Golf, You & Friggin' Murphy's Law

Who is this Murphy guy? Try to find out the origin of this "law." It seems like it's been covered up by the government or some secret organization. No one really knows how it became an adage, it just did. The most common belief ties into some highly classified government project testing rockets back in the late 40's and 50's. Well, whatever, whoever or wherever this came from, I'll tell you what, it doesn't affect any other sport as much as golf.

The following are some examples of how Murphy's Law is truly embedded in golf.

1. All balls from the same sleeve have a very tight bond with each other and will follow one another into the woods.

2. Waiting for the group ahead of you on the green to clear because "you can reach" is also a silent invitation for all those around to watch as your approach shot becomes shots...because you can reach.

3. Speaking of approaches, a divot only gets replaced properly after a great approach shot.

4. The ball you find just off the fairway that is right where you just smashed a monster drive ends up not being yours.

5. Your golf clubs have their own weather system. When it's hot up by the driver...yep, it's cold down by the wedges. Hey, it's a system that has to balance itself.

6. When you finally make the green on 9; that 40 foot putt can be made blindfolded and with the sand trap rake.

7. Four letter words, except for golf, will be utilized quite excessively once the glove has been put on.

8. Only when you are shooting your best round ever will the air horn blow to warn of a storm.

9. Amnesia is quite common with the others in your foursome when counting their strokes.

10. Those that are not as good or lack any skill in golf will feel it's their duty to give swing advice.

What can you do? We still go out there and play regardless. Hit'em straight!

Apple takes Golf into the 21st Century

With the announcement of the new Apple iPad yesterday, it's obvious my brain is going to be fed by more and more electronic sources - and this includes stuff about golf.

Now you can read your favorite golf magazines right on the iPad and take it with you to the doctor's, while traveling, or even on the course. It sounds crazy, doesn't it? But this tech-revolution has already begun. It's rare in other sports to use technology while playing the game, but that has now become a reality with golf.

Golf course GPS systems have been slowly growing in popularity over the last decade, albeit to a rather specific group of technophiles who also golf (I've yet to play with someone who actually uses one). But now, rather than having to buy a separate, bulky device, you can download any golf-related GPS app (at a fraction of the cost, I might add) right to your iPhone (a device that is extremely mainstream and still growing in popularity). Here's a thorough review that looks at two of these apps.

Meanwhile, there's also golf apps to help track your handicap; keep your scores; improve and analyze your swing; and estimate yardage by using the iPhone's built-in camera! There's even a non-golf app that tells you the current wind speed, which Golf Blogger in the UK suggests you use for golf. Of course I haven't even mentioned all the golf games you can play on your mobile devices. Perhaps the next generation iPhone will have a retractable divot-repair tool and an Apple logo on the back that can double as a removable ball marker.

I haven't been immune either: I recently downloaded the new USGA Rules of Golf app to my iPhone. I used to carry an outdated copy of the rules in my golf bag, and would thumb-through the pages frantically looking for a ruling before the group behind us began hitting drives past our foursome. No longer. The USGA Rules app is extremely easy to navigate around and find what you're looking for.

Perhaps most paradoxically though, golf has historically been a game that people play to escape the cubicle- and power cord-lined world they exist within. And to this end, many, I'm sure, will refrain from mixing gadgets with greens. But for many others, iPhones and the like have become personal caddies on the course - guiding us through the holes with digital precision. Encouragingly, for those whom fit the former profile, when you see me staring at my phone by that lateral water hazard, be thankful I'm not fumbling through the pages of my old rule book instead!

Variations on the Game of Golf - Disc Golf

So I've got this cousin who, a few years ago, let me know he was entering into a disc golf tournament. He gave me a website to use so I could track his progress. I had heard of disc golf, but I had to wonder to myself...they have serious tournaments? Not only that, but they have a website with an actual leader board to track the players? Did I miss something? Is this sport really that popular?

