Cigar Brand Partners with Golf Digest & Golfsmith

A while back, I posted about the relationship between golf and cigars. In the article, I attempted to reason why this love affair between bogies and stogies exists. But regardless of my insights, it seems the two are inseparable - and now that bond is about to be reinforced.

Renowned stogie manufacturer Excalibur Cigars is gearing up to launch a new website in partnership with Golf Digest and retailer Golfsmith. The site (ExcaliburGolfClub.com) is set to go live within the next week and feature special offers on new Excalibur Cigar packs - but there's a twist: Each cigar pack includes a bonus stogie, a special golf gift from Excalibur, plus a gift card to Golfsmith!

OK, I know what you're thinking; Why do the guys at Golfstinks care about this? Well, beside the fact that we love both golf and cigars, our content will be featured on the Excalibur website too. This is all courtesy of Golf Digest, who has agreed to provide exclusive content to the new Excalibur site and give a few popular golf bloggers (one of which is Golfstinks) a chance to interview a writer at the well-known golf publication.

That being said, keep an eye out for a post right here on this blog that will highlight our interview with Golf Digest senior writer Steve Donahue. We got a chance to ask Steve a plethora of questions regarding the current state of golf, its "rich man" undertones and why the pro tours aren't the only things that matter.

So stay tuned for both our article (featuring insights from Golf Digest) and the forthcoming ExcaliburGolfClub.com site (featuring great deals and freebee's for cigar-lovin' golfers)...

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Golf Course Gripes

A week ago I was excited to get out on the course. The weather was great. It was the first round of the year. It couldn't be a better day. Even though I played like crap (as usual), it couldn't possibly ruin my excitement. As a matter of fact, the course could have been a mortar range and it wouldn't have mattered. But that was last week.

Now that the weather has once again returned to what is expected of a typical early spring in New England, it got me thinking about some of the things out on the course that can, and eventually will, ruin the day. Once in a while, no matter how nice the course is, how much the greens fees are, or what the course's reputation is, there will be something to leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Here are a few of my gripes...

1. The guy in the pro shop has a stick up his ass - Ever run into this one? I don't know about you, but it takes a great course and a fantastic remainder of the day to make me forget about this guy. If my first experience at a course turns out to be with someone who treats me like my money doesn't deserve a bit of hospitality, then my first experience also may very well be my last. Just to clarify, I have noticed this very rarely happens. Almost all of the courses I have played, the employees seem very happy that I have chosen to plunk down my hard-earned greenbacks (or plastic) at their course. But every once in a while, you come across that one jerk. He's not even looking at you with so much as a fake smile. He takes your money, gives you your ticket and doesn't even give you a chance to pick it up before he's shouting "Next!" while looking annoyingly around you to get to the next guy. I'd like to replace that stick with my golf umbrella...and then open it.

2. The starter and the guy inside are sharing the same stick - I understand that your job as a starter may be boring, but try to show at least a bit of enthusiasm! Cut away from the conversation your having with your buddy for a few seconds and acknowledge me. Say good morning. Make a comment about the weather. Ask if I've ever played here before. Tell me something about the course. What's the pin placement? Anything specific I should know? Got any tips? Something! Again, this is pretty rare, but it happens.

3. A lack of water on the course - Look, golf is obviously a summer sport. In the summer, it's hot and often humid. I bring a bottle of water or a sports drink with me every round. But depending upon how hot and humid it is, that drink may be gone by the fourth or fifth hole. The least you could do is, every several holes or so, put out a big container of water. Let me refill my bottle as often as possible. Don't force me to spend money at the turn on something you should provide for free. I mean, I'm not asking for an 800 ml bottle of VOSS here! Just fill up a container with some ice and tap water, and that's good enough to get me through. I promise I'll spend money on beer in the 19th hole!

4. Where the hell is the MOFOBETE?! - This one is almost as bad as the lack of water. Normally, I don't purchase anything from her anyway, unless we're plagued by gripe #3. But it annoys the hell out of me when the first time I see the MOFOBETE is on hole #15. I want to start screaming - "I'm almost done now! Where have you been all day?! There's no freakin' water out on this course! I could have used you eight holes ago!! It's 97 degrees out here!! We started out as a foursome but two of our guys passed out on the eighth tee from heat exhaustion and dehydration! I swear I'm going to go inside and report this to the course mana...hey, are those Hondurans?...I'll take two...and a Miller Lite."

