Keep Your Stats To Improve Your Golf Game

If you are a “golf junkie” like I am, you are always looking for ways to improve your game, since you are reading this you probably fall into that category. One of the easiest ways to improve your golf game is to keep your stats. Let's face it, if you are not trying to improve your game what's the point? I often find myself playing golf with high handicap golfers ( not that there's anything wrong with that), but I find it interesting that a lot of times they don't keep their score. How can you expect to improve your game if you don't keep score? Seniors are notorious for this, but senior golfers are on most occasions on a different agenda, a lot of senior golfers are just out for exercise and commodore, and God willing, I sure hope I make it that far. For the rest of us that are trying to play better golf, keeping stats on your game is a must.Talk to most golfers on tour and they will tell you exactly where they stand in almost every category. The main reason for this is so they know exactly what they need to work on to improve their scoring average. At the 2006 U.S. Open Padraig Harrington finished 1 stroke behind Phil, Monty, and Jim Furyk for third place, the difference in his check was $245,000.00. If he cuts 1 stroke per day off his score he wins by 3 strokes. For the players on tour the meter is always running. Keeping your stats also helps keep your focus throughout the round. Even if I am not playing well on a particular day, I still keep my stats, that helps me from ”bailing” on the round. The best way to keep your stats is during the round, but if you don't like doing it during the round, make sure you do it right after while the round is still fresh in you mind. . Before the round grab an extra scorecard. Here are stats that you should keep:Fairways HitNumber of putts3 putts1 puttsGreens in regulationShort of greenOver greenThere are several golf statistics programs, the one I recommend is IntelliGolf. Once you have compiled your stats for a few rounds you will be surprised to see patterns in your game. Now all you have to do is focus your practice sessions on your weaknesses. If your intention is to play better golf, keeping your stats is where to start.

By Todd C. Robinson [ 22/06/2006 ][ viewed 174 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Golf Training Aids

Golf training aids can often give you that little extra help to improve your game of golf. They are available for every aspect of the game - your swing, putting, aim, grip - even measuring the slope of a green. There's quite an array of golf aids out there with varying degrees of usefulness. Here's a small list of available golfing training aids to give you an idea of what to look for, starting with golf aids for the swing. They're not arranged in any order of importance.1. The Swing Hat is composed of a microchip incorporated inside a comfortable golfing cap with earphones. Instant audio feedback is relayed to you about your spine angle, and the tempo of your stroke. It has an adjustable metronome and motion sensor. It is designed to help you improve while you are performing the swing or putt. It's concept is based on the two basic principles of a good golf swing. First, that your spine angle remains constant, and second, using your own personal "tempo", which can be found by experimentation.2. The Swing Analyzer is a portable device packed in a holster. It aims to help you maintain control of lateral rotation, and rotation of your trailing hip. It lights up, vibrates and beeps every time you are not swinging correctly! It can be usd to monitor your putting strokes as well.3. The Swing Glove. This golf training aid helps develop a feel for proper wrist and hinge movement. The glove extends up beyond the wrist and has a swivelling aluminium rivet sewn inside which eliminates wrist cupping and loopy swings. It forces the hand to remain in the correct plane throughout the entire stroke. After several uses one gets the 'feel' of a proper hand and wrist action.4. The Impact Ball again provides its user with the feeling of the best stroke to increase distance, keeping the club face square. Other methods teach you to memorise the mechanics, and this is often an unnecessary distraction. The method takes the focus away from the ball, and concentrates on the body and golf club working together. The large ball-like device, fits between the forearms and prevents those "flying elbows", "ckicken wings", scoops and slices. There are two sizes, one for men, the other for women.5. The Leader Board Swing Trainer lets you feel correct balance, and helps achieve proper timing in the swing. It consists of three pads covered in artificial grass. One is the "hitting pad" on which the ball is placed. The right foot is placed on the second pad which sits atop two rails, and slips backwards and forwards as the stroke is made. The third pad is for the left foot and remains stationary.The device teaches the user to put less weight on the back foot. Drills are suggested which target the components of the swing, and train the body to move in the proper sequence. Power cords are also available for resistance training to develop the muscles used in the swing.6. Putting Greens and Putting Mats come in many shapes and sizes, with slopes and measuring rods. A few incorporate an auto return ball feature and other gizmos. They all help with alignment to give a straight stroke path, and a feel for slopes up or down.7. Putting Glasses have markings on the lenses to align the golf ball, the feet, body posture and also align the track and distance to the hole. The idea is based on right or left eye dominance.8. Forward Facing Putter. The golfer faces the hole with feet pointing to the target, and the putter is held by the side of the golfer and pushed forward. The motion is rather like that of croquet. Apparantly it is easier to read the green, and the stroke is said to be more natural.9. Green Readers locate the slope, and the angle of that slope. Modern instruments provide an instant readout. They give a good indication of how much to adjust your stroke for uphill or downhill putts. It is against the rules to use them in actual competitions, but it is quite legitimate to use them in practice rounds on the same greens before the competition.10. Practice Nets come in all sizes from mini ones to large cages 10' X 10' X 10'. Some have a target at the end, and others have an auto return device for the ball. They need a baffler if regular golf balls are used to practice.11. Speed Sticks help you to hit the ball further by increasing the speed of your swing. The faster you swing the club, the further the ball will go. You simply swing the stick and read the indicator, then set it to zero again.They can be used indoors and outdoors. A "speed gauge", calibrated in miles per hour, tells you what the speed is. No guesswork, and you can track your progress.12. A Thumb Caddie keeps your golf grip consistent throughout your wing to give straighter and longer shots. It keeps your hands in the proper position, eliminating hooks and slices. The device slips onto any club.There are numerous other devices available which should not be too difficult to find, but the old addage, "Practice, practice, practice" still holds good. Golf training aids are after all only "aids".

