The Long & the Short of the Golf Skirt & Skort

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At many country clubs the rules on skirt length are quite clear. As in:

"Skirts must be no greater than 4 inches above the middle of the kneecap"

or how about:

"Skirts/skorts must measure at least fourteen (14) inches from the waistband to the bottom of the skort and to within a scorecard width measure or four (4) inches of the top of the knee".

OK...gulp. While not all dress code directives are so draconian, most make it clear that ultra-short skirts are not acceptable.

Some use interpretive language like "must not be shorter than mid-thigh" or "must be of appropriate length", but the fact is, at many country clubs the outfits worn by some of today's most prominent LPGA professionals clearly would not meet written dress code standards. At least not if a tape measure (or a scorecard) were taken to them.

Of course, that won't happen. These girls are star athletes, when they play in tournaments at conservative country clubs the dress code police obviously turn a blind eye to an extra few inches of exposed thigh.

But what about the rest of the female population... those of us with higher handicaps and less-than-stellar swings? What would happen to us if we showed up at Silver Creek with a skirt like the one Michelle Wie wore last weekend (pictured above)... or like those Natalie Gulbis typically wears (pictured below)? Would we be shown the door... or just given a verbal warning? Or... does it depend?

These days, I think it's safe to say that most public courses... even high-end public courses that post a dress code... are in fact, very lenient about skirt length. Same goes for resort courses. While they may forbid denim and collarless shirts, if a skirt or skort is long enough to be recognized as such... that is, if it doesn't look like an extended belt... it'll probably pass inspection.

I tend wear my skirts/skorts pretty damn quite short. I just prefer that look, and I've never any problem with dress code issues. However, I'm in a rather liberal part of the country and I don't often play at country clubs, so perhaps my experiences don't accurately reflect the dress code dangers lurking out there. But if you look at the latest styles from awesome golf apparel companies like Golftini, JoFit and Pahr it definitely seems super short is selling somewhere.

A couple of days ago Michelle Wie had an unfortunate aquatic incident at the Kia Classic that resulted in a much-reported, two point penalty. Some surmised her little white skirt might have been at least partially to blame. They suggested that the added pressure of knowing she'd have to keep that tiny swath of fabric in place if she lost her balance... might have in fact distracted her. Some commenters lamented that today's players sacrifice functionality for fashion, and other commenters chimed in... and there seemed to be a bit of a backlash building against short golf styles. Which is what got me thinking about golf skirts and skorts... what's appropriate and what's not. The long and the short of it.

What do you think? Are today's styles simply too short for the game? Have you ever heard of someone being sent home for a skirt length violation? Or is it just not that big a deal?Golf Pundit Patricia Hannigan, for a female perspective on the Tiger Woods scandal.
Photos: Top-Stephen Dunn/Getty Images North America, Center-GolfGirlMedia, Bottom-GolfGirlMedia

Sergio Garcia's New Haircut Gets Mixed Reviews

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Who'd've guessed Sergio Garcia would create such an endearing social media presence?

A relatively late adopter, he's only been part of the social media landscape since the beginning of the year. Sergio Garcia shares the kind of intimate details fans love to hear... but don't often get from athletes or actors. ~ He posts lots of photos too... snapshots actually, the kind we all take these days.

His fan page reveals a lifestyle that... not surprisingly... revolves around golf, but which also includes lots of normal stuff. He hangs out with friends, cooks, works out, goes to restaurants. And he babysits. In fact it's pretty obvious Sergio loves kids. (ladies with dreams of a white picket fence, take note)

A couple of days ago Señor Garcia got a haircut and promptly posted the results of Facebook and Twitter. It's a distinctive look ... kind of Jersey Shore meets PeeWee Herman, and not everyone likes it. But many do, myself included {shocking!}. There are over 85 comments so far, ranging from the admiring; "Anything looks good on you!","Me Gusta" and "Yum!" to the rather less definitive; "Hmmm, not so sure I love it."

The thing is, whether Sergio's social media presence is being handled entirely by Sergio himself, or by a PR team, it's being done effectively.

