Comments on: “…I haven’t heard one player who likes the course” – Longtime LPGA Caddy Offers Perspective On Bulle Rock and the LPGA Tour

By: Big T

Big T — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:57:19 +0000

It’s funny that the lead off would be “…I haven’t heard one player who likes the course”. Only because, while working Bulle Rock as First Aid for the past 4 years, I have had interactions with numerous players, caddies and staff for the LPGA. And not A SINGLE one of them has had a bad thing to say about the course, the area or anything to do with the tournament being in Havre de Grace. As a matter of fact, every single one I talked to was nothing but complimentary about everything, specifically the course! And it isn’t though I have some kind of vested interest in Bulle Rock…I’m just a lowly EMT. They had no reason to lie to me or suck up…they were never going to see me again. The reasons given to me for the “loss of pizzaz” for the tournament was one, the bad blood that resulted from the tournament leaving DuPont and second the fact that the Golf Channel was given an exclusive television contract for the event, leaving many of the larger corporate sponsors to forgo this year.
So to me it sounds like someone might think they know a little bit more than they really do.

By: Joetheman

Joetheman — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:18:23 +0000

The “Lets Park in Aberdeen” golf tourney will be missed (or will it) by Havre de Grace. I have talked with golfers who are impressed by Bulle Rocks course and it is quite a lovely place. I want to point out that All womens sports are second best to mens sports. Regardless of which sport. Hopefully Bulle Rock will be able to attract a tournament that will live up to the potential that is there.

By: RichieC

RichieC — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:00:01 +0000

I think the tourneys should rotate through the qualified courses…..this gives the variuos tours a new look and feel each year and a economic chance for the courses.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:08:51 +0000

Well, it’s official. Next year will be the last for the LPGA at Bulle Rock:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/golf/bal-sponsorship0606,0,456577.story

No more McDonald’s sponsorship either. Very risky move. No more Annika, more international players. Sounds like the older players are trying to take over through this three-person committee. Guess what? No one wants to see the older players other than Annika, and she will be gone. They want to see Creamer, Gulbis, Ochoa. Why not ask them what they want, instead of relying on a bunch of over-the-hill golfers that are bitter they didn’t make the money available today?

By: Molly

Molly — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:32:17 +0000

Whoa, very interesting piece Steve.

“How do you fix the loss of interest? I don’t have the answer and I bet the LPGA doesn’t either.”
Sports has become a mixed bag of ethnicity, all sports. Fans will learn how to embrace it. If they have the talent, which they seem to do, then that should be what matters.

By: RichieC

RichieC — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:30:35 +0000

Blip…..although I do know golfers who liked the course. Or at least wanted to golf it as it was by a famous designer……in the beginning.

All new toys get old and ignored !

Go Dagger.

disclaimer….
this is not a marina rant…nor is it a anti havre de grace rant. If you think it is, here is an alternate comment you may pretend i said instead of the actuall comment above.

Bull Rock is a first rate course by a famous designer…many golfers from across the country have enjoyed the course as they sample different courses along the east coast. Any non interest by the tourniment is misguided and must be the result of the county executive.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:11:07 +0000

OK, so the question now is: Did Bulle Rock/Havre de Grace/Harford County/Maryland get enough out of the LPGA while it was/is here to justify the amount of tourism funding, wining, dining and other local tax monies that went into the golf tournament’s promotion?

I specifically remember Harford County and the City of Havre de Grace spliting the $50,000 cost of a tent at Bulle Rock during the LPGA. In the tent, the county and city were to serve as hosts and offer promotional tourism materials to lure golf enthusiasts back to Harford and Havre de Grace during non-golf events. But that was tax payer money that could have gone to buy a new police car or hire a teacher or maybe even paving a road.

I realize I’m painting with an entirely too-wide brush here, but stop and think about it – was it worth it for the LPGA to come to Havre de Grace?

In 25 years, will the LPGA’s stop at Bulle Rock be heralded as the event that put Havre de Grace on the map and opened Harford County up to a new stream of tourists?

Or will it register as merely a blip on the radar – sorta like when the eyes of America were on Port Deposit for the 400th anniversary of Capt. John Smith’s expedition up the Chesapeake and Susquehanna, which was supposed to showcase the small riverside town as an historic destination.

And that was just last summer…

By: RichieC

RichieC — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:02:10 +0000

I beleive va beach or norfolk is the preferred location.

By: McDonald’s LPGA Championship « Life on Tour

McDonald’s LPGA Championship « Life on Tour — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:47:12 +0000

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By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:59:41 +0000

The problem with Bulle Rock, the course, is that it isn’t much of a challenge for the top LPGA pros from the tees they use, as it has fairly wide fairways, but it is too hard for the next tier of pros, or those whose games are off, because the rough is so demanding. It is a much tougher course for top male players from the back set of tees. Don’t believe the 6600 yards the LPGA claims the course plays at. The tees the woman play are closer than that, and take all the trouble out of holes like #5, #9, #13 and #18, making birdies easy.

As for the Koreans, we’ll see what happens. There will still be top young American talent, and they will cash in. But when they take a week off, you can expect 8 of the top 10 finishers to be foreign. Many of them take up the game late, like around 12 or 13, and are on tour 10 years later. It’s amazing, but they haven’t been able to win many majors, outside of Se Ri Pak, who was/is a special talent.

Now here comes the conspiracy theorist in me. The LPGA wants to move the tourney after next year. They are not going to put much effort into the community when they don’t see the community giving back. Some tour veterans have been vocal in their criticism of the tourney being here. The LPGA likes hearing this. Helps their cause, and lines up the bidders for the next location.

As for Bulle Rock’s future… I hope they can get a men’s even, even a Nationwide Tour stop. Let’s see what the course can really do at 7400 yards, as it was designed.