Dear AGW Members,
Greetings and trusting this will find members and their families keeping well in these continuing uncertain times.
It is July and the AGW should be looking forward to the highlight of our year and the Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Royal St. George’s but alas we are on hold now to 2021.
However, the coronavirus will not stop the arrival of July 4th so a very happy July 4th to all our US members and colleagues.
A RETURN TO GOLF
Good news that competition has returned on the PGA Tour and with the European Tour ending what will be a 136-day absence on July 22nd.
Great news also for the ladies with the AGWs Arnold Palmer Open award winner (2017) Justin Rose and his wife Kate sponsoring a series of seven one-day events from June 18th through to July 23rd and winding-up with a two-day final on July 30th and 31st.
As mentioned in a recent email, members of the AGW executive along with two photographers were involved in a very constructive on-line discussion with Scott Crockett and Steve Todd at the European Tour regarding media attending the six ‘UK Swing’ events.
For those who did not see the email it is hereunder:
Members of the AGW Committee were in a lengthy discussion earlier today (Friday 12th June) with the European Tour regarding media access to the six ‘UK Swing’ events behind closed doors, commencing with the Betfred British Masters at Close House on July 22-25.
The discussion took place after an approach by AGW chairman Martin Dempster following a teleconference with European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley a fortnight ago, when it was mentioned that the safety plan could possibly include a no media policy.
Thanks to the input of Scott Crockett and Steve Todd as part of the Tour’s ongoing preparation for these events, the Tour advised us that a very limited number of media is now likely to be allowed to be present at the six events and they will be subject to the stringent safety protocols set out in the Tour’s Medical Health Strategy.
The Tour will share full details of this along with further information regarding the accreditation process during the next fortnight.
| EUROPEAN TOUR – Media Accreditation Deadlines Betfred British Masters – Deadline Sunday July 5th Media Accreditation Applications for media credentials for both onsite access and virtual access are now being accepted for the below event. Due to the restricted number of available spaces for onsite and virtual accreditation you MUST apply via email to email hidden; JavaScript is required ">email hidden; JavaScript is required stating your preferred access: 1. Onsite Access (including arrival/departure date) 2. Virtual Access Due to the current restrictions in place, only media seeking to cover the tournament will be given accreditation rather those seeking to content gather for future tournaments or publications. Please download the full summary of media guidelines for our UK Swing here. ET Resumption Media Advisory.pdf We will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible following application deadline to advise if your request has been successful or not. July 22-25, 2020 Betfred British Masters (media centre operational from Tuesday July 21) Close House Golf Club Newcastle-upon-Tyne England Application deadline is SUNDAY JULY 5 – any requests after this date will NOT be accepted Media Hotel Information Please note all successful onsite accredited media MUST stay in the ‘Official Tournament Hotel’ and MUST remain inside the ‘tournament bubble’ at all times. Please see below media hotel details which will booked on your behalf should your onsite media accreditation application be approved. DoubleTree by Hilton, Newcastle Airport Hotel Woolsington, Newcastle, NE13 8BZ https://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-newcastle-international-airport-NCLNADI/about/park-and-fly.html Bed and Breakfast rate £91 per room per night. This rate also includes hotel parking July 22-25, 2020 Betfred British Masters (media centre operational from Tuesday July 21) Close House Golf Club, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England |
English Championship – Deadline Sunday July 12th
Again, due to the restricted number of available spaces for onsite and virtual accreditation you MUST apply via email to email hidden; JavaScript is required">email hidden; JavaScript is required
1. Onsite Access (including arrival/departure date)
2. Virtual Access
Due to the current restrictions in place, only media seeking to cover the tournament will be given accreditation rather those seeking to content gather for future tournaments or publications. Please download the full summary of media guidelines for our UK Swing here. ET Resumption Media Advisory.pdf
The Tour will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible following application deadline to advise if your request has been successful or not.
July 30 – August 2, 2020 – English Open (Media Centre operational from Wednesday July 29) – Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Birmingham, England
Application deadline is SUNDAY JULY 12 – any requests after this date will NOT be accepted
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP – ACCREDITATION DEADLINE – July 17
The PGA of America has advised a limited number of outlets will be permitted to cover the PGA Championship on-site at TPC Harding Park. Those outlets will be contacted separately by the PGA of America.
To accommodate remote coverage, approved media will have access to a 2020 PGA Championship Media Hub, which will replicate many on-site media experiences. Below are some of the features that will be available:
- Video conferencing for interviews, including a player request form
- One-on-one interview requests will not be granted
- All approved media will be granted access to participate in interviews
- Dynamic schedule of events, which will include approximate player interview times
- SMS notification system
- PGA Championship news and alerts
- PGA Championship notes
- Multimedia assets, including archival of interview videos, b-roll and select competition photos
- Traditional resources, including the players guide and interview transcripts
- Round-by-round stat packs
- Access to the PGA of America’s media relations staff
- To cover the 2020 PGA Championship remotely, proceed to the media application. Please adhere to one application per news organization. If your outlet previously applied to cover the 2020 PGA Championship, no further action is required at this time. If changes are necessary to your application, please contact your outlet’s primary account holder. The deadline to apply is July 17.
