MOST OF THE IMPACT WILL BE FELT BY BUSINESSES AND MILLS WHERE BASEMENT FLOODING IS LIKELY.
More Information
... THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN CONNECTICUT... MASSACHUSETTS... NEW HAMPSHIRE... RHODE ISLAND.. FARMINGTON RIVER AT SIMSBURY AFFECTING HARTFORD COUNTY MERRIMACK RIVER AT LOWELL AFFECTING ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES CONTOOCOOK RIVER AT PETERBOROUGH AFFECTING CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES PISCATAQUOG RIVER NEAR GOFFSTOWN AFFECTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SOUHEGAN RIVER AT MERRIMACK AFFECTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ASSABET RIVER AT MAYNARD AFFECTING MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTER COUNTIES NASHUA RIVER AT EAST PEPPERELL AFFECTING MIDDLESEX... WORCESTER AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES NORTH NASHUA RIVER AT FITCHBURG AFFECTING WORCESTER COUNTY SPICKET RIVER NEAR METHUEN AFFECTING ESSEX AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES
SQUANNACOOK RIVER AT WEST GROTON AFFECTING MIDDLESEX COUNTY SUDBURY RIVER AT SAXONVILLE AFFECTING MIDDLESEX COUNTY CONCORD RIVER AT LOWELL AFFECTING MIDDLESEX COUNTY SHAWSHEEN RIVER NEAR WILMINGTON AFFECTING ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES BLACKSTONE RIVER AT WOONSOCKET AFFECTING WORCESTER AND PROVIDENCE COUNTIES CHARLES RIVER AT DOVER AFFECTING MIDDLESEX AND NORFOLK COUNTIES NEPONSET RIVER AT NORWOOD AFFECTING NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES PAWTUXET RIVER AT CRANSTON AFFECTING KENT AND PROVIDENCE COUNTIES
VERY SERIOUS FLOODING WILL BE OCCURRING IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS... AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND TODAY. ANOTHER SLUG OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN TODAY WILL CAUSE MANY STREAMS TO CONTINUE TO RISE OR RISE TO A NEW CREST. THIS IS EVOLVING INTO DANGEROUS FLOODING IN SOME LOCATIONS ALONG STREAMS AND URBAN POOR DRAINAGE LOCATIONS. SEVERAL STREAMS HAVE REACHED OR WILL REACH INTO THE MODERATE OR MAJOR FLOOD CATEGORY.
IN THE CASE OF THE PAWTUXET IN RHODE ISLAND... THAT RIVER MAY START TO RECEDE..BUT ANOTHER ONE INCH OF RAIN IS LIKELY ACROSS THAT BASIN LATER THIS MORNING. THIS WILL PROBABLY KEEP THE PAWTUXET IN THE MAJOR FLOOD CATEGORY INTO THIS AFTERNOON.
FLOODING WILL ALSO BE EXACERBATED NEAR THE COAST WHERE THE HIGH TIDE WILL CAUSE THE FRESH WATER RUNOFF TO BACK UP ONTO CITY STREETS.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLOOD SITUATION. STAY WELL CLEAR OF FAST FLOWING WATER AND DO NOT ATTEMPT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO DRIVE THROUGH ANY FLOODED ROADWAYS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FLOOD STATEMENT PROVIDING THE LATEST INFORMATION IN THIS FLOOD EVENT WILL BE ISSUED WITHIN THE NEXT 8 HOURS... OR EARLIER IF NEEDED.
DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY NEAR SWOLLEN RIVERS... STREAMS OR CULVERTS. SWIFTLY MOVING WATER CAN POSE AN IMMINENT THREAT TO LIFE.
