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Clone Golf Clubs

May 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment

How much are we persuaded by the marketing of leading brands and do we overlook the relative merits of Clone Golf Clubs?  Nike Paid Tiger Woods $100m to endorse their products but they need a return on their investment which we as the consumer pay for.  Clone Golf Clubs can be 70% cheaper than the leading brands, but if Tiger Woods jumped ship and started endorsing “noname” clubs, would we notice the difference?

My attitude changed when I tested the G.R.I.P 5-wood.  I was a bit sneaky when GRIP asked which clubs I’d like to hit, because I didn’t have a 5-Wood in my bag.  I have played with the GRIP ever since, and I would have to have more money than sense to change it, because there would just be no logical reason.

Some the the Clone Golf Club brands may not have the budget of Nike and Callaway but they look perfectly well set-up to provide a quality product and a professional service. Take Hireko who advertise, “cutting edge golf equipment, direct from the manufacturer” - their square shaped drivers are currently being advertised at a little over $100.  I bet also that they’d value your customer loyalty, more than the ‘big boys’. They also have a nice blog, which puts them directly in touch with their consumers.

I’m not sure when a Clone Golf Club ceases to be a Clone and when it morphs into a leading brand (purely on sales and revenue, I guess). Alpha Golf is probably on this cusp and is gaining a reputation, with Golf Digest describing their Drivers as, “the best drivers you’ve never heard of “. By the way, I hope to be testing the Alpha C830.4 interchangeable driver soon, so I’ll let you know if there’s any merit in this statement. The Alpha Hybrid received an honorable mention in the recent Rankmark, Hybrid Club Test, so there’s no reason to suppose that their Drivers will be any different.

I think if we all learned to be a little less persuaded by the media hype and had more conviction in our own game, we might find some hidden gems down the Clone Golf Clubs aisle.

Play Golf, Live Long

May 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment

New research (’Golf - a game of life and death. Reduced mortality in Swedish Golf Players’) from a Swedish Medical University claims that the death rate for Golfers is 40% lower than their non-playing counterparts, leading to an increased life expectancy of 5 years.  The University boffins studied data from 300,000 Swedish golfers.

The results are claimed to be as a result of improved health through increased exercise together with social and psychological implications.  The lowest rates were found with those golfers having the best handicaps, explained by the fact that achieving and maintaining a low handicap involves playing more.

Tiger Woods Golf Clinic & Tiger Jam XI

May 28, 2008 | 1 Comment

See an exclusive video of Tiger Woods. AT&T blue room has a video up of Tiger, along with Charley Hoffman, hosting a golf clinic at the Cascada Golf Club in Nevada as part of the Tiger Jam XI benefit concert to support the Tiger Woods Foundation. These two golf pros are fun to watch as they give tips on golf.

Visit http://www.attblueroom.com/sports to check it out.

AT&T blue room also has exclusive behind the scenes coverage of Tiger Jams XI, a hugely successful fundraising event hosted by Tiger. Watch interviews from celebrities, including Julius Irving, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Eddie Van Halen, who’s band headlined the event.

Srixon Shark Collection

May 28, 2008 | 3 Comments

I received the latest, May 2008, Srixon newsletter via mail and was interested to read that the Srixon, exclusive, Shark Collection is now available.  Have you ever seen anything so tasteless and garish ? Who in their right minds would walk onto a course with this gear ? (apologies now if you’re already an owner).  I guess the range is “exclusive” in the same way that films which bomb become “cult“. I was left wondering  if any of their Tour Players had the cojones to actually endorse the range.

At least Srixon redeemed themselves a little by providing a link to something a bit more useful - their Custom Fit Ball Calculator.

Jimenez wins BMW PGA Championship

May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I’ve just returned from a three day break, camping in Norfolk. One of the advantages of getting away from everything is a break from the incessant assault on the senses from the media. I did however manage to sneak a look at the Monaco Grand Prix, but saw no coverage, while I was away, of the BMW PGA Championship from Wentworth.

I was a bit surprised to get back and discover that Miguel Angel Jimenez had beaten Briton’s Oliver Wilson on the second playoff hole to become the third oldest winner of the event.  The pony tailed Spaniard, who is well know for his cigars and the odd glass of Rioja, reckoned that it was probably the biggest win of his career.

What was also interesting is that there seemed to be a little bit of controversy surrounding the BBC’s coverage over the four days. In particular, Nick Dougherty (of all people) had a swipe at broadcaster, Peter Aliss, for his critical comments over the general standard of play. Dougherty claimed the comments had been “disgusting”, but Aliss defended his right to speak by dismissing modern players as, “thin skinned” and although Dougherty was a nice lad, “he’d get over it”.

Based on what I saw on Thursday, Aliss probably had a point, because there was some poor driving and some really slack putting.  It all got a bit too much for Paul Casey and he had to deny swearing at officials, insisting that he had swore at himself, after dropping a shot.

While I was away I took my two girls on a steam train ride from Sherringham to Holt and then Kelling Heath (surely the smallest train platform in the world) which offered a fantastic panoramic view of Sherringham Golf Club. It’s a links course set on the cliffs and it looked great.  I’ve still not managed to play a links course but this will soon be rectified when I play The Royal Cromer Golf Club, in a few weeks time, which is only 6km down the coast from Sherringham.  I swear that these old English Golf Clubs have the same web designer, because they’re shockingly poor and the  photos of Sherringham Golf Club in particular are laughably bad, and don’t do it justice at all - although  if you look carefully you’ll see a  picture of the steam train! Choo Choo Cha Boogie, as we sang down the line!

