Golf Journal: John Paul Newport on the FedExCup and Whether It Needs Fixing - WSJ.com
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Cloudy...with a chance of...
Here in Georgia, we have been known for things like fried chicken and hospitality.
The last few years, however, we've been known for droughts, and as the state that has a lake that's 17' below level.
I'd be referring to Lake Lanier.
The last time that lake was level, was the same year my friend bought a pontoon boat, and berthed in on a slip in the marina....oops.
Both the boat, and slip are gone since those days. Nobody wants to boat on tree stumps, and you only had to walk out to pick up your fish, no need for trolling...no water.
But all that has changed recently with this years' H2O deluge...most recently last week's. Now the trees are green, no more drought, and the lake is full again...
...but so are basements , attics, and soccer fields.
And East Lake Golf Club.
...wait...scratch that...they have a full time maintenance crew that have the crazy task of making the golf course playable for this weekends FedEx Playoff, and they have succeeded...but will be tasked again this weekend as rain is coming.
With the advent of HDTV, greenskeepers' jobs have gotten ridiculously hard. Not only do the golf courses have to be pristine for the golfers, but also for the TV viewer. Gone are the days when the TV viewer couldn't discern a green from a..oh, let's say...brown.
Watching the golf tournament this week, I am amazed at the beauty of the course. especially the green greens. I mean, this area has had so many flash floods, that the DOT just decided to shut down major roads. I mean, my neighbor below me has a fescue lawn now, from the seed I planted in my yard the week before!
So, as we're following golf's season finale this weekend, please remember the men and women that made your viewing pleasure possible: the superindendant, and their crews...and the greenskeeper.
...I'm hiring him to do my yard next week.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
The last few years, however, we've been known for droughts, and as the state that has a lake that's 17' below level.
I'd be referring to Lake Lanier.
The last time that lake was level, was the same year my friend bought a pontoon boat, and berthed in on a slip in the marina....oops.
Both the boat, and slip are gone since those days. Nobody wants to boat on tree stumps, and you only had to walk out to pick up your fish, no need for trolling...no water.
But all that has changed recently with this years' H2O deluge...most recently last week's. Now the trees are green, no more drought, and the lake is full again...
...but so are basements , attics, and soccer fields.
And East Lake Golf Club.
...wait...scratch that...they have a full time maintenance crew that have the crazy task of making the golf course playable for this weekends FedEx Playoff, and they have succeeded...but will be tasked again this weekend as rain is coming.
With the advent of HDTV, greenskeepers' jobs have gotten ridiculously hard. Not only do the golf courses have to be pristine for the golfers, but also for the TV viewer. Gone are the days when the TV viewer couldn't discern a green from a..oh, let's say...brown.
Watching the golf tournament this week, I am amazed at the beauty of the course. especially the green greens. I mean, this area has had so many flash floods, that the DOT just decided to shut down major roads. I mean, my neighbor below me has a fescue lawn now, from the seed I planted in my yard the week before!
So, as we're following golf's season finale this weekend, please remember the men and women that made your viewing pleasure possible: the superindendant, and their crews...and the greenskeeper.
...I'm hiring him to do my yard next week.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Coca-Cola and Kroger Tee Up “Tickets Fore Charity” Program
All Ticket Proceeds from THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola donated to the East Lake Foundation
Coca-Cola is entering its seventh year as the presenting sponsor of THE TOUR Championship, a tournament featuring the top 30 players in the PGA TOUR playoffs for the FedEx Cup and one of the most prestigious events in all of golf.
As part of this year’s sponsorship, Coca-Cola is partnering with Kroger to support “Tickets Fore Charity” – an innovative new fundraising program designed to improve the quality of life in communities where PGA TOUR events are held.
Kroger will sell single day tickets to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola in 134 Atlanta-area stores through Sept. 26. One-hundred percent of the proceeds of every ticket purchased through Kroger stores will be donated to the East Lake Foundation, which collaborates with public and private organizations to offer Atlanta's East Lake residents opportunities to build a better future through education for children and adults, affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community.
“Through ‘Tickets Fore Charity,’ individuals can experience the best of professional golf, while positively impacting the lives of those in need in the East Lake area,” said Scott Tillman, brand operations manager, Coke TM, Coca-Cola North America. “The program is a great way to further extend the positive impact Coca-Cola and THE TOUR Championship have on the local community. Through our support of the East Lake Foundation, we’ve played a role in helping to revitalize a neighborhood in our own backyard, and that’s something we all feel good about.”
“Tickets Fore Charity”
· Single day tickets are available at 134 Kroger stores for the following tournament days and prices:
o Wednesday, Sept. 23: $20 (includes $20 voucher redeemable in the Merchandise Tent on-site)
o Thursday, Sept. 24: $45
o Friday, Sept. 25: $45
o Saturday, Sept. 26: $60
o Sunday, Sept. 27: $60
· One-hundred percent of the proceeds of every ticket purchased through Kroger stores will be donated to the East Lake Foundation.
The East Lake Foundation:
The East Lake Foundation was founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed.
The East Lake Golf Club and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola have helped revitalize the community and golf has been a tremendous activity for mentoring neighborhood children through The First Tee of East Lake program.
