Titleist is on a Small Roll...

Back in the day, one of my buds had a saying.... "I'm on a small roll". To the world, that meant "I managed to get a girl to talk to me more than once in a 72 hour period without slapping my face" - however, to Jim it meant " I am having a great deal of success with something that is my primary focus in life".

Well, based on the results thus far in 2010 on the PGA Tour, the folks at Titleist are "on a small roll"... Check This Out...

Event	Winner	Irons	Ball
Northern Trust Open	Stricker	Titleist 755	Pro V1
Farmer's Insurance Open	Crane	Titleist AP2	Pro V1x
Bob Hope Classic	Haas	Titleist CB Forged	Pro V1
Sony Open	Palmer	Titleist AP2	Pro V1
SBS Classic	Ogilvy	Titleist MB	Pro V1

No question, this is a pretty impressive showing. I've previously written about Titleist, and given them some grief for losing young players soon after they join the pro ranks (Danny Lee, etc.). However, in addition to the impressive list above, they have done a kick a$$ job in the last year snagging some real young guns....ponder this list:

• Rory McIlroy
• Rickie (Aerosmith) Fowler
• Michael Sim
• Nick Watney

They also migrated Geoff Ogilvy over from sister company Cobra (can Camilo,Ian, and JB be next ??). Hat's off to Titleist for keeping the pedal to the metal and setting the standard among the Tour players. Another thought provoking factoid:

- 2010 Results - 5 Winners, All played Titleist Irons and Balls

- 2nd half of 2009: 21 Winners, 4 played Titleist Irons, 9 Played Titleist Balls

For the Math nerds among us, that means that Titleist has improved their iron's success rate by more than 500%, and have ALREADY had more different Winners in 2010 than they had in all of 2009 ( 5 vs. 3). In addition, their ball success rate has improved by more than 2X.

Just curious about a couple of things...

(1) I wonder how long it will be until a ball made by anyone ELSE wins a 2010 event ? My guess... March.

(2) Could the new grooves have anything to do with Titleist's dominance thus far ? Are their balls performing better with the new grooves ? Are their "new grooves" somehow better ?

(3) Is this the Tiger effect ? (sorry, could not ignore that....)

And you thought Bushwood never did any real research....take THAT Waggleroom !

Calling All Golf Equipment Companies - Can we show the LPGA a Little Love ?

As I was watching the US Women's Open last week, I was reminded of something that I have been very curious about for a while. I watched many of the players, and even looked back at some video of earlier events, and the evidence was staring me in the face like a hungry wolf....and I could no longer ignore it.

Equpiment manufacturers practically IGNORE LPGA players from a "staff player" perspective. Rather than try to argue my point however, I will let the facts speak for themself. I put together this chart which shows the major equipment companies (TM,Titleist,Ping,Callaway,etc) and a list of their LPGA STAFF players (players who are sponsored by the equipment companies). Don't confuse this list with one which shows which players USE which company's gear - this shows who actually has LPGA players as sponsored "Staff" players. Check it out (no, I don't expect to make any friends with this list by the way...)

Equipment Company	Staff Players
Titleist / Cobra	None
TaylorMade	Creamer,Gulbis
Callaway	V. Hurst, Lindley,Gal,Pressel,Ueda
Cleveland	Blasberg
Adams	Lang,Leon,Lincicome,Tseng,Wright,Loudon
Ping	Delasin,Friberg,Hjorth,P.Hurst,Koch,Nordqvist, Ochoa,J.Park,Stahle,Stanford,Steinhauer,Ward,I.K.Kim
Nike	Blumenherst,McKenzie,G. Park, Pettersen,Wie,Simon

Now,compare this list of 33 LPGA players with the PGA Staff players for just ONE of the companies above....interesting,huh. Rather than try to draw any conclusions from this (other than Ping really supports the LPGA), I think it is much more meaningful to use this in a positive manner. As more and more women are playing golf at the amateur level, these companies are seeing more opportunities to sell them product. In a time of difficulty for the LPGA, wouldn't it be great to see several of these companies step up and show some strong support for the LPGA ? Perhaps one of them could sponsor an event that's looking for a one ? Or how about committing to sponsor at least 5 LPGA players ? Maybe a 2 year sponsorship deal for the top 5 qualifiers from the Duramed Tour ? There is a lot that these companies can do to help support the LPGA even more thasn they already do, and there could not be a better time for them to step up.

