The Science of Golf Ball Dimples

This isn't breaking news, but we still thought it'd be of interest.

A team of engineers at Arizona State University and the University of Maryland have been studying how air flow affects a golf ball's speed and trajectory.

Nicholas Bakalar wrote about the experiments in the November 30th edition of the New York Times. He mentioned that among the many U.S.G.A. rules for a golf ball it...

...cannot weigh more than 1.620 ounces. It must fall, under its own weight, through a 1.680 ring gauge in fewer than 25 of 100 randomly selected positions at a room temperature from 71.6 to 75.2 degrees. It must be spherically symmetrical. Its initial velocity and its combined carry and roll must not exceed precise limits, and the ball must be tested using equipment specified by the U.S.G.A.

But, he continues, what the U.S.G.A. doesn't specify is

the size or number of dimples.
(emphasis added)

This completely opens up the door for improving a golf ball's aerodynamics and, hence, how far it flies. Up until now a golf ball's size, number and dimple arrangement has been, according to an article published on Science Daily, more

art than...science. For many years, sporting goods companies would design their dimple patterns by simple trial and error, testing prototype after prototype against one another.

The engineers' goal was

to make a better golf ball by optimizing the size and pattern of [the] dimples and lowering the drag golf balls encounter as they fly through the air.

According to the Times

a team of mechanical engineers has constructed a computer model of a golf ball's surface. The model simulates a golf ball moving through air [see video below], and allows the engineers to solve equations that describe air flow at more than a billion points across the ball's surface.

Which is no small feat

Running a typical simulation requires a supercomputer — the equivalent of more than 500 networked desktop computers running in parallel for more than 300 hours. The result is a vast amount of data about the local speed and pressure of the air around each dimple and around the ball.

What's this mean for the average golfer? Well, not much...yet. As Science Daily notes, "new designs are still years away," but with any luck the advances will add some extra yards to your drive or, more optimistically, according to ASU professor of mechanical engineering, Kyle Squires.

It's conceivable that we could design dimples that would lower the risk of a hook or a slice.

"Uneven," Tonight on Golf Channel

Will it be must-see TV, or a bit "uneven?" Despite its compelling subject matter, early reviews are mixed for tonight's Golf Channel documentary, Uneven Fairways.

Inspired by Pete McDaniel's book, Uneven Lies, "Fairways" tells the stories of golf's Negro League, the United Golfers Association (UGA), where African-American's played while the PGA Tour was still segregated.

Over at the Orlando Sentinel Dave Darling says that

The documentary is another good reminder of how blacks struggled in this country for decades to achieve equality and how we sometimes take that struggle for granted.

But, unfortunately

it doesn't present much in the way of actual competition that took place on the UGA Tour.

Over at Golfweek, Marty Kaufmann addresses that very issue, noting that it

has an understandable dearth of archival footage.

(Suffice to say, the UGA wasn't on TV Saturday and Sunday afternoons.) Kaufmann also notes that

ironically, the documentary's momentum stalls on the few occasions when Tiger Woods comes on screen.

His presence, while perhaps obligatory, feels forced, interrupting the compelling memories of the men who actually were there.

At the Journal Sentinel Gary D'Amato learned

a lot about an era in which honor and fair play took a back seat to segregation.

Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, Uneven Fairways debuts tonight at 9 p.m ET.

Here's a related video of the legendary Charlie Sifford receiving an honorary degree from the University of St. Andrews:



And click here to listen to a radio story about Al Duhon, the second African-American to win a USGA title.

Go to Papago

The recently renovated Papago Golf Course (5th hole, above) in Phoenix reopened a couple months ago and has never looked better according to (Travelin') Joe Passov over at golf.com.

The tired turf has been replaced, 30 bunkers have been added, the green sizes and contours have been restored, and the trees that obscured the views of Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak have been removed. With the addition of 300 yards to the tips, Papago now clocks in at an impressive 7,333 yards.

While it may never host a U.S. Open or Presidents Cup, there's already talk about other events. But all of that isn't really relevant, because Papago wasn't rescued for the pros, but for the people. The top rate here is $109 for visitors ($84 walking on weekdays and just $44 for locals). That's not a deal — it's a steal.

Here are a couple pictures of the 9th hole:

The 11th:

And 18:
All photos: Tony Roberts/Communication Links

AT&T Viewers: Thank Steve Wynn

Over the years the AT&T has grown from a modest clambake in Rancho Sante Fe to its current format on the Monterey Peninsula, where 180 Tour pros are held at gunpoint and forced to endure six hour rounds of bad golf before one lucky player walks away with a check for $1,080,000 (and a much needed break from their amateur playing partners).

Many pros skip the AT&T because of the lengthy rounds, but this year the field is surprisingly strong with four of the world's top ten golfers (Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Kenny Perry) teeing it up. Also on hand are Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and '09 winners, Nick Watney, Kenny Perry and Pat Perez.

