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 hack but, what about the relationship? This is also a complex situation. Golf is the underdog hopeless romantic that succeeds just like in those sappy romantic comedies. The good eventually outweighs the bad.

Ironically, there is more bad than good for the 50 million average golfers. Out of the 100 + strokes we take every round maybe 20-25% are close to what we wanted (this being good). The other 75-80% land where they land and we recover and bitch about it (the bad).

Where is the love? Well, you know...the one shot that will keep you coming back. And that shot is like cupid's arrow finding your rear. What we have here is a biased scale. Even though the bad out-numbers the good, it doesn't matter because the one good shot carries so much weight that we forget about the rest of the round. Insane, isn't it?

Albert Einstein must have been on to something.

Hit'em long...yell E=MC²!

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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, I know the pros don't wear shorts) and polo's since the last time I walked into Golfsmith! Now I understand that a golf outfit, for many, is no different than their everyday wears. But I still found it to be almost comical. I swear I even heard the clicking of spikes a few times!

I began to try and equate it to other sports. I thought of the last time I went to a baseball game. I don't recall anyone dressed in full baseball garb. Of course you see team jerseys spread throughout the crowd, but that's about as close as it comes. I also stopped to remember the last basketball game I attended. Same thing...a few jerseys sprinkled throughout the crowd, but nothing more. But at a golf tournament, any one of these guys could have walked down the fairway, and no one would have known the difference! But thinking even further, I begin to recall my trip to the CT Golf Expo where I witnessed the same thing!

But anyway, what I also found to be quite interesting was the difference in the dress of these golf fans. Looking at the older crowd, I noticed more of the classic golf look - plain, khaki shorts and classic, or old-school, polo shirts. But looking at the younger guys, I see more of a casual style - cargo or plaid shorts with an untucked polo. Of course, there's always that group of the younger guys who look like mannequins that just stepped out of some combination of GQ Magazine and a pro shop. Those guys kill me. They look like they couldn't possibly be more uncomfortable...and they're just watching!

So what is it about golfers? Why do golfers dress the part when they're just there to watch other golfers? Worse yet, why do golfers do this when they are just wandering through countless demos and product booths? Are they just trying to show everyone that they are golfers? Is that like doctors wearing their white coats to to a conference about the latest advances in brain tumor treatments? Or carpenters dressing like they're on the job each time they walk into Home Depot?

I don't know, maybe these things do happen and I've just never paid attention before. But, I guess as long as people are playing the game and paying some attention to it, then what does it matter how they're dressed?

Swing 'til you're happy!

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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 for young people. Unfortunately, this time it was. Luckily, living in the Northeast I had access to one of the best surgeons in the country (possibly world) who specializes in cardiac surgery and more specifically - mitral valve repair (if you need his name email me, pete@golfstinks.com, and I will gladly tell you.)

About a month ago I went under the knife and had the problem corrected. Glad to say all is well so far. Here's the downside...friggin' recovery and healing is really messing up my golf schedule this season. So much that I probably won't be able to swing a club until September...maybe. That's right, it takes about 3+ months to recover from that surgery. Son of a...

The point is if I never took care of this problem, eventually life's pleasures - such as golf - would probably not be in the picture. So, I have been put on the disabled list for this season...but that's ok because there will be many more to come.

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!! Take care of yourselves.

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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 to say, I never would have thought of bringing my iPad to the course with me before this case. But the construction is so good, I wasn't apprehensive at all about it falling off my golf bag. It's definitely a cool and functional case to tote around your iPad in - be it at the gym, on a road trip or on the golf course.

But beyond the product itself, the case's inventor has a great story. This guy was young and career-oriented when he got the idea for a case that would allow you to take your iPad to the gym and workout with it. He quit his job in New York City, designed a prototype and then raised ten grand to mass produce them. Even better, he's a golfer and wanted the ability to bring his iPad with him to the golf course! Check out his video below...


You gotta admire his entrepreneurial attitude! And being the good-guy that he is, Saad is giving us another MyPadLife to giveaway for free to one lucky Golfstinks fan! Just make sure you've "liked" our Facebook page and stay tuned there for details!