&&
Sunday, March 14, 2010
rain fall accumulation on 3-14 as of 1800 hrs (PGC - Hanscom)
As of 6:16 p.m., current rain accumulations at Hanscom:
Precipitation Accumulation
Precipitation
Amount
0.23 inches In the 3 hours preceding Mar 14, 2010 - 04:56 PM EDT / 2010.03.14 2056 UTC
1.71 inches In the 6 hours preceding Mar 14, 2010 - 01:56 PM EDT / 2010.03.14 1756 UTC
3.54 inches In the 24 hours preceding Mar 14, 2010 - 07:56 AM EDT / 2010.03.14 1156 UTC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Precipitation Accumulation
Precipitation
Amount
0.23 inches In the 3 hours preceding Mar 14, 2010 - 04:56 PM EDT / 2010.03.14 2056 UTC
1.71 inches In the 6 hours preceding Mar 14, 2010 - 01:56 PM EDT / 2010.03.14 1756 UTC
3.54 inches In the 24 hours preceding Mar 14, 2010 - 07:56 AM EDT / 2010.03.14 1156 UTC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PGC Update - News Flash
Beford, MA -
During a recent inspection of water damage to the PGC property, one lone golfer was seen leaving the area after experiencing the soaked, pre season playing conditions. With few words, our unidentified golfer indicated he was heading for warmer and drier conditions. Athough he refused to elaborate, it is clear that our subject is displeased with the recent rain dump upon the course. Below, our staff photographer managed to get a candid of our mystery golfer as he left the area sharing one last sentitment.
During a recent inspection of water damage to the PGC property, one lone golfer was seen leaving the area after experiencing the soaked, pre season playing conditions. With few words, our unidentified golfer indicated he was heading for warmer and drier conditions. Athough he refused to elaborate, it is clear that our subject is displeased with the recent rain dump upon the course. Below, our staff photographer managed to get a candid of our mystery golfer as he left the area sharing one last sentitment.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Patriot Update
The Patriot Update - Brought to you Jack Daniels, Coke-a-Cola and Viagra. Pour yourself a stiff one.
The Patriot Update -
Bedford - March 6, 2010
A cursory inspection of PGC today leaves an encouraging impression. The normal saturation spots are nearly dry. A set of small 3 or 4 foot puddles were still visible in the 4th fairway. None of the creeks are at capacity and should easily handle any further drainage or inclement weather. The area in front of the 8th tee box looks a bit damp, but should dry quick. The 8th fairway is beginning to turn from brown to green as are the edges of some of the greens.
A little bit of snow was still visible under the left tree line along two and in the corner and left tree line along six, but not much in either case. The sun doesn't hit those areas much. There is still a thin layer of ice on 3 and 6 water hazards (as of 3/6 @ 1400 hrs). Other than the few visible patches of snow, the course looked drier than some mid seasons I've seen in the past. In fact, the fairways, green fringes, and greens not having grown over the winter all look in playable shape.
Given a continued stretch of warm weather, PGC authorities should rethink the 4/9/10 projected opening date - so long as the weather continues a steady warming - and without a last minute snow dump. This cub reporter signing off. This service brought to you by Three Putt News.
The Patriot Update -
Bedford - March 6, 2010
A cursory inspection of PGC today leaves an encouraging impression. The normal saturation spots are nearly dry. A set of small 3 or 4 foot puddles were still visible in the 4th fairway. None of the creeks are at capacity and should easily handle any further drainage or inclement weather. The area in front of the 8th tee box looks a bit damp, but should dry quick. The 8th fairway is beginning to turn from brown to green as are the edges of some of the greens.
A little bit of snow was still visible under the left tree line along two and in the corner and left tree line along six, but not much in either case. The sun doesn't hit those areas much. There is still a thin layer of ice on 3 and 6 water hazards (as of 3/6 @ 1400 hrs). Other than the few visible patches of snow, the course looked drier than some mid seasons I've seen in the past. In fact, the fairways, green fringes, and greens not having grown over the winter all look in playable shape.
Given a continued stretch of warm weather, PGC authorities should rethink the 4/9/10 projected opening date - so long as the weather continues a steady warming - and without a last minute snow dump. This cub reporter signing off. This service brought to you by Three Putt News.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Who Is Going To Apologize To Tiger?
It amazes me the way the media and adoring public like to elevate people like Tiger Woods to God-like status and then take great pleasure in being the same ones to knock him off the pedestal. Before going further, let it be said that the people hurt the most in this are Elin Woods, their children, and guess who.... Tiger Woods. What a bunch of holier than though SOBs there are in the world that can be so judgmental. Why don't we take a look at this from the other end of the telescope for a minute? Here goes:
Tiger Woods from childhood on had more determination and self discipline than anyone I know. Strong parenting and a determination to succeed made him an icon at a very young age. Once he completed Stamford University he could forget any semblance of living a normal life. For a moment, let's compare that to the average 21 year old.
