Continuing on with the How to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course series, today we will cover something really simple - clubhouse and beverage cart stops. Here’s a quick recap of what we have covered the first four days in our effort to spread the word on how to speed up pace of play on the golf course. Tuesday - Know Your Golf Ability Wednesday - Play Ready Golf Thursday - Let the Long Hitter Drive the Cart Friday - TEE IT FORWARD Today: Clubhouse and Beverage Cart … [Read more...]
Dear Losers, Stop Calling-In to Report Rules Violations During Tournaments
One question. Why does the USGA, Masters, PGA Tour and European Tour continue to take calls from losers who call to report rule violations? Actually, I lied - I have one more question. How in the hell do you even go about finding a number to call and report a rules violation? After reading an article earlier about another caller trying to report a Steve Stricker rules violation during the first round of U.S. Open, I decided to take things into my own hands to figure out how to go … [Read more...]
My Ideas on How to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course – Part 4
Three days ago I started a 7-part series of ideas here at Front9Back9 that I like to call How to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course. Before I get into today’s way to save some time on the golf course, here’s a quick recap of the first three. Starting on Tuesday, we talked about how knowing your golf ability will help you save valuable time on the golf course. Wednesday I laid out how playing ready golf is the best way to go with with your golf buddies. Yesterday’s idea involved … [Read more...]
My Ideas on How to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course – Part 3
Since I started my 7-part series outlining my ideas on improving pace of play, the USGA has actually released five videos featuring some of the biggest names in golf. The initiative is called “While We’re Young” and the commercials are what you would expect from the USGA. Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Annika Sorenstam, Clint Eastwood and Paula Creamer all star in separate commercials and all five are decent attempts to try and prove a point, but that’s about it. Tiger is featured in one that … [Read more...]
My Ideas on How to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course – Part 2
Pace of play on the golf course is one of the biggest problems golfers of all ages and levels face on a daily basis. Whether it a municipal city course or an exclusive country club, finding ways to speed up a round of golf should be on the forefront of every golfers mind. Yesterday I started a 7-part series where I am sharing my own personal ideas on the best ways to speed up the pace of play on the golf course. With the first idea, I discussed how knowing your golf ability and not trying … [Read more...]
My Ideas on How to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course – Part 1
If you’ve watched anything on Golf Channel over the past 12 days, then surely you’ve seen one of the many commercials featuring Charlie Rymer and Matt Ginella screwing around on the golf course. Actually it’s Matt screwing around on the golf course and Charlie trying to make a point about pace of play. The funniest part about the commercials is they’re fairly accurate. I think we have all played with someone who checks the range finder, then checks the phone app and then changes clubs two … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Foursome of Favorites: Picks & Predictions for U.S. Open
Well it’s finally time. Time to set aside all the talk and finally tee it up at Merion Golf Club for the 113th edition of the U.S. Open. We are about 34 hours from the first tee-times and I couldn't be more excited. The U.S. Open is my favorite golf tournament played each year. Starting with Golf’s Longest Day, the hype has been building-and-building for over a week now. It's time to play some golf! Here is my Foursome of Favorites for the U.S. Open. Tiger Woods Shocking right? I … [Read more...]
The Circus is Coming to Town: Tiger, Rory and Adam Paired Together at U.S. Open
If you happen to be looking for a circus to attend next week, look no further then Merion Golf Club and the U.S. Open. The USGA announced yesterday they are going to pair the top three players in the world together for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open which is surely to bring with it a circus like atmosphere on a golf course that is already small and cramped. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott will be teeing off at 1:14 PM ET on Thursday and then again at 7:44 AM ET on Friday. … [Read more...]
No Surprise Here, Tiger Woods is Still Rich
Forbes is releasing it's annual richest athlete list in a couple weeks and guess what - Tiger Woods is the richest athlete again. The only question I have is whether or not Elin is still entitled to future earnings or if that gravy train ended when Tiger scratched her an estimated $100 million back when he was sexing it up with everyone on the planet. Look it's no surprise Tiger has regained #1 as the richest athlete, especially since he seems to be regaining form and collects $1 million … [Read more...]
Golf’s Longest Day: Do I Have What it Takes to Someday Compete?
I’m at home sick today, so what else is there to do but watch Golf Channel’s coverage of Golf’s Longest Day. All across the country today, golfers from all walks of life are competing at 11 different sectional qualifying events to fill 56 spots in the upcoming U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in two weeks. Do I have what it takes to compete one day in a U.S. Open qualifier? Currently I have a handicap of 10.4 listed on the GHIN website. In order to just register for the U.S. Open qualifying … [Read more...]
