Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Phil Mickelson set to visit Asia for two weeks.

Phil Mickelson has agreed to play in the US$5-million Barclays Singapore Open later this month along with already confirmed golfers Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els.

The Barclays Singapore Open is the the richest national championship in Asia and will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

Last year Mickelson placed 9th and will be making his third trip to Asia to claim the number one spot.

After the Singapore Open Mickelson will join Tiger Woods at the World Golf Championship event held in Shanghai, China.



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The King returns to the White House


Arnold Palmer also known as "The King" will be revisiting the White House to receive a Congressional Gold Medal.

The Congressional Gold Medal is an honor that has been around since the American Revolution and recognizes distinguished achievements and contributions.

Besides Palmer's seven major championships he used his hard-charging style to introduce and popularize golf to the masses.

In 1993 Palmer received the National Sports Award from former President Bill Clinton and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President George W. Bush in 2004.

The Congressional Gold Medal must be co-sponsored by two-thirds of the House and Senate and Palmer is the second golfer to receive the prestigious award. Ever since the first medal was awarded in 1776 to George Washington the Congressional Gold Medal has been presented 141 times.

"I didn't know George Washington," Palmer said with a grin. "But if I did, I would shake his hand and say, 'You're the first, and I won't be the last.'"

September was definitely a good month for Palmer. From Sept 10th when he turned 80 and had a birthday party that stretched over two weeks to throwing out the first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game and then finishing the month by receiving Congressional Gold Medal.

"I threw an 80 mph fastball right down the center of the plate," Palmer said. "And they took me out."

Acushnet works hard to put an end to the sale of counterfeit golf merchandise.



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Acushnet Company officials have reported that Gary Bellchambers a mastermind behind a large-scale criminal conspiracy that involved selling bootleg golf equipment has plead guilty in a London court to conspiracy, counterfeiting, and other various charges.

Potentially millions of dollars worth of fake golf equipment was moved before a local Trading Standards office conducted an investigation into a fraudulent eBay business. Bellchambers and eight other defendants are all being charged with various crimes.

The 45-year-old Bellchambers will be sentenced in the near future while two of his co-conspirators, Keith Thomas, 49, and Chris Moughton, 56, also admitted guilt, have not been sentenced and six other defendants are currently on trial in Snaresbrook Crown Court in London.

An eBay official reported that this conspiracy is one of the largest counterfeit productions discovered on their web site.

Acushnet, which is the mother company for Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra brands, continues a constant presence online by monitoring multiple platforms where unauthorized dealers sell their products.

Back in 2006, Acushnet found several unauthorized dealers located in the London borough of Havering on eBay and conducted an internal investigation, and alerted local law enforcement.

London law enforcement looked into the complaint and uncovered a network that spread throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

Acushnet Trademark Manager Lisa Rogan released the statement, "This is an historic case not only for the golf manufacturers, but for all brand owners who must combat the increasing global problem of online counterfeit products," and "The sale of fake and unauthorized golf products damages the reputation of our brands and impacts our customers around the world. We have a worldwide team of associates who aggressively attack this growing issue, and we will continue our vigilant commitment to protect our brands and customers by continuously monitoring internet sales and websites."

Acushnet has alerted local and federal authorities around the globe over the past several years which has resulting in arrests, convictions, and the removal of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit products from commerce.


Monday, September 28, 2009

Golf Capital Magazine featured in the Big Golf Discounts newsletter



Golf Capital Magazine was recently featured in the Big Golf Discounts newsletter. The newsletter is for members only and has great information like upcoming events, industry updates, and all kinds of great news to keep all of its readers in the loop of what breaking news is unfolding. I honestly have to say with all of the different golf programs out there Big Golf Discounts is one of the better ones because they have so much to offer for everyone, it is affordable, and it supports junior golf. The way I see it is we are going to golf anyway so why not join Big Golf Discounts and save some money!

<-- Click the image to enlarge and see what you have been missing!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

‘Golf in a Kingdom’ makes ‘Unique’ addition

De Naga Chiang Mai exemplifies the Lanna style of Northern Thailand.


BANGKOK
(Sept. 23, 2009) — ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ has added three more posh properties to its stable of luxury accommodations: Putahracsa Hua Hin, De Naga Chiang Mai and Palm Grove Resort in Pattaya.