At 21 Tiger was already famous. He no longer had the luxury of taking a walk down a public street; go shopping at a mall; or have a quiet reflective moment over a cup of coffee somewhere. The naive look at that as something special, to be adorned, to always be wanted in presence - but think about it - would you like to be at everyone's beckon call 24/7? Not me. Heck, I have trouble staying calm when just a few of life's demands exceed my ability to manage them.
And what about the Woods children? Wouldn't it have been nice if Elin and Tiger had the anonymity to take their children to the zoo so they can watch the kids wide eyed, marveling at these magnificent creatures, while the questions grew in their minds? Those poor kids need a chance to assimilate with the rest of the world or forsake general social skills that come with being just another unrecognizable name among the millions. The Woods children don't and will never have that luxury. But... back to Tiger himself for a minute.
Tiger Woods did more to popularize the game of golf than anyone in the history of the game - including my idol, Arnold Palmer. The salaries/purses that these players see now-a-days is largely attributable to Tiger Woods. Advertisers and sponsors want a piece of the action because they know that people, even non golfers, can appreciate the unthinkable ability of Tiger Woods in the game of golf. Other PGA players, fans, and the casual golfer all benefitted from Tiger Woods contribution to golf. And what does he get? Some idiot like Johnny Miller saying "Tiger hurt golf." Tiger brought more to this game than he'll ever take away.
But, that just wasn't enough for the greedy sponsors and judgmental fan base that finally found a way to level the playing field so to speak. They wanted MORE! Few, if any of us will ever rise to the character level of Tiger Woods, so the best way to get his company is to drag him down to a level where we can feel better about ourselves. Tiger made his mistakes, no doubt about it. And it is his to come to terms with. For Johnny Miller, the PGA, or anyone other than the Woods family to claim victimization on the issue is beyond the pale.
Now, let's put the shoe on the other foot. You are a world class athlete. You are approaching Billionaire status. The world thinks your the greatest thing since sliced bread. You have a lovely wife at home, in a mansion that your talents paid for, and she has bore you two healthy children. But real is real - any mother and father of two children that age knows that there is little time for each other while they meet the demands of the children. Yes, a nanny is an option, but Tiger Woods came from a background that said child rearing is the parent's responsibility.
So, there you are. Traveling 10 months out of the year, in many cases, with your spouse and children at home so they can at least get some semblance of a normal life. You are visiting other countries and your sponsors are ringing your phone off the hook because they demand a bigger piece of your time than is humanly possible. When you go to social events or even a night spot, the gold diggers are throwing their panties (or in the inverse, boxer shorts & briefs) at you. You're tired, you're lonely, you miss home, you miss the normalcy of being able to appear anywhere in public because your picture will be pasted all over every tabloid, newspaper, and magazine in the world. So, in a weak moment, you reach out for some companionship, comfort, and the arms of someone who will not question you for a life long commitment. In a nutshell, you'd just like a little bit of privacy and normalcy in your life, but the road you chose had a price - and that was it.
But the important part of this equation is the addiction end of things, if in fact, it is a legitimate sex addiction. One day you may want to talk with a police officer, EMT, Firefighter, or an extremely successful business person. Saving lives or providing something substantial for the community fills a person with adrenaline and a sense of power. By my personal experience, I happen to know that that energy needs to go "somewhere." Any healthy young man in his thirties who has experienced major successes or life saving experiences understands the sense of power it makes you feel.
When you add all the successes of Tiger Woods one upon another and we treat him as something of superhuman value, such delusions of omnipotence only drive the normal sexual urges even higher. I suspect that Tiger's fame in a sense had forced him into isolation and believe it or not, loneliness. Ironic isn't it? When the man stepped into public he was surrounded by people ten deep wanting his autograph, while at the same time was and is probably one of the loneliest people on earth. And there is no putting the toothpaste back in the tube once such a level of fame has been realized. For whatever reason, the general public and media believe that your most private and cherished personal moments are for public consumption. I for one could not live like that.
Tiger Woods never failed at anything he set his mind upon - so there is no way he could see the liability (in an addiction sense) of him trying to find some comfort outside his home. He knew and knows on the face of it that it is/was wrong - but he never failed at anything of magnitude so why should he believe that some dalliances would be his undoing. He bought into a the illusion we all helped him create. One that said he was above it all or in his words 'acted as if a different set of rules" applied to him.
