My old poli sci professor claimed he didn't read the newspaper. "If the news is important enough, it will seek me out," he said, forecasting the demise of the newspaper business. Another of my mentors was the Chicago Tribune sportswriter Bill Jauss, who lectured me once about how he decided what to write in his game stories while covering the Chicago Cubs. He said, "Imagine yourself going into a bar after watching a game, and the bar is filled with your friends. The thing you'd tell them first is what happened that was funny. Everybody already knows the score; tell them what's funny."

So in a nutshell, those are the two things you can expect to find in Local Knowledge. What's important that you need to know? What happened that was funny?

We think we're capable of doing this better than anyone else because Local Knowledge unleashes the combined resources of Golf Digest and Golf World. More than 50 writers, editors and contributors will be on this blog, seeking you out with the news you need to know.

But the best conversations go both ways. We'll depend on your thoughts and comments and make it as easy as possible for you to share them.

Enjoy.

-- Jerry Tarde, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief

A Cig Alert: Angel Cabrera's chain-smoking during the final round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont got widespread media attention, mostly as a point of fact, but also, predictably, from various scolds in the media (one column headline read: "Golf needs to turn on the 'No Smoking' sign"). Rest assured it won't likely be a problem next year, provided San Diego laws are enforced. Last summer the city council banned smoking at beaches and parks, all open-space areas and municipal golf courses, among them Torrey Pines GC, site of the 2008 U.S. Open. Police can issue citations, and a first offense carries a fine of $250, while subsequent offenses can involve fines up to $1,000. The ban was in place in January when the Buick Invitational was played there. We can only guess as to whether John Daly, among other smokers on the PGA Tour, flouted the law -- and, more importantly, how it will affect Cabrera as he attempts a smokeless defense of his title next June.

Inflation Run Amok: How out of control is inflation in Zimbabwe? According to the South African Herald, one golf course in the capital city of Harare recently raised the price of beer twice -- in the course of a single round. Players paid one price before the round started, another at the turn and still more at the 19th hole. U.S. ambassador Christopher Dell expects inflation to reach 1.5 million percent by year's end.

Coconut Rules: A 7-iron shot by Robert Arkin at La Gorce CC in Miami Beach struck high in a palm tree recently, felling a coconut. Arkin inspected the coconut and found his ball was imbedded in it. Rather than taking a drop, Arkin said he replaced the coconut, took his driver and swung, the ball emerging from the coconut and scooting 50 yards down the fairway. From there, Arkin hit a lob wedge to 10 inches for a tap-in bogey that enabled him to win the hole.

-- John Strege

10. Before he even introduces himself, he tells you about his sciatica.

9. And when he does say his name, it's a state or city.

8. You ask if he's ever seen the golf scene in Goldfinger and his reply is "Amateur hour."

7. He peels off a $100 bill to pay for a hot dog.

6. Claims the electronic ankle bracelet he's wearing is for his arthritis.

5. You offer to help him search for his ball in the woods, and he says, "I'm good. It really opens up in there."

4. Every time you ask for his score on a hole, he says, "Why, what did you have?"

3. His cell-phone ring is "The Entertainer" from the movie The Sting.

2. The beverage-cart girl says, "You drinking the usual, Al?"

1. You mention you were watching Meet The Press on NBC yesterday, and he blurts out, "Press? Did you say you want to press?"

OK, let's hear from you. What generally clues you in on a hustler?

If your glove looks like this one, you either stopped playing years ago, have been pulling weeks with it or are as cheap as a flea-market T-shirt. Time to upgrade!

While you're at it, buy a couple of gloves, and rotate them. They'll last longer.

Here are some of the latest gloves:

NO SWEAT: FOOTJOY's SciFlex ($18) uses breathable leather and microfibers along the fingers of the glove; the TAYLORMADE Burner features an antimicrobial material on the back of the glove ($13); ETONIC's G>SOK ($16) extends the cuff and lines it with an absorbent wristband.

FLEXIBLE FRAME: Lycra inserts between the leather sections on the TITLEIST Perma-Tech ($16) and the CALLAWAY Tech Series ($12) are designed to stretch the way the hand stretches. This helps optimize the glove's fit.

FEEL ME: The leather on the MIZUNO Skintite ($15) can be less than half a millimeter thick, and NIKE's Dri-Fit Tour ($18) has a curved-finger design.

SHOCK TALK: The padded sections of the FOOTJOY ShockStopper ($25) and the Bionic from HILLERICH & BRADSBY ($25) provide relief to arthritis suffers and are U.S. Golf Association approved.

-- Mike Stachura