With The Open and other major golf tournaments just concluding, golfers are naturally interested in increasing their performance. This year was one of those years where a good number of new and refined products hit the market, which could make a difference in your game.

Tour Edge Woods/Hybrids

Not advertised on tour, but many professional players use Tour Edge woods and hybrids. The reason is simple – every couple of years they push the envelope on new metals to increase performance and distance. The redesigned EX-10 Fairway Woods and Hybrids combine a combo-brazed titanium face to the hyper-steel body. That particular steel/titanium face structure results in these clubs delivering maximum distance in a fairway wood or hybrid.

 

Antigua Revive Golf Shirts

A consideration with golf clothing is that many times it is important to go right from the course to the pub or to dinner. The trend on tour is shirts and jackets that have this dual role, and in Antiqua line, nobody does it better than the “style Revive.” This re-invention of the classic polo shirt features a proprietary pique construction fabric of high-count filament yarns in a designated denier. Antiqua added a bit of spandex, so the shirts move and prevent wrinkling when worn all day.

 

Miura Forged Genesis Irons

When it comes to forging metal, the swords of the Samurai were legendary. And master craftsman Katsuhiro Miura in Japan has taken that same skill and attention to every detail in their new Genesis irons. The Miura proprietary forging process has always generated high initial ball speeds as well as beautiful clubs, but maybe not the forgiveness needed for the average golfer. Mirua simply took the forged, soft steel, then added a 455 Carpenter special steel clubface to gain performance. The combination yields remarkable speed off the clubface and a touch of forgiveness. And all in an iron that has a high degree of élan.

 

Swing Oil Nutritional Supplements

After the age of 40, golf is hard on the body, so enter Swing Oil, a coupling of natural ingredients that increase performance, focus and reduce muscular soreness. Due to the anti-inflammatory compounds, you don’t get as sore, and your flexibility improves. And for energy, there is a little bit of Taurine, a compound that boosts energy and alertness, with the effects milder than with caffeine. The small packs in tasty flavors are easy to consume before or during a round of golf.

 

Volvik Vivid XT Golf Balls

There are a lot of golfers who swing fast with their driver, and they need an optimum combination of compression and feel to take advantage of the modern driver. Volvik answered that need with the first colored golf ball for longer drivers, the Vivid XT. So, now you can get more distance, but be able to see where it lands. Does it deliver? Well, it’s the official ball of the Long Drive Championships. So, golfers get some zing from the driver, can see it land, and get some extra feel around the green.

Bionic PerformanceGrip Golf Gloves

You have to grip it to rip it, and best new glove on the market is the Bionic PerformanceGrip. They took their shock-absorbing glove and listened to the serious golfer to keep the shock absorbing levels yet increase the feel for better performance. The glove is constructed of breathable leather, dotted with 15 mini terrycloth towels to absorb perspiration. A Bionic trademark is the 3-D flex zone, which helps your grip by allowing the glove to move and flex like your hand.

 

 

Denver International Airport is really now a regional airport as it connects to just about every point or jumping off point in the travel world. Part of the reason traffic has increased is simply people from Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado use D.I.A. because of the extensive flight schedule.

 

So what is new in how to get there and depart with a little more elan and a lot more convenience?

Taking the train to D.I.A. requires you to catch it either downtown or at one of the stops along the way. As we discovered, except for a small, rolling carry on this is not a luggage-positive experience. So, if you are going for a day or two, and live close to one of the train points, a great option. Otherwise, the best option is still to drive and park the car.

Now to the tricky part. The Airport has figured out that people want to park there, so they have expanded their parking lots to accommodate those who want to park, and then hike to check-in. Sounds good except you might or might not be parking far away and waiting for a shuttle.

The best close in option is Wally Park, where after you park, your ride to the terminal is about 4.5 minutes. So, get there right on time for check-in without worrying about how long the shuttle will take. And the real plus is it’s a short ride to your car after you arrive back from your trip. Wally Park has a great corporate rate program and of course, a parking rewards program. Yes, a lot of parking centers do oil changes and car washes, but Wally Park does dry cleaning.

If you have a 6 or 7 a.m. flight, the drive to D.I.A. might mean you need to awaken at 2:37 a.m., not a pleasant thought without caffeine. While the new Westin at D.I.A. is thought of a hotel to use during bad weather, it really shines when you need to stay the night to get on your way for that first, early flight.

The fact that you can walk with luggage about 190 feet to the United Airlines check-in tells you how close this is to your airline. In the past, hotels at the airport are less than beautiful, old, noisy and have a spider-fly relationship with stranded travelers. Well, this is different in every respect.

The Westin D.I.A. can stand on its own as an excellent hotel, and as airport beds go, this is one of the best, period. Stylish and modern rooms, with the key thing being stellar soundproofing. You will see the planes, but you will not hear one. A great pool area and exercise room on the 11th floor, which will rev your calorie engines with the view.

You have a couple of restaurant options, with the best being Grill & Vine, which is a classic bar & grill with a Colorado theme. Kick it into taste bud gear with the Jalapeno & Bison sausage flatbread. Chomp down in style with the aged Ribeye with compound butter, or for a lighter, non-meat option, get the Grilled Portobello Sandwich with chimichurri, caramelized onions, and poblano peppers.