Changes to the ANA Inspiration

[ThinkingPlus]

https://sports.yahoo.com/lpgas-first-major-undergo-sweeping-093618372.html

 

More money, but big loss of tradition...

[Rapidcat]

New commissioner making her mark?

[Golf Dino]

Big difference as to what the GolfWeek story states - or at least what the twitter post suggested. 

Edited October 5, 2021 by Golf Dino

[bogeypro]

Texas is more friendly than Cali anyway...  

 

More money.  Better market. 

[Argonne69]

Boo. Like the purse increase, but definitely don't like the venue change. So much history being tossed aside. 

 

[ThinkingPlus]

22 minutes ago, bogeypro said:

Texas is more friendly than Cali anyway...  

 

More money.  Better market. 

Weather is going to be an issue.  Houston in the spring is frequently rainy.  I predict soggy courses and many rain delays.  Flatland version of Evian with endless views of pine trees.

[postfold]

8 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Boo. Like the purse increase, but definitely don't like the venue change. So much history being tossed aside. 

 

 

This.  I always enjoyed Mission Hills, one of only a handful of courses on the LPGA tour where you see a hole on TV and remember it.  Especially the 18th.  Great timing for a major, too, other than the Augusta-caused overlap with the AWNA.

 

I suspect that Chevron will sponsor a first-class event, but it won't be the Dinah.

[postfold]

2 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

Weather is going to be an issue.  Houston in the spring is frequently rainy.  I predict soggy courses and many rain delays.  Flatland version of Evian with endless views of pine trees.

 

Is there ever a good time of year for golf in Houston?  😛

Seriously, though, I wonder where it will land on the schedule.  Pushed back into May?

[ThinkingPlus]

12 minutes ago, postfold said:

 

Is there ever a good time of year for golf in Houston?  😛

Seriously, though, I wonder where it will land on the schedule.  Pushed back into May?

That's my guess.  First or 2nd week of May.  Greater than 5 inches (12.5 cm) of rain over 8 - 9 days on average in May.  Warm, sticky, and buggy.

[NJBigFish22]

The change in venue was probably the trade off for the increased purse.  Having 1 final year in CA is better than yanking immediately.

[Kaysquare]

My first thoughts on this move..........negative!  Ever been to Houston in the spring (or most anytime)?  Hot, humid, mosquitoes, traffic is horrendous, and yes, it can have flooding rains.  

[kool-aid]

now the winner will jump into a pool of oily sludge to serve their corporate masters

[fredogolfer]

Hmm, I don’t like that majors are being reduced to the names of Title Sponsors. Even when ANA took over I hated the name “ANA Inspiration” it said nothing. Chevron Dinah Shore Championship or something like that would be nice. Sadly, it seems attendance kept dipping and interest waning. If I were a smaller company, I’d try to find a way to keep an event there because the attendance and community involvement was above average for an LPGA event but not at the level of a major championship. 
 

Poppie’s Pond, the robe, I hope they didn’t sell tradition simply to the highest bidder. 
 

It now makes sense why the event in Dallas will be in the fall moving forward. 
 

On the flip side,  perhaps a KPMG or US Open could take place here? 
 

 

[Phreddy]

It has been tough sledding for airlines, particularly international airlines, in a COVID world.  I guess I am not that surprised that ANA wanted to step away, but Poppy's Pond, tradition, the Dinah Shore....Yes.  I'm an old fart.

[KBong]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Boo. Like the purse increase, but definitely don't like the venue change. So much history being tossed aside. 

 

I've never thought much about the "1st major" and Mission Hills.

 

If the 1st major is such a special tournament on the LPGA tour then why did the LPGA struggle for years to land ANA as a sponsor....they knew Kraft Nabisco was bailing....at one pint Whan said that if a sponsor could not be secured...the LPGA would pay to hold the event the following year.

 

Again if the venue is so special...why do few attend the event?

