Girls Golf Equipment – What Suits You Best

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Girls golf clubs are usually brighter in full weight, quicker in canal top, more flexible, with smaller grabs than men’s golf clubs.

Production Technologies

The technologies used in crafting the best golf clubs for women would be the identical to for men’s clubs this fact creates an even playing course for both genders. However, because of lady’s smaller bodily correlating and build lack of muscle strength (generally speaking, of course), girls golf equipment are brighter, hence playing to a slower swing speed. If they do, indeed, buy clubs designed for the females the most can be got by The females out of their clubs.

Girls Iron golf equipment are more flexible, i.e.they bend, and have a weightier clubhead than men’s. The larger and heavier clubhead, plus a more flexible base, are made to increase a woman’s slower swing speed even though the full team weight is lighter than men’s clubs. Women are literally strengthened with a stronger swing and hit with the above mixture. (Some men enjoy because more swing power.can be too reached by them using females Iron golf equipment

Women’s Woods

The typical females Wood clubs have a higher-angled attic and weigh less than men’s Woods. In addition, females Wood golf equipment come in a greater size range. Girls Woods go up as much as a 13-Wood this specific club can change a long Iron because of how easy it is to attack with.

Girls Golf Equipment – What Suits You Best

Cottonwood Golf Course, Nanaimo, British Columbia « Destinations By Donna Blog

While on our three day cruise out of Seattle, one of our stops was Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island.  instead of an excursion, we chose to play golf!  Calling about a week prior to our arrival to make a tee time that worked with the time our ship would be in port was a good idea as we were there on a weekend.  When we got off the ship, we called a taxi company (we used AC Taxi).  There were four of us (no clubs—decided to rent clubs) — the fare to the Cottonwood Golf Course was $34 plus tip.  we had a different driver on the way back to the ship, but both were very friendly and informative about the area. 

Cottonwood is a pretty, well kept course set amongst trees but not having necessarily narrow fairways.  The weather was beautiful (as coastal weather often is in late September).  we rented our clubs as well as drive carts.  yes, I lost a couple of balls in the trees or brush that seemed to come right to the edge of the fairway, but that was rare and not everyone in our party was losing balls, so perhaps I cannot really blame the course for that!  There were some hills that were quite steep so someone who needed a flat course in order to walk it might have had difficulty with that. 

Restrooms:  At the 3rd hole and at the turn after 9, you pass the clubhouse so that can be a stop.  we were able to get a “bunwich” (sandwich in a hamburger bun) at the turn.  it was good and a reasonable cost.  There are occasional portable toilets as well, though not many.  we brought our own shoes, tees, balls, gloves and hand towel.  on that Sunday fees were $60, club rental was $20, and drive cart rental was $16 per cart.  If you go and rent clubs, you might want to bring along a wire brush cleaning tool for the clubs and don’t forget your towel to wipe them down.  all in all, the cost of playing Cottonwood was no more than an excursion of a similar length.  Sharing the drive cart made our cost less than $100 per person.  we enjoyed ourselves immensely!

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Cottonwood Golf Course, Nanaimo, British Columbia « Destinations By Donna Blog

Wilson Staff Golf Irons » Calavros

Thanks to the people of Sandbox8 is a picture of the fifth generation of Di irons that made Wilson take much of the iron market. As the tagline of these irons: Wilson Staff began presenting its line of clubs for 2011, introducing several new products. among them are forged irons and wilson staff golf irons wedges FG62 FG Tour Forged also honoring the history of the company while at the same time contain the latest technology as DI11 irons which, according to Clarke says, are the bars that go further and best marksmanship that Wilson has created. Our sales are up in most markets this year. we are present in USA, Europe, Asia and Canada. Why? because we want to convey the best clubs for all players January 27, 2012 – the professional Mark Wilson, Ping staff, last week won the Human Challenge PGA Tour, and the big news for the club manufacturing company that is sponsoring that has been using the new irons and driver i20 family. this was only the second week in which Mark had i20 Ping clubs in his bag, which means that this new model have fitted perfectly into his game. You can use these HTML tags and attributes: Hey I was look to buy the Wilson Profile Anti-Slice Complete Golf Club Set for women but i don the Broadmoor the Broadmoor golf hotel is situated amidst 5, 000 acres, just next to the Cheyenne Mountain. Stick to the particular businesses whom provide regarding and provides extended warranties on their own netting. if you find shoes that give you the right support but are a bit expensive, buy them without any hesitation. But if you decide to smile no matter what, then you can brush off those missed opportunities and still look forward to new ones. Hill sprints will strengthen your trunk and core. it is in your best interest to follow the used clubs games ( both the wins and losses!) of your favorite touring pro and then use their golf club reviews to find the best clubs that may help you improve your game. Installing the lift kits on the golf cart is pretty globalgolf easy. Yet, a couple of months in, my dad decided to pick up a funny shaped stick and ball and see for himself what all the fuss was about. Hogan went on to say it wasn Wilson Club Sets comprised

