Well, they make puts because they have information that you don’t have. Their books contain detailed slope, drainage, and even where to hit their approach shots.

Those books with golf-nerd like information about the course and green were only available on tour until recently. Well, GolfLogix has essentially the same books and even an app that gives you the same information. Move over, Tiger, now we know what is going on with that putt as well. Yes, the tour players are great putters. Yet, it is apparent that great information also contributes to being great on the greens. And with over 14,000 courses mapped, your regulars are sure to be included in the mix. With this product, gone are the days of endlessly walking around the putt and still being in Raiders of the Lost Make.

If you get the booklet option, each course has a detailed view of the hole, which is much better than the tee box or scorecard’s mini-map.  The real data magic is the green view and 3-D imagery. Start with detailed arrows in five-yard grids that show how the putt breaks. Combine that with the “heat map” view that gives you the contours of the green. If you play by feel and use your eyes, and primarily play one to three courses all the time, the booklet is a great option.

Of course, technology improves all the options with information, and the GolfLogix App is no exception. Take all the information you get with the booklet, then add even more details. Like which club to hit to get it to the right spot and level on the green with the approach shot feature. The way-bonza quality is the Putt-Line map in real-time. It visualizes for you where to hit and how hard to hit it to get the best chance to make the putt. And you thought that was only for the television announcers!

From a personal note, this is a lot like using the rear-view camera in modern cars when you are in reverse. Go to an older car without it, and you will wonder how you lived without that feature. GolfLogix is the same; once you use it and get better, you can permanently attach to how this information can make you a better golfer.

There is a lot to like about both approaches to more information; it all depends upon your golf outlook. If you don’t totally rely on yardage markers and have a bit of “look and feel” to your game, the Green Maps & Yardage Book is just the ticket.

If you want to replace the range finder and go from the little red wagon to the space shuttle, then the GolfLogix App is your all-in-one solution to putting and green-side information that can lead to better golf.

Time to dust off the clubs and think Spring with the Rocky Mountain Golf Expo. In its’ 12^th year, it rolls the rock February 7-9 at the Denver Merchandise Mart just off I25 with plenty of free parking.

The show features a variety of vendors from golf courses and resorts. New courses this year include the Robert Trent Jones Trail, Arizona Golf Trail, Ben Hogan Golf, Chuco Golf, Estes Park Golf, Golf The West Tour, Greater Zion Golf, Haymaker Golf Course, Horseshow Bay Resort, New Mexico Golf, Pueblo Golf is back, City Of Hobbs, N.M., Taos Golf, Tamarack Golf, and Montrose Golf. With the changing demographic of closer golf vacation and trips, these resorts give you a view as to how to put together your local trip this summer.

The general schedule has added some new options this year to let you hit it better and longer. The Golf Expo has added a Long Drive Contest sponsored by Optimum Golf and Life Time Windows and Sidings. Can you take advantage of that Denver Altitude? There is also a Long Putt Challenge, Closest to the Pin, Pitching Lessons, Swing Lessons, Seminars, Music, Club Demo, Junior Golf Central and a Lounge (A special appearance by Judge Smails).

It is just not about walking around, it is about you getting to hit some, putt some and try new gear. Interactive is the key word at the Denver Golf Expo!

Maybe the mousetrap can’t really get much better, yet in the world of spirits and wine, there is always something new and likely better. However, add unknown to the list.

The mission of Chris Davies, head of Wine Country Network is to host events with emerging brands.  Give them a chance to make it to the taste buds of consumers and distributors. Nothing better than you being the judge while you hear the story from vintner or distiller.

Davies has struck a pleasant chord with their Wine Festival in Denver, bringing in wines and spirits from all over the U.S. and 19 countries. Most of which have limited visibility, yet are pushing to the next level. At this event, there are two food components, the winemaker’s pairsine dinner, the wine/food pairing competition. The event moved to its’ new location, the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield.

Established in 2014, Davies & Company got the high ball rolling with the North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition. Lots of entrants, but only a few, proud and stout of proof made it to the finals in August. When they are side by side, one can really get a feel for what is most palate-pleasing.

The food and wine legs of the organization are rapidly expanding, bringing the same types of tastings, competitions, and trade/consumer showcases around the country.

In 2020, there will be a Pairsine Competition in Aspen in March, Santa Fe in May as well as one in Austin. On the docket are Pairsine events that pair spirits rather than wine. Their events always feature extensive seminars and learning forums as well.

Yes, there are more prominent wine and spirit festivals around. However, if your goal is to see and try what is new and different, WCN events should be on your participation list.

In putting, it’s all about feel and makes. Sure, there have been new putter heads and new grips. Yet really nothing that really dramatically improved feel and consistency…until now.

Enter the Stability Shaft from Breakthrough Golf Technology. Headed by Barney Adams, a successful pioneer in all his golf equipment endeavors, this might be the answer to your putter essentially getting on steroids.

In the last five years, putter weights have significantly increased while the shafts have stayed the same, with essentially 30-year old technology. In any sport, it’s about tuning the system so the components work best together. And, in this case, it was about making the putter shaft light while increasing accuracy and feel.

Like other technology, probably not best to dismiss the features until you hear the story or better yet, have tried the technology in your putter. When getting ready to putt, most golfers are concerned about speed and line. Once you have planned out the variables, you hope the equipment will respond to your directions. And moreover, respond consistently from short to long putts. BGT claims resistance to slight bending and reduced torsional rotation provided by the Stability Shaft means that dispersion will be tighter within a tighter rollout range.

Before you determine it’s only a putter, how much can the shaft bend, and does the research at BGT says otherwise? The putter shaft does bend, and that results in the head being in a slightly different position in each stroke depending upon take away and stroke speed, as well as the transition.

 

The Stability shaft was measured with state-of-the-art measurement tools using a wide variety of putter brands, models, and styles, using both humans and putting robots. Some of the measures and variables were paths that were straight and those putting strokes with an arc. BGT looked at high handicap players all the way through tour players. The results were consistent in all putters and levels of golfers had some bend and flex variability in their current shaft. After replacing the original shaft with a BGT, the roll and result became more consistent and predictable.

All fine and provable in a lab, what about real performance? I took the plunge and had my favorite putter re-shafted with a Stability Shaft to see if the difference would translate to my putting. On long putts over 15 feet, the difference was clear, this felt more solid, and the ball was closer to the intended line. More amazingly, was the increased accuracy with putts in the four to eight-foot range probably due to the fact the putter face was more true to square at impact. I would describe the feel as “solid” even with a variety of golf balls. From short to long putts, this was noticeably better.

 

Once you find a putter you really like, and the specifications are correct for your type of putting stroke and set up, then the Stability Shaft from BGT is likely your next step up on putting performance.