For now the Masters is upon us and some of us remember Sergio's... um... issues there last year. Let's hope he can avoid such things next week. In any case I'm guessing we might get more of an inside look this year, thanks to the new-found social media savvy of a certain Spanish golfer.

BTW, I've got him winning, as I always do. ...and I'm not the only one.

Stylish Seo Wins at The Kia Classic by J Golf

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Hee Kyung Seo is trying to decide:

Should she grab the chance to join the LPGA full time in 2010, or just keep focused on the KLPGA?

After winning The Kia Classic yesterday with a 12-under 276, that decision has become somewhat more pressing. She even suggested there was a house on the course at La Costa she had her eye on. She played on a sponsor's exemption there and won quite handily.

And {predictable superficiality alert!} she wore four amazing outfits doing it.

Other news from the Kia Classic... There was an incident with Michelle Wie. That sounds so 2007-2008, doesn't it? Remember when every summer weekend brought such headlines?

Anyway this mini-drama involved rules officials and a water hazard in the final round... and it certainly brought the hibernating Wie-haters out of the woodwork.

As a recreational golfer who hasn't yet played in many competitive situations, I have to admit, there are many golf rules that I don't fully understand, this being one of them. For example, the fact that Ms. Wie's club didn't touch the ground until well after she took the shot was confusing to me.

So I'm clearly not in a position to pass judgment on this. ~ But many apparently are, and they collectively chastised Michelle Wie for pleading her case. Commentors chimed in, calling the prodigious LPGA star "childish", "a whiner" and "a spoiled b*#%&". It was enough to make some forget about her stellar play and controversy-free behavior over the past year. Or at least pretend they had forgotten.

That's their perogative. Personally I'm pretty sure this particular Michelle Wie Incident will be an isolated one.Golf Pundit Patricia Hannigan, for a female perspective on the Tiger Woods scandal.
Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images North America.jpg

Bold, Blonde Golf Blogger Stealthily Stalks John Daly

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Heather Jones, for those of you who don't know, is a mid-western Mom and editor of the popular blog Real Women Golf. She's resplendently blonde and beautiful... and though she's been playing for less than five years she's already flirting with a single digit handicap.

Let's face it, as a raven-haired, wannabe blonde... who's handicap hovers around 25... I might be tempted to... you know... hate her. But with Heather that's not possible. She's too nice to even resent. And empathetic and funny and... just really nice. A welcome rarity in today's snark-infested golf media world.

And Ms. Jones happens to be John Daly fan. A really big, unrepentant John Daly fan. She writes about him regularly, banters with him on Twitter and won't miss an episode of Being John Daly. So when she serendipitously met up with him on a FL course yesterday, no one was really surprised. Well, except maybe Mr. Daly and his playing partners. But in a good way. I know the photo above (presumably shot with an iphone) doesn't reveal much... but check out the video at Heather's site, it even includes a "rip it and grip it" demo.

Somehow I'm guessing Heather's golf vacation has already been declared a major success.

Front Row Experience - Swing With the LPGA Stars

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If you're like me, one of the things you love about golf tournaments is watching the players practice.

Whether it's the methodical drills on the putting green or the impressive swing-tuning on the practice range, I find it fascinating to observe the multitude of techniques players and their coaches use and... I'll admit it... I've gleaned quite a few insights (golf and gossip) through artful eavesdropping astute observation at tournament practice areas.

The only downside (and I'm sure lots of you can relate to this) is that anytime I get anywhere near a driving range I inevitably find myself yearning to grab a club and work on my own, less-than-stellar swing. So when I heard about LPGA's Front Row Experience in kind of blew my mind. In the sense that they're making it possible. Really. No more swinging vicariously. ~ Sounds pretty awesome right?

With the Front Row Experience YOU can actually get out there on the range, alongside the pros and... swing.

It's an opportunity to duck under the ropes... without getting thrown out of the tournament. You'll be able to demo new equipment and even receive a FREE 10-minute lesson from an LPGA Teaching Professional, right on the tournament practice range.

It's happening at select days at participating LPGA events, including today at 2:00 at the Kia Classic by J Golf
! There'll be sessions tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday too. And its totally free... just stop by the practice range and they'll sign you up. The Front Row Experience will clearly add a whole new interactive element to a golf tournament.