By [ 25/06/2006 ][ viewed 105 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

4 Ways to Beat the Long Hitter

1. Hit it straightNothing gets inside a long hitters head faster then a fairway hitting opponent. Chances are the long hitter is not the most accurate driver of the golf ball, keep the heat on by hitting the fairway as much as possible. If you have to use a hybrid club or a iron off the tee to keep the ball in the fairway, the mental edge of hitting the fairway outweighs the loss of distance.2. Hit the greenMost of if not all of the time you will be hitting first, keep the heat on by hitting the green If he knows you are looking at birdie putts all day, it starts to wear on him3. Have a good short gameThe short game is the true equalizer on the golf course. If you have a sharp short game you can compete against any golfer on the planet.4. Ignore his distanceAccept the fact the he hits the ball 50 to 60 yards past you. If you accept the fact that distance doesn't matter, you will have another psychological advantage. What difference does it make if he is hitting a pitching wedge and you are hitting a 7 iron for your second shot? Golf is all about getting the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes, not how you got the ball in the fewest strokes.When you are playing a match against a long hitter, and lets face it, with the technology in golf clubs, golf balls, strength training and nutrition, guys are hitting the ball 300 plus yards on a regular basis. The fact still remains that when you are on the golf course you are walking (or riding) with a bag of tools. It is just a matter of using the right tool for task at hand. Does it really matter what club it takes you to hit a golf ball 150 yards? Weather it's a 6, 7,8 or 9 iron should not matter to you, and your opponents club selection should be the last thing from your mind during a match.The pride of the long hitters game is hitting it long, so the fact that you can compete with him without having to hit the 300 yard drives is already a advantage in your favor if you choose to look at it that way. As a short hitter you should focus on keeping the pressure on as much as possible. The four steps that I have outlined will give you the mental edge that you need to negate the long drives that your opponent is blasting past you.

By Todd C. Robinson [ 30/06/2006 ][ viewed 161 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Utility Golf Carts; The pros and cons of repowering your engines

These days, maintaining a fleet of golf carts and utility vehicles is more likely to be a matter of topping up battery cells than checking spark plugs and mixing fuel and oil. The majority of golf carts sold in the past decade or so has been electric. Electric golf carts, goes the traditional wisdom, are cheaper to maintain, easier to manage and less trouble in the long run than the models powered by small gas engines. Despite the popularity of electric golf carts, however, most pros agree that there are some jobs that require the power of a good gas engine. It’s not unusual for most course fleets to include at least a few gas golf carts that have been converted to utility vehicles for hauling and other purposes. What do you do when the motor on one of those starts to go? It used to be easy to replace those with a used utility or golf cart when the engine started to go – but not anymore. Used and rebuilt gas-powered golf carts are rare – and replacing them with a new gas-powered cart could run you between $12,000 and $20,000.The solution is simple. Don’t replace – repower. Repowering a utility vehicle that you currently own rather than replacing it with a new vehicle makes sound sense in many ways.1. By repowering a vehicle that you own, you extend the useful life of that vehicle or piece of equipment. There’s no need to scrap a perfectly good piece of equipment that just needs a bit of a boost in the engine department.2. Repowering a vehicle with a new motor can expand its usefulness. You can turn an old golf cart into an all-purpose hauler or plow by fitting it with a more powerful engine.3. You get a new warranty for your new upgraded engine. Depending on the dealer, you may find a Kohler engine repower kit that contains all you need to upgrade and includes a two-year warranty, or a Honda small engine to replace one that’s on its last legs, with a warranty for parts for up to two years.4. A repower Kohler engine or other small engine could save you money on fuel, especially if you upgrade to a cleaner burning fuel. And it will certainly be kinder to the environment.5. Speaking of kinder to the environment, check your state’s grants and proposals web site if you’re considering replacing old motor equipment. Many states offer substantial incentives if you choose to repower a high-emissions piece of equipment with a lower-emissions engine. The same holds true if you choose to refit an engine with after-market parts to reduce its emissions. In some cases, you can even apply for a reimbursement grant that will pay for a repower engine or the refit parts, along with any parts needed to fit the new engine into your tractor or utility vehicle.6. If your new repower engine does need repair, it will be far easier to get parts for a current engine than for an older model. Spare parts support is yet another reason to upgrade your engine with a repower.Repowering is also an excellent way to update your greens-keeping equipment. Little has changed in the business end of mowers, rakers and other turfcare equipment. Why replace a piece of equipment that’s in virtually excellent condition when a repower kit will upgrade it and keep it running in tiptop shape for years to come? Kohler makes repower kits for Toro, Jacobsen, Club Car and Cushman turf care equipment. All of the kits include with everything you need to drop a new engine into your trusted machine and update it to perfect working order.

By Ben Anton [ 30/06/2006 ][ viewed 154 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Proper Putter Length = Fewer Putts!

