Polara Golf announces the names of the lucky winners of their Torrey Pines Golf Getaway Sweepstakes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     

For Information Contact:
Joe Wieczorek
 (847) 956-9090
E-mail: joe@themediagroupinc.com

CARLSBAD, CA. – Polara Golf (www.polaragolf.com) announced today that Elly & Jason Craig of Waukee, Iowa are the winners of the fabulous Polara Golf Getaway to the legendary Torrey Pines Golf Course in beautiful Southern California.

Elly and Jason, and two of their friends, will play two rounds of golf at the legendary Torrey Pines Golf Course and stay at the famous Torrey Pines Lodge.

The Polara Golf/Torrey Pines Golf Getaway Package includes:

• 3 nights stay for 4 people at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in LaJolla, CA.
• Two 18 Hole rounds of golf for 4 people at The Torrey Pines Golf Course.
• 16 dozen Polara Self-Correcting golf balls (4 dozen each of Ultimate Straight, Ultimate Straight XS, XD and XDS golf balls.)
• $500 each (to 4 people) to help cover the cost of airfare AND an additional $500 each to help cover the cost of food and drinks.
• Transportation for 4 people to and from the San Diego International Airport.

Sweepstakes Winner, Elly Craig, is a homemaker, and her husband Jason is an attorney. They live  in Waukee, Iowa with their sons, Nolan, Rex and Teddy. “Jason and I are beyond excited about winning the Torrey Pines trip,” said Elly. “With three young boys at home, this will be an amazing getaway for us.  We plan to go late fall, just when it starts getting cold in Iowa!"

Polara Golf has finally introduced what recreational golfers all over the world have been looking for - a quick fix for their game. While other golf ball manufacturers “claim” to improve accuracy or reduce your hook or slice, the unique dimple design of the Polara Self-Correcting Technology™ golf ball actually does it!

Now even recreational golfers can play from the fairway instead of the rough, the woods, or the next fairway over. Using Polara golf balls is guaranteed to improve your game, increase your accuracy and lower your golf score, which makes the game more fun.

Polara Golf is offering four different Self-Correcting golf balls for 2012 - the original Ultimate Straight™ and Ultimate Straight XS™ and the new advanced XD™ and XDS™. 

The original Ultimate Straight™ and Ultimate Straight XS™ golf balls are designed for golfers whose #1 priority is to control hooks or slices. The radical sidespin-reducing characteristics of the Ultimate Straight™ and Ultimate Straight XS™ correct wayward shots by up to 75%.  The new advanced XDTM and XDSTM golf balls correct hooks and slices up to 50% and have a higher, more traditional trajectory which enables golfers to achieve Extra Distance.  

“We gave the new XD™ and XDS™ golf balls a different lift and drag profile to make the balls fly higher, resulting in more carry distance,” said David Felker, PhD, and Head of Technology for Polara Golf.  “Now recreational golfers can choose the ball that is best suited for their game.”

Polara’s Self-Correcting golf balls are designed to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game by curing the golf slice and eliminating hooks, and are perfectly fine for the recreational golfer to use every day on the course.

All four Polara Golf balls are available at www.polaragolf.com and retail golf stores nationwide.

About Polara Golf
Polara Golf is committed to helping recreational golfers have a better day on the course. Polara Golf’s mission is “to make golf more fun”.  Polara Golf uses the best available technology to create demonstrably better products that are limited only by the Laws of Physics. All of the Polara golf balls are designed for use by recreational golfers who want to take advantage of technology improvements designed to help them enjoy the game more.

For more information about Polara Golf, visit www.polaragolf.com or call 866-556-3100.
Media members interested in field testing any of the Polara products for an editorial review should contact Joe Wieczorek joe@themediagroupinc.com of The Media Group at (847) 956-9090.

Guest Blogger: Using Non-Conforming Products to Speed Up Play

Christian Costa is our guest blogger for the week. He uses non-conforming products to help speed up play and because the most important part of golf is having fun.

I think that a person can use non-conforming products if that person will never play in a USGA sanctioned tournament.  The most important part of golf is having fun, so if a person wants to use a product that makes the game more fun, then they should use it.  Another major issue in golf is slow-play.  If more people used non-conforming products, it would definitely speed up the pace of play.  However, it is important that players don't use non-conforming products in friendly competitions (e.g. bets, wagers, etc.) unless the opponent has agreed with the use of such a product.  Considering the fact that the average golfer breaks the rules regularly (sometimes without being aware), I think that it is OK for a golfer to break the rules by using a non-conforming product.  Overall, I think that as long as a golfer is using non-conforming products for the fun and enjoyment of the game, and not for cheating in competition, then every golfer should use non-conforming products if they so desire. 

