A father in Wales has placed a bet—at 1,000 to one—that his son will win the British Open by the time he (the son) is fifty.

A win would net the old man a hundred thousand pounds sterling ($192,000 at today’s rate).

The bet was placed when the son was fifteen. He’s now twenty five and has just now finished his first season as a professional golfer (apparently on a European mini tour).

I don’t think he’s going to collect.

Dynacraft is an old line component club manufacturer, perhaps most famous for its early hybrid, the Jackaroo. I’ve built several Dynacraft woods and iron sets over the years and really enjoyed them—so much so that I once made a trip to visit the factory showroom in Newark, Ohio. The company now is owned and distributed by Hireko Golf.

The new Dynacraft Offset Titanium Driver uses cup face technology that moves the weld away from the club’s face. The effect of this, Hireko says is to increase the spring effect over a huge section of the club face. This should produce better results on those inevitable off-center hits.

The 460cc clubhead has an elongated shape and an internal weighting system that shifts weight back for a higher launch angle and more distance. Finally, the club’s offset will help a player close the clubface at impact, reducing the distance-sapping slice.

Hireko offers a 60 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.

Veteran Detroit News Golf Writer Vartan Kupelian has an article offering mini reviews of five bargain golf balls.

I don’t wear glasses (yet), and in fact, have 20-10 vision at a distance. But I’ve noticed that the fine print isn’t as crisp as it used to be. So I guess I’m headed there.

Callaway Golf makes reading glases designed to fold to a small package so they fit easily into a golf bag pocket.  They’re rimless, with spring temples and come in a variety of magnifications.

You could, of course, get a pair from the dollar store. But these have a bit more style. And they may be just the thing for Callaway fans.

USA Today answers the question of what it would cost for a week of golf at Scotland’s best courses: $4,000.

I’d like to play in Scotland, but don’t really have a need to play the premium courses. I read a book once called A Season in Dornoch : Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands that made think that the REAL way to play golf in Scotland would be to pick one of the small towns and spend a couple of weeks playing their course.

I imagine that it would cost much less than $4,000.

I highly recommend the book, by the way.

Pierre Fulke, a three time European Tour winner is retiring from golf at the age of 36.

“I’m not tired of golf but I’m tired of the travel,” Fulke told the Swedish Golf Federation’s website. “It feels good to sleep in my own bed. Now it’s time to explore other areas in golf. I’m involved in several new projects in Sweden as a course designer.”

The article really doesn’t go into any more details of Fulke’s decision to quit, but what’s left unsaid speaks pretty loudly: It’s not all fun and games on the Tour. I imagine that unless you’re one of the elite players—with a private jet and a “posse” to serve at your beck and call—it can really wear on you. Trying to squeeze in as many eents as possible means that you are living out of your suitcase in an endless procession of hotel rooms and wasting much of your life waiting in line at airports.

I can see that after a while it would simply cease to be fun.

When I hit the lottery, these are the shoes I’m going to buy. For my money, Eccos are the best golf shoes made. But they’re a little pricey. And at $399.99, these are a LOT pricey.

Still, you apparently get what you pay for. The Ecco World Class Wing Tips combine leather, GoreTex and thermoplastic polyurethane to create a lightweight, flexible, long-lasting, breathable shoe.

I love the Eccos I bought last year and it would take a great deal of convincing to get me to go to another brand. But $399? Whew.