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Anyone Ever Golf in Hawaii?

February 22, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | 8 Comments

Kapalua on the island of Maui is a must-play in Hawaii (Photo by Greg D’Andrea)

Me and my big mouth…

So a couple of years ago, my wife and I; my in-laws; and my sister-in-law and her husband were on a family vacation in the Florida Keys.

One evening, while lounging under a few palm trees and sipping on some rum-based concoction, my aforementioned gigantic mouth blurts out: “Hey, next time, we should go to Hawaii!”

The next day, my wife reminded me of how crazy my suggestion was: “Hawaii? You realize I’m pregnant, right? When will we have time to go to Hawaii with a baby?” “Relax,” I told her. “Your sister is pregnant too. It was late, I had a few in me – no one took me seriously. We’re not going to Hawaii…trust me.”

Fast forward to present day. It’s midnight and I just spent the last several hours online booking our flights to Hawaii. Maui, to be exact. Turns out my sister-in-law not only took me very seriously, but considered my suggestion a splendid idea to boot (babies or no babies).

Anyone ever try to book a vacation to Hawaii from the East Coast of the United States with a toddler in tow? Making the trip all in one day is an impossibility (our son would be off the wall by the 8th hour in). So we have to break-up our flights.

Initially, I tried to fly into LA and then catch a non-stop flight to Maui the next day, but it turns out to be much cheaper to go to San Diego first, then to LA and then to Maui. Yep – a flight from LA to Maui was like $300 more per-person than a flight from San Diego to LA to Maui (same airline). WTF?

Of course, you can’t go to San Diego with a toddler and not go to the zoo. So we’re flying into San Diego two days before our flight to Maui (via LA) and going to the zoo (now I know why I was saving all my hotel points…geesh).

So, when we finally get to Hawaii, we’ll have seven days to lounge under a few palm trees while sipping on a Mai Tai (AKA: a rum-based concoction) – which is just enough time for my fat yap to suggest we all go to Greece next.

All that being said, I’m pleased to report there will be time for a round of golf while I’m in Maui…But where should I play?

Since we’re staying on the west coast of the island, I feel like Kapalua Plantation (home of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions) should be high on my list. Anyone ever play there?

How about other suggestions? I’ll probably only have time for one round so I want to make it count. But Kapalua is pushing $300 and this trip is costing me a small fortune already – perhaps there’s another awesome course with lower greens fees? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll go a bit more in debt for Kapalua, but I just wanted to weigh all my options first.

My trip is in April – any suggestions beforehand would be greatly appreciated! And I plan on posting about my experience on whichever course I end up playing, so stay tuned for that too.

Wish me luck!

Filed Under: Golf Destinations Tagged With: hawaii, kapalua, maui, travel

What if the PGA Tour Went Extinct?

February 17, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | 7 Comments

golfstinksRemember the old philosophical question: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, would it make a sound? Well ponder this: If the PGA Tour were to disappear tomorrow, would anyone really care?

A couple years ago, I wrote about the economics of golf, and how the pro tours only contribute a measly 1% to golf’s total economic impact.

So from a financial standpoint, the PGA Tour could dissolve overnight without much monetary backlash to the golf industry. The golf equipment and apparel machine would still be cranking-out merchandise to supply millions of weekend hacks throughout the world.

But for how long? With the tour defunct, wouldn’t the average golfer begin to dwindle in numbers? Well, I guess that depends on how popular the tour is with the golfing masses to begin with. For example, a decade ago I would have been laughed at for even suggesting a post like this one – after all, the hero on tour was one of the most recognizable athletes in all of sports.

Ah, but today he’s barley the shell of his former self and as a result, the PGA Tour has taken one giant leap back into obscurity. Perhaps more detrimental is that no one has taken his place. Want proof? Turn on ESPN any given Sunday an you’ll see them lead the golf segment talking about Tiger‘s third-place finish, rather than the poor schlep who actually took home the trophy.

With no face to the organization and television ratings that are basically nonexistent, it makes you wonder if it’s all worth the effort? Rolling into a new city every week and setting up shop on some corporate sponsor’s dime (could have donated that money to build a new cancer wing at the local hospital or something); trotting out a B-list of tour pros to go through the motions in front of a sparse gallery of spectators; turning on the HD cameras that broadcast to an equally paltry television audience. One has to ask themselves: Does the ends justify the means?

Sure, if the PGA Tour were no longer, some diehard fans would be disappointed (not to mention some of our fellow golf bloggers) and local establishments near tour stops would miss the boost in sales. But the top pros would head over to the European Tour (which would subsequently be broadcast more frequently here in the U.S.) and golf life for you and me would pretty much remain unchanged.

Not many golfers I know are quitting because they stink – no sir, we just keep on playing no matter what the game throws at us. And perhaps that’s the most fundamental point – We don’t play this game because the PGA Tour is so great, we play it because golf is great (if anything, watching the scratch players gives us more of a complex).

So, what if the PGA Tour went extinct? As long as the European Tour added a stop at The Masters, I’d be happy. So perhaps I should re-phrase my question: If the PGA Tour went extinct, so what?

