Golf Clubbin'

So I figured I would help boost some TV ratings and present a little something different to today's reality TV show viewers. This feat will be accomplished by combining the Golf Channel's "Big Break" and let's say...oh I don't know...MTV's "Jersey Shore". Ladies and Gent's I present to you "Golf Clubbin'!"

A reality show that embraces polar opposites and forces them to co-exist. We can use the existing cast of JS and put them in various golf situations such as working in an upscale, pretentious golf club or caddying for a pro. Perhaps even challenging them to a round where they must make the cut or be subjected to some sort of embarrassment.

I can see it now... some dialogue from the first episode:

Scene opens with Mike "The Situation" pounding on the bathroom door very early in the a.m.

Mike: Paulie! Could you f@#$in' hurry up in there. We've been waiting for forty-five friggin' minutes. We're gonna be late on our first friggin' day! There's gonna be a situation if you don't hurry up!

Paulie: Chill bro, I'm doin' my hair! They gave us a 1200 watt hair dryer...I need at least 1600.

Vinnie: What the f@#$ is wrong with you Paulie? Where the hell is Ronnie?

Camera cuts to the girls room:

Snookie: Ok, so let me get this straight. I hold the shaft with both hands and rest my head next to the ball- give it a swing and that's called a stroke?

J Woww: I dunno... I think that's what the book says...

Sammy: Jeez, all this talk about shafts, balls, and head is killing me...where's Ronnie?

Aw man, this could be great. I know, I know...idiotic... but nonetheless entertaining.

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Walk or Ride; Which Game of Golf do you Play?

Before you tee-off on the first hole; heck, before you even fork-over your hard-earned money in the pro shop; you have to decide the answer to a simple question: Am I going to walk or ride? Until recently, I never thought this could mean playing two different games.

For many, this question is easily answered. On the one hand, you have the walkers; these people either want some exercise or they are traditionalists who feel walking is the way golf was intended to be played (or both).

On the other hand, you have the riders (not counting when a course has a mandatory cart rule), who are usually bucketed into two groups: people who physically need to take a cart, and those who just don't take the game of golf too seriously.

Think about that second group for a moment...

Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with someone wanting to ride around the course just having fun. In fact, it seems golf would lose a ton of business if it weren't for people wanting to do that. But many times this leads to behavior on the course that serious golfers consider unacceptable...But that's because we're playing two different games!

Not long ago, I asked if you drink while you golf. Most people who took my poll said they don't drink during the round. But really, there's this notion that some rounds are for serious play and other rounds are just for drinking and fun. Maybe I'm a few fries short of a Happy Meal, but this never even occurred to me before - that these are two different games we're talking about here; one walking, not drinking and playing the game seriously; and the other riding, drinking and just out there smacking balls every which way while you spend time with your buddies. See? Two different reasons for being out on the course.

Consider this: Our pals over at Of Course posed the "walk or ride" question the other day on their Facebook page and received some interesting responses; things like "I ride because how else am I suppose to carry a case of beer around on the course?" And other gems like "Golf is the only sport that allows drinking and driving" and "when I want to play serious, I walk." That last comment suggests sometimes people play rounds seriously, while other times they're out there just to drink and have fun - in which case they take a cart. In fact, the majority of those commenting rode simply because they wanted to use the cart as a portable keg.

Now I understand the fellas over at Of Course appeal to a certain demographic, but this "two different games" notion seems to be a reality in golf - it's no wonder those playing one game don't get along with those playing the other...albeit one group is usually breaking a pleathora of etiquette rules. Angrily we think: "Hey, we're all out here trying to play golf, right?" Ah, see now that's where we've been wrong.

Take the poll and let us know what game of golf you play:

Do you Walk or Ride?

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I Dream of Golf

I�m in a frenzy! I�m running late and the chances are 50/50 that I make my tee-time. I�ve got a 35 minute drive to the course I�m playing this morning and I can�t afford any delays! I overslept. I didn�t have breakfast. I�m not wearing pants. I don�t have time to stop for a coffee. I can�t�.wait, what? Holy crap!! I�m not wearing pants!! How the hell do I leave the house without pants on?!

