Golf Etail Blog

If you’re anything like The DealTeam, you’re preparing to hibernate.

OK, so not really, but this brisk weather makes us want to curl up on the couch with a classic golf game on the tube.

But until we reach the weekend, we’ve got to work.

We bet you do, too. That’s why we’re bringing you this compilation of hilarious golf bloopers to help you make it over Hump Day.

Trust us when we say … this will make you smile!

Golf officials hope to shed the sport’s elitist image as it vies for an Olympic return.

Golf, along with rugby, are on the International Olympic Committee’s shortlist to make a return to the 2016 Games, to be held in Rio de Janeiro. The committee is expected to make its decision this Friday.

A few stars were on hand in Copenhagen, Denmark, to support the bid, including Michelle Wie, who said that taking part in the Olympics would be “the highest achievement for every golfer.” If the bid succeeds, it will mark the first time since the 1904 Games that golf has appeared.

According to this article from Reuters, the IOC is eager to refresh its Games program to attract younger audiences. The sports will be back at the 2016 Olympics should they win a simple majority of votes on Friday.

The DealTeam is booking tickets to Rio as we write this. The early bird gets the worm!

Think you know your golf facts?

Golfweek has a new video trivia challenge on its Web site called Outsmartin’.

Golf trivia guru Sean Martin, AKA Smartin’, takes on three contestants who vie for prizes like the hybrid golf clubs featured in episode 1.

The questions aren’t incredibly tough – if you consider yourself a golf buff – but it’s easy to make an honest mistake. You’ll see what we mean when you watch this.

You can even be a contestant on the show if you live in the Orlando area. Information to be considered is at the end of the video.

If you make it on, let us know. We’ll be so proud!

It’s football season, all right. We can tell because that’s all our Facebook friends are talking about!

But what about golf? The DealTeam’s favorite pastime is getting the shaft as fall takes hold of sports fans’ attention spans.

Never fear! Golf.com has come up with a way to marry the best of both worlds with its new weekly series that profiles a college football town with tips on where to play golf, eat and drink while you’re there.

This week’s spotlight is on Eugene, Ore., where the Oregon Ducks will face off against the Utah Utes, undefeated champions of the 2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

If you just happen to be in the area, here’s what Golf.com suggests you do.

If you’re not in the area, no worries. They’ll profile a different game location each week of the season.

… from a very pleased customer!

I bought an Adams LH OS GW from you guys just about a month ago or so on Ebay (EQSirenity). Yesterday in a charity golf tournament, I got my raffle ticket drawn for a chance to hole out from 100 yds for $2000. I debated on my PW or GW for a minute. The pin was hidden behind a bunker and a slight rise so that only the flag was showing. Decided on the GW because the pin was tucked up pretty close and wanted a little more height. Took a good 75% swing…..made dead solid contact and watched the ball take flight on line to the pin. Felt like I hit it way too far until the group behind the hole started screaming. Walked up laughing as I saw the ball mark was 3 inches from the cup. Apparently, it had hit…bounced once and backed right up into the hole. Thought you might like to hear a “good news” story in a time when there aren’t too many of those out there. Thank you so much for offering such a great club at such an affordable price.

Feel free to share this story with anyone you wish. I proudly told everyone who asked where I got the wedge.

-Darren
June 2009

This is absolutely hilarious. Anthony Kim has my vote for shot of the year!

Bullseye!

OK … so I was at The Open on Friday. I arrived at the course around 10:30AM and left about 5PM. A few thoughts and observations:

First, the weather. It was overcast when we got there and appeared it would be another rainy day, but around Noon the sun came out and stayed that way for the duration. So there were no weather issues on Friday.

The course is wet and muddy! In the spectator areas the trails are very muddy. At times we were ankle deep in slop. When you cross the fairways (eg, 15 or 16) those brown areas where the spectators walk is just mud … they are not roads! There were many spectators wearing hiking boots & those knee high rubber ‘fireman-like boots’ — I must say they were appropriately dressed. While we were waiting to cross I was talking to a marshall and asked him what it was like in between the ropes and he said it was really wet. While there I heard some (unsubstantiated) horror stories where many of the parking lots at course had flooded and cars were having to be towed.

With that out of the way let me give you some observations about the play and course. We sat on the hill behind the green for quite some time on Friday. Some of the better shots I saw including Phil making a great, long putt for birdie, David Duval making a nice shot onto the green and good birdie, Goosen hitting a fabulous shot to within 5 feet (but missing his birdie), and Rory putting his ball into the primary rough to the right of the green (just missing the fescue) but followed up with a unbelievable flop shot to save par. It was one of the few places on the course to sit and watch (other than the grandstands).

We also watched several 3-somes come through on #2. I really like this hole … in fact the combination of #2 & #3 really appealed to me. While there Rory put one in the trees on the left and ball came to rest about 5 feet from me. He showed his inexperience by trying to hit through the trees to the green and putting only advancing it about 30 yards and still stayed in the rough. He should have taken his medicine and punched straight out. Phil also put one in the left rough, but made a great recovery with his 2nd shot and snatched a birdie.

I really liked the course and would love to play it; although the course is not a good spectator venue. The majority of the greens are above the spectators so it is difficult to see. I can’t imagine the USGA coming back to Bethpage anytime soon for it does not handle water well and does not layout well for spectators. Conversely, I had the good fortune to go to the 2004 Open at Shinnecock and thought that was a fabulous venue!

So I could ramble on, but won’t. However, if you get a chance to go to a US Open, go! I have been to two and look forward to my third, but first I want to get to Augusta.

In less than 24 hours, the U.S. Open kicks off at Bethpage Black. What can we expect? Here are just a few of the anticipated highlights:

20-year-old Rory McIlroy will make his first start in the U.S. Open. The Northern Ireland native is fresh off his professional debut at The Masters where he achieved the third-highest average driving distance of all the players to make the cut.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, Phil Mickelson will play in the tournament after receiving encouraging news regarding his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis. Mickelson met with the media to discuss his return before heading out for practice rounds with Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard and Darron Stiles.

Andrew Svoboda also will play. He replaces Robert Karlsson, who withdrew after suffering an eye injuring during the first week of the St. Jude Classic.

Two words: Tiger Woods. He’s been practicing the course for several days now, which may have its advantage. The last time the U.S. Open was held at Bethpage Black – back in 2002 – Woods won.

So who will be the victor this year – will it be Woods, Mickelson, or maybe rookie McIlroy? Nobody knows for sure, but we’ll be glued to our sets all weekend to find out!

I’ll tell ya, I’ve made a great many blunder in my day. But none as funny as these wannabe golfers!

Can’t hit the links as much as you’d like? Don’t sweat it.

Yahoo! Fantasy Sports has just launched “Golf ‘09″ – your FREE ticket to weekly and segment prizes!

It’s so easy, too – you don’t have to be a pro to play. Just pick a foursome of PGA Tour players for each tournament, then earn fantasy points based on your golfers’ scores per round.

All right, so there’s a little more to it than that, but you can check out the official rules here.

THIS WEEK (May 7-10)

Tournament: The Players Championship

Course: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Purse: $9.5 million

Defending champion: Sergio Garcia

Who will win? It could be YOU!