5. Somebody get me a ranger! - I'm not one to complain all that much about slow play...as long as it's not TOO SLOW. I'll never quite understand the huge rush to get your round done. I mean, golf takes some time to play, it's not a race. Relax and enjoy the day. I don't need to finish my round in under four hours. If I do, that's great. But if not, it's OK - as long as I'm not sitting and waiting on every hole. But inevitably, at some point you're going to catch up to the group in front of you. And every once in a while, you'll come across the group looking to get into the Guinness Book for the longest golf round ever. And, of course, a ranger is nowhere to be found. Stinky Golfer Greg often says people just taking up the game should be taught golf etiquette before they are taught the actual rules. This group is living proof of that statement. All it takes is one or two guys to keep an eye out and make sure golfers aren't simply wasting every one else's time. If they spend ten minutes looking for their ball in the trees, that's eight minutes too many. Taking too much time to fish their balls out of the water? Hey, move it along pal. He doesn't need to be R. Lee Ermey, but there needs to be a ranger or two who can, at the very least, keep the game moving.

6. What's with the chain-link fence? - For your own purposes, the fence can be replaced with basically any eyesore. The point here is, I can be playing a great round on a beautiful track with fantastic views. But there's going to be something that sticks out like a sore thumb that you'll remember more than any of the good stuff. Be it a chain-link fence, some power lines running over a fairway or a giant net from the driving range running parallel to the second hole. Either way, it'll leave you wondering where the design flaw was. Did the designer take a day off? Did he leave that part to the intern? Whatever the case may be, I'm sure it could have been a little more well though out.

Again, chances are none of these are going to ruin my day. But they will often times leave a bad taste. Especially if I'm spending well above average money. I understand that, most times, you get what you pay for. So when these occurrences happen at some of the more hi-end courses, it sure does put a damper on the round.

What about anyone else? Speak up. Let's here some of your gripes. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way...

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Sometimes Golf Stinks...But we Love it Anyway

Every once-in-a-while, we here at Golfstinks are going to talk about...well, Golfstinks. We appreciate the following we have garnered through this blog, and feel it's time we tell you what our main site (golfstinks.com) is going to be all about!

Did the phrase "golf stinks" ever cross your mind after hitting a bad shot or having a poor round? Of course it has! But there's always that one awesome shot or that one great round that keeps us coming back for more, right? The thing is, you don't have to be good at a sport to love it.

For too long, average Joe golfers (and we make up about 99% of golfers out there) have been searching for a community they can feel comfortable in. A community that doesn't pass judgment; that doesn't push zany, game-improving equipment on you; which doesn't overwhelm you with golf instructional tips that typically leave us feeling more confused and frustrated.

How do you get better at golf? You play. All the time. Constantly. For most of us, this is simply not a viable option. Golf is not our job; it's our passion, our hobby, our release, and our chance to retain camaraderie with friends or to just get away from our everyday lives. Golfstinks' job is to help you get the most fun out of this great game as you possibly can. Period.

Golfstinks will be unlike any social media site you've seen. Facebook, MySpace and others try to manage your life - which, let's face it, is busy (have you looked at your wall lately)? Escape with Golfstinks - we'll just manage your golf life - where you're free to immerse yourself in golf and relax. Golfstinks makes it easy for golfers to share insights, course reviews and photos. We will welcome all skill levels with open arms and make them remember why they love golf in the first place. Feature articles won't really discuss the PGA Tour, but rather provide content a true weekend hack could appreciate. Featured courses won't just be the expensive ones either, but rather the affordable hidden gems that are waiting to be enjoyed. Oh yeah, and Golfstinks is 100% free.

So come discover why golfstinks.com (like movies including The Greatest Game Ever Played, The Legend of Bagger Vance, and yes, Caddyshack), can inspire the golfer in all of us. Golf is a game; you should have fun playing it. Join the Golf Revolution now by providing your email address HERE!

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The Consequences of being a Good Golfer

There's an old Jerry Seinfeld bit that pokes fun at how people view those who won silver medals instead of gold: "What happened? Did you trip? Didn't hear the gun go off?" Seinfeld highlights the preposterous fact that a fraction-of-an-inch is the difference between the "greatest guy in the world" and "never heard of him."

Well, the same can be said of golf. You see, the vast majority of golfers stink - we have trouble breaking 90 or even 100. Then there's a smaller group of "better players" who will shoot in the 80's regularly and break into the 70's once-in-a-while. Meanwhile, the tour players are a tiny, elite group of talented athletes who are making money because they are the best golfers the world has to offer.

But what about that other group? You know - those scratch golfers that can shoot around par most of the time, but are just a smidge shy of that elite "best in the world" class? In my opinion, these people have it the worst.

I once worked with a woman who had just gone through a terrible divorce. Did he cheat on her? No. Beat her? No. Verbally abuse her? No. This guy lost his marriage because he was a really good golfer - the type of player we average hacks are always striving to be.

