Stadley, Buba and Four Guys on a Golf Course

Good to see young Stadler finally get one, even if I kind of wanted Buba to win. Looks like we will have two Stad's at the Masters this year.


Just for fun another golf joke!


A Foursome of young married guys playing golf on Sunday - One the second hole the following conversation took place

First Golfer: "Man, you have no idea what I had to do to be able to come out golfing this weekend. I had to promise my wife that I will paint every room in the house next weekend."

Second Golfer: "That's nothing; I had to promise my wife that I will build her a new deck for the pool."

Third Golfer: "Man, you both have it easy! I had to promise my wife that I will remodel the kitchen for her."

They continue to play the hole when they realized that one player has not said a word. So they ask him. "You haven't said anything about what you had to do to be able to come golfing this weekend. What's the deal?"

Fourth Golfer: "I don't want to talk about it. Let's just say that the foundation for the new house is being poured next Tuesday."

How To Find Lost Golf Balls

Americans lose 300 million golf balls a year.

The reconditioning and reselling of those used balls has become a hundreds of million dollars a year industry. The Internet and large retailers like Wal-Mart sell thousands of dozen each week. In the old days the only place you could find these ‘water balls’ was in the golf shop. Why don’t we find a few ourselves and cut out the middlemen.

So where do you look to pick up a few of the millions of lost golf balls.

When looking for balls try the out of bounds to the right 170 to 180 yards off the tee.

For the expensive balls try about 220 yards but still the right side.

Most golfers that should be looking in the 170 area look in the 200 yard area and most that should be looking in the 220 range look in the 250-260 area.

If you can’t find your own ball walk back, you likely didn’t hit it that far.

Better balls are often found left and behind longer holes.

When looking along water, more balls are found on the tee side than the green side.

Check out new tree wells, the edges of paths and any grass boarders that need a weed eater.

And lastly, if you find one, there is a good chance another is hiding nearby, make a circle around where you found yours.

Please don’t stop and look while playing, but there is always a chance to walk by some of these ball happy areas. Remember if you hit it here someone else probably did too.

Els,Singh, and a Wraparound Tour

Vijay Singh signed a multi-year contract to endorse Hopkins Golf. Vijay will wear a Hopkins Golf logo on his visor or hat, carry a Hopkins logo on his bag, and most important, play the company's wedges.

Hopkins CEO, Greg Hopkins, is the former CEO at Cleveland Golf, Vijay played there stuff for many years.

Ernie Els meanwhile has switched from Callaway to Adams and will play all Adams stuff. I’m betting this will let him find a new putter, one he actually feels comfortable with, and back to Titleist, no more Callaway or Taylor Made balls.  

Not sure about the new wraparound tour. So what is a wraparound schedule, a schedule that begins in one year and finishes in the following year. For example, a tour season that begins in October 2013 and finishes in September 2014 is one that uses a "wraparound schedule." Which is exactly what the PGA Tour is doing beginning with its 2013-14 season.

What it really means – tournaments in November and December that are supposed to be meaningful. (But its football time and limited field tournaments are tough to watch)

Another Golf - Player of the Year

Adam Scott has been voted the Male Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America, Tiger Woods finished second. Before you ask who the writers in the GWAA are, I will answer for you. Writers who publish a lot of words about golf but fail to watch or understand that winning a major and two small tourneys in Australia does not make a player of the year.

Tiger won the money title and the Vardon Trophy (lowest scoring average) who, on tour, wouldn’t want to win these two? If not Tiger, Henrik Stenson gets my vote for player of the year, wait, I don’t have a vote.

I might be prejudiced against Scott, and I admit it, I hate the long putter. He is a big young guy and, too me, looks silly with that senior tour putter. I for one will be glad when they are gone.

Looks like golf for me this afternoon, nice day!

Congratulations to Adam Scott for winning the GWAA player of the year – even if no one has ever heard of this award.

Indoor Winter Practice

And old golf adage say’s most golfers practice too much, too little or just plain wrong. If you are not sure what to practice, start at about three feet and move out from there. A majority of all shots in a round are from 100 yards and in, practice hard from three feet to 100 yards and you will get better.

Best thing about this you can work on your putting stroke indoors, watching football. But make sure it is repeated and repeated, same setup, same takeaway and same smooth stroke.

Anyone else watching architects week on the golf channel, good stuff?

Winter Golf - You Bet

Played in shirtsleeves Tuesday and last night we had snow and zero temperature early this morning. But then again that is life in Wyoming, ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon.

