Golf Carts vs. Walking - The Modern Golf Debate

The turning of a new year is an interesting time for people. In the course of universal history, there is nothing more or less significant about January 1st from any other day of the year, but for many people, it seems as though the turning of the page to a newly minted calendar marks a new beginning of sorts. One area of people's lives often focused on by many in the New Year is their own health and fitness. It is a time for making resolutions to eat healthier, get in shape, and lose that beer belly, spare tire, muffin top, and/or second chin. As golfers, we are always searching for an edge, and a popular area of focus in recent years has been on golf fitness. Toning our bodies specifically with the game of golf in mind will surely lead to lower scores and a greater enjoyment of the game, will it not?

On my daily meander through the world of Facebook this afternoon, I stumbled across an article from GolfDigest.com that had been shared by our friend at GolfTripper.com as well as another golfing friend of mine. The article, Fitness Friday: Resolutions you can actually keep written by Ron Kaspriske, the fitness editor of Golf Digest, offers 10 concise resolutions for the New Year that are specific and realistic, and meant to help you get and stay in good shape for the coming season and beyond. In my opinion, these are pretty basic suggestions with nothing groundbreaking whatsoever, serving more as New Year filler for Golf Digest than anything else. What struck me, as well as my friends who shared this on Facebook, however, was not the content of the article, but the content of the comments.

(This is where you now click to view the article and peruse the comments for yourself. I'll be here when you get back)

Yes, it should be apparent by now that reading comments to articles posted online is a known entry into a world of piss and vinegar, angry vitriol being spewed forth regarding any and every topic about which a short blog post or article can be written. All too often, whether out of morbid curiosity, and just to get my own dander up, I scroll down to check them out. In the case of the Golf Digest article in question, it was one of the ten suggestions that infuriated the Golf Digest trolls more than any other.

Suggestion Number Eight - "Walk whenever you can".

I like to carry my golf bag, too, but push/pullcarts are fine. Unless you're physically disabled, there's no reason to ride in a golf cart. And if a course tells you that they have a "no-walking" policy, ask the director of golf for special permission. If he or she says no, then say you have a policy of playing golf courses that allow walking and politely leave.

If, by now, you have taken a moment to read the comments in question, you noticed the anger, sarcasm, excuse-making, and unsupported claims that led me to write about it. You will likely fall into one camp or the other, and perhaps react with vigor from the completely opposite side of my leaning, but I'd like to attempt to make a couple of points.

First, the article is very clearly about staying fit. There is no argument that anyone can make that riding in a golf cart is exercise, and anywhere close to the fitness aid that walking a golf course is. If you attempt to argue the opposite, you are wrong, and if you chose to react to this particular article by coming up with all sorts of reasons why riding is better than walking, you have completely missed the point of the article itself.

Second, and more to make the argument for walking in general, I defy the claim that courses utilize carts to improve the pace of play, and more debatable, that carts actually do increase the pace of play. 

I will not oppose the claim that a cart will get from point A to point B in a direct path more quickly than a person walking with a bag of clubs either on their back or on a push cart. A motorized vehicle simply has a higher top speed than a walker (12-15 mph vs. 2.5-3.5 mph to be more precise). The problem with the argument, however, is that the cart is rarely driven directly from point A to point B, there are generally two separate golfers in a single cart, and aside of moving from point to point, the game of golf is played outside of the cart.

If one rides a cart for all of the, let's say 6,300 yards of a course, at a golf cart low end average speed of  12 mph, then the total driving time for one 18 hole round would be only about 18 minutes! Yet it takes four golfers in a cart on most courses I have played at least 4.5 hours to complete their round. A person walking at an average pace of 3.5 mph would cover that same distance in about 1 hour 12 minutes, almost a full hour longer than the cart-goers, yet they also generally manage to complete their round in about 4.5 hours. So, what are the cart golfers doing with the additional 50+ minutes? They are doing all the little things that are the real reason for slow play that is deemed so troublesome at golf courses everywhere.

We all know what the suggested best practices are for speeding up pace of play, yet the vast majority of golfers fail to execute those best practices, whether riding in a cart or walking the course. Fast players play fast when they walk a course, and those same fast players generally play faster when riding in a cart. Slow players, on the other hand, seem to be able to stretch a round of golf to 5+ hours whether walking or riding, making the cart, for those players, of no benefit whatsoever.