Well the answer, quite simply, is yes! There are now approximately 3,000 disc golf courses throughout the United States and an estimated 3,000 more abroad, mainly in Canada, Western Europe, Japan and Australia. Of those 6,000 courses worldwide, 5,000 have been opened in just the past ten years. Wow! Talk about a fast-growing sport! But what is it though that makes this sport so popular?

Simply put, the basics of disc golf are pretty much a carbon copy of traditional golf, but it is a simpler, less expensive option that can be played just about anywhere provided there is enough space. This includes public places such as parks and greens. In place of clubs and golf balls is a disc (not a Frisbee). In place of holes, are metal baskets. A player attempts to get the disc into the basket in as few throws (in place of strokes) as possible.

Scoring also works just about the same as actual golf. But the rapid rise in popularity, I believe, has much to do with the relatively low cost at which this game can be played. A disc can be purchased for about the price of a cheap box of golf balls and a few baskets can be had for the price of a good set of clubs. Since you throw the disc, the additional (sometimes outrageous) cost of golf clubs is not necessary. Not too mention, since the sport can be played in a public place, greens fees are eliminated. This may also be a reason the sport is gaining popularity on college campuses such as UC Berkeley, where a permanent disc golf course has been laid out since 1970. Easy enough to understand right? OK, so when and where did this sport begin?

The origins of disc golf can be traced back as far as 1926 in Vancouver, Canada where a group of school kids would use tin lids to throw at targets such as trees and poles. Throughout the next several decades, similar games would pop up around North America, but none ever taken too seriously...until 1965. It was then that a man named George Sappenfield, a summer camp counselor in California, came up with the idea to have his camp kids play golf with Frisbees. Upon his college graduation a few years later, he contacted Wham-O and was able to get them to donate Frisbees and hula-hoops (for targets) for a disc golf tournament.

However, it wasn't until the early 1970's when a Wham-O employee named Ed Headrick, inventor of the modern Frisbee, would begin to take the sport mainstream. It was Headrick who trademarked the name Disc Golf. With the formation of governing bodies and standard rules in the coming years, a new sport would officially be born.

Today, as evidenced by the past five to ten years, disc golf is one of the most rapidly growing sports in the world. There are over two million people in the United States alone who participate in the sport and it has been estimated that one in every five rounds of golf played is a round of disc golf. Additionally, many tournaments and championships are now played all around the country with the most popular being the U.S. Disc Golf Championship (held in St. Louis in 2009), and the Professional Disc Golf Association World Championship, which was held in Kansas City in 2009 (and is scheduled for Marion, OH for 2010 and Charlotte, NC for 2011).

So will the popularity of disc golf continue to grow and expand? Or is it just a passing fad which will never be taken too seriously in the mainstream sports world? No one can tell for sure. But at this point, there are no signs the sport's growth is slowing down.

For additional info on Disc Golf, take a look at these links:

http://www.pdga.com/

http://www.discgolfassoc.com/

I'll close this out with one of my favorite discoveries about this sport. Ed Headrick passed away in 2002. One of his dying wishes was to be cremated and to have his ashes used in the molds in a limited number of discs to be sold to fund a museum at the PDGA International Disc Golf Center in Georgia. His wishes were granted and the discs were created, completed with Ed's ashes, and sold. However, at the grand opening of the center, one of the discs was thrown on the roof by his wife. The reason? To fulfill the old adage "Old Frisbee players are like old Frisbees....They don't die. They just end up on the roof."

Related Posts:
Variations on the Game of Golf - Mini Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Adirondack Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Speed Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Project Flogton
Variations on the Game of Golf - Ladder Golf

The Laws of Golf Ball Flight

Ok, so we have five laws here that, according to instructors and good golfers, are the base for diagnosing swing problems...I'll be the judge of that.

The Laws

#1. The speed of the clubhead at impact greatly affects the distance the golf ball will travel. A faster club head speed will cause the ball to travel further; a slower club head speed will lead to less distance.