All too often, golfers will purchase golf clubs, including putters, straight off the shelves of your local sporting goods store, their local retail outlets, or from a fellow golfer. These purchases are made with no thought as to if that particular putter is even a proper fit to them or their game. Just like a fine suit is tailored to every inch of your body for exact fit your putter and every other club in your bag should be tailored to not only your body but your game as well. Everybody is different and unique.There is no one off the shelf set of clubs designed to fit every single golfer, or even the majority of golfers. If you took the putter measurements of 10 professional golfers, you would find that all 10 had in someway, different measurements including length, lie angle, loft, offset, weight, and design. All blended together with one single purpose in mind: to help the golfer make more putts!Can you imagine the frustration the pros would go through if they had to change their putting stroke to accommodate a different putter every time they decided to change their clubs? Yet 99% of all recreational golfers go about purchasing new clubs this way. They buy a club straight off the rack and then make the adjustments with their body to compensate for this new putter. Lets take a look at the biggest factor in putter fitting and how to correct it:Putter Length The length of your putter has a direct effect on how you set up to your putt. If you are like the majority of recreational golfers, your playing with a putter that’s either too long or too short for your natural stroke. Using a putter that's too long for you will set the ball too far away from your body. This affects how your eyes are positioned over the ball, having your eyes not over the target line, but inside of it. This will also cause your arms and hands to be much closer than you want to your body, not allowing your arms to hang naturally. This causes you to manipulate your hands and arms through the stroke to compensate for the length.Putters that are too short have the opposite effect. The ball is set too close to your body, causing your eyes to be well outside of your target line. Two short of putter will also cause you to have to extend your arms out further from your body causing to have to “reach” out to the ball during the stroke. To find your ideal putter length you can use a very simple method right from your own home. Without a putter in your hands, set up to address over a ball as if you were going to putt. Let your arms hang naturally in front of you as you reach out and grip an imaginary putter in the most comfortable and natural feeling manner. This will set your hands in their most natural position without being influenced by gripping an actual putter.Now without moving your hands or arms from this position, have a friend or spouse place your putter back in your hands. Notice where your hands are on the club NOW compared to where you gripped it in the past. You’ll probably be a bit surprised at where your hands end up on the putter. This is the correct length you should be playing with. Now with a piece of tape, mark one half-inch above the hand closest to your body on the putter grip, if your grip is now lower than before. If your new grip is higher up on the grip wrap the tape ½ in. below the bottom hand. This is how long of a putter you should be playing with.Your local Golf Outlet or Pro Shop can take this information and make the necessary adjustments for you at a very minimal cost.

By Scott Myers [ 06/07/2006 ][ viewed 116 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Golf Tips, Drive for Show-Putt for the Dough.

If you are seriously considering lowering your scores, then you must take your putting seriously, as roughly half the strokes you play in a round of Golf are likely to be on the putting green. However good you are at driving, pitching and chipping, if your putting is not up to standard, you will never make the next level. My Dad told me the famous quote when I was probably about 12 or 13, ‘Drive for show putt for dough’, this says it all! That is why it is quite incredible that putting is not often concentrated on.First of all I’d just like to say that there is no one correct putting grip/posture/stroke, there are wide variations, so if your technique is different, don’t worry, some of the top Golfers have very different putting actions e.g. Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson all have very different techniques. These are basic tips that can be
applied to most techniques to help improve your game.By gregory WADEL [ 23/07/2006 ][ viewed 94 times ]
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

St Andrews University Honouring Golf Legends

The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between 1410 and 1413. The university attracts students from over 100 countries and independent school intake is high, but the university has an active widening participation policy.St Andrews University has a history in honouring sports personalities especially the ones in the world of golf.About a year ago four of the biggest names in world golf have been awarded degrees by Scotland's oldest university to mark the beginning of the 134th Open Championship. Players Nick Faldo, Laura Davies and Peter Thomson have been honoured by St Andrews University, along with BBC commentator Peter Alliss. The golfers joined several other stars of the sport to be honoured by the university, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Colin Montgomerie and Seve Ballesteros. Peter Alliss was one of Britain's leading professionals but is now best known as a broadcaster for ABC in the US and the BBC in Europe. Nick Faldo won 30 times on the European Tour, six times on the USPGA Tour and has six majors to his name while Laura Davies was the first woman ever to win all three major golfing tournaments in one year during the 1980s. Peter Thomson, an Australian, is regarded as one of the world's best links golfers.In St Andrews, golf has been played in the town since around 1400 and the Old Course is known worldwide as "the home" of the sport, where the game evolved and where the spirit and traditions of golf have been safeguarded for over six centuries.This year, St Andrews University is honouring another legend of golf: Charlie Sifford, the American golfer who defied racism to become an inspiration for a generation of young players. He will get an honorary degree and become a Doctor of Laws at St Andrews University.Charlie Sifford was the first African-American to challenge the US Professional Golf Association's Caucasian-only clause by joining the professional tour in 1960 and he won the Hartford Open in 1967. In 1969 he took the Los Angeles Open. He played 422 events on the PGA tour and made 399 cuts. Although he was the top black player on tour in the 1960s, he was never invited to play in The Masters. During his career as a golfer he had to face death threats and racial slurs.Dr Brian Lang, principal and vice-chancellor of the St Andrews University said: "Charlie Sifford is a pioneer of the civil rights era whose career exemplifies courage, determination and the will to succeed in the face of substantial prejudice and adversity. He changed the landscape of sport and his story is one which should challenge and inspire us all". He added that "It is absolutely fitting that this man, his unique character, his dignity and his gift to golf should be honoured by St Andrews in St Andrews."

