Golf, Google, And The Earth

When I woke up this morning, I opened my browser...to be greeted by a black Google Screen. I thought something was wrong until I saw the message that said..."We have turned out the lights, now it's your turn - Earth Hour".

Golf is most definitely a part of the environmental movement, and in fact we have an article on the subject titled 'Environmentally Friendly Golf' that talks about the various reasons why golf courses are an integral part of the local ecosystems.

Additionally, how golf course management is becoming conservation, preservation, and dedication to ensuring that the land they occupy remain an environmentally friendly place where plants and animals have a place to thrive even when the surrounding areas are giving way to building.

Companies like Cruise Car Incorporated are offering solar power assisted battery solutions that help by reducing the draw of electricity by course operators.

Turf care is taking a turn for the better with less chemicals, and more organic materials being used. Companies like Eco-Cover are poised to dramatically reduce the need for plastic wrap & cover for routine tree and dispersed area maintenance on new planting.

There was even a story about eco-friendly golf tees that made headlines a while back.

All in all, this "blackout" that stared me in the face when I opened up Google this AM, was a good reminder that not just Earth Hour, not just April 22nd (Earth day), but every day I golf, I will be applauding the new type of effort going into the ecology at the golf courses in the US, and around the world.

golf grips USGA conforming

Here's a question about golf grips. Under USGA rules, a grip that is "molded " to fit the player's hands such that the player need not look at the club to take his/her grip is deemed "non-conforming". In view of the remarkable changes over the years in shafts,heads, and the general use of "space age" materials, not mention much more lively golf balls, what is the problem with a grip that conforms to a players hand?
The player can in most cases mark the grip to aid in placing the hands. Not quite the same thing, but it seems to me so many other elements of the game have changed while very little has in the area of the grip. Would such a grip really change the character of the game any more than the amazing equipment technology changes in recent years?

Power Golf, Power Anger...Distractions

A Recent story about a professional golfer accused of taking aim at a tree where a noisy bird was perched made me think about how we all handle distractions, while playing golf.

There are some humorous books and videos (like the link below) that illustrate suggested ways to take out golf frustration, but reading further may help with your game even more.

The above can be costly!

There is a serious side of this too...

I met an author at a golf trade show in Florida named Michael Russ, Mr. Russ was at the show from his [then] home in California, marketing an audio CD called "Powerful Golf: Lower Your Score, By Changing The Way You Think".

During the two-day show, Mr. Russ came to our booth several times interested in our Gotta-Grip golf product. We made a trade for each other’s product before the show ended. I listened to his CD several times when I got back home before I sent it to my current business partner. I thought it was very good, and I remember wondering why golf stores and pro-shops did not offer products like this for us amateur golfers.

Back then, I was impressed that someone took such a different approach on ways to improve one’s golf game. None of his audio book was about “athletic technique”, and instead focused on the mental aspect of the game. Most all professional golf instructors will talk about visualization, but it is usually associated with a particular shot, or technique.

I later learned that golf psychology has been a steady business for many years on the PGA Tour, and since I have seen, and met several of these types of golf “gurus” at professional tournaments.

One of the things that Mr. Russ’s teachings dealt with is what happens before you even get to the golf course. On the way to the course, in your car, are you starting to talk yourself into a great round of golf, or are you cursing the traffic?

We have all had times where we step back from a shot because a member of our foursome rattled a club, coughed, or made noise that distracts us. Think of the pros with cameras going off, and people on the next green cheering in your downswing; that could ruin any one of my shots easily.

If you have ever watched a Western movie you have witnessed scenes in which the cowboys are sitting on horses and firing (blanks), guns that are quite loud right next to the horse’s ear; and the horses barely flinch.

Horses are skittish animals by nature, and therefore would normally not be prime candidates for this type of “acting”. However, it is the training that they receive which allows them to star in these roles, not their natural-born talent.

The same could be true for golf, and golfers. Remembering (before you swing), to visualize the shot, take few breaths and relax before you swing always helps. In addition, remembering to self-talk your way to the golf course in your car could be the perfect Rx for a better game.

