I was first told about this show by a manufacturer who was showing the new Geox golf shoes (see on Golf Shoes Blog) at the show.

Check the Golf Show wesbite for the show details, which is at the ExCel centre, a massive exhibition space in East london.

The exhibitors range from tuition to equipment makers to retailers, golf fashions and golf institutions and there is a driving range and the chance to pick up tips, info and maybe spot a celebrity or two.  Prizes and competitions are promised… I’ll be looking only at golf shoes!  Apparently the world’s lightest golf shoes will be there (Dawgs)

Entrance is £10.  Check transport links at their website.

There’ll be enough talk everywhere about Tiger Woods and a lot of it will be in reference to his sponsorships and advertising. I want to look at it a different way, following a sage commentator on the radio this morning who was stressing the hope that it’s not an opportunity for prurience but a chance to re-evaluate winning at sport and what  it means.  As a coach this guy would hate to see young sportsmen being armed with Tiger’s book.  He didn’t want players to be like that. And what this latest news story shows us (or illustrates) is about the man and his happiness.  What is sport about if someone as good as Tiger has so little fun.

So what would I like to see?  A total reversal in the TW philosophy. Give up the sour puss and become more human. Even give up winning and competing: Surely he’s played enough great golf for us to see.  Go and become a different type of hero – a re-launched model -  being a real person and showing some joyfulness.

He’s got enough money and kudos for a lifetime and who knows, a new life in the reverse position could be both a new lease of life and quite likely a profitable one too.  Tiger’s life cold be like the proverbial game of soccer – “A game of two halves”

PS1 Having thought a bit more about Tiger and the above it’s worth saying that although he is not known as the cuddliest of guys, at least he’s not too freaky (which he could have been).  Compare and contrast him to Michael Jackson.

PS2 Having since read that he has the support of his sponsors remains intact (because those who follow him are not the easiest to shock with extra-mariatl concerns) you probby conclude that he needs to do nothing but win to continue to earn.  But as I said above, he’s got enough money and he has the opportunity to re-write the second half of his life.  he couldone day become more loved as well as respected.

And then if you really want to continue…  golf shoe bag for your golf shoes, golf socks… new (different or special) clubs, covers for your drivers… does the list go on?

So I’m wondering what other sport needs quite so much in the way of gear. Most sports you have to have a club or racket – but usuallly just one and maybe a spare.  And the correct ball/s. And appropriate shoes.  And clothing.  So it’s not that far off but it does seem that the list for golf goes on just that little bit further.

Does skiing count?

John Daly sporting a mean pair of golf trousers. It’s a shame that the shoes don’t match. Anyway who’s looking at the golf shoes here.

My Mum told me to look out for these golfing socks after she read about them in the papers and of course being made by the famous Selina Scott, publicity must flow like water.  Angora goat mohair, no less… these golf socks cost £12.50 plus P&P. 

Why they are especially golf socks is only about 75% clear but then are there such things?

I wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago about golf shoe manufacturers and whether they could guarantee where the leather came from.  (They can’t which is why you’re supposed to ask them and put the pressure on.)

I had a comment from Scott who runs a site all about the environmental impact or otherwise in all areas and issues.  It’s called Go For The Green (pun intended) and covers just about anything you can think of.  If you care, please visit.  (Why do I think golfers would be split on this?)  The site says “Our mission is to promote Environmental Stewardship on Golf Courses by reporting, promoting and discussing management solutions and strategies that will lead our industry towards a sustainable future”.

Just because I’m in an odd mood, here’s a picture of a nude golfer. (Thanks to Photographer Jojo Moreschi – who photographed 100 people doing everyday things in the nude.) (I’m going to re-use this!)

For some reason or another (and it’s very little to do with golf shoes), I came across a site in Australia which sell second hand golf balls.  I then checkd to see if there’s the same in Europe/USA and there is – this time golf balls from lakes! (This link is the UK but there’s the same company in the US.)

That’s good and if you want to buy golf balls in bulk for play or practise, I hope you can source them from one of these places.

But  what about old or slightly worn golf shoes? (The balls are graded between pristine and dogs – golf shoes could be too.)  Now I know that I’m the one that’s supposed to be supplying information but someone reading Golf Shoes Blog might have an answer to this.  The best that I can do at the moment is to say that I’m waiting for Puma/Soles4souls to get back to me on the charity re-cycling of older golf shoes.

Other than that there must be good, worn-once golf shoes in cupboards and garages which could be worn by the bargain hunter of the needy!  Or does e-bay deal with all these?

An Ode to Real Golfers by Aussie Golfer, which I foundon his blog site.  I guess this is borne of  a frustration with the non “real golfer”.My only sin is to ask if it’s a par four or a par five on courses with which I’m unfamiliar.  i hope I’d be forgiven that one.

One other query for our Aussie poet is whether “Athletic” golf shoes count as “real”?

Finally, I’m sorry about the predictable picture used to illuustrate this post.

Real golfers clean grooves and know what GUR means
Real golfers have golf shoes and don’t play in jeans

Real golfers don’t hate courses just because they’ve played poor
Real golfers don’t ask “Is this is a par 5 or 4?”

Real golfers play promptly and make measured “Fore!” calls
Real golfers love golf gear but not fluoro balls

Real golfers have pencils and gladly keep score
Real golfers never play in groups of five or more

Real golfers have an idea where their ball’s to be found
Real golfers fix plugmarks and yearn for four hour rounds

Real golfers will walk and often dress like fools
Real golfers always know and play by the rules

by Michael Green, Aussie Golfer

Sometimes I come across things golf related that I quite feel like talking about on Golf Shoes Blog but I don’t because there’s no golf shoe angle and then of course, usually, I don’t!  Maybe I should start a new category called “Golf But Nothing To Do With Shoes”!

If I did have such a category this would be in it!  It’s to do with finding a golf course and a tee time and the idea seems a pretty good one – and one that I’m not that familiar with to date.  (There are only poor relatives to this sophistication in the UK although the AA has a comparable service searching on a postcode but doesn’t do tee times or tie in with golf more.)

This US service does seem to tick all the boxes: It’s called golfnow and it’s a true ‘golf course directory’ – use this link to get there and then you’re away. Find a course (from 16,000!) where you want and find a tee time and book it.  And the benefit are discounted green fees (they say up to 70%!) and a rewards scheme.

The link again is http://www.golfnow.com/course-directory and there’s also an 0800 help line.  Happy Golfing!