Richie

25,000 Hits!

This website has been live for about 4 months now and I have just reached the 25,000 hit mark.

Thanks to everyone for checking out the website and for all of the feedback which I have received along the way.

Here are a few stats about the audience…

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Top 3 Posts
1. SKLZ Accelerator Pro Putting Mat Review
2. Clicgear 3.0 Push Cart Review
3. The World’s Longest Par 3 Hole

Ping Golf Tour Van

Each golf equipment manufacturer has their own tour truck which travels around the professional golf tours shadowing the golfers. At each tour event there will be a tour truck present where they will work on club repairs and adjustments for the golf pro’s.

This is a good video which shows the inner-workings of a tour truck. The Ping Fitter also answers viewer questions. This was filmed during the 2013 Scottish Open, which Phil Mickelson won.

Rory vs The Robot

Rory McIlroy has beaten just about every human on the planet so for the latest European Tour challenge he’s up against a robot. Or a Golf Laboratory Computer Controlled Hitting Machine to be precise.

South Gate Municipal Golf Course – Par 3

9650 Pinehurst Ave
South Gate, CA 90280
(323) 357-9613

9 holes (par 27)
Yardage: 1,010 yards
Hours: 8.30am-dusk
Green fees: weekdays $5, weekends $6.50

South Gate Golf Course is located in South Gate Park, exit the 710 Freeway at Firestone Blvd. For those who are unfamiliar of the area, South Gate is a small industrial city about 5 miles of downtown Los Angeles.

The golf course is a City owned facilities. It is cheap and you get what you pay for. There is adequate parking next to the golf course. Also I understand that there is a driving range at the location, although I did not see it. I did not notice a putting green either. The starter was friendly and advised me to start hole 3 as there was a large group about to tee off on hole 1. I did so and managed to play the round quickly and returned to play hole 1 and 2 at the end.

The course is in a park-like setting. Basically the holes just run up and down the park. With the first five holes being around the 100 yard range. There were two bunkers in the course, other than that no hazards. Each hole is divided by trees. I did have a little difficulty with following the course layout around holes 6 to 8. Once completed hole 6, you have to cross the green of hole 8 to get to the tee box on hole 7. It was quiet when I played, but I would be worried it could be a little crazy when busy. With crossing holes and each hole being so close to the other, I would expect that you will have people on other holes inadvertently hitting into you or getting in the way. The course is super generic. The only hole which stood out which hole 8. It was 156 yards (the longest hole on the course) and had a bunker in the front lip of the green. Which looks like it could cause some issues if you landed into it.

The course looked well watered and grass lush. The greens were the issue for me. They were pretty small in size. The grass was really long and patchy. It was like putting on shag carpet (see video below). Also the greens were flat with little or no break. You just need to line up your putt and shoot it at the hole. At South Gate, like most small municipal par 3 courses you hit off mats and no tees provided. There is a bench at each tee box, but I only noticed two ball washers on the whole course.

Overall if you are a casual golfer and just occasionally play and enjoy a beer with your buddies, this course could work for you. If you are a serious golfer this is a course to miss. I am glad I tried it out, but I would not return to play here again. It is not worth traveling to and if you do live in the area, you have Maggie Hathaway close by in Inglewood. Maggie Hathaway is a much superior course for the same price.

Richie says… “Cheap and cheerful. Good for kids and casual players. Not for the serious golfer – better course options are located nearby. If you like to play early note that this course does not open until 8.30am each day.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 82 yards

Hole 2 – 99 yards

Hole 2 – green

Hole 3 – 105 yards

Hole 3 – green

Hole 4 – 102 yards

Hole 5 – 100 yards

Hole 6 – 120 yards

Hole 7 – 136 yards

Hole 8 – 156 yards

Hole 8 – green

Hole 9 – 110 yards

Brush-t Pro Tee Review

I came across the Brush-t Pro Tee’s while perusing the classifieds section of Golf Digest. I am always looking to try new products and gadgets so picked up a packet to try out.

The Brush-t is a golf tee and what sets it apart from the others is that you sit the ball on top of bristles. The bristles are synthetic and bend upon impact. This reduces resistance which supposedly increases length and accuracy of drives. From the manufacturers website…

The Brush-t ® bristles have been designed to do away with resistance from impact with the tee. The ball is supported largely by air which means that the speed of the club face at impact is concentrated so perfectly on the ball, that the sheer kinetic energy helps create a longer and straighter shot.

