Check out our latest Golf for Beginners podcast from November 6th. We talk about the terrific Annika Sorenstam and give some great golf tips!
Email us with your questions and comments at golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-06-05
Email us with your questions and comments at golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Golf for Beginners Podcast 10-30-05
Check out our second golf for beginners podcast from October 30th. Our audio syndication this week talks about consistency and staying even-tempered.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Golf for Beginners Podcast 10-25-05
Venturing into the unknown both Barry and I hope to deliver a podcast with a punch.
Although podcasting isn't as difficult as I thought there are still alot of small pieces that fit into the puzzle. I have become not only a writer but also a producer. Even though my creative juices are flowing I also have to write certain codes that make the program run.
But I'm on the right track. We just published our first podcast in iTunes. That means that not only did the html and xml validate but I figured out how to use Garageband!
Here's a direct link to our first Golf for Beginners podcast
Sometimes I get writer's block. Barry says that's how I know I'm a writer. I say I get a block when there are too many irons in the fire and I can't just concentrate on one item at a time. But that's the world we live in. Everything has to be done today...and with a sense of urgency.
Our weekly golf podcast is only one iron fueling an ever-growing fire. I started writing golf-for-beginners just under a year ago and it's growing in leaps and bounds. I write twice weekly for the Sand Trap which, although my editor says it shoudn't take longer than forty-five minutes to write an LPGA article, I find I finish in just about two hours. There just aren't enough hours in a day!
Looking on the bright side I get to do something which makes me happy. Writing allows me to express myself. And, if you know me, I like to talk...alot! So this new golf podcast should be exciting as it matures.
I hope to make the format of our new podcast a bit different from the visuals of this website. Barry and I like to play golf whenever possible so I hope to sprinkle tips that I found interesting during my round in my audio like "What did I think was my best shot of the day and why?" or figure out where and when my golf game took a nosedive. Either way it's going to be broadcast live, editing out the occasional "er" or "um" that happens in any live event.
Since the PGA, European, LPGA and Champions tours all interest me I think we'll also say what's on our minds about the professional side of golf. It's always fun to comment about the up-and-coming stars on tour as well as the ones who have been around since I started watching as a kid (you can never say too much about legends Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer).
There will be other surprises as our audio broadcast grows so I hope you'll go along with us for the ride of our lives. It should be a blast!
Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart
I really didn't need a new push cart. I have an old pull cart from several years ago when I decided I didn't like carrying my bag anymore. The bag just got cumbersome every time I put it on my back then removed it. UGH!
I was fortunate enough to review the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Three-Wheel Push Cart. I was given the new push cart to test as part of my writing duty for The Sand Trap but they have removed my name from their website, replacing it with "Guest Author" because I have moved on to bigger and better blogging at Worldgolf.com so I have placed it back here on my site, where I can give myself the credit that has been denied to me by Erik Barzeski.
Here it is:
The Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart is both lightweight and as simple to fold as its name implies. But how did it stack up on the golf course?
As Tiger Woods separates himself from the field at the British Open, I pay tribute to something they call a "trolley" across the pond. Though we call them "pull carts" or "push carts" here in the States, trolleys are a staple in the home of golf - a way to relieve players of the burden of carrying clubs without the necessity of a caddie.
Out With the Old
I've been lugging around my old two-wheel pull cart on the golf course for several years. It's old but reliable. Every round, it seems to get heavier and harder to drag. Casting my old cart aside, I felt it was time to enter the 21st century and try the latest in trolleys. My old cart was a pull cart. My new one? I push it like a baby stroller.
What better product to try than a push cart created by an innovative company like Bag Boy? With excitement, I opened the box to my new EZ Fold 12 Push Cart. I'm not particularly handy and leave all areas of assembly to my husband, but I heard that the EZ Fold was simple to put together. I told Barry to leave it to me.
Directions really weren't necessary. Inside the box I found a one-piece frame "constructed utilizing high modulus ultra lightweight aluminum tubing along with a reinforced center section for enhanced durability" and "quick release bicycle-style 12-inch wheels with sealed ball bearings." Long story short: I was up and rolling within five minutes.
