Arizona golf properties: a home for all golfers

A well known sports worldwide is golf. Playing this kind of sport needs a lot of practice and training hard before calling yourself as a professional golfer. There are several golf courses that are available to everyone. Whether you are in the United States or in any part of the world, you can probably find a golf course that can offer you a great place to play.

one of the best golf courses you can find is in Arizona. It has golf rich cities like Phoenix and Scottsdale. these cities are considered one of the top destinations for golfers from around the world. Golf homes in Arizona are as impressive and diverse as its landscape. There are over 300 courses in this state, the classic links style course set to target.

In addition, Arizona has an outrageous number of courses to test your skills when it comes to playing the sport and give you a little leisure time unstoppable while playing. the Arizona Golf Properties can offer you a friendly atmosphere while playing in their golf course you can not compare with others.

if you plan to have a holiday with a chance to play the game, Arizona Golf Properties are experts in finding the right villa, the condor or home ownership and a course that will surely meet your needs. There are no other organizations that can offer you the best vacation outside of this agent. they can give you a full detail of their equipment, lessons and club membership.

you can choose the right place for you to their ten properties that include Scottsdale, Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, Mesa, Prescott, Flagstaff Golf Properties and Communities Tucson Golf Course .

In Scottsdale, you can choose from their various courses, such as Ancala DC Ranch, Desert Highlands, Desert Mountain, Estancia, the Golf Club of Scottsdale and many others. on the other hand, if you live in or near Phoenix, you can opt for the Anthem, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Pebble Creek, Verado, Blackstone / Vistancia and Wildfire.

the Carefree Desert and Forest is the rocks, while the Cave Creek Ranch includes Tatum Ranch and Dove Valley Ranch Manana. the pleasure of having a vacation in these places will definitely give you a some kind of experience you will never forget. you can have fun to have a vacation with your family and friends while playing golf.

Arizona golf properties: a home for all golfers

PING’s Solheim Proposes Ball Rating System

An interesting bit of golf equipment news just rolled across my desk. see it in full here:

PHOENIX (December 19, 2011) – John Solheim, Chairman & CEO of PING, is proposing that golf’s rule making bodies consider a “Ball Distance Rating” system (BDR) that would replace today’s single golf ball limit with three different ball distance limits – one that is the same as today’s standard, one that is shorter and one that is longer. Solheim’s “A Long Term Response to Distance” explains how including a BDR system with a new “Condition of Competition” would give professional events and golf courses an efficient way to address future concerns about distance.

“A BDR Condition of Competition would create a simpler way to control distance at the tour level – and keep the competitive design of the world’s great courses in play,” said Solheim. “This concept addresses the unique talents of the top 0.1% of the world’s golfers without hurting the other 99.9%.”

Solheim also noted that a key aspect of the idea is to give players who would benefit from it the option of using a longer ball, a choice many golfers may appreciate, especially when taking on today’s longer courses.

“The distance rating of the ball used would factor into handicaps, just like slope rating or choice of tee box does today.”

Solheim recently sent his BDR idea to golf’s governing bodies, and suggested it could be a positive factor in helping to sustain and grow the game.

“I appreciate the challenges faced by those who help govern the game,” said Solheim. “I am hopeful they give my idea further consideration and use it as a starting point to address some of the issues the game is facing. The positive impact golf has on so many groups requires that we explore a variety of ideas to improve the health of the sport. I hope others have suggestions to offer as well.”

John Solheim’s “Long Term Response to Distance” follows:

A Long Term Response to Distance

For as long as I can remember, golf has been challenged by concerns over driving distance. Unfortunately, over the past dozen or so years, many actions taken in response to that challenge have often been short sighted, costly and/or controversial – such as altering some of golf’s most revered courses and adopting restrictive golf club rules. Now, we learn average driving distance on the PGA Tour just had another increase – it broke through 290 yards for the first time (and with so many dynamic young golfers working toward a Tour card, who knows where it will go from here). So, once again we are hearing the question: “what, if anything, should be done about it?”

With so many other challenges facing the game, we need to be sure any “distance discussions” focus on the long term – on solutions that can quickly and easily respond to future increases in distance (no matter the cause); on ideas that give professional events and courses a tool that allows each to best address the distance concerns unique to their venue; on proposals that recognize it is far simpler to adjust the ball to the course, than to adjust the course to the ball. Finally, we need a response that will resolve this issue once and for all. To get this discussion rolling, here is how I think we can do just that:

- Replace today’s single golf ball distance limit with three different “Ball Distance Ratings” (or “BDRs”) – one that is the same as today’s limit, one that is shorter and one that is longer.

