It must have started with the baby blanket thing. Someone, in their infinite wisdom decided that boy babies should have a blue blanket and girls should have a pink one. Who was this idiot anyway and what does blue have to do with boys and pink with girls? Why couldn’t the color have been yellow for boys and green for girls? Or mauve and periwinkle? Why are the covers of “chick lit” books all pink? If you wander down your local Barnes & Noble and stop in the Women’s Literature section, 75% of the books ...

It was reported on Yahoo that Queen Elizabeth II of England will be making here traditional Christmas speech available as a podcast for the first time. The broadcast will show the queen, wearing a green outfit, chatting to schoolchildren as she helps them make a collage of a nativity scene. “It should twinkle rather well, shouldn’t it … especially when the lights are on it,” the queen remarks during the podcast. Although she is about two years late to the podcasting party (and fourteen months behind me, the Golf Gear Guru), I have to commend her for embracing new technologies. If someone ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #28 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand on the Golf Digest Top 200 Political Golfers, and Scotland Opens Children’s Golf Course. In She Golfs Too we explores the Sale of Nancy Lopez Golf and learn about one of the Youngest Female Players Chosen for UK Golf Team. The Guru Commentary rants about Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Purchase of Golf Galaxy. Duffer McDoughall Johansen returns with Duffer Part Deux. In Golf Around the World we visit Private Escapes Club and for only USD $350K entry fee you too can join. We hear ...

I had written in April that Dick’s had opened a prototype concept store called simply The Golf Shop. Now, it appears that Dick’s didn’t want to wait to see how it would perform. Instead they went out and bought Golf Galaxy for $225 million. According to Edward W. Stack, chairman and CEO of Dick’s, he believes that the industry is ripe for consolidation, that’s why they swooped in and grabbed Golf Galaxy. With a sluggish industry firmly in a recession, some analysts wonder why Dick’s is willing to invest so much in the golf retailing space. Dick’s Sporting Goods, with 300 ...

Many will say that “perceived” product innovation drives the golf club market each year. Knowing that, gullible golfers still wait in line to be the first to turn over their money and buy the latest, hottest or most advanced product on the market today. So, shouldn’t it seem ridiculous to Mr. Gullible Golfer that Callaway, the big daddy of equipment, is coming out in 2007 with another “ultimate performance driver based purely on physics?” Obviously not. I’m not picking on Callaway specifically, but all the equipment manufacturers out there. It used to be that once a year, around October, we’d ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #27 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand that Woods’ Wife Sues, the Medieval City Found Under a Golf Course and John Daly to Divorce Again. The Perfect Fit explores TaylorMade-addidas attempt to Reinvent Maxfli Brand with John Daly as its star. The Guru Commentary rants about Michelle Wie’s 11th Failure in a Men’s Event and She Golf’s Too talks about the LPGA’s New Drug Testing Policy. The Component Corner highlights a Labor Shortage in South Florida and a $3000 Gold Golf Tee. We travel to South Africa to Play With Crocodiles and in Golf ...

We like to think that the Scots invented golf and the Americans moved it forward by forming the PGA and making it a big money sport. But what about the New Zealanders? What do they have to do with golf? The land of grazing sheep and beautiful scenery is the site of the newest and perhaps will become the fastest growing golf game on the planet. New Zealand game inventor Burton Silver came up with GolfCross® in 1989. What makes this game interesting to the typical hacker is that the game is played on a regulation course, with all ...

