Golf Stinks Blog

An Introduction To Golf.

2012-01-27T11:10:00.001-05:00

Life definitely throws us curves and I'm sure we all have heard the sayings. "You play the hand you're dealt and you play it to the best of your ability." Or one of my favorites "We are given what we can handle." It's funny how everything seems to work it's way out though.

My friend never played golf before in his life. He was always into more active sports. Not saying golf is not active, it's just not as active as say...basketball. Anyway, he used to tell me that he couldn't spend 2 plus hours on a golf course when he could fit in a b-ball game in an hour and go do something else. Ok, I can see where he might be coming from...golf does take time.

Fast forwarding a year and a half later, my friend gets into a life changing accident at work. He injures his foot severely causing serious nerve and muscle damage. He does not lose the foot but he lost a lot of control. Needless to say, his "active" sport days are over. Enter golf.

So, he picks up a set of clubs and decides to give the four-letter game a go. Speaking with him recently about it he tells me "I'm hooked! Never did I think I would play this game but I love it." I find it interesting to see how people are introduced to golf. Unfortunately, my buddy found it through misfortune but it has worked out in his benefit. He gets to walk and rehab his foot, challenge himself while doing so and enjoy the company of friends. Looks to me like a classic case of turning a negative into a positive!

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

Can You Lose the Will to Golf?

2012-01-25T07:55:00.000-05:00

It sounds like such a stupid question; "Can you lose the will to golf?" You want to blurt out, "What kind of question is that???" But in reality, I think the answer to the question is yes.

Yeah, you can lose the will to golf. And it does't matter if you've been playing for one season or twenty seasons - it can happen. It happened to me this past year. For a fleeting moment early last fall, I thought of golf and felt no emotion whatsoever. Not excitement over my next round; not disgust over my previous one; nothing. It was as if the sport was irrelevant to me. The flubs didn't matter; the birdies didn't matter; the drives that careened off into the abyss didn't matter - the good, the bad and the ugly of golf were, in a word: Gone.

That fleeting moment pretty much shook me to my core. Could it be that easy to withdraw from something I held so dear for a good portion of my life? It seemed logically impossible, but emotionally, the empty feeling was there. And if I could lose the will to golf, then surely it could happen to other golfers.

Obviously, I've played my fair-share of golf over the years and I've written my fair share of golf-related articles. It would stand to reason that someone who hasn't let golf become such a part of their life would have a greater chance of losing interest in the game.

I immediately considered that the cause of the problem - that I overdosed on golf. Like an addict that finally succumbed to his devices, I was a golf junkie who had become anemic to the game due to over-consumption - too many rounds; too many equipment purchases; too many musings translated into posts for this blog.

To compound my issue, this notion of overdosing worried me further. Was I "over" golf like a teenager is "over" their former BFF? It seems ridiculous to trivialize it like that, but when you feel nothing towards something you once enjoyed, you tend to be "over" it.

But somehow I knew I wasn't "over" it. I can't explain how I knew it - I just knew. And if I wasn't over golf, then what? I didn't play all that much last year - perhaps the lack of playing time contributed to my apathy? At the time, I also had an 11-month-old (now 15 months) pulling my attention away from golf - maybe the game wasn't as important to me as it used to be? Or perhaps it was a combination of all these things?

Whatever the reason was, for that brief moment in time, I could care less about golf. But that moment passed as fast as it came and I was back out on the course in November thoroughly enjoying myself. Today, I can confidently report that I'm truly excited about playing again this spring - in fact, I'm even excited about going to the indoor golf range next weekend!

So, can you lose the will to golf (or to do anything else for that matter)? Absolutely. And even more unnerving; there may be no rhyme or reason as to why. In my case, it was a brief adulterous act in a long love affair with this game. But, I'm "over" it.

Golf Tournament Hype

2012-01-23T08:00:00.002-05:00

The fans are excited. The anticipation has been building all week. Fans are talking about it amongst their friends, family and co-workers. Everyone is expecting to see some of the best play they've seen all season. Everyone is expecting to see greatness. And this isn't even the championship! Then what is it you ask? It's the Chevron World Challenge!

Ha! I fooled ya, didn't I? I know you thought I was talking about the NFL and Championship Sunday. Well, I don't blame you. Seeing the two best teams from each conference square off against one another to decide which teams go to the Super Bowl is pretty exciting. But that's not how it is in golf.

See, this is what I've been talking about. The NFL ends the season with it's most exciting games leading up to the Super Bowl - a championship game. But the second to last tournament of the PGA season is the Chevron World Challenge. Practically meaningless. But not quite as meaningless as the final tournament - the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

So what do I mean by meaningless? Well, name me one sport, other than golf, that puts it's "playoffs" right in the middle of the season. You can't. Stupid, right? The PGA "playoffs" are made up of four tournaments in August and September. But for some reason, the season doesn't end after the playoffs. No, us golf fans are treated to a myriad of meaningless tournaments after the playoffs have ended!

So why is it so mixed up in golf? Why wouldn't they simply put the playoffs at the end of the season like everyone else? This is all part of what I've been getting at. And it was on full display leading up to this football weekend, and will be on full display again over the next two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. For cryin' out loud, the NFL gets more attention when there are no games going on during the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl than the PGA Tour gets during their two biggest tournaments of the year combined! That should tell you enough!

Ah, I'm spouting off again. But I just can't help myself. It's such an easy target. One day the powers that be in the world of the PGA will pull their heads out of their 19th holes and get with the program. But until then, well, I'll keep tryin'...

Swing 'til you're happy!

Tax Season Golfer.

2012-01-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

The new year has Auld Lang Syne'd it's way in bringing the resolutions and all that other happy horse crap with it. For some, the new year means a fresh start, for others it's a reason for self-improvement and for a distinct group...tax refund time! This group can easily be recognized. They were the ones that spent their lunch hour on turbotax.com the day they got their W-2's.

I'm not knocking them, I was once a part of that group. Actually, I wish I could go back to those days...so much simpler. W-2 came in, W-2 got filed, done. Not to mention it also meant golf season was getting closer. You know, I couldn't wait to get my refund check because it just so happened that some of the golf shops were still selling off last seasons stuff at discount prices and I just happened to have a little extra income, how convenient.

How times have changed. I used to be able to take a good chunk of that refund and apply it to golf and all that associated with it. Today, if I get a refund, golf and golf related stuff doesn't quite sit so high on the priority list. I guess real life gets in the way. The dream of making the tour has faded and at least I can say it's not because I didn't try, it's because I suck at golf.

The most important part for me is that golf season is approaching. Considering it's been a milder winter than normal, it looks as if I'll be getting out sooner. Oh, and to update you on my visit to Narnia in my post two weeks ago, I fought off the evil dudes, cast a couple spells, restored it back to normal and found my golf clubs. What does this have to do with tax refunds? I don't know...I was just going off a little.