Now, I will admit that there are courses, most of which are no more than 20 years old, that make walking extremely difficult, to the point of absurdity. Of the courses I have played, Royal New Kent near Williamsburg, VA comes to mind. I am not one who will necessarily walk away from such courses, but I will seriously think twice about playing that course a second time. There are also climates in which certain times of the day make walking much more difficult (Miami in August anyone?), but perhaps those aren't the best times or places to be playing golf.

We all have our reasons for playing golf, and our own preferences about how we play the game. Carts are a sign of the times, and a way for the golf course to increase their take on each round played. There are times when a cart can enhance the enjoyment of the game. A local Chicagoland course on which I play in regular scrambles, for example, keeps track of, and displays a real time scoreboard on the cart's GPS screen.

Save the argument, however, that a slow pace of play is a result of folks walking as opposed to riding, unless you can produce some sort of proven evidence of it. You would also have to explain to me why I have walked courses such as Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails, Pacific Dunes, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits, and Pinehurst Nos. 2, 4, 7, and 8 among others, all in less than 4 hours, but can't get around my local 6,300 yard muni, packed with golf carts, in less than 5.

Above all, play golf in the fashion that provides you with the greatest sense of joy. If you don't want the exercise, get a rush from the drive, or truly have a an injury or disability that makes walking prohibitive, then drive on! If, like me, you enjoy the "good walk spoiled", then leave the keys in the clubhouse. At least if your round goes into the toilet, you have still gotten in a good day's exercise, and can rest your sweat stained cap on that.

Fairways and Greens!

Kaenon Hard Kore Golf Sunglasses Review

Golf is a simple game. A ball, a club, and a hole are all that are needed to play it. Despite that simplicity, today’s golfer makes use of a plethora of tools, devices, and aids to play better and find more joy in the game. Specialized clubs, and advances in ball composition allow us to play longer and straighter shots. Supple and tacky gloves both protect our hands and offer better grip in humid and rainy weather. We fill our highly engineered bags with low friction tees, futuristic divot tools, all manner of ball markers, electrolyte replenishing sports drinks, and gust-busting oversized umbrellas.

While any number of these extras can add comfort and enjoyment to the game, there are a handful of items that can actually help maintain your good health, and allow you to play the game of golf longer, and enjoy your life off the course more comfortably as well. If you regularly walk the course through your rounds, proper footwear, and a well made push cart can save wear and tear on your shoulders, back, hips, and knees. Some good insect repellent can save you from unnecessary itching and scratching. Perhaps as important as anything, however, is to protect yourself from that seemingly ever present sun. Scientific consensus is that the UV rays sent out by our life giving star can cause irreversible damage to both our skin and our eyes. You should be protecting your skin with all varieties of sunscreens available on the market today, as well as a good hat with a brim, even covering the ears if you can stomach the look. For this post, let’s focus on your eyes.

Though I assume that most of us are aware that the sun can hurt our eyes, I still see a great number of golfers ignoring the protection that sunglasses can provide, and until very recently, you could count me among them. American Academy of Opthamology advice about sunglasses includes wearing them anytime you are outside, but particularly during the summer months due to heightened exposure to UVA and UVB rays, and when taking medications that can cause photosensitivity, among others. Advice on what to look for in a pair of sunglasses includes blocking at least 99% of all UV light (UVB is considered more dangerous than UVA to skin and eyes), impact resistance, polarization, and wraparound style. I have known these facts for years, yet when it came time to wear sunglasses during my rounds, I shunned them for the most part. I found that when I had them on I had a very hard time seeing the ball, even right there in front of me. The result was that if I wore sunglasses at all, I would wear them in between shots, removing them during my swing, when searching for a lost ball, and most importantly, always while reading putts. I have worn several brands, but most often Oakley and Sundog, never finding a lens that was right enough to wear through the round. That search ended about a month ago when I played wearing my first pair of Kaenon Hard Kore sunglasses.

Founded in 2001 by Steve and Darren Rosenberg, Kaenon is still a small player in an enormous market. Committed to making the finest quality eyewear available anywhere in the world, Kaenon continues to fight a strong battle against worldwide conglomerate Luxottica, which owns brands ranging from Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Revo to Sunglass Hut, Lens Crafters, and Pearle Vision. While buying a higher end Luxottica brand might not get you much more for your dollar than one of their lower end brands, with Kaenon, you will always get exactly what you are paying for.

