Nine Holes of Hype or Not Hype

Sometimes the golf media gets carried away, but not always.

ProfilesThere’s a lot of hype out there this year, maybe even more than usual. There’s always a lot of pre-major hype this time of year regarding some of the big names in golf, but 2009 also features a number of young faces coming to a major near you.

Here’s the thing about hype. Sometimes there’s truth behind it. Sometimes it’s just hot air. We complain a lot about hype, but I kind of think of it as a USGA index. Events seldom live up to the hype, just like you can’t shoot your index very often (it is based on your best 10 rounds out of your last 20, not an average). But you might shoot your index in your best rounds. Each is about proven or (in the case of hype) perceived potential.

When it comes to sporting events, hype tells us about what is possible. It also boosts ratings and sells advertising, but there has to be a kernel of truth there or we’d never buy it. At its best, it is not about what will happen, but what might. And so, though the hype might drive us nuts from time to time, here’s a look at nine of the most hyped golfers of the 2009 season and an assessment of the truth lying below.

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Leupold Contest Winners

Congratulations to all who entered the Leupold giveaway contest.

Leupold GX-IFor the past two weeks, we’ve had a contest to give away a Leupold GX-I and GX-II laser rangefinder from our friends at Leupold. Today it’s our pleasure to announce the winners of the contest.

In total, 5867 people entered the contest. Winners were drawn randomly, one at a time, from the database, and here are the lucky (and smart!) winners.

First Place
Choosing to go with the GX-II as he “doesn’t play in tournaments that often,” Drew Patten! Drew is also known as drewdown in the forum.

Second Place
Steven Jones is pleased as punch to be the proud new owner of a Leupold GX-I. Steven goes by the username srjorion in the forum.

Third Place
Winner of a fine Leupold hat, John Bonner, a.k.a. Jeepthrills in the forum.

Congratulations to all three winners. More details (and the answers to the contest) below.

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What’s a GEF, Anyway?

Some fetishes are more time consuming than others.

Thrash TalkWhether it’s expanding, or it is simply a particular culture of obsession which has bubbled to the surface, the community of golf equipment fetishists is a presence across the World Wide Web as well as the non “e” world.

In forums, such as the one on this site or those at our partner golfwrx.com and elsewhere, begging for access to equipment trailers at PGA Tour events nationwide (and presumably at Nationwide Tour events, also) scouring eBay and “buying/selling” threads for premium equipment and rare goods, GEFs are here and they are thoroughly obsessed.

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Last Day to Enter Leupold Giveaway

The entry deadline is today! If you haven’t entered, do so now!

Leupold GX-IToday is the last day to enter the contest to win a Leupold GX-I or GX-II laser rangefinder (and three super-spiffy hats).

To enter, answer a few trivia and product questions on this page. Every answer can be found at the Leupold golf rangefinder site, our review, or elsewhere on the Web.

So far, we’ve received over 5,000 entries, and the contest ends today. Enter now.

Scotty Cameron Rolls Out Kombi Mallets

Scotty Cameron is putting red cherry dots on everything now.

Bag DropI must say that when Scotty Cameron comes out with a mallet putter, it certainly strays from the ordinary (remember the Futura Phantom, anyone?) and his latest incarnation continues to do just that.

It seems like Mr. Cameron is staying with his red cherry-dot theme for 2009 with the Studio Select lineup and those features and looks carry over to a mallet versions, the Kombi, Kombi Mid, and Kombi Long.

Tag along as we check out the latest putter to get the “red-dot” treatment from Scotty Cameron.

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Volume One Hundred Eighty One

Titleist vs. Callaway, Round 2

Hittin' the LinksHello again and welcome to Hittin’ the Links. The PGA Tour season is well underway and spring is right around the corner. Those of you out there in the colder climates, keep your heads up, golf season is almost here. But until then…

In this latest edition of HTL we first check into the next round of litigation between Callaway and Titleist, investigate the best way to stay dry and quiet, and find out why the seniors get it. Also, we look into post bail-out tournament sponsorship, see where Tiger will play next, and, of course, do a full wrap up of this week’s tour events. Read on!

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Nike Dymo and Dymo2 Driver Review

I think Nike is finally starting to get things right

Nike SQ Dymo HeroWhen I first saw that Nike had come out with another set of drivers I have to say I wasn’t all that excited. My experience with Nike’s golf gear has been favorable for the most part. I have carried their clubs in my bag from time to time, but I have always found myself going back to the manufacturers that have been around a little longer. I am a traditionalist at heart, and Nike’s drivers just always seemed a little “out there” for me. They had these goofy two tone crowns and the noise, the sound that emitted from them was ear shattering at best. There was always that one little thing about my Nike club that bothered me. Not bad equipment, but just not my cup of tea.

So when these two new Dymo series drivers arrived at my doorstep, I gave myself a little pep talk in the form of “Let’s give ’em a shot!” I am happy to report that I’m glad I did. Nike seems to have read my mind and improved on their drivers in virtually every way they could have (to me). It looks to me like a great deal of good traditional golf club design went in to the making of these. And out came what I believe to be the best product I have seen Nike put out to date.

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If I Was King of Golf

There are going to be some changes ’round here.

Trap Five LogoMarch is the cruelest month above the Mason-Dixon Line. It teases us with the breath of Spring from time to time, and then blasts us with more snow and cold winds. It’s a time of year that can drive a golfer to fits of lunacy… like imagining what it would be like to be King of Golf.

I don’t mean imagining what it would be like to “the King,” Arnie (in the day, that had to be a blast), or golf’s current king, Tiger (I suspect that wouldn’t suck, either). No, I mean, what would I change about golf, if I could change anything I wanted to.

Naturally, I want to reverse my handicap. Go from my -9 to a +9, and see what the PGA Tour is really all about. But that’s too easy. Everyone would want to do the same thing. I’m more concerned with the bigger questions of golf. Here are five things that, with tongue more or less in cheek, I’d like to see changed about golf.

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The Worst of the Worst

Of all the brands of intolerable golf enthusiasts, one stands alone.

Thrash TalkSince I have been in the habit of airing my grievances as of late, I’m going to continue that trend for another week, albeit with a much more insidious target than Phil Mickelson. Those of us who play golf regularly and attend tournaments are most certainly familiar with this individual; although, as I learned quite recently, his natural habitat may be the driving range (more specifically, the indoor golfing facility).

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