Natalie Gulbis Show Episode 3

November 2005
Episode 3 of The Natalie Gulbis Show aired last night on The Golf Channel at 10pm EST. Continuing true to form, the show was a gas.

From following Natalie during a practice round at the 2005 Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill River Course in Williamsburg, Virginia, to some time spent with Cristie Kerr, it was fun all the way. Natalie Gulbis's father John Gulbis makes a return appearance having rented Natalie a Dodge Viper for the day. Since Natalie hadn't driven a stick before, she took some quick lessons from her dad. Without giving it away......the two of them had some "father daughter" fun together.

Natalie makes an appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show and survives some great questioning. Then Natalie is pitted against Tim Brown and the hosts to see who can chip a golf ball through a series of tires hanging at various heights in the studio. If Natalie can do it, she will win a DVD for all the guests in the audience. Well our girl does it perfectly and wins!

Next we see Natalie and Cristie Kerr yuckin it up together as they get their hair and nails done during some off time before a tournament. Ya gotta love the spacers between the toes girls.......sexy!!!!!!!

Be sure to watch a repeat showing of The Natalie Gulbis Show by picking a good time from this schedule. The Natalie Gulbis Show airs Tuesday nights at 10pm EST on The Golf Channel.

Gulbis and Amiee…Friends?

November 2005
Oh no! Could it be that Danielle Amiee, winner of Big Break III and most notably known for abusing Pam Crikelair on that show, is golfing buddies with Natalie Gulbis?

C'mon, give me a break!

On this Tuesday's episode it sure looked as if Gulbis was being pal-sy with the bleached-blonde. Could this have just a marketing ploy to pair the two for advertising dollars and increased ratings? Gulbis is increasing in popularity with her new 2006 calendar while Amiee's popularity has been slipping since her m/c at Kingsmill in the Michelob Ultra Open.

I wonder if that eye roll was real (you know, the one Natalie threw the camera when Amiee was throwing around one of her one-liners)?

In other Natalie Gulbis Show news, What did you think about that hot, red Dodge Viper? Now that's my type of car although carrying that large set of golf clubs didn't look too comfortable for neither her nor the clubs!

Cristie Kerr is friends with Natalie Gulbis. I wonder whether or not Natalie knows Donald Trump? My bet is that they all play golf together. But who would be their fourth?

Trump, Kerr, Gulbis and hmmm

Well, that's all I have for now. I think I would make a good fourth. I don't think Danielle Amiee would fit in that foursome, do you?

Natalie Gulbis is first on the fairway with new Golf Game!

November 2005
Winnipeg, Manitoba – GWAG Golf announced today that it has reached an agreement with LPGA player Natalie Gulbis. The agreement allows GWAG Golf to produce, distribute and market the Natalie Gulbis Golf Game to the ever growing global golf market.

Natalie is not only one of the most popular American LPGA golfers on tour, but has also gained great notoriety in other countries as well. With her recent success at the Solheim Cup and her current number sixth ranking on the LPGA 2005 money list, Natalie may soon be one of the most sought after female athletes in professional sport. Given her growing resume of accomplishments since joining the LPGA Tour in 2002, coupled with her upcoming reality TV show on the Golf Channel, Natalie’s popularity is a perfect fit for GWAG Golf.

The Natalie Gulbis Golf Game is a fun, yet competitive game played during a typical round of golf. Sales of the new game are expected to be significant as market studies have shown that over 70% of recreational golfers play some form of side game while enjoying a round of golf. The Natalie Gulbis Golf Game is comprised of 16 high resolution attractive pictures of Natalie and some of her favorite golf tips and quotes. Each one of the cards represents the outcome of a certain type of golf shot ("Birdie" or "In The Water") along with a corresponding point value. The "twenty second" explanation and video of the game can be found at www.gwaggolf.com.

GWAG Golf’s founder and creator of the Natalie Gulbis Golf Game, Daryl Harris, is the first to point out that the game was carefully designed to not distract players from the technical aspect of their golf game and to not burden players with having to keep score of the Game Within a Game (GWAG).
The Natalie Gulbis Golf Game will be sold through GWAG Golf’s website (www.gwaggolf.com). In addition, a link to GWAG Golf will appear on the home page of Natalie’s web site (www.nataliegulbis.com).

According to Harris, "the game gives GWAG Golf tremendous leverage to work with other professional golfers, plus attracts visitors to a website where they can begin a process of interaction based on a fun golf experience". When speaking about Natalie’s game and the original GWAG Golf Game, Harris commented that "his vision was to create a game that would not only appeal to the individual golfer but also have appeal to businesses as well". Harris went on to say that "Corporations have the ability to imprint their company logo on the original GWAG Golf Game and give them as gifts to clients as they currently do with golf balls or golf shirts. The big advantage the GWAG Golf Game has is a longer "bag life" with the customer, thus longer retention of their company name and services" while being associated with something fun.

