Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Only Two Things - Who Cheats More - Men or Women?


This week an LPGA cheating scandal hit the internet.

In involves accusations based on secondhand accounts, and some suspect that an ugly element of anti-Korean xenophobia may have come into play because the accuser, LPGA caddy/blogger, Larry Smich has a history of "issues" with Korean players.

The situation is currently under investigation and I think it's wise to reserve judgment until the facts become clear, however I did receive an email not long ago from a reader/listener who asked, "Which sex is more likely to cheat, Men or Women?" She'd just played in a scramble at a golf event with some colleagues and was quite surprised to find what she described as "a culture of cheating among the men".

"Though it wasn't a highly competitive event," she complained, "there was a "nice prize" for the winning team, and as such the "so-called lite cheating" struck me and the other women who were playing as blatantly wrong".

My reader didn't go into detail, but from what I gathered the men had no such qualms, and that's what led to her question. In light of the LPGA incident last week, I think this makes for a very interesting topic.

So here's the question: "Which sex is more likely to cheat, Men or Women?" And we'll apply it not only to golf, but also to relationships, business and life in general.

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Of Tiger Stalkers, Sex Journalists & Golf Media Guidelines


No doubt about it, we're living in an era of unprecedented change when it comes to communications and media.

"The old way of doing things just won't cut it anymore." ~ That phrase has become a well-worn cliche, and the changes that have taken place in reporting, writing and publishing sports news have already been epic. They've happened very quickly too. To the extent that lines are being blurred... and crossed... all the all the time. Sometimes the result can be awesome and groundbreaking. Other times awkwardness ensues... or disaster perhaps. Or maybe something in between.

An amusing example of the "in-between" took place last week on the pastoral fairways of Ridgewood Country Club. Not surprisingly the incident involved Tiger Woods, whose extraordinary fame... and salaciously spectacular fall-from-grace... precipitated a figurative "opening of the floodgates" in the golf media world.

Whereas just last year the idea that any self-respecting tabloid would waste resources covering a golf tournament would have been laughable... this year the PGA was fielding inquiries from the likes of TMZ, not to mention myriad other "non-traditional" media sources. Apparently standard operating procedure calls for a individual evaluation of each of these "non-traditional" requests, which this year resulted in denial of credentials for some.

But... in that new gray area where traditional and tabloid-esqe often overlap... it's best to expect the unexpected. And "the unexpected" unexpectedly happened last week at The Barclays, when on the first hole of the ProAm a "traditional journalist" cavalierly crept under the ropes and breezed over to interview Mr. Woods. Right there on the fairway. Right after he hit his approach shot.

The "traditional journalist" in question was Andrea Peyser ...and there she was, with her notebook and pen, possibly before Tiger's Titleist even landed on the green.

Ms. Peyser is an award-winning columnist with the New York Post and has a journalist career that spans more than two decades, thus one might assume her credentials may have been awarded without much in the way of scrutiny. Supposedly, the major New York dailies are automatically credentialed despite their tabloid-ish tendencies and without regard for what kind of reporter they'll be sending. And that's how the postmodern media-mix-up took place.

Because although Andrea Peyser is, by any definition, a traditional journalist, she's not a "traditional golf journalist". Though her columns have won awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the Newswomen's Club of New York and the New York Associated Press, the sanctimonious scribbler, had never been to a golf tournament. Ever. In her life. Therefore she didn't... uh... "know the ropes" so to speak. If you'll pardon the pun.

You see, Ms. Peyser normally writes about politics and gender, with a stridently conservative voice. In their amusing post on this incident, Gawker describes her as "a sex journalist" ...which would actually be funny if her voice weren't so vitriolic. In reality Andrea Peyser is a sanctimonious scribbler who demonstrates about as much tolerance for tolerance as Carol Mann.

Anyway, the fairway interloper was promptly stripped of her credentials and sent packing by "a pretty, blond automaton", thus becoming another symbol of the slippery slope that exists for the PGA, LPGA and other sports brands, between ensuring maximum coverage and maintaining some degree of control.

August 24, 2010 - Photos by Scott Halleran/Getty Images North America

Monday, August 30, 2010

Tuesday Eclectic - A Weekly Collection of Notable Links


Interesting, under-reported golf stories or well-written renderings of the most talked about events.

Innovative or unusual products... provocative people... inviting places. Once a week I'll link you up with my discoveries, here at Tuesday Eclectic.

Show and Tell: The Latest Video from Show me The Golf is fun and entertaining. As always.

Meet Miss Par:
An awesome new site by Christina Ricci, author of the Golf Survival Guides. Miss Par lives the golf lifestyle to a tee.

The Other Brothers: Brent Kelly discovers some brotherly predecessors to the Molinaris.

Sexy Sophie Horn:
She's a gorgeous golf presenter with a 6 handicap, and now she has a sexy new website.

