310 USA Divot Tool Ball Marker Review

Every once in awhile you run across a company doing fantastic work in the golf space and you have to get all of their stuff immediately.

That is what happened to me when I ran across 310.USA on Instagram. What they make just isn't any golf divot tool or golf ball marker but some of the best iterations of those things.

Using Damascus steel, 310 takes their time forging these fantastic items and I got to use them recently on a round in SoCal.

The divot tool was super solid and when I used it on greens the steel made it super easy to repair ballmarks and was so well balanced that it is now my GO TO divot tool.

The ball marker has a bunch of heft to it so I always knew when it was in my pocket and everyone knew whose putt was mine with this fantastic ballmarker and its topographic lines.

310 also sent me a killer key chain piece of metal which I love. Basically I love everything 310 does and you will too if you order their stuff.

For more information about 310.USA be sure to check out their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/310.usa/

The Caddy Guy Review

There are a lot of great golf manufacturers in the US but I am always on the hunt for clothing companies across the pond. This has led me to check out Galvin Green, Stuburt and now the Emerald Isle steps into the ring with The Caddy Guy.

The Caddy Guy makes bamboo shirts and pullovers along with hats and other schwag and I recently took the clothing out on a golf trip here in SoCal.

I was super impressed by the polo. It was soft and and felt great throughout the round. Usually black isn't the best color in Los Angeles but the fabric kept me cool throughout and once I took it off, no odor! The bamboo really did its job and the polo blew me away.

I also have this killer purple-ish pullover that I can't wait to put on during the round. Plus I am also a fan of the no-tag clothes and I dig the Irish heritage of my garments.

The pullover is just as soft as the polo and the big takeaway from my TCG gear is one word "quality". I was super impressed by the lads and can't wait to see what they come out with next.

For more information about Caddy Guy, check out their website here: http://www.thecaddyguy.ie/

The New Generation of Golf Magazines

There is a revolution going on right now in the golf industry. No it is not the "play 9" initiative or the Loop at Forest Dunes or even whatever the hell PXG is doing to its clubs and charging thrice the price.

The revolution is in golf magazines, you know those ones that you ignore in your dentist's office or halfheartedly look through when they mysteriously get mailed to you after you made a purchase at an online golf retailer? Yea those ones (looking at you Golf Digest and Golf).

The new breed isn't focused on swing tips or what is going on in the PGA Tour. Instead, all of these magazines are seeking to expand your global view of golf courses and the architecture related thereto and immersing you in a golf culture. Many of these new magazines are the new coffee table books so let's dive in and see what is new out there.

The Golfer's Journal

This is the big dog on the street having been founded by Brendon Thomas of The Surfer's Journal with DJ Piehowski as a contributing editor (one of the "it" guys of the emerging online content creators in the golf world). This magazine is sponsored by the hippest names in golf at the moment (Linksoul, Scotty Cameron, G/Fore, etc.) and while there are ads, they are kept to a minimum (and thankfully no ads for any wedges "guaranteed" to get you out of bunkers).

The elements that makes The Surfer's Journal such a joy to read are here in this magazine as well. Awesome photos of golf whether near or in far flung places? Check. Interesting articles about the golf subculture that you may or may not have heard of? Check. Different takes on well worn subjects (like a recent article about the artist behind the book about Ben Hogan's grip)? Check.

If you want the complete package of interesting articles, great photos in a well thought-out layout in the new wave of golf magazines, The Golfer's Journal is it (it even has its own podcast which I highly recommend you checking out). That being said, several of their articles feel like rehashes of well tread topics online (their ode to Sweetens Cove, while great and in-depth I felt has already been covered multiple times by the Fried Egg and others). They are trying to break out of that mold somewhat now with more challenging articles like this month's article about race, art and golf. As the big dog finds a more secure footing, I am really interested to see how far they can push into new and interesting content.

For more info on TGJ, check out this link! https://www.golfersjournal.com/

Caddie Magazine

If you ever dream of playing golf around the world (or have the bank account in order to fund such adventures) then Caddie is for you. Caddie magazine is simple yet elegant with no ads and only being published twice a year. Its focus is on the beauty of golf all over the world.

