GolfPundit

RocketBallz? One of the New Forces of Golf Innovation? That's What is Claimed by TaylorMade. Really.

2012-01-04T22:57:00.000+01:00

Many commentators think it is a joke of a name, but look at

TaylorMade Introduces RocketBallz Driver, Fairway Woods and Rescues

Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica Endangered by Wayward Environmentalists

2011-12-18T01:01:00.001+01:00

Few of man's achievements honor nature as much as golf courses do, and it is always remarkable to see wayward environmentalists trying to replace golf courses with what is called "managed wilderness", i.e. pet projects of alleged nature do-gooders which serve virtually no useful purpose other than to inflate the self-serving moralistic egos of those same wayward environmentalists.

Those same people should be attacking the big multi-national corporations who are devastating the planet by things like fracking. But that might be a bit tough for these environmentalists to handle.

It is much easier to go after golfers and golf courses, who are bothering no one, and causing no harm to nature. Quite the contrary, many a golf course has "reclaimed" land otherwise not particularly well used as a matter of nature.

See the battle under way for the Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica in an article by John Upton at Golfers Promise a Fight on Sharp Park - The Bay Citizen.

U.S. Presidents as Golfers

2011-12-18T00:52:00.001+01:00

William Browning has done the honors at Yahoo! Sports
in authoring a short piece on
Golfer-in-Chief: Fan Look at Golf and Presidents of the United States.

Gifts For The Golfer

2011-11-30T17:07:00.000+01:00

Larry Olmsted has s piece at Forbes on 10 Great Gifts For The Golfer On Your List.

Golf is Like Politics

2011-11-30T16:17:00.001+01:00

You know, golf is like politics.

I am looking for a perfect putter.

Voters are looking for perfect candidates.

Neither exists.

The putter is only as good as "the putter", i.e. he or she who is putting.

Political candidates reflect the voters who elect them.

If, for example, everyone in America had a law school degree, the candidates would look much different than they do now.

You get as your government the government you deserve.

If you elect wrestlers, veterinarians, doctors, actors, etc. as LAWMAKERS, whose job is to formulate laws rather than to wrestle, birth heifers or infants, or act in Hollywood movies, rather than people who studied the law, what do you expect??

Tiger Woods leads Australian Open

2011-11-12T00:56:00.000+01:00

Tiger Woods leads Australian Open

If Woods is back, he will win. If not, he will lose.

It Takes Balls to Golf: "Tin Cup" John Daly Knocks All His Golf Balls Into Water and Walks Off the Course in Australia

2011-11-12T00:51:00.001+01:00

Jonathan Wall at Devil Ball Golf writes at Yahoo! Sports that John Daly runs out of balls during tournament, walks off course after Tin Cup-esque hole.

That story reminded me of a photo I took in June of this year in downtown Skaneateles, Finger Lakes, New York, of the storefront window of The White Sleigh...Etc, a gift and novelty shop that was selling special golf ball pouches for golfers (my photograph of the window display):

John Daly proved it.

Golfing Good Against Dementia and Alzheimer

2011-10-08T17:50:00.001+02:00

Depending on your age, here is one reason to get yourself or your older golfing relatives out to the golf links:

Lisa M. Krieger reports that playing golf or even hitting balls at the driving range is good against dementia and Alzheimer at Golfing reawakens some of dementia's muscle memories

Tiger Woods Makes Cut at CordeValle Frys.com Open and Shows Improvement

2011-10-08T16:39:00.003+02:00

Jeff Rude writes at GolfWeek.com that Tiger shows glimpses of his old self, via The Huffington Post at Tiger Woods At Frys.com Open: Round 2 Improvements Help Woods Make Cut

He broke the course record in training at CordeValle by shooting a 62, so there is no doubt that Woods has his golf game back, but it is the mental part -- playing in competition again and getting his old golf self back in front of the galleries, not all of whom are as partial to him as they once were -- that still needs improvement, and that will take a while.

Essentially, Tiger needs a win to get back on track, but he won't win until he gets back on track mentally. That is always the double-edged sword. When Tiger starts having fun out on the golf course again in spite of occasional boos and signs of ill will, then he will win. After all, golfing is not about galleries, it is about golf.

CordeValle: Luxury Golf Getaway and Spa in Calilfornia

2011-10-06T20:47:00.001+02:00

We looked at this golf spa in California as the upcoming site of the Frys.com Open, at which Tiger Woods plans to play.

