Category: Players & Pros

Golf News for February 18, 2017

February 18, 2017
October Golf Gear
Semper Fore! Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment

October Golf Gear Bags Show Military-inspired Compartmentalization, Customization – A former Marine, October Golf Gear founder and CEO Romeo Filip says the idea is based on the military’s compartmentalized carrying system known as MOLLE, or Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment.

USGA and Royal & Ancient Say Distance in Golf is Not an Issue – The USGA and R&A recently released a study which showed that distance is totally not an issue in the sport of golf these days. (In other news, size also doesn’t matter…)

PGA Tour Taps Intel Technology to Drive Golf into Virtual Reality – The PGA Tour and Intel Sports Group’s Voke virtual reality unit tested the technology on the famous 10th hole at storied Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles ahead of the Genesis Open that teed off Thursday.

Saunders Opens 2-shot Lead at Riviera – This is how Sam Saunders prefers to be in a starring role — on a golf course making birdies, not as the composed grandson of Arnold Palmer giving a rock-solid eulogy for the King at his memorial service last October.

Cut Line: What’s next? It’s all up in the air – With the West Coast swing of the season nearing an end, Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard asks what’s next.

Golf Games That Don’t Require a Handicap? – Planning a round of golf around a wedding, or an outing with a large group of varying levels of skill? Here are some golf games that will fit the occasion. [Video]

Architects team with U.S. Kids Golf to make game more fun – After decades of making golf courses longer, designers have lined up to reverse the trend. The effort comes in the form of a working alliance between the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation.

Golf News for February 16, 2017

February 16, 2017

Wild Golf Reimagines the Ancient Game as a Contact Sport – See the video. This recalls our dream of golfing the length of the Appalachian Trail…

Is Golf Ready for the Innovative World Super 6 Perth format? – Sounds like Ranked Choice Voting to us… Golf ain’t broke, so let’s not try and fix it.

Confusion Over 2020 Golf Venue Dates Back to Bid: Report – Problems surrounding the venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics golf events, which does not allow full membership for women, stem from documents prepared for the original bid, a Japanese media report said on Wednesday.

This Week at Riviera Country Club Offers a Preview of the 117th U.S. Amateur Championship – The U.S. Amateur returns to Southern California for the first time in 41 years this August when Riviera Country Club hosts the 117th playing.

Golf Greats to Host 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard – Peter Jacobsen, Graeme McDowell, Annika Sörenstam and Curtis Strange will join former Secretary of Homeland Security and family friend Tom Ridge to host the 39th Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, taking place in Orlando March 16-19.

Golf Tip: Play Out Positive Scenarios for Better Results – In golf, as in life, it is essentially an evolutionary mechanism that allows us to imagine consequences before they actually happen.

Golf’s Governing Bodies Fooling Nobody About Distance – “Change the frigging golf ball,” Jack Nicklaus said at last year’s Masters. “The golf ball goes so far, Augusta National is about the only place, the only golf course in the world that financially can afford to make the changes that they have to make to keep up with the golf ball.”

Golf News for February 13, 2017

February 13, 2017
We Suggest a Bigger Club Selection
We Suggest a Bigger Club Selection

Here’s Why We Should Be Bullish About Golf In 2017 – Golf has a big problem. It’s the pervasive – and lazy — narrative that the sport is dying. It’s not just misguided, it’s wrong. What we’re seeing is not a precipitous drop in rounds-played, but a return to the level before golf’s popularity spike.

GolfSixes: The latest innovative format on the European Tour – So far, we’ve avoided converting to the metric system; let’s resist the temptation to adopt this new golf format, as well!

Florida golfer, 75, uses golf club to thwart alligator attack – We find ourselves wondering what club the gentleman used to fend of the prehistoric best, and whether or not a penalty was incurred.

Spieth Continues Long Line of Pebble Beach Success for USGA Champs – Jordan Spieth’s win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am marks the 40th time the event has been won by a USGA champion.

The 7 best golf parody songs of all time – We haven’t heard if any of these hits won at last night’s Grammy’s.

Golf Balls Littering Ocean Floor Near Pebble Beach Links – Harvesting golf balls from the world’s largest water hazard. [Video]

Golf News for February 12, 2017

February 12, 2017
Presidential Follow-through
Presidential Follow-through

Maine golf legend was held at gunpoint in Vassalboro by a burglar whom police later shot, killed – Maine golf legend Dickie Browne thought he was going to die Friday after a burglar put a gun to his head, tied him up in the basement and ransacked his Vassalboro home.

