Hello everyone.

Once again, I apologize for not providing you with the news you expect. The technical difficulties are almost all ironed out. We should be hittin you with the news tomorrow. I have so much to share with you. Stay tuned!

-G.Gwrx

Posted by jyip at 01:45 PM | Permalink

To our loyal readers,

Gourmet Golfwrx is going through some growing pains and experiencing some technical difficulties. Please bear with us while we make our blog, and your blog-reading experience, even better. Thank you for your patience and keep that bag fresh.

-GGwrx

Posted by jyip at 05:20 PM | Permalink

We're 21 and legal! Gourmet Golfwrx is proud to say that the past 21 days have been full of growth. Our growth is evident in the intelligent and humorous comments from our readers, more developed page layout, and addition to the Golfwrx.com home page. Please, voice your opinion on our looks and style and keep the sharp comments flowing.

Here's a summary of last weeks postings. Tragedy and its memories make us stronger. Development of the Payne Stewart Tribute Golf Course has begun in Missouri and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2007.

Colin Montgomerie and his golf game have seen better days. Colin says (quoted from PGAtour.com), "My problem is 100 percent mental, I know how to swing a club. I know technically and physically what to do. It is a question of believing it." Apparently his mental problems have lead him down the road of the two headed monster.

"Gourmet" additions to the world of golf include the Segway Golf Transporter, HANDi18's cellular scorecard/game tracker/nassau tabulator, and Taylor Made's new TPRed and TPBlack golf balls.

Stay tuned and keep that bag fresh!

-G. Gwrx

Posted by jyip at 11:04 AM | Permalink

Attention Blogosphere: Taylor Made releases their new TPRed and TPBlack golf balls to the public today! Gourmet Golfwrx got theirs (a gift from the ball fairy) yesterday and will put them into play tomorrow. The SandTrap.com got theirs back in April. Rats, foiled again!

Taylor Made has spent the past 3.5 years designing these balls. Apparently all of the time was spent under the urethene cover because the graphics on the ball are similar to their previous model (yawn). I've always questioned TM's aesthetic and I think the TP logo could have been successful here. Instead, we are left with a bland looking ball that lacks the distinct style of the Americanish Titleist or  Japanesish Bridgestone.

Looks aren't the most important thing. To boost performance, TM employs an ultra-thin thermoset urethene cover that has an advanced pentangular di-pyramid dimple design. This is supposed to increase lift while maintaining a flat trajectory. The core of the ball is made of  NdV4 rubber and is covered by an ionomer mantle layer. The TPRed has a larger core and thinner mantle to maintain a low spin-rate and lower launch angle with a softer sound and feel. The TPBlack has a smaller core and thicker mantle for a higher launch angle and lower spin.

The most important thing is that the TP balls stand alone, and are not a rebranded Maxfli ball. Thank you TM for the R&D. 

Professional golfers using the TPRed include Sergio Garcia, Hale Irwin, and Chris Perry. Justin Rose and J.L. Lewis use the TPBlack. 

Keep the bag fresh and pick up some of these. Toss your opinions in the "comment" section. If you're the type of golfer that needs "word of mouth" (WOM) validation, Golfwrx.com always has the most trusted opinions. Check 'em out.

Posted by jyip at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Some day, cellular phone use on the golf course may be justified. Today, cell phones are a breach of etiquette, a distraction, and have nothing to do with the game of golf. Tomorrow, after a free download from HANDi18, you'll be keeping your foursome's score and statistics on your JAVA enabled phone. HANDi18 is a downloadable application that records scores, statistics, and tracks your progress through all of your rounds. You're able to compile the information to help you focus on the weakest aspects of your game. More importantly, the application takes care of your Nassau and Skins games, making it easy to know who and how much you owe. Your phone is always with you, so you'll be able to brag about your round of golf wherever you go.

As technology removes wires and papers from our lives and the world of MVNO's (ESPN, Amp'd) expands, I foresee a company like Golf Digest offering their own MVNO service. A cellular phone service targeted at golfers could even incorporate location based services (LBS) and GPS to provide yardage and beverage cart information. How long do you have to wait for the hackers in front of you to get off the green? Just check your phone and practice your short game. Targeted advertising could turn this into a viable business. Somebody contact me and let's start working on the business plan! You heard it here first.

