Life Lesson: Go Play Golf

Free Gift Bag

alwaysgreen — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:15:36 +0000

First of, if you’re in Maui then don’t plan a tee time for Saturday. Instead, plan on being one of the first 100 people to show up at the Dunes at Maui Lani and get a free gift bag. All the club manufacturers (except TaylorMade) will be on hand to do club fitting and club demos. There will be live entertainment and food too. And the best part is that there will be mini-lessons and clinics for the whole family. Register at PlayGolfAmerica for this event.

Things other than golf can be expensive in Hawaii. Be sure to carry a discount card around to save up to 40% off accomodations, food, shopping, etc. Click here if you don’t have one yet.

Also on Maui is the Mercedes Championship where the PGA kicks off the season. It is played on the Plantation Course in Kapalua, the hardest of three courses. The Bay Course boasts asignature hole, a par 3 over the ocean while the Village Course winds its way through pineapple plantations.

Any Club will do…

alwaysgreen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:18:03 +0000

There’s something to be said when you buy a new Callaway or TaylorMade driver, bring it on the course and it misbehaves. You throw it in your bag and you swear you’re going to throw it in the closet. I remember going to one of those demo days this summer where all the club manufacturers’ tent were lined up waiting for interested golfers to try out their clubs. I went to all my favorite tents, grabbed the most shiniest, hottest looking clubs and put on my glove. After shanking a few, sliced a couple shots, the TaylorMade rep came over and told me to take a few lessons instead of investing into a new club. I was embarassed and walk away. The very next day, I signed up for a stroke improvement lesson and it fixed my swing.

Now it doesn’t matter what kind of club I pick up. For lower scores, make sure you have a repeatable swing. Once you have a repeatable swing, you can pick up any club from any manufacturer. I’ve saved so much money buying knockoffs that have given me 10-20 yards more off the tee. You don’t have to spend a lot of money each year buying only name brand clubs. Take Hireko for example, today is the day when you can save some serious dough. Looking for ladies’ clubs that have diamonds on them?

Check out the iBella Obsession clubs from Hireko. These clubs have Swarovski crystals on the heads. Ladies on your golf list are going to love this. And for yourself, check out the Caiman driver. It’s dark and mysterious and stealth. Now with a coupon HOLIDAY25, you can get it for less than $80.

Course Finder and more…

alwaysgreen — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:56:12 +0000

Blame it on economic downturn that Tiger’s endorsement with GM is no longer. He now doesn’t have to admit that he drives a Buick. I wouldn’t have known that if it wasn’t for my random search on the internet this morning for a golf course finder. I wanted to know if there was a website I could go to, specify how much green I was willing to put on the table and what the USGA slope and rating was, then have the course finder tell me all the courses in my area that matched the criteria. Well, there is and OOBGolf is it. Take a look at this site and see if you want to sign up.

First impression of the site: Cool. There is a section for live scoring, not just for PGA play but for average weekend players like us. How it works puzzles me at the moment, perhaps you can sign up and tell me how it works. Then there are reviews, not just golf courses but clothing too. They are reviewing the Adidas ClimaProof 3-way convertible jacket and they seem to like it. There is always a place for you to add a tournament for all to see. This looks like something I can get into, for the addiction of golf that is.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Misty Mate for Hot Weather Golf

alwaysgreen — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:57:47 +0000

When you grow up in Canada, it is hard to bear the heat, especially on a golf course. We played the Westin Mission Hills Gary Player signature course in October and it was hot. The weather was perfect, sunny, clear skies and no breeze. The temperature when we teed off was 85 degrees F and by the time we reached the par 3, it was a scorching 95 degrees.

When you play in Florida in August, it almost feels like you are playing in an oven. The air can be so thick and unbearable at that time of year. Playing golf in heat like that is ridiculous to say the least but that’s when the rates are low. You can save practically 60% off the green fees on any of the Disney 99 holes of golf.

One of the coolest gadgets around is the Misty Mate air cooler. If you are interested in getting one of these, you’ll have to visit my site and find the link in the right frame. The Misty Mate is a real life saver when it comes to hot weather. The latest invention in a line of air coolers is a small handheld device, filled with ordinary water. A few pumps and it’s ready to deliver a fine mist of water to your face, neck and arms. It’s like having a cool mist humidifier in your bag.

The Misty Mate cooler sells for $16.99 and it is worth every ounce of it.

Highway Robbery

alwaysgreen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:17:26 +0000

Three police cars were parked in the front of the Woodside Golf Proshop and Restaurant today. Do you think it was a robbery? Well almost. If you ventured in and took a look at what was on sale, you would definitely think it was highway robbery. Regardless of the SALE sign that is posted on the window, golf gear at the Woodside Golf proshop is outrageously priced. A pair of Ping cart gloves went for $39.95, a pair of FootJoy fleece glove coverups went for $29.95 and a pair of FootJoy winter gloves went for $39.99.

There’s no clearouts on golf equipment here. If you want equipment, drive to Calgary and visit Golf Town where they still have decent demo clubs from their last week sale. An Oakley backpack was selling for $119 and a Ping laptop bag was selling for $90. Outrageous.

I almost bought myself an Adidas coolmax half-zip pullover for $95 but they didn’t have my size. Instead we bought two Ping headbands to keep our ears from falling off for $24.95 each.

“10″

alwaysgreen — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:06:59 +0000

Golf sales must have tapered off since the first sign of winter. Either that or the recession has dampered the golf market as well. Since last week, I have received yet another golf sale. This one is from Hireko Golf (see link on my site) where they are clearing preowned clubs for as low as $10 per club. If you are looking for a single wedge, hybrid, driver or a set of clubs, check them out and pick from a good selection of clubs ranging from almost-new to almost-used condition.

