I am very fortunate to have so many manufacturers in the golf industry give me the opportunity to test and review their products. Some of the companies are pretty big while others are just in their infant stages. To be totally frank, it really doesn't matter to me who they are I'm just very appreciative of their collective generosity. But with every testing comes a story and this piece is definitely no different.
Not too long ago, I wrote OnCore Golf about testing some of their golf balls. The company headquartered in nearby Buffalo, NY obliged by giving me the chance to test out their new Avant golf ball. If you aren't familiar with the brand, OnCore introduced the world's only Hollow Metal Core golf ball and are also the title sponsor of the OnCore Gateway Tour. Seeing that I'm still very much in the testing phase of this golf ball I won't divulge much about it right now. There will be a review coming to alexandertothgolf.com The Home of Organic Golf Reviews.
In Niagara our winter been freakishly warm thanks to that little Spanish fellow El Nino and as unnatural as it is "he" brought some seriously nice golf weather this week. Considering the amount of snow we were shoveling at this time last year being able to go golfing is one thing. But it's an entirely different animal when you can go golfing wearing no sweater on your upper body and wear just a polo in March. It was 20*C/68*F (have to include the exchange rate) the other day and it wasn't much cooler the day before. So I used both days as an opportunity to play and get some testing done. Testing included the aforementioned Avant and as that testing was just beginning I was wrapping up testing on the SeeMore Putters Corona Del Mar (so that review will be out shortly). I started out my round en fuego as I was paired up with three other golfers. I went Eagle, Birdie, Par, Birdie to start and now I'm thinking... "Uh oh I peaked too soon". So the testing of the Avant was going well... I'm hitting greens and I'm hitting fairways. Heck...I'm getting impressed with the Avant and as far as the SeeMore goes,.. I honestly feel like any putt will fall when it's in my hands. I was "rolling the rock" so well. Then the final hole happened.
After nailing a drive down the right side on the 9th hole I hit my approach a little too long. I watched my ball hit the fringe at the back of the green and watched it slowly settle down the hill. No worries I thought to myself as I walked up to the green... chip and a putt right? Well, as I was approaching where my ball was (or should have been) there was a black squirrel slinking away. Now, as God as my witness... I could have sworn I saw a "white nut" in the rodents mouth. I just sort of shook my head as if I was trying to clear the cobwebs out of my head. Had I really seen what I thought I saw? Then I realize that my ball is messing. So now I'm scouring the area searching... looking... and looking more...then nada. No ball! Don't worry, I didn't spend much time at all looking as I normally don't during casual rounds. But, the little son of a gun stole my ball and there is a little bit of me that thinks there is a tree behind the green that is chock full 'o' balls. "Curses black vermin!!!!"At any rate, I finished up my round, walked to my awaiting chariot, loaded up my clubs and went home... happy.
Until the next tee.
Friday, 11 March 2016
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Willett Wears Callaway
Hello Readers
I just wanted to share a press release regarding Callaway Golf Apparel and rising star Danny Willett. Keep an eye out for another young gun seriously on the verge. Having had the opportunity to wear Callaway Golf Apparel I can vouch that the brand is utterly fantastic. Recently, I wrote an article on a layering piece called the "Outlast" and the piece was fantastic... I wore it today while playing March Golf in Niagara. Click on the link below to be directed to it.
http://www.alexandertothgolf.com/apps/forums/topics/show/13317104-callaway-golf-apparel-outlast?page=last
Danny Willett finished in a share of third at the WGC-Cadillac Championship after a final round of 69.
He finished a shot back with a superb display in Doral that was his third top-three finish in his last five World Golf Championship events.
Danny moves up to 11th in the Official World Golf Rankings and leads The Race to Dubai.
Danny Willett stepped out on course on Sunday wearing Callaway Apparel's Opti Vent Polo in the new Asphalt colour for Spring Summer 2016 and the Bright White X Range Technical Trouser with our new SS16 Cut To Fit Chev Belt.
Who wears Callaway? #IWearCallaway
callawayapparel.com
Monday, 7 March 2016
Judgement
You know... as I sit here I'm thinking about a few things that happened in recent times. It's always so easy to pass judgement from behind a computer screen on something that happens to someone else. To pass judgment on something that somebody might be without truly knowing who or what they are. It's happened to me over social media and with that I say that social media is both a blessing and a curse. Without it, the likelihood of me sitting here expressing my feelings or views for people to read would be very low. My website.... and opportunities that have arisen from it would in likelihood never have happened either. I'm not suggesting for a second that I have never cast a stone because that would be a bald-faced lie. So what's prompted this... outburst or rant?
