Police are hunting a midnight golfer after he ruined a bowling green while practising. The late-night enthusiast carved out more than 200 divots when he climbed into the grounds under the cover of darkness last month. Despite increasing the number of patrols, police in New Milton, Hampshire have not been able to catch the suspect. "If anyone sees a youth or individual carrying a golf club walking along the street they should call us so we can challenge that person," a spokesman said.

1/16/2007 11:48:38 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said she has no knowledge of drug use among tour players.

This may seem like a sad state of affairs, but there have been some interesting tales of rife drug abuse in both amateur and professional games around the world. Someone has to start the trend and it will be interesting to see what the results of this program are and whether other tours will follow suit.

The LPGA Tour said Wednesday it will begin testing players for performance-enhancing drugs in 2008, a move that makes it the first major golf tour to announce a drug-testing program.

"While we have no evidence to date that any of our players are using performance-enhancing drugs, we need to have a very clear policy and a program in place," Bivens said. "We want to take a proactive role."

Players learned of the decision with the announcement.

Annika Sorenstam, the top-ranked women's player, said she had no problem with the decision, yet called it "sad that we have to have testing."

"Golf is not like other sports," said Sorenstam, who was tested in college. "I believe in this sport. I believe in the people out here. ... I don't think you're going to see anything out here, so it might be a waste of time. But if it's peace of mind for people and if we need to prove that the LPGA's clean, then let's do it."

11/16/2006 12:03:26 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

PAUL McNamee, the new promoter of the Australian Open golf tournament to be played at Royal Sydney this week, has been received with some scepticism by conservative fans fearful his plans to revive the tournament could compromise its grand traditions.

However, in an exclusive-ish interview with The Sun-Herald, McNamee moved to calm fears that plans for twilight golf, spectator viewing points on the fairways and concerts after play would affect the nature of the tournament.

"I've had people come up to me saying absurd things like, 'I've heard you're going to have girls in bikinis caddying for the players'," he said.

"That's just ridiculous. Have you ever tried to find 100 swimsuit models strong enough to carry those heavy bags around for four days? I have and it's just not feasible."

We at GP Towers know just the lady for this dilemma. I see a campaign for Nursey to amass an armada to help out our Aussie friends.´NURSEY.....

11/15/2006 6:11:04 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Nov 13, 2006 05:40 PM

11/15/2006 6:07:53 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Fresh from the Reuters website and the world of absurd ventures...

Seeking the perfect holiday gift for the golfer who has everything? Try flavored golf tees.

U.S. inventors John Packes and Ramon Peralta have come up a product line called Tasty Golf Tees in various flavors including mint, cherry, strawberry, and grape.

Mint is the strongest-tasting flavor in the range.

"It will knock out the foulest of cigar, beer breath within five seconds," Packes of Norwalk, Connecticut, told Reuters on Tuesday.

Packes said they came up with the idea while walking along the fairway one day and noticing that many golfers popped a tee in their mouth as they headed to the next hole or waited to tee up.

Tasty Golf Tees, which cost about 25 cents each, are made from uncoated wood, which is sanitized and flavored. They look and play like regular wooden golf tees.

"Some people just look at you funny," said Packes. "'Do you really put it in your mouth?' They give it a shot and say 'This is kinda cool.'"

11/15/2006 6:04:29 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

BOSSES of some of Scotland's top links golf clubs have been warned they will have to move - or face seeing their courses sink into the sea.

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion caused by global warming are threatening courses such as Nairn, Elie, Royal Aberdeen and Tain.

Alan Brampton, of golf course consultants HR Wallingford, warned: "In 50 years a substantial number of Scotland's golf courses will be nine holes or 12 holes if they do not move to more landward positions."

Two courses on the west coast - Royal Troon and Western Gailes - face problems if forced to move as they have a rail line on their landward side.

And the famous Royal Dornoch club last year spent £300,000 on defences that might last up to 50 years.

But Dornoch officials admit if there was a devastating storm, the defences - and the cash - could be washed away.

10/23/2006 5:50:44 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Sergio García, first and second in the past two years, was second again after a 68, which he completed after a brief invasion of the 18th green by two protestors believed to campaigning against the building of more golf courses on the island.

10/23/2006 5:48:52 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

South Korea’s Infinics promises that its golf putter, the DiXX Blu Digital Instructor, will improve your short game thanks to a set of sophisticated sensors that measure your stance and swing.

The Dixx Blu has a small liquid crystal display (LCD) screen that is used to aim. Users adjust their stance and the position of the putter so that a small red dot is centered in crosshairs displayed on the screen. When the user’s stance is correct and the dot is centered, it turns green, signaling that the user is ready to hit the ball.

DiXX Blu Digital

The putter, which goes on sale later this month, was on display this week at the Ceatec exhibition in Chiba, Japan. It will be priced at 98,000 yen (US$832) in Japan.

Using an intertial navigation system that tracks the putter’s position and a micro electromechanical system motion sensor, the Dixx Blu is able to collect detailed information about a golfer’s swing, including the path of the swing, swing speed, impact position and the angle of the putter’s face.

Based on this data, the putter is able to analyze the swing, presenting a detailed report immediately after the golfer swings. This helps players to identify the areas where they need improvement, Infinics said.

Once golfers have perfected their swing with the Dixx Blu, they can swap the putter’s terminal, which includes the display and sensors, for a dummy weight designed to be used on the golf course.

http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=25482

10/5/2006 4:50:16 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

The Washington Capitals star, who won the Calder Trophy last year as the NHL's rookie of the year, aced the par-3, 160-yard fourth hole yesterday at the Springfield Golf and Country Club during the team's annual Caps Care charity tournament.

Ovechkin had several chances at the hole as he greeted groups all day long at No. 4 and played a shot with them. But given his lack of golf experience, it was surprising to see the 21-year-old Russian record the hole-in-one.

"This was my first time playing golf," Ovechkin said. "I guess it's easy. Maybe it would be better if I played golf, not hockey. It was lucky, though. I have to play again now, see how I can do."

10/3/2006 4:02:39 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

If you can't view this video go here

9/29/2006 9:56:27 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0]