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What happened last week at Gourmet Golf? Check it out! You may have noticed the prototype that KJ was swinging this weekend. Titleist has their version, and others, on the way. If daylight savings time has got you a little blue and you're not ready to put the clubs away for the winter, then take a trip to Australia and play the world's first synthetic golf course (no ball-mark repair tool required). For the gourmetest of Gourmet Golf readers, have a look at Golf Digest's new Index Magazine (if you can get your hands on it). Stay tuned and keep that bag fresh. -Gourmet Golf
 Golf Digest went to finishing school and came back as "Index". With the new name comes a curious and spiffy new tag line: "The measure of a man's best time". Didn't they teach them about "ladies first" at finishing school? I guess women will have to wait for their own version of the mag.
GD's "Index" is a new publication targeted at the McMansion mortgaging, crispy clean nouveau riche. Topics of their winter issue include skin care, wine collections at private clubs, jet-setting celebrities, and aviation. Of course, old-money millionaires may read it too, but, with generations of practice, they already know what to do with all their money. From the pen of the editor, "We take you behind the gates of the most private retreats, across the world to the most exotic golf locales, and onto the course with the game’s most successful players and business people." He sign's the letter, punctuating it with his handicap index (4.9). Who puts their index after their name? Geez.
Golf Digest has always catered to the "common" golfer. Issue after issue focuses on simplifying the average hacker's slice or etiquette advice for the uninitiated.
Life and business is changing and sometimes the only way for a business to grow is up. I understand and respect what GD is trying to do. I just hope they don't lose focus on the original publication that got them here. Golf Digest's Index is like Golf Connoisseur, but with street cred.
Hungry for more? Magazine Rack has a good review. Geoff Shackelford has some opinions. So does the Golf Blogger
 All of your time at the driving range, hitting off of mats, might finally pay off. The world's first synthetic golf course is being built in Queensland, Australia's Capricorn Coast. The Sydney Morning Herald likens the course to Pamela Anderson, naming it the "Plastic Fantastic". Nothing could be more fantastic than jumping out from the Great Barrier Reef and jumping onto a pristine golf course. This could be a new fork in the evolutionary road of mankind.
Australia's Rockhampton landscape is doomed by drought and grass golf courses are prone to disease. The solution, brought to you by British developer Chris Dadson, is to build a full size, par 70, golf course using synthetic greens and tee boxes. The fairways will be covered in native couch grass. The synthetic turf reacts "very similarly" to normal turf. Hmmm....not so sure about that. A great aspect, aside from playing golf where you wouldn't normally be able to, is the reduction in water and pesticides used. That's right. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Efforts are being made to have the golf course rated by the Royal & Ancient. I'll try anything once and I am very curious to get a taste of these synthetic greens. Maybe some of Gourmet Golf's Aussie readers can enlighten us with their comments.
Here's some glamour shots of the new Titleist 907 D1. Look closely and you'll see the D2 peaking out of the staff bags. Pictures were taken at the this week's Chrysler Championship and tons more information can be found at Golfwrx.com. Love 'em or hate 'em. The monster drivers are on their way. 
Gourmet Golf is 25...only 25 more (sorta) until we qualify for the Champions Tour. Then we can be like Funk and stick it to the man/take home some glass. For now, we're content being amongst the best golf blogs out there. You should be content too. Just by reading Gourmet Golf, you're staying ahead of the game. In case you missed anything, here are the permalinks to last week's blog posts: Now that Project Runway is over (shhh...I must admit that I watched the season finale, but not by choice) we can all focus our industrial design efforts on golf. The Golf Channel is developing its own brand of Project "Golf-Gadget-Thingy" and wants you to be a part of it. Check out the story and fill out the application if you think you got the goods.
If you haven't heard by now, Colin Montgomerie is a clever guy. He has employed his Scottish wit to his new golf tees. There is no word if his wit was paid for its services, but I'm assuming it's all bro bono work. Colin has generated substantial conversation at Golfwrx.com (reg. req.). Check it out. In non-related news, citing "puppy love", Michelle Wie breaks up with her agent and jumps directly into the arms of another. (sigh) Kids...
If you don't like going to school in the United States (or wherever you live), then you might like China better. Compulsory curriculum at Chinese college includes golf. Sounds like my kind of place.
Stay tuned and keep that bag fresh! -Gourmet Golf
 I live in San Francisco and the rage these days amongst the stroller set is to plan the next 18 years of their child's life, including how, when, and from whom their child will learn the Chinese language. Some families have already hired O.C. (original Chinese) nannies (nytimes, reg. req.) to look after the fruit of their loins and coddle them with the foreign tongue. All of this in the name of the competitive global business climate we are approaching.
In turn, it appears that the Chinese are planning on keeping up with the Western world and the way they do business. Students majoring in management, law, economics, and software engineering at Xiamen University will be required to take a course in golf. This golf tangent is an effort to produce "socially elite" graduates that will be prepared to handle business deals that regularly occur on the golf course. This is a growing trend, as Elite Peking University has recently decided to build a golf course on campus. In the past, the Chinese have perceived golf as extravagant and elitist. However, as the collective Chinese waist line bulges with a growing economy, continued globalization, and capitalistic pressure, golf is becoming as compulsory as the international languages of math and science. It should be of no suprise that the Chinese make their foreign language study in English. "Golf is not only good exercise but will teach students communication skills and benefit their future careers," a paper quoted the university's president Zhu Chongshi as saying. "The highest embodiment of the education system is producing socially elite people with the best education." "The aim is to help the students find good jobs," a sports professor at the school, Chen Xiao, was quoted as saying. "Many Chinese business deals are clinched on golf courses." However, these trends are not free from opposition.