He consistently shot near par, and won many local tournaments. These talents led him on a quest to make a mini tour (to compare to baseball, this would be the A or double-A leagues of golf, where the Nationwide Tour would be equivalent to triple-A). This kept him on the road and away from home. Friends and family would praise his golfing abilities and encourage him to keep trying to qualify for any tour he could. But he wasn't making any money doing this - in fact, he was spending more than he could make, and at 30, he was neglecting other responsibilities in his life. Thus came the inevitable strain on his marriage, fights with his wife, and subsequent separation. He's never qualified for the PGA tour. I'm not sure he even qualified for a mini tour.

But even if he had made a mini tour, would his life be more stable? Would the money start rolling in? Hardly. In the April 2010 edition of Cigar Aficionado, there's an article penned by Hooters Tour-player, Nick Mackay. Mackay, perhaps unintentionally, paints an uninviting portrait of life on a mini tour - driving across the American South, racking up more than 30,000 miles on his car annually and paying over a grand to enter a tourney where he may not even make the cut (which also means he wouldn't get paid).

Mackay will turn 28 in May, and it appears other responsibilities are catching up to him. "Due to several factors" he only played in 10 events in 2009. And he disclosed that being short on cash forced him to skip the PGA Q School in 2010: "...the hefty entry fee is the main reason I did not sign up to go back to [Q] school for the third time this year. It was a tough decision, but in my circumstance, paying the rent during the winter took precedence over career ambitions." Regardless, Mackay still says he would never trade life on the mini tour for a steady paycheck. I wish him all the luck in the world. But that's a tough sell when you're pushing 30 and are partaking in what he describes as "glorified gambling" for a living.

The reality is we all want to be good golfers. But to be that good yet not good enough? Sometimes...just sometimes, in a fleeting moment of sheer arrogance and/or bitterness, I like to think I'm the one in the better position - glad that I'm not good enough to consider chasing down pipe dreams while wasting my time and money.

But that's all BS. The moment I finish posting this, I'm off to buy a new driver - one that I hope will make me a better player; closer to the level of Mr. Mackay, the divorcee or anyone else who ever had a shot at the gold medal.

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First Golf Round of the New Season...And a Quick Mention of Tiger

OK, so before I get started I guess I have to quickly get into the "Tiger spoke, so I'm obligated to make mention of it" frame of mind. It's his first actual interview since the show he put on for his statement, and it started out with some promise.

I'm told by the ESPN anchor that this is a "no-holds barred, no question off-limits interview." Great! That's kind of what everyone wanted in the first place right? Of course, two of the first three questions were not answered as they were "private matters" for Tiger. There were three questions in total answered this way. I understand they are private matters, and should remain so, but don't tell me it's a "no question off-limits" interview if it's actually not. Well, I guess the questions can be asked...but you're not necessarily going to get an answer.

But my favorite part of this latest Tiger episode was this exchange:

Tom Rinaldi: Why not seek treatment before all of this came out?
Tiger: I didn't know I was that bad.
Rinaldi: How did you learn you were that bad?
Tiger: Stripping away denial, stripping away rationalization.

What?! You didn't know you were that bad? Has anyone else been following this story? Has anyone else seen the text messages that were released? He knew EXACTLY what he was doing. The guy acted like he was on a top-secret, James Bond-like, covert mission for cryin' out loud! And as for the second question..."stripping away denial, stripping away rationalization" - Hey buddy...you got caught!! Stop making excuses! Just come out and say it - "I didn't learn...I got caught!!!"

This is not what I wanted to talk about today, but for heaven's sake, when the most honest man among athletes is Jose Canseco...we have a real problem.

I digress.

What I really wanted to talk about was my first time out on the course this year. See, here in Connecticut, we've had about a week's worth of unseasonably warm temperatures and beautiful days. Mid-to-upper 60's (even cracking 70 a couple of times), sunny, light breeze...perfect golf weather! Hey, the weather is great, it's the first day of spring...why not make it the first day of golf also? I can't remember the last time I played golf in March. Actually, I may have never played this early! So I called up Stinky Golfer Greg to see if he has time to squeeze in nine holes. Lucky for me, he does.

We're both fired up to get back out there, break-out the sticks, and show this course what we've got! But once out there, we're quickly reminded what the long winter lay-off has done to our games. I'm not a great golfer by any means to begin with, and I went to the range only once during the off-season. Greg didn't go at all. We're both out of "golf shape," and it's showing. Nevertheless, we push on.

By roughly the fourth or fifth hole, we come to realize we are not only out of golf shape, but we haven't yet shed ourselves of the extra "winter weight" yet. We begin a bit of huffin' and puffin'. Note to self: For future first-rounds-of-the-season...take a cart.

