Sex in the City 2 the movie is out in theaters and while it may seem like millions of women across the planet are flocking to the theaters and gushing over the clothes, shoes, dating, marriage and motherhood there seems to be equally as many men rolling their eyes in bizarre wonder and asking “What is the big deal?”. I am sure John Gray, author of Men are from Mars Women are from Venus, could explain it better but here is a simple comparison broken down in golfer language for guys. 

SITC

Four female characters that are best friends go away on a decadent all expense paid trip to Abu Dhabi to bond and escape their daily routine.

 GOLF

A foursome of guys go on an all expense paid trip to the Bellagio Hotel and casino in Las Vegas where they are guests with free greens fees and unlimited alcohol to bond and escape their daily routine.

 SITC

When the women arrive in Abu Dhabi each is greeted with her own personal butler and white Maybach including driver at her disposal at all times.

 GOLF

Upon arriving in Vegas each guy is given a tweaked out hummer golf cart and an extremely attractive model to be his personal caddy anytime he plays golf

 SITC

The women are excited about shopping in the spice market and how inexpensive the shoes and other goods are there.

GOLF

Upon arriving at the pro shop the hottest new driver – Taylor Made SuperFast– is on sale for $5.00

 SITC

The women are constantly showered with campaign and unlimited drinks when ever they want including their own private bar in their suite.

GOLF

Each of the hummer golf carts has a draft tap in the cart as well they have their own beverage cart, driven by an attractive cart girl, following the foursome every hole for the entire 18 holes

 SITC

The woman are driven out to a fabulous lunch set up in the middle of the desert

 GOLF

The guys play 36 holes a day on the top 20 courses in Las Vegas.

 SITC

While out at the night club the get on stage and sing a song together and the patrons of the club join in and give them an ovation.

 GOLF

The foursome of guys plays in a night time glow ball golf tournament and win then spends the next 10 minutes high fiving each other and saying “your da’ man”

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Ernie Els, the laidback South African known as the “Big Easy,” has returned to the winner’s circle twice in the past month. Yet, while his game has struggled a bit over the past few years, his business interests have soared. He’s now similar to a custom-made LeMond bike and, like the spokes on a wheel, all his passions have merged and there’s no doubt he’s on a roll.

You have to marvel at the determination and quality for which Els executes his many passions. He’s a global champion on the golf course, a course designer, award-winning winemaker, philanthropist, husband and dad.

Global Champion

Els is a three-time major winner and one of the best-known players in the world. If he’s collecting frequent-flyer points, Els has more than enough for a set of knives and a set of luggage. He is constantly circumnavigating the world to play events on the European and PGA tours, and always supporting tournaments in his home nation, in addition to his growing and extremely successful golf-course design business.

Els is one of the most successful golfers in the history of the game, having won more than 60 tournaments since turning professional in 1989. He has notched victories in two U.S. Opens and the British Open and holds the record for seven World Match Play titles. His numerous international wins ensure him a place as one of the game’s great champions.

Wine

“While men may dream different dreams, they are driven by the same quest: to reach for, and to accomplish perfection. No two pursuits bare the truth of this more than the perfect round of golf and the perfect bottle of wine.” This was said by Ernie Els and Jean Engelbrecht.

When Els and his good friend Engelbrecht decided to produce wine together, the marriage of their ideas on wine-making styles quickly transformed into a strategy based on quality and excellence. “We have, through our travels worldwide, developed a passion for fine wine, for the Cape wine lands and in particular, Stellenbosch, the noble heart of South African wine. This classic wine was born out of a friendship and is both the culmination of a dream and a reflection of our personal style,” they commented.

Now in its third vintage, The Big Easy Wine has been well-received both locally and internationally and it is definitely a wine to look out for in the future. The 2005 Ernie Els vintage has received industry accolades including scoring an impressive 94 points by Wine Spectator magazine; it also won Double Gold at the Veritas Wine Awards. The Engelbrecht Els received two Golds at the International Wine Challenge (UK) and Concours Mondial (Belgium) as well as Double Gold at Veritas. Not to be outdone, the Cirrus received a strong 92 points from Wine Spectator and Gold at Veritas. For more information, visit www.ernieelswines.com.

