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Archive - 2011

Makes me want to become a recluse. Wow, talk about overwhelming clutter...

Congratulations to... Keegan Bradley (had to recheck the spelling). "Shame on me," also, for never having heard of him until today. In a "world of 10,000 things" I guess ya can't follow them all.

Uh, is it just me or does it seem like this is an escalating trend? Without "dominant players" doing their thing a Pandora's Box of free-for-all is wide open, eh? Maybe anybody can win. So, if that's the case then why would I need to have ever heard of anybody? Okay, I don't feel so bad any more.

An occasional "Cinderella Story" is spectacular. Really frequent Cinderella stories are... not Cinderella stories any more, though probably still spectacular to the newly-slippered Cinderella and associates.

Awesome: Darren Clarke wins one for the [us] old[er or "ish"] guys (not that 42 is old, by any means, but in relative terms...). Congratulations and well done to Señor Clarke. Way to hang in there long term!

Entry moved to new location, "Throwing up grass to gauge the wind" in the "Ask the Pro" section

Okay, here we go with another major - The Open starting Thursday at Royal St. George's. Any picks? Based on what has been happening lately, I wouldn't even guess.

Congratulations to Rory McIlroy -- MAN, he made that look easy! Okay, I guessed wrong about an unheard-of winning. But it still was somebody very young and relatively unexpected. And I really don't want to overlook that unbelievably spectacular performance by Jason Day in the last round -- WOW!

Entry moved to new location, "Bulge and roll with irons" in the "Ask the Pro" section

Hooah, U.S. Open this week. Dig it. I'm picking another virtually unheard-of to win. How about you?

And to sneak in a micro mini-green addition to this post, I just finished a great audio book, which is more about health and improved brain function than it is about being green, but a bit of both - great stuff - The UltraMind Solution and I saw a great movie with more mind blowing information to help us with our environment and our health - Bag It movie.

Entry moved to new location, "Breaking tees" in the "Ask the Pro" section

What a perfect time for my second green post, given that the green jacket was awarded yesterday at Augusta.

I just finished the very recent book HOT: Living Through the Next 50 Years on Earth, by Mark Hertsgaard, and it has brought climate change and being "green" back to the forefront of my consciousness. Here are some good things that I learned, or that I was reminded of that I am already doing.

• The "if it's yellow, let it mellow rule" for flushing the toilet less often
• I take much shorter showers, and turn the water off while lathering, etc.
• Same basic idea, I don't let the faucet run while washing hands, brushing teeth, scrubbing dishes, etc.
• Similarly again, I turn off all lights and any electronic appliances that are not being used or that are not absolutely necessary
• We keep the thermostat for the air conditioner set at 81° during the summer, the heater at 68° during the winter -- off the rest of the year (using more or less clothing and windows/window coverings to help adjust)
• I recycle all paper possible (particularly junk mail - use any blank sides of paper for writing notes, etc., and then recycle it afterward - any concern about identity theft tear off the part with any personal info and recycle the rest), I request removal from mailing lists (my requests are not always honored), and I almost never use my computer printer

The two HUGE ideas in terms of positive actions and attempting to minimize disastrous climate change results are curbing human appetites (i.e., consumerism, consumption) and curbing human numbers (population). In that spirit -

• I am not reproducing - no offspring
• I do not buy gadgets or all the latest cool stuff (I don't even have a cell phone. Yes, I obviously do have a computer, but I build my own and don't supplement it with "i" or "e" this, that and the other thing)
• I avoid packaging whenever I possibly can (e.g., bulk food rather than packaged food) and recycle as much of it as possible rather than throwing it in the trash when I can't avoid getting it

This topic (personal actions and their effect on the environment) really does seem to be a dealbreaker for the future, and a much nearer future than we think, not far off at ALL. And governments, businesses and organizations need to become aware and act conscientiously even more than individuals. But personal actions are important. So I want to contribute positively on a personal level. I'm always interested in learning more and improving my own actions. So please don't hesitate to drop me a note if you have some good ideas.

Okay, it will be back to golf-related next time, as usual. Please also see my first green post from last year. Best wishes.

Well, the birdie at 15 may have been fairly unsurprising. But the chip in on hole number 1, the hole out from the fairway on number 3, and also birdieing the last three holes certainly WERE surprising! I guess you'll probably win The Masters if all that happens to you when you are in contention on the final day.

Congratulations to Charl Schwartzel (whom I must confess I had never heard of until today) -- amazingly well done.

And a standing ovation of an honorable mention (I know you can't see me right now, but I'm standing up) for the veritable Australian "Army" of Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott and Jason Day, who all played absolutely great golf down the stretch. Any of them could just as easily have won.

Just posted a new article about ambiguous golf terminology and also sent out my latest newsletter. Enjoy.

Entry moved to new location, "Playing a shot from a wrong green" in the "Ask the Pro" section

Entry moved to new location, "How course rating and slope are determined" in the "Ask the Pro" section

Entry moved to new location, "'Front' edge of bunker" in the "Ask the Pro" section

And while I'm [recently] on the topic of Caddyshack (post from 1/23/11) how about Bill Murray and D.A. Points with a victory in Monterey this weekend? A "gunga-lagunga" early bonus, I guess. Congratulations and "well done!" to MM. Murry and Points.

And Happy Valentine's Day, to boot.

Entry moved to new location, "Goggles to protect eyes from sand" in the "Ask the Pro" section

Entry moved to new location, "Par 6's?" in the "Ask the Pro" archive

If someone were to ask me why there should not be cheering and jeering, heckling and needling during the execution of golfers' strokes I would answer, first of all, because it is not a contact sport. Boxing, football, soccer, rugby, hockey and basketball, as examples, go hand-in-hand with rowdy fans, adrenaline and bellowing like cream with coffee, etc... well, I guess some people like their coffee black... er, or with sugar too, maybe... but I think you know what I mean.

Golf is more like chess than it is like the aforementioned contact sports. It requires patient concentration, which is respected and assisted as a built-in part of the game. The "nnnNoonan" spoof from the classic Caddyshack just serves to make the point - that's why it's funny (and the rest of the movie is priceless). Also, see my article on Style Points in Golf in the "Entertainment" section.

I get questions occasionally about how to administer details in betting games, tournament formats, etc. Since I have never been interested in betting games I can best refer you to these resources on golf betting games and tournament formats from one of my "Ask the Pro" frequently asked questions.

The game all by itself has always been interesting and challenging enough for me, so I haven't ever felt the need to add anything to it.

Wow, already a year since I started this blog. 2011... that's got a nice ring to it, eh?

Here's wishing you the best of success with your practicing and playing going forward into the new year.

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