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So What’s Next, An Internet Golf Lesson?

August 16, 2010 | By Chris Chirico | 3 Comments

If you’re anything like me, you have a pretty busy schedule. Between a 45+ hour work week, three kids, my wife and and her busy schedule…I just don’t have a lot of spare time on my hands.

Believe it or not, sometimes I don’t even have time to play golf (even nine holes)! So the last thing I have the time (or money) for is a golf lesson! It may sound crazy, but I just don’t have that extra hour to spare, especially at around $60 a pop.

I’ll admit though, I don’t really try to make the time for a golf lesson because, well…it’s not really a high priority. I play golf for fun. Not to be a pro. I probably play softball more often than golf, but I’ve never considered hiring a batting coach! So why would I consider doing it for golf?

That being said, I would still like to play a little better. I would like to make that slice I have go away. I’d like to be a bit more consistent. But I sure don’t want to pay a healthy chunk of my paycheck to do it. So where does someone like me turn? How about the same place people turn for just about everything else…the internet. Now I know what you’re thinking – “How can you get a legitimate golf lesson on the internet?” I’ll tell you how – quickly, easily, efficiently and inexpensively – that’s how. And that’s exactly what I found in my experience with www.fixyourgame.com/.

PGA Pro and Director of Instruction Brant Kasbohm has created a golf instruction website that is incredibly easy to use, very informative and amazingly affordable. All that’s required is a video of your swing from both behind and face-on and $19.95. After emailing my video and filling out the “Get Started” page, all I had to do was wait, and the wait wasn’t long. Less than 36 hour later, I had received an email back. Contained in the email was a breakdown of some of the problems with my swing (posture, weight transfer and swing path) along with potential fixes. Now I know what you might be thinking; you can’t learn much from an email. I might as well have just picked up a magazine, right? Wrong.

Also included in the email were the videos I sent in, side-by-side with video of Brant himself, for the purposes of comparing my swing to his. I should mention, our swings are about as close as you can get to night and day. The personalized videos, complete with Brant’s voice over, play like a tutorial rather than just simply watching a video of a proper swing vs. well, not a very good one. Brant breaks down my swing frame-by-frame to help point out exactly where I’m going wrong.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, I’ve learned more about my swing in that 8 minute and 39 second video than from anyone, pro or otherwise, who has looked at my swing before. And when I take into consideration it took me no more than $20 and a few minutes to video my swing, www.fixyourgame.com is a no-brainer.

So if you’re like me, you don’t have the time or money, or you’re just not that interested in getting a full-on lesson, then www.fixyourgame.com is an excellent site to check out. It’s informative, inexpensive and takes very little time or effort on your part.

The following day, I had already started trying to work some of the fixes into my swing during a nine hole round. Let’s just say its going to take some getting used to. But thanks to Brant and the team at Fixyourgame.com, I can tell I’m on the right path.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Brant Kasbohm, fix your game, golf lesson, golf stinks, golfstinks, internet golf lesson, PGA pro, www.fixyourgame.com

I Got Your AZ Right Here!

August 15, 2010 | By Chris Chirico | Leave a Comment

A hundred ten in the shade is sorta hot, but you don’t have to shovel it off your driveway. ~Author Unknown

Can you believe it’s mid-August already? No, really! Check your calendar if you don’t believe me. Before you know it, you’ll be packing up your clubs and starting your holiday shopping. Ridiculous, right? It’s true…the older you get, the faster time seems to go by. We get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget to take some time out for ourselves. But I’ll tell you who has the right idea – the snowbirds.

You know the snowbirds. The minute the weather starts to change during autumn, or that certain date on the calendar arrives, they head south faster than a 2008 stock portfolio. We northern golfers could learn something from these people. After all, once golf season is gone for us, all we can do is sit and wait for it to roll around again in the spring.

But before we trade in that driver for a snow shovel, maybe we should consider extending the golf season a little. Maybe we should become snowbirds ourselves. Maybe a trip to the picturesque southwest. Maybe you could get started at ArizonaGolf.com.

