New Year's Evolution

Happy New Year everybody. Welcome to 2017. A year that I hope is great for everyone. A year that brings everyone good health, happy times and since this is a golf blog... many birdies. Every year, millions of people worldwide make a resolution. These resolutions are usually about self-betterment and they can involve quitting a vice like smoking or dropping some weight. When you really think about it in a way it's for us as individuals to evolve.

Evolution is something that I'm attempting to do. I chose a terrific time to make a lifestyle change (right before the holidays) and I really think that it was great for self-discipline. All of that turkey, mashed potatoes and of course tantalizing desserts can be a tough thing to avoid. But if I can make it through the holidays without binging than maybe I accomplish other goals.

It's no secret that I started a pretty significant workout regimen and as much as it is about improving my health (or at least helping my own cause) it's more about the golf. I'm not getting any younger and none of us are. But to accomplish goals like returning to competitive golf I know I have to evolve. I have to get more fit, stronger, faster, and more flexible. The latter is more of an issue than I thought. Admittedly, I hate doing cardio but that aspect of things is by far the most important thing for me to address. Improving my stamina could go a long way in my goals.

Evolution isn't just about physical fitness. I have been trudging along playing part-time on various Mini-Tours here and in the United States. Yes, I am a professional that partakes in these events but I have at times felt like a phony. Mostly because I have never had initials following my name. It's amazing how a few little letters can play on your mind. In my case, it's almost been like an attack of the conscience. In my heart I know I am a professional (and a terrific teacher) and I have no problem looking at myself in the mirror in the morning. But because of the lack of letters I feel like my status is "half-assed" and it has placed a bullseye on my back to a few in the industry in the area. The cyber-bullying that I have gone through from employees (or their friends) of Golf Town  and even a representative industry of a manufacturer in the industry has been mind-blowing. Honestly, because of issues with said representative I would be hard-pressed to cover their products no matter how great their equipment is. Again the need for evolution. I made the decision to pursue becoming a Class "A" Member of the PGA of Canada. After I return home from the PGA Show my priority is to apply to become a "Candidate for Membership" of the PGA. A move that is necessary for me as it would make me more attractive to more golf positions and mentally.

Even my blogging efforts are going to be evolving. I have been experimenting with what I want as a product for my readers. I had my website (still do) but I haven't posted anything new there. If I could still track my traffic and other statistics I wouldn't even have this page. I think things have worked out well here but I just don't feel that it's where it could be. I'm thinking of more change which would involve a name change and the building of an entirely new site. I already have a name in mind and if I can find the right host and site builder for look for a change. My current domain is set to expire in 9 days. Ultimately, I would love to have a forum like so many of the big discussion boards and have that sort of clout with manufacturers which is slowly getting there. The question is... is a name change too risky? Food for thought.

Evolution can be fun and challenging. Ask yourself as we have a clean slate. What's your New Year's Evolution?

Until The Next Tee!

Grand Finale - The Last of '16

It really feels like we just turned the page on all of our calendars from 2015 to 2016. Now, we look up and in 6 hours here in the Eastern Time Zone we will be ringing in 2017. So let's look back on the year that was 2016.

While I did not play a lot of golf in 2016 it still was a year that I can look back on and have positive feelings. Although most of my golf was played before our golf season began (due to a warm and relatively snow-free winter) I was satisfied with how I played when I did get out. Never did I think that I's play golf on New Year's Day but to play in February was a real treat. Spring and Summer most of my play would halt due to long hours and drives to fulfill my role as the Director of Golf Services at Port Colborne Country Club. This can only help my golf resume down the road and I loved the course and it's membership. Unfortunately, we had to say good-bye to the course built in 1929 for financial reasons that were insurmountable. The course filed for bankruptcy, was put up for sale and was purchased by an outside party. Thankfully the course was purchased by "golf people" and it will not be bulldozed for real estate. So the course will remain under a new name (a suggestion that I made October 7th calling it Port Colborne Golf Club). As far as my future goes in all likelihood my tenure is over. That said, I recenntly made the decision to apply to be a Candidate for Membership with the PGA of Canada which is something that I've mulled over for considerable time.

