Amber Prange - Touring Professional Interview

(photo property of Play Golf Designs - copyrighted)

Bushwood Country Club is proud to share with the membership our FIRST tour pro interview. However, our first one is not just any interview - it is a special one with a young lady named Amber Prange, who is playing on the Duramed Futures Tour this year. You will remember Amber from the latest installment of "The Big Break" on The Golf Channel. Amber is not only a very talented golfer, she is also a budding business woman who was gracious enough to spend some time with us this week. So, without further adieu, here's Amber....

1. Tell us a little about yourself – age, hometown, where you live now,college, etc. I'm 24 years old, and grew up in Noblesville, Indiana (Go Colts !!!). I played collegiate golf at the University of Washington for four years, and graduated with a degree in Communications, with a minor in Business Marketing. I now split my time between Noblesville, Orlando, and wherever the Tour takes me.

2. What are your goals for 2009 ? My goals for 2009 changed a bit based on my experiences in my rookie year on tour. For this year, I am placing much less pressure on myself, and will be focusing on 2 areas: First, Play one shot at a time – focusing on the moment. Second, Play my best every time out, and finish as high as possible in each event.
3. How many events do you plan to play in 2009 ? I want to play as many as possible. The Duramed Futures Tour has 16 scheduled events, and I need to play well early to qualify for as many as I can. Regaining my full-time status is a key objective for me this year.
4. What part of your game are you working the hardest on ? Distance off the tee is the main area I am focusing on – I have always been able to hit the ball accurately off the tee, and my iron play and short game are good – but gaining an extra 15-20 yards is something I am working really hard on. I've been working on improving my core strength and conditioning this of season, and I am happy with my progress – I am in the best shape of my life.
5. How were you introduced to golf ? Golf has been a part of my family since I was born – My dad and his family are all avid golfers – counting 5 PGA professionals among them. Early on, I was not a huge golf fan – but in my early teens it really began to click for me and I developed a real passion for it.
6. What's in your bag ? I am a big fan of Ping clubs – I play the G-10 driver, fairway woods and hybrids. My irons are Ping I-10's, which I love, and my wedges are the Ping Tour series. My putter is a Yes! Tracy – the folks at Yes! Golf are incredible supporters of the Duramed Tour (shout out to Glenn at Yes! Golf- your rock…). My ball is the Titleist Pro v1
7. So we have to ask, How do you mark YOUR Titleist ? I mark my balls with little dots around the number to look like a flower.
8. Tell us about your work with Play Golf Designs – what is involved in that ? Play Golf Designs is an incredible company that I work with. They are based in Las Vegas, and offer golfers the ability to book a complete package at the best courses in the area. Packages include golf with one or more of the Professional golfers on the staff at PGD (including me), and it provides a great opportunity to meet and get to know the pro's the PGD roster. For us, it is a great chance to network with people who are passionate about golf and meet our fans.
9. What has been you most memorable experience with PGD ? Meeting someone who helped me get into LPGA Q- school.
10. How many holes in one ? Only one so far – but it was very memorable. It happened in my FIRST collegiate golf tournament, and my Dad was there watching. I hit a 5 iron onto the 165 yard 17^th hole - it hit about 5 feet away, and rolled right in the cup.
11. OK, now for a personal question - how far do you hit your driver ? Ah, a personal question, huh ? I currently hit my driver about 225-230 - so adding the 15-20 yards that I am shooting for will get me out there in the 240-260 range. That's really important to me for posting lower scores this year – so you can see that's why I am focusing on it.
12. Who would be in your dream foursome and why ? My dream foursome would include Ernie Els ( a super nice guy who I met at Lake Nona), Trevor Immelman, and a tie between Tiger and Sergio. OK – I know that's five people – but we would play fast and not hold anyone up !
13. Favorite sports other than golf ? I love to play Volleyball, and want to take up Tennis at some point. I also love skiing and kickboxing.
14. Favorite athlete ? Peyton Manning
15. What frustrates you the most ? On the golf course, Bogeying the last hole or three putting. In the "real world", selfishness and rudeness.
16. What makes you smile ? Polite people and pure selflessness.
17. What's on your IPOD ? Ah, I knew this one was coming ! I like practically every genre of music - currently in rotation I have a mix of Hip Hop, Sinatra,Techno, Mickey Avalon. Hard Rock (think Korn), and Classic Rock.
    
