text:
Tag Archives: golf
A Weird Masters Week
There's snow on the ground here in Colorado. And it's Masters Week.
Now, it's certainly not unusual for snow to be on the ground here for Masters Week . . . in fact, it's not unusual for snow to be on the ground for a fair part of the country during Masters Week. But it's usually accompanied with the promise of springtime, warmer temperatures, and the resumption of golf for a large segment of the population.
But this is 2020, in which the country – hell, the world – has been laid siege to a deadly virus, social unrest, and political strife so bitter that Orwell would have a difficulty in describing it. Now, the snow here is a reminder that the season is over for us, and unless one chooses to risk a trip to a COVID-19 hot spot (or still believes that the virus is a "hoax"), his clubs are reluctantly going into storage until the snow melts or a vaccine is widely available.
So watching The Masters this year will certainly be different – The (Mostly) Great White Fathers who run the tournament are capable of making many seemingly Herculean horticultural tasks happen (I recall going to a Monday practice round with my old friend Chet in 2016, and noticed that the azaleas in back of 13 green were well past peak. "They'll take care of that, don't worry," Chet remarked dismissively. By open round Thursday, they had either magically recovered or had been replaced), but try as they might, they can never totally conquer Mother Nature (try as they might). I'm surmising there will be a different look to Augusta National – it will be beautiful, for sure, as there will likely be enough foliage from deciduous trees (either native or freshly transplanted) to give the course an autumnal feel "unlike any other," as Jim Nantz might say. And with the shift back to Standard Time and shorter days, I'm surmising that will contribute to the overall look and feel of the course.
It may play a bit differently, as well. While the temperatures may be spring-like, the fall tends to be wet in the South, which may lengthen the course somewhat (and give pre-tournament favorite Bryson DeChambeau even more of an advantage). Different grasses have been planted in the fairway, first cut and second cut (there is no "rough" at Augusta, just as there are no pin placements – they are "hole locations" – or no spectators – they are "patrons"), which will likely force some players to rethink club selection and how the ball will react.
There will be no Drive, Chip, and Putt competition for junior golfers this year. And no Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship, the inaugural of which last year produced a finish nearly on a par with that of Tiger Woods.
But it's the no spectators – excuse me, no patrons – aspect that will likely be missed by both those of us watching and by the players. The Open Championship and The Masters traditionally feature the most knowledgeable fans in all of golf, in which great shots are loudly appreciated. And at Augusta, those cheers and shouts echo through the pines. At the aforementioned practice round, Chet and I stood on the 9th green and heard a loud roar from the 16th. Apparently, Rory McIlroy made a hole in one – mind you, during a Monday practice round. I've heard reactions to touchdowns scored at an NFL or major college football games that were not as noisy.
But again, it's 2020, and we will take what we can get. And hope that by next spring, when The Masters has returned to its usual second week in April spot, things have calmed down, and we can look forward to another season of golf, the promise of spring, and a more certain future.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged golf on November 10, 2020 by garypopovich.
Talk Is [Usually] Cheap
My friend Beth, who lives on the 6th hole of a golf course in metro Richmond, recently posted about the futility of talking to a golf ball. She is correct, of course. If your ball starts right, is SLICING to the right, and is being windblown to the right, no plea of "GET LEFT!" is going bring it back unless it either strikes a tree or Sasquatch appears and bats it back into the fairway. That ball will no more listen to you than a spouse trying to get their mate's attention inside the two minute warning of a tight football game or during the final scene of Gray's Anatomy,
None of this matters to most golfers. Of course, there are expressions that are absolutely required regardless of the hopelessness of the situation – and some that sometimes work, all logic put aside.
For example … "Get a kick" is a good, all-purpose plea, useful when your ball needs to bounce a certain direction to avoid a hazard (excuse me . . . "penalty area" is the preferred nomenclature, thanks to the Great [Mostly] White Fathers of the USGA) or, worse yet, going out of bounds. Said "kick" can come from a mound, a tree, or for that matter, another golfer who didn't hear you scream "Fore!"
Note that in this example, we don't specify a direction; we are merely begging the ball to stay away from harm. The minute one commands a particular re-routing, all bets are off and the golf will either sigh or swear, and then either re-load or take a penalty drop.
"Get legs!" and its corollary, "Hit a house!" (the former when a putt is hit too softly; the latter when it charges past the hole) are generally futile pleas. "Get in the bunker" is generally delivered sarcastically upon striking a misdirected shot – although, if said bunker borders a body of water, the sarcastic tone changes to one of imploring, as it's much easier to hit out of sand than water.
"Skip!" is a rather tricky proposition, typically uttered when a golfer hits a low screamer over water that will most certainly not clear, but hopes that the ball will act like a skipping stone. My favorite recollection of a skipping ball occurred back in 2010; when playing in a two day tournament in Chase City, VA, my partner John (The Frenchman) Bennett on consecutive days skipped a shot across the same pond on the same hole to help us to a third place finish, a fact recorded in the Mecklenburg Country Sun, complete with photograph.
To this day, The Frenchman has no idea how he pulled that off.
Talking to your playing partners ball can be fraught with danger, no matter how well intentioned. For some, "early calling" a shot – for example, exclaiming "good putt" to your buddy's effort, only to have it lip out – is an unforgivable sin. My old friend, the late, inimitable Mike (Squeaky) Calhoun (whose vocabulary on the course consisted of two words that rhyme with "trucker") once threatened to cut someone's heart out for early calling one of his putts. "Keep your motherf*cking, c*cksucking mouth off of my ball," Squeaky squawked at the unsuspecting soul, who didn't utter a word for the rest of the round.
So . . . I make no judgement as to whether a golfer should talk to his ball or not. But he needs to understand the risks, as well as the consequences.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged golf, humor on September 29, 2020 by garypopovich.
Monday Morning Musings
Not that anyone asked, but . . .
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw make a terrific course design team, and perhaps one year the proper conditions will prevail to make Dallas's Trinity Forest an interesting challenge for PGA Tour players, but a foot of rain, no wind to speak of, and fairways so wide that Stevie Wonder would hit at least 60% of them made for an almost farcical Byron Nelson Classic. Hell, even Tony Romo looked respectable. I get the intention of the layout – ideally, 15 to 20 mph winds combined with fast and firm conditions over a bouncy track, and one can envision links-like conditions inland. But if there is one thing less predictable than the direction of a Phil Mickelson tee shot, it's springtime Texas weather.
So for those participants who are traveling to Long Island to participate in the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, the only common denominator for them will be that a lot of rain is expected throughout the week. The Black's fairways will be snaky thin, the rough thick and wet, and the bunkering diabolical. I'll predict right now that no one will come within 10 shots of this past weekend's 23-under total rung up by winner Sung Kang.
Kang, a South Korean national who lives in the Dallas suburb of Coppell (and who is not to be confused with the actor who appears in the Fast and Furious movie franchise), stated in a Saturday interview (that round was delayed by 6 hours due to the torrential downpours that have recently plagued North Texas) that unlike previous situations that found him at or near the top of the leaderboard, he planned on being much more relaxed. This approach seemed to carry over into his play, as he was often timed at around 90 seconds while preparing to take a shot. This fact was not lost on fellow competitor Matt Every, who contended for the lead for much of the weekend and who also managed an epic club throw after a poor bunker shot in the second round.
Hometown hero (and Trinity Forest member) Jordan Spieth once again failed to crack the top 20 and at this point would have to be considered the darkest of equines to make any noise at Bethpage. On the other hand, defending PGA Champion Brooks Koepka was rock solid, finishing three strokes behind Kang.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, there were numerous Tiger sightings in Long Island. His yacht is parked in Oyster Bay, and he's already been seen getting in practice reps on the Black.
One can come up with any number of reasons for either favoring or disregarding The Big Cat's chances:
PRO: He's won there before.
CON: That was 17 years ago.
PRO: He's rested.
CON: He's rusty.
PRO: He drove it well at Augusta.
CON: The fairways at Bethpage are about a third in width as those at Augusta, and missing them is far more penal.
PRO: He won the Masters
CON: This field is at least twice as deep as that as Augusta
I actually think that points 3 and 4 may be the most telling. Woods mentioned being "sore" after his Masters victory. If "sore" simply means the normal wear and tear of hiking around the extremely hilly confines of Augusta National (and by the way, the Black has its own terrain challenges), then so be it. It did, however, seem a bit odd for Tiger to skip Quail Hollow, one of his favorite tracks. I suppose questions about his health are always going to be a concern going forward.
If not Tiger, then whom?
Conventional wisdom states that the Black should favor a bomber.
Hello, Dustin Johnson, Rory, Koepka, Jon Rahm, and as a dark horse, Gary Woodland.
But it's going to be wet! Gotta keep it in the fairway!
Sergio (if the crowds don't get to him), Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Adam Scott, and another dark horse, Rory Sabbatini, come on down!
Experience counts!
In the PGA Championship, not so much. Although the Black has found its way into the Tour schedule as of late. And another dark horse, Lucas Glover (who won the US Open here in 2009 and has played better of late) emerges.
Who will the tough New Yaawk crowd get behind?
Lefty! Lefty! LEFTY! (nah, I can't see it).
So . . . gun to my head pick?
Tell you on Wednesday.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged Byron Nelson Classic, golf, PGA Championship, Sung Kang, Tiger Woods on May 13, 2019 by garypopovich.
Long Island Night Maneuvers
[Author's note – as most golf aficionados are aware, this year's PGA Championship will be held next week at Bethpage State Park's Black Course, one of the most testing golf courses in the United States – and one that is open to the public. This recounts my experience there.]
It was a summer evening in either in 1992 or 1993 that I decided to bite the bullet and queue up for a tee time at Bethpage State Park's Black Course.
I had read much about A.W. Tillinghast's work and the stern test that the Black Course presented, as well as (due to the lack of public golf courses available to the masses living on Long Island) the lengths to which metropolitan New York golfers would go to secure a tee time, including spending the night in a parked car near the main clubhouse in order to be first in line when the operation opens in the morning. This initially seemed to me to be a bit much in order to play a round of golf, but after spending three days and nights listening to my then-in-laws bicker, a night cramped up in the back seat of a VW Jetta didn't seem like such a horrible idea.
The sad fact of those times was that my ex-wife grew up in a house in that bordered Seth Raynor's Southampton Golf Club – which borders William Flynn's Shinnecock Hills – which borders C.B. MacDonald's National Golf Links. Just down the road in East Hampton stands Willie Park Jr's Maidstone, a marvelous piece of linksland whose Hamptons-style clubhouse sits atop a crest overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Unfortunately, these masterpieces (and several other nearby tracks) were unattainable for the likes of me – all private, and except for Southampton Golf Club, all pretty much comprised of members whose money predates the Louisiana Purchase. A couple of my nephews had caddied at Shinnecock and National, and my former brother in law lived across the street from the then head pro at Shinnecock. All of them told me they could get me on either of those courses, but in the 18 years of my marriage, it never came to fruition.
Not that I'm bitter, or anything.
Anyway – the drive from Southampton to Farmingdale took about an hour; when I arrived at Zero Dark Thirty, there were about a dozen or so cars already in line. I pulled into the end of the queue and was about to climb into my back seat when there was a tap on my shoulder.
"You a single?" a stocky man with a heavy Long Island accent wanted to know.
"What's your handicap?" he demanded.
"Eleven," I replied.
He thought for a minute, then said, "Ok, my group needs a fourth. We're the third car in line. Come over and meet the guys."
Manny was the fellow who greeted me, Marco and Jeremy were his compadres. All were locals.
"Yeah, Gene couldn't make it this week," Marco told me. "We needed a fourth for a game."
"You guys do this every week?" I asked.
"Not every week," answered Marco. "We'll get tee times on the Red or the Green some weekends, but we try to do the Black once a month. Brings us back down to earth."
[A couple of notes – there are actually five courses in Bethpage State Park, all designed by Tillinghast and all color coded. And I'm cleaning up the dialogue here, these boys had variations on cuss words that I'd never encountered before or since]
"So the Black is that tough, huh," I mused.
They looked at me for a moment and almost simultaneously burst our laughing.
"Here, have a beer," advised Manny. "We'll tell you all about it."
In an effort to keep the riff-raff (i.e., high-handicap players) off the course, there's a sign on the first tee of the Black stating the following:
"WARNING! – The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers"
I honestly don't remember that much about the round, other than I broke even money wise and it was like the Bataan Death March. At that time there were no carts allowed on the Black and there's a surprising amount of elevation change; that, combined with a hot sun, lots of waiting (apparently, other Highly Skilled Golfers were having issues), minimal sleep, spotty conditioning, and Tillinghast's diabolically positioned cross bunkers (which seemed to be precisely located where my tee shots and approaches landed) made for a less than enchanting experience.
Manny and Company made the round bearable. We played a game of 6-6-6 (six hole matches, alternating partners), and there was plenty of good natured (and profanity laced) needling back and forth that kept everyone entertained. And the beer afterwards was nice and cold.
