Golf Guys: Just Embrace Your Personal Style Already

While many were still twittering about the pink & orange argyle Awesomeness golf pants John Daly wore at the Open de Espana yesterday, Shane Bacon, Chief of Fashion Police at FanHouse, and editor of the brilliant, Dogs that Chase Cars, was intently studying the attire at Quail Hollow today.

And what he discovered had him... once again... wondering about the one we affectionately call Lefty; "Where exactly is Mr. Mickelson going with his look?"

That seemed to be the question on Shane's mind, and this time it was apparently precipitated by a not-at-all-unattractive green belt.

The photo above was offered as evidence of Phil's latest fashion folly. And, while it's a definite improvement over "Phil-in-a-white-belt", "Phil-in-a-green-belt" is still not completely "appropriate" for Phil Mickelson.

Why? Because you can tell...you can JUST TELL... that lovable Lefty would really rather be rocking wearing a "normal belt". That is... a belt in black or brown leather... something that wouldn't be noticed. Even by the astute eyes of Shane Bacon.

Mr. Mickelson's own personal look (with the exception of an unfortunate encounter with a Conquistador Helmet early in his career) has always been stylistically uneventful... what's know among the golf fashion blogger elite as, "unremarkable ubiquitousness".

It's an extremely popular style on the PGA tour; we all know it - khaki pants, an ample discreetly colored polo and the standard billed cap/visor - And Phil Mickelson wears it better than anyone. Because that's his style...the style he feels 100% comfortable in. You can JUST TELL.

Granted, at first it may seem unfair; John Daly can wear wildly patterned pants in a plethora of neon colors... and be well received by most observers... while Phil Mickelson can't even wear a conservative `forest green belt without having fans scratch their heads and ask, "what's up with Phil and that crazy belt?" Am I Right?

Of course I am. Because, as I've said before, it's all about personal style, and if you let someone else convince you to diverge from yours, you're probably not going to feel quite right. And it'll inevitably show.

So, Golf Guys: Go with what you are and embrace your inner you. If you're an exuberant, outgoing, extrovert with a big personality, by all means rock the argyle pants (and you can order them right here). However, if you're understated... and/or shy... and/or conservative... stick with the basics, and wear them proudly.

OK, this post went on far longer than I intended it to, and at this point anyone who accuses me of dwelling on the superficial nuances of golf fashion ad ad nauseum may be justified.

My Note Cards Match John Daly's Awesome Golf Pants

This is what I use when I send notes to friends and family.

Which seems 100% more awesome since a friend of mine informed me that this is what @PGA_JohnDaly wore in the Open de España Pro-Am today.

The Travelers - Media Day at TPC River Highlands

We CT golfers are a fortunate lot.

In addition to a wide variety of golf courses, our pretty little state has a popular governor by the name of Jodi Rell who is a passionate golfer.

And we have a company called Travelers that is committed to title sponsorship of the historic Travelers Championship, through 2014.

And when you consider that this year's defending champion at the Travelers is Stewart Cink, the PGA Tour's most prolific and popular Twitterer and an evangelist for promoting the game and connecting with fans on a grass roots level... well, you've got to think the nutmeg state must be located under a lucky star.

Yesterday, members of the golf media gathered at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT to hear Ms. Rell, Mr.Cink and others talk about the historic tournament and to get to know the venue and course.

Govenor Rell is the honorary chairwomen of the 2009 event and she spoke mainly of its economic impact to the region and the charities it benefits. She didn't talk about her own golf game, but I know a little something about that. I take lessons at Golf Quest in Brookfield where the Governor learned the game. In fact, I even heard rumor that the cracked practice mirror was the result of one of the Ms. Rell's errant shots. Now there's a governor I can relate to.

All of the net proceed from the Traveler's Championship are donated to charity and this charity aspect and was brought to life by Aaron Baral of West Hartford. He's young, smart and and a cancer survivor who spoke of his battle with something called T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia and described how his optimism and energy were restored by his experience at a Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang Camp. That's one of the charities that benefits from the Travelers Championship. Aaron will attend UConn in the fall.

And then there was the affable, and easy going @stewartcink who I felt like I already knew from his frequent Twitter updates. A dedicated family man, Mr. Cink tweets on everything from his son's LaCrosse games to his wife @lisacink's birthday. Then there were the recent post about a flooded iphone. He's a PGA Tour pioneer when it comes to social media and especially Twitter. Jason Sobel of ESPN spoke to him about his serial Twitter use and how he engages with fans stays connected on the service.