If you have not tried it yet, http://www.golf18network.com/, is terrific, try it. Deep discounts for golf in whatever area you wish. I have no connections with these people, just wanted to let you know about a great golf deal.

-JUST FOR FUN-

 Every Saturday morning, Josh headed to the golf course. It didn't matter what the weather was like. It could be raining and 40 degrees, but Josh didn't care. It was off to the course, every single Saturday morning for than ten years.

But one Saturday, Josh finally met his match with the weather. He got up early and drove out to the course, hoping the weather would improve by the time got off the first tee. But once at the course, he knew he couldn’t do it. It was just a few degrees above freezing, and snow was spitting down steady and icy cold.

For the first time in years, Josh headed back home on a Saturday morning.

His wife was still in bed when he got there, so he took off his clothes, snuggled up to his wife's backside and said "Terrible weather out there."

"Yeah," his wife replied, "and can you believe my idiot husband went to play golf

 

 

Golf In Turkey and Veterans Day

You can tell it is getting toward the end of the golf season when the big tourney of the week is in Turkey. Most Americans are thinking about Turkey, but as in Thanksgiving, not golf. The tournament was fun to watch and the course was beautiful.

Today is Veterans Day, if you are one, thanks for serving, today less golf and a little about Veterans Day.

World War I ended, June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The fighting had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday in 1938. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day, honoring all U.S. veterans.

In 1968, new legislation changing four holidays, including Veterans Day, to Mondays, creating three-day government weekends. Veterans Day was to be celebrated on the fourth Monday of October. It soon became obvious that America was not buying the change and not about to change Veterans Day because November 11 was a date of historic significance to so many Americans. Because of this the government backed off the change and in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional day.

Fed-X Cup Race

Well at least golf is still important, until Thursday night when the NFL starts, then we will have college and pro football and golf may not seem as important to sports viewers.

Three unmarried men were waiting to tee off when the starter walked up to them and said, "You see that beautiful blonde practicing her putting?"

"Her? Wow, she is beautiful," they all said.

"She's a good golfer," he continued, "and would like to hook up with a group. None of the other groups will play with a woman. Can she play with you? She won't hold you up, I promise." They looked at each other and said, "Sure! She can join us." Just as the starter said, the woman played well and kept up. Plus, they kept noticing, she was very attractive.

When they reached the 18th hole, she said that if she sank her 18-footer, she'd break 80 for the first time. "Guys, I'm so excited about breaking 80 that I have to tell you something. I had a great time playing with you. I can tell you all really love golf. I want you to know that I'm single and want to marry a man who loves golf as much as I do. If one of you guys can read this putt correctly and I make it, I'll marry whichever of you was right!"

All three jumped at the opportunity. The first one looked over the putt and said, "I see it breaking 10 inches left to right." The second looked it over from all sides and said, "No, I see it breaking eight inches right to left."

The third man looked at the woman, looked at the ball, and said, "Pick it up. It's good!"

The Women's Open at Saint Andrews

The Open, then the Senior British Open and this week the women and their British open.  And this one might have more drama than all the others with Inbee Park at St. Andrews. If she wins she’ll become the first golfer to ever win four professional majors in a single season.

The LPGA doesn’t get the following of the men or even the seniors, but they play some great golf and this one will be worth the watching.

My prediction- I will take the field against her, but it would be fun if she pulled it off.

 

The British Open

The British Open is underway, great looking course, but maybe a little tricked up. Not all the players were complimentary of the setup. I believe when the course is purposely dried to an almost dead state, the games committee may have gone a little too far.

Last week I walked the course in Omaha with the U. S. Senior open players, as a spectator not a player, and am just now recovering, and some of those old guys are playing in the British Open, they are tougher, and in much better shape than this old guy. But I did shoot 85 today.

 

 

Old Golf Pro Secret

The real reason your pro tells you to keep your head down?

So you can't see him laughing at you.

 

 

Played Today

I am starting to feel better, finally, after a month of the worst sinus problems in all my 65 years. Couldn’t breathe, couldn’t hear (my wife says it was even worse than my normal selective hearing), tough time sleeping and got little or no work done. Hope to be back blogging in a few days, the nice weather here in eastern Wyoming is helping. See you in a week or so.

Neil

I did make it out to the course today, hit the ball OK. Not up to walking but my cart was fine, enjoyed the sunshine and the fresh air.

