13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi

The Highest Paid Actress in Hollywood Golfs - Rate Her Style and Her Swing

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Kristen Stewart July 20, 2012. Credit: Sasha-kmm/X17online.com
Kristen Stewart made $34.5 million last year, which according to Forbes magazine, makes her the highest paid actress in Hollywood.

As Bella in the Twilight movies her style is distinctly low maintenance, while the Florabotanica campaign for Balenciaga highlights a more sophisticated side of the girl known as KStew. The fine line between Grunge and Glam. 

Well, a couple of days ago, the popular actress was spotted on a golf course, and there, grunge clearly won out... in the form of a baggy T-shirt (said to belong to boyfriend Robert Pattinson) and cut off khaki shorts that revealed freakishly white legs.  It's an outfit that might well come under scrutiny at the average country club, but it seemed to work for the mega-starlett.


The star wore the wayfarer type sunglasses and unkemptish hair she's known for, but what was most distinctive about her look was the footwear: Ms. Stewart was sporting what looked like Vibram Five Fingers.  A shoe style we first wrote about when Oliver Wilson tried them out at the 2010 Dubai World Championship. Definitely one of the edgier shoe styles out there.

Kristen was playing with her father, John, who bears a slight resemblance to a certain well known LPGA golf dad. John Stewart, it turns out, is a stage manager/producer for none other than George Lopez, a celebu-golfer if ever there was one.  Lopez (and Golfsmith) gifted the winsome Twilight star with a full set of clubs on a recent episode of Lopez Tonight.

More photos of Kristen Stewart's golf style... and her golf swing... can be found on X17.

Golf Collectibles: Golden Age Golf Girl Adorns a Vintage Beauty Box

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via Etsy, PowerofOneDesigns

Her style was undoubtedly inspired by Joyce Wethered or perhaps Glenna Collett Vare. From their cloche-style chapeaux to their form-fitting sweaters and skirts, they were the most fashionable... and talented... women golfers of their time.

Bending over a diminutive club, the tiny silver golfer appears to be engaged in a rather bizzarre pre-shot routine.

She stands on the carved silver lid of what they used to call a beauty box. In fact the shapely lady serves as a handle for this charming Art Deco compact.  It's a perfectly delightful collectible for the acquisitive golf historian.

Rory Stories - The Rapid Ascent of the World's Number One Golfer

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Photograph by: Jim Rogash , Getty Images        via leaderpost.com

To ardent golf observers, it sometimes seems that Rory McIlroy's been around for ages.

We watched his cherubic traits take on the more angular edge of adulthood as his game evolved into something so impressive as to leave us with little doubt we'd be watching an Ulsterman golfer on Sunday afternoons for years to come.

There were, in fact, periods of mental malaise, the most recent of which came earlier this summer with a string of missed cuts, but as the summer waned, McIlroy staged an assertive comeback, winning the 2012 PGA Championship by a record eight shots and displaying an astonishing consistency on the greens. Yesterday it was the Deutsche Bank Championship and a follow-up win that had more than a few golf writers celebrating the dawning of the McIlroy era. Tiger Woods shot a 66 yesterday to finish two strokes back in third while third round leader Louis Oosthuizen settled for second.  Not surprisingly others saw yesterday's outcome from a slightly different perspective calling it the end of the Tiger era.

Meanwhile for hopeful golf fans the world over, yesterday's outcome signaled the tantalizing possibility of golf's next great rivalry.

For now however, I'll leave you with a few Rory stories from the past ...stories I posted during the rapid ascent of Mr. McIlroy.

Rory Mcilroy's Weekend... Under Monty's Watchful Eye

Final Note from Dunhill Links: A Stellar Day for Dyson

Dubai Golf - Lee Westwood Wins, Rory McIlroy Reacts

Rory Mcilroy - Holywood Legend With Major Dreams
Rory McIlroy: The Huge Win & Inevitable Girlfriend Tweets
Number 1 Rors - The Awesome Ascension of Mr. McIlroy

News Flash: Girls Who Play Golf Are More Desirable Than Those Who Don't

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Sorry golfer guys, seems girls go for football
We've long suspected as much, but thanks to Coffee Meets Bagel, a new data-driven dating site, we've got proof... and the provenance of this proof is the upstart matchmaker's own awesome analytics.

You see, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB for short) has a unique approach to the online dating process, and it's an approach that has allowed the company to compile a relative wealth of meaningful data, very quickly.

