More on the New Golf Equipment Rules for 2010

The new golf equipment rules for January 1, 2010, have to do with the width, depth, and sharpness of the grooves on irons. Basically, square grooves are out next year; but it does not apply to over 99% of casual golfers until the year 2024.

Only professional tournament golfers must comply next year. That's why I started the discussion about which tour players will move up in the world rankings starting this coming January, due to their ability to hit more fairways off the tee.

Amateur golfers who play in most USGA tournaments will have to comply by 2014. So don't worry about rushing out and buying yourself a new set of irons! The ones you are playing right now are good for at least another four years, and that is only if you are a top amateur.

Will the New Equipment Rules affect who Becomes the Number One Golfer in 2010?

About a month ago I mentioned the new rules change for golf equipment in 2010. I have also addressed the question of which player, if any, will overtake Tiger Woods as the number one player in the world. Before Tiger defaulted due to the recent marriage problems, I predicted Phil Mickelson would be number one by the end of 2010.

The rules change and who will excel in 2010 are intertwined topics, because hitting the fairway off the tee will be much more important in 2010. In 2009, big hitters could drive it 300 to 350 yards, into the rough, but still hit it close to the pin out of the rough due to square grooves.

If square grooves can't be used in 2010, it is obvious that hitting the ball close to the pin from out of the rough will be more difficult.

Tournament commentators this year have suggested shorter hitters will be moving up in the tour rankings next year, because they hit more fairways off the tee. I have heard Tim Clark's name mentioned as a likely candidate to move closer to the top of the rankings.

How do you think the rules change will effect who will move up in the world rankings next year?

Phil Mickelson #1?

When I predicted Phil Mickelson would pass Tiger as the #1 golfer in the world next year, I did not know at the time that Tiger would default! So let's forget Tiger for now. Who will challenge Phil in 2010 for the Number One spot?

The PGA Tour currently lists Steve Stricker as the #3 player in the world. I like Steve. I agree with Johnny Miller that Steve's lack of a wrist break on his back swing keeps his swing simple and consistent.

The PGA lists Lee Westwood as currently the #4 player in the world. I do not agree with this assessment! I have never liked Westwood's swing. Too much jerkiness. And he can't putt under pressure.

Padraig Harington is presently #5, and this is a good pick for 2010 in my opinion. Padraig is like a stubborn bulldog who will not let go when he is contending.

Who do you think will move up in the standings in 2010, and be #1 by the end of the year?

Speaking of Golf Radio Interview with Tom Horan

I was on the phone with Tom Horan early this morning, live, during his Speaking of Golf radio broadcast.
You can listen to the program at http://www.speakingofgolf.com/.

After discussing what Reciprocal Golf's toll-free, 24/7 services were all about, I promised I would give Tom's listeners a 25% discount off our normal Business Traveler Sign-Up of $585.

I want to offer that same discount to everyone who contacts us from www.reciprocalgolf.com by the end of the day Sunday, December 20,2009.

Just mention "Tom Horan" and "Speaking of Golf" to receive the 25% discount code from our office. Please remember that we must receive your request by the end of the day Sunday, December 20. We look forward to serving your reciprocal play requests at private country clubs.

Just one more comment, in Tiger's defense.

For years, Tiger has reaped the financial rewards of his family-friendly image, in the form of sponsorships, but so has the golf business in general. Every pro on the PGA tour is now making more money, because Tiger's rise to fame brought increased audience attendance. And, now, they're turning on him.

After news of the affair broke, Tiger's long-time friend Jesper Parnevik said he "probably thought [Tiger] was a better guy than he is." Charles Warren, a six-year veteran of the PGA Tour, hinted that Elin Woods might have known about Tiger's extramarital affairs all along. "She's no fool." He said she probably "turned a blind eye because of the money and the kids and the lifestyle he provides." Ben Crane, who has two wins on the PGA Tour, said "This is no surprise to anyone who knows Tiger. He's a phony and a fake, and he can't retain that squeaky-clean endorsement deal any longer."

It seems to me that jealousy could be at play here. If it's true that these fellow pros new about Tiger's indiscretions, why didn't they say anything about it until now? I'll tell you why: money. They knew that Tiger's image was helping THEM make money. Like I said, their pay is higher since he rose to super-stardom and ushered in the most lucrative era in golf history.

Let's not forget that we're talking about a man's personal life. We all sympatize with his family, but it does not help to put them all in the spot light, especially if the press further degrades Tiger's reputation. In the long term, if fans stop watching the tournaments, this could mean less pay for all PGA pros. Let's not take one family's personal tragedy and turn it into a catastrophy for the golf industry.

Now that I've spoken my mind, I promise not to blog about Tiger again for a while. Let's hope next time he's in the news it's because he's back on a winning streak. After all, he still has a family support.

What caused Tiger's Marriage problems?

I hate to continue dwelling on Tiger Woods' personal life, but he and Elin need professional help with their personal lives. Once the press gets ahold on a famous sports figure, they don't let up.