Wilson Staff Golf Irons » Calavros

Tiger Woods’ agent criticizes book by former swing coach

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Tiger Woods’ agent lashed out Tuesday against Hank Haney’s book, saying his “armchair psychology” about Woods was “ridiculous” and that it was clear the former swing coach only cares about self-promotion.

Haney’s book about his six years as Woods’ coach is titled, “The Big Miss.” It is to go on sale March 27, a week before the Masters.

Golf Digest began releasing small excerpts Tuesday on its tablet applications and on its website. Haney’s book was written with help from Jaime Diaz, a senior writer at the magazine who has covered Woods more extensively than anyone over the years.

In one of the excerpts, Haney, a McKinney, Texas, golf guru, said his job became more difficult in 2007, when Woods had 12 majors and was getting closer to the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus.

“There was more urgency and less fun. … he never mentioned Nicklaus’ record, but it started to weigh more heavily at every major,” the excerpt said. “And Tiger’s actions indicated he believed he had less time to do it than everyone thought.”

Haney said the objective of revamping his swing was to preserve his left knee.

He also said Woods was seriously considering becoming a Navy SEAL. Woods’ father, Earl, was a green beret in the Army who did two tours during the Vietnam War.

“I didn’t know how he’d go about it, but when he talked about it, it was clear he had a plan,” Haney writes in the excerpt. “I thought, `Wow, here is Tiger Woods, greatest athlete on the planet, maybe the greatest athlete ever, right in the middle of his prime, basically ready to leave it all behind for a military life.’”

Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent at Excel Sports Management, said in a statement that excerpts show Haney’s claim of the book being about golf is “clearly false.”

“His armchair psychology about Tiger, on matters he admits they didn’t even discuss, is ridiculous,” Steinberg said. “Because of his father, it’s no secret that Tiger has always had high respect for the military, so for Haney to twist that admiration into something negative is disrespectful.”

Haney also mentions the time Woods spent four days of special operations training in 2004 at Fort Bragg, N.C.

“Tiger did two tandem parachute jumps, engaged in hand-to-hand combat exercises, went on four-mile runs wearing combat boots, and did drills in a wind tunnel,” Haney wrote. “Tiger loved it, but his physical therapist, Keith Kleven, went a little crazy worrying about the further damage Tiger might be doing to his left knee.”

Haney said he was in the kitchen when Woods returned from a long run wearing Army boots. he said Woods told him he’s worn the boots before on the same route and told Haney, “I beat my best time.”

Woods is playing the next two weeks in south Florida, at the Honda Classic and Cadillac Championship at Doral, as he prepares for the Masters. Woods has not won at Augusta National since 2005.

“The disruptive timing of this book shows that Haney’s self-promotion is more important to him than any other person or tournament,” Steinberg said. “What’s been written violates the trust between a coach and player and someone also once considered a friend.”

Tiger Woods’ agent criticizes book by former swing coach

Free Ryan Braun!

Ryan Braun is exonerated – NO suspension!

Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun became the first major-league player to have a positive drug test overturned when he was informed Thursday that an arbitration panel ruled in his favor on appeal and decided against a 50-game suspension for the reigning National League most valuable player.

There has been no official announcement of the verdict but the Journal Sentinel has confirmed that Braun won his appeal.

Someone familiar with the decision said the appeal went Braun’s way not so much on contesting the result of the test but the testing process itself, some kind of technicality. And it was arbitrator Shyam Das who decided to rule in favor on that technicality, making it a 2-1 decision by the three-man panel.

Now Bob Costas can get off of his high horse and issue Ryan braun an apology!

The Milwaukee Brewers fans can now thank the baseball player’s UNION for negotiating an appeals process!

Free Ryan Braun!