Whoa, whoa whoa...malarkey! I've seen someone, Tom (co-founder of Golfstinks), smash a drive off of an elevated tee and the ball had this ridiculous sinking ability it would have made Brandon Webb* proud!

#2. The degree to which the ball is struck in relation to the club's "sweet spot" affects both the distance and direction of the ball. The closer to the sweet spot the ball is struck, the further and straighter the ball will travel.

Sweet spot?!?! Where the hell is that? I mean, I've got a sweet spot for...wait...Do you mean the "center of persussion"? Why didn't you say so! Now I get it. Geez, I could have been on the tour by now if I knew that!

#3. The direction the clubface is pointed at impact greatly affects the direction of the flight of the ball. The more the toe or the heel of the club is in front at impact, the more side spin will be imparted to the ball which will influence the curvature of the ball's flight.

Look here chief...if I can see where the clubface is pointing at impact then call me Col. Steve Austin because I would also be able to see through the clubhouse walls and into the ladies locker...ok, moving on!

#4. The initial direction the ball flies after impact is greatly influenced by the path of the clubhead. The faster the clubhead speed at impact, the greater this influence will be.

Infuence? Influence...hmmm...I get it! The more I'm under the influence the better a player I will be! That is genius, now I know why the Scottish and Irish don't export the good stuff!

#5. The steepness of the club's path at impact affects both distance and curvature. A steeper angle of attack will cause the ball to go higher and less far because of the degree of backspin generated. A ball struck above its center of gravity will go lower than a ball struck below its center of gravity.

Yeah...and if you take pi and divide it by the colpanarity sum of the pythagorean theory, divide it by last year's tax returns, add it to your last scorecard score, subtract what your last scorecard's score really was and, voila! I think that just gave me a headache.

*Brandon Webb is a MLB pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks who has a friggin awesome sinker.

Do Golf Course Rankings Matter?

Surely for the average golfer, the thought of playing golf's most celebrated courses is a fun thing to daydream about. To this end, some golf-related publications produce a "top course" list for us to ponder while stuffed in our cubicles or reclining on our porcelain thrones.

But beyond the "daydream" factor, do these lists merely serve as a badge of honor for the courses they contain? And furthermore, how accurate can they be? Golf Magazine and Golf Digest probably produce the most popular "top course" lists. A look inside how they compile their rankings sheds light on some flaws in their methodology.

Let's first look at Golf Magazine's method: Golf Magazine uses just 100 panelists to compile the top courses for the entire world. How can this be? There's over 30,000 golf courses in the world, how can 100 people play them all? Answer: They can't, and they don't. You see, Golf Magazine has already narrowed that 30,000 down to around 400. How? They're not saying. Nevertheless, we now have 400 courses for these 100 people to play and rank. But wait, not all 100 people have played these 400 courses. What? That's right - the 100 panelists have not played all the courses. As such, panelists can only vote for courses they have played. Also, course architects and course owners on the panel (why are these people on the panel in the first place?) can't vote for courses they are affiliated with (is it me or is this starting to get a little hairy?).

Meanwhile, Golf Digest's method is even more vague, which is a little alarming seeing as they produce more lists (including one for top public courses and one for best new courses). At least they have an expanded range of panelists (more than 900 men and women) and grade courses on seven different criteria - but that's about all we know. Who are these 900 people and how are they chosen? What courses do they play and how is that determined?

Perhaps most intriguingly, neither magazine considers price when calculating its rankings. While it makes sense to compile a list strictly based on course quality, it would also be nice to see a "Top 100 Under $100" list, or at least one that takes greens fees into consideration (for its part, Golf Digest does sort its top 100 public tracks by price, but only 20 of them are under $100).

The reality is, most of the courses on these lists include private and/or pricey facilities that do little more than mock us - relegating our daydreams to improbable realities. The likelihood of an Average Joe playing more than one or two top courses in his/her lifetime is slim-to-none (if you do, you write a book about it and/or spend nearly a quarter million dollars to play them all). Alas, for most of us, we must walk Amen Corner in our minds and then digress back to our everyday lives.

