rickumali's GolfBuzz Blog

He's Back

rickumali — 01/27/2008 22:31:23

Tiger Woods won his first PGA tournament of the 2008 season. Some article I read today said that there are some young players saying they want to take Tiger down. In my head is the image of a tiger in the jungle, stretching its mouth for a very large yawn, its sharp teeth snapping when his mouth closes. Looking around with those squinted eyes, I imagine this magnificent animal saying “show me.”

Like Father Like Daughter

rickumali — 06/26/2007 22:03:52

I took my daughter to the driving range (Stone Meadow, Lexington, MA) for the first time since she was born. She is six years old, which may seem late, but I have always been worried about her getting hit, or her hitting a patron with an errant swing.

She was excited about being at the golf course/driving range. So new. Outdoors. The sounds. All the people. I first took her to the putting green, and I thought that our afternoon would start and end there. However, she kept looking over at all the golfers taking full swings on the range. “I want to hit the ball in the air, Daddy!”

So there we were on a mat, with a small bucket, and a borrowed “children’s driver” (with a cute Snoopy on the club head). Eagerly, Mia set the ball on the plastic tee, and took a mighty swing. She plonked the ball a few feet ahead of her. I smiled, and let her swing away. I took a few full swings with my pitching wedge, so she could see her Dad get a ball into the air. And sure enough, after a dozen balls, she established better contact, and her shots began to reach farther. Some even went up in the air.

The crowning moment: After we had finished all the balls in our bucket, I announced it was time to go, but she asked if we could get another bucket. Smiling, I said “Sure…let’s hit some more.”

Tommy Two Gloves

rickumali — 05/22/2007 23:23:40

Congratulations to Tommy Gainey, known on The Golf Channel’s Big Break VII television show as “Two Gloves” (because, you guessed it, he wears two golf gloves). Tommy won Big Break VII in a nine-hole match over Ashley Gomes. I was rooting for Tommy in this match. He represents for me one of the best reality show “golfers” (although you can’t forget Bart Lower of Big Break II), and I wish him a bunch of success in his golf career (he already did decent at the Nationwide’s BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs.

Hello Tiger 2007

rickumali — 01/31/2007 20:16:08

Tiger Woods returned to form last week, winning his debut tournament of 2007, the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, San Diego, CA. Where will he play next on the PGA Tour (to extend his streak)? Will he win any majors this year? Will having a child change his perspective on golf? 2007 promises to be yet another interesting year in the Tiger era.

Goodbye November

rickumali — 11/30/2006 22:54:40

Can’t believe it’s time to leave November behind. The weather in New England has been very warm the past few days. Very much unusual golfing weather for this time of year. But alas, tomorrow is December 1, and the weekend forecast is rainy, with cold on the way.

Great Lady Golfer

rickumali — 10/13/2006 22:37:18

If you visit MasterCard’s Priceless website, you can watch one of my favorite commercials, which apparently has the title “Great Lady Golfer”.

The commercial begins with a woman playing golf. She’s in the sand trap, and she’s clearly an amateur. She takes a swing, and is amazed, along with her three male playing parters, when the ball drops in.

Fast cuts now: she rushes into the golf shop, buying up some cool golf clothes. Now she is taking swings at the driving range, watching other people. Now she is with a golf instructor, drinking every bit of the wisdom. Now she’s playing on her own, and after sinking what was probably a long putt for birdie, she’s whooping up a celebration, complete with Tiger-esque fist pumps.

Fast forward all the way to the future. She’s at the tee, with the same three playing partners from the beginning of the commercial. And she has hit a monster drive, the kind that announces itself with its confident sound. She admires her ball in flight, and so do her partners.

The tag line is that the MasterCard is the card that doesn’t hold you back. But look carefully. If you’ve got the enthusiasm, and you match it with effort, and yes (OK), you back it up with some credit, you can transform yourself. And that’s pretty cool.

The US Folds

rickumali — 10/10/2006 14:28:03

Sigh. The US lost the Ryder Cup. 8 1/2-9 1/2. We lost by the same score in the previous Cup, and we haven’t won this event since 1999.
I know I predicted a US victory. I guess I’ll reserve that for the next Ryder Cup.

Prediction

rickumali — 09/17/2006 22:06:25

I predict a U.S. victory over Europe in this week’s Ryder Cup. Let’s go, U.S.!

Old Musings

rickumali — 09/12/2006 10:28:09

My old musings about golf can be found at http://www.theworld.com/~rgu/golf/.

Thanks for finding me here!