Ahh Jeez, For The Love Of...Golf?

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results (he must have been a golfer). Psychology tells us that a relationship normally consists of good and sometimes bad emotions. So, what do the two have to do with each other? Simple, go golfing and you will see.There's nothing quite like getting to your favorite track and feeling confident that today you will get the best of this course. You then proceed to tee up your first drive and smash it in the lumber yard."Ahh Jeez, for the love of (insert favorite religious icon)! Why do I always shank this *bleep*ing drive?" Please see Albert Einstein's definition above. Any questions?So, we've learned that insanity is involved in being a weekend...

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Golfers Dressing the Part

This weekend, the PGA Tour passed through Connecticut with a stop at TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Through a connection at my job (not my wife's for a change!) I was able to grab a couple of passes. So I took one of my boys and gave him his first taste of professional golf. We spent a few hours wandering the course on Sunday, stopped at some greens, sat at a few tees and watched from the fairway sidelines. But all along, I couldn't help but notice something other than the golfers and their shots. I noticed, and found it strange, that it seemed like so many of the people there to watch the tournament looked like they were about to step out on the course at any second! I mean, I don't think I've seen so many shorts (yes,...

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What If I Could Never Golf Again?

I posted something similar back in February (Check it out here) and this is the follow-up. You see, originally I went to the doc's office for a sinus infection and wouldn't you know it, I leave there finding out I had a heart murmur.At first I was told not to worry. "A lot of people have heart murmurs and they live full productive lives with no problems" says the MD. Which is true but after a couple ultra sounds of the heart, this little heart murmur turns out to be a significant problem with the mitral valve and needs repair - open heart surgery.There were tons of questions going through my mind. WTF...I couldn't believe it! There's only 35,000 miles on this motor and it needs a valve job and tune up? This can't be right, heart surgery isn't...

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iPad Case Helps Improve Your Golf Game

Back in January of 2010, I posted about how devices like the iPhone and iPad can help you improve your game while you're actually out on a golf course (unlike during other sports, like softball or basketball).Well, a new iPad case helps you do just that...but even better. The MyPadLife is extremely durable, protects your iPad and is designed to accompany you on the go. The case actually has adjustable nylon straps that are meant to secure your iPad to a treadmill, the back of a car's headrest, or even a golf cart! Even better, the MyPadLife includes a strap to hang your iPad from nearly anywhere. I tested-out the MyPadLife this past weekend at the driving range in conjunction with the Golf Genie Pocket Guide App (see photo at top) - I have...

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Golf Gimmick Update

It was roughly three months ago that I purchased, and blogged about, my first golf gimmick - an EFX Performance hologram wristband. At the time, I referred to it as a golf gimmick, but after purchasing mine, I began noticing athletes from many different sports wearing similar, if not the exact same, products. So noticing professional athletes such as NBA star Deron Williams and NY Met Carlos Beltran sporting the same product, I thought maybe I was onto something.However, in the golf blogosphere, I noticed many mixed reviews - some people swore by them, while others were adamant about their "placebo effect." Well, I've been wearing the bracelet on a regular basis since purchase and in three months since, I think I'm able to draw some of my own...

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Is A Teenage Competitor Good For Golf?

So by now, most golf fans probably know who Beau Hossler is. If not, he's the 16-year old playing in the U.S. Open who, after the first round, currently stands at 5-over. Not bad for a 16-year old. Actually, not bad for anyone! I'm not ashamed to say that I've approached that number on 9-holes. So for me, a 76? Unfathomable.Needless to say I find myself, like many other fans of the sport, rooting for this kid to do well. But as I do root for him, I also find myself wondering if that's a good idea. It's strange, but as much as I would like to see him do well, part of me thinks this is not good for the sport as a whole. Let me explain myself.We as Americans, in general, are smitten with sports that are either fast, physical or a combination of...

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Admitting When You're Wrong

They say it takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. Well, I'm about to admit it twice, so I wonder if that makes me a giant? Hardly. But I'm the type of guy who has to get things off his chest. That being said, the following two instances are ones I will readily admit...I was wrong.Ignorance is BlissMy first dose humble pie stems from a mere two months ago. The post was entitled "10 Golf Etiquette Rules Most Jackasses Ignore" and number 4 on that list was the following:Excessive Use of Your GPSSome people question if high-handicappers should own a GPS in the first place, but I'm not one of them - Even golfers who are trying to break 100 are going to benefit from knowing the exact yardage to the pin. But there comes a time when enough is enough:...

