Busy Week

It was a busy and informative day at the McMaster Innovation Showcase today. Hopefully tomorrow will be equally productive.

The Showcase includes a poster session, with some 40 or so research interests explained in great detail. Participants are voting with “McMaster money” – pretend investment funds. I’m sure many participants are “investing” based on quite varied criteria.

I approached it as an investor and decided upon a short list of five or six posters/companies/teams/concepts with whom I’d be interested in meeting. I look forward to the outcome sometime Friday afternoon.

I also managed to stay on top of most email and voice mail today, and proactively follow up with several contacts. Of course, I remain buried under a mountain of backlogged email and follows, but progress was made today.

This evening I met with our bookkeeper – for Parmasters and other business interests. We’ve been a little disconnected lately, so it was good to reaffirm the processes and systems we use to keep the books all in top shape.

In addition to the Showcase tomorrow, I have several meetings in the Hamilton area. Fortunately most are on-site at the Showcase. But not all.

And Friday evening I’ll continue to prepare for our ball hockey team’s final playoff push. We play on Saturday, against a tough team. After that, it all depends on the standings. The team has come so far, so quickly. I’m very proud of them and confident they’ll succeed at anything they collectively put their minds towards.

MITACS Introduction

We'll soon be wrapping up the national MITACS business developer meetings, and I'll be heading to Hamilton for the McMaster Innovation Showcase (Thurs and Fri). I'm looking forward to immersing in some varied cutting-edge research.

I also recently met the operations manager at Mike Weir Wine. This is a great new connection for both MITACS and Parmasters. She, along with the president of the winery, are both quite interested in pursuing discussions with both firms. Great news!

Below is the brief introduction I often use in first emails to new contacts. It provides a quick overview of the area within MITACS where I focus. We're a large organization providing a diverse range of services and funding programs.

The MITACS ACCELERATE (Graduate Research Internship) Program brings together academia, industry and the public sector to develop cutting edge research-based tools vital to our knowledge based economy. This Internship Program is an effective way for industry, not-for-profit organisations, or government labs and agencies, to gain access to, and benefit from, the vast research expertise within our universities. 

Our program sees graduate students or Post-Doctoral Fellows undertaking research on-site with companies to develop new tools and techniques to address high-level industry issues. The intern gains valuable industrial experience and an opportunity to apply their research to address novel issues, whilst the partner gains access to highly trained individuals (the intern and their supervising professor for a fraction of the normal cost associated with such world-class expertise).

Existing industry-academic collaborations may be eligible to participate. The cost to partners is $7,500 for the four-month period which is matched by the MITACS ACCELERATE Graduate Research Internship Program providing an additional $7,500.

Approximately 50% of the intern's time over the 4 months would be spent on site with the partner. The balance of the intern's time is spent back at their home university, further advancing the research under the guidance of their supervising professor.

Longer internships can be supported. MITACS ACCELERATE can also fund much larger projects, involving multiple interns. In recognition of the growing demand from professors to support multiple graduate students and/or post-doctoral fellows through a larger research project in collaboration with one or more industry partners, MITACS ACCELERATE has introduced Internship Clusters.

Internship clusters require a minimum of $30,000 from a partner and provide enhanced funding leverage (i.e. MITACS ACCELERATE contributes a greater percentage of the overall project costs) combined with the ACCELERATE Program's flexibility.

This program has been available in the mathematical sciences across Canada since 2003 (as The MITACS Internship Program). Recently, the program expanded in Ontario to all academic disciplines.

Applications for funding are reviewed and generally approved within about six to eight weeks. It's a very quick process.

For further information please visit www.mitacsaccelerate.ca. Past projects can be viewed at this site.

MITACS Business Development Meetings

As may be ascertained from the title above, I'm attending the MITACS national business development manager team meetings this week. There are some 20 of us across the country.

As I type this I realize I have yet to provide much detail on MITACS and my role with the firm. This topic will have to wait for another day.

Suffice it to say that we fund research collaborations involving industry and academic researchers. We're a not-for-profit with our input funding coming from federal and provincial government sources.

In my role I work to find collaboration opportunities, that is companies and researchers that may want to work together.

These meetings end Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday I'll be attending the McMaster Innovation Showcase (conference) at McMaster University.

I'm also spending the week preparing our ball hockey team (I coach a group of 15-year old young men) for a big playoff game on Saturday.

Back to the MITACS meetings in a moment. We're on break.

I'm quite amazed at the expertise and varied interests we have in our group. There are lots of PhDs and former researchers. But also many business people and other backgrounds.

Our hobbies and interests include horseback riding, fishing, Lego, reading, writing, gardening, farming, castle building (literally), aquarium ecosystems, and the list goes on and on. I feel quite boring and mundane in many ways, as well as humbled.

Change the Way You Look at Things

It’s been another long and crazy week, ending with a short and crazy weekend. I attended quite a few meetings this past week, although most were scheduled calls or conference calls, which was nice.

This weekend is booked pretty solid from start to finish. I coached our ball hockey team last night, and the boys played a solid game, leading to a fantastic 2-1 victory. We took team photos before the game and were thus rushed to get out on the floor and get going. This left little time to get the team organized, put strategy in place, etc. I used a few time-outs to keep us on track.

I’m really enjoying my business development role with MITACS. I’ve been in many different sales/business development roles for many years. But this is the first where the product we sell is, essentially, money. I will have to type much more about exactly what MITACS does, and what I do to help facilitate the bigger picture.

You can learn more at www.mitacs.ca.

For now I best get back to that fully booked weekend. We have another ball hockey game this afternoon. My eldest son is also trying out for the Ontario rugby team. Very cool!

I’ll be hanging out with both of my boys on Sunday, in all likelihood.

Sunday evening I head to Toronto for three days of meetings and training with my fellow MITACS business development managers from across Canada. I’m looking forward to learning far more than I currently know about MITACS and the great work we do. That will be followed by two days at a conference in Hamilton, Thursday and Friday.

I’ll sign off with one of my favourite quotes:
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” -Max Planck, Nobel Prize-winning physicist

You Must Believe to Achieve

I’ve lost my voice. It’s was a busy weekend of working in the mornings and some evenings, and coaching our ball hockey team during the day.

My voice is coming back a little as the day wears on. I’ve been told I’m perhaps a little too “into the games”, a little too “animated”, that maybe I offer up too much encouragement to the players as the game progresses (i.e. that I yell too much). Perhaps they’re right!

We used a few key quotes this past weekend, in the dressing room, and on our team blog, to ensure the team focused on success.

We spoke of Henry Ford’s famous quote on belief, “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.”

We spoke about the famous quote on commitment from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “Until one is committed, there is always hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would never have otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising to one's favor all manner of unforeseen accidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

The boys began to understand – at the ages of 14 and 15 – that “one must believe to achieve.” –Stephen Southern, 2009.

In the end we made it all the way to the semi-finals, and came up one goal short. It was an absolute honour to go into battle with that group of young men, and I can’t wait to do so again this coming weekend.

For now, back to making research count, bringing MITACS research funding to Waterloo Region, Hamilton, Guelph and Niagara!

Blog Changes Coming

When I initiated this blog I envisioned a life that would revolve almost entirely around golf and the golf business. Hence the design of the blog, the layout, the topics, etc.

Now it’s become clear that perhaps the topic area, and the theory on where my life may lead, were both too narrow.

I’m enjoying my new role with MITACS. I’m also enjoying the search for the next General Manager for Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo.

I’m going to make some significant changes to this blog over the coming days and weeks. All aspects are up for grabs, including the layout, topics, bios, news feeds, links, etc.

For now, it’s time to head out of the office. I’m coaching my son’s ball hockey team, and we’re in a tournament all weekend, starting tonight. I can’t wait!

Replacing Myself

I’ve been a delinquent blogger yet again. It’s been a busy time with some transitions both personally and for Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo.

I’m pleased to announce that I am in the process of replacing myself as General Manager of Parmasters KW. We are currently searching for an experienced and high-energy candidate to take the reins and lead the team that will build, open and operate Kitchener-Waterloo’s premiere indoor golf training center.

This transition has always been planned, and will facilitate the growth of Parmasters throughout southern Ontario. I will work closely with the new General Manager providing oversight and mentorship.