A reader asked about cashing in a credit he has available at 2nd Swing, the Minnesota-based retailer that filed for bankruptcy liquidation in September. It appears that customers are out of luck. I found an article from the Milwaukee Journal from September that outlined 2nd Swing’s credit policy. I checked their website and it is no longer functioning. I called a location near me and the phone is disconnected. For those of the 17,700 customers with credits on the books, you’ve got a piece of paper that has the same value as my Excelsior Henderson Motorcycle stock – worthless. RIP 2nd ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #26 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand that Norman Buys Controlling Interest in McGregor, Hockey Player Gets Hole in One and Callaway’s New Online Concept. Hear about a Super Expensive Putter from Japan. The Golf Gear Guru finally catches up with Duffer McDoughall Johnsen - the Socrates of Golf, in his local bar. We travel to behind the DMZ to visit North Korea’s Diamond Country Club in Golf Around the World. In Why Can’t We All Just Get Along Two Jailed for Unprovoked Golf Assault. We never have a shortage of oddities in Golf ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #25 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand that a Chinese University is training socially elite golfers, a Fake Michael Jackson crashes a charity event, Trump finally wins at golf and Tiny Tiger is only six years old. She Golfs Too talks about the promotion of Kelly Tilghman to play-by-play for PGA events and Ping finds itself in hot water with military discounts in our Component Corner. We travel to the Delhi Golf Club in Golf Around the World, find that two men are beaten with golf clubs and a police chief steals ...

In late September, Karsten Manufacturing, maker of Ping golf clubs, has gotten itself into some hot water by forbidding retailers from offering a discount to active-duty and reserve members of the military. The controversy exploded when Ping terminated its relationship with Bonaventure Discount Golf and Gordon Lakes Golf Course, both located in the Atlanta area, for selling Ping clubs at a 10% discount to military personnel. Ping, well known for protecting the retail price of their premium golf products, had cut off these two golf retailers as well as another 60-plus military golf courses, for selling at a discount. Based on ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #24 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand about Tiger Woods: Dream Endorser, Senate Awards Nelson a Medal, Bettor Loses Big on Ryder Cup, and 2nd Swing to Liquidate. Perfect Fit looks at Moveable Weight Putters and The Guru Commentary rants about how the Mitchell Golf Program is Found Lacking. In She Golfs Too we learn about the Top 10 Golf Injuries and the Component Corner announces the GolfWorld Top 100 Shop Contest and a Dumbest Golf Product Contender. In Golf Around the World we travel to Egypt & Turkey and ...

Yesterday I was ordering golf components from Hireko Golf and found out that Dynacraft, the equipment company based in Ohio that Hireko purchased last year, is disappearing in the same way as the Passenger Pigeon or the Dodo: its becoming extinct. According to an Ohio-based customer service person that took my order, “…Hireko is no longer shipping orders from its Ohio location. Now, all orders will be coming out of California.” I asked if that meant they were closing the facility and the employee said that “…yes, as I understand it, only the tech support people will still be here.” Although ...

On October 1, 2006, Mitchell Golf Equipment Company, the clubbuilding industry’s largest supplier of club building equipment, announced their Mitchell Partners Program. The company predicts that this will become the largest network of clubbuilders in the country. Although well-intentioned, this appears to me to be just a thinly veiled attempt to extract money from clubbuilders. According to the terms of the program, if a clubbuilder pays $500 to sign up, he/she will receive a couple of window decals, a wall plaque and an in-store banner. Oh, and don’t forget the 10% discount on Mitchell equipment (training classes excluded). Oh the surface this ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #23 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand that US Media Savages Ryder Cup Team, Iran Building Golf Courses, and on a study that finds Golfers Are An Unhealthy Lot. Our Perfect Fit looks at the Demise of 2nd Swing Golf Retailer and the The Guru Commentary rants about how the American Ryder Cup Players Don’t Care. Check out the Component Corner and learn about True Temper’s Dropping Sales and Golf Shoes that Will Help Your Game. In Why Can’t We All Get Along we find that the Private Lakeside Golf Club ...

Here in the United States we don’t understand the rest of the world’s love for soccer (okay, football everywhere else). It is also obvious to this writer that the Americans don’t have any love for the Ryder Cup either. Captain Lehman talks all about teamwork, but the reality is that we really don’t care. Our Ryder Cup “team” is made up of a group of guys that compete weekly to beat each other. They don’t know how to cooperate. That’s not why they play the game. Maybe when they were in college they played for the love of the game, but ...

