Archive for March, 2010

GolfLogix Expands GPS App line to Include Support for the Motorola DROID

by Annie Latham on March 11, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Golf GPS, Technology with 1 Comment

Got a Motorola DROID smartphone? There’s a new app in town. GolfLogix of Scottsdale, Arizona has just unveiled a version of its popular GPS distance and stat-tracking app that works on Motorola DROID.   GolfLogix claims to have the #1 Golf GPS app worldwide.  It provides golfers with useful information like distances to the front, center and back of the green, as well as points out major hazards.

The DROID version joins the ones running on other popular smartphone platforms:  iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Bold and Bold2, BlackBerry Tour and BlackBerry Storm, Storm 2,  HTC Touch Pro and Touch Pro 2.

DROID’s large screen and high-resolution makes it an ideal host for the GolfLogix app.  In a prepared statement, Pete Charleston, president of GolfLogix said,  “Our development team is keeping pace with the cell phone industry. We are the only golf app provider who is focused on making our application available on as many phones as possible and allowing golfers to transfer their membership and keep all of their statistics when they change to a new phone.”

GolfLogix uses a subscription model that runs $39.95 a year.  If you want to try it out before committing, the company provides a non-industry standard 24-hour free trial period to accommodate one round.

Payment of the yearly fee makes you a member of the GolfLogix community where you’ll have access to  more than 25,000+ professionally mapped golf courses worldwide, a personalized statistic tracking website, distance information on every round, score tracking, club data, accessory discounts, free data upgrades and more. Plus, members receive all application upgrades and can transfer memberships to new compatible phones at no extra charge. GolfLogix’ golf application can be downloaded directly from the Company’s website (www.golflogix.com).

If you have tried it out on your DROID or other smartphone, please let us know how you like it.  Specifically, how well it worked under the various lighting conditions.

Crenshaw and Coore Tapped to Restore Strategic and Aesthetic Character at Pinehurst No. 2

by James on March 11, 2010 in News, Courses with No comments

Pinehurst No. 2

Looks like the design team of Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore have been hired to do some restoration work on the classic Donald Ross design at Pinehurst No. 2. The work is being commissioned with the 2014 US Open and US Women’s Open in mind. The two major events will hit No. 2 in consecutive weeks, four years from now. Time to make the changes, and in a few years, all will be ready for the big events!

The goal of the course changes will revolve around restoring the strategic and aesthetic feel that Donald Ross so aptly built into the original design. That being said, Coore commented on the task at hand:

‘It is not our intent to radically change this golf course. We’re trying to uncover it, not recover it.’

Sounds like Coore knows what he’s talking about. Taking a dozer to a classic like Pinehurst No. 2 would be tragic. Revealing and slowly chipping away at some of the finer details would be clearly the way to go. Look for Coore and Crenshaw to restore sandy waste areas, widen some of the fairways, and bring some of the native wiregrass and natural bunker edges. I can already see it now. No. 2 is going to look great.

[Via: GolfWeek]

Slazenger Heritage Polos Now Available

by James on March 11, 2010 in Style & Fashion with No comments

Slazenger Heritage PolosI have to admit, when I think Slazenger, I think of Wimbledon. I think of their tennis balls, of the fortnight in London to crown the champion at the ‘All-England’ club each year. That’s just me… But if you take a look at the golf fashion Slazenger is pumping out these days, it looks like they’re trying to change my mind.

The other day I noticed the good folks at TrendyGolf posted an offering of the new ‘Heritage’ line from Slazenger. At first glance, I loved the look of them. At second glance, I loved them even more.

Made of 100% cotton, the Heritage line from Slazenger is without a doubt, one of the more classic polos from the 80’s. Emblazoned with the ‘golden cat’ logo, put one on and I bet you couldn’t help but feel like Seve celebrating his Open triumph with a few fist pumps.

Available now from £39 (around $58USD), head on over to TrendyGolf for a look at their selection. Many colors and sizes are available!