Things have changed at Bethpage State Park (and the New York State Parks system in general) since those days, thanks in large part to a woman named Bernadette Castro, the COO of a Long Island furniture chain (and longtime piñata for NYC radio blight Don Imus) who was named state Park and Recreation Commissioner under the George Pataki administration. Ms Castro managed to get a large capital investment into all of the state parks of New York, many of which include golf courses. Moreover, she convinced the USGA to bring the US Open to Bethpage Black in 2002.
The conditions at all New York State Parks have improved dramatically as a result, and nowhere is that more evidenced than at the various golf facilities throughout the state. For Long Islanders, this also includes Montauk Downs State Park, a Robert Trent Jones beauty located on the tip of the island that is mostly routed in a circular fashion to vary the effect of the ever-changing Atlantic Ocean winds. Despite its remote location, the line forms early at the Downs as well.
Bethpage is more easily accessed than Shinnecock Hills, so this year's PGA Championship should bring out New Yawkers in droves. I hope Manny and Company will be there to cheer and jeer their respective favorites and villains (Phil Mickelson is extremely popular among the New York crowd; Sergio Garcia, not so much), and the other locals will kibitz and compare notes as to how hard or easy the Black is playing, what score they made on a given hole, the odd of Tiger pulling off a shot that was absolute jail for them . . .
Oh – and maybe a swear word or two.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged Bethpage Black, golf, PGA Championship on May 10, 2019 by garypopovich.
Max Homa is not a name familiar to a lot of us who follow the PGA Tour, but he came up big over the weekend to win at Quail Hollow by putting on a putting exposition that rivaled Ben Crenshaw at his best. Max has shuffled between the Web.com and PGA Tours through most of his career, but has never lacked for talent – or for that matter, self-awareness. The boys over at the No Laying Up podcast interviewed him earlier this year; it's worth a listen.
And is it just me, or does watching Jason Dufner play induce narcolepsy?
Sei Young Kim picked up her 8th career victory on the LPGA circuit at S Lake Merced in a playoff over Bronte Law and Jeongeun Lee6 (that's not a misprint). Ms Kim relinquished her 3rd round lead, but two strong shots on the par-5 18th left her just short of the green, from where she used her putter to get up and down for a birdie to make her way into extra holes. The three golfers made their way back to the 18th tee, where Ms Kim literally duplicated the two shots she had hit only minutes prior. Her two competitors could only manage pars – Lee the 6th had reached green in two but three putted, while Bronte's birdie effort lipped out – leaving Ms Kim with a short birdie effort to win this tournament for the second consecutive year.
England's Charley Hull contended at Lake Merced as well, and unlike someone like, say, the aforementioned Mr Dufner, she is a bundle of energy on the course, whether she's talking to her caddy, plumb-bobbing a putt, or taking a rip off the tee. A friend of mine played with her in a pro-am a few years back; apparently, this is her full time modus operandi. She's become one of my favorite players to watch on either tour.
Despite some spotty weather here early last week, the snow at Haymaker and Rollingstone Ranch is gone here in Steamboat Springs, and mowers have been seen on both tracks. Meanwhile, the conditions at the 9-hole Steamboat Golf Club are quite playable, and we managed to get out a few times over the weekend. Again, not that you asked, but my swing feels great, and you can't beat the views.
Putting is the most idiosyncratic of all of the golf skills. I was reminded of this when we were joined in one of our weekend rounds by a fellow named Tony. When we arrived at the first green, he had about a 6-footer to save par. He pulled out a club that was barely knee-length, bent over table-top style a la Michelle Wie, and calmly rolled in the putt. I complimented him; he shyly thanked me and showed me the club. It was a sawed-off Wilson Cary Middlecoff model 2-iron.
If not for balky vertebrae, I could be tempted . . .
This entry was posted in golf and tagged Charley Hull, golf on May 6, 2019 by garypopovich.
Schedule Shenanigans (or How to Screw Over Dallas/Ft Worth Golf Fans)
The PGA Championship is a mere two and a half weeks away, thanks to the Tour's decision to compress the 2019 schedule and move what used to be considered an afterthought of a major championship from August to May.
Part of the PGA Tour's intent of this rescheduling was to wrap up the FedEx Cup proceedings prior to football being in full swing in hopes of those "playoff" events garnering more interest and perhaps higher television ratings. While I think that any gain in viewership may be marginal at best (August is a vacation month for many folks, anyway), I do like the "major championship each month" scenario, starting with the Masters in April and concluding with the Open Championship in July. And if one wants to press the point, having The Players Championship (who many have tried to push as a fifth major) pushed back to March extends that stretch nicely.
Compressing the schedule does have its disadvantages, however. One that is something of a head scratcher is the splitting of the Byron Nelson and Colonial tournaments, both longtime mainstays on the PGA Tour held in the DFW Metroplex. In the past, the tournaments were held on consecutive weekends, which oftentimes allowed players to bring their families along with them to make the short trek between the two venues.
Unfortunately, this won't be the case this season. This weekend, the tour stops at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, then crosses over to Dallas to play the Byron at the logistically nightmarish more on that later) Trinity Forest links. Then it's up to Long Island for the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black – then back to Ft Worth to play at Colonial.
I suppose driving all of this has been to 1) keep Quail Hollow in a favorable spot – most professionals consider it to be a good tune up going in a major – and 2) give some breathing space to Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament, which will be held the week after Colonial.
None of which does much good for the two DFW tournaments, at least not this year. I can't think of a lot of players who will play both events; hell, it wouldn't surprise me to see a significant number of players skipping both.
There was a time when both of the events were must plays. Fort Worth's Colonial was one of three courses which has been dubbed "(Ben) Hogan's Alley" (Riviera and Carnoustie being the other two), and has long been revered as a shot-maker's track. In addition to its annual tour stop, Colonial has also hosted the 1941 US Open (won by Hogan), the 1975 Players Championship, and the 1991 Women's US Open.
The Byron Nelson Classic was an outgrowth of the old Dallas Open, designed to honor the great contemporary of Hogan and Sam Snead. While the tournament had several venues over the years, the course with the longest tenure was TPC at the Four Seasons in Las Colinas, a section of Irving, TX. Much like Jack's Memorial and Arnie's Bay Hill Invitational, most golfers were sure to include "The Byron" on their itineraries, particularly when Nelson was still alive. A large statue of "Lord Byron" still stands near the first tee of TPC, an extensive display of his memorabilia is featured inside the clubhouse, and Nelson's widow, Peggy, is still a presence at the club.
As a member there for about 5 years, I played both TPC and its members-only course, Cottonwood Valley, a lot and always had tickets for the Byron. I don't think that the TPC itself was a particular favorite for the players, what with its awkward tee shots and approach angles, but it was a great for watching action both on and off the course, and being on a Four Seasons property with all of its amenities and having close proximity to DFW airport made it a popular place for tour players to bring the family (or, to use the parlance, "scout the local talent" if they came alone).
As one who was not exactly a gym rat but who tried to keep in reasonable golf shape, I always made it a point to work out in the club's state of the art workout facility during Byron Week, as I would usually see (and sometimes chat up) some of the players going through their fitness regimen there. Workouts nearly came to a stop when Dustin Johnson's partner, Paulina Gretzky, strolled in one day to discuss something with DJ.
[For a slightly biased comparison of the Byron at the TPC vs the Colonial, click here]
This changed when AT&T took over sponsorship of the Byron, as that corporation has a serious hand in a gentrification effort in southwest Dallas, as well as in a new golf course called Trinity Forest, whose name is something of a misnomer in that there is not a tree to be found on the Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore links. The course itself is interesting, but getting there is a chore – it's about an hour from the airport on a good day (and when one has to negotiate the Dallas Mixmaster, the odds of a good day are as likely as a Kardashian hiding from a camera), and shuttles are required to get golfers in and out of the grounds. And with no trees, it makes for a difficult spectator experience on a hot Texas day.
It would not be surprising to see the venue change again for the Byron, as the PGA of America is moving its headquarters to Frisco TX, a northern suburb of Dallas that is currently home base for Toyota and the Dallas Cowboys. Part of the development includes the construction of two 18 hole courses, one of which will undoubtedly be hosting a Ryder Cup (which is a PGA of America – as opposed to PGA Tour – property). Perhaps the Byron finds a new home there in the future.
In the meantime, the Dallas/Fort Worth area will be subject to the whims of the tour schedule makers. And an area that has traditionally been a robust PGA Tour bell weather gets the shaft.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged Byron Nelson Classic, golf, PGA Tour on May 2, 2019 by garypopovich.
In a move that can be only be described as both courageous and ultimately futile, European Tour plater Edoardo Molinari (brother to Open Champ Francesco, also carries the delightful nickname of "Dodo") has called out slow play on Twitter by publishing a list of players who have been warned for their snail-like pace on the course. Interestingly, only three players have actually been fined, the best known being another Open Champ, Louis Oosthuizen.
Former US Open winner Graham McDowell, while sympathetic to Molinari's frustrations, thinks Dodo is "beating a dead horse."
"Listen, golf courses are long, golf courses are hard, we're playing for a lot of money, it's a big business, it is what it is," McDowell said. "There's just no way to speed the game up really. You can try these small percentiles, but at the end of the day it's very hard to get around a 7,600-yard golf course with tucked pins with a three-ball in less than 4:45, 5 hours. You can't do it."
There's a certain amount of truth to what McDowell has to say. The walking times on some of the courses that are in play these days (particularly distances between holes) can add to the time of a round, and I certainly get the fact that this is what these guys do for a living and proper attention must be paid. But the pre-shot routines of some players (including discussions of barometric pressure and humidity) border on the absurd (J.B. Holmes plum-bobbing a 2 foot putt comes to mind) – plus it would be nice if players could execute a simple drop from a penalty area or obstruction without waving in a rules official.
And fines are not enough. Institute a stroke or two penalty system for slow play and enforce it.
I probably don't write nearly enough about the LPGA and women's golf as much as I should. The level of play has improved dramatically, and frankly, most of us guys would be better served by observing the smooth tempo and technical proficiency of the women playing for pay.
[There are exceptions, of course, particularly Canada's diminutive dynamo Brooke Henderson, who takes a healthy lash at most shots and is not afraid to use her driver off the deck]
The other aspect to watching the LPGA is that it gives us a chance to see some architectural gems that male professionals and technology have rendered obsolete for tournament play. This past week's event was held at Wilshire Country Club, located near downtown Los Angeles.
Norman MacBeath was not as prolific a designer as Alistar Mackenzie or as well known as George Thomas, but his work at Wilshire stands out. MacBeath managed to create a distinctive routing packed within a mere 104 acres. Much like Mackenzie's brilliant Pastiempo, he used a barranca as a primary strategic element. When Kyle Phillips (best known for producing the modern links masterpiece that is Kingsbarns) was called in a few years ago for a restoration effort, he left the routing largely untouched; his main contribution was to reshape the bunkering from simple ovals into more unique shapes that are visually pleasing while maintaining their proper strategic placement.
Minjee Lee, who plays out of my old club in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, played beautiful golf to emerge as the winner at Wilshire this weekend. If there's a replay available on the Golf Channel, you should check it out, both for her play and for the intricacies of the venue itself.
As I wrote earlier, it's Mud Season here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, but The Steamboat Golf Club was able to open this past week. It's a sporty little 9-holer located about 5 miles west of downtown and is a great walking course. The landscape is flat, but there's a great view of the Rockies as one faces east, and despite being on the short side, there are a number of strategic holes that will put his/her mind to the test. Its smallish greens have just enough undulation to get one muttering under his/her breath. All in all, it's a nice venue to sharpen one's play and stretch out the early season's golf muscles.
[Although you may want to wait a day or so. There are snow flurries outside my window this morning.]
The Zurich two-man team thingy was something of a dud. John Rahm and Ryan Palmer pretty much coasted to victory, but the moment that caused the most consternation during the tournament was on Friday, when on the par-3 17th, Billy Horschel took umbrage when a spectator urged the golfer's shot to "get in the water." Horshel's response was not particularly witty, but direct – "Get the fck out of here."
There were two predictable responses to this:
Television announcers apologizing for broadcast microphones picking up such salty language. Good lord, get out the fainting couch and have the smelling salts handy. A golfer cursing on the course; when does that ever happen?
Ask Shane Lowry.
Or Tiger Woods.
Or any of these guys.
"We can yell at players at any other sporting event," some fans complain. "Why are golfers so soft?"
For old guys like myself, the answer seems pretty simple. The game is a "gentlemen's game," there's not a constant stream of trash talk that goes on between competitors (at least in tournament play; side bet games are a completely different matter), we stay quiet while a player is hitting, etc.
But fans these days feel that buying a ticket to a game or competition entitles them to harass competitors, particular after the 5th or 6th beer or cocktail. And professional golf offers proximity to its participants that are not available in most other sports.