Well, it was something that I saw on Facebook that was on the Golf Channel feed. In an article covered by Rex Hoggard (without getting into the meat of his piece) Mr. Hoggard wrote about Bubba Watson in this past weekend's WGC Cadillac Championship held at Trump National Doral - Blue Monster Course won by Adam Scott. On Bubba's final hole while getting ready to tee off Bubba backed off of the shot not once but three times. When asked about it afterwards Bubba stated "I'm going to go with this. I'm just a head case and I had to back off to get refocused" and then he followed that statement up with "I'm going to get blasted if I say what the true answer is..." Why? What could be so bad that he could not tell the truth about what really happened out there? So bad that he had to concoct a reason that consisted of terms like "get the cobwebs out" and "head case". I could speculate here. Depression, Autism Spectrum Disorder who really knows? Certainly not I. But I will just say that we don't know who or what Bubba is. We just go by what we see on the television whether it's a one on one with "Feherty" or we just see a long hitting golfer with an imaginative short game whom many refer to as... and I quote "Douchebag". While never referring to him as that adjective, I have referred to him as a "villain" and a real life "Shooter McGavin". While not being a "Bubba Basher" I am by no means a "Bubba Booster". That said, when I met him in Orlando he was a different guy than the guy who lashes out at his caddie which ultimately leads to the #PrayForTedScott hashtag on social media during golf telecasts.
It's so easy for us to judge and it is one of mankinds lesser qualities. While watching golf on a Sunday many don't truly comprehend the pressure that these guys play under. A couple of years back, Kevin Na was the proverbial whipping boy. Remember when he was going through the "pauses and whiffs"? No doubt it irritated his playing partners because it really pissed off many viewers and of course commentators like Johnny Miller. But how in the world do we not know if he was going through a swing change? As a guy who has played in competition during swing changes (albeit poorly) it isn't easy. If one feeling doesn't feel quite right or one swing gives you a poor result suddenly all of the "little demons" come flowing back... and you aren't trusting the swing at all. So now you're searching... it's a really fricking hard proposition.
Here's another example. Ready for some potential controversy? Tiger Woods. Remember when everyone was asking "What's wrong with Tiger?" Of course, this was post "the incident" and "post-Elin". All of these guys are playing and living in a "crucible dish" where all eyes are on them to pass judgment... and then there's Tiger. When was the last time you saw TMZ do a piece on anyone? Maybe there was a DJ/Paulina story but other than that? I fail to come up with one at this time. But Tiger? Wow! Now I admit that I don't condone his "actions" of the past and who is to say that I'm wrong or right in my convictions? How do we know that while Tiger was having the "chipping yips" and "full swing dry heaves" there weren't more important things going on outside of golf like... custody hearings? The truth is that we don't know, but for a golfer of Tiger's legend to become what he did... you have to know that something wasn't right.
Again, I'm not claiming to be some "Dudley Do Gooder" because I have been guilty of passing judgement as well. But remember as you pass judgement there might be ongoing issues in one's head that nobody else is aware of.
Until the next tee.
Well, it was something that I saw on Facebook that was on the Golf Channel feed. In an article covered by Rex Hoggard (without getting into the meat of his piece) Mr. Hoggard wrote about Bubba Watson in this past weekend's WGC Cadillac Championship held at Trump National Doral - Blue Monster Course won by Adam Scott. On Bubba's final hole while getting ready to tee off Bubba backed off of the shot not once but three times. When asked about it afterwards Bubba stated "I'm going to go with this. I'm just a head case and I had to back off to get refocused" and then he followed that statement up with "I'm going to get blasted if I say what the true answer is..." Why? What could be so bad that he could not tell the truth about what really happened out there? So bad that he had to concoct a reason that consisted of terms like "get the cobwebs out" and "head case". I could speculate here. Depression, Autism Spectrum Disorder who really knows? Certainly not I. But I will just say that we don't know who or what Bubba is. We just go by what we see on the television whether it's a one on one with "Feherty" or we just see a long hitting golfer with an imaginative short game whom many refer to as... and I quote "Douchebag". While never referring to him as that adjective, I have referred to him as a "villain" and a real life "Shooter McGavin". While not being a "Bubba Basher" I am by no means a "Bubba Booster". That said, when I met him in Orlando he was a different guy than the guy who lashes out at his caddie which ultimately leads to the #PrayForTedScott hashtag on social media during golf telecasts.
It's so easy for us to judge and it is one of mankinds lesser qualities. While watching golf on a Sunday many don't truly comprehend the pressure that these guys play under. A couple of years back, Kevin Na was the proverbial whipping boy. Remember when he was going through the "pauses and whiffs"? No doubt it irritated his playing partners because it really pissed off many viewers and of course commentators like Johnny Miller. But how in the world do we not know if he was going through a swing change? As a guy who has played in competition during swing changes (albeit poorly) it isn't easy. If one feeling doesn't feel quite right or one swing gives you a poor result suddenly all of the "little demons" come flowing back... and you aren't trusting the swing at all. So now you're searching... it's a really fricking hard proposition.