Harris has his sites firmly set on the fairway with the Natalie Gulbis Golf Game, however he is clear to point out that there is a whole golf course ahead of him and he will take it one shot at a time.

Both the Natalie Gulbis Golf Game and the original GWAG Golf Game can be purchased at the company’s website.

Enquiries can be directed to Daryl Harris, President, GWAG Golf, 1-866-714-4924.

Natalie Gulbis passes $1 million in 2005 season earnings

November 2005
With her tie for ninth place and a $22,750 check at the ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Natalie Gulbis became the 13th player in LPGA history to top the $1 million dollar mark in single season earnings. Natalie competed in 27 events this year and recorded 12 top-10 finishes to surpass the milestone. Her $1,010,154 in season earnings were accumulated without a win, setting a new LPGA record for the most money earned in a single season without a victory. Mi Hyun Kim set the previous record of $931,693 in 2004.

2006 is expected to be a sensational year for Natalie as she continues to work on her game with Butch Harmon.

Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-27-05

November 2005
Pink iPod
Golf for beginners 11-27-05 episode six relates how Tiger Woods easily won at the sports spectacular Grand Slam of Golf against the grand talents of number-two rated Vijay Singh, the third best on the PGA tour Phil Mickelson and Michael Campbell who won the US Open.

Michelle Wie missed the cut (again) at the Casio World Open in Japan (at least she's improving her Japanese!) and we discuss driving range tips for the off-season as well as mental game strategies.

Contact us at golfforbeginners@aol.com

Give Michelle Wie a Break!

November 2005
Michelle Wie Island GirlShe's only sixteen!

Being a relatively new golfer I can identify with Michelle Wie's recent bid to try and make the cut at the Casio Open in Japan this weekend. You've got to give her credit…she keeps on trying. After six attempts in men's events Wie still hasn't come up with one Sunday finish.

Chalk it all up to nerves.

Nerves can play havoc with a golfer right from the first tee straight through a round of golf. I don't care whether you're Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie or a beginner just trying to make your first drive of the day. If there are several people standing around waiting to see your swing (or you think they even care) right down to the wire when you putt into a hole for bogey and the guy before you putts in first making the hole that much smaller, being nervous can make you do stupid things. Even the best golfers miss putts from five feet and in, choking on a relatively simple putt that never would have missed if they were on the practice green. So how is it so impossible to reason that Michelle Wie would miss relatively easy putts like the one at 18 which would have given her the score she needed to move on to the weekend?

Michelle isn't the only golfer who has come up short when the chips were down. In 1996 at the Masters Greg Norman let a six-stroke lead disappear to Nick Faldo. Several weeks ago Tiger Woods, the best darn golfer in the world, allowed David Howell to defeat him in Shanghai with putting that just wasn't up to par.

I blame her mistakes on inexperience and nerves, nothing more. I scan through the golf blogs on the internet and found that most bloggers really think Michelle has a chance.

In thegolfblog.com, although there are people that don't believe Wie should take a spot away from the men on tour the writer has a point about the sponsors' interest in the phenom, "blame the sponsors of the tournament. They're the ones inviting the golfers, and they foot the bill." Some tournaments suffer from a lack of interest in their event. Putting Wie in the mix would solve that problem. For example, in Japan Wie had hundreds of followers on the course where last year's winner David Smail had only a handful of viewers.

Try to recall the names of golfers on the PGA Tour. I bet you can only come up with ten or twenty. But everyone around the globe, from the US to Japan knows the name of sixteen-year-old Wie.

And I'll bet that if the Masters' ratings slip a little, Michelle Wie's management will be getting a phone call from Hootie.

As far as the LPGA is concerned, Michelle Wie's camp possibly thinks of this step as a marketing no-no, that it doesn't benefit her career. I don't. I believe that Wie should be able to win a at least a single tournament in the women's market also, if not just for the purpose of having women around the world become a cheering section for her.

Wie is getting pulled around both by her dad, her new management, Nike, Sony and everyone else who wants a piece of her for their own growth. Poor Michelle...she doesn't seem to have any say in her own future. Being a teenager sure has it's disadvantages!

Michelle will eventually come back from these distressful incidents. Let's hope she figures things out before she turns 21 or she might not be able to change her path.

Getting back to the present, I predict that Wie will play at the 2006 Sony Open in Hawaii in January filled with renewed confidence. She will make the cut this time and will start her LPGA season on a strong not. I think she might even win an LPGA tournament. She does especially well at the majors so I'm hoping all of the jitters she encounters when playing will all but disappear once her confidence comes through. She's a great player already and can only get better.

