Golf Beginners - Keep These Things In Your Golf Bag

Golf - Beginner Basics II What to keep in your golf bag.

There are many golf bags available, some designed for fashion, some for utility and some that combine both features. There are big bags, bigger bags and bags so big that they would keep everything you need for a long weekend vacation in one of the side pockets!

Generally speaking, you need a bag just large enough to hold your clubs, extra balls, your glove, tees, car keys, extra pencils, ball markers, a ball retriever, sunscreen, a windbreaker and a large umbrella.

It is also a good idea to have a packet of tissues, a band-aid or two, and if you play courses where insects are a problem, a can of bug repellent comes in very handy.

A small pack of baby wipes also come in very handy; in your bag they get warmed by the heat, so when you get sweaty or a sand trap covered you with sand, a nice warm wipe can be very refreshing.

If you happen to be allergic to bees, hornets and wasps, an Epipen is an important addition to your bag. If you are also hypoglycemic carry Lifesavers, which have to be replaced several times throughout the year because they tend to melt.

One item that doesn’t need to be in your golf bag is your cell phone. If you must carry it, turn off the ringer as a courtesy to other players. If you must use it, be aware of others who might be taking a swing or putting their ball. Be considerate!

Having these items in your golf bag should provide everything you will need, even in a minor emergency (like a blister) or a major inconvenience, like a sudden rainstorm. Being prepared makes the game a great deal more fun.

To your golfing success

Fran

P.S. Here are some more tips to help you become a better golfer - Click here

Beginning Golfer?

Golf-Beginner Basics I

The popularity of golf has increased tremendously over the past forty five years, giving us champions like Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods, and world-renowned courses like Pinehurst, Augusta National and the Blue Monster at Doral.

Why has golf become so popular? It’s the opportunity to be outside, to get a good whole body workout, network with friends or business colleagues at a leisurely pace, and to play a game that you can never perfect.

Your scorecard, over time, shows your improvement, which keeps you playing again and again.

Here is a very basic lesson in golf for the person who has no clue about the game.

Golf is played on an eighteen-hole course; each hole has its "par", which is the number of tee shots (drives), fairway shots, chips (short hits as you approach the green), and putts.

The par number is based on the length and difficulty of the hole. Pars range from 3 to 6. If you get the ball in the hole in five shots on a par five hole, you "made par." If it took you six shots, it’s called a bogie, if you made it in four, it’s a birdie.

There are usually "hazards" of some sort on all the holes. Bodies of water, sand traps, and trees are strategically placed to make the hole more challenging. Beginner golfers should seek to find courses to play that are easier to play, with fewer hazards.

Each player keeps their own score, marking the number of total number of shots for each hole. At the end, each person adds their scores-the lowest number is the winner.

It is important for beginner golfers to not take themselves too seriously. It takes a long time to get good at this game; even though the professionals make it look so easy.

Take a lesson or two at the onset; it will help you develop a proper swing and help you get off to a good start.

Remember that it’s just a game. Have fun and look at the big picture-you’re outside and you’re not at work!

To your successful golfing!

Fran

P.S. Here are some more tips to help you become a better golfer - Click here

Golf Channel

Did You Know?

With the ever-rising popularity of the game of golf, mainstream television decided they needed to cash in on the golf craze and founded The Golf Channel. The history of this cable phenomenon is really a storied one.

In 1990, cable and cellular entrepreneur Joseph Gibbs of Birmingham, Alabama, offered to host a professional golfer for the 1990 PGA Championship. Mr. Gibbs was ecstatic to learn he would be hosting Arnold and Winnie Palmer during the week of the tournament. A friendship was instantly born and as the friendship blossomed so did the discussion of a 24-hour cable network devoted entirely to golf.

After conducting a Gallup survey to determine public interest, Joe Gibbs was pleased to realize that there was a strong interest for a golf channel among the general public. The successful entrepreneur and the golf legend were convince that The Golf Channel would flourish with offerings for the golf-loving viewer.

By 1995, the new corporation had raised over $80 million to finance and launch The Golf Channel. It debuted with less than 1,000 cable subscribers. The Golf Channel’s first live televised tournament was the Dubai Desert Classic which debuted on January 19, 1995.

Since then, The Golf Channel has grown by leaps and bounds in popularity. Many cable and satellite dish systems now carry The Golf Channel as part of their regular lineup of channels. It is now broadcast in Japan and Canada and in 1999, reached a “break even” status on their financial statements.