Perhaps also saying to yourself before each shot, that no matter what sounds present themselves during your backswing and follow-through, they are part of the soundtrack of your perfect shot will help you from becoming startled. This may prevent ruining your shot, or even your game, for the day, and prove to be among the best golf tips for you.

Making the picture in your mind the stage (like a Hollywood Western set), and training your “mental horses” to remain calm no matter what could be the key to the perfect ending to your day on the course.

Kyle Lograsso...A Kid You Should Know

The world may have seen a glimpse of the next Tiger Woods; and that “glimpse” might just be spelled… K y l e L o g r a s s o. But he does not expect that comparison, nor does his family need that comparison. They are just glad he is Kyle.

Even if you do not play golf, and let’s also assume you don’t have children, his story is one you should know.

I was introduced to the story of Kyle Lograsso in an e-mail by a friend, which simply said in the subject line, “You gotta see this”. I do not know about you, but I get many e-mails that make similar demands, but this one “was all that, and much more!”

I clicked on the YouTube link, and a story of a young golf prodigy, reminiscent of the 1978 appearance of Tiger Woods on television at age two, began playing.

However, this story soon became much more than about talent. It started with his golf skills at age four, and then re-wound to his early life struggles with a deadly condition.

Kyle Lograsso was born in 2002 to a US Marine and his wife, who luckily saw something in one of his eyes that triggered a question to their doctor upon his two-year checkup.

At age two, Kyle was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer of the eye that affects about 250 children (usually before age five), in the US each year. Therefore, you could say that this diagnosis put Kyle (in 2002) in the category of about one-in-a-million.

While recovering from the operation that saved his young life, and with his family, led by his military father, stationed overseas, Kyle was forced to stay out of direct sun-light to heal, so one of his favorite things (at age two), was watching the Golf Channel.

Through one eye, he was instantly hooked on watching golf. This, and this alone, is what they attribute his developing his own skills for the game. At age four he was already shooting in the 40’s for nine holes.

We take great pride in the US, and the around the world, in lifting our sports heroes up on pedestals. By the time an athlete is in college, if they show real promise, they are showered with offers from professional sports teams that just about seal their fate with a guarantee of living happily ever after, and retiring wealthy.

There are rare occasions that we get a chance to see greatness before all the trapping’s of money, fame, endorsements, and the glamour, take hold, and “cloud the view” into the spirit of our heroes.

Golf is also typically a sport in which there are numerous exceptions to the “jading of the stars” rule, because the game of golf itself, The PGA, and the companies that support the game do so much to help people stricken with illness by donating to worthy charities.

Instead of a story where a talented young kid grows up to be a rich and famous golfer who gives back, Kyle Lograsso almost lost his life before age 3 and now at age 6, he is already giving back through the organization they formed to raise awareness and money for helping others.

The rest of his story, with links to the charity his family started, and current progress of this remarkable young man can be found at his web site http://www.kylelograsso.org.

I am old enough to have seen the Mike Douglas show live back in the late 70’s when Tiger Woods thrilled the studio audience, as well as the host, and guest, Bob Hope, with his golf skills (at age 2).

Kyle Lograsso may be the next Tiger Woods of golf, and when it comes to taking it to the next level; he is one-in-a-million.

Go Kyle Go!!!

It’s Not too late to Rent a House in Augusta

Recently on the Internet, there has been a flurry of activity revolving around the Masters Tournament (one of the most prestigious stops on the Professional Golf Tour). I noticed there are companies on line that offer house rentals near Augusta National by the week starting April 7, 2008.

In fact, if you have an extra $4,000 to $6,000 you can stretch out a little bit more that you can at your average Holiday Inn. That may sound like a steep price, but for the convenience of being within twenty miles from Augusta National Golf Course in April, there is a price to pay.

If you, and four friends were lucky enough to all get tickets (albeit unlikely), for the tournament, $1,200 each for the week for lodging would seem like “a steal” in that town.

