The Basics:

National Golf Club is a golf community that offers homes, club memberships, and “a relaxed and easy lifestyle with diverse amenities and member activities”.  The amenities include a swimming pool, tennis courts, conference facilities, a ballroom, and most importantly, a golf course. A Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, for that matter, and the only one in the immediate Pinehurst area. National is located right in The Village of Pinehurst and offers 4 tee boxes ranging from 5,378 yards to 7,122 yards. The course is semi-private, and rack rates for the public range from $175.00 in the off-season to $200.00 in primetime. If you just choked on your beverage – this is higher than average for Pinehurst, but not by much.

The Vibe:

Well it’s a Jack Nicklaus course, so we know we’re not rolling up to a goat track. That being said, National Golf Club definitely has the feel of an actual “club” and not just a course. As you approach the clubhouse you see the tennis courts and pool off to the side, as well as some other buildings that probably have some really cool stuff going on that I don’t even know about. The clubhouse itself is enormous, and we were immediately greeted by a receptionist in the lobby when we walked in. In other words, this place is the real deal and that’s the initial vibe you get. You would think the receptionist would be for a real estate sales office or something specific, but she also seemed to serve as an overall concierge-type representative, just making sure everything is copacetic for their members and guests.

When it’s time to get in the cart and head to the range, you know you are in the epicenter of a cool course. You can see one or two tee boxes, the 9th and 18th fairways coming back towards the clubhouse, the driving range across the way, and the chipping green beyond that. There’s plenty of space, but that is not the overriding thought at first glance – it’s more that the facilities are well-maintained, the landscaping is top notch, and the course looks glorious. Fairways are lush enough to show the dark green/light green mowing stripes, which is about all it takes to get THIS GUY pumped to play some golf.

On to the vibe of the actual course itself – and this is where it gets weird. Somehow the National has struck the perfect balance between being challenging and playable at the same time. There are no holes that look easy, and on the first tee you feel pretty sure that you are about to have a rough ride if you bring out anything less than your best ball-striking. No tee shot on the course looks so wide and vast that you feel like you can bomb away with no fear, and most approach shots find a way to make you feel like a badass if you drop it on the green. But ultimately, the course is eminently playable. I never lost a ball – that’s evidence.

It’s almost like the course will play to your level . . . if you just want to knock the ball around and not embarrass yourself, no problem, each hole can accommodate a slightly squirrely tee shot and your approach to the green is always fair. If you want to flex your A game, however, the National is up to the challenge simply because there is a next level you can pay attention to, and that is the greens. National’s greens have huge undulations in them, more often than not creating tiers that will decide whether or not a birdie is in the realm of possibility. If you want to go low, you have to respect this aspect of the course . . . get sloppy and leave yourself on the wrong tier and you will now be grinding -hard- for a two-putt par. And of course, in order to be precise with your approach, a lot more considerations come into the tee shot as well.

The Driving Range and Putting Green:

The driving range is great – certainly large enough to allow you to swing away and the balls are all new and in good shape. What’s most noticeable about the driving range (besides the big buckets filled with sweet, sweet range balls), is the large number of different flags dotting the terrain, allowing you to hit a number of different clubs to an actual flag. A sign in the middle of the teebox row lists the daily yardages to each flag, which sounds ho-hum, but given the fact that like 1 out of 20 courses are able to provide this no-brainer luxury, the National range earns high marks for it. There is a separate chipping and pitching green off one end of the range, and it provides plenty of landing space as well as well-maintained turf to chip from. Same basic idea at the putting green, which is located closer to the clubhouse and behind the first tee – there is plenty of green to work with and plenty of different looks at holes.

Greens:

Fantastic. The greens are in perfect shape – they look great and roll true. Several greens jutt out into water, and these areas are bordered with a very appealing stone wall, giving the course that “extra-touch-of-class” edge. One thing we noticed throughout the round was that the greens were a bit slower than we expected, especially since we generally associate fast greens with great courses and these greens were in such good condition that it was hard to grasp that they weren’t super-fast. I have to say that we kinda figured out the reason for this on our own, but really it took until we asked the Pro for us to nail the answer – the undulations! If the greens were any faster, they would be way too difficult, as so many putts are navigating ridges and tiers. In other words, the greens are the speed they are by design, which hints at the kind of effort that goes into creating a positive golf experience at National.

Another note about the greens that speaks more to layout – there are so many holes at the National where the green looks flat-out glorious from where you stand in the fairway. This seems to be a bigger deal to me than most folks, but I do not enjoy when a green is just at the same level as your feet and you just see the flag coming up from the grass. This is never the case at National Golf Club – each approach shot has a nicely framed green (whether it be by water, rocks, etc.) that calls on you to dial in a nasty wedge shot . . . if you execute, you feel like you just posterized  your game. Jeez I hope that makes sense.

And lastly, yes, there are huge undulations in these greens. Nobody in our group was really firing at pins on this day, and as a result we had a lot of “please don’t be awful” putts; less excited about the prospect of draining it than we were just hoping to stay within two-putt range. We carded two birdies on the day, one was a short putt after a stuffed iron and one was an absolute prayer that rode a ridge just right. If you are on the right tier, you can stroke it into the hole like anywhere else, but if you aren’t on the right level of the green, you’re not even thinking about making the putt.