Tournaments and times are listed on the LPGA website. Oh and it's sponsored by Michelob Ultra which if you've been reading this blog for a while, you know is one of my all time favorite on-course libations.

So if you're anywhere near Carlsbad CA, why not head out to gorgeous La Costa Resort & Spa and swing with the LPGA stars.

Photos: Golf Girl MediaGolf Pundit Patricia Hannigan, for a female perspective on the Tiger Woods scandal.

Ryo Ishikawa in the Awesomest Golf Outfit... Ever!

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I know, I know... he always wears awesome outfits but this one, well... this outfit pushes wow-factor to sizzling new heights.

His bubblegum pants and matching belt are perfectly complemented by the variegated vibrancy of his golf shirt. All Yonex all the time.

I'm not much of a visor fan but no one wears a visor like Ryo. Oh, except for his Ryo Ishikawa headcover.

My good friend Greg Moore took the photo especially for me at Bay Hill this morning. Greg's been there documenting the past few days, and has done an amazing job with candid shots that capture players in the more relaxed atmosphere of ProAms and practice rounds. He's also discovered some interesting new accessories the pros are trying out and shares them on Twitpics. You can follow @gdm43pga on Twitter to get his frequent and fascinating updates.

As for Ryo, after a bit of a tough week last week I'm sure he's looking forward to getting out and turning it around... because we all know his game can be every bit as awesome and exciting as his outfits. And in Ryo's case, that's really saying something.

A Trip to the 2010 Masters... is Still Within Reach

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It's going to be a Masters to remember. The much anticipated return of a prodigal player will ensure that.

Of course everyone and his brother wants to go. And not just because Tiger's coming back. ~ There's something about Augusta National and the Masters that moves people in profound ways. Year after year. But tickets are always scarce and expensive, so what does one do ... particularly at this late juncture? Well, here's the deal:

LPGA Star Cristie Kerr is hosting a raffle... and the prize is a trip to the Masters for two including first-class air fare, accommodations and all transportation plus two badges for the the weekend, Sat 4/10 and Sun 4/11.

And there you are... that's your chance. The tickets are only $2.00 with a $10.00 minimum, and the raffle is being conducted by Celebrities for Charity and all proceeds will go to Cristie's charity, Birdies for Breast Cancer.

So enter right here, and you may soon be on your way to the 2010 Masters,

Tiger Woods Puts a Bit More of the Past Behind Him

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A gradual return to normalcy is what Tiger Woods seems to be hoping for.

Not that his life was ever normal by average standards... and that's probably part of why things got... shall we say... totally out of hand... for a while there.

A childhood spent on a singular path toward greatness, certainly must have isolated the aspiring young golf champion. I don't think it's unrealistic to imagine that he was often lonely... and resentful of the undivided oversight of his strict father. Prior to his marriage to Elin, Tiger seems to have have had few relationships with women.

By the time he reached adulthood, Tiger Woods was being treated with such deference that there was little need for him to ever answer to anyone... for anything. He was venerated, almost universally, both for his consistently stellar golf and because he was thought to represent a happy, highly principled, highly disciplined ideal, which ultimately proved to be a myth. In the end Tiger himself began to believe... and perpetuate... his own misguided mythology.

The two interviews he gave a few hours ago were short and stealthily planned. They revealed little, but allowed the fallen star to put his "first interviews" behind him ...an important step back to that semblance of so-called normal. In a couple of weeks it'll be the "first tournament"... and yes there are many journalists who are speaking disdainfully of Tiger Woods and still hoping for the tearful tell-all. That's beginning to look much less likely.

Oh Yoko - A New Ishikawa on Course - Ryo's Little Sis

She's Yoko Ishikawa. Big brother is Ryo, he's part of the "Rickie, Ryo, Rory" triad that's come to symbolize the future hopes of the PGA Tour; the high-profile threesome often seen as the most promising of the promising young guns.

