The Commish that Saved the LPGA
Twenty years ago, the LPGA looked a lot like it does today. Sponsors and tournaments were dropping off like flies. The Commissioner was being removed from duty. Players were unhappy. Then the organization made a winning move by replacing Bill Blue with Charles Mechem. He developed a good relationship with the players and the media, conciliated the sponsors, grew the tour with more events and ultimately got the LPGA back on track and thriving. We need a Charlie Mechem for 2009. Charlie’s still involved in the golf world to a fashion, though I doubt he could be lured back to his old post at this point.
I recently spent a day with Charlie - talking, eating, and of course, playing golf. He is a charming, amiable man with a gracious spirit. When my golf ball rolled off the fairway and wedged into a dicey lie in the plants, he casually kicked it out and humorously issued a “commissioner’s ruling.” I wouldn’t accept that with anyone else, but who am I to argue with the commish? I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t like this man.
I told the story of how he became commissioner and saved the LPGA in this article for Jackson Hole Golfer Magazine, an annual publication issued in a beautiful hard cover book as well as a glossy magazine.
With Carolyn Bivens on her way out, the LPGA needs to find someone who can pull off what Charlie did, and I suspect it won’t be easy. (Hey Charlie, how about filling in while they conduct their search?)
In his article on what went wrong with Bivens, Alan Shipnuck offers up Judy Rankin as a suggested replacement with the logic that she’s “basically a female Mechem.” Sounds good to me.
Photo from Golf.com (David Cannon/Getty Images). Perhaps If Ms. Bivens appeased all the sponsors like she must have with this homage to Ronald McDonald, she’d be in less trouble today.
July 13th, 2009 at
Managing a tour can often be quite a hard task. I also have a feeling that someone’s tenure as the commissioner of the tour better reflects the times in which they hold the post more than their individual ability to find sponsors for the tour. But having said that I do agree that a commish needs to be at the same plan with the players and the media. Both are important in their own way. The media is of course a great tool to help spread the reach of the game and therefore to ensure that for them everything is transparent and they are aware of what’s going on is a huge help. Taking the extra few steps to ensure that they get what they want is not a bad idea either.
The players at the same time are again equally important because they are a mercurial lot. Murmurs of discontent must always be quelled with a proper channel of discussion instead of a heavy hand. And most importantly, the one thing that Carolyn Bivens was trying to force down on the players needs to be implemented by the person holding the top post. You need someone who can engage the sponsors and build a great rapport with them to be able to take them into confidence and get them to be partners on the tour. I wonder if the LPGA can find an ideal person for the job.
July 22nd, 2009 at
Hey Golf fans!
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Thanks!
July 29th, 2009 at
I’ve been following this closely for a while- saddened by the lack of publicity with the LPGA tour just when women are really picking up the game in huge numbers.
Looking forward to Bivens replacement, can’t do worse (I hope).
August 1st, 2009 at
I like Your Blog
i allready added your link to my site:
http://golf.pasje.net/linki-do-ciekawych-stron
it would be great if You make link exchange with me
Description: Golf Blog from Poland
“Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Golf But Were Afraid to Ask”
best regards from Poland
Tomasz Zembrowski
August 4th, 2009 at
Why don’t you take a stab at the position? If you run the LPGA as well as you do your blog they should have sponsors lining up.
Frankie C
http://overthetopgolf.com
http://iwantcharlesbarkley.blogspot.com
August 29th, 2009 at
Hey Golf Chick,
Very true about the LPGA needing a competent leader. If Rankin has the drive, she’d be a shoe-in, but that position will now probably be so scrutinized I don’t anyone who will want to hold that job.
Great blog!
-Mike Cook, Sea Island
http://www.mikecookgolf.com
September 1st, 2009 at
Really enjoy your wonderful blog.
September 18th, 2009 at
It is very hard to manage a tour like LPGA. The work includes sponsors, players, media and a lot! And in order to meet the expectations of many they should have a very competent leader!
September 29th, 2009 at
I agree with Over the Top Golf… you should go for it!!
October 28th, 2009 at
thankx for the article golfchick!
January 18th, 2010 at
I really agree with you golf girl.