TaylorMade makes Petco Park golf-ier
April 7, 2013 - 4:42pm
Posted by:
John Kim
John Kim's picture
Petco Park
photo: TaylorMade Golf
Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, gets foul-IER down the lines.

 

TaylorMade Golf has long been noted for being aggressive and innovative in their marketing efforts. And their newest campaign of being "IER" has certainly drawn notice as being....well, edge-ier and funny-ier (at times).  So getting this note from my friend Dave Cordero at TaylorMade as well as the photo above was not surprising but still a fun way to off Masters Week as well as baseball season. 
 
"In 2011, TaylorMade pulled off one of the most creative in-stadium advertising features when it erected an 88-foot R11 foul pole at Petco Park in San Diego. The pole represented a three-year partnership with the Padres. In 2012, the pole changed from R11 graphics to the company's record selling RocketBallz 3-wood. In 2013, the final year of the contract, TaylorMade is taking its taking its partnership even further-IER. As you have seen in TV and print advertising, TaylorMade has been promoting its new RocketBallz Stage 2 as longer-IER than the original.   So logically, TaylorMade is making Petco Park "Petco Park-IER."
 
" In-stadium takeovers when a Padres player hits a homerun (signage like Deep-IER, Yard-IER, Smashed-IER)
" A TaylorMade branded tape measure that will provide HR distance
" A TaylorMade swing simulator at every home game for fans to demo the product and compete in long drive competetions
" Giveaways of RBZ Stage 2 product during games
 
We are also swapping out last year's foul pole for the new RocketBallz Stage 2 3-wood and temporarily making it "foul pole-IER" (10-feet longer than the standard size of the foul pole). See attached image. This IER structure was built to celebrate the partnership and take "IER" to a fun/new level. It will not be displayed permanently throughout the season."
 
You can follow John on Twitter at JohnKim_10
TaylorMade makes Petco Park golf-ier
Condoleezza Rice makes her green jacket debut
April 7, 2013 - 4:13pm
Posted by:
John Kim
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Condoleezza Rice
From Doug Ferguson's Twitter
Former Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice walks the grounds of Augusta National with two fellow club members.

 

For the most part, Augusta National Golf Club members - though very involved in the operations of the Masters - typically aren't the story as Masters week commences. Oh sure there will be a couple of press conferences involving the chairman (Billy Payne) and you'll see the regal green jackets manning various important posts, but patrons, media and other members are there to see the players this week - right?  Well....
 
Probably the most anticipated sighting of the week happened on Sunday, the day before the crowds enter the grounds. Former Secretary of State and one of the first two female members of Augusta National - Condoleezza Rice - played a practice round with none other than Phil Mickelson and then walked the grounds with a couple of fellow members.
 
A short blurb then moved on the wires by the AP's Doug Ferguson (who also tweeted the photo above)
 
AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) -- Phil Mickelson has won three green jackets, and he was the one asking all the questions Sunday at Augusta National.
 
That's because Mickelson played a practice round with Condoleezza Rice, the former Secretary of State and one of the newest club members. Rice made history in Augusta when she and South Carolina financier Darla Moore were the first women invited to join Augusta.
 
Rice later donned her green jacket to meet with other members on the practice range.
 
She slipped away without taking questions. Members typically don't give interviews during the week of the Masters. Mickelson couldn't stop talking about her -- especially her 40-foot par putt on the 18th hole. He says Rice asked him about courses, and he asked her about countries.
 
For more on Rice's day at Augusta National, click here. 
 
You can follow John on Twitter at @johnkim_10
Condoleezza Rice makes her green jacket debut
Tiger and Lindsey are over
April 7, 2013 - 3:06pm
Posted by:
John Holmes
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New York Times Magzine Meh List
Annmarie Dodd via Twitter
Tiger Woods is on the "Meh List," but at least he's No. 1.

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn are done – at least according to the New York Times Sunday magazine.

Each week, the magazine has a little feature called ''The Meh List.'' It describes itself as a list of things that are ''not hot, not not, just meh.'' 

And topping the list this week, as we can see in the image above, is golf's No. 1 power couple. 

Also on the list this week are things like ''you had me at …'' ''Whole Foods sushi'' and ''the acoustic version.'' 

I can't mount a big argument that Tiger and Lindsey don't belong on the list – and hey, at least they're No. 1. But I will say this: If Tiger wins the Masters, he and Lindsey won't belong on anybody's ''Meh List.''

And now I can't wait to see how long it'll take for ''Dufnering'' to make the list.

Golf clap to fashion expert Annmarie Dodd for spotting this first.
Tiger and Lindsey are over
'Stupid idea' to play in Korea, says Alvaro Quiros
April 5, 2013 - 12:59pm
Posted by:
John Holmes
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Alvaro Quiros
Getty Images
The political instability on the Korean peninsula is affecting Alvaro Quiros' travel plans.

No tour hopscotches the globe like the European Tour, and most of its players have embraced the circuit's worldwide reach.

That doesn't mean every player is happy to go to every tournament, however.

It would be "a stupid idea" to play at the Ballantine's Championship in Incheon, South Korea, later this month, says Spanish star Alvaro Quiros, because of the growing political tension on the Korean peninsula.