Accuracy: Brush T eliminates up to 2% of left or right deflection and that means greater accuracy for your shots. Over 300 yards a 2º deflection can make your shot up to 14 yards wide of the mark!

Each tee comes in a capsule style holder. The lid acts as a ball marker and there is a preserver in the middle which helps protect the bristles. I really like the look of the product and how it is packaged. It is very pleasing to the eye. I picked up a multi-pack and each size tee is a different color. It also has written on the side which club it is for, i.e. blue is 3 wood, black is driver etc.

When I tried these out I found that the tee goes into the ground very easily – unlike the X-Blade tee’s. Because of the shape of the tee, it means that each time you stick it into the ground the ball will be at a perfect height for the club you are using. Thus helping with consistency. The ball was easy to place on the tee and sat on top of the bristles without movement.

I enjoyed using the tees, however in my limited use I found no difference in performance in terms of distance and accuracy. I will continue to use these tees in the upcoming months and update my progress. They are currently one of my favorite types of tee. It is so easy to place the ball on top of it and I like the design/ colors. They seem to do the job and are not gimmicky like some of the tees on the market. They also seem to be well made and will last.

The Brush-t can be found at the usual retail and online golf providers. The 4 piece multi-pack is priced at $9.99, the 3 pack 3-wood tees are $5.99.

Sport Science: Hitting like Happy Gilmore

2008 PGA Player of the Year Padraig Harrington joins the FSN’s Sport Science team. This video shows the science behind the “Happy Gilmore” style tee shot and whether running up to the ball (as opposed to being stationary at address) really adds distance to your drives.

Arroyo Seco Golf Course – Par 3 (South Pasadena)

1055 Lohman Lane
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(323) 255-1506

18 holes (par 54)
Yardage: 1,960 yards
Hours: Sunrise-10pm
Green fees: weekdays $14, weekends $16 (9 holes; $12)

Arroyo Seco Golf Course is located in the South Pasadena/ Highland Park area. It can be a little tricky to find. From Arroyo Drive take Stoney Drive. Make a left on Lohman and you will pass some tennis courts just before you reach the golf parking lot at the end of the road.

Arroyo Seco is a 18 hole par 3 golf course. There are not too many 18 hole par 3 courses around, most are 9 holes which you have to play twice. There is a cafeteria/ bar located at the course. There is also a nice practice facility. Which includes a driving range, large putting green and practice chipping area. There is also a 9 hole miniature golf course at Arroyo Seco.

I have played here several times and each time the starter has been abrasive and impatient whenever I have asked any questions. The starter office and cafeteria buildings are run-down and need of a coat of paint or a renovation. There is only a couple of bucks difference between the 9 hole and 18 hole rate, which means that the majority of patrons play the 18. The pace of play is standard and you should expect to take about 3 hours to play 18 holes. I like the fact that hole 1 and hole 10 are located next to each other. So if the front 9 looks busy, you can easily start with the back 9.

The course condition is good – above average. The greens are a nice size and run smoothly. I played here a couple of years ago and they were a lot worse. I think the course condition goes in spells – sometimes good, sometimes average. When I played last the grass is nicely maintained with few bad patches. You hit off mats and plastic tees are provided – both for left and right handed golfers. The mats seem to be in good condition.

The course design is somewhat generic. All the holes are pretty much the same length – in the 90 to 110 yard range. Which is great if you are looking to practice your GW or PW; but means you can leave your long irons at home. There is a small creek which flows through the middle of the course and comes into play on several holes. This is pretty much the only hazard on the course. There are no sand traps. There are plenty of trees on the course and some come directly into play. In particular hole 17. There is a large tree to the left which impedes the line to the green. Therefore forcing to hit right to reach the green. All the holes at Arroyo Seco are pretty much of the same. The only hole which comes to mind when I think of the course is hole 15. This is a longer hole – 145 yards for men, 115 yards from the ladies tee. It is a straight hole but has a small lake/ marsh kind of area to the right of the green. This is also the longest hole on the course. The course flows pretty well and each hole is signposted. There are ball washers at the tees, but they are really old looking.