To that end, I should note that National’s yardage system is deadly accurate to accommodate those looking to go low: you are given a pin sheet with exact yardages from the front of the green to that day’s pin placement. So the marker on the fairway tells you how many yards to the front, center, and back of the green, and then for the sharpshooters, you can look at the pin-sheet and get an exact reading.  Again, if you want to be a player, National is up for the task.

The Fairways:

Good stuff, including the mowing stripes I mentioned earlier. We played in mid-May, so my impression is that fairways were at about 85%, and they still qualified as lush. On most holes an errant tee shot would land you in the pines . . . the branches of National’s pines start pretty high up, so the real challenge was less about navigating trees from jail and more about making good contact in the pine needles. That was a bit harder than I expected at first, simply because there are spots where there is a LOT of pine straw under the ball, not the usual dusting with dirt below.

Fairways were set up fairly for tee shots, never so wide open that it seemed like cheating, but never unfairly punishing either. There were a few tee shots where you thought there was a tree or a waste bunker that was going to cause some trouble, but once you hit the ball, you realized that it wasn’t quite as in play as it looked. A cool concept, we thought, especially in comparison to the opposite phenomenon. Again, gives you the feeling of challenging but is ultimately playable.

The course utilizes waste bunkers at a decent clip – not on every hole, but they are out there. You are allowed to ground your club in these waste areas, and the Pro told us that for tournament setups they will actually use blue stakes to identify waste areas vs. normal bunkers, thereby eliminating any Dustin Johnson moments. Another well thought-out item at National.

The Sand:

The sand was consistent in all of the bunkers. The area had just gotten pummeled on and off by rain for about two weeks, so the sand was not fluffy but we felt that this was reasonable given the circumstances. This is speculation, of course, but I’ve got to believe that the sand is high-caliber under normal conditions, just given that it is a Nicklaus course and how in control of the facility they seem to be at National.

The Clubhouse:

Like most Pinehurst area courses, the clubhouse at National Golf Club is big. They have conference rooms and a formal restaurant upstairs (as well as a receptionist), and downstairs you’ll find the pro shop, locker rooms, and bar/restaurant. The pro shop is legit, with enough relevant clubs for sale that it does not appear they were just appeasing a formality. The bar area is large and very nice – there is a separate ice machine and drinking water faucet for golfers to use if they don’t want to wait for bar service – genius! The bar is big and surrounded by large glass windows that look out onto the course, and just outside is a huge patio with a stone fireplace, etc.

The Food:

I’ve always been a tough sell on golf course food (see Golf Course Hot Dogs), but I’ve noticed that Pinehurst is much like a ski resort in that the establishments simply do not mess around with shabby food. National lived up to this standard. Good burger, good BLT, steak fries(!), and a good selection on the menu. Bonus Item – if you buy a 6-pack of beers, they throw in a free sandwich! I think someone at National went all “Inception-like” and raided my dreams.

The Service:

I’ll spare you the details – top notch, top noottcch! And a pro that looks and acts the part.

The Verdict:

National Golf Club lived up to the hype in every sense. They are in complete control of their golf course and their facilities – the place brims with competence (yes, I said competence, not confidence). I would liken it to the old expensive neighborhood in town . . . sure, they’re building some new developments with brand new houses and pools’n’waterslides’n’walkingtrails on the outskirts of town, but there’s a reason the old country club ‘hood is still the king. They know how to get it done.

You can visit the National Golf Club website here.

When making a list of Golf Mecca’s a few places come to mind. Let’s see, Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas and a little town they call Scottsdale. For those of you who have not visited Scottsdale, think of it as the Beverly Hills of the Phoenix area with the crown jewel (at least in terms of golf) being TPC Scottsdale. It seems reasonable, then, that when Ping went looking for a name for their newest Anser putter, slapping the moniker ‘Scottsdale’ on it seemed to make sense.

Ping Scottsdale Anser 2 TR

Right Hand, 350g Head Weight

Ping took a different approach to their new line of putters – the Scottsdale TR series. TR stands for “True Roll” and that’s the outcome you’ll expect thanks to their new innovation called “Variable-Depth-Grove Technology”. Yes, I agree, TR is a much better term than VDGT. By varying the depth of the groove from the deepest in the center to shallow as you move out from the center area of the putter face, Ping has proven that the TR system provides a much more consistent distance control when hit flush in the center or just off center towards the heel or the toe, and since none of us strike every putt perfectly (not even the Pros), this is a new technology that I was eager to try.

To start, I used the Anser 2 on my putting green at home to get a feel for it and it didn’t take long before I was draining those 7 foot putts with relative ease. I was truly surprised at how well the putter felt in my hands. I’m not sure what it is about the Ping grip, maybe Tiger could clarify, but it felt like an extension of my hands as I was hitting my putts. Never before has a putter felt that good in my hands as I was using it.

