Lexi Thompson

source; womenplayball.com



I generally do not cover much in my blog about the LPGA Tour but wanted to include this post about Lexi Thompson.  Coming off a weekend where Michelle Wie captured her first major championship victory many other bloggers are writing about her and deservedly so.  She deserved to win and played a great US Open championship.  However, Lexi Thompson is playing great and for such a young player she continues to stand out.  I first watched her play last fall in the Solheim Cup and was immediately impressed.  She plays a fearless, aggressive style of golf.  The style of golf most great champions play.  The style of golf that wins major championships not “The Screen Door Open” as Lee Trevino would say. 

At the Kraft Nabisco Championship this spring she sprang to the top of the leaderboard in impressive style.  That is when I first noticed “the look”.  When Raymond Floyd was in his prime he had “the stare”.  That is what I liken Lexi’s look to.  They say the window to the soul is through the eyes.  If that is the case then I think the LPGA tour better pay very close attention to this young lady.  Not only is she one of the longest players on tour, she is one of the most aggressive. She hits driver where others layup, she attacks pins instead of aiming for the middle of the green and she is out there to hole putts.  Now this style of play sometimes backfires on days when the player’s timing is slightly off.  People might say that she is just young and that her game will mature.  That she will learn how to manage the course and her game better.  That may be true and there is no doubt she will continue to progress as a professional.  What stands out to me though is the internal drive and desire to win.  She possesses a competitive spirit that cannot be taught by a swing guru or sports psychologist.  These are intangibles that make a player not just good but great.  That is what I see in her stare.  The fact that she has this look while under pressure during a major championship says a lot. 

I can think of a few other great champions who had an intense stare under pressure; Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods and Tom Watson.  I am not trying to compare her career to these great professionals.  What I am saying is that if you watch Lexi closely the next time she is on TV; keep an eye out for the stare.  I think that stare is an expression that’s says, here I come, I am playing to win and I will do whatever it takes to bring home this championship. 

It will be fun to watch Lexi mature as a champion and she if she can continue to translate this look into more wins.  I would be very surprised if it did not. Who knows she may be the next American player to hold the #1 in world ranking.



Sunnehanna Amateur

source; sunnehanna.com

The 61^st Sunnehanna Amateur Golf Championship will be held June 11^th-14^th at Sunnehanna country Club in Johnstown, PA.  This tournament hold a special place in my heart because it is held in my hometown and on a fabulous A.W.Tillinghast designed golf course.  I have played Sunnehanna Country Club many times in my life going back to my junior golf days and it is still one of my favorite golf courses in the country.  Not only is Sunnehanna a visually stunning property it is always in amazing condition.  So, if you have the chance to play this storied layout I highly recommend you take that opportunity. 

Over the years as I have traveled I have asked people if they ever heard of the Sunnehanna Amateur.  Most people say that they have not.  When I tell them it is one of the top amateur events in the country they are surprised that they have never heard of it.  It may be a well-kept secret but I would like to play a small part in changing that.  Here is a recent fact I found this week on Facebook regarding the Sunnehanna Amateur.  There are only two amateur golf tournaments that Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger woods and Phil Mickelson have played in: the Sunnehanna Amateur and the United States Amateur.  This pretty much proves my point that it is one of the most prestigious amateur golf events in the country.

I had the opportunity to watch Phil Mickelson play in the Sunnehanna Amateur when he was a junior at ASU.  I still remember him hitting his three wood off of the first tee and being amazed at how long he hit the ball.  I also remember him carrying doglegs and hitting shots that I just did not see.  You could tell even back then he was going to be an amazing player in the professional ranks.

Another neat part about attending the Sunnehanna Amateur is walking through the clubhouse.  There are pictures, trophies and memorabilia through the facility and it is really neat to see pictures of the great players who have played in the championship over the years. 

If you want to watch some of the future stars of the PGA tour, on a storied golf course, in a beautiful part of the country, you must attended this event at least once.  I promise you, that you will not be disappointed.  While in the area bring your golf clubs and play some of the great public course nearby.

Please visit their website for more information, www.sunnehanna.com

If you make it to Sunnehanna post your comments, we would love to hear what you think about the property and the championship. 

Winning Golf Clubs

 

 

I have been looking for new irons for a while now.  For me this process began about two years ago.  Like everyone else I wanted to see what all of the major club manufactures had to offer.  So, I studied the market in all the usual places; spring golf expo, golf stores, pro shops, online reviews, etc.  Since I prefer a blade or modified blade iron this limits my choices.  I have never been a fan of game improvement irons but certainly understand the need for them in the marketplace.  So, for me it came down to the Titleist AP2 Irons.  Last summer I had a chance to hit the irons at a local club and was even fit on the spot for the specifications based upon my swing.  So, my mind was made up, it was only a matter of time before I made the purchase.

