A Perception of Golf by Age Groups

Occasionally, while I'm driving to and from work or out on my lunch break, I listen to sports talk radio.  And it was just this past Friday when I tuned in mid-day for a couple of minutes and caught an interesting golf conversation.

I'm tuned into The Fan (WFAN - New York) listening to their mid-day show.  This particular show is hosted by kind of an odd pair due to their age.  While one guy, Evan Roberts, is in his late-20's, his co-host, Joe Beningo, is in his late 50's.  As you could imagine, the age difference makes for good conversation on multiple sports topics and all-around good sports radio. 

But on Friday I tuned in just in time to catch part of a conversation about golf and golf tournaments.  I missed the beginning, but I got the general idea - the way a younger guy looks at golf vs. the way an older guy does.

A caller was trying to talk up how much fun it is to go to a golf tournament, but Evan just wasn't really down with it.  Joe on the other hand was in agreement with the caller, trying to express how incredible some of the shots and putts the pros make truly are.  But what it came down to were the two overall opinions.  Evan's was that he will probably take up golf later in life.  But for the time being, while he's still got his legs, he's going to participate in more active sports.  Joe on the other hand, wishes he took up golf earlier in life.  This conversation got me wondering how many golfers and non-golfers perceive the sport this way.  Using myself as an example, I can see where both guys are coming from.      
          
I spent most of my early life living practically right around the corner from a golf course, but never had any interest in playing the sport.  I was younger, and interested in the more active sports.  I wanted to play basketball, football and softball.  Not golf.  So for that reason, I understand where Evan is coming from.  As you get older, the active sports are going to be gone and you'll be relegated to either watching them on TV or watching your kids play.  So get the time in when you can.  Soon, golf will be your only option.

But on the other hand, I certainly see Joe's view.  Once I began playing relatively regularly, I too had wished I had taken up the game sooner than I did.  I didn't realize until I began playing, just because it's not an "active" sport doesn't mean it's not fun.  The key is to play the game as you would a pickup basketball game, or a softball game - don't take it too serious.  Just have fun with your buddies, relax and play a game.  I wonder now what took me so long to take it up, and I'm glad my friends introduced it to me when they did.

So is it the Evan-type perception that is keeping the younger generation from taking the sport up as much as in the past?  I can see how it would be.  Watch it on TV and it looks relatively boring.  But it's a different story out on the course.  It can be competitive if you want it to be.  Or, like my golfing buddies and I, it can just be a relaxing day out with your buddies.  Either way, it's a sport that deserves a chance from everyone, young or old.  And bearing in mind the opinions of the two hosts, there's going to come a point in time when golf will be your only realistic sports option.  So the sooner you take it up, the better you're likely to be and the more appreciation you'll have for it in the future.

So Evan (and those with his thought process), if this reaches you somehow, let Joe take you on the course once or twice.  Give it a round or two now and you'll appreciate it more later.  And hey, if you don't like it, at least you gave it a chance.  But trust me, ten years from now (maybe less) you'll be looking for a sport you can participate in without having an oxygen tank in tow.

Swing 'til you're happy!   

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Golf Course Country Club...Crashing?

I'm pretty sure most of us have seen the movie "Wedding Crashers". If not, I recommend watching it. In short, it's a film about two bachelors (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) that crash weddings in search of free food, drinks and to pick up women. Call them want you want: Freeloaders, scumbags, whatever. I'm also pretty sure that the thought of doing this at least once has bounced around in our heads. Maybe as a to-do on the ol' bucket list?

A buddy of mine (ABOM), in perhaps his not so proudest of moments, informed me of a "Wedding Crashers" variation he has participated in - crashing golf tournaments. The best part is he doesn't even play golf. Naturally, my first question was "If you don't play golf, WTF are you doing at a golf tourney?" ABOM then enlightened me on his motive. He said he shows up at the end for the dinner and open bar. Intrigued I was.

"Go on...I'm listening" I replied. ABOM proceeded to fill in the details; He said the most important thing was to look the part. The golf logo hat, shirt and golf shoes he borrowed from his brother that were a size too small. He even went as far as to button the top button on his polo shirt. I was impressed by his attention to detail. I'm not sure if they do that anymore, but for someone who doesn't golf, he really did his research. ABOM's theory was to look as authentic as possible and not raise suspicion.

