Dedicated Open Blog Readers!  (Yes, I’m talking to all 10 of you)

It’s time for The Open wrap up and I’m sloppily tapping away at my keyboard while driving south from Scotland to London (no worry warts, I’m not actually driving, I’m obnoxiously co-piloting) on the not so soothing 8 hour drive down the A1/M1.  My writing style may not flow like the boundlessness of the Euphrates River today because I’m having to look up regularly to check out the horizon in order to avoid vomiting in my own lap. Now THAT is blogging dedication!

Two days into the Open, post cut, heading into Moving Day, and I’m sure we’re all wondering how blog Kharma is doing if she was betting in Vegas.  Let’s look at every golfer in the field that has been mentioned thus far:

Kharma opens w a record of  0-0

Just look at this subset of the overnight Leaderboard golf fans – Let’s take a gander at these Rocks of Ages!

T2  -4  Mark OMeara                Age 56
T4  -3  Tom Lehman                 Age 54
T4  -3  Miguel Angel Jiminez    Age 49
T9  -2  Todd Hamilton               Age 47

Between the four of them are 206 years old!

Like Reservoir Dogs the Loudmouth Krewe has hit The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club in Gullane, Scotland! A few Loudmouths sojourn to The Open every year (no one calls it the British Open on this side of the pond) because John Daly won The Open in 1995 at St Andrews and is grand fathered in for the rest of his competitive golfing career. It is a fantastic event and always great to catch up with the extended International Loudmouth Family.

But enough of that, let’s talk about who is gonna WIN!

Before I tell you who is going to win …

Daly has had a sore elbow for years and has been staving off the inevitable elbow surgery as long as possible. As you may have heard less than 2 weeks ago during the back 9 of the Fri round at the Greenbrier he hit a shot just wrong and actually tore his elbow up pretty good. He has played in pain before (some of those stories are horrifying when he retells them) but he knew immediately that this injury was far too severe to keep playing. He shook his playing partners hands (left handed) and immediately pulled an Elvis and left the building. He had reconstructive surgery last Thur and as much as we are all crossing our fingers for a full recovery of the “Bionic Elbow”, it is unfortunate not to have him here at Muirfield. He is always a great draw at the Open but alas, he is sitting at home in Dardenelle, Arkansas w a completely incapacitated immobile elbow for a month, then 2 more months of light stretching and physical therapy before he and the new BE (Bionic Elbow) are allowed to touch a club and start the greatest comeback in the history of golf!

Crap, I got sidetracked again. So as you may also know, JD is a prodigious gambler and since he hasnt done any drinking since 2008 when he got his lap band stomach surgery, he is actually pretty good at it! In April when we spoke at the Masters he picked Justin Rose to win saying that he was putting as well as anyone on the planet. Rose hung around at Augusta deep into the tourney and had a fine showing and then went on to win the US Open in spectacular fashion so Daly only missed Rose’s win by 1 major so I asked him today who was the “Best Bet” at The Open since he cares about the best odds. JD’s dark horse and prediction for making $$s is Nicolas Colsaerts and I picked Jason Day (though that isn’t as much of a dark horse), we have $20 bet on who finishes higher.

So as I sign off on this Tuesday evening the most interesting moment today happened on the driving range. Rory was at one end of the driving range, took a break, and strolled down the range talking to all his golfing buddies. He spent plenty of time chatting w Europeans but he had a bit of  time for anyone he knew from everywhere across the globe. He walked up to Ian Poulter, leaned on his bag, and said “Hi Ian”.  Nothing. He quietly stood there as Ian waggled and waggled and waggled and finally hit his shot and then … Crickets. Ian didn’t even acknowledge Rory at all so I was thinking, “Maybe he didn’t hear Rory, but that is crap, I’m 20 feet away and I heard him!” Rory shrugged and just strolled away and many a jaw dropped in silence around that area of the range after witnessing a Royal diss’ing.

Note to Poulter: Ian – Sure, there is a lot of pressure for your attention, but don’t be a Doosh! Be nice to your buddies. And if you would like some help getting your IJP clothing line out of the flat sales doldrums (especially your abysmal non-existent web sales) invite me to play Lake Nona this winter and I’ll school you in online retail (where Loudmouth is a PowerHouse) while you school me in the art of the up and down …

The Open is just days away, so we thought we would give you a preview of the actual Ashworth script that will be worn by 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose. So far this year, we have personally seen all three Major Championship Ashworth scripts (one of which you can win here). For the Open, Ashworth again shows why they are one of the premier golf apparel companies.

All four shirts are fairly traditional but with nice details that set them apart from your basic off the rack polo. Specifically, Ashworth has added four button plackets, breast pockets, and button down collars in various combinations that give the polos a certain level of distinction and class.

