PGA Picks and Decent Deals

Steven — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:13:08 +0000

Hello August readers,

Here’s your (pretty much) monthly update.

My PGA Picks:

Strick; Bo Van Pelt; Overton and Justin Rose.

And the deals:

An open letter to Golf Channel’s programming department

Steven — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:59:09 +0000

Sent on July 21.

Hello there. I love the Golf Channel and have been watching since 1996. A few suggestions: Why not run more classic tournaments in later hours? The 19th Hole is a little stale, and Golf Central more than provides ample golf gossip. While I’m sure Grey Goose is a lucrative advertiser (which is important to Golf Channel’s ability to actually broadcast) Hawk and others get a bit long-winded and repetitive. Is Dan Jenkins under contract with ABC or something? Unable to come on the panel? I digress. I’m a 30-year-old caucasian male, for demographics purposes. I’d like to see some early senior tour battles (Nicklaus v. Trevino). Let’s see some classic 1-irons like Nicklaus in ’67 at Baultusrol, or Pebble in ’72. How about Hogan in 1950 instead of another rebroadcast of Golf In America. P.S. Anthony Anderson is an excellent host, and the show is raising the Golf Channel’s standards. Reminds me a bit of Bryant Gumbel’s “Real Sports” on HBO, but obv. golf-specific. Maybe put up a poll on GolfChannel.com asking what event (pick three classics) that viewers would like to see? I know you need the info-mercials during the day to make money, but they are sooooo old. Again, don’t get me wrong: I love the Golf Channel, Win McMurray was an excellent call, but maybe show a rebroadcast of 97-2000 era Tiger? Maybe the 2000 Bob May showdown? Or even (gasp) one of his U.S. Am victories? I would also like to see more specific shows on clubmaking, or the equipment side to golf, rather than “golf chat” with golf writers, who aren’t really talkers. I’m sure you’ll take all of this with a grain of salt, but hopefully a few of these suggestions are passed along. Thanks for your time and excellent service to the golf community. SP. steven.pease@gmail.com

A truly behind the scenes glimpse at St. Andrews

Steven — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:31:51 +0000

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s Alan Shipnuck.

Read me.

My belated British Open Championship picks

Steven — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:13:42 +0000

So, I picked Strick to win. Looks like he’s going to miss the ol’ cut at the Old Course.

Also rans: Westwood, Dustin Johnson, Casey. Yay for gayle-force winds!

And Journal Sentinel Golf Writer Gary D’Amato suggested I check out Golf Observer for all my golf news. The same goes for you (I mean Seeds, who is the only guy who actually reads this site).

Tiger Mauled by Cougar

Steven — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:41:09 +0000

So, Golf.com writer David Dusek posted a photo on Twitter of, I can only presume, Tiger’s staff bag. Gone is the Buick sponsorship, so now it seems he’s playing for himself – no swing coach, no major sponsorships, just TW.

Reminds me a lot of the plot twist in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” when his car gets a new, personalized, paint scheme of “ME” in lieu of any primary corporate sponsorship. And there’s a cougar thrown on the hood for good measure, a reference to when Ricky’s estranged father returns to see him through his hardships (read: losing his wife, children and delivering pizzas on stolen bikes) by putting a cougar in a car and making Ricky drive it. Sounds like something Earl might have actually considered doing …

Nonetheless, interesting life imitating art comparison isn’t it?

U.S. Open picks.

Steven — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:24:41 +0000

So, I know I’m a little late,but:

Winner: Mickelson. Had to. Couldn’t pull the Stricker or Tiger trigger.

Also-rans: Westwood, Johnson, Barnes.

So far, so not good!

Who do you got?

For extreme golf dorks only: Seperated at birth

Steven — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:48:52 +0000

This is kitschy, yet hilarious. From Golf.com

Got any more?

Tim Herron: Andy Richter?

E-mail deals

Steven — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:18:09 +0000

If you’re not already signed up on the e-mail list of your favorite Twin Cities metro golf courses, you’d best get while the gettin’s pretty cheap. Sure, GroupOn will send you “big” discounts for doggy daycare in New Hope, but you might be surprised to find in automatic e-mail updates from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Troy Burne, StoneRidge and others. Many will give you free rounds on your birthday, and don’t try to type in that days date and try to pawn it off as your birthday because you’ll be disappointed when they check your I.D. If you have a winter birthday, they’ll usually honor it, though.

Pour example, here are a few screen grabs from my e-mail. These discounts are good right now. Get on it!

