Just Finished Reading Greg Norman’s Autobiography
April 28, 2008
I just recently finished Greg Norman’s The Way of the Shark, co-written by Donald T. Phillips. Now, autobiographies, or books co-written with other who can spell better, deserve a lot of qualifications. Someone is writing about themselves. They tend to be self-serving. Sometimes they turn out to be rants. They often try to re-write history and they are generally not even-handed. If I were to write an autobiography, I’m sure I would gloss over the areas that didn’t sound flattering and try to re-write some history before someone came along and did it for me in a way I didn’t like.
Greg Norman’s book is admittedly a bit self-serving. At times he attempts to set the record straight and tell his side of the story, especially with his efforts to create the ill-fated World Tour and the subsequent battle with the PGA and its president Tim Finchem. He also is almost completely silent on his breakup with ex-wife Laura and his new relationship with Chris Evert the tennis star.
Yet, after reading Greg Norman’s book, I find that he is much more than just a golfer. Yes, he was the world’s best golfer for over 300 weeks. Frankly, he was the Tiger or Jack of his day. In his book Norman goes to great lengths to show that he shouldn’t be defined by the huge meltdowns the golfing world was witness to. Yet Norman spends as much time talking about business and the lessons off the course that he’s learned as he does about golf. Norman has become a very successful businessman with holdings estimated to be worth over $500 million.
Greg Norman is also a brand. A conglomerate. An Aussie tycoon. His Greg Norman Golf Course Design company has built 61 courses around the world and has an equal number in development. He owns real estate development companies, a wine company, restaurants, cattle ranches, and his own grass (that’s turf not marijuana) called Greg Norman Turf Company.
Now in his mid 50’s, he is more than qualified to play the Seniors Tour, yet this past weekend he finished tied for 14th at the Asian Open. Back in December, his previous stop on the European Tour, the South African Airways Open, he finished tied for 7th . For someone that only occasionally plays competitively, finishing in the top twenty in his last two professional tournaments is pretty impressive.
I’ve also picked up another book on Greg Norman, this time a biography written in 1998 to get another perspective. I’ll report back on how much (or little) whitewashing of the Norman legend that Greg did in his own book.
Golf Gear News #44 - Odds of Tiger Winning US Open, Get a Tax Deduction, Black Ops Golf Psychology and Clubmaxx Golf Bags Interview
April 22, 2008
CLICK HERE to listen.
Interview with the Guru: Clubmaxxgolfbags.com .
The Newstand: Odds of Woods Winning the US Open, and Get a Tax Deduction for Playing Golf .
Golf of the Weird: Black Ops Golf Psychology .
Our new Golf Gear News Blog 2.0 is HERE!
Our show sponsor is Golfknockoff.com .
Check out our new Media Kit .
ClubMaxx Golf Bags Interview
April 21, 2008
Scott Gordon, President
www.clubmaxxgolfbags.com
Clubmaxx Golf Bags was started in 1998 to produce high-quality golf bags systems. Their precision club handling system (PCH) is the latest and most functional club management system in golf today. Unlike typical organizer bags and accessories, the PCH System is designed to control the whole club, not just the head or shaft. Its precision club handling structure holds the each club in place preventing interaction of the clubs both inside or outside the bag.
Click the play button below to listen to the interview.
Golf Gear News #43 - Masters & Tiger, Masters Food, Masters History, San Diego Golf Academy Interview
April 12, 2008
CLICK HERE to listen.
Interview with the Guru: San Diego Golf Academy.
The Newstand: Odds of Woods Wining the Masters, How Did Amen Corner Get It’s Name, and Last Remaining Living Player from 1934 Masters.
Look for our new Golf Gear News Blog 2.0 coming soon!
Our show sponsor is Golfknockoff.com.
Check out our new Media Kit.
Tiger’s Done Before He Even Starts
April 12, 2008
It is amazing the spectacle of rabid celebrity worship. I just read a headline from Yahoo at the start of the second round of the Masters that said “Anyone’s Jacket” in big headlines. The subtext then said: “Tiger Woods is now six shots off the lead with second-round play under way at the Masters on Friday.” This makes it sound likes he’s dying out there.