Addtionally, Ashworth has done a nice job with color. While 3 of the shirts are mostly solid in color, the Performance EZ-SOF Blocked Golf Shirt features wide stripes across the chest. My only complaint is that the pattern is only on the front of the shirt as I prefer when it wraps around.

The EZ-SOF Cut and Sew Golf Shirt uses a smaller striped pattern, but still manages to give the illusion of a wider chest, which for slimmer guys is a welcomed feature. Note that the pattern on this polo is also on the back of the shirt.

While the remaining two polos are solid in color, I dig the addition of a breast pocket. Even though they are basically functionally useless outside of stashing the $5 bill you took from your buddy, they act as a splash of style.

The only downside of course is that we will likely never see any of these polos on TV, as temperatures and weather are rarely “ideal” for the Open. Still, my hat’s off to Ashworth for another great script for a major championship.

You can visit Ashworth on the web here.

Chances are in any of your last couple of rounds of golf you’ve encountered someone using their mobile device to obtain some sort information to help them through the round. In this modern era of golf that we are in there seems to be a new “must have” phone app every week.

In order to be competitive in this market there are certain standards that have to be met. The software has to be user friendly, visually enticing, affordable and most of all it has to work.

Mobitee’s Mobile Golf Assistant is one of the newer apps on the market that fits the bill.

As far as an on course GPS tool the Mobitee app is outstanding. Courses take no time to download and in a manner of minutes you have a very nice aerial view of the hole you’re playing.

A white line that stretched from the tee to the green will give you the yardage of the hole and a simple touch and drag will allow you to obtain the distance to a specific spot. For an example in the picture below we have an ariel of the 1st hole from The Revere Concord course in Henderson. You can see that a 250 yard tee shot will leave you an approach shot of 107 yards. You can drag the circle all over the screen gauging distances to the bunkers, water hazards or if you play the hole backwards like I try to do you can determine the length needed off the tee to reach a more comfortable approach shot.

You can also update the clubs you use and change the distances you hit them, which is a handy feature because the app will then auto select a club for you based on your yardage to the center of the green.

There is also a club tracking feature within the Mobitee app. I tried it out a few times and it works pretty well. I spend so much time at the range I have a real good grasp on my distances so this is one of the features I won’t be utilizing, but it’s a great feature that is included in the app. Even better about this part of the app is later on you can review the shots you tracked based on the club. Here is an example of a 5iron I hit from the tee.

I have to admit, I wasn’t a big fan of the club tracking feature and it was mainly in part to a few other apps that I have used that just failed miserably in this department. But, as I’ve used the Mobitee more I’m really starting to get a feel for the how it works and how you can utilize to asses how well you maintaining your distances under different circumstances.

In an attempt to make this your one and only electronic device for the round Mobitee also offers a scoring feature and they did something unique, they made two versions of the scoring section within the app. If you just want to track your score and your putts there is an “easy” version that does just that. If you’re like me though and want to have some more statistical information about your round you’ll want to give the “expert” version a try. Unlike any other scoring app I’ve used this one took a little getting used to but once I got the hang of it putting in my scores was quite simple.

For $24.99 you’ll receive an aerial image of each hole (provided by google) you play, a GPS yardage indicator you can use to calculate distance to and from the green, a shot tracker where you can track the distances for each club and a score card that will configure your handicap.  All of that conveniently located within your smart phone. Not a bad deal. There not annual fees or updates that will cost you any additional funds and with Facebook integration sharing your scores is simple and fun.

Tired at looking at all those ads from the free GPS apps? Then give mobitee a try and I’m sure you’ll find that for $24.99 you’re getting a lot of tools at a reasonable price.

Mobitee Website is here.

Training aids over the past several years have become increasingly interesting to say the least. Thanks most in part to this little thing called technology. Being the gadget guru that I am, or more realistically – a technology junkie, I was thrilled when I found out that I was going to be the lucky one who got to review the two training aids from 3Bays; the GSA Pro and the GSA Putt.

As much as I would like to go to one of the few places in town that has a legit launch monitor, the truth is that those facilities are intended for club-fittings, not for the guy who is looking for some helpful information. I could literally spend hours inside a fitting stall, hitting ball after ball, reviewing my stats. But no one will let me!

With the GSA Pro from 3Bays you’ll no longer need to “pretend” that you’re interested in a new club at the golf store just to get some time on a launch monitor, they’ve taken technology and gadgetry to a new level. And in doing so, they’ve brought the fitting stall to you.

The GSA Pro is a small lightweight device (weighing only 9.8g) that easily fits into the end of your club and records the data from your swing.