The hotels, which are all part of The Unique Collection of Hotels & Resorts, bring the total number of ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ lodgings to nine while giving the golf travel resource its first in the northern town of Chiang Mai.

“Our proximity to ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ member Chiang Mai Highlands (Golf & Spa Resort) makes us an ideal link here,”
said Mr. Vannasont Limprasutr, hotel manager of De Naga Chiang Mai. “What’s more, the levels of luxury are commensurate, which means Kingdom-goers will feel no disconnect between the experience here and the experience at the golf club.”

Also, the Asian Tour has tapped ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ member course Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai as host venue of the King’s Cup (Dec. 3-6), the final event of the 2009 season. The Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design is a collection of 18 breathtaking, impeccably maintained holes that either skirt a chain of lakes or flow over the low hills of Bang Bor.

“Last year it was the Singha Thailand PGA Championship, this year’s it’s the King’s Cup,” said Folke Nyberg, general manager of Santiburi CC Chiang Rai. “We’ll be ready, and the players will need to be too — only the winner had four rounds in the 60s last year.”

Putahracsa Hua Hin is one of three Kingdom resorts in the charming coastal town of Hua Hin, the preferred holiday retreat of the Thai Royal Family for almost a century. The stylish boutique hideaway boasts 59 contemporary rooms and villas in a seaside residential setting not far from Banyan Golf Club, a new hillside course racking up accolades from the region’s top golf publications.


With steep gabled roofs and an array of traditional decorative details, the 55-room De Naga Chiang Mai exemplifies the Lanna style of Northern Thailand. Fellow ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ member Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort — an inventive Schmidt/Curley design 1,000 feet above sea level — is 20 minutes away by car.

Palm Grove Resort is a low-rise collection of suites and colonial-style villas 15 minutes from the center of Pattaya and as close to a 'home away from home' as it gets. An 'East Meets West' interior design philosophy is constant throughout the resort, which also features winding lanes that connect the village-like layout to unspoiled Baan Ampure Beach.

Among the other first-class accommodations in the ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ portfolio are:

  • Anantara Phuket
  • Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa
  • Anantara Golden Triangle
  • Anantara Hua Hin
  • Anantara Koh Samui
  • Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa
  • Woodlands Hotel & Resort Pattaya

From the majestic hill country of Chiang Rai in the northwest corner of Thailand to the breathtaking beaches of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ takes in some of the most lush and varied terrain on the planet. In addition to the Banyan Golf Club, Santiburi CC Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai Highlands Resort & Spa, the Kingdom’s stunning golf properties include:

  • Muang Kaew Golf Club, the closest course to bustling Bangkok, with a par 3 that looks eerily similar to the 12th at Augusta National.
  • Santiburi Samui Country Club, which deftly traverses a jungle of towering coconut trees that carpets Koh Samui’s picturesque Khao Pom Mountain.
  • Siam Country Club, a 36-hole, championship venue (its Plantation Course hosted the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand) in the nightlife capital of Pattaya.
  • Thai Country Club, site of Tiger Woods’s 1997 Asia Honda Classic victory and the ‘Best Championship Course in Asia’, as voted by Asian Golf Monthly readers in 2008.

'Kingdom' member Santiburi Chiang Rai CC is the fifth Thai course to host an Asian Tour event this year.

To make travel plans for a tour of ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’, visit www.golfinakingdom.com, or send email to info@golfinakingdom.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Jim Thorpe is GUILTY



Jim Thorpe, a 60-year old Lake Mary, FL based professional golfer plead guilty to federal tax evasion.

A case was brought up against Mr. Thorpe at the beginning of the year and his attorney Mark Horwitz insisted that Thorpe could take the case to trial. Horwitz stated "Mr. Thorpe has pleaded not guilty for these misdemeanors for not filing his tax returns timely and not paying his tax timely."

The federal prosecutors say that Thorpe earned more that $5 million from 2002 through 2004 and did not pay a penny in taxes on any of it and charged Thorpe with seven counts of tax evasion.

Since February Thorpe made a deal and plead guilty to two counts of failure to pay income taxes. For each of the two counts Thorpe faces a $25,000.00 fine and a year in prison. Thorpe also owes a little more than $2 million in back taxes.