The story gets better. This particular tournament (which, he crashed with a co-conspirator) was, as he put it, "a perfect set-up." Meaning there was a buffet-style dinner and open bar. There were no seating arrangements or anything like that. As a matter of fact, ABOM sat at the bar and freeloaded like a bandit. "This can't get any better" he thought. Until he saw his boss, who just happened to be one of the organizers of the event.

"Crap!" he thought. Well, it was more of a slow-mo "Ohhhhhh shhhhhiiiittttt!" "I gotta get the f$#@ out of here!" As he frantically planned his escape, the thought of his boss exposing him made it even worse. All he could think about was how much of an asshole he was going to look like (not to mention the possibility of losing his job). Luckily, ABOM's accomplice was able to run interference allowing the exit strategy to be executed flawlessly. My final question to him; "Would you do it again?" His reply "Why not..."

*ABOM did make it a point to mention to me that he would only crash tournaments that do not benefit any charities. It's good to know there is honor amongst scumbags. And no, ABOM is not really me.

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

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More Crazy PGA Playoff Ideas

I'm sitting here watching the NFL Playoffs and I catch a commercial or two for a golf tournament. A golf tournament? Are you kidding? They say this is the first tournament of 2012. Well, I guess it is. It's just earlier than I expected. For cryin' out loud, the last tournament of 2011 just wrapped up a month ago! But now, along comes the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Someone help me because I don't know - Has golf always been a year round sport on the professional level? Wouldn't that cause fans to become a bit "golfed out?" I know it would for me. I mean, the off-season is one month long? Sorry, but that's just not long enough. As much as I love football, I need the off-season. It gives me the break I need so I don't get tired of a sport I love. If it was going on for eleven out of the twelve months of the year, I'd probably be bored of it.

Am I wrong, or would golf benefit from a shorter season? Do people get golfed out? I really don't follow the tour, and that's one of the reasons why. The season's just too long. And I would have to imagine many of these tournaments are somewhat "inconsequential." And if a tournament doesn't really matter, then that diminishes the interest.

I think the PGA Tour as a whole could benefit from a shorter, more focused season. If there was some type of a playoff system, then I'm sure every individual tournament could mean much more to both the fans, as well as the players themselves.

Further, if the season were to be shorter and a playoff system instituted, then due to the importance of each tournament, players would be less apt to skip any, thus creating a better chance at a star-studded field every weekend. Could you imagine Tom Brady just sitting out two or three games because they don't matter? Yeah, I know that some NFL teams will sit a couple of players during the last week of the season, but that's 1 game in 16.

Let's look at the PGA Tour numbers. Last year there were 50 tour stops. 50! Now, there were four weekends on which two tournaments were played. So, since you can't be in two places at once, that leaves 46 potential tournaments to play. Now, of the 445 players who played in a PGA Tournament last year, only 26 of them played in 30 or more tournaments, with the most being 35. So, even the player who played most often still skipped 11 tournaments! Doesn't that just get on your nerves - that players pick and choose when they want to play? That's like Aaron Rodgers sitting himself for four games, or Kobe Bryant sitting himself for twenty. What if Albert Pujols didn't play in over 40 games because they just weren't important enough? Are you serious?! It's ridiculous, but it happens week in and week out during the PGA season.

How about if that was eliminated? How could it be you ask? Make every tournament matter. Trim the fat and streamline the schedule. Make it so more players play in more tournaments. Make them count toward an end of season playoff for a real championship.

I've got several ideas to get this done. Besides this one, I've previously discussed a road to an actual PGA Championship as well as a championship itself. Someday I'll figure out how to get these combined into one revolutionary idea. And someday, maybe the right people will take it into consideration. Hey, after all, I'm just trying to help!

Swing 'til you're happy!

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Why Don't We Tailgate For Golf?

