10 Geeky Golf Gadgets
August 31st, 2007
To celebrate the coming of golf season, we’re teeing off with some of the most amusing and geeky golf gadgets we’ve seen to date.
Here are a couple of the products you’ll find in today’s 10 Geeky Golf Gadgets slideshow:
Segway x2 Golf
Need a faster way to get to each hole, or a better vantage point for surveying the lay of the course? Hop on the Segway x2 Golf ($5,995). Complete with a golf bag carrier, low-pressure turf tires, LeanSteer technology, and wireless InfoKey controller, you’ll stand eight inches higher. Plus, it’s gentler on the turf than golf carts, thanks to its complex software algorithms to control traction. It operates on two Saphion lithium-ion battery packs and reaches a maximum speed of 12.5 mph.
OptoSmart Laser Putting Trainer LPT
This device has frickin’ laser beams! The Laser Putting Trainer LPT from OptoSmart allows you to position your putter for the best shot using the laser as a guideline. It mounts to the club with the battery-operated remote power button that can be placed along the shaft or grip. Available for both right- and left-handed putters, the LPT sells for $39.95.
Check out these and more geeky golf gadgets in our slideshow. Fore!
Author: Jennifer L. DeLeo
Golf by the Bushel Basket : New York course is Best New Bargain - Orchard Creek Golf Club - Brief Article
August 30th, 2007
Orchard Creek’s architect was Paul Cowley, who normally designs courses for Davis Love III but returned to his hometown of Altamont to transform an orchard owned by his old buddies, the Abbruzzese brothers (Danny, John, Jimmy and Joe).
McIntosh apples are found on most of the course, but the Empires along the third and Jonagolds beside the eighth are even tastier, one player told us as he stuffed what seemed like a bushel into his golf bag. A course ranger passing by didn’t seem to mind the harvesting, and that clinched it for us: Orchard Creek is the apple of our frugal eye.
Author: Ron Whitten
The Golf Digest School: for longer, straighter shots, swing the club instead of steering it
August 30th, 2007
A wing and a prayer
A “chicken wing” is golf talk for what happens when a player tries to steer the ball into the fairway by keeping the clubface square to the target for as long as possible. Christy Wilcox, a 30-handicapper from State College, Pa., tried to do this by pulling the club down across her body with the left arm, which caused her left elbow to flare past impact and look like a chicken wing. This caused the clubface to be open at impact and her shots to slice. Instead of trying to hold the club in this position, she needed to allow the clubface to rotate to a slightly closed position (pointing left of the target) just past impact.
2. THE FIX
Swing with the right arm only
The clubface is square to the target for only an instant as it makes contact with the ball. There’s no need to try to get the clubface in this square position any longer than that. I asked Christy to hit shots with her right arm only, focusing on swinging the club farther out in front of her body rather than across it. At the same time, I wanted her right forearm to roll over as if she were hitting a forehand topspin shot in tennis. Even though her left arm was off the club, she initially had trouble breaking her habit of trying to hold the club in a square position through impact. So I stood between her and the target and pulled the club past her body so she could feel the sensation of the right forearm rolling over through the impact zone.
3. THE RESULT
Rotate and release
Kurt Mantyla teaches at the Golf Digest School at Whirlwind Golf Club, Chandler, Ariz.
Author: Kurt Mantyla
Student struck by golf club: Negligent supervision, training: Skull fracture: Settlement
August 29th, 2007
Doe v. Roe, Cal., Los Angeles County Super. Ct., confidential docket no., Mar. 2004.
Doe, 13, was attending a physical education class at the middle school where she was a student when another student swung a golf club, striking Doe in the head. She suffered a skull fracture, requiring surgery. She continues to suffer from headaches, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and difficulty with her studies. Her past medical expenses were about $52,000, and her future medical expenses are estimated at $150,000.
