Jack Nicklaus to release own line of golf balls

Jack Nicklaus has been almost as successful off the golf course as he has been on it. In 2012 the Golden Bear made $28 million in his various endeavors and it appears he's looking to add to that next year. Nicklaus announced that he will start carrying his own line of golf balls.

They will be manufactured by Bridgestone but stamped with his Golden Bear logo. GolfDigest said they will come in three variations. "Three balls will be available: Nicklaus Black, Nicklaus Blue and Nicklaus White, corresponding to the tee markers from which golfers regularly play." This is something the 18-time major winner has been thinking about for quite a while.

"For more than three years, we have contemplated entering the golf ball business, so over that time, I have been researching and testing golf balls," said Nicklaus "There are a lot of very good balls on the market, but I was not able to find a ball that fully met my expectations and hopes -- not just for me or other professionals, but more importantly, for the everyday golfer. So I simply decided not to enter the business until I found that ball. Well, I found that ball. Actually, I found three." I'm interested to see if he can put a dent in the Titleist or Nike golf ball market.

This doesn't seem like a move to create a bigger pie but rather take some of the already-existing pieces. I can't get real excited just yet with Titleist's stranglehold on golf balls but I'll be watching to see what kind of success Nicklaus has. It doesn't seem like he wonts for that.

US team keeps lead as wet weather interrupts Presidents Cup

News from President Cup, another rain delay cut short some exceptional golf Friday in the Presidents Cup. Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley shot 30 on the front nine at Muirfield Village, an astounding performance in foursomes.

Only some sloppy play allowed the match to go 15 holes in a 4-and-3 win over Jason Day and Graham DeLaet. "We were down but, boy, on 5 we just turned it on and played some of our best golf," Mickelson said. Right behind them, Brendon De Jonge began to emerge as a star of the International team. He teamed with Ernie Els and they never trailed in a 4-and-3 win over Hunter Mahan and Bill Haas, going 8 under when the match ended at the 15th. "This guy, he played beautiful and we both played well today," Els said. The Americans had a 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 lead, though four matches were still in progress when darkness descended on Muirfield Village.

For the second straight day, storms interrupted play and left a bleak outlook for finishing Sunday. Heavy rain -- and the time it took to get small pools of water out of the bunkers and fairways -- led to a delay of nearly three hours. The other four matches -- the Americans were up in two, the International led the other two -- were to resume Saturday morning. Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar were 6 under through eight holes and still only had a 1-up lead over Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. Oosthuizen missed a short par putt on the ninth to lose another hole, and the former British Open champion made an even greater blunder on the par-3 12th. After Woods went long of the green, Oosthuizen's 7-iron leaked to the right and hopped into the water. The Americans won with a bogey and were 3 up with six holes to play when they stopped. Steve Stricker and 20-year-old Jordan Spieth finally seized control of their match when Spieth made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth, and the Texan made another key birdie on the 12th.

They were 3 up with four holes remaining. What looked to be the decisive match of the foursomes session was Angel Cabrera and Marc Leishman, who overcame an early deficit and were 1 up with five holes remaining against Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker. The International team had control of the other match. Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott lost only one hole and were 4 up with seven holes remaining against Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner. Saturday is the busiest day for the Presidents Cup, with five fourballs matches early and five foursomes matches late. It concludes with 12 singles matches Sunday, though the forecast is not any better, especially for Sunday.

One thing was becoming clear through the relentless appearance of clouds -- the course Jack Nicklaus built has been groomed for birdies. Nicklaus stood at the back of the press center peering at the scoreboard, and he couldn't believe the scores he saw from both sides. "They say this golf course is tough," Nicklaus said, although he knows better. The greens are among the most pure on the PGA Tour, and they are soft because of the rain. In match play, with 24 of the best players from every continent except Europe, Muirfield Village doesn't stand much of a chance. "They are not protecting the course like they might do on a Sunday of the Memorial," Els said. "So they are setting up the course where you can make some birdies if you play properly." It was a big change from two years ago at fast, fiery and frightening Royal Melbourne.

In 80 holes on Friday, there were 51 birdies and two eagles. That's good for the fourballs format -- rarely for alternate shot. "People want to see birdies," Mickelson said. "We don't want to be playing defense. We want to be playing offense. And when you do that, you're winning holes because of great shots, not because of other's mistakes. And I think that's exactly the way it should be in these team events." Mickelson and Bradley, coming off their first loss in four matches as a team, fell behind early and needed a pair of big putts from Bradley to keep from falling further behind. It took a 15-foot eagle putt by Mickelson just to square the match on the par-5 fifth. But there was no stopping them from there. They followed with three straight birdies and won three straight holes on the back nine with pars.