From a blog standpoint I think my year was really good. First , I have to thank all of the companies and firms that took a chance on a "nobody" from Niagara Falls. Companies like Golf Marketing Services (Holly and Irlianna), Callaway Apparel, OnCore Golf, Swing Wizzard, KenRick Golf, Cradlz, Mary Beth Lacy, Miura, Carnoustie, SunIce, TaylorMade Golf (Canada), HoleOut, Lateral Line Putters and so many others. Without you I would have had no equipment to review. I am truly grateful for all of the opportunities. After my web hosting/building site failed to give me the services I paid for I made a tough situation to move everything to blogger. It's worked out very well and my page views in a short time with limited posts is better than I thought. Now I can see traffic and give companies numbers of views. Numbers that I need to possess in order to approach more golf companies to bring you (my readers) more products to review. Also special thanks go to CHASE 54 and TRUE Linkswear brands that I am a proud to wear and be part of. #ForThePursuit #teamTRUE

This year was a tough year in sports and entertainment. Yes the Chicago Cubs won the World Series and golf returned to the Olympics. Honestly, I never liked golf returning to the Olympics in Rio and it was for the very reason that has surfaced down there. It's a sport for the wealthy (especially down there) that is highly corrupt. so now the beautiful Gil Hanse (Mossy Oak Golf Course) layout sits there. Mostly unused. All of those dollars seemingly wasted. I just wish that golf would have waited until 2020 in Tokyo only because the industry is booming in that part of the world.  The world lost David Bowie, Prince, and Carrie Fisher just to name a few. But the passing of our King was real tough for me. The news that Mr. Arnold Palmer passed had the entire golfing community grief-stricken. No one person ever epitomized the game like Mr. Palmer. One of my heroes forever.

Photo Credit: USA Today

In closing, I just want to take the time a very safe and prosperous 2017. May your year be filled with happy memories and many birdies. Stay tuned everyone.

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Until The Next Tee!

Grit, Pain and Determination

Winter... a time to celebrate the holidays, snow, ice and cold appendages. For those not fortunate enough to reside in parts of the world where golf can be played year round it can be a down time. The time when you sadly put away your golf clubs but you fondly recollect the shots that you pulled off... when you shouldn't have. The memories of being the first one onto the course or the last one off of the course as the Pro Shop anxiously awaits his or her departure for the evening. But then there are others that look at this time of the year to focus and address issues. I definitely fall into the latter.

I recently made a determination that I had to commence a legitimate workout regimen. Or should I say make a lifestyle change. For the longest time I fell into a rut where I would sit here at my laptop, open up a big bag of potato chips and unceremoniously eat the entire bag. Recently, I had a doctor's appointment and I stepped on the scale. I was mortified to see that I was tipping the scales at 230 lbs. The heaviest I have been in about 20 years and I clearly said to the nurse "I'm fat!" to which she said I wasn't. So I started to think about joining a gym and I did. World Gym in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

I started a regimen that included daily cardio and core and alternating days between arms and legs. It didn't take long to start seeing some results as I was gaining strength and losing weight. The funny thing about golf is that it so much resembles life. You only get out of it what you put into it. I've been working out in an almost religious kind of way and I joke around that I'm in "Beast Mode". I've been counting carbs, eating more greens and I started to drink protein shakes twice a day.

But changes like this don't come without a little pain and fighting your way to accomplish something. Again... so much like life. The other day I was doing my cardio and I was clearly not having a good day where I was "feeling it". I was gassed after 5 minutes and I told myself push through five more minutes. So I did and then I told myself... how about another 5 minutes. Mission accomplished! Then before I knew it I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical. The longest, best cardio workout that I have had in a very long time if not ever. Always remember this... "if you hit a wall... climb it". There is nothing that we can't do if we are determined.

