Artan of the Week (May 18, 2007) - IRISH OPEN edition

Wow - things have been REALLY hectic at my "day job", and between juggling the pipe band, fulfilling orders for TartanGolfGrips.com, doing a little rehearsal preparation for the Kingsmen Alumni Corps, and a MAJOR overhaul of the TartanGolfGrips.com secure shopping cart and website links - I just realized that I'm a full TWO DAYS late for the Artan of the Week...gaack...

There's also ANOTHER special project that will take place in conjunction with the 18th Annual American Century Golf Championship that has sucked up whatever precious free time I didn't have before, but I'm REALLY excited about this opportunity....I'll let the cat out of the bag more later, but we will be heading to beautiful Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in mid-July to participate in the American Century Golf Championship.

I've signed on as a walking scorer, and I'm really excited about this opportunity...I've watched the event on NBC for several years now, but this is the first time that I've ever been to Lake Tahoe in the summertime, PLUS seeing all of these athlete/celebrities play golf at the same time will be REALLY, REALLY fun...it would be a dream come true if I got to keep score for John Elway's group...

But I digress - the REAL reason for today's posting is to highlight the Artan of the week for May 18, 2007. This week's design highlights the OVERSIZED paddle grip that is an option at TartanGolfGrips.com. I personally use this grip myself, because I like the feel of a larger grip - you can see the extra grip material at the top of the grip. (You can ALSO see the damage that was done to the Artan design when the owner attempted to install the grip, and used a SCREWDRIVER to try and force the grip onto the shaft...I had to bail him out...the screwdriver shaft STILL embedded inside the grip, the HANDLE long gone as it had pulled off the end of the shaft...THAT was fun....you can see HIS customization to the artwork on and to the left of the "I" in HARRINGTON...oh well, I told him it's REALLY PERSONALIZED now...)

My personal full-swing grips are Eaton Golf Pride Dual Durometer "Yellows" which are the midsize offering in the Dual Durometer line. It's interesting to note that both Cheri and Lorena Ochoa both use the "Reds" in the GolfPride Dual Durometer line....
This grip was done for my neighbor across the street, Steve Harrington, and coincidentally, one of my favorite professional golfers, PADRAIG HARRINGTON is leading the Irish Open through the third round.

It would be SO COOL if Padraig could win his home country's Open tournament - it would be the first time in 25 years, as the last Irishman to win the Irish Open was John O'Leary back in 1982. How Irish a name is THAT??? Half the COUNTRY can probably lay claim to being the '82 Irish Open winner!

I think it's fate....it's been 25 years, and Padraig's gonna win this event. It's also nice to mention that the NEW IRELAND flag grip has been selling REALLY nicely since we debuted it back in what, March? I sold a couple of those this last week alone...as the word gets out, I think more and more people are going to want one of these....(at right).

Oh, during this past week, I found it interesting to learn that Nike is ALSO getting aboard the black club phenomenon that I chronicled earlier, when they announced the launch of their SV Tour Black Satin Wedge. (Shown below)

We're looking at another BUSY, BUSY weekend - today's haircut day, I'm gonna stop by Kemp Ford and check out a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, I've got Pipe Band rehearsal this afternoon at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank from 2-5, the website needs some more link updating, the lawn needs to be cut, edged and the plum tree needs to be pruned, and HOPEFULLY, we'll head over to the driving range to at least keep the swing in plane before heading out to play some tennis with our friends Mike and Michelle.

Sleep??? Who needs it???

Back in black...

Besides being one of my FAVORITE AC/DC tunes, I've noticed a new trend developing in golf club design, and it's one that I really like...A LOT....almost enough to get me to stray from my unnatural devotion to Callaway Golf clubs...

I first "strayed" a couple of years ago when I happened to meet " Dr. Jim" Yeh, the creative genius behind Alpha Golf Clubs, one of the most popular brands on the Long-Drive circuit, when I noticed an ad for the Alpha v5 driver...

Curious, I purchased one of the heads in a 12degree configuration, and built a club with it using the Aldila NV-Orange shaft with a half inch cut down to increase the control....FUN friggin' club, I might add, but it makes a RACKET when you hit it....I use it as my backup driver when my confidence in my Callaway EFT Fusion wanes (which hasn't been waning in awhile, so the Alpha is upstairs gathering dust in the corner of my office.), but it LOOKS sweet...it's got a tough, all black finish, INCLUDING the face of the club, which is REALLY convenient for seeing where the impact point of the ball was...

I found myself getting weird feelings of interest this morning when I was skimming through GolfWeek magazine, and found a new TaylorMade R7 SuperQuad ad, and started getting unfaithful thoughts towards my Callaway EFT Fusion driver....