Using an advanced 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope sensors the GSA Pro digitizes your swing motion, creating 10,000 data points, which may vary depending on clubhead speed. Within the tiny capsule the information gathered is then sent via Bluetooth to your smart phone or tablet (iOS or Android) and the results of the swings are displayed brilliantly on your device.

The amount of information that is recorded is outstanding, here’s a rundown.

Consistency, Club Head Speed, Tempo (up:down), Impact Force, Backswing Time, Ball Speed, Downswing Time, Carry Distance, Face Angle and Swing Path.

Along with all of the information above you also get an animated view of the path the club head traveled. Making that feature even more usable is the ability to switch from a face on view to a down the line view. The slider feature for the animation playback is very handy; you can slow the swing down, back it up or stop it at any point.

Pairing the phone to your device is a breeze and takes just a few minutes. Once the unit is paired and you’re ready to take a swing, that’s all you have to do, take a swing.  The GSA Pro takes Care of everything else and in less than 5 seconds the information is ready for review on your device.

What makes the GSA Pro an even more effective training aid is the “Best Swing” feature. You can select any one of the swings you have made and label it “Best Swing”. GSA Pro then compares all the other swings you have made to your best swings and gives you a consistency percentage. The comparison is shown in two contrasting color paths in the animation which makes the analysis very simple.

The GSA Pro also allows the tracking of different clubs. You can switch from your driver to an iron or a wedge and the GSA Pro will keep all the stats for each individual club you choose. That makes the review of a specific club or your progress with that club very simple. The information is stored by the date of the swings, and going to any specific swing on any certain day is easily done.

Like most training tools there is a reason why you use it, and what I have determined over the past couple of weeks while testing the GSA Pro is that it’s all about consistency and who doesn’t want a more consistent swing, right?

A new feature that 3Bays recently added with their latest update was the ability to record live video. Big deal, right . . . well actually it is! What makes their version so unique is how they have paired the video with the swing data. Just set up your device to record like you would any other video recording app, select the auto record button and begin your session. After you’re finished you can go back and look at anyone of the swings just like you normally would but now there is a play button as well. Tap the button and the player opens up where you can view the video of that swing. Not having to fast forward through multiple swings to get to a specific one is brilliant.

This upgrade was a suprise and I’m glad they have included it. With all the information the GSA Pro provides now having the ability to record video and see the data is remarkable.

I can’t say that I’d recommend this device for someone just picking up the game, there is a ton of information and it might be an overload for someone not familiar with the golf swing. But, for someone like myself who just reached a 15hdcp, I love how I can review each swing, see where those swings compare to my best swing I have saved and build on developing a more consistent stroke.

Obviously, the full swing is just one part of the golf game which is why the sister product, GSA Putt, is the logical extension to GSA Pro. Utilizing the same technology and interface, GSA Putt,  gives players all of the critical data to understand and improve their putting stroke. To me, this really sets 3 Bays apart from the competitors as it allows them to offer a comprehensive analysis package.

Just like the GSA Pro the GSA Putt fits tightly into the butt end of your putter and is virtually invisible, in fact everything about the GSA Putt is a carbon copy. The difference is the information it provides. Here’s what you’ll get

Consistency, Tempo, Face Angle, Attack Angle, Downswing, Backswing, Impact Speed and a very useful chart that displays the swing path distance on the back swing and the follow through – now that’s a ton of information for a putt.

The GSA Putt also has the same animation that you’ll find on the GSA Pro. With the GSA Putt the animation includes a face on view that shows your attack angle and a view from the top looking down at the putter. Both viewpoints show the current club path and if saved you can view your best swing at the same time.

I spent two night hitting putts on my home putting green using the GSA Putt. I recorded over 200 swings and after those two sessions my consistency percentage is at 92%. That’s miles better than where I started . . . after day one I was in the lower 70% range. Not a very good number. The next day I looked over all the putts from the previous session and determined that my tempo and my face angle at impact were my main problem areas.

That information led to an excellent session on day two and by the end of the night I was hitting putts consistently in the 95% range.

A few days later I played a round and my putting that day was by far the best aspect of my game. Thirty putts for the round and everything was on target. I knew that the time I put in developing a consistent swing had paid off and I have the GSA Putt to thank.

Being able to see that my face angle was the most inconsistent facet of my stroke was an eye opener and really got me focused on fixing the problem.

Consistency is the word of the day when it comes to 3Bays and their GSA Pro and GSA Putt. A good swing is great thing but a consistent great swing is a game changer.

The GSA Pro and GSA Putt retail for $199 each and can be purchased from their site. The apps are a free download and can be found in the Apple App Store and the Android Market.

