A Fitting Farewell To A Golf Buddy

Recently, a friend of mine (and fellow hack) had unfortunately lost his father. You see, his dad was an avid golfer and the game was a big part of their lives. Not only was he his father, he was also his first and best golf buddy. A lot of their issues were discussed and resolved on the course. Needless to say, it was almost therapeutic for them to be out there together.

As an advocate for the game this means a lot. This is something that goes above and beyond winning a tournament. The more I thought about it the more I realized that a loss of this magnitude is life changing. Don't get me wrong, if there was a slight a chance that I could win the Masters that too would be life changing but, I'm referring to something that is much more significant than a green jacket.

When my buddy's dad would hit the course, it was "Big Bird" and "Lady Luck" that would come through for him in the clutch. "Big Bird" was his Big Bertha driver and "Lady Luck" was his lucky #7 iron. According to him, these were his essential clubs that he relied on so much almost like a safety blanket. He was confident with those two clubs.

I'll never forget my friends ultimate tribute to his dad and favorite golfing buddy. A couple days after his father passed, we took him out for a quick round to help him get his mind off of what was going on. As he placed his bag on the cart, we all noticed something different...there stood "Big Bird" and "Lady Luck".

Hit'em Long...yell FORE! Enjoy the game.

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Indoor Putting; Who Gives a Sh*t?

I haven't putted in my house in more than 8 years. The photo to the left is the reason. That's my dog, Eleanor. She has a thing for spherical objects (and pork, but that's another story). With her around, my putts never even get close to the plastic target. Instead, she knocks them off course with her snout and then proceeds to chase them around the room for the next hour (usually digressing after I wrestle them away from her).

But you know something? I don't miss putting indoors on my carpet. For one, does it really help your putting on the course? I don't know too many living rooms that have breaks in them. I mean seriously, all winter long you're putting them in like a madman and then comes spring, a real green, and BAM - your ball moves to the right because of a break. But this article suggests it helps: "...anything is better than nothing. Just getting a putter in your hands and making some putting strokes is going to help. Practice makes perfect!"

Practice does indeed make perfect. I know plenty of VP's who have a putter and fake plastic hole stashed behind their office door. "Give me a minute, I'm on a conference call!" Conference call my ass (of course, they could be on the conference call at the same time). Does it help? Funny, they can never break 100 at the annual company golf outing.

But indoor putting is big business. Got floor vents? If so, you my friend, are in luck. For only $19.95, you can have a "real golf hole in your house" (and if you putt it too hard, you have a real wall to automagically stop the ball). This ingenious putting aid is called Puttacup, and it will start shaving off the strokes in no time!

OK, this is my favorite part about Puttacup - once they realized that average floor vents are too small to fit a regular sized golf hole, they turned this adversity into marketing genius: "The advantage of this is that while you practice your putting at home, you are practicing into a cup that is a little smaller, so once you get out onto a real putting green, the actual hole will appear much bigger." Brilliant! Too bad I don't have floor vents.

This leaves me with very few options. Enter Truline Indoor Putting Greens. These beauts are "tour speed" and will "putt at a stimpmeter speed of approximately 13 feet." Few things here: 1) Aren't you always putting slightly uphill on these mats? 2) Not sure about your course, by the courses in my area rarely sport 13' on the old stimpmeter. And 3) My wife's an interior designer. There's no way that thing is staying out in the living room for any length of time. Soon I won't want to set it up and then it will just be collecting dust in the attic.

OK, I know I'm sort of going off on a tangent here. So let's hear from you - do you find yourself putting indoors? Take the poll and let us know.

What Are Your Thoughts on Indoor Putting?

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Judging My Custom-Fit Clubs

Finally. For the first time since I received my new custom-fit clubs, I actually got out and played a round of 18! So now the new clubs have 27 holes, plus some range time, logged on them. I still don't think it's quite enough, but I'm going to try to make a fair judgement as to the added value of a custom fitting. You asked for it, so here it is.

Firstly, in fairness to my clubs, I stink at golf. I understand there are many golfers who are worse-off then me, but I'm still pretty freakin' bad. No club is going to make a real significant impact on my game. Stinky Golfer Greg has pointed out previously that the way to get better at golf is to play...constantly. Well, I don't have that kind of time. So I play as often as I can, which is not nearly as much as I would like, and nowhere near enough to show any real improvement. The point I'm trying to make here is, I don't get to use the clubs as much as I should.