Gross National’s Tuesday Golf & Lunch Special and Columbia’s Early Bird Special

Gross National’s Tuesday Golf & Lunch Special –For just $40, you receive 18 holes of golf, a riding cart, a single sleeve of Srixon golf balls, and lunch. Lunch consists of a hot dog or sloppy joe, chips and a fountain beverage. This offer is valid before 3:00pm on Tuesdays through June 22, 2010. Not valid with league play or special events. Print Coupon

Gross National’s 2 for 1 Range Offer –Purchase one bucket of balls for our range and receive the second bucket for free. This offer is good until June 22, 2010. Offer not valid with league play or special events. Print Coupon

Columbia Golf Club’s Early Bird Special – 18 Holes –For just $19, you receive 18 holes of golf and a riding cart on any Monday – Thursday through June 17th, 2010, between 6am and 7:30am. Offer not valid with league play or special events. Print Coupon

Hiawatha Golf Club & Fort Snelling Golf Club 2-for-1 green fee specials

Hiawatha Golf Club’s 2-for-1 green fees with a purchase of a riding cart – 18 Holes – Buy 1 green fee for $28.00 and a full cart for $30.00 ($58.00 total) and get the second green fee free. This offer is valid before 4:00pm Monday – Thursday through June 24, 2010. Valid for groups of 2 or 4. Not valid with league play or special events. Print Coupon

Fort Snelling Golf Club’s Special – 9 Holes – Buy 1 green fee for $16.00 and a full cart for $16.00 ($32.00 total) and get the second green fee free. This offer is valid before 4:00pm Monday – Thursday through June 24, 2010. Valid for groups of 2 or 4. Not valid with league play or special events. Print Coupon

Not bad, eh?

Monsoon season and the ‘Long’ shot

Steven — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:08:52 +0000

Unfortunately I haven’t played golf since, WOW, May 4. And I basically haven’t posted since then. Yowsa. Not like anyone checks this blog anyway. But still, I’m sure my shortgame is going to be a-hurtin’.

Annnnnd … I know everyone loves talking about the weather in Minnesota, but we just had a weeklong stretch where it was darn near monsoon season, and now we’re dealing with record highs in the Twin Cities.

95 degrees in May means Stevie no golfey. However, these extreme temps are probably good for soil temps on local greens. So we’ve got that goin’ for us.

In other news, while he didn’t qualify for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Vikings kicker (and Packer legend) Ryan Longwell still plans to “go pro” after his pro football career, according to this May 10 Pioneer Press article.

And now Burlington, Wisconsin-product Tony Romo shot 69 in a local U.S. Open qualifier and WON A FREAKIN’ PLAYOFF! Romo’s golf game holds up under pressure-he already has a better U.S. Open playoff record, than he does in the NFL. Ouchhh.

Romo advanced to next round of U.S. Open qualifying. Next up: Beating the Eagles.

Word on the street is Romo is using a new White Hot XG Odyssey belly putter that made all the difference. He actually left the course after shooting 69, came back and then won the freaking playoff! Solid! Next up, the 30-year-old Romo moves on to the 36 hole stage of qualifying June 7 at Woodland, Texas’ The Club at Carlton Hills. Sounds very Fresh Prince.

Going pro

Steven — Sat, 08 May 2010 04:19:33 +0000

As my work in the golf business draws to a close (got a job as an assistant editor at a magazine) a few interesting customers have stopped in to buy clubs and ask my advice.

Yesterday I gave a putting lesson to Vikings backup CB Asher Allen. The well-rounded and jovial Georgia product has caught the golf bug (and already broke two graphite shafted drivers). Little man packs a big punch and loves the steel-shafted Callaway hybrid I sold him. Haha! He said he hits it well and has yet to break the shaft off at the hosel – so he’s got that goin’ for him. Our convo ranged from a new stadium (“It may be home field advantage, but we have to play [with all that noise] too.”), and I went a bit ol’ skool throwing out Neon Deion, Jeff George and UGA’s Herschel Walker (both of whom were Vikings, unbeknownst to the rookie) and included a dead-on impression by Allen of the Golf Channel’s Michael Breed “Caller …”. He has to be one of the more polite individuals I’ve ever met. I wished him good luck, except against the Packers.

When pressed about Favre coming back, he simply looked off into the distance – in this case the Titleist irons section – raised a fist and said “Let’s Go!”. I assume that means he wants Favre back. He agreed that $12 million would be hard to pass up. I told him he should go golfing with Ryan Longwell. Incidentally, I’m still trying to land a Longwell interview. His recent announcement that he will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open means he’s getting a lot of interview requests according to the Vikings’ P.R. guy, so we’ll see where that goes.

Tonight a rather large gentleman and his son were hanging out by the club wall. I approached and noticed the son had a Shatuck-St. Mary’s windbreaker with the name “Brodeur” stitched into it. Took one look at the dad and could only assume it was New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. After fitting his son for some Nike Dual Cavity irons and a couple of VR wedges, I helped Marty (I didn’t actually call him that) purchase a lefty 10.5 Ping g15 draw driver and he also threw on an Odyssey White Ice putter for good measure. Naturally, I slapped on a few midsize grips for the gold medal goalie. Nice guy. We talked golf/hockey, I mentioned Madison-native Jerry Kelly, and got to shake the man’s hand.

It was a good end to a rainy day that saw me going to the dentist in a failed attempt to get a wisdom tooth pulled. Apparently I’m too big of a baby for just Novocaine and laughing gas. Come to think of it, maybe I just left ESPN on and the whole day was surrealist dream.

Fin.