Happy Thanksgiving! The PGA Tour is off this week, but we do have "The Match", an exhibition match between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, to look forward to. Personally, I'll be tuning in more for Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley in the broadcast booth than the golf being played. We have a slimmed down newsletter for you this week so we can all get back to enjoying the day with our families. Of course, we've included a WHAT HOLE IS IT? hole for you.
This Thanksgiving, I am so grateful to you, dear reader, for embracing our mission of covering the history of the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s. We're especially grateful for the level of participation we enjoy with the WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest every week. So far this year, we have had 176 correct responses to the pictures of holes we've sent you through this newsletter and posts on Facebook. These 176 participants have come up with 370 correct answers. It is a fun contest to run with so many knowledgeable course aficionados.
We have some exciting news concerning the WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest and 2022 wall calendar. We have entered into a partnership with John R. Johnson, a world renown golf photographer. We will be using John's photos of famous golf courses, photographed in the 1990s from time to time in the weekly contest and will feature his photos exclusively on the Tour Backspin 2022 wall calendar (available soon in the Tour Backspin shop at tourbackspin.com). We are very excited for this new partnership. Since these photos are 20 to 30 years old, the WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest may be a bit more challenging and we will have enhanced prize packs to match. Scroll down to read more about John.
Speaking of challenging, we did not have a winner in the WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest from last week. Since it was the third Thursday of the month, it was a Guest Post hole and thanks to Glenn Blue for the picture of #15 at Nicklaus North in Whistler. We also enjoyed Glenn's story of playing the hole complete with an encounter with a bear. WE NEED "GUEST POST" PICTURES. Send us that pic on your phone of a great golf hole, tell us a story on how you conquered it (or how it kicked your butt) and if we use it, you'll win a prize. Send the pic to larry@tourbackspin.com. Check out the WHII leader board below.
The Tour Backspin shop is HERE to help you with your holiday shopping. All Tour Backspin subscribers can get 10% off and FREE 2nd DAY SHIPPING now through Dec. 20th. Use the coupon code 2021SUBSCRIBER at the checkout page. We have historically authentic items including buttons/magnets, t-shirts, trading cards and more. Each t-shirt incorporates a design used in the 1960s or 1970s from a button or tournament program cover and includes an historical recap of the tournament. We will be adding more items (including the 2022 WHAT HOLE IS IT? wall calendar) over the next couple of weeks. Your Christmas shopping just got easier. No supply line issues here, everything is in stock. Check it out.
We will be introducing some new features in 2022 including the Tour Backspin Interview with thoughtful discussions from the PGA TOUR stars, and those involved with the tour, in the 1960s and 1970s. We will also have long form articles that subscribers will have free access to. The premium version of the Tour Backspin newsletter will eventually go to a paid subscription and if you are receiving this newsletter now, it and all access to the Tour Backspin content of long form articles, videos, and podcasts will be free to you--and to anyone you refer to the newsletter. Spread the love and refer a golfing buddy to Tour Backspin and you'll both receive our current sticker set as our way of saying thanks.
This week's vintage ad may be a little earlier than our usual time frame of the 1960s to 1970s but we just love this ad too much not to use it. Check it out.
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Okay, we're on the tee, let's get going.
John R. Johnson, Award Winning Photographer, Teams With Tour Backspin
You’ve seen the work of John R. Johnson if you’ve been around golf for any length of time. In the golf magazines you’ve read, the golf posters you’ve seen and the scenic golf calendars you’ve hung on your walls. John has been producing award-winning golf photography for decades.
It sounds like the dream job—travel the world taking pictures of golf courses and golf tournaments, but once you see John’s body of work, you will appreciate the dedication he brings to his craft. Utilizing the effects of color, time of day and the most visual perspectives, John’s pictures are as captivating as they are beautiful.
John’s world view was first formed as a national wrestler and wrestling coach representing the USA in international competitions. This gave him a thirst to achieve at the highest levels. He has continued this pursuit of excellence in his golf course photography.
We at Tour Backspin are excited to work with John featuring his golf course photography from the 1990s and early 2000s. We’ll be producing our 2022 What Hole Is It? wall calendar using John’s photos exclusively. The calendar will be available shortly in the Tour Backspin shop at tourbackspin.com. We will also be using John’s photos from time to time in our weekly What Hole Is It? contests in the Tour Backspin newsletter and on Facebook.
You can read more about John and view his digital work HERE.
Check out the bonus fact below for an update on the CBS Golf Classic bracket for the 1963/1964 matches.
The third Thursday of the month is a "Guest Post" for WHAT HOLE IS IT? Want your pic featured as a "Guest Post"? Send your pictures to larry@tourbackspin.com. If we use your pic for the WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest, you'll win a prize. Send us your pics!
Please help us grow by forwarding this email to a friend who would enjoy it. Thanks.
Enjoy!
Larry Baush
Bonus Story
We’re going to update our story about the CBS Golf Classic from last week. Raymond Fuchs of The Society of Golf Historians Facebook group provided me with an article from the November 19, 1963, Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs, California that provides a few more details allowing us to fill the bracket. It also provided some more information concerning the results of some of the matches.
Considering that the matches would be aired mostly in early 1964, this article certainly lets the cat out of the bag early. It would be like reading about the results of Survivor before you’ve even met the cast. Below is the updated bracket for the 1963/1964 CBS Golf Classic.
Blind Shot
Click for something fun. 👀
1964 Lucky International Open Program T-Shirt
$30.00
Historically accurate reproduction of the 1964 Lucky International Open program
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American Golf Classic T-Shirt
$30.00
Historically accurate reproduction of button used at 1964 American Golf Classic to identify staff
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MORE ITEMS COMING SOON!
USE COUPON CODE 2021SUBSCRIBER FOR 10% OFF AND FREE 2nd DAY SHIPPING
I'd love to hear your feedback! Email me at larry@tourbackspin.com.