Looking for a Last Minute Gift?

As we put the finishing touches on our 2009 Annual Equipment Buyer's Guide, we'd like to call your attention to a few products that we'll be featuring. Look for the Buyer's Guide on newsstands in early February. (Maybe some of the following images will trigger some last minute gift ideas too!)

Here's Ogio's new 3 in 1 Devolver golf bag. Note how it breaks down into three golf bags (cart, carry, "Sunday").

Sun Mountain's new Club Glider travel bag. Perfect for folks who are tired of bending over for their travel bag:

Kaenon's Spindle sunglasses. Sleek and protective without looking like a NASCAR driver:
HO HO HO!

Snaps of Legacy Golf Course at Roco Ki

Two photos of Nick Faldo's latest design at Roco Ki Golf Club in the Dominican Republic. Kinda makes you want to change those holiday plans, huh?

Here's the 17th:

And the 18th:

Both photos taken by the terrific Aidan Bradley.

Where Have We Been?

Loyal GT readers may have noticed a drop-off in blog postings of late. No, we're not on the golf course every day (okay, one day last week, but it was business, we swear).

We've been hard at work on two issues: our Annual Equipment Buyer's Guide (look for it on newsstands late January or early February) and our February/March issue. Writing about all that golf equipment has left us without much free time to update the blog, but you're better off for it, as two great new issues await you in the new year.

A couple new sections to look for in our first regular issue include a "We Tried It" section where we test out the new products (in Feb/Mar tell you what we think of Mizuno MX 200 irons, the Bridgestone e7+ ball, Cleveland XLi irons and Cobra L5V driver). We also tried out some new offerings from Tour Edge last week (the Exotics XCG V and XLD V drivers, Dave Glod putters, XCG V 3-wood and the non-Exotic line TCG sand wedge). That last wedge may be next year's best bargain, ringing up for a measly $40. Honestly I couldn't tell much of a difference between it and wedges that sell for three times that amount.

Keep your eyes on this blog for the latest in equipment, instruction and travel.

Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki Golf Club Opens Today

In today's gloomy economic climate it's hard to believe new golf courses are opening up, but that's just what happened today in the Dominican Republic when the tape was cut on Nick Faldo's latest design, the Legacy Course at Roco Ki. By the looks of things it promises to be pretty darn spectacular. A combination of Hawaii, Ireland and, well, other ridiculously picturesque Caribbean courses.

No Fossils to be found at Westin Le Paradis Resort

Word from the Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort in St. Lucia that it plans to be the Caribbean's first fossil free resort.

In addition to using the sun to heat the resort's agua, the resort will utilize a computerized irrigation system to water its signature Greg Norman golf course.

The 18-hole layout is perched 600 feet above sea level and promises to boast jaw-dropping views of the tranquil waters below.

Click here for a link to a (rather long) video about the course and resort's construction and intentions.

Bayonet and Black Horse to Reopen December 22nd

Two of Northern California's toughest public golf courses will reopen just in time for the holidays after a $13 million renovation. Bates Golf Design (Circling Raven) was tapped for the makeover.

Hole routings were altered and new tees, bunkers and green complexes were added.

Here's the view from Bayonet's 17th tee box:



And from Black Horse's 15th tee:


The two courses boast some pretty great views of Monterey Bay. For more information click here.

Swing like Tommy "Two Gloves"

Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey shot a nifty 8-under 64 yesterday to capture second place in the PGA Tour's season-ending Children's Miracle Network Classic. Watch it? I didn't think so.

Gainey's homegrown, unorthodox swing (not to mention grip, set up and choice of two, count 'em two gloves) should not be emulated. But there is one part of his swing that every golfer should seek to imitate: his confidence.

Notice how in this swing he leaves nothing in the bag? It ain't pretty, but it's the hallmark of someone who's really feelin' it.

A Day With Natalie Gulbis Winner Announced

In response to the "Who's Behind Your Success?" contest where the winner gets to spend with Natalie Gulbis, it's nice to know that there are worthy winners of contests theses days.

The winner and lucky guy who gets to spend all day with Natalie tells a story of how despite serious physical setbacks, his affection and support from his mother helped persuade him to do great things and like any great champion will tell you, how he continues to never, never give up.

His name is Taylor Anderson. To see and hear his very inspiring story, CLICK HERE.

And to you Taylor: You're a stud in our book. Congrats and enjoy your special day.

Pre-Owned Clubs BLOWOUT!

In an era where it seems a new driver hits the shelves virtually every season, it's good to know it's never too late to get your hands around some less recent drivers, irons, wedges and so forth. Sure, there are auction sites online that proliferate with used clubs, but do you really know what you're going to get? Probably not. That's why equipment companies are trending towards offering used options, backed with the guarantee that you're getting authentic products, free and clear of any hidden cracks, dents or defects.

Among the latest site is TaylorMade's (Click HERE). Just today, we saw some screaming deals, including a Burner driver for $149, a rac Chrome wedge for $49 and a set of rac HT irons for $229.

Schweet.

In addition to TM, don't miss Callaway's pre-owned site as well. (Click HERE). We like this trend, and can't wait to see more equipment companies follow suit. After all, there are a lot of great products out there, even if they're a couple years old.

Become a Birdie Machine (Part 2)-Nick Watney

Here's Nick Watney, the 2007 Zurich Classic winner and current leader of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. This photo was taken on TPC Summerlin's 12th hole, a 442-yard Par 4 that the pros reach with a driver and wedge. (That's so wrong!)

Notice how Watney's hit down on the ball (see spray of dirt for evidence) and kept his head down through the shot while his hips rotate?

You often hear amateurs telling their buddies to "keep your head down" on driving ranges all across the country. Sure, you want to keep it down for most of the swing, but definitely not the entire swing. See photo below for further proof.

