St. Andrews New Course Image Gallery

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
Categories: Golf Courses • HOG World Tour • Site News
Tags: St. Andrews

Here’s another image gallery I’m happy to post from my recent trip to the home of golf, St. Andrews. Click to view the St. Andrews New Course image gallery.

New Course - St. Andrews, Scotland - Click for more images

The New Course opened in 1895. 1895? That’s new alright, when comparing it to the Old Course, which is some 500+ years older. The New Course was designed by Old Tom Morris and is quite a fun track to play. The style is a bit different than the Old Course–smaller greens, narrower fairways and lots of gorse bushes to catch errant drives.

There’s a more modern clubhouse too (pic below), which services the new and the Jubilee course. I’ll have a Jubilee gallery up shortly.

St. Andrews New Course Clubhouse - click for more

Nike Air Rate Golf Shoes

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Equipment • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Nike • Nike Golf

I’ve been testing out the new Nike Air Rate golf shoes for a bit. Unknowingly I picked a perfect time to do my review of these babies. Read on to find out why.

Nike Air Rate Golf Shoes - Click image to see more

Nike Air Rate Construction

I have a new pair of training shoes I use when I work out, Nike Air somethings… They’re so light I can hardly believe they’re on my feet. They conform to my feet so well it is like they become one with them. That is exactly the feeling I’ve gotten with my new Nike Air Rate golf shoes. These things are so light I feel like I weigh less with them on than with them off.

Air Rate's Mesh - click to enlarge

The upper of the shoe is one piece of synthetic leather which has a very cool looking mesh pattern. The mesh is precisely carved out of the upper with a laser. The pattern serves more of a purpose than just looking cool. The mesh makes the shoe lighter and provides a ventilation system. I hadn’t read the specs on the shoes before I wore them, and the ventilation was the first thing I noticed. It is about 100 degrees here now, and when a light breeze kicks up I can feel the wind blowing through my shoes. This feels so good, especially for someone who rarely wears shoes and socks because my feet get so hot.

The sole of the Air Rate is a super light “Phylite” material with an “air unit” in the heel. Unlike standard golf shoes which have a leather or hard sole, the Air Rates don’t beat up my feet, my knees and my back. The padding in the sole and air in the heel makes walking the course more doable for me, and more enjoyable. I’m able to play golf and not think about the fact that my knees or feet hurt.

Looks

If you are into the traditional golf dress shoe look, these may not be your cup o’ tea. But I really like the look of my Air Rate golf shoes. They’re a little rebellious and a little higher tech looking.

On The Course

The comfort of these babies is off the charts good. Despite the fact that they’re tightly conforming with the shape of my feet, they still feel soft and deliver very low impact when walking the course. Getting beat up by the hard ground is one of the things that sucks about walking, and the Air Rates reduce that greatly.

Despite the fact that these golf shoes don’t have traditional screw in or click in spikes, I have fabulous traction. I hated switching from metal spikes to soft spikes years ago because I slipped all the time. Thanks to the Air Rate’s “Integrated Traction” I have yet to slip once in dozens of holes, hundreds of shots.

As mentioned, perhaps the best part of these shoes is the ventilation. With mid summer temps here around 100 degrees, my feet are as cool as they could be on the course.

Not Waterproof

The benefit of the ventilation is great, but it is obvious that these shoes are not waterproof. If you are playing in the rain, or plan on stepping into some standing water you may want to use a standard set of waterproof golf shoes. Obviously water can get into the shoe through the ventilation mesh.

Colors

The Air Rate comes in two colors: Khaki/White (pictured in this article) and Gridiron/Wolf which is a dark gray with yellow in the mesh.

Nike Air Rate Golf Shoes - click for more

Conclusion

The $110 retail Nike Air Rate golf shoes are excellent, comfortable and very light weight golf shoes. There’s a lot of talk in club shafts and club weighting these days using the “super-light” buzz term. If golf shoes can be classified as super-light, the shoes would be the Nike Air Rates. The ventilation of the shoe is fantastic and refreshing. The comfort level is very high.

The best part of these shoes is the fact that the light weight, ventilation and comfort of doesn’t compromise the performance. In fact, they enhance it.

Related Links

Hooked On Golf Blog Nike Image Gallery

2011 Fantasy Golf – Week 23 Winner

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, July 18th, 2011
Categories: Fantasy Golf • Miscellaneous • Site News
Tags: Fantasy Golf

Fantasy Golf

Week #23 (British Open) Winner

Congratulations to “I Will Win” for the win this week!

Contact me to claim your weekly prize!

FREE FANTASY GOLF SIGN UP INFORMATION:

1. Point your browser to Kerplookee.com.
2. Create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Click on Join a private league.
4. Enter league ID 145
5. Password is: Masters

HOG SPACE Fantasy Golf is presented by Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space.

Talk all about fantasy golf in The Golf Space Fantasy Golf Discussion Thread.

