There’s nothing better than landing a big-name celebrity when you have a consumer product and PGA Tour star-in-the-making Abraham Ancer now has Mark Wahlberg as a partner in his tequila business.
The booze-biz is going strong these days and typically always does well — folks drink when things are going great, they drown their sorrows when things aren’t going so great.
It was back in 2016 when Abe (as Tiger called him) joined forces with fellow-Mexican Aron Marquez, an entrepreneur and they came up with the tequila branded Flecha Azul. Both were tequila guys and they created a premium brand with a taste of heritage. Back when they started, Marquez said: “We had already known each other for years and bonded over our shared history and deep appreciation for Mexican culture and love of tequila. Eventually we felt like we had to create our own to do it best. Creating Flecha Azul ultimately became a representation of our friendship.”
Their brand found its way to America a couple of years after its creation. Now they have the ultimate high-profile partner — Mark Wahlberg.
USGA Will Reward Korn Ferry Excellence At 2023 U.S. Open:
The Korn Ferry Tour has gotten the attention of the USGA and starting in 2023 when they play the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, the best KFT player will get an exemption.
That player who finishes with the most combined Korn Ferry Tour points between the tour’s regular season and three-event finals each year will be exempt into the following year’s U.S. Open.
Michelle Wie Gets Into LPGA Tour’s Season-Opening TOC:
The LPGA Tour went deep into the process to come up with an exemption for Michelle Wie — and she will be in the season-opening Tournament Of Champions at Lake Nona on Jan. 20.
How you ask?
Wie (West) got in due to the fact that she had been eligible last year by winning the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship. A wrist injury kept her out of the Tournament of Champions in 2019 and then she was on maternity leave in 2020 and the beginning of 2021, so her eligibility carried over to this year.
That’s a stretch of the rules on a good day.
Wie returned to play last year at March’s Kia Classic, missing the cut, and then played five more events, missing the cut another three times and didn’t place better than T-40 when she did.
Jessica Korda is the defending champion this year.
California Declares War On Muni Courses:
The State of California is a cluster-f$#k on a good day and now war has been declared on municipal golf courses.
A proposed law that would target California municipal golf courses for possible conversion to public housing iand said proposed bill s now working its way through the state’s legislature. The measure, intended to address the state’s homelessness and chronic housing shortage. Said bill would subsidize local governments in their efforts to build affordable housing atop publicly-held golf ground.
But wait, the troops are rallying. A big coalition from the state’s golf industry that includes club professionals, superintendents, muni players and the state’s two regional golf associations are prepared for war.
The target of their ire is Assembly Bill 672, titled “Publicly owned golf courses: conversion: affordable housing.” The bill would create a funding mechanism under the auspices of the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development that would enable towns and counties to develop housing on top of land currently utilized by municipally owned golf courses. They could undertake such development themselves or form a public-private partnership with a real estate developer seeking to make a mark on what is widely regarded to be a state in serious need of additional housing stock.
Municipal golf is a considerable significant staple of the California golf scene, forming just over 20 percent of the entire supply of courses. According to National Golf Foundation data for 2021, the state is home to 819 golf facilities comprising 963 courses — whether 9-hole, 18-hole or some other number. The proposed bill, if it makes its way through committee hearings and is passed by the Assembly and the Senate and signed into law by the governor, would put approximately 177 facilities (or 204 golf courses) at risk of getting converted for housing.
“We call it ‘The Public Golf Endangerment Act,’” said Azucena Maldonado, founder of Los Angeles-based, 2,500 member Latina Golfers Association (LGA), whose motto is “breaking the glass ceiling with a golf ball.” The LGA is one of more than a dozen golf organizations working to promote the game and lobbying on its behalf in the state legislature under the umbrella of an advocacy coalition called the California Alliance for Golf (CAG).
At the end of the day, it’s just another reason to join the like of Elon Musk and leave California in the rear view mirror.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
Calis problem is that it’s too good for its own good. Needless to say this is a scary proposition.
California’s homeless problem would not even take a dent even if every municipal course we’re turned into affordable homes. There are countless reasons other than the housing supply why so many people live under bridges and overpasses in that state. Killing municipal golf may help a few families but we all know it would really mostly help a few politicians and contractors pad their pockets even more. And at what cost for the community?
I’m not saying golf solves all of life’s problems but organizations like The Latinas Golfers Association—not to mention First Tee— truly are changing lives. If nothing else these orgs are providing a healthy green space for kids to do healthy things. And who knows maybe go on to earn a scholarship and a more successful life as a result —but it’s predicated on having these spaces so golf can do the incredible things it does for young people.
And it’s not just young people. Golf can do a lot for older people who just need something to do. And middle aged people who need an escape from the grind of the concrete jungle. It’s a place to be alone. A place to hang with buddies and family. A place to meet other good people. Municipal golf courses are community centers at their best.
I want to have faith things will work out. But it’s scary. LA alone truly has so many gem municipal golf courses. So much history. So much enjoyment for so many people. I really pray and hope the protectors of muni golf in the state can make everyone come to their senses once and for all on this one.
Tom Edrington
Well said Baxter, well said!