Won My Club Championship
River Oaks Golf Course
Sometimes life is simply about showing up and giving it your best, no matter how good or how bad that may be. Such is the case for me this past couple of weeks at my club championship here at River Oaks Golf Course.
I came into the championship fighting a very bad case of tennis elbow. On several shots during the 36 hole event the pain was so bad I nearly withdrew.
The pain, and fear of pain, made my golf swing change drastically. It became much more hands-oriented in an attempt to take the elbow/arm out of the swing. As a result I started drawing or hooking the ball and had to start aiming farther and farther right. Strangely, the new changes increased my distance, especially with my irons. I had several shots which airmailed the universe, like a pitching wedge from 140 yards which flew 28 yards over the target. That’s a 168 yard pitching wedge.
I stuck with it though the pain and was the beneficiary of a few breaks in the championship. One break came on the 4th hole, a very long and tough par-4. I hooked my driver into trees short of the fairway. I knew at that point I was going to have a hard time making a double bogey. Upon reaching the fairway though, my ball was perched up in a good lie in the dead center of the fairway. It had careened some 75 yards right and forward somehow. I would have a similar break on the 35th hole.
The format and timing of this championship was such that the field was whittled down to a small number. Great for me as there weren’t that many people to beat. One of those players was a preacher. He was playing well and was certainly a threat to beat me. He even had the same exact irons as me. On the par-3 6th hole though, he hit a line drive tee shot which hit his own golf bag, then bounced into a hazard. He was infuriated. He turned to our group, took his hat off and said, “I’m so mad that I’m afraid I will start cussing if I play anymore. I’m going to withdraw.” With that, he walked off the 6th hole. Fine by me. The more narrow the field the better.
It would seem that all the stars aligned and the golf gods saw fit to help me as all the other players would succumb to the pressure of the championship, shooting very high numbers.
10th Hole – RIver Oaks
Going into the final nine holes with basically one arm, I had to hold onto a 16 shot lead. There were a few key shots, like the tee shot on #10 which was clutch and down the middle. There are so many hazards there and the drive is so tight that big numbers can happen there. One guy scored a 10 on that hole in the championship. It hurt, a lot. But the drive was perfect. I made a couple of birdies on the 14th and 16th holes and when the final results were in, I’d won the championship by a whopping 13 shots.
The proudest moment of my amateur golf “career” (for lack of a better word) was winning my club championship in 2005. That year the format was match play and I had to take out numerous opponents to get to the final. In the final I shot a 70, making birdies on the final two holes to win the championship over my opponent 1UP.
This championship was different. It was more like a battle for survival than a battle of golf skill. The last player standing won. That was me. I didn’t bring my best to the table, but it was better than the rest of the competition. Funny how I can be disappointed in my performance yet still be the winner. But I’m happy and proud to have my name on the champions board again, nine years after my first championship.
As a benefit of winning, I’m given an exemption into the Utah Golf Association’s Tournament of Champions next month. It is an honor to play in that event, and all the best players in the state are there. In a strange bit of bad luck though, I’m going to be out of town that weekend and will not be able to play since I will be in the Bahamas playing golf with Greg Norman.
Yeah, you read that right. Tough gig.
With the completion of the championship my core tournament season is mostly over. I went to the doctor yesterday and received a cortisone shot in my arm. First one and hopefully the last. Hurts like hell.
Craziest Round of Year Features TWO Eagles, Four Birdies
Alternate post title: “How to turn a 64 into a 74”
I’ve been fighting tennis elbow now for a new weeks. I’ve had to chance some of my swing technique to avoid pain. One change is a more hands-oriented swing which is apparently giving me more clubhead speed at impact. Another change is teeing the ball very low with the driver. It hurts less when the ball impacts the driver face lower. These changes have added power to my swing, strangely. I “caught” a pitching wedge flush last week which traveled 168 yards. Unfortunately, I had intended to hit it 140 yards. With this extra power I’m in position to make more birdies, when the swing isn’t wild. The bad swings go left. Far left.
Yesterday’s round was quite crazy. My first five holes of the day: eagle, birdie, par, birdie, birdie. At that point an opponent said “do you realized you’re five-under-par after five holes?” Yeah thanks pal. That’s a sure way of insuring I’ll shoot five over in the next 10 seconds, which I did. I finished the front even par. Even on the front would be satisfying on most days, but not when you were five-under after five. Gag.
On the back nine there were a couple of other notable moments. I punched a 7-iron from the right rough from 175, under an overhanging tree, to a back pin. The shot ended up about six inches from the hole. Birdie. A couple of holes later I chipped in for eagle on the par-5 16th.
Two eagles in a round, along with four birdies. Unfortunately I had two doubles and six bogeys as well, resulting in a 74. Four pars on the day. Quite nuts. Thrilling one moment and more irritating than listening to Justin Bieber the next.
I see a doctor later today for my elbow. Playing in pain sucks. But I’ve learned that there is more power in my swing to be tapped into by some changes in technique. Hope to keep that but reduce the wild shots in the future. Maybe I’ll find a way to not choke away all those birdies and eagles and shot a round in the mid-60’s.
