This Week at TravelGolf.com: October 25, 2005

Readers' input is what
makes TravelGolf.com work

It always makes me smile when a reader calls me a numbskull, a dingbat, an insufferable lout or just plain breaks out the "I oughta stick a putter in your posterior." You could even say it warms my journalistic heart (yes, Wie Warriors that was just a gratuitous throw-in so you could merrily question my professional qualifications again. And you think I never do anything for you!)

But seriously, when someone's getting branded a moron, TravelGolf.com is truly working.

For this far flung network isn't about what a particular nincompoop is writing that day. It's about average golfers - man, woman, child and even Wie Warriors - exchanging ideas, hopefully making your local fairways a more hacker friendly place. It's regular golfers telling each other which courses to play and which to avoid like a case of evian flu.

You're TravelGolf.com's eyes, ears and conscience much more than Tim McDonald, William K. Wolfrum, Jennifer Mario, Castle baron boss Mark Nessmith and myself will ever be. For no matter how many correspondents we have in how many faraway places (and Brazil is the latest), there is no way we can be in as many spots as you.

That's why a reader differing with a review on Trilogy at Vistancia is one of the best things that can happen at TravelGolf.com. Reader Brian Hirayama played Trilogy Vistancia in the greater Phoenix-Scottsdale area over Labor Day and found it wasn't in nearly as good shape as when I reviewed it in April. That's the kind of thing we want to know, the kind of thing that helps out your fellow golfers.

The operators of substandard, ripoff courses aren't afraid of us. They're afraid of you. Of your collective voice power. It's the flood of reader responses telling of their own bad experiences at a course that really shakes the poor plays to their overpriced bones.

This is why we've expanded our Readers Rant section on the front page, encouraging more comments. In a golf world that often is as open as the old KGB, it's important to keep the discussion of this great game and it's not so great parts going.

The recent rant about San Francisco's Harding Park on our blog board is another example. Harding Park Director of Agronomy Jim Prusa stepped in with some counterpoints on why Harding really is worth the hype.

Prusa didn't whine about how someone could question his course. He didn't get all defensive. He stated some intelligent points.

Sometimes you can tell the courses that actually care about their golfers from their reactions too. I'll surely try and play Harding Park again in the spring and compare. TravelGolf.com is so much for the better because of the Jim Prusas, because of honest readers everywhere.

Now, back to being a doofus.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

UST develops putter shaft
designed to 'speak' to golfers

United Sports Technologies have come up with what they say is the first true innovation in putter shafts in more than 70 years. At UST, they compare the new shaft to a sound system that will give you a clearer feel of how the ball strikes the putter and giving you feedback on your putting stroke. Will it catch on like other UST shafts have in the past? GolfPublisher.com's Mike Bailey finds out.

Full story | ASGCA answers back: Distance is overrated

A fearless group trip leader's
guide to golf in Phoenix-Scottsdale

There are few challenges in life greater than trying to keep a large group of golfers happy on a road trip. Someone will think the course is too hard, some too easy. But if that group you're leading is heading to the Phoenix-Scottsdale area, things need not be that tough for a group leader. GolfPublisher.com West Coast Bureau Chief Chris Baldwin takes the guess work out, making sure your group outing will be a winner.

Full story | Heather McMichael reviews the World's golf bloggers

If you're 95 and blind, Saxon
Golf Course may be a challenge

Located in Butler County, Pa., Saxon Golf Course may just be the most wide-open, straight-forward golf course in America. With not a single bunker on the course, you'll have a hard time finding any trouble at all, actually. The course does offer great customer service, reasonable green fees and an endearing family atmosphere, but in the end, the over-the-top simplicity of the course could very well leave your golf game wanting a stiffer challenge.