So yesterday happened. As it turns out December 18th would be a day where I recognized some serious areas improvement that needed to be addressed. If not for the sake of myself then for the golf game. I was "fanaggled" into taking part in a Yoga session when I was checking out the basketball court to shoot some hoops. The instructor talked me into it (I tried getting out of it when I said I didn't have a mat... she located one). Yoga, something that I have more or less avoided. I tried it once before and left the class after 20 minutes. Anyways, I learned something about myself and yoga yesterday. Actually, I learned two things. The first is that you break into a sweat doing yoga (never saw that one coming). Secondly, I thought that for my age I was flexible or just flexible in general. Oddly and bizarrely enough I learned that I'm not. I am about as limber as a cement wall. I had no clue that yoga would hurt. Folks, I had no clue I was this "tight". Getting into some of the positions yesterday took serious work. My hips are pretty much frozen. If there is one thing I have to improve for golf it is definitely my flexibility. I'm floored by this epiphany. The other thing is that my arms although not totally necessary for getting distance are definitely a muscle group that needs strengthening. Okay, maybe vanity plays a small part too!

The moral of the story is this. When it comes to living in northern climates and golf there truly is #NoOffSeason. Instead... identify and address your deficiencies. Set a goal and strive to be better. Your body, mind and game will appreciate it. By the way my goal was to drop 20 lbs by my birthday in January... as of today I have lost 9 lbs and I already feel lighter on my feet. All of this can only help. Besides, a reward after a good workout is tanning, hydro-massage and sauna time. Definitely well worth it.

Until The Next Tee!

It's Coming...

Oh boy... the time is drawing ever so closer. Almost time to start filling a big bag full of goodies and take to the skies. Now, one would think that with the Christmas/Holiday season upon us this automatically means that I'm referring to "Ole Santa". But I'm not! This time I am referring to myself. It's almost time to jump on a Southwest Airlines flight at Buffalo International Airport and fly down to Orlando, Florida for the 2017 installment of the PGA Merchandise Show. Four days of exploring all that is new, old and exciting in golf.

Photo Credit: trasemiller.com

At the time of writing I have appointments that are starting to line up in advance of the show. I'm looking forward to chatting with contacts I already have and contacts I have yet to make. Appointments to discuss products for testing and review. So what am I looking forward to? Well, first there is TaylorMade Golf. I am absolutely dying to see how the M range stacks up in comparison to the 2016 edition. Last year at the demo day I was blown away by the M2. The performance all-around in my eyes made the M1 (which I already had) look inferior.

Photo Credit: TaylorMade Golf

This past Friday, I found myself at a store that I have wanted to see for a long time. Located about 2.5 hours away in St. Thomas, Ontario sits a golf store and the golf products inside were the thing of legend. Old and new. While there, I happened to run into the regional representative of Callaway Golf and we know each other through the golfing circles. Golf shows and so on. He happened to have the new Epic range with him. The new Epic and Epic Sub Zero look amazing and I cannot wait to swing them. I saw the insides of them to see what makes them "tick" and my urge to swing those sticks became stronger. Due to an "embargo" currently in place I could not take any pictures. But they are sharp, look great at address and they also offer the Project X HZRDUS as a stock shaft. By the way, the new Steelhead XR irons are no slouch either.

