This golf blog is focused at providing the average and beginner golfer with golf tips and information that lead to having more fun learning, practicing, and playing golf, improving your golf playing ability, and saving money.
Summer Golf Vacation for Everyone
The heat and humidity of summer has finally reached south Michigan, but the overall summer has been relatively dry and pleasant. This means that the golfing opportunities have been outstanding.
Here are a few golf courses that I have played recently that will satisfy whatever golf challenge you would like to make for yourself, from most challenging to forgiving -- and a couple of them won't take too big of a bite out of your wallet.
Moose Ridge
Let's look first at one of the most challenging.
Moose Ridge golf course in South Lyon, Michigan is stunning from the clubhouse to the course layout, and presents a significant challenge for most golfers.
A sign in the clubhouse request persons with a handicap greater than single digit to play from no more that the white (middle) tees (6080 yards; Slope 128)
Regardless of which tee you play, you are faced with undulating and sloped fairways, elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and little room for recovery from minor mistakes. That's why even the senior (Gold) tees carry a slope rating of 130.
The greens range from small to large with pin placements in some of the most challenging locations.
An approach to the center of the green is often your best choice.
The day we played the greens were in excellent condition, but slower than expected (perhaps due to recent heavy rains) compared to when we played the course last year.
This is a cart only golf course as the distance between many of the holes is long and the path travels up and down wooded trails.
Excellent practice facilities include a driving range, bunker area, and large putting green. The staff is very helpful, can provide services common to private country club courses if you desire (clean your clubs, etc.), and the menu selection and food in the restaurant is excellent.
Greens fees, including cart, are $55 on weekends / holidays and $45 weekdays. Seniors (55+) are charged $40 on weekends after 2PM, and $35 on weekdays. Phone 248-446-9030.
Please see next post.
Summer Golf Vacation (continued) Timber Trace
Timber Trace golf course is north of M-36 just west of Pinckney, Michigan.
This course also requires carts as a number of the holes are a significant distance apart. The course is in very good condition and a pleasure to play.
Tee and slope options present good challenge for all levels of play. (Championship tees are at 6838 yards / 129 slope; Middle tees are at 6104 yd / 122 slope; Forward tees are at 5726 yd / 118 slope (123 for women)). Greens are in excellent condition and pin placement can lead to significant challenge.
Trouble along the fairways includes strategic bunkers, wetlands, and significant tree-lines. To score well you must stay out of the trees.
There are a couple of homes along the course that could get in the way of an errant shot. Various wildlife is usually present along this course.
Practice facilities are excellent and include a driving range, bunker area and putting green. The clubhouse facilities are very good and the grill has good food at reasonable prices.
Green fees are $45 on weekends/holidays and $35 weekdays.
Senior (age 55+) rates are $25 weekdays and $35 weekends and twilight rates start after 2 PM. They are $25 on weekends and $20 weekdays. Phone 734-878-1800.
Indian Springs
The Indian Springs MetroPark golf course is off of White Lake Road, near White Lake, Michigan (north of M-59, northwest of Oakland County Airport / Pontiac).
Like most Huron-Clinton MetroPark Authority (HCMP) golf courses the teeth is in its length. The middle tees are nearly 6474 yards and the championship tees are at 6688 yards. The course is in excellent condition with challenging but very