- Adopt a “BDR Condition of Competition” – each event could apply the BDR appropriate for its course design and yardage, and for the skill level of the golfers competing at the event.

- Include BDR as a factor in calculating handicaps – just as “slope rating” or choice of tee box does today, the BDR of the ball you use will factor into your handicap.

BDR golf balls should have similar flight characteristics as today’s ball (trajectory, spin rates, etc) with the only variable being distance. some details may be challenging, but I have no doubt the USGA and the R&A are up to the task. With distance as the only variable, an example of what could be done would be to adopt a color code for the several BDRs (just like we do with tee boxes), perhaps using “gold, silver and bronze”. A “silver dot” rating could apply to balls that conform to the current distance limits, a “gold dot” rating to balls that are longer (perhaps 30 yards longer), and a “bronze dot” rating for balls that are shorter than today’s ball limit (again, maybe 30 yards shorter). more BDR levels could be added, if needed, to address future increases in driving distance by Tour professionals.

If the game adopted a “BDR Condition of Competition”, I believe the vast majority of events would choose to allow the same balls (and ball limit) used today. most courses hosting professional tour events were built with, or have added, sufficient length to challenge the world’s best golfers. Perhaps a small number of tournaments, those played at some of the game’s classic courses, would find it exciting to put the original design elements of the layout back in play by requiring shorter rated golf balls. These events may even generate a lot of interest, and TV viewers. A key point of this idea is that it puts control over those decisions with the event itself. it also gives each venue a new “long term” option for responding to future increases in driving distance – bring in the bull dozers, or simply adopt a new BDR.

I recognize asking tour professionals to occasionally switch to a different rated ball creates a new challenge. however, rising above golf’s toughest obstacles is what they do best. These skilled athletes likely realize that imposing equipment limits on tens of millions of amateurs – a group that is critical to golf’s future – is not the best way to resolve issues unique to competitions played at the highest levels. I think the most talented professional golfers in the world would be willing to switch to a shorter ball once in awhile, if that would benefit the remaining 99.9% of us.

Giving amateurs the option of playing a new, longer rated, ball is another key aspect of this idea. Many golfers find it very difficult to play today’s longer courses. using a longer ball should make that experience more enjoyable. it may even bring some ex-golfers back to the course. Perhaps this idea could even reduce the time needed to complete some rounds, a goal shared by everyone.

There will likely be occasions when amateurs tee it up with a shorter rated ball. some golfers may choose to do so when playing some classic courses, ones that cannot add yardage, in order to bring out the competitiveness of the original design. Others may choose to do so because it has a positive impact on their handicap. some courses might even recommend using a shorter rated ball. Higher handicap players may find it easier to play alongside more experienced golfers – from the same tees – when using different rated balls. each of these choices gives some control over the distance issue where it is needed most – with the golfer and the course.

This proposal could also help the USGA and the R&A. The handicap system may benefit from adding “ball rating” as a factor. this solution is also consistent with the Joint Statement of Principles announced by the USGA and R&A in 2002: it provides an immediate and an efficient way to address future increases in distance, and it is not bifurcation – amateurs and professionals will still play to a ball limit, just not necessarily the same one on the same course. Adopting a few new ball distance ratings is basically the same as adding a few more tee boxes – and adding tee boxes is not bifurcation.

In order to fully evaluate this idea, the constructive input of golf ball manufacturers will be needed (PING currently does not sell or manufacture golf balls, but we did for over 20 years). I realize this suggestion presents challenges, but a BDR system brings with it new opportunities as well. Adding new categories of “conforming” golf balls should lead to exciting new ways for golf ball companies to competitively innovate, and it could increase golf ball sales. If it were as simple to develop a club rating system that included a similar opportunity to innovate longer drivers, I know I would welcome it. however, if golf once again chooses to address driving distance, it needs a practical long term solution, and I believe a BDR system would do the job.

All of us, including those in the manufacturing community, have a responsibility to offer new ideas and appropriately work with the rule making bodies to help improve the game it can be done, as demonstrated by the positive results from the November 2010 Vancouver forum, and the solution PING provided in resolving the Eye2 controversy on the PGA Tour in early 2010. I will continue to do what I can, and I believe others will as well. The game has seen many positive changes over its long history, changes that appropriately recognize the relationship between the challenge and the enjoyment of the game at all skill levels. I believe a BDR system would provide a way to continue do just that – for a long time to come.