Playing With Ryo:
Japanese Golf Champion Ryo Ishikawa is a doll. I mean literally.

New Game in Town: It's a new way to enjoy golf. Those who like Texas Holdem... among many others... will approve.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

The Marvelous Molinaris Make History... Again

















Over the past 10 months, Francesco and Edoardo Molinari have made history numerous times.

It happened twice in one tournament when they won the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup last November. There they were the first pair of brothers AND the first Italians to ever win the event.

Then there was Accenture Match Play in February, where they became the first set of brothers to take part in a World Golf Championships event.

Writing about the Molinari brothers in early April, ESPN Golf Columnist Jason Sobel noted that they were about to become the first brothers in a decade to compete together in the Masters.

And after Edoardo Molinari's extraordinary win at the Johnny Walker Championship today, the brothers are poised to become the first siblings to play together on a Ryder Cup Team in almost 40 years. Edoardo grabbed one of the Captain's pick spots today with his amazing Gleneagles victory, Francesco had already made the team, and both were inspired by Italian golf icon Constantino Rocca, who played on the 1993, 1995 and 1997 teams and is only Italian ever to make the Ryder Cup... till now.

I've written about the Italian siblings a number of times over the past year... so much so that some readers seem ready to attribute me with ownership of the prodigious pair, at least figuratively, as in: "you must be happy to see "your Molinari brothers" at the top of the leader board."

OK, wishful thinking. But I'm simply a fan, like an increasing number of other Americans, and of course I've been happy to see them doing well this summer because they're brothers, which is heartwarming, and because they come from an awesome country where there's extraordinary potential for golf to grow.

So here's the deal: Two brothers win the World Cup AND compete together in a World Golf Championship event plus... two majors, AND play on the same Ryder Cup team... all within a one year period. That's certainly a fraternal feat for the golf history books.

Many are second guessing Colin Montgomerie's newly announced Captain's choices, but few are questioning the one called Molinari.

Photographs: Ian Walton/Getty Images

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Playmate Shannon James on the Art of the Golf Hookup


Shannon James is one of Playboy's most popular playmates; a brown-eyed platinum blonde with a stunning... smile. Among other attributes.

As hostess at the Playboy Golf events that take place all over the country, this playmate spends quite a bit of time on the golf course. And in Playboy.com's popular column, The Hookup, she recently offered advice to golf guys on how to best link up with ladies in a golf setting.

Shannon addresses golf apparel issues, as well as possible pick-up lines, suggesting some moves that might be effective, and cautioning against others that... probably wouldn't wouldn't work too well. It's all done in the brand's characteristically playful, tongue-in-cheek (don't even go there) manner.

The thing that stood out for me was that the article was actually inspired by the fact that more and more women are playing golf these days... and that this can actually make a day at the course more fun.

Now guys, you should keep in mind that it's important to assess a woman's ability before following Shannon's suggestion to... "give her some pointers, like showing her how to properly hold the club and swing." ~ I can think of a few women... like our ladies league champion, or my friend with a single digit handicap... who would probably not respond well to that form of flirtation. But as long as you keep such details in mind, you should be fine.

The piece
also contains a poll that invites readers to weigh in on the question: "Would you hit on a woman while you’re on the golf course?" and the answers might surprise you... or not.

Finally, the Playboy Advisor deals with a question that's been coming up a lot lately: Is Golf On the Way Out? I think you'll appreciate the answer. So check in with Shannon James and the other golf-minded people at Playboy.com.

And... don't forget about the Playboy Scrambles. Last week's NY event was rescheduled due to rain. It'll now be held on October 12. In the meantime on September 27, there's the Boston event. I'm going and I'm really looking forward to it. There are still foursomes available too, so check it out if your in the market for a fun day on the golf course.

Friday, August 27, 2010

David Williams Solves Golf Memorabilia Mystery




















My compliments to David Williams of Willow Golf in Melbourne, Australia.
His response was the last one to come in today, and... he got it right. ~ The dainty looking object of mint green glass... with the tiny duffer on top... is actually a lighter that dates back to golf's golden age.

There were many valiant attempts to identify the odd little item, but in the end, Mr. Williams' answer was the only correct one. I know I wouldn't have gotten it, I was clueless until I saw the lighter illuminated in one of the small photos. It was only then that I actually understood.

But David Williams... I found out today when I read his story... grew up with golf and has dedicated his life to the game. He's a PGA professional who's played... and won... at a high level and is now the Teaching Professional at Beaconhills Country Golf Club. He attributes his success as a golf coach to the time he spent in the US with Chuck Evans of the Medicus Golf Institute.

Willow Golf's motto is "Live to Play Better Golf, and their site contains copious content to assist in that mission including podcasts and videos. They also have a Facebook page.

