tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176251922024-03-08T12:03:32.767-05:00Sandbaggers AnonymousFor Golfers and non golfers.
Sandbagging isn't just a golfing set of tricks.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-34786975677409479442011-11-15T09:57:00.004-05:002011-11-15T10:16:54.594-05:00Confessions of a Sandbagger EBOOKYes, my golf novel, "Confessions of a Sandbagger" is now available as an Ebook.<br /><br />You can read a sample and purchase from Smashwords.com<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/103748"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/103748</span></a><br /><br /><br />Wondering what "occupy insert_name_of_city" is about?<br /><br />I feel it is about how the 99% have been sandbagged.<br /><br />Tax forms are so complicated every tax paper needs to pay someone to complete the form.<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>Tax forms need to be simplified.</li></ul>City, Municipal, state/provincial and federal taxes seem to be used to pay for the same things.<br /><br /><p>The powers that are in control need to Decide who pays for what and get it done.</p><br /><ul><br /><li>If health care (in Ontario Canada) is paid for by the province, why is a regional /city area told to come up with money to cover building a new hospital in our city region.</li><br /><li>If roads are a town responsibility, why is the region asking for tax increases</li><br /><li>If full day kindergarten is an "education department" of the provincial government, why is the city having to pay for full day care spaces at an educational school building.</li></ul><br /><p>Provincial and Federal sales tax on Home heating .</p><br /><ul><br /><li>There's talk of removing some of the sales tax from home heating but only if you heat your home by gas or oil. </li><br /><li>What about the people who live in homes that are heated by electricity?</li></ul><br /><p>There's more issues about how the 99% have been sandbagged.</p><br /><p>Have a look at what sandbagging is...</p><br /><p>Don't take my word for it, do a google search and read the definitions.</p><br /><p>Read my book and see some other ways we've been sandbagged.</p><br /><p>Stay well, </p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-3383143119724972882008-12-11T15:35:00.005-05:002008-12-11T15:47:14.038-05:00Cory Pavin -New Ryder Cup CaptainCory Pavin is the USA Ryder Cup Captain for 2010<br />Snooker anyone?<br />Betcha didn't know he's a wizard at the pool table.<br /><br />He's going to have a great time at Celtic Manor in Wales.<br />Golf and he can teach the team how to play snooker to improve their putting skills. Celtic Manor has pool tables.<br /><br />Maybe they'll while away the rainy hours playing;<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6666;">Snooker</span> 4 <span style="color:#009900;">Golfers </span></div><div align="center"> Improve your putting without actually playing Golf</div><br />Check the review on Review: From Matt Sherman, <a href="http://www.billiards.about.com/">www.billiards.about.com</a> (scroll down)<br />Or go directly to the review: <a href="http://billiards.about.com/od/thementalgame/gr/golfputting.htm">http://billiards.about.com/od/thementalgame/gr/golfputting.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Review on Matt’s Blog: <a href="http://www.billiards.about.com/b/">www.billiards.about.com/b/</a><br /> scroll to:<br /> <span style="color:#6633ff;">"W</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://billiards.about.com/od/thementalgame/gr/golfputting.htm%20"><span style="color:#6633ff;">in</span> Your Next Golf Pool, Literally</a>"<br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="color:#ff6666;">Snooker </span><span style="color:#666666;">4</span> </span><span style="color:#009900;">Golfers</span> includes snooker tips, putting tips, the game, and scorecards based on famous golf courses.<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff6666;">Snooker </span>4 </span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Golfers<br /></span>Improve your putting without actually golfing<br /><br />available from <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/4992736"><span style="color:#6666cc;">www.lulu.com/content/4992736</span></a><br /><br />Cliff Thorburn, world snooker champ and avid golfer said,<br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">“When I teach snooker skills, I sometimes use golf examples.<br />Snooker 4 Golfers has my blessings!”<br /></span><br /><strong>Notable Snooker players who also play golf:<br /></strong> Cliff Thorburn, Canada, single digit handicapper.<br />Dennis Taylor UK (1985 world Snooker champ)<br />Shawn Murphy, World #3 - Ireland – Single digit handicapper<br /><br /><strong>Notable golfers who also play snooker/billiards:<br /></strong>Yani Tseng. LPGA rookie of the year.<br />Mark Calcavecchia<br />Cory Pavin<br />Arnold Palmer<br />Tom Vardon<br /><br /><strong>Golf courses with Snooker/billiards rooms:<br /></strong>Malahide Golf Club, Dublin Ireland</div><div align="center">Celtic Manor, Wales</div>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-18718162851852771812008-10-31T15:26:00.003-04:002008-10-31T15:39:18.154-04:00Wall St executives get bonuses?So it seems that the people who created this subprime mortgage mess may get year end bonuses from the companies using the money 'borrowed' from taxpayers?