Monday, April 26, 2010

Dave Stockton helps Taylor Made and Rossa create easy Corza Ghost putter

Taylor Made, with the help of putting instructor Dave Stockton, has created a good looking, supposedly easy-to-use putter called the "Corza Ghost".

Yes, it really is all white as opposed to metallic (hence the name), and it even has a hole in the back as if an eye was eerily staring up at you but the new Rossa putter is hardly spooky.

The intent was to come up with an exceptionally easy to aim easy to use putter to roll your golf ball down its intended line.

Rossa senior director, Bill Price said, "We started with the intention of designing a putter that's easier to aim than any other. That led us to experiment with a white finish. We consulted Dr. Steven A. Hitzeman, a professor at the Indiana School of Optometry and he felt we were onto something."

Why consult with an Optometrist? Can an eye doctor unlock the key to correct putting?

"The high contrast between white and green maximizes stimulation to the retina and highlights the head's shape and features. The contrast would be lower if the putter were black or gray because these colors are closer in luminance to the color of the putting green than white," said Dr. Hitzeman, who is also a past president of the Indiana Optometric Association and a past chairman of the American Optometric Association's Sports Vision Section.

"White creates the biggest difference in luminance, hence maximizing contrast and promoting focus. Many golfers use the leading edge of the putter as part of their alignment strategy (by positioning the edge perpendicular to the imagined target line). This high contrast for the leading edge gives the golfer the best chance of squaring up the putter face at address. Also, the lines on the top of the putter are painted black to achieve maximum contrast against the white surface of the putter. All of these high-contrast alignment elements give the golfer the best possible chance of accurately aiming the putter."

Jack Nicklaus won the 1967 U.S. Open with the Bullseye "white fang" putter making eight birdies in his final round. He said it was to reduce glare from the sun.

Rossa engineers also placed "three black alignment lines on the crown and a circular hole in the back of the putterhead, offering several different options to focus on to lock in your aim. 

"You can focus on the topline to aim Ghost," said Bret Wahl, senior director of iron, wedge and putter development, "or you can focus on the alignment lines to visually connect the circular hole and your ball to lock in your aim. The point is that you've got options, each one highly effective."




 No More "Hot Spots"

Hot spots occur when sunlight hits the top of the putter and distracts a golfer's focus away from the putterhead, the alignment system, and aiming the putter squarely down the target-line. The white finish turns the putter into a ghostly image that keeps hot spots from glaring into your eyes.

Rossa's tour-proven AGSI®+ (Anti-skid Groove System Insert) Technology. is built right into the Corza Ghost.

AGSI+ features 14 polymer-filled grooves in the face that "hold" the ball briefly at impact to promote forward spin for a smoother roll and more accurate results. The AGSI+ insert, in concert with the putterhead's extremely high MOI, also delivers superior consistency in forward roll on off-center hits, something not shown in tests of other popular putters.

This model is a mallet, a forgiving putter feature and two more Rossa Corza shapes are due out this spring. With a retail price of $159, it seems only fair to give this new putter technology a chance. Of course, it is usually not the putter but the golfer behind the stick that determines his or her game. With that in mind and with the wealth of putters currently on the market, putting is purely derived of comfort and, if you roll in a few good putts you might give it a place it in your bag this season.

For more information on the Rossa Corza Ghost putters, visit Taylor Made.

Also, check out the Adidas adiPURE Golf Shoes now tooted by Sir Nick Faldo!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Should the public send a "just stop it" message to Nike?

Nike is swooshingly gaining a notorious reputation for standing by celebrity athletes who womanize; Ben Roethlisberger and Tiger Woods, to name a few.

Should the public continue to buy goods from Nike or send a message loud and clear forcing the sports retailer to become more family-friendly?

Tiger Woods has finally come clean, probably because of the buzzing in his ears from sponsors that doing so limits the damages he incurs over time. He still needs to break Jack Nicklaus' records, right?

No one has to like Ben Roethlisberger off the field except for, maybe, Missy Peregrym and accused still means innocent until proven guilty. But, with Andrea McNulty also claiming sexual misconduct, Nike should consider putting the brakes on before being forced to do so.

Nike does have its limits; cruelty to animals, for example. Michael Vicks was quickly dropped from the Nike roster after pleading guilty to running a dog-fighting ring punishable by prison time.

Could this mean that Nike considers infractions to women a more palatable offense than to dogs? Nah, couldn't be. Most likely it just the fact that Nike backs off when an athlete is found guilty without first admitting blame.

