GolfStinks

A Golf Blog for the Rest of Us!

  • Home
  • About
  • Most Popular
  • Categories
    • Stinky Golfer Paradise
    • Golf Life
    • The Pro Tours
    • Reviews
    • The Economics of Golf
    • Golf Growth & Diversity
    • Health & Environment
    • Golf Destinations
  • Golf Terms
  • Newsletter

When A Golf Course Isn’t Used For Golf

July 7, 2014 | By Chris Chirico | Leave a Comment

thGrowing up, my hometown had three golf courses.  One was a pretty, but tough, eighteen hole course.  Another was an easier and inexpensive, but always well manicured, nine-hole course.  And last but not least, was a horribly maintained, bombed-out, mortar range of a nine-hole course which, I’m sure due to the low cost of greens fees, convenience and familiarity, was very popular with the seniors and some kids just learning the game.  I played there once and still consider it to be some of the worst money I’ve ever spent.

But part of what made that particular course just awful was the fact that there were alternate uses for the course outside of golf.  For instance, if I remember correctly, one of the local schools used part of the course for soccer practice.  Soccer practice!  A bunch of teenagers running around the course with cleats!

However, around this time of year, I’m remembering the main alternate use for the course – the town’s Fourth of July fireworks show.  See, the town in which I grew up didn’t really have a town green or a general public space outside of a state park.  So there was nowhere really conducive to setting off fireworks…except the golf course.  I mentioned earlier the convenience of the course…it was only about a mile from the intersection of the two major roads that run through town.  It was close to lots of businesses and shopping areas, so there was plenty of parking and places for people to setup chairs or blankets to watch from pretty much anywhere at any angle.  It was the perfect spot.  However, the condition of the course was sacrificed for it.

In hindsight, to me anyway, it was worth it.  The course is gone now, replaced by a new middle school which was more important anyway.  I no longer live in the town, but as I understand it, the fireworks are still blown off there.  Concerts are held in the same place as well.  Thinking about it now, did one town really need three golf courses anyway?  However, I guess that’s a couple of different arguments for another time.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Filed Under: Golf Life Tagged With: 4th of July, fireworks, golf course, Independence day

GolfStinks is Celebrating Our Independence

July 4, 2014 | By Pete Girotto | Leave a Comment

golfcart july 4The 4th of July is upon us and with that we must celebrate! Some of us will go to the beach, some will have cook-outs and some of us will really celebrate Independence Day by getting married (yes, as many of you are reading this, I will be bidding adieu to my own independence – just kidding honey)!

That being said, (and seeing as the entire GolfStinks crew will be attending my ceremony) we’re taking the day off from blogging!

But if you’re still looking for something to read related to both independence and golf, check out Stinky Golfer Greg’s post: The Declaration of Golf Independence (and also the “You Might Also Like…” section below).

Have a great 4th and please be safe!

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Filed Under: Stinky Golfer Paradise Tagged With: 4th of July, fourth of july, Independence day, july 4th

How Golfers Look at Holidays

September 2, 2013 | By Chris Chirico | 1 Comment

Is it just me, or do all of us golfers look at holidays a little bit differently than everyone else?  For instance, many people look at Memorial Day or Independence Day as a day for get-togethers with friends and family.., cookouts, parties and fireworks.  Many look at Christmas as a time of giving, sharing and, again, gathering with family.  Golfers look at these days and times this way too.  However, they look at it other ways as well.

For starters, any holiday that gives us a day off from work is instantly thought of as an opportunity to play golf.  Sure, a Memorial Day cookout or Fourth of July party are great!  But maybe we could squeeze at least nine holes in before the party starts, right?  And being that this is Labor Day weekend, what do you think was the first idea that came to mind for having Monday off?  Obviously, golf.  This weekend however, was quickly shut down by the wife due to my choosing to attend a baseball game on Sunday.  Now, some yard work is on the docket for Monday.  Yard work…it gets you every time.

When Christmas time rolls around here in the northeast, obviously, playing golf is not an option for the next few months, at least.  So our attention shifts from playing golf to preparing to play golf.  What does this mean?  It means we ask for gifts pertaining to golf.  Forget the things we need.  We want golf gear.  We put together Christmas lists all related to golf.  We want….no…we need a new putter.  We need a new driver.  We need a new pair of golf shoes.  See what I’m getting at?

We golfers love to spend time with our families.  We love to have a get together, a party or cookout and spend time with others.  We just hope that part of that holiday off from work includes golf.  We love non-golfers.  We just have a little different way of showing it.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Filed Under: Stinky Golfer Paradise, Uncategorized Tagged With: 4th of July, christmas, golf stinks, golfstinks, holiday, Independence day, Labor Day, memorial day, work holiday

Music To A Golfer’s Ear…

July 5, 2013 | By Pete Girotto | 2 Comments

usa-flag-9Wide open, as in “The course is wide open today.” I’m sure most golfers are always on the look out for the best time to play. Unfortunately, there are some that can only play once in a while and  it’s during peak hours. But, if you are like me, I search for optimal times (and deals) and note them for future use. For example, yesterday, we squeezed in a quick nine between hot dogs, beers and fireworks. Before heading out we called to see if they were open and they were. We proceeded to ask “Are you busy today?” Their reply, just as the title hints, “We are wide open today. Only 2 groups out there.”