Become a Birdie Machine-Like Zach Johnson

Check out these snapshots taken by yours truly at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (12th hole, yesterday during the Pro-Am). Here's last week's Valero Texas Open champ Zach Johnson consulting his caddy, Damon Green for yardage.

1. Know your yardages.




Once Johnson selected his club (it looked to be some kind of wedge) he thought of which type of shot he wanted to play. The pin was cut in the center of the green, far from the pond that borders the green's right side. With nothing guarding the green, Johnson could hit a low shot with tremendous spin.

2. Know how to hit a variety of wedge shots.

Check out Johnson's finish. There's NO RELEASE! Don't try this shot if you don't SEVERELY ROTATE YOUR LOWER BODY. Otherwise, you're guaranteed to block the heck out of it.

3. Practice five-footers because if you knock your wedges stiff, you'll want to drain your putts.

By the way, last week Johnson made 23 birdies en route to shooting 19 under. Today at the Timberlake he's birdied nine of his first 14 holes.

FREE GOLF!

Okay, now that we have your attention...

Yesterday we received word that the 5-star, cliff-top Fairmont St. Andrews resort is celebrating the opening of its new Kittocks Course by offering FREE tee times on October 21st.

That's right, FREE GOLF AT ST. ANDREWS!

Interested? Dial 01334 837023.

For reservations call (800) 257-7544 or click here.

Tiger To Build Another Course

I can't help but wonder what it's going to take for Tiger to build a golf course in his native Southern California. We've got the land, the space, and if you're like me, you know the Southern California's public course landscape is in need of some venerable, solid and most of all, affordable golf courses. I'm not talking about the fancy, overbuilt, over-hyped mega-million dollar developments. But instead honing in on the core golf market and building more course like Rustic Canyon, which despite its rave reviews for being a top course in So Cal, it's also less than $40 bucks to play (during the week). That's 1/4 of what it costs to play at some of the other new courses built down here.

Nonetheless, Tiger is getting closer. He's going to design a course in Ensenada, Mexico, which I can say having been there, is an interesting choice. First, you have to drive through Tijuana to get there-- a town not known for its charming personality. I suppose you could take a cruise there too, but good luck playing 18 holes after a 9-course lobster dinner the night before. And once you're there- umm, maybe it's best to chillax at the hotel and not mingle outside the confines. That is, unless you care to unleash your inner party animal and ham it up with the 18-20 years olds who flock there in the summer months for the easy access booze. (Having been there/done that, I don't recommend it if you want to play your best.)

I guess it's fair to say that the land in Ensenada can be beautiful and you can have a lot of fun there (maybe too much), so long as you don't mind the trek it takes to get there. Naysayer am I? Nah, I'm just bummed that it takes me $100+ and/or 7 hours to play golf around here. And now to play a Tiger-designed course, I not only have to drive 5 hours+, I have to hop the border and hope I make it back in one piece.

It's us So. Cal. golfers who are most likely to head to Ensenada to play golf anyway. So why not build something a little closer? Come on Tiger, help a fellow Angelino out.

Scratch that.

Help an American out.

Here's the SCOOP

See It To Believe It

Who wants to sit and read a book on how to train the brain and become a better visualizer, when instead you can kick back and watch it on a screen?

The innovators at See It Golf have unveiled a new video geared for helping golfers better visualize perfect putts by employing Aaron Baddeley, who has arguably the best putting stroke on tour. In a matter of about 15 minutes, you'll be able to train your mind and eyes to putt just like Badds, and hopefully build a new found stroke and confidence on the greens.

The production value is first-rate and the best part is, the video can be downloaded directly to your portable video player (we just stuck it in an iPhone and it worked beautifully.)

Check it out here.

Kittocks Course to Open October 1st

The Home of Golf is adding a new wing.

The Kittocks Course opens at the Fairmont St. Andrews (Scotland) this Wednesday, October 1st. Located on the site of the former Devlin Course, the Kittocks Course was redesigned by Gary Stephenson.

Gary Slatter, director of golf for Fairmont St. Andrews says the Kittocks Course features "sweeping views" and is a "unique, thrilling golf experience."

Kittocks' debut is part of a larger £13 million remediation project that includes the renovation of Fairmont St. Andrews' Torrance Course, which is scheduled to open in summer 2009

For more info click here.

In Case You Were Wondering...

The golf community has definitely felt the effects of the unstable economy in recent months, but my super-secret, insider-info sources indicate that several golf club manufacturers are already priming for the upswing. In other words, 2009 isn't going to be a slow year for new equipment, as I can personally attest to seeing several new models ready to unveil in early 2009.

What should you be looking out for? There will be new drivers, irons, wedges and putters (as it seems there are every year.) Fitting is still very important, as once again each club company is proving they're willing to make the clubfitting process easier than it its ever been.

Also exciting? There are some new golf balls out there. In my opinion, finding the right golf ball is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to make some improvements in your game. Having the right ball for your ability is key.

So stay tuned and be on the lookout. 2009 is going to be a really exciting year.

It's Ryder Cup Week. Who Cares?

Despite the incessant media blitzkrieg that happens every couple years there's a Ryder Cup, I seem to stand alone in my opinion that the Ryder Cup is a media-driven, sponsor-soaked, over-hyped exhibition of golf.

I mean really, on behalf of the Americans, there hasn't been a whole lot to get excited about in recent Cups. Why? I think it's because the Euro's are more accustomed to acting as representatives of a greater sum than are the Americans, who like our forefathers, are more focused on our individual liberties and pursuits. That's what America is--a giant mass of individuals. Sure, we have our team sports, but allegiance to cities, states or even regions of the country are practically non-existent when compared to our Euro counterparts.