Today, The Golf Channel is considered the place to go for golf news and programming. They have a daily golf news show called “Golf Central” along with “College Central” which is dedicated to college golf. They air highlight shows of past tournaments and have many programs with professionals handing out golf tips to the eager viewer.

Not to be left behind with the reality TV phenomenon, The Golf Channel has joined in with their reality-based program called “The Big Break”. This program was designed to help aspiring professionals gain exemptions into PGA Tour and LPGA events. It has proven to be wildly successful.

In 2005, The Golf Channel helped set up a special match play event called Big Stakes Golf, in which teams of two paid a $100,000 entry fee to play in a special tournament where the winning team split a $3,000,000 first-place prize, the largest in golf history. In the end, mini-tour professionals Garth Mulroy and David Ping won the grand prize.

Two guys had a dream – one with business savvy, and one with golf savvy – and when The Golf Channel was born, that dream became a reality. Many households depend on The Golf Channel for their daily golf news and for those living in the northern climate where the winter snow has covered the golf courses and a golf game is a distant memory, the Golf Channel can keep their minds focused on how they can be better next year. Or they can plan their winter vacation and choose which courses they would like to play.

Happy golfing and Merry Christmas - may you find the clubs of your dreams under your tree this year.

Fran

P.S. If you are a new golfer, click here for some tips

If you are a more experienced golfer and want to break 80, click here

P.P.S. No matter what level of golfer you are, fitness is important. Click here for some tips

Common Golf Problems

The Most Common Golf Problem Is?


The most common problem beginners have playing golf would surely be the slice shot.  This is where the ball curves through the air from left to right assuming the player is right-handed.

The flight of the golf ball is determined by the spin of the ball and a slice is caused by the ball spinning clockwise thereby causing it to travel in a clockwise arch.

The most common reason why this happens is people tend to lift their head when they strike the ball.  The action of lifting the head causes the face of the club to hit across the ball and not through it.  By hitting across the ball, you are essentially hitting the ball from the outside in and this is the action that causes the ball to spin clockwise.

If you tend to slice the ball try to keep your head down until after you have hit the ball. By keeping your head down, and your eye on the ball to the point of contact you will play through the ball and your swing will remain straight, which will cause the ball to follow a straight path.  Keep your head down until after the ball has taken flight keeping your head and shoulders solid.

Another reason why you will get slice shots is by trying to hit the ball too hard.  In doing so you could be using your arms to pull the club in and this will also cause it to spin.  By hitting for less distance you can concentrate on getting the correct swing and playing for accuracy rather than length.  Try reducing your swing with these smaller shots to see if this starts to correct the problem.

As you begin to hit straighter you can begin to increase the length of your back swing and go for more distance.  Concentrate on accuracy first and distance follows. That is a good rule to always play by.

To successful shots

Fran

P.S.  Check out these golf specials

Time for a Golf Vacation?

Planning A Senior Golf Vacation

Here in northern Ontario the weather is getting cooler, the leaves are falling from the trees and many of our seniors are thinking of heading south.

Many senior golf players enjoy getting away by planning a golfing vacation. Whether you play golf regularly or just once and awhile, a golf vacation is a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors just like the pros. The senior golf pros play golf for many of the same reasons the amateurs do, they love the game and enjoy traveling to new golf courses. The more you play and learn, the better you become at playing. Understanding what clubs to use and when is also important.

A travel agent or an online travel site will be a good place to start if you are planning a senior golf vacation. You want to find a course that offers a challenge as well as some great people to meet. You might even consider playing a game at some the courses where the pros give lessons or play a leisurely round of golf just like you. You can look through brochures or websites to see exactly where to plan your next golfing vacation.

When you plan a golfing vacation, you usually find a package deal that includes hotel accommodations, golfing and other related rewards to your vacation. You might even enjoy a day of lessons from some pros. Senior golf is an enjoyable sport that sees no age limit as do some other sports. This sport is for all ages, the more you play the better you get, and with a few good tips, you gradually improve your game. If you plan your senior golf outing at the right time, you might even find that the weather is just right for playing. After all that is why the pros use these courses to stay in the game. You could find yourself right in front or behind some of the most reputable players in the world. This sure would enhance the golfing vacation.