18. What is one song that gets you really pumped up and ready to compete? …Hmmm, that would be a song by Buckcherry called Crazy Bit*h. The lyrics are kind of racy, but the beat and tempo really get my heart pumping.
19. What is one thing that will surprise the members of Bushwood about your experience on The Big Break ? hmm Big break shocker... they try to feed us a lot of alcohol and everyone got along great with one another except for Dave
20. Can we get the first interview after you win your first Duramed event ? Of course…how could I say no

Amber Prange will be playing on the Duramed Futures Tour in events across the USA this year. She is super nice, and I encourage everyone to go out and support Amber AND the Duramed Futures Tour events ( 2009 schedule is here). She is also the newest official member of Bushwood Country Club, and will receive an official Bushwood Country Club t-shirt – Welcome to the club, Amber !

Sad start to the FBR Open

Our buddy Shane of Dogs Chasing Cars and Fanhouse notoriety reports of a sad and bizarre story from the FBR Open. Check this one out - our hearts and prayers go out to the guy's family...

Cherish every day...

Florida's Friendliest Hometown....

For all of us who have laughed at the unavoidable commercials from "The Villages" while watching the final round of countless PGA events, now comes a story which will cause you to, uh, stand up and take notice. You know the commercials - retirees dancing, playing soccer, softball, riding polo ponies, and yes - playing golf ( Lifetime Free Golf at ALL Our Executive Courses !!!!).

Here is a bit of their marketing copy "Maybe it’s the endless opportunities to fine tune a lifelong passion, try something you’ve always wanted to try, or just pick up where you left off as a kid."

Well, maybe that's what makes it fun....or it could be this...Fun at the Villages.

Looks like that marketing copy is spot on....

The Ghost of Bob Hope and the Pucker Factor

The annual birdie fest known as the Bob Hope Classic is always a fun way to start the season, and this year has been even more eventful than normal. Consider this after the first four rounds:

• Pat Perez fired a 61-63 start to tie the lowest 36 hole score ever


• Steve Stricker sat at 33 under headed into the final round - another record


• Stricker took something like 24 putts on Saturday while carding a 62


• The cut was MINUS 15!!!

Just when you thought a minus 40 was a certainty, things started to get wacky... the wind started blowing on Sunday, and the ghost of Bob Hope showed up to tweak a few noses. With the final group on 15, here is what we have seen today.

• Stricker now sits a 6 OVER for the day, courtesy of a triple bogey 7 at #7, and a set of dog balls at #10 (aka a "snowman").


• Perez is one under for the day, and shares the lead at minus 31.


• Co-Leader John Merrick yanked his tee shot at # 16, and it heads for the water hazard (or worse)...until a gentle breeze catches it, directing it toward the concrete bank of the ditch - which it caroms off of, and bounces into the MIDDLE of the fairway. Merrick then hits his approach on, and calmly two putts for a par.

I'm sure Bob,Dino, Bing, and the rest of the original Palm Springs royalty are looking down on this action smiling....

P.S. - Pat Perez sealed the deal with a killer approach on 18 and an eagle putt - Congrats Pat for your first PGA tour win !!

They may BE experts, but... (or, Maybe I can fix Charles Barkley's golf swing)

Like you, I am sometimes prone to bitch a little about Johnny Miller or Nick Faldo when they are calling a PGA event. Even Gary McCord can grate on my nerves from time to time. However, today I heard not one, but TWO positively idiotic comments from two well respected sportscasters - they may be "experts" at some things sports related, they sure as heck are not "golf experts".

