Tech Tuesday on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio for 12/17/13 - Holiday Golf Gadgets Under $20

* TOPICS - Rick takes a look at some great golf gifts that won't break the bank - they are under $20 and a mention of Danielle Lao and "The Invaluable Experience"

Have a listen:

1.   Tin Cup ball stencils - New Holiday designs

www.tin-cup.com

$19.95 each
Each Tin Cup comes with a velvet bag. Engraving is also available.
You also get Sharpies to make your ball with the colors you want.

 

2.  Golf Mitts for cold weather golf

$19.99
www.carlsgolfland.com
One size fits all.
Deluxe mittens with heavy lining. Waterproof.
Why you wouldn't just wear regular gloves?  I have no idea but these are "Golf Mitts"

 
3.  Rainstik  golf bag umbrella

$14.99

 Covers equipment in seconds allowing quick access to all clubs
Telescoping shaft stores neatly in the bag with the rest of your clubs
Extra deep canopy offers exceptional protection even in windy weather
Inner liner provides protection for your valuable clubs
Improved with a flexible spring near top end of shaft
Durable construction
Works with power carts, pull carts and caddies

 

4.   Microfiber Caddy Towels - From the likes of Club Glove, Spotless Swing, etc

www.spotlessswing.com
Demanded by Tour players and their caddies, these premium pro-tour size microfiber golf towels exceed professional Tour standards and outperform any other towel in golf. Includes free matching "greenside" pocket towel. These premium towels are gentle enough to be used to clean and polish glasses, plastic, chrome and other delicate surfaces without scratching. Hand or machine wash in cold water with mild detergent.
 
5.  Twilight Tracer Light-Up Golf Ball

Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean you have to stop swinging. The Twilight Tracer Light-Up Golf Ball from Sun Products is a "a regulation golf ball with an inner core that contains proprietary circuitry, a lithium battery, and two red LED lights that are programmed to flash at a rate of 7.2 flashes per second." The ball is also motion activated, so once you swing at it, it will stay lit for about five to six minutes until you find it in the dark. Choose from the 1 pack ($13.95), 3 pack ($27.95), or 9 pack ($69.95) of Light-Up Golf Balls.

 

App of the Month:

Status4   - iOS or Android  $19.99    =  May seem a lot for an app, but it's a quality app - Helps run those tournaments, scrambles, Member-guests, etc.
$19.99.  This Holiday Special has all the features and games that make Status4 rock, including:

    Gross and Net Skins
    Modified Stableford
    Team Best Ball
    Multi-round Tournaments
    Individual and Team Stableford
    Mobile and Desktop Leaderboards
    Native iPhone and Android Apps

Tech Tuesday on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio for 12/10/13 - Shirts, Shoes, and a Book

Have a listen, a lot of good info this week.

 Show Notes:

* TOPICS - Rick takes a look a his favorite golf shirts, shoes, and a great golf book - All of these would make some great holiday gifts

Shirts:

1.   Tommy Hilfiger  - the 2014 collection is now out "East Coast Prep" meets "West Coast Cool"

The Tommy Hilfiger Group is pleased to introduce the Spring 2014 men's and women's golf collections offered by The Fletcher Leisure Group. Drawing inspiration from the seasonal sportswear collections, Spring 2014 Tommy Hilfiger Golf embraces the brand's love of blending East Coast prep with West Coast cool.
The Collection draws inspiration from iconic coastal golf destinations like Monterey Bay, California. Pieces include modern golf classics such as polos and sweaters rendered in a palette of tonal blues and white highlighted by light blue and turquoise accents.
Key to the collections are designs that incorporate performance fabrics. TH Tech is a 100% polyester fabric used as the foundation for the golf collection to combine style and comfort with moisture wicking capabilities that keep garments dry and provide anti-odor properties essential in a technical garment. TH Comfort Tech is a hybrid cotton fabric that combines style and comfort with the functional properties required in performance driven garments. TH Cotton supplements the performance fabrics to ensure superior quality and comfort.