Last year's golf season was a wash due to surgery and recovery but this year will be better. I didn't make a resolution this year either so why not start with one now to play more golf? This works because it's not a stretch. If I play 10 rounds it will exceed last years total. I like this resolution, it's something to look forward to.

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

What is Golf Art?

2012-01-18T07:55:00.000-05:00

My post last week about that golf bag telephone really got me thinking about why these golf nicknacks are created in the first place. And then it occurred to me that these things are, technically speaking anyhow, a form of art.

A telephone in the shape of a golf bag is art you say?

My wife has a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts). She's always said; "if the person who created it calls it art, then it's art." It doesn't matter if it's just a canvas splattered with paint shot out of a cannon at 500 paces - if the guy lighting the canon fuse calls it art, then we're perfectly justified in hanging it on our wall.

So let's get back to my golf bag telephone for a second. Pat from New York (who emailed me to win said phone last week) considers it art, even though I didn't. He plans on displaying it in his house with pride. And for Pat, it's not just static art, but it's functional art too (after all, it's a phone to boot). Pour yourself a glass of wine, pull up a chair and admire it, Pat!

But let's face it, when we think about golf, we think about things like the tours, or courses, or clubs & balls. When we think about the golf industry, apparel and equipment retailers come to mind. But we forget that this multi-billion dollar industry includes a place for art too. And I'm not just talking about the golf bag telephone anymore.

Take a look at the images below:

That, my friends, is golf art. I spied those at a touristy-type store in the historic district of Albuquerque. Both are created using golf things (parts of a club, a ball, tees - even the crown on the bird's head in the top photo is pieces of a soft spike)! It takes a certain breed to put those kinds of tchotchkes in your home, and I'm not among them. But you can't deny, it's art.

Of course, art also includes paintings and there is no shortage of golf paintings out there - observe the two distinctly different ones below:

My eye was drawn to painting on top, while my wife (the artist) chose the one on the bottom as being attractive.

And what about the subject in the aforementioned paintings - the courses. Are they not art in and of themselves? Walking down a quiet fairway on a perfect day - as far as I'm concerned, when you're on the golf course, you're surrounded in amazing art. The way the green distinguishes itself from the fairway and rough; the gorgeous vista from the tee; a ball that softly landed a foot from the cup - to me, this is all art - and I'm sure the course designer considered it as much. Heck, one could argue that the new forged wedge in my bag is a work of art! (OK, maybe I'm getting a little carried away).

But let's try to answer my original question: What is golf art? Perhaps an appropriate way to answer that would be to rearrange the question into a statement...

Golf is art.

The Mental Grind Of Golf

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

So as some of you may know by now, I've been droning on in the past about the PGA's need (in my opinion) to restructure the tour stops, create some type of a playoff system and create a "real" PGA Championship. Whether you agree with me or not, you'd have to admit that I've got to be onto something. At the very least, I'm trying to make the tour more exciting!

But last week, after my post about restructuring and streamlining the tour, we received a comment from our buddies over at Three Guys Golf. Referring to the reason golfers skip so many tournaments, the statement "too much of a mental grind" was used. This got me thinking about two points. One having to do with my PGA playoff pursuit, the other just a general thought on the "mental grind."

Firstly, the season schedule/playoff angle. I understand that no player can or is going to participate in every tournament from January to December. There are just too many (50 last year!). But that's where it starts - shortening the season. Why not have a season that runs from March or April through October with November designated for playoffs and a championship? Why not shorten the season to twenty or so tournaments and a few opens? Make every tour stop count toward a playoff seed. That way everyone will pretty much have to participate in just about all of the stops in order to give themselves a better shot at a higher seed. Cutting out some of the tournaments will create more star-studded stops along the way. I would have to imagine this would mean a better turnout at the gate, as well as a better TV rating.

Secondly, the "mental grind" aspect. As for the reason PGA tour players can't play every week or even every other week being due to the mental grind? I'm sorry, but I have to call B.S. on that. Now I realize that the popular school of thought is that it takes great mental strength to play professional golf. And I do not doubt this for a minute. However, I highly doubt the degree to which it is exaggerated. What I mean by that is, it takes a high level of mental strength to play any sport professionally. But the old-school thought of the "well-educated, well-raised" golfer vs. the "dumb jock" that plays any other sport still exists to a certain degree. Has anyone ever seen an actual NFL playbook or heard an actual play called in a huddle? It's mind-boggling! And to think that these plays need to be communicated from a sideline, called and understood in a huddle and executed in less than 40 seconds is incredible.

I understand that a great deal goes into a golf swing. But at the same time, a great deal goes into a baseball swing, a football pass, a basketball shot or a hockey shot. Not too mention, there are plays, formations, audibles, defensive positioning and situational decisions that need to be made in a matter of seconds. And all of this happens in a venue containing thousands of screaming fans. A golfer on the other hand stands in almost complete silence so he or she can concentrate, walks the course with an assistant and has basically one job...swing a club. Not too mention, they can pretty much take as long as they choose to do this. I'm sorry but, the mental grind? I don't want to hear about it.

Further, I think part of the reason the "mental" part of the game is so emphasized by golfers is to make up for the fact there is so little of a physical aspect to it in comparison to other sports. I mean, outside of a handshake at the end of a round and maybe a hi-five with their caddie, there is no other physical contact throughout their round. Now, if a professional baseball player can play 162 games in a span of roughly 190 days, sometimes playing as many as ten to twelve consecutive days, then a golfer should be able to handle his or her schedule. Hell, if a professional football player can play his sport, sixteen times in seventeen weeks, then for Pete's sake come on! This is a sport which is so rough it has been shown to shorten the life expectancy of it's players. A sport that, on any given play as many as 21 of the 22 players on the field (if the QB doesn't get hit) have some sort of physical, many times violent, contact occur.

A golfer experiences none of this. They don't have any physical contact with anyone, they don't run, they don't jump...they don't even carry their own equipment!! But they can't handle a certain schedule because they have to think too hard? Ha!

My point here is certainly not to poke fun at a comment made, but to attempt to explain how ridiculous this popular way of thinking sounds. And it is popular! It seems the majority of golfers who take their game serious believe their sport somehow requires a greater mental capacity to play than any other sport. And if you don't play, then you must be some sort of a mental midget. It's an unfair way of thinking. It's pretty much the equivalent of a pro football player saying "Golf? What, are you too much of a pansy to play something else? Or was the chess team already full?"

Look, what it simply comes down to is, this is golf. Is it a tough sport to play? Sure. But every sport played on the professional level is. Does it require a great amount of mental ability? Sure. But again, every sport played on the professional level does. But thinking too hard is no excuse for not playing.

