They’re almost all guilty of it. PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA, Nationwide players across the board have been guilty of it. At one point or another everyone who’s ever played golf has been affected by it. Either by being the cause of it, or by being the victim of it, slow play has impacted the game across the world.

Recently in the pro tours there have been several dramatic examples of slow play and the tension that it brings. Kevin Nafamously wiggled and waggled and backoff shots while being heckled by ruthlessfans in the crowds. He knows he’s slow,and he says he’s trying to improve, but wedon’t realize how much pressure playersare under out there. I think we have adecent idea, sure we haven’t experiencedit, but we know they’re playing formillions of dollars and their livelihoods.

Here’s the problem with the current system, which as it stands right now issues a warning for the first offense, a one-stroke penalty and a $5,000 fine for a second, three bad times gets you a two-stroke penalty and a $10,000 fine and an unheard of four bad times is a disqualification.

Anyone know the last time a player was given a one-stroke penalty for slow play? Way back in 1992, to Dillard Pruitt who ironically now serves on the PGA Tour’s rules committee. So it’s been twenty years since anyone was actually penalized for slow play, and yet slow play has persisted as a problem. It’s obvious that the system isn’t really working. The second part that doesn’t work is the fines. $5,000 and $10,000. Really, that’s the fine? That’s pocket change for these guys. When the winners’ share of the purse is usually somewhere well north of $900,000 is 5-grand really enough of a penalty?

If the tour wants to eliminate slow play, they need to get serious about it. First offense is a warning, that’s fair. Things happen and sometimes it takes a long time to execute a shot. But beyond that, if it happens again the problem is the player, not the circumstances. Second offense should be a two- stroke penalty issued immediately with a $50,000 fine. Harsh yes, but I’d be willing to bet it would only take one player being hit with this one for it to have its effect. Say goodbye to wiggles, waggles, backing off of shots and examining putts with everything short of a plumb line.

To read more from Tim follow his golf blog, Life From The Short Grass.com

A long time ago I worked at Kokesh Golf and Athletic at the Southtown location.  You can’t find it now.  A Kohl’s store sits approximately where Kokesh once was.  For a while, Kokesh was THE place to go if you wanted to find top line equipment, apparel and lettering on your jackets or team jerseys.  That place had it all.

It was there I first learned about club-fitting.  That not everyone should just buy off the rack and go hit the links.  Only to have the customer come back after a week and wonder why they are digging or hitting shots off the toe.  And want a full refund.  So I was taught about Static club fitting (I didn’t know it was called that until the next century, this was the late 80’s….and yes, I am dating myself!!).  Basically, what I was told to do was have a customer hold the prospective club of their choice and let the club sit on the ground.  I would then take a business card and slide it under the club head both from the toe and then the heel of the club.  The further I slid the card, the higher the toe or heel was from the ground.  In early club-fitting days, the goal was to order the clubs so that the sole of the club sat flat with the ground and hardly any of the card would slide in from either the toe or the heel of the club.  The thinking was that if we set the customer up with clubs that sat flat, then the club would be less likely to dig in.  Many manufacturers and club-makers lived (and died) by this method.

Kind of quaint and old fashioned isn’t it?

Ping nFlight technology @ 2nd Swing Golf, Minneapolis

Now there are hitting bays; with the capability to measure club head speed, ball speed, spin rate, where the club makes contact with the ball.  Which leads us to Dynamic club fitting.  Dynamic club fitting wants to know where the sole of the club is at the point of impact.  Who cares if the club sits flat at address?  You are not hitting the ball with the club just sitting there.  A person’s swing actually dictates what particular lie they be fitted.

Case in point:  I am about 5’5” depending on the shoes (I too love Linkswear shoes, but I feel like I’m about 5’3” in them) and the first (static) impression is that I should be fitted with irons that are flatter than a standard lie.  But, my down swing comes into the ball relatively steep.  I have my irons 2 degrees upright.  My golfing friend Scott (you know him as the general manager of 2^nd Swing Minnetonka) stands over 6 feet tall, and he has his irons set about 2 degrees flat, but a ½ inch longer than standard.

So, when getting fitted at 2^nd Swing, go in with an open mind and let them determine the correct, lie, shaft (you’re not a wuss if you need a regular shaft guys.  Ladies if you need a men’s senior flex, accept it, you’ll love the better distance and control), and grip size.  You may be surprised by what they tell you.  But you’ll be even more pleasantly surprised when you make better, more consistent contact with the ball and you scores start to come down.

