May 2007

Has anybody bought this new system of packaging tees yet ?

PrideSports, maker of the Professional Tee System™ and the #1 wooden golf tee on the PGA TOUR, today unveiled a new look to the golf tee market with the debut of Rounds of Tees.

Their package features 18 rounds of tees per pack, including 90 ProLength Plus™ (3 1/4″) tees and 36 Shortees™ (2 1/8″). PrideSports is enabling golfers to obtain multiple length tees in one pack to accommodate today’s large head drivers, as well ironwoods (hybrids) and multiple size fairway woods.

As part of its debut of Rounds of Tees, PrideSports has also teamed-up with Golf Digest Publications for a first-of-its-kind golf tee promotion that enables golfers who purchase the tee pack to receive 12 months of Golf Digest. As an added bonus, golfers will receive 12 issues of Golf Digest’s Electronic Pocket Tips

” Through our many years of golf tee research, we’ve found that, on average, golfers will go through approximately 7 tees per round, which is the basis for our Rounds of Tees introduction, ” said Joe Zeller, President, PrideSports. ” Equally important, with the advent of large head drivers, ironwoods and other unique clubhead designs, golfers require multiple length tees during a round. Thus, Rounds of Tees provides golfers with two distinct tee lengths to meet the needs of every club in their bag. ”

In addition to the 18 Rounds of Tees pack, PrideSports has also unveiled a 10 Rounds of Tees pack, featuring 70 tees, including 50 ProLength Plus and 20 Shortees. Golfers purchasing the 10 Rounds of Tees will also receive 12 issues of Golf Digest’s Electronic Pocket Tips.

Back in January, after a trip to Greensboro, NC, I wrote about Maggie Valley, one of my favorite places in the midddle eastern United States.

Touring some golf news this past week, I see that Maggie Valley’s gonna get a lot more crowded pretty fast, because the Maggie Valley Club has hired Vickie Fletcher as outside sales rep.

Her main focus will be to sell golf packages, tournaments and corporate outings. She’s also assisting in membership sales for the club, which is in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation to once again make it one of the premier facilities in Western North Carolina.

I love that area and the climate there. Western North carolina is in the Top 7 Places I’d retire to … hopefully soon !

Maggie Valley Club is a master-planned golf community & resort in the mountains of North Carolina. For information on real estate, resort options, memberships or golf, call (866) 659-4725 or visit their website.

Now, if only a place like the Maggie Valley club was wise enough to take advantage of a tool like an interactive website, built on blog architecture, using wordPress as it’s content management system to disseminate news very rapidly, allow comments on their posts or news items, use teleseminars as lead generators, allow user generated content and take full advantage of the few thousand searches each and every month for golf and vaction related searches in the search engines.

Hmm. Maybe I’ll offer the services of my staff and see if we can help them help themselves.

If you saw my previous post, you saw that my golf blog buddy Ron Mon is playing 100 holes of golf on June 18th to help fight cancer.

I don’t, as of yet, see any comments or Trackbacks, so I don’t know if anybody’s been over to donate, but I’m sure I can find a way to find out.

I have, in my possesion, 3 Demo EIDOLON Golf wedges.

They are 52, 56 and 60 degrees models and the have Rifle Spinner graphite shafts.

Every person who donates at least $50 to the cause, using Ron Mon’s link, will be eligible to be in the drawing.

I’ll be in touch with Ron Mon later today and will give him the pleasure of giving them away to one lucky winner, or three, if that’s how he chooses to do it.

His choice and he’ll be in charge of drawing the name(s) and I’ll supply the weges and the shipping costs.

Now that you have a good reason to donate, what’re you waiting for ?

Click here to land on Ron Mon’s page and donate to have a chance at owning some, or one of, the worlds best wedges !

Earlier today, I saw a post in my feed reader from my ol’ golf blog buddy Ron Mon.

This one’s a little different than most, because it’s now a lot more personal for me.

Ron Mon’s playing 100 holes of golf in one day to help fight cancer.

Hell, I haven’t played more than 36 holes in a day in my life and I know how tired that makes me.

But he’s doing it for the right reasons, just as I have a reason to donate.