So considering the sketchy methodologies and the general uselessness of these lists, does any of it really matter? Sure, I guess its nice to daydream, or to boast that you've played one of the "top 100." But as for practical purposes; Give me a list of courses I'd be able to start booking tee-times at tomorrow.

Variations on the Game of Golf - Mini Golf

Baseball has softball and wiffleball. Football has Arena football and flag football. Even basketball has had a crazy version involving trampolines! But perhaps no sport has more variations and off-shoots than golf. Some variations are old, some new. Some played by golfers, some not. Some played just for fun, but some taken as serious as the original sport itself. But where did these variations come from? How did they come to be? Let's start with the most popular off-shoot of all...mini golf.

It is believed that miniature golf first began in the same place as the great sport it emulates...Scotland. In 1867 the St. Andrew's Putting Club for Women, which was simply an 18-hole putting green, was formed. The reason the club was for women? Well, women were not allowed to play golf. More specifically, women were not allowed to swing a club past their shoulders. So basically they weren't allowed to do anything other than putt. From there, a new sport (or pastime) was born.

Here in the U.S. though, mini golf didn't appear until roughly 50 years later. The Thistle Du putting course in Pinehurst, NC, built in 1916, is recognized as the first "putting course" stateside. But mini golf in its infancy wasn't exactly what we think of today. There were no windmills, churches or clowns yet. Rather, "Garden golf" as it was sometimes referred, was played on real grass and was, in effect, a short version of an actual course. It wasn't until the late 1920's and 30's when bumpers, rails and walls appeared on the courses in order to confine the ball. It was around this time when, with the help of celebrities of the day, mini golf rapidly increased in popularity. During the 30's, over 30,000 mini golf courses popped up throughout the states. That's over fifteen times the amount that exist today! It's popularity was largely due to the fact that people of any age, gender, skill level or financial status could take part.

In the late 40's and early 50's, mini golf's familiar obstacles began to sprout. That's right...spinning windmill blades and all. Now, not only did you have to putt straight, but you had to time it right also. Additionally, Astroturf brought in a standardized playing surface in the 60's. But it wasn't until the 80's when the mini golf course began to transform into what we know it to be today.

It was then that mini golf courses began to evolve from more than just golf and into a more family-themed event. The familiar adventure and pirate themes sprang up around the country, especially in popular vacation areas such as Myrtle Beach, Orlando, San Diego and Las Vegas.

While mini golf may not be as popular as it was in it's heyday, there are still an estimated 1,800 mini golf courses throughout the country today, with Myrtle Beach, SC being largely recognized as the Miniature Golf Capitol of the World. It's popularity can be evidenced through it's previous contract with ESPN which aired the national championships for several years. In my findings, I've even come across a few miniature golf course review sites! Take a look at this one and see if you can find one near you: http://www.minigolfreview.com/.

Personally, I've found mini golf to be a great way to spend time with my kids. It's fun as well as inexpensive. Additionally, it's also given them a healthy chance at a bit of competition amongst each other. But most importantly, I've found it to be a great way to introduce them to the actual game of golf. It seems to have worked with my two boys. My daughter on the other hand? She's still a bit more interested in the animals, lighthouses and windmills. But that's OK...that's why they are there.

Related Posts:
Variations on the Game of Golf - Disk Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Adirondack Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Speed Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Project Flogton
Variations on the Game of Golf - Ladder Golf

Hooking On The Golf Course (And I Don't Mean My Ball)...

This is great! All this extra time to go and dig up great golf stories in the off-season. You know, now that the whole Tiger debacle has finally quieted down a bit, I figured I would revisit the world's oldest profession and it's run-in's with golf.