So thanks again everyone for participating in this little golf guessing game, and once again, Congrats to David. The following is the full seller's description of this awesome object:

Rare Antique Cigar/Cigarette Lighter. Electric, Jadeite, Art Deco Glass, Golfer, ca. 1920's - 30's.

"Here is a wonderful electric cigar or cigarette lighter, vintage 1920s to early 30s. It is green jadeite, art deco style with a golfer on the top, made of base metal with remnants of silver-plate remaining. It is electric, and in full working condition.

This seller has never seen anything like it before. An exhaustive search on-line has failed to turn up anything like it. It is difficult to determine the manufacturer, but it may be Fire King, McKee or Jeanette Glass Co.

This piece is 2 1/4" tall, or 3 3/4" tall including the golfer. The electrical cord has been replaced, it has been rewired, and it works! The lighter is in perfect condition. There are no chips, cracks, flakes or crazing. There is no rust or discoloration. The bottom has a mica disk. When plugged into an electrical outlet and turned upside down, electrical points make contact and the lighter immediately glows red.

This is a wonderful and VERY RARE piece of tobacciana for the collector -- of lighters, jadeite, golf memorabilia or curiosities."

The Mystery Deepens Around an Enigmatic Golf Item


NightLight, lamp, music box, egg-warmer, thimble, electric jello mold, snuff box, heater, radio, buzzer, envelope sealer.

All good guesses but not one of them is correct. Or even that close. So I've posted another view of the enigmatic item. I'll also give you a couple of hints:

* To clarify scale, the perforated circular inset shown above on the bottom of the piece is about the size of a nickel.

* It was used for an activity that's less common today than it was in the 20's, but one that still takes place.

* There are many modern versions of the item, that bear almost no resemblance to this antique version.

So, that's about all I can say. If you have any final guesses post them here, or on my facebook/twitter pages... or send them via email. I'll reveal the answer tonight.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Golf Memorabilia: Rare & Wonderful, but What is It?


According to the experts this little item is probably from the twenties.

It's made out of green jadeite, in an art deco style and yes that's a golfer on the top, made of base metal with remnants of silverplate. It is electric, and in full working condition.

But what does it do?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Only Two Things - Do Guys Care What They Wear?


You've probably seen them at your course: Dowdy Dan and Sloppy Sam. Lumpy Larry and Baggy Bill will often round out the unfashionable foursome.

The clothes they wear are classic... but not in the good sense. No... I mean in the unimaginative, oversize sense... that such men swear by. Muted colors, conservative cuts... outfits that look like afterthoughts.

Meanwhile, many/most lady golfers dress for success... sartorially speaking... and now have an extraordinary choice of designers and styles. They shop at pro shops, or on the internet, and anecdotal evidence suggests most shop with some degree of enjoyment.

There are of course, guys like Ian Poulter and Rickie Fowler... fearless individualists who've never met a skittle color they didn't like. But many guys I know, when they're heading to the course, just throw on whatever they find in their closet that day.

So, do guys care what they wear? Or is it just not something that'll ever be too important to them. That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Did Journalists Inspire Obama Golf Style Makeover?



















One of the more divisive dress code issues in golf is the one that involves cargo shorts; the enormously popular, sometimes voluminous, multi-pocketed shorts that first appeared on the fashion scene in the early 90s. Cargo shorts can be worn in varying lengths but are distinguished by the quantity and capacity of their pockets. Early on the look was almost exclusively associated with Fratboy types who'd wear them with A&F T-shirts and woven hemp necklaces or maybe an oversize, collar-poped polo shirt.

Then cargo shorts evolved. The pockets lost their pleats and the legs got leaner. Designers like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren created their own renditions of the style and eventually spawned a sub-category we'll call... um... "dressy cargo shorts". ~ And that's when they transcended the college-aged crowd and found their way into grown-up wardrobes.

But still, when it comes to the golf course, cargos... no matter their provenance... can still be polarizing.

I first wrote about the issue more than two years ago, and have revisited it a couple of times since, most recently in December of 2008 when our newly elected President was first spotted... while playing golf in Hawaii... in a pair of ample khaki shorts with a perfusion of pockets; classic cargo shorts. ~ Since he took office, the Commander-in-Chief has been seen in cargo shorts on a number of different courses, much to the consternation of those who don't deem the style "golf-appropriate".

A week ago I was catching up with my reading over at The A Position... where a network of established journalists post high quality golf and travel content... and I noticed that Hal Phillips, aka. "The Curmudgeon", had addressed the Presidential cargo conundrum in his first Curmudgeon podcast. He brings in fellow A Position wordsmiths, Larry Olmsted and Tom Harack, who weigh in on the President's penchant for pockets and pleats... and they're clearly in the "don't-care-for-cargos" camp. ~ Then ...at the end of the week new photos came out of the President playing golf on Martha's Vinyard, wearing elegantly tailored long trousers! Yes, it appears he took the journalist's "Sartorial Screed" to heart and changed his billowy, dress-code-defying ways ...or maybe he was just dressing for the impending cool front.