The CMB site is modern and minimalistic, reflective of the 20-something-ish age demographic they appear to be targeting. The basic process is explained via this simple video from the company's website.  A "one match a day" formula, based on social networking profiles, differentiates CMB from other such sites and gives it a lighthearted, daily deal type vibe ...especially since you then have only 24 hours to like or pass on each match.  

It sounds kind of exciting, doesn't it? That and the fact that its men like women who golf make me think that if I were a bit younger... and a bit less married... I'd be signing up right here.



Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

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Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano                                                                                                        © Golf Digest Online
While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:
• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates
Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 
• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope
Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 
Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

12 Ekim 2012 Cuma

Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

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Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano                                                                                                        © Golf Digest Online
While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:
• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates
Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 
• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope
Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 
Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

The Caddie Who Turned His ‘Bag’ Into a Work of Art

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By John Coyne
Special to ARMCHAIR GOLF

Copyright © John Coyne. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Artist Charles McGill.
IN 1996, YOUNG ARTIST CHARLES MCGILL was working at a golf pro shop on 49th and Madison Avenue in New York City when one day while straightening up golf bags he thought it would be “cool” if he could combine a vintage recording of Malcolm X with one of the very opulent and durable looking golf bags.

“I thought the contrast would be interesting,” McGill says today. “That was the very first thought of the possibility of using a golf bag as an object or subject in my art.”

Although not the typical artist motif, McGill has found that a golf bag reveals more than its original function suggests. It is a contextually powerful object that is ripe with its own significant baggage. His interest in the golf bag as an artistic object was fostered by his interest in the game itself.

“I love golf,” says McGill, who received his BFA from School of Visual Arts in New York City, and his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. “I love to play it and watch it on television. I was even thinking about turning pro at one point so that I could be a teaching pro.”

The bag art of Charles McGill.
Working as young man at a country club near his home on Long Island, he was greatly influenced by the membership.

“I was able to see how members were as people as opposed to what I imagined or assume rich members to be and how they might act. I think a lot of people think members of country clubs are snooty with an aversion to anyone who isn’t white or rich or privileged. That wasn’t my experience. I met some of the nicest and most generous people I’ve ever encountered. And they were consistently pleasant. They were often grounded in faith and lived by it.”

Today, many of his golf objects are displayed in country clubs like those he worked in as a caddie. Robert Rubin, who built The Bridge Country Club in Bridgehampton, New York, was one of the first country club owners to features McGill’s work.

An avid collector of contemporary act, Rubin came across McGill’s golf bag constructions and according to McGill, “it was a match made in artist/patron heaven. The club house at Bridge Country Club is a perfect setting for my work and Mr. Rubin even made me an honorary member of the club which is great because I can’t afford that kind of cabbage.”

McGill’s talent for golf art also goes beyond golf bags. In 2005 he illustrated Tom Patri’s The Six-Spoke Approach to Golf published by Lyons Press in 2005. These pen-and-ink drawings show his skill not only as an artist, but also as one who loves the game.

Today, McGill lives in Peekskill, New York, and teaches art at Norwalk Community College in Norwalk, Connecticut. This month a special exhibition of his golf bag constructions are on display at The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York.

More of Charles McGill’s work can be seen at www.artnegro.com.

John Coyne is a bestselling author whose latest book is The Caddie Who Won the Masters. Learn more at John Coyne Books.

Updates and Posts from our Friends

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We have now reached crunch time for FHI!  We're definitely feeling the crunch.  But things get done, somehow, with our outstanding team of volunteers.

An update that was posted on our Facebook page, and may well benefit some of our more local CCI** competitors:

The Maryland Horse Trials just added a "Get ready for Fair Hill" CT ($75) for Sunday afternoon, October 14. We will be running the CCI** B test. We will have 2 rings - 2 judges starting at 2pm so you can do the test twice (2nd test is $25) before a different judge. SJ will be set and extra SJ ($20) rounds. Please spread the word.

Please submit a filled out a USEA CT entry form, signature page and current coggins to the Maryland Horse Trials by e-mail or fax: mdhorsetrials@gmail.com, 240-489-7885
Please pay through PayPal on our homepage,www.themarylandhorsetrials.com. Please make sure you add the $5 convenience fee.