I’m also very pleased to announce that I have joined an organization called MITACS Inc. MITACS is a not-for-profit company that funds collaborative research projects involving industry and academia.

This additional role will allow me to be of great service to our local economy, bringing research and development funds into many local industry sectors, including information technology, tourism, transportation, aerospace, banking and finance, security and telecommunications.

Importantly, this new role affords me ample time to assist the new General Manager to ensure our Parmasters golf training center delivers incredible value!

As we search for the ideal General Manager candidate, the Temporary Event Center (TEC) at Market Square will be open on Saturday mornings only. Should you wish to contact us, please refer to the Parmasters KW website and feel free to send us an email or leave a voice message. We will return your correspondence as quickly as possible.

I will also be making a few changes to this blog as time proceeds. Our new Parmasters KW General Manager will blog regularly as part of his/her mandate. I’ll post more information and developments over the coming days and weeks.

Brief Weekend in KW

Clearly I didn't get a chance to blog while away last week. The conference in Las Vegas was very hectic, and the weather was cool.

Parmasters Golf Training Centers Inc., our franchisor, made several fantastic and exciting announcements during the conference. Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to share any of the details at this time. Suffice it to say that this company is really going places! And that bodes very well for our local Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo!

Conference attendees also roled up their/our sleeves and did a lot of work. Parmasters is a young franchise with lots of opportunities. We worked on strategies to leverage many of those opportunities, and to build an incredible experience for every Parmasters member and patron globally!

The flights back got a little interesting in the Denver area on Friday evening. We had lots of turbulence and rain as we descended into Denver. During our two-hour layover the rain became heavy snow. After a lengthy de-icing, our connector flight to Chicago eventually took to the air.

I've heard since that parts of the Denver area enjoyed upwards of a metre of snow Friday evening and Saturday morning. We were lucky to get in and out on schedule!

Saturday and Sunday were spent in KW. I coached my first ever game of ball hockey (as head coach) Saturday evening. I missed the team's first game Friday evening, but we escaped the weekend with two wins! I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season! It's a pleasure to work with a fine group of young teenage men.

The rest of the weekend was mostly dedicated to unpacking, laundry, groceries, re-packing, and lots of work. I also celebrated my younger son's 12th birthday on Sunday.

As I type I'm in Calgary, for a brief layover, on my way to Vancouver for another week of meetings. I'll fly back Friday.

I've promised a few exciting announcements related to Parmasters KW. Those will come next week!

For now, I'll sign off and find some supper.

Crazy Weeks!

I haven't blogged much this past week, and I'm not sure how much time I'll have this coming week.

I leave this evening for the annual Parmasters Franchise Owners Conference. It's held each year in conjunction with a third-party, multi-unit franchising conference. This year it's in Las Vegas.

In many ways it's crazy for us to be going. But then, it is mandatory, as per our franchise agreement.

Earlier today I called all of the players on my son's ball hockey team. I'm the head coach this year. The season starts Friday evening, a game I will miss as I fly back from Vegas. But I will be there for our Saturday evening game, and hopefully all others this season. We have some fantastic assistant coaches also.

Sorry there's no trivia in this post. The book is at home.

More to follow when travel and the conference allow.

Busy Weekend

Trivia: “Which of the four major championships has been contested in both stroke play and match play formats?” Answer below.

It’s a tough morning for golfers, waking to a blanket of snow in southern Ontario. In some cases I’ve heard it’s a very thick blanket!

Of course, in short order, we will all have Parmasters KW to enjoy, where the weather is always perfect, and the atmosphere and staff are always warm and inviting.

It was a very busy weekend, with many things requiring my attention. I worked up until Sunday at noon, and then relaxed with my children for the remainder of the day. They’re growing up way too fast, which brings new challenges and opportunities to grow, as a parent. It’s interesting to think back to my childhood experiences, and contemplate what my parents must have been going through, as they found their way as parents.

As I’ve mentioned, in short order, we’ll have some exciting announcements at Parmasters KW. We look forward to welcoming you all into an incredible golf haven!

And the answer: “The PGA Championship was a match play competition from 1916 to 1957 before turning to the stroke play format in 1958.”

Mill Run Golf Club

Trivia: “THE PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR’s flagship event, moved to the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass in 1982. How many courses played host to the event prior to that?” Answer below.

The Ontario Golf eNewsletter, issued yesterday, shone a brief spotlight on the home course for our Peace Street Classic. Mill Run Golf Club is located just west of Uxbridge, Ontario. Here’s the excerpt and a picture of this beautiful 27-hole track.

Also yesterday, our cause here at Parmasters, Right To Play, released their spring report to stakeholders. They call it their Red Ball Report. I blogged previously about Right To Play and the great work they do here.

And the answer: “Four: Atlanta Country Club, Colonial Country Club, Inverrary Golf and Country Club, and Sawgrass Country Club”

Tiger is Back

Trivia: “Two players share the record for going the most years – 17 – with at least one victory. Who are they? A) Byron Nelson and Sam Snead B) Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan C) Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer D) Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead” Answer below.

Here’s Lorne Rubenstein’s article on the next coming of Tiger Woods. It makes for interesting reading. You can find it here, in the Globe and Mail, and also included below.


Would you bet against this man?

LORNE RUBENSTEIN
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
March 31, 2009 at 10:01 PM EDT

PASADENA, Calif. — The big sporting event in these parts is Saturday's 72nd Santa Anita Derby, for which Pioneerof the Nile and The Pamplemousse are the favourites in one of the major stepping stones to the Kentucky Derby.

At least people know there's more than one horse in the race. Folks here and elsewhere who are contemplating next week's Masters have already handed the green jacket to Tiger Woods, golf's ace thoroughbred.

Woods is the overwhelming favourite to win his fifth Masters title. Various wagering establishments have made him the 2-to-1 favourite, ridiculously low odds for anybody, even Woods, to win any tournament, even the Masters. Padraig Harrington won last year's PGA Championship and British Open, the most recent majors, and he's 14 to 1.

Then there's Phil Mickelson at 10 to 1. He's won two Masters and a PGA Championship, and the recent CA Championship in Miami. Mickelson has won 36 PGA Tour events, including his three majors.

That's a Hall of Fame career. But Woods, who won his 66th PGA Tour event (including 14 majors) last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, has cast a total eclipse across Mickelson's accomplishments.
Woods has eclipsed most everybody, although he still has a ways to go before reaching Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 majors. Nicklaus won 73 PGA Tour events, including the majors, while Sam Snead has won a record 82 PGA Tour events, including seven majors.

Woods should pass Nicklaus in majors and total wins, and also Snead's record if he remains motivated. But does this mean he's a lock for the Masters? Is he golf's Secretariat, the powerful Big Red who won 16 of his 21 races and was all but sure to run down his opposition down the stretch?

No.

Woods shouldn't be a 2-to-1 favourite to win the Masters. It's the difference again between being the golfer "most likely" to win a particular tournament and "likely" to win the specific event. John Allen Paulos, professor of math at Temple University in Philadelphia, explained the distinction in this space last year.

A quick review will underscore the point: Woods is most likely of all his colleagues to win any tournament he enters. He wins nearly 30 per cent of those he plays; nobody else is near that winning percentage.

But he doesn't win 70 per cent of the time, so he's not likely to win any specific tournament. The field against Woods is always a better bet.

Woods has played 12 Masters and won four, or 33 per cent of them.

Does his winning percentage justify his being the 2-to-1 favourite? Again, no.

He has not won the Masters since 2005. That might make it appear Woods is destined to do so next week. But each Masters tournament is an independent event, like the flip of a coin.

For the sake of argument and debate as the Masters approaches, consider some golfers who are, in horse-racing parlance, overlays. Further, consider golfers who not only haven't won a Masters, but any major. Such a golfer surely can't win, can he?

Yes, he can.

Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., won in 2003, Zach Johnson in 2007, and Trevor Immelman last year. Each made the Masters his first major.

Yes, they did. And someone might do so again next week.

Start with Sean O'Hair, who led Woods by five shots before the final round last Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Woods made another one of "those" putts that have become his trademark on the last green to win.

But O'Hair is a player. He's no dog. He's a horse. (Dog lovers, please forgive the reference, but sports people talk like this.)

O'Hair could cross the finish line on top in a major, as early as next week. O'Hair is listed at 55 to 1 for the 2009 Masters.