I bet you never saw this coming – golf attire for children. And no we’re not talking about a goofy seasonal thing. . . Fore!! by Axel and Hudson is a golf clothing line designed specifically for kids (including infants) by Paul Nguyen, a self-described golf addict who started his career designing children’s clothing for some of the larger companies. As the story goes, Paul had two kids of his own and was suddenly inspired to create his own line, apparently frustrated by his kids’ lack of fashion badassery when it comes to golf. As far as overall vibe goes, the website urges us to “think country club meets California cool”. The company also strives to be an eco-friendly brand, crafting most pieces from ultra-soft and sustainable bamboo/spandex. So they’ve got that going for them . . . which is nice.

With a young son just turning 3, I couldn’t resist landing some duds for the little one (or maybe it was my wife that pulled the trigger). I’ve never been one to think that my meatball son was in dire need of official golf clothes, but he does like to knock the ball around our backyard, so why not look good doing it?  (Again, maybe my wife said that.)

Fore!! was cool enough to let us pick out a shirt and pair of shorts for the knucklehead, and it doesn’t take long on the website to notice that they make some good looking clothes. We went with a classic green-stripe polo shirt and some money blue plaid shorts, thinking they had enough country club in them to have our kid looking better than par, but not so much that he would be in danger of getting beaten up at the swingset.

So to the backyard we go . . .

Fore!! passed the first test, as my son was actually willing to try the suckers on, which is not always a given. I’m sure all parents are familiar with this random selection process that 2-3 year olds like to employ, and while it is primarily a source of frustration, I must admit to a few subtle fist pumps when he turned down the seersucker overalls the mother-in-law presented to him on Easter. But I digress – Fore!! got the nod, and the kid was looking good.

Several details confirm that Fore!! is not messing around. The polo shirt has cuffs and placket that contrast the pattern of the shirt, giving a cool modern look to an overall timeless shirt. Buttons have a bamboo look and feel (probably made out of actual bamboo), contributing to the high-end vibe in a subtle way. The shorts are in the same boat: well-crafted with cool cuffs on the bottom, clean white stitching throughout, and even some sturdy little pockets – perfect for my kid to hide a cookie in so he can ask for another.

Also, the shorts have an expandable waistline to accommodate the inevitable growth of toddlers, which is a somewhat common feature in high-end clothing that is valuable enough to deserve props no matter what. And finally, it’s worth noting that all the Fore!! designs just look better than what you would find in a bargain spot, the same way a Banana Republic shirt just looks better than it’s copycat at Kohl’s. I’ve never quite understood it, because a better plaid with better colors shouldn’t cost any more to actually make, but for some reason only the pros can get it done.

One aspect of this adventure that I did not see coming: my wife and I described this outfit as “golf clothes”, and my kid ate it up. So now if we want him to look good for a Sunday brunch or whatever high-fallutin’ affair we get involved in, it’s no trouble to persuade the munchkin to don his best outfit. The only downside is when we pull back into the garage and he realizes he’s been bamboozled, at which time it’s on to the backyard yet again to smash the pill around.

I absolutely nutted that.

So here’s the scoop – if you don’t see paying $40.00 or more for a toddler’s shirt in your near future, then you’ll have to let Fore!! play through. Our household is full of hand-me-downs, so I am not an expert in this arena, but I have to believe that there are plenty of folks out there who are shelling out big bucks for their kids to look good, and as long as they’re not stealing my parking spots, more power to them. And shoot, maybe I’m out of touch and $40.00 for your kid to have some legit threads is no big deal. The bottom line is, Fore!! by Axel and Hudson is a solid bang-for-buck transaction: the clothes are well made and stand out as handsome and cool.

You can check out Fore!! by Axel and Hudson on their website.

Royal and Awesome – For the pars and the bars! What is NOT to like about this company?? They had me at their tagline….

Royal and Awesome is one of Scotland’s newest and brightest golf clothing brand. The company was launched last April and is making great strides in both the UK and North America. The clothing is not for the faint of heart – it is bright, bold, and definitely a fashion statement! We gals here at Three Guys Golf love everything about Royal and Awesome.

I recently wore the Women’s Old Tom’s Shorts with the blue Awesome shirt. The shorts are 97% cotton and 3% spandex and they fit great. The length is perfect and they were very comfortable on an extremely hot Georgia day. The attention to detail on these shorts need not be overlooked – all Royal and Awesome pants/shorts have tee holders above the right pocket. Big deal you say? Did I mention that all pants/shorts also come with a multi-purpose tool? Yes, thats right. Not only can you repair your divot and mark your ball, you can also open your beer with this cute multitasking gizmo. Again ladies, for the pars AND the bars.