After the hearing all Thorpe's lawyer had to say was "Mr. Thorpe has entered his plea of guilty uh... we will have other things to say... when sentencing occurs. We anticipate the sentencing uh... sometime in January."

Thorpe's sentencing probably won't happen for at least two to three months and getting back to The Champions Tour is on Thorpe's agenda.

Jim Thorpe is ranked 38th on the Champions Tour money list and has won an estimated $330,000.00 this year and more than $13 million in prize money throughout his career.


Monday, September 21, 2009

TaylorMade Performance Labs Now on Facebook and Twitter

TaylorMade Performance Labs Now on Facebook and Twitter

Fans and Followers to Receive News, Updates, Fitting Tips, and Special Offers from Golf’s Ultimate Fitting Experience

SAN DIEGO, CA. (September 21, 2009) – TaylorMade Performance Labs, the premier custom golf club fitting company, announced today that it has joined popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter in an effort to keep golfers abreast of company news, updates and provide fitting tips from their certified PGA professionals. In addition, the company is offering 50% discount on the standard fitting fee through the end of September at any of the six U.S. locations when consumers sign up to follow TMPL at both sites and mention this special social network discount.

TMPL’s twitter name is “taylormadepl” and its Facebook page can be accessed by searching “TaylorMade Performance Labs.”

“Our goal is to streamline our company news and make interesting content specific to custom fitting readily available to the consumer,” said TMPL President Herb Meistrich. “We will also be offering special promotions for discounted fittings and leverage the experience of our master club fitters to provide golfers with instructional and fitting tips to improve their game.”

Since 2004, TaylorMade Performance Lab’s certified professionals will fit men, women and junior golfers of all ages and abilities to a custom set of TaylorMade® golf clubs using an exclusive technology previously available only to Tour professionals.

To date, TaylorMade Performance Labs has six U.S. locations: The International in Boston, The Four Seasons Resort in North San Diego, The Desert Springs Marriott in Palm Springs, The Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago and Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, GA. There are also two international locations in South Africa and Dubai.

Using motion capture technology – the same technology used to make today’s video games and movies – 34 reflective markers are placed on strategic points of the golfer’s body as well as on the shaft and head of the fitting club to capture a number of swings with the driver, iron , wedge and putter. Six special high-speed cameras detect the reflectors and display a three-dimensional computer-animated image of the customer viewable from every angle, allowing the pro to make accurate critiques and recommendations. The two and one-half hour custom fitting experience includes recommendations for a driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, putter and even the correct golf ball.

Following the swing analysis and club recommendations, demo clubs are built on-site with the customer’s correct swing specifications and the player can then validate the system’s recommendations on the driving range.

New custom TaylorMade clubs built to recommended specifications are shipped directly from TaylorMade’s headquarters in as little as 24 hours.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

GREG NORMAN COLLECTION DEVELOPS EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY SET TO LAUNCH SPRING 2010



Greg Norman Collection's new polo will...
improve performance
&
promote an overall sense of physical well being
The revolutionary ION 75 Titanium technology is a result
of the popular "minus ion" belief.
As standard, the new Ion 75 Titanium
GNC polos are made from superior performance fabric,
designed with added luxury and style.


GREG NORMAN COLLECTION DEVELOPS EXCLUSIVE
PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY SET TO LAUNCH SPRING 2010


NEW YORK (September 17, 2009)--Greg Norman Collection, a leader in golf-inspired sportswear, introduces a brand new technical advancement, ION 75 Titanium, available in two of the company's performance polos from the Spring 2010 line.

"ION 75 Titanium is a technology that generates negative ions as a result of a specially designed knitting process, "says Michael J. Setola, CEO/President. "Golfers and non-golfers alike will benefit from a polo that actually balances the ions in the human body and unsurpassed benefits available from a garment."

ION 75 Titanium is unique to the industry largely due to its benefits, which derive from a development process that begins with liquid titanium magnetic crystals. Crystals are naturally embedded into superior microfiber yarn by way of an exact spinning technique that produces a beneficial amount of negative ions, which in turn will balance positive ions in the body-similar to the popular ionic magnetic bracelets. The end result is a performance garment that actively promotes a healthy and natural flow of balanced ions in the human body resulting in increased serotonin levels and overall wellness. Additionally, ION 75 Titanium has moisture-wicking, UPF and anti-microbial characteristics.