Puma Acquires Cobra, Acushnet to Focus on Titleist and FootJoy Brands

by James on March 10, 2010 in News, Cobra with 1 Comment

Now this is big news. The latest out of GolfWeek has the Cobra brand (owned and run by the Acushnet Co.) sold off to the rising stars at Puma AG. Of course, no terms of the deal have been disclosed as of yet, but this could be a great win/win for both sides. Let me explain why.

Ricky Fowler in Puma GearPuma has been making strides in the last year or so, making more and more of an effort to penetrate the North American golf market. Chances are you’ve seen the young gun Ricky Fowler out on the course in his colorful gear. Well, you guessed it, Fowler has an apparel deal with Puma, and I have a feeling more deals are to come.

For the Acushnet Company, the deal will allow them to focus on their core competencies, or in this case, their core offerings from Titleist and FootJoy. Wally Uihlein, chairman and CEO of Acushnet commented on the deal:

“With the sale of Cobra, we have the opportunity to devote all of our resources to the global growth of (the two brands).”

So there you have it. Cobra is sold off to Puma, and Acushnet is now focusing their efforts 100% behind the FootJoy and Titleist brands. Sounds like a winning formula on both sides. I wonder how long it will take until we see Ricky Fowler hitting some Cobra blades? Oh, and I just thought of this… David Feherty is always out and about promoting Cobra gear. Maybe he’ll be a key face for their marketing efforts in North America (and around the world)? And what about Ian Poulter? So many marketable Cobra staffers are on-board. Big things are surely on the horizon for Puma!

Guerin Rife Island Series Bimini Blade Putter

by James on March 9, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Guerin Rife, Putters with No comments
The Guerin Rife Island Series Bimini Blade Putter

The Guerin Rife Island Series Bimini Blade Putter

I’m a huge fan of the old-school blade. Doesn’t matter where it is, on the fairways I currently pull out my Titleist 690MB’s, and on the greens, I’ve got a nice selection of blade putters I roll the rock with. At the moment, I’ve got a Scotty Cameron Circa 62 No. 1 in the bag, and while it’s a slightly different take on the classic blade… I love it. So buttery.

At any rate, getting back to the matter at hand here, the other day I was checking out some of the specs on the Guerin Rife Bimini Blade, and gosh darn it, the putter looks darn sweet. Based on the classic Wilson blade, the 8802, the Bimini Blade caught my eye the moment it arrived on the market. Part of Rife’s Island Series line, the Bimini has a slightly raised toe, and Rife’s patented ‘RollGroove Face Technology’ to help you get the ball rolling early and true. The top line of the Bimini Blade is free from notches and alignment lines. From above, all you’ll see is the 303 stainless steel head. A classic look.

Guerin Rife Bimini Blade PutterThe stock Guerin Rife Bimini Blade Putter comes built to the following specs:

  • Loft of 2 degrees
  • Lie angle of 71 degrees
  • 33″, 34″ and 35″ lengths available
  • Headweight: 345 grams
  • Swingweights available: D6-D8, E0-E2, E4-E6
  • 303 Stainless Steel head material
  • AVS Winn Custom grip
  • Island Series Blade Headcover with magnet clips

Last I checked, the Guerin Rife site and other large retailers were completely sold out of the Bimini Blade. A true sign this baby is a hot item. I’d love to get my hands on one of these for a round or two, so if anyone from Rife is reading this, please give me a dingle, would ya? 🙂

For more info on the Bimini Blade, visit Guerin Rife.

For the Serious Golfer: 6 Tips to Maximize a Great Start

by James on March 8, 2010 in Golf Tips with No comments

We all want to play our best, all the time. While getting proper instruction and advice from an accredited teaching professional is sage advice… there are some simple things you can do all on your own to maximize your chances of optimal performance, no matter how serious or fun your upcoming round/tournament/match may be.

