FootJoy kick-started the 2012 Race to Dubai season in impressive fashion on Sunday when Brand Ambassador, Louis Oosthuizen won the Africa Open.
The 29-year-old 2010 Open Champion from Mossel Bay was in sparkling form, producing a stunning final-round 67 in front of a home galleries to claim a two-shot victory.
Trusting in the ultimate shoe in golf, the FJ ICON and the superior grip quality of the FJ SciFlex Glove, crowd favourite Ooosthuizen was in firm form all week and his 72-hole total of 27 under par was just enough to see off joint overnight leader and fellow FJ loyalist Tjaart Van Der Walt, who was also sporting FJ ICON golf shoes as well as an FJ StaSof Glove.
The victory instantly propeled Oosthuizen to the top of The Race to Dubai listings
Russell Lawes, European Marketing Manager og FootJoy, said: “Congratulations must first go to Louis for a superb performance in overcoming a high-class field at The Africa Open to successfully defend his title.
“It is extremely gratifying to see our FJ tour players making such a promising start to the season.
“With the impending launch of our new Footwear, Glove and Performance Apparel Collections alongside our continued tour successes, 2012 looks set to be another memorable year for FootJoy,” he said
“Whether it is the all-round excellence of the FJ ICON
Well-rounded golfers must master a variety of skills, including driving, reverse-putting, and suppressing the part of the brain that associates high scores with victory. Chip away at preconceived notions with today’s Groupon to The GolfBetter Studio in Elmhurst. Choose from the following options:
For $ 20, you get a 30-minute golf lesson with video swing analysis (a $ 45 value).
For $ 39, you get a 60-minute private golf lesson with video swing analysis (a $ 90 value).
For $ 75, you get a 90-minute Power Golf Assessment (a $ 180 value).
Titleist Performance Institute–certified golf pro Rick Koscher helps golfers fine-tune their games within the well-appointed indoor facilities of The GolfBetter Studio. During private lessons, Rick enlists aG Swing Analysis Technology to plumb the murky depths of pupil swings. The system dissects data gleaned from three active cameras and advanced launch-monitor technology and assimilates it all into a logical assessment of techniques and how they correlate with each towering drive or spectator-grazing slice. Alternatively, golfers can opt for a 90-minute Power Golf Assessment, which uses Titleist Performance Institute’s physical-analysis technology to unveil any weak core muscles, inflexible hips, or excessively sweaty palms that may be inhibiting swings.
Groupon Says
The Groupon Guide to: Privacy
Where should you hide all of your photocopies of money?
The Maruti Suzuki Alto has managed to sustain what could be termed as a car manufacturer’s dream run and most of the credit goes to its good value at the puny price , something that no other car model has been able to achieve so far. The price is so low that it makes profits margins wafer thin. It’s no surprise that we haven’t seen a new car launch in this segment for close to a decade now. At the same time it says a lot about the Alto as it remains the largest selling car across segments for over six years. The launch of the Alto-K10 accelerated the sales further to 1.48 lakh units this financial year! This showed how the Indian car market had evolved as buyers preferred to shell out extra money for the K-10 version over the cheaper Alto 800 and Maruti 800. Indians are read to pay a little extra for a better , feature-rich product.Betting solely on volume , Hyundai have launched their cheapest car yet – the Eon , an entry-level hatchback tailor-made for India. The advantage the Korean company has over the Alto is that the Eon is a new model with modern styling , good technology and decent equipment. LooksThe Alto was initially developed way back in 1979 in Japan and has been in India for over 11 years now. The model has been upgraded regularly and the current generation Alto has classic car lines lending a solid stance , but it looks like a previous generation design. The Alto K10 has slightly flared front lamps that distinguish it from the smaller engine powered Alto-800. Even though it has a boxy design , it still works for more conservative car buyers and there’s no shortage of them in this segment. To its advantage , the flat side body of the Maruti makes it easy to restore any of the unfortunate dents in the long run.The Eon , on the other hand , is imposingly fashionable and looks elegant. Hyundai’s Fluidic sculpture design language has been nicely executed even on this entry-level hatchback. Its hexagonal grille and large swept-back headlights look pleasing. In fact , some of the light-catching lines on the side take you by surprise as you would have never expected them to be featured on a car with this comparative price tag. Both cars offer wheel caps , but the ones on the Eon have a smart design that makes it appear like alloy wheels. The fancy crescent shaped tail-lights compliment the Korean design , though the muscular bumper and tiny boot-lid make the Eon look stocky from rear. The overall fit and finish of the Eon is superior with tight shut lines throughout. On the design front , the Hyundai indisputably outshines the Alto , as the Eon has a much stronger essence of pride of ownership.UsabilityThe Eon is taller than the Alto and , with its wide-opening doors makes getting in or out a lot more convenient than in the Maruti , which has lower seats that make you go through the rigmarole of crunch-squat-and-slide. However , the Alto’s wider seats are more comfortable than the Eon’s , which taper on top and have integrated head-rests.The Eon has a taller driving position , which is ideal for the city and the large front and rear windscreens improve visibility , comparatively speaking. Meanwhile , the Alto is low on the elbow room and since it is 75 millimetres narrower than the Eon , the driver and front passenger come too close for comfort.The black-grey dashboard and upholstery of the Maruti Alto is a lot less desirable than the brighter half-beige-half-black treatment seen in the Eon. The layout of the Eon’s integrated centre console looks great , while the chunky knobs feel sturdy to operate. The large dials are easily legible and have a small screen with gear shift indicator to achieve best fuel economy. The plastic appears to be hard-wearing and the quality is impressive.