Back on May 3rd, a very good friend of mine had surgery to remove some lymph nodes and his tonsils. The doctors hoped that would be the end of it, but it isn’t. He has to have chemo and that’s not going to be an easy thing, but it’s at least a good chance, which I’d take over no chance.

I’m asking all golf bloggers to link to Ron Mon’s post and if you feel so inclined, visit his personal page for donations and give a little back.

Links are easy and in light of all we have, cash is too.

Thanks, Ron Mon, for allowing me to participate and may you have all the energy, strength and good fortune you need as you endeavor to play 100 holes in one day.

You’ve probably noticed I have an affinity for The Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort. Well, it just got ramped up two notches.

Why ? because they introduced some “Men Only” spa treatments !

Take that Golf Girl !

From their Press Release:

For many men, getting a spa treatment for the first time is like entering a dark room. There’s apprehension and uneasiness.

That’s never the case at , where its spectacular 30,000-square-foot Spa Coeur d’Alene provides Gentlemen Only quarters reserved for top-shelf treatment that eliminates their mindset that, ” A spa is not for moi. ”

” Spas have focused on women clients for years, but we now are seeing more and more growth in clients who are men, ” says Berni Campbell, director of The Spa Coeur d’Alene, where the full line of Gentlemen Only services are available for the first time in spring 2007.

Among them is the aptly named Mineral Man therapy, which combines the naturally soothing waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene and indigenous nutrients of the surrounding environment.

Designed to provide stress relief and revitalization for the man on the go, the Mineral Man treatment has been known to cause amnesia - in that it makes guests of The Resort’s new spa temporarily forget the outside world.

This new, two-hour session — administered by trained staff in the private men’s-only area of The Spa Coeur d’Alene — consists of complementing elements, suggested in the following order to provide guests with the best overall experience:

Nourishing Waters Bath. Rich in skin softening nutrients and extracts of honey, oats, silica and magnesium. Restful waters are softening and soothing. It is a perfect choice for skin therapy, or prior to a special event.

Deep Tissue Massage. Your choice of 50 to 75 minutes may be enjoyed as a pre- or post-sport therapy, or to release and relax chronic tension.

Gentleman’s Facial. A man’s skin has unique sensitivities and needs. This de-stressing, detoxifing treatment is 60 minutes of pure bliss and relaxation.

Pure Essence Shower. Experience a one of a kind hot and cold water therapy and the benefits of rejuvenation in our SilverTAG Swiss Shower. Enjoy the sensation of immersion, as 18 showerheads spray the body for five minute with a personalized hydrotherapy program per your needs, be it stress reduction, relaxation, tension release, and more.

To help introduce the new service is the Mineral Man Spa & Golf Package, which includes overnight accommodations with a round of golf at the award-winning Resort Course and the spa session. Starting in April, the package is $474.

” Oftentimes men have never been to a spa, so maybe their spouse or significant other can talk them into it on vacation, ” Campbell said, noting she thinks golfers will like the combination the Mineral Man package provides. ” At a resort you’re getting a lot of first time people who have never been to a spa. ”

Men account for 20 percent of its spa business at The Spa Coeur d’Alene, which follows the national trend. According to figures published in the November 2006 edition of Club & Resort Business Magazine, 31 percent of all U.S. spa goers are men. Accordingly, The Spa Coeur d’Alene, a $10 million, two-floor facility that debuted in spring 2006, is in touch with relieving male anxiety for treatments as simple as the common pedicure. Providing men with their own private area helps put them at ease.

” That’s very important, ” Campbell says. ” Men do not have to be in the same salon with women. We’re all about making our guests enjoy their experience. Everyone is comfortable - the men and the women. And they tend to enjoy the option of being able to not be mixed in with everybody. ”

The Gentlemen Only area at The Spa Coeur d’Alene offers treatments that enable guests to “escape” and just relax. When everything is done, the men feel at the top of their game, physically and mentally - which they discover is beneficial whether they are heading out to play golf on The Resort Course, or off to a meeting in the renovated Conference Center. Options available only in the Gentlemen Only area upstairs include:

Gentleman’s Detoxifying Facial ($125, 60 minutes) — meets the unique sensitivities and needs of a man’s skin while eliminating stress. Includes a hand and foot massage. (Available only in the unisex area of the spa.)