If you're a follower of the Golf Stinks blog, you know we don't review products all that often, but when we do, it's because it's something we can stand behind. If you own an iPad, you should own this case.

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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 conclusions. And I would like to report, while not life changing, I have seen a positive effect.

In my everyday life, I'll be honest...I just don't see a difference in anything. I can't say that I feel or see a difference in my body and I'm not quite sure that I feel a difference in my energy level either. However, one thing I have noticed is that I feel I need less sleep. I don't know if the bracelet has something to do with this or not, but it is a difference either way. There was a time when I felt that if I didn't get at least X hours of sleep each night that I would not be able to function at a high level the next day. That feeling has been greatly diminished.

But what about the actual reason I bought the bracelet? What has it done for my golf game? Has it made me a scratch golfer? Has it dramatically lowered my handicap? Has it made me better at all? Quite simply, the answer is no. But, that doesn't mean it has done nothing.

When I had purchased the bracelet to begin with, I was not purchasing it for any mystical healing powers. I didn't purchase it to give me Tony Little-like energy levels. No, what got me excited was the supposed benefits to my balance. After all, balance is key for a golfer. So for only $20 I thought, why not give it a shot? So how has it worked out so far? Well, after a small sampling (36 holes), I admit, I am pleasantly surprised.

While my scores so far this year do not reflect it, I feel there is definitely some improvement in my balance. Through two 9-hole rounds and one 18, I have noticed that I have yet to take one off-balance swing this year. Is that a coincidence? I'm sorry, but I don't think so. I didn't practice any more than usual during the off-season. As a matter of fact, I practiced less. So why the sudden better balance on my swing? I have no other explanation.

So with the balance improvement being noticable, I am hoping that it will possibly lead to improvements in other areas of my game. But all of that remains to be seen.

Now, to speak to the nay-sayers who are quick to write this off as the "placebo effect," I ask how many of you have actually given it a chance? I would venture to say that, despite what you would lead us to believe, most of you have either never tried one or had written it off before you ever did. Is it a placebo effect, or is there actually a benefit? Well, in response to the people who swear by the placebo theory (which, I admit, may be the case), I ask, whether it's a placebo effect or reality, doesn't that mean the product is working anyway?

Swing 'til you're happy!

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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 the two. Golf, as if it isn't obvious enough, is neither. Hence golf's declining audience and participation. So when the likes of a high school junior are able to hang with the pros for a round or two, in a major no less, I can understand how non- or casual golf fans can be turned off by this.

Look at some of those other fast and physical sports. Take football for instance. I would like someone to point out one single 16-year old who could hang on the gridiron for even a few plays with some NFL pros. Imagine handing a football to some pizza-faced kid and having him run up the middle against the Baltimore Ravens D? His career would be over after a play or two.

Basketball? OK, before you go ahead and mention the names, Kobe, Garnett, LeBron and Moses Malone (some of the players who successfully made the jump from high school to the pros), keep in mind for every Kobe, there are three Korleone Young's, Leon Smith's and DeAngelo Collins' (among the unsuccessful jumpers). Further, these players were all at least 18 and playing a sport far less physical than football. Further, one can even make the argument that high school players and college underclassmen making the jump to the NBA have been a detriment to the game.

Even in baseball, only 28 players in the history of MLB have made the jump directly from high-school to the pros. And of those, only a handful can be considered to have had successful careers. Quite simply, even though the sport is not overly physical, the strength and speed of players in the majors simply cannot be matched by 18-year old kids. But in golf, 16-year olds can compete with the pros? And in the case of Matteo Manassero, a 17-year old can make the cut?!

While I, myself, have no real issue with it (and as mentioned, I'm pulling for the kid to do well) I do believe it is a turn-off to fans of the faster, more physical sports that many of us love. After all, this is America. There's a reason we love football, not futbol. Watching a teenager hang with the big boys, ala Pele, makes the sport seem less challenging and require less experience and less physical ability and prowess. While us golfers may understand that is not necessarily the case, you would have to admit that you can understand where the critics are coming from.

For a sport that is losing spectators and players every year, the last thing they should want is to turn-off any potential fans. Obviously, it's not the kids fault - he's just a damn good player. But if the PGA found the way to promote this properly, such as to use his age as motivation for the next generation of golfers, they could have a potential game-changer on their hands.

