February 2006

Here’s a site I just ran across, Pub Links Golfer Magazine Online.

I’ll run thru it over the next few posts and see if I can convince you to click thru and maybe subscribe. They’ve never heard of me, I don’t get anything if you do, just trying to help us all be better golfers and find all the golf info we can find. No need for us to read about food, football or family stuff, is there ?

Has anybody tried one of Two Bar Rife putters ?

I saw Dana Quigley using one a couple of weeks ago on a TV broadcast.

I also think I heard or read that Jim Thorpe was invested in the company.

Putters, to me, are a month long love affair, not a marriage made in heaven.

Right now I’m bidding on a VooDoo Daddy putter from Never Compromise ( now owned by Cleveland ) on eBay.

Here’s one I haven’t blogged about before, The World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.

I’ve been to St. Augustine, but not to the World Golf Village, but since my wife loved St. Augustine, I’m sure I’ll get the chance to return there soon.

Some of the different exhibits there are :

- World Golf Hall of Fame

- IMAX Theater

- Gary Player Exhibit - Opens in March of ‘06

And lots of other classic golf exhibits.

They have vacation packages available and that’s probably the route I’ll choose when we return in the fall of ‘06.

Go by and visit their site and then go see them as soon as you can.

Tell ‘em Mike sent you !

The beautiful photo above is from Hole #8 of The Schoolmaster, one of the fabulous courses at The Shoals. The Muscle Shoals, Alabama version of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. One of my favorite series of golf courses in the world.

At 406 yards from the orange tee, this dogleg left par 4 provides a challenge. The optimal tee shot is to cut the corner. Aiming just left of the 150 yard marker leaves you with a short to mid-iron approach to a wide but shallow green. But, beware of water guarding the front and right of the green.

If you haven’t played any of their course yet, you owe it to yourself to go.

Thank me later, just go !

Tell ‘em Mike sent you !

Starting on Thursday, you’ll be hearing more about Bubba and his scud missle drives. He’s playing the old Bing Crosby Clambake, now known as the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

You can catch the Thursday and Friday rounds on the USA Network from 3 - 6 PM EST.

Saturday and Sunday are on CBS from 3 - 6 PM EST.

I’ll be watching….don’t you miss it or Bubba.

Pro Club Cleaner was recently shown at the PGA Merchandise Show. Jeff Gallatin is the owner of this fine piece of equipment.

Apparently Pro Club Cleaner made quite a good showing, with a consistent flow of people, stopping by to talk, interested in what the machine does, how it works, how much it cost.

Jeff was plenty busy handing out copies of the promotional video, demonstrating the machine and developing some new relationships.

If you’ve not seen it before, Pro Club Cleaner power washes an individual golf club head or grip in two to three seconds or an entire set of golf clubs and grips in two to three minutes.

Golfers insert their clubs one by one into a chamber where they’re greeted by a series of stationary brushes and strategically placed spray-jets that blast the dirt off the clubface without the use of any additives or chemicals, just the use of high water pressure. It takes less than 5 minutes to assemble, it’s maintenance free, and there are no moving parts. Unlike most club cleaners, this one does grips too.

Clubs can be fed shaft first and will emerge grease and grime free for a nice tacky grip. Pro Club Cleaner can be placed at your Cart Barn, with the Bag Storage personnel, close to the Starter or on the Driving Range. Either place, it’s a great way to service your golfers !

Jeff and his sidekick, JR, will now be on the road in Texas, Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas, making deliveries and presenting demonstrations of the machine along the way before going home to Ann Arbor.

If you’re interested in seeing the Pro Club Cleaner at work, give him a call at 734-368-0256 and ask him to stop by your facility. Ask about leasing catered to your golf season. You can also send an email to jeff@pro-club-cleaner.com and check out the video HERE.

Just in case you’ve missed all the coverage elsewhere, here’s a little info on Greg Norman Estates. That’s the winery owned by The Shark.

Greg was seen recently, at the PGA Merchandise Show, in the booth for McGregor, maker of fine golf equipment. He was also touting his winery, which by all accounts, is one of the better celebrity wineries.

In McGregor, he’s trying to help bring back a brand that has a long, storied past, but has, in my opinion, just gotten run over, of late, by the big marketing machines of some of the other brands.

I’m guessing you’d like to go visit The Shark and his winery, so I’ll provide you with a link…

P.S. - Tell The Shark Mike sent you !

Golf Times has a story with a moral, or some things we can use to justify playing more golf and working less.

If you run into a situation that demands some explaining as to why you’re not working in the yard or long enough hours at the office, just print out this post and keep it in your golf bag.

Did anybody else notice that Donald Trump has opened a new golf course in California ?

This new jewel is actually in Rancho Palos Verdes, but they refer to it as Los Angeles, on their website.

Via their website :

” Trump National Golf Course is perched high above the jagged California cliffs taking advantage of one of the most incredible views in the world from every hole. Noted as the most expensive golf course ever built, over $250 million dollars has been spent to ensure its prominence. Crushed white marble line the walls of the massive bunkers, expansive lakes protect tucked away greens, and magnificent waterfalls cascade down at Trump National. The Donald J. Trump Signature Design course design tempts golfers to take risks and rewards well-placed shots. The layout challenges experienced golfers and novices to the best of their abilities. Trump National truly stands as a testament to the greatness of golf. ”

Deep in the heart of New Mexico lies the fantastic, fairly new golf course call Sandia.

It’s a Scott Miller design. Travelling Golfer’s will remember that he created the floating green at Couer d’Alene ( Idaho ) about 15 years ago.

This jewel is brutally long at 7,772 yards, but seems like an easy slope of 125. Long and easy is the way I like ‘em. I can bang the little white ball a long way, but I’m not as sharp as I’d like to be, most days.

Oh yeah, that’s the Sandia Mountains you see in the background.

Golf Magazine ranked it as one of the Best New Courses of 2005, in their December 2005 issue.

With views like the one below, I can easily see why. Makes me wish I was there…especially since it’s been raining for 2 days here in Kentucky.

Drop by their website, go visit them in person and tell ‘em Mike sent you !