Put it this way: baseball, football or basketball players don't give a hoot where they play or what town they represent. They're after the dollar signs, no matter where that means playing their given sport. American fans are the same way. My fellow editor? He's a Texas Rangers fan, despite being raised on the East Coast and living now on the West Coast. Transplant fans are everywhere! Rooting for your hometeam is reserved for some, but it's nowhere near like it is throughout Europe (and Latin America for the matter.)

I think this is why sports like soccer are so wildly popular in Europe. It's not because soccer is all that interesting, instead it's the appeal a team has in representing an entire city or country. If you're from Madrid, you'll no doubt grow up a die hard Madrid soccer fan. If you're from Rome (Roma), the likelihood of you growing up as a London fan is, well--don't go there. It just doesn't happen. Fans in Europe are true fans of there hometowns or home countries.

That mentality, sense of pride--whatever you want to call it, is definitely stronger among the Euro players than the Americans. In fact, the last couple Cups, the Americans have looked really uncomfortable playing as a unit. I don't necessarily blame them--you can't compete on the greatest Tour in the world these days without being a little self-centered. After all, nobody is going to pinch hit for you on a long par-3, or putt that tricky 4-footer for you. You're on your own out there. So, when thrown into a team situation, the Americans don't understand the meaning of team unity and shared burden (like the Euros do who grew up with that sense of group pride), instead each American player feels as if he needs to carry the whole team. Their giant-sized ego's get in the way. This is why the players get so freaked out and under-perform. They TRY TOO HARD.

So, what would I do if I were Azinger? First, I'd ignore all the media hacks (like me) who have turned the Ryder Cup into the monumental gimmick that it is. Instead, trace back to the roots of Ryder Cups past, when it was a fun exhibition of true gamesmanship. The kind that started the night before with both teams enjoying drinks together and seeing who can outlast the other. Or, add some of the "in your face" trash-talking, the kind that built the game of golf in the 50s and 60s. Bring back the real persona of the Ryder Cup, which was designed to not necessarily to be a cutthroat live-for-this-moment-put-it-on-my-resume type event, but instead a showcase of personalities, skill and most of all, goodwill from one team to another.

If we ditched the horrible matching outfits and let each American use his persona, hubris and most of all talent in his own way, we'd see better golf coming from the Americans. We already see this coming from the Euros. They know how to have a good time and it shows. The Americans? They're just too darn uptight. If they'd only loosen up, they'd win more often.

And as for you media dudes, perched high in the media center with a 60-inch 1080p HDTV screen in front of you, chill out and have another free cocktail. They'll be plenty more drama for you guys to make up in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Be a Player

Pete Dye fans rejoice. A new package deal affords golfers the opportunity to play The Stadium Course and Dye's Valley Course both at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The Stadium Course is home to the Players Championship.

The package, called "Dye's Duo" also includes a two-night stay at the Sawgrass Golf Resort Spa, personal forecaddie on both courses, one hour golf instruction from the TOUR academy and practice balls. Valid now through February 2009, starting at $663 per person.

Call PGA Tour Experiences at (888) 421-8555 or click here for more details.

Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame to Open March 2009

News today out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that the golf mecca is opening a Hall of Fame. It will be located at Pine Lakes Country Club in its new Hall of Fame Garden, near the club's renovated clubhouse.

Four to six people who've played significant roles in the Myrtle Beach golf industry will be inducted in the Hall of Fame's inaugural year. No names have been announced.

Pine Lakes opened in 1927 and is the birthplace of Sports Illustrated magazine. Originally Ocean Forest Golf Club, Pine Lakes is also the area's first golf resort. This March it reopens after a 20-month restoration headed by Craig Schreiner.

A Convert? Not Yet.

A couple weeks ago Jay Hubbard from Tour Edge paid us a visit. He brought a bag full of their latest offerings: new XCG irons; GeoMax 2 Driver, fairway woods and hybrids; and many, many more.

We hit the clubs for awhile. I was a bit rusty, but I liked what I saw.

When we got to the JMAX Draw Iron-Woods I almost didn't want to hit them. After all, I'm a blade man with a low handicap. Really, what's the point of hitting these game improvement sticks?

Shhoomph.

That's what it sounded like when I hit them. If it isn't one of the most forgiving clubs I've ever hit, it's certainly a close second. At that moment I had a vision of me at 65 swinging a heck of a lot slower than I do now and with a bad back, hips and arthritis. And probably hitting an iron-wood so I can still enjoy the game.

If you fit that description, you should seriously consider testing a set of iron-woods. I think you'll be amazed at how forgiving they really are.

Ryder Cup Notable and Quotable

U.S. Captain Paul Azinger announces his four captain picks: Steve Stricker, Chad Campbell, Hunter Mahan and J.B. Holmes. They join Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis, Kenny Perry, Stewart Cink, Anthony Kim and Boo Weekley. Here are some excerpts from Capt. Zinger's press conference:

I felt like it would be difficult to win the team if you didn't win a tournament; and it proved to be the case, except for Ben Curtis who played terrific at the very end of the year... and Jim Furyk who has not won this year but plays consistently well every week.

I took a hard look at Kevin Streelman. I took a hard look at a whole bunch of players. You know, like I said, it's hard for me to justify why the guys didn't make the team. I can't really justify, you know, why I didn't pick who I didn't pick. I can just tell you why I picked the guys that I did pick. There's a lot of guys that deserve to be on this team and there's a lot of guys that were really close to making it.


I think that...a bomber is probably going to like the course. There's not a lot of rough. The first cut in spots is going to be pretty wide.
So does it favor anybody in particular, any team in particular? I don't know. I just felt like this event, I just didn't want anyone to feel handcuffed off the tee well, I mean, I don't care if Europe feels handcuffed, but yeah, I don't want our guys to feel handcuffed.

