TheFlopShot.Net

Will Dannon Be "Punting" on Greek Yogurt?

2011-12-13T11:03:00.000-08:00

Yogurt giant Dannon announced yesterday that it will be advertising during the Super Bowl, making it the first yogurt company to do so. SportsBusinessDaily reports the 30-second spot will air during the third quarter of the game and is expected to be just one piece of a fully-integrated campaign.

While the big game may be a new platform, major advertising and promotional spending is nothing new for the major yogurt competitors. According to Brandweek's annual Superbrands report, Yoplait and Dannon each spend in excess of $100 million in measured advertising in 2010.

Going Greek

Health-concious consumers have made aggressive moves towards Greek-style yogurts in the past three years. According to Mintel, no product trend has had more impact int the yogurt category in a shorter period of time. Twice as high in protein, Greek brands emphasize natural ingredients and add little or no extra sugar. The category has been dominated by Fage and Chobani while Yoplait and Dannon have struggled to keep pace, partly because of their uber-long ingredient list and their inability to claim to be all-natural or organic.

But don't look for the Super Bowl ad to target the Greek-style category but rather, as Sr. Director of PR Michael Neuwirth says, "communicate a broader effort to get people to eat more yogurt." With such a broad message, Dannon risks "punting" on the Greek-style category and growing the entire yogurt pie instead. Additionally, by possibly focusing on product benefits that are inherent to all Greek-style yogurts, the advertising may succeed at least in boosting the entire Greek category at Dannon's own expense. Fage and Chobani will be thankful.

Source: Mintel

Wartime Golf Rules

2011-06-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

The following temporary rules were posted at England's The Richmond Club during Wartime in 1940. And I thought the USGA's Rules of Golf were bad. A stroke penalty for a bomb explosion?

Rock Hard Balls

2011-06-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Aside from my Twitter avatar - and a few episodes featuring Kramer and Stan The Caddy - rarely do two of my favorite things (Golf & Seinfeld) come together. That's why I was thrilled when a buddy sent me this irreverent promo for Rangé golf balls.

Starring John O'Hurley, Patrick Warburton and Matt McCoy (J. Peterman, David Puddy and Lloyd Braun), it was done as part of a promo for the Charles Schulz Celebrity Golf Classic, held each May in Sonoma, CA. Hurley serves as the event's host and while it's great to see him hanging with his Seinfeld colleagues, it's also interesting to see an off-color approach to raising money for charity. I like it.

Golf needs more of this.

Olivas Links Golf Course: Not Your Average Muni

2011-05-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

Challening Par-3 14th

While I initially had mixed feelings about making the 65 minute trek out to Ventura from Santa Monica, I decided to take a couple of folks’ advice (Thanks, Alex & @TheGolfChick!) and see what all the fuss was about. Besides, it takes an hour to drive anywhere in L.A.

Conveniently located off the 101 Freeway, in sunny, relaxing Ventura, CA, I decided to hit up Olivas Link, a Forrest Richardson designed gem I kept hearing about. Olivas offers a great golf experience for locals as well as tourists and those braving the traffic from neighboring Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. Having finally played, I can now see why it was just named the #32 muni course in the nation by Golfweek. I promise the 83 I shot had nothing to do with it.

Facilities

The entire course was rehabbed about seven years ago. This included the construction of a new clubhouse along with a course enhancement. Well, the clubhouse was never built and what’s left are a couple of glorified trailers from which a snack shop and pro shop are left to do their thing. Not the best sign when you roll in the entrance, but when you see the natural grass driving range complemented by two large putting and chipping greens, you’re reminded that you’re here for the golf anyways and instantly forget about the lack of clubhouse.

Service

You can’t tell this is a muni course. Honestly, it was one of the best course staffs I’ve encountered since moving to Southern California nearly two years ago. I arrived just after 8AM on a Monday morning to notice a crowd of older golfers occupying the practice facility and was worried about when I might get on and how long of a round I’m looking at. The pro shop staff – along with the Sales Director Nadia Osborn - greeted me warmly with casual conversation and was kind enough to put me in after the Seniors Men’s Club teed off (instead of smack dab in the middle). That gave me enough time to work out some of those weekend kinks and get used to the local greens. In all, from the pro shop staff to the starter to the Jersey Mike Sub-slinging food cart attendant, everyone was happy to be at work on a Monday morning. Again, I can’t stress enough how “un-muni” the course is. Good times.

Course

While my local playing partner said it’s technically a links-style course, the strategically placed cypress tress along with how the greens are cut might lead you to believe otherwise. Still, the links-style ocean breezes will not only keep you cool, but will have you second guessing your club selections all day. I was lucky to be playing with a local. Without his knowledge, it would have been tough to navigate some of the rolls and blind second shots on some short, tricky dog legs.

The course measures 6,818 rolling yards of well-manicured fairways and true-rolling greens. The bunkers are truly beachy with their light, fluffy sand, which was a nice surprise for someone who hasn't seen much of that at public courses in SoCal, especially at munis.

Olivas Links is just one of Ventura’s pair of municipal courses, the other being Buenaventura which is right up the road. Both facilities are managed by Kemper Sports who should be proud of themselves and their staff for delivering a delightful golfing experience at only a muni price.

Course Details:

Olivas Links
3750 Olivas Park Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
Golf Shop Phone: (805) 677-6770

http://www.olivaslinks.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivas-Links/176538421942

Directions from Los Angeles/Southern California: Take Hwy 101 North and exit at South Victoria Ave. Turn Left under the Hwy and follow signs to the Olivas Links Golf Course.

Directions from Santa Barbara/Northern California: Take Hwy 101 South and Exit Harbor Blvd. Turn Left (East onto Olivas Park Drive. Golf Course entrance will be on your right.

Morning Drive, Morning Miss

2011-05-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Last December, when I heard the Golf Channel was set to air its first live morning show, I was ecstatic. Out here in L.A., one can handle only so much NPR and Colin Cowherd in the morning, so this was a true blessing in my life. Even during my time in Chicago, I was thirsty for some commuter-friendly golf content to complement the morning shuffle.

Did GC drop the ball on this one?

I was familiar with Erik Kuselias from ESPN and had heard good things about Gary Williams from the PGATour Network. And while the content would focus primarily on golf, it promised to feature news and commentary about stories from a wide range of subjects. Right up my alley, for sure. Well, not entirely so.

While they set up the studio to look like a radio show, it’s strangely only distributed on television. In taking something out of the world-wide leader’s playbook (they clearly copied the production of ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning), did they forget it was a radio show before it was simulcast on television? In addition to no radio stream, Morning Drive has no podcast or smart phone app. I’ve reached out to show personnel to see if there was something in the works and…..Bubkis.

The show does air at 6 AM out west, so I am able to get about 15 minutes of content from the other room while I’m performing my morning routine. I’m sure the advertisers love that.

Perhaps there’s not a big enough market to justify a national syndication for the show, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be distributed through some sort of smart phone technology (app, podcast, etc). How have they missed this? Granted, I haven’t looked at their ratings so maybe the numbers look good and the show’s doing enough for their loyal advertisers to justify their ad spends.