Photo Credit: © seoulsisters.com.

The Natalie Gulbis Show Episode 2

November 2005
Episode 2 of The Natalie Gulbis Show aired last night on The Golf Channel at 10pm EST. If you haven't seen the show yet, it is exactly what you would expect from a reality show, and Natalie. It's raw, unscripted, and at times downright hilarious. Natalie's true personality comes through and you can't help but laugh with her.

Just to recap...episode 1 featured Natalie around her house in Henderson, Nevada. Fans got to see her house, her cars which included a Harley pickup, and even a barbeque with friends and family. Natalie also spent some time working with her coach Butch Harmon. All in all it was "really" Natalie.

Episode 2 featured Natalie Gulbis at her 2006 Wall Calendar photo shoot. Accompanied by her mom Barbara Gulbis and her agent Chris Murray of Imani Sports, fans are taken through a complete day at the shoot. A limo picks Natalie and Chris up at 5:30am and Natalie is already throwing 1 liners at you as she enters the limo. Natalie arrives at her dressing room trailer and it's a gas from there. She has a little trouble communicating with the makeup and hair people because of a language barrier, but has some fun with it. There even is a hair dryer malfunction that causes a scare for a split second, but Natalie quips "I hope I have some hair left!" and everyone is laughing. As Natalie is getting her hair and makeup done she can hear Chris and the wardrobe people discussing some of the items and swim suits she will be wearing for the photo shoot. To see the look on Natalie's face and her expressions can't help but make you smile as she expresses her option about some of them.

At that point it's off to a long walk down a dirt path and stairs to the beach, only to find the wind blowing excessively at the bottom. Natalie's gorgeous blonde hair was whipping in the wind the entire shoot! Natalie is photographed in a number of different bikinis and one piece suits, as well as, high heels of which one pair were stilettos.

Well gosh.....I can't give all the details away. You'll just have to watch a repeat showing of The Natalie Gulbis Show by picking a good time from this schedule. The Natalie Gulbis Show airs Tuesday nights at 10pm EST on The Golf Channel.

Natalie Gulbis In A Multi-Colored Bikini

November 2005
Natalie Gulbis In A Multi-Colored Bikini
Natalie Gulbis looks absolutely stunning in this multi-colored bikini. What a pose! Nicely tanned, this shows Natalie Gulbis at her sexy best.

Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-20-05

November 2005
Folks, this is the one podcast of ours which you need to download!

First of all, it's our longest (not that a longer podcast is a sign of a great one). However golf for beginners 11-20-05 episode five is jam-packed with information from the latest victories of Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods to the latest putting techniques we found in Golf Magazine.

We also discuss our own Odyssey Two-Ball Putters and take another letter out of the golf-for-beginners mailbag.

If you haven't already subscribed to our audio casts, now is a great time to start!

As winter sets in and there is less golf being played, we are going to fill you with the latest golf tips, instruction and information which will keep you in great form even if you don't keep a golf club in your hands 24/7 (like WE do!).

Stay tuned for more great golf-for-beginners podcasts!

Sorenstam Takes ADT, Woods Wins Dunlop in Japan

November 2005
So, what else is new? The two super-golfers are tops again!

It doesn't really surprise me that either of the two money-list headliners took accolades at their respective tournaments.

Tiger Woods rallied against Japanese sensation Kaname Yokoo in a playoff to finally birdie the fourth playoff hole at that tournament. Annika Sorenstam led heading into the final round and finished two strokes ahead of Liselotte Neumann and Michele Redman. I wonder if the ladies of the LPGA will ever be able to overtake Sorenstam or will she go down in the annals of history as the one player never to drop below the number-one position on the ADT Official Money List during her "reign"?

Annika Sorenstam has now been victorious in half of all the tournaments she entered this year (10) and has also claimed several other titles along with the season-ender including the Vare Trophy and the Rolex Player of the Year award. She's going to have to expand her trophy cabinet!

But Sorenstam says that she'll focus most of her attention on winning the major tournaments so the Swede might give the other players, such as number-two on the money list Paula Creamer, a chance to move into the top perch.

Speaking of Creamer, the Pink Panther's rookie season has been incredible. She won four tournaments this year, two on the LPGA and two on the JLPGA Tour. Even with this breakout season Creamer's number two money position stands over $1 million behind the Swede!

Millionaires have been created this season on the tour. Lorena Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Sorenstam have topped the $1 million mark. Gulbis even achieved this feat without a win! As purses increase, so will the ability to earn the big money.