I don't think there's any advantage one way or another, just the way I set up the course personally, you know, Europe I think has been able to exploit an advantage trying to neutralize powerful teams. We don't nicely have a super powerful team at this point but we have a strong team that I'm proud of and some guys hit it long and some guys hit it straight. We'll see how it plays out.

...it will be unique to be... on our home soil as underdogs, but clearly, The European Team is strong. I think it's one of the strongest teams I've ever seen them bring across here.
We will be an underdog. We are missing Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest player on earth well, not arguably; he is the greatest player on earth. Arguably the greatest player ever. That's a big blow to us.
I like the team that we have and I'm really confident with who we have, but I think it's confident that Europe has a terrific match play record and team track record and we are going to be underdogs in this event and I think it's okay to be the underdog. Somebody has to be the underdog and it's very rare that it's evenly matched or a pick 'em. And I don't think this is going to be a pick 'em.

I'm going to have an open phone line to Tiger Woods during the event. I didn't think it was fair to ask Tiger to participate in the selection process in any way. But I am kind of curious how he feels as the event unfolds and as things unfold throughout the week. He's really intelligent and he's a great golf mind, so I'm looking forward to talking to Tiger.

Woody [Austin] is an exceptional person and a terrific player. I've said all along, I don't want to try to justify why I didn't pick anybody that I didn't pick. He would have been a terrific pick, but there are a lot of guys who would have been terrific picks. I just want to stick to my guns on this and just try to justify the reasons why I really like those guys. There are a lot of players that could have been picked for this team. I just chose to go the direction that I've decided.

I really haven't given it that much thought, whether he's [Tiger Woods] going to want to come or whether I want him to come or any of that. I want Tiger to get better, and I want to watch Tiger on TV live. I'm tired of watching him on tape win all these tournaments. I want to see him win some tournaments live again.
I'm pulling for Tiger to get better and return to form. I think the game needs Tiger and misses Tiger. I'm going to really miss that Tiger is not going to be there and Elin and the baby. It's one of my great regrets of this Ryder Cup that he's not going to be a participant in these matches.
Other than that, I haven't really put a lot of thought into he's going to come or whether I want him to come.

Vijay Singh, Your FedEx Cup Leader

The swing that's currently leading the FedEx Cup. Notice how Vijay keeps moving? His body remains active until about a second before he starts his swing. Too many amateurs freeze over the ball. Not Singh. His "waggle" is in his feet. Then he starts his swing with a little kick start with his left knee. This engages him and makes it easier to make a fluid swing. Think Jack Nicklaus.

Tiger Walks On Water

How many rules did Tiger break by walking on the water and touching it with his club?

Steve Lowery Wins FedEx Cup

I'm just kidding.

Remember last year when we were trying to figure out how the Fed Ex Cup actually worked? Well, this year has proven itself almost as confusing thanks to a few revisions that enable players who play well the opportunity to move further up the point tally. (For the official details, click HERE.)

What gripes me most is, despite the few ticky-tack revisions made in '08, the players who earn high FedEx Cup starting points by performing well over the course of the PGA Tour season can still realistically skip an event and go on to win the Fed Ex Cup ( just like Tiger, who only played 3 out of 4 events last year and still won.) To me, that's just plain ridiculous. What kind of race is this if you can sit out 25% of the laps and still cross the checkered line first? Hmm, that's like skipping the Great 8 and marching right into the Final Four, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, at least the golf is going to be good. The next four events are all played on strong, fun-to-watch layouts, including The Barclay's interesting course switcheroo at Ridgewood CC, The Deutsche Bank in Boston, the BMW in St. Louis and the Tour Championship in Atlanta. I like 'em all, despite the fact that I think it'd be a lot more interesting if the events spread the country. One in the west, two in the middle and finish on the east coast. Now that would be interesting, and also would be quite appropriate considering FedEx's breadth in shipping packages all across this great country of ours.

Nevertheless again, as for my pick. Steve Lowery? He'd probably have to win at least 2 events to have a shot (I'm not even going to try to scientifically validate that, it's just a guess.) But if not him, you have to go with the kind of players who can obviously string together a series of good rounds without too many blow ups. I.e., flashy, "go for broke" players aren't going to fair as well in the FedEx Cup as more conservative players might, so I'm going to go with players like Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh and Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby. Now, I want to pick Padraig Harrington, but seriously, what's he have left to prove? He should be the Player of the Year. I also want to say Anthony Kim has a shot, but that'd just be too good to be true.

Finally, I can't help but admit the player to watch has to be Sergio Garcia. You can pretty much assume he's a longshot, based on his streaky putting stroke alone, but it's his attitude that's most hindering. If not for his bouts with poor sportsmanship, he'd probably be more respected and in turn, a more confident contender and likely a major event winner already.

What do you think?

Hot Stix Opens New Facility at Tijeras Creek Golf Club

August 1st saw the opening of yet another Hot Stix Golf facility, this time at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. It marks the company's first foray into golf-mad Orange County.

Clients can expect cutting-edge, custom club fitting technology on Tijeras' outdoor practice tee.

A Tour-Fitting rings up for $125 for woods, $125 for irons and $50 for the flatstick.

"This area of Southern California lies at the heart of the golf equipment manufacturing industry," says Hot Stix chairman Tom Graunke. "It only makes sense that Hot Stix moves into the neighborhood."

Globally, Hot Stix manages seven club fitting locations.

Reservations can be made by calling (877) 513-1333 or by clicking here.

Bandon Peaks

David McLay Kidd's much anticipated Tetherow Golf Club is now open for play. One early reviewer describes the 7,298 yard Par 72 course as a "...wee bit of Scotland/Ireland...in the middle of Bend, Oregon."

The Scottish-born McLay Kidd designed Bandon Dunes on the Oregon Coast when he was just 27 years old and is also well known for his Castle Course creation at St. Andrews.