While a 100% performance, the technology creates a luxurious garment as well. The new ION 75 Titanium polos are designed with a refined sense of style, available in a solid pin dot and bar stripe. The entire Spring 2010 line, including ION 75 Titanium, will be on display at this year's PGA Merchandise Show in Las Vegas.

In other company news, Greg Norman Collection's Sales Rep Mark Ziminsky was recently named the 2009 Salesman of the Year by the San Diego Chapter of the PGA of Southern California.

Built upon a unique combination of performance, luxury and style, Greg Norman Collection is a leading worldwide marketer of golf-inspired sportswear for men and women, influenced by one of the world's leading golf professionals.


Thursday, September 17, 2009

WIN IT!

We want to give all of our valued readers a chance to win a golf ball cleaner by BallBrite. BallBrite is a great accessory for every golfer and I think it is underrated. BallBrite is easy to use to keep your golf balls and clubs clean of debris to help your shots stay straight on the fairway.

How to win:
Send an email to golfcapitalmagazine (at) gmail (dot) com and tell us how you think a clean golf ball will help your game. SUBJECT I want to win it!

Quantities are limited so act fast!

The excitement never ends!

Vinnie (on the right) and his team.

A few days ago I received a call from the host of CBS's sports radio show The Sports Explosion, Vinnie Munoz and he asked if I wanted to go on the air as a guest and talk about Golf Capital Magazine. Needless to say I was a little nervous but also excited. Vinnie and his co-hosts were great and very supportive and everything went very smoothly. Before going on the air with Vinnie and The Sports Explosion I never listened to that particular station but now I have it dialed in and am now a frequent listener so I can stay informed on other sports news. If you are in the St. Pete/ Tampa area you can listen on radio station 1010am and if you are located somewhere else but want to listen you can listen live on their website www.thesportsexplosion.com Link

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

We are LIVE world wide on the web!


LinkWe finally got the kinks worked out and have successfully launched the digital version of Golf Capital Magazine for prestigious golfers everywhere to read! You can view our latest issue right here on our blog or on our official website www.GolfCapitalMagazine.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Do not try at home, course.

I found this video sitting on the phone for 3 hours with my cell phone provider while we tried to activate the WiFi on my mobile phone so I can send an email to myself. To make things a little worse some of the staff members and I got rained out of our tee time and didn't get a chance to play any golf this weekend. After a bum weekend a short video like this is sure to crack a quick smile on your face. Enjoy.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Everything is coming together



I spoke with our pre press wizards today and they ensured me the virtual magazine will be completed for the weekend and the physical copies of Golf Magazine will ship this weekend and should be landing in shops next week.

Monday, September 7, 2009

TaylorMade introduces Raylor Hybrid: Ultimate Weapon for Escaping the Rough

TaylorMade introduces Raylor Hybrid

Engineered to be the Ultimate Weapon for Escaping the Rough


Carlsbad, Calif. (September 1, 2009)– Mention the name Raylor® to golfers of a certain age and you'll receive a smile and a nod of the head in return. Introduced in 1988, the TaylorMade Raylor club was one of the most popular and useful utility woods of all time, and especially proficient at getting wayward tee shots out of rough and close to, if not onto, the green. The Raylor club boasted a small, rounded steel head with an extremely low center of gravity (far lower than any persimmon utility wood) and two distinct rails on its sole, which were designed to help the head glide smoothly through tall grass while resisting twisting or stalling. Twenty-one years after the original was introduced, TaylorMade has launched a hybrid called Raylor, and this one is far superior to the first.

"Twenty-one years of making metalwoods has allowed us to engineer the new Raylor to hit the ball higher, longer and straighter from tall grass," said Tom Olsavsky, TaylorMade senior director of metalwood creation. "It's the ultimate weapon for getting out of the rough."