Christian Costa
Recreational Golfer

The Golf Course Fitting System Powered by Polara Golf

At Polara Golf, we love to see new products being made with golfers in mind. Our friends at The Golf Course Fitting System™ have made a Facebook application where users can now go to design a golf course Tee-To-Green Personality™ that they would like to play.

The Golf Course Fitting System™ was designed by a PGA Golf Professional with a love for golf course design and a vision to create a better way for golfers to search for golf courses on the Internet.

For years golfers have searched for golf courses on the Internet by parameters such as rates, location, architect or rankings. While all of these parameters are useful for a golf course search, they leave a massive void in valuable information about the golf course’s design and layout that impact the actual “playability” of the golf course. The Golf Course Fitting System™ fills this void by placing this valuable “playability” information at the heart of the search criteria. Now golfers can quickly find golf courses that not only “fit” their budgets but “fit” their playing preferences as well.

There is also a web based application at www.golfcoursefitting.com. This innovative new web application may completely revolutionize the way golfers search for golf courses on the Internet.

This golf ball can't be sliced. The USGA agrees.

Just how well do Polara anti-slice golf balls work? So well the governing body of golf—the USGA—has banned them. Twice.

The first time was in 1981. Four years and hundreds of thousands of sold balls later, the USGA tested the golf balls for themselves and concluded that Polara did, in fact, correct hooks and slices.

Then they promptly added a rule to exclude the “spherically symmetrical” balls that two non-golfing Polara scientists had invented. That’s right—Polara self-correcting golf balls work so well in correcting golf hooks and slices that USGA reacted to them with a rule change.

That rarely happens. Even less so by the hand of an innovative equipment company.

The second “ban” came a year ago. After settling with Polara Golf to avoid an unfavorable anti-trust jury verdict in the ‘80s, the USGA agreed to pay Polara a lot of money in exchange for pulling the golf ball from market for a few decades.

The small company agreed, then returned last year with an even better self-correcting golf ball.

The USGA’s official response: “The description of the (new) ball indicates that it would not conform to The Rules, just as the 1980s version did not conform to The Rules.”

The song remained the same: “This ball still can’t be sliced.”

In fairness, the all-new Polara was never submitted to USGA for approval. We knew beforehand it wouldn’t conform. After all, our innovative dimple pattern technology resulted in the original ban.

But while all Polara anti-slice golf balls are banned from tournament play, they’re certainly not illegal for the vast majority of golf rounds being played.

"For recreational play, our golf ball is perfectly legal, along with other recreational golfer practices like mulligans, gimme putts, winter rules and other shot concessions or scramble play formats,” says Polara president Dave Felker.

“Less than 10% of golfers worldwide have an established amateur handicap,” he adds. “Less than 5% of rounds played worldwide are USGA or R&A sanctioned tournament play. So Polara balls are course legal for 95% of recreational golfer rounds worldwide."

More important than being an acceptable way of playing recreational golf, however, Polara balls actually make the game more enjoyable by improving a golfer's overall game.

“Polara Ultimate Straight and Extra Distance balls are all about hitting more fairways off the tee,” Felker says. “They are for people who want to be embarrassed less, play faster, lose fewer balls, and enjoy it more.

“Had Polara been around in the days of Mark Twain, instead of saying, ‘Golf is a good walk spoiled,’ Twain might have exclaimed, ‘Golf is a lot more fun from the fairway.'"

To find out which self-correcting Polara golf ball is right for you, read this. Then visit our store for a trial pack or full set of balls best suited to your style of play.

Polara Golf to Participate in Loudmouth Skins Game & Charity Classic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                                             
Carlsbad, CA – Polara Golf announced today that their game changing XD Self-Correcting golf balls will be featured on the 17th Hole of the 3rd Annual Loudmouth Charity Classic golf event taking place on Monday, July 23rd at Thundering Waters Golf Course in Niagara Falls.

Every Hole of the Charity Classic will feature product promotions and samplings…it’s considered by participants to be “the most fun you will ever have on a golf course”. The event includes a Skins Game on Tuesday, July 24th in which one lucky foursome of amateurs will be selected to come back and compete against 2-time Major Winner, John Daly, for $1500.00 per Hole. Event proceeds go to support the John Hamilton Society of Hamilton, Burlington and Area as well as the Project S.H.A.R.E. food bank.