I just found out that 2nd Swing Golf based in Minnetonka, Minnesota (my home state) declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 23rd. Founded in 1997, they’ve expanded to more than 50 stores selling used golf equipment. It looks like the end for these guys. According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal “The company has retained an investment banker Morris Anderson & Associates of Chicago, and is seeking a party to buy 2nd Swing as an ongoing business or handle a shutdown". As cutthroat as golf retailing has become, these guys are probably going to fall victim and be liquidated. When a ...

Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m a prude. Maybe I just don’t understand, but during my daily web surfing, I tripped over a website called Caddychicks.com that claims to be a site launched to help those women that want to learn more about the game of golf through the eyes of a caddy. The site banner says that I’m about to join 100,000 golfers and 4,500 caddies if I just sign up. Cool. The site also claims that it helps these ladies with training and support to learn and appreciate the game. They even offer a scholarship fund for those ...

CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #22 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports at The Newstand that Scot Wins Amateur, Woods Favors Drug Testing, Maury Povich Fails for Senior Amateur Bid, and Cesar Chavez Seizes Two Golf Courses. Our Perfect Fit we explore How Steel Shafts are Made and the The Guru Commentary considers the The Demise of the 9-Hole Golf Course. In She Golfs Too, read about Washington State Women Feeling Mistreated and check out the Component Corner and learn about the The Karakal vs. Winn Golf Grip Settlement. In Golf Around the World, we learn that Golf is ...

Over at Travelgolf.com, writer Chris Baldwin makes an excellent point on the lack of 9-hole courses. To me, he’s right on the money. I’ve often complained that golf is a sport that isn’t growing and one reason is that an 18-hole round takes 5-6 hours to complete. Add to that the excessive costs and the distance you must travel to find a course if you live in a major city, it’s no wonder that for the last five years, as many people pick up the game as drop it. Even for someone like me that is involved in ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #21 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch reports on The Newstand with a Rare Albatross Sighted at PGA, Top College Golf Schools, Cleaning Other Peoples Balls, and Caddie Getting a 2nd Chance. Our Perfect Fit talks about How to Buy a Wedge and the The Guru Commentary considers the Steroids Controversy Continues to Rage. In She Golfs Too, read about the Transexual Who Qualified for Ladies Tourney and check out the Component Corner and learn about the Intro of the Taylor Made r7 Driver. In Golf Around the World, we visit U.S. Virgin Islands ...

I continued to be amazed at the ongoing saga of Michelle Wie. Anything that she does is front page news. So she fires here caddie. Big deal. Keeping a job as a caddie on the tour is harder than being a professional golfer. You can’t fire yourself, but you can fire you caddie if you are playing poorly and Ms. Wie really stunk up the joint at the Ladies British Open. I attribute the Michelle Wie phenomenon to the lifecycle of a product. Odd analog I know, but bear with me. First, you’ve never ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #20 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch says he’s got a NEW CONTEST. He also reports on THE NEWSTAND with the Tiger Woods Learning Center, Site for Scandanavian Masters Vandalized, Ryder Cup for Seniors Tour? and Camera Phones at the British Open. SHE GOLFS TOO finds Webb a Winner and Michelle Wie is a Bridesmaid Again. In the COMPONENT CORNER hear about Hireko Golf Merging with Dynacraft Golf. In GOLF JOKES we revisit the Plethora of Golf Mystery Novels. In GOLF AROUND THE WORLD, try your skills in Northern Ireland. In MYTHBUSTERS we find out ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #19 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch announces he’s got a new microphone and media kit. He also reports on THE NEWSTAND with a Golf Lessons For the Rich & Famous, V.J. Singh = Funny??, Blind Golfer Has Hole-in-One, and Is USGA Getting Soft on Golf Cart Rules. In THE PERFECT FIT the Guru discusses lie angle. In SHE GOLF’S TOO learn about Sorenstam Commiting to Dubai Debut and Slimmer Lopez Playing Again. In the COMPONENT CORNER hear about the new Feel Golf Hybrid Iron and Taylor Made Re-Entering the Golf Ball ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #18 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch is reporting from Up North in Northern Minnesota. He reports on THE NEWSTAND with a story on the new Massive Prize for the PGA 2007 season, Long Drivers Raising Money for Autism, and Villegas the Talk of South America. In THE PERFECT FIT the Guru discusses his favorite book The Search for the Perfect Golf Club Winning IGA Book Award. The GURU COMMENTARY talks about The Second Coming of John Harris – Part Deux! In SHE GOLF’S TOO hear about the Korean Invasion of the LPGA, the COMPONENT CORNER ...

