By
Bob Koczor
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PAST ISSUESMARCH 2011JANUARY 2011AUGUST 2010 |
By
Bob Koczor
Ever
play football? Toss a real football? I’m talking about a football made out of
real genuine leather, not that fake pseudo phony lab-made leather. And not those
fuzzy foam footballs, nor those rubber pigskins.
Best Grips recently introduced its new Gridiron Golf Grips which are made of the same leather as NFL footballs. These are the only genuine leather grips made in the USA.
Why real leather for golf grips? #1) provides true tactile feel; #2 provides memory and adhesion; #3) provides the highest shock absorption and comfort. (Same benefits accrued on the gridiron with a real football!)
Think about the football with which you have played in past years or the football you have seen played Sunday afternoons on TV and you’ll easily recall the durability factor benefits of leather, as well. Kick it, slam it, pile on it… and it remains as good as new.
Now take that leather and try it on the grips of your golf clubs. Best Grips uses the finest genuine leather available.
Visit www.BestGrip.com for more information.
You might just want to also take a peek at Best Grips’ exotic hides, from alligator to ostrich to shark, rattlesnake and lizard. These have unique looks and a high tactile feedback so important when swinging a club.
You
gotta have a sense of humor if you play golf for the fun of it. This covers
about all of us who aren’t playing on some kind of Tour, and those who are not
trying to pay their mortgages from ‘side bets’ with their buddies.
Bobby Rusher knows best this funny bone of golf, and it’s all reflected in his follow-up book to his popular “How To Line Up Your Fourth Putt.” This new one is titled “When to Regrip Your Ball Retriever.” With titles like these, you know they’re going to make you laugh a ton-full.
Humor abounds in this well-illustrated book as golf balls do in any watery grave meant to remind golfers that there’s life after a round of golf. Chapters include: How to Avoid the Water When You Lie 8 in the Bunker; How to Get More Distance Off the Shank; When to Explain to Your Opponent that He or She should Finish their Sway before they Begin their Lunge; How to Hit a Dunlop #2 from the Rough On Your Second Shot When You Hit a Titleist #1 from the Tee.
This one is another winner for the author, as we all are… but only if we’re willing to laugh at ourselves, a bit, during a round.
Visit www.4putt.com. Or, see You Tube video—4th Putt Video
C’mon, don’t take your fourth putt so seriously!
Besides
bets with your golf buddies, there is nothing more that you lose during a round
than either your ball marker or your divot tool.
The scene on the green is as predictable as a Hollywood car chase down Lombard Street in San Fransico: there you are on the green, fumbling through your pockets. You’re looking for your ball marker. You’re away at 20’ plus, so you’re the first to hit, but you want to clean your golf ball first, and go through the routine that reflects you actually think you can sink your putt… but, you don’t have a friggin’ ball marker!
The Frogger Store, well-known for its ‘Smarter Tools for A Better Game’ comes to your rescue with its new HOP! Repair Tool featuring six magnets embedded in its slick and great-looking frame.
“But wait!” you say. “I’m looking for my ball marker!”
Frogger has already taken care of that for you because between the last green and the one you’re standing on, the ball marker you dropped into your pocket at the last green literally ‘hopped’ into the magnetized HOP! Repair Tool in your pocket and there’s no need for a search ‘n rescue mission hands in pockets.
Frogger thinks ahead of the challenges that you may meet on the course, and makes for a better game by eliminating these obstacles to a better golf game with a better idea.
Never again will you be looking for or asking your buddies on the green for a ball marker. It will always be there, in the same pocket with the HOP! Repair Tool, sitting securely in the highly magnetic pocket of the HOP!
The HOP! Repair Tool itself reflects ultra-22nd Century design, much like the 250mph trains which are coming our way, yes, faster than a speeding bullet. HOPS!’ ergonomic design provides leverage to repair ball marks pronto without destroying the turf.
Visit www.froggergolf.com for a display of other well-designed and multi-functional offerings by Frogger Golf.
HOP! right to it!
QUANTUM GOLF GLOVES & GRIPS
Most of us golfers in the Baby Boomer Generation
have various degrees of arthritis or effete gripping ability.
When it comes to hitting a driver or an iron, we find ourselves lacking that sturdy secure grip which enables us to keep the club from twisting or slipping upon contact. Sometimes the moment of impact hurts. Sometimes we hold back as we pre-dispose ourselves towards the pain to come.
If you hurt or think of pain to come, diminished power and accuracy are the result.
What to do besides enrolling in a costly Health Club for its weight-lifting machines, barbell exercises, and supervised conditioning pros?
Quantum Grip focuses on hand strength and grip enhancement not through use of straps or gadgets. Rather, this wrist and grip strengthener is a two-part system that looks like the golf clove and grip you’re using right now.
The difference, however, is that the Quantum Grip uses the very simple technology of “hook and loop” to make golf more accessible to all golfers, including older and physically challenged persons so that they can easily and securely hold and control a golf club on the downswing and follow-through.
Quantum Golf uses the Velcro ‘hook’ material which is recessed into the golf club grip, while the ‘loop’ Velcro material is constructed into the special golf glove.
This perfect union allows golfers with arthritic conditions and those with weakened hand strength to control their swings through impact with the ball. This system also aids those golfers with elbow or hand injuires.
Quantum Golf lets the golfer use very little strength to hold the club securely, thus building up confidence, as well, while lowering one’s score and playing the game of golf as it ought to be enjoyed.
Quantum Golf Grips are installed on a golfer’s existing clubs, and used with the Quantum Golf Gloves.
For golfers who have challenges of hitting too many far-reaching slices, Quantum Grips & Gloves allow these golfers to hold their clubs less tightly.
Jim DeLaby II, PGA Pro, says: “With Quantum Grip, I can actually feel what is called ‘the lag’ in the swing. I can retain my wrist angle on the downswing and snap the clubface through impact. My grip is on there so strong and so secure that I’m able to relax my wrists for the first time and not worry about them. I’ve gained 25 yards from my first swing with Quantum Golf.”
Occupational Therapist Patrick Pinkart developed Quantum Golf after a spinal cord injury affected his hand strength for years. Yes, another example of necessity being the Mother of Invention.
Fifty years ago, GPS systems cost an arm and a
leg, like for a GPS unit for a boat in the ocean. $40,000 plus! I know, I was
there with my Islander 36’ racing down the coast… and could not afford it! If
you fell off the boat at night or in challenging conditions, chances were
greater than nought that you got free burial rites at sea! Luck played a big
part of pre-GPS rescues at sea.
With time, GPS systems became much less expensive, much more accurate (within feet, not miles!), and easily available to everyone from skiers, to drivers on the freeway, to hikers, to golfers —just about everyone.
GPS is so prevalent nowadays that the younger generation takes it for granted that GPS has been around since Biblical Days!
When GPS units first made their appearance on the golf course, mostly on carts, this location device was a bit frustrating and served many golfers as a novelty rather than an aid to improve one’s game. GPS accuracy needed on the course was not always on the menu. You had to trust the GPS readings that read the front of the green was 177 yards away, not the 168 you knew it to be since it was YOUR HOME COURSE!
As with all inventions, GPS on the golf course improved and improved and improved. (There ought to be a history written about the evolution of GPS for golf!)
Most recently, I had a special aha! moment when I realized that with budget cuts now being heralded by every politician in this country, the GPS section at the Patent Office in Washington DC office could be closed (or hours cut) because.… how better can these GPS golf devices be made?!?
