The Golfing Hot List 2007

April 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment

It’s the Oscars of the Golfing Equipment world as Golf Digest announces the most significant products for 2007. Of the hundreds of products tested, 140 were listed for honourable mentions with the “Editor’s Choice”, for the highest points in each category, as follows -

Drivers - Callaway FT-5 Drivers
Fairway Woods - Callaway Golf Big Bertha 07 Fairway Woods
Hybrid/Utility - Adams Golf Idea Pro Hybrids
Game Improvement Irons - Callaway Golf X-20 Iron Sets
Super Game Improvement Irons - Cobra S9 Iron Sets
Players Irons - Taylormade R7 TP Irons
Wedges - Titleist Spin Milled Wedges
Mallet Putter - Odyssey White Hot XG 2 Ball SRT Putter
Blade Putter - Ping G5 Putter
Balls - Callaway Golf HX Hot Golf Balls
Tour Balls - Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls

I don’t know how influencial this list is in the average golfer’s, buying decisions, but it certainly makes for interesting reading and a nice endorsement if your equipment appears here.

Graphite Shafts don’t Hack it!

April 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Last night I trashed my first golf club - I’m not sure whether this is progress or not! Having played a poor Tee shot I found myself with what can only be described as a tight lie near to a small tree. After a few practice swings I figured there was enough room to play my second shot - how wrong. I played out with my 5-Iron and it was actually a great recovery to get back on to the fairway, with the ball carrying some distance. On the follow through though I wrapped the club around the tree, and the rest as they say, ‘is history’. Mental Note - ‘Next time in this situation don’t be so greedy and use a shorter length club’.

If that wasn’t dumb enough I then assessed the damage by running my hand down the shaft of the club, and so spent the rest of the round attempting to remove graphite splinters from where they had buried themselves, under the skin. Does make me wonder though whether a steel shaft would have survived the onslaught.

My Adams Idea OS2, 5-Iron is now with the Pro-Shop, and they will tell me if it can be repaired economically or if it needs to be dispatched to God’s big white, bunker in the sky, and I need to replace it. In the meantime, I have to revert back to the cheap, Petron (yes, I can assure you they’re a club manufacturer and I’m not making it up) 5-Iron it replaced.

The 71st US Masters

April 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Now the echoes of the crowd have subsided on the 18th fairway at the Augusta National Golf Club, it’s time to reflect on the 2007 US Masters. Golf fans were anticipating a titanic battle between Tiger Woods, Lefty and perhaps Ernie Els or Vijay Singh. This never materialized and Zach Johnson tore up and ignored the script by winning in a final round round, 3-under 69 for a two shot win, and in the process, picked up the winner’s prize money of $1,335,000.

It was a strange tournament that never really lived up to the hype or elevated itself beyond a pedestrian pace. Johnson’s winning score equaled the worst previous championship score seen and also where unbelievably, on the Saturday, only one player was able to break par. The newly designed course, together with the weather conditions, certainly leveled the playing field and Johnson is the lowest ranked player to have won the Masters, since the rankings were introduced.

What were the highlights? Well it’s difficult to say really because there were slim pickings. The most obvious highlight for me was South Africa’s Tim Clark who curled in a mammoth birdie, 60 foot putt, from off the green at the 18th, for a first round score of 71. He will no doubt ‘dine-out’ on that for year’s to come.

Also, just a casual observation, but poor Tiger seems to have developed a strange affliction for which we in medical circles would call ‘Anatidaephobia’, or to the layman and the average golfer - ‘the fear or phobia, that a duck is always watching you’. How else would you explain his sudden affinity for shooting into the water, as if to cull his imaginary duck demons, and the massive over-reaction on sensing a bird flying past as he was about to drive off the 13th Tee on his second round?When questioned Tiger said, ‘birds flew right over me’. BIRDS!..you would have thought it was an A10 ‘Thunderbolt’, Tankbuster, plane….I’m only surprised that he didn’t dive and take cover for the nearest bunker! Lets hope that Zach Johnson doesn’t choose Duck L’Orange, for next year’s menu…but then again, if Tiger hasn’t recovered from his fear of ducks, it could be exactly the way to go!

So apart from a few incidents of little note, overall it was a disappointing tournament. Roll on the Open.

