Golf Fans Are Asked to "Pink Out" and Post Pictures

My predilection for pink is well documented, and "pinking out" is second nature for me.

But all golfers, and all golf fans... even those who aren't too fond of the rosy hue... are being asked to "pink out" by wearing a pink garment or accessory this weekend to help promote awareness for breast cancer research.

This national golf "pink out" isn't an "official" awareness day, but a rather spontaneous show of support for Amy Mickelson and the 1.3 million other women in the world who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

PGA TOUR players, their wives and caddies will be wearing their pink at The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial as well, and with spectators pitching in and miles of pink ribbon draping the course's trees, the pink impact will surely be felt.

Meanwhile, the PGA TOUR has put a call out to fans everywhere, to post pictures of their own rosy regalia on the PGA Facebook fan page.

As for me, I'm still trying to decide on an outfit...from a closet overflowing with pink options.
















(UPDATE) - Today at Candlewood Valley CC in New Milford, CT.

The New York City Golf Date Made Simple

Golf can be hard to find in New York City.

It tends to lurk in the outer boroughs on quaint, quirky, courses that hide in plain site. Access from Manhattan inevitably requires a mass transit trek or an automobile.

Dating in New York, from what I hear, can also be fraught with difficulties and disappointments.

However, if you find yourself on the island of Manhattan tomorrow night and you happen to like golf... and you're in the mood for some form of social interaction... there is a solution: it's called Date Night at the Golf Club.

It may sound staid and suburban, but it's not.

The venue is awesome, a multi-tiered marvel on the Hudson. The stalls face the river, so you're actually launching your drives at New Jersey (some would take pleasure in that fact alone).

There's always an animated, high-energy crowd at Chelsea Piers golf events. And anyone/everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level or relationship status. You'll also find an open wine and beer bar plus snacks, and for those who seriously want to work on their swing, teaching pros will be on hand to offer free instruction. Then there's open hitting on the range, so you can get lots of practice in... if you're not too busy socializing. The whole package is just $30.00 too.

So, if you find yourself in or near Manhattan tomorrow night, why not head for the Hudson, and Chelsea Piers' Date Night at the Golf Club.

JR Golfers to Play with Pros at Travelers Championship

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Big-hitting little ones have a chance to win the round of their (short) lives at the upcoming Travelers Championship. The iconic Connecticut tournament will add a pro-am for kids this year. It'll take place on June 23 and will give a group of junior golfers a chance to play 9 holes with the PGA pros.

For a chance to win, kids between 10 and 18 have to submit a letter to the tournament director that explains why they should be selected. Kind of like the way PGA pros request exemptions into the actual tournament, which will be held in Cromwell at the TPC River Highlands course.

The pro-am is open to both boys and girls. Those selected will challenge the PGA Tour pros.

Next year I'm hoping they open the contest up to a couple of high handicap adults. Um...not that that would apply to me or anything.

"Travelers Championship Swing" Photograph: © Golf Girl Media

Golf Meets Glamour - Is TIME Pandering for Readers?

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That's how it looks to me.

In what appears to be a desperate attempt to reel in readers, a story appeared last week on TIME.com with the titillating title, "Lady Golfers for Rent: Escort Service for Duffers?" They say a good title is an important part of link baiting, and this lascivious lure certainly seems to fit that bill.

The blatant link baiting however, doesn't bother me... as long as a story is well written, accurate and engaging I have no problem with a couple of calculated keywords in its title. However, when the story underneath the title is poorly researched, exploitative and bordering on the slanderous, I take issue. And that's what it comes down to with the TIME article. In the TIME piece, Sean Gregory, writes about Play Golf Designs, the Las Vegas-based company of former Futures Tour player Nisha Sadekar.

PGD offers custom golf event planning and entertainment services to nonprofits, charities, corporations, and private groups. They act as a full service golf travel agency, booking the perfect accommodations, reserving the tee times you want at the courses you choose, and securing tickets to the most sought after Las Vegas shows.