There are half dozen golf companies whose GPS units now tally 75% of all sales of GPS units. Bushnell is one of them.
Bushnell had a life, a very successful life, before it entered the Golf Industry about 15 years ago. The company was the leader in every precision device hunters needed. You couldn’t talk about hunting without mentioning Bushnell. Their rangefinder products in hunting were the most accurate and finely made.
After all these years, Bushnell doesn’t stand on the side stage, anymore, when it comes to GPS units for golfers. After developing and making more perfect their products almost every year with a newer and better model, Bushnell has paid its dues, and stands with the Big Boys in this niche of the Golf Industry.
Bushnell’s latest offering is its Hybrid, which is the world’s first Laser Rangefinder and GPS in one.
Any and all the distance information you’ll ever need on the course is only one button away. A quick press of on button and, pronto!, an instantaneous delivery of the distance you’re trying to figure before your shot.
Bushnell’s laser rangefinders rely on an invisible, eye-safe Class I Laser beam which is “bounced” off distant objects when you point and press the button. It’s that simple.
Then the rangefinder’s high-speed digital clock in the portable handheld GPS unit measures the time it took for that laser beam to reach a target and return it to the unit. Next, using totally awesome advanced digital electronics, the rangefinder instantly calculates the distance within +/- 1 yard and shows the range in either yards or meters on a through-the-lens LCD Display.
It takes no more than a nano-second between the time you press the button which sends the laser beam from the Bushnell Hybrid to the time the exact range to your target is displayed.
This Pinseeker technology mode allows easy capturing of the flag without mistakingly reading background target distances. When more than one object is acquired, such as back bunker, background trees at al, the closer of the objects is shown on the LCD display.
the Scan Mode allows you to pan like a Hollywood cameraman wanting to view distances of everything in the LCD display.
The Slope Mode measures slope by +/- one degree of angle and compensated range, based on ball trajectory and type of club used. All this info is displayed on the LCD.
Bushnell Hybrid also features 5-times magnification, and distance to front, center and back of greens. An “Auto Hole Advance” feature and “Auto Course Recognition” feature puts you in the position of playing a course for the first time as if that course was your home course.
The LCD features on the Bushnell Hybrid are: 1) Targeting Mode; 2) Option or using Meters or Yards; 3) Reticle, the distance to objects targeted in the crosshairs displayed on the Distance Readout with the press of the button; 4) A battery indicator flashes when the power is getting low.
As with one’s eyes, lenses on a GPS are key to getting an absolute correct read to one’s target. Bushnell uses its patented Rainguard HD Anti-Fog technology which is a permanent coating of the lens that causes moisture from dew, rain, snow, sleet and one’s breath to instantly bead-up into very tiny droplets which scatter. This ultimate optics approach to distance reading rids a lens of fog, as well.
Bushnell Hybrid features more than 16,000 North American courses pre-loaded, ready when you are. And don’t fret about monthly, yearly or one-time or recurring membership fees. There aren’t any!
Like I said, you get a Bushnell Hybrid on the course of your choice and you’ll be running for office soon, trying to save your constituents money on patents and patents-pending because, how more effective can a GPS laser rangefinder be?
See for yourself: www.bushnellgolf.com
Just when you golfers thought you had everything
(must have been before this recession!), along comes a Universal Remote Control
featuring, most importantly at times, a bottle opener designed alongside the
panel control of the handheld clicker!
No more fussin’ around looking for a bottle opener so you can drink your favorite Samuel Adams ale during the NBA Finals, if they hold them this year. Okay, the bottle opener feature is the “carrot” to a very well-made Universal Remote which controls nine components, including: TV, DVD, SAT, CABLE, VCR, CD, DVR, AMP, and whatnot!
Featuring more than 800 preset codes or as many manufacturing devices, the CLICKER’s one-touch learning instructions make use as simple as… opening a bottle of beer or soda! This new unit, which comes with a one-year warranty, works with most major cable and satellite dish boxes. Selection buttons are illuminated, which greatly aids in drinking and surfing from one channel or device to another. Only two AAA batteries are required to help you get more out of your relaxing hours!
This Clicker quickly transfers all data from the three or four separate remotes you now have to play with when switching from TV to DVD to.....you get the point. Remember: Leaving your couch or favorite chair to open your favorite bottle is soooooo… 2010! Price is less than $25, with free shipping! —For more info, visit www.myclicker.com
It all starts from the ground up. I’m talking
about comfort. Specifically, comfort from your toes to your ankles and upwards
along your feet. Socks play a very large role in contributing to one’s comfort
during the day. All day, on the course and off the course.
With this goal of comfort, Drymax recently came out with dress socks that offer up to 25 times more dryness than other socks. Considering the sweat evoked walking miles in our regular routines during the day, not to mention the trek through parts of a golf course, 25 times more dryness is like stepping out of a 20-minute relaxing shower and not having to towel off your feet since they’re already dry!
That’s what Drymax Dress Socks provide. Dryness. Plain and simple. No reading the small print or reading between the lines. Dry.
Drymax’s new fiber technology deals with the fact that most dress shoes by design don’t breathe well. Dress shoes, whose primary purpose are looks, trap heat and moisture inside. Compounding this challenge, most dress socks are made of cotton or wicking fibers like polyester, nylon, acrylic or wool which cannot keep feet dry.
Drymax uses two different fiber technologies interwoven together. The Drymax fibers don’t wick as they are super hydrophobic (water repelling). This means that moisture doesn’t stick to the inner layer of Drymax terry loops. The unique property allows Drymax fibers to lift sweat off the skin like a squeegee and instantly transfer it to the sock’s moisture-attracting outer layer. The drying process is instant, at the speed of sweat.
Don’t take my personal word and testimony about these 22nd Century socks by Drymax, consider the runner in the 2007 Las Vegas Marathon who ran the entire 26.2 mile race while wearing one pair of Drymax. At the end of the arduous race, his Drymax Dress Socks were dry, his feet were comfortable, and there was not even a baby or bulging blister to be found!
I could go on in detail about Drymax socks’ technical features, such as its seamless insides, its odor-free fibers, 3D Advanced Fitting System, an anti-blister system, their durability and their solid good looks.
Suffice it to say, my Drymax socks will never be found in the mouth of either of my Golden Retrievers as they look for a security blanket for their night’s sleep. Much too precious. Ie, the socks ‘n dogs!
For more info on these Made-in-the-USA socks, visit www.drymaxsports.com
During one round of golf or another, we all have
realized that we left something at home, such as our better golf game.
And then there are times when, in the course of playing a round, we realize that we can’t find our ball marker, or we can find our divot tool. And, of course, “Anyone have an extra tee?” you ask, as you stand in the tee box area of Hole 16 or 17… (You don’t want to walk back to your cart!)
The X-Gap Pouch eliminates these frustrating and sometimes embarrassing times, making sure that you are not want of tees, marker, divot tool or golf balls.
X-Gap Pouch, 4” x 6”, is a flexible storage-sleeve encased in durable fabric blend with a thin magnetic plate inside. It holds two golf balls, 2-to-4 tees, a divot tool made of durable metal, and a ball marker, again made of metal which attaches to the pouch via the magnetic plate.
The X-Gap Pouch easily clips onto one’s belt or waistband. Or, you can attach it to your golf bag.
The beauty of this pouch is that you have everything you need when you need it.
Price is $14.75. For more info, visit www.Chrisjaninc.com
X-Gap’s Pouch is another way to keep play moving on the course, and keep your lost ‘n found game at home.