Photo Credit: vertgolf.com

I am really looking forward to trying to set something up with Cobra Golf. I WILL be swinging the KING F7 ONE Length irons. I stumbled upon this notion many years back by accident when I screwed up my own re-shaft (I never knew it was a thing). But I love the principle behind it. There is definitely something about it that I like and really it does make a lot of sense. Last night on Twitter I was talking to Vertical Groove Golf and they will be having a presence at the show. They are a new company that is bringing out a new driver... this particular driver has vertical lines as opposed to the usual horizontal ones we usually see on drivers and such. As much as that intrigues me the crown does as well. It's sort of "dimpled" for what I figure equates to better aerodynamics. If you are familiar with aerospace or physics think "Bernoulli's Principle" and how it relates to air foils. Last year, I made friends with a gent named Greg from Reno, Nevada. He told me to visit a booth last year but I ran out of time. Ironically, this company started following me on Twitter and I look forward to having an in-depth look at Directed Force Putters. Other companies I cannot wait to see include the likes of Skechers Golf, CHASE 54 (#TEAM54), Longball, KenRick Golf and countless others.

Photo Credit: golfchannel.com

There is another company that I cannot wait to visit on the range and that is Wilson Golf. If my curiosity wasn't stoked before with the reality show Driver vs Driver it is now seeing that the design was deemed non-conforming by the USGA. The reason has to do with the sole plate on the retail on the 10.5* and 12* versions. The 9* version is conforming. Wilson Golf was quick to address this issue to customers who had already purchased this driver following the show but a few things come to mind. Before I begin please remember that I am a huge Wilson Golf fan. In a statement (which I will paraphrase) Wilson stated that due to the nature of the show and it's resulting confidentiality they had no time to send it away to the USGA for testing. Something about this really bugs me. That may well be true but there has to be some sort of tape delay from production, to the airing and on to the driver going to retail. Maybe I'm mistaken. The ensuing scramble by Wilson might be good "smoke and mirrors" to cover the faux pas. But for a company that struggles to sell drivers or have their own staff put their drivers into play this could be extremely hurtful and a very bad omen. Wilson has come a long way over the last several years. A company that had a stigma for years with golfers thinking that the brand had become a "box store brand". Something like this could sway golfers to lean another way when thinking about buying a new driver. Granted, as I stated in my post-show re-cap I think Wilson went out of their lane on the price point. Sure, Triton might be worth it but sitting on racks next to M2 or Epic in the same vicinity puts the Wilson product at a disadvantage.

Some readers might find my comments unfair and some are almost certainly to disagree with me. But I'm okay with that because I have no issue sharing my opinions. My mission statement for my blog and reviews was and always will be to speak my mind (and the total truth) on my views of golf products. It who I am and it is who I will be. Unbiased.

Until The Next Tee!

On the 15th Day of Christmas - Gift Ideas For Golfers

Ever so slowly the halls are getting decked and the chestnuts are roasting on an open fire. Even though we haven't really seen any true snow yet it's definitely starting to feel like the holiday season. With this particular season of course comes walking through crowded malls looking for the right gift. or do we? There is of course ordering goods on-line so you don't have to suffer afflictions like parking lot rage, mall hotness and the desire to scream at the individual that just ran their cart up into the back of your heels.

So you might have purchased the X Box One, the obligatory chocolates and Barbie. But now you find yourself needing a practical gift for the golfer in your life and you don't know where to begin. Well, sharing is caring and please let me offer some terrific golf gift ideas.

(As a person who has always been on a very tight budget I'm hoping to have all of my ideas under $50 USD)

OnCore Golf Avant -  Every golfer at one point or another needs golf balls. This company based in nearby Buffalo, NY is in the golf ball industry and they are starting to gain traction in the difficult golf ball industry. I had the pleasure of reviewing these golf balls and they have a lot to offer. Soft feel, long off of the tee, and they perform well around the greens. Available in white and optic yellow these golf balls offer the best "bang for the golfer buck". You can order these golf balls from http://www.oncoregolf.com/ for $20 USD. (OnCore is also offering holiday bundles as well.)

