One of my favorite players is 48 year old Miguel Angel Jimenez, the oldest player to win on the European Tour. The golf world needs more personalities like this one, who does his sexy stretch dance before each round with Robusto cigar in mouth.
Jimenez was skiing in Spain and took a crash, breaking his leg.
“I was going down a hill and lost control briefly and when I fell it was very sore. I knew immediately I had broken something.”
Jimenez will be out for three months.
Welcome to part two of my three golf blog series covering the highlights of the HOG golf world in 2012. Some Tour events, some HOG World Tour events, some gear and course reviews… Part two takes us from May through August 2012. For part one, visit this link.
Each short comment will likely contain a link to the detailed post, or you can click the heading of each month to see that month’s archive.
Ugliest driver in the world? I think so.
May 2012 – 49 Posts
Two fellow golf bloggers released books this year: Golf Blogger and Armchair Golf Blog. Check ’em out.
Luke Donald once again moved to #1 in the world golf rankings. That wouldn’t last long…
Passing motorcyclist’s teeth knocked out by errant golf ball. Ouch.
The HOG World Tour made a stop at my favorite golf course in the world, Black Mesa in New Mexico. Brilliant! The best!
HOG World Tour also did a stop at Taos Country Club.
I played 112 consecutive holes with one Callaway Hex Black golf ball. The people at Callaway thought that feat was so cool they sent me a whole box of them, or the equivalent of 1,344 holes.
Rory McIlory claimed the #1 spot in the world golf rankings, again.
On May 1st, 2012, I posted my 4,000th golf blog post.
Caroline Wozniacki Underwear – click to zoom
June 2012 – 38 Posts
On June 29th I gave away a new Ping Scottsdale putter when the Hooked On Golf Blog Facebook page reached 1,000 fans.
On June 27th the Nationwide Tour became the Web.com Tour.
Webb Simpson won the U.S. Open, but the TV media missed all but about one shot of his final round. DOH!
I reviewed the very easy to hit Nike VR_S Driver. My fairway percentage with this driver was over 80%!
Rory McIlory’s girlfriend and pro tennis player Caroline Wozniacki released her own underwear line. Great excuse to post, and drool over pictures of Caroline Wozniacki in her undies.
July 2012 – 37 Posts
I undertook a massive migration from my old dedicated server to a new and much higher performance one. Unfortunately the image gallery engine for the web site instantly became obsolete. There are still a lot of bad image links here as a result and I clean up a few every week. PITA.
My vote for best golf shoes of 2012 goes to the Ecoo BIOM. SO comfortable.
Ernie Els won the British Open, but it was Adam Scott who got more air time as he melted down and gave away a four shot lead in the final round.
I visited Tuhaye Golf Club for a golf photo safari. Only got photos. Didn’t get to play it.
The HOG World Tour drove five minutes to cover the Web.com Tour’s Utah Championship.
I also visited Rees Jones designed Victory Ranch Club. Do yourself a favor and look at the photos. Amazing.
Suzanne Pettersen, blonde Scandinavian golf babe, posed nude for ESPN’s Bodies magazine. That didn’t suck.
The 87th USGA Public Links Championship was contested here in Utah at Soldier Hollow Golf Course. I attended the whole thing and shot a million photos.
I swear this guy stuffed his performance pouch…
August 2012 – 41 Posts
August I traveled to the golf mecca of Gaylord, Michigan. I played a lot of fantastic courses there, including Treetops’ “Three Tops” par-3 track. Awesome course.
Other courses I visited and/or reviewed on the Michigan trip include Otsego Club, Black Lake Golf Club, Black Forest Golf Club, Treetops Fazio Course.
One other great event was the in-person meeting of possibly the two biggest golf blogs in the world, Hooked On Golf Blog and Golf Blogger. John Retzer (Golf Blogger) and I teed it up for a round at Black Lake Golf Club. Fantastic.
My dad appeared on PGA.com’s Free Lesson Friday. Very cool.
Rory McIlory won the PGA Championship by EIGHT shots. Amazing performance.
I reviewed a shirt charged with negative ions which is supposed to help your golf game.
I reviewed “performance underwear.” Did the performance package stay in the performance pouch?
Chambers Bay – Click for more…
September 2012 – 37 Posts
The USA Ryder Cup team blew a 10-6 lead in what I term the “Meltdown at Medinah.”
I posted my review of the fantastic Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, Washington. Loved this track.
Brandt Snedeker won the Tour Championship and the $10 million in cash. Got a few spare bucks I can borrow?
