It’s time to say goodbye, and thank you, to another year in golf. Along the way, the game boomed — the number of players has never been higher (but, strangely, more off the course than on!) — while there was less controversy than usual. Both outcomes have been good for all of you, my fellow golf course superintendents, especially if you like to work 24/7, nose to the grindstone, full-tilt boogie. So, in the spirit of a little hard work never hurt anyone (except maybe the PGA pros), the show must go on. And with that … drumroll, please … I present the 2024 Grainys.
Worst Performance by Leading Actors: All those newbies
Thanks for playing our game. Now learn, along with rules, etiquette and tips for picking up the pace of play. Golf’s Golden Rules include fix your divots, pitch marks and footprints in the sand; keep carts on the path; and stay up with the group ahead of you. If you can’t do that, the next movie you’ll be starring in will be “Get Out.”
The arrest of Scottie Scheffler during the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, began as a documentary, turned into slapstick and ended as fake news. Detained on charges of second-degree assault, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals, Scottie was booked, donned an orange suit (no, it didn’t have a Nike swoosh on it), ate a sandwich, got sprung and teed off less than an hour after his scheduled time. He still managed to finish T-8 and win $521,000 for time served.
Best Drama: Sorry, no nominees
Other than Bryson DeChambeau’s final two shots on Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Open Championship on Pinehurst No. 2, there just wasn’t much drama and excitement this year. Some guys took their shirts off in Phoenix (it does get hot there) and it looks as if the PGA Tour and the Saudis will work out a deal about the same time that Will Smith and Chris Rock co-star in a movie together. Let’s hope we have nothing but drama-free sequels next year!
Best Production Design: Redesign
Not only did the number of golfers boom, so did the renovation, restoration, and transformation of existing courses, plus the building of new ones. There are presently 180 courses in some form of development just in the U.S. And who’s going to have to take care of all those courses? Look in the mirror.
Best Production Design, Part II: Show us the money!
Turf schools need to attract more students, but to develop, educate and train more superintendents we need to demand higher pay. We’re in charge of most clubs’ most important and valuable asset, but our salaries are not commensurate with our level of responsibility.
Best Supporting Cast: Kids
There are 1,000 more high school girls’ golf teams in America today than there were 10 years ago. The number of golf participants is almost up with soccer. Plus, with the changes to the rules of amateur status, teenagers are making NIL (name, image and likeness) deals that give them money to help defray tournament and playing expenses. You know that golf is doing OK when 15-year-olds playing in pro events are signing autographs for 12-year-olds. Talk about a red-carpet moment!
Boy, do I miss the days of Mike Davis setting up U.S. Open courses — miserably. Congratulations to John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championship officer, for letting tournaments be played the way they were meant to be played: Fairly and with the ability to identify a fitting national champion.
Scariest Special Effects: The GS3 Ball
Originally conceived by the USGA for the U.S. Open and its other events, the GS3 Ball is supposed to provide superintendents with more than 15,000 data points about the roll, consistency, trueness and firmness of playing surfaces. While it’s being touted as a “must-have tool for every golf course maintenance operation,” may I remind you all that our business is also an art. Let’s not lose that.
Worst Original Scoring: Rating golf courses
That’s “scoring,” not “score.” I’m not sure what music would accompany the dozens of “best course” lists that the magazines and others turn out. Wait, I’ve got it: “Money Makes The World Go Round,” as it seems that golfers can now buy their way onto the ratings panels. So maybe money can buy you love.
Most Talked-About Makeup and Hair Design: Phil
Can’t let a year go by without giving Mr. Mickelson some props. Too bad it isn’t for playing golf. His best finish on the LIV Tour was a T-6 in Saudi Arabia, and in the four majors he could manage only a T-43 at Augusta and a T-60 at Royal Troon, while missing the cut at the U.S. Open and PGA. But he can still make news, as he did with a haircut (or accidentally backing into a lawnmower) that looked as bad as his scorecards. As one person posted, Phil’s hairstyle is “rapidly approaching Bond villain status with that look.” LIV and Let Die?
Worst Running Time: The PGA vs. slow play
Golf is welcoming all these new players, courses are more crowded than ever, and what does the PGA Tour do to set a good example? Adjust pace of play rules to give its players (supposedly the best in the world) more time to hit their shots while reducing the financial penalties for taking too long. So, the rich not only get richer, they get slower.
Economists call it “supply and demand.” Golf course owners call it “dynamic pricing.” Golfers are calling it a rip-off. That’s the policy many courses now employ of charging more for tee times at prime times, like weekend mornings. If you want to play early, open the wallet a little more.
Best Performance By a Golfer: “The Scheff”
It was Scheffler’s year from start to finish. Not only did he win Bay Hill, The Players, The Masters, Harbour Town, The Memorial, The Travelers and the TOUR Championship (pocketing a cool $63 mil in the process), but he also won an Olympic gold medal and became a first-time dad, all while seeming to stay the same nice guy. Good job.
Just about the only thing Scottie didn’t do was climb Mount Everest. That feat was accomplished by our own Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA, who summited the world’s tallest peak at 3:13 a.m. on May 23 as part of a 45-day journey. Just one more example of Rhett taking superintendents to new heights. Congratulations!
A serious note. This is the time of year to give thanks for all we’ve been given by this great game and remember our fellow superintendents in Florida, the Carolinas and beyond who endured both professional and personal hardships during the recent hurricane season. If you know someone affected, reach out and help. If it’s within your budget, consider making a contribution. We’re all in this together.
Tim Moraghan, principal, ASPIRE Golf (tmoraghan@aspire-golf.com). Follow Tim online at, Golf Course Confidential at www.aspire-golf.com/or on X at @TimMoraghan.