"To try to make golf compulsory is rather vulgar," Alex Jin, president of the Center for International Education Group, was quoted as saying. He added that some regions in China needed investment in better primary health care. In conclusion, our world is growing smaller and smaller. In addition to competing on a global stage, we will also be required to rub elbows across boarders. I can imagine a world where International flights and business golf are on the agendas of every business man/woman. The foundation for this future is being developed with Chinese nannies in the U.S. In the name of International free trade, maybe it's time for you to take your golf knowledge to China and find some teaching opportunities. Hopefully, all of this cultural exchange will improve the texture of every life and games like golf.
 Colin Montgomerie has taken it upon himself to make some personalized golf tees...
At the Wee Wonders Media Day, Montomerie revealed what he had printed on his tees following Europe's record equalling Ryder Cup victory at the K Club. "It says on one side 18½ - 9½. And on the other it says, 'Again!'."
Clever guy, that Colin. Apparently, Montomerie has been galavanting around Europe, littering tee boxes with the pegs. Tiger Woods has been following behind him, gathering the tees to fuel America's next Ryder Cup extravaganza. Colin doesn't dare try to play golf in the U.S. with those tees, let alone pass through U.S. Customs with them in his pocket.
In related news, Michelle Wie is discarding members of her entourage as if they were merely golf tees. Joining her "Ex" category, along with former caddies Greg Johnson and Andrew Lano, is William Morris' super agent, Ross Berlin. Berlin is replaced by Greg Nared, a Nike manager who spent nearly three years recruiting Wie to the swoosh.
 Think you have what it takes to dominate the lucrative world of golf gadgets? Feel like sharing it with the world before you can commercialize the product yourself? Send your ideas to The Golf Channel for a chance to be featured in their new reality show that will attempt to uncover the next big innovation in golf (The guy who invented the Golf-Round towel. Those are the kind of guys I wanna see. Brilliant!). It's like "Project Runway" for the "Cigar-Tee-Holder" designer set. Hopefully they'll have the golf-gadget equivalent of Heidi Klum as their host. If The Golf Channel proceeds with the series, you may have the opportunity to showcase your product to an entire world of golf enthusiasts.
Go to TheGolfChannel.com and fill out a short application and email it to inventions@golfchannel.com. The Golf Channel requests that you do not submit photos, sketches, descriptions or other information about the nature of your invention at this time.
!VIVA MEXICO! Thanks Lorena for making last week interesting. Here's a look at week 24 of Gourmet Golfwrx. Monster drivers are going to hit the market. Be prepared. Don't be scared. NIKE gets all metaphorical on us. Golf Balls = Juice = Gourmet = Organic. In an age of sustainable environments, it's not such a bad idea. That's all for now. Stay tuned and keep that bag fresh. -Gourmet Golfwrx
 I was browsing the golf blogs this morning and the Going for the Green Blog stopped me in my tracks. Robert Thompson, blogger in chief, always blogs with substance and his post on the NIKE Juice balls (scheduled for a Nov. release) caught my eye.
The image below says it all. NIKE's balls are now "100% naturally synthetic, 200% organically industrial, with 300% free-range rubber. That's 600% of pure performance!" Although it's tongue-in-cheek (why not laugh while you play golf?), I believe NIKE and Gourmet Golf have met at an intersection. That's right! Not only does NIKE read the Gourmet Golf Blog (I see you...), but it seems they are beginning to subscribe to our mantra/metaphor of "gourmet, organic, and high performance golf". If Starbucks can sell some coffee like that, why can't Nike do the same? If it's better, isn't it worth it?
The question is: If Nike is going gourmet and organic, shouldn't you do the same? Has anyone tried these out? Tell everyone about it in the comments below. Check out the SandTrap.com for more depth on NIKE Juice. MMMM! Tastes so good!
 Halloween is sneaking up on us, as are these monster drivers from Callaway and Nike. Have a look at Golfwrx.com for more details on the Nike SUMO2 and Callaway's FTi (registration req.).
Hmmm... I wonder if they celebrate Halloween in Japan? Check out the Japanese Golf Digest Blog to find out.
BOOO! More Drivers!
 Stay tuned and keep that bag fresh -Gourmet Golfwrx
It's October (!) and it's practically the eve of the silly season. There's still some serious golf left to play and Gourmet Golfwrx is here to help you maintain your role as the most informed member of your foursome. In case you missed something last week, here's a look back. With so much happening in Men's golf, it's important to keep up with the LPGA Tour. The Gourmet Golfwrx partnership with Golfwrx.com helps to bring insight from deep inside the industry. Last week we brought you golf shafts and interviews with Chad Hall of True Temper Sports and Jody Baucom of AccuFLEX. If you're as serious about bars as you are golf, then these stools are made for you. Please, a moment of silence for Byron Nelson. . . . . Thanks. Stay tuned and keep that bag fresh. -Gourmet Golfwrx
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