Golf Blog by The Orlando Golf Blogger

Champ Stinger Spikes

The #1 spikes on the tour with over 100 PGA Tour players and 80% of the LPGA Tour players using them.

Champ Stinger Spikes represent significant advancement in sports cleat technology, using feedback from thousands of professional and amateur golfers, combined with years of research.

Champ Stinger spikes provide much greater traction than that offered by sneakers or shoes. This added traction protects you from slipping during wet conditions or on hilly terrain. The feet, if not anchored securely can slip during the golf swing, producing undesirable results.

A golfer’s footing is the foundation for the all important swing. If there is doubt in the footing, or worse, slippage, the swing will be altered and affect the flight of the ball. That’s why professional and amateurs have been choosing our spikes. Our pledge to them is that we will continue to be there for them, innovating and helping to make their game better.

Benefits of Champ Stinger Spikes

Soft durometer TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) for superior comfort and durability.

Non-clogging, easy to clean design.

“C” visible wear indicator turns solid when spikes need to be replaced.

Wrench holes formed in rigid material.

Primary spring-flex traction elements provide optimum gripping ability.

Green friendly design minimizes marks on the green.

For optimum performance, we recommend changing spikes every 12-15 rounds.  However, CHAMP Stinger, with its patented Visible Wear Indicator takes all the guess work out of knowing when to change your spikes.  When the “C” in the center of the spike turn solid, it’s time to change.

Yeah, I know, I said I wasn’t going to be writing anymore this year and yet… here I am..

I wanted to share the news! Good friend and fellow golf blog intothegrain.com is giving away two Cleveland Golf CG15 Wedges.

The giveaway is running until December 31st, 2009 and all you have to do to enter is submit your name, email address and new years golf resolution.

The best entry wins the sticks!

Not too shabby!!

Click Cleveland Golf CG15 Wedge Giveaway to enter.

Happy Holidays again!!

Found a couple of pretty good Orlando golf deals for Christmas, see below.

Celebration Golf Club, Legends Golf Club and Kings Ridge Golf Club

Pretty good deal, for $99 you can play a full 18 at each of these golf courses.

Hunters Creek Golf Course

It’s their customer appreciation month and they’re offering $35 tee times before 11am ($30 if you’re a creek card holder, ….I am).

This weekend (December 19th & 20th) specifically, you can play again for $15  per replay rounds.

Not too shabby..

This is my home course and I’ve played here too many times to count. I always enjoy the round and I’m constantly shocked at just how poorly I always shoot when playing out here .. It seems like such an easy course…

Click the hyperlink above to read the review I wrote on Hunter’s Creek Golf Course.

Also, the club house makes a solid spicy bloody Mary!

Grand Cypress Golf Club

I mentioned this a few days ago, but it’s worth noting twice. From now until the end of the year, you can play as much golf as you can squeeze in a day for $59 bucks at any of the Grand Cypress Golf Courses. I’ve scheduled my 1st tee time for 7:30am on 12/26 and I’m playing at least 36.

Hope to see you out on the course sometime!

Victoria Hills Golf Club

On Christmas Day, play anytime for only $39 dollars. This includes a round of golf and a bucket of range balls.

Here’s the review I wrote for this course..

Orlando Golf Course Review – Victoria Hills Golf Course

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I hope you’re having a great December and hope you have a great Christmas!

I’m taking the rest of the year off, to do a bit of traveling and spend some quality time with the family. I don’t anticipate I’ll be writing anymore blog posts until January 1st, 2010.

I want to thank everyone for helping to make this year for OGB a success! The traffic for 2009 has been 1,532% larger than 2008!! Hopefully this growth continues into 2010.

You’re an amazing audience and I’m glad that you take the time each day to stop by and read the jumble of words I call blog posts. Next year I’m going to kick off the year with a series of golf fitness posts, figured it’s a good way to start the new year, right?

If you’re local, or planning on visiting and you have the desire to get some much needed golf in, you should check out Grand Cypress Golf Club, for the remainder of the year, it’s all the golf you can play in a day for $59 bucks. That’s a really stellar deal, considering the usual fee is $100 + for a single round. Call (407) 239-1909 to book your tee time.

Well, Merry Xmas, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, etc.. etc..

-Dave

Fellow Golf Blogger and badass golfer John Duval wrote really good post entitled “Rick Reilly is Wrong.”

Rick Reilly made an appearance on ESPN and had some advice for Tiger Woods on how to repair his image.

