PUMA Golf

Golfing Sailors

2009-08-31T09:34:00.003-04:00

Our guest author today is Kenny Read, skipper of the PUMA Ocean Racing boat the Il Mostro. We invited Kenny to join us for our Boston PUMA Open and he had a few things to say

Okay, I guess I should have known.

The PUMA Open? Sounds innocent enough right. After all, it’s just golf. I have been sauntering 'round a few golf courses in my day and figure that a scramble style event is pretty painless and typically good fun.

Boy am I naive. I've been around this company long enough to know that this was golf the PUMA way. "Normal" is not exactly a word that is used a lot around the PUMA water cooler.

Fast forward to arrival time at the Pine Hills Golf Course out near the bridges to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Clearly a very nice course- my guess is that the Pine Hills people didn't know what they were getting in to either.

Chief Marketing Officer, Antonio Bertone, met me at the course a little early and he decided that a Harpoon Beer (my personal #1) was in store along with a tour of the course. A tour of the course, I thought, sure why? "To see what this is all about,” he said. We took off with his partner in crime (in the marketing department) Tara. I'm thinking- what the heck does he need to see the course for as he doesn't even play golf? In fact I tried to get him to play on my team and he refused. So we hopped in a golf cart, with beer in hand and took a drive- a drive that may have changed golf forever in my mind.

Tony is creative, sometimes to the absurd and I say that with a huge amount of respect. Some Bertone-isms in the first three minutes of our golf cart ride:

"Golf would be so much more fun if you rode motorcycles around the course instead of golf carts. Just look at that natural jump off the first tee?"

"I need to rewire this cart and get rid of the speed governor"

"When we roll this cart over on that hill, you will probably break your leg, but you have two years to get better before the next Volvo right?"

And so on. We get to the first tee box and see that there is a sign with instructions.

Sign reads: "Drive with your putter, putt with your driver" Huh? "Didn't anyone tell you that this event was slightly different?" Tony says as he laughs hysterically. "Next time I do this drive through I need a cart that looks like a stretch limo. Maybe a Hummer or something" Okay, where exactly does the golf part come in I’m thinking.

The tour of the next eight holes told the story. Chipping balls at your team mates, fastest time to complete a hole (number of shots do not matter), pull a card from a deck of cards and the card number is the club you have to use for the entire hole including putting...and so on.

The tour ended and we got back to the clubhouse. Maybe hit a couple balls on the range first- all with a Harpoon beer in hand and rock and roll music blaring- of course. And the day went on.

Our squad competed admirably- I think we did anyway. I dont have any idea how the scoring worked to be honest. Our team name was il mostro. Doris, Nikola and Ryan- all who work with Tony in Boston- made up our foursome. Doris taking golf seriously with solid contact, Nikola thinking the ball was a hockey puck- reverting back to her Olympic hockey days, and Ryan attempting to beat the golf ball into submission on every shot- hitting the ball a long way but I don't believe we ever found a single tee shot of his after he hit it. It was all very fun and a lot of laughs.

The fastest time to complete a 400 yard par four was 1:40 by the way. We did it in just under three minutes which we thought was pretty good but clearly off the pace. Quite honestly I don't even know how our team did overall because the awards ceremony was held while all competitors were participating in a Casino night back at the clubhouse. Attention had left the course by then as all were was frantically trying to figure out whether to hold on 14 or take one more card.

And so goes another day at the office in PUMA world. Never a dull moment. Always with a smile. Golf will never be the same.

(By the way, new PUMA golf shoes are fantastic whether you want to participate normally or trying to be fastest from tee to green!)

You can read more from Kenny and the Sailing Team at the PUMA Ocean Racing Blog.

The Not So Distant Future

2009-08-28T11:00:00.001-04:00

Movies like “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Starship Troopers” and “Back to the Future II” prove that predicting the future, though entertaining (yes, I liked Starship Troopers), is almost always dead wrong.

That being said, I’m going to try my hand at it and see if I can predict some shifting trends in a game that is in desperate need of a facelift.

Golf is played by 57 million people worldwide, 51 million of which will never break 100 and 91% of whom will never belong to country club. Golf, for the vast majority, is not about meeting a status quo but rather about being outside, improving your game, and being with your friends on a Saturday afternoon. We’re playing because its fun!

Part of having fun is not dropping a hundred bucks on a round where course rules outnumber the course par. Let’s get real, who really has five hours and all that money to set aside once a week? If golf is going to continue rising in popularity it is going to need to adapt and start catering to the needs of the majority.

Here are a few changes that we might see down the road.

1. Who said you have to choose between playing 9 and 18 holes. If you have time to play 3 or 4, why not pay for 3 or 4.

2. Lets make renting clubs more affordable so a beginner can get to know the game a little before spending an arm and a leg on a set of sticks.

3. Lastly, let’s rethink the dress code. Just because golf has been played for six centuries doesn’t mean we have to dress like it. Now there’s no doubt that some serious progress has been made since knickerbockers but come on, everyone looks the same out there! We need some more individuality on the course. Let’s get creative. Dress well and be unique. Not so much John Daily unique, think more along the lines of Geoff Ogilvy unique.

We at PUMA have done some thinking about how to spice up the links a little.
Check out our store and see what you think.

Yes he did

2009-08-24T11:25:00.003-04:00

If you were watching the Wyndham Championships yesterday you probably said to yourself, "why, that young man who just won this tournament sure has a unique style!" And you would be right...Ryan Moore has turned heads this year with his facial hair and relaxed wardrobe. Oh and he's also playing really well. And you know what we say here at PUMA-Look Better, Feel Better, Play Better. So it should come as no surprise that Ryan won yesterday sporting a pair of PUMA's.

For more information on Ryan's win, check out this post on Wei Under Par.

Congratulations Ryan!

British Invasion

2009-08-21T10:07:00.002-04:00

There is nothing we at PUMA Golf like better then a player who really knows how to stand out on the course. Breanne Loucks of Wales is just that kind of gal. We love her platinum hair and unique sense of style. BBC Sport caught up with Breanne this week for a chat. Check it out to find out how her career started with a broken arm and to see her rock some great PUMA Gear!

PUMA Open Season is Full Swing

2009-08-19T11:47:00.003-04:00

Last Friday’s PUMA Open in Chicago marked our eighth PUMA Open of the summer which can only mean one thing… THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN LEFT!!!

If you haven’t noticed, we’ve made quite the splash along the way in our nationwide quest to bring the fun back to golf.

How did we do it?

First, we took your everyday golf tournament (with all those rules) and threw it out the window.
Next we added our own “nontraditional” golf holes, casino style gambling, drinks, food and prizes.
Lastly, we invited all of you!

Check out the links below to see what people are saying about the PUMA Open!

Golf.com

AZCentral.com

Thereviewjournal.com

Thegolfgirl.blogspot.com

Make sure you catch one of the remaining PUMA Opens in a city near you. Visit thepumaopen.com for more details.

Guess who else is a fan of the PUMA Open? Check out this video of New York Yankee, Johnny Damon and LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg as they prepare for the PUMA Open:

The REAL Headline Coming Out of Hazeltine

2009-08-18T11:49:00.011-04:00

Now that the 2009 Major season is officially over, lets do a recap. We saw Angel Cabrera win the Masters after a three-way sudden-death playoff. Two months later Lucas Glover won the US Open at Bethpage thwarting Phil Mickelson’s attempt at a long awaited Major win. You’d had to have been living under a rock not to have heard about the 59-year old Tom Watson’s run at the British Open and eventual fall to the Twitter friendly, Stuart Cink (Did I mention that Tiger missed the cut?). Then there was this past weekend’s PGA Championship where ESPN headlines read “Yang Slays Tiger, Stuns World With Victory.”

We at PUMA were a little surprised when we read this headline. I mean, is it such a big deal that the undisputed best golfer in the world heading into Sunday with a two stroke lead lost to the 110th ranked, 37-year old South Korean, Y.E. Yang? Really, how hard could it have been?