Chairman and CEO of PING

Click here to read discussion in the forums… golfwrx.com/forums/topic/557111-pings-solheim-proposes-ball-rating-system/

PING’s Solheim Proposes Ball Rating System

USGA makes amateur exemption changes : Cheap Golf Driver

PHOENIX — four years ago I was working on a profile for Golf World on career amateur Trip Kuehne. among the story’s themes was how Kuehne tried to balance his family life, his business career and his quest to win a USGA championship. during my reporting, he mentioned something that has stuck with me regarding these national championships. for as difficult as it was to actually work you way through a match-play bracket and have a chance at winning a title, Kuehne contended, it’s maybe just as hard to simply earn a spot into one of these events.

“You’ve got to play in a qualifier with dozens of people in the field and you’re usually playing for less spots than you can count on your hands,” said Kuehne, who later that year went on to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur title. “People don’t get enough credit for actually qualifying for a USGA championship in the first place. It’s pretty damn hard.”

For elite amateur golfers, however, that process will be significantly less stressful going forward thanks to the path the USGA has chosen to follow with the creation of several new exemption categories into its amateur championship revealed at the USGA Annual Meeting.

Laying the foundation for these new categories is the USGA’s decision to partner with the R&A in support of the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The two governing bodies will jointly oversee both the men’s ranking, which the R&A established in 2006, and a newly created women’s ranking set to debut this month.

In turn starting this year male golfers in the top 50 in the WAGR at the close of entries to any USGA men’s amateur event they are already eligible to compete in (Amateur, APL, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur and Junior Amateur) will receive entry into the tournament and  be exempt from all qualifying. Additionally, golfers in the WAGR top 50 at the close of entries for the U.S. Open will also be exempt into sectional qualifying for the major championship, bypassing the local qualifying stage.

Mike Davis, USGA senior director of rules and competitions, said the creation of exempt categories based on a player rankings had been under discussion by the USGA executive committee for some time in an effort to help strengthen the field at the USGA’s amateur championships. Davis noted that securing the participation of top international players had been particularly difficult in recent years because of the costs in time and money to fly to the U.S. ahead of an event to participate in a qualifier and risking the chance of failing to secure a spot in the championship field.

Similar exemptions for female players into the USGA’s women’s amateur events will be established in the future, according to Davis, after the women’s world amateur ranking has time to develop and be reviewed.  

Davis said the USGA would review how the exemption was working over the course of time and potentially adjust the number up or down from the top 50 if need be.

A few other exempt categories were also established for USGA amateur championships: winners of the Canadian Amateur and Mexican Amateur on both the men’s and women’s side will also be exempt into all USGA events they are eligible for, as well as the winner of the men’s Asian Amateur. Additionally, the low eight finishers and ties from the 2010 World Amateur Team Championship, men’s and women’s, will also be exempt into any 2011 amateur event they are eligible for. The men’s WATC qualifiers will also be exempt into sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open.

Tags: qualifier, USGA championship, exemption categories, Trip Kuehne, chance, Ranking, career, exempt categories Related posts Post in:About Golf, BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL, Cobra Driver, Mizuno Driver, Odyssey Putter, Ping Driver, TaylorMade Driver, Titleist Driver

USGA makes amateur exemption changes : Cheap Golf Driver

Rickie Fowler is finally ‘the next Tiger’ : Golf Irons City

Sorry Anthony Kim, Ryo Ishikawa, Rory McIlroy, Charles Howell III, Casey Wittenberg and Chris Wood. Nice try Adam Scott, Michael Sim, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose. You guys aren’t going to be it. the title of “the next Tiger Woods” has been floating around ever since that blistering 2000 season, when Woods won three majors and showed everyone that he is, literally, the man. That was the year people started asking who would come next, if anybody.

It took 10 years to find him, but he’s that fella there to the right. Yep, the one in the oversized hat and the orange slickers, just 21 fresh years of age and with a golf game good enough to be dominant. on Sunday at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, Fowler came a shot short of making his second playoff on the PGA Tour in just nine starts. And he has now finished in the top-10 four times in nine tournaments.

Fowler needed just two tournaments to make his first PGA Tour playoff. Tiger needed five. While that might be the last of the points toward Fowler, it has been too long since we’ve seen a kid come out and dominate like this so early in his PGA Tour tenure.

His checklist is very Tiger-y.

– Swagger? Check.

– Flair? Check.

– a game that rarely falters? Check.

– the ability to command the attention of a tournament at such a young age? Check.

Maybe the only difference in Fowler and Woods came at the 15th on Sunday, when Rickie stood 231 yards out on a par-5, needing a birdie.

He elected to lay up, made par, and lost by one. It is situations like that have been all too regular for the flashy young players, but listening to Fowler after the round, it seemed like a pretty legit move.

“I felt that instead of bringing trouble into play, in a way which a lot of times I don’t play, I took the safe route, easy lay-up, and like I said, I had an easy wedge shot with soft greens. I just hit it a little soft.”