He said that to fix his image, Tiger Woods would need to fire most of his entourage, skip the Masters and US Open in 2010, stop throwing clubs and swearing, fix his marriage and become more transparent to the media.

See John’s thoughts on the issue.

Rick Reilly Is Wrong About Tiger Woods

Regarding the Tiger Woods issue, scandal, defamation that’s going on right now, I’m truly sick of hearing about it and want nothing more to do with it. Yes, I know it’s a great source of traffic and it’s hot news right now, but I get nauseous thinking about it.

Our most popular news and media sites have taken Tiger Woods and wiped their asses with him. It’s gone from an alleged affair and single car accident to a troubled man who is a sex addict, drug user, voyeur, DUI, womanizer, horrible piece of crap who isn’t worth the air he breathes.

I am honestly disgusted at what great lengths they’ve gone and the money they’ve paid to get every single scrap of dirt they can on Tiger Woods.

It’s yet another sad example of how far we’ve fallen as a society when the nation’s top news has gone from something relevant and important like health care and the economy to how many times Tiger Woods cheated on his wife.

When did society become so screwed up that we froth at the mouth and take great joy from seeing celebrities torn apart by news rags and their dirty little secrets?

If you’re looking for a good round of golf this weekend consider trying out Mystic Dunes Golf Club. Golfnow Orlando has some pretty cheap rates presently for the course.

I’ve played Mystic Dunes quite a few times and wrote a review on the course for FloridaGolf.com.

Check it out.

Orlando Golf Course Review – Mystic Dunes Golf Club

It’s a fun course that has some of the craziest putting surfaces you’ll find anywhere in Orlando as well as some crazy whiskey barrel “give me a gun” bunkers.

The facilities are great and the staff are friendly, courteous and knowledgeable, not to mention, last time I was out there, they had some pretty stellar beer specials… can’t beat that after a good or bad round!

If you’ve played there, I’d like to hear your opinion of the course.

-Dave

I hate to do it…. but I can’t resist….

Received a picture of Tiger Woods walking out of his new house after the alleged divorce settlement is finalized.

Here’s a little Thursday golf humor for you! It’s a welcomed change to any further discussion of the Tiger Woods Scandal.

Murphy’s Laws of Golf

Golfers who claim they never cheat, also lie.

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

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

There is no such thing as a friendly wager.

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

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

Don’t play with anyone who would question a 7.

It’s as easy to lower your handicap as it is to reduce your hat size.

If you really want to be better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.

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

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

One good shank deserves another.

It takes 17 holes to really get warmed up.

No golfer ever swung too slowly.

No golfer ever played too fast.

One birdie is a hot streak.

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

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

Any change works for three holes.

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

Never take lessons from your father.

Never teach golf to your wife.

Never play your son for money.

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

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

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

The statute of limitation on forgotten strokes is two holes.

Bets lengthen putts and shorten drives.

Confidence evaporates in the presence of fairway water.

It takes considerable pressure to make a penalty stroke adhere to a scorecard.

It’s not a gimme if you’re still away.

The more your opponent quotes the rules, the greater the certainty that he cheats.

Always limp with the same leg for the whole round.

The rake is always in the other trap.

The wind is in your face on 16 of the 18 holes.

Nothing straightens out a nasty slice quicker than a sharp dogleg to the right.

The rough will be mowed tomorrow.

The ball always lands where the pin was yesterday.

It always takes at least five holes to notice that a club is missing.

The nearest sprinkler head will be blank.

Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.

You can hit a 2-acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time.

Out of bounds is always on the right, for right-handed golfers.

The practice green is either half as fast or twice as fast as all the other greens.

No one with funny head covers ever broke par (except for Tiger Woods).

The lowest numbered iron in your bag will always be impossible to hit.

Your straightest iron shot of the day will be exactly one club short.

No matter how far its shaft extends, a ball retriever is always a foot too short to reach the ball.

If you seem to be hitting your shots straight on the driving range, it’s probably because you’re not aiming at anything.

A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.

The only thing you can learn from golf books is that you can’t learn anything from golf books, but you have to read an awful lot of golf books to learn it.

When you think about Spain, what comes to mind? For me, thinking about the country conjures up images of matadors and bullfighting, the nine day running of the bulls festival in Pamplona, I think of the world cup and “real” football (soccer for us yanks ), the Spanish Armada and the Conquistadors and wine.