You can choose where and when to travel, but if it happens to be in an area where the Senior Open is going on, you could also spend a day watching how they perform. Some golf courses even have their own resort hotels, which makes tee time no problem. You will find many opportunities to experience playing golf away from home on a new course. This is the most exciting part about planning a golf vacation.

You might consider a senior golf outing to the Jack Nicholas Golf Course down in Florida. This course is considered a prime golf course that offers a challenge for any player. If you find yourself intrigued with the course and need more time, you might even consider a condominium right by the course so your vacation can become permanent. You are going to see many different courses you can plan a vacation around looking for information about the top courses is found on the Internet. Start your search with "Championship Golf Courses" and see where the pros keep up with their game and stay in shape.

To your golfing success

Fran

Golf Training

Golf Training for Success


How does anyone become better at what they do?

Anyone knows that get to the top of your game you need practice and the more you want to succeed the more you will need to practice.

Vijay Singh has been known as the golfer who practices more than any other.  He has stated that he might not be the most talented golfer in the world but his dedication to practice more often and longer than most others enabled him to succeed beyond the expectations of many people.

Vijay got to the top of his game by practicing from morning until night.  Before tournaments here would be practicing for hours.

Michael Campbell won the US Open and in his early years when he was a youngster he would practice so much in his yard he would literally wear the clubs out and have to replace them for more practice.

The more you practice the higher the probability that you will naturally make the right moves without having to think about the actions you are taking.

And the less you have to think about your stance, swing and so on, the more likely you are to hit the sweet spot more often and get the ball sailing through the air as though Tiger has just hit it.

Practice can be both cheap and convenient with driving ranges allowing you to hit a bucket full of golf balls to naturally program your mind and body to perform better once you hit the course in the weekend.

Here's the fun part - while your mates are watching television during the week you can sneak off to the driving range and sharpen your skills and then trounce them on the weekend and they will be none the wiser where your newfound skills have been honed.

To your golfing success

Fran

Golf Tips

Golf is good for you!


There’s no doubt about it that the game of golf is one that is massively popular all over the world. Golf is a low-impact sport that can provide participants of all ages not only a fun recreational activity but also some type of exercise. Golf is good for the body, it’s good for the mind, it’s good for social activities, and it’s good for business.

There has been a renewed interest in golf lately among the younger generations with the rise in popularity of golf phenomenon Tiger Woods. These days, golf is enjoyed by young and old alike. It gives fathers time to spend with sons and daughters, brothers with sisters, and friends with other friends.

The game of golf is played on both the amateur and professional levels with notoriety coming to good players locally and nationally. The professional golfers who are most famous are well-known world-wide, and often people strive to emulate them and their amazing play styles.

Of course, golf isn’t without its stressors. It’s nice to be out on the course when it’s a sunny spring day with a mild breeze, but it can be spoiled by bad shots, horrible lies, water hazards, and missed putts. You see, golf isn’t an exact science. There are many variables that go into a good golf swing, and it’s nearly impossible to perfect them all – all at the same time.

Even so, golf can become an obsession with some people as they strive to lower their scores and beat their friends. Millions of dollars is spent every year on golf lessons, magazines, how-to videos, and programs that purport to improve your golf swing and lower your score.

Golf equipment is also big business as clubs are always evolving with new technologies and equipment to build them. Big head drivers, graphite shafts, and other equipment advancements are touted as being the new best things in golf. They are advertised heavily and make claims that you just have to have these products if you want to play good golf.

If you’re not a golfer, you might wonder what’s so wonderful about this game. After all, taking a stick and hitting a little ball into a hole doesn’t sound like very much fun. But golf is challenging and involves much more than just physical ability. It requires thinking skills, deduction skills, and mental clarity. Because it’s nearly impossible to perfect a golf game, it’s a great way to challenge yourself as well as others.

We highly suggest you take up golf if you want a ways to meet new people, connect with old friends, and enjoy a fun, challenging activity. The golf course is also a great place to conduct business. There’s so much we can say about golf, but nothing extols the virtues of this sport like getting out on the links and just doing it!   Happy golfing   Fran

Getting The Most From Golf Lessons

We think that a Pro would critique harshly, but they are honest, positive and very helpful.