Golf
Today Magazine has held three successful fun events at Trinitas Golf Course this
year so far, with one more to go. This 400-mile one-way drive for me, requiring
a set-up and the day itself, means that I must overnight near Valley Springs,
CA. I’ve always chosen (no exceptions!) The 10th Green Inn —a stay to which I’ve
been accustomed since 16 years ago when my wife and I first lodged at the
comfortable Inn. Jim and Jean Fox are as hands-on 24-7 with their cozy
establishment as any owners of their own business. Jean is also one of the most
experienced realtors in the area, helping outside businesses to open up their
business establishments in Valley Springs.
Golfers love to stay at the 10th Green Inn because, right next door, is La Contenta Golf Course. Stay ‘n Play specials for lodging and for unlimited golf (yes, unlimited!) are featured at only $59, and that includes cart, continental breakfast, and much more!
The 10th Green Inn also features specials with Mike Nemee’s Trinitas Golf Course which is only nine miles away. So, the ideal short golf trip is to check into the 10th Green Inn and go play golf at LaContenta to your heart’s content. The next morning, drive to Trinitas Golf Course and play 18 holes there. Within 24 hours, you will have satisfied yourself with all the golf you wish, plus pleasant comfortable lodging which includes all the amenities, plus A/C, Wireless Internet, fireplace, coffee, etc.
Visit www.10thgreeninn.com for a glimpse at what I’ve experienced over all these years. Enjoy yourself as well!
Any questions? Call Jim or Jean at 209-772-1084.
This putter’s nomenclature is long because its
purposes are many.
Created by Walt Graves, the Double Duty Divot Repair Putter is steadily working its way into the hands of more golfers who want more than a well-designed putter which they can trust for accuracy every time they putt the ball.
This uniquely-designed, perfectly-priced putter does make good of a golfer’s faith in a golf club.
But it does more, and that ‘more’ consists of a divot-repair tool designed as part of the putter so that when you’re on the green, you don’t have to bend over to repair ball marks, a challenge for those with knee and/or back problems, or just plain older age.
Made of 431 stainless steel with a 72-degree shaft angle, the Divot Repair Putter features a 36” shaft, 360-gram head weight, swing weight of F2, and 3-degree face loft, all of which provides a true roll off the clubface.
This USGA approved putter is now showcased for $99.95, which includes free shipping and a head cover. Wholesale prices are worth contact directly with the inventor, walt@divotrepairputter.com, or by calling Walt at (843) 399-4043. (You will find Walt most knowledgeable about putters and a perfect gentleman!)
A dozen lucky winners at Golf Today-sponsored tournaments this year have won this dual-purpose putter and have wondered, after using it, why someone didn’t create this putter 20 years ago to save on the thousands of times they bent over on the green to fix the green, only to hear a ‘kink’ or feel a jolt in their back.
Well, it’s now a putter whose time has truly come with the aging of the Baby Boomers!
It’s
always pleasing to see one of Golf Today Magazine’s staff or contributors author
a book on golf.
Dr. Barry Lotz, who has written articles of review for Golf Today for the past 20 years, has also authored 15 other books.
His newest, the Right Mind for Golf, attempts to overcome golf’s cornucopia of mental challenges. This practical Renaissance-like author intermingles advice on how to master one’s mental game in golf and in life.
Dr. Lotz, a licensed attorney/Golf Game Guru, has done a superb job, keeping his guide to less than 100 pages, as he gets to the heart of explaining the mental aspects of golf, and how to come out in such challenges to the better.
Golf is a metaphor for life itself, so all the principles Lotz presents can be applied both on and off the course in business affairs or everyday life.
If we do, indeed, accept the fact that golf is 90 percent mental, why is it that we spend only 10 percent of our time trying to figure out the mental side of golf? —This is where Dr. Lotz comes in.
I especially was interested in his Chapter 7 —”Meaning: Nothing has any meaning except the meaning you give it......” and then the author goes on to say: “the only thing that stands between you and mastery (of golf, of life, of anything at all) is fear.”
You get the gist. His message is worthwhile and easily digestible. It may be just that ‘push’ you need to better your game.
Dr. Lotz is one of the leading speakers, writers and researchers on mental strategies for more enjoyable and successful golf. He works wih numerous Tour pros and committed golfers of all abilities. He can be reached in La Quinta, CA at 760-777-1925, or drlotz@cbsgolf.net
This is not a head-scratcher, nor a head-shrinker, but a commonsensical advisor you just may need.
Learning how to play better golf is accomplished
in a myriad of ways, the simplest being that of watching a CD, DVD, or listening
to a recording say, while driving your vehicle.
Unfortunately, by nature, these are limited conduits of learning since you hear and sometimes you see the instruction on how to improve your golf swing. Eating a pizza while watching a DVD, however, limits the learning curve possibilities.
When you involve more of your senses (ie, hearing, seeing and feeling), you have a better chance of learning, and that’s where instructional aids such as Hank Haney’s PlaneFinder pay off.
With PlaneFinder, you see how you’re swinging the club, you hear the results of your swing as it takes place, and you feel whether you’re swinging your club correctly.
This PlaneFinder swinging aid, for right and left-handers, is a lightweight, portable sturdy tube device that quickly assembles and can be used anwhere: at your office, at home, at the range —anywhere.
The PlaneFinder does just that (it finds the correct swing plane) when you swing your club —and you’ll know immediately with instant feedback if you’re swinging your clubs correctly, both on the backswing and downswing.
PlaneFinder features two indicator arms which face away from the golfer. They move if contacted by your club swing. Three other indicator arms face the golfer. In between is a open channel several inches wide that provides the path for the club to pass through when the club is traveling on the proper swing plane.
If the golfer swings under the plane, the shaft will make contact with one or both of the arms facing away. If he or she swings over the plane (the dreaded ‘over-the-top’ move), contact is made with the arms facing the golfer.
Feedback to one’s swing is made in an instant. As the golfer’s swing plane improves, the PlaneFinder’s channel can be adjusted to a smaller width to make the drills more challenging.
The unit’s indicators let you know that you have hit them, as you can see your swing hit them, and you can hear your club hit them, and you can feel your club hit them. (3 sensory learning curve!)
Use any club, from lob wedge to driver, and the PlaneFinder will let you know how to build your swing into an effortless repeating golf swing which will lower your scores. Your learning curve is immediately from the getgo!
For more information, visit www.hankhaneyshop.com
Just....swing away!
There
are two sides to every story and to every coin, just as there are always two
sides to every recession.
We all know the bum side of our dour economy about to become double-digit, but there is a good bright side, as well. For example, the freeways are a lot less crowded nowadays, prices of most everything for sale have dipped downwards noticeably, and there’s always a table available at most restaurants, no reservations required.
Golf books are also less in number compared to years ago when it seemed, then, as though there were half-dozen new golf books being published each day —meaning there were too many to read!
Now, however, when a good golf book rolls off the presses, there is a 7th Inning Stretch of Time to digest that book in toto, not in parte, as Lord Francis Bacon said a couple hundred years ago.
October 1st is the release date for one of the most genuinely reflective golf books published in recent years. Brassies, Mashies and Bootleg Scotch by Bill Kilpatrick is a charming account of growing up on golf courses in the 1930s.