Dear LPGA - One word of Advice: "ANNIKA"

Now that the Wicked Witch of the LPGA has had a complete meltdown been vanquished to parts unknown, the LPGA should not waste time in making a strong,decisive move to fill the role of Commissioner. I know they have named an "interim commissioner" to fill the immediate void, but I am hoping that they will see the obvious, and act in a suitably prompt manner to name a full time replacement.

Considering all of the uncertainty, unrest, confusion, chaos, angry sponsors, disillusioned fans, and a decidedly risky road to recovery, there is one clear choice for the Commissioner's position - Annika Sorenstam. The LPGA has made a small move toward Annika, naming her as an advisor to the Board of Directors - a role which she has publicly embraced already. This baby step, however, needs to be followed up by a full court press to convince Annika that she is one person who can stabilize and restore the LPGA to some semblance of it's recent self.

Here are just 5 reasons that this makes sense:

1. Annika is still the most recognizable name in women's golf - both in the US and abroad - something KEY to the LPGA's resurrection.
2. She brings the credibility of a player, the business savvy of a businessperson, and the grace of someone who truly understands the women's game - all important attributes I wrote about earlier on this blog when I called for a replacement.
3. She has the admiration and respect of the players, the sponsors, the manufacturers, and the fans - this is something that cannot be underestimated. When she speaks, everyone involved in women's golf listens.
4. She has the backbone to call things like she sees them, and the wisdom to know when to leave a burning pile of crap alone and let it flame out - both characteristics that she demonstrated repeatedly while on tour. This ability to know when to fight and when to walk away will present a marked contrast to the previous regime - another important factor in convincing people that a REAL change has occurred.
5. She has the "juice" necessary to get the equipment manufacturers more involved in and supportive of the LPGA (ever notice that Titleist and Cobra have ZERO women golfers as "staff players" - WTF ???)

I will stop at 5 in the interest of brevity, but I could easily write another 10 or 15 reasons. Oh, and one other thing - She actually understands the game, plays the game, and SHE SHOT A FREAKING 59 !!!!!

Oh, in case you were wondering about the photo above, That's Annika too - bet I fooled you !

An Open Letter to Mark Calcavecchia from one of the "Chops"

Dear Mr. Calcavecchia,
I read the following quote that you made about playing with "chops" this week: "Of course, it will be nice to play golf [Thursday] with two other pros for a change. Jesus. Five days in a row of chops. Four days at the Hope--mind you, they were all a bunch of nice guys, but I've seen enough bad shots in the last five rounds I've played to last me all year."

To hear you speak with such distaste and contempt for the very people who made your millionaire lifestyle possible is sickening. Maybe your years of living a lifestyle of excess (as is obvious by your physique) has also made you soft between the ears. It is difficult to imagine a PGA player making such insensitive,crass remarks in the face of the erosion of the gravy train of corporate sponsorships - yet there you are, insulting us all. Perhaps you have forgotten a couple of basic economic concepts -maybe you were not in econ class the day we learned these

(1) Your sponsors (the people who put their name on your hat) make golf equipment - that is called "Supply". The people that buy that equipment...it's us "Chops" who you are so tired of dealing with - that is called "Demand". No demand, no need for supply, no name on your hat, no cash in your pocket. Capische ?
(2) The people who sponsor the events you play in - they sell stuff - cars, banking services, houses, etc. Supply again... Who buys that stuff ? Who creates the demand...Maybe you guessed it by now - it's us Chops again.

So you see, Mark, your livelihood (even though you have already made more money that most of us Chops can imagine) is inextricably linked to us Chops.

