Generation X PGA Pros

photo credit: pocketwiley   On Memorial Day Ricky Fowler was  interviewed, on national TV after his ride in an F-15 fighter jet.  When they asked him what his feelings were he said, “at least I didn't blow chunk (a reference to vomiting)!”  A far cry from the answers a Palmer or Nicklaus would have given when they were in their prime. 

Fowler is part of a new generation of PGA Pros with about as much personality as armadillos.  Except for Phil Mickelson, there is not a single stand-out personality on tour.  Compared to the 60's, 70,s and part of the 1980's when the likes of Palmer, Trevino, Player, Nicklaus, the Walrus, Chi Chi, the Great White Shark and many more, today's players behave like a herd of zombies.

It's time for a new make-over.  The players need to loosen-up and start acting like ambassadors for the game instead of worrying about every word they say for fear of offending one of their sponsors (Fowler's remarks were just plain stupid).   Golf's future is at stake but no one seems to be worried.  Where have all the Superstars gone?

Tommy “Two Glove”: A New Face on Tour

photo credit: familymwr   Can Tommy Gainey be a new PGA Tour superstar?  Maybe, maybe not but during the Phoenix WM Phoenix Open he gave every amateur golfer new hope.  Why?  Gainey's swing is far from classic, it's a cross between Lee Trevino's backswing and Arnold Palmer's follow-through.  His grip is far from standard, with his right hand literally under the club's handle (strong hook grip).  He isn't robot-like as most tour players are.  To top it off, he wears two gloves. 

Bottom Line:  1)  It's a real treat to watch Gainey go from Golf Channel's Big Break TV series, to the spotlight on the PGA Tour.  2)  It proves that you don't have to have a picture perfect swing to be in the big league.  3)   You can break from tradition and wear two gloves.  4)  The only thing that really matters during the swing is the position of the clubhead when it meets the ball!

What’s in Your Wallet?

photo credit: B Rosen     With the global recession getting worse, it's time for a reality check for golf courses.   Consumer spending is down in every area of the economy.   Some courses have been forced to cut their days of operation and, worse yet, many have already filed for bankruptcy.   Yet, it seems that course management is still operating with their heads tucked into the sand!

When the cost of a Coke,  at  the course, is  $4 (cost –  50 cents), and a hot dog $7 (cost  - 50 cents), it's time for consumers to start complaining.   Let me be clear, I don't begrudge profits but it's become obscene.   If courses want to generate more play and stay out of bankruptcy, they need to start making it more economical for the average  Joe  to play golf.    Think about it?

What are Your Rights?

photo credit: Philip Larson     Playing with strangers is not my “cup of tea.”   Now don't get me wrong, I'm not unfriendly in the least, however, I go to the course to play golf, not to socialize.

I've often wondered why, as a paying customer, you are expected to team-up to play with strangers.   Should you have a right to refuse?   I believe you should have that right.   Aren't YOU the paying customer?   When you are forking over your hard earned money (in many cases greens-fees up to $200), you have the right of refusal.

If you went out to dinner and were seated at a table with strangers how would you react?   I rest my case.   If you prefer to play alone or just with your own two-some, insist to do so.

A $500 Driver?

photo credit: kulicki     In a recent  new equipment  article in GOLF DIGEST MAGAZINE titled “2010 a Great Year to Gear Up,” it details how the cost of new equipment has gone down, “the cost of technology has moderated because of manufacturing efficiencies and better materials.”   I say, if this was before the depression we're in,  they would be saying, “the cost of technology and materials have risen, thus the retail costs are higher!”  

These conglomerates have made billions trying to convince you and I that  paying $500 for  a new driver is a good deal  ?    Now their new drivers are $300 and even a “better deal!”   Nonsense !    

Average players, wake up and stop  shoveling  your hard earned money to these  fat-cat, “stick-it-to-ya, big shots, besides, how much difference  is that $500 driver  going to make in your game ?

World-class Flat Tire

photo credit: Playadura*     A recent interview in GOLF  MAGAZINE with Michelle Wie was very telling.   I have read many   interviews but rarely have I been so unimpressed with the kind of answers Wie gave.

Wie is not a  kid but  her answers were childlike and standoffish at best.   The phrase “I can't remember” dominated the interview.   When referring to a wrist injury, she was asked “what was  your lowest point?” her answer: “I don't remember.”   When asked what she meant by  'lowest point,'  she said, “I don't remember a lot from that time.”

Some say she is  supposed to be the next Annika Sorenstam,    don't  count on it,  she's won only one tournament in six years and in my estimation,  her golf game is like a flat tire  !   Childlike answers to serious questions don't help either.

Are Manufacturers Ripping You Off?

photo credit: rutlo     I believe it's time to take a good hard look at the exorbitant  prices of golf clubs.    For too long, golf club manufacturers have been raising the prices of clubs to unheard of  levels; doing so  under the  cloak of “new and latest  technology.”    A good set of irons will cost between $800  - $1,000, can the average golfer afford that?

If their  prices represented  the true worth of the clubs, why  are the trade-in values priced so low?   For example:   A  2005 set of Callaway  Irons ( Retail $1000)  have a trade-in value of $117 !   A 2005 set of Adams Idea Irons ( Retail $800) now have a trade-in value of $52 !  

Will those $1000 irons really lower your score, or is that  what manufacturers just  want you to believe will happen?

The Feeding Frenzy on Tiger

photo credit: nsaplayer     In every respect, golf has taken a big hit after the Tiger Woods debacle.   Tiger represented a huge part of the yearly revenue in every phase of the sport of golf.   From manufacturers to golf courses, to the media everyone is taking a big hit.   The PGA Tour will especially feel the absence of this once, iconic player.  

The blame is not necessarily Tiger's.   The real blame falls on the shoulders of  everyone that had a  feeding frenzy on Tiger.   They promoted him like he was not just a super-star but a supernatural being. They idolized and adored him.   When it turned out that Tiger was, ah! let's say, an abnormal kind'a guy, the roof fell in.   So, in the end, who's fault was it?   I think it's time  to look in the mirror !

Credit Card Scam ALERT !!

photo credit: michael_swan     Recently, I received a call from someone  claiming to be  an employee of GOLF MAGAZINE.   The woman  wanted me to renew my subscription to the magazine for 2 years at an “incredible savings.”   I said I was not interested  but she persisted.   When I finally asked her if she “understood English,” she hung up on me.

I immediately called GOLF MAGAZINE to complain.   I was told by the employee that GOLF MAGAZINE does not do telemarketing and solicits new subscriptions by mail only.   She then said that their offices had already received  at least  5 similar complaints.   I immediately reported the incident to the police.  

As it turned out, they were obviously  after my credit card number which they did not get.

More Questions

photo credit: Keith Allison     Tiger Woods made a statement that he was “sorry for his infidelity” and that he was going to be away from golf “indefinitely.”  

Why is  Tiger  Woods so afraid to make his statements in public?    Here are  two thoughts:   First, he is still badly bruised from the alleged blows he took from his wife.    The second and  more likely scenario is that he doesn't want to tarnish his image, for posterity and future sports history.      Having a video of his apologies and maya copa's  concerning his adultery would not make a good legacy and he knows it.  

Woods figures he'll go down as history's greatest athlete and he doesn't want a video of his apologies following him to his grave, let alone the  Saturday Night Live Show,  Jay Leno or David Letterman.

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