Doe sued the school and a teacher, alleging the teacher failed to adequately supervise the class and give students safety training, the teacher handed out too many golf clubs to the students, the clubs were inappropriate for the students’ age group, and the field where they were playing was inappropriate for golf. Defendants argued the other student caused the accident.
The parties settled before trial for $695,000. The school paid the entire amount.
Plaintiff’s experts in this case were Betsy Clark, golf, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Craig Cunningham, safety, Van Nuys, CaL; and H. Ronald Fisk, neurology; George M. Henry, neuropsychology; and Gene Bruno, vocational rehabilitation, all of Lew Angeles, Cal.
Defendants’ experts were Martin Levine, psychiatry/neurology, Encino, Cal.; Tony Strickland, psychology/neuropsychology, Los Angeles, Cal.; and Steven Molina, rehabilitation, Los Angeles, Cal.
Plaintiff’s Counsel *Andrew C. Bryman, Calabasas, Cal.
Author: Array
Blast Into the Past : Architects G.C. challenges as it educates - The Architects Golf Club in New Jersey - Brief Article
August 27th, 2007
The course, near the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border, introduces golfers to the game’s founding fathers of course design, thanks to two men with a sense of style to match their sense of history: Architect Stephen Kay designed the course with assistance from Ron Whitten, Golf Digest architecture editor since 1989.
The real success at Architects isn’t so much that Kay and Whitten have introduced us to the subtleties of C.B. Macdonald, Alister Mackenzie, Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones, among others–though they have. It isn’t about how meticulously they’ve recaptured the penal design philosophy of Walter Travis or the three different bunker styles of A.W. Tillinghast or the insidious Redan-like challenge espoused by Charles Henry Banks–though they have. It isn’t even that they have managed to produce a seamless layout whose holes look as though they have been there for decades, not months–though they have. No, the real treat of Architects is that it doesn’t matter whether you care a hoot about Devereux Emmet or William S. Flynn, you’ll just dig playing the golf course.
Especially noteworthy are the demanding par-4 fourth, with its massive fairway bunker and wild green, the gambling par-5 13th, which has a distinctive Augusta National feel, and the major-league 17th hole, so good, so authentic that Stanley Thompson wishes he had built as good a par 3.
History may have been the inspiration for this place, but challenging, fun golf is the end result. And that’s what makes Architects totally timeless.
RELATED ARTICLE: If you go . . .
The Architects G.C. 700 Strykers Road, Lopatcong, NJ 08865 Par 71; 6,863 yards (Black).
Location: Near the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border. Take Interstate 78 to Exit 3 in New Jersey to U.S. 22 west, then make a right on Route 519. Turn left on Strykers, club is 211/42 miles on your right.
Other tees: Gold: 6,532 yards; Blue: 6,172; Red: 5,233.
Green fees: April through October is $70-$90 before 3 p.m.; $50-$70 after 3 p.m. (fee includes cart, range balls and yardage book).
Contact: 908-213-3080, www.thearchitectsclub.com.
Author: Mike Stachura
Charles Barkley accuses Augusta National Golf Club of `blatant racism’ - Sports - Brief Article
August 25th, 2007
“Jack Nicklaus won the Masters six damn times, and he was hitting it past everybody else, and they never made a change,” the former NBA star said in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated. “What they’re doing to Tiger is blatant racism.
“Tiger wouldn’t say it, but I got no damn problem saying it for him. We need Black athletes to speak out. Michael (Jordan) could do it and Tiger could do it, but you have to be willing to be ridiculed. I’m willing to be ridiculed,” Barkley said about athletes having the platform to speak out, but don’t always because of their “certain image.”
Augusta National spokesman Glenn Greenspan said the club had no comment. Recent renovations, which include nearly 300 additional yards to the length of the course, were announced the day before last year’s Masters, which Woods won by two shots. Woods, who also won the green jacket in 1997, was asked a few weeks ago whether the changes were intended for him.