"We set out to create something that is truly unique-from the fescue grassing plan...to the grass hollows, rugged features and creative green complexes," he says of Tetherow, which overlooks the Cascade peaks.

*The public has a small window of opportunity to play Tetherow as it has plans to become a private resort with an anticipated 379 homesites.

Padraig Harrington's Swing

After a false start here, Harrington takes a good rip at it. That's what I like the most about his swing and style of play. He doesn't leave anything in the bag. In my experience, I see too many amateurs staying on their right side (i.e. not transferring their weight to their left side). Not the case with Harrington AT ALL.

Padraig Harrington Wins PGA Championship

Wilson Staff Advisory Member Padraig Harrington Becomes 2008 PGA Champion, Scores Back-to-Back Major Wins

Victory marks 61st major championship title won with Wilson irons

CHICAGO, August 11, 2008 - Wilson Staff Advisory Member Padraig Harrington overcame Sergio Garcia and a grueling 36-hole Sunday to capture The 90th PGA Championship title at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. This is the 61st major tournament title won with Wilson Staff irons, and marks Harrington's second major in a row and third out of the last six. He is only the 4th player in history to win the Open Championship and PGA Championship in the same year.

Wilson Staff equipment dominated Harrington's bag en route to his victory: Dd6+ driver, FYbrid 5-wood, Wilson Staff 3 Hybrid (19 degree), Ci7 series 4-iron, Pi series 5-iron through pitching wedge, and prototype Tw9 wedges (54 and 60 degrees).

Harrington had an impressive final two days, shooting a 66 in the rain delayed third round followed by another 66 to secure the win. Harrington shot a 32 on the back nine, just as he did at Royal Birkdale last month, and he came up with clutch shot-making throughout the final round. He chipped to 3-feet for birdie on the 12th, hit a 5-iron to 12-feet for birdie on the 13th, rolled in a 12-foot par on the 16th to catch Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis, took the lead by hitting it to 8-feet for birdie on the par-3 17th, then closed out the Spaniard with an 18-foot par for a two-shot victory. With the win, Harrington becomes the first European player to win the PGA Championship since the tournament began using stroke play in 1958.

Harrington is number three in the official World Golf Rankings and he is Europe's number one player. Harrington will also be a contender to win Player of the Year honors, which will be determined later this year. He is just the fourth player ever to win the Open Championship and the PGA Championship in the same year. "We continue to be energized by Padraig's performance and are thrilled to play a role in his historic achievement," said Tim Clarke, General Manager, Wilson Golf. "Padraig's drive and determination is an inspiration to our entire organization, and is a testament to his competitive nature.

We’ll be seeing a lot more of Padraig in the championship circle." In accepting the Wannamaker Trophy, Harrington alluded to the close competition that marked the last three holes in particular. "I think I was just willing to risk it all at that stage," he said. "You've got to get focused in that situation and the adrenaline and pressure help with that. You just take it on and give it a go."

Sean O'Hair One Back at PGA

We know, it's early, but Sean O'Hair is only one back at the PGA. Here's some swing analysis by Brady Riggs, one of our longtime contributors.

Enjoy.

Give us your take on his take.

USGA and R&A Make Groove Rules

USGA makes changes to rules on grooves - 08/05/2008

The Royal & Ancient and U.S. Golf Association announced a rules change Tuesday that will reduce the size and shape of grooves in most clubs in 2010, the first time equipment has been scaled back in nearly 80 years.

The change was directed toward elite players and emphasizes the importance of hitting the ball in the fairway.

For the whole story, CLICK HERE

Personalize Your Ball

At a recent press conference Taylor Made announced a whole slew of hot products that will hit stores in the coming months. We can't talk about most, but we can talk about their new golf ball program that allows golfers to select their very own number (0-99 and 00-09).

Minimum order is three dozen.

We think it's pretty cool for a couple reasons:

1.) You'll probably be the only person at your club playing an "89" or the equivalent thereof.

2.) When you keep finding your buddy's "23" ball in the weeds, you can tease the heck out of him.

He Sings, He Dances, He Plays Golf...But Can He Host a Golf Tournament?

Tickets recently went on sale for the 2008 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open which, despite its long, clunky name, could be a refreshing addition to the Tour's Fall schedule.

Sure the Las Vegas tournament is now in its 26th year, but Timberlake's presence could raise the tournament's profile. (Right now it's best known for being the site of Tiger's first professional win.)

Based on Timberlake's golf "skillz" (see his "respectable" 99 at Torrey Pines pre U.S. Open) and his recent top notch performance at the ESPY awards, there's no reason why he can't pull off some magic come October.

Still, it'll be hard for the JTSHCO to attract an A-list field. For one thing it's played post FedEx and Ryder Cups, for another the purse ($4.1 million) is about $2 million below the Tour average. Add to that its Fall placement and non-network TV coverage and the chances are slim that it'll ever reach the status of a mid-summer tournament.

That said, I'll watch...for two reasons. One, because I enjoyed watching tournaments more when they weren't just called the "XYZ Corporate Open." And two, because I'm too young to remember when Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason lent their name to events, I'm looking forward to the "old-school vibe" of the JTSHCO.

By the way, the only other PGA Tour event with an entertainer's name attached to it is the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which has lost what little pizazz it had since the passing of its namesake five years ago. George Lopez hosted it for the past two years, but was given the boot this year. His duties will be inherited by the King, Arnold Palmer in '09.

The JTSHCO is played in Las Vegas at TPC Summerlin, October 13-19. For tickets and info visit jtshrinersopen.com.

Wie Have Had Enough

Hey folks, we are just as confused as you are.