The insert that Ping uses is made from Aluminum so you’ll get the typical “ping” sound the clubmaker is known for but not the high-pitch version from years past. The TR technology I think is here to stay, and just like Ping proclaims, the off-center putts don’t come up short at all. Deliberately making off-center putts is nothing that I wanted to practice but I had to bite the bullet for the review and I was literally stunned at the results. I nailed my distances all day long on all three courses. My lag putting was outstanding and watching the alignment line on my ball stay straight as can be and not wobble back and forth was neat to watch.

I put the Anser TR though a three round test and came away feeling like my putting was clearly the better part of my game. I was rolling the ball better than I ever had and my distance control was not only a big surprise to me but my playing partners as well. The solid feel of the putter in my hands and the remarkable roll and touch that I was able to put on the ball let me know that Ping certainly has a winner with the TR series and their variable-depth-grove technology.

You can see the whole line of Ping products on their website. 

At Three Guys Golf we love to search out new lines of golf apparel, but it is equally rewarding to rediscover brands that we have forgotten about. One such company who has recently stepped up their game is Ashworth Golf.

If you are not a regular viewer of the PGA you may have missed it, but this past year or so, Ashworth Golf has made a tremendous and triumphant return to the apparel segment of the golf industry.

After TaylorMade-Adidas acquired Ashworth back in October of 2008, the company has been on a steady climb to the top in the classic golf attire world. With their new 2013 spring line offering inspired designs and improved fit, Ashworth is again making name for themselves as a solid choice for players looking for a classic look with modern technology. Their new line not only fits fantastic but it is also amazingly comfortable.

Helping Ashworth’s increased popularity is the addition of pros like Fred Couples, Justin Rose, Sean O’Hair, Justin Leonard, Rory Sabbatini and Johnson Wagner. Beyond building out a solid team, Ashworth has also been creative with their marketing by releasing limited edition performance polos that carry the Fred Couples name.

You will note, Freddie’s signature is embroidered on the inside of the polo right under the tag, adding a touch of Boom-Boom class to the shirt. Looking closer, you will even find this particular shirt is only 1 of 300 – yeah, that’s pretty cool. Some might be prone to sealing it up and seeing what they could get for it a few years from now but not me. I plan on wearing it until the stitches come apart!

In addition to the new line of polos, Ashworth has extended their product line to include pants, shorts, sweaters, hats, visors, socks, belts and even shoes. The best part is it how all flows together seamlessly.

Ashworth is certainly doing its part to make sure everyone is aware that they are here to stay. Case in point: the new “The Pants Petition” which very cleverly shows off the brand. So if you have been out to lunch on the Ashworth revival, it’s time to take a fresh look.

You can see the whole line of Ashworth apparel on their website.

The fact is, it takes guts to jump into the golf ball market, but the guys behind I Need The Ball have moved their chips into the center of the table. Like many small companies, it started with loose talk amongst friends and the belief that a box of high performance golf balls shouldn’t cost more than a round of golf.

If I were to ask you to list the top putters on the market today, I would bet dollars to donuts you would mention the name Odyssey. For years Odyssey has been producing solid putters, but in 2013, the Odyssey Versa has become one of the hottest flat sticks around.

The Odyssey Versa line comes in many different configurations. Six that come in either black/white or white/black plus the “2 Ball” version that is available in white. That gives players seven unique styles to choose from (thirteen if you count the two color choices)! For our review we received the Versa #1 in black/white.

Odyssey Versa #1 – Black

Odyssey took a huge leap forward in the development of the Versa, choosing to make the entire head of the putter an alignment aid versus sight lines or hidden dots. Two bold contrasting colors of black and white (or white and black depending on the version) make aligning your putt virtually stupid-proof.

The first time I grabbed the Versa I was a bit overwhelmed. The contrasting black and white head can give you the feeling of cluelessness if you’re not ready for it, but as I took the handle in my putting grip, took my stance, and looked down at the ball for the first time, the uneasiness of using this unique putter went away. I did have my doubts though as I began to stroke a few putts to get the feel of the Versa. Can seeing yourself misaligned by a mere degree be that noticeable? Once I had the feel for the putter I started focusing more on what this putter is all about and that’s alignment.

It didn’t take long for me to realize just how great the Versa is. Having only my previous putter to compare to the Odyssey at this point it was a no brainer. Using my putting green at home and putting from 7’ I was deadly accurate. Every putt I attempted was directly at the hole. A few times I misaligned myself on purpose to see if there was a difference and it was boy oh boy it was dramatic. The black and white contrast of the face acts just like a flashing neon STOP sign forcing you to reassess your position. That wasn’t the only great thing about the Versa though. The face of the putter has an incredibly soft feel to it when it makes contact with the ball, almost like a soft insert, but the roll is fantastic and true. That was a combination that I really liked.

Of course the at-home putting green was never going to be a true test so I took the Versa out to the course for three rounds to see how well it performed where it matters. Even though my putting numbers were not off-the-charts amazing over the 54 holes I played, I did manage to show some progress in some key areas like lag putting and putts in the 10-15’ range. The confidence of knowing I was aligned properly really made a difference to me.

The more I played with the Versa the more I liked it. The Versa feels great in your hands and with that soft feel coming off the face you have a great touch on your putts. There is no second guessing your alignment which improves confidence. There is no second thought in my head about where the ball is going; only speed.