It’s a delightful look back at a time when golfers mostly hit balata balls and their clubs’ shafts were made of hickory, as in tree. Golfers called their clubs spoons, mashies, cleeks, and the putting area was ‘groomed’ by leveling the sand around the hole in the middle. Reading the greens as to which way the grass was bent was futuristic, as was Titanium, breathable golf outerwear, and GPS.
The author’s father was a dedicated Scottish greenskeeper, thus Kilpatrick’s recollection and rare glimpses of this vanished golf scene are especially valued for readers who he introduces from his memory to a cast of characters from the giants of golf history at that time, to behind-the-scene eccentrics, to walk-on stars like Hal Schmacher, New York Giants pitcher.
Kilpatrick himself was privy to more than a firsthand glimpse of golf as it used to be, working as a caddy on the courses that served as his father’s offices. This book is also a dear narrative of the author’s relationship with his adored, sometimes impatient but always forgiving father.
Price: $16.95. Publisher: University of Nebraska Press. Release date: October 1st; www.nebraskapress.unl.edu.
If you have never heard of “Second Skin” before
now, take note: it’s the leading golf outerwear brand in Canada and it’s slowly
but solidly making inroads across this country. Step-by-step, starting with the
PGA Merchandise Show earlier this year, this apparel line has been successfully
introduced to golfers south of our Northern border. The reception has been
well-deserved.
I’ve worn the Second Skin Coast Drywick outerwear apparel, both on and off the course. There are few peers comparable to this quality long-sleeved, 1/4 zip pullover at its $69 price. I’ve donned my black-colored (light side panels) over a simple tee while playing golf, and I’ve just as comfortably worn this Second Skin while I’ve been off the course in town (Tehachapi) doing my routine chores.
The Men’s Coast Drywick is suitable most times of the year because it features a proprietary technology that’s light, breathable, and promptly absorbs and disperses moisture from the skin.
It’s a versatile apparel that looks good, feels good, and works well.
Second Skin’s well-priced offerings are for men and women. Their collection includes golf shirts, full zip jackets, vests, rain pants and more which can all be seen at www.secondskin.ca.
Take your time and see the many website offerings by this golf apparel company. You’ll find your time spent, worthwhile, for any dollars you may spend on this quality apparel.
Usually, a picture says it all, with one photo substituting for a thousand words or more. In the case of the following review, the words by the founder of WillGolfBetter.com clearly states where he and his friends are coming from when it involves their inexpensive and simple golf aides, his golf tips and instruction.
So, I’ll let the founder of WillGolfBetter.com stand on his own words and then you, the reader, can make a choice to visit his site. Thus, from the founder, Will Neel of San Dimas, CA:
‘I have been serious about golf since I was six years old. My father has been teaching golf for over 50 years. I have had the opportunity to play and teach alongside some of the greatest teachers and players. I have had the pleasure to experience many of the great aspects of this great game we call golf. Whether it’s playing a new course or developing or trying the latest teaching aid, or just feeling better about my golf because I found a good place to eat on the way home, I continue to add to my collection of prized experiences. I will always be a student of the game and continue the pursuit of the next book or gadget or technique that will simplify the game. It is my goal that by sharing any of these experiences with you that you willgolfbetter. So whether you try one of my personal new products, a drill, or a take a tip from one of my fellow associates, or just follow one of our recommendations on where to play or stop along the way, go with confidence and know that you willgolfbetter.com —Sincerely, Will”
These words say it all. Any questions? Email Will at willneel@willgolfbetter.com.
Okay, cut down on those pain meds and lighten up
on the Jack Daniels. Here’s a new and quick way to help you relieve your back
pain from the 18 holes you played earlier in the day. It’s called the Bed Buddy
Warming Bear from Carex Health Brands.
(Don’t worry, men still come from Mars, and testosterone levels will not be depleted!)
The Buddy Bear is the latest in a series of breakthrough ThermaTherapy products that provide warmth and comfort to soothe those aches and pains that revisit all of us, more so the older we get.
Made with 100% natural materials, Buddy Bear’s warm feet, tummy and paws provide the deep penetrating moist heat which is ideal for reducing pain associated with arthritis, back problems, ear aches, tooth aches, and stiff necks. And, yes, stress itself.
Simply place Buddy Bear in the microwave for a few seconds, and that stored heat in Buddy Bear will last for up to an hour as it slowly transfers to your neck or shoulder. Or, you have the option to place Buddy Bear in the freezer to create a cold pack for the gentle cool relief of a fever or to use as a relaxant if you’re restless.
Buddy Warming Bear, priced at $19.95, is perfectly matched, also, not just for the wounded golfer or fatigued part-time gardener, but also for the like of visiting grandkids who may have fallen off the outside swing earlier in their visit to you. It’s also suitable for your wife who can’t readily understand why your foursome wants to take a pilgrimage to St. Andrews.
By design itself, Buddy Bear sure beats those plain white-colored heated or frozen bags that keep slipping off your shoulder as you try to read the latest news on the Stock Market while you sit in your favorite chair.
For more info, visit www.carex.com
(Yes, I personally used Buddy Bear after I went to the practice range one morning and tried to work on my follow-through. 100 swings at ‘follow-throughs’ by a whippersnapper pro that I had seen pictured, but never followed through on.
“Bob, you gotta follow through more!” —At the end of the session my instructor friend kept telling me that I didn’t follow through enough.… while my back was telling me that I followed through TOO MUCH!?!)
Buddy Bear, where are you?!?
When
you hit one of your longest drives ever, but your ball ends up in the middle of
the adjacent fairway within easy range of its own tee boxes, don’t get mad… just
get SnapStics!
I’m talking about venting your anger with SnapStics, not with breaking your expensive clubs or throwing them into the nearby dink. SnapStics. Simply take your SnapStic out of your bag and break the SnapStic in half over your knee! Or, throw it away and release all the anger and frustration from that one shot which lost the round for you.
The ‘venting’ release from SnapStic is immediate and cheaper than buying new clubs. SnapStics can be used at the tee, on the fairway, in a sand trap or water hazard, or on the green.… anywhere your anger and frustration ruins your game. Snap a Snapstic and you will play a better a game thereafter, and generate a laugh or two.
SnapStics will relieve stress, anger and the frustration we all get when our game is not up to par. These sticks, intended for snapping, also make the perfect gift for every golfer at all levels of play, evoking a smile and a laugh from anyone who receives them.
Whether SnapStics are actually used in a round to vent anger and frustration, or simply put into one’s golf bag and referred to after a bad shot, SnapStics will add a little humor to any round of golf.
In addition to being a humorous gift, SnapStics can also be used as alignment sticks.
SnapStics are available at leading pro shops, green grass retailers, sporting goods retailers, catalog houses and golf specialty retailers. They can be imprinted with company, club or organization logo, and they make for an ideal premium gift, tee prize or tournament favor.
For more information, visit www.SnapStics.com. Or, Email bo@snapstics.com, or call (888) 549-7678.
Loosen up! Chill Out! SnapStics!
I’ve never fully understood how a business could
create and then market a product as the penultimate best, say, swing training
aid in the world (“Close the Patent Office!”) only to switch over to invent
another different swing trainer and hail it as the very best ever invented.
Seems rather contradictory, hollow, and disingenuous to me.
Evolutionary betterment of a golf product, on the other hand, is a totally reasonable path of progress when it comes to good business, and that’s evident in TaylorMade’s recent launching in June of its new Ghost Spider Putter which has inherited the unique special virtues of previous putter models which TaylorMade found successful in most recent years.
