The Long and the Short of It By Andy North with Burton Rocks

This week I am posting the book review early as Friday is a holiday. Happy July 4th everyone! Enjoy the BBQs!

Andy North has won two US Open titles and went on to become one of the most respected commentators on the game. It was pretty much a given that someday he would write a book and although there was a lot of hype surrounding this volume, it's sad to say that it was undeserved. There are many mistakes throughout the book that make you wonder whether the editor was asleep or was simply lulled into a stupor by the content. The mistakes are glaring, such as misspelling Callaway, and I wish I could say that they were forgivable. But, when you add in the other problems with the book, it was really hard to get past these most basic errors.

If you're looking for a book on how to become a better golfer, than this is definitely a title you can miss. However, if you're a fan of Mr. North, you'll probably get at least some enjoyment out of reading his anecdotes. The book reads more like a biography that was thrown together from a bunch of little snippets, and at times, a lot of the content reads as though it was simply filler that was brought in to keep the book from falling into the category of a novella.

While it's nice to hear that the man always traveled with two pairs of pants, it's not really useful information that you can turn around and put into action, unless of course you hate wrinkles. It's best to keep the right mindset when reading this book and focus on the fact that it's really about packaging North and has little to do with the game itself. When you keep this in mind, it's a lot easier to wade through the book, but I'm not sure it's a read that shouldn't be missed.

The author himself admitted in the beginning of the book that he really didn't know why he was writing it. He considered it to be a "where's the beef" situation and this turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. There's just a lot of air here when you get right down to it and the tone feels forced throughout the majority of the book. While North is an incredibly talented man, he may not want to quit his day job to become an author.

It's always tough to pan a book, especially when you were really hoping for a good read. I cannot however recommend this book, unless you're simply looking to find out more about North. Most of us can do without anecdotes of his many surgeries however, and sometimes that air of mystery should never dissipate.

While it would be too harsh to call this book a waste of time, it just isn't a title that you have to read. If you already have every golfing book under the sun and enjoy collecting titles, than perhaps this would be a good fit. Otherwise, there are far more interesting titles out there that will provide you with much better information.

Originally posted 2008-07-03 05:48:07. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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2008 Callaway Big Bertha Irons

When it comes to golf, there are two names that are synonymous with power – and they belong to the same company. Callaway and Big Bertha are names that golfers trust when it comes to hitting the ball longer, and getting better results. Although they are best known for their drivers, the company also makes irons, and boy do they know how to make them. If you’re already a fan of Callaway, or if you’re looking for a solution to your short game, these clubs deserve your attention.

The clubs are all stainless steel and have some of the best grips we have ever seen. Callaway claims they are the most forgiving irons on the market and for many golfers, that is just what the doctor ordered. Like their drivers, the main selling point for the irons is that they will help you hit farther and straighter, and just like the drivers, that is exactly what they do.

The irons have what Callaway has called IBrids, meaning that they are a hybrid club that is not as oddly shaped as a traditional iron, and much easier to handle. The angles on the clubs are quite low and very deep, allowing you to get right up under that ball. For those that have difficulty with this technique, these irons are literally a godsend. The long irons are incredibly forgiving, and we also found the short and medium irons to be just as good.

Callaway also fiddled with the weight and balance of the irons to make them more stable and capable of helping you reach longer distances. It takes a little getting used to, especially if you have played golf for years. Since the balance is a little different, we highly recommend using these on the practice range first, before you actually get out there on the course. You’ll save a lot of frustration and you’ll have a better chance of breaking them in.

Even though these are technically hybrid clubs, it’s important not to let that fact interfere with your swing. Play these just like you would any other iron and you will notice a big difference. If you try to compensate for the different feel, you may be a bit disappointed in your results. These aren’t clubs you can just pick up and play with right out of the box, but once you get the feel, they are incredible.

We recommend these clubs to beginners looking to find a way to improve their scores quickly. Intermediate and advanced players can also benefit from the new weighting and the angle of the face of the clubs. These are a great move forward for the company and it will be interesting to see how the company continues to innovate in this market.

For fans of Callaway drivers, these clubs are a natural and well with the price. While it may take a few weeks to get up to full speed, you’ll be glad you put in the effort to get there.

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Originally posted 2008-12-02 05:55:20. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Golf Gift Ideas

golfgiftAre you having difficulty coming up with a good gift idea for someone who appreciates golf? It should not be that difficult for you to come up with some excellent golf gift ideas for a golf enthusiast, simply because there are so many different options out there. Just think about the golf enthusiast on your wish list, and what they may like to receive this year. You can tell a lot about their ideal gift simply by considering their personality and their tastes. In order to get you started, here are four suggestions for excellent gift ideas for golf enthusiasts.

- Practical Golf Gifts -

Some of the safest golf themed gifts that you can purchase are those that are practical in nature. Things like golf balls with monograms are an excellent bet. If you know what time of golf ball your gift recipient uses, then you can buy a box of the right balls and have them personalized in some way, or you can buy them a more expensive type of golf ball if you feel like splurging. Make sure that you know what specifications your gift recipient likes so that you get the right gear for the golfer on your gift list.

- Personal Golf Gifts -

If you want to provide the golfer on your gift list with something that is more unique, how about giving a personalized golf gift? There are a number of unique options available when it comes to personalized golf gifts, equipment and accessories that you can choose from. The most popular personalized gifts for golf lovers are personalized golf balls, where you can usually add as many as three lines of text, a logo or monogrammed initials. Some of the other golf accessories that can be personalized include embroidered golf shirts, towels and caps, personalized golf bags and plenty more from some of the top brands including Callaway and Nike.

- Golf Memorabilia -

If you are looking for an unusual, unique or exclusive golf, there is nothing better out there than golf memorabilia. If you find a piece of certified and authentic golf memorabilia, like a famous ball or club, or something autographed, it would make an excellent gift for the golf lover on your gift list. The golf enthusiast on your gift list will be thrilled to receive such a thoughtful and unique gift.

- Golf Literature -

Not only are there plenty of golf books that teach instruction and technique, but there are many golf books out there that offer inspiration, biography and other information about famous golfers, famous tournaments and other subjects relating to the sport. Golf is arguably one of the hardest games in the world, and those who love it should also love to receive books on the subject.

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