Jimmy is Playing with his Wii

Fun video from Jimmy Fallon's show playing the new (and amazing) Tiger Woods 10 on the Wii. I promise, my review is coming soon!

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Golf is Hard TV - Episode 22 - World Golf Tour

Yes, I skipped an episode number in order to get that Charles Barkley name that swing episode out first... I didn't have time to re-render the titles so I just let it fly... in any case - back to our Golf Social Networking tour!

World Golf Tour (www.worldgolftour.com) is pretty incredible. It's the 3rd on my list of golf social networks and is Golf is Hard Episode 22! A tad light on more traditional "social networking features, WGT more than makes up for things with the most realistic virtual golf game in the world.

P.S. - You will notice that the video of me stutters a bit - WGT is a fairly intense application and can really slow your machine down - especially if you are playing while trying to record your screen!

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Your Video Game Stats?

Play video game golf? Think you are good? Personally, I play Tiger Woods 08 on the Wii and when I travel I tee it up on my Nintendo DS.

I was curious about my Wii stats so I looked them up this morning before teeing off at Cog Hill for a quick round. It turns out, I am pretty good at Video Game golf!

Low rounds:
The National: 63
Doral: 65
TPC Boston (I own this course): 58, 61

More goodness:
Rounds played 24
Average score 61.8
Driving average 285
Long drive 383
Longest putt 62

What's your best?

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World Golf Tour

Have you come across this amazing web/game site yet? From their web site (PR baloney...)

World Golf Tour^TM (www.wgt.com) (WGT) is the world's most authentic online golf experience. WGT's mission is to bring the golf lifestyle and game to everyone via the Web, making the sport accessible and affordable for all. The World Golf Tour experience allows golf enthusiasts to play the world's most challenging and exclusive courses through superior HD graphics on a PC or Mac platform – for free, no download or software needed. WGT's online community allows friends, families and golf fans to play a round of golf simultaneously, competing in tournaments for prizes, sharing scores, testing out the newest equipment and reading the latest news in the golfing world.

But the thing is... this site absolutely rocks! The game features individual play on high resolution courses and multi-player features. They also have tournaments and other great game features.

The game features several courses including Kiawah Island and Bali Hai. Golfers can play practice rounds or take the skill challenge. You can also tee it up in online tournaments that feature cash prizes.

Check out these awesome graphics:





Most importantly, this game is way addicting, seriously. My profile is "msirkin" - find me if you want, or leave a comment with your email address and I will invite you. Let's tee it up!

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Get Yer Facebook On...

While looking for a funny interview with Paul Goydos on Golf.com I saw that they launched a new Facebook golf game. Hours of addiction await you... go here to play. (Note: you have to have a Facebook account to play).

They have 3 games (long drive, closest to the pin and putting) and you can challenge your friends and enter tournaments. Silly, but fun.

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How Tiger Does It

Just finished reading a terrific book "How Tiger Does It" by Brad Kearns. It provides some great insights into Tiger's life and how he maintains his competitive edge. The book is much more interesting however, when read from a parent's point of view, I think.

The author talks a lot about kids and parenting (he must have his own!) and translating Tiger's winning ways into tools you can give your kids. The biggest takeway for me, across the board however is the idea that your child must be internally motivated (pure motivation), and that motivation must come from inside them.

My daughters both play sports (softball, basketball, soccer and golf) but never, ever practice on their own without being asked. Never. They do however, read, write and practice their instruments. My younger one draws pictures just because she feels like it. It's hard as a parent who knows that in order to get better, your kids have to practice - but the very act of pushing them to practice could be just the push your kid is looking for to quit. I'd prefer they keep playing casually instead of quitting because I've been an overbearing, winning obsessed parent.

The author points out "tips for raising a Tiger" towards the end of the book. I think they are worth listing here:

1. Nurture your child's pure motivation and natural potential (in other words, don't project!!)
2. Be a good caddie (help your child navigate, but let her take her own shots!)
3. Place high expectations on your child (no for results, but honest, sportsmanlike and maximum effort in competition - direct praise at effort and behavior, not at ability or results)
4. Apply the success formula (don't over do it, enforce expectations for effort and character and reduce emphasis on natural ability and winning)

The book is filled with great stories about Tiger's youth, his dad and mom's approach and full of quotes and bromides from the man himself. Well worth the time to read this book.

Full disclosure: I was not asked to do this review, I found the book in the library!

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Walking on Water

This is just simply.. too cool for words.. watch...

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Virtual Golfer

I'm sick for golf season to come back. I've been putting in my basement and messing around online with mygolfrecord.com and meez.com.

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Playstation Golf

Oh my god, I also suck at Playstation Golf. I couldn't sleep last night so I teed up Tiger Wood 2005 on the PS2. Playing in Tour Difficulty mode I totally stunk it up shooting 13 over at Harbor Town. I played in regular mode and shot 6 under and missed the cut. So sad, so pathetic.

Tour difficult mode removes the caddy tip - without which the game suddenly becomes very, very hard.

How pathetic. If I'm not even good at video game golf, what chance do I have in the real world?

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