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?...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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 HopeThese 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...

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