Golf Swing Book

Practicing Smart

Admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:13:38 +0000

photo credit: Hawaiiwave19 Too many amateurs spend their time on the practice range in an unproductive manner. They can be observed hitting balls with each and every club thinking that it will help them develop a familiarity with every club in the bag.

The bottom-line is that if you are swinging properly, it doesn’t matter what club you have in your hands. You must work on your tempo which will create solid contact with the ball.

At the range, try hitting only the following clubs: pitching wedge, 6-iron, driver, or: pitching wedge, 4-iron, 3-metal. The lob wedges deserve special attention since they can be very difficult to master properly. At least half of your practice time should be devoted to putting.

The Need for Practice

Admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:55:39 +0000

Golf is like no other game. A player like Tiger Woods, who was at the top of his game for so long, can lose his edge in a matter of weeks. After nearly a year, Woods’ game is finally starting to make a come-back but only after an almost fanatical practice schedule.

The single biggest problem with most amateurs is their lack of a systematic practice schedule. Playing once or twice per week just won’t get the job done if you want to improve. You cannot expect improvement in your game without spending sufficient time on the practice range. Bring no more than 3 clubs per session. Doing so will pay great dividends in your game and enjoyment on the course.

Arguments on the Course

Admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:57:01 +0000

photo credit: Johan Lange Golf is a stressful game which can turn into an emotional roller-coaster. Whenever feelings run this high, the possibility for confrontation is always lurking. Sometimes, for the smallest of reasons, an argument can disrupt and ruin what was, a fun round of golf.

Golf is known as a ”gentle-men’s game” but sometimes even a gentle person can get caught up in a vocal broo-ha-ha. If ever an argument occurs, keep your opinions to yourself and stay out of the conversation. Remaining quiet provides a way for any argument to lose steam. In almost every case, expressing an opinion adds fuel to the fire. If things get too heated, simply call it quits and head for the clubhouse. It may be time to look for some new playing partners.

The Short Knock-down

Admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:28:59 +0000

photo credit: SimonDoggett If you find yourself faced with a lie that requires a low shot with plenty of roll, play a knock-down shot.

In order to keep the the flight of the ball low, choose a long iron such as a 4-iron. Step into the address position and play the ball back in your stance (closer to your back foot). The height of the shot depends on how far back in your stance the ball is played (the loft of the club is also a determining factor). Grip down on the club.

On the takeaway, keep the clubhead low to the ground. If your backswing is too upright, loft will be added to the shot. There is no need for a full follow-through on short knock-downs.

The Harbor Club

Admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:22:04 +0000

photo credit: J Anand The Harbor Club G.C. is located in Northeastern Ohio 55 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio. Designed by Bertie Way, the course opened in 1923. From the blue tees the layout is 6035 yards, playing to a par 71. Don’t be deceived by the course’s length, the Harbor Club presents a true test of golfing skills.

The Harbor Club offers many surprises because of it’s spectacular scenic terrain. There are several par-3s that require extreme uphill shots with just the top of the pin in sight. Although the course is not heavily trapped, accurate approach shots are a must to it’s “postage stamp” greens.

The Harbor Club is one of those “hidden gems” that should be on your list of “must play” courses. To learn more go to: www.harborgolfclubashtabula.com/

The Mulligan

Admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:41:44 +0000

photo credit: Shannon Phantom Traditionally, the mulligan is a shot that is re-taken only on the first tee. Although there are no USGA rules governing the mulligan, it’s use continues among amateurs all over the world. If a mulligan is taken and is worst than the first, the second shot is called a “Finnegan.” Many golfers feel that giving a mulligan is good etiquette and in many cases, mulligans are sold to raise money for charity events.

The term “Mulligan,” was derived from the name of a Canadian golfer named David Mulligan in the 1920s. During a round of golf at the Country Club of Montreal in Saint Lambert, Canada, Mulligan hit a poor tee shot, re-teed and shot again. He called it a “correction shot.” As time evolved, it became a “mulligan.”

Courses and Tournaments

Admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:59:52 +0000

photo credit: vic.bergmann The oldest bridge in golf, is nearly 1000 years old. The stone bridge over the Swilken Burn at St. Andrews in England (where Jack Nicklaus’ farewell photo was snapped), dates back to about A.D. 1000. There was no golf course there at that time. . . mainly because golf had yet to be invented.

Through 2001, the following states have hosted the most championships: Georgia, 67; New York, 24; Pennsylvania, 23; Illinois, 19; Ohio 18; California, 13; Michigan, 11; Massachusetts, 10; New Jersey, 9; Minnesota, 7 and Oklahoma, 7.

Here is an unusual and interesting oddity about St. Andrews course in Scotland: The par ratings of the individual holes for an 18-hole palindrome. They read the same way backward and forward: 444-454-434-434-454-444.

Be Conservative

Admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:12:37 +0000

photo credit: Tom Purves As a golf round progresses, adrenalin begins to flow whether a good, or bad round is being played. If you are in the process of shooting a good round, your desire to finish strong increases and the “rush” begins. If you are in the midst of a bad round, anger can develop which also increases the flow of adrenalin.

The surest way to play good golf is to try to maintain a steady, consistent attitude. In almost every case, this can be accomplished by playing conservatively. Approach each shot from a conservative point of view. Instead of trying to “bomb” a 3-metal 270 yards, swing easier and be happy with 230 yards. Maintaining a conservative attitude can and will work wonders for your game.

Historical Information

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:40:33 +0000

photo credit: Rob Ireton In the early 1900s, a British golfer played a hole in one over par. Referring to the “Colonel Bogey March,” which was popular at the time, the golfer told his playing partner. “Even Colonel Bogey could have done better than that!” From that moment on, a score of one-over was called a bogey.

In 1922, the federal director of Prohibition enforcement for Minnesota gave these four reasons why golf was bad for family men: “First, golf is not intended for anybody under 55 years of age. Second, it encourages idleness and shiftlessness. Third, men neglect their families and their business duties to play the game. And fourth, young men are tempted to take on expenses they cannot meet and so frequently are led to commit crimes.”

The Real Home of Golf

Admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:49:46 +0000

photo credit: Loz Flowers Was Italy, rather than Scotland, the real home of golf? Did the Italians invent golf? The oldest known activity resembling golf was a Roman game called paginica, played in an open field with a bent stick and a leather ball stuffed with wool. The theory is that the Romans brought the game with them when Julius Caesar led the invasion of Britain in 55 B.C.

The expression “O.B.,” which stands for “out of bounds,” is believed to have been coined in Ireland in the 1930s at Ballybunion. There was a graveyard to the right of the 1st hole and Finbar O’Brien’s farm beyond it. Many a tee shot was either “in the graveyard” or “O.B.” The words “out of bounds” stood the test of time.