So, I ended the year intent on entering the 2014 golf season with new irons.  Now, fast forward from last summer until the spring of this year.  I was attending an industry conference in Washington DC this past February.  Like most conferences they had an opening dinner and events program scheduled for the first evening.  As my colleagues and I entered the ballroom there was a set of Ping Irons setting on a pedestal and a raffle barrel right beside it.  All of them were eager to enter the drawing with a chance to win some new sticks.  Since I have never been a fan of Ping irons I had no interest in entering.  When asked why I was not entering I said first, because I never win raffles.  Second, since I did not like the irons even if I did win I would end up selling them.  However, after being told I was the only “true golfer” in the group I was talked into entering. 

Before the program began they moved the raffle barrel onstage and said they would soon pick a ticket from the barrel and announce the winner of the golf clubs.  As I was assured by a couple of my colleagues that they were going to win, I dismissed their comments with a laugh.  With my back to the stage the moderator spun the wheel and mixed up the tickets.  She eagerly reached into the wheel and grabbed the winning ticket.  She then proceeded to tell the five hundred people in attendance, “and the winner is.”  Yep, you guessed it, she called my name.  In shock I began to high five my colleagues and proceeded to the stage to claim my prize. 

My next thought was how am I going to get these clubs back home?  The moderator told me that would not be a problem that someone would call me and make the arrangements.  I said, great, and then I asked if I had to accept these exact clubs or if I had any choice in the brand or model?  Much to my surprise, she said I could have any clubs I wanted.  I would be given an allowance to buy what I wanted and would need to pay out of pocket for any expenditure beyond that amount.

The next time you have a chance to enter a raffle, you should, as you might just win.



Book Review- Caddy for Life

source; www.bruceedwardsfoundation.org



I recently finished reading the Book “Caddy for Life” authored by John Feinstein.  Most of us know John from his appearances on The Golf Channel and for providing commentary at PGA Tour Events.  John has a long history of following and writing about the PGA Tour and is a respected author of several other golf books and many years as a journalist.

The book was based upon the life and Professional Caddying career of Bruce Edwards.  For those of us that follow golf regularly Bruce Edwards was the long time caddy for Hall of Fame PGA Tour star Tom Watson.  For thirty years Bruce walked the fairways with Tom during some of his greatest triumphs in golf.  However, there is a not a story book ending about this player-caddy partnership.  That is because Bruce passed way in 2004 of (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Although Tom and Bruce did not close out their careers by walking off into the sunset together that does not matter.  What does matter is that they had a unique and special relationship on and off the course for over thirty years.

I can no way describe the type of person Bruce was with any accuracy or clarity as I never knew the man.  However, John Feinstein did a wonderful job in this work describing what an amazing human being Bruce was.  He described Bruce in countless ways throughout the book as a charismatic individual; liked and respected by his fellow caddies and players on tour.  He spoke of his unbridled enthusiasm throughout his life and career, even up to the very end.

The only thing I can critique about the book is the level of detail in it about Tom Watson’s golf career.  I realize that you must include Toms on the course play when you are writing a book about a PGA Tour caddy.  It seemed, at times like I was reading a chronicle about Tom Watson’s golf career “on the course.”  However, do not let this one critique prevent you from reading this amazing work.  You will be a better person by getting to know how special Bruce Edwards was as a person.  After reading this book you will come away with a better perspective on life.  As I did, you may ask yourself why I can’t be more like Bruce?  Why can’t I have his perspective and attitude?  Why can’t I treat everyone as he did?

I just played in a charity outing at Wethersfield Country Club in Hartford, CT.  This is where Bruce got his start as a young caddy when the Greater Hard Open was played there.  All day long I could not help but think about Bruce, his history on that course and where he developed the love for caddying.

As much as this book is about golf, it is also about life.  It is about personal friendship, professional respect, sacrifice and loss.  We all face challenges in life and some of us do a better job than others in dealing with them.  Bruce Edwards was an amazing role model in how to deal with adversity.  For this reason alone you should read this book.



TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course - Course review

    Source; www.tpc.com/scottsdale

 

Look who’s back, BurghGolfer is Back…..Nah Nah, Nah.  Ok, I am no Eminem but I felt it is appropriate since I have not posted a Blog on this site in a LONG time.  It is not that I have lacked things to say, I have just been busy. 

So, I wanted to start back by writing a few course reviews from our recent Annual Spring Golf Trip.  We went to Scottsdale again this year and played four great courses.  As we have done in the past we played TPC Scottsdale on the final day.  Once again, we had awesome spring weather, 70’s at tee off and low 80’s throughout the round. 

I have to say I love playing this golf course.  First, it is cool to play a great golf course that the pros play each year.  Second, the TPC is a very “playable” golf course for the average player.  What do I mean by that?  The course is right in front of you.  There are few blind tee shots, hidden fairway bunkers, etc.  Second, the forecaddies are great.  I love playing golf with a caddie, but if you cannot have a full caddie the Forecaddie is the next best thing. 