Clearly the biggest story coming out of last weekend at Hazeltine had nothing to do with the final pairing between Yang and Tiger. The leading headline of every sports section across America clearly should have read, “PUMA Introduces Fall 2009 Apparel, Golfers Look Really Really Good”

Geoff Ogilvy and Soren Kjeldsen debuted the Fall 2009 PUMA Golf collection over the weekend proving that not every PGA golfer has to wear pants baggier than MC Hammer’s and shirts the color of my grandmother’s sofa.

Be the first to own some Fall 09 threads by visiting fairwaystyles.com.

Hopefully ESPN will get it right next time…

PUMA Open Tee Off Party

2009-08-14T10:56:00.003-04:00

How better to mentally prepare for the Boston PUMA Open than to eat burritos and drink beer?

That’s exactly what we’ll be doing next Tuesday up in Boston for all you locals!

Join us at our Newbury Street store for the official Tee-Off Party to check out the competition and get ready for next Friday’s PUMA Open.

Enjoy a store wide 20% discount, drinks provided by Harpoon Brewery and Function Drinks, food provided by Qdoba and beats served up by DJ Inkognito.

When: Tuesday 8/18, 6pm-8pm
Where: The PUMA Store
333 Newbury St. Boston, MA

Did I mention that it’s FREE?

Must be 21 to attend.

Join our Facebook event for more details- http://tinyurl.com/PUMAparty

If you haven’t yet signed up for the Boston PUMA Open, there are a few spots left. Visit www.thepumaopen.com fast before it’s sold out!

PUMA Golfer Geoff Ogilvy On Twitter!

2009-08-14T09:45:00.003-04:00

First Step- Sign onto Twitter (If you don’t have a Twitter account, it’s about time you jump on the bandwagon- It’s pretty sweet)

Second Step- Search @geoffogilvy and press FOLLOW!

Third Step- Get live updates from one of the world’s best golfers even while he’s mid-round!

Also, if you’re not already, make sure you follow @pumagolf for exclusive discounts and tweets from your friends here at PUMA!

Golf an Olympic Sport in 2016, Almost

2009-08-13T11:42:00.004-04:00

Earlier today in Berlin, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee voted for the inclusion of golf and rugby sevens into the 2016 Olympic Games.

Golf and rugby beat a list of seven other sports looking for a bid including softball, squash, baseball and karate. The entire IOC, made up of 115 players and executives will vote in October to officially add the two sports.

Both a men’s and women’s 72-hole tournament would be established with a field of 60 players in each. The PGA has agreed to schedule Tour stops around the event to avoid player conflicts. Top golfers have already expressed interest in playing in the games for their shot at the first gold medal in golf since the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

How great will it be to watch the field compete for the chance for a place on the podium and not a gigantic check!

The question is, who's face will we see on the Wheaties box seven years from now?

Cool as a cat, PUMA golfer Louis De Jager coasts to victory at Suncoast Classic

2009-08-12T14:10:00.003-04:00

If asked, any golf fan would be able to tell you that there’s something in the water in South Africa that makes great golfers. Major victors including Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, and of course, Gary Player have hailed from Africa’s southern most country.

PUMA is excited to announce that there is another player on the rise from the country that keeps giving to golf.

PUMA golfer, Louis De Jager of Centurion, South Africa has just won his maiden victory at the Suncoast Classic, a key stop on the Sunset Tour. Having won a number of amateur events the year prior, Louis joined the professional tour in 2008 at the age of 21. Since turning pro, Louis has had a number of top ten finishes including a 6th place finish at the Telecom PGA Championship.

Louis’ win at the Suncoast Classic was no doubt a product of consistent putting and his ability to stay cool under the pressure of a Sunday lead.

Congratulations to Louis on the great win!

Week's End

2009-08-07T17:25:00.001-04:00

Everyone get out there and enjoy the weekend! We'll be back next week with lots of great PUMA Golf action!

All in a Day's Work

2009-08-05T17:54:00.002-04:00

Ever wonder what the folks at PUMA Golf do when they need to blow off a little steam?

We dare you to talk YOUR office into building one too.

Anna Nordqvist-our little star

2009-08-03T12:50:00.003-04:00

Something awfully exciting happened this weekend and no it was NOT at the Buick Open.

PUMA athlete and rising LPGA superstar Anna Nordqvist was selected as a member of the European Solheim Cup Team.

The Solheim Cup is the most prestigious international team event in women's professional golf and we couldn't be more proud of Anna! Cue "We are the Champions" please...

PUMA Introduces UV Protection to Golf Clothing

2009-07-30T15:24:00.003-04:00

Who hasn’t been eight years old and waited impatiently on a hot sandy beach while your mom slathered an embarrassing amount of sunscreen on you and then made you wait an additional fifteen minutes to let it dry before going into the water! Adolescent torture at its best!

Fast-forward twenty years. Its a beautiful Saturday morning and the starter just gave you and your buddies the go-ahead with no mom to slab on sunscreen in sight. I’ll be the first one to admit that I’ve abstained from sunscreening up a time or two.

Unfortunately, prolonged sun exposure has some serious health risks. Just recently, international cancer experts categorized ultraviolet radiation as a deadly agent compared with the likes of arsenic and mustard gas.

In fact, nearly 3 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year making it the most common form of cancer. According the World Health Organization, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

The American Cancer Society has proposed a number of preventative measures that can be taken against harmful exposure. When it comes to golfing, some tips are helpful and some not so much. Take a look:

1. Avoid being outdoors too much.
-NOT AN OPTION! As far as I know, golf is an outdoor sport.

2. Wear baggy long sleeve shirts and pants preferably dark in color.
- Sorry guys, on a 90° day on the back nine, long sleeves and pants just don’t cut it.

3. Stay in the shade.
- Hopefully while golfing you are avoiding the shade as much as possible. (Though my slice would tell you otherwise)

Or a fourth alternative, one that PUMA Golf found particularly intriguing.
4. Wear Clothing with built-in protection.
- Now we’re getting somewhere!!!

Introducing a line of PUMA apparel with UV protection built into the very fabric! While others are using a UPF 30+, PUMA has developed a technology capable on infusing its material with UPF 40+, or in other words, SPF 120 and 99.17% protection against harmful rays.

In conclusion: Stay OUTSIDE. Keep AWAY from the shade. And most importantly, wear golf apparel that looks good, works well and keeps you healthy!

Last Call For The PUMA Open NJ This Friday 7/31

2009-07-29T11:02:00.002-04:00

The PUMA Open NJ still has 5 spots available and if you or your friends are still on the fence, here are some reasons why you need to pull the trigger:

1.) Open bar on domestic beer from 2-7PM... enough said.

2.) Black Bear G.C. is less than an hour from Manhattan and Westchester County.

3.) Great excuse to call out sick... I hear there is a nasty cold going around.

4.) You need to redeem yourself for that lame RCA video you captured from the previous PUMA Open. You guys know who you are ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmwiXCbqGPE).

5.) It's going to be months before the PUMA Open returns to the area.

That's all you need to know. To register, visit www.thepumaopen.com!

Where: Black Bear G.C.Vernon, NJ 07462

When: July 31st (2-9pm)

Sincerely,
The PUMA Open Team

Wide Open

2009-07-27T16:12:00.002-04:00

Our PUMA Open Season rolls on this weekend in New Jersey at the Black Bear Golf Course.

If you haven't yet come out to one of these events, go check out The PUMA Open website and pick one already! With cities like Boston, Chicago, San Diego and Austin still to come, there is just no reason not to take advantage of all those airline discounts out there and take a nice long weekend with some friends.

Here's a little peek from the PUMA Open Toronto.

Call your friends, book a ticket, live a little.

Swedish Pride

2009-07-24T15:02:00.003-04:00

Good Luck to PUMA Golf's favorite Swede, Mr. Johan Edfors and his blue pants as he makes us proud at this years SAS Masters

Happy Weekend everyone, may there be a tee time with your name on it in your near future.

PUMA Open Is Coming, The PUMA Open Is Coming!!!

2009-07-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

Bostonians, remember how Paul Revere galloped down the Freedom Trail to warn the citizens of Concord and Lexington that the British were coming? Well listen closely because this is kind of like that but even more important.

THE PUMA OPEN IS COMING TO BOSTON!!! That’s right; the PUMA Open is back in Beantown and registration just went live!