Filed Under: The Economics of Golf Tagged With: PGA TOUR, The Masters, tiger

DAWGS Golf Crossover Shoe; Versatile Comfort

February 8, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | 3 Comments

DAWGS Crossover Golf Shoe
DAWGS Crossover Golf Shoe

So I spent my Super Bowl Sunday morning with a couple golf buddies at the indoor golf simulator, smacking balls into a screen that was projecting Teeth of the Dog Golf Course in the Dominican Republic.

And while we always have a good time at the indoor range, this wasn’t just a social (or practice) session – I was also there on official Golfstinks business: I was tee-testing a new pair of DAWGS Golf shoes – the Men’s Crossover (black).

Touting themselves as offering the “world’s lightest golf shoe,” DAWGS Golf doesn’t sell your typical golf cleat. For starters, there’s no leather – In fact, most of their shoes are constructed with Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which gives them their lightweight properties (think Crocs with soft spikes).

However, when I was asked to review a pair of DAWGS, it was their Crossover shoe that caught my attention – the Crossovers are made of lightweight canvas and come in both black and (for the more adventuresome) houndstooth.

It wasn’t just the looks of the Crossovers that caught my eye – it was the lack of a soft spike. Instead, the Crossovers feature rubber nubs that allow you to wear them both on and off the course – and that’s what enticed me – that I could pull these out of my closet in the morning; drive to the course in them; play 18-holes in them; drive to the super market in them…etc, and never change my shoes!

But would they do their job on the links? (Their job, of course, is to provide both comfort and stability).

In short, my answer is yes. These Crossovers are super comfy (I actually wore them the entire day – from my round on the simulator through Tom Brady’s incomplete end-zone Hail Mary) and there wasn’t one slip on the teeing mat. In addition, they look pretty cool (I was wearing jeans during my test, but they look great with khakis too). At 50 bucks, these versatile shoes are well worth it.

That being said, I should add a couple caveats.

Obviously, the Crossover may not be the best shoe to wear in wet conditions. First of all they are canvas, so they will soak through. And secondly, with the rubber nubs, you may not get the stability on wet grass as you would with normal soft spikes.

Also, you may consider ordering a size up from what the measuring chart on their site tells you. They don’t seem to come in half-sizes, so DAWGS Golf provides a chart to show how to measure your foot to decide which size to buy. I measured and (according to their chart) was a 9. I went with 9 and it’s a smidgen tight. But when I re-read the chart for this post (after the fact), I noticed it recommends to order a size up (so, I probably should have gone with a 10).

Both of these issues seemed minor in my mind though (after all, I wore my slightly tight size 9’s without complaining all day). So, I definitley recommend giving them a try if you’re in the market for a multipurpose golf shoe.

And if you are, then you’re in luck, because DAWGS Golf has agreed to give one of our Facebook fans a free pair of black Crossovers! Check our Facebook Page for details!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: crocs, crossover, dawgs, golf shoe, shoe

Book Review: G.O.L.F.

February 1, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | Leave a Comment

golfstinks golf stinksDoes the acronym G.O.L.F. stand for “Greatest Of Life’s Frustrations” or “Game Of Limitless Fun?” Well, the author of G.O.L.F., Lane H. Luoma, will tell you it stands for both (and I think I agree).

I loved this book! I’m not sure how, but Mr. Luoma has figured out how to put down into words every single thought that’s ever crossed a golfer’s mind – it’s truly a rollocking read! What is more, he’s done a rather good job penning this book to appeal to the non-golfer too.

In the preface, Mr. Luoma states “you certainly don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy this book…” After reading that statement, I thought, “sure, what non-golfer is going to take the time to read this book?” But in all honesty, this book would greatly help those non-golfers understand the ups and downs their golfing buddies (or significant others) experience.

G.O.L.F. takes you on a journey of the game from those of us who experience it – from the pros to the Joes, the book levels the playing field, ignores handicaps and explains why everyone who’s ever played this game can be frustrated beyond imagination, yet still overwhelmingly smitten with it all at the same time.

For example, let’s take Chapter 8: “Warning! Hazardous to your Health (Mental).” The chapter takes you through an entire round, hole-by-hole, giving examples of what a terrible score you can end up with just because of strategicly-placed hazards (bunkers, lateral water, etc.). Yet after 17 nightmarish holes, you birdie the unbelievably difficult par 5, 18th-hole to finish on a high note and restore your love of the game. That, my friends, is golf.

From how luck (both good and bad) can affect your game; to being at the mercy of Mother Nature; to taking a look at some of the more interesting rules; G.O.L.F. lays-it-out as you’ve never read it before (oh, you may have thought it, but seeing on the printed page is a totally different experience).

Mr. Luoma takes golfers and non-golfers alike on a facinating voyage into what it really means to play this game – from chagrin to euphoria, it’s all in this book.

You can purchase Mr. Luoma’s book on the G.O.L.F. website, along with some other merchandise, including framed prints from the awesome artwork contained within its pages (I totally want that “Believe” print).

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: book review, G.O.L.F., game of limitless fun, golf book, greatest of life's frustrations, luoma

Can You Lose the Will to Golf?

January 25, 2012 | By Greg D'Andrea | 5 Comments

Are times when golf is no longer appealing...
Are there times when golf is no longer appealing… (photo by Greg D’Andrea)

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.

Filed Under: Stinky Golfer Paradise Tagged With: quit golf

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