Paul Casey is another long shot who shouldn't be such a long shot. The 31-year old Englishman lost to Geoff Ogilvy in this year's Accenture Match Play Championship. He tied for sixth in the 2004 Masters, for 10th in 2007, and for 11th last year after a nasty 79 in the last round. Casey is 40 to 1.

And we haven't even mentioned Stephen Ames of Calgary, an 80-to-1 outsider. Ames won the 2006 Players Championship, the next best thing to a major.

Probability and history say O'Hair, Casey, Ames or somebody else, but not Woods, will win next week.

You can't argue against logic and history, can you?

Yes, you can, you say.

Go right ahead. But consider yourself warned.


And the answer: “C) Jack Nicklaus (1962 to 1978) and Arnold Palmer (1955 to 1971)”

Parmasters Southern Ontario

Trivia: “Which player, at age 60, adopted twin infant sons in 1999?” Answer below.

I’ve been working lately on projections for our holding company, Parmasters Southern Ontario. Each golf training center will be a separate company, all of said companies ultimately partially owned by Parmasters SO.

Thus, Parmasters SO is the company that will build, open and operate at least five Parmasters golf training centers across southern Ontario.

Parmasters SO will also open and operate several Links Golf Cafes. Each Parmasters center includes a Links Golf Cafe. But the Cafes can also be built and operated standalone. And we will do so in several major centers across southern Ontario.

So I’ve been working on projections related to the schedule for opening each of the centers or cafes, the capital required, staffing of a Parmasters SO office, etc.

Parmasters KW will be the first of several southern Ontario centers. We’re getting there!

And the answer: “Jim Dent”

Announcements Coming

Trivia: “True or false: Bobby Jones played in his first U.S. Amateur at the age of 14.” Answer below.

We’ll have some significant, and very positive, announcements, related to Parmasters KW of course, coming out shortly. We’re still finalizing the details. Otherwise, we’d be ready to make the announcement today.

I’ll be roughing out a related communications plan later this afternoon.

And speaking of communications, yesterday I received my April issue of Golf Canada from the RCGA. It’s a wonderful publication and a welcomed sign of spring! You can find past issues online via the RCGA website.

And the answer: “True. The 14-year-old played in 1916.”

Snowy Conditions

Trivia: “Who was the first known golfer to own a set of custom-made clubs?” Answer below.

It’s that time of year again when golfers in southern Ontario are getting the itch to get outside with their clubs. I speak with several of them most days here at our Temporary Event Center at Market Square. They’re all curious as to when we’ll open the doors on Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo. We’re working on it, but all good things take time.

You can also find these golfers swarming the local golf retailers, be it Golf Town, Nevada Bobs, or others. I saw many on Saturday, which was a fairly warm day.

Unfortunately, we awoke this morning to a very heavy frost and a bit of snow. Coincidentally, I came across the following cartoon.




I also read the following quote from Golf News Now:
A Texan apparently was talking about how his town got hit with a freak storm that left about an inch of snow on the ground, causing panic among the townspeople who weren’t used to such conditions. The Texan put it all into perspective, however. “He said, `In Canada, they get an inch of snow, the golfers are happy because they can still see their golf balls,’” said DeCunha, who was telling this story with a purpose.


In a completely unrelated turn of events, I also saw this cartoon, and just thought it was funny. Enjoy!




And the answer: “King James IV of Scotland, who in 1502 had a bow-maker build him a set.”

Fifteen Minutes on the Most Difficult Task

Trivia: “What is the governing body for golf outside the United States and Mexico?” Answer below.

I’m in the office, our Temporary Event Center, at Market Square, this morning. I work here most Saturday mornings.

I’m working on a report this morning, which is a task I often find rather daunting. While I enjoy some writing, it can be extremely frustrating when it doesn’t come naturally or easily. I try to follow some of the old adages, such as just write something, anything, just write. And that helps.

I also follow something that friend and colleague, Jim Estill, likes to espouse. He maintains that he can do just about anything for fifteen minutes. So when a task seems daunting, just promise yourself that you’ll dive in and work on it for fifteen minutes. You’ll generally be amazed at what you accomplish in those fifteen minutes, and often be inspired to keep going for much longer.

Yesterday I read a brief blog entry on The Positivity Blog. The point of the message, “Start each day with doing the hardest/ most important/ most uncomfortable thing first.”

Well, time to get back to my report, for at least fifteen minutes.

And the answer: “The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews”

The Golf Network

Trivia: “From 1896 to 1914, Harry Vardon won a record six British Open [sic] titles. On which course did he win most of those? A) Muirfield B) St. Andrews C) Prestwick D) Royal St. Georges” Answer below.

I’d like to say the reason for my lack of blogging this week has been an overwhelming workload. And that is partially the case. But I must also admit I haven’t been sleeping well, and thus have not been as productive as is normally the case. However, I’m confident this will all change in the next few days.

I’ve recently mentioned the good work of Southwest Greens and aboutGolf, the suppliers of our short game area and golf simulators respectively. These are the industry leaders in their respective fields.

Today I’ll briefly highlight another component in our coming Parmasters golf training center. The Golf Network will broadcast from several screens throughout Parmasters KW.

The Golf Network provides golf-related content, along with additional localized information, to screens located in retail/service areas.

And the answer: “C) Prestwick. Vardon won four of his six titles there, including his final one in 1914, where, in an incredible comeback, he defeated J.H. Taylor by three strokes and at age 44 became the oldest man to put his name on the Claret Jug.”

Moe Norman’s Story Coming to the Big Screen

Trivia: “What player had the most longevity, winning his final PGA TOUR event nearly 29 years after his first? A) Ray Floyd B) Sam Snead C) Tom Watson D) Jack Nicklaus” Answer below.


The simplified and more effective golf swing that we teach at Parmasters KW, called Straight-Line Golf (TM) stems partly from the vast amount of time our Co-founder and Director of Instruction, Scott Hazledine, spent with Moe Norman.

Thankfully, after many years, Moe’s story is to be immortalized on screen. Please see Lorne Rubenstein’s latest Globe and Mail column here, and included below.


Moe's swing coming to the big screen

LORNE RUBENSTEIN
March 18, 2009

Fifty years ago this month, Moe Norman tied for fourth in the New Orleans Open, his best finish in the 27 PGA Tour events he played during his career.

A half-century later, Barry Morrow, the Academy Award-winning writer of the 1988 film Rain Man, is ready to make a movie about Norman, the unconventional ball-striking wizard who died in September of 2004, nine years after being inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Morrow, an avid golfer and devotee of all things Moe - as everybody called the Kitchener, Ont., native - has wanted to make the film since reading a December, 1995, Golf Digest cover story by David Owen, titled Moe Knows. Morrow was interested in Moe for the same reasons that led to Rain Man, in which Dustin Hoffman played an autistic savant. Morrow completed his Norman script some time ago.

"It's a story about an underdog character you want to see protected against the slings and arrows of life," Morrow said this week from his home in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Morrow wrote to Moe c/o the Canadian PGA on July 31, 1997, hoping the letter would reach him.

"It's been nearly two years since I read about you in Golf Digest, and marvelled at your journey as a person and golf legend," Morrow wrote. "Since then, I've thought about you many times. I am a screenwriter, and I believe your story would make a terrific motion picture. I also believe I'm the person to write it."

Morrow eventually met Moe, and close friends such as Kitchener club pro Gus Maue and his wife, Audrey, and the late Canadian amateur Nick Weslock. They helped protect Moe, a famously shy and insecure man.

Morrow also met Todd Graves, a pro and instructor in Edmond, Okla., who believes Moe had the simplest and most effective swing. The American-born Graves played the Canadian Tour in 1995. He refers to himself as Little Moe and calls his website swinglikemoe.com.

The plan is for Graves teach the actor who plays Moe to emulate his swing. The film will focus on Moe's life in the late 1950s. Moe was in his late 20s then, and made the cut in each of the 14 PGA Tour events he played from 1958 to 1960.

Tiger Woods, who met Moe, told Golf Digest's Jaime Diaz: "Only two players have ever truly owned their swings, Moe Norman and Ben Hogan."

