5/28/2010

A Memorable Round...

I could never forget this one round of golf I played with a friend and his dad who served in Vietnam. Memorial Day is just around the corner and every year around this time I always reflect back on the stories he shared. For most veterans that served and saw action in any war, I'm pretty sure revisiting the past and relaying what they saw is or was rather difficult.We arrived at the course, paid our fees and headed out to the first tee. As we were making our way, I noticed my friend's dad staring at the starter's tattoo on his arm. Turns out the starter, who was about fifteen years older than my buddie's father, served in the same branch as he did. They were both 101st Airborne Army Rangers and had similar tat's.I knew my friend's father was...

5/26/2010

My Golf Soundtrack

I'm standing a few yards behind my teed-up golf ball on the first hole, trying to mimic that scene in The Legend of Bagger Vance - you know, the one where Bobby Jones is glaring down the fairway with deadly intensity? He clears his mind of everything except the task at hand; he visualizes the perfect golf shot. The film's soundtrack picks-up (for added effect, hit play below): A wind begins to wisp as soft piano keys entrance you with a gentle arpeggiation...he's in the field.Setting up in that way never works for me...it's that damn music; I can't get it out of my head. Written by talented British composer Rachel Portman, the score immerses me into dreamy thought. The music is intensified as Junuh sets himself to hit. The melody is more than...

5/24/2010

Lost On The Links

I'll be honest, I had every intention of mailing this one in. What I mean is, I (along with a good portion of the rest of the country) was watching the Lost finale last night. I wasn't thinking about golf, and I certainly wasn't thinking about blogging about it. I was much more interested in Jack vs. Locke and what goofy comment Hurley was going to make next. But it ended up being Hurley who motivated me to make an effort here.In watching the two hours of hype leading up to the actual episode, we were taken back to season 1. During that season, Hurley realizes they may be on the island for a while. So in a time when everyone else on the island is understandably freaking out, scared to death and confused..... Hurley is constructing a golf...

5/21/2010

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Course...

So, here we are on our way to hack through 18 holes when Brian* realizes he needs a new glove and a few extra golf balls. We make a quick detour and head to the local golf shop. As we pull in and look around the parking lot it seemed everybody else also needed to stop in. The place was jam packed. We all agreed that we're here already, let's just get in and out asap.Let me set this story up for you. We're all dressed in proper golf attire (even though we suck we could still look the part) and as Brian is doing his thing, I wander over to the practice mats where you can demo clubs. And then it happens...a shopper in the store asks me for help thinking I work there. I couldn't resist and neither could Dave* (the other golfer riding with us).I...

5/19/2010

Me, Swing Advice and a Nervous Breakdown

You can have a nervous breakdown reading all the advice on how to play better golf. "The Easy Way to Perfect Impact!" "Stop Slicing Now!!" "Never Miss a Shot!!!" These are actual headlines taken from the last three editions of Golf Magazine (April, May and June, 2010).In April, I'm thoroughly confused: There's photos of the pro at impact, with numbers at his shoulder, chest, grip and clubface - all corresponding to some horse race analogy where his shoulder is relabeled as "Pony #1." The objective is to have Pony #1 beat Pony numbers 2-4 (2=chest; 3=grip; 4=clubface) to the ball. This little imaginary trip to the Derby is expected to cure "The Problem" - which is explained as follows: "Your iron shots are weak. They don't fly very far, and...

5/17/2010

Want Every Golf Match to Matter? Play Fantasy Golf!

I'm sitting up late at night watching the Phillies vs. Brewers game. I'm a Mets fan so, outside of pulling for the Brewers, I don't have any real interest in this matchup. Well...that's not 100% true. I sure could use a couple of hits out of Raul Ibanez. Why? My fantasy league of course!Roughly fifteen years ago I was first introduced to fantasy sports. A friend and I jumped into a fantasy football league, sharing a team since neither of us new exactly what we were doing. Despite starting off hot with a record of 8-3, we made a bonehead trade and lost the rest of our games (not too mention our money) and missed the playoffs. You'd think it would have left a bad taste in my mouth, but instead, I was hooked. Be it fantasy football, baseball...

5/15/2010

Children's Miracle Network...A Hole In One!

