Thought for the Day
He who laughs last thinks slowest

With the Grace of God
At what was once regarded as the tender age of 23, Branden Grace has started his professional golf career with the results: Tied 14th, won, won – which surpasses even the explosive entry of Tiger Woods into the paid ranks. And while I am genuinely delighted for the lad, who must feel as if he has solved Fermatt’s Theorum at the first time of asking (the theorum, incidentally, states that: No three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than two, and was unsolved for 358 years. Mathematics Ed), I hope he doesn’t get too carried with this flush of success. The history of the pro game is littered with the corpses of hot young tyros who initially laid waste to everything before them but whose light burned very brightly but for a hugely disappointing amount of time. And while I loathe the idea of becoming what my mother described as a Job’s comforter – the sort of person who tries to cheer up his friend in hospital, who has had a leg amputated, by pointing out that the man in the next bed wants to buy his slipper – I do hope that Branden has enough insight to recognise that a fabulous start doesn’t always lead to a wondrous finish.

People like Nick Dougherty, Marc Warren, Steve Webster, Chad Campbell, Kirk Triplett, Steve Flesch and Ty Tryone were all hailed as great prospects when they tasted early success but they now languish so far down the world rankings that even the thought of breaking into the top-100, as Branden Grace has just done, must seem an unobtainable fantasy, on a par with bedding Thandie Newton, Penelope Cruz and Jennifer Aniston on the same night, or even at the same time.

I offer such apparently pessimistic thoughts to young Mr Grace, as I like to think of him, for two reasons. First, his two victories have come in his native South Africa, which is a slightly different proposition to winning when a large percentage of the world’s best players are lined up against you. Second, those initial successes can come awfully easily, while subsequent victories, once you come down from cloud nine, can be elusive, to say the least. I truly hope that this apparently likeable and clearly talented young man goes on to ever greater achievements but, while it is important to savour his victories, he also needs to be mindful that he is just at the start of a long and arduous road.

Three cheers for the big man
Paul Lawrie is one of the good guys. And while we are lucky in golf with the quality of its protagonists (compare the behaviour of any pro golfer to someone like Mario Balotelli, to pick just one Premiership footballer at random), some manage to elevate the profession of pro golf even higher still. Paul Lawrie is one such man. He remains firmly grounded in the Aberdeen location in which he grew up and learned to play the game so well, and while many golfers are committed to ploughing much of their energy back into the game that has given them so much, Lawrie does it with an enthusiasm and vigour that few of his peerrs can match.

Eleven years ago he founded the Paul Lawrie Foundation and now comes the news that this Foundation is to be the new sponsor of the Scottish Boys Championship. One of the beneficiaries of Lawrie’s mentorship over the years is David Law, who won that championship in 2009, has subsequently turned pro and said: ‘Personally, Paul has helped me out a lot, not just financially but it’s also the time he has got for me. Whenever I’m struggling with my game, he’s at the other end of the phone for me, even if he is abroad. For sponsorship and other things like that, he has been terrific.’

Lawrie has never been the easiest interview, not because he is in any way ill-mannered but because his natural shyness and acute sense of privacy means that he finds it difficult to talk about himself. And yet despite this he is always approachable, courteous and forthcoming. He has also had to endure seemingly never-ending remarks to the effect that he didn’t win the 1999 Open Championship but Jean Van de Velde lost it, which ignores the fact that, over one of the most brutal Open layouts ever seen, he shot a matchless 67 on the last day and then demonstrated his talent in a superb four-hole playoff, in which he birdied the last two holes at Carnoustie, among the most difficult of any in the world, having been sat in the clubhouse for over two hours. Paul has won six times on the European Tour, which elevates him well above the standard of journeyman, or of a fluke major winner, and at the beginning of this season has started to find some real form, especially with the putter. If there is any justice in the world he will win several more times and enhance his status as one of the best golfers Scotland has produced.

Tip from Paul
I was lucky enough to attend a clinic that Paul hosted a few years ago at Gleneagles and one of the things he said has stayed with me ever since, and I think is excellent advice for we amateurs. He said that the transition from backswing to downswing should never feel like you’re hitting the ball but simply be as smooth a transition as possible, with the feeling that you’re gradually accelerating. And when your game gets stuck with a succession of bad shots, forget all about technique and just think about rhythm.

Quote of the week
The next time you see a good player stalking backward and forwards on the green, do not be led away by the idea that he is especially painstaking, but rather pity him for a nervous individual who is putting off the evil moment as long as he possibly can
Ted Ray

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With thanks to Richard W. from Tavistock.  And his spaniel of course.

Why not check out the new automatic golf trolleys in stock?

Well to be specific (because we weren’t quite sure where Wessex is exactly, so we checked…) – Devon, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Somerset, Dorset and Hants.  Take a look at the schedule for the Wessex Amateur Golf Tour.

