Golf Today Magazine Blog

RVGolfer blog back!

dale — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:13:58 +0000

Webmaster Dale Archibald is bringing his blog up to date. See it at rvgolfer.blogspot.com.

Trinitas Picture Perfect

Bob Koczor — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:42:30 +0000

April 28, 2011, Trinitas Golf Course near Valley Springs, Cal., hosted another Golf Today Magazine tournament. The greens were in perfect shape, the weather would have charmed a bluebird, and the fairways were shaped to challenge the best.
After the putting contest in the morning, players raced their carts into position for a shotgun start. 18 holes later, they shared a Mexican dinner and collected prizes from host editor/publisher Bob Koczor.

Eagle Vines a Smashing Success

Bob Koczor — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:53:51 +0000

Eagle Vines in the lush Napa wine region.

Golf Today Magazine and Napa’s Eagle Vines Golf Course hosted 144 golfers Tues. April 19, 2011, and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive.
The course was immaculate, editor/publisher Bob Koczor specified perfect weather and got it, plus numerous prizes and gifts were awarded.
The next Golf Today Magazine sponsored tournament will be at Trinitas Golf Course Thur. Apr. 28, 2011. Sign up today by contacting Golf Today Magazine at 661-823-7842.
We will visit Trinitas again in July, and Eagle Vines again in October. Join us.

Jerry Rice Tees It Up again At Fresh Express Classic

Barry Salberg — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:55:52 +0000

Make no mistake, this is a guy who relishes the spotlight — and a year ago he hit the jackpot. Almost a decade removed from his hall-of-fame football career, and maybe a year or so after his stint on Dancing With the Stars, Jerry Rice was appointed celebrity host and official participant as a sponsor’s exemption, teeing it up in the 2010 Nationwide Tour Fresh Express Classic.

It was a marketing and promotional coup for everyone involved, garnering national attention for the event, the sponsor, the charities, and to Rice, who talked it up big, with expectations of making the cut in his pro golf debut. Well, he didn’t come close, and even got disqualified in another Nationwide shortly thereafter.

So it was a slightly more humble Jerry Rice, who addressed the media in the pre-tournament press conference about a month ago. No more talk of making the cut, and clearly an enhanced respect for the Nationwide players permeated this year’s conversation. “Okay, we’re gonna get this straight right now, I am not saying anything more about going pro,” he emphasized. “The important thing for me is the fans who come here and support this tournament, and the players — I’m honored to have the opportunity to compete with those guys again.” Clearly, he now understands the caliber disparity between a world-class athlete who plays golf very well, and a professional tour player.

When I asked Rice about former 49er quarterback, John Brodie, winning on what was then the Senior Tour, and if Rice had any aspirations in the future about the Champions Tour, he replied, “don’t even go there buddy.”

Also sitting at the conference panel along with Rice was Nationwide standout, James Hahn. And when he was asked about the gap between PGA tour pros and the top contenders on the Nationwide circuit, he emphatically indicated that there was no differential, and that many of the top Nationwide players were better than many of those on the PGA.

Jerry Rice tees it up again this week at the Fresh Express Classic at the TPC Stonebrae in Hayward — once again as tournament host. “I’m not gonna put any pressure on myself this year,” he said. “I want this to be a fun tournament for everyone, that’s my main focus this year.” ###

First Day at Golf Show, Santa Clara, CA

Bob Koczor — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:34:06 +0000

While civil wars were being waged in several Near East countries and the 8.9 earthquake bludgeoned Japan, good things were taking place in Santa Clara, CA at the Convention Center on Fridays, and that was the beginning of the three-day golf show, March 11-13th. It was the first time this venue was chosen by Varsity Communications, the managers of this show. Great decision, with free parking, modern facilities, and even the coffee/breakfast service was going full steam two hours before the start of the golf show, an important support for vendors who show up 2-to-3 hours early in the morning and need a jolty boost from caffaine. The new rock music blaring loudly throughoout the convention hall was also doing its job to nudge everyone awake and get their booths prepared for the thousand of golfers who were lined up outside the convention hall in order to be among the first thousand or 500 golfers who were to receive free rounds of golf, free golf balls, free whatever it takes to make them happy. Golf Today Magazine had two booths devoted to selling golf books and odd & ends, which buyers seemed to enjoy immensely. I also sold entries to Golf Today Magazine-sponsored tournaments which always end up with full fields. Also got a couple golf businesses of previous years to commit to advertising in Golf Today Magazine, again, because they like the new high gloss format. The only thing lacking from this first day at the golf show was talking to someone about buying part of Golf Today…. someone who is as hardworking as I was 10 and 20 years ago. –Hard to find! Saturday’s attendance promises lots of people, especially if it rains and keeps people off the courses. Fingers crossed. The golf show itself has a large percentage of new vendors which is a good direction, because with their new ventures, such as Polara Golf Balls, they bring new energies and new ideas for future shows. I look forward to tomorrow as a giant opportunity to make a deal whereby both Golf Today Magazine and whatever person or golf business wants to work something out which is benefically great for both. –Any ideas?