These elements have led to a number of similar incidents during tour events in which players have had spectators who they have deemed particularly abusive removed from the premises. And of course, this behavior gets ramped up to 10 during the Ryder Cup, particularly when it's being held in the USA.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I once cat-called Greg Norman, although it wasn't during play. Since then, if I've felt the urge to crack wise at a professional golfer, I will do so from the comfort of my recliner or within the confines of the Grey Goose or Tito's hospitality tents. It's a hard enough job for these guys as it is.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged Billy Horschel, golf, Mingee Lee, Wilshire Country Club on April 29, 2019 by garypopovich.
The Rules Revisited
I've written in the past about the rules of golf. The powers that be (the USGA and the R&A) have the task of establishing a set of rules that can be applied and honored by the rankest of amateurs to the greatest players in the game. This can certainly be a daunting effort as the ruling bodies need to consider such aspects as course maintenance and advances in equipment technology, all while writing rules in such a way that do not require a contract lawyer to decipher.
Prior to this past year, the most controversial ruling that the ruling bodies made in recent times was the banning of "anchoring" while putting. Anchoring came in vogue in the late 1980's when longer putters were introduced, allowing a player to rest the butt end of the putter against one's chin, chest, or belly button (depending on the length of the putter) to provide stability and reduce shaky hand movement (commonly referred to as "the yips). I'm not sure if this is an apocryphal story, but it's been said that the USGA was ready to ban the practice altogether until it was learned that then-President George H.W. Bush, whose father was once president of the USGA and who was also a notoriously terrible putter, found solace in anchoring the long putter.
Anchoring probably saved a number of player's careers and made putting tolerable for many recreational players. The most extreme use of anchoring that I encountered was a fellow named Martin, a fellow member at a club to which I belonged in Virginia. Martin actually slid the end of the long putter under his left armpit.
Nonetheless, there was enough of a stink (sorry, Martin) raised about anchoring that led to the USGA & the R&A to ultimately ban the practice. There was some grumbling within the ranks of the PGA Tour, but the players accepted the decision. As for recreational players, they saw a sudden spike of long and belly length putter availability of eBay and slashed prices for same in golf shops.
I used the phrase "prior to this past year" a few paragraphs back because the ruling bodies introduced a number of rules changes for 2019 that would hopefully have the effect of speeding play and removing nebulous judgement regarding things like double-hitting the ball (no longer a penalty, which comes about 30 years too late for T.C. Chen ) or accidentally striking the ball with a practice swing (also no longer a penalty, which only cost Zach Johnson embarrassment at this year's Masters).
But there are a couple of rule changes that have come under fire from the pros, reactions that frankly baffle me.
One is a rule that requires that when taking a drop for relief, the ball must be dropped from knee-length and land no closer to the hole. This is a departure from the practice of dropping from shoulder length and is intended to keep from having to drop more than once and speeding play. Pros are complaining that 1) it's a hard habit to break, and 2) it looks silly.
Both of which are ludicrous arguments, and in my opinion masks the real reason why they don't like the rule – that being, after two unsuccessful drops, the golfer gets to place the ball where it initially land, which usually results in a favorable lie. The likelihood of an unsuccessful drop decreases the closer one drops to the ground.
The other rule change that has stirred the pot is the one that allows the flagstick to be left in the hole while putting. Now, for my friends and me, this has been a great aid to pace of play. Generally speaking, most of us will leave it in on longer putts, and then maybe take it out for shorter efforts (for what it's worth, noted short game guru Dave Pelz has conducted exhaustive research and concluded that one should ALWAYS leave the flagstick in. The Mad Scientist of Golf, Bryson DeChambeau, agrees).
Many pros disagree on both points, arguing that 1) the flagstick takes up room in the hole, decreasing the chance of the ball going in, and 2) because players have preferences of having the flag in or removing it, that act actually adds time to the round.
As for point 1 – ignore science at your own peril.
As for point 2 – the amount of time required to remove or replace the flagstick pales in comparison to DeChambeau's pre-shot routine, Jordan Spieth/Michael Greller byplay, or J.B. Holmes in general.
Then again, I don't play the game for a living. Which is a good thing. Although it would likely do wonders for my waistline.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged Bryson DeChambeau, golf, golf rules, R&A, USGA on April 26, 2019 by garypopovich.
It's the final weekend of April, which means two things for the city of New Orleans:
Jazz Fest is in full swing!
It's time for the PGA's Zurich Classic!
Ok, so I daresay that more folks are jazzed [rimshot!] over Jazz Fest, and maybe rightfully so, but the Zurich Classic has its own charms that make it worth watching for fellow Golf Nerds, and even beyond.
The Zurich Classic is the PGA Tour's only two man team competition of the season and offers up a refreshing change from the weekly stroke play grind of the Tour. The first two rounds will be played as team best ball, while the final two will be alternate shot.
From a viewing/excitement standpoint, this seems to be a bit back-assward. Ideally, best ball generally produces aggressive, pin-seeking play, with the added benefit of one's partner being able to bail out the other if things go badly for the latter. Alternate shot, on the other hand, can be extremely nerve-wracking, as a player faces the additional pressure of not wanting to leave his partner in a bad situation.
With a number of the big names taking this week off (No Tiger, Phil, DJ, JT, Spieth), the odds are favoring the duo of Sergio Garcia and Tommy (Fairway Jesus) Fleetwood, two great ball-strikers who, based on their respective Ryder Cup team-play records, seem to be a natural pairing. There are some other interesting pairings work watching – Brooks Koepka will be teeing it up with his brother Chase (who, as his older brother once did, plays the European Tour), Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown return after being runners-up the past two seasons, and Jim Furyck has pulled David Duval out of mothballs (and the Golf Channel's commentary panel) for the event.
I'll be pulling for the team of Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt for largely personal reasons. Smith's caddy is Sam Pinfold, to whom I was introduced by a friend of mine who housed him during the AT&T Byron Nelson. In addition to being a great guy, Sam persevered through a number of difficult circumstances before catching on with Cameron. He also is a roommate of Blixt, and suggested that Blixt partner with Smith two years ago. They wound up winning the Zurich that year in a sudden death playoff against the aforementioned Kisner and Brown, and Smith was so overcome with emotion that he could barely speak on air afterwards.
At the club level, there's always an interesting dynamic when it comes to partner golf. My buddy Dave, he of the underappreciated hole in one, was probably my favorite tournament partner, most likely because our personalities on the course complemented each other so well. Dave tends to get down on himself a bit when things go south, to which my response is to get him a Miller Lite. We would ham-and-egg it pretty well.
But things don't always go so smoothly. When paired with someone with whom I've not partnered before, I always (in a effort to relieve nerves) will say to him, "Now, there's no need to say 'I'm sorry' out there. We're both going to give it our best." This is a great sentiment, but invariably I will mess up a hole and turn to him and blurt out, "I'm sorry." I then feel like an idiot and things go downhill from there.
Still, I've won and lost both individual and team tournaments, and for me, the team experience is the most gratifying regardless of the result. There's an old saying in golf that goes along the lines of, "Never talk about your round after you play. Half the people don't care, and the other half wish you shot higher." At least with a partner, you can celebrate or commiserate together.
And the drinks taste better.
This entry was posted in golf and tagged golf, Zurich Classic on April 25, 2019 by garypopovich.
Where, Oh Where Should I Tee It Up?
By my reckoning, I have teed it up at 266 courses. I know that there are guys and gals out there who have likely exceeded that number, but 266 seems to be a lot to me. The number might actually be higher – last night, for example a Facebook post mentioned Bermuda's Port Royal, a track that features the dramatic par-3 16th hole. I had forgotten about playing there; the only possible explanation that I have for that oversight is the fact that it was while on honeymoon with my ex-wife.
I'm always slightly giddy with anticipation over playing a course for the first time. At the end of that initial encounter, I'll have formed an basic opinion – did I like the course or did I not?
It's rare that I coming away not liking a course on some level – more on that in a moment – but there are certain tracks that not only don't I like, but that I would urge folks to not come within a 50-mile radius of them.
One such course is Possum Kingdom, located just outside of Mineral Wells TX. Now, Possum Kingdom Lake is gorgeous; it's bordered by high cliffs and features several scenic coves to park a boat to wile away a summer afternoon.
But when one asks about the course and gets the response, "Bring plenty of balls and watch out for snakes," this should be an immediate red flag. And Possum Kingdom delivers on both counts. Many of its fairways are canted so that even if one finds the middle of the fairway, the ball will not only not stay there, but it will roll off the course and into some sort of a ravine where not even Clyde Beatty would venture. Add to that an inordinate amount of forced carries and other gimmickry, and one will wish that the 19th hole was located immediately after the 8th.
Fortunately, I can usually find some sort of redeeming quality about most courses I've played. Sometimes it's simply that the track is nice to walk. But what makes a good or great golf course, or a course that is liked or abhorred, are topics that will invoke lively conversation.
Take the setting, for example. Some folks prefer tree-lined fairways, others favor open vistas. Some live for the seaside links of Scotland, others long for the tall pines of the Sand Hills that comprise Pinehurst and its surrounding area.
Then there's the degree of difficulty vs. strategic options argument. Some players prefer a course that dictates to them where to place the ball; others like a course that presents various options to attack a given hole.
My personal criteria for evaluating a course really comes down to two questions:
Did I enjoy the experience?
Would I go out of my way to play there again?
Question 1 is admittedly broad, and I will break that down further:
Does the course offer realistic tee options for players of different skill levels?
Is the course visually pleasing?
Is it reasonably maintained?
Note the use of the word "reasonably." A course doesn't need to be 50 Shades of Green for me to enjoy it. Give me well defined fairway and rough areas with relatively smooth running greens (and I really don't care about the speed), and bunkers that have sand that can actually be raked, and I'll be a happy camper.
Do the green complexes offer a variety of options for chipping, pitching and putting?
Was the pace of play acceptable?
That last point is key and can be attributable to either 1) the layout and difficultly of the course or 2) the management of play by those in charge.
In regard to point 1 . . .many courses built between the 1980's and, say, now have been built around real estate developments where the distance between one green to the next tee can be an extremely difficult walk or long cart ride. Tidewater in Myrtle Beach comes to mind. On one hand, the architect created a wonderfully eclectic golf experience that cuts through maritime forests and at times borders the Intercoastal Waterway. On the other hand, one can guarantee a four and a half to five hour round because one is often times driving a half mile between holes (walking is out of the question).
Point 2 can be attributable to any number of factors – overbooking tee times, rangers not addressing slow groups on the course, players wanting to play the tips when they have no business doing so.
The question of whether I would go out of my way to play a course again generally means that all five of my criteria were met. Any of the courses I've played in Scotland I'd return to in a heartbeat (those I've played multiple times are The Old Course, North Berwick, Cruden Bay, Turnberry, and Crail). Most courses in the Sand Hills, for sure.
And there are a few courses to which I'd return for what I can only describe as semi-mystical experiences. At the fine course at the Sedona Arizona Hilton, which runs through a valley surrounded by red rocks, I was preparing to hit an approach to the 7th green when our group was engulfed by what the locals describe as a vortex – the wind came up and blew in a circular motion around us for about two minutes. This was supposed to be some sort of mind-changing experience, and maybe there's some truth to it, as my 7-iron shot that followed wound up about 4 feet from the pin.
Another time, a friend and I were playing The Highland Links, a 9-holer located near the tip of Cape Cod in North Truro, MA. The links were established in 1892, and, honestly, I don't think an ounce of earth has been moved on the course since then. I had recently read Michael Murphy's Zen-like golf tome, Golf in the Kingdom, and the course that Murphy describes in the book (which many believe to be the Balcomie Links at Crail) seemed to fit the surrounding to the point where I was driving my friend crazy by quoting lines from the story. In any event, we reached the 6th tee, which affords a dramatic view of the Truro Lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean. As we admired the surroundings, a voice from behind said, "Pebble Beach has nothing on this, hey lads?"
I turned around; the man who spoke wore what appeared to be a caddy's outfit (although he carried no clubs) and had the look of a year-round Cape Cod resident – white-haired and bearded with a rather ruddy complexion. "Yep," he continued, "you don't need to pay $450 for this view." I turned back toward the lighthouse, paused for a moment and then turned to ask him a question – and he was gone, just as suddenly as he appeared.
And then there's the odd story of Grandote Peaks, a Tom Weiskopf/Jay Moorish gem located in La Veta, Colorado, a small town located to the west of Pueblo. I played it back in 1998 and thoroughly enjoyed everything about it, and, since I'm back in state for a while, looked forward to perhaps making my way there again.
However, in looking it up for tee time availability, I found that Grandote Peaks is permanently closed. Apparently, it started as a riff between the club's owner and the town over land ownership and zoning issues. Things went quickly downhill from there, and apparently the land has found another, ahem, recreational purpose.
Hey, at least it's being put to good use.
[Note: For the complete list of courses that I've played, feel free to email me at garypopovich@hotmail.com. I'd love to know where you've played, as well. Or, you can click below to download. No viruses, I promise!]
Courses Played By State
This entry was posted in golf and tagged golf on April 24, 2019 by garypopovich.