Sweet! I think I just found one of those notable times to go golfing. Yeah I know it was the 4th of July but man it was great! We were hitting 2 or 3 balls off every tee…got our money’s worth! It was also a bit weird too. Not a person in sight. It almost felt as if we snuck on when they were closed. Not for nothing, why were they even open?  Three groups all day does not bode well for the bottom line. I’m guessing it would be cheaper to stay closed.

This also makes me wonder about golfing on holidays in general. Come to think of it, in all my years of golfing I might have went out 5 or 6 times on a holiday. And the more I think about it the more I remember the courses were a ghost town every time. Hey now, this could be a new tradition I start. Get a bunch of the guys together for an earlier round, have a holiday celebratory beverage and then everyone does their thing after.

This seems to be getting to the core of what I love about golf. Besides the shot that keeps you coming back and the first eagle and the beers at the turn and the beers after. Did I mention the beer? It’s great to share this time with people you want to be around. The “holidays” aren’t just Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s…there’s a whole other season with a few great opportunities to get together. No gifting either which is a bonus.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Filed Under: Stinky Golfer Paradise Tagged With: 4th of July, christmas, fourth of july, hanukkah, holidays, independence day, july 4th, july fourth, new year's

The Declaration of Golf Independence

July 4, 2010 | By Golf Stinks | Leave a Comment

When on the golf course, it becomes necessary for average hacks to reject the madness of traditional golf doctrine, and to assume among the powers they have within themselves to cast-off the shackles that cloud their judgement on the first tee, a decent respect to the opinions of fellow golfers requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the rejection.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that not all golfers are created equal, that some are endowed by their Creator with certain unimaginable talents, that among these are scratch handicaps, 300-yard drives and backspin on the greens. Because some golfers were born with these talents, it does not mean anyone can derive awesome golf powers merely on the advice of a superior player. That whenever any golfer (or equally, any golf publication) becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the average hack to ignore it, and to institute his or her own golf philosophies, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety (as well as the safety of those in their foursome) and most importantly, their happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that long established golf traditions should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that average hacks are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the zany golf gadgets which are forced upon them.

But when a long train of tips and swing advice, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a feeling of insurmountable odds, it is the average hack’s right, it is their duty, to throw off such golf rhetoric and confusing nonsense, and to provide new ideals for their future golf contentment.

Such has been the patient sufferance of many average hacks; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to stray from their former sources of golf incertitude in an effort to obtain golfing bliss. The history of traditional golf opinion is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over so many golfers across the globe.

We, therefore, the representatives of average hacks everywhere, appealing to the golf masses of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good golfers of these lands, solemnly publish and declare, that average hacks are, and of right ought to be free to stink if they want to; that they do not always have to keep their heads down; and that they may take as many Mulligan’s as they wish (so long as they do not hold up the group behind them). Thus, average hacks have full power to enjoy golf in whatever form they desire, and to do all other acts and things which independent golfers may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our camaraderie, our greens fees and our sacred honor of hitting it straight when everyone is watching us on the first tee.

Play Golf, Be Happy, Yell Fore.
-Golfstinks Team

Note: Obviously, this is a golf parody of the original Declaration of Independence. We thought it prudent to publish such a parody on this July 4 to help speak for the so many frustrated average golfers out there who are overwhelmed with golfing tips and swing advice. Golf doesn’t have to be frustrating and it’s OK to stink – trust us, you’re not alone. Happy Independence Day.

Filed Under: Stinky Golfer Paradise Tagged With: 4th of July, fourth of july, Independence day, july 4th, july fourth, the Declaration of Independence

Awards

Badges Badges Badges Best Mens Blogs Badges

Advertisements

GPI


 


Archives – Read all 1,000+ GolfStinks Posts!

Blogroll

  • Aussie Golfer
  • Black Girls Golf
  • Devil Ball Golf
  • Front9Back9 Golf Blog
  • Geoff Shackelford
  • Golf Blogger
  • Golf For Beginners
  • Golf Gear Geeks
  • Golf Girl's Diary
  • Golf News Net (GNN)
  • Golf Refugees
  • Golf State of Mind
  • Golfgal
  • My Daily Slice of Golf
  • Pillars of Golf
  • Ruthless Golf
  • The Breakfast Ball
  • The Grateful Golfer
  • UniqueGolfGears.com

Questions / Advertise

info@golfstinks.com

Disclaimers

See here

Privacy Policy

See here

Copyright © 2009-2024 GolfStinks.com - All rights reserved.