Let’s put this in context. For the last few weeks everyone was talking about Tiger as if he’d already won this year’s Master. It was a done deal. He was a shoe-in. The oddmasters had him at 2 to 1. A lock.
Yet this headline makes it sound like he done for. There’s no hope. He’s already six strokes behind. Too bad, maybe he’ll win the next one.
Whoa rabid Tiger worshippers. How quickly the media jumps off the bandwagon just so they can write a compelling headline.
Context my friends. CONTEXT.
Let’s not forgot that when this was written at about 10AM in the morning, Tiger hadn’t even teed off for the second round. His tee time was at 1:52 pm. Almost four hours later. Let me repeat that TIGER HADN’T EVEN TEED OFF YET!
A case of burying the body before the person has even died.
Mr. Media and Rapid Celebrity Worshippers, let the man actually play the course before you write him off.
San Diego Golf Academy Interview
April 7, 2008
Chris Hunkler, President
www.sdga.edu
San Diego Golf Academy is a two-year golf college that has helped more than 6600 students prepare for a rewarding and successful golf career! The academy’s 16-month program offers a curriculum of golf instruction and golf business management at four locations: San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Phoenix and Orlando.
Click the play button below to listen to the interview.
Golf Gear News #42 - Wie Drops Out, Feherty Breaks Ribs, StopClubAbuse.org, Old Works Golf Course, FST Interview
April 4, 2008
Interview with the Guru: Femco Steel Technology (FST).
The Newstand: Wie Drops Out of Safeway Event, Adam Scott Hates Slow Play, and Feherty Gets Hit By Truck.
Golf of the Weird: Stopclubabuse.org.
Golf Around the World: Old Works Golf Course.
Our show sponsor is Golfknockoff.com.
Check out our new Media Kit.
Click the play button below to listen to the interview.
Golf Gear News #41 - Ernie Els on Autism, Golfer Kills Hawk, Adjustable Shafts, Scratch Golf, Where will Tiger Play
April 4, 2008
The Newstand: Ernie Els Supports Autism.
Golf of the Weird: Golfer Kills Protected Hawk.
State of the Game: Women Can Compete with Men.
The Perfect Fit: Shaft Makers in the World of Adjustability.
She Golfs Too: Golf’s Venus and Serena Williams.
View the video. HERE.
Component Corner: Scratch Golf Wedges is Growing.
Component Corner: When Tiger Moves, Where Will His Home Course Be?
Our show sponsor is Golfknockoff.com.
Check out our new Media Kit.
Click the play button below to listen to the interview.
KB Shafts Interview
April 2, 2008
Larry Bodle, Director of Marketing
www.kbshafts.com
FEMCO Steel Technology (FST) is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality steel golf shafts, including the premium KB Series of shafts which features Moment of Inertia technology. Since 1949, FEMCO has remained committed to creating and providing high-quality and cost-effective steel products and services worldwide.
Click the play button below to listen to the interview.
SST Pure Interview
April 2, 2008
Dick Weiss, President
www.sstpure.com
Strategic Shaft Technologies, LLC, makers of the patented SST PURE® Shaft Alignment System which uses a proprietary shaft alignment process that analyzes the structural irregularities that exist to some degree in every golf shaft and locates the shaft’s most stable orientation. SST Pure is celebrating its ninth year on Tour.
Click the play button below to listen to the interview.
Sign Up for Underbelly of Golf Newsletter
Blog Roll
- ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG
- BogeyLounge
- BuzzinGolf
- Engolfed
- Even Par Round
- Golf Blogger
- Golf Nomad
- Golf Punk
- Golfchick
- Grouchy Golf Blog
- Hireko Golf Blog
- Hooked On Golf Blog
- Jam Boy
- Jay Flemma’s Blog
- Metropolitan Golf
- Minnesota Rural Golf
- SortaGolf
- SportSnipe
- Texas Golf
- The Golf Blog
- The Podcasting Directory
- Travelgolf.com Blogs
- Travelling Golfer
- Worldgolf.com Blogs