 

2. Antigua - Spring 2014 Line - Vivid Colors  35 years and going strong

"Last Spring's line was fantastic and set new sales records for Antigua. Spring 2014 looks to be even better," said Ron McPherson, president and CEO of Antigua. "The line has vivid color, sophisticated styling and luxurious fabrics...truly a winning combination."
If standard par performance on the course is 72, the standard for performance golf fashion collections internationally is Antigua's Performance 72. It's the benchmark for quality, fit, and viability of performance fabrications. It demonstrates attention to detail, highlighting just the right accents. And it's performance with style. This apparel is perfect for the course - and for off the course, as well. To boot, our proprietary Desert Dry and Desert Dry Xtra-Lite moisture management technology will wick away moisture.
Antigua's Spring '14 Performance 72 Golf Collection for men is replete with 17 shirt models, 12 outerwear tops, two shorts and seven hats.

 
Shoes:

1.  Crocs  - Rick's favorite

www.crocs.com

Comfortable, durable, look good.
If you like regular Crocs, the golf shoes will surely be to your liking
The Preston, The Bradyn, The Karlson
and even golf sandals like XTG  LoPro

 
2. ECCO Golf Shoes

www.eccousa.com

ECCO Street EVO One, a performance hybrid golf shoe that combines the award-winning ECCO Dynamic Traction System (E-DTS) with an array of proprietary stabilization features.
“The way Street EVO One looks, feels and plays puts it in a class by itself,” says Michael Waack, Head of Global Golf at ECCO. “It’s yet another example of the advantages that come with our foot-first approach to designing and producing premium golf shoes.”

As a key point of distinction, ECCO owns its factories and controls the entire shoemaking process – from raw materials to finished footwear. This dovetails with the company’s position as one of the world’s largest producers of luxury leathers.
Street EVO One is offered in high-grade cow leather and genuine camel leather versions, both of which include the exclusive ECCO HYDROMAX™ tanned-in treatment for remarkable weather resistance.
Showcasing an eye-catching, two-color outsole and modern classic upper, Street EVO One is part of the Spring/Summer 2014 men’s golf collection that will be worn in competition by Tour stars like Fred Couples, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn.

 
BOOK:

"Sweetspot" - Confessions of a Golfaholic
By John O'Hern
 
A fun golf read, check out www.sweetspotthebook.com. Sweetspot is a laugh out loud cautionary tale of substance abuse only in this case the addictive substance is golf! It’s an edgy story with lots of grown-up bite. Think Breaking Bad meets Caddyshack and you’re there.
Also available on Amazon.

Tech Tuesday on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio for 12/3/13 - Instructional DVDs and Apps

TOPICS - Rick and Brian take a look at some golf instructional DVDs and Apps
Some of these would make some great holiday gifts

 Have a listen:

1.  "David Leadbetter Interactive" - Now only $69
http://www.leadbetterinteractive.com

This is a 5-volume DVD series, four discs of which are golf instruction, with the fifth disc being interactive software. The software, if you choose to use it, analyzes your swing and then recommends specific drills included in the other four discs. Even without the software, it's a good collection of Leadbetter training.
- 5 hours of instruction
- 70 game improvement drills
 NEW! Access the Leadbetter Interactive Golf Academy and send your swing to a certified Leadbetter instructor for personal analysis.
NEW! View your drills on your iPod? or mobile phone and take David with you on the practice range!

 

2. Jack Nicklaus: Golf My Way"  $29.99 on Amazon

This series of tapes, based on the Golden Bear's famous instructional book of the same name, was selected in a Golf Magazine poll of Top 100 instructors as the best golf instructional video of all-time.
Now available on DVD
In 1974, Nicklaus authored what would become the most successful golf instruction book of all time, Golf My Way. Translated into numerous languages across the globe, Golf My Way quickly gained international appeal and worldwide distribution. It became known as the instruction source for golfers of all generations and skill levels looking to take up or improve their game. Golf My Way was the book former British Open champion Greg Norman credits for how he first learned the game of golf in the 1970s.
This was a best-selling VHS series released in 1983.