Also please check out a new blog posting on Eventing Nation.  This one is about CCI ** competitor Allie Blyskal and her Connemara cross mount Sparrows Nio.  Allie is a Fair Hill local, and has been attending the event as a spectator since she was 10.  Best of luck to Allie and Neo!


Sunday Fun

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I know, I know - you've loved the Shetland Pony races during the lunch break on Sunday the past two years.  So have we.  What's not to love?  Tiny ponies.  Cute kids.  Tall event riders galloping tiny ponies around the main arena.  It's the highlight of the day.

But, we've done the pony races for a couple years, so we thought we'd take a break from that and go in a different direction, which we also think you will love.

We are very pleased and excited to announce our Sunday lunchtime entertainment!

The PRO Bareback Show Jumping Challenge presented by Zurich Insurance, BW Furlong & Associates and Furlong's Healthy Horse, will be held in the William du Pont, Jr. Main Arena during the lunch break on Sunday, October 21, between the CCI**  and CCI*** Show Jumping Phases. Event riders will compete in a speed class over a modified course of six fences (3’.3”), with an optional “Joker” fence of 3’.6”. The riders will ride bareback and they will compete for prize money of $2,000.

Bring it on, bareback event riders.  We can't wait!


Tents!

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With less than a week before the first dressage ride at Fair Hill, preparations are in overdrive.

The Country Shops tent being raised
If you haven't been here when the grounds are just a lovely state park, then you might not realize what a monumental task this is.  It's a public park.  With hikers, mountain bikers, people walking their dogs, and trail riders galore.  It's a fantastic park.  But to put on an event like Fair Hill International?  A LOT has to be brought in.  So for the next week we will have a huge, tireless group of people working hard to get everything in place.
The new, improved Stabling tent in its new, improved, hopefully drier location.
Tents have to be erected to provide some shelter for vendors, sponsors, and horses.  There is no running water in the park, at least not where we are located.  So huge tanks of water are shipped in, and filled multiple times over the course of the week, for the horses to drink, for the vet box, for the caterers.  There's limited electricity, so we set up generators and light towers and string lights in all the tents.  Trash cans and recycling containers and dumpsters come in for trash.  Porta-pots are delivered by the dozens.  Galloping lanes are put in place, final painting is completed, jumps are decorated, tables are placed under tents, phone lines are installed, speakers are placed in trees all over the grounds so you can hear the play by play during the cross country phase.  Emergency piles of gravel are placed in strategic locations, since it always, always rains during the event.  Golf carts are rented for the week, as are tractors to do a variety of tasks.  Bleachers are brought over from the nearby Fairgrounds.  Stadium jumps are delivered, straw bales and mums are placed.  Horses start arriving.  Dressage rings are set.  Rings are dragged.  Rings are watered and then, inevitably, it pours overnight.
And that's Fair Hill.  Come back in a few weeks and you'll see little sign that we were ever here.  There's cross country jumps scattered around, and there's a few rings with nice footing.  And beyond that...  Acres and acres of rolling fields and quiet beauty, and hikers and bikers and trail riders.
A little last-minute painting of the info booth.  And hey, look!  There's the Kids Corner tent in the background!

11 Ekim 2012 Perşembe

Rory Stories - The Rapid Ascent of the World's Number One Golfer

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Photograph by: Jim Rogash , Getty Images        via leaderpost.com

To ardent golf observers, it sometimes seems that Rory McIlroy's been around for ages.

We watched his cherubic traits take on the more angular edge of adulthood as his game evolved into something so impressive as to leave us with little doubt we'd be watching an Ulsterman golfer on Sunday afternoons for years to come.

There were, in fact, periods of mental malaise, the most recent of which came earlier this summer with a string of missed cuts, but as the summer waned, McIlroy staged an assertive comeback, winning the 2012 PGA Championship by a record eight shots and displaying an astonishing consistency on the greens. Yesterday it was the Deutsche Bank Championship and a follow-up win that had more than a few golf writers celebrating the dawning of the McIlroy era. Tiger Woods shot a 66 yesterday to finish two strokes back in third while third round leader Louis Oosthuizen settled for second.  Not surprisingly others saw yesterday's outcome from a slightly different perspective calling it the end of the Tiger era.

Meanwhile for hopeful golf fans the world over, yesterday's outcome signaled the tantalizing possibility of golf's next great rivalry.

For now however, I'll leave you with a few Rory stories from the past ...stories I posted during the rapid ascent of Mr. McIlroy.