Jack Nicklaus on the First Tee

Below are our Top 6 tips to help you get off to a great start:

1. Play a practice round or two. This can’t be overemphasized. No matter how important (or unimportant) an event may be, you can’t deny the fact that the more you play a course, the better you’ll know it. Knowledge is power. Get out to the course and get familiar with it. Chart the greens and putt to every nook and cranny on each of them. Do your best to ensure you know what the ball is going to do on all 18 surfaces. Make notes on ideal places to drive the ball, and the best spots to drop your shots on the green. If possible, head out to the course with a local caddy or member. Any ‘insider’ knowledge they can relay to you could prove to be invaluable. Again, knowledge is power. If you have your own caddy, be sure to bring him or her along for the ride as well, or have them head out separately to chart the course in as much detail as possible.

2. Know the best route to the course. This may seem silly, but knowing how to get to and from the course is crucial. Are your transportation requirements taken care of? Chances are, you’re going to be driving yourself to the course. Do you know the route? Have you given yourself ample time to arrive when you want to? By taking care of transportation ahead of time, and giving yourself a ‘buffer’ to arrive early, you avoid any undue stress or pressure to the body and mind… something that could definitely ‘razzle’ you before you’ve even had a chance to get to the course.

3. Stretch. After having arrived at the course take a good 15 minutes to stretch. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the locker room, on the range, wherever… make sure you’re good and limber before stepping up to hit some balls. Check out this awesome stretching routine from the one-and-only Greg Norman.

4. Hit the range. Time to prep with some ball striking. What’s most important here is to feel comfortable and ‘loose’. Don’t worry about any poor shots you may hit. Start off with your wedges, working your way up through your irons to finish off with your hybrids, fairway woods and driver. To wrap up any practice you may want to finish with a beautiful drive, or maybe a wedge shot that you stuck close to a pin. Whatever the case, finish while striking the ball solidly, and on a positive note.

5. Stroke some putts. Get the feel of the greens. I prefer to only play ONE practice ball to recreate situations on the actual course during the round. After all, you only get ONE crack on each putt out there, right? Do you best to judge the speed, as this will be of critical importance. Keep in mind however, that the practice green(s) may not be the same speed as you’ll find on the course. Maybe the practice green hasn’t been cut, maybe the greens on the course have been double-cut… Keep that in mind… But do try and feel a smooth and confident stroke… and walk away with confidence.

6. Focus and have fun. Get your gear together, and make your way towards the first tee. This may be a good time to have a few sips of water, or maybe chomp down on an apple or banana for some extra kick-start energy. Stay loose, introduce yourself with a smile to your playing partners, and ‘let it go’. You’ve prepared yourself admirably, now it’s time to tee it off and play your best.

Throwback Golf Attire – Return of the Slazenger V-Neck

by Annie Latham on March 8, 2010 in Style & Fashion with No comments

TrendyGolf.com noted in their blog that the golden panther is on its way back.

Rewind to 1984, when Seve Ballesteros won the British Open Championship at St. Andrews wearing that classy v-neck with the golden panther.  Apparently this move by Slazenger to bring back the look coincides  with the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship which is taking place at the Old Course, St Andrews in July 2010.

Credit: Getty Images

There isn’t much in the way of details available yet.  Noted was the fact that this updated Slazenger Heritage Gold line will be featuring classic v-neck sweaters, cardigans and polos that have been modernized into a slim fit.  Chances are, the materials used have been updated while maintaining the classic look.

So keep your eyes open.  And if you want to be one of the first to know when the line is available, go to TrendyGolf.com.

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We’re Pantsing John Daly: LOUDMOUTH Pants Contest Winner!

by James on March 7, 2010 in Contests, Style & Fashion with No comments

We have a winner! Earlier this morning at just past midnight, I randomly made the selection for our ‘We’re Pantsing John Daly‘ LOUDMOUTH contest winner… and the winner is…. LISA HORNE!