Nike's product is still moving off the shelves so perhaps "creepy cred" as Timothy Egan puts it is good for business. And, as Hollie Shaw mentioned, "Love it or Hate it, Nike's ad got noticed."

Bottom line comes from "data from U.S.based market research firm TNS suggesting that while the athlete (Tiger Woods in this case) may have hurt his personal reputation in the scandal, that harm did not extend to the brands he endorses."

With reasoning being that any press is good press, who will Nike sign on next?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Marriott Golf Promotes Free Family Golf Festival

Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, is once again reaching out to families all over the world promoting “togetherness in golf.”

Announcing the third annual International Family Golf Festival program, Marriott golf will host a year-long series of one-day family golf events taking place at thirty of their leading managed destinations throughout the world.

Commencing on May 1st, the Marriott International Family Golf Festival, which encourages parents and children to learn and play the game together, invites families to Marriott Golf properties for an afternoon of FREE golf instruction, clinics, fun activities, interactive golf games, family golf programs, chances to win a variety of prizes, and more. Last year, it was estimated that more than 5,000 family participants took part in this exciting program.

In addition, after 3 p.m., families and children can play golf for free as part of Marriott Golf’s “Kids Golf-4-Free” program in which an estimated 10,000 parents and children participate each year.  The 2010 Family Golf Festival will take place at designated Marriott Golf properties, from May through November:


Marriott Golf Property
Location
Date of Event
La Iguana Golf Club
Herradura Bay, Costa Rica
May 1, 2010
Shadow Ridge Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA
May 22, 2010
Camelback Golf Club
Scottsdale, AZ
May 23, 2010
Crane’s Landing Golf Club
Lincolnshire, IL
May 23, 2010
Hawk’s Landing Golf Club
Orlando, FL
May 29, 2010
Cattails At MeadowView
Kingsport, TN
June 6, 2010
Son Antem Golf Club
Mallorca, Spain
June 12, 2010
Dalmahoy Country Club
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
June 20, 2010
Sprowston Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
Norwich, Norfolk, UK
June 20, 2010
The Rookery at Marco
Naples, FL
June 26, 2010
Breadsall Priory, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
Nr. Derby, Derbyshire, UK
June 27, 2010
Kauai Lagoons Golf Club
Lihue, HI
July, 10, 2010
Faldo Golf Institute
Orlando, FL
July 17, 2010
Grande Pines Golf Club
Orlando, FL
July 17, 2010
Hollins Hall Country Club
Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
July 17, 2010
Meon Valley Country Club
Nr. Southampton, Hampshire, UK
August 8, 2010
Griffin Gate Golf Club
Lexington, KY
August 14, 2010
Westfields Golf Club
Clifton, VA
August 22, 2010
Forest of Arden, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
Meriden, Warwickshire, UK
August 28 & 29, 2010
Worsley Park Country Club
Worsley Park, Manchester, UK
August 28 & 29, 2010
St. Pierre, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
Monmouthshire, Wales, UK
August 29, 2010
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club
St. Petersburg, FL
September 5, 2010
Royal St. Kitts Golf Club
Basseterre, St. Kitts
September 11, 2010
Wildfire Golf Club
Phoenix, AZ
September 12, 2010
Desert Springs Golf Resort
Palm Desert, CA
September 12, 2010
Tudor Park Country Club
Maidstone, Kent, UK
September 18, 2010
Willow Crest Golf Club
Oak Brook, IL
September 19, 2010
Stone Mountain Golf Club
Stone Mountain, GA
September 26, 2010
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Miami, FL
October 30, 2010
Starr Pass Country Club
Tucson, AZ
November 21, 2010



The Marriott International Family Golf Festival is another effort by Marriott to promote family golf.  In 2005, Marriott Golf launched “Kids Golf-4-Free,” a first-of-its-kind program that enables kids up to 15 years old to golf for free when accompanied by a full paying adult after 3 p.m.  In addition, Marriott Golf also offers free lessons anytime to kids up to 15 years old when accompanied by an adult who is taking a fully paid lesson from a Marriott Golf instructor.  This program, which is available at some of Marriott Golf’s most prestigious resort destinations worldwide, was complemented in 2007 by the “Kids Rent-4-Free” program, which provides kids 15 years old and under with a free rental set of Accu-Length clubs when they participate in the “Kids Golf-4-Free” program.

About Marriott Golf
Marriott Golf manages 58 golf courses at 42 locations in 12 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf.  Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970 and is one of the world’s premier golf operators.  Marriott provides golf management and consulting services to a variety of operational environments including resort, private club, daily fee, golf school and franchises.  For more information, visit www.marriottgolf.com.