My EZ Fold 12 Cart is silver, but fashion conscious golfers can choose between red, navy, or black to coordinate with your own style (or your golf bag). Bag Boy offers a padded cart seat (which fits all Bag Boys made after 1999). It attaches to one wheel (or the other) and offers a place to sit. I think I'll purchase one for those five-hour rounds on the public links (image below).
It was also a kick pulling on the carry handle that says "fold" for the really unaware which quickly squeezes the cart in half and eliminates bending down to grasp the front wheel when folding. Bag Boy picked up this nifty one-hand folding system patent from the Baby Jogger Company, the same company that revolutionized the stroller industry. Just in case you want to see the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 in action you can catch a video created at the Bag Boy website.
With my old two-wheeler I can leave my bag on the cart, tilt down the small adjustable handle and place the whole set of clubs and cart in the trunk of my Benz along with my husband's set of golf clubs. The larger, ergonomically designed one-piece handle of the EZ Fold 12 is more comfortable for my wrists to rest upon but you cannot adjust the grip nor tilt the one-piece assembly for more comfort. You can remove the bag from the push cart and easily fold it but that's just one more step when you're looking to make a hasty departure after your round.
Take it Apart, Put it Together
The new EZ Fold needed to be disassembled and placed separately in my trunk. The two rear wheels release with difficult-to-push metal spring releases. I literally had to balance the cart on my legs and press with both hands on the release to get it to bend. Then you have to put the cart in awkward positions in order to remove each wheel. I found the difficulty in collapsing the cart disappointing, but the real test would be pushing my clubs around the golf course.
I took my new Bag Boy out to a local, hilly golf course to put it through its paces. The wheels popped on more easily than they came off and my large Burton cart bag found a comfortable position in the adjustable brackets. The deluxe scorecard holder was handy and easy to access. The pencil holder actually held the pencil in place and was located conveniently above the scorecard.
The plastic storage compartment was useful enough to store my Nutrigrain snack bars, though it was a little small, flat, and difficult to open using the small finger grip. The built-in beverage holder was large enough to carry a midsized (20oz) blue Gatorade. An optional insulated 12-pack cooler bag features an adjustable handle, tee holder pouch, and accessory pocket and is a great conversation piece to carry along when playing with a foursome.
Throughout the round I wheeled the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 everywhere (believe me, my golf game gave me plenty of opportunity to visit all kinds of places). When I gave the Bag Boy a little push, it rolled all by itself. Once, when I pushed it downhill, it curved to the right and eventually toppled over, spewing my golf clubs along the fairway - not good! However, I must admit that it was simpler to push the EZ Fold up a hill than to pull my old two-wheeler behind me and I was less winded to boot!
I finished my round and removed the bag from the push cart. With an influx of Canadian geese occupying my golf course every year, removing the wheels became a dirty event. I couldn't clean the wheels enough before touching them and found this to be really disgusting. At least with my old pull cart I could clean the wheels just enough before placing the entire structure onto a towel and into my trunk.
My husband gave the EZ Fold its next test. Barry loves to walk but has been sitting in an electric cart recently because of an injured knee. Wanting to walk the course with his usual foursome, Barry asked if I could loan him the Bag Boy. I eagerly agreed asking him to give me his opinion for this review. One of his golf buddies recently purchased the 2005 Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1, which would serve as a nice comparison.
Barry found the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 easy to open and not too difficult to insert the wheels. Pushing the Bag Boy was considerably easier than carrying as he usually does and at times he said he felt like he had a personal caddy!
However the EZ Fold 12 had some drawbacks. As his friend let the Sun Mountain travel freely down a hill to a safe landing the Bag Boy, having a narrower wheel base, fell over very easily. Sun Mountain also has an adjustable height handle which accomodates people of different heights. The Sun Mountain V1 also has a more convenient cable-driven brake lever near the top of the handle versus the foot brake in the middle of the axle of the Bag Boy. The Sun Mountain is lighter, easier to push, and most importantly, folds to a convenient size with all wheels attached so that you don't have to completely clean the wheels before storing the cart in your trunk. In addition the tires on the EZ Fold 12 are hard rubber versus the air-inflatable tires of the Sun Mountain which gave the Sun Mountain a softer feel.
