The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Category: Golf Goods (page 5 of 6)

Latest submission up at worldgolf

My latest column is up at worldgolf.com. Well, most of it is.

In light of my recent circumstances and the strong feelings I have about my personalized golf gear, I thought it would be nice to do a column on the personal nature of such items and the impact they can have on a person’s golf game.

I wanted to bolster the article with some thoughts from someone in the business. Since Scott at Tartan Golf Grips provides such comfort items (including my putter grip) and knows a little bit about what they can mean to a golfer, I included a quote from him in my original submission. Worldgolf removed that portion of the article, probably because it was essentially free advertising and they make their living on selling advertising. Can’t blame them, plus I tend to come in over the desired word count anyway. They were also nice enough to retrieve the photo of my gear from my site (I didn’t submit it with the article) and include it in the story, so I give ’em props for that. However, the cut paragraph lended itself to summarizing my thoughts on the topic and segued nicely into my closing sentence.

So if you read it, please mentally insert this blurb in the article right before the closing line:

Scott Tesar, owner of TartanGolfGrips.com, finds it rewarding to provide such a distinctive product that enhances people’s enjoyment of the game on such a personal level. Speaking about his Artan(TM) grip designs and feedback he has received from customers, he says “Many people derive a sense of identity, pride and comfort from their family heritage and history… It’s just basic human nature to enjoy seeing your name and when it’s incorporated into a piece of golf equipment that you use on every hole, and it looks attractive, it creates positive energy and differentiation that contributes to a feeling of confidence on the course.”

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New putter grip

I mentioned in my last post the grip I received from Scott at Time Fore Tee (also www.tartangolfgrips.com). I just installed it on my putter and it looks great! I’m psyched to use it in my round tomorrow. The thrill I got in slicing off that heinous red Cameron grip with the stupid lettering and crown design was a bonus. I couldn’t stand that grip and now I have the perfect grip to replace it!

Now I have The Goose represented on my big stick AND my little stick.

Scott does a great job designing these gorgeous grips and I’m honored that he designed this one just for us in Kess’ memory. It is one of the nicest, most thoughtful gifts I have ever received and I can’t thank him enough. He also writes an interesting and detailed golf blog, so check him out at the links above!Bring on the one-putts, Kessy!

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Happy Birthday to The Goose!

It’s a big day at the Williams house. We are honoring the 12th birthday of Her Royal Highness Kess (a.k.a. The Goose). For those of you who don’t know, that’s an impressive number for a Great Dane. I know I’ll never make it that far in human years. Not even close. So what do you get a Goose who has everything?

Well, the same question arose for Christmas and she answered it for me: A hospital stay, twice-weekly acupuncture sessions, a new car to more comfortably transport her to and from those visits, boxes and boxes of potty pads, a diaper bag (thanks, Greg!), a new sling, specially concocted medications by the truckload, Chinese herbs, a stethoscope, a new airbed and blankets, several more doctor’s visits and lab tests, home-cooked people food and never leaving her alone long enough for a round of golf (priceless).

Kess is thrilled about her birthday.

And of course she also got some new necklaces, toys and treats to make the gift opening session more fun.

Now what to get her for her birthday? Shhh… don’t tell her yet and spoil the surprise, but she’s getting another urinalysis! She’ll also be starting a new hydrotherapy regimen this week with underwater treadmill workouts. She’s having a chicken pecan Lean Cuisine lunch (she’s tired of my cooking) and tonight we’ll be celebrating with a big birthday steak.

I got a little something for her birthday, too. Check out the strategically placed Birdie Girl bag behind her in the picture. Now I just need a chance to use it! I’m sure Greg will come over and babysit and maybe I can scrape up enough change from the couch cushions to pay for a round.

I know, I know… poor me. But only literally! I’m lucky and elated to have her happy and home to celebrate this big day and with a lot more luck and love, she’ll be celebrating her 13th standing on all fours!

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Another Taylor Made driver

Since I’m such a TaylorMade chick, this new driver caught my eye. It seems to have been launched with a whisper and I can’t find that much information about it. It’s not even on the Taylor Made website yet!

taylormade burner driver
Here it is: The Taylor Made Burner Driver. It also comes in a “TP” model, which increases the price by $100 if nothing else. It’s less expensive than many other TM drivers, at only $299 and $399 (for the TP). Maybe our golf blogger friends at the PGA Merchandise show will bring back some more information on it. Personally, I think TaylorMade oughta send me one to test!

I’m just happy that as far as I know, Taylor Made has not released a square driver. Hallelujah. I know, I know – it’s probably just a matter of time. And maybe that’s why this one’s sneaking onto the scene – it’s not in line with the current fad.

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Say it ain’t so, Phil!

While looking over some more Birdie Girl bloggerage, I saw a disappointing report about Phil Mickelson on Score Golf.Phil will “most likely” use Callaway’s FT-i square driver at the Masters this year. Seems he’s convinced the thing will help him hit it straighter. I don’t know if that’s the magic bullet or not but if he’s got it in his head that it will do the trick, that might be all it takes. He’s got his body in better shape. As for whether he’s got his mind right, that he’s using one of those weird square things makes me think he doesn’t.

I was wondering if any Tour players were going to try one.


As for the technology, he’s almost got me convinced with this quote:

The FT-i isn’t an evolutionary driver, it’s a revolutionary driver,” Mickelson said. “Because the MOI is so high, because the ball goes so straight it doesn’t want to curve. That’s why I’m leaning towards that driver for Augusta. I’m not really trying to maneuver it or curve it; I’m just trying to hit high bombs.