At a price point of $169.99 I think the Versa is a fantastic putter for any player looking to decrease the number of putts per round. Odyssey also has done something I think is very smart. They now have an option where you can order your putter with a SuperStroke grip for an additional $20.00 Not bad at all!

If you’re one of those players that battles with proper alignment I can highly recommend giving the Versa a try.

You can view the entire Versa line on the Odyssey website.

I am a long-time fan of Sun Mountain push-carts and for the past three years I have used the Sun Mountain V2, which for some reason never took off like the original V1. To set the stage, I play about 2-3 times a week and walk about 80% of those rounds, so having a super solid premium push-cart is must-have. As I mentioned, I am very familiar with the Sun Mountain push carts but the new SV1 Speed Cart has made a number of changes which have really improved an already solid offering. Most notably these include:

Disclaimer: I am a golf gadget junky and always work under the pretense that the more information I have the better. Hence, when we received the Golf Buddy Platinum to review, I was first in line. Off the bat, the Platinum from Golf Buddy is a full featured handheld GPS device that has a list of features a mile long, but I want to focus on eight crucial items.

No Annual Fee:

None, nada, zip, but the Platinum does come loaded with 40,000 courses and is ready to go right out the box. The courses are really easy to search and in the review mode you can scroll through the holes and see the layout. This means you can take a virtual tour of any course prior to actually playing it. This feature came in very handy when I traveled to Utah last month and wanted to check out the courses I would be playing.

Automatic Course and Hole Recognition:

For Golf Buddy veterans, this feature is a given but still relatively unique in the GPS world. Here is how it works: Turn on the GPS and forget about it. In just a few minutes, the course will be recognized and will move through the holes seamlessly. Every so often you may have to manually change the hole number if you play a course where the fairways are close together or in an odd configuration, but it happens rarely and not a big deal to toggle to the next hole.

Pin and Target Placement:

The Golf Buddy Platinum utilizes a touchscreen for both the overhead fairway and green view. In both cases you can use your finger to locate areas to change the yardage. For example, you can select an area to lay up to and get that distance. In the case of the green, you can move the pin to different location. Both functions work fairly well, but it can be a little tricky to get the marker to the exact point you want. Fortunately, there is also a “Target” selection that will tell you the yardage to the obvious locations, i.e. to the front of a stream, carry the stream, front of the bunker, etc.

Accuracy:

Obviously, accuracy matters and the Golf Buddy Platinum excels on this front. I verified a ton of yardages with my laser range finder and found the measurement to be nearly identical in every single case. I also compared the yardages given by the GPS system that was built into the cart (you know the ones that are in high-end clubs). Suffice it to say, the Golf Buddy Platinum will not steer you wrong with yardage.

Battery Life:

Over a three day period I played three different courses and a total of sixty three holes. I charged the Platinum up the night before my first round and it performed flawlessly for the next three days without returning to the charger once. That was a solid performance – Apple needs to look into what Golf Buddy is doing with their batteries and take a hint!

Ergonomics:

The Platinum fits comfortably in your hand and weighs in at 5.65oz. It has enough weight to it though that you can tell it’s well made. The case is shock and water resistant but I wouldn’t recommend bouncing it off the rocks and into the pond. Technology hasn’t advanced that far, yet.

The Score Tracking Mode and Statistic Analysis:

As I said earlier, I love information and have kept my golf stats for years. The idea of a GPS/stats unit is great but in reality it is a tough thing to pull off. My basic issues with the scoring module is that entering in your score and number of putts is way too hard and time consuming. One simple fix would be to make the default score be par and the default number of putts be 2. In the case of the Golf Buddy, the default is zero which means you have to enter numbers in for each hole. With that said, you can keep scores for the whole foursome plus stats for driving accuracy, putts and sand saves.

Readability:

Key to a GPS is the ability to quickly peak at the screen to get yardage to the middle of the green. The Golf Buddy is super easy to read as that information is always in the top right corner. A simple click of that box gives you yardage to front, middle and back of the green. Additionally the Golf Buddy GPS is easy to read in bright sunlight and while wearing polarized sunglasses.

There is a huge upside to Golf Buddy and their wide variety of products. The GPS was amazingly accurate from all area of the course and the automatic hole detection makes it one of the most user friendly GPS’s I have ever used. No more button pushing between holes or shots, you arrive at your ball, look down and you’re good to go. That’s how it should be.

The Golf Buddy Platinum retails for $399.99 on sale now for $345.99 you can view it and all the other products Golf Buddy has to offer on their website.

Believe it or not, my first real putter was an old Scotty Cameron I bought from a friend in 1998. For eight years I tried to master that club before I finally decided it was either cursed or I was just not skilled enough to use it. Since that time I have primarily owned mallets or some version of an over-sized putter. So, when it came time to review the Rife Iconic Z, I was nervous to say the least. I was, however, determined to give a blade putter another go because, outside of the results, I love the look and the feel of them.

Knowing I was going to have to make an adjustment to a blade putter, I first took the Rife Iconic Z to the practice green for about 20 minutes, where I promptly missed about 80% of my putts. Dejected would be an understatement for my outlook. I mean, holy cow, I have to write a review for a putter that I cannot use to make Country Club gimmies.