Conclusion
After listening to Barry's comparison and trying the Bag Boy for myself, dollar for dollar, the better value goes to Sun Mountain over Bag Boy. Club Glove has also improved their own line of push carts introducing the Kaddy Stroller in response to the EZ Fold 12. The Kaddy Stroller has options similar to Sun Mountain including both hand and foot brakes, a quick-release system and a lightweight frame understanding the importance of these items to their customers. Although Bag Boy has several other designs in both pull and push carts the EZ Fold 12 is their top-of-the-line cart. Perhaps with a little more innovation and creativity, Bag Boy will create a formidable option in response to these upgraded models introduced by their competitors.
As you can see from my review, I tried to be very thorough. Some people made fun of me because I went into alot of detail, but I thought that's what a review should do! Give adequate detail for both the layman and the experienced user.
I will go over the basics here and I hope, if you're interested in purchasing one of these carts that you'll do your homework first. I'm glad I got this Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart for free. I understand that they run about $200 in the stores and I don't think I would have been too happy paying that and not getting some of the features that are on other makes such as the new Sun Mountain that my husband tested as part of my review.
I will let you know that, in using the cart I noticed several things that you should be aware of.
One thing is for sure...if you don't disassemble this particular pull cart, you will use all of the space in your car between your golf bag and your pull cart. The wheels get pretty dirty after a round and for women, that's the kiss of death!
Also, the foot brake gets cumbersome after awhile. I really wish the EZ Fold 12 had a hand brake like some of the other models. Or maybe, if this particular footbrake was easier to use, it might have changed my mind about that particular function.
Also, allowing the cart to freewheel down the fairway is difficult for the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart. Barry told me that the Sun Mountain tracks straight and true and that the wheels are further apart creating a wider wheel base thus steadying the cart. If the EZ Fold 12 gets going and hits a bump, your clubs will be all over the fairway (as mine were).
I also read a brief review for the Kaddy Stroller by Club Glove which has similar features to the Sun Mountain V1 Speed Cart
which Barry got to try out thanks to one of his golf buddies.
In conclusion, before you go out and decide to spend about $200 of your hard-earned cash, compare several of these carts for yourselves. Make sure they have hand brakes (and foot brakes combined) if that's what you want, a wide wheel base , a quick-release system, good solid bicycle tires and a lightweight frame.
I was fortunate enough to review the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Three-Wheel Push Cart. I was given the new push cart to test as part of my writing duty for The Sand Trap but they have removed my name from their website, replacing it with "Guest Author" because I have moved on to bigger and better blogging at Worldgolf.com so I have placed it back here on my site, where I can give myself the credit that has been denied to me by Erik Barzeski.
Here it is:
The Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart is both lightweight and as simple to fold as its name implies. But how did it stack up on the golf course?
As Tiger Woods separates himself from the field at the British Open, I pay tribute to something they call a "trolley" across the pond. Though we call them "pull carts" or "push carts" here in the States, trolleys are a staple in the home of golf - a way to relieve players of the burden of carrying clubs without the necessity of a caddie.
Out With the Old
I've been lugging around my old two-wheel pull cart on the golf course for several years. It's old but reliable. Every round, it seems to get heavier and harder to drag. Casting my old cart aside, I felt it was time to enter the 21st century and try the latest in trolleys. My old cart was a pull cart. My new one? I push it like a baby stroller.
What better product to try than a push cart created by an innovative company like Bag Boy? With excitement, I opened the box to my new EZ Fold 12 Push Cart. I'm not particularly handy and leave all areas of assembly to my husband, but I heard that the EZ Fold was simple to put together. I told Barry to leave it to me.
Directions really weren't necessary. Inside the box I found a one-piece frame "constructed utilizing high modulus ultra lightweight aluminum tubing along with a reinforced center section for enhanced durability" and "quick release bicycle-style 12-inch wheels with sealed ball bearings." Long story short: I was up and rolling within five minutes.