Started by GoKart owner Dave Thomas, the tour visits nine impressive venues from March to October; with a separate competition at each, and a cumulative order of merit to battle for too (five best stableford scores from the nine rounds).

So if you’re a serious golfer, or you just fancy visiting some different courses for friendly golf with a competitive edge, it’s worth taking a look at the tour website here

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Oooooops!

“Your Christmas puzzle has cost Mr Tata thousands. Once the lads on the shop floor knew about it, word spread like wildfire. With operators running in and out “try such and such for hole 5, 6 ,15″ etc – it was never ending. And as for hole 9? Well there must have been about 10 of us staring at that little duck…
Now best get back to making cars…”

They’re talking about the GoKart Christmas puzzle 2011 – it seems we’ve caused a few sleepless nights! There’s still time to play; the winner won’t be drawn until Feb 1st. Click here to play.

“Cripes, its easier playing Royal North Devon GC in a souwesterly force 8 than doing one of your quizes – anyway, bril bit of work, its only taken me the whole of Christmas Day and Boxing day to do! – much to the wife’s chagrin!”
“last years was also exceptional but this years is really something else”.
“Thanks for letting me have a round of golf on Christmas day”
“Got the solution, that was a bitch of a quiz…lots of fun tho.:)”
“Really enjoyed the challenge!  Looking forward to next year’s”
“Great quiz – thoroughly enjoyable, just like the GoKart!”
“The quiz kept my family going through the entire of boxing day and most of today as well, thanks!”
“Fab puzzle once again.Wouldn’t be Christmas without driving yourself mad trying to solve it”
“Hours of fun – thanks, now trying to relax with crossed fingers – not easy:) “
“My Mum and I had been looking out for the quiz all through December and were disappointed not to see one, but delighted when the email arrived on Christmas Day”
“Love your Xmas quizzes! Don’t really do it for the trolley but coz the questions are easily the most inventive and out-of-the-box and I’m a dork!”
“Thanks for another great and fiendish puzzle ! … it’s become part of my Christmas routine now !”
“Great Quiz – drove us bonkers!!”
“Kept me away from food and drink for a while!”
“What a fantastic way to spend an evening, brilliant quiz!!’
“Hope I win,  cause I don’t fancy doing this again; its hell, but good fun al the same”
“well done on a brilliant quiz even tho I wanted to call you something entirely different on several occasions”.
“Solved it at last, cor its taken 5 weeks what a one to sort out, my brain hurts”.
“You have caused me several sleepless nights! BUT I love the way you go about things”.
“Phew! Now what am I meant to do with every spare moment? S’pose I could go play golf!
“Another incredibly testing puzzle, you have a twisted mind!!!!”

Just in case some of that has worried you a bit, rest assured there’s a forum poised ready with hints for when you get stuck. We’re twisted but not sadistic…

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Thought for the Day
If your parents didn’t have any children, the chances are that you won’t either

Early skirmishes
Those of you old enough to remember (and that’s a fast dwindling group) or, more likely, with some knowledge of 20th century history, will know that in the first six months after we opened hostilities with Germany in 1939 there was a period called the Phoney War. After the drama of announcing our intention to take on the Hun, nothing much happened but there remained a sense of anticipation. A stupid analogy, I know, but the start of a new golf season always reminds me of those events of more than 70 years ago because, despite all the expectations and hopes we are presented with – well, not very much. On the European Tour we have a few tournaments in South Africa, what used to be called the Sunshine Tour but, with the greatest respect, the fields are not representative of the best players in the world. Of course South Africa has some fine golfers but it does not have great strength in depth, which is why people like Louis Ooosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel (and before them Retief Goosen and Ernie Els) tend to become serial winners on home turf. And the US Tour, meanwhile, takes itself to Hawaii for a few weeks during which the players have a wonderful time, I’m sure, but the quality of opposition they face (and the courses over which they play), while worthy, is not the stiffest competition they will meet during the season.

You will search the leaderboards in vain for names like Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Adam Scott – the top-five in the world as I write, and there is equally no trace of lower-ranked but marquee names such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell or Sergio Garcia. On the other side of the Atlantic they know that things don’t really get going until the Tour hits the US mainland, and over here it’s the Middle East desert swing that brings out the big guns. In the meantime, we at least have some pro golf to watch after the Christmas and New Year shutdown but it’s not quite the same.

Worrying trend?
And although the world’s two main golf Tours have started, in a fashion, neither the European Senior Tour, nor the LPGA Tour, has yet published their 2012 schedule, which must be worrying, to say the least. The Ladies European Tour kicks off with the Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters; from February 2-5 but that’s a co-sanctioned event, as are the few immediately following, and the LET doesn’t really get going until March 22 with the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco. The Tour’s website does say there is a ‘potential event’ on March 1-4 but that just means that there’s still a big hole in the schedule.
There is no doubt feverish activity going on right now to attract more sponsors and pad out what is looking like a rather thin calendar of events but to be still looking to fill a gap that is only eight weeks away sends out a less than positive message.