Published out of Australia, Caddie may not have a huge imprint in America or Europe but if you want to see pictures of golf in Mongolia, the French Alps, Ireland or heck even Wisconsin, then this is the magazine for you. The photos are outrageously good. The stories are interesting (including a great one about halfway houses) but the true focus is on the photos and immersing you in an experience of a golf place. I am sure if Caddie could do a smell-o-vision it would.

The only negative of Caddie is that it just doesn't have the breadth of storytelling that TGJ has and you won't be getting the "state of the game" features that other magazines. Their focus is narrow and niche but they just happen to do those things better than any other golf publication out there. For me, as a golf vagabond who is looking to play golf courses all over the world, this magazine speaks to my soul and I am an avid subscriber.

For more info on Caddie, check out this link! http://www.caddiemag.com/ 

McKellar

McKellar takes a completely different tack than the other magazines above by eschewing the emphasis on photos or mood and instead offers thoughtful meditations on many golf topics. Do you want essays about trees, or LACC's place in the game or a myriad of other golf-related topics, big or small? McKellar will bring you there.

The magazine's title is an ode to the first golf nut (a Scotsman who played every day except Sundays when it was banned by the church) and that mania that many of us feel for golf comes across in topic after topic in this small but mighty magazine.

The only current option is to subscribe to issue one of the magazine and I wonder how many issues they will do as while golf has a rich history and an uncertain future, it may be difficult to sustain such a large volume of interesting essays covering a wide range of topics. That being said, if there is an issue two, sign me up! Such an interesting concept for a golf magazine, I can't wait to see what they come out with next.

For more info on McKellar, check out this link! https://www.mckellarmagazine.com/

What golf magazines do you read? Are there any new ones coming out that everyone should know? Let me know in the comments!

Snell MTB Red Golf Ball Review

Awhile ago, I reviewed the Snell MTB and Get Sum golf balls as soon as they were released. I was intrigued by the ball made by the guy who was involved with the Pro V1 and the Taylormade golf balls, Dean Snell. He was offering the same quality ball for $10 less so I was intrigued.

The original MTB felt like a Taylormade ball off the tee and off iron shots but around the green it performed like the 3 piece ball that it was, not too much spin off of wedge shots with lots of roll out. Putting was good but not great.

Snell worked hard on updating the ball and has come out with new versions, the 3 piece MTB black and the 4 piece MTB Red.

It took me all of three holes to become a believer in the MTB Red and I feel like I have be reborn as a golfer. The first hole was a par 5 and I was in the fringe in 2. So does it have length? Check.

The second hole was a par 4 that required a killer second shot to a severely sloped green. Did the iron shot stop at the perfect distance? You betcha. Check.

The third hole was a par 4 that I didn't play so hot but I was on the fringe in 3. Did I roll in the putt to save par? You better believe it. Putting check.

The greens I played with the MTB Red are some of the toughest in SoCal. The course is used for US Open qualifying and this ball kept me in it with spin and roll when I needed it. It also gave me several drives of over 280 including one that went 300.

I was a pretty good golfer when I was a teenager and then took 10+ years off to focus on my career. I have slowly been tweaking this or that to get back to where I was 20 years ago and the MTB Red is a part of that "regripping".

For more info about the MTB Red check out this link: https://www.snellgolf.com/products/mtb-red?variant=4713280602153

Three Up and Coming Golf Brands

The annual PGA show is about to take place in Orlando Florida and while I can't make it this year, there is some newly released gear I have my eyes on. Just like there is another round to play, there is always more arrows to add to the quiver.

1. MTB Red

I have been hugely impressed by the start-up golf ball company Snell and their ability to carve a niche out of a highly competitive golf ball market. I liked their 3 piece MTB ball but always thought its touch was a bit lacking around the greens. Well I bet you dollars to donuts by adding a 4th layer the new MTB Red is going to be THE it ball.

The golf ball market needs a serious kick in the rear and the Red might just be the ball to do it.

For more info on Snell, check out the link! https://www.snellgolf.com/collections/all/products/mtb-red

2. 2Undr

I never heard of these guys until listening to the various GNN podcasts but this is exactly the product I need. I don't like cart golf and really like to walk 18 but as an adult male that means I have to up my underwear game.

I haven't tried these yet but if their promise of protection and comfort are true, I am going to buy like thirtybillion.

