A few days ago, I received an e-mail from golf author Bob Thomas’s wife, Mary Anne. She informed me that Bob had had a major stroke about 11 weeks ago. Bob is on his way to what is hoped to be a full recovery, she said, and she promised that he would be writing golf books again someday. Nevertheless, as we all know, strokes are much worse in real life than they are in golf, and Bob could use some help from his golfing fans and friends. In Mary Anne’s own words: “My aim is to raise enough cash to protect what ... full post »

There’s a lot to keep track of in golf: 14 clubs, one or more golf balls, etiquette, score, playing partners, cigars, beer, and the course itself. Seems like I’m always fiddling with something or other – it’s a wonder I even remember to hit the ball. (Well, sometimes I do forget…) I’ve just discovered a multifunction divot tool called the DivPro. But to call DivPro a “divot tool” is a massive understatement. I can count at least six functions for this Swiss Army Knife of golf. First, it is a divot tool with extra-long tines and a sleek, curved shape that fits ... full post »

Over the past several years, it seems every golf apparel manufacturer has introduced a “moisture-wicking” fabric of one kind or another. The purpose of these high-tech textiles is to draw sweat away from the skin to keep the wearer drier and cooler. Many of these fabrics are synthetics, incorporating the flexibility and durability of polyester with newer structures and materials. Antigua has just introduced its new Desert Dry Extra-Lite (D2XL) line, which improves on their previous moisture-wicking technology. The line features fabrics that are so light, they almost feel like you’re not wearing anything. Best of all in my opinion, though, is ... full post »

Golf will be played in the Olympics in 2016 and 2020, after more than a century of banishment from the games. According to the AP, “Padraig Harrington and Michelle Wie addressed the IOC in person before the vote. Wie talked about starting to play golf when she was 4 but never being able to dream of an Olympic medal until now. “‘I can dream about doing something that neither Tiger nor Ernie [Els] have ever done, and that is to make the final putt to win an Olympic gold medal,’” Wie said. ‘If this dream comes true, somewhere in the world there ... full post »

Jon Fitzgerald, film-festival organizer and 12-handicap golfer, turns 40 and decides to try to turn pro. He’s going to chase the dream all avid golfers have dreamt, and he’s going to take us all along for the ride. That’s the premise for “The Back Nine,” a golf documentary that is as much about Fitzgerald himself as it is about golf. To be fair, however, in order to understand Fitzgerald’s quixotic journey, one must understand the man who decides to mount up on his donkey, driver in hand, and tilt at golf courses. Being a film-festival organizer, Fitzgerald knows what it takes to ... full post »

Last night I was part of a dominating and victorious night-golf scramble team. If you haven’t played night-golf, you don’t know what you’re missing. And because night-golf is played in the pitch dark with glowing golf balls and glow-stick-lit flagsticks, even the players don’t know what they’re missing – or hitting, for that matter. Nevertheless, we rang up eight birdies against just one bogey on the devilish greens of the par-3 course at Lake of the Woods Golf Course, starting off with a miraculous putt from the fringe, followed by an other-worldy chip-in from across the green, and then three straight one-putts ... full post »

I’m not much of a jewelry guy, nor do I generally buy those little bracelets that are supposed to support – or at least signify support – for some cause or another. But the other day, I was sent a bracelet by the I’m Tired of organization that hooked me. I’m Tired Of makes bracelets from recycled and renewable materials that say things like “I’m tired of cancer” and “I’m tired of global warming.” The black rubber and green metal bracelet I received said, “I’m Tired of Bogeys", and lord knows I am tired of those. More importantly, though, is that half ... full post »

Golf in general, and professional golf in particular, has a long history of supporting charitable causes. And in hard economic times like these, it seems that this effort actually increases. A number of groups have contacted me recently about helping to get the word out about their deserving causes, so I thought I’d devote a few blogs to them. The first of these is a charity bicycle ride in October that begins in Scottsdale, Arizona on the 14th and ends 430 miles later in San Diego, California on the 17th. The objective of the ride is to raise funds and ... full post »

This just in: The European Solheim Cup Team has just announced that they will not acknowledge the U.S. victory until a key player—unbeaten rookie from Hawai’i Michelle Wie—can produce a long-form birth certificate. Laura Davies was the first Euro to raise the issue. “Is Hawai’i even in the U.S.?” she asked. “I’ve been watching FOX News a bit—which we all know is fair and balanced—and they seem to believe that it is not.” Suzann Pettersen, a native of Norway, also raised the issue, when she noted, “In Norway, we used to etch birth records into the shells of hollowed eggs. Can Michelle ... full post »

This is a tough call, and it’s going to make some folks angry, but I think Christina Kim is the Solheim Cup MVP – that is, if the matches keep going the way they are right now, and she wins her match to secure the critical 14th point. Kim just birdied the par-3 16th with a superb downhill six-footer. She and Tania Elosegui are now dormie. Kim’s tee shot hit a foot or so from the pin, and if it had gone in, I believe her head would have exploded. Not sure what the rules say about that sort of thing. Now, Michelle ... full post »

After coming close to pulling off a great veteran win, Julie Inkster found herself in a whole heap of trouble on 18. As her par pitch from the front of the green came up two feet short, she tumbled to the ground in some good-natured theater. When she picked herself up, she conceded the hole and halved the match with Gwladys Nocera. Class, from beginning to end. And, according to Inkster herself, this is her last Solheim Cup. “I’m not pulling a Brett Favre,” she quipped. Well…her last Solheim Cup as a player, that is. Inkster will be a great Captain someday. full post »

It’s still too close to call it at the 2009 Solheim Cup. Just take a look at the scoreboard in the media center… The U.S opened with two strong performances from Paula Creamer and Angela Stanford, and Michelle Wie is 1-up with one hole to go against Helen Alfredsson. Can Wie close it out?? full post »

When it comes to match play, gamesmanship is a critical weapon to have in your arsenal. Intimidation is the 15th club in the bag of many a great match play golfer. How does one go about intimidating without sacrificing sportsmanship? Well, one way is to knock approaches absolutely stiff. On the par-5 2nd hole at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Helen Alfredsson hit an excellent second shot to about four feet. Then Michelle Wie stepped up to her ball and fired a laser to three feet. Alfredsson missed her eagle putt by inches. Wie didn’t miss hers. Lose a ... full post »

Wandering through the crowds and players on the first few holes of the Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, I take no notebook with me, nor do I have any pre-set strategy. I’m simply soaking in the atmosphere like my liver soaking in vodka. One thing that strikes me about the fans is how well-coordinated the chants are, and how pep-rally-like the rally of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” There are even leaders for all of these, some of whom are peppily spelling out the letters with their arms. The scattered European fans are understandably less numerous and more sedate, but ... full post »

I just arrived at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and am struck immediately by the throngs of fans and the pristine course. From what I saw of the layout in my long trudge from the wrong lot to the media center, it’s a bit of a curious design: random trees jutting up from carnival-ride fairways, amorphous greens that look almost specially designed for sucker-pin placement, and a pair of white swans in one of the water hazards that looked fake at first. As I trudged, I also eavesdropped on the fans streaming in. Over a half-dozen times I heard ... full post »