When all nine holes were said and done...we both played like it was our first time out...ever! But the best part is, neither of us cared. We were out on the course, early in the new season no less, and that was all that really mattered. We didn't really care all that much what the scorecard told us. It didn't much matter that, next to Greg's name, it appeared as if I was writing in binary code a few times. It also didn't matter that my final tally may have appeared a bit closer to an area code than a golf score. No...what really mattered was being out there in the first place. Nice weather, hanging with a friend, conversation, laughs, clubs in hands, hacking our way through a track. This is what it's all about.

So here's to the promise of a new season...and the disappointment it will ultimately render in October.

Swing 'til your happy, friends!

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Observations From A Driving Range

Game improvement seems to be a top concern with golfers of all levels. As much as some of us say "We're only out there to have fun and relax", there's still the desire to play well. How strong is that desire? Well, it definitely matters on the person's will and drive to be better.

Recently, a buddy and I took our clubs out of hibernation and made our way to the local driving range. Here's where I started to recognize players that are trying to improve their game and those that are not. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle. After viewing a couple of golfers that were obviously good (at least they were consistently hitting straight and had good swings) and a couple that probably just saw "Happy Gilmore", I have made some connections between the two.

1. The Turf Mat

And this is where the connection ends. I over heard the two better players discussing how they really don't get an accurate read on club distance from a turf mat but, it's the beginning of the season and they're looking to get a few swings in.

I look a few stalls down to Adam Sandler & co. and watch. First of all, they are barely connecting on most shots because turf doesn't divot. Moreso, they are high fiving each other not realizing if they shot from grass it would probably make them cry. And secondly, they use the rubber tee on some iron shots for what reason, I don't know.

2. The Golf Ball Collection Cart

The better players seemed to continue with their session and act as if that armored golf cart isn't even out there, maybe even take a little water break.

The other two begin to squeal with joy and change clubs to better suit the bombarding. They wager on who will hit the guy first and totally couldn't give a crap about working on their swing.

3. Club Selection

The better players had $500 tour bags with all the bells and whistles and $1000 custom clubs nestled in there.

The other two opted to select from the driving range's collection of fine clubs, what some believe should be in the Golf Hall of Fame somewhere.

4. Bucket Size

The better players modestly purchased a medium sized bucket knowing that it is the beginning of the season and all they are trying to do is get a little workout in.

Sparky and Killer, being the big men they are, purchase a super-sized supreme mega bucket each. Now, a quarter of the way through they realize what a mistake it was but finish it anyway. Can't you just smell the Ben Gay?

5. Shot Distance

Figuring out how far you hit the ball is a little misleading on a range. The real shooters use the yardage markers and pretty much can figure out how far they are hitting.

Now, Friggin' John Daly and Babe Ruth (because his golf swing was a perfect rendition of the Babe's baseball swing) somehow think that they are dropping bombs. They literally thought they were hitting over three hundred yards until the manager there explained the different colored flags and the distances associated with each. So much for a chance on the tour...

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Golf; It Hurts so Good

On this St. Patrick's Day, I'd like to share some proof that the luck of the Irish isn't always with you. A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the dangers of being hit with a golf ball (see "But I Yelled Fore..."). Golfstinks co-founder, Tom, followed that up by asking his fellow golf group members on LinkedIn if they had any good stories related to hitting someone or being hit - and the responses were outstanding! Out of the numerous stories we received, I chose my favorite ten below (in no particular order with my comments following).

Enjoy - and let's hear some of your stories!

1) Kevin writes: When I was a teenager our family was at a backyard BBQ with some friends. I found a golf ball and some old ratty club and started fooling around. At one point, I dinked the ball just right and it flew across the yard and hit my little sister right between the eyes.

Way to keep it in the family, Kevin!

2) Ben writes: The story concerns my best friend who decided to run ahead to hit his ball. He was about 100 yards in front of me and we both seemed confident I could hit my 3 iron over him as we'd often done to each other. I let rip as usual...but only just caught the top of the ball. It took off like a wounded grouse, dipping fiercely in an arc, and before I could finish shouting "Watch ou..." it had landed squarely on the back of my friends head and cannoned about 30 feet in the air! He went down like he'd been shot! As can be expected my heart sank. I thought I'd just killed my best mate Andy! But as soon as I was about to sprint towards him, he sprang back...laughing himself silly!

Are you kidding? How thick is Andy's skull? It must be like Neanderthal thick! Especially since he bent down to pick up his ball instead of watching your shot! Who does that?!?!

3) Cameron writes: Twice by the same guy! Once [while a member of my group] was lazily taking chipping strokes, talking smack and accidentally hit one perfectly square, right into my bare calf from about 6 feet away. The other time, I was waiting for him to take his shot from the fairway and knowing his tendency to shank the occasional one here or there, I wisely stood behind him on the other side of the golf cart. He caught one, just barely, on the very toe of the club; it ricocheted off the cart post straight into my kneecap. Maybe I'm missing something here...