Anyone else have old Kokesh stories?  I know too many….

Why I’ve gone spikeless

It was a few Sunday mornings ago when I put on my golf shoes and strolled to the first tee. It was cool and a little wet, but certainly fine weather to tee it up.

I played the first hole, a dogleg par 4 that’s a little bit uphill to the green. The second hole is a downhill par 3 where the green is just a short walk to the clubhouse. So I putted out that morning, told my playing partners that I would meet them on the third tee and ran back into the locker room.

Why? My toes felt squished and squeezed. They were claustrophobic. They wanted their room.

How did this happen? It was pretty simple: I was wearing traditional golf shoes. And I had cheated on my spikeless golf shoes.

Over the past year, I have become one of the many golfers who have ditched what has been the standard fare for golfers: Shoes that if you take out the spikes, you could wear them to the office in the morning and nobody would look twice.

It was midway through the 2011 season when I bought my first pair of True Linkswear golf shoes. I had heard story after story about how comfortable they were. They lived up to the hype.

I liked the feeling of being low to the ground. I loved how much room there is in the wider toe box. And I couldn’t get enough of how my feet felt both after the round and the next morning.

I am a pretty hardcore walker and take a cart only about 10 percent of the time. But finding comfortable shoes was always something of a struggle for me. I was a Footjoy regular for quite a while, then I had several pairs of adidas shoes. There were some decent shoes in there, but I often (too often?) woke up the next morning with sore feet and those first few steps would frequently be uncomfortable.

But from nearly my first steps in my first pair of Trues, something was different. Immediately they were the most comfortable golf shoes I had ever worn. Shortly after getting my first pair, I found a good deal on a second pair. Since this golf season began, I have acquired two pairs of the new models.  Overkill? Perhaps, but there are probably worse vices than buying too many pairs of golf shoes.

Clearly I’m not alone in embracing the spikeless trend.  That’s obvious when you walk into a golf retailer that sells shoes. As recently as a year ago, there might only have been a couple of spikeless models in a shoe department. Now there are more and more options. In the past year, adidas, Nike and Footjoy have all added spikeless models. I’ve seen more and more players wearing spikeless shoes from Ecco

There also seems to be a little bit of acceptance among the elite players. Justin Rose won earlier this PGA Tour season while wearing spikeless adidas shoes. Ryan Moore has worn and supported True for a couple of years. Fred Couples was the first to embrace the trend. And while they have spikes, Nike is about to launch the low-to-the-ground shoe that Tiger Woods has been wearing for several months, a shoe that appears to be based on the company’s minimalist “Free” platform.

And I’m certainly not alone in embracing True Linkswear. If you check out the photos on the True Linkswear page on Facebook, you’ll see a sweet photo of actor Samuel L. Jackson wearing Trues and one of NBA baller Shane Battier doing the same. A year ago, I was one of only a handful of guys at my club wearing the Trues. This year, the number has at least doubled.

I’m also seeing the shoes in many more places. Earlier this year, I played at a prestigious club in Texas that has a huge number of low handicap players and there were Trues for sale. You can also buy yourself a pair at Bandon Dunes, a place where riding isn’t an option.

I haven’t worn a pair of golf shoes with spikes for a full round since a trip to Chicago last July. The area had received a ton of rain and the forecast called for more rain. While my Trues have been good in wet conditions — I don’t find myself slipping — I wanted to make sure I had a little more traction.

Since then I’ve teed it up on more than 20 different courses with different grasses, different turf conditions and different weather. I haven’t had any problems. I’ve played in the rain, I’ve played on wet ground in the morning and I haven’t had any problems with slipping.

So why do I like them? Why do I own multiple pairs of Trues? And why have I become such an advocate for spikeless golf? The biggest reasons are comfort and weight.

Spikeless shoes are much lighter than shoes with spikes. Spikeless shoes don’t need a plate for spikes to be screwed into and they don’t need as heavy of a sole.

But how do they look? I was initially uncomfortable with how the Trues looked. The toe box is big. They look a little clown-like. And you might get a little grief from your playing partners.

But once I wore them and my feet felt great after, I didn’t care what they looked like. Don’t get me wrong, I love the classic look of some sweet Footjoy Icons, but as a hardcore walker, I want comfort and function.

