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On Sunday, June 2, the University of Alabama won the school’s first National Title in golf, beating Illinois in the tournament final 4 to 1. The event was held at the Capital City Club’s Crab apple Course in Atlanta, Georgia, where upstart Illinois failed to capture its own first title ever.

Golf Week reports that Bobby Wyatt, the third-ranked college player in the country, had five birdies on his first seven holes. Only one Alabama player lost his individual match up.

The win marks a major comeback for the school, which had made it to the final at last year’s tournament only to lose to Texas, and shows that they’re good at more than just football.

“I came here (Alabama) for a reason,” Alabama team member Justin Thomas, who won the Hawkins Award for the best college golfer, said to the Golf Channel. “And that was the reason I came here for and it’s unbelievable to get it done.”

Illinois’ appearance in the final was something of a surprise. They faced California, the top-ranked school in the country and the favorites to win the whole tournament, in the semifinals and edged out a victory. But Wyatt and Alabama were simply too dominant. Alabama faced Georgia Tech in their semi.

It remains to be seen whether this is the start of a dynasty at Alabama or if they’ll only be one hit wonders. Wyatt is only a junior, meaning he has one more year left of eligibility, but he could turn pro if he wanted to.

If the success of the Alabama golf team has inspired you to try out for your own high school or college squad, make sure to pick up a set of discount golf balls from out online store and hit the links so you can get some practice in!

Thrift shops are a great place to search for some cheap golf clubs, but make sure you purchase your golf balls from our online store!

Sometimes you may find yourself in a position where you need golf clubs quickly and cheaply. This could be for a number of reasons: Maybe your boss asked you to play thinking you already had a set, or perhaps you’re traveling and were invited to an impromptu round on a local back nine. In any case, you need equipment and you need it fast.

Here are some places to look for cheap golf clubs:

• Craigslist: You may know it as the place to look for jobs and apartments, but typically you’ll find many listings of people trying to get rid of golf equipment that has been collecting dust in their garage.
• E Bay: This isn’t an especially fast option, but if you anticipate you’ll need clubs and would rather not buy a brand new set, you’ll almost certainly be able to find a good deal on eBay, and you’d be surprised at the quality of clubs you can get for a good price.
• Thrift Shops: Many secondhand stores, such as Goodwill, will have old bags of golf clubs that were thrown out by someone who couldn’t find the time to play golf regularly. You can usually buy these sets for as little as a few dollars and you may even discover that they’re in pretty good shape!

For cheap golf balls, however, there’s simply no alternative to our online store. We carry all the best brands, including Titlist, Bridges tone, Ron and Calla way. You’ll find that our AAA golf balls are in superb condition, as we carefully inspect each ball to ensure that it is free of scratches, stains and blemishes that can affect performance.

I have been reading what podiatrist Gary Fried lander says about choosing the best golf shoes – including comfort and support. Fried lander is the Director of Midwestern University Clinic–Pediatric Medicine & Surgery says “it all boils down to a shoe that fits you best,

The one that gives you proper support, flexibility, cushioning, and of course, what you feel most comfortable in”.  In addition to what we’ve looked at before here are a couple of new things to add to the check list.

Choosing Golf Shoes: Update

[1] You should try your golf shoes towards the end of the day, when your feet are larger than earlier in the day and more representative of when you’re on the 17th tee.

[2] Your golf shoes should ideally have a small heel (say 1 or 1 1/2″) which is better than flat shoes.  Tell that to the “lite” golf shoe brigade!

[3] Bigger & rounded toe boxes are better than pointed toes (which are only going to squeeze your toes).

[4] The mid-section of the golf shoe should be slightly raised where the arch of your foot is, in effect providing a resting place for the length of your sole.

I know that I’m the sort of golfer that changes his golf shoes in the car park, so I don’t spend so much time in the changing/locker room but I’ve been going to golf clubs for 40 years and I cannot remember seeing a golf shoe bag!

Maybe the better ones (and boy there are a lot advertised – and boy are some of them special – and costly), maybe these are used for air-travel.  There’s a lot of travelling golfers these days and we know they like to use their own shoes, so maybe you see them at airports?

Prices range from about £10/$10 (what’s the difference these days!) (As the ones on the left from Amazon) to £/$100.  The very smart ones – with history in their manufacturing companies – look like very special luggage. And the ones I looked at, purely as a by-stander, (Hartman’s also at Amazon) were sold out, so someone’s buying them!  They are better (and more costly) than my golf shoes!

Although these job titles are often thought to be synonymous, each has quite different responsibilities. Since these guys and girls are paid by the golfers—usually to the tune of $100 minimum per round – it’s important for you to understand their roles and put their services to proper use.