By Alison White [ 24/07/2006 ][ viewed 423 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Balance and Your Golf Game

Golf professionals all have different opinions on improving your golf game, but most agree on one thing. Unless you keep your balance during the entire swing, you simply cannot have a good stroke. Keeping your balance should be easy right? If you are so tense that you’re crushing your club, tensing your entire body and trying to hit the ball to hard, it’s nearly impossible.As a beginner playing golf, you’re told quite often to not hit the ball to hard. Staying focused and hitting the ball with the center of the club will give you a longer shot that a swing that doesn’t hit at the club’s center, no matter how hard. Establishing your balance frees you to hit the ball correctly.Keeping your head still will allow you focus on the ball. With your eyes on the ball, this creates a foundation for keeping you balanced. It is imperative that you keep your head perfectly still and ensure it doesn’t move during your swing. Movements or distractions that disrupt your balance mean you lose focus on the ball.Keeping your body relaxed is the key. Relaxing your muscles and body will prevent your head from moving during the swing.Use a mirror to watch yourself. This allows you to quickly realize that you need to relax in order to keep your head still while you swing. Since your build and movements are not the same as mine, you’ll have to work out some of the details on your own. Work the most on keeping your head in the same position from start to finish through your swing. Doing this will let you focus on the ball and you will turn your hands at the right time.If you can master keeping your head completely still, you’ll see several problems disappear altogether. Eventually, you will grip your club correctly every time, keeping your balance and keeping your head still, without even thinking.A correctly formed follow through will also mean that you can keep your balance.Concentrating on your balance, and keeping your head still will prevent you from swinging to hard or pulling your club away. The amount of strength you put into your swing will be just right, and you’ll stay relaxed and finish successfully with a smooth swing.Enjoying a great game of golf requires keeping your balance. This isn’t a quick fix, it’ll take time but you should start seeing improvement quickly, but be patient. Focus on maintaining your balance, and your head in one position, and in almost no time at all you will be enjoying such an improvement your friends will be asking for your secrets.

By Jeff Rose Rose [ 01/08/2006 ][ viewed 251 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Tiger Woods went through the Victory Routine for yet another Major Championship

When he began his first round in the 135th British Open at Royal Liverpool Tiger Woods looked like he had a plan.Starting with a one-shot advantage and with 14 men within five shots of his lead, Woods semt to be taking them down one by one. Just a month after he missed the first mayor cut of his professional carrer at the U.S Open, Woods won his fourth victory worldwide this year and third on the PGA Tour earned him $1.33 million and pushed him to the top of the money list. He became the first player to win the British Open back to back. Woods became the first player to win this event back-to-back since Tom Watson in 1982-83. He also tied Walter Hagen, who won a British Open on these same storied links in 1924, for second place on the all-time list of major winners. At the age of 30, he's seven away from matching the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus.Woods showed us a hint of his softer side after his victory in the 2005 Masters. He had choked up during the victory ceremony when he mentioned that Earl Woods, that for the first time, had been too weak to attend. But he quickly recovered that day.This triumph marked the fist time that he couldn't hug his beloved "Pops" or at least phone home after a major victory. Woods raised his arms, bellowed, "Yes," and punched the air. Seconds later, standing in the middle of the green, he buried his head in the shoulder of his caddie, Steve Williams, and began sobbing uncontrollably. It is very understandable knowing that whole bunch of things piled up, dealing with a challenging golf course, holding off a gaggle of prominent players trying to catch him and ultimately prevailing in a major championship all paled in comparison with the sadness he felt knowing he would not be able to tell his father all about it, but we all now he would have been proud, very proud.

By Ally White [ 25/07/2006 ][ viewed 149 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Balance and Your Golf Game

Golf professionals all have different opinions on improving your golf game, but most agree on one thing. Unless you keep your balance during the entire swing, you simply cannot have a good stroke. Keeping your balance should be easy right? If you are so tense that you’re crushing your club, tensing your entire body and trying to hit the ball to hard, it’s nearly impossible.As a beginner playing golf, you’re told quite often to not hit the ball to hard. Staying focused and hitting the ball with the center of the club will give you a longer shot that a swing that doesn’t hit at the club’s center, no matter how hard. Establishing your balance frees you to hit the ball correctly.Keeping your head still will allow you focus on the ball. With your eyes on the ball, this creates a foundation for keeping you balanced. It is imperative that you keep your head perfectly still and ensure it doesn’t move during your swing. Movements or distractions that disrupt your balance mean you lose focus on the ball.Keeping your body relaxed is the key. Relaxing your muscles and body will prevent your head from moving during the swing.Use a mirror to watch yourself. This allows you to quickly realize that you need to relax in order to keep your head still while you swing. Since your build and movements are not the same as mine, you’ll have to work out some of the details on your own. Work the most on keeping your head in the same position from start to finish through your swing. Doing this will let you focus on the ball and you will turn your hands at the right time.If you can master keeping your head completely still, you’ll see several problems disappear altogether. Eventually, you will grip your club correctly every time, keeping your balance and keeping your head still, without even thinking.A correctly formed follow through will also mean that you can keep your balance.Concentrating on your balance, and keeping your head still will prevent you from swinging to hard or pulling your club away. The amount of strength you put into your swing will be just right, and you’ll stay relaxed and finish successfully with a smooth swing.Enjoying a great game of golf requires keeping your balance. This isn’t a quick fix, it’ll take time but you should start seeing improvement quickly, but be patient. Focus on maintaining your balance, and your head in one position, and in almost no time at all you will be enjoying such an improvement your friends will be asking for your secrets.

