This month I've been feeling anti-establishment and since I decided an "I Love Golf" tattoo on my inner thigh would be a little too reckless, I thought I'd conduct a newsletter no-no and send this out on a Monday. I also feel like I'm losing my touch, and not just on the putting green or during my robot routine on the dance floor. So, do me a favour and let me know if you actually read past the FROM line, or I'll start to have doubts about my effectiveness and have to go out and buy the 8th Habit...
In This Issue
1. Mobile Golf - Golf Anywhere You Are
2. The Lesson Tee - Bunker Brilliance
3. Golf Holidays - Play Golf Amongst Superstars
4. Equipment Advisor - Hybrid's To The Rescue
5. Mulligans, Shanks and Divots - Tut, Tut Tut
Mobile Golf - Golf Anywhere You Are
Since buying my Nokia 6260 Mobile Phone, I've become a bit of a celebrity and not just in my own mind. Alright, mostly in my own mind, but my students are oh'ing and ah'ing when I get started in on SMS, MMS, GPRS, IMS, SARS and BS.
This month I thought I'd share some totally amazing, not-to-be-missed data about mobile phones...nothing to do with golf, but data collectors will be overjoyed...- There's an estimated 1.5 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide, expected to reach 4 billion by 2015
- In January 2004 there were 15.6 billion SMS's sent in China
- China is expected to reach 400 million subscribers this year
- Taiwan and Hong Kong have reached 110 and 105.5 percent mobile penetration - (110 phones for every 100 people)
- By 2008, the world will spend 1 billion on nudy pics for their mobile phone
- My golf equipment guy has three mobile phones. Everytime we meet I still have to ask him if those are his mobile phones in his pocket or if he's just really, really, really, happy I sold a sleeve of Pro V1's for him.
The Lesson Tee - Bunker Brilliance
Once upon a time, there was a young lad, (let's call him Kim) who had absolutely no idea of how to get out of a bunker. Each time he'd hit into a bunker his palms would start sweating, his knees would start to shake and the only thing he feared more was a zit appearing on his nose the night before a hot date. Then, one day, he decided to face up to his fear. He took an afternoon off from Japanese Literature In The 18th Century lectures, and moseyed on down to the local range with just his sandwedge in hand.
At first, he made holes in the sand deep enough to bury a small animal trying to get out, but then found if you open up the clubface before you take your grip, you have more margin for error and can hit a long way behind the ball. Still, the ball wouldn't go out everytime, but he also found that if he accelerated the club to almost a full follow-through, the ball would get out even more often. He then discovered that if you bend your knees a bit, play the ball forward in your stance and keep your weight on your left side, the ball got out with impressive regularity. Soon, a gallery had gathered, watching this fearless young player hit bunker shots Gary Player only dreamed of. And so it was, with just the above simple tips, he sadly failed Japanese Literature, but was never afraid of sand again...
Golf Holidays - Play Golf Amongst Superstars
No time for a full 18 holes? This month we look at some of the driving ranges in Bangkok. If you're staying in Sukhumvit, there are two ranges, one on Soi 18 and another on Soi 26, neither of which I recommend.
Instead, head down Wireless Road and to Sathorn Soi 1 driving range. And of course, if you start hitting it sideways, just give me a call and I'll come down and see you. Now, if you like getting stuck in traffic, you could go to RCA Driving Range on Petchaburi Road, then afterwards have a drink with some underage Thai's at one of the many pubs and bars nearby.
If you're looking to demo clubs and hang out with some Thai superstars, try All Star driving range. A little bit out of the city, this is Bangkok's best, with restaurant, spa and golf shops who let you try before you buy. The prices are a little expensive, so try there and buy here! If you need directions or more info, just let me know.
Equipment Advisor - Hybrid's To The Rescue
These days even PGA Pro's, who can hit it pin high with a ball retriever, are putting Hybrid clubs in their bags. Hybrid clubs include semi-woods like the TaylorMade Rescue Mid, almost full woods like Nike's CPR, and driving irons like Titleists 503H.
All of them are designed to get the ball in the air easier, from a variety of different lies and situations, and unless you can hit your long irons as long and high as Jack or Tiger, these clubs can make a huge difference to your game.
In 2004, more than 200 Tour players used a hybrid club at least once, with TaylorMade, Sonartec and Titleist dominating the market. TaylorMade's Rescue Mid also dominates the consumer market, and is voted by Golf Digest as number one in the wood-like category. (Titleist's 503H gets the thumbs up in the iron-like category). You can buy these clubs at below-retail prices by emailing proshop@golfthink.com as usual.
Mulligans Shanks and Divots - Tut, Tut, Tut
Did you know that the PGA Tour has a 129-page "PGA Tour Players Handbook" which has 4 pages devoted to "Conduct Of Players" and another four pages entitled "Discipline, Penalties and Appeals".
These are guidelines for behaving like a gentleman, and includes the amount ($$$) of penalties for "conduct unbecoming a professional", which includes Tigers temper tantrums and golf lingo (Sh!t, F$#K etc...etc)- Paul Goydos was once fined USD$500 for speaking profanely into the PGA Tour Travel offices answering machine...
- Tommy Bolt once let one rip (not a drive) on the first tee and was fined $50. He wrote a cheque for $100 "because I'm bound to do it again"...
- If a player is put on the clock (for slow play) 10 times on one year, they're fined USD$20,000
- Conversation between 1994 US Senior Open Champion Simon Hobday and a rules official after Hobday asked if he'd be fined for calling the official "an A------":
Official: "Absolutely"
Hobday: "What if I called you a 'F------- A------'?"
Official: "You would be fined a lot"
Hobday: "OK then, what if I just think you're a 'F------ A------'?"
Official: "Oh, well that's OK".