Golf is better than hockey. We all knew that. Green fairways and warm sun versus sheets of ice. It’s no contest.

And ESPN apparently thinks so, too. While the sports network dropped the National Hockey League because poker got better ratings, they’ve signed an agreement with the USGA to show their championships through 2014. ESPN also plans to feature live scoring and streaming video, plus a webcast from one of the par-3 holes at the U.S. Open on Thursday and Friday. New offerings will include a variety of streaming content on ESPN360 and ESPN-branded mobile devices, interactive television offerings on Thursdays and Fridays, plus increased international coverage.

Having conquered the football, track and workout worlds, Under Armour now is setting its sights on golf. It will, no doubt, be popular with the younger crowd, among whom this brand is well established. But they’ve got competition with the Adidas stuff, which is clearly aiming at the same twenty-somethings.

I’m also not sure how it breaks into the slightly older age group, which I would think more likely to get a Nike shirt, or middle aged guys like me who aren’t going to pay that premium at all. I can get a nice Dockers or Haggar golf shirt with moisture management fabric at Kohls for under $25—much less if you watch the sales. And us older guys who have the money to spend are probably more likely to buy a Ben Hogan, Callaway, or Bobby Jones shirts.

Still, the Under Armour shirt at Golfsmith are good looking.

Team Wie had better look out. There’s a new girl golf prodigy on the horizon. And this one has the added cachet of a famous name: Woods.

Cheyenne Woods is Tiger Woods younger cousin, and by some accounts is the next teen golf prodigy. She apparently was largely responsible for her High School team winning the Arizona state championships. The press is full of stories about Cheyenne. Many are predicting that she wins the Amateur in the next two years.

If so, she’ll have done something Michelle was unable to accomplish—that, indeed, Michelle really didn’t even really attempt.

Maxfli has upgraded its popular Noodle golfball for 2007.

I’m not sure what’s different though, as the Maxfli site still is showing the 2006 products. Its apparently still a two piece ball with a Surlyn cover. I am sure, however, that it’s longer and softer with more spin.

Or something like that.

Still, if you play the Noodle, this is what’ll be on the shelves this year.

Mike at the Traveling Golfer has alerted me to the creation of a new blog: The Wedge Guy Blog.

The author of the blog is Terry Koehler, president of Eidolon Golf, and he has some choice things to say about the new rules from the USGA and R&A on grooves in wedges.

I will admit to knowing nothing about the Eidolon wedges, but have to assume that the new groove rules would affect their design.

Welcome to the golf blogosphere, Terry.

It is appropo of nothing, but I found a neat site called The Candy Blog. I had a lot of fun reading it.

It’s golf show season here in Michigan (and, I suspect, in many other places, too).  And these shows are often a great place to get good clubs at a tremendous discount.

Unfortunately, the reason some of these clubs are so inexpensive is that they’re cheap knockoffs. But how can you tell?

Here’s a tip: if you’re shopping for clubs at one of these shows, carry a small magnet with you. It’ll be useful for determining whether a club really is what it says. Magnets won’t stick to titanium, so if a driver says that it’s got a titanium face and a magnet sticks to it, be suspicious. Magnets also won’t stick to zinc or aluminum. So if an iron claims to be steel, and a magnet won’t stick to it, be suspicious.

Zinc-Aluminum alloys often are used in beginner clubs and in knockoffs.