By Jeff Rose Rose [ 01/08/2006 ][ viewed 247 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Tiger Woods got his 50th PGA Tour title

The one and only Tiger Woods won his 50th PGA Tour title last Sunday in the Buick Open, shooting his fourth-straight 6-under 66 for a three-stroke victory over Jim Furyk who finished with a 64.Tiger Woods accomplished a season-low 24 under and made a career-high 28 birdies in the tournament to hold off Furyk for his fourth win of the year. Woods earned $864,000 pushing his tour-leading total to $5,127,563.Woods achieved his most recent victory after an emotional triumph in the British Open and before he shoots for his 12th major at the PGA Championship, where he hopes to close in on the record he longs for: Nicklaus' 18 pro major championships.Tiger Woods, at the age of 30 years old, is the youngest golfer to accomplish 50 PGA Tour Victories after beating an old record established by Nicklaus in 1973 at the age of 33. Woods has made 196 PGA Tour starts as a pro and 210 overall. Nicklaus won his 50th title in his 280th start overall and 262nd as a professional.Woods became the seventh member of the PGA Tour's 50-win club and improved to 21-for-21 when leading by more than one stroke after three rounds. Wood has experienced four triumphs so far this year that have come in 11 events.At Warwick Hills, Tiger Woods made four birdies on the front nine to build on the two-shot lead he had at the start of the 4th round, leaving his rivals hopeless.Furyk briefly tied Woods at the 12th hole, but Tiger approached from 105 yards landing close enough for a tap-in birdie at the 13th. This birdie allowed Woods to take a two-shot lead at the 15th hole leaving Furyk behind and practically assuring Woods the victory of the Buick Open for the second time.Vijay Singh had won the last two Buick Opens. This tournament’s victory would have been his third straight and four overall but instead he closed with a 70 to tie for 11th at 17 under.

By Julie Smith [ 08/08/2006 ][ viewed 230 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Ireland Golf Courses

In Ireland golf courses abound, both links and parklands varieties, about 410 in total, and this is a good number compared to the population of almost 6 million (4 million people in the Republic of Ireland, and 1.8 million in Northern Ireland). Ireland is one of the world's great venues for a dream golfing holiday.Links golf courses are usually found around the coastline where they've been scratched out of the abundant sand dunes, where the wind often challenges players, especially on the west Atlantic Coast side of the island. Their designers have also used the proximity of water to make the game on these courses more interesting. One of the most famous links courses is the Ballybunion Old Course, whose contures and sea breazes challenge every player.Parkland golf courses are mainly inland amongst the naturally hilly landscape where woodlands provide tree-lined fairways, which are used to advantage by their designers to test the competence of even the best of the pros. A notable parkland's course is the K Club just outside Dublin, which has been chosen to hold the Ryder Cup in September 2006. The Slieve Russell course in the Irish midlands is also another fine example. Seven of Ireland golf courses are included in a list of the best 100 golf courses worldwide (Golf Digest)They are:In Northern Ireland: Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce) and the Royal County Down In the Irish Republic: the "Old" club of Ballybunion (in the 1st ten world ranking), Lahinch, Portmarnock, The European Club and Waterville.GENERAL INFORMATION: Golf high season: June, July, AugustMid season: May, September, OctoberLow season: November through to AprilBook tee times well in advance of your vacation. About 20% of Ireland golf courses have their own website on which you can make a booking. Visit the author's website to see a list of them. Take care of how you dress. You may have difficulty at some venues if you do not take notice of the following advice regarding clothing. Wear proper shirts with sleeves and collars, golf shoes and sports socks, trousers or smart, tailored shorts. Clothes NOT TO WEAR include - denims, short shorts, trainer shoes or runners, track suits, sweaters without shirts, clothing with slogans.Always be at the course well before your tee time. Most courses allow spikes - some encourage their use in wet weather. Many links courses do not allow motorised golf buggies because of the hilly terrain.Take your handicap certificate with you as many golf courses will insist on visualising it. The handicap limit will usually be 28 for men, and 36 for women.If you are taking your own golf clubs with you, you'll need to acquire a very strong golf bag to protect them during manhandling by luggage personnel. Some find an easier solution is to hire golfing equipment in Ireland, in which case this should be done at the earliest time, when booking tee times.You'll find a friendly welcome not only from the Irish golfing community, but also from the population in general. Ireland has now become a very popular venue for a stimulating golfing vacation.

By [ 17/08/2006 ][ viewed 99 times ]

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Golf Comfort Zones - They're sabotaging your scores!

We all have what I call an inner game thermostat. It governs your inner game temperature, so to speak. Your comfort zone is like a climate controlled room. If it gets too cool then it's time to heat up. If it gets too hot the air conditioner turns on to cool things down.Your inner thermostat does exactly what it is preprogrammed to do - bring your game back to *normal*! How? By producing what appears to be the "wrong swing at the wrong time". Yet in reality it is actually the "right swing at the right time!" Your inner game thermostat calmly runs beneath your conscious awareness. Perfectly controlling your game.The same goes for when you are approaching your personal low score. Yet there's something funny about the settings on the low side of our comfort zone... The thermostat seems to kick in with even more certainty!(Have you ever noticed that even though your scores might be climbing and you are not happy about it, it feels easier and somehow more acceptable than going really low? I'm not saying you don't want to go low. I'm saying that you are *familiar* with shooting higher scores because you've done this more often than shoot really low scores.)As you get nearer to breaking your personal best it kicks on and returns your game to "normal". How? You card a couple bogies in a row and guess what? You magically shoot within the range of scoring your unconscious has hardwired for you! Your comfort zone is maintained*...The strange thing is there's nothing comfortable about it at all! We are comfortable because of only one thing: we have made it a habit. Comfort zones are a long and slow death to any hopes you have of reaching your potential. I don't care what kind of goal setting plan, or mental game worksheet you follow or how much you practice. Your internal setting for what you "believe" about your game is what calls the shots. Pun fully intended. :-)There are specific strategies for creating new settings on your inner game thermostat. Nothing complicated yet they are extremely powerful and effective. But hey, only you know how much you want to break out of your comfort zone....it's kind of like the proverbial frog in a pot of water. Set the frog in a pot of water and slowly bring it to a boil and the frog stays there because it is comfortable along the way...Reach the next level in your game and make the changes you want now. After all, the water is slowly coming to a boil...