Occasionally also, though I’m shamed to admit, it also conjures up Miss Eliza Doolittle from “My Fair Lady” singing “the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.” (try not to think any less of me.. )

If you’ve a professional golf mind, thinking of Spain might conjure up names like Jose Maria Olazabal, Severiano Ballesteros and ofcourse, the ladies favorite, Sergio Garcia (swoon).

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Ryder Cup history, but in 1993, Olazabal & Ballesteros went head to head with Tom Kite and Davis Love III. To hear Feinstein tell it (via “A Good Walk Spoiled”), it was a high pressure, high intensity round (with plenty of pocket change rattling) and the victory in this match clenched the win for the United States.

One thought that has never crept up when thinking about it is flying to and playing golf in Spain. Which is crazy, because there’s some absolutely amazing places to play. When you factor in all the cool things there is to see in Spain and combine it with everyone’s favorite mistress (golf) seems like a win win situation, well, unless you factor in the conversion rate from USD to the Euro..

Check out a pretty sweet golf destination called La Manga Las Lomas Village. It’s located in southeast Spain in a city called Cartegena. It boasts three championship golf courses and a whole range of amenities for those non-golfer types..   These include, beauty salon, gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, massage, solarium, spa, steam room, bar and restaurant.  Las Lomas Village is also located right near the beautiful beaches of southeastern Spain.

Getting back to golf, there’s three championship courses, the North, South and West courses.

South Course
The South Course is widely regarded as La Manga’s premier layout, and frequently hosts prestigious regional and national events, including the Spanish Open and European Tour Qualifying School. Originally designed by Robert Putman prior to opening in 1971, the South was reworked by the great Arnold Palmer in the early 1990s, and was sharpened up in 2004. As a result, this is now a fair but thoroughly exacting test of golf. The front nine is the tougher, with a number of long, demanding par-3s and 4s, but there are birdie chances on the long holes. The closing stretch is less difficult, but avoiding the strategically positioned water hazards and bunkers is crucial around this par-73 cracker.

North Course
La Manga’s North Course presents a different test, with tighter fairways and larger greens, all bordered by the resort’s famous palm trees. The putting surfaces have recently been reconstructed in accordance with USGA design principles, and many have severe slopes and plateaus, that are tricky to say the least. Accuracy and sound course management are the most valuable traits around the 6,291 yard North, which is a gem that will be particularly enjoyed by the creative shot-makers out there.

West Course
The West Course is also a genuine championship layout, underlining the fact that La Manga has no weak links. Measuring in at 6,529 yards, the West winds its way gently through the idyllic pine trees, and has more severe slopes than its neighbours. The West is in fact the favourite of many repeat visitors, particularly because of its unique setting and outstanding views. The fairways are tight, so it is often prudent to play conservatively from the tee, while the West also boasts a collection of fabulous par-3s.

Sound’s pretty amazing right? It’s crazy, but sometimes I think we put on the blinders and can’t see anything beyond what we’ve already conditioned ourselves to expect to see when considering a destination. Spain has never been my ideal travel destination, but I think that’s going to change.

Any of you ever golfed in Spain or found some ridiculously awesome golf hot spot in the most unexpected place?

Below is a comment posted by Tiger Woods today over at TigerWoods.com responding to the cover story on U.S. Weekly alleging an affair between tiger woods and a Vegas cocktail “waitress” named Jaimee Grubbs.

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don’t share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it’s difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.

So Jaimee Grubbs has this voicemail from Tiger saying the following.

“Hey, it’s, Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Um, can you please take your name off your phone?  My wife went through my phone. And may be calling you. If you can, please take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it just have it as a number on the voicemail, just have it as your telephone number. That’s it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye.”

She sells this to U.S. Weekly for $150,000 and then has the gall to say the following comment..

“I hope he can forgive me for doing this and I know he probably can’t,” Grubbs is quoted as saying. “Whatever happens with Elin, I hope Tiger and I can reconnect and remain good friends.“

WHAT???

This “waitress” just sold out Tiger Woods for $150k (which he would’ve probably paid her a lot more to delete the stupid message, assuming of course, it’s really him.. just sayin’) and she hopes they can reconnect and remain good friends? Just goes to show you the intelligence of some people..

Sigh.. I still stand by what I said on Monday, Tiger is entitled to his privacy, just like every other person and IF he did engage in infidelity, it’s between him and his wife and no one else has a right to know.

See Tiger Woods fights off a pack of bloodthirsty beasts.