Gourmet Golfwrx does not encourage the use of cell phones on the golf course. Text message your friend if you really need to chat. Do everyone else a favor and turn your ringer off.

Posted by jyip at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Golf transportation is not to be outpaced by the rapid improvements in golf club technology. The Segway Golf Transporter (GT) is the newest way to navigate a golf course. This is definitely gourmet.

The GT has a golf bag carrier and a speed of 12.5 mph. A speedy round with no walking will let us all play 36 holes in record time. In addition, the GT is zero emissions and extremely energy efficient. What a beautiful segue to Gourmet Golfwrx's thoughts on organic golf.

Rival golfers will no longer need to share a cart or carpool to the other golfer's ball. Personally, being whipped around by someone's poor cart-driving skills is bad for my golf game. I think the GT and individual transportation is a great idea.

Don't take my word for it. The Washington Post thinks so too.

Gourmet Golfwrx will provide a full review as soon as Segway puts some wheels under us.

Posted by jyip at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Colin Montgomerie is not playing well and may employ two drivers, a-la Phil Mickelson, to get him out of the slump.

Colin says (quoted from scotsman.com), that "Phil got one up on us all by carrying two drivers in his bag as he ran away with the Bell South Classic and the Masters.Drivers can now be made with a swing bias in them, to fade and draw the ball. Phil's done very well and he won't be the only person doing it from now on. Me? I've been in touch with Yonex already with a view to doing something similar. There are certain courses, like St Andrews, where straight is good and you don't need two drivers there. But when there's a lot of doglegs, for instance at Wentworth, on the 17th I would have to hook the ball, and on the 18th I would have to hit a fade, so why not let the club do that for you and not have to put two particular different swings on it?"  

Montgomery has missed six cuts this season. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Posted by jyip at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I remember when Payne Stewart died. In his memory, I dressed in his likeness for Halloween that year. It's been close to seven years since the plane, carrying Stewart and his friends, crashed in South Dakota.

This month, Raven Golf Construction has been hired to build the Payne Stewart Tribute Golf Course in Branson, Missouri. The course is designed by Bobby Clampett and will cost $15M. Stewart was a Show-Me state native and the course is in honor of his decorated career and legacy. Friends and fans will have another chance to walk with Payne.

The course tips out at 7,215 yards with a par of 72. A plaque on each hole will depict Stewart's accomplishments. Construction begins June 1 and the course should open in the summer of 2007.

Posted by jyip at 12:57 PM | Permalink

Our little Gourmet Golfwrx is 14 days old. We're so proud of him. Here's a wrap-up of last week. 

Gourmet Golfwrx lets you come up with the answers. With some gentle prodding, our "Let's Get Rhetorical" column compares and contrasts athletic records and asks you to determine golf's absolute value and age threshold.

Odyssey Golf shows us what it means to play high stakes poker. When you're a big-timer, like Odyssey, you can print your own money. 

Finally, Gourmet Golfwrx muses over the organic and sustainable growth of golf, for the sake of the game 

Stay tuned and don't forget to keep that bag fresh.

-G.Gwrx 

Posted by jyip at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Gourmet Golfwrx seed is planted in the fertile soil of the blogoshpere and organic growth begins. If you’re reading this, tell a friend. Word-of-mouth is the fastest and most reliable way to travel. Tell them about the traction and validation we're getting from the golf community for breaking away from traditional press and providing unique reporting. 

Since returning from some GNR (golf and relaxation) in Palm Springs last weekend, I've reflected on the idea of organic growth and how it may apply to golf. The relationship between the two may seem disjointed, but I think they will become more critically connected as we move further into the 21st century.

My trip from the Bay Area  to Palm Springs and back involved $3+/gallon gas tanks and a figurative rollercoaster ride from the peaks of urban existence, through sprawling suburbia, down into the desert and back up again. What interested me the most were all the new developments and their corresponding golf courses that were reaching out to fill the desert. I sense an "assembly line" culture where the mass production of houses, parks and roads is sucking the personality from our surroundings. I think a departure from a Wal-Mart-America and the adoption of a Support Economy, predicated on valued consumers and quality products, will be the future of America's new originality. Henry Ford's assembly line is failing and new alternatives need to be explored.

