Snowy Friday Rant

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, February 22nd, 2013
Categories: Life • Miscellaneous • Pro Golf • Rory McIlory • Tiger Woods

Snow on the camera lens or the latest Instagram filter?

Friday morning snow

I’m running up against a little ~~writer’s~~ (excuse me) “blogger’s” block. Perhaps that is because I’m going nuts here in Salt Lake this winter. The courses have been closed for months and just when it looked like the snow would melt, it started snowing again this morning. I just walked outside to take a snap of the snow and my phone slipped out of my hand into a snow bank. I had to walk in bare feet and snag it. Such a skilled photographer. The photo right is what taking pictures looks like after you’ve dropped your Samsung Galaxy SIII in the snow…

Keeping one’s game in any kind of shape is very tough when you take months off from hitting balls or playing. Hell, my game suffers when I take a week off. Months? Forget it. I finished the 2012 season as a 2.5 handicap and when I dust the clubs off in April I’ll be playing like a 20. The cycle happens every year… I work all summer to get my game back and just when I start playing well, winter comes.

Perhaps it is time to think about moving to a warmer climate where I can golf year-round. The problem is, aside from a few irritating things about Utah, I really like it here. It is a beautiful place and I love the mountains. I especially love mountain golf. I could move to Florida but I think I’d die of golf boredom. The courses are way too flat and uninteresting there.

WGC Accenture Match Play

Entertaining conclusion to the first round of the WGC Match Play yesterday. Yesterday was a prime example of why the golf networks hate this format. Their big draws can get knocked out before the real money-making weekend broadcasts. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory are gone, as are Lee Westwood and Keegan Bradley. Ratings will probably tank this weekend. Too bad.

I had Tiger and Rory losing in the 2nd round. I have Hunter Mahan winning in my bracket.

Big Week

There is something BIG coming up next week. Not sure I want to announce it this weekend, or simply have it be a surprise. Some clues: I’ll be playing golf. It will be one of the most amazing HOG World Tour stops yet.

Fantasy Golf – Northern Trust Open Winner

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, February 21st, 2013
Categories: Fantasy Golf • Miscellaneous • Site News

Nike Covert Driver for first place!

Northern Trust Open Winner: stroff

SPONSOR UPDATE

The following three sponsors have been confirmed for 2013!

Nike Golf – Nike Covert Driver
Bridgestone Golf – Bridgestone Golf Balls
Tornado Tee – Very cool golf tees (weekly)

I’m still hammering out prizes and arrangements for coupon codes to claim the weekly prizes. Stay tuned!

It is never too late to join HOG Space fantasy golf FREE. Follow the easy instructions below:

1. Go to www.buzzfantasyleagues.com
2. Create an account if you don’t have one
3. Click on “Join an Existing League”
4. Enter League ID 233, and Season ID 335
5. Create your team, enter league password “HOG”

Prizes

I’ve managed to get some great prizes sponsored by companies like FootJoy, Bridgestone Golf, Nike Golf, Nicklaus Golf, Ogio, Sun Mountain, Champ, Frogger Golf, Tattoo Golf, Bobby Jones Golf and many others over the years. I’ll be working on this year’s prizes between now and the season.

Sponsors Wanted

If you wish to sponsor 2013 Fantasy Golf, let me know. Sponsorship would mean providing prizes in exchange for weekly air time, banners and links to your web site via the fantasy golf updates.

Discussion

HOG Space fantasy golf is a dual effort between Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space. Official fantasy golf forum discussion thread is in The Golf Space Forum here.

Flags at half mast. Golf world loses Asher Golf’s James Roundy.

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
Categories: Golf Life • Life • Miscellaneous

James Roundy – Asher Golf

Very sad news from yesterday. The golf world has lost a very unique and great guy. James Roundy, founder of Asher Golf Gloves, passed away at a very young age. I’m very, very sad. James is a local Utahn and we have hung out a few times. I stopped by the Asher Golf booth at the PGA Show to do another interview with James but he was away from the booth. I didn’t get the chance to come back. I missed him. Damn.

James was a supporter of my golf sites and I was a supporter of his cool new golf glove company. He had something very cool going.

Rest in peace James. You’ll be missed.

Below you can find the obituary as well as the video from my interview with James at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show.

In memory of James Clayton Roundy 1977 – 2013
BOUNTIFUL, UT – James Clayton Roundy passed away on Sunday, February, 17, 2013. James was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Pacific WebWorks, Inc. Salt Lake City, Utah. James was creative, driven and passionate. He was an active athlete. In junior high James qualified to compete at the National Jr. Olympics in boxing as well as a spot to fight at the Northwest Region Golden Glove Competition. Later, James was profiled on several covers of Transworld Snowboarding magazine. When James met his true love, Kristen Johansen, he turned his attention to scholarly achievements and family. Upon securing a BS in Economics from the University of Utah, James was accepted into the S. J. Quinney School of Law. He left law school to pursue business interests. He founded Asher Gloves. James’ passion was design and marketing. From inception, to design, to marketing, to distribution James nursed his budding golf glove business, Ashergloves.com from a dream to a successful business. Asher was purchased by Pacific WebWorks and James stayed on as Vice President of Sales and Marketing where his talents were applied to internet technologies.