But to the original point, my attempt here has been to come up with some ways to draw additional interest to the PGA Tour. And if shortening the season and playing fewer tournaments will do this, then it at least deserves some consideration. I know it's probably unrealistic, but with a sport fading in both viewership and participation, it would be best for the tour to be proactive rather than reactive. Maybe my ideas aren't what the tour is looking for, but they'd better start coming up with something. Because slowly but surely, they're running out of time.

Try not to think. Just swing 'til you're happy!

Golf Course Country Club...Crashing?

2012-01-13T12:00:00.003-05:00

I'm pretty sure most of us have seen the movie "Wedding Crashers". If not, I recommend watching it. In short, it's a film about two bachelors (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) that crash weddings in search of free food, drinks and to pick up women. Call them want you want: Freeloaders, scumbags, whatever. I'm also pretty sure that the thought of doing this at least once has bounced around in our heads. Maybe as a to-do on the ol' bucket list?

A buddy of mine (ABOM), in perhaps his not so proudest of moments, informed me of a "Wedding Crashers" variation he has participated in - crashing golf tournaments. The best part is he doesn't even play golf. Naturally, my first question was "If you don't play golf, WTF are you doing at a golf tourney?" ABOM then enlightened me on his motive. He said he shows up at the end for the dinner and open bar. Intrigued I was.

"Go on...I'm listening" I replied. ABOM proceeded to fill in the details; He said the most important thing was to look the part. The golf logo hat, shirt and golf shoes he borrowed from his brother that were a size too small. He even went as far as to button the top button on his polo shirt. I was impressed by his attention to detail. I'm not sure if they do that anymore, but for someone who doesn't golf, he really did his research. ABOM's theory was to look as authentic as possible and not raise suspicion.

The story gets better. This particular tournament (which, he crashed with a co-conspirator) was, as he put it, "a perfect set-up." Meaning there was a buffet-style dinner and open bar. There were no seating arrangements or anything like that. As a matter of fact, ABOM sat at the bar and freeloaded like a bandit. "This can't get any better" he thought. Until he saw his boss, who just happened to be one of the organizers of the event.

"Crap!" he thought. Well, it was more of a slow-mo "Ohhhhhh shhhhhiiiittttt!" "I gotta get the f$#@ out of here!" As he frantically planned his escape, the thought of his boss exposing him made it even worse. All he could think about was how much of an asshole he was going to look like (not to mention the possibility of losing his job). Luckily, ABOM's accomplice was able to run interference allowing the exit strategy to be executed flawlessly. My final question to him; "Would you do it again?" His reply "Why not..."

*ABOM did make it a point to mention to me that he would only crash tournaments that do not benefit any charities. It's good to know there is honor amongst scumbags. And no, ABOM is not really me.

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

What To Do With Your Crappy Golf Gifts?

2012-01-11T07:55:00.000-05:00

It happens every Christmas without fail...Someone (typically a non-golfer) will give me a crappy, useless golf gift that will just clutter-up my attic. Oh, they mean well, but they should know better.

"But my co-worker (or neighbor, or cousin or concubine) loves golf. Why shouldn't I buy them that little desktop golfer figurine with the plaid pants?"

I think the answer is obvious: Because regardless of if they like golf or not, a little golfer figurine for your office is just plain stupid.

For me, this past holiday was no different (see photo below).

Yes, that is what it looks like: A golf bag telephone. Let me restate that: A foot and a half tall golf bag telephone. OK, I know what you're thinking; It's the thought that counts.

But seriously, where am I supposed to put that thing? First off, I don't even have a home phone line, so actually using it is out. Secondly, even if I could use it, there'd be no space left on my desk to do any work!

So what should I do with it? Is there a place you can send all your kitsch to have it recycled? If only.

I ran across a mommy blogger complaining about holiday tchotchkes she received as gifts and one commenter suggested to donate the stuff to Goodwill. That's actually not a bad idea - I'll bet someone will get excited over this thing.

Of course, there are a plethora of golfers who read this blog. Perhaps one of you can use this to complete that golf-themed den you've been working on for the past 10 years?

So here's the deal: Email me at greg@golfstinks.com if you want this phone (include your snail mail address)! If I get multiple requests (doubtful, but you never know) then I'll randomly choose someone. If I don't get any requests (entirely plausible), then it's off to the Goodwill.

Upon which, one of my crazy aunts will probably stumble across it, buy it and re-gift it to me for next Christmas.

A few notes on this phone: It didn't come in a box, so there are no instructions. And since I don't have a landline, I haven't actually checked that it works. It seems to be in rather good condition though. Hey, what do you want for free?

**UPDATE! Congrats to Pat from New York - he was one of several people (believe it or not) interested in owning the golf bag telephone! According to Pat, the phone is going to reside in his "downstairs recreation area." Enjoy it Pat - obviously you'll get more use out of it than I would have!**

More Crazy PGA Playoff Ideas

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here watching the NFL Playoffs and I catch a commercial or two for a golf tournament. A golf tournament? Are you kidding? They say this is the first tournament of 2012. Well, I guess it is. It's just earlier than I expected. For cryin' out loud, the last tournament of 2011 just wrapped up a month ago! But now, along comes the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Someone help me because I don't know - Has golf always been a year round sport on the professional level? Wouldn't that cause fans to become a bit "golfed out?" I know it would for me. I mean, the off-season is one month long? Sorry, but that's just not long enough. As much as I love football, I need the off-season. It gives me the break I need so I don't get tired of a sport I love. If it was going on for eleven out of the twelve months of the year, I'd probably be bored of it.

Am I wrong, or would golf benefit from a shorter season? Do people get golfed out? I really don't follow the tour, and that's one of the reasons why. The season's just too long. And I would have to imagine many of these tournaments are somewhat "inconsequential." And if a tournament doesn't really matter, then that diminishes the interest.

I think the PGA Tour as a whole could benefit from a shorter, more focused season. If there was some type of a playoff system, then I'm sure every individual tournament could mean much more to both the fans, as well as the players themselves.

Further, if the season were to be shorter and a playoff system instituted, then due to the importance of each tournament, players would be less apt to skip any, thus creating a better chance at a star-studded field every weekend. Could you imagine Tom Brady just sitting out two or three games because they don't matter? Yeah, I know that some NFL teams will sit a couple of players during the last week of the season, but that's 1 game in 16.

Let's look at the PGA Tour numbers. Last year there were 50 tour stops. 50! Now, there were four weekends on which two tournaments were played. So, since you can't be in two places at once, that leaves 46 potential tournaments to play. Now, of the 445 players who played in a PGA Tournament last year, only 26 of them played in 30 or more tournaments, with the most being 35. So, even the player who played most often still skipped 11 tournaments! Doesn't that just get on your nerves - that players pick and choose when they want to play? That's like Aaron Rodgers sitting himself for four games, or Kobe Bryant sitting himself for twenty. What if Albert Pujols didn't play in over 40 games because they just weren't important enough? Are you serious?! It's ridiculous, but it happens week in and week out during the PGA season.

