Archive for December, 2007
Dec
31
Posted under
Basically Golf
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I thought I would have a look at some of the blunders of 2007 that in some way involved golf!
Sergio Garcia, oh come on we all like Sergio, but he has again this year missed out on a Major due to the fact that he can’t seem to keep it all together on the last day! This year he threw it all away in a play off against Pardraig Harrington. Oh well 2008 tomorrow!
Pamela Anderson, alas no not the busty Baywatch Beauty but the Pamela Anderson who asked Tiger Woods during a press conference “Is my boyfriend gay because he screams out your name during sex?” So let me get this right Pamela Anderson’s boyfriend screams “Tiger Woods” during sex?? Hmmmmm.
Ernie Els, the Worlds number five threw away a two shot lead on the last hole in the Dunhill Championship in South Africa in December, but all was ok because his eight year old daughter told him, “You played so well”. Not to worry there was only a difference of $75,000 between first and second place!
Finally the biggest golfing blunder of 2007 has to go to Bill Murray! Yes the Caddyshack star was pulled over in Stockholm Sweden while driving his golf cart to the 7-Eleven. However Swedish Authorities failed to see the funny side and said he could face drunken driving charges! Oooops!
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Dec
30
Posted under
Basically Golf,
Player Bio
Looking forward to what promises to be one of the most exciting years of golf yet, with all the normal majors promising to deliver their usual excitement and a Ryder Cup to look forward to I thought I would just have a look at some of the names that I feel will make an impact in 2008.
The first that instantly springs to mind was 2007’s order of merit winner Justin Rose. After winning the Volvo Masters in Spain at the end of the 2007 season he proved that he has not only the talent but the nerve and the maturity to be one of the great players. One of the best European hopes of winning one of the majors in the next 12 months. Justin will also be a valid member of the European Ryder Cup Team going on the rankings of the 17th of December. Now the European Tours number one will without doubt make more of an impact in 2008.
The ever present and unmistakable Miguel Angel Jiminez is the next on my list to watch. He has lead major competitions and already clocked up his first win of the European Tour 2008 season. Having spent some time with Miguel during ProAm competitions his focus and passion for the game is one that is an inspiration to any golfer. Then there is of course the trademark cigars that he loves. Already in third spot on this seasons money list Miguel has a great opportunity to be part of the European Team for The Ryder Cup in 2008.
Ross Fisher is the third from the European Tour that I think will make a real impact in 2008. A good finish to the 2007 season saw him with a good 14th in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama and then a few weeks later finishing runner up in the HSBC Champions to the World number 2 Phil Mickelson after a playoff! And if he continues to show that sort of form then it would be a good move for Nick Faldo to consider him as a wild card for the Ryder Cup team.
Australian Adam Scott is one man who I feel will make a massive impact on the World stage in 2008, unfortunately not eligible for a place in either Ryder Cup team, I am sure that he will be taking at least one top three spot in a major this year. I had the pleasure of watching Adam during 2007 and I have to say his golf was amazing, intelligent, calculated and mature just what a top professional needs.
Tiger Woods, yes I know everyone will be watching him anyway but for anyone wanting to learn about the game and see what thinking outside of the box is about as well as a gracious swing, its a one stop shop. Lets hope that the Tiger can rally the passions of the US team when it comes to the Ryder Cup.
Anyone you would like to see make an impact in 2008?
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Dec
29
Posted under
Basically Golf,
Swing Improvement
I have just come in from a very good 18 holes with a friend of mine that has been working on his game very hard over the last 4 weeks. By very hard I mean he took 2 weeks off work and spent 10 hours in lessons and at least 5 hours a day on the course or the range getting his game trimmed for the start of the new season of competitions coming up in the new year.
Normally I wouldn’t advise going at this so deep but he has had a rough year personally and wanted to just be totally focused on one thing for a while so went for it. It really paid of dividends for him. Before he did this he was very much reliant on getting a massive straight drive off the tee which happened one in ten times. Today his swing was slower more controlled and the club head did all of the work off the tee. He probably dropped 10 yards off his furthest drive as it was 6 weeks ago but this time from 13 drives he hit 12 fairways!
His positioning on the course was second to none today getting a clear shot into every green and his control around the greens lead to a single handicap score for the day. Not bad when you consider he was a 23 handicap at the start of 2007!
This is what lead me to the title of this post, hitting the ball further is not always the answer. I have read so many articles from people who’s advice is to give the ball a good old slap to get it off down the fairway and when people try it they lose the ball or get the ball wet and even worse look like complete fools when they hurt their back! As I have said in the past slow it down get the control then think about the power, in many cases getting the control and getting the club to do the work will mean you can stop thinking about getting so much power because your game will be more controlled and less demanding on the physical aspect.
Of course I am not saying that being fit to play golf is a myth of course it helps a massive amount and helps prevent injury, but knowing the club is capable of doing most of the work is a great way to get ahead on the course.
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Dec
27
Posted under
Clubs Reviewed,
Drivers
I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas day, personally I was lucky enough to find out that my local course was open for business, so I took full advantage and went up on Christmas Eve and booked out the Ping G10 Driver on loan over the Christmas break.
I have been looking to get my hands on the Ping G10 Driver since seeing Miguel Angel Jiminez using one in a Pro Am back in late November, however it would seem that everyone else had been wanting to try it as well.
On first getting the club I headed straight for the range to give it my bucket of balls test that I like to do before taking a club out on the course. The first thing I noticed was the size of the head closely followed by the firmness of the shaft. The head size compared to a lot of the other 460cc drivers on the market seemed a little smaller but the club face itself looked taller. The shaft kept the club head in position through the swing meaning a good connection with the ball.
Now if you like your club to make a good solid “ting” sound as you go off the tee then you might be a little disappointed with the Ping G10 Driver as it makes a very distinctive “whack” sound. The other thing that was very clear, after you made contact with the ball you really felt as though you had given the ball a good solid strike.
After 18 holes yesterday it was clear the the Ping G10 Driver is forgiving, adds to the ball speed, has a good weight distribution in the head of the club and was very consistent. I would also like to add that it can be described as a lazy club as it is very nice to relax back and let the club do all the work. The Ping G10 does just that.
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Dec
22
Posted under
Clubs Reviewed,
Drivers
When first looking to write a Golf Club Review for the TaylorMade r7 CGB Max Driver I was a little concerned about the fact that I had only just had a look at the new the new Nike SasQuatch Sumo driver and I was still in my own mind very much a King Cobra man. However after speaking to a few golfers at the Volvo Masters back in November I decided that I would give it a go anyway.
One of my favorite courses is Club de Golf Aloha down in the South of Spain and I have to say that a number of the holes there require a nice draw from right to left in order to take on some of the slight doglegs and more of a draw on other holes. Well this club for this was perfect.
To quote the manufacturer of all those special specs: 
All in all I found the club to be very consistant and smooth. The club is also very very light (lots of very’s going on in this bit my apologies but it is for good emphasys!) as well as the ability to change the weights to suit the swing means all in all it is a very nice club. No where near as much give in the shaft as the Nike SQ and well worth paying the extra for the Taylormade.
Well that is my Golf Club Review for the TaylorMade r7 CBG Max Driver and the last post from me this side of Christmas, will be enjoying a boxing day round (and hoping that my wife reads this review and makes sure there is one of these under the tree for me this year) Have a great Christmas everyone.
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