Assembly lines are infecting golf courses too. Courses are churned out to "match" their corresponding housing community and various buzzwords distinguish the clones. Architects employ similar visual tricks and course layout bailouts to appease golf's pop culture. Golf's origin in Scotland was defined by it's living and breathing relationship with nature, not by botoxed fairways of the modern golf/resident communities. Moreover, diminishing resources will make these manicured backyards even harder to maintain. Organic growth and sustainable golf courses may be the answer to maintaining value in our inevitable growth. I am suggesting we develop golf with some intelligent foresight where value and convenience means strength and endurance, not a cheap round at your local and disposable golforama.

Courses like Kabi Organic Golf Course & Orchard and Stevinson Ranch Golf Course are beginning to shape the concept of organic golf. Kabi is proud to operate with "fewer pesticides and fertilizers (or none at all), regularly testing water quality, mowing less often and in fewer areas, composting grass clippings, and using reclaimed rainwater. Some greens now provide sanctuary for local wildlife and are replanted with native grasses that require less harmful care. These simple changes can be drastically effective. Courses watered with effluent from wastewater treatment facilities, for example, which also maintain vegetative buffer zones, will actually help purify the processed wastewater of salts, nitrogen, and phosphorous before it enters waterways." Stevinson Ranch is an Audubon International Signature course, adhering to environmental excellence. Stevinson Ranch is able to sustain their fairways and 4.5 Star Golf Digest rating. A proven example of conscious golf development is Olympia Fields Country Club, built in 1915 just south of Chicago to offer relief from industrial urban life. Some of the country’s earliest golf courses actually helped prevent worse sprawl later on.  

I am not opposed to growth. I just hope for productive growth that will provide my children with a chance to play a game that has kept its original roots.

Posted by jyip at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Has anyone seen this before? Seems like Odyssey Golf has bought into the trend...2 years too late. 

A local golf insider/friend/poker pal flipped me one of these branded poker chips the other night. I'm not sure if they're part of a larger set or if they're even worth anything. If we collect enough of them, maybe we can demand a putter from Odyssey. It's not a bad promotional tool, but I always liked my corporate schwag to have a purpose other than polluting my desk with more nick-nacks. I guess you could mark your ball with it...if you had a tendency to miss four foot putts, were playing for high stakes, and/or a compulsive gambler. When you miss the putt, you can just give the chip to the guy you're playing against.

I'll spare you the puns and cliches. 

Posted by jyip at 03:31 PM | Permalink

                   vs.
 

Last night, Barry Bonds did not hit his 714th home run…but he came close. Now, the world waits for the next game and the next home run…then the next…etc. As other athletic records skyrocket into McCovey Cove, how will golf records evolve? In the giant record book of all professional sports, is more value given to addition as opposed to subtraction?

Exceptional golf talent is characterized by going below average. Applying this idea to basketball and football equates to teams that win with scores equal to or less than zero points. Huh? Golf is the California Black Jack of sports.  

As golf courses reach to extended lengths and inherit more hazards, professional golfers continue to hit the ball further and scores continue to go lower. 59’s by Duval and Mickelson have been carded in the recent past and JB Holmes’ victory at the FBR is a new case study. How low can these players go? Is Vision54 attainable or beatable? Or is it just the mantra of “baby boomers” like the LPGA's Ai54? Golf doesn't have too much further to go until someone birdies every hole and tosses in some eagles when he/she gets hot. As the game progresses, critics are asking for more restrictions on golf clubs and balls. Rules can be made to limit equipment, but can you limit the potential of the professional athlete?

A general trend in sports is the decreasing age of professional athletes. Sophomores are drafted to the NFL, high schoolers lace on basketball shoes that bear their names, and golfers attempt to put their name on leaderboards before they can even put it on a driver’s license. Is this a good idea? If so, what is the age threshold for professional athletes and their ability to compete at the professional level? What will we be left with when youth is no longer a trend?

Barry Bonds may hit homer after homer, but a more interesting phenomenon to watch may be the "absolute valueing" of golf. In a sport of sub-par numbers, the PGA may resort to abstract mathematics to give their athletes a career with no boundaries. It's either that or “Stablefordize” all the scores of the past and future.

Posted by jyip at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The first week of Gourmet Golfwrx is in the books, and we look forward to many more. Here's a look back at last week's action, just in case you missed something.

