Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Oh the times...they are a changing!

So as we know the world as we know it has gone through some tremendous changes within the past year. Job loss is at a all time high, gas prices are soaring, businesses are closing their doors, etc. With all of that being said we have seen economic struggles that we haven't seen in years, heck, most of us are too young to remember anything of this magnitude in our lifetime.

Now don't go thinking I am going on a rant about our economy or health care.....that is not happening on this forum, but I am going to talk to you about how golf is being affected. One of the main things we are seeing from these economic struggles is the private clubs loss of members. There have been dramatic reductions in memberships at private clubs across America and how are these clubs handling this change? Well, I know the Country Club in Glasgow, KY is running a membership drive and lowering all of their fees to get more people in. I am sure you will see things like this all across the country within the next few months if not already. Now we know that giving more discounts is one way to boost income, but there is one company who has a solution for private clubs out there. That company is called boxgroove.com.

Now, I don't want my blog review to reflect Ryan's at waggleroom.com, but I had to write about this company. I recently came across Boxgroove as I scrambled across the internet. I began to look over their site and researched what the company's philosphy is and how it works. Needless to say I was totally intrigued and I thought what the heck I might as well join. I travel enough to get some use out of it so why not.

In a nutshell, you can pay $49 per year and you can gain access to private clubs across America. Your $49 membership will let you access boxgroove.com's database of courses and check to see what tee times are available at those courses. You can book your tee time from the boxgroove.com website just as you would from any other online tee time booking website, btu you get access to the private course and not the public courses.

Another great feature is that if you are a member of a private club and you run across someone you would like to invite to play your home course then you can invite them to play at your course.

Now, don't go and get all riled up and think that I am saying that private clubs shouldn't be private, but I am saying that this is a legitimate option for private courses out there that would like to fill up more tee times and get a little more income flowing into their course. I know that a lot of people are thinking that the courses will get a lot of people to come in and run down their course.....not at all. The people that would be playing your course are paying a membership fee to boxgroove.com in order to access the prestigious courses and they aren't you everyday hacker, these are people who respect the game and enjoy playing it at fine establishments.

Unfortunately, there are a few downfalls with the program. My main issue is that you can't find courses in every state. I live in Kentucky and there are zero courses in my state. This is an issue I think the management of boxgroove.com is working on addressing at the moment. I have realized that the company is starting out and that they can't just go out and get every course out there and have them available. I am really excited to see how many courses their will be within the next few months and even the middle of next year.

So if you are avid golfer and are looking for access to some extremely elegant private courses, not to mention to stimulating the economy then you need to check out boxgroove.com.

If you are interested and would like more information or have questions check out the FAQ's at this link: http://www.boxgroove.com/index/faq/

Hit 'em straight!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Movie Review-'The Back Nine'

Ok....so you are probably reading this and thinking a movie review???? That's right, but not just any movie. This is a review of a golf movie. "The Back Nine" is a story about an every day guy who has a dream. His dream....to improve his game in a year.

Now we all have dreams, but do we have the want and drive to make our dreams come true? I am a firm believer that if you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything your heart desires. Jon Fitzgerald did exactly this.

'The Back Nine" basis is around the game of golf, but this movie has so much more meaning to it than just a guy playing golf and working to get better. This movie shows you exactly how difficult it is to balance the every day things life hands you like family responsibilities, work, etc and the hobbies of life can be.

I decided that I would watch the movie twice before reviewing the movie. I watched it the first time with aspect of my passion for golf and the second time I watched with my reviewer hat on. As I watched the movie I realized that I can see a little bit of Jon in myself. Jon has a passion for the game that I am sure many of you have, but the thing is Jon finds that inner drive to pursue a dream of his. I know there have been times in my golfing life that I thought "I am going to take this game serious and work to make myself better"....did I do it? Well, i might have played more, but did I take the proper steps to do it? Heck no! In the movie you see Jon take the proper steps. He enlists the help of a swing coach, fitness coach, life coach, etc. How many times have you gone this route? I would say very few of you have, but maybe "The Back Nine" will show you a better way to approach the game.

As I watched the movie I realized that Jon wasn't stepping ahead of his necessary steps. I honestly don't know how the guy was able to accomplish what he did with his obligations at work and the most important obligation of all family.

I don't want to give away the movie details and what transpires during the movie, because I feel that this movie can teach a person so much about life.....that's right I said life. Although the basis of this movie is one individual attempting to pursue a golfing dream there are more life lessons that can be learned by watching "The Back Nine". I know personally, that after watching the movie I set on my couch for a few minutes contemplating how I would have handled the struggles and ups and downs Jon faced. I really feel that a lot of times I let the game of golf rule my life. I do love the game....I eat, breath and sleep golf every day of the week, but I have realized that golf is a passion that must be enjoyed when permissible. There are so many things in life that people take for granted. I know that since watching Jon's trials throughout the movie it has given me a greater appreciation for my family, my job and the game of golf.