In conclusion, I'm really happy that Annika ended her season the way it began, namely, with a win! Her first victory of 2005 started off at the Mastercard and now she ends her official season at the ADT, the same name that lends itself to the official money list at the beautiful Trump International Golf Club under adverse conditions. Frankly I expected a win from the both of them, both Annika and Tiger. Since they practice with each other, I guess it would be expected that the two would learn something from each other.

PS. I thought it would be interesting to select this shot of Sorenstam holding the trophy at the 2004 ADT Championship. She hasn't changed much now, has she?

Photo Credit: © Getty Images.

Great Golf Tournaments This Weekend

November 2005
Whether you're a golf beginner or just a fanatic (I am both) you will appreciate both the amount and type of golf that is being played this weekend.

In LPGA news, Annika Sorenstam will be defending her trophy at the ADT Championship being played at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. This is the season-ender for the LPGA tour and it is usually an exciting competition. Last year Annika needed a playoff hole to crown her the champion (her third win at this event). Only the top-thirty golfers on the official money list will be on hand to grab their share of the $1 million purse.

What is also interesting about this tournament is that Sorenstam will be going against golfers who are about ten years her junior. The girls are getting younger and are playing terrific golf. Between 19-year-old rookie Paula Creamer who won twice this year on the LPGA tour as well as having two international wins and the effervescent Natalie Gulbis (22) who is being trained now by Butch Harmon (Tiger's previous coach) I think the LPGA is going through changes that will affect it's future and dominance for years to come.

Just wait until next year when Michelle Wie (now just 16-year-old) and Morgan Pressel start competing! Of course starting these youngsters out so early has its drawbacks. For example Morgan Pressel has turned her nose up at college to begin her new career. Looking back, Christina Kim who won just last week at the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions, left high school to turn professional and got her GED instead. It worked for her as this is her second win in two years. (Click here for our golf-for-beginners podcast 11-13-05 which relates to this article)

Another interesting tournament this weekend is the WGC World Cup Championships being held in Portugal on the European Tour. What is so interesting about this event is the format. For those of you who are beginners, this event will give you an intro into the different types of competition if you don't feel like playing a simple stroke-play format. The first day the teams (another interesting part of the tournament is that it is in team format)play a four-ball format with foursomes being played on Friday. It's back to four-ball on Saturday and foursomes again on Sunday.

Look for David Howell playing alongside of Luke Donald. As you may remember Howell recently won the HSBC Championship with Tiger Woods in the field. Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington will also be among the players.

Hopefully there will be many of us who can get a round of golf in before our seasons end due to snow or cold. This way we can make a few golf memories of our own!

The Natalie Gulbis Show airs on The Golf Channel

November 2005
The Natalie Gulbis Show has started it's run on The Golf Channel. A new episode premiers every Tuesday night at 10pm Eastern time. Natalie and her family, including her dad John Gulbis, are as relaxed and candid as can be. Learn about Natalie, and see her off the course in her daily life. If you miss the show Tuesday nights there are repeats running all the time as well. Be sure to tune in!!!

Natalie Gulbis Profile

November 2005
Natalie Gulbis Profile - A Rising Star of the LPGA Tour

The story of Natalie Gulbis is particularly interesting and one which should prove to be very attractive to American fans. This young star of the LPGA tour began playing golf at age 4 under the very personal coaching of her father, John. After a stellar amateur career in California, and after one year as an All-American at the University of Arizona, where she won four collegiate tournaments, Gulbis tied for third at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn her tour card.

John Gulbis remains an integral part of "team Gulbis," serving not only as father but also part-time coach (Natalie also works with Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods' instructor), manager, driver and fill-in caddie as they make their way from tour stop to tour stop in a well equipped Ford Expedition.The third member of this team is Natalie's mom who joins Natalie and her dad many weekends, flying in from their home in Sacramento. Disliking the hotels and motels which so often become the home-away-from-home of professional golfers, Natalie prefers a home atmosphere where she can enjoy cooking for herself. Walking the course with Natalie and her dad is a refreshingly fun time. Unlike many parents or spouses of tour pros who try to hide their identity, John is very willing to let it be known that the young golfer with that quirky back swing is his daughter Natalie. He is one proud dad who seems to experience the joy or angst of every shot along with his daughter.

Dean Juipe, a columnist for the Las Vegas Sun, suggested that Natalie might do better without the "perpetual shadow" of her father. That time will surely come someday, but for a young woman of nineteen there is considerable value in having dad and mom by your side.For her part, Natalie exudes pure joy. Her smile is constant and she has a wonderful way of connecting with her gallery. As her father confirms, she loves to talk - another trait that is so rare with many of today's golfers.