Check this out, in October of '09, 36-year-old Melanie Kozik was arrested for "willing to engage in prostitution and maintaining a brothel." Here's the kicker, she offered (wink, wink) "Golf Lessons" on Craigslist as the ploy. Kozik, who had previously admitted to prostitution, stated she made $1,500 a week disguising golf lessons as prostitution. That's it...are you f*$%#ing kidding me?!?! $1,500 a week to sell your ass? Come on Mel, if you applied your entrepreneurial skills to a legit biz you could have made that legally.
http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=11266342

Moving on to Prairie Village, Kansas, two women got arrested for running a prostitution ring that involved using a church's parking lot and a golf course. Really girls? A church's parking lot? The story goes on to say that the girls would use the golf course as a place to dance for- and recruit new clients. I guess the "19th" hole has a whole new meaning. Oh! ba-dum!
http://sportsbybrooks.com/do-golf-course-prostitutes-wear-stiletto-spikes-23455

Back in '02 at Hidden Valley Golf Club (please save the salad dressing jokes) two of the course managers and a tournament organizer were sentenced to house arrest for having some prostitutes do their thing at a golf tournament. The tournament cost about 2 fazools ($200 for those that never saw Donnie Brasco) with about 160 players. Funny part was that a bunch of players didn't even bother to bring their clubs!

Officials reported that over a dozen prostitutes and strippers, including one that was 16, set up tents and...wait a minute...they set up tents? Dude, that's friggin' hysterical! "Hey guys, how about you come inside and sink your putz...?" or even better, they had signs advertising their services. Like what? "Come on in to get your shaft fitted?"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137720,00.html

Until the next time...may your balls always find the hole.

Purple Mountains Majesty: Golf New Mexico

Please forgive me if I insult your intelligence, but in 1912 New Mexico became the 47th state admitted to the Union. If I took a mulligan every time someone asked me back East: "Now, what’s the difference between Mexico and New Mexico," I’d have a scratch handicap.

New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment. It’s home to the oldest state capitol (Santa Fe); the roadrunner (beep, beep); and green chile (wow, that’s hot)! It’s a state that defines the American landscape; a place that inspires the artist in all of us; and a terrain that flowers two of the top public tracks in the country: Paa-ko Ridge Golf Club and Black Mesa Golf Club.

Paa-ko Ridge is ranked 28th on Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses You Can Play, and at $90 during the week, this course is a steal (I’d pay $90 for the scenery alone)! Nestled in a new community between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, you’re absorbed in rugged mountains and high-desert terrain. It truly is a sight to behold. But beyond the aesthetics, Paa-ko is a nice challenge too. The course offers five tee boxes, and plays 7,562 yards from the tips with a slope of 138 (don't worry about length - at an altitude of 7,000 feet, you'll be setting your personal driving-distance record).

Meanwhile, Black Mesa (ranked #36), is the newer of the two young courses (2003 vs. Paa-ko's 2000), and is a mere $82 to play during the week. Just a short drive north of Santa Fe, Black Mesa sits outside the town of Española. The course's fairways are encompassed by arroyos, while many of the holes are surrounded by canyons and jagged mountains - all part of a landscape native Pueblo Indians have enjoyed for centuries. Black Mesa is not as long as Paa-Ko, but it plays a little tougher, with a slope of 141 from the back tees (7,307 yards).

While Arizona is a typical golf destination for many northerners, New Mexico should not be overlooked - the golf, food, and prices are completely worth it. Stay a week and go whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, and play other notable courses in the area like Twin Warriors and the Towa Golf Resort. Hit the casino's at night and don't forget to eat. New Mexican cuisine is like none-other. A must-stop in Santa Fe is Tomasita's (have the stuffed Sopaipillas) and when near Albuquerque, try El Pinto (the chile rellenos are pretty darn good). But beware - whichever chile you choose for your meal (red or green), it will be HOT.

New Mexico golf in general, but Paa-ko Ridge and Black Mesa especially, have what many golf course designers long for: an awesome location. These courses will capture your imagination on every hole and around every corner awaits a new challenge with another spectacular view. Golfing in New Mexico is an experience that needs to be realized by every stinky golfer in this land.

For more New Mexico trip info, please click HERE.