How about if that was eliminated? How could it be you ask? Make every tournament matter. Trim the fat and streamline the schedule. Make it so more players play in more tournaments. Make them count toward an end of season playoff for a real championship.

I've got several ideas to get this done. Besides this one, I've previously discussed a road to an actual PGA Championship as well as a championship itself. Someday I'll figure out how to get these combined into one revolutionary idea. And someday, maybe the right people will take it into consideration. Hey, after all, I'm just trying to help!

Swing 'til you're happy!

Golfer's Almanac

2012-01-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Technically, the "Golfer's Almanac" is a book that compiles lists of records, award winners, stats and all that other stuff. What I'm looking for is a golfer's almanac based on the Farmer's Almanac. I'm not knocking the original "Golfer's Almanac". I'm pretty sure a lot of research and work went into it but I need something geared for me. I don't know, something that deals with the weather maybe?

At the end of this past golf season, I buried my clubs so deep in the cave, a.k.a. my garage, that I'll need to send a canary in to make sure it's safe to retrieve them. Why? I'll tell you why. After last years brutal winter and record breaking snowfall, I figured if this year is half as bad there's no chance I could squeeze in a winter round. I know, I know...rookie mistake.

Now, here it is almost a week into January and I could have been playing all along. WTF! I can't win. Today for instance, it's gonna be about 50 degrees...that's like 85 degrees in Florida.You kidding me?!?! A northeast winter day that hits 50 degrees is shorts weather and tomorrow is going to be the same if not warmer. I really screwed myself.

Not to mention I could have put one of my Christmas gifts to good use. My brother, the thoughtful person he is, got me the Kooler Klub. Yes, you all know the one I'm talking about. The thermos that looks like a wood and holds approximately 48 ounces of your favorite libation. It would have been perfect. A little holiday "spirit" to help me get over all the snowmen.

I can't blame El Niño, his sister La Niña or even the 30% accurate weather man for this mild winter. Gut instinct told me it would be mild but, nooooo, I let outside sources (i.e. the significant other) influence me. Now, I spend my days staring at the garage door like it's the entrance to Narnia. F@$% it! I'm going in...where's that canary?

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

Only a Club-Breaking Cheater calls Golf a Sport!

2012-01-04T07:55:00.000-05:00

Throughout the year, we bloggers at Golfstinks like to poll our valued readers on all things golf. In 2010, we received some interesting poll results and this past year was no different.

We conducted several polls in 2011, and below we highlight the results of five of them. What have we learned? Well, that golfers are drinkers and club-breakers and cheaters, of course!

Let's begin in October, when we asked how you cheat at golf. Mind you, we already knew you were a cheater...we just wanted to know how. Are you a rule-bender or a rule-breaker? Turns out 78% of the 37 respondents are rule-benders (golfers who will take the occasional Mulligan or gimmie putt, etc.). Just 8% of you were rule-breakers (golfers who will kick their ball to a better lie or conveniently forget to take a stroke when the situation warrants it). Which leaves 13% of you as liars - or those who claim to neither bend nor break the rules.

Back in February, we wanted to know if you've ever broken a club in anger. Well, the majority (62%) of you haven't. But of the 48 golfers who took this poll, 29% said they've broken a club in anger once. Interestingly, 8% admit to being an "occasional" club-breaker. We wish we were a little more specific in this poll answer (e.g. what does "occasional" mean)? Either way, golfers beware: Club-breakers are out there, so don't let them get their hands on your new Callaway!

In September, we asked the age-old question; Is golf a sport? We received some interesting comments both for and against it being a sport (many see it as just a "game"). But the poll results were not as split. Of the 51 respondents, 62% said yes, golf is indeed a sport; while 37% said no it wasn't. There's still time to vote is this poll - so feel free to add your 2 cents!

In another February poll, we wanted to know how often you visited the 19-hole after your round. Well, according this this poll (and its 59 respondents), it seems about a third of the golfers out there typically belly-up to the bar after nearly every round. What's interesting is that another third typically skip the 19th-hole altogether and head home. And what about the final third? Well, for them it depends - about half the time they'll head in for a drink or some food, while the other half of the time they'll just hit the road. Ah the lonely life of a 19th-hole bar tender...

Our final 2011 poll is from June, when we wanted to know if golf daily deal sites were putting traditional golf merchants out of business. Well, 47% (out of the 69 respondents) answered in the negative, while just 26% said "yes" - golf daily deal sites were indeed killing traditional golf businesses. What made this poll interesting though was that 26% also said it was "too early to tell" if golf deal sites were bad for traditional establishments. Thus there seems to be some concern about these daily deal sites and their potential impact within the golf world - which may not bode too well for an already struggling industry.

So, all you club-breaking cheaters who call golf a sport - Keep an eye out for more interesting golf polls from Golfstinks in 2012!

Related Posts:
You Beer-Drinking, Cigar-Smoking, Club-Throwing, Late-Arriving, Sorry Excuse for a Golfer!

Another Shot At My New Year's Golf Resolution

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again - New Year's resolution time. A time of empty promises. A time of hollow intentions. Approximately a month away from a time of letdown. It's nothing new. Same thing year in and year out.

Last year I made the mistake of going against my "No New Year's Resolutions" rule when I made a silly resolution regarding my golf game. No, it had nothing to do with game improvement. It was simply a resolution to play more golf. But, like all other New Year's resolutions I've made in the past, it fell flat. I didn't play any more. As a matter of fact, I may even have played less!

But did I learn my lesson? No, of course not. I'm making the same golf resolution as I did last year. I resolve to play more golf this coming year. But I think this time I can make it happen.

So why is this year going to be different? I don't know. I just have a good feeling about it. No specific reason. It's just that I know how I felt this past year when I didn't get much chance to play. It was terrible. Especially considering I had that shiny new set of clubs to use for a full season. A year later, they're almost as shiny as when they were brand new. That's a terrible feeling! It's like playing a game of football and leaving with a clean uniform.

With that said, what am I going to do to make it happen? After all, I said the same thing last year. Well, I'm going to have to start by trying to plan further ahead of time. Maybe if I set aside a few weekends specifically for golf, that could help. Possibly another golf trip - it's been a while since I've done that!

Well whatever methods I choose to instill, I'm determined to make it happen. Even if it's just one more round this year than last. Hell, I'll even settle for just nine more holes, as long as I play more than last year!

Swing 'til you're happy! I resolve to do so!

The Top Golf Stinks Blog Posts of 2011!