So, to make "those" thoughts go away, I wrote an e-mail to Callaway Golf's customer service department, and pitched 'em an idea for an all-black themed driver (including the face) that would celebrate their 25th anniversary AND Gary Player's 50th appearance at The Masters tournament this year....I called it the "Black Knight" model FT-25...

Does anyone happen to know what DAY is considered Callaway's 25th anniversary? I know that they started in 1982 (I was in college, and I remember the "Hickory Stick" ads I used to see at the back of the golf magazines - those musta been the days when Mr. Callaway was selling 'em outta the trunk of his car), and this marks their 25th anniversary...but WHEN???

Easter Golf news

After attending a local sunrise service, and heading out to an early breakfast out with Mom, Cheri and I headed over to Elkins Ranch Golf Course with our favorite other golf couple.

I wanted to go to Elkins because the citrus blossoms are in bloom right now, and I enjoy their scent immensely. Elkins is also a fun, friendly little course that is located smack in the midst of citrus groves on three sides, and mountains on the fourth. It's quite far out away from civilization, and it's a nice getaway that's still pretty close by....

Elkins is located in Fillmore, California, which is a town that is in the midst of changing from mostly agricultural, to suburban residential, which is kinda sad, because once all those groves are plowed under, where will we get our oranges and lemons???

For the time-being though, a trip to Elkins is like a trip back to the '60's, when the course was first built. My favorite hole on the entire course is #18, which is a dogleg right into a large amphitheater green that is framed with large pine trees on the left and center, and the snack shack/bar/bar-b-cue patio on the right....it's a funky reminder of days gone by, and you can almost imagine the horn-rimmed and cat's-eye glasses on the people that played golf there when the course opened in the early 60's...and the HAMBURGERS are LEGENDARY - we joke that it's probably because the grill hasn't been cleaned thoroughly since the Eisenhower administration, but there's SOMETHING there that makes them taste EXTRA good....

The day was cloudy, and cooler than normal, and a bit of a breeze kept everyone bundled up in sweatshirts and jackets, but the citrus blossoms did their thing, and EVERYONE shot REALLY well...we had a bit of trouble with their fuzzy greens from poa annua, and all of us left SEVERAL putts short of their intended destination, and pumped up the scores, but I ended up with a legitimate 87, and edged Cheri out by 1 stroke, but she was playing from the forward tees, and I was playing from the blues...

We had a great day, and Cheri was just LAUNCHING her drives...her tempo was nice and slow, and she was just BOMBING the ball off the tee...we measured one drive at 276 yards on a flat fairway!!! How you ask???

Our playing partners brought along one of those new SkyCaddie GPS devices!!! Now, I'll be first to admit that when I saw them advertised by Pete 'n Nat on the Golf Infomercial Channel, I thought they were a joke, being the traditional purist that I am...sorta...

After being out on the course with friends that actually HAVE one of the little babies, and knowing exactly how far out from the green we are, and hitting DARTS into the green...I want one....(more confessions...sheesh) I STILL think they're too expensive, but if you have the disposable income, they are COOL! We had access to the high-end model, the SG4, and they had downloaded all of the coordinates from the website, and we new EXACTLY how many yards INTO the pin, and how many yards OUT from the tee-box we were, and we were able to measure EXACTLY how many yards out Cheri had launched her Callaway Big Bertha Red golf ball....it was pretty FUN, actually...

Confessions...and tips

They say that confession is good for the soul, so here goes...

I sold out....I caved...I'm weak, and spineless and I lied to you all......

There, I said it....

Yep, I sold out...after last month's rant about Top-Flite's new testosterone-laden pokes at stereotypical male ego-insecurities and the new Top-Flite D2's ability to make us "man up"...I caved and bought a box..... (he said sheepishly, nervously toeing the ground while looking down...biting his lower lip nervously....)

I want to test 'em out (more on that later when they get here)...I USED to use Top-Flite balls back when Lee Trevino was happily shilling for them big-time, and I was a little kid, dependent upon lawn-mowing, car washing and baby-sitting earnings to buy big boxes at Penney's...After I got a bit more experienced, I began to hate them and FULLY understood where the "Rock-Flite" moniker came from... (You know that feeling you get from a wood baseball bat when you foul one off??? That STINGING feeling in your hands??? BINGO!)

Now that the fine folks at Callaway Golf have taken over Top-Flite, my curiousity got the better of me, and I ordered a box from Golfballs.com.

(Note to Carlsbad - I still PERSONALLY think that your marketing campaign SUCKS, but after seeing some of the knuckle-draggers that I saw "talking smack" to one another so loudly that a mostly-deaf 96 year-old grandfather could hear them outside the snack shack at Elkins Ranch Golf Course today, it's probably going to resonate with THOSE apes, and you'll probably successfully resuscitate the brand, kick-start sales, drive profits and therefore increase my stock price, so I'm with you on this one for now....grudgingly....)

