Green Grass Accounts

Cantigny Pro Shop

It’s a logical place to start. When you go out to play golf or practice, you automatically become a potential customer to the “green grass” account. Your local golf facility should have some type of golf merchandise on display.

Pros

• Green Grass accounts have PGA Professionals, it is their job to know about golf equipment and products. Many of the Professionals are on staff with the major manufactures. This means that they play a specific brand of equipment, and have their names associated with that brand…ever see a PGA Professionals Staff bag?
• Local Sales Representatives assisting in the sale and care of each individual brand. Usually a local person. This helps in a variety of ways. Sales Reps get hard to find items, deal with warranty issues and trouble shoot problems for the Golf Pro.  Special orders tend to be faster and easier to do with green grass accounts.
• Pros at “green grass” accounts tend to know a lot about a particular product line(s). Since they carry it, play it, they have a wealth of knowledge…and know how to explain it!
• Most..and I mean most…of the Professionals at a golf facility have superior customer service, if you buy a product from them, it’s because they want you to spend your money on green fees or range tokens. For most golf shops, the money is in the repeat customer using their other services. Selling clubs is a by-product, not a necessity.
• Green grass accounts are stable…I mean that they tend to stick around, and are open from first light to darkness…including Sundays!

Cons

• Limited product brands. Most Pro Shops won’t carry every manufacturer. Or have accounts with every manufacturer.  It would be impossible to fit them all into the limited sales space they have.
• Lower in-stock sku’s (stock keeping units…or stuff)
• Tend to have higher costs. This is very true for must have things such as balls, gloves and apparel. Since you are there, they gotcha! They rely on margin, over volume.

Retail Box Stores

Dedicated to the sale of anything golf related. These stores can be as large as 50,000 square feet of equipment overload. Golfsmith and Golf Galaxy are golf/ tennis only stores. Dick’s is a mega sports store with golf, fishing, men’s and women’s apparel, shoes, fitness and any “ball” sport utopia. The retail box stores know how to merchandise…they know how to set up displays, and are somewhat knowledgeable (the sales force knows product, the cashier not so much…)

Pros

• Vast selection of products. Everything from A-Z.
• Large in store inventory…multiple products with the same characteristics. And most stores have a very large demo section…you can hit the ball in a net   not the best option, but better than most.
• Most have a trade in program…at least you can get some $ for your old equipment to help defray the cost of something new. In fact you can find some used clubs at great prices.
• Close outs…this is a great reason to stop by a big box store. They have plenty of last years or later merchandise to choose from. If a manufacturer has too many of last years model in a warehouse, they will sell it to a Big Box retailer (due to the logistics and distribution power) at an excellent discount…which means you get it for a lot less.
• The ability to find what you want in one stop. These stores have literally thousands of sku’s (stuff) from every manufacturer and then some. Dick’s currently purchased the Hagen name, and McGregor Line…they then cut out the middle man and offer some ridiculous prices on decent products.
• Box retailers can sell on volume, and are motivated to turn over product (saves room and makes $) so you can get great sales pricing…

Cons

• Staff knowledge. Imagine if you had to know everything about 8 manufactures…who have 6 product lines…wow that would even hurt my head! When you go to buy a “new” car…you don’t have the Toyota’s hanging out at the Ford store…So this can be somewhat tough when deciding on a specific brand…it can be overload. Too many choices can confuse.
• Limited hours of operation. I’ve tried to buy stuff on a weekend (it’s still light outside) and found the store closed. They are also located in high traffic areas, making parking and travel times difficult.
• Sometimes I feel so alone….hello…anyone there? With such a large space, there is not too much interaction…and these “helpers” are paid to make the store $…the questions they ask are not really about me, but rather how much I plan to spend.
• Customer service can become a nightmare. Not all Big Box retailers are bad…but with the volume of customers, sometimes you can become a lost name and number. I had a student once that bought some clubs (heck it was a great deal) the problem was they shipped the wrong set (she was a lefty) it was a righty…then it took 8 weeks for her to get the clubs…TWO months…in the middle of summer? Her season was gone before she got her sticks. And she didn’t even get a discount or a towel…was very sad.