We have all seen the bleachers on TV of the 40,000 fans on the par 3 sixteenth.  So, the staff has told us on two different occasions that it takes three months to put the bleachers up on that hole and two months to take them down.  Can you imagine all that effort for the 5 days the players are there?

Another thing I like about the course is that it is a second shot golf course.  As I mentioned the course is right in front of you off the tee.  However,   you really need to know where to hit your second and approach shots into the green.  For example, on 18, I bombed a drive off the tee and only had 117 into the green.  I was in between clubs and the caddy reminded me to stay right of the pin to avoid the slope.  I did listen to him however; I hit my 52 degree wedge harder than normal and pull my second shot.  This led to a difficult first putt which I left 10 short of the hole.  Which I went on to miss and three putted.

In my normal course reviews I talk about the golf course, driving range, facilities, pro shop and service.  However, for this review all I can say is that it is world class.  It has everything you could want, need or desire in a public golf course.  The staff is exceptional, the pro shop is fully stocked and if you need to work on your game there is no better range.

Sadly, they are about to redesign the TPC course starting in April 2014.  Not that I am opposed to changes to the course but it will never be the same again.  So, they will be closed for 8 months while the renovation takes place.  I am sure the redesigned TPC will be just as fun and challenging as the original.

Hitting down the target line

I recently had the opportunity to play in our states Mid Amateur Championship.  I was excited to play with other guys my age, and on a great golf course under tournament conditions.  One of the main reasons why I play in these types of events is to test myself but to also discover the weaknesses in my game.  When playing a difficult golf course under pressure the weaknesses in your game will come through.  In this particular event my weakness was my iron play accuracy.  I was striking the ball cleanly enough; however, my accuracy was not what it needed to be.  So, after some reflection on a cause and I came up with a remedy. 

A friend of mine always used to say “a road to somewhere leads nowhere”.  He used that in context of business planning but I also see an application in golf.  In other words, when you setup to hit a shot without an exact target you are not likely to hit it.  So, I went to the range to apply this philosophy in my practice routine.  I decided to use the same routine that Jack Nicklaus has always taught about target alignment.  Jack always says to stand behind the ball while lining up the shot and then select your target.  From there, pick your end target as well as an intermediate target such as a spot of grass in front of your ball.  The idea being that it is easier to line up to a target a few inches in front of the ball rather than a hundred yards out.  So, I employed this method but took it one step further and here is where it made the difference for me.  I not only aligned to that intermediate target but I also hit through the ball on that line to the short range target.  The positive results for me were two things.  First, my ball was starting out on the exact target line I was aiming for and ultimately, ending up at the target.  Second, my clubface was much squarer at impact resulting in a more solid strike.  This leads to better distance control and shot trajectory.  My thinking was if this drill is good enough for the greatest player of all time, then it is good enough for me.  There is one final aspect to this method that I like.  In performing this technique you will find yourself driving down the target line and through the ball.  In other words, your focus becomes driving through the ball to the target rather than the “hit” at impact.  Most of us are so focused on hitting at the ball not hitting through the ball.  Your focus becomes more target driven than impact driven.

I am not a PGA Professional nor do I claim to be.  However, when I do find a drill or tip that works both on the course and practice range I like to share it.  So, the next time you go to the range give this tip a try, you may also find that it leads to better impact and more accurate golf shots.

Let us know if this works for you, I would like to hear your feedback.

Practice vs. Preparation

            As we enter the summer golf season it is time to sharpen our games for competitive golf events.  This includes all aspects of our game both physical and mental.  I do not play that many events each year due to my work schedule however, I try and play a handful that I enjoy competing in.  I know that I am not one of those guys who has endless access to practice facilities, lessons and competitive games to prepare.  My schedule mainly consists of a few Mid Am events that I can qualify for, the Club Championship, a Match Play event and a few invitational’s.  I would love to play more competitive golf but the bottom line is that I do not have the time to spend on my game in order to prepare. Actually, I prefer to play competitive golf over social golf any day of the week but that is not an option.

I decided to write this blog because I wanted to put my thoughts down on paper describing the differences between practice and preparation as I see it.  I see practice as more of a repetitive, physical action that comes from the time spent on the practice tee.   Whereas, I see preparation as more of a mental exercise.  I truly believe to play great golf in competition you need both elements and need to prepare for both accordingly. 

Now, it is no secret that you need the physical and mental aspects of the game.  What I am suggesting however is that you need to focus on both and think about both distinctively.

For practice, there is no substitute for going the range and hitting golf balls to hone your swing.  Likewise, there is nothing better you can do to improve your scores than to spend time on the practice green chipping and putting.

