"So in other words, this is probably not a video Hogan would have made."

Sam Weinman explains the genesis of the train wreck spoof music video featuring America's brightest hopes--Mahan, Watson, Fowler, Crane--and of course, charity is at the heart of the campaign. If only America's up and comers put as much creative energy into their short game as they do their image enhancement efforts.

Warning, this is painful.

Comments

[JRP]

Ass-clowns....all 4 of them.

[NKOTB]

Personally, I think this is awesome! Glad to see the guys having some fun. And, who knew Ben Crane had a personality...if only he played as fast on tour. The whole thing is a bit refreshing given the robo-players that seem to dominate.

I question the timing. Seems odd two days before a major (since none have won one).

[Ludell Hogwaller]

Perhaps the era of the clone-golfer is over.
And, yea verily, before you negativists begin your dogpile, keep in mind that producing comic video is difficult and takes titanium balls.

As you trash this admirable effort, show us what creative and positive work you have contributed.

[Dan]

That video made me so uncomfortable that I think repeated viewings would qualify as a form of punishment or torture.

[Used to be Former S&T convert]

I hope the designated charity is not banking on a windfall.

[jjshaka]

For me to comment I would have to click the Youtube link.
Not...gonna...happen.

[Dan]

I didn't believe that American golf was truly declining, until I watched that video. We're screwed for at least a generation.

[Pete the Luddite]

Not my taste but I can appreciate the effort to step waaaay outside the box of the country club mindset of the constipated golf fan base.

No, you would never have seen this in other generations but to be fair, this is a new world of social media.

It was.....interesting....

My takeaway thought was that other than Fowler, I didn't see a bunch of ripped athletes who demonstrate that increased athleticism is driving the ball further. I'm just sayin'.....

[COB]

Made it to the 49 second mark. Someone alert Dan Jenkins.

[UGH]

I'd rather watch Jake Trout & The Flounders....at least those gents weren't in a red 'one-zy' (sp?) with a motorcycle helmet. I've seen more clothes on triathletes. FAILURE.......

[Chuck]

Hard to imagine how Ben Crane appeared in a video that only lasted 2:17. Editing, I guess.

[Chuck]

...or maybe Rickie Fowler sped up his portion.

[Chema]

It's not just Hogan who would find this undignified. Can you imagine Tom Watson, Wadkins, Ballesteros, Olazabal, Couples, etc. doing this? The infantilization of the American male continues apace.

[The O]

They're young. Let them have fun. Its kind of an odd-mix, these four, no? The Texan, the southerner, the Californian and the Northwest? Probably hang out at the Tour's God Squad meetings.

[Mike Gray]

NKOTB, I'm pretty sure they weren't foregoing major preparation to make that. It came out a couple days before the US Open, but I'm doubting they did their parts so recently. There must have been fairly significant post-processing to edit it all together and I don't expect that Ben Crane did it himself. With a clear sponsor, it was obviously not a situation where Crane set the camera down, plugged it into his laptop, and uploaded the footage to YouTube.

[Golf Needs Ty Pennington]

Undignified? Silly, perhaps retarded. Undignified is having your wife chase you around Windmere at 4am with a 7 iron in her hand. Couples is great, but watching him WD after back issues is not particularly enthralling TV unless you're making bets as to how far he makes it.

Golf is a SPORT or GAME, and does not have to be dignified. John Daly should be a role model for more golfers, and I just wish these guys would give the world entertainment on the actual course.

[A3golfer]

Oh my some of you are a bunch of old farts. Good grief get a sense of humor. Funny.

[Vinny]

Ass clowns, seconded.

[johnnnycz]

I lasted until about the 30ish second mark...when the group choreographed dancing started I had to manually shut down my laptop.

All I can say about it is: COOL FARMER TANS FELLAS...not counting Rickie (he appears to go to a tanning salon/men's spa thrice per week)

Again...they should let their clubs do the talking/promotion. Chema hit the nail on the head...men all over the western world are turning into infantile she-boys.

[Chema]

This puerile bit of doggerel no doubt appeals to cargo-short-wearing, you-da-man crowd. Hopefully they will go away when Tiger's done for good and the game will return to its roots.

" When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

[Mike Gray]

I'm kind of surprised at the reaction to the video, honestly. Four guys did something funny to raise money for charity. It's a ridiculous parody and they know the laughs are coming at their expense. It's starting to feel like Bushwood around here.

[DT]

@Mike Gray, I agree.

These guys don't necessarily have their fingers on the funny pulse, but to see them do this when we're so used to the robotic nature of tournament golf is a bit refreshing. If professional comedians had done this, then yes, it would have fallen woefully short of funny. But to see these guys do this is pretty funny.

Fowler grabbed Crane's balls at the 1:33 mark. Whoops!!!

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

"It's starting to feel like Bushwood around here."

Seconded.

That these guys did this to raise money for a worthy cause is much to their credit. The entire world needs more of us to stop taking ourselves so goddamn seriously. Our work? That's a different thing altogether. And there is no reason to suspect any of these golfers of not taking their work as professionals seriously. Bubba could learn to stem the tears when he wins, however. But even that is sort of endearing.