You can learn so much from Jon by watching the movie. You get to see a man take on the task of trying to become a professional golfer at the age of 40 all while balancing the duties of life. Some might think this is impossible.......Jon has a dream and I believe that as long as Jon follows his heart he can achieve anything. I can already tell him that if he didn't achieve his dream of being a professional golfer he can at least know that he has changed the life of one person out there in the world.....me.

If you would like more information about the movie please go to http://www.thebacknine.com, you can find trailers, clips and tons of information about the movie and Jon himself. I highly suggest watching this movie. It is on sale now and you can purchase the movie at http://www.neoflix.com/store/RIG00.

The movie is $19.95.....I know the economy sucks, but if you love golf you have got to watch this! We waste $20 every day for things we don't need.....this movie can teach you more about the game and life than you can ever imagine.

Hit 'em Straight!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Back at it again....

Well, fellow golfers, I have guess I can say I have been on a hiatus for the past two months pretty much. I haven't made any entries into my blog since May 2nd so I figured since things had slowed down a slight bit I should maybe try to get back in the habit of blogging again.

So since we last spoke I have been coaching an 11-12 year old summer league baseball team. Baseball was my first true love and even though golf has since surpassed baseball it is very hard for me to give up the game I first played and fell in love plus working with the younger kids makes me feel young still (Not that I am old) and I enjoy teaching them the game and about life. We don't play all summer, but we started back in April and we finished our season two weeks ago. I had a decent team as we finished 3rd in our county out of 8 teams. I was proud of my group. This year I took a little different course after the season. Last year I decided to coach the tournament team which went on to state, but this year I decided to not put my name in the hat as the tournament team takes up so much time and I really would like to enjoy the summer with my wife and taking a vacation together for the last time without children in tow possibly.

Anyways, as you can imagine baseball didn't allow me much time to play golf. Well, I thought after the season that I would play a little more, but with things going on around the house and small little things to do it is hard to play much golf. Luckily, I went out and played today and shot my best round in a while. I have been going through some swing changes and they are starting to take form. My ball striking has improved greatly. The only issue I have is with my short game. Putting isn't a problem, but the short 10 to 50 yard shots are causing me grief. I shot a 79 today and it could have been so much better had my short game not let me down.

I wish I had some reviews for you or discussion on hot topics in the golf world, but those will soon be back. I just thought I would say that I am still out there and keep coming back as I will have more and more entries now that more time has been granted to me.

Hit 'em straight!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Equipment Review-Sunglasses

OK, so this review might not be about clubs, shoes or golf bags; but it is about another important piece of equipment that golfers should consider.....sunglasses.


I have a thing for sunglasses. It is almost similar to the thing my wife has for purses or shoes. I have always been a fan of Oakley and I must say that they make some of the best looking sunglasses on the market, but there are plenty of competitors. A competitor you might not have heard of is Tifosi Optics. I needed a new pair of golf shades for this year as I had gone without golf shades for a few months now. Well, I decided to check with Tifosi and see what models they had available. I came across these bad boys:



Now, you might look at these and say they don't look like golf shades as the lenses are bright red. Well, you would be correct. The good thing is when you purchase a pair of Tifosi you will most likely be looking at a pair of interchangeable shades. I ordered this pair from http://www.athleticshades.com/ and got the exact frame with the smoke red lenses that are included along with the three interchangeable golf lenses that come with it. I got all of that for $80, four lenses and a pair of shades.

I must say that this isn't my first pair of Tifosi shades. I will say that the options you get with lenses give you flexibility of the different conditions you face on the course. If you order the Golf/Tennis package with the shades you get a EC (Extreme Contrast), GT (Golf/Tennis) and AC (All Condition Red). The extreme contrast will block 100% of UVA/UVB rays and it will block the blue light spectrum. In lay mans terms it will help you every subtle lay on the ground, by making it clearer and easier to see. The GT lenses will make greens brighter and it also is created to help you pick up your ball in flight. I also feel that when I use the GT lenses it helps me to read the contours of the green much easier than without my shades. The AC is about what you would think....it is great for all conditions.

The comfortability of the shades is magnificent as well. I have purchased some shades that once you wear them for a long period of time they wear on your ears, but these are extremely comfortable and the padding is soft, but durable.

The lenses provide optimum coverage of your face. The Ventoux, which is the brad I went with, has great coverage, but if you prefer a more free lense that covers everything you might want to look at the Pave, Slip or Tyrant.

Overall, for the cost of the sunglasses you get exactly what you pay for. I would much rather spend $80 and get a pair of shades and four lenses than paying $200+ for a pair of shades with one set lense I can't change out. Tifosi is a company that you don't hear about often, but I do my best to get their name out there as they should be more noticeable in the golf world with all of the options they have available.