The Alto gets a new instrument cluster and also a digital fuel-gauge and trip meter. Maruti try hard to catch up with the newly launched Xplore limited edition , which now comes equipped with a double-din stereo with USB and Bluetooth along with leather seats. However , it does not have the finesse neither does it feel as solidly built as the Hyundai. Having said that , it is not bad for the price. The Eon scores again with its intelligent design , which carves out a fair amount of storage space. It’s got a decent sized glove-box with another large cavity above for storage. Unlike the Alto , which just has sleek door pockets fit to store maps , the Eon front doors also have bottle holders. Talking about storage , the Alto’s boot seems minuscule , where even a tennis bag is a squeeze.
The Eon has a surprisingly large 215-litre luggage space , which has no qualms about accommodating a regular suitcase , and the seats can be folded to make more room , but the tiny boot lid gives a narrow approach and the boot lip is a little high.We can ignore the fact that in India even compact cars are used to carry entire households , so cabin space it vital , but unfortunately also a luxury. None of the two cars can comfortably seat more than four adults. The Maruti’s rear seat is low and flat , while the Hyundai’s is higher and more inclined. The Eon also has a 20-mm longer wheelbase and the car boasts of better legroom both in front and rear to fulfil family needs. But , again , the Maruti offers better support , though the Eon has an advantage in headroom and shoulder space. However , its narrow rear window make the cabin feel less airy.Drive And RideThe two cars come loaded with frugal three-cylinder motors. The Hyundai’s 814-cc engine has been derived from the i10′s 1.1-litre IRDE engine and though it gets a counter-balance to keep the vibration low , some of it can be felt on the gear-shift lever. The Eon’s SOHC motor gets three valves per cylinder , unlike the Alto’s larger 998-cc mill , which has four valves per cylinder. Both sport five-speed transmissions , where the Eon borrows it from the Santro. Here the Hyundai scores over the Maruti , with its smooth clutch , as the Alto has an abrupt release action , but the Maruti equalises the score with its more accurate gear-shifts compared to Eon’s rubbery shifts. Though both the cars weigh just over 700 kg , the smaller Hyundai engine with lower power and torque output of 56 PS and 75 Nm dents its power-to-weight ratio. Plus the Eon is sluggish at low speeds and not as eager as the Alto. So , One needs to think about overtaking way in advance. The Eon has adequate power for city commutes , but the Alto K-10 with 68 PS and 90 Nm has more punch. During the 0 to 100 km/h performance test the Eon was four seconds slower than the more fun-to-drive Alto. Both the cars can comfortably cruise at 120 kph , but the Eon loses breath if revved harder , making the Alto the ideal choice for driving enthusiasts. Just tap the Maruti’s throttle and you zip past most city traffic. Interestingly , both of them have an identical average fuel economy of just over 17 kpl.
The Final WordsThis Hyundai is sprung on McPherson strut at the front in combination with a torsion beam axle at the rear. The set-up makes the ride feel slightly stiff at low and medium speeds , but the taller profile (155/70 R13) of the small size wheel helps it in absorbing potholes. But the Alto’s McPherson strut and coil spring gas filled shock-absorbers make the car a little more compliant and its lower height gives it better body control.Both the cars have an electrically assisted steering with a tight turning radius , making driving and parking them a breeze. The Alto has an advantage as the steering is more direct and natural , while the Eon is more or less accurate , but lacks a self-centring action.