Example One: (first called out by Shane at Dogs that Chase Cars) Q & A with Mike Wilbon of ESPN - Here is Wilbon's answer to a question about Charles Barkley's golf swing "But I think Hank [Haney] is going to fix his swing. Most people don't know that before he started messing around with it, he was shooting in the 80s." Now for a little fun - click the link above, watch the video, and tell me if you think this dude could EVER shoot "in the 80's"....maybe Wilbon meant that he was shooting in the DECADE of the 80's...like maybe 1987...

Example Two: Dateline Today - Van Pelt and Tirico on the radio - Tirico is waxing poetic about Ken Whisenhunt (NFC Champ Arizona Cardinals head honcho) who he ran into last year at Augusta National before the Masters. Seems that Tirico was playing a round with Whis and, according to Tirico, "Whisenhunt, on the par 4 #11, made a DOUBLE EAGLE"....silence, and then commercial break. I almost choked on my Vitamin water (shameless plug)... I pulled over (being the safe driver that I am), and called my buddy who knows every fact about the sacred grounds of Augusta National. TB informs me that #11, the start of "Amen Corner" is a cool 505 yards for the Pros, and probably about 435 for Members. Hmmm, a 435 yard hole-in-one from a top NFL coach that we did not hear about for almost a year ??? Amaaaaazing...

After the comercial break (and some some off air ribbing from Van Pelt, no doubt),Tirico corrected himself. Now, anyone can make a mistake, but this one is pretty egregious - I mean, a double fricking eagle on a par 4...did he even think about what he said ???.

I guess there is hope for all of us, huh ???

The Long and The Short of It...

Forgive the somewhat lame pun in the title, but after 3 rounds the Sony Classic in Honolulu features two of the best "feel good" stories of this young golf season.

Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey, a good ol' country boy, and one of the Tour's longest hitters, squeaked by the cut line on Friday, and then fired a cool 66 o Saturday to put himself in great position to finish high on the final leaderboard. As many of you know, Tommy is an alum of TGC's "Big Break", and is basically an all around good guy - think Boo Weekly circa 2004...

Tadd Fujikawa (a Monday qualifier for this event,btw), thought by many to be a bit of a fluke two years ago when he made the cut at this event at the tender age of 16, also squeaked by the cut line on Friday. His showing on Saturday was pretty amazing - posting a cool 62 for the low round of the day (and his best as a Pro). Tadd's challenges have been well chronicled - from his struggles shortly after turning pro at 16, to his Dad's problems with the "po-po" (that's a Corey Smith reference, one of my favoite musicians). Tadd now sits only two strokes off leader Zach Johnson's -10.

Anyway - we will see what transpires today, as the pressure is on both of these guys who are both trying to get to full time status on the PGA tour. My predictions: Gainey shoots a 68, moving into a tie for 11th place; Tadd slips back to shoot a 71, getting his first top 10 finish. Best luck to both of you guys !

Bonus Prediction: Boo Shoots a 65 to win the event...

Coming Soon - Player Interviews

After seeing some of the interviews that one of my favorite bloggers has scored over the past couple of years, I figured it was time to get in the game. A couple of emails, a phone conversation,and some sage advice and I was off to see if we could get some pro player insight here at BCC.

So far, I've gotten a commitment from one of the hottest up and coming golfers around to stop by the 19th hole at Bushwood Country Club for a chat, and am close to scoring another one. I won't spoil the surprise, but it's gonna be awesome.

Stay tuned for more updates and the first interview within the next week or so.