You'd hardly know this from reading Mr. Gregory's article though, because he chose to focus on PGD's golf entertainment services, and proceeded to sex up the story so as to leave readers with the impression that something naughty and nefarious was going on.

In fact, Play Golf Designs works with a team of golfers, each with professional golf tour experience. These PGD Professionals will conduct golf clinics or animate team building exercises... they'll challenge your group to a closest-to-the-pin or power driving competition. This is the type of Golf Entertainment PGD offers. Their PGD Professionals are some of the best players in the world, each having played on the LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour or Futures Tour. These are damn good golfers. Each one is also a beautiful woman and that, I feel, is where Sean Gregory found the fodder for his post. He, like many, realizes that where the male dominated world of golf meets glamorous feminine beauty is a very buzzworthy intersection.

Barely touching upon the golf expertise of the PGD golfers, Mr. Gregory preferred instead to fill his post with references to "buddies during a bachelor party", "substantial fees" and (my favorite) "shorts shorter than a tap-in putt".

I happen to know Nisha Sadekar. I've written about her as a fellow golf blogger and I speak to her quite regularly. We've also met on a couple of occasions in New York. She's the consummate professional and extremely dedicated to her business. She's also passionate about golf, as are the women she works with. And, they all have tremendous respect for the LPGA players. Nisha told me that what bothered her most about Sean Gregory's story was that by pulling her quotes out of context he had presented her as dismissive towards Lorena Ochoa, a player she clearly admires.

Mr. Gregory didn't attend a Play Golf Designs event nor apparently did he speak to anyone who has attended one. Had he done so... like I did... I don't think his story would have had the same lugubrious edge. Ryan Ballengee, writing on his popular and respected golf blog, Waggle Room, called the TIME piece "an extremely unfortunate example of lazy journalism and corporate hypocrisy".

We all know that journalism is in a state of crisis right now; facing declining readership and falling ad sales. I tend to think the sensationalism in this article was simply an attempt by Mr. Gregory... and/or TIME... to counteract that trend. However, the disregard he shown for Nisha Sadekar and the business she's spent years building, was careless and unprofessional.

"Golf Meets Glamour" Photograph: © Golf Girl Media

Of Padraig Hats and Tiger Balls - A Cool Contest

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LPGA fans, golf fans, sports memorabilia collectors: there's an awesome contest going on at Wei Under Par, (the engaging golf blog of ultra-cute girl-about-town, Stephanie Wei) that you probably want to enter.

The prize is a Sybase Classic hat autographed by LPGA players, including Suzann Pettersen, Meg Mallon, Se Ri Pak, Janice Moodie, Lisa Strom, Julieta Grenada, Ai Miyazato, Vicky Hurst, Morgan Pressel, Kelli Kuehne, Paige Mackenzie, Christina Kim, Jeehae Lee, and others.

It's easy to enter; Stephanie just asks you to submit your "best story about the lengths you went to get an autograph from a celebrity." It can be any celebrity in any field, and you just have to email it to Ms. Wei at steph [dot] wei [at] gmail [dot] com. The deadline is Wednesday, May 27.

As you may surmise from the photos above mine involves Padraig Harrington who I've been known to claim as a long lost cousin. I think it's pretty funny, but you may have a better one. If so, send it in and you might just win.

Stephanie herself has collected a couple of stellar signatures in her day. Head over to Wei Under Par to read about her impressive autographs. I've got to admit, I'm rather jealous of her Tiger ball.

It's Friday and Perez Hilton Covers a Golf Story

It appeared this morning, sandwiched between "Ashley Tisdale goes Topless" and "Murray and Burton leave One Tree Hill".

A rare find; the Perez Hilton golf story. Actually it's a pop culture story (shocking), but golf plays a minor to middling role, so it still qualifies as an oddity.