I don't know about you, but to me, going to a football game goes hand-in-hand with tailgating. I almost feel that if I go to a game and I don't tailgate, somehow I've missed out on something. As a matter of fact, it's been a good five or six years since I went to a game and I didn't tailgate.

But to clarify, I don't get the chance to go to many games, so it's not like I'm a tailgating pro. On the contrary, a few times my buddies and I have managed to turn our big day into a comedy of errors! But, it's still a good time nonetheless.

But it's strange how tailgating seems to go only with football. For instance, I've never tailgated at any baseball game I've ever been to. Same for basketball, hockey,etc... Why is that? Is it a parking situation? I think that might have alot to do with it. It seems for football games,I've parked in lots. But for all other sports, I've been in a parking garage, took a train to the game or parked on the street somewhere. None of these are really conducive to tailgating. But you know what sport is? Golf.

Think about it. When you go to a golf tournament, the opportunity to tailgate is tremendous! Here in the northeast, golf season occurs during grilling season anyway, so the weather is probably on the nicer side. Also, I'd say that chances are you're not parking in a garage, taking a train in, or parking on a busy city street. Any golf tournament I've ever attended had me parked in a large field/lot...perfect for tailgating!

So why has tailgating never taken off with golf? If it's such a fun tradition for football, then why not find the time to do it during a summer sport as well? I think I may try to start up a little something new next year. The Travelers Championship will be taking place in the area next June. Maybe instead of my buddies and I bringing just a pair of comfortable sneakers, we'll pack up some burgers, dogs, a grill and a few brews!

Maybe we can start a new tailgating tradition. A summer tailgating tradition. Maybe we can start up a whole new trend! And hey, even if it turns out to be not all that great, it sure beats being stuck inside paying $7 for a beer and $6 for a pathetic looking burger wrapped in aluminum foil, right?

Swing 'til you're happy!

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The Road To The PGA Championship

It's Sunday afternoon and me and a couple buddies are watching my Patriots finish off the Jets, their biggest and most hated rival. During the game, we're talking about some other teams (one of the guys is a Cowboys fan and the other is a Vikings fan) and some other sports - namely the MLB playoffs.

It's during these discussions that I start to consider the regular season schedules and playoff scenarios of the major sports in the U.S. For some reason, I compare this to golf, particularly, the PGA Tour.

Back in February I wrote a post about the need for a real PGA Championship. The question remaining though was, how do you get there? Is the final tournament based on the world golf rankings? Is it based on the money leaders? Hopefully not. But if not either of these, what then? Well, I've added another idea to the mix, but it would require a radical change.

Currently, we play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday tournaments. At the end of the tournament we emerge with one winner. But what if we used those days to play a series of one-on-one matches? What if a player could emerge from a weekend with a record, say 3-1, rather than finish "16th, nine shots back." What if, rather than a money list or a ranking system that no one understands, there were actual golf "standings" with a win-loss-tie record?

I'm sorry but, whether you are a golf purist or not, I feel like I'm onto something here. Imagine opening up the sports page of your local newspaper or checking the standing on your favorite sports/golf website, and instead of seeing Luke Donald is #1 on the money list at $5,837,214.50 with Webb Simpson in second trailing by $68,971, you this:

PGA Tour Standings

Luke Donald 52-35-4

Webb Simpson 48-36-7

Nick Watney 47-36-8

Etc....

I gotta tell ya, this is a hell of a lot more interesting than looking at a money list. It's a hell of a lot more interesting than looking at a ranking list. And it sure makes each match mean a lot more when you are working your way toward an actual PGA Championship. Plus on Sundays, when many players are out of reach of the tournament win, this format would give each player a shot at still playing for an individual win rather than an additional $500 or $1000.

Each player becomes, for lack of a better term, a one-man-team. An individual rather than a nameless face in the crowd. Players will have a chance to pull away from the pack to give themselves better playoff seedings. And guys who are lower in the standings have the opportunity to play spoiler.

OK, so it's still a work in progress. But it's also a refreshing change to a stale sport. I've still got a few kinks to work out, but I'm sure I'm onto something. I know there are going to be plenty who hate this idea. But I also know there will be many who may see some potential. But in the end, all I'm trying to do is come up with some ideas to pump some new life into a great but fading game. And hey, whether you agree with me or not, you sure can't fault me for that.