Mickelson tried to hole out a pitch just short of the 13th green -- an up-and-down was all he needed -- and it hit the hole and spun 4 feet away. Bradley missed the par putt, bungled the 14th for another bogey and they halved the 15th with birdies. Even so, they made six birdies and an eagle in 15 holes of alternate shot. "I just think that when Phil and I get rolling in this alternate shot, we complement each other so well," Bradley said. "I think that we both really enjoy kind of showing off in front of each other." De Jonge and Els opened with two quick birdies through three holes and never gave Mahan and Haas much of a chance. They didn't lose a single hole. "Brendon played awesome," Els said. "He played great yesterday.

Actually, he even played better today." The Zimbabwean, in his first Presidents Cup, said Els contributed in his own way. "Don't let Ernie give me all the credit," De Jonge said. "He's by far the most calming influence I've ever been on the golf course with. It's nice to play with a Hall of Famer who hits it in the middle of the fairway and middle of the green. He makes it very easy." The conclusion of the second session could be pivotal for captain Nick Price and his International team, which has lost the last seven foursomes sessions in this event.

Just Phil Being Phil - 2013 Open Champion at Muirfield

Phil Mickelson is in the winners circle for the second week in a row after a brilliant final round to win the 2013 Open Championship held at Murfield. As the rest of the field scratched their heads on how to play the extremely fast greens, Phil hit shots that defied the imagination.

Phil is one of those players who will always go for broke. If there is a chance he can reach a green when every other player would lay up, he's going to go for it. He may be the gutsiest player currently on the PGA Tour.

His maverick style of play has thrilled us all but it has also left us as fans shaking our heads as to why he would try to pull off some of the shots he attempts. But that is why we love Phil. This is why we go to the golf course and try to pull off the same shots. This is why golfers play the game. It may not always be the smartest way to play but it definitely makes a round more exciting.

Here's the thing about Phil. When we try to pull off the impossible shot, it is probably our first time trying that shot. Phil puts himself in situations during practice rounds that have him ready for the moment if it arises. Phil and caddy Jim "Bones" MacKay walk every inch of the course, throw down balls in awkward positions and lies, and then have at it. Some of these shots may never come up during a round but if it does, he prepared.

The following video clip gives us a glimpse into the mindset of Phil as he prepares for a round. I've seen him attempt (and pull off) this shot before, but the fact that he doing it during a practice round proves that he leaves no stone unturned. I've tried this shot and have been very unsuccessful every time. There's a reason why we say, "These guys are good."

Photo found here.

The Rugged Outdoor Woman

I received this little gem in my email the other day. Thanks Larry.

The Rugged Outdoor Woman:

During her physical examination , a doctor asked a retired woman about her physical activity level. The woman said she spent 3 days a week, every week in the outdoors.

"Well, yesterday afternoon was typical; I took a five hour walk about 7 miles through some pretty rough terrain. I waded along the edge of a lake. I pushed my way through two miles of bramble. I got sand in my shoes and in my eyes. I barely avoided stepping on a snake. I climbed several rocky hills. I went to the bathroom behind some big tree. I ran away from an irate bear and one angry elk. The mental stress of it all left me shattered. At the end of it, I drank a scotch and three glasses of wine.

Amazed by the story, the doctor said, "You must be one heck of an outdoors woman!"
"No," the woman replied, "I'm just a really, really horrible golfer."

Photo found here.

KOOOOOOOCH!!! Matt Kuchar...Positively Consistent

Matt Kuchar is quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the PGA Tour. He may be bit bland. He may be a little goofy with his signature ball between index and middle finger wave and silly smile that never seems to leave his face. There is nothing about him that screams "look at me" like the colorful attire of the Rickie Fowlers and Ian Poulters of the golfing world. But after notching his sixth win at The Memorial, his first major win may be right around the corner.

Kuchar persevered on a course which humbled many of the game's top performers. World's #1, Tiger Woods, shot a 44 on the back nine on Saturday. His highest since turning professional. World's #2, Rory McIlroy, struggled just to make the cut. Muirfield Village Golf Course is one of the toughest tests in golf, and if this weekend is any indication of what is to come in two weeks at Merion Golf Club for the playing of the 113th U.S. Open, the Georgia resident is high on my list as one of the favorites.

The now six time PGA Tour winner does not have the text book swing that is being taught today, but as Golf Digest said in an article back in June of 2011, his swing is consistent and repeatable. Being that I have an unorthodox swing myself, I can relate to trying to own my swing as Kuchar has. Every swing is different. Finding a way to get the desired results consistently is our challenge.

The following video is on how to hit a better pitch shot. This tip is one that I can benefit from since I struggle with greens in regulation. The tip about pitching is great but what his father speaks to is what really got my attention.