Crystal-ball gazing
It is inevitable at this time of year to turn our thoughts to the season ahead, especially as it’s a Ryder Cup year, and try to imagine what the next 12 months will bring to us golfers. So let’s start with Mr Ryder’s biennial competition, which it pains me to say, I think will be won by team USA. In the post-Celtic Manor euphoria of a dramatic win, we can perhaps forget just how close it was in 2010 and how reliant we were on Graeme McDowell’s intestinal fortitude coming down the stretch, and a crucial mistake by his opponent. The reality is that the competition has become so close and competitive that home advantage is more and more becoming the pivotal factor.

In women’s golf, Yani Tseng will continue to dominate – she’s too good, too young for the rest – and Lexi Thompson, an astonishingly mature teenager who pounds the ball for miles, will catch the imagination of fans everywhere, and win in the process.

Sadly I think that Phil Mickelson’s decline will continue and that Luke Donald will come nowhere near emulating his exploits of 2011, simply because they were so remarkable that they cannot be sustained. Tiger will win again and be in the frame for at least a couple of majors but I don’t think he will win one, although if he is to threaten Jack’s record (and winning those last four to tie the great man will be as difficult as winning the first 14) he needs to strike soon.

As for Lee Westwood, to get that major bogey off his back he just needs one of the big four events to coincide with the week in which his putter behaves itself and if he doesn’t lift a major in 2012, I fear he never will.

Quote of the Week
The great anxiety of the moderate player when making his stroke is to get the ball properly lofted, and in some obstinate cases it seems to take several seasons of experience to convince him completely that the club has been specifically made for the purpose and, if fairly used, is quite accurate
Harry Vardon

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Rock Legend, Rick Wakeman, oft seen on the fairways, who also tonks a decent drive. Introducing the Xmas Blog from a Grumpy Old Golfer;

“This year the weather was kinder than last year as regards playing golf. Last year my balls froze. It’s not easy playing with frozen balls.

However, it did give me lots of excuses for my appalling play that Xmas . Balls bounced everywhere because of the hard ground or disappeared completely into snow drifts or failed to even reach the temporary greens  (terrible at the best of times).

Playing off of rubber mats is a joke if you’re six foot three as your legs (and frozen balls) have to be on the ground whilst your little white ball is balanced on some horrible piece of miniature rubber tubing. It’s also too cold to grip the club properly.

There was also the wind (read into that what you will).

The only thing that didn’t mind the elements was my GoKart.

So, I returned happy after the “game” knowing that there were many reasons for losing so many balls , playing to 12 over my handicap and having frozen balls.

This year though, not so good – the weather has been mild.

No snow.
No ice.
No frozen ground.
No frozen balls.

…and yet I played the same. 12 over my handicap, lost loads of balls, swore a lot and then of course , there was the wind (read into that what you will).

I’m going out again tomorrow. Thank heavens I got loads of balls for Xmas .
My GoKart likes mild weather too.
I reckon that’s because the GoKart doesn’t have frozen balls to hinder it.

Good Winter Slogan that; “GoKart…the only electric trolley that can’t freeze your balls”.

Why not check out the new automatic golf trolleys in stock?

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more Christmassy and your halls are groaning under the weight of decked holly, here it is in all its glory – the GoKart Christmas Puzzle. 18 holes of haphazard, humbling, hellish and decidely humourous brainstretchers that’ll while away the hours in between the the Christmas Pud and the bubble and squeak. And beyond most probably.

We’ve combined the talents of  Puzzle Meister Extraordinaire, Joe Davies (Creo) and our own GoKartoonist Geoff Waterhouse to produce our most fun puzzle yet. You can play the course in any order, swear to your heart’s content, fling your clubs and wear anything you bloomin’ well like (try doing that at your local). Get to the end of the 18 holes, find the final answer and your could win a GoKart (or the equivalent in Gokarty stuff if you already have one).

And we’ll be there quietly, hiding in the bushes from Boxing Day, ready with a forum to give you swing tips and keep you on the fairways.

So have fun, don’t forget to invite your friends to come and play and we’ll see you in the New Year for prizegiving.

With very best wishes from all of us at GoKart for a Happy Christmas and Absolutely Stonking New Year, on and off the golf course.

Click here to go to the puzzle!

Why not check out the new automatic golf trolleys in stock?