OK, so rag on him if you want (which I did), and say Tiger would never pass up on an eagle there, but if Fowler believed his best chance of making birdie was with a wedge, you can’t fault him for being consistent. Maybe in a different situation, he rips a 3-iron at the green and makes a three and wins by a shot, just like Tiger, but it is early in his PGA Tour career and he has yet another second place finish to his name.

If he continues to put himself in these situations, he will be a PGA Tour winner in 2010 and the hottest thing on tour since Woods brought red to Sunday. if there is a player out there with all the intangibles to win a lot so early in his career, it has to be Fowler.

His goal was to make the Ryder Cup this season. if he keeps this up, I don’t see a way that doesn’t happen. Would you pass up on a youngster with flair and showmanship and miles and miles of game to represent your country? I sure wouldn’t.

Who would have thought that the next Tiger would be hiding under a hat big enough for Dana Stubblefield?

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Rickie Fowler is finally ‘the next Tiger’ : Golf Irons City

Down the stretch _ West is getting tighter…if that’s possible

Now, pretty much every position in the West is up for grabs after a couple of wild days.

Dallas has slipped to ninth and out of the playoffs for now, but still controls its own destiny.

Calgary, meanwhile, has slipped to 11th and officially cannot make the playoffs with 86 points in 80 games.

Meanwhile, there are battles for first overall, for home ice with the fourth seed, and for fifth and sixth place (and the difference between meeting the Pacific Division champion or another Central Division team).

Here are the standings this morning.

Vancouver is 1st in West with 107 points in 79 games (42 ROW)St. Louis is 2nd in West with 106 points in 79 games (44 ROW)Los Angeles is 3rd in West with 91 points in 79 games (33 ROW)(Top seed in Pacific gets 3rd)Nashville is 4th in West with 98 points in 79 games (41 ROW)Detroit is 5th in West with 97 points in 78 games (39 ROW)Chicago is 6th in West with 97 points in 79 games (38 ROW)Phoenix is 7th in West with 91 points in 79 games (33 ROW)San Jose is 8th in West with 90 points in 79 games (32 ROW)Dallas is 9th in West with 89 points in 79 games (35 ROW)Colorado is 10th in West with 88 points in 80 games (32 ROW)

Regulation and overtime wins is the first tiebreaker. the Kings sit in first place in the Pacific today because of the second tiebreaker (head to head) with Phoenix. Los Angeles and Phoenix have identical records and ROW, but LA has eight points in the six-game season series between the two teams, and Phoenix has seven.

Here are the key games from Saturday:

Columbus 5, St. Louis 2 _ Jaroslav Halak had a rare rough night in goal, but mostly the Blues lost their way on special teams. Columbus went 2-for-8 on the power play and put 18 shots on goal with the man advantage (they had only 33 shots for the entire game). the Blues went 0-for-5. This is big, because the Blues slipped behind Vancouver for first overall in the West. That’s big, because the Stars finish the regular season on Saturday against St. Louis and could be seeing a very motivated Blues team. One good thing is St. Louis does play host to Phoenix on Friday and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.

Vancouver 3, Calgary 2 (OT) _ Roberto Luongo gets back in goal after missing Friday’s game with a sore neck, and stops 31 of 33 shots. the Canucks win their sixth straight and take over first place in the West. Calgary is eliminated with the one point.

Minnesota 4, Los Angeles 3 (SO) _ This was a tough loss for the Kings, as they had a 3-2 lead in the third period. however, it was the second night of back-to-back games and it came with Jonathan Bernier in goal and Jeff Carter out with an ankle injury. the point is huge and it allows the Kings to end their four-game road trip at 2-1-1. Dallas went 1-3-0 on a similar road trip. Carter missed his second game and is expected to get an MRI on Monday. He is not expected to play that night against Edmonton.

Phoenix 4, Anaheim 0 _ This game was a lot tougher than it looked for the Coyotes. Mike Smith stopped 44 shots, including 21 in the first period, to post his second consecutive shutout. His shutout streak right now is 159:59. the former Stars goalie was incredible, as Anaheim had six power plays and fired 14 man advantage shots on net. in addition, Ray Whitney had a goal and an assist for Phoenix and tallied his 1,000th career point. Coyotes host Columbus Tuesday, play at St. Louis Friday and at Minnesota Saturday. that sounds easy, but Columbus and Minnesota have been playing well lately.

Chicago 5, Nashville 4 _ This was another penalty-filled game, and each team scored twice on the power play. it allowed the Blackhawks to push into the mix for second in the Central Division and fourth overall in the West. This is important, because the team that wins the Pacific will play the sixth seed, and that could now be any one of Nashville, Detroit or Chicago. that means the Predators should be pretty fired up when the Stars visit on Thursday. Pekka Rinne allowed five goals on 32 shots, but was playing the second of back-to-back games. the Blackhawks clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews (concussion) was cleared for contact and could return soon.

