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Happy Holidays From GolfDash!!!

golfdash — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:00:22 +0000

We are looking forward to amazing 2009 filled with all sorts of new surprises. We hope to have you along for the ride.

In the meantime, both John and I sincerely wish you and yours a warm, safe and happy holiday season!

Doug Farrick
John Diekmann

PS: We hope you receive all sorts of cool golf stuff from Santa. If you don’t, watch our blog closely as we will be introducing more and more phenomenal “deals” in the coming months

Snow Bound!

doug — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:42:54 +0000

Here in Western Massachusetts we have been getting pounded by snow storms. First a foot on Friday and now another storm today.

My office is a short 15 minutes or so from the house and I just snapped the pic above looking out the window. Golf seems light years away.

Winds Gonna Blow For The Open

One Cool App: Sports Tap (for Golf) For The iPhone

doug — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:45:01 +0000

I have to admit I have just LOVED my iPhone since I received it last Christmas. In my opinion there is nothing that comes close to it today. Apple just knows HOW to create beautifully effectives interfaces.

Up until recently I have not done too much with the App Store but since *discovering” it I have found a world of coolness – of course, not *everything* is cool but there sure are some gems (just ask my wife about “muddled”!)

One of these is Sports Tap (dubbed the ultimate mobile sports portal). It is an amazingly simple app that allows you to quickly “tap into” any sport you wish to. However, I use it religiously for checking golf scores.

It works like this; once you install the app on your iPhone you can tap on icons like: NBA, NFL, Golf, NCAA, Auto, NHL, NHL and others.

When you select golf you have 6 tours listed: PGA, LPGA, Champions, Nationwide, Europe and Canada. It shows a a summary, a beautiful, crystal-clear black on white leader board and completed tournaments.

Why I “digg” it: It is super simple to use. The folks at Sports Tap gave some serious attention to first what information is needed and secondly to the organization of this information.

I guarantee if you use your iPnone like I do you will never go back to these big horsey sites like ESPN or PGA.com or any number of others waiting for them to load (and load and load . . ) then trying to dig through all their stuff to find scores. I, for one, am done – and on to Sports Tap.

Check them out here:

Sports Tap

Tiger Woods After His ACL Repair

John — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:16:09 +0000

Tiger Woods and family

When you talk about the Pro Tour, the big question in the back of the room is always what Tiger will emerge when he returns from his ACL repair. Will it be the guy who’s dominated the tour for years or maybe someone different?

Tiger will certainly know how to play his game. If he’s committed – which he always has been – he’ll come back as strong or stronger than he ever was. Maybe it won’t last for a lot of years – let’s not forget all the speculation about how many surgeries to the same knee can someone have before it’s compromised, or how Tiger’s swing puts too much pressure on his left knee – but it will be OK for at least a few.

So what reason do we have to think that he won’t be back as the dominating Tiger of old? For one, everyone changes, even Tiger. Sometime it’s the mental changes that are the critical ones. Tiger will have been away from golf longer than anytime in his life. That much time to reflect and expand activity into other areas can alter where golf fits into his life, after all Tiger is human. He’ll have had the chance to really immerse himself into fatherhood. Based on how he was raised and the reverence he has for his parents, it’s easy to imagine that golf will be a distant second to Sam. As she grows and begins to interact more with the world, Tiger will want to be there. Don’t forget there’s at least one more child on the way.

Then there are Tiger’s numerous philanthropic and business endeavors. While playing golf may be off his agenda for awhile, promoting it and building courses will certainly be more prevalent. Once you start a ball rolling, it’s difficult to stop it. If Tiger was practicing golf 8 hours a day, will that shrink to 5 because he’s allocated another hour and a half to Sam, a half hour to the Tiger Woods Foundation and an hour to designing courses?

Of course, this is all speculation. But as Tiger matures and grows, his involvement with the rest of the world is bound to become more than just being the best golfer. And this new involvement will demand time. I expect Tiger to really focus in ’09 on establishing his position once again at the top. After he does that, expect to see him become more and more selective in where and when he plays in the following years. Everyone who follows the pro game knows he will be intensely focused on beating Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 major wins. I’m not so sure that beating Sam Snead’s record of most tour wins will mean that much. Watch for other things – family, philanthropy and business - to become more important at some point. When they do, rest assured that Tiger will be driven to be the best at these as well. Even for Tiger Woods there are only so many hours in the day.