Lessons at the local course aren’t as expensive as you might think and they are worth it because your game will improve rapidly and cause you less frustration, making the game much more enjoyable for you.   Of utmost importance, is being honest about your game. The Pro will ask you what you want to start with; driving, chipping, putting or whatever you feel you need help with.   Listen carefully and follow the instructions. You may have doubts if the Pro changes your stance, your grip or your swing; the Pro knows best.   Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Don’t worry about if the question or concern in stupid-they’ve heard it all before and will not make you feel like an idiot for asking. If you don’t "get it", tell him/her that you’re not getting it. You should never walk away from a lesson with unanswered questions.   You can concentrate on one thing during a lesson, or several. You might start with a lesson in driving; get the right grip, the right stance, the right swing, the right follow-through in one lesson, and then practice it. Next time, you might work on your short game, or putting.   You’ve invested in the equipment, doesn’t it make sense to learn how to use them to their advantage and improve your abilities?   Happy Golfing
Fran

Add Variety To Your Practice

Many golfers practicing the same shots over and over again. That's Ok if it is an area that needs concentrated attention, and the more you practice a shot the better you will become at it. If you practice a shot enough you will virtually do it on autopilot when you get to the course, but you must also remember that variety will make you a better all round golfer.

The more techniques that you can master, the better you will be on competition day. You can do this by trying new techniques when you practice.

Observe the results you get when you use different clubs or try different techniques. Try adding some spin to the ball and see how this affects the flight. Use different types of golf balls to see whether your level of expertise has changed and allowed you to get more benefit from the different ball compressions.

You may even want to consider testing new golf clubs. As your game progresses, so will your need to change equipment accordingly. You won't want to be using the same clubs you had when you started playing and you will probably not want to be using the same golf balls either. Better equipment will allow you to make shots that weren't possible before, and practice will help get you to the next level where you can take advantage of this equipment.

Try adding more backspin to your shots and see if this helps position the ball better for the next shot and offer more control on faster courses. Your practice time should also be a time where you allow yourself the opportunity to experiment and try to broaden your game. Having the ability to add spin to the ball might be the difference between hitting a tree and landing on the green.

You can never learn too much in the game of golf.

To your golfing success
Fran

Training Aids

Finding The Best Golf Trainer

It is an unending cycle for golfers to constantly try new training aids in a bid to improve their swing and putting skills. There are innumerable trainers available and advertised in golfing magazines and on the Internet. But, the key is to find the best golf trainer that can actually help you to improve your game and hence your scores.

One of the simplest trainers is the weighted golf club. The additional weight of the club not only provides additional exercise to the shoulders and other related muscles, but also provides increased momentum during the strike. You can also improve your swing technique, including your back-swing and your downswing. The weighted club will also enable you to hit the ball farther without straining your back. Once your muscles get accustomed to the additional weight, then you will be able to work the same wonders with your regular club.

Another trainer that could specifically help your swing is the golf swing plane trainer. This is a large contraption that is usually circular and is made of round PVC pipes. These pipes are assembled at an angle to your body and help you by guiding your club along its swing path. Many golf ranges have also installed these trainers to guide their members. The golf swing plane trainer is specifically used to improve your swing plane and path. Some golf swing plane trainers are also available with rubber bands that provide resistance, when hooked up with your arms. These bands provide the vital exercise that is needed to improve your shoulder, back and arm muscles.

A golf club with a hinge near the head or the grip is another trainer that can help in improving your swing. This club will teach you, on how to maintain a fluid motion and also on the correct angle, when you swing. You can also hit the balls with this club and the beauty of this invention is that it provides you with instant feedback every time you take a swing. These clubs are sold with an accompanying instructional video, in order for you to correctly use the club.

Along with the mechanical trainers, the market is also awash with hi-tech laser trainers that use one or two lasers to guide you on the correct plane of your club and the path that needs to be followed for that perfect swing. A training video and a training mat that can be used for putting and even for long shots too accompany these. These lasers are fitted near the grip of your club, in order to track your swing motion.

A costlier hi-tech trainer uses the combination of a high-speed camera linked with a computer. In this method, you will need to hook up the camera with your computer and load the software. The camera will follow your entire swing action, feed the photos or video to the computer, which will then analyze your action and display the errors that you have committed along with the right method that you need, in order to improve. Even though this method is quite costly, it can provide you with visual proof and also guide you visually, in order to improve.

The best way to find the best golf trainer that could suit your playing style is to first try them out. If you plan to order it through the Internet, then try the product at a friend's place or a golf range first, if that is possible. These golf trainers can thus help you to improve your swing and your putting techniques and this could translate into improved scores.

To your success on the golf course!!

Fran