Simon Dyson was the winner at the Dunhill Links Championship, but Manuel de los Santos may have made the biggest impression at the pro-am event, which was played on St. Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. De los Santos, 25, is a former baseball player who lost a leg in a car accident and picked up golf in 2004, after moving from his native Dominican Republic to France. He plays to a 3-handicap without the aid of a prosthesis.
posted by netbros on Oct 12, 2009 - 4 comments

Edwin "Bud" Shrake - journalist, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter - died early Friday in Austin. [more inside]
posted by Ranucci on May 10, 2009 - 12 comments

A detailed history of miniature golf, from it's genesis in the Ladies' Putting Club of St. Andrew's to the creative and extravagant future.
posted by Navelgazer on Feb 17, 2009 - 43 comments

Golf course architecture goes back more than 100 years. Golf courses can be incredibly beautiful, very tough, or extreme. Which are the best golf courses? Of course, the golf course critics over at Golf Club Atlas might not agree. [more inside]
posted by Foci for Analysis on Jan 25, 2009 - 32 comments

English, Motherduffers—do you speak it?
posted by emelenjr on Aug 27, 2008 - 34 comments

Bush interview with Politico: "For the first time, Bush revealed a personal way in which he has tried to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers and their families: He has given up golf."
posted by CunningLinguist on May 13, 2008 - 121 comments

Are golf courses bad or good for the environment? Chances are the answer you give depends on whether you are actively involved with the game. Representing anti-golf we have the Organic Consumers Association, the Journal of Pesticide Reform (pdf), and the Global Anti-Golf Movement. Speaking on behalf of golf course management the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (pdf) and the United States Golf Association. A group of leading golf and environmental organizations have jointly developed Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States.
posted by netbros on Apr 24, 2008 - 38 comments

Disc golf- like it's ball-and-club cousin- challenges the player to navigate the obstacles of a pre-designed course from tee to basket, with progress being marked by the distance of your throw. It's my favorite way to enjoy the outdoors- and most courses are free to play! The sport is easy and fun to get into, yet provides an exhilarating challenge to players of all skill levels. You can play to relax, socialize, or win, depending on your style. What is disc golf, and where did it come from? With over 1000 courses in the US alone, you should have no problems finding a course in your area. Pick out some discs, grab a few friends, and go get throwing! Here are some tips for new players. [more inside]
posted by baphomet on Apr 3, 2008 - 53 comments

World Golf Tour in cojunction with Taylormade have released a beta version of photorealistic flash competitive golf simulator As of now, nothing but a closest to the pin challenge is available, but they promise full playable courses are coming soon. It promises to be World of Warcraft, but for chubby middle aged men, enabling play with friends in real time. Avid golfers may never be productive again. Fortune Magazine checks it out.
posted by Keith Talent on Jan 21, 2008 - 12 comments

The hucksters behind the QLink Pendant claim that it "utilises Sympathetic Resonance Technology to rebalance the energetic systems of the body". Apparently, some scientists and engineers think £69.99 is a fair price for a necklace consisting of a copper coil and a zero-ohm resistor [neither of which are actually connected to anything]. The inventor claims that the QLink does not use electronics components “in a conventional electronic way” yet it "increases your capacity to function in EMF saturated environments."I guess golfers will buy anything that promises an improved score. It's the perfect accessory for my new Faraday suit.
posted by chuckdarwin on Aug 11, 2007 - 41 comments

The Philosophy Podcast seems to be a podcast where great philosophical works are read aloud. Unfortunately you need to pay for the full works, but the bits are fun. For something a little more contemporary, check out Philosophy Talk, hosted by Ken Taylor and one of the funniest contemporary analytic philosophers: John Perry. In particular, check out Perry's light essays in which the power of procrastination can be harnessed (and apparently now put on t-shirts), an ideal desk is a giant lazy susan, and connections are drawn between golf and suffering.
posted by ontic on Feb 27, 2007 - 8 comments