Swing 'til you're happy!

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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 Bliss
My 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 GPS
Some 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: You don't need your GPS device on the tee-box of a par 5. And if your standing next to the 150-yard marker, you don't need to check if the course's measurements are accurate. If you're truly unsure what your distance is on your approach, by all means break-out the GPS. But using it just for the fun of it on every shot is no fun for the rest of your group (or the group behind you for that matter).

When I wrote that, I whole-heartedly believed every word. The only problem? I don't and never have owned a GPS device. It was quickly pointed out to me that you can and should use your GPS on the tee of a par 5 since it can tell you how long you have to a hazard or bend in the fairway. I was also reminded of the fact that some courses' (especially muni's) yardage tends to be off - in which case using your GPS would come in handy.

In this case, I probably shouldn't have written about something that I never actually used myself - and as a result, I was called-out on it. But, on the other hand, I believe it still belongs on my list (albeit rephrased) - people can and do over-use GPS devices and that contributes to slow play.

Time to Eat Some Crow
Last September, I penned a post entitled "Indoor Putting; Who Gives a Sh*t?" where I went on a rather lengthy diatribe about the uselessness of putting indoors - especially how there are no breaks in your floor. I also harangued a few different indoor putting gadgets - one in particular called the Puttacup that I criticized for not being able to fit a regulation-sized hole on the device.

In an interesting coincidence (which later turned into pure irony), my brother-in-law sent me a 9-foot indoor putting mat for Christmas. Not wanting my wife to question why I wasn't using her brother's thoughtful gift, I set it up in my living room and began putting away. Guess what - my freaking putting has actually improved this year! Seriously, I'm dropping more putts from within 9-feet than I ever have.

To add insult to injury, the hole on the mat was cut a quarter-inch smaller to promote better accuracy - just like on the Puttacup. I'll be damned! Practicing putts indoors has definitely improved the consistency of my putting stroke and that has translated to more putts dropping out on the course. One crow, devoured.

We realize we here at the Golf Stinks blog are pretty opinionated. While we always try to back our statements up with facts, sometimes we say things that end up being just plain wrong. Please do not hesitate to call-us-out on something you feel we have said in error. Leave a comment, or email us at info@golfstinks.com - as you can see from this post, we'll (eventually) get around to correcting ourselves.

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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 in any weather condition. There can be a hurricane blowing through and they'll still be out there. But I'm not one of those guys, and I can't understand the rationale behind it.

The funny thing is, I'll go outside and play basketball in a light rain. I'll throw the baseball around with the boys even if it's drizzling a bit. As a matter of fact, I've even come to the point of argument to keep one of my softball games going in the rain! But when it comes to golf, forget it. I don't want to play in any type of rain. I even start getting leery if there's a chance of rain that day!

So what's my problem? Why will I play basketball, baseball and softball in the rain...but not golf? The only reason I can come up with is...money.

See, all of those other sports cost me nothing to play. But golf? I have to drop a few hard-earned bucks every time I want to hit the links. So if I'm going to spend my money to play this game, then why wouldn't I do it under optimal conditions if I have the choice?

Not too mention, the rain simply takes the fun out of the game. Trying to stay dry, dealing with an umbrella, wet hands and deteriorating course conditions all sound like a waste of money to me. It would probably be a different story if I was playing for free or being paid to play like a PGA Tour pro...but I'm not. As a matter of fact, it's exactly the opposite - I'm paying them! I feel like I'm wasting the money that I could just spend another time, and I just can't get past that feeling.

So as we get closer to our next day out on the course, I'll keep a close eye on the weather and hope for the best. But as Stinky Golfer Greg already knows...I can't make any promises.

Swing 'til you're happy...and stay dry doing it!

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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 contraire. Turns out fantasy golf is a whole lot harder than it looks.

First of all, you can't just pick the same players every week, because in my league (Yahoo!) you can only use a player 9 times. So now I have to mix and match. The only problem with that is I have no idea who many of these players are! Stinky Golfer Chris has posted about this issue and he's right - if the media wasn't so hung up on Tiger, I may be a better fantasy golfer!

