A Professional Golfer Will Dance With the Stars

A while back Natalie Gulbis revealed that she'd love to be on  Dancing With the Stars.  

Well that hasn't happened yet, but Jan Stephenson, another "bubbly" blonde golfer, will be joining the line-up for Series 11 of Australia's DWTS.  

Jan Stephenson won three majors and 16 events in her extraordinary LPGA career but is often referenced as "the golfer who posed naked in a bath tub of golf balls".  

So be it. The awesome Aussie was never one let such things bother her, in fact she was always quite pragmatic about promoting sex appeal to encourage interest in women's golf. 

Jan will be partnered with Mark Hodge in the new season of the international hit TV show. The cast will also include a cheeky celebrity chef a couple of high profile celebrity models, a cricket superstar and a world champion surfer.

Jan now plays on The Legends Tour and holds the top spot in Legends Tour career money.  She's been named for the sixth time to the Handa Cup World Team to be played May 19 – 22, 2011 in Rye, NH.  I'm looking forward to heading up to the historical Wentworth-by-the-Sea golf course to attend the event and meet Jan... before she trades her golf shoes for dancing shoes.

US Golfers Ready to Celebrate the Royal Wedding

You are invited... to a viewing of the Marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, KG with Miss Catherine Middleton at the Lebanon Golf and Country Club on Friday, 29th April at 11:00 a.m.

The Finest Hat contest: Three hats will be chosen as the "Finest" and the wearers will receive a piece of the official Royal Wedding China.

A breakfast will be served that will be a sampling of the menu served at Buckingham Place to the guests of the Royal Wedding.

Davis Love III - Inspiration, Confidence & New Media

Dove broke barriers in the marketing of its skin care products several years ago with the Campaign for Real Beauty.  Aimed at women and girls, it featured "real-looking" models and was seen by many as a timely critique of the unrealistic standards set by the beauty industry. 

Earlier this year Dove... a Unilever brand...  launched the first advertising campaign for its male grooming brand,  Dove Men+Care.  The campaign, called "Journey to Comfort" focuses on sports celebrities and celebrates their real lives.

PGA Golfers Davis Love III and Stewart Cink are featured in the latest phase of Journey to Comfort and appear in a series of short, behind-the-scenes videos.  Yesterday afternoon, I asked DLIII about the campaign in a quick telephone interview.

The Ryder Cup captain-to-be spoke about his Mom as an inspiration, "People know about my Dad, but what they don't know is that my Mom was the one who was consistently there, she was the first person I strove to beat in golf".  Later, when I told him that lack of confidence was one of the barriers mentioned most frequently by the beginning golfers I speak to, he again mentioned his Mom.  "She only learned when she met my Dad," he revealed, "up till then she hadn't played, and while it must have been intimidating in the beginning, she channeled her own self-confidence and persevered ... and ultimately maintained a single digit handicap for decades." ---->  More  ---->

OWGR Needs to Serve Up Some Sexy Infographics

For the time being, the era of an ultra-dominant W#1 golfer is over.

This reality has opened the door for some bombastic opinionating thoughtful discussion on the system by which golf's top player is determined.

As Lee Westwood recaptured the top spot... then quickly grew weary of of the public polemic surrounding it... myriad opinion posts and countless Twitter debates have challenged the current point system or... extolled its virtues.
 
Some suggested there was simply too much nuance inherent in the game for any ranking system based strictly on data to be relevant ...which was kind of interesting until that post abrubtly ended with a facile quip on Luke Donald's recent fashion daring.

PGATour.com's Melanie Hauser wrote what I found to be the best breakdown of the current OWGR controversy, providing some historical perspective and finishing with a call to "sit back and enjoy the shuffle".  Which is definitely what I'll do. --->

My Favorite Global Golf Ball Marker

Don't get me wrong... I like an over-the-top ball marker as much as anyone.

For example, I love TRI Markers. The fine gold and platinum circles encrusted with precious stones are available in an number of different color combinations and can be had for $1,500 and up... way up actually: $10,000 for the diamond-on-platinum.  A statement-making accessory if ever there was one. --->

Perseverance Pays Off for Nicolas Colsaerts

When I think of Belgium I think of beer.. or Brel... but I don't generally think of professional golfers.

In fact the last time a Belgian won on the European Tour was almost three decades ago when Phillipe Toussaint edged out Bob Shearer in a sudden death playoff at the Benson & Hedges Festival of Golf in 1974.

