Author: Erik J. Barzeski

Bag Boy Navigator Electric Cart Review

I desperately wanted to see the Bag Boy Navigator as the next step up from Sun Mountain’s Speed E Cart. Was I disappointed?

Bag Boy Navigator HeroThe folks at Bag Boy make some of the most widely used golf carts in the world. Bag Boy led the move from the older pull-cart style to the more popular push cart nearly two decades ago, and golfers who prefer to walk without carrying have showed their gratitude ever since.

Widespread use of the push cart eventually led to the motorized push cart, and eventually someone thought of adding remote control capabilities to the electric cart. A lot of companies make electronic carts, and Bag Boy has jumped into the market with a cart they’ve named the “Navigator.”

Having previously reviewed the remote-less electric cart from Sun Mountain, I was interested to see how much more I might enjoy golf with a remote-controlled mechanical caddy. At $1,499, I knew the Navigator had a lot to live up to!

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2006 Newport Cup Wrapup

Or “Sand Trappers versus Sand Baggers,” as this year’s event (jokingly) came to be called.

Newport CupThe 2006 edition of the Newport Cup was played last week, October 13-15, near Greensboro, North Carolina. The Blue team, this year consisting of Sand Trap staff members, took on a red-clad team of former staff members and special guests.

The result? A whole lot of laughs, less than expected amounts of booze, more than a few comments about the cold weather, and, in the end, a defeat for the heavily favored Blue Team, who jokingly took to referring to the event as “Sand Trappers versus Sand Baggers.”

What follows is a quick recap of the scoring. We’d go into more depth, but believe me, recounting the tale of our loss is hard enough without all the gory details!

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2006 Newport Cup

The 2006 Newport Cup will be held October 13-15 near Greensboro, North Carolina. Thanks to our sponsors, this will be another fun weekend.

Newport CupThe U.S. team may have lost the Ryder Cup, but that has not put a damper on the 16 contestants that will partake in the second annual Newport Cup. This year it’s “the staff versus the challengers” in the red-clay area of North Carolina on October 13, 14, and 15.

The Newport Cup is named after the location of the first U.S. Open, the Newport Golf and Country Club in Rhode Island. Held in 1895, professional golfer Horace Rawlins of England was the first champion.

The Blue and Red teams will return, and the staff (much like the dominating Europeans) will wear blue. The challengers, like the blood they’ll likely shed in defeat, will wear red. The stains won’t show, we figure. <grin>

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Golf Talk [Episode 039]

Ping should avoid shooting first and asking questions later. It may work for the military, but it doesn’t work when you’re screwing people who are trying to help the military.

PodcastTiger Woods continues his PGA Tour and stroke-play-event scoring streak, extending it to six with a field-lapping performance at the WGC-AmEx. Byron Nelson passes away, Nick Faldo gets busy with Kelly Tilghman (and deposes Lanny Wadkins), Phil Mickelson is truly done for the year, and Ping screws the military. Tune in to this episode of Golf Talk for more.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 039 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

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Golf Talk [Episode 038]

If misery loves company, you’ll appreciate Jeff and Erik’s take on the Ryder Cup beatdown this week.

PodcastThe U.S. Ryder Cup team suffers yet another horrible defeat at the hands of the wily Europeans. This week, we talk about this loss in-depth, along with Karrie Webb, Eric Axley, 14 whacks in a bush, and a whole lot more in our Ryder Cup wrapup. Tune in to this episode of Golf Talk for more.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 038 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

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2006 Ryder Cup Singles Matches Live Blog

We’re live blogging the final round of the Ryder Cup. The Miracle at Brookline remains untouched in Ryder Cup history. The massacre at Oakland Hills, however, is equalled.

2006 Ryder Cup Score

11:27 – Verplank halves the 15th to win his match 3&2. Mickelson and DiMarco are both down dormie two on the 17th, likely losses. There will be no record-setting loss today for the U.S. team. Just a record-tying one. Ugh. Final score: U.S. 9½, Europe 18½.

11:23 – If the matches finish the way they are, Europe will have won the last three rounds of singles play, today 3½-8½. Over those three years, the score is 23½-12½ in favor of the Europeans.

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Nike Juice to Launch in November

The Nike Juice ball arrives at our offices and plays off Viagra and other ED medications, among other things. Have a look.

Nike Juice LogoNike will introduce a new golf ball on November 1. The “Juice” is a 312-dimple surlyn-covered golf ball designed for more carry and distance for the low- to mid-head speed player who “needs a little more Juice.”

Nike sent The Sand Trap a unique teaser promotion for the new ball, and though it doesn’t quite suit my game (I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Pro V1x kinda guy myself), I’ve got to give the marketing and sports equipment giant props for thinking outside the box on this one.

We’re bored today, as the Ryder Cup is still a few days off, so we’ll give this little deal the full treatment. Read on for pictures and more information.

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Golf Talk [Episode 037]

Ryder Cup news dominates this week, naturally. Who do you think will win at the K Club?

PodcastBen Curtis and Ian Poulter win events while Ryder Cupper Paul Casey warms up at match play. Michelle Wie finishes dead last at the 84 Lumber Classic, Johnny Miller mouths off, Carolyn Bivens denies yet another promising young player a chance at the LPGA Tour, and more Ryder Cup news. Tune in to this episode of Golf Talk for more.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 037 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

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Titleist 585.H Hybrid Review

The Titleist PT 585.H is a holy grail of sorts: the perfect hybrid blend of long iron and fairway wood. Me likey.

Titleist 585.H HybridTitleist was admittedly a bit late to the hybrid market, and when they first arrived, it was only with the 503.H, which I reviewed in early 2005. The review was rather favorable if the club is viewed as a driving iron, but the 503.H lacks the true versatility found in most modern hybrids. Getting the ball airborne with a 503.H from poor lies, for example, was much more difficult than with most other hybrids.

After giving the 503.H half a season, I moved on to a TaylorMade Rescue Dual TP in mid-2005. My complaints in the Rescue Dual review: the ball got up in the air, but workability and trajectory control was lacking. Early 2006 brought a truer hybrid from Titleist, the PT 585.H. Read on to see whether it kicked the Rescue Dual out of my bag or whether I’m still searching for my 2-iron replacement…

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