To complete my Royal and Awesome ensemble, I also wore the Awesome white belt. This is a one size fits all deal so there is no second guessing on your order. I just cut the belt to fit my waist and off I went. (Even a man could do it – it’s just that simple.) This belt will go with many of my golf outfits, and it will definitely ramp up the awesomeness of whatever I wear.

My golf partner Susan also likes to look Royal and Awesome when she is out for the pars (or the bars for that matter). Susan wore what might be the BEST looking pair of women’s golf pants that I have ever seen. Jealous much? No, because I went out and ordered the same pants, so I’m good. Anywho, the Women’s Pink Ticket pants are honestly so awesome that you could wear these when you are not on the course.

What Susan absolutely loved about them was the stride. She swore that these Awesome pink pants have the perfect fit in that they are not too long or short in the mid section and that the waist and seat of the pants didn’t stretch while she played. Her Pink Ticket pants also have the tee holders and came with the beer opener, I mean golf tool. Susan paired her new favorite pair of pants with the Royal and Awesome white shirt and she looked annoyingly awesome.

As far as pricing goes, we found that Royal and Awesome is very fair. The Pink Ticket pants are $85 and the Old Tom’s shorts are $65 and included free delivery. Both washed well, as did the shirts. The quality is good and the awesomeness is better!

Check out their website to see all the Royal and Awesome clothes.

NOTICE: If you use a ball marker that snaps onto your glove or a plastic divot repair tool that says “Joe’s Body Shop”, it is time to upgrade your golf accessories. Not to fear, Three Guys Golf has scoured the Internet and found five unique divot repair tools and two hand made ball markers that are guaranteed to shave 5 strokes off of your game, stop that receding hair line and make you the envy of your foursome. Well, maybe just the last part, but you get the idea.

THE GENTLEMAN’S VICE MULIT-TOOL

If you’re looking to WOW someone with a divot tool that will not only take care of those divots but also has the cigar aficionado at heart, you’re going to love the Gentleman’s Vice. With its retractable divot repairer one thing you’ll never worry about is getting a surprise jab in the leg from this tool. Light weight for its size and very ergonomic, the Gentleman’s Vice takes care of divots with ease. And with the restricted depth the GV provides, you won’t be “that guy” that does more harm than good to the greens.

On the pocket clip the Gentleman’s Vice has a cleverly placed spot for a personalized ball marker that is magnetic and quickly accessible.

You’ll notice on the top of the Gentleman’s Vice there is a “half-moon” cutout that serves two purposes. The first is a quick and easy club holder when you playing in wet conditions and the other is a holder for your cigar to keep it off the grass as well.

I love a good cigar on the course and I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been handed one and I’m without a cutter. I’m not old school, I prefer my cigars cut. With the Gentleman’s Vice the added feature of a spring loaded guillotine cutter make enjoying a cigar that much easier. The blades are super sharp and lock in nicely when not in use.

The five features; divot tool, cigar cutter, cigar holder, club holder and ball marker make this an great choice for a yourself if you like partaking in the occasional smoke, or even better, a Birthday gift for the special someone that plays and enjoys a good cigar.

Personalized engraving is available. The Gentleman’s Vice come in two different metal variants and a multitude of colors and sell from $19.95 to $29.95

Visit Gentleman’ Service  for more details

LIFE IS ROSEY BALL MARKER

To some a ball marker can be the magical element to a successful round. Don’t think so, I beg to differ. I carried the quarter I used as a ball marker with me for months after I broke 90 for the first time. Others find a stick or a penny or one of those cheap neon see-through plastic things as a suitable marker (don’t be that guy). Look, if you can spend $3.00 on a golf ball, why not give it the respect of marking it with something classy.

Life Is Rosey is the handwork of Sarah Jane Nelson and she has a great little product with her sterling silver ball marker.

All of Sarah’s work is handcrafted using sterling silver, copper, bronze and gold. Sarah custom hand stamps each piece with names, phrases and meaningful words that inspire. Her dedication to her craft shines through in not only the sterling silver ball marker but in the craft and care that goes into each piece from packaging to a hand written personal letter that came included with our marker.

The marker is very lightweight and looks fantastic when it’s sitting on the green awaiting your ball. The custom stamped Three Guys Golf text came out great and looks again like a piece of art more than a ball marker thanks to the hammered effect you can select.

You’ll also receive a polishing cloth along with a leather carrying case for the marker. Those two added touches show just how much care and heart goes into each piece that Sarah makes.

Whether you’re looking to add that perfect piece to make a magical round or you’re looking for the perfect gift, be it for a birthday or a wedding party, the Life Is Rosey ball marker will be an excellent choice.

