|
|
By Apryl DeLancey, on November 6th, 2009
.jpg) If you’ve run into me on the course or the practice range you’ll know that I’m the lefty that is married to a righty. This post was written by said righty and is a review of the Hathaway driver:
I had the opportunity to test out the Hathaway V4 interchangeable driver that is now being offered by Harrison Sports. Yes, this is the shaft company.
Appearance:
The driver has an oblong appearance very similar to the R9 and the sole incorporates their 4 X 4™ platform technology. The sole could be viewed as a bit busy but once you realize the technology and benefits, looks are not necessarily that important. For a new offering in the club world the quality is up to par with other major OEMs. The Saga 60 shaft and stock grip are a nice feature and will fit a majority of players needs. It offers 4 way adjustability L,U,N,R and the benefit of interchangeable shafts.
Sound:
For context, I’ll tell you that I was big fan of the old King Cobra 454 sound back in the day. This is not in the same league as far as the sound goes, but this is by no means a quiet driver. My swings did not go unnoticed even while next to a very senior golfer. When the sweet spot was hit it certainly did something for my ego.
Performance:
The club I tested out was a 9.5 with the stock Harrison Saga 60 at 45.75. I normally play an extra stiff 85 gram shaft with a high kick point (go figure another big hitter on the site). For me, the launch was too high if I did not choke down on the club. The ball still carried very well and had a little bit of roll. Spin seemed on par with my R9 and more forgiving with my misses still staying in the fairway. Tried to tee the ball lower like I normally do but this club is meant to be teed up high where the sweet spot seems to come alive. I caught a few that really took off and without a trackman could not tell just how hot they were coming off the face. They have something with the titanium dual plasma face technology. I would love to add more but would want to re-shaft before I start to compare this to my other drivers. I let a total of five other players hit this club and not one walked away unimpressed. They liked the appearance and found it easy to adjust. It definitely held its own against a G15, 909d2, and Burner TP.
Feel:
This is a titanium faced club with dual plasma face technology that reminded me a lot of the Exotics line of clubs with the feel of a JDM driver. The ball seems to sit on the driver forever and then just takes off. There are going to be some ball speed numbers coming in the next few weeks and I would be surprised if this driver does not rank near the top with any of the other available offerings.
Overall:
I would love to get this driver re-shafted and put it through a more thorough testing. This is a nice club and, like many golfers, I am always hesitant to play anything other than the major golf companies. The appearance and quality of this driver are excellent and there is a definite attention to detail. For a club in the price range of $299 I don’t think you will get any better a combo than the stock saga shaft. They have put this together as a club maker’s driver meaning that with an extra adapter and adjustment options you can tailor this to your specific needs.
.jpg)
Check out the forum buzz here.
By Scott MacLeod, on October 29th, 2009
Back and forth I have sprinted through North Carolina many a time in the last few years, only occasionally taking the time for a golf game – or several. With almost 600 golf courses I have to admit that it ranks highly among my favorite states to visit when golf is concerned.
Years back I was fortunate to play all eight golf courses at Pinehurst Resort in a single 5 day golf frenzy – it still stands as a highlight of my golfing life. I longed to return there in a better time – that stint was just days after the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and it was a somber time for all. So, along with my buddy Jeff, we vowed to make a return to the venerable resort someday and in Mid-October this year we did just that.
To round out the trip (it will be the subject of a major travel feature that will appear next year in Flagstick Golf Magazine) we added in a few other destinations. The final itinerary found us playing nine courses in total with just one day that we would play twice – leaving lots of flexibility to check out other attractions, golf shops, and even a NASCAR race. For golf junkies it was a classic road trip.
I’ll say the weather was less than perfect although my true choice of words at the time would basically be unprintable. Early tee times resulted in near freezing temperatures by the time we teed off most days. Thankfully a warming trend on the last couple days left a much better impression although only be able to comfortably wear shorts for just nine holes was a bit of a letdown. I take solace in knowing that is unusual weather for them at this time of year.
To give you a framework for what we took on here is a list of the layouts we managed to play on the journey, in order: Pinehurst #1, Pinehurst #4, Pinehurst #8, Pinehurst #2, Little River, Anderson Creek, Lonnie Poole at NC State, UNC (University of North Carolina)- Finley, and The Preserve at Lake Jordan.
Lonnie Poole was the youngest of the courses (it opened just this past June) proved to be the weakest for us – mostly due to early condition and anomaly holes like a 550 yard, uphill PAR 4! But in time this near 7400-yard beast should improve as far as condition and playability as adjustments are made.
For the topper, well, how can you argue with Pinehurst among our selection? My second look at #8 left me even more impressed and this picturesque Tom Fazio layout pushed its way up on my favored Pinehurst list. #2 is still the grand pappy, the enigma you just try and figure out each time you play. Not the most aesthetically pleasing of the courses at the Pinehurst complex, nevertheless you can’t help but be drawn into its grasp. There are few better second shot courses on the planet. Bang it all you want off the tee but strategy for the last half of each hole is a priority unless you have a Houdini-like short game.