Gourmet Golfwrx launched on May 1, 2006 to critical acclaim. With the guidance of Joe Kwok, the direction and intent of the blog have been stated. Week 1 covered some of the new releases from Callaway golf. Detailed overviews of the new XTour wedges and XTour fairway wood and links to detailed Golfwrx commentary were the first pieces of hardware to grace your Web browser. The first golfer interviewed in the "Who's Fresh" feature was Matt Hansen. Congratulations to Matt for his T53 finish at the Zurich, moving him to 225 on the money list. In recent golf news, Earl Woods passed away at age 74 and Joe Kwok makes Waterford crystal. Finally, a little diddy on the USGA and their evolving championship course set-up philosophy is enough to get us all pumped up for June at Winged Foot.

Stay tuned and don't forget to keep that bag fresh.

-G.Gwrx 

Posted by jyip at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In an effort to dissolve the memories of torturous conditions at the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock, the USGA is attempting to evolve their US Open Championship philosophy. Known for their draconian approach to championship golf tournaments, the USGA will use varying rough heights at Winged Foot GC, depending on the hole and its yardage. This is an effort to distinguish bad shots from marginal shots, while awarding the well-played shot. Adjacent to the fairway will be 6 feet of intermediate cut that measure 1.5 inches in height. Extending from that will be 24 feet of primary cut at 3-4 inches, followed by the secondary cut, measuring in at 6 inches. The spectator ropes will be widened and extremely off-line shots won't be rewarded with trampled grass. This "graduated" philosophy, if successful, will also be employed at the US Women's Open at Newport CC. The USGA has not made any statements regarding the maintenance of the putting surfaces at Winged Foot.

This year, Winged Foot will play as a par 70 at 7,264, and fairways will have an average width of 25 yards. In comparison, the 2006 US Open course is about 250 yards longer than the 1997 PGA Championship set-up at Winged Foot. Davis Love III shot a 269, 15 under par, to win the tournament. With accuracy at a premium, I'm looking for a guy like David Toms or Stuart Appleby to go south of 269 and hoist the hardware. But, what about Tiger? Tiger should never be left out of the equation and the way he performs after the death of his father will definitely be one of the top stories in June.

Gourmet Golfwrx is still waiting for their Winged Foot press pass

Posted by jyip at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The texture of the X-tour is smooth and understated, like the paint and sight lines respectively. The body is petite, almost teenage and there is a quasi-warbird bulge in the rear. The result is a club that looks and sits well at address. On the ground the X-tour shows just enough of her coquettish face to inspire confidence in making the approach. The face and head are shallow compared to the FT3 hybrid and the face-angle, much like Michael Douglas, is perfectly square. Like most stainless steel heads, impact texture is tingy, with that classic old-school Callaway sound. Shot shape is smooth going left and right. However, this club really succeeds in hitting a boring, straight ball…and who doesn’t want that.

Apparently, Callaway called MTV to come and pimp their head cover.  When others see the large metallic X, Callaway logos from every angle, and “tour” written in red…will they think you have something special in the bag or over-compensating for lack of distance off the tee?  Who cares? It fits well on the head and has good shaft protection, which is always the most important thing.

In conclusion, this club is a tasteful redesign of a classic.  The only change I’d make is to swap shafts with something heavy and high performing so I can get a more aggressive ball flight. If I find the right head/shaft combo, I think the X-tour can take me to places I’ve never been before, while maintaining a sense of familiarity.

Posted by jyip at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Gourmet Golfwrx is proud to present the first of an ongoing feature. "Who's Fresh?" showcases talented newcomers to the world of professional golf. G.Gwrx hopes the exposure and the insight to their personalities will have us all rooting for the underdog as they come down the 18th fairway on Sunday. One day, maybe the underdog, will be the top dog.

Our first interview is with Matt Hansen. PGAtour.com's short bio reads:

"Rookie on the PGA TOUR after finishing T18 at the 2005 Qualifying Tournament. Made it through all three stages after failing to make it to finals in his first two attempts. Has never played in a TOUR event and finished T28 at the 2005 Albertsons Boise Open in his only start on the Nationwide Tour. Played Canadian Tour in 2003-04. Honorable mention All-America in 2002. Big West first-team all-conference 2001-03. Shot 59 in March 2004 at Stevinson Ranch. Finished fourth at the National Junior Olympics in the high jump in 1990 and was Junior State Champion Trap Shooter."