He stands a mere 5'1" but can drive a golf ball over 330 yards, and this past weekend he became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut and play on a PGA Tour event. The golf media is ready to embrace Tadd Fujikawa as its Next Big(!) Thing. Of course, it was quickly noted that the amateur Tadd outplayed, upstaged, and overshadowed another young Hawaii-bred golfer who did not make the cut at the Sony Open: the 17 year-old Michelle Wie, who turned pro at age 16 and is raking in an estimated $10 million in endorsements from Nike and Sony (but maybe we shouldn't break out the Hater-ade over that...). Michelle is widely known for drawing huge crowds while unapologetically ruffling feathers as she attempts to play in various men's tournaments. Her critics note that she hasn't won against the Ladies yet, let alone the men, and is no longer deserving of the hype. Thus the parade of talented and ambitious youth continues to plunge into the waiting, toothy embrace of marketing execs worldwide, shouldering the dreams of their parents and weathering the barrage of the critics' cynical ink...
posted by krippledkonscious on Jan 17, 2007 - 16 comments

Juice "Test Videos"
posted by hama7 on Dec 5, 2006 - 48 comments

Audi released its new super-sportscar, the R8, at the Paris Autoshow today. With cars like the R8 and the Bugatti Veyron at the top end and the Toyota, Volkswagen or Lexus, there's lots of neat stuff going on in the automotive world...just not from GM, Ford or Chrysler. Maybe it's just me, but pumping out crap like this may be part of the reason. Just guessing.
posted by tgrundke on Sep 27, 2006 - 63 comments

The web moves in wonderful ways. Case in point, must see mashups WeatherBonk.com and SkiBonk.com . If you are ski freak or weather geek, you will really find these pages useful. There's even a golfbonk in beta, if you are into it!
posted by BrodieShadeTree on Aug 2, 2006 - 5 comments

Extra! Tabloid photographs from the Los Angeles Herald Express (1936-1961), showing celebrities, fashion, tragedy, (early) CHiPs, and babes with guns. Via the Virtual Gallery at the LA Public Library, which has many other fine exhibits, such as California in the 20s, the 1932 Olympics, celebrity golf, and a wonderful collection from the golden age of travel posters.
posted by Gamblor on Jul 28, 2006 - 15 comments

How the hell did Fuzzy sink this hole-in-one?! It hangs for looooong seconds in the rough, then accelerates directly to the hole. I swear, there were magnets involved! Quite possibly the most amazing hole-in-one ever.
posted by five fresh fish on Jun 4, 2006 - 54 comments

Though not the first time golf has been played in space, Russian cosmonauts are still planning to go ahead with the world's longest drive (3-4 years in orbit) from the International Space Station, as sponsored by the golf company Element 21 [link is to a rather neat CGI video of the shot, in wmv format. Coral Cache version.] The only problem -- it might hit the space station with the force of a 6.5 ton truck moving at 60 mph, though others are more worried about what the stunt means for the space program.
posted by blahblahblah on May 24, 2006 - 15 comments

A little high stakes golf, anyone? It's no surprise that people play golf for high stakes, but it does make for an entertaining read.
posted by mosk on Mar 4, 2006 - 13 comments

There's an excellent two part dialog between Bill Simmons and Malcolm Gladwell on ESPN's Page 2 this week. The two cover a wide variety of topics such as writing, how a kid with no TV from the middle of nowhere in Canada can be a sports fan, the NFL, the economics of sports, and everyone's favorite NBA GM Isiah Thomas.
posted by togdon on Mar 3, 2006 - 13 comments

Should the LPGA control photos taken at its events to this extent? It seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot. Don't they want to be featured in the press? Are they infringing on the photographer's "rights"? More info here.
posted by tcobretti on Feb 23, 2006 - 27 comments