For his detractors, perhaps it gives some form of satisfaction if you believed as I do, that regardless of how many intimates involved, he never found what he was really seeking and that was to fill a void in his life that has been created largely by his success and an culture so desperate for iconic heroes. My heroes wear camouflage, khaki, denim and/or dress blues and are kicking doors half way around the world to give us this right to opine. We are the ones who elevate these successful athletes to hero status and then kick them when they show they are human.
While Tiger Woods was cheating on his wife - so goes it for thousand or tens of thousands spouses out there in the world. But, Tiger gets held (and has been holding himself to a different standard). If you listen to the world ... he owes everyone an apology. Frankly, so long as he makes his amends with his wife and children, from that point on I don't think he owes the world a damn thing. We are the ones that made him the role model. WE are the ones who told our children that "this is what hard work and success will do... it will make you the champ.." and then when Tiger didn't live up to the promises WE made our children, then we hold him responsible? What a crock
What I see and what I have seen for a long time in Tiger Woods is a man of incredible talent who never got to enjoy a normal young adult life before being cast into the shining spotlight. It was only a matter of time before a crack in the veneer appeared. Believe it or not - the man is only human. He wanted what we all want. A friend or lover who wants us for who we are not what we are. Tiger, like others of his fame level will never again be able to look another human being in the eye without wondering if at least in some way, it was his fame that attracted the person of the moment, rather than just a genuine interest to share some time with a kind person, with a generous heart, and likeable personality.
Tiger and the likes will never, ever again be able to initially accept a person on face value and thus, be left wondering if there are not financial, materialistic, or fame motives attached to their offer of friendship or romance. So, when I think about walking the mile in Tiger's shoes, I see a life of seclusion, loneliness, feelings of unbridled power, normal desires for physical and emotional acceptance all playing off one another. And there he sits, rich beyond most people's dreams, successful to a level that few people in life will ever reach, but so completely alone that he can only hear the echo of his own thoughts.
From what I can see, Tiger is taking a sincere and honest look inside himself. And I applaud him for that and I thank him for all he has given me in the ways of enjoyment. As for his personal problems, they should remain just that. Personal! The only atonement Tiger owes is to his wife and family. Everyone else got more from Tiger Woods and his successes than was ever taken away from them. Yet, these gutless sponsors and fair weather fans are demanding something they don't deserve. If anything, we owe Tiger, Elin, and their children an apology for demanding they let us into their every personal moment.
I think it should start with the sponsors who bailed out on Tiger after reaping billions in profits, thanks in part, to his endorsements. But, the minute things got a little tough, they turned and ran rather than support the man and his family on an emotional level, perhaps by taking a hiatus from the business relationship rather than leaving him in the field to die. Tiger gave us all something we longed for - and when he didn't live up to our expectations, we devoured him.
Having tried to show some level of competence in the game of golf for the last 40 years, I look forward to the return of Tiger Woods to the golf course. And I don't need nor demand to know anything about his personal life to marvel at his skill and talents. Anyone who has even attempted to hit a golf ball can recognize that we are alive to witness something very special, but now the question becomes are we going to let the man live his life without casting judgment upon his every move or are we going to insist that he fulfill the need we seem to have for a God like presence in human form? He made millionaires out of people who road his coat tails all the way to the bank and when he needed us the most, where were we? We were casting the stones and Monday morning quarterbacking his every move.
From where I sit, I think that once we move on, as we should have by now on the personal side of the issue, that we will see Tiger offer us Chapter Two in mastering the game of golf through magnificence. I believe that regardless of how callously his sponsors abandoned him that it will allow him to get back to his pursuit of excellence for the joy and satisfaction of playing the game of golf rather than having to look at it as a business and a demanding one at that.
I believe that once free of all this that Tiger will take his game to even greater heights - but before we get there.... who is going to apologize to Tiger? I'll open the bidding "Tiger.. I'm sorry the world holds you to a higher standard than anyone else and by the way... thanks for the great golf. Your both an inspiration and genuinely good person.who made a human mistake. Now.. tee it up for God's sake, will you?" Oh.. and one more thing... Johnny Miller ... when you can offer golf even 10% of what Tiger has done for it, then your qualified to assess whether Tiger hurt golf or not.
Tiger Woods from childhood on had more determination and self discipline than anyone I know. Strong parenting and a determination to succeed made him an icon at a very young age. Once he completed Stamford University he could forget any semblance of living a normal life. For a moment, let's compare that to the average 21 year old.