Are you interested in going spikeless? If so, here are some pieces of advice:

• Find a place to try the shoes on. Different makes and models run a little different when it comes to sizing. And Ecco shoes are based on European sizing.
• If you are looking at the 2012 True Linkswear models, consider the mid-range True Tour rather than the entry-level PHX. The difference in materials is significant and it is worth the additional cost.
• If you aren’t sure, there are a number of places where 2011 Trues can be found for a very reduced price. It is certainly possible to try spikeless shoes without a big financial commitment.
• Have an open mind and a little trust. Yes, many spikeless shoes have a wider toe box and look a little different the first time you stand over a shot and see your feet. And I can understand how and why you might think that you’re going to slip. Try to put those two things aside. You’ll quickly get used to the look and the stability is very good.

I won’t guarantee that everyone will have happy feet after wearing spikeless shoes, but we have reached a point where golfers can make a choice and potentially find a nice combination of comfort and function. I know I have very little interest in going back to spiked shoes.

To read more from Jeff check out his golf blog, Only Golf Matters.com

Course Rating:  71.5

Slope Rating:  137

Total Distance:  6,475 yards

Weekend Rates: $58.00 | Weekday Rates: $52.00

Free cart when you book tee time online

Stonebrooke Golf Club, located a half hour from downtown Minneapolis in Shakopee, Minn., is well worth the trip for any golfer looking a beautifully manicured, challenging course with plenty of memorable scenes.  This suburban gem is one of the most unique courses in the Twin Cities: the par-4 eighth, featuring a ferry ride, carts and all, across O’Dowd Lake from the tee box to the fairway, was named KSTP’s Most Difficult Water Hole and 2^nd Best Signature Hole in the Twin Cities.

The par-5 first hole is a difficult starter that foreshadows some of the course’s major obstacles: a network of snaking creeks and small ponds that winds its way along and across fairways on at least 13 holes; claustrophobic tee areas surrounded by low-hanging trees and hedgerows, forcing players who favor a slice or hook to take dead aim at the fairway or risk an abrupt end to the ball’s flight; and fast, undulating greens, many with areas that usher the ball back off the green on approaches not struck with the requisite amount of touch or conviction.

Stonebrooke’s intimidation factor and scenic beauty both reach their peaks as the course turns to run along O’Dowd Lake for holes 7 and 8, both of which require a long carry over water. There’s no room for error on the 133-yard par-3 7^th – a miss left will end up in the lake, while the right side is defended by thick trees.  To compound the danger, the 7^th has one of the smallest greens on the course, which, when juxtaposed with the lake, can make it seem as though you’re aiming at a postage stamp.

A view from the championship tees at the par-3 7th. Image by Andy Walsh of 2nd Swing Golf

This is all just a primer for the main attraction: the picturesque, 380-yard par-4 8^th. Drives must carry 175 yards or so from the championship tees just to make it over the water. Accuracy is also required; there is some bailout room to the left, but thickets hem both sides of the fairway on its uphill approach to the green. Once you’ve safely hit your drive, you can relax and enjoy Stonebrooke’s signature experience: a ferry ride, carts and all, from the tees to the fairway.

The signature tee shot on No. 8, after which you take a ferry across the lake to your next shot. Image by Andy Walsh of 2nd Swing Golf

Course Superintendent Duane Slaughter really does a phenomenal job of maintenance, particularly on the greens, which are big, fast, sloping and true – veritable funhouses to roll the ball on. Since most greens are large, it isn’t too frustrating or difficult to hit them, but don’t necessarily expect an easy two- or even three-putt once on the putting surface. A typical green has a flatter no-man’s-land area where less ambitious approaches land, which will then require a putt through some sort of break – ridges, swales, knolls, and the like are all well-represented here  – to pins that rarely reside on a flat surface. Still, if you’re accustomed to public tracks, you will sincerely appreciate putting an entire round without the skipping, bouncing or other inconsistencies that plague less well-cared-for greens.

To sum it up, Stonebrooke should be looked to as a standard-bearer for Twin Cities’ public courses, and its design and execution makes it feel like something…more. By the way, stop in to the clubhouse after the round to experience Shakopee’s Best Brunch!

Cons: If you’ve found a trouble spot, you probably won’t be seeing that ball again, so be sure to pack an extra sleeve or two for this round.

Pros:  Scenic imagery, imaginative design, excellent upkeep, neat signature-hole experience.