2011-12-30T07:55:00.000-05:00

So it's the end of December and 2012 is right around the corner. But before we pop the bubbly and don our party hats tomorrow night, we here at the Golf Stinks blog would like to thank our readers for their continued support!

And to do that, we're going to carry on with the tradition we started two years ago: It's time to reveal our top ten posts of 2011 (based on page hits)!

Number 10

The Beginning of the End to my Golf Season - In September, Stinky Golfer Chris explains why the start of the NFL season pretty much marks the end of his (as well as many others') golf season.

Number 9

Golf Course Bankrupt? Blame Tiger Woods - Way back in January, Stinky Golfer Greg pondered why more and more golf courses are going belly-up these days and is led to conclude it's all Tiger's fault!

Number 8

Analysis: What Makes a Golf Course Great - In March, we revealed the analysis results of our "What Makes A Golf Course Great" survey. The results may surprise you!

Number 7

Don't Dress Like a Fool on the Golf Course - In this April guest post from Joe Sponcia over at Pillars of Golf, you will learn how not to dress for a round of golf!

Number 6

Why Golf is Aggravating - In this "reality bites" post, Stinky Golfer Pete comes to the frustrating conclusion that average hacks will always be average hacks.

Number 5

Variations on the Game of Golf - Project Flogton - In his continuing series on alternate versions of golf, Stinky Golfer Chris explores the ~~cheating~~ interesting format of Project Flogton.

Number 4

Does Golf Apparel and Equipment Fuel the "Rich Man's Sport" Stereotype? - Stinky Golfer Chris tackles one of the biggest stereotypes in the game - that you have to be rich to play golf. He suggests that merchandise retailers (and their marketing efforts) aren't helping.

Number 3

Why Do Non-Golfers Play in Golf Tournaments? - In this post from August, Stinky Golfer Chris ponders why people who rarely play golf, play in golf tournaments - could it be the food?

Number 2

5 Reasons Why They Hate Golf - In July, Stinky Golfer Greg provides his explanations as to why some people just don't appreciate this game we know and love.

And receiving the most page views in 2011...

Number 1

10 Golf Etiquette Rules Most Jackasses Ignore - In this April post, Stinky Golfer Greg lists his biggest golfer pet peeves in a no-holds-barred rant about cell-phone use; playing from the wrong tee-box; and giving unwanted swing advice.

So there you have it; our top posts of 2011! Thanks again to all our readers - without average hacks like you, golf just wouldn't be the same!

Best wishes for 2012!

-The Golfstinks Team

Related Posts:
The Top Golf Stinks Blog Posts of 2010!
The Top Golf Stinks Blog Posts of 2009!

Happy Holidays To Our Fellow Stinky Golfers!

2011-12-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

The holidays are great. But the holidays are exhausting as well. Everyone agree? The running around. The hustle and bustle. The last minute everything! Sometimes you can feel like you need a vacation from being on vacation! Like you need to get back to work in order to get some rest!

Well honestly, it's no different for us here at golfstinks either. Stinky golfers Greg, Pete and myself all work to consistently put up whatever content we can. Be it informative, comical, sarcastic or just plain off-the-wall...we're doing the best we can to keep it comin' year round.

Obviously, we do things a little different around here. As you all know by now, we're not really covering/following the tours. We're not reviewing equipment. And we're certainly not trying to give you any swing advice! Lord knows none of us are qualified to do any of these things! But that also doesn't keep us from going on about the game we love. We just do it from the standpoint of your average, everyday hack. And believe it or not...that's not as easy as it sounds! Especially when all of us are working regular full-time jobs, raising kids, maintaining a relationship, family, home, etc. Or, all of the above!

Hence the need for a break/vacation. And friends, that's exactly what we're doing right now. We've been running around like chickens with our heads cut off for the past few days. So much so that we're among those people who need to get back to work in order to get some rest! So until Friday, we're not going to say a thing about golf except to say...

Happy holidays to all of our fellow golfers...stinky and non-stinky! We thank you for your continued support! And don't forget...

Swing 'til you're happy!

Golf Clubs?! I Got Your Golf Clubs Right Here...Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

In my post a couple weeks ago, I broke some balls about getting fitted for clubs. It was an attempt at being funny about shooting poorly and blaming it on the clubs. I know, I know...I won't quit my day job. Comedy's not my schtick. All jokes aside though, having a set of clubs that you are comfortable with definitely benefits your game. The only problem was that I had to figure it out the hard way.

Growing up with non-golfers, my only exposure to the game consisted of maybe catching Watson, Norman, Strange or Stewart on TV for a hole or two on Sunday afternoon. Oh, wait...I can't forget my mother's cousin, Vincenzo from Jersey, who traveled around with a nine iron in the trunk of his Lincoln Continental. Never quite understood that...nor do I want to. Nevertheless, that little taste of golf was enough to spark a curiosity. The problem was, how do I get started in this game?

Enter Stinky Golfer Greg. He pretty much gave me my first set of clubs. You see, if I asked for a set of clubs for Christmas...well...read the title. Basically, I was on my own. Fast forward 12 years or so and I'm glad it worked out this way. You don't want someone who has never played golf to buy you clubs. Especially me, I'm a lefty. And Greg just happened to have a left-handed friend who bought a new set a few years earlier, but he wasn't using them. That made all the difference for me. Instead of a mix-match set of garage sale clubs, I had a complete set of cavity backs.

Now, in the beginning, your clubs might not make a difference, but as your game develops they will. I'm not saying you have to spend a fortune on clubs, but if you are going to play on a regular basis, I would consider investing in a set and not necessarily settling for a set. Hey, it's the holiday season. Treat yourself or a loved one to the fine game of golf.

Hit'em long...yell Fore!!! Happy Holidays!

When Golf & Skiing Tied the Knot

2011-12-21T07:55:00.000-05:00

As we push into late December, I'm constantly reminded (via radio, TV and billboard advertisements) that besides being the holiday season, it's also skiing season. Here in New England, the prime ski location is Vermont - and one such ski mecca in the Green Mountain State is a place called Okemo.

Okemo's advertisements are everywhere - images of snowboarders getting major air on a halfpipe or a family of four gliding cheerfully down a picturesque slope. But this excitement conjures up nada in me. Nope, when I hear the name "Okemo" I immediately think summertime and envision one of the top golf courses in Vermont.