...it's basically crickets on Thurs & Fri.

The corporate boxes/grandstand behind 18 are basically empty Thurs & Fri.

 

There were more fans in the past because of the Spring Festival catering to the LGBQT community....I think some of the initiatives/events of this outing has now relocated to LA or Vegas???

I read an article that most of these fan weren't really welcomed and some made lewd comments/cheers to the LPGA pros during play.

 

Missions Hills....I can't say it's an iconic Cali course....I can't find info on it's Cali ranking...I don't know if it's highly ranked.

 

And how can a major..... on it's 18th hole...... have a grandstand (and wall in 2020)  act as a backstop to prevent balls going into the water?...shame on setting up this hole that way.

 

And the ANA/KNC/Dinah copied some ideas from the Masters???....white caddie coveralls and Champions Dinner?

 

IMO....I would have liked to see ANA up the purse and taken the 1st LPGA major to Japan....women's golf is more popular in Japan than men's golf and I believe the fan turnout post pandemic would be very well attended.

But I got to believe the pandemic really hurt ANA's financials.

 

[KBong]

1 hour ago, ThinkingPlus said:

That's my guess.  First or 2nd week of May.  Greater than 5 inches (12.5 cm) of rain over 8 - 9 days on average in May.  Warm, sticky, and buggy.

I think Chevron should get an umbrella company as a presenting sponsor partner...lol.

[KBong]

1 hour ago, Kaysquare said:

My first thoughts on this move..........negative!  Ever been to Houston in the spring (or most anytime)?  Hot, humid, mosquitoes, traffic is horrendous, and yes, it can have flooding rains.  

 

[Argonne69]

2 minutes ago, KBong said:

I've never thought much about the "1st major" and Mission Hills.

 

If the 1st major is such a special tournament on the LPGA tour then why did the LPGA struggle for years to land ANA as a sponsor....they knew Kraft Nabisco was bailing....at one pint Whan said that if a sponsor could not be secured...the LPGA would pay to hold the event the following year.

 

Again if the venue is so special...why do few attend the event?

...it's basically crickets on Thurs & Fri.

The corporate boxes/grandstand behind 18 are basically empty Thurs & Fri.

 

There were more fans in the past because of the Spring Festival catering to the LGBQT community....I think some of the initiatives/events of this outing has now relocated to LA or Vegas???

I read an article that most of these fan weren't really welcomed and some made lewd comments/cheers to the LPGA pros during play.

 

Missions Hills....I can't say it's an iconic Cali course....I can't find info on it's Cali ranking...I don't know if it's highly ranked.

 

And how can a major..... on it's 18th hole...... have a grandstand (and wall in 2020)  act as a backstop to prevent balls going into the water?...shame on setting up this hole that way.

 

And the ANA/KNC/Dinah copied some ideas from the Masters???....white caddie coveralls and Champions Dinner?

 

IMO....I would have liked to see ANA up the purse and taken the 1st LPGA major to Japan....women's golf is more popular in Japan than men's golf and I believe the fan turnout post pandemic would be very well attended.

But I got to believe the pandemic really hurt ANA's financials.

 

 

'Same reason attendance is low at all LPGA events. There's just not a lot of interest, major or not.

 

The course isn't great, but it's significant because it's been loyal to the LPGA for all these years, and as others have mentioned, it does have a few recognizable holes. The tour doesn't get much choice in playing top venues. 

 

The grandstands behind the 18th have been there for over a decade. 'Not sure why there was little kvetching until 2020. Take it away, and I'm sure you'll see way fewer players going for the green. As a 3 shot hole it's a snoozer. Even with the backstop it's no automatic up and down from behind the green. I'd rather see a players try to get it close from back there than hit 100 wedges from the fairway all day.

 

[KBong]

1 hour ago, kool-aid said:

now the winner will jump into a pool of oily sludge to serve their corporate masters

Agree.