Golf's Heroes - Major Winners by Decade

                                   

Ask anyone to name the best PGA players of all time, and you will get a predictable list of names : Woods, Nicklaus, Palmer, Hagen, Sarazen,Hogan,Snead,Watson,Player,Faldo,Nelson,etc...  However, ask them who won the most majors in each decade since the 1930's, and expect a blank stare.  Maybe this topic is a little to geeky for some of you, but I though it would be interesting to survey 25 people on this topic, and compare their "average" responses to what the actual results were.  Shown below are the results of this little experiment:

• 1930's: Consensus:    Bobby Jones     Actual: Gene Sarazen (4)
• 1940's: Consensus:    Ben Hogan     Actual: Sam Snead (4)
• 1950's: Consensus:    Sam Snead    Actual: Ben Hogan (6)
• 1960's: Consensus:    Arnold Palmer    Actual: Jack Nicklaus (7)
• 1970's: Consensus:    Jack Nicklaus   Actual: Jack Nicklaus (8)
• 1980's: Consensus:    Jack Nicklaus    Actual: Tom Watson (5)
• 1990's: Consensus:    Tiger  Woods Actual: Nick Faldo (4)
• 2000's: Consensus:    Tiger Woods     Actual: Tiger Woods (10)

Pretty interesting that the '70's and the '00's (Jack's 8 and Tiger's 10) were the only decades that the consensus was correct on.  Also noteworthy is the "flip flop" of Hogan and Snead in the '40's and 50's - reflecting that Hogan's prowess in Majors came rather late in his career.  When I asked the group about this, most of them did not think of Snead and Hogan as peers, believing that Snead played a bit later than Hogan.

Equipment Review - TaylorMade R7 Limited

Intro: In late 2008, TaylorMade introduced (yet another) addtion to the R7 family - the R7 Limited. Being a long time TaylorMade fan/user, I was curious, but also a little puzzled. Curious, because I have played a several of the R7s (the original, the 425, and lastly the SuperQuad), and puzzled because the description of the club (and it's supposed benefits) just did not make a lot of sense to me. Couple that with the fact that I had switched to the 2008 Tour Burner (not to be confused with the 2008 Burner, or the 2009 Tour Burner, etc....UGH !!!), which I was quite happy with - and you have total mental chaos. All these emotions led me to basically ignore the R7 Limited for several months.

The Courtship: During that time, I also started to get a litte pi$$ed at TM - I mean, they only released 4 different NEW drivers in 2008, right ? Anyway, Christmas came around, the spirit of the season softened my inner grinch - and there I was, standing in my local golf emporium holding (and admiring) a TaylorMade R7 Limited. Even though it lacked the solid black "stealth" look of the SuperQuad, it started to appeal to me. The longer, I looked at it, the more I liked it - and in a few short moments, I was the proud owner of a new R7 Limited.

About the Club: The TM R7 Limited has a fairly pronounced "triangle" shaped head, which is a bit of a departure for TM. It comes in a variety of lofts (8.5,9.5,10.5, and 11.5), and is billed as their "best movable weight driver". The head is a nice subdued black, with a silver face and sole - and some pretty cool R7 graphics on the bottom. TM says that the movable weights allow for up to 35 yards of ball movement, based on your settings. Perhaps the best feature (aside from the movable weights) is a bangin' shaft from Matrix. The Ozik XCon is sweet for a stock offering - no upgrade needed. Oh, and Sergio Garcia used this club to win two events in 4Q 2008, just after it was released.

In the Real World:- Looks: The Matrix Oxik XCon shaft is a cool red color, that almost glitters in the sunlight. The black head does not glare unreasonably, and the silver bottom masks wear marks nicely. The silver face also does not show tee marks, and any "sharpie" markes are easily cleaned off with a damp rag. Headcover is solid black, with cool red and white accents. Grade: A

- Sound: As you have come to expect from TM, the sound is a pleasant one - not the dull thud of a Titleist, or the high pitched noise of a Nike or Cobra. I found the noise to be only a little bit more "pingy" (no pun intended) than the G-10 or the TM Tour Burner. Grade: B+

- Distance: Very pleased with the distance - somewhat longer than my Tour Burner, which was my longest driver thus far. Grade: A+

- Trajectory: Loved the medium trajectory offered by the 9.5 degree head and the stiff Ozik XCon shaft. Previously, I had struggled to find a shaft that assisted in keeping the trajectory down, but this one seems to really be the ticket. Grade: A+