<br /><br />A Bonus payment should only be given if the employee has exceeded performance goals and <strong>only if the company overall</strong> has exceeded goals.<br />If a company is going belly-up then no one gets a bonus.<br /><br />One article said the companies 'have to pay the bonuses or the employee will go to a different company' - <br />Well... let them go.<br />Where are they going to go?<br />45,000 others are looking for the same job so the departing employee could be easily replaced - or not.<br /><br />Executives who messed up should not get bonuses nor exit fees.<br /><br />This financial situation is a real mess.<br /><br />And then I read that one company is borrowing money from the Federal Reserve to pay down a loan from another government agency.<br />Talk about borrowing from "Peter to pay Paul" but maybe that should be "borrowing from Peter to pay... ah .. Peter"JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-89986177704279547672007-07-10T10:11:00.000-04:002007-07-10T10:15:43.838-04:00Is Global Warming messing up my golf game?Is Global Warming messing up my golf game?<br /><br />By J.J. Gowland<br /><br /><br />Is global warming an inconvenient truth or the reason my golf game is suffering?<br /><br />Up here in this area of North America, for more than half a year, we beg for warmer weather. It’s barely forty degrees outside. Last night I had to turn on my gas fireplace to warm up the living room. If my gas fireplace is on inside the house, it’s much too cold for Ontario’s fair weather golfers like me to be outside.<br /><br />Consequently I’m having a difficult time climbing onto the Global Warming Wagon.<br /><br />At this point, I don’t put the blame for my lousy golf skills on Global Warming but I set the culpability squarely on the cold shoulders of Mr. Winter. He was late getting here.<br /><br />We all know if even one person is late there isn’t much hope of a meeting starting on time. Mr. Winter’s snowfall didn’t land in my backyard until February — at least two months late. I suspected that Mother Nature’s offspring, Miss Spring and her younger brother, Prince Summer, and we all know the kid brother follows her around, would also arrive late. After all, Mr. Winter is driving the SUV.<br /><br />Everyone is so busy these days why would I think that Miss Spring would be on time? I was delusional to even daydream about her being on time. I suspect that Mother Nature and Miss Spring were out shopping for… gloves and snow boots with the kid brother getting lost in the games arcade, probably playing hockey. l can’t explain why the hockey finals don’t occur until June. Since it’s a cold weather sport Mr. Winter is likely driving the NHL bus, too.<br /><br />Mr. Winter probably drove the family to the shopping mall in their SUV and while waiting for them, he kept the motor running to stay warm. It’s even more likely that he ran out of gas. We are all delaying emptying our wallets at the gas station until the last possible moment. With the cost of gas, we either buy gas or golf balls. Depending on the weather, both items will let you skid into places you’ve never been before.<br /><br />Consequently because Mr. Winter arrived late, which delayed the arrival of Ms Spring and little brother Summer I haven’t had much time on the golf course. Therefore my golf skills aren’t up to my normal levels for early June.<br /><br />On Monday morning, June 4, the weatherman predicted, “Severe thunderstorms, caused by Global Warming”.<br /><br />That evening, Jim and I were scheduled to play our two ball alternate shot match against Ron and Susan*. Both were coming to the golf course from work, hopefully to arrive before 6 p.m. Up here in the North Country we enjoy long evenings but the sun was scheduled to disappear and darkness will hit land at 8:50. Teeing off after 6 p.m. means we’ll have to hurry through the match.<br /><br />At 5:55 Ron and Susan phoned the pro shop from the highway.<br /><br />“We’re caught in gridlock! But we’ll be there!” They arrived at the golf course about half an hour later than scheduled.<br /><br />At 6:20, as we teed off, the sky was lightly overcast and that meant that we wouldn’t have a typically brilliant Ontario twilight. Unless we hurried every shot we wouldn’t finish enough holes before dark for at least one couple to win the match.<br /><br />As we played the second hole the cloud cover broke and the sun cast shadows on the lush fairways and new greens. But timing was still very important so we were giving 2 foot putts and moving quickly to the next tee.<br /><br />On the eighth hole the sky became packed with grey clouds.<br /><br />On the 10th tee we faced the western sky that now had battleship-grey cloud cover. Tree leaves were facing up to catch the rain. We were certain the clouds were loaded with rain.<br /><br />We knew that if the match took more than 12 holes, we’d be heading west again and getting further away from the clubhouse. Concerned about forthcoming darkness and impending rain we hoped that someone would win the match outright by the time we completed the twelfth hole.