Philanthropy

Ernie has generously reached out to charitable organizations and encouraged others to do the same. He was recently honored with the Charlie Bartlett Award, one given to a professional golfer by the Golf Writers Association of America for his or her unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Over 10 years ago Els set up the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation in South Africa. More recently, he and his wife Liezl set up the Els for Autism Foundation in the U.S., where they are undertaking a capital campaign to raise $30 million to establish a Centre of Excellence for Autism.

The facility will be the first of its kind in the world, combining cutting-edge education, therapy and research for children with autism. Through its proposed digital-learning program it will also have a global reach, helping individuals and families around the world. Els has been a passionate advocate for finding a cure for autism since his son Ben, now seven, was diagnosed four years ago. “One in 150 children is affected by autism and, that was perhaps the most shocking thing about all of this,” he said.

Ernie Els Design

Els’ golf-course architecture firm mirrors his success on the course. While he is yet to build a course in Mexico, he is interested in growing his brand in Latin America and is currently reviewing opportunities. The full-service design company is committed to transporting Ernie’s goodwill across cultures and borders in order to create distinctive courses.

Ernie Els Design achieves this by forming unique relationships with developers who share the company’s lofty ambitions, creating attractive destinations that adhere to the principles of sustainable development and sound environmental practice. Els hired veteran golf course architect Greg Letsche in 2005 to head the group. With more than 20 years of experience, Letsche previously spent 15 years working with Jack Nicklaus and the legendary Pete Dye.

Courses by Ernie Els Design have won many awards. They include: The Els Club Dubai was named the Best New International Course in 2009 by Links Magazine and won the CNBC Property Award in the category of Best Golf Course, Dubai. Oubaai, in South Africa, was the CNBC African Property Award Best Golf Resort in South Africa in 2007. Anahita, on the island of Mauritius, was voted the Best Golf Development for Europe & Africa in 2008 at the CNBC International Property Awards.

The courses constructed under the Els Design name to date are scattered throughout the world. Asia: Mission Hills, China , Tomson Shanghai, China; Australia: Bingara Gorge; Europe: Cape Verde Islands, Wentworth, England; Middle East: Durrat Al Bahrain, Bahrain, The Els Club, Dubai; The Americas: Albany, Bahamas, Fond Bay, St. Lucia; U.S.: Hoakalei, Silo Ridge, Whiskey Creek; Southern Africa: Anahita, Mauritius, Gardener Ross, Highland Gate, Lahleni Lakes, Nondela, Oubaai at Herold’s Bay.

When being honored with an award, Els says: “I often say that the mark of a true man is not what he takes in life, but what he gives back.” While we can expect many things in the future, this Renaissance man has already left one heck of a mark.

For more information about Els, visit www.ernieels.com.

For more information regarding course design in Latin America, contact Elisa Gaudet elisa@execgolfintl.com or call 646/678-5747.

Yes he is getting all the attention for all the wrong reasons. We would much prefer to hear about his winnings and superior skills on the golf course than his late night liaisons. It continues to dominate the pages of most papers and for 12 days straight Woods has been on the cover of the NY Post and Daily News. The irony is just when you think it is over the next day there is more bizarre news. Like a chia pet of publicity it just keeps growing or the energizer bunny that just keeps going and going. People are getting tired of seeing it, hearing about it and yet they are still selling out of the papers that carry the story and have noticed an actual spike in sales. It is almost like looking at an accident on the side of the road you don’t want to look at but out of the corner of your eye you peek. It is becoming more like a Britney Spears train wreck that we keep watching. It is a very, very unfortunate situation for his family and fans. His wife and children are the ones that must be suffering the most and it is a sad time in golf.

Why the obsession with the Tiger Woods saga?

Fallen Hero – We love our sports heroes and we want them to excel in every aspect of their lives. While perhaps it is not correct to put them on a pedestal this is exactly what happens. They are held to a higher standard and when they fall it is a longer drop.