We definitely like this place.

See:

CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort | Wine Country Hotels where they write:

"SAN MARTIN, CALIFORNIA - Located in the foothills of Northern California's Santa Cruz Mountains, CordeValle is a secluded luxury resort in an extraordinary setting south of San Jose and north of the Monterey Peninsula. Infused with country club charm and superb amenities including tennis, a luxury spa, Clos La Chance winery and vineyard, and a 7,169-yard championship golf course by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the 45-room resort is a sanctuary in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings."

Take a look at their website.

Tiger Woods at Frys.com Open October 6-9 2011 at CordeValle, California

2011-10-06T17:13:00.001+02:00

Ryan Ballengee reports at NBC Sports ProGolfTalk that Tiger Woods to play in Frys.com Open at CordeValle in California October 6-9, 2011.

Nicklaus on Golf Tiger Woods 2016 Olympics Golfing and the State of the Economy

2011-09-16T22:24:00.003+02:00

Kelly Olsen of the Associated Press has a superb golfing article titled Nicklaus: Tiger can still win 18 or more majors which covers not only the future of Tiger Woods -- Jack has remained a fan -- but also discusses the building of a course for the 2016 Olympics (we suggest each hole be designed by a different golfer or golfing duo -- that would give the golf course added flair!) and the deleterious effect of the bad economy on golf and golfers.

Hip Rotation Initiates Downswing: Pro Golfers Swing Differently than Amateurs: Stanford School of Medicine Study Shows Biomechanical Differences

2011-08-15T22:36:00.000+02:00

Jessica Rose, PhD, and a team of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have obtained valuable new insights on the golf swing. As John Sanford writes:

"For the first time, several key rotational-biomechanic elements of the golf stroke in its entirety, from backswing to follow-through, were analyzed, and then the data were used to generate benchmark curves, said Jessica Rose, PhD, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and senior author of the study."

The medical object of the study was of course to study golf-induced injuries by studying swing fundamentals. It was found that pros do in fact swing differently than amateurs:

"Researchers analyzed several biomechanical elements of subjects’ golf swings, including S-factor (tilt of the shoulders), O-factor (tilt of the hips) and X-factor — the relative rotation of the hips to the shoulders, measured in degrees — which is considered key to power generation. Previous research has shown that pro golfers who hit the ball far generally have a larger peak X-factor than their peers, but this study is more extensive in that it considers X-factor in relation to other rotational biomechanics of the golf swing over the full duration of the motion."

Of immense use to all golfers, pro or amateur, and immensely valuable to teaching professionals, the study found for the first time scientifically that it is hip rotation that initiates the downswing:

"Conrad Ray, the Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf at Stanford University and a co-author of the study, said the findings give scientific backing to the elements of golf-swing form that professionals have long understood are vital for generating power. The study also helps to clarify some unresolved questions about golf-swing biomechanics, Ray said. “One question that always comes from students is, ‘What starts the downswing?’” he said. “People have had different answers. Some would say the hands, or others would say the shoulders or the lower body. But the study confirms that rotation of the hips initiates the downswing. So that, to me, is an interesting finding.”"

Caddy Steve Williams Leaves Tiger Woods and Caddies Adam Scott to U.S. Open Title

2011-08-13T15:38:00.000+02:00

It's the Caddy, Daddy! Forget all that expensive golf equipment and all those expensive golf lessons. Invest your money in the right caddy.

Caddy Williams leaves Tiger Woods and caddies Adam Scott to U.S. Open Title

Gareth Maybin Trick Golf Shots on YouTube from Sportsrisq.com

2011-08-13T15:21:00.001+02:00

Sportsrisq.com has some great trick shots by Gareth Maybin, but for God's sake, don't try this at home or show it to your kids, or if you do, tell them some of these shots are extremely dangerous and not to be repeated! I am guessing some of those shots were either computer-assisted or they had to do umpteen retakes to get one to work. NOT TO BE REPEATED, FOLKS. Just watch and enjoy, but play golf normally. ONLY for professional trick shot artists -- also not for normal adults either.

Please note that we are not liable for anyone trying this stuff. DO NOT!

Hat tip to Rob Ahlschwede.