Rory Mcilroy's Weekend... Under Monty's Watchful Eye

Final Note from Dunhill Links: A Stellar Day for Dyson

Dubai Golf - Lee Westwood Wins, Rory McIlroy Reacts

Rory Mcilroy - Holywood Legend With Major Dreams
Rory McIlroy: The Huge Win & Inevitable Girlfriend Tweets
Number 1 Rors - The Awesome Ascension of Mr. McIlroy

News Flash: Girls Who Play Golf Are More Desirable Than Those Who Don't

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Sorry golfer guys, seems girls go for football
We've long suspected as much, but thanks to Coffee Meets Bagel, a new data-driven dating site, we've got proof... and the provenance of this proof is the upstart matchmaker's own awesome analytics.

You see, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB for short) has a unique approach to the online dating process, and it's an approach that has allowed the company to compile a relative wealth of meaningful data, very quickly.

The CMB site is modern and minimalistic, reflective of the 20-something-ish age demographic they appear to be targeting. The basic process is explained via this simple video from the company's website.  A "one match a day" formula, based on social networking profiles, differentiates CMB from other such sites and gives it a lighthearted, daily deal type vibe ...especially since you then have only 24 hours to like or pass on each match.  

It sounds kind of exciting, doesn't it? That and the fact that its men like women who golf make me think that if I were a bit younger... and a bit less married... I'd be signing up right here.



Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

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Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano                                                                                                        © Golf Digest Online
While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:
• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates
Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 
• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope
Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 
Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

Caddie and Other Stories in Hickory

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HANG AROUND A GOLF TOURNAMENT FOR a couple of days and you’re bound to hear jokes, stories, rumors and more. I was at the Greater Hickory Classic the last two days with no particular agenda other than to visit Jack Fleck and try to interview a couple of players for a new project.

I don’t spend a lot of time at tournaments—it doesn’t fit into my life—but when I do it’s fun to hear the chatter from writers, photographers, fans, tour officials, players, volunteers and the occasional celebrity. (Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann was shoulder to shoulder with me in the buffet line at last night’s pairings party).

Today, among other conversations, I talked to a veteran caddie who drove up from Florida looking for a bag this week. He explained how tough it is getting work on the Champions Tour compared to the older days. (He got started in the 1970s and has worked on both the PGA and Champions tours for the last four decades.)

It’s hard, yes, but bag toting is good work if you can get it. My caddie acquaintance said he misses it now that he has been somewhat forced into retirement. There are fewer spots, he explained, since so many players bring out spouses, siblings, other family members and friends to carry their bags. That makes it harder on the guys with experience who could definitely use the work.

This caddie was out in the parking lot with four or five others at the beginning of the week hoping for a bag. He got promised one if the pro made it through the Tuesday qualifier. (Qualifying is another story.) He told me how players often don’t use caddies in the qualifiers. If they don’t make it through the qualifier, they don’t want to think the caddie had something to do with it. If they do qualify, they know they did it on their own—figuring their own yardages, reading their putts, making all the decisions.

So the caddie didn’t go out. He waited to see if his player got into the field. The player just missed, losing out on the last spot in a two-hole playoff.

I asked the caddie what was next—would he head back to Florida?

Not yet, he said. He would wait around one more day just in case a player might need an experienced caddie to step in at the last moment.

The Well-Traveled Lee Elder

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Lee Elder at Riviera early this week. (Matter, Inc.) 
LIFE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN AT 78 if your name is Lee Elder. Or so it seems. Elder, of course, is a golf and PGA Tour pioneer, the first black to play in the Masters. It is closing in on 40 years since Lee teed it up at Augusta National. He recently said he was “scared to death”—death threats poured in by mail and phone—so he stayed in two different houses in Augusta that mid-April week in 1975, just in case.

I sat next to the trailblazer at breakfast yesterday at the Greater Hickory Classic. I was surprised to see him there, actually, because just the night before while checking my email I found a photo of him (at right) playing in an event in Los Angeles. But Lee had hopped on a plane and flown to Charlotte late on Tuesday night to play in the Great Grand Champions pro-am on Wednesday morning at Rock Barn in Conover.

As I said to him, chuckling, Lee Elder has been everywhere in recent weeks. He was at the Ryder Cup in Chicago and then traveled to the USGA headquarters in New Jersey to speak to youth and others and to collaborate with USGA museum staff on an exhibit that recognizes the contributions of African Americans. He also worked with a writer to do research on a book about his life in golf.

