I thought a $90 ball marker was expensive but the new Tri Mark Executive Series Marker defies all reason. The marker has a numbering system that lets you mark how many putter heads away your ball is. It is done up in 18K gold and diamonds and can also be worn with a chain to make a necklace. The marker sells for $10,500 and will be available for order on February 14, 2008.The World's Most Expensive Golf Ball Marker
I thought a $90 ball marker was expensive but the new Tri Mark Executive Series Marker defies all reason. The marker has a numbering system that lets you mark how many putter heads away your ball is. It is done up in 18K gold and diamonds and can also be worn with a chain to make a necklace. The marker sells for $10,500 and will be available for order on February 14, 2008.Pinehurst Golf Sabbatical
Is it your dream to devote a month to just golf?If this has always been your dream then the Pinehurst Golf Sabbatical in North Carolina might just be your ultimate fantasy. The sabbatical is a 30-day golf-centered retreat. It includes unlimited golf at the resort's eight courses, personalized instruction and analysis, sessions with a renowned sports psychologist and lessons on how to read greens and personalized club fitting. Basically it is a total immersion into the world of golf with complete focus on improving your golf game. The experience includes a stay in a Pinehurst suite, spa treatments, meals, use of an Acura and special events such as a lunch with sports writers Lee Pace and Jim dodson. The package costs $29,550 and there is also a 10-day package for $11,500.
Gameday Customs Tailgating Trailers
Football season is in full swing and the tradition of tailgating is one of the best parts of the game. Gameday Customs creates custom tailgating trailers that have everything you need for your pre-game festivities. The trailers come with LCD TV, satellite, DVD, generator, running water, beer on tap and even (and perhaps most importantly) your own toilet. Other options include a soda dispenser, microwave or a barbecue. They are also available in a choice of colors so that you can match with our favorite team. The 5 x 8 trailer sells for $13,900 before options.
[via Born Rich]
Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer
With colder weather coming, many people are moving their fitness routines indoors. Pierce Mattie PR raves about the Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer. The machine is an elliptical trainer designed for home use. Features to love about this machine include a built-in fan and computer technology that communicates via infrared (IR) beam with Palm OS software so you can have your fitness info downloaded to your Palm device. The machine can be used with a pushing or pulling upper body motion or can be used to just offer a lower body workout. The console has a large message window, motivational track and can be programmed with eight user-specific workout programs. It sells for $4,595.
Shano Designs Skull Ball Marker
I know the skull trend has been done to death (pardon the pun) but I had to show you these golf accessories from Shano Designs. The company does a variety of golf accessories such as ball markers and divot repair tools in sterling silver and gemstones. They recently unveiled a divot tool shaped like a ribbon and adorned with a pink sapphire to raise money for breast cancer research. But what caught my eye is their skull and crossbones ball marker and divot tool each with ruby eyes. Although I question the wisdom of having a ball marker with a raised surface these look really cool and could have a great intimidation factor with those you are playing against. The ball marker is $90.Boucheron's Rugby Ring
The latest sport to get the high-end jewelry treatment is rugby. To celebrate the World Rugby Cup, Boucheron has created a special collection of jewelry inspired by rugby. Fashion Week Daily reports that the designs were made for for "L'Art Emmêlé 2007," a series of events organized around an art exhibition featuring pieces inspired by rugby. The designs include a version of Boucheron's MEC watch in pink gold with a rugby ball and a Diablotine women's ring in pink gold and green tourmaline which has been reshaped into a rugby ball. The rugby-inspired pieces will be auctioned off on October 18 at a gala dinner to benefit the Laureus Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses sports to help take on social issues.Dedicated College Football Fans Spring For Stadium Condos
It takes an extreme college football fan to buy a condo just because it is near the stadium. But in South Carolina, being a Gamecocks fan is serious business. There are four condo complexes around Williams-Brice Stadium including the Stadium Village Lofts. The condos which can cost from $200,000 to $750,000 each can be used as regular living spaces but some dedicated fans have bought in just to be close to the games. The news isn't all rosy, some of the condos have not sold and one complex, The Spur at William-Brice auctioned off their units because of the slow housing market. But as The State reports, for some fans having a place to crash without having to fight stadium traffic is a dream come true.Utah Flash Plan Flashy Playground
Brandt Andersen, the handsome young owner of the Utah Flash basketball team is not short on money or daring. City officials in the town of Lehi, Utah (30 miles away from Salt Lake City) have approved the plans for Andersen's $2 billion residential and entertainment complex. a home for the team and much, much more. The complex is designed by starchitect Frank Gehry and sprawls over 85 acres that include an amphitheater, hotel, shopping center, restaurants and residences. The 450-foot-high hotel will be the tallest building in Utah. Groundbreaking is sets for 2008 and the arena is scheduled to be ready for the Utah Flash's 2009-10 season.
Related: Brandt Andersen's blog
The Perils Of Running With Bling
You just can't easily part a girl from her diamonds as sprinter Sanya Richards who is competing in the world championships in Osaka, Japan proved on Wednesday. USA Today reports that Richards ran the first round of the 200-meter heats with a $20,000 diamond brooch pinned to her shirt. Unfortunately the pin, a gift from a sponsor's top executive, fell off and went skittering across the lanes, creating a minor distraction for Richards. She kept her focus and ran the second heat later in the day, coming in with the fastest time. The diamond pin was recovered by track volunteers and Richards has given the pin to her mother for safekeeping.
Callaway Golf Club To Benefit Ovarian Cancer
If breast cancer support is pink, what color is ovarian cancer? The answer, as shown in this special Callaway golf driver is teal. The teal FT-i golf driver is a limited edition of 1,000 and is part of a line of teal products to benefit ovarian cancer research that include golf balls, hats and towels. The Callaway Golf Company will donate 15% of its net sales from the sale of all teal products, up to a maximum of $200,000, for the Callaway Golf Foundation Women's Cancer Initiative. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is in September and the products will be available as of December 1. The golf club sells for $875.
The Primo, the $400 Baseball Glove
Baseball isn't a sport particularly known for its expensive equipment. A bat, a ball, a pair of cleats and of course a glove. The humble glove gets a luxurious upgrade with the glove from Rawling known as the Primo. The Primo costs $400 and is made of Italian leather which is hand-sewn into a three-layer design. Each one takes two days to make and Rawlings made just 3,000 this year. The glove has yet to connect with most MLB players. Some think it is too heavy, most are just attached to their tried and true gloves that have been carefully broken in.[via CNN Money]
Seattle's Football Team Loses Their Private Jet
Quite a few readers had comments on the fact that David Beckham and his Los Angeles soccer squad travel by private jet. For Becks and the Los Angeles Galaxy it was an upgrade. The Seattle Seahawks football team are in the opposite position. For years they were the envy of the NFL as they travelled around on billionaire owner Paul Allen's Boeing 757-200. The private jet was seen as such an advantage that at times it was used as a perk to help land free agents. But all good things must come to an end and Paul Allen has sold the jet. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer the Seahawks are a little grumpy about losing their jet. They've gone from their own personal aircraft to chartering with Hawaiian Airlines. Oh well boys, it could be worse, at least your new jets have pretty ladies and flowers on them.Hockey Stars Follow Baseball Players Into The Wine Business
After seeing the success of the Red-Sox-themed charity wines, a couple of ex-Boston Bruins have decided they want wines too. The three Longball Vineyards wines, Manny Being Merlot (Manny Ramirez), Schilling Schardonnay (Kurt Schilling) and CaberKnuckle (Tim Wakefield) have helped raise money for the players' favorite charities. Boston Bruins icons Cam Neely and Ray Bourque are creating the Hat Trick Vineyards label with the same company, Charity Wines, to launch CamBernet and Bourque Merlot. The wines will be produced by California's Selby Winery and the profits will benefits Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care, the Celebrities for Charity Foundation (Bourque's charity of choice) and the Boston Bruins Foundation. The Red Sox wines sells for $12 each and the hockey wines are expected to be in the $10 to $13 range. The wines will be available starting in November. Aspen's Lift Ticket Now The Most Expensive
You probably aren't thinking about skiing right now but if you are dreaming of winter in Aspen prepare to spend more than ever. It has been announced that a one-day, walk-up lift ticket to Aspen during peak ski season will cost you $87 which is up $5 from last year. The new price gives Aspen the dubious honor of being the priciest lift ticket for now. Vail had the top spot last year at $85. From now until September 7, Aspen Snowmass is offering season passes at their "super early' rate. A premier pass which offers unlimited skiing/riding on four mountains as well as discounts in the pro shop costs $1,699 now but will sells for $1,999 in November.
$50,000 U.S. Open Package
Tennis fans may want to know about a unique U.S. Open package for this coming September in New York City. The Lowell New York Hotel has partnered with classictravel.com to create a U.S. Open package for September 7-10 that includes three nights accommodation in the Lowell's penthouse, VIP seating at the U.S. Open's Men's and Women's Semi Finals and Finals, airport and match transfers in the Bentley Flying Spur, monogrammed Lowell bathrobes, and a gourmet picnic basket with Champagne and caviar to be enjoyed at the matches. The Lowell's penthouse is a 2,500 square foot space with three bedrooms, private terraces, a kitchen and a dining conservatory. The package costs $50,000.