That being said, let's move along to the clubs themselves. Obviously being custom-fit, the clubs are tailored around my swing. So one would have to imagine there would be immediate benefits to having a club built to strike the ball where it should be struck and hit the ground where it should be hit...And one would be correct. Thing is though, I didn't realize how much it would affect the result of the swing. Due to the new found distance these clubs seem to provide, it looks like I'm going to need a bit more range time. After overshooting a couple of greens which I had no business overshooting, along with reaching a few traps I had no business reaching...this became quite clear.

So I need to work on my distances. But what about accuracy? Well, that's another thing I'm going to need to get used to. I've spent the past twelve or so years with a swing that, I didn't realize at the time, was compensating for my clubs. But now that the clubs are in order...my swing isn't. I can feel when I hit the ball correctly. And when I do, the shots are great. However, right now, those don't come as often as I would like. But once I get used to the clubs and stop swinging like it was my cheap, old, off-the-shelf set, I think I'll be fine. But in the meantime...it looks like I'll be spending a little while at the range working on that also.

In the end, I can tell the idea and the process of custom-fitting will be time and money well spent. Obviously I have some work to do and adjustments to make. But I know once I work out the kinks and get used to them, the new clubs will make a noticeable difference in my game - even though this past weekend produced one of the worst golf scores I have posted in my life, there were upsides and, even better...legitimate excuses!

So if you're in the market for new clubs, I definitely recommend the custom-fitting process. I already can't wait until next year when I can spend an entire golf season with the new sticks! If you've never done it before, but you're going to spend the money on a new set, then you might as well spend the extra time (and cash if necessary) to make sure the clubs you're getting will be of some benefit to you rather than just some shiny new showpieces. Just be prepared for the adjustments you'll have to make.

Swing 'til you're happy!

Related Posts:

Custom Fitting Golf Clubs: Worth It?

The Process Of My Custom Club Fitting

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Cover Stories and Unhappy Endings

We've all hit pretty bad golf shots. Admit it. We've sliced, shanked, hooked, flubbed and skulled our way through many rounds of 18. We've hit trees, wildlife, carts, sides of barns, even other golfers!

Oh well, no one's ever gotten hurt...not seriously anyway. So we keep playing. But I remember the first time I legitimately thought I was going to see some actual damage as the result of a bad shot.

Playing down in Hilton Head, one of our FORE!some hooked his drive directly at a fairway condo. We all watched in horror, knowing exactly where the ball was headed. It could hit anywhere on the backside of that house...but it won't. We all knew that ball's only intention was to hit that sliding glass door. And we helplessly stared, tracking the balls flight for what seemed like hours, waiting for the inevitable sound of shattering glass. But it never came. By some minor miracle, the ball bounced off the glass and ricocheted around the deck five or six times, sounding like an episode of This Old House, before it disappeared in some tall grass, never to be seen again. A collective sigh of relief filled the tee box, and down the fairway we went.

Now had the ball actually broken that glass, while making for a great golf story, it would still pale in comparison to this guy (thanks for the link Jay). A 25 acre blaze. From the spark created by a metal club hitting a rock. Now THAT is a disastrous golf shot.

While there has been some speculation as to the truth behind this story (I, for one, believe the fire was much more likely started by a cigar or cigarette, but why would he ever admit to that?), it's likely going to be recognized as the most disastrous golf shot, or at least one of golf's tallest tales, of all time.

This gets me thinking about what other golf shots wound up in catastrophic results. So I need some help. What is the most unfortunate result of a golf shot you have ever hit or witnessed? Let's even take it a step further. In the spirit Mr. California Wildfire, what is the best cover story you've ever heard or taken part in due to the result of an unfortunate golf shot?

So let's hear from everyone! Oh, and by the way, if necessary...feel free to post anonymously.

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Time To Make The Doughnuts...

"Americans hate their jobs more than ever before in the past 20 years, with fewer than half saying they are satisfied." - msnbc.com

A few years ago, msnbc.com posted this article about how much Americans do not like the careers they are in. Crazy ain't it? Actually, they also mentioned in the same article that careerbuilder.com did a survey and found that 4 out of 5 U.S. workers do not have their dream job. This is not good. I once heard a saying: "If you like what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."

So my fellow hacks, I have done the math and that means there are approximately 20 million (+/- 5 million) golfers not enjoying their jobs. This is probably why we also use golf as a way to relax and get away from our everyday routines. How can we change that statistic? It sucks to know that over 50% of our community dreads their 9 to 5.