"Our Self-Correcting golf balls are perfect for these scramble events and charity outings", says David Felker, PhD and Head of Technology for Polara Golf.  "They remove some of the frustration from the game and allow even the occasional golfer who normally struggles from a severe hook or slice the chance to have fun and focus on the real reason they are there...to raise money for a great cause."

“This is the best scramble ball on the planet! If you want to hit more fairways, speed up play and have a great time, use the Polara Golf  Ball.” Donnie Hammond – PGA Tour Winner

For more information on the Loudmouth Skins Game and Charity Classic visit their website at www.loudmouthskinsgame.com

About Polara Golf
Over 85% of golfers struggle with a severe hook or slice and are looking for a “quick fix” for their game. Polara Golf has the answer, and it’s not magic, it’s physics. The unique dimple design of the Polara Self-Correcting golf ball transforms hooks and slices into longer, straighter shots…GUARANTEED!

Polara Golf is offering four different Self-Correcting golf balls for 2012 - the original Ultimate StraightTM and Ultimate Straight XSTM and the new advanced XDTM and XDSTM. These golf balls are designed to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game, and are perfectly fine for the recreational golfer to use every day on the course.

Polara Golf uses the best available technology to create demonstrably better products that are limited only by the Laws of Physics.

For more information about Polara Golf, visit www.polaragolf.com or call 866-556-3100.

Media members interested in field testing any of the Polara products for an editorial review should contact Joe Wieczorek joe@themediagroupinc.com of The Media Group at (847) 956-9090.

Polara: The golf ball for the rest of us (all 85% of you)

How dull and inconvenient would street basketball be if everyone insisted on playing NBA rules at all times? Fortunately for basketball, that doesn’t exist. And the game is better, more widely played, and more enjoyable because of it. The same is true of other sports.

The game of golf isn’t so lucky, however.

Many purist, elitist players, and top officials insist that all players should abide by professional standards at all times, even non tournament or recreational golfers. Either that or they turn a blind eye to customary rule infractions when it’s convenient for them. Think gimme putts, mulligans, scramble play, carrying more than 14 clubs, and failing to return to the tee after losing a driven ball—all of which are forbidden by the United States Golf Association.

Why the double standard? “Golf officials have failed to distinguish recreational players from tournament or professional ones,” says Dave Felker, president of Polara Golf. “As such, it’s expected that everyone plays by the same unbending rules. Not only is this unfair to recreational players, it’s unrealistic.”

What percentage of golfers, then, play solely for recreation? The number is staggering, says Felker, around 85%. According to recent estimates, just 15% of players keep a handicap or compete in USGA sanctioned tournaments—everything from club championships to The Masters. The other 85% play purely for fun or social reasons.

“When I was at Callaway Golf, we designed some of the best golf balls for some of the best professional and tournament players,” says Felker. “At Polara, we design the best golf ball for recreational players. Bottom line: We are just trying to help recreational golfers have more fun.”

But playing by USGA rules at all times isn’t just sucking some of the fun out of the game. It’s slowly killing it, Felker warns.

“More than 6% of the 16,000 courses in the country are in or near bankruptcy,” he says. “After a surge in players at the turn of the century, the number of participants is in sharp decline.

“So why not play a ball that makes the game more fun, quicker (because you don't spend as much time looking for it), less expensive (don't lose as many balls), and could bring new players to the game and bring former ones back?"

To validate his point, Felker notes other sports that have relaxed the rules in an effort to encourage more participants. Think oversized tennis rackets. Slow pitch softball. Non-conforming basketball rims. Pop Warner football. Even different engine classes in car racing. “All those changes were implemented to make those respective games more appealing to recreational participants,” Felker says.

Obviously, players need to abide by the rules when competing in a tournament. And there’s certainly value in taking lessons and aspiring to same standards used by professionals.

But only if that’s your goal, says Felker. “For the rest of us — all 85% of us — the goal is to have more fun. And playing golf from the fairway is a lot more fun than playing from the rough (or worse) out of bounds. Polara golf balls make that a reality for non tournament players.”

Guest Blogger: Using Non-Conforming Products Helps to Stay Competitive

Khurram Chohan is our guest blogger for the week. He is a recreational golfer and uses non-conforming products because it helps him perform to a better standard without the time commitment required to gain a single-digit handicap.

I'm an average golfer and love playing the game. I will never play in a USGA tournament as I play for the love of golf and not to compete at a tournament level. For me golf is a few hours away from the outside world and having some down time with my friends.