What to do? That was my question. My plan was two-fold. First, I decided to replace the standard sized grip with a mid-slim Super Stroke grip. Secondly, I broke out my Putting Alley which I find to be a great aide to breaking in a new putter or finding your lost groove. What resulted was no short of a celebrity makeover. Overnight I was rolling putts that just a day ago I could not make to save my life.

Six weeks and about 15 rounds with the Rife Iconic Z, I now believe I am cured of the blade yips. I give a lot of credit to the super stroke grip which I think helped with my control, but the putter itself has found a place in my bag that I did not expect it to keep. I had always planned to simply review the putter and then go back to my mallet, but so far I have not been able to make the switch. The 350 mg weight seems perfect for greens that are of average speed as it allows me to have the feeling of “tossing” the head toward the hole to get the distance right on long putts. Short putts are equally straight forward where it is easy to make crisp contact that gets the ball rolling on a straight line.

Ideally, you want the ball to start rolling as quickly as possible rather than skidding, which is why Rife developed Roll Groove Technology. You will note the fairly heavy grooves on the face of the blade which creates the traction needed to minimize any skidding.

The Rife Iconic Z is made from stainless steel and comes in three finishes: sterling, phantom, and rose gold. While not super tricked up, the Iconic Z has a pleasing shape with just enough bling to set it apart from the blah putters of the world.

For me, the beauty of a classic blade putter is the simplicity. I love the sharp angles, perpendicular lines and the overall vibe I get. Sure, I like mallets and other shapes of putters, but I am always drawn to the shape that most resembles the original tools of the game.

You learn more about the Rife Iconic Z and their other putters on their website. 

By far my favorite part of writing for Three Guys Golf is the opportunity to review products that I would otherwise never know about. This spring I came upon a small company called Appalachian Leather Works who sells handmade leather putter covers, yardage book covers and billfolds. The fact that they are located in the mountains of my home state of North Carolina is just frosting on the cake.

For years I have admired the yardage books that the guys on tour have, but finding one that was not boring or generic proved to be a difficult task. Fortunately, Appalachian Leather Works is neither boring or generic. Not only are they unique, but they come in a number of versions including gator, ostrich and snake. Each one is then hand-stitched with your choice of thread color. The result is a one of a kind yardage book that will be the envy of your foursome. Oh, and when I say hand-stitched, I mean stitched by a real person living in Boone NC.

So, you don’t have a yardage book? Neither do I, but don’t let that deter your decision because they also are perfect for a scorecard.  Why then do you need a scorecard holder? Because you can. Since I began carrying my scorecard a month ago, I have absolutely fallen in love with it. There is just a certain feeling of confidence when you can mark your score in a tour version cover. It is just legit!

Along with the yardage book, I now also carry an Appalachian Leather Works bill fold. Like the yardage books, these too come in a number of skins and thread options. I have long since given up my George Castanza wallet, so it was not a problem for me to fit everything I need into it. I keep six cards and $500 cash with no problem (ok maybe $18.00 but you get the idea). Keeping the fold closed and secure is easy with the rubber ring.

Since recently moving to a blade putter, I was in need of a new cover as I much prefer non-branded club covers. The Appalachain Leather Works putter cover I have is black leather with yellow ribbon, but you can customize nearly every aspect of the cover including the color of the leather, ribbon, stitching and faux fur. The fit is perfect and easily slides onto nearly any blade putter. The velcro clasp at the back is completely secure so there is no worries of it falling off.

So beyond the fact that I totally dig all of the Appalachian Leather Works products, the fact that they are handmade by a guy who literally lives in the mountains rather an a multi-national company makes the purchase just a little bit more special. Sure, there are some things big companies are really good at, like making drivers, but if you want a headcover or yardage book that is representative of the passion you have for the game, then you should demand handmade.

You can see all of the Appalachian Leather Works products on their website.  Additionally, we are offering a 10% discount on all purchases through the end of May. Just use code 3guys.

Last year, Adam reviewed the SeeMore M9 putter so I had a bit of familiarity with the brand, but until I visited the website I had no idea about the number of styles and customization options that were available. SeeMore offers everything from broomstick to conventional heel-toe weighted putters with a multitude of additional options. However, the one consistent feature in all of the SeeMore putters is the inclusion of the RST or Rifle Scope Technology.

What is RST? It’s so simple and effective. Basically, if you line up over the putter and can see the two white alignment lines but cannot see the red dot, the club face is square and you ready to roll the putt. On the other hand, if you see the red dot during your stroke, you’ve managed to open or close the face relative to square. In my case, I putt on an arc so as long as I don’t open or close the face related to my chest, the dot stays hidden and I roll the putt right on line. In other words, RST makes it super easy to get in the right position over the putter because it shows you if your face is square at impact.

SeeMore Si3w Specs and Performance:

SeeMore Si Series putters ‘feature precision cast 303 stainless steel heads with soft thermo plastic urethane (TPU) face inserts. This means it has an expanded sweet spot with enhanced perimeter weighting, softer feel and slightly less rebound for those preferring the performance of a tour-level elastomer insert. For most players I think the expanded sweet spot is absolutely a great benefit as it allows for slightly off-center hits.

