Natalie Gulbis Makes Waves On, Off Course

There’s more to California girl Natalie Gulbis than a hot golf swing.

Natalie Gulbis 2006 CalendarThe LPGA is taking a breather this week and so is Natalie Gulbis. In Las Vegas Natalie has a chance to visit Butch Harmon for a lesson, return phone calls and focus on her next business venture. Her 2006 swimsuit calendar has just been released and her reality show on the Golf Channel will be resuming in November. You can even play golf with “Cyber-Natalie” as part of Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour 2005!

Natalie gets alot of face time in the press. It’s understandable once you catch a glimpse of her. With her sense of style, athletic 5′ 9″ figure and bright, toothy smile, cameras click, interviewers hound her and a bevy of admirers follow her around on and off the golf course. She is both personable and mature but with an edginess only a twenty-two year old can pull off.

Natalie represents the future of the LPGA to a tee!

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B3 Heavy Putter Review

The Heavy Putter is just that – a very heavy putter. Unfortunately, the extra weight will only drag down your putting game.

Heavy Putter LogoPutting instructors have long talked about the advantages of maintaining a smooth, pendulum stroke and in allowing the larger muscles of the shoulders and back to swing the putter instead of any wristy motions involving the smaller muscles in the fingers, forearms, and wrists.

Unfortunately, some would say, the traditional putter does not do all that it can to suit the proper putting stroke. Those “some” have banded together to form a company and a line of putters known as “Heavy Putter.” With putters weighing 90% more than traditional putters, Heavy Putters seek to help players eliminate the twitchiness of the smaller muscles and to smooth out strokes.

Do they work? I’ve spent a few weeks putting with the B3 mallet style Heavy Putter, and my opinion is set. Read on to see what I think.

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A Fitting Experience: The Titleist Science Van

I spent a day and a half with the Titleist Science Van. Here is what I learned.

Titleist LogoYour first shot on any par four or par five sets up the rest of the hole: are you pitching back into the fairway or attacking the flag? Do you have a wedge or a 6-iron in your hands?

Pros and high-level amateurs have been repeating the mantra “high launch, low spin” for a few years now. In January, we even published a chart showing optimum launch angles and spin rates. Great, you’re thinking to yourself: “I’ll get fitted for a driver and soon I’ll be crushing the ball off the tee, long and straight.” And you may… so long as you can get fitted.

I spent a day with the guys of the East Coast Acushnet (Titleist, FootJoy, etc.) Science Van at Tam O’Shanter of Pennsylvania and watched several fittings. The next day, I underwent a fitting myself as they ventured to Kahkwa Club here in Erie, PA. This is my first-hand account of that experience.

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Brandt Jobe

Brandt Jobe has taken the scenic route to the PGA Tour and seems to have enjoyed the journey as much as the destination.

ProFilesWhile nothing like the fraternity of former presidents, the PGA Tour is an exclusive club. Countless talented players ply their trade on lesser tours the world over wishing one day to make a permanent home in golf’s version of the West Wing: PGA Tour exempt status. From time to time one of them scratches their way in and get a shot at recognition and a big payday. Todd Hamilton’s 2004 British Open shows what the lesser-known player can do. Brandt Jobe is one, like Hamilton, who took the long way to play the PGA Tour.

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Our Last ‘Wie’s Bad Drop’ Post

Bamberger, he of Michelle Wie ‘bad drop’ fame, submits himself to a Question and Answer session.

michelle_wie_disqualified.jpgMichael Bamberger, the Sports Illustrated reporter who questioned Michelle Wie’s “bad drop” on the 7th hole in the third round of the Samsung World Championship, was interviewed by his own magazine. I encourage you to read his Q&A and decide for yourself if you still hate the guy. On that, a comment posted to Geoff Shackelford’s blog:

Here’s the thing that bothers me about the excessive Bamberger criticism: Michelle Wie is the one who actually broke the rules, not Bamberger. In fact, it was Wie’s hastiness and immaturity on the course which forced Bamberger (a, you know, grown-up) into an ethical quandry. After the improper drop he was thrust into an extrordinary situation which, I think, he handled with honesty. He has also appeared to be very straight-forward with all questioners of his actions thus far, even readily admitting that he could have made better decisions in the whirlwind aftermath.

Michelle Wie is not a victim here. She broke the rules and nearly got away with it. While it remains true that she could have simply been penalized two strokes had her card not been turned in, she did, again, break the rules.

Photo Credit: © AP Photo/Reed Saxon.

The Newport Cup

The Newport Cup was a fun experience. This golfer came away with some good memories and a few numbers to talk about.

The Numbers GameA bit shorter version of The Numbers Game this week as we had an eventful weekend in Pinehurst. Everyone had a great time, especially the blue team… of which I was a proud member. I thought I’d talk about a few numbers associated with the tournament and add to some of the other reports my fellow staff members have given you already.

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2005 Newport Cup Recap

The 2005 Newport Cup has come to an end, and with that come our scores. How close were the matches? Find out here.

Newport CupThe inaugural playing of the Newport Cup has come to a close, and with it, an 11½-8½ Blue Team victory. Though we’ll have coverage of the event in later posts, this story will share with the world some of the scoring.

As many know, our first two rounds at Talamore and Pine Needles were played in two-man best-ball competition, while our final round featured singles matches at Davis Love III’s Anderson Creek. Each member of the Newport Cup played with every member of his team and against every member of the opposing team at least once, and we all had a great time getting to know each other.

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Funai Classic Preview

The PGA Tour heads to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this week.

Funai Classic LogoThe PGA Tour heads to Florida this week for one of the true player-friendly events of the season. The event is held near Walt Disney World, and the golfers usually bring their families along for the week. This week should be no different, and the field is looking strong as well. The Funai Classic and next week’s Chrysler Championship are the only events remaining before the Tour Championship.

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Who are These Golfers?

Is it good for the PGA Tour when no-names walk away winners?

Thrash TalkIt’s been a wild last few days for yours truly, but in a good way this time. I flew out to North Carolina to meet some of my fellow Sand Trap staff members for the Newport Cup. The entire weekend was very fun and entertaining. I had a great time with everyone, and the golf courses were great. We definitely don’t have many courses like Pine Needles in Oklahoma. I wouldn’t mind playing golf in North Carolina for a month or two straight, but I guess two days will have to do. My team did take the loss, but we are better because of it.

Now it’s back to reality and back to Thrash Talk. I didn’t catch very much of the PGA Tour’s Michelin Championship at Las Vegas this past weekend, but I’ve seen some highlights from the final round. Wes Short Jr. defeated Jim Furyk in a playoff to win his first-ever PGA Tour event. If you are wondering who Wes Short Jr. is, well, join the club.

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