On-Line Retail or Auction

Beavergolf.com a community on the Web

This is the area that has taken off. It’s always on….24/7. Items get shipped directly to your house, no need to drive around. On-Line retailers tend to have some great prices…You get exactly what you want, in the size shape or color…All types of manufactures are available and hard to find items are just a click away.

Pros

• Buy what you want when you want. Every option is available to you. Prices are generally lower (most of the big manufacturers won’t allow them to advertise a lower price than Green Grass, but they almost always have some special to entice you…like free shipping or an extra club or a free towel)
• Super low pricing on discontinued products…they make a killing on selling 2nd-3rd generation clubs. Auctions like ebay can let the market dictate what prices are. I’ve seen some really low prices on great clubs. The used golf club market feasts on the auction based platform. Owners and sellers can help each other out.

Cons

• Not being able to physically hold or touch the merchandise
• Shipping costs and times. Some on-line sellers find creative ways to inflate the cost…especially handling fees.
• Restocking fees and return processes
• Customer service? Some are exceptional (TGW and Golfsmith) some are not so good. Getting answers to questions about a particular item is kinda like asking a NY cabbie directions to Boston…won’t happen. You must know exactly what you want…the internet is also a great resource for information…like dlrgolf.com
• Paying by Credit Card…I do enjoy using Paypal…and have found that in most cases ebay is very concerned with customer satisfaction
• Buying used equipment and relying on a photo for what you get..you never know how it’s been used..at least the best sellers have a return policy, plus you can leave a bad review if needed on a transaction.
• When a deal is too good to be true…there are scam artists out there so buyer beware…deal with only people that have good reputations…if you notice more than 10% of the comments are negative…move along.

In the End

When you feel the need to get some new golf gear, take a look at all three. I’m sure that something might catch your eye. I highly recommend using a Green Grass Account if possible. These guys are good, they have an interest in improving your game, and they don’t want to lose you as a customer (since they have a smaller number). If you do have a problem, it usually just takes one phone call to get it fixed.

For Big Box retailers…I like Golfsmith and Dick’s. They have lots of product and some great pricing on golf balls and accessories. The amount of in-stock clubs makes it very possible that they have what you need. Chicago Bills Golf in Hanover Park is a hybrid..not quite as large as a BBR but way bigger than a GGA…plus Mark and Norris are golf guys..and they have as much knowledge as anyone I know about all the major manufactures. They provide all the pros of a GGA but have superior customer service when compared to a BBR.

On-line retailers are the 900 pound gorilla. They are changing how every retailer model works. They are never closed and offer the widest assortment of inventory around. As we move forward, I suspect that a greater percentage of my purchases and yours will be done online. I’ve noticed more and more PGA Instructors (Lou Solarte comes to mind) are offering web based sales of equipment. It makes sense, they understand the game, and can use it provide the buyer with information…also they are providing club fitting with purchases, so that’s a good thing! The web also allows specialty or niche retailers the opportunity to sell unique golf products. Beavergolf.com is run buy a local golfer, who wants to provide a specific feel to his “community” of golfing contacts. Ebay and the auction websites offer you the opportunity to buy or sell…which keeps more money in your pocket and that’s a good thing…isn’t it?

Back in the Saddle

I guess it is like riding a bike. It might have taken me an hour, but I quickly got back into the “golf” mode. Helping my friend Lou Cesarek of Mizuno Golf at the demo day was uber cool. The neat thing about Mizuno for the 2010 season is the Optimizer Swing Fitter. Swing the club, gather info and input into the computer and out pops your suggested golf shaft…it’s all about your swing and tendencies. Subjective decisions on shaft flex are gone…you actually hit the shaft that you would purchase. Now that’s a great use of Technology.

Impressive Stuff

A couple new clubs stand out. I was able to swing Wilson Golf’s new FG Tour Irons. Wow, I was surprised how clean they felt. They have a classic look from the toe to the heel. Their game improvement clubs were impressive as well. Thank god! Wilson has finally added some great clubs to their historic line…about time and kudos to the design team at Wilson.

