A health spa is offering Dads a heated golf ball massage.
No, I have no idea.

Like so many Americans, I’ve been seriously considering trading my my larger vehicle (an Oldsmobile minivan) for a smaller one. But I’ve grown accustomed to having space in my car to store my golf bag, my Sun Mountain Speed Cart, and a small duffel with golf clothes, shoes, extra balls, etc. I can easily carry all of those things, and still have room for a pair of boys.

Still, with gas heading for $5 a gallon, a change makes a lot of sense.

The question for me is “what small cars are the most golf friendly?” Which ones have a trunk (or hatchback area) large enough to carry my clubs, cart and duffel? I don’t want to have to keep one of those items in the shotgun seat.

Making a small car golf friendly ought to be on the designer’s specifications.

Any suggestions? I have a couple of criteria:

First, it ought to get 25+ in the city (My van currently gets around 21 or 22 in the daily drive to work). And second, it has to have sufficient storage.

I also vastly prefer to drive American or perhaps European. Toyota, Honda and Mazda are definitely out of consideration. (GolfBlogger headquarters is, after all, in Michigan).

I’ve had the idea that the Pontiac Vibe might be the right size (I get the family discount on GM products, so I’m looking there first and foremost). I’ve even visited a Pontiac dealer. But I’m not sure.

Let me know your opinions. Leave a comment below.

For many, golf is as much a lifestyle as a sport. For them, the ancient game exudes an aura of tradition, refinement, etiquette and culture that carries over into many other aspects of their lives.

Bowmore, makers of a fine single malt whiskey, are aiming for just that sort of market with a new series of videos called The Bowmore Way. The online streams cover skills such how as to checkmate in just four moves, how to cook porridge to perfection, how to tie a bow tie; lighting a cigar; and shucking an oyster. They also offer information on whisky making by showing how to cut peat; turn barley and nose whisky. 

Their golf video is below:

In a recent conversation, the question came up as to whether there are any songs about golf. I know that there are several humorous golf cds out there, but are there any legitimate tunes by real artists?

I can’t think of any. Leave a comment if you know of one.

While shopping at my local mega food mart recently, I ran across a bottle of Arnold Palmer 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. Since it was under $15, and I’m a sucker for anything golf, I picked it up.

Now it has to be said that—generally speaking—the GolfBlogger’s tastes in adult beverages runs to Bourbon and Rum. So I figured that I’d get the bottle, taste it, and then turn it over to Mrs. GolfBlogger, who would actually enjoy it. What I really wanted was the bottle. (unfortunately, I wrecked the label, so I’m going to have to go get another one).

To my surprise, though, I actually liked the wine. It’s smooth, and pleasant tasting.

I’m no wine aficionado, though, so I’ll tell you what the vintner says:

“Aromas of smoky black cherry with underlying notes of toasted warm coffee and cassis. A touch of cedar folds seamlessly into a rich opulent black fruit core. Layers of oak build texture and offer a firm mid palate. The velvety long finish is filled with milk chocolate.”

The black cherry is there. And the smoke. And I can definitely taste the oak—but bourbon drinkers are attuned to the taste of oak. As for the other tastes, I’m not so sure. But as I said, I liked it.

Mrs. GolfBlogger, who enjoys a good glass of wine, says that she can taste all of that, and more ... she says there’s a bit of nutmeg. And she gives it her seal of approval, although she tends to like a white wine.

Thinking about golfers and their wines beings to mind a story that I recently read in an interview with Greg Norman:

Apparently, Norman was on his yacht in the Caribbean when the ship was boarded by the Coast Guard of one of the banana republics.

Thinking to impress the officers with a little name dropping, one of the passengers informed them that the yacht was owned by Greg Norman.

The officers were impressed: “The wine guy?,” they asked.

Such is the fleeting fame of athletics.