The Life is Rosey ball makers sell for $48.00 plus S&H. You can view all the different variations and other products that Sarah offers on her site at Life Is Rosey

WOOD U LIKE ENGRAVED BALL MARKER & DIVOT TOOL

Who said a ball marker has to be round? Not Wood U Like that’s for sure. At first glance you would never realize that this is more than just a divot tool. The sharp lines and aggressive look had me excited to put this in my hands for the first time. Yes, I said excited about a divot tool. It wasn’t until I was feeling all those harsh lines that I realized that the plate the logo was engraved on was actually a ball marker too.

This is certainly not your Grandfather’s divot tool; it fits tightly in your hand so well that you might be more inclined to take out your playing partner in an assassin type move than repair a silly divot. OK, I went too far, but if you don’t somehow feel like a Ninja when you hold this bad boy in your hand your inner child has died.

The ball marker is a fantastic feature on this divot tool. It’s available in wood or metal and you can even get your logo or a name, hint hint, of that special someone in your life engraved for no extra charge (up to 7 characters).

With a unique look, feel, and some creative packaging to go with it, the Wood U Like ball marker and divot tool would make a great gift or stylish choice for someone looking to make a statement about their game when it doesn’t involve hitting a golf ball.

The version we received sells for $24.99

You can see this divot tool and many other wonderful items that Tim Earling offers at Wood U Like. 

EXOTIC WOOD DIVOT TOOL

One of the things that makes golf so unique is its relationship with nature. No two courses are the same and are in a constant state of change as they are inherently married to the ground, grass, trees, wind and water. This notion is at the heart of Bob DeFont’s Exotic Wood Divot Tools. Hand made with no two exactly the same, these simple yet stunning repair tools are perfect for not the job at hand with a warm subtlety.

We received a hand crafted divot tool made from Bubinga which is often referred to as “African Rosewood” The wood showcases gorgeous grain patterns and a myriad of reddish brown tones with purple veining.

Lightweight and very sturdy you’ll be making a statement when you pull this divot tool out of your pocket. With laser engraving of a company or club logo and also the choice to add custom engraved initials to the divot tool makes adding a personal touch to the divot tool very simple.

Starting at $24.00 and going up based on customization this divot tool is a wonderful gift idea for the player that likes to show off more than just their golf game.

You can see this along with all the other styles and wood choices at Mr. DeFonts website: Exotic Wood Divot Tools

J LYNN CREATIONS BALL MARKER

Crafted from Sterling Silver, then hammered and given a brushed finish, these ball markers from J Lynn Creations make not only a perfect gift for the golfer in your life but the perfect gift for yourself if you’re looking to stand out from the crowd a make a statement as you mark your ball.

For $24.00 you receive two (one to keep one to share) sterling silver ball markers that will be hand stamped with whatever you choose. You can see from our Three Guys marker the quality of the stamping is top notch and the hammered effect is a classy touch that gives it that rugged manly look.

Visit J Lynncreations to see all the products she offers. This specific item can be purchased here.

METAL PRESSIONS DIVOT TOOL

Despite the standard shape, the Metal Pressions Divot tool is far from standard. As they say, “the secret is in the sauce”. Utilizing various metals, Elisha Argentinis crafts her wares with everything from copper to solid gold.

Ranging from the $3,500 14K solid Golf divot tool to the $99.99 Sterling Silver and the $29.99 Copper version Metal Pressions makes a divot repair tool for every budget.

Fully customizable to fit a large variety of text and in several different fonts these divot tools make not only a statement with the metals they are made of but also the effectiveness of how well they perform at their intended purpose, fixing divots.

You can visit Metal Pressions to see all the personalized jewelry that is offered and more. This item can be purchased here.

SAWDUST MARKET TITANIUM DIVOT TOOL

That’s right, Titanium. At 40% lighter than steel you’ll hardly know that this divot tool is resting in your pocket as you make your way around the course.

What makes this divot tool stand out from other is the unique characteristics it obtains from getting blasted by a welding torch. That process makes each tool so unique in that no two are alike.

The colors are magnificent and it looks more like an art piece than a tool you would use to repair a green. Don’t think that the look hampers its function though, as far as divot tools go this Titanium masterpiece is just as function at repairing divots as the top tools on the market.

At $7.00 plus shipping and handling you can afford to give these to friends and clients and still have enough left over to keep one for yourself.  A personal favorite of mine, I will have this in my bag for many years to come and because it is made of titanium I know it will be just as strong years into the future.

You can see all the products that the Sawdust Market has to offer on their website: Sawdust Market

That’s the list. You now have no excuse to not carry a cool looking, hand crafted divot repair and ball marker!