However, for the past ten years there's been a young man striving to put the Kingdom of Belgium back onto the top of the leaderboard, and yesterday he succeeded, with his breakthrough victory at the Volvo China Open.

Earth Day ShoutOut: For Businesses With Balls

As I mentioned yesterday, we're taking Earth Day right through the weekend with shoutouts for environmentally conscious golfers, golf companies and golf courses.

Ecobioball - A single use golf ball that's perfect for use where balls are just hit for swing practice, like from cruise liners.  This 100% biodegradable golf ball can take the full swing of a professional, yet biodegrades within 48 hours of hitting the water. The Spanish Ecobioball manufacturer claims that it won’t harm marine life and... awesomeness alert... the core of the ball even contains fish food.

Dixon Golf - Dixon Golf offers several different balls with different specifications. They're all eco-friendly and high performance, 100% recyclable and made from reprocessable materials. With the company's recycling program you can recycle any brand of used golf ball at a Dixon Golf retailer and get a credit towards the purchase of new balls.

Wilson Eco-Core - These are high performance balls with a core made from recycled rubber tires and packaging made from recycled board stock lessening negative environmental impact.

Lobster Balls - When news of an environmentally friendly golf ball made out of discarded lobster shells hit the wires recently, it quickly transcended golf media and went viral.  Developed by a team from The University of Maine and the Lobster Institute, a joint Canada-U.S. industry organization these balls are still in the prototype phase, but the amount of interest the story generated is proof that eco-freindly golf balls could be huge... as a business I mean.

Earth Day ShoutOut: The Awesome Golf Refugees

Happy Earth Day!

Golf... as I wrote earlier in the week... is a lot greener than most casual observers realize.  Organizations and initiatives to reduce golf’s environmental impact are multiplying... and they're creating a golf culture focused on protecting the environment and preserving the natural heritage of the game.

In fact, it's now difficult to imagine golf development of any sort that doesn't include an environmental plan and incorporate documented environmental management practices.

To that end I'm hoping to post a series of shout outs... today and throughout the weekend... to some of my favorite environmentally conscious golfers, golf courses, and golf businesses.

Dress codes don't apply to golf carts

Golf Refugees - They've been challenging golf culture convention for nearly a decade and practically invented the golfwear/urban streetwear category... a category once seen as a slightly subversive novelty, now a staple of fairway fashion.  

Golf Refugees is also the quintessential indy eco golf brand and the world's first carbon neutral organic golf wear brand.  Unafraid of feather ruffling and passionate about the game, Golf Refugees is clearly committed to producing golf apparel that's clean and green.  

Their stewardship however, is never sanctimonious, and their graphics reflect the humor inherent in a game as exacting... and addictive... as golf.   

For when you shank one into the gorse bushes.

To fully appreciate Golf Refugees' environmental commitment... and their humoristic creativity ... you must have a look at their blog.  There you'll be able to read about the extraordinary Earth Day initiative they've taken: Golf Refugees is actually submitting proposals to the the governing bodies of golf (USGA and R&A) to revised their Rules of Golf to incorporate "green" measures ... and readers can support for the proposals with comments and suggestions.  

Why not head over there now as part of your Earth Day Initiative.  

Miracle Birdies - Jim Furyk's Awesome New Initiative

No sport gives more to charity than the golf does.

It's a game that's giving back on all levels too, from the professional tours and individual touring pros to local tournaments and the avid... or occasional... golfers who play in them.

Just about every golf manufacturer I know... and I know a lot of them... is supporting one or more causes as well, and doing so with exceptional commitment despite the less than stellar economic environment that's persisted for the past couple of years. 

The recent LPGA Founders Cup, where 100% of the entire $1 million purse went to charity and the top-10 finishers were able to designate the recipient foundation or organization for their part of the winnings,  illustrated the wide variety different causes... all of them worthy - some of them little known... supported by golf.  MORE ---->

China Panda-monium: Sergio Garcia, Cute & Cuddly

I'm a huge fan of Sergio Garcia ... and a huge fan of baby Panda bears.  So when sexy Señor Garcia met cute and cuddly, Ya Yun yesterday... at the Chendu Panda Base Breeding center in Chengdu, China...  it was definitely a photo-op that piqued my interest.

Sergio is in China's Sichuan Province for the Volvo China Open which takes place this week at Luxehills International Country Club.

