McGirt and "The Geriatrics"

Alright, I know what you may be thinking. This title is either demeaning or it's about some new up and coming country music brand. Of course it isn't. This week the world of golf had some interesting stories emerge so let's take a look.

Photo Credit: independent.ie

When was the last time we saw not one but two elder statesmen at the top of the leaderboard of a tournament that did not say Champions? I'm sure that it has happened but I fail to recollect when that might have been. This weekend was special. Over in Portugal at the Portugal Master's was played at the Victoria Clube de Golfe in Vilamoura, Portugal. The tournament was host to some fantastic scoring from the field which included the winner in 2015 Andy Sullivan. Sullivan finished with a score of -22 and second place. Of course, this is a terrific score that could nearly any golf tournament but not this weekend. For the first time in 8 years Padraig Harrington the very likable Irishman from Dublin, Ireland found himself atop the leaderboard when the action ended on Sunday. Powered by the new Wilson Staff FG Tour V6 irons 5-PW (which he tried out Monday) he would scramble his way to a winning score of -23. Scrambling was the key for the weekend as Paddy had otherworldly statistics. Yes, he held it together coming down the 72nd hole after missing the fairway but his scrambling was insane. But there was another elder statesmen that was in contention at the sane time. Anders Hansen. Why is he noteworthy? Well, he just happens to be 46 years young and the Dane would find himself finished with a T-3. But as much as his age might be an eyebrow raiser it's the fact that Hansen is a part-time Tour player. Hansen announced his retirement at the same tournament in 2015. He has teed it up this year four other times. Talk about a good paying part-time job.

Photo Credit: skysports.com

As we had a "part-timer" made some decent cash this past weekend things were a little different on this side of the pond heading into this weeks stop in Jackson, MS. The Sanderson Farms Championship is being played and it so happens that it happens to be the same week as a WGC-HSBC Champions event. Well, there happens to be a bit of a wonky rule that states if there is a WGC event and you are qualified to play in that event you CANNOT play in another event that week on the PGA Tour. William Mc Girt fell victim to this rule. While rules are rules I also understand Mc Girt's position. Why fly to China when he can board a flight and have a short hop to Mississippi? If I were him I would opt to do the same thing... regardless of the guaranteed paycheck (no cut). Of course, the WGC has their position as well which is basically that they want the best possible field that they can muster. They actually have 43 of the Top 50 players in the world. But the last time that I checked the PGA Tour does not have a player's union and these guys have the right to play where they want... when they want. Otherwise the world would have seen a lot more Tiger over the years. So will there one day be a player's union in golf? I honestly don't see it ever happening. Getting back to Mc Girt it has been reported that he's going to go to Jackson anyways. It has been stated that Mc Girt will be attending the Pro-Am party on Tuesday and then after playing in the Pro-Am Wednesday he's heading home. He feels that supporting a brand (Sanderson Farms) that has given his his area's economy much needed employment is more important and quite frankly... I don't blame him.

Photo Credit: golfchannel.com

Until The Next Tee!

Review - Bridgestone Golf JGR Hybrid Forged Irons

If there is one thing that I have said that I will never waver from it's my thoughts. That "Alexism" is this. "Improving in golf... depends on your ability to check your ego at the door".  This pertains to a few different things among them includes having an open mind and flex of shaft. Today's subject could also epitomize the thought. 

When the average golf consumer thinks of forged irons they think of eye-pleasing muscle back designs or a tiny blade with nary a top line. Although this has been the thought for a very long time the reality is that golf manufacturers know that only a low percentage of golfers worldwide can produce consistent ball-striking with these tiny instruments of craftsmanship that house a sweet spot the size of a dime. Little by little golf equipment manufacturers came to the realization that there was a niche market for the mid to high handicap golfer that desired to play a forged iron. A true forged iron that could help them improves their games. If one company really captured this goal in 2016 it might have to be Bridgestone Golf.