For more info on 2Undr check out this link! https://2undr.com/us/


3. Lynx Golf

I have the softest of soft spots for Lynx golf. They were the clubs of choice of my favorite golfer of all time Fred Couples. I of course had the Boom Boom driver as well as a Parallax 4 wood. I have been keeping tabs on Lynx over the last few years and they have been selling irons and woods in the UK with those classic names of Black Cat and Parallax.

Well this year Lynx is coming across the pond with what looks like their best gear yet. In particular, these gunmetal Prowler irons look like they could take on any other iron in the market and I would love the Lynx logo in my bag at some point soon.

For more info on Lynx check out this link! http://www.lynxgolf.co.uk/product/prowler-forged-cb-irons-new/

What golf gear are you looking forward to this year? Let me know in the comments!

Canoos Shoes

Have you ever seen a golf shoe like that? I mean, that is one beautiful shoe. I love me some golf shoes but they have gotten away from the classic black leather of FootJoys past and have trended more toward racing stripes and other technical colors that look ok on the course but definitely not in the bar.

Cannos is a brand based out of Massachusetts that tries to bring back some classiness to golf shoes by modeling them after docksiders. I really dug the concept and recently tried out their special Walker Cup version with canvas tops.

The real superstar of these shoes (as you can tell I have worn them a bunch) is the mix of soft nubs and softspikes. It gives you the best of both worlds, strategically placed softspikes for stability, nubs for on and off course use.

The shoes work just like normal golf shoes even if they don't look like golf shoes and that is fantastic. The styling is subtle but classy with some great scripting details from Cannos.

The sizing is spot on (at least for me) and I appreciate that the shoes have a slightly wider toe box which fits my ever growing (apparently?) feet really well.

The rawhide laces do take a little getting used to and definitely are not your traditional shoe laces. Also, I have not tried these out in adverse conditions so I can't tell you how the canvas holds up on rainy mornings but I look forward to trying them out!

Overall, if you are looking for a different look on the course that is also at home in the bar or the boardroom, definitely check out these shoes!

For more information about Cannos, check them out here: https://www.canoos.com/

Disclaimer: These shoes were provided to me as part of being a Cannos Ambassador. That being said, above is my honest review of the product and this is the internet. Take everything with a grain of salt and learn from it what you will.

Journeyman Whiskey

Whiskey and golf seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, there are very few whiskies that are made in the US and even fewer that are specific to golf. Journeyman checks both of those boxes being made in Michigan by a golf fanatic and I recently got to try their Silver Cross whiskey.

This whiskey is named for the Silver Cross which was originally a medal given to British Open golfers in the early days and I love that pedigree.

I also loved how the whiskey poured into my glass! It was a great amber color and I know next to nothing about whiskey but it sure looked tasty.

So how did it taste?

Pretty good! Since I don't know much about whiskey, I look for good tasting ones that are "smooth" and don't burn or make me cringe. This one was great for all of that, no need for ice, the Silver Cross is good sipping whiskey.

I am by no means a whiskey expert but this tasted pretty good and I can't wait to try more of this delicious liquid!

For more information about Journeyman, check out this link: http://www.journeymandistillery.com/spirits/

Disclaimer: I was provided Journeyman for purposes of this review only.

Two Guys With Balls

Let's face it, golf balls are the ink toner cartridges of the golf world.  You spend a lot of time thinking about that $500 driver but you use up more than $500 worth of golf balls every year because of your terrible play. Plus golf balls are freaking expensive. $40-50 for 12 of em???

No wonder then that the used market for golf balls is so huge. Golfers want quality but considering how much we go through golf balls, don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it. Look at the mania that happened when Costco came out with their Kirkland golf ball. Quality golf balls for a reasonable price? People went mad for them!

There are many used golf ball places out there on the Interwebs and I have tried them all. Something drew me to the bespoke used golf ball site of Two Guys With Balls and I am glad it did.

Two Guys carefully go through golf balls, wash em up and have an easy to follow grading system (rather than the AAA, AAAAA, etc. out there). Eagle is basically brand new. Birdie is good but a little scuffy. Par is playable but definitely dinged up.

So how do the balls actually do "in the field"? Fantastic! Performed just like new balls, I am fan.

If you buy through them, you are also supporting a great cause as they donate part of their profits to Arnie's Army.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with Two Guys and have the page bookmarked for further reloads of my golf balls needs. That reminds me, I need to buy some more ink fo rthe printer.