text:
What Happens Mercury Retrograde 2020
The first planet in our solar system appears to be going "backward" as it enters retrograde motion. This implies that when viewed from Earth, it appears to be traveling west to east rather than the more usual direction of east to west. But this apparent reversal of Mercury's orbit is only a figment of the observer's imagination.
Also Read | You don't need a driver's license to assist NASA in operating the Mars Rover Curiosity!
Mercury Retrograde, according to astrology, is a sign of difficulties in relationships, travel, technology, and interpersonal interactions. They suggest that instead of making trip arrangements or purchasing equipment, people should relax and take their time until the retrograde passes. Many astrologers argue that Mercury Retrograde just gives people more time to consider fresh starts and formulate plans of action. They advocate patience as the secret to success, which includes happiness.
How many Starlink satellites are currently in orbit? Starlink Satellites: What Are They?
How does Mercury going backwards impact us?
According to Daisy, Mercury's retrograde phase could lead to serious marital problems like infidelity, betrayal, or loss of closeness. It may seem like everything is going wrong in your love life when you bring up old concerns and disagreements, the astrologer warns, as this planet looks to be moving inside.
Communication is essential, but it's especially important right now because Mercury, the planet of communication, seems to be going backwards. By communicating and being open-hearted and honest, put your attention on strengthening your relationship.
How will the 2020 Mercury retrograde affect me?
How You Are Affected by Mercury Retrograde. Mercury retrograde is frequently linked to uncertainty, annoyance, misunderstanding, and delay. Plans frequently change during this time, and miscommunications are frequent. Many facets of our lives may seem to be moving backward while Mercury moves in reverse.
What symptoms will Mercury be in retrograde in 2020?
We're not exactly getting any breaks from the cosmos this year, are we? A lunar eclipse occurred a few weeks ago, there are two more eclipses OTW, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto are all retrograde at the moment, and starting June 18, the second Mercury Retrograde of the year will commence. The influence of this retrograde will be felt most strongly by the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, while water signs Scorpio and Pisces will struggle less (fortunate!).
Mercury The most notorious astrological transit, and for good reason, is retrograde. Mercury represents communication, business, technology, and short-distance travel, all things we depend on in our daily lives. When Mercury goes retrograde, all things associated to that planet get a little bit goofy. Retrogrades, however, are also an opportunity to reflect on the past and change your present conduct. In essence, life is becoming somewhat crazy at this point so that you can identify what isn't working and drastically reduce the amount of chaos in the future.
What zodiac signs will be impacted by the 2021 Mercury retrograde?
The other cardinal signs in the other elements will feel this particular backward turn the most because it is occurring in cardinal Libra. Aries (cardinal fire), Cancer (cardinal water), and Capricorn are included in this (cardinal earth). Aries, it will manifest in your fourth house of domestic life, Cancer, your seventh house of partnerships, and Cap, your tenth house of careers.
What zodiac signs are impacted by Mercury's retrograde motion?
Nothing in astrology is more notorious than the dreadful Mercury retrograde. Because it rules both cognitive and communication processes, Mercury has a significant impact on how you live your daily life. This quick-moving, very intelligent inner planet tends to confuse people and lead to errors in judgment when it goes retrograde, which can derail all of your goals. Fortunately, you don't have to prepare for total disaster if you belong to one of the zodiac signs that will be least affected by Mercury retrograde in spring 2022: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
On May 10, as Mercury is transiting through Gemini at a 4 degree angle, the next Mercury retrograde will start. As a result of this mutable air sign's propensity to think more quickly than it speaks, miscommunication is a major theme of this erratic and capricious retrograde. Mercury won't stay in Gemini for very long, though, as on May 22 it will turn back into Taurus and travel through that sign's obstinate and slow-moving zone once more. Mercury is returning to this fixed earth sign, so you may find yourself second-guessing every choice and finding it difficult to look past your attachments to particular beliefs and viewpoints. Be careful you know what you're talking about and try to have an open mind.
Despite the fact that Mercury retrograde can throw your life for a loop, you must keep in mind that it only lasts for around three weeks. This retrograde, which will terminate on June 3 at 26 degrees Taurus, could transport you back in time and bring up unfinished business that has to be attended to. Let this retrograde give you another chance to attempt because there might still be things you need to say or decisions you need to make.
In either case, cardinal signs might not experience the full effects of this retrograde. This is why:
Does Mercury going backwards impact feelings?
Expect to have either more or less energy than usual, especially worried energy. will either drain you of your typical vigor, leaving you feeling tired, or fill you with chaotic, scattered energy, possibly leaving you feeling restless, distracted, and agitated.
What activities are prohibited during a retrograde?
Ellen Bowles, an astrologer and co-author of Astrology SOS, claims that "we can have technical or mechanical troubles, and our wires can seem crossed in all our channels of communication." "Planetary retrogrades are occasions for everyone to stop and think. We are being advised to slow down and double-check the details when Mercury is retrograde." The urge to meticulously examine every last aspect extends beyond the three to four weeks of the retrograde period itself. The same guidelines for what not to do during Mercury retrograde also apply during this time, which lasts for a week or two before and after the actual retrograde. This period is known as Mercury's shadow phase or "retroshade."
Why do relationships end when Mercury is in retrograde?
In all honesty, if you do decide to leave your relationship with a partner during this time, it was probably meant to bethe universe's way of telling you that you weren't on the correct course. The outcomes would not have been affected by Mercury in any manner. Even if it's terrible, an ending could be what you need to change and move on.
We know you'll take Mercury's shenanigans gracefully, whatever happens. As tumultuous as we've been led to believe, the crazy retrograde is not as chaotic as it seems.
Do ex-lovers return during Mercury's retrograde?
Old lovers always manage to find their way back into your DMs around this time, but don't act foolishly. You might feel the want to reunite with an ex when Mercury is retrograde, but you might later regret it. The answer to the questions, "Why do I keep thinking about my ex?" and "Should I keep my ex as a backup?" is obvious: no.
What effects will Mercury's retrograde have on 2021?
Mercury is regarded as the planet responsible for all communications, cognitive processes, and it also stands for reasoning, rationality, and other things. Mercury entered a retrograde phase on September 27, 2021, moving backwards into the astrological sign of Libra. Since then, it has had an impact on people's life, causing a great deal of instability in their relationships, businesses, finances, health, and other areas.
People can finally exhale in relief that the planetary retrogression is over and anticipate things to calm down. Following that, let's take a look at what each zodiac sign might anticipate now that Mercury Retrograde for this year has ended.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home › News › Innovation Campus for Munich Airport
[0] => March
10March
Innovation Campus for Munich Airport
Munich Airport just engaged in a new project – building a new innovation hub with offices, laboratories, think tanks, and startup locations which shall be named LabCampus. The objective is to foster cooperation between experts of leading companies and startups, investors, and creative minds to develop new ideas and business models at the new innovation center, which will comprise a total area of 500,000 square meters. Thomas Weyer, CFO and Director of Infrastructure at Munich Airport, states that the airport is particularly suitable for this kind of project, as it brings together 150,000 people every day.
The LabCampus at Munich Airport could help making Munich even more attractive for hightech industries and other key sectors. Especially businesses working in areas such as aerospace, energy, mobility and digitization could be attracted with the new future-focused innovation center.
Key partners of the project will be renowened companies such as Siemens as well as research organizations such as Fraunhofer institut. Moreover, the start-up incubator UnternehmerTUM oft the Technical University of Munich will engage in the project.
The post Innovation Campus for Munich Airport appeared first on Technical University of Munich – School of Management.