This is an exclusive announcement made only to those reading our blog and following us at http://www.facebook.pumagolf.com/ and @pumagolf (twitter lingo to those non tweeters).

Join PUMA at the Pine Hills Golf Club on August 21 for the most fun Boston has had since the Tea Party.

Get your foursome together and visit http://www.thepumaopen.com/ to register before it sells out.

Pained By His Passing

2009-07-21T15:02:00.002-04:00

Golf Needs More Players Like Payne Stewart Who Enjoy a Good Time

By NiceBallz.com

You're going to start hearing more about Payne Stewart in the coming weeks and months. The 10-year anniversary of his untimely passing will be marked this October and the PGA Championship will be played next month at Hazeltine National Golf Club where Stewart won his first U.S. Open. His memory will be justly covered in many articles noting his impact on the game, and the legacy he's left behind.

Payne Stewart represented a great deal of what we love about golf. He was a character, and had character. Just as importantly he had the game to back it all up with one of the prettiest swings of all time.

Before there were big belt buckles, outrageous colored pants (aside from those in the '70s) and players who paired great fashion with a great game - there was Payne.

He was someone who took the game seriously, but not himself.

When he died, NiceBallz co-founder Hack was living in South Dakota. While at work he heard the news about Payne's plane flying like a ghost ship through the sky. The hours passed and sadly it was obvious that the outcome was inevitable. Stewart's plane crashed just a few hours from where Hack sat at work.

He was one of our favorite golfers. A man who liked to have a good time. A family man. A champion. And a man who had style to go with his game was gone.

We're not ones for huge servings of sentimentality - but we are planning to sport some headgear that we think Payne would approve of when we play in October in some small tribute to the man. We'd wear the knickers but we don't have the game to back it up.

-NiceBallz The guys at NiceBallz appreciate a good character and golfers who don't take themselves too seriously. Follow more of their style advice and antics at http://blog.niceballz.com or on Twitter or Facebook.

Ryan Ballengee on Golf Fashion For The Modern Man

2009-07-20T15:09:00.004-04:00

PUMA Golf welcomes Ryan Ballengee from Waggle Room as PUMA Golf's newest guest blogger.

The NY Times had a story last weekend, penned by Bill Pennington, about how many of the golf apparel makers "script" out the uniforms that players will wear during golf's major championships. The practice has been going on since the 1980s, but it has picked up more steam in recent years. As golf fashion has become more avant garde, apparel makers have had to work harder to make sure that the men and women who wear their clothes look as good in reality as the mannequins do.

Most of us don't have the luxury of having an apparel maker - or Golf Digest's Marty Hackel - available at our disposal to advise us with our golf fashion decisions. I think that is what precludes many men from taking the leap into more modern golf fashion. Men rightly do not want to risk looking as bad in their clothes as they do around the greens. Therefore, they stick with their white and brown shoes, khaki pants, and royal blue shirts. It might be boring, but it makes sense for them.

But, golf fashion does not have to be tough to try. A man does not have to buy a pair of white pants, a gawdy LED scrolling belt buckle, and a military cap in order to get modern. Start simple. Start with a pair of white golf shoes. They're popular nowadays. Then, maybe try some new colors. You can mask pink by calling is fuscia, or salmon. Perhaps take a look at an argyle print, or polka dots. Maybe even experiment with a new belt.
Golf fashion does not require a lifetime commitment. It's not a cult. But once you get into it, you may become addicted to it.

Either way, you can still wear your 10 year old pair of tighty whiteys underneath it all.

-Ryan

Little Vegas

2009-07-17T10:24:00.003-04:00

Like most of you, we've been stuck to coverage of The Open Championship.

We have our own thoughts about who will be taking home the Claret Jug at the end of all of this (see previous post, we have our cheering hands full) but that doesn't mean we don't love to hear what other people think. We're taking your thoughts on our Facebook Fan Page so come on over.

We also stumbled across this collection of picks by some of the best bloggers in the golfosphere.

Lastly, we were endlessly entertained this week by our friends over at Nice Ballz who used their patented "BS-o-meter" on Round One of the Open. A perfect Friday read.

It's a beautiful weekend and whether you are out on the course, cheering on the pros at Turnberry, or checking in to see if Charles Barkley's swing will ever get any better at the American Century Championship, just make sure you look good doing it.

We'll see you next week!

Good Luck at Turnberry!

2009-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

PUMA wishes each of its six athletes competing in this weekend's British Open the best of luck in their quest for the Claret Jug.

Scotland may have invented golf but PUMA brought the style.

Go get 'em!

-Geoff Ogilvy

-Johan Edfors

-Jeff Overton

- Josh Geary

- Mark Brown

-Soren Kjeldsen

- Thomas Aiken

Introducing Guest Blogger Stratton Nolen With His Thoughts on Junior Golf Style

2009-07-15T15:11:00.009-04:00

PUMA Golf welcomes Stratton Nolen as the newest contributor to the PUMA Golf Blog. Stratton is a 14 year old amateur junior golfer and high school freshman from Austin, Texas. Aside from tearing up the junior circuit, Stratton has a few things to way when it comes to the latest trends in style and fashion for junior golfers. Welcome Stratton!

In the past few years, style is sweeping through junior golf. Puma is leading the way with some of the most stylish apparel and gear for junior golfers. A lot of juniors dress like or are at least influenced by some of the stylish players on the PGA tour.

The players that have had the best style in my mind are Payne Stewart for wearing his classic outfits and dared to be different. Ian Poulter for his crazy colorful outfits, Brian Gay for his use of bright colors, and my favorite, Geoff Ogilvy for his class in his great sense of style in everything he wears.

I like to wear bright solid colors like lime green, bright oranges, and even pinks. I love performance fabrics and the new invisabonding on Puma’s shirts gives me the fit and feel that I love. Keeping cool, comfortable and looking good ranks high on what helps me perform at my best on the course. Some style rules that I try to follow are: Hat, Belt and Shoes should nearly always be the same color or have colors that match. I like mixing black and white with contrasting bright colors. Looking sharp on the course is important to me. I express myself in the way I dress while playing golf. Besides dressing well, here are some other keys I believe you need to follow to playing golf at a high level:

· staying fit and in shape
· have a positive attitude
· practice, practice, practice

In the next couple of weeks I will be traveling to San Diego, CA for the Callaway Junior World and then to Pinehurst, NC for the U.S. kids World. I will report on what is “in” this year and check out the growth of Puma on the junior scene.

Registration for the New Jersey PUMA Open is LIVE!

2009-07-13T17:51:00.004-04:00

Hey Jersey, jealous of all your New York friends and their sold out PUMA Open?

Well don’t be because On July 31^st the PUMA Open will be coming to the Black Bear Golf Course in Franklin, NJ!

(All you New Yorkers who missed out on last months NYC PUMA Open, this is your chance to make up for it!)

As all New York/ New Jersey PUMA Open events sell out in less than 24 hours without fail, act fast and reserve your foursome now!

Get moving and visit www.thepumaopen.com to register today!

PUMA Golfer Alexandre Kaleka Wins In France

2009-07-13T14:10:00.002-04:00

Six days after turning pro, PUMA golfer Alexandre Kaleka won his maiden victory in his home country of France. Alexandre won the ALLIANZ EurOpen de Lyon to become just the seventh pro to win on their tour debut.

Come Sunday, Kaleka made it quite clear that he was there to win by taking off his socks and shoes to muscle out a mud ball on the 10th to save a bogey and the lead. With the help of three eagles and 19 birdies, Alexendre was able to card a 16 under par winning by one stroke over Anders Hanson.

With the win, Kaleka is already looking forward to future Challenge Tour victories and a timely entry into the European Tour.

With a win like this one, who’s to doubt him!

PUMA Athlete, Daniel Wünsche Wins in Germany!

2009-07-09T16:12:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to PUMA Athlete Daniel Wünsche for winning this year’s Land Fleesensee Classic!

Daniel dominated the field carding a 65,67, 66 to finish on Wednesday 18 under par. It’s no wonder he won by a margin of five shots given the number of consecutive birdies and near flawless play through each of the three rounds.

