GolfStinks

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Golf Club + Titanium = Danger

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sparksCheck out this scenario:

It’s a beautiful dry sunny Southern California day, a group of friends head out to a local golf course. At some point point during the round “John” takes out a titanium iron and takes a swing. Next thing you know, John’s titanium club head strikes a rock and the contact produces 3000 degree sparks igniting some nearby brush causing a massive fire.

Sound preposterous? Think again. Researchers, scientists and some other people smarter than me from UCal Irvine investigated this and found it to be true. After what was first thought to be the result of a lit cigarette butt flicked into the brush, the focus turned to some hack that hit a rock with a titanium iron…yeah , I see the connection.

Unfortunately there is more bad news, a fireman was injured while battling one of these fires. And yes there was more than one fire. I wonder if the hacks that did this are even aware of what happened. Even though this was an accident, I would probably feel extremely guilty if my less than stellar golf game caused this problem.

Knowing that my golf skills are…well…not quite skills and I have a tendency to send balls into or near the lumberyard, you best believe I checked my clubs for titanium. And amidst all this bad press for titanium coated clubs there is some good news. The fire authorities in southern California have granted those with titanium clubs permission to break the rules and improve their lie away from rocks and vegetation. Hey, any little bit helps.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Golf & March Madness

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basket golfCan you feel it? I can. Golf season is right around the corner. The weather is starting to get a little warmer and with that comes spring fever. Some of the symptoms include March Madness and I-really-can’t-wait-to-get-out-on-the-course…itis.

Speaking of March Madness, we need to figure out a way to get more non-golfers involved in golf. Using the NCAA final four basketball tournament as a model, we see an incredible rise in interest for college basketball from non-basketball fans during this time. Why? Brackets, that’s why.

Now, I’m not 100% sure about the residual effect of how many remain fans of college basketball after the tourney but I’m sure it exists. If we can just bring the March Madness hype to golf tournaments, I’m sure there would be an interest in stuff like the 2014 Ryder Cup odds.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand there is a difference in viewership between golf and basketball in the U.S.. My point is to gain exposure and bring that camaraderie from the course into our workplaces and hangouts.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Golf & Marriage.

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GolfCake_1As I prepare to take the plunge, I’ve noticed how marriage and golf share some similarities. Not only that, there is also a love-hate relationship too…I love it, she hates it. This contrast is good though, it allows the emotions to surface.

Speaking to a couple of older married golfers, they pointed out how selecting golf clubs is like selecting your spouse. First, it will catch your eye then the flirting process begins. You look at it a little closer maybe caress it gently and finally, you fall in love and end up together.

Now, I purposely left out one part that these married golfers I spoke to also had mentioned would have been great in the courting stages. One  said, “Before you buy clubs you get a chance to try them out first…you know what I mean?” Interesting point. I’m sure that would require a rather delicate approach, nonetheless point taken.

I mentioned to my spouse-to-be, the part about trying out the clubs first and to my surprise she was accepting. She said “No problem, I’ll start…the attic needs to be cleaned and reinsulated. The basement needs to be refinished. That enchanted forest you call a garage needs to be organized. Looks like we could use a new roof while you’re at it…and when you’re done you can try out the golf clubs.”

Mars and Venus, man…Mars and Venus.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Authorities Cracking Down On Golf Course Betting?

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Gambling is illegal at Bushwood sir...
Gambling is illegal at Bushwood sir…

What a tough break for Tarpon Springs Golf Course in Florida. According to a news report, they are being investigated for, get this, if club officials collected money from members to fund a tournament purse. I mean, everyone enjoys a little gambling every now and then, right? It’s hard to believe there aren’t more important things to investigate or police over.

Florida law states something to the fact that it is illegal to bet on the results of a contest of skill. If that’s the case, they need to close down almost every course. Now, what if it’s a contest of luck? I’m sure 99% percent of golfers out there would agree that the few great shots they hit were more luck than something skillfully planned and executed.

So…if that’s the case, technically there should be no case. This is a democracy, and if 99% say it’s luck I would tend to agree. Tell me if you have ever witnessed this scenario:

Golfer hits a great shot. On the approach to his ball, the other members of the foursome congratulate him. Golfer replies “Thanks! Yeah, that was skill…” and is serious about it.

Never. Doesn’t happen. That must have been skill too when they sent two into the lumberyard and one in the drink on the same hole.

Unofficially, these tournaments and betting between golfers has been going on for a very long time. So much that it’s practically become a part of golf’s DNA. In Tarpon Springs situation, it’s a mystery to me why this would be an on going investigation and hopefully it all works out for them. I guess gambling is illegal at Bushwood.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Golf Season 2014: High Hopes And Low Expectations.

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winterkillLet’s face it, old man winter kicked the snot out of us this year and there’s a good chance the can of whoop ass he opened still has a little juice left on the bottom. That is, of course, if these meteorologists are right and for the most part they have been. What ever happened to the days when the weather person’s forecast was about as trustworthy as Bernie Madoff’s investment strategy?

Obviously technology has improved and with that so has the accuracy of weather forecasting. It’s too bad this has no bearing on the beating our local courses have taken. Every year I look forward to spring and the start of our golf season but due to the brutal winter we had…well…the title says it all. I’m pretty sure the snow and ice that has been sitting around for a few weeks will take it’s toll on the greens and fairways. Good ol’ winterkill.

I guess things could be worse. There could be no golf course at all. Let’s try to see the positive in everything. It’ll be like muni golf everywhere for half the season. You know, greens that should be called browns. Fairways that resemble sandlots we used to play in as kids. It’ll be a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Not for nothing but the fees better reflect memory lane too, you know what I’m saying…

Regardless of what hand we are dealt come opening day, the important thing to remember is we have the opportunity to golf. Granted it might be a little rough on the eyes (and scorecard) but we’ve endured worse and lived to write about it. So, to you mr. old man winter pppttthhhh!

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

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