GOLF / THOMAS BONK : LPGA Seeking New Commissioner for New Era

For the first time in some time, things may be looking up for the LPGA. Prize money is up, television time is up, a new group of stars is emerging and it may be the start of a new era for the women’s game.

One of the first orders of business is to find a replacement for outgoing Commissioner Charlie Mechem, who is completing the fifth and final year of his term.

Mechem, who has earned high marks as a capable and popular leader, said he sees vast improvement in the overall mood and feel of the tour. That could be traced to the increase in prize money during his tenure, from $17.1 million to $24 million, and an increase in the number of LPGA licensees from 20 to 29.

Candidates to succeed Mechem include former Sprint executive Jack Frazee and Wilson golf marketing chief Jan Thompson.

Whoever it is will have plenty to do, Mechem acknowledged.

“We’re not oblivious to our problems,” he said.

One of them is a continuity-busting gap in scheduling. The LPGA began its 1995 schedule with two tournaments in Orlando, Fla., in mid-January, followed by a three-week break.

The tour resumed with an event in Hawaii, followed by another three-week break.

“We’ve got to get that fixed,” he said.

Mechem said the sponsors of the two Orlando tournaments simply requested the move to January and the LPGA understandably wanted to keep them happy.

Mechem said he doesn’t favor scheduling additional events to fill in the gaps.

“We don’t want to play as many events as the men do,” he added. “The top players play about 23-25 events, so if you add more tournaments, you’re just adding more tournaments they won’t play.”

Tammie Green, among others, agreed with Mechem.

“I’m only going to play 23 or 24 events,” she said. “That’s enough. I need some time off. If there were more tournaments, certain players would play more. Iron women, I guess. But I think everybody is pretty happy with the way things are going.”

Conventional thinking is that a sports entity such as the LPGA owes its constituents as many playing opportunities--i.e. money-making opportunities--as possible. Failure to do so could indicate a problem with the product itself or not enough stars to go around.

But the LPGA appears to be on the verge of breaking out new stars such as Kelly Robbins, Helen Alfredsson and Florence Descampe to join the slightly more experienced ones like Michelle McGann and Laura Davies.

Then there is the problem of the Senior PGA Tour, which has siphoned off not only sponsor dollars, but television and fans’ interest from the LPGA.

“It only makes sense that it’s made the growth of the women’s tour more difficult,” Mechem said.

A selection committee made up largely of players is looking for his replacement, but Mechem, a former television executive, sees the big picture.

“When I was asked to take this job, a lot of people told me it was hopeless, to forget it,” he said. “I’m glad I didn’t listen.”

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For what it’s worth, Golf Digest picks Ernie Els to win the Masters. Els, the U.S. Open champion from South Africa is listed as an 8-1 favorite to continue the trend. Seven of the last eight Masters have been won by foreigners.

Fred Couples is the second choice at 10-1. Nick Faldo and Nick Price are 12-1. Jack Nicklaus is 100-1 and Tiger Woods is 200-1.

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Fans at the Nabisco Dinah Shore tournament may have noticed the Dinah Shore Wall of Champions, unveiled last week behind the first tee at Mission Hills.

The names of the winners of the tournament are inscribed on the wall on either side of a bronze relief of Shore.

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Golf Notes

JoAnne Carner won the William and Mousie Powell Award, in honor of the late actor and his widow, as the player best exemplifying the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA. . . . The LPGA’s junior golf program for Los Angeles, designed to help the underprivileged, received a 13-passenger van Saturday from the Food 4 Less Foundation. Hollywood Park also donated $5,000 in credits toward range fees at Hollywood Park Golf Center. The PageNet Spinal Victory National challenge will be played April 24 at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast The event benefits the Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation. Details: (909) 984-7777. . . . The ninth Roger Barkley charity tournament will be played April 21 at Brookside Country Club in Pasadena. Details: (818) 790-5499.