Thirty6ix Golf Company - I love golf and I love to wear golf fashion. However, be as it may I don't like to lounge around in golf apparel all day. Golf lifestyle brand Thirty6ix Golf can help you. The Toronto, Ontario based brand offers everything. If you're looking for headwear, fleece, t-shirts, tank tops, or accessories than look no further. All of their prices are in Canadian dollars which could make this brand very attractive to golfers south of the 49th parallel. Everything on the site is $54.99 CAD or less. Check them out at https://36golfco.com/

SwingClick Golf - A key to a great golf swing is tempo. When our tempo and timing is on our ball striking improves and the game gets just a little more easier. Tempo is a hard thing to learn. That is until SwingClick came on the scene. By strapping the SwingClick Golf device to your lead forearm golfers quickly ingrain tempo and timing. With aid coming audibly golfers will hear three clicks. One is at the top of the swing. The first click will be at the top of the swing where you feel like you have paused. You haven't though... you're still moving but you have now transferred your weight. The second click will be at impact and the third is at the finish. You can use the SwingClick in your house when the snow is flying. No down time. The SwingClick Plus is offered in blue, orange, purple and red. They can be purchased at http://swingclickgolf.com/ for $35 USD.

Cradlz Smart Phone Holster - I recently posted a review on this product. It is a simple, effective tool that can be used almost everywhere for every activity. Golfers in particular like it because they can attach their smart phone in the Cradlz device and get video of their swing. The flexible tripod attaches to nearly anything and is also easy to assemble and store in the golf bag. By taking video and using software like free V1 Sports analysis software you can begin to see where your faults are. Or better yet... you can see why you pured that iron. Each device is $29.99 USD Check out Cradlz at http://www.cradlz.com/

Snap-Hookz Golf - This highly functional accessory is the brainchild of Derek Queener down in lovely Clearwater, Florida. Instead of digging around the pockets of your golf bag you can attach Snap-Hookz using the snaps on the golf bag and keep your gloves, tee bags etc a mere reach away. The webbing used comes in a variety of colors and designs. Also, not to be forgotten there is complete customization available. Each Snap-Hookz costs $17.99 USD. For dog lovers they also offer collars and leashes as well. Please visit https://snaphookzgolf.com/ for more information.

Tee Claw - I love this product. Not only are they extremely affordable but their uses are literally countless. If you haven't seen this product John Black is the mastermind behind the product. Are you stuck hitting off of mats in the winter teeing up the ball on a rubber tee? I know I used to be before Tee Claw and there is no going back ever again. With Tee Claw you can "practice like you play" and kiss rubber tees/tubes good-bye. Twist a Tee Claw into the mats commonly found at the range or dome and stick your usual tee into the hole. The claws grip the carpet or turf and by using a second claw and one lanyard (included) you not only have a fool-proof set-up for practice but you now also have an alignment aid going down your toe line. Each pack comes with 3 tees (different lengths), 4 lanyards and 3 Tee Claws. When they were $14.95 USD each pack I though they were a steal but after visiting their site they are now $8.99 USD. Visit http://teeclaw.com/ for more information.

HoleOut Golf - If there is one company that understands practical it is California based HoleOut Golf. The brand offers "Absurdly Functional" product for golfers. These products are everything from the Anti-Sway Pro which helps eliminate the worst swing fault there is... "the sway". To the HoleOut Pro which by using the "HoleOut Method" will help you make more putts on the green. The brand also features the PerfecTee which is the most durable tee I have ever seen to the PerfecTowel which offers golfers the perfect towel to have as an accessory. The towel can clip onto your bag or hang off of your pants pocket and offers a wet and dry portion. All of their products have been outstanding in my testing and have garnered tremendous marks from me. To check out their entire line-up please visit https://holeout.com/collections/the-holeout-product-suite Prices range from $5.99 to $49.95 USD but they offer the HoleOut Sweet Suite which includes four of their products for $89.95 USD

AntiSway in picture is longer in production.

Well I hope that this little guide comes in handy and makes your golf shopping a little easier. Happy shopping.

Until The Next Tee!

