YOUR #1 GUIDE FOR SO. CAL COMIC CONVENTION UPDATES AND REVIEWS, COMIC BOOK NEWS & RUMORS, GOLF COURSE AND EQUIPMENT INSIGHTS, TECH & MORE!
Comments: Mr. Monster received late today the brand new Never Compromise GM2 Exchange 3 putter and will be hosting a review of it soon. This will either be the main or back-up putter to my TaylorMade Monza Roza putter.
The Never Compromise GM2 Exchange 3 I received is the 35″ version and feels pretty good out of the box, the Monsa Roza I have felt a bit short even though it was 35″ as well but due to the drastic curve of the shaft near the mallet head made it feel shorter.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Jaunting to the much publicized Crystal Cove Beach located in Newport Beach, CA at the start of the Summer Rush on July 1st, Sunday was an experience.
Originally a beach home local, a couple years ago the State decided to reclaim the beachfront property from local residents who lived in the adjoining cottages along Crystal Cove. After much legal wrangling from residents trying to stay, the State won and converted the cottages to rental units. Situated along Pacific Coast Highway in between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, this area is now popular with nearby residents and tourist trying to secure the handful of cottages as a vacation spot.
Usually renting out for a maximum of 5-days, the cottages start at approximately $179 per night. What you get is a throwback to the look of the 40s with almost art deco style. You will find no t.v.s, dvds, clocks or radios in the rooms, this is a vacation remember. The only hint of modern necessities would be a microwave hidden behind some cloth from prying eyes. I’ve read about this location many times in the last few months, so interest is continually peaking. Bookings should be placed almost six months in advance if you want to secure a place for your trip though some available rooms do pop-up from cancellations from time to time.
We ventured to Crystal Cove to initially have breakfast at the Beachcomber Restaurant right across from the cottages. This is the only nearby restaurant from the cottages, so it’s usually packed and prepare for a wait in line. We got to the restaurant at about 9a.m. and were able to get a seat right away since there was an opening inside. If you would like a seat on the deck, prepare to wait for the beach view. Food was good with breakfast options consisting of omelets or pancakes/French toast. I also ordered a bloody mary on the side. Breakfast for 3 rounded about $45 with tip and you get free validation (a good thing after spending more than $10 since just parking across the street is a whopping $10 for a public beach).
Most beach goers play around the entrance to the beach near the cottages, but walk 5 minutes in either direction to the coast and the traffic of people open up. There are a few good protruding rocks to walk along to view small crabs and hermit crabs, bring some appropriate sandals so you don’t hurt your bare feet. Unfortunately there was no breeze the day we went so our kites stayed packed. We really enjoyed the beach and after only going to the locale for breakfast came back later in the afternoon to spend a few hours playing in the sun and sand and bringing proper beach wear. Apart from the $10 parking fee, this is a great place to spend the summer days.
Score: 4 out of 5
Comments: Callaway’s entry to the 460cc driver market with the club that started the over-sized hype with a tendency for use by higher-handicappers as the target market than compared to the FT-5 or X drivers.
Pros: Great red, white, silver color scheme. Stands out in the driver market comprised of black, silver, gray colors and a non-gaudy red when compared to the Burner (yuck).
Cons: For a driver supposedly for those looking for forgiveness, this driver yielded mediocre results for me. Compared to the FT-5s hooks, the Big Bertha 460 produced low flying slices. Unfortunately the look of the Big Bertha 460 can’t overcome the slice bias and lack of distance produced.
Overall: So-so club that will sell by name and looks alone but does not compare to distance or even forgiveness as many of the new drivers on the market today.
Score: 2.75 out of 5
Comments: This driver is supposed to be a ‘non-square’ equivalent of their new high MOI club, the Callaway FT-i with a bit more workability as the FT-i.
Pros: Nice look and doesn’t stray too much from the appearance of the FT-3 and targeted to the lower handicapped player looking for forgiveness on off-center hits.