OK, no time to question that right now. If I push down a little harder on the gas, I�ll have a second to stop by my mother�s house which is right around the corner from the course. Surely, for some unexplainable reason, she�ll have a pair of pants for me to use. But to my disappointment, I find that all of my pants are dirty and wrinkled. I don�t stop to try and understand why my dirty pants are here in the first place considering I no longer live here and my old bedroom has been turned into an office. But now, thinking about it further, not only do I no longer live here�neither does my mother. However, we�re here now and that�s all that matters.

So pantsless, I dig through drawers and closets in an effort to find something to wear over my boxers. My mother is no help. She just can�t understand why I�m so frantic! Funny thing is she doesn�t even question the whole no-pants thing. It�s almost like it�s happened before.

And then, right in the middle of a red-faced, half-naked rage....I woke up. What was all that about? As far as I know, I�ve never left the house without pants. Well, not that I know of anyway. I was known to sleep-walk as a child so anything could have happened back then.

But as ridiculous as this dream was, it wasn�t THAT ridiculous. Some parts of this dream correlate well with reality. For instance, in the dream, the course I was headed to was the actual course I was playing the next morning. Also, I�m always running late. Ask anyone. And in a very strange coincidence, I did oversleep the following morning. I didn�t have time to eat breakfast. And I didn�t have time to stop for a coffee. But I did have time, and remembered, to put on pants.

Although I�ve been playing for twelve years, this is the first time I remember dreaming of anything golf related. It was a fun dream, and a few parts of it actually went on to happen!

Now surely I'm not the only one so enamored with this game that I'm dreaming about it, right? Got a good golf dream? Share it with us!

Me, I�m going to try really hard next weekend to dream of breaking 90! Wish me luck!

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Is USGA Membership Worth It?

So I got my annual letter from the United States Golf Association in the mail the other day, begging me to renew my membership. Funny thing is, I've never had a USGA membership - in fact, I'm quite positive I've never paid them a dime. Nevertheless, I received the renewal letter, along with my complimentary 15-page (I counted them) notepad and my sweet USGA bumper sticker.

You know, I see those bumper stickers on many cars around town, but I wonder how many of those people have actually paid for a membership? I'm not innocent either - while I have a thing against putting bumper stickers on cars, I use the notepad every year. I'm not sure how they got my name, but it's probably from a magazine subscription list (seeing as I subscribe to a few golf-related publications).

This year though, I'm actually thinking about forking over the $10 to become a member. So I decided to read the "annual member benefits" listed on my "renewal" form to see what my membership would include:

1) Advance priority to apply for U.S. Open 7-day ticket packages. Let's see, I live in New England and the tournament is in California. That sounded like a good deal until I realized it would cost me well-over a grand to just get there and have a place to stay. Oh, and I don't get a discount on tickets, I just get the chance to buy them before other people do.

2) 2010-2011 edition of The Rules of Golf. Not bad, except I already downloaded the app for $3.99 so I no longer had to carry the hardcopy around in my golf bag.

3) Official copy of the U.S. Open Program publication. This would be a nice keepsake...if I actually was going to be attending the U.S. Open (see #1 above).

4) Special USGA Member only discount on the 2010 TROON Golf Card. Not bad if you live in Arizona, California and Florida (the states with more than three Troon courses featured). The closest course for me would be Lake of Isles and even with the discount, I'd have to pay over $100 per round!

5) Special Member discounts on USGA catalog merchandise and USGA Photo Store. Which really amounts to U.S. Open and USGA gear. But I really can't see myself forgoing a $9.99 Champion polo at Target for a $39.99 Cutter & Buck polo on there.

7) Personalized bag tag Just in case I forget which bag in the foursome is mine.

8) The USGA Insider monthly e-newsletter. Why don't they just say "more inbox clutter" instead?

and finally...

9) 2010 U.S. Open Hat. See photo of 2009's version. Enough said.

OK, so now that I came up will all these reasons not to spend $10 to become a USGA member, I'm going to reverse course on you. You see, I'm really missing the point in all this. The membership is not about the member benefits at all, it's about the benefits to golf itself. If you notice, I skipped number 6. Number 6 was the opportunity to participate in USGA Member Education Series events.

This is what the USGA does best - beside managing the rules, maintaining the handicap system and funding research for environmentally-friendly turf - the USGA "assists organizations that introduce the game to people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to play." Over the last 12 years, the USGA has dedicated more than $63 million to golf-related charities - mostly through its "For the Good of the Game" grants initiative. And getting more people to play golf will only help golf in the long run. So this year, rather than placing my "renewal" letter in the circular file, I think I'll pay my $10 membership fee and start earning those 15-page notepads.

