Monday 31 May 2010

137 - I'm Telling Teacher...

A couple of years ago I reported on a playground spat between Titleist and Callaway surrounding alleged copyright infringement in the design of the Pro V1. I call it a playground spat because to me, it was a pointless exercise with the only winner being the lawyers.

As I wrote at the time, Titleist were appealing a ruling that prevented them from selling a ball that they no longer sold because of infringements on patents they claim they already own that have been bought up by another company that don’t actually use them!

After two years and probably hundreds of thousands of dollars, a jury in the US District Court of Delaware has decided that Titleist didn’t have a case to answer as the patents in question are invalid.

1...Joe Nauman, executive vice president, Corporate and Legal, Acushnet Company said: “We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision, and we hope that this finally brings this long standing dispute to a close.

“We have explained throughout this process that Acushnet independently developed the technology in question.

"The Titleist Pro V1 family utilises technology from 74 Acushnet patents and was first introduced to our PGA Tour players in October 2000, well before any of the Spalding patents were issued in 2001 and 2003. 



"We appreciate the jury’s careful consideration of the facts and the time they devoted to these proceedings. This verdict affirms our view that all claims in these patents are invalid – just as the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has repeatedly found.”




So there we have it, Titleist can once again boast about being the ‘number 1 ball in golf’ without any snide remarks from Callaway. Seriously though, did anyone really doubt Titleist?

Thursday 27 May 2010

136 - Shots Of The Week – HP Byron Nelson Championship...

Wednesday 26 May 2010

135 - Putt It Away...

After my lesson in golf fundamentals from Terry it was off to Widnes Golf Club for a session on the practice green. Now that I was able to drill the ball effortlessly 150 yards with some degree of accuracy it was time to face a whole different challenge as I tried to sink a measly 3-foot putt. How hard could it be?

After 15 frustrating minutes the answer was that it is extremely hard. I soon discovered that I couldn’t read greens; I have a touch as subtle as the Yorkshire Ripper and seemingly the inability to learn from mistakes, three qualities that are no doubt the envy of every player out there!

As on the field earlier, Terry showed me how it was done before watching me and correcting the problems. With his first putt he stepped up and put the ball a couple of inches from the hole seemingly without trying so I was confident I wouldn’t be too far behind him. I was wrong, very wrong.

Putt...It took me a quarter of an hour to even get the ball within chipping distance of the cup. To make matters worse, there were players at the club putting in a bit of practice before teeing off also making it look ridiculously easy. Now this was really winding me up but I stuck to the task and tried to put Terry’s advice into action.

Eventually I got into the swing of things and started getting my shots close; close enough to change my average from three putts to two. Then Terry threw a spanner in the works by making me practice on longer finishes that had me back at square one for a short time untilI found my range again.

Before leaving I had a little practice of chipping onto the green from about 20 feet away from the pin. I found that getting it onto the green is quite easy but getting it close is a whole different story. Again Terry gave me instruction and again I got better with each shot until I got tired and couldn’t hit the ball cleanly anymore.

Overall it was a great afternoon of tuition and practice. I had learned so much in four and a half hours and regained my appetite to play. Terry kept repeating that I need to practice to improve, something that I genuinely intend to do.

Monday 24 May 2010

134 - Schwing...

As I write this article I’m struggling. My legs, thighs and back are seriously aching. The reason? I’ve just spent four and a half hours receiving some great golfing tuition from my friend Terry and my body seriously isn’t used to all the exercise. To add insult to certain injury, my head is spinning too.

I took the afternoon off and headed to Terry’s to find that he has ingeniously built himself a golf swing trainer (below). The device replicates the perfect arc that all golfers should create for each shot and if used regularly it is claimed to help promote muscle memory to make the swing more natural – clever stuff and clever Terry for making one.

After 10 minutes on the trainer it was clear that my swing is, to use a technical term, shite. From spaghetti arms to a wayward backswing and a nonexistent follow through there was little to applaud but with Terry’s help it improved almost instantly. Time to put the practice into theory.

Schwing...We headed to the field at the back of the house and went through some drills. Not worrying about hitting it far or straight I hit a handful of balls ensuring my swing plane was correct and that I was rotating my wrists on follow through.

The results were impressive as my usual divot-scooping slice disappeared into the ether being replaced by reasonably straight, reasonably long shot after shot. It wasn’t a fluke either, I repeated the feat with my 9 and 7 iron too.

After the irons I started on my nemesis – the wood. As per usual I had a textbook newbie slice that irritated the life out of me until I had a bit of a breakthrough when I remembered something another mate said about ‘pointing where you want the ball to go’.

The idea is to focus on following through with the swing on the correct, straight path. By concentrating on this my wrists automatically rotated, my body turned correctly and, most importantly, the ball flew long and straight…until I started bragging about it which instantly put a hex on the whole thing.