By Wade Pearse [ 25/08/2006 ][ viewed 173 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Do You Always Have to Buy from the Ladies' Golf Section?

When you’re growing up as a young female golfer, it’s exciting to go into the sports store or browse on the Internet and find the products and accessories that are just right for a girl’s game.But as you grow up and your game gets better, you start to realize that you might have to start crossing the aisle and sneaking into the men’s section. Fortunately, manufacturers are starting to recognize that ladies golf is a profitable niche market that they need to cater to – delivering the same high quality products and options that men have.Customizing Your Golf ClubsFor a long time, women with long arms - or who were taller than the average female- had to invest in men’s golf clubs, so that when they addressed the ball, they didn’t have to bend their knees a little extra in order to make contact with it.But now many manufacturers are providing golf items for all women. Now, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, they’re selling petit, regular, tall, and left-handed clubs for lad golfers.Still, there might be a time when you’re at the course or the driving range and you swing a club that someone (male) in your group let you use for a shot. You loved it – but it’s a guy’s club – can you still use it?Of course you can. Don’t feel that your set of clubs have to all be from one manufacturer. Don’t be afraid to break up the set. You might have a men’s driver or men’s 5-iron that you want. There’s no set rule that says your set has to stay together. That’s what eBay is for. If you have a club you lo longer use, sell it or trade it in for something you like better.You may even want to customize your clubs as your game improves – golf shops can create the perfect shaft, grip and head that best fits your height, power and preferences.Accessorizing Your Game Regardless of GenderWhen you start knowing what you really want from your golf game, you’ll realize that comfort and performance outweigh visual appeal. You might go shopping for a good golf shoe and find that the men’s shoes offer more of what you want to walk an 18-hole course in order to come home without four blisters on your feet. Really, the only reason to prefer women’s golf accessories over the men’s is the fashion superiority and appeal they offer. Like top designers, golf manufacturers have recognized that some women want to look stylish on the links – whether it’s the Italian leather golf bag in camel or the Malibu Slingback Sandal that can be used both on and off the course.Some items, like the slingback sandal, will only be offered in the women’s section. And there are some accessories that will be reserved for the men, such as a money clip for those who carry their cash outside of a traditional wallet. While it’s hard to imagine that a man would prefer a slingback sandal, a woman who walks the course may not want to carry her large, bulky Louis Vuitton pocketbook in her bag. Admit it – some women’s purses weigh a ton and who wants to carry that extra load on the links? She might want to slip a money clip on the counter for those days when she doesn’t use a cart. That way, she has her cash for clubhouse refreshments or the round of golf (or a bet or two) but she doesn’t have to lug around anything unnecessary.Women today are edging their way into men’s professional tournaments. It’s safe to say the products that come out on the marketplace will allow women every advantage that men have on the course – whether it’s the power of a new hybrid club or the accessories that make the game of golf easier or more fun to enjoy.If you find yourself eyeballing an item that’s considered “for men only” in the golf world, break the rules and get it anyway. You’ll be alerting the golfing industry that they need to cater to the needs of ladies who might also want the same item on the women’s side of the aisel.

By Jerry Strain [ 27/08/2006 ][ viewed 114 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Do You Always Have to Buy from the Ladies' Golf Section?

When you’re growing up as a young female golfer, it’s exciting to go into the sports store or browse on the Internet and find the products and accessories that are just right for a girl’s game.But as you grow up and your game gets better, you start to realize that you might have to start crossing the aisle and sneaking into the men’s section. Fortunately, manufacturers are starting to recognize that ladies golf is a profitable niche market that they need to cater to – delivering the same high quality products and options that men have.Customizing Your Golf ClubsFor a long time, women with long arms - or who were taller than the average female- had to invest in men’s golf clubs, so that when they addressed the ball, they didn’t have to bend their knees a little extra in order to make contact with it.But now many manufacturers are providing golf items for all women. Now, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, they’re selling petit, regular, tall, and left-handed clubs for lad golfers.Still, there might be a time when you’re at the course or the driving range and you swing a club that someone (male) in your group let you use for a shot. You loved it – but it’s a guy’s club – can you still use it?Of course you can. Don’t feel that your set of clubs have to all be from one manufacturer. Don’t be afraid to break up the set. You might have a men’s driver or men’s 5-iron that you want. There’s no set rule that says your set has to stay together. That’s what eBay is for. If you have a club you lo longer use, sell it or trade it in for something you like better.You may even want to customize your clubs as your game improves – golf shops can create the perfect shaft, grip and head that best fits your height, power and preferences.Accessorizing Your Game Regardless of GenderWhen you start knowing what you really want from your golf game, you’ll realize that comfort and performance outweigh visual appeal. You might go shopping for a good golf shoe and find that the men’s shoes offer more of what you want to walk an 18-hole course in order to come home without four blisters on your feet. Really, the only reason to prefer women’s golf accessories over the men’s is the fashion superiority and appeal they offer. Like top designers, golf manufacturers have recognized that some women want to look stylish on the links – whether it’s the Italian leather golf bag in camel or the Malibu Slingback Sandal that can be used both on and off the course.Some items, like the slingback sandal, will only be offered in the women’s section. And there are some accessories that will be reserved for the men, such as a money clip for those who carry their cash outside of a traditional wallet. While it’s hard to imagine that a man would prefer a slingback sandal, a woman who walks the course may not want to carry her large, bulky Louis Vuitton pocketbook in her bag. Admit it – some women’s purses weigh a ton and who wants to carry that extra load on the links? She might want to slip a money clip on the counter for those days when she doesn’t use a cart. That way, she has her cash for clubhouse refreshments or the round of golf (or a bet or two) but she doesn’t have to lug around anything unnecessary.Women today are edging their way into men’s professional tournaments. It’s safe to say the products that come out on the marketplace will allow women every advantage that men have on the course – whether it’s the power of a new hybrid club or the accessories that make the game of golf easier or more fun to enjoy.If you find yourself eyeballing an item that’s considered “for men only” in the golf world, break the rules and get it anyway. You’ll be alerting the golfing industry that they need to cater to the needs of ladies who might also want the same item on the women’s side of the aisel.