The Queen of All Media touched upon Tiger's return to golf earlier this year but that was clearly an anomaly. Normally Mario Lavandeira doesn't have much to do with golf, preferring hobbies such as outing celebs or judging beauty pagents.

Today's post had to do with how Rudy Guliani's portly son Andrew, skipped graduation to train for a golf tournament. I'm thinking this piece got in because Andrew is discernibly douchy and because Oprah was involved.

Reactions to the story were mixed, however quite a number of commenters seemed to agree that Andrew's choice of golf over a graduation ceremony...even one with an A-list commencement speaker...was a no brainer.

The Travelers Championship - Lots Going On

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Here in CT, the Travelers Championship is huge.

It's our state's biggest sporting event... but it's also the second most attended PGA Tour event annually, only behind the FBR Open.

Well it's just a month away now... and already there's a lot happening. A bunch of new players just signed on; Woody Austin, Nick O'Hern and the ever popular Billy Mayfair. And they're joining the ranks of the Sergios and the Singhs and others.

Plus...today is Thursday, and that means you need to head over the Travelers Championship Facebook page for the Thursday Trivia Question. The first correct response wins 2 tickets to the tournament!

Golf Obsession & Oral Fixation? There's a Tee for That

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Are you one of those golfers who's constantly gnawing on a tee? I know I am.

I guess it's what they call an oral fixation. My pen caps have always been deformed by bite marks. Wood pencils too... their erasers totally bitten off. I know, it sounds disgusting. Sorry.

Anyway, when I took up golf I was delighted to find something new to chew on: golf tees. Tee's are quite exquisitely chew-able too... except for the taste. Bland. Generally they taste like wood. And wood tastes boring. Enter Tasty Golf Tees, flavored golf tees.

I discovered them a couple of years ago and I've been chewing them...and playing off them...ever since. They're available in Cherry and Mint, with Strawberry, Grape and Cinnamon. These tasty tees were were invented by John Packes and Ramon E. Peralta Jr, a couple of ultra creative guys from right here in my home state of CT. I recently reconnected with them on Twitter and it was great to see how well their company was doing.

This leads me to believe there must be numerous orally fixated golfers out there.

Glen Murray's Double Duty - Sergio Garcia Shares

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Intrepid golf blogger Stephanie Wei [Wei Under Par] reports on the generosity of Sergio Garcia and the bravery of his caddy, Glen Murray, who's currently on loan to Team Wie.

Photograph: © Golf Girl Media

Golf and Makeup - The Conversation Continues

Thanks Ashley... for bringing that up.

We discussed the whole idea of makeup on the golf course a couple of weeks ago, and quite a number...no scratch that...the majority of lady readers revealed that they play golf in full war paint...or at least a touch of tinted moisturizer...and why the *bleep* not?

A well-formulated foundation (or tinted moisturizer, if you will) actually protects the skin every bit as well as zinc-oxide did when it was opaque and white and adorned the noses and cheeks of the cutest lifeguards on the beach back in the 80s 90s.

Nowadays however, makeup can look totally natural. Um...I mean natural but better, which is what we want, right?

... And that's why many LPGA golfers wear full makeup, when they're playing in tournaments or pro-ams. As in: foundation, lips and eyes. Skin is protected, photos look better, confidence is boosted...it's a win/win/win!

But...what to do about the dreaded shoulder smudge. Ji Young Oh, winner of the 2009 Sybase Classic, had it, I've had it too. So has Ashley who encouraged me to further explore this subject after leaving the above comment.

Ashley's solution of matching her clothing to her makeup may seem extreme...not to mention limiting... but it's certainly more economical than dry cleaning.

In the cooler weather, you can wear a water-resistant jacket (like the FootJoy model Ji Young was wearing) that can be cleaned with an alcohol-based product like Windex (remember a certain Greek wedding?) But it's the light colored sweaters and pastel polos one has to be careful of, and I'd go so far as to suggest avoiding such garments if you're planning on playing a competitive round in makeup.