Best New Golf Balls for 2017 Season –The best new golf balls for the 2017 golf season include new technologies, better materials, and advanced performance to help you feel more confident and lower your scores! [Video] 

National Golf Expo in Boston March 3-5 – Golf season comes to Boston just a little earlier for those who attend the National Golf Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center in South Boston.

Tiger can still play majors, but he won’t be able to tee it up everywhere – Woods might also need a sponsor’s exemption to get into some invitational tournaments, but what sponsor wouldn’t jump at the chance to do that if Tiger wanted to tee it up at an event?

Swing coach Leadbetter runs rule over golfers Trump and Abe – As he ran the rule over Trump’s set-up, Leadbetter said: “He addresses the ball very nicely. His feet, his knees, his hips, his shoulders … all pretty square so it looks very good at address.

A Closer Look at Handicap Data Shows Just How Much Golfers Have Improved in Recent Years – Golfers are better than they were 25 years ago. It’s not just theory, it’s fact.

Golf News for February 11, 2017

February 11, 2017
The Girl... and The Polly
The Girl… and The Polly

Lawmakers Hold Hearing on LePage’s Budget – “I strenuously object to this as something rich tourists do here in Maine in the summertime. The vast majority of our rounds, 70 percent, are paid by Mainers,” says Peter Webber, executive director of the Maine Golf Association.

Golf Capsules via USA Today – Jordan Spieth knew the pin position on the ninth hole at Spyglass Hill as much by memory as by sight, which was a good thing considering the fog creeping across the Monterey Peninsula on Friday.

Expect President Trump to Use Golf as a Political Tool – As all those who play golf know, whether playing with friends, business partners, or political foes and allies, the golf course is a far better environment in which to hash out differences, uncover similarities, and make the world a better place, in general. Love him or hate him, we all should agree that Trump knows golf.

Studies Show Golf can Extend Your Life – If we play all the time, will we live forever?

This Lost Art Will Save You Strokes – If you’re struggling with that, say any two-word phrase with the first word coming on the backswing and the second word on the follow-through. We use “The Girl… and The Polly…”, inspired by the above painting by Berthe Morisot.

Golf News for February 10, 2017

February 10, 2017
Our Balls
Our Balls

The USGA Golf Ball Quiz – How well do you golfers know your balls?

Jordan Spieth clashes with ‘scums’ seeking autographs at Pebble – Professional autograph seeker wanted, send resume and references to The Golf of Maine…

Actor Bill Murray Jumps into Golf Fashion, But Says Don’t Go Crazy, ‘It’s not like the JLo line’ – Great video of interview with Bill Murray, “… all of a sudden, I started seeing t-shirts with my face on them.”

The Best Golf Interview of The Year – @clubproguy sits down with Q&A With The Ghost. It’s either great parody, or great weirdness. Enjoy!

Jim Furyk Announces Changes to Captain’s Picks for 2018 Ryder Cup – Minor changes to points and deadlines. But, we cannot wait for the next Ryder Cup!

23 Years Ago, Jack Nicholson Infamously Smashed a Windshield with a 2-iron in a Fit of Road Rage – We couldn’t hit the broadside of a Mercedes Benz with a 2-iron.

Golf News for February 9, 2017

February 10, 2017
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Cracking The Code Of Equipment’s Most Enduring Urban Legends – Yes, it works, but DO NOT put vaseline on your club face!

For Bill Schmedes, Teaching is a Labor of Love – A brief stop in Maine, and then on to becoming one of the best young teaching pros in the nation.

Trump’s Role As President May Be Boosting His Brand’s Reputation – Maine Public Radio’s perturbation that Trump’s brand may benefit from his presidency.

Abe Hopes to Avoid Landing in Rough in Golf Outing with Trump – At The Golf of Maine, we wholeheartedly endorse the concept of conducting important foreign policy meetings on the golf course.

Golf Channel Announces New, “Definitive Film” on Jack Nicklaus to Premier Following the Masters – If you enjoyed the 2014 post-Master’s airing of “Arnie,” you’re likely going to enjoy this year’s airing of “Jack.”

Winter Wonderland Or Winter Woes? – The USGA provides a number of links that do not only go into depth about why golfers should not be on a frosty golf course. They also show that the conflict between frosty conditions and golfers goes way back…

Bill Murray Invites Fans to Join him on the Golf Course – Give us this day our daily Bill Murray… Bid on a round with Carl Spackler

Phil Mickelson Buying Arizona Golf Course – Trade ’em, Collect ’em, Play ’em!

The Golf Industry Weighs the Good & Bad with a President Trump – “When it’s all said and done,” said the PGA’s Levy, “having a golfer in the White House is better for the game of golf than not having a golfer in the White House, period.”