Pure Essence Shower ($25, five minutes) — pure pleasure in the exclusive $100,000 Silver TAG Swiss Shower, which has 18 showerheads that invigorate with 60 gallons of water a minute at four different temperature settings (between 70-102 degrees) to reduce stress, release tension and promote relaxation.

Flow-through Tub Hydrotherapy ($25, 10 minutes) — recommended as a prelude to a massage, it creates a sensation of serenity, as if bathing in a pure mountain spring.

Downstairs, the atmosphere in the Gentlemen Only barber and pedicure areas are specifically designed for relaxation. Unisex is the central theme, with stone décor accompanied by the sounds of waterfalls in the background. The colors are a soft and soothing combination of brown, blue and beige, and there’s the intoxicating aroma of cedar that creates a feeling of being in Northern Idaho’s great outdoors.

” Everything about the men’s area is very calming, relaxing and soothing but you don’t feel like it was meant for a woman at all, ” Campbell says. ” Once you walk into our spa you don’t feel like you’re part of the hotel. It takes you away from the rest of the world. ”

Another fine touch for men is in the Barber Room, which has a Vibe TV, woven leather black wallpaper and a Ferrari red barber chair. The Gentlemen’s Barber Cut ($45, 60 minutes) comes complete with a scalp massage, hot towel treatment, haircut, shoulder massage and a mini manicure (nails clipped, cuticles pushed back, hands massaged), while the Gentlemen’s Pedicure ($65, 50 minutes) is the same as a conventional pedicure, but done in a private room. Jack Black products, exclusively formulated for men, are available in the Barber Room.

The Spa also features its own proprietary line of products for men and women, Spruce & Cedar, offering the scent from clippings of trees indigenous to Northern Idaho. The line includes shampoo, conditioner, lotion, scrub, bath gel and body gel.

The choice for discerning travelers worldwide, The Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort combines luxury with endless recreational opportunities and serves as an ideal locale for conventions and wedding celebrations alike. A member of the family of Preferred Hotels, The Resort is 31 miles east of Spokane, Wash., and 100 miles south of the Canadian border. For reservations and more details call 800-688-5253 or visit the Couer d’Alene Resort website

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - If you want a challenging, yet inexpensive golf trip, come to Kentucky and play several of the golf courses in the State Park system.

I recently had the chance to travel to Eddyville and play the improved version of Mineral Mound Golf Course.

The new Pro Shop/Clubhouse is a tremendous addition and the presence of Frank Cross, the new PGA Pro, makes me think it’s going to get even better over time.

This new building makes a world of difference.

New facilities always seem to energize the staff and this one is no different.

I believe I paid $32 to ride and play 18 holes of golf. That’s a bargain anywhere, but especially here, because the back nine here are as good as any nine in the State.

Views like this rock wall, which waits for you after your tee ball on #10 are hard to find at this price.

I hit 3 iron, 7 iron and sand wedge into this 475 yard Par 5, from the next to last tees.

My buddy Pete is not big enough to play the back tees, so I moved up for him.

Next comes the Mineral Mound version of Amen corner. 11 thru 13 are tough to beat and they sit in a little triangle out on the peninsula. Did I mention the entire back 9 sits out in a bay of Lake Barkley ?

Did I mention you get views like this for your money ?

That would be the Kuttawa Marina, unless I miss my guess.

There’s several resorts, harbors, marinas and islets in view on this wonderful back nine.

Here’s the view from th 13th tee.

Can you imagine trying to land in that fairway ?

Over an inlet, over or around a tree and keep from running thru the fairway.

This is my favorite Par 5 and maybe my favorite hole on the course.

Playing a lot shorter than the yardage, the 16th is a great Par 3.

Obviously downhill the whole way, be careful not to pull it left into the bushes and watch out for speedboats on the green !

The combination of great greens, difficult fairways to hit and plenty of water, make this one of the best nines in the State.

I appreciate the effort they put into their new practice putting green, which is as good as their greens are.