A caddie carries the bag, walks with the golfer, and assists an individual or a twosome in the play of the course. This person offers advice on club selection, strategy, and putting. A good caddie can improve your score by several strokes, particularly on a course you haven’t played before.

A Caddie’s Responsibilities:

Carry your bag—or push it on a trolley.

Be your “partner” throughout the round by helping with strategy, club selection, and green-reading.
Provide occasional levity or inspiration, as needed.

Do all of the housekeeping.

A fore caddie works for the entire group to watch for wayward shots, manage the housekeeping chores, and help maintain an acceptable pace of play. Don’t expect a fore caddie to improve your performance. Instead, a fore caddie should enhance your enjoyment of the course by handling most of the on-course etiquette responsibilities, so you don’t have to.

A Fore caddie’s Responsibilities:

Hustle and stay ahead of the group.

Watch wayward shots and help find the lost balls.

Provide yardages to the pin and other landmarks.

Clean all clubs periodically throughout the round, but not necessarily after every shot.

Clean all of the golf balls once they’ve been marked on the green.

Repair pitch marks and divots, and rake the bunkers.

Give brief descriptions of each hole to golfers who haven’t previously played the course

Tend the pin and provide general advice on the green.

A fore caddie shouldn’t tell each player which club to use or attempt to read every putt – there simply isn’t time.

Playing with a good caddie or fore caddie enhances the golf experience. However, feeling stuck with a chatty or lazy one, can suck the life right out of the group. Remember, you’re paying for the service. Confidently take control of the situation and inform your employee if you’d like to see more or less of a particular behavior. Believe me, they want you to be happy and will gladly adjust their focus to suit your expectations.

Ladies, I want to talk to you directly for just a moment – but make sure your husband reads this too!

Let’s just get it out in the open.  There’s a joke that floats around the clubhouse of most golf courses that says this game got its name as an acronym for the words Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden.  Although some of the old codgers at your local course might think this is funny, and/or wish that it was true; trust me, it’s totally and completely false – and those guys are idiots.

In fact, the sport didn’t have an official name for almost a hundred years after its inception. There are historical records that show it was called many things, including guff, goof, gaffe, guff, golf, golf and eventually, golf.

The thought that it was intentionally called G.O.L.F. for chauvinistic reasons is as absurd as thinking that the word S.E.X. is an acronym for Satisfying Experience.  Because clearly this isn’t always the case either (Not for you, anyway) this notion furthers the point that what he believes to be true and what you know to be true can be miles apart.

This being said, ladies, it is also a fact that throughout golf’s history, men have played the game significantly more than women.  It was invented by stinky shepherds, no less.  So, although the game wasn’t designed to exclude you, the culture of the game evolved as a result of knuckle headed masculine influence.  This is why so many guys act like they own the joint.  It’s innate to our beings.  The argyle fabric that makes us men.  But that still doesn’t make it right.

One of my favorite things about golf is that no matter how well you’re doing, it is seldom as memorable as who you’re doing it with.  But this is also where one of golf’s greatest paradoxes exists.  Sometimes playing with those you love can make memories that will last a lifetime.  Other times, it can feel like the seventh level of hell, especially when your husband is acting like a jerk.

This point is repeatedly made crystal clear at the customary evening Couple’s Golf Competitions (CG C) that you’ll find at almost every course the world-over.  These CG Cs have become very popular social activities – especially for the retired.  Perhaps, it’s the reason you’re reading this article in the first place – your husband wants you to give it a go.

But CG Cs have also become a breeding ground for boorish behavior, frustration and disgust between partners.  That’s because, like an onion, there are many layers to CG Cs.  And like an onion, sometimes they stink and can make you cry.

In fact, the aftermath of a CG C gone wrong can get ugly.  You could end up leaving the golf course in a post-dinner buffet daze, wondering why you even showed up in the first place.

My question to the both of you is this:

Does this happen simply because neither of you played as well as you would have liked to?

Or is it something more?

Here’s what I think.  He sometimes acts like an idiot because he’s unable to be your hero.  It’s chivalry, sort of.

Chivalry gone wrong Way wrong

Every man has a primal instinct to perform for his lady, no matter what the event or where it’s happening.  It’s his duty to shoulder the heavy loads.  Raking leaves, shoveling snow, changing flat tires, starting fires and grilling meat might immediately come to mind.  It’s not that you’re incapable.  It would just make him feel unmanly to allow you to do those things.