Related Posts:

Proof I Joined the USGA (unpacking photos)!

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The Golf Channel's Newest Offering is Really Nothing New

It can be argued in many different ways, but the simple fact is, golf is NOT a growing sport. The statistics show it. Even though there are currently about 450 more courses in the U.S. than existed in the year 2000, over the past several years, more courses have closed than opened. What's more alarming is, despite these additional 450 courses, fewer rounds are being played every year.

According to reports from the National Golf Foundation, 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which total rounds of golf decreased from the previous year. As a matter of fact, it was the eighth year out of the past nine in which a decrease was shown. In 2000, roughly 518.4 million rounds of golf were played in the U.S. But by 2009, that number had dropped to 481.5. That's almost 37 million fewer rounds (a little over 7%) per year. So where is this growth?

Yeah, you can blame some of it on the economy. But that's really only that past two years. What about the seven years previous? That is another topic which can be debated. But I have my opinions - several of them (greens fees continuing to rise, cost of equipment, etc...). But right at the top of the list is simply the old golf stereotype - it's a rich man's game. For too many golfers in the new generation, as well as your average weekend hack, this decreases their overall interest. They see the game as too expensive and too serious. What they don't see, and are sometimes never introduced to, is simply the fun of the game. But what is the golf industry in general doing to fix this? Apparently, nothing.

Example, The Golf Channel's latest offering - Donald Trump's Fabulous World of Golf. In a time where interest in the sport continues to decrease, the belief in the stereotype continues to rise, the biggest star in the game has lost some of his shine, golf courses are closing and people aren't playing because they can't afford to play...The Golf Channel gives us...Donald Trump.

As if we haven't seen enough already, this show gives us more celebrities, more excess and more outrageously priced and/or private courses. Yeah, just what the sport needs right now. Fuel the stereotype why don't ya? Do the good people at The Golf Channel think this is helping? Are they in the dark and don't understand this is not what the sport needs? Maybe they don't care and they're just hoping for ratings.

Speaking of ratings, one of the funniest things I had seen and heard was on a promo video on the show's website. If you can find it, there was a clip of The Donald sarcastically stating this show was going to raise The Golf Channel's ratings. Isn't that great? Even The Donald knows this channel needs help!

See, we've said it before, and we'll continue to say it. This sport needs a shot in the arm. It needs a change. It needs to make itself relate to the average guy and girl who play the sport for no reason other than the fun of the game. It does NOT need more celebrities. It does NOT need to promote more private courses. It does NOT need to promote more rich guys playing the game in a place 99.9% of us (if not more) will never see.

As entertaining as I occasionally find him to be....the sport does NOT need Donald Trump right now.

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Why Stinking At Golf Is OK

First of all, it's ok because everyone is doing it...well, at least a good 95% of the 26+ million golfers in the U.S. are. What about the other five percent? 2% say they can break 80 consistently, 1% actually do it, 0.9% have very low handicaps and 0.1% are professional -this includes touring Pro's and Pro's at your local track*. With that being said, we rule the vote. Last time I checked this country was a democracy, we should have a say in what's what when it comes to golf! 95% equals almost 25 million golfers. Come on people! Let our course hacking, ball slicing, OB finding, all-around stinky golf game voices be heard.

Earlier today I read a blog on why golf sucks. The writer mentioned, which is actually pretty funny and almost true, that when he asked golfers how their round went; most answered golf stinks or that they hate this game and walk away frustrated. Almost a good point. What this person is not seeing is the passion those players had for the game. If you don't care for something you obviously wouldn't be affected by it.

I'm guessing most of the average golfers out there have some emotional attachment to the game. When we play well, however rare the occasion, we are ecstatic and vice-versa. Also, we are not striving to be on tour either. We enjoy the camaraderie of our foursome and the challenge the course has in store for us. How fun is it if no one in your foursome sucks? There would be a lot less funny stories to be told that's for sure. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying being a good golfer is bad. All I'm getting at is this game needs its extremes. The good players and the not so good players.

Stinking at golf has provided me with humorous and sometimes unbelievable memories that I take with me when I leave the course and go back to reality. For weeks I would laugh about my ridiculous drive on the second hole that hooked so bad it almost came back like a boomerang. Better yet, the combination and invention of curse words that my buddy muttered for three straight minutes as he looked for his ball in the woods. This stuff is irreplaceable in my book.