Good Times? Bad Times?

Bob Koczor — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:11:58 +0000

Got me fooled. Completely.
I read the headlines faithfully and administration officials say that good times are just around the corner and that we have lived through the Great Recession in good stead. But yet, when I pay more than $4 a barrel for gasoline (ouch!) for my business trips which tally, average, more than a thousand miles, I wonder…
And I wonder more as I pay, at the supermarket, outrageous prices for food.
And I wonder more than ever when someone gets a ticket for a “California Stop” and has to pay more than $500 for the ticket…
Yet, there are occasional good news when it comes to prices, such as that for the OnStar no-hands telephone system in one’s vehicle. I formerly paid as much as $339 for a thousand minutes (I used my vehicle on my business trips as my second office!), and more recently $139 for 250 minutes, which I go through like a great-tasting pizza.
Well, the fact is, OnStar recently lowered its price to $10.95 cents per month, unlimited, no restrictions, includes neighboring countries. Wow!
If you thought I talked a lot before, you ought to see me on this business trip!
What a deal! What a price!
Yes, I asked over and over for the OnStar rep to repeat herself. And I repeated what she repeated, and she agreed.
I could go on and on over this one bright ray in the economic recovery, but then I could be spending my time on OnStar, instead!
Maybe it’s good times for some, bad times for others. And maybe it’s like the game of chess: you win some pawns and lose some.

Feather and Down Pillows at Clarion!

Bob Koczor — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:33:32 +0000

Travel can easily turn into a hardship, even without mentioning the costs of gasoline or lodging or food while away from home. So, while on the road, one hopes for the best, as I am doing on this trip to Northern California for the Golf Show sponsored by Varsity Communications in Santa Clara this weekend, March 11-13th. I can’t do anything about the price of gas, so I pay it. I can do something about the price of food/entertaining, so I chose the restaurant to fit my appetite and pocketbook. I also try my best to choose a place for three nights of lodging that will not make me regret that I have left home, again, for the upteenth time in the past 24 years in the behalf of Golf Today Magazine.
So, chose the Clarion Hotel near the San Jose Airport for my lodging and, boy, am I glad I did!
Besides having enough room which doesn’t prompt nightmares of me sleeping in a closet, it’s clean, quiet, has great heating/air system, a desk to type this review on my computer, king-sized bed, etc.
What really struck my fancy, however, is a small but important thing: there are two pillow types (five pillows on king-sized bed). One can choose between down and feather pillows in the front or a down alternative in the back. They are fresh and fully-packed and provide those dreams worthy of any working tired old man.
Other offerings include that if you forget your toothpaste, show shine, mouthwash, toothbrush, shaver, shaving lotion, whatever, just call the front desk and they will deliver to you in your room.
And, this doesn’t even get into the Island Grill Restaurant that is featured at the Clarion Hotel San Jose Airport!
See tomorrow’s blog on that!

What a Way To Start A Golf Show!

Bob Koczor — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:13:59 +0000

I’ve been working golf shows since before most were born, it seems. Working with my own booths, usually two of them side-by-side, and because I try to go to elaborate lengths to make visitors to the golf show pleased with my presentation of Golf Today Magazine and all it offers, I need three or four hours to set up the booth the day before the show starts. One of the major tasks is to hand the large 10′ x 4′ banner plastic signs to the high framing each booth has interconnected with its neighbors’ booths. I end up teeter-tottering atop chairs which, over the years, have wriggled and jiggled as I balance myself and reach skyward to duct tape the signs to the overhead framing poles. I have never fallen, but should have come close. Yesterday, for the first time ever, since I began working trade and consumer shows in the 1960s, I had two young men come along and ask me if I needed help. Evidently they didn’t have time to call for an ambulance if, indeed, I did fall. The men subcontracted with the managers of the golf show in Santa Clara, CA, taking place March 11-13th. The men proceeded to bring a ladder, take the sign down, replace the duct tape with small steel hooks and make the sign for Golf Today Magazine look as professional a professional could install. I still can’t believe it –help, after all these years! Varsity and these young men must be congratulated, and I for one do that. So does my wife. So does my doctor. And so does my hospitalization insurance company. –Wow! What a great way to start today’s golf show!