Sorry Dufner, no one cares that you won.

Irving, TX-Jason Dufner sank a 25-foot putt on the final hole Sunday for a one stroke victory at the HP Byron Nelson Classic. His narrow victory came on the heels of a literal Dicky Pride misstep. Pride’s foot slipped on his tee shot on the 18 th hole causing the ball to go offline and straight into the water. Sorry Dicky, it might be another 18 years before you win your second tournament with pressure cracking spasms like that.

By the way, Dicky Pride? That can’t be a real name. At what point in his life was it decided that the best nickname to be derived from Richard was Dicky? Not Rich, Richie, Rick, or Ricky…Dicky.! Dicky’s high school bully must be laughing all the way to his mid-level management position at Ethan Allen.

Dufner’s victory was not only overshadowed by hilarious names but also by some incredible shots including an ace on the par 3 fifth by JJ Henry (video above). That ace temporarily put Henry in the lead until he crapped the bed by finishing the round with a double bogey and bogey on the final two holes respectively. Sorry JJ, as Alec Baldwin said in one of my favorite screen adaptations of a David Mamet play, “Coffee’s for closers.” Dufner looked like Minnesota Twins closer Matt Capps, or as I like to call him, Fat Crapps(See what I did there?). You have to slam that door shut or you’ll end up at the bottom of the standings. But I’m not salty.

Dufner now leads all players in Fedex Cup points with his win this past weekend.  He now holds a 40-point lead over Hunter Mahan. Come on Hunter. Make my dreams come true and change you last name to Mayhem. “A pack of roughneck deer killed his family and kidnapped his dog. One man who promised himself he would never fire a weapon again after the “doe” incident has to make a decision; become a priest or take his revenge. Hunter Mayhem stars as Shooter Chaos in Deer Kill! Revenge never tasted so gamey. Coming soon to a theatre!”

Next week is the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Let’s see if “Mayhem” will ensue, or if Pride will show no Prejudice against the field. Did you see what I did there? Wordplay!!

What the hell was I thinking? Back in early January, normally in the dead of snow drifted winter (not so much this year but no complaints), my motley crew of fantasy golf league competitors gathered at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park for our yearly draft. Each player has $100 dollars to bid on and keep 10 PGA players on their roster. Tiger went cheap this year.

Mickelson, McIlroy, Stricker, Jason Day, Westwood, Bubba, Donald and a few others all go for big bucks. My strategy for the past two years has been to get the fringe guys…not quite winning all the time, but score well, play a lot of tournaments, and win here and there. It has served me well, having won my fantasy golf league for two years running (insert trumpets here). Who did I have last year?

Hunter Mahan…didn’t win but hauled in a ton of cash by playing 25 events. Did I get him this year? Nope.  Sniped…and he’s won twice this year.

Bill Haas…he killed it last year. That up and down during the playoff of the Tour championship was awesome (insert video below please)….and he played 27 events. I wasn’t even in the running for him this year. He has a win this year.

Mark Wilson..he was a free agent pick up and I did not get his money for his two early season wins. He sold for $4. And it wasn’t me…Yeah, he won again early this year.

Gary Woodland…big hitter and fun to watch. Again, he was a free agent pick-up and made some money for me. I did not get him this year, which may be my single best move this season.

Ryan Palmer…. Played 24 events. Solid player, makes a few top tens, and threatens to win once in awhile.  Then he realizes he’s close to winning and the hands tighten around his throat. Held the first round lead of the Byron. Don’t have him though.

Brian Davis…made 23 of 28 cuts last year….didn’t get him.

KJ Choi…the “Tank” was solid and won the Players last year. 22 events played last year. Don’t have him this year…

Brendon De Jonge…My secret weapon. Played in 30 events, making the cut 22 times. Steady paycheck collector. He was snatched right under my nose…

My guys only won 4 times last year but they played an average of 25 events and made the cut a startling 70%.

Who was my horse? Matt Kuchar. Mr. Top Ten. Mr. “Must have at least 40 all white teeth in my smile” Matt Kuchar. He made 22 cuts last year, 19 top 25’s, and NINE top ten finishes. He only missed two cuts and that was the British Open and The Canadian Open. He did not miss a cut in America last year. All this to finish sixth on the money list last year. He just crushed it at the Player’s last week. This year he’s made every cut in the ten events he’s played. 8 top 25 finishes and five top ten finishes. Oddly enough, he’s currently sixth on the money list this year. I don’t have him this year.