In order to make those few hours less frustrating it can help to use non conforming products such as golf balls and clubs. This helps me and my friend stay more competitive with each other and less frustration with hitting slices, hooks or shorter shots.

As we are all at a similar standard and not playing very regularly, the use of non-conforming products help us perform to a much better standard without the time commitment required to get down to a single figure handicap.

Generally speaking, if only for recreational use, non conforming products can help a player have a much more fulfilling and enjoyable golfing experience. This in turn helps in wanting to spend more time on the course and improving, as there is less negativity in your head when you are going to play your shot.

In my opinion there is no downside to non-conforming products when not in a tournament as they are there to help and assist in making our golfing experience more pleasurable.

Khurram Chohan
Recreational Golfer

Polara Golf Sponsors AMC Museum Foundation 8th Annual Golf Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Information Contact:
Joe Wieczorek
(847) 956-9090
E-mail: joe@themediagroupinc.com

Carlsbad, CA – Polara Golf announced today that their game changing XD Self-Correcting golf balls will take to the sky in support of Veteran Warbirds.

Nothing speaks to the heart of American ingenuity quite like aviation and through the hard work and dedication of more than 140 volunteers; the Air Mobility Command Museum is a testament to the spirit of aerospace. Home to more than 35 retired military aircrafts, and several educational exhibits, the AMC Museum has remained the only facility devoted to the history of refueling and airlift aviation.

On Thursday, July 12th, the AMC Museum Foundation will host their 8th Annual Golf Tournament at Jonathan’s Landing located in Magnolia, Delaware, in an effort to secure the rich history of the museum and ongoing dedication to the cause.

"The Air Mobility Command Museum has remained the number one free tourist attraction in the State of Delaware for the past several years. The proceeds from our golf tournament will help us fulfill the mission of the AMC Museum as an aviation and aerospace, education, scientific, cultural, historical, and inspirational facility for the general public and the Air Force community," said Phil White, Secretary of the AMC Museum Foundation Board.

Please join Polara Golf and the AMC Museum Foundation as we support the importance and value of aviation history to the surrounding community and future visitors. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. This 4-person scramble tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 12 noon. The cost, which includes golf with cart, buffet dinner, snacks/beverages, and possible hole-in-one prizes to include one of $10,000 from Ameriprise, is $85 per person, $75 for active duty Military Officers, and $55 for active duty Enlisted Personnel. Tournament prizes will be awarded at dinner following the round.

Polara Golf selects charity golf outings throughout the country with which to participate and support. As a proud sponsor of the 8th Annual AMC Museum Foundation Golf Tournament, Polara Golf will be donating two sleeves of their patented XD Self-Correcting golf balls to each player.

"Our Self-Correcting golf balls are perfect for these scramble events and charity outings", says David Felker, PhD and Head of Technology for Polara Golf. "They remove some of the frustration from the game and allow even the occasional golfer who normally struggles from a severe hook or slice the chance to have fun and focus on the real reason they are there...to raise money for a great cause."

“This is the best scramble ball on the planet! If you want to hit more fairways, speed up play and have a great time, use the Polara Golf Ball.” Donnie Hammond – PGA Tour Winner

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for individuals, groups and area businesses. For more information about the tournament, including registration and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.amcmuseum.org.

About Polara Golf
Over 85% of golfers struggle with a severe hook or slice and are looking for a “quick fix” for their game. Polara Golf has the answer, and it’s not magic, it’s physics. The unique dimple design of the Polara Self-Correcting golf ball transforms hooks and slices into longer, straighter shots…GUARANTEED!

Polara Golf is offering four different Self-Correcting golf balls for 2012 - the original Ultimate Straight^TM and Ultimate Straight XS^TM and the new advanced XD^TM and XDS^TM. These golf balls are designed to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game, and are perfectly fine for the recreational golfer to use every day on the course. Polara Golf uses the best available technology to create demonstrably better products that are limited only by the Laws of Physics.

For more information about Polara Golf, visit www.polaragolf.com or call 866-556-3100.

Guest Blogger: the issue of non-conforming equipment isn't an issue

Tom Hinrichs is our guest blogger for the week. He is a recreational golfer and he uses non-conforming equipment to make his golf game less frustrating....

I took up golf again three seasons ago- after not playing for over 20 years. I stopped playing mostly out of frustration- I couldn't play at a level that made the game enjoyable. I took up the game again mainly to be able to share the activity with my grown son and my two sons-in-law and to take part in golf-related activities with friends and business acquaintances.

My goal is very simple- to be able to keep up with the pace of play and play well enough to get around the course and enjoy the game and the companionship of golf. It's not much fun to be 200 yards out while the rest of your foursome is looking down the fairway from the green waiting for you to get to the dance floor.

