Golfer Profile of the Month

Carl is a Midwesterner. He’s played the game for over 50 years. He’s played with smashed fingers from his job as a machinist. He’s played through cold winters wearing a pair of cheap brown gardening gloves. He taught his wife and two sons the game when they were all very young. Carl is a golfer in every sense of the word. Last week he shot an 80. That was pretty good for him these days, although he’s been in the mid 70’s many times. In the last 5 years he’s had a double eagle and two holes-in-one. His game has started to fall off a bit lately. There are days he’s happy breaking 90 and most days he’s just happy to play. And play he does. Religiously, six-seven days a week—rain or shine. Only the Midwestern winters slow him down and that’s only if there’s snow on the ground (although it’s been rumored that he’s tried it in the snow with an orange ball).

Carl never hit a long ball. 225 off the tee has always been enough for him, as long as it was dead straight. His mastery is from 100 yards in. One of the reasons is his putter. Not a Odyssey or a Pingor a Scotty Cameron—but a hand crafted one he made 30 years ago when he was still a machinist. The predecessor to the now trendy “heavy putter,” Carl milled it from a solid block of stainless steel. Polished it to a fine finish and asked his wife to sew a simple black felt cover to keep it pristine. Which he still uses to this day to cover and protect his now famous “weapon.” Deadly accurate wedges from inside a 100 yards and one puts have always been his specialty.

But what’s really special about Carl is not that he’s one of the many unique golfers out there with love and passion for the game, it’s that Carl turned 82 years old today. That right, 82. He hasn’t had an easy country club life—far from it. And he doesn’t played 12 months a year in 80 degree weather either. As Carl will tell you, “It’s winter out here from October til June.” But it’s never stopped him.

So hats off to Carl for being one of our true golf heroes and most especially for being my father.

I love you dad.

Tip from an arthritis sufferer.

My friends call me Bella and I’ve played golf now for over 40 years. Reaching my late seventies I had to stop, because the arthritis in my fingers made it too painful when I gripped the club. One day when I was at my orthopedist, he asked about my golf game (he’s known me for many years). When I told him why I’d stopped, he recommended that I try having my clubs regripped with oversized grips. He said that the oversize grips would stop my fingers from compressing to tightly. He also suggested I try a baseball grip as well. So I tried it, and by George the larger grips helped a lot. Couldn’t switch to the baseball grip after all these years, but I appreciated his suggestion. Give it a try. If you ask me, anything beats having to give up the game.

MN. Latrobe, PA.

Please allow me to brag a bit.

But for just a moment, please allow me to indulge myself. Yesterday at a fundraiser golf outing, I was please to shoot an 82. Not bad for the old boy, but what was really cool is that I dropped one in on a par four, with my Cleveland wedge from about 90 yards for an eagle. One bounce, about 2 inches from the cup, and then it swallowed my Titleist NXT right up. As my buddies were screaming and laughing, all I could think about was seeing the pros do it from time to time at a tournament. I surely wasn't comparing myself to them, but I was thinking the experience was just as sweet. Hooray for us boomers. Anyone have a story of their own to tell?

BGC Golf Shoe Series #1: My feet are killing me.

The golf shoe. Well who doesn’t have three or four pair shoved in the trunk of their car, or under the hedge clippers in the shed? Mine are always full of dust and spiders, but every-ready to be dusted off for the next round. I’m sure most of you take better care of your shoes than I have over the years....but I’m guessing a few of you can relate.

As most of us know, the golf shoe has changed dramatically over the last few years. Spikes became soft spikes. Fashion took hold for the first time in a while. And casual has challenged the classic. Thankfully some shoe manufactures have started to focus on us. With Boomers, casual comfort and arch support have become the top priorities. As we get older, as our weigh begins to win the battle, our arches sag a bit. I actually was running around telling everyone that my feet had grown a full size since I turned 55. But later found out it wasn’t that my feet had grown, but my arches has “fallen” from age and too many frappachinos.

So this spring I was off to the shoe store. Not only to replace my old golf shoes, but to research the shoe market for the best shoes for the 50+ golfer.

Over the next few months I will report back to you on this subject, but today I want to focus on a great company you all know, or should get to know, Etonic of Waltham, MA.

From their Website: In 1876, the man who inspired the Etonic name, Charles A. Eaton, opened his first shoe factory in Brockton, MA. Over 60 years later, the Charles A. Eaton company ventured into golf shoe manufacturing, where it quickly gained a reputation for leading-edge technology and design. By the 1950s, hundreds of golf professionals were wearing the company's "Tournament of Champions" line. Two decades later, the Eaton Company recognized an opportunity in the running shoe category, and it soon became one of the most trusted and respected brands among diehard runners.

From introducing the first golf shoe with GORE-TEX® linings to its breakthrough Stabilizer™ technology, Etonic continued to pioneer new ways to help athletes feel and perform better. To enhance the experience of their chosen sport. And to help them finish one step ahead.

After researching their shoe line, I reached out to this impressive company about their shoes. In so doing, my eyes were opened to some very impressive technology. I spoke with Mike Bowhers, Field Sales and Marketing Representitive for Etonic Worldwide. Mike's insight was extremely helpful. As he put it, “In Florida, for example, where there are so many golf courses and older golfers, the top Etonic shoes are the EM6005-4 and the EM6006-4 which are Velcro fastened, spikeless golf shoes. Older golfers really like these because they're easy to get on and off and very comfortable.” These shoes are not only attractive, but are easy care, water-resistant, and have uppers with a soft padded collar and tongue for ultimate comfort.

Mike goes on to say that another very big seller for the 50+ market is the G-SOK Classic series. This is Etonic’s non cleated performance shoe. It has a Goodyear sole and Shocksorb™ heel and a Cushion Cuspension™ insole for comfort. It has a Tri-Zone Traction™ outsole for slip resistance. “We also use our stabilizer technology in the sole. The biggest seller in the G-SOK line last year was the GSC105-14.”

Once you try on a pair of the EM or G SOK series, you’ll understand why you should own a few pairs. And why this great company has been at the top of their game for over 130 years. WOW!

Check them out: www.etonic.com

I give Etonic golf shoes the Boomer 4-Tee™ rating.