Name: Matt Hansen
Age: 26
Hometown: Atwater, Ca
University: University of the Pacific

Sponsors: TaylorMade, Titleist/Footjoy, Rosasen, Stevinson Ranch

G.Gwrx:    Truth or Dare? Truth? Are you sure? Ok. Is it true that you shot a 58 some time in the recent past? If not, please clarify the story.
MH:    It was a 59 at Stevinson Ranch about two years ago.

G.Gwrx:    Where, when, and how did you learn to play golf?
MH:    I learned to play golf at Turlock CC with my grandfather when I was 14 years old. The good thing was that my grandfather wouldn’t let me play a round of golf until I could hit the ball 180 yards consistantly.
 

G.Gwrx:    What is your most outrageous/unbelievable golf story?
MH:    I don’t know about any outrageous stories…it was outstanding to get my PGA card.

G.Gwrx:    Goals?
MH:    I have goals of winning on the tour and finishing in the top 70 on the money list this year.

G.Gwrx:    Biggest regret?
MH:    Thankfully I don’t have any regrets as of right now.

G.Gwrx:    If you weren’t a professional golfer, and you were a type of animal, what would you be and why?
MH:    I would be an eagle so that I could soar above everything and be strong and smart.

G.Gwrx:    Recent ipod updates?
MH:    I updated my ipod about two months ago with some Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn and of course some George Strait.

G.Gwrx:    Pre-shot routine?
MH:    I make sure to do my pre-shot routine the same every time and if you want to know what it is… just
watch me.

G.Gwrx:    How long do your wedges last?
MH:    Wedges for me only last about four to six months.

G.Gwrx:    What’s the best part about being a pro?
MH:    The best part about being a pro is that I get to do what I love every day on  the biggest stage in the world

G.Gwrx:    What is good club design?
MH:    I don’t have any ideas for club design but they can’t be too large or bulky.

G.Gwrx:    What makes for a good golf course and which one is your favorite?
MH:    A good golf course is one that rewards good shots and penalizes you for bad shots. My favorite course would have to be Augusta National.

G.Gwrx:    What makes for a good golf tournament?
MH:    A good golf tournament is one with the best players in the wolrd on a golf course where par is a good score.

 G.Gwrx: Thanks for your time Matt. You've got new fans at Golfwrx. Good luck on tour!

Posted by jyip at 12:30 PM | Permalink

Earl Woods, 74, father of Eldrick Tiger Woods, passed away in the early morning of May 3, 2006. Through his Web site, Tiger informed the public of his loss. Tiger has taken time away from the PGA tour to be with his father, and there is no news of when he will return to competitive golf.

Gourmet Golfwrx sends their condolences to the Woods family.

Posted by jyip at 12:08 PM | Permalink

Posted by jyip at 07:54 AM | Permalink

To be “gourmet” is to aspire to the following:

Posted by jyip at 07:03 PM | Permalink

I was very excited to receive shipment of my X-Tour wedges. The 52, 56, and 60 degree wedges went into my bag immediately and they have been performing on all levels ever since.

These wedges are hot. They hang their heads from the top of my bag, telling me to “hit it…you know you wanna hit it.” Other golfers can’t help but stare, and that’s always cool. When reaching for a wedge, the bold graphics and numbers make each wedge easily identifiable. The wedges are sexy (almost as sexy as me in a green blazer) and a huge improvement from the previous forged offering.

Tight is a good way to describe the X-Tours. These wedges have a tight, more angular, and traditional profile compared to the previous saucer shaped wedges. Although a minimal bulge on the top line is a slight distraction, the view at address is clean.  They sit tight to the turf and are ready to go to work; no fidgeting with the bounce is needed. Weight is satisfactory and impact is nice and punchy. And the end result….? You’ll get a shot that sits tight to the pin. These Mac Daddy grooves will make your ball jump….jump….and stop! Our big brother, Golfwrx, has a more technical review and comments if you’re interested.

Posted by jyip at 12:39 PM | Permalink

Welcome to Gourmet Golfwrx- a weblog that provides your daily dose of fresh and organic golf journalism. Gourmet Golfwrx, under the tutelage of Joe Kwok, brings you in-depth and honest opinions about all facets of golf. The blog showcases the freshest talent on tour, upcoming golf club releases, breaking stories about the golf community, and tour gossip that will make you the most informed member of your foursome. We are here to support the thriving golf community’s need to be “in the know”.

To be “gourmet” is to aspire to the following:

Posted by jyip at 12:04 PM | Permalink