Photos - Before:AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, After:AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Cargo Boys:GolfGirlMedia


Please note: this post concerns a particular golf apparel issue. It has nothing to do with politics, and I insist I'm requesting I'd prefer that politically oriented comments be posted on one of the web's many million political blogs.

Arjun Atwal Win Adds to Golf Globalization Story


Early this year I wrote about the Avantha Masters, a € 1.5 million tournament, tri-sanctioned between the European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India. At that time many were pointing to it as evidence of the growing strength of the Asian Tour... and the increasing role India might play in it.

India has tended to go somewhat "under the radar" on the Global Golf scene, when you consider that it's produced more Asian Tour Order of Merit champions than any other country. Additionally, in a place where cricket is revered, golf is the fastest growing sport... despite its lingering reputation as an inaccessible sport for the utra-rich.

Arjun Atwal's win at the Wyndham Championship... the first on the U.S. PGA Tour by a player born in India... will undoubtedly add to the efforts underway there to promote golf at the grass root level. With golf now in the Olympics, many feel there will be a push to develop public courses and driving ranges. Those who use them will now have a national role model... who's won in the US.

Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, and Gaurav Ghei are other Indians who've have made names for themselves internationally... but none of them has won on the U.S. PGA Tour. It was bound to happen though, and with a clutch putt on the final hole, Arjun Atwal made that happen today.

August 21, 2010 - Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images North America

Friday, August 20, 2010

Birdies & Bunnies & Tillinghast: Playboy Scramble NY











Let's say you love golf, but you've grown a bit weary of the ongoing Dustin Johnson/Whistling Straits story... and you don't quite feel ready to tackle that 82-page volume called, "The Rules of Golf".

Perhaps it's the perfect time to consider a... lighter, less draconian... kind of golf event. I'm talking about the Playboy Scramble, said by many to be the worlds most unique and exciting golf tournament.

Semi-finals take place all over the US, as well as well as in Canada and Australia. The format is a four person scramble, the courses are stellar, and the events feature unique extras like player's parties, Playmates and the fabulous Girls of Golf. ~ Later in the year there's a National Championship which takes place in Southern California and includes a pajama party or two at the iconic Playboy Mansion. Playboy Scrambles are about golf but they're also about having fun.

The thing is, I'm a bit tired of the whole Bunker-Gate thing myself, and I've been wanting to attend a Playboy Scramble for a while now... and I just found out the New York scramble is on Monday.

So I'm going! And I'm really looking forward to it. Especially since it's taking place at Dellwood Country Club which has an amazing history and a course designed by my absolute favorite golf architect, A. W. Tillinghast. I'll be sure to let you know how the Girls of Golf do on the classic par threes.

For complete information... about the NY event or upcoming events in other cities... check out Playboy Golf.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

A Final Thought - Was Dustin Johnson Just too Cool?


When what's now come to be called "Bunker-Gate" went down... on the 18th hole at Whistling Straits a few days ago... there was something that immediately occurred to me.

It's something that hasn't really been discussed, but I think it was illustrated... to a degree... in a recent post by the intrepid and engaging Stephanie Wei at Wei Under Par.

Here's what I'm talking about: it seems there's a certain "culture of cool" among a group of younger players these days. This idea of never showing any intensity or emotion... never letting yourself look excited or nervous. Play fast, always make it look easy, never sweat the small stuff, etc.

And while this mindset can often work to one's advantage in golf, it can also lead to fatal errors.

And the thing is, Dustin Johnson is/was the proverbial poster boy for this attitude... and perhaps, that could be part of what happened on Sunday. This resistance to being too cautious, too meticulous, too intense... too much like "the old guys"... may have ultimately caused him to overlook a significant detail.

The Wei Under Par post is illustrated with close up photos by the awesome Allan Henry of Golf Chronicles/US Presswire who was, quite literally, in the bunker with DJ when the incident occurred. He communicated with Stephanie shortly after the fact and she writes:

"Allan wonders what would have happened if DJ would have taken a little more time. He described DJ as “relaxed, loose and almost jovial,” “I don’t think his pulse was above 65,” he said. “The immensity of the moment didn’t get to him. Maybe it should have gotten to him. Maybe he should have said to the gallery, ‘Can you guys move a little bit?’”

There was no tension in the air. If it hadn’t been for the gallery, Allan said it felt like a practice round — not the 72nd hole of a major championship with Johnson having a
one-stroke lead."


That little snippet clearly illustrates what I'm talking about... and what might ultimately be the take-away here: the fact that golf, by it's nature, sometimes requires intensity and caution and mental checklists. Those overly-cautious, old-school characteristics that some of the younger players seem to shun... are sometimes exactly what's needed to win.