Now before I am done with this rant, let's contrast your attitude with that of the LPGA. That's the tour where they play for a lot less money, the players sign autographs with a smile, they are NICE to the fans, and they never complain about playing with us Chops. That's where I will be spending my hard earned cash - where I am appreciated a little.

In closing, I hope that one day, when I am old and gray, I see you face to face...and you say to me, with a smile, "would you like fries with that, sir"...

P.S. - Calcavecchia's sponsors include Ping, Titleist, and Foot Joy. If you are as disgusted by his arrogant and disrespectful comments as I am , please let his sponsors know.

Amber Prange - Touring Professional Interview

(photo property of Play Golf Designs - copyrighted)

Bushwood Country Club is proud to share with the membership our FIRST tour pro interview. However, our first one is not just any interview - it is a special one with a young lady named Amber Prange, who is playing on the Duramed Futures Tour this year. You will remember Amber from the latest installment of "The Big Break" on The Golf Channel. Amber is not only a very talented golfer, she is also a budding business woman who was gracious enough to spend some time with us this week. So, without further adieu, here's Amber....

1. Tell us a little about yourself – age, hometown, where you live now,college, etc. I'm 24 years old, and grew up in Noblesville, Indiana (Go Colts !!!). I played collegiate golf at the University of Washington for four years, and graduated with a degree in Communications, with a minor in Business Marketing. I now split my time between Noblesville, Orlando, and wherever the Tour takes me.

2. What are your goals for 2009 ? My goals for 2009 changed a bit based on my experiences in my rookie year on tour. For this year, I am placing much less pressure on myself, and will be focusing on 2 areas: First, Play one shot at a time – focusing on the moment. Second, Play my best every time out, and finish as high as possible in each event.
3. How many events do you plan to play in 2009 ? I want to play as many as possible. The Duramed Futures Tour has 16 scheduled events, and I need to play well early to qualify for as many as I can. Regaining my full-time status is a key objective for me this year.
4. What part of your game are you working the hardest on ? Distance off the tee is the main area I am focusing on – I have always been able to hit the ball accurately off the tee, and my iron play and short game are good – but gaining an extra 15-20 yards is something I am working really hard on. I've been working on improving my core strength and conditioning this of season, and I am happy with my progress – I am in the best shape of my life.
5. How were you introduced to golf ? Golf has been a part of my family since I was born – My dad and his family are all avid golfers – counting 5 PGA professionals among them. Early on, I was not a huge golf fan – but in my early teens it really began to click for me and I developed a real passion for it.
6. What's in your bag ? I am a big fan of Ping clubs – I play the G-10 driver, fairway woods and hybrids. My irons are Ping I-10's, which I love, and my wedges are the Ping Tour series. My putter is a Yes! Tracy – the folks at Yes! Golf are incredible supporters of the Duramed Tour (shout out to Glenn at Yes! Golf- your rock…). My ball is the Titleist Pro v1
7. So we have to ask, How do you mark YOUR Titleist ? I mark my balls with little dots around the number to look like a flower.
8. Tell us about your work with Play Golf Designs – what is involved in that ? Play Golf Designs is an incredible company that I work with. They are based in Las Vegas, and offer golfers the ability to book a complete package at the best courses in the area. Packages include golf with one or more of the Professional golfers on the staff at PGD (including me), and it provides a great opportunity to meet and get to know the pro's the PGD roster. For us, it is a great chance to network with people who are passionate about golf and meet our fans.
9. What has been you most memorable experience with PGD ? Meeting someone who helped me get into LPGA Q- school.
10. How many holes in one ? Only one so far – but it was very memorable. It happened in my FIRST collegiate golf tournament, and my Dad was there watching. I hit a 5 iron onto the 165 yard 17^th hole - it hit about 5 feet away, and rolled right in the cup.
11. OK, now for a personal question - how far do you hit your driver ? Ah, a personal question, huh ? I currently hit my driver about 225-230 - so adding the 15-20 yards that I am shooting for will get me out there in the 240-260 range. That's really important to me for posting lower scores this year – so you can see that's why I am focusing on it.
12. Who would be in your dream foursome and why ? My dream foursome would include Ernie Els ( a super nice guy who I met at Lake Nona), Trevor Immelman, and a tie between Tiger and Sergio. OK – I know that's five people – but we would play fast and not hold anyone up !
13. Favorite sports other than golf ? I love to play Volleyball, and want to take up Tennis at some point. I also love skiing and kickboxing.
14. Favorite athlete ? Peyton Manning
15. What frustrates you the most ? On the golf course, Bogeying the last hole or three putting. In the "real world", selfishness and rudeness.
16. What makes you smile ? Polite people and pure selflessness.
17. What's on your IPOD ? Ah, I knew this one was coming ! I like practically every genre of music - currently in rotation I have a mix of Hip Hop, Sinatra,Techno, Mickey Avalon. Hard Rock (think Korn), and Classic Rock.
    