After spending a few days with the two small cars , it’s becoming increasingly difficult to pick a clear winner. Both Maruti and Hyundai have a great network of service stations and dealerships , with a proven track-record of low maintenance and reliable products. The Eon might not have the performance of the Alto , but comes across as an appealing modern car that has a stronger pride of ownership. A feature-rich , no compromise product that one would want to buy. While the Alto is not as swanky or stylish , but has already sold over 18 lakh units in India , which says a lot about the trust people have in the car , but also reduces its uniqueness.So , if you like to tread the tried and tested path and don’t mind the ageing design , then go for the Alto. But if you don’t mind paying a little extra and want a fresh design with good finish and features , then the Eon is the one.
New on the market: TaylorMade Golf’s RocketBallz metal woods.
The scoop: Major challenges had to be surmounted to develop RocketBallz technology, including the need to create a durable yet flexible sole/face structure with a deep sole pocket. Additionally, engineers needed a deeper face design and low center of gravity to maintain excellent playability off turf. Lastly, the products needed a front-low CG without sacrificing playability and control.
To achieve these qualities, the RocketBallz fairway woods and Rescues were developed with a high-strength 455 steel face plate welded to a cast body. They incorporate improved sole geometry and a “Speed Pocket” to improve overall head and face flexibility and a slightly deeper face with a further-forward CG location than traditional designs.
RocketBallz fairway woods combine RocketBallz technology with increased face size, low CG location, advanced playability features and a lightweight shaft and grip.
According to Taylormade, the combination of these elements promotes a remarkable increase in distance — better players will gain up to 17 yards. RocketBallz fairway heads are shaped more traditionally, compared to Burner Superfast fairways, yet are still extremely forgiving. The company lowered the CG and pulled it forward to promote a higher launch angle and lower spin-rate — launch conditions that promote greater distance.
The incorporation of deeper face, low-and-forward CG and RocketBallz technology allowed TaylorMade to create the first steel fairway that reaches USGA/R&A speed limits.
In addition, employing Pull-Face construction, and a high-strength 455 alloy steel face allowed us to combine high MOI with an exceptionally large face/hitting area, and more area for mis-hits above the center of the face. The flat, white crown color and black PVD face are designed to provide optimum contrast to make it easy to align the face accurately at address.
What they cost: All of the RocketBallz fairway woods and RocketBallz Rescues are available on Feb. 3. They range in price from $179 to $329 depending on the club and shaft chosen.
When you are looking for quality golf clubs then TaylorMade equipment should be at the top of your shopping list. You might be worried about the cost but if you are looking for accurate distance from your driver then the TaylorMade R11 Driver should be heading to your bag soon. The R11 is for serious golfers that want to take their game to the next level.
The R11 Driver has added new technology to field of drivers to help improve your game with your first day with the driver. First they have developed Flight Control Technology that allows you to decrease and increase the launch angle on the driver. Next up is the Adjustable Sole Plate Technology with Movable Weight Technology which will allow you to adjust the face angle to give you a face or draw on your drives. These improvements put the R11 a head of its class in the driver markets. You probably have noticed more and more of them out on the course as this has become one of the bestselling drivers from TaylorMade.
The technological advancements did not stop there. They worked on bringing a more aerodynamic shape to the club head to allow more speed and to increase distance. The head also has up to 100 yards on side trajectory each way with a plus minus of 1,000rpm backspin each way.
The first day you hit the course you will notice a difference. Testers have found they were getting 20+ yards compared to their older driver. The first swing will show off the sound of an electric driver that everyone on the course will seem to notice.
Once you get a chance to adjust the club to your swing you will find that your accuracy will increase dramatically. Many users when they to a higher level need to learn how to tune their driver for the first time. With TaylorMade you will find step by step directions to cater your driver to you each time you are on the course. There also is a set of videos that will allow you to get more of a visual on how it should be done. Also you will be able to see the pros that drive with the R 11 and see how they have configured the driver to their swings.
If you are curious if the R 11 is worth the money the answer is yes. You will find unmatched support with a driver that can adjust to the course and to your swing like no other on the market.