<br /><br />After we teed off on the 11th we heard rumbling in the distance. It seemed to come from the west and from the south. The noise was all around us.<br /><br /> I asked Jim, “Is that thunder or transportation noise along the highway?”<br /><br />With confidence he said, “Trucks.”<br /><br />After our second shots on that hole the truck noises became louder and more frequent. It was a little like standing in the middle of a ten lane bowling alley on league night.<br /><br />I said, “That trucker in the sky needs a tune up.”<br /><br />We tied the 11th and rushed over to the twelfth tee and as I pushed my tee into the ground, a back-shop employee on a golf cart approached us and asked, “Did you hear the siren?”<br /><br />Jim said, “Nope. The trucking thunder is too loud.”<br /><br />The young lad explained his visit. “A major storm is moving in fast from the west. We’re bringing everyone in off the course.”<br /><br />Ron and Susan climbed onto the pro shop golf cart and Jim and I headed back to the clubhouse on our golf cart.<br /><br />There was no way we’d finish enough holes that evening to declare a winner. We knew that once we were in the clubhouse we’d discuss how and when and if we would reschedule. Due to handicap differences we had to give our opponents 6 shots, and Jim and I were down 3 but Jim is confident that we can muster our skills and at the very least tie the match, eventually.<br /><br />When lightening cracked, cold rains pounded the roof and water poured over the eaves we were safe and secure inside the clubhouse, sipping beer. After a golf game, good, bad, or even incomplete, everyone knows there’s nothing as tasty as a cold beer.<br /><br />The four of us started to chat about Al Gore’s movie, “An Inconvenient Truth”. The images and facts are all believable, but there are a lot of us northern golfers shaking our heads. It’s barely warm enough for us to climb onto a golf cart let alone on a Global Warming Wagon.<br /><br />Ron said, “Here’s another inconvenient truth: Bio-fuels for use in motor vehicles are created from barley. Barley is also used to produce beer. As demand for bio-fuels escalates, the price for barley goes up and the cost of beer will go up.”<br /><br />Jim said, “The price of beer is going up?”<br /><br />Susan said, “Global Warming is to blame for that too?”<br /><br />I said, “Global Warming”? Bah humbug! Mr. Winter is driving the bus.”<br /><br />And that’s my excuse for my lousy golf skills in early June.<br /><br />P.S. We’ve decided to play the final holes, 12 thru 18, next Monday (June 11) evening. Maybe by then my June golf skills will have come out of hibernation.<br /><br /><br /><br />(*names have been changed to protect the innocent)JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-51362674921492125882007-04-25T17:11:00.000-04:002007-04-25T17:21:22.845-04:00Journalism awards were 'sandbagged'"Press Club of Dallas may review Katie Awards"<br />"The Press Club of Dallas may have to review the last three years' worth of Katie Awards, one of the Southwest's most prestigious journalism prizes, because of the possibility they were rigged, the club's president said Monday.<br />The entries for the 2006 Katies apparently never went before judges, and competitions from 2004 and 2005 are being probed, club President Tom Stewart said."<br />Stewart said he believes the competitions might have been rigged by the club's former leader, who has won 10 Katies in the past four years and has a criminal record. "<br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">I recommend you read the whole article. </span><br /><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042507dntexkaties.370ff31.html">http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042507dntexkaties.370ff31.html</a>#<br /><br />Apparently the press club received <strong>entry fees</strong> for the contest, can't name any of the prior years' judges and the chairperson received awards 10 times in 4 years.<br /><br />That's like running a tournament, charging green fees, not paying the hosting course, and then winning the tournament because of an ill gotten handicap.<br /><br />Sandbagging doesn't just occur in sports.<br /><br />It's why I won't pay an entry fee for a writing contest.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-91707900466708796252007-03-23T09:38:00.000-04:002007-03-23T09:47:42.426-04:00It does seem strangeTwo short list PGA tournaments in a row has left some professionals off the list.<br />Arnie's show at Bay Hill, and now the CA World at Doral (74 players) both had short fields and golfers who are in the top 70 aren't playing?<br /><br />It's as if the PGA Tour is building an "elite" tournament schedule and a second level of "Those who Also played but somewhere else".<br /><br />Sometimes I think it might be wise to go back to the Monday (or even on Tuesday) Qualifier rounds for everyone!<br /><br />I would have liked to watch a full field at Doral - which could be for some the last chance to qualify for the Masters. The dramatic effects of that would have been great TV.<br /><br />Because of these two short field player lists, some good ones aren't going to be at the Masters.