Anyway, not knowing many of the tour players, I've relied on the "expert" picks. And when you start reading-up on fantasy golf from the experts, you realize these guys are choosing players each week for a multitude of reasons. For example, they won't start a player who is hot because he historically doesn't play well at a particular course. Or even in particular weather!

Now I'm sunk. Not only do I not know many PGA Tour players, but I don't really follow the PGA Tour to begin with! How am I supposed to know how a particular player has done at a specific course? That's just too much research for me.

Oh and I'm having a hard time remembering to change-out my players too. In the NFL, players tend to play every week (unless they're injured or on bye). So if you forget to change your lineup, chances are your team will still be intact enough to give you a shot at winning anyway. But not in golf. Not every player plays every stop on tour, so if you forget to check, you can (like me this week) have no golfers from the previous week playing in the tournament this week! That translates to a big fat goose egg for my weekly score.

But there's more. In football, there's only one game a week. In golf, the tournament lasts four days. So there's an opportunity to switch starters with bench players after the first, second and third rounds. The problem is, I can never remember to do it! I'd set my lineup on Wednesday and check how I did on Monday...only to learn two of my four starters missed the cut on Friday! That led me to set a reminder on my phone for Friday night at 10 PM to make sure my starters actually make the cut for the weekend!

It doesn't matter - I have no business playing fantasy golf. Of the five that started-out in our league, only three have kept it up (myself included). And of those three, I'm last. It's pathetic. I play golf, I write about golf, I love golf. But I suck at fantasy golf. But, I signed up and I will compete till the end of the season.

Speaking of that, the summer session is about to begin - another 13 weeks of me stinking-up the fantasy golf links. Joy.

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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 personally believe discount sites like yours are the kiss of death for businesses, especially for golf as a business already experiencing many challenges. Training consumers that paying retail prices is unnecessary is going to crush most businesses and eventually will cause a complete degradation of service as companies struggle to deliver a discounted product. While consumers must like the deep discounts, they will ultimately lose as the quality of their golf experiences is worsened."

The previous response was followed by another:

"Could not have said it better myself. For those of you considering using these sorts of services, please be aware that listing your product at cut rates to get traffic is not "advertising" (something many discount providers will try to convince you it is). This is training your consumers that your services are not worthwhile and rewarding them for the least desired behavior. I know of two golf courses who have run promotions and both have been unhappy with the resulting discounted consumer they attracted. They are not getting these discounted consumers back at the full rate and are finding themselves fielding frustrated phone calls from consumers that had the integrity to pay full rate at their facility and are now being punished for it."

And another...

"It is important not to allow these types of programs to exist that basically whore ones services and products to new lows. The golf industry does not need this."

But that was followed by someone taking the deal site's side:

"I see a guy just trying to make a buck in a tough economy."

And finally, by another golf deal site trying to explain to the group that not all deal sites are bad for business:

"We tried this many times and also found it only attracts the client who is looking for a deal and not one really interested in good value. As soon as the deal ends, the client moves on. In the meantime, the regular clients get annoyed that they are being penalized for paying normal prices. A better strategy I have found is to work on client retention and offer deals to existing clients who bring or introduce their friends. This benefits and rewards everyone as well as expanding the client base and winning new business by word of mouth and referrals. This year we are up around 40% and it is all through word-of-month and referrals from existing clients."

Typically, all these emails would be rather annoying in general, but I think there is a good discussion point here: With the economy still struggling, these deal sites have a strong following. But is the practice hurting the traditional golf businesses that are also trying to survive in tough economic times? And furthermore, if deal sites are here for the long-term, will we see a negative net effect within the conventional retail golf industry?

Weigh-in by taking the poll below:

Are Deal Sites Killing Golf Businesses?

*It should be noted that Golfstinks, LLC became privy to this exchange by being one of the more than 100 recipients on the email. It should also be noted that Golfstinks, LLC did not opt-in to this company's mailing list, nor had Golfstinks, LLC even heard of said company before receiving the email in question.

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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 range; That's when I noticed something strange - I'm smiling and having a good time while they look miserable and pissed-off. But you know what, I understand that. I understand how they feel. I'm just going to come out and say it right now...practicing golf sucks.