At 21 Tiger was already famous. He no longer had the luxury of taking a walk down a public street; go shopping at a mall; or have a quiet reflective moment over a cup of coffee somewhere. The naive look at that as something special, to be adorned, to always be wanted in presence - but think about it - would you like to be at everyone's beckon call 24/7? Not me. Heck, I have trouble staying calm when just a few of life's demands exceed my ability to manage them.
And what about the Woods children? Wouldn't it have been nice if Elin and Tiger had the anonymity to take their children to the zoo so they can watch the kids wide eyed, marveling at these magnificent creatures, while the questions grew in their minds? Those poor kids need a chance to assimilate with the rest of the world or forsake general social skills that come with being just another unrecognizable name among the millions. The Woods children don't and will never have that luxury. But... back to Tiger himself for a minute.
Tiger Woods did more to popularize the game of golf than anyone in the history of the game - including my idol, Arnold Palmer. The salaries/purses that these players see now-a-days is largely attributable to Tiger Woods. Advertisers and sponsors want a piece of the action because they know that people, even non golfers, can appreciate the unthinkable ability of Tiger Woods in the game of golf. Other PGA players, fans, and the casual golfer all benefitted from Tiger Woods contribution to golf. And what does he get? Some idiot like Johnny Miller saying "Tiger hurt golf." Tiger brought more to this game than he'll ever take away.
But, that just wasn't enough for the greedy sponsors and judgmental fan base that finally found a way to level the playing field so to speak. They wanted MORE! Few, if any of us will ever rise to the character level of Tiger Woods, so the best way to get his company is to drag him down to a level where we can feel better about ourselves. Tiger made his mistakes, no doubt about it. And it is his to come to terms with. For Johnny Miller, the PGA, or anyone other than the Woods family to claim victimization on the issue is beyond the pale.
Now, let's put the shoe on the other foot. You are a world class athlete. You are approaching Billionaire status. The world thinks your the greatest thing since sliced bread. You have a lovely wife at home, in a mansion that your talents paid for, and she has bore you two healthy children. But real is real - any mother and father of two children that age knows that there is little time for each other while they meet the demands of the children. Yes, a nanny is an option, but Tiger Woods came from a background that said child rearing is the parent's responsibility.
So, there you are. Traveling 10 months out of the year, in many cases, with your spouse and children at home so they can at least get some semblance of a normal life. You are visiting other countries and your sponsors are ringing your phone off the hook because they demand a bigger piece of your time than is humanly possible. When you go to social events or even a night spot, the gold diggers are throwing their panties (or in the inverse, boxer shorts & briefs) at you. You're tired, you're lonely, you miss home, you miss the normalcy of being able to appear anywhere in public because your picture will be pasted all over every tabloid, newspaper, and magazine in the world. So, in a weak moment, you reach out for some companionship, comfort, and the arms of someone who will not question you for a life long commitment. In a nutshell, you'd just like a little bit of privacy and normalcy in your life, but the road you chose had a price - and that was it.
But the important part of this equation is the addiction end of things, if in fact, it is a legitimate sex addiction. One day you may want to talk with a police officer, EMT, Firefighter, or an extremely successful business person. Saving lives or providing something substantial for the community fills a person with adrenaline and a sense of power. By my personal experience, I happen to know that that energy needs to go "somewhere." Any healthy young man in his thirties who has experienced major successes or life saving experiences understands the sense of power it makes you feel.
When you add all the successes of Tiger Woods one upon another and we treat him as something of superhuman value, such delusions of omnipotence only drive the normal sexual urges even higher. I suspect that Tiger's fame in a sense had forced him into isolation and believe it or not, loneliness. Ironic isn't it? When the man stepped into public he was surrounded by people ten deep wanting his autograph, while at the same time was and is probably one of the loneliest people on earth. And there is no putting the toothpaste back in the tube once such a level of fame has been realized. For whatever reason, the general public and media believe that your most private and cherished personal moments are for public consumption. I for one could not live like that.
Tiger Woods never failed at anything he set his mind upon - so there is no way he could see the liability (in an addiction sense) of him trying to find some comfort outside his home. He knew and knows on the face of it that it is/was wrong - but he never failed at anything of magnitude so why should he believe that some dalliances would be his undoing. He bought into a the illusion we all helped him create. One that said he was above it all or in his words 'acted as if a different set of rules" applied to him.