After shooting film cameras underwater for 25 years, the images in this gallery are the result of my first efforts at digital u/w photography. These pictures were accomplished at Wakatobi Resort, for the most part right off the beach in front of the resort. In this effort, I was greatly aided by professional photographer James Watt, who kindly supplied access to two different housing systems; and to Fred Dion of Underwater Photo Tech who aided me in obtaining the Olympus 3040 camera. Thanks Gentlemen!
The links below will lead you to the photos. Also included is a link to my written report, an introductory primer to shooting underwater with a digital photo system. I hope you find the images and information of value. Please note that this entire Web Site, and all photos and text contained within, are copyrighted. Please do not use any of these images or text without prior written permission.
Produced by Light & Motion, this is the top of line housing currently on the market. Finely machined of aluminum, it is rated to 120 feet. Camera is shown with the flat port, but a wide angle and a macro lens are also available.
Though deceptively simple in design and appearance, the Olympus housing allowed for very fine results. Priced in the range of $250, it is also remarkably inexpensive as u/w photo equipment goes.
This is, quite literally, the first underwater photo I made with the new system. As I progressed along the learning curve, I was able to improve my exposures and better balance for ambient light. It is immensely helpful to be able to view the result immediately after taking the shot.
Only 20 meters from the entrance to the house reef is a family of clown fish I've visited for four years now. Friendly subjects in shallow water, provided a great place to practice with this camera.
The one-second delay between pressing the shutter and the camera's actually firing made it challenging to shoot moving animals like this. But over time, and repeated tries, I was able to capture some pleasing compositions.
On my first dive with the 3040 digital system, I was fortunate to find this cuttlefish waiting in front of the resort. Moving slowly and non-aggressively, I was able to spend a full 30 minutes with this individual, eventually making photos from a distance of only 12 to 18 inches. A bit farther along in the learning curve, I could have also balanced for ambient light.
This striking animal is another of my favorite subjects. Over the years, I've learned that with this species of fish, it's often advantageous of overexpose a bit. That's what brings out the lovely red color.
Here's a portrait that shows the clarity of image the digital camera is able to capture and reproduce.
This full frame shot of a bigeye shows great clarity. You will also note that I am beginning to get a feel for balancing ambient light of the background with the flash exposure on the primary subject.
Working the same individual, I moved in for a close-up.
This image begins to show the macro capabilities of this system. This was shot a maximum zoom with the flat port (IE. no macro attachment), pretty much defining maximum magnification. Keep in mind that the camera's closest focus eight inches. Get the lens any closer to your subject, and your shot will be out of focus.
This heavily camouflaged crocodile fish is a good subject to depicts the range of contrast captured by the digital system.
The hawk fish is a great subject upon which to practice your stalking technique. They sit in one place, but if you approach too close, or too quickly, they will quickly dive for cover or a more distant perch.
The beauty of returning to a destination, especially one with the superb shore-diving of Wakatobi, is the ability to return to a specific dive site. I was fortunate to come upon this lovely leaf fish exactly in the spot I expected to find it.
This shot was taken at maximum close focus, employing the zoom to crop for impact. It reveals a finely bearded face...that only a mother could love!
The magnificent color of this tridacna was not visible in ambient light. The simple onboard strobe of the Olympus 3040 brought out this sparkling color. As you can see, the diffuser on the PT-007 housing seems to produce a pleasing, well-balance light.
This juvenile sweet lips is a relatively shy photo subject. I believe that the diminutive size of the PT-007 housing, and the absence of overhanging strobe, arm and cord, enabled me to be less obtrusive when approaching shy animals.
Change of Equipment: The following images were produced with the Olympus 3030 camera, in the Light & Motion Tetra Housing. As wide-angle was the concept, the Tetra's wide-angle port was fitted. Due to the fact that the lens on my 3040 is slightly longer than that of the 3030, my camera would not work in the 3030 housing with the wide-angle port. Thus I used Jim Watt's 3030 camera to make the following wide-angle images. Should you decide to purchase a housing, be aware of this compatibility issue.
The Tetra's wide-angle port enables an image equivalent to a 24 mm lens. It did not prove quite wide enough to fully cover a large sea fan like this one. Perhaps I should have tried a horizontal composition, and/or moved farther from the subject.
The Tetra's wide angle aspect proved just right for this combination of sponge and sea fan.
One of Wakatobi's finest assets is the opportunity to make great wide-angle shots while shore diving right off the beach. Here new diver, Karen Jacobs, enjoys the diversity of Wakatobi's colorful fringing reef.
Here is a wide-angle cuttlefish, with a better balance of ambient light.
Note the depth of field evident in this colorful photo.
Schooling Jacks - Au Revoir Wakatobi!
Hopefully you have found this gallery, and its descriptive images of value. I'll conclude with a shot of Wakatobi's resident school of jacks. This shot was accomplished in eight feet of water, within shouting distance of the bar. Enjoy!
I hope you have found this information to be of value, and the images entertaining. Here's wishing you great diving...and a world of adventure!
More info: Photographer Ken Knezick is owner of Island Dreams, specializing in scuba diving travel and tours. You are invited to call or e-mail for additional information, advice, or assistance with bookings and airfares.
In addition to this Digital Photo Gallery, and Island Dreams' general Photo Gallery, we are continually developing new destination-specific photo areas. Once you have perused these Irian Jaya images, following is a selection of other photo areas provided for your pleasure and information.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using TechTalk.SpecFlow;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using OpenQA.Selenium;
using OpenQA.Selenium.IE;
using OpenQA.Selenium.Firefox;
using OpenQA.Selenium.Chrome;