Golf has been so scandal free * – Golf has always been known for its clean cut image. It is a relatively low key, clean cut, play by the rules sport that has been scandal free with the exception of John Daly. This is out of left field for the sport, sports writers and the golfing / viewing public. Where is “Joe the golfer” when you need him to comment (Brother of Joe the Plumber).

R E S P E C T – Aretha Franklin says it best. People want to listen to a winner and someone they can respect. Finding that combination “a winner you can respect” is becoming harder each day. Perhaps it is the inflated salaries, the lack of education or that athletes are constantly surrounded by yes men. For many people Tiger seemed to embody that image and it definitely contributed to his allure and popularity.

People don’t like Cheaters – They feel deceived. Don’t cheat: Rule number #1 of any sport or board game for that matter. You heard it growing up form your mom, coach, teacher, on the playground “Nobody likes a cheater”.

Sex Sells – Unfortunately there is an insatiable appetite for sex scandals and it sells papers, draws ratings and makes people talk.

Speak no Evil, Hear no Evil, See no Evil

*John Daly

“Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn’t last.
Jo Jo left his home in St. Louis, Missouri
and bought a bar in Maynard Mass”

Joseph Henry White, known as Jo Jo White, was born on November 16, 1949. White grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and played college basketball at the University of Kansas. After college Jo Jo played on the 1968 USA Olympic basketball team in Mexico, which went undefeated (9-0), beating Yugoslavia 65-50 in the title game.

After the Olympics, White was drafted in 1969 in the first round (9th pick overall) by the NBA’s Boston Celtics, who at that time had just won their 11th championship in 13 years. However, before White even reported to training camp, the Celtics’ legendary center and player-coach Bill Russell announced his retirement. White would endure a rebuilding season while the Celtics got back on track, drafting Dave Cowens and trading for Paul Silas. Along with these two and veteran John Havlicek, White would be the cornerstone of two Celtic championship teams in the 1970s (1973-74 and 1975-76).

White went on to become one of professional basketball’s first “iron men”, playing in all 82 games for five consecutive seasons during the 1970s.

He was an All-Star for seven straight years from 1971 through 1977, finishing in the top ten in the league in assists from 1973-77. In 1974 and 1976, White helped lead the Celtics to the NBA championship and was named the most valuable player of the 1976 NBA Finals. Perhaps the most exciting game White ever played was the triple overtime win against the Phoenix Suns in game 5 of those finals. White was the game’s highest scorer with 33 points, had a game high 9 assists, leading the Celtics to a 128-126 win. Logging an incredible 60 minutes of play time, only the Suns’ Garfield Heard (61) played more minutes. Many claim it to be the greatest game ever played.

On Friday, April 9, 1982 his number 10 was hung from the rafters at the Boston Garden.

In addition to “NBA Legend” Jo Jo can also add avid golfer, restaurateur and actor to his resume. Now a resident of Middleton and a member of the Ferncroft Country Club he plays as often as he can and has found great pleasure in the quest to perfect his golf game. He says golf offers him the same challenges, both mentally and physically, that basketball did in the past and since his retirement from the NBA golf has filled the competitive void that lurks in most professional athletes upon retirement. It also allows him to represent the Celtics in numerous charity related events. Jo Jo now a 7 handicap first played as a kid but was not allowed on courses. “If I had more opportunity when I was younger I might even be a 2 or scratch. I was probably 10 years old living in St Louis when I first tried golf just in a field. Golf was always time consuming and blacks were not allowed on the courses.  My first time on a course was in 1969 in Kansas. I was always watching Nicklaus who went to Ohio State with John J. Havlicek. Lack of rules and changing of rules has a lot to do with what is going on with our society. We need rules it makes us stronger as a nation and as individuals. We are not teaching anything to our children with regard to rules.”

White is a man whose name is etched forever in the minds of many for the passion and commitment he displayed towards basketball. His professionalism was unrivaled and he was a source of inspiration and propelling force for the scoring consistency of the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. Jo Jo still works for the Celtics as a mentor and continues to council young athletes when they come into the league.  He is now a source of inspiration and propelling force for younger athletes.  He is a legend that many players still look up to even to this day.  People want to listen to a winner and someone they can respect. Finding that combination “a winner you can respect” is becoming harder each day. Perhaps it is the inflated salaries, the lack of education as Jo Jo points out or that athletes are constantly surrounded by yes men.