We will act deliberately and decisively, and the cause of freedom will prevail. Now, watch this drive.
posted by 3.2.3 on Nov 8, 2005 - 35 comments

Named after the hill on which Jesus was crucified, Golgotha Fun Park, once the country's #1 shaded biblical mini-golf destination, is now but a memory. Fortunately, there are still other options.
posted by Armitage Shanks on Oct 27, 2005 - 14 comments

Par 5 site on the science of golf balls. Service on the newly sized tennis ball. Return on the flight of tennis balls: Part 1; Rally with Part 2. Back and forth again with Ball/Court Interaction 1 and 2, and the aerodynamics of tennis ball coverings puts it away for the point. (And apparently, the weight inside a bowling ball isn't spherical and so modeling the movement of bowling balls takes university papers and presentations.[PDF])
posted by OmieWise on Jun 15, 2005 - 7 comments

Urban Golf. I normally get bored quickly with golf games, but the urban twist makes this shockwave game pretty entertaining. (Just ignore the Jaguar logo and the occasional product placement.)
posted by brain_drain on Jun 7, 2005 - 15 comments

If it didn't happen on national television [wmv] (mirror [wmv]) you would have thought it was faked like that LeBron ad.

Well if Wieden+Kennedy isn't already working on it, they surely will be shortly. "... they have a Nike-sponsored golfer wearing a Nike shirt, a Nike hat, Nike golf shoes, using Nike clubs, held in hands covered by Nike gloves, hitting a Nike prototype golf ball that was chipped onto the green, rolled, turned, rolled some more, then teetered on the edge of the cup with that Nike "Swoosh" turning and facing the television cameras for a full 1.5 seconds."
posted by pwb503 on Apr 12, 2005 - 59 comments

Pandaf Golf. Friday Flash Fun. Warning: goes on forever. I think.
posted by DrJohnEvans on Feb 25, 2005 - 45 comments

Shotgun Golf. Hunter S. Thompson has an idea for Bill Murray. I'm not sure it would check out with the NRA's Gun Safety Rules, though. Other people have been creative when it comes to shooting things with shotguns. The combination of shotguns and golf has even been done before, although in a very different way. Fire at will!
posted by PhatLobley on Feb 16, 2005 - 16 comments

Tiger Woods in Dubai shagging drivers off the top of the Burj Al-Arab.
posted by jonson on Jan 20, 2005 - 26 comments

Thanks to Andre Tolme, now you will know that the capital of Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar, and that a par of 11,880 is possible. (Bonus golf link: Tundra Golf!)
posted by of strange foe on Jul 30, 2004 - 8 comments

Ever hear of Fred Funk, Tom Lehman, or Jim Furyk? All three are currently tied with a certain female golfer who posted a +1 score today. The question is this: should female golfers be allowed to qualify and participate in the PGA? I mean, they already have their own league. Actually, the same argument was used back in 1947.
posted by graventy on May 22, 2003 - 44 comments

The group's intent "is to support the right of Augusta National to choose their members regardless of race, religion, sex or creed," Powell said.

The group in question is the Ku Klux Klan. Silly.
posted by donkeyschlong on Feb 28, 2003 - 19 comments

augustadiscriminates.org is the website of choice for Martha Burk and the NCWO's "Hall of Hipocrisy", where they name the CEOs of companies who are members of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters golf tournament. Burk has protested that Augusta should be banned from holding the Masters because they have not let women into their membership. So far, the Masters will have no corporate sponsorship in its broadcast on CBS. A few execs and pols have exited the ranks of members. Will more happen in the coming months to open the doors to women? On a side note, you can check out theburkstopshere.com where you'll find a collection of links to websites protesting Martha Burk.
posted by djspicerack on Dec 18, 2002 - 39 comments