Titleist has a winner in the 909H. I just love the look of this hybrid. It’s not overpowering and awkward looking. Can’t wait to take on on-course for a demo. I tested the AP2 iron…and it’s very nice. Titleist is a players club and it works for this player!

Callaway was a busy place on the range. I hit the FT Tour Driver and FT Hybrid. They intrigue me and will be testing them more in-depth. They also sported the TrackMan Golf Radar system. This might be the ultimate fitting tool. I won’t disclose my stats (open club face=power fade!) but I will say that the info provided is pure awesome!

Nike has a hot driver. I’m not a big Nike fan (love the shoes, not so much the clubs) but the new VR Tour Driver…um yes please. To say that I was shocked is an understatement.

The Mizuno MX-300 could be the best forged club for the widest spectrum of golfers on the market. The MP-62 with a Project X 6.0 shaft is so pure…think Greenland Glacier Water x’s 100.

What a great way to spend a March day. Thanks to Lou, Mark Clavey, Jimmy Michaels, Chris O’Brien, Billy Nestel and the cat from Nike (I forgot his name sorry). I enjoyed helping Scott (dude is 6′8 and swings smooth, good luck in Lexington) Brandon MP-52, Mike, Jim, Gary, Lefty, Shorty and Off balanced dude.

I know good Art when I see it

I can’t paint or draw, sculpt or knit, yet I know good art when I see it. A giant red circle on white canvas? Maybe if I’m loaded. I have almost no color coordination abilities, yet I usually pull of matching my brown belt with any color of pant or shoe. Do I look like a dork when I do it? Sometimes, but I’m not pretending to be a fashion diva. Just like I won’t pretend to be an artist. My skill set isn’t made up for all the amazing things gifted artists can convey on a multitude of mediums. When I go to other sites to learn about what people are NEEDING to feed their golf fix, well I’m kinda dumbstruck. There are great writers on golf, excellent teachers, but the main golfing websites with huge followers that use forums as an avenue to dispense information are whacked out!

It is amazing to see posts of 20+ handicap golfers talking the finer points of bending their clubs 1°, or adding 4 grams of weight to the toe of their putter to increase the MOI-Moment of Inertia. Zing a poster from Norway tells a guy from St.Louis that bounce doesn’t mean a thing on wedges (except from sand bunkers to flop shots). What is the world coming to! Cats and dogs, Dems and Republicans working hand in hand…

If you want good Fish ask a Monger

So I guess it comes down to trust. Who do you trust? If you need advice about your golf game, where do you go? I highly recommend not going to forums and asking questions where any dude with an internet connection and too much time can tell you the finer points on hitting a flop shot…(um I do have fast internet, and I do seem to have a lot of time)

You need to ask someone that knows what they are talking about, and I feel that Dogleg Right Golf is a perfect place to ask those difficult questions. If I don’t know an answer to a golf question, then I know someone that does! So look for a forum section on dlrgolf.com, I need to put a stop to the insanity I’ve been reading.

Coming Soon

I’ve just started the process of adding a Forum section to this site. I need your input to make it work. So please send me some ideas of Discussion Threads…what types of questions are you looking for. Take some time and then email me, I can’t wait!

An ounce of Protection

Take a moment to grab  your golf bag…The Zombie removal program starts with it. Using these time tested measures I’m confident that these 5 steps will start the beginning of a great golf season. Failure to follow these steps could result in tennis elbow, Pteronophobia, a mild case of Octophobia, weight gain or loss, a need to wear polyester pants or IBS. Zombies are at their weakest during the early spring, prior to the warm weather that they tend to thrive in. If neglected, these Zombies could ruin your season, maybe even cause you to…give up golf!

How to find a Zombie

Anyone can find a Zombie if they know what to look for, but only those trained in removal can adequately solve your Zombie problem. So lets begin to learn the tell tale signs that your Golf bag has been infected.