The other solution would be simply not to wear makeup, and that's fine... for some people. Not for me.

Cheery Oh! Ji Young Takes the Sybase Classic

Under the radar, but ultra-impressive, Ji Young Oh won the Sybase Classic while others fell victim to the elements. Or to the malevolent golf demons that sometimes haunt the thoughts of even the best players.

The warmth and sunshine of the past couple of days were gone on Sunday, replaced by a leaden chill reminiscent of early March; it was cold, gray and blustery. And "blustery" was what got to Suzann Pettersen - who had been tied for the lead coming into the round - she cited the wind as having been an issue for her on 17. Her disappointment was palpable when she walked into the media center at the end of the day.

If you can stand the chill, this is probably the best kind of golf to watch. There's an element of drama in such a day that's missing when the weather isn't a factor. The thing that really mesmerized me... watching just a couple of yards from the green... was the way Ji Young handled her putter. I felt like I could feel her feeling some of her longer putts. (Three uses of the verb "to feel" in one sentence = excessive. But you know what I mean.)


















At the press conference, when Ji Young Oh was asked about her golf inspiration, she spoke of Se Ri Pak, the US Open winner who was one of her country's first golf champions, and who has inspired so many Korean girls to dedicate themselves to the game.

I'll have more from the Sybase Classic later today. And I'm already looking forward to my next LPGA event.

She Shares the Lead at Sybase AND she Twitters

Suzann Pettersen has a lot to celebrate today.

The Norwegian beauty currently shares the lead (with Ji Young Oh) at the LPGA's Sybase Classic. AND Norway just won the Eurovision song contest which is HUGE (picture an over-the-top, international version of American Idol that's lots less boring). AND it happens to be National Norway Day today as @suzannpettersen revealed this morning on Twitter. Oh yes...and she now Twitters.

Ha det godt, Tutta...og Glade Norge Dag!

Male Dominated Media at LPGA's Sybase Classic

It's not surprising really.

I'd guess that the ratio... about 90% men to 10% women... is about the same in virtually any media center, in any women's sport... well... with the exception of... maybe...figure skating.

I believe this has to do with a number of things, two I can think of offhand are: the traditional sports reporting culture... and the ratio of male fans to female fans, which is still slanted quite heavily towards the guys.

On an encouraging new media note, I did encounter Meghan Morgan who writes Titleist's engaging Tour Blog. Meghan also twitters as @Titleistontour and is living proof that corporate blogging and twittering, when well done, can be engaging, entertaining and actual... and NOT just a thinly veiled marketing vehicle. The intrepid Stephanie Wei of Wei Under Par was there too, wielding her video camera and capturing fun player interviews.

I'm hoping that "new media," both corporate and journalist, will bring more women into sports reporting, and that before too long the media centers at women's sporting events like the LPGA's Sybase Classic will look less like journalist boys' clubs.




*Stephanie Wei and Anna Grzebien at the Sybase Classic on Friday

Friday Fashion Statements from the Sybase Classic

Going for the green - Carin Koch, practicing putts with Mickey Novak. He's the founder of C-Thru grips.





















Orange you glad Se Ri is so talented - Not only is Se Ri Pak a golf icon, she's also got a golf clothing company... and her line is designed by her sister. It'll be available in the US this fall.




















Yani Tseng rocks the full Cleveland - I don't have photographic evidence but Yani was wearing white shoes along with this white belt.

More when I get back home.

Rainy Day Golf and an Abrupt Change of Plans

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The calls came at about 11:00AM yesterday, one after the other, as I was crawling through traffic towards the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The first one was from Western PA and the second from Binghamton, NY. Both were from people I had planned to meet in Clifton, and both told me they had decided to put their visits off till Friday...today.

Admittedly, it was wet, gray and blustery, but it's frequently that way around here at this time of year. I've been known to play golf in the rain, and I was ready to watch the first round of the Sybase Classic through intermittent showers and occasional wind gusts. However, the interstate was that proverbial parking lot, and I suddenly realized I was in the middle of Westchester County.