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1170718459150813482007-02-05T18:29:00.000-05:002007-02-09T15:08:51.383-05:00Entourage GolfDo you play golf alone or are you into Entourage Golf?<br /><br /><br />See my article: Entourage Golf - 'Deal or no Deal'<br />on:<br /> <a href="http://www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner/index.asp?newsid=4702">http://www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner/index.asp?newsid=4702</a>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1165861492981743292006-12-11T13:19:00.000-05:002007-02-09T15:04:18.076-05:00Golfer's Great Christmas gifts<span style="color:#3366ff;">Buy direct from the artists!</span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><br />Golf music: “I Love Golf”<br />Features "The Sandbagger Song"<br /><a href="http://www.royceobgolfsongs.com/">www.royceobgolfsongs.com</a><br /><br />Contact: Royce Aubé<br /><br /><br />Golf novel: “Confessions of a Sandbagger”<br /><a href="http://www.publishedauthors.net/jjgowland">www.publishedauthors.net/jjgowland</a><br /><br />(Okay, it's self promotion!)<br /><br /><br />Character Golf balls: “Scruffy’s Pals”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.golfaccordingtoscruffy.com/index.html">www.golfaccordingtoscruffy.com/index.html</a><br />Contact page<br /><a href="http://www.golfaccordingtoscruffy.com/contact.html">http://www.golfaccordingtoscruffy.com/contact.html</a><br /><br /><br />all of these items for golfers are definitely out of the ordinary!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1165511360967398492006-12-07T11:54:00.000-05:002007-01-15T21:00:32.346-05:00What is sandbagging?<span style="font-size:85%;">I've been asked, <span style="color:#3366ff;">"What is sandbagging?"</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Sandbagging:</span> In games and adversarial settings, to "<span style="color:#3366ff;">sandbag</span>" is to intentionally understate one's strength, with the intention of deceiving one's opponents into overreaching. The sandbagger can then reveal a hidden strength to take the opponent by surprise. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sandbagging is the practice of deceptively portraying oneself as being in a weaker position than is true. </span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">drag racing</span>, when a racer has a dial-in time much slower than the car can actually perform. The function of sandbagging is to guarantee a win by outperforming the slower opponent at first, and then hitting the brakes near the finish line in time to just barely beat the opponent.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"> In a <span style="color:#3366ff;">Demolition Derby</span>, sandbagging is avoiding contact with other cars, drivers refuse to be aggressive and/or pretend to have mechanical problems until the last two or three cars are running then their car will start running just fine and/or they become more aggressive; or hitting weakly to ensure better odds of surviving and winning the derby. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">poker</span>, in which a player with a strong hand bets small amounts to convince opponents to stay in the game. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">golf,</span> a "sandbagger" would enter a tournament, claiming a higher golf handicap than real, to gain an advantage in the tournament and over other players. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">On <span style="color:#3366ff;">Internet chess</span> sites, sandbagging is the malevolent resignement of a chess game in order to add "Elo" points to a partner or to a second user account. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In the <span style="color:#3366ff;">sales environment</span>, sandbagging is holding aside completed sales with the expectation of producing them at a specific time of the week or month when there might be extra incentive or higher commissions. (also called "Stuffing the channel")</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">CB radio slang</span>, "sandbagging" is listening in on others without talking or making one’s presence known, for entertainment or for collection of information on others. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In the <span style="color:#3366ff;">rock climbing</span> world 'Sandbagging' refers to giving a climb an easier grade then it deserves. An example is a climb that would typically be rated as 5.10+ being rated as 5.9- (YDS). </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">Bowling,</span> "sandbagging" is lowering your average on purpose, in order to gain added pins of handicap.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"> In <span style="color:#3366ff;">Weight lifting</span>, "Voltaire is always sandbagging at the gym. He says that's all the weight he can lift but we know the truth... dirty sandbagger."</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">law</span>, to refer to the process of concealing winning arguments for as long as possible, to prevent the opposing attorney from preparing effectively to counter them. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">Business accounting</span>, overstating the value of the company to encourage others to invest.