Key games on Sunday are:

Florida at DetroitMinnesota at Chicago

Down the stretch _ West is getting tighter…if that’s possible

Verplank, Glover return from disabled list

Scott Verplank and Lucas Glover played a practice round together Tuesday at Innisbrook, which was only unusual considering where they have been _ on the disabled list.

They return about the time Paul Goydos goes on the DL for what could be three months or more.

Verplank has not played since he withdrew after a 78 in the first round of the Deutsche Bank Championship because the tendon kept slipping out of place in his left wrist. he had surgery two weeks later for a tendon reconstruction, in which tissue was folded over the tendon to help keep it stable.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to be OK,” Verplank said. “It’s not 100 percent yet. I’m still a little bit leery of hitting irons off marginal lies, when you know you have to take a divot and go get it. A lot of the deal is getting over it in your head.”

Verplank had hoped to return at Phoenix or Riviera, but wasn’t ready. his motivation to return was for the Masters _ he is eligible from his tie for fourth in the PGA Championship.

That speaks to what kind of year it was. Verplank said he had weeks when the tendon slipped out of place and make it difficult to hang onto the club. other weeks, it was fine.

As for the PGA Championship?

“The best it was all year,” he said. “And two weeks later, I couldn’t even play.”

Glover sprained knee ligaments and a tendon the weekend before the PGA Tour season opener at Kapalua when he landed awkwardly after falling from a paddle board.

Glover didn’t realize the severity of the injury until each week rolled around and he wasn’t fit to play. he finally decided to abandon the West Coast swing and prepare for Florida. he felt strong enough to play two weeks ago, but wanted to get into golf shape _ walking golf courses on a tender knee.

“The knee is 100 percent,” Glover said. “I’m in good gym shape, but need to make sure I’m in good golf shape to be able to walk four days in a row. That’s the plan for this week.”

He said he would skip Bay Hill, then play Houston in his final tune up before the Masters.

Goydos, 47, had surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur in his left wrist, which had been bothering him for longer than he cares to remember. he said removing the bone spur was the first step in trying to get his wrist healthy.

“At my age and considering what we do for a living, he’s a little concerned about some cartilage damage,” Goydos said.

Goydos said the pain in his wrist kept getting worse from the opening tournament in Hawaii, and he thought it might be arthritis. When he saw a hand specialist, he saw the X-ray of the bone spur.

“The bone spur doesn’t hurt, but it’s rubbing up against the tendon,” Goydos said.

He said doctors told him he would be out six weeks, but with proper rehabilitation, Goydos said it would be 10 to 15 weeks.

“There’s no reason for me to play unless I’m fit enough to play,” he said.

NEW MEMBERS: Peter Hanson has been trying for the last several years to take up PGA Tour membership, especially after moving his young family to Orlando and joining Lake Nona.

He finally broke through in the two World Golf Championships.

Hanson reached the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship and earned $270,000, and then he tied for fourth last week in the Cadillac Championship and made $362,500. That’s more than enough to be eligible for special temporary membership, and he’s virtually a lock to be able to become a full PGA Tour member next year.

Hanson has $632,500. he still has the Bridgestone Invitational (guaranteed money), along with four majors and four more regular PGA Tour events for which he already has exemptions.

Hanson is limited to 12 tour starts. being a special temporary member allows him as many exemptions as he wants. Oddly enough, Hanson might not take any more. this being a Ryder Cup year, he still wants to play a full European Tour schedule to give himself a chance to make the team through European tour money or world ranking points.

His other four PGA Tour events are Transitions, Houston Open, Hilton Head and the Memorial. he also plans to play in the Volvo China Open, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the French Open and Scottish Open.

Also eligible for special temporary membership is Ryo Ishikawa, on the strength of his runner-up finish in Puerto Rico. that pushed his earnings to $487,471, which is more than 150th on the PGA Tour money list last year.

CLARKE’S PERK: British Open champion Darren Clarke recently picked up another prize that he holds in high regard _ membership at Pine Valley Golf Club, perennially rated the no. 1 course in America, and considered among the best in the world.

Clarke said he was waiting for official word, though “it would be a huge honor and privilege.”

“I’ve been going since 1993,” he said. “I know a lot of the members, and it’s always a treat.”

The golf course? the turtle soup? the Par 3 course?

“It’s everything to do with Pine Valley,” he said.

