“The Old Course”

photo credit: beltzner   St. Andrews, known as “the home of golf,” is hallowed ground although some would rather forget about it.  Here are what a few of the greats have had to say about it:

Tony Lema > “St. Andrew?  I feel like I’m back visiting an old grandmother.  She’s crotchety and eccentric but also elegant.  Anyone who doesn’t fall in love with her has no imagination.”  Sam Snead > “Say!  That looks like an old abandoned golf course.  What did they call it?”  Nick Faldo >  “When it blows here, even the seagulls walk.”  Jack Nicklaus > “A British Open at the home of golf is the most intriguing and maybe the most demanding challenge in the entire game.”  Scott Hock > “The worst piece of mess I’ve ever played.”

New From Titleist

photo credit: SimonDoggett   The Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons are new and improved for 2010.  The AP1 incorporates a dual cavity design with a perimeter weighted back flange and tungsten nickel sole bar which places the center of gravity (CG) low and deep for increased  forgiveness and stability.  The new soft elastomer tuned feel system, in the back cavity,  improves sound and feel at impact.  Keynote – more forgiveness.

The AP2 irons include a tungsten nickel sole box with reduced bounce that delivers better contact and control.  Dual cavity design pushes weight to the perimeter for better playability.  The new AP2s also include the new soft elastomer tuned feel system in the back cavity for improved sound and feel.  Keynote – Low Handicappers can expect more control and improved feel.

Putter Innovations for 2010

photo credit: nsaplayer   Putters have come a long way baby!  From the wooden shaft flat-stick to the new Edel 303 ($800) with the interchangeable faceplate.  Modern putters have morphed from the plain to the almost, grotesque.  The Odyssey Sabertooth2 ($180) with it’s scary looking design is a good example.  The new Rife 400 Mid Mallet ($100), weighs 300 grams and has a “rollgroove” face designed to impart forward spin. 

Wilson has come out with the 8881 ($90) featuring a milled face with arched grooves designed to impart slight side spin on the tow and heel for corrections.  The Heavy Putter PX3 ($120) has a head that weighs 400 grams to help stabilize the hands and arms during the stroke.  Scotty Cameron’s ($300) new Coronado has a flared-toe design which uses a patented “honey-dip” finish.

Inner Strength

photo credit: plasticrevolver   As golfers, sometimes we have to call on our inner strength to get over a bad round.  Bad rounds are a normal phenomenon that happen to every golfer, no matter what their level of play.  For a Tour player, a 73 may be a bad round but for most amateurs, a 73 would be a gift. 

When a bad round does occurs, it’s human nature to get mad at yourself but it’s a normal reaction for anyone that truly loves the game.  Realize that bad rounds are just part of the game, everybody has them but it’s how you handle them that counts.  These kinds of rounds will never really go away because that’s the nature of this wonderful game.

Slow it Down

photo credit: Lisa Sanderson   When the adrenaline starts flowing, the first thing that happens is your swing gets faster.  You can get a surge of adrenaline at any time whether it’s from a long drive, good approach shot or a 35 ft. putt.  Once the adrenaline hits your bloodstream you become stronger and more alert and your tempo suffers because your swing is faster.

If you find your swing getting faster,  you need to concentrate on swinging smoothly.  Getting back to your original good tempo as soon as possible is the key.  Make some slower than normal practice swings, take some deep breaths and forget about that great shot you just made.  Get back in the moment as soon as you can.  Don’t allow yourself to get angry when playing.

President Kennedy

photo credit: cliff1066™From the pages of GOLF DIGEST:  President Kennedy invited Abraham Ribicoff to play 9 holes while his Cabinet was being picked for his first term in office as President.  The press asked Ribicoff what he shot, “Forty-three, and Mr. Kennedy beat me by one stroke.”  he said.  Ribicoff actually had shot 38 to Kennedy’s 42.  JFK had a wire sent to him quickly:  “President deeply disturbed at newspaper report of your golf score, insists that anyone connected with his (Kennedy’s) administration be as clean as a hounds tooth.  Please wire me if you get work.” 

Kennedy eventually appointed him Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.  President John F. Kennedy was typically a very accomplished golfer.  Some say, if not for his war injury he could have been a “scratch” player.

WinnLite Grips

photo credit: dhilgart   The grips on your clubs play an important role in how well you play the game.  Throughout the long history of golf, leather was the most common grip material but today, rubber is king.  Winn is one of the top grip manufacturers and is recognized by golfers everywhere.  The company makes grips in every size and shape. 

Recently, they have introduced the “WinnLite” grip which is about half the weight  of the conventional grip.  The lighter grips help generate more clubhead speed which results in greater distance.  The new grips come in Firm, Medium or Soft in all sizes.  The company claims that “Independent tests prove that the WinnLite outperforms a major rubber grip in distance, accuracy and feel.”   Try them yourself.

Hand Shift

photo credit: klavr   There are several subtleties that can affect ball flight.  One of the most challenging is the positions of the hands (grip).  Lets assume you are employing the proper grip, the Vs of your hands are pointing to the inside of each shoulder.

Right handers = Turning the right hand slightly to the right (strong grip), will tend to create a hook.  Doing so also creates a more powerful swing.  Turning the right hand to the let (weak grip) tends to cause a fade or mild slice.  The weak grip will mean less shot distance.

Moving the hand positions, even slightly, can create a major difference in your golf shots.  One of the keys, in this case, is to gauge just how much to move them.  You can find this out on the practice range.

Playing in the Cold

photo credit: Ian Muttoo   Playing golf in cold weather can be a miserable experience but wearing the right clothing can make a big difference.  The key is to wear light, flexible and most importantly warm clothing, a difficult combination to find. 

Recommended Clothing:  Mittens – must be large enough to slip in and out of quickly.  Shoes – High tops;  Zoom Bandon by Nike are high top golf shoes $175.  Hat – fleece beanies are ideal.  Golf Glove – FootJoy Wintersoft $22.  Undergarment - Silk underwear.  Slacks – Preferably wool.  Upper Garment – Fleece zip top turtleneck.  Parka  & Outer Slacks - must be wind and rain resistant. 

The idea is not to overdress.  Layer light clothing with a wind resistant outer-shell.  Mobility is key because any restrictive clothing can hamper an otherwise good swing.

Wider Putting Stance

photo credit: idovermani  (Photo shows the “old” Mickelson putting style).  Improve your putting by widening your stance.  Most players putt with their feet too close together which promotes poor balance and an erratic stroke.  This is especially true on windy days. 

Kenny Perry, with his wide stance, started the new trend.  Perry stands with his feet greater than shoulder width, when addressing his putts.  Phil Mickelson, changed his stance after spending time with Dave Stockton from the Champions tour.  One of the first things Stockton did was suggest that Mickelson take a much wider stance.

With a wider stance you should choke down on your putter to compensate for the loss of height.  Try this style for greater stability and more 20 footers.

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