In Dustin Johnson I first noticed the "coolness" thing at Pebble Beach when he went into the final round of the US Open with a three stroke lead and then quickly, shockingly crumbled. It must have been devastating, yet he never really allowed himself to look like he cared that much, he never appeared emotional or intense, displaying instead just a slightly frustrated, "oh well" type of demeanor. It was much the same at Whistling Straits, and in the end many expressed admiration for this very coolness.

That being said, the long-hitting South Carolinian is clearly an extraordinary talent, who'll certainly be in contention often at PGA Tour events in the years to come. Perhaps this incident will help to put the "culture of cool" in perspective for him... and other young players... and allow them to be "uncool" from time-to-time, on those occasions when "uncool" is exactly what's needed to win.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Only Two Things - The Elusive Female Sports Fan


The LPGA is preparing to tee off tomorrow at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club northwest of Portland OR and the mood is cautiously optimistic.

The Safeway Classic is the tour's longest-running non-major event, and one player's particularly enjoy for what they describe as "a family atmosphere, of long-established friendships and warm relationships with sponsors and organizers". Then of course, there are the fans. Last year's event drew a record 87,800 of them. Which is great.

Despite recent challenges, the LPGA remains the most successful professional sports organization for women and as efforts continue to rebuild a parred-down schedule, first-year commissioner Mike Whan has expressed his confidence that there will be more events 2011 than in 2010.

But what about the LPGA and female fans? According to ESPN, 70% to 75% of an average sports audience is male. For women's sports, it doesn't really change: 60% to 70% of the audience is still male. Having attended several LPGA tournaments this year, I can vouch for the fact that the number of females in the galleries is consistently lower than the number of males, and quite substantially so. 30 - 40 percent seems about right to me ...and I'd imagine television viewership more-or-less mirrors those figures. The LPGA, like the WNBA and the WPS, could definitely use a little more support from the ladies.

In fact, one of the few major sports where women make up a majority of the viewers is women's figure skating. It's a sport that involves extraordinary talent, skill and athleticism... and also features sequins, feathers, pantyhose and make-up. Coincidence?

The question is: Why, almost three decades after the passage of title IX, is there still such female fan deficit especially in women's sport?

Does it come down to societal roles and culturally imposed preferences? Is it because women aren't treated like athletes and shown in prime time? ~ I've often opined that women simply have much more competing for their attention than men do. Then there are some who claim that the skill level of women's sports is not as high. ~ Oh, and what about the immense interest generated when women compete against men as Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie have... what does say about gender and sports fans?

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Golfer Wins a Million at Zo's Million Dollar Shootout (updated)

















It was an awesome event... made even more so by the fact that there was a winner!

Alonzo Mourning's 7th annual Million Dollar Shootout took place today at the spectacular Trump National Golf Course... where on the par-three 13th, one player managed a hole in one... winning a cool million.

I'm uploading some video and will have more for you tomorrow.

Update: Check out some more of my photos from yesterday's event... and have a look at this great pictorial post from Lessons Learned, a blog written by Ellure Zion, one of the awesome hostesses at the tournament.

The PGA Championship, Martin Kaymer & German Golf

When Martin Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi Championship in mid-January, he called his final round 6-under 66, "The nicest round of golf I have ever played on the European Tour.”

While he probably wouldn't call yesterday's contentious conclusion to PGA Championship "nice",  he did emerge as the winner... of a major championship... and Germany's first potential successor to Bernhard Langer's golf glory.

The baby-faced 25-year-old sealed his spot in the upcoming Ryder Cup with yesterday's win... and undoubtedly added some luster to Germany's bid to host the event in 2018.

Also, with golf now an Olympic Sport, the growth potential of the game... in a country where it's still sometimes thought of as a pastime for wealthy retirees... is likely to be embraced with added enthusiasm.

On a tumultuous day where the lead changed hands half a dozen times and a controversial ruling overshadowed a dramatic finish, Martin Kaymer, an under-the-radar young gun, demonstrated that he was a force to be reckoned with, and probably will be for a long time.

Photo: Ross Kinard, Getty Images

Friday, August 13, 2010

Zo's Million Dollar Shootout - 1 Day, 1 Shot, 1 Million


OK, How could this be anything but awesome?

By being beyond awesome. ~ That would be my only guess.

Zo's Million Dollar Shootout
will take place on August 16 and it'll certainly be wonderful, because when it comes to hosting charity golf tournaments, Alonzo Mourning is as good as it gets.

The seven-time NBA All-Star hosts several such events each year benefiting his Alonzo Mourning Charities. A passion for educating and empowering kids in need is what drives him... and it's the mission of AM Charities.