Garcia's one-time nemesis, Padraig Harrington, also paid a visit to the Pandas, and he too will be in the field along with defending champion Y. E. Yang, and 2010 Ryder Cup Champion, Colin Montgomerie.

It might be Chinese star Liang Wen-Chong who has the biggest advantage, however.  The most recent of his 17 career wins came less than a year ago at the Luxehills Chengdu Open... on the same course that's hosting this week's  event. ----->

Earth Week & Golf That's Good for the Environment

Yesterday marked the start of Earth Week, a time for putting environmental issues into the spotlight and focusing on our collective concern for the planet.  In principal at least.

There's a fairly widespread perception among non-golfers, that golfers, golf course developers and golf course owners consistently disregard environmental concerns for over-irrigation, abundant use of synthetic fertilizers and other environmentally irresponsible practices.

Matteo Manassero: A Second Win & Still Seventeen

I heard more than one golf fan lamenting the absence of Matteo Manassero at the Masters last week.

After all, a year ago he'd been the youngest ever to make the cut in Augusta.  He followed that up with a win at the Castello Masters in October and became the youngest ever to win on the European Tour.
 
Those accomplishments weren't enough to get him into this year's Masters however.  Though he'd gotten down to 55 in the world rankings, as a professional, he needed to be in the top 50 to make the field at the season's first major.

Happily, those legions of Manassero fans needn't lament any longer. Matteo won the Maybank Malaysian Open today, and is now well within within the numbers... at 35th in the world... for the three remaining majors. He accomplished his win in style too, narrowly defeating Gregory Bourdy and Rory McIlroy, despite valiant challenges from both.

Paying tribute to Seve Ballesteros, who he described as "the kind of player I wanted to be" Matty kissed the massive, beribboned cup and went off to celebrate his 18th birthday.

April 16, 2011 - Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images AsiaPac

Suddenly Sexy Schwartzel... Struggles With Jet Lag

Until recently, Charl Schwartzel was way under the radar.

Despite his seven European Tour wins and a multitude of Top 10/Top 20 finishes, his (rather unusual) name was known only to avid golf fans with a global bent

That all changed on Sunday, when the South African donned a green jacket, posed for endless photos and trended on Twitter.  His Masters win was unexpected and impressive, coming as it did with four birdies in a row on the back nine... and a leaderboard full of the best on his heels.

The 26 year old from Johannesburg was clearly not a crowd favorite.  I was part of the sweltering gallery on 18 as the reality of Schwartzel's win sunk in and actually overheard someone say, "this isn't the sexy Masters finish we were hoping for but I guess it's OK"

The Green Velvet Majesty of Augusta National

John Updike dreamed about golf and wrote of his dreams in prose so lovely and lyrical it inevitably makes me smile... or cry.   Really beautiful things do that to me.

Since I started writing this blog I've read volumes on the singular beauty of Augusta National so I probably should have anticipated an emotional response, but my golf roots aren't deep... my family doesn't play and I first picked up a club a mere five years ago... so I thought I'd be fine. --->

Once Upon a Time at the Masters

Image: Via HistoricGolfPhotos.com

No matter how wondrous a particular event or experience may be, it seems we're compelled... as 21st century humans... to move on quickly.  These days...with the availability of instant information on almost everything... our attention spans are shorter than ever.

The Masters, despite its otherworldly awesomeness, is not immune to this collective obsession with what's next, and that's where we find ourselves now.

The 2011 Masters has had its four days... its week, if you will... and perhaps more importantly, it had the weeks of anticipation leading to it.  These are the weeks of building excitement, when we discuss various possibilities and speculate on probable outcomes.  Eventually, during these pre-Masters weeks, we wind up reminiscing on past events and experiences, and to that end, I feel I'll have much to write about next year when the fervor for 2012 Masters begins. --->

The Otherworldly Awesomeness of The Masters

I left Augusta this morning.  En route back home after four days at the Masters, I'm feeling somewhat melancholy. Post-Masters blues? I think that's what I've got.
 
I'm currently in Charlotte, NC waiting for a flight that will take me back to the chilly, gray skies and brown lawns of Connecticut.

I've written about golf for several years now and have attempted... more than once... to put this trip together, but early April is a busy time for me and there always seemed to be a scheduling conflict looming.  Furthermore, my numerous applications for media credentials have always been tersely denied politely dismissed.