• Your golf bag is located in a dark place….car trunk, basement, closet, or far corner of the garage
• Head covers are coated in a light or heavy film of dust, and or cobwebs
• Discoloration at the bottom of the Golf bag, or signs of seepage from any pocket
• When the Golf bag is placed in bright warm sunlight, it starts to move…pay close attention to this!
• You find hidden Christmas gifts around or near the bag, of which you forgot about, but are now happy that you have something to give loved ones at upcoming events (score!)
• The golf glove strapped to your bag has curled up and is now grotesquely pointing a shriveled up finger
• A clutter of bag tags sound like wind chimes, yet there is no wind….

These are a few early warning signs that your Golf bag has been infected by Zombies….

Five Steps to Remove

1. Clean out your bag of all contents and place in a box or sorting tray. Place your clubs to the side for later inspection.Throw away all broken tees. Inspect your golf balls. Any ball that has the word X-Out or show signs of major cart path rash, or smiley faces…toss them! Place all the loose change in your change cup. Count the number of divot repair tools, and keep 2! Donate any extra’s to additional family members bags or give them to playing partners. Recycle any packaging materials (golf ball sleeves, old score cards, receipts, rule books prior to 2008 etc.) Turn empty bag upside down, be prepared to remove dead or live creatures, and or grass clippings.
2. Examine the exterior of the now empty bag….How many bag tags are on the outer sheath? Where are they located? Any tag that is older than 2 years and not a USGA tag…remove. There is a limit of 3 tags per bag…Is it a Rule of Golf? No, but come on, do you really need that “Tilted Kilt” or Bushwood for Bimbo’s tag?  All airline tags must be removed immediately…We don’t want the Zombies to travel. The more aerodynamic your bag is, the harder it is for Zombies to attach themselves.  Also if you don’t know your name…then do you really think a tag will help? Take time to adjust your bag strap. If you’ve added some weight this year, give your strap some slack…if you plan on riding tighten it up.
3. Move on to your clubs. Inspect each one for dirty grooves, faces and soles. Use a nice stiff plastic brush and warm soapy water to remove last years “laying beaver shots”. Run a somewhat damp rag over the shafts, pay close attention to any nicks or cracks. Zombies love rust and splintered graphite. If you can, roll the shaft over your kitchen table to make sure that they are still straight, any bowed shaft needs immediate medical attention and should not be placed back in the bag. Visually and physically evaluate your grips. If they are slick or have a bright sheen…they have been infected and need replacement. Quarantine as required.
4. Let the clubs and bag air out. After an hour or so it’s time to replenish the Golf bag. Start with the largest most accessible pocket you have on the bag and place tees, balls and nic-nacks. I suggest using quarters for markers…about $1.50 is suggested, that way you have enough for grabbing a beverage if the need arises. Limit the amount of golf balls to no more than 12…If you need that many pellets, then take lessons. In a smaller pocket place any emergency items, such as sunscreen, bug repellent or Aleve. Also add a Sharpie, any color than yellow is ok.  Find a valuable pouch to place car keys, wedding rings and wallet for use during a practice or playing round. Place this in the pocket that is hardest to access (think about a thief) In the side pocket make sure to have ample room to add a rain jacket and pants combo, or additional weather related items.
5. Bag Set Up. This is very important, and don’t do it all willy-nilly. If you have a stand bag (um kickstand) stand the bag with the legs extended, begin with your driver and woods and place them at the top of the bag. This is the compartment furthest from the ground (closest to the bags handle) The longer clubs need to have top billing due to their length, and if you place them anywhere else, the iron heads can damage the shafts of the longer clubs. In the next bag divider, place the longer irons…work your way down to the bottom of the bag and place the wedges and putter. Placing the putter with the Woods is an option and is acceptable. Once your bag is fully fitted with clubs take a picture…this way you can remember how to do it Spring of 2011.

I hope this helps you with getting the Zombies out of your bag. See it wasn’t all that tough. Now go and hit some balls, but remember a Zombie can find its way back into your Golf bag unless you are ever vigilant!

Photo Credit

One of the problems with early spring in Chicago is that we have to deal with mud. Not just any mud, but dark brown, fed by winters run-off brown. The dormant grasses are just starting to wake up, shoots of green here and there. But overall the colors of early spring are dingy shades of brown. Did I say it’s muddy?