So if the Golf Channel’s target markets for Morning Drive are golf bloggers (and others that work from home) and retirees sitting on their couch at 7AM, well done, fellas. You’ve nailed it. But if the Golf Channel wants to reach anyone else – you know, the majority of golf fans that are on-the-go – they might want to rethink how they’re distributing a show like Morning Drive.

The Golfer's Ultimate 6-Pack

2011-05-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Golfers love beer and beer loves golfers. It's continues to be a long-lasting, meaningful relationship. Can someone package that up for us, please? Absolutely. Bridgestone, the #1 ball-fitter in golf, is partnering with Michelob ULTRA this summer in a way golf and beer lovers have not yet seen.

The Golfer's Ultimate 6-Pack will be hitting retailers on May 23rd, just in time for those Father's Day rounds. Believe it or not, it should be the first retail package to combine beer and golf balls (Bridgestone e6's) at a single point of purchase. No word yet on exactly where these points of purchase will be.

The promotion serves as a great complement to Bridgestone's more conservative commercials where staff members gloat about their high-performing balls while sipping on iced tea in a dark clubhouse.

And this is hardly the first venture into the golf world for Michelob, the official beer sponsor of both the PGA Tour and the LPGA. With only 95 calories, Michelob ULTRA serves drinkers who like to think they have 'active lifestyles.' It now aims to be the on and off-course six pack for those golfers who want to maintain their six packs..... all while getting 3 sheets to the wind on the course with their buddies.

My question is why limit this to Father's Day? I'm sure there's some Moms that would be down with this, right? Plus, this would be a great stocking stuffer, hand out at charity scrambles and bachelor parties.

Private Equity Firms Lead In Acushnet Sweepstakes

2011-05-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Fortune Brands CEO Bruce Carbonari updated CNBC by saying, "..there is very active interest from a broad range of perspective buyers." Of course there is, Bruce.

Despite all the reports though, according to sources in the business, there are only two realistic outcomes of the Acushnet situation: They will either be sold to a Private Equity firm or spun off from their parent to run independently. Here's why:

As far as an industry sale is concerned, the redundancies outweigh the synergies for potential buyers. The double dipping in footwear brands should alone keep Nike and Adidas out of the running. In addition, lingering anti-trust concerns should prevent another industry competitor, namely Callaway, from getting a deal done.

Golf media companies, whose revenues are highly dependent on selling ad inventory to equipment manufacturers, are wary of this as any industry consolidation (of an already consolidated industry) would spell less demand/competition for their precious ad space.

No need to worry though.

Reports are that Blackstone Group - previously assumed to be bidding alongside Callaway - will now be going in alone. Going in sans Callaway eliminates the anti-trust concerns, thus paving the way for Fortune Brands to fetch close to their $1.3 billion asking price from a highly capable buyer. Additionally, word on the Street is that two other PE firms will be placing bids some time today. In the end, PE firms are flushed with cash, motivated, and looking to buy at early on in the cycle. They also don't have redundancies or anti-trust concerns to detract from any deal value. This should allow Fortune to avoid a spin off and find a fit with a motivated buyer in the investor community.

PGA Tour Volunteers: Leaving Their Mark

2011-02-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Northern Trust Open. I was on break from grad school and with the tourney being held up the street at Riviera CC, I saw it as a chance to see a side of golf tournaments I had been curious about for some time. I submitted my application and was assigned to standard bearing Friday - Sunday. Due to an oversupply of volunteers on Sunday, however, I reassigned myself to working the 17th hole where I worked shot-link and "kept the peace" at the tee and green. While this was a great opportunity for almost any fan to get inside the ropes, I walked away with far more than a front row seat. I walked away with a new appreciation for the role of volunteers and how their work is integral to the success of the Tour.

Most people know that the PGA Tour generates more dollars for charity than any other sport, estimated to reach $2 billion in aggregate charitable giving by 2015. The Northern Trust alone has generated over $50 million for local charities in the past, and with Jerry West now at the helm, they look to up the ante in years to come by leveraging the wealth of nearby Tinseltown.
What must not be forgotten though is that the selfless commitment of hundreds of volunteers - who now have to pay $70 to "volunteer" each and every week - enables the Tour to generate these millions for charity (and keep ticket prices so cheap). It speaks not only to the character of the volunteers, but it speaks to the game, its values and the mission of the Tour to come into a community and make a difference. Describing his commitment to L.A. charities Jerry West explained, "In golf, it's what you put in that counts." No one embodies this better than the hundreds of volunteers dedicating their time (and money) at PGA Tour events each and every week.

TaylorMade: The #1 Driver In A Shrinking Market

2011-02-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, TaylorMade's new R11 driver was made available to the general public. This came about a month after the Carlsbad, CA manufacturer launched one of its most aggressive (and expensive) advertising campaigns ever, titled "Only R11." In addition to its staff professionals endorsing and sporting the products for the first month on Tour, the brand's promotion strategy included a "white out" at the Farmer's Insurance Open and at other offline and online locations. The now familiar TV spot listed below, courtesy of indy shop, NYCA, goes against the grain of golf manufacturers' traditional 'cookie-cutter' promotions. The spot includes children's voices singing a chorus "One of These Things is not like the Other" as traditional, black-crowned drivers from competitive brands cross the screen in an almost Apple-esque digital parade. The final driver is TaylorMade's category changing, white-crowned TaylorMade R11 Driver which dramatically interrupts the procession followed by the call to action: "Go online, research the driver and go fork over $399 for our new product. We'll talk to you next year."

I salute TaylorMade for doing something different. It's innovative, creative and differentiating as it goes from cookie-cutter to cookie monster. And people are definitely talking about it. What's come crystal clear to me though, in the past two weeks as I read blogs and speak to serious and casual golfing friends, is that this TV spot represents the ongoing battle of manufacturers for a bigger piece of the same pie. A pie where perceived value reigns king at the premium price point. The target market consists of only serious golfers and those that need - and can afford - something more than a good golf swing. TaylorMade thought outside the box and perhaps they'll capture even more than their current, industry-leading 40% market share.
According to Mintel, during the past 15 years, the classic 'Baby Boomer' has made up more than half of the male golfing population. In turn, the golfing industry has relied heavily on this retiring, wealthy demographic as its primary consumer. But as this generation ages (the first wave of the Baby Boomer generation is now entering their mid to late 60s), the sustainable growth of the game - and equipment sales - comes into question. With increased competition from active sports and financial constraints hindering increased participation on multiple levels, TaylorMade must give more attention to the 'Echo Boomers' and navigate a strategy towards younger demographics, that essentially creates a bigger pie for themselves. 40% market share sounds good in the short-term, but it doesn't mean much if that market is getting smaller and smaller. Their long-term growth depends on it. And it'll require a heck of a lot more than a Sesame Street song and a white driver.