Turning Pro only one year ago, the 23 year old German has already made a mark on the EPD (European Professional Development) Tour moving up to 6th place in the Order of Merit Rankings.

Look for much more from Daniel Wünsche in years to come. Daniel is a young gun with some serious talent and if I may say so myself, some solid style.

Getting Geeked for Golf

2009-07-08T13:04:00.005-04:00

Self-Diagnosis Guidelines for Obsessive Gear Heads

By NiceBallz.com

Golfers are gear heads. They love equipment, gadgets and swing training aids. And, golfers for the most part are an obsessive bunch. Why else would we pay to chase a ball around in the woods, and then do it all over again?

Obsessive gear heads do what they do best, they obsess over their gear.

Could you be obsessed with golf? Do you suffer from the same affliction experienced by millions of other golfers who privately hide their excitement for golf? Does your commitment to the game bring you shame?

As a free public service, NiceBallz presents scientifically proven self-diagnosis guidelines for obsessive gear heads. A few things you do, especially before a big match or when playing a new course, will reveal if you’re geeked for golf.

You might be geeked for golf if:

-You clean your clubs or scrub your grips before you play
-You review the online scorecard or take the virtual golf course tour
-You download the course into your GPS distance measuring device a few days before just to be safe
-You wash off your dirty pull cart before putting it in the car
-You buy so many Gatorades and Powerbars that the grocery bagger asks if you want help to your car
-You pick out your stylish head-to-toe golf outfit the night before
-You color coordinate your outfit with golf partners a day ahead (not everyone in Paula pink or Tiger red)
-You play a practice round ahead of an important tournament
-You change the configuration of your adjustable clubs for each course
-You check to make sure none of the spikes on your shoes are loose the night before
-You mark your golf balls before getting to the first tee or, worse, even before arriving at the parking lot
-You make next weekend’s tee time before getting to work on Monday or, worse, right after your round

If you do more than two of these things, you’ve got a bad case and you’re really geeked for golf. But fear not, obsessive gear heads. Other hobbyists get geeked, too.

Cooks sharpen their knives, slice their ingredients and refine their recipes before a big dinner. Runners chow down carbs, hydrate up and stretch it out before a big race. Anglers buy the bait, tie their flies or check the tides before a big catch. Preparation is important for performance.

Geeking out with your gear is just a sign that you’re excited. Golf is a game. It’s supposed to be fun. If you’re not excited to play, maybe you should find another hobby that gets you geeked.

There are many other expensive pursuits for obsessive gear heads. Photography, anyone? Think about all those expensive lenses, each specialized for a specific task. Ohhh. Maybe boating? Lots of difficult dials and pumps. Did you know that boat is an acronym for bring out another thousand? Ahhh.

But few other hobbies can match the allure of golf for those tortured by obsessive-compulsive disorder or just addicted to the game. Geek out, fixated friends. Golf was made for us.

-NiceBallz

The guys at NiceBallz are not psychiatrists, but they did stay at a discount chain hotel last night. Follow more of their award-winning blog and their golf obsessions at http://blog.niceballz.com/ or on Twitter or Facebook.

Registration For The PUMA Open Toronto Is Up!

2009-07-06T16:26:00.002-04:00

Do you know the PUMA Open Handshake? Check out the video below created by a team who played in the PUMA Open LA last week.

Register now for the PUMA Open Toronto for 9 holes of golf the PUMA way, followed by dinner, casino style gaming, and of course, drinks throughout.

The PUMA Open Toronto will be held Friday, July 17th between 2:30pm and 9:00pm at the Eagles Nest Golf Club in Maple, Ontario.

Grab three of your buddies and register your foursome before it’s sold out!

Register at: http://www.thepumaopen.com/

The PUMA Open is Coming to Chicago

2009-07-01T11:45:00.005-04:00

Hey Chi-Town, guess what??? The PUMA Open is BACK!

Get three of your buddies together and register today for an afternoon of golf the PUMA way.

For the third year in a row, PUMA is coming to Chicago to host the summer golf event of the year. With registration, you and friends will play 9 holes of PUMA style golf which includes dinner, casino style gambling, drinks, prizes and more.

When: Friday, August 14th, 2009 - 2pm to 9pm

Where: Bolingbrook Golf Club
http://www.bolingbrookgolfclub.com/

How Much: $75 per person (must register as foursome)

Visit http://www.thepumaopen.com/ for more details.

Who are you calling, Shankapotomus?

2009-06-25T14:37:00.002-04:00

By NiceBallz.com

Nicknames are like white elephant gifts. You know, the exchange of unwanted junk at those awkward office holiday parties. Everyone loves to give, but not receive.

Nicknames are everywhere. I've dated a "Pumpkin Spice," who loved her seasonal Starbucks latté, and a "Pink Panther," who poured herself into pink corduroy pants (no, not LPGA star Paula Creamer, as hard as it is for you to believe). We surf the "Intranets" and we search on "The Google." Athletes are dubbed "A-Fraud" and "Barroid." Celebrity couples merge as "Brangelina" and "TomKat." Fading stars become "Wacko Jacko." And, then there's "OctoMom."

It's a cruel world. This is especially true on the golf course where we all are particularly vulnerable to spastic episodes of failure and the whims of Mother Nature.

Golf is a game of camaraderie. And, friendships are forged over a four-hour round. But, if your golf game is in some way a reflection of your personality and quirks, then it comes with opportunity for your friends to make fun of you. Play golf and it won't be long before you earn a nickname. Mostly nicknames are affectionate expressions, other times they are more malicious - the best are some of both.

I've played golf with "The Shinner," who limped with a golf ball-sized welt after hitting himself in the leg with a ricochet off a tree, and "The Tan Man," who is perpetually fake-and-baked.

A meticulous player myself, I've been called, "Paint," because it dries faster than my swing. After missing an annual golf getaway this spring, a friend - in all his empathy - said he would honor my absence by taking a 30-second backswing. Very funny, smart@$$.

Even golf clubs have their own terms of endearment. The new Cleveland Golf Niblick, an updated version of an old school chipper, is affectionately known in our group simply as "The Nibbler." And, my Heavy Putter by Boccieri Golf has earned Hollywood hip-hop status as "The Overweight Lover Heavy D."

Here are a few other favorite golf nicknames to use on your next foursome:

Shankapotomus- Yes we know this has made the rounds. Shush, it's still funny. Online securities broker E*TRADE introduced golfers to derogatory genius in a clever TV commercial starring a talking baby golfer hip with the slang. In the ad, baby golfer scolds his playing partner for an illegal ball drop and pokes fun at his weak game: "Learn the rules, Shankapotomus!"

Obi-Wan Kenobi - Hit a golf ball out of bounds (O.B.) and suffer a stroke-and-distance penalty. Not good for your score. Hit straight you must. Learn to control slice you will. May the force be with you, Jedi.

Archie Bunker - I had the following exchange with a caddy once after dumping a shot in a bunker: "Only two things fit in that trap." "What are they?" "An angry man and his wedge." Funny guy. Didn't appreciate tips apparently. Haul this nickname out the next time your buddy hits onto the beach. Bring a sand wedge, Archie Bunker. And, a recliner because you're gonna be in there a while.

If not mean spirited or offensive, a nickname among friends only adds to the fun. Like that ceramic cat that keeps making the rounds every year at the corporate holiday gift exchange, we wonder: Who'll get it next?

Share your favorite golf nicknames with us via comments or on Twitter. What really gets under your skin? How do you heckle your playing partners? And, how do you keep coming up with something clever? Keep it clean, Chunkosaurus.

The NiceBallz guys have been called a lot of unflattering nicknames of which they're blissfully unaware. Follow their golf game and sense of humor under a pseudonym, of course, at http://twitter.com/GolferWriterGuy and his blog partner, let's just call him "Hack," at http://twitter.com/NiceBallz or both of them at their blog: http://blog.niceballz.com/.

Ogilvy Wins in Quebec!

2009-06-24T11:20:00.007-04:00

Geoff Ogilvy didn't waste any time after this past week's water soaked US Open, traveling up to Quebec Tuesday to compete in the 2009 Telus World Skins Game. Geoff skillfully and fashionably beat out notables Fred Couples, Mike Weir, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia to win the $150,000 purse and yet another trophy for the wall. Congrats to Geoff on yesterday's impressive victory!!!

