NWGA Golf Travel Blog

Daly says he's hit rock bottom

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:00:00 GMT

This has probably been a longtime coming, but John Daly says he's currently serving a six-month suspension handed down by the PGA TOUR. I'm a Daly fan, the guy's entertaining, but I've gotta say that it's about time the tour took some action to help him get back on track.

The question is, have they done enough?

Details released by Daly's camp have been sketchy. His agent received a letter from the TOUR regarding the suspension, which apparently ends sometime in May. Daly said he wanted to let everyone know why he would be playing in Europe for the first part of the year.

This is the second time the TOUR has suspended Daly, but I question the timing of the suspension. I realize that he's a popular guy when it comes to sponsors and fans, but suspending a guy over the Winter and Spring doesn't seem like it would punish him that much. I mean, come on, suspend the guy during the high season when more people are paying attention to the game.

Missing a bunch of large purse events, that would get Daly's attention.

The blue-collar, risk-taking of John Daly has been overshadowed by the boozing and bad decisions. Let's hope he can get his game, and more importantly, his life, back in order quickly.

A Northwest take on Winter golf

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

The Lake Oswego Golf Course may not be the most prestigious course in the area, but they're trying hard to attract players during the off-season.

Their pricing during the week is directly related to the temperature outside. Golfers pay just $1 per degree over freezing for their round of golf. The colder it is, the less they pay (can I get paid to play in sub-freezing temps?).

In addition to the discounted pricing, you can earn yourself free handwarmers and hot cocoa if you bring a foursome out to play or if the temperature is under 45 degrees.

I'm not saying that prices like these will bring in droves of people for the course, but it's all about publicity. This is the kind of announcement that will make people take notice and, hopefully, bring golfers back during the actual golf season.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 14

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Well, my list of great golf gifts has turned into the 14 Days of Christmas. I saved this last idea for last because it's got a great Northwest flavor to it.

Today's gift idea is the Widmer Golf Game. I know there are probably several incarnations of this one, but the Widmer version is great because of its connection to our tasty local beers.

The game is a simple one: four tokens to be earned by golfers and a dollar amount attached to each of them. Players want to avoid the sand, water and three-putt tokens, while trying their best to get ahold of the master token. Even if you're only playing with each token as a dollar or two, it still keeps things interesting.

The tokens from Widmer are nice and heavy and come in a handy drawstring bag. To get yours, order online or visit the brewery in NE Portland.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 13

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

With all the harsh weather we've been getting in the Northwest this week, I've been thinking about some important golf gear. I'm talking, of course, about your outerwear or rain gear.

This past year, I had the opportunity to borrow a new rain jacket from a friend of mine that was a little different than all the others I've worn. What, you're probably wondering, could have made this jacket unique? It was the special 'rain channel' on the sleeves. It kept all the rain from running down on my hands and grips.

It's a little thing, I know, but the jacket was also extremely comfortable and fitted, and didn't let a single drop get through to my underlayers. It was breathable, too.

I know there are a lot of great outerwear products out there from just about every clothing manufacturer, but if you want to pick up something a little different this year, check out the golf collection from Sunice.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 12

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Today's gift is a Vijay Singh endorsed item, but it's in celebration of the news that Tiger Woods appears to be ahead on the road to recovery and is back to fitting some short iron shots. Golf's most dominant player will soon be back, which should inspire all of us to work on our games and get ready for Spring.

In the Northwest right now, it's hard to think about golf because we're currently stuck in a rut of freezing temps with snow and ice. Not fun.

Anyway, on to the gift idea of the day. The Golf Mat by Vijay Singh is a unique practice mat, designed to simulate the feel of real turf when you hit a ball. The mat accomplishes this by compressing as the ball is struck. It takes a little getting used to, but that means the end of jarring your arms on the hard ground beneath your practice mat.

Several driving ranges in the area have started installing these mats and there's even a home version to buy (MSRP of $229). If you order now for Christmas, you can also get one of the company's stance mats to go along with it.

Check out TheGolfMat.net for more information or to order one.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 11

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Today's gift idea comes as a tribute to the 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year: Padraig Harrington. Why not own a little piece of golf history by purchasing a piece of authentic Harrington gear.