Comeback(s)

Well folks it finally happened. After months of wondering when I'm returning to golf there is finally an answer. Yep... I bet you weren't expecting this beginning at all. For some time I had been mulling over a decision to walk away from the game altogether. A game that I love and am very passionate about. The reality is that I love that everything golf is and that it has to offer... it's humbling, beautiful, rewarding and maddening all at the same time. So many of the people involved in the game are very good people and part of what I liked so much about my position of Director of Golf Services this year at Port Colborne Country Club was the banter from said people around the shop or clubhouse.

November 14th Session

Seeing that this time of the year is the "off-season" of golf in these parts of the world there truly is no off-season for some. I fall into the latter category especially with my epiphany of not wanting to quit golf. The truth is that what I really crave is to play golf and more to the point play in competition. With the PGA Show coming up in Orlando (MCO) at the end of January I was going to use the time to play in a Mini-Tour event or two. Now as it appears for the moment my schedule in Orlando isn't going to mesh with the Moonlight Tour (which is a segment of the OGA Tour). There is an event that I could play in the day of departure but making my flight out of MCO could prove a little dicey.

Knowing that spring will inevitably arrive at the end of what is supposed to be a long, snowy winter there will be events to play in somewhere. Whether it's on the NGA Great Lakes Tour (where I've previously embarrassed myself with poor scores and an unfinished golf swing) or a Mini-Tour like the Michigan Players Tour I know I have a ton of work to do to prepare. I'm pretty much in a sort of golf "No Man's Land" being a soon-to-be 45 year old trying to compete against 23 year old "kids". Although, I have been a little inspired by the recent successes of Padraig Harrington and Anders Hansen. The tender age of 50 seems light years away. There has been a part of me that has thought about relinquishing my status and returning to Amateur golf. The reasons are many but among them are the lower costs of events and it might be a more suitable place to build a playing resume.

Lower Body work out. Leg Press. Note CHASE 54 #ForThePursuit

No matter where I end up I am re-dedicating myself to a new fitness and practice regimen. I recently joined World Gym in Niagara Falls and I am quickly turning into a "gym rat". Part of the motivation here is a piece I saw in "Golf Tips Magazine" where Canadian Women's Long Drive Champion Lisa Vlooswyk talked about how the lower body, core and flexibility play more of a part in generating more distance. A tool that I need to compete with the afore-mentioned kids. I am alternating leg and arms days with cardio and flexibility being worked on daily. Recently, I stepped on a scale and was mortified to see me weighing in at a fat 230 lbs. Of course, after the fact I saw my swing on video and I was distracted by my gut. A urgent sense of change took over immediately. Practice on the range has been fairly regular as well regardless of our ever-changing weather patterns. It went from 60's to 30's in the blink of an eye... oh and the cold rain too. But, practice must be had and the grind is a part of the game's beauty too.

Photo Credit: Calgary Herald

As it turns out we saw another comeback proclaimed this week. One that is barely more popular than mine and one that has been received by the masses. Finally, after months of close calls Tiger Woods is back in a small field event. In tropical New Providence, Bahamas Tiger made his return in the Hero World Challenge. Of course the tournament is ongoing but the golf world was ecstatic to see his return. I liked watching his first swing and it is maybe a little "alien" to see him swinging  TaylorMade Golf M2 woods after years playing products with a "swoosh". He's also gaming a Scotty Cameron putter and playing Bridgestone Golf B330S golf balls. As alien as it is... it is also refreshing and exciting and I like exciting. There were pundits around golf journalism that suggested he would finish last in the field this week. His opening 73 was even more ammunition for pundits like Brandel Chamblee to criticize him. While I'm not a Tiger lover... Chamblee is (as far as I am concerned) a Tiger hater. Oh... jealousy is a sick and ugly monster. Then today happens... Tiger posts a 65. Saturday should be a fun day to watch as Tiger is paired with Rickie Fowler. I don't know what will happen in the end but love him or hate him it's great seeing Tiger back. He sells tickets and increases television ratings which is all very good for golf.