I have Adam Scott as my horse. I got into a bidding war and got caught trying to up the price on Scott and ended up with him. How’s he doing? One top ten finish, only played in five events this year so far….

Once I burned 1/3 of my money on Adam Scott I had nothing left to put a serious bid on for Kuch. I would say the fellas participating in the draft teamed up and made sure I was sniped properly and not able to assemble my own golf version of “The Avengers”.

This year I have three wins already. Brandt Snedeker, Kyle Stanley, and Carl Petterrsson and I’m in 4 th place!!!

I miss Matt Kuchar. What the hell was I thinking?

Let me know if you would like to know more about fantasy golf. It is as much fun as football. The season lasts longer, you are engaged in following your players, and PGAtour.com makes it easy for you to follow your players.

“Try it again. Let the club do the work.” These sage words were expressed to me
after my ball sailed over the green for a second time on the same hole. “I’m trying
to let the club do the work, but my club is being and expletive!” I didn’t actually
say “expletive”, but you get the idea.

I was playing the executive course at Highland in St Paul. I was playing with my
girlfriend and her brother. It was a beautiful sunny. Perfect weather for walking a
quick nine holes.

^^^Highland National GC, St. Paul MN @ Sundown

This day, unlike most others, my driver was on like…donkey kong- I guess. I was
hitting it long and straight off of the tee. The others were impressed with my skill
with old “Big Longy” which is what I’ve taken to call my driver since that day. Big
Longy and I were the best of friends for those two hours. Every time I put him
back in my back I swear I heard him say, “I want to play some more.” “Patience, my
friend. Your time will come again soon enough. Then we will frolic hand in hand,
skipping down the green meadow and giggling like little school girls on our way to
the ice cream social in the town square like something out of a Laura Ingills Wilder
novel. It will be glorious Big Longy. Glorious.” But as much as we both wanted the
sweet embrace of each other’s touch, we knew that it would not come as soon as
we would’ve liked. For you see I still needed my pitching wedge and putter to close
out the hole for me. Or as I like to call them; Famine and Pestilence. Why do I call
them that? Read the bible you ignorant so-and-so’s and stop asking me so many
questions!

Anyway, even though my drive put me within a hundred yards on almost every hole
I still ended up with bogeys and double bogeys on my scorecard. Why? Famine and
Pestilence. We’ve been over this you guys, please try and keep up.

My wedge(Famine) and I couldn’t be more different. I like pizza, he likes pasta. I
enjoy jazz, he’s a blues man. I want to hit the green in regulation, he wants the ball
to sail over the green a couple of times before coming anywhere near it. You could
write a sitcom about us. Wait, don’t, I’m going to. Intellectual property, I called it.

Are you fueling your fire, or putting it out during your round?

The other day I was in a conversation with my father, who is an area PGA Teaching Professional and he was telling me a story of one of his students who had just finished his round. He made the turn in his career best nine holes of 42, only to implode on the back nine. He limped to the finish with a 56, and couldn’t believe how badly he had fallen apart.

Leaving the mental aspect of playing the best nine holes of your career and letting the thoughts of your career round start to creep in out of this, there’s another very important lesson to be learned about your golf game. As my dad was talking to the student, he was asking what he thought went wrong. The student replied, “I don’t really know, I was going down #10 and felt ok, and then I just started feeling sluggish and heavy and had no energy.”

Thinking about it for a moment, my dad replied, “Let me guess, you stopped by the turn and got a hot dog and a big ol’ coke?” The students’ mouth dropped in amazement. How did he know this? Sheepishly he admitted “Well, it was actually a polish dog.”

Point being, our bodies are machines and they need the proper fuel. Granted, some of our machines are more finely tuned than others, but that is even more reason for us to be smart about what goes into our bodies during the rounds. I know most of us aren’t professionals and play golf recreationally, for the good times with our buddies. Let me ask you this though. When was the last time you stopped at halftime of a pickup basketball game and had a cheeseburger and fries? How about grabbing a big plate of nachos while you rest between halves at that rec league soccer game?

Didn’t think so, but that’s exactly what most golfers do at “halftime.” And it no doubt has a negative impact on ones game. Here’s a challenge the next time you’re on the course. See if you can keep yourself from ever feeling hungry from start to finish. Have yourself a good power breakfast before you leave, maybe some bacon and eggs (psst they’re not bad for you) with some fruit. Then pack yourself a nice bag of snacks. Beef jerky, nuts, carrot sticks, celery, apples, bananas, the list can go on and on. Just be smart, make it healthy and make it count.

