We are pleased to present these updates from Dr. Barry Lotz.

Have you ever found yourself in or headed for an unfamiliar town with time on your hands?  As a golf enthusiast, you’ve probably wished you could fill that spare time with a round of golf or two, but you didn’t know where to go or who to call. A new Internet service offers a solution – and more.
  LetsPlay36.net is the world’s most complete web-based social networking site designed specifically to connect golfers around the world. It was created to put golfers in touch with each other according to location, schedule, handicap, age and/ or home course. What’s more, LetsPlay36. net will raise the golf IQ of every player who belongs to the site and all of its many services are completely free to members.
 “Imagine if you will, a place where golfers of all descriptions across the globe will be welcome to share their common bond,” said Mike Purkey, a career golf journalist and founder of LetsPlay36.net. “Golf is the most social game there is and golfers like nothing better than to communicate their experience and enthusiasm. It’s what makes golf so unique among our sports. We think we have a great place, in the present environment, for golfers to gather, regardless of time or space. Anytime is the right time for golfers to be together and LetsPlay36.net is the right vehicle.”
  At LetsPlay36.net, members complete a player profile that identifies them by hometown, home club, handicap and age, as well as the day or days of the week they regularly prefer to play. Members can then search the site for possible playing partners, based on any combination of profile criteria, whether traveling, relocating or simply looking for a game in their own hometown. No other site offers such a service.
 “How many times have you been traveling and, because a meeting is canceled or your plans change, you suddenly find you have some free time,” Purkey explained. “With LetsPlay36.net, you can go to the site, type in a town and a date and see who might be available and arrange a game. You can even customize your search by age, handicap range, even a specific course you may want to play – or any combination of criteria.  Once you’ve searched the database, you can contact other members through the website and arrange a game.”
   Membership in LetsPlay36.net is free to all golfers. LetsPlay36.net does not include home addresses in its member profiles so members can be certain that their information will never be sold or given to marketing firms for any reason. And because members will contact other members through the site, their personal e-mail addresses will not be available to others online.
   Others features and services of LetsPlay36.net include:
New Club Research – Members considering purchasing a new golf club or set of clubs have the capability of finding golfers all over the world who already have the same clubs in their bags. They can ask for and receive feedback and automatically have a retail partner from which to purchase new equipment.
Travel Services – LetsPlay36.net members can book golf getaways anywhere in the world. Members simply complete a brief form and the trip, including lodging and starting times, is arranged and booked by professionals who deal exclusively with golf travel worldwide.  LetsPlay36 members never even have to pick up the phone, and again, the service is completely free.
Either individually or as a group, members can have all their arrangements made by experienced golf travel professionals by completing an online form that identifies destination, preferred dates and other pertinent information.  Members can select the courses they would like to play and even their level of accommodations, from economy to luxury, all with just a click.
Member Forums – In “The Grillroom,” a special part of the website where members can connect and chat with one another, members have the opportunity to blog and respond to blogs about every golf topic imaginable. The ability to share opinions with others in this specially designed members’ forum creates an opportunity to open lines of communication in a unique way.
Editorial Content – Through regularly updated editorial content, members are kept abreast of the latest golf equipment and treated to reviews of great golf destinations – from the most popular resorts to obscure, yet delightful getaways not yet discovered by the masses. And, in content unique to LetsPlay36.net, members learn of the game’s etiquette and tradition, as well as the often perplexing Rules of Golf.
Finally, opinion pieces from award-winning writers are always certain conversation starters whether it’s in actual grillrooms or at LetsPlay36’s own blogspot. As a veteran of more than 25 years as a golf journalist and former president of the Golf Writers Association of America, Purkey knows the game of golf and his special “insider’s perspective” comes through in his writing. He has co-authored two books, including Playing A Round With The Little Pro with renowned teaching pro Eddie Merrins, and has won two national writing awards presented by the GWAA and three from the International Network of Golf.  He also has collaborated with a
number of touring pros and golf experts on countless magazine features and columns.  “We all know that regardless of where we play, golfers are all members of one big club,” Purkey said.  “At LetsPlay36.net, we’re providing an online clubhouse where we can all meet and do the same things we do every time we sit down in the 19th hole with our buddies – arrange our next games, talk equipment and put together golf outings with our friends.” To become a LetsPlay36.net member, simply go to the website and complete your player profile.  You will immediately be eligible to use all the services available at the site and connect with golfers everywhere.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM OUR FRIENDS AT FLORIDA GOLF CENTRAL

04.01.09
golfminnesota.com is proud to announce the introduction of "The Travis File".  From time to time, senior contributing writer, Ed Travis, will be postiing special features right here.  Check back often for updates.

THE TRAVIS FILE

09.17.09
       

Giants Ridge, located in Biwabik Minnesota on the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota was named #46 on the "Best Golf Resorts in North America" list by Golf Digest.  In their annual rating of hundreds of golf resorts across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, panelists rated resort properties on an array of categories, and the magaziine says those appearing on the list offer exceptional golf, lodging, food and service.  Giants Ridge joins a prestigious list that includes Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and others.
For more information on  Giants Ridge and their award winning resort, visit giantsridge.com.

 
08.20.09
Get ready for Solheim Weekend.  Looks to be not only a compelling competition, but highly fashionable as well.  Here are the European Team uniforms, except for Sunday's, which is being kept top secret.  Swedish clothing maker Abacus is providing sporty and functional styles to the Euro's for the week.

03.31.09

       

TaylorMade Golf announced today that 54 year old global golf legend Greg Norman will begin playing TaylorMade clubs and a TaylorMade ball, which Norman used without fanfare while finishing tied for 3rd place at last year's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

"It started with the TP ball, which I played at the Open Championship last year," said Norman. "I'm pleased that the discussions have evolved to the extent that I am now a member of the TaylorMade Staff. TaylorMade's approach to the game and equipment design is very similar to my own. In my opinion TaylorMade is at the very forefront of golf equipment and ball technology."

In preparation for The Masters, TaylorMade's technicians have worked extensively with Norman to fit him for a full set of TaylorMade clubs, including the new R9 driver. Specifically, they dialed in his R9's Flight Control Technology setting to Neutral (N) and his Movable Weight Technology (MWT) configuration to an 8-gram cartridge in the toe, 6-gram cartridge in the back and 8-gram in the heel to promote drives that "roll out" after landing for increased distance. Norman was also fit for TaylorMade's Tour Preferred irons which he put in play last week at the Cap Cana Championship.

For more information, see:
TaylorMade's TP Red golf ball with Low Drag Performance (LDP) Technology
R9 driver
Tour Preferred irons