ALL Kaenon sunglasses feature their proprietary SR-91 lenses which combine superior sharpness and clarity, lightweight durability, unmatched impact resistance, and anti-glare properties, creating a quality of vision that must be seen to be believed. The impact resistance of Kaenon's SR-91 lenses is rumored to be bulletproof, but we have high visibility evidence that they are golf ball proof. Read this story about how a pair of Kaenons likely saved the eye of professional skier Bode Miller's wife, Morgan, when a ball struck by her husband struck he in the face. Many polarized sunglasses that offer impact resistance are made from polycarbonate, a substance that scratches easily, but SR-91 resists scratches and similar damage. With the grains of dirt and sand that golfers tend to collect on their fingers, and even occasionally shoot into their own eyes, this is a very important and relevant quality. All I needed to convince me, however, that Kaenon made the best pair of sunglasses I have ever worn was one single hole of golf. Believe me, I was highly skeptical when I put them on, but immediately, I experienced the clarity of vision, and the ease with which I could follow the flight of my shots (even the ones that flew through the air). OK, I thought, “these are nice, but let’s see what this green looks like.” I can report that despite my doubts, reading the greens is just as easy with the Kaenon sunglasses on as it is off…maybe easier. Since that first hole, I have had the Kaenon Hard Kore on throughout every round I have played, except when it is actually too dark for any sunglasses to be worn.

I am told that for anglers and adventure sports enthusiasts, the benefits are just as great, if not even better. Testimonials from world class athletes who swear by Kaenon abound. Professional golfers who have already adopted Kaenon as their sunglasses of choice include: Brian Gay, Carl Pettersson, Kevin Stadler, Pat Perez, Paul Azinger, Robert Gamez, Rod Pampling, Carin Koch, Christina Kim, Pernilla Lindberg, and Sofie Gustafson, with more sure to follow. Kaenon sunglasses come in a wide variety of styles, so you can be fashion forward while protecting your eyes as well.

I hope that you care about your eyes and your golf game enough to give a pair of Kaenon sunglasses a try, and ask that you do so by ordering them through my online golf shop at BeaverGolf.com. We currently offer four styles from Kaenon, the Hard Kore that I was provided by Kaenon for this review, and as an approved retailer, but also the Jetty, Burnet, and Beacon. Yes, they might cost a bit more than you might normally spend on a pair of sunglasses. Perhaps you tend to break or lose your sunglasses, so tighten your wallet a bit at the sunglasses rack, but I would strongly encourage you, to spend a bit more, and take care of these, they really are incredible sunglasses. If you are interested in any other styles of colors that we do not yet offer on our store, please feel welcome to contact us via e-mail at beavergolf1@gmail.com, via phone at (888) 650-2870, or via Facebook, @BeaverGolf on Twitter, or as Beaver Golf on G+, and we can work out a special order for you.

Fairways and Greens!

Keegan Bradley Makes A Fashionable Finish at the 2013 Masters

In my opinion, the most compelling attraction of sport is the unknown. With every new game, match, or round comes the anticipation of not only the outcome, but the various events, and the unique way they play out, which create so much excitement that ultimately resolves in said outcome.

For many, there is also the appeal of the familiar surroundings in which the game is played. There is something about the unique history and challenges that each ballpark, arena, or course provides, and how past experience, or lack thereof, may play into the strategy and execution for each participant. For some, it might be the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field or the Green Monster of Fenway Park. For others it might be the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, or the glitz of New York City’s Madison Square Garden. For most golf fans, however, there is no more sublime arena than that of Augusta National and The Masters Tournament.

With the 2013 version beginning in less than a week, I wanted to take a look at one of my favorite young stars, give a somewhat tongue-in-cheek prediction of how he might fare next week, and show all of you what he will be wearing each day.

Keegan Bradley, nephew of famous LPGA golfer Pat Bradley, burst onto the golf scene back in 2011. With his stirring victory in the 2011 PGA Championship culminating from a very late Sunday surge to push fellow rising star Jason Dufner into a playoff loss, Keegan won the first major in which he ever participated, and carried that momentum to the 2011 PGA Rookie of the Year title. Despite only notching one more win since that famous Major victory, Bradley is regularly seen stalking the top of the leader boards on the PGA Tour, and is considered by many to be an early favorite to win another Major in 2013.

Bradley enters this year’s Masters following a string of successful finishes with a 10^th, 3^rd, 7^th, and 4^th in his previous four tournaments. One of the longest hitters on tour, Keegan should have little problem getting into his scoring irons often at Augusta, though he will have to control his accuracy off the tee to get himself into the best positions on the scoring holes. Bradley is also an excellent player on the Par 5s, ranking 3^rd on the PGA Tour this year in Par 5 scoring. These are very good skills to have heading into The Masters, so if his short game is on, he will be hard to beat. Let’s read how the 2013 Master's week might go for Keegan, shall we?

