The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales

I’ve decided to add a new feature to A2G – a section on travel.

Many of us take annual trips with our friends and family, often to unfamiliar areas looking for a new experience.  The daunting task is to find the right mix of  lodging, restaurants and activities that will make a vacation unforgettable.  Mix rounds of golf into that equation and planning can be quite a challenge.

My approach to this will be a practical one.  We are not a travel site and don’t pretend to be one.  When we do reviews, they will not be exhaustive like you will find in a travel magazine.  I will simply tell you whether I like a facility or not (and why) without making you wade through a ton of prolific prose.  Planning is time consuming and we get that.

A2G gets many emails from companies wanting to get the word out on a new property.  I will pass that information along, but we will be quick to point out when we haven’t stayed or played there.  In those cases, they will not be A2G recommended – buyer beware.  And not everything on here will be strictly golf.  If I like a hotel or restaurant, then gentle readers, I will share that you with.  I have no idea where you might be playing or staying.

One final word – as we post content, please feel free to comment on what works and what doesn’t.  Constructive feedback is always welcome!

Taylormade's 5-layer Penta TP Golf Balls

It has been a while since we’ve brought you a deal from Caddiesbag, but 38% off Taylormade’s 5-layer tour ball caught our attention.  Be sure to stock up but note – they are limiting purchases to 3 dozen per customer.

The sale is only for today and they are bound to go fast so don’t wait.  Here is the link:

Caddiesbag.com

Dustin Johnson blasts his way into infamy at the PGA Championship. Source: Getty images

Opinions vary on Dustin Johnson’s gaffe on the 18th hole of the PGA Championship yesterday.  On one end of the spectrum, you have the “the kid was screwed by the PGA with his pants on” camp.  Ryan Ballangee wrote:

“It’s official – the crime of the century has been committed by the PGA of America by saying Dustin Johnson was in a bunker when he grounded his club before his second shot at 18.”

On the other end, you have the “stupid is as stupid does” camp.  David Whitley for Fanhouse wrote:

Hold the tears, please.

Johnson’s a bonehead, not a victim.

“Maybe I should have looked to the rule sheet a little harder,” he said.

Ya think?

There are opinions in-between and I guess that is where I fall. It’s a complicated issue. Johnson should have paid attention to the supplemental rules handed out before the tournament and reportedly notices were posted all over the players locker room in anticipation of an event like this. This was the PGA’s second worst nightmare – the first being a rules official wrestling the Wanamaker Trophy away from a winner due to this type of infraction. That almost happened but Johnson missed a putt on the final hole that would have set up that exact scenario letting tournament officials hook the proverbial hook.

Most observers are drawing issue with the fact that spectators were allowed to trample the area that was ruled a bunker making it difficult for the player to determine exactly the type of ground he was hitting from. I get that but let’s not ignore that Whistling Straights has hundreds of bunkers in all shapes and sizes. And Johnson hit his tee shot a mile off the fairway… in this case onto the beaten path.

One fact is indisputable. This will be another valuable lesson for the 26 year-old Johnson. His lack of patience and inexplicable aggressiveness while holding a lead during the final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and now this. All part of a maturation process that top amateur and professional golfers go through, but few if any do it under the bright lights and withering scrutiny of a major championship twice in one year. I can’t decide if that speaks more to Johnson’s immense talent or the amount of dead space between his ears. Hopefully he will have another chance to prove it’s more the former than the latter.

As a young amateur golfer, a coach once persuaded me to keep a small journal where I’d jot down notes about what worked and what didn’t on any given day on the course or practice range.  This could include anything – basics, swing keys, tips, mental approach, etc.  That journal was something I could always go back to if I was struggling.

So, when I received the Golf Genie “Tee to Green” Pocket Guide to review, it brought back some memories.  The concept is still the same, but more professionally done than my ratty, handwritten notebook.

The Golf Genie has information that is organized into three major categories.  The Basics section reviews and reinforces key tee to green fundamentals such as club selection, grip, setup, ball flight and how to hit straight forward shots.  The Advanced Shots section addresses trouble lies and adverse conditions.  The last section, called Quick Fixes, will probably provide the most benefit to weekend golfers and beginners.  It provides detail on the common causes for the ills that plague most golfers including hooks, pushes, slices, push slices, thin shots, fat shots and the shanks.  But, more importantly, it also includes straight forward strategies to neutralize them.