However, on the golf course, where he’s supposed to be the dominant member of your tribe of two, he’s sometimes unable.  After all, everyone hits bad shots from time to time.  It’s inevitable.  So, when he feels as though he’s let you down while doing something he’s supposed to be good at, instead of understanding and accepting his self-disappointment, the typical male will get defensive and act out by pouting or sulking.

This behavior might go on for a while, say a hole or two.  At which point, you’ll be fed up with his tantrum and suggest that he get over it and act his age.

Now the gloves are off!  You’ve just given him the perfect opportunity to direct his disappointment away from himself and onto you.  He’s likely to say something offensive or insensitive to you – making you seem like the reason for the disappointment in the first place.  Somehow this has become your fault.

The problem really starts to escalate from here.  He’s mad at you for being mad at him, and when you either 1.) Scold him, or 2.) Try to console him; you’ll discover that both are incorrect responses.  You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.  If you choose to console him it feels patronizing.  If you criticize his behavior, it could touch off a plaid-clad powder keg.

He’s mad, and he doesn’t want you to share your opinion about his behavior.  Not here.  Not now.   After all, he introduced you to this game, and who are you to criticize his behavior in this world?

His world

Finally Down to the point 

That’s the problem, isn’t it?  He still thinks it’s his course and his game…

Thus the Rules of Engagement for Couple’s Golf Competitions

  I hope these help prevent a similar scene from happening to you this coming Friday night.

Rule 01:  Understand the Enemy

Your enemy isn’t your partner.  It’s the format of the competition.  Couple’s golf, in and of itself, can be challenging and frustrating.  This is primarily because most competitions require each player to alternate hitting the same ball (or some variation of that basic concept), and it’s easy to get mad at each other when your best effort is ruined by your partner.

It starts out as frustration with golf.  For example:

You knock it stiff from 130 yards, he misses the short putt.  Next hole, he stripes a drive down the middle, you dump a wedge in the bunker.  Next hole, he hits a lousy tee shot… and explodes, then pouts like a ten-year-old.

But it always ends up as frustration with each other – because emotions and history get involved.  You end up mad at each other for your reactions to the poor shots, not the actual outcome of the golf game.

Rule 02:  Tell it like it is

There’s no need to sugar coat things.  Everyone knows a bad shot when they see one.  It’s when you say things like this that can really get under our skin:

“I don’t know what you’re mad about – that was great!”
(When it clearly wasn’t)

“Well, it was definitely better than I can do.”
(No offense… but no kidding!  If it wasn’t, then I’d snap a club in half and stab myself in the neck.)

Eventually, you’re mad because he’s mad.  Now the cat is really chasing its tail.  Instead, if both of you would just say exactly what’s on your minds, you’d get along much better.

“Wow.  That really sucked Honey.  I know you can do much better than that.”
(This is a very sneaky way to compliment him.)

“I wish you’d have done better than that – but I love you anyway.” 

“Well crap – we probably don’t have any chance of winning the pickle dish now.  Bummer.  Where’s the drink cart?”

Rule 03:  Define your goals ahead of time

Your goal could be to have fun and laugh at the bad shots.  Your goal could be to play hard and play to win.  Either way, that’s fine.  Just be sure that it’s stated from the start so there isn’t any confusion and the objective doesn’t change during the round.  It’s easy to forget you’re having a great time when you fat a wedge or yip a putt.

Rule 04:  Have a drink or two first – but don’t get drunk

There’s a fine line between performance-enhancing, inhibition-lowering and technique-improving drinking, and over-indulgence.  Toe the line, but don’t cross it.  You want to be fun, not obnoxious.  You want to be relaxed, not lethargic.  You need to be cool, not crabby.  You want to be charming, not chatty.  A little booze might help.

Rule 05:  Make no apologies for your play

Agree from the get-go that there’ll be no need for apologies after bad shots.  Give each other the benefit of the doubt and assume that you’ll both try your hardest when it’s your turn.  What more can you ask?

Rule 06:  Bribe him if necessary 

Men (like monkeys) behave better when there’s a reward.  Maybe you’ll let him play golf on Saturday morning with the boys if doesn’t act like a moron on Friday night.  Maybe you could buy him that new putter he’s had his eye on – even though he already has fifteen other putters that don’t work either.  Or just a thought but sex, perhaps?  (Maybe you can think of something else, because it might not be S.E.X.)  I don’t know, just thinking about what would motivate me…

Whatever you mutually agreed upon, earning the reward must be based on his behavior – not his golf performance.  If it’s about his actions, and not his score, you can expect him to act like a prince all night long.  I promise.
Strict adherence to these Rules of Engagement may not make you play better.

Although they might

They will definitely allow you to enjoy your time at the course more thoroughly with the ones you love.  Now get out there and play!