On another front closer to what I do, here is a parody from Baylor College of Medicine to beat all such productions, now and forevermore:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl4L4M8m4d0
248 out of 2,882,765 didn't like it. There are a few in every crowd.

[digsouth]

Good stuff. Comedy is tough, and knowing that some will not get it is to cast oneself under the bus.

This is as good as any REAL ''boy band'', and they made it cleat that that was the intent: to parody a boy band. I guess all of you detractors thought Spinal Tap was terrible.

This music of ''Oh Oh Oh'' is not my style, but they really nail it, and bravo for them really ''singing'' instead of doing a Milli Vanilli.

Congratulations to ''the boyz'' for a job well done; obnoxiously funny!

BTW: those are some motel tans: could have done withut Mahan's white gut.

[rose]

The farmer tans are funny and I don't think there is anything inherently wrong about these guys acting like goofs BUT whoever the next big alpha dog is on tour, he must be licking his chops at the prospect getting a bite at this low hanging fruit.

[Satch]

What a surprise something fresh and funny gets the sarcastic treatment on this blog.

You guys need to cheer up.

[Squeaky]

Seems like harmless fun. Of course, Chema, I'm the one rocking the cargo shorts and saying "you da man" when my son flushes a drive. (Never loud enough to bug another foursome, but I do say it. I also say "be the right club today!" when an iron is heading anywhere near the pin (Hal Sutton), and "better than most ... better than most" when my son lags a tricky long putt close to the hole (Gary Koch). I've got more of 'em, trust me. Guilty as charged.)

Farmers is a big supporter of the PGA Tour and it seems they want to make the point that there's more to golf than the age-old criticism (Mark Twain, "a good walk spoiled") and the more recent criticism ("a bunch of white guys walking.")

[China Golfer]

Good for 'em. I like Ben Crane a whole lot more since his video dabbling. Just dont over do it.

[johnnnycz]

I still have my Spinal Tap cassettes and CDs....yes, they were a parody rock band, but at least they were (ok...kind of) playing actual instruments. I guess my hang up is that I don't consider boy-band music actually being "music" per se. It always sounded much like a busy truckstop's bathroom to me. It's more like a Karaoke-Dancing-Homoerotic-plasticpeople exhibition....it makes me sick to my stomach just watching anything from that genre of...errr....music.

Now if they did a parody of GunsNRoses or The Clash...or even say a rap parody video...then OK with me. I know, I'm turning to an old fuddy duddy at the ripe old age of 37....but I don't give a $hit. That music sucks and will always suck! Long live the guitar solo!!!!

[JRP]

Here's my problem - it's not funny. It's not even interesting.

It's just what you would expect from 3 out of 4 of these ass-clowns.

[LadyH]

It made me laugh, isn't that a good thing?

I recently gave a pair of pink socks to GoodWill; wonder if they went to Ben Crane? After this I too like him just a little bit more, off the course, that is.

[Pete the Luddite]

@Golf Needs Ty Pennington: "Undignified? Silly, perhaps retarded. "

With all due respect, I think you need a visit to the following web site: http://www.r-word.org/

I've pledged to address it any time I see/hear someone use this word, as it is essentially hate speech. I'm not accusing of that, but simply passing this on to raise your awareness of the inappropriateness of this word.

<grunt> stepping off my soapbox now... :)

Happy golfing, all!

[Chuck]

Will this change any of the Tour's drug-testing policies? Is that why they invited Ben Crane? To take away any presumption of illegal substances?

[Golf Needs Ty Pennington]

You're right Pete, the word "retarded" is hate speech. I hated all my special needs kids when I taught them in middle school.

Now please find another even less important soapbox.

[Jimmy]

Wow, Trying to raise money for a good cause, applauded, but my God, a video of them Elephant Walking across Amen Corner would be less embarrasing than that crap.

[Pete the Luddite]

@GNTP- Your second post makes absolutely no sense to me.

If you don't see the inappropriateness of the word, I feel sorry for you. Subsitute the N-word, or homophobic slur into your comment and see how it sounds....same thing.

I won't turn this into a forum and run the thread off topic, but I have to say shame on you, for being a (hopefully former) educator and you find it is still appropriate to use that word.

Now, everyone, back to golf, please.

[Jimmy]

More Embarrassing?

Dressing Like a Retard and Believing it is Funny (Ben Crane)
or...
Getting Caught Blowing another Dude?

Pass me the flavored Oils

[PJ]

Looks like Hunter Mahan has been spending too much time in a hot dog stand.

[Golf Needs Ty Pennington]

Lord, Pete, calling a video "retarded" is not the same as conjuring up images of slavery or times when police beat people outside of Stonewall. It also means limited in intellectual or emotional development, which this video clearly shows.

[golfboy]

ha, guys who have made $45mil+ combined playing a game for a living, and there's something wrong with them doing a goofy 2 minute video for charity?

yeah, y'all stay on yer hie horses...