2011-02-08T12:51:00.001-08:00

TaylorMade's R11 arrived at golf stores last Thursday, but this was hardly the first time we've seen it. The Apple-esque been part of TaylorMade-adidas Group's biggest media spend ever

Rounds are Down, Tweets (and Social Media) are Up

2011-01-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

Players, journalists, businesses and fans of golf are increasingly connected to the game via Twitter and other social media outlets. Breaking news, such as Rory McIlroy and Lee Westweed not playing the Players this year is coming from Twitter instead of traditional media outlets. I follow professional journalists and bloggers on my couch while watching tournaments to get extra insight from those that are behind the ropes. I'm not alone in this activity.

That said, sports marketers are constantly coming up with new and creative ways to engage fans both at home and at live events.The next step for most sports is creating an in-game experience for its fans that goes beyond the blogs and tweets of living rooms. For example, Brian Grey at Bleacher Report recently wrote an article discussing the idea of a digital sports bar. He envisions an ultimate online experience that brings all the exciting content about his sport team into the palm of his hand. Mingling with fans on Facebook isn't enough anymore. Fans check into sections, talk trash with rivals, and bond with fellow supporters all with the click of their mobile phone. This all sounds great, but what about the golf fans? One of the most frustrating things about attending a golf tournament is that a fan can't bring his/her cell phone into a tournament. Because of this, fans are only partially engaged. How will the Tour, it's tournaments and sponsors, deal with this development/opportunity, if at all?

There's clearly a huge opportunity here given the extent to which sports/golf fans have embraced social media. While visiting a tournament, fans could check into holes and corporate tents while tagging players as they walk the course. A live, online social community for fans could draw more spectators, speak to a new demographic and bring more eyeballs to the sport we love. However, we can't do this without a device. I understand we can't trust fans to turn their ringers off, but what about renting a smart device that takes pictures (silently), is loaded with social media applications and contains course maps and GPS tracking of groups? A number of companies would sponsor the hell outta something like this. I would.

Technology is changing the way we consume sports. Golf is no exception. Obviously. But I seriously hope the Tour and its governing bodies have the flexibility to keep up with the steep slope of technology demanded by the general public. With the demand for courses and rounds being down due to the recession, technology represents a clear answer for the sustainable growth and development of the game.

Disney's Palm & Magnolia Courses

2010-12-28T13:01:00.000-08:00

Situated on the Walt Disney World Resort property in Lake Buena Vista Florida, Disney's Palm & Magnolia Courses - home to the Children's Miracle Network Classic - offer two distinct layouts for both the golfing pros and hacking Joes to enjoy. While not quite as magical as other local courses like, say, Bay Hill, Disney's are a solid options for those visiting the area and who may be in need of a sporting break from the characters and crowds of Disney's parks.

Playing both courses, I was pleased to see how Disney's top notch hospitality capabilities had trickled down to golf course management and maintenance. If you're staying at a Disney resort property, the courses offer complementary transportation to and from the course as well as convenient club storage and transfer for those golfing multiple days. From the booking service (407-WDW-GOLF) to the starter, golfers are treated more like executive guests than they are vacationing golfers. And given that it was the third week of December and that Florida had been hit by frost, the course was in exceptional shape, most notably the greens.

Magnolia

Magnolia 17th

Despite the 97 bunkers on the Magnolia Course, the course requires elementary course management with it's straight-forward holes of wide-open fairways and spacious, true-rolling greens. Unlike the neighboring Palm Course, Magnolia caters to the game's bombers. Even the biggest of hitters are left with at least 180-yards for their second shot on most par 4s. Along with the par-3 6th and it's Mickey Mouse-shaped bunker, the best hole on the course is undoubtedly the signature par-4 17th. This final hole of last year's PGA Kodak Challenge demands a precise tee shot over water into a narrow fairway where any lack of accuracy off the tee spells bogey or worse.

The Palm

Disney's Palm Course #3

The Palm Course, on the other hand, is a shot maker's course. Architect Joe Lee has strategically placed palm trees, sand traps and water hazards throughout this shorter course making iron/3wood off the tee a must as you navigate your way through its swampy contours of double dog legs. Course management is obviously critical to mastering the Palm. The slightest hook or slice can leave your scorecard with lots of crooked numbers if you aren't careful. You don't need the distance to score well on the Palm. Proper course management, precise iron play, and a fundamentally-sound short game will leave you with a scorecard worth sharing.

Playing both courses, every shot and club in your bag will be tested. But even if you lose too many balls or forget your A-game at home, Disney's exceptional hospitality helps you forget those duffs and lost balls and reminds you its just a game worth enjoying. The Magnolia and Palm courses - along with their staff - are a pleasure. They left me wishing Disney operated and maintained more golf courses. I'll definitely be coming back.

The PGA Tour and Sponsorship ROI

2010-08-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

One of the issues confronting the PGA Tour right now is it's teetering relationship with some of its sponsors. While the Official 2011 Schedule won't be released for another month or so, there are a handful of tournaments that remain sponsor-less and a game of musical chairs has ensued to try and fill various gaps in next year's schedule. The Heritage Classic has moved, Memphis' status is uncertain, The Bob Hope Classic is without a sponsor and Deutsche Bank is rumored to be questioning its financial commitment, to name a few. The short-term impact is a non-issue for us fans; there will be golf next year, regardless. But the long-term issues facing the Tour's business model are hard to ignore and how Finchem and Co. deal with these issues will shape the tour's development and success over the next decade.
The economic crunch has obviously forced corporate partners to re-evaluate their financial commitments and think long and hard about sponsoring future events. Pretty basic stuff, right? Taking this closer look, however, has raised bigger questions than just the advertising and sponsorship budgets of big name sponsors. Now they're investigating the true ROI on these dollars. The sophistication and complexity of sponsorship in the global marketplace make it extremely difficult to decipher one's return on investment (ROI), especially when using what SponsorMap call 'antiquated' ROI valuations. These techniques simply can't keep up with the new complexities. In short, it's harder and harder for companies to value and quantify the ROI of sponsorship and now they're thinking twice. Just like the consumer, corporations have become more mindful of where the dollars are going. Corporations are operating leaner than ever and the good ole days of throwing money around - when regulations were far more lenient - are over. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

In Glory's Last Shot, Glory Missed It's Chance

2010-08-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning hoping to find closure on this DJ issue. Not there yet, but I came to two conclusions:

1) Like most sports, golf as a game has shown its not perfect and is subject to these types of travesties when the results of a competition can be hindered by its rules and officials. This is not ’nam, there are rules! Righfully so! And without rules, there is chaos.

2) I also think that the forever proud “rules of golf” and all it's historic etiquette - on which we all too often lean - can gets in its own way. Don’t you think we sacrifice some natural purity with so many meticulous rules that aren’t close to being intuitive? You know the rules are going to get in the way when each player has to be accompanied by a rules official. It happened at Harborside earlier this year and will happen again. Whether you’re calling the penalty on yourself or its a rules official calling you out, the rules should help shape the game and maintain it’s order, not determine it’s outcome.

It was a combination of DJ and his caddie, the PGA, Pete Dye, and David Price that caused this to happen. But when when we’re talking about blue-dotted lines, whether a bunker is or is not a bunker and not about players executing shots under pressure, I also think we can blame the rules.