If you are into other things like hunting and racing you might want to check out the options they have available for that genre. If you would like to check out their website check below as I have included it with my post. Also, I must say http://www.athleticshades.com/ is great. I ordered my sunglasses on Friday and they were in my mailbox on Tuesday of the next week.

I highly suggest you check out http://www.tifosioptics.com/ and give them a try. You might come away more surprised than you think!

Hit 'em Straight!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Thoughts on the Masters

Well, it has been quite a few weeks since I have had a chance to post a blog entry. Right now, I sit in my hotel in Chicago, IL where it is cold and rainy so I thought what better a time to post my thoughts on what went down at Augusta this past week.

Now, being from the Bluegrass state I must say that my heart goes out to Kenny Perry. While I was one of the many who was hoping to see Tiger come back to Augusta and pull out the victory, I must say when you see a hometown fellow on the top of the leader board it is hard not to root for him.

I know it has to be hard for Kenny looking back on the way the whole event unfolded. He pretty much had the jacket on, but just could not close it out. I know in the post game interviews he said average players don't get it done and that he is an average player, but I don't think that one bit. Kenny has put together a couple of solid years and has had a solid career. Does he have as many wins as Tiger or Phil? No, but who does, those guys are in league all their own.

I commend Kenny on his honorable comments he made and the fact that he wasn't a sore loser. I know it had to be hard to stomach what had just happened and of course all of the reporters where right there to ask how he felt and I would say if I was in his shoes my response would not have been as pleasant.

You also have to give Angel Cabrera a lot of credit. He played some fantastic golf on one of the toughest courses out there and when the door swung open he took advantage of every opportunity and finally finished off the competition.

I can guarantee you that no one expected this tournament to finish with Angel Cabrera, Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell dueling it out in a playoff to decide the Masters.

All in all, the Masters was great. We saw a classic finish and the event that went on between Tiger and Phil on Sunday was what everyone wants to see between the two.

All I can say is lets see what the next major holds for us. I just hope Kenny gets that major he has evaded his career before he leaves the PGA Tour.

Hit 'em Straight!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Tis' the beginning of the season

So as I type this entry we are only 9 days from Spring. Now I know the weather in Kentucky wont be just right for a month or so, but we are starting to get the weather that we have longed for.

Even with the positive weather I haven't officially declared the beginning of the season, but I will say that it is drawing near. Luckily, the weather here this past weekend allowed me to play a few rounds of golf. I actually took off from work on Friday to play and I was glad that I did. I felt like playing both Friday and then again on Saturday morning allowed me to reset my mind and focus my thoughts on my golf game instead of work!

Currently, we are experiencing a decline in the temps today and the forecast is expected to be cooler over the next few days, but the 60's will be back next week and this will allow a few more rounds of golf.

I must say that this year offers more promise than ever for my golf game. I have started the year off with decent results. My driver, which was a nemesis last year, has really come around and I am growing more and more accurate with my irons. I feel that if I can stay on the path I am on then I might have one of my best years yet.

There is one slight problem though....I am coaching summer league baseball again! I did this last year and it required a lot of time, but I think after coming out of retirement to coach (I know I am only 28, but I had been out of coaching baseball for a few years) I will have an easier time balancing coaching and golf. Right now, I think the best thing to do is take it day by day and that is what I plan to do.

As for equipment changes this year, I don't foresee any. I had been tempted by the r9, but after hearing today of the r9 Max already in the works I have decided that there is no reason to change my driver when a new version of the r9 will be out soon and the prices will drop, plus I am hitting my Nickent 4DX great at the moment. The driver was the only club considered for change, but since that wont be happening I might look at replacing my old Nike CPR hybrid that I have.

Enough about my game, I hope everyone set their DVR's or plops in front of the TV this weekend to see how Tiger fares in the WGC-CA Championship. It will also be interesting to see if Sergio can overthrow Tiger at #1. There is a chance, but when it is all said and done on Sunday I think Tiger will remain in the top spot.

Hit 'em straight!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Economy and Golf

Well, as we all know the economy is at the worst point we have seen it in a while. I know our new President says we will get out of this, but in my daily job I have seen the new Housing and Recovery act and I don't think rewarding people who don't make their payments a $5,000 principal reduction on their mortgage over 5 years if they can make a payment under a modification is fair to those of us who make our payments, but that is another story.

Sad thing is we are beginning to see the true effects of the economical downturn in golf. Today, I read an article discussing the liquidation of Macgregor's product. We all knew the time was coming for Macgregor with the departure of Bobby Grace and the CEO of the company. Macgregor has struggled to keep up with the big dog OEM's over the past few years and it has now caught up with them. The real question is what OEM's could be next? Well, here's a few I think we could see out of the game sometime throughout the year:

1. Nickent Golf-While I love their clubs, they just don't have the market share to keep up with other OEM's. I own a Nickent driver and it is just as good as any other driver I have used, but when people see Taylor Made, Callaway, Nike or any of the other OEM's you pull away from Nickent and it is a company you don't see at every shop.