By Jerry Strain [ 27/08/2006 ][ viewed 111 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Proper Body Alignment and Golf

With regards to scoring, putting is the most significant aspect of the game. It represents approximately 40 to 50 percent of your score. Studies have shown that just about 10 percent improvement in putting has greater impact on the score than a 10 percent improvement in any part of the game. You cannot always rely on your swing to conquer more greens in regulation. Hence, good putting is absolutely essential to make up for the losses. The most crucial aspect of putting is proper body alignment. If you wish to make consistent putts, your body should be aligned accurately along the correct line. Take the analogy of driving a car with misaligned tires. The car will either pull to the left or the right. It will never move long the straight line. Similarly, in putting, if you align your body too far right or left of the ‘ball to pin’ line, you will surely miss the putt.A majority of golfers misalign as well as under-read their putts. Good players use as many as 32 putts out of the allotted 36 putts per round. Hence, don’t feel bad if your putting stroke is not perfect. With lots of practice and proper body alignment, you can also improve your putting. Nowadays, a wide assortment of putting aids are available that can help you to improve your alignment. A putter is one such putting aid that can help you with your alignment. There are hundreds of different models out there, and you can purchase any one of them that is well-balanced and feels good. With the help of the putter, you can practice putting right in the comfort of your home. Even top professional golfers practice putting for innumerable hours on their carpets either to improve or maintain their putting strokes. Hence, carpet practice and proper body alignment will certainly improve your putting stroke too.

By [ 27/08/2006 ][ viewed 92 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Golf Adventures

Las Vegas might be a city of glitz and glamour but it is also a popular golf destination. With its extensive golf courses, golf resorts and one-of-a-kind packages, this city is where it all happens. There are several providers that offer exciting golf packages in Las Vegas, but none like www.lasvegasgolfadventures.com. Whether you come for the experience or for the game, this is something to watch out for.Golf is a game you can thoroughly enjoy. After you play your eighteen hole game, you can walk over to the ‘ninetieth hole’ to take a break. Exciting water hazards and bunkers will add to the excitement. But to enjoy all this, you will probably require a golf guide. Choose someone who not only knows the city but also the game. This is a vital element that can add value to your golf adventure.Las Vegas Golf Adventures offers affordable golf packages that will be the highlight of your vacation. The expert golf professionals will advise you on different avenues of the sport that you can play here. Not only do they take care of individual golfers but groups and corporate golf tournaments. Their end-to-end services include a plethora of gold entertainment. Your golf trip can take you from deserts to lakes with panoramic backgrounds to motivate you to play at your best.These golf trip providers will make all the arrangements to ensure that your trip is a memorable one. They offer excellent service by knowledgeable staff. That makes all the difference. If you are looking for accommodation then Las Vegas Golf Adventures can also arrange good quality rooms at affordable hotels. You can also enjoy your lucky streak at the nearby casinos. Combining a bit of gambling to your golf vacation can be lots of fun. These partner hotels offer world-class facilities and excellent cuisine. It will surely be a pleasure staying at the Las Vegas hotels.To play your game of golf you can choose from a wide selection of lush green golf courses. From the Aliante Golf Club and Reflection Bay Golf Club to TPC Canyons and Bear’s Best Golf Course, your choice can only be the right one. These renowned architect-designed courses are breathtaking especially to the avid golfer.There are several packages that are offered to golfers. You can choose one that suits your schedule and liking. Some packages are for three nights, others for four nights. Some offer three rounds and others four rounds. You can go online to check out the complete details and pricing on each. Further, the online booking facility makes this experience so much faster and easier. An online booking form will allow you to plan your golf vacation down to the very last detail.

By [ 29/08/2006 ][ viewed 97 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing...