</span></li><li><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">In <span style="color:#3366ff;">customer service</span>, delays returning a phone call to a complaining customer, hoping the customer gives up. "Not my job", "my boss is out"</span></div></li><li><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Waiting for <span style="color:#3366ff;">payment</span>? "it's in the mail."<br /> </span></div></li></ul><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mark Twain once said, “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damn lies and statistics.”<br />Even when statistics don’t lie, they can be very deceiving.</span></p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ancient usage of the word, "Sandbag" can refer to a crude weapon consisting of a small bag filled with sand for use as a cudgel typically by criminals, or to the act of striking a person on the head with such a weapon. This usage is obsolescent in normal speech, appearing mainly in legal codes. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ever been sandbagged?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Tell me how.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Please read my book, <span style="color:#3366ff;">"Confessions of a Sandbagger"</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1164558743595344312006-11-26T11:21:00.000-05:002006-11-26T11:32:23.610-05:00LG Skins game and the "Grand slam" TV CoveragePart of the fun of watching the Skins Game is hearing the banter between the players and you just know that John Daly, Freddy Couples, Fred Funk, and Stephen Ames would have some fun. The players don't wear microphones at other PGA events.<br />Unfortunately, the commentators talked so much, that I couldn't hear what the players were saying. Surely the commentators wear headsets and realize we viewers want to hear what the players are saying.<br /><br />Loved the remote controlled golf ball chasing John Daly on the putting green!<br /><br />Grand Slam of golf. 4 players. Just four! Coverage in my area was tape delayed, by about 3 days. So how come the TV coverage showed 3 of the 4 players teeing off and went to commercials! The next shot was watching the 4th player hit his second shot.<br /><br />These TV directors ought to take a lesson from the coverage of the LPGA ADT Championship. 8 players on the final day and the coverage was fabulous.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1163628200417457492006-11-15T17:01:00.000-05:002006-11-15T17:03:20.416-05:00Monkey Golf rulesA little while ago, I said I'd post Monkey Golf rules.<br /><br />Tom on <a href="http://www.mygolfspace.com"><span style="color:#3366ff;">www.mygolfspace.com</span></a> describes "Hell day"<br /><br />Have a look at his game plan.<br /><br />:)JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1163627755680128892006-11-15T16:41:00.000-05:002006-11-15T16:55:55.710-05:00My book travels more than I doIn the last couple of weeks I found out that my golf novel, "Confessions of a Sandbagger" has been on the move.<br />and I do mean moving.<br /><br />In August a golfing acquaintance said he won a copy of my book liked it so much he took two (count 'em) 2 copies to South Africa.<br /><br />On November 4, a gentleman told me he'd seen my book on "Breakfast Television" a Canadian morning (CTV) show. And he said he saw also it on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)<br /><br />On November 15, another gent told me he'd seen my book on "Breakfast Television".<br /><br />Also today a reader and avid fan said " I took your book to the island of St. Martin and let a lot of people read it. I brought it home to Toronto."<br /><br />Here's the thing...<br />I've never been to South Africa.<br />I've never been to St. Martin.<br />I've never been on Breakfast TV<br />I've never been on the CBC radio or tv.<br /><br />My book <span style="color:#6633ff;">"Confessions of a Sandbagger"</span> travels more than I do!<br /><br />Check the reviews on <a href="http://www.publishedauthors.net/jjgowland"><span style="color:#3366ff;">www.publishedauthors.net/jjgowland</span></a><br /><br />Oh, gotta tell you this, when I contacted the CBC radio, <em><strong>The</strong> </em>Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) a show that 'talks about Canadian literary events' the producer said, "oh we only showcase international authors." <em>(I'm Canadian).</em> eh?<br /><em></em><br /><em>But sales were really happening on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca last week!</em><br /><em></em>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1159374416906169432006-09-27T12:17:00.000-04:002006-11-15T17:01:30.616-05:00Ryder Cup, Oh woe are weFirst the US team was labeled “underdogs”.<br />Does that set up the after-game ‘explanations’, “Well, if we lose, we weren’t expected to win”, or “If we win, we put in some extra effort to overcome the underdog label.”<br />Some were saying, “They aren’t used to playing fourballs and foursomes and match play,” – but in the USA their amateur champions are decided by match play?”