I reviewed Polara golf balls. These balls are illegal and are self-correcting.
Posted five reviews from the Michigan golf trip: Otsego Club & Resort, Otsego Tribute Course, Treetops Resort, Treetops Signature Course by Rick Smith, Black Forest Golf Course by Tom Doak, Treetops Fazio Premier course by Tom Fazio.
The HOG World Tour visited Seattle, Washington.
HOG World Tour visited Chambers Bay, home of the 2015 U.S. Open.
I just uploaded a gallery of images to the Hooked On Golf Blog photo gallery of the annual Christmas Classic, 2012 edition. The Christmas Classic is a Christmas Day tournament that only takes place when our home course, River Oaks, is closed on December 25th. Last year we had a mild season so the tournament was “cancelled due to favorable weather.”
Left to right: Tony Korologos (me), Rex Jacobs, Bryant Jacobs, Dan Crookston, Kevin Croft – click for more
Video
I’m wrapping up the finishing touches on the video of the 2012 Christmas Classic. Stay tuned as it will likely be featured in the next post.
At the end of each year I like to go through the previous year’s posts and do a summary of all the interesting news nuggets, happenings and such. Needless to say 2012 was amazing, from going to the Masters to shooting my lowest score EVER. Let’s look at the first third of the year. Not all of the posts are mentioned, just a few select ones. You can click the links in the descriptions or click the date headings to go to the archive of that month.
January 2012 – 56 Posts
My usual January features the yearly trip to golf’s biggest worldwide trade show, the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. During the week of the show I did many interviews with top golf companies and their staff as well as showing all the new gear, apparel and accessories in the golf world.
I also got to tour Golf Channel’s facilities, and even get a shot of myself behind the Golf Central desk. Fun stuff.
January was also when Hank Haney released his book about is six year relationship with Tiger Woods.
I set some goals for my golf game in 2012, some of which I achieved and some which I did not.
Sadly, the great golf announcer Jim Huber died. I met Jim once and he was very nice and friendly to me.
February 2012 – 59 Posts
I posted a review of Kingsbarns Golf Links, one of the best courses I’ve ever played. Location: St. Andrews, Scotland.
I’m not a big fan of very many “made for golf network TV shows” on Golf Channel, but Feherty won me over. Feherty debuted in February 2012. I even talked with Feherty and Hank Haney on a conference call. Fun stuff.
Nike Golf once again provided the grand prize for HOG Space fantasy golf, a $1200 set of VR_S Forged Irons.
A golfer was stabbed on a golf course over a slow-play argument.
March 2012 – 45 Posts
After the LPGA updated their web site, no more barf bags were needed.
I picked up a Nikon D7000 camera for better golf photography.
TaylorMade bought Adams Golf.
I posted my first review of a deserted miniature golf course in the middle of the desert. “Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf” was a hell of a track.
My 2nd and 3rd article were published in Utah’s Fairways Magazine. Cool.
After withdrawing from the WGC Cadillac, Tiger Woods’s vehicle was eerily slow-chased by a blimp. Anything for ratings I suppose.
Golf architect Gil Hanse was named the designer for the Rio 2016 golf course.
The Hooked On Golf Blog World Tour traveled to Mesquite, Nevada.
Rory McIlory moved up to #1 in the world golf rankings.
April 2012 – 56 Posts
Luke Donald knocked Rory McIlory out of the #1 spot in the world golf rankings.
I posted my Nike Golf VR_S Forged Irons review.
I upgraded the Hooked On Golf Blog theme, hopefully improving the site…haha.
100’s of websites selling counterfeit golf clubs were shut down. GOOD.
A drunk “patron” was arrested for attempting to steal sand from Augusta National Golf Club at the Masters Tournament. Think they revoked his badges? 🙂
I attended two practice rounds of the 2012 Masters Tournament. My comments and some photos of the 2012 Masters can be found here.
Speaking of the Masters, here is a selection of some unique images from the Masters. Not stuff you see every day.
Speaking of speaking of the Masters. I spent a couple of hours walking Augusta National’s par-3 course with my new Nikon D-7000. I know of NO better and more complete image gallery of Augusta National’s par-3 course than my own. Cool.
END OF PART ONE – PART TWO POSTED TOMORROW!
What a wonderful time of year it is. There’s snow on the ground and the fireplace is cracking. Loved ones all around.
Merry Christmas to all HOG friends, patrons, business associates and family. Love you all.
Tony Korologos
1
2
3
…
6
Next »
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