“I spoke to (chairman) Hootie (Johnson) about the changes, and the changes are not for me,” said Woods, the only Black golfer to win the Masters. “They’re for the kids that are coming up in the future. I’m not that long anymore.”
Author: Array
The Gen X Age Of Design : The 450-yard, par-4 10th at Whisper Rock Golf Club, Scottsdale - Brief Article
August 24th, 2007
I was a bit skeptical that Phil Mickelson honestly got his fingernails dirty while designing his first course, the private Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale. I figured Gary Stephenson, a 36-year-old course architect called “the next Tom Fazio” by his previous employer, David Graham, did all the heavy lifting. But Gary assures me the two worked as a team. Phil learned the nuts and bolts of course building, and educated Gary–now on Phil’s payroll full time to assist on future designs–on his dislikes: No bottleneck fairways. No funnel greens. No bunkers that aren’t in play.
Shadowing Mickelson as he played his creation was an education for me. Between effortless 300-yard drives and silky smooth putts, Phil welcomed me to his youthful world of course design.
“I wanted all my par 5s to be reachable in two,” he said. Of course, reachability is relative. The four average 580 yards. (Phil did go after each with an iron second shot.)
Around every green he has installed a different short-game laboratory: a gentle slope, or a steeper incline or a deep valley. Off the right collar of the green on the par-5 third is a three-foot vertical drop, a rock “ha-ha wall”–so named in 18th-century English gardens because of the surprise expressed after stumbling unawares off one.
After missing that green to the right, Phil pulled out an L-wedge to demonstrate the required shot, and subsequently stubbed it. The blooper landed at the base of the wall. Unperturbed, he holed the next flop for his birdie.
His grin said it all. With Whisper Rock, Phil Mickelson is having the last laugh. He’s no longer the Best Player Never to Have Designed a Golf Course.
Author: Ron Whitten
The Golf Workout : Golf and fitness expert Randy Myers shows you how to build a better golf body using the equipment at your local health club - Brief Article
August 21st, 2007
On the following pages, I’m going to show you how to use the equipment in your local gym and tailor it to a golf-specific workout. If you are starting a program, I suggest going through this training four days a week, for 30 minutes a session. A Monday-Tuesday/Thursday-Friday program is recommended. You don’t have to do all these exercises during every workout, but try at least one from each major group: back, legs, abdomen and arms.
The biggest difference between golf fitness training and general fitness training is that after each exercise of 12 to 20 reps, a golfer should complete a stretch that corresponds to the muscle he or she is working. This allows the blood to flow to the muscle and encourages good flexibility and stamina. You want lean, pliable muscles, not bulky ones.
Back
On the course
Late in the round, when the pressure is on, the last thing a golfer needs is to be hunched over. A strong back and shoulders provide the posture needed in the address position and the all-important ability to repeat your swing.
In the gym
On the golf course, back problems are as common as bogeys. Nearly every muscle in the back is employed during a swing. There are four things to remember when working on your back: stretch first, squeeze your stomach muscles while you execute the exercise (the ab muscles complement the back), exhale as you perform the rep (not after) and avoid being hunched over.
SEATED ROW
This is one of the best exercises for golfers. Sit tall and upright. Keep your shoulders back. Now pull the handles toward you as if you were rowing. If the machine you’re using allows you to work one arm at a time, do that.
Arms
Strengthening your arm muscles will increase your clubhead speed, which will lead to increased length off the tee. Stronger arms also help you execute shots around the green and from the rough.
In the gym
Many arm exercises can be done without the aid of gym equipment, although it helps to have a flat bench (below left) and some dumbbells handy. It should come as no surprise that arm strength, stamina and flexibility will definitely help your game. I don’t recommend using heavy weights. This will make the muscles bulky and can impede your swing.
TRICEPS DIP
Using a flat bench, go from a straight-arm position to having your arms bent at the elbow at a 90-degree angle, then push back up. Keep the back straight.
DUMBBELL SHOULDER PRESS
As you push up, keep the palms facing each other. Use a weight you can easily lift 12 to 20 times.