Swing 'til you're happy!

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Why Do Non-golfers Play In Golf Tournaments?

Did you ever show up to one of your local golf tournaments and see this guy? Have you ever lined up for your first drive of the day but you blow it because you can't get the image of this guy's bowtie and knickers out of your head? Yeah, me too.

When I see this guy, I can't help but wonder to myself if he is either celebrating golf history, or if he's just an idiot trying to be funny. Does he just want to make people laugh? Did he lose a bet? Did someone tell him he had to dress this way as a prank? Is he a golf historian celebrating days gone by? Or, does he not know a thing about golf and feels this is the way he's supposed to dress?

Recently, I was invited by my brother-in-law to play in a golf tournament. Unfortunately, it was on a Friday during the week my boss was on vacation and having the two of us out on the same day simply doesn't work. So, despite exhausting every available option, I had to take a pass.

But what struck me funny about this is, my brother-in-law is not a golfer. He doesn't play regularly. He doesn't play on occasion. As far as I know, he has rarely played golf in his life. So why the interest to play in golf tournaments? My guess is, it has just about nothing to do with golf.

I would have to imagine that a good part of heading to a golf tournament as a non-golfer has to do with networking. But why golf? Why network at a golf tournament when you don't play the sport? I've been to networking events that had certainly cost much less than what it costs to enter a golf tournament. Heck, I've been to several free networking events! So again, why a golf tournament?

Well, I think the simple answer is, it's more fun! Consider what goes on at a golf tournament. I've played in tournaments which, for roughly $125 or so, there is unlimited breakfast food being given out right from the start. Beer is flowing from the early hours. Various types of alcohol are being given out on several holes throughout the round. And food... oh the food!! Besides a full dinner at the end of the round, there is food out on some of the holes as well. I recall playing in one tournament where a full pig roast was happening on one of the holes!!

With all of the food, the drinks and, of course, the round of golf...doesn't this sound a whole hell of alot more fun than your average networking event?

I've been playing golf pretty regularly for a relatively long time now. I've played in a few golf tournaments and each one of them has been a good time. I've also been to a few networking events. Compared to the golf tournaments, they just seem like work. So is this why my brother-in-law chose the golf tournament, even though he doesn't golf? It makes sense to me. Hell, I'll choose a basket-weaving tournament if they're providing all day long food and drinks! Nothing against basket-weaving. I'm sure a tournament (if one exists) is completely invigorating.

I guess the point is, if you have to do something work related, you may as well make a good time of it. Play in the golf tournament, whether you're a golfer or not. You may find that you like the sport! And if not, chances are you're going to have a good time anyway!

Swing 'til you're happy!

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Am I Motivated by the Hole-In-One Prize?

During a recent commute, I passed by a billboard promoting a golf tournament at a somewhat local country club.

Nothing out of the ordinary, but what caught my eye was the hole-in-one prize - a brand new, 2011 Corvette. Being a big Corvette fan, this naturally got my juices flowing. And being that it's mid-May and I still have yet to even attempt to play a round of golf this year, this was beginning to get me motivated.

But after passing by the sign, I thought about where the tournament was taking place. This is a former private course which only two years ago, during the deepest depths of the recession, went public...obviously because they were losing money. So how is it they have the money now to put on this tournament? Not to mention, how do they have the money to be able to give away a $50,000 car?!

I understand the tournament, while charity based, is also a tool to help promote membership with the club. And granted, they only have to give away the car if a hole-in-one happens, but what if it does? That's basically $50,000 they have to pony up! I'm sure the entry fee from the participating golfers doesn't approach that amount! And let's face it, the hole-in-one prize is usually the biggest draw to the tournament, especially if you're not playing the tournament with your regular golfing buddies. So the prize has to be worth-while to draw participants. So what to do? How can they afford to pay that out? Well, the same way everything a person can't afford gets paid out...insurance.