The difference for me in preparation is how do you think about your practice and how do you situationally prepare?  Most of us go to the driving range or practice green and just hit balls, chips and putts repetitively.  There is very little thought on what the target is, where the ball should land or how the putt will break.  When I prepare for an event I hit each practice shot to a specific target, each chip to an intended spot and each putt on a particular line.

Another preparation tip I employ is to put myself in a frame of mind during practice to hit that specific shot, chip or putt as if it was under intense pressure during tournament conditions.  I know that is difficult to reproduce those feelings of pressure that you get when playing in competition.   However, we must make every attempt that we can to try. 

So, the next time you prepare for an event do not just stand there and beat balls.  Do not stand there and just hit chips.  Do not stand there and putt to the nearest hole.  Instead, hit a golf shot that you will face during the round.  Hit pitch shots or chips that will matter in saving a stroke or a hole.  Finally, do not just lag the putt rather, try and make it while at the same time leaving yourself a short comeback putt.

How do you prepare for golf tournaments?



Golf and Life Lessons

source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

For those of us who have been playing golf for a long time, we know that there are parallels between golf and life.  Golf is not simply a sport or hobby as some like to call it; the game is much more than that.  At least that is how I feel about it as I have experienced many events that cross over, like dealing with adversity.  Over the past few years our family has had to deal with numerous health issues and deaths of loved ones.  That adversity makes a person stronger, teaches you lessons about how to deal with certain situations and provides you with an appreciation of day-to-day life.

Likewise, dealing with adversity on the golf course is much the same way.  Golf adversity is not as important as life; however, the process you go through is similar in both cases.  Everyone copes with adversity differently.  Some people run away and hide.  Others rely on someone else to take care of things for them.  Then there are those folks who rise to the occasion and face the challenge head on.

I would like to think I am the latter.  However, I am probably a mixture of all three depending on the situation.  On the golf course I tend to face the situation head on as I am a competitive person.  If I am down in a match or if I am struggling with my game, I am not one to give up.  If I get a bad break I may complain about it but then usually refocus and do my best to get through it.  I think match play events have taught me the most about dealing with adversity.  I have played in many match play events in my life dating back to high school.  In match play you have many ups and downs in the course of a round and you need to learn how to deal with those situations on the fly.  There is no one there to bail you out.  There is no one there to pass the ball to or substitute.  In golf, you cannot even call a timeout so you learn to deal with the situation at hand the best you can and learn from the outcomes.

Life also deals us adversity and fortunately we generally have more time to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.  We can get counsel from friends and family members.  We can reflect and consider our options.  However, in the end we still need to be strong, make sound decisions and accept the outcomes.  Just like golf, life does not always deal us a fair hand and sometimes we have to accept the outcome.  However, just as in golf, we can learn from the experience and apply it to our life the next time we are in a similar situation.

How do you handle adversity in life or in golf?

Troon North Course Review

www.tripadvisor.com



           This is the second in a series of three course reviews from our recent Arizona golf trip.  On day two we played the world-renowned Troon North Golf Club.  Troon North features two world class golf courses; the Monument and Pinnacle.  We played the Monument Course on this outing.  The Monument Course plays to a yardage of 7,070, has a course rating of 72.9 and a slope of 147 from the Black Tees.  We chose to play the Gold Tees.  The Gold stats are: yardage - 6,716; course rating - 71.6; and slope of 137.  It was still quite a challenge from these tee boxes.

Troon North, like most great desert courses, is first class all the way.  This facility has every amenity a golfer could want.  They have a wonderful driving range and putting green that players can use to knock the rust off.  They also have a fully stocked golf shop with anything you might need in case you under packed.  If your foursome is looking for a facility that offers a great place to practice, as well as a great golf experience, you cannot go wrong with Troon North.

One of the features that impressed me the most about Troon North was that it is a true championship golf course.  This course will challenge you in every aspect of the game.  Although the greens were a little on the slow side the day we played, you can tell they can make them quite challenging for a tournament setting.  The only element of the course that I did not prefer was the surrounding residential subdivisions which took away from the natural views.  However,  I realize that in modern golf course planning, expensive homes dotting the fairways is a given.  Even with that I still loved the layout.

One element that you need to be wary of on this course is that there are a lot of forced carries off of the tee boxes.  So, if you struggle off the tee or are a short hitter be sure and take plenty of golf balls.  There are rattlesnake warning signs positioned around the course, so you might not want to go searching for your lost ball in every instance.

The Monument course has a great variety of holes.  There are challenging par 3s, reachable par 5s and long par 4s.  My favorite par five on the course was the eleventh which played to 504 yards.  This may sound like a short par five but it is straight uphill the entire way and has a pretty daunting tee shot.  The tee shot is framed by large boulders and has a fairly lengthy carry to get to the fairway.  I also really enjoyed the par three 13^th which played to 206 yards. This hole is bordered by a lake on the right and plays at least one club downhill.  It offers a large green and a generous approach area where you can run the ball in from the front.  The miss is short or left where you also have a number of chipping options.