Chip-Ins & Chunks: Tiger, Kuchar and Some Guy Named Conrad
Chip-Ins & Chunks is a new feature I’m starting here at Front9Back9.com to highlight the best and the worst from the past weekend in golf. Tell me what you think below or let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9. Chip-Ins - The Good Is Matt Kuchar One of the Favorites at U.S. Open? Matt Kuchar cruised to his second victory of 2013 with a big win yesterday at the Memorial. With a final round 68, Kuchar moved to #4 in the World Golf Rankings and #2 in the Fed Ex Cup race. Kuchar has … [Read more...]
National Golf Day Visits Capitol Hill Today to Share Why Golf is So Important in America
National Golf Day commenced today with representatives from the WE ARE GOLF coalition visiting Capitol Hill to share the economic benefits of the great game of golf. While I may be a little late to the party with this post being so late in the evening, I still thought I would write a few thoughts on why golf is so important to me. I received an email last week from a media representative from WE ARE GOLF asking me to join in on the social conversation which I wanted to make sure I followed … [Read more...]
There’s No Denying Pace of Play on the PGA Tour is Horrendous, But at What Level Does it Start?
Last week I volunteered at the Valero Texas Open. I walked 18 holes with a three-some of PGA Tour professionals each day. All four days I walked step-by-step with these guys and all four days they never finished in less than five hours. Yes, you read that right – FIVE HOURS FOR 18 HOLES. The latest pace-of-play discussion is not new. But due to the fact a 14-year old prodigy from China was hit with a one-shot penalty yesterday in the second round of The Masters, the discussion has been … [Read more...]
Tiger Woods vs The Aussies
It’s no surprise that I am a Tiger Woods homer. I root for the guy and I want the guy to always dominate. I picked Tiger Woods to win The Masters in a couple different posts leading up to this week and I’m not backing off that pick. But if Tiger Woods doesn’t win The Masters, I am rooting for anyone from Australia. You see, I am one-quarter Australian. My grandma who I never really knew (Yo-Yo) is from Australia. My dad is half Australian which I believe makes me one-quarter Australian. … [Read more...]
How Important is Golf Posture Throughout the Golf Swing?
Not only is golf posture important in your golf setup, but the consistency of golf posture throughout your golf swing is the secret to hitting the golf ball with consistency. Without consistent golf posture, you can not play consistent golf. Why is Golf Posture Important The primary spinal segments that rotate during your golf swing are your thoracic vertebra (your mid back). The lumbar spine (low back) is not designed to rotate more than a couple of degrees per joint. As a result, we … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Golf Picks & Predictions: The Green Jacket Edition
After completely failing at my Valero Texas Open golf picks and predictions last week, I’m back again this week to redeem myself. These picks are bigger and these picks are right-on! Below are my picks and predictions for the 2013 Masters. Bubba Will Not Be Close to the Leaderboard on Sunday Look, nothing against Bubba Watson. He played great last year and he is a tremendous golfer that can do wicked things with the direction of his golf ball. I just don’t think he can do it again at … [Read more...]
Valero Texas Open Golf Picks & Predictions = FAILURE
As I sit here and watch the ACM awards and try to recover from my volunteering at the Valero Texas Open the last four days, I can’t help but notice how bad my golf picks & predictions were last Wednesday before the tournament. Here's how I fared: Jimmy Walker will win the Valero Texas Open Well, Jimmy didn’t win the tournament and he wasn’t really all that close either. He finished with a T31 finish and $35,960 in earnings. I really had a good feeling about Jimmy heading into the week … [Read more...]
My Valero Texas Open Volunteering Experience
It’s Sunday evening and the last four days have been long - I’m sunburned and my feet and calves hurt. If you’re anything like my wife though you probably don’t want to hear my complaining – she claims it’s all self-inflicted since I didn’t use sun block on Friday and I eat too much and don’t work out enough. If you didn't know, the Valero Texas Open has just completed here in San Antonio and Martin Laird pulled off an unexpected victory and stamped his ticket to Augusta. Me on the other … [Read more...]
Valero Texas Open Picks & Predictions
The Valero Texas Open officially kicks off in about 30 minutes in what is being labeled as the best field of golfers to come to San Antonio in quite some time. The grouping of Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth is by far the featured morning group on Thursday and Ian Poulter, Charl Schwartzel and Jim Furyk will turn out to be the featured group in the afternoon. I will be out at TPC San Antonio the next four days volunteering with the NBC/Golf Channel golf crew. Here are my picks … [Read more...]
Valero Texas Open: 5 Players Worth Following
The players teeing it up at the Valero Texas Open on Thursday could quite possibly make up the best field we have seen in San Antonio is some years. With two of the top-1o players in the World Golf Rankings headlining, it should turn out to be quite an exciting tournament come this weekend. Below are five players worth following at the Valero Texas Open starting on Thursday. 1.) Rory McIlroy McIlroy is coming off a tough three months to start 2013. With The Masters on his mind, Rory … [Read more...]