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.

Spider Men

There've been a few Peter Parkers on Tour this year playing and winning with TaylorMade's new Rossa Monza Spider. J.B. Holmes was the first player to use his superpowers to win in February at the FBR Open. According to TaylorMade the extremely high MOI mallet was the "No. 1 putter model" at the tournament. The week before at the Buick Invitational, 12 Spiders were in play.

In March Sean O'Hair used the Spider at the PODS Championship. That week O'Hair averaged 1.813 putts per Green in Regulation and won by two shots over six other players.

Why have Tour players been so successful with the Spider? In order to find out I tested it last week.

Aside from all of its technical advances I liked the Spider because it just felt great (I know, what an expert opinion). It has tremendous balance and at times it felt like I literally couldn't swing it off line. (See below for more a technical summary of its weighting properties.)

It's hard to say how golfers will react to its unorthodox looks, but if they give it a try I think it's very possible that it could supplant the Two-Ball as the most popular mallet.

A quick overview on what TaylorMade did to ramp up the Spider's MOI to give it that great weighting:

1. Its head was constructed from a steel wire-frame so weight can be pushed to the clubhead's perimeter.
2. It has a light, but strong aluminum core which helps move weight to the perimeter as well.
3. It sports a pair of "wings" into which weights have been added (and adjusted). (I didn't mess around with the weights-I never do-and still found it to have exceptional control and balance.)

It might not be the most traditional looking putter and it may turn off some customers simply by its looks, but I suggest giving it a try at your local store. TaylorMade just started shipping them to retailers (they ring up at $240) and I wouldn't be surprised if you started seeing more in your friends' bags as well as on Tour.

Charlie Schroeder

Innovation is King in Equipment Industry

If you're the type who gets complacent easily the rough and tumble world of golf equipment design and manufacturing isn't the place for you. Despite a variety of obstacles, including what some describe as the USGA's desire to limit the effect technology has on the game, equipment company engineers and marketing execs continue to push forward with little sign of letting up.

I was struck by this fact the other day when some of the GT staff took a field trip to our local golf superstore. Ostensively we were there to investigate the current state of the golf ball market, and to purchase a number of new models for "testing," purposes. The sheer number of golf ball manufacturers, as well as the variety offered by each would amaze anyone not jaded by a close relationship to the industry. In all honesty, the sight of three massive islands composed entirely of golf balls from at least ten different manufacturers can be a bit daunting, even for those of us who expect it.

Once we did a full reconnaissance of the new spheres, we took a walk around the store and saw the same basic situation in every department, which was more styles than you could shake a stick at with features that would be unimaginable just a few years ago; In the shoe area there was a pair made from biodegradable materials including rice husks, in the bag aisle there was a model with a built-in beverage cooler and pouch for your GPS unit, and in the driver racks there were models featuring interchangeable shaft technology.

It's all pretty amazing stuff, especially when you consider the number of hoops any given equipment manufacturer has to jump through to build a product that conforms to USGA rules, doesn't infringe on competitors patents, and actually does what the marketing claims say it will do. Clearly this is not easy task, but it's one that even the most cynical observer would have to admit is being accomplished quite well these days.

So if you're hoping to jump-start your golf game this season, you need not look any further than your local pro shop for inspiration. And don't get nervous when confronted by the huge number of options available. Just keep in mind what you feel is lacking in your on-course performance, or what would make the game more fun, and look for the model that best fits the bill.

Let the Games Begin

By Charlie Schroeder

Unlike other professional sports seasons, which have clearly marked beginnings and ends, the PGA Tour's schedule is, well, a mess. Sure, official tournaments begin just after the New Year and end in November, but most people tune out after the Fed-Ex Cup (if they tune in at all). Then, there's a smattering of secondary tournaments that fail to attract any big names (personally I think there's some interesting action here as players on the bubble try to retain their Tour cards). Once that wraps up, the so-called "Silly Season" kicks in, hanging around like an unwanted house guest into most of December, ensuring that folks who like their golf with a side order of eggnog won't be disappointed.

Some argue that the season really begins (and ends) with the majors, and that everything else is just a lead up (and for that matter a let down) to the "Big Ones."