Take a hint from Mike and stop by the Barkley Lake Driving range, which is just before the entrance to Mineral Mound, on the right, as they really have no room to squeeze in a range around their property.

They have water jugs on the course and are in the process of building some comfort stations, although it’s a wee bit down the road.

Frank and his staff are very friendly and very helpful, so call ‘em up and tell ‘em Mike sent you.

And if you need a player, send me an email and I’ll be there in about 1 1/2 hours !

Our golf blog buddy, The Armchair Golfer, has been asked to be the golf blog voice of MVN, The Most Valuable Network, writing ” Down The Middle. “Click thru and see how it’s going and toss ‘em a link, if you feel daring today … like I did !

I noticed several good posts already, like :

Tony Romo’s round at a US Open qualifier

The Players Championship is not a Major

Tom Lehman’s dry golf ball streak came to an end

In anticipation of Wisconsin’s first museum dedicated solely to golf, the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a fundraiser this coming Sunday, May 20, 2007, at Lawsonia Links (W2615 S. Valley View Drive, Green Lake, Wis., 54941).

The inaugural fundraiser is the kick-off event in a series leading up to the grand opening of The Golf Wisconsin Heritage Center Museum in Green Lake, Wis., scheduled for fall 2008.

The golf tournament fundraiser begins at 10 a.m., with dinner and cocktails at Harbor Lights at 5 p.m. It’s a five-person pro-am scramble: one pro, four amateurs.

In addition to enjoying the tournament, guests will be treated to lunch on the course and dinner at Harbor Lights, all part of the effort to raise money for the future museum, which will be located on Water Street behind the Green Lake Area Chamber Office.

” When people think of spring in Wisconsin, one of the first things that come to mind is golf. We’re proud of our history here and extremely pleased to have taken on this venture that will enhance golf opportunities in Wisconsin, ” said Gary Zimmerman, board chairman, Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

” The community is incredibly excited to develop a landmark museum that will showcase all golf courses in the entire State of Wisconsin and the history of Wisconsin Golf. ”

Green Lake claims the oldest golf course in the state, Tuscumbia, and is home of the nationally and state-ranked Lawsonia Links.

Not only is Green Lake the center of golf in Wisconsin, but Wisconsin is considered to be the heartland of golf from the surrounding states of Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa.

In addition to the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism has worked closely with the Board of Directors to create the Heritage Center.

For more information about the Golf Wisconsin Heritage Center Museum, please contact Gary Zimmerman at Lawsonia Links, 800-529-4453. For more information about Green Lake, Wis., please browse the Green Lake Web site: www.visitgreenlake.com or call the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 920-294-3231 or toll free: 800-253-7354.

Green Lake offers visitors and residents the best of both worlds: a small town lifestyle, coupled with diverse amenities. With just more than 1,000 year-round residents, Green Lake is highly accessible and easy to navigate.

An active community makes the area vibrant and the amenities abundant. Area retail businesses are thriving, offering visitors and residents unique shopping and a variety of options. All necessary amenities are available here: medical facilities, churches, service providers, schools, colleges and universities.

Centrally located, Green Lake is within an hour and a half drive of many of Wisconsin’s major cities including Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, and Stevens Point. Being situated on Wisconsin’s deepest lake and one of its largest, doesn’t hurt either. Year-round recreational opportunities like fishing, sailing, swimming, diving, kayaking, skating, ice boating and lake cruises are available on the lake. Not to mention non-water-based recreational activities like golf, hiking, tennis, mini-golf, biking, horseback riding, hot-air balloon rides, public and private hunting grounds, art galleries and a fruit orchard.

Additionally, there are seasonal outdoor festivals and activities. The city park system offers boat launches, athletic fields, playgrounds and swimming beaches.

Last but not least, Thrasher Opera House is a historically restored building and a unique venue bringing Green Lake patrons quality programming from music and theater to opera and dance.

Here’s something I missed earlier this year. Fuzzy Zoeller is back with Powerbilt, playing their irons.

I lived in New Albany (IN) for 6-7 years and was a member at New Albany Country Club, where Fuzzy’s family were members before he built Covered Bridge.

