A fortnight ago, Golf Shoes Blog had just received the two books from Bobby Rusher – “How to line up your fourth putt” and “When to regrip your ball retriever” and after my initial chuckles, I said that I would return with some more comment…

Well I’ve now read both cover to cover and they are worth it, when you have the time.  Though I have to say that the chapter headings remain amongst the funniest bits.  Maybe this time round my favourite was “What to do when your ball retriever is too short to get your putter out of the tree”.  Note; putter!

I did also like the gist of the foreword (pun intended of course) (no pun intended), to wit, that the “ball goes where you hit it”.  I’m not sure if that’s funny, true, sad or just stating the obvious.  I guess that it depends on when you say it…  I’m going to try it on the course next time.

I was also sent some comments and reviews by the great and good.  The trouble is that none are spoofs.  You can see the reviews on their website: Click on the book image to check them.

If you’re reading this Bobby, my review would go like this:

Golf Shoes Blog said: First of all Mr Rusher, I abhor the tennet of your thinking that golf is a game to be won – at all, let alone at any cost!  Fancy instructing others in even the possibility that gentlemen on the course would ever consider some of the tactics that you suggest.  Secondly, I cannot stand the thought that you think golf is a game to be laughed at – or golfers themselves.  It’s like mocking the afflicted.  Or taking the mickey out  of an institutionalised addict. Thirdly, how can you possibly write a whole book on the game and not even mention golf shoes.  This in itself damns your book and all it’s so-called humor”

After a long correspondence about whether I’d have a look at these books (I always said yes, but they never arrived) they did finally land on Golf Shoes Blog’s doorstep just before Christmas.  I thought it was a Christmas present – which it was in a way.  Two books and a cd – all available from www.4putt.com.  I guess they would have ideally got them to me earlier so that anyone who read this (and a more detailed review to follow) might have got on the net and bought one (or two) for a Christmas present for the golfer in their life.  They would be great present and now we’ve missed Xmas, then maybe for father’s day or a birthday.

As alluded to,  I will return to them in some more detail – but in the meantime let me say that the chapter titles made me chuckle staight out – like the titles of the books themselves.  By author Bobby Rusher, the original book is “How To Line Up Your Fourth Putt” and the sequel “When To Regrip Your Ball Retriever”. Chapter titles such as “How to hit a Dunlop 2 from the rough on your second shot, when you hit a Titleist 2 from the tee” and “How to get more distance off the shank” tell you much of the wit and off-fairway humour of the books.

There is more than the just the chapter names but the same vein is mined often throughout… such as the opener for the chapter “When to chip from the tee” with the opener being 1. When you already lie 6 on that tee or 3. To get back to the fairway – when you’re on another tee by some odd chance!

One other vein quickly visible thoughout is the wittily wicked gamesmanship (cheating?) which ranges from loudly cleaning your ball to a wollop with a 9-iron to the solar plexus.

If only the humour in the books were more evident on the course at the time when it’s most needed.  It’s definitely an antidote…

More soon when I’ve finished…

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?