Westchester County is significant because I recently took a writing assignment that'll have me interviewing staff and members at a number of golf courses and country clubs in the New York City suburbs. The book is about the recession, and its impact on day-to-day life, in an area so tied to Wall Street and high finance. I'm researching and writing a chapter on the golf industry. I plan to be back here next Monday to begin this project and already have a number of interviews scheduled, but there were others I still needed to set up, so being the intrepid journalist that I (sometimes) am, I decided to see what I could do to put an early dent in this job. Well, to make a long story short, things fell into place. I was able to to get to four different venues, and talk to a half dozen key participants. What they had to say convinced me that this will be a fascinating and enlightening book. I'll keep you posted on progress.

While I regretted missing the first day of play at Sybase - and Helen Alfredson's amazing record-breaking round-I did get quite a bit done on this thought-provoking project. And I'll be heading down to Clifton tomorrow.

The highlight of the day came when the manager of a great little public course, renowned for its rolling hills and steep slopes, introduced me to the yellow duck in the photo above. The little guy is set to compete in the upcoming "rubber duck race" that'll be part of a local spring festival. In the meantime he made a perfect model for my rainy day golf photo.

And...if you haven't seen it, here's a fun interview that cute golf blogger Stephanie Wei got with the awesome Cristina Kim when she DID get down to Sybase on Tuesday.

Inside the Ropes With LPGA Pro Christina Kim from Stephanie Wei on Vimeo.

Enroute to the Sybase Classic for LPGA Action

As predicted, the day is overcast...with a chance of showers. I'm currently enroute to Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ...and I'm extremely thankful that someone invented GPS. Without it, none of this would be possible. More later from the Sybase Classic.

It's Always the Right Time to Support Golf

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Uh-oh, I almost forgot about National Golf Day. Actually... I did forget about it, because here on he east coast, May 13, ended about 2 1/2 hours ago.

Don't even ask me what I'm doing up at 2:40 AM, but here I am. and though the "offical day" is over, you can still sign a very important petition that'll help our sport get some much needed support from the governmental powers-that-be.

Golf makes a huge impact our economy - and it's a positive one. If you read this blog, I'm pretty sure you have more than a passing interest in golf, so why not have a look at the petition and see what you think. I'm pretty sure that like me, you'll be compelled to sign it.

...And I'll ♥ you forever.

Happy National Golf Day.

At the Sybase Classic, Cristie Kerr Is in Her Element

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Though she was born in South FL and currently resides in Scottsdale AZ, it's in and around NYC that Cristie Kerr indulges in some of her favorite pastimes, which include picnics in Central Park and afternoons in the city's amazing museums.

Cristie was introduced to the charms of New York by her handsome husband, Erik Stevens... who knows the city intimately from years of living and working there...and the introduction was clearly a success.

So much so that the couple now spend several weeks each summer in the city. They hold fundraising events in the area as well, and whenever they can grab some free time, Cristie and EriK like to stroll the avenues and explore new neighborhoods. Sometimes they head out to the leafy, green suburbs of CT or NJ...which is where Cristie finds herself right now, along with the world's best female golfers.

The ladies of the LPGA are getting ready to compete tomorrow in Clifton, NJ. at the Sybase® Classic presented by ShopRite. Coming off her win at the Michelob Ultra Open, Cristie will face one of the strongest fields ever to compete in this tournament. The weather, which has been stellar for the past several days, looks like it may be changing. It's now predicted to be somewhat ...unstable...through the weekend.

I hope to have a report from Clifton for you tomorrow.

Myriad Ways to Follow The LPGA at the Sybase Classic

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Nowadays LPGA fans have a wealth of options when it comes to following favorite players.

The Tour has its own engaging site, LPGA.com where players are profiled, tournaments are tracked and stories are shared by an interactive community of Women's Golf aficionados. The Tour is active on Twitter and Facebook as well.