- Grip: The TaylorMade rubber grip is so-so. I suggest replacing with the same grip you have on your other clubs as soon as you find time to (that is my personal pref, anyway). Grade: C

- Other: Movable weights, as you may expect, really DO work - I was able to make tweaks to correct for those days when I seemed more likely to pull my shots to the left. After experimenting several times out, I settled upon the neutral setting as I got more acccustomed to the club coming through the hitting zone. However, if you fight a fade, the "draw" setting will definitely get you back in the fairway. Grade: A

After the Honeymoon:Overall, I rate the club highly. It is long, straight, controllable, and I love the trajectory offered by the shaft/head combo. I predict we may actually see an anniversary.... Grade: A

P.S.- In case you have not watched any golf lately, TM has announced the "R9" will be released on 3.20.09 (ahhhh, the ides of March...). Early word is that it has both movable weights AND adjustable face angles (open/closed). Sounds a little wacky to me - more on this club as info becomes available.

Screeching Tires and the Lucky 13...

For many golfers, screeching to a halt in the parking lot 45 seconds before tee time is the norm - however, they also seem to be the first ones to need to borrow something on the 2nd tee box - a glove, some tees, a towel....you know their ilk. For other golfers, being prepared on the first tee is super important to an enjoyable round - call them obsessed,anal retentive, whatever.... I call them "ready"...
The next time you head out to play, give this little list some thought - It may help you get into the right frame of mind. I like to think of it as a list of "Lucky 13" items for a more enjoyable round...

1. Clean Clubs: Clean clubs are a must. Not only do they look good, they perform better. A good mechanic always takes care of his tools, so why shouldn’t you ? (Hint – A good wiping at the end of your round, making sure that the grooves are all clean and free of dirt , and you are ready to go the next time you play.)
2. Laser Range Finder: Mine is a Callaway, but there are a number of good brands. I've also got a Sky Caddie, but I find that I use the rangefinder more often. Knowing the distance to not only the pin, but also the front and rear of hazards, doglegs, etc is a real plus. I also think it helps speed play, because you aren't chasing down sprinkler heads. If you don't have one in the bag,give one a try...
3. Divot Tool and Ball Marker: I’m a Titleist guy in most things golf (Irons, Wedges, Putter, Bag, and sometimes Balls),and my Divot Tool is no exception - I use a Cameron divot tool. However, brand is unimportant – using one is. One of my first posts preaches the religion of “Fixing your Divots”, so if you are not convinced that this is important, please read what I had to say. Ball markers are a matter of preference, but I go for a 5 pound coin I picked up in Scotland – it helps ensure I never confuse my mark with someone else’s.
4. Properly Marked Balls: I am partial to a bright (read Lime) green Sharpie, and I mark mine with two dots below the label, and a line around the perimeter for use as an alignment aid. I highly recommend the “line”, as well as using a distinctive color. I almost witnessed a fistfight in a tournament over a Pro V1 with a red dot - two guys swore the same ball was theirs.
5. Sunglasses - After trying a couple of brands (Maui Jim, Nike, Smith, etc), I like Oakley the best. They make a golf specific lens that is sort of “rose” colored (I know, rose colored glasses, huh ????), which are sweet. Even if you take them off to read putts or hit your shots, your eyes will thank you for wearing them the rest of the time.
6. Towels – I carry two towels, one that I keep damp to clean my clubs, and a synthetic, quick drying towel that I use to keep my face and hands dry.
7. 2 Water Bottles – I’m a cyclist when I am not playing golf, so I keep two bike water bottles with me – one filled with plain water, and one filled with Cytomax – a great sports recovery drink with a lot less sugar than Gatorade or Powerade. (Summertime tip – freeze the Cytomax overnight, and by the time you make the turn, it will be nice and slushy…mmmm)
8. Nature Valley Honey and Oat Granola Bars – Heaven in a green foil wrapper…you can eat these around the clock - tasty, nutritious, and available at every convenience store in America.
9. First Aid Kit – Advil, band-aids, athletic tape, chapstick,sunscreen, and some Amino-Vital (just in case I forget the Cytomax….).
10. Clean Golf Shoes – I’m a firm believer in looking my best on the golf course. Just like off the course, having clean, nice looking shoes is a big step toward looking right (just ask Golf Girl). (Hint – At the end of your round, wipe your shoes clean with a damp towel before putting them in your trunk – they are easier to clean before the dirt and grass dry on them – and next time you go out, they are already cleaned up !) P.S. - match the belt to the shoes – just like in the real world.
11. Ample Supply of (White) Tees – The Pro shop at the club where I play dispenses the little buggers like Budweiser at a NASCAR race (i.e. free of charge), and I make sure to grab a handful every time I play.
12. 30 Minutes to Warm Up – Trust me - if you take at least 30 minutes to warm up, you will enjoy your round more. Whether you hit balls, chip, putt, or only stretch out - your round will be more fun and you are less likely to injure yourself. Stretch it to 45 minutes, which lets you putt, chip, and hit 20-25 balls with a variety of clubs - and get mentally ready to play.
13. A Sense of Humor - After reading the list above, you may think that someone who prepares like this takes themselves a bit too seriously – and that’s why the last item is a real must have. As much as you want to play well every time, always remember that we are amateurs who are supposed to be having fun...PLAYING. Being able to laugh at yourself when you flub a shot – priceless. Throwing a club or a bunch of F bombs – uh, maybe I’ll find another group…