In case you haven't guessed, I'm not a skier. I've never been skiing and have never really had any desire to attempt it. But the irony is, I've been to some awesome ski resorts. Let's take Okemo as an example - what was once a name only recognizable by skiers, now boasts several accolades...for golf:

Best Public Course in Vermont, 2006 Golfweek

Top 50 Courses in America, 2003 Golf For Women

Top Modern Club in Vermont, Golfweek

Best New Course in America nominee, Golf Digest

When you think about it, it makes sense to put a golf course at a ski resort. But what's interesting is golfing at ski resorts is a relatively new phenomenon. According to the April/May 2011 edition of Cigar Aficionado, turning a ski resort into a year-round attraction is big business - for both the resort and the surrounding towns:

All of the big ski resort operators such as Intrawest, Aspen Skiing Co., Vail Resorts and Boyne Resorts, along with many smaller peers, have turned their focus from selling lift tickets to selling real estate. To do this, they have had to offer more than just skiing. The new mountain town mantra is "lifestyle," and for more than a decade, once sleepy or even chichi ski towns have been busy repositioning themselves as year-round centers of sport and culture, building performing arts centers, sushi bars, bike trails, village centers, parks, ziplines and, most of all, golf courses.

To me this is extremely smart. Not just because of the obvious (that you can stay open year-round), but because I feel golfers and skiers are cut from a different cloth. Sure there may be some overlap, but for the most part, skiers are adventurers, while golfers are more pragmatic. Economically, this is a brilliant marriage, because the ski resort is not only reaching more people, but also reaching different types of people.

But the golfers have it slightly better (as the Cigar Aficionado article acknowledges):

[Ski towns] are famous around the globe and synonymous with luxury vacation hospitality, but even in ski season, most of their appeal and most of the time spent by visitors is off the slopes. All of these ancillary benefits, from fine dining to five-star lodging, can still be enjoyed in golf season, though without the crowds—and usually at much more reasonable prices.

And this is true - my experience playing at ski resort courses has always been great golf, at a great price, in a relaxed and quite atmosphere. Of course, as more people begin realizing these ski resort golf courses are out there, the more busy they will become.

But for now, the fact that these places have two very distinct atmospheres (depending on when you visit) will remain intact. For example, when you click on Okemo's website during the winter, you don't even realize they have a golf course! It's as if they're marketing department has recognized the two clientele are complete opposites.

Click on that same URL in the summer, and the golf course takes center stage. I've actually had conversations with skiers who mention Okemo and I'll say something like "Oh, I love Okemo!" And they'll look at me rather puzzled - they'll ask: "I thought you didn't ski?"

I guess the marketing is working.

Secret Santa Gifts For Golfers

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again...The time for last minute gift shopping. If you're like me, then every year you wait until the last possible minute to finish up your holiday shopping. And someone who almost always comes within mere hours of being left out in the cold is the person I've pulled for my Secret Santa.

Even as I write this, I am less than two days from my company's holiday party, and I have yet to purchase a gift for him. And to make it even a bit tougher on me...he's not a golfer! So I have no idea where to even begin. Ah, who am I kidding - he's getting a bottle of something. Only if this guy would take up golf, I'd have some great ideas for Secret Santa gifts.

If you've followed any of my previous posts regarding holiday gifts (A Few Golf Items Not Under My Tree and It's Christmas in July for Golfers) you'll see that some of my ideas were on the expensive side. But this time, I need to keep costs down due to our Secret Santa spending limit. Well that and I'm poor. But along with a gift from me comes a bit of my sense of humor. So lets just say, these gifts might not be for everyone. With that being said, lets start with this one:

Ah, the Potty Putter. Now that's a classic. For everyone who believes spending a little time on the ol' porcelain throne is quite the waste of time, then here's a great opportunity to turn it into quality time. Why not leave a scorecard along with it? Play a game with whoever follows you in? OK, maybe that's pushing it a little bit. But you know what's not? This:

What could go better with the potty putter than a roll of 19th hole bath tissue? I don't know about you, but sometimes you just need a little something fresh for the reading room. After all, it's called the reading room for a reason, no?

But what about something that your Secret Santa gift recipient could use out on the course? Well, how about this golf bag?

Now this looks like something quite convenient. A nice little pouch that could give you easy access to your balls. Sort of a ball bag for your golf bag. Nothing can intimidate another golfer more than carrying your balls on the outside. Why is everyone giggling? I don't get it.

OK, so the guy I have to buy for isn't a golfer, but maybe your stocking stuffer or Secret Santa recipient is. But not just a golfer - it has to be a golfer with a sense of humor. A golfer who would appreciate a bit of bathroom humor. Or someone who would just like the convenience of having a ball sack hanging off of their golf bag....oooohhhhh....I get it now. Funny stuff! In case anyone is reading this and has me for Secret Santa...see above.

Swing 'til you're happy!

Using Your Head At Golf...Literally

2011-12-16T11:30:00.001-05:00

With the recent suspension of the Pittsburgh Steeler's James Harrison for that helmet-to-helmet concussion-inducing lick he dropped on the Cleveland Brown's QB Colt McCoy, it had me wondering about head injuries. Moreso, about the recent call to action for all sports to raise awareness to the severity of head injuries.

I remember when I was younger a lot of these injuries were passed off as a "stinger" or "you got your bell rung" when in fact these could have had traumatic long term effects. Surprisingly, golf also has its share of head injuries.

The following is an excerpt from research Golf Digest did on head injuries in golf:

Accidents often occur when golfers are fooling around. Most at risk are newcomers to the game, particularly children. In 1997, nearly 25 percent of all golf-related injuries occurred to children age 5 to 14. Even more striking, a recent study from Scotland reported that 40 percent of all sport-related head injuries among children were related to golf. Many of these injuries are caused not by golf balls, but by golf clubs, often as a result of kids playing with their parents' clubs at home.

This is not to mention, the ER sees about 40,000 golf injuries annually. On the bright side though, very rarely are these injuries fatal. Another interesting point is that Pro-Am tournaments turn out their fair share of injuries...but not to the golfers; On tour, it's the spectators who need to watch out. I can see it now, the gallery gathers around the tee box for Jim Furyk's drive but make the mistake of not moving when Jim's partner, Charles Barkley, tees off. The next thing you know, Sir Charles' ball is bouncing off onlookers' heads like a pinball machine. Good thing is you'll probably only make that mistake once.

All jokes aside, head injuries are very serious and I'm glad more attention is being brought to this issue. Having played a bunch of sports and having had "my bell rung" a few times I can tell you...it's not fun. So, the next time you're out on the course and your buddy takes one off of his melon, look for these tell-tale signs courtesy of the Mayo Clinic and get help immediately.

Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes

No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented

Memory or concentration problems

Headache

Dizziness or loss of balance

Nausea or vomiting

Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouth

Sensitivity to light or sound

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!! Use your head.

POLL: Is Golf Stuff On Your Holiday Wish List?

2011-12-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

Every year around the beginning of December, my wife asks me what I want for Christmas. This year, I asked for a forged set of...wait for it...J.A. Henckles. In case you're not familiar with this German company, they make culinary knives, not golf clubs.