A few barrels of oil in this ....beside the 18th green...problem solved....nuff said.

[Argonne69]

8 minutes ago, KBong said:

I think Chevron should get an umbrella company as a presenting sponsor partner...lol.

 

Lol. The Chevron Gustbuster Inpiration presented by Off Insect Repellent and Gold Bond Powder.

 

 

[KBong]

2 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

'Same reason attendance is low at all LPGA events. There's just not a lot of interest, major or not.

 

 

It's been the same since my 1st LPGA event back in 1980 at St. George's In Toronto to fanboy Jan Stephenson.

I have her golf lesson video in VCR format some where in the house in a box collecting dust.🤣

[KBong]

8 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

The course isn't great, but it's significant because it's been loyal to the LPGA for all these years, and as others have mentioned,

 

it does have a few recognizable holes.

 

The tour doesn't get much choice in playing top venues. 

 

They are recognizable because we see the course on a yearly basis...not because they are truly great holes.

 

IMO...they could fix the problem with a red or yellow line just in front on the grandstand.

 

IMO....if they truly want DRAMA and a better course set up...18 should be set up as a 435+ par 4....pinch in the fairway and have the pin at the front and redo the green with more undulations.

The hole would force more pros to go for it in 2 for par.

 

I've always hated any course...including ones I play with a par 5 18th hole....I've always liked a challenging par 4 to finish.

The course I joined has two tough par 4's to finish....I've been a MENTAL MIDGET GAGGING golf CLOWN too many times...needing a par to shoot 79...only to gag with a bogey or double.

I despise shooting 80+...unless I've already choked it up on the front 9 with not much hope to make it up on the back 9.

Trying to shoot 79 or less is my daily golf goal....my scoring avg this  year is 80.8.

I HATE golf.🤣

[18majors]

Good article from Beth Ann Nichols:

Nichols: It's sad to see the LPGA leave Mission Hills, but here's why it's ultimately a good thing

 

 

"Hopefully it’s the kind of blue-chip sponsor that makes other Fortune 100 companies look to the LPGA as a potential partner.

Because that’s what this is really about – progress. The greatest tradition of the LPGA – more than leaps and robes and celebrities ­– is that it weathers storms and comes out stronger.

Chevron has the deep pockets, commitment and vision that it takes to build on what David Foster and Dinah Shore started more than 50 years ago.

It’s time to look toward the future."

[KBong]

1 hour ago, 18majors said:

Good article from Beth Ann Nichols:

Nichols: It's sad to see the LPGA leave Mission Hills, but here's why it's ultimately a good thing

 

On Mike Whan’s second day on the job as LPGA commissioner, he traveled to the desert to meet with officials from Kraft. They walked the back nine at the Dinah Shore course and had lunch overlooking the 18th green. While walking out to his car, Whan got the news that Kraft was out after three more years. His first meeting with a sponsor was, in fact, a goodbye.

“The British Open was going through a pretty difficult time in terms of sponsor renewal,” said Whan in recalling the story. “I remember thinking at the time I might be in the job a year, and we’ll be down to one major.”

 

And this is why Whan agreed to have the Evian as a 5th major...he had a gun barrel in his mouth.

 

If The Invisible Woman is smart...after the Amundi Evian contract has expired..the LPGA can walk away and return to 4 majors.

Lexi & Stacy would be happy.

 

EDIT...how could I forget....the winning pros won't miss the Amundi/Evian event...so they won't get mauled with unwarranted touching and unsolicited kissing by the 2 French cheese balls.🤣

Ya can't tell me Lydia and Jin Young are enjoying this.

I'm sure @BadgerLin @Kaysquare and @ThinkingPlus would punch these 2 guys in the gut if they tried this on them.🤣

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 5, 2021 by KBong

[KBong]

3 hours ago, Kaysquare said:

My first thoughts on this move..........negative!  Ever been to Houston in the spring (or most anytime)?  Hot, humid, mosquitoes, traffic is horrendous, and yes, it can have flooding rains.  