Photo Credit: pgatour.com

It's always fun watching a comeback. Whether it's Tiger Woods or some fat kid who's been through Hell and back all the while being trolled the entire time. I cannot wait to peg it up again. God! I love this game.

Until The Next Tee!

Triton Wins But... Oh The Cost

If there is one thing about having my blog it really gives me the chance to speak my mind and express my point of view on issues. I mean  I can do it on Facebook or Twitter as well but, how do you really convey your point in 160 characters? It's possible sure but being concise concise can be difficult. Then again, no matter what things can definitely get lost in translation.

This article is really an unplanned follow-up to my last article (The New Trend) which was basically about companies crowdsourcing to come up with ideas for the next great thing. Personally, I think it's a great idea for the golf industry and in particular club manufacturers to take part in. Namely because not everybody swings like Jason Day, Lisa Vlooswyk, Rory McIlroy or 2016 World Long Drive Champion Joe Miller. In fact the average club player is lucky to break a clubhead speed of  90 mph. But therein lies the rub. The reality is that the golf companies cannot make everyone happy because it's just not in our human nature to agree with everybody. Variety is the spice of life right?

Photo Credit: Golf Channel

Personally speaking I love what The Golf Channel and Wilson Golf did with their reality show Driver vs Driver. The premise was great and the concept was fun and ultimately the winner ended up being the product that I didn't care for... strictly from an aesthetics point of view. The Triton driver designed by Eric Sillies emerged the winner. Remember my statement above about not making everyone happy? A perfect segue. Initially, I liked the Triton but then I saw the alignment aid and thought that it was too busy. Furthermore, I really preferred the looks of the Pivot but really hated the name. Anyways, shortly after the winner was announced out came word on the pricing of said driver. Holy... perfect segue number 2. The Wilson Staff Triton will be retailing at $449.99 USD. Honestly, when I think of drivers that price I never think about Wilson Staff. I think of Titleist, Callaway, PING, and TaylorMade. Could the pricing of the Triton kill sales before it even has a chance? Especially in Canada?

Photo Credit: wilson.com

It's very possible that this could be the case. From where I stand Wilson does not have a huge following up here and with that lack of a following also comes lack of market share. But now there is another problem with the pricing. Now you have to factor in the exchange rate. That same $449.99 USD translates into $607 CAD based on today's exchange rate. Now you factor in the taxes so now you have a driver that will be sold at retail stores for approximately $599.99. Now add the 13% Harmonized Sales Tax and suddenly Triton will sell for $685.91 CAD. Not just in Canada but but worldwide. Will people look at Triton with that price tag and give it a shot instead of a new Titleist or Callaway with the same price tag? The reality and fear is that golf is likely the most vane sport on the planet. Wilson... I sincerely hope that every golfer on your staff plays it because you are going to need as much positive publicity as possible to move this driver off of the shelves. Especially with the strong history of your tour players not playing your drivers. But I sincerely hope that the masses give Triton a shot because I have said for a few years now that Wilson and Cobra Golf have been the biggest movers and shakers in the industry from a club design standpoint. Furthermore, I have also stated that if Wilson's clubs had a Chevron or T stamped on them they would be the number 1 selling brand. Both companies have massive upsides and I have always had a soft spot for Wilson. Glowing unbiased reviews could play a role in the success of Triton as well which is something that I could do if the product deemed such positive reviews.

If the producers and Wilson made a mistake with the show it was that they didn't really have any club golfers or non-professional athletes swinging the clubs. Unless of course this was done behind the scenes. Club golfers make up most of the sales in the golf industry and those sales are partially what pays the endorsement dollars for the Padraig's and Streelman's of the world. Most of these golfers don't have swings like Eric Gagne, Derek Lowe, Kevin Millar, and Tim Brown. What were some of the drives... 320 carry?