I spoke to Natalie for just a few minutes following the pro-am of the LPGA and her enthusiasm about her chosen profession is contagious.Natalie is still young and she is entitled to make her share to dumb mistakes or bad judgment calls during each tournament. In the first round of the 2002 McDonald's LPGA she showed what appeared to be some bad decision-making on one hole, which resulted in a double bogey. For what it's worth, her dad would have helped her play the hole much better, but unfortunately only I could hear his comments. That, however, was one of her few bad decisions. A round of one-over-par placed her in good position for the rest of the tournament. As so many professional golfers say, you can't win a tournament on Thursday or Friday, but you surely can lose it. Natalie's second round featured another fine one-over-par round which left her two-over-par after 36 holes - in a tie for twelfth place. Only four players were under par after two rounds, led by Hall of Fame member Beth Daniel at five-under. Natalie finished the McDonald's LPGA with rounds of 75 and 73 to end up in a tie for 15th place. This was an excellent result for her first time at the LPGA's second major.

On the Monday following the McDonald's LPGA, Natalie traveled to Blue Heron Pines Golf Club to play in a 2002 U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying event. The day was long and hot, but Natalie was able to shoot three-over-par and qualify for the U.S. Open.With young golfers like Natalie Gulbis, the future of the American presence on the LPGA Tour is strong. We who live in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey area are very lucky that we get to see Natalie and the other top women golfers in the world twice every year.

Source: About.com

Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-13-05

November 2005

We are really happy with our latest Golf for Beginners Audio Show, Episode 4, 11-13-05

.

You can also subscribe to our podcast if you are an iTunes user.
Just click on Podcasts, then Sports, and you'll find us near the top of the list.

This week's commentary is about how Tiger Woods was soundly defeated by European Tour player David Howell at the HSBC Tournament. Christina Kim, winner of the this week's LPGA Mitchell Tournament of Champions, is congratulated and we help solve a problem for one of our listeners in our email section. He questions whether it is better to learn about irons or woods first and we help him to understand the best way to practice his game.

Send us an email and you could be featured on our next podcast!

And, thanks to all who listen!

Tiger gets Trounced

November 2005

The opening of the 2006 European Tour season wasn't the kind of beginning that Tiger Woods expected.

Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai was supposed to be Tiger Woods' first win in China. Instead the number-one golfer on the PGA Tour suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of relative unknown David Howell. Although during the HSBC Champions Tournament Tiger Woods remained in contention he could not polish off Howell nor intimidate him.

Of a very large total purse of $5 million dollars, Howell received in excess of $800,000 while Tiger took a second place check of around $550,000...still not bad for a weekend's worth of golf.

Usually, when the Tiger is breathing down the backs of his competitors they often fold. Instead, David Howell turned the tables on Woods, marching out in front of Tiger after each of them hit their respective shots. And birdies were flying, although not from Woods but from Howell. Howell managed to birdie four of the first seven holes but had his blips on the eighth and ninth.

Tiger on the other hand had more trouble than expected and could only achieve two birdies on the front nine but wound up giving one back. In my opinion, Tiger's putting was letting him down this weekend. The greens were undulating and Tiger was also missing those easy putts, the ones from within five feet. Missing putts is the surest way not to score. Just look at Vijay Singh. He wasn't reading the line well and had trouble sinking the short ones too.

Howell took advantage of Tiger's troubles by pushing forward in spite of the fact that Tiger still could rally and decisively claimed two additional birdies on the back nine which would eventually lead to his exciting victory.

Even though it was a late round of golf I managed to stay awake because of the thrilling victory claimed by Howell.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images.

Where Do You Put Your Ball Marker?

November 2005

What kind of ball marker do you use?

I personally like my gold Sackegeweya dollar but I will also use one of those new, shiny quarters floating around. There are so many people who swear by a coin which they found on the floor that eventually won them a tournament or an heirloom which was special to someone they once knew. Some people don't even know what markers they use to hold the spot for their golf ball. They take whatever they find out of their golf bag, right down to the tee they used at address.

While watching the HSBC Championship in Shanghai, China last night I heard that Colin Montogmery places his ball marker in his back pocket when he is done marking his golf ball. That got me to thinking that I, too, place my ball marker conveniently in my back left pocket.

I do this for convenience. My glove is on my right hand (I'm a left-handed golfer) so it's easier for me to reach into my back pocket to grab my marker.

Some people put their ball marker in their front pocket. I personally don't like doing that as the pants I'm wearing usually have this slightly tighter, uncomfortable band across the top of the pocket which rubs against my hand. Sometimes my ball marker drops back out of my hand and back into my pocket.

My husband regularly places his marker in his front pocket.

So where do you place your ball marker when you're done using it? Bet you never thought about it before!

Photo Credit: © Unknown.

our first podcast

Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-06-05

November 2005

Check out our latest Golf for Beginners podcast from November 6th. We talk about the terrific Annika Sorenstam and give some great golf tips!