PUMA Brigade Storms Bethpage!

2009-06-18T16:21:00.006-04:00

Watch as the PUMA Brigade storms the US Open at Bethpage cheering on PUMA athlete, Geoff Ogilvy. Over 75 PUMA Golf fans entered Bethpage Wednesday decked out in PUMA Special Edition gear. Check out the clip below to see the Brigade in action!

Like what you see? Visit one of the following retailers to get some Special Edition gear of your own!

Fairwaystyles.com - Official Online Retailer
Brody's Golf - Grand Blanc, MI
Players Golf - Orlando, FL
Reunion Resort - Reunion, FL
Cottonwood Creek - Waco, TX
Royal Hawaiian Golf Shop - Honolulu, HI
West 21 - Long Beach, CA
Olympic Golf - Los Angeles, CA
Twin Orchard - Long Grove, IL
Tiger Pro - Charlotte, NC
Golf Headquarters Reno - Reno, NV
Boyne Resorts - Petosky, MI
CJ Golf - Waterloo, IA
Golf Chic Boutique - Cincinnati, OH
Alternate Golf Shot - Blue Ash, OH

Good luck to all of our golfers at Bethpage this weekend!!

2009-06-18T10:51:00.012-04:00

- Johan Edfors... I like his style!

- Geoff Ogilvy looking fly in Special Edition Black/White

Two Opens In Full Swing

2009-06-15T05:52:00.000-04:00

This week tees off the U.S. Open and we’re proud to say that PUMA athletes, Johan Edfors, Geoff Ogilvy, and Soren Kjeldsen are all competing. But imagine if all the rules of golf were pulled off the fairway, and the sport was a little less buttoned up? Well loosen up your polo, because the PUMA Open’s in town. See how Johnny Damon and NASCAR's Kasey Kahne react when they’re taken off their playing field and placed on our PUMA Open greens.

Geoff Ogilvy Preps for the US Open

2009-06-12T17:36:00.003-04:00

OK PUMA Golf fans...US Open fever has hit harder then the swine flu and we are bursting with excitement to watch our boys take on the world at Beth Page next week. Golf.com caught up with Geoff Ogilvy this week as he gets ready to head to the big event.

Check out the article here and pick up threads like Geoff's from our friends at Fairwaystyles.com

Join the PUMA Brigade and hit the US Open in style

2009-06-10T18:02:00.007-04:00

Attention PUMA fans, golf fans, fans of free stuff, and fans of fun, we want YOU to join the PUMA Brigade as we storm the US Open in support of PUMA Athletes Geoff Ogilvy and Johan Edfors.

Come join us at Stout Bar at 133 W 33rd Street in Manhattan Thursday June 11 and Saturday June 13 from 4-9 for drinks on us and a chance to join the Brigade.

75 lucky participants will get the chance to go to the US Open on Thursday June 18th to cheer on PUMA athletes Geoff Ogilvy and Johan Edfors. We'll make sure you are dressing the part from the PUMA Special Edition Collection including Special Edition T-Shirts, hats, and shoes. And free passes to the US Open of course.

Listen NYC, you don't want to get stuck watching the US Open from your tiny, sweaty apartment do you? So come play with us. We'll clearly make it worth your while.

For more information check out the PUMA Brigade Facebook Event Page

Golf Channel Programming Changes Announced

2009-06-08T09:21:00.000-04:00

By NiceBallz.com

Breaking:The Golf Channel releases early mid-season replacement options:

The Haney Project - Bill Murray:Hank works on Carl Spackler's swing, while also trying to help him find what once made the iconic comedian more amusing than dangerouson the golf course. Guest appearances by Chevy Chase, Dan Akryod and the ghost of Gilda Radner, who not surprisingly is still funnier than Murray.

The Golf Fix: Heroin and meth junkies are given golf clubs and told low score wins a their 'fix' for the day. Hilarity and head trauma ensues as contestants use clubs as weapons. Guest appearances by Dog the Bounty Hunter and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The Grey Goose 19th Hole: Same title, different format. Vince Cellini and a bottle of vodka. Vince drinks until the bottle is gone while sharing his dismay over why (he) the most talented guy on the Channel can't get a better gig. Guest appearances by Dr. Drew and family members seeking an intervention. Money quote: "Seriously? Scott Van f*cking Pelt is on ESPN...seriously?!?"

Idiot Bloggers: The Golf Channel embraces social media and online content by inviting a handful of golf bloggers on each week to discuss the game's most pressing issues. Recurring appearances by NiceBallz & GolferWriterguy as well as Wolfrum, Stephanie Wei, Ryan Ballangee and GolfGirlamong others. Wisely, the Golf Channel elects to have all male bloggers as call-in only guests due to their hideous physical appearance.

Editors note:Idiot bloggers has bee cancelled in pre-production.

Got a better idea for a new golf show on the Golf Channel? Share it with us at http://blog.niceballz.com or on twitter at http://twitter.com/NiceBallz. Seriously...can a bunch of idiot bloggers do much worse?

Caddy Corner

2009-06-03T18:23:00.003-04:00

Our buddy Stephanie from Wei under Par is at it again, this time getting behind the scenes scoop from LPGA Caddy Ray Kim. Read on...

I met up with LPGA caddy Ray Kim this week in NYC. He's currently carrying Paige Mackenzie's bag, but last year, he was caddying for PUMA star athlete Erica Blasberg. He's from Congers, NY, a small town outside of the City. These days, when he's not traveling, he resides in Hawaii. On Tour, Ray's nickname is AK. Why, you ask? He bears a striking resemblance to PGA belt buckle fashion plate rising star Anthony Kim. Just look!
Ray and I discussed his time spent as a caddy on the LPGA and he shared some of his fun times while looping for Erica.

How did you start caddying on the LPGA?
I was a local caddy in Hawaii. In 2006, I met Erica at the tournament at Turtle Bay [in Oahu, HI] and caddied for her. Both in 2007 and 2008, she called and asked me to caddy for her there. We did really well in 2008. Afterwards, I emailed her asking if she needed a caddy for any of her west coast tournaments. Well, she responded that she did, but I'd have to commit for the whole year. My response was something like, "Hell yeah, I'll caddy but YOU have to commit, you don't have to worry about me."

What's it like being a young caddy on Tour?
To be honest, many of the older guys don't like us. Last year, one of the caddies came up to me and said, "You better watch out because a lot of the vets don't like you." This was coming from one of the most straightforward caddies out there. I didn't know how to respond. And he said it was because many of the older guys are having problems getting a good full-time bag. Since I had been a local caddy, I took a way a job from a veteran. It's been like that ever since I've been on Tour. Back in the day, it was all older caddies. Now, the vets see new guys that come along, who to them, look like they know nothing and think that the younger pros are hiring us just because of our age. For example, recently, one of the players posted as her Facebook status, "Tired of dealing with caddies!!!player is the one who plays golf NOT THE CADDY!?!?!?!?" It was funny because I knew her mom had been caddying for her that week. But another caddy didn't and commented [on her Facebook wall],"Instead of hiring young pretty boys, older more experienced caddies have patience and let the player play there own game."

Any funny anecdotes while you were looping for Erica?
Last year in a tournament in Orlando, FL, we were walking down the fairway that had houses along the hole and on someones balcony, there was a sign, "We love you Natalie [Gulbis], Call me [phone number]" Erica and I were laughing about it and she thought it'd be funny if we prank called him. She asked me to write [the number] down. As I started writing it in the yardage book, I tripped in a huge pothole and fell on my face with the bag on top of me. Erica just laughed and kept walking. It was even more ridiculous because of the reason why I fell - I was looking at a fan poster, writing down a guy's number to call him and pretend we were Natalie Gulbis. I had to walk around with a towel over my head for the next three holes because I couldn't stop laughing. It was my only fall of the year.