One house had a pool, workout area, housekeeping service, the works, all for a measly $4,300 for the week.

Don’t worry about your “significant other” sneaking off to Georgia on a lark to attend the tournament and blow five grand on a house for the week. You see, they would have had to plan this far in advance. This year is SOLD out for general admission; and don’t think you can just waltz in there for the practice rounds either; those folks probably ordered last year and were lucky enough to be picked at random for the pre-show show. They are accepting requests for 2009 now though.

So you may be relegated to watching the tournament on TV in that $5k per week abode if you head down uninvited. I do not even want to guess what tickets go for from scalpers near the event.

Therefore, I will be plunked down on my couch at my home, watching to see who gets the Green Jacket this year…The Green Jacket of Golf.

The Green Jacket of Golf will be put on the winner, with the help of Zach Johnson (The 2007 Winner), on April 13, 2008, barring a rain delay or other event that impedes the tournament.

Speaking of the Green Jacket, I wondered about that, why green. I did some research online, and read the players first wore the jacket…not AFTER the event, but DURING, so that reporters and fans could distinguish the players from the other (distinguished-looking) gallery.

There will no doubt be a battle this year by the strong field nearing 100 as I write this. Who doesn’t want to win this one?

It will have extra historic significance if Tiger Woods) wins because he is winding his way towards beating Jack Nicklaus (73 wins), and then on to becoming the all-time winning golfer once he reaches the magic number of 83 wins, which will be one better than Sam Snead achieved.

Historically, Augusta has presented many different golfers with a chance to compete, as it changes with wind, rain and the other curves that spring days in Eastern Central Georgia.

Just like a good horse race, the weather may play a role in who’s wearing green this year.

So if you are one of the lucky ones to have waited your turn to get tickets (and I mean waited), and get one of those creampuff rental homes as your bunkhouse, think of the rest of us while you are there.

Thank-You-Ernie!

The next time you are standing over a put, or moreover, a drive off of wet grass, look at your golf shoes...and you will have Ernie Sabayrac to thank for your firm footing.

I guess you could say I go way, way, back in the golf industry. All the way back to 1967. My first job in golf began at age 12, shining shoes at a private country club.

Back in those days, kids could work at an early age on weekends, with their parent’s permission. I used to ride my bicycle, get a ride from my mother, or, occasionally ride my mini-bike on Saturday & Sunday, trekking the 5 miles to the club in the Chicago suburbs. (At least two of the aforementioned items would get a kid, and/or their parents thrown in jail these days.)

Although my beginnings were humble, I quickly rose up the ladder in the industry; within a year, I took a job picking up golf balls at a driving range, which lasted for the next two summers.

However, it would be some 27 years later, while working in the software industry that I became re-familiarized with the golf business. We had a software game featuring Greg Norman at the company I worked for, and I was chosen to represent the game at this “trade exhibition” in Orlando Florida called the PGA Merchandise Show. It was winter, I lived in the Chicago area, and nobody had to twist my arm to go.

I got to meet many people at this show, including golf legend Gary Player, renowned golf instructor Jim McLean (he was signing books at the booth I was in), and many more industry professionals.

When you attend a trade show, and stay in one of the “show hotels”, they broadcast information about the show to your in-room TV. The morning the show started, I was watching to see if I could learn what to expect that first day before heading to the booth. A story about a wonderful man, a legend in his own rite, came on.

I have told stories about seeing that segment for years now. The man’s name was Ernie Sabayrac. At first, I was confused about the mention of ‘The Ernie Sabayrac Lifetime Achievement Award’ ceremonies, because I had never heard of this person. Something kept my interest enough to keep watching, and a very inspirational story unfolded.

You see, Ernie was a guy who had a vision. It was said that one of his claims to fame was that he was thrown out of every golf course pro shop in the country, at least once, while trying to market the first retail “spiked” golf shoes. This probably did not happen literally, but makes for good listening. Nonetheless, Ernie Sabayrac persevered.