Another favorite of mine is the guys from 3 Balls Golf. They are offering free shipping for all orders over $50 simply by checking out with the coupon code: FREESHIP. Or if you prefer to save 10% instead, use the coupon code: TENOFF. Either way, you are saving some major bucks on brand golf equipment from 3 Balls.

Or if you are not the brand name shopper, you can save 10% off any club at Diamond Tour by using the coupon code: THANKSGIVING. Diamond Tour has various putters that are similiar to that of Nike, Odyssey, Mizuno and Ping putters but at a substantial low price.

For golf balls and supplies, save 10% off from Golf Balls.com (see link) by using the coupon code: NOVEMBERSALE at checkout.

Save 25% off your drives

alwaysgreen — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:56:09 +0000

A lot of my readers have been buying up the GX2 Square driver and fairway woods and adding distance to their drives. The one thing most noticeable when you address the ball with it is the ease of aiming the clubface to where you want to hit the ball. With a relatively light shaft and a soft grip, the takeaway is smooth and effortless. You really feel a difference at the top of the backswing because of the overall weight of the club. The result is a faster clubhead speed which translates to more distance. I can’t recommend this club enough and with the coupon that is valid for 5 days, you can get it for 15% less. Already at an incredible price, you can save 15% or about $15. The better golfers will use the money towards upgrading the shaft or to get a better grip. Gigagolf has a great selection of shafts and grips for you to choose from.

Another great driver is the PowerMax TRX. I like the finish on the head but others like the thin face on it. They recommend the UST HDX 70 shaft that ranges in weight depending upon your swing speed. If you are unsure, go to Gigagolf’s site and enter your driving distance. They have the shaft eFit calculator onboard to determine the shaft flex for you. Or if you have been fitted for clubs then ask your clubfitter. With the coupon, you can save 25% off the regular price.

Not so Big Hawaii Golf

alwaysgreen — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:01:07 +0000

Hawaii golf doesn’t have to be expensive but you do have to know where to book your tee times and where to play to get the most value. Most people who plan to play in Hawaii expects to play next to the ocean. If you watch the Mercedes Championship that plays through the Plantation Course in Kapalua every January, it is easy to get seduced by the ocean holes that the TV cameras tend to pan through.

On the Big Island, there are a number of very nice courses to play on including Hapuna Prince, Waikoloa Beach and King Course. To play these courses, be expecting to pay in the upwards of $195 per round. If you have your heart set on playing Waikoloa, plan to play after 11:30am where the sun may be a little hotter but the fees come down to $105.

The course I recommend on Big Island to play at is Makalei. Its regular rate is $89 per round but on EZlinks, you can sometimes get on for as little as $27.30 per round including a power cart. Playing Makalei is very interesting and scenic. Bring your camera because there are a lot of peacocks and other birdlife there. The course is not close to the ocean but from the highest point (over 2,000 feet above the sea), you can look around the landscape and see the ocean.

After hitting towards the Pacific Ocean from the driving range, hole # 1 is an uphill torture. Luckily you have a power cart, otherwise climbing the first hole will kill you. With a slope of 143, Makalei isn’t a simple course. There are a lot of hazards including lava tubes and cinder cones that will eat your errant balls. And there’s water and foliage everywhere. Make sure you bring your best game there.

Unlimited Golf + Room for $109

alwaysgreen — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:58 +0000

Situated about an hour’s drive north of San Diego is a golf getaway that alot of golfers don’t know about. During the week, you can stay at the Pala Mesa Resort for as little as $109 per person. At that price, you get unlimited golf and accomodations. If you can’t get cheap airfare to San Diego, you can fly into LAX, John Wayne Airport (in Orange County) or Ontario, California and drive to Pala Mesa. From the other airports, add another 30 minutes to your drive. (Check out CheapoAir links for flights)

How many rounds can you get in? Well, that’s up to you and the pace of play. Fallbrook, where the resort is located is off the beaten path and so, not alot of outside golfers come here to play. Most players here stay at the resort and during the weekdays, it is very quiet. You almost have the whole place to yourself. The course has a slope of 131 and it doesn’t look intimidating from the first tee. After a quick round, all you want to do is to stop for a drink then head back out again because this course is a pleasure to play.

After the sun sets, head out to Temecula for dining or visit a winery for fine dining and wine tasting such as South Coast Winery. You can shop, have dinner and take in a movie in Temecula before returning to your room where your clubs are waiting for a round in the morning.

18-Holes, Cart, Towel for $20

alwaysgreen — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:03:27 +0000

I always get a kick when I get to play a 18-hole round at a golf course with a shared power cart for less than $20. On top of that, when I checked in, I also received a golf towel from the golf course for souvenir. That tops it at Palm Springs at the Mesquite Country Club in Cathedral Canyon. $20 is not the regular green fees but a substantially discounted rate from EZLinks where I frequently pick up cheap treats.

Playing Mesquite C.C. isn’t for everyone but for me, it’s the perfect course to warm up those tired winter muscles. It’s a relatively friendly course, wide open with palm trees lining the fairways. The course is pretty flat with a few water hazards coming into play. Bring your ball retriever and you will be fine. And bring lots of sunscreen because behind a slow group, you will get lots of sun.

For the long hitters, it will be easy for you to hit the green in two. Even for the par 5′s, you can probably come close to being on the green. I couldn’t for the life of me when I played it. It was a relaxing pace and I found myself enjoying the warm California air instead. The greens are nice at this time of year and there are plenty of locals playing here too, mostly senior and retired types.

For $20, it’s better than Cathedral Canyon because there’s no chance of hitting any houses which you may feel closed in. Here, the condos are away except for hole # 12 where my wife’s line drive ended up on the road to the left. Just make sure to look both ways before driving the green.