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Issue # 265 Different Strokes Golf Newsletter - Mar 9, 2005Date: Mar 9, 2005
Subject: Issue # 265 Different Strokes Golf Newsletter - Mar 9, 2005
Different Strokes - The Golfhelp Newsletter
Published by Golfhelp.com - The #1 Golf Search Engine.
Issue #265
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This newsletter is a 'double opt_in' newsletter meaning that it is
only sent to subscribers who have opted-in and then in a separate
e-mail confirmed their subscription. Subscription info at end.
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YOUR THOUGHTS?
Tiger Woods made some news last weekend at the Ford
Championship when he suggested that the Tour schedule is too
long and should be cut back. (See SURGERY FOR THE SCHEDULE?
below.) Any thoughts?
rod@golfhelp.com
In this issue:
>> THIS WEEK
>> SURGERY FOR THE SCHEDULE?
>> HIT GREENS (NARROW YOUR FOCUS
>> EXCESSIVE HYPE, UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND UNFULFILLED PROMISES
>> ASPIRING PRO GETS BACKER ON EBAY
>> NOTEWORTHY - IMPROVED TITLEIST GOLF BALLS
>> IT'S MILLER TIME AGAIN
>> COLUMN TO READ (EUROS HAVE ORDER DOWN PAT)
>> GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU
>> HE SAID
>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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THIS WEEK
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PGA
The Honda Classic
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
March 10-13
2004 winner: Todd Hamilton (-10) $900,000
LPGA
No event scheduled.
CHAMPIONS
SBC Classic
Valencia, Calif.
March 11-13
2004 winner: Gil Morgan (-14) $225,000
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SURGERY FOR THE SCHEDULE?
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The watchers at Doral last week had a virtual cornucopia of
golf stars to pick from, depending on what part of the course
or what time of day they preferred. Eleven of the top twelve
players in the world showed up for the Ford Championship, an
impressive percentage to say the least. As far as Tiger Woods
is concerned, that situation would occur a lot more often if
the Tour season were shortened. Supply and demand would make
the difference. "We have an 11-month season, and that's too
long," Woods said.
Not that a shorter schedule is about to happen any time soon,
commissioner Tim Finchem admitted that a review of Tour
marketing policies and procedures, including length of season,
is under review. "We are aggressively looking at and
challenging ourselves in how we are presenting the product,"
he said. Interestingly, there are 13 tournaments in which
Tiger Woods has never played.
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HIT GREENS (NARROW YOUR FOCUS)
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Having trouble hitting greens? Maybe you're not zeroing in.
Instead of just aiming in the general direction of the green,
as many of us are inclined to do, pick something specific to
shoot at. The most obvious target would be the pin, but
something behind and in line with the green will also do. Do
not succumb to the mindset that since you're not good enough
to hit the pin, you might as well just hit toward the green.
You'll be surprised.
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EXCESSIVE HYPE, UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND UNFULFILLED PROMISES
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Have you noticed the ridiculous golf marketing hype now being used? It
almost seems like a marketing arms race. I just saw some of the most
outrageous claims made for an e-book that is nothing more than a 70
year old out of print, copyright expired, golf instruction manual. It
made every performance improvement promise imaginable for this old book.
You're surely going to have to be a good marketer this year to survive
and get your message through all the clutter and hype.
The shift in retail golf marketing is continuing. Forty years ago you
went to a pro shop at a golf course to get anything golf. Well golf
pros either didn't realize they were retailers or they didn't want to
be retailers and they let most of the golf business be taken away by
off course golf retailers. It's looking like the big box retailers (
Dick's Sporting Goods, Sport Authority, etc.) are starting to teach the
take away game to the off course golf retailers now. The big box boys
are moving into golf in a big way. Have you been in a Sports Authority
lately? The golf section looks like a full blown golf store with all
the big name clubs on the racks. Some foundries in China now believe
the big box boys are becoming their most important volume customers.
There is a lot of price pressure this year in the whole golf
marketplace. Rounds are flat and there are few high interest,
innovative products to excite the average golfer. Small companies and
struggling and even some of the big names are having trouble holding
margins. I'm already noticing the #1 driver (TaylorMade R7) is being
sold at a $100 or more discount. I'm seeing bigger discounts much
earlier in the season than I've ever seen before. It should be a good
year for bargains but a "hang-on" year for retailers.
Joe Davidson - Publisher
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ASPIRING PRO GETS BACKER ON EBAY
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We almost told you last week about a golf pro from Florida who
sought bids on eBay from those who would sponsor his PGA
career aspirations, starting bid, $10,000. Well, if we had
told you, we would have had to say this week that Brian Payne,
31, got his sponsor. The sole bidder and winner of the
auction was Dan Staub, 53, owner of Staub Financial in
Clarkson, Michigan, near Detroit. Staub, a golfer himself who
met his wife on a golf course, was intrigued by the prospect
of backing a pro, but, naturally, was hesitant. Not a wealthy
businessman, finally gave in to his desire to "get inside the
ropes," encouraged by Payne's intention to give 10 percent of
the bid to USA Cares (assistance for military families) and
the Peter Levin Foundation for Graft Versus Host Disease (a
side effect of bone marrow transplants). Payne is the winner
of the 2002 Illinois Open. Staub's sponsorship will help him
make his way on the Nationwide Tour, and who knows where else.
