Hey Soul Sister ~ Train

New England Series Amateur Tour

The New England PGA has announced the launch of the New England Series Amateur Tour! No matter what your playing level there's a place for you! The tour is managed by a team of PGA Professionals and administrators with over 30 years of tournament experience. The 2K10 schedule includes playing opportunities at the most stunning and challenging private courses in the Greater Boston area and events are held on weekdays as well as weekends. The inaugural event kicks off at the TPC Boston in Norton on April 19th! Perks of membership include season long player of the year points contests; Net, Gross and Net Stableford contests at every event, Amateur prizes at the host course golf shop, even the ability to invite guests to the event for a nominal fee - perfect for client hospitality! Simply stellar! For membership information go to www.newenglandseries.com and become a fan of the tour on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/pages/New-England-Amateur-Tour/333767847139?ref=mf

Kyle Auclair ~ PGA Tour Photog

PGA Tour player Ian Poulter in 2009 ~ photo taken by Kyle Auclair

Professional photographer Kyle Auclair is undoubtedly one of the most talented golf photogs following the PGA Tour "inside the ropes" style out there! Kyle's been blessed with a natural talent and eye for the perfect impromptu shot and he's got a platinum resume of photos to prove it! One of the highlights of Kyle's career came last season when he shot the pic seen round the world of Swedish golfer Henrik Stenson in his boxers during the CA Championship at the Doral Golf Resort in Miami! To view more of Kyle's work check out www.insidetheropes.com!

Click on this iTunes link to hear my February 28, 2K10 Goldie Bounce Golf Live interview with Kyle Auclair http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=348834534

Inbox Trainer

The leading provider of video email fitness programs, Inbox Trainer was founded by PGA trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach Jeff Handler, owner Sport-Rx Athletic Performance Training and Bobby Scott ~ both former Strength and Conditioning Coaches at the International Junior Golf Academy for elite junior golfers in Hilton Head Island, GA under Gary Gilchrist and Hank Haney. Inbox Trainer provides a customized video work-out program designed for each client's specific needs. The client receives an email a few times per month with new exercises. Jeff told me, "this keeps the work-outs exciting, we have a database of over 1100 unique exercises and drills, demonstrating the proper form and technique for each movement so there's no more struggling to remember a specific exercise." The video workouts can be viewed on an ipod, mp3 player or computer. What a great concept for those on the go! Jeff's no stranger to athletes on the go as trainer to PGA Tour Professionals Mike Weir and Dean Wilson as well as LPGA player Nicole Perrot and many others! You can reach Bobby or Jeff by email at trainer@inboxtrainer.com or by contacting the Fitness 500 Club in Hyannis, MA. Check out the Inbox Trainer Facebook Fan Page too ~ www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?v=wall&id=100000839741555

Boston Sports Blogapalooza

Boston Sports Blogapalooza at Jerry Remy's Sports Bar and Grill in Boston

Boston sports blogger Joe Gill has a bit of time on his hands lately and it seems to me he's puttin his spare time to good use ~ idle hands theory and all ~ Joe's blog Boston Sports Then and Now is booming and he thought it would be really fun to meet up (tweet-up) with a bunch of other Boston sports bloggers and traditional Boston sports media and commiserate! Joe's got a lengthy marketing background so he's using social media to get the word out aka Twitter and Facebook ~ he's even found a sponsor for the event ~ Swing Juice hybrid energy drink! The date is Sunday March 28th from 12 - 6pm and the locale is Jerry Remy's new place which showcases an off the Richter scale view of Fenway Park! So far Joe's got over 100 Boston sports media types involved! Joe will be streaming the event live online too. Joe told me, "If this event goes well we can host another in a few months." No doubt Joe's got the Boston sports bug that seems to be going around! Don't miss out for more information check out Joe's blog at www.bostonsportsthenandnow.com