A Real "Grip It and Rip It"

I'm a huge football fan. By far my favorite sport. The NFL especially. I can give or take college football. Between too many mismatches, way too many meaningless bowl games, no playoff system in FBS, the whole BCS system, the pansy overtime rules...there's just so much to dislike. But hey, it's still football, so that makes it OK.

But on Sunday afternoons, I don't want to know anything from anyone. I want to plant my ass on the couch for the next ten hours and not be disturbed. Don't call my phone because I won't answer. Don't send me an email because I'm not checking it. And for heaven's sake, between the months of September and early February, if you want me to show up to your birthday parties, kids birthday parties, social gatherings and various other events, plan to have them on Saturdays. If that's not possible, then you'd better plan on having a TV somewhere in the general vicinity. Otherwise, you'll get my card and/or gift either in the mail or the next time I see you. I like football.

But something strange happened just a few recent weeks ago. I was in the midst of my usual Sunday afternoon routine when, for some still unknown reason (maybe I was stuck watching the Jets), I changed the channel and found myself strangely drawn to what I had stumbled upon. At first I tried to resist and return to football, but every time a commercial was on, I went right back to my new found attraction. What was it you ask? What was it that could possibly pull me away from my beloved NFL? It was an exhibition. An exhibition of accuracy, power and skill. It was the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and quite simply, I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

They say "Chicks dig the long ball." Well guess what...so do I. And so do most other golfers and golf fans. Think about when you're on the course with your buddies. When someone sinks a nice putt or makes a great chip...that's all that's said - "Nice putt man" or "great up-and-down" - that's it. But when a member of your foursome rips into a drive that sails about 320 down the pipe...now there's a reaction from the other guys in the area! We all know it's only part of the game, but people love to see it. It's like the home run in baseball. Sometimes it may be completely meaningless...but people still love to oooh and aaah when it happens.

This gets me thinking; Why is the PGA not capitalizing on the potential popularity of this by creating their own exhibition? Think about it. MLB has the immensely popular Home Run Derby. The NBA has two popular exhibitions with the slam-dunk contest and the three-point shootout. These leagues have figured out this is what fans love to see. So they give it to them! Why not have some of the long drivers on the PGA tour take on some of the guys from the LDA on the Wednesday before one (or more) of the majors? Not only could they possibly gain some TV time, but they could sure make some extra money at the gate with an extra day for the fans to get in!

Wouldn't you like to see John Daly grab hold of one of those custom 50" drivers and just tear into one? Wouldn't it be great to see him go up against five-time long drive champ Jason Zuback who is more than capable of 400+ yard drives on an almost regular basis?! Now that's a show!

Another benefit for the PGA would be to get fans more familiar with some of the golfers most of us have never heard of. Anyone know who Robert Garrigus is? No? That's because he was #127 on the money list. But he led the tour in driving distance at 312 yards. How about Charley Hoffman? He was #41 on the money list, certainly off the radar for many fans. But did you know he hit a 467-yard drive at the Valero Open in 2009? That's right, I just said 4-6-7! Dustin Johnson was 15th on the money list, so he's more recognizable. But did you know he hit five drives last year over 400 yards? Take any one of these three guys, put a custom long-drive club in their hands, and you have a damn good show!

I feel, especially with the #1 golfer temporarily out of the picture, now is the time to experiment with some things that may help to draw the fans that will undoubtedly be missing from some of the tournaments. Hey if the Home Run Derby can go from a tape-delayed exhibition in the mid-80's (inspired by a TV series which ran for a few months in 1960) to what it is today, then why can't the PGA do the same? For crying out loud, take your noses out of the air, stop taking the sport so serious and give the fans something to watch simply because it's fun. The fans will thank you for it.

For more information on the Long Drivers of America and the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, check out http://www.longdrivers.com/.

Counterfeiting Golf Clubs?

I guess with any billion-dollar industry there are some scumbags trying to get a piece of it. I came across some stories straight out of the counterfeit capital of the world...China. For some reason you can buy a Rolex, Louis Vuitton bag, Gucci shoes, a bottle of Viagra and...Callaway Golf Clubs? All for around $250. Amazing, I know! What deals they have...