White Clouds Golf Course to Open August 11

Sun Valley Resort's White Clouds Golf Course opens for play August 11th. The Donald Knott designed course rises 300 feet from the Idaho resort's mile high base. White Clouds joins Sun Valley's existing Trail Creek Course, which opened in 1937 and was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Knott in the late seventies.

On August 20th Sun Valley will open "The Clubhouse," a 58,000 square foot stone and wood structure that will feature an indoor driving range and putting green and virtual golf.

Future plans include a 25-acre practice facility and 18-hole putting course.

For more information click here.

Non-Sequitur Item of The Day

Although not a golf product, I couldn't help but give a shameless plug to a product that I found to be a whole lot of fun. The online company, SkinIt, has created a way for all of us to either use stock photos or your own photo and "skin" virtually any commonly used computer, cell phone or camera. In a flash (really, it was quite easy), I was able to transform my otherwise bland, white Macbook into a picturesque view of Pebble Beach.


Pretty cool huh? I thought so too. Try it yourself HERE.

Skip It All You Want

I don't care if Kenny Perry wins 10 times a year and decides to pass on the British Open.

Big whoop.

Instead, I agree with Davis Love III; the real crime is committed when players qualify and show up for the British Open and then gripe, moan and complain once they get there. Love was right. The weather is gonna stink and the courses are quirky. Even if it's warm, it means the course will be firm and you're bound to see some really weird, odd bounces and tough greens. That's part of the mystic that makes "The Open" such a special event. If you can't accept that (umm, Pat Perez), don't go and play. The world's oldest major will continue on just fine without you.

If it were me, and I had a chance to play in the British Open, I'd definitely go. But for PGA Tour players, one of their greatest luxuries is the ability to craft whatever schedule they deem fit (so long as they meet the minimum requirements). If Kenny Perry doesn't want to go, hey, that's great for the folks in Milwaukee. And come on, we're talking about Kenny Perry--a phenomenal player, but not one with the pressure and weight of worldwide sponsors, investors and TV networks that make a living based on whether he plays or not. (How many millions and millions are lost in ad revenue with Tiger out this season?)

If Perry wants to rack up Fed Ex points or Ryder Cup points, so be it. I say, the guy is a class act. He could just have easily cancelled the entire week. But he didn't, instead he showed up and played in Milwaukee. Some guys also know their limitations, and know they just don't play well on links-style courses because, well, that's just not the kind of golf they learned. It doesn't mean he isn't as talented as a player who likes links-style golf, it just means he plays a different type of game. Besides, I'm sure if Perry wanted, he could dial in his game and kick some tail on the Euro Tour if he tried...he is that good.

Finally, Curtis Strange ditched the British Open 5 times is the 80's--a time when he was at his peak, Scott Hoch hates playing in bad weather and the list goes on. And lastly, Tiger will be back next next year and so will some of his wannabes anyway. Let's just chill...

To my fellow press core, give Kenny Perry a break. If anyone should receive criticism, look at what John Daly did.

Green Tee

On Tuesday, former Vice-President Al Gore challenged America to convert to 100% zero carbon electricity by 2018. "We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet," Gore said.

Well said.

While meeting these goals will be a major challenge, we here at Golf Tips are acutely aware of the environmental challenges that face the world and our industry. To that end we're always on the lookout for products that help keep golf courses in great shape and protect the environment.

The Epoch Tee does just that. It's made from a biodegradable recycled material, that the Epoch folks claim is more resilient than wood or the renewable plant materials available today. That means you don't use as many during your round and when it's time to bid the Epoch "adieu" it can return right back to mother nature.



The Epoch comes in three tee heights and, since its debut in 2004, has been used in 28 PGA Tour wins.

IW Club Announces Opening

The Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells, CA announced yesterday that their new clubhouse, the IW Club, will open on August 15th. The 53,000 square foot facility is home to a golf shop, restaurant, bar and Callaway Performance Center.

The new club caps a major renovation to the resort. Its two courses were recently refurbished and one, Clive Clark's Celebrity Course, is host to this year's LG Skins Game. John Fought's Players Course recently opened too and may host next year's Skins Games, as IWGR has the event through 2009.

The Phoenix-based architectural firm of Douglas Fredrikson designed the IW Club. It features sandstone walls, metal roofing and stainless steel detailing.

Greg Norman's Curse

I knew I would hear it sometime today, but I didn't think it would happen five minutes after I walked into the office. Perhaps you've heard it yourselves. You know, the colleague who says "Hey, why did Greg Norman choke again?"

Norman's one of the game's greatest players and, in his semi-retirement from competitive golf, one of its most successful. Today he resembles General Electric more than a golf pro. His enterprises range from restaurants to turf companies.

All that said, Greg Norman is not a choker.

Today Norman's presumably put all his major troubles behind him to focus on running his empire. All of which made me think that, although he admitted to being nervous on the first tee this weekend and that he really did want to win, his unlikely position of being the 54 hole leader was probably the last place he wanted to be. It only resurrected a reputation that has been dead and buried for years.

Even with the 54 hole lead, the odds of Norman hoisting the claret jug were unrealistic and slim. He hasn't played much and only teed it up at the Open to prepare for this week's Senior Open. I, for one, was happy that Harrington tore up the back nine yesterday. His stellar play erased most of the speculation that Norman choked. Still, there will be those who see things only in terms of the past.

Apparently Harrington keeps the claret jug on his breakfast table, within splattering distance of his porridge. It'll stay there for the next year and deservedly so. With his follow up win, the Irishman now holds two major titles. The same as Norman.

Padraig Harrington Wins British Open

Irish luck? Hardly. Padraig Harrington's win at the British Open was far from perfunctory, as the Irishman shot a stunning final round 69 to polish off a second B.O. by four shots over Ian Poulter. (Yes, that Ian Poulter.) Harrington also eagled the par-5 17th in dramatic fashion, proving there was some "Tiger" out there despite the world #1 spending the weekend on his couch, eating Cheeto's or whatever it is he does when he's not playing golf.

