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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!