Keep playin', yell FORE!

*not an actual researched stat, more of a guesstimate...

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Public Golf Courses Get A Bad Rap

In 1895, two great things happened to the game of golf: The pool cue was officially banned for use as a putter by the USGA; and the biggest city in the country established the first public course in America: Van Cortlandt Golf Course in the Bronx, NY.

Soon after opening, the course was suffering from all the stereotypical things we hear about public tracks today: "Poor playing conditions, unmanageable crowds, and a general lack of golf etiquette." But within three years, the grounds were cleaned-up, playing rules were established, and the number of holes increased from 9 to 18. As a symbol of its longevity, the course is still open today - accepting tee-times from Wall Street bankers and sanitation engineers alike.

Unfortunately for golf though, the stereotypes of public courses still exist. The notion that if you play a daily fee or (God forbid) a municipal course, you're in for bad grooming, waits on every tee, and worst of all: you've got to deal with the average slob who doesn't know how to conduct himself like a gentleman.

Ah but the reality is much of this is exaggerated. Let's examine each of these stereotypes in more depth...

Public Courses have Bad Grooming: I've played 18-hole, daily fee courses (both expensive and inexpensive alike) all over this country and have not found many in complete shambles. Sure, a few need some help, but these are by far in the minority. These days, increased knowledge in course architecture, seeding and sprinkler systems, and better grooming equipment have made it hard for public courses to fall into utter disarray. While it still happens on occasion - especially in tough economic times - the majority of public courses are lush and playable (especially the tee-boxes, fairways and greens). Don't get me wrong, not many can compare to Augusta, but then not many private courses can either.

Public Courses have Long Waits on Every Tee: I'm not going to lie to you, there may be times when you will wait on every tee. While this is annoying, it is also rare and usually avoidable. The reality is there are some courses that will squeeze in too many groups in an effort to capitalize on profits. There are also some courses that fail to employ enough rangers to manage the slow pokes. But in either case, these courses are most likely repeat offenders and golfers usually know what to expect before even pulling into the parking lot. But the majority of public courses get it. They understand how to space foursomes out so backups don't occur. They also understand how to manage a slow group holding others up. And most courses usually have a strict tee-time policy, which is a good thing - it ensures there's not a backup on the first tee. While there still can be an occasional backup on one or two tees, backups on every hole are very infrequent.

Perhaps the real concern is how long it takes to play an 18-hole round on a public track? Well, let me ask you this: How long do you expect 18-holes to take? It seems to me my private club friends are always bragging about how quickly they can finish a round. "Oh, I finished 18 in 2.5 hours yesterday!" WTF? That's not golf, that's insanity. Where the hell is the joy in that? Look, four hours is normal. But on a public course, expect it to take five hours. You have to realize that people play golf for enjoyment - thus they are going to chat, have a dog and a beer at the turn, and lose a few balls here and there - and usually, these people are keeping up with the group in front of them! These days with how popular the sport has gotten, you can't sweat-it if it takes five hours to finish a round on a public course - in fact, you should plan on it.

Public Courses Attract Un-Gentlemanly Golfers who Don't Know Etiquette: It stinks that a small few can give public courses a bad rap. Truth is, all it takes is one golfer who is ignorant (or indifferent) to the etiquette-side of the game, and the hold-up begins. But again, this is usually the exception during a round, not the norm. Occasionally, (usually while on the same courses that allow on too many foursomes, I may add) you may get stuck behind a newbie who doesn't know when to pick-up and move-on. You can decrease your chances of this happening by playing a course that has a strict tee-time policy (since many newbies and hacks are walk-ons who've decided last minute to dust-off the old clubs and play). And making an early tee-time is even better - when there are more serious players out on the course. But again, it's extremely rare I get paired-up with someone who is clueless about etiquette - most public golfers know these unwritten rules quite well and play rather efficiently.

So it seems public golf courses have been given a bad rap. But the reality is the game of golf has changed. Regular Joe players are starting to see golf as relaxation rather than a competitive activity. Sure competitiveness is fun, but it's more about spending time with their friends, away from their everyday lives. Five-hour rounds (e.g. a day at the course) are becoming the norm and veteran golfers are beginning to adjust to this.

