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.