The actor who will play Moe has yet to be determined, while Morrow could have a director in place by next week. The film will have a budget of approximately $10-million (U.S.), and is being co-produced by Morrow, and BellTower Entertainment, based in Los Angeles with offices in Toronto and Shanghai. The intent is to film in Canada, starting this summer. Financing is in place.

The actor who plays Moe is, of course, of singular importance.

"Among the actors we considered a few years ago were Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heath Ledger," Morrow said.

Hoffman won a best-actor Oscar for his role in Capote. At 41, he's now too old to play a young Moe, while Ledger, an Oscar winner for his work in The Dark Knight, died last year. So who might play Moe?

How about Justin Timberlake, a single-digit golfer who, while better-known for his singing and songwriting, received positive reviews for his role in the 2006 film Alpha Dog?

Morrow thinks Timberlake, 28, could work. He's the right age, and is into golf so much that he is the host of the PGA Tour's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The inaugural tournament was in Las Vegas last October. Timberlake is also known for his good looks, but the 1950s model Moe was a slimmer, blonder fellow than the Moe most people now remember.

"I enjoy every facet of the game," Timberlake once said of golf. "I'm a pretty athletic dude, a pretty athletic person, and I think this is the toughest game I've ever played."

Could Timberlake reflect Moe's debilitating discomfort in the white-bread world of professional golf of the 1950s, along with his antic mannerisms? Moe hit balls off Coke bottles, and shuffled off muttering to himself when somebody looked at him the wrong way. Some players didn't want Moe in their midst, and he wouldn't and probably couldn't conform.

The actor playing Moe would also need to get comfortable with Moe's technique, although a body double could be used. He would need to find the moves and sink into the character of what Golf World, which put Moe on its March 20, 1959, cover, called "the most colourful player to join the tour in a long time."

Fifty years have passed, and no more colourful player has emerged. Morrow has come to know Moe. If the film comes off as Morrow envisages it, it will help others know Moe.

rube@sympatico.ca


And the answer: “A) Ray Floyd, who won the first of his 22 titles in 1963 and the last in 1992.”

Our Incredible aboutGolf Simulators

Trivia: “Why is Jesper Parnevik’s father famous in Sweden? A) He’s one of the country’s top comedians. B) He anchors the national evening news. C) He’s an award-winning character actor. D) He hosts a syndicated talk radio show.” Answer below.


Just as I shared some samples of the fine work of Southwest Greens a short while ago, I’ve been meaning to share some images of our aboutGolf golf simulators. They’re incredible. Have a look.

You can find more images and information on the aboutGolf website, and also see a PDF brochure highlighting some of the world famous courses we’ll offer.


And the answer: “A) He’s one of the country’s top comedians.”

Golf Historical Society of Canada Event

Trivia: “Who was the first player to win both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur? A) Chick Evans B) Tiger Woods C) Jack Nicklaus D) Francis Ouimet” Answer below.

I managed to get a fair bit of work done over the weekend, and also some relaxing and recharging of the batteries, as they say. The weekend included some shopping with a friend (she did the shopping, I did the carrying), my eldest son’s weekly hockey game, some monopoly and scrabble, a cleaner car, etc.

Roughly two weeks from now the Golf Historical Society of Canada is hosting a special event, which I hope to attend. Here’s a quote from Ontario Golf Magazine’s most recent email newsletter, specifically the March 13, 2009 issue.

“The Golf Historical Society of Canada is having a show and sale March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum at 1333 Dorval Drive in Oakville. Bring your old golf stuff for appraisal (who knows, you may have a rare collectible sitting in storage) and participate in a golf collectibles auction.”

You can learn more via the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame section of the RCGA website, where it actually states that the auction begins at 2:00pm and the entire event runs until 4:00pm. Enjoy!

And the answer: “D) Francis Ouimet. He won the U.S. Open in 1913 and the U.S. Amateur the following year.”

The Right Tasks, Completed Effectively and Correctly

Trivia: “Who is considered the world’s first professional golfer? A) “Old” Tom Morris B) Willie Park Sr. C) Allan Robertson D) Andrew Strath” Answer below.

I’ve been working lately on many different projects, almost all related to coming grand opening of Parmasters KW. In talking to a close friend last night, I started to wonder, as I often do, whether I’m working on the correct priorities.

It’s quite healthy and natural, as an entrepreneur, to regularly consider these things.

Some people say managing is making sure all tasks are completed effectively and correctly. While leading is ensuring that the right (i.e. highest priority, highest leverage, etc.) tasks are being worked on. As an entrepreneur in such a small organization, I’m clearly both manager and leader.

(And also maintenance person, IT specialist, marketer, window cleaner, .... But that’s another story.)

This same friend is contemplating her next career move. She may have to decide whether she wishes to be a manager or a leader.

Getting back to my current projects and priorities, I will dedicate sometime over the next few days to once again revisit all priorities, strategic plans, etc., and ensure the right tasks are being worked on.

For now, I must get back to work on my current task, ensuring, as a manager would, that it is completed effectively and correctly by day’s end.

And the answer: “C) Allan Robertson. Robertson, who was the first to score below 80 on the Old Course in Scotland, was also considered the premier ball- and club-maker of the mid-19th century.”

Rubenstein’s Latest Column – “Go Unconscious”

Trivia: “What criterion does Tiger Woods, winner of more than 40 [sic] PGA TOUR events and eight majors, still need to meet in order to qualify for the World Golf Hall of Fame?” Answer below.

I’ve been including a lot of news items and other links and references lately. I guess that’s mostly because I haven’t felt my daily comings and goings have been all that blog-worthy. Just a lot of meetings and doing all we can to move Parmasters KW forward as quickly as possible. This blog-worthiness will likely change shortly.

Today I’m just working away on a few different projects. No meetings, per se. I’ll spend lunch with a dear friend and the evening with my two boys.

For now, before I get back to work, I’ll leave you with Lorne Rubenstein’s latest column, courtesy of the Globe and Mail. I found it quite interesting, and hope you will also. You can find it online here, and also included below, as usual.


Learn efficient technique, then go unconscious

LORNE RUBENSTEIN
March 11, 2009

MIAMI -- Successful tour golfers merge the psychological with the technical aspects of the game.

Sports psychologist Bob Rotella walked the back nine with Mike Weir yesterday at the Doral Golf Resort to help the Canadian with the mental side, while today, swing coach Justin Bruton will be at Doral to film top players so he can help golfers who visit his Total Performance Golf academy at the Biltmore Hotel in nearby Coral Gables, Fla.

Rotella has been working with Weir to help him "go unconscious."

The Bright's Grove, Ont., native will play in a group with Tiger Woods in the first two rounds of the CA Championship that starts tomorrow. He was doing pretty well along the conscious-unconscious spectrum.

On the 603-yard 12th hole, Weir hit the pin on one bounce from 100 yards. He then pitched a shot over a bunker in front of the green from 30 yards. The shot finished three feet from the hole.

"Pretty," Rotella said, and then Weir hit a few putts.

"I'm still feeling like I could have a bit more freedom in my stroke," Weir told Rotella.

On the final hole, Weir ripped a long iron over the corner of the lake in front of the green. The ball finished 15 feet left of the hole, pin-high.

"You get to the point where you know what you're trying to do [with the technical elements]," Weir said as he walked to the green. "I don't have to see Andy and Mike as much now. It's a matter of trusting myself."

Weir was referring to swing coaches Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, who teach the stack-and-tilt approach. He said he knows the material. Now, it's about playing golf, not golf swing.

Meanwhile, he still gives plenty of thought to technique, but on the practice range rather than the course. He also enjoys talking about the swing, and on the last hole conversation turned to the Tour Striker, a new training club. Weir had joined Jim Furyk on the 17th hole, and they started talking about the club.

Canadian pro Martin Chuck, once part of George Knudson's and Ben Kern's top-notch junior program at the National Golf Club of Canada, developed the Tour Striker. It helps golfers achieve what teachers call "forward lean of the club shaft" at impact.

Chuck, director of golf at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Ore., has had some encouraging success with the anti-scoop club. Word is that PGA Tour pro David Toms asked for one, and Justin Leonard's coach, Randy Smith, picked one up recently.

Bruton, meanwhile, has been looking forward to visiting Doral today to continue his swing studies. The 31-year-old pro said during a recent interview at his academy that more players are going to what he called a "modern-day, short-arm, swing-big, body-turn motion."