- A full tutorial of the Media Hub, including details of how to participate in a Player Interview, will be shared at a later date with approved media
Contact: Pat Kravitz, PGA of America, email hidden; JavaScript is required
PICK YOUR PRO (PYP).
As previously advised, Pick Your Pro convenor Mark Garrod will continue to maintain the competition reins in this still ‘uncertain’ season. And after a three-month absence PYP was back last week for the staging of the RBC Heritage
The plans include the possibility of Royal Mid-Surrey hosting an outing and then using the week of the Irish Open (when confirmed), the Alfred Dunhill Links and Scottish Open to also host outings. Royal Liverpool is again keen to host the AGW for our AGW Championship.
Hopefully, if we do get back to some normality, we can end the year without our much-anticipated golf outings being cancelled.
AGW GOLFING MEMORIES
John Hopkins added to the AGWs highly successful ‘memories’ project with the following contribution.
JOHN HOPKINS
Sam Snead is one of the last links to golf in the 1930s and 1940s. He knew Bobby Jones, was never beaten by Gene Sarazen, competed against Ben Hogan. Snead’s first Open was in 1937 at Carnoustie, which Sir Henry Cotton won. Talking to him is like turning the pages of golf’s history, a task made all the more pleasant because Snead is plus four at talking.
Snead’s left shoulder was dislocated in a car accident a few years ago but it has not stopped him from hitting balls every day, drawing crowds of spectators who marvel at his crisp striking and the repetitiveness of his swing. And when he is not playing or practising, he tells stories as long as one of his drives and as slow-moving as a goods train through the Virginia hills. As he tells them he stops frequently and smiles lopsidedly and winks, particularly if pretty ladies are among the listeners.
Last Thursday, Snead was eating lunch and talking shop when suddenly he took his arms back, brought them down in a graceful swoop over his bowl of asparagus soup and followed through past his left shoulder. “Golf is a game of rhythm and timing,” he said. “That’s all. Some say you’ve got to thrash it but you ain’t. It’s a simple game but people make it so hard.”
Snead, the story goes, has buried his money in tin cans in the soil of his native Virginia. The man himself gives the impression that he likes these stories by referring to money constantly. “I charged $600 for a lesson and $2,000 if it is followed by dinner.” Snead extended our hour-long appointment to nearer two, followed by lunch in which he scarcely drew breath. He asked whether I played golf. I nodded. “I am a hooker” I said. He had a surprise up his sleeve. “We’d better get a look at this hook.”
“You’re not going to charge me $600?”
“Probably not but don’t tell on me.”
Unprepared as I was, I needed golf shoes. “What size are you?” Sam asked.
“Eight and a half.”
He paused for a moment before asking: “You got smelly feet?”
“No.”
Moments later I slipped my feet into a pair of his white golf shoes. Not fit to lace his shoes, I was suddenly wearing them. Now all I needed were some clubs. “Don’t worry,” Snead said to the assistant who was trying to help us. “He’ll use mine.” In my brief lesson, Snead checked the position of the club handle in my left hand. He told me to pick up the clubhead more quickly on my backswing, to grip more firmly with the last two fingers of my left hand, to turn my body more and to make sure I pulled the clubhead down with my left hand. “Don’t forget, you can pull a golf club but you can’t push it. ”Finally, he said: “Boy, I don’t see no hook.”
The next morning, Snead was signing more autographs in the hotel. Two matronly ladies perched on the arms of his chair, one on either side of him, to have their pictures taken with him. “Now girls, you look after yourselves” he said, grinning. It made their day – and it made mine too.”
(A longer version of this article appeared in The Times, June 14, 1999).
All ‘memories’ are on the AGW website. Click on:- https://www.agwgolf.org/agw-members-memories/
SERGIO GOMEZ
The AGW wrote to Jose Maria Olazabal following the passing of his long-time manager and close friend, Sergio Gomez and with Jose Maria responding:
Many thanks to everyone at the AGW.
It’s true that Sergio was a very special individual. He passed away in peace, a true character with a huge heart that gave us a great number of wonderful moments that we will all cherish. He will be irrepressible.
Lots of love
The AGW did wish to arrange for flowers or a wreath to be sent to Sergio’s family but the ‘lockdown’ measures in Spain did not allow this.
If anyone cares to write to Jose Maria please contact me and I will provide his email address.
DALE CONCANNON
Very sad news also with the passing of Dale Concannon. Dale was not a member of the AGW though that did not stop so many members showing their support via a ‘Go Fund Me’ page set-up by his wife, Laura.
It was just so tragic to read Laura’s message advising Dale, and aged just 61, passed away on June 4th.
The AGW did manage to arrange flowers to be sent to Laura.
Thank you @AGWgolfwrites for the beautiful flowers.
They have brightened my day. LCxx
A tribute to Dale appears on the AGW website. Please click on:- https://www.agwgolf.org/dale-concannon-passes-away/
Also, with the great help of Paul McGinley, the European Tour placed a tribute to Dale on the Tour’s website. Please click on:-
Secretary – July 2020.
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