Legs
The best golfers will tell you that without a solid base, their swing would crumble. Balance and strength in the thigh, calf and glutes will lead to a powerful, fluid swing. Cardiovascular exercises like jogging will help, but some weight training coupled with stretching is a must for this part of the body.
During the backswing, the legs are your foundation. During the downswing, the legs are the engine that powers the machine. And by the end of a round, the stamina you build in your legs can be the difference between winning and losing a match–especially if you are walking with a golf bag on your back.
Use one leg instead of two to improve strength and stability in your weaker leg. Work the thigh, calf and glutes by pushing the sled up the incline. Then repeat.
SINGLE-LEG EXTENSION
From a seated position, extend the legs away from the body and then back down to work the thighs.
Abs
Not only do the abdominal muscles play an important role in the swing, they also complement the back muscles. Strong abs will help you get more mileage out of a bad back. Doing a lot of reps and stretches are the key.
The rotation of the torso is enhanced by strong abs. Strong abs increase the speed with which the body unwinds, adding distance to your shots. They also provide stamina to repeat the rotation and increase accuracy.
ABDOMINAL MACHINES
On the first machine (below left), start in the upright position and bring the elbows down to the knees. On the second (below right), the lower body is still, while the upper body twists up to 90 degrees to the side.
Randy Myers is director of fitness for the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Author: Randy Myers
Annual REBNY Fall 2004 Golf & Tennis Outing, held at Metropolis Country Club Monday, September 13, 2004
August 20th, 2007
Mark Landstrom, Cogswell Realty; Brian Finneran, Guest; Rob Siemonson, Cogswell Realty.
Andrew Heiberger, Citi Habitats; Pamela Liebman, The Corcoran Group; Gary Malin, The Corcoran Group.
David Winoker, Winoker Realty Co., Inc.; Ira Fishman, Winoker Realty Co., Inc.; Michael Brown, Guest; Sam Irlander, Parker Madison Partners, Inc.
Garo Gumusyan, GCA Architects
Mark Ruttner, Corgan Associates; Nora Coffey, Centra/ Rudy
Kerry Hemperly, Greenpoint Savings; Robert Sheppard, Quality Cleaning; Scott Bloom, Quest Commercial; Alan Suna, Silvercup Studios.
Tennis Players Relaxing
Low Net Callaway Runner-up Joel Herskowitz, Grubb & Ellis New York; David Lebenstein, Time Equities
Howard Rose, Grubb & Ellis; Richard Rosenthal, Grubb & Ellis; Joel Herskowitz, Grubb & Ellis, Elliot Klein, Grubb & Ellis.
Jonathan Newman, Finkelstein Newman; Mike Kostolansky, Finkelstein Newman; Dennis Harmon, Guest.
Class A Singles Winner Eric Klemper, CIty Investment Fund; David Lebenstein, Time Equities & Runner-up Paul Irvine Group.
David Lebenstein with Class B Doubles Runner-ups, (L) Garo Gumusyan, GCA Architects, (R) Steve Melidones, Key Bank
David Lebenstein, with Low Gross WInner–Member Craig Panzirer, Jones Lang LaSalle.
Carol Judelson, Douglas Elliman, Inc.; Jennifer Marko, Corgan Associates; Laurie Shapiro, Meridian Capital; Joanne Podell, Cushman & Wakefield.
Low Gross Winner Pamela Liebman, The Corcoran Group; Kathleen Gibbs, REBNY; David Lebenstein, Time Equities.
David Lebenstein, TIme Equities; Lou Somoza, Rudin Management, Closet to the Line winner.
THANKING ALL OF OUR FALL GOLF & TENNIS OUTING
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HSBC Bank USA
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M & T Bank
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Photos by Elizabeth Gibbs, REBNY
Author: Array
Travel File - St. Andrews - St. Andrews Golf Club
August 17th, 2007
St. Andrews is a place you have to experience a lot to understand its subtleties. Hitting 135-yard 3-woods into the wind, then 220-yard 9- irons down breeze takes some getting used to.