The new Raylor comes in two lofts, 19° and 22°, and incorporates two key features that work in conjunction to make the new Raylor so effective from the rough. 1) A slightly sharp, slightly pointed leading edge that allows you to slide the face down through the grass and onto the back of the ball. 2) A "Raylor sole" shaped like ship's hull, sloping upward at the sides. The Raylor sole separates the blades of grass to allow the clubhead to glide cleanly through instead of slowing down or getting stuck. The Raylor sole and pointed leading edge together reduce by 23% the amount of area in the bottom part of the clubhead that would normally impede the head's progress as it moves through the rough.

The Raylor sole also helps you hit the ball solidly from sidehill lies because of its sole radius. Whereas the sole radius of a Burner® Rescue® hybrid presents an angle of about 10 degrees up from horizontal, the Raylor's angle is 17 degrees. That means that the Raylor hybrid boasts 70% more sole relief on the heel and toe side compared to a typical Rescue club, which makes it dramatically easier to make solid contact with the ball when the ball is above or below your feet.

The Raylor is equipped with a RE*AX® 65-gram shaft that's one inch longer than typical for TaylorMade Rescue clubs of equal lofts, to promote the added clubhead speed and leverage to help get the ball out of thick lies.

Combine the Raylor's pointed leading edge, Raylor sole, exceptionally low CG, compact size from heel to toe and longer shaft and you've got a hybrid born to get the ball out of the rough with extreme ease. Raylor also works nicely from good lies in the fairway as well, and is a great choice to play low, running chips from certain greenside lies, and is especially good for when the ball comes to rest awkwardly against the collar.

Tour-Tested and Tour-Proven
The new Raylor hybrid is tour-tested and tour-proven. Kenny Perry replaced his 3-iron with a 19-degree prototype Raylor to get out of the US Open rough this year at Bethpage Black. During one round, on the 10th hole, he put the ball on the green from deep rough, 220 yards out, and then ran in the birdie putt. It's usually hard for Kenny to hit longer clubs out of heavy rough because he brings the head in on a real shallow approach angle, making it hard to get the head through the thick grass. Most times he would have wedged out in that situation, he said. Thanks to the Raylor, instead of scrambling for par, he made birdie. A big difference made possible by the Raylor.

Who Needs a Raylor?
Who needs a new Raylor hybrid? Everybody from high handicappers to low handicappers to tour pros. "It's an essential part of every player's arsenal, even though you probably won't have it in your bag at all times," said Olsavsky. "It should be kept on hand to replace a long-iron, hybrid or fairway wood when you play a course with significant rough, or maybe an exceptionally undulating track where severe sidehill lies are frequent. Point being that the Raylor isn't necessarily an everyday club, but rather is a great weapon to have on hand when conditions call for it."

The Raylor hybrid becomes available starting on September 4, 2009 at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $229 per club.

TaylorMade Introduces Penta TP: First Five-Layer Tour Ball

TaylorMade Introduces Penta TP

First Five-Layer Tour Ball Delivers a Superior Balance of
Performance in Five Key Shot Categories


Carlsbad, Calif. (September 1, 2009)– TaylorMade Golf has introduced Penta TP, a new tour ball designed to deliver a superior balance of performance in five key shot categories, the result of three years of research and development.

"We spend a lot of time with tour pros asking questions," said Dean Snell, head of TaylorMade golf ball R&D. "Most think the ball they play is lacking somewhere. Some say their ball performs great in the short game but costs them distance, while other players said the opposite about their ball. Some feel their ball performs great off the middle and short irons but isn't long enough off the tee and doesn't spin enough on short shots.

"The takeaway was simple: If we could create a ball that performed well in all areas we would have a revolutionary product. That's what inspired us to create our newest ball, Penta TP, which is every bit the breakthrough we hoped it would be."

Penta TP is the first tour ball with five solid-layers, with each layer engineered to optimize performance in five key shot categories that skilled players need – driver, long-irons, middle-irons, short-irons and partial wedges. The five layers of Penta TP include the core, inner mantle, middle mantle, outer mantle and cover, and each one plays a critical role in optimizing the performance of each of the five key shots.

