The name of the game is “bifurcation” which according to the dictionary means, ‘splitting of a main body into two parts.

The main body of golfers, pros and amateurs, have traditionally used the same golf ball. However there has been some talk of a ball for the pros which doesn’t go quite as far. But this is not the case in the current matter of bifurcation.

Lawrence Donegan at The Guardian writes, “The ‘tour only’ golf ball… One leading manufacturer has produced a golf ball to be used only by professionals.

"The balls are made by Titleistt and Donegan writes, “Since last August, Titleist has made two tour-only versions of the Pro V1 ball available to PGA Tour players. The Pro V1 Plus Spin is marked with a "s----PRO V1---s" on the seam while the Pro V1x Plus Trajectory has a "+---PRO V1x---" on its seam.
According to a Titleist tour rep, "These products are customized versions of 2009 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls that have been designed to optimize performance for a small handful of PGA Tour players."

Bifurcation doesn’t seem like a big deal but it is for many golfers.

Lawrence writes, ‘One of great things about golf - supposedly - is that everybody, from major champion to 24-handicap duffer, plays under the same set of rules and using the same equipment. That "connection" between the pro game and the amateur game also lies at the root of golf's appeal.

Agree or disagree, bifurcation has gotta happen one of these days. If for no other reason than putting a stop to having to lengthen classic golf course.

Which reminds me, just the other day I came across a web site called ‘The Walking Golfer’
It’s a good resource for those of us with a passionate preference for walking the course.
Here’s a clip from their web site
“(January 14, 2010) - Award-winning Bandon Dunes Golf Resort has received recognition as “The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year" for its passionate commitment to the walking game of golf.”

The Australian headline reads “Greg Norman tops BRW sporting rich list”. So it looks like Greg, unlike another well-known golfer, hasn’t lost many of his sponsors.

The guts of Greg’s sustained financial success is his ‘…competitive winnings from 2009 barely totalled around $300,000’ however his ‘…sponsorships and income from his multi-tentacled business empire boosted his annual earnings to $15 million.’

And in case you missed it when the golf media was only talking about Tiger, no money changed hands when Greg and Chris officially parted company.

My next post will include something about putting from a most interesting article which includes a classic caustic comment by Hogan.

Billy Casper, one of the putting greats, is playing with Fred Dawkins, Dow Finsterwald and Ben Hogan. And Hogan who unlike his fellow competitors, had fallen on hard times with his putting. Mr Hogan said to Billy Casper and Fred Hawkins, "If you two guys couldn't putt, I'd be buying hot dogs from you on the 10th tee."

Thought for the day but not sure if it was said before or after Ben got the yipps.

“There is no similarity between golf and putting; they are two different games, one played in the air, and the other on the ground.”

Slainte
Stan