2. Tour Edge-A smaller company that has decent equipment, but like Nickent it isn't seen in every store. The other issue I have with Tour Edge is the Exotics line and the other line of Tour Edge equipment are so distant in comparison. I think the Exotics equipment is over priced. I am not saying it isn't good, but you can get something just as good for a cheaper price. The rest of their equipment....well, if you like hybrid wedges then this is your company. I just can't see them selling much this year.

3. Wilson Staff-I don't know if they will go under, but their offerings are nothing near the competition. The prices are very reasonable, but the irons are the only thing that have gotten good reviews. The drivers and fairways are not top of the line. The lack of multiple tour players using the equipment will hurt as well. I think we could see this company dwindle throughout the year.

The other problem at hand with the economy is the withdraw of sponsors from PGA Tour events. A perfect example is FBR. You may remember that just a mere few weeks ago the FBR Open was on TV and the crowds were as raucous as usual, but news today says that FBR has pulled out as sponsor for the event.

I can only imagine with the banks and other financial institutions that sponsor PGA Tour events that this will become a common thing in sports news. I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more sponsors pull their sponsorship of events. How will this effect the game? Who knows. We currently haven't been able to project what would happen with the market so I won't even speculate how this will effect the tour.

It is definitely not a great time in our world, but remember it could always be worse. Only time will help our current situation and I think it will take more time than most people expect. I just feel that our country is pining on rewarding people for irresponsible. Until we do the exact opposite we are in for a rough time.

On a more positive note, Tiger will return to action tomorrow when he tees off at 2:02 PM EST. Good luck Tiger. I expect some big things from him this year. I know it is good for the game!

Hit 'em straight!

Friday, February 20, 2009

He's back......

Well, as everyone surely knows by now, Tiger has announced his return for the Accenture Match Play next week. I can't say I am surprised he would be back this soon. We all know how hard Tiger works at keeping his body in great shape so you can only imagine how hard he worked during therapy to recover.

I must say that I am excited to see him back on the course, but a part of me wonders how well the knee will hold up. Needless to say, I will be glued to the TV on Wednesday of next week to see what happens. Good luck Tiger!

Here is a link to article on pgatour.com if you are interested: http://www.pgatour.com/r/tiger_archive/index.html

Thursday, February 12, 2009

GPS Acquisitions

Now I love golf equipment more than most people, but I also have a thing for technology. I am one of those people who love to see new and cool products come out and then I love to buy them and tinker with them.

When you combine the two things I love then I go crazy which is why I love golf gps units. I own a golf gps unit and I love the thing. I don't just love it for the technology side, but I love the fact that I can get yardages to exact spots on the course no matter where I am.

I own an iGolf Neo, which is one of the most affordable gps units on the market. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the uPro or Skycaddie, but it gets the job done and it gets it done at under $150 which is the best part.

Two of the companies I mentioned above though have had some big news in the past few weeks. I noticed on the web a few days ago about a couple major acquisitions that were made.

Here are the links to the press releases:

http://igolf.com/igolfnewsfiles/51_Bushnell_Partnership___iGolf_FINAL_version.pdf

http://ir.callawaygolf.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=68083&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1240523&highlight

Now if you want to read those go ahead, but let me sum it up for you. Callaway recently went out and acquired uPlay which is the company that released the increasingly popular uPro gps unit. The uPro provides the user with flyovers of the hole much like what you see on Sunday at the final round of a PGA Tour event on CBS (this feature costs extra though).

Now, I really like Callaway's thoughts on this. They already have a rangefinder in the inventory so why not add a gps unit? Why not add the gps unit with the most hype? I really think with the Callaway backing and logo this gps unit will begin to sell more and more than what it has in months past. Not only that, but I think you will see become more readily available in local shops with the Callaway backing.

The first link I have of the two covers Bushnell's recent acquisition of iGolf. Now we all know Bushnell is famous for their rangefinders, but they recently entered the golf gps market with their Yardage Pro which used iGolf's gps mapping to provide distances.

Now as I said I am a customer of iGolf and while I will say there products are fabulous and very affordable they still lack in a few areas. Customer service is an area where improvement is much needed and maybe with the Bushnell acquisition this will aid in that area. I also believe that the Bushnell name will help provide more face time for the iGolf units than the iGolf name did. In fact, iGolf recently launched two new units the Saturn, a full color gps that provides hole layout, and the Triton, a black and white unit that is more full featured than the Neo. I really think with the changes in the products name that you will begin to see more and more of their products as well.

