Category: Hot Topics

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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Matt Griesser, Actor and Comedian

“Sign Boy” dispenses his wisdom on keeping PGA Tour golfers “on their toes,” golfing in Iceland, and who he thinks is “two scoops of crazy.”

Throwing Darts Title Today’s inteview is with actor and comedian Matt Griesser. Matt has appeared in featured films such as Almost Famous and sitcoms such as Coach, Grace Under Fire, and Murphy Brown. But you probably know him best as the character “Sign Boy” in the now famous Footjoy ads.

Matt Griesser sat down with us recently and shared his thoughts on keeping PGA Tour golfers “on their toes,” golfing in Iceland, and who he thinks is “two scoops of crazy,” among other topics. We hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as we enjoyed creating it.

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Bunker’s Dozen: October 2006

The European Ryder Cup team battles Tiger Woods for this month’s top spot.

Thrash TalkThe month of September was dominated by two things in golf: Tiger’s continuous stroke-play winning streak and the European Ryder Cup domination. Tiger won the Deutsche Bank Championship the first week of September and the WGC-American Express Championship the last week of September (it actually ended October 1st). Tiger said his streak ended when he lost in the World Match Play Championship, but it’s actually still going strong at six in a row.

The 36th playing of The Ryder Cup was just as impressive in the month of September. The hype was higher than ever, and the performance of the Europeans was better than ever. Europe beat the United States in a landslide en route to winning The Ryder Cup for the third straight time.

Was Tiger’s play good enough to outlast the great play of the European Ryder Cup team? Also, who else performed well in the month of September? These questions and more are answered in this month’s Bunker’s Dozen. If you have anything to add, feel free to comment below or discuss it in the forum. I hope everyone enjoys the list!

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Dr. Gio Valiante, Sports Psychologist and Author

Dr. Gio Valiante offers up his opinions on making fearless swings, the “other” golf psychology books, and who he thinks has the strongest mind on the PGA Tour.

Throwing Darts TitleToday’s interview is with sports psychologist Dr. Gio Valiante, who has worked with PGA Tour players such as Chris DiMarco, Justin Leonard, Camilo Villegas, and Chad Campbell. Valiante has also authored a book entitled “Fearless Golf.” Dr. Valiante is a professor at Rollins College and is also the mental game consultant to Golf Digest.

We hope you enjoy the interview.

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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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2006-2007 College Golf Preview

The Sand Trap opens its new college golf section in style with a special season preview.

College GolfMost of the professional tours are starting to wrap up their respective seasons. The college golf season, on the other hand, has just begun. Last season’s national champion was crowned just a few months ago, and it’s time to get it started again. Between now and next June, the top programs in the country will fight it out for supremacy.

The Sand Trap will be covering college golf from now on, and rightfully so. Many of the world’s best, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Jim Furyk, made their way through the college ranks before striking it rich at the professional level.

There is no better way to get the ball rolling than a season preview. I’ve put together my top-20 rankings, as well as my prediction for national player of the year, freshman of the year, and national champion. Sit tight and enjoy.

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Live Blogging: Final Round of the 2006 PGA Championship

We’re live blogging the final round of the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah. Will Tiger Woods win his 12th, or will someone else hoist the Wanamaker Trophy?

19:00 – The final standings of the 88th PGA Championship.

#    Player          Tot  Today  R1    R2    R3    R4   Total
---  --------------  ---  -----  --    --    --    --   -----
1    Tiger Woods     -18   -4    69    68    65    68    270
2    Shaun Micheel   -13   -3    69    70    67    69    275
T3   Luke Donald     -12   +2    68    68    66    74    276
T3   Sergio Garcia   -12   -2    69    70    67    70    276
T3   Adam Scott      -12   -5    71    69    69    67    276
6    Mike Weir       -11   +1    72    67    65    73    277
T7   K.J. Choi       -10   -1    73    67    67    71    278
T7   Steve Stricker  -10   -3    72    67    70    69    278
T9   Geoff Ogilvy     -9   +2    69    68    68    74    279
T9   Ian Poulter      -9   -1    70    70    68    71    279
T9   Ryan Moore       -9   -3    71    72    67    69    279
T12  Chris DiMarco    -8    E    71    70    67    72    280
T12  Sean O'Hair      -8   -4    72    70    70    68    280
T14  Tim Herron       -7   +1    69    67    72    73    281
T14  Henrik Stenson   -7    E    68    68    73    72    281

Nobody managed to gain any ground in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. Tiger Woods has won his twelfth career major.

18:47 – Tiger backs off from his putt a second time, saying “you’ve gotta be kidding.” Nantz: “If it happens a third time Steve Williams is taking names.” I’m not sure what the disturbance is. Tiger rolls his putt to a foot. It’s over.

18:37 – Wadkins: “Tiger can still get them when he’s not playing his best. I don’t think Phil can.” Tiger finds the right intermediate cut on #18.

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2006 PGA Championship Predictions

The Sand Trap staff members attempt to predict the outcome of the season’s final major championship.

Thrash TalkThe season’s final major championship has arrived, and it’s time for predictions. The 2006 majors have all provided great memories, and we can all hope the PGA Championship does as well. The top golfers in the world have victory on their mind, but many others are gunning to make the Ryder Cup team.

Phil Mickelson won The Masters in April, Geoff Ogilvy won the U.S. Open in June, and Tiger Woods won the British Open in July. These three will be in the same pairing for the first two days at Medinah. The PGA Championship winner could very well be one of these three men. A win for any of these golfers would likely solidify their bid for PGA Tour Player of the Year.

What’s a major championship at The Sand Trap without predictions? I was way out in left field with my British Open predictions, but the PGA shall serve up my redemption. I hope you all enjoy the predictions, and if you have anything to add, please comment below or discuss it in the forum.

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Sun Mountain Speed E Cart Review

I’ve always been a “walker,” but the Speed E Cart has redefined how I view lugging a bag around 18 or more holes of golf.

Sun Mountain Speed E Cart HeroWe’ve all seen them. The first time we see them, we usually do a double-take. “Is that cart going along all by itself?” we ask. Yes, yes it is. The cart is driving itself, the owner a few paces behind, strolling along the fairway without a care in the world (nor a bag over his shoulders).

At only 28 years of age, I must admit to having mixed feelings over electronic carts. I longed to have the freedom to walk without carrying a bag, yet I didn’t know if I could tolerate the “old man” jokes I felt certain would accompany the use of an electronic cart.

After spending some time with a Sun Mountain Speed E Cart, I can assure you that I suffered no such jokes – only curiosity – and I found the pleasure of walking a golf course without the weight of a bag on my back all I thought it would be.

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