October 2005

The guru at Hooked On Golf Blog said I could tell you about his blog that’s full of golf news, opinions, rants, debates, reviews and more.

Click over to it and see if you can read more than 2 minutes without learning something that you didn’t know before.

Bet you can’t.

Go by and join in on the golfing funa nd tell the Guru that Mike sent you !

The Golfchick left a comment on this blog a few post’s ago. She travels a lot and had played several of the golf courses mentioned in the post.

I added her to my Blog Roll and subscribed to her RSS feed.

If you’d like to read about one woman’s journey from the first time she played til now, head over and join in on the trip.

Good luck, Golfchick, on your journey toward scratch golf.

My buddy Stan Hooker of SporTalker.com also posts on Golf Tips & News.

I subscribe to their RSS feed and am glad I do.

Stan gives you some things about golf that you don’t get anywhere else.

Go by and visit him at both places and tell him Mike sent you !

I also subscribe to the RSS feed of Engolfed. It’s written by Derek Beauchemin.

He advertises as Golf Tips. Golf Articles. Golf Blog.

He comes through on all points.

Lots of diversity here. If you like golf, you’ll find something that you like to read.

Go by and visit Derek and tell him I sent you !

Today I want to introduce you to a several golf blogs that I read and Have recently linked to on my Blog Roll.

The first of these is Robert Thompson’s Going For The Green.

I’ve found the posts that deal with Canadian golf courses are my favorites. I’ve never been to Canada, but would love to visit and play some of their spectacular golf courses.

I also like Robert’s views about the Michelle Wie mess. He said reporters should be observers and not participants. I totally agree.

Go check out Going For The Green and tell Robert I was pimping his blog !

If you don’t leave a comment, he won’t know you’ve been there, so tell him where you got it.

You might as well subscribe to his RSS feed while you’re there, I can tell it’s gonna be worth it.

Here’s an article generously given to me by Mike Pedersen, CPT. He’s on my Blog Roll as Perform Better Golf.

Go there now and bookmark his site.

Here’s the article:

Golf workouts for winter is a great approach to taking advantage of the time you now have available to improve your golf since you’re not playing as much, if not at all.

It’s a way to stay connected to your golf game when you’re not able to play due to the conditions (snow, temperatures, ice, etc.).

Have you gone into depression mode when winter hits and you can’t play golf anymore? I know this use to happen to me until I finally moved to a year-round nice climate. This transition from playing golf regularly to not at all can be depressing.

What do you do with all the time you now have since you’re not playing?

The answer? Golf workouts for winter! This is your “off-season” and like most athletes they work on their body’s to take their game to the next level. This is a time where you evaluate your game and work on your weaknesses.

A common denominator for most golfers, especially senior golfers is “physical capabilities”. This is your current level of golf-specific strength and flexibility. It is highly unlikely you have no physical limitations in your golf swing. 80% or more of amateur golfers play with an injury during the season. This would tell me there is a physical issue.

What better time than winter to do golf workouts to greatly improve this situation. There is no excuse. You’ve got the time and hopefully you’ve got the motivation to improve your game. You’ve just got to set up a game plan in regards to your golf workouts for winter.

The first step is to get a physical evaluation done to diagnose your current level of fitness specific to golf. You can hire a local golf fitness trainer or look on the web. Golf workouts are becoming so popular you can’t miss finding out information about them.

Once you’ve gotten your golf fitness evaluation, assess the areas that need the most work and spend the majority of your time on those areas. Most likely this would be flexibility and core strength. These are two very common areas that are lacking and can make the most impact on your golf improvement.

You will be shocked at your progress if you stick with it through the entire winter. The first time you step on the range, you’ll feel like a different golfer. It will be like an “out-of-body” experience. You’ll soon realize this is what you’ve been missing all along.

So when you put those clubs up for the winter and go into depression mode…remember this article and start your golf workouts for winter.