I found the Golf Genie Pocket Guide to be an excellent reference.  It has been ruled by the USGA to be fully conforming to the Rules of Golf during play and so I used it several times on the course to remind me how to play certain shots.  The information provided is written by top PGA teaching professionals and is consistent with instruction I’ve received in the past.

Quite the improvement!

The quality of the product is pretty good.  The Golf Genie is about the size of a score card so it fits in the back pocket easily.  The stock is sturdy and the spiral binding allows for a quick flip of the pages.  My only complaint is the pages should laminated or coated in some way.  The guide didn’t hold up well to the elements or my sweaty paws.

Golf can be a very difficult sport and it can take a lifetime to learn and master even the basic concepts needed to perform at a high level.  The Pocket Genie provides all that information at your finger tips, which can be a real advantage on the course and off.

The Golf Genie Pocket Guide retails for $14.99 and is available through most major online retailers or by clicking here.

You got to love Russell

One of the best things about being a golf blogger is you get to meet people from all over the globe who are as addicted to golf as you are.  Last month, I had the great fortune to meet Wayne Bosley (a.k.a. Boz).  Mr. Bosley is a principle at Vision Golf – a relatively new venture that specializes in golf balls and accessories.

Some Background

Vision Golf is based in New South Wales, Australia.  Bill Bosley (Boz Sr.) and son Wayne were Australia distributors for the Titleist brand for over twenty years before deciding to partner with Korean based Fantom Golf to create a unique, affordable line of performance golf balls and accessories for club golfers.  Vision Golf’s products have made some waves “Down Under”, but they have yet to make a splash here in the US.  That may be about to change. Boz is leveraging the same “test pilot” approach here in the States that his company used to build buzz and collect feedback from golfers in Australia.  We asked if they could send us some product samples so we could get a peek at what they were working on.  We got a box of goodies a few days later.

Something a Little Different

Vision Golf Clear White Gel and Pinky Golf Balls

I have to admit that it’s been a while since a golf ball has excited me, but it was apparent from the moment I opened the box that Vision Golf is attempting to innovate in a category that has grown somewhat stale in the past two decades.  New materials, colors and graphics makes the Vision line stand out and as a result I found myself wanting to like these balls before I ever put them into play.  Boz also threw in some accessories and everything screamed quality.  I was especially intrigued by the golf glove (we will do a separate review on it).

Some great looking Vision Golf accessories.

Overall, I came away extremely impressed with the look and feel of everything Vision Golf sent our way.  Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll put the products through their paces to see if the on-course performance matches the aesthetics.  Stay Tuned.

In the meantime, for more information on Vision Golf, you can visit their website.  For details on the US Test Pilot Program, click here.

Hell has frozen over Ping fans. Ping has finally released an updated Eye2 wedge!

Ping Eye2 wedges have enjoyed ridiculously high resale values on sites like eBay for decades after Ping stopped manufacturing them.  Fans of the iconic wedge have been begging Ping to bring back an updated version of the Eye2 for years.  Well, it looks like the company finally listened.

Ping recently announced their new products for 2010 and among them was the Ping Eye2 XG wedge.  According to Golf Wire, here are partial specs and pricing on the new Eye2′s:

EYE2® XG Wedges

The best-selling EYE2® wedges are upgraded with precision-milled, conforming grooves for precise distance control. The EYE2® XG preserves the classic look and performance features of the Tour-proven design while giving golfers the added confidence to play delicate shots around the green, including deep bunker escapes. The perimeter weighting and sole contours optimize forgiveness and playability to ensure versatility from any condition. A non-glare, satin finish provides a high quality appearance.

-Available: SW and LW

-Stock steel shafts: Dynamic Gold® (R300, S300, X100) and KBS Tour™ (R, S & X flexes)
-Stock graphite shaft: TFC 149i (L, SR, R & S flexes)
-U.S. MSRP: $130 per club w/steel shaft; $157.50 per club w/graphite shaft

Kudos to Ping for staying true to the original design.  It looks like the only major differences are the conforming grooves and the satin finish.  Sorry Ping fans, it looks like the popular guyson finish isn’t an option (at least for now).