Here's what I propose; Get a job in the golf industry! Maybe being closer to that game we like will positively change our mental (and physical) well-being. Check out this list of careers in the golf field courtesy of golfutures.com:

• Golf Course Ownership/ Leasing
• General Manager Resort
• Hotel Operations Manager
• Director of Golf
• Head Professional/Manager
• Head Professional/Superintendent
• Head Golf Professional
• Corporate Golf Professional
• Food & Beverage Manager
• Director of Golf Instruction
• Collegiate Golf Coach
• Teaching Professional
• National Sales Manager
• Product Line Manager
• Golf Distributorship
• Golf Administrator
• Country Club Membership Director
• Manufacturer's Representative
• Independent Sales Rep
• Golf Shop Merchandiser
• Assistant Golf Professional
• Caddie Master
• Site Manager Trainee
• Entry-Level Golf Assistant

Now there has to be some sort of career in this list that is similar to what we are doing now. Teachers, trainers, managers, sales - even golf course turf management is available. I used to love playing in the dirt as a kid and I've been told to "go watch grass grow" before. It's a match! Maybe my future career is in keeping those fairways lush and the greens fast.

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

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These Raisins Put it Down the Middle Every Time...

I have a new favorite commercial. You have to hand it to Heineken; despite not being a particular fan of their product (I'm more of a Belgian beer guy), they have some great advertisements.

The most recent series of ads (featuring a couple of 30-ish guys who win the lotto and move to a retirement community in Florida to live the "easy life") are, in my opinion, the best commercials out there now (I will literally stop fast-forwarding the DVR and rewind to the beginning of the spot so I can watch the full 30 seconds).

The latest in the ad series has the guys on the golf course, teeing-off with their new retiree pals. The opening line: "Wanna learn how to play golf? Play with old guys. These raisins put it down the middle every time" is not as much a slam on old guys as it is showing them respect. Mr. 30-something explains that since one of his new geriatric buddies (a former WWII sniper) slowed down his swing, he's adjusted to a "more mature game."

He effortlessly smacks one down the fairway. Another retiree uses his range-finder to gauge the distance - he enthusiastically announces, "156!" It's at this point when I begin chuckling uncontrollably - much to the chagrin of my wife, who is next to me on the couch. "I don't get it." she says. I try to explain how older-types hit it short but straight and how that usually bests the younger guns, who typically spray it like they're dousing the rough with DDT (of course, I first have to explain to her that 156 yards is not very far for a tee-shot).

Being a non-golfer, my wife still finds it humorless. But this is what I love about that commercial - it's not just an ad that features golf, but an ad geared toward golfers - anyone who doesn't play doesn't get it.

I've posted previously about my great uncle (coincidentally, also a WWII vet) who would usually beat me despite my ability to out-drive him by 60 yards or more. No matter how addicted we are to distance, a slower swing usually results in more consistent scores.

So here's to all the golfers out there with senior-flex shafts and a more "mature" game - I'll meet you on the green...right after I walk through poison ivy, shank one off a tree trunk and check myself for ticks.

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What's Ailing Ya?

In any activity that requires some sort of physical output, also lies a risk of injury. It just so happens that golf falls into this type of activity.

After doing some searching, I found the most common injuries in golf* and was surprised by some on the list. Actually, I've never even heard of some...please excuse my ignorance.

1. Back Pain (this, I understand)

2. Tennis...ahem...Golfer's Elbow

3. Shoulder Pain

4. Carpal Tunnel

5. DeQuervain's Tendinitis - pain in the wrist near the base of the thumb caused by an inflammation in the tendons that control the thumb.

6. Knee Pain

7. Trigger Finger - caused when the flexor tendon sheath, through which the finger tendons run, is inhibited.

8. Wrist Impaction Syndrome - caused when the bones of the wrist bang into one another due to excess or repetitive movements. Ah ha! I know this one...you can get it other ways too...

9. ECU Tendon Sublaxation - caused when the sheath holding the wrist tendon begins sliding in and out of its groove.

10. Fracture of Hamate Bone - a small bone on the pinky side of the wrist. Don't worry Cooter, this has no affect on your bright shiny future of Ham Bonin'.

Now, this also had me thinking about some of the strangest injuries I have experienced or witnessed in the past twelve or so years on the course. It never ceases to amaze me how some of these actually occur. For example, I was walking towards the green from the fairway and in an effort to go over the the rope barrier (signifying where carts are not allowed), I trip. Here's the kicker, somehow the wedge I had in my hand swings up and connects with my ear. Yeah, not too pleasant...WTF!