I am want for the space and time to lay out opinions of each and every course; that I will save for the Spring Feature but let’s just say there was nothing you could complain about as far as golf was concerned.
Spanning the Sandhills, Fayetteville, and Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill regions like this proved once again why North Carolina is a leading golf state.
And the deals? Just too much. When John Meroski, CEO of the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he could put us on a course like the Davis Love III designed Anderson Creek with a room for less than a $100 a night I just couldn’t do much more than chuckle. At about $45 for a green fee this time of year with a cart the course would be equivalent to a $100 plus offering in many towns across North America.
So eight years after we made that last Pinehurst journey, by the time we arrived home we felt we had experienced the trip we had hoped for. In one 36 hour stretch we managed to play Pinehurst #8 then attend the NASCAR Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s near Charlotte, followed by an early morning tee time on Pinehurst #2.
I mean, really, if we hadn’t been impressed by those happenings alone it might just be time to give up the game.
So if you haven’t been to North Carolina for golf then I suggest it might be about time you made the trek. I can tell you from my own experiences that it will never leave you disappointed. And surely it will leave you with something to talk about for a long time to come – just as it continues to do for us.
To check some images from our trip you can view them here.
By shoe295, on October 27th, 2009
Troy Matteson birdied the second playoff hole to win the Frys.com Open a second time (the first was when the event was in Las Vegas before it became Justin Timberlakes event). When you follow a second round 61 with the same score in the third round, setting a Tour record in the process, it would seem an indicator the golfing gods have decided to smile on you for the week.
“That’s as good as I can play,” Matteson said. “I really don’t have to worry about playing better than that, because that’s it.” How could he say anything else? Just the thought of back to back 61's causes my head to shake in disbelief. Amazing.
Joining Mr. Matteson in the playoffs were Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark, a pair of players attempting to win enough money to avoid Q School next week. Mr. Fowler turned pro after the Walker Cup matches and has earned $553,700 in just two events, good enough for 136th place on the money list and exempting himself from the first stage of Q School. He may perhaps have managed to exempt himself into the finals. He still has a chance to avoid the school altogether if he can play well next week at the Viking Classic. Mr. Lovemark has earned $453,872, or not quite enough to gain conditional status. He could roll the dice and play next week in an effort to avoid Q School altogether, but that is just too big a gamble because if he doesn't begin school next week he can't rejoin at a later date. So it'll be off to the first stage next week.
Click to Read More >>> Matteson Captures Frys.com Open
By Martin Anderson, on October 21st, 2009
 It could be argued that there are irons and there are Mizuno irons. No other manufacturer has had quite the success and pedigree that Mizuno has had across the entire range of this type of club. From the MP players range to the game improvement MX range, there has always been something to make a golfer's hands itch with desire.
The shining lights of Mizuno's range has always been the blade market. The MP-14, MP-29, MP-33 and MP-32 are rightly considered classics of their time and while it's too early to comment on the new MP-68, the fact 80% of the Tour staff prefer it to the MP-33 can only be a positive.
Click to Read More >>> The Big Review – Mizuno MP-58 irons, MP T-10 wedges, MP Fli-Hi iron
By Martin Anderson, on October 15th, 2009
 The Algarve region of Portugal is one of the world's most highly regarded golfing locations. With glorious weather practically all year round and more world class courses than you can shake a 9 iron at, it is a popular destination for those of us who have gotten tired of the wind and the rain and playing in fleeces and waterproofs.
Oceânico Golf is now one of the major players in this region with 8 championship courses under their management including Vilamoura's famous five – Oceânico Victoria (host to the World Cup of Golf 2005 and the Portugal Masters 2007-2009), Oceânico Old Course, Oceânico Pinhal, Oceânico Laguna, Oceânico Millennium and the newest Oceânico Golf 3 Oceânico Faldo and O´Connor Jnr. Courses at Amendoeira Golf Resort, complemented by a unique flood lit 9 hole Par 3 Academy Course, whilst Severiano Ballesteros has lent his experience to the course at Royal Óbidos on the Silver Coast. On a recent trip to the Algave, Bag Chatter got to play on 3 of the best Oceânico courses.
 The Millennium course was, as its name suggests, founded in 2000 and is one of the more accessible courses on the Algarve. Because of this it gets quite busy and waits at the tee boxes are common at busy times. With 9 of its 18 holes originating from the neighboring Laguna course, it mixes short tight holes, especially between the 3rd and the 7th, with longer open ones. It plays a little shorter than its 6793 years but has a lot to offer. Because of the relaxed handicap requirements you might find yourself sharing the course with those who are not quite as familiar with the finer points of golfing etiquette but it obvious that everyone on the course is there to enjoy themselves.