Wednesday, April 10^th – Par 3 Contest

Keegan’s mother, Kaye, reprised her role on Keegan’s bag, but this year son took a backseat on all tee shots preferring to resist getting into the habit of firing at every pin on the course which could spell disaster on the big course. Stepping up to the spotlight, Kaye aced the 2^nd and 8^th holes en route to a Bradley Par 3 victory. Bad omen, however, as no winner of the Par 3 Tournament had ever gone on to win that year’s Masters Tournament. 

Keegan looked as good as Kaye played, wearing his Tommy Hilfiger White Cassidy Polo Golf Shirt, Black Malcolm Golf Pants, and Black Trophy Belt.

Thursday, April 11^th – First Round

Despite having already gone through his first experience at the 2012 Masters, and stealing the spotlight at the 2012 Ryder Cup, Keegan felt the jitters on the first nine, knocking several putts too far past the hole, and gutted out a 38 on the front side. With the early nerves swung out, however, Bradley took hold of his game on the back nine with a 32 including eagles on both 13 and 15 for an opening round 70, only three strokes off the lead. 

Still styling up the course, Keegan sported an athletic look with his Midnight Blue Tommy Hilfiger Keith Polo Golf Shirt, White Malcolm Pants, and WhiteTrophy Belt. Some fans were able to see him wearing the Tommy Hilfiger Midnight Blue Preston Sweater while warming up as well, but the day quickly warmed up, so the sweater never appeared on the course.

Friday, April 12^th – Second Round

The weather chose not to cooperate on day two, with cool temperatures and gusty winds wreaking havoc across the grounds, even knocking over a Pimento Cheese Sandwich stand. Keegan struggled with his driving all day, several times having to blast out of the pine straw. What could have been a disastrous round for Keegan, was saved by his timely putting, making bombs on both the 3^rd and 11^th holes, and chipping in for an incredible Par save on #14. Keegan shot an even par round of 72, and ended the day six shots back of the leaders while several big names missed the cut. 

Despite the difficulty of the round, Keegan maintained his sharp style wearing the Tommy Hilfiger Midnight Blue Jefferson Polo under his Midnight Blue Preston Sweater, with a pair of Midnight Blue Malcolm Pants and his White Trophy Belt.

Saturday, April 13^th – Third Round

Though some had still not recovered from the troublesome conditions they fought through on Friday, Bradley came out on Saturday refreshed and on fire, with birdies on the opening three holes, and another on eight to shoot a cool 32 on the front side. After a lip out bogey on the 10^th, Keegan quickly regained his form with a birdie at 12, another eagle at the 13^th, a birdie on 15, and another on the 16^th that came within inches of being an ace. Bradley’s stellar 64 vaulted him to within one stroke of the lead, and beat his previous best round on August by 5 strokes. 

Perhaps fashion has little to do with performance, but it is hard to argue with the way Keegan looked on Saturday. His preppy look had everything short of a collar pop, built around his Tommy Hilfiger White Gram Polo golf shirt, Black Malcolm Pant, and White Trophy Belt. I was surprised to see him remove the apparent lucky charm Tommy Hilfiger White Preston Sweater after the 3^rd hole, however, with three birdies already on the card. It was probably just coincidence that left him one over par on the next 7 holes.

Sunday, April 14^th – Final Round

The final round may well have gone worse had he saved a couple more strokes on Thursday or Friday, and been playing with the lead, but sitting a stroke back on the first tee imbued Bradley with a sense of calm confidence. Though he carded two front side bogeys on the 2^nd and 9^th, they were offset by birdies at the 3^rd and 5^th, and only lost Keegan a stroke to the lead.

Standing on the 10^th tee with nine potentially explosive holes to make up those two strokes, Bradley calmly made Par, then amazingly chipped in a birdie on 11 from Chipbeckistan garnering raucous cheers from all around Amen corner. in a cruel and ironic twist, those cheers actually caused Jason Dufner’s ball, which had been hanging precariously on the steep face of the rough fronting the 12^th green, to roll back into the water, effectively eliminating Dufner from his chance at a Major victory yet again. Bradley went on the eagle 13 for the third time this week, and remained tied for the lead after making birdies at 15 and 16 to merely keep up. A huge birdie on 17 helped Keegan grab the lead at Augusta for the first time in his career. Keegan faced down a tough 12 foot downhill putt for Par and the lead on 18. Keegan pulled it just a smidge, but it caught the edge of the cup and dropped.