Now, my sell-out wasn't COMPLETELY a sign of weakness on my part; it was also an ADVERTISING opportunity, and an opportunity to help get the word out about a TOTALLY COOL, relatively NEW feature that my buds at Golfballs.com have recently released...what, you ask???

DESIGNER GOLF BALLS !!!! (Trumpet fanfare, please?!)

Don't ask me HOW they do it, but they have a process where you can submit YOUR OWN .JPEG, .JPG, .GIF and .BMP files, and Golfballs.com will PRINT YOUR DESIGN on your golf balls!!! NO MINIMUM either - you can do this on ONE BOX of golf balls...sure, it costs a few bucks extra, but WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!! (What a great GIFT item!!! What a great ADVERTISING idea!!!)

I've had the TartanGolfGrips.com logo imprinted on SEVERAL boxes of golf balls, and while I STILL feel a sense of frustration at shanking a golf ball into the weeds, it removes a LITTLE bit of the sting knowing that my errant projectile has now become a latent advertising vehicle, waiting to introduce its savior to the joys of TartanGolfGrips.com !

The only downside I can see is if you launch one into someone's yard or onto their roof, but still!!!! (And I don't do that anymore...much...)

Jason Gore without an equipment sponsorship deal?

I've got to admit, I am still surprised that Jason Gore, one of THE most engaging and popular personalities on the PGA Tour is STILL without an equipment sponsor?

I had the good fortune of happening to be on the same flight from Phoenix into Burbank a couple of years ago when Jason had won his third Nationwide Tour event, earning his "battlefield exemption" onto the PGA Tour...

I recognized the same red wristband that he had been wearing that season from his adventure at the 2005 U.S. Open, and the big grin on his face as he weaved his way down the aisle of the America West flight confirmed that it was indeed him...even though he finished the final round of the Open with an 84, the way that he captivated all of us golf fans continued to resonate with me far beyond the finish of that tournament, and I was THRILLED at the prospect of actually getting to meet him and talk to him.

I scurried down to the baggage claim carousels, and again encountered Jason as we both went to reclaim our golf clubs, swallowed hard and walked up to him, extending my hand as I congratulated him on his achievement.

He was genuinely nice, genuinely appreciative of being recognized, funny, pleasant - and I sesnsed a genuine warmth emanating from him that led me to conclude that this is a good man...a solid man, with his feet planted firmly on the ground. (A man that can drive a golf ball well over 300 yards, his feet are so firmly planted on the ground...)

A couple of months later, he won his first PGA Tournament at the 84 Lumber Classic, and I figured that his star was on the ascent. (The irony of his "blowup" 84 at the US Open, followed by his first PGA Tour win at the 84 Lumber Classic was NOT lost on me...)

However, golf is a fickle mistress, and she has turned her back on Jason for awhile, but this weekend, recently freed from his association with Nike (see below) , and pumped up from a meeting with HIS idol (Roger Clemens - more below) the magic is back, and he's in the hunt at the Shell Houston Open...wearing a Houston Astros baseball cap, and a blank golf bag...again, an "everyman" who we weekend warriors can admire and empathize with.

SO: Today''s question - what golf club equipment manufacturer can you see Jason Gore affiliating with???

Call me strange, but I sort of associate golf club manufacturers with certain personality types... Here's how I perceive certain manufacturers:

Titleist: Accomplished, aloof, somewhat arrogant, country clubbers..."David Simms", the cocky, self-assured pro who played against "Roy McAvoy" in "Tin Cup" probably played Titleist...
Callaway: Technical, friendly, approachable, fun-loving...Callaway is the Labrador Retriever of golf club manufacturers...
PING: Easy-going, casual, nice, friendly, approachable...PING is the GOLDEN Retriever of golf club manufacturers...
Mizuno: Quirky, exotic, aloof, moody...Catherine Trammell, played by Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct" would have played Mizuno...
Nike: Garrulous, frat-boy, gets by on reputation and who they hang around with...relies upon their reputation, not by their performance...in the corporate world, AKA "empty suit", in Texas, "all hat, no cattle"...sorry, I LOVE your shoes, your clothes, but your golf equipment just strikes me as somehow inferior, and not as well done as your OTHER product lines...
Cleveland: Who? Oh yeah, the golf club company that's owned by a surf-clothing company (ZQK) ...the lead designer and namesake now designs for CALLAWAY!!!
Srixon: WHO???
TaylorMade: Technical, brainy, a bit aloof...TaylorMade is the German Shepherd of golf club manufacturers...
Adams Golf: See PING
Cobra Golf: The class clown, can deliver when they need to, but jokes their way around...Cobra is the Jack Russell Terrier of golf club manufacturers...
MacGregor: Was good once upon a time...trying to get the magic back...
Wilson: See above

From that frame of reference, I can see the following companies affiliating with Jason, especially if he places well this weekend:
1) Adams - They've been making a push into the long-hitters, signing Brittany Lincicome - I could see them making a pitch for Jason if they have the budget.
2) TaylorMade - They seem to have EVERYONE under contract...
3) Cobra - Jason's a funny guy - I could see Cobra doing commercials with David Feherty and Jason VERY, VERY easily - Cobra's also playing up their bomber image, and Jason can bring it...
4) Callaway - My sentimental favorite, but they seem to have a thoroughbred mentality, where they only sign the top five players on any given Tour.
5) PING - The personalities are well-aligned, but PING doesn't do much sponsorship activity...the fit would be natural though...