That this defending champion flew up to Connecticut for the day to meet with tournament supporters and media...before heading down to Quail Hollow where he'll compete later this week...speaks volumes about his dedication, and he spoke frankly of his hope that other players will support more events and more actively bond with fans and sponsors.
After the press conference a crowd converged on @stewartcink so I didn't get to speak to him personally. If I had, I would have thanked him for thanked him for reaching out to supporters of the game and letting them know they don't go unnoticed.

The second half of the day was spent on the meandering fairways and unforgiving greens of beautiful TPC River Highlands, which proved extraordinarily challenging for @golfgirl...I mean... me. We played with Jason Page, who hosts the Black Page on ESPN Radio, and his producer. They were they supremely gracious. And Jason gave me some excellent assistance with reading those tricky greens.

Just yesterday tournament officials received confirmation that Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Anthony Kim and Stuart Appleby are all in. With Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell already confirmed, the player field is shaping up quite nicely.

As a golf fan and third generation Connecticut-er you can be sure I'll be writing about this awesome tournament... and the people behind it... as it approaches.

The Travelers Championship - Media Day in Cromwell

The Travelers Championship is Connecticut's biggest sporting event. It's been part of the PGA tour since 1952 and past winners include Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson.

I'm heading up to Cromwell today for the tournament's media day.

Defending Champion (and Twitter afficianado) Stewart Cink is scheduled to be there too, before taking off for Charlotte and Quail Ridge.

I'll have more for you later today from TPC River Highlands...gotta hit the road now, I'm running late. As usual.

Are Euros and Youngsters Changing Golf Fashion?

Golfers were all over the place yesterday.

It's that magical April weekend here in CT, the one where temperatures reach high into the 80's and everyone forgets that summer's still two months off.

I managed to play nine holes today, for the first time in a while. I didn't play particularly well but my expectations were low reasonable, and the day was gorgeous, so it was pretty awesome.

The course was busy and I had high hopes of ferreting out a fashion statement or two for the Real Guys Golf Style Contest, but I'm afraid I came up empty. Every single man was wearing some variation on subdued polo shirts / Khaki shorts/ baseball cap theme. And none of those variations was the least bit exciting. Don't get me wrong, a number of these guys looked hot really good, there just wasn't anything exciting happening fashion wise. And I suppose that's not too surprising.

Though only an hour from midtown Manhattan Danbury, CT is pure suburbia, and my course like most suburban courses is a bastion of the baby boom generation.

Last week I had an interesting conversation with John Paul Newport who's written the Wall Street Journal's weekly Golf Journal column since June 2006. He was preparing a story on new directions in golf apparel, and as a baby boomer himself... one who clearly feels most comfortable in "khaki Dockers and roomy polo shirts"... Mr. Newport was puzzled by the profusion of white belts with great big buckles... and the kaleidoscope of raucous colors and patterns that many of today's players are wearing. Because, he remarked, "ironically, it's the same buffoonish, 'Caddyshack look' my generation so consciously shunned.

Mr. Newport's golf apparel piece appeared in yesterday's WSJ. It includes an inspiring slideshow, and suggests that European influence and generational tides may be the main factors behind the changes that are now appearing on the pros, but acknowledges that those changes are not being picked up too quickly on suburban courses.

As for me, I'm going out again today. To see if I can hit a lower score...and maybe find a suburban golf style statement or two.

I ♥ Golfmoticons # ^o^ ~o @^

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# = wearing plaid

~o = moving golf ball

@ = ball in the hole

^o^ = golf ball with angel wings

Thanks for these, @Docpark and for your brilliant blog.

Cosmetically Enhanced Golf - Makeup on the Greens

Guys may wish to stop reading right here.

This is a post about makeup. Not set makeup either. I'm talking about long lash mascara and shiny lip gloss... sparkly eye shadow and bronzer-for-a-sun-kissed-glow - that kind of makeup.

So let all those with Y chromosomes be warned; you're entering girly golf blog territory... OK, stay. We won't judge you.

