For the first time since starting out of the Ladies European Tour, Russia's Maria Verchenova has finished top of the leaderboard, signing for a 67 at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco. “How did she do it?” I hear you cry...perhaps the key to her success is in what she’s been doing when not playing golf at all...
Over the winter months, the Russian hasn’t huddled from the cold like us mortals; she’s being out running six days a week and even lifting weights to stay in shape! “I was keeping myself fit through the whole winter and going to the gym and preparing to play so I felt I was going to be pretty close” she explained, as if it was no particularly big deal. I’ll be honest; I never considered running half a dozen times a week would help my golf...maybe I was wrong!
As if a strict winter fitness routine wasn’t enough, Verchenova also found time to design her own range of golf clothing! Apparently the range is inspired by women’s tennis...so it should be interesting to see how it goes down on the golf course! She says her golf clothes “will come out really soon in about two months or so and it's going to be really young and fashionable and bright colours for really young girls... Hopefully the first year I will just wear it and show it and the next year we will try to sell it.”
I think it’s safe to say we‘re all looking forward to seeing what she has in store.
At this time of year, it's nice to know somebody is putting some effort into designing golf clothing to stand up to the weather! Sunderland's latest range is actaully called Coldwear and is designed to help us poor players cope with the horrific temperatures in these early months. The bonded fleece has some of the best reviews, so let me tell you about it.
Made from lightweight fabirc, the Sunderland Coldwear bonded fleece has three interlocking layers of fleece, perfect for keeping you warm as you play, without reducing movement. Not only do these layers keep you warm, however, they also have other added advantages including water repellency from the polyester knit and breathability without water penetration from the PU film.
All together this makes for a very useful piece of kit that looks great as well! They come in stylish colours for both men and women, in a style that hides their incredible power.
Bearing in mind the millions spent on developing sports equipment worldwide, golf clothes really haven't come on as quickly as they probably should have been. When it comes to clubs and golf shoes, the choice is vast; they cater for everybody; no matter what your size, shape or ability, there are clubs designed to improve your game. Of course, none of this matters if you can't swing the damn things because you're too tied up in layers of golf clothes, keeping out the rain!
Well, no longer does this need to impact your game for finally technology has caught up with golf clothes! The result is this - layering techniques. The idea is that, instead of big, heavy clothing in cold or wet weather, you should combine various clever items of clothing; achieving better results without any negative impact on your performance.
To be honest, I'm going to stick with my old jacket... The way I see it, golf costs me enough money as it is, without having to invest in half a dozen layers of high-tech insulation clothing! Bring back the wooly hats!
So far I have managed to continue the Golf Blog without mentioning the Tiger Woods story; except on the 28th of November, to report he had a car crash, that he was safe and that we wished him well. Since that car crash, however, Tiger has been subjected to one of the most ferocious media bombardments of a sports personality I can remember. Today I would like to point out that I am sick of it.
As if having his entire life splashed all over the media isn’t bad enough, the poor guy has now even publicly apologised for “transgressions” that, let’s be honest, are none of our business whatsoever! Yet what was out response? “What transgressions? We want to know exactly what you’ve done that you are ashamed of!” He’s a professional golf player – what right do any of us have to the content of his personal life? Sure he’s a billionaire through being an exceptional golfer and advertising Nike golf clothes; he’s an interesting person and it’s only natural that we take an interest in him. But why the vulture-like approach? Why the demands for explanations and apologies? Who do we think we are to ask Tiger Woods to share information about himself that we would never dream of sharing with the public?
When will people realise that celebrities don’t make themselves; it’s our insatiable appetite for gossip and excitement that turns people into walking news stories. If this blog suddenly got 65 million readers and I was made a millionaire overnight, would I be expected to admit all my deepest secrets to the world as well? If not, then why is Tiger expected to? Leave him alone – get something interesting in your own life and talk about that instead.
With Christmas fast approaching, the families of many golf lowers will be straining their brains for new, ingenious presents for their loved ones this year. I, for one, have received some bizarre golf-related items for both Christmas and my birthday; socks with tee-holders in them, gloves with score cards implanted in the back and even golf balls that disappear into a 'poof' of water vapour when you strike them!