All in all there are many great holes on this course and it is a must play if you get to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. 

Send us a comment if you have ever played Troon North; we would love to hear your feedback.

Positive Thinking on the Golf Course

www.cartoonstock.com



I played golf over the weekend with a good friend of mine and we had the opportunity to discuss golf strategy.  I told him that I am a huge believer in the power of positive thinking.  I am no Tony Robbins but I firmly believe in the power of positive thought in all aspects of life.  I do not know where this stems from or whether it is a learned behavior or a personality trait.  You will need to read a psychology blog to get an answer to that one! Regardless, I have experienced it enough in my life and noticed it enough in other people to trust in the power of positive thinking, but on and off the course. 

Anyhow, here is how the topic came about.  We were playing a match and upon entering the eighth hole the score was tied.  We were on the par five 8^th hole when my buddy hit his third shot to two feet and made the putt for a birdie four.    I missed the green with my third shot and was pin high about twenty feet from the green.  I told my buddy that I need to make the chip to tie him.  It was not a particularly difficult chip shot and one that a player could make if you get the ball tracking online.  So, I approached the shot, hit it perfectly, and holed it! 

The discussion about positive thinking began on the 11^th hole, which is another par five.  As I hit my third shot the turf gave way and my ball came up about ten feet short of the green.  I then chipped the fourth about twenty feet past the flag leaving myself a tough downhill putt -- not very good.  At this point I felt like the eleventh hole owed me one.  I said as much to my buddy as I approached my par putt.  I do not know why I think that way, I just do.  I always feel like if the course delivers a bad break, it owes me.  Needless to say I stood up and knocked in the par putt to win the hole.

I explained to my buddy my theory on the power of positive thinking and how I use it on the golf course.  If you play golf long enough you almost have to think this way.  This is especially true if you play any competitive golf events.  You always have to believe that you can still win the hole, the match or the tournament no matter how dire the circumstances.  Tiger Woods is the master at this.  He always thinks he has a chance to win and usually does. 

I personally believe that players either think positively or negatively on the golf course and there is no in between.  If you ask most players if they are thinking positive or negative thoughts during the course of the round they would probably say the latter.

The next time you are faced with a difficult situation on the golf course, think positive.  Imagine yourself remedying the situation, improving your score, making a better swing, etc.  Do not let negative thinking creep into your game.  If you think positively, I promise you will play better, score better and enjoy the game much more than you ever have before.

Please share with us stories you have about positive thinking on the golf course.

WE-KO-PA Course Review

source: www.findthebest.com



           I recently had the opportunity to play WE-KO-PA Golf Course in Arizona.  WE-KO-PA is located about twenty five minutes northeast of Scottsdale.  WE-KO-PA offers two courses to play; the Saguaro and Cholla.  Both courses are named after a variety of Cactus that is native to the area and that can be found throughout the course.  Just a little trivia I learned during my round.

We played the Cholla course and teed off in the early afternoon.  The course is situated beautifully amongst the natural desert landscape and offers tremendous desert and mountain views.  Several tee boxes set atop mounds and knolls with breathtaking views of the natural landscape.  In my experience, most desert courses are relatively flat and are surrounded by residential subdivisions.  Although you do see homes from the course, the fairways are not lined with them.  As far as natural beauty goes, this course is hard to beat.

Upon our arrival we were greeted at the bag drop by very courteous staff members willing to help us out.  They loaded our bags and directed us to the pro shop.  Like most courses in this area during the season, the pro shop is fully stocked and has a great variety of apparel options.  After check in we headed to the driving range to warm up.  The range was natural grass and offered plenty of flag distances to hit to.  The balls are included in the greens fee so you do not have to purchase them in the pro shop.

The Cholla Course offers five sets of tee boxes making it playable for all level of players.  We started off playing the combination tees which were a mixture of white and purple tees.  However, after the second hole we decided to play the purple tees the remainder of the round.  The purple tees are just in front of the championship tees and behind the men’s tees (white).  I found this course very playable and not to brutal off the tee.  There is plenty of trouble off the tee on certain holes but it is not overly demanding.  In fact, one of the things I liked most about this course is that it was very playable.  We found that we could relax, enjoy the views and just play.  I was able to hit a combination of three woods and drivers on the par four holes which are always fun.  All in all, it was a great day, the golf course lived up to its reputation and I will certainly go back.  The next time we play, I will try the Saguaro course to mix it up.

If you get to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and loved to play desert golf this is a must try. Before I close, I have to give props to the staff at WE-KO-PA.  Throughout the day every staff member we came into contact with was professional, courteous and helpful.   