Controlled ball flight is one of the biggest desires of the more advanced player. Whether it’s a lower trajectory with control on short irons or an increased trajectory for the long irons. Controlled ball flight is a common denominator to raising the overall level of your game and the Rifle Flighted shaft has been the select choice for many. Let’s look at this great technology in more detail.
Rifle Flighted shaft was introduced through an exclusive technology called Flex Distribution Technology. This technology was then perfected on the PGA tour after working with players that use the shaft. PGA Tour players are great for having keen eyes and feel for their shafts and were instrumental in developing the final product. The shaft has become a premier iron shaft on the market.
Rifle Flighted shaft comes from the revolutionary concept introduced by Royal Precision shaft maker in 1998. Each shaft has an exaggerated change in kick point to manipulate a better ball flight based on loft. The longer irons have a lower kick point to promote better launch and higher ball flight and the shorter irons have a higher kick point to promote a lower trajectory with added control. Royal Precision worked this technology to perfection
Common feedback from players that use the Rifle Flighted shaft is the better balance and more efficient energy transfer they experience. Although much of this feedback is subjective, the Flighted shaft continues to gain in popularity, especially for the better player. If positive feedback is any indication of how good a shaft is, the Flighted shaft is doing extraordinarily well.
Royal Precision Rifle shafts are one of the most played iron shafts on tour. Rifle shafts have recently been played by 10 of the world’s top 20 ranked golfers Rifle introduced flighted shafts after a successful launch on the European Tour. The Rifle Flighted shaft has not looked back since — players continue to flock to this shaft.
Rifle Flighted shafts remain to be a very popular choice for iron shafts. Most of the loyal Rifle customers is the more educated, advanced golfer. These players understand what a shaft can do for their game and Rifle delivers the goods with their Flighted shaft
If you’ve ever watched the Nike Golf videos from The Oven, you’ve seen their athletes—Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, Paul Casey, Stewart Cink and many others—working in the Putting Lab.
I was given the opportunity to participate in the very same process.
I’ve seen just about every Nike Golf video ever made.
So having the feeling of being in one myself was kind of surreal.
First of all, I placed a striped ball on a red dot on their putting surface. The red dot is from a laser. It’s the precise spot on the floor where the ball must be placed in order for Nike’s cameras to accurately capture ball speed, launch angle and skid distance.
And it’s 13 feet 6 inches from that red dot to the middle of the hole.
They had me use a Method Core Drone because it’s the putter that’s been in my bag since they sent it to me about a month ago when I was crafting an interview with Suzann Pettersen.
This particular one was 34″ and had a medium grip, which is slightly thicker than a normal grip.
I found this “exploded” Drone in the Machine Shop at The Oven.
Somehow, I made my first couple putts but my numbers were all out of whack.
I was advised to move my hands forward a bit, as in a forward press, because they were actually behind the ball at impact and throwing off my numbers.
The result? It was a night and day difference.
My first putt. Good. Same with the second putt. And the third.
I don’t remember how many putts I hit, but I know I only missed one, and that was a lip-out.
Having my hands in the proper position during the putting process felt funny, as you can imagine, because I had gotten used to putting with my hands behind the ball. It caused me to contact the ball at a bad launch angle. So, the ball was skidding more than it should.
With my hands in the right position, virtually no skid at all.
My launch angle went from 4.7″ to 2.7″ and the initial skid went from an abysmal five inches to a fantastic 0.2″ reading. I was in the ballpark with Anthony Kim, Paul Casey and Lucas Glover’s readings. That made me feel pretty good.
Here’s a screen shot of my numbers.
Method Core Drone was now able to do its job properly. And I was putting with a lot of confidence.
I smiled and said, “This changes everything.”
I couldn’t wait to get back out on the golf course.
The TaylorMade R11 Driver hit the shelves early last month and it is the latest and greatest from the makers of the number one driver in golf. There are three major differences from last years R9 series; the white non-glare club head, Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP) technology and a smaller 440cc head. With the new taylormade r11, TaylorMade has made another step towards a completely adjustable driver.
The Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP) technology allows you the option of opening or closing the face angle of the TaylorMade R11 Driver for sale by two degrees without changing the loft of the club. After the loft or launch angle of the driver is set with Flight Control Technology, you can tweak the look of the driver at address by rotating the Adjustable Sole Plate. The TaylorMade R11 Driver has a 440cc Aero Shape rounded crown to reduce drag and increase club head speed for more distance, six yards longer than the R11 Driver. The White non-glare crown and black club face promote easy alignment.
