Ryder Cup gouging; Shark exiting; and the best one-two punch anywhere
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
Last week the PGA of America announced that ticket prices for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Long Island would be $750 (US) per day. Certainly the New York market and the Ryder Cup are both top-end but does that justify such an excessive price for this event?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Absolutely excessive! But, that’s the same price you now pay to play a round at TPC Sawgrass, so I suppose the powers-that-be think everyone’s a millionaire. I just wonder how many kids will be on the grounds at Bethpage at that price. And when the players themselves aren’t being compensated for their time (notwithstanding the $200,000 they each receive to give to their favourite charity), how do the “powers” justify the $112,500,000 gross revenue (50,000 spectators X $750 X 3 days) from ticket sales alone? I understand that “free” refreshments are included (not incl. beer), so I guess for the average, overweight New York fans, this is probably a steal.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: I love the Ryder Cup, but I’d never attend. The crowds are so big, and the players so few even I wouldn’t see anything. $750 is about $550 too much! How much do you think parking costs and F&B?
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Ridiculous. I guess it’s a supply and demand thing and being in the golf travel world, I’m very familiar with that given the price increases since Covid, but that seems excessive. I’m surely not interested in going. It’s a tough live event to watch anyway, with 30,000 fans watching 16 to 24 golfers.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: There are those walking amongst us who don’t blink (think?) about such pricing trivialities. Look at the $1,000 + (US) seats behind home plate at the new Yankee Stadium (regular season prices) and count the morons looking at their cell phones. Pro sport ain’t for the plebeians anymore; the bleacher seats for the World Serious cripple average credit cards. At the Ryder, let the leather lungs pay the price, and after-market prices. Being there, you can’t see a thing. Best to be home nowhere near Bethpage, record, fast forward past the shite, and enjoy. This event is past it’s best-before date anyway, so the price ain’t right.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): Some people will pay ridiculous sums to be there, take a selfie and boast about their experience, or at least their ability to afford it. True golf fans will stay home where they can see more and forego the traffic, crowds and expensive beer. Given the choice of free tickets or staying home, I’d opt for the home version. But then I detest crowds.
According to reports, the Saudi PIF has retained a search firm to find a replacement for LIV CEO Greg Norman. While he may relinquish the CEO title, the Shark is also Commissioner and expected to stay with the organization in some senior capacity. What are your thoughts on this move by the PIF and who might be an ideal replacement?
Deeks: I’m surprised he’s lasted this long. He’s universally regarded as an egomaniac, with a huge chip on his shoulder against the PGA Tour going back over 30 years, and therefore an impediment to any negotiations between the two Tours. But do I personally care whether the Tours proceed with a merger? Not in the slightest, in fact, just the opposite. As to “an ideal replacement” … hopefully Donald Trump will be looking for work in a week or two.
Schurman: Greg Norman took his proposed concept of a world tour to the Saudis, and they bought into his plan. They have now outgrown his usefulness. Replacements include Phil Mickelson and Seth Waugh neither one is of any value doing what they are doing.
Rule: It’s confusing to me, I guess he’s still involved but maybe they need someone with more business background to get the product to come close to breaking even, or maybe to finally get some eyes on the events. I guess they need to target someone with a background in major sports, marketing and TV deals. Not sure who that is at this time but whoever they bring in will have a big challenge on their hands to get the product mainstream.
Quinn: Give the Shark credit for being the first to challenge the Tour monopoly. And like all monopolies before and after, its control on wages. Norman might want to take a little more time on his businesses that he stepped away from to take the PIF soiled money, or the Saudis are tired of his Aussi act. An ideal replacement? A Wall Street CEO with the gravitas to say: “Hey guys, fold the tents.”
Mumford: I’m surprised Norman lasted this long. In an interview I did with him about ten years ago, he said he liked to have a lot of projects on the go all the time. After he took on the LIV Golf role, I wondered if he could focus long term on just one thing. My guess is this is a case of him being ready to be pushed out. The Saudis recognized the need for a new CEO and Norman probably feels like he’s done his bit and it’s time to move on. A year ago I would have said an ideal replacement was Guy Kinnings, but he’s since taken on the top spot on the DP World Tour. Experience running a major tour should be a prerequisite for this job.
There are many golf facilities with two outstanding courses. Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs immediately come to mind or more locally The Pulpit and The Paintbrush. In your opinion, what’s the best one-two punch you’ve ever played anywhere in the world?
Deeks: As mentioned here previously, I keep a record of every course I’ve ever played, since 1956. For me, the one-two punch is a very close toss-up between Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, and Sunningdale Old and Sunningdale New in Berkshire, near Heathrow Airport. Sunningdale Old (designed by Willie Park Jr.,1901) is easily my Number One course, out of 361 courses that I’ve played in my life… the New (H.S. Colt, 1923) is my Number Five. The Cabots (Cliffs, then Links) are No.4 and No. 10, respectively. I played the Red and Blue courses at Streamsong in Florida last March; they were terrific, too. (And I just came back from a tournament in Provence, on two courses at Terre Blanche resort near Cannes, which I would recommend highly.)
Schurman: The Board of Trade was pretty good as are Winged Foot, Pinehurst, Baltusrol, Ballybunion and St Andrews.
Rule: Wow, tough question. Where to begin! There are so many great ones in the US – Pebble/Spyglass, Pinehurst No 2/No 4, Bandon Dunes, etc. – but I would go international with my pick, although that doesn’t make it any easier. Royal Melbourne East and West is in the running, but I would still choose St Andrews Old and New/Jubilee as my favourite place to play 36 in a day. It doesn’t get much more special than that place!
Quinn: As my luck would have it, pars have been illusive on five continents and in many, many countries. Classic bucket-list candidates come to mind, but lurking in the recesses of full-on enjoyment memories is a not-too-well known American resort. As a left-coaster, have to represent. Newport Beach is a place that beckoned, just because the name is so cool. The California coast is awesome, in sections, and The Resort at Pelican Hill sits in prime time. Two Tom Fazio courses! Two Fazios! Have no idea how many pixels my Sony exercised from tee boxes on the par 3s alone. Tours of both courses on day one just meant sleep and repeat. Oh ya, the resort is top ranked, but the Fazio tracks are Michelin worthy.
Mumford: Tough question. I just attended a small media event and played the Pulpit and Paintbrush – a wonderful reminder of how great these two are. For best anywhere, it’s a toss-up. Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic has top ranked Teeth of the Dog on the coast and the lesser-known Dye Fore up in the hills along the river. Both exceptional and quite different. And on the southwest coast of Ireland, Ballybunion Old and New represent an exceptional and unforgettable experience.