I've never been to Houston and likely never will.

If the mosquitoes are that bad...the pros will hate it.

 

I've been to the Peg quite a few times.....but they were all business trips .....so basically indoors most of the time.....I wasn't there...but the mosquitoes at the 2010 CWO in Winnipeg were supposedly really brutal...I assume the pros hated it....I heard they brought in foggers.

[bogeypro]

3 hours ago, Kaysquare said:

My first thoughts on this move..........negative!  Ever been to Houston in the spring (or most anytime)?  Hot, humid, mosquitoes, traffic is horrendous, and yes, it can have flooding rains.  

But it's still better than the homeless villages in Cali....  People just don't want to go there anymore.  Businesses are leaving.  

Edited October 5, 2021 by bogeypro

[Kaysquare]

9 minutes ago, bogeypro said:

But it's still better than the homeless villages in Cali....  People just don't want to go there anymore.  Businesses are leaving.  

I've been to Mission Hills and the desert communities there.....didn't see any homeless villages.  Saw lots of Benzes, Teslas, Jags, Porches,  Bentleys, & Rolls Royces though.  😀

[ChronicSlicer]

But what about Poppy's Pond...

[JungleJimbo]

3 hours ago, 18majors said:

Good article from Beth Ann Nichols:

Nichols: It's sad to see the LPGA leave Mission Hills, but here's why it's ultimately a good thing

 

 

"Hopefully it’s the kind of blue-chip sponsor that makes other Fortune 100 companies look to the LPGA as a potential partner.

Because that’s what this is really about – progress. The greatest tradition of the LPGA – more than leaps and robes and celebrities ­– is that it weathers storms and comes out stronger.

Chevron has the deep pockets, commitment and vision that it takes to build on what David Foster and Dinah Shore started more than 50 years ago.

It’s time to look toward the future."

Some discussion on the First Cut  podcast, w.r.t. Chevron as new title sponsor, shift from ANA/Dinah Shore & educated guesses on how LPGA might use the new KPMG “ShotLink-Lite” dataset to drive new revenue streams (and attract new fans/ eyeballs). 
 

 

Edited October 6, 2021 by JungleJimbo

[snagy2000]

1 hour ago, KBong said:

I've never been to Houston and likely never will.

If the mosquitoes are that bad...the pros will hate it.

 

I've been to the Peg quite a few times.....but they were all business trips .....so basically indoors most of the time.....I wasn't there...but the mosquitoes at the 2010 CWO in Winnipeg were supposedly really brutal...I assume the pros hated it....I heard they brought in foggers.

People's perception of Houston cracks me up. Way off base! The mosquitoes are not bad at all, nothing a little spray wont handle when they're out. They're not always out btw. Weather can be hot/humid, cooler or rainy. Just like everyone else's weather, its really up to El Nino and La Nina. Lived in the area for the last 41 years, I've seen great days for golf in May and I've gone 2 weeks without playing due to constant rain. Mostly, its been great days! 

 

What will be interesting is the golf course used for the event. The PGA plays at the remodeled Memorial Park near downtown, after leaving the Golf Club of Houston. Maybe GCOH will be an option for the LPGA, since its a little northeast of downtown where most of Chevron's employees are located in the old Enron building. Funny, their HQ is still located in San Ramon, CA, but they're wanting to pull the event out of the state. The PGA Champions play at the old TPC course now called the Woodlands Country Club Tournament course north of town. The Club at Carlton Woods, is near the Woodlands CC, and has held some USGA events in the past and could probably handle it. There's also Champions Country Club, which just held the Women's US Open in 2020 in the area. Would love to see it at Tiger's Bluejack National, but I think its a little too far northwest of town and doesn't really have the infrastructure in the area to handle it at the moment. Anything outside of these courses in the Houston area would be a bit of a stretch IMO, but you never know.