Woods rarely gets his club to a parallel to the ground position at the top of his swing. But he's fully coiled behind the ball. "Tiger is the best iron player I've ever seen," Bruton said, which is in part because of the increased efficiency of his swing.

What about Weir and fellow Canadian Stephen Ames, who is also playing this week?

"They both have very rotary swings [one plane/stack-and-tilt types] where their heads do not move laterally as much on the backswing," Bruton said. "It appears Weir is letting his head move a little more laterally when he is swinging a driver, which I think is the correct move with the longer clubs as opposed to stack and tilt."

Then, there's South Korean player Y.E. Yang, who won last week's Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Bruton said Yang uses that short-arm, big-turn action.

"This is a more efficient way to swing the club," Bruton said, "because a person's rate of force can actually go up with a shorter stretch/shorten cycle as opposed to a big, long backswing that overstretches the body and causes the golfer to lose that quick contraction out of the muscle. All the load that is created is lost."

What's a golfer to do? Clearly, the way to improve is to learn efficient technique, and then to go unconscious.

Weir and Ames have the first part down, otherwise they wouldn't be on the PGA Tour. Either could win this week. They're here, right?

It's certain that neither Weir nor Ames is thinking about Woods making his first appearance in a stroke-play event since winning the U.S. Open last June. They're thinking about something else.

They're thinking about going unconscious.

rube@sympatico.ca


And the answer: “He still needs to reach his 40th birthday, which is the minimum age for eligibility.”

RBC and RCGA name Mike Weir Foundation as national charity partner for RBC Canadian Open

Trivia: “What two courses share the record for being the longest to play host to the U.S. Open?” Answer below.

We heard some fantastic news out of the Canadian Open and the Mike Weir camp yesterday. You can find the media release here, and also included below.


RBC and RCGA name Mike Weir Foundation as national charity partner for RBC Canadian Open

Mike Weir Charity Classic to be held Monday of RBC Canadian Open tournament week;

RBC expands relationship with Canadian golf icon;

PGA TOUR stars confirm their intent to compete for Canada's national Open championship

TORONTO, ON (RCGA), March 9 /CNW/ - RBC and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) today announced the Mike Weir Foundation as a national charity partner for the RBC Canadian Open, welcoming the inaugural Mike Weir Charity Classic to the lineup of tournament week activities for the RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The Mike Weir Charity Classic will take place on Monday, July 20 at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The high-profile charity fundraiser will feature marquee celebrities from the music, sports and entertainment industries including two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash as well as several notable players on the PGA TOUR. This star-studded event will be a true highlight of event week.

"A critical component of our being title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open is to ensure we are generating charitable legacies in our communities," said Gordon M. Nixon, RBC president and CEO. "Creating the Mike Weir Charity Classic during tournament week is an important step towards this objective and will help improve children's wellness across Canada."

The Mike Weir Foundation supports numerous worthwhile causes in support of the physical, emotional and educational welfare of children. All net proceeds from the Mike Weir Charity Classic will benefit children's charities through the Foundation.

"Supporting children's wellness is the main goal of the Mike Weir Foundation and I am pleased to have RBC and the RCGA as partners in realizing this vision," said Mike Weir. "I'm looking forward to the RBC Canadian Open and hosting the Charity Classic. It's for a great cause and part of the RBC Canadian Open's commitment to the community. It'll be a lot of fun."

The opportunity to add a philanthropic component to the RBC Canadian Open aligns with the RCGA's and RBC's long term strategic plan for the event.

"We are extremely proud to partner with the Mike Weir Foundation and welcome the Mike Weir Charity Classic to tournament week of the RBC Canadian Open," said Scott Simmons, RCGA Executive Director and CEO. "Adding a significant charitable element to Canada's national Open championship is a major focus of our strategic vision for the event and together with RBC, we feel that aligning our philanthropic efforts with the Mike Weir Foundation is an ideal fit and to be in a position to announce the type of talent we have secured is very fulfilling for everyone involved."

As part of today's announcement, RBC also announced it is expanding its marketing relationship with Mike Weir to include all of its financial service categories. Last week, RBC announced it had established a relationship with Stephen Ames and his foundation's work with youth in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.

"Building partnerships with some of the most recognizable players on the PGA TOUR helps us enhance the RBC Canadian Open and drives our business objectives," said Jim Little, RBC Chief Brand and Communications Officer. "We want to leverage our deepening role in golf to build brand experiences for our clients and golf fans in Canada as well as enhance brand awareness for RBC in the U.S. and internationally. In partnership with the RCGA, the PGA TOUR and other sponsors, we are revitalizing the RBC Canadian Open and restoring it to its rightful place as one of the premier stops on the PGA TOUR."

Following the conclusion of the 2008 RBC Canadian Open, officials from RBC and the RCGA sat down as part of its ongoing dialogue with Team Weir to discuss the concept of adding a new event that would address two key objectives. Beyond simply raising charity dollars, the intent was to formalize the role Weir could play in helping to engage fellow PGA TOUR players to support the philanthropic mission of The Mike Weir Foundation, while helping to enhance the Field of the RBC Canadian Open.

Led in part by Weir's input, rapport and dialogue with his peers, the RBC Canadian Open is thrilled to announce that marquee names have already committed to play in the Mike Weir Charity Classic and challenge for the 100th playing of Canada's national Open championship, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The following collection of emerging PGA TOUR superstars, world-class international players and proven veterans will be in attendance:

Anthony Kim
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2008 Ryder Cup hero

Trevor Immelman
- 2008 Masters champion
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner

Camilo Villegas
- 2008 TOUR Championship winner
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner

Luke Donald
- Two-time PGA TOUR winner
- Two-time Ryder Cup team member

Fred Couples
- 15-time PGA TOUR winner, 5-time Ryder Cup team member
- 4-time President's Cup team member, 2009 President's Cup Captain

Mark Calcavecchia
- 13-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2005 RBC Canadian Open champion
- 4-time Ryder Cup team member

Stephen Ames
- Three-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2006 The PLAYERS Championship winner

Chez Reavie
- 2008 RBC Canadian Open champion

Mike Weir
- Eight-time PGA TOUR winner
- 2003 Masters champion
- 4-time President's Cup team member
- 2009 inductee into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame

Additional PGA TOUR players and notable celebrities taking part in the Mike Weir Charity Classic will be announced in coming months as the 2009 RBC Canadian Open shapes up to be one of the highest profile events in recent history.

ABOUT THE 2009 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
An exciting new era has arrived for Canada's national championship. Part of the FedEx Cup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete for $5.1 million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario. Established in 1904, the tournament is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Bell, Pengrowth and BMW Group Canada. For updated corporate hospitality, tickets, volunteer and sponsorship information please visit www.rbccanadianopen.ca or call 1-800-571-OPEN.

RBC AND THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN
In partnership with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), RBC is the title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open, the third oldest national golf championship worldwide, next only to the British Open and the U.S. Open. With a history of great players and premier fields, the RBC Canadian Open provides golf fans with the opportunity to experience the excitement of a world class event on Canadian soil. RBC also sponsors all levels of amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport organizations and elite-level athletes.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA's mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, CN Future Links, Canada's national junior golf program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada's most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women's Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.

For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.

For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Dan Pino, Director, Media and Public Relations, Royal Canadian Golf Association, t: (905) 849-9700 ext. 406, c: (416) 434-5525 (cell), e: dpino@rcga.org; Jackie Braden, Manager, Media Relations, RBC, t: (416) 974-2124, c: (416) 318-7950 (cell), e: Jackie.braden@rbc.com


And the answer: “The Black Course at Bethpage State Park and Pinehurst No. 2, which both measure 7,214 yards. They held the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2005 respectively.”

The Fine Work of Southwest Greens

Trivia: “Who won 10 or more times during two separate seasons?” Answer below.

It’s been a busy day thus far, and obviously I didn’t get to this blog first thing.

I’ve been meaning to share some photos from the fine folks at Southwest Greens. They will create our incredible short game area, coming soon to your Parmasters KW golf training center!

You can find more photos on their Canadian site and their main/USA site. I’ve included a few below to whet your appetite!