Nevertheless, this is Golf Tips magazine, so we won't pretend to armchair report on the British Open. You can find the recap elsewhere. But, we will ask you, the reader, a question: Do you know what kind of clubs Harrington used to win? This year and last? For the scoop on his bag and a look at a company we can't wait to come back and join the ranks of the other golf equipment behemoths, click the link below.

Click HERE

New Hot Stix Facility

Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Oregon is the latest facility to welcome Hot Stix Golf to their range. The independent custom club fitting and equipment testing lab will be located at the Portland area from now until October 1st (presumably because it gets chilly?).

"At our new Portland-area facility, a Tour-Fitting costs just $125 for woods and $125 for irons," says Hot Stix chairman Tom Graunke.

Langdon Farms boasts 18 holes designed by John Fought and Robert Cupp and was opened in 1995.

To make reservations call (877) 513-1333 or visit http://hotstixgolf.com/

Are You a Gulbis fan?

Dubbed the Anna Kournikova for women's golf (with an added Tour win to her credit), Natalie Gulbis simmers with charm, personality and well in case you weren't noticing, a healthy dose of sex appeal. And for you fans, boy is there ever an opportunity for you...

Seems like there's a contest available now (see the link below) that coincides with this year's Women's US Open, where one lucky winner will get the chance to spend an entire day with this LPGA superstar. What's in a day with Natalie? Well, it starts a morning workout, nine holes of golf followed by a lovely dinner...who knows?

Now wait a minute fellas. Sign ups aren't that simple. The actual contest is a sentimental one, which requires a short essay on the most influential person behind your success. In the case of Gulbis, her offbeat but very supportive father gets the credit in her very own essay, which you can read (again via the link below.)

Guys, gals, young and old are encouraged to submit their short essays online. Just be sure and do it soon. (We already did.)

http://rsmmcgladrey.eprize.net/nataliecontest/index.tbapp

These GIRLS Can Play

Yeah yeah yeah,

I know the PGA Tour runs ads declaring "These Guys Can Play." But Paula Creamer shooting 60 yesterday is a real testament to the fact that the girls can play too. She's on the course right now, so it's TBD how she'll end up, but once and for all it's time for you MEN out there to admit that these girls have game. Serious game.

How many of you are 10-under after day 1 of your club tournament? Hey, I challenge you to shoot 10 below from any set of tees with the pins in the center of every green. I'm not saying that's how the LPGA does it, but that's what you'd need to do just to make it fair. If you shoot 10-under, respond to my post. I'll send you a box of pink golf balls...

Congrats to Paula for nearly tying Annika's 59. (Wish I could do that.)

Renovation of Canyon Course at Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club Completed

Okay, that's the longest blog title ever.

News yesterday that the private, 27-hole Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club in Las Vegas has completed renovations on its 9-hole Canyon Course. The upgrades to the original Robert Trent Jones Jr. course were handled by the Houston-based design firm of Finger, Dye, Spann, Inc. Look for a drainage system, new state-of-the-art irrigation system, new cart paths and all new sodded fairways.

The Canyon Course's improvements are the first part of a multi-year renovation program.

A River Runs Through It

Playing golf in the summer is a great chance to visit northern destinations. In our July issue I wrote an article titled "The Great Green North," that profiled three regions (Northeast, Midwest and Pacific NW) and some of their best offerings.

One of the areas I didn't write about was the Mountain States (Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, etc.). But there's plenty of great golf in them thar hills.

In addition to the great public and resort golf in the area, the recently opened "luxury residential sporting community," Snake River Sporting Club in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, offers a fine test of golf designed by Tom Weiskopf, not to mention a helipad and personal ambassadors. After all, it is a luxury community.

Snake River is surrounded by 3.4 million (that's right, million) acres of Bridger-Teton National Forest and features bluegrass fairways and native fescue grasses. At 7,500 yards it might seem like a beast, but the high elevation (5,900 feet) means you can subtract a couple clubs (and brag to your buddies that you once indeed did poke a 9-iron 170 yards).

"What makes it such a special piece of property is the Snake River, the canyon, the varieties of large, mature trees on site, and the meadow and wetlands areas," says Weiskopf, who goes on to say it's his "finest golf course design in the U.S."

If the thought of living and playing in such unspoiled nature appeals to you check out their website: http://www.snakeriversportingclub.com/.

A Glove in the Hand

"The Bionic Golf Glove is one of the few products in golf in a long time that actually does what the marketing says it will," says Crescent Hill Golf Course Pro Barry Bonifield. Bonifield's words are pretty strong (and not entirely true), but I do agree that Bionic delivers on its promises. Namely that wearing this ergonomic glove significantly reduces the amount of hand pain in golfers with weak and/or arthritic hands.

In fact at this year's PGA Merchandise Show I actually took time off from my many meetings to drop by their booth and personally thank them for helping me battle back from a hand injury. For months I couldn't swing a club because of pain in my left hand. However after wearing the Bionic (and tweaking my grip a bit) I could swing pain free.

I don't usually recommend specific products unless I believe in them, so take this as a ringing endorsement: if you suffer from hand pain (in either your right or left hand) consider trying a Bionic. They won't cure your pain (only a doctor and rest can do that) and they're not cheap (about $25 a pop) but they're worth it.

Seeing Straight

A very small, but highly annoying abrasion above my left iris motivated me to write this blog. Yes, I saw the doctor, and yes I'm squeezing some kind of unpleasant goo into my eyeball four times a day and am getting better, still it's a highly unpleasant sensation to be reminded of the scratch EVERY TIME I BLINK!

So I have to wear my glasses-for the first time since I was 18 years old-and I am considering buying some of those massive wraparounds from my local CVS to help me get by. (However, I hear you get carded when you try to buy them and if you were born after 1930 they won't sell you a pair.)