The venue for Zo's Million Dollar Shootout is Trump National, Westchester County, in Briarcliff Manor, NY. I've had the pleasure of playing there, and everything about it is... well, magnificent... with a bit of breathtaking on the side.
I played there in the fall, a couple of years ago, and it remains one of my favorite golf memories.

The chance to win a million dollars in a shootout makes this event particularly exciting, and there'll be numerous celebrities and sports stars in attendance. An exceptional dinner and live auction will follow the tournament. The day will definitely be awesome.

Additional info is available at zoshootout.com.

GolfStinks - One Year of Unorthodox Golf Insight


I'm notoriously bad with birthdays but occasionally I manage to catch one before it's too late. To that end, I want wish a Happy 1st to guys at GolfStinks.

These days new golf blogs come and go like the wind on a coastal course, so a full year of consistently clever posts... at regular intervals... is something of an accomplishment. And when the posts are written in a voice I can relate to... ie. that of a golfer who don't always break 100... it's even better. Because up till now, despite the wealth of golf blogs out there, I still encounter very few golf writers who'll admit to a three digit score in writing.

The GolfStinks guys are smart too, and they explore the lesser known stories. Touching tales of golf's historical figures, awesome stories of golf giving and the kind of stories that really make you think. ~ Today in honor of the B'Day they posted links to the year's top five posts.

So Happy Birthday Guys. GolfStinks definitely doesn't stink.

Women on Course - A Great Way to Get Into Golf


As a passionate recreational golfer who always (seriously... always) has a great time on the golf course, I'm surprised at how often women tell me they hate the game.

Upon further questioning it usually turns out that they've had "an experience"... on a golf course or at a golf center... that's made them uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that they've decided the benefits of the game... fresh air, exercise, social interaction, networking possibilities... just aren't worth the time it would take to get good enough to play with others. Some women claim they've been criticized by more competitive players, while others maintain they're routinely heckled for their less-than-stellar shots... but many simply said they felt insecure, inept and ultimately excluded as beginners in such a challenging sport.

Enter Women on Course. It's a golf networking organization that offers women golf at its most inclusive, with unique business and social golf events for women entering ... and already active in... the game.

I've attended several of their events and seen first hand how effective they are at providing fun and creative formats in which beginners and experienced players can learn, play and experience golf and the golf lifestyle.

When I received their schedule today I was happy to note that the list of events had grown substantially with more locations in more regions of the country. I'm looking forward to the Boston Golf Experience at the end of the month. If you're looking for a more inclusive less intimidating way to get into golf and meet people... or if you've been playing for years and just want to change it up a bit... check out Women On Course and see if there's an event in your area.

Oh...and definitely check out their Tales from the Tee Blog. It's full of good stuff.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Golf Grows in Brooklyn - A Clinic with Cristie Kerr


Though the PGA of America was founded in New York City most don't think of the Big Apple as a golf town. In fact, for a time the city's public courses had been the subject of ridicule. Their club houses were crumbling and the fairways bedraggled. Greens were frequently bumpy and burned out.

Changes came in 1983 when the Department of Parks and Recreation turned golf course operation over to outside operators. Clubhouses were refurbished or rebuilt and courses were redesigned and replanted. The First Tee opened at Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx and now exposes thousands of city children to golf each year. The idea was to teach city kids golf and the life skills that come with it.

LPGA Champion Cristie Kerr was part of that effort earlier this week when she spent the day at Dyker Beach Golf Course and Junior Golf Center, a wonderful facility in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. She hosted a free clinic for junior golfers who are part the golf program which is presented by the René Lacoste Foundation. Lacoste is one of Cristie's long-time sponsors.

In addition to a free clinic for junior golfers Kerr shared stories of growing up with golf and reminded the young players of the importance of maintaining good grade. She even found time to make public service announcement promoting junior golf in the city she's grown to love.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Only Two Things - Of Red Tees and Big Egos


This is a topic I've written about before: Playing from the ladie's tees... red tees... front tees.

As I wrote last year, there seems to be an invisible emasculation demarcation line on American golf courses that men know not to cross. It varies depending on the number of tee boxes, but there's never any question about where it lies... and if a man crosses it, he may as well be playing golf in a dress... or a powder pink ballerina tutu.

I also know a couple of ladies who clamor to "play from the tips with the guys" though they clearly don't have the distance. However, several studies confirm what we've all always suspected; women are far less likely to overestimate their distance when asked.

Yep, basically, it's a guy thing. And while I have no problem with a little tee box overreach when the course isn't busy, it's quite annoying on a busy Sunday when Billy Backtees and his buddies allow their over-sized egos to sabotage the pace of play.

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Golf Games: Sex + Justin Bieber = A Birdie on Twirdie


... and it happened at Rabbit Hill on my first attempt.