Sponsors

Nike Golf (VR Pro driver)
Bridgestone Golf (e5 golf balls)
FootJoy (pair of MyJoys and an FJ Layer System)
Dornoch Putters (hand made putter from Scotland)
Frogger Golf (golf accessories)
Sumi-G (shag bags)
Tattoo Golf (golf accessories)
Tornado Tees (really cool golf tees)
Hooked On Golf Blog (HOG/TGS hats)
The Golf Space (HOG/TGS hats)

Thanks to all the great sponsors who are providing prizes this year. Do them a favor and click through to their web sites via the logos to the right and give them some love.

*Pre paid additional shipping charges applied for winners outside of the continental USA! Prizes unclaimed by November 15, 2011 will be forfeited.

Open Championship Final Thoughts

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, July 18th, 2011
Categories: (British) Open Championship • Champions Tour • European Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf
Tags: (British) Open Championship • Dustin Johnson • Phil Mickelson • Rory McIlroy

On this Monday I’m once again watching the final round of the (British) Open Championship. Great background media for golf blogging.

Congrats to Darren Clarke

This week’s Open was fantastic, and I’m so thrilled that I was wrong in my prediction that Clarke wouldn’t hold on and win. Very happy for Darren Clarke, especially with the heartbreaks he’s gone through both on and off the course. Well done and congratulations. I really hope some day I run into Clarke in a pub somewhere.

Phil Mickelson

Perhaps Phil Mickelson has quieted the critics who say he can’t play links golf, myself included. Looks like he may have finally figured it out after that super low 30 on the front nine yesterday and the T2 finish. Strangely enough, Phil’s play actually improved as the conditions worsened. Not sure he’ll ever win an Open, but it would be quite a story if he finally did. He needs to do it soon though. Not sure how many really good year’s he’ll have left with age and his physical condition with the psoriatic arthritis.

Dustin Johnson

For the 3rd time in what, the last six majors, Dustin Johnson is in the final group? You’d have to think it is only a matter of time before DJ notches a win in a major.

Rory McIlroy

Despite being the favorite coming in to this Open, I wasn’t surprised that Rory McIlroy didn’t quite have it this past week. This year has been huge, and I think he may have been a bit burned out. I do think he’ll be fresh for the PGA Championship.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Here’s another guy I’d love to hang out with in a pub somewhere. Jimenez was in the mix for much of the week and you have to love this guy’s flare. It almost seems like golf gives Miguel something to do during the day to kill time before he enjoys a fine wine and a cigar in the evening. Jimenez got a ton of air time with his warm up routine. Between his not so flat-belly body shape, his long hair and his cigar, the moves in his warmup were more entertaining than a Lady Gaga video. His description of the routine included, “that’s me on the dance floor.” Love it.

Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler is building up a wealth of experience in pressure situations and major championships. Though he has yet to win a tournament as a PGA pro, hanging out in the top few spots on major championship leader boards will pay dividends in the future.

Fowler’s T5 this past week is his first top-5 in a major.

Tom Watson

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again… If all major championships were played on links courses, Tom Watson would have won about 3x as many majors as Jack Nicklaus. It was fantastic to watch Watson’s ace on the par-3 6th hole in the 2nd round. Even more fantastic and amazing that Watson made the cut in the Open at the ripe young age of 61. Final position for Watson, T22.

Bubba Watson

Speaking of Watsons… Bubba Watson’s (T30 at +9) skill level is sick. He is an amazing talent who curves the ball more than anyone in golf right now. But those high spin shots could make playing in windy “Open” conditions could make it more difficult to control the ball. Bubba has the power for sure, but he’ll need to master low spin shots to contend in the Open in the future.

Top 10’s who missed the cut

It was quite amazing that though the Open was played in England, the top two ranked players in the world who happened to be English, missed the cut. Perhaps #1 Luke Donald emptied his gun in winning the Scottish Open the week before? And one of my picks to win this Open, Lee Westwood (#2 in the world) missed the cut too. Very surprising.

Add to those two a pair of other top 10 players who missed the cut, Graeme McDowell and Matt Kuchar.

One major to go – Which Irishman will win the PGA Championship?

With the conclusion of the Open, the PGA Championship is coming up next. Based on the fact that an Irish player has won three of the last six majors, which Irishman will win the PGA Champonship? Perhaps Padraig Harrington? His game hasn’t been at its best lately. He has won it before.

2011 British Open Championship Final Leader Board

Written by: Tony Korologos | Sunday, July 17th, 2011
Categories: (British) Open Championship • European Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf
Tags: (British) Open Championship • Phil Mickelson • Rory McIlroy

POS	Name	Country	R 1	R 2	R 3	R 4	Total	To Par
1	CLARKE, Darren	NIR	68	68	69	70	275	-5
T2	MICKELSON , Phil	USA	70	69	71	68	278	-2
T2	JOHNSON, Dustin	USA	70	68	68	72	278	-2
4	BJORN, Thomas	DEN	65	72	71	71	279	-1
T5	CAMPBELL, Chad	USA	69	68	74	69	280	Par
T5	KIM, Anthony	USA	72	68	70	70	280	Par
T5	FOWLER, Rickie	USA	70	70	68	72	280	Par
8	JACQUELIN, Raphael	FRA	74	67	71	69	281	+1
T9	GARCIA, Sergio	ESP	70	70	74	68	282	+2
T9	DYSON, Simon	ENG	68	72	72	70	282	+2
T9	LOVE III, Davis	USA	70	68	72	72	282	+2
T12	STRICKER, Steve	USA	69	71	72	71	283	+3
T12	KAYMER, Martin	GER	68	69	73	73	283	+3
T12	GLOVER, Lucas	USA	66	70	73	74	283	+3
15	COETZEE, George	RSA	69	69	72	74	284	+4
T16	GREEN, Richard	AUS	70	71	73	71	285	+5
T16	SCHWARTZEL, Charl	RSA	71	67	75	72	285	+5
T16	YANG, YE	KOR	71	69	73	72	285	+5
T16	JACOBSON, Fredrik	SWE	70	70	73	72	285	+5
T16	SIMPSON, Webb	USA	66	74	72	73	285	+5
T16	JOHNSON, Zach	USA	72	68	71	74	285	+5
T22	WATSON, Tom	USA	72	70	72	72	286	+6
T22	LEHMAN, Tom	USA	71	67	73	75	286	+6
T22	HANSEN, Anders	DEN	69	69	72	76	286	+6
T25	MCILROY, Rory	NIR	71	69	74	73	287	+7
T25	SCOTT, Adam	AUS	69	70	73	75	287	+7
T25	JIMENEZ, Miguel Angel	ESP	66	71	72	78	287	+7
T28	MOORE, Ryan	USA	69	74	76	69	288	+8
T28	HOWELL III, Charles	USA	71	70	73	74	288	+8
T30	CINK, Stewart	USA	70	71	77	71	289	+9
T30	DAY, Jason	AUS	71	70	76	72	289	+9
T30	WOODLAND, Gary	USA	75	68	74	72	289	+9
T30	NOH, Seung-Yul	KOR	69	72	75	73	289	+9
T30	LEWIS, Tom (A)	ENG	65	74	76	74	289	+9
T30	WATSON, Bubba	USA	69	72	74	74	289	+9
T30	LARRAZABAL, Pablo	ESP	68	70	76	75	289	+9
T30	PALMER, Ryan	USA	68	71	72	78	289	+9
T38	KHAN, Simon	ENG	71	72	77	70	290	+10
T38	OVERTON, Jeff	USA	68	71	78	73	290	+10
T38	BOYD, Gary	ENG	71	70	76	73	290	+10
T38	IKEDA, Yuta	JPN	69	71	75	75	290	+10
T38	ROCK, Robert	ENG	69	71	74	76	290	+10
T38	IMMELMAN, Trevor	RSA	70	72	72	76	290	+10
T44	LEVIN, Spencer	USA	72	69	81	69	291	+11
T44	ROSE, Justin	ENG	72	70	79	70	291	+11
T44	CHOI, KJ	KOR	71	72	75	73	291	+11
T44	STANLEY, Kyle	USA	68	72	77	74	291	+11
T48	BOURDY, Gregory	FRA	73	70	77	72	292	+12
T48	DE VRIES, Floris	NED	70	73	76	73	292	+12
T48	FURYK, Jim	USA	72	70	76	74	292	+12
T48	UIHLEIN, Peter (A)	USA	71	71	75	75	292	+12
T48	ALLENBY , Robert	AUS	69	72	75	76	292	+12
T48	MCEVOY, Richard	ENG	69	72	75	76	292	+12
T54	CASEY, Paul	ENG	74	69	78	72	293	+13
T54	SABBATINI, Rory	RSA	71	70	77	75	293	+13
T54	OOSTHUIZEN, Louis	RSA	72	70	74	77	293	+13
T57	HAAS, Bill	USA	72	70	79	73	294	+14
T57	HAVRET, Gregory	FRA	72	71	78	73	294	+14
T57	BARNES , Ricky	USA	68	74	78	74	294	+14
T57	ANDERSSON HED, Fredrik	SWE	68	75	77	74	294	+14
T57	GALLACHER , Stephen	SCO	70	71	77	76	294	+14
T57	VAN PELT, Bo	USA	73	69	73	79	294	+14
T63	MILLAR, Matthew	AUS	71	72	80	73	296	+16
T63	LUITEN, Joost	NED	73	69	79	75	296	+16
T63	WILSON, Mark	USA	74	68	75	79	296	+16
T66	LAWRIE, Paul	SCO	73	70	81	73	297	+17
T66	MOLINARI , Edoardo	ITA	69	74	76	78	297	+17
68	STENSON, Henrik	SWE	72	71	75	80	298	+18
69	FRAZAR, Harrison	USA	72	70	77	80	299	+19
70	FERRIE, Kenneth	ENG	71	71	76	83	301	+21
71	HWANG, Jung-Gon	KOR	68	74	83	79	304	+24