Jeff DeBalko

@AlanShipnuck Can’t change the goofy routing which is the worst part of the course. New par 3 will 14th be a plus. Getting rid of the fake linksy mounds and blind shots and building modern green complexes will be worth it.

Took a sentimental twilight spin around Spanish Bay before it gets blown up by Gil Hanse. The course was way ahead of its time when it opened in ‘87: firm, fast, brown, linksy. Resort guests didn’t get it. PB Co. kept dumbing it down til it lost its soul. RIP, old friend.

@sam_golf @JLuGolfweek Most people missed your point. Jason nailed it for high value golf at a median price. Kevin Markham is a great source for hidden gems.

@JLuGolfweek Had a feeling you’d have the knowledge on this Jason 🫡

After a great trip to N. Ireland two years ago with my golf friends, we’re thinking of trying south of the border next year. Recs needed - what’s a good location for us where there’s a couple of good but not extortionate courses nearby & also somewhere with a bit of nightlife?

@ukgolfguy Caddies?!? Might consider it now.

We finished off a great week in Ireland at The European. Just 3 months into new ownership there have already been big changes, with gorse and trees removed and mowing lines altered. It will be fascinating to see what happens here, there’s the potential for something special!

@AlanShipnuck @Skratch Hmmm. Ok. You both did good work there. He seemed to vanish without a trace before it imploded. Would love to hear the two of you on a regular podcast again.

@jeffdebalko @Skratch We've been on the same masthead at SI, Golf Mag and the Fire Pit - it's all baked into the conversation.

This is a holy day for those who observe: new Bamberger book has dropped, “The Playing Lesson.” For ⁦ @Skratch I did a lively Q & A with the dean of the golf beat. We talk writing, reporting and why golf has such a hold on him. skratch.golf/news/golf-cult…

@AlanShipnuck The new white belt!

If your age or waist size is above 33 you should abstain from joggers.

@caddietales I play with caddies a lot. How much I tip has absolutely nothing to do with how I played or what I shot. That’s on me. How much did we enjoy the walk? That’s it. Start at 50% of the base and go up from there.

I am NOT suggesting whether I received a bad, average, or good tip, regardless of whatever relative parameters you have for those definitions. And I won't tell. But I'm curious, as Golf X talks tipping caddies quite a bit.... If you were a 19 handicap and broke 90 at Whistling Straits (with 7 pars) on a windy day, and you brought a tank for a bag, what do you think you'd give the caddie? Assume you're well off enough to give whatever you want.

See you on @jeffdebalko.bsky.social

⬇️

The facial recognition technology at @IntuitDome is mind blowing. Literally never took phone or wallet out of our pockets. @Steven_Ballmer getting every detail right. 👏

Legit

@Hainesy76 @mikeclaytongolf So bad. Pebble is built on clay, not sand. Looks ridiculous.

The Chandler Egan imitation dune era of the 7th hole at Pebble Beach, seen here in 1929 and the early '30's👊

I’m bullish on a turnaround. Mobile order should have been rocket fuel and instead they let it destroy the customer experience. So much opportunity to get it right. cnbc.com/2024/10/30/sta…

If you're upset at the Washington Post and LA Times being controlled by billionaires, consider following independent journalists. Legacy media has been on the downswing for a while now, and there are really amazing people stepping in and doing the work themselves. A list:

If you're cancelling your Washington Post or LA Times subscriptions, please consider supporting our nonprofit state newsroom, the Mississippi Free Press, with a donation. We're free for anyone to read (no paywalls!), but your donations help us grow. mfp.ms/donate

Everyone is tweeting ‘there’s an emergency, read local news, read local news.’ Y’all, you have to FINANCIALLY SUPPORT local news. You have to donate. You have to subscribe. You have to do it even when you think the reporting is mediocre and they publish op-eds you don’t like.

@kevinmarkham @DGgolfguide @MurcarLinksGolf @NewmacharGC Hey Kevin, we’re playing Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen. If we have time to add one, is it Murcar?

3/3 The final day of our @DGgolfguide Scotland tour focused on courses around Aberdeen, another region building its reputation: @MurcarLinksGolf 7th hole Newburgh Links 12th green @NewmacharGC par-3 9th Royal Aberdeen 1st hole straight out to the North Sea

Emerging “AI Czar” roles sound a lot like the early “Digital Czar” roles in legacy media. They’ll be spinning wheels until they have both responsibility and accountability for bottom line success. emergingtechbrew.com/stories/2024/0…

The obvious killer app is online customer service. Have you seen anything game changing here? Absolutely not. Talk to SMB’s. That’s where the revolution is happening.

@ShermanJeff You are my friend. Always so impressive. Your city is fortunate to have you.

Be an evangelist for your city.