Twin wins boost Romney heading into Super Tuesday – Seattle Times

TOLEDO, Ohio —

A relieved-sounding Mitt Romney is hoping to parlay twin victories in Arizona and Michigan into Super Tuesday momentum as the GOP presidential race sweeps across 10 states at once next week. After falling short of an upset, rival Rick Santorum faces stiffer competition for conservative votes when the contest moves into Newt Gingrich territory.

Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker from Georgia, sat out Arizona and Michigan and is counting on Southern states voting Tuesday to revive his up-and-down campaign. Texas Rep. Ron Paul could also be a factor in Tuesday’s delegate count, especially in caucus states such as North Dakota.

Romney’s slim victory in his native Michigan – 41 percent to Santorum’s 38 percent – raised questions about whether a shift in strategy is needed. He acknowledged making mistakes and said he was trying to “do better and work harder.”

“we didn’t win by a lot, but we won by enough,” the former Massachusetts governor told cheering supporters in Michigan, where his father was governor in the 1960s.

Santorum boasted Wednesday that he was walking away with half of Michigan’s delegates after coming close to winning what originally looked to be a Romney stronghold.

“We’re feeling very good that we sustained ourselves and withstood the attacks, and we think we’re going to have a very, very good Super Tuesday,” Santorum said on Bill Bennett’s syndicated radio show.

The former Pennsylvania senator is focusing on three big prizes among the 10 Super Tuesday states: Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Washington state’s caucuses are first, on Saturday. Three days later comes Super Tuesday, with 419 delegates up for grabs. the contests also include Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Vermont and Virginia.

All four campaigns face financial strain: it would cost about $5 million to run a week’s worth of heavy ads across all the states that vote Tuesday.

Romney signaled that he intends to stick to his core campaign message of fixing the economy and reducing unemployment in a nation still recovering from the worst recession in decades. “more jobs, less debt and smaller government – you’re going to hear that” over and over in the states ahead, he said Tuesday night.

Despite the close race in Michigan, Romney powered to an easy victory in Arizona, and the combined effect is precious momentum over Santorum in the most turbulent Republican presidential race in a generation. Romney tweeted his delight: “I take great pride in my Michigan roots, and am humbled to have received so much support here these past few weeks.”

The Super Tuesday races could go a long way toward determining which Republican will take on Democratic President Barack Obama this fall.

Romney was campaigning Wednesday in Ohio before heading to North Dakota. Santorum planned events in Tennessee.

Gingrich was campaigning in Georgia, the state he represented in the House for 20 years. Contests there and in Tennessee give him an opportunity to breathe some life back into his bid. He won in South Carolina but struggled in Florida.

Romney’s Arizona triumph came in a race that was scarcely contested, and he pocketed the 29 Republican National Convention delegates at stake in the winner-take-all state. He won by 47 percent to Santorum’s 27 percent.

Michigan’s primary was as different as it could be – a hard-fought and expensive contest that Romney could ill afford to lose and Santorum made every effort to win.

In Michigan, 30 delegates were apportioned according to the popular vote. two were set aside for the winner of each of the state’s 14 congressional districts. the remaining two delegates were likely to be divided between the top finishers in the statewide vote.

With his victory in Arizona, Romney had 163 delegates, according to the associated Press count, compared with 83 for Santorum, 32 for Gingrich and 19 for Paul. it takes 1,144 to win the nomination at the convention in Tampa this summer.

The lengthening GOP struggle to pick a nominee has coincided with a rise in Obama’s prospects for a second term. a survey released Tuesday shows consumer confidence at the highest level in a year, and other polls show an increase in Americans saying they believe the country is on the right track.

Unopposed for the Democratic nomination, Obama timed a campaign-style appearance before United Auto Workers Union members in Washington, D.C., for the same day as the Michigan primary. Attacking Republicans, he said assertions that union members profited from a taxpayer-paid rescue of the auto industry in 2008 are a “load of you know what.”

All the Republicans running for the White House opposed the bailout, but in the auto state of Michigan a survey of voters leaving polling places showed about 4 in 10 supported it.

Michigan loomed as a key test for Romney as he struggled to reclaim his early standing as front-runner in the race. Santorum rolled into the state on the strength of surprising victories on Feb. 7 in caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and a nonbinding primary in Missouri.