Layer 1 – Cover
The soft Urethane Cover promotes a higher than average spin-rate on the all-important partial wedge shots required in the scoring zone, within 100 yards of the flag. These are the types of shots where many current tour balls fail to deliver the goods because they launch too high and don't spin enough. Instead, most tour pros want a ball that launches lower and spins enough to stop fast after one or two bounces, which gives them maximum control over these types of shots. Penta TP's soft, durable Urethane Cover has the necessary characteristics to deliver that coveted combination of lower launch angle and higher spin-rate, while also providing soft tour feel.

Layer 2 – Outer Mantle
The firm and fast Outer Mantle promotes optimum spin off the short-irons to stop the ball quick without sucking it off the front of the green or drawing it back too far from the hole. The Outer Mantle is the fastest mantle in the ball; because it's positioned just beneath the cover it's easily compressed by slower swingers (ball speeds 120 mph and below), helping them to generate higher ball speed for increased distance.

Layer 3 – Middle Mantle
The semi-firm and fast Middle Mantle, which surrounds the Inner Mantle , promotes mid-launch and mid-spin off the middle irons. Mid-launch promotes control; mid-spin keeps the ball from up-shooting, ballooning and falling short of the target. The Middle mantle consists of a fast material, allowing medium-slow swingers (who average from 120 to 140 mph in ball speed) to generate more ball speed and distance, as they will compress only the two outermost mantles underneath the cover.

Layer 3 – Middle Mantle
The semi-firm and fast Middle Mantle, which surrounds the Inner Mantle , promotes mid-launch and mid-spin off the middle irons. Mid-launch promotes control; mid-spin keeps the ball from up-shooting, ballooning and falling short of the target. The Middle mantle consists of a fast material, allowing medium-slow swingers (who average from 120 to 140 mph in ball speed) to generate more ball speed and distance, as they will compress only the two outermost mantles underneath the cover.

Layer 4 – Inner Mantle
The soft, fast Inner Mantle, which surrounds the core, promotes soft feel, high launch and low spin off the long-irons for exceptional distance and high, soft-landing flight that helps the ball sit quickly on the green. The Inner Mantle consists of a fast material, which helps players who average from 140 to 160 mph in ball speed to generate more ball speed and distance, because although they don't swing fast enough to activate the core, they are able to activate the three layers between the core and cover including the inner mantle, which is the deepest of the three.

Layer 5 – Core
The extremely soft, low-compression core is the most critical layer to promoting high launch and low spin off the driver, which are well known to be the launch conditions that promote maximum carry and distance. Despite being soft and low-compression, Penta TP's core is still very fast, which allows players who generate fast ball speed -- in the 140 to 180 mph range -- to generate more ball speed. Which means that if long-hitters who play a tour ball will likely be longer with Penta TP.

Progressive Distance Promotes More Yardage at a Variety of Swing Speeds
The layers of Penta TP are configured strategically to promote "Progressive Distance," which allows it to deliver terrific distance to all types of swing speeds. That's because, as mentioned above, each layer is exceptionally fast. Slow swingers who generate only enough clubhead speed to activate the Outer Mantle will benefit. Medium swingers who can activate only the Outer and Middle mantles will benefit. Fast swingers who activate the Outer, Middle and Inner mantles will benefit. And of course, very fast swingers who activate every mantle plus the core will benefit.

Added Spin and Control in the Scoring Zone
The added spin Penta TP promotes in the scoring zone is especially important in light of the groove-change rule that will be implemented in high-level competitions by the USGA and R&Amp;A in 2010. The new grooves will impart less spin depending on the lie (much less out of the rough) and swing type (shallow swingers will lose more than steeper swingers). Penta TP will help some players recover some of the spin likely to be lost because of the new rule.

Recent testing with TaylorMade Tour Staff pros drew rave reviews from Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Retief Goosen and Justin Rose, who complimented Penta TP's all-around performance and singled out for praise the spin and control on the all-important 30- to 75-yard wedge shot. "That's been the biggest shortcoming in today's tour balls," says Dean Snell, head of TaylorMade's golf ball R&Amp;D department.

LDP Technology for Improved Distance on Driver Mis-hits
Penta TP also incorporates TaylorMade's LDP technology, which uses improved aerodynamics to promote increased lift to keep the ball in the air longer for more distance on the most common types of driver mis-hits, which occur on the top half of the clubface. TaylorMade robot testing shows that LDP improves driver distance on mis-hits dramatically, and that TaylorMade balls with LDP are clearly longer on driver mis-hits compared to competitive balls without LDP. Also, Penta TP's dimple configuration delivers the same hold-the-line stability in the wind that the TP Red and TP Black are renowned for.