I’m not one to say “I told you so” to my buddies when they miss a putt or shank one into the trees. No not me, I’m too much of an adult to behave in such an immature manner. Nor do I question a player’s judgment when they pull the wrong club from their bag and hit the ball into a tree on the last hole (okay, maybe sometimes I do). Yet, this time, I must shout “I told you so!!!” – to all the naysayers that doubted John Harris – the best amateur golfer to come from Minnesota, ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #17 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch says there is a winner of the GOLF GEAR DADDY GIVE-A-WAY. He also reports on THE NEWSTAND with a US Open Odds Review, Pros Using Testing Labs, Golf Stocks Stinking, and Scottish Tee Times For Children. In THE PERFECT FIT the Guru discusses some interesting Realities of the Golf Industry. The GURU COMMENTARY highlights the controversy he’s stirred up about The Exploitation of Michelle Wie. In SHE GOLF’S TOO learn about What’s Going on at LPGA Headquarters. In the COMPONENT CORNER learn about the upcoming Changes With Your ...

In my last podcast (#16) I reported that Royal Precision Shafts, loved by tour players and better golfers, was expected to close operations after years of losses. Knowledgeable golfers and clubbuilders alike know Royal Precision as the ones they put into their irons if they want high-quality, frequency matched shafts. Yet, in spite of their popularity on the tour, they couldn’t make any money. Perhaps the recent introduction of the True Temper Black Gold shafts finally did them in. So it was announced a few days ago that Royal Precision Shafts, will be purchased by the big daddy ...

Back in January I made a blog entry entitled “Michelle Wie – Give it a Rest". I’d like to address the Michelle Wie phenomenon again. What really set me off this time is that the hype hasn’t stopped. In fact, it’s getting worse. I reference an article by AP Sport Columnist Tim Dahlberg from June 6th who said “Michelle Wie could one day become one of the greatest women golfers ever. If she does, it will be largely because she dared to play against men.” Oh give me a break! He, a professional journalist, should know better. The “…greatest women golfers ever". ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #16 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch says its the last show for the GOLF GEAR DADDY GIVE-A-WAY. He also reports on THE NEWSTAND with LPGA’s Rarick Having A Drinking Binge, World Robot Golf Tournament, and Two Major Leaguers Teaming Up To Play Some Golf. In THE PERFECT FIT the Guru discusses a very informative article on Golf Club Casting. In SHE GOLF’S TOO learn about the LPGA’s Big Sisters Program. In the COMPONENT CORNER learn about the Titleist Suing Chicago Wholesaler on Counterfeit Golf Balls, and Royal Precision Going Broke. GOLF AROUND THE WORLD ...

Click CLICK HEREen. In Episode #15 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch continues the GOLF GEAR DADDY GIVE-A-WAY. He also reports on the latest from THE NEWSTAND with Minnesota’s Tim Herron Winning The Colonial, The End of Greg Norman’s Marriage, and Donald Trump Pissing Off the Neighbors Again. In THE PERFECT FIT you’ll learn that New Grips Mean Better Play. In SHE GOLF’S TOO say hello to Annika’s Little Sister. In the COMPONENT CORNER learn about the Future of Golf Ball Design, and the Nakashima HTEC driver. GOLF BLOGOSPHERE shows you an online eulogy listing for Earl Woods at Legacy.com. In ...