https://youtu.be/PHb94gq-Nsg

Bridgestone Golf long known for their golf balls (and in these parts only known for the balls) happens to have a real nice product range of golf clubs too. And they should, considering they have staffers like Fred Couples, Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar in their stable. In the past when you looked at their offerings one of the words that would be used to describe them would be "clean" which still the case is. Often though to get that clean look designers have to sacrifice forgiveness. With the JGR Hybrid Forged irons an observer might contend that Bridgestone Golf sacrificed looks for forgiveness. Before continuing on about the JGR Hybrid Forged irons I will use some literature from www.bridgestonegolf.com

"JGR Hybrid FORGED irons are a revolution in distance. Featuring the lowest and deepest CoG of any forged iron on the market we are able to increase lengths and strengthen lofts while maintaining traditional iron trajectories, thereby maintaining landing angles for maximum stopping power on the greens. JGR Hybrid FORGED irons will fly longer with more distance while still providing the shot shapes golfers prefer."

Upon reading that snippet from their website, it would make a golf consumer (in their target audience) feel intrigued. Much like I was when I saw these irons on the Demo Day range at Orange County National. But there is a lot more to these irons as they are simply not just geared towards the high handicap because they are also geared towards the professional as well. These irons are offered with very high quality stock shafts as the JGR Hybrid Forged Irons come with either the Nippon Zelos 8 in steel or the UST Mamiya Recoil as a graphite option. One knock on these irons coming out of the gate is that these are only available for right-handed golfers which means there is no love for the southpaw golfers out there. As mentioned above, the lofts are bumped up as the PW2 is 44*. The iron set starts with a 5 iron that has a loft of 22* which is pretty "beefy" for a 5 iron. Then again, it's all for a good reason because most golfers carry a hybrid for those types of loft anyways. Also, it makes for more room in the bag for extra wedges. For a set composition a golfer could get away with a Driver, 5 wood and go into the irons from there or Driver, 4 wood, hybrid and then irons. Either way, the iron set allows for some flexibility of your set. Other important information about this iron set from Bridgestone Golf is that they created their "thinnest face ever" and they've incorporated a vibration dampening "Turbo Rubber" which also enhances the feel.

Photo Credit: Bridgestone Golf

I will never forget my immediate impression of these irons at the Bridgestone Golf booth at the Demo Day. After admiring their range of drivers, metalwoods and hybrids (driver was a serious sleeper as mentioned in my review at alexandertothgolf.com) I looked at these JGR Hybrid Forged irons and thought "what a travesty". Adjectives like "shovel", "ugly", and "appalling" came to mind. I was actually disgusted and downright hated them. Maybe there is a part of me that could be classified as a "purist" thus being the reason of my malcontent. For example... the flange I couldn't bear to even look at. One other quote I've used in my life is "to be able to kiss a girl you have to be able to look at her" and I had a hard time looking at them. Prior to placing the iron down in the address position I looked at the cavity and thought that the badge was nicely done. It looked quite smart and thought that at least it had that going for it. Then I placed it down and I was surprised by the fact that the ever present flange did not bother me. Frankly, I never really noticed it. So I thought... okay let's see the "proof in the pudding".

https://youtu.be/-K08rjD2y9g

Photo Credit: Bridgestone Golf

On my first swing, I knew that Bridgestone Golf had a tremendous iron with the JGR Hybrid Forged irons. The top line was moderate and the face responsive. The flight of the ball was "long and strong". I also noticed that the feel was like the oft-used term "butter". If anything it was so smooth that pure strikes did not offer any sort of feedback. That said, when I toed one it offered that feedback. So there is feedback on a poorly struck golf ball. But what I really found attractive about the JGR Hybrid Forged irons was the launch conditions. The ball elevated quickly (without ballooning) and climbed down range. No doubt that the wide flange and consequential weight low and back played an integral part of these ideal launch conditions. Launch is great for anyone... isn't it nice being able to get the ball up in the air? For those wondering about the workability of these irons. The JGR Hybrid Forged irons are workable in either direction. The location of their booth was such that there was a right to left wind (quartering). With my usual draw ball flight I would say that the JGR irons were a club longer than my "gamers" which are longer than my previous model. Even into the wind when I opted to hit one or two in that direction without putting other "attendees" in harm's way the JGR Hybrid Forged irons were longer. Flighting the golf ball was a snap... set it back (half back swing... abbreviate follow through) and watch it happen. Fat shots weren't severely punished but I am sure that if you tried really hard... a fat shot would be punished. The width of the sole/flange helps in protecting against the fat shot.