Nike's Waiting Game

2010-08-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

A new poll from Harris Interactive lists golfer Tiger Woods as "America's favorite sports star." At the same time, a survey from E-Poll Market Research in June listed Woods as one of the "most disliked people in sports."

These polls raise tough questions for marketers when trying to determine who they should hire to endorse their products. Nike has remained loyal to Tiger through all the turmoil which was really their only move. In the long run, Nike needs Tiger a lot more than Tiger needs Nike. They couldn't drop him. They wouldn't have a golf brand if it weren't for him. But unlike Gatorade, Accenture and AT&T - who's brands were more sensitive to off course behavior - Nike could hang on to Tiger because his on-course dominance was what drove their image and demand for their product. Now his golf is suffering and no one knows for how long. Like most of us, Nike thought he'd be back to form by now.

As if essentially losing your #1 endorser wasn't enough, Anthony Kim has been sidelined most of the year with an injury. He returned at Bridgestone this past week and fired rounds little better than Tiger. With two of their top horses out the race, it's surprising they've done so little to raise positive awareness for their brand. The best move for Nike could have been to do nothing. Perhaps they were being fiscally conservative. But while TaylorMade-adidas picked up Camilo Villegas to balance out the "dislikable" Sergio Garcio, Nike Golf 's quiet summer playing a waiting game for Tiger has hardly paid off. They're still left will Stewart Cink, Paul Casey, Lucas Glover, K.J. Choi and Justin Leonard as endorsers and while they aren't disliked like Tiger and are surely playing better golf than Tiger, they aren't close to being called "American's favorite sports stars."

A "Loser" Partnership?

2010-07-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

Cybex Inc. is looking to jump start their sales by this summer hooking up with “The Biggest Loser.” Well, make that the Biggest Losers. Plural.

In addition to being the new (and only) brand of exercise equipment on NBC’s, “The Biggest Loser,” Cybex has also signed PGA Tour Legend and Aussie businessman, Greg Norman, to a hefty endorsement deal. Perhaps known more for his narrow defeats and unfortunate collapses on the golf course, Norman continues to rack up the business wins faster than the ink can dry on his most recent divorce. Specifically, he'll be the official ambassador for the innovative CYBEX Golf Fitness platform. It’s set to be rolled out in golf club resorts throughout the world. TPC Sawgrass is among hundreds of marquee clubs and resorts nationwide to have installed a CYBEX Golf Fitness Center. In a recent AdAge interview, Cybex CMO, Larry Gulko, had this to say about his firm's partnership with Norman:

Greg Norman is the best person, as far as an athlete, that we could have approached to consider becoming our fitness ambassador to the golf industry. For the last 15 years, Greg Norman's been a customer of Cybex. You have to be authentic, you have to be the real deal. You have to communicate your authenticity, otherwise people won't trust you. Greg Norman is in great shape, he lives and breathes Cybex, so why wouldn't we want to align with him to endorse Cybex? He's creating a lot of value for Cybex.

All great points and it should be a successful endeavor for both parties. Norman cashes in on another business victory while Cybex penetrates the aging golfer demographic; a recently inspired demographic due to the recent performances of older pros like Tom Watson and Fred Couples (and even Norman in '08) in major championships. Everyone goes home a winner.....even the losers.

The Good Ole Days of Advertising

2010-07-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

Freakonomics authors Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt recently blogged about foxnews.com's presentation of advertisements from our not too distant past. It's fascinating and hysterical to see what passed as advertising back when Don Draper dominated Madison Ave. I've posted some of my favorites below. Common themes: Booze, cigarettes and sexism. For all 41, you can go here.

What happens if she burns the beer?

Golf In 3-D

2010-07-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Sports fans are staying home more than ever. According to Nielsen, ratings for major sporting events have been strong this year, including the record set for the most-watched Super Bowl ever. Events such as The NBA Finals, The Stanley Cup, and World Cup have all drawn record TV audiences this year as both the slumping economy and HDTVs have given fans reason to stay at home. Even if the economy improves, however, expect this trend to continue. Why battle the prices and the crowds when you can sit peacefully and conveniently on your couch, cocktail in hand, alongside friends and family? According to a Nielsen study done in April, an estimated 52 percent of American homes had HDTVs and were actively using them. That compares with 33 percent a year earlier and 17 percent in 2008. And as John Rowady pointed out in a recent MediaPost article, hardcore sports fans are already hungry for the next level – 3D.

"3D is all about improving the consumer experience at home. And like all things in sports, advancements in technology are welcome only if they look and feel authentic. While there's a lot of room to grow, there's no doubt that 3D makes the experience of watching an event more realistic."

And of all sports, golf and its hardcore fans have arguably the most to gain from 3-D technology. Given the “touring” nature of the sport, most golf fans catch the action at home. And so the sport relies heavily on its network broadcasts to bring the tour to its fans. Alongside HD, networks have recently invested in new technologies like swingvision and shot-tracking technology to keep fans engaged. And it’s been great. But 3-D is positioned to revolutionize how we experience golf. The importance of understanding a distance or a slope can’t be emphasized enough, and the extra depth afforded by 3-D imagery takes this understanding right to your la-z-boy. A course’s natural, rolling landscapes - filled with trees, sand traps and lakes positioned at various depths - are visually conducive to a 3-D broadcast. In addition to medicinal marijuana patients, this experience should be highly appreciated by golf fans and wildly entertaining to non/prospective fans.

We’re obviously not there yet, but it’s only a matter of time until the technology is perfected and the cost to advertise in 3-D becomes worth it. A recent WallStreet Journal article suggested that the cost to advertize in 3-D is 30-40% more than a traditional tv ad. But if the growth of HDTVs is any indicator, it shouldn’t take long for manufacturers and consumers to catch up. If they aren't already, executives at CBS, NBC, the Golf Channel and the Back 9 Network should be all over this.

U.S. Open Ramblings

2010-06-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's been four days since I left the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Needless to say, it was a grand and memorable experience. Back to the real world now. I'm still relatively exhausted, a little sun and windburned and still in awe of the experience. I've been collecting my thoughts on the storied venue and the tournament itself and I thought I would share the stream-of-consciousness ramblings of a first time attendee:

Tom Watson - Television doesn't do the man justice. Not only does he crush the ball at 60 years old giving hope to those that still haven't found their game, but he does so with unparalleled grace. As Red said of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank, Tom "strolls the course like a man in a park without a care or a worry in the world." I found so much comfort in watching him play the game. Didn't expect that. And on Father's Day, with his son, Michael, on the bag, it was a real treat.

The GolfWorld Is Flat - Flatter now more than ever. We've known for quite some time that major fields traditionally carry an international flavor, but have the foreigners ever been so prevalent on the leaderboards as they are now? Of the 26 events in the U.S. this year, 12 were won by foreign players. I even spoke French with some spectators on Saturday (I never thought to ask if they were with Havret groupies or not) It will be interesting to see how the flattening shapes future developments of the tour(s) and the industry as a whole. I strongly believe we're headed for a Global Tour at some point.
Russell Henley and Scott Langley - Had Justin Leonard not birdied the 72nd hole, the co-low amateurs would have been exempt from next year's open. Bummer. Maybe the low amateur(s) should auto-qualify for the following year's open? How could that be a bad thing? Both were favorites of the galleries and unlike Sergio Garcia, who continuously whining his way around the golf course, it's refreshing to see these young guys bask in the beauty of the tournament and it's setting. Like Watson, they were a joy to watch.