I commend Barry & Stacy at Golf for Beginners for bringing up their experience with the LPGA. We bloggers will always have to fight for legitimacy as a “real” communications medium. I’d guess that the LPGA’s Paul Rovnak and Michelle Barrish come from a traditional media background and new media like blogging and postcasting are foreign concepts right now. Traditional media has a huge infrastructure and the associated financial investment that goes with it. Thus they are loathe to allow upstarts with no overhead usurp their territory. Yet as media technology marches forward, I predict that this tour will ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. Episode #14 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch continues the GOLF GEAR DADDY GIVE-A-WAY. He also reports on the latest from THE NEWSTAND with John Daly’s Tell-It-All Book, Pilot Crashing on Golf Course, and Hootie Gone, Augusta Still Says No. In the GURU COMMENTARY the host Compares Earl Woods to Obi-Wan. In SHE GOLF’S TOO we learn that the Ladies Senior Tour Changes it’s Name. In the COMPONENT CORNER learn about the SMT New Custom Coated Heads and the Ball Finder Scout. The GOLF BLOGOSPHERE has pinups at the Golf Babe Blog. In CAN’T WE ALL ...

I was reading Doug Ferguson’s story on the passing of Earl Woods and I was struck by a quote from Earl Woods that Tiger “will do more than any other man in history to change the course of humanity. He’s the bridge between the East and the West. There is no limit because he has the guidance. I don’t know yet exactly what form this will take. But he is the Chosen One. He’ll have the power to impact nations. Not people. Nations. The world is just getting a taste of his power.” Quite heady stuff. On its ...

You gotta see this. Bobby Knight, the former coach of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team, now coach at Texas Tech, was the host of a Golf Show. Yes, in the early 80s, the face of Indiana basketball Bobby “Mt. Vesuvius” Knight, was the host of a locally produced golf show entitled “Golf Your Way". For a man that is known for throwing chairs and choking players, telling others how to play golf doesn’t seem to play to Bobby Knight’s strengths. Somewhere in between the long profanity-laced diatribes and the club throwing, Mr. Knight was attempting to instruct ...

Click CLICK HERE to listen. In Episode #13 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch launches the GOLF GEAR DADDY GIVE-A-WAY. He also reports on the latest from THE NEWSTAND with Drunken Cops Vandalizing Driving Range, Tiny Tiger Losing to Professional, Tiger Woods Winning Stock Car Race and Dick’s Sporting Goods Opening Golf Specialty Store. Then in PERFECT FIT hear about the USGA Capping MOI for Woods. In the COMPONENT CORNER learn about the Dancing Dog Golf Simulator and the Consumer Reports Golf Ball Ratings. The GOLF BLOGOSPHERE tells about a chance to Caddy at the 2007 Masters. CAN’T WE ...

I early spoke about the pending Clubbuilding War between Golfsmith and Golf Galaxy. Well, now there’s a third big box player emerging Dick’s Sporting Goods. Very quietly, this major sporting goods retailer has seen how nicely golf fits into it own niche that they have recently rolled out a new specialty golf store appropriate called The Golf Shop. The store is located in Robinson, a suburb of Pittsburgh and will occupy a former 36,000 square foot Media Play location. Golf merchandise is one of Dick’s store-within-a-store departments and they already private label a line of golf equipment under the ...

Now that the afterglow from The Masters is down to glowing embers, some of us try to look back on what happened and reminisce. This includes professional golfers like David Toms III. AP writer Doug Ferguson got this gem from Mr. Toms last week “to me, it’s still a place where the players walk around on egg shells, not knowing if they are in the right place.” Toms goes on to say “it’s the only place all year where the players don’t feel like they’re the most important thing there.” Not that I’m a big fan of Hoottie ...