Largest Sweet Spot in a Putter

Bob Koczor — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:20:02 +0000

BERMUDA TRIANGLE T-180

by Bob Koczor

It sort of feels like homecoming as I write this putter review since I’ve focused on different Ashdon putters four times during the past decade. No, I don’t have any friendship with the owner Ronnie Pritchett, nor does he live within 3,000 miles from here, nor does he advertise with me, nor are there any quid pro quos. I think I talked with him over the phone back at the turn of the millennium.

What is established, however, is a track record of his Ashdon putters going four-for-four in regards to being recommended in Golf Today Magazine. With this review, it’s five for five.

And I still don’t know this guy, but I know his putters.

I used the Bermuda Triangle T-180 during a recent Golf Today Magazine-sponsored tournament held at Trinitas Golf Course, itself a gem and highly ranked. This Ashdon Golf putter gave me the accuracy that is most coveted in this final part of every hole during each round.

You can be a little off and miss-hit your drive or your approach shot, but the door is always open for you to compensate for that miscue with a following extraordinaire shot, and that’s the one you will remember.

On the green, there is no second chance shot following an 8’-to-20’ putt that misses because you didn’t hit the sweet spot with the correct speed and distance. No taking backs on these.

With the Bermuda Triangle T-180, you do have the edge in your hands, that edge being based on the design itself which consists of the shaft conjoining with the putterhead in a triangular shape which enlarges the sweet spot.

This triangularly enlarged sweet spot from heel to toe mellows a mis-hit more than any other putter design, thus increasing the stability and control of the putt through the swing.

Yes, let me repeat: the Bermuda T-180 features the largest sweet spot of any putter.

Unlike the designs of other putters, you can mis-hit with the Bermuda Triangle T-180 and still have the control you need to have a square to the target putter.

I’m not alone in this evaluation, but find myself in good company with the likes of Jimmy Ballard, author and top-rated author, who says: “It’s about time someone invented a putter that really works. This putter is truly the last putter you will ever buy.” (Ballard’s clients include Ray Floyd, Gary Player, Peter Jacobson, and Johnny Miller.)

The T-180 features a polymer insert, milled face, double sight alignment lines, a balanced face, along with a shotpinned anti-glare finish.

Sometimes the design of putters can be outlandishly puzzling, with the inventors forced into a corner in order to create something, indeed, very different. Pretzel and concoctions designs are sometimes substituted for results, but Golf doesn’t work that way.

What counts are sane and sober results, and those design factors in a putter must lead to control of one’s swing as well as accuracy.

For the fifth time, Ashdon Golf has delivered successfully.

For more info on this putter, visit www.ashdongolf.com

HIPCHECK (“110% Guaranteed!”)

Bob Koczor — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:20:10 +0000

by Bob Koczor

Not all golf products offer a money-back guarantee, and those that do make this offer limited to the actual price that has been originally paid for the product.

For the first time in my life, I’ve come across a product that is guaranteed satisfaction not on a 100% return cash policy, but a 110% return satisfaction guaranteed policy!

HipCheck is a training aide that backs this 100% promise.

The plastic HipCheck clips onto your belt or pants so that it points towards the hole. You align the pointer above your hipbone.

Step two is to address the ball, then stand up straight to adjust your stance to make sure the pointer is aimed directly at the target. Now your ready to hit with more accuracy!

HipCheck has a 60-second video on its website (www.TheHipCheck.com) which shows how simple and effective this new training tool is.

The HipCheck comes in three colors: Morning Sky, Tangerine and Alpine Green.

A large percentage of “bad” shots are the result of misalignment off-key stance. This HipCheck, as simple as it sounds, will train you to stand properly aligned to the target you wish to hit.