After a relatively quick visit to the scorer’s tent, Keegan returned to the 18^th green to watch the leaders finish up. After pushing his drive into the trees right, Phil could only bogey 18, finishing three shots back of Keegan, while the rejuvenated Henrik Stenson barely missed his 18 foot birdie putt giving Bradley the victory. Though Tiger was not far back, only two strokes behind Bradley, the King of the Red (and Green) on this day was Keegan Bradley, your 2013 Masters Champion. The famous Green jacket would become the decoration for Bradley’s Sunday best of his Chili Red Tommy Hilfiger Kennedy Polo golf shirt, White Malcolm pants, and White Trophy Belt.

With the win, Bradley has won his second career major in only his third season on tour, and placed himself squarely on the list of players with a bright path to the Hall of Fame. He sets a standard for other golfers to model themselves after, and does so with a preppy fashion that can only be afforded by wearing Tommy Hilfiger’s line of golf apparel.

Will this be an accurate foretelling of what we are going to see next week? We’ll have to see, but I can tell you that the fashion portion of the story will play out. If you like the style, please come check it out for yourself at BeaverGolf.com, and if you are rooting for Keegan in this year’s Masters, then let’s hope the storyline comes true as well.

Fairways and Greens!

Who Is Next? The Best Golfers Without A PGA Tour Victory

Make no mistake about it, America is obsessed with winning. No matter how skilled or consistent you are, you will forever be judged by whether or not you succeeded in finishing first. Sure, you can be recognized for your high level performance over time, but unless you win, you will always be associated with a "but...".

In golf, this demand is no different. Until you win a tournament on the PGA Tour, your reputation is always followed by the "but...". Then, even after you've won a tournament, you are judged on whether you have won a major or not. Is this a fair way to assess a player's skill? That is arguable. Take Lee Westwood or Luke Donald, for example. Both are world class golfers who in the past year alone have been ranked #1 in the world, yet neither has won a major. Does this make them less of a golfer than, say, Ben Curtis, Y.E. Yang, Lucas Glover, Michael Campbell, Shaun Micheel, and others of that ilk? Some would actually argue yes.

Regardless of how you feel about the necessity of a golfer winning a Major Championship to be considered among the greatest, it is hard to argue that one need not even win a PGA Tournament of any kind to be considered one of the best. This becomes especially harder to argue when you review the long list of golfers who have won tournaments. For example, I felt compelled to write this post after watching John Huh win the Mayacoba Classic down in Mexico for his first PGA Tour victory in only his fifth PGA Tournament. John was playing in a tournament that did not feature any of at least the top 65 golfers in the world as they were all playing in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship the same weekend. While that might take a little of the shine off the win, young Mr. Huh still had to hold off a proven PGA Tour winner, Robert Allenby, by making Par on all of the eight playoff holes it took to resolve the tournament.

So, one question to ask is, where does the win place John Huh among the rest of the golfing universe? Well, winning 20% of the tournaments that you enter would be an incredible, likely Hall of Fame career, if that kind of expectation of the man was anywhere near realistic. He could just as easily never win a tournament on tour again. Perhaps that leads us the a more compelling question to ponder. Who is the best golfer in the world without a victory on the PGA Tour?

This has been written about many times before, so obviously I am not looking to be original with this, but I believe that we are witnessing a bit of a golden age of golf right now, one which features young golfers who have grown up being classically trained in the game and having been afforded the greatest technological aids that any golfers have ever known to help them hone their craft. I think it was Byron Nelson (I could be wrong), who when asked what was the greatest technological advancement in golf, responded with "the lawn mower". With these advancements in this potential golden age comes an incredibly diverse group of competitors with the skills and desire to win on the most prestigious level in the sport. In 2011 alone, we saw 13 different golfers win their first PGA Tournament. One of those, Charl Schwartzel, won The Masters, and another, Keegan Bradley, went on to win the PGA Championship later that season. Already in 2012 we have seen both the aforementioned John Huh, and Kyle Stanley win their first PGA Tournaments, Stanley in storybook fashion storming back from an 8-stroke deficit entering the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open after blowing the same sized lead the previous week, but that is another story.

So, who are the best golfers without a PGA Tour victory, and will 2012 be their year to break through? Here is my list, but please share your own thoughts - I love a good sports argument!