In March of 09, the Beijing Chaoyang Administration for Industry and Commerce (AIC) and the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau (PSB) jointly conducted raids against an assembly and warehouse facility of the Sunshine Golf Store located at Shangxinpu, Huanggang Village, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

The owner and seven other persons were arrested by the PSB after the raid. The raids resulted in the seizure of nearly 10,000 pieces of counterfeit golf equipment, including more than 740 assembled golf clubs, 1,500 club heads, 4,700 golf grips, 2,300 shafts, 280 headcovers and assorted golf towels, golf bags and apparel.

The seized goods were illegal copies of authentic products made by all six (comprised of Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf, Nike Golf, PING and TaylorMade Golf Company) of the Group's members. It is anticipated that Chinese authorities will pursue criminal prosecutions in this case.*

You know, this really chaps my ass. Not only do I have to worry about playing poorly, now I have to worry about using bunk clubs. I guess that could be a good out for those players that will blame their grandmother's cooking from last week as to why they're playing like crap. "Hey man, I don't suck, these clubs are counterfeit!" It never ends.

Is that why you were late too...because you're Faux-lex watch wasn't working and that Niagra you took last night had you going to the bowl more times than the University of Alabama's football team? Oh man, the nerve...now where's my faux iron...?

*http://ir.callawaygolf.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=68083&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1272414&highlight=

Related Posts: Counterfeiting Golf Clubs (Follow-Up)

The Economics of Golf

Now that the public has been formally introduced to mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations, I thought our readers would like to know golf is doing its part to help the economy.

It may surprise you that PGA players (and the pro tours in general) contribute just a small amount to golf's total economic impact. Instead, it's average golfers like the majority of us that help drive golf-related revenue and subsequently stoke the economy.

According to the most recent study by Golf2020 (conducted in 2007 for the year 2005), golf's total economic impact is nearly $76 billion annually. Of that figure, all the pro tours combined (PGA, LPGA, Champions, etc.) contributed just $954 million (or about 1% of the total).

Compare that to what we spend to play golf each year (around $27 billion), or on golf-related travel ($18 billion), or on golf equipment ($3.7 billion), or golf apparel ($1.5 billion) - Heck, we even collectively spend a billion dollars at the driving range annually! Actually, we must really want to improve - not only do we spend at the range, but we also plunk down nearly as much ($925 million) on golf-related magazines and books.

Beyond its sport and recreational value, golf is at the heart of a major industry cluster that generates jobs, commerce, economic development, and tax revenues for communities throughout the country. - Golf2020

Golf2020's methodology extrapolates additional economic impact from the golf industry to include the golf-related jobs and wage incomes surrounding all the aforementioned golf products and services. Furthermore, golf real estate was included in the mix (nearly 64,000 golf course homes were constructed in 2005). Taken as a whole, Golf2020 estimates that golf contributes more than $195 billion annually to the US economy (see chart below). Now that's allot of green to spend on the greens!


While it would be interesting to see more recent data given the spending decline of the last two years, the 2005 study still suggests golf's economic importance in the US. Golf2020 notes the golf industry seems to be "staying ahead" of inflation, and golf outperforms industries including other spectator sports and motion pictures.

The full magnitude of every round you play or every golf-related purchase you make rarely comes into perspective, but its nice to know we're contributing to the health of the overall economy - especially these days. So get out there and keep playing!

Golf2020's full report can be found HERE.

The Return of Tiger Woods to Championship Form

With all of the negative attention thrust upon Tiger Woods lately (albeit by his own doing) and the constant bad news we all hear on an almost daily basis, I for one have begun to grow tired of the circus it has become. Quite frankly, it's just getting boring and old now. Actually, it's well beyond that point. Between the photos of Elin without her ring, stories of impending divorce, meetings with the local police department, reports of sponsors dropping like flies and even now the steroid rumors, I'm almost starting to feel bad for the guy. Further, I'm starting to feel that someone should attempt to again shed a positive light on a great golfer who, despite his "transgressions," is a charitable, giving human being who has done much for many people in many communities. But that someone is not me.