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NOTEWORTHY - IMPROVED TITLEIST GOLF BALLS
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Can the Titleist people make golf balls that are even better
than their Pro V1, NXT, DT SoLo? They think so up in
Chicopee. In fact, the Titleist line for 2005 includes these
very models, but with differences. The improvements have to
do with better core and casing formulations for two extra
yards at 160 mph (Pro V1); new advanced dual core technology
for a soft feel and excellent short game spin with measurably
longer distance (NXT); and a new high lift construction and
soft, faster core formulation that delivers longer distance on
all shots, while retaining its "feel good golf ball"
performance (DT SoLo). MSRP / doz.: $58/Pro V1, $36/NXT,
$28/DT SoLo.
www.titleist.com
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SPONSOR
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The Quickest Way To A Better Game
With the New Year...is a “new start”. You can achieve
all your fitness goals in less than 20 minutes a day!
My good friend Mike Pedersen is considered the TOP
Golf Fitness Trainer in the country and he's here to
help you with his best-selling golf fitness ebook, the
ultimate Golf Fitness Guide.
I have talked him into “not” raising the price of his book
as he stated he would, so I want you to hurry and get
this gem while it’s still half price.
Click here http://www.golfhelp.com/a/go.php?c=Pederson
It’s “jam-packed” with easy and simple golf exercises
That will quickly improve your power, accuracy and
even eliminate your back pain.
With it being the winter for most of you, this is the
BEST time to do this program. You have a little
extra time, so let’s get after it!
Happy New Year!
BONUS: Today Mike's including a special bonus called
'50 Golf Tips You Can Use On The Course Right Now', plus
3 other bonuses, but I'm not sure how long they'll last,
so rush to
http://www.golfhelp.com/a/go.php?c=Pederson
Mike is offering a 90-day guarantee, so if you don't
like the book simply return it. But, once you get into
his exercises, I highly doubt that you'll need that guarantee.
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IT'S MILLER TIME AGAIN
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Johnny Miller, self-admitted "crazy guy," was again behind the
mike for NBC's coverage of last week's Ford at Doral and will
be there for the next four televised PGA events. The
sometimes controversial, often colorful commentator is sharing
the booth with Dan Hicks. Miller caught flak at last year's
Doral by referring to winner Craig Perry's swing as enough to
"make Ben Hogan puke." NBC'S contract with the PGA to cover
five events is of relatively short duration. Can Johnny stay
out of trouble that long? Was that really Johnny last week?
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COLUMN TO READ (EUROS HAVE ORDER DOWN PAT)
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Last week The Golf Channel's George White wrote about how
differently the Europeans and the Americans determine Ryder
Cup captains. He writes on the heels of the former picking
Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo to be bosses in 2006 and 2008,
respectively. The decision overseas was made by a committee
of 14. Here, on the other hand, RC captains are chosen by
nobody knows who, says White. Check out why he thinks this is
not a good way to do it, not that he thinks Tom Lehman won't
make a good U.S. captain in 2006.
See the article http://www.golfhelp.com/a/go.php?c=ds030905
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GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU
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About missing the pro-am and getting fired:
". . . the fact that he (Goosen) overslept should exclude him
from the rest of the tournament. Ever sleep in and lose your
tee time because you were late? Same thing to me . . . just
more of the same thing we are seeing in other sports,
irresponsible behavior by adults that our children look up to
as role models." Ernie
"The rules are the same for everybody. If you snooze, you
loose." Steve H.
" . . . these guys get mind blowing paychecks which are
financed in part by pro-am participants. They should be more
than happy to accommodate and not beef when they are penalized
for missing the round." JS
". . . don't think this rule should apply to a pro-am at all
. . . should apply only to the days of the tournament itself."
Jes
". . . absolutely the right thing. I think the first thing I
ever learned from my father was to be on time. I've passed
this on to my children and grandchildren. No excuses for
sleeping in." H
"The pro-am rule is in place for a good reason. . . . Sounds
like Price is asking for a mulligan for the pro-am rule. Are
there any other rules where we should add mulligans?? . . .
John Hill (The Colony, TX)
"Disqualifying a top ten player in such a manner, for such a
'crime' to me seems unbelievable. People pay good money to
see the best players compete in real competition, and
eliminating in this case, one of the best current players
really is shooting the tournament through its own foot. . . .
Greg Adelaide (Australia)
". . . pretty stiff ruling . . . the player should be
reprimanded . . . have to pay for the group he was to play
with, or something to that effect." Mike
". . . difficult to comment without knowing the full facts.
However, Retief had committed to the tournament and was
obliged to comply with the rules of entry. . . . the onus was
on him . . . "Warwick Weedon
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HE SAID
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"When we get to the tee box, my ears are ringing. You guys
walked with us; between green and tee, how loud was it? They
are screaming from two feet away from you, screaming right in
your ear." - Tiger Woods, in an interview following the Doral
(golf.com)
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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= Tiger Woods birdied the 17th hole Sunday and finished at
6-under 66 to win the Ford Championship at Doral, one-shot
ahead of Phil Mickelson, who shot a final-round 69.
= Annika Sorenstam finished her 2005 debut with a 4-under 68
on Sunday to win the inaugural MasterCard Classic.
= Two-ball sleeves of Nike's limited edition Nike One Black
golf balls will be given free with the purchase of a dozen
Nike One Black or Nike One Gold golf balls at participating
locations while supplies last.
= Tiger Woods returned to the head of the class in world
ranking Sunday by winning the Ford Championship.
= The 17-month-old grandson of golfing great Jack Nicklaus
died Tuesday after falling into a hot tub where he had been
playing earlier.
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