Justin Rose

May 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Since winning last year’s European Tour Order of Merit, Justin Rose has failed to build on this success in 2008. The only brief highlight has been leading at the first round of the Masters but this was soon capitulated.  Now after having spent 5 months in the US, Rose returns to England for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the European Tour’s flagship event.  Rose is hoping that familiarity back on home ground will kick-start his season as well as the opportunity to sample English culture again - a pint down the pub, curry and football on TV!

Rose will also be hoping that his new found influence of Buddhism will bring some karma to proceedings.  Rose was introduced to Buddhism by his new coach Nick Bradley who is using some of his religious practices to instill focus and self-awareness in his player.  I’m not a religious person myself, but if they were dishing out awards, then my nomination would certainly go to Buddhism!

Rose will have to overcome a strong field, including defending champion Anders Hansen (who beat Rose last year in sudden-death play-off), US Open Champion Angel Cabrera and Ernie Els on his home course, where he has won 7 World Matchplay Championships.  Like Rose, Els is also a keen football fan and had even considered flying to Moscow for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League final, between Manchester United and Chelsea, but decided in the end it probably wasn’t the best preparation for a golfing tournament.

Like Rose and Els I will also be watching the game down the pub (not in the same bar, obvioulsy - but how cool would that be?). As an Arsenal supporter,I’m just hoping it’s a good game for the neutral and that the Russians don’t manage to spoil the spectacle.

Fitness for Golf

May 17, 2008 | 2 Comments

Fitness is becoming an increasingly important part of  golf which is typified by new young breed of Pros coming into the game.  Even as a recreational golfer, fitness can make the difference in playing consistent rounds particularly when it comes to maintaining the momentum on the back nine.  In more general terms fitness and flexibility can also help the maturing golfer maintain lower golf scores.

This week I played 18 holes in the driving wind and rain, which really brought home to me the value of being fit and how in my own game, there was probably room for improvement. Later in the evening my body seized up and it felt like I’d aged about 10 years! I was due at a golf dinner and I couldn’t even allow myself the luxury of lying down for a short rest, just in case I woke up about two hours later.

Unlike practice with the clubs it can be difficult to find the motivation and time to fit in  a golf specific fitness program, because the benefits aren’t so immediately obvious.  One of the best golf performance websites I’ve come across is MyTPI (Titleist Performance Institute) and is probably the most comprehensive resource you’ll find for golf specific fitness advice. Once you register (which is free) you can get access to loads of information covering all areas of your golf game, including -

• Mobility
• Stability
• Posture
• Strength
• Balance
• Cardiovascular
• Power
• Co-ordination

The site will show you how after just five minutes a day (even while watching television) you’ll be amazed by the improvement in your swing.  To help you achieve this the site offers an exercise library and sample workouts.

You will also find a section on health which is so comprehensive that it would be difficult to summarize it all here ……. go over to MyTPI and see for yourself.

Bunker Play

May 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Golfers at one of Scotland’s most exclusive golf clubs, Loch Lomond, had a lucky escape when a speed boat left the water and grounded in the bunker.  The skipper of, ‘The Final Fling’  (you couldn’t write the script, could you?) abandoned ship as the boat was sent of course from the waves of other vessels on the water.

The watch manager for Clyde coastguard said, “We do deal with a number of beached vessels, but I don’t think that we have ever had one which landed in a golf course bunker.”

I’m not sure what the Rules of Golf say about this, but they better remove it quick as the Loch Lomond club is due to host the Scottish Open in July.

New Kid on the Block

May 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

There’s a new kid on the golfing block and his name is Anthony Kim.  The 22 year old Californian, of Korean descent, is attracting rave reviews from his fellow professionals and Wood’s former swing coach, Butch Harmon observed that he thought Kim was the future of golf on the PGA Tour. 

Last weekend Kim achieved his first professional win at the Wachovia Championship by a tournament record of five shots. This maiden win put him in firm contention for this weeks Players Championship and moved him up 21 spots in the Official World Ranking to No. 16.

Kim  doesn’t lack confidence and last year he positioned himself as the player to upset Tiger Woods, but in a move reminiscent of Ian Poulter,  downgraded this forecast to being the best player he can.  Kim has had a reputation for being an arrogant, temperamental party animal but a recent serious accident suffered by his girlfriend seems to have refocused his mind and become a turning point.

Perhaps this weekend will give a further indication as to whether Kim is the real deal.

2008 Players Championship

May 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment

While Tiger Woods continues to recuperate from knee surgery, the leading golf professionals will be attempting to make hay while the Florida sun shines.  Although Tiger doesn’t have a great record at TPC Sawgrass, his absence will nevertheless be seen as an opportunity by the strongest field for a PGA Tour event (49 of the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings), sometimes billed as the unofficial ‘fifth’ Major.

Phil Mickelson will attempt to become the first player to win the event in back to back years and will be spurred on by the richest purse in golf with $1.62m on offer for the winner.  Sawgrass is the PGA Tours flagship venue and in the last three holes, has what could be regarded as the best closing stretch of any Tourney.  The 17th Hole’s, island green is capable of turning the world’s best golfers into weekend duffers.  Tiger Woods has called the famed par-3, “gimmicky” but when other players describe it, as like having root canal, you know it’s going to make great TV.

The ones to watch out for then are Lefty, Jim Furyk, Padraig Harrington and Australian Adam Scott, who comes into the event showing great form.

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adjective:aspiring u'spIring - desiring or striving for recognition or advancement