Wet grips, forgotten wedges, towel-less when you need it most — just a few of the many lesser-pleasures of golf. Most of us average golfers don’t enjoy caddy service regularly, but the Putter Buddy ($19.95, towel included) makes for a good stand-in.
There’s not a lot to say about the design of the Putter Buddy, which is a good thing in this case, given that space tends to be limited in most golf bags. The subtle features it does highlight are all about form and function. The protective sleeve on the curved handle prevents wear and damage on club grips, while the o-ring at the tip of the handle provides convenient towel storage and access.
I shouldn’t have to tell you how it works either, but here it goes: Stick pointed end of the Putter Buddy into the ground, rest clubs safely inside curved handle, secure enough to hold a number of clubs. Easy peasy.
Putter Buddy also advertises itself as a training aid, something that took me a moment to figure out. Placing your wrist inside the the curved handle and gripping the Putter Buddy with your wedge or putter, take to the practice green and work on keeping your wrists from breaking for a more fluid stroke.
You may not have a caddy to help you with your reads, but it’s nice to have a buddy with you on the green.
Golf training aids come a dime-a-dozen — we’re all guilty of gifting a questionably-legitimate swing correcting gadget or, even worse, a laser guided putter attachment at least once. The myriad of “fix your slice forever” and “two putts or less” tools is far past the point of overwhelming, enough to make you say screw it to all of them (#ThreePutts4Life). But the Putt-A-Round isn’t as much a training aid as it is a discreet, stylish putting game built for those looking to swing the short stick inside (and possibly take a few strokes off your short game, if you’re into that sort of thing).
Consisting of a few simple, easy to assemble aluminum pieces, the Putt-A-Round is designed as a 360-degree target, standing at a little more than a foot off the ground — minimalism at its finest. The simplicity of the design may very well be what makes our favorite feature of the Putt-A-Round all the more striking, that being the customizable flags. Pre-printed flags are available, but unless you really want another American flag-printed golf accessory, go for the personal monogram option, or, better yet, submit a logo or design of your choice.
Though more can be said about the minimalistic design — like the brilliance of the angled plates that capture and hold on-target shots — it does have its downfalls when it comes to how the Putt-A-Round plays. The target is large enough to hold four golfballs snuggly, errant shots are off slamming into the walls or rolling under the furniture. When putting at the 360-degree target from only one angle, though, the shot is completely obstructed once a ball is in the plates’ grasp. It’s not a big deal to simply rotate the target a quarter turn before your next attempt, but if you’re using the Putt-A-Round as a training aid — trying to focus on addressing your ball and finding your line — a back-and-fourth to the target after each shot can get a little old. Captain obvious would say aim at the target from multiple angles, but not everyone has room in the office or apartment to make that happen — at least not without putting a few putter marks in the wall.
At address the Putt-A-Round looks like a big, inviting target — larger than the standard cup size — but get lazy with your line and you won’t have much luck. Spot-on putts payoff not only with a satisfying look at your ball set snug within the plates, but with an even more intoxicating ping noise.We can neither confirm nor deny this sound as being planned in the designed, but believe us, it’s as gratifying as the sound of a pured driver.
The Putt-A-Round has inherited a permanent spot on our at-home practice greens (living rooms and offices), and has easily become a go-to golf gift option for any occasion. Its compact, sleek design will fit in in any home, apartment, or office — even more so with a one-of-a-kind flag. We’ve intentionally waited to note the price of the Putt-A-Round until now, that’s because $29.97 — Games and Prize kits vary in price — is an afterthought for a training aid we’ll actually use more than once.
Editor’s note: CGB receives products direct from manufacturers for advertorial purposes. All reviews posted on this site are not associated with advertising agreements unless otherwise noted.
We weren’t expecting the kind of fire power that arrived at the CGB doorstep courtesy of Bomtech Golf. As of late, the company best known for “pulling the pin” in the driver game has been introducing a variety of clubs, including a full set of wedges your buddies won’t be able to keep their hands off of.
Unwrapping the 52-, 56- and 60-degree wedges — sadly, we didn’t make the short list for the company’s intriguing 72-degree — was nothing short of an “oh my God” moment, dulled only by the question of who in the CGB crew would get to claim the first hacks.