Rick Johnson Head Golf Professional

The Hyannisport Golf Club on Cape Cod, MA

Rick Johnson has been the Head Golf Professional at the historic Hyannisport Club on Cape Cod for 31 years! Not one for pomp and circumstance, in his own quiet and unassuming way, Rick has been a tireless supporter of the game of golf in New England over the years. The highpoint of Rick's career came when he was selected by his peers as the 2007 New England Golf Professional of the Year and he told me that "the favorite part of my job is the organizing and running of golf tournaments." Well, Rick's got a big one coming up in April ~ the 59th annual Seagulls Four Ball Tournament! Held over 2 weekends in April this legendary amateur event usually has the worst weather conditions of the season and is truly a test of one's "golfing spirit." As they say the mark of a true champion is the ability to prevail under any playing conditions. In 2009, Rick along with Bob Miller, Head Professional at The Club at Yarmouthport, started the Cape Cod Parent Child Championship Tournament, slated for June this year and he's also host to the Cape Cod Amateur Tournament held at Hyannisport ~ also in it's 59th year. With no retirement plans on the horizon, Rick's looking forward to his upcoming season at Hyannisport. Click on this iTunes link to hear my February 21, 2K10 Goldie Bounce Golf Live interview with Rick Johnson http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=348834534

Get your Slix On!

PGA Touring Professional John Daly in his Slix

Ummm well we now know that PGA Tour Pro John Daly isn't going commando in his LoudMouth golf attire! John's a big Twitter guy (www.twitter.com/pga_johndaly) and alerted us all to the fact that he now has a new underwear sponsor ~ www.getyourslixon.com. Whether or not his Slix will help him get his game on remains to be seen. It's a well known fact that John favors a Dairy Queen blizzard from time to time but has managed to shed more than 100 lbs! John's pre-releasing his newest album this week, formal launch date is March 2, available only on his website www.johndaly.com ~ the first 1,000 will be autographed ~ and his new reality tv show "Being John Daly" airs on the Golf Channel March 2nd. Stay tuned!

Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia

Club Campestre El Rodeo sede La Macarena in Rionegro, Colombia

The finest players from the Canadian Tour, the European Challenge Tour and the Tour de las Americas take the stage for the Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia at the Club Campestre El Rodeo sede La Macarena in Rionegro, Colombia. This is the 2K10 season opener for this trio of tours and marks the first time these 3 tours have joined forces to co-sanction an event. In 2008 the Can Tour and the Tour de las Americas co-sanctioned events in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica but this is the first time that the Can Tour has co-santioned an event in Colombia. The 4 day event kicks off on February 18th and the 156 man field representing 26 nations is vying for a $220,000.00 purse! The host course at the Club Campestre El Rodeo sede La Macarena is over 40 years old and is a 6,792-yard par-71 challenging and mature course with several elevation changes and strategically located water hazards. The player defending his title this week is a member of both the Challenge Tour and the TLA ~ Peter Gustafsson. The trophy collected here a year ago allowed the Swede to finish first on the 2009 TLA Order of Merit, an honor that has awarded him exemptions for two Nationwide Tour and one PGA Tour events to be played over the three weeks following this event. The Canadian Tour's top players such as Argentina's Mauricio Molina and Rafael Gomez, USA’s Byron Smith, Canada’s Ryan Yip, Brazil’s Lucas Lee, Chile’s Hugo Leon are here to challenge the likes of the top TLA players - Argentina’s Julio Zapata, Sebastian Fernandez, Daniel Barbetti and Paulo Pinto, Jamaica’s John Bloomfield, Guatemala’s Pablo Acuña, USA’s Dan Olsen and Colombia’s own Eduardo Herrera and Jesus Amaya. Promising Colombian player Manuel Villegas, whose older brother is Camilo, is also playing. The European Challenge Tour brings talents such as Spain’s Carlos Del Moral, one of several players who competed on the European Tour last season, Argentina's Alan Wagner and Holland’s Wil Besseling, winners of the last two events co-sanctioned by the ECT and the TLA in Colombia in 2008 and 2009. Rock on guys!

James Fitzroy, President GCSAA

Congratulations to President's Golf Course Superintendent Jim Fitzroy! Jim takes over the reigns as the 74th President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America ~ the announcement was made at the association's annual meeting in San Diego this past week. Jim's been employed at the Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Club in North Quincy, MA. since 1975 and has been a member of the GCSAA for 43 years! Wow! He's also former president of the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of New England. As we all know the backbone of every golf course is the club superintendent and his trusty greens crew~ fyi you must check out the mack daddy of all webtv sites ~ www.gcsaa.tv where you'll find a wealth of knowledge about this fascinating industry!