Three Years in Development, Five-Layer Penta TP Delivers a New Level of Performance
"Penta TP took three years to develop as our golf ball R&D team carefully experimented with different mantle materials, compositions and thicknesses until the ideal combination was defined," said Dr. Benoit Vincent, TaylorMade's chief technical officer. Extensive computer modeling, prototype creation, robot testing and player testing went into creating what we believe is the finest all-around performing golf ball of its kind, a ball that delivers outstanding performance on every key type of shot a golfer has to hit while also delivering tremendously soft and responsive feel off everything from driver to putter."

Penta TP on Tour
Penta TP is already being played on tour, first by Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen, who switched into it at the PGA Championship. Other players who have switched into Penta TP include Y.E. Yang, Justin Rose and Jason Day. "It usually takes players several weeks or even months of trial before they'll change balls," said Snell. "We're seeing players switch into Penta TP after testing it for nine holes. That's proof that Penta TP offers a dramatic improvement in performance."

A Great Choice for Every Level of Player
Penta TP was created for our tour pros, yet it's a great ball for every level of player. You don't have to be a fast swinger to achieve excellent distance with Penta TP, and it delivers the kind of spin in the scoring zone that a distance ball can't compete with, giving shorter hitters the added control to get up-and-down more often. The same goes for higher handicappers – the extra spin Penta TP promotes will only improve the quality of their short shots, helping them score lower.

Penta TP becomes available starting on December 1, 2009 in the Sunbelt states (Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, southern California and Hawaii) and February 15, 2010 nationwide at a retail price of $45.99 per dozen.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

2009 Fall PGA Merchandise Expo

Visiting Las Vegas for my first time was both exciting and nerve racking because I did not know what to expect from the city as well as the actual trade show. The moments leading up to the show felt like I was placed in Las Vegas for all the right reasons but at the same time was uncertain about the final outcome and what people would think about Golf Capital Magazine. If Golf Capital Magazine fails then so do I and it would be a major upset. It is a reality that business owners must face but in the end you can never win if you don't run the race.
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Day 1: Demo Day at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.
Thanks to a delay at LAX I was put behind schedule and really had to hustle to make it to test some of the newest products that will shortly hitting the shelfs and to give our readers a first look at what they can expect in the near future. I checked into my hotel, brushed my teeth, grabbed my camera bag, and hopped in a cab to pick up my badge at the show. The seven foot signs made it easy to navigate through Mandalay Bay and I literally power walked from the front doors to registration to make the last shuttle bus in time.

After a few minutes on the bus I saw a rare sight. Mountains. Las Vegas has beautiful mountain ranges that calm your senses so much I think it would even help lose some of the strokes on the golf course. This is for all the Floridians that have never seen mountains.

After 20 minutes on the bus I was really wondering if we made a wrong turn and knew the clock was ticking.

I was so excited when I saw green turf on the horizon but didn't know if it was a marriage or what. It turned out to be our final destination the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

What timing... Just as I arrived everyone else decided to break down and call it a day. I was a little disappointed but there was nothing I could have done. It was nice to do a little exploring and to visit a new destination.

Two good things that came out of the trip were Ball Balm lip balm and a tasty Elations health drink.
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Day 2 & 3: The Show
I have to admit after the trip to the middle of the desert made me pretty thirsty and eager to experience the nightlife of Las Vegas. I must have stayed out until 2am gambling and bar hopping (Yes, I actually won! $70 in my pocket spelled cab fair for the weekend.) but it looks like this fellow had a longer night than I did. Or it just might have been the heat.
I have always thought about going back to school. If I ever do decide to enroll to further my career the Golf Academy of America is defiantly on my list. Golf Academy of America offers campuses in Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Phoenix, and San Diego not only making it easy for travel but also puts you in some of golfs best locations.
PivotPro is one of the newest and most versatile training tools on the market that collaborates with some of the PGA's top pros that made everything possible. The amount of golfers that struggle with their swing is countless and their main flaw is excessive sway or a reverse pivot. What PivotPro dose is help any and every golfer load properly. 90+% of the pros get their club in the right position, load properly, and most importantly pivot properly. If you have problems with swaying or pivoting you can now correct it very easily with PivotPro.