This driver promotes up to 100 yards of side-to-side trajectory change and r11 driver review, giving you consistent power and distance.
A couple months back I visited the TaylorMade R11 Irons for a custom driver fitting. It was an awesome experience and if you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend checking it out. It was determined that the driver I had been hitting, the R11 Driver was completely wrong for me. It was too light and too “whippy.” Which, I suppose I knew.. Isn’t it crazy how every time you try a new club Cheap R11 Driver, it always starts out AWESOME and then after a while (typically when the return policy expires) your drives devolve to where they were before you picked up the new club? I eventually got this driver back on track with a different shaft.. but I digress.
A local golf pro hopes to use the sport he loves to support the nation’s wounded soldiers.
Mark Kitchen, a PGA professional and owner of The Broken Tee Virtual Golf Club, is using his seasonal grand opening weekend to raise money for Home for Our Troops. All money generated by equipment rentals from Nov. 11-13 will be donated to the Taunton-based nonprofit that builds specially adapted houses for soldiers returning home with severe injuries.
“When I thought about it, I realized my grand opening for the season was going to be on Nov. 11, Veterans Day,” Kitchen said. “I figured I should reach out to them.”
His business, located at 166 County Road, Lakeville, offers use of virtual golf simulators that let customers play simulated rounds on hundreds of courses, the most popular of which is Pebble Beach. The simulators, which Kitchen rents out by the hour, also allow users to participate in international virtual golf tournaments.
To play virtual golf, the customer stands in front of a large screen bearing the projected image of the hole. When he hits a ball toward the screen, infrared sensors detect the launch angle, speed and direction of the ball and plot its path on the projection.
The Broken Tee charges $38 per hour on weekends and $32 on weekdays.
“Any money I get that weekend is going to go to Homes for Our Troops,” Kitchen said. “I’m hoping to get more awareness for them and get more people in here.”
He said he plans to hold the fundraiser every year.
The Broken Tee, which opened in 2008, is typically open from November to April, when winter weather often makes it unfeasible to play on outdoor golf courses. It is also open during the summer months by appointment.
Kitchen, a Freetown resident, said he first heard of Homes for Our Troops when he was working at the Birdies for the Brave tournament at TPC Boston.
“I was interested to learn about it,” he said. “I wanted to do whatever I could.”
Anyone interested in reserving a golf simulator can book online at thebrokentee.com within a week in advance, or by phone at 508-923-4653.
IF YOU GO: Homes for Our Troops fundraiser
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 11-12; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 13
WHERE: The Broken Tee Virtual Golf Club, 166 County Road, Lakeville
COST: $32 per hour Friday; $38 per hour Saturday-Sunday
Because she is dedicated to fashion, Mutesi flew into the country from the UK, specifically to launch her Mwajuma fashion label here.
The fashion show which took place at the Golf Course Hotel poolside saw a number of ordinary and VIPs turn up and they all left praising the works of Mutesi, who single-handedly tailors the outfits in the Mwajuma collection.
At the show, the UK-based fashion designer revealed a sense of classical elegance and mystery by blending calligraphy into her clothing designs. She also showed off a great sense of cloth accentuation relying so much on decorative items such as beads, handbags, hats, belts, scarves, wigs, leggings and tights among others.
“You can make good attire but what makes it a special one is when you add something to supplement and complement it,” says Mutesi.
If there is anything that could help Mutesi to position herself amongst the most highly regarded fashion designers of this country, it is her use of the passion for textiles, colour and the vivid accessories.
Her designs also borrow from both French and American women’s styles, and infuse them with African print patterns to create a fun and eye-catching collection.
She had already impressed at the Africa Fashion Week London last year but was waiting for approval back home – and she must have left convinced that Ugandans love her fashion too, judging by the applause from the audience at the show.
“It’s a great feeling for me to have launched my clothing line back home,” she said at the party. “I have always wanted to come back home, open a shop and start competing with my fellow local designers so we can develop the Uganda fashion industry together,” she said. High profile models like Suzan Ochora were among those who worked the run-way at Mwajuma launch. Jackie Chandiru was at hand to provide the musical entertainment.
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Last updated: 10th January 2012 FJIcon golf shoes
Alto and Eon fight it out for supremacy