I'm sure most people know that just about any large prize in contests such as holes-in-one, half-court shots and the like, are insured. An NBA team doesn't want to just pay some lucky guy sitting in the stands $100,000 because he made a basket, especially one that is, relatively anyway, not all that hard. So instead, they can pay an insurance company $100 per shot (41 home games for a total of $4,100) just in case someone does make it. Not bad, right? $4,100 covers them from having to pay out the grand prize. And if no one makes the shot, then they had a helluva season long promotion for only $4,100! Chump change for an NBA franchise!

The same system works in golf tournaments. If you're putting on a golf tournament, you don't have to raise $50,000 to cover the cost of your hole-in-one prize. You simply have to take out an insurance policy. And the rates, like all other insurance rates, are based on risk. And being that the odds of making a hole-in-one are what they are...the risk is pretty low. So believe it or not....you're not paying out all that much!

Think of it this way - You're a 40-year driver, with no accidents or tickets, driving a Hyundai Santa Fe (according to AOL Autos, the least expensive car to insure) - chances are, you're insurance premium is going to be a hell of a lot less than that of the 17-year old kid driving a Mustang, right?

So when tournament time rolls around, there are a number of companies who will be happy to take your money based on the odds of a hole-in-one (anywhere between 1 in 12,000 and 1 in 45,000 depending upon the basis of the odds). You can find said companies with a simple Google search of "Golf tournament prize insurance."

Lets say your tournament features 140-150 golfers. Even at the lowest odds, chances are that prize is not being paid out. This is why some of these insurance coverages can be had for as low as $250-$300. Maybe even lower if you take the time to do the research and call around.

So maybe this putting on a golf tournament thing is not as costly as I had once thought. If the course itself is putting the tournament on and the insurance on the grand prize as well as a few other smaller prizes is relatively inexpensive, that really only leaves food and drinks. And by the time the players pay their entries and local and corporate sponsors put in a few bucks, I can see how money is made for a good cause and the chance for a course to gain a few new members can certainly happen.

Now, the trick for me will be to come up with the money to take a few lessons to get my "par-3 swing" right, come up with the money to enter the tournament, get a day off from work and beat those 45,000 to 1 odds at just the right time to drive home in a brand new 'vette! Do you think there's some type of insurance to cover my expenses?

Swing 'til you're happy!

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Golfing In A Winter Wonderland

OK, so in the past I may have mentioned that I don't play golf once the temperature drops below fifty degrees. But now that I've been introduced to the likes of Peter Masters and Annika Ostberg, I realize that I'm being a pansy.

Most people likely have no idea who Peter Masters and Annika Ostberg are. Neither did I until doing a bit of research. But these people are some of the best in the world, as well as the first two champions, in their sport. What sport is that you ask? Well, Snow Golf of course! Actually, for arguments sake, it was known as Ice Golf at the time.

Modern snow golf is actually credited to Rudyard Kipling (yes, Rudyard Kipling the author) during his time living in Vermont. It is said that he played in the snow by painting his golf balls red and using red cups as his holes. Apparently, snow golf has been played in Vermont ever since.

But the Ice Golf World Championships have been played almost exclusively in Greenland (twice in Austria) since 1997 on the world's northernmost golf course which is actually an ice shelf that gets reshaped every year by nature. So you may be playing the same course, but you're never really playing the same course.

However, as cool as that may sound, the next fact may snap me back to reality. The fact has to do with where and when these tournaments are played. This year? The tournament was played earlier this month in Switzerland. Now, as desirable as a trip to Switzerland may be, whether for golf or not..., do I really want to be there in January? I'm having a hard enough time handling the snow and cold here in Connecticut! But Switzerland in January?!

I accept the fact that the people who play in these tournaments have a desire and, what I can only describe as, love for the sport. And these people make me feel like more of a pansy for not playing below fifty degrees. But I'll tell you what...you can call me a pansy. At the end of the day, I'll be the pansy in shorts and a polo.

Swing 'til you're happy...as long as it's warm enough!

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Off-Season? Golf Has An Off-Season?

Can someone please help me out with a few things here? Is the golf season officially underway right now? Are there actual tournaments going on? Didn't the 2010 season just end? I swear I just saw something about Steve Stricker tied for the lead in a tournament.