Cons: Ballooning hits, the version I tried had the draw bias to it and the balls definitely went left…. far out left with low trajectory for me on a 10.5 degree club. Also had a slightly less aluminum bat sound to it than the Callaway FT-I, but still a wooden bat sound to it once hit. Not too pleasant.
Overall: For the price I would have thought this club to be more forgiving for what it is. Not as long or forgiving as the Sumo, Burner or HiBore XL drivers. Somewhat situated in the over hyped category as the Taylor Made Superquad and Nike Sumo2.
Score: 2.5 out of 5
Date Played: June 23, 2007
Time: 12:52 tee time in the afternoon
Number of players: 4
Driving range: Yes, one grass and two mat hitting areas
Putting green: Yes, two next to club house and one near the locker room area which may be for instructions only
Cost: $30
Course: Mesa Linda course, Par 72 Time to play course: 5.5 hours
Notes: The restrooms are located away from the pro shop/driving range and across at the dining area. The restrooms are to the back of the locker rooms. Also, though it says Country Club in the name, this i a public course, right in Costa Mesa near Adams & Harbor Blvd. off the 405 fwy.
Comments: We waited twenty minutes once our tee time came up for the group in front of us teed off, the course was slow on the Saturday morning. There were a group of women to play after us, and after waiting so long they gave up and went back to the pro shop to ask for a refund. This is the only course we have played so far with the wait so long at the tee. After 4 holes we thought we finally got space between us and other players, but at a long par 5 we got backed up again behind two groups. Ended up watching one of our guys feed trail mix to squirrels.
There was no check-in person at the first tee which should have helped with pace of play and the one time we did see a marshal, he was just driving around talking on his cell phone. We found out the delay was due to a tournament ahead of us, so the course did not time manage well since that group was also hosting a “Hole in one” challenge that caused them to bring out measuring tape on one of the holes. Out of the group I was playing in two said they would never play this course again, which is a shame since the cos was cheap ($30, cash only) and the layout was fine with trees situated along the course.
The rough sections were notoriously wicked since they were not cut well and many a balls were hit to them but lost since the overgrown grass would swallow them up easily. Fairways were green with no noticeable yellowed grass and some flowers planted along the cart paths. Sand bunkers were a plenty, but sand was compact with my 3 times in the sand I was able to get out in just one shot with a sand and iron used. Some of the bunkers were deeper than on the courses I played so it looked like when you see PGA pros sunk deep in them when we were playing.
Many of the courses were dog legged with few super-straight gains, so you either blasted through or over trees or brought out your 3 wood to work the ball around a turn. Greens were fast and with various bumps, I was the only person to manage a birdie on the entire 18. Once hole played to the right of the Harbor Avenue, and one of our big hitters hit one onto the street, hopefully no car was hit at this process.
Overall: A price for the course as reasonable for an mid-OC location, good fairways and tree locations. Course play and ranking were hampered by the overgrown grass and horrible waiting time. We play par 72s usually in 4.5 hours, this course broke all records and took us 5.5 hours and wasted the great weather with waiting and waiting.
Score: 3 out of 5 stars
Comments: A higher MOI than the previous generation of the original Nike Sasquatch.
Pros: Of the new drivers this one gave great feedback and with the proper swing I was able to belt out some consistent drivers about 10-15 yards more than my current driver. Also updated for the Sumo line is the much better designed head cover. The original Nike Sasquatch head cover was a plain sock cover which was so tight at the neck that trying to pull it up past the club head required Hulk-like strength and patience. The new head cover thankfully addresses the issue of the large head by having the top portion of the head cover split down the middle so you just slide the head in and the neck of the cover attaches to the shaft.
Cons: As you’ve probably read on the golf forums the main complaints about the Nike Sumo and Sumo2 is the aluminum bat sound on the hits. Though the Nike Sumo sounds less irritating than the Sumo2, the Sumo still has an odd “boing” sound to it that may irritate you and your playing partners after a while. If you don’t mind the banana-yellow design, the Sumo looks pretty standard though large looking for a 460cc driver.
