GolfStinks

A Golf Blog for the Rest of Us!

A New Approach At The Golf Course Level

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I’m driving home from work the other day when, on the radio, comes something I’m just not used to hearing. No, I don’t mean a DJ to whom I can tolerate listening. I mean a commercial.

What’s unusual about a commercial on the radio you ask? Well, it wasn’t just any commercial. It was a commercial for a golf course. Actually, it was a commercial for multiple golf courses.

Maybe this doesn’t sound so strange to some of you. But me? I honestly can’t remember hearing a commercial on the radio for a golf course…ever! So why now? With the golf industry struggling, rounds declining every year and overall interest in the game sinking, is spending money on advertising the way to go? Are some courses looking to expand their clientele? Or for others, is it simply a last resort?

When you have a product to sell, and you want people to know about it, what do you do? You advertise your product. So why has it been different for golf courses? Why has radio advertising been a no-no in the past? But now, when they need people to come to the course, they are figuring out that it’s a good idea. I mean, golf has been on the decline for a decade now. But it took them that long to figure out advertising?

Even more strange I thought, but a good idea in my opinion, is where they are advertising. I heard these commercials on a hard rock radio station! Not an easy listening station. Not the oldies station. Not the adult contemporary station. Not the news station. Not even the classic rock station. But the modern/hard rock station!

Now I haven’t looked up the audience, but one would have to imagine most of the listeners of this particular station would be on the younger side. So are these golf courses killing two birds with one stone? Sure! By advertising here, they are reaching out via new media for them, as well as reaching out to a demographic that the game of golf needs.

It remains to be seen if this new form of advertising works for these courses. But whether it does or not, it’s good to see that the courses themselves are taking a hands-on approach to addressing the problems with the sport. Because we all know that it sure isn’t taking place at a higher level.

As the golf industry powers that be continue to market the game mostly to the scratch and low-handicappers, and consequently the industry continues to suffer, I feel these courses are taking the game in the right direction. They are doing what they can to get their name, as well as the sport itself, out there. And they are doing so in the direction of a new audience…a younger audience. And to that I say, good luck! This sport needs a new attitude and some new blood!

Swing ’til you’re happy!

The Independence of Golf

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We should be lighting-off fireworks every time we play golf!
We should be lighting-off fireworks every time we play golf!

Independence Day. Believe it or not, it’s about more than cookouts, the day off from work and driving across state lines to get the “good” fireworks. But this isn’t a history lesson. I think we all know the reason we celebrate on the fourth.

But speaking of that day off from work, one would think that would give us one extra day to golf. But I guess between all of the running around between parties and gatherings, there probably isn’t much time left for golf. But what’s funny is, with all of the time spent with family members you rarely see (some of whom their names you don’t even know), on Independence day, you’re left with very little independence of your own. I guess what makes it even more ironic is, with as little independence as you are getting, all you’re trying to do is get out and play the most independent of all sports.

For the most part, everything about the sport of golf boils down to one person…you. Just about everything involved in the sport requires independence. Golf is not a team sport, you are your team. One person hits the ball. One person is responsible for the result of that swing. And one person is responsible for the final score.

There is no teammate to blame for a bad lie or a missed putt. You are the only person responsible for your ball landing in the drink or out of bounds. And you are the only person who can fix your situation.

But even further, it is you who is expected to keep track of your score. You, and you alone, are expected to be honest about the results of your game. After all, if you shave a stroke here or there, what are you really gaining?

Is it the independence required for this game that attracts players? Or is it the pressure of the independence that forces people to either quit or never take up the game to begin with? Does the independence force more people to feel as if they must be honest with themselves? Or does the independence of the game give too many people free reign to write down a 6, when they know damn well they just picked up a snowman?

For me, the independence of the game is a draw. It’s a challenge to know that I’m responsible for everything I do in this game. Having no one to blame but myself keeps me interested in the game. I can cheat, but why would I? It may make my score look better, but I know that it’s not making me any better.