How is this possible? Why would this be happening right now? I think what I'm saying is, it's no wonder there are fewer and fewer people golfing or taking up the game of golf every year. Golf has just about everything going against it right now.

The first problem is; I had no idea there were any tournaments even happening! I'm sure many of you who are reading this were well-aware that golf was underway. But not me. I'm sure I've made it clear by now I am a very casual golf fan. Playing golf...sure! Watching golf...ehh....not so much. But when a golf tournament is competing with the NFL playoffs? I'm sorry, but out of 100 times, the golf tournament will lose 101. How can the PGA golf season kick-off during the most important time of the largest spectator sport (TV-viewer wise) in the country?! Seriously now...there is no possible way they are gaining any new viewers. Next thing you know, they'll have a final round going on during the Super Bowl!

Second; When exactly did last season end? And when did this season begin? Was there really even an off-season? If so, how long was it...a month? See? This is another problem. The season is just too damn long and filled with too many meaningless tournaments that don't get promoted properly. It's like baseball season: Is it really necessary to play for six months then have another month of playoffs? Does it really take 162 games to figure out who belongs in the playoffs? Couldn't the same be determined in, say, 100 games? You get kind of psyched up for baseball at the beginning of the year, then it's blah for four months before you get excited again for the pennant race. And even though the season is too long, the off-season is long enough to give you a break. In golf...there almost is no off-season! I'm sorry but, there has to be a break or you simply get golfed out.

Let's look at football again; This is my favorite sport and I watch the NFL at every opportunity. However, I don't want the season to be any longer than it is for the simple fact that I don't want to be footballed out! We've all heard the expression "Too much of a good thing." Well, golf is a good thing. But too much golf is not. Fewer tournaments make each one matter more. When the tournaments matter, they attract more attention. Therefore, more viewers and more fans.

So what could be done differently? Well, probably a few things. For starters, and I know it's not going to sound like a good idea to most but, having fewer tournaments could help. As mentioned earlier - fewer tournaments equals more meaning.

But what do you do with the down time? We've touched on this a bit before. Things that are fun and keep the fans interested are always a sure bet. Why not set-up some things such as long-drive tournaments and the like? It's not an actual tournament, but it's fun and certainly fan-friendly! And just a small exhibition here and there during an off-season of a decent length could do wonders to attract new fans, while still keeping the interest of current ones.

OK, so these are just a couple of silly ideas for the most part, but they are ideas nonetheless. And let's face it, with fewer and fewer rounds of golf being played each year, a change is becoming increasingly necessary.

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Get Some Wings & Beer, The Final Round Is On!

It's Sunday afternoon and Stinky Golfer Dog and I have just finished watching the Giants blow a huge lead and lose. To that I say...YAY!!!! Dog, a typical fair-weather Giants fan, does not agree with my sentiments.

But as we're watching the games, I start to realize it's almost every Sunday that either I have a buddy or two over to watch the football games, or I'm invited somewhere to watch them. Sunday afternoons watching the games by myself are few and far between.

But it's not like this for other sports. I'll get together with some friends to watch basketball once in a while. Some of the bigger rivalry baseball games will also call for the occasional gathering. But do you know what sport my buddies and I have never gathered for? Yup, you guessed it...golf. Not the Masters. Not any of the Opens. Not the Championship. Nothing. Why? Well, for me anyway, the answer is simple...because it's boring!

For non-golfers, it's easy to say the sport itself is boring and that's why they don't play. But we golfers know differently. Once we're out there on the course, it's far from boring. But that doesn't mean it's not boring on TV. I'm sorry, but it is. Golf as a spectator sport just doesn't satisfy my appetite for competition. Watching golf live is not bad, but on TV? It's like gathering your friends around the backyard to watch the grass grow. But what I haven't quite figured out is, why is it like that?