So what are your “must haves” before hitting the first shot of the day ?

Stack and Tilt - Prelude

As I mentioned in an earlier post, continued inconsistency with my iron game has led me to decide to give "Stack and Tilt" a try (for those unfamiliar with S&T, read more here). Before deciding to go down this path, I read as much as I could about S&T, including a number of comments online. Although I was interested and encouraged by what I read, I was never able to locate a "diary" or anything which chronicled a S&T newbie's trials and tribulations in attempting to change their swing. Therefore, in addition to dedicating myself to seeing if I could solve my iron problems via the S&T, I also decided that I would chronicle my ups and downs (and hopefully progress) with the S&T on my blog.

Now that the introduction is complete, let's get right down to business....

The primary problems with my iron game are:

1. Consistently hit behind the ball, and never strike a descending blow.
2. Lack of distance from my irons relative to my swing speed (e.g. 8 iron 130 yards, 6 iron 155 yards).
3. Poor / Inconsistent Weight Transfer

Based on what I read about the S&T, and have seen on the DVDs, this sounds like a great thing for me. Stay tuned for ongoing progress reports...

What's wrong with the Golf Channel ?

If you are like me, you feel the daily urge to tune into The Golf Channel - even when there is practically NOTHING happening in the world of golf. What with shows like the "The Big Break", "Masters Highlights", and "Lessons from the Pros", there seems to generally be something worth watching.

However - there is ONE thing about TGC that totally SUCKS. Other than some of the attractive (ok, so shoot me - I like the fairer sex....) on-air talent (Kelly, Stina, Stephanie (we miss you !!!), most of the guys are blowhards who are completely disconnected from their audience. They seem to feel like the majority of their audience is still looking for reasons to look down their noses at the "commoners" who have taken up their cherished game .

Here are only a few examples:

• "The Daily Daly Bash" - These guys who have never sniffed a Major (Brandel, John Hawkins, Brian) never miss a chance to rip on John Daly, always looking down their noses and harrumphing about how bad Daly is for golf. They are so out of touch with most of us, it is pathetic. Face it, guys - people LIKE John Daly a lot.... the reasons are unimportant, they like him, so shaddup and deal with it.
• "The Wie Worship Hour" - Same culprits, different affection. Even though she has NOT WON ANYTHING in more than 5 years, the talking heads are "certain" that MW will remake the LPGA and is "great for golf". Wake up call #2 - I've talked to about a hundred people about this topic - so far, the tide runs about 9 :1 against the witless, er, winless Hawaiian. That's right, men and women alike flat out DISLIKE the arrogant, privileged, classless, Nike tattooed, "future of the LPGA. Until she wins something, I am with the masses - enough about MW.
• "The Camillo Crush" - Ok, I admit he won two events at the end of last year in dramatic fashion...so did Vijay, but we dont hear the talking heads speaking breathlessly about Vijay. Admittedly, CV did show some real promise late in the year, but guys, enough of the man crush on Spiderman - If he wins, he get the kudos, otherwise leave the adoration to the Tiger Beat crowd...
• The American Bash - After the Ryder Cup domination by the USA this year, you would think TGC would have been all apple pie and ice cream, right ? Guess again - First they had to rip on Boo Weekly for charging up the crowd, then they had to bash Perry for not playing the majors, and it just continued from there. How about a little home country support guys ? I know Faldo is "one of you", but remember, it's Boo's fans who pay their cable bills faithfully each month...and that's how you get to keep your cush jobs.
  

I will stop there, but trust me, I could go on. Meanwhile, I am interested in your take - what is YOUR pet peeve about TGC ?

Ever wonder why people don't like Sergio ??? Your wait is over...

Readers of this blog know that while I recognize Sergio Garcia's talent, I have little patience for his antics and constant whining. I've read countless articles touting his new found "maturity" and how "winning The Players changed him"... One of my favorite bloggers is a big fan of his, so I try doubly hard to gain some respect for him. Now comes the latest from an interview he did with the Mirror in which he makes the following statements regarding the USA's thrashing of the Euros in the Ryder Cup.

"The US team played their cards well," he said. "They knew where the pins were going to be and the tees and we didn't. The locker-room we had was really, really small and uncomfortable. I wish it had been even half the size of theirs. We had two showers, one next to a toilet."

"At the opening ceremony they played my anthem twice, once when the Spanish flag was raised and once when the Swedish flag was raised."

- Garcia claimed captain Nick Faldo's speech at the opening ceremony had been "too long" and said Europe had needed more than one vice-captain.

Read the entire article for a full on belly laugh. It's sad, because as a hacker, I REALLY admire his iron game and think he has exceptional talent - but when he opens his mouth, he loses me completely. However, in my newfound spirit of brotherhood, I made some special wishes for Sergio - see my post of Jan. 1, 2009 for these. I know you aren't playing for us Yanks to "like you" Sergio, but we buy your sponsor's gear, watch you on TV, and (some of of us) cheer when you win - so for the love of man, PLEASE quit whining and lose with same class as you win with...

Oh, and no more spitting in the cup in 2009, ok ?

10 Golf Wishes for 2009

My (Golf Related) Wishes for 2009

So my last post contained my personal golf resolutions / wishes for 2009 – but no mention of anyone else. In the spirit of fairness and goodwill, here are 10 wishes for the rest of the golf world in 2009:

(1) For the LPGA (you know I am a big fan):
-I wish you great performances from some of your marquee players early on (Paula, Morgan, Lorena, Cristie,Natalie, etc) , as well as some breakthrough wins by some newbies (Anna Rawson, Stacy Lewis, Erica Blasberg,etc... – sorry Michelle, you get your own special wish later).
- I also wish you many new fans
- Stability among your sponsors.
- Oh, and I hope you find someone to replace Carolyn B – she SUCKS - totally does not get it…
(2) For the PGA:
-Stability in the sponsorship arena.
-Maybe try reigning in the purses so the best players NEED to play more often – I mean they are PLAYING GOLF for chrissakes
-A quick recovery for Tiger
-Early wins for the most compelling stories / personalities on tour
i. Boo Weekly – hint to media: ever hear the term “crazy like a fox”? He is working you like a pro, guys….
ii. Anthony Kim – used to be a hater, now I love the guy. He is the real deal
iii. Davis Love III – I know he wears Polo like a second skin, but he made a great comeback in ’08, and he will be our RC Captain soon, so lets give him some love
iv. Bubba Watson – Time for the “long one” to break through
v. JB Holmes – bc he was just STONE COLD at Valhalla
vi. Ian Poulter – ditto JB comment above. Get over the hair, the pink clothes, and the prissy walk – he can flat out get it done
vii. Greg Norman – I’m rooting hard for a comeback from the Shark
viii. Kenny Perry (at a major) – Just to shut up the talking heads on TV who dogged him for skipping majors in 08 to focus on the Ryder Cup ( hey guys on TGG, we did WIN the RC with some great performances from KP,right????)
ix. Rocco - To prove that Torrey was not a fluke
x. Phil – At the US Open (so the aforementioned Talking Heads will STFU about Winged Foot)
(3) For Sergio (who gets his own special wish)– Some humility and class. Sorry dude, I can’t wish for you to win as long as you act like a spoiled, “entitled”, ingrate. Your smile is great, and fools a lot of people – but until you learn to lose with same grace as you win, I will root for anyone but you. (Sorry Golf Girl – I know you like him….).
(4) For Michelle Wie (same as Sergio...her own wish)
-That you play consistently, play hard, don’t whine, and compete fairly on the LPGA tour. If you do that, and actually are competitive, then I may believe you are for real.
-That you IGNORE the PGA tour. You cannot, and never will,be able to, compete with these guys. Your delusions that you could EVER compete with them will keep you from achieving your potential. BTW – I watched Brittany Lincicome BLOW IT PAST you when you were supposed to be in your prime – so get over it …the PGA game is NOT about distance - its about SCORING (another hint - so is the LPGA,)
- That you fire your parents as coaches and advisors. BJ - Dude, get a life...you know golf like I know "nucular bombs"...
(5) For Tim Finchem – Some wisdom..Careful dude, you are about 18 months away from being in the Carolyn B sitch….
(6) For the Golf Girl – a round at “Farmore” and all the golf fashion that you can handle
(7) For the “twentysomething golf blogger” – a return trip to TGC Amateur Nationals- hope to see you there.
(8) For Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey – a bunch of early wins on the Nationwide tour, entry into plenty of PGA events, and the return of your PGA Tour Card
(9)For Amber Prange and Irene Cho – Early success in the Spring events….the future of women's golf needs more players like you.
(10)For Titleist and Callaway – That you kiss and make up regarding the freaking ProV1 patents – come on guys, don’t mess up the game, we already have enough challenges… (dudes at Callaway – you make some good stuff, but Titleist will ALWAYS rule the ball market – deal with it)

Resolutions....Do we Really Need 'em ????

In a word, YES!!!

After giving you an update on what’s happened in the last 90 days, it only seems apropos to share my 2009 Golf Resolutions. Without further adieu, they are:

1. Achieve a handicap below 10 by 9/20/09 (my birthday, natch….) – Although I dipped below this number a couple of times last year, one of my golf buddies told me that “unless you achieve those scores in tournaments, I don’t believe you are a single digit player” – so the game is on, the challenge has been thrown down, and my honor and skills are at stake. Wish me luck…
2. Win two events on The Golf Channel Amateur Tour – I won one event last year, but was also erratic in several others. This resolution calls for me to double my win total, but I am determined….
3. Qualify for The Golf Channel Amateur Tour National Championship, and finish in the top 20 in the finals. – Not only do I want to qualify (as I did in 2008), but I want to CONTEND on the final day. I promise to play more than once in the five weeks leading up to the event this time, and PRACTICE too !!!!!
4. Improve my Iron Game – As I mentioned in my last post, I have decided to embrace the "Stack and Tilt” swing. Hopefully, the early results (encouraging) will continue and this will lead to a better iron game
5. Achieve the following statistical goals:
- Average Driver distance over 250 yards
- Hit 10 fairways per round
- Hit 9 GIR per round (50%)
- Make 31 putts or fewer per round

6. Make more good friends on the Golf Course….

I don’t think I am being too greedy, but I am interested in your thoughts. What are your goals for 2009 ?