Boundary Golf Blog

Oil and Golf and Politicians!

Spoony — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:02:08 +0000

I just couldnt ignore the stupidity of oil/gas prices. I have worked in the golf industry for the past 17 years. I have seen what some called a recession and what some called a surplus from an economic point of view. Now matter how bad it was or how good it was the golf industry as a whole stayed steady, until now. Gas prices have affected the economics of this country to the point of slowing probably the only consistent industry in the nation besides food and clothing. I have talked to everyone from retailers to manufacturers to golf courses and they all agree, things are slow to get started and the probability of their worst year is very likely.

What has changed? How about $4.00 per gallon of gasoline. People must use their recreational money to put gas in the car. Choices are being made everyday as to whether they should spend $25 - $50 for nine or eighteen holes of golf or to put a quarter of a tank of gas in the family car. Gas is gobbling up that little bit of extra money people had after they paid all their other bills and taxes. After I paid my energy bill, my car payment, my house payment, my insurance payments, my kids eyeglasses and braces, and my property taxes and my sales taxes, my business taxes, my personal property business taxes, my consumer taxes and a few taxes and bills I know I am forgetting, in the past I actually still had a few bucks to go and play 9 holes at my local golf course once or twice a week.

Golf and Politics

Spoony — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:30:27 +0000

I pretty much assume that anyone that golfs, votes. Usually conscientious people play golf and they are usually the kind of people that make a point to vote locally and nationally. Last month my topic was about Hillary Clinton. The last thing we need is to go through another Clinton presidency. Having said that we must look at where we are having another Bush presidency. My view is, “are we better now than before”?. Right now I cannot say yes. I operate a business in Michigan and right now Michigan is a business “death zone”. Our politicians say they are pro-business while they slip in new state taxes that are so buried in bills no one knows they are there until you cannot do anything about them.

Realistically there isnt a politician alive, Dem or Rep, that has the people’s best interest in mind. I consider myself a Republican but would take anyone that shows promise. The “stail” DC lifers like McCain and Clinton will never protect our interests nor will they take the steps to reverse our problems. Thank goodness for Ronald Reagan back in the 80s or we would be a 3rd world country by now.

Can Obama do anything? Sure he sounds articulate and asks his followers to “dream”. I dont want a dream, I want help for business.

Anybody but a Clinton

Spoony — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:45:03 +0000

I know it’s been a while since my last post but this presidential campaign causes me to put fingers to keys and voice my opinion.

As we move through this primary season and the political rhetoric raises to higher and higher levels I cannot but consider what a disaster our process has become. Of course you have to ask yourself, “who in their right mind would want to be president?” and “does the process really give us the best candiates?” I think we will end up with not the right person to lead this country, but who we will “settle for” to take the position. The people that have the right ideas cannot get the funding to properly mount a campaign and the ones

Politically Off the Subject

Spoony — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:13:40 +0000

I would love to write about nothing but golf. But sometimes I see such idiocracy that I have not choice to comment. Maybe someday I will return to peace and quiet of golf blogging but for now, politics in America and the State of our Union are crazed.

I have always tried to keep track of politically activity. I get close but never too close. I watch but never too much. Ask me at a dinner party what my views are and you will only get the topical version. And, I avoid the ignoramuses that want to get into a political views dicussion.

However, I have sat by and watch our “Once Great State of Michigan” legislators and our Canadian Governor try to hash out this budget for the past month or so. Oh they came to a concensus last night, Sunday September 30, 2007 but they allowed the State to shut down for 4 hours in the middle of the night.

What will come out of it? You know, the typical stuff: higher taxes, more funding cuts, fewer state programs, less for those that need it. You know, the same old, same old.

What bothers me the most though throughout all this mess has been the lack of out cry from the “peeps”. I have seen more uproar over a school bond issue that would cost residents less than $1.00 a year and bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to help a fledgeling district educate their children than I have over this most recent budget battle.

Where is the out cry of unfairness? Where are the masses joining together to stop the corruption in Lansing or Washington DC? We set back and bitch and complain and whine about how unfair everything is and yet we set back and let our Legislators hammer us with more income and sales tax? Where are all

Who had more competition? Tiger or Jack?

Spoony — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:48:49 +0000

Maybe it is because Tiger is so good or maybe it is because during Jack’s era all those players are now legends. I think today golf is even more popular than it was in Jack’s time. Sure people played but with the excitement over Tiger, more and more kids are playing and there does seem to be a larger talent pool and they seem to be younger and younger.

Jack played against the likes of Arnold, Lee, Gary and many others that are today legends in golf. However, I dont think the talent was as broad. Jack pretty much knew tournament to tournament where his competition was and for the most part knew what to expect. It seems that every “Tom, Dick and Harry” is playing today and some of them are very good players and at any given time, on a good day, could beat Tiger if he is off.

In my opinion both men are and were great golfers, but the edge I would have to give to Tiger and he has no one to blame but himself. He has single-handedly excited kids all over the world to take up golf and now they are showing up on the course to play him. Kudos to Tiger and I am sure he welcomes the challenge.

Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus

Spoony — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:59:08 +0000

Ya, Ya, I know, it’s been a while. Where have I been? Enjoying my short but sweet summer up here in Michigan. You realize summer is only 3 days long up here and I need to enjoy it while I can. But I am back and ready to throw caution to the wind.

It’s time to talk serious golf stuff. Everywhere I turn it is Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus and how they compare. I think this makes for better reading than Barry Bonds, steroids and the

Products to add

Spoony — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:11:18 +0000

I have long contemplated whether I should add golf clubs, drivers and putters to my inventory on my site. Since 2001 I have tried to stay away from such products just because of the shear difficulty associated with the buying and selling online. In my mind clubs should be fitted to every golfer however I know that is not always the case. My problem is that I am 6′5″ tall and for me to just buy something online without the retailer getting my proper measurement is a waist of my time and money. I guess I will continue to struggle with this part of my business. I would however consider selling specialty putters or even drivers

Buying a Boat

Spoony — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:49:41 +0000

I know, this really doesnt have anything to do with golf but it does piss me off. Long story short, my marina here in michigan, grand haven michigan to be exact, to be even more exact it was Grand Isle marina, sank

Back from South Carolina

Spoony — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:46:38 +0000

Sorry for not keeping up on my blog. Took a week and went to South Carolina. I know, SC in July? Let me tell you, what a beautiful state. We spent 3 days in Charleston and watched as many as 10 separate fireworks displays simultaneously from our Embassy Suites 9th floor suite. Schweet! We toured the historic district, the ocean walk and much more. Mt. Pleasant is an amazing area as are other areas like Daniel Island. We also checked out Summerville and liked that as well. Out away from the hustle and bustle of Charleston. Warning though, that paper mill at North Charleston stinks to high heaven.

The rest of the week we spent in Myrtle Beach. Been there before but love it just the same. Believe it or not we did not golf. Just enjoyed the ocean and some of the nightlife.

All in all SC was a blast and would recommend it to anyone anytime during the year.

Spoony

Checking out other golf blogs

Spoony — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:24:50 +0000

Since blogging is still relatively new to me and I have much to learn I thought I would spend a little time checking other golf oriented blogs. I put together a list of blogs that I thought were worth checking into.

Check out The Golf Girl