Justin Timberlake plays Carnoustie

April 17, 2007 | 1 Comment

that wardrobe malfunction moment He’s currently one of the biggest recording stars in the world, a multi-millionaire at 26 years years old, could probably attract any woman on the planet he wanted…..and plays golf off a 6 handicap - surely life doesn’t get any better than this? (other than playing off scratch). If it does, I’d sure like to know how!

While on a family holiday Justin Timberlake stayed at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel and on Sunday took the opportunity to play a four-ball at the famous Carnoustie course, the venue to this year’s Open. Word got round the town quite quickly though, and with Carnoustie being a public course, as far as the fans were concerned it was, ‘access all areas’ - so that a quiet game of golf was soon interrupted by having to chat, sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans.

Not at all wanting to compare myself to Justin in any way (I wish!), I couldn’t let this opportunity go by without mentioning a landmark in my own game - my first ever birdie! The scene of my success was the 365yd par 4, ninth hole at my local course. Not just this, but it was my best round yet. It’s rounds like this which give you renewed hope and restore your faith, confidence and motivation in the game…..well until the next time anyway!

I also came across, ‘The Floppy’, described as, ‘the revolutionary indoor Golf Ball’. The floppy is a soft skinned, indoor practice ball, which mimics the feel of a real golf ball. The idea is that ‘The Floppy’ reduces collateral damage on those practice rounds within the home and meanwhile placates the wife. Surely they could have come up with a better name ( I don’t know - the ‘Weener’) and there’s no mention either of the rather obvious threat within the home as well, from swinging at the ball with steel and graphite shafts - surely not conducive to the longevity of the antiques either? I like the name of the company behind it though - “Balls Out, Inc”

Callaway Golf

April 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment

I can’t believe I missed this and I’m still kicking myself…Callaway Golf put out a casting call to model their Golf Apparel on April 5, 2007, Los Angeles.

Here’s the brief -

Please only participate if you meet the following requirements: Callaway Golf Apparel is looking for its Spring/Summer 2008 Catalog Models! Knowledge and Familiarity with the game, personality, professionalism and the ability to have fun are a must!

Whilst also looking for Woman, here’s the Male criteria:

Fancy Footwork at the Masters

April 3, 2007 | 2 Comments

Puma Gold Concord

Looks like competition for this year’s Masters, will be as hard fought off the course between the manufacturers, as it is on the fairways and greens, by the players.

Hot on the heels of the Adidas Tour 360 Diva, Nike and Puma are now going toe to toe with their own limited edition footwear.

PUMA golfers Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) and Johan Edfors (SWE) will be wearing the Gold Concorde GTX this week at the Masters both in practice rounds and in competition. To compliment the shoes, they will wear matching apparel highlighting this golden moment. Each will wear the outfit during the tournament, providing, what Puma calls,”a unique twist and look in their quest for the Green Jacket.” These special limited edition shoes have been introduced by Puma to celebrate the first year of their golf collection. Lets hope the glare of the sun doesn’t distract the other players.

Meanwhile in the opposing corner, Tiger Woods will be wearing the Nike SP-8 TW, Tour Limited Edition golf shoe, celebrating the 10th year anniversary of playing and winning the Majors. Not to be outdone though, Nike has launched a series of three shoes, for each of the 3 majors -The Masters, The US Open (10th May 2007) and the Open (10th June 2007).

We can only keep our fingers crossed that the standard of play rises to the occasion and the Masters doesn’t become guilty of style over substance!

LPGA it isn’t

April 2, 2007 | 2 Comments

7th Annual Playboy Golf Scramble Championship

I had planned to justify this post with some tenuous link to Easter…Easter Bunnies, Easter Eggs and all that cutesy stuff but unfortunately you would probably have seen through the charade for what it really is…gratuitous, eye-candy.

This is Katie Lohman at the 7th Annual Playboy Golf Scramble Championship. I can’t tell you any more, such as where it was held or who took part, but I guess that’s a side-show and an irrelevance.

Katie’s grip and stance doesn’t seem too bad, but she should learn to keep her focus on the ball a little better….although to be fair, I can’t actually see a ball…hmm, I’m beginning to think that this could have been stage-managed just for the cameras and wasn’t a serious Tour event after all!!

Can anyone tell me where I can get a ‘wild card’ to next year’s ‘Championship’?