And the answer: “Ben Hogan, who had 13 victories in 1946 and 10 in 1948”

Twelve Things I Can’t Play Without

Trivia: “Why did Jesper Parnevik name his son Phoenix?” Answer below.

I came across this article, found both here and below, the other day and thought, with the outdoor season fast approaching, it may be helpful and timely. A special thank you to GolfPutterReviews.com.


12 Things I Can’t Play Without

A lot of us unwrapped golf-related presents during the holidays. Books, clothes, DVDs, club cleaners — the kind of stuff we enjoy but would rarely buy for ourselves. It made me start to think about what I absolutely, positively never want to play golf without. Here are my essentials:

1. Properly Marked Balls. For me, this means six that are marked and ready for play before each round. I use a green Sharpie and make a single dot under the ball’s number, then a line along the seam of the ball so I can align putts on my intended target line. If I’m playing on a course with lots of high rough or water, I’ll bring three extra.

2. Free Tees. I think white look the best, but honestly, whatever is free at the starter’s hut works for me. I hate the idea of buying tees.

3. Coins with good years. In pursuit of positive karma, lots of pros use coins minted in the 60s as ball markers. Pennies are fine, but nickels, dimes and quarters work too. Like tees, I can’t bring myself to pay for a ball marker.

4. A divot repair tool. If everyone repaired his pitch mark, and another nearby, we’d all be putting on smoother greens. (I put one in my pocket, along with a coin, on the first tee.)

5. Pencils. I’m constantly losing the pencil I start my round with, so I stock several.

6. A towel. I keep one corner damp to help me keep the grooves of my irons and wedges clean.

7. A water resistant top. If the forecast calls for steady rain, I’ll wear a water-proof top to the course. If the forecast calls for the possibility of rain, I rely on a compressible, water-resistant, breathable top that I keep in my bag at all times. My RLX Stratus V-Neck Wind Shirt is perfect for the job.

8. Sunscreen. Playing golf in the sun is great. Skin cancer is terrible. Coppertone makes a great spray bottle of SPF-30 sunscreen that is sweatproof and non-greasy.

9. Granola bars. When it’s hot, energy bars melt and get sticky. Nuts make me thirsty. Granola bars are easy to store, provide lasting energy and taste good.

10. Two gloves. One to wear, another as a back up.

11. A water bottle. There is nothing worse than getting thirsty on the course, and I never depend on either a beverage cart or a cooler to be just around the corner. I fill a Nalgene bottle with ice at home and fill it with water before starting my round.

12. A laser range finder. Yes, this is a splurge, but instead of finding a sprinkler head and pacing off yardages, my laser range finder tells me exactly how far I am from the flag or a hazard in about two seconds. It only weighs a few ounces, and on the tee box on par 3s it’s funny how everyone looks to me to see what the magic number is.


And the answer: “Because he won his first PGA TOUR title at the 1998 Phoenix Open.”

A Very Special Day

Trivia: “Who was the first American captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews?” Answer below.

I found today’s trivia item quite surprising, as I wasn’t aware the non-Brits ever occupied the Captaincy. I try to ask my children daily questions about what they learn each day, and what they can do with their newfound knowledge. I too now have newfound knowledge. But I’m not sure what I can do with it.

Today is a very special day in the life of this blogger. Four years ago my life changed in incredible ways. Many people experience life-changing events. Not all of us do, but many do. We often don’t realize the event is life-changing until much time has passed. I’m not sure I realized right away, but I’m also not sure that, on some level, I didn’t realize. One thing’s for sure, that this world is incredible, this life is incredible, and it will surprise you and delight you in ways you cannot possibly imagine, if you just relinquish a little control and let things happen!

There’s been some wonderful news out of RBC and the Stephen Ames camp. This is great news for the future of our grand game! You can read a snippet here, and also below. Thank you to Golf News Now for this information.


Stephen Ames Cup Gets RBC Support

March 3, 2009 by GNN

RBC, the title sponsor of the Canadian Open, has extended its golf sponsorships to include the Stephen Ames Cup, an international Ryder Cup format played between juniors from Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.

“From a player’s perspective, RBC’s leadership role in revitalizing the Canadian Open has had immediate impact and I look forward to supporting them in their efforts to elevate the national championship in the future,” said Ames, a Canadian citizen who grew up in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I am especially delighted to have their support for the Stephen Ames Cup and, more importantly, junior golf,” added the three-time PGA Tour winner.

“Every year, I look forward to watching these young people develop the skills and confidence they will use for the rest of their lives and I am excited that RBC will be there to share the experience.”

Ames founded the Stephen Ames Foundation in 2005 to provide funding for junior golf programs and created the Stephen Ames Cup, which will be played for the fifth time this August in Calgary. Each country hosts the event in alternate years.


And the answer: “Francis Ouimet received that honor [sic] in 1951.”

Mr. Bobby Jones

Trivia: “What event signalled golf’s status as a global sport? A) The creation of the Grand Slam B) British golfer Harry Vardon’s participation in the U.S. Open C) The late 19th-century formation of the R&A and the USGA D) Golf’s designation as an Olympic sport in 1900” Answer below.

It’s been a pretty crazy several days, and that has obviously impacted my blogging. Happily, this blip is over and things are once again settling down to the incredible life we can all lead!

Speaking of incredible lives, I stumbled across this brief biography on one of the greatest golfers, and greatest gentlemen, of all time, the one and only Mr. Bobby Jones.

You can find the full biography on mobile wiki-like encyclopaedia, Wapedia, here.

And here’s an excerpt that appears below the title “Sportsmanship”.

“Jones was not only a consummately skilled golfer, but he also exemplified the principles of sportsmanship and fair play. Early in his amateur career, he was in the final playoff of the 1925 U.S. Open at the Worcester Country Club. During the match, his ball ended up in the rough just off the fairway, and as he was setting up to play his shot his iron caused a slight movement of the ball. He immediately got angry with himself, turned to the marshals, and called a penalty on himself. The marshals discussed among themselves and questioned some of the gallery if anyone had seen Jones' ball move. Their decision was that neither they nor anyone else had witnessed any incident, so the decision was left to Jones. Bobby Jones called the two-stroke penalty on himself, not knowing that he would lose the tournament by one stroke. When he was praised for his gesture, Jones replied, "You may as well praise a man for not robbing a bank." The USGA's sportsmanship award is named the Bob Jones Award in his honor [sic].”

The image is a painting by Thomas E. Stephens, Welsh-American (1885-1966), oil on canvas. It was found on The Fine Arts Conservancy website.

And the answer: “D) Golf’s designation as an Olympic sport in 1900. That inaugural year and the following 1904 Olympics, however, were the only times golf was included in the Games.”

Addictive Game

Trivia: “During a 1987 event Craig Stadler had to play a shot from under a low-hanging tree branch, which required him to play from his knees. To keep his pants from getting wet, he laid down a towel. What rule did he inadvertently break?” Answer below.

Another online putting game, found here.

Good luck!

And the answer: “Rule 13-3, which states that a player cannot build a stance. Breaking this rule results in a two-stroke penalty.”

Right To Play Fundraiser by NHL Players

Trivia: “Which was the shortest course to ever hold the U.S. Open? A) Newport Golf Club B) The Country Club at Brookline C) Shinnecock Hills D) Brae Burn” Answer below.

We have two news items for you today. One very significant. The other, very curious.

Several NHL hockey players are working together over the coming days to raise money for the cause that we also share, Right To Play. You can find the story here, and also included below.

You can also find more information on eBay here.

And from the United Kingdom we have a curious story about a golf ball swallowing tree! This cute story can be found here, and is also included below.


Ference, Chara make personal donations for Right to Play

February 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am ET
Posted by Joe Haggerty

The Right to Play is a charity organization that includes a heavy dose of Boston Bruins involvement, as both Andrew Ference and Zdeno Chara have traveled over to Africa in the name of the Canadian organization. Twenty-two different NHL players are donating something of their own to raise in the next week, and that includes Ference putting his own Harley Davidson on auction to raise funds. The coolest part: the player get to do in the name of someone they care about or admire.