I enjoy the sport. I participate in the sport. We're watching the best of the best on the pro tour. So why do I have no interest? Why don't I call up the guys and say "Where are we watching the final round on Sunday?" I try to think of reasons, but I haven't come up with many:

Firstly, there's the commentary. It's dull. It's too quiet and reserved. It's....well...boring! Now I'm not saying I want early 80's John Madden style commentary. That's certainly not necessary for golf. But it couldn't hurt to spice it up a bit. Change up the tone on a great shot. I don't want to hear words like "useful" and stuff like that. That's just become more of a joke now. If you want to draw in a younger audience (and lets face it, the current core audience isn't getting any younger) then you have to make the sport more exciting to watch. Livening up the commentary couldn't hurt.

Second, and we've touched on this before, who the hell are these guys that we're watching? Most of the players in these tournaments are unknowns to the casual golf fan. If I don't have a vested interest in the players or a reason to follow them, then why would I care to watch? I'd much rather just go out and play myself!

But that's about all I can come up with. I don't get excited to watch a golf tournament on television, whether Tiger is playing or not. At most, I check in just to see what's going on and who's leading. I'll stick around for a few shots, but not much more. Apparently, my golfing buddies all feel the same.

So if I'm a participant in the sport, and my buddies are also, but collectively we just don't care all that much about watching it, the PGA may have a potential problem on their hands in the future. Because if that's the situation for me and my buddies, I'm sure there are all too many more like us out there.

Swing 'til you're happy!

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Digging for Gold on the Golf Course

They're out there and you may even know one. The phrase "for the love of the game" means as much to them as a barber means to the Dalai Lama. They own golf clubs for one reason and one reason only: Networking at golf tournaments.

They're Tourney Golfers and the summer months on their calendars are spattered with local charity golf events: Shotguns, Best Balls, Scrambles - it doesn't mean a thing to them - as long as they get to mingle after the round while bellied-up to the raw bar.

They're not there to grip-it and rip-it, they're there to grip and grin; and market themselves or their product. Think I'm crazy? Let's look at one such person (for the sake of anonymity, we'll call him Tourney Golfer Bob).

Anyway, Bob and I (along with two others) are paired up at this golf tournament a few years ago. Throughout the front 9, Bob's yacking away about his law firm. It started out innocent enough: "Have you got any kids?" Me: "No, not yet." Bob: "We'll you know, my wife and I just revised our will to include our youngest." Me: "Oh?" Bob: "Yep. It's something to think about, you know - it happens to all of us." Me: "What does?" Bob: "Death."

Me: "PLUNK" (that was my next shot, smack-dab in the middle of a pond).

Around the 15th hole, Bob opened up his bag to fetch more tees and that's when I notice it. His bag pocket was stuffed with dozens of those little tee/marker/divot tool packs you receive on the first tee of most tournaments. Then I realized all his golf balls (he blew through his complimentary sleeve of three Pro V1's in as many holes) were ALL logo balls. My eyes darted to his golf towel: "12th Annual Volunteer Fireman's Scramble." Umbrella: I couldn't make it out completely, but it had the Marine Corps. logo and I could read the word "tournament."

Me: "So Bob, you were in the Marines?" Bob: "What's that?" Me: "The Marines. Your umbrella has the Marine Corps. logo." Bob: "Oh that! No. I won that in the raffle after I played in their local tournament last year."

Yep, I had the pleasure of being Bob's 6th playing partner that summer. Coincidentally, it was also Bob's sixth golf tournament that summer. By the time we were driving up to the 18th green, I had the whole story:

"Yeah, I never really played this game until I joined my present firm. One day I was talking to one of the partners who was telling me about this big client he just got. Turns out he met the guy at a golf tournament, so I figured; Hey, that's not a bad idea. Here it is three years later and nearly 30 percent of my clients stem in some way, shape or form from someone I met playing in a golf tournament!"

Bob's not alone. He knew of a few others that were doing the same thing. Suddenly, I was whisked back to California in 1849 - There's Golf in Them Thar Hills! Wait, I meant "Gold" - no, I guess I actually meant "Golf." Bob is a modern-day 49er - He recognized potential clientele and got out his pick, er, clubs and started digging.

At the raffle after the round, guess who won the box of balls with the course's logo on them? Last I saw Bob, he was slurping down a clam on the half shell while talking about product liability with the owner of a paint-ball complex.

God, I love this game...

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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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