I disagree.

For me, the golf season revolves around when Tiger Woods plays.

Consider the excitement he's already brought to 2008. After his runaway victory a couple weeks back at the Buick, Tiger flew to Dubai, and, jet lagged out of his gourd, shot 65. After struggling on Friday and Saturday, he finished with a 31 on the back nine on Sunday to edge out Ernie Els and win his 72nd worldwide victory (he has 62 on the PGA Tour).

72 wins. The guy's 32 years old!

I'm a sucker for Charles Osgood and his CBS Sunday Morning Show (I love their nature montages.), but last Sunday when Tiger roared back to win in Dubai I happily eschewed my weekly dose of bird calls to watch the world's greatest golfer ever. How could any golf fan not?

Since we here at GT focus our energies on instruction, equipment and travel, we rarely find ourselves locked inside a press tent over the weekends, so when it comes to the Tour I'm a fan, just like you. And as a fan I couldn't have cared less about the Mercedes (a victor's-only tourney that Tiger didn't play), Sony or the Hope. Not that I'm not thrilled for the winners (can you tell me who they were?) but it's just not the same as watching Tiger make history every time he tees it up.

Speaking of which, one more win until Tiger ties Hogan. Let the games begin.

Lost In The Fray

The 55th Annual PGA Merchandise Show has come and passed. Whew! It was an interesting year, full of new rules, technology, products and even a fair share of national media coverage--although for the wrong reason. Nevertheless and despite the "noose incident", The PGA Show had a different vibe this year--probably due to the level of uncertainty coming from golf's governing bodies on subjects like adjustable shaft technology, groove width, and other club related issues. For me, and for the other thousands of golf nerds there with me, I couldn't help but wonder what the USGA had in mind next. We're they thinking of relaxing restrictions on adjustability to soften the blow for when they decide to scale back the golf ball? Are my wedges going to be non-conforming in a few years? Will the USGA soon put a ban on pink golf shirts? (I was kidding about the last one, although after having walked the show, it wouldn't be a bad idea.)

As an editor, I don't have the answer to those questions yet. I'm not sure if anyone outside the USGA does. But what I do know is, despite the fray of uncertainty regarding the Rules of Golf and how they do and will apply, there still remained plenty of innovation and technology that's sure to please golfers in 2008.

In fact, there was a whole lot of it. If you haven't been to "The Show", be ready to walk and gaze for hours and hours. Every aisle and corner practically had some new product geared to do what we all want to do--play better golf. And if not that, it's a product to make us look and feel better while playing golf. And if not that, it's something to at least make us think golf, as far as memorabilia, travel and careers go. Hey, there was even a 15-minute teeth whitening booth for all you who want to freshen your grin for when you have to hold those oversized checks. (To each his own, I guess.) Just take my word for it--it's all there in Orlando. (Also, take my word on this: Steer clear from the Hooters up the street. It is NOT the antidote to a long day on your feet. I had to learn the hard way.)

That said, you've come to the right place if you want the jist of The Show without the foot blisters. I've got the skinny (I think I lost a couple pounds just walking around by the way), on what's great in '08.

Handheld GPS rangefinders: If you don't have one, get one. They work wonderfully and really speed up play.

Interchangeable shaft technology: With Nickent at the forefront, look for several other companies to unveil drivers and woods that feature on-the-fly shaft interchangeability, so you can adjust your shafts to fit wherever and whatever you play-- just like the pros do.

Performance apparel and shoes: Clothes that can actually help you play better? Dare we say we saw underwear that can help your swing? Check out the new stuff from adidas Golf. It's amazing. Also, can new shoes help you hit it further? You bet!

Custom-fitting: PING unveiled a new fitting system (they practically invented the genre by the way), and seemingly every other equipment manufacturer has some sort of way for making sure you have clubs that fit. Take 'em up on it.

Hybrids: Yep, they're still a must have. Good thing now is, there are more than ever to choose from.

Golf eyewear: Yes, it's a big deal. And yes, they can save your eyes and maybe go as far as save your round. And no, you don't have to look like Robocop while wearing them. Styles have improved in a big way.