Jo Jo had the idea to create an environment where athletes can have dinner and enjoy themselves in a safe environment. (www.jojoswest.com) The concept for Jo Jo’s is to cater to the professional athletes with half the location dedicated to a private club and half the place being open to the public. Incorporated in the private part of Jo Jo’s club is the use of limo service, extensive security, a private environment. Think of it as a celebrity night care center. The timing could not be better in lieu of what is currently going on with Tiger Woods.  Jo Jo‘s favorite golfer is Tiger and he knew his father, Earl, as he played baseball at Kansas State while Jo Jo was a t University of Kansas.  “I watched as Earl raised Tiger as an athlete and I have a great deal of respect for Earl as a dedicated father.”  While at Kansas State in 1951, Earl broke the Big Eight Conference “color barrier” in baseball.  When asked to comment on Tiger’s current situation Jo Jo said “It is part of being in the world and unfortunate, like all of us he made the wrong decision. It does not hamper his talent – he is still a tremendous athlete. It was a bad judgment call and we see the tremendous effects it has on his family and image. We are all human and subject to make mistakes he is human just at the top of his sport.”

Why Maynard? According to Chris Barnes, CEO of Jo Jo’s they tried two different buildings in Boston and had an opportunity with a property in Maynard. It just made sense there are 5 towns surrounding Maynard with an average income of 132k, most of the Celtics all live with 20 minutes of the restaurant, their practice facility is at Brandeis University. After the success of the Maynard location they are planning to open second location in Boston next year and then rolling out to Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago and NY.

The advantage to this unique concept for a restaurant and club is that the athlete can enjoy themselves and be comfortable. Many are young and still want to go out have dinner enjoy an evening out, like most of us. The private club has membership component which is invitation only and is handled personally by Jo Jo.  So who has been invited to join? So far the 225 athletes on the 7 Boston teams have been invited to join.

Jo Jo’s is addressing a need – people still need to go out and enjoy themselves especially in a recession and athletes are no different.  According to Jo Jo “Many of the athletes have a pocket full of money and no place to go – we offer something to the general public and something special “a safe haven” that protects the athletes interests. They need a place to blow off steam or they end up in wrong places”. Jo Jo says “Many times we are one turn to the right or left away from making a bad decision –  much of what is going on is a result of operate without rules,  money is dictating sport and education is taking a back seat.”

Jo Jo’s thoughts: “If you do not have education you will run into problems. We have gotten away from education and people are motivated by “things” and they are not important – life itself is the most important thing. Hey you never see any Brinks trucks go into the grave.”

Classics never go out of style

Classics- Like a vintage Porsche, a dry martini, a great leather band watch or Arnold Palmer. Even at 80 the King still has plenty of style, looks and charm I can only imagine what he must have been like in his prime.

Two songs come to mind to describe the King – Rob Base “It takes Two” and Paula Cole’s “Where have all the cowboys gone”

‘Cause I’m the winner, no, I’m not the loser, To be a golfer is what I choose ‘a, Ladies love me, girls adore me. I mean even the ones that never saw me…

Where is my John Wayne, Where is my prairie son, Where is my happy ending, Where have all the cowboys gone.

They just don’t make golfers like Arnold anymore. A class act that played the game with style and intense passion, took chances and engaged fans everywhere. Palmer at 80 – Even Paris Hilton would agree “That’s hot”

Write and tell me your favorite Palmer story.

The movie “Bucket List” prompted many to think about enjoying life before it’s too late. Perhaps it prompted a few to formalize a list and convert the items on it into reality sooner, rather than later.

There seem to be categories of things we want to experience and achieve. These include career, family, friends, sports, travel, purchases and adventure.

Sports, perhaps more for men than women, are a major category. Some of the events on our to-do list are to attend such big-time events as the Super Bowl, Final Four, the Masters, the World Series, Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown, play Augusta National Golf Club and polo, shake hands with Muhammad Ali, and meet Michael Jordan.

For some, polo is a reality. These include the few gentlemen who played in the Ivy League Polo Cup in Greenwich, Conn.