We also played Troon North and the TPC Stadium Course on this trip which will be upcoming course reviews. 

If you have played WE-KO-PA leave us your comments.

Golf Production and Nascar

Bubba Watson (left) and General Lee. / Via @bubbawatson

Like millions of other people around the world, I recently watched the annual running of the Daytona 500. I usually only watch two races per year; the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. So, last weekend I spilt my TV-watching time between the WGC World Match Play Championship and the Daytona 500.

As I switched back and forth between the events, it occurred to me the glaring differences in television production between Professional Golf and NASCAR. I am not an expert in the field of televised sporting events so am speaking from the perspective of a viewer. The comparison between the two events left me wondering why golf production on TV has not changed that much over the past few decades. Yes, there have been a few innovations over the years to improve the viewing experience. Most notably are the Minolta Biz Hub Camera, Pro Tracer Technology and Super Slo Mo. That technology is great; however, it really does not add to the viewing experience of the shots being played as they occur. One element that the camera does not seem to capture is the contours of the golf course. I would like to see more ground level views of the shots being played. For example, why can viewers not see the shots approaching into a severely sloping green to see the ball’s reaction? Instead, we keep hearing the talking head commentators say “wow, that ball really shot off of that slope.”

If NASCAR can plant a camera in the middle of a race track I am sure the golf production companies could place a few cameras green level. This would greatly enhance the type of viewing windows we could see on TV, as well as the reaction of the ball. For years now CBS announcers have been stating how the cameras do not capture the contours of the greens at Augusta National for the Masters Tournament. Having been to the Masters, I agree. The course has a lot of hills and the greens are very contoured. Each year CBS replays the shot when Tiger Woods holed his chip shot from behind the 16^th green. The camera angle was really cool because we could see the difficulty of the shot by the slope of the green. This is the type of thing we need more of and I would expect the major events to lead this innovation.

Back to the Daytona 500. Fox had a camera in some of the cars that stayed level as the cars banked into the turns. With this camera shot the viewer could see the angles of the turns of the racetrack and just how much slope there is in the corners. I thought that was a really creative way to illustrate to the viewer how steep those corners are. These are the types of visuals I wish we could see more of in golf. Ground level action, not shots from the blimp or some camera mounted 100 feet above the ground. Also, if NASCAR drivers can speak to announcers from their car during a race then why can’t golfers do the same from the fairway?

If the networks want to attract new viewers and keep the ones they already have, then they need to become more creative. Younger audiences and future generations of golf enthusiasts are much more technically savvy and have higher expectations when it comes to technology. I believe the days of showing static footage from high above the course will only have limited appeal to future viewers.

What would you like to see from television production companies to improve the viewing experience of golf tournaments?

Blue Tip Golf Course, Grand Cayman -Review

Before I get to the course review I have to sing the praise of the property.  We recently had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman for vacation.  Before we arrived for our stay we had heard wonderful things about the resort, beach, property and service.  I am happy to report that not only was the property absolutely beautiful but the service was unmatched. 

On the property there is a nine hole Greg Norman designed Golf Course called Blue Tip.  I walked over to the course the day before I was to play to check out the pro shop and get acquainted with the layout.  As I always do on vacation I like to visit the pro shop to see what they have available and what the inventory is like.  For a resort course pro shop I was impressed with the inventory selection as well as the quality of the merchandise.  You can buy pretty much anything you need for a round of golf, with a variety of styles, colors and brands.  If you forget to pack your golf clothes do not worry they can fully outfit you for the round.

One disappointing aspect of the course was that they do not have a driving range.  That is not really a surprise since the island is not very big and space is at a premium.  However, you can warm up by hitting balls into a net next to the pro shop before you drive out to the first tee.  Near the first tee they do have a nice putting and chipping area where you can get a feel for the speed of the greens as well as, the grain.  Like most island courses I have played the grass on the greens is Bermuda which can stand up to the intense heat.  I recommend hitting a few chips and putts to become familiar with the direction of the grain before heading to the course.  Understanding the grain direction will make putting the greens much easier.  Since I did not bring my clubs I rented a set of Taylor Made woods and irons.  They have clubs for men/ women, right/ left handed and even stiff/ regular shafts.

The first thing I noticed was that Blue Tip was not your regular, lay down resort course.  This Norman design will get your attention from the first tee and challenge you throughout the nine.  The first three holes are quite challenging with plenty of water lining the fairways and greens.  There are no real bailout areas on any of these holes.  If you miss the fairway one direction you end up in the water.  If you miss on the otherside you will be in the shrubs or OB.  Most resort courses provide the player with inwardly sloping fairways to keep the ball in play.  Not here, if you miss the fairway on the wrong side the rough actually slopes away from the fairway and into trouble.  There are a number of very good holes on this course and the ninth hole is an island green that plays dead into the prevailing wind.  See photo above.