Then eat every 3 holes or so to keep your energy level at a constant, not allowing yourself to dip down too low, or spike too high. The key is to maintain a balance that will let you focus on the task at hand, which is of course taking your buddies money. Give it a try; see how your back nine compares and if you improve.  Chances are you’ll find yourself with a much smaller degree of fatigue. Then, when you’re done and you’ve cleaned house, use the money to buy the first round of beers to celebrate. It IS golf after all.

To read more from Tim Good, check out his golf blog, Life From The Short Grass.com

Stillwater author Rick Shefchik had questions about the classic courses throughout the Twin Cities and across Minnesota.

It was well established that St. Paul’s Town & Country Club was where the game got its start in Minnesota. There were few doubts that some of the great golden age golf course architects including Donald Ross, Seth Raynor and A.W. Tillinghast worked in the state. But there were many other clubs with histories that weren’t as clear, there are courses that no longer exist and countless other stories.

So Shefchik, a former reporter at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and author of several novels, began researching and writing. The result is “From Fields to Fairways: Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota,” a new book that is a definitive history of golf in the state.

“There wasn’t a book like this that looked at the origins of the courses I admired and didn’t know enough about,” Shefchik said. “What I wanted with the book was to investigate the clubs and the historical items of note.”

The book, published by the University of Minnesota Press, profiles most of the classic courses of the state. The story starts at Town & Country (1893) and includes stories of 19 courses that had origins before 1930.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, Shefchik will do a signing and talk about the 369-page book at Valley Bookseller in Stillwater. The book is available at many bookstores across the Twin Cities, including most Barnes & Noble locations. It is also available for purchase through Amazon.

For Minnesota golfers, the book is captivating in part because of the more than 200 photos. There are cool old aerials that show these classic courses long before they featured mature trees. There are photos from historic tournaments across the state. And there’s even a photo of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby at Midland Hills Country Club during World War II.

Two excerpts from the book recently ran in the Minnesota Golf Association’s magazine. The first excerpt in Minnesota Golfer can be found here. A second excerpt can be found here. The Minneapolis Star Tribune also ran a brief review.

I recently talked to Shefchik about the book, what surprised him and what the reaction has been.

The biggest surprises of the book?

Shefchik said the biggest surprise was how spotty record keeping was at many of the older clubs in the Twin Cities. He said the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis was an exception to that.

“I’d talk to people and they’d say, ‘We used to have that,’ or ‘It used to be in a box,’” Shefchik said. “More often than not it wouldn’t turn up.”

One of the most valuable resources in researching the book was that many old newspaper archives are now available online and they are searchable. Because of that, Shefchik didn’t have to spend nearly as much time looking at microfilm.

Those online archives allowed Shefchik to learn much more about a man named William D. Clark. In the early 1900s, golf was covered more frequently by newspapers than it is now. If there was a new pro at a course or club in town, there was often a story.

Shefchik said that Clark, a golf professional from Scotland, appeared to finish the design at Minneapolis Golf Club, he designed Oak Ridge, he designed the course now known as Brookview and did work for the Minneapolis Park Board, including Gross.

“He was such an important figure in Minnesota golf history from 1917 through the ‘20s and he’s totally forgotten now,” Shefchik said. “I’m glad I was able to find out more about him.”

Where did the photos come from?

Shefchik said both the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minneapolis Star Tribune allowed their photographs to be used in the book. Many photos came from the Minnesota Historical Society. In addition, many clubs had their own historical photos.

“In every case, the clubs allowed us to reproduce them,” he said.

There were very few photos that Shefchik saw that couldn’t get into the book. The exception were framed photos at Town & Country in which no one knows where the originals are.

There are a number of framed photos hanging in the T&C clubhouse that could have been used in the book, but it would have been difficult to take them out of frames and reframe them.

What has the reaction been to the book?

Shefchik called the reaction “phenomenal” and “much better than expected.”

When he began writing the book, he knew he had friends that were interested in golf history in state and he assumed that each club would have interest in their own history.

“Turns out a lot of people are interested in the book,” Shefchik said.

Several clubs in the Twin Cities are selling the book in their pro shop and Shefchik has done or has plans to do presentations to club members.