He and Kuchar discuss visualizing the shot and going to a place that you have been to before. They advise us to remember a time when you were in a similar position and you executed the shot perfectly. We need to have this picture in our minds and then make it happen. I hit a lot of bad shots but I have also hit a lot of good shots that I can draw upon to put me in a positive state of mind.

This is not new to golf. It has been said many times by many instructors, but all of it usually goes out the door after hitting that first bad shot. So for me, I guess in order for me to gain consistency with my golf swing, I need to to be consistent with my thoughts as well.

Try it out. See if it helps you. I'll give updates after I have given it a go for few rounds. Feel free to share any techniques that you use to put yourself in positive mind frame on the golf course. This game is challenging enough. We need to give ourselves any advantage we can. Have a great round and always hit your target.

Photo found here. 

All Play And No Practice

As we all know, golf is not an easy sport. What makes it worse, is that we as amateurs, tend to make it even harder than it has to be. Without steady practice, it is difficult to make drastic improvements. Such is the current state of my golf game. I'm not getting any worse, but I'm also not getting any better.

My schedule has it that I am not able to practice as much as I would like to. I still play at least two times a week, but the time I used to put into my game is not what it used to be. It is rare that I even warm up before a round. For me, it's from the car to the first tee with just a few stretches in between.

I am currently trending at a handicap of 7.3, which is great, but I want to go even lower. Having coached basketball at the college level, I of all people understand how important practice is to improving ones skill in any given sport. With golf being a game of inches, a week of no practice sets a golfer back 3 months.

Looking at my last few rounds, it is quite evident that I would benefit from at least twenty minutes of warm up. In a recent round at Club West Golf Club, I shot a nine over 45 on the front nine, but followed it up with a three over 39 on the back for an 84. The round prior to this one at Ken McDonald Golf Course saw me shoot a four over 40 on the front with a two over 38 on the back for a 78. The point is, it usually takes me nine holes to warm up before I start to see a little consistency in my swing.

The only aspect of my game that is keeping me from shooting in the 90's is my short game. I still struggle with my greens in regulation, but am able to get up and down at a rate of about fifty percent. Also my putting has improved dramatically, eliminating many of the three putts which used to sneak into my rounds. I'll let you know how I improved my putting in a future post.

The bottom line is that I need to find a way to sneak in some more practice or else frustration will start to set in as it did during my round today at Lone Tree Golf Club. I never throw tantrums on the golf course(see video for some classics), but I definitely thought about throwing my pitching wedge into the water after a terrible tee shot on a short par 3. I shot a 43 on the front but thanks to a chip in birdie on the par 4 10th and a thirty foot birdie putt on the par 5 18th, I was able to salvage an 82 shooting a 39 on the back.

Getting off to a good start to begin a round will make all the differences in lowering my handicap. I set a goal of getting down to a 5 but it's not going to happen if I continue showing up to the course right at tee time. I just need to get those bad shots out of my system before I step up for my first drive. If I can be consistent with this, par to the course on a regular basis will soon follow...Hopefully...Have a great round and always hit your target.

Bethpage State Park...The Black Course

My wife and I traveled to New York City this past weekend to surprise my mother for her birthday. My sister had been planning a surprise party for her for quite some time but the original plan was to go to Cincinnati, OH where my parents live, but at the last minute, my mom wanted to bring my niece to meet my Grandmother who just turned 80. This meant that we had to switch venues, and we were on our way to The Big Apple.

I mentioned the trip to my buddy SBTU(Swing Better Than You, formley Scratch Better Than You when he was a part-time D.J.) whom you met in this post and later in this one and he immediately suggested that we try to get on to the Black Course at Bethpage State Park. The Black Course has hosted the 2002 and 2009 US Open Championships and will welcome the top 125 PGA players Aug. 21-26 for The Barclays as they vie for the 2012 FedExCup Championship.

Of course I got excited with the thought of taking on one the hardest tracks in America. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and others suggested that no one with a 8 or higher handicap could break 100 on US Open layout. I am currently an 8.2 so I was anxious to see how I would fare. But first things first. Getting a tee time.

It is well documented that The Black Course is one of the toughest tee times to get in golf. It is akin to Pebble Beach and Torey Pines in that golfers camp out the night before in hopes that someone cancels their tee time or that they win a lottery of sorts. Bethpage allows for a certain amount of walk-ons per hour but they go quickly. I was advised to get there the day before, but under the circumstances, the earliest we could get to the park was 7:00am that morning.

I had no expectations of getting a tee time. The park has four other courses, so if we didn't get on The Black, we were still guaranteed 18 holes of golf. We walked up to the ticket area and checked the times that were available. It kind of reminded me of the booths at a horse racing track where you place your bets. Much to our surprise, there was a 9:51 tee time available. I could not believe it. This almost seemed to good to be true, but it was happening.