Here's another example. Ready for some potential controversy? Tiger Woods. Remember when everyone was asking "What's wrong with Tiger?" Of course, this was post "the incident" and "post-Elin". All of these guys are playing and living in a "crucible dish" where all eyes are on them to pass judgment... and then there's Tiger. When was the last time you saw TMZ do a piece on anyone? Maybe there was a DJ/Paulina story but other than that? I fail to come up with one at this time. But Tiger? Wow! Now I admit that I don't condone his "actions" of the past and who is to say that I'm wrong or right in my convictions? How do we know that while Tiger was having the "chipping yips" and "full swing dry heaves" there weren't more important things going on outside of golf like... custody hearings? The truth is that we don't know, but for a golfer of Tiger's legend to become what he did... you have to know that something wasn't right.
Again, I'm not claiming to be some "Dudley Do Gooder" because I have been guilty of passing judgement as well. But remember as you pass judgement there might be ongoing issues in one's head that nobody else is aware of.
Until the next tee.
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Winds of Change
Good Morning!!!
I realize that for many of my readers it will not be morning by the time this "Sunday Brunch Edition" of Organic Golf piece is launched. Much like playing golf, my writing isn't about the future but it's more about staying in the moment... so morning it is and shall be. Often, when I sit down at the laptop to write I don't have the foggiest clue what I'm going to write about or where the inspiration comes from. Sometimes, my inspiration comes from watching a golf event on the television (I think Adam Scott will go back to back this week) and sometimes it's a tidbit that I catch in my travels on social media. Other times, I could be in a place like the shower, my bed or in the case of today's piece... outside while walking the dog.
Strange you think? Maybe so, but I had a moment of clarity while out with my Black Labrador Retriever (Muskoka) on our morning walk (we escorted the Mrs. to work today). I debated what to wear before leaving the house for our walk when I thought that I'll just put on my Bass Pro Shops hoodie (have to stick to my roots), my Mossy Oak lounge pants (see pajamas) and 2GG baseball cap. So off we went and before I hit the corner of my street I felt it. Warmth! The sun felt warm. So as golfers, we all know what that means the winds of change and the seasons are changing. More importantly however, golf season is fast approaching and of course that also signifies that The Masters is also around the corner. I'm sort of bitter about The Masters this year but I'll save that bit for another time. Now I don't want to sound like the starfish in "Finding Nemo" (when their plan goes awry to escape the aquarium) but I couldn't help but notice that... the sun was warmer, the sky was brighter, the birds were chirping a little louder and the smell of muddy grass infiltrated my nostrils.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nflQ_u_VzE
Before we all know it, we'll be heading to our respective courses (I have a new course which I am now the Director of Golf Services at) and we'll be greeted with the sound of golf balls being struck, a chorus of "Fore" reverberating through the air, greenskeepers merrily going about their business on their mowers and with that... the fresh, sweet dewy fragrance that is freshly mowed grass. Sounds, sights and smells that are all part of the organic game that is golf. The forecast here in Niagara looks fantastic this week and our formerly chilling wind will be turning into a more mild breeze. The "winds of change". Embrace them.
Until the next tee.
I realize that for many of my readers it will not be morning by the time this "Sunday Brunch Edition" of Organic Golf piece is launched. Much like playing golf, my writing isn't about the future but it's more about staying in the moment... so morning it is and shall be. Often, when I sit down at the laptop to write I don't have the foggiest clue what I'm going to write about or where the inspiration comes from. Sometimes, my inspiration comes from watching a golf event on the television (I think Adam Scott will go back to back this week) and sometimes it's a tidbit that I catch in my travels on social media. Other times, I could be in a place like the shower, my bed or in the case of today's piece... outside while walking the dog.
My 4 yr old Muskoka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nflQ_u_VzE
Before we all know it, we'll be heading to our respective courses (I have a new course which I am now the Director of Golf Services at) and we'll be greeted with the sound of golf balls being struck, a chorus of "Fore" reverberating through the air, greenskeepers merrily going about their business on their mowers and with that... the fresh, sweet dewy fragrance that is freshly mowed grass. Sounds, sights and smells that are all part of the organic game that is golf. The forecast here in Niagara looks fantastic this week and our formerly chilling wind will be turning into a more mild breeze. The "winds of change". Embrace them.