Congratulations to Lisa! We have already reached out to her to sort out the details. Lisa has won a pair of LOUDMOUTH pants, courtesy of GolfCrunch.com. She can feel free to browse and pick any pair she likes, and we’ll arrange to have them shipped right to her front door 🙂

Regarding the other portion of our contest, I’ve spoken (well, actually ‘Tweeted’) with John Daly, and he has agreed to wear the Shagadelic-Black pants on Thursday’s round in Puerto Rico. As a close runner up (based on your comments/votes), the Margarita pants almost made the cut. I mentioned to John that if he wanted to wear another pair for us on Friday, the Margarita’s would be the ones to wear 🙂

The top 3 LOUDMOUTH pants based on your votes were the following:

  1. Shagadelic Black
  2. Margarita
  3. Evel Jeans
LOUDMOUTH Pants

The Top 3 (L-R): Shagadelic Black, Margarita and Evel Jeans

Keep an eye out for John on the course this upcoming Thursday and Friday at the Puerto Rico Open. Based on YOUR votes, he’ll be wearing the pants of your choosing. Fun stuff, for sure… I hope you all enjoyed the contest!

A big THANK YOU to all that entered, and stay tuned for more fun and awesome golf giveaways here at GolfCrunch. We’re just getting started in this overwhelmingly HUGE golf blogosphere, but we’re nowhere near done yet. Lots of great stuff to come 🙂

Note: For more information on LOUDMOUTH, check out their official website.

DAWGS Golf Shoes – a Casual Alternative

by Annie Latham on March 5, 2010 in Golf Equipment with 1 Comment

At a very basic level, golf shoes with plastic spikes play a very functional role – keeping your feet from slipping throughout the golf swing.  With feet firmly planted, you have the stability necessary to drive your golf ball off the tee or finesse it from just off the green.  And anyone who has attempted to play in regular workout shoes can attest that this IS mandatory.

Over the last few years, golf equipment manufacturers have come up with all kinds of high performance shoes.  But not all golfers seek performance shoe nor do they want to pay the triple-digit price.  On the other hand, the standard, off-the-shelf golf shoes, like the ones found at Sports Authority, can be affordable, but uncomfortable and definitely not stylish.

Enter USA Dawgs (www.usadawgs.com) of Las Vegas, NV.  They offer a collection of casual golf footwear that blends exceptional comfort, performance, value and style for men and women.

DAWGS Golf Spirit shoes are supposed to be the world’s lightest golf shoe.  That’s a claim that’s more commonly heard with track & field shoes.  Yet, the company has made a point to promoted that Golf Spirit line of shoes weigh less than 7 ounces per shoe.  Just to compare, the Women’s Nike Zoom Vomero+ 4, which is an excellent training shoe for runners, weighs in at 10 ounces.  The Women’s Nike LunaRacer+ comes in at 4.5 ounces.  The Spirit splits the difference.

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Help Beatriz Recari Make the Mojo 6

by James on March 4, 2010 in News, Contests, Players with No comments

OK GolfCrunchers (or is it GolfCrunchies?), it’s time to do good by doing good again. The other day I was contacted by up-and-coming LPGA player Beatriz Recari, asking for a little help. Turns out she needs ALL of our help, which is ultimately the reason for this post. The deal? She’s trying to get as many votes as she can to qualify for the last spot in the Mojo 6.

What is the Mojo 6?

In a nutshell, it’s an event being held in Jamaica in which a field of 16 women golfers will battle it out for a cool $1,000,000. 15 of the 16 spots are already filled, and the last slot comes down to fan voting.

So how do you vote? Head on over to the Mojo 6 site, click ‘vote for me’ and enter your email address. I believe only one entry is allowed per day, so come back each day to cast your vote for Beatriz or any of the other players!

For more information follow Beatriz on Twitter @BeatrizRecari, hit up her Facebook Page, or visit her official site at BeatrizRecari.com.

Good luck, Beatriz!

Beatriz Recari

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