Conclusion: I really wanted to hate the JGR Hybrids and I cannot stress that enough. The fact is that Bridgestone Golf really raised the bar when it comes to Super Game-Improvement clubs offered as a forged head. This iron is the ultimate in forgiveness; the length is impressive and could be viewed as too long. Only because it could potentially create gapping issues. Would I game a set? The short answer is yes.

Until The Next Tee!

Review - OnCore Avant

Well this is some kind of irony. It’s late at night and I’m sitting here in my recliner relaxing after a long work day watching some late night television. Being unable to sleep I figured what better time to start writing a review. An advertisement appears on the television for OnCore Golf… the Avant golf ball. The target subject of this review. In the past, I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to test and write some reviews on independent golf ball companies. While a few of these golf balls fared very well in testing others were less impressive. At a later date a few of these companies would be named in a suit by Acushnet... irony.

OnCore Golf is based in nearby Buffalo, NY. OnCore is the brainchild of co-founders Bret Blakely and Steve Coulton. Two guys who if you were to look at them would make you think “frat boy” instead of active entrepreneur. But don’t kid yourself as these two individuals are very well seasoned backed by degrees and experience in marketing, advertising and investment banking. Blakely and Coulton are supported by Doug DuFaux who has a background in manufacturing and engineering including a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. With all of the key pieces in place and as time wore on which included R&D “backers” liked what they were doing and ultimately climbed aboard the OnCore Golf “train”.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL1LfSdeA6I

OnCore Golf has been around a little longer than the average golf fan might be aware  think. Yes, OnCore Golf is relatively new to the golf industry but they haven’t exactly been absent either. A few years ago the brand brought out the world’s first metal hollow core golf ball which came on the heels of their earlier golf balls (Omen and EVO). This was when their MA-1.0 golf ball was released. If there is one thing that I really admire about this brand it has to be their dedication to evolution and innovation. Inadvertently, I tried one of the MA1.0 balls while down in Florida during the 2014 PGA Show. I was playing some post-show golf and a friend of mine unbeknownst to me had a 2-ball trial pack. I put it into play and I will say openly and honestly that I didn’t care for it at all. But this review is not about the MA-1.0... This review is all about the Avant.

I was intrigued by the Avant when I first learned of its existence partially because of my “experience” with the MA-1.0 . The other part of me was intrigued by the Avant because it boasted a lower compression (65). My curiosity prompted me to write a letter to them requesting a review opportunity, Fortunately, my request was granted and the shipping and receiving of the Avant from OnCore was fast. Regardless of my relatively close proximity to OnCore Golf, their customer service and follow up e-mails were terrific. Before continuing on, I should give a little bit of background information on the Avant.

The Avant golf ball from OnCore Golf is a 2-piece golf ball that has OnCore’s unique SoftCell Technology. As mentioned the Avant has a relatively low compression at 65 and the cover is a soft Surlyn while the ball features 392 dimples. According to OnCore Golf the Avant targets golfers who “want phenomenal distance, with a super soft feel.” While offering “low spin off the driver and high spin on wedge shots”

When I picked up my golf balls we were somewhat mired in winter. Of course there was some snow and ice on the ground but this was a winter where I was able to play winter golf. I would play 9 hole rounds with the Avant early and often. Right away, I realized that this ball was much different than the earlier model previously mentioned. My first swing in 35* weather left me impressed from a feel and performance standpoint and I found the trajectory to be“just right“ (for my liking). Maybe this trajectory is part of OnCore’s marketing where “golfers want MORE”.