Plus, I just really like the feel of an insert and having the ball come off the face with minimal noise and clank. Note, this insert is also milled so that it does have some grip which helps reduce skid and get the ball rolling as early as possible. This specific putter is 340 grams with a 33 inch shaft and standard 70 degree lie angle. However, nearly every aspect of the putter can be customized.

I putt mostly with my right hand and tend to keep the handle slightly ahead of my hands to further streamline my transition from chipping to putting. Because of this technique, I opted for the offset, or ‘whistle’ shaft, which is where you get the ‘w’ in Si3w. To finish it off, I opted for the orange oversize FeelTec grip and blue headcover that features the familiar SeeMore logo and American Flag.

It’s always a gamble when we get a new putter to review because we have little idea how it will actually suit us, and often times it takes a few rounds to get the feel for it. In the case of the SeeMore Si3w, it was pretty much love at first putt. Truthfully, it was just about the best of any putter I’ve ever tried out of the box. During my first round with the SeeMore, I rolled in a bunch of mid range putts and was always very comfortable getting in my stance and making good contact.

I also really like the elastomer insert and the sound and feel of the ball off the face. I was equally pleased with the FeelTec oversize grip as it is firm without feeling tough, and in my opinion, it enhances my feel on shorter money putts immensely. After several rounds, I’ve noticed that the 340 gram weight is best suited to medium and fast greens which brings up the question of whether you should have more than one putter.

The fact is, some putters are better suited for slow greens while others for fast so it makes sense to have more than one flatstick. Granted, this can be expensive, but in the case of the SeeMore Si3w (which is very reasonably priced at $165), it is not a crazy splurge to have more than one putter weight.

You can visit the SeeMore website to see all of the styles and options available.

AUR Golf Apparel Review: Unless you live under a rock you know the fashion revolution has overtaken professional golf. While there has always been a handful of colorful players, we have now reached a point where nearly every single tour player is meticulously dressed by their sponsors.

On the other hand, when we refocus the lens to our local golf clubs, the scene is a little different. Yeah, you see a few white belts here and there, and some people are finally getting the message about spikeless golf shoes, but by and large things are not changing as fast as you may think. The fact is designer golf gear is not cheap and are moreover many of us are not exactly built to pull off the “white pants” look.

Thankfully, AUR Golf  is offering a line of apparel suited for folks who want functional good looking apparel that will not break the bank. Plus, they are integrating environmentally responsible fabrics made from a variety of natural sources like coffee, bamboo charcoal and other recycled products. AUR then processes these materials into yarn that is extremely moisture wicking, odor-reducing performance polyester. The way I figure it, saving the Earth and still getting a shirt with UV protection, quick drying times and easy care sounds like a winning proposition.

While AUR does offer a number of styles with progressive colors and patterns, I went with a standard black polo shirt and khaki pants. The pants are well cut and sewn to be durable. Size wise, they are flat-front and they have plenty of room to move without being baggy. Even thought the shirt is solid black, I was impressed with the detail in the extra stitching in places like the shoulders where you need a shirt to hold together. Over the course of several rounds, they did all they were supposed to do in terms of stretch, moisture-wicking and sun-protection.

AUR Golf clothes are made for men and women and can be found at many stores and online. There is quite a variety of styles and colors to choose from, and a basic stylish polo will run you around $65. You can see the whole AUR line on their website.

Nike Lunar Duet Review: Growing up in a small town and before the internet, it often took a while before I ever got a first hand look at the newest fashion. Typically my first exposure to the hottest trends came when someone showed up at school wearing the latest “must haves”. To this day, I still remember the day my friend Donna walked into class with the now iconic canvas Nike. While there was disagreement on how to pronounce the name, we all wanted our own pair of the canvas kicks with a blue swoosh. I can’t explain my immediate infatuation with these new shoes, I can only say that after more than 30 years, I still have it.

It is no surprise that the first pair of golf shoes I owned were Nike. They were red leather and still might be my favorite pair I’ve ever had. So, when Nike sent two pair of Lunar Duets my way, I was game. I received a black pair and Sue, a white pair. Now, if you’ve read any of our shoe reviews, you know we both have feet issues and tend to be picky about our shoes.

Right out of the box, I loved them. They are street shoe stylish with sleek, clean lines and easily move between the course and the rest of your day. While some golfers still like the classic golf shoe look, the street shoe is quickly becoming a must have for those of us who like to squeeze in a few buckets of balls on the range during lunch or a quick 9 when we can eek out a couple of hours.

No worries serious golfers, you don’t have to give up the reliability and traction of your standard golf shoe when your wear the Nike Lunar Duet. We have had the wettest spring in Atlanta that I can remember, and our golf course has suffered with waves of flood waters. Fallen trees, mudslides and sinking fairways have been a standard this spring and the Lunar Duets passed all the tests.