Since newspapers often remove content after a brief period, I found these two articles to be really good representations of Jason, and where he's at right now.

The first one is by Richard Justice, courtesy of the Houston Chronicle:

March 31, 2007, 12:57AM
Any group of duffers would welcome Gore

By RICHARD JUSTICE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Jason Gore represents just about everything we love about sports, and that may be why fans still cheer for him and care about him and let him know he's special.

"Maybe they feel sorry for me," he said.

It's impossible to feel sorry for someone who makes you feel so good, who represents so many of your hopes and dreams.

No matter what he accomplishes in his golf life, Gore always will be remembered for one improbable weekend at the 2005 U.S. Open.

That's the weekend he almost did the impossible. He was the everyman hacker who went head-to-head with the best golfers and one of the toughest courses and never flinched.

Well, almost. By Sunday afternoon, he was in a place he never expected to be. That he fell apart and shot 84 on that final day makes the story even sweeter on some level.

When the world finally began paying attention, when they hoped against hope that this guy would do what no one thought he could do, he blinked.

Don't feel sorry for Gore because his story didn't end there. He took that one amazing weekend and shaped a career from it. He won his first and only PGA Tour event a few weeks later. He won three times on the Nationwide Tour that summer.

Let's be clear about what Gore is and isn't. He's not a star. Probably won't ever be.

He has finished in the top 25 just 10 times. His $2 million career earnings is haircut money for some. He entered this week's Shell Houston Open ranked 201st in the world, having missed the cut in six of his seven tournaments this year.

He has changed clubs and coaches, changed his golf ball, too. And for a couple of days this week, it has again worked the way it's supposed to. He shot 68 on Friday for a two-day total of 138, good enough to get him in a six-way tie for first.

He saved his round on No. 11 by hitting a bunker shot into the hole. He sank long birdie putts on the next two holes and was off and running.

He finished the day with a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18. Afterward, he was asked the usual questions about why he'd finally hit on something that had been working.

"Besides the fact I changed 14 clubs and a golf ball?" Gore said. "I finally just had a couple of weeks off to go home and play a lot of golf and get comfortable with my equipment again."

When someone asked about his putting stats, he smiled.

"It's sad, isn't it?" he said. "I know I'm a streaky putter, but when you're having 50-, 60-footers all day, it's tough to gauge yourself. I just haven't hit my irons close all year."

Another thing that might make him appealing to fans is the simplicity with which he approaches the game. He jokes that if he writes an instructional book, it'll be simple enough for anyone to understand.

"It's going to be a bestseller," he said.

For instance, how do you hit a hook?

"I don't know. Aim right."

Gore's career has had so many highs and lows and so few stretches of consistency that he said: "I think Magic Mountain is going to name a roller coaster after me."

He said that weekend at Pinehurst in 2005 changed more than the way people look at him. It changed the way he looked at himself.

He vaulted into contention with a third-round 67 and was paired with Retief Goosen for the final round. And then it all got away from him.

"This is the first time in my life I actually realized that I can play at this level," Gore said of that weekend. "You always have these doubts and stuff like that because I hadn't done anything. You never kind of get over that slope, and that's really what it was. I competed against the best players in the world on a great golf course and was beating them."

He says it seems surreal all these years later, but he remembers the feeling of people cheering his name and wishing him well as he went around the course.

What he never has lost is his love for the game. He was one of the few golfers wearing a shirt without a single logo. He won't be at the Masters next weekend.

That underdog status, that everyman quality, surely is part of his appeal.

"Maybe it's just because I actually do enjoy playing golf," Gore said, "and I struggle just like everybody else. Nothing was ever handed to me. I just love what I do. This is everything I dreamed of."

richard.justice@chron.com

And this article from Mealnie Hauser at PGATOUR.com also captured Jason well:

Gore heeding Rocket's advice to be TAD

Mar. 30, 2007

By Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Contributor

HUMBLE, Texas -- He's so not technical.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

JASON GORE THRU 36 HOLES

Stat Rd. 1 Rd. 2 Total Rank Eagles 0 0 0 N/A Birdies 2 5 7 T28 Pars 16 12 28 T9 Bogeys 0 1 1 T75 Double Bogeys 0 0 0 N/A Other 0 0 0 N/A Driving Accuracy 64% 43% 53.6% T56 Driving Distance 319.0 yds. 320.5 yds. 319.8 yds. 3 Greens in Regulation 83% 83% 83.3% T5 Putts per Round 31 28 29.5 T33 Putts per GIR 1.867 1.667 1.767 27 Sand Saves 100% 67% 80.0% T8

Couldn't tell you how to hit a hook to save his life. Just aim right.