What is the difference between the winner and the loser? A winner says "Of course I can do it! I've practiced it mentally a hundred times." While the loser says, "How can you expect me to do that? I don't know how!" The power of a focused mind is hard to overstate. In every area of life we read stories of almost miraculous results that came from applying specific visualizations.Your mind is a creature of habit. It loves routine. Now you might not enjoy routines but your mind certainly does! If you want to make real change in your game it will begin in your mind. Skiers, gymnasts, olympic athletes, business people, public speakers, and golfers all use visualization to improve performance. Do you? It is almost impossible to find a top level athlete who doesn't use peformance enhancing mental imagery strategies.Along with your visualization program, which can be as simple as 5 minutes a day before sleeping, you'll also want to employ your best self talk. Your internal dialogue must support your goals. Matching your self talk with focused mental imagery exercises will transform your game faster than every other method combined.Years ago in the olympics the cameras awaited a certain high jumper to begin his approach toward the bars and make his jump. Yet they waited and waited. The commentators did their best to fill the seemingly dead air. Why was he taking so long? We would learn later exactly what the reason was.The man's name was Dick Fosbury. He stood staring at the high jump and gently rocked back and forth on his feet. This motion simulated the initial move he would make to begin his run. A full 4 minutes passed before he began his jump! He did not take a single step toward his jump until he had completely rehearsed every nuance of the jump in his mind's eye.Talk about focus! Imagine all those cameras, spectators and millions watching on TV. That single jump, which won him the Gold Medal, revolutionized high jumping forever. Every other jumper began to copy the famous Fosbury Flop. Prior to this all he received was ridicule and doubt in his ability to compete with that "silly" technique.Winning is all in your mind. Or should I say it's all in your mind's eye...We all have an inner power that can be tapped and utilized in any way we choose. It requires some simple guidance and basic mental repetition. The same way you acquire any habit. The difference between being a winner and a loser is so small it's almost scary. Yet that "difference" can be tilted in your favor by a strategic use of your mind and eveloping a strong mental game.Your golf game will continue to move to higher levels and all the while your improvements will feel natural. You gain that much saught after skill of "staying out of your own way." Your physical skills will improve along with your emotional balance and mental focus when you practice a few simple visualization techniques.Whether it's a key match or tournament you're playing in or simply a friendly round with colleagues or friends, visualiztion will improve your game, relax your mind and enhance your satisfaction. There are few things in life as powerful as a well managed mind. Use it to your your advantage or it will continue to use you!The mind is a great servant but a poor master. You are either the master of your mind or a slave to its acquired habits. Either way it is all about choice. What do you choose?

By Wade Pearse [ 21/09/2006 ][ viewed 83 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

What is the Worst Lie in Golf?

What is the Worst “Lie” in Golf?Let us begin with a few myth busters, shall we.Myths -1) If you have a perfect golf swing you'll have a perfect game.2) You can buy a better game3) Technology has lowered golfers scoresMost every golfer subscribes to these beliefs in one way or another. The entire golf instruction, training aid, and golf club making market bear this out. Golf magazines, tv shows, and article after article offer tips, fixes, cures and virtually every imaginable training aid conceivable to craft the perfect swing. All with the pretense of helping you play better golf.Well has it worked? Let's take a look...In 1978 75% of all golfers never broke 90 - so barely 25% ever shot in the 80's.In 2004, a full 26 years later, after the advent of 460CC drivers with 45" multi-kick point shafts, cavity back irons, balls that prevent hooks and slices, and world class instruction from the smartest minds in the buz, that number has been increased by a wopping 3%!Now a full 28% of all golfers have broken 90. But hey, let's cut the industry some slack, there's only been 90+ billion spent on golf equipment over that time! That doesn't include lessons or training aids! All that technology and collective wisdom and this is how far we've come...impressive, huh.Seriously, any other business that produced numbers like these for their customers would be out of business. But the golfing public has an insatiable appetite that an ever growing horde of manufacturers and marketers are more than willing to feed.Ok, do you want to pay me now or later for the moral booster? What? This doesn't get you pumped about your prospects of dropping your handicap by 10 strokes by buying the next training aid?You mean to tell me you're not going to do that $2,500 re-shafting, ball changing, loft angle adjusting, launch angle increasing, club-fitting session you had booked for next Saturday? Hmmm, was it something I said?As golfers we are bombarded with instruction tips, training options, and product offerings that'll have your head spinning faster than Paris Hilton after swizzeling a half dozen Crantini's.Where's the moral you ask?So where's the moral of this myth busting story? Do we all just give up trying to improve? Absolutely not. We all need to fulfill that important human craving of getting better at what we love. Yet where we place our attention to achieve this goal is what has to change. Our core beliefs about what causes improvement should be based on reality, not myths. They should empower us, not encourage wishful thinking and needlessly empty our wallets."So if it isn't gear that makes us better maybe it's lessons," did I hear you say? Certainly lessons are an asset and obviously accelerate your skill development yet they're not absolutely essential either. Ask Lee Trevino, Jim Furyk, Chris Dimarco and countless others who are self taught. And I think we can all agree that there isn't much "pretty" about any of their swings.Do you think any of them were intent on crafting the perfect swing? Yet if we look at things from a different perspective maybe they do have perfect swings. Why? Because they work! Golf ain't a beauty contest.In the final analysis there is only one area that promotes the quickest and most lasting change in any golfers game. And what's interesting about it is this is the only area that doesn't cost a penny to use, yet almost no-one uses it.That area is the often quoted 6 inches between your ears! Your mind. The mental game. Using your mind in a strategic, methodical and focused way is the surest method of lowering your scores. Period.If you want to run out and spend $500 on a new driver and another $1000 or more on irons to make you play better, feel free. You might be that one in a million that changes the statistics. I realize we'll all buy nice gear once in a while but we can't buy it with a belief that this will seriously lower our scores.Needless to say, this article won't be sponsored by Taylor Made or Nike any time soon. I don't help sell much golf equipment! No, my approach to lowering your handicap, improving your swing, and increasing your satisfaction leans towards inner change before outer gains.True improvement only begins when we first assess where we are in relation to our goal. Then we must take an inventory of all the things that have actually produced measurable results. Which means no denial! We can't hope to move our game to the next level by hanging on to a lie, now can we? If you do then that's what I call a real "hanging lie". And that is the worst lie in golf. Each and every one of us has the innate ability to tap our own potential and transform any part of our lives, including golf. We just require the right road map and a good compass to keep us on target.It's time to wake up and smell the napalm or the myths that cloud our brains will keep us believing we can buy a better game.

By Wade Pearse [ 21/09/2006 ][ viewed 103 times ]

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com