My current handicap is 25. Modern technology has helped; I use Polara XS golf balls,  game-improvement irons, an ultra-light driver and play from the appropriate tees.  All of these things have helped me play well enough to enjoy the game.  Many sports use altered equipment and/or rules that allow participants to enjoy the game at appropriate skill-levels  (flag football, slow-break basketball, slow-pitch softball, which use a restricted flight ball, etc.)

I started using Polara's self correcting golf balls last year. They have definitely helped me to enjoy the game more, and to look forward to playing. It's a lot more fun playing from the fairway. For me, the issue of non-conforming equipment isn't an issue. As long as a piece of equipment is appropriate to the game- used for a golf related purpose, the question of using it or not is strictly up to the individual.

Tom Hinrichs
Recreational Golfer

How to beat your dad (or someone better than you) at golf

The phrase, “Golf can be learned in an afternoon,” has never been uttered. Not once. Ever. Unless you’re pro, the game really does require a lifetime to master.

Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to tip the scales in your favor while playing more experienced opponents. Some of them are obvious—more helpful reminders than anything. But others less so. Either way, both will have a positive effect on the outcome of your next round.

Behold, I give you the top 8 tips in beating your dad at golf, someone better, or anyone just hoping to play above themselves:

1. Look like a winner. It’s been scientifically proven that humans perform better when they dress up. This applies as much to office productivity as it does to shaving strokes off your golf game. Obviously, a spiffy new polo and slacks can only do so much to help. But if you look like a scrub, chances are you’ll play like one. So freshen up your wardrobe. Reach for moisture wicking fabric instead of cotton. And look good doing it.

2. Clean your gear. I got caught without a club towel a few years ago on a wet day. I did my best to clean my clubs with the fairway, but that never really works. The next time I played I forgot my towel a second time and my wedge grooves were filthy. Not only did this affect club performance, I let it mess with my head and had a bad day. So wipe down your clubs — all your gear really, including spikes—before playing. And never forget your towel.

3. Know your weaknesses. Playing against someone is not the time to overcome your weakness. That’s what practice is for. So stay away from your weakness while playing your old man or superior opponent. As a bonus, correct your weaknesses before hand by watching instructional videos.

4. Take pre-game practice shots. By that I mean arrive early for range and putting greens. A lot of recreational golfers do this. But a lot of them don’t, especially when it comes to greens practice. So one up your competition by arriving at least 30 minutes early to ease into your shots and putts. This really works in helping you settle into your swing before it counts.

5. Know the course. This can be done in one of two ways: 1) Agree to a course you play more often than your opponent. 2) Read online course reviews beforehand to identify tricky shots and proven strategies for each hole. Call it home court advantage. Like any effective wartime strategy, to use the “battleground” to your advantage, you need to know it better than your opponent does. This is especially true in golf.

6. Change the rules. By that I mean play match play instead of stroke. I’ve made a winning “career” of this tactic. Instead of playing the more traditional stroke scoring, award a point to the person who cups a given hole in the fewest amount of strokes. Person with the most points after nine or 18 wins—not the person with the fewest total strokes. Not only does match play encourage more aggressive and exhilarating shots, hitting 12+ on a hole will no longer ruin your mental game like it would before, since the strokes won’t roll over. Obviously, a superior opponent can and probably will continue to count strokes, but they’ll still feel defeated if you can pull off the match play upset. I speak from experience.

7. Play a Polara golf ball. People perform better when they’re having fun. And having played Polara balls for over a year, I can confidently say as a non-tournament player that golf is a lot more fun now. My longtime golf partner, who also shares my affinity for recreational golf, also made the switch. Granted, letting your opponent in on the secret minimizes the advantage of the ball. And no, I don’t endorse playing Polara’s self correcting golf ball behind someone’s back, at least for more than a couple of holes without telling them (wink, wink). But playing a Polara ball is a sure-fire way of reducing golf-induced stress, which affects even the best of them, leaving your free to play better than you otherwise would have.

8. Win the mental game. The best competitors use their mouth to gain an advantage. You should do the same when the occasion warrants. Obviously you don’t want to be annoying. But things like downplaying a brilliant shot you just made can rub your opponent the wrong way. Once upset, they usually play worse. Another tip from a Polara Facebook friend added this: “Right before they putt, ask if they breathe in or out while putting. That’s all they’ll be thinking about after that.” In short, mind games work. Just remember to keep your cool when your opponent plays them on you.