What were some other highlights while you were caddying for her?
Since it was my first year on Tour and I didn't know anyone, Erica took care of me. She was very thoughtful. At one tournament, we missed the cut and we were both upset. I was waiting for her to clean out her locker and she walked out and handed me a beer. That was really cool of her. And she always kept me outfitted in new PUMA shoes.
Erica loves pizza. At every tour stop, one of our goals was to try and find the best pizza place. During the Pro-Ams, all the sponsors adored Erica. She always made sure they had a good time - she was nice, friendly and funny. At the end of the round, I think they always tipped me to look good in front of her. We ended up making a deal that if i were tipped, I'd buy the the pizza.

What do you think about PUMA Golf?
PUMA is cool and different than all the other clothing lines. Erica really stands out because she's always dressed well. She makes the clothes look good and the clothes make her look good. It's a good match.

What do you guys do when you're not on the bag?
I organized a poker night for the caddies every Tuesday. So, that's the only time the caddies talk to me - I'm very popular...on Tuesdays.

We've talked about how you get double takes from people thinking that you're Anthony Kim. What would you say to him if you had the chance to meet him?
I'd ask if I could caddy for him in a tournament. He should pay his caddy for the week and I'd do it for free. Just for fun - Let the media and everyone get a kick out of it. Maybe occasionally he'll carry the bag and I'll hold the club - See if anyone notices the difference. I think that could be a possibility.
I think that someone should make that happen. Seriously.

Play with us in New York!

2009-06-01T15:44:00.004-04:00

We hear you loud and clear! We know a lot of people are upset they didn’t get a chance to register for the PUMA Open New York, because it sold out in just 7 hours? Here’s your chance to claim that coveted last team spot free of charge!
We’re looking for the best videos that answering the question, “Why does your team need a spot in the PUMA Open New York?”

Email your finished video to ThePUMAOpen@PUMA.com before Sunday, June 7th by midnight. Videos must be under a minute long, not exceed 10MB, and must be in a format accepted by YouTube Select videos will be posted on the PUMA Open YouTube Channel with the winner announced on Wednesday, June 10th. Good Luck!

By submitting your video you agree to the following terms and conditions:
1.) You agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to publish and otherwise use the material in any way we want, and in any media worldwide in perpetuity.
2.) You represent and warrant that you're submitting content/images that you've created yourself or that you have all rights to transmit and license and which do not violate trademark, copyright, privacy or any other rights of any other person or entity. Further, you agree to indemnify PUMA for and against any and all claims made by any third party against PUMA related to the usage of your submission.
3.) PUMA reserves the right to modify, shorten or edit your submission for any reason.
4.) PUMA may use your name, likeness, and image in relation to the promotion of this event, in any media, in perpetuity, without any compensation due.
5.) The winner of this contest will only receive a complimentary foursome in the PUMA Open New York. All other related expenses are not included (ie. Travel).

6.) The winner will be selected by PUMA at PUMA's sole discretion.

Pleased to Meet!

2009-05-25T16:34:00.006-04:00

We are excited to introduce some new friends and guest bloggers who join us from the hilarious and witty site, Nice Ballz. Their brand of irreverant and insightful golf commentary is just up our alley. Read on...

Are You a D.O.G.?

The Driving-Range-Only Golfer (D.O.G.) has all of the fun and none of the frustration

Hello, fellow golfer. We don't know your name but we see you here every week. At the driving range. After work. Having fun. Smashing balls.

We recognize your face, your swing and your sense of style. But, we never see you on the golf course. We're there, only you're not. Not on Saturday. Nor Sunday. Or, at the weeknight league.

If you never play, how did you groove such a silky smooth swing? Could it be that you're a Driving-Range-Only Golfer?

Here's how to know if you're a D.O.G., dawg. You prefer the confines of the driving range stall, with its nets and chain link fence, to the open expanse of the golf course. It's like a veal pen, keeping your swing soft and supple. Ours, on the other hand, gets tough like beef jerky on the course, with the tension and all.

We see you at the end of the range, scurrying to scoop up the extra balls others leave behind. They are late for a tee time, but you have nowhere to be. We were eyeing those free balls but you beat us to them. We curse you, Driving-Range-Only Golfer.

Instead, we look the other way, confident that as a Driving-Range-Only Golfer surely you're missing the best parts of the game. The friendship, for one. But there you are with your buddies or on a date. Laughing, smiling, drinking a beer. You mock us with your enjoyment of the game.

What about gambling? There's no skins game on the range. We've got you there. And, yet you play closest-to-the-pin for a buck. Double or nothing if you hit the ball-picker-upper kid in the tractor. Moving targets are worth more.

Even still, as "real golfers," at least we have great golf fashion. Those cool shirts or cute skirts. But you also look the part, Driving-Range-Only Golfer. You're at the range in head-to-toe Tour pro style. Or, sometimes you sport your stylish designer jeans and edgy hipster boots. You're too cool to play on the course but you're not above looking great and beating balls.

It's fun, isn't it? The fresh air. The stress release. The mental break from your day. We have a lot in common, Driving-Range-Only Golfer. But we're different too.

While we practice in an effort to improve our scores, you practice just for fun. Like you, we hit it great on the range. The rubber mat keeps us from hitting it fat. And, then we crumble on the course where we try too hard to win. Not you. You've got this game all figured out, Driving-Range-Only Golfer. You have all of the fun and none of the frustration. Maybe you're more enlightened, and that only pisses us off even more.

Our advice: Don't be lured by the siren song of the golf course. You've already got the best of everything. Stay strong, Driving-Range-Only Golfer. We envy you, D.O.G.

NiceBallz.com is about unbridled honesty and enthusiasm for golf. Our name came about the same way. We once let a faster twosome play through. After hitting great tee shots, someone said, 'Nice balls, guys!' An innocent remark? Of course. Ridiculed sophomorically? Absolutely! That moment sums up our approach to blogging – honest commentary and the ability to laugh at ourselves, others and the game. NiceBallz is the creation of Corey Grice and his collaborator Hack. They have more than 25 years combined experience in journalism, marketing and public relations – and play lots of golf, the really bad weekend warrior kind. For more golf reviews, commentary and humor follow them at http://twitter.com/NiceBallz and http://twitter.com/GolferWriterGuy. Or email them at staff@niceballz.com.

Here Kitty Kitty

2009-05-22T13:50:00.005-04:00

It's Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. and we here at PUMA Golf are looking forward to a few days of beaches and BBQ to kick off the summer. We'll be back next week with new guest bloggers and some on the ground thoughts from the European Open at The London Golf Club.

We leave you today with this story from our friends in the UK.

A GOLFER has claimed he spotted a “puma” on a course near St Neots. The 62-year-old from Fen Stanton said: “I have never seen anything like this before. The animal that passed me – at great speed – was definitely a puma. It looked like it was chasing something and was bigger than a dog."

Mythical creature? or PR stunt gone wrong?

Happy Friday all...

Girls of Summer

2009-05-21T14:52:00.003-04:00

Our buddy Stephanie Wei from Wei Under Par is back and this time-in color too!

"I caught up with PUMA athlete and LPGA rookie Jeehae Lee, at the Sybase Classic in Clifton, New Jersey. Jeehae chats with me about various topics, such as her fantasy foursome, Twitter, and of course, the hot PUMA gear she sports on Tour."

Talking With LPGA Rookie Jeehae Lee from Stephanie Wei on Vimeo.

Hacker's Paradise Award

2009-05-19T11:41:00.003-04:00

So remember back in high school when the year book came out and you feverishly searched the "most likely to" section hoping to see your name? Well that's how we feel when The Hackers Paradise Bi-Annual Golfer’s Choice Awards come out. We were so excited this year to see our name in lights as Best Golf Apparel Innovation. Click the link to see all the nice things they said about us.

Thanks guys, you have us feeling "Most Likely to Suceed"!

Fantasy Five

2009-05-15T10:45:00.002-04:00

We at PUMA Golf are always on the lookout for fresh talent-be it on the course or about the course. To that end, we are excited to be introducing some guest bloggers over the next few weeks who have taken writing about the game to a new level in wit and fun.

Our first guest is freelance writer and blogger extraordinaire Stephanie Wei of the popular site Wei Under Par . Wei was a competitive golfer for ten years and brings an insider's eye to her golf commentary. She also played on the Yale Women's Golf Team during college and remains an avid golfer. Her blog includes behind-the-scenes interviews with players, comedy sketches and her own pop culture meets serious performance views on the game we all love.