I’ve done a review on Covered Bridge Golf Club which you can find by following that link.

I used to eat lunch up at Covered Bridge a time or two a week and when Fuzzy’s in the house, he always says Hi to the people in the Grill Room, the Pro Shop or Fuzzy Place, where Wednesday night is Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner ! night and people come from miles around for the best fried chicken, mashed taters and green beans you can find.

I just noticed that Fuzzy is back where he started, as Powebilt, New Albany and Louisville are separated only by the Ohio River.

It could be called golf’s “warm and fuzzy” story of the New Year. But it might be better to call it golf’s “Orange and Fuzzy” story. That’s because after 15 years, Masters and U.S. Open Champion Fuzzy Zoeller is re-uniting with PowerBilt.

It’s an exciting partnership that will have Fuzzy playing PowerBilt, carrying the bright orange bag, and designing clubs for both Tour and amateur play.

” I’ll be swinging PowerBilt clubs on Tour again and we’re bringing back the orange PowerBilt bag, ” Zoeller said, ” It’s going to be a lot of fun to see that orange bag on the Tour fairways again sitting under my signature Duck head cover. I had great success with PowerBilt. Heck, ten of the twelve professional tournaments I won, including the Masters and U.S. Open, were with PowerBilt. We’re going to work hard to resurrect that success. ”

Zoeller will play a new line of PowerBilt Citation forged irons which he’ll help design with PowerBilt’s research & development team lead by Mark Wilson. Fuzzy and PowerBilt R&D will also design high quality utility woods, fairway woods, and drivers for Tour play.

” Fuzzy will help PowerBilt make inroads with golf professionals, ” said Larry Edlin, President of PowerBilt Golf. ” He’s highly regarded for his knowledge of the game and, of course, his personality is second to none on Tour. We’re thrilled to have Fuzzy back with PowerBilt, one of the great heritage brands in the game, and we expect to see PowerBilt clubs in the hands of more professionals as well as amateur players everywhere with Fuzzy’s help. ”

The three-time Ryder Cup team member and 12-time Tour winner, including the 1979 Masters, 1984 U.S. Open and 2002 Senior PGA, will also work with PowerBilt R&D to develop many other Fuzzy Zoeller designed and named clubs. That equipment will be available in pro shops, golf specialty stores, and other locations in the 24 countries where PowerBilt is distributed.

” PowerBilt knows golf. They’ve been making clubs since 1916, ” Zoeller said. ” I’m impressed with PowerBilt’s commitment to returning to their roots and making premium products that will put PowerBilt back at the top of the game. I want to tell you, we’re going to have state-of-the-art technology, great design and terrific looking clubs. I’m back with PowerBilt and PowerBilt is back in premium golf equipment. ”

Congrats to Fuzzy and Powerbilt !

We all saw the new and improved Phil Mickelson beat the dreadfully slow, but tremendously talented Sean O’haire. But are we ready to buy into the New and Improved ! label ?

I am.

I’m gonna jump on Phil’s bandwagon one more time. And I mean it, Phil, this is it. This is your last chance to get me on your side.

I saw you hit a cut into almost every fairway, even when the hole set up best for a draw.

I’m proud of you for that and for holding your composure when poor ol’ Sean took 1 minute and 20 seconds … just to line up a putt, after he had placed his ball on the green.

That’s about 40 seconds more than the PGA usually allows for a shot, once it’s your turn to play. So, in essence, he was twice as slow as the rules allow and you still smiled and stayed focused.

I timed Sean … twice. I also timed you at 20 seconds from placing the ball on the green to the stroke. In 25% of the time it took him, you made the putt just like he did.

Wonder if he might learn something from that ?

Wonder if he might have learned some course management from you as well ?

Philly Mick is as talented as Tiger, in his own way and if he can control his game and his mind, he can win a few of the times that Tiger was counting on.

Keep up the controlled aggression and count on that world-class short game to carry the day and you’ll go far.

It’s also great to see a professional golfer look at the fans and smile as he walks by. After all, they’re the real reason you get paid to play for cash and cars.

Keep it up Phil, I’m there right beside you … til you fall off the wagon and if you do, I’ll drop you like a hot rock !