CHAIRMAN’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Dear Members,
I am writing this message on my final day of self-isolation, having finally been hit by the Covid-19 virus. Thankfully, I feel as though I just have a bad cold, but I have to admit that I have found it difficult staring at the same four walls for more than a week and I can’t wait to enjoy some fresh air again.
It goes without saying that 2021 has been a difficult year for the AGW, having suffered sadness after sadness through the loss of Jock MacVicar, Goran Zachrisson, Ben Wright, Dave Hamilton and, of course, Renton Laidlaw. I will certainly be raising a glass to our dear and departed friends over the festive period and I hope you will join me in doing so.
Jock’s passing left us without a president and I am delighted that Lewine Mair has become just the 14th person to hold that position and the first woman in our 83-year history, having already brought real enthusiasm to the role.
It was pleasing that more and more members have been able to return to tournaments in 2021 and I enjoyed catching up with lots of people again, and here’s hoping that the current situation around the world will not last too long and allow us to go about our work again.
I am pleased to report that we continue to work closely with the European Tour, the PGA Tour, the R&A, Augusta National, the USGA, the LPGA, the LET and other golfing bodies and, on behalf of all our members, I would like to place on record our thanks for the help we receive from media teams around the world.
It is encouraging that people are seeking to join the AGW and here’s hoping that some of our new members will be able to attend our events in 2022, with an exciting calendar set to be revealed by our golf captain Peter Dixon and secretary Bernie McGuire early in the new year.
Through a suggestion from John Hopkins, our new members will be provided with a copy of ‘Forgive Us Our Press Passes’ for a nominal fee and I have to make a confession here. It wasn’t until a recent holiday that I finally got round to reading the book that charts out history and I have to admit I now feel embarrassed about why I had taken so long.
Compiled by my good friend Michael McDonnell, it’s a fantastic book and I have to admit that I was both laughing and crying at various points as it ignited my own memories of many of our distinguished members.
Not that I needed to be reminded, but I am deeply honoured to be a member of the AGW and I look forward to continuing to serve our membership as best as I can in my final few months as chairman.
Stay safe and have a great Christmas. I look forward to seeing lots of you in 2022 and here’s hoping that our annual dinner is one of the highlights of the 150th Open week at St Andrews.
Regards, Martin Dempster, Chairman
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY
Dear members,
Firstly, I also share our President’s Christmas and New Year greetings to all AGW members and our friends.
As Martin mentioned, the AGW has been grateful for the work of the European and PGA Tour’s media teams in providing our members with copy and also financial reward virtually week-in and week-out through the lockdown, and also the opportunity to report on so many tournaments members would not cover in ‘normal’ times.
There were many emails back-and-forward with those Martin highlighted administering the game reflecting the AGWs already strong relationship with the many bodies. Recently, members of the executive met with the R & A communications team during the Dunhill Links Championship on matters relating to The Open and the AIG Women’s Open. We met also with the PGA Tour and at this meeting it was hinted the Tour may be considering not allowing media to enter the locker rooms. So, that is one issue the AGW will strongly monitor in the New Year along with our sister body, the GWAA. (See meeting notes in this newsletter).
The AGW is grateful to Robin Barwick for his work once again in arranging AGW member’s handbook and annual diaries being sent out to members though please note that in this bulletin your support will be sought in the New Year regarding the future of a 2023 AGW annual diary and onwards.
Our thanks also to Mark Garrod for his continuing efforts in administering Pick Your Pro and also given so many changes throughout the year to the schedule. It made for plenty of lead changes in the year-long competition and won by golf’s facts and figures guru, Sal Johnson from Italy’s Silvia Audisio.
A big thanks to AGW Golf Captain Peter Dixon and with the AGW managing to play all seven events in an extended 2020/21 ETIQUS AGW ‘Race to Hoylake‘ season. Great also to see ‘Dinky’ mount a super final two-event charge to tie Rob Perkins for the top honour of AGW Golfer of the Year. Thank you also to Gary Butler at ETIQUS for his continued valued support.
While on AGW Golf, thank you to those members who were in possession of AGW trophies for helping support the historic sight of all six AGW trophies on display at Royal Liverpool.
For a second year running there was no AGW annual dinner but the good news heading into the 150th Open Championship was confirmation all dinner sponsors indicated they remain strongly on board to financially support our July 2022 dinner at St. Andrews.
Lastly, a special thank you particularly to AGW Treasurer Peter Higgs for his strong ‘behind the scenes’ support with those small matters that in the bigger picture are important to any Association such as member fees, despatching sympathy and birthday cards, arranging AGW wreaths to member funerals, sending out gift packs and/or floral arrangements, and, at this time of year, the delivery of the famed AGW hampers.
Christmas cheers, Bernie
EUROPEAN SOLHEIM CUP TEAM WIN AGW ‘GOLF WRITERS’ TROPHY
Again, thank you to all those members who took the trouble to cast a vote for our 2021 AGW Golf Writers trophy award.
And a follow-up thank-you to all those ‘working’ members who reported the news via their newspapers, websites and social media. It was a lot of work compiling the press release so your support is appreciated.
Full details of the award to the 2021 victorious European Solheim Cup side appear on the AGWs website.
DAVID HAMILTON
AGW members attended the celebration of Dave Hamilton’s life earlier this month in Colchester, England.
Dave passed away on 18th October but due to continuing Covid restrictions, it was till the 6th December he could be cremated.
Bob Davies, along with his son, joined AGW fellow members Mark Garrod, Andy Farrell, Tony Stenson, Paul Trow along with Colin and Jill Callander while there was around 70 at the crematorium, and then afterward in raising a glass or two to Dave.