No word on whether Big Z is going to donate the Right to Play yellow toque he was sporting when he reared back and fired the NHL hardest slap shot during All-Star weekend in Montreal last month. Here’s the release from Right to Play:

Players from 22 National Hockey League teams are showing their support for the international humanitarian organization Right To Play by making personal donations over the Feb. 27 – March 1 weekend.
NHL superstars including Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors Alexander Ovechkin, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton and Daniel Alfredsson will be among at least 25 players donating to Right To Play based on minutes played in one of their team’s games Feb. 27 – March 1. While players celebrate their ability to play a game they love, they will be making donations to Right To Play in honour of coaches or role models who instilled in them the positive values of sport and helped them succeed — not just in hockey, but in life.

Funds raised will support Right To Play’s sport and play programs in 23 countries of operation across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. By training local community leaders as Coaches to deliver these programs, Right To Play provides similar growth opportunities and positive role models for 600,000 children in Right To Play activities every week.

“When I visited Right To Play projects in Mozambique last summer, I saw what an incredible impact Right To Play Coaches are having on children’s lives,” said Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. “I was inspired by their commitment and extremely impressed by the ability of just a few Coaches to create such happiness and amazing learning opportunities for literally hundreds of children. My father was a mentor for me and that is why I am honouring him with my donation. I know it is for an outstanding cause.”

The Garth Brooks Teammates For Kids Foundation is also joining in the players’ support of Right To Play by matching donation contributions from Teammates For Kids ‘Hockey Teammates’ up to $20,000.

In addition, players, teams, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association have all contributed to an online auction in benefit of Right To Play. The auction launches this evening at www.ebay.com/righttoplayand is highlighted by a 1999 Harley-Davidson motorcycle donated by Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference and a leather jacket from Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada.

Andrew’s video promoting the auction can be seen on the eBay site. Other items include a custom Steve Montador signature poker table, a signed 2009 ‘West’ NHL All-Star Game sweater, game-used sticks from Daniel Alfredsson, Garnet Exelby and Manny Malhotra, an Alex Ovechkin-autographed Right To Play tracksuit, signed jerseys and other merchandise. The auction closes on March 1.

“On behalf of all the children in our programs and the volunteer Coaches who work with them, I want to thank these NHL players and the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation for their outstanding leadership and support,” said Right To Play President and CEO Johann Koss. “This initiative is a great example of what can be achieved when athletes rally together around the best values of sport and play.”

Participating players are listed below and can also be found on a Coach Tribute Wall at righttoplay.ca or righttoplayusa.org. Fans are encouraged to join these NHL players by making online donations in honour of their own coaches or role models. For donations of $25 or more, donor and coach names will be inserted on the Coach Tribute Wall alongside the NHL players, and the donor will receive a personalized ‘Coach Tribute’ via email as a special thank you.

Right To Play 2009 ‘Donation for Minutes Weekend’ Participants

NHL Team Player Honoured Coach / Role Model Donation Game
Anaheim Ducks Steve Montador/Gisele Bourgeois Feb. 28 at Dallas
Chris Pronger/Ollie Bon Jovi / Hummer Feb. 28 at Dallas
Atlanta Thrashers Garnet Exelby Jude Boulianne Feb. 28 vs. Carolina
Boston Bruins Zdeno Chara/Zdenek Chara Feb. 28 vs. Washington
Andrew Ference/Brent Peterson Feb. 28 vs. Washington
Calgary Flames Robyn Regehr/All minor hockey coaches Feb. 27 vs. Minnesota
Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews/Thom Gross Feb. 27 vs. Pittsburgh
Columbus Blue Jackets Manny Malhotra/Scott Sones/Rob Honighan March 1 at Vancouver
Edmonton Oilers Ethan Moreau/Ab Moreau Feb. 28 vs. Minnesota
Florida Panthers Jay Bouwmeester/Dan Bouwmeester Feb. 28 at New Jersey
Greg Campbell/All minor hockey coaches Feb. 28 at New Jersey
Los Angeles Kings Anze Kopitar/Matjaz Kopitar Feb. 27 at Detroit
Minnesota Wild Nick Schultz Robert Schultz Feb. 27 at Calgary
Montreal Canadiens Mike Komisarek/Aleksey Nikiforov Feb. 28 vs. San Jose
Nashville Predators David Legwand/Dave and Carole Legwand Feb. 28 vs. Detroit
New York Islanders Josh Bailey/Mickey Renaud Feb. 28 vs. Buffalo
New York Rangers Wade Redden/Pat Redden Feb. 28 vs. Colorado
Ottawa Senators Daniel Alfredsson/Hasse Alfredsson Feb. 28 vs. Toronto
Philadelphia Flyers Mike Richards/Mark Richards/Matt Richards Feb. 27 vs. Montreal
Pittsburgh Penguins Eric Godard/Bill Higgins Feb. 27 at Chicago
San Jose Sharks Joe Thornton/Brian Muscat Feb. 28 at Montreal
Tampa Bay Lightning Matt Pettinger/Allan Neale Feb. 27 at Vancouver
Toronto Maple Leafs Dominic Moore/Brad Selwood Feb. 28 at Ottawa
Vancouver Canucks Kevin Bieksa/Scott Jess Feb. 27 vs. Tampa Bay
Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin/Zinetulla Bilyaletdinov Feb. 28 at Boston

About Right To Play

Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Working in both the humanitarian and development context, Right To Play trains local community leaders as Coaches to deliver our programs in 23 countries affected by war, poverty and disease across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Right To Play is supported by an international team of top athletes from more than 40 countries. As role models, these athletes inspire children, raise awareness and promote opportunities for funding for Right To Play projects.


What a slice! Stray golf ball discovered buried inside felled tree

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:41 AM on 21st February 2009

Of all the flukes seen on a golf course, greenkeeper Richard Mitchell can claim one of the strangest.
As he took his chainsaw to a leylandii tree, he hit the exact spot where a ball was embedded in the wood and sliced through it.

The ball apparently lodged in a fork of the tree many years ago when a golfer hooked a drive on the first tee. The conifer grew around the ball and it remained hidden in the screen of 15 trees.

Trimmed, sanded and varnished, it is to become a rather unusual trophy board at Eaton Golf Club in Norwich.

Mr Mitchell discovered the ball last month after he felled the 40ft trees, planted 37 years ago, and began cutting the timber into 4ft lengths for firewood.

The piece of wood with the half ball visible is being preserved and varnished by former club captain Jim Cook who is a skilled woodworker.

It will then be kept behind the bar and used to record the names of everyone who gets a hole-in-one on the 198-yard ninth hole.

Peter Johns, the manager of the £675-a-year club, said: 'It is just an incredible find. We think it came off the first tee. It must have lodged in a fork or embedded itself in the trunk and the tree grew round it.

'If Richard had cut the trunk an inch or two either way we'd never have known it was there.'


And the answer: “C) Shinnecock Hills. It was just 4,423 yards when it held the 1896 tournament.”

Will the People be the Center?

Trivia: “Who has the most top-10 career finishes at 358? A) Byron Nelson B) Jug McSpaden C) Billy Casper D) Sam Snead” Answer below.

I was sitting in the airport in Calgary (last week) catching up on some email when I was reminded of a reality we'll face at Parmasters KW. A reality we must embrace and celebrate.

As I quoted last week, "All progress begins by telling the truth." -Dan Sullivan. We must embrace our truth.

As I looked up from my Blackberry I noticed a gentleman - perhaps early 60's - walking past, carrying a fairly new, seemingly well-made, ergonomically-designed backpack. This, in and of itself, would not have been significant. It was the way in which he was carrying said backpack.

I can only imagine the chagrin with which the backpack designers (and engineers) would have looked on, in utter disbelief, had they two witnessed this gentleman. I'm sure he was very nice, but his method of carrying a backpack was not what the ergonomics folks had in mind.

How can I describe this? He carried the pack by one strap, slung over one shoulder. (Not how you've seen before! Trust me!) The pack was slung perfectly horizontal from his right shoulder. The strap straddled his shoulder exactly in the middle of said strap. There was no padding on the strap there. The padded part of the strap was all behind his shoulder. The other strap hung loose, dangling below the pack. And because this felt rather precarious to the gentleman, he had his right arm wrapped firmly around the pack, holding it close to his right side, his right hand beneath the pack, in some sort of head/backpack lock grip.

This was not what the designers envisioned. At all!

And similarly, the thousands of members and other patrons that visit us at Parmasters KW will not always utilize their golf training center as we envision.

And that's great!