Anyway ladies, I mean... people... here's the story; A couple days ago I was in the women's locker room at my home course. I stopped in there, as I often do, at the turn, to quickly use the facilities and check my appearance. As I was giving my lipstick and eyeliner a little touch up, one of the gals from the Competitive Ladies League dashed in and grabbed a sweater from her locker. Then she approached the mirror, adjusted her short wavy hair in her Callaway visor, and glanced over at me. "Wearing makeup to play golf..." she exclaimed dismissively, "I never understood that". In a herculean display of restraint, I didn't react. Except to mutter something quite vile and vulgar under my breath.

The way I see it, makeup is part of my golf wardrobe...an essential accessory. Like my dangly earrings. Yes, I wear those too... and I'm pretty sure the low handicap ladies leaguer doesn't.

The thing is, I think it all comes down to personal style. I'll probably never be a cropped hair and visor kind of gal, but lots of my friends are... because that's what works for them. To each his her own, right?

You know what the best part is though? When I decided to write this post I did a google search for golf + makeup, just to see if there was a conversation going on, and about half way down I found Golf Girl Makeup. It's a dress-up game from i-dressup that's several kinds of awesome. It features a wide eyed anime golf girl...one who apparently has nothing against wearing makeup on the golf course. You select makeup and accessories for her, from a variety of shades and styles, till she's ready for her round.

So gentlemen, aren't you glad you stayed for that? Just don't let your boss catch you playing with it at work.

World Golf Tour U.S. Open Video Blog Contest - Part II

As I announced yesterday, World Golf Tour is looking for a video blogger to cover the Virtual U.S. Open AND fly out to Bethpage for the actual event! All you have to do to enter is make a little video...

World Golf Tour U.S. Open Video Blog Contest

When it comes to contests, this is about as good as it gets.

World Golf Tour is seeking a video blogger to cover the virtual and the real-life U.S. Opens. So... they're holding this contest... and the astoundingly lucky winner gets an all-expenses paid trip to the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale LI ... with a press pass and camera crew... to capture the event on behalf of WGT.com.

World Golf Tour, as you probably know, is the ultra-realistic, online HD golf experience that you play right on your browser. They've some of the most challenging courses in the world, too...including Bethpage Black.

You enter the video contest by creating a 1-2 minute video featuring... you... covering a recent WGT.com tournament. The deadline for entries is May 11.

YuChiang Cheng, the CEO of World Golf Tour put it this “World Golf Tour’s goal is to show golfers that it’s possible to capture a piece of the Championship experience through playing the Virtual U.S. Open online under the same conditions and guidelines as the best players on earth,”

I think that's a very laudable goal. Detailed requirements and rules can be found at www.wgt.com/news.

Of Nice Ballz and Real/Fake Golf Twitterers

Before I begin, I want to specify that I'm talking about a blog here. That said... I really like Nice Ballz.

Niceballz.com is a new golf blog that's quickly become a favorite of mine. The NiceBallz bloggers are obviously passionate about the game, but at the same time, don't take themselves too seriously. They cover an eclectic mix of golf stories and they always weave some subtle (or not so subtle) humor into the mix.

These guys Twitter too, and if you do, you'll want to follow them... at @niceballz and @golferwriterguy ... because, again, they know how to do humor, even in 140 characters or less. Their experiences with the popular micro blogging site are what inspired their blog post on the possibility of Real/Fake Twittering golfers.

Real/Fakes come in two varieties; They can be individuals hired to "Tweet" for a celebrity... often the star's own PR people. @Britney Spears is known to employ a twitterer or two to help with her Twittering.

Then there are the random dudes who take it upon themselves to "Tweet" as a celebrity ... or character. We've witnessed a fake Chuck Norris and a fake Homer Simpson. Batman and Indiana Jones have also been impersonated. The impersonators create parodies, often exaggerated versions of the real thing...and thus much more entertaining.

So, as the NiceBallz guy point out now that real golfers like Stewart Cink and Morgan Pressel are Twittering, when are we going to start seeing real/fake golfers and what will they Tweet like? They answer the second part of that query with some amazingly hillarious real/fakes of their own, including @CamilloV, @MichelleShellyWee and the fabulously funny @PhauxPhil. I'll let you check them out over at NiceBallz but to give you an idea, here's their @vijay_sing:

@vijay_sing: Going to practice.

@vijay_sing: Going to practice.

@vijay_sing: Going to ... ah, you get the idea.