Cameron, perhaps you're missing the fact that you shouldn't keep playing with this guy - he's obviously hazardous to your health!

4) Mark writes: I was playing Cog Hill in Chicago and over-hit into the group in front of us. I saw this guy hit the ground in front of his cart and went quickly to see if I hit him, which luckily I did not. The person in question? Dick Butkus. I made one of the most feared men in the NFL flinch.

OK Mark, maybe the luck of the Irish WAS with you on that particular occasion, because if your ball had actually hit Mr. Butkus...

5) Kirstie writes: Yes, I have been hit. Over the years I have worked in the Food & Beverage side of the Golf industry many times, and I can tell you that being a "cart girl" makes you a prime target for high velocity golf balls!

Kirstie, are you sure you're talking about being hit by golf ball and not being hit-on by a goof ball?

6) Garreth writes: I hit my grandmother on the head with a 9 iron [when I was] aged 8. I still don't know why she was on the course with us but she was helping to tee my ball up when I started the back swing. Her head was split open and needing stitches. We left the pitch n putt course by ambulance. Thankfully she was OK and today she�s healthy in her eighties.

"I hit my grandmother on the head with a 9-iron when I was eight your honor, and it was all downhill from there..."

7) Christopher writes: My father and mother would play golf every Sunday afternoon. One summer, my mother hit her first hole in one. Several weeks later, she managed to obtain her second ace. On the very next hole, my dad drove his ball right at her golf cart and hit her on the leg. He swears that it was an accident.

Of course it was an accident, Christopher. He wasn't aiming for her leg!

8) Merlin writes: My friend hit a clean but slightly pushed 3 iron...which hit a lady member on the back of the hand some 200 yards away. We had done our utmost to warn her of the impending slug hurtling towards her, but she had just watched it like a deer in headlights up to the point of contact, whereby she let out a cry of horror akin to someone being eaten by a large shark. When we reached the scene, the sight was extraordinary. There was a lump on the top of her hand between her thumb and wrist that looked like the ball had actually somehow been deposited under the skin; most cartoon like. It was the sort of bump you might find after Jerry had whacked Tom on the head with a baseball bat. My friend walked her back to the clubhouse and bought her a large brandy and a bucket of ice in which to place her hand; all was forgiven.

That's an awesome idea, Merlin! Just get 'em drunk and they won't remember you hit them!

9) Barry writes: Playing a very famous course in Scotland my friend hit the only cow in the middle of a neighbouring field, smack on the rump with the worst hook shot i have ever seen. I know it�s cruel but the noise the cow made and the grumpy way it scuttled off...very funny.

You know, out of all these stories, I think I feel bad for this cow the most.

10) Doug writes: I hit someone once a few years ago at Richter Park in CT. I sliced my drive into common woods that seperated two different holes on the front nine. This guy came up to my ball and was about to pocket it when I asked him what it was...turned out to be my ball. So he walks away and I'm left to look at a tricky shot to get my ball back to the fairway on the left. I decided to take my 3-wood and hit a low runner. Aimed right at a tree about 20 yards ahead of me and nailed it square into the [center of the] tree. The ball popped up and out of site. Next thing I know I hear that same guy who almost pocketed my ball cry out in pain from the fairway. My ball hit the tree and rebounded back and up and came down and struck him at the top of the shoulder blades as he was addressing his shot. He must have been 50 yards away from where I was standing at the time I struck the ball. Only me. PS, he was OK.

Karma, Doug. Karma.

You can find the complete discussions on the LinkedIn groups HERE, HERE and HERE.

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A Different Take On A Golf Handicap

What's that you say? You have a hitch in your swing? You had a bit of a slice today? You were pushing your putts a little left? A little trouble with your course management out there? Wow, I guess you had it tough! Well, awwww...boo-hoo for you. Here, let me get you a little hankie.

Maybe you should make an appointment with your pro. Maybe you should stand off to the side for a little while, swinging a club by yourself, and see if that helps at all. Why not try talking to one of your buddies at the club and see if he notices something wrong? After all, so many of you expect perfection out of yourselves, right? It couldn't possibly be that you're just not that great a golfer, could it? No....you could be on the PGA Tour if you just had some more time to practice, right? Here's a better idea - why don't you just shutup about it and be happy you have the ability to get out there and play the game to begin with.