Overall: While I really like the Sumo, the sound is distracting and is one of the only reasons that keep it from being my #1 driver pick.
Score: 3 out of 5
Comments: Iron set geared for the low handicapper.
Pros: The Nike CCI irons are a great looking set of clubs with nice gray and minimal tech look. A subdued design as compared to Nike’s previous Ignite, OSS, and Pro Combo lines.
Cons: Hit the irons and the shots ran all over the place. Felt like sprays left and right with a hard feel to the hits. I would have derived from the cavity-back type of design that these irons would have some forgiveness to them but I did not feel it at all.
Overall: If you’re looking to buy a set of Nike CCI irons since you like the brand (dig the shoes, warm-up suits, caps, etc.) then this set does have the cool appeal of Nike. But for use by every-day players and beginners, I’d have to say they are a difficult club to use.
Score: 2.5 out of 5
Comments: Geared toward the mid- to high-handicap player, this Nike Ignite iron set would likely be geared for my friends and I.
Pros: The Ignite irons launched the practice balls straight and high, but I felt the launch angle was a bit too high, the six iron was rocketing the balls in the air the same as my Top Flite 8- to 9-irons. The face angle and offset set my hits on a relatively straight angle and really worked well for me.
Cons: The negative I have to say on the set was the extreme mushy and muted feel to hits anywhere on the face. Hit it good or bad, the feel was the same, a resounding distant feel. I would prefer to feel a resounding “click” sound with a hit right off the center of the face. So if you would like to be able to feel the different hits of your club, the Ignite is not for you.
Overall: For the price, the Nike Ignites I’ve found them for around $400, the value is good. Great for beginners and the price isn’t going to gouge your wallet. Adhering to Nike’s bright colors such as their Sasquatch line, the irons come with a bright orange bar. For a set called “Ignite” I would have preferred a more reddish color.
Score: 3 out of 5
Comments: Titleist’s new D1 “triangle” driver showcasing the company’s high MOI club dedicated to the all-around golfer…supposedly.
Pros: It’s a Titleist brand, shape is more pleasing triangle than the block square clubs of their competitors. Nice simple design on the club head.
Cons: For a driver designed for the everyday player, this D1 club hit inconsistently for me and even worse when compared to the square drivers from other companies. The distance I got was marginally lower than my current driver and shots sprayed to the left. The sound also had a hollow aluminum bat sound to it usually noted to the Sumo2 and FT-i.
Overall: The D1 driver was a disappointment in my eyes for a Titleist driver that should have worked well for a high-handicapper like myself looking for straighter drives. For the high-price and quality and technology this club was to deliver, I was expecting more especially in the hitting sound and distance. I’ve still not seen anyone on the range or course with the Titleist D1. I am now curious to try last year’s version the 905 to see if I can hit that driver and hoping the face is not too square or open since it’s suppose to be a true “Players” club.
Score: 2 out of 5
Comments: Routinely described as the “Player’s” irons, I decided to give the 775 CB a try even though my last trip to my local Nevada Bob’s Golf Shop the sales person told me to stay away from the Titleist brand due to my 25 handicap. All forums I’ve read said the same thing discouraging beginners and high-handicappers from the Titleist brand, boy were they wrong.
Pros: the 775 CB is Titleist’s closet version of irons aimed at the mid-handicappers with it’s cavity back and offset head. Taking the six-iron in hand both myself and my friend busted the range balls high and straight down the range. I was impressed with the control I had with the irons both when I was fresh in hitting as well as when I came back to the Titleist tent tired, the hits maintained were straight and high. The feel of the hits were butter, meaning I could hit the irons anywhere and get a good responsive feel so I could change my hits if needed to get a better launch.
Cons: The price! As with most Titleist products, it’s hard to find a low priced set.
Overall: Great looking set with a nice red band in the higher lofted irons shown. Forget what others say, even if you’re new to golf try out this set since it feels and plays well. Be sure though that you have the dough to purchase this otherwise you’ll hate yourself for not being able to by this set after you demo the product.
Score: 4 out of 5
Monster of the Week 