Bob very kindly provided the following from the service. Looking at the photograph, we’ll give Dave the putt.
RENTON LAIDLAW MEMORIAL SERVICE – 25th April, 2022
Jennifer Laidlaw is arranging a memorial service to Renton to take place at 1pm on Monday, 25th April, 2022.
The service will be held in the Holy Trinity Church in St. Andrews and afterward at the Old Course Hotel.
I can also advise the R & A’s 2022 Media Facilitation Day will take place the next day – Tuesday 26th April 2022 – on the Old Course at St. Andrews and with the R & A allowing those AGW ‘working’ members taking part in the pre-150th Open media outing to compete for what will be the third hosting of the Renton Laidlaw Quaich.
Jennifer has kindly agreed to present the quaich to the AGW winner.
More details in the New Year of these two special days.
2022 MASTERS – Media Accreditation
The AGW has been in email contact with Augusta National with regards to arrangements for the media next April.
Regular credential applications should be in the mail shortly or, if not, already but with Augusta advising at this early stage they have not yet decided on Zoom capabilities.
However, Augusta does advise they intend ‘supporting’ their enhanced media hub with a pool of reporters to speak with players.
The AGW will continue to liaise with Augusta in the lead-up to the 2022 Masters.
AGW MEETS WITH PGA TOUR
The AGW, and as part of the Association’s continuing drive to improve the working conditions of our members, sat down recently to talk with Joel Schulmann, the Vice-President of Communications at the PGA Tour (See photograph).
Matters raised in the short chat included:
Firstly, the AGW thanked the PGA on behalf of all those AGW members who benefitted from being on Zoom calls throughout the year and also those members, and so many others, who were provided with audio and/or quotes from requested players and ofter from the U.S. tournaments not normally covered.
Other matters discussed included:
- The Tour’s view with regards to the continuation of Zoom calls
- What does the PGA Tour see as the role of the written journalists
- Will the Tour be looking to increase access to those present at PGA Tour events and a lessening of Zoom calls to those not in attendance?
- Response to suggestions the PGA Tour may be considering removing locker-room access to media personnel
- Situation with regards to restoring media access to the practice facilities at TPC Sawgrass during Players Championship week.
Click on the following for a full transcript of the discussion: https://www.agwgolf.org/agw-meeting-with-pga-tour-december-2021/
KAY KESSLER PASSES AWAY
The AGW is saddened to learn of the passing of Kaye Kessler, and just a handful of days shy from turning 98.
Kaye, and a dear friend to so many AGW members, was a long-standing member of the GWAA, reported on more than 50 Masters and another 70 major championships, first chronicled Jack Nicklaus in 1950, and was honoured with being inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.
Sadly, there will be another cap at a vacant media center desk next year at Augusta National.
The GWAAs Gary Van Sickle penned the following tribute to Kaye.
As well, there is a superb tribute to Kaye by the Colorado Golf Association that includes a great photograph of Kaye with Dick Taylor and Furman Bisher.
Click on: https://www.coloradogolf.org/a-life-well-lived-article/
RIP Kaye
TIGER AND PHIL – Early New Year Release of Bob Harig’s Book
Congratulations to the AGWs Bob Harig who is already attracting much media interest with news of his new book – Tiger and Phil – and that will be available from April next year.
As Bob said on his Twitter page: “I wrote a book about the Tiger-Phi rivalry. Interestingly, it is called: “TIGER & PHIL: Golf’s Most Fascinating Rivalry.” Their squabbles. Their duels. Their softening towered each other. Their excellence. Their disappointments”.
Those members who know Bob well can attest he’s certainly spent an enormous amount of his golf-reporting career following, studying, talking to and writing about the two golfers at the heart of his book.
You can also listen to Bob talking about the book – Tiger and Phil – by clicking on the following: https://golfnewsri.com/2021/12/10/espns-harig-talks-tiger-phil-rivalry-pga-tour-storylines-more/
If any member is genuinely able to provide a formal review of ‘Tiger and Phil’, then please write to Bob with all details including being an AGW member, as he will be happy to advise the publishers and hopefully have a ‘review’ copy forwarded to you.
Bob’s email address is: email hidden; JavaScript is required
2022 AGW HANDBOOKS AND DIARIES
Advice to members the first despatch of 2022 AGW diaries will be posted to members this week and it could also be a collector’s item given the enormous cost in production and postage to members.
Members will be asked in the New Year to complete a Q & A survey if they still find the diary to be helpful or could they survive by picking up one at the local newsagent or wherever.
Such feedback will be the key as to whether a 2023 diary will be produced.
The 2022 AGW members handbook, containing all member details along with media organisations etc will still continue to be printed and that should be with members mid to late next month (January)
ANNUAL PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTION OF MEMBER FEES
It is also timely to remind members that after waiving annual fees for 2021, members will now need to pay a 2022 annual subscription.
The 2022 fee for FULL members remains at £50 (up to the age of 65) and that will rise to £60 post the 1st of May for late payers.
Of course, Life, Retired, Honorary, and Supplementary members are exempt.
All enquiries to the Treasurer, Peter Higgs: email hidden; JavaScript is required
NEW MEMBERS
And speaking of membership the AGW is proud to announce the following as FULL members of the AGW.
A very warm welcome to:
John Greechan – Scottish Daily Mail
Richard Green – PGA
Ian Mullins – The Social Golfer
Alex Perry – National Club Golfer
Craig Swann – Daily Record
All that is left for me to say is to wish all the members and our good friends the best for the Christmas Festive Season and fingers crossed we finally get back to some normality in 2022 and in the ‘Year of the Tiger’.
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