GLOVER’S ADVICE: Brian Harman, the little lefty from Georgia, is part of a refreshing trend among young players (Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler) who play quickly. so life on the PGA Tour his rookie season took some adjustments.

He decided to ask a mentor, Lucas Glover, for advice.

Glover, another player who wastes little time playing, told Harman to make sure he’s the last one in his group to get to his golf ball. Stay behind on the tee to chat, pick through the cooler for a bottle of water, go to the bathroom even he doesn’t need to go.

Glover was on his way to West Palm Beach, Fla., where he played in the Pro-Member at Seminole, when he asked his girlfriend to check on scores from the Honda Classic.

She told him some guy named Brian Harman had shot 61.

“He’s a good listener,” Glover said with a laugh.

DIVOTS: the BMW Championship will be played at Conway Farms north of Chicago in 2013. … Henrik Stenson isn’t sure when his regular caddie _ Fanny Sunesson _ will be able to return to work. A marshal in Switzerland lifted a rope and tripped her, injuring her back. “Her main priority is to get back to functioning 100 percent in day-to-day stuff, and then we’ll discuss if and how much she can caddie after that,” Stenson said. “The team is getting old.” … Boo Weekley tied for ninth last week in Puerto Rico, his first top 10 since 2010 at the Greenbrier Classic. … J.J. Killeen, Sunghoon Kang and Matt Bettencourt are playing their 10th tournament this week at the Transitions Championship. None are among the top 100 on the money list. … Morgan Pressel will serve as the Girls Golf National Ambassador for the next three years. … All four winners of the Puerto Rico Open _ George McNeill, Derek Lamely, Michael Bradley and Greg Kraft _ live within 130 miles of each other on the Gulf coast of Florida.

STAT OF THE WEEK: When he returned to golf at the 2010 Masters, Tiger Woods broke par all four rounds. he has not done that at any tournament since then.

FINAL WORD: “If anybody says they are not nervous going into Sunday around the lead, they’re just lying to you. their psychologist is telling them to lie to themselves.” _ Bubba Watson.

Verplank, Glover return from disabled list

Ping Golf Clubs – The Anser To Your Putting Problems

About five decades ago, an engineer named Karsten Solheim was playing golf. he was not very satisfied with his putting performance, so he tried creating a new putter. With his engineering background, he was soon able to put together a new putter that he found suitable. he tried it out on the ball, and the putt was perfect. As he hit the ball, the putter made a sound. Solheim did not know it yet, but he had just invented the great Ping golf club.

Solheim began using his new putter in public, and people encouraged him to sell Ping golf clubs to other players. The engineer soon became busy creating more and more Ping golf clubs to satisfy the demand. As the orders poured in, his shop became too small and he moved to Phoenix with his family. This is where he established a much larger shop for Ping golf clubs.

During this time, the Ping golf clubs have already become quite popular in golf circles everywhere. Sales were growing continuously with every week. but when the Ping golf clubs were featured in Sports Illustrated, that is when business became seriously big for Solheim. Ping golf clubs were suddenly all the rage, and golfers everywhere couldn’t wait to get their hands on a set of the pleasant-sounding putters.

Soon, Ping golf clubs were a regular fixture on the PGA tournaments. When the pro golfers toured in other countries, they brought along their different designs of Ping golf clubs and turned it into an international name.

Five years after Solheim moved to Arizona, he developed a new design and when his wife saw it, she called it the answer to putting problems. Solheim tried to name the club Answer but there were too many letters, so it actually ended up being named Anser. nobody questions the change in spelling, especially now that the Anser is regarded as the gold standard for putters everywhere.

Although many designs of the Ping golf clubs [golfclubscarts.com/Articles/Golf_Carts_Parts.php] were very popular among golfers, only the Anser is acceptable to the USGA because of tournament rules. but even though it is the only member of the Ping golf club family that is approved by the USGA, it has been responsible for bringing many victories to a lot of pro golfers for many years now.

From its humble beginnings in an engineer’s garage to being the world’s top choice in putter equipments, Ping golf clubs have certainly gone a long way.

Ping Golf Clubs – The Anser To Your Putting Problems

Arizona – Montezuma’s Castle

A must see attraction in Northern Arizona, Montezuma’s Castle is located just off exit 187 on Interstate 17. Located near the tiny town of Rim Rock, the town featured in many of the John Wayne movies, Montezuma’s Castle was mistakenly named after the Aztec Indian Chief whom the Spaniards thought had traveled this far north.

A short two hour drive north of Phoenix and only about a half an hour from beautiful, picturesque Sedona, it visiting it is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. if you have the time, spend the whole day in this beautiful and historic part of northern Arizona by combining it with such local attractions as Tuzigoot, an ancient Anasazi hilltop settlement near Cottonwood, Jerome, the old mining town located on the side of Cleopatra Mountain, and Montezuma’s Well which is also located near Montezuma’s Castle.