Spherical Blade Putters made the journey all the way from Wales, UK and have been successfully grabbing the attention and respect from golfers since 2004. Spherical Blade Putters also known as S Blade Putters made their United States appearance at the 09 Fall PGA Expo and created quite a buzz. The idea behind the technology is there is a spherical face built into ever club to give a truer forward roll to help eliminate skips and skids that can come from a traditional putter. The curve also a larger sweet spot. If you have a problem with pushing or pulling the spherical face will also help focus for the best point of impact. And if you like variety S Blade putters offers 8 metal putters and 2 wood putters.
Yar Putters help golfers that have trouble completing a full round of 18 holes because of back problems and other physical disabilities by providing an industry breakthrough design that allows golfers to pick up their clubs, ball marker, and golf ball without even bending over. Yar Putters even give back to the golf community by supporting programs geared towards golfers that have seen unforeseen accidents and helps golfers reengage in life and golf. Not only does the Yar Putter putt beautifully but it will help save you from back pains as well as your extra strokes.

CleatSkins are a very new and popular footwear accessory that easily slips over your golf shoes to turn them into a nonslip, no scuff, street shoe that you can wear to and from the golf course and anywhere in between. By wearing CleatSkins you will also greatly improve the life of your cleats to keep your grip for many future rounds to come. No matter if you are a man or a woman CleatSkins offer a size and color to fit your style and preference to match seamlessly with your existing golf shoe.
STX is acknowledged as being the golf industry's foremost authority on insert face technology. Over a quarter century ago, the company introduced the first patented soft face elastomer, creating the "softest legal face in golf." In the mid-90s the company's research and development team introduced the first USGA approved interchangeable face insert and removable weight system. Both these and other innovations have helped create the standards for putter designs today.
Perfect Release is a simple and easy to use training device that allows you to relax your grip and arms which enables your body to move better and have a more fluid swing. When you soften your grip and relax your arms your ball will fly better. Perfect Release is a great chipping tool, wonderful for warm up, and is great for learning how to relax your swing. The Perfect Release has even helped improve the Long Drive Champion's swing in just 5 practice swings to his amazement.
AboutGolf is a high end golf technology company with many golf related tools that helps golfers improve their game. One of the most popular is the PGA Tour simulator that uses a three track technology to track the ball and is the most accurate simulator in the industry. AboutGolf also offers a Three track launch monitor , a portable unit that can be used indoors or out on the range which is perfect for training and club fitting.

Smartee golf tees triple their use as a tee, a divot tool, and a groove cleaner all in one. Smartees are very durable and are guaranteed not to break. They are also great because you always tee your ball at the perfect height. Sorry the watch and ring are not included.
How big is your score card collection?
Looking for a fun and easy way to cruise the course? Look no further than the one of a kind Bike Board.
Trecho golf bags are 3 bags conveniently transformed into one. You can zip it, you can grip it, and you can ship it. The Trecho golf bag is also water proof and can carry your shoes, clubs, golf balls, and can be brought onto any airplane. Trecho is truly the golf bag of the future. Here is a sneak peek at the 2010 Orlando Show and just by looking at the floor plan it look likes a must attend event. We will be there and I hope we see you there too!

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In the beginning I don't know what I was so worried about. I received tons of phenomenal feedback, got some promo gear, and made some great friends. I have a new favorite vacation destination (Las Vegas) and experienced some of the best times of my life in three days. I know one thing. Next time I am staying at the Wynn because it is the only luxury hotel with a beautiful golf course on site. I visited the Wynn to do a little sightseeing and gambling but some of the best sights I saw was when I was on the Las Vegas Monorail and it passed by the Wynn and you could see the golf course. I nearly fell over when I let go of the handrail to take a closer look out of the window and the monorail made a left turn. From what I could see it looks like the golf course at the Wynn has a wide range of water hazards, elevated tee boxes, challenging bunkers, and beautiful fairways that are all sure to please. I truly can not wait to go back.