My previous blog about how to deal with the inexorable encroachment of technology on golf’s history, records, and courses elicited some intriguing comments. Perhaps requiring pros to use persimmon clubs has some merit, after all, pro baseball players don’t use aluminum bats. Or put a special “tournament ball” in play for, e.g., The Masters. But where do we stop? How about hickory shafts? Featheries? Because I am far too humble to believe that I will ever come up with any feasible solution to the problem (if one even exists), I thought it might be interesting to speculate on some possible unforeseen benefits ... full post »

Are you of the opinion that technology is killing the game? Or do you think that the hysteria is, well, hysterical? Stuart Appleby hit a 427-yard drive on the 650-yard 16th at Firestone this past weekend (and a few more over 400 yards, to boot). Is that exciting to witness in your book? Or is it simply boring to watch these freaks of nature hit driver-wedge on every hole? For the average Joe, the new equipment is quite likely slowing down the speed of play, as more and more golfers are slicing further and further off the fairway. So length of ... full post »

Well, the final major of 2005 is in the books. Let’s check my predictions made in January: “Major winners: Master’s – Mickelson; US Open – Singh; British Open – Woods; PGA – Singh. That’s right, all big names. No darkhorses this year.” 3 out of 4 were not dark horses. Only Michael Campbell, US Open Champ, came out of the pack. Significantly, he has Polynesian ancestry in common with Vijay. Genetically speaking, that’s as close as a guy could come to getting that prediction right–without actually getting it right, that is. Mickelson came in 10th at the Master’s, but won the PGA. ... full post »

Yesterday, the NCAA ruled that Native American mascots and nicknames will not be allowed to be used or displayed at post-season tournaments. While I applaud cultural sensitivity and respect for the oppressed, this ruling goes too far. The issue is far more complex than the do-gooders at the NCAA understand. Let me begin by explaining why I feel I have anything to say about this issue. I spent over three years working on a First Nations reserve in Canada, conducting research for my Ph.D. thesis. During that time, I had the opportunity to ask many of my friends and acquaintances in ... full post »

Jeong Jang completed a wire-to-wire rout at the Weetabix Women’s British Open this weekend. Michelle Wie, who tied for third, obviously sucks. I mean come on, Jeong Jang WON, didn’t she? She’s unarguably a far more gifted golfer—now and forever—than Wie, who is clearly all hype. Disagree and I will call you names. Seriously, a real, live 15-year-old couldn’t hit a golf ball that far. Must be the hype. And we all know that hype can’t putt. It’s all perfectly obvious. Jang’s best finish in the same event prior to 2005 was a tie for 4th in 2002. Heads and shoulders above Wie’s ... full post »