So a couple of months ago, when a reader/friend/patron generously offered me the two series badges he wouldn't be able to use this year,  I knew this would be my Masters.  At the last minute, my better half had to make an unexpected overseas trip, so I decided to stay with a friend who lives in big beautiful house in the middle of acres and acres of farmland, 20 miles south of Augusta.  This friend isn't a golfer but is a gardener and she'd been dreaming of seeing the azaleas, the historic magnolias and the Eisenhower tree. When I proposed Nick's ticket to her she was delighted. --->

The Springtime of a Dashing Young Spaniard

Golf meant nothing to me growing up, which may seem strange when you consider that my first twenty years were spent in Greenwich, CT, where cloistered country clubs... and the golf courses within them... are almost as ubiquitous as the fine restaurants and expensive emporiums that line the town's main shopping street.

However, Greenwich is a coastal community too, and I spent my summers sailing on Long Island Sound.  Sunfish regattas and Laser racing... the splashing, speed and billowing spinnakers... always seemed more fun and exciting to me than the deliberate-looking game that took place beyond the trim hedges of those back country bastions. ---->

The 12th Hole at Augusta - An Impressive Display

They call it Golden Bell.  The narrow green...  protected by Rae's Creek in front and a cloud of bright pink azaleas behind... is incredibly beautiful.  Ben Hogan Bridge leads to the cloistered corner and adds a mystical element.

It's no surprise that many artists have been inspired by the 12th hole.  However the artist who created the above representation did so in a rather unique way... and it's quite impressive to watch.  See for yourself.

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Great US Golf Destinations Attract Some Wild Vistors

I hardly blame the family of felines.

After all the Scottsdale golf course where they were spotted relaxing recently has been called one of the most picturesque courses in the world.

The mother mountain lion and her two cubs were spotted on the fourth hole of Desert Mountain Club's Cochise Course... as the lounged on the fairway of the 546-yard, par-5 hole.

Linda Borman, a resident of Desert Mountain snapped several beautiful photos of the big cats and described the sighting as rare... a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.  And that's probably a good thing for those who play the course regularly. As beautiful as they are I don't suppose they make good playing partners.

The desert of Arizona isn't the only top US golf destination where commanding creatures occasionally crawl the fairways and rest in the rough.

Though global golfers booking Orlando golf packages may feel that the only fauna they're likely to encounter will be in some way related to a mouse called Mickey it's not particularly uncommon to see a alligators sprawling in the sun at Orlando area golf courses.  In fact I've heard from a reliable source that hole 6 at Bay Hill is home to a rather impressive reptilian resident who makes fairly regular appearances on course.

Our gator on 6 at Bay Hill http://twitpic.com/41hqlrless than a minute ago via Twitpic   Favorite | Retweet | ReplySam Saunders
samsaunders87

The fact is we share the planet with what?... 2 million or more different species?  It's only natural that some of them are going to be attracted to the same types of environments we are.  For golfers visiting new locals I think the best advice would be to use reasonable caution, expect the unexpected and enjoy the occassional encounter with a wild visitor.

Read more: azcentral.comazcentral.com * nileguide.com

Navarino Dunes Revealed - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12

Not surprisingly, the recent release of EA Sports' spectacular new Tiger Woods game was all about Augusta National.  After all, even the most casual golf fan is intrigued by the Masters and by the cloistered, velvety-green sanctuary of a course that hosts it each year.

But the latest edition of the Tiger Woods franchise features a number of other new courses as well. These will undoubtedly be discovered and enjoyed by gamers of all stripes as the novelty of strategizing Amen Corner and winning the green jackets wears off (I imagine it does wear off eventually?)

One of the newly featured courses, is Navarino Dunes at Costa Navarino, the naiscent eco-resort complex on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece.

Nude Golf has a New Venue: Karlskoga Golfklubb

Newsflash: Karlskoga Golfklubb, in central Sweden, is relaxing their dress code... significantly.

Effective immediately as soon as it warms up a bit, "country club conservative" will be replaced by "clothing optional" on the fairways of this established course. You see, the golf club has recently partnered with a local "naturalist club" and Karlskoga General Manger, Sven Nödtorftig, embraced the concept of golf in-the-altogether, with enthusiasm although he was careful to reassure those who find the idea of nude golf... and nude golfers... unsettling. "We aren't forcing everyone to play naked," he declared, "and you will see the naked players playing at specific times, such as early morning or late afternoon".

Mr. Nödtorftig BTW, is himself a naturist, and presumably looks forward to playing in the buff as the sunny season begins.