Meanwhile, public courses already outnumber private clubs two-to-one and that ratio is growing due to this down economy - which means the bulk of golfers play on public tracks...which also means if so many of us are going to be playing this game, we need to take public golf courses for what they are for: Leisure, fun and enjoyment.

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Are There Too Many Golf Courses?

Now that The Masters is over I have to tell you, I am all golfed out. Honestly, I may have watched about a half-hour, in total, of the tournament. But between all of the coverage on ESPN and various other sports networks and news shows, specifically the Tiger coverage, I feel like I was in the galleries all four days! I don't think I can watch another five minutes of a tournament for the rest of the year!

However, that does not curb my desire to get back out onto the many courses which my home state of Connecticut has to offer. But a couple of stories in my local news lately have me wondering...are there too many golf courses?

The obvious answer for one who loves to golf, especially those of us who enjoy playing different courses all the time, is "not a chance." How can you have too many golf courses? After all, the old saying "variety is the spice of life" indeed equates to your golf life also. Maybe the more appropriate question wouldn't be to ask if there are too many golf courses, but instead to ask, is a new golf course really necessary? Or, is there a better use for that land?

In my current hometown, a town of about 45,000, we currently have two nine-hole courses. Recently, the idea to use a piece of undeveloped public land to build another nine-hole course, was proposed by a local developer. The Economic Development Committee approved the proposal, but many spoke out at a recent Common Council meeting. In favor of the course were some local business owners hoping the course brings more people into the city. However, many spoke out against the course. Some concerns were tax and rent payments (or lack thereof), privatization of public land, outside investors and the plan meeting environmental standards. However, one major concern asked, what if the course fails? You are left with nothing more than carved up land, which would make later development more challenging, and the city expected to foot the bill. One can see where the concern would be.

My personal opinion? There are already two nine-hole courses in town. Additionally, there are four eighteen-hole courses within ten miles. Is another nine-holer necessary? As for bringing people into the city, how many golfers regularly travel to other towns to play nine-holes, especially when the surrounding towns have eighteen-hole courses? Add to that the fact there are already two nine-hole courses in this town, then how much more business is the course actually going to generate?

This reminds me a bit of a situation from the town in which I used to live. My former hometown, population of about 60,000, was home to one eighteen and two nine-hole courses. But when the idea to build a new middle school on the grounds of one of the nine-hole courses was proposed, it was met with some hostility. The course in question was, to put it lightly, a bombed-out disaster of a mortar range which I had the displeasure of playing exactly once and swore to myself to never play again. It was in fact, with no exaggeration, that bad.

But, the course was very popular with the senior crowd. It was flat, wide open and an easy course to walk if you chose. And not too mention, cheap. Due to its low (if any) maintenance costs and the popularity with seniors and first-timers, I'm sure the course made some money for the town. But the question actually was: what's more important, keeping this crappy course around to satisfy a few people who have other options, or building a new, better, safer school, in a better, safer neighborhood for 1,200 students year-in and year-out?

To me, the answer here seems obvious - kill the course. But I guess there are some of us who believe the future of our children isn't as important as having to spend an extra six bucks to play a different nine-hole course.

Now don't get me wrong, being a golfer, I'm always looking forward to a new course and feel a new course is usually a great idea. But, we also have to consider the cost. Be it a risky investment at the cost of the taxpayer, environmental issues or the future of our young students. All of these issues, and then some, have to be addressed before we can truly learn the value of a golf course.

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Record Broken at The Masters..

No, it does not consist of how many women a golfer has slept with. As a matter of fact, Tiger is not even involved in this. Check out this tidbit the AP reported:

"Italian 16 year-old Matteo Manassero became the youngest player to ever make the cut at the Masters, sinking three long par putts on the back nine Friday to finish at 3-over�right on the cutline. Manassero has now made the cut at both his majors, having tied for 12th at last summer�s British Open. �I always want to stay levelheaded since that�s the education that my parents gave me,� he said. �My parents help me also in this period to stay more level. But I dream for something like the Masters.� So do older golfers, and they don�t have his track record.

Manassero, who last summer became the youngest winner in the 124-year history of the British Amateur, shattered Augusta National�s previous record for youngest player to make the cut. South African Bobby Cole was about a month shy of his 19th birthday when he made it in 1967. Manassero is also the first amateur to play the weekend since 1999.And he�s the lone teenager out of the four in this year�s field to make the cut."