The day was hot and humid and there was a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. After taking a picture in front of the famous "Warning Sign", we stepped up to the first tee, which has an elevated tee box to a dogleg right fairway. 

It was a bit nerve racking as there were a bunch of people watching as they waited for their tee times to arrive. With palms sweating and heart thumping, I took my swing. Pop up. I didn't even reach the fairway. Here we go, I thought.

We played from the white tees which measures 6684 yards on the score card. We figured there was no reason to torture ourselves trying to play the full 7468 yards from the blues. Maybe I will try it if I get another opportunity to play it again, but for now, let's just give ourselves a chance to break 100. They had already started setting up for The Barclays which was still two months away and the skeletal base of the grandstands were being put in place so we had a semblance of what it would look like for the tournament.

The course was not set up for US Open conditions, and to be honest, I don't know how it could get any worse. I'm used to resort golf. Living in Miami and now in Phoenix, many of the courses are set up so that vacationers have a good time, score well, which prompts them to return with memories of a good round. Wide open fairways funnel everything back to the middle, and even if you end up in the rough, you still have a great chance to get up and down. 

This is not the case on the Black Course. The first cut is gnarly and twisted. The ball disappears quickly, even just off the fairway. Then there is the fescue grass. If you are lucky enough to find your ball in this foot and half mess, successfully getting it out is somewhat of a miracle. There were times when it took me three hacks just to get it back into the fairway. which led to two nines on my scorecard.

I forgot to mention that golfers have to walk The Black Course which is all hills. No carts are allowed. Along with the heat, the constant up and down, and the thunderstorm which later caught up with us, I was beat down mentally as well as physically. I truly have a new found respect for what the pros do. Very humbling to say the least as I finished the round with a 101.

Despite this, I had an excellent time. I can say that I have walked where the pros have. You can actually feel the history in the air. All the buzz that lead up to playing the round lived up to its billing. This is one of those courses that all true golf fanatics have to play at least once. Just to see how you stack up.

I have improved a lot over the past year but this was a reality check on how good golfers have to be to compete on the professional level. The Golf Channel commercials do not lie. These guys are good. After playing The Black Course, I would say, "These guys are freakin' amazing!" Have a great round and always hit your target.

Anything That Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong...Especially On The Golf Course

I'm pretty much addicted to the game of golf. There is rarely a moment in the day when I'm not thinking about teeing it up. Even when I am at work and working with customers, I am practicing my swing. Luckily, for me, I work in an environment that allows for this sort of behavior.

While I may be a certified golfaholic, my golfing buddy, J.B. may be the biggest fan of the sport. We had mutual golfing friends on Facebook and once we realized that we live in the same area, if our schedules coincide, we are playing golf.

J.B., who hits the ball a country mile, is a resource for all things golf related. He always has the latest facts or the latest gadgets. When it comes to finding the best deals, he's you're man. When the local Phoenix golf courses and major retailers like Lamkin Golf Grips have a "pick the winner" contest, he has an uncanny gift, and has won on many an occasion. I'm not a gambler, but if he went with me to Vegas, I might be tempted to play a few hands of Blackjack.

While checking out my Facebook news feed, I noticed the following which J.B. had posted on his page. Murphy's Law states that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" and this is true in golf as well. I felt like this during one of my recent rounds. No matter what I did, my ball ended up in a bunker. Fairway and greenside. Needless to say, I spent my next practice session in the "dirt" as my wife calls it.

Here are some scenarios(observations) that I'm sure we have all been faced with. Let me know if some of these sound familiar to you or if you have any others to add to the list. I know I can think of a few more. Have a great round and always hit your target.

* A two-foot putt counts the same as a two-foot drive.

* The odds of hitting a duffed shot increase by the square of the number of people watching.

* Never wash your ball on the tee of a water hole.

* The stages of golf are Sudden Collapse, Radical Change, Complete Frustration, Slow Improvement, Brief Mastery, and Sudden Collapse.

* The only sure way to get a par is to leave a four-foot birdie putt two inches short of the hole.

* Don't play with anyone who would question a 7.

* If your driver is hot, your putter will be ice cold; if you can hit your irons, you will top your woods; if you are keeping your right elbow tucked in, your head will come up.

* Progress in golf consists of two steps forward and 26.6 miles backward.

* One good shank deserves another.

* It takes 17 holes to really get warmed up.

* One birdie is a hot streak.

* No matter how badly you are playing, it's always possible to play worse.

* Whatever you think you're doing wrong is the one thing you're doing right.

* Any change works for three holes.

* Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.

* The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.

* It's surprisingly easy to hole a 50-foot putt when you lie 10. 

Photo found here.