Photo Credit: greekmythology.com

Honestly, the 2017 PGA Show will not come soon enough because my curiosity about this driver is killing me. Will the Triton be plenty good enough to sway people away from the"Big Boys" or will it end up submerged like the mythological Greek God? Only time and people's wallets will tell.

Until The Next Tee!

The New Trend

It's been a revolutionary time in the world as of late. No matter who you are and who you voted for in the American Presidential election the winds of change are a blowing. Golf is no different. With the changing of the seasons from the emerald green that is summer to the wintry white of winter we see new developments and trends within the golf industry.

Remember way back to when TaylorMade and  Adams Golf first came out with their first ever adjustable drivers? To this day I preferred the 430Q over the R7. Yes, I didn't know much about golf at the time as I was an infant back then as far as golf knowledge and play went. Then the golf world was amazed with the use of carbon fiber in the crowns of drivers,,, if my concussion-plagued memory serves me well I believe it was the Callaway Golf ERC Fusion that launched that trend. Of course, how can we forget (even though we should) the age of the square driver? The "green bell pepper on a stick" and with that comes to mind companies like Nickent and Nike (yes Callaway was in there too). Wilson Staff had their time back then as well with the Spine. Then TaylorMade astonished the world with a white-headed atrocity that I legitimately hated when it came out. I came around eventually and just as I got over the white heads out came Cobra Golf and their colourful range of products to suit the like of young stars like Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson. In fact, one of the reasons why I love going down to the PGA Show is to see the new trends that the industry is leaning towards or experimenting with. Trends... it's some thing that the golf industry needs and quite honestly it needs to experiment with. With the much talked about decline in the industry which I'm not particularly convinced of the companies need to think a little outside of the box.

Photo Credit: Wilson/Amer Sports

As I am writing this entry it's nearly 8 pm EST and Golf Channel is about 2 hours away from the finale of Driver vs Driver. As most of us around golf are aware of it's a reality show where Wilson Staff has given the opportunity to people from a variety of walks of life to design their newest driver. Hundreds of applicants applied and in a way I regret not giving it a shot because I have had ideas flowing through my head about what would make a great driver. Oh well. Of course as I write this I have no clue what the winning product will be between the finalists which are designs called Triton and Pivot respectively. Initially, I wort of liked the Triton but after browsing the http://www.wilson.com/en-us/golf website I decided that there was a lot more that I liked about the Pivot. Nicer aesthetics, more traditional head and a deeper face. Whereas the Triton in my opinion is too darn busy. Either way, both of the finalists from sound bites that I've head sound much better than their previous offerings like the FG Tour M3 (I mentioned my strong dislike of the acoustics of the M3 to Rick Hulock) and even last years FG Tour F5 which sort of left me feeling "ho hum" last year. I've long been a fan of the brand (miss my Pi5 irons to this day) and I have always hated the fact that their staff players have not played their drivers... although I think Padraig Harrington played the Pd5. But I love the fact that Wilson went outside of the box to create a product and consequently a show in this manner. It's been exciting... like the moment before Brian Urlacher would punish an opposing quarterback into the ground. Huge kudos Wilson!!

Photo Credit: Golf Channel

Wilson however is not the only golf manufacturer to travel down this less traveled road. Even though I have never made a swing with a Bombtech Golf  they were one company that was very active on social media when it came to the development of their Grenade driver and range of woods and wedges. Owner Tyler Sullivan had ideas and asked people if they liked a certain option or asked specifically what people wanted. I was very active in this phase of their products development. Another company, OnCore Golf recently was very active in this facet of product development. They sent out a survey to their database looking for input on the design of their next product. A tour ball. They wanted input of preferences regarding feel to cost. Of course, I filled out the survey being the responsible golf writer that I am. I really applaud OnCore Golf as they are trying to make a tour ball "for the people... by the people".

Crowdsourcing. Could this be the new trend to give golfers what they want? Could this be the "fix" for the industry in a time of an apparent downturn in sales? Time will tell.

Until The Next Tee!