After two hours on the field I felt I had taken a giant step thanks to Terry’s help. Ok, so the distance was a little lacking and there was still the odd slice but my ball striking was much more consistent. For the first time I felt pretty confident that I would be ok on a course, well except for with a wood but you can’t have everything, can you?

Sunday 23 May 2010

133 - Quote/Unquote...

My backswing off the first tee had put him in mind of an elderly lady of dubious morals trying to struggle out of a dress too tight around the shoulders. - Patrick Campbell

Those golfers who look as though they got dressed in the dark should be penalised two strokes each for offending the public eye. - Doug Sanders

When the ducks are walking, you know it is too windy to be playing golf. - Dave Stockton

(On how to play through a lightning storm) Hold up a one iron and walk. Not even God can hit a one iron. - Lee Trevino

We learn so many things from golf - how to suffer, for instance. - Bruce Lansky

Unless his putting stroke deserts him, Seve Ballesteros should become the richest Spaniard since Queen Isabella. - Jim Murray Los Angeles Times (1976)

My game went so bad today, that I lost two balls in the ball washer. - Author unknown

Watching a golf tournament is different from attending other sports arenas. For one thing, the drunks are spread out in a larger area. - Don Wade

A professional will tell you the amount of flex you need in the shaft of your club. The more the flex, the more strength you will need to break the thing over your knee. - Stephen Baker

Hubert Green swings like a drunk trying to find a keyhole in the dark. - Jim Murray

Friday 21 May 2010

132 - De Vere Not So Dear...

There are many plus points to joining a private golf club – immaculate tees, fairways and greens, polite players, a spotless clubhouse and secure car parking to name but a few – but the main problem is that you get to play just one course each week. De Vere, the UK’s leading golf resort company, may have the perfect solution.

De Vere has come up with a new scheme, which it hopes will attract new players and grow the game. Why play one course costing thousands a year when you can up to 16 for just £295? The 'De Vere Club' centres on a points based membership system that allows a golfer to play at 11 De Vere venues using points for individual rounds.

And don’t think the bargain price means bargain basement courses either. The scheme gives access to the likes of The Carrick on Loch Lomond (below) and Jack Nicklaus designed Slaley Hall in the north-east, which have both hosted European Tour events. Compare those to your local track.

Beautiful...There is a catch (isn’t there always?) You start will 100 points and depending on what course you play, what time of year and what time of the week each round will cost between 7 and 20 points.

A quick, midweek blast around Carden Park is a third of the price of a weekend trip to The Carrick. I suppose you get what you pay for and thankfully points can be added at any time.

The scheme was launched by honorary captain, broadcaster Peter Alliss; "It's the first time I've ever been captain of anything and I'm thrilled to be involved in such a pioneering project. I can see the far-reaching benefits for avid golfers across the country.

“Nothing beats the feeling of belonging to a club and the more people feel they belong the more they play and enjoy the game. With all the time and money pressures these days, I believe the De Vere Club is a great compromise: the flexibility and choice coupled with the wonderful traditions of club golf.”


There are other benefits too as members enjoy discounts on hotel rooms, spa, golf equipment, food and drink plus there are attractive member referral incentives too. What better way to convince your other half to let you have a weekend of golf on a perfectly manicured, championship course than with the lure of a spa?!

Wednesday 19 May 2010

131 - Sick Of Being Sick...

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! I’m sick of being sick of being shit at golf so I’ve decided to do something radical about it; I’m getting lessons...well actually I’m not, but I am really. I realise that I’m making as much sense as the instruction manual for a Chinese video recorder so I better explain.

A while back I was fortunate enough to get a free lesson from the Pro at Widnes Golf Club and my game improved immeasurably. I’m certain that with a few more lessons I would have been well on the way to my realistic target of playing off 18 but it never materialised and I soon slipped back into the bad habits which have left me on the verge of throwing my clubs into the canal.

I got in contact with the friend who hooked me up with the free lesson to see what the going rate was these days for expert tuition from a Pro; I was told to save my money as he could go through the basics with me for free – result. Terry is a decent player so I’m confident he will be able to help me out.

What?I’ve been told to bring a 3 wood, 7 iron, 9 iron and wedge and he will go through the routine with them all on the field at the back of his house. I might bring my 5 iron too so I have the full game set (how often do you use a 3 or 4 iron on the course?) Terry said he has a load of auld balls for me to slice across the field too so that is one less thing to worry about.

He also asked me to bring my putter too as we are going to his course to knock a few in on the practice green. I’m looking forward to this part as I’ve never really practiced my putting, I just turn up at the course and three putt my way around the 18 greens like a true clown. I want to see what the Bettinardi can do.

I’m not setting my sights too high but I’m hoping on getting the basics right so I have something to work on over the summer. Once I’m more confident about my stance, grip, alignment and swing I’ll go out with better players but at the moment I’m reluctant to make a fool of myself in front of them although I know they would be supportive and helpful.

