Business on the Course
photo credit: billypoonphotos Donald Trump, one of America’s best known entrepreneurs once stated, “if you want to get to know a person, play a game of golf with them.” Golf is a great place to conduct business.
More business deals have been consummated while playing golf than any other sport. The game can reveal more about an individual than hours of conversation. A player’s reactions during the game will reveal a lot about their personality. For the observant business-person, like a Donald Trump, getting to know the person can give a decided edge in a business transaction.
The next time you want to conduct some business, do it on a golf course. Tip: If you are a salesman trying to make a sale, make sure your opponent wins !!
Golf – For Men Only
July 22, 2010 by Admin
Filed under In My Opinion
photo credit: Mikael Miettinen It’s uncanny how golf is portrayed as a man’s sport. If that isn’t bad enough, at one time, women were also not allowed to cast their vote in this country.
One good way to popularize women’s golf is to televise more LPGA events. How could it be that here was never a big deal made out of the likes of Annika Sorenstam or Lorena Ochoa, two of the greatest LPGA players ever? Compared to the Tiger Woods media frenzy, why did the news-media all but ignore Sorenstam and Ochoa?
It’s a mind-set that the LPGA just “isnt’ interesting enough.” I happen to think that the LPGA is very interesting. More media coverage would be good for the LPGA and good for the sport in general!
Playing in the Wind
photo credit: davedehetre The wind can humble even the best players. A golfer’s first reaction is to over-compensate, especially if the wind is blowing directly into their face. With crosswinds, players tend not to hit their shots far enough into the direction from which the wind is blowing. In tail-winds, players will tend to hit the ball harder to take advantage of the carry. When facing a headwind, over-swinging to get more distance, is the tendency.
When playing into a head wind, don’t swing harder, swing easier. Tee your ball lower and try not to hit a high shot. With tail-winds use less club tee your ball up higher for more control and a higher golf shot. Crosswinds are simply a matter of using good judgement.
The Wrong Friendly Advice
photo credit: by and by Every beginner is trying hard to play better, therefore, they always have an “open ear” to any king of advice they are given. Golfing friends are generous with tips about the game. Now you have a very poor learning environment. A willing listener and a friend who’s well intended to give the wrong advice.
There are many ways members in you playing group can help you. They can give you tips about etiquette but are they qualified to analyze your swing? Most likely, they are not and that is why lessons are so important in the beginning. The wrong advice can get you into a habit that can be extremely difficult to break, it can also make your instructors job that much harder.”
Practice Swing
photo credit: Chris Breikss Some new golfers don’t fully understand the purpose of the practice swing. The primary reason for the practice swing is to exactly duplicate the swing that you are about to make for the actual shot. Also, since all the terrain on the course varies, the practice swing should help you determine where the sole of the club meets the ground and to adjust accordingly.
One practice swing should be enough. The players that take more than one practice swing are usually guilty of slowing down play. It’s also not a good idea because it can be too tiresome, especially for those golfers that walk eighteen holes. If the lie is difficult, take two swings, otherwise, it should be one practice swing and “pull the trigger.”
Jack With No Pants
July 15, 2010 by Admin
Filed under Amusing Stories
photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf Jack Nicklaus decided to caddy for his son Gary at a PGA Tour qualifier in West Palm Beach, Florida. in 1997. The Golden Bear showed up bare-legged in shorts-an infraction of the Tour’s dress code for caddies. Not wanting to fail his son, Jack quickly slipped into a pair of rain pants while waiting for his wife, Barbara, to arrive with a pair of his slacks. It was all to no avail. Gary shot a 78 and failed to advance.
Winning the British Open in the early days of golf was no guarantee of future wealth. Robert Ferguson-champion in 1880, 1881, and 1882- spent the latter part of his life so poor that he had to work as a caddie at Royal Musselburgh, the scene of one of his British Open victories.
Club Yardage
photo credit: SimonDoggett Most courses have sprinkler heads that are also yardage markers. Once you find one near your ball you can calculate the yardage in relation to your lie. Yardage markers aren’t helpful, however, if you do not know how far you are able to hit each club in your bag. Some golfers just guess but if you want to excel, you must know your yardages.
Go to the practice range with all of your clubs. Warm-up by hitting each club a few times. When you are ready, hit five balls with each club and judge the average of all five shots. The average is your distance for that particular club. Make a chart and write your numbers down and keep it with you when you play. No more guessing !
Danger on the Course
photo credit: Hawaiiwave19 Golf is known for it’s congenial, benign atmosphere, it’s a quiet environment but it can also be a very dangerous sport. Standing too close to a person who is swinging a club is dangerous. Swinging a club too close to another can cause the same type of serious injuries. Standing to the side front of a golfer who’s hitting a shot, can be extremely hazardous.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Getting hit from an errant shot can land you in the ER. Don’t hit your shot until the fairway or green is cleared of people. Never hit into the golfers playing ahead of you, in hopes that they will play faster.
Don’t take chances on golf carts, drive with caution. Flipping a cart can be fatal. Learn more at: www.golfinstructionblog.com.
The Short Irons
photo credit: SouthAsiaGolf The 8-iron, 9-iron and Pitching Wedge are the “approach clubs.” These clubs are your “money-makers” and hitting them well can definitely lower your scores dramatically. In the address, use a narrow and more open stance. The forward foot should be flared more dramatically towards the target. The ball should be played from the center of your stance (or sometimes right of center). The backswing is limited because of the shorter length of the club’s shaft.
Around the green, these three clubs can make your time on the golf course much more enjoyable, if you use them correctly. Chipping and pitching accuracy can mean the difference between a one putt or a three putt green. Spending a lot of time practicing with these clubs can produce huge benefits. Learn more at: www.golfinstructionblog.com.
The Long Irons
photo credit: endbradley The long irons are more difficult to hit than any other iron. Consistency and accuracy are harder to attain for several important reasons. As the number on the club increases, the length of it’s shaft decreases. In other words, a 2-iron has a much longer shaft than a 7-iron etc. Longer shafted clubs are more difficult to hit.
When playing a long iron, play the ball several inches left of center. Typically, with long-irons, the clubhead sweeps the ball off of the fairway. Since the clubhead of a long-iron has much less loft and clubface surface, hitting it on the sweet-spot can be a real challenge. Tip: Don’t try to over-swing or “strong arm” the shot, maintain a good tempo and let the club do it’s job. For more: www.golfinstructionblog.com.