Built by the Sinagua Indians, it is constructed near the top of a tall Verde Valley limestone cliff, located near a small river, it provided the needed shelter, food and water for the group of natives who occupied it for several hundred years.

Due to the extreme danger involved in constructing a dwelling of this nature,it demonstrates the Sinagua to be a very daring and able bodied people. The five story structure contains 20 rooms and was home to about 50 people, there is much evidence that at one time it was a much larger structure.

Being built as it is, it was very difficult for invading tribes to penetrate the natural defences of this structure. The Sinagua occupied this area from about 1125 a.D. until about 1425 when for unknown reasons they mysteriously disappeared.

It is unknown why they left, but war with the arriving Yavapai tribe, drought, or depletion of the soil due to improper fertilization have all been suggested as causes for their departure. Many artifacts have been discovered which gives us insight to their way of life and indicates they were fine artisans and craftsmen.

Having been designated by President Theodore Roosevelt as a National Historical site in 1906, Montezuma’s Castle became one of the first such designations in the United States. The adjoining museum provides much information about the life and times of the Signaua to the nearly half million people who come from around the world to learn more of the American Indians and their ways each year.

Due to the many attractions in this area, such as the Verde Valley Railroad, Blazing M Ranch, the many golf courses, and the proximity of the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff, it’s not hard to spend an entire week in this part of the mystical desert southwest.

Arizona – Montezuma’s Castle

Scottsdale Golf Course Homes

Scottsdale luxury real estate is defined as real property valued at $1 million or more, having at least 10,000 square feet, is custom designed and/or has some kind of historical significance, and sits on extensive acreage near amenities such as golf courses and feature spectacular views. Typical Scottsdale luxury properties may not necessarily have all of these characteristics (aside from the valuation), but chances are good that most of them can be applied to any given piece of true Scottsdale luxury real estate.

Beverly Hills of the Desert

While from a geographical standpoint, it is arguable that the Los Angeles Basin is part of the same regional desert ecosystem as Phoenix’s Valley of the Sun (meaning that Beverly Hills CA is also located in the desert), this moniker was applied to Scottsdale – and it stuck. In any event, it sounds far more appealing that place of Rotting Hay, which was the name of the original Pima Indian village that stood on the site of present-day Scottsdale luxury real estate.

In any event, Scottsdale real estate for sale includes that which is located near world-class shopping (there are more than 15 shopping malls within the city limits) and more golf courses than you could play in a year. Some Scottsdale luxury homes are deluxe condominiums that stand right at the edge of some of the best golf courses in the world outside of Scotland.

The luxury homes for sale are located near cultural institutions and top entertainment venues as well. your Scottsdale realtor can show you a wide variety of Scottsdale luxury properties to suit any and all tastes and expectations.

The Scottsdale Real Estate Market

It is true that there have been a lot of gloom and doom real estate stories out there. Some of them are even accurate – for certain parts of the nation.

However, the market for Scottsdale luxury real estate is as strong as ever. much of this is due to a strong, technologically-based local economy. despite what you may have hear on the mainstream media, what is applicable to Michigan does not apply to Arizona.

However, it’s a good idea to work with someone who knows the ins-and-outs of Scottsdale’s often complex real estate laws and city ordinances. You’ll want to retain the services of a local Scottsdale realtor, who can make sure that you have a pleasant and successful experience – as well as secure the piece of Scottsdale real estate that you want.

Scottsdale Golf Course Homes

Predicting the 10 Best Songs at Coachella 2012

FESTIVALWATCH 2012Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 1:45 PMRembert BrowneGetty Images

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One of my low points last year was selling my Coachella tickets because I had finals. actually, the real low point was watching Kanye West close out Coachella 2011 from my laptop in the fifth-floor stacks of the library. Alone. Yep, definitely much lower. You see, after attending the show in 2010 and having near-religious experiences during the sets of Jay-Z, Muse, Tiësto, Phoenix, and many others, I vowed to make the yearly hajj to Indio, California, to be a part of the love fest.

I messed up last year. After reading the lineup, announced yesterday, there is no way I will mess up in 2012. And neither should you. Part of the trick of the music festival is strategically planning how to see all of the artists on your fantasy playlist. this is a process that should not be taken lightly. The feeling of realizing your trip back to the campsite to switch out your blue bandanna for a red bandanna caused you to miss 90 percent of the Florence + the Machine set is a feeling no good person should ever experience. Trust me.