Pebble Beach - Aside from trying to score well on the open setup, if there ever was a place where a golfer could be at peace with themselves and God, Pebble is the place. The Cliffs of Doom are downright heavenly if you don't have to hit golf balls around them. Standing between the 9th fairway and the 10th tee was my favorite place all week. In the sun, close to the ocean and allowing you to watch approach shots on nine and tee shots on 10. Not crowded either. More on the crowds in a second.

17th hole - When standing by the green, it was simply a beautiful hole with a storied past. It didn't look that long either. Nicklaus needed a 1-iron here? Really? It's down-hill. Harmless really, especially when the pin is front right (as it was on Saturday). Then I walked back to the tees and lost any romantic feeling for this hole I previously had. The green was somewhere down there, but all I could see was sand traps, rough and ocean. Couple the wind and a back-left pin placement, and it's no wonder why it got so much criticism. But it's the U.S. Open, fellas. Quit complaining. The USGA gave you the shortest hole ever at a U.S. Open in 7 and a driveable par 4. And Ryan Moore? Ryan, we get it. You'd be more comfortable if the USGA had a Wyndam Championship setup, so you could fire a -16? (like he did in his only PGA Tour victory).

Tiger's almost there. His charge on Saturday was incredible. He's definitely got the look and the swagger back. Anyone who witnessed his 2nd shot on 18 on Saturday knows that. It's only a matter of time for his game to get back to form. And the crowds loved him more than ever. Go figure.

Ernie - As much as we tend to feel sorry for him, he does bring this on himself. I think he needs an on-course additude adjustment at these majors. Maybe put some vodka in that water bottle of his? He mopes around the course like he's Ior making bogeys, missing putts and feeling sorry for himself. Listen, if you're not happy, you're not relaxed, right? And if you're not somewhat relaxed, how are you going to make big putts in a major? He wasn't this tense when he was winning majors. The miss on 15 said it all. It's clearly all 'between the ears' for the South African and he's running out of time.

Dustin Johnson - Until Sunday, he was living proof of how certain players can feel so comfortable on certain courses. Regardless of the changes since February, he was dominating Pebble once again. But as great as his 66 was on Saturday, I think the young gun would've been in better position if he was two back of the lead and NOT in the last group... on Sunday with a 3 shot lead...in the U.S. Open... The pressure of the major and the marquee names coming after him proved to be too much. It was a shame, but no one's counting this kid out any time soon.

Graeme McDowell - Like last year, this year's U.S. Open proved to be a Darwinian test of survival. McDowell was clearly the fittest and he survived the onslaught of the world's best players in some of the most pressing conditions. Congrats to Graeme. My wife saw him on Leno and thinks he's hot.....so do I. Golfer? check. Accent? check. Loves beer? Check. Style and class? check. What's not to like?

Finally, Size Matters - It sucks being short at the U.S. Open. My 5-foot 7 stature can battle the crowds of a St. Jude Classic or even a FedEx Cup Playoff event, but to brave the Tiger-roaring crowds on Saturday and Sunday at major? Never has my vertical limit been so challenged. When Tiger pummeled his 2nd shot on 18 on Saturday, I had to balance myself on an elevated plank that supported a hospitality tent to even catch a glimpse. As always, there are options to accommodate . American Express was again giving out the "Champtionship Vision" TV's, the hand-held, portable devices that show live video coverage of the marquee groups. They also had the ear pieces streaming the action on ESPN Radio. The radio device makes sense in order to keep up with the leader board, but if you're going to watch it on TV, why even come to the course ? Then there are the golf periscopes and as much as I want to ridicule these submarine captains (above), they're practical as hell. Yes, I could weasel my way through the crowd in some instances, but in the future, when the galleries are as testing as the rough, I'll embrace my inner Captain Nemo and get my hands on one of these puppies. The Mickelson Group, out of San Diego, CA, has them at decent prices.

Personal Branding and Tiger's Online Brand Buzz

2010-06-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Corporations are constantly paying large sums on money to be associated with elite athletes. Is it really worth forking over that much money? It must be. Why else would they do it? In the past ten years, we've seen more and more athletes establishing a personal brand. Personal branding leans on the tenant that success - either social or economic - comes from self-packaging. From Michael Jordan to Tiger Woods, we've seen the power of personal branding in sports as billion dollar companies shape their marketing campaigns around just a few individual personalities. These campaigns have lasting impressions and continue to engage multiple generations of consumers. Michael Jordan hasn't played basketball in eight years, but if you type in the word "air" into Google's search bar, the first suggestion/drop down is "Air Jordan." For us consumers, it's sometimes less about the product than it is about the person pushing the product.

In his heyday (before last November), Tiger Woods was perhaps the most lucrative personal brand ever and we understood why. He was the best. His crisp, clean, diverse image brought youthful dominance to a wrinkled sport. He was a no-brainer for marketers and ad agencies alike. But what about now? How is he being perceived after all of....THAT. Can he still demand that “billion-dollar athlete” respect from advertisers? Internet Marketing guru Jeff Bullas addressed this very question, specifically in terms of social media and the online community's perception of Tiger.

In comparing Tiger’s "Brand Buzz" to the buzz of the number one global brand, Coca Cola, he found that Tiger generated 437% more buzz on social media and online than the #1 brand in the world in a 24 hour period. Incredible. In short, Bullas suggested little has changed and that sponsors would be wise to keep Tiger in their foursome as even the world’s #1 brand couldn’t keep up. The analysis demonstrates that Tiger is still is one of the world’s largest athletes and most widely discussed icons. He generates a ton of buzz and can swing demand for product. But wait a second. There's two problems with Bullas analysis: First, he snagged his data just two days after Tiger announced his return to competitive golf at Augusta, when Tiger’s trending online had peaked. Second, his data doesn’t take into account the “sentiment” of said buzz. Sponsors aren't going to stick around simply because there's a lot of buzz. They need positive buzz. Just ask Accenture, Gatorade or BP.

So now it’s the middle of June, and most of Tiger's transgressional dust in the blogosphere has settled. Deciding to take Tiger's buzz-temperature myself, I included a “sentiment” metric as well as a comparison of Tiger’s buzz to that of other elite athletes (just for kicks). The analysis comes directly from socialmention.com. While it doesn't contain complex algorithms and may not be as credible as Nielsen. However, this convenient analytical tool does a fine job of capturing the volume and mood of a brands' online buzz.
Not surprisingly, the buzz about Tiger has retreated to more natural levels, but now carrying a more negative sentiment than most of his fellow athletes. *(See below for an explanation of the metrics.) Tiger still has huge reach (more than any golfer ever) and when an athlete is discussed as much as the #1 global brand, it's no wonder why sponsorship dollars are so huge. He appears to be on par with elite athletes in terms of buzz volume (reach, strength and passion) as well as mention frequency. On the other hand, the 3:1 Sentiment ratio suggests the sponsors that dropped him are justified in doing so. This sentiment could explain why we haven't seen Tiger sign on with a new sponsor. Companies could be waiting both his swing and his sentiment to return to form. Then again, with the divorce still being settled, Team Tiger probably halted all business negotiations.