Think you've got problems out there on the course? Try playing with your eyes closed and see how well you do then. Sound a bit ridiculous? Well, not to Jan Dinsdale it doesn't. Jan Dinsdale, a non-golfer at the time, lost her vision at the age of 40. Three years later, through the help of the International Blind Golf Association, she took up golf. She has since ranked as high as #3 in the world on tour and even has two holes-in-one to her credit! Two! Most people with perfect or near-perfect vision never get one. She's blind and has two!! But without the IBGA, none of this would have been possible.

The IBGA came to be in 1998 and now has fifteen countries (including the U.S.) participating. Just about every rule in standard golf applies to blind golf. Blind golfers however play with a guide. The guide gives them information on the hole as far as distance, hazards and just about anything the rest of us would be able to see for ourselves. The shot is then up to the golfer themselves. Imagine being blindfolded and your partner just describing the hole to you. Good luck!

Although the IBGA was only formed in 1998, according to their website, the sport can actually be traced back to 1924 when a man named Clint Russell lost his sight as the unfortunate result of an accident. The following year, Russell took up golf. Similar to Dinsdale, Russell also had success - in 1930 he shot an 84 for 18 holes despite his inability to actually see the course on which he was playing. Note - 75% of golfers (including myself) cannot break 90. Completely blind, Clint Russell shot 84.

The success of Dinsdale, Russell and every golfer who plays this game despite a disability, is a tribute to their drive, motivation and dedication to the game. They work hard, and despite an almost insurmountable disadvantage, they have succeeded. And thanks to a great organization like the IBGA, they are given a stage on which to showcase their incredible talent.

So the next time your drive lands in a spot leaving you in a position in which you can't see the green...keep these people in mind. You can't see the green? They just plain can't see. Something tells me they're not feeling so bad for you.

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Variations on the Game of Golf - Speed Golf

We covered golf and fitness in previous posts, Keeping Yourself In Golf Shape and Is Golf Excercise?, and we also posted about variations of the game: Disc Golf, Mini Golf and Adirondack Golf. Now, how about combining golf, fitness and a variation of the game; Speed Golf anyone?

Started back in the late 70's by Steve Scott, this deviation not only uses your final score after 18 but, it also factors in the time it took to complete the round. How intense is it? Check this out: In 2005, Christopher Smith, a PGA Pro from Pumpkin Ridge G.C. (Oregon) set a world record at the Chicago Speed Golf Classic. Smith finished by shooting a 65 (6 under par) in a little over 44 minutes.

On average, a regulation golf course is about 6,000-6,500 yards (give or take). That roughly translates into 3 miles, probably a little more, of uneven terrain. The average male runs about an 8:25 minute mile and shoots around a 100 per round. So, after the numbers are crunched, the average golfer would walk away with a score somewhere around 185-190 (and btw, Smith's score was 109).

You're probably sitting there saying "Why not jog or run and then play golf?" I hear you, why would I want to run between each shot? First of all, and I speak for myself, my beer would spill all over the place. Secondly, what do I do with the cart...push it? Seriously, it's quite a feat to do two things at the same time extremely well when I struggle to do one half-way decent.

If you get the chance and want to add a little extra workout while hacking-up the local track, pick up the pace a little. Obviously obey all rules on the course and if you are going to Speed Golf, make sure there is no one in front of you.

Good luck, hit 'em straight, run and don't forget to yell FORE!

Related Posts:
Variations on the Game of Golf - Disk Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Mini Golf
Variations of the Game of Golf - Adirondack Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Project Flogton
Variations on the Game of Golf - Ladder Golf

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Bunkers In Baghdad: Golf Helps Troops Cope

Regardless of your political views surrounding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the one thing most people can agree on is we must support our troops. That message was hammered-home again this past weekend when both the writer and the director of The Hurt Locker (best picture) dedicated their Oscars to the men and women serving in our armed forces.

So it is with great pride that I am able to tell you about the relatively new charity; Bunkers In Baghdad. The charity's founder, Joe Hanna, was just your typical American guy who read an article in Golf Magazine about how troops hit off make-shift driving ranges in the desert to relieve stress. But unlike many who just read articles such as these and think, "that's neat" - Joe decided he could do actually something to help.

Thus in 2008 he established Bunkers In Baghdad. The organization collects new and used golf balls, clubs and equipment and ships them to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to use on these desert driving ranges. By the end of that year, he had sent his first shipment - just in time for the holiday season. To date, Joe has shipped over 520,000 golf balls and 10,000 clubs!

In addition, Joe has expanded his outreach to include those service men and women recovering at the Wounded Warriors program at Walter Reed. To this effort, Bunkers In Baghdad has distributed nearly 440,000 golf balls and 15,000 clubs - bringing the total donation to nearly 1 million golf balls and over 25,000 golf clubs!

In 2010, Joe is looking to take the Bunkers In Baghdad program to new heights, and you can help! Cash donations can be made HERE.