I went to my local muni to hit some putts and slap some balls. The putting greens are rough, as they should be. Until the soil temps rise, the grass will stay dormant. I could see footprints from last fall. My Scotty Cameron Santa Fe basked in the warmth of the overhead sun. I focused on just rolling the ball, and after a dozen or so putts, the feel came back. My outlook for the new season was beginning to build with each stroke. I drained a 20+ footer…I made three from 8 feet. I really paid attention to the stroke…watching my impact. Then I heard the call…my 8802 was begging to be used.

I placed the head cover back on the Scotty and plopped down the three Titleist ProV X’s….the worn 8802 putter grip felt like an old friend. We’ve done many a battle…some lost, but most were won. I always seem to come back to my “old gal”.  The first putts were tentative, but after a while the sublime click, that butter like feel was rolling the rock. My 20 foot putts were finding the target. Even managed 2 out of three from this distance. Life was good.. the sun, the smell of a new spring and putting with my 8802.

I managed to work my way to the range. I needed to see if all the muscles still worked. I loaded up on a basket of yellow range balls, acquired a space on a mat and started with the 9 iron. Slow short swings. Easy rhythm. Focused on making contact….then it happened. The range cart picking balls got stuck 15 yards away just to my left. Unfortunately the driver made the mistake of trying to back up the “picker”. The baskets full of yellow pellets fought the maneuver and it resulted in a giant FUBAR situation. The picker cart wasn’t going to move, and it was in direct path of four or five range rats….The old pro in me took over, that was my first mistake.

I asked the guys around me to please stop hitting balls, and I ran (actually walked briskly) down to assess the situation. It was bad. The cart was stuck, the gang baskets holding hundreds of balls were askew. There wasn’t much to be done other than take off the picker gang and try to move it. Soon two more “gentlemen” joined me and offered the stuck operator some help. We took the steel pegs out of the gang and set the cart free. Some lifting and grunting were all that were needed to move the gang. Arranging it so that it wouldn’t push the gang uphill (1st mistake causing the incident) we re-attached the gang to the cart. Now water follows the path of least resistance so being at the bottom of an incline would not be the “firmest” spot. The cart was not able to gain traction, so I added my ample (don’t snicker) weight to the back end….That was my undoing (2nd mistake). The cart operator gunned it, maybe to get out of the way, or more likely to save some face.

Lets just say that I tasted the mud.  I hit a couple of balls afterwards, but soon my feet began to get wet, and after hitting three really good crisp 9 irons I left. It was open game for my half bucket of balls…

Goes to show that sometimes, regardless of what you have planned, you can get dirty….at least I got a replacement token.

So this is from the USGA and it shows the New Conforming Grooves as well as the non-conforming illegal grooves…and the V grooves (isn’t that on ABC?) which are OK to play.

Conforming Grooves

Not to be used after 2024 for Public Play

These are still all good...V grooves!

What does this all mean?

All I know is that grooves developed over the past few years were shark-like. Especially with the newer thin cover golf balls. The USGA and R&A got together and decided to ban these grooves, in part to save the destructive behavior on the ball cover, and mostly to make it a penalty to hit the ball in the rough! Basically they determined that highly skilled players were not penalized enough for hitting the ball into the “long” grass and I’m sure Carl Spackler had something to say about prepping for a US Open.

The new rule is in effect for the Professional Golfer as of this year. You might have seen or heard about Phil Mickelson and his use of old Ping Eye 2 Wedges (conforming due to a legal deal made over a decade ago). For amateur golfers the rule won’t go into effect until 2024, which gives everyone plenty of time to get adjusted….

Club manufactures will need to make all clubs conforming after 2010. So if you want to use the “shark” grooves, then buy up all you can this year, because they are going the way of Prodigy or dial up.

The best explanation I’ve seen comes from the Wedge Guru’s at Cleveland Golf.

