Running 2025 golf thread

[ChrisLong]

A few years ago I talked with the guy on the desk at the driving range and casually asked about how the seniors program works. There were a few perks but what I remember was $175 a month, one round a week with cart, small bucket of range balls every day (4 rounds a month for $175 sounded fine). This is an average public course, certainly not pristine country club level.
The amount of times I play with my golfing friend has decreased to once or twice a year. I told him about this and said I was just relaying info, not urging him because he was still working. I just said this can't happen until you retire. And, it doesn't have to be this course, might be a course closer to where he lives. Just think about it.
Well, he told me last week that he is retiring on Dec. 31. I'm 74 in two weeks, he just turned 73 a month ago. I will wait to see if he brings it up.

Anybody have experience with golfing seniors? Is it different being in a club-style larger group where the tee times are always the same weekday at approximately the same time? I know the regulars cringe when they see a group of oldsters ahead of them, but we are VERY conscious of pace of play -- be ready when it's your turn, don't spend more than a minute or two looking for an errant shot, etc.

 

[playthrough]

Brooks is through with the Saudis. Now we'll see how much the PGA Tour wants to play hardball.

Brooks Koepka Announces That He Will Leave LIV Golf

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Brooks is through with the Saudis. Now we'll see how much the PGA Tour wants to play hardball.

Brooks Koepka Announces That He Will Leave LIV Golf

Considering all that’s happened, I assume the PGA Tour will play hardball.

I’d also assume the PGAT will take the temperature of some other possible defectors. If the they could pick off some other top players by dangling a return with no suspension, that would be wise.

I’d love to see Rahm return.

 

[da man]

So I just ordered a new set of clubs, because I haven’t played in 25 years, but my SiL is adamant that I need to play with him.
Got any tips for what amounts to a newbie knocking off rust?

Play terrible, hit balls in the woods and make the round take forever. He'll stop bugging you to play after that.

 

[MileHigh]

Considering all that’s happened, I assume the PGA Tour will play hardball.

I’d also assume the PGAT will take the temperature of some other possible defectors. If the they could pick off some other top players by dangling a return with no suspension, that would be wise.

I’d love to see Rahm return.

Pay a $25 million fine and come on back.

 

[playthrough]

Considering all that’s happened, I assume the PGA Tour will play hardball.

I’d also assume the PGAT will take the temperature of some other possible defectors. If the they could pick off some other top players by dangling a return with no suspension, that would be wise.

I’d love to see Rahm return.

I'm sure the rank-and-file would vote to see him twist in the wind for two years but they're not five-time major winners. I think the new Tour CEO, having come from the NFL, recognizes star power and that it's not good business to keep him away just out of spite over a turf war that the Tour has already won.

 

[qtlaw]

I'm sure the rank-and-file would vote to see him twist in the wind for two years but they're not five-time major winners. I think the new Tour CEO, having come from the NFL, recognizes star power and that it's not good business to keep him away just out of spite over a turf war that the Tour has already won.

Brooks better not get a pass otherwise the players will revolt because Rory, etc paid the price to keep the Tour going and deserve a choice.

 

[playthrough]

Brooks better not get a pass otherwise the players will revolt because Rory, etc paid the price to keep the Tour going and deserve a choice.

How exactly would they revolt? And who? Rory and the stars didn't so much pay a price as they got paid, ultimately, and they'd be the first to admit it. The first couple years of the split weren't very enjoyable (especially Rory being the Tour mouthpiece only to have Monahan stick it in his back with the framework agreement), and the split ultimately cost Tour jobs with the reduction of cards from 125 to 100, but those bottom guys are just SOL.

Brooks coming back is going to lift all boats, even if he's just seen as a villain coming home. And actually that would be a lot of fun.

 

[SixToe]

I know it's simplistic but IMO the easiest, best way for Koepka and anyone else to handle it would be this:

"Sometimes we get presented with opportunities that you have to consider, along with financial aspects that might be hard to ignore. We had that opportunity and I took the chance to do something different. Money was a big factor, of course. That was and is a lot of money. The setup of the tournaments was different. When you have something new that isn't like "the way things are," it can be disruptive. I appreciate the opportunity from PIF-Them-PR Fluff Stuff yadda yadda. I now am going to take some time off for my family and myself. I will re-evaluate my future in golf and discuss matters with the PGA Tour when then time is right, and we will figure out what happens then."

Simple, straightforward, be done with it and let whomever try to parse it and pick it apart. Quietly talk with the Tour about some kind of fine or "time away" or whatever, and move on.

 

[maumann2]

A few years ago I talked with the guy on the desk at the driving range and casually asked about how the seniors program works. There were a few perks but what I remember was $175 a month, one round a week with cart, small bucket of range balls every day (4 rounds a month for $175 sounded fine). This is an average public course, certainly not pristine country club level.
The amount of times I play with my golfing friend has decreased to once or twice a year. I told him about this and said I was just relaying info, not urging him because he was still working. I just said this can't happen until you retire. And, it doesn't have to be this course, might be a course closer to where he lives. Just think about it.
Well, he told me last week that he is retiring on Dec. 31. I'm 74 in two weeks, he just turned 73 a month ago. I will wait to see if he brings it up.