Now, I'm not knocking Tiger's return or his warm welcome by the fans. It's just that I noticed how this feat by Manassero got pushed to the back burner because the prodigal son has returned. You know last time I checked, there weren't too many 16 year olds making there way around Augusta National for a crack at the green jacket. Know why? BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST F%@$IN' TIME...EVER!

Kudos to you, Matteo! From one Paesano to another, in bocca al lupo!

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The Masters to the Rescue?

The folks over at someecards.com really have a way with words. But all sarcasm aside, the above graphic isn't too far fetched. For the last few months, everyone tied to the golf industry has looked at this Tiger situation with a weary eye.

From the pro tours down to the golf retailers, the thought of a season without the sport's golden child was troublesome to say the least. No Tiger meant no ratings, which would inevitably lead to lower sales and less interest - all this piled atop an already slow market do to the current economic climate.

Meanwhile, those of us in the golf blogosphere have had a field day as the public gorged themselves on all the lusty details. Yet even the non-traditional media harbored an ominous feeling for the golf industry in general - once the gossip hounds digressed, would our readership digress as well?

But then came the announcement that Tiger's eagerly anticipated return would play-out at the most renowned golf event of the year - The Masters. With this news, the power-players in the golf industry breathed a sign of relief - the prodigal son had returned. But will it matter?


OK, this graphic may ring less true. I think people will watch this tournament - and I think many will be virgin viewers, who have never watched a golf tournament before. They will look intently at every move Tiger makes - diagnosing not his swing, but his demeanor.

What will his body language tell them about his frame of mind? Has he been mentally compromised? Is he truly sorry for what he did? These are questions people want to know the answers to - despite the fact they may never learn those answers. So yes, in a way - The Masters has inadvertently come to the rescue of golf in its time of need. But what about next week?


The good news is, eventually golf (especially the pro tours) will return to normalcy. The bad news is, golf (especially the pro tours) will return to normalcy. Pondering some foresight, November 2009 - April 2010 will just be a spike on the graph of golf's timeline - a swirling media buzz that brought widespread interest to an otherwise niche group of fans.

The trick is, for the golf industry, to capture that media buzz on a more frequent basis...albeit without the scandalously delicious plot.

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Are You Betting on Tiger to Win The Masters? Or Just Betting?

Are you like me? Do you think a little wager makes every sport a bit more interesting? No? Well, you're wrong. It does. Let's say you're watching a football game between the Browns and Rams. Unless you're a fan of one of the two, most people don't care about the result, right? Well, put $50 on it. Now what?

Throughout every individual sport's season, there are all kinds of games that don't matter to a casual fan. But once the chance to win some money enters the equation, suddenly an all new interest becomes apparent. Think about the Super Bowl. The boxes get passed around the office and even the people who think the Lakers played the Yankees in the Stanley Cup Finals last year are scribbling their name into three or four empty slots. They're dropping $20 or so, on a game they don't know the first thing about, in the hopes of winning a couple of Franklins. NCAA tournament time is another great example. I don't follow college hoops all that closely, but year in and year out, I'm filling out at least one bracket! Between all the boxes, brackets, pools and, who could forget, fantasy sports, a little wager makes watching the game(s) all the more interesting.

However, some of the greatest wagers you'll find come from Vegas around Super Bowl time. Fun, out of the ordinary bets such as, "Will the Colts and Saints combine for more points than the New Jersey Nets?" or "Will Kobe Bryant outscore the Colts?" or "What color hat will Peyton Manning wear on the sideline, blue or white?" Some of these bets have almost nothing to do with the game, but they simply provide some fun to either a fan or non-fan. It gives everyone at least a bit of a reason to tune in.

Sparked by the return of Tiger, some of these off-beat wagers are now becoming popular in the golf betting world. According to Bodog Sportsbook Manager Richard Gardner, betting on the Masters has doubled from last year. Included in all of those extra wagers are not only the old "Who will win The Masters?" and "Where will Tiger Woods finish?" Now we're seeing wagers a little more, dare I say, fun? Let's take a look at some examples:

What color hat will Tiger Woods wear in Round 1?

Black 5/4
White 7/4
Red 7/2
Blue 11/2
Any Other Color 8/1

Will Tiger Woods be Heckled after Addressing the Ball and Step Away?
Yes -120
No -120

Will Elin Nordgren be Seen on Camera?

I hope you already placed your wager on this one since Tiger has already given away the answer.