My EZ Fold 12 Cart is silver, but fashion conscious golfers can choose between red, navy, or black to coordinate with your own style (or your golf bag). Bag Boy offers a padded cart seat (which fits all Bag Boys made after 1999). It attaches to one wheel (or the other) and offers a place to sit. I think I'll purchase one for those five-hour rounds on the public links (image below).
It was also a kick pulling on the carry handle that says "fold" for the really unaware which quickly squeezes the cart in half and eliminates bending down to grasp the front wheel when folding. Bag Boy picked up this nifty one-hand folding system patent from the Baby Jogger Company, the same company that revolutionized the stroller industry. Just in case you want to see the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 in action you can catch a video created at the Bag Boy website.
With my old two-wheeler I can leave my bag on the cart, tilt down the small adjustable handle and place the whole set of clubs and cart in the trunk of my Benz along with my husband's set of golf clubs. The larger, ergonomically designed one-piece handle of the EZ Fold 12 is more comfortable for my wrists to rest upon but you cannot adjust the grip nor tilt the one-piece assembly for more comfort. You can remove the bag from the push cart and easily fold it but that's just one more step when you're looking to make a hasty departure after your round.
Take it Apart, Put it Together
The new EZ Fold needed to be disassembled and placed separately in my trunk. The two rear wheels release with difficult-to-push metal spring releases. I literally had to balance the cart on my legs and press with both hands on the release to get it to bend. Then you have to put the cart in awkward positions in order to remove each wheel. I found the difficulty in collapsing the cart disappointing, but the real test would be pushing my clubs around the golf course.
I took my new Bag Boy out to a local, hilly golf course to put it through its paces. The wheels popped on more easily than they came off and my large Burton cart bag found a comfortable position in the adjustable brackets. The deluxe scorecard holder was handy and easy to access. The pencil holder actually held the pencil in place and was located conveniently above the scorecard.
The plastic storage compartment was useful enough to store my Nutrigrain snack bars, though it was a little small, flat, and difficult to open using the small finger grip. The built-in beverage holder was large enough to carry a midsized (20oz) blue Gatorade. An optional insulated 12-pack cooler bag features an adjustable handle, tee holder pouch, and accessory pocket and is a great conversation piece to carry along when playing with a foursome.
Throughout the round I wheeled the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 everywhere (believe me, my golf game gave me plenty of opportunity to visit all kinds of places). When I gave the Bag Boy a little push, it rolled all by itself. Once, when I pushed it downhill, it curved to the right and eventually toppled over, spewing my golf clubs along the fairway - not good! However, I must admit that it was simpler to push the EZ Fold up a hill than to pull my old two-wheeler behind me and I was less winded to boot!
I finished my round and removed the bag from the push cart. With an influx of Canadian geese occupying my golf course every year, removing the wheels became a dirty event. I couldn't clean the wheels enough before touching them and found this to be really disgusting. At least with my old pull cart I could clean the wheels just enough before placing the entire structure onto a towel and into my trunk.
My husband gave the EZ Fold its next test. Barry loves to walk but has been sitting in an electric cart recently because of an injured knee. Wanting to walk the course with his usual foursome, Barry asked if I could loan him the Bag Boy. I eagerly agreed asking him to give me his opinion for this review. One of his golf buddies recently purchased the 2005 Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1, which would serve as a nice comparison.
Barry found the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 easy to open and not too difficult to insert the wheels. Pushing the Bag Boy was considerably easier than carrying as he usually does and at times he said he felt like he had a personal caddy!
However the EZ Fold 12 had some drawbacks. As his friend let the Sun Mountain travel freely down a hill to a safe landing the Bag Boy, having a narrower wheel base, fell over very easily. Sun Mountain also has an adjustable height handle which accomodates people of different heights. The Sun Mountain V1 also has a more convenient cable-driven brake lever near the top of the handle versus the foot brake in the middle of the axle of the Bag Boy. The Sun Mountain is lighter, easier to push, and most importantly, folds to a convenient size with all wheels attached so that you don't have to completely clean the wheels before storing the cart in your trunk. In addition the tires on the EZ Fold 12 are hard rubber versus the air-inflatable tires of the Sun Mountain which gave the Sun Mountain a softer feel.