It's a wonder any Tour player can tee it up without a pair of shades.

That said we're working on our August/September issue now, which will include eight pairs of performance eyewear (sunglasses as they used to be called), including the Adidas T-Sights (above). This experience has beaten home something I've written about for the past couple years. That it's vital to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays. Trust me, I've researched the effects of such big worded eye diseases as "macular degeneration" and their impact on your vision ain't pretty.

In the meantime if anyone has any better advice on how to cure a scratched cornea, I'm all, um, ears.

Summer Savings in the DR

Recession? What recession?

With rising oil prices, a real estate market in free fall and Costco limiting rice purchases to a measly four bags (the horror!) people are scaling back their summer vacation plans and really who can blame them?

Of course now is the time when savvy consumers take advantage of great deals.

From May 1-December 23 PuntaCana Resort & Club along the Dominican Republic's east coast is offering a special family golf package for $640 per adult and $575 per child.

Guests can play three rounds of golf at P.B. Dye's La Cana Golf Course at the PuntaCana Resort & Club (I played there a few years ago and enjoyed his use of mounds, bunkering and island greens-P.B. is, after all, Pete Dye's son.)

While not on the greens, guests can enjoy five miles of sandy beach, offshore reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving, a full-service marina, the exquisite Six Senses Spa, a tennis complex with lighted clay-caliche courts, a children's petting zoo, horseback riding and a nature preserve with crystal clear springs.


Here are the package details:
- four days, three nights in a deluxe room
- VIP service and assistance at the airport including transfers Airport-Hotel-Airport
- One a la carte dinner at La Yola Restaurant
- One a la carte dinner at La Choza Restaurant
- Three rounds of golf including shared golf cart and taxes, at the renowned La Cana Golf course
- Use of oceanfront Golf and Beach Clubhouse, including swimming pool and patio, lounge grill and locker rooms
- Full Dominican Buffet Breakfast and taxes included
- Complimentary kids club program, open until 10:30pm

Rates are as follows (Parent/Child):
May 1-December 23 $640/$575

Nike Scores a Slam Dunk and Jordan didn't even play.

There's nothing manufacturers love more than Tour validation and Nike got loads of it this past Sunday in Augusta. Not only did Nike staff players place 1st, 2nd and 3rd but the three men (Trevor Immelman, Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink) were split between two groups, resulting in beaucoup airtime and maximum exposure. Just about every shot Immelman and Woods hit was broadcast to 18% of U.S. households; Cink was never really in contention and appeared less often.

Kismet? Maybe. But credit has to be given to Nike for signing a promising golfer like Immelman, the sneaky-steady Cink and Woods (whoever he is). Had Paul Casey not ballooned to a final round 79 we may have even seen more of the Swoosh.

For the week Immelman hit 85.71% of his fairways and averaged a smooth 287.5 yards off the tee. Good driving is becoming a must for the new Augusta (along with a steady putter). BTW, the 28 year-old South African hits the Nike SQ Sumo 5000 drive (seen above.)

I Got Shafted.

While I may not be lucky enough to actually try one of those spiffy new drivers available with interchangeable shafts, I had the chance during my last two rounds to test a couple new shafts in two (but identical) driver heads to see if they made a difference in my game. I did this for two reasons: I noticed that the last time I played golf with my colleagues here at GT, they were hitting the ball a long way and seemingly straighter than I was. My driver on the other hand seemed to lack some forgiveness where I needed it, and it was about time to see if changing shafts was going to make a difference.

The first shaft I tried was Mitsubishi's new Javln shaft. Billed as a shaft with a stable tip section (for better control) but with a little extra flex to allow golfers who aren't swinging their best (or hardest) too still hit long and straight drives. Now, knowing the shaft had a firm tip, it was a still a smidgen softer than my old one. Reason being, I didn't tip trim it like I did my previous driver shaft. (My old driver shaft was tipped about 1/4 inch). So, I expected to draw the ball much more easily this time around.


The verdict? I did draw it. And to my surprise, unlike other shafts that tend to buckle when I swing hard and cause my ball to veer left of way left, seemed even when I swung hard with the Javln, the ball still went pretty darn straight. Virtually every tee shot had a slight draw, and I was happy to see that as I swung harder the slight draw didn't morph into a sweeping hook. This is a huge plus, and not only did I hit it with a slight draw, I tacked on at least 15-20 yards per drive. My old driver was set up for a fade, which I had to manipulate to hit to avoid not only slicing it, but also hooking the cover off it. The Javln though, was as they used to say back in the day, "da bomb."

The second shaft I tried was equally impressive, although different. The UST ProForce HMOI shaft, is designed for today's 460cc driver. The features include a higher balance point (to prevent the ball from ballooning) and a stiffer tip for added control. The result? I liked it a lot. This shaft felt and looked a lot like my old one, only with the HMOI it seemed that even when when my swing wasn't at it's absolute best, I knew the ball was going to go straight. Very straight actually, with a penetrating trajectory that added probably 10 yards to my drives. This is a strong-hitter's shaft, which is probably why the harder I swung, the better the result. I didn't tip trim this one either, but even still the ball flew straight as an arrow.
In any case, it's tough to say which one worked better for my game. All I can say is, both were an upgrade over my ultra-stiff driver in my bag, and having a tad more flex combined with good tip stability meant I was hitting straighter and longer drives. If anything, my advice for all of you if you want to hit the ball a little further is to try a softer flex profile, but keep a shaft with a firm tip--like both of the shafts that I tried. This will help you tack on a few yards, while retaining the control you need.

Other than that, I can't tell how good it feels to be the long ball in the office again. Try a few new shafts until you get it right. You'll know what I mean.