A big thanks to Mike for that info. Be sure to go by and visit Mike’s site and tell him I sent you.

Here’s a look at the object of my new desire. The Etonic Difference 3Z.

These dudes are hot !

I absolutely love white golf shoes. I realize I’m probably in the minority here, but I don’t mind being alone.

They are full grain leather with Gore-Tex waterproofing.

The ” Bi-Fit ” insole is softer in the toe area, which makes it more comfortable for walking, which I do not do enough of.

Etonic say’s the dozens of pyramid shaped nubs improve grip and balance. I’m not sure if even my 245 pounds is enough to make those things dig in, but they probably don’t hurt anything.

Supposedly, the thermo-plastic Stabilizer outsole flexes with you as you move, but who cares. All that matters is they are white hot !

In case you’re wondering, I wear size 13.

I played a round at The Summit today with my friend Barry Phillips, of Owensboro, KY. We played with 2 of his regular group, David and Dale, because Clyde was out of town.

It’s located in Owensboro, KY and it happens to have some of the same spectacular, rolling pasture like land that area courses are famous for. The view from the Pro Shop, where Barry ( one of the friendliest Pro Shop’ers I’ve ever met ) took so little from me I’m ashamed to tell you what I paid, is just a start to the views you’ll get for the next 4 hours or 18 holes, whichever you prefer.

The Summit was designed by Don Charles, who obviously wanted the layout to be friendly, yet challenging.

You have to pay attention, but you aren’t penalized for good shots, like a few Jack Nicklaus courses have done to me. In Jack’s defense, they were some of his early work. He’s getting better. Somewhat.

I started and finished with par and don’t want to tell you about all the other holes in between. Some were good, some not so good. I do remember a birdie.

The greens were in great shape and I putted the lights out. It was tee balls and approach shots that did me in today. Who’da thunk it ?

The fairways were fine, too, but it was unusually wet around the greens and that takes some shots away from you and keeps you from running the ball up, which is sometimes necessary out of Bermuda rough that is as luxurious as their’s was. We can definitely grow grass here in Kentucky.

Here’s a tip for greenskeeper’s all over America. We golfer’s hate wet, sloshy spots around the green. When the weather cools off, you don’t, no, make that can’t, keep the same watering schedule you has in July.

Overall, if you’re anywhere near Owensboro, Kentucky and want a quality golf experience, The Summit is the place to go. There’s no better place in the Daviess County.

Thanks for letting me out on your beautiful golf course, guys. I enjoyed my time there immensely !

Her’s an interesting website. I’m on their email list and receive offers from them from time to time.

Sea Trail has three distinctly different signature courses, designed by Dan Maples, Rees Jones and Willard Byrd. They are set up to be enjoyed by players of all levels, but are challenging even to the accomplished golfer. In addition to golf, we have two clubhouses with full-service golf shops, lounges and restaurants. Additional golf amenities include putting greens, a lighted driving range and a PGA sanctioned Golf Learning Center.

They can facilitate customized play at over 100 area courses.

If you’d like to find out more about their golf packages, click here.

Go by and give ‘em a look and get signed up on their list if you want up to date specials sent to you on a regular basis.

If you’re in the mood for a golf vacation to the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina, you need to check out these 2 special golf packages.

Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort has a Romantic Escape golf package that includes 3 nights accommodations, daily breakfast for 2, dinner for 2, choice of massage or facial, and more.

The Three-Night Autumn Escape package starts at only $225 !

From their website:

” The Litchfield / Pawleys Island area has been a favorite family vacation destination for centuries, where visitors come to enjoy the warm waters and cool breezes of the Atlantic. The area has retained its historic Lowcountry charm, and today offers a superb selection of recreational amenities, including golf, tennis, shopping and dining, along with the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. Experience your dream vacation at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort. “

Their website is well done and very visually appealing, especially since fall has arrived in my area.

Go by and visit their site and then book a vacation and send me an email fron the Grand Strand.