Will Tiger Woods cry during his acceptance speech if he wins?

Yes -120
No -120

Thank goodness for the world of sports gambling. Without it, for many people who aren't all that interested in the PGA Tour and have lost interest in the Ringling Brothers & Tiger Woods circus, this is just another golf tournament. But for people who partake in the gambling side of things...there's more to it than the tournament itself. There's the prospect of winning (or losing) some money. There's the idea of looking at things in the tournament that, normally, you would pay little to no attention. And the PGA should be happy also, as this brings in more viewers who normally may not have paid any mind.

Don't get me wrong, the amount of wagers is not exactly approaching Super Bowl standards. But to have the amount of wagers double, that alone shows, thanks to Tiger, the amount of interest generated for this years Masters. Me personally, I never do much more than quickly peek in to see what's going on. This year will likely be no different. Although, I'll most likely be peeking in with the hopes Tiger dons a red hat on day 1.

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There's Something About Golf...

Imagine brilliantly clear blue sky on a warm afternoon in early spring. A gentle breeze carries the scent of new blossoms, while the songs of distant birds seem abstract from your concentration. The sounds of nature are disrupted briefly by the swoosh of a golf club, followed by what seems to be complete and utter silence...then, a splash.

Yep - I just plunked a 100-yard approach shot into the drink and I'm totally fine with it. Am I nuts? Probably. But I'm not alone. You see, people don't merely play golf; they experience it. Immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors; the camaraderie among friends; and a dash of competitiveness - the game assimilates you among the many crazed addicts of this sport.

It's true. The economy has tanked; scores are unemployed; but the golf faithful are still out on the course. "Golfers are a different breed; we're basically a bunch of lunatics," says Golf Digest senior writer Steve Donahue. Through a promotion with Excalibur Cigars, I had a chance to speak with Steve recently and he thinks the game is doing "pretty well despite the down economy." It seems we golfers "find a way to happily fork-over our greens fees even if it means not being able to eat that day."

While I'm not sure I'd be willing to risk starvation to hit the links, Steve does have a point. My friend has been out of work (for months) and is still playing; I have a baby on the way (my first) and I'm still playing; the president is waging war (two of them) and he's still playing. In fact, everyone seems to be still playing golf! Steve recalls the most recent statistics he's viewed show the number of rounds played have only declined by 1 percent since the economic woes began - only 1 percent! That being said, what strikes me as the nuttiest fact is most of us aren't even good at this game!

In case you're wondering, 99 percent of golfers can't shoot anywhere near par...and that tells me one thing: We play this game because we love it. And in the 21st-centruy, golf is no longer just for rich men. Over the last 20 years, golf has exploded to include more than just the country club snob (the Judge Smails if you will). These days, golfers are teachers, executives, cashiers, doctors, car salesman and sanitation engineers. We're also mothers, fathers and grandparents.

According to Steve, "...the great thing about golf is you can rub elbows with folks from all walks of life." You'll get paired-up with a group of people you've never met before and "it seems like they've been your friend forever when you walk away after the round." This "bonding" starts on the first tee-box with the notion that "everybody else is just as nervous and insecure on the first tee as you are." That inevitably leads to good conversation during the round. Seriously, during the heat of competition in other sports, can you really tell a joke or talk politics?

This all points to why golf is a unique sport. You don't have to be good at it to love it. You also don't have to be young to play it. Think about that for a second; do you know many beer-league softball players over 60? Then there's the fact you can tee-off alone too. I mean, I can go out and have the whole course to myself - try that in tennis and you'll end up hitting a ball against a wall for two hours. Finally, there's the course itself. I'm of the opinion that no two courses are exactly alike. Sure, most of them have 18-holes, but they all have something unique to them - I've lost my ball in the ocean, in the desert, in the forest - even in a rock quarry...Yep, I've triple-bogied many of the coolest holes I've played and I'd do it all again.

Steve Donahue writes for one of the most popular golf publications in the world and Golf Digest spends a good amount of time covering the pro tours. But even Steve admits for the pros, it�s not about having fun: "Look at the PGA Tour players; they�re the greatest players in the world. How many of them look like they're having a good time? Not many of them." And that's the thing - while the rest of us would all like to get better, it's not just about being good - golf isn't our job, it's our passion. There's something about the way you can relax out on the course; something about spending time with good friends far removed from your everyday lives; something about being immersed in nature's entire splendor.