It wasn’t long ago when Stinky Golfer Carlos let us know that late in the year is the perfect time to be golfing in Arizona. The temperatures are dropping into the double digits, greens fees are low…what more could you ask for on a golf trip? Well, how about some great courses? Lucky for you, there is great golf aplenty in Arizona which boasts seven courses on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play list (second only to California’s ten).

So what are you waiting for? Head over to ArizonaGolf.com and get started on extending your golf season. With so many fantastic destinations packed into one state – Scottsdale, Tuscon and Phoenix to name a few – the only question should be where to begin.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: arizona, arizona golf, Golf Magazine, golf stinks, golfstinks, phoenix, scottsdale, top 100 you can play, tuscon

Do Cheaters Ever Win?

August 9, 2010 | By Chris Chirico | 3 Comments

Let’s say you’re on the last hole. You currently stand at 84 and have never before broken 90. You’re on a par-5 and launched your drive into the woods, but not OB. Out of sight of the rest of your group, you flub your next shot and it manages to bounce only a couple of feet in front of you. Now you’re about to hit your third shot, you’re still in the woods and you realize there’s now no chance of breaking 90. Or, is there?

Sure, there’s always the chance you could pull some miracle shot out from between your cheeks. But you also know that it would take a miracle just for the chance to make that miracle happen. So instead, you take a second to look around, see that no one saw your screw-up…and you hit again. Perfect! You’re back out on the fairway, and as far as anyone knows, it only took you two to get there. Now, you have a realistic chance of breaking 90. But, do you really?

Without a doubt, cheating happens in golf all the time, but I have to wonder why? Take the example above. Sure, your scorecard is going to show an 89; your buddies think you broke that elusive 90. But you know the truth. You know you didn’t do it. So what’s the benefit really? One number on a scorecard? Is that it?

I want to say I understand in a situation like that. But I don’t. I mean, did it win you a bet? Did it win you a tournament? Did it do anything significant? Or is it just something you can tell a story about…even if it is a lie? No matter what the reason, it isn’t good enough.

Everyone always says that you play the game of golf against yourself. Everytime you go out there, you try to beat your best. So, by knocking strokes off of your score that shouldn’t be knocked off…aren’t you just cheating yourself?

Look, I’m no angel out on the course. I don’t play golf 100% by the rules. I don’t carry a rule book around in my pocket or in my bag. I don’t study or memorize the rules either. As a matter of fact, I’ve never so much as looked at the rule book. I hit the ball, walk to it, hit it again. I keep doing this, more or less, until the ball is in the hole. I probably violate a rule here and there. Maybe I move a stick I’m not supposed to move. Maybe that’s cheating. Whatever. The one thing I have never done, intentionally anyway, is not count a stroke. Really now, is the difference between my 102 or 101 that big a deal? What would that one stroke do for me? Especially considering I know I cheated?

There will always be cheaters, no matter the sport; no matter the reason. But I promise, I will not be one of them. How could I ever take my game seriously if I can just write on the card whatever score I feel like writing? So everyone can take it to the bank – if you’re playing a round with me, you will beat me fair and square. You can count on a fair game from me.

Unless we’re playing for money…

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cheating at golf, golf cheating, golf stinks, golfstinks

The Gateway To A Golf Paradise

August 7, 2010 | By Chris Chirico | Leave a Comment

Some years ago, Stinky Golfer Greg and myself, along with two other golfing buddies, took a trip to Hilton Head Island for a golf getaway. We had a great hookup from one of my relatives who owned a condo on the island. This was the first real golf trip any of us had taken, and it was certainly one to remember.

I could get into the many details of the trip, but I can much more easily sum it up with one comment. While riding in a cart down one of the fairways of Palmetto Dunes, enjoying the beautiful views of the Atlantic, Greg turns to me and says simply…”Thank you. Seriously…thank you. This is awesome.” He was right. It was awesome.

Recognize that picture? Of course you do. It’s the famous Harbour Town Lighthouse at Sea Pines. We’ve all seen it. But have you ever had the chance to see it in person? Well thanks to a new website launched by The Golf Channel, here’s your chance. If you’ve been there before, then here’s your chance to do it again. For a great golf getaway, take a peek at http://www.hiltonheadgolf.com/.