From there, it was back to Southern California for the Hilton HHonors Celebrity Golf Series at Riviera Country Club benefiting the City of Hope. And then, North Carolina, where I got to chat with him as he ate an omelette, one small sausage patty and a generous serving of fruit.

Lee no longer has to worry about getting to and from Augusta alive, but he was concerned about getting to Richmond, Virginia, from Charlotte without having to fly through Atlanta or New York City. That was his one question for me, and I didn’t have a good answer for him. There should be a way, I said, but maybe not on Delta.

After his one day at the Greater Hickory Classic, he was on his way to Williamsburg (via Richmond) to be the keynote speaker at a golf symposium. That’s where Lee Elder is today. He has traveled such a long time and distance to get there and to other places in the golf world, opening a few doors for others along the way.


10 Ekim 2012 Çarşamba

Golf Demographic Suddenly Skews Younger - On Course With 1D

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Let's face it, golf, more than any other sport... except maybe shuffleboard... is perceived as an old person's game.

Despite recent industry efforts to change that view, the "old golfer" image is clearly alive and well in the minds of many. At least that's the impression I came away with after a quick perusal of Twitter recently.

 Some were quite matter-of-fact about it...









...while others were more emphatically dismissive.









I encountered one young lady who seemed to thoroughly enjoy interacting with her on-course elders...











... and another who definitely didn't.










The general consensus however seemed to be: golfer = old (and generally uninteresting, often unpleasant, always uncool).  However, that may be about to change.


Golf... and those who care about the game and its image... may just have a secret not-so-secret weapon that goes by the code name boy band name of One Direction.   
One Direction... or 1D as they're known by fans... are actually five guys: Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayne Malik and Niall Horan. They're British/Irish, ultra-talented and exceptionally cute.  They're also enormously, extraordinarily, popular... sell-out-Madison-Square-Garden-in-less-than-10-minutes popular
1D's target market is tween girls, after all, they are a boy band.  However, they seem to be transcending that famously cacophonous niche... to some extent.  At least that's what I've read... and heard.
And here's the thing;  naturally, the 1D guys have millions of twitter followers, and... quite fortuitously... they also play golf. So when they tweeted about spending a day on the links, and later posted photos and videos of said golf day, word got around pretty quickly... and rather breathlessly... and suddenly golf was being looked at in a different light;  a decidedly younger, sexier, more positive light. The fact that D1 was playing with JLS... another massively popular boy band... meant that many who once considered golf the most geriatric of sports... are now desperately seeking lessons:










The French apparently aren't immune to the sport's new sex appeal, "One Direction is on the golf course. Admit it, you suddenly have a strong desire to play golf"












Does Golf Make 1D sexy, or does 1D make golf sexy? That question was answered.










...and so much for the overweight, aging golfer stereotype.










...just the #facts from Mexico "Since One Direction started playing golf the sport's become sexy"










...and I think this fan expresses the views of many,










Well, I detect a definite change in attitude there, don't you?  Anyway, you can follow @OneDirection and @Harry_Styles @zaynmalik @Real_Liam_Payne @NiallOfficial & @Louis_Tomlinson on Twitter. I'm guessing you'll see them (and their fans) playing more and more golf. Just be careful with their music and videos, because I don't care if you're young or old, or male or female... listen to their music for just a short while, and you're very liable to find yourself addicted. 

