If you frequent the same golf blogs that I do, then you might have seen some of my comments on the FedEx Cup strewn about the web. I felt the need to consolidate my thoughts on the subject and, frankly, to rant a little bit. Let’s take a look at your thoughts first. For several weeks, I’ve been running a poll in the sidebar. The question is, “Is the 2008 FedEx Cup shaping up better than 2007?” At the time of this writing, out of 49 votes, a full 61% answered, “No”. Perhaps the question should have been, “Did they get the formula right?” My answer to that is a resounding, “NO!” As I see it, there are two things that happened this year in the FedEx Cup playoffs that violated the unwritten rules of common sense in sports. Those things are: The playoff winner was pretty much decided before the last tournament, and There were players in the playoffs with no mathematical chance of winning. How can this be? In the United States, we
The “Go For It” Attitude in Golf
We seem to associate this quality with winning and success, in general. In many cases, it’s a big factor. No risk, no reward. We’ve probably all heard that saying. In business, that attitude is practically a virtue. In golf, though, it should be used sparingly, because the negative outcome will usually be disaster. Now, be honest. How many times have you been standing over your ball on a par five, about to hit your second shot, with 220+ yards to the green, over water? And how many times have you taken the shot, knowing that the club you have in your hand will yield that perfect result only a fraction of the time? Why do we do it? I say “we”, and not “you”, because I’ve done it too. Guilty as charged. How about those times when you have 160 yards to a tucked pin on a difficult green that’s protected by water or severe bunkers? Do you have the discipline to aim for the middle of the green, take your two putts, and get
Progress Update: September 21, 2008
Sad to say, but not much has changed since my knee started acting up. I had an MRI and X-rays taken. My doctor confirmed that there is some cartilage damage in there, as well as some arthritis. I was surprised when he didn’t immediately suggest surgery. The first thing he wanted to try was a cortizone shot in the joint. However, since my normal level of pain isn’t too bad, I declined. The second step is a two-pronged approach. I’ll begin by doing a few weeks of physical therapy to strengthen the area in question. Second, he wants to give me a series of injections of a substance that’s supposed to aid in lubing up the joint. The name escapes me right now, but it’s a series of 3 injections in the joint, one a week for three weeks. He told me that if that approach isn’t getting me where I need to be, then the final approach will the arthroscopic surgery. It’s amazing the questions that I forget to ask while I’m sitting in
Review: Slendertone EverVive
Do you ever wish there was something you could do to help those weary muscles after a long day of golf? Well, the folks at Slendertone think they have an answer with the EnerVive Muscle Conditioner. EnerVive uses electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) to soothe and rejuvenate tired muscles. If you’ve ever done physical therapy for an injury or after surgery then you might have used similar products. EMS works by stimulating muscles using electrical current to create a massage-like effect. The unit contains six different recovery and stimulation programs and includes two medical-grade gel adhesive that can be attached to any of seven different muscle groups. The Good The unit provides a wide range of intensity settings. A single 9-volt battery provides all the muscle stimulation I could ask for. In fact, I was never able to find out what the max setting is, because I couldn’t tolerate much beyond a certain point. Well, I could have tolerated it if I really wanted to know, but the point of the thing is to feel better,
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
These days, it’s pretty likely that your golf course has one or more “environmentally sensitive areas” that are intended to preserve the natural landscape. Most often, they’re wetlands, but they can just as easily be fragile desert ecosystems. Normally, these areas are designated by government regulatory agencies and they seem to be prevalent on newer courses, where environmental concerns are considered during construction. At my course, these areas are usually marked with hazard stakes with green tips. Most of them are lateral hazards, so the sensitive areas are lined with red stakes with green tips. There are some signs as well. You might have seen similar setups at courses you have played. I have a major beef with these environmentally sensitive areas. Before you think I don’t care about the environment, think again. Golf courses absolutely have an impact on the local ecosystem. In the middle of summer, when it’s hot and dry, a golf course needs a lot of water to stay healthy. Have you ever noticed ponds and lakes virtually empty from all
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