In addition the tournaments now frequently have interactive web identities of their own, that allow fans to experience events they can't travel to. This week's Sybase Classic, taking place at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ, is a great example.

Their site definitely has a lot going on. Yet, it's easy to navigate. Informative and entertaining too, everything a tournament site should be. There's a blog that goes behind the scenes to the parties, practice sessions and ProAms, as well as the standard sections for info, volunteers, sponsors, press and history. Lots of great photos and videos too. On the social media side, again it's Twitter and Facebook oblige, for connecting with fans.

There'll be television coverage Fri-Sun on ESPN2, Oh, and I'll be there over the next few days as well, keeping you posted with my own observations. So yeah, I think we've got you covered. If you can make it out to Clifton, NJ, by all means, do... There's nothing like following a tournament live... but if you can't, be sure to catch the action virtually.

After all we're making it easy for you.

Hopes Are Dashed for a Shane-Sergio U.S. Open Pairing

The ax fell yesterday at Tucson Country Club where dashing young golf blogger Shane Bacon came up short in his attempt to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Open.

A couple of weeks ago, when Shane told me he'd decided to go for it, I momentarily imagined a fantasy pairing at Bethpage: Shane Bacon and Sergio Garcia. I even pictured the two strapping young men standing at the signature par 5 fourth, exchanging words of encouragement.

Yes, I know, Shane once called El Niño "a jerk," but it was a fantasy, remember?

Anyway, despite prodigal golf skills, Shane didn't quite make the mark for the upcoming Open, but he's an amazing writer, and he paints a fascinating story about what it's like to catch lightning in a bottle try to qualify for the U.S. Open.

A Coupla Golf Chicks Sitting Around Talking

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They're both young, pretty and adept at navigating fairways and greens.

Paige Mackenzie is a golfer on the LPGA Tour and Stephanie Wei is a cosmopolitan, Yale educated, girl-about-town-turned-golf-blogger. Both grew up in the top left hand corner of the USA.

So when they met up last night in NYC they had lots to talk about.

Inside the Ropes with Paige Mackenzie from Stephanie Wei on Vimeo.

FYI ---> Stephanie and Paige chat it up on Twitter too.

My Weekend Romance With Wolf Creek Golf Course

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It was love at first site when I glimpsed the sandstone pocket canyons cuddling that circle of vivid, velvety green.

Meandering streams, placid desert lakes and undulating topography sealed the deal.

As as result, I spent numerous hours at World Golf Tour this past weekend, getting to know the virtual Wolf Creek Golf Course in a virtual Mesquite, NV... and I feel like I probably got to know it better than I would have gotten to know the real one had I been there in real life.

It's often that way with the real vs. the virtual. The virtual frequently wins. World Golf Tour is high definition, and ultra realistic. The virtual Wolf Creek was in pristine condition, the temperature was a pleasant 71 (or whatever our thermostat was set to) degrees and there was no wait time at the tee.

I played multiple rounds of the nine-hole challenge - a closest to the hole competition - and though I haven't yet been able to reach the green with any consistency, I'm quite addicted by now.

But the thing is, I absolutely have my heart set on playing the real Wolf Creek now. I even dreamed of a rugged desert landscape last night, one with lush green fairways winding through it. So I'm making plans to go out to NV... sometime in the next couple of months. I don't have issues with the heat - in fact, I'm always freezing - so I may even try to go in late June.

In any case it looks like a weekend romance has turned into a bit of an obsession.

Cristie Kerr Goes for the Green on Fifteen... and Wins the Michelob Ultra Open

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With her win today at Kingsmill Golf Resort, Cristie Kerr became the first two-time Michelob Ultra Open Champion.

I watched the tournament with a crowd at the restaurant where I had brunch today. I'd coaxed them away from the Yankees and the PGA, which was a challenge, but once they started watching they were hooked. It never fails to happen with LPGA tournaments.