Every so often an opportunity to help make a difference in a child's life arises. In this case it involved two of my favorite things; golf and eating! A few days ago, Costco Wholesale hosted their annual golf tournament benefitting the Children's Miracle Network. In case you are not familiar with CMN, here's a brief history:Children�s Miracle Network was founded with two simple goals in mind:1. Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children�s hospitals.2. Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake. Children�s Miracle Network�s most recognizable symbol and greatest fundraising tool is its...

5/12/2010

It's Raining Cats, Dogs and Golf Balls...

The good thing about springtime is golf season starts again. The bad thing is it tends to rain...a lot. It seems almost cruel that you've been waiting all winter for the snow to melt, the ground to thaw and the temps to warm just enough to begin the season and then BAM - a perfectly good golfing day is ruined by April (and many times May) showers.But as I was looking at my golf bag the other day, I noticed the rather large (60" spread) umbrella attached to it. It's not as if I've never noticed it before, I mean, I've been playing this game for over 20 years and my golf bag has ALWAYS featured a golf umbrella (actually, they keep getting larger and I'm already eyeing a 68" one for my next bag).The ironic thing is, I rarely use my golf umbrella...

5/09/2010

My Job Is Interfering With My Golf

It's that time of year again. We're in early May. The weather is getting consistently nicer. The temperature is rising. Leaves are on the trees and the grass is green. It's the beginning of golf season and I'm looking forward to spending more time out on the golf course. But there's one thing that's getting in my way....my job. As some of you may already know, I've been out of work for a pretty long time now. But, those days are long gone. By the time you read this, I'll be in the midst of my first day at the new job. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to get back into the swing of things. I'm looking forward to a fresh start. But the problem is....the timing. I'm starting this job right at the beginning of golf season! The timing couldn't be...

5/08/2010

Requirements For Being A Stinky Golfer

We here at Golfstinks.com love the game, so don't let the name fool you. At some point, I'm pretty sure every golfer out there has voiced their opinion that "golf stinks" - whether it be half-heartedly or, for the moment, on the whole. You see, this is the common factor that links 99% of the golfers out there; we're all alike in our not-so-great play. Do we quit and hang up the sticks? Hell no! We go out and buy more expensive ones.So, about this stinking at golf thing. Take a look at these next ten questions:1. Do you play or have you ever played some form of golf? (Driving ranges count, mini or putt-putt golf does not, and don't tell me you are working on your putting. When the hell did a green ever have a clown's mouth or windmill)?2....

5/06/2010

A Thank You to The One-Eyed Golfer

"It is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place this world is when one is playing golf" - Robert LyndNormally when someone you never had the chance to meet, never had the chance to speak with and never had the chance to get to know, passes away, it doesn't much matter to you. You kind of just go on with your day. Vince Spence, apparently, was the exception to the norm. We here at golfstinks never had the chance to get to know Vince the way many of our fellow bloggers did. But nevertheless, we'll miss him just the same. Vince, even though he likely never knew it, held a special place in the hearts of the guys here at golfstinks. Last summer, when we first started up From The Rough, Vince was the first person ever to comment on one of...

5/05/2010

Remember When You Were A Golf Newbie?

There comes a point in your golfing life when you forget what it's like to be a "newbie" at this game. Last week I received a text from a buddy whom I've never known to play golf. He had just come from the driving range and was asking me a few questions (I should have known right then and there he wasn't sure what he was doing).Anyway, he's texting me about this terrible slice he has and proceeds to explain he hit 3 large buckets of balls but was unable to correct the problem. Suddenly I could care less about his slice. This guy - who hasn't swung a club in who knows how long - just hit three large buckets of balls! If I hit three large buckets of range balls in one sitting, my spine would fall out.Look, there's only two types of people who...

5/03/2010

First Time On The Golf Course

A few months ago, late last golf season, I wrote about teaching the game to my oldest son. He purchased his own clubs with his birthday money and we hit the range a few times to get some work in before he hit an actual course. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough time left in last year's golf season to ever make it out. So we hit the range a few more times, went to the indoor facility, and worked on our swings over the winter in anticipation of getting out on a course next season. Well, a few days ago, the time finally came. However, I wondered where and when I was going to take him. Knowing his skill level, it didn't seem like a great idea to take him out on a weekend morning where we were going to slow down everyone around us. Also, taking...

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