As far as I can see, with the exception of golf clubs, golf is very simple game equipment-wise. We don't need any special training gear or gimmicks; we go one-on-one with the course, using nothing but our clubs, our wits and years of practice. Truly it is a noble endeavor! Anyway, the point I'm making is that our game is rarely enhanced by the addition of some bizarre product - especially not by golf-themed paper-weights and the like!
However, one thing that we do need in order to play golf (publicly, at least) is golf clothes. Hence, if you are considering buying something golf-y for the golf lover in your life, might I be so bold as to suggest you consider being slightly more conventional than my family, with their strange collection of ideas. It's not easy to find a warm, waterproof and flexible jacket - that would be a truly meaningful present this Christmas. Just look how happy this guy is:
Having agreed with Tiger Woods that China will become something of a golfing super-power within the next dozen years, Phil Mickelson is now planning to open a golf academy in Kunming to help develop the sport in the country. He also plans to create a par-3 golf course for children, to help develop the sport at a grassroots level, as well as having his instructional book translated into Mandarin.
Mickelson declared, "This is a tremendous opportunity to help develop the game in the largest emerging market in the world” which, to you and I, means something along the lines of “Golf is now an Olympic sport, which means that China will invest lots of time and money into making sure they’re really good at it. Hence, I’m cashing in early by making sure I establish my golf course and academy in time for the forthcoming boom in popularity”. I can’t say I blame him, though I am cynically waiting for the Mickelson brands of golf clothing, golf clubs and various accessories to appear in the Asian market…
"I'M GONNA BE RICH!" - direct quote from Phil Mickelson ;)
Overnight rains have saturated Annandale Golf Club, making the course unplayable and delaying the start of the first round of the Viking Classic PGA Tour – either the best or worse named of all tours, I can’t decide. Of course it’s named after its sponsor, Viking Range Corporation, but even so it’s about the least ‘golfing’ name possible! I mean, I love golf even more than I love my wife, but even I can’t imagine a Viking wielding a set of clubs, let alone fitting into most golf clothes… Do they make golf clothes out of oxen hide? Come to think about it, I can’t imagine a Viking being too bothered about kitchen appliances either – so it’s a bad name all around!
Anyway, the point of the matter is that Ricky Barnes will have to wait until Friday to commence winning the $3,700,000 purse offered by the Viking. Unless of course, Mr. Flesch has anything to say about it – it’s a tough on to call for sure. To be honest, with 80% chance of rain on Friday, it’s not even looking likely that it’ll get underway by the weekend! Still, we can only hope.
As golf continues to rise in popularity, there is a growing focus on questioning the athleticism involved in the sport. Although there are various different kinds of fitness, suitable for different kinds of sport; it would still take a fool to declare that golf is by any means as strenuous or exerting as rugby, rowing or wrestling. In fact, I’ve been involved in all four of those sports to a decent level and know for a fact that golf is simply not as physically demanding.
However, anybody who plays serious golf will be familiar with the elements of fitness that must be maintained to keep your score down. One of these elements is, without a doubt, posture and flexibility. Many is the time that I’ve returned to the course in the spring, only to find my swing is out, my posture is terrible and my back aches for days after a single round! Hence, as winter closes in, I urge all golfers out there to prepare a fitness regime to keep you limber until spring. Look up the appropriate stretches to keep your muscles loose and work on them multiple times a week - as regularly as you would play, if possible. This way, by the time the sun comes back out and you’re ready to sling on your golf clothes, your body won’t have missed a beat. Then it’s just your technique you need to worry about!
Attendants at the funeral of Stuart Hutchison, a 22 year old golf pro who died in a car crash last Wednesday, will not be wearing the traditional black attire this Friday. Instead, at his family’s request, people will attend the funeral “dressed for the final round” in golf clothes, as a tribute to their friend’s love of golf. “Stuart was always in golf clothes”, his mother Isobel explained, “we wanted people to come dressed for golf because it’s Stuart’s final round.”
Stuart Hutchison was a keen golfer from childhood; capable of playing at only three years of age, according to his mother. Although always talented, Stuart set his mind to becoming a professional and, with the help of Stuart Pardoe, he managed to achieve the required standard before the tragic accident occurred. Unlike many modern players, Isobel went on to explain, it was never Stuart’s ambition to play the circuit; “he really just wanted to be a golf club pro and play”.
This event is a terrible tragedy, but perhaps it might encourage others to think about why they play the game – is it really for the passion?