Knows what loft and lie are, but that's about it. Want specifics? See the guys in the equipment trucks. Thank goodness for them. They're lifesavers.

Want to know if he's playing the right club and ball? Just watch. Does it go straight?

And once you hit a shot? He's just a spectator like everyone else. Might as well have bought a ticket. Crazy crap -- his words -- happens.

Jason Gore doesn't reach. For answers. For great sound bites. Or for perfection.

He's comfy, thank you so much, in his own skin. And he's come to terms with the fact that, along with this so-not-technical thing, he's never going to be a perfect 10 like his old junior and college golf buddy Tiger either.

And that has nothing to do with his 52-inch chest or short arms.

More like his amazing highs and so-so lows, his streaky putting and his slow starts on the west coast. They're just part of his life.

His pro career started on a low note when, on the day he was to play in his first tournament, he woke up to his mother's screams. His dad had died of a heart attack. Fast forward to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst where he burst onto the scene, made it into Sunday's final pairing and closed with 84. Three months later, he won his lone PGA TOUR tournament -- the 84 Lumber Classic. Symmetry anyone?

And then there's this year, which went from a T65 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic to five missed cuts and a W/D. And now?

A second-round 68 has him in contention at the Shell Houston Open where he was tied for the lead midway through Friday's round.

"Want to put these shoes on?'' he laughed when someone asked about his EKG strip of a career. "I think Magic Mountain is going to name a roller coaster after me.'' (Magic Mountain is a popular amusement park in Jason's hometown of Valencia, CA)

And as for those slow starts? "I'm the only guy who lives in Southern California who can't read poa anna greens,'' he chuckled. "... And, you know a man of my stature is what I'll say, shouldn't like the heat and humidity. For some reason I play better in it.''

Right now, he's playing just fine in the wind and humidity here in the Bayou City area. He's also doing just fine with his "clubs du jour" -- a mixed bag he's assembled since splitting with Nike a month ago. He's gone back to an old Titleist Pro V1-X, tossed in a Cobra driver, Cobra irons and a 3-wood and rescue club from TaylorMade.

How did he come up with that combination?
I threw every set to the bottom of the lake. Whichever one floated. '' he smiled. "...You know, being out here you have the opportunity to hit a lot of stuff and a lot of stuff is thrown in your face. I just picked a set that just visually looked good to me. And they happened to work pretty well.''

He paused. "I mean so far. It's been two days.''

Two days, we might add of birdies. And not 60 foot bombs. The close kind. Like his 7-iron to eight inches at the fifth hole. "I'm 6-for-10 from that range,'' he said.

The old/new golf ball is helping. When he was with Nike, he was playing the same ball Tiger does, but it wasn't for him. "The ball didn't fit me,'' he said. "I'm not saying it's a bad product or anything like that. It's a great product. The best player in the world uses it. It just didn't work for me.''

So is a change back to his old swing coach Mike Miller. "I wanted him to slap me pretty hard. It was just one of those things. I was trying to do something that I'm not physically able to do,'' he said. "This is the way I swing. This is it. Just get some of the bugs out of it... I think I'm a pretty good ball striker. When I try to be something I'm not, it just starts to throw another problem in the hole.''

This week, Gore is taking things as they come. His hero-turned-friend Roger Clemens dropped by and tucked an Astros cap and some shirts in his locker. He's sporting the cap this week and Clemens' motto -- Tough All Day or TAD. That's what Gore has written on his golf ball this week.

There's a signed Clemens jersey from his Boston days on Gore's wall and, well, when the two met two years ago at the ADT Skills challenge... "I don't get star-struck, but that was Roger Clemens. I was freaked out,'' he smiled. "I'm a pretty big guy, but he's a monster.''

The two email back and forth and Clemens dropped by this week with the cap and TAD shirts.

And no, Gore doesn't know what decision he'll make about one more season. "I don't think his wife knows.''

Gore is nothing, if not genuine. He can laugh at losing 20 pounds in the off-season, working hard and coming out and stinking up the early season. He's honest when he says that final round at Pinehurst was a blur. He admits there was a time when doubts crept in.

But Pinehurst changed all that. The media, the competition and being in the final group with former Open champ Retief Goosen.

"It was one of those things as a professional golfer, that's our drug. That's our addiction to get into that mode and be so nervous that you can't see straight and hit something and feel that... I can't even describe.''