Twin wins boost Romney heading into Super Tuesday – Seattle Times

Golf greats compete to design 2016 Olympic course

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is bidding to design the course on which the 2016 Olympics will be played in Rio. STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Gary Player among eight finalists to design Olympic course
• Rio Olympic organizers scheduled to award design contract Friday
• Golf returns for 2016 Games, was last played in 1904
• Competition will be for male and female competitors

(CNN) — Golf returns to Olympics in 2016 after a 112-year hiatus and some of the greatest names in the sport are battling to put their name to the new course on which the event is to be played.

18-time majors winner Jack Nicklaus, South Africa’s Gary Player and Australia’s Greg Norman are well past their playing primes but the three legends are among eight finalists in the running to design the 18-hole course on which the Olympic golf tournament will be played in Rio de Janeiro in four years time.

Gary Player Design, Greg Norman Golf course Design and Nicklaus Design join Hawtree ltd., Hanse Golf Design, Renaissance Golf, Robert Trent Jones II and Thomson-Perret Golf course Architects in the competition to design the course that will be built in the Barra da Tijuca area of Rio, the part of the city that will host the largest number of Olympic venues.

The winner was scheduled to be announced by Rio Games organizers Friday.

In soliciting bids for the course, Olympic organizers stipulated that it be available as a place for the public to play once the games end.

“After the Games, the course will be managed by a private operator with the chief purpose of promoting golf in Brazil and South America, representing one of the most important Games’ legacies for sport development in the country,” organizers said.

For a nation of more than 200 million, Brazil has about 100 golf courses, many of those only nine holes. In contrast, South Carolina has more than four times that many courses with a population that’s just 2% of Brazil’s.

We have one chance for golf as an Olympic sport to stay in the Olympics. … so we’ve got to put our best foot forward. We’ve got to get the best golf courseJack Nicklaus

Nicklaus said the Olympic course can build golf in Brazil and across much of the world.

“I think the Olympics is the greatest thing that could happen to golf on an international basis,” the American said in 2010, because it means governments will support the game by building courses that young people have access to, and some of those young people will turn to golf in search of glory.

“All the other parts of the world, if you look at the kids when they grow up, they don’t know about the Masters or the British Open or the PGA. they know about a gold medal. And the gold medal is the best you can get in a sport,” Nicklaus said.

“We have one chance for golf as an Olympic sport to stay in the Olympics. … so we’ve got to put our best foot forward. We’ve got to get the best golf course.”

In an interview with the Golf Channel, Norman emphasized the big responsibility taken on by whoever gets the Rio contract.

“Whoever gets the golf course design job, they have to be the spokesperson for golf in the Olympics, because golf is only in for 2016. it hasn’t been voted in for 2020.

“So whoever gets the job has to be beating the drum for the game of golf for the IOC for four years after that. they have to be a staunch proponent of the game of golf,” Norman said.

And Norman echoed Nicklaus on the accessibility of the course.

“It has to be a course built for the general public at the end of the day. it can’t be a private golf club,” Norman said.

On his website, Player said he sees the Olympic course as an opportunity to grow the game around the world.

“The Olympics will expose millions of people in non-traditional golf markets to the game, and that is great for the sport,” Player said. “This facility can, and should be, a catalyst for golf in Brazil long after the Olympic competition is complete.”

Whichever group wins the Olympic bid, Norman says, they won’t be doing it to make money. And that’s true. Organizers will pay $300,000 for the course design.

Golf was last an Olympic event at the 1904 games in St. Louis, with Canada’s George Lyon winning the gold medal. Golf was also played at the 1900 Games in Paris.

There was no women’s competition in golf in those games, but there will be in Rio.

When making a pitch to Olympic organizers to include golf for 2016, a younger LPGA star, Hawaii’s Michelle Wie, emphasized what it could mean to kids.

“For so many boys and girls around the world, their heroes have been Olympic athletes. until today, I never thought there was any chance that I could share in that dream,” Wie said.

Golf greats compete to design 2016 Olympic course

Poarch Creeks continue economic expansion

Poarch Creek Tribal Council Member Robert McGhee

ATMORE, Alabama — With the $240 million gamble on Wind Creek Casino paying off nicely, Poarch Creek Indians are set to spend $29 million on an entertainment development and a health and independent living center on their reservation, according to Tribal Treasurer Robert McGhee.

And that’s not nearly all.