5 Candies You Hated Getting Every Halloween

doug — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:32:34 +0000

This really has nothing to do with golf but just loved the article. And seeing that today is Halloween and there are a horde of trick or treaters on the street below my office I thought I would post it.

It has received 368 “Diggs” so someone is digging it too.

Check it out – it is pretty dead-on for the crappiest Halloween candy.

Here is the intro to the article:

“Every Halloween the youngsters’ thoughts turn to candy. And minor acts of vandalism. But mostly candy.

But there was always a downside to trick or treating, and not just the juvenile diabetes that kicked in a few years later. We’re talking about the barely edible candies that got handed out every year, products that thrived at Halloween because it was the one time when the person who bought it wouldn’t have to actually eat it.

We’re talking about… ”

5 Candies You Hated Getting Every Halloween

Is This Your Foursome?

Is This Your Foursome?

doug — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:18:16 +0000

These guys look like the last foursome I played with! See what golf can do to you.

Getting pretty chilly here in the Northeast (Massachusetts) and it is sort of a weird feeling when Halloween comes because my days are VERY limited on the golf course this year (and they have predicted a very long winter – yessh)

Actually just received another Alpha Hybrid and have not even had a chance to hit it yet ;-(

Anyways, enjoy this all Hallows Eve and (please) leave some candy for the kids!

No related posts.

Wackiest Training Aid: “Parachute Golf Balls”

doug — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:13:23 +0000

I just came across this ad the other day. Obviously it is a few years old. It seemed so bizarre it kinda caught my attention. I mean parachutes on golf balls? It actually sounds stupid and cool at the same time.

Of course, there are all sorts of golf ball training aids that restrict the flight of balls today from plastic to foam to those crappy little whiffle golf balls. I shouldn’t talk, I use them too – but they sure don’t last that long.

I tried to do some research on Google on these “Parachute Golf Balls” and really came up with not much so if you find anything please respond to this post so I can rest easier.

Really anything with a parachute has always been fascinating to me. Maybe because my Mom used to buy my brothers and I those GI Joe-like hard plastic dolls with a parachute attached (sort of like this toy). I loved those things.

We had those things in trees in our neighbors yards and everywhere else. Just hours and hours tossing those things in the air. With all these complicated toys today with thousands of parts it sure was a simple toy. Maybe that was the charm of it.

So I am on a mission to find out more about these “parachute golf balls”. I’ll keep you “posted”

So Much Fist Pumping, So Little Time

John — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:26:48 +0000

This is a small rant about ‘fist pumping’ on the golf course, specifically during pro tournaments. The Ryder Cup didn’t trigger this. We see it more and more every week during whatever PGA tournament happens to be on. I’ll predict in advance that those of you over 50 will be in complete agreement with me on this and those of you under 40 will think I’m loony. I’m not sure where the 40-50 crowd will be.

I just can’t get used to the fist pumping thing. That was never a part in any of the golf that I saw or participated in when I grew up. Back in the day, players in general felt good when something worked and bad when it didn’t. No one needed to run across the green, shout at the top of his lungs and then give 4 or 5 uppercuts for emphasis when a 20 footer happened to disappear into the cup at a most opportune time.

Is there anything inherently wrong with fist pumping? For sports in general I guess there are arguments on both sides. But golf? The rules and atmosphere are so different from other sports. There’s always been something genteel or zen about it. There’s decorum and history and tradition. It’s more a ritual than a sport. It can even be meditative with the right frame of mind. How can anyone be for fist pumping who feels this way about the game?

Tiger started this whole thing, though he really didn’t. Let me explain. Tiger started winning and began to imitate the sports stars of his day, like Michael Jordan. They fist pumped first! Was Tiger the first guy to fist pump in golf? I don’t know. But he was the first guy that brought it front and center. Now some guys even fist pump in their industrial leagues. Don’t want to play with no fist pumper!

I just miss the days when a guy played four rounds of golf in four days, sank his last 10 footer, beat his opponent by 1 stroke and proceeded to take his cap off and shake the other guy’s hand. Not to go all Zen on you, but doesn’t it take two of something to make a great competition. Fist pumping just seems to take away from that from where I sit. I’m also afraid to do it because I suspect the Golfing Gods will punish me later because they know I was more lucky than good on that last shot. Without my share of lucky breaks I’d probably have given up the game by now!