Companies that don’t value buzz sentiment as much as they value pure buzz volume will be lining up to carry Tiger's clubs in no time. We'll see who he chooses to align himself with. Sooner or later, he'll start winning golf tournaments, but winning those lucrative sponsorships? I don't think he can return to that 'billion dollar athlete' until he's mentioned in a more positive light. At least that's what social media and the online community are saying.

-Via theflopshot.net

*Strength - Likelihood the brand is being discussed
Passion - Measure of the likelihood that individuals talking about your brand will do so repeatedly
Sentiment - Ratio of mentions that are generally positive to those that are generally negative
Reach - Measure of Influence; # of unique authors divided by total mentions

Google Suggests Golf

2010-06-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

As Google continues to take over the world, we're constantly reminded of how they collect and store everything we do on the world wide web. Aside from privacy issues, there are obvious benefits for marketers and even us commoners. Take the Google Suggest feature. Google Suggest returns search queries based on other users' search activities. These searches are algorithmically determined based on a number of purely objective factors (including popularity of search terms) without human intervention. All of the queries shown in Suggest have been typed previously by other Google users. This is great for market researchers, but it also has the makings of an endlessly fun parlor game. It offers answers to what are on people's minds and what the masses are really interested in. So what does it suggest about golf? What can it tell us about the game and some of it's personalities? Take a look.

Tiger Woods - No surprise. Still, I can't help but wonder what it suggested last October.

Camilo Villegas - Workout, Girlfriend, Clothes.

Arnold Palmer - Womanizer? Yep.

Why Is Golf... They pretty much nailed it.

Why Do Golfers... - What? two pairs of pants?

Colin Montgomerie - There's a video of him cheating? No thanks.

Sergio Garcia - Prom Queen? While Google is suggesting a different SG, they still might be on to something here.

Natalie Gulbis - Stretching....She just can't shake that stretching photo.

Kelly Tilghman - Interesting.

Have You Heard The Newsy?

2010-05-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

I recently read about a startup called Newsy. Located in Columbia, MO - right across the street from Mizzou's School of Journalism - Newsy is the brainchild of Jim Spencer, a Mizzou alum and a former exec at AOL, NBC and AskJeeves. Most would call it a news aggregator in video form, but Newsy would prefer to be dubbed a news "analyzer." It attemps to address our frustrations with the possible biases of a single news source by painting the whole story with a number of different brushes. The folks at Newsy splice and dice video clips from multiple sources across the political spectrum and put it all together. Instead of flipping back and forth between FOX News and MSNBC, why not watch a condensed version of both? As a friend of mine might say, "Not too shabbs!" Take a look.....

While this is supposed to be a golf blog, I have to post something that was tangentially related to golf....Cougar was the best I could do.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Between Tiger's Ears

2010-05-11T14:47:00.001-07:00

Jack Nicklaus was a great golfer, perhaps the best the game has ever seen. He practically invented course management and his incredibly smooth swing tempo was the key to both his unmatched ball-striking and distance control, helping him capture 18 career majors and 72 professional wins. While not the greatest putter, he came through when it counted. In addition to his golf talent, Jack has publicly and repeatedly credited his family and friends as integral pillars that supported his illustrious career. We see this time and time again with successful people.

In 2001, when it became public that Tiger was dating Jesper Parnevik's Swedish nanny, critics argued that such a relationship would be a detriment and distraction to his golf game. Jack silenced these critics though by citing the crucial role his wife, Barbara, and his four children played in his storied career. He could not have done it alone.

Nine years later, the world’s #1 golfer is faced with losing what Jack had claimed to be so integral to his success, yet most of the media is concerned with his neck and his coach. Tiger has experienced loss before - be it his father in 2006 or even a golf tournament here and there - but in the past, he's always had a club in his bag that got him out of those hazards. He's now lost sponsors, fans and a coach, but he'll win back his sponsors, most of his fans, and find a new coach in no time. But losing his wife....for good?? and what that means for his children? He just can’t walk into a golf tournament and forget that his kids might be moving to Sweden.

Golfdigest's Sr. Writer, Ron Sirak, recently discussed the mental, physical and mechanical pieces of the Tiger Puzzle While all three elements may be struggling in their own right, the loss of those closest to him has proved to be a migrane headache for his mental game and the ultimate challenge to his golf game. His life off the course must start to repair and rebuild itself for his swing to come back to form. A mentally stable Tiger doesn't miss cuts or withdrawl from tournaments. I think Tiger would admit he returned before he was mentally ready. He's won on a broken leg before and contended on Sundays when his mechanics were all but in order. A WD and MC in back-to-back starts proves that what is so paramount to all our golf games -the game between our ears - holds true for Tiger and is undoubtedly the true source of all his struggles.

As independenetly successful Tiger might have been, he's faced with losing what helped propel Jack to all his victories. Tiger did dominate the tour while transgressing and leading a wild double life on the side. But he still had a home, wife and children to lean on when he needed it. Jack needed that support and Tiger needs it now. Unfortunately, and at no fault but his own, it is possibly gone.

Posting from Geoff Shackelford.com

2010-04-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

This post is a follow up to a thread from Geoff Shakelford's blog discussing Steve Elling's Up and Down piece. You can see the full thread here.

I think both Steve E and BenSeattle touched on some the silver-lining surrounding this TW fiasco that many in the golfworld overlook: the groupthink tendencies of the game's hierarchy are prohibiting the game's organic growth that it so desperately needs. With all the eyes on the golf world, it's a huge opportunity to grow the game and capture a new audience. Filtering the media might ensure some degree of decency and integrity (which is fine), but the extent to which and how they have controlled the media and one's access to the game will undoubtedly keep potential golf consumers outside the ropes. It leaves a bad taste in people's mouths when the 'prince' doesn't have to answer the tough questions....Maybe I'm reading into it far too much, but I think it reminds people of all the reasons why they haven't picked up a golf club or watched on Sundays: it's a country-club sport where the game, the venues and its players are protected from the outside world. Does the game lose integrity when Tiger answers these questions? I'd argue it promotes integrity, if anything.
They might be protecting a product that's responsible for the game's growth the past ten years, but they're making a long-term mistake by turning fans away and clinging to their self-prescribed etiquettes and integrities. How do they plan to capture a progressive generation? These are their future consumers. Adapt a little. I wonder how - and to what extent - they would filter the media if we were in Phoenix this week. Some of this needs to change or we'll have all these new courses with no one to play them. Hey, at least it won't be backed up!