Ironically, the real (I think) @ParkerMclaughlin seems to pick up right there.















Some say it's only a fad, but as NiceBallz points out, for now, Twitter is providing some interesting insight to the the lives of real... and fake... professional golfers.

The LPGA Takes Positive Actions in Tough Times

I know... it seems like forever ago; That luminous afternoon at Mission Hills when three Americans waged a tense battle in the final round of of the LPGA's first '09 major.

Fans won's soon forget the excitement of that 18th green ... where it was all decided when Cristie Kerr's prodigious 18ft Birdie putt was answered by an amazing Eagle by Brittany Lincicome for the win. And it was definitely a memorable first KNC for Kristy McPherson, who tied with Ms. Kerr for second.

Today those three dynamic Americans are getting ready for a new battle. Along with an international field of top players, they'll be teeing off at the Corona Championship in the charming colonial town of Morelia in Michoacan, Mexico. Local girl Lorena Ochoa is the defending champion.

In a perfect world there'd be tons of TV coverage and live streaming video from Tres Maria's Golf Course, pictured above. ~ As it is coverage in the US will be...quite limited.

I'll checking in regularly with LPGA bloggers like Mostly Harmless, Hound Dog LPGA they aggregate news updates and tie them together with their own original analysis, often multiple times a day. For live reporting ... in 140 characters or less... I'll be following the @LPGA Twitter feed. When well executed, 140 character "tweets" can really tell a story so I was glad to hear (via Twitter) that @LPGA will have a Twitter team on the ground in Morelia.





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News came today that due to poor economic conditions, the 31 year old Corning Classic, will come to an end after a last tournament in May. This brings home, once again, the reality of dwindling sponsorship dollars and the importance of raising the tour's visibility and building fan relationships, so as to appeal to the new cast of companies that will (hopefully) step forth to sponsor sporting events.

The LPGA is acutely aware of this... and they've responded. They've restructured their executive staff with an emphasis on sales and communications, and they're expanding their reach with non-traditional media by credentialing independent bloggers, engaging with fans on Facebook and embracing the art of the Tweet.

As the season progresses, we'll surely be seeing more players, in more places than ever before. The appealing, ultra-talented players are the LPGA Tour's best asset. Potential sponsors, one hopes, will take notice.

The Real Guy's Golf Style Contest

Call for entries and additional details will be forthcoming, but the basic premise will be a look... an outfit...a style statement, worn by a real guy (not a professional golfer) and captured in a photo.

There'll be posting and voting and such (I've got to work out the details) but the end result will be a better idea of what's going on in golf apparel for the male recreational golfer: what's being worn...where and by who.

From the responses I've been getting there's a tremendous amount of variation - depending on the man, the course and the country - and contrary to what one might assume, there's a whole lot of interest.

And BTW women are definitely not indifferent to how guys look on-course, so gals, take this opportunity to show off the golf style of your significant other or weigh in on the awesome outfit of a random golfer you just happen to notice.

We'll certainly want to have several categories (good, bad... fugly?) and some seductive prizes. It's all in the works and I'll keep you posted. This should be fun.


*Cargo shorts can sometimes be controversial!

Golf Apparel Debate - Do Men Shop for Golf Clothes?

First of all, this is a post in progress...a "to be continued" conversation starter that I'll be elaborating on later today and in days to come.

Here's the thing: there's no denying that women are looking better than ever on the golf course these days. While it's still a struggle to get ladies to take up the game...and stick with it... most would agree that once gals get into golf, they get into golf fashion too.

Even the most no-nonsense competitive female golfers are somewhat susceptible to a well stocked pro shop. Women (generalization alert) put thought into what they wear, and how they look on the golf course. And they have tons of options. Where not long ago was little in the way of stylish women's golf apparel available, there are now legions companies producing golf apparel that works. From from the traditional to the ultra-trendy. Be it high-tech and performance focused, or blatantly sexy and body hugging, a women can find her own personal golf style. And you see ample evidence of this, on the tour pros and on average golfers.

But what about the guys? Are they going in the opposite direction?

That's what this piece in the thetimesleader.com suggests. The Times Leader is a publication out of Wilkes Barre PA but I see evidence of a similar trend where I play. and that's in and around New York City.