· Web site: http://www.eastlakefoundation.org
The TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola Details:
· THE TOUR Championship features the top 30 players in the PGA TOUR playoffs for the FedEx Cup and one of the most prestigious events in all of golf. This year’s tournament is held from Sept. 23-27, 2009 at East Lake Golf Club.
· Web site: http://www.pgatour.com/tourchampionship
The TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola Charitable History:
· Since 1998, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola has donated more than $9 million to a variety of local and national charities – including $1.4 million in 2008 alone.
· Primary beneficiaries have been the East Lake Foundation and The First Tee program.
· The PGA TOUR, its sponsors, and tournaments have together raised more than $1 billion for charitable causes across the U.S.
Coca-Cola is entering its seventh year as the presenting sponsor of THE TOUR Championship, a tournament featuring the top 30 players in the PGA TOUR playoffs for the FedEx Cup and one of the most prestigious events in all of golf.
As part of this year’s sponsorship, Coca-Cola is partnering with Kroger to support “Tickets Fore Charity” – an innovative new fundraising program designed to improve the quality of life in communities where PGA TOUR events are held.
Kroger will sell single day tickets to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola in 134 Atlanta-area stores through Sept. 26. One-hundred percent of the proceeds of every ticket purchased through Kroger stores will be donated to the East Lake Foundation, which collaborates with public and private organizations to offer Atlanta's East Lake residents opportunities to build a better future through education for children and adults, affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community.
“Through ‘Tickets Fore Charity,’ individuals can experience the best of professional golf, while positively impacting the lives of those in need in the East Lake area,” said Scott Tillman, brand operations manager, Coke TM, Coca-Cola North America. “The program is a great way to further extend the positive impact Coca-Cola and THE TOUR Championship have on the local community. Through our support of the East Lake Foundation, we’ve played a role in helping to revitalize a neighborhood in our own backyard, and that’s something we all feel good about.”
“Tickets Fore Charity”
· Single day tickets are available at 134 Kroger stores for the following tournament days and prices:
o Wednesday, Sept. 23: $20 (includes $20 voucher redeemable in the Merchandise Tent on-site)
o Thursday, Sept. 24: $45
o Friday, Sept. 25: $45
o Saturday, Sept. 26: $60
o Sunday, Sept. 27: $60
· One-hundred percent of the proceeds of every ticket purchased through Kroger stores will be donated to the East Lake Foundation.
The East Lake Foundation:
The East Lake Foundation was founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed.
The East Lake Golf Club and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola have helped revitalize the community and golf has been a tremendous activity for mentoring neighborhood children through The First Tee of East Lake program.
· Web site: http://www.eastlakefoundation.org
The TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola Details:
· THE TOUR Championship features the top 30 players in the PGA TOUR playoffs for the FedEx Cup and one of the most prestigious events in all of golf. This year’s tournament is held from Sept. 23-27, 2009 at East Lake Golf Club.
· Web site: http://www.pgatour.com/tourchampionship
The TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola Charitable History:
· Since 1998, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola has donated more than $9 million to a variety of local and national charities – including $1.4 million in 2008 alone.
· Primary beneficiaries have been the East Lake Foundation and The First Tee program.
· The PGA TOUR, its sponsors, and tournaments have together raised more than $1 billion for charitable causes across the U.S.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Ode to a friend
The word "neighbor", has lost its meaning since I was a kid. Back then, a neighbor was someone who invited you to their family reunion. Nowadays, a neighbor is the house down the street, that gives your kids candy on Halloween...
...Frank redefined that word neighbor.
My friend and good neighbor Frank Arnold died this morning. He'd just turned 88.
Frank grew up in Long Island, caddied through the Great Depression to put food on his family's table, met his childhood sweetheart along the way, before joining the Navy and flying Navigator in numerous midnight missions in the South Pacific.
Frank loved golf, had a membership at Mystery Valley GC, and always had a game available with other US Veterans. He was either playing golf, talking golf, or watching golf. He regularly broke 100 in his early 80's...a feat all of us would be so lucky to accomplish at his age.
Golfing with him was an adventure in patience. Because of his advanced age, I wasn't just playing my game, I was also helping him play his. Macular Degeneration had started it's early destruction on his vision, so it was a given that I would be his cart- driver, fore-caddy, and hole-rattler to make his round enjoyable. Playing with Frank also meant a 19th hole trip to his favorite haunt The Grove, where we could enjoy some suds and re-live the day.
As a neighbor, he and his wife would love watching and being around our kids. If we needed a date-nite, they were always available for our speed-dial.
Frank always had a beer ready for trade when he needed a fan put in, or maintenance on his car...and I was a sucker for a good trade. "John, I need an air conditioner put in, and I have Sam Adams on ice"..."Frank, I'll be right over."
The worst part about death I think, is how much you are aware of how fast life goes on after someone you love dies. Time doesn't stop, and we're on to the next day. It's the cruel reality for the living. Now their house sits vacant. So now we'll look at a quiet house with the lights off.
Somewhere, Frank's golf shoes are sitting in the wash room, waiting to be filled...
...and it will be a while to find someone to walk in them.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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