If that’s the case, why is he only “leaning towards” it? Maybe he’s waiting for the jury of his peers to weigh in on it to see if he’s going to get laughed off Augusta National if he shows up with it in his bag.

Hmm… two posts in a row about ugly drivers. Dude, I hope they don’t prove out and force me to eat my words, buy one and play blindfolded! Maybe the look will grow on me???

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Putting a Hex on Ugly Drivers

Square drivers are ugly. There, I said it. I might have said it already but just to be clear – I think they’re unappealing, unnatural and good old fashioned icky. But I guess square drivers weren’t different enough for one manufacturer. HiPPO Golf has a new offering that makes the square drivers look like pageant queens (I’ll let you decide if that’s a compliment or not).

HiPPO decided to take a hacksaw to the square design and came up with this six-sided gem set for introduction at the 2007 PGA Merchandise Show:

But wait – it’s called the Hex squared. Are there thirty sides on there I’m missing?

Can I just say… Blech! 460 cc’s of nasty. [Say something nice, Kristen] The background colors in the photo go nicely with my blog design.Aside from the aesthetics, what about performance? Maybe the extra wind resistance cuts down the swing speed ever so slightly and channels that power into a more aligned path. Right. Wait… what did their PR person say?

The HEX² features a unique hexagonal shape that allows optimum weight distribution to reduce the effect of side spin and provide more energy transfer from club face to ball resulting in the straightest and longest driver ever designed. The aerodynamically shaped 460cc club head is designed to reduce drag on the backswing and generate higher head speed at impact.
-citation

I’m no engineer but something about that doesn’t make sense to me. If the shape causes weight distribution, wouldn’t that be accomplished via wind resistance, thus slowing down the driver? I guess technically that’s still aerodynamic, just a different dynamic of the aero than is usually associated with the word. Or maybe I’m just full of wind myself and should stick to the aesthetics.

On the brighter side (and I mean that literally), HiPPO released a bunch of new full club sets not too long ago, including this prize just for the ladies:

Maybe I’m harshing on HiPPO, but it sure seems like their new marketing strategy is going for shock value with all this ugly. Maybe they thought their older product lines were getting lost in a sea of sameness? At least it was a calm sea that didn’t induce vomiting.

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Eat Golf Tools: golf course finder and product comparison

Occasionally I’ll get questions from readers asking for recommendations on golf courses or golf products. If I don’t have intimate experience with the areas, courses or product types, I usually refer these people to the awesome tools over at www.eatgolf.com.

Eat’s creator, Rich, developed some really cool gizmos for just these types of inquiries. I like to use them myself. Rich is the geekiest stud in the online golf world. And I’m proud to say he’s also a personal friend of mine.

So, I have added both of these tools to my site in the sidebar.

Golf Course search

Search for a golf course in the United States by entering a zip code.
(Sorry, Hawaii’s not in there yet)

Golf Product Shopper

Search for a golf product by entering keywords. Be as general or specific as you want.

I challenge you to try ’em out and NOT think they’re terrific!

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Birdie Girl: more fabulous than a blogger

“We may not be able to correct your slice and we sure can’t shorten that dreaded par 5. But what we will do, is make you the most talked about golfer this side of St. Andrews.”

When I started this blog, I was looking for a more interesting name than “The Golfchick” and really just started using that as a placeholder until I came up with something better. It took me too long and golfchick just stuck. Even if I had considered the name Birdie Girl, I probably would have shied away from it anyway. I mean, I doubt I could be that presumptuous since I’m happy when I get any birdies in a given round and hardly qualify as a “birdie girl.”However, I think it’s a great name for this line of bags, umbrellas, headcovers and accessories designed for women by women “who define themselves by how they look – on the scorecard or in the clubhouse.” Birdie Girl had sellouts in their first set of offerings and have announced that they’re doubling their line for this season.

Oooh, I think that orange bag has my name all over it.

Founder of Birdie Girl, Rosemary Brdar, says she “founded this line with a single, stubborn mission: to create a line where women were the focus, not the second thought.” Hear here, girlfriend.

Birdie Girl already has a few supporters on the Duramed Futures TourTina Miller, Jessica Shepley and Connie Isler. Not surprising these women would carry such cool bags with their respective degrees in graphic design/marketing, journalism, and finance/international business.

Compared to some other female targeted product lines, these items are acutally reasonably priced, too! Check out their pink set benefiting the Rethink Breast Cancer program for only $149.


So if you can’t make it to the 2007 PGA Merchandise show, check out the golfanista smorgasbord over at www.birdiegirl.ca. Maybe you’ll be the next “most talked about golfer this side of St. Andrews.” (Wow, really?)

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Deck the blog

Thought I’d hang some decorations here on my blog. I even found some golf menorahs!

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy New Year, and Happy Anything-else-you-may-celebrate-this-time-of-year. May all your golf wishes come true.


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Happy Halloween!

It’s time once again for tricks and treats. Oh yeah, and costumes. Dress up your golf ball this year in this cute but practical costume:


When you send it into the lake to go trick or treating, it will be safe, warm and secure (and can still go home in your goodie bag).

I found this and a lot of other silly golf things at Prank Place.

And a special treat just for my friend Rich at Eatgolf.com:

Why are graveyards so noisy?
Because of all the coffin!

 

Mummy, mummy what’s a werewolf?
Be quiet and brush your face.

 

How did the witch almost lose her baby?
She didn’t take it far enough into the woods!

 

Why do black cats never shave?
Because 8 out of 10 cats prefer whiskas!

 

Why do demons and ghouls get on so well?
Because demons are a ghoul’s best friend!

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