All in all, the two acquisitions will benefit both acquiring party and the party acquired. This will allow more people to see the uPro technology and iGolf technology while giving both Callaway and Bushnell more products to attack the market share owned by Skycaddie and other gps units.

On a side note, if you have never tried a golf gps unit go out and give one a go. I think you might really enjoy the benefits it gives you.

Hit 'em straight!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Super Cool Golf Sites!

OK so that is a really cheesy heading, isn't it? Well, I was having writers block for the moment.

So are you ever sitting around at the computer wondering if there are any golf sites on the web that you could pay a visit to, but you aren't sure which sites to visit? Well, I have a few great sites to visit!

Let's get started.......

1. http://www.14stix.com/

I don't know how many of you have ever visited 14stix.com, but this is a neat site. If you ever visited woot.com and you love golf then 14stix.com is perfect for you.

Basically, 14stix.com has a deal of the day and it is a different deal each day. I check this site on a regular basis and they have some great deals. The site is very functional as well. I love the fact that they let you know exactly how many items are remaining for sale.

I just recently found out about 14stix.com and I have followed it every day since then. I highly suggest that each and everyone of you should check out this site!

2. http://www.mygolfspy.com/

Are you longing for photos of clubs you haven't seen? What about products that aren't even out yet? Well, if you answered yes to either one of those questions then this site is a must visit.

mygolfspy.com provides a daily updated blog that follows the ins and outs of the golf world. A majority of their blog entries cover golf clubs or golf products for every golfer. I know, that for myself, I have found plenty of useful knowledge about golf products that I wasn't aware of.

The big thing for me is their special articles. I have read so many great "how to" articles on mygolfspy.com. This is another must see site!

3. http://www.golfwrx.com/

Do you like forums? If you like both forums and golf then this is the best golf forum in the world! I have been a member with GolfWRX for a while now and I visit the site on a daily...well hourly basis.

This site is chock full of tons of information. Bag pictures from tournaments? Check. Swing tips? Check. Club making info? Check. Tour news? Check. The list goes on and on!

Another great feature is the for sale part of the forum. I have made a few purchases for my golf bag on the site. You can find great deals from people who are looking to offload their equipment and you can get that for a great price.

A golf addict could waste many a hours a day on GolfWRX! It is definitely worth the visit, but if you get hooked it isn't my fault.

4. http://www.stracka.com/

Stracka is a very nice website that I discovered about four months ago. Stracka combines blogs, forums, stat tracking, handicaps, etc. all into one package. The blogs are a great way to speak your mind if you don't feel like starting your own blog page. They are also great for getting your blog out there in the golfing community.

The forums are average, but they aren't the main focus. I really enjoy the ability to track stats while I am on the course. If you have a cell phone with the ability to connect to the web you can post your score, GIR and fairways hit all while you play via their mobile app. It is really great to do that while you play.

They recently introduced handicap clubs, which is a great feature, if you are travel golfer like I am. I play so many different courses that this allows me to start a golf club on their site with a minimum of 10 people and establish a legit USGA handicap. You will still have to have a handicap chair, which means they have to take the test, but I have taken the test it is a piece of cake.

Stracka.com's wealth of options can keep you busy for hours. If you are looking for stat tracking and online handicaps with a little flair of Myspace for the golfing world then check out Stracka today!

These four sites should give you hours of fun so I will leave you with these four for the moment.

Hit 'em Straight!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

PGA Merchandise Show

Hey gang,

If your like me and you love new golf equipment and seeing pictures or updates on the new stuff then you would love to be at the PGA Merchandise Show. Unfortunately, I am not a PGA professional nor do I run a golf shop. So if you are like me what are we to do to see the ongoings of the PGA Merchandise Show? Well, I have some answer that might help out.

There are a few great sites out there that are present at the PGA Merchandise Show that are posting updates on a daily basis to let those of us know what is going if we can't be present at the show.

Here is a few sites you can visit to check out pictures and updates:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showforum=249
http://www.equip2golf.com/?p=384
http://www.mygolfspy.com/2009-pga-show-orlando/

So far these are the only three that I know of with coverage. If anyone knows of anymore sites that have coverage please post them in the comments section for everyone to see.

Hit 'em straight!

Updates to the blog...

Well, I have added a few things to the blog here lately. On the right hand side of the page you will see a links section. I am adding golf links that I come across that are beneficial to every golfer out there. As I obtain more links they will be added to that section.

Also, I have added a couple items, one on the right and the other on the bottom of the page, for stracka.com. I came across this site late last year and it is a great site. If you haven't checked this site out before please click on either image and it will redirect you to their site. If you are an avid golfer this site is a must.

I want my blog to be a cornucopia of information so you will see changes as quickly as I can incorporate them.