Although Blue Tip is only nine holes is has the feel of an eighteen hole layout.  With a variety of tee boxes you can play one set on the front nine and a different set on the back.  Also, please bring plenty of golf balls as you will need them.  With water on eight of the nine holes it does not take long to lose them.

If you have the chance to play Blue Tip I highly recommend it as you will not be disappointed and will definitely be challenged. 

Goofy Golf Gifts and Holiday Tradition

The holiday season is upon us and it is the time of year for holiday cheer, spending time with family and exchanging presents. 

It is also time for annual renewal of the goofy golf gift season.  That’s right, and every golfer out there has experienced this.  We have all been on the receiving end of some weird, obscure, off the wall golf gifts.  You know the drill, when well-intentioned friends and family feel the need to buy us golfers the one thing we must have.  The thing most golfers truly need is a five pack of lessons from their local golf professional.  Instead, we end up with Santa underwear, reindeer golf shoes, or exploding golf balls.

For those of us who have been playing golf for a long time, we usually experience this at least once a year.  Of course, when we open these gifts we act surprised, cheerful and excited.  But, in the back of our minds we are thinking “really, did someone actually pay for this?!?”

The goofy golf gifts I usually receive come in the form of decorations for the house, like statues of Santa golfing, signs that say “Oh Christmas Tee,” and miniature gilded golf shoes to hang on the tree.  I think to myself, “where am I going to put this?”  It usually ends up in my home office, which my wife has designated as the goofy golf gift zone. 

To think that there is actually a cottage industry for producing, marketing and selling this stuff.  I truly missed my calling in life.  To think that all this time I could have been selling golfing Santa ties or reindeer tees.  I even could have produced an infomercial to move the product to desperate, last minute shoppers.  We could have hired David Feherty as the spokesperson.  I can picture it now, Feherty on the Home Shopping Network hocking product to late night shoppers who can’t sleep and need to buy that one last gift.

Another holiday tradition I love is the holiday neighborhood golf clinic.  We have all seen our neighbors in their backyards swinging that new club or trying out the new swing aid that is going to fix all of those swing flaws (Ho, Ho, Ho).  They cannot wait to get out and try out the latest rescue club, sand wedge or putter that will change their game next season.  They have visions not of sugar plums dancing in their heads, but rather of long drives, birdies and eagles.  Of course, there are those true golfers who are never spotted outside swinging clubs in their winter coats because they have a hitting net in their basement or garage. 

Whatever you receive this holiday season, I hope you enjoy it.  After all, it is the thought that counts, right?  Or, for some members of my family, all that counts is the gift receipt.  I am sure you know what I am talking about, those sweet words of.  “It’s okay if you don’t like it, I saved the receipt.”

Have you ever received a goofy golf gift?  If so, Please share your goofy golf gift stories.

Birdie Balls -product review

                                                                birdieball.com

I received an interesting gift under the Christmas Tree last year from my wife.  It was a golf practice system called Birdie Balls.  Normally I am not a big fan of golf practice aids as I prefer the real practice range.  However, this one intrigued me as it came in a small box.  The Birdie Ball practice system consists of two components.  The first component is the Birdie Balls themselves.  The balls are cylindrical in shape and slightly larger than a traditional golf ball.  The cylinder has a hollow core and a relatively thin shell.  The second component of the practice system is a plastic mat you can hit the balls from.  Or, you can just hit them off the grass the same way you would a regular golf ball.

The key to the system is that the balls are supposed to fly through the air the same way a regular golf ball does.  This is unique because if you have ever hit a plastic golf ball you realize that is not the case typically.  So, if you strike the Birdie Ball in a manner that causes the ball to slice, then the ball will slice.  Likewise, if you hit the Birdie Ball with a hooking motion the ball will hook.  Unlike, most plastic practice balls the Birdie Balls simulate actual ball flight.  The other neat things about the Birdie Balls are that they do not fly very far.  For example, I usually hit my nine iron about 140 yards from a good lie on the course.  With the Birdie Balls I can take a full swing and only hit the ball about fifty yards.  The same holds true for my mid irons.  I usually hit my six iron about 175 yards on course, whereas, with the Birdie Balls I can only hit it about 70 yards.

One more important aspect to the Birdie Balls flight is the trajectory.  Ball trajectory is very important in golf.  One of the main reasons for going to the driving range to hit real golf balls is to watch the ball take off.  Another added benefit is that the Birdie Balls also simulate my regular ball trajectory.  It is not perfect but it is close enough and far superior to other plastic practice balls.  For example, when I hit my six or nine irons I am used to seeing the ball take off on a certain path.  I do not lose this feedback when using Birdie Balls.