Rory McIlroy has admitted that he’d find it awkward deciding whether he would want to play for Great Britain or Ireland if golf is accepted at the 2016 Olympic Games. He said, “It'd be an honour to represent your country and I don't mind which one I play for...I'd probably play for Great Britain. I have a British passport. It's a bit of an awkward question still”.
The history of golf in Ireland makes the question especially tricky; the Golfing Union of Ireland is the oldest in the world, founded in 1891 and including all four provinces – uniting the country in a way that few other things can. This will be made very apparent at the world cup, where Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will both be represented under the same team – Ireland.
In the Beijing Olympics, it was a close split between those athletes from Northern Ireland who chose to represent Ireland and those who chose to represent Great Britain – though the majority chose Ireland. To be honest, it may be a case of taking the option that leaves you with the bet chance of making the team; there’s little doubt that it’s harder to make the British Olympic team than the Irish. If McIlroy had to choose today, for example, he’d have to compete with likes of Lee Westwood and Paul Casey to play for Great British at the Games - something he probably wouldn't enjoy too much!
Either way, many athletes will be making a similar awkward decision before 2016.
Fifty-one year old Ken Green is determined to quality for the Champions Tour, despite having been in an RV accident in June; in which he lost his brother, his girlfriend, his dog...and his lower right leg.
The five-time PGA Tour winner has friends and CBS golf analysis alike convinced that he can succeed in being the first member to play wearing a prosthetic limb. Hundreds of golfers flocked to the Ken Green Benefit Golf Tournament today, at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury; sporting golf clothes with the slogan "The Greatest Comeback Ever" emblazoned on them.
Green didn’t play in the Benefit Tournament, riding around in a cart instead – apparently offering advice and telling jokes. The tournament raised $120,000 for the Ken Green Living Expenses Trust Fund, further helping Ken pursue his dream. Although he still lives in pain, his friends are convinced he’ll make it.
To be completely honest, I can’t help but wonder how much financial support Ken Green can need; having won the Buick Open, The International, the Canadian Open, the Greater Milwaukee Open, the Greater Greensboro Open, the King Hassan Open, the Dunlop Phoenix, the Hong Kong Open and the Connecticut Open in his time. Perhaps the money would have been better invested in helping Iranian amputees bombed in the war on terror, rather than funding a middle-aged American's desire to continue playing golf...but that’s the world we live in.
In an attempt to make the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour more appealing to leading players, Australian ladies golf have announced that they are boosting the prize-money! There will be a 15% overall rise in the prize-money for the 2009 schedule, including a raise in the prize-money of the New Zealand Women's Open from $217,952 last year to a massive $341,280! Warren Sevil, chief executive of the ALPG, said "To achieve an increase from previous years is always a good result but to do so, particularly in difficult economic times, is something we are very proud of... It's a testament to the continued support from all players and the great job they do in promoting their sport”.
The final three tournaments of the 2010 summer calendar are co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour; the Australian Women's Open, ANZ Ladies Masters and the New Zealand Women's Open – meaning it’s going to be quite a summer of ladies’ golf! (Or winter, if you’re watching from the UK like I am...) When combined the Royal Canberra Ladies Classic and the NSW Women's Open, the ALPG will be staging 5 tournaments back to back for the first time ever!
The Aussie Golf Girls have solved the ancient problem of terrible golf clothes...by taking them off! Despite having their first golf calendar banned for being too “expos-ay”, they have toned it down a bit and returned with a 2009 edition – featuring a different golfer on each page, including Krisite Newton and Sara Kemp.
Once again the calendar is raising money for charity; last time it was Breast Cancer research (who got nothing, because the prudes banned the calendar) – this time it is the Make-A-Wish Foundation. My wish is that the stiffs don’t ban this one as well! Long live the Golf Girls!
Anybody who has watched golf carefully over the last few years will know that Tiger Woods has scored two hole-in-ones in professional tournaments. However, this feat is nothing compared to 64-year old Ruth Day, who managed to score two hole-in-ones as well – but in a single round!
The widow from Tynemouth had a handicap of 35, yet managed to defies odds of 67,000,000:1 by scoring two hole-in-ones at the Whitley Bay Club in North Tyneside. Her first hole-in-one was her first ever; on the third hole with a 149-yard shot. She then went on to score another hole-in-one ten holes later at the 13th, this time with a miraculous 161-yard drive! Having only been playing for about 10 years, Day was delighted with her achievement; "Some people go through their whole life and never get a hole in one," she said. "I think there's only a very small number of people around the world who have done it twice in one round". She's right; club secretaty Frank Elliott said they sometimes get two hole-in-ones in the same round, by two different people - but never by one person!