<br />Some said, “The US team lacks team spirit”<br />In a country that espouses individualism? But the USA has the greatest high school and college sports supporters- Football stadiums (and attendance) at USA high schools are magnificent and far better than sports facilities at the Canadian University level.<br />A recent article noted the USA athletes who are not winning in their respective sports like individual Tennis, but they did amass a large number of Olympic medals, in individual events???<br />A commentator on the Golf Channel said the USA team “didn’t smile enough”.<br />After Jim Furyk made a superb putt on Sunday he had the longest grumpiest face possible. Not even a great shot could make him smile?<br />Stewart Cink’s putting was amazing and yet a fist pump, was added to his image that did include a smile. At least he smiled!<br />Another commentator said, “It’s the <strong>words </strong>the USA team uses, ‘doing battle’, we’ll conquer’, whereas the Europeans use terms like, ‘It’ll be fun, it’ll be a great game’.<br /><br />In an article on Golfonline, titled, “European Wins Fist-Pump Battle”<br /><br />“U.S. captain Tom Lehman said he is delighted to have DiMarco in that role. “Every team needs a guy like Chris who has that fire in him,” Lehman said. “And I will encourage that kind of enthusiasm.” But, mindful that such public displays of emotion sometimes causes rifts, he added: “But if it gets a little too over-excited, I will tell them to calm down, take a step back, and remember it’s just a golf tournament. I want it to be a hard-nosed competition but played in the right spirit.”<br /><br />Tiger’s Caddy dropped Tiger’s 9 iron into a greenside pond, - a humorous moment, - it’s too bad we didn’t see a close-up of the look on Tiger’s face – From a distance it looked like he was about to smile but who could tell for sure? It had to be (or will be) a funny moment for both of them.<br />For future events Tiger has suggested “a true home-course advantage”, but ah, the K club has been called ‘an American design, designed by an American”. What exactly does Tiger mean by a ‘home course advantage?<br /><br />So where does the blame for the USA loss exist?<br /><br />Have a look at what David Feherty says…<br />In David Feherty’s Sept 24 article on Golfonline.com: titled “The US Should Be Proud,”<br />Read the whole article on:<br /><a href="http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/tours/rydercup/article/0,17742,1538617,00.html">http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/tours/rydercup/article/0,17742,1538617,00.html</a><br />He closes with…<br />“You can bet half your ass the American players always care about the event and each other, and bet the other cheek on the fact that this carousel will come around. It will come around even quicker if <strong>all fans</strong> of American golf get behind it and push.”<br /><br />Now the loss is because of the American golf Fans…??<br /><br />And yet the USA team on Thursday played a” short game”, marched in a twelvesome right past the first tee where some 20,000 fans waited to see them tee off. That vanguard of contestants did not show any respect for the paying public. (also known as 'FANS')<br /><br /><br />Brian Hewitt on The Golf Channel newsletter has made some suggestions and is looking for more.<br /><a href="http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=19120&select=20797">http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=19120&select=20797</a><br /><br />Another commentator has suggested Bill Murray as Captain, Robin Williams as vice captain and more John Daly’s on the USA team. I’d add in Chris Dimarco- if he’d promise to smile more.<br />Maybe the Teams ought to go out and play golf with a “Patch Adams” red clown nose.<br />(See the movie, starring Robin Williams “Patch Adams”.)<br /><br />Maybe the USA team needs a practice round using “Monkey golf” rules, maybe a few rounds using only “3 clubs and a putter in the bag. (I’ll post “monkey golf" rules in a few days)<br /><br />Many charitable tournaments are scramble format. Not my favorite – but it sure is fun to play in a team format and watch my team mate(s) make an amazing shot.<br /><br />Now there another article from an AP writer saying "the Ryder cup doesn't matter", which I suspect was written because ... well, is it because the USA didn't win?<br /><br />Maybe it is the nature of the sport. Golf can be a solitary sport. Golf can also be a team sport.<br />I wonder how much team feeling there is if the high rankers are ONLY ever paired with one other partner. Granted a team can be made up of just 2 players.<br /><br />It is not a “battle”, it is not a “war”; it is a sport. Frankly all the very hard, tight fisted, FIST pumps are putting me off watching the game. Can they change that to a “Thumbs up”, signal and include a smile?<br /><br />Lighten up guys!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1158845536995875422006-09-21T09:21:00.000-04:002006-09-21T09:32:17.010-04:00Hole by Hole, golf writer likesFritz H. Schranck, a member of the Golf Writers of America, recently reviewed <span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>"Confessions of a Sandbagger" <span style="color:#000000;">and called it a</span> "sharp little social satire".