Young Yoko is making her Japan LPGA Tour debut at this week's T-Point Ladies golf tournament...and has made it clear that she hopes to follow in her brother's phenomenal footsteps. At fifteen Ryo became the youngest player to win on the Japanese men's tour, so Yoko certainly has lofty aspirations. Fortunately for the thirteen-year-old it looks like golf greatness is in the Isikawa DNA.

Photo: Sankei via Getty ImagesGolf Pundit Patricia Hannigan, for a female perspective on the Tiger Woods scandal.

Male Sports Scribbler Sees Sexism in Tiger's Comeback

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It's been ten rumor-filled weeks since the Tiger Woods Scandal broke, and you know what I'm getting really tired of?

Guys chastising Tiger for cheating. ...In fact, it's starting to annoy me. Big time.

Probably because the consternation is frequently followed by a self-congratulatory segue into how they've never cheated on their spouse. ~ As I've said numerous times since Thanksgiving, I'd far rather be married to a husband who cheats than one who congratulates himself for not cheating... and I've discovered that most women share my sentiment on this. ~ The fact is, I've found women to be far less sanctimonious and judgmental than men when it comes to the so called "Tiger transgressions".

Women ...particularly married women... also seem, far less likely than men to blame the marital woes of Mr. and Mrs. Woods on mistresses.

More than anything else the Tiger Woods scandal confirmed what many of us have long believed: that when it comes to issues of sex, marriage, family and fidelity... men and women simply experience things differently, and as such shouldn't attempt to speak for the the opposite sex... or presume to know what he/she wants. Because chances are, you don't. And that brings me to New York Daily News sports columnist Filip Bondy.

I don't know Mr. Bondy... and he may or may not be one of the self-congratulatory non-cheaters... but his article in the "Tiger Woods section" of today's Daily News makes it clear from the get-go that he sees himself as a defender of the fair sex, indignantly calling Tiger Woods' decision to come back at the Masters in Augusta, "his latest shot at women".

The article touches briefly on institutionalized sexism at Augusta National which is, in fact, an issue that many women ... and quite a few men... agree is worthy of ongoing debate. However the Daily News sports scribe quickly moves on to the "gallivanting, womanizing ways" of Mr. Woods. Then later, comes a misguided attempt at analogy,

"Woods treated his wife in a similar fashion, barring her from membership in his real life while objectifying other women in the worst sort of way. He was playing. Elin was watching, never fully informed about the rules of his game".

Bondy also hints that he feels Tiger should have skipped at least one major to show remorse. And if that's how Mr. Bondy sees it that's fine but he seems surprised that women's groups aren't lining up in solidarity with his condemnation of the Augusta comeback plan. And he expresses disappointment that not even the once-militant Martha Burk would return his emails on the subject.

That brings me back to the Man/Woman dichotomy.

And here's the thing guys: most women don't take Tiger's infidelities personally. That's right. Much as you may think they do...much as you may think they should...they just don't. For us ladies, it's someone else's marriage, and we're generally not going to presume we know what was happening in it. With Tiger Woods, most women I spoke to just didn't see the extramarital affairs as relevant... and it hardly surprises me that serious women's organizations would decline to associate an ongoing struggle for equality with salacious, pop-culture rumors.

As far as the choice to come back at Augusta, it appears to have been a decision made the way Tiger Woods and his team have always made decisions. Again women just aren't taking it personally.

And finally, Tiger's hypothetical slap in every woman's face? The one Mr. Bondy ends his article with? Nope, we're not feeling than either.

Top Photo:Getty Images/Middle Photo:GolfGirlMedia/Bottom Image:Getty ImagesGolf Pundit Patricia Hannigan, for a female perspective on the Tiger Woods scandal.

Tiger's Return & The Awesomeness of Angel Cabrera

From the moment speculation began that Tiger might be making his return at the Masters, there were those who lamented the possibility.

The sanctimonious have suggested that repentance requires more than a few months, while expounding on the evils of adultery, while some players have implied that an Augusta comeback might hurt the hallowed tournament by turning it into a Tiger-centric, tabloid feeding frenzy.