This may not be the U.S. Open, but it's Gore's next chance to get that feeling. To jump into the weekend mix. To give himself a chance -- for the first time since last fall's Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

He's got the swing going. Now, if the putter will behave.

"My putter has got a mind of its own sometimes, but it doesn't mean I'm a bad putter," he said. "I didn't make a lot of putts yesterday, but I hit a lot of good ones. It's golf. It's outside. It's on the grass. These things aren't suitable for scoring, you know... If we're on a pool table, I can make putts all day.''

Not the best answer, he said. But all he had.

And now, after putting in the hard work for the last five weeks, he'll see if this week might just belong to him.

"We always have that glimmer of hope that this could be our week. One person is going to walk away being the 2007 Shell Houston Open winner and you sit in your room and lie in bed and think, 'Why can't that be me?'"

Maybe this week, it will be.

Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved.

We're pulling for ya, big guy! I hope that you play your very best golf today, and that you can move up big time on that leaderboard...maybe WIN this thing!

And hopefully, the golf equipment manufacturers will hitch their wagon to YOUR star, and BOTH of you will prosper together....

While we're talking about PUTTERS...

Since we're talking about PUTTERS...there's some news on the putter front...

I saw an article in the Golf Business Wire where Yes! putters will be launching an advertising campaign shortly to "increase brand awareness amongst avid golfers"...

I own several of these putters, and I LIKE them...I think there IS something to the C-groove technology (similar to that two-bar thingy) that does help impart top-spin off the putter face, and the machining on the putter heads is pure artwork...

I also noticed that Odyssey Putters have recently introduced the "Black" line of putters. These babies are GOOD looking...I also saw a segment on them on the Golf Channel yesterday, during the Tech Talk mini-infomercial. The putters look somewhat similar to my Callaway Tour Blue putter that was discontinued a couple of years ago (why, I don't know - it's an AWESOME putter!), and I need to get to the golf shop to test these babies out!

At first I was skeptical...

A colleague at work gave me a gift certificate to Golfsmith (How thoughtful-thank you, Kelly!) and I decided to use it for something that I've been curious about for a long time, but was too cheap to spend my own money on...(there, I admitted it...)

No, I didn't buy one of those silly Trion-Z magnetic voodoo bracelets that's now endorsed by David Leadbetter (David, David, David....c'mon...), but I DID spring for one of those ubiquitous Golf Channel infomercial-staples, the Check-Go.

For those that have not been GLUED to the Golf Channel during the morning to see this infomercial, the Check-Go is a smallish piece of equipment that spins a single golf ball really fast on a small turntable inside a plastic cage, just like a Spin-Art at the county fair.

The idea is that once the ball reaches its top velocity (several thousand RPM), you then touch it with a marking pen and draw a line on the ball to mark the perimeter line of the ball that identifies its balance point, and the ball will then theoretically roll more true on the line of your putt, and not be affected by imperfections in the manufacturing process which will cause the golf ball to "wobble" on its way to the cup...plus, it gives you a nice aiming line as an alignment aid.

Needless to say, I was skeptical. I figured that modern manufacturing techniques would produce balls that are produced consistently, with centered cores, perfectly round exteriors, and no imperfections in weight and balance, and I figured that this was another "Inspector Gadget" golf gimmick...

Not any more...

Well, I took Kelly's Christmas present, and bought one of these little fellas at Golfsmith in Woodland Hills, CA about a week after Christmas, and I've been using it for the past month.

I have to admit - I think there's something TO this product! I have noticed an improvement in the way that my putts have been tracking, and most telling - I have noticed that almost every time, the line on the ball ends up on the top of the ball when it comes to rest in the fairway! That tells me that the ball DOES come to rest with the "heaviest" part of the ball "down" when it comes to rest on its own, and that there IS something to identifying its balance point and using the configuration of each ball to assist your putting stroke!

One of the most INTERESTING parts about using this tool, is the movement of each ball that you notice as the ball is spun up to speed. I tested an entire box of golf balls by aligning the alignment mark on the exterior of each ball with the anticipated "draw line" of the Check-Go, and was AMAZED at how much variation there is from the start position and the finished "draw line" on 90%+ of the balls in a couple of boxes. SOME of the golf balls actually rattled off the plastic cage, they were so unbalanced!

I was also amazed at how true the balls roll along the draw line when I strike them squarely (which is pretty frequently). I've noticed that my biggest putting bugaboo is basic line selection (alignment) and distance management, not striking the ball off center, or push/pulling the ball, and the majority of the time the balls WILL track truly on the "draw line". Fewer balls tend to drift mysteriously "off line", and the number of putts per round have decreased by about 10%, and I'm scoring more in the mid to upper 80's per round, and fewer rounds in the 90's.