 

3.  Any of Jim McLean's DVDs

Jim has received throughout his golf career, such as coaching students like Keegan Bradley, Lexi Thompson and Erik Compton. Jim is also the proud owner of Jim McLean Golf Schools
One of the very top golf swing researchers in the game. He has been a PGA Master Professional since 1990 and has led more than 50 national teaching workshops for the PGA. Jim has authored 11 top selling golf instruction books, produced over 20 DVDs, and writes full time for Golf Digest magazine. His Eight Step Golf DVD is the all time #1 selling DVD on the Golf Channel.

 

Apps:

4. Swing Profile  free for iPhone

The Swing Profile Golf Free app for iPhone helps analyse the sequence of positions your swing to help you find room for improvement or areas of inconsistency between swings (using the swing comparison feature.
Swing Profile Golf’s Features

    Auto Capture – the app detects and records only the motion of your golf swing
    Auto Trim – superfluous footages is auto-deleted leaving a 2-second clip of your swing motion
    Auto Sequence – a sequence of 7 images of the stages of your golf swing are produced
    Auto Line – draws your swing plane
    Auto Sync – synchronizes two different swings regardless of tempo difference so you can compare them easily
 

5.  Tiger Woods: My Swing - $4.99 on iTunes

We may never have a swing like Tiger, but now with this app, we can compare our swing to Tiger's.
• Enhanced video capture
• Side-by-side swing comparison with Tiger Woods
• Advanced swing analysis and how-to demonstrated by Woods
• Swing comparisons, sharing and feedback tools tied to friends and community members
• Video updates from Tiger, exclusive for members only

TIGER:
• High quality video of each club from both Face On and Down the Line angles
• How-to video directly from Tiger covering swing analysis
• Video clips from Tiger when he’s on Tour, exclusive for members only

RECORD:
• Time delay to allow for self-recording
• Record voice and text notes that save with your swing

ANALYZE:
• Overlay “Tiger Lines” that demonstrate proper technique


** Bonus

On Golf Digest's YouTube Channel there are also all sorts of putting tip videos that are free to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/user/GolfDigestMagazine?feature=watch

Tech Tuesday on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio for 9/10/13 - FarmLinks and Tech News

Rick joins Brian and Courtney this week...

Rick is at FarmLinks in Sylacauga, AL.  They talk about that and some current tech news.

* TOPICS - Rick is at Pursell Farms and FarmLinks in Alabama and we look at some of the current tech news

Pursell Farms/ Farm Links   www.farmlinks.org
Rick's been at the high tech golf course - FarmLinks in Alabama for 2 days... his thoughts
A golf course, a resort, and a testing ground
Research and demonstration course

1.   New iPhone (s) will be announced today - Apple's big announcement today

What can we expect?  
Apple will unveil their new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5S at their press event in Cupertino, California, Tuesday the 10th of September, and according to a number of rumors, the iPhone 5S release date will be the 20th of September.

Apple are expected to put the iPhone 5S up for pre-order on Friday the 13th of September, and then start shipping the handset and selling it in their retail stores from Friday the 20th of September.
 


2.    Microsoft buys Nokia  -  Why should we care?

Doesn't really impact us, unless we have a Nokia phone or use Windows Phone 8 operating system on your phone.
Microsoft Phone 8 only has about a 3% market share, but it is growing slowly.
It was a big cash deal 7.7 Billion. 
Nokia makes a good phone


3.  Samsung announces a new Galaxy Note 3  and a watch

Rick and Brian both use Samsung Galaxy Notes...
What's new with the Galaxy Note 3?  - Slimmer and  larger screen at 5.7-inches. It also offers more battery life than the Galaxy Note 2, and there’s a new and improved S Pen.  10 different colors
Samsung Gear line - includes a smartwatch  for about $300
 

4.     Aio Wireless  -  New low cost wireless providor  www.aiowireless.com

A division of AT&T
Some of the latest smartphones, no contract , low cost wireless
Nationwide coverage
Retail stores
$40, $55, and $70 per month
Additionally, new customers who activate service in stores or online by September 29, 2013 will be able to participate in Aio's special Fall promotion and get their third month of service free (conditions apply**). 
All three plans include unlimited talk, text, and data-with a pre-established amount of high-speed access, including 4G LTE.
 