So what's the deal? Are today's golf guys abandoning stylish for...stodgy, stale and stereotypical? Are monochromatic lg/xlg polo shirts, boxy Khaki shorts and a baseball cap the new normal? Are the fairway-fashionable influences of Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead completely irrelevant today? Or do guys just hate to shop? I intend to explore this further as golf season gets underway. Any input (particularly with photos) is welcome.

The Golf Space, Golf's 1st Social Network, Turns Three.

Sometimes I feel like I've had Golf Girl's Diary forever. It's actually been about two and a half years, and in that time I've learned a lot about golf and a lot about life.

One of the first people I met when I entered this golf blogging universe was Tony Korologos a.k.a. Mediaguru. Tony's the creative force behind the Golf Space, which was the internet's first golf centric social network. It's a great place to meet other golfers without the all that background noise of some of the other networks. Well, time flies, as they say, and this week The Golf Space turns three. That's got to be at least thirty in blog years. Happy Birthday Tony thanks for three years (and counting) of golf networking and news.

Speaking of venerable golf bloggers from the days of yore, Jay Flemma who's Walk in the Park is part of The Golf Space network, is definitely going to be one to watch over the coming weeks as Bethpage Black gets ready to host the 2009 U.S. Open.

You've probably already read his stellar course reviews, but you should also know that Jay, is a quintessential New Yorker... and as an entertainment Lawyer (yes, he's multi talented) he's out on the town a lot. In addition to his expert knowledge of the expansive fairways of Tillinghast's dramatic Long Island course, Jay knows where to find the best sushi in Manhattan. And the best shopping. And he'll be sharing these and other insider tips as the 2009 Open approaches. The way the time goes by it'll be here before we know it.

Girls Golf Free - Brandon Tucker's Awesome Idea

The cherubic looking young man at left is Brandon Tucker. He travels the globe playing golf, and writes about it in a worldly, self-confident style that belies his tender age... which judging from his photo, I guess to be around 15.

Brandon can be audacious too. Like when he recently picked Sergio Garcia to win the Masters. Ouch. I know what that feels like and, it's not good.

Today however, Brandon was doing provocative, and doing it quite well. In his Wednesday post Mr. Tucker was temerarious enough to suggest that "women should pay cheaper greens fees than men at the golf course".

Not free, exactly, - free was my idea, inspired by Ladies Night at the Globe - Brandon simply proposed a discount; a sensible 10% - 20% off. His reasoning was straightforward; Women play a shorter course and they treat it more gently...women play fast, (presumably due to intimidation) drive slow and shop like Santa before they go home. These factors, Brandon reasons, combined with the the golf industry's well documented efforts to increase the number of female golfers and the number of rounds played by women, make lower fees for the fair sex a tactic worth considering.

Personally, I think it's an awesome idea, though it would hardly affect the amount of golf I play... I'm already totally addicted and play several rounds a week... I do think it would be an incentive to new female golfers however. Theses days particularly, when a couple of dollars off makes anything seem more palatable. And if we can get more women to give it a try we're going to grow the game. So yeah, I like it. But not everyone did.

As of 2:08AM Thursday comments are decidedly mixed: Donna Hoffman, thinks it would help and she should know, she runs Women on Course the excellent women's golf networking organization I wrote about a couple of months ago. Donna introduces hundreds of new women to the game each year so she knows what the barriers are.

A descending opinion came from Stephanie Wei who writes and edits the highly entertaining Wei Under Par. Stephanie's take was that most of Brandon's reasoning came down to Stepford stereotypes and thus provided little valid argument for lowering women's greens fees. And it's true. Brandon's post was rife with stereotypes. Stereotype that don't apply to me anymore than they apply to Stefanie, even though she seemingly plays really well and I play like crap. ~After all, I'm not intimidated by much on the golf course, and as a publicist, I'm addicted to my Blackberry. But the majority of new women golfers do fit a lot of those stereotypes, and that's the gang we want to get...and keep... golfing.

There there were the comments by guys. They mainly joked about the post, and I thought I detected a gleeful tinge of "that's never gonna happen" too.

The point is though, the post provoked discussion. Discussion about the state of the game and how we can keep it viable. I'm quite sure the discussion will continue too, over the next couple of days. So thanks Brandon, you write really good... for a kid.

Now, let me get back to my new job as the the official on-line apologist for Sergio Garcia.

Adidas ManCandy Ad - Is the Golf Shirt Swap Next?