First impressions, usually under-whelming, will soon be forgotten amid the memories of playing a 100-yard putt across a vast double green or the 15-foot putt you holed for birdie on the last green in front of the inevitable group of spectators. If you’re really lucky, they may even applaud.
St. Andrews, venue for this year’s British Open July 20-23, has five 18-hole courses-the Old, the New, the Jubilee, the Eden and the Strathty-rum-and one basic nine-holer, the Balgove. A few miles outside of town are dozens of other great courses, some old, some new.
Note: When phoning from the U.S., replace first zero of all listed U.K. numbers with 011-44. Prices listed in British pounds; the current exchange rate is [pound]1=$1.65.
The oldest, most famous course in the world
The Old Course, St. Andrews. [pound]80 (01334-475757).
The Old Course also boasts what is probably the most difficult par 4 in the world, the 17th, or “Road Hole.” Make par there and retire.
Given the course’s fame, acquiring a tee time can be an ordeal. But the St. Andrews Links Trust, which operates and maintains the links, allocates a number of tee times on the Old Course by daily ballot. To enter, you must contact the starter or phone 01334-466666 before 2 p.m. on the day before you wish to play. The results are then posted at the new Links clubhouse-a welcome addition to the previously spartan visitor amenities-and all around town. You can also check the Internet on www.linksnet.co.uk.
The town’s other courses
The New Course, St. Andrews. [pound]40 (01334-475757).
There are those who will tell you that the New-which is “new” only in relation to the Old, since it was built in 1895-is harder to score on than its more famous neighbor. And they’d be right.
A testing and classic links without the eccentricities of the Old, the New, originally laid out by Old Tom Morris, is well worth a visit-or two.
The Jubilee Course, St. Andrews. [pound]35 (01334-475757).
Opened in 1897, recently redesigned by Donald Steel. A tight, tough links. Take lots of balls if the wind blows (which it will).
The Eden Course ([pound]25), the Strathtyrum Course ([pound]17), the Balgove Course ([pound]7), St. Andrews. (01334-475757).
In decreasing order of desir-ability. Play them if you’re feeling weak, or can’t get a tee time elsewhere.
Worth a day trip
St. Andrews Duke’s Course, St. Andrews. [pound]50-[pound]55 (01334-474371).
Inland from St. Andrews with great views. Designed by five-time Open champion Peter Thomson; affiliated with the Old Course Hotel.
Crail Golfing Society, Crail. [pound]25-[pound]35 per round, or [pound]30-[pound]45 per day (01333-450686).
Twelve miles out of town in a charming fishing village. The classic Balcomie links is now joined by the longer, tougher Craighead Course, a 1998 Gil Hanse design. The 1786 club is the world’s seventh oldest.
Lundin Golf Club, Lundin Links. [pound]29-[pound]37 per round, or [pound]37 per day (01333-320202).
Open Championship qualifying course, 25 minutes southwest of St. Andrews.
Leven Links, Leven. [pound]22 per round, or [pound]32 per day (01333-428859).
Lundin’s neighbor. More linksy, but conditioning suffers.
Ladybank Golf Club, Ladybank. [pound]30 per round, [pound]40 per day (01337- 830814).
Treelined course, 15 minutes inland from St. Andrews.
Scotscraig Golf Club, Tayport. [pound]30-[pound]35 per round, or [pound]40-[pound]45 per day (01382-552515).
Another Open qualifying course, 15 minutes from town.
Two big heavyweights just outside Fife
Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie. [pound]20-[pound]70 per round, day tickets available (01241-853789).
Three layouts here. Play the Championship Course and see if you can beat Jean Van de Velde’s 7 at the 18th in last year’s British Open.
The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder. [pound]55-[pound]100 (01764-662231).
Author: JOHN Huggan