Work continues on a travel center along Interstate 65 and a subdivision in northwest Florida for some of the 3,000 members of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The tribe announced plans in late January to partner with Innisfree Hotels to build a $24 million Hyatt place Hotel near the Pensacola Airport. it also announced a horse-racing track in Gretna, Fla., last year.

“We came up with a master plan a few years ago,” said McGhee, 42, who also works as the tribe’s governmental relations adviser. “The tribe has priorities, and we decided that those are a health facility with an assisted-living complex and an entertainment district.”

They were to meet last month with architects designing a movie theater with 4 to 8 screens and a bowling alley. “We are excited about that,” he said recently.

Waiting in the wings, McGhee said, are plans already developed to expand the casino, adding another hotel tower and golf course, and another long-discussed plan to build a school.

“The issue of the school has not been decided, but we are constantly looking at the idea,” he said. “It’s a huge investment, and we have to see if there will be enough children to make the program feasible.”

The tribe, which does not make its finances public, a few years ago invested heavily in the casino even as the economy tanked. Some lenders and tribal members were worried about the future of gaming, but money kept rolling in. the tribe said that it paid off its $165 million loan last year, just 2½ years after opening the casino.

“The tribe focused on paying down the debt,” McGhee said. “The gaming industry has exceeded our expectations, to say the least.”

Jim Searcy, executive director of Coastal Gateway Economic Development Alliance, called the tribe’s operations “an economic driver for our whole region.”

Just having the casino and hotel available when industrial prospects come to the area is a great asset, he said.

“It is impressive to have Wind Creek, and while it is not likely to be a deciding factor on locating here, it is great to have the metropolitan amenity rising from the cotton fields. Anytime we can get people to stop and put money in the local economy, we all benefit.”

A spokesman for Gov. Robert Bentley said last week that his office had no position on the tribe’s plans.

The tribe has unsuccessfully pursued agreements with the last several governors to allow full-scale casino gaming in the state. Now, federal law restricts the tribe to operating electronic bingo machines that are much like slot machines.

But it isn’t all gaming.

In at least 10 businesses or authorities, the tribe employs more than 2,100 people. by year’s end, McGhee said, the tribe will add dozens more jobs. he also said that 90 percent of those employed are not tribal members.

The tribe paid more than $280 million total in wages plus excise and sales taxes from 2008 through 2011, its leaders said. this year, McGhee said, it expects to pay $400 million more.

It operates gaming at 3 casinos in the state, dog tracks in Mobile and Pensacola, the Florida horse track, a convenience store, Muscogee Inn, Muscogee Technology, Magnolia Branch Wildlife Preserve, Premier Family Optical, Perdido River Farms, River Oaks Apartments in Montgomery and a couple of tobacco shops, among other businesses.

The tribe’s annual payroll will hit $42 million by the end of this year, McGhee said. it contributed some $6 million in 2011 to charitable organizations including $3 million paid to local schools.

Tribal members benefit from universal health care and each gets $40,000 to use for educational expenses. McGhee said 500 members are currently taking advantage of the scholarship money.

“My parents weren’t educated,” McGhee said, “but they always wanted me to have an education to fall back on.” McGhee earned degrees from the University of South Alabama, the University of Alabama and Washington University in St. Louis before working for 5 years in Washington, D.C., at the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and with the Indian Law Practice Group of Troutman Sanders LLP.

He turned down a teaching position at Harvard University to return to the tribe.

“I always knew I would come back,” McGhee said. “I needed to understand how federal policy impacts the tribe. And we have a lot of the younger generation taking leading roles now. we have five members of the tribal council under the age of 50. we have many council members with master’s degrees, and we have the benefit of the years of experience of council members. That’s part of our values system — valuing wisdom.”

McGhee said the tribe wants outsiders to know who they are, how they came from an isolated group of impoverished Creeks to federal recognition led by his great-grandfather Calvin McGhee.

“We have done our best to show people who we are,” McGhee said. “That is one of our biggest challenges, the lack of understanding about who Poarch Creek Indians are and why we are able to do what we do.” 

To view a photo gallery, click here.

Poarch Creeks continue economic expansion

Surfrider Foundation Honors 2011 Wavemakers

By Kelli Hargrove Wed, Feb 8 2012 10:36 am | 0 Comments

The Surfrider Foundation’s Board of Directors gathered Saturday at the Talega Golf Club in San Clemente in order to honor their 2011 Wavemakes. This annual awards ceremony is geared towards honoring individuals and companies for outstanding volunteer efforts helping the Foundation fulfill its mission of protecting oceans, waves and beaches.