After 54 holes with the Grenade wedges in our arsenal, here are our notes:
Look: 4/5
A sleek, polished finish showcases the clubs’ forging lines with subtle brand logos. We’d like to see multiple finish options made available — brushed steel, matte black, etc. — but appreciate the simplicity of the design. At address, the club face is very inviting to the user, boosting green side confidence more so than other wedges, especially the 60-degree. The subtly is akin to the Callaway PM-Grind when comparing size, but with a more traditional head shape.
Feel: 4/5
Understand that feel is all user specific — some prefer a harder club face, as in this case. The feel and response is immediate with the Bombtech wedges, but the softer face contributes to a lack of spin generation inside 60 yards. Average players struggle to generate large amounts of spin to begin with, so we’ve come to expect a bit more “bite” from wedges marketed to weekend golfers. (Translation: We need all the spin generation help we can get.)
Forgiveness: 5/5
As mentioned before, it’s hard not to notice how large these club faces are — there’s a lot to love. The larger face enables flush contact in a variety of lies and makes bending full shots a breeze. (What’s better than seeing that kind of response inside of 130 yds?) The club angle seems steeper at address, promoting a more consistently square point-of-contact — a common struggle for most on touchy green side plays.
Overall: 4.5/5
First off, 3 forged clubs for $99!? ‘Nuff said. If you’re looking for a deal on some head turning, game changing wedges, your search is over. And if Bomtech ever delivers different finishing options — and maybe some shaft and grip upgrades, while we’re asking — and a $99 starting price, our arguably overpriced stock Vokey wedges are heading straight to EBay.
Bombtech Golf is a lot more than just a driver manufacturer, that much is very clear. The Grenade wedge set has proven to be a pleasant surprise, and earned a permanent place in the CGB bag. These clubs are definitely worth giving a shot if you’re wanting more bang for your buck, literally. Pull the pin.
Editor’s note: CGB receives products direct from manufacturers for advertorial purposes. All reviews posted on this site are not associated with advertising agreements unless otherwise noted.
There’s a reason why links is the oldest golf course design style, they got it right the first time. Depending on who you ask, the definition of a true links course may be up for debate — proximity to the ocean is a deal-breaker for some — but the most important characteristics of the design easily translate to many dry, desert-like landscapes. Colorado Springs (read: as land-locked as it gets) is home to a shining example of links-style design with Springs Ranch Golf Club, a true gem on the east side of town.
Springs Ranch (3525 Tutt Blvd, 719/573-4863, springsranchgolfclub.com) may be competing with two other golf courses located near the Powers corridor, Cherokee Ridge and Sand Creek, but its dedication to the natural landscape makes this course one of the most unique in town, now in the cleanup stages of a significant update. Native hazards are the greatest challenge players face, dominating the majority of the surrounding area. Pot bunkers are dotted throughout the layout set on top of the undulating dunes of the high desert. The scant amount of trees pose little threat and the sole water hazard is all but an afterthought.
“Undulations” may sound like a red flag, but the movement of the course isn’t nearly as drastic as some others we’ve played. Your worries should be focused on the natural hazards and pot bunkers. Overall, Springs Ranch is a very playable course; invitingly wide and with a number of scoring opportunities, yet still more challenging than it looks.
The recent course construction and severe storms — followed by an extreme hail storm so bad it prompted local course closures — left the course in a lot rougher shape it would be otherwise when we found it. The bunkers were left with a layer of gravel and sediment after a series of heavy storms — raking made them even worse — and a number of the greens were sporting significant hail damage.
The new layout can be a bit confusing as you make your way to no. 11. Even though the new layout is marked somewhat sufficiently, noticing a foursome on 18 teeing off over the cart path you’re traveling on is pretty unnerving. No. 16 and 18, the two other newly-updated holes, flow pretty easily.
Sand Creek snakes its way throughout Springs Ranch and is the most dominating feature of the no.12 par 4. Easily one of the most prominent hazards on the course, the deep ravine defends the green once players reach the end of the left-to-right curving fairway. Big hitters have a chance to carry the creek, but only if they’re really big hitters. A layup is the safest play for a look at GIR.
Home to the course reservoir, no.9 is another standout. The water becomes a big factor on the approach to the green depending on the placement of the pin — easy breezy if the flag is on the left of the green, more troublesome on the right. Playing too far right from the tee will cause you some trouble from the get-got. The conservative plays are all left-of-center, maintaining a clear path to the green regardless of pin placement. Fly the green and you’ll be looking at another awkward lie to get up and down from the hill on the back side.