namespace SpecFlowTest
{
    [Binding]
    public class WebBrowser
    {
        public static IWebDriver Current
        {
            get
            {
                if (!ScenarioContext.Current.ContainsKey("browser"))
                {
                    //ScenarioContext.Current["browser"] = new InternetExplorerDriver();
                    ScenarioContext.Current["browser"] = new FirefoxDriver();
                    //ScenarioContext.Current["browser"] = new ChromeDriver();

                }
                return (IWebDriver)ScenarioContext.Current["browser"];
            }
        }

        [AfterScenario]
        public static void Close()
        {
            if (ScenarioContext.Current.ContainsKey("browser"))
            {
                Current.Dispose();
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Computer Day is celebrated on 15 August, and despite the fact that computers are now part of our daily lives, and this fact is very modern. Decades ago, and calculators were just enormous, which occupied entire rooms. The processing capacity was nonexistent compared to what we have today in the tools we carry in the pocket. To celebrate,
Music players have over a century of history; see evolution
Like any invention, the first computer had its origin in something preexisting and already brought you some concepts developed by experts years before. While Alan Turing is known for his pioneering work in computer science or programming itself, was the mechanical engineer Charles Babbage invented the first mechanical computer equipment considered, even in the nineteenth century.
1940 - First generation
Only in the 1940s that the rudimentary mechanical computers give way from time to general purpose computers, which have used simple algorithms to punch cards and deliver results to their operators of complex calculations. In this context, the foundation of HP is a milestone, presenting its popular Audio Oscillator HP200A, equipment used in the movie industry by Disney to produce sound effects.
The so-called "First Generation" of computers still goes through inventions such as the Harvard Mark I, in 1944, used by the Nazis in World War II. Besides the SSEC, launched in 1948 by IBM, able to calculate the position of the moon using electronic selective sequence - the machine is famous for having been used to trace the route of the Apollo in 1969.
1950 - Transistors
The "Second Generation" of computers emerged in the 1950s and was to mark the arrival of the transistors. With new technology, the computer finally devised by Alan Turing could be built and marketed - the highlight was the UNIVAC 1101, an equipment of 12 m long and 6.1 m wide which used 2700 vacuum tubes for your logic circuits.
The machine considered advanced at the time, had 38 instructions and a kind of equivalent to 48-bit memory. Later, after the release of a series of electronic computers in the United States, England and Japan, IBM launches the IBM Stretch, the first series of transistorized mainframes company.
1960 - Microprocessors
Something like the "Golden Era" of computers, the 1960s brought to market the first microprocessors. The list begins with the DEC PDP-1, the precursor of the Third Generation, and passes through the CDC 6600, the fastest of the season and three times faster than the IBM Stretch - he could accomplish more than 3 million instructions per second.
It was in 1965 that the computer finally came out of the great halls and became portable. The first microcomputer sold successfully in the market was the DEC PDP-8, 12-bit computer whose size resembled a fridge today. The manufacturer Digital Equipment Corporation - hence the acronym DEC - sold over 50 million units that year.
1970 - Microcomputers
Thanks to the pioneering spirit of the DEC PDP-8, the Fourth Generation of computers in the 1970s, is known for the avalanche of personal computers, starting at 1 Kenback, announced in the journal Sicentific American in 1971 and cost $ 7000. Three years later, Xerox launched the first personal workstation microprocessor-based, and that had to mouse input, the Scelbi SH.
It was in that decade, in 1976 that came the first computer with vector processing of commercial success, built by Steve Wozniak. Cray I initially called, was renamed to Apple I with the founding of the company after the entry of Steve Jobs - the following year, the Apple II was an instant success.
1980 - Fifth Generation
With the popularity of microprocessors, the 1980s was marked by personal computers, IBM, Compaq and Commodore joining Apple in this market, which led to a series of innovations. It was in 1984, for example, that the company Jobs lassoed the Macintosh, the first computer with GUI sold commercially.
What is the best Windows ever? Give your opinion in the forum TechTudo
The decade also had the first personal computer to incorporate a hard drive to optical storage and object-oriented language to simplify programming. Interestingly, the "father" of the project was also Steve Jobs, but at NeXT, the company he founded after his temporary departure from Apple in 1985.
1990 - Personal Computers
It was in the 1990s that personal computers have become mass product. Intel entered the market with its Pentium processor in 1993, followed by the Pentium II in 1997 AMD also released its first Athlon market in 1998, which ran at 750 MHz amazing.
The decade is also known for game consoles with microprocessors such as Playstation, released by Sony in 1995 At the end of the decade, Apple introduced its first iMac computer that united all components to monitor, resulting in an extremely compact product the time - was the first All-in-One.
2000 - Mobile Computing
It may seem late for many, but the 2000s are now history. 12 years ago, the Canadian RIM launched the world's first smartphone called the Blackberry. The player offered to e-mail and web browsing systems, and mobile connection. But, despite all the major releases of the decade, it will be marked by the emergence of the iPhone.
In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the device in an historic keynote during WWDC that year. It was the first smartphone with capacitive touchscreen and advanced operating system capable of running complex applications such as music player with animations. Also enter this decade the launch of the iPad in 2010, responsible for the creation of an entire industry of tablets, like the iPhone did to the smartphone.
http://www.iwassa.com/
Posted by Unknown at Sunday, August 17, 2014