For more information on Two Guys, be sure to check out the link:  https://TwoGuysWithBalls.com

Caddie Magazine

It is rare that there is something new and exciting in the world of golf. Usually you have variations on a theme, a driver is new and better than the old driver and gets you one more yard of distance. You like golf podcasts and subscribe to 12 of them? Get ready to hear the same guest cycle through them over the course of a week.

So when I heard about Caddie Magazine I thought, do we really need another golf magazine? The answer is yes, most definitively YES! This magazine is so different from your typical golf magazine it is like a breath of fresh air. No swing tips, no club reviews that you have a vaguely sneaky suspicion are a lot more glowing that true, no fawning puff pieces of golfers or the tour.

Instead you have contemplative pieces about golf in New Zealand. You have a travelogue about playing golf in Nepal and Afghanistan. You have an interview with the new face of golf rather than the faces you have watched a million times.

What the magazine really reminds me of is Surfer Magazine. Rather than rehashing the latest and greatest in surfing, the magazine takes a more introspective journey into the nature of surfing and what a surfer's place is in the wider world. Caddie magazine seems to be seeking out a similar headspace in golf which is sorely needed.

Golf need more soul and substance and Caddie gives it to you in spades. Sadly it only comes out twice a year and costs twice as much as any other golf magazine but it is twice as valuable and I will be a lifelong subscriber. 

For more information on Caddie Magazine check out the link: http://www.caddiemag.com/

Reviewing Forelinx

Over the last few years numerous companies have gotten into the golf tee time game. In addition to GolfNow, the PGA Tour has their own website (TeeOff), BoxGroove brings you tee times on private courses and now in the West, Forelinx has arisen as an intriguing alternative for golfers looking for discounted tee times on great courses.

The model that Forelinx pursues is to have select number of courses (and when I say a select number, I mean 87 courses in California, Arizona and elsewhere) and then offers their members pretty good discounts on those courses.

The reservation system allows you to book 7 days in advance and most of the courses allow you to book up to 4 people (although some courses only allow you to join pre-booked groups needing a third or a fourth).

Each month you pay a fee and get an equivalent in points to use toward tee times on any course in their system. Points for round vary from 80 to 600+ but if you track your points carefully, you can play 2-3 times a month just on your monthly fee.

The quality of the courses really stands out. I was able to play Aviara, La Quinta Mountain, La Costa Championship, Sandpiper, Strawberry Farms, Temecula Creek Inn and several other SoCal courses with a pretty good discount off the rack rate.

Paying a monthly fee for this has a couple of benefits. One, your points don't expire and roll over so you don't lose the points if you can't play in a given month. Secondly, it does encourage you to get out there to use your points (not like golfers need any excuses).

Forelinx is just in its beginning stages and there are a few things that they are working on that will make having a membership even better. Applying your points to bring people with you on your rounds will be a great addition to the membership as of right now, you can use your points for yourself but for guests you have to pay $. Additionally, they are just starting to build up their private club access and it will be interesting to see what other private clubs they can pull into their orbit.

Here are a few of the courses I have played via Forelinx over the last few months:

Temecula Creek Inn: http://www.re-gripped.com/2017/03/temecula-creek-inn-golf-review.html

Strawberry Fields: http://www.re-gripped.com/2017/03/strawberry-farms-golf-review.html

La Quinta Mountain: http://www.re-gripped.com/2017/02/la-quinta-mountain-review.html

If you are an avid golfer who gets out 2-3 times a month here in SoCal or in Arizona, you should definitely look into this service!

The team at Forelinx is super friendly and always responded to my questions within a day or so. If you want to find out more about Forelinx, check out their site here: https://forelinx.com/

ReGripped's Quest To Play Cypress Point Day 541

This is one of several posts about my attempts to play the ultimate course, the Cypress Point Club. If you have any tips for me or want to invite me to play (!!!) please email me at peterflanigan@hotmail.com I promise total discretion for anyone who helps. Thanks! 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt made the highly entertaining 500 Days of Summer detailing his fictional relationship over the course of 500 days. Currently my relationship with Cypress Point has endured past that point to day 541 and is still going strong. What has been going on recently?

