Mike's Introduction

To learn more about me (Mike) check out the About Us section for a quick bio.

April 5, 2007

My inaugural blog! How exciting! Well, not really, but kind of - at least for me!

What to say, what to say? I guess I ought to establish my style and where I am coming from with most of what I will likely write in the future. Here is a snippet of who I am, and what to expect.

Let me start by saying that I generally dislike "hype," or at least disagree with it. Using "exaggerated publicity" as a definition, hype can ruin almost everything for me. If you want to ruin a good movie for me, tell me how great it is before I see it. If you want me to be over-critical of a golf course, just tell me that it is the best you have ever played . . . by far. If you want me to feel completely ripped off, tell me that some new golf ball is the best combination of feel and distance on the market. Etc., etc. On the other hand, if a product is uncommonly good enough to live up to the hype, there is nothing I like more. This happens very rarely, but when it does, it becomes legendary - if only in my own mind. A couple of great examples for me in the golf world are the Titleist ProV1 and Cypress Point Club. Both are "hype-proof." They are that good. They are the best there is, so it is tough to exaggerate them, and I guess at that point, it isn't hype anymore.

Here is my evaluation of few critical topics, relative to hype:

• The Super Bowl, 90% of the time . . . . hype.
• The Super Bowl commercials, 90% of the time . . . hype.
• The Bandon Dunes experience . . . . not hype.
• Every single golf infomercial . . . . hype.
• Wolf Lodge steak house near Coeur d'Alene Resort in Northern Idaho . . . . not hype.
• Every sport's all-star game and associated festivities . . . . hype.
• Every movie Tom Hanks has made since he decided he was a serious actor . . . . hype.
• The "wow factor" at Mesquite, Nevada's Wolf Creek Golf Course . . . . not hype.
• The stereotypical hot beverage cart chick . . . . hype.
• Every season, all episodes, and each new twist in the series Lost . . . . hype.
• Tony Roma's annual all-you-can-eat rib experience . . . . not hype.
• Guys-only, maximum-number-of-rounds golf trips that result in a website. . . . not hype.

Well, hopefully that gives you a feel for me, my interests, and my take on life. I look forward to your comments, your agreement or disagreement, and any attempts to point out those very few products in and out of the golf world that are "hype proof."