Golfers Must Haves: GPS Golf Buddy: Titleist Scotty Cameron Squareback 2 Putter: Going for Golf Magazine (with Direct-Golf.co.uk) -- Splendid Photographs of Golf Courses, Golf Hotels and Golf Resorts

2011-08-03T13:41:00.001+02:00

The sun is shining again in this part of Europe, after a longer absence, warming golfers' hearts for (hopefully) the rest of a summer that has virtually disappeared in inclement weather.

This is not an ad, by the way, but rather only the LawPundit's personal opinion, as a golfer, about some new developments in golf "products", widely defined.

I always say I am open to the receipt of free golf equipment and/or free golf trips and/or apartments/villas from the companies and products I tout (the new GPS Golf Buddy World Platinum, the new Titleist Scotty Cameron Squareback 2 Putter, and the new Las Colinas Golf and Country Club in Orihuela, Spain are currently high on my list).

Direct-Golf.co.uk recently sent me the July 2011 issue of Going for Golf, an interactive online golf magazine which has some tremendous stunning photographs of golf courses, golf hotels and golf resorts.

Direct-Golf.co.uk is a leading European golf retailer selling golf equipment, and is the retail partner of Going for Golf, which sells golf travel destinations.

They do it well. You just want to get out there and play golf. Fore.

Tiger Woods Drops out of Top 10 World Golf Rankings of Golfers

2011-05-23T22:25:00.000+02:00

As reported at USA Today, Tiger Woods is out of top 10 for first time in 14 years.

See the Official World Golf Rankings.

Play Golf in Spectacular Sedona Arizona with JDR Tours

2011-05-20T22:50:00.000+02:00

I played golf in Sedona, Arizona at Oakcreek Country Club about 40 years ago during a time when I was affiliated with a law project at Arizona State Law School.

Sedona was then and even moreso today is probably one of the most spectacular venues for golf anywhere in the world.

JDR Tours in 2011 offers what looks like a real deal package via Golfersguide.com at Golf Sedona with JDR Tours. Take a look.

This blog posting, by the way, is not a paid advertisement or otherwise supported ad or advert. Rather, the owner of JDR Tours and I went to school together, so it particularly caught my interest. JDR Tours offers tours in Nevada, Arizona and California. Looks good, but that is just my opinion, and no guarantee or warranty of any kind. Fore!

Paul Wilson Video on How to Cure a Golf Slide: Really Good: Wonderful Instruction

2011-04-19T23:20:00.000+02:00

How to Cure a Slide | Revolution Golf: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Golf and the Law: Inventions Patents Litigation Trademarks at Golf-Patents.com

2011-03-11T19:29:00.000+01:00

See the David Dawsey blog Golf-Patents.com at The IP Golf Guy - The Golf Patent Lawyer (Golf Inventions, Patents, Litigation, Trademarks)

Rory McIlroy keeps ahead in Dubai chased by a resurgent Tiger Woods | Sport | The Guardian

2011-02-11T20:55:00.000+01:00

Rory McIlroy keeps ahead in Dubai chased by a resurgent Tiger Woods | Sport | The Guardian: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Shane Bacon at Devil Ball Golf at Yahoo writes that Martin Kaymer Now Best in the World - Is that True?

2011-01-25T13:27:00.000+01:00

At Devil Ball Golf, a Yahoo! Sports Blog, Shane Bacon writes that Martin Kaymer's dominant win makes him best in the world.

That Kaymer has the potential for greatness is clear, but we think that the declaration of a title of Number 1 is yet a bit premature. Nor are we impressed by some sort of Official World Rankings.

Right now it would seem to us that no one deserves the Number 1 title because a clearly dominant force such as Tiger Woods was in the past simply has not surfaced in professional golf yet in the aftermath of Tiger's demise. Kaymer may become that dominant force, but he is not there yet.

Law and the Game of Golf: The Warning Shout of FORE and Personal Injury Liability while playing the Game of Golf in New York State

2010-12-21T18:43:00.002+01:00

Michael Virtanen of the AP has a write-up of a story about personal injury liability while playing golf in New York State at Top NY court upholds dismissal of golf 'Fore' suit.

PGATOUR.COM - Scottish golf is far more than only links courses

2010-10-09T09:42:00.001+02:00

PGATOUR.COM - Scottish golf is far more than only links courses: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

golf posters and a fine golf link collection

2010-10-09T09:42:00.000+02:00

golf posters and a fine golf link collection: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"