</strong></span><br /><br />On his "Sneaking Suspicions site he accounced, "This morning I posted my newest golf book review at <a href="http://holebyhole.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">HoleByHole.com</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;">.</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;">"</span>Confessions of a Sandbagger</span></strong> has an intriguing set-up, in a cautionary tale about the consequences of being less than sportsmanlike while playing golf<strong>."</strong><br /><br />See the complete review on his website: <a href="http://www.holebyhole.com"><span style="color:#3333ff;">www.holebyhole.com</span></a><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>About the reviewer:</strong> Mr. Schranck is a Member of the Golf Writers Association of America and writes for the Cape Gazette in Delaware's Cape region.<br />His handicap stroke allocation service helps all golfers compete fairly under the handicap rules of the <a href="http://www.usga.org/">United States Golf Association (USGA)</a>.<br />His service uses the USGA's approved methods, which are also recognized by the <a href="http://www.rcga.org/">Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA)</a> and the <a href="http://www.randa.org/">Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A)</a>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1157373684129149282006-09-04T08:00:00.000-04:002006-09-04T08:41:24.186-04:0024 handicapper wins World Am Handicap ChampionshipWith a name like Baxter Greene, how could he not win?<br /><br />With a net 66, Mr. Baxter Greene, with a 24 handicap won this tournament.<br /><br />That's 5 or 6 strokes better than his handicap would predict.<br /><br />Good for him.<br /><br />Jerry Glenn won in 2005, but there were handicap discrepancies for <strong>other players</strong>.<br /><br />One player, shot net 58 in both of 2 rounds. It was said, "that his net score of 14-under-par 58 was simply too low -- and the fact that he hadn't posted a score in two months didn't help"<br /><br />15 others were disqualified as well.<br />Read the full article...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amateurgolf.com/articleprint.asp?id=589">http://www.amateurgolf.com/articleprint.asp?id=589</a>JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1155478300939969532006-08-13T10:03:00.000-04:002006-08-13T10:11:40.960-04:009 putts in 9 holes (actually only 8 holes)Yep, it's true. I had just 9 putts on the back nine yesterday.<br /><br />One putt on each of 7 holes, 2 putts on one hole, and a chip in on another.<br /><br />Putts included a 25 foot right to left slider (for a birdie), a 16 foot right to left and left to right dead center drop, a 10 footer, a 4 footer and a couple of putts 2 feet or less.<br /><br />The best I've ever done until yesterday was 10 putts on 9 holes.<br />My putting has been really awful for the last month or so but yesterday I let my subconscious take control and the putts dropped like the holes and balls had magnetic qualities.<br /><br />Subconscious putting?<br /><br />Well why not? If our sleeping dreams are items of our subconscious calling out for attention then let the power of the subconscious work for you.<br /><br />And another hint... Be sure to check the accuracy of your opponent's scorekeeping for your official tournament card. Never trust he or she is accurate.<br /><br />Anyway, I finished 2nd in my flight at the club championship.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1151929561395211782006-07-03T08:21:00.000-04:002006-07-03T08:26:01.406-04:00For the love of JuniorsIn Canada, School's out!<br />It's time to take a junior to the golf course.<br /><br />Try a 'better' ball game with your son or daughter.<br />It's a mini 'scramble'.<br /><br />Each of you hit off the tee, then pick the best ball and both hit from there. Carry the plan through the game. You can teach your junior how to make shots, your strategy, and discuss your plan and challenge the junior to make a better shot that yours. Alternate who hits first.<br /><br />Be kind, be patient, and cheer loudly for the Junior's success.<br /><br />What a game!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1150724603931482622006-06-19T09:24:00.000-04:002006-06-19T09:43:23.956-04:00USGA US Open 2006 - What a Sunday!OH my goodness.<br /><br />The Winged Foot Course won.<br />For Monty his adrenaline didn't kick in, for Phil his swing didn't match the vision, for Jim his putting reading on the 72nd hole gave me time to read a novel.<br /><br />These guys were terrific to talk with the media in the media tent after their meltdowns. Congratulations to them for being so gracious.<br /><br />Geoff Ogilvy didn't expect to win, but did. His game was worthy of the outcome.<br />Well done Geoff!<br /><br />I picked Geoff O to win the Masters - okay, so I was a major tournament too early.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to watching him at many more tournaments to come.<br /><br />Until then, swing easy!<br /><br /><br /><br />PS. Congrats to The Golf Channel for the excellent Post game shows.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1148475985987578542006-05-24T09:04:00.000-04:002006-05-24T09:06:26.030-04:00Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to putt I goSee my article on <a href="http://www.Cybergolf.com">www.Cybergolf.com</a><br /><br />You'll understand why my putting is as it is, for now.