The first five editions of the Ballantine's Championship have been well received, despite the relative remoteness of host venue Blackstone Golf and Country Club on the outskirts of Seoul. But the big-hitting Spaniard definitely won't be around for the sixth, which is set for April 25-28. 

"I'm not going to play in Korea," the six-time European Tour winner told Reuters. "I don't think it's a good moment to go there – it would be a stupid idea with the way things are. I don't want to mess with my life just to play in a golf tournament."

Asia has been rattled in recent weeks by warnings from North Korea that a military conflict was inevitable because of sanctions the United Nations has imposed because of its nuclear activities. North Korea has declared war on South Korea and even threatened to strike targets in the United States.

While Quiros will sit this one out, the tournament won't be short on stars. Already committed are PGA Tour stars Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson, along with former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. Dustin Johnson also played at Incheon in 2011 but missed last year with a back injury. Zach Johnson will be playing his first pro event in Asia.
'Stupid idea' to play in Korea, says Alvaro Quiros
Bubba Watson extends viral video streak to two this week
April 5, 2013 - 7:44am
Posted by:
T.J. Auclair
TJ Auclair's picture
Bubba Watson
YouTube
Bubba Watson playing golf on a day off -- left-handed with a right-handed set of clubs.

 

Earlier this week, we showed you the unbelievable hovercraft golf cart created by Bubba Watson and Oakley.
 
To no one's surprise, that video went viral in no time.
 
Today we bring you another great video starring the 2012 Masters champion.
 
Joined by ESPN.com's Michael Collins -- a former PGA Tour caddie -- Bubba shows up unnannounced to Dubsdread Golf Course just outside Orlando. 
 
The video, entitled, "Bubba's Day Off," features Watson playing golf with a set of right-handed rentals. Of course, being that he's a lefty, Watson basically plays golf with the clubs backwards. It's amazing.
 
He's also got a push cart, which is a far cry from that awesome hovercraft.
 
Bubba also answers calls in the proshop as a trainee.
 
He asks a customer on the phone, "How many people do you need for 2:30 (tee time)?"
 
The man explains he's a single and Bubba says to the rest of the proshop, "Oh, he's just one. He don't got no friends."
 
It might not be as mindblowing as the hovercraft video, but this one is a cool video to watch nonetheless.
 
 
Follow T.J. Auclair on Twitter, @tj_auclair.
Bubba Watson extends viral video streak to two this week
Who's Your Caddie at the Masters Par 3 Tournament?
April 4, 2013 - 1:47pm
John Kim's picture
Who's Your Caddie?
Photo: Getty Images
Aaron Baddeley gets some help from his caddie(s) during the 2012 Masters Par 3 Tourney.

 

Golf, unlike most sports, provides players the opportunity to do things exactly like the best professionals in the world. We play the same clubs, wear the same clothes and best of all, can play the same courses (in many cases).  And even more, from time to time, we can play the same shots.  If you sink a 20 foot birdie putt, you can rest assured you just performed at a level that can only be matched by the best. (Yes I've heard of eagles from the fairway but just providing some context here.)
 
Anyways, I've never had a desire to tee it up against the Tour pros in an official event. Not sure my 8 (and rising) handicap would do anything but embarass myself and the Tour as I hoped to break 90 on the long and probably difficult test. 
 
But you know where I could "compete"? -the par 3 course at Augusta. Not necessarily compete to win, but compete as in...not shoot +12.  I'm pretty certain on a nine-hole course where the longest hole is listed at 140 yards and the shortest is 70, I could come in within a shot or two either way of level par.
 
But this leads to one of my all time favorite golf discussions. If I were invited to play the Par 3 Tourney during Masters Week, my concern wouldn't be my score - it'd be...who'd be my caddie?  (Yes, it's a ridiculous hypothetical - but that's what I do)
 
Thought 1) My wife. She'd kill me if she wasn't selected. She'd love it because it's Augusta and very pretty and all that - but maybe she says "no."  It's hot, it's a long walk with a (limited) bag of clubs, maybe it's raining or she's got work stuff going on...then we go to 
 
Thought 2) A great golf friend.  There are no better golf experiences than the ones you enjoy with your best golf pal.  But I wonder if this causes a natural shift in the friend dynamic.  I'm the player, you're the caddie - even you usually wax me by 5 shots every round.  Maybe...
 
Thought 3) Some celebrity.  Pretty much anyone will jump at the chance to be inside the ropes at the Masters.  I've seen NBA stars and hollywood actors wearing the famous white jumpsuits while caddying for way lesser known golfers.  I'm going to go with Kate Upton as my first call 
 
Thought 4) Cute kids.  I don't have kids but that's a sure way to get the patrons on your side...to see the youngsters, barely as tall as the clubs they are carrying, in those tiny caddie outfits helping a golfer select their club.  Again, I don't have kids so I'd have to borrow one.  
 
Obviously, I've given this too much thought.  But what about you?  Think about it a moment and get back to me.
 
You can respond or follow John on Twitter at @johnkim_10
Who's Your Caddie at the Masters Par 3 Tournament?
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