But Angel Cabrera, the reigning king of Augusta National and one of the coolest, classiest golfers on the planet is not complaining. Admittedly Mr. Cabrera is not the complaining type in general, but on this subject he's quite clear; he's been expressing his hopes of a Tiger return at Masters for a couple of weeks now. ~ The way the Argentine champion put it, Tiger "...makes these tournaments immensely special just through his sheer talent and control over the game."

So folks, it might be wise to get over your righteous indignation and suppress your fears of thunder-stealing because Angel Cabrera is the boss of the green jacket... for at least a couple more weeks... and what he says, goes.

Enviable Assets : Sophie Sandolo's Golf and Glamour

Here in the US, many know Sophie Sandolo from Big Break Kaanapali. Others are admirers of her calendars which have featured elegant, erotic photography... and liberal amounts of artful nudity, since 2005, years before the arrival of the ESPN Magazine "body issue".

I wrote about Sophie back in December of 2007. She had just published her 2008 calendar and was again ahead of the curve. She had dedicated it to "Golf in the Olympics" at that point, still a distant dream.

As the 2010 golf season gets underway... with golf firmly in place as an Olympic sport and the golf-nudity barrier flatly demolished by three LPGA players and a golf cart... Sophie Sandolo is heading to Morocco for the Lalla Meryem Cup, an event she won in 2006.

Back injuries kept Sophie off the fairways for much of 2009 but after carding a couple of 65s at the (awesome) Omnium de la Riviera last week, it appears the fetching, forward-thinking, French-Italian golf girl is back on course in 2010.

And... you can get the latest Sophie news at her website ...and you can follow her on Facebook.
by golf pundit and author of a new book, Patricia Hannigan

Awesome Early Commitments for the 2010 Travelers Championship

Here in Connecticut mid-March is generally when we start looking forward to summer.

Well this year... after a particularly cold, snowy winter... we're literally longing for it... collectively yearning for warm, sunny days and green fairways.

The Travelers Championship, our state's biggest sporting event has practically become synonymous with summer in CT. For almost two decades the tournament once known as the GHO... and the festivities surrounding it... have been a big part of summer in the nutmeg state. And yesterday some awesome early commitments for the 2010 Travelers were announced.

Awesome as in the tournament's past three winners: Hunter Mahan, Stewart Cink and Kenny Perry... Awesome as in some "promising young guns": Rickie Fowler and Anthony Kim... Awesome as in eternal CT fan favorite: Stuart Appleby.

And that's just the beginning. Vijay Singh loves CT and when I spoke to Sergio Garcia in Cromwell last year, he had great things to say about the Connecticut fans. And I just started a "Bring Camillo to CT" movement. It would definitely be fun to welcome the "Hombre Araña" to our state.

Players clearly enjoy being at TPC River Highlands. The practice area, which was totally rebuilt two years ago is state-of-the-art and one of the largest on the PGA Tour. Gently sloping fairways, numerous water features and natural amphitheaters make the course a pleasure to play and create a stellar spectator experience.

I'll keep you updated on additional commitments and upcoming Travelers Championship activities. You can also follow the tournament on Facebook and Twitter. Hey, and why not plan a trip to CT to see the tournament yourself? It takes place from June 21, through June 27. Hope to see you there.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I Got My MacBook a Brand New Golf Skin...

It's actually a Lap Tat. And it'll definitely make my Mac more graphically appealing. The decals come in a myriad of colors and designs and they're removable so you can change your shade with the seasons. My laptop now matches my golf bag so that works for me.

Like so many good things Lap Tats are available at Etsy for $12.50 plus shipping. You can follow them on Twitter too. ♛ T/Y Erik Gavriluk.

Mojo 6 - Time to Cast Your Last 16th Player Votes

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The lucky 16th lady is one of the those pictured above... and what she'll win is a spot in the upcoming LPGA sanctioned Mojo 6 tournament at Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Mojo 6 has already signed up the best-of-the-best... top players based on their World Rankings. The event will be the first ever Raceway Golf tournament... a fast-paced new format that, from the sounds of it, will be exciting and funny... appears to have the potential for quite a bit of drama.

I first wrote about this intriguing LPGA adventure a few months ago, and find it hard to believe the event is just 50 days away now.