Below Stephanie answers the age old question-Who's Your Fantasy Fivesome?

If you could play a round of golf with anyone in the world, who would you choose? You know, like your “Fantasy Fivesome”? Tough question. Off the top of my head, I could name at least 15 people. Check that. Waymore. But if I had to narrow it down to just five, here’s who I’d pick:

Tiger Woods: He’s the most obvious choice. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play with him?! Sure, it’d be just a tad intimidating - he’s the best player in the WORLD! (Despite the recent scrutiny and questions about his recent performance, which I find completely unfair; that’s another story though.) We could all learn a thing or two from Tiger. Perhaps how to perfect "the putter toss." Just sayin’. But in all seriousness, I think simply watching his swing for 18 holes would knock a few strokes from anyone’s game.

Geoff Ogilvy: This Aussie has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on Tour - with two wins already in the 2009 season! He's a straight-shooter who makes the game look good. He not only has a solid swing but he also sports some of PUMA's hottest golf gear. Ogilvy's a classy guy, who always looks cool and composed on the golf course. He's charming, well-spoken, and handsome, and of course, he's one of the best golfer's in the world. If Tiger doesn't recover from his recent "slump," he better watch out for Ogilvy who is definitely capable of taking over the spot as the number one player in the world. He's got game!

Adam Scott: This is a no-brainer. At least for the ladies. He’s just so dreamy! He’s the number one and only reason women watch golf. You could easily mistake him for a surfer or a model. Oh yeah, he’s also a pretty good golfer. And to play a round with him? Yes, it could be distracting. But, I think we could get pass that. Maybe he’d even be kind enough to give a private lesson!

Fred Couples: Freddie’s a class act - an oldie but a goodie. Have you seen his swing? That’s what I call finesse. No wonder he has those gagillion holes-in-one! He always appears steady and relaxed when he plays - while still having a good time. He’s definitely a guy you’d want to throw back a beer or two with on the 19th hole.

Bill Murray: He’s a funny guy. No doubt he’d keep us laughing throughout the round. He’s not a bad golfer either. Well, actually, that’s debatable. We don’t want to get dinged by one of his errant tee shots, like this unfortunate bystander last month. Fail. Forget the hat or visor, pack a helmet instead - And of course, a copy of Caddyshack for him to sign.

(Need more Wei? She's totally Twittering)

Golf Will Save the Day

2009-05-13T20:00:00.001-04:00

Today is National Golf Day and guess what we found out?

The Golf Industry provides 2 million jobs and $61 billion in wage income. Golf also generates more than $3.5 billion annually for charities across the country.

So the next time you get an eye roll when you weasel out of some other plans to get in your 18 holes, rest assured that you are TOTALLY doing your part of keep the economy humming.

You're welcome.

Hellooooo Scottsdale!

2009-05-11T14:27:00.003-04:00

Dear Arizona PUMA Golf fans-

So we'll totally be in your area this Friday-wanna meet up for nine holes, a round of black jack and some beers?

Yeah, we thought so, we'll see you there.

-PUMA Golf

(click on the image to enlarge the invitation)

Winning in style

2009-05-10T14:20:00.004-04:00

Dominating from the very start, PUMA Athlete Daniel Vancsik wins theBMW Italian Open!

We'd like to congratulate Daniel on his big win. And while we're at it, we'll congratulate that Special Edition polo for making him look so good doing it.

Leaderboard

2009-05-08T10:29:00.004-04:00

Spring is in full force and PUMA Athletes are standing out on courses across the world this week.

Argentinian Daniel Vancsik is storming the leaderboard at the BMW Italian Open

Jeehae Lee at the Michelob Ultra Open

And Swedish PUMA Athlete Anna Nordqvist is blogging for the LPGA about her tournament in Morelia, Mexico.

Let's follow their lead and get out there this weekend eh?

Get to know our Pros

2009-05-07T11:30:00.001-04:00

When we talk about PUMA Golf being fun, inclusive, colorful and stylish, we might as well be writing a personality profile about PUMA Athlete Johan Edfors. Get to know our favorite Swede in this interview with Golf Punk Magazine.

Open is OPEN

2009-05-05T12:15:00.005-04:00

As we mentioned a few weeks ago, The PUMA Open is rolling across the country this summer and coming to a course near you. In case the full impact of how AWESOME this event is was lost on you, allow us to reiterate...nine holes of GOLF, followed by FOOD and BEER while you GAMBLE. Add a couple of your favorite friends and yeah, it's pretty much a recipe for the best day ever.

Registration is now open for Scottsdale on May 15 and Las Vegas on May 29. Spots fill up fast so grab three of your best golfing/drinking buddies and REGISTER NOW.

Here are some tips to help you get ready.

Tweet Tweet!

2009-05-01T12:20:00.005-04:00

We know you can't get enough of us here at PUMA Golf so we are making it even easier to see what we are up to-we are now Twittering right here. Twitter is ablaze right now with all kinds of great golf information. Come check us out-and you never know when it just might pay off to be following us...

If for some reason you don't know Twitter yet, here is a tutorial

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

You Are Invited

2009-04-29T15:41:00.002-04:00

(click to enlarge)
If you live in the Boston area that is.

Time Out

2009-04-29T14:21:00.006-04:00

We're all gearing up to watch Geoff play in the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina this weekend. We're keeping up with today's Pro Am via Twitter-ah technology, making it even easier to combine work and golf.

Geoff spent the day yesterday at the Opening of the International Institute of Golf at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs.

He chatted with the crowd

signed autographs

played (duh)

Got chummy with fellow Aussies Mathew Goggin and Stuart Appleby

Lookin' sharp buddy. Good luck this weekend!

The Full Cleveland

2009-04-28T16:52:00.003-04:00

When a publication like The Wall Street Journal starts talking about a fashion trend, you KNOW you've hit the big time. Check out this article on the triumphant return of some old sartorial favorites. And see our boy Geoff Ogilvy in the slideshow.

That's our little trendsetter.

Rookie

2009-04-23T13:41:00.004-04:00

Stop me if you've heard this one...what's 5'9, went to Yale, and is a rookie on the LPGA Tour?

It's PUMA Athlete Jeehae Lee and she's now blogging here. Check out 18 waaaaay more interesting facts about one of the newest faces on the PUMA team.

Not Your Momma

2009-04-17T15:34:00.007-04:00

OK folks, we all know that while chocolate and peanut butter are both completely awesome on their own, when you put the two together, the result is sweet sweet candy perfection.

We feel the same way about a day on the course and a night in the casino. So great on their own, almost more awesome then one person can handle when combined. To that end, we created The PUMA Open. A golf tournament unlike any other and coming to a town near you this summer. Visit our website for dates and registration.

Feel free to watch this preview video all afternoon, it IS Friday after all.

The Long Road

2009-04-15T15:04:00.003-04:00

So did you ever hear the one about Floyd Satterlee Rood?

Legend (and the internet!) has it that on September 14, 1963, he teed off from the very edge of the Pacific Ocean, and drove the 3, 397.7-mile course across the US in 114,737 strokes, driving his ball into the Atlantic Ocean on October 3, 1964. He managed to lose 3,511 balls in the process.

We at PUMA Golf are planning our own little tour across North America. We'll make the announcement right here on Friday, April 17. Until then, here's a tip to strengthen your game from your friends at PUMA.

Tease

2009-04-08T12:58:00.006-04:00

There is definitely something about a well dressed man.
PUMA Athlete Geoff Ogilvy is looking sharp today in Augusta sporting a preview outfit from our Special Edition Black and White Collection, available this June at select retailers.
And did we mention the shoes?

Keep watching this space and we'll tell you when you too can be this cool.

Mastered

2009-04-07T17:04:00.003-04:00

You know that feeling you used to get as a kid on Christmas Eve? Where you were so excited you could hardly sleep but you did it anyway so Santa could come?

Well that's how we feel right now at PUMA Golf. The Masters Tournament begins on Thursday so our DVR's are set and we've got a browser window permanently linked here so we don't miss a bit of the pre-tourney action.