Rob Hakala and the South Shore's Morning News

Goldie Bounce Golf Live welcomes PGA of America President Jim Remy on Sunday evening February 14 at 7:00pm! I can’t think of a better Valentines Day treat! In case you miss Jim’s interview due to romance…tune into the South Shore's Morning News on www.959watd.com with Rob Hakala and Dani Lynn Monday Morning February 15th from 5 - 9 am. Rob and Dani Lynn will be airing clips of my interview with Jim ~ WATD Sports every :22 and :52 past the hour! What a great way to start your morning commute tomorrow!

The Denial Twist ~ the White Stripes

PGA of America President Jim Remy

Jim Remy, President PGA of America

Goldie Bounce Golf welcomes Vermont's own Jim Remy to the show ~ Sunday evening February 14 at 7:00pm! Jim will be calling in from Okemo Valley Golf Club in Ludlow, Vermont where he holds the position of Vice President and General Manager of Okemo Golf Division. Jim has the distinction of being the first New England PGA Section Member ever to hold the office of PGA of America President and has quite an extensive background within the Association governance, having served in virtually every capacity! In 1997 Jim was named to the National Board of Control and served an unprecedented 6 1/2 year term taking part in over 1,500 decisions during his tenure. In 2004 Jim was elected national PGA secretary, serving a two-year term, until his election to PGA vice president in 2006, and then PGA president in 2008. Jim has been very active within the New England PGA Section as well serving as the Section’s president from 1995-97. His many accolades include 1997 New England PGA Golf Professional of the Year, three time Vermont PGA Golf Professional of the Year and in 2008 Jim was inducted into the New England PGA Section Hall of Fame. A superb athlete in his own right Jim started out as a Professional Skier and was an Instructor/Director of Racing at Okemo Mountain. He also holds the course record at Killington Golf Course in Vermont shooting an unprecedented round of 36 -30-66!

(Click on this link to listen to Goldie Bounce Golf Live February 14th show with Jim Remy! http://goldiebouncegolf.podbean.com/2010/02/15/goldie-bounce-golf-sunday-february-14-2k10)

Crash Kings ~ Mountain Man

Celebrity Spouses

Amy Brimicomb, CEO Celebrity Spouses

Boston native Amy Brimicombe came up with an interesting concept - why not create an invite only online social network exclusively for the spouses and partners of Professional Athletes and those in the TV, Film, Stage and Music Industry? Her site is rockin! CelebritySpouses.net provides forums for a private exchange of a wealth of ideas and an exclusive circle of friends who can uniquely relate. Resources on the site include expert advice from a range of recognized national experts in fields such as business and finance, health and well-being, relationship, parenting, travel, career, and personal interests and insider referrals for the best hand selected service professionals: attorneys, financial advisers, interior design, party planners, travel agents, etc. ~ all of whom are experienced in working with people in these industries and their families. Amy told me that her goal is "to engage and enlighten, to inspire and inform and to provide networking and support to these spouses." She also said, "although it may appear to be fabulous and glamorous from the outside many of these spouses are really isolated due to their lifestyles." I guess you don't know what it's like till you walk a day in someone else's shoes!

Tune into Goldie Bounce Golf Live Superbowl Sunday at 7:00pm Amy's gonna tell us all about her exciting online community!

Cashmere Ivy Cap

Groundhog Day 2K10 ~ most local groundhogs did not see their shadow today! However, the most famous groundhog of all Punxsutawney Phil saw his and historically that means 6 more weeks of winter! Diehard golfers here in New England will try to play regardless. I thought this cap would be a nifty accoutrement (along with a nip or two of blackberry brandy) for those chilly days out on the course!

Cashmere Ivy Cap from J. Peterman Co.

It didn't take the Aristocracy long in the 19th century to note that these caps looked good on working class men throughout Britain and Ireland. So it began popping up on their well-coiffed heads on their estates and on golfers teeing off at St. Andrews. The Italians said you haven't seen anything yet. Or words to that effect. Italian Ivy Cap (No. 2566). Luxuriously soft 100% pure Italian wool woven in Italy by the renowned Loro Piana mill. The wool is also given a special treatment that provides resistance to rain and wind. Other feature is a quilted insulated lining for added warmth and fold up quilted earflaps. You won't find this one on everyone's head! Men's sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL. Imported. Color: Black. Price: $138. Go to www.jpetterman.com to order yours today!