The funny thing is I'm not much of a chef. I do make a mean salsa, but it's not like I blog about my cooking skills. Golf, on the other hand, I do blog about. But the thought of asking her for golf clubs, or even something golf-related, never even crossed my mind.

To go a step further, I don't even remember a year in which something golf-related was on my wish list! I never really thought about it until now, but I guess much of this boils down to two reasons:

First, I'm very particular about what I buy myself for golf. I have to get certain clubs, certain balls, etc. But secondly, I guess I've always thought of golf as my personal hobby. My wife doesn't play golf. So when I make a golf-related purchase, it's something I've researched, tried-out and saved up for - it's never been something left up to others to get for me.

Thus, my Christmas list has always consisted of things like a new watch, or new shoes or forged knives - not golf stuff. Oh don't get me wrong, I've received golf gifts that I haven't asked for - some of which have been helpful, and others that have been, well, re-gifted (I've heard through the family grape-vine that I'm set to receive a telephone in the shape of a golf bag this December 25th from a cousin on my wife's side...I can hardly wait).

Anyway, what about you? Are you receiving fabulous golf gifts from your spouse while I'm too anal to even put them on my wish list? I don't know, but somehow, I feel as if I could be missing out.

Is Golf Stuff on your Holiday Wish List?

Oh No! I've Lost My Golf Hook-Up!

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Doesn't everyone just love that guy/girl that's got your hook-up? You know, the one who can get you something from somewhere for free or cheap? Maybe it was something that...ah-ahem..."Fell off a truck." Or, when you ask where they came across this particular product, the response is "Don't worry about it...I got a guy." Who can't appreciate that?

When I was a kid, it was a few friends who worked at McDonald's, Dairy Queen and Dunkin' Donuts. As I got older, it turned into a buddy who was a mechanic. My wife even managed to find someone who just happens to come across inexpensive televisions. Nice! And speaking of my wife, I was even lucky enough to befriend a jeweler years ago. Boy I'll tell ya, you don't realize how badly you're getting screwed by a jewelry store until you bring them a diamond ring you purchased from a private jeweler and they tell you they would price it at almost three times what you paid! Now that's a hook-up!

But speaking of my wife, I'm not ashamed to say that I had been using her as a hook-up also. Thanks to her job in the golf industry, I've played golf courses for a fraction of the regular cost as well as purchased my custom-fit clubs for about half of what it would normally cost. However, that all appears to be gone now. In a move that, for several reasons had to be made, my wife quit her job in the industry and has decided to turn her part-time photography business into her full-time work.

While I of course wish her the best, I will certainly miss the hook-up aspect of the previous job. See, I didn't play a whole heck of a lot of golf this year. And of the few times I did manage to get out and play, it was at the benefit of my wife's hookups. So what am I going to do without her?

Of course, her new pursuit has already found me someone who has done my brakes for a great price. It's also found me an electronics repair guy who can hopefully save me a few bucks as well. Both are great hookups, but it's still not golf.

I'm worried that without the "hook-up motivation" I may not be out on the course any more next season than I was this one. So I guess we'll have to see what the off-season brings. You never know, maybe photography will bring her in contact with someone else in the golf industry that can help me out. But if not, as long as my wife is happy with her decision, I'll settle for brakes and MP3 players.

Swing 'til you're happy!

It's Not The Clubs, It's The Player.

2011-12-09T11:00:00.001-05:00

What a huge, steaming pile of hypocritical bull excrement! I hear that statement a lot and it always made me wonder. I mean, I'm pretty sure if you give a pro a starter set he or she will still shoot well. My issue is the whole up selling when it comes to buying clubs. I also understand the sales people need to make a living too...but to what extent?

You never see a golf club ad or commercial showcasing it's bottom of the barrel clubs. It's always the pro they sponsor smashing the ball into outer space because they are swinging the newest product. Then there are some of the golf pro's that sell clubs out of their shops. Try to tell them you want to take up the game and are looking for an inexpensive set.

The next thing you know this guy has you trying out different clubs and measuring you for a custom set. I thought "it's not the clubs, it's the player..." Yeah but their answer to that is "You can grow into these clubs." What the f%$# does that mean? I bought a nice set a few years ago with the whole "growing into them" theory and guess what...I still suck. Grow into them...I got something to grow into them.

What I want to see is a tour pro walking down the fairway while his caddy is carrying his bag full of old rusty clubs because..."It's not the clubs." That would be the best to see Tiger bust out a 3-wood with duct tape on it or even Rory have an old tube sock as a head cover. Nonetheless, whether your clubs cost $100 or $1000 just get out there and have fun.

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

10 Questions with a Non-Golfer

2011-12-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

Here at the Golf Stinks blog, we certaintly do our part in blaming the pro tours and the media for sending the wrong message about this fantastic sport.

And, while acknowledging the economy is a major factor, we still highlight things that the golf industry can do to help drive new people to the game (I'd normally add a link here to prove my point, but we've literally written so much, it will be easier for you to just look at our archive section in the right-hand sidebar).

That all being said, I thought it would be interesting to talk with a non-golfer about their perceptions of the sport. I wonder if many of the golf stereotypes are true? To that end, my brother-in-law happens to be in town and I know he's never played golf before.

Let's see what a 30-year-old non-golfer has to say about...well, golf:

Q: What type of person plays golf?
A: Retired. Retirees. And anybody else that has a lot of money and a lot of free time.

Interviewer's note: Why am I not surprised by this answer?

Q: Do you think a person has to be rich to play golf?
A: Maybe not rich, but you definitely have to have...It's an expensive hobby. Golf clubs aren't cheap. Courses aren't cheap. I think probably the cheapest thing about golf would be buying the balls.

Q: When someone mentions they play golf, what's the first thought that pops into your head?
A: I picture them in golf clothes - especially like those knickers and that hat with the poof on top.

Interviewer's note: I'm never telling anyone I play golf again.

Q: When you hear the name Tiger Woods, what comes to mind?
A: Sell-out. I think of all his merchandise, video games. I mean, I'm sure he's a good golfer and all, but his stuff is is everywhere.

Q: As a follow-up to that, what about the Tiger sex scandal?
A: It's no different than any other celeb...he was married; boinked around, blah, blah, blah...same old story.

Interviewer's note: Well put.

Q: OK, so we know you don't play golf. Have you ever held a club?
A: Yeah, at the mini golf course.

Q: So you've played mini golf - what are your impressions of that?
A: I like it. I have fond memories of hitting a ball off a couple of walls into a giant plastic castle.

Interviewer's note: This is why Caddyshack 2 sucked.

Q: You've mentioned you know the basic terms and rules in other sports like [American] football and baseball. Do you think you have a basic understanding of golf's terms and rules? Please elaborate.
A: Yeah. Get the ball in the hole in as few hits as possible and always play the ball where it lies.