You can argue with me, but let's be honest with ourselves. For most golfers, it's just not fun. As a matter of fact, it's almost like work, if not worse. Why is that? I mean, I can have a good time at the range (either indoor or outdoor), so why does everyone else at the range look so miserable? The only thing I can think of is that these guys take it too serious.

I can see these guys getting angry with themselves on poor shots...and that makes me laugh. Why? Well, it's simple really. If you aren't that great to begin with, then how can you get so angry at yourself when you hit a poor shot...especially at the range? Out on the course, you hit them pretty often. You're not a PGA pro, so what's the issue? I understand I'm not Albert Pujols, so I don't flip out when I swing and miss in the cage or hit a weak ground-out in softball. Same with golf - why would I get so angry about screwing up at the range when I stink out on the course? For the record, I don't get angry on the course either.

And that, as we have said many times here at Golfstinks, is the problem with so many golfers. They take the game way too serious. Serious to the point where they're taking all of the fun out of it. Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't all try to get better. Rather I'm saying we should all remember that it is just a game. You should have fun playing it.

Swing 'til you're happy!

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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 is different - the scenery, the layout, all of it.

And in reality, it was all different. But then you play a another course and another and before you know it, they all start to look similar. Well, after playing at all these different places, I developed a problem:

If a person mentioned a particular course to me, I would quickly tell them, "Oh, I've played there and it was decent." When they'd follow-up with, "What did you like about it?" I would hesitate. I couldn't, for the life of me, remember any details of said course! I would try to remember - I'd think of a particular par 3 with a pond and 30 par 3's with ponds rushed into my mind.

So what did I do? Were all those courses I experienced - that I spent my hard-earned money on - lost somewhere in that vast (and mostly empty) noggin of mine? I prayed not. The solution? I began writing reviews for each course - complete with my own rating system - which seemed to jog the old memory!

Much of that system is still intact and can be found on golfstinks.com - except now I've gotten your input too. If you took the survey (see the results HERE), you had a say in how the rating system should work. I know there are more of you out there - golfers that love playing at different courses. Well, you'll never have to forget the details again - just rate and post a review for any of the thousands of courses in our database.

But, shameless plug aside, I think I've come full-circle. When I first started golfing, every course I played was unique. Then, eventually, one track bled into another. And now, I've learned to take notice, appreciate and file-away the idiosyncrasies of each place I visit.

I once penned an entire post on why golf is unique compared to the other sports - and one of the biggest reasons is no two courses are exactly alike. Think about that for a second. Football fields (both American and European) conform to exact specifications; baseball diamonds and hockey rinks do too. But not golf - every single course is unique to itself.

Of course, I knew this all along. But it sure is fun remembering it all over again! So don't just play golf...experience it. Travel, discover and enjoy - even if it's just to the course in the next county over.

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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 Caddies

I'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 golf (at least at some point in my lifetime).

I now join the ranks of countless other golfers whose dreams are to play where Old Tom Morris chased around a ball stuffed with goose feathers. I dream of this not because I long to see the Scottish countryside, but because in Scotland, it seems, golf is still played the way it was intended to be played two-hundred years ago.

The film (which is just over an hour) follows the director's (Ron Colby) journey across Scotland as he visits some of the country's best-know links. But the focus is not on his golf game, but rather the caddies he encounters.

It seems caddies are a breed all their own - from their interesting origins to the present day loopers - all there to help you get the most out of your round. Listening to these guys talk about what it means to caddy - especially in Scotland - can inspire any golfer to start surfing Priceline.com for airfare and accommodations.

They've carried bags for presidents, celebrities and tour pros - and they have great stories to boot. They've also carried for hacks and average golfers of all nationalities - and can tell you who will tip the best based on the country they are from!

Scotland's Caddies is a fascinating window into an otherwise unappreciated occupation. The film not only touches on the history of caddies, but provides their modern-day counterparts with a voice (albeit one with a heavy Scottish accent) to tell their story. This film is well-worth the hour on the couch.

As a special bonus, the good folks over at Scotland's Caddies have shipped us a free copy of the DVD to giveaway to one lucky Golf Stinks reader! We'll be choosing a winner at random from our Facebook page one week from today. So make sure you like our page and good luck!

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