One last item that I almost forgot to mention is the twitter feed on the right. If you haven't used twitter before this is worth checking out. Just click on the follow me and it will direct you to the twitter site.

That's all for now!

Hit 'em straight!

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Next Big Thing....

Well, with the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show that will be held January 29-31 in Orlando, we will begin to see the new technology that all of the golf companies have created over the past few months.

Now, we have seen some of the clubs that will be released and I am currently wowed by one. Taylor Made changed driver technology a few years back with the r7 and I fell into that trap. It was a good trap though. I bought an r7 425 that I used for years and was the most reliable club I have ever owned. The ability to adjust weights on your club was a breakthrough to most people. These days changing the weighting around is old news. Now we have interchangeable shafts to tinker with. This was the next big thing until......

That is until Taylor Made created the r9. There has been speculation for years over the r9. Now with the March 20, 2009 release date set up we know what this club will offer. This club will not only offer changeable weights to move around, but it will allow you to change the angle of the face with FCT (Flight Control Technology). Now you can have the club open or closed depending on your swing that day.

As I said before I was swayed by the r7 and I see myself being swayed by the r9. Heck, I haven't even hit the thing yet and I still am contemplating pre-ordering one right now. The fact that it won it's first event in driver count and 1st place in the event is pretty big news as well.

I can't wait until the PGA Merchandise Show to see the new thing that we will see on the market, but I can't wait to see the r9 in person and see if it is what it is cracked up to be.

If you haven't heard or seen the r9 here is a link for you to check out:

http://www.mygolfspy.com/taylormade-r9-review/

Also, if you are interested you can pre-order the r9 at gppgolf.com (check below for link).

http://www.gppgolf.com/gppg/content/search.php?search=r9

Hit 'em straight!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Area Golf Courses-Glasgow Country Club

Well, this review will finish up my review of three golf courses within the Glasgow area. Glasgow CC is a very nice private facility. I have had the opportunity to play the course many times even though I am not a member. I normally participate in scrambles that are held by area business throughout the year.

The club has seen some improvements over the past few years, but none of those improvements were made on the course. The old clubhouse was too small for its members and the club decided to rebuild the clubhouse. Now with a fully renovated clubhouse the country club stands out within the city.

Enough about the clubhouse, let's review the course.

Clubhouse-As I stated above the clubhouse has been completely renovated and is a vast improvement over the previous digs. The clubhouse now has about twice the room it did have. They do offer golf balls and some clubs, but the selection isn't as diverse as so courses.


Tee Box-The tee areas are always in great shape. The only complaint over the tee boxes that I have is the No. 3 tee box and the No. 5 tee box are not set up well. If you are teeing off on #3 you have to be aware of your surroundings as the #5 tee is directly to the left and if someone is there you are best off to wait on them to hit to lower the chance of brain damage from a low screamer. The 6th hole also can be slightly dangerous from the 5th tee, but nothing like the 3rd hole.


Fairways-The fairways are very well taken care of. The course itself plays a more up and down style of play. You will encounter a large amount of fairways that dip from your previous shot. The changes in elevation require precise club choices on approach shots. There are a few fairways that tend to hold water. No.'s 3 and 4 run along a creek which overflows often and cause extremely damp conditions on approach or chip shots.

Greens-The greens are very fast most of the time. It seems like every time I play the course I get stuck with fast greens that run. The greens aren't easy either. The greens have a mixture of undulations and tiers that when combined with the speed cause many frustrating scenarios. The greens are also well manicured.

Hazards-The course does offer you many sand traps to find yourself in. The green side bunkers are well groomed, but difficult. The fairway bunkers aren't as numerous, but when you find one you will regret it. The sand is much better here than at any other local course in the Glasgow area.

Challenging Holes-No. 7 is the first tough hole you will find and it is a super long dogleg left that requires an accurate shot into a green guarded by a bunker in the front. The fairway slopes right to left which can pose a problem for the hooked-biased ball.

No. 10 requires an accurate shot off the tee as the right side is guarded by trees and the hole takes a steep decent. Your second shot requires both length and accuracy to fly it onto the small green.

No. 17 can be a large risk-reward hole as it is short enough to cut the corner and be on the green, but requires a super accurate shot or you will find the trees or houses.

Overall-This is probably the best course in the city, but the fact that it is a country club holds it back. The course is private, granted I have snuck on a couple times. The only way you are playing is with a member as a guest or in a scramble. If you do play the course you will enjoy it, but don't expect lavish service or immaculate holes. It is laid out nicely, but lacks a real signature hole.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Not to worry....

Well, I have been on a slight hiatus for the past few days. I am still blogging, but when I combined a three day vacation over the MLK holiday along with working on a blog piece for mygolfspy.com I haven't had much time to post anything. I will be back and posting within the next few days.