Conclusion
After listening to Barry's comparison and trying the Bag Boy for myself, dollar for dollar, the better value goes to Sun Mountain over Bag Boy. Club Glove has also improved their own line of push carts introducing the Kaddy Stroller in response to the EZ Fold 12. The Kaddy Stroller has options similar to Sun Mountain including both hand and foot brakes, a quick-release system and a lightweight frame understanding the importance of these items to their customers. Although Bag Boy has several other designs in both pull and push carts the EZ Fold 12 is their top-of-the-line cart. Perhaps with a little more innovation and creativity, Bag Boy will create a formidable option in response to these upgraded models introduced by their competitors.
As you can see from my review, I tried to be very thorough. Some people made fun of me because I went into alot of detail, but I thought that's what a review should do! Give adequate detail for both the layman and the experienced user.
I will go over the basics here and I hope, if you're interested in purchasing one of these carts that you'll do your homework first. I'm glad I got this Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart for free. I understand that they run about $200 in the stores and I don't think I would have been too happy paying that and not getting some of the features that are on other makes such as the new Sun Mountain that my husband tested as part of my review.
I will let you know that, in using the cart I noticed several things that you should be aware of.
One thing is for sure...if you don't disassemble this particular pull cart, you will use all of the space in your car between your golf bag and your pull cart. The wheels get pretty dirty after a round and for women, that's the kiss of death!
Also, the foot brake gets cumbersome after awhile. I really wish the EZ Fold 12 had a hand brake like some of the other models. Or maybe, if this particular footbrake was easier to use, it might have changed my mind about that particular function.
Also, allowing the cart to freewheel down the fairway is difficult for the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart. Barry told me that the Sun Mountain tracks straight and true and that the wheels are further apart creating a wider wheel base thus steadying the cart. If the EZ Fold 12 gets going and hits a bump, your clubs will be all over the fairway (as mine were).
I also read a brief review for the Kaddy Stroller by Club Glove which has similar features to the Sun Mountain V1 Speed Cart
which Barry got to try out thanks to one of his golf buddies.In conclusion, before you go out and decide to spend about $200 of your hard-earned cash, compare several of these carts for yourselves. Make sure they have hand brakes (and foot brakes combined) if that's what you want, a wide wheel base , a quick-release system, good solid bicycle tires and a lightweight frame.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Back to Blogging About Golf
I know it has been quite some time since I have written a golf blog at this site. Somehow I thought that I could accomplish more if I had my own web address. I have owned the name Golf for Beginners with the hopes of somehow turning it into some magnificent website complete with all of the bells and whistles.
Little did I realize that there are so many other great bloggers out there in blog heaven that I would be terribly overshadowed by them. Still I continue my quest to blog. And I will also continue to write about my favorite subject golf but I don't really know where this is all taking me.
I do know one thing. I really love the sport. I take it seriously. Probably a bit too seriously for the people who I meet at the publinks. Suffice it to say that my interest in the sport totally eclipses most women's ongoing interest on the public courses. But that is what makes me special.
I intend to take my bloggings with me if I can and post most of my earlier golf bloggings here. That will take some time. But since winter is fast approaching I have plenty of time to update this site and at the very least keep my older blogs (going back one year!).
My current venture is learning how to podcast. Rudimentary knowledge of podcasting has allowed me to place three distinct podcasts on itunes. The feed can be found at: Feedburner.com. I doubt that this address will change but since I am currently in a state of flux, who knows?
We shall see what new beginnings are in store for me in 2006.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Another Golf Blog Another Day of Golf History
I never thought that Barry and I would have so much fun producing podcasts. Not only do I get to spend more time with my husband but we get to talk about one of our common favorite subjects!
We also decided that it was easier for our readers to contact us at our new email address.
Email us at: golfforbeginners@aol.com
I guess that address is just easier for folks to remember. And we intend to feature letters on air (of course we would like these letters to talk about golf...) so please feel free to write to us and ask questions. No matter how "newbie"-ish you think you're being just remember that you're not alone! And we intend to expand over time to feature advice, technology and news. We're just getting our "sea-legs" and that takes time for beginners like us!