Review of ’08 Pro Season

John — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:29:19 +0000

I know, the season isn’t over yet. We still have the rest of ‘silly season’, the Ryder Cup and of course the finals of the FedEx Cup. Excuse me as I take a moment to yawn. The majors are over and the top pros have had since January to show us their game for the year. Not much changes from here in, except dividing up the last handouts. There’s drama for the guys who are trying to avoid going back to Q School, but that’s another story.

I actually like the Ryder Cup, but where’s the pre game hype. I think they’re playing next week, but to be honest it’s kind of hard to tell. There was more about the Ryder Cup six weeks ago than there is now. Is it because Tiger won’t be there?

Here’s what I think we learned from this year: Tiger is and will continue to be way out in front of everyone else as long as he’s healthy. VJ still has game left in him. He’s proved to every player what hard work can do and he knows how to close the deal when he smells $10 million and knows Tiger isn’t around.

The Australians, particularly the young guns, have their moments, but they are not the force to be reckoned with that we feared (or maybe hoped depending on your point of view). Excepting Sergio, the established young Europeans didn’t cut the mustard either. Some were sick or hurt and many just didn’t get their game to the next level. Sergio has been a pleasant surprise. In my estimation he’s turned the corner from child star to man and we could really see him challenge Tiger next year. Besides South African transplant Trevor Immelman, the Africans didn’t show much. While Immelman looked great at Augusta he disappeared after that. Too much celebrity perhaps.

Then there’s Phil. Still number 2, I believe, but how much longer will that last. He’s got the game to even challenge Tiger, but his mind holds him back – too much over thinking and over strategizing. If you’re as good as you think you are Phil, then just go out and play better than everyone else. You don’t need 10 wedges, 8 drivers and Mr. Pelz’s magic gizmos. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for Dave Pelz, he just shouldn’t go to tournaments with him. Phil, find 14 clubs you like and go get it done.

There are some interesting new, young faces from the US. Brendt Snedeker is very likable and can play – sometimes. Anthony Kim shows the most promise. I don’t know his game well enough to say that he’s getting better every week, but if he is then look out world. However, as so many before have shown, going from good to great is not easy. Out of the big blasters, JB Holmes has played the best. He can crush the ball, but also seems to be developing a short game. We should learn more about him if Zinger let’s him play a lot in the Ryder Cup. With his prodigious drives will he be a great ‘foursomes’ player? JB, please learn to play a little faster. Don’t let a little thing like that take away from your game. When you’re hunting you know you’ve got to get the shot off quickly. Just think about golf the same way.

Who’d I miss? Romero could be good, but how could we really tell this year. Cabrera just plain disappeared, as did KJ Choi. Where they hurt? The other Singh – Jeev – who hit the tour this year is very interesting. I’m thinking this guy could be for real next year. I also like the German twenty-something, Martin Kaymer, but we’ll have to wait until next year to see what he’s about as Faldo didn’t choose him for his Ryder Cup team even though he was number 10 on the points list. I like Justin Rose, but was disappointed with his performance this year. He started out well, but just never put it all together. I do believe he gets better every year, will he continue that with more hard work?

I’m not leaving out Padraig Harrington. He’s proven he can play at the highest level consistently with three majors under his belt. Can he beat Tiger? We’ll see. Padraig is definitely my number 2 man. He’s getting stronger and playing with more confidence after every win – something every superstar must master. There are plenty of other guys to talk about, but I’ve covered the players I think are key. I would be remiss in not saying something about Kenny Perry and Rocco Mediate – two fine gentlemen as well as great golfers. Will they contend for a major next year? Probably not. But they are wonderful examples of perseverance, focus, and respect/love for the game. I can’t wait to see Kenny in the Ryder Cup. My only regret is that Rocco isn’t there as well.

Winds Gonna Blow For The Open

John — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:25:00 +0000

We could be in for something different for this years British Open at Royal Birkdale which begins tomorrow. The weather forecast calls for light rain and winds from 10-20 mph for the next couple of days. In recent years, Open weather has been uncharacteristically sunny and mild. If you’ve been to a UK links course, then you know how much wind and rain can change them. Royal Birkdale under sunny and calm conditions and Royal Birkdale under rain and stiff wind are two entirely different venues. For players that aren’t used to it, it can play as much with your head as with your golf ball. Players in the field who grew up playing in these conditions will have a distinct advantage. Typically this isn’t the case for US born and bred pros, except for a few locations such as west Texas and maybe Hawaii. High soft floaters aren’t going to work. You have to know how to hit it low off your back foot and too a lot of bump and run. It should suit the Scottish players perfectly though as the old Scottish saying is “No rain, no wind, no golf!”.