Or, you can send Joe a package! That old shag-bag full of balls, or those used clubs in your attic - help them find a new home with our troops:

Mail to:
Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc.
Attn: Joe Hanna
665 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, New York 14203

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Variations on the Game of Golf - Adirondack Golf

There I was, at the 2010 Boston Golf Expo, when what do I come across? Nope...not the newest and greatest, super lightweight, massive head, incredi-flex shaft, guaranteed to get a hole-in-one every time club known to man...that's just too boring for me. Instead, what caught my eye is pictured to the left.

I know what you must be saying to yourself. "What the hell is that thing? It must be for decoration. You couldn't actually hit a golf ball with that. Wait...is it even for golf?" Yup...it's for golf. Just not the golf you and I are used to. This is Adirondack Golf.

What if I was to tell you that thing is a flop wedge? Well, that's exactly what it is. But you wouldn't take this wedge (or any of the other clubs in one of these sets) out to your local track. But you might just take it out to your own backyard.

In a way, Adirondack Golf is mini-golf. But not the mini-golf we all think of upon hearing the term. There are no windmills or circus animals. There are more clubs to use than just a putter. And it more closely resembles an actual game of golf - just scaled down.

Roughly 100 years ago, at a hunting and fishing club in the Adirondacks, this alternate to golf was invented. Due to the necessity of forests at a hunting club, the amount of trees which would need to be taken down in order to create a golf course was not feasible. So, one of the founders of the club came up with the idea to scale down the game itself. He started with hockey sticks and tennis balls so the game could be played in short distances. After experimenting with a few different alternatives, they had finally settled on over-sized wooden clubs and rubber balls. A nine-hole course full of hazards and obstacles was set-up, and the new sport became a hit with both club members and guests alike, and still continues to be played to this day.

Now, through a company called Heirloom Sports, Adirondack Golf sets can be purchased by anyone who wants to play. A set comes with four over-sized wooden clubs (a driver, two "irons" and a putter), a few 2.5" rubber balls and some stakes to mark as the "holes." The course can be set-up just about any way you would like, but obstacles and hazards are strongly encouraged (the more the merrier). The hole has to be at least 25 yards from the tee, but not more than 150 yards. Keep in mind, the driver only travels about 55-60 yards. Other than that, the game and it's rules are very similar to an actual game of golf.

It's amazing the lengths (or shrinking of them) to which people will go in order to create a golf-related game. Mini-golf, disc-golf and now I find Adirondack Golf. But I have to admit, this one certainly does appear to be fun. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a set of these for a while. I don't think it will ever cause me to shift my interest away from golf itself in the way disc golf has done for many. But something about this one does seem entertaining. So if anyone over at Heirloom Sports happens to come across this post and has a spare set of these lying around just collecting dust...I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

For more information on Adirondack Golf check out the Heirloom Sports site:

http://www.heirloomsports.com/

Related Posts:
Variations on the Game of Golf - Disk Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Mini Golf
Variations of the Game of Golf - Speed Golf
Variations on the Game of Golf - Project Flogton
Variations on the Game of Golf - Ladder Golf

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Pimp My Golf Cart (Redux)

Back in November of '09, I posted Pimp My Golf Cart. Now, due to positive feedback and emails about how ya'll really dug the post and the golf carts in it; here's another helping of tricked-out, rim-sportin', system-bumpin' club cars for your viewing pleasure!

It just amazes me the levels of customization people will take their golf carts to. The more I search around the more I am impressed with the craftsmanship and creativity that goes into building these carts. It's as if there's an underground community of custom golf cart aficionados. If you think about it, this could open-up a whole new demographic of people that may have never really had much exposure to golf. Who knows, maybe the person that installed the 50,000-watt stereo system in the E-Z GO could become a fellow weekend hack. And to think, all because a golf cart piqued their curiosity.

I've seen some pretty crazy modifications done to golf carts that range from Louis Vuitton or Gucci leather seats, to lift kits that rival a monster truck. All in all, these custom carts might not appeal to every golfer, but it definitely brings a uniqueness and flair to the sport. Regardless, even if they are never used on the course, they still carry the name; Golf Cart.







Related Posts: Pimp my Golf Cart

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But I Yelled Fore...

Have you ever been struck by a golf ball? I've come close to being hit on a few different occasions. One time, years ago, my father sliced one so bad he sent me and my uncle scurrying from the bench that was parallel to the tee-box!

Another time, I had a ball bounce into my cart after striking the path directly in front of me. It ricocheted inside the cart a few times, then shot-out the back and into the fairway - it was pretty unnerving. And of course, there have been other balls that landed "too-close-for-comfort," but fortunately, nothing serious.