In 2008, TaylorMade introduced the Monza Spider Putter that succeeded in capturing a worthy share of the market worldwide. With its high MOI and its radical shape, the Monza Spider provided extraordinary stability and performance for golfers, noticeably on Tour.
Two years later, TaylorMade launched the Corza Ghost Putter, its first in a series of putters distinguished readily by its white-colored head. The design and coloration helped golfers aim the face more accurately while, at the same time, eliminating the glare which provided a distraction directly reflected off the crown.
On June 20th this year, along comes TaylorMade’s new Ghost Spider Putter which now, rather genetically, combines the best qualities of the Monza Spider Putter and the Corza Ghost Putter into what’s called the Ghost Spider Putter.
The newest TaylorMade putter features the head construction, the size and the high MOI of the Monza Spider combined with the white alignment attributes of the Corza Ghost.
Now that’s good business, and reflects an honest trail of progress rather than just plain old marketing mischief.
I used the Ghost Spider Putter during the recent Golf Today Magazine-sponsored golf event at Trinitas, Golf Course. I found the compact size more manageable than some of the larger putters which have “Engineered” reflected all over their monstrous design. The Ghost Spider’s design made it feel easier for me to square up to the hole. Quite simple, in fact.
I also felt a resonant connection upon impact with the ball on the green, thereby giving me more immediate feel through my stroke. And I felt control.
The white-colored head is a continuation of acceptance by golfers to deviate from the solid darker tones on the crown that have monopolized golf for much too long a time.
Price is right, as well.
For more about the evolved Ghost Spider Putter, visit www.taylormadegolf.com
At any consumer golf show in the country, you
can buy golf gloves on sale, sometimes three for only $10. Almost all of us
would gravitate towards such a sale, especially in these times during which
discretionary buys are the first to be cut from one’s budget, and “sales” on
socially acceptable.
That in no way is to deny the fact that one gets what one pays for.
In the case of Bionic Golf Gloves, performance (not price) is the key factor in purchasing them, and rightly so. It’s hard to find better made golf gloves on the market nowadays unless you get them tailor-made, custom-made, and delivered fresh directly to you on Hole #1.
Bionic’s Performance Series deliver on promises, including enhanced feel, a lighter grip, maximum breathability, and increased durability. (Remember, you get what you pay for!)
The technology behind the ergonomic Bionic Golf Gloves features an exclusive Triple Row Finger Grip with elongated flex zones. No more design restrictions, as found in most other golf gloves. The sections of the grip (3 separate ones to all fingers except the thumb) flex independently to each other. Yes, it feels like a second-skin, not a golf glove made-for-a-million other hands!
Bionic Performance Gloves also allow natural closure of one’s hand thanks to a pre-rotated finger design which takes into account the natural curvature of one’s fingers as they hold anything.
Breathable leather and terry cloth material also enhance the comfortable feel of Bionic Gloves by absorbing perspiration. A lighter grip is assured thanks to its anatomically-design intermixing the supple Cabretta leather and terry cloth.
Superior design + topnotch quality material = a better and more secure but natural hand grip with your club. I guarantee this, from my experience.
Visit BionicGloves.com for more info. Bionic Gloves are available at fine pro shops and retail and discount golf outlets.
Earlier this year at the PGA Show, I broke away
from Golf Today’s booth to see what was new and exciting for golfers. It wasn’t
a banner year for creativity, thanks in no small part to the economical
limitations imposed by the Great Recession.
One new product, however, caught my eye because of its design, functionality, durability and its aesthetic qualities.
Golf-Kaddy features an offering of golf carts which reflect an easy-to-use, easy-to-transport, smart design that works dependably on the course.
Its Smart-E Model is an Electric Golf Cart whose design is elegant, not cumbersome, both in looks and when the going gets tough on the course. Powered by a sophisticated battery, its high strength and low-weight aluminum construction is as durable as needed for all the ups and downs that a powered cart demands.
The two extra-large rear wheels distribute the weight (45 lbs max) for sturdiness at turns, starts and slow or sudden stops. Thanks to these two wheels which snap on pronto, this powered push cart can be set to free-wheeling mode sans fear of even the slightest out-of-control or tipping-over feeling.
The “pilot’s” handle is adjusted by a large knob. The snap-on battery is located at the base of the handle between the two large rear wheels.
Folding the Smart-E for transportation in one’s vehicle is as easy as 1-2-3, with an optional carry trolley bag available for easy storage in one’s car trunk.
The Smart-E is smart in many respects, one of which is that it features waterproof housing and has no exposed wires, which means there are no shorts and you don’t have to pray when it rains.
The Smart-E also boasts of a speed control memory, which means the speed of the cart can be preset with the push of the left button. The right button is the distance control function which enables the cart to travel from 10 to 50 seconds.
The German-manufactured charger is designed for ease of use and dependability.
The frame is made of Aviation-grade aluminum, weighing in at only 22 lbs. Folder dimension of the Smart-E is 24” x 37” x 12.5”.
A one-year manufacturer’s warranty comes with this ultra-modern Electric Golf Cart.
See more on the Smart-E model, as well as on other Golf-Kaddy golf cart models, by visiting www.golf-kaddy.com
Okay, we made sure we got our 7 or 8 hours of
sleep, then we ate our breakfast of Wheaties or Oatmeal. When we hit the course,
however, we felt like… an 187-year-older after a night of dancing to dawn.
What to do besides sleep twice as long and eat two bowls of cereal?
How about wearing an Zengyro Energy Band which is made with FDA-grade surgical silicon for comfort and durability?
Each band contains three Zengyro holograms created by advanced laser technology. Sporty and stylish, you can wear Zengyro anytime and anywhere. Zengyro is said to be the world’s most energetic performance jewelry and comes in five sizes and various colors.
Zengyro is a brand of products developed by Bioholograph, Inc of Modesto, CA based on proprietary holograms. People from every walk of life enjoy the holographic jewelry product for its energetic effect and for the fun of the fashion.
Michelle Wie, in addiion to other top-ranked golfers, is a confessed believer in Zengyro.
For more info, visit Zengyro.com and/or MichelleWie.com,
Energize yourself!
Keep it simple.
That’s what AimPro Alignment Ball Marker is all about.
See how simple it is simply by visiting AimProGolf.com
You’ll be saying to me, “Bob, that’s simple! Why didn’t I think of that?”
I’ll simply reply to you: “That’s simply what everyone tells me.”
Here’s a pretty good idea: a credit card-looking
flash drive that contains all the forms and complete information that you would
ever need when you travel for golf or business abroad.
Information such as identification of whom makes medical decisions when you can’t; a Medical History Summary re: blood type, current medications, doctor and specialist information, health insurance and emergency contacts; Travel Itinerary, customized for each trip; Complete health care proxy info; immunization records, and lots more.
Simply plug the credit-card lookalike flash drive USB into your computer before taking off on your trip and fill out the forms (you can print copies). Then, simply take along the Travel Stix Card (2 GB) with your other credit and ID cards.
If and when you need, the Travel Stix Card will provide for the medical and other travel information you may want to provide if you are in an emergency.
All in one credit card-like flash drive.
There are different forms on many different Travel Stix cards, which you can match to your needs by visiting mytravelstix.com
Come to think about it, you also can use Travel Stix even if you never travel. Remember, if you have a heart attack and the ambulance is driving you speedily to the hospital, the health care specialists want to know your identification and anything about your health. They’ll look in your wallet and if they can find a Travel Stix, all the more better for you!