When it comes to the course design with Arroyo Seco I always feel somewhat underwhelmed when I have finished my round. It feels like I have playing the same hole over and over. The last time I played I walked past the miniature golf course (as I was leaving the 18th green) it came across my mind that I may have had more fun playing that.

Overall, if I lived in the Pasadena area and wanted to play 18 holes of par 3, I would recommend Arcadia. Arcadia is in the same price range (if not cheaper with a $10 GolfNow deal). Plus Arcadia is much better quality course and the staff there are fantastic. I wish the starter at Arroyo Seco had a more friendly demeanor.

Richie says… “I like the practice facility, but the course is too generic and repetitive to me. I think they need to spend a little money on the place. Install new ball washers, paint the starter buildings etc. I have played here several times and each time have come across multiple people with Scottish accents. It just stands out, as I have not encountered a Scot on any other course I have played in Los Angeles.”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 88 yards

Hole 2 – 89 yards

Hole 3 – 96 yards

Hole 4 – 120 yards

Hole 5- 111 yards

Hole 6 – 102 yards

Hole 7 – 110 yards

Hole 8 – 115 yards

Hole 9 -127 yards

Hole 10 – 95 yards

Hole 11 – 92 yards

Hole 11- green

Hole 12 – 104 yards

Hole 13- 116 yards

Hole 14 -89 yards

Hole 15 – 145 yards

Hole 16 – 118 yards

Hole 17 – 129 yards

Hole 17 – green

Hole 18 – 114 yards

Thanks Arnold!

Earlier this week I received this cool 8″x10″ personalized signed photo from golfing legend, Arnold Palmer.

Arnold Palmer won 7 major championships between 1958 and 1964. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. He is also the inventor of the famous beverage (lemonade mixed with ice tea) which is named after him.

Amata Spring’s (Thailand) Floating Green, 17th Hole

The Amata Spring Country Club is a private golf and country club near to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It hosts two high profile golf tournaments which were introduced in 2006. The Royal Trophy is a team competition between Europe and Asia, and the Honda LPGA Thailand is the first LPGA Tour event in Thailand. These are currently the two richest golf events held in Thailand.

This course is home to one of the famous par 3’s in world golf. The 17th 130-yard hole, has a floating green that can be lengthened and shortened using underwater pulleys You have to board a boat manned by two guys dressed as sailors which take you out to the green. When you’re on the green it actually moves with the flow of the water.

Boat to the green. Pic courtesy of golfbytourmiss.com

Rancho Park – Par 3 (Century City)

This course is located in West Los Angeles, just south of Century City and by the Fox Studios. There is adequate parking provided. This par 3 course runs north of the 18 hole par 72 Rancho Park golf course. The par 3 course has a starter office and restrooms. There is no snack bar, but there are a couple of vending machines. The starter is usually abrupt and unfriendly at this course.

Rancho Park is a fun course to play. The course has a nice flow. The hole lengths vary which adds interest; the shortest hole being 82 yards, while the longest being 148 yards. This is a woodland course and each hole is lined with trees as with Los Feliz. There are three bunkers on the course which come into play on 4 of the 9 holes.

Hole 9 at sunset – pic courtesy of Tim E (Yelp)

The condition of the course has deteriorated over recent years. It used to be really nicely maintained for a City owned course. However now it is just average condition. There are large areas of grass which have turned to mud and need replacing. Also whenever I play here the grass is really wet and soggy – no matter what time of year. They either have a drainage issue or water way too much. This is very prevalent on hole 2. The tee box is in the shade and it is always muddy.

Unfortunately as with most par 3 courses, patrons tend not to replace divots or pitch marks on the green.

I don’t play at this course much mainly due to the location. As it is in the middle of a densely populated area it is usually very busy at peak times. I try and go early in the morning or during the week if I play here. If you go at the weekend be prepared to have 3-4 groups ahead of you before you start.

Richie says… “Good course at a reasonable price. If you avoid playing at peak times you should have no problems in completing your round at a good pace. Watch for the cars heading down Pico on hole 5!”

Albino says… “Great par 3. The course is cool and the price is fair.”

Chris says… “Another great course. One of my favorites in Los Angeles. It can get busy. So if you want to play, play in early morning. Watch out for afternoon’s as it gets ridiculously busy.”