The SkyCaddie SGX is the perfect marriage of technology and golf.  Although not legal in tournament play, this handy little device can take a casual round of golf to the next level.  The SkyCaddie uses the same technology as GPS devices.  The data for about 30,000 courses is preloaded, allowing to determine various distances on the green without having to do time-consuming calculations. 

The SkyCaddie SGX is the size of a cell phone and can be easily clipped onto a belt or golf bag.   A bright color display makes the SkyCaddie easy to read in full sunlight.  Read more about it on the Sky Golf website.

Ask any greenskeeper about the most expensive and time consuming aspects of golf course management and you’re likely to hear that it’s mowing the grass.  Now that robotic vacuum cleaners and robotic lawn mowers have become an accepted part of home maintenance, it’s hardly a surprise that a company called Precise Path has developed a robotic mower for golf courses. 

The RG3 is a versatile robot that can also remove snow and spray for pests.  According to the Precise Path blog, a typical golf course could save over $47,000 in labor costs with the RG3 (though unfortunately it will probably put someone out of a job). 

Read more about the RG3 robotic greens mower on the Precise Path website.  You can see it in action in this YouTube video.

In July of 2010, an Arizona golfer was hit by lightning at Fred Enke Golf Course in Tucson.  The golfer subsequently died of his injuries, a sad reminder of the vulnerability of golfers to unpredictable lightning strikes.  According to the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI), 5% of all deaths and injuries from lightning that occur each year take place on golf courses. 

The NLSI recommends suspending all activities on a golf course when lightning is determined to be 6 miles away.  Golfers should move to the closest permanent building or completely enclosed metal vehicle.  Trees should be avoided since they attract lightning strikes.

The NLSI website explains how to determine the distance of lightning and provides detailed safety instructions for golfers.

The September issue of Golf Magazine has published a ranked list of the top Arizona golf courses for 2010.  The list was compiled by a senior editor named Joe Passov (nicknamed Travelin’ Joe) who is a resident of Arizona.  Joe has extensive knowledge about Arizona golf.

Here’s Golf Magazine’s Top 10 list of  the best golf courses in Arizona.  See the entire list on Golf.com.

1. Troon North (Pinnacle), Scottsdale
2. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla), Fort McDowell
3. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), Fort McDowell
4. Troon North (Monument), Scottsdale
5. Grayhawk (Talon), Scottsdale
6. Boulders (South), Carefree
7. Gold Canyon (Dinosaur Mountain), Gold Canyon
8. Ventana Canyon (Mountain), Tucson
9. Grayhawk (Raptor), Scottsdale
10. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium), Scottsdale

What happens when two hard objects come in contact, and one has just been shot out of cannon?  This YouTube video documents the outcome of an encounter between a champagne bottle and a speeding golf ball.  If you like that, then you’ll probably want to see another YouTube Video, this time of golf ball vs. lava lamp.   Which do you thing will be more explosive?  (You may be surprised at the answer.)

Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian reservation, the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale features a pair of 36-hole golf courses (North and South) along with a world-class resort, spa and casino. The courses, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, are known for numerous bunkers and changes in elevation.  Both courses are lined with more than 9000 trees and offer stunning mountain views. Despite being located near the heat of Scottsdale, the atmosphere is calm and tranquil.

The Talking Stick Golf Club features a 26,000 foot clubhouse. The North and South courses are consistently ranked among the top courses in Arizona. For more information, visit the Talking Stick website.

One Show Low golf course that we haven’t mentioned yet on this blog is the Juniper Ridge Golf Course.  This private 18-hole, executive-style course is part of the Juniper Ridge RV Resort.  This is a Cayman golf course, which means that if has shorter distances between holes.  It also uses a lighter golf ball (the Cayman ball) that’s easier for beginning golfers to get airborne.  Read more about Cayman golf here.

Juniper Ridge RV Resort is a gated community located in the White Mountains of Arizona at an elevation of 6100 feet.  The Resort consists of 529 privately-owned RV lots and park model homes, some of which are available for short and long-term rental.  The Resort offers a wide range of amenities and activities in addition to Cayman golf.

Jason Zuback (aks Jason Golfzilla) may not be as famous Tiger Woods or other pro golfers, but he holds the distinction of being the 5-time World Long Drive Champion. See Jason in action in this YouTube video where he breaks the world record for the fastest moving ball in sports:

You can also view other amazing videos on Jason Zuback’s website.

The Show Low Farmers Market and Art Fair will be adding some excitement to the streets of Show Low every Saturday from May 15 to October 16. More than 60 booths will be offering a wide variety of locally produced food and craft items. Live entertainment makes this a fun event for the entire family.

The Show Low Farmers Market and Art Fair takes place in Downtown Show Low near the famous Cardplayers statue. Don’t miss out on this chance to meet and greet your fellow Show Lowers while sampling the excellent food and crafts of the White Mountains region. Find out more at the Show Low Farmers Market and Art Fair website.

Grayhawk Golf Club is a daily-fee golf club located near Scottsdale that offers two outstanding 18-hole golf courses.  Since their opening in 1994, the Talon and Raptor courses have hosted many high-profile events, including the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open.   Each of the unique courses at Grayhawk is situated amidst the spectacular scenery of the Sonoran Desert.  Each of the courses also offers its own challenges and design features.   Golf Magazine and Golf Digest have rated these courses within the Top 100 in the nation.

The Club amenities include the Golf Shop & Trading Company, The Quill Café and Phil’s Grill, which is named for Grayhawk’s PGA Tour Ambassador Phil Mickelson.  You can find out more at the Grayhawk Golf Club website.