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