Email us with your questions and comments at golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Golf for Beginners Podcast 10-30-05

November 2005

Check out our second golf for beginners podcast from October 30th. Our audio syndication this week talks about consistency and staying even-tempered.

Golf for Beginners Podcast 10-25-05

November 2005

Venturing into the unknown both Barry and I hope to deliver a podcast with a punch.

Although podcasting isn't as difficult as I thought there are still alot of small pieces that fit into the puzzle. I have become not only a writer but also a producer. Even though my creative juices are flowing I also have to write certain codes that make the program run.

But I'm on the right track. We just published our first podcast in iTunes. That means that not only did the html and xml validate but I figured out how to use Garageband!

Here's a direct link to our first Golf for Beginners podcast

Sometimes I get writer's block. Barry says that's how I know I'm a writer. I say I get a block when there are too many irons in the fire and I can't just concentrate on one item at a time. But that's the world we live in. Everything has to be done today...and with a sense of urgency.

Our weekly golf podcast is only one iron fueling an ever-growing fire. I started writing golf-for-beginners just under a year ago and it's growing in leaps and bounds. I write twice weekly for the Sand Trap which, although my editor says it shoudn't take longer than forty-five minutes to write an LPGA article, I find I finish in just about two hours. There just aren't enough hours in a day!

Looking on the bright side I get to do something which makes me happy. Writing allows me to express myself. And, if you know me, I like to talk...alot! So this new golf podcast should be exciting as it matures.

I hope to make the format of our new podcast a bit different from the visuals of this website. Barry and I like to play golf whenever possible so I hope to sprinkle tips that I found interesting during my round in my audio like "What did I think was my best shot of the day and why?" or figure out where and when my golf game took a nosedive. Either way it's going to be broadcast live, editing out the occasional "er" or "um" that happens in any live event.

Since the PGA, European, LPGA and Champions tours all interest me I think we'll also say what's on our minds about the professional side of golf. It's always fun to comment about the up-and-coming stars on tour as well as the ones who have been around since I started watching as a kid (you can never say too much about legends Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer).

There will be other surprises as our audio broadcast grows so I hope you'll go along with us for the ride of our lives. It should be a blast!

Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart

November 2005
I really didn't need a new push cart. I have an old pull cart from several years ago when I decided I didn't like carrying my bag anymore. The bag just got cumbersome every time I put it on my back then removed it. UGH!

I was fortunate enough to review the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Three-Wheel Push Cart. I was given the new push cart to test as part of my writing duty for The Sand Trap but they have removed my name from their website, replacing it with "Guest Author" because I have moved on to bigger and better blogging at Worldgolf.com so I have placed it back here on my site, where I can give myself the credit that has been denied to me by Erik Barzeski.

Here it is:

The Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart is both lightweight and as simple to fold as its name implies. But how did it stack up on the golf course?

As Tiger Woods separates himself from the field at the British Open, I pay tribute to something they call a "trolley" across the pond. Though we call them "pull carts" or "push carts" here in the States, trolleys are a staple in the home of golf - a way to relieve players of the burden of carrying clubs without the necessity of a caddie.

Out With the Old
I've been lugging around my old two-wheel pull cart on the golf course for several years. It's old but reliable. Every round, it seems to get heavier and harder to drag. Casting my old cart aside, I felt it was time to enter the 21st century and try the latest in trolleys. My old cart was a pull cart. My new one? I push it like a baby stroller.

What better product to try than a push cart created by an innovative company like Bag Boy? With excitement, I opened the box to my new EZ Fold 12 Push Cart. I'm not particularly handy and leave all areas of assembly to my husband, but I heard that the EZ Fold was simple to put together. I told Barry to leave it to me.

Directions really weren't necessary. Inside the box I found a one-piece frame "constructed utilizing high modulus ultra lightweight aluminum tubing along with a reinforced center section for enhanced durability" and "quick release bicycle-style 12-inch wheels with sealed ball bearings." Long story short: I was up and rolling within five minutes.

My EZ Fold 12 Cart is silver, but fashion conscious golfers can choose between red, navy, or black to coordinate with your own style (or your golf bag). Bag Boy offers a padded cart seat (which fits all Bag Boys made after 1999). It attaches to one wheel (or the other) and offers a place to sit. I think I'll purchase one for those five-hour rounds on the public links (image below).

It was also a kick pulling on the carry handle that says "fold" for the really unaware which quickly squeezes the cart in half and eliminates bending down to grasp the front wheel when folding. Bag Boy picked up this nifty one-hand folding system patent from the Baby Jogger Company, the same company that revolutionized the stroller industry. Just in case you want to see the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 in action you can catch a video created at the Bag Boy website.