Hopefully, some of you have better luck this weekend that I do. Unfortunately, it looks like I just have too much going on to get myself out on the course. No independence on Independence Day. But I’ll do my best to get back out there as soon as possible. Even if I have to go by myself.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Golfers Dressing the Part

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This weekend, the PGA Tour passed through Connecticut with a stop at TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Through a connection at my job (not my wife’s for a change!) I was able to grab a couple of passes. So I took one of my boys and gave him his first taste of professional golf.

We spent a few hours wandering the course on Sunday, stopped at some greens, sat at a few tees and watched from the fairway sidelines. But all along, I couldn’t help but notice something other than the golfers and their shots.

I noticed, and found it strange, that it seemed like so many of the people there to watch the tournament looked like they were about to step out on the course at any second! I mean, I don’t think I’ve seen so many shorts (yes, I know the pros don’t wear shorts) and polo’s since the last time I walked into Golfsmith! Now I understand that a golf outfit, for many, is no different than their everyday wears. But I still found it to be almost comical. I swear I even heard the clicking of spikes a few times!

I began to try and equate it to other sports. I thought of the last time I went to a baseball game. I don’t recall anyone dressed in full baseball garb. Of course you see team jerseys spread throughout the crowd, but that’s about as close as it comes. I also stopped to remember the last basketball game I attended. Same thing…a few jerseys sprinkled throughout the crowd, but nothing more. But at a golf tournament, any one of these guys could have walked down the fairway, and no one would have known the difference! But thinking even further, I begin to recall my trip to the CT Golf Expo where I witnessed the same thing!

But anyway, what I also found to be quite interesting was the difference in the dress of these golf fans. Looking at the older crowd, I noticed more of the classic golf look – plain, khaki shorts and classic, or old-school, polo shirts. But looking at the younger guys, I see more of a casual style – cargo or plaid shorts with an untucked polo. Of course, there’s always that group of the younger guys who look like mannequins that just stepped out of some combination of GQ Magazine and a pro shop. Those guys kill me. They look like they couldn’t possibly be more uncomfortable…and they’re just watching!

So what is it about golfers? Why do golfers dress the part when they’re just there to watch other golfers? Worse yet, why do golfers do this when they are just wandering through countless demos and product booths? Are they just trying to show everyone that they are golfers? Is that like doctors wearing their white coats to to a conference about the latest advances in brain tumor treatments? Or carpenters dressing like they’re on the job each time they walk into Home Depot?

I don’t know, maybe these things do happen and I’ve just never paid attention before. But, I guess as long as people are playing the game and paying some attention to it, then what does it matter how they’re dressed?

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Golf Gimmick Update

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It was roughly three months ago that I purchased, and blogged about, my first golf gimmick – an EFX Performance hologram wristband.

At the time, I referred to it as a golf gimmick, but after purchasing mine, I began noticing athletes from many different sports wearing similar, if not the exact same, products. So noticing professional athletes such as NBA star Deron Williams and NY Met Carlos Beltran sporting the same product, I thought maybe I was onto something.

However, in the golf blogosphere, I noticed many mixed reviews – some people swore by them, while others were adamant about their “placebo effect.” Well, I’ve been wearing the bracelet on a regular basis since purchase and in three months since, I think I’m able to draw some of my own conclusions. And I would like to report, while not life changing, I have seen a positive effect.

In my everyday life, I’ll be honest…I just don’t see a difference in anything. I can’t say that I feel or see a difference in my body and I’m not quite sure that I feel a difference in my energy level either. However, one thing I have noticed is that I feel I need less sleep. I don’t know if the bracelet has something to do with this or not, but it is a difference either way. There was a time when I felt that if I didn’t get at least X hours of sleep each night that I would not be able to function at a high level the next day. That feeling has been greatly diminished.

But what about the actual reason I bought the bracelet? What has it done for my golf game? Has it made me a scratch golfer? Has it dramatically lowered my handicap? Has it made me better at all? Quite simply, the answer is no. But, that doesn’t mean it has done nothing.