Golf Etiquette Issues: Bikinis & Bunker Rakes... and a Day at the Beach

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I wrote about bunker etiquette a few years ago after I encountered more than my fair share of the hated hazards during an otherwise enjoyable round.
I'm republishing a segment of that post today because I know I'll be spending some time in the sand today. You see, I've got some friends visiting from Europe... and I'm taking them to the beach. 
Bunker etiquette is somewhat ambiguous, and often subject to debate. The controversy frequently begins with the rake, and that age-old question: should it be left inside or outside of the sand trap? In fact, there is no official rule on that subject. The USGA, does have a guideline however, it's known as "out and down", which simply means the rake should be left outside the bunker, facing down. And that's fine. Except that there are some who feel the spindly sweeper is better left inside the bunker so as to avoid having it block the hapless trajectory of the next ball that happens to make a beeline for the beach. And I've got to admit that actually happened to me once. My ball sped towards the sand only to be stopped, a half an inch short, by a well positioned rake. I responded fittingly by jumping up and down with glee and shouting "Yay"! Multiple times over.  My fellow players were not amused by the incident (or my immature reaction).
Ultimately though it's up to the course to decide where and how they want the rake positioned after use...and up to the players to inform themselves and follow the club's policy. The actual raking of the bunkers can also be an issue. For example, how thorough should one be in their sand smoothing? I've noticed that men tend to be much more meticulous than women when it comes to the bunker sweep. I wonder why? Perhaps because women feel the activity is a little too much like housework. I've heard some men do housework too, however I've never met one that did.
The Etiquette Section of the Rules of Golf now allows that "Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others." The rule was recently updated with an exception to distinguish between testing the condition of a hazard and tidying up the bunker.
Finally what about bunker behavior as it affects pace of play? That... like many a pace of play polemic... should be intuitive. If you're playing on an ultra busy course, forget about winning the Good Housekeeping award. Just give the trap a quick brush to smooth it out, and move on as quickly as possible.
And speaking of sand traps and busy courses, if you can't get your ball out of the trap in a couple of tries you'd be well advised to surrender to the hazard. That is: pick up your ball and drop it outside the bunker for further play. I know no one likes to surrender, but you won't have to if you remember the No. 1 sand trap rule: The best way to get out of a bunker is not to get into it in the first place.
This video from USGA.org provides some additional instructional info ... and the one below, from FORE! Minnesota, is just plain funny.

Rory Stories - The Rapid Ascent of the World's Number One Golfer

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Photograph by: Jim Rogash , Getty Images        via leaderpost.com

To ardent golf observers, it sometimes seems that Rory McIlroy's been around for ages.

We watched his cherubic traits take on the more angular edge of adulthood as his game evolved into something so impressive as to leave us with little doubt we'd be watching an Ulsterman golfer on Sunday afternoons for years to come.

There were, in fact, periods of mental malaise, the most recent of which came earlier this summer with a string of missed cuts, but as the summer waned, McIlroy staged an assertive comeback, winning the 2012 PGA Championship by a record eight shots and displaying an astonishing consistency on the greens. Yesterday it was the Deutsche Bank Championship and a follow-up win that had more than a few golf writers celebrating the dawning of the McIlroy era. Tiger Woods shot a 66 yesterday to finish two strokes back in third while third round leader Louis Oosthuizen settled for second.  Not surprisingly others saw yesterday's outcome from a slightly different perspective calling it the end of the Tiger era.

Meanwhile for hopeful golf fans the world over, yesterday's outcome signaled the tantalizing possibility of golf's next great rivalry.

For now however, I'll leave you with a few Rory stories from the past ...stories I posted during the rapid ascent of Mr. McIlroy.

Rory Mcilroy's Weekend... Under Monty's Watchful Eye

Final Note from Dunhill Links: A Stellar Day for Dyson

Dubai Golf - Lee Westwood Wins, Rory McIlroy Reacts

Rory Mcilroy - Holywood Legend With Major Dreams
Rory McIlroy: The Huge Win & Inevitable Girlfriend Tweets
Number 1 Rors - The Awesome Ascension of Mr. McIlroy

News Flash: Girls Who Play Golf Are More Desirable Than Those Who Don't

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Sorry golfer guys, seems girls go for football
We've long suspected as much, but thanks to Coffee Meets Bagel, a new data-driven dating site, we've got proof... and the provenance of this proof is the upstart matchmaker's own awesome analytics.

You see, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB for short) has a unique approach to the online dating process, and it's an approach that has allowed the company to compile a relative wealth of meaningful data, very quickly.

The CMB site is modern and minimalistic, reflective of the 20-something-ish age demographic they appear to be targeting. The basic process is explained via this simple video from the company's website.  A "one match a day" formula, based on social networking profiles, differentiates CMB from other such sites and gives it a lighthearted, daily deal type vibe ...especially since you then have only 24 hours to like or pass on each match.  

It sounds kind of exciting, doesn't it? That and the fact that its men like women who golf make me think that if I were a bit younger... and a bit less married... I'd be signing up right here.



Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

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Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano                                                                                                        © Golf Digest Online
While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:
• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates
Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 
• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope
Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 
Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

9 Ekim 2012 Salı

The Fleeting Days of Summer ...and the Approach of Autumn Golf

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A Late Summer Afternoon at Richter Park         photo: Golf Girl Media
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~ John Steinbeck

For many New Englanders, summer will always seem too short.