Click here to listen. In Episode #12 of Golf Gear News, host Bruce Stasch brings you the latest from THE NEWSTAND where he talks about Tiger’s Poor Choice of Words, Eco-Terrorists, the Expanding Masters and the Longest Drive Champ in Europe. In SHE GOLF’S TOO he ask’s What Makes a Women’s Golf Course? The COMPONENT CORNER you’ll hear about SMT’s New Master Distributors and the New Two Driver World caused by Phil Mickelson’s win at the Masters. The GOLF BLOGOSPHERE explores Innovex Golf Buys Out Investors. Travel with us in GOLF AROUND THE WORLD and learn about Donald Trump’s Latest Shrine to His Ego. In GOLF ...

For those of us that can’t break away from our desks, we still have an option to satisfy our Masters obsession – webcasting. According the Golf Blogger, CBS Sportsline and The Masters are offering 22 hours of live coverage of Amen Corner during the masters. You can pick up live coverage of all four rounds of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes. You can find the webcasting link at www.cbssportsline.com or www.masters.org. But that isn’t all that goes on at Amen Corner. I just learned some insider info from an Atlanta resident that attended the Masters yesterday. What he ...

One thing that most viewers probably missed during Phil Mickelson’s dominate golf performance last week at the BellSouth Classic was what was going on in Phil’s bag. The commentators noted that Phil was experimenting with two drivers. Yes, two drivers. They stated that his fairways hit average was only 57% this year and during the BellSouth Classic he was hitting over 70% of his fairways. Mickelson chose to test two drivers in this tune-up to the Masters to see if it would help him with the tight fairways at Augusta. With the new weighting systems of drivers like the Taylor ...

Click here to listen. Each episode of the Golf Gear News Podcast is full of interesting stories on golf. In THE NEWSTAND I talk about Ford Dumping Golf for Bull Riding, the resignation of the Korean Prime Minister, buying a professional golf team and how a golfer shut down the Portland airport. In SHE GOLF’S TOO, we provide the study results that ask the question: “Would you forgo a year of sex to play Augusta National?” Our COMPONENT CORNER, highlights the solar golf bag and Golfsmith’s pending IPO. Travel with us in GOLF AROUND THE WORLD and play Nevada’s Lucifer’s Anvil Golf Course. In GOLF ...

The clubbuilding industry is in for some significant changes with the recent purchase of GolfWorks by Golf Galaxy. Let’s look at the signs that are starting to emerge. Golfsmith, founded in 1967 is the granddaddy of clubbuilding. They began with a catalog that supplied components to the do-it-yourself clubbuilder. Then, they expanded into brand name merchandise, started opening retail stores (currently 50+ stores) with a clubbuilding department, and now have a powerful Internet presence. In 2002 they were bought by Atlantic Equity Partners III. Golf Galaxy was founded in 1995 and started out opening retail stores (currently 51 stores). They went ...

Being from Minnesota, I’ve always been a big fan of Champions Tour golfer John Harris who just won $121,000 with his 2nd place finish in the Toshiba Senior Classic a few weeks ago. He’s always been an excellent golfer, one of the top amateurs in Minnesota. He also played on a victorious Walker Cup team in the 1990’s. What I find more amazing is not his talent, but his perseverance. He originally turned pro in 1976, but flamed out after a few years. Regaining his amateur status in 1983, he kept plugging away on the amateur circuit, dominating by ...

First there was ESPN, then ESPN2, then ESPN Classics now ESPN Deportes. Through the years, to fill airtime, they have added rodeo, tractor pulls, swimming, billards, and volleyball to supplement the standard fare of football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Now they’ve sunk too low. I read an article written by Cara Buckley of the Miami Herald entitled “ESPN on Hand for Miami Domino Tournament.” The network sponsored a dominoes championship tournament last fall that will be broadcast, in seven parts, on ESPN Deportes and ESPN2. Trying to target a largely Hispanic audience, ESPN Deportes attended the Calle Ocho Festival in Miami’s Little ...