Thought for the Day
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory

Now that the regular tournaments on the European and American Tours have concluded, it’s that time of the year when we hand out some gongs, and brickbats, for the best and worst performances of the year. So here is the GoKart list of the performances of the season

Bad timing of the Year
Lee Westwood. Twice in the last three weeks he has decimated a world class field, finding his best form just as the year ends

American Great White Hope of the Year
Lexi Thompson. The American teenage phenomenon has now won on the LPGA and LET tours in the last three months at the age of 16 and has ignited hopes that Korean domination of the women’s game may be threatened

Hangover of the Year
Darren Clarke. After his heart-warming win in the Open back in July he threatened to have one heck of a party and hasn’t disappointed. He has only had one top-10 since his win at Royal St George’s but do you think he’s bothered?

Major of the Year
The Masters. Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to snatch the green jacket. The US Open and Open were processions.

Anonymous Major winner of the Year
Go on then, tell us who the current US PGA champion is*

Prat of the Year
Steve Williams. Boorish, self-important, petulant and childish when sacked by Tiger, and then followed it up with an extremely ill-advised comment at the caddies dinner.

Close but no coconut Award
Mark Foster. He actually had a good season, finishing 32nd on the Race to Dubai money list with over €800,000 but in mid-summer, in consecutive weeks, he went into the last round leading before final rounds of 71 and 74 saw him finish 3rd and 2nd respectively. When you’re a journeyman and these streaks of form arrive, you have to snatch victory from them.

Welcome back Award
Tiger Woods. Finally he won again. Okay, it was an invitational event and limited field but he birdied the last two holes to do it and as any pro will tell you, a win is a win.

Come back, we miss you Award
Padraig Harrington. The flaky Irishman insists on ploughing his own distinctive furrow but however he manages it, we just want to see him in contention again.

Player of the year
Luke Donald. In almost any other season the accolade would go to Yani Tseng, the undisputed women’s world number one, who had 14 top-10s in 22 events and won seven times, two of those victories being majors – and all at the age of 22. But Luke’s unprecedented feat of winning the money list on both sides of the Atlantic, with three wins in Europe and two in America, alongside a top-10 finish virtually every time he didn’t win, just gives him the edge.

Loss of the Year
Seve Ballesteros. One of the few geniuses to have played the game finally fought a battle even he couldn’t win.

Collapse of the Year
Rory McIlroy. On cruise control at the Masters until that back nine meltdown and a horrific 80.

Redemption of the Year
Rory McIlroy. Barely eight weeks after imploding at Augusta he not only won the US Open but did it in a style to suggest this may be the first of many majors.

Dramatic finish of the Year
Solheim Cup singles. The usual, predictable pattern of the Americans coming from behind in the singles was proceeding exactly as scripted until Suzann Pettersen, Caroline Hedwall and Azahara Munoz turned around their matches, the last three on the course, for an improbable but delightful victory.

Team of the Year
European Solheim Cup team. ‘Nuff said.

Bad sport of the Year
Paula Creamer, for taking her Solheim Cup singles thrashing by Catriona Matthew with singular bad grace.

Over-sized ego of the Year
Ian Poulter (inevitably). Commenting on his desire to market himself as a brand around the world he said, with astonishing arrogance even for him: ‘I owe it to the game of golf to be able to play wherever I want to.’

Nasty smell of the Year
Elliot Saltman. He was banned for cheating. It’s thankfully rare, which is probably why it leaves such a strong aroma.

Over the top commentator of the Year
Mark Roe – for his habit of trying to make EVERY sentence. Sound. As DRAMATIC. As possible

Damp squib of the Year
FedEx Playoffs and Presidents Cup; A dead heat between two artificially  manufactured events that consistently fail to capture the imagination.

Professional suicide of the Year
John Daly. His world ranking is lower than a snake’s belly so most of his opportunities to play come from sponsor’s invitations and yet he continues to slap his hosts in the face by contriving to walk out of their events if unhappy with his performance – which is most of the time.

Quote of the Week
Golf is the only game I know of that actually becomes harder the longer you play it.
Bobby Jones

* The US PGA was won by the man with two surnames – Keegan Bradley

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No, the frozen food chain hasn’t started selling sports equipment. Iceland the country. The appropriately named Bjorn Ingolfsson, is the latest recruit to the expanding GoKart universe. He is establishing the chilliest GK outpost to date (next stop Greenland).

Why not check out the new automatic golf trolleys in stock?

We’ve said it before…but we officially have the best (and maybe the nuttiest) customers in the world.  Take a look at this photo of the Senior section at Sweetwood Golf Club at their annual Xmas fun day - where each of them have lovingly selected a winter woolly to match their GoKarts. We love it! With thanks to Dave Wells (sixth from right, the one with the sensible hat), Seniors’ Vice Captain there this year. Lord only knows what they’re in store for in 2012.

Why not check out the new automatic golf trolleys in stock?