Read on to check out the exceptional roster of Wavemakers:

San Clemente, CA (February 6, 2012) – the Surfrider Foundation congratulates the 2011 Wavemaker Award recipients:

Coastal Impact Award: Peter Douglas

In 2011, Peter Douglas announced his retirement from the California Coastal Commission after 34 years (26 of them as Executive Director). Peter helped to write the Coastal Act of 1976, the guiding document for management of California’s coasts, and has devoted his life to executing the ideals of that Act. He has served under both Democratic and Republican governors and has been responsible for creating one of the most powerful state land-use agencies in existence.  Peter’s retirement marks the lamentable loss of a hero in coastal protection. Surfrider Foundation is extremely appreciative for his years of commitment to our oceans, waves and beaches. his wisdom and guidance have bestowed upon California’s citizens and visitors a great service that is evidenced by our healthy and accessible coastal areas.

Outstanding Contribution Award: Marisla Foundation

The Marisla Foundation has been one of Surfrider’s most ardent financial supporters – providing large unrestricted grant support for more than a decade. however, their commitment to the organization goes much deeper than their monetary gifts. As the leaders of Marisla, Beto Bedolfe and Anne Earhart have served as champions of our organization to other funders, non-profits, supporters and donors.

Chapter Leadership Award: Mike Sturdivant – Emerald Coast (FL) Chapter

As Chairman of the Emerald Coast Chapter, Mike has gone above and beyond. He spent hours representing Surfrider at various multi-state agency meetings following the Deepwater Horizon spill.  Mike has also dedicated time to engaging the public in water quality testing efforts and his leadership has been inspirational to many who felt helpless to do anything in the midst of the Gulf spill tragedy.

Development Award: Jeff Berg

From 2001-2007, Jeff was a member of Surfrider’s Board of Directors. He brought a business perspective and a focus on the financial health of the organization.  Jeff has been a major donor for more than ten years and his gifts often support hard-to-fund, yet critically important, technology infrastructure projects.  He is a Lifetime Member and a member of the Legacy Circle. In addition to his personal contributions, Jeff has introduced us to a number of other major donors, helping us to expand our network and resulting in a number of significant gifts.

Environmental Activism Award: Surfrider Foundation Portland Chapter Bag Ban Crew

For more than four years, a group of dedicated volunteers within the Portland Chapter worked tirelessly to educate the public and organize support for a ban on plastic checkout bags in the City of Portland. Through a focus on grassroots activism and community involvement they achieved their goal when Portland’s Mayor and City Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the proposed ban on July 21, 2011. In recognition of this milestone we wish to thank: Mason Brock, Ryan Cruse, Tristan Fields, Tara Gallagher, Jocelyn Gary, Gregg Hayward, Drew Kerr, Lisa Lynch, Nastassja Pace, Jacque Rodriguez, Matt Spencer and Stiv Wilson.

Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Carl Berg

Carl is a professor, research scientist and water quality specialist at the Hawaii Dept. of Health. He founded Hawaiian Wildlife Tours, which conducts research, environmental education, water quality monitoring and classroom teaching. for the last two years, he has been Chair of the Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter. He is passionate about water quality and oversees the Chapter’s Blue Water Task Force, which tests approximately sixteen beaches every month.

Corporate Partner Award: KROQ

KROQ has supported Surfrider Foundation for more than 12 years, helping to raise funds and awareness through their annual Weenie Roast concert event. Their efforts have resulted in over $300,000 in donations (including $82K from 2011’s event).  they have also helped us to reach hundreds of thousands of new people through on-air opportunities and by allowing us to host an interactive booth at Weenie Roast (attended by more than 50,000 people annually).

Surf Industry Partner Award: Malibu Surfing Association

Four years ago, Surfrider moved our annual Celebrity Expression Session to Malibu.  Club President Michael Blum and his fellow members welcomed us to their break and allowed us to hold our event in conjunction with their flagship contest, the M.S.A. Classic.  As a result, the event has been incredibly easy to produce, the location is ideal, cost is minimal and in 2011 we were able to raise $50,000 for our oceans, waves and beaches.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.  Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide.  for more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit surfrider.org.