Tiger Woods Parts Ways With Swing Coach Sean Foley – Golf Pundits to Melt Internet Discussing
Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, August 25th, 2014
Categories: PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Tiger Woods
Tags: Tiger Woods
Categories: PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Tiger Woods
Tags: Tiger Woods
Will Tiger Break Jack’s record? I might break your jaw if you ask that question one more time…
Tiger Woods has parted ways with his swing coach Sean Foley. The golf internet will now blow up with pundits who will pontificate endlessly about whether or not this was a good decision, or that it should have been done long ago. Surely we will see plenty of “return to Butch Harmon” discussion. Here’s the official statement from Tiger Woods below.
Tiger Woods said today he will no longer be working with Sean Foley.
“I’d like to thank Sean for his help as my coach and for his friendship,” Woods said. “Sean is one of the outstanding coaches in golf today, and I know he will continue to be successful with the players working with him. With my next tournament not until my World Challenge event at Isleworth in Orlando, this is the right time to end our professional relationship.”
“My time spent with Tiger is one of the highlights of my career so far, and I am appreciative of the many experiences we shared together,” Foley said. “It was a lifelong ambition of mine to teach the best player of all time in our sport. I am both grateful for the things we had the opportunity to learn from one another, as well as the enduring friendship we have built. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him.”
“Presently, I do not have a coach, and there is no timetable for hiring one,” added Woods.
Every golf social network and website known to man will now endlessly post the following topics of discussion below. 1…2…3.. GO!
1. Was Tiger Woods leaving Sean Foley a good decision?
2. Should Tiger Woods have left Sean Foley sooner?
3. Should Tiger Woods go back to Butch Harmon?
Tattoo Golf Shorts – Short of Sensational
Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, August 22nd, 2014
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Tattoo Golf
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Tattoo Golf
Tattoo Golf Charcoal Gray Golf Shorts
Today’s apparel script features the very stylish new Tattoo Golf Shorts, charcoal in color. These are perhaps the sharpest, nicest golf shorts I have in the closet now. Add to the style and quality a small embroidered skull and golf club cross bones on the right hip to complete the ensemble.
Golf Shorts Overview
These Tattoo Golf shorts are a 60/40 cotton/polyester blend. The fabric is soft, yet has a thicker strength to it like a levi style material.
There are plenty of pockets for holding all the cash the player wins on the golf course, as well as a “media” pocket on the right which can hold a golf GPS watch, iPod, or small mobile device. On the outside of the media pocket is the signature skull and crossed golf club bones. A must have.
Sizes/Colors
Sizes for the Tattoo Golf Shorts run from 30 to 40 inches. Happy to be in that range.
Colors available include charcoal (pictured), black, and tan.
On The Course
On the course these shorts provide great comfort, plenty of pocket space, and look fantastic. The charcoal model can match any color shirt in the closet, but goes best with other Tattoo golf polos.
Conclusion
Tough to craft a 3,000 word review on a pair of golf shorts, so 250 will have to suffice. In all the crucial areas I judge golf shorts or apparel on, the Tattoo Golf Shorts score the highest ratings: comfort, style, performance, easy maintenance. Check.
Related Links
Other Tattoo Golf products reviewed here on HOG.
Tattoo Golf website.
FootJoy City Shoe Review
Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, August 21st, 2014
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Golf Lifestyle • Reviews
Tags: FootJoy • Golf Apparel • Golf Shoes
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Golf Lifestyle • Reviews
Tags: FootJoy • Golf Apparel • Golf Shoes
These days it is hard to tell where golf shoes end and street shoes begin. There are many “hybrid” models which work well in both places, some even better off the course. Case in point is the new FootJoy “City” shoe. This is a hybrid golf/street shoe which may find more time in the office than on the course. I’m not referring to the tread/bottom of the shoe when using the term hybrid, or speaking to the tread’s versatility on and off the course. I’m talking about its style.
FootJoy City – Black/Mocha
Construction
The FJ City is a full grained leather shoe, guaranteed to be waterproof for two years. The leather is very soft, sharp looking, breathable, and comfortable.
The footbed of the shoe provides great comfort and features vibration and shock absorption, making walking around the cubicles or the cart paths enjoyable.
There are spiked and spikeless models available. The City pictured in this article obviously is the spikeless version, and gets more wearing time from me off the course than on.
FootJoy City, on top of FJ City shoe bag
Sizes/Styles/Colors
There are two styles available currently, regular and wingtip. Photos in this article are the black mocha wingtip model. Each style has three colors available. The wingtip colors are black mocha, tobacco, and off-white. The non-wingtip model colors are gray, tan, and white.
Sizing for men ranges from 7-15, while women’s models range from 7.5-13.
Love the wingtip style!
On The Course / At The Office
I’ve been quite surprised at the traction and performance I get with the spikeless version of the FJ City on the golf course. On appearance alone, the spikes don’t look like they would be close to as effective as they are. From a comfort standpoint I’ve really loved the City model, and it gets more comfortable the more I wear it.
Stylewise I feel a little silly in the summertime wearing wingtip shoes and shorts, but that’s how I roll.
I really dig wearing the FJ City shoes, well, in the city. Even after long days at the office or post-long walks around town, my feet, lower joints, and back are fresh.
Critiques
I do have a small critique/beef. My City model is black/mocha in color. I’ve been finding that these don’t match many “black” items in my massive golf apparel collection. When comparing the City’s black to other blacks, they appear like a very dark blue.
Conclusion
The versatility and style of the city shoe is matched by its great performance and comfort, whether on the course or out on the town. Great shoes.
Related Links
Check out the HOG FJ City image gallery.
Other Hooked on Golf Blog FootJoy reviews.
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