The reality is I'm not going to make the PGA Tour anytime soon (or the Hooters Tour for that matter). But that's OK. Just being on the course is reason enough to celebrate. So, give me a nice Honduran stogie on the first tee; a couple cold ones in the 19th-hole; and everything that happens in between really doesn't matter in the long run. Yep, there certainly is something about golf...

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The Most Versatile Athlete of All Time Was...a Golfer?

A golfer was the most versatile athlete of all time you ask? That's right...she was a golfer. Wait...what? I know...you're having a hard enough time getting by the title as it is. And then I go and throw in "she."

Now you're completely thrown off! I'm obviously a few fries short of a Happy Meal. I'm sure I've even lost some credibility (what little I have) with many sports fans. Well, trust me, I would never have thought I would feel this way before I really looked into it.

But, maybe you'll even agree with me afterward. Maybe you might even consider dropping "most versatile" from the title and replacing it with, simply, "greatest." After all, being a great golfer on top of numerous other athletic accomplishments, some at an expert level, deserves a little bit more attention than being a standout at only one sport, no?

If you haven't already guessed who I'm talking about, it's a little lady by the name of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Most people who know anything about her know the obvious - she was the greatest female golfer of her time (and one of the greatest of all-time). She was a cofounder of the LPGA. She excelled in other sports besides golf and was voted by ESPN's SportsCentury to be the 10th greatest athlete of the 20th century. While many people are aware she had other athletic achievements, I don't think most realize exactly how amazing an athlete she was. Quite honestly, she was great at everything she attempted.

Professional golf came relatively late in life for Babe. After high school, she didn't attempt to play competitively again until she was 24, which makes her golfing achievements all the more impressive. However, seventeen consecutive amateur wins later, a feat still unequaled to this day, she was ready to turn pro. Over the following eight years, Babe went on to win 41 tournaments including ten majors despite playing the final three years of her career while being treated for cancer. Even more amazing was, in 1954, just one month after surgery for colon cancer, she won the US Women's Open - her final major victory. She was also the first woman to compete on the PGA tour, missing the cut in her first attempt. It would be the last cut she would miss.

But most of us are already aware of her golfing accomplishments. What about the rest? What are the other examples which make her such an amazing athlete? It starts with basketball. Her team won an AAU championship in 1931 and she was an All-American hoops player three times.

You may have also been aware she was an Olympic athlete and participated in the 1932 games. But did you know she actually qualified in five different events? However, due to the rules of the time, being a female she was only allowed to compete in three. And compete she did, taking home two gold medals (hurdles and javelin) and a silver (high-jump). Additionally, she set world records during the Olympics and qualifying tournaments in the 80m hurdles, javelin, high jump and baseball throw (which was an Olympic sport until 1957).

Babe was also a competitive player to a lesser degree in billiards, baseball, softball and bowling. She even won a sewing competition at the Texas State Fair! When not on a competitive playing field, she somehow also found the time to sing and play the harmonica. She did this well enough to record for Mercury Records. Is there anything this woman couldn't do?

So let's look at the tally. She's one of the greatest golfers of all-time. She was an Olympian who took home three medals and set five world records. A three time All-American basketball player. She also competed in baseball, softball, billiards and bowling among other sports. For what reason would she not seriously be considered as the greatest athlete of all-time?

Now, being ranked 10th on the list of greatest athletes of the 20th century does confirm she was at least considered to be listed at number one. But I have to admit, I have a hard time taking the SportsCentury list seriously considering three of the 100 athletes are not even human (they're horses). I have an even harder time with this list when I see one of the horses (and a jockey for that matter) is ranked 37 places higher than Bo Jackson, an all-star baseball player AND pro-bowl NFL player! Jackson, I might add, could also have been a track & field star, but gave it up to focus on baseball and football. But a guy who rides a horse while beating it with a whip is somehow a better athlete? You get my point.

#1 on the list is Michael Jordan who is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all-time. But does that make him the greatest athlete of the 20th century? Is being the best at one sport a greater feat than excelling at almost every sport you take on? Hard to say.

Considering all of the accomplishments and accolades acquired by Zaharias, I wonder the reason why she wouldn't be ranked higher on the list. I can only come up with one idea. Maybe you can help me out. If all of these achievements were accomplished by a male, would he be ranked higher?

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