Tee It Forward

The tee it forward movement is a great idea and one I hope more courses find the time and place to let people tee it forward. Of course I am an old guy that doesn’t like hitting a three wood second shot into a par four. 

According to the tee it forward people if your average drive is only about 220 you should be playing courses around 6,000 yards or less. I think it would help if the forward tees would keep par threes at 165 yards or less also. It is really no fun to hit three or five wood on a par 3.

Also seems to be a men only idea, I see many women, maybe past their golf prime, who would love to tee it forward.

It’s still a great idea but there are problems, like the following example. This example would be someone like me playing a par five with a (20 or 30 something) single digit handicapper. He will be hitting from the members tees and some old guy, like me, will play it forward.

The hole we play will be - Par 5 - 520 yards

His tee - 520 yards – drive 300 – distance to green 220 yards, a hard 4 hybrid

My tee - 450 yards – drive 220 – distance to green 230 yards, can’t reach with anything

See the problem? We are in approximately the same place after shot #1, but shot number two is still too long, but even this old golfer does not want to play par 5s that are 390 yards long  (my 220 drive and  a 170 yard 4 hybrid). So tee it forward, just not too far.

*Special note - I can still hit it 250 on occasion, and hit my three wood 215.  On the above example I would have about 50-90 yards left with my third shot to hit the green in regulation. (Not Bad)

Down wind, downhill, hard fairways, I can reach about 500 in two. Not bad for a 65 year old 12 handicap.

Tger and Phil -- Back to Back

Tiger, #75 and Phil, #41, back to back, if you are a PGA fan, it doesn’t get any better kicking off the new season.

-My two favorite golf quotes of the week-

Lee Westwood referring to Vijay and the Antler spray big deal. “You have to be careful about what you take. I try not to take anything now, really, other than Corona and Vodka.”

Rory Mcllroy said about his new deal with Nike, “Golf needs a younger, more athletic image, and Nike has always had that. I’m young enough. I’m not sure I’m athletic enough. But I’ll try!”

This week the PGA goes to Pebble and the champion’s Tour has their first full field tourney with the Allianz in Boca Raton. Great golf TV if you live in a cold state and can’t play yet!

 

Phi, Vijay, Sergio and # 16

Phil is tearing it up this week. I wonder if the happiest PGA pro in the world might be Vijay Singh. Phil is playing lights out and the talk is all about him and not about Vijay and the deer antler fairy dust conspiracy.

If you didn’t see the melt down, by now, staring Sergio García you really missed something. It was hilarious, although he probably is embarrassed by it now, he shouldn’t be. Golf doesn’t need to be so stuffy all the time.

Reminded me of the old time baseball managers, if you are old enough to remember Earl Weaver, or as old as me and remember Billy Martin, you know what I am talking about. They went crazy and it was fun, people loved it, they cheered and they booed.

Speaking of booing and cheering, most people watching the Phoenix Waste Management Open don’t know what to think about #16. Cheered if you hit a good one, booed roundly if you miss the green, it’s like going to a golf tournament in Arizona and a hockey game in the Bronx breaks out.

Enjoy the Super Bowl and go Phil

 

A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers, neither of whom can putt very well. ~Anonymous

Senior Golfer - Play the Right Shat and Hit it Deep

 No one wants to hit if farther than the typical senior golfer.

So, lets make it happen.

What shaft should senior golfers play? I believe seniors often, too soon, go for the softer shaft, then slow down their swings and seem satisfied with the down the middle 185 yard drive. Not sure that is the way to go, or best for your game.

Not everyone can have a pro check their swing and measure swing speed but everyone can do the following.

1.     Look at your ball flight-If you are hooking the ball even occasionally, do not go to a softer shaft

2.     If you slice bad and have a decent swing, go to a softer shaft or go to the drill below and help out you game and yourself

3.     If you want to stay with the shaft you are using but age is slowing you down—go to a good exercise program-too lazy to exercise? Try this drill.

-The Stay Young and Hit it Drill-

    Using a full length driver (not over length) take 20 swings a day concentrating on getting the weight on the inside of your back foot – shifting - and finishing with most of you weight on the inside of your front foot.

    Increase swing speed with each repetition until you are swinging faster than normal.

    Make sure you are getting a full turn with each swing

    At the end of the swings do five, eyes closed swings. These will allow you to feel the balance. WARNING—Start with a scaled down swing speed, you will lose your balance on these swing the first few days.