So, if you are looking for a training aid or a golf gift I highly recommend the Birdie Ball system.  It allows the player to take full swings, see the ball trajectory and receive immediate feedback on shot shape.  Whether the player is trying to correct a hook or a slice the Birdie Balls will provide that input.  Plus, you do not have to walk very far to retrieve them.  Lastly, if you are fairly consistent with your ball striking then the balls will land in a fairly tight pattern.  This makes retrieval very simple and quick.

If you have ever used Birdie Balls, leave us a comment on your feedback.



British Open Week

                                                                       source; golf.com

The 2012 British Open Championship is upon us.  It is British Open week for the golf lovers out there.  In a press conference the other day Tiger Woods called the British Open Championship his favorite major.  As a golf fan I have to agree because it is such a unique event.  In the United States we do not get a chance to see very much “Links” golf played on TV.  Even when we do it is not true links golf.  Here are a few of the things I love about watching the “Open Championship” as the rest of the world calls it.

·         Peter Allis- The sound of Peters voice just says it British Open week.  The terms he uses, the stories he tells, the pictures he paints with words are priceless

·         The bump and run- who does not love seeing a player putt the ball from forty yards off the green

·         Flagsticks bent over from gale force winds- they do not stop play because it is a little breezy-play on they say

·         Heather, Gorse and all kinds of grasses- in the US we might call it hay or feed but in the British Isles they call it rough

·         Berns- those little streams that cross the fairways in strategic spots- not much bigger than a ditch but very penal and cool to look at as a spectator- Of course, Jean Van de Velde may not agree as a player

·         Manual scoreboards- I love to see the old, yellow, manual scoreboards- no fancy LED screens for the Open Championship- good old manual scoreboards with some guy behind it flipping names and numbers

·         Players struggling- It is fun to watch the best players in the world struggle from time to time- nothing like watching a top athlete staring at the ground, with his hands on hips trying to figure out what just went wrong

·         Seeing players from around the globe- it is fun to watch players from around the globe we have never heard of in the US.  Remember 1998 when seventeen year old amateur Justin Rose burst onto the scene and almost won the Open?

·         Architecture- it is nice to see the shots and scenes captured on TV of the old towns, buildings and houses of the British Isles.  There is something comforting about seeing a five hundred year old building

·         Tom Watson- he is synonymous with the Open Championship having won it five times.  You have to love watching old Tom standing in the fairway arms crossed, rain coming down and him visualizing a shot.  Then more times than not executing the shot.

What do you enjoy about the British Open?  Leave us a comment and let us know.

Course reviews; Plantation Preserve, Emerald Hills and Jacaranda

source; plantation.org

We have returned from another successful, spring golf trip to Florida.  This year we chose to go to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area.  I was chosen to organize the trip this year.  This included the nervous task of selecting the golf courses.  As golfers we really do not care about the hotel or food choices, it really is about the golf.  However, picking good courses to play is essential to a successful trip.  Since I did not receive any course recommendations prior to the trip, I began the online quest.  After much reading and research I selected Emerald Hills, Plantation Preserve and Jacaranda Golf Club –East Course.  None of these courses were actually in Ft Lauderdale, two were in Plantation, FL. and one was in Hollywood, Florida.  One point to make when playing in Florida is the wind, water and sand.  Pretty much every course has a lot of each so take plenty of balls. 

Plantation Preserve

The Plantation Preserve Golf Club was the final course we played and was the best maintained.  The fairways, greens and tees we plush and were “country club” like.  You got the feeling you were playing a private gold club not a public course.  They also had a great pro shop with a nice variety of merchandise and an excellent lounge.  I also wanted to point out the quality of the service as it was great.  From the time we pulled in until the time we left the property the staff was very attentive.  I highly recommend this facility for a day of golf.

Emerald Hills

Emerald Hills was without a doubt the most challenging course we played. Of course, a thirty mile per hour wind all day did not help.  The pro shop worker warned us that we would face several holes where we could putt the ball off the green due to severe slopes in the greens.  This was true and if the greens had been faster that would have happened.  There are also a number of forced carries over water and into the greens.  I would love to play this course again under more favorable conditions but do recommend you play the course if given the chance.  Another note is that the course hosts pro qualifiers for tournaments such as the WGC event played at Doral.  I can see why as they could make this course quite difficult if they chose to.  The only knock on this course was a poorly stocked pro shop.  If you’re looking for a souvenir shirt or hat from Emerald Hills you may be disappointed by the selection.

Jacaranda Golf Club- East Course

Jacaranda was the easiest golf course we played and reminded me of a municipal golf course.  The fairways are very wide and the approach shots to the greens are quite generous. Like a lot Florida courses it is very flat with little elevation change.  I think it is a great course to play if you are a beginner or intermediate player. You will not be overwhelmed with forced carries or long, tight par fours.  With a variety of tee placements it is a very playable course.   It is the type of course where you do not feel rushed and can have a relaxing round.