Why was there so little course construction between 1930 and the 1990s?

In looking at the history of golf in Minnesota, there are two main periods of growth. The first came after World War I. The second was in the 1990s.

Some exceptions were North Oaks (1949), Wayzata (1956), Hazeltine National (1962) and Bunker Hills (1969). Why?

“After World War I, any town of any size knew it was time to get into the game, even if it was just nine holes,” Shefchik said.

Very few courses were built after the stock market crash in 1929 and clubs struggled through World War II and beyond.

“It’s like now,” Shefchik said. “When the economy tanks, golf is one of the first things that gets cut. After World War II, there were a number of clubs with less than 100 members. Clubs like Golden Valley, Midland Hills and Minneapolis were just hanging on. It took time for the numbers to recover.”

To read more from Jeff go to his golf blog, OnlyGolfMatters.com

Last Wednesday Bob Holman, sales manager of 2^nd Swing’s Minneapolis location, handed me a dog-eared Golf Digest issue from March 2012.  The article was titled, ‘Frustration For Sale:  What happens when an equipment-savvy editor goes undercover to buy clubs.’  The title says it all.  For those of you who may not be familiar with her, Stina Sternberg, author of the article and one of Golf Digest’s senior editors, is also one of the four editors of the seminal GD Hot List.

First thing I thought was, ‘This article is too old to cover now, it’s already mid-May!’  Then I read it and thought it was too good to pass up, here’s why: At The Swing we are very concerned with offering best in class service, much of the emphasis being on our club-fitting and the tireless certification process our sales staff endures, just to don the 2-S name tag.   That said, we try to stay abreast with news related to that aspect of the industry, so I hope you can forgive me for the belated review of this article.

^^^2nd Swing's Minneapolis Fitting Center & Hitting Bays^^^

In the article, Sternberg and a male colleague visit three large Manhattan golf retailers as prospective customers looking to buy their very first “good” set of golf clubs.  The first two stores Sternberg and her colleague investigate separately, the third as a couple.

After visiting the three golf retailers, Sternberg makes an interesting conclusion about the technique of all three salesmen:

“The most striking offense committed by all three salesmen was their reluctance to even broach the subject of a proper fitting. My clubhead speed is about 20 miles per hour faster than average for a woman. Because women’s clubs come in only one shaft flex (though men’s clubs come in four), I have no business playing them. All three sales guys saw me swing, but none offered me a fitting. When I suggested it, all three said they could “tell” that I needed L-flex clubs. One told me “only really tall ladies” play with men’s clubs; I’m 5-foot-7 but have a short torso and long legs. I know from multiple fittings that A-flex men’s shafts at the standard men’s length are right for me…” READ MORE

Within the context of her article, I believe Sternberg’s emphasis is on the way women golfers in particular are condescended to by golf retail sales staff, most notably when she mentions how they ignore her suggestions and question her own experience with her swing.  I dare say this phenomenon extends beyond women golfers and happens to many golfers that are new to the game or even the occasional golfer whose been playing for years, regardless of gender (which, by the way, makes up the majority of the golf market).

^^^More of the Hitting Bays^^^

Sternberg also highlights another common frustration I’ve noticed among golfers and not just women golfers—yes, I’m talking about looking around at the massive selection that fills the retailer’s walls and having only two or three models pushed on me:

“Read up on what’s new, and bring a list of brands and models you want to try.  In all three stores, I was handed the same two brands of clubs; only when I asked to demo others were they even acknowledged. Test as many models as you want–at least five or six–in the hitting bay, then demand a dynamic fitting that includes measurements for set makeup, shaft length and flex, grip size and clubhead lie angle. (Even if it costs $75 to $150 or so, it’s worth it.) Don’t take no for an answer. If they won’t give you a proper fitting, keep your money and move along…” READ MORE

What did I take away from Sternberg’s article?  A lot, but I think she sums it up perfectly, only I would add that all golfers should look for the same thing, no matter if male or female:

“The lesson: Women golfers stand a much better chance of getting the right clubs if they visit a store armed with some knowledge and a strong backbone.”

For knowledge and a strong backbone visit 2ndSwing.com’s Club-Fitting Info

To Read More from Stina visit: http://www.golfdigest.com/contributors/stina-sternberg

Works Cited

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-digest-woman/2012-03/golfandwomen-sternberg#ixzz1uftSDBi9