Men CAN learn from the women's game

After spending far too much time on the sofa over the Easter period, I finally decided to go out and play a round of golf. After a not too shoddy round, I have now got the bug again. I'm counting down the days to the end of term, so I can go and play as much as I want.

I have also started to watch more golf on television. I was watching a women's tour event, and I couldn't help but notice one similarity between their game and mine: distance.

It is no use to me when I sit and watch a men's tournament and the commentator announces that so and so is 150 yards from the green, and he has a nine iron in his hand. I cannot relate to this.

However, I can relate to the distances hit by the women golfers. And there are many people that agree with me. Whilst browsing through a BBC Forum, I came across many people who shared my opinion.

A blog post from The Golf Girl, reveals further ways in which us men can learn from the women's game. She suggests that if men could lose male associated traits such as aggression and risk taking, and replace them with traits linked to women such as empathy and nurturing, then some men could cope better with the demands of golf. To be honest, I have to agree.

Image from JupiterImages

Can 'Tigress Woods' help improve the coverage of the women's game?

As the women's world number one, Lorena Ochoa, takes a one stroke lead into the final day of the first major of the year, comparisons are being drawn between the Mexican and Tiger Woods.

The 26-year-old is looking to secure her third win in four starts on the 2008 LPGA Tour at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California.

The significant thing about all this is that, finally, women's golf may now have someone who can attract the mass audiences to the women's game. Or can it?

A post from the Golf Blog criticises the lack of coverage of the women's game. Within the post, it shows how the LPGA recaps on a women's event through YouTube. The video is clearly not effective, and has had just under 60 views.

It raises the question whether the women's game will ever earn the coverage that it deserves.

A BBC Forum is alive and kicking on the subject. One comment states that the women's game needs a 'Tigress Woods'.

Here's a post from the Ultimate Golf Blog, which shows that Ochoa could be the Tiger Woods of the women's tour.

If Ochoa continues her good form, maybe television companies would start to cover the women's game in greater depth, to showcase her talents. We will just have to wait and see......

Photo from http://noezbuckets.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/lorena-ochoa.jpg

My predictions prove to be correct!

Just a quick post. After stating in my previous post that soon we will have putters that tell us how hard, and where to hit the ball on the greens, I did some research into the crazy world of putters.

And right in front of my eyes, was the DiXX Putter, a digital instructional putter that will set you back £400. It is designed with and Internal Navigation System, multiple Accelerometers, a Micro-Electro Mechanical System and sensors, all with the aim to improve your putting stroke.

However, The Golf Blog reveals that it is not USGA or R&A approved, and so you can only practice with it.

I'm sure it will stay this way, and frankly I hope it does. The pros can't have it that easy.

Image from adamsgolf.com

Will technology ruin the game?

After watching last week's Accenture Match Play Championship, I couldn't help but notice the amount of players using the new Nike SQ Sumo square driver. I had heard a lot about this new club, and the fact that it can eradicate slices was the main reason for my interest.

I'm not sure whether such advancements in technology can benefit the game. Reviews on thegolfchannel.com have all been positive, with one person stating:

"I just bought the sumo-2 over the weekend and it took 6 strokes off my game. This club also helps a lot with a person that has a very bad slice. I am hitting more on the fairway than ever, and closer to greens. Great club!!!!"

Another added: "I am very pleased with the Sumo Sasquatch Driver. It is a very enjoyable club to hit and extremely forgiving. The face of the club is designed in such a way to allow you to review each ball strike. I was playing recently and struck the ball very poorly on the extreme end of the club face. The club twisted slightly in my hand from the impact, but still laid out a very nice drive just 10 feet off the fairway. Great Club!!"

This clearly shows how the club is helping players at club level. Imagine how it is aiding the pros!

The most exciting aspect of golf is the unexpected side to the game. With such little margins for error, anyone can shoot low rounds, or quadruple bogeys.

I just hope technology doesn't got too far. Soon we will have putters that tell us exactly where to hit, and how hard to hit a ball.

On another note, the Grouchy Golf Blog laments the amount of coverage the new club got at the event. It suggests that commentator Nick Faldo was acting as pitchman for Nike.

Nevertheless, the club has got rave reviews. I just hope it doesn't ruin the game.

Photo from lensbs

Wie set to retire?

A BBC article reporting that Michelle Wie will never regain full fitness because of the wrist problems that have caused her to pull out of recent tournaments has fuelled debates whether the 19-year-old is set for a very early retirement.

The American has enjoyed a very successful start to her career, and has even competed in men's events. 2007 was a complete wipe out as she suffered recurrences of a problematic wrist injury.

A BBC forum shows how some people have reacted to the news that Wie might never be the same again. There are some great posts, and it goes to show how useful utilising the digital newsroom can really be.

One comment reads: "Over hyped, over marketed, overconfident, overpaid...........but mainly over par."

Most of the posts reflect how Wie's parents have pushed her too hard, and so she has been ill advised and exploited.

Whatever you believe, it is a sad story. After all, she is just nineteen, yet the spotlight seems like it has been on her for a lot longer.

A blog post on Worldgolf.com is titled "Top 7 Reasons Why Michelle Wie Will Never Be Number One." It is a very interesting read, and raises many good points.

Image from noezbuckets

Ian Poulter - the new Tiger?

As explained in my last post, my golfing capabilities are not quite up to Tiger's standard just yet. Perhaps I am being a little harsh on myself, as there are not too many professional golfers that can boast the same level of ability as the great man himself.

That is of course apart from a certain Ian Poulter, who in the March edition of Golf World claims that he will be Tiger's closest rival once he reaches his full potential. For a man ranked number 22 in the world, he clearly has his work cut out.

We are accustomed to seeing Poulter dressed in highly controversial attire on the golf course, but this latest show of flamboyance is sure to shock and entertain the golf community. Tiger Woods is building up a reputation as one of the finest golfers ever to have graced the game, winning 13 majors and 85 career titles. Comparing this feet to Ian Poulter's seven tournament victories and it is evident the the Englishman's claim has no foundation.

Perhaps Poulter is using mind games to gain an advantage over fellow competitors. Can anyone actually catch Tiger Woods?

Vote now on my poll.

Image from pocketwiley