Hole in One? Win Free Tifosi Sunglasses

Get a hole in one, win a free pair of Tifosi Optics sunglasses. Seems like a great way to make a great event even greater!

Tifosi GlassesWe received an interesting email today detailing one of the most interesting promotions we’ve ever seen. Anyone who is lucky (and skillful) enough to card a hole-in-one between now (August 1, 2005) and November 30, 2005 wins a free pair of Tifosi Optics sunglasses:

In what is believed to be the first ever national promotion rewarding anyone who hits a hole-in-one, starting Aug. 1, any golfer in America who hits an ace will be entitled to a free pair of Tifosi Optics golf sunglasses. The glasses will help them deflect the attention that comes with scoring an ace, golf’s most glaring achievement. There are no strings attached and no costs, just a valuable reward for the accomplishment of a lifetime.

I’ve posted the full text of the press release in our forum. Tifosi Optics is available online at http://tifosioptics.com/. The hole-in-one redemption form should be available later today.

The Sand Trap will be reviewing a pair of Tifosi Optics’ sunglasses within the next few weeks. Keep your eyes peeled… no pun intended.

The Distance Debate: Just the Facts

The distance debate is raging in golf, but the facts are clear. In this article, we share those facts.

This article, like its sibling “The Distance Debate: Which Side are They On?” is an evolving document. We’ll list the changes at the bottom and add to it or edit it when new information becomes available.

The distance debate is raging in the world of golf. Though 99.5% of golfers may be unaware of the debate, the USGA, the R&A, former players like Jack Nicklaus, touring professionals, and members of Augusta National are all involved, and any precedent they set is going to cause quite a ripple throughout the golf world.

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Is This the Beginning of the End?

Golf’s governing bodies have clamped down on technological advances in drivers. With every manufacturer pushing up against the newly established limits, does that mean we’ve reached the era of non-differentiation?

Bag DropI was struck by a recent posting on a golf forum. The poster claimed to have just tested six new drivers, all from different manufacturers, on the course. He hit dozens of drives before reaching an unsettling conclusion: All six drivers hit the ball the same distance. In the era of USGA performance limitations, have we already reached the point where there really isn’t much difference in drivers?

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Volume Twenty

Forget your morning paper! Grab some coffee and tune into this week’s links.

Hittin' the LinksWhen I saw on my calendar that today is the first day of August, I remembered that I have a golf trip scheduled for the end of this month where my friends and I are playing 36-36-18 in 3 straight days in the heat and humidity of August. My first thought was “Shoot, I’m not going to make it.” When I scheduled this thing, I didn’t really think much past the friends, the gambling (poker at night), and the beer. Now, I’m worried that I’ll not be able to finish.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to survive this golf trip? Also, any good gambling games are welcomed as well. Please leave comments after this week’s links.

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Vijay Says “Listen Up, Tiger” at Buick Open

Tiger Woods twice made a weekend charge, but it was after going +4 on the first eight holes. Vijay Singh wins easily. Is another tear in store?

Tiger WoodsVijay Singh simply had too big a lead and Tiger Woods simply played the first eight holes horribly on Saturday and Sunday. End result? A comfortable four-stroke victory by world #2 Vijay Singh, his fourth of the year (and his second consecutive Buick Open). Singh is now the only player to win the Buick Open three times.

Tiger could only listen (screen capture credit to Tony @ HOG) as Vijay withstood a back-nine 30 by the world’s highest-ranked player. That 30 included a bogey at the last when he nearly missed the fairway to the right – that is, the adjacent fairway – and couldn’t get up and down from a greenside bunker.

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Jeong Jang Claims Wire-to-Wire Win at Women’s British Open

Jeong Jang wins the Weetabix Women’s British Open at Birkdale.

jeong_jang_british_open.jpgPlaying alongside of the number-one female golfer in the world would intimidate most professional tour players but not 25-year old Jeong Jang. Looking cool as a cucumber Jang charged to a four-stroke lead to defeat Annika Sorenstam and all contenders for the crystal trophy posting a 16-under 272.

Jang is not only a first-time winner on the LPGA Tour after a six-year winless streak but like fellow South Korean Birdie Kim (U.S. Women’s Open) has made her first career victory a major championship.

After sinking her birdie putt at the eighteenth Jang could only stand on the green at Royal Birkdale laughing while a flood of well-wishers poured bottles of champagne over her head. When asked how she felt after taking home the shimmering trophy and a first-place check of over $280,000 Jang responded, “Just great. How can I say more than that? I’m still nervous right now…more nervous than before!”

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Worst Players to Have Won a Major

On the PGA Tour, luck and a week of brilliance can net you a major championship. Who were the worst golfers to experience the amazing synergy?

Trap Five LogoLast week we took a look at the best players to have won only one major. The list included the likes of Toms Kite and Lehman, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, and Phil Mickelson.

This week we’re going to switch gears a bit and talk about the worst players to have won a major. Of course, to even play in a major, you’ve got to be a good golfer – hacks aren’t invited to The Masters or the British Open, you see – so we’re not begrudging anyone their abilities. However, we are looking at their careers compared to their fellow PGA Tour major winners. These, then, are the worst players to have been great at least once.

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Els Down for Surgery

Ernie Els has injured his knee sailing in the Mediterranean and is out of action indefinitely following surgery.

Ernie ElsErnie Els, in a post on his own website, has broken the news that he injured himself sailing in the Mediterranean. He had surgery on his left knee a few days ago and is out of action “indefinitely.”

Well, I imagine many of you will be checking my website today expecting me to talk about the build-up to the big tournaments coming up in the next few weeks. Others will have already heard the news that I injured my knee while on a sailing holiday in the Mediterranean and had to have surgery on it a couple of days ago. As a result, I’m going to have to take a break from golf on the recommendation of my medical advisers. Basically it’s the only sensible course of action, so that I can be sure of the promptest recovery period. Obviously the timing is unfortunate. Although let’s face it, there’s no such thing as a good time to get injured. But what can you do? There’s no point dwelling on your bad luck, or whatever. All I’m doing is focusing on getting better as quickly as possible, so I’m out of action for not a day longer than I have to be. I’ll fill you in with some more detailed news when I write again, probably this Monday coming. Until then, bye for now.

Though Ernie has not said exactly how long he’ll be out, the world’s third-ranked player is expected to miss the PGA Championship and the Presidents Cup.

Photo Credit: David Cannon, Getty Images at ErnieEls.com.

Moseau Bamboo Fiber Shirt Review

We used to play with hickory and persimmon. How about bamboo… in your shirts and socks?

MoseauIt’s not often that one thinks about their shirt when playing golf except to be annoyed: annoyed that it’s soaking up their sweat or that the left sleeve is in constant need of tugging up or that it keeps coming untucked on their follow-through.

As Josh mentioned in his Adidas ClimaCool Polo Shirt review, technology has finally come to the golf polo. Adidas, Callaway, Nike, and other manufacturers have mixed natural fabrics with synthetics and achieved solid results: wrinkle-free, stain-proof, moisture-wicking shirts with sun protection.

A company called Moseau has gone an entirely different route. Instead of synthetics, Moseau uses all natural fibers to construct their shirts. The fibers? Why, they come from bamboo.

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