The future of golf looked bright when Tiger Woods became the face that every kid recognized. In many ways Tiger transformed the game, and he saw the potential of growing the game through the youth.  Unfortunately mega media, flashy commercials and slick campaigns have not brought the growth expected or needed. The goodwill of many organizations fail to provide what is needed on a local level. The playing field of golf is so much different than that of any other sport. You can’t play it in the parking lot, or out in the back yard. It’s a demanding sport, requiring time, effort and a dedicated learning facility…and it is a singular experience, without anything but personal satisfaction for a job well done. Growing the game for today’s youth has become a difficult endeavor…

Unless you consider the efforts of Brandon Evans –  Director of Fun and Entertainment at Village Greens in Woodridge.

1000 First Swings

Brandon and his staff at Village Greens in Woodridge are promoting 1000 1st Swings – Introduce a Kid to Golf. This program targets getting kids into the game of golf. By eliminating the barrier of cost (for equipment and range fees) Brandon and the Woodridge Park District are providing an opportunity for adults to introduce the game of golf with almost no expense involved. In my conversation with Brandon, you could feel the passion he has for this project. And after reading how he was introduced to the game, you will find where the passion was born.

Partnered with US Kids Golf, Village Greens has 10 sets of clubs available for rental for use… gratis. The golf course will provide a free bucket of balls for each child and adult that brings the child.  They only need to sign up and register via the website to get a certificate.

Brandon even gives a little 8 step (found in the website link) process on how to begin a “young” golfer into exploring the game. So even if you don’t play the game, you have a set of directions, and that is all that is needed…Bravo!

Now the interesting aspect is that Brandon has offered to provide an additional 3 buckets of range balls to any “youngster” that fills out a short survey. Now that’s thinking outside the box.

Only the Beginning

What Brandon and the Woodridge Park District are trying to accomplish is not new. When I worked at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Brent Wadsworth of Wadsworth Golf Construction Company contributed and established the Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation. Through the Foundation, hundreds of children, that would otherwise be excluded from golf, were given a great introduction to the game. It was an experience that I still remember today. In many ways I understand completely what Brandon hopes to achieve, and that is what Dogleg Right Golf is all about. So if you need some help introducing your child, neighbors kid, or someone from your community, and don’t know what to do…drop us an email, or a tweet. The first swing is always the best one!

The greatest gift begins with a thought and moves on to action.  So please check out Brandon’s link and if you have a chance….give the Game of Golf back some Mojo…

Village Greens of Woodridge is located on 75th Street just east of I-355 (on the south side of 75th look for the water tower) For more information, or questions please contact:

Photo Courtesy of Steve McCoy and Danny McCoy

Treasure Covered in Dust

I found a few hickory shafted A.G. Spalding & Bros Dundee irons. Three to be exact. The clubs were resting with the other sets collected by my family over the many years of being adept “golfers”. They must have belonged to my grandfather. The warn, rich brown leather wraps looked like something his strong hands would have used.  The honey colored shafts, still smooth and showing the character of the wood so sought by club-makers, straight and strong. The forged steel heads, slightly worn, displaying a weathering from years of idleness.  Overall the clubs were onetime cared for, and surely used to their full extent.  Sadly I won’t be able to ask him all the questions I have about these clubs from another era. Oh the stories I’m sure he could have told me…

But as I stated earlier, something strange can happen, and with the miracle of the digital age, I stumbled upon an interesting fellow.

Call Him Hickory

His name is Christopher ‘Hickory’ Homer. Currently he resides in Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria, England. ‘Hickory’ is the owner of Past Masters Old Links Golf. He pioneered the idea of bringing play with original pre 1935 wooden shafted clubs to a mass market. Master Clubmaker, historian as well as accomplish player, ‘Hickory’ recreates an experience of golf in it’s purest form.

And I learned all of this by commenting on a thread about Tiger Woods. I met Chris on-line in a group of Golf Industry Professionals. I read a post of his during the discussion and fired back a response, which he then replied. So that is how I came to “meet” Christopher ‘Hickory’ Homer.  And being the internet search engine that I am, I researched more about this unique niche of golfers playing with golf clubs from a bygone era.

The story with ‘Hickory’ isn’t finished. It has only just begun. So check back soon and learn some more about this interesting dialog between the new and the old. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

I’m currently writing some questions for Chris to answer. So please post a question if there is anything you would like to know about hickory shafted clubs and golf from the “golden era”.