Winters tend to be cold and dark here, and sometimes drag on well past the official start of spring.

That possibility makes the final days of August somewhat bittersweet.  Particularly for the golfers among us.    

However, the prospect of a fabulous fall golf season... one that may last through November... can make a waning summer seem far less somber.   And that's exactly what I'm focused on.

After a summer that allowed me little time for golf, I plan to spend numerous autumnal afternoons on courses tinged with crimson and aglow with golden foliage.

Rory Stories - The Rapid Ascent of the World's Number One Golfer

To contact us Click HERE

Photograph by: Jim Rogash , Getty Images        via leaderpost.com

To ardent golf observers, it sometimes seems that Rory McIlroy's been around for ages.

We watched his cherubic traits take on the more angular edge of adulthood as his game evolved into something so impressive as to leave us with little doubt we'd be watching an Ulsterman golfer on Sunday afternoons for years to come.

There were, in fact, periods of mental malaise, the most recent of which came earlier this summer with a string of missed cuts, but as the summer waned, McIlroy staged an assertive comeback, winning the 2012 PGA Championship by a record eight shots and displaying an astonishing consistency on the greens. Yesterday it was the Deutsche Bank Championship and a follow-up win that had more than a few golf writers celebrating the dawning of the McIlroy era. Tiger Woods shot a 66 yesterday to finish two strokes back in third while third round leader Louis Oosthuizen settled for second.  Not surprisingly others saw yesterday's outcome from a slightly different perspective calling it the end of the Tiger era.

Meanwhile for hopeful golf fans the world over, yesterday's outcome signaled the tantalizing possibility of golf's next great rivalry.

For now however, I'll leave you with a few Rory stories from the past ...stories I posted during the rapid ascent of Mr. McIlroy.

Rory Mcilroy's Weekend... Under Monty's Watchful Eye

Final Note from Dunhill Links: A Stellar Day for Dyson

Dubai Golf - Lee Westwood Wins, Rory McIlroy Reacts

Rory Mcilroy - Holywood Legend With Major Dreams
Rory McIlroy: The Huge Win & Inevitable Girlfriend Tweets
Number 1 Rors - The Awesome Ascension of Mr. McIlroy

News Flash: Girls Who Play Golf Are More Desirable Than Those Who Don't

To contact us Click HERE
Sorry golfer guys, seems girls go for football
We've long suspected as much, but thanks to Coffee Meets Bagel, a new data-driven dating site, we've got proof... and the provenance of this proof is the upstart matchmaker's own awesome analytics.

You see, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB for short) has a unique approach to the online dating process, and it's an approach that has allowed the company to compile a relative wealth of meaningful data, very quickly.

The CMB site is modern and minimalistic, reflective of the 20-something-ish age demographic they appear to be targeting. The basic process is explained via this simple video from the company's website.  A "one match a day" formula, based on social networking profiles, differentiates CMB from other such sites and gives it a lighthearted, daily deal type vibe ...especially since you then have only 24 hours to like or pass on each match.  

It sounds kind of exciting, doesn't it? That and the fact that its men like women who golf make me think that if I were a bit younger... and a bit less married... I'd be signing up right here.



Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

To contact us Click HERE
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano                                                                                                        © Golf Digest Online
While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:
• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates
Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 
• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope
Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 
Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

A Sweet Song About How Women Keep Men From Getting Better at Golf

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golf with my lucky husband
"...I got a hopeless golf game, I like the sound of your name."

Generally speaking,  I'm not a fan of country music. Having grown up in New England before there was a Taylor Swift or a Carrie Underwood, I always tended to associate the genre with a twangy sound, syrupy lyrics and Achy, Breaky annoying-ness.  The  "country pop" subgenre was in its infancy; Shania still went by Eileen, Dottie West had just become Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers... well he was Kenny Rogers, but it just didn't resonate with me.

However, after the quixotic lyric above appeared in my twitter feed for the tenth time yesterday,  I did some research and discovered "A Woman Like You" by a man named Lee Brice.

It's a beautiful, charming song... ultra-country, and naively romantic. Basically, it describes the ways a guy might need to, um... change his behavior in order to be with the woman he loves. It also outlines some of the things he may have to give up; like deep sea fishing and drive-thru fried chicken, poker nights with the guys and an old green Nova.  Oh...and golf.  Yes, golf's in there too, but I'm guessing it can stay if the guy finds a girl who shares his passion.  Like my lucky husband did.