1. Rickie Fowler - The talented So Cal native and 2011 PGA Rookie of the Year has played in only 65 events, and has already been the bridesmaid 4 times, but has yet to break through with an official PGA Tour win. He has made the cut in nearly 75% of the events he has entered, and has finished in the Top 25 37% of the time. Most people probably believe that it is only a matter of time before he wins, and wins often, but there are no guarantees, just ask...
2. Jeff Overton - Jeff has played in 164 events, and has finished 2nd four times as well, most notably losing to Stuart Appleby's improbably final round 59 at The Greenbrier last season. Jeff has made the cut in 68% of his events, and finished in the Top 25 26% of the time. Perhaps with Jeff it is only a matter of time as well, but do you think we could be saying this same thing about Rickie still 100 tournaments from now?
3. Steve Marino - Perhaps an improbable name on any "best of" golfers lists, but Steve has proven his mettle with 4 2nd place finishes in his 144 events, most recently at the 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Steve has made the cut in 73% of the tournaments he has played in, and finished in the Top 25 38% of the time. If you hadn't been paying attention, perhaps it is time to put Steve on your list of probable winners in 2012?
4. Jason Dufner - Oh, so close to not being eligible for this list with his final three hole mini-meltdown at last year's PGA, losing to Keegan Bradley in a playoff. Jason has finished 2nd 3 times in his 158 events. Jason has made the cut in 59% of the events he has entered, but finished in the Top 25 22% of the time. My guess is the Jason has that legendary "fear of winning", and will need to break through just one time before we see him hoisting trophies with some regularity.
5. Briny Baird - What? Briny Baird, seriously? The king of the second rate events? While it is hard to make an argument for Briny Baird being named among the all time greats, it is hard to keep him off a list of potential tournament winners. Briny has actually chalked up 5 2nd place finishes in his PGA career that has spanned 354 events! Briny has made the cut in a respectable 65% of the events he has played in and finished in the Top 25 25% of the time. How can you not root for this guy to just get that coveted first win? Don't weep openly for old Briny, however, as he has raked in almost $12.6 Million in his under-the-radar career.
6. Robert Karlsson - No stranger to success on the world stage, this talented Swede plays infrequently on the PGA Tour, but is still overdue for a first place finish. Robert has played in 87 PGA Tour events over the years, and his finished second twice. He has made the cut in 71% of his events, and finished in the Top 25 28% of the time.Look for Robert to have success at the FedEx St. Jude tournament where he placed second last season.
7. Tommy Gainey - C'mon, really? Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey of Big Break fame seen most recently knocking golf balls from rooftop-to-rooftop in the dry Las Vegas air? Sure, why not? Tommy plays A LOT, 34 events in 2011 alone! Tommy does have a second place finish among his 80 events played, and has made the cut in 41% of those (50% last season). Tommy has placed in the Top 25 only 15% of the time, so his opportunities are few and far between, but based on the sheer number of tournaments he enters, and his propensity to "get hot", I would not put winning a tournament beyond his reach.
8. Ricky Barnes - Son of an NFL Football player, and master of an odd swing, Ricky has been close before on the big stage, finishing 2nd in the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black along with 9 other top 10s, including 2 3rd place finishes in his 104 events played. Ricky has made the cut in 60% of his starts, but finished in the Top 25 only 17% of the time. Got to work on that consistency, Ricky - some would argue that consistency will always evade him with that swing, we'll see.
9. Ryo Ishikawa - This 20 year old Japanese sensation has done some spectacular things. In 2010 he won The Crowns tournament on the Japan Golf Tour by five strokes after shooting a 12-under 58 in the final round! In his 30 events on the PGA Tour, Ryo has only 2 Top 10s, his best being a 4th at the WGC Bridgestone in 2010, and has made the cut only 53% of the time, finishing Top 25 17% of the time. I would argue that despite his age, that his PGA Tour results thus far have been disappointing, but he is obviously incredibly skilled, so could easily turn it all around in 2012.
10. Spencer Levin - Last on this list, but far from the only other golfer that could have taken up residence here, Spencer has recently suffered some heartbreak blowing up in the final round of the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open, blowing a big lead on Sunday to finish 3rd. Spencer has one 2nd place finish in his 106 career events, but has held the lead after more than a large handful of rounds. Spencer has made the cut in 71% of the events he has played, and finished Top 25 28% of the time. Spencer is known to have a frothy temper, and a penchant for late tournament collapses, but is still young, and getting close.

Others considered for this list include: Nick O'Hern, Kevin Streelman, and Michael Thompson, but lists of 10 just feel proper to me, so we'll leave it at that.

Let me hear what you think...

Fairways and Greens!

Get Your Sligo - On Sale now!