When I had purchased the bracelet to begin with, I was not purchasing it for any mystical healing powers. I didn’t purchase it to give me Tony Little-like energy levels. No, what got me excited was the supposed benefits to my balance. After all, balance is key for a golfer. So for only $20 I thought, why not give it a shot? So how has it worked out so far? Well, after a small sampling (36 holes), I admit, I am pleasantly surprised.

While my scores so far this year do not reflect it, I feel there is definitely some improvement in my balance. Through two 9-hole rounds and one 18, I have noticed that I have yet to take one off-balance swing this year. Is that a coincidence? I’m sorry, but I don’t think so. I didn’t practice any more than usual during the off-season. As a matter of fact, I practiced less. So why the sudden better balance on my swing? I have no other explanation.

So with the balance improvement being noticable, I am hoping that it will possibly lead to improvements in other areas of my game. But all of that remains to be seen.

Now, to speak to the nay-sayers who are quick to write this off as the “placebo effect,” I ask how many of you have actually given it a chance? I would venture to say that, despite what you would lead us to believe, most of you have either never tried one or had written it off before you ever did. Is it a placebo effect, or is there actually a benefit? Well, in response to the people who swear by the placebo theory (which, I admit, may be the case), I ask, whether it’s a placebo effect or reality, doesn’t that mean the product is working anyway?

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Is A Teenage Competitor Good For Golf?

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So by now, most golf fans probably know who Beau Hossler is. If not, he’s the 16-year old playing in the U.S. Open who, after the first round, currently stands at 5-over. Not bad for a 16-year old. Actually, not bad for anyone! I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve approached that number on 9-holes. So for me, a 76? Unfathomable.

Needless to say I find myself, like many other fans of the sport, rooting for this kid to do well. But as I do root for him, I also find myself wondering if that’s a good idea. It’s strange, but as much as I would like to see him do well, part of me thinks this is not good for the sport as a whole. Let me explain myself.

We as Americans, in general, are smitten with sports that are either fast, physical or a combination of the two. Golf, as if it isn’t obvious enough, is neither. Hence golf’s declining audience and participation. So when the likes of a high school junior are able to hang with the pros for a round or two, in a major no less, I can understand how non- or casual golf fans can be turned off by this.

Look at some of those other fast and physical sports. Take football for instance. I would like someone to point out one single 16-year old who could hang on the gridiron for even a few plays with some NFL pros. Imagine handing a football to some pizza-faced kid and having him run up the middle against the Baltimore Ravens D? His career would be over after a play or two.

Basketball? OK, before you go ahead and mention the names, Kobe, Garnett, LeBron and Moses Malone (some of the players who successfully made the jump from high school to the pros), keep in mind for every Kobe, there are three Korleone Young’s, Leon Smith’s and DeAngelo Collins’ (among the unsuccessful jumpers). Further, these players were all at least 18 and playing a sport far less physical than football. Further, one can even make the argument that high school players and college underclassmen making the jump to the NBA have been a detriment to the game.

Even in baseball, only 28 players in the history of MLB have made the jump directly from high-school to the pros. And of those, only a handful can be considered to have had successful careers. Quite simply, even though the sport is not overly physical, the strength and speed of players in the majors simply cannot be matched by 18-year old kids. But in golf, 16-year olds can compete with the pros? And in the case of Matteo Manassero, a 17-year old can make the cut?!

While I, myself, have no real issue with it (and as mentioned, I’m pulling for the kid to do well) I do believe it is a turn-off to fans of the faster, more physical sports that many of us love. After all, this is America. There’s a reason we love football, not futbol. Watching a teenager hang with the big boys, ala Pele, makes the sport seem less challenging and require less experience and less physical ability and prowess. While us golfers may understand that is not necessarily the case, you would have to admit that you can understand where the critics are coming from.

For a sport that is losing spectators and players every year, the last thing they should want is to turn-off any potential fans. Obviously, it’s not the kids fault – he’s just a damn good player. But if the PGA found the way to promote this properly, such as to use his age as motivation for the next generation of golfers, they could have a potential game-changer on their hands.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

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