Yesterday, I received a press release from the LPGA titled: “LPGA announces technology enhancements for telecasts” Now, I have to admit that I tend to skim the hundreds of press releases I receive each month, and I simply pass most of them along to our own WorldGolfWire.com. For this reason, my eyes just jumped right over the word “technology.” And for a brief, incredulous moment, I thought that LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens figured out a sure-fire (albeit exploitative and offensive) way to market her players. I just couldn’t for the life of me figure out how she had convinced the players to agree to ... full post »

For most of us golf award wonks, the PGA Tour Player of the Year Award has become laughably predictable. Tiger Woods again? What a surprise. For real competition, one needs to look to the annual competition for PGA Professional Player of the Year. Competition for this prestigious award is much stiffer, and one could even argue that it is also much truer to the roots of the game. It’s an award for PGA professionals who are not regulars on any tour, and who spend most of their time teaching or coaching. The winner of the 2006 award is Mike Small, head coach ... full post »

Sigh…I’m feeling nostalgic. Two days ago, I opened up boxes containing the 2007 models of the Adams Golf Insight BUL driver and the Cleveland Golf HiBore driver. On my broad shoulders falls the duty of testing and reviewing these clubs, and that duty weighs heavily. Oh, who am I trying to kid? I was so stoked to put these long-drive machines into play that I ran out into the snow to take some practice swings. No coat. Boxer shorts flapping in the wind. The embarrassment this spectacle caused my daughter will likely cost me a pretty penny in therapy someday. Anyway, the nostalgia ... full post »

If you happen to peruse the “Tour” page of the Adams Golf website, you’ll notice that the cast of characters looks like it was taken from extras from the movie “Grumpy Old Men": Jose Maria Cañizares, Allen Doyle, Morris Hatalsky, Tom Jenkins, Jerry pate, Dana Quigley, Des Smyth, Tom Watson, D.A. Weibring, and R.W. Eaks. To be fair, the pioneering makers of the Tight Lies low-profile fairway wood do have one young stallion in their stalls in Bubba Dickerson. Oh, and they just announced the signing of some young German buck named Bernhard Langer. My point is this: Does it make ... full post »

In November, we alerted our faithful readers to the contest to name the 7th course being built by the St. Andrews Links Trust, keepers of the venerable Old Course and five of her sisters. Well, the St. Andrews Links Course No 7 Working Party has chosen their favorite moniker: The Castle Course. Because there were several folks who suggested this grand name, they tossed all the submissions in a smart driving cap and plucked out the winner: Edwin Burtnett. Because Burtnett is an American, you can be certain that this contest wasn’t rigged. I’m guessing you could almost hear a ... full post »

Ask me how I’m enjoying the 2007 Mercedes Benz Championship. Go ahead. Ask me. I’M NOT, DAMMIT! And I’m not happy about it. See, I don’t get The Golf Channel. Oh, I could get it, but where I live, it’s only on digital cable, which would require me to perch an ugly black box on my sleek new flat-screen telly and wield a rented remote control the size of a young child’s forearm. I don’t think Tim Grinchem realizes the potential damage he’s done to the popularity of the game by moving Thursday and Friday coverage, and some entire tournaments (like the Mercedes), ... full post »