You can add any other documents or information you may wish to include on your Travel Stix Card, including passport, visa (s), boarding passes, birth certificate, eyeglass prescription, allergies, plus videos and music, of course.
Your Travel Stix Card will tell anyone what you want them to know.
As compared to Big Brightly Boxed Gifts under
the Christmas Tree, stocking stuffers will be in vogue this upcoming holiday
season thanks to the effete economy. For less than $25 each, you can cover
10-to-15 more bases than by giving one shiny Waterford Crystal gift.
Texthook is one such stocking stuffer, priced at $25, and is very timely in this day of smartphones.
In short, the Texthook puts you within each reach for music, texting or answering phone calls while working out. You simply attach the Texthook to treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, stroller handles, or whatever. And then you place your smartphone into the Texthook and free your hand for whatever you want to do.
About 15 years ago, I remember giving away a
“Cigar Holder” in the Tee Prize Package for each golfer participating in Golf
Today-sponsored events. The cigar holders were about two inches high, shaped on
top with a golf ball, with a hole into which you could rest a cigar as you hit
one of your clubs.
Smoking cigars took a nosedive in popularity, right about then.
So, for the remaining samples of the cigar holders I had (circa 500), I promoted the idea at the golf events to use the ‘cigar’ holders to leverage one of your clubs in the middle of the fairway as you hit your second or third shot to the green so that the unused club would not get damp or dirty laying on the turf.
Sure enough, Caddie Clip has encouraged this idea with its combination Cigar Holder and Club Holder in a new and exciting colorful clip. Ultra mod grip, in fact.
The two-fold holder keeps club grips off wet turf and/or keeps cigars and cigarettes dry and free of pesticides, dirt and fertilizer! —Simply insert either the club grip or a cigar or cigarette into the Caddie Clip.
What a great idea! I should have thought of it!
For more information, visit caddieclip.com.
You can pretty well tell just by looking at a
golfer’s towel whether that golfer wants to get more enjoyment out of his or her
game.
If the golfer is not using any towel, then chances are better than nought that this once-in-a-blue-moon golfer has no idea of the many purposes of a golf towel.
If the golfer is sporting a rag for a towel ($1 each at a flea market), chances are that that towel has never been washed and is encrusted with dirt and and God-only-knows what pesticides and whatnot have taken up residence in the towel.
If you see a golfer sporting a Frogger Amphibian Towel attached to his bag or his golf cart, then you know that this golfer is much more serious about the game and fathoms the enjoyment that’s possible with a clean, great shot towards or onto the green.
Why so?
Because the golfer knows the Amphibian Towel is like the Rolls Royce of golf towels. It looks great, provides for many years of service, and cleans and dries golf balls and golf clubs and grips like no other.
With the Amphibian Golf Towel, your clubs stay cleaner and drier and keep their bite when you want your distance, more control and more backspin.
Twice the size (14” x 14”) of a standard golf towel, the Amphibian by Frogger Golf features a moisture-proof inside barrier that guarantees that the dry side stays dry and the wet side stays wet in rain or shine.
You want the outside wet for cleaning clubs, and you want the dry inside part for drying your clubs, grips, and your hands.
The Amphibian’s inner pocket, made of special bamboo fiber, holds three times the water as that of… just a regular golf towel.
Golf is more than a game of long drives. It’s a game of dozens of small fine points.
Having the best and most functional golf towel with you on the course eliminates the prickly challenge of dirt, wetness and grass stains on the clubface.
For the very best, visit www.froggergolf.com,
One might easily conclude that I have a foot
fetish, tallying up all the reviews I’ve written over the past 47 years on shoes
and socks. Wrong!
What I do believe, however, is that comfort begins from the bottom up, and that means wearing the right shoes at the right time in the right size. Same for socks. One pair of socks do not fit all occasions.
So it was with keen interest that I put on the seamless injinji Toesocks for the very first time. Yes, toesocks! It has been years since I was pleasured with a three-hour long Thai Massage, the start of which was 15 minutes of having my toes massaged! (Entire story published in Golf Today Magazine & top of Google lists, etc.)
I recalled this experienced as I pulled the new toesocks onto my toes on my left foot, then towards and over my ankle, and upwards towards my knee about seven inches (crew length size).
Pulling toesocks over toes is not exactly what one calls a manly feat, but it is… a spec of comfort and warmth that you can take with you step-by-step throughout the day.
I did, and truth be told… I enjoyed the experience.
Come to think about it, regular socks are akin to mittens on one’s hands, while toesocks are identical to gloves wherein four fingers and a thumb are lodged in individual fabric cavities.
My question is: why are toesocks not more popular? In my book, they certainly should be.
Of course, I also think one Thai Massage each week for every human being would make for a much saner, safer, and more sober world.
For more information about my natural ‘high’ over Injinji Toesocks, visit www.injinjitoesocks.com
I wear the one-color black style, whereas Injinji also offers some of the most colorful socks in the world, made of different materials that best suit your need for the occasion. You’ll see what I mean as soon as their website appears on your computer screen!
Hey, now here’s an idea for a “Stockin’ Stuffer”!
If I had a million to invest, it sure would be
in the Hollas Apparel Company out of Canada, making inroads in the U.S. as I
write this review.
I wore one of its Lexington golf shirts recently, all-black with its white “H” stitch design starting in the front, carrying through under the arm and to the back of the shirt. Wow! Talk about feeling fashion-forward looking!
This golf shirt is made of Ice Cool Fabric which is the latest of the newest of the most innovative and functional fabrics available today.
Ice Cool Fabric lowers one’s body temperatures by one-to-two degrees by wicking away moisture while absorbing and dissipating heat. Keep in mind, my Hollas golf shirt is black, and I wore it for the first time in August. I felt cool, in more ways than one!
The perforated waffle-like texture of the fabric, unlike silk or polyester or varied microfibers, minimizes contact with one’s skin. That separation results in staying cool and comfortable no matter what the occasion, activity or temperature. Another so very important feature of the Ice Cool Fabric is that it provides up to 40 SPF UV protection, something we didn’t even consider in apparel back in the ‘60s when I started to review apparel.
You won’t find this XFC Fabric in any other line of apparel since it is exclusive to Hollas.
Another feature of my (notice how possessive we all become!) new golf shirt is the four-button covered placket. You can wear the collar fully opened for a relaxed look, or you can button the collar to the top and wear more formally without the white placket showing. (The placket’s color matches/balances the four adjacent stitched lines of the logo-ed “H” starting in front and ending in back.)
Creative. A bit bold, but not cocky. A statement with a smile not a sledgehammer.http://www.injinjitoesocks.com
For more info on this fine garment, visit www.secondskin.com if you want a functional fit with performance fashion.
As
with other golfers, I’m always chasing rainbows and I’m always losing head
covers!
At one point, I was averaging one lost head cover per round, a feat of dubious distinction not only for its honesty but also because it just plain deserves honorable mention in some sort of record book.
I solved my forget-me-not problem, however, with The CoverGuard. These are tethers which clip onto the base of a head cover, with the other end clipped onto the base of the next head cover, and connected with more until each head cover is tethered to another cover.
Nothing is getting lost with this innovative system.
A Quick Release Buckle enables you to remove a tethered club from the bag, keeping the cover attached, in a single click.
A heavy duty bulldog clip with clamp connects onto your covers with industrial strength.
The CoverGuards are made of waterproof polypropylene, tough as any tether, and resistant to moisture, mildew and discoloring.