Earlier today I came upon a visually stunning ad campaign that will almost certainly be talked about for more than the Adidas sports jerseys its built around. At least I think it's built around Adidas Sports Jerseys.

I, um, watched it... or more like played with it, for...let's say... a while. And I'm still not totally sure of: a) what exactly the product is, or b) who exactly the target market is. It's not the type of ad that lets you concentrate on those details.

Clearly this campaign is more about the brand than a particular product, and the brand is definitely there; the Adidas image of high-tech strength and bold modernism was prefectly projected by the site's stars; five attractive New Zealand rugby players.

The site is called Jersey Swap, and the highlight... where it get's really... compelling... is an animation that allows you to choose two of the players and have them swap Jerseys. ~ I'm not kidding they rip off their shirts and graciously exchange them. I could go into extraordinary detail here, about well defined pecs, rock hard triceps, tribal tattoos and lots of other things, but I won't. You can discover all of that here. But I will say, in my opinion, the cutest player is Ali, and the Slo-mo replay isn't "slo" enough.










Adidas sponsors a number of golfers, several of whom have the physical attributes for such a campaign. Could that be next... a golf shirt swap? It's doubtful. A rugby player friend of mine told me that soccer and rugby players often swap jerseys after a game and that's what this is based on.

I've never seen this pracitce taking place after a golf tournament which, depending on who's in the field, might very well be a good thing.

via Lazy Circles

Condi Covers Tiger for The Daily Beast

Ours is an era of topsy turvy transformation when it comes to media.

Acclaimed newspapers... with mastheads full of Pulitzer prize winning journalists... are routinely scooped by rogue bloggers who's best asset is their agility. Most of our news breaks on Twitter... or appears there within seconds of appearing elsewhere. In multiple posts of 140 characters or less.

The Daily Beast is the quintessential product of our current media mash up; a website published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and I'm not ashamed to admit that it's pretty much how I get my news these days. Then I proceed to my Google reader and the 50 or 60 golf blogs that appear there daily. There's not a lot of golf in The Daily Beast and I frequently fantasize about becoming the golf curator or editor there, or even just an occasional golf contributor. But it looks like my job's been taken. By former Secretary of State, Condoleza Rice.

Condi was trailing Tiger over the weekend and reports on it today in TDB. She writes well, refers to her own personal encounters with Tiger and Phil, and looks great in a visor.

Needless to say I'm now resigned to my job at Golf Girl's Diary and my fantasies of a golf column at The Daily Beast.

Encore for Angel on a Magical Masters Sunday

His bio sounds almost too formulaic to be true; a Horatio Alger story that began in the hard scrabble barrios and caddie yards of Cordoba, Argentina and yesterday led to a permanent place in the Champions Locker Room at Augusta National.

As twilight descended on a picture perfect Easter Sunday afternoon, a burly, balding, grade school dropout was fitted for the fabled green jacket, after the most magical Masters in recent memory.

The course, much maligned in recent years was universally praised, the weather which has been know to be dank and dismal was bright and bracing, and there were abundant story lines featuring the most popular players.

Television ratings reflected the magic, on both ESPN, who's coverage of the weekday rounds were the highest in eight years, and CBS where the sudden-death playoff between Senor Cabrera, Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell resulted in a ratings win.

However it was online that the most dramatic increases in Masters coverage took place. Traffic to golf content on ESPN.com on day one of the tournament was up 36%, participation in their Masters Best Ball Challenge game was up 71%, and live streaming coverage of round one ESPN360.com more than tripled compared to the same day last year. The Masters own site with it's extraordinary interactive content - as well as other high profile golf sites - echoed that experience. And it was all pulled together and deseminated via Twitter, Blogs and Social Networks, creating what amounted to a viral, word-of-mouth marketing campaign for the fabled tournament.

And at a time when the golf industry's image has taken a major hit due to its association with high flying hedge funders and bailed out corporate executives, it was quite ironic to see a former Cordoba Caddy known as El Pato win golf's most revered championship.

The Masters, Golf and Trending on Twitter

At 6:00PM ET. This is what's trending on Twitter:




3. Masters

4. Phil

6. Kenny Perry

8. Mickelson





One of the awesome things about Twitter is that it's such a great way to track emerging trends. When something big happens, people tweet about it and it undoubtedly ends up at the top of Twitter Search.