In this case more means MAXIMUM performance, OPTIMAL trajectory, REVOLUTIONARY technology and EXPLOSIVE velocity. The Avant felt soft off of the driver and considering the conditions it proved to be pretty long. It was hard to say how good the approach spin was considering how receptive the greens were but there was clear evidence that the Avant had “drop and stop” capabilities. What left me impressed the most was that throughout these early rounds it was the greenside control that left me perplexed. This is meant as a compliment because it checked up like a tour ball and this was something I didn’t expect.

Eventually, winter gave way to spring and summer where again we are mired. This time in oppressive heat and drought. My home course is Port Colborne Country Club where I serve as the Director of Golf. Although the position hasn’t left me much time for golf I have managed to play a little bit. The course is in great shape considering the drought and the greens are firm and fast. In my limited play I have used two balls. I have played with the Avant and a “similar” offering from another company. My observations with the Avant are indicated below.

Feel. Great feel off of driver with a trajectory that is terrific (this is subjective). The Avant does not balloon. I love the feel off of the irons in particular. I would say out of every golf ball that I’ve either tested, reviewed and played the feel of the Avant ranks in the Top 5.

Distance. While I do not have equipment like Trackman I will suggest based on my observations that the Avant is a longer golf ball. Much of this based on those early cold rounds. With the irons I believe that it is about half a club longer (4-7 yards)

Spin. The approach spin with the Avant is very admirable. With the greens currently being as firm as they are... tour balls are not exhibiting their “usual” characteristics. To this end, I have to class the approach spin as “solid and similar”. Meaning that the ball lands.. wanting to check and stop but it does have a little bit of “rollout”. That said, it isn’t much more rollout than my “gamer” (tour ball).

Greenside Spin. Again the difference right now is negligible between Ball A and Ball B. You can clearly see that the Avant wants to check and hold but ultimately there is rollout. Thinking back to winter, late winter and early spring the greenside control was very, very good. Consequently, I was doing a little greenside work after my shift Wednesday. The Avant was slamming the brakes on.

Putting. I love putting with this ball. The Surlyn cover is responsive and the alignment aid is very effective for lining up your putts.

Durability. The Surlyn cover is rugged and durable. I haven’t played a lot but in my opinion the cover hasn't been prone to cuts or blemishes.

Conclusion -  The OnCore Avant is a golf ball that offers  golfers of all playing abilities a "ton of bang for the buck". A dozen of these impressive balls will cost you $20 USD and they will not disappoint. OnCore Golf is making waves in the golf ball industry. Stay tuned to see what they come up with next. #BeMoreWithOnCore

Review - Skechers GO GOLF

Skechers Golf.  A division of the massive shoe company that is Skechers. You’ve seen the advertisements on the television with Matt Kuchar and the gang. The commercials are fun, witty and they show Matt’s whimsical side. But no mistake about it Skechers GO GOLF has some serious clout in the footwear industry and their offerings from a golf standpoint are no joke.

Last year, I had the opportunity to test and review a pair of their shoes and suffice to say that I was very impressed with the GO GOLF Matt Kuchar shoes that I reviewed. They wore great, performed better and they ultimately led me to choosing Skechers shoes as my everyday shoe. It only makes sense when you think about it that a company like Skechers gets involved in an industry that involves people needing to pay attention to their feet… and in particular long days of pounding their feet. I really won’t delve into the company’s history other than to mention that since 1992 the company that is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California has a track record in the footwear industry that truly speaks for itself. I had last year’s review opportunity given to me after writing their company to see if an opportunity afforded itself and fortunately it was granted. I was in contact with Laurent Sirois who is the Marketing Coordinator & Brand Lead Skechers Performance Division at Skechers USA Canada Inc. After talking to Mr. Sirois I decided that my target this year would be a shoe that first caught my eye in Orlando at the PGA Show. This shoe caught my eye simply because of its looks, its weight and some questions or concerns I had about it when I first saw it namely durability.