Instead, I'm looking at the Tiger Woods revitalization project from a slightly different angle. My feeling is, at this point, many people are no longer concerned with Tiger Woods the golfer. They are now concerned with nothing more than Tiger Woods the name. I'm willing to bet the majority of people who follow the Tiger Woods drama are not even golf fans. They are simply interested in the name, not the person. Well, I think it's time we reassociate the name Tiger Woods with a champion.

What if I was to introduce you to a Tiger Woods that no one knows? A Tiger Woods still associated with winning tournaments. A Tiger Woods who is probably encouraged to have "relations" with several other females, and everyone around him is OK with it! Sound crazy? Well it's not. Ladies and gentlemen....I give you....Tiger Woods:

Tiger Woods is a seven year old (soon to be eight) Scottish Deerhound. He has won four tournaments over the past two years including back-to-back best in breed winners at the prestigious 2008 and 2009 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He also had a strong showing at the 2008-2009 American Kennel Club Dog Show, finishing second in his breed.

When asked about the choice of the Tiger Woods name for her dog, owner Gayle Bontecou (who is an avid golfer) responded, "He's really good. They both are total athletes" You'll get no argument from me.

And in case anyone was wondering about the "relations," or "breeding" as it's called in dog show circles, the answer is yes - Tiger Woods does carry the moniker "baby daddy." Tiger is father to a bundle of joy by the name of.....Ping. Ping? Not Nike? Or Sumo? Sasquatch? I guess Ms. Bontecou is only a fan of the man....not the equipment.

So there you have it. The name Tiger Woods is once again associated with a great competitor, champion and "total athlete." The Tiger Woods revitalization project is now off the ground. Please join me in my quest to restore order to the world of Woods. Thank you.

Golf Physics 101

Now that I have traded in my 3 wood for a snow shovel, I have more time to read about golf than actually play it. Recently, I decided to look into the physics of golf and find out why after 12 years I still stink at it. So, I figured if I learn the science I can learn the art. And man was that a strain on the cabeza. Now I know why Wheel of Fortune used to follow Jeopardy on T.V...so you don't think you're a complete idiot and salvage whatever pride you have left.

In my perusing, I came across some interesting stuff that I thought was pretty cool. The following are some physics/scientifical explanations about different facets of the game. And for those smarty-pants' out there that already know this stuff please feel free to add in the comments.

Ball Flight

After being struck the more backspin put on a golf ball the more loft and airtime it will have.

"As the ball spins, it forces air over the top of it and then behind it. This means that the air above the ball is moving faster than the air below the ball, and because of the pressure difference, the ball has additional force pushing it up, which helps it stay in the air for a longer period of time. This spin also helps golfers produce more accurate shots because with a backspin imparted on the ball, it drops quicker toward the end of the shot. And after hitting the ground, the backspin helps slow the ball more quickly."*

Also, Dimples play a big role in keeping that ball in the air.

"Dimpled golf balls fly much further than smooth balls. The reason dimpled balls travel further than smooth balls is because the dimples on a golf ball create turbulence in the boundary layer. This actually helps because the dimples then scoop air back towards the rear of the ball. By moving more air to the rear, this helps keep the air pressure behind the ball from dropping. And by doing this, the amount of air pressure pulling backwards on the ball is decreased." **

So, let's get this straight, backspin and dimples are a major part of ball flight. Hmmmm...well I'll tell you where else backspin and dimples are good...pickin' up the ladies! That's right, before I packed on the pounds I would flash a dimpled-cheek smile to the girls and bust out a pretty mean backspin on the dancefloor. Well, it wasn't that easy. A man can dream can't he? Oh well, back to the shovelin'!

*, **- http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/josh_fritts/flight.html