text:
test_description='core.whitespace rules and git apply'

. ./test-lib.sh

prepare_test_file () {

	# A line that has character X is touched iff RULE is in effect:
	#       X  RULE
	#   	!  trailing-space
	#   	@  space-before-tab
	#   	#  indent-with-non-tab (default tab width 8)
	#	=  indent-with-non-tab,tabwidth=16
	#   	%  tab-in-indent
	sed -e "s/_/ /g" -e "s/>/	/" <<-\EOF
		An_SP in an ordinary line>and a HT.
		>A HT (%).
		_>A SP and a HT (@%).
		_>_A SP, a HT and a SP (@%).
		_______Seven SP.
		________Eight SP (#).
		_______>Seven SP and a HT (@%).
		________>Eight SP and a HT (@#%).
		_______>_Seven SP, a HT and a SP (@%).
		________>_Eight SP, a HT and a SP (@#%).
		_______________Fifteen SP (#).
		_______________>Fifteen SP and a HT (@#%).
		________________Sixteen SP (#=).
		________________>Sixteen SP and a HT (@#%=).
		_____a__Five SP, a non WS, two SP.
		A line with a (!) trailing SP_
		A line with a (!) trailing HT>
	EOF
}

apply_patch () {
	>target &&
	sed -e "s|\([ab]\)/file|\1/target|" <patch |
	git apply "$@"
}

test_fix () {
	# fix should not barf
	apply_patch --whitespace=fix || return 1

	# find touched lines
	$DIFF file target | sed -n -e "s/^> //p" >fixed

	# the changed lines are all expected to change
	fixed_cnt=$(wc -l <fixed)
	case "$1" in
	'') expect_cnt=$fixed_cnt ;;
	?*) expect_cnt=$(grep "[$1]" <fixed | wc -l) ;;
	esac
	test $fixed_cnt -eq $expect_cnt || return 1

	# and we are not missing anything
	case "$1" in
	'') expect_cnt=0 ;;
	?*) expect_cnt=$(grep "[$1]" <file | wc -l) ;;
	esac
	test $fixed_cnt -eq $expect_cnt || return 1

	# Get the patch actually applied
	git diff-files -p target >fixed-patch
	test -s fixed-patch && return 0

	# Make sure it is complaint-free
	>target
	git apply --whitespace=error-all <fixed-patch

}

test_expect_success setup '

	>file &&
	git add file &&
	prepare_test_file >file &&
	git diff-files -p >patch &&
	>target &&
	git add target

'

test_expect_success 'whitespace=nowarn, default rule' '

	apply_patch --whitespace=nowarn &&
	test_cmp file target

'

test_expect_success 'whitespace=warn, default rule' '

	apply_patch --whitespace=warn &&
	test_cmp file target

'

test_expect_success 'whitespace=error-all, default rule' '

	test_must_fail apply_patch --whitespace=error-all &&
	! test -s target

'

test_expect_success 'whitespace=error-all, no rule' '

	git config core.whitespace -trailing,-space-before,-indent &&
	apply_patch --whitespace=error-all &&
	test_cmp file target

'

test_expect_success 'whitespace=error-all, no rule (attribute)' '

	git config --unset core.whitespace &&
	echo "target -whitespace" >.gitattributes &&
	apply_patch --whitespace=error-all &&
	test_cmp file target