While the leather uppers are not waterproof, only water resistant, I had no problems at all with wet socks or feet, and there were times that I was standing on fairways so saturated, they squished with every step. The gentle slopes of the fairways were more like slip-n-slides, but I never felt unsteady. Lunar Duets might not have your standard spikes, but the more modern rubber lugs don’t give up traction on the course while easily converting for other activities if you have no time to change.

Finally, I don’t know what Lunarlon technology is, I can only say that it cushions your foot with a gel-like spring that I can’t explain but can only appreciate. So, if you’re in the market for new golf shoes the Nike Lunar Duet could be for you! They come in men’s and women’s and your feet will thank you.

Nike Lunar Duet run about $110. You can see the whole line of Nike women’s golf shoes on their website. 

It’s kind of cool when frustration actually results in innovation rather than just anther mangled 7 iron. As the story goes, the inspiration for Blunt Golf Umbrellas came to New Zealander Greig Brebner after he nearly lost an eye walking down the busy streets of London, where during a windy rain storm umbrellas were folding quicker than Superman in a laundromat. After this close encounter with the emergency room, Greig went back home to the drawing board, the design bench, and the wind tunnel. After much tinkering, the Blunt Umbrella was complete and able to with stand 73 mph winds.

Adam had seen Blunt at the PGA Merchandise show but it was not until this spring that we actually got the chance to test the golf version of these amazing umbrellas, the G1 and larger G2. The technology that makes them work is very cool and is thoroughly explained on their website. Basically, the quick opening system pushes the tension out along the umbrella’s floating ribs out to its aerodynamic blunt tips in something they call RTS or radial tensioning system. The bracing on the underside of the umbrella is unique and much stronger than regular umbrellas but without any extra weight. The result is that it takes about one gust of wind holding a Blunt umbrella to realize what makes it so unique.

In practice, we did not get to test the umbrellas in 70 mph winds but we did use them in 25 mph gusts that were giving my conventional umbrella fits. Frankly, the only thing we were concerned with was Adam dislocating a shoulder while holding onto the umbrella. You see the umbrella wasn’t flapping or budging or showing any problem standing up to the wind so it takes a bit of strength to stay grounded.

The Blunt umbrella is made from a polyester skin that is very durable and completely waterproof. Additionally, there is hardly any effort to put these lightweight beauties up and down; you simply grab the very comfortable, ergonomic handle and push the rubber piece until it clicks. You then pull on the same piece and the umbrella comes down with no buttons to push or to get stuck (like they do on my current umbrella). The shaft at the center is made from a durable and lightweight fiberglass which is strong enough to be driven over. Yes, Adam left his umbrella in the garage and his wife drove over it. No worries, it is a good as new (no, joke, this is a true story).

Adam and I are both 6 ‘ 2″ and use push golf carts that have an umbrella holder. The Blunt umbrellas easily fit into the carts and did a nice job of covering us and the openings of our bags. Adam tried the large G2, and I tried the slightly smaller G1. While both umbrellas are tall and wide enough, we would love to see even a larger model with a taller handle. I would expect that the only problem would be figuring out how to secure the umbrella to the cart such that it all does not fly away. Seriously, these umbrellas will not fold up so a strong wind will grab the Blunt and just go.

These umbrellas run at $100 and $120, so they’re not cheap, but a huge part of their philosophy is that these last much longer and keep a bunch of cheap umbrellas out of the landfill which is where most of ours end up. I know I’ve tried to fix several of my golf umbrellas with super glue, or by trying to re-bend a messed up rib and I’ll go ahead and say that I’m really glad to have an umbrella that just stays open.

Blunt umbrellas come in a variety of accent colors, with the base being a simple black, and they also have a light cover that you can store them in, or carry with the light shoulder strap. Blunt umbrellas… they really do reinvent the wheel.

You can learn more on the Blunt USA website

With most major golf apparel brands going the way of techno performance, In Fiamme is one of the few companies who is still making classic golf polos. I know, “classic cotton polo” is not exactly sexy but this is not your average cotton pique (and not all of us want to be sexy anyhow). Yes, In Fiamme polos are cotton, but that is about all they have with the other duds in your closet.

Off the bat, each In Fiamme shirt is hand cut and sewn in Milan, Italy (and not in some big manufacturing plant). No, these are carefully produced in small lots such that each shirt has immaculate quality and detail. Specifically, In Fiamme polos are all constructed of double-mercerized, 100% Egyptian cotton yarns which is considered one of the finest cotton fabrics in the world.

Admittedly, I prefer a more modern fit and look but that does not mean I cannot appreciate the quality of the shirt. Moreover, the In Fiamme shirts have a certain level of class that you will never get with a performance polo. The reality is that the company understands their customers prefer substance over pizazz.

While I only wore two of the In Fiamme polos, I was able to personally see the whole apparel line in January at the PGA Merchandise show. In general, I would characterize the majority of styles as “Country Club Conservative” but they do have a number of more progressive styles as well.

What all of the styles do share, however, is a classic fit that complements a “mature” figure. In other words, if you carry a little weight, you really should avoid the sheer, thin material. What In Fiamme understands is that a more gentlemanly look can be achieved though the combination of fine cotton and complex patterns.