He eventually sold some shoes and a lot more. The line that stuck with me from the show was when pro shop owners would tell him “We don’t sell golf shoes here”; he replied with “of course you don’t, because you don’t HAVE ANY here”.

Eventually the sales pitch must have caught on, because Ernie Sabayrac ended up selling shoes for the company that became Footjoy. He also was able to convince pro shop owners in the 1950’s to start carrying other items known as “soft goods”, like golf gloves, golf shirts, golf accessories, etc.

His total contributions to golf, golf fashion, and pro shop revenue are inestimable, but the lessons that his life teaches anyone who works in sales are even greater.

Ernie Sabayrac died in 1997, the year after I attended my first PGA Merchandise show, three years after the creation of the Ernie Sabayrac Award for Lifetime contributions to the golf industry.

Past winners include Gary Adams (founder of TaylorMade), and Ely Callaway (Callaway Golf), to name a few of the 14 recipients (including Sabayrac, the Award’s first recipient).

Anyone up for this award has some big golf shoes to fill.

Here's a complete list of past recipients:

1994 Ernie Sabayrac
1995 Bob Rickey, Gary Adams
1996 Dick Tarlow, Karsten Solheim
1997 Joe Phillips, Bob MacNally
1998 Ely Callaway
1999 Jim Ireland
2000 Jim Vincent
2001 Jim Butz
2002 David Branon
2003 Thomas Crow
2004 Patrick O’Grady
2005 Ed Abrain
2006 Ron McPherson
2007 Nancy Haley

PGA Drug Testing One, Two. A Prescription for an Interesting Summer 08

It looks like it is a forgone conclusion that there will be drug testing on the PGA Tour. I am sure the opinions about this vary from player to player, fan to fan, and official to official.

However, the one whose "opinion" counts, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, has made it official.

While it is generally believed that Mr. Finchem agrees that golf is the sport where honor, integrity, and honesty dictate that players turn themselves in for breaking any rules, and therefore no such testing is needed, it is nonetheless a fact that testing starts summer 2008.

Golfers have received training as to what to expect, what is legal and illegal, and what, how, why, but not necessarily when and where they can be tested. This may include surprise visits to their homes for random testing.

Looking at other sports like football, baseball, basketball that have employed drug testing, one might deduce that it is only fair that professional golfers also follow suit.

If you look at the way golf is is set up; i.e., if a player does not play well in [any] tournament, they don't get paid that week, then it stands to reason that there would at least be the temptation for using performance-altering substances to enhance their chance of taking home the trophy (and cash) for their efforts.

However, I think what drug testing in the PGA will uncover, is that these athletes are indeed full of mood-altering, and performance-altering substances foreign to most others...Substances like Character, Pride, Generosity, Hope, Charity, Skill, Witt (see David Feherty), and good old-fashioned hard work.

It may be hard for us not making a living by doing something that we "enjoy" playing every chance we get, to fully understand what it's like for most players on the PGA Tour. Traveling up to 30 weeks per year, living away from family & friends, and having to be at the top of your game—just to keep your card so you can come back and do it again next year must take its toll.

I for one, will be glued to the TV this summer, waiting for any infraction of the new PGA Tour Drug Testing Policy to be announced during my favorite tournament(s).

Tournaments showing the professional golfers that I admire so much. Tournaments sponsored by Cialis, Viagra, Ambien, Plavix, and other fine products whose commercials include warnings like "see your doctor to make sure that "NAME OF DRUG HERE" is right for you...Side effects may include: vomiting, dizziness, erections lasting longer than four hours, drowsiness, fainting, diarrhea, constipation, and in rare occurrences, death". You know the ones!

After having the United States Congress hold hearings on whether baseball players did, or did not, take something to enhance their play, it's good to see that the professional players in golf, for the most part, haven't had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the new testing reality this summer. We don't need to waste another (whatever it costs to hold hearings for three days in Washington), [penny] on what athletes are doing to their bodies.

Bottom line is this was inevitable, but I fear the only scandal that may arise out of this is the illegal sale, and trading, of Tiger-Urine...for human cloning of his DNA.