Mostly though, we are thrilled down to our Smart Quills to cheer on PUMA Athletes Geoff Ogilvy and Soren Kjeldsen. See Ogilvy tee off with Group 13 at 10:23 a.m. EST and Kjeldsen in Group 23 at 12:24 p.s. EST on Thursday, April 9.

Good luck gents! Bring home the Green!

Swede Victory for Edfors

2009-03-30T17:01:00.004-04:00

What could be better then winning your first title of the year in sunny Thailand while the rest of the world freezes?

How about setting a course record on day one, being cheered by a giant mob of your countrymen and looking devastatingly awesome the entire time? Well that's the kind of dream weekend our PUMA athlete Johan Edfors enjoyed at the Black Mountain Masters in Hua Hin, Thailand.

We have a hunch that it's that military cap that gives Edfors his edge out on the course but he also gave some credit to the many fans cheering him on, "this is one of the nicest wins of my career as I've not had so many Swedes supporting me during my other wins."

Despite a few nail biter moments, Edfors was on his way to victory in style from day one when his eight-under-par 64 set a new course record. Proving once again that Look Better, Feel Better, Play Better isn't just a tag line.

Cheers to you Mr. Edfors!

On a Roll

2009-03-30T16:45:00.004-04:00

Spain has been good to PUMA athlete Soren Kjeldsen. Our Danish friend won the Volvo Masters at Valderrama four months ago, then dominated in Seville this weekend to win the Andalucian Open.

To top off a great win, Kjeldsen heads off to Augusta for his Masters debut at his highest-ever position in the world-just outside the top 40.

He qualified last year 50th in the world rankings – by just one-hundredth of a point.

"I was told I was in by a guy who writes a website in Denmark, then he called again to say that he had it wrong and if Richard Sterne won in South Africa I would be 51st," he said. "I watched him make tons of birdies on the back nine, then win in a play-off, so went on a 10-mile run on the beach screaming and shouting.

"I came back, settled down, went to bed and then the same guy rang at midnight to say he had it wrong and I was in. I was completely drained but it's a dream to play there and I already have the invitation framed."

Here's hoping there are no 10 mile frustration runs necessary in Augusta...a big PUMA congratulations to Soren on a well fought victory and Good Luck next week!

Hello New Collection

2009-03-17T17:00:00.001-04:00

Golf is a sport that’s full of rules. Don’t do this. Don’t wear that. Over here at PUMA, we believe that some of them were made to be broken. So throw your rulebook in the sand trap, and may we suggest that you dress to the nines while doing so.

This season, we were inspired by the sport’s classic silhouettes, but rejuvenated them with hints of modern style, daring graphics, and a playful attitude.

PUMA Golf. Look Better. Feel Better. Play Better.

On our course, fire blowers and world-renowned golfers are one in the same.

Our Smart Quill technology gives you plenty of traction-on the course or as a fashion plate. When something's this good, why let it go?

Modern golf is only a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Ogilvy Wins World Golf Championship...Again!

2009-03-02T06:19:00.004-05:00

On Sunday, March 1st, PUMA® Golf athlete Geoff Ogilvy won the World Golf Championship (WGC) - Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona for the second time in only four years. With this victory, Ogilvy moves up to 4th in the world as well as to the top of the PGA Money List, the FedExCup Points List and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings.

During the tournament, the 31-year old Australian paired PUMA’s latest Spring Summer 2009 Invisibonding golf apparel with the new Swing Crown GTX shoe – we like to think the ensemble deserves a little credit for his stellar performance.

Playing their part in the win is the Invisibonding Polo which delivers stitchless technology for lightweight comfort and ease of motion, while the Swing Crown GTX is a pure performance shoes with Smart Quill technology that features 38 “quills” on each outsole, to maximize traction and comfort while minimizing weight. After all, our motto is: Look better. Feel better. Play Better.

Since the 2006 U.S. Open Championship, Ogilvy has taken the golf world by storm as he continues to outperform his competitors in some of the biggest tournaments. With three WGC wins and one Major to his name, Ogilvy has enjoyed a meteoric rise. His victory on Sunday comes on the heels of his win at the Mercedes Benz Championship on January 11, 2009. This is Ogilvy’s sixth PGA Tour.

Lesson learned: It takes practice and the right gear to win tournaments.

Technology

2009-03-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

While some of our updates this season are visible, others are not. For the first time ever, PUMA Golf introduces Invisibonding to its apparel collection. An alternative to classic stitching, Invisibonding is a light molecular bond that attaches fabric together seamlessly. By welding together two pieces of fabric, a maximum durability is established that can withstand endless rounds of golf, and the multiple wash cycles that follow. This bond also reduces friction to allow precise movement while driving, putting, or partaking in high-fives at the clubhouse.

And because some things are too good to let go of, our Smart Quill technology is back and better than ever. With TPU spikes positioned at specific angles to customize traction during your backswing, downswing, and follow-through - this shoe has some serious brains. Not to mention, the left and right shoe are crafted differently, because we understand that each plays its own role during your swing.

Now that’s what we call smart.

Geoff Ogilvy

2009-02-24T17:15:00.009-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer, Part-time cyclist and guitarist

Tour:
PGA & European Tour

Style:
Laid back - Modern, yet subtle

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
Flip-flops

Notable:
09 WGC Accenture Match Play, 09 Mercedes-Benz, 08 Cadbury-Schwepps Australian PGA,08 WGC-CA, 06 WGC-Accenture Match Play, 06 US Open

Johan Edfors

2009-02-24T17:09:00.005-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer, Part-time world traveler

Tour:
PGA & European Tour

Style:
Progressive, commonly wears bright colors and graphics. Not afraid to make a statement

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
Anything from PUMA/Mihara co-lab

Notable:
6 top ten finishes in 08; 06 TCL Classic, Quinn Direct British Masters; Barclay’s Scottish Open

Joost Luiten

2009-02-24T17:03:00.003-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer

Tour:
European Tour

Style:
Put together

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
PUMA sneakers

Notable:
2008: two top-10 finishes, 2007: 2nd KLM Open Netherlands, Two-time winner of the Challenge Tour

Lotta Wahlin

2009-02-24T17:01:00.010-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer, Part-time world traveler

Tour:
Ladies European Tour (LET)

Style:
Sporty, classic

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
Sky II High

Notable:
Winner of two tournaments on the S4C Ladies European Tour, the Turkish Ladies Open in May, and the S4C Wales Championship of Europe at Marchihaneys

Kiran Matharu

2009-02-24T16:59:00.007-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer

Tour:
Ladies European Tour (LET)

Style:
Anything PUMA

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
PUMA Clyde

Notable:
Won the Volvo XC Challenge in 2007

Jose Filipe Lima

2009-02-24T16:53:00.004-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer, Part-time hunter, chef, fashionista, and shopping extraordinaire

Tour:
European Tour

Style:
Form fitted apparel in monochromatic hues, shoes always match the outfit

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
Puma Sparco

Notable:
Top 5 Alfred Dunhill links championship in 08; 2nd BMW International Open in 07; 3rd BMW Asian open, Celtic Manor Wales Open in 06, 04 Saint Omer, Segura viduas

Miho Koga

2009-02-24T16:51:00.003-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer

Tour:
JLPGA

Style:
Feminine and Cute

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown, Cell Tour Drive

Off Course Foot Gear:
PUMA and Heels

Notable:
Top prize winner in 2008

Hideto Tanihara

2009-02-24T16:47:00.002-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer

Tour:
Japan Golf Tour

Style:
Individual

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown, Cell Tour Drive

Off Course Foot Gear:
All PUMA Products

Notable:
Japan Golf Tour earnings rank #4 in 08

Jeff Overton

2009-02-24T16:44:00.005-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer

Tour:
PGA

Style:
Individual

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
Jeans and PUMA tees

Notable:
2nd at 2007 Wyndam Championship, 7 top 10's in young career

Erica Blasberg

2009-02-24T16:31:00.003-05:00

Occupation:
Full-time Golfer

Tour:
LPGA

Style:
Feminine

On Course Foot Gear:
Swing Crown

Off Course Foot Gear:
Speed Cat or heels (depending on the occasion)