18. What is one song that gets you really pumped up and ready to compete? …Hmmm, that would be a song by Buckcherry called Crazy Bit*h. The lyrics are kind of racy, but the beat and tempo really get my heart pumping.
19. What is one thing that will surprise the members of Bushwood about your experience on The Big Break ? hmm Big break shocker... they try to feed us a lot of alcohol and everyone got along great with one another except for Dave
20. Can we get the first interview after you win your first Duramed event ? Of course…how could I say no

Amber Prange will be playing on the Duramed Futures Tour in events across the USA this year. She is super nice, and I encourage everyone to go out and support Amber AND the Duramed Futures Tour events ( 2009 schedule is here). She is also the newest official member of Bushwood Country Club, and will receive an official Bushwood Country Club t-shirt – Welcome to the club, Amber !

Picking a Golf Ball - What is Important ?

Picking a golf ball today is pretty confusing. I've seen all of the Titleist commercials, and the PGA leaderboard that shows how many players use Titleist balls....but what is REALLY right for the Average Joe/Jane golfer ? Here are the factors that I think are important:

(1) Spin - Do you prefer a ball that spins a lot or one that spins less ? Do you even know how to tell ? One good way is from your tee shots - if you tend to favor the right side of the course (for righties) - I hate to say "slice", chances are that you hit shots that spin a lot - and thus would be best served by a low spin ball. However, the best way to determine this is to vists a golf shop and hit a few on the launch monitor and see what it tells you.
(2) SwingSpeed / BallSpeed - This is a topic that will require some professional intervention, but can really help in selecting the right ball for you. The same trip to the golf shop mentioned above can offer you insight into your swing speed and ball speed.
(3) Affordability - Let's face it - a lot of us just cannot stomach $45 smokes for a 12 kit of Pro V1s...what's a duffer to do ? Well, you have two options - select less expensive balls (there are lots to choose from) OR buy used high end balls from folks on eBay (this is a great option, BTW).
(4) Brand Loyalty / Perception: Let's face it, golf is a VERY mental game, and some of us just feel better playing a brand that we recognize or like.


At the end of the day, the best option is to make a visit to the golf shop of your choice (Edwin Watts, GolfSmith, etc) and let the pros there help you out. Explain to them that you need help selecting a ball, and want to get on the launch monitor to help identify the right one. Do not be afraid to tell them that you need to stay in a price range - remember that they are there to help you. BTW - you may have seen Bridgstone commercials lately where they are doing comparison with average Joe/Jane golfers hitting various balls to help them select the one that is best for them....clearly an indication that the industry is "getting it" as it comes to golfers selecting a ball that is right for them.

Here are some to consider:

High End Balls:

• Titleist Pro V1 (high spin, soft) and Pro V1x (less spin, a bit firmer)
• Taylor Made TP Black (high spin, soft) and TP Red (less spin, firmer)
• Bridgestone B330 and 330 s
• Nike One Black , Nike One Platinum (high spin, soft)

Middle Tier Balls

• Titleist NxT and NxT Tour
• Taylor Made Burner Red and Black
• Bridgestone e5
• Callaway Hot X
  

What do you play ?

ed note: Da Judge plays ProV1x, and chokes every time he has to pay full retail for them....