This afternoon, as the leaders finished the 15th hole at Augusta, golf was definitely trending.

And at 6:30PM ET:




2. Tiger
3. Masters
4. Phil
5. Kenny Perry








This is what real people are talking about, in real time on Easter Sunday 2009.

Golf Apparel & Fairway Fashion at the 2009 Masters

Each year I try to do at least one post on fashion at the Masters.

The apparel sponsors often launch their player's new looks at the year's firs major, and many spectators seem to put special effort into their Augusta outfits. You see it when the cameras pan the crowd, and in man-on-the-fairway interviews... that extra touch of style. But, more about Augusta National street style later. Let's have a look at the pros.

Thus far, there have been no huge style statements from the pros at Augusta this week. Yesterday Camillo Villegas wore a shirt that perfectly matched the deep fuchsia azalea blossoms and looked great against Augusta's lush emerald fairways. Sergio Garcia sported a tangerine sweater and matching cap that had one #masters Twitterer wanting to call in the fashion police. (Personally, I think Sergio looks good in just about anything orange).

Stylish Japanese teenager, Ryo Ishikawa, did some nice things with the color green while Mr. Michelson (always much maligned by golf fashion watchers) was again called to task when he tried to rock a white belt.

When the topic is golf fashion I have to mention Ian Poulter. He's far less flamboyant than he was a couple of years ago and I imagine that's because he now wears his own Ian Poulter Designs, which he sells all over the world. The business of fashion being so highly competetive, each item needs to be "accessible" to a wide audience. That eliminates the ultra-outrageous looks of the past, but leaves plenty of room for distinction, and Ian's outfits are still the most distinctive in golf. IP Design offers a collection that's polished and functional but still quirkily hip. It's well presented at the website/online store, where you'll find the latest collections. There's lots engaging background content too, including Ian's blog and a section on his passion for plaid. Ian Poulter, even the toned down version, is as awesome as ever.

And now back to the gallery, where the styles are often much more interesting. With no sponsors to please the real people can mix it up in creative ways, and they often do.

Augusta.com has an engaging slide show that presents head to toe overviews of some sixty spectator looks. They range from "yawn" to "yowza!" The latter is exactly how I'd describe the look at left, modeled by a lady who's husband is currently in contention for a jacket to match her green dress. Rory Sabatini is currently in a multi-player tie for sixth the gal in the flouncy spring frock is his inimitable wife Amy.

Other were not so daring as Amy and there was an amazing amount of J.Crew being worn which leads me to believe that first lady Michelle Obama will indeed be influencing apparel choices for the next several years. I love the outfit the gentleman above put together. Check out the slide show to see some of the gallery trends.

Now we've got some golf to watch and it promises to be exciting. I'm looking forward to a little more fashion action too. Let's hope the weekend wariors dress to impress.

The Master's - As Discussed on Twitter at 2:22AM ET

...and it's been like that since The Masters began. How cool is that?

Sergio Garcia - Masters 09 Status: It's Complicated

That's where it stands on the eve of the 2009 Masters.

In an interview on Wednesday morning, Sergio openly acknowledged that he wasn't expecting to win in Augusta.

When pressed he alluded to some "personal issues" he'd been dealing with. He didn't elaborate, except to say, "There are some things that have happened to me in the last four or five weeks that hasn't helped much."

Of his putting the sensitive Spaniard also said "My putting doesn't feel great."

When asked what distinguishes great putters from everybody else, Dr. Joe Parent,the mental golf guru behind Zen Golf and Zen Putting replied, "What distinguishes great putters from everybody else is unconditional confidence, that they believe themselves to be great putters."

Dr. Parent works with LPGA champion Cristie Kerr. She credits "Dr. P" with making her more at peace with herself and her abilities, and she now considers him "part of her team".

This, I believe, is all Sergio needs. And I hope he get's it.

Golf Girl's Controversial Masters Prediction

I could have gone with Tiger Woods. But I didn't.

I'm pulling for a player who often elicits a rather... visceral...
reaction. ~ A player who, admittedly, hasn't been playing too
well lately and who openly acknowledges that Augusta is far from
his favorite place to play. So why did I pick this particular player?

I just feel like it's his time to win. It's as scientific as that.

Anyway, to further advance my case I made this Sergio video mashup
and set it to the sweet, hopeful song, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.