One of my favorites was when a buddy of mine couldn't get his P wedge to work for the life of him. Either he would flub 3 or 4 chips in a row or skull the crap out of a ball and send it fifty yards over the green. By the 8th or 9th hole, he had enough (if you looked hard enough, you could see steam was coming out of his ears). In a fit of rage, he swung his club baseball style connecting with the rear post of the cart (that supports the roof) bending the wedge in half and with some ridiculous wrap around action, the head comes back to hit him square in the elbow. I still laugh about it.

Hit'em long...Yell FORE!! (oh, and be safe).

* Dr. Larry Foster - "Dr. Divot's Guide to Golf Injuries"

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3-D Golf Swing System Helps Wounded Warriors

Back in March, I posted about how one man was able to help troops cope with life on the battle front by donating used golf balls and clubs. These service men and women use this equipment on make-shift driving ranges in Iraq and Afghanistan to help relieve stress and unwind. I'm happy to report that recently, the organization donated its one millionth club!

But what about the troops that have come home? Well there's a grassroots movement from a small group called "Wounded Warrior Golf" that is working with Taylor Made to help wounded vets make rehabilitation more fun...by swinging a golf club.

The group is using 3-D motion capture swing analysis to help service men and women get back their full range of motion:

Using the high resolution system that helps Tour players and amateurs alike see their swing with 1/10 degree accuracy, we can show disabled Veterans how they are moving. The built-in biofeedback capability can then be used to help them move more efficiently.

Wounded Warrior Golf is donating a portion of the proceeds from this 3-D golf project to Quality Life Plus (QL+), an organization that "fosters and generates innovations to aid and improve the quality of life for those injured in the line of duty."

Now the guys over at Wounded Warrior Golf are looking for a little publicity to help with their first charity golf tournament. The tourney (which is being held at the Harmon Golf and Fitness Club near Boston) is taking place on October 4th, with 100% of the profits going to QL+.

They still need a few golfers, but if you don't live in the New England area, they could use donations too. Check out the golf tournament page on their site to help. It just feels right anytime you can use golf to help others...and helping our returning vets seems pretty right to me.

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The Process Of My Custom Club Fitting

About two months ago I talked about getting fitted for clubs. Well, I did it. And after quite a bit of a delay from a certain club manufacturer, I received them. Further, I've even played with them! But one nine-hole round certainly doesn't constitute enough playing time to make a proper judgement as far as the difference between my old "off-the-shelf's" and the newbies. So I'll have to get out a few more times before I can really make a fair comparison.

But in the meantime, many have asked me about the actual process of the club fitting. Was it hi-tech? Did they video your swing? Did they measure your swing speed? Did they hook you up to computers? Well, the answer to all of those questions is, simply, no.

Rather, the pro and I went outside. Can you believe that? We actually went outside...where golf is actually played! He took me over to the driving range, handed me a 6-iron and had me smack a few balls. After watching me hit a few, he threw some tape on the bottom of the club head, dropped a board on the ground and had me hit a few more off of that. After about three or four swings, he took the club and showed me the tape. Ah-ha! Now I see part of the reason I stink at this sport! I could see which part of the club-head was hitting the ground....and it was not the part that's supposed to be hitting.

So we swapped some differently angled club heads, taped those up and hit a few more. We combined the club head swaps with some different types of shafts (steel, graphite, stiff, regular) and before you know it, I had something in my hand that felt quite comfortable.

I say "before you know it," but that's not how it felt at the time. This process went on for about an hour or so. After non-stop swinging (for the most part) on the range for that long...I was wiped! I mean, it felt like I took more swings on that range than I would possibly take in two rounds! But, even though I have yet to have enough time to see if it was beneficial, I feel this was well worth it.

See, I could have watched my swing on video. I could have measured my club-head speed. I could have been hooked up to a computer and I could have stayed inside and hit balls into a net eight feet in front of me like in the picture above. Thing is, I've done all of those things before. And other than a recent swing video analysis, which you can read about here, they've gotten me next to nowhere. I could have done them all again, but what would that have gotten me had I not seen the end result of my swing?

Any of us can hit a ball straight for eight feet. What does that tell me? What matters is what the ball is doing 170 yards down the fairway. And by being out on an actual range, I can see exactly what that ball is doing. After all...do you really give a crap how fast you swing? You shouldn't. What you should care about is having the proper club for that swing and the end result. I don't care if I swing 95 mph or 125 mph, as long as I have the right club for the job.