The Skechers GO GOLF Bionic 2 golf shoe is a shoe that combines a progressive, lightweight design that is designed to be low to the ground for giving the foot/shoe natural movement. The GO GOLF Bionic 2 shoe has many interesting performance features going for them including a waterproof synthetic upper featuring the companies H2GO SHIELD technology, a 4 mm drop which is very close to making golfers feel like they are golfing barefoot, GObionic Engineering which give the shoe a more organic design, ResaGrip traction for a better grip on the turf (outsole), and the shoes weighs in at a paltry 11.5 OZ per shoe with ResaMax cushioning.  The cleated portion of the shoe is flexible which allows for natural movements of the foot, is a seamless construction and they are designed with an athletic look. As is the norm for Skechers the GO Golf Bionic 2 shoes feature the branding of the companies “S” on the side.

When testing began it was some time ago. Late March or early-April to be precise. I had my mind made up in Orlando that if given the opportunity to test and review these shoes, I was going to be as thorough as I have been in any other review if not more. As mentioned earlier as pleasing as the Bionic 2 was from an aesthetics point of view I figured that if this shoe had an “Achilles Heel” it would be the durability. Upon picking up the shoe and looking at it closer I had my doubts about a few things… namely the seamless design. But more on that in a bit. Out of the box the Bionic 2 shoes were very comfortable similar to a well worked in baseball glove. There was no break-in period required for these shoes and the first day I wore them in the Pro Shop it was a longer 10 hr day. I was impressed at the comfort performance and I have worn great shoes from other brands that feature “zero drop” and these weren’t far behind at all. I felt low to the ground and that is partially due to the 4 mm drop and ¾” heel height. I was very pleased with the toe box portion of the shoe as my feet (Diabetic) never felt squeezed or pinched. If I could make one recommendation to Skechers regarding these shoes moving forward may I suggest using some of your “GOGAMAT” padding or something similar? Just a little more padding in the heel would be great although it could just be my gait. But other than that the shoe is a very comfortable on and off of the golf course.

I would wear this shoe for most of the golf that I played this year and unfortunately it wasn’t a copious amount. But the conditions that I did wear the Bionic 2 shoes in ranged from a soggy quagmire of early spring to the drought of summer and everything else in between. I really was impressed with their spikeless design and while I have seen spikeless patterns more “aggressive” this particular design was fantastic. It provided all of the stability that a golfer could want. Greens keepers would love these shoes as they don’t mark up the greens and we’ve all seen those spike marks around the hole. Whether the ground was firm or soft the ResaGrip definitely served its purpose very well and when the turf was soaked there was no slippage. The traction and attached performance scored extremely well. The waterproof upper was indeed as advertised and only once did I suffer wet feet while wearing them and that was only my fault. You have to pay attention when you’re walking around checking out a golf course. You never know when a puddle in the rough will be over the shoe… oops! I cannot speak enough about the performance of the Bionic 2 shoes. They perform!

Now for the proverbial “elephant in the room”. Durability. I had my concerns and as a matter of fact during this testing I would treat my concerns like I was on a “witch hunt”. There was something about this seamless design that I did not like and in particular it was the part of the shoe where the seam of the toes would meet the top part of the foot. This part of the shoe seemed very delicate and I was certain that this would be a glaring defect. Folks, I absolutely abused these shoes. I literally wore the tar out of them. I wore these shoes nearly every day at work and my hours were freakishly long. Heck, I even wore these shoes while walking the dog. Like I said… abused. At every turn I would wear the Bionic 2 shoes with a purpose of exposing them. I tried and really I did and the end result. Skechers won! There were no durability issues with the shoe and the synthetic upper looks almost like it did when it came out of the box. Other than some scuffing on the heel (it’s the way I sit). The only wearing that the shoe had was the heels wore down (walking on concrete… lot’s of it) and eventually the spikes wore down (concrete)especially around the balls of my feet. Again, this is more about my gait and not the manufacturer. Not to mention where the spikes still exist they are very much still formidable. Huge props to Skechers.