Though I have never been one to shy away from wearing a brightly colored shirt, my style on the course has, for years been one involving a khaki-colored pair of shorts which grew longer and baggier over the years with a solid colored polo which gradually moved from 100% cotton to today's more technical synthetic fabrics. On occasion, I might have strayed into a muted plaid short or a shirt with some color accents around the shoulders or down the sides, but aside from the spectrum of solid colors I might wear, my wardrobe was somewhat vanilla.

With the advent of the BeaverGolf.com store, I suddenly had a fashion fog lifted, and became aware of a wide variety of fresh fashion brands each of whom claim to want to bring more fun to the game through the use of newer, flashier design to go with the most modern advancements in fabric technology. I was so impressed by a handful of these brands, that I made the decision to feature them on BeaverGolf.com, in some cases despite their relative anonymity in the golf industry.

One of these brands stood out from the rest at the first PGA Merchandise show I attended, and it was Sligo. Founded in 2004 by a group of four golfing chums in Canada, Sligo set forth to create high quality golf apparel that combined the most cutting edge materials with "ahead-of-the-curve" trend setting style. As they set about doing that, Sligo was approached about four years ago by PGA Tour Pro Brian Gay to sign on the wear the Sligo brand on tour. The pairing was perfect, and Brian went on to win three times in 2008-2009 wearing Sligo at each event.

The Sligo Fall 2011 Collection was one of their best yet in my opinion, and featured in it one of my favorite shirts ever, the O'Brien. Available in nine bold colors, the O'Brien pops with a pattern of contrasting colored diamonds draped from the front to the back of the shirt over the left shoulder. The fabric features the Sligo Mag Cool treatment which creates the moisture wicking and quick drying material you have come to expect, but also has anti-microbial properties to keep it smelling fresher for longer. The O'Brien is shown here in the attention-grabbing Sligo Green color. Right now, the O'Brien is available for less than $50.00, a savings of almost 30% at BeaverGolf.com. While there, be sure to browse the Tommy Polo and the Gator Polo as well.

Sligo doesn't limit their creative juices to their shirts, though. In fact, I don't know if I have ever been drawn to an original design in pants such as displayed in the Sligo Digitile Pants and Digitile Shorts. These groundbreaking pants feature an original Sligo design inspired by 14th Century Moroccan tile, and the Sligo interpretation looks stunning. Pair these bad boys with a solid colored shirt for a look that will draw the gaze of onlookers, and might even gather a small gallery around your foursome! The polyester/lycra blend provides lightweight moisture-wicking performance with some stretch for comfort. The flat front and straight cut provide an athletic, yet upscale look to your wardrobe. Both the long pants and the shorts are more than 20% off now at BeaverGolf.com. Also, check out the Plaid Performance Pants, Plaid Performance Shorts, and Solid White Performance Pants also on sale now!

To complement your Sligo outfits, we also offer several Sligo hats on sale now, including the Sligo Tour Cap, Sligo Cadet (Painter or Military style) Hat, Sligo Adjustable Visor, and Sligo Toque Beanie. The most original in the hat designs, however, is the Sligo Reversible Rain Bucket Hat. OK, so maybe bucket hats are traditionally reserved for the older crowd and Jeff Triplett, but I believe that we are about to see a trend here. The bucket hat not only keeps the rain off your head and from dripping down your ears and neck, but it also offers better protection against the sun, one of the golfer's worst enemies. Sligo's interpretation offers style with a choice as well, bringing their Digitile design to one side while the other features the Sligo logo across a solid black hat. This is a bucket hat you can be proud to wear during any round.

So, 2012 is a new year, and high time you do like me, and update your golf wardrobe with some fashion forward styles that show that you care enough to look your best...and HAVE SOME FUN! Take advantage of these great deals on Sligo while supplies last. Most colors and sizes have no more than 1 left, so shop early and often to get the ones you like the most.

Fairways and Greens!

40th Birthday Coupon Code!

This Sunday, June 5th at 2:15 in the afternoon marks the 40th anniversary of my triumphant arrival on Earth. Sure, it lacked the fanfare of the Ryder Cup and the tradition of The Masters, but we only get one arrival, and this was mine.

A great month to be born June is, in my opinion. We get lots of sunlight, the most welcome of warmth before it becomes tiresome through the summer, and it marks the beginning of the season when children become free from the shackles of school, and adults spent a good amount of time pretending to work while they too plan their mini escapes.

Gemini is also a great sign. We are the communicators...bright, energetic, though perhaps a bit lazy and unfocused. Though we may be difficult to get to know well, we are generally pretty well liked by most.