With my old two-wheeler I can leave my bag on the cart, tilt down the small adjustable handle and place the whole set of clubs and cart in the trunk of my Benz along with my husband's set of golf clubs. The larger, ergonomically designed one-piece handle of the EZ Fold 12 is more comfortable for my wrists to rest upon but you cannot adjust the grip nor tilt the one-piece assembly for more comfort. You can remove the bag from the push cart and easily fold it but that's just one more step when you're looking to make a hasty departure after your round.

Take it Apart, Put it Together
The new EZ Fold needed to be disassembled and placed separately in my trunk. The two rear wheels release with difficult-to-push metal spring releases. I literally had to balance the cart on my legs and press with both hands on the release to get it to bend. Then you have to put the cart in awkward positions in order to remove each wheel. I found the difficulty in collapsing the cart disappointing, but the real test would be pushing my clubs around the golf course.

I took my new Bag Boy out to a local, hilly golf course to put it through its paces. The wheels popped on more easily than they came off and my large Burton cart bag found a comfortable position in the adjustable brackets. The deluxe scorecard holder was handy and easy to access. The pencil holder actually held the pencil in place and was located conveniently above the scorecard.

The plastic storage compartment was useful enough to store my Nutrigrain snack bars, though it was a little small, flat, and difficult to open using the small finger grip. The built-in beverage holder was large enough to carry a midsized (20oz) blue Gatorade. An optional insulated 12-pack cooler bag features an adjustable handle, tee holder pouch, and accessory pocket and is a great conversation piece to carry along when playing with a foursome.

Throughout the round I wheeled the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 everywhere (believe me, my golf game gave me plenty of opportunity to visit all kinds of places). When I gave the Bag Boy a little push, it rolled all by itself. Once, when I pushed it downhill, it curved to the right and eventually toppled over, spewing my golf clubs along the fairway - not good! However, I must admit that it was simpler to push the EZ Fold up a hill than to pull my old two-wheeler behind me and I was less winded to boot!

I finished my round and removed the bag from the push cart. With an influx of Canadian geese occupying my golf course every year, removing the wheels became a dirty event. I couldn't clean the wheels enough before touching them and found this to be really disgusting. At least with my old pull cart I could clean the wheels just enough before placing the entire structure onto a towel and into my trunk.

My husband gave the EZ Fold its next test. Barry loves to walk but has been sitting in an electric cart recently because of an injured knee. Wanting to walk the course with his usual foursome, Barry asked if I could loan him the Bag Boy. I eagerly agreed asking him to give me his opinion for this review. One of his golf buddies recently purchased the 2005 Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1, which would serve as a nice comparison.

Barry found the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 easy to open and not too difficult to insert the wheels. Pushing the Bag Boy was considerably easier than carrying as he usually does and at times he said he felt like he had a personal caddy!

However the EZ Fold 12 had some drawbacks. As his friend let the Sun Mountain travel freely down a hill to a safe landing the Bag Boy, having a narrower wheel base, fell over very easily. Sun Mountain also has an adjustable height handle which accomodates people of different heights. The Sun Mountain V1 also has a more convenient cable-driven brake lever near the top of the handle versus the foot brake in the middle of the axle of the Bag Boy. The Sun Mountain is lighter, easier to push, and most importantly, folds to a convenient size with all wheels attached so that you don't have to completely clean the wheels before storing the cart in your trunk. In addition the tires on the EZ Fold 12 are hard rubber versus the air-inflatable tires of the Sun Mountain which gave the Sun Mountain a softer feel.

Conclusion
After listening to Barry's comparison and trying the Bag Boy for myself, dollar for dollar, the better value goes to Sun Mountain over Bag Boy. Club Glove has also improved their own line of push carts introducing the Kaddy Stroller in response to the EZ Fold 12. The Kaddy Stroller has options similar to Sun Mountain including both hand and foot brakes, a quick-release system and a lightweight frame understanding the importance of these items to their customers. Although Bag Boy has several other designs in both pull and push carts the EZ Fold 12 is their top-of-the-line cart. Perhaps with a little more innovation and creativity, Bag Boy will create a formidable option in response to these upgraded models introduced by their competitors.


As you can see from my review, I tried to be very thorough. Some people made fun of me because I went into alot of detail, but I thought that's what a review should do! Give adequate detail for both the layman and the experienced user.

I will go over the basics here and I hope, if you're interested in purchasing one of these carts that you'll do your homework first. I'm glad I got this Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart for free. I understand that they run about $200 in the stores and I don't think I would have been too happy paying that and not getting some of the features that are on other makes such as the new Sun Mountain that my husband tested as part of my review.

I will let you know that, in using the cart I noticed several things that you should be aware of.