Then, at the 15th hole, after being locked in a tenuous four-way tie for much of the final round, Cristie had to do... what she had to do. And it was something she hadn't done in the first three rounds: she had to go for the green... with her three wood, from the fairway of that par-5 hole. Her ball landed on the green and rolled to the fringe. Then with a two-putt for birdie she took the lead.

Typically, I had to get into my car at that very moment, for the twenty-minute drive back home. So, resisting the temptation to text at the wheel, I pulled over twice on the way for updates, the second of which revealed that Cristie had won the tournament.

Having spent time with Cristie Kerr and witnessed, firsthand, her dedication to golf...the way she applies herself relentlessly to the game, the competition, and all that goes along with it... made her win today resonate with me in a very special way.

With Cristie, over the course of a few days I saw some of what goes into being a champion, and it was much more than I had ever imagined.

Congratulations, CK!

*(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Maneki Neko and My Awesome Qgroove Golf Bag

My Qgroove Golf Bag is without a doubt the most exciting accessory I own. It's playful and pretty and hot pink...and it never fails to cause a stir when it appears in a bag drop, surrounded by monochromatic men's bags or "please-take-me-seriously" ladies versions of same.

I know; the choice of a golf bag is highly personal, and there are many who may wish to emphasize functionality over ....flirtiness. That's fine, but the great thing about Qgroove bags is the fact that they're both highly functional AND over-the-top-statement-making-stylish. All rolled into one.

My bag features Maneki Neko, a flirtatious feline reputed to bring good fortune (and all kinds of other wonderful things)... so, I naturally have great expectations for the 2009 golf season.

There are a number of other striking styles available. Each one, a limited edition of only 100 pieces worldwide... each one handmade with a unique serial number & personalized embroidered name tag.

The Qgroove website presents the collection of golf bags and duffel bags very well, and includes the story behind each stunning style. They also have a Facebook fan page.

I'm finishing up a fun video on my own purrr-fect Qgroove bag, and should have it up here within a week or so. In the meantime have a look at the luscious line at Qgroove.com.

POP - The Perfect Golf Course Pick-Me-Up

Please, Miss Cart Girl, this is what I want:

1. A pleasurable, teasing wine that meets the finest intentions.

2. A provocative and impertinent wine whose distinction singles it out.

3. An innovative wine that will leave no one indifferent.

I want POP. It's a stylish pink champagne from the venerable Pommery Estate and it's available in single serving bottles... so I hope to be sipping it during my twilight rounds this summer.

I've got a call in to the powers that be at Cafe on the Green and I'm looking forward to find POP in the beer cart at Richter Park sometime soon.

And speaking of pink champagne... my all time favorite tipple... check out the blog by Anthony Dias Blue on the subject of the "flirtatious" rose colored libation. Anthony is a James Beard Foundation Award winner and produces wine events all over the world. He can now be found regularly in his own Blue Lifestyle space at my favorite social site, CocktailMatch.

Golf Blogger Players Championship Predictions

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Shane Bacon is the handsome, young blogger behind Dogs That Chase Cars. He's a talented golf scribe, who's also been known to cavort with caddy for LPGA players. Today on DTCC, Shane is featuring a compilation of Players Championship predictions from some of the golf blogging world's most distinctive voices.

Back Tee Golf Guys and Their Oversized Egos

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Have you ever seen witnessed an American male playing golf from the forward tees? I didn't think so, neither have I.

No matter how many sets of tees there are - and nowadays it's not uncommon to find five or six - I've yet to witness the phenomena of man venturing into the territory known as "forward".

There's an invisible emasculation demarcation line on American golf courses that men know not to cross it. It varies depending on the number of tee boxes but there's never any question about where it lies and if a man crosses it, he may as well be playing golf in a dress a powder pink ballerina tutu.

At least that's what I've observed, in the three seasons I've played the game. In yesterday's New York Times, there was a perceptive piece by Bill Penington about playing the right tees.

