Cigars are a big part of golf culture in my area and I found this video on the making of cigars fascinating:

by guest blogger David F. Cline

Several of my college friends – including the GolfBlogger – get together for a weekend every autumn to play golf, go to a football game, then gather at a local bar for drinks and cigars. I think all involved will tell you it is a highlight of their year – but one aspect will apparently have to change.

The county where we meet recently enacted a law banning smoking for all restaurants and bars, unless a business is specifically designated as a cigar bar. Sadly, our gathering spot of choice does not have that designation. So – the golf will continue, the football game will continue, and the fellowship at a local watering hole will probably continue. As for the cigars? That, alas, may have to cease.

As most of you know, banning smoking is not something new. In fact, the GolfBlogger himself told me that a recent course near where he lives also has banned smoking. When a golf course – a big, wide, swatch of grass, sand, water, and trees – can ban smoking, anything is truly possible.

You may be thinking how this applies to you, and why it should matter if you are not a cigar smoker. I do not mean to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but there is no guarantee that politicians will stop at cigars or cigarettes. For example, may people under the legal drinking age play golf, right? Well, shouldn’t liquor be banned at golf courses so as not to corrupt the youth? And after that, how about taking away energy drinks or caffeinated soda? After all, we don’t want a bunch of amped-up youngsters romping all over the immaculately-groomed golf course, right?

I know, I know – that might be a bit much. One never knows, though. As we speak, the Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to regulate cigars in the United States. This would be disastrous, on many levels. You can help stop it, though. A petition has been posted at the White House web site that asks the FDA to back off. If 25,000 signatures are collected by May 11, the Obama administration will issue a formal response. In less than three weeks, more than 21,000 people have signed the petition, but there is no reason to stop now.

Take a stand – if not for cigars, then for freedom of choice. And next time you hit the links, light up your favorite cigar. Unless of course, it has been banned.

Free Don Lino Africa Gordito Robusto Cigar 10 Pack ($90.00 Value) With Valid Rocky Patel Purchase!

by guest blogger David F. Cline

Storing Your Cigars

So – your family and friends got you some cigars for Christmas, and while you were able to smoke one or two with the garage door open, the cold winter is preventing you from lighting up as much as you would like. What to do?

First of all, make sure you keep your cigars stored properly. If you don’t have a humidor, get one. The initial cost is worth the investment, and you will have peace of mind knowing you can keep your cigars stored for weeks at a time without them spoiling, drying out, or losing their flavor.

If you don’t have a humidor yet, get one. In a pinch, your local cigar shop will probably have plastic bags lined with a humidifying agent - that will work for the short term. Your best bet, depending on how many cigars you plan to keep at a time, is to invest in a good quality humidor. They are available online, and all good cigar stores should stock them. The key to a good humidor is properly seasoning it, then keeping the element moist. There are many options to choose from, from water pouches to crystal-filled tubes to the elements that come with most humidors. Find what works best for you, and check it periodically to make sure the inside of your humidor is not drying out.

As nice as it is to have a well-seasoned humidor full of cigars, that really is not the goal. After all, why have cigars if you don’t plan to smoke them? Ah, the chill of winter … but all is not lost. If your stogie preference is for a torpedo or robusto – five-inch or longer cigars with a ring gauge of 50 or 52 – you may want to get a few coronas of the same brand. Coronas are shorter and have a smaller ring gauge, so they won’t burn as long as other sizes – an advantage for cold weather days. Cigars with larger ring gauges allegedly have a deeper, richer flavor, but remember that each cigar has the same blend of tobacco. In other words, A Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Corona has the same blend as a Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo. The only difference is the size.

Speaking of Rocky Patel, have you taken part in any cigar auctions yet? I just picked up a 14-stick Rocky Patel sampler for $55 – less than half what I would pay in a cigar store. Give the auction sites a try – I think you will be pleased with the results.

by guest blogger David F. Cline

Tools and Tips

So – you’re on the fourth tee, you’ve played well so far, and you decide to light up a cigar to celebrate your success. You select a cigar from your bag, use your cutter to nip off the cap, then prepare to light. And from your pocket, you pull … what? Paper matches? No!

Veteran cigar smokers have learned to never light cigars with matches, unless it really is all you have. Why? Many reasons, but mostly for taste. When you light a match, small bits of sulfur burn, causing sulfur dioxide. If you use a match to light your smoke, do you really want to mark the taste with a whiff of sulfur dioxide? I didn’t think so.

Go to your friendly cigar shop and invest in a butane lighter. They run anywhere from $10 on up, and are quite reliable. Also, get a tank of butane fuel, and refill when necessary. My lighter has three flames, and even on a windy day, it provides me with an easy light. Also, on the golf course, using a lighter allows you to close it put it back in your pocket. With matches … well, do you want to carry burnt matches around until you find a trash can? Again, I didn’t think so.

Now, in a pinch, you could use wooden matches. Some companies – in fact, some cigar stores – offer them, which are better. It may take you a few matches to get your cigar adequately lit, but in a pinch, they will serve the purpose.

So the time has come to light up. I had been smoking cigars for several years before I learned how to properly light a cigar – and the first cigar I lit properly tasted and burned better than any other before it. Here’s what you do:

1. Prepare the cap either by removing it with a cigar cutter or punching it. I prefer the cutter; I can never seem to get a wide enough opening with a punch.

2. Keep the band on! I know it is tempting to remove it – it always is for me – but you risk damaging the wrapper. Let the cigar burn for 15-20 minutes before you carefully remove the band.

3. Hold the cigar away from you, and without puffing, light and burn around the foot of the cigar about 1/4 –inch all the way around. This will also help light the end of the cigar – a process called toasting.

4. When the toasting is complete, place the cigar in your mouth, and rotate it over the flame while gently puffing a few times. Within 10-20 seconds or so, your cigar should be adequately lit. At that time, lightly blow on the lit end of the cigar - that will help it burn more evenly.

5. Enjoy!

I hope these tips help. I would like to hear any suggestions or thoughts you might have – and please feel free to ask questions, too. Next time, I will talk about where and how to buy.

Callaway Premium Golf Lighter

A playing partner over the had this lighter. It’s a cigar lighter, ball marker and repair tool all in one. The only thing that would make this perfect is if it had a cigar punch built in.

Mayer Mill Brass Golf Ball Cigar Ash Tray

Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week