One of the questions I am also asked is, "How much did it cost?" Thanks to the hook-up from my wonderful wife, I didn't pay a cent. So I have no idea what it would have cost. However, upon doing some research, I see people pay as little as $20-$30 for a fitting. For that price, it's well worth it. But there's always that other end of the spectrum.

As I may have mentioned before, one thing I will never understand about golfers is the amount of money many are willing to spend in order to try to make themselves better players. Doing that same research, I have seen that some are willing to fork over $400 for a club fitting! $400?! How much more are you getting than what your local pro can offer you for a small fraction of that price, if not free? Some people just take this game way too seriously. But, I guess if you have the money, then good for you.

So like I said earlier, I'm going to need a few more rounds before I can make an accurate judgement as to how beneficial a custom fitting really is. But as of now, I'm going to say I'm quite satisfied so far. My new clubs feel nice in my hands and nice during my swing. During my first time out with them, I felt like I hit the ball more solidly. My score didn't reflect it, but it feels like I'm headed down the right path. We'll see if that keeps up a few rounds from now.

Swing 'til you're happy!

Related Posts:
Custom Fitting Golf Clubs: Worth It?
Judging My Custom-Fit Clubs

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A Golf Mecca In The Sunshine State.

Whenever someone mentions Orlando Florida, I'm sure a certain fictional group of cartoon animals may come to mind. Don't get me wrong, with all due respect to Mickey & Co., they're not the only show in town. Orlando boasts some serious golf too! Shoot on over to a great site for Orlando golf courses and see for yourself at orlandogolf.com.

Rumor has it that a golf legend can be seen regularly teeing-it-up at his Orlando based Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Still not sure who it is? I'm pretty sure you'll recognize the name: Arnold Palmer. Now, you might be thinking that Mr. Palmer's tour level course could be too much too handle. Don't worry, the David Leadbetter Golf Academy world headquarters is just a hop, skip, jump and short car ride away. So get your golf game on!

"Well, I don't really have $200 to spend on a round." Not a problem, on the site, you can search for multiple Orlando tee times and check out bunches of great courses that fit all budgets! That's what I'm talking about; great courses without exorbitant greens fees. And who would have thought that Greg Norman, Tom Fazio and the "U.S. Open Doctor" Rees Jones (to name a few) all contributed to these courses?

So, if you're sitting there looking for a nice golf getaway, check out the site's Orlando golf packages and special deals. Come on, you deserve a little R&R - oh and winter is right around the corner too! Hit'em straight!

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Useful Excuses to Get Out and Golf

A couple of people I know seem to have a tough time with their significant other when it comes to playing golf. I don't know if there is a jealousy, separational anxiety or trust issue that prevents them from golfing but for whatever reason, their partner doesn't approve.

I'm sure we've all heard it before; If you have time to golf, you have time to _________. You can fill in the blank with any non-golf related activity. I'm starting to think there is a secret anti-golf organization that strives to deter us from playing.

The title says "Useful Excuses", sorry about the mix-up. I meant to say an orally communicated fictional rendition of what will transpire. Basically, a good ol' fashion lie. Oh please, like you never done that before. If elected officials do it, so can I. I pay my taxes. Moving on, here's a little list of some creative and personal favorite tales to improve the chance of making that tee-time. Just fill in the blanks with names or places.

1. Hey Honey, you know ______ is really going through a tough time with/at ______. I think this Saturday morning ______ will really appreciate if we hang out for a while. Maybe go to lunch too. You know, to get his/her mind off _____.
* This is a common one but classic nonetheless. Some set-up could be required depending on how gullible your other half is. i.e. A phone call a day or two before the round, from the above mentioned person in distress, to lay the phoney baloney foundation for you to build on.

2. Wow! Check this out, _______ is really sucking on the tour this year. If I get out there and practice there's a chance I could qualify and make some big money. You know, to pay off the bills and finally get you that ______ you always wanted. You deserve it...
* Timing and delivery is crucial with this one, as well as, a huge set of brass balls. Pull this off and we're talking B.S.'er Hall of Fame material.

3. You know that whole global initiative to go green? Turns out _____ and _____ from work have put together this nature walk on Saturday morning. The big boss is going to be there and I think this will be a great opportunity for me to impress him/her. You know, really ace it.
* Technically, a round of golf requires some walking in natural environments therefore possibly making this fable non-fiction. There, I feel better already.

You get the idea. Use these or get the creative juices flowing and develop your own. Whatever it takes, we need to stick together and help each other to do what we love - hack up the course.

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

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