OK you're probably wondering about my headline... and/or thinking it was the most gratuitous attempt at link baiting you'd ever encountered. But here's the thing, there's nothing gratuitous about it. I'm writing about an amazing online golf game, and once you try it I think you'll see what I mean.

Twirdie looks... and sounds... like a lot of other such games... at first. However this game relies on elements of Twitter, and the strength of your swing depends on the relative power of popular words. In a nutshell instead of taking a swing, you enter a word and Twirdie uses tweets from the past 60 seconds to determine ball flight. The more times your word has been tweeted, the stronger your shot. Get it?

So for example, Rabbit Hill was a par 4 and I entered the word "golf" ...which got me a paltry 15 yards off the tee. Then I thought about it. (Like golf, Twirdie is a cerebral game) I realized that though it may be huge on my own Twitter timeline, in the scheme of things "golf" was probably quite minuscule. The equivalent of a sand wedge I'd guess. So I came to my senses and realized I needed something more powerful. That's where "sex" came in. I got a more robust 57 yards from that word, but still had 88 yards to the hole. So I bravely pulled out my "Justin Bieber". If anything was going to get me to the green it would be the perpetually trending teen singing sensation. And sure enough not only did I make the green, the ball rolled squarely into the hole. Thus my Rabbit Hill birdie. On Twirdie.

I found Twirdie via the brilliant Chris Devers where I find lots of good/strange things. If you like golf and you use Twitter, I'm pretty sure you'll have fun with this game. ~ And yes, popular words do make good link bait.

Follow Twirdie on Twitter

Monday, August 9, 2010

Wanted: Excellent Golfer With a Classy Golf Wardrobe


Do you know Jill Flint? How about Jill Casey? I've got to say, I didn't know either of them until about a half hour ago.

They're actually the same person, because Ms. Casey plays Jill Flint on the USAnetwork cable series, Royal Pains. A show about doctors practicing in the Hamptons, New York's elegant coastal community.

It sounds like the requested golf wardrobe should be pleasingly preppy, after all the show partnered with Lacoste earlier this year for a charity shirt exchange in New York City.

So, the casting company is now looking for a golfer... an excellent golfer... to be be a kind of a kind of golf body double, thus they're seeking someone who plays well. Of course that person also has to look like the character in question, ie. about 5'7, Caucasian, with straight medium-long brown hair.

All the specs are in this CL ad. If you fit the bill why not have some fun with it?

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Global Golf Adventures - Nepal's Lofty Links














In the 60s and 70 Nepal was a magnet for idealistic young globetrotters traveling overland on modest budgets in search of spiritual enlightenment... and/or cheap cannabis. They they came from all corners of the world and stayed for just a few dollars a night in the rustic hostels on Kathmandu's Freak Street.

Flash forward a few decades. Freak street is still there, in the heart of Kathmandu, however these days it's far less... freaky. It's become a kind of museum to the colorful mid twentieth century hippies who once embraced its earthy simplicity. ~ A gradual gentrification has taken place in the city, aided by the arrival of international luxury hotels. Clean, well-appointed rooms... and myriad optional excursions... are available to travelers these days, and unique golf adventures are now being offered by a number of travel companies.

Golf adventurers can now hop on private helicopter and fly to an ultra-lofty driving range perched in the shadow of Mt. Everest. Imagine hitting balls at an altitude of 14,500 feet... without supplemental oxygen. The scenery would undoubtedly be spectacular, but I'm not sure I'd definitely opt for the small bucket.

Far more relaxing would be a round Gokarna Golf Club located in the former Royal family’s hunting reserve. And in case you're feeling a bit insecure about your high altitude golf skills, an excursion with iconic adventure travel company Cox & Kings even includes a pre-round ceremony conducted by Buddhist monks to wish you luck and bless your clubs. How awesome is that?

In the next few weeks I'll be posting about a variety of Global Golf Adventures in anticipation of my own upcoming multi-continent golf excursion set to begin in early 2011. Golf is present... and growing... in so many seemingly unlikely places. In the current climate I feel that's an important story.

via Urban Daddy.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Golf Course Streakers Use Velcro for Quick Stripping


Some called it a yawn... others labeled it a snooze fest.

In both cases the implication was that the runaway win of affable, understated Louis Oosthuizen, made the 2010 Open Championship about as exciting as a slo-mo game of Shuckle.

However, what few realized was that the potential for mayhem was, in fact there, lurking among the friendly faces of avid golf fans in the galleries of the Old Course. And it was ready to rear its chaotic head ... or tail... but for the vigilance of the brave marshals in charge of crowd control.

One such marshal, by the name of Andrew, is featured this episode of CNN International's excellent "Living Golf" and he enlightens us on a few of the diabolical ways rogue golf fans might stir up trouble. The most shocking, involve Velcro clothes and Super Glue.

Evidently Andrew was able to keep the would-be hooligans at bay and circumvent the possibility of a showdown in the stands. However there were surely some spectators... and more than a few journalists... who would have appreciated little more contention on the course.