Still can't believe this was December 24th
Thursday, 3 March 2016
To Weight or Not To Weight
I bet after reading this title some of you may have thought that this might be a little bit of a Billy Shakespeare parody. Truth be told, when I sat down to write this article I already had an idea of what I was going write about. This is pretty far from the usual because usually I just sit at the laptop and everything comes from out of nowhere. My idea about this article really stemmed from a couple of things. The PGA Merchandise Show, a recent conversation with a CPGA Master Professional (whom I educated about Srixon) and my first set of legit clubs. Those irons ironically are the only ones that have had a long tenure in my bag. What's the correlation between the three things? Would you believe swing weight?
Every year while in Orlando for the show I always take advantage of swinging golf clubs that I normally don't have a chance to swing. We've seen the golf industry go from extremes when it comes to helping golfers achieve their longest attainable distances. How has the industry achieved this? Well through massive R&D budgets that discovered new technology. Things like Doppler (launch monitors), going from "heavy metal" to lightweight materials like Titanium and carbon fiber. The quest for distance has really turned into a quest for speed. Speed... is it truly where distance comes from? Speed... that is pretty much the mantra this year for Callaway Golf and their XR line of woods.
It really makes you wonder how the stars of yesteryear did it. When stars like Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carner, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and so many others were winning tournaments with Balata and persimmon while achieving decent distance back then. The late great Canadian Moe Norman is a terrific example of this... all of his clubs swing weighted at E-3 (an average stock iron now has a swing weight of D-1 currently) and his driver weighed 16 ounces!!! Unreal. Getting back to me personally and those first legit irons. They were my stalwart Wilson Staff Pi5 irons and the irons were D-6, my wedges D-9. Heavy I suppose, but they did a couple of things for me. Chief among them was that they allowed me to really feel the head through impact. Also, the overall weight of the club allowed me to feel them throughout the entire swing and I was half as smart as I like to think I am... I would do the same with my current irons. I remember I had a set of Callaway Golf wedges and I had to add 13 1" strips of lead tape to get the 56* right and 14 strips to get the 60* right. So is light a bad thing?
I don't necessarily think that lightweight clubs are bad. I think for some if not most golfers it's a good thing. I mean there is a reason why all of the manufacturers have invested so much time and energy into researching the ultralight game. If you can handle the lightweight clubs and you don't sacrifice control to pick up a little bit of clubhead speed then it's fine. But if you lose control for that clubhead speed and you punish yourself by going out of bounds or missing the fairway and laying in the heavy rough have you really done yourself a favour?
When it comes to driver technology this year, I think one company got it right with their one model of club. Srixon Golf. Srixon Golf introduced their Z 355 range of woods and when I picked it up in Orlando I knew that something was different about it right away. Mass... the driver had head mass. When I made swings with it at Demo Day I never saw a drop off in distance and as a matter of fact I had a better tempo which resulted in better and more consistent contact with the sweetspot. More control... yes that was there as well. It wasn't until the final day of the show when I made swings with the Z 355 again and learned that the swingweight was a D-8. Alas.. a company that re-explored technology and made something old... new again. I have no concrete data to back it up but from a standpoint of being logical... doesn't it only make sense that a heavier head would allow a shaft to work more? Kick more? Allow you... the golfer to have the shaft work for you and not you work the club? Tempo is really a rallying crying surrounding the golf swing.
Ultimately, it all boils down to personal preference. If you're newer to the game or only know light clubs do yourself a service and explore a little more head weight. You may like the result. So the question is.... to weight or not to weight.
Until the next tee.
Every year while in Orlando for the show I always take advantage of swinging golf clubs that I normally don't have a chance to swing. We've seen the golf industry go from extremes when it comes to helping golfers achieve their longest attainable distances. How has the industry achieved this? Well through massive R&D budgets that discovered new technology. Things like Doppler (launch monitors), going from "heavy metal" to lightweight materials like Titanium and carbon fiber. The quest for distance has really turned into a quest for speed. Speed... is it truly where distance comes from? Speed... that is pretty much the mantra this year for Callaway Golf and their XR line of woods.
Photo Credit: wsj.com
I don't necessarily think that lightweight clubs are bad. I think for some if not most golfers it's a good thing. I mean there is a reason why all of the manufacturers have invested so much time and energy into researching the ultralight game. If you can handle the lightweight clubs and you don't sacrifice control to pick up a little bit of clubhead speed then it's fine. But if you lose control for that clubhead speed and you punish yourself by going out of bounds or missing the fairway and laying in the heavy rough have you really done yourself a favour?
Photo Credit: expeditionexchange.com
Ultimately, it all boils down to personal preference. If you're newer to the game or only know light clubs do yourself a service and explore a little more head weight. You may like the result. So the question is.... to weight or not to weight.
Until the next tee.
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