For any golfers who haven’t yet found their way to Hilton Head, my friends, you are truly missing out on a great golf experience. Now I’ve never been to Myrtle Beach, but as it’s been described to me, Hilton Head is Myrtle Beach with better golf and without the touristy feel. I can attest to both of those points.

As for the golf, during a short trip, we managed to squeeze in two rounds of 18, one round at Palmetto Dunes and the other at Shipyard. Those two rounds being not quite enough, on the morning of our final day, we squeezed in another 9 holes at Sea Pines (home of Harbour Town) on the Ocean Course. Each round was an experience like no other. Be it the stunning ocean views, gators walking past the greens as you’re putting or the beautiful, lush courses themselves…it’s tough to beat the variety of courses you’ll find on Hilton Head. Even if you can’t make it to Harbour Town, you’re sure to do fine with any of the courses The Golf Channel has featured for you here.

Let’s not forget though, there’s much more to a golf trip than just golf. What about food? As far as I’m concerned, food is a close second to the golf itself. Luckily, the good people at The Golf Channel have similar feelings as they’ve provided a dining guide on the site as well. Oh, and I can personally vouch for a number of restaurants on that list including Antonio’s, The Crazy Crab and Harbourside Burgers & Brews at Sea Pines just to name a few.

Since my last visit to Hilton Head, I’ve always wanted to make a return trip. Now that The Golf Channel has made it so easy, I have almost no excuse. The courses, food, places to stay and even packages…it’s all right there at your fingertips.

For those golfers who have yet to visit Hilton Head….you don’t know what you’re missing. After visiting twice (once for golf and once for relaxation…and, no…they’re not the same thing), I’m still looking forward to going again. If nice weather, great golf and a laid back, relaxing environment are what you’re looking for, then http://www.hiltonheadgolf.com/ is a great place to start.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: golf stinks, golf trip, golf vacation, golfstinks, Harbour Town, Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island, Myrtle Beach, Palmetto Dunes, Sea Pines, Shipyard, The Golf Channel

That Elusive Hole in One…and Free Steak!

August 4, 2010 | By Greg D'Andrea | Leave a Comment

Recently, I was traveling in Omaha, Nebraska on business. I had just gotten finished visiting the Omaha Steaks stand at the airport (I was buying this beef jerky they sell for dogs – no lie, my dog loves them) when my co-worker Matt asked me if I had ever gotten a hole in one.

Immediately, I told him that I had not, but then I started making excuses. I explained that I had holed a couple shots from par-3-distance (one from 125 yards and one from 200 yards). I mean, if I were on a tee box when I took those shots, I would have two aces under my belt. Heck, I should get more credit for my two shots since neither were off a tee (and we all know it’s easier to hit off a tee).

Alas, I had to settle for eagle (the 125 yard-shot) and birdie (the 200-yard shot). That 200-yard birdie should have been a double-eagle, but I hit my drive OB on a short par 5 and was hitting my provisional from the fairway…typical. So no, I have never gotten a hole in one. It doesn’t really bother me…but I’ve played a lot of golf over the last 20 years, you would think the odds are with me. Of course, I am a self proclaimed “stinky golfer” and write for a blog called “Golf Stinks” so I guess the odds are right where they ought to be.

Anyway, shortly after my visit to Omaha last month (and in a rather interesting coincidence), I received an email from Omaha Steaks. I initially thought it was a customer satisfaction survey for my dog to fill out. Instead, they explained Omaha Steaks is running a “Hole in One” promotion for the month of August through their Facebook page – If you get a hole in one, you win a FREE package of 4 Omaha Steaks Filet Mignons!

But what about if you don’t get a hole in one? That’s OK! Because the good folks at Omaha Steaks have secured a $20 gift card for one lucky Golf Stinks reader! All you have to do is:

1. Make sure you “like” both the Golfstinks Facebook page and the Omaha Steaks Facebook page.

and

2. Post “I Entered the Omaha Steaks Contest!” on the Golfstinks Facebook page.

That’s it – we’ll automatically enter you to win during a drawing on August 16th!

Good Luck!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ace, golf, golf stinks, golfstinks, hole in one, omaha steaks, steak

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