Granted, it's still too early to tell if this phenomenon is a fluke or not, but for now, I'm enjoying my rounds more, and the way that more putts seem to find their way to the cup, or much closer to it, and it's also a good feedback device to see that "draw line" when it stays solid as the ball rolls towards the cup. The Check-Go puts a line COMPLETELY around the circumference of the golf ball, unline the "Line-Em-Up" device that I previously used to draw a line on HALF of the ball...

For now, I'd have to say that the Check-Go is a worthwhile investment, and has helped lower my score by helping the golf ball to stay more truly on-line with the putting stroke, with fewer "drift balls"...

Drool buckets at the ready

Saw this at a golf newsletter that I subscribe to....and had to get out the drool bucket as a result...

Looks like our good friends at Callaway Golf / Odyssey Putters are bringing back a milled line of putters, similar to my beloved Callaway Blue TT-3, but they're calling this one the "Black Series"...

If it PERFORMS half as well as I think it looks, Callaway's got themselves a WINNER!!! (An open note to Callaway Market Research: If you guys need some real-world market research FEEDBACK on this new putter line, please e-mail me at tartangolfgripsdotcom@gmail.com and we can set something up...) =)

Seriously, nice job, folks!!!

Big news in Golf Retailing

Holy smokes - I just read that Dick's Sporting Goods is going to buy Golf Galaxy for a 19% premium over today's closing price!!!

And I was hoping that Golf Galaxy would one day make their way to California....

Whew - at least the management team appears to be staying on board...

Scottsdale Golfest Part II

Wow - that was pretty fun!
It was a beautiful weekend in Scottsdale - the weather was perfect, and we got the opportunity to meet with lots of people at Golfweek's Golfest.

Every major club manufacturer was there with AT LEAST a dozen staff bags STUFFED with all the latest clubs - some of which haven't even been released to the public!!! (I got to test hit some new Callaway irons that are pretty sweet looking, and VERY easy to hit...)

We got a nice location for our tent, located adjacent to the big putting green that was being shared by Yes! putters, and Eyeline Golf, a company that makes a line of putting and golf training tools. We were located right on the main walkway between the demonstration tee at the end of the manufacturers and the "Fun Zone" where all of the contests were being held. We had a lot of visitors as people made their way from the various demonstrations over to try their skill at closest to the pin chipping contests.

The Yes! putters had a LOT of visitors, and from the looks of a lot of the people that tried them, I understand why Yes! is growing as rapidly as they are...between the huge variety of head styles, and the way people were draining putts with them, I wish that Yes! were a publicly traded company, because I'd be buying their stock. I actually own several Yes! putters myself, and I appreciate the fit, finish, feel and general quality of their putters. There DOES seem to be something about those "C-grooves" on the face of their putters, because the ball does seem to track straighter!

We also had the opportunity to see Dennis Walters' performance. For those of you that haven't seen Dennis' show or heard his story, he was an aspiring professional golfer who suffered an accident about 30 years ago that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Dennis' story includes his own personal journey, and how he turned his setback into an inspiring story of perseverence, hard work and amazing performance.

Dennis hits FLAWLESS drives and shots with a variety of clubs, including his "3 iron", which has three heads forged together, and "drivers" that have shafts that are made out of radiator hose, and another that has about 3 universal joints for a "shaft". He also hits drives with several golf balls that are rolled down a ramp in rapid succession, and also with a left-handed club turned upside down and backwards, and each one is dead-straight solid, long and perfect. He is AMAZING!!! If you ever have a chance to see Dennis' show - go!

Most importantly, Dennis also has an absolutely ADORABLE sidekick that he rescued from the Miami animal shelter, a cute little dog named "Benji Hogan". He's trained to answer numeric questions by barking the correct number of times, and he also never misses. Read more about Benji's story here...it'll melt your heart. We bought two Benji Hogan headcovers, which are really good representations of this little cangel (canine angel). I'm putting mine on the ol' 5-wood (or is that now 5-WOOF???)

Surf on over to Dennis' website and spend a few minutes reading about him and Benji...it'll inspire you to look beyond what you now think are setbacks, and how to persevere and succeed.

We met a lot of really nice people that were interested in TartanGolfGrips.com, and it will be interesting to see how the site traffic and sales develop.

All in all, it was a very successful weekend on a number of fronts...

Callaway leads the way in innovation...again...

11/8/06 - Callaway Golf Company announced yesterday that they are expanding their sales channel, to leverage their extensive network of "brick and mortar" retailers (especially "green grass"/on-course retailers that usually do not have a strong online presence) with a new sales channel at shop.callawaygolf.com.

As reported in yesterday's press release from Callaway Golf Company:

CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov 08, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Callaway Golf Company (ELY

Callaway Golf Company ELY ) today launched Shop.CallawayGolf.com, an innovative alliance between Callaway Golf and its vast network of authorized U.S. retailers that provides a new level of service, security and convenience to online consumers. This breakthrough online shopping experience links consumers and superior golf retailers by permitting the consumer to place an order through Callaway Golf's website and have it fulfilled by a local participating retailer. The new site also will be accessible via the Company's main website, www.CallawayGolf.com.

