Friday, September 28, 2007

Innovation still abounds in golf

By Vartan Kupelian
GPA Correspondent

Ever hear of Big Stick Golf? Or Aqua Caddy?

They're new products that debuted at the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas earlier this month and prove once again there is more to the industry than drivers, putters, balls and bags. There are plenty of unique items in the golf business. Some are serious, while some are just plain fun. Some make it, some don't, but innovative products are the lifeblood of industry shows.

Here are five that made it to the Fall Expo:

Big Stick Golf
Among its products is the M-Pac Hanging Tees. It's a clever idea and quite handy for those who are pained by having to dig into a golf ball pocket and get poked in the fingers looking for tees.

There's no searching for the M-Pac Hanging Tees. They're right where you can easily find them every time.

The tees are attached on a hanger that, in turn, is attached to a bag. The tees, which can be customized, are broken off the clip as needed. There are 15 tees on a hanger and the price isn't much more than you'd expect to pay for a comparable number of tees.

On the web: www.bigstickgolf.com.

Big Daddy Golf
The Big Daddy Driver isn't a driver. It's a weed-whacker.

It's not exactly a weed-whacker, either. But it is.

Confusing? Not really.

The Big Daddy Driver is a weed-whacker disguised as an oversized driver. It's a gag item more than anything else.

When a round of golf is beyond redemption, it's a good time to pull out the Big Daddy Driver/weed-whacker and improve the lie in the rough. It is not recommended for whacking weeds in your backyard. It's scheduled to be available in October.

On the web: www.bigdaddydriver.com.

John Daly Longball Grill
Any product affiliated with Daly is certain to have something to do with the long ball.

The big, round grill is designed to look like a golf ball, complete with dimples and Daly's signature "lion" logo. It's 24-inches across with dual stainless steel burners and continuous spark electronic ignition for easy starts.

On the web: www.johndalyclubhousecollection.com.

The Aqua Caddy
Let's face it, some golfers never, ever clean their clubs. Others can't bear to look down at grooves caked with grime and mud. For the latter, there's the Aqua Caddy, a portable, soft-sided pouch that attaches to the golf bag so clubs can be cleaned at any moment.

The caddy is filled with water (up to eight ounces) and the lid has brushes to scrub the grooves clean. The availability of the Aqua Caddy and prices will be announced soon.

On the web: www.theaquacaddy.com.

Eez-Read
This gadget is a small stainless steel disc with a neon bubble face. There is also a compass that helps read putting surfaces. No, you can't use it during a round of golf, but there's nothing that says you can't use it as a practice aid to help you make discoveries about greens and how putts break. The manufacturer says Eez-Read takes the guesswork out of putting.

The Eez-Read tells golfers whether the putt is uphill or downhill and which direction it breaks. For example, when the bubble is at 6 o'clock, the putt is straight uphill. At 12 o'clock, it's uphill. At 3 o'clock, it breaks right. At 2 o'clock, it's an uphill putt that works to the right.

The disc works best when two readings are taken -- the first will give the overall break while the second, nearer the hole, confirms if the break continues to the cup.

Eez-Read will be available in December with a retail price ranging from $10 to $15.

On the web: www.eez-read.com.