Oh... and you only have till Sunday to get your vote in for that still unknown 16th. They're all awesome players - I've added a link to each contestant's websites or LPGA profiles below for some additional details:

Amy Alcott ★ Catriona Matthew ★ Eun-Hi Jee ★ Jeong Jang

Laura Davies ★ Lindsey Wright - Marianne Skarpnord ★ Nicole Castrale

Sandra Gal ★ Beatriz Recari ★ Anna Rawson ★ Vicky Hurst

Now get over there and vote!

Golf, Gaming & Much More: Harrah's Total Experience

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Ah, the group trip.

It could be a destination wedding, or a mancation... a girlfriend getaway or a family reunion, if you've ever gotten stuck having to had to plan one you know the dilemma. Once you've been designated the as the ringleader you quickly discover each member of your group is on a slightly different page... maybe even a different chapter... and you realize the old adage "you can't please everyone" just doesn't cut it when your talking about someone's vacation.

And when you want add golf into the mix... for some or all of your group... especially in place like Vegas or AC... the stressfulness is multiplied. Because your group is counting on you for the best course, the easiest access and the most impeccable service... plus all the accouterments of an awesome group golf trip.

And that's where Harrah's Total Experience... comes in. It's a free program that'll free you from the pressures of planning that group trip. Total Experience and Total Golf Experience offer an extraordinary level of service, planning and assistance... including myriad VIP privileges not... for any group of six or more. ~ Here's how it works: you get your own a Total Experience Specialist. An insider who knows the lay of the land and takes care of everything. Then adds lots of extras, and makes sure it's all perfect... you end up with none of the stress, and all the credit... and a really happy group.

The Total Experience website gives you all the details and gets you started. So you don't have to dread the ringleader role when your next group trip comes up. In fact you can relish it.

PUMA Buys Cobra ... and Jochen Zeitz is Awesome

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With all the golf clothes I have... and I have tons... I'll rarely hit the course without some PUMA on.

I've golf four pairs of PUMA golf shoes... though one's been in my sister's possession since last July when I lent it to her for the PUMA open. For some reason, I can't get her to give them back, though I've asked repeatedly.

I love my PUMA Belts too and the skirts, pants, shirts... everything reflects a color pallet that's anything but traditional. Plus the way the pieces are cut and the hardware. What it all adds up to is... I tend to feel empowered in PUMA.

The PUMA brand is as innovative and appealing and cool as its chairman, Jochen Zeitz, who's been called the golden boy of global branding, and who's taken PUMA from a losing proposition to a global powerhouse.

Those of us with a passion for golf have got to be happy that Herr Zeitz is committed to the golf category. So committed in fact, that his PUMA has just announced it will acquire innovative golf equipment brand Cobra - the inventor the original hybrid club. Recent PGA Tour winners Camillo Villegas and Ian Poulter, will presumably come with the brand.

But the thing I like most about PUMA... and about Jochen Zeitz, the man... is the commitment to causes... to world peace and the elimination of hunger... and much more. In fact PUMA has an in-house charity organization founded and run by employees... and supported by PUMA management. The stated purpose of the organization is "to activate PUMA’s products and the company’s worldwide infrastructure in order to raise money internally in support of people in need". That sounds pretty awesome to me.

Top Photo:Photograph: Timm Schamberger/AFP/Getty Images

Geek Girls Golf... and Swing With Sweet Spot

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Geek Girls is an organization created to educate and empower girls and women... of all ages, skill-levels and income brackets... on computer technology and social media.

They get together for seminars and socials... bootcamps and classes, aimed at eliminating technophobia. They also put an emphasis on paying it forward. Giving back... and passing on the positive.

So it was beyond serendipitous that they encountered Sweet Spot Golf... and its founder Brian Allman.

If you've got any kind of connection to women's golf, chances are you've met Brian or seen his products.

Sweet Spot, the company he founded, manufactures golf clubs. Very distinctive golf clubs that are top quality, technically advanced and gorgeous. And portion of all sales of Sweet Spot clubs go to breast cancer research and awareness programs. In fact Brian and his company support a diverse array of charities and work with a number of organizations to foster the growth of the golf.