Women's group asks CBS to drop The Masters golf tournament With all the issues facing women today in America, I have a hard time believing that getting a female member into the Augusta National Golf Club will help the cause of women's rights. It now appears that the National Council of Women's Organizations are also going after the employers of club members. Have they never heard of the old saying: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Wouldn't fighting for equal pay in the workplace for women do more for the average female than getting female members into Augusta National Country Club?
posted by jasonbondshow on Aug 31, 2002 - 61 comments

Augusta National defends its membership polcies in the face of opposition from the National Council of Women's Organizations. Augusta is the annual host of the Masters and does not count any women among its 300 members. Does the NCWO have any business telling a private organization how it should structure its membership?
posted by dayvin on Jul 10, 2002 - 22 comments

Good news! It's ok to "steal" golf balls again.
posted by kingmissile on May 21, 2002 - 12 comments

Lesson 37.5 para. ii - Comedy Camera Angles.
This image demonstrates how when taken from the correct angle, photographs of perfectly innocent behaviour could be deemed as... well.... different. More?
posted by Spoon on Apr 24, 2002 - 9 comments

you've got par! in my part of the world (Belgium, six points...) it's friday which can only mean one thing... Friday wear and virtual mini golf... As always, hole 18 is the most difficult.
posted by Baud on Apr 19, 2002 - 32 comments

Something tells the The Masters isn't off to a very good start.
posted by emptybowl on Apr 11, 2002 - 37 comments

Golf course: men only PGA golfer Fred Couples is helping build a golf course open only to men. Is this any different from a womens-only gym, or more sinister?
posted by owillis on Aug 25, 2001 - 35 comments

You have a better chance being struck by lightning. Or do you? Well it may depend on who you are, where you are, and whether or not you play golf.
posted by ZachsMind on Jun 26, 2001 - 49 comments

Another fun way to waste time on the web. Electrotank.com went live today. Their minigolf game had been available in beta form for a week or two, but the last 9 were disabled. Now they're all there except for #18, and the dreaded hole 8 has been moved to 17. There are other games too, and a "vision" statement, the first item of which is that they will "Provide a place where people can go to play free high quality online games. " Sounds good to me! Flash plug-in required...
posted by BGM on Jun 14, 2001 - 11 comments

Supreme Court gives golfer Casey Martin the keys to the cart. Can a private organization be forced to allow something it says is against the spirit of the rules of it's competitions? Will we see Casey play anytime soon? Who else will benefit from this ruling in golf and other sports?
posted by msacheson on May 29, 2001 - 65 comments

200 years to life for fraud? Crime should be punished, but this seems somewhat harsh when there's murderers, rapists, etc. on the loose
posted by owillis on Apr 28, 2001 - 19 comments

Historic as the moon landing? No man or woman in history has ever held all golf's major championship titles concurrently. Is Tiger Woods' sweep of the Grand Slam an achievement of epic proportion, or just a blip on the radar of personal success?
posted by netbros on Apr 8, 2001 - 43 comments

CBS to cease broadcasting canned bird songs during golf tournaments -- CBS has an interesting track record these days for "enhanced reality". Remember back when they were inserting their logo into live video from a Dan Rather special, making fake CBS billboards in Times Square without disclosing they were fake? Are they still doing that on "The Early Show"? I haven't seen it in a while.
posted by kokogiak on Sep 22, 2000 - 1 comment

TigerWoodsIsGod.Com. A site "dedicated to examining the possibility that God is walking the earth as a 21st century, multi-ethnic, superstar golfer and whether that is any more or less likely than God coming in the form of a first-century, Jewish carpenter."
posted by rcade on Jul 23, 2000 - 7 comments

Big Business vs. the little guy. After you read the story, go check out the Website of the pig farmer. The only question I have is: Can they find a Judge who doesn't golf?
posted by da5id on May 19, 2000 - 4 comments

Mini-Golf Review tells us where to find the best windminds and clowns' heads on the East Coast. Also kinda neat is the British Minigolf Association.
posted by tdecius on Oct 9, 1999 - 0 comments