For his detractors, perhaps it gives some form of satisfaction if you believed as I do, that regardless of how many intimates involved, he never found what he was really seeking and that was to fill a void in his life that has been created largely by his success and an culture so desperate for iconic heroes. My heroes wear camouflage, khaki, denim and/or dress blues and are kicking doors half way around the world to give us this right to opine. We are the ones who elevate these successful athletes to hero status and then kick them when they show they are human.
While Tiger Woods was cheating on his wife - so goes it for thousand or tens of thousands spouses out there in the world. But, Tiger gets held (and has been holding himself to a different standard). If you listen to the world ... he owes everyone an apology. Frankly, so long as he makes his amends with his wife and children, from that point on I don't think he owes the world a damn thing. We are the ones that made him the role model. WE are the ones who told our children that "this is what hard work and success will do... it will make you the champ.." and then when Tiger didn't live up to the promises WE made our children, then we hold him responsible? What a crock
What I see and what I have seen for a long time in Tiger Woods is a man of incredible talent who never got to enjoy a normal young adult life before being cast into the shining spotlight. It was only a matter of time before a crack in the veneer appeared. Believe it or not - the man is only human. He wanted what we all want. A friend or lover who wants us for who we are not what we are. Tiger, like others of his fame level will never again be able to look another human being in the eye without wondering if at least in some way, it was his fame that attracted the person of the moment, rather than just a genuine interest to share some time with a kind person, with a generous heart, and likeable personality.
Tiger and the likes will never, ever again be able to initially accept a person on face value and thus, be left wondering if there are not financial, materialistic, or fame motives attached to their offer of friendship or romance. So, when I think about walking the mile in Tiger's shoes, I see a life of seclusion, loneliness, feelings of unbridled power, normal desires for physical and emotional acceptance all playing off one another. And there he sits, rich beyond most people's dreams, successful to a level that few people in life will ever reach, but so completely alone that he can only hear the echo of his own thoughts.
From what I can see, Tiger is taking a sincere and honest look inside himself. And I applaud him for that and I thank him for all he has given me in the ways of enjoyment. As for his personal problems, they should remain just that. Personal! The only atonement Tiger owes is to his wife and family. Everyone else got more from Tiger Woods and his successes than was ever taken away from them. Yet, these gutless sponsors and fair weather fans are demanding something they don't deserve. If anything, we owe Tiger, Elin, and their children an apology for demanding they let us into their every personal moment.
I think it should start with the sponsors who bailed out on Tiger after reaping billions in profits, thanks in part, to his endorsements. But, the minute things got a little tough, they turned and ran rather than support the man and his family on an emotional level, perhaps by taking a hiatus from the business relationship rather than leaving him in the field to die. Tiger gave us all something we longed for - and when he didn't live up to our expectations, we devoured him.
Having tried to show some level of competence in the game of golf for the last 40 years, I look forward to the return of Tiger Woods to the golf course. And I don't need nor demand to know anything about his personal life to marvel at his skill and talents. Anyone who has even attempted to hit a golf ball can recognize that we are alive to witness something very special, but now the question becomes are we going to let the man live his life without casting judgment upon his every move or are we going to insist that he fulfill the need we seem to have for a God like presence in human form? He made millionaires out of people who road his coat tails all the way to the bank and when he needed us the most, where were we? We were casting the stones and Monday morning quarterbacking his every move.
From where I sit, I think that once we move on, as we should have by now on the personal side of the issue, that we will see Tiger offer us Chapter Two in mastering the game of golf through magnificence. I believe that regardless of how callously his sponsors abandoned him that it will allow him to get back to his pursuit of excellence for the joy and satisfaction of playing the game of golf rather than having to look at it as a business and a demanding one at that.
I believe that once free of all this that Tiger will take his game to even greater heights - but before we get there.... who is going to apologize to Tiger? I'll open the bidding "Tiger.. I'm sorry the world holds you to a higher standard than anyone else and by the way... thanks for the great golf. Your both an inspiration and genuinely good person.who made a human mistake. Now.. tee it up for God's sake, will you?" Oh.. and one more thing... Johnny Miller ... when you can offer golf even 10% of what Tiger has done for it, then your qualified to assess whether Tiger hurt golf or not.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Boston Golf Expo - Seaport Hotel
March 5th through 7th - buy tickets at the door or online. For More info:
http://www.paragonexpo.com/213_Home.html
http://www.paragonexpo.com/213_Home.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)