Really, Springs Ranch isn’t about signature holes as much as it is a seamless, natural flow. The fluidity of the holes adds emphasis to its surroundings, allowing players to take in the expansive views of the front range and the features of the high desert, and really focus on the scoring opportunities at hand. Weekday course rates range from $16 (9 holes, walking) to $40 (18, with a cart) during peak season, $18 (9 holes, walking) to $45 (18, with a cart) on weekends. Twilight specials are offered as well, $12 for all you can play starting two hours before sunset (no carts) but you can find much better deals in the area.
Whether you’re a links traditionalist or simply a fan of classic course play, you’ll appreciate Springs Ranch’s ode to the origins of course design. In a place like Colorado, known for our mountains more than anything else, it’s refreshing to find a course unafraid to fully embrace a different kind of high altitude landscape, and add to the diversity of Colorado golf.
Calling it a small town is a borderline understatement when describing Fowler, Colorado. About 40 miles southeast of Pueblo, the town of no more than 2,000 is home to Cottonwood Links Golf Course (1 Cottonwood Ln., Fowler, 719/263-4500, see Facebook page), literally on the other side of the railroad tracks.
Cottonwood is the definition of good ol’ boys golf; rural charm with unabashed dedication to the locals. There are no frills on this 9-hole layout. If you’re looking for dress codes, caddie service and manicured surroundings, this is not the course for you. But if you’re looking for a laid-back challenge with a true mom-and-pop feel in a nondescript part of the state, you may not find any better. You’ll get the idea once you step into the clubhouse, one large room setup to seat dozens and a single bathroom accessed via the door to the cartbarn in the back of the building. If that doesn’t do it for you try the driving range, no more than 100- to 150-yards deep, where you can warm up your woods only if you’re shagging your own balls from the trees (and there’s no one on the hole behind the them). Still not convinced? How about BYOC, Bring Your Own Cart, as there’s no guarantee they’ll have a loaner for you.
(Editor’s note: The visits on which this writing is based occurred during a large scramble tournament. The course did have enough carts for all players, though, it’s unclear how many were loaned to the event by private owners.)
Ready… Set… Scramble! Convey readying for the second day of the Gary Sharp Invitational in Fowler, CO.
Though billed as a links course, Cottonwood feels more parkland than anything else — there are plenty of trees in and around the areas of play, and the fairways are in close proximity to each other in the heart of the course with a fair share of natural hazards. (Side bar: Bring bug spray. Trust us, you don’t want to be without and end up the butt of the locals’ jokes when the mosquitos are swarming.)
A wide, inviting par 5 opens the round at no.1, running parallel the road leading to the clubhouse. Long hitters can easily reach in two as the green is set just slightly left of the tee box with no real hazards defending your approach. Shorter hitters should stay center to right-of-center from the tee to follow the fairway all the way to the green. More scoring chances follow at the no.2 par 3 — a sloped green trickier than its par 3 counterpart found at no.4 — as well as the the 520-yard no.5, another, mostly hazard-less, par 5. Make the most of them.
It’s not that the previously noted holes are your only chances at sub-par scores, but its tough to end your round with a long stretch of par 4s, capped by a notable finishing hole sporting a water hazard and blind, elevated green. No. 9 must be considered the toughest hole on the course, the tee boxes placed just so everything that you need to worry about is out of sight. View of the water is guarded by tall natural grasses that blend in with expanse of O.B. bordering the right side of the hole that also blocks the view of the flag. Most hitters will want to take a long iron to the center or left-of-center to layup as close to the water as possible, another long to mid iron should see you to the green in regulation.
Looking back towards the no.7 tee box from the green (hidden by a dog leg). Play right from the tee and you’ll have to fly these large trees to reach the green.
With small town charm comes small town prices, consider them one and the same. 9-holes run $16 for non-members; 18-holes for $22; cart fees range from $12 to $16. Even though there are probably very few reason why you’d ever find yourself in Fowler, Colorado, the rural charm of Cottonwood Links is a good reason to stay a little longer if you do.
Golf training aids come a dime-a-dozen — we’re all guilty of gifting a questionably-legitimate swing correcting gadget or, even worse, a laser guided putter attachment at least once. The myriad of “fix your slice forever” and “two putts or less” tools is far past the point of overwhelming, enough to make you say screw it to all of them (#ThreePutts4Life). But the 