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I'm Swingin' In The Rain!

OK, so it doesn't quite have the same ring to it as "Singin' in the rain," but you get the picture. But as I look at the title now, I think to myself...nothing could be further from the truth. I've mentioned before that I have certain weather conditions in which I will not play golf. One is when the temperature drops below 50 degrees. Also, when the temperature rises above 90 degrees, I'll skip the round. Although I will consider playing in the excessive heat as long as I'm riding. But as Stinky Golfer Greg and I are making plans for our next round, I look at the weather forecast and see there's a 60% chance of showers. But in my book, that's equivalent to a 60% chance that I'm not playing.I understand there are plenty of golfers who will play...

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Why I Suck at Fantasy Golf

I've played fantasy football since 1998 and I'm not too bad at it. I usually make the playoffs and the year our prize money was at its largest, I won the entire league. Needless to say, my overall winnings outweigh my overall entrance fees.So when a golf buddy asked me to join his fantasy golf league this year, I figured why not? Anyway, there were a few advantages to his league - First; there were only 5 people in it (better odds for me to win). Second; I knew two or three of the people had never played fantasy golf before (same boat as me). And third; it was free - so what did I have to lose?Despite never playing fantasy golf before, I figured how hard can it be? You just pick the top-ranked players every week and hope the odds pan-out. Au...

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POLL: Are Deal Sites Killing Golf Businesses?

As websites like Groupon and Living Social become more and more in vogue, these so-called "deal" sites (where visitors are presented with daily deals and coupons for products and services in their local area) are starting to make money... and lots of it.And, it didn't take long for entrepreneurial-types to bring the deals to the golf industry. In fact, just two months ago, we here at the Golf Stinks blog told you about one such website that we rather liked.But a recent email exchange* between a new golf deal site (that shall remain nameless) and a few folks on this company's spamming mailing list became rather heated. The email, which was announcing the launch of the new golf deal site, elicited the following response from one recipient:"I...

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Why Is Everyone at the Driving Range Miserable?

We're in the midst of little league baseball season for my boys. And while one is excelling all-around, the other is struggling a bit with the bat. So yesterday afternoon, we took a trip to the batting cages. We worked on some things and, next thing you know, he's getting around on the ball and even putting a bit of a charge into a few. It was good work, and I'm hoping it carries over into his next game. But one of the most fun things about going to the cages was getting in them myself. I don't care how old you are, it's always fun to get into the cage and see if you can still get around on some of those pitches in the fastball bay. It wasn't until I stepped out of the batting cage and looked over at the guys out on the accompanying golf driving...

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Are all Golf Courses Basically the Same?

To all you non-golfers; It may appear on TV that all golf courses are the same. And, believe it or not, I once thought that too...at least for a period of time. As some of you may know, I've played many, many different golf courses in my 20+ years on the links (including my quest to play all the public 18-holers in my state). But after you play so many, they tend to mesh together in your mind like a hodgepodge of flag sticks, sand traps, ponds and grass.When you're new to the game of golf, typically you frequent one course that you feel comfortable on. And that level of comfort pretty much keeps you loyal until the day a golfing buddy invites you to play somewhere else. Going to that "new" course can be exciting and it will seem like everything...

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Film Review: Scotland's Caddies

"It must be a great feeling when you've set your heart on coming to play golf in Scotland on one of these fantastic courses. You get on the first tee, you hit your drive, you hand that driver to your caddy and he's off with your bag and you're just walking up the fairway." - From the documentary, Scotland's CaddiesI've never been one to fantasize about playing golf in the birthplace of the game. No matter how many times I would read about the hollowed grounds of St. Andrews or the majesty of a links course carved out of a rugged coastline in the North Sea, I never really had the urge to play in Scotland.Until, that is, I watched Scotland's Caddies. This documentary (produced in 2010) has literally inspired me to plan a trip to the cradle of...

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