The LA Times has an article on the legacy of Charlie Sifford, the first African American to play on the PGA Tour.

Sifford is the Jackie Robinson of the golf world, a true pioneer who made it possible for others—including Tiger Woods—to follow. In his time, Sifford faced many of the same trials that Robinson did: heckling, fans kicking his ball into the rough; and worse.

The article also talks about how difficult it has been to bring golf to African American kids. Sifford says:

“You know how tough it is, man? It’s just so hard to get there,” he said. “These local kids don’t have no place to practice, they’re taught basketball, that’s where they see the money going, and football.

“I think Tiger’s done a wonderful job with his foundation and clinics, but there’s so much more work to be done. Sure, I might have proved something, but I’m glad I’m not out there playing now.”

Sifford also says that the demise of the caddy has kept African Americans out of the game:

“If we weren’t caddying, we were playing,” he said. “Those kind of things, they don’t exist anymore.”

The USGA has spent a lot of time lately worrying about a future with declining number of golfers. They’ve talked about ways to make the game easier, and ways to speed up rounds. But I haven’t heard much about diversifying the game. They should be thinking about ways to open the game to more minorities.

Once upon a time, I made my living writing about politics and economics. But what I really wanted to do was cover sports. Eventually, I gave up writing and went on to teach politics and economics and coach high school golf.

Robert Thompson has the job I wanted. He’s the golf columnist for The National Post, Canada’s national newspaper. He also is a contributor to PGATour.com, Ontario Golf, Score Golf and is a course rater for Golf Digest.

Fortunately, you don’t have to live in Canada to read his writing. He has a blog called Going For The Green.

Jay Flemma is an entertainment lawyer and writer who has my dream gig: he is engaged in writing a series of books about the great public golf courses of America.

Jay writes that the books will be a:

series of golf guides that highlight the country’s greatest PUBLIC golf values. If you are sick of skyrocketing greens fees, boring layouts, scrambling for teetimes, and those muni-course blues, take heart. We make egalitarianism a part of the game again. We tell you which courses are worth the money and why. Stellar designs by the games greatest architects and those terrific diamonds in the rough share the stage equally. The course counter (number of ranked courses in the US I have visited) is at 204. The journey has hit 36 states so far. By the time we are ready to finish the first volume of “A Walk in the Park” - the national volume - I should be close to 250 courses played and 42-43 states. This volume will feature 18 “Tour/Resort” facilities and 27 daily fee courses - all of which are designs of national significance. Plus we tell you how to get on the expensive courses cheap! Never pay through the nose or be disappointed again.

Jay also has a blog called A Walk In The Park, which has course reviews and golf commentary. Well worth reading.

I’ve been on a hunt for golf blogs in recent days, and found this gem. Balls, Sticks and Stuff is a general sports blog, with a good emphasis on golf.

(It seems that everytime I see someone else’s blog, I see something I wish that I’d thought of. In this case, it’s a digital timer that counts the number of days left until the Masters. I may still steal it.)

Greg Norman is calling for ball flight restrictions in an effort to keep older courses from becoming obsolete.

This worry has been going on for years, with courses—even hallowed Augusta—adding yardage to compensate for the newer, hotter equipment.

I think that you can keep the older courses competitive, without constantly adding length. Here’s how:

1) Narrow the fairways and make the rough truly punishing. None of this “second cut” nonsense. If they’re in the rough, they should be hitting a wedge to get back onto the fairway, not going for the green. I’ve heard several players say recently that they don’t care where it lands, as long as its long. They should care.

1a) Narrow the fairways the closer you get to the green. Make them decide if its worth it to risk missing the fairway, or to lay up to a safer, wider part of the fairway, and take a 180 yard shot to the green.

2) Change par. Take the shortest “5” and make it a “4”. Take the shortest “4” and make it a “3” Let them swing the driver at a 300 yard par 3.

3)Use a more coarse sand in the bunkers. The fluffy stuff they use at my club, and at tour-level courses is too consistent. Again, a player in the bunker should be just trying to get it back on the fairway, not shooting at the pin.

3a) Add a couple more fairway bunkers. My club dates to 1899, and that’s been our response to the long hitters. There are now fairway bunkers right where the big guns drive it. To avoid them, they’re going to have to hit a shorter club off the tee. Serves them right. I, on the other hand, don’t have to worry about it.