I have been meeting some fantastic people who are on the Top 100 circuit, people trying to play their versions of top 100 courses or otherwise involved in ranking those courses. They share the same passion I do, to play engaging, challenging and beautiful courses and definitely feed into my mania about Cypress Point as it checks all of those boxes. The hope is that our shared mania will synch up and we play Cypress Point at the same time! 

I also continue to explore the private club route and have been kicking the tires on several private clubs here in the Los Angeles area. I am not sure if joining or playing at any of these clubs will bear fruit but knock on enough doors, one will be bound to open.

For the rest of the post, I would love to discuss perhaps the best book ever written about Cypress Point.

"For years I have been contending that in our generation no other golf course could possibly compete with the strategic problems, the thrills, the excitement, variety and lasting and increasing interest of the Old Course, but the completion of Cypress Point has made me change my mind."

-Alister MacKenzie

Cypress Point is known by golfers throughout the world as one of the best courses you could play. People have seen photographs of the famous 15th and 16th over and over again. People have read about The Match or saw the course when it was part of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am rotation. However, many people don't know the in-depth history of the club nor have a familiarity with all 18 holes of the club.

Geoff Shackelford, intrepid golf blogger and course designer, wanted to remedy this by writing a book taking the reader through the founding of the club to an overview of each hole. Geoff takes us back to the founding and construction of the club in 1927 and then takes us through each hole using photos shot in the 20s and 30s to show us the infancy of the course.

Geoff's focus isn't just on the course itself but the people involved with getting the golf course up and running including the architect MacKenzie, the visionary and fundraiser Marion Hollins and MacKenzie's trusted man on the ground Robert Hunter.

Personal history aside, the book does a tremendous job of taking a golf fan through each hole, showing tee shots, approach shots and the sometimes wave-like undulations of the greens of CPC. After reading this book, you will not only have a better appreciation of what it takes to play Cypress but a deeper knowledge of the why's and the how's of each hole's construction. If you are ever fortunate enough to play CPC, this book is an indispensable guide to your round there.

I am all history-ed up! Now I just need an invite to see the modern version of the course for myself :)!

For more information on Geoff, check out his blog: http://www.geoffshackelford.com/books/

Holiday Gift-stravaganza!

Do you like golf? Do you like presents? Well gather round ye ol yule log and let Uncle ReGripped fill your stockings with great holiday gifts for one and all!

1) T-Shirts From Swing Juice! 

Swing Juice has some of my favorite shirts in all of golfdom. Most shirts are clever logos and slogans and I have been rocking my Golf & Tacos shirt and my Augusta Power Lunch shirts. The shirts are super comfy and I have had many a people compliment me on each shirt. This year as you will see above, Swing Juice is rocking the holiday gear and for those of you in cooler climes, they are finally rolling out hoodies of some of their most popular designs. I could say so many nice things about SJ but really buy a shirt or hoodie for yourself and you will see for yourself!

For more information on Swing Juice, check out this link: http://www.swingjuice.com/

Extra Bonus, use this code SJCYBER40 for 40% OFF!

2) Bullz-I Belt!

Bullz-I has some of the most colorful and unique golf clothes in the business. Every golfer needs a belt and Bullz-I has some really classic and solid belts to keep your pants up. Put a bull on your belt, you won't be disappointed!

For more information on Bullz-I, check out this link: https://bullzisports.net/

3) Golf Travel Bag From Holderness & Bourne! 

Let's face facts, sooner or later you are going to play most of the courses in your neck of the woods and you will want to travel to other courses. Whether you are going across the US or across the world, you want a a quality bag, something that you can throw your stuff into and forget about it because the bag will hold up. H&B makes high quality gear that checks all your golf travel boxes and you should definitely check em out!

For more information on Holderness & Bourne, check out this link: http://holdernessandbourne.com/

4) Donate To Fairways Fund! 

Golf is a singular sport. You spend money on clubs for yourself, greens fees for yourself, golf balls for yourself but often there aren't many opportunities to give back to the sport we all love. Enter Fairways Fund that gives you a way to donate money to help young golfers pay for range balls, green fees and all the other costs that go into playing golf. These kids need our help and donate if you can!

For more information on Fairways Fund, check out this link: https://fairways.golf/


So there you have it, get to shopping you golf-a-holics!