There’s no way a CoverGuard clip will accidentally separate from any head cover. It’s firm and reliably connective.
CoverGuard works with all head covers, and that means any brand and any design.
If you’re flexible, you can also use CoverGuard for attaching hats, towels or anything else to your golf bag or golf cart.
For more info, visit www.TheCoverGuard.com
Remember, no more lost head covers!
Many are the steps that can be taken to improve one’s golf game. Unfortunately, most of us have jobs ranging from 8-5, or find ourselves with one or two jobs that consume most of 7-24, so we don’t have time to take all the steps we need or want to lower our scores. Even most golf pros I know don’t get out but once per week because of heavier and more consuming responsibilities in these trying times.
One way to improve your golf game and, in general, become healthier is Golf Pilates which is growing more popular and more professionally recognized throughout the world.
What’s Pilates?
Pilates for golfers is a program which identifies and corrects golf swing faults by means of golf fitness and exercises. The Pilates Golf Program improves balance, core and hip stability, flexibility, strength, increases range-of-motion, connects mind/body (a sound mind in a sound body), and provides for effective breathing techniques.
Improving all these extends the years a golfer can play golf. It improves distance, accuracy, strength. It provides for a better golf game. Once learned, the Pilates exercises for golfers can be done anywhere and anytime, thus the wide and growing appeal for this program.
The Pilates Golf Method works because I’ve seen it work for dozens of golfers who realize that they can’t buy betterment on and off the course. They must work at it, bit by bit by bit.
This approach to betterment doesn’t set limits when it comes to age, gender, size, weight, height or IQs. All people can use Pilates for their betterment.
Although the pro golfer may be better fit than a recreational golfer, flexilbility and strength are essential for each. Pilates sessions will strengthen the core, back and knees as well as enhance flexibility for executing the golf swing correctly.
Increasing one’s strength and flexibility are the visible goals no matter what handicap you carry. With such increases, one’s swing also improves noticeably. Step by step, bit by bit. With sequencing of improvements, the betterment at golf becomes instinctual for each golfer, all depending on the time and effort one is willing to invest in Pilates sessions.
There are plenty of Pilates certification and exercise workshops available, with Dolly Delepecz on top of my ‘favorites’ list to call for more information. She is the owner and founder of the D.K. Body Balancing Method of Pilates.
She can be reached at www.PilatesbyDolly.com
--Nothing like going straight to the top.
Here’s a dual purpose golf glove, to be used for
play on the course and/or to be used for practice.
The difference is that the practice part of this golf glove consists of a wrist and grip guide which you insert for practice and remove for play. The flat yellow-colored guide easily slips into a pocket located on the outside of the glove.
Its intent is to guide your wrist in a cocked position, then guide your wrist upon impact and release. This guide to proper backswing, impact and release is key to any effective swing.
When you’re finished practicing with the guide, take it out of the pocket and start your real play. This Smart Glove truly provides that ‘movement memory’ which you can take from the practice range to the course.
For more information, visit www.sklz.com.
Though I was born and raised in Chicago
(Southside), I never jumped on the city’s cultural beer-drinking bandwagon. At
most, I can count less than a six-pack total that I have guzzled during my first
70 years.
This non-beer approach to relaxation opened the door to California (ie, Napa) wines in the early 60s when their vintages captured top awards over French Vintages at international tasting competitions. Then, I could also buy any hard drink possible at the NCO bar on base for only 25 cents each. It’s then I opened my mind to the world of rum, gin, vodka, saki (in Okinawa), Jack Daniels, etc. I never mixed any of these, relying on quality tastes rather than an umbrella ornamenting my drink.
My choice of an alcoholic beverage always went a long way since I only wanted (needed) one ounce or two straight over the rocks or sometimes even without the ice for the relaxation from a hard day’s work. (I still have a 1.75 Litre bottle of Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin in my freezer after more than six years, 1/3rd filled!).
I recently was introduced to Brugal 1888 Rum, another experience for my growing Bag of Memories. I slowly sipped the ounce (or two!) on the rocks one evening as I sat in my favorite chair as I read about the last Shuttle landing under U.S. direction. After completing my read of the essay, I remembered why I’m glad I’ve never been a passenger aboard the beer bus.
Brugal 1888 is a double distilled premium rum, named so to reflect the founding year of the company, as well as to commemorate its founder, Don Andres Brugal.
Brugal 1888 is also double matured, first in American white oak Bourbon casks and later in sherry oak casks from Spain. Brugal’s country of origin is the Dominican Republic.
I found this rum smoothly comforting, and spiced with hints of effervescent hues of dried fruits and wood. Savoring the unique gentile taste, it was, again, a win of quality over quantity when it comes to imbibing.
Remember, however, no mater what the drink and how much of the drink, don’t drive thereafter!
Golfers are always on the hunt for something different –ranging from golf course design to golf apparel to tee package tournament gifts.
Cypress Classics is a longtime supplier (1987) of many different golf prizes, gifts and awards. In my mind, their Keepsake Boxes are among the best choices for distinctively high-quality tournament gifts/prizes.
These custom image/presentattion boxes are made out of Maple hardwood which is lined with a rich forest green felt-like material and appointed with satin brass hinges.
Inlaid on top of the lid is a ceramic tile which can be used with any image or graphics, say to promote an event itself for now and in the future. Or, the tile can promote a corporate logo.
(If I had 144 boxes made up, I would feature Golf Today’s logo with copy as: Celebrating its 25th Year!”)
The boxes come in four sizes with options for stock or custom images on the top ceramic tile. The Mini-Box is 3.50 x 4.50 x 2”; Small Box is 6.875 x 5 x 2.125”; Medium Box is 7.75 x 6 x 3.125”; Large Box is 8.75 x 6.75 x 3.125”.
Please note that the Large Box is precisely measured on the inside to feature four sleeves of golf balls (Ie, one dozen).
I have the Large Box on my desk in the office for easy accessibility to those items I need immediately at hand during business hours which are 24/7, as with so many of us. Just flip open the lid, and reach for what I need.
For more information, visit CypressClassics.com
Retail pricing is right for all sizes, ranging from $30 for a mini-box to $100 for the large box.
This is a high-quality gift, priced-right, and perfect for promotions such as for sponsors of golf events, tournaments or otherwise.
Everything happens right before going to press,
and so it was no shocker to hear that Walt Graves, owner of W.H. Golf, most
recently introduced a new long-shafted Double Duty Divot Repair Putter! (You can
read about the virtues of his regular sized (36”) Double Duty Divot Repair
Putter above in my review of new products.)
The new long-shaft model, also conforming to USGA Rules of Golf, sports lengths of 48” to 53” with a 78-degree shaft angle.
Priced at $139.95, this new putter (one of a kind!) can be shipped on a 7-to-10 day turnaround. Price includes free shipping, double grips, shaft, head cover, etc.
This exclusive putter is available only through Walt Graves, inventor of this dual-purpose putter, since it cannot be ordered online.
Call Walt at (843) 399-4043 with any questions or to order. Or, email the inventor at walt@divotrepairputter.com
It will be hard for you to find a more interesting golf maker of putters.
Bob Koczor
Publisher/Editor
Golf Today Magazine
661-823-7842
FAX: 661-823-7942
30566 Fox Ridge Ct. (for UPS & FedEx deliveries)
25101 Bear Valley Road, PMB 90 (for USPS deliveries)
Tehachapi, CA 943561
You can always find a reason to celebrate, no
matter what. It may be the holiday season around the corner, even if the budget
is somewhat limited compared to years past. Or it may be that you shot the round
of your life earlier today, but then again, you didn’t know that taking a
‘gimme’ from five feet out on Hole #1 would spoil the entire truth of the
round....