So, have you ever hit someone with a golf ball? I have. I had just teed-off on the sixth-hole of a local mortar range when I noticed my ball was heading directly toward a person who was walking directly toward me from the adjacent fairway. I let out a blood-curdling "FORE!!!!" Everyone on the course hit-the-deck (including everyone in my group). Everyone, that was, save for the one person my "FORE!!!!" was intended towards.

Needless-to-say, my ball careened off this guy's enormous gut, bounced through the rough and rolled back into my fairway. I mean, he left me an awesome approach - seriously, it was probably my best lie of the day. Anyway, the guy didn't go down...he just kept walking! So I sheepishly approached him as he lumbered closer to me. "Sorry," I said. "but I yelled fore...Are you OK?" "That's alright," he replied. "I'm hard of hearing!" WTF?

I'm sure most veteran golfers have a few good stories. But looking back on it, I got lucky. I mean, I could have been sued! It happens all the time - so much so, a recent article suggested it's a good idea for all golfers to get golf insurance: "For a small cost, golfers can insure themselves against injuring another player during a round, having their golf equipment stolen, damaging property with a poorly hit shot, and even insured against having to pay for a round of drinks, the traditional 'reward' for achieving a hole in one." Hahaha - drinks for a hole-in-one! There's something I'll probably never put a claim in for!

But seriously, do we really need golf insurance? I've been playing over 20 years and never even considered it...and I've hit a guy! Well, I guess the answer is, it depends on where you live. In the UK, courts mostly rule that golfers are liable for shots that cause injury, no matter how slight the risk and regardless of whether you yell fore. Thus there are a number of different golf insurance companies in the UK offering competitive prices ($2-$3 a day) and multiple coverage options. In the US however, court decisions are pretty much the opposite.

Court cases in the United States typically side with the defendant, claiming one takes an "assumed risk" while on the course. This stems from the prevailing thought in American law that for sports, there can be no fault from negligence-related injuries or those resulting from conduct that is considered part of the game. Basically, unless a golfer acts recklessly, it's tough for a plaintiff to win their case - even if no one yells fore!

This is not to say you no longer have to yell fore here in the States. Please, please, please CONTINUE to yell fore! And if the person is hearing impaired, pray he has a nice, big gut to cushion the blow...

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A Charitable Arm of Golf

"If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."

-Bob Hope

These days it seems sports and charities go hand-in-hand. Most every athlete, superstar or not, aligns themselves with at least one charity upon turning pro...many times more than one. In some instances, athletes will start-up their own charity. And all of this is great! What better way to pass a good message across than through the popularity of sports?! With so many different charitable organizations contributing to so many different causes, there should only be two questions to ask yourself - What can I do? And too which charity/charities should I contribute?

Notice one of the questions is not whether or not you should contribute. It is my own personal opinion that this question should never enter your mind. Contributing something to charity should be a given.

So what can you do? Giving something to a charity does not necessarily mean donating large sums of money. Most of us do not have the means to do so. But nearly everyone can spare a bit. And just as important, everyone can spend a little time helping out. Everyone has heard the phrase "every little bit helps." That phrase is 100% on the money. If more people were of this mindset, then donating just a few dollars here and there would make the world a better place. Don't have the few extra dollars to spare? Volunteering your time to a charitable cause can be just as important.

But which charities do you help out? The real answer to this should be that it doesn't matter. Just help in any way you can. But to help narrow it down, I try to find charities that are more personal to me. My father passed away from complications due to cancer. So, in turn, I will donate money to charities related to cancer cures, research and treatment. I'm also an animal lover, so I like to give something to organizations such as the ASPCA. In the past, I have also donated my time as a volunteer to the Special Olympics. I have no personal stake in the Special Olympics. Some members of my family were volunteering and I just felt it was a good thing to do. I had the time to help out, so why shouldn't I?

Recently, we here at Golfstinks have come across another charitable campaign with some personal meaning to us - Drivehard.

Drivehard is a campaign created by Eat Sleep Golf to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Alzheimer's. Since a couple of us here at Golfstinks have had family members affected by Alzheimer's (as well as other forms of dementia) and we are obviously all fans of golf, it seems like a perfect match. Being that Alzheimer's affects more than two million Americans and over a half-million Canadians, and indirectly affects countless others, chances are you have a family member, or know someone who does, that is affected by this disease. If this is the case, then you know how helpless it can make a person feel. So why not do something to assist in the path to a cure?

Charitable donations are of vital importance in the fight against the most deadly and debilitating diseases in the world today. Without the help and assistance of generous participants in campaigns such as Drivehard, progress in these fights would slow to a crawl. If just a few more people would do just a little bit, these battles could not only continue to be fought, but they could be won.

For more information on the Drivehard campaign against Alzheimer's, please visit http://www.drivehard.org/.

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