BTW - CNN International’s Living Golf is one of the rare shows that's consistently entertaining for both golfers and non-golfers. They tell the seldom seen back stories that shape the tournaments and inspire the players. The show also features revealing interviews with golf's icons... and its rising stars.

This month Living Golf talks to a post-Open Louis Oosthuizen, as well as former Open Champions Peter Thompson, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Tom Lehman and Tom Watson... plus, former winning Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance exclusively interviews this year's Euro-Captain, Colin Montgomerie. Here's a clip from the show. I'm trying to find out where I can watch Living Golf (and CNN International) here in the US... haven't found it on my Dish Network... I will update you with further info as I get it.

Those who do get CNN International can watch this month's episode on Thursday 5th August at 1330 and 1730 BST; Saturday 7th August at 0830, 1830 and 2100 BST; Sunday 8th August at 0400, 0830 and 1600 BST

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Women's Golf Equipment - Athletic vs Aesthetic











Tonight's show
may deal with equipment, but it's actually about much more than that.

You see, a couple of weeks ago I happened to be artfully procrastinating diligently networking on Twitter and caught a conversational snippet that intrigued me. It went something like this:

Random gentleman asks popular professional golfer (male) for advice on buying women's clubs for his 17 year-old daughter.

Popular professional golfer then refers the question to several of his female friends, who are either professional golfers or competitive, low-cappers themselves.

The response that comes back is distinctly dismissive of "Women's Clubs". As in: Does anyone actually use women's clubs?


I'm paraphrasing there, but it got me to thinking, because I realized it wasn't the first time I'd heard a female... um... disrespecting women's golf equipment... early this summer I played with a diminutive twenty something grad student I met on the internet (yes, I frequently hook up with golfers online - but that's another show).

Anyway this girl woman, who I'll call Aimee, had only been playing golf for a few months, but was the proud owner of a set of cut down men's clubs. She loved her long irons and wanted nothing to do with L-flex shafts... especially if they were pink. The smack talk started in the parking lot the moment I took my whimsically awesome rose-colored golf bag out of the trunk. "Did you borrow that from Barbie?" she asked, as she slung a navy blue Callaway Warbird bag over her shoulder.

Initially, I found her rhetorical machismo off-putting, and anticipated a tortuous round animated by an endless display of bombastic bravado, but by the time we reached the first green I'd discovered that Aimee laughed easily. And at herself for the most part. It was actually lots of fun and my short game happened to be on so we were quite evenly matched. Stylistically however, we couldn't have been further apart; in the way we played and in the gear we chose to play with.

Which brings us to our topic: Women's golf equipment. More specifically... Do golf manufacturers get it? Are women golfers being served well these days with women specific club choices or are they just being inundated with pink? Are there enough choices in club styles, shaft flex, swing weights, or lofts normally available? And... is there a dismisiveness among more competitive women golfers about equipment that's specifically tailored to females?

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Blue Law Bargains & BYOB for Stornoway's Sunday Golfers
















Stornoway Golf Club
lies on the grounds of a Victorian castle in the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The 18 hole golf course has trim, sloping fairways lined with mature woodland, and panoramic views of Stornoway Harbour.

Stornoway is reputed to be a friendly and sociable club where visitors are made to feel welcome. The course is host a number of amateur events including the recent Western Isles Open, part of the Hebridean Festival of Golf, where local golfers get a chance to channel their inner John Daly... at least that's what it looks like they're doing in the photo below.















So here's the thing: this friendly, fun-loving club has a rather strict landlord, namely the Stornoway Trust, which forbids the employment of staff on Sundays. ~ And it seems there are quite a number of ultra-dedicated golfers who aren't letting the absence of said staff deter them.

This is understandably irksome for the club as they're not only missing out on Sunday greens fees but also on... the day's beer cart revenues.

So the club dutifully submitted an application for a Sunday drinks licence... and that's where the Presbyterian church groups came in. They argued that such an exception to the blue laws could "damage morality" and "weaken the integrity of the community".

In the end, the local council took the side of the non-golfing religious fanatics church groups... and Stornoway Golf Club's request was denied, making a Sunday round at the captivating Scottish course an inadvertent bargain.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Pick a PGA Championship Look for Álvaro Quirós ...


... and see if you can make him look really good.

Not much of a challenge there I'm afraid. The swarthy, 6'3" Spaniard would probably look good in a potato sack... or just about anything else you threw on him.

So it'll be a breeze to choose a stellar PGA Championship look for sexy Señor Quirós from Callaway's awesome new Spring 2011 apparel line.

You can vote for your favorite at the Callaway Golf fan page on Facebook. The winning looks will be on display... on Álvaro... at Whistling Straits G.C. August 12-15 during the season's last major.