<br /><br />AH, the memories!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1147208915541958662006-05-09T16:58:00.000-04:002006-05-09T17:08:35.560-04:00First roundsI'm a warm weather golfer so I waited until the sun shine warmed the air and on my first round of the year I played 9 holes and mastered greens, and temporary greens to manage 12 putts!<br /><br />My Hopes were high!<br /><br />Until the second outing on the golf course. 18 holes, 28 putts.<br />Then the third game and the putts ballooned to 34.<br />Not at all pleased I ventured out the next day and upped that to 38 putts.<br /><br />Yikes - the more I play the worse I get?<br /><br />By the 6th game in 9 days I managed to get the putts under 34<br />Today I had 32.<br /><br />Ah HA! I'm on a downward trend.<br />Thank goodness!<br /><br />The fewer the putts the better!<br /><br />(Maybe I just needed more practice and all those putts are just helping my future games.)<br /><br />The same thing happened with my chip shots.<br />Too many the first day but aim and distance was much today!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1144515255817812812006-04-08T12:40:00.000-04:002006-04-08T12:54:17.720-04:00Masters weekendLet's hope rain and thunder and lightening doesn't wash away the day.<br />Spectators who arrived as the gates opened at 7 am, were sent back to their cars to wait out the weather warnings.<br /><br />Let's hope the players can play!<br /><br />Rain soaked fairways may make the course 'longer' by preventing roll,<br />but soft greens will accept spot on target shooting at the flag.<br /><br />Other than the weather, wet reasons will prevail:<br /> mud ball twists and turns.<br /> damp slippery grips,<br /> wet socks and shoes,<br /> slippery slopes<br /> misery.<br /><br />Play well guys!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1144189827885891032006-04-04T18:27:00.000-04:002006-04-04T18:30:27.900-04:00Walk in the park?Talk about a walk in the park!<br /><br />Didn't Phil make it look easy last week at the Bell South!<br /><br />Was he wearing roller blades?<br />Were the others wearing blinders?<br /><br />Wasn't a horse race, except for second place.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the Masters.<br />It'll be one hot contest!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1143558785767477322006-03-28T10:03:00.000-05:002006-03-28T10:13:06.140-05:00Ames Takes Aim at Augusta!Stephen Ames will be aiming his best shot at the Masters.<br /><br />Announced on a Toronto Sports radio show!<br /><br />Ames told The Fan 590, an all-sports radio station he will be there.<br /><br />He's listed as 27th on the World Rankings and 6th on the USA Money List.<br /><br /><br />Yes! Spring has sprung.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1143472995751598942006-03-27T10:05:00.000-05:002006-03-27T10:23:15.840-05:00Ah Spring!Ah ah!<br /><br />Spring inspiration arrived early.<br /><br />Normally for the average Canadian golfer the Masters signals the checkered flag start up of our golf season. This year Stephen Ames mastered Sawgrass by under cutting predictions of a nine under final score winning the tournament. He was fourteen under par with a nearly flawless final round.<br /><br />Congratulations Stephen!<br /><br />And thanks for kick starting our season of hopes a couple of weeks early.<br /><br />Temperatures will rise, grass will grow, and golf courses will open.<br />Shots will be made, missed and wished upon.<br />Swings will feel like the first time at bat when we were seven and playing Tee ball,<br />The ball will soar, or dribble, and for the first couple of months we'll have stories<br />to share, excuses to create, memories to cultivate,<br />and friends with which to reunite.<br /><br />Remember what Stephen's brother (his caddy) said to him just after the 10th hole, to help him get over the 'oops' on the tenth... "Have fun with this shot."<br /><br />Forget about the bad hole, this is a whole new one.<br /><br />Ah Spring!<br /><br />Bring it on!JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17625192.post-1139958519591083802006-02-14T18:03:00.000-05:002006-03-25T15:34:43.026-05:00When a friend passesI heard about Peter Benchley passing on Feb 11.<br />He's the author of "Jaws"<br /><br />Yesterday morning I heard about the wife of a friend of mine passing on, Feb 11.<br />She had a shorter life than Peter's. Chris was not famous, but she loved her husband and he loved her.<br /><br />Both Peter and Chris had trouble breathing.<br /><br />I found this quote in an article about Peter Benchley and it's from Peter's book...<br /><br />"The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail."<br /><br />Peter's book may have caused nightmares but there is a serenity to his choice of and sound of his words, so I paraphrase for my release of anger at the news about Chris.<br /><br />This great life of ours need not move silently through the night, nor should it consist of short sweeps.JJ Gowlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095301545183002768noreply@blogger.com1