    Add 10 more swings each week until reaching 50 and stay with that.

    This drill can be done on the deck, in the back yard, driveway anywhere you can take a full swing.

    This is a great off season drill to get in shape for golf season.

One more mile-per-hour will add two or three yards. Use this drill five days a week for five weeks and you will see the gain—most senior players from 10-20 yards.

A good walking and stretching program will help get you closer to the 20 yard gain.

*Note-It’s January and I played 18 today, get out when you can!

10 Things To Remember On The Course This Year

As we all start, at least trying, to think about golf. Yes it will warm up and turn green sometime in the future.

Here are my things to remember for this year.

1.    Do not try to hit through a tree—all that stuff about trees being 80% air cannot be true

2.    If you are not sure, go around instead of over—remember trying to hit that lob wedge over a 60 foot tree 20 feet in front of you?

3.    Club up or down and hit your 70 or 80% shot from uneven lies

4.    Light rough still hit one more club

5.    Heavy rough – see #3 above

6.    Remember, direction is more important than distance

7.    Find out your distance with each club – average distance, not best distance

8.    Find a swing for the 75 yard shot – sand wedge, half sand wedge, half gap, whatever it takes

9.     A found golf ball is a good golf ball - tee it up

 

10. Remember the other nine

 

Happy Golfin'

 

 

Best Golf Ball For Senior Golfers

If you type in ,“best ball for senior golfers or best golf ball,” you will get hundreds maybe even thousands of hits. The reason? Everyone wants to hit it far and straight and no one wants to practice. So the best ball is—

Find one that feels soft but not so soft that you feel like you need to swing harder.

I personally like three piece balls because I hit them for decent distance and they will spin and stop. I also will play a two piece ball if it is soft, almost everyone is making one now, but I really like the Wilson Staff 50/50.

The short game is still where most of the scoring takes place but when you become a senior type citizen, we still would like to drive it past the ladies tee. So in my pursuit of hitting it farther I have the following suggestions—

1.    Find a softer ball

2.   Make sure your swing speed matches your driver shaft

3.   Stretch at home—30 seconds of stretching before you tee up on #1 is not enough

4.   Increase your swing speed—50 or more hard swings with a full length driver every day in the off season, and during the season for that matter, swing faster each swing for the first dozen, for the rest maintain the fast swing. Take your time between swings, make sure you finish with weight on your front foot and chest to target.

5.   I also have found that playing in the off-off season when there is no water on the course and the fairways are frozen really helps my distance off the tee—maybe I should give up summer golf and concentrate on winter golf, but not in the south.

Golf Season - Yeepee It's Here

Looks like the golf channel turns 18 tomorrow, happy birthday. I watch a lot of it; love it in the winter when I cannot play here in the Wyoming high country.

Golf season is rolling now, the first full field tournament last week and this week two big ones. It will be great TV, especially if your Football team has checked it in for the season. Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, with the world’s number one and two and now best friends playing. We will see about this best friend stuff when one or the other starts dominating his new best friend.

Sorry Rory, but I think this may be Tiger’s year- now that you are both playing with the almost good enough equipment and balls - the field had leveled.

The other tournament this week – The Humana challenge, should be a birdie filled, fun to watch event. Look for a score of -25 or better to win. And the winner is---

Matt Kuchar, Pat Perez, Brandt Snedeker or the guy we will say, “who dat guy.”

Until next time, Happy Golfin’

Looks like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are both playing for Nike now. That gives Nike the number one and two players in the world as Tiger just moved from three to two. I did a quick, what’s in the bag, check on Rory and it is all Nike, ball, clothes, everything. I see where the two have already done their first commercial for Nike together.

Myself, I will keep playing whatever I can get on e-bay and some cheap stuff from Wal-Mart.

Still waiting on a deal from one of the biggies-got the handicap down to 12-could be soon.

Three Million-Come on Man

 Looks like Tiger Woods will not be playing in the Qatar Masters, this year. Woods three million dollar appearance fee was too steep for the tournament that has a total purse of about two and a half million.  I like Tiger, always have, love to watch him play, great, fierce competitor. But like the NFL folks say, “Come on man,” three million is a little steep for the world’s number three.

Let’s see if the average American lives on about $50,000 dollars a year it would take 60 years to make the three million that Tiger needed for less than a week of work-good deal if you can get it, but even Tiger couldn’t pull this one off.

 

 

I still think a quarter a hole is a big deal match! And maybe a beer a side.