Over the past few years, the fledgling wedge company, Scor Golf, has been racking up awards from major publications like Golf Digest and Golf Magazine so my expectations were pretty high. For me, the short game is a really important part of my game. I have been really pleased with a number of boutique wedges I have reviewed thus far, so I was very interested to see how the Scor system stacked up. Note, when I say “system” it is because Scor is more than wedges, it is a fitting process and short game methodology.

Prior to receiving the wedges I went through Scor’s online survey where I answered a short questionnaire that included my current irons and wedges, shafts, distances, greens in regulation, number of chips/pitches per round and common misses. From that information, SCOR, sent me their solution to replace my 9-iron through my L wedge. Because they offer 20 different lofts (41 degrees thru 61 degree), the solution Scor suggested was tailored to my specific game in terms of loft, shaft and length. Specifically, they sent this recommendation:

Your Scoring Club Prescription
Hand: Right Hand/RH
Lofts: 43° 47° 51° 55° 59°
Shaft: GENIUS® 12
Flex: Firm + Flex

They also recommend a four club scoring prescription, but I opted for the full five club solution.

Their manufacturing process is quick and streamlined and my set arrived in NC within a few days after placing the order. When I opened up this box, besides the gleaming wedges, I was also greeted with a bag-tag to use as a reminder for my yardages, a divot tool, and a written introduction on how to work with their system to improve my short game. This included conversation about how to develop a more consistent short game swing, using less hands and more body and ways to open the face to create different yardages with the same length of swing (to cover more possible on-course scenarios). I had seen a very similar system described by Dave Pelz and Tom Kite so this philosophy was very familiar to me. Now, two months later, I can say that I am really impressed with the Scor wedges and the increased comfort they provide to my game.

They are easier to hit than other top wedges we’ve tried:

• The look of a blade may be intimidating to some, but the secret is in the grind of the sole of the club. The V-grind makes it much less likely that you will chunk the club around the green or in the sand. The key is in the way the clubs are designed where mishits have been proven to be more accurate than other leading wedges, particularly the common mis-hit on the wedge where the ball is hit higher on the face.
• The wedges have a tiny bit of a rounded leading edge that slides under the ball and makes it really easy to get the ball off the thinnest lies. A little work with these and you will see what a huge confidence boost this is.
• Shots out of the sand or out of the rough were simply easier. As a matter of fact, the V-sole allows you to take a square stance out of the sand, and most rough. You don’t even have to learn to open the face and swing across the shot like most people teach, if you’re not comfortable with that. I was able to stand square and simply pull a more lofted club for a shorter sand shot, or a less-lofted club for a longer shot, and put it right up by the pin.

The consistency of the design of 5 scoring clubs makes scoring easier than ever:

• I constantly found my practice going like this…I would look at the shot I needed to hit, and pick one of the 5 wedges that seemed like it would go that distance with a chip swing, or half swing. I would hit the shot, and if I had misjudged, I would pull the next club from the set, and 9 times out of 10, it was right on target. The more I’ve worked with the clubs, the better I have judged which clubs to pull with the swing I am most comfortable with.
• Full swings on approach shots were no different. Some work at the range with the yardage I was hitting my clubs on a given day meant that I could pull a yardage within a couple of yards all the way from 50 to 130 with very little, if any change in my swing.
• The consistent weights and consistent shaft flex with their Genius shafts (matched to each wedge) make the feel remarkably similar between clubs. As I mentioned, I’ve been able to try some other top wedges and have had a good bit of success around the greens with them, but these are more confidence-inducing than any I’ve tried with their design features and consistency of feel throughout the set. These shafts are weighted and have a tip flex that benefits the full swing as well as the chip or pitch swing. Most wedges are not designed with shafts that work this way through the scoring clubs, as the 9 and wedge are often a different weight and stiffness from most other wedges in the average golfers set.

Other things to note:

• The soft Lamkin grips give great feel, and are similar to the Lamkin crosslines I used for years. They are marked with dots that allow you to choke down to a specific point to again, use the same swing for different yardages. Keep track of these yardages with the included bag-tag.
• The face of each wedge has this unique fingerprint-like pattern that shows up with a little bit of dirt on the face, and in my opinion, helps to grip the ball better for more stopping power on chips.
• Most golfers aren’t aware of how much short game improvement will drop their scores faster than anything else. These clubs are a no-brainer to get your handicap down within a very short period of time, if you’ll just put in a little practice time.

Bottom line:
I’m more impressed than I was before, and I was plenty impressed before I used a whole set of 5 wedges. I am taking more dead aim at the flag than I ever have, and I’m being pleasantly rewarded swing after swing with these clubs.