As I consider what I have done with my 40 years thus far, I am mostly pleased. Perhaps my only regret to this point being that I didn't let this great game take a hold of me until after I completed college. In my 20s, I set a goal of playing in a Champions Tour event after age 50, meaning that I would need to be at least a scratch golfer by then. I have since taken my handicap from the mid 20s down to as low as a 6.7 a couple years back, and an 8 right now. Good progress, but I know these last 8 strokes will be immensely more difficult to shave than the first 20 were. I just have to keep playing, practicing, staying fit, and enjoying the game then let circumstance take care of the rest.

I am also the proud owner of BeaverGolf.com, and consider it already one of my greatest accomplishments having built it from scratch in late 2009-early 2010. I realize, however, that no matter how hard I work at it, my store will not be a success without the support of my loyal customers, and being discovered by new ones as well.

So, from now, Wednesday, 6/1 through Sunday, June 5th at 11:59 PM CST enter the coupon code BGTURNS40 at checkout to receive 10% off any order of $75 or more, plus FREE SHIPPING. This code can not be used in conjunction with your Beaver Rewards points, so use whichever gets you the most discount.

Thank you all for your support, come and shop a lot this week, and please pass it on!

Fairways and Greens!

Sunice Is Getting Some Recognition

In our lives, there exists an entire category of items that are readily available to purchase, but that we may rarely, if ever, need to actually use. This category is populated with things ranging from a living will and auto insurance down to sunglasses and fingernail clippers. It is a category bloated with frustration, first with having to buy them at all, then with not having them when the need arises. Depending on where you live, an amusing sight is of hoards of commuters racing from office to car, or train to home through a driving storm with nothing but a tattered newspaper over their heads, and a lack of dignity as they awkwardly sprint over, around, and through the collecting pools of water. It is ever more amusing when you spot that one prepared smarty-pants who thought to bring their umbrella with them that day, casually strolling their way in what appears to be slow motion as the crazies race willy-nilly around them.

I put golf outerwear in this category. It is something that many (and possibly most) golfers take for granted. Some are wise enough to own a wind jacket or fleece. A smaller subset actually thinks to bring it along on days when the weather is iffy. Still fewer spend the time and money needed to buy and wear stuff that will actually perform specifically with golf in mind.

Until I began researching what the market had to offer for myself, I was somewhere between the first and second subset. Sure, I owned a windshirt as well as the ubiquitous Polartec fleece, but even when I had them with me, I was often left unsatisfied with the protection they provided, and always felt like their presence negatively impacted my game. Then, I discovered Sunice.

Yes, I do sell Sunice products on my website BeaverGolf.com. I also sell very good products from Straight Down, Puma, and Antigua among others. For the most complete and thorough line of products designed to keep the weather at bay, however, I think Sunice has got it covered. Sunice makes use of several innovative fabrics and coatings ranging from hard core Gore-Tex to FlexVent, SiXT, WxTECH, Windstopper, Protek 3L, DuoTech, and X20 among others, to create specific groups of options to suit almost every condition you might face on the course. They have won awards from Gore-Tex for best use of their fabrics, and that is high praise. I wear several Sunice products myself now, and have never been given any for free...I am a believer.

I am not the only believer, and last Fall was joined by the Women's 2011 and 2013 Solheim Cup teams, who have chosen Sunice as the official designer, manufacturer, and provider of the outerwear that will be worn by the players on both teams should the need arise. Now, on January 12th, the PGA of America announced that Sunice is an official licensed product partner for the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, the 2012 PGA Championship at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, and the Ryder Cup being played right here in Chicagoland at Medinah Country Club in September 2012.

After the well-publicized flap that occurred over in Ireland during the last Ryder Cup when the American teams' outerwear actually failed during the opening round causing the team to have to resort to outerwear purchased in the merchandising tents, this was an important decision to get right. I believe that both the LPGA and PGA of America have now realized what so many of us have failed to do. If you want to take the weather out of the equation on the golf course, you need to get the best, and Sunice embodies the best in golf outerwear.

So, come on over to BeaverGolf.com and have a look around. If you want to jump straight to Sunice, click right here and click through the pages. If you want any help, shoot me an e-mail at beavergolf1@gmail.com, or you can even call me (when I'm not golfing) at (888) 650-2870. I would be more than happy to listen to what kind of weather plagues you, and help you choose the right gear to get you through it.

Just keep this in mind when you are deciding between Sunice and the clearance rack at your local shop...do you want to be the player casually hitting great shots through the weather, or that soaked and shivering player with a hood flapping in their face while being limited to a 3/4 swing all day long? Your call.