Brian donated several beautiful Sweet Spot putters to a Geek Girl Scholarship raffle that was part the recent Boot Camp event on Cape Cod. The event sold out and the lucky Sweet Spot winners will undoubtedly be trying out their new putters soon ... now that our New England weather has finally taken a turn for the better.

Geek Girl, empowering women through technology, one geek girl at a time.
~ Upcoming Events
Sweet Spot Golf, live.laugh.play.

Vanilla Villegas - Beneath Camilo's Colorful Exterior

At first glance, Honda Classic winner Camilo Villegas is as far from vanilla as it gets.

Exotic, unique and anything-but-bland Is how most would describe him. His lean, stylish, close-to-the-body fashion statements combined with a powerful physical game draw immediate attention... then of course there's the idiosyncratic, hyper-extended putting posture that's earned him his "Hombre Araña" nickname. And after a less than stellar 2009 Spidey is off to a sizzling 2010 start.

It all comes together to make Camilo Villegas the perfect poster boy for the group collectively known as the "The Hot New Young Guns of Golf". You know, the up-and-coming-under-30s we're counting on to save the game with their astounding skills and pronounced personalities. It's that last part... the personality part... that Jason Sobel mused about yesterday in his Weekly 18.

"Let's spice it up, Camilo." ~That's what Mr. Sobel suggests, pointing out that the ostensibly flamboyant Latino appears to have a personality that's downright... dull.

I'd noticed the same thing many times over the years and always attributed it to shyness, but in retrospect... after reading the Sobel piece... I realize it may go beyond that. It may be that despite an outward appearance that would suggest a penchant for la vida loca, this young Latino is singularly focused on the game. And that's perfectly OK.

When you're Camilo Villegas you can probably get away with that.

Top Photo:Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Chatroulette, Tiger Woods & Lonely French Golf Instructors (part one)

I have to admit it, during this long Connecticut winter I've really enjoyed spending Friday nights at home... alone... with my MacBook. In fact, once I set myself up in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine, I find these Friday evenings pretty awesome.

My occasionally annoying sweet husband is down the street in a smokey cellar, with a bunch of middle aged men. They sit around a green felt table for hours on end, sipping their Chivas and shifting around their multi-colored plastic chips. It's his weekly poker game and that's where he is on Friday nights. Presumably.

So there I was last night, alone with my laptop and a glass of Château Pichon-Longueville in front of a blazing fire, catching up on my Google reader. And that's when I reluctantly decided that I needed to try Chatroulette.

Not that I really wanted to, but after reading four stories (1 - 2 - 3 - 4... count them) referencing the random-stranger site... I started thinking it might be time for me to give it a try in the interest of journalistic objectivity.

Described as sinister, salacious, creepy, fun, thrilling and profound... there had to be something in it worth writing about, and even if there wasn't; it was a full blown trending topic and already had its own obscenely funny John Stewart satire ...and apparently the 17-year-old Russian founder is being courted by venture capitalists.

The story that ultimately convinced me however, was the one lifestyle reporter Nicole Baute did for the Toronto Star. Of course it wasn't the web cam creeps of her title, that tempted me... it was the lonely French golf instructor she met as she clicked from one random stranger to the next. He just wanted to talk Baute wrote, and I convinced myself that if I could practice my French and talk about golf it would be pretty awesome. I also figured I could try to get some feedback and opinions on the controversial golf issues of the day like the return of Tiger Woods or the John Daly debacle or the square grooves controversy. Yeah, right. That's what I told myself anyway. And then I clicked to start the game.

(... to be continued) ~ Meanwhile for the uninitiated video above breaks it down really well. It's Chat Roulette from Casey Neistat on Vimeo.

The Cutest Golf Shoes Ever in History

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Do you believe these shoes?

They're obviously not golf shoes you wear on the course but more like apres-golf shoes, or just golf-themed shoes. But in any case they're adorable. Click the photos for a better look.

They were made in Spain, they're size 8, and they cost $65.

Check them out on Etsy. And if you're thinking of ordering them you better act quickly... because so am I.