I have speculated in the past on a connection between the samurai tradition and golf’s popularity in Japan. Think about it: Golf allows the player to carry 14 specially-designed, artfully crafted long metal implements, which could, in a pinch, be used to kill someone. In short, golf clubs are about as close to samurai swords as most Japanese can get today, considering that simple ownership of a real sword in Japan requires one to procure an expensive license. As further evidence of the samurai-golf connection, consider Katsuhiro Miura, founder and master club-maker for Miura Golf, who studied the meticulous forgings used in ... full post »

The Eisenhower Course at Industry Hills Golf Club in Industry, Calif., has got to be the most under-the-radar championship course in any major West Coast city. Recently re-opened after a multi-million-dollar renovation that included the complete overhaul of six holes, “The Ike” is a 7,211-yard, par-72 beauty that lies just minutes from downtown Los Angeles. The course sits atop a sprawling ridge that commands views of West Covina and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. But that’s not even the best part. The original Ike was the 1982-1983 LPGA Tour stop, but it was deemed “too difficult” and abandoned by the ladies. How ... full post »

It may not be as famous or as old as Ballybunion or Lahinch or as high-profile as newer Irish links like Doonbeg, but Tralee Golf Club, in Barrow, County Kerry can go toe to toe with any of them. Tralee was built in the early 1980s, and was the first course outside the U.S. designed by Arnold Palmer. The ocean views are spectacular, and the shot value is exceptional. A couple of years ago, I dubbed Tralee as the “best Irish links you’ve never heard of.” Of course, I was speaking of my American readership. The Irish were already well-acquainted with this relatively ... full post »

This may sound odd to some people, I know: I like to golf alone. There is nothing as peaceful as being the first golfer on the course, leaving the first solitary footprints in the dew on the greens, the only sounds being your shots and the birds and, quite likely, the grounds crew. There was a time when I practically wouldn’t golf if I couldn’t go out as a single. My biggest fear was getting paired up with, gulp!, strangers. Of course, part of the aversion to golfing with new people was the fact that I was really, really bad. I could ... full post »

Just yesterday, Golf Digest announced the Golf Digest Challenge, a free instructional program for golfers around the world. The goal of the program, as stated in the press release is, “to build upon the success of last year’s program by continuing to give golfers the necessary tools to improve their scores.” How will they go about succeeding at this task, a task which many decades of publishing tips and lessons have failed to accomplish? Via the Internet, silly! Again, from the press release: “After signing up at www.golfdigest.com/challenge, golfers will receive a personalized practice plan of tips and drills (there are now over ... full post »

After winning the 2007 Masters, Zach Johnson remained characteristically understated: “I’m Zach Johnson and I’m from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That’s about it. I’m a normal guy.” Some of the more jaded among us might call Johnson boring. Some might even call his home state boring, or wonder aloud if perhaps they use corn stalks as flagsticks in Iowa. In actuality, though, there are some excellent golf courses in Iowa. And if you decide to go in search of golf there, or simply find yourself driving through and getting a little freaked out by the Children of the Corn landscape, you’ll discover not ... full post »

The first paragraph of a press release from Nike on March 16, 2007, read as follows: “Nike Golf has discovered that an unauthorized manufacturing variance occurred such that the Characteristic Time (CT) measurement of a number of drivers fell out of Nike Golf’s approved engineering specifications. While the result of this variance is an additional distance benefit of only 1 to 2 yards, it lies outside of the parameters as established by the USGA. There is no impact on the safety or durability of the product.” The press release continued to detail how the company would accept returns of its square-shaped, ... full post »

Does anyone else recall how Tom Lehman’s 1998 season was hobbled by a dislocated shoulder? Lehman was attempting a handstand for his kids while they were on vacation when he suffered the injury. He eventually needed surgery to repair the damage. Last week in Southern California, as I was visiting various golf resorts, my family joined me for a few days. One sunny afternoon, we all headed to Venice Beach to see the sea and watch the waves of often eccentric humanity collected on that sunny shore. Of course one of the things Venice Beach is famous for is Muscle Beach, where ... full post »