Whether you put it down to skill, fate or simple lies - Ruth has made history!
I find it interesting how, in the world of sport – where players’ skills are tested to the limit to judge who is the best – the most famous players are rarely those who are genuinely the best at what they do. In football, David Beckham is a worldwide megastar not necessarily for his free-kicks of latter years, but for his “good looks” and marriage to a Spice Girl (from another industry where talent and fame rarely go hand in hand). In short, it is not necessarily the best players who are the most popular – but the most interesting players.
When it comes to golf, you don’t get much more interesting than Ian Poulter. Admittedly his golfing style lacks the flair of Camilo Villegas, but his golf clothes are second to none when it comes to eye-catching. So popular is the golfer that, despite the awful £190,000 splash-down at Cog Hill on Sunday, Ian Poulter’s twitter following has reached 601,064! Considering it was “nearly 600,000” about 7 hours ago, that’s quite the boom in popularity!
The reason I am telling you all of this is because Poulter has declared that when he hits a million followers, he will “do a massive give away. irons, woods, putters, gloves, balls, glasses, hats, ea games, and much more.” He may have a fairly long way to go yet, but with an approximate rise of 1,000 fans every 6 hours (or 4,000 fans per day), that’s only around 100 days until he reaches his target. For those of you whose internal calendar is not as finely tuned as mine – in 100 days time...it will be Christmas Eve!
So, if we all pull together and follow ianjamespoulter on twitter for a few months, we may raise his following just enough he’ll have to head up the driving range in a brand new garish outfit – a bright red one, with black boots and a hat with a white bobble on the end! “Walking in a Poulter wonderland...” (the worst sport chant ever).
It’s enough to make many of us feel old, but World Golf Hall of Famer Arnold Palmer turned 80 today! Anybody who has been watching The Golf Channel this week should pay extra tribute to the man, for it was he along with Player and Nicklaus who made the sport as popular and TV-friendly as it is today.
As well as being hugely popular and prolific in his prime, Palmer also won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 for his victory in seven major championships over the mid-twentieth century; including the Masters four times (1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964), the Open Championship twice (1961 and 1961) and the U.S. Open in 1960. Without doubt players like Tiger Woods owe their vast fortunes to the likes of Arnold Palmer, who led the way in getting endorsements for players – himself earning a million dollars on the PGA Tour by 1967.
Most readers will remember Palmer playing his 50th consecutive Masters in 2004 – a monumental event marred only by his failing abilities, which were forgivable at the age of 75! So, here’s to Arnold Palmer – a great golfer, a great man and a great excuse to watch The Golf Channel all night long in celebration!
Faster, higher stronger – these are ideals anybody can strive for, whether they have a job and a house or nothing at all. Admittedly people with enough money for professional training are at an advantage, but nobody is altogether excluded because they can’t afford to take part. To play golf, on the other hand, you require a certain degree of wealth that makes the sport entirely exclusive to richer countries. Golf doesn’t cost a fortune to play, but it does cost a lot more money than people in poorer countries have available. So I ask; how is it fair to include another event in the Olympics that many people simply cannot afford to compete in – one in which much of the outcome is actually dependent on the equipment you are using? Golf club memberships and clubs cost money - not huge amounts of money, but more than thousands of poor athletes could hope to raise.
Ethiopian distance runners train by jogging barefoot up mountains; how are they meant to train for golf? By fashioning golf clubs from sticks and tin cans, then hitting a ball across the sun-baked landscape? Tiger Woods’ golf clubs alone are probably worth more than the entire Ethiopian running team’s funding! By including golf in the Olympics, we have simply created another event to be dominated by the rich countries, purely on the grounds of them being rich enough to play it. I accept that golf is as much a sport as any other at the Olympics, but the Olympics isn’t about including every sport under the sun. I also accept that many sports in the Olympics are of a similar nature; equestrian sports and shooting for example – I would argue that these also pervert the nature of the Games. The very philosophy behind the Olympics is about equality of completion – a level playing field upon which nothing matters apart from your own skill. Obviously wealth will always have an impact on training, but it should never exclude a group of people altogether.
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