So we celebrate what we can, when we can, and why we can, because we work as hard as we do, and are as honest as we should be.
I used to think that five or six times a year, before a large holiday dinner, that having the best drink in the world was an ice-cold below zero-degree, straight up, two olives on the side, Sapphire in a Martini glass. You know the one, the blue and silver bottled best of the Bombay line of upper crust gins. One Martini is enough to relax a phalanx of Roman solders facing hordes of attacking Huns.
Now, new to America and new to me is Nolet’s Silver, a modern take on premium quality gin with a refreshing floral and fruit-forward flavor featuring peach, Turkish rose and raspberry.
Make sure the glass and gin is as Arctic cold as before freezing temperatures.
For mixes like Gin Fizz and dozens of other cocktail recipes, visit www.noletsfinestgins.com
The Nolets of Holland represent the 10th generation of its family going back 300 years. They are well-known, also, as the creators of the very popular Ketel One Vodka.
Nolet Gin is the new neighbor on the block, so with the start of the holidays a flip of two calendar pages away, give it a chance to prove to you why his birth certificate is so many successful years of the past.
By inclination, golfers are a good group of
giving people. Just think about it: who else gives so many ‘gimmes’ in a 5-hour
period?
Holiday season brings out even more of the best in golfers. A dozen new green-colored golf balls by Bridgestone for Joe in your foursome, a Jack Haney training aid for your wife (on second thought....), a new golf book such as ”Let There Be Pebble” for your father who taught you the game so many and rounds and years ago. Okay, all the bases are covered. Or, are they?
What about the four-legged members in your family? Are you going to give them just an extra bone for the holidays, like you did last year? They ARE family, aren’t they?
How about the Neater Feeder for them? —It’s a self-serving gift, in many ways, primarily in that it’s a revolutionary new feeding system that keeps spills of food and splashes of water off the floor. That means you don’t have to clean up after your dog (s) or cat (s) finish eating.
The Neater Feeder is a two-part container that keeps food in the top reservoir while water drains into the easy-to-empty lower reservoir, thus protecting your floors from stains and damage and reducing much clean-up. (The two-level feeder also comes with additional legs to suit the height of your pet.)
I have two female Golden Retrievers, both almost 3 years old (18 days apart!), and when one eats in the morning and evening, the other eats at the same time, the aftermath of which reminds me of some of the mess halls I experienced in the Marine Corps during the early ‘60s.
You gotta have a proper set-up, a disciplined procedure, and a feeding unit that minimizes food and water being tongued in every direction. You don’t need to clean up after what looks like a food fight!
Neater Feeder solves this messy problem, and it’s kick-proof, to boot. Yes, sturdy, easy-to-clean, and it comes in various sizes to fit the nature/size of your pet. (Cats included)
By design, the Neater Feeder also is more comfortable for your dog to eat from. Think, for a moment, about the challenges your dog has when its food is served on a plate flat on the floor.… up an elevator in the mouth to the 4th floor, then along a level conveyor belt.
The Neater Feeder makes eating healthier and more comparable to that of people having their food go into the mouth and downwards.
The new feeder looks neat, as well, which is no surprise since its name reflects that attribute.
Forget about the extra big bone for your dog this year. Help your pet clean up his or her act by visiting www.neaterfeeder.com.
Holiday
season raises the standards of entertainment. This higher level need not require
big bucks, but rather, to suit the times, more creativity.
Rather than spending $12 for each voice & light-activated-when-opened holiday card, why not get a Parker Ink Pen out of your drawer and use the good old-fashioned Palmer style of writing to pen a personal creative note of holiday cheers on a sheet of white paper to those family and friends of yours? Why not send an invitation to share an afternoon at a museum or ball game after the holidays?
Personal and creative is in sync with these times. How about a round of golf, on you?
Another inexpensive but unique idea is MYdrap napkins and placemats with which to entertain others. MYdraps come in a perforated roll featuring 12 soft and supple cotton or linen squares and rectangles that you can tear off as needed. They’re biodegradable and recyclable, and you can wash them over and over.
Featuring three sizes and more than 20 colors, MYdrap napkins and placemats enliven the holiday spirits without emptying your wallet. Ask for golf-related designs.
I’m a softie when it comes to Smileys. Seeing a Smiley in any way, shape or form always makes me smile. -I’m sure it happens to millions of other people who see the same Smiley.
You probably have a Smiley somewhere on your
computer right now. Or you have a Boxer pair of PJ’s which feature a Smiley
design. Maybe you just have a pad of Smiley yellow stick-on notes? –The point
is, Smileys are all over the place.
The beauty of Smileys is that they generate smiles. Sort of an IOC (Instant Osmostic Conception). Yes, try it for yourself. Hand an inflated Smiley-logoed balloon to someone and, presto!, the person does what? –Smiles!
(Beware of the person who does not smile because that person may have been featured on TV’s “10 Most Wanted” the night before!)
Smileys also are found logo-ed on golf balls, which make tons of sense if you’re playing one of your better rounds.
One of the most attractive Smileys I’ve recently run into are Smiley Cookies which feature a hand-iced Smiley image on one side of a delicious sugar cookie. Made fresh daily, these Smiley Cookies come in a colorful cornucopia of smiles, colors, and sizes. They also can also be custom-made with your own company or club logo. Or, a person’s name!
The Smiley cookies are delicately packaged and shipped to you or to whomever you want to brighten up their day and tastes for the day. The Smiley Cookies are boxed in, what else? attractive Smiley Cookie boxes to be used and re-used for years to come for whatever purpose.
Price is less than $14 dozen, making it a unique and well-priced gift, say, for a person in your golf group who hits an Eagle or Hole-in-One, or for someone’s birthday, or for any special occasion that warrants an easy-to-get smile. –I guarantee this!
This 150-page book by Mick Gyure explains how he learned to break 80 and, most importantly, how you can too!
The author started playing golf in his mid-thirties and then, passionate as all of us get, he set a goal of breaking 80, a reasonable achievement for a player who regularly shot above 100. Eighteen months later, he shot his first 78, ending his rounds regularly within single digits of the course’s par.
How did Gyure attain his goal? By establishing five objectives, simple and backed by practice, not wasted practice, but worthy of his time and effort.
The five objectives were: 1) Commiting to Improvement; 2) Gaining the knowledge of improving your game; 3) Correct Practce Guidelines; 4) What a Golfer Needs to know on the Course; 5) Being Physically Fit. In simple 5-cent words, nothing highfalutin, no pictures or illustrations, Gyure tells how he became a single-digit recreational player and keeps so today.
You can break 80 and become a single-digit player, he maintains, by following his proven guidelines.
For more info, visit www.positivelight.com
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has a new golf product or golf service, contact Bob Koczor, Publisher/Editor, at 661-823-7842. Or, E-Mail bob@GolfTodayMagazine.com
Golf Today Magazine, now starting its 25th Year, provides custom-made promotions backed by 47 years of marketing experience that works (i.e., meaning we sell products and services both via digital and print publishing, and get the word out on your product and/or service!).
Golfer
Aloise Hamiel, 'loses it' on the 4th hole at Dry Creek G.C. in Galt, Ca. after
another errant tee shot goes awry and lands behind a tree… boy was she mad!