Two Golfers; Two Images

2010-04-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

When the Tiger Woods Nike ad first aired during the Masters, it was only hours until it went viral on the 'net. It currently holds the #2 spot on Ad Age's Viral Video Chart.
However, of the 11.2 million total views thus far, 51% are of parodies. Nike's Stefan Olander claims that "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We love when people engage and participate in the storytelling. Any confident brand should be." I'll agree that there's some good in engaging consumers on multiple levels as such, but I also think that the ad had a John Daly-esque engagement that is very un-Tiger. People were making fun of Tiger and Nike. Not normal. Remember this ad? It also included Tiger's deceased father's voice. Up until Saturday afternoon at the Masters, Tiger and his new Nike ad - along with his newly branded on-course demeanor - were the talk of the tournament. Tiger was smiling and shaking hands with the galleries all while hitting fairways and making putts. He was playing great golf and everything was under control. But when the putts didn't drop and the curse words did, the critics of both his brand and his game were left with more questions than answers. Similarly, his new ad engaged consumers, but it left a new and unkown taste in their mouth for the Tiger brand. Tiger is still one of the world's most recognized brands, but his brand's identity or what it represents is not clear to the the consumer and Nike definitely faces an up-hill battle to redefine his image.

Enter Phil Mickelson.

As Tiger's chances faded and his brand became harder to interpret, Phil's chances were realized and his sponsor was rewarded. Everything..and I mean EVERYTHING went right for Phil in his well-deserved victory at Augusta. From the 5-under stretch on Saturday to his second shot at 13 on Sunday, his on-course performance was the perfect pairing for what he was dealing with in his personal life. It was a Disney movie in HD, a feel good ending that couldn't have worked out better for Billy Payne and golf's traditionalists who desperately needed a feel-good story. It was also great for Phil's sponsors. Words like mistress, scandal and bootyism were replaced by family, integrity, and focus. Those are great words for your spokesperson to be associated with. Turning the first couple pages of the post-Masters Golf World issue last week, I wasn't suprised to see a Barclay's ad congratulating Phil and leveraging this picture perfect ending, but I was suprised to see how direct some of the verbage was. (An identical, full-page ad appeared in the WSJ the following week). Both ads depict an emotional Phil embracing his cancer-stricken wife just off the 18th green. They read:

"Congratulations to Phil Mickelson and his family on his victory ... Phil demonstrates why he is a great ambassador and role model for the game of golf. He personifies the game's values of integrity, focus, and precision, which are at the core of how we at Barclays are committed to earning success every day for our clients.”

Wow. They might as well have said, "We're really glad that Tiger is not our spokesperson." Considering the moral scrutiny that financial institutions are under, this couldn't have worked out better for the limey asset manager. Despite some gambling rumors, Phil has shown himself to be an honest gentlemen both on and off the course. Good for him and good for Barclays. He's been a great investment and what happened at the Master's took his brand to the next level.
Moreover, this all makes for more storylines, better competition and highly entertaining golf for ther rest of us. We'll be watching Tiger and Phil do battle at the PLAYERS and the year's remaining majors. I can't wait. It's gonna be great competition and we'll be watching every swing. But we'll also be watching their sponsors...to see how they react to the victories and failures of their most valuable and dynamic spokesmen.

Laughing Out Loud - PGA Tour Edition

2010-04-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

So the other day a couple of buddies and I were discussing the glorious instance that is laughing out loud or "LOL," as it's commonly used in the electronic parlance of our times.* Well, we concluded that it's extremely underrated - whether you're the one laughing or the one causing the laughter - and that most people forget the value it can add to the rat race that is their daily lives. It can turn a bad day into a good one. I thought about this in the context of sports, specifically the PGA Tour and how seriously the game is presented to us. Other sports have embraced the light-hearted elements of their games, why not the PGA? We see baseball players playing clubhouse pranks on one-another, pre-game shows with comedians and guys snappin' towels at each other's derrieres in the lockerroom. We love it. We can see it on the field and in the broadcast booth. Whether it's baseball players supermanning across the infield tarp during a rain delay or Charles Barkley making inappropriate comments, we're happily engaged with the sport on multiple levels. The LPGA even has it, why not the PGA? At the Kraft Nabisco Championship (one of the LPGA's majors), the winner and her caddie traditionally jump into the water hazard adjacent to the 18th green to celebrate their victory. Augusta? Probably not, but you get the idea.
Basically, the PGA Tour needs a jagerbomb....from the broadcast booth to the personalities on the course. The answer isn't more Hank Haney projects and Pro-Ams. It's more Phoenix Opens and a bunch of happy people enjoying a 'la vida loca' golf experience. The game's frustrating enough, guys. Oh, and a reminder, it's still a game. Help us relax, laugh a little and have some good ol' fashion fun. The raucous 16th hole in Phoenix draws the biggest crowd on tour. Hmmm... you don't need an MBA to see the business connection here. Would more Phoenix Opens make the sport LESS marketable? I don't think so. Doesn't everyone involved want to grow the game, widen the audience and get more eyeballs on the product? Absolutely. I can't think of one good reason why this is a bad idea. Cheers.

And now....a conversation about laughter that will make you laugh.....

*It should be noted that using "LOL!" when you aren't actually LOLing is a haphasard misrepresentation of your self and only dilutes the true value of real laughter. Think before you "LOL."

JERRY: So the roommate laughed at everything I said.

GEORGE: Wow.

JERRY: It was a great sounding laugh too, kind of lilting and feminine--none of those big coarse "ha's." You know those?

GEORGE: Oh yeah: HA-A-A, HA-A-A.

JERRY: Yeah.

GEORGE: Hate the big coarse "ha." Hate those.

JERRY: And the worst part of course is that she also possessed many of the other qualities prized by the Superficial Man.

GEORGE: I see.

JERRY: So as you can see, I've got a bit of a problem here.

GEORGE: Well, if I hear you correctly--and I think that I do--my advice to you is to finish your meal, pay your check, leave here, and never mention this to anyone again.

JERRY: Can't be done, huh?

GEORGE: The Switch?

JERRY: "The Switch."

GEORGE: Can't be done.

JERRY: I wonder.

GEORGE: Do you realize in the entire history of western civilization no one has successfully accomplished the Roommate Switch? In the Middle Ages you could get locked up for even suggesting it!

JERRY: They didn't have roommates in the Middle Ages.

GEORGE: Well, I'm sure at some point between the years 800 and 1200--somewhere--there were two women living together.

Shots Heard Round The Golf World

2010-04-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Charter Communication's lack of 'communication,' I haven't been able to get on the 'net to share my thoughts on all the Masters shenanigans. Honestly....no television, either. I had to catch the coverage at the public course's clubhouse down the street with their boisterous Men's Club providing commentary. It was awesome. And so was this year's Masters. Whether it was Billy Payne's hypocrisy, Ricky Barnes' belt buckle or golf writer Dan Jenkins' racist Tweets, there's a lot that needs to be addressed. I've decided to carve out some time in my afternoons this week (when I'm usually napping under my desk) to collect my thoughts and share some of the golf-related goodness out there on the world wide web.

First, Rick Reilly's recap and perspective on Sunday at Augusta. If Phil is the Thrill, is Tiger the Sullen...?