Accompanied by a short video, it featured an all too familiar character by the name of "Billy Backtees". As a result of the emasculation demarcation line, I've played with lots of Billy's, I'm sure you have too. Playing with a Billy slows things substantially down and casts a pall of frustration over the entire round, but hey, at least everyone's masculinity is intact.

Lots of balls lost, but masculinity intact. How ironic is that?

There's an effort underway to make the forward tees more... palatable... to big egos; using colors not normally associated with "ladies" tees and never calling them "ladies" tees hasn't helped much. The line transcends name and color.

In some parts of the world, a certain handicap is required to play particular tees, which eliminates some of the tee box overreach, and which is why I single out American men in this post. Here in the US, such rules are extremely rare. However, Mr. Pennington does point to Harbor Rocks Golf Club in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley; you need permission from the pro shop to play the back tees (7,151 yards) there.

I know a couple of ladies who clamor to "play from the tips with the guys" though they clearly don't have the distance. However, several studies confirm what we've all always suspected; women are far less likely to overestimate their distance when asked. Yep, basically, it's a guy thing. And while I have no problem with a little tee box overreach when the course isn't busy, it's extremely annoying on a busy Sunday when Billy Backtee and his buddys allow their oversized egos to sabatoge the pace of play.

I think a partial solution might lie in the golf shirt I've designed for those men who wish they could play the forward tees...but just worry about what their peers might think. With this shirt on even a diehard Billy Backtees will be able to march forward with his dignity intact. And probably play the best round of his life.

Handsome, Multi-Talented and Plays Golf Naked

Decidedly, Hugh Jackman has it all going on.

His new movie, Wolverine, just had a HUGE opening, he's People Magazine's reigning "Sexiest Man Alive" and his sing-y, danc-y performance as host of the Oscars a couple of months ago was widely applauded.

They call him a triple threat, but beyond the above mentioned talents Hugh has a skill few are aware of: he's an ultra-talented golfer.

I'd read that he played, but he's got to be really good if he can do it with just a towel around his ... privates. Could you do that? I didn't think so. However there's photographic evidence, from back in the days when men actually had hair on their chests, that Mr. Jackman does...did...?

In any case, the photograph, with what I presume is a Australian sunset as a backdrop, was too lacivious artful weird not to share. I hope you enjoy it.

I just can't help wondering how that round ended.

PGA Tour Trending - Sean O'Hair and Bubba Watson's Hair

"Tiger Feasts on Quail"

Jay Busbee had this delectable headline ready for his first post on Devil Ball this morning.

Unfortunately for Jay - and, I imagine, for countless other golf writers with Tiger titles at the ready - the predicted repast never happened. Instead the presumed predator wasn't even the first loser, a fact he himself reflected upon, after placing fourth.

In the end, it was the discreet Sean O'Hair who held up the whimsical birdbath trophy at Quail Hollow yesterday, despite a less than spectacular bogey/bogey finish.

Mr. O'Hair is an under-the-radar kind of guy anyway, and though he's very attractive and obviously one of the best golfers in the world, he's anything but flashy, and doesn't generate much in the way of buzz. Proof: despite his win yesterday, I didn't see him trending on Twitter. S.O'H tweets were few and far between, and they tended to look like this:

















Respectful, professional and proper.

The same can't be said for BubbaTweets though. The inimitable, long hitting Bubba Watson, who also edged out Tiger yesterday when he tied with Lucas Glover for second, was, in fact, trending on Twitter.

And a though he played some excellent golf at Q.Hol, much of the BubbaCentric Twittering was not focused on golf, but on ...other aspects of Mr. Watson's persona. Like his...hair.























You see what I mean? The thing is, this charismatic player has undergone a couple of rather radical stylistic transformations over the years as evidenced by the graphic below.

So, now that we're officially on the subject of Bubba Watson's hair, which Bubba do you like best?