Note: To see this video in a bigger player with more functionality, check out my Blip.tv channel.

Amy Alcott, the LPGA's Original "Lady of the Lake"

During her distinguished LPGA career, Amy Alcott was known as a creative shot maker and as a woman who played golf "with an uncanny feel for the right shot - and the guts to pull it off".

With the exception of founder Dinah Shore, no one is more connected to The Kraft Nabisco Championship, and as the final round of the 2009 event begins this morning, it's a sure bet that the contenders have each been inspired by Ms. Alcott. She not only won the Kraft Nabisco three times, she also started the lake leaping tradition that each year,e gives this tournament one of the most jubilant finishes in sports.

The first golf book I ever purchased, and one I often recommend, is Amy Alcott's Guide to Women's Golf. It's clear, ultra easy-to-follow and empowering. It's perfect for the many women I meet who equate golf with intimidation.

As the LPGA ladies played this week, on the frequently wind-buffeted course sometimes referred to as “Amy's Alley”, Amy herself was promoting a new book, “The Leaderboard: Conversations on Golf and Life,” in which she interviews famous people from Annika Sorenstam to President Bill Clinton, and uncovers some unexpected, unique and engaging golf stories.

Oh, and something else awesome that Amy's doing; she's Twittering...and blogging. With her accomplished friends Susan Hunt and Linda Giaciolli Amy's launching "GolfChix". Based on the trio's popular radio show from a couple of years ago, "GolfChix" looks to become the ultimate social for the ultimate social game. It's coming soon and is decidedly something for online golfers to look forward to. In the meantime you can follow the GolfChix on Twitter.

Despite all that's going on in her life one can't help thinking that Amy might not be entirely done with competing in the tournament she's so indelibly linked to. In fact, when asked recently about competing again Amy Alcott replied. “That aspect of your career never goes away. I guess you always set yourself up for a comeback.”

Kraft Nabisco Sink & Swim - LPGA's Clever Little Ad

When "Sink" and "Swim" appear in a sentence together separated by a conjunction, that conjunction is usually "or" and the sentence usually refers to a a situation where... you will either fail, or you will find a way to succeed.









Replace that "or" with "and" and the sentence no longer makes sense. Unless you happen to be talking about one particular LPGA Tournament.

That of course would be the Kraft-Nabisco Championship, the LPGA's first major of the season, where what's "sinking" are putts, and who ever sinks them best ... swims, in the brackish waters of Champion's Lake.

Despite the presence of mega-stars Lorena Ochoa and Michelle Wie, it's this witty twist on an oft-repeated cliche that really makes the ad above pop. A number people mentioned it to me this morning, online and in emails, including several who were neither golf fans nor players. The deceptively simple ad, was created by LPGA Marketing Veteran Tina Barnes-Budd, and as she told me earlier today, the idea was to take a small ad in a major newspaper and, in few words, get people to look beyond the obvious.

The thing is, this tournament, like so many other things the LPGA does, has a great back story; a colorful history that makes it entertaining even for those who don't follow golf. And though it may seem like a drop in the bucket - to use another well worn cliche - in these days of brand-evangelizing bloggers and viral Twitter Tweets, an intriguing tag-line... or an egaging snippet of copy... can go a long way.

Whether the message originates online or in more traditional media, with the right words, buzz grows incrementaly, through WOM Marketing that happens organically. I saw evidence of that today with this small, but effective ad.

An Awesome Golf Poet Inspires the Golf Girl

If you're like me you often see poetry in golf.

I've seen it on an undulating green, dappled with late afternoon sun, and on a misty morning fairway, burnished with autumnal color. ~ But did you know that the golf magazines of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, magazines such as Golf, The Golfer, The American Golfer and Golf Illustrated & Outdoor America contained golf poems in almost every issue?

Leon S. White explores the longstanding links between golf and poetry in his delightful blog, Golf Course of Rhymes, an enchanting compilation of artful observations, peppered with poetry and full of little known facts.

For example, I never knew that the first golf poetry book published in the U.S. was called The Golf Girl by Samuel M. Peck (1854-1939), Alabama’s first poet laureate. And if you read the post, you'll find there's more to the story than that.

Golf Course of Rhymes is whimsical and revealing golf blog. One that will almost certainly leave you with a smile.