This is the first time in doing testing for a review where I was trying to make a product fail. I know that I did everything to make it fail and the Bionic 2 shoes from Skechers passed every test. If you wore these shoes for strictly what they were intended for you would find a comfortable shoe that would perform and last a very long time. Also, bear in mind the price point of the Skechers GO GOLF Bionic 2 shoes. At $105 they are a very budget friendly shoe whilst giving you the performance of a shoe double the price. Give the Skechers Bionic 2 a look.

Donde Esta... The Beef

Golf through the ages has been full of colourful, charismatic golfers. When you think about some of these characters you think of golfers by the name of swashbuckler Chi Chi Rodriguez, the feisty and fiery Seve, the Loudmouth Golf wearing blonde flowing mullet of John Daly, and it's hard these days not to mention charisma without thinking of "our" late King... Mr. Arnold Palmer #ArniesArmy.

Photo Credit: pgatour.com

There were some pundits at one point this summer that said the game of golf was dying and I have my own theories as to why that might be. There are the obvious reasons like slow play (I don't have time for a 6 hr round) and even though there's a batch of young guns like Jordan, Rickie, Rory and the newly anointed Bryson DeChambeau the demographics of the game has changed. Tiger's effect on the game was felt everywhere and if there is one effect that he had it was that he brought the game to the masses. Suddenly, golfers or aspiring golfers from all walks of life took up the game who otherwise wouldn't have. Gradually however we have seen the game sort of fizzle out like the afore-mentioned pundits stated. Ultimately, golf didn't have a golfer that most of the 18-45 year old men couldn't relate to. Not that they could relate to Tiger. John Daly has only been a shell of his former self for what seems like decades. For an outdoorsman like me it's nice to see Boo Weekley grinding out there on Tour. But his followers and effect on the game is definitely what I would classify as limited. Golf needs a new hero... a colourful charismatic golfer who will appeal to the masses. Where do we find that folk hero?

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

Look in the air. It's a bird... no it's a plane no it's... Beef! "Where's the beef?" an elderly lady once asked for a fast food company in some advertisements and from where I stand... he might be in an Arby's restaurant as we speak. Andrew Johnston more commonly known in the golfing world as "Beef" and the guy with the gnarly beard has taken the golf world by storm. The 27 year old from London, England has gained an almost cult-like following like we haven't seen in years. Not since John Daly and Happy Gilmore have we seen a golfer seem larger than life. Why? The average blue-collar worker can relate to him. The golfer that doesn't have a house in the hills can relate to him. In a world (golf world) that can be viewed at times as elitist Beef is the kind of golfer that the game needs to help further grow the game of golf. He's friendly, seems understated and just seems like a guy that you could easily have a pint or 5 with. Kids get his autograph which is simply "Beef" with a smiley face and what the heck... the adults don't mind it as well. at the moment Beef sits currently 79th in the Official World Golf Rankings and when he finished 8th at The Open Championship Beef suddenly found himself on the radar amongst North American golf fans. It will be a great when the European Tour member plays a few stops on this side of the grand pond. Beef has fared well on the European Tour with a victory at the Open de Espana and a few other top-10 finishes.

Photo Credit: thescore.com

So the question is Donde esta Beef? Well before you know it pretty soon on a course near you. When he finally does come to North America I think you will see a burgeoning "Beef's Battalion". When he does win over here (and it will happen) you will see throngs of fans becoming endeared to him much like Daly in 1991. He's relatable, a proverbial "man of the people" and Beef is exactly what golf needs. I hope to run into you Beef because I for one would love a pint with you.

(Play in the Canadian Open our beer is fantastic)

Until The Next Tee!