In The Rough, June 23, 2008

Golf mirrors life..........
 
The high of the thrilling U.S. Open between Tiger and Rocco.......The low of Tiger's announcement regarding his knee/ leg injury.......The sounds...."thud", "screech"....... The sights of  "velcro ripping"
 
"Thud"- The sound Tim Finchem's jaw made as it hit the floor at PGA headquarters last Tuesday.
 
"Screech" - The sound of golf's prime time success hitting the brakes to avoid the sudden impact of Tiger's injury announcement.
 
"Velcro ripping"- The sight of Tim Finchem struggling against his restraints as he placed on a suicide watch following Tiger's injury announcement.
 
Golf fans take solace; golf-like life will go on in 2008.
 
 As many of our loyal readers know, I have the propensity to get a little excited about certain topics.....The more involved I am with different forms of media; this blog, a radio show and some public announcement work that I do, my appreciation grows for the people who work professionally in the industry. People trust me, it is not as easy at it looks, sounds and reads. I may be a golf professional who occasionally breaks par but in the media business I am a struggling 20-handicapper, who some say” has some promise but really needs to work on my game". Sound familiar fellow choppers?
 
My point, we all criticize TV or radio announcers for being unoriginal, lacking personality, stating the obvious, using to many clichés and the always popular "I could do a better job than that idiot Gary McCord.”
 
However, when an announcer tries to inject a little personality or humor into his announcing we kill them for it. I am a Johnny Miller fan. He may not be the smoothest guy in the booth, but he "keeps it real" as the kids like to say, and he sure as heck knows what he's talking about when it comes to golf.

This whole flap over his comments regarding Rocco Mediate and cleaning Tiger's pool is completely out of hand. Italian-Americans called for this firing. Why? I am part-Italian and that thought never came to my mind that he was insulting my ethnicity. I took the reference as a tour journeyman with limited success knocking off the sports royalty, not as an ethnic slur.

Besides what's wrong with cleaning pools? It’s an honest living and I know a pool cleaner who is very successful and has several people working for him, unfortunately none of them are Italian so I couldn't get an insider's opinion. However, I did get some advice on surfing, living in your your parents’ basement,  and an address to score some righteous weed if I was in the market. But, I’m not.
 
Think about the pool cleaning industry and its many benefits:
 
No nights
Plenty of sunshine
Bored housewives, girlfriends, housekeepers.......Bada Bing!
 
People, let’s not be so sensitive.  Be like Buttermaker, the coach of The Bad News Bears and the most famous pool cleaner of all, have a drink and relax!  I wonder if Buttermaker is short for Buttermakeroprano, I'll have to check that out.
 
From the fashion file.....It's hot outside, but that doesn't mean it’s ok to wear your bathing suit to the golf course. For that matter, please no coaches shorts, sweatpant shorts or cut-offs and leave your "nice" denim shorts at home. Most courses will not let you play in those and don't even ask me if it’s okay to take your shirt off once you are out of sight of the clubhouse. A little dignity please!
 
Fast fix........
 
If your golf ball is moving from left to right at contact, you are cutting, fading or slicing depending on the degree of ball movement. To help stop this, move your right hand on top of the club, where you can see at least 2 knuckles of the right hand if you are looking straight down at your grip.
 
Come play True Blue or Caledonia! Our June aerification is over and the golf courses are returning to their normal excellent condition. Visit our special page on this website for great summer golf rates for you and the kids.
 
Don't forget to tune into ESPN Radio at 93.7fm, 1050am or 93.9 fm on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. when you are in Myrtle Beach. You may have a chance to win green fees to True Blue and Caledonia. Call in and talk some golf with yours truly, and the Legendary Matt Lincoln on The Michelob Light Golf Guys.
 
Don't forget your sunscreen!
 
Bob Seganti
Head Golf Professional
True Blue Golf Plantation