Surfrider Foundation Honors 2011 Wavemakers

Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie both flirt with success for lack of love for golf

More than perhaps any current or former tour pro I’ve known over the years, Brandel Chamblee is a thinker, a man of introspect and observational intellect. Now that he’s a Golf Channel analyst, your opinion of his opinions is none of my business, nor do I care for it to be, but as a colleague of Chamblee, I consider his voice a refreshing departure from many of those who once played the game for a living.

Something Chamblee said after Tiger Woods’ second-round loss at Dove Mountain has stuck to me like a tribe of cactus thorns: “There’s a difference between doing something for the joy of it and doing it to prove yourself right.” If it was nothing more than a snapshot assessment of Woods’ current string of woes, Chamblee’s take on the new Tiger was profound – more than heavy enough to spur my own thoughts as to whether loving the game is requisite to playing it at the highest level.

I certainly would believe so, although I have never fired a final-round 63 or cashed a winner’s check large enough to purchase a six-bedroom house. what I do know is, the Guy Who Never Missed a Putt He had to make pushed a 5-footer on the 18th green to lose to Nick Watney, and a day later, Michelle Wie shot 81 in the second round of the LPGA gathering in Singapore.

Wie would finish the week 22 over par, 32 strokes out of a four-woman playoff. for those who don’t see the connection, I see two of the world’s most famous golfers – one of them historically successful, the other a monumental underachiever – struggling not so much with expectations, but a sense that the relentless burden has surpassed their desire.

That isn’t to say the battle can’t be reversed, although I am far more inclined to believe Woods will find his way back to greatness before Wie discovers her competitive inner fire. Having met the young lady in Honolulu a couple of months after her 13th birthday, one thing clear from the outset was that she played golf because she was supposed to, because she was so good at it, not because she had this overwhelming urge to play. her success would become a means to an end and define her life with a purpose, which isn’t a bad thing unless that purpose is defined by someone else.

Sure, lots of kids feel the avalanche of parental pressure, but in Wie’s case, there was a fleeting rise to fame – a head-spinning peak of performance when potential was all she had. Before we knew it, she was competing against grown men at the game’s highest level, trying to climb a mountain that couldn’t be scaled. Nowadays, even the plateaus have become difficult to navigate.

So she turned pro and went off to college, an oxymoronic career path which stated Wie’s independence and satisfied the business sensibilities of all the pilots around her. Perhaps this is the best of both worlds, so to speak, with one providing a built-in excuse as to why she wasn’t excelling in the other. It makes perfect sense that Wie loves the Solheim Cup. in a team event with emphasis on the group, not individual performance; Michelle found comfort in the crowd. She found a place to hide.

A longtime member of the Wie camp once told me the girl didn’t play a round of golf without her parents watching until shortly before she enrolled at Stanford. It’s hard enough to wrestle the alligator that is greatness. Imagine trying to do it while mommy and daddy control your limbs with strings from above. in retrospect, I don’t think B.J. and Bo Wie had any idea their constant presence was feeding the beast that has become the anti-champion in their daughter.

They say what you don’t know can’t hurt you. I say no mulligans, partner.

In Tiger’s case, golf isn’t so much a chore as it is a proving ground – a forum. If you won 14 major titles in 12 years with two of the game’s most renowned swing coaches, what on earth would compel you to blow up the bridge? More than ego, Woods seems to consider it his God-given privilege to be “correct.”  He’s too preoccupied with technique, otherwise known as the wrong side of Town for a guy with perhaps the greatest competitive instincts in golf history.

And what’s even worse, people still seem to buy into every explanation Woods offers. Many couldn’t stop drooling after Eldrick got up and down from a bunker to salvage his first-round match against Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. are you kidding me? a short-sided 9-iron into the sand with the game on the line, and we’re heralding his grit?

Maybe golf made Woods famous, and maybe that fame bit him on the backside. maybe his backside still hurts. maybe Chamblee was right. Arnold Palmer, an icon for whom high-profile failure became a significant element in his career, still plays giggle golf with the fellas, forever embracing the challenge of a game that didn’t always hug him back. Jack Nicklaus, meanwhile, headed in another direction, not so much bowing to his uncompromising competitive standards, but finding other ways to appease it.

There’s no law that says you have to love golf to be the best at it, but then, “love” is one of those four-letter words that means a lot of things to a lot of different people.

Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie both flirt with success for lack of love for golf

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