You can learn more about Scor Golf and their fitting system on their website.

I discovered G Belts a few months ago when they popped up on my Instagram feed. Now, you would think there are only so many ways to photograph a belt buckle, but company founder Roderick McDaniel’s clever product placement defies commonality. Being a huge belt buckle fan (especially of huge belt buckles), I reached out to see if we could do a review of the early prototypes. 3 days later, voila,  G Belt in the mailbox.

I have about 6 belts in the stable, so for a new one to “crack the starting lineup” it has to really stand out. Quite simply, a belt is made up of two parts, the strap and the buckle. Each one is equally important to the overall look and feel but too often the strap does not get enough attention.

Beyond color and texture, the strap is critical as it must hold up for years without showing wear (other than nice aging). Too often straps are flimsy and thin. Fortunately, the strap that comes with the G Belt is 100% genuine leather and super wide, 1.75 inches to be exact. This makes the G Belt a perfect choice for pants or shorts that have really wide loops.

On to the main dish – the buckle. Big, bold and brash and just like it should be. Believe it or not, I spent two weeks trying to figure out what the “G” stood for before I broke down and asked Roderick. “Golf” that is what the “G” stands for – duh.

I felt like a complete moron until I realized no one else who I asked ever thought to say “Golf” either. Honestly, I am glad no one guessed “golf” because that is just too obvious. Anyhow, the font is great and the brushed metal allows it to stand out without being over bearing.

G Belts come in three versions, Sport ($80.00), Hybrid ($100.00) and Limited Edition ($150.00) with the difference between each being the leather quality. Personally, I received the Hybrid which is made from 100% cowhide leather. The Sport is also leather but I assume a slightly lesser quality.

Conversely, the Limited Edition is made from premium Italian Mammoth leather. Again, because a great belt should last 10 years at least, the leather is really critical.

Additionally, you can buy colored straps that come in 8 varieties so you can mix and match with the same buckle. G Belts can be purchased on their website. I would also recommend following the G Belt Instagram feed.

For whatever reason, I have never really been a Callaway guy, but because I am a social media nut, I have recently found myself paying more attention than ever to the brand. Primarily my increased awareness is due to the fact that Callaway is very active and effective on Twitter. For example, take a peak and you will see many of the top Callaway brass like Chad Coleman and Harry Arnett tweeting regularly in a very conversational manner (something most big companies do very poorly).

While the lion share of Callaway media revolves around their equipment, it appears as though Callaway is making a concerted effort to shine a brighter light on the apparel side of the business.

Like most big golf companies, the Callaway apparel is fairly traditional, although there are hints of trendy touches like contrasting collars and plackets. Historically, big companies rarely draw too far outside the lines when it comes to fashion; a decision that is probably wise since about 90% of golfers prefer traditional colors and styling, with purchasing decisions based primarily on the fit and price.

For our review we personally looked at two polos and two pairs of shorts. First off, we noticed the shirts run a touch big, nearly a whole size in our opinion. Specifically, Matt (pictured below) was much better suited to wear the medium polos than I was (he typically wears a large while I am a medium).

When you think of Callaway apparel, the names Ernie Els and Phil Mickleson bubble to the top. Both men, while never being accused of being fashion trendsetters, always look sharp and well put together. This is basically where I think the Callaway sweet spot is. Put another way, traditional golf attire with hints of hip.

The two polos we saw were the Simon Polo and Victor Polo. Again, both ran a size big but we were particularly impressed with the Viktor as we dug the offset color on the collar, placket and arm as well as the button down collar. This is a performance blend so it makes for a great choice in warmer temperatures.

The Simon Polo, while also 100% polyester, had a thicker look and feel than most. In fact it looks almost cottonish. Typically, I am not a huge fan of shirts that have contrasting colors on either side, but Callaway pulls it off aided by details like the chest pocket.

We also checked out the Torrell Tech Shorts and the Mikel Tech Shorts. Both had very similar cuts which I would describe as country club conservative with knee-length hems and wide legs. I did particularly like the Torrell houndstooth as a pattern that can add a touch of style when paired with a solid polo. The Mikel come in a solid grey which is obviously a bonus as you can pretty much wear them with any shirt on the planet.

Overall, we thought the Callaway line did a nice job of providing reasonably priced apparel that has the designer look. Interestingly, the Callaway website does not carry much of the apparel but from what I understand, they will be relaunching a whole new apparel e-commerce site later this year. Not to worry, you can find them in big box stores and lots of retail websites. Most of the polos run in the mid $30s and the shorts about $60. Pretty good bang for the buck in our opinion.

You can visit the Callaway website here.