Desk cleaning leads to drive down memory lane

I was not looking forward to the task. Clearing out your desk is not a pleasant chore. It’s the fall version of spring cleaning.

On a positive note, I uncovered a bunch of the past years’ clips, articles and press releases that overwhelmed my inbox, mentally and electronically. Some brought back chuckles, some head scratchers, and a few were entertaining. Take a look.

A page torn out of “ESPN the Magazine” sits on top of the inbox heap. Seems Dick Falenski loves golf balls. He also lives on a golf course and has accumulated a small collection of stray golf balls. One day, he meets a guy who also has a collection. Two hours later, Dick has purchased that collection. Twelve years later, he now has more than 46,000 golf balls from around the globe. Dick must have a very understanding wife and a great retirement investment.

One of the great hassles is lugging your golf clubs back and forth on a plane. Voila. Earlier this year, I received an email blast about Lugless. Lugless is a door-to-door shipping business that will send your golf clubs to the destination hotel and golf course for you. Founder Brian Altomare appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” to pitch his startup business. He was all but laughed off the show by the experts. Brian’s take on the experience? “Sales have doubled to over $400,000,” he says. “Those experts never had to lug anything anywhere.” Enough said. Check out lugless.com.

I would never consider gambling on the course. But people do. About.com/sports reports on the 10 most popular on-course game wagers. First, why do people gamble on course? No. 1 is the feeling of playing for something. Next, it makes the game more enjoyable and interesting. Last, it keeps the chronic rule breaker’s score more accurate. The No. 1 golf gambling game? Nope, not the skins game, but the age old $2 Nassau.

Are you the type of golfer who always has to have the latest most technically advanced clubs, the most advertised clubs and the most expensive clubs? I have the answer for you. Golfredefined.com is the first site to give golfers the opportunity to select, test and swap the best drivers in the world. For an affordable monthly membership fee, golfers can order the hottest drivers as soon as they come to market. Serious golfers will tell you testing a new club is the best way to experience its feel. The website does acknowledge, however, that “it’s the Netflix of golf clubs.” Not a bad thing, I think.

Let’s not forget about putters. Leethomasputters.com offers a collection of mallet-type putters from rare, exotic and historical woods. Choose from the Stonewall Jackson, the Civil War, the Ulysses S. Grant or the Monticello putters. All are priced at $1,750. Don’t forget the customized grips. Grip Master Grips come in Montana cow, kangaroo skin, water snake, ostrich leg, tejus lizard and deer skin. They’re priced at $99. So much for the basic blade putter and the $4 synthetic rubber grips.

Shame on me. I have grossly underestimated the importance of a golf towel. BrightSpot LLC has introduced the Spotless Swing Golf Towel. It’s currently being used by 30 professionals on the PGA and Champions tours. And the towels are in the bags of recent Masters and U.S. Open winners. Combined, these towels have won 14 PGA titles, 30 Champions Tour titles and four majors on the Senior Circuit. Not to be a wet rag, but I use my towels to clean up the beer I spill.

Well, the desk is cleared out. I look forward to a new year of press releases, email blasts and innovative product introductions.

Oh, one last announcement just came in. Remember Reflection Bay Golf Course out in Lake Las Vegas? It’s being brought back to life and will reopen soon. Stay tuned for more info.

John Asay is a longtime golfer and local freelance writer. Contact him at jasay@reviewjournal.com.