Based on the large variety of artists at the festival, you will be thoroughly entertained for three straight days. most sets will be fun, a few will be underwhelming in the massive venue, and a select few will be perfect in the large, outdoor, desert setting that is Indio. Reading through the list, there are 10 acts that are must-sees for me, due to each having one song that will undoubtedly transport you to another place. The songs that, when asked about it the following week by a coworker, you will respond, “I can’t even remember, it was just beautiful.” here they are, and I’ve thrown together a Spotify playlist for your listening enjoyment:

10. tUnE-yArDs – “Gangsta”

This whole set is going to be wild. Merrill Garbus, the woman responsible for the group’s unique sound, is a rock star. She throws in a number of drum loops, vocal samples, and instruments into her set, something that will sound pretty amazing in the outdoor setting. “Gangsta,” one of the standout tracks from 2011′s w h o k i l l, is loud, brash, extremely in your face, and in about 45 seconds will start one of the best dance parties of the three-day weekend.

9. The Black Keys – “Howlin’ for You”

The best rock band in the world should always play Coachella. two years ago, when Muse and Phoenix were really coming into their own, watching them rock out with reckless abandon in Indio was pretty amazing. The Black Keys will be no different in 2012 and won’t disappoint as the Friday-night headliner. this whole set is a must-see, but “Howlin’ for You” will definitely be a moment to remember. Expect the first minute to be tens of thousands of people clapping together in unison with the drums as vocalist Dan Auerbach slowly preps the audience to sing along.

8. Florence + the Machine – “Dog Days are Over”

You know the song and you might even be tired of the song, but hearing it live will change everything. Florence’s magical vibrato, combined with soul claps, tambourines, drums, and hopefully a gospel choir, will turn this into one of those moments you really have a hard time putting into words. for the love of Florence, please do not miss this song.

7. Kendrick Lamar – “A.D.H.D”

This guy is developing one of the most passionate fan bases in music. The majority of people at this set will know every word to every song he plays, something you love to surround yourself with at a rap show. when he plays “A.D.H.D,” a song best consumed at night but still quite fantastic during the daytime, it will be a Moment. even though Kendrick has the rare rapper talent of commanding respect on the stage all by his lonesome &#8212 and that’s a great thing to witness &#8212 I might have to close my eyes and let this song wash over me for about four minutes.

6. Calvin Harris – “Feel So Close”

The up-tempo part of this song, after the beat drops, is great, but the first four Calvin Harris-sung bars are what make this song phenomenal. I will be singing this part so passionately, and I sincerely hope you will, too. The only thing that could really beat this part in his set is if he plays “We found Love” and brings out Rihanna, in which case I will scream, cry, and then evaporate.

5. Justice – “Let there Be Light”

I know they have new music out, but I really hope they just play 2007′s Cross from start to finish. this album is pretty perfect, with “Let there Be Light” serving as the standout track. The first 3:30 is a loud, chaotic buildup for the final 1:25, which could arguably be the happiest 1:25 ever recorded. If you’re a Justice fan, chances are you haven’t seen them perform and this is the moment you’ve been waiting to see for years. Congrats, it’s here! If you’re not a fan, just show up. You’re welcome in advance.

4. M83 – “Intro”

The way this song will slowly fill the dry, desert air with synthesized sound might induce tears. I’m guessing this is going to be the first song of their set, and if the organizers have any sense, they will be playing as the sun is setting. If all of this takes place, this will be one of those moments where I become lost in the music and have nothing to report back. this song is magic. this song is Narnia.

3. Avicii – “Seek Bromance”

If you’re not already part of the cult that is Avicii, this song will make you a card-carrying member. There’s no fighting it; just let it happen. this song, plus the crowd, and the light show, and the 75 percent chance you will be approached by a shirtless guy with a backpack named Curtis, will make your last night of Coachella something you can’t explain but will never forget.

2. Radiohead – “Everything in Its right Place”

So just take everything I said about the M83 “Intro” track and multiply it by 342. this song moves me through my iPod earbuds, so I can’t really imagine what it’s like to watch it live. It’s a peerless song by a peerless band. this would be number one, if Thom Yorke & co. simply did a better job representing for the gangsters all across the world. Unfortunately for them, they have no idea what that means.

1. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg – “Still D.R.E.”

Upon hearing just the first note of this song, I will declare them the undisputed winners of the festival. I mean, it’s Dre and Snoop, in California, closing out Coachella 2012. It’s almost too easy. they have many a collaboration together, but for me few things top 2011 and few songs are as iconic as “Still D.R.E.” Hearing this song, alone, is almost worth the trip itself, because who knows when it will happen again.Rembert Browne is a Grantland staff writer.

Predicting the 10 Best Songs at Coachella 2012

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