With that said, the shirts are not cut such that they look like the Tiger Woods shirts of 1999 where if you hold your arms up you look like a triangle of cotton. The shoulders meet at the end of your shoulders and girth of the shirt is size appropriate. I did note, however, that most of the shirt sleeves are longer than today’s modern cut. Sleeves go from mid-bicep to elbow. Again, longer than the modern cut but preferred by the more conservative gentleman.

As anyone who has worn a cotton polo knows, what is a dead give away for a cheap shirt is the buttons and collars. All In Fiamme shirts are made with laser etched genuine mother-of-pearl buttons and have double stitch hems with a lycra-infused collar to prevent curling. In other words, these shirts will look this good for a long time.

The other thing you will notice (or not notice), is that the shirts do not have a logo which is great news for those of us who prefer to not look like a walking billboard. To me, knowing that you are wearing a fine Italian garment is enough-I don’t need to have it advertised on my chest. Slightly off topic, but ever see a totally bad ass car that you know is a loaded up Audi, BMW, Porsche or Maserati but the owner has cleverly taken off ever single emblem? Yea, it makes it that much cooler. Be that guy.

You can see the whole collection of In Fiamme shirts on their website.

The Basics:

Little River Golf Course is located in the North Carolina Sandhills just 5 minutes from the village of Pinehurst. The first thing you realize about the course is that it is huge. Set upon a former horse farm, Dan Maples had ample room to design this sprawling course on the 450 acres of land with over 200 feet of elevation change. There are 4 tee boxes ranging from 4,850 yards all the way to 7,018. We played the course in late April from the white tees which measure 6,430. The fairways are Bermuda grass with Crenshaw Bentgrass greens. Rates run between $50 for mid-week winter and peak at $134 for prime spring weekends. Beside the course, Little River has Condominiums on site and a clubhouse large enough to offer banquets, conferences and business meetings.

The Driving Range and Putting Green: 

One thing Little River is not short on is land. The driving range is located just down the hill from the clubhouse and could easily fit a few aircraft carriers. Tee boxes are well cared for and there are plenty of well-marked flags. The putting green is conveniently located next to the first tee. My only knock on the putting green is that it is has a few too many undulations for my taste. That said, if you can master the practice green you will be good to go.

The Vibe:

Big, big is the feeling you get when you pull into the course. The clubhouse is spacious, the driving range is monstrous, the fairways are wide and the acreage is almost overwhelming. For me, it makes it feel like a legit course. All of the tee boxes are in great shape, the bunkers are raked and the greens are near perfect.

The other thing I really like about the course is that each hole is unique. Moreover, the front and back nine are totally different. The front nine features a few long par fours and is more hilly, while the back nine has a couple of shorter dog-legged holes where shot making is at a premium. In all cases, the course is laid out in front of you with no tricked-up holes. With that said, there is definitely some advantages to having local knowledge as you will find some places are better to miss than others.

This big vibe rolls over to the end of the round where you can enjoy a cold beverage on the porch and gaze out over the expansive fairways. The large pond in front of the clubhouse is nicely placed to add both an immediate mental obstacle on the first hole and pleasing view from the clubhouse.

The Greens:

Near perfect. The greens at Little River Golf Resort are bentgrass and during this time of year are amazing. They roll very true and super fast. I love that you can read a break and have the ball hold that line. Make a good putt and it will go in . . . that’s the point, right?

The Fairways:

We played in mid-spring so the grass was still a few weeks away from being fully grown in, but even so the fairways were plush. When you have a property as big as Little River there are bound to be some areas that or a little rough but for the most part the entire course was in great shape.

Really the only issue we had were the cart paths which were in need of repair. In the Sandhills, where pine trees are prevalent, roots will wreak havoc on asphalt paths. Clearly it has been a few years since the last paving so just be careful to warn your cart buddy before hitting some of the larger cracks.

The Sand:

Sand comes in lots of varieties and I am fine as long as it is consistent. The sand at Little River Golf Resort is not super fluffy but rather a heavier, rocky version that is fairly common in Pinehurst. All of the bunkers were very well maintained and had a consistent texture which is really what is important.

The Clubhouse:

Like most high-end Pinehurst golf courses, Little River has a huge clubhouse. They have a well stocked pro shop and a full restaurant. Additionally, there are condos on site as well as rooms in the main building. The ambiance is welcoming albeit slightly under lit.

The Food:

If you want to know what the avacado salad tastes like you’re out of luck, we all got burgers! While not “world class”, the Little River burgers and fries are solid. They also have a good selection of beer, three on tap.

The Service:

Judging service from a single visit is tough as one can never know if a given day was common or not. Moreover, we played on a Wednesday which is likely less staffed than the weekends. With that said, the course did seem a touch under staffed. Getting food at the turn took a little longer than expected and there was no available Marshall to get my 8 iron I forgot on the fourth hole. That is not to say everyone was not super friendly, it just seemed to be a situation in which a few more people on staff would have helped.

The Verdict:

If you are travelling to Pinehurst then the short drive to Little River is definitely worth it. Little River offers classic Pinehurst golf, with more forestation than many of the local courses. The greens are always in amazing shape and the scenery is both gorgeous and varied.

You can learn more about Little River Golf Resort on their website.