On an update I am beginning to write for mygolfspy.com and my first piece is in rough draft stage. I finished it up today and sent it in to them to see what they though. I will wait to discuss details on it. Hopefully, my work will be good enough to continue writing for them. Only time will tell on that.

Anyways, I gotta run for the moment. Not to worry though I plan on coming back strong and giving the review I promised all while adding a couple new features.

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Annual Golf Show

So this past Saturday (January 10, 2009) was our annual trip to Louisville, KY for the Golf Show. Now, this is nothing like the PGA Merchandise show in which you can see the new and improved equipment and technology. This show has retailers from across the state and areas surrounding that need to unload last years stuff in order to make some space for the new gear coming in.

A group of my friends, which is my normal playing group, make a conscious effort each year to go. Last year's event was horrid. There were no deals to be found and I left highly disappointed. I was so distraught by that event that I questioned going this year. Well, I decided to give it one more chance.

Now, I have been know to change clubs a lot. Not nearly as much as others in my group, but I used to test clubs and that always sparked me to buy something new. Well, I must say that I finally have myself convinced that my bag is set. I was going into the show looking for shoes, shirts, golf balls, etc.. I will say at first that I didn't purchase an item at the show, but there was plenty of selection. I just couldn't bring myself to change any clubs in my bag. Now, the two friends that went with me each bought a new set of irons and they were able to work with the shops that were there for knock some money off.

I really didn't know what to expect with the current economical situation that we are in, but to my surprise the golf show seems to be getting back to way it once was. I think with the elimination of the Lexington show it has added more vendors to the Louisville show. I would like to see in the next few years switch rooms and get enough vendors to go into one of the larger rooms at the Expo Center.

I will say that I was pleased and look forward to it next year!

Stay tuned for another addition to my area reviews. I will be doing my review of the Glasgow Golf and Country Club tonight or tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Golf is back!

Well, as of yesterday Golf is actually back on TV. I was so thankful last night to be able to flip the TV over to the Golf Channel and see a live tournament (in HD nonetheless). I am really excited to see how this season unfolds. Here are some things questions for this season:

1. When will Tiger return? Will he be his dominant self? How will the knee hold up?
2. Will the young guns (Anthony Kim, Camillo Villegas, etc.) continue to climb the rankings?
3. Will the big names return to dominance (Ernie, Phil)?
4. Who will win the majors this year?

These are a few of the things that intrigue me for the coming season. We still have a little while before everything will come into full swing. I am definitely excited to see some fresh new tournaments on TV though.

Side note- Tomorrow is the annual golf show in Louisville. I will be there and I hope it is better than last year. I will provide a review of the golf show for anyone interested.

Have a great day!

The Beginning.....

First off, welcome! This is my personal golf bog. I have decided that it is time to express my views on the golfing world as we know. This is my second blog. I have one that contains all of my golf blogs and daily views as well (you can see it at mcbush25.blogspot.com).

I am not quite sure what all I will write about, but I will cover area courses, golf technology and other golf related news. My first adventure will be to review all local golf courses. I am located in Glasgow, KY and I will cover our courses and the surrounding courses.

Another thing I would like to do is review golf clubs. I have been a participant in Golf Magazine's ClubTest 4 times. I was very honored to be able to do this and it was one of the greatest experiences of mu life. I never imagined I would get to test clubs and write about them, all while making great friends and playing at fabulous facilities.

So, keep on the lookout. I have two reviews ready to roll out, but more will follow. I will also have a blog entry on the local golf show that will take place in Louisville, KY this weekend.

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Area Golf Courses-Fox Hollow Golf Course

So this is the second installment of my review of my local area golf courses. This installment will cover our other public course option in Glasgow; Fox Hollow Golf Course.

Fox Hollow is a run of the mill track. It is very inexpensive to play ($22 for 18 Holes and cart) and very inexpensive for a membership ($720 per year). As always there is a catch though. You shouldn't expect anything extravagant here. So let's start our review:

Clubhouse- Well, I don't really know which word would describe it....maybe....horrible? Anyways, there is little in there clubhouse. They offer no clubs and very little golf ball selection. The apparel is cheap looking and there is very little of that. The staff is hit or miss. Don't expect to get refueled at the turn either as there is very little to offer on that front as well.

Driving Range- The tee area has no grass usually. They don't take very good care of it and it shows. There is no way the distance markers can be accurate either.

Tees- This is the most frustrating part. The tee boxes are very limited in grass. There might three of eighteen tee boxes that have a grass, the rest are dirt. Another issue with the tee boxes is the fact that they are not level. You can tee your ball up and address it and you will notice that your feet are below the ball or vice-versa. There really isn't anything I can say that is positive about the tee boxes.