If you shop carefully, you can find really good deals on autographed items from some of golf's biggest stars. Oddly enough, there are a lot of different items from the majors and Ryder Cup that Padraig Harrington has signed.

A simple place to look is getitnext.com, a service that makes it easier to do searches on eBay. Click here to see a list of Harrington memorabilia available for sale right now (and you can still get it in time for Christmas).

We might as well take the time now to congratulate Harrington on winning the Tour's top award. He was given the award despite only winning two times all year, they just happened to come during British Open and PGA Championship week. Good timing.

Harrington beat out Tiger Woods, Camillo Villegas, Vijay Singh, and Kenny Perry for the award. Lofty company to be included in.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 10

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Today's gift idea is a little on the spendy side, but it's something that would come in when your favorite golfer is socked-in during the Winter. Personal golf simulators are very cool if you can afford them and have the room for them.

There are a couple of options out there for simulators. The two that I've used are Dancin' Dogg and Dead Solid brand simulators. Both involve a screen, projector and a slew of cameras to measure and render your shots.

Dancin Dogg is the less expensive option. For $399, you can get a simulator package that hooks right up to your computer or laptop (the simulator uses EA's Tiger Woods golf as the graphics engine). The system measures club head speed, face angle, swing path and contact, providing visual feedback for each shot. You also get software and course upgrades via download.

Dead Solid simulators are a more expensive and full-service option. The company has several out-of-the-box options and also offers custom-designed systems for your home. Like Dancin Dogg, Dead Solid simulators offer a lot of analysis and can be used in your home or even in a golf shop or driving range.

Expensive? Yes. But this is a gift that will help that golfer on your Christmas list improve his or her game without leaving the comfort of their own home.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 9

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

I'm sure you know someone who plays golf and would like to get a new set of irons for Christmas. While this may sound like a slam-dunk, selecting new sticks is never easy.

If you'd like to help someone improve their golf game this holiday season (I hope my lovely bride is reading the blog today), your best bet is to take them to their favorite golf shop for a fitting. Let the professionals put them on the launch monitor and make recommendations for the irons they should buy.

With the drop in price for quality launch monitors, more and more golf shops and clubs are offering fitting services. I would recommend going someplace the golfer is comfortable, it'll make the fitting more accurate. If you're not relaxed and swinging like you would on the course, there's trouble later.

Once you've completed the fitting, you can buy the set of irons in the store or even search for them a little on the Internet. Good luck.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 8

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Today's gift idea is another interesting golf related item, the Golo Game.

I'd played this dice game online several times and finally got a chance to play the real version. It's kind of confusing when you first get started, but it's really a lot of fun. Here are the basics:

Players have a batch of dice (five for par 4s, and two each for par 3s and 5s), which they roll all at once. You're trying to pick out the numbers and create a low-score for nine holes. If you get a get a big number, you just roll those dice again until you only have one left and are forced to take what you get.

For a preview, check it out online at igolo.com. The original dice game is on sale for the holidays for just $14.95.

Great Gift Ideas: Part 7

info@nwgolfadventures.com — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Here's a great gift idea, how about a trip to play the course Golf Magazine calls the 'Best New Course'? Northwest Golf Adventures can get you a tee time this Spring or Summer at David McLay Kidd's latest creation.

There aren't many people who've played Tetherow Golf Club in Bend. It's Oregon's newest resort and has been on the radar for a lot of awards, including the latest from Golf Magazine. They put Tetherow at the top of their list for new courses and named its designer the year's top architect.

Here's a snippet from the review by Golf Magazine:

"Scottish designer David McLay Kidd was schooled among the dunes of Machihanish and the gorse of Gleneagles, and he broke into architecture's elite a decade ago with the opening of Bandon Dunes. His worldwide portfolio is impressive, but Tetherow is the place he calls home.

The layout rambles over two ridgelines and is seeded in wall-to-wall fescue, ensuring fast conditions and a links-like emphasis on the ground game. A spectacular exception is the all-carry 190-yard, par-3 17th, which plays into an old pumice pit to a dry island green.

While his designs often provoke polar reactions, his spirit of adventure and willingness to break with convention - both evident in spades at the Castle Course and Tetherow - are to be saluted."

If you'd like to learn more about Tetherow, check out our Central Oregon destinations page. Click here if you'd like to request more information or book a package.