Of course the AT&T is really all about the celebrities, and CBS' Saturday telecast is sure to keep the cameras trained on (Kenny G aside) their lackluster golf swings and the crowd-pleasing shenanigans of Bill Murray, Kevin James and George Lopez, etc.

The real golf comes on Sunday.

One notably absent celeb this year is Las Vegas impersonator Danny Gans, who, for the past two years, monopolized much of the Saturday telecasts with recycled SNL impersonations. We're not sure why CBS devoted so much airtime to Gans, possibly they're sadists, maybe they just really dug his imitation of Dana Carvey imitations. Whatever their motivation, watching Gans' ham it up taught us how to use our TiVo and guaranteed that the next time we're in Vegas we'll take in the American Superstars show before we'd see Gans.

Then again, we're not the high-rolling, Picasso-poking Steve Wynn, who, according to the Las Vegas Sun, lured Gans to his newest Vegas property, Encore, when his contract at the Mirage expired last April.

...Wynn has seen Gans' show 20 times.

Wynn drew up a list of favorite bits he wanted to see in the new show, but told Gans: "You can do new stuff too, whatever you want to do, but make sure you do this." Gans looked at the list and realized there wasn't any room for new material. "Steve, this is like an hour and a half of material. I can't do it."

So...expect to see more of the same if you see Gans' "new" show. Look on the bright side, at least it'll be in Las Vegas and not at this year's AT&T.

Tiger and Elin have another cub

And his name is Charlie Axel Woods.

Earlier today Tiger announced the birth on his website, writing:

Elin and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Charlie Axel Woods, who was born on Sunday February 8, 2009. Both Charlie and Elin are doing great and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts. Sam is very excited to be a big sister and we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. I also want to thank our doctors, nurses and the hospital staff for their personal and professional care. We look forward to introducing Charlie to you at the appropriate time, and again thanks from all of us for your kindness and support.

From all of us at Golf Tips, congratulations Tiger and Elin.

Nick Watney Takes the Buick...

...and with a swing like this it's easy to see why.

Make the Turn, March 8th

GT Senior Instruction Editor Jeff Ritter, gold medal Olympic swimmer and Certified Holistic Nutrition Specialist Anita Nall Richesson and International Coaching & Training Institute founder Austin Vickers have joined forces for a one day "physical and mental strategy" workshop at the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Arizona.

Taking place on Sunday, March 8th, the workshop, called "Making the Turn" promises to not only pass along physical and mental strategies, but also a personal golf game improvement plan, nutritional plan and a strength, flexibility and injury prevention routine. (A round of golf at ASU Karsten is included in the price as well.)

Cost is $950 per person.

To register, call 480.491.5591. For more info visit Jeff's website or send him an email at jritter5@cox.net.

Some things never get old...

If you swing like this, why even bother?



Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Take note Charles, the best golfer ever has your swing down pat.

Free Golf!

If you've ever wanted to be the first golfer to tee it up on a new (or in this case renovated) golf course, here's your chance.

Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C. is reopening on Saturday, March 14th after a 20 month, $10 million renovation, and to mark the occasion they're holding a sweepstakes--with a few perks, to say the least.

The prize includes an invitation to attend Pine Lakes grand opening ceremony, the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony, four nights accommodations at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, a round of golf at Myrtlewood Golf Club and video swing analysis from a Grande Dunes Golf Academy instructor. Oh, and of course, the first tee time for you and three friends at Pine Lakes. (If you win, play fast. A lot of people will be on your tail.)

Register here anytime before February 16th. Winner will be announced the next day.

Good luck!

What will be the most talked about international golf venue for the next 18 months?

Ireland? Scotland?

Nope, for the next 18 months the most talked about international golf destination is sure to be Wales.

Wales?

Yes, Wales.

Cymru (its Welsh name) might be small (population 3 million) but it's big when it comes to golf. There are 189 golf courses in an area slightly smaller than New Jersey and 22 of them are the highly desirable links courses, like Royal Porthcawl.

Although not one of those links courses, the "2010" course at Celtic Manor Resort will host next year's Ryder Cup. Nine new holes designed by Ross McMurray join a pre-existing (and heavily renovated) nine designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Together the two nines form the first course built specifically to host the Ryder Cup.

At last week's PGA Merchandise Show, the media was treated to a presentation that detailed the extraordinary lengths Celtic Manor went to build the course. (In some cases they had to literally move mountains.) That kind of earth moving makes it sound more like an American venture than one in the British Isles, but we're happy to report that none of the photographs we saw resemble a Pete Dye course on acid.

Suffice to say, the Welsh are excited to play host. How excited? Check out Celtic Manor's website. There's a clock counting down the days. Only 604 to go.

In the meantime, here's a commercial created by the Wales Tourism Board, starring 2006 European team captain and Welshman, Ian Woosnam.