'

test_expect_success 'spaces inserted by tab-in-indent' '

	git config core.whitespace -trailing,-space,-indent,tab &&
	rm -f .gitattributes &&
	test_fix % &&
	sed -e "s/_/ /g" -e "s/>/	/" <<-\EOF >expect &&
		An_SP in an ordinary line>and a HT.
		________A HT (%).
		________A SP and a HT (@%).
		_________A SP, a HT and a SP (@%).
		_______Seven SP.
		________Eight SP (#).
		________Seven SP and a HT (@%).
		________________Eight SP and a HT (@#%).
		_________Seven SP, a HT and a SP (@%).
		_________________Eight SP, a HT and a SP (@#%).
		_______________Fifteen SP (#).
		________________Fifteen SP and a HT (@#%).
		________________Sixteen SP (#=).
		________________________Sixteen SP and a HT (@#%=).
		_____a__Five SP, a non WS, two SP.
		A line with a (!) trailing SP_
		A line with a (!) trailing HT>
	EOF
	test_cmp expect target

'

for t in - ''
do
	case "$t" in '') tt='!' ;; *) tt= ;; esac
	for s in - ''
	do
		case "$s" in '') ts='@' ;; *) ts= ;; esac
		for i in - ''
		do
			case "$i" in '') ti='#' ti16='=';; *) ti= ti16= ;; esac
			for h in - ''
			do
				[ -z "$h$i" ] && continue
				case "$h" in '') th='%' ;; *) th= ;; esac
				rule=${t}trailing,${s}space,${i}indent,${h}tab

				rm -f .gitattributes
				test_expect_success "rule=$rule" '
					git config core.whitespace "$rule" &&
					test_fix "$tt$ts$ti$th"
				'

				test_expect_success "rule=$rule,tabwidth=16" '
					git config core.whitespace "$rule,tabwidth=16" &&
					test_fix "$tt$ts$ti16$th"
				'

				test_expect_success "rule=$rule (attributes)" '
					git config --unset core.whitespace &&
					echo "target whitespace=$rule" >.gitattributes &&
					test_fix "$tt$ts$ti$th"
				'

				test_expect_success "rule=$rule,tabwidth=16 (attributes)" '
					echo "target whitespace=$rule,tabwidth=16" >.gitattributes &&
					test_fix "$tt$ts$ti16$th"
				'

			done
		done
	done
done

create_patch () {
	sed -e "s/_/ /" <<-\EOF
		diff --git a/target b/target
		index e69de29..8bd6648 100644
		--- a/target
		+++ b/target
		@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
		+An empty line follows
		+
		+A line with trailing whitespace and no newline_
		\ No newline at end of file
	EOF
}

test_expect_success 'trailing whitespace & no newline at the end of file' '
	>target &&
	create_patch >patch-file &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch-file &&
	grep "newline$" target &&
	grep "^$" target
'

test_expect_success 'blank at EOF with --whitespace=fix (1)' '
	test_might_fail git config --unset core.whitespace &&
	rm -f .gitattributes &&

	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >expect &&
	{ cat expect; echo; } >one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp expect one
'

test_expect_success 'blank at EOF with --whitespace=fix (2)' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo a; echo c; } >expect &&
	{ cat expect; echo; echo; } >one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp expect one
'

test_expect_success 'blank at EOF with --whitespace=fix (3)' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo a; echo c; echo; } >expect &&
	{ cat expect; echo; echo; } >one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp expect one
'

test_expect_success 'blank at end of hunk, not at EOF with --whitespace=fix' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo; echo; echo; echo; echo; echo d; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo a; echo c; echo; echo; echo; echo; echo; echo; echo d; } >expect &&
	cp expect one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp expect one
'

test_expect_success 'blank at EOF with --whitespace=warn' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	echo >>one &&
	cat one >expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	git apply --whitespace=warn patch 2>error &&
	test_cmp expect one &&
	grep "new blank line at EOF" error
'

test_expect_success 'blank at EOF with --whitespace=error' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	cat one >expect &&
	echo >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	test_must_fail git apply --whitespace=error patch 2>error &&
	test_cmp expect one &&
	grep "new blank line at EOF" error
'

test_expect_success 'blank but not empty at EOF' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	echo "   " >>one &&
	cat one >expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	git apply --whitespace=warn patch 2>error &&
	test_cmp expect one &&
	grep "new blank line at EOF" error
'

test_expect_success 'applying beyond EOF requires one non-blank context line' '
	{ echo; echo; echo; echo; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo b; } >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	git checkout one &&
	{ echo a; echo; } >one &&
	cp one expect &&
	test_must_fail git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect &&
	test_must_fail git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'tons of blanks at EOF should not apply' '
	for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16; do
		echo; echo; echo; echo;
	done >one &&
	git add one &&
	echo a >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	>one &&
	test_must_fail git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_must_fail git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch
'

test_expect_success 'missing blank line at end with --whitespace=fix' '
	echo a >one &&
	echo >>one &&
	git add one &&
	echo b >>one &&
	cp one expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	echo a >one &&
	cp one saved-one &&
	test_must_fail git apply patch &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect &&
	mv saved-one one &&
	git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'two missing blank lines at end with --whitespace=fix' '
	{ echo a; echo; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	cp one no-blank-lines &&
	{ echo; echo; } >>one &&
	git add one &&
	echo d >>one &&
	cp one expect &&
	echo >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	cp no-blank-lines one &&
	test_must_fail git apply patch &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect &&
	mv no-blank-lines one &&
	test_must_fail git apply patch &&
	git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'missing blank line at end, insert before end, --whitespace=fix' '
	{ echo a; echo; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo b; echo a; echo; } >one &&
	cp one expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	echo a >one &&
	test_must_fail git apply patch &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'shrink file with tons of missing blanks at end of file' '
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	cp one no-blank-lines &&
	for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16; do
		echo; echo; echo; echo;
	done >>one &&
	git add one &&
	echo a >one &&
	cp one expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	cp no-blank-lines one &&
	test_must_fail git apply patch &&
	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect &&
	mv no-blank-lines one &&
	git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'missing blanks at EOF must only match blank lines' '
	{ echo a; echo b; } >one &&
	git add one &&
	{ echo c; echo d; } >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&

	echo a >one &&
	test_must_fail git apply patch &&
	test_must_fail git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_must_fail git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch
'

sed -e's/Z//' >one <<EOF
a
b
c
		      Z
EOF

test_expect_success 'missing blank line should match context line with spaces' '
	git add one &&
	echo d >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	cp one expect &&
	{ echo; echo d; } >>expect &&
	git add one &&

	git apply --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

sed -e's/Z//' >one <<EOF
a
b
c
		      Z
EOF

test_expect_success 'same, but with the --ignore-space-option' '
	git add one &&
	echo d >>one &&
	cp one expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	{ echo a; echo b; echo c; } >one &&
	git add one &&

	git checkout-index -f one &&
	git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'same, but with CR-LF line endings && cr-at-eol set' '
	git config core.whitespace cr-at-eol &&
	printf "a\r\n" >one &&
	printf "b\r\n" >>one &&
	printf "c\r\n" >>one &&
	cp one save-one &&
	printf "                 \r\n" >>one &&
	git add one &&
	printf "d\r\n" >>one &&
	cp one expect &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	mv save-one one &&

	git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'same, but with CR-LF line endings && cr-at-eol unset' '
	git config --unset core.whitespace &&
	printf "a\r\n" >one &&
	printf "b\r\n" >>one &&
	printf "c\r\n" >>one &&
	cp one save-one &&
	printf "                 \r\n" >>one &&
	git add one &&
	cp one expect &&
	printf "d\r\n" >>one &&
	git diff -- one >patch &&
	mv save-one one &&
	echo d >>expect &&

	git apply --ignore-space-change --whitespace=fix patch &&
	test_cmp one expect
'

test_expect_success 'whitespace=fix to expand' '
	qz_to_tab_space >preimage <<-\EOF &&
	QQa
	QQb
	QQc
	ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZd
	QQe
	QQf
	QQg
	EOF
	qz_to_tab_space >patch <<-\EOF &&
	diff --git a/preimage b/preimage
	--- a/preimage
	+++ b/preimage
	@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
	 QQa
	 QQb
	 QQc
	-QQd
	 QQe
	 QQf
	 QQg
	EOF
	git -c core.whitespace=tab-in-indent apply --whitespace=fix patch
'

test_expect_success 'whitespace check skipped for excluded paths' '
	git config core.whitespace blank-at-eol &&
	>used &&
	>unused &&
	git add used unused &&
	echo "used" >used &&
	echo "unused " >unused &&
	git diff-files -p used unused >patch &&
	git apply --include=used --stat --whitespace=error <patch
'

test_done