The Clubhouse

We’ve all heard about virtual reality. Now there’s something called augmented reality and TaylorMade is among the latest to use the new technology, creating an interactive app for smart phones and tablets that gives you a virtual experience for its new R1 driver.

By downloading the R1 mobile application and pointing a smart phone or tablet device at the print advertisement in either of the January issues of Golf Digest or Golf Magazine, you can get your hands on the new driver experience all of its features before the club hits stores next month.

"The new R1 driver is so dynamic that we wanted to provide consumers with an interactive platform to 'play' with the club before they can actually get it in their hands," said Bob Maggiore, TaylorMade Golf Chief Marketing Officer.

With a swipe of the finger, users can seamlessly zoom in or spin the club for 360-degree views. Users also have the ability to adjust the loft, face angle and shot shape of the virtual R1. After selecting launch conditions, users can then watch a simulated flight path by selecting the "test swing" option on the app.

Download the R1 mobile app for iTunes here.

Download the R1 mobile app for Google Play here.

---

SCHOOL'S IN: Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., a two-time B.C. Junior champion and current member of Team Canada’s National Development squad, has found a place to play. According to Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun, Svensson is joining Barry University, a small private Catholic school located near Miami in south Florida that has been a NCAA Division 2 golf powerhouse in recent years .

Svensson was set to play at UNLV on a full scholarship but was ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA even though the university had assured him he had completed all necessary course work to gain entrance.

While he managed to complete what he needed to do this past fall, most of the Division 1 schools had already filled out their programs for the year. So Svensson decided to join a strong Division 2 school. Barry U won the 2007 Division 2 national title and is currently ranked second in the United States.

---

IT'S IN THE GAME: More details of the next edition of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 have been released. When Arnold Palmer was unveiled as one of the cover boys on the game’s box, it was a clue to some of the enhancements in the new game. Similar to the Tiger’s Challenge feature in last year’s game, the new version takes you back to the 1930s where you will face off against several golf icons and legends from each era including Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros and ultimately Woods himself. The players mentioned compete with the ball, club, and course characteristics that corresponded to their time period in the game.

Another unique feature of the game is the fact that all four Majors are now playable for the first time, a day/night feature that lets you play anytime complete with glow-in-the-dark golf balls and 35 additional golfers, including for the first time members of the LPGA tour.

---

HOLY TOLEDO: Jamie Farr has confirmed that he will no longer be associated with the LPGA tournament that bears his name in Ohio. The Toledo Blade reports that Farr and organizers of the tournament have parted ways amicably, ending a near three decade association. Marathon Petroleum Corporation has become the title sponsor of the tournament which will be known as the Marathon Classic.

In a statement, Farr said that “pending show business concerns” would likely prevent him from hosting the event in the future so it was time to formally cut all ties.

Farr was one of the last show business figures to still be associated with a golf tournament. Others included such luminaries as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore, Glenn Campbell, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Last fall, Justin Timberlake ended his run with the PGA’s Las Vegas event.

---

THE CURSE: Attention Dustin Johnson... the previous three winners of the season-opening Tournament of Champions — Steve Stricker, Jonathan Byrd and Geoff Ogilvy — did not win another PGA Tour event the rest of the year.

---

NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: Saxophone player Bobby Keys, who played regularly with the Rolling Stones, has a new autobiography out - Every Night’s A Saturday Night. While we’re told it is short on specifics when it comes to tales of debauchery during his years with the Rolling Stones, there is this one nugget involving Keith Richards, a golf ball and a gun.

According to Keys, he was responsible for the incident which occurred while the band was on tour in the ‘90s and staying at a hotel which was situated next to a golf course:

"When I hit my ball it hooked into the trees, ricocheted – and landed smack dab in the middle of [Keith Richard’s] breakfast. So he shot it. He's standing there on his patio with a pistol in his hand and smoke coming out of the muzzle. He was holding this smoking shell that used to be my golf ball. He said: 'That's a ten-stroke f****** penalty, and if you ever do it again I'll do the same to you! You ruined my f****** breakfast!. He was gettin' ready to eat his eggs Benedict."

---

FINAL WORD

From the “things I will regret later” file...

---

Files from the Associated Press were used in this report