5.  PayPal adds more features

PayPal is updating its mobile app, adding features such as the ability to place an order ahead of time and pay with it while at the restaurant table.

The free app is available for iPhones and Android phones. It includes a feature called "Shop." With it, people can find nearby stores and restaurants that take PayPal payments. People can use their phones to pay for things.

 

Tech Tuesday on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio for 8/13/13 - Gadgets That Multi-task

 Rick and Brian have a lot of fun this week with gadgets that serve more than one function.

One even will make you a big breakfast in less time.

Have a listen

 Show notes:

* TOPICS - Multi-tasking Gadgets - Gadgets that serve more than one purpose
-Rick is in Cincinnati this week at the Western & Southen Open Tennis Tournament
- He's always multi-tasking - so let's talk multi-tasking
We all want to get our money's worth out of our gadgets, so sometimes they can do us proud and serve more than one use...

1.    West Bend 4-Slot Egg-and-Muffin Toaster   $59.00

    Four slice toaster, with egg cooker and meat warmer, 1800-watt, cetl listed
    Defrost function for defrosting breads, bagels and croissants
    Light to dark control setting for toasting preferences
    Egg cooker tray to scramble or poach eggs, basket to soft or hard boil up to 8 eggs
    Meat tray to warm pre-cooked meat, fruit or vegetables
 


2.  PHILIPS COOLING PAD

Cooling pads can be clunky platforms that protect your knees from the heat generated by laptops. In addition to this, the Philips Notebook cushion speaker pumps up the volume of the notebook (of course, it uses up a USB connection too). The Notebook sleeve, on the other hand, protects against heat and doubles up as a useful protective cover for carrying the machine.
 


3.  Zumreed X2 Hybrid headphone

Zumreed X2 Hybrid headphone
Available abroad, this is a headphone that bundles up as a speaker. This noise cancellation headphone has a switch that, when turned on, transforms the outer ear cups of the headphones into speakers. The ear cups can be rotated and the headphone can be placed on a flat surface while in the speaker mode. For using it as the speaker, you need to charge it using a USB cable. A one-hour charge gives it enough juice for four hours of music playback.

 
4  ECLIPSE case by  ElementCase.com

A great protective case, but with a bonus.
Designed with a unique resonant audio technology – Sound Boost System (SBS) – to channel sound from the phone’s rear-facing speaker around to the front, these impact-resistant, carbon-fiber laden cases offer superior protection and multimedia enjoyment.


 
5.  Blue Microphones Mikey Digital

Why We Like It: Plug this award-winning mic into your iPhone, Touch, or iPad to transform it into a versatile mobile recording rig. Back on campus, you might use it to capture lectures, interviews, or your own personal voice memos. But out and about, it's great for capturing CD-quality stereo music, whether it be a bar band or full blown concert. Plus, it's the world's only mobile mic with both a 30-pin Apple connector and a multi-source auxiliary input, so you can plug your guitar (or any device with a line out) right into it. And since it rotates 230 degrees, it's also great for recording quality audio with whatever video you're capturing on the go with pretty much any i-thing.
How Much: $100

 


Weird Golf Multi-Tasking - 6.  Odyssey "Diamond" putter
Price $161,000

It's not only a putter, it's an investment
Aren't they always telling us to buy gold?
Golf is traditionally an expensive sport by default, but a few hundred dollars for an 18-hole round is chump change next to this Odyssey Gold Diamond Putter.

At a steep price of $161,000, this shimmering gem-encrusted piece with its 18-carat white gold club head its 240 rubies definitely isn't your grandmothers mini-golf chipper. On top of its ruby and gold extravagance, however, the aptly named Oddssey Gold Diamond Putter also features over 368 diamonds which, for those counting, is definitely more than a paltry sum.

So it's a putter and an investment

Has anyone bought one?