Mind you, the husband's golf game is still pretty hopeless.


8 Ekim 2012 Pazartesi

Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

To contact us Click HERE
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano                                                                                                        © Golf Digest Online
While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:
• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates
Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 
• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope
Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 
Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's
Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

Lacoste Ladies Open de France - "Surreal" Second Win for Stacey Keating

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Australia's Stacey Keating, won the 2012 Lacoste Ladies Open de France yesterday, and received the trophy with her caddie/boyfriend, Darren Peters, looking on.

European Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal and former world number one Lorena Ochoa... who has inspired the Aussie golfer for years... were also present.  
For the 26-year-old Keating this win makes two in a row, after her very recent maiden victory at the LET's Tenerife Open de Espana.  Today's final round was a nail-biter to the end:


Australian Stacey Keating came from three shots behind overnight leader Diana Luna of Italy to capture the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Chantaco Golf Club on Sunday.  
The 26-year-old from Cressy, Victoria, recorded her second straight win on the Ladies European Tour after she earned her maiden title at the Tenerife Ladies Open de Espana a fortnight previously. 
Playing in the penultimate group, Keating was quick out of the blocks with four birdies in a row from the second to catch Luna. The Italian then made four straight birdies from the fifth to get to 15 under but dropped a shot on 10, opening the door again.  
After Keating bogeyed the 13th, Luna was two clear of the Australian but Keating birdied 14, 16 and 17 to move one ahead with a hole to play.  Keating thought she’d blown it when she bogeyed 18, but then watched Luna do the same, missing a five foot par putt which would have forced a play-off. Heartbroken Luna was forced to settle for her third straight second place finish in three years at the same tournament. 
Meanwhile, Keating described the feeling as ‘surreal.’

Stacey Keating's  back-to-back wins are remarkable in themselves, but the fact that she was able to achieve them just weeks after her disappointing disqualification at the British Open (for accidentally signing an incorrect scorecard) is a testament to her resiliency.

Gifu (Japan), 5.10.2012 -67th National Sports Festival-

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Gifu (Japan), 5-6.10.2012 -67th National Sports Festival-  ...not complete...Men100m (0.6) Masashi Eriguchi 10.29; 100m u18 (0.1) 1 Yoshihide Kiryu 10.21; 2 Akiyuki Hashimoto 10.42; 400m race B 1 Mahau Sugimachi (bra) 47.07; 2 Kei Takase 47.19; 800m Masato Yokota 1:49.54; 400mh 1 Mahau Sugimachi (bra) 49.13; 2 Keisuke Nozawa 49.60; 3 Yuta Konishi 50.46; 3.000m St Aoi Matsumoto 8.36.06; LJ Shin-Ichiro Shimono 7.86 (0.8); HT Hiroshi Noguchi 70.20; 10 Kms Walk 1 Yusuke Suzuki 40:10.16, 2 Takumi Saito (93) 40:11.71Women
100m (0.6) Chisato Fukushima 11.55; 5.000m Hitomi Niiya 15:17.79; 2 Ayuko Suzuki 15:34.15; 3 Yuko Shimizu 15:37.78; 4 Misaki Onishi 15:41.50; 5 Yuki Mitsunobu 15:44.32; 6 Haruka Kyuma 15:46.88; 7 Aya Nagata 15:50.64; 400mh 1 Sayaka Aoki 56.98; 2 Shiori Miki 57.98; TJ Sachiko Masumi 13.68 (2.7); HT Masumi Aya 62.18

complete results at: http://www.kirokensaku.com/minamo2012/

 

Rieti (Italy), 6-7.10.2012 –Interclubs u23-

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Rieti (Italy), 6-7.10.2012–Interclubs u23-
Men
100m (0.0) LorenzoValentini 10.57; 200m (7) (0.8) 1 Lorenzo Valentini 21.17; 2 Diego Marani 21.18;3 Elija Mensah (gha) 21.44; 400mPaolo Carlo Danesini 47.89; 110mh(0.1) Hassane Fofana 14.33; HJ (7) GiuseppeCarollo 2.20; SP (7) Daniele Secci 17.85;HT (7) Simone Falloni 69.53
Women
PV (7) Roberta Bruni (94)4.15; LJ (7) Dariya Derkach (ukr/ita)6.27 (nwi); HT Francesca Massobrio59.27