Fairways- The fairways are wide. This course is set up nicely for the golfer that struggles off the tee. You will find a few holes that are tight, but 98% of the holes are wide open. There are limited out of bounds on the course as well. Basically, unless you hit it in the trees you can still play your ball. The front nine fairways are average at best. There will be dead spots along the way as the front nine is the oldest part of the course. The back nine fairways are in decent shape and you will find very few issues with them.

Greens- Well, they aren't awful. The main problem I have with the greens is the people who play the course. You will find multiple divots on each green. I spend a majority of my time there fixing divots. I really feel that the ownership should mention this to the customers as this is an extreme issue. Other than divots you will rarely find a dead spot on a green. They have good roll to them and there is a lot of tier greens here that provide you with some difficult putts.

Hazards- Well, there are a handful on the course. The back nine has bunkers, if you can call them that, as they don't have sand in them. It is mostly filled will old sand and dirt mixed together. You can basically putt or chip out of the bunkers. There is only one bunker on the front which is on number two. There are a few water hazards, but they are minor. The only one that poses any threat is at number three which is a stream that guards the green.

Challenging Holes- There are only a few holes that provide a challenge. #3 is a tough par four that requires a short tee shot and a very high soft landing second. The green on #3 is an egg shape that rolls off on all sides. #5 is a interesting hole as the tees set below a hill that requires you to hit the ball very high in order to get it over the hill. This hole is a par five and could really benefit from either a blast of dynamite or some very aggressive shaping of the land.

Overall- I think Fox Hollow could be an average daily fee course, but it wont get there under the current management. I hate to say that, but it is true. The management doesn't really do anything to improve the course. You rarely see people working on the course. The ball washers never have fresh water in them unless it rains. There are no marshalls to speed things up so on a busy day it can take a while to play around when you get stuck behind people who take their time. This course lacks direction and leadership. I have said that I hope before I leave this world I can see this course develop into something, but until a new owner is present in the clubhouse I just can't see that happening.

My next update in the series will be regarding Glasgow Golf & Country Club. I will also be posting a blog regarding the upcoming trip to the annual Golf Show in Louisville, KY. This will be taking place on Saturday, January 11, 2009 at the Freedom Hall Expo Center. Last year was a disappointment so I hope this year is better.

Have a great day!

Area Golf Courses-Barren River State Park

Well, I am back at it again. This would be the second entry in my blog that I would like to update daily with random info. Today, I have a topic that is in regard to the local golf courses in Glasgow, KY.

Now if you are a crazed maniac golfer as I am then you will understand exactly what I am talking about. Here's a brief overview of the Glasgow golf course scene. We have three courses that are within a few minutes drive (two public, one private). Now let me break down my thoughts on each. I will be breaking these courses down in separate blogs and then move onto other areas of the state.

Barren River State Park- This is probably the best track in the city. It is a public course that has been revamped and is rather difficult. A few years back the state invested in a majority of the golf courses within their park system and Barren River got a little of that cash to make some improvements. Unfortunately, they didn't receive enough funds to make any life altering changes. Now let's look at the course:

Clubhouse- Nothing fancy here. The pro shop offers some logo apparel, but the apparel is a little outdated. They do have your normal fare. Golf balls selection is average, but overpriced. The staff is always friendly and helpful.

Tees- The tee boxes are always in great shape. The tees here are definitely the longest in the city. There are some holes that are monsters from the very back tees and the narrow fairways make you think about your shot thoroughly as their is a lot of risk involved at times.

Fairways- You will rarely find a straight, flat fairway on this course. The layout is challenging. The fairways tilt and turn in every which way. This can be a good thing at times or a very punishing thing as well. The grooming of the fairways are excellent. They are mowed nicely and rarely do you find dead spots. The lies are not tight on the fairway that you find at some courses.

Greens- Always in great shape. I have been there only once when the greens were in a rough shape and that was due to a ground hornet infestation. This was a few years back and they promptly eliminated the issue at hand. The greens have a decent amount of break and a majority of the time they are kept at a fast pace. The greens are also guarded by bunkers, but I do think the course could use a few more.

Challenging Holes- #11 is a long par five that bends back and forth and it is very narrow. This hole also involves a large amount elevation change near the green. #16 is a dogleg right that will surprise you. I really don't think I have ever seen a decent score on this hole. This hole requires a short tee shot out into the middle of the fairway as the trees on the right prevent any cut off the corner. After the tee shot you will need everything you have of a 3-wood to clear the water and get anywhere near the green. This hole basically forces you to layup. I definitely have this hole on my list of most hated holes that I have played.

Overall- The cost is average. Last time I played it was around $32 which is cheap for most people. The course is challenging, but it does provide nice vies of the lake during the summer. If you are a solid ball striker then this course wont be as challenging as it would to the person who struggles off the tee.

OK so my next review will be Fox Hollow Golf Course hopefully either later today or early tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!