Interviewer's note: "Always play the ball where it lies." At what point did we weekend golfers stop following the very fundamentals of this game? Be honest...

Q: Do you know what a birdie means in golf?
A: That's when you make it in the hole with ...[pause]... with one stroke fewer than par [looks at interviewer unsure of himself].

Interviewer: That's very good!
Non-Golfer: And I only know that from all the video games.
Interviewer: I see. The ones with Tiger Woods you mean?
Non-Golfer: Yeah [laughs].

Q: Do you think golf courses are a waste of natural resources and/or prime real estate?
A: No, because if a golf course fails, it can be easily converted into a very scenic park.

Interviewer's note: I'm totally going to use that answer.

Q: Would you ever consider taking up golf?
A: I have [thought about it], but I always figured it would be when I was older - when [I have] nothing to do and [I] need exercise.

Interviewer's note: So to this non-golfer, we're a bunch of old rich guys with nothing to do and who need exercise. Hmmmm. When you think about it, that pretty much hits every golf stereotype on the head. I think I should interview other non-golfers and see if the answers are similar. Till then...

Tiger Wins! Now How Long Will We Have To Hear About It?

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

He won. And for real this time. This time it wasn't just an over-abundance of highlights showing the third place finisher. This time it wasn't the media basically handing him the win after the second round. He actually won this time! And I gotta tell ya, I'm not looking forward to hearing about it.

I can picture it already. ESPN will be dropping to their knees (as usual) for Tiger. They can't wait to just ram it down our throats. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to just avoid watching ESPN for the next couple of days. Well, outside of Monday Night Football of course.

But seriously, Friday night ESPN was already handing the tournament over to Tiger again! Do they understand there are four rounds to a golf tournament? Watching SportsCenter, I saw one of their sidebar stories state that Tiger had a "Big Lead" after the second round. So I stuck around to see how big it was. Three strokes. Really? Three strokes is considered a "Big Lead" halfway through a tournament?! Well, I guess when Tiger holds the lead it is. Even after the third round, when he lost the lead, it was still all Tiger high-lights. Zach Johnson was just an after thought.

Seriously, come on. When is that stuff gonna stop? People were growing tired of Tiger before his "transgressions." More were sick of him afterward. And now, even more are just sick and tired of him and the media who continues to just shove him down our throats! I know it's going to be all over ESPN, so the only saving grace I have is the NFL.

One place where ESPN has not lost any understanding is that the NFL comes before just about everything else. It comes before baseball. It comes before basketball. It comes before college sports (obviously this does not include World Series games or college championships and bowl games). And it certainly comes before golf. Of course, at the time of my writing, SportsCenter has yet to air. But if history is any indicator, Tiger's victory will not lead after a day an NFL Sunday. But, I can only hope.

However, could you imagine if this victory came outside of football season? I think I would physically choke on the coverage. Add another reason to the list that football is my favorite sport.

Swing 'til you're happy!

Rock n' Roll n'...Golf?

2011-12-02T11:45:00.001-05:00

A good common denominator between music and golf would have to be tempo. Obviously, most songs have a tempo and it is up to the musician to master the whole timing thing. Same thing in golf; the game has its own rhythm and the players focus on their tempo and timing. Could that be the reason why some rockers are excellent golfers?

Now please understand, the term "rocker" can be misconstrued. I mean, a few years back, Golf Digest did a ranking of the top 100 musicians who golf and came up with Kenny G. as number 1 (0.6 handicap). Mr. G. might not personify the rock star ideology with his mighty sax but he's in the ball park, sort of.

If we want to talk about a rock star that golfs, I got one for you: Alice Cooper. This guy hits the course just as hard as he used to hit the bottle - at least six days a week. He's been quoted as saying golf saved his life from alcohol addiction. Moreso, how he replaced one addiction with another, referring to his love for golf. If you're wondering...he's a 2 handicap.

I never really thought rock stars and golf could co-exist. I figured courses would shy away from the whole rock star lifestyle. You know, the boozing, cursing, tight leather pants and breaking stuff...wait a minute, that sounds like a normal outing for me.

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!! Rock on!

Sorry, Biodegradable Balls Only on the PGA Tour

2011-11-30T07:55:00.000-05:00

Going Green. Does that phrase make you giddy with excitement or make you roll your eyes in disgust? I don't need to take a survey to tell you there are those who believe in taking steps to lessen our environmental footprint and those who believe this whole green movement is a giant bowel movement.

Regardless of which side of the fence you're on, if you're a golfer you should listen up. Right now, there's an organized group petitioning the USGA and R&A (Royal & Ancient Golf Club) to begin addressing environmental concerns in regards to golf - namely on the pro tours (PGA, European Tour, etc.).

If the petition grows legs, it could mean rule changes (something no one ever seems to welcome) and changes in the equipment we use. But will these changes be a bad thing, an unnecessary thing or a step in the right direction?

The petition began over at Golf Refugees, a golf apparel brand out of the UK. The company prides itself on producing eco-friendly clothes and products and decided to petition the powers that be in golf to begin "incorporating greener measures into the sport's guidelines."

So far, they've received a "we will consider your input in due course" letter back from the R&A, but basically what Golf Refugees wants is this:

Golf balls need to be biodegradable

Golf apparel needs to made from materials which are recycled and or compostable.

All golf courses need to have compost toilets and minimal water, pesticide and fertiliser usage.

Golf Refugees owner Peter Gorse states:

"...the governing bodies of golf [should] consider introducing 'eco golf rules' over a reasonable time frame. I see no reason why major golf ball manufactures cannot introduce using recycling materials into their products over the next few years. These part-recycled golf balls should be the future tournament golf balls."

My first reaction to Mr. Gorse's crusade was that it's impractical. Look (in case you don't already know), I'm definitely on the "we need to reduce our environmental footprint" side of the fence (see my other eco-posts below). But the Golf Refugees petition seemed like an impossible goal.

Instead, I suggested to Mr. Gorse that he push for creating one "eco-tournament" annually on one of the pro tours. A tournament that's played on a more eco-friendly course and players use recycled balls or tees or something. That to me seemed more feasible. But to request the USGA and R&A create blanket eco-rules for golf was a bit far-fetched in my opinion.

Maybe I'm not being a forward thinker? Is Mr. Grouse and the Golf Refugees idea completely insane? Will it just convolute the golf rule books and add costs to an already expensive game? I share Mr. Grouse's ideology for green living, but I'm not sure if this petition will help or hurt an already struggling game.

Perhaps we have to start somewhere...

Related Posts:
Can You Golf Eco-Friendly?
Would You Play A Brown Golf Course?
The Advent of Organic Golf Courses
Golf After Global Warming; It's Gonna Be Great!