When asked if there were similarities between golf and polo, Bruce Colley remarked, “It is a lot like golf except in golf you wait for the perfect conditions, silence from the crowd and no movement. In polo you are moving at 20 mph, you have a mallet in one hand, the ball is bouncing and some jerk is trying to knock you off your horse. Draw your own conclusions.”

A polo-playing Italian friend of mine named Massimo told me, “Polo is the most exciting sport a man can do with his clothes on.” I only suspect this is true because he hasn’t played golf naked.

While playing August National or watching baseball may not be on top of the list for Bruce or Massimo, I, a self-proclaimed “Gidget” at heart, had a burning desire to visit Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. A visit to Fenway to watch a game is a must-do for both baseball fans and those who could care less about the sport.

My first Fenway experience was a Friday night game. To get “warmed up” for the game, my cousin took me to Caskin Flagin, the famous bar across from the stadium. Although it may sound as if I was preparing to play the sport, going to this establishment for some libations is like a cult ritual where everyone meets and drinks their own brand of Kool Aid before heading into the temple.

Not a beer drinker, I convinced the bartender to put a lime in a Coors Light; remarkably, after two mugs they tasted great. Not a meat-eater either, I was somehow convinced to try a “Fenway Frank” once inside the park. Chalk this one up also to religion.

There are so many nuances that make Fenway special. Besides a beautiful old ballpark, the main focus is the actual game; a JumboTron hasn’t made it there yet. A vendor walks the aisles, you raise your hand for some peanuts, and a bag will be hurled with such speed that you wonder if he missed his calling and shouldn’t have tried out for a major league team. You pass your money down the row and the change is passed back.

The fan participation here is real and raw. While watching the Sox play the Mets, every so often I heard a chant of “Yankees Suck!” Like every religion, there are the devotees making the Fenway pilgrimage – like two guys from Utah on a three-day baseball binge.

Sitting there watching the game wearing my Titleist hat, seduced by the lights and verdant field, I soaked it all in and allowed Fenway to enchant me. I could almost hear Kenny Chesney singing “She’s from Boston.”

For a moment during the game I could have sworn Boo Weekley was in attendance as I kept hearing the crowd call his name. While it quite possibly could have been the lemon in the Coors Light that affected my hearing, what was being heard was Boston’s version of “Boooo” for infielder Kevin Youkilis – “Yoooouk.”

After the Sox won I floated back to Caskin Flagin, but not before a quick high-five to the Green Monster on my way out.

“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Guard me Jesus through the night,
And wake me with the morning light
Oh, and please keep the World Series in sight.”

Phil’s Phanatics are the faithful followers of Phil Mickelson. While Tiger Woods draws the largest crowds, there is a difference between the fans that follow Tiger and those watching Phil, especially in the New York City area. Lefty’s group is arguably the “Arnie’s Army” of his generation.

Why is Mickelson so loved? Because he’s fallible like us, always wears his heart on his sleeve, often going for it and coming up just short. Maybe realizing sometimes you will end up being the bridesmaid, but knowing you are good enough to get invited to the wedding. Even Superman had kryptonite.

Both Mickelson and Palmer have a similar playing style, one that attracts fans. From most accounts, Palmer’s aggressive playing style and dramatic high-risk shots frequently went astray, an apt description of Mickelson’s method. Both styles make for great drama, both live and on TV.

Nick Ferraro is an example of the type of fan that follows Phil. Nick carried his homemade “Phil face” for 18 holes in lousy weather to show his “support and love” for Phil during the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. He had tickets for Thursday’s rained-out first round, but bought the playoff insurance for $10 to enable him and his girlfriend, who also followed in support, to watch the final round on Monday. His “Phil face” was created by a ruler he bought from Staples and giant printouts of Mickelson’s mug he found on the Internet.

Another fan named Hatel had a similar tale after following Mickelson at last year’s Barclay’s tournament. At the end of one round Phil gave Hatel the KPMG hat off his head. The fan was quick to point out “this hat was made for Phil as part of his sponsorship agreement and you cannot buy one like it,” and gushed like a schoolgirl, “I have never seen him so intense or work that hard for a championship.”