Click to Read More >>> The Big Review – Oceanico Millenium, Victoria and Old Course
By Martin Anderson, on October 13th, 2009
 Players like Ian Poulter and Camilo Villegas have shown golfers that you don’t have to dress like your Grandpa when you’re on the course. The last few years has seen a real change in style, not just the plus fours and shirts and ties of yesteryear but in the replacement of the dreary beige and black. Bright colours and bold patterns are in and I don’t mean eye-bleeding tartan but proper stylish clothes.
The likes of J Lindberg, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger make clothes that you might actually WANT to wear off the course and with these sharp clothes comes the accessories like hats, shoes and belts and buckles.
Click to Read More >>> The Big Review – Druh Belts & Buckles
By shoe295, on October 12th, 2009
 The Presidents Cup was about as laid back an event as it’s US team captain Fred Couples. No talk of hatred of one side from the other. No earbuds stuck in the captains ear. The only thing over the top involved assistant captain Michael Jordan smoking a cigar on the course leading to the threat of a fine.
Only in San Francisco would smoking outdoors be considered hazardous to anyone but the smoker, though l will grant that Mr. Jordan’s cigars might be confused for a coal fired plant smokestack. Ridiculous I say. I have to confess I did not pay a lot of attention to the Sunday singles, after all the Vikings were playing and priorities are rearranged at this time of year(especially when they can go 5-0 with a win). But the matches earlier in the week were highly entertaining. When the top three players in the world, all Americans, combine to go 13-1-1, that’s something that gets my attention.
Tiger Woods going 5-0, winning four times with new BFF Steve Stricker, was a highlight comparable to Phil Mickleson going 4-0-1 with three different partners. There must be something about the glow of the "goofy Mickleson grin" that rubs off on young guys. Some kind of pixie dust thing perhaps. Mr. Woods is still the worlds best and showed it Saturday, rolling in a 22 foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and following that up with a 229 yard 3 iron to three feet on the 18th hole to preserve the win. Amazing.
Click to Read More >>> US 19.5 Internationals 14.5
By Scott MacLeod, on October 9th, 2009
 When Canadian George S. Lyon defeated Chandler Harper to win the gold medal at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, few would have imagined it would be more than a century before another golfer would have that opportunity.
Lyon, then 46, would eventually win eight Canadian Amateur titles but clearly the defining mark of his life was his Olympic moment.
As of October 9th, with approval by the International Olympic Committee, golfers of the world can now dream of achieving Olympic glory, just like Lyon.
During the 121st session of the IOC committee golf was approved for inclusion in the 2016 and 2020 Olympiads.
The process to have golf included in the Olympics was a long one that was aided by the support of many athletes and administrators. Among those speaking to the IOC committee on the final day were LPGA players Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie, 2009 British Amateur Champion Matteo Manassero, and 3-time major champion Padraig Harrington. Each gave a short but impassioned speech about why they felt golf should be an Olympic sport while Wie also introduced short video clips from Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, both playing at the Presidents Cup.
While the players were excited at the outcome of the day’s events nobody felt more relief than Ty Votaw. "We are elated that the IOC has accepted golf as an Olympic sport, and look forward to seeing the world’s best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," said Votaw, Exectuive Director of the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Committee.
Click to Read More >>> Golfers Can Once Again Chase Olympic Glory
By Scott MacLeod, on October 8th, 2009
 I must confess that the 2009 Presidents Cup is guaranteed to be a disappointment for me. Two years ago, when it was played in Montréal, I spent the entire week on the grounds-in the heart of the action.
I won’t say it was the most exciting golf event I have ever covered but it certainly was a highlight week. How could it not be? I started out by being one of the very first media to register on the Monday and was able to make my initial reports from a very empty media room. With a few of my peers on site and certainly no spectators it made for a great start to the week. When you are part of just a three-person party that are the only followers of Mike Weir (photo) and Retief Goosen (and their caddies) as they hit their very first practice holes it certainly makes for an intimate setting to watch these players prepare..
Just as enjoyable was my chance that afternoon to walk with the five American rookies (photo), their caddies and the official team photographer. That’s it, just the 12 of us for nine holes, getting a perspective like few others will have an opportunity to have
Click to Read More >>> Presidents Cup Nostalgia
By Apryl DeLancey, on October 2nd, 2009
 Not many items get the GolfWRX forums as excited as the announcement of a new shaft. I’m a victim of this myself – the promise of better performance, enticing graphics, and something that is more elite than what is off the shelf really gets me quite excited every time. One day my game might even catch up to my fancy equipment!
At any rate, the Aldila RIP has been seen in spy pics for several weeks now and has some sweet skull and crossbones graphics. The shafts have been spotted on Tour (including in winners’ bags like Heath Slocum) and are rumored to be released to everyone else in the near future (maybe).
Click to Read More >>> Latest Aldila Buzzz
|
|