Anybody have experience with golfing seniors? Is it different being in a club-style larger group where the tee times are always the same weekday at approximately the same time? I know the regulars cringe when they see a group of oldsters ahead of them, but we are VERY conscious of pace of play -- be ready when it's your turn, don't spend more than a minute or two looking for an errant shot, etc.

Just my personal experience but my home course in Georgia has a $750/year senior rate that includes greens fees and range balls for play Monday-Friday. You only pay for the cart ($16), so if you can still walk the course, you owe nothing. I think I figured out I needed to play at least once a week to come out ahead -- or just play nine holes as a walker.

However, the corporation that owns the course has put the property up for auction so it very well could be not a golf course in April when we return, or have new ownership that doesn't offer a senior discount.

In Florida two years ago, a group of us became "members" at a semi-private course for the winter season. That was $75/month but dropped the price of each round to around $40 and we could play weekends as well.

 

[qtlaw]

How exactly would they revolt? And who? Rory and the stars didn't so much pay a price as they got paid, ultimately, and they'd be the first to admit it. The first couple years of the split weren't very enjoyable (especially Rory being the Tour mouthpiece only to have Monahan stick it in his back with the framework agreement), and the split ultimately cost Tour jobs with the reduction of cards from 125 to 100, but those bottom guys are just SOL.

Brooks coming back is going to lift all boats, even if he's just seen as a villain coming home. And actually that would be a lot of fun.

I meant Rory and the others stood by the Tour and passed up the huge $$$ being offered like Brooks. If Brooks got $100M, how much did Rory pass up $250M? And since '22 Rory's made maybe $40M in Tour winnings? That's what I'm talking about.

Brooks coming back at this point is like the Braves picking up Arenado for 3B/DH at this point, sounds great but you're not getting the '21 version, you're getting the '26-27 version,.

 

[Pickleballgolds]

I'm sure the rank-and-file would vote to see him twist in the wind for two years but they're not five-time major winners. I think the new Tour CEO, having come from the NFL, recognizes star power and that it's not good business to keep him away just out of spite over a turf war that the Tour has already won.

The number of people who buy a ticket because Brooks Koepka is in the field you can count without needing all your fingers and toes.

 

[playthrough]

I meant Rory and the others stood by the Tour and passed up the huge $$$ being offered like Brooks. If Brooks got $100M, how much did Rory pass up $250M? And since '22 Rory's made maybe $40M in Tour winnings? That's what I'm talking about.

Brooks coming back at this point is like the Braves picking up Arenado for 3B/DH at this point, sounds great but you're not getting the '21 version, you're getting the '26-27 version,.

Rory got equity shares from the Tour when it took on $1 billion-plus in PE investment. Not the same as the Saudi signing bonus he'd have commanded, but he'll be fine.

The number of people who buy a ticket because Brooks Koepka is in the field you can count without needing all your fingers and toes.

The PGA Tour pros who sell tickets all by themselves are Scottie and Rory and that's it outside of when/if Tiger tees it up again. But Koepka's one that you make sure you see once you get there.

 

[Cosmo]

**** Donald Trump and his ******* administration. ****ing no reason to do this. Undoing years and years of work. And for what? ****ing asshole.

Dear Friends of National Links Trust,

As supporters of the National Links Trust, our community programming, and our ongoing efforts to rehabilitate DC’s three municipal golf courses, we wanted to update you on recent developments around the National Links Trust stewardship of East Potomac, Langston, and Rock Creek.

We are devastated to report that the Trump administration is officially terminating our 50-year lease with the National Park Service to manage and renovate the three courses. We remain in fundamental disagreement with the administration’s characterization of NLT as being in default under the lease. We have always had a productive and cooperative working relationship with the National Park Service and have worked hand in hand on all aspects of our golf course operations and development projects. The termination is effective immediately.

In the short term, NLT has agreed to stay in place for the time being as operators so that the DC courses can remain open. This will allow uninterrupted access to golf in the District and our hundreds of dedicated employees to stay in place. However, all long-term renovation projects will immediately cease, including our in-progress Rock Creek Park rehabilitation project that was made possible with your support. We also expect the community programming, like the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program at Langston and Free Lesson Fridays, to cease as well.

We are so grateful for your support of NLT and our vision for high-quality, affordable, accessible public golf in DC over the last five years. Without your help, none of our work over the last five years would have been possible.

This is not the update we wanted to send, and we worked tirelessly to try to avoid this outcome. While this termination is a major setback, we remain stubbornly hopeful that a path forward can be found that preserves affordable and accessible public golf in the nation’s capital for generations to come. We will continue to pursue our mission with the support of our community for as long as we are allowed. We hope you continue to stand with us.

Sincerely,
The National Links Trust Team