From the moment Mickelson steps onto the first tee until he leaves the course you can hear screams from the Phanatics: “You’re the best,” “You’re my hero,” and “I love you Phil.” This reaction has the energy of an Olympic event or college football games. When Phil arrived to the 17 hole at Bethpage, a par-3s, fans did the wave for their hero. This is their man, the people’s man. Why such passion? Because Phil strives for the best and sometimes wins, but more often than not loses. He’s not Tiger, the mythological god/superhero who manages to overcome the obstacles and frequently prevail. Phil’s wins are grittier, drama-filled and sweat-inducing.

At what time do heroes such as Mickelson and Palmer realize they’re being followed with such conviction? According to Palmer, the first time he recognized the phenomenon was at the 1957 Masters when he looked up at the scoreboard and saw a soldier from nearby Ft. Gordon holding a sign that read, “Arnie’s Army.”

Perhaps raw emotion has the masses following Phil. At the Open there were four teenage boys running in a line, like four Rockettes that escaped from Radio City Music Hall, each of their bare chests with a letter that collectively spelled “PHIL.” Grown men in the high-priced hospitality tents left their flat-screens and cocktails to come out on the terraces and pay homage as Phil walked up the 14th and 15th hole.

Another fan named Suchita has been following Phil for 10 years. She was among 200 or so at the U.S. Open pressed against the fence just past the putting green near Bethpage’s clubhouse. What perhaps speaks volumes is that although Mickelson faltered down the stretch and came in second, finding himself in an all too familiar situation- a bridesmaid not a bride again for the fifth US Open- and knowing it was the last time he was playing for a while in order to be with his wife Amy and assist in her treatment for breast cancer, he still talked to the media and then walked into the crowd to sign autographs for 30 minutes. There were more screams of “We love you Phil” as the police held the throngs back. If you didn’t know better, you’d have sworn you were at a Bruce Springsteen concert and Bruce just jumped off stage.

While we wait patiently for his return (in next week’s Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron), you can be sure the fire will continue to burn in the bellies of Phil’s Phanatics.

While the weather played center stage for a good part of the US Open even pushing it to Monday there were some compelling events, story lines and activities on and off course that made it all worth while. Keeping Dry was the name of the game and how better than the pure entertainment of Johnny Miller and Peter Jacobsen in the Lexus tent.

They gave great insight and provided comic relief from the storm. Discussing everything from Tigers swing, predicting who would do well playing in these conditions to impromptu acapella songs and nutrisystem.

Playing a round of golf with someone can give you incredible insight as to their personality and while the weather denied many from watching the long awaited US Open there are still some who found the silver lining. A few new friends took the opportunity to convert the 15the hole into their personal cigar lounge. Their were no frowning faces just a great view, great friends and great cigars you would have never known they were there to watch golf.  

Make no mistake about it the Black course is back – as host of the 2009 US Open. This warning sign on the first tee box is no joke – enough to scare the faint of heart (faint of heart -Fig. people who are squeamish; someone who is sickened or disturbed by unpleasantness or challenge.), shorter drivers or the poorest of putters.

The next few days will test the best of the best.  Even before the event started some golf greats were celebrated. At the Met Golf Writers dinner D.J. Gregory received the Mary Bea Porter award- recognizing an individual, who through an heroic or humanitarian act, saves or betters the lives of others. D.J. grew up with cerebral palsy and was told he would never walk. He had a dream to walk every hole on the PGA Tour. In 2008 he did just that and blogged about it.  In 44 weeks he covered 3,200 holes and over 1,000 miles with only 29 falls.  His message is simple and clear ” From this, I just want people to know that if they have a dream, they need to chase it,” Gregory said, “and never take no for an answer”. If you have not seen DJ walking with friends you can check it out on you tube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUSHN5EB0v8

You can find DJ this week signing copies of his book Walking with Friends in the merchandise tent Friday.

With predictions running wild and records to be set one thing is for sure if the weather does not cooperate we could convert this event into the worlds largest slip and slide party. Believe me this is the time you wish you owned a Lexus or you may want to think about buying one if it gets you into their hospitality tent.