A complete lineup of official Callaway Golf and Odyssey products will be featured at Shop.CallawayGolf.com, including the latest in drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, golf balls, footwear, eyewear, apparel and accessories. Moreover, each and every product offering on the website is backed by the extensive inventories maintained by authorized retailers and Callaway Golf, making it far more likely that consumers will find what they want when purchasing through Shop.CallawayGolf.com.

"This is a breakthrough in retailer integrated e-commerce and an important step in the continued growth and evolution of Callaway Golf," said George Fellows, President and CEO. "It benefits consumers, retailers and Callaway Golf, adding confidence and convenience to the consumer's online experience while further enhancing Callaway Golf's market share and our partnership with our trusted retailers. Callaway Golf leads the industry with a commitment to innovation, and this superior online commerce tool furthers our leadership position."

"We are the first and only golf equipment manufacturer to act as the convenient and secure link between the growing number of online consumers and our vast network of authorized retailers," said Steve McCracken, Senior Executive Vice President. "With Shop.CallawayGolf.com, we will link consumers with local retailers who have what they want, backed by the reliability of Callaway Golf's complete customer service and support infrastructure."

When an order is placed, it is in turn presented electronically to participating authorized retailers via a user-authenticated and encrypted site. These retailers then have the opportunity to fulfill the consumer orders. Shop.CallawayGolf.com features an automated system that uses an algorithmic selection mechanism to determine the retailer that can most efficiently fulfill an order based on such attributes as geographic proximity and inventory availability. The selected retailer will ship the order directly to the consumer. Shop.CallawayGolf.com is only available to consumers in the United States.

For most of our retailers - including most of the vast network of green grass golf professionals -- who do not currently have Internet capability, Shop.CallawayGolf.com provides them with a presence on the web without the technological, marketing and customer service costs associated with e-commerce. Callaway Golf is the first golf manufacturer to build an electronic bridge between online consumers and the community of golf professionals that permits the two groups to do business with each other in a convenient and secure manner."

In related news reported in Barron's over the weekend of Nov. 4: By A.G. Edwards & Sons ($13.12, Nov. 1, 2006)

WE ARE UPGRADING (ELY

Callaway Golf CompanyELY ) to Buy from Hold with a $17 price objective.

We believe that in the next 12 to 18 months Callaway management will either: 1) correct operational execution errors of 2005 and 2006, allowing 2006 cost savings to flow to the bottom line, enhancing 2007 and 2008 fundamental earnings to a relatively sustainable earnings of at least $1.20 in 2008; or 2) should fundamental performance not materialize, public or private investors will likely force a change in control to enhance/unlock shareholder value.

Either way, we believe investors have an attractive risk/reward scenario that likely materializes if management succeeds or fails -- i.e., no middle ground. The ongoing long-term fundamental outlook for the golf industry remains challenging largely due to industry competitive forces, the maturity of major geographic regions and weather.

Tools of the Trade

What's in the TartanGolfGrips.com official golf bag:
Driver: Callaway ERC Fusion 10deg. with Aldila NV 65(reg)
3-wood: Callaway Great Big Bertha Hawkeye 3+
5-wood: Callaway Big Bertha Steelhead
7-wood: Callaway Big Bertha Steelhead
Hybrid: Callaway Big Bertha Heavenwood 2H (my "get of jail free" club with a TartanGolfGrips.com "Sinclair" tartan C-Thru Tour Mid #5 grip)
3-Approach: Callaway Big Bertha X-12 (RCH graphite) (sure they're old, but I love 'em)
Attack wedge: Callaway Forged Chrome 58deg (with a TartanGolfGrips.com "Taylor" "artan" with my initials on a C-Thru Tour Wrap #4 grip)
Putter1: Callaway TourBlue TT3 - 35" (with a TartanGolfGrips.com "Rust" "artan" with "TartanGrips.com" text on an Oversized Pistol putter grip)
Putter2: Yes! C-Groove Marilyn - 35" (with a TartanGolfGrips.com "Scott" "artan" with "Scott" text on a Pistol putter grip)
Ball1: Callaway HX Tour
Ball2: Callaway HX Tour56
Ball3: Callaway HX Hot
Shoes: Nike or Callaway
Sunglasses: Oakley (nothing else will do, except Callaway's new line of sunglasses)
Sunblock: Bullfrog or PreSun
Grips:Hybrid: C-Thru Tour Velvet #5;Woods and Irons: GolfPride Dual Durometer (Yellow Cap); Attack Wedge: C-Thru Tour Wrap #4; Putter: C-Thru Oversized Pistol (Primary) or Regular Pistol (Backup)