James and Kristen were married on June 11, 2001. The marriage was later solemnized in the Bountiful Temple. James and Kristen are the parents of two beautiful daughters, Lilien Maive Johansen and Ione Sky Roundy. James was a devoted father and his girls loved spending time with him at home, where he helped them with homework, and on the ski slopes. James is survived by his wife, Kristen Diane (Johansen) Roundy, his daughters, Lilien Maive and Ione Sky, also by his parents, Terry Bruce and Linda Redd Roundy, his sister Rachel Bell (Lance), brother Robert C. Roundy (Lindsi), sister Audree Lawrence (Brian), brother William Roundy, and grandmother Erma H. Redd.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, February 22, 2013, at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, UT 84010. Viewings will be held at Russon Brothers on Thursday, February 21, 2013 between 6pm – 8pm and Friday, February 22, 2013 between 10am -10:45am.

DVR Alert: WGC Accenture Match Play TV Schedule

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
Categories: PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Rory McIlory • Tiger Woods

World Golf Championships Oh goodie! It is bracket time! This is going to be fun. Rory McIlory’s first PGA Tour round with of the season and with his new sticks. Tiger Woods vs Charles Howell III and more. Can’t wait.

NBC Sports Group / WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Airtimes

Wednesday	Noon-6 p.m. ET	32 Matches	Golf Channel
Thursday	1-6 p.m. ET	16 Matches	Golf Channel
Friday	2-6 p.m. ET	Eight Matches	Golf Channel
Friday	10:30-11:30 p.m. ET	State of the Game	Golf Channel
Saturday	Noon-2 p.m. ET	Quarterfinal Matches	Golf Channel
Saturday	2-6 p.m. ET	Quarterfinal Matches	NBC
Sunday	9 a.m.-1 p.m. ET	Semifinal Matches	Golf Channel
Sunday	2-6 p.m. ET	Championship Match	NBC

Review: FootJoy M Project Golf Shoes

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Apparel • Golf Equipment • Golf Gear • Reviews

In the winter time here I don’t get to review a lot of golf gear. Thanks though to a trip to Orlando and some lengthy practice sessions I’ve had the chance to test out the new FootJoy M:Project golf shoes.

FootJoy M:Project Golf Shoe

These are quite a departure for FootJoy. Let’s take a look.

M:Project Overview

Golf shoes have gone many directions in the last few years. The “street” thing is still big. Another very cool direction golf shoes have gone is in the super-light, minimal design area.

FootJoy M:Project Golf Shoes – Click to zoom

The M:Projects are much lighter than regular FJ’s. This is thanks to many new construction strategies and materials. For instance, the “P.I.N.S.” system gives the shoes a lower profile as the cleat receptacles are thinner. That’s great. One of my beefs with golf shoes is that they have soles which are too thick. Thicker soles make my back hurt for some reason.

“M:SPEC” leather on the upper is very thin but strong. Another way to make the shoe lighter and improve the feel.

Even the cleats themselves (Stealth Cleats by Softspikes) feature a low profile design.

Comfort & Feel

With a great pair of modern wool golf socks on my feet, the first time I slipped into the M:Project was memorable to say the least. The comfort is fantastic right out of the box. Unlike many higher end golf shoes, the toe on the M:Project is wider and more round. Not pointed. This really helps in the comfort area. Nice to not have the toes squished together like the pointed golf shoes can do.

Walking around, even on pavement, the M:Projects with the Stealth Cleats provide a great cushion. The impact on the lower body and back is greatly reduced. I needed these when I played St. Andrews for days, walking around on ground as hard as the freeway. Trust me. I’ll be bringing these babies when I go there this July.

The leather is very soft. Extremely comfortable with great feel. They breath very well, spoken from someone who sweats most from the knees down.

Without a break-in period I put a brand new pair of M:Projects into play. From the first steps I took in the parking lot my first day with the M:Projects to the final step into the 19th hole, the comfort level was off the charts. I’ve been tempted to simply wear them around town.

Mesh FootJoy M:Project Golf Shoe – click for higher res version

Looks

As I said before, these are a departure for FootJoy. FJ has been a more “classic” design shoe company. The M:Projects still have a classy vibe, but are much less conservative in style.

I have the white pair with black and red trip (most of the photos here), but I’m dying to get my hands on the silver mesh ones (pictured right) I saw at the PGA Merchandise Show. Very cool looking.

Performance

To be a gamer shoe for me I have three requirements: performance, comfort and looks. I rate my requirements in that order.

I’ve got many golf shoes in the garage collecting dust which can only boast one of my three primary requirements. Some are great looking but have poor comfort. Some have great performance and stability but are not attractive. The M:Project line gives me all three. My stability (for my spastic swing) is unmatched.

On the course or in practice I’ve NEVER slipped or lost any sort of stability in my base. Never.

Colors/Sizes

M:Projects come in sizes ranging from 7-15, depending on the width of the shoe. Widths are N, M, W and XW.

There are roughly 10 different colors available.

Leather or Mesh

The M:Project series is available in leather or mesh. Both are waterproof, with a 2-year waterproof guarantee.

Spiked or Spikeless

Along with the many colors and leather/mesh options, the shoes are available in spiked or spikeless.

Spikeless FJ M:Project – click to zoom

I tested out the leather-spiked version. Looking forward to checking out perhaps a mesh spikeless next.

Conclusion

I’m happy to see FootJoy take a chance on some very cool new shoe designs and materials. The $145 (retail) M:Project wrap up the three key requirements a golf shoe must have to be a gamer for me, performance, comfort and style. Well played FootJoy. Well played.

Related Links

More FootJoy M:Project photos

Some of my other FootJoy reviews

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