Erich Sollenberger’s philosophy is, “try to make any space a better place.” As a high school teacher at Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana, he tries to impart this philosophy to the members of the Horticulture Club, which he organizes. The club’s members are severely autistic, yet they have taken on the admirable, nearly Herculean task of building a miniature golf course for kids with another sort of problem: They’re paralyzed. The result of their awe-inspiring efforts is a 9-hole course, whose greens measure 36′ by 20′. 36″ of concrete completely encircles each green, allowing a wheelchair total access. “I ... full post »

As a long-time proponent of walking on the golf course, and avid tester and reviewer of carry bags, it saddens me to see so many apparently able-bodied Americans buzzing around in golf carts – especially when many of them could, quite frankly, use a bit of exercise. Then it occurred to me that maybe for at least some of these golfers, walking isn’t the issue, carrying their bags is. No matter how comfy some shoulder straps may be, or how many radical carrying systems come along, you really need to be prepared for a work-out to schlep 20-40 pounds of bag, ... full post »

Two years ago, I was one of the first nationally published golf writer to note the emergence of E21. The Canada-based golf company specializes in golf equipment made from Scandium, the 21st element of the periodic table. According to the company’s website (one of the most irritating you’ll find), the alloy made from Scandium is 50% lighter and 25% stronger than any known alloy. For this reason, it was used in Soviet military equipment. Today, it will be used in an utterly goofy publicity stunt by Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, who will exit the International Space Station, tee up a specially designed ... full post »

I normally don’t write about stuff I find on eBay (that’s between my therapist and me, thank you), but here’s one item that is not only a one-of-a-kind piece of golf and sports memorabilia, but also supports the fight against breast cancer. It’s a pink golf bag signed by the following pantheon of women’s sporting greats: 1. Val Skinner, six-time winner on the LPGA Tour and founder of LIFE 2. Amy Alcott, Member of LPGA Hall of Fame 3. Jane Geddes, LPGA veteran 4. Tracy Hanson, LPGA veteran 5. Jackie Joyner Kersee, Olympic Gold Medalist in Track and Field 6. Tara Connor, Miss USA 2006 ... full post »

Several years ago, I reviewed the French Lick Springs Resort and 1920 Donald Ross Hills Course” in French Lick, Indiana. Although I was blown away by the history of the opulent resort and the classic golf, the town itself left something to be desired. I wrote: “…[T]he town of French Lick itself is in need of a major economic shot in the arm. The juxtaposition of the resort’s luxury and the town’s poverty is rather stunning. Tourism will help, especially with new additions like the Beechwood Country Inn, the French Lick Springs Villas (modern rental townhouses perched on the hills overlooking ... full post »

From November 1 to December 1, 2006, golfers all over the world will have the opportunity to do something that no one in the 600 years of golf in St. Andrews has been able to do: Name a course at the St. Andrews Links According to the St. Andrews Links Trust, which operates the existing six courses, including The Old Course, and is building the much-anticipated seventh course a few miles outside of town, over 500 entries have been received in the first few days of the naming competition. Mike Woodcock, Links Trust communications manager, says, “Some of the more interesting ... full post »

It is arguably one of the most iconic golf photos in history, and certainly of the last half of the 20th Century: Payne Stewart’s fist pump after winning the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. A key part of that victory – and of that photo – is the rather atypical putter that Stewart was clutching. It was a SeeMore Putter. “A SayWhat Putter?” you ask. Well, let me tell you what you’ve been missing. Not long after Stewart’s historic championship, I reviewed two new SeeMore models and found the apparently gimmicky alignment aid built into each one to be anything but ... full post »

Two months ago, the swooshy folks at Nike sent me the Neo model from their new Unitized putter line. The putter was so new, they didn’t even have a headcover for it yet. Today, the four Unitized models – Tiempo, Retro, Techno, and Neo – hit store shelves for real, with an MSRP of $299. The technological advance of these flatsticks, says Nike, is the fact that the putter head and putter shaft are forged from one unitary piece of metal. The idea is to have no interruption in frequency from putter face all the way up to the pistol grip. Paul ... full post »