Shortly thereafter I was standing next to one of the large mobiles in the common area around gates D45 to D50. I think they're called "mobiles", like what one would suspend over a baby's crib, to entertain; only these were on a much larger scale.

Anyway, they were not moving, not going round and round. They were idle. I just assumed they were turned off. But that wasn't the case.

A young boy came running up, as excited as could be. He grabbed on to a large key, that I hadn't even noticed (three feet from where I stood), and he turned this key.

And the mobile began to turn.

And many of the tired, grown-up, serious travelers, a few hundred perhaps, looked up, and smiled, and enjoyed the sight of these simplistic machines going round and round.

That one child did all that.

I was reminded of a young man I'm getting to know. I was reminded of a young lady too. And of course, of my two sons.

And I was reminded of how people of all kinds are going to bring life to Parmasters KW. Perhaps the center will not truly be the center.

Perhaps the people will be the center.

And the answer: “D) Sam Snead”

We Were Blessed

It's been a year since my Dad died. I'm in my hometown today, with my Mother.

Thomas H. Southern - 1934-2008
http://shsouthern.blogspot.com/2008/03/thomas-h-southern-1934-2008.html

We were all so very blessed to share in my Dad's life.

News from Orlando: Srixon Replaces the Z-UR Golf Ball Series

Trivia: “What two-time U.S. Open champ has a twin brother named Allen?” Answer below.

I returned on Thursday evening from my quick jaunt to Vancouver. I meant to blog Friday morning but simply got tied up with other items. And most of this entry was drafted on one of my return flights!

Thank you to Mike Allen, Parmasters Memphis, once again today for the following information. Mike and his partner, Mr. Mario Bertagna, recently attended the 56th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, USA. They returned home with a wealth of information, including this brief update from Srixon (R).

Here’s what Mike and Mario brought back from Orlando:
There was a lot of talk and buzz about some of the new golf balls introduced. Srixon will be releasing, next week, the Z-STAR (TM) and Z-STAR X (TM) lines of balls to replace the Z-UR series. These are high-end balls designed to compete with the Titleist (R) PRO V1 (R) and PRO V1X (R) respectively. (Titleist incidentally introduced new versions of their balls as well.) Vijay Singh won 57 times (including three majors), Boo Weekly has won twice and is a Ryder Cup champion and Harrison Frazar shot a 59 and was the low medalist at Q-School, all using the same golf ball brand. THEN THEY EACH MADE THE SWITCH TO THE SRIXON Z-STAR! That ought to tell you something! Srixon is so confident that you’ll love their balls, each one comes with a money-back guarantee. Visit www.srixon.com.

Thanks again Mike!

This is the weekend for the Cannington (my hometown) Dog Sled Races. I blogged earlier about this event here, and you can learn more here. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if the races are proceeding. There’s a discussion forum here that states that the races have been cancelled due to a lack of snow, which would of course make sense. I’m heading up to Cannington this evening, so I guess we’ll see.

And the answer: “Curtis Strange”

PGA Tour Champion Chip Beck Joins the Parmasters Board of Directors

Trivia: "Who was the first American to win the British Amateur?" Answer below.

I'm mobile blogging again. Many thanks to RIM, makers of my Blackberry (R)!

Parmasters Golf Training Centers Inc., our franchisor, recently announced two new members of their team. Chip Beck has joined their board of directors while Robert Rudman takes on the Chief Financial Officer role.

And many thanks to Mike Allen of Parmasters Memphis for the two paragraphs below introducing Chip and Robert. I borrowed these from Mike's periodic update to the fine members of Parmasters Memphis.

Introducing Chip Beck: Chip has an amazing golf background. A three-time All-American in college, Chip went on to earn four victories on the PGA Tour and twenty runner-up finishes in more than 600 PGA Tour events. During the 1986 and 1989 US Open Championships, he tied for runner-up. In 1988, Chip won the Vardon Trophy for the PGA Tour leader in scoring average, one of only eleven golfers to earn that title since 1988. There has been a Chip Beck appearance three times on the Ryder Cup, with his 1991 Ryder Cup performance being the best. In 1993, he was the runner-up at the Masters. During the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational at the Sunrise Golf Club, Beck shot a round of 59 with 5 pars and 13 birdies including a three footer on the 18th hole, landing him in a tie for third in the tournament. Chip has spent 40 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings. In 2006, he became eligible for the Champions Tour and returned to his golf career, where he continues to golf today. Chip joins Parmasters as a Board Member, and will use his incredible golf experience, dynamic personality, and wide circle of contacts to assist the company in meeting and exceeding its goals.

Introducing Robert Rudman: Robert Rudman has a very diverse background and will be coordinating financial planning, capital raises, and working with the Board in Strategic Planning. His Vancouver roots and passion for golf, plus his partners at Aspen Capital and Pointe Atlantic bring a lot to the Headquarters team. To learn more about Robert and his team visit www.aspencp.com. Mario and I had a chance to break bread with Robert in Orlando and he's certainly a welcome addition to the team.

Now time to catch my flight to Calgary, and then Kitchener.

And the answer: "Walter J. Travis, in 1904"

Vancouver, BC

Trivia: "What was the original name of the USGA [(United States Golf Association)] when it was founded in 1894?" Answer below.

I'm emailing this blog entry via my Blackberry. Blogging on the run!

I'm in Vancouver, BC today. The Westjet flights out of our local Waterloo-Wellington airport, and through Calgary, were very convenient. We're very lucky, and a large debt of gratitude to the community leaders, people of vision, that have brought Westjet, Northwest, and other flight options to our small community! Thank you!

I'm here for a full day of meetings that will run well into the evening. Since I don't do this often, I do find it a challenge to keep my energy up. I landed at 2:00am Eastern and was in bed by 3:00am Eastern. This after a short four hour night's sleep Monday night, and a 6:30am Eastern rise Tuesday morning. If I eat healthy I should be able to sleep well tonight and have the sufficient energy to be productive during the flights back to Ontario on Thursday.

Tuesday was highly productive on many fronts. We continue to make great progress towards the grand opening of Parmasters KW this coming summer. We're frustrated, as always, that the journey has taken so long, but also energized and enthused now that we're so close!

Every day, at our Temporary Event Center (TEC) at Market Square, we receive a few calls from "future members" interested in booking a tee time in one of our simulators, or practicing in our short game area, or seeking some club repair, or a meeting room, and the list goes on. It's always disheartening to tell them that we're not yet open. The sadness they express comes through the line, and echoes the frustration we feel. But, once again, we're almost there!

For now, I'm off to the first meeting.

And the answer: "The Amateur Golf Association of the United States"

The Truth

Trivia: “True or false: You should repair any damage to a green made by the impact of your ball, but damage left by players in a previous group can be left for the grounds crew.” Answer below.

It was a full weekend. I meant to blog yesterday, but focused on office work instead.

My eldest son was in a hockey tournament in London, ON on Friday evening and Saturday, which meant for a few trips back and forth from Kitchener, along with far too much restaurant food!

Their tournament should have continued into Sunday, and would have, if not for a few unfortunate incidents during their second game, which was their first on Saturday. Three or four teammates decided they didn’t want to win the game, which was very close and fast-paced throughout. The decided they’d rather take retaliatory penalties, along with misconducts for disrespecting the officials.

Admittedly, it was a little frustrating watching three or four players eliminate the team’s chances. Since they clearly had no interest at all in winning that second game, it might have been nice if they’d just stayed home.

The team has taken roughly 88 minutes in penalties throughout their entire season thus far. During that one game, they tallied up 68 penalty minutes, most of them going to those three or four players.

After the game my eldest wanted to blame the officials. After I challenged him to consider whether that was his opinion, or simply an opinion he inherited from his teammates and coaches, he changed his tune.

On Sunday I hiked along the Grand River with my two sons. That was nice.

And Monday was spent working, as usual.

I’m working at our Temporary Event Center at Market Square today. Wednesday and Thursday I’ll be out of town, returning to the TEC on Friday morning.

Given the team’s interest in blaming the officials for their choices on Saturday afternoon, this quote seems timely.

“All progress begins by telling the truth.” -Dan Sullivan

And the answer: “False. Proper golf etiquette states that players should repair any damage made by golf balls, whether or not the damage is from their ball.”