Somebody drag me to a golf course NOW!!!!

Golfers could soon be forced to improve their driving accuracy if they want success, as golf’s governing bodies contemplate radical new regulations.

Read on over at BBC.

Edit: USGA also reacts to the discussion.

Wednesday, 28. February 2007
22.50 Eurosport, US PGA Tour: Mayakoba Classic in Riviera Maya (MEX)
23.50 Eurosport, Golf Club Magazin

Saturday 03. March 2007
13.30 CNN Living Golf
19.30 CNN Living Golf

Sunday 04. March 2007
09.30 CNN Living Golf
15.30 CNN Living Golf
20.30 CNN Living Golf

After the qualifying tournament in our offices last december we were up for the regional qualifyer in Hamburg yesterday. The three best teams would qualify for the german final in Berlin in march.

Set up on two storeys in the Regus building on Valentinskamp we had to take on a 9 hole course consisting of par 2 to par 4 holes, totalling in a par 29 course. 26 teams played in flights of six people, the team with the least strokes would win. Tight corners and undulated carpet (!) made the course challenging and interesting. I blew our chances with a nine on the first hole, making contact with three obstacles. Highlight was the hole in one on the par 3 first hole, some 20 meters down a curved hallway. My score totalled in a 40, Christoph shot a 41 and our combined 81 secured us a tenth place. Six shots off the third place that would have sent us to Berlin. So we had to head back without a trophy, but the good fun was worth the trip. We’ll be back next year!

Friday night I took my colleague Christoph to the Golf Lounge in Hamburg, it was time to teach him his first steps in golf. He had to play with regular shafts, which is a little problem being as tall as he is, but I was impressed by his progress. But see for yourself:

Link: sevenload.com

Still undecided what weapons you should pack in your golf bag for the new season? Coming sunday the 25th of February you can give it a shot with the new Ping Rapture irons and drivers at yet another testing opportunity at the Capitol Yard Golf Lounge here in Berlin.

The Golf House crew will be there for you from 12:00 to 16:00. Enjoy!

(Oh, and please note how well the green inserts on the ping clubs matches the color scheme of this blog)

You are probably used to golf courses with strategically placed trees and shrubs and creeks to penalize errant shots. We don’t have those things, they’re not necessary. The desert is a natural obstacle course of cactus, boulders, gravel and ruts made by burrowing animals. Did I mention tumbleweed? — we have moving obstacles.

19th hole comedy on target golf.

Next years Ryder Cup may be still over a year away, but the organisation is well underway. As the Ryder Cup Diary has it, people can now start volunteering for the event:

Volunteers each receive a Volunteer Badge, which grants admission to the grounds on all six days of the Ryder Cup and admission to the International Pavilion. Volunteers will also receive a volunteer uniform. The uniform will consist of a golf shirt, pants, wind jacket and hat

So far the usual volunteer package. But here comes the difference: The fee for volunteering is $220.This seems a little odd to me. You take your work time off to be able to volunteer and you have to pay for it? Sure, it is a big event that will certainly attract lots of spectators and volunteers. Last year, I volunteered at the FIFA World Cup that certainly is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and they managed to do without a fee.

A little into the future, American Arena is commenting on the german application to host the Ryder Cup in 2018. A discussion about a possible venue is still open, only few golf clubs in Germany would have the capacity and the course for such an event. Bad Saarow has a challenging course but not enough hotel capacity for the event and Berlin is an one hour drive away. Bad Griesbach maybe, you can also speculate how Golf Valley near Munich may have developed until then. To build a new resort is currently the option for the PGA of Germany and the Langer Golf GmbH. We’ll see!

Wednesday, 21. February 2007

21.15 Eurosport, US PGA Tour: Nissan Open in Pacific Palisades, CA (USA)
22.15 Eurosport, European Tour: Indonesia Open in Jakarta (INA)
22.45 Eurosport, Golf Club Magazin

Eatgolf has lots of pictures of the Nissan Open, so hop on over and give him a visit.

Another golf apparel gem: Bogey Pro Golf has exactly my kind of humor. Check out their shirts, “shoe” bags or their “Golf Sucks” Course Survival Kit. I love it.

Edit: Bogey Pro Golf is also available in the UK and ships to Germany as well.