I love golf. I love the majors. I think Augusta National GC is one the most beautiful courses I've ever seen and hope to get there some day, but Chairman Billy Payne's scolding of Tiger was disgusting and is yet another instance where the club's elitist attitude has left a bad taste in my mouth after a tremendous tourney. While practically comical, his remarks reeked of a hypocrisy that few - the media included -addressed. Why not? The Chairman of a club that doesn't allow women scolds Tiger for the way he treated women?? Ha! Talk about writing checks your body can't cash. Look, I have no problem with a bunch of stuck-up Southern 'gentlemen' wanting to have guy time and tell nasty jokes to one another. I covet and cherish my guy time. But, Billy, please don't publicly lecture us on what our children's role models should or shouldn't be doing. Perhaps most of the media were too caught up in the actual GOLF going on to cover this. I know I was. It finally took the fired-up, non-golf writer, Bill Simmons, to put this into perspective for me on Monday. Check it out here.

Did you hear about esteemed golf writer Dan Jenkins' Racist Tweet Ha! Granted, I think we're all getting a little too racially sensitive these days, but seriously, dude, way to be a professional and prove that the golf world isn't just a bunch of Billy Paynes. We're all really impressed. He HAD to be boozing for this to happen, right?

An authentic (WORN) Green Jacket is being auctioned at
American Memorabilia. Current bid is $1,750. They don't tell us who wore it or when it was worn. So its some dead member's jacket and this is how they plan to cover some of the estate taxes? Hmmm...and its a size 58....No thanks.

I had a friend point out that Ricky Barnes was wearing a "69" belt buckle on Sunday. If that doesn't cement his L7 weenie-status, then I'm sure this 2002 photo we found of him will. Yes, ladies, he's jumping rope with a 5-iron.

Finally, John Tesh puts all our suspicions to rest by confirming that he did, in fact, date Oprah....Winfrey. Oprah, we hope you wore a condom.

PHOTOS : Tiger's Practice Round on Tuesday

2010-04-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

Photos Courtesy of Zimbio.com

Why The Disappointment?

2010-03-30T08:53:00.001-07:00

Tiger first took the world by storm when he won the '97 Masters by a record-setting 12-stroke margin. He stood on the tee with a physical and mental dominance we had never seen in the game and perhaps all of sports. He was black. He would represent the modernization and growth of golf by burying the game's socio-economic barriers and outdated 'traditions' in the bunkers and lockerooms of its past. Then, stroke after stroke, win after win, he lived up to that hype, shattered our expectations and became an elite superstar. He was larger than life with corporate endorsement dollars spilling out of his golf bag. He garnered an IMG entourage of 'handlers' and a celebrity status that admittedly made him feel entitled. Too entitled. Sigh. We were disappointed, but so what? This is nothing new. We've seen this happen in other sports and after the initial shock of a scandal outside the lines (Kobe), he'll dust off his demons and step back into the sanctuary of his craft. A public apology and an exclusive interview and then he's welcomed back by the galleries. He's the next comeback story, right? Perhaps that will happen. Still, golf fans are inexplicably disappointed with the situation. Are we just naive, lacking a mature perspective and blinded by his celebrity grandeur? Possibly. But most of us would agree that Tiger doesn't owe us anything, least of all an explanation for what he does off the course. Yet we're still shaking our collective heads. Why is this? The reason is simple: In golf, it's harder to separate the athlete from the man than in any other sport.

Unlike other sports fans, golf fans have a unique "link" to the game and its professionals. Few baseball fans will ever have the opportunity to hit a Major League fastball out of Wrigley or hit a 3-pointer in Madison Square Garden, but as long as we have a couple hundred bucks to poney up, we can - just days after Phil and Tiger - make birdies at Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines. Granted, we aren’t breaking 70 and competing against the world’s best every week. The first professional golf tournament I ever attended was at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. As I stepped onto the course, I looked on in awe as I saw Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els hit their second shots up to the elevated 10th green - a green I had approached myself on a number of occasions. I had been there before. Literally with golf club in hand, debating my shot up towards the clubhouse. (Note: I had also once used this green's slope for sled-riding on cafeteria lunch trays when I skipped morning assemblies at my neighboring high-school.) The point is, we can play on the same courses as the pros and we get far closer to pro golfers than any other professional athlete we might pay to see. We can walk 18 holes with Tiger and stand just feet from him, standing in the fairways he hits or huddled around his ball in the rough as he and Stevie debate the next shot. This access draws us in and establishes a personal connection to the professionals struggling with a game - and sometimes a course - that we struggle with on the weekend. Sure, this connection is probably one-sided and a bit nostalgic, but its still there and plays a major role in why and how we consume the sport of golf. While it doesn't justify our disappointment, it helps explain it. It's the 300-yard driving force behind the sport's marketing and explains why one man can mean so much to corporate sponsors. Unfortunately, it also explains why one man can mean so much to his fans.

Weekend Links

2010-03-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Every Friday we'll post our sponge-worthy golf links/articles we happen to stumble upon during the week. Content will range from highly academic exposés to scandalous TMZ sexting rumours. Regardless, we hope to have you covered from tee to green. (right, Trevor Immelman does the P90X Warrior Pose during his round at the Tavistock)

"The Tiger Bubble," by Jonathan Miller, to appear in this weekend's NY Times Magazine.

Ryan Ballengee at Waggleroom reacts to and expands on the NY Times magazine article.

Cash over at Bushwood Country Club get's honest about Tim Finchem's antics:

Has Rachel Ichitel Moved On to Ian Poulter? (via waggleroom) BTW, If you haven't paroused Ian James' online store AND his website, it's a must. Vanity, anyone? Pink Capitalism and a British accent.

Rory McIlroy Swing Sequence

Greetings, gophers!

2010-03-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings, gophers!

This is the first of many entries where we will aggregate "premium" content that both the casual golfer and golfing fanatic care to learn when it comes to this gloriously frustrating game. We love to watch it, we love to play it and we love to talk about it. Thus, we've decided share it all as a public service to you.

We will present all things golf in a way that will distract you from work, help you look forward to your weekend tee time and keep you informed on the game we all love and hate. Whether its setting your fantasy lineup, checking in on Natalie's gulbis (left), or figuring out how to get on at Bethpage, we will be scouring the depths of the Internet to consolidate all that is awesome in the game of golf.

Our contributors are scattered across the country from New York to Chicago to Minnesota to Los Angeles, attending tournaments whenever we can to trail Tiger in his conquests - on and off the course - and to talk during Sabbatini's backswing. While we maintain extraordinary respect for the game and follow every move on tour, we appreciate a dangerous case of "the shanks," rigging your golf cart to go faster, and hitting golf balls into the ocean. Beginning this week at Bay Hill, we will provide our fantasy analysis/picks that we'd put up against anyone of the 'experts' at Yahoo! or CBSsportsline.

Golf fans may say that few things are better in life than Tiger's Chip on 16 at The Masters (2005). We would argue that either flatulence during your buddy's backswing or Bill Murray's improv scenes in Caddyshack are close seconds. We hope to bring you a royal and ancient dosage of all of the above here at TheFlopShot.Net.

Tiger, we're gonna miss you at Bay Hill this year.

-TheFlopShot.Net
P.S. Given that we have day jobs, we appreciate your patience while we get this clunky site up to par.