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Well, it’s that time of year when, if you’re like me, you begin
to dread the shorter days, the cooling in the air, and the impending leaves,
frost, and even snow on the greens and fairways of your local golf course.
You’re afraid your swing will go to the birds over the winter
months, and that your handicap will hit a new low. Worst of all, though, is
that withdrawal as you eye your bag of clubs. There they sit, secluded in a
corner, gathering dust. “What to do, what to do!” you lament.
Well, if you’re a web savvy golfer, I have just the ticket for
you. I decided to collect and highlight my favorite web sites related to golf.
Before I get started, though, I can already hear the question
running through your mind. You’re probably thinking something along the lines
of “But, you are blind! You can’t possibly play golf…can you?”
The answer is a hearty “Yes! I’m a total addict, too!”
To get a better understanding of how I would play, I think it
would help to start by going to the official web site of blind golf in the US,
the United States Blind Golfers Association, which can be found here at the
home page of the
USBGA.
The rules are a very slightly modified version of the USGA rules,
and the USGA can be located at: http://www.usga.org/.
You can view the modifications at
the rules
modification page at the USBGA web site.
If you’re still awe-struck by the idea
of a blind golfer, I highly recommend a book written by a fairly well known
blind golfer by the name of Joe Lazaro. He wrote an instructional book called
“the right touch”. Because it is old, out of print, and hard to find, it is,
as seen here: http://www.golfiana.com/item.asp?item=6438
rather pricey. It’s well worth the investment, for any golfer, blind or sighted.
In the book, a general instructional
book for all golfers, Joe says, “If I can break 80, so can you.” I believe
him.
So, now, we’ve established my background
as a golfer, and (in general) my approach to playing the game. If you want to
play against me, may I suggest a midnight tee time? Hehehehehe.
So, where does the avid golf junkie
go while his favorite fairways gather leaves? How does he keep himself sane
while the greens glisten with snow?
Any number of places, actually. There’s
enough history, golf news, product information and purchasing to keep a duffer
busy until the season at their favorite course starts in the spring. I can’t
bring them all to you, but I plan on showing off my favorites. So, get comfortable,
grab a mug of cocoa or coffee, and enjoy these links to the links.
For You History Buffs
I thought it might be nice to take a look at two of the pioneers
of professional golf: Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.
Information on Bobby was just a bit easier to find. While http://www.bobbyjones.com/
isn’t a huge site, it has enough information to give you an idea of who this
giant in the world of golf is and was.
Finding information on Walter Hagen, however, is a different matter.
My Google search, on the first page alone, was primarily related to posters
of the Hage, as opposed to information about him. The one nugget I could find
was http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0109250.html
I was inspired to research these two particular golfers as a result
of my utter devotion to both the book and the movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” You
can, of course, find both at the amazon.com
web site.
Of course, there are the giants of today. Naturally, among them,
Tiger Woods comes to mind.
For the Club-Toting, Handicap-Adjusting Player
Before I refer you to the next site, I want to do our editor an
enormous favor and make the following disclaimer. The link that follows is
not an advertisement for its parent publication. Neither is it an endorsement
of same publication. I just love the site.
Everything I could want to know about my game, and that of the
pros can be found at GolfOn-Line. Whether it’s the leader boards,
tips on improving your game, finding a local course, or just about anything
else, too and including purchasing equipment, it can be found there. It’s a
golfers’ paradise. It’s also the official home page of Golf Magazine. As I
said above, I am in no way trying to sell Golf Magazine.
Still haven’t gotten your fill? Let’s pile on even more information
for the golf junkie by going to a site I love called Free Golf Info. The last I knew, this
site even offered web-based e-mail accounts so you could be, for example, blindgolfer@freegolfinfo.com.
When it comes to equipment, one of my favorite brands is Titleist. There’s nothing like
the ways their balls perform.
Of course, I can’t afford Titleist clubs, so I wind up club shopping
at play
it again sports.
Speaking of equipment, and Bagger Vance, as I did above, I have
wondered what owning hickory clubs would be like, have you? Go here
to find out.
Of course, if you’ll pardon the pun, if I could play anywhere
it would be at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
in Scotland.
Well, if this article doesn’t keep you busy until spring, I guess
that’s par for the course, eh? Oh, yeah, one more thing. I know that there’s
a wealth of PC golf games. Unfortunately, the majority aren’t terribly blind
friendly. I did find, however, a game I can play since it is designed for the
blind, and works on audible cues for swinging and putting. It’s not much, visually,
to look at, but it’s still fun, and can be found at the Kitchens Inc site for Windows
games.
Well, now it’s time to head for the 19th green. Care
to join me
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