You can download our latest audio show by clicking here.
I was really ecstatic about Annika Sorenstam's win this weekend at the Mizuno Classic. Sorenstam's fifth consecutive win overshadows the four wins achieved by Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen, all terrific golfers in their own right. But now Annika is in a class all by herself and I'm very proud that a woman made an achievement as accomplished as this one in an "all boys club".
And what about the exciting wire-to-wire win this weekend (ho-hum) by relative unknown Bart Bryant at the Tour Championship? Unfortunately Tiger Woods wasn't able to get any closer than six shots and was left in the dust by the jouneyman! The $ 1.17 million dollar first prize is more than Bryant earned in his 18 years on both the PGA and Nationwide tours.
A flabbergasted Bart Bryant stated, I'm thrilled beyond description. To have struggled for as long as I did and all of a sudden in the last 15 months to win three events, even if I hadn't won this weekend this would all be worth it!"
In other news I just wanted to congratulate the great Tom Watson in his season-ending victory at the Charles Schwab Cup. The $1 million annuity was well worth the effort. Tom Watson is one of my favorite golfers. His short game is legendary and I really like the way he keeps his cool in spite of adversity. I wish I could play a round with Mr. Watson. I think I could learn alot from him.
In writing about the Champions Tour I also would like to say that I am a fan. I try to watch as much golf as I can on weekends and invariably catch the final round as I flip channels. If I get up early enough I might even watch a bit of the European Tour. I guess if you're a golf fanatic you can never get too much golf. If it's not on TV then I have to get to the driving range and if I'm not on the range I try to get in a back nine somewhere. In other words, I'm HOOKED ON GOLF!
It should be a nice week so everyone should make the most of it. It's going to get colder soon and then you're going to WISH you were out on a course firing at pins!
We also decided that it was easier for our readers to contact us at our new email address.
Email us at: golfforbeginners@aol.com
I guess that address is just easier for folks to remember. And we intend to feature letters on air (of course we would like these letters to talk about golf...) so please feel free to write to us and ask questions. No matter how "newbie"-ish you think you're being just remember that you're not alone! And we intend to expand over time to feature advice, technology and news. We're just getting our "sea-legs" and that takes time for beginners like us!
You can download our latest audio show by clicking here.
I was really ecstatic about Annika Sorenstam's win this weekend at the Mizuno Classic. Sorenstam's fifth consecutive win overshadows the four wins achieved by Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen, all terrific golfers in their own right. But now Annika is in a class all by herself and I'm very proud that a woman made an achievement as accomplished as this one in an "all boys club".
And what about the exciting wire-to-wire win this weekend (ho-hum) by relative unknown Bart Bryant at the Tour Championship? Unfortunately Tiger Woods wasn't able to get any closer than six shots and was left in the dust by the jouneyman! The $ 1.17 million dollar first prize is more than Bryant earned in his 18 years on both the PGA and Nationwide tours.
A flabbergasted Bart Bryant stated, I'm thrilled beyond description. To have struggled for as long as I did and all of a sudden in the last 15 months to win three events, even if I hadn't won this weekend this would all be worth it!"
In other news I just wanted to congratulate the great Tom Watson in his season-ending victory at the Charles Schwab Cup. The $1 million annuity was well worth the effort. Tom Watson is one of my favorite golfers. His short game is legendary and I really like the way he keeps his cool in spite of adversity. I wish I could play a round with Mr. Watson. I think I could learn alot from him.
In writing about the Champions Tour I also would like to say that I am a fan. I try to watch as much golf as I can on weekends and invariably catch the final round as I flip channels. If I get up early enough I might even watch a bit of the European Tour. I guess if you're a golf fanatic you can never get too much golf. If it's not on TV then I have to get to the driving range and if I'm not on the range I try to get in a back nine somewhere. In other words, I'm HOOKED ON GOLF!
It should be a nice week so everyone should make the most of it. It's going to get colder soon and then you're going to WISH you were out on a course firing at pins!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)