Kendra Vallone

from “Necessity is the Mother of Invention — Especially in the Golf World”

By WISP Ediquete Ambassador Kendra Vallone

“Part of being an entrepreneur is recognizing a need for something in a market place. If you’re a golfer constantly in the golf world, chances are your discovery will be something that changes the game. There are millions of products out there ranging from swing cures (like the TourStriker) to products that hold your cigars on the course—no doubt invented by someone who was tired of setting his (or her) cigar on the grass…Well, how about walking up to a green and seeing sand or debris all over your putting surface? Not only does it take away from the serene aesthetics of the course but it’s in your line (and the group ahead of you is responsible…along with not raking their bunkers or fixing their ball marks—RUDE).

This problem caused enough frustration for Eben Dobson to do something about it…”

(Curious about the solution? Then read the full article here — and let us know what you think about the WISP!)

Tiger Woods/Source: PGA

Let’s be honest: there are a few golfers out there who view etiquette and personal behavior as being separate from their golf skills. As long as you can hit a drive past 250 yards and stay on the green, they figure, the rest of golf really doesn’t matter.

But these types of golfers don’t live in a vacuum, and the rules of life apply to them just as they apply to anyone else. Consider the story of Tiger Woods, formerly the world’s long-standing number one golfer who has lost his top slot in the wake of a persistent injury (and a very public marriage scandal). There’s no doubt that Tiger Woods remains one of the most skilled and talented golfers in the world – and perhaps ever. But golf is not played in a vacuum. The mental aspects of golf far outweigh the physical, to the point where even golfers of Woods’ caliber are not immune to the effects of a personal life gone awry.

Woods has made headlines (and been a topic on our blog) a lot in the past few months –- but consider why: once Woods’ personal life began to overshadow his golf skills, media coverage of his performance went by the wayside…and focused front and center on his behavior instead.

Golf is Not Played in a Vacuum

As we stated, golfers don’t live in a vacuum. This is especially true for professional golfers like Woods, whose personal lives are held up to close scrutiny and shared all around the world. But even amateur golfers need to realize that performance is not only about what happens between the club and the ball, but what happens between their ears – and how they relate to fellow players on the green.

This is especially true for people who don’t consider golf etiquette a necessary part of the game. They’d prefer to leave sand on the green for the next party to clean up. They don’t rake up their bad shots, don’t repair their divots, and don’t really care enough to stay quiet when other people are trying to swing.

We find that it’s much easier to concentrate on building your skills when etiquette is a habit – a routine that you don’t even have to think about. Replacing divots and wisping sand from the putting surface should be second nature – and with the right tools, any golfer can bring better playability, aesthetic beauty and maintenance to every single shot, every time they play.

Welcome to the next generation in golf etiquette

The WISP golf tool is a great way to make sure etiquette is an easy and efficient staple of your golf routine – so easy, in fact, that you barely have to think about it. Simply leave the green the way you found it by wisping sand into the putting surface after tracking it onto the green or displacing it after a bunker shot.

Talk to your course superintendent today, and request a WISP demonstration to see how this innovative tool works to solve the problem of sand on the putting green.

Most of us would like to improve our golf game – and unfortunately, this desire sometimes shows through in the form of poor etiquette or anger on the course. However, innovative golf products can sometimes give disgruntled golfers the outlet they need for added practice – and even teach us a thing or two about better etiquette on the green.

A new iPad 2 app known as Tiger Woods: My Swing HD recently hit the market; and now, for about  $9.99, you can hold your tablet’s camera up to a golfer’s swing and let the program analyze what’s going on with his or her form. Then, you can even watch lessons and demonstrations from the iconic golfer himself as he shows you how to improve your form.

It’s not a magic pill for a better golf game, of course – but technology certainly makes things easier on anyone who’s looking to improve their skills on the links. While there is no substitution for good, old-fashioned practice and dedication, tools like Tiger Woods: My Swing HD can help struggling golfers master essentials of the game – even on days when he or she can’t make it to the course.

Of course, this applies to every aspect of golf – not just one’s skill. Proper etiquette out on the golf course is vitally important, and it needs to be practiced just like a swing needs to be practiced. No “set” of basic golf skills can be considered complete without the addition of player courtesy and good behavior on the green: and now, just as there is technology to help you practice your shot, there is also technology to help you practice your etiquette.

The WISP golf tool is the latest innovation in playability, aesthetic beauty and maintenance: with its simple, intuitive design, the WISP allows players to sift sand into the putting surface and leave the green better than they found it. To learn more, and brush up on your own etiquette IQ, watch the demonstration video below:

Let’s face it: these days, there’s a serious shortage of proper etiquette on the golf course. We don’t only see it on the professional level when competitors like Tiger Woods or Sergio Garcia vent their frustrations on the green; it’s something that many of us see on our local golf courses on a regular basis as well.

But luckily, there’s evidence that the future of golf etiquette just may be a little brighter than the present. That’s partially due to the presence of the TGA Premier Junior Golf Program, a recreational program for kids aged 3 to 13. Originally instated as an after-school program that introduces kids to the entire sport of golf, the TGA program was listed as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s top 10 best franchise deals.

But aside from the program introducing kids to golf as a whole, an important piece of the educational puzzle is teaching kids about the importance of good golf etiquette. Training includes emphasis on the fundamentals of technical golf skills, of course — but also incorporates a focus on the kinds of mental and physical tools kids will need to grow into courteous, accomplished adult golfers.

Another benefit to the program’s emphasis on good golf etiquette is that the fundamentals of courteous behavior are reinforced from a young age. Instead of a child simply learning how to play golf without knowing how to really function on a golf course filled with other people, the TGA program allows young golfers to experience the full spectrum of the game from the outset.

Reinforcing Good Etiquette

Here at Ediquete LLC, we believe that good etiquette is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of golf. Golf is supposed to be a relaxing, fun experience – well, as fun as it can be when you’re having a bad day, of course. But even the frustrations of golf’s considerable challenges shouldn’t lead to a bad time, or to bad behavior on the green. In order to help reinforce the importance of everyday golf etiquette, we created the WISP golf tool – a simple, streamlined product for clearing sand from the putting surface that poses an effective solution to a common problem.

The WISP is a golf etiquette tool built on the premise that golf etiquette doesn’t have to be so hard – that technology can make tidying up the course for other golfers a simple, even pleasurable breeze. It certainly isn’t rocket science to figure out just how easy golf etiquette is when using something like the WISP, which rakes away sand from a golf green with the ease of brushing your hair.

Combined with a cultural emphasis on good etiquette – which we’re seeing improve because of the presence of programs like TGA – tools like the WISP can make golfing easier, faster, more pleasurable and better for all players on the course. Watch the video demonstration below, and see just how simple it can be to wisp your way to a better game.