It is a strange ‘Catch 22’. I need more practice with help from good players but I won’t go out with them as I’m not good enough. I should bite the bullet, swallow my pride and slice my way around Widnes Golf Club with Terry, Allerton Golf Course with Richie and West Derby Golf Club with Alan, who knows, I might actually get a bit better.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

130 - Shots Of The Week - 2010 Players Championship...

Monday 17 May 2010

129 - Long Time No Skill...

I’ve just returned from my first trip to the driving range in months and it is fair to say I’m in bits. My back is killing me, my arms are aching and curiously my arse is sore. The night wasn’t a complete success but there were enough positives to give me hope that I might be good enough to actually get a handicap this year – high hopes I’m sure you’ll all agree.

I decided to have a varied session so took my MX-560 driver, my new MX Fli-Hi 20* hybrid, my MP57 7-iron and my trusty 52* MP-R wedge, all Mizuno, all quality – too good for a cack-handed clown like me if I’m being honest but I’m hoping that by using good kit I might receive some small advantage to make up for my chronic lack of ability.

I was accompanied to the range at Aintree by mate called Tommy who used to play a bit and swore blind he hadn’t hit a ball for three years…as shot after shot flew arrow straight down the range! Ok, some of the shots flew arrow straight to the right but never the less he was very consistent with his shots. The force is strong in that one methinks!

I started with my driver and after a few wayward bombs managed to produce a couple of decent shots. Next time I practice I’m taking my F-60 3 wood as I have so much more control over it without losing a significant amount of distance. It has a stiff shaft (oo-er) which helps rein in the immense power my perfectly honed physique produces. Ahem...

Fli-Hi...Next off the rubber tee was my new Mizuno hybrid which I bought, if I’m being honest, to match the rest of my set. I already have a Howson hybrid that works perfectly well but I’m too much of a snob to keep it in my bag. Having read tons of reviews I was convinced the MX Fli-Hi (right) would be a step up but after 20 balls I’m not convinced, more work needed I think.

The last time I took my 7 iron out I had a bit of an epiphany as I hit shot after shot exactly the same. As any golfer will tell you, consistency is the key to good scores so I was looking forward to proving it wasn’t a one off. I failed. Actually I failed at first but started to get the accuracy back after a few shots but I didn’t hit the heights of last time.

Finally it was some scoring shots with my wedge. The owners of the driving range have decided to remove the small chipping baskets from the range. I don’t know who come up with this but if I ever find out I’m going to go medieval on their baby makers with my 60* chipper. The ‘blue basket challenge’ was my favourite game.

With the baskets gone I had to improvise by trying to hit a big 40-yard marker, pretending it was the pin. Although still useful it wasn’t nearly as satisfying as landing a ball sweetly into a basket. After a couple of wayward chips I was managing to get close enough to be happy with where the ball was ending up.

Overall I was disappointed with a lot of the shots I made but every now and then there was a glimmer of hope as the ball went exactly where I wanted it to. I came back to the same conclusion though, I need to pull my finger out and get some practice in.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

128 - Big Fake Grin...

I had the pleasure of visiting West Derby Golf Club today and I was quite impressed. My mate Alan is a member and kindly offered to take me around for a sneaky 18. As my game is all over the place I decided to caddy for him as he blasted his way around the pretty parkland course on the outskirts of Liverpool.

Having only ever played on municipals I saw the difference immediately. From tee to green the course was immaculate, totally devoid of the usual treats found on council run tracks – litter, unrepaired fairways, pockmarked greens and the occasional burnt out car in the rough (I think it is treated as an immovable obstruction in the R&A rulebook incidentally with the appropriate relief given).

I can see why people are drawn to private courses but they fill me with dread. I’m not sure I could be arsed with all the rules, the enforced etiquette and the general ‘know your place’ attitude from the old guard. I get that the rules are there for the good of everyone and in theory I support them but in practice I think I would struggle.

Shhh...I found myself getting annoyed by the big ‘No Mobile Phones’ sign on the terrace outside the clubhouse even though I could understand that if you were on the green (a few feet away) the sound of some tool yapping away while you are trying to make a birdie would be off putting.

I understand the rule, agree with it but don’t like it being shoved down my throat (insert your own Carry On/Benny Hill gag here). It is as if we cannot be trusted to think for ourselves, or is it something more sinister?

Alan explained that he had to have an interview before he could join where he had to agree to attend a number of functions throughout the year and promise to be an all round good egg – seems like too much hard work to me although Alan assured me that the chances of him attending the Captain’s Black Tie Ball are slim...

And that is the paradox for me; I love the perfectly manicured greens, the spotless changing rooms and the comfy bar showing the football but the thought of grovelling to a bunch of old farts and promising to be a good boy grates to the point of anger. The alternative is surely worse though? Poorly maintained municipals filled with scalls in England shirts and Reebok Classics? Nah.

Maybe Alan is right, maybe I need to play the game with the establishment a little in order to play the game of golf a lot. No queues on the tee, polite and courteous players, friendly staff – sounds very tempting, all I need now is £1,000 I suppose oh and to practice my fake grin of course.