In Tiger's defense, I have "been there, done that!" I'm not famous, of course. I'm just a "+2" handicap father who had thoughts of giving the Senior PGA Tour a try, but I decided to raise two fantastic sons instead. Their mother and I divorced, because she critiqued my business endeavors so frequently that I felt as if I didn't have her support. I remember taking Dale Carnegie's sales class in college, where he argued that if a woman insists that a man put his wife ahead of his career, it usually ends in divorce. On the other hand, if she supports her husband, he will put her on a pedestal.

If Elin has put pressure on Tiger by insisting he cut back on his businesses to be with her, some of the blame for their problems could be placed on her. That would explain Tiger's strange absense from so many tournaments during the weeks preceding the late-night car crash.

What is your opinion? What do you think caused Tiger and Elin's marriage problems? Is Tiger just a plain old cheat or does it take two to keep a marriage strong?

Tiger and Elin in the news again, not due to golf

Tiger is in the news again, after another 911 call, this time because Elin's mother had to be rushed to the hospital from his home in the middle of the night.

When Tiger and Elin fought at their home over a week ago, why did it take the press over 12 hours to report it? I believe it was because the press has known for years about Tiger's other women, but the media "in the know" protects him so they can remain within his inner circle.

It took over twelve hours for a reporter who was not "in the know" to learn about the 2:25 A.M. fight at their home outside Orlando, and then report the story.

The public is now outraged. To be honest, any man who is famous is hit on by women who want the spotlight, fame, and money from being with him, or around him. If Tiger were not married, he'd be well within his rights to have many women friends. But as a married man, he does not have that option. Especially if he has made hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsements from his public image.

What do you think about my assessment of the media in this case? Do you think they have known for years about his other women, or do you think they were as surprised as the public to learn about the other women eleven days ago?

Proper Putting Techniques

Do yourself a favor, and save yourself some money at the same time! Do not pay for a golf lesson until you practice, and perfect, my previous weight-shift lessons (blogs). Without a proper weight shift, you are wasting your time trying to hit a golf ball!

Now, this blog (lesson) covers putting. In 1972 I was flying into San Francisco, reading the Sports Illustrated magazine on the plane. It had an article about an 81-year-old man who challenged anyone to a putting contest, and he was blind! All he wanted was for his son to line him up toward the hole before he putted.

His secret to winning putting bets was his grip. Look at picture (1) here. Most golfers pick up their putter the same way they pick up any other club, with the shaft in the meat of their palm. That is a mistake. Look at picture (2), where I have the shaft along the lifeline of my right palm, and aiming straight up my forearm. Now put the left hand on the shaft the same way, with the shaft along the lifeline. Notice your wrists are arched upward, with a more upright angle to the putter. Now the putter cannot turn off line if you putt with your arms.

Finally, in picture (3), bend your thumbs so the tip of your thumbs are into the putter, instead of the flat, front (fingerprint) part of your thumb down the shaft. Now your wrists are locked, and you cannot turn the putter offline!

Now stroke every putt back, then forward, the same distance back as forward, with a smooth pendulum stroke.

The only thing better for you to do now is buy one of my PROBE 20/20 putters that I invented in 1992, if you can find one; they are not longer being manufactured. http://www.probegolf.com/

The Ultimate Network!

Two weeks after graduating from San Diego State, I went to my local golf course, Stardust, and joined two strangers, both potato farmers from Boise, ID. By the time we finished 18 holes, I had talked them (and two other potato farmers they called on the phone) into putting up $100,000 to buy stock in my first company, Intertel, Inc. We ended up manufacturing and selling worldwide the world's first cordless telephone, and the world's first "touch-pad dialer", allowing everyone in the world using rotary dial phones (81% of the USA, and 100% of the countries outside the USA) to convert to a push-button phone! The dialer sent electronic pulses out over the phone line, and was used for decades before “tone” dialing was available.

That was my first of many success stories that were started on the golf course. Golf is a great way to meet likeminded people, to make friends and forge business relationships. That is the main reason I started Reciprocal Golf, giving members the ultimate opportunity to network. We make it easy for golfers to play private country clubs while traveling, without having to pay tens of thousands of dollars to join each private club.

Golf teaches us all honesty, integrity, perseverance, patience, and other life lessons. You can find out more about a stranger in four hours, during 18 holes, than you can learn in six months over a conference table. Know the rules of golf, and play by the rules, and everyone you meet and play with will know you are to be trusted, on the golf course and in business.

What is your favorite story about meeting someone on a golf course, becoming friends, and doing business together? I'd like to hear your success story.

Golf Lesson Two of Three

The previous golf swing lesson covered the importance of your proper weight shift. Your "Muscle Memory" practice should precede any swinging of a club! Now, in Step Two of that weight shift practice you may pick up a 5-iron, and go through the weight shift motions all over again.

In the first picture, you are at address, with your weight evenly distributed on the inside of both feet.

On the back swing, picture 2, put 60% of your weight on the inside of the right foot, and 40% on the inside of the left foot. The club should be moving toward the small of your neck, so it is on plane.

In picture 3, your weight is moving to the left, and the club is on plane to finish at the small of your neck, just as in the backswing!

In picture 4, all of your weight is on the left foot, with your right tow in the ground just for balance, your belly button is at the target.

As in the first lesson, without a club in your hand, everything stresses the weight shift. If you have any weight remaining on your right foot after the swing, you are not shifting properly. Your weight shift is all-important!