One thing is for sure...if you don't disassemble this particular pull cart, you will use all of the space in your car between your golf bag and your pull cart. The wheels get pretty dirty after a round and for women, that's the kiss of death!

Also, the foot brake gets cumbersome after awhile. I really wish the EZ Fold 12 had a hand brake like some of the other models. Or maybe, if this particular footbrake was easier to use, it might have changed my mind about that particular function.

Also, allowing the cart to freewheel down the fairway is difficult for the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12 Push Cart. Barry told me that the Sun Mountain tracks straight and true and that the wheels are further apart creating a wider wheel base thus steadying the cart. If the EZ Fold 12 gets going and hits a bump, your clubs will be all over the fairway (as mine were).

I also read a brief review for the Kaddy Stroller by Club Glove which has similar features to the Sun Mountain V1 Speed Carticon which Barry got to try out thanks to one of his golf buddies.

In conclusion, before you go out and decide to spend about $200 of your hard-earned cash, compare several of these carts for yourselves. Make sure they have hand brakes (and foot brakes combined) if that's what you want, a wide wheel base , a quick-release system, good solid bicycle tires and a lightweight frame.

Back to Blogging About Golf

November 2005

I know it has been quite some time since I have written a golf blog at this site. Somehow I thought that I could accomplish more if I had my own web address. I have owned the name Golf for Beginners with the hopes of somehow turning it into some magnificent website complete with all of the bells and whistles.

Little did I realize that there are so many other great bloggers out there in blog heaven that I would be terribly overshadowed by them. Still I continue my quest to blog. And I will also continue to write about my favorite subject golf but I don't really know where this is all taking me.

I do know one thing. I really love the sport. I take it seriously. Probably a bit too seriously for the people who I meet at the publinks. Suffice it to say that my interest in the sport totally eclipses most women's ongoing interest on the public courses. But that is what makes me special.

I intend to take my bloggings with me if I can and post most of my earlier golf bloggings here. That will take some time. But since winter is fast approaching I have plenty of time to update this site and at the very least keep my older blogs (going back one year!).

My current venture is learning how to podcast. Rudimentary knowledge of podcasting has allowed me to place three distinct podcasts on itunes. The feed can be found at: Feedburner.com. I doubt that this address will change but since I am currently in a state of flux, who knows?

We shall see what new beginnings are in store for me in 2006.

Another Golf Blog Another Day of Golf History

November 2005
I never thought that Barry and I would have so much fun producing podcasts. Not only do I get to spend more time with my husband but we get to talk about one of our common favorite subjects!

We also decided that it was easier for our readers to contact us at our new email address.
Email us at: golfforbeginners@aol.com

I guess that address is just easier for folks to remember. And we intend to feature letters on air (of course we would like these letters to talk about golf...) so please feel free to write to us and ask questions. No matter how "newbie"-ish you think you're being just remember that you're not alone! And we intend to expand over time to feature advice, technology and news. We're just getting our "sea-legs" and that takes time for beginners like us!

You can download our latest audio show by clicking here.

I was really ecstatic about Annika Sorenstam's win this weekend at the Mizuno Classic. Sorenstam's fifth consecutive win overshadows the four wins achieved by Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen, all terrific golfers in their own right. But now Annika is in a class all by herself and I'm very proud that a woman made an achievement as accomplished as this one in an "all boys club".
And what about the exciting wire-to-wire win this weekend (ho-hum) by relative unknown Bart Bryant at the Tour Championship? Unfortunately Tiger Woods wasn't able to get any closer than six shots and was left in the dust by the jouneyman! The $ 1.17 million dollar first prize is more than Bryant earned in his 18 years on both the PGA and Nationwide tours.

A flabbergasted Bart Bryant stated, I'm thrilled beyond description. To have struggled for as long as I did and all of a sudden in the last 15 months to win three events, even if I hadn't won this weekend this would all be worth it!"

In other news I just wanted to congratulate the great Tom Watson in his season-ending victory at the Charles Schwab Cup. The $1 million annuity was well worth the effort. Tom Watson is one of my favorite golfers. His short game is legendary and I really like the way he keeps his cool in spite of adversity. I wish I could play a round with Mr. Watson. I think I could learn alot from him.
In writing about the Champions Tour I also would like to say that I am a fan. I try to watch as much golf as I can on weekends and invariably catch the final round as I flip channels. If I get up early enough I might even watch a bit of the European Tour. I guess if you're a golf fanatic you can never get too much golf. If it's not on TV then I have to get to the driving range and if I'm not on the range I try to get in a back nine somewhere. In other words, I'm HOOKED ON GOLF!

It should be a nice week so everyone should make the most of it. It's going to get colder soon and then you're going to WISH you were out on a course firing at pins!
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