HOG World Tour Journeys to Pechanga in Temecula, CA

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, August 21st, 2015
Categories: Golf LifeGolf LifestyleHOG World TourTravel
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Greetings from my fantastic suite in the Pechanga Casino/Resort in Temecula, CA.  Loving the service and comfort level here at this resort.

Pechanga Hotel Left - Golf Clubhouse Right

Pechanga Hotel Left – Golf Clubhouse Right

The suite is very large and warm. The lovely bride and little guy are enjoying it.

Pechanga Suite

Pechanga Suite

Just finished having a very nice breakfast outside on the patio of the amazing clubhouse here (photo below), watching players tee off.  Not a bad morning at all.

Pechanga clubhouse patio - looks like I want to be here this evening...

Pechanga clubhouse patio – looks like I want to be here this evening…

Tomorrow and the next day I’ll be having my own Journey at Pechanga as it is called. That’s golf on the well respected golf course here. More to come.

I took a stroll through the amazing clubhouse this morning as well.  You could hit a full lob wedge in there, but with the rockwork on the walls it could be a little risky.  🙂

Pechanga Golf Clubhouse

Pechanga Golf Clubhouse


First Look: Bridgestone Golf J15 Driving Forged Irons – J15DF

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, August 20th, 2015
Categories: GolfGolf ClubsGolf EquipmentGolf GearSite News
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I’m not sure what’s more fun, setting up my golf club glam shot photo shoots, or testing great golf clubs.  Today we are getting a first look at the new Bridgestone Golf J15 Driving Forged Irons, or J15DF.

Bridgestone Golf J15DF Irons - click to see more

Bridgestone Golf J15DF Irons – click to see more

I will start testing these irons soon, and post a review when I’ve got enough rounds with them to give a proper evaluation. Translation: I’m not going to hit three 7-irons on the driving range and rave about how great they are…

Bridgestone Golf J15DF Irons

Bridgestone Golf J15DF Irons


This Week On Tour

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, August 19th, 2015
Categories: Champions TourEuropean TourGolf MediaLPGA TourPGA TourPro GolfTiger Woods
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PGA Tour LogoPGA TOUR
Wyndham Championsip
Dates: Aug. 20-23
Venue: Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Final opportunity to qualify for FedExCup Playoffs: This is the 43rd and final regular season event on the 2014-15 PGA TOUR schedule, and the final opportunity for players to move inside the top-125 in the FedExCup standings to qualify for the Playoffs. Those 125 players at week’s end will earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2015-16 season, and qualify for the first of four playoff events at The Barclays next week in New Jersey. Players finishing at 126-200 in the FedExCup standings will be eligible for the Web.com Tour Finals, a four tournament series beginning Sept. 10.

Villegas defends: Camilo Villegas finished one shot ahead of Bill Haas and Fredrik Jacobson for his fourth career PGA TOUR win.

Headlining the field: Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Branden Grace, Martin Kaymer, Billy Horschel, Paul Casey, Ernie Els, Brandt Snedeker and Bill Haas.

LPGA TourLPGA TOUR
Canadian Pacific Women’s Open
Dates: Aug. 20-23
Venue: The Vancouver Golf Club, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-5:30 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 7-10 p.m. (Live) / 4-6:30 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 7-10 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Elite field: Nine of the top-10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are in the field, including the top-3 in Inbee Park, Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis. 17-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson also will tee it up this week in her home country, coming off a win at the Cambia Portland Classic last week as a Monday qualifier.

Inskter joining the booth on Friday with U.S. Solheim Cup selections looming: The U.S. Solheim Cup team will be finalized following the conclusion of play on Sunday, with the top-eight on the LPGA points list and the top-two Americans in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not already qualified receiving automatic spots on the roster. U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster will join Golf Channel’s booth during Friday’s second round coverage to discuss her potential options for choosing her captain’s picks. The European team – which already has four automatic qualifiers from the Ladies European Tour points list – will round out its roster on Tuesday, Aug. 25, with the top-four LET members in the world rankings and four captain’s picks.

Ryu defends: So Yeon Ryu won by two strokes over Na Yeon Choi for her third career LPGA Tour victory.

Headlining the field: Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Brooke Henderson, Hyo Joo Kim, So Yeon Ryu, Suzann Pettersen, Shanshan Feng, Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist and Amy Yang.

championstour-fCHAMPIONS TOUR
Boeing Classic
Dates: Aug. 21-23
Venue: TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie, Wash.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday 9-11 p.m. (Tape delay) / 12:30-2:30 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Saturday 5-7 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 5-7 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Dunlap defends: Scott Dunlap defeated Mark Brooks with a birdie on the first playoff hole for his inaugural Champions Tour win.
Headlining the field: Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Jeff Maggert, Marco Dawson, Kevin Sutherland, Joe Durant, Lee Janzen, Esteban Toledo, Woody Austin and Billy Andrade.

European Tour Logo - GolfEUROPEAN TOUR
Made in Denmark
Dates: Aug. 20-23
Venue: Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort (PGA Backtee Course), Aalborg, Denmark

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 5:30-7:30 a.m. / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 5:30-7:30 a.m. / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 7-11 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 6:30-11 a.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Warren defends: Marc Warren finished two shots ahead of Bradley Dredge to earn his third career European Tour victory.

Headlining the field: Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Marc Warren, Thorbjorn Olesen, David Lipsky, David Horsey, Daniel Brooks, Edoardo Molinari, Nicloas Colsaerts and Peter Uihlein.


Hooked On Golf Blog Readers Vote Southwest Airlines as Best Airline for Golf Travel

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, August 19th, 2015
Categories: GolfGolf For WomenGolf LifeGolf LifestyleMiscellaneousTravel
Tags:

southwestI’ve had a poll up and running for quite some time on the front page here which asked the question “What is the best airline for golf travel?”  I’ve finally decided to end that poll and post the astounding results, which I completely agree with.  Here they are below.

  • US Airways (4%)
  • United Airlines (5%)
  • Southwest Airlines (60%)
  • Jetblue Airlines (10%)
  • Delta Airlines (8%)
  • Continental Airlines (1%)
  • British Airways (3%)
  • American Airlines (10%)

Southwest Airlines resoundingly won with 60% of the voters picking them.  The closest competitor was Jetblue airlines at only 10%.

I agree with this vote based on the two following primary reasons:

  1. Cost:  Southwest is very competitive price-wise.  Golf is expensive and we can travel more if the airfare is more affordable.
  2. Free baggage:  To bring my golf clubs on Delta or another airline that charges for bags can run an extra $50-$150!!!  That’s highway (airway) robbery.

Who is the WORST airline for golf travel?  The previous HOG poll’s results can be found by clicking the link in the previous sentence.


Trying to Be Realistic

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, August 18th, 2015
Categories: BoneheadsGolfLifeMiscellaneous

My golf game has suffered this year.  That’s what having a 2-year-old son, a lovely bride, several jobs, a new hobby (hopefully business) passion, and about 20 websites will do.  For many years I’ve managed to be able to squeeze in four rounds of golf per week during golf season here in northern Utah.  This is about half the year.  At four rounds per week I can get enough reps (me and Tiger) in to get my handicap to around the one range.

Lately though, I’ve been at one nine hole round and one 18 hole round per week.  Yes, cry me a river.  First world problems.  No need to comment.

With that little play or practice I can’t expect to play at the highest level.  Today I played 18 holes and tried to keep that in mind, not getting too mad if I didn’t hit as many solid shots as normal or score as well as I want to.  I shot five over with six bogeys and one birdie.  My short game, especially with so little practice, is a sieve of leaked strokes.  I think that’s pretty average and what I can expect from my ability level with not many reps.

This brings up a point I’ve talked about previously, which is whether I can find enjoyment in the game if I’m not able to play at the level I want to.  Golf takes a lot of time, money, practice, resources…  Knowing these things, and knowing I likely will not improve makes me ponder if it is worth continuing.  Today I enjoyed playing with a couple of long time pals, and was into that more than counting strokes.

Strangely, I’m looking forward to winter here.  That’s a first.  Never happened before.  I plan to use the time off from golf to really evaluate what I get from the game, what I want from it, and what it keeps me from doing or achieving.  Come spring perhaps I will have reached some conclusions and have a sense of direction, and better place golf (or not) in my life.

I may not have typed all this drivel if I would have just made a couple more birdies today…


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