Volume One Hundred Seventy Four

When Tiger hits a driver its news worthy?

Hittin' the LinksHello and welcome to the MLK Day edition of Hittin’the Links. With any luck some of you, like me, will get to tee it up on this extended weekend. If not, well, I’ll hit a drive for you. Lots of things going on this week. The inauguration is causing a big buzz, even in the golf world, with none other than Tiger Woods speaking.

In this volume of HTL we look at Derrick Fujikawa, investigate seamless golf clothing, and find out why its looking like Captain Monty. Also, we examine the Charles Barkley-Hank Haney connection, look at golf destination New Mexico, and check in on all the tournaments going on this weekend. Read on!

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Five Not-so-Fearless Predictions for 2009

A few sure things to look for in 2009.

Trap Five LogoMy crystal ball seems to have developed an astigmatism of late. My fantasy football team, the Big Darby Beer Mussels, finished 3-13. I was so far down in the office bowl picks that I nearly won my entry money back for coming in last.

So it was with some trepidation that I revisited the Fearless Predictions that I made for 2008 in golf. Here’s how I fared:

I predicted Tiger would win majors (plural). A balky putter at the Masters and a destroyed knee that made him miss the final two majors kept that from happening. But that U.S. Open win was really something! And it went extra holes… twice! Surely that counts for two, right? No, not buying it? Okay, 0-1.

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Golfdotz Golf Ball Tattoos Review

Golfdotz: Golf ball marking technology for the 21st century

PackagesRule 12-2 in the 2008 USGA Rules of Golf states “The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.” Anyone who plays competitive golf knows the importance of being able to identify your ball. In fact, the people at Sanford, the makers of the Sharpie Marker, have made more than a little money from the golf industry by this very fact.

But what about those who find a simple dot too dreary? What about those golfers out there who want to express themselves artistically? Well, fear no more, decorative duffers, as Golfdotz is here to help.

Golfdotz are the new generation in golf ball marking technology. They are golf ball tattoos – tiny decals that transfer onto the cover of a golf ball. They come in many different designs including skulls, hearts, flames, ladybugs and more. The retail at $5.99 a pack which will get you enough for two dozen balls, and are offered in a wide array of designs.

But how do they work? Read on.

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What’s Ahead for 2009

The theme for 2009 will be the equipment-hopping game.

Bag DropWell, we’re back in the saddle for 2009 at the Bag Drop and I hope you got all the golfing equipment you asked for over the holidays. If not, there’s still plenty of time with some good deals floating around!

There’s been quite a bit of news as of late and while we have some new equipment to fill you in about, we’ll ease into 2009 with a few equipment/business stories you might have missed in the past few weeks. You might soon having to start filling out a spreadsheet to follow the equipment company switches.

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Volume One Hundred Seventy Three

The 2009 PGA Tour season is underway!

Hittin' the LinksHello again and Happy New Year from The Sand Trap and Hittin the Links. We are back again bringing bringing you the best in golf in 2009. Well, golf fans, the 2009 PGA Tour season has officially started. Mind you most of us amateurs are still shoveling snow and practicing our putting on the living room carpet, but at least we now have something to watch.

In this newest edition of HTL we first explore what’s new in the John Daly soap opera, or at least why we Americans won’t have to deal with him for awhile, check out the college ranks, and then see what’s next for Vijay. Also we see when Seve plans to return, look at Davis Love III’s new world with a lifetime exemption, and find out what went down at the Mercedes Championship. Read on!

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Happy Holidays from The Sand Trap

If you can golf during the holiday season, yes, we’re envious.

St. Andrews SnowThe Sand Trap wants to take this opportunity to thank you for stopping by. Everyone here at The Sand Trap wishes you nothing but the happiest of holidays and plenty of birdies in 2009.

Though this portion of our site will be “closed” until the new year (January 12, to be precise), we still invite everyone to join our forum (it’s free). Share with us what you want – or what you get – for Christmas!

We’ll be back soon, and when we return, we’ve got three reviews we know you’ve been waiting for: the Titleist 909 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. Until then, can anyone recommend a large-headed shovel with the latest in graphite shaft technology? I’ve looked everywhere at the online golf retailers and can’t find anything!

“The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan” Book Review

John Coyne writes a story about golf, life, and the choices we make and dispenses some wisdom from none other than Ben Hogan.

Caddie Who Knew Ben HoganThe Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan was written by author John Coyne who has penned over 20 books of fiction and non-fiction. Several months ago, we reviewed his latest book, The Caddie Who Played With Hickory and if you enjoyed that story, you most certainly will want to check out his earlier work as well.

The story weaves between forbidden love, the bond between a golfer and his caddie and wisdom about life as told by none other than Ben Hogan. What happens is a story about golf, life and the choices we make and how “it’s always the next shot that is important.”

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Crocs Ace Golf Shoe Review

Crocs jump feet first into the golf shoe market.

CrocsI know what you are thinking: golf Crocs? When I was first introduced to the concept of a Croc golf shoe I had more than a few reservations. I have never been a big fan of Crocs. Sure, I saw more than a few people wearing them around town, and my daughter is a die-hard fan who refuses to wear anything else, but I was not sold. And, I certainly did not see them as a type of shoe that could be used for sports – especially not golf.

As it is with skeptics, I was given a pair and told to try them out. Skeptical as I was I took them out on the course and ran them through the drills to see if they really could hold up to what a regular golf shoe has to endure. The results may surprise you. They certainly surprised me.

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All I Want for Christmas

Have a peek at my annual correspondence with Father Christmas.

Thrash TalkDear Santa,

As you know, I’ve been a reasonably good boy this year. We’ve been engaged in this same routine for 23 years now, so I think you are also aware what an avid fan of the game of golf I am. I want you to know, also, that I’m not holding it against you that I didn’t find that $2,300 replica of Tiger’s putter under my tree last year. The same goes for the trip to Sawgrass which has been a fixture on my list for the last several years. Surely these are difficult gifts to obtain, even for you, Mr. Claus.

I’m aware, as Burton Hillis said, “the best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family.” I’m really trying to be content with the simple pleasures and joys of the season (eggnog, cookies, tinsel, throwing wads of wrapping paper at the cat), but there are still a few outstanding items on my list I’m hoping to find beneath my tree in a few weeks.

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