GolfStinks

A Golf Blog for the Rest of Us!

With All The Money Involved In Golf…

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Where did golf get all this money?
Where did golf get all this money?

How do I get some? It’s no secret that golf isn’t the cheapest game to play. It’s also no secret the stereotypical golfer is an affluent male with a wardrobe worthy of Judge Smails’ approval. The game reeks of money. Between financial institutions and non-sport related sponsors of every tournament to the same sponsors on a player’s shirt, hat or visor – it’s a cash game, literally.

Could you imagine if pro athletes in other sports had these companies sponsoring them on their clothes? What would happen with the sneaker industry? I could see it getting a bit confusing.

Friend 1: “Hey did you see the new Air Barclay’s?”

Friend 2: “No! Charles Barkley has a new shoe?”

Friend 1: “No…Barclay’s the bank.”

Friend 2: “Wait…Charles Barkley has a bank?!?!”

Friend 1: “Forget it…”

See what I mean? I can only imagine what the Hooter’s cross trainers look like. Hmmmm…maybe I’m on to something here. This could be my entry point into the golf biz. Or I could just gamble on a couple tourneys. The problem is that I don’t know much about golf betting but, I’m sure there’s all sorts of tips from betfair.

Well, for now I think I’ll just hit the local track and let my entrepreneurial juices marinate the master plan. It sure would help if I had a master plan though…oh well.

Hit’em long…Yell FORE!!!

Chip Shots: Stinking At Golf Takes Work.

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It’s no secret stinking at golf takes work, dedication and effort.  Think about it. You plan your outing then hack up a track while lugging your clubs around. For what, to lose a good 4 to 5 hours off your life? Most of us don’t play enough to be good and the ones that do still stink for the most part. I understand we enjoy it but when it comes down to brass tacks – our stinky play takes some work man!

I must be venting because the season is winding down for me. I’ll have new hope come spring time.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Using Your Head At Golf…Literally

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With the recent suspension of the Pittsburgh Steeler’s James Harrison for that helmet-to-helmet concussion-inducing lick he dropped on the Cleveland Brown’s QB Colt McCoy, it had me wondering about head injuries. Moreso, about the recent call to action for all sports to raise awareness to the severity of head injuries.

I remember when I was younger a lot of these injuries were passed off as a “stinger” or “you got your bell rung” when in fact these could have had traumatic long term effects. Surprisingly, golf also has its share of head injuries.

The following is an excerpt from research Golf Digest did on head injuries in golf:

Accidents often occur when golfers are fooling around. Most at risk are newcomers to the game, particularly children. In 1997, nearly 25 percent of all golf-related injuries occurred to children age 5 to 14. Even more striking, a recent study from Scotland reported that 40 percent of all sport-related head injuries among children were related to golf. Many of these injuries are caused not by golf balls, but by golf clubs, often as a result of kids playing with their parents’ clubs at home.

This is not to mention, the ER sees about 40,000 golf injuries annually. On the bright side though, very rarely are these injuries fatal. Another interesting point is that Pro-Am tournaments turn out their fair share of injuries…but not to the golfers; On tour, it’s the spectators who need to watch out. I can see it now, the gallery gathers around the tee box for Jim Furyk’s drive but make the mistake of not moving when Jim’s partner, Charles Barkley, tees off. The next thing you know, Sir Charles’ ball is bouncing off onlookers’ heads like a pinball machine. Good thing is you’ll probably only make that mistake once.

All jokes aside, head injuries are very serious and I’m glad more attention is being brought to this issue. Having played a bunch of sports and having had “my bell rung” a few times I can tell you…it’s not fun. So, the next time you’re out on the course and your buddy takes one off of his melon, look for these tell-tale signs courtesy of the Mayo Clinic and get help immediately.

  • Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
  • No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
  • Memory or concentration problems
  • Headache
  • Dizziness or loss of balance
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouth
  • Sensitivity to light or sound

    • Hit’em long…yell FORE!!! Use your head.

    Pro Athletes, Scratch Golfers

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    Michael Jordan on the Golf Course
    Michael Jordan on the Golf Course
    A few months ago I wondered do golfers golf on their days off. Now I’m wondering about other athletes. How many of them golf during their off seasons or after their career is over? We all know the obvious – Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Rick Rhoden. But we always hear about some football or baseball star who also happens to be a scratch golfer. Is it just me or is that insane? To be able to play your sport at the highest level and in your spare time just happen to be a great golfer also? Amazing. At this point I would be happy to be just a halfway decent golfer!

    While there have been no recent two-sport stars involving golf, looking at the latest Golf Digest list of top athlete golfers, there are a few guys out there who would have a legitimate shot if it weren’t for golf’s Thursday-Sunday tournaments schedule interfering with their sports schedule. Most would have to wait for their career to be over or cut their careers short as Robin Yount almost did back in 1978. For those who didn’t know, two-time MVP and MLB Hall-of-Famer Robin Yount actually quit baseball back in the spring of ’78 to pursue a career as a professional golfer. The experiment failed and Yount was back with the Milwaukee Brewers a few months later. But how good do you have to be to quit an H.O.F. baseball career to pursue golf full-time?

    Looking at the aforementioned list, I’m amazed at some of the names and numbers I see. Right off the bat, #1 ranked Tony Romo, QB for the Dallas Cowboys, has a handicap of +3.3 and won two tournaments in his off-season! As a matter of fact, the top five athletes on the list – Romo, Craig Hentrich, Mark McGwire, Mike Schmidt and Jerry Rice – all have handicaps better than scratch! Now I can see how the latter three have time to work on their games as they are all retired now. But Romo and Hentrich are active NFL players! Do they have that kind of time to get this good?

    Scanning through some of the other names, I see that pitcher Livan Hernandez is actually considering golf as a second career after baseball. Although the only info I can find linking Hernandez to golf is when he pulled some golf clubs out of his trunk and attempted to hit a 65-year old man with them. Whether or not that’s the case. he’s still a scratch golfer.

    How about Boston Bruin Marc Savard? He missed qualifying for the 2008 Canadian Open by one stroke. He could have been a real-life Happy Gilmore! Except a better hockey player.

    Boston Celtics star Ray Allen is apparently the best golfer in the NBA. Although New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul isn’t far behind.

    There must be something in the water in Minnesota. Twins teamates Joe Mauer, Nick Punto and Joe Nathan are all on the list. They could roundout a foursome with their choice of former Twins stars Harmon Killebrew or Rod Carew who find themselves ranked also.

    Apparently Reggie Jackson plays five days a week. Must be nice…

    Should I be surprised to see Bo Jackson’s name on this list? A guy who was an All-Star in MLB and Pro-Bowler in the NFL until an injury cut both careers short, has a handicap under ten. I should mention he’s also a banker and business owner in Illinois. I guess Bo really does know a whole bunch of stuff!

    Some time ago, a stinky golfer told me he believes as long as a person has at least a pretty good bit of athletic ability to them, they can be a good golfer. I agree with him. Golf doesn’t necessarily require a person to be in top physical condition, however it does require a certain amount of coordination and athletic ability. Some people have to work hard to be good athletes while some others have the gift of a natural ability. Most of the athletes on the list possess that gift. This is what allows them to excel at multiple sports (maybe even professionally) while most of us work hard just to be average at one. I’m comfortable with that, but what I wouldn’t give to stand at a podium one day and say: “It was a tough eighteen. All of the competition was great. I’m just glad I could hold everyone else off at the end. Now I have to run. I’m starting the back end of a double-header tomorrow night.”

    Dear Charles Barkley… (a letter that I never really sent but, wouldn’t mind if he read)

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    First of all, I want to thank you for the years of entertainment and inspiration you provided me as a youth. You’re bold and honest attitude on-and-off the court wasn’t necessarily that of role-model material (and I know how you feel about that) but, it was 100% respectable.

    What I really want to tell you is, as much as you say you are not a role model, you’re golf game (along with your attitude towards golf) is. I admire the fact that you go out there and play the game because you like it. As a former NBA All-star, I’m sure it’s not that easy to play something you’re not the best (or at least one of the best) at. You’re just like every other average hack but more visible to the public eye.

    You know what? (Here comes the shameless plug…) You would be a great spokesperson for golfstinks.com. The way you make pro instructors and those pompous wanna-be pro’s cringe with your swing – it’s absolutely fantastic! F@#%’em! Play your game, dammit! You make it okay for me to go out there in public (with my swing that looks like a five year old playing tee-ball) just because I love the game.

    This is our schtick at Golfstinks. We love the game, borderline suck at it, and don’t care because we’re having fun. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Finally, I would like to say that you are a real person who’s had run-ins (which were unfortunately slapped all over the media), but you overcame them. This, Sir Charles, is what makes the difference to me because your life and your golf swing are similar (e.g. they’re not perfect)…Just like me.

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