Cape golf beats Sussex Tech

The Cape Henlopen High School golf team defeated Sussex Tech’s squad 174-189 on the front nine at Heritage Shores March 28.

The course had just been aerated, creating some challenging conditions for the two teams.

Nonetheless, Vikings captain Ethan Mercer won medalist honors with his four-over 40. “It was a good round,” he said. “I had four bogeys and the rest pars, with no three putts. In fact, I one putted almost every green.”

Kingston Davis posted a 44 for second best for the Cape team, recovering well after making an eight on the first hole.

Jacob Gabbard and Tyler Healy completed the team scoring with a pair of 45s. Healy said, “I started out a little shaky, with three double bogeys. I also made a couple pars and a birdie. I had trouble putting on the aerated greens.”

“It was awesome playing with Jacob,” Healy continued. “He had a nine on the first hole, but he was so positive for the rest of the round.”

Cape coach Robert Harrod said, “It was a great day of golf. Sussex Tech played a good game. It was just rough conditions. The course was aerated, so for Ethan to get a 40 was amazing. For a couple of our guys to start the way they did and grind it out showed me a lot. I think we’re a building team, and I saw a lot of good stuff.”

The Vikings were next scheduled for away matches against Caesar Rodney at Wild Quail Golf and Country Club March 30 and a weather-delayed trip to Jonathan’s Landing Friday, March 31 against Lake Forest.

ECCO Shoes

The ECCO store at the Tanger Outlets on Route 1 does something nice for Cape Region golfers that does not always happen elsewhere. You can buy the Danish company’s golf shoes there.

Jesper Thuen, general manager of ECCO’s USA division, smiled broadly when I told him that during our meeting at the 2023 PGA Show in Orlando, Fla. We also discussed a few of its golf shoe models, which he said presented a sleeker look for the coming year.

He said “microperforated” uppers are easier to clean, and that spikeless models are a bigger and bigger part of the golf market. Thuen attributed some of that increase to the fact that more and more golfers wear the shoes everywhere and not just on the course.

The new S-Three shoe features Gore-Tex fabric with a three-year waterproof guarantee. Thuen also demonstrated how the shoe’s insole element can be removed and replaced. “The removable insole does not include the comfort elements of the shoe, so they will feel the same even with the replacement orthotics,” he said.

The BIOM H4 shoe features cleaner looks, with subtle color schemes, Thuen said. 

On the fancier side, ECCO is also offering the Classic Hybrid, an embossed leather model with a diamond pattern. Offered in solid mocha or white, the shoes also feature a light-colored leather edging where the uppers meet the top of the sole. These accent leathers came from cuttings that would have otherwise been discarded, Thuen said.

Recycling can look good and be good at the same time.

Zero Friction

I go to the Zero Friction booth at the PGA Show every year for a simple reason – there’s always something new to check out.

This year was no different.

I met company President John Iacono at his expanded booth area, necessary to show off his newest product, the Stride autonomous electric bag/trolley. 

It is the motorized equivalent of last year’s award-winning Wheel Pro Push-Cart bag, which combined a standard cart-sized bag with its own adjustable handle and removable two-wheel rolling system. The wheels are easily removed for storage and a self-locking groove in the axles assures proper placement when in use.

The Stride ($1,899 SRP) features a similar two-wheel setup on each side of the bag, with an electric drive system between them. Two smaller wheels on a hinge drop down on the back side for rolling along, reminding me a bit of R2D2 of Star Wars fame. 

The remote-control device fits in a pocket and permits speed setting up to 5 mph. An automated gyroscope maintains stability for up to 35-degree slopes.

The lithium battery holds enough juice for 36 holes, and quickly recharges. The bag includes the usual carrying capacity for clubs, along with a drink cooler and a GPS/phone holder with a see-through cover.

Iacono’s nephew John Lamorese took the remote and put the cart through its paces, including the “Follow Me” setting. While on the course, the cart tags along behind the golfer, stopping whenever he does at either 3 or 5 feet away. 

This cart is more faithful than your dog

For unpowered use, the front wheels disengage from the drive system and the Stride becomes a standard pushcart. The hinged cart handle also adjusts for easy use.

I expect this kind of innovation will strike a chord with a good number of avid golfers.