President Clinton will undergo surgery for a torn
tendon resulting from a fall as he left Greg Norman's home
last evening. The surgery will put him in a leg brace and
on crutches for 2-6 weeks. Clinton missed a step as he left
Norman's home and tore his quadriceps tendon, which connects
the upper thigh to the kneecap (AP, 3/14). Clinton was to
partner with Norman in a tournament at Norman's course in
Hobe Sound, FL. USA TODAY featured Clinton's love of golf
in a front-page cover story. Clinton said he had been
practicing with Cobra equipment, which is endorsed by
Norman: "If I'm going to be playing in his tournament I
should be playing his golf clubs" (USA TODAY, 3/14).
THE OTHER AUSSIE: PGA Tour golfer Frank Nobilo has
signed a deal with Maxfli Golf to use Maxfli balls, gloves
and headwear (Maxfli Golf)....Reebok has signed PGA Tour
player Mark Calcavecchia to an endorsement deal (Reebok).
BOOM OR BUST? The "boom in golf courses" is examined by
Terzah Ewing of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Ewing: "For much
of this decade, the number of golfers has been flat, while
the number of courses keeps growing, up 12% over the past
five years. That has some analysts worried that developers
could be headed for a financial sand trap." But Wall Street
analysts "see opportunity" for the nation's two golf real-
estate investment trusts -- National Golf Properties and
Golf Trust of America -- and the few other companies "that
are snapping up available courses nationwide. By carefully
choosing courses in market niches and less-crowded
neighborhoods, these companies could benefit when individual
course owners struggle" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/14).