We expect these to be released in the winter – probably sometime in November.  Can Eye2 XG irons be too far behind?  Hey, a Ping fan can dream, right?

Last week, in my doctor’s office, I came across your standard run-of-the-mill guaranteed to work “best tips ever” article in an older issue of Golf Digest… or was it in Golf Magazine… I get them confused these days.  One of the tips was to keep your head down over a putt until you hear the ball go in the cup.  On a whim and with nothing to lose, I tried it on the practice green the next day.  I started making everything I didn’t look at.  I did the same thing on the course and promptly carded my low round of the year.

Evidently, I’m not alone.  Christina Kim and Sean O’Hair must have read the same article…

Now we amateurs get flooded with tips and most of them do more harm than good.  But I’m here to tell you that this one is a keeper.  It has taken me a long time (and about ten thousand range balls) to come to the realization that this concept is important no matter what club is being used.  I posted last year about keeping a level head to maintain spine angle for the full swing and it’s still one of my key swing thoughts.  I just never thought of applying the same principle to my putting.

One point of emphasis -- Ms. Kim is a great player and I will never play at her level.  But, I do respectfully disagree with her on one thing.  I believe it is necessary to see the putt roll.  Otherwise, you’ll never gauge the break and the speed which is important if you miss and have to make the come back putt.  Then again, CK probably doesn’t miss as often as I do…

Click on the video below for a demonstration by Master PGA Professional Denis Pugh on when to take a peek and his take on why it’s important.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=12_xv63og7A

If you have trouble keeping your putter face square through impact then give this tip a try.  Just not when you’re playing me for $2 nassaus.

The Cobra Baffler Rail H appears to be slighter larger than it's DWS predecessor

I’ve had my Cobra Baffler DWS 4 Hybrid a long time and it is one of the most important clubs in my bag.  I use it off the tee on tight par 4′s and long par 3′s.  It has become my go-to approach club from between 180 and 200 yards out.  The Baffler is my rescue club to get back into the fairway when I’ve hit into long rough or into a stand of trees.  I’ve even chipped with it from off the green.

I’ve resisted the urge to replace my old trusty friend because it’s like a warm security blanket in all those situations – the golf version of a woobie.  But that was before I tried the new Cobra Baffler Rail H Hybrid.

Pros

Compared to my old Baffler, the Rail H club head is slightly larger but it has a sleeker appearance at address because the steel face insert is now a carbon black color that effectively blends in with the rest of the crown.  It looks more like a small fairway wood versus an over-sized iron.  Deciding which is better is purely a matter of opinion and ultimately player preference.

The topline of the Cobra Baffler Rail H is changed for 2010.

The Rail H feels slightly lighter than the DWS and as a result I found myself swinging a little harder (not always a good thing).  The feel is very substantial/solid on center contact, but that’s not a huge change from previous models.  The Fujikura Motore is a very good stock shaft and proved to be smooth and extremely stable.

Cobra has decided to go with stronger lofts this time around (22 versus 23 degrees for the 4/H) and the ball flight was lower and about five yards longer.  The most significant change other than aesthetics is the new four-way rail sole which according to Cobra “relieves more contact area for improved turf interaction.”  I found the Baffler Rail H to be considerably more forgiving off the deck and from the rough.  I had a tendency to hit the old model a little fat when my swing was off.  That has been all but eliminated with the new sole design.

Cons

My biggest gripe about the DWS model is it’s draw bias.  I have snap hooked it at times with disastrous results.  This new Baffler feels more neutrally weighted, but I still had a much easier time drawing the ball than cutting it.

The club head cover is a little loud for my taste, but that is a minor annoyance.  Club head covers can be replaced.

Final Word

The Cobra Baffler Rail H is one of the best and most versatile hybrids in its class.  The sole design alone is worth an upgrade for current Baffler owners.  I  will have a hard time sending this one back.  My woobie is scared.  It’s days may be numbered.

The Cobra Baffler Rail H retails for $150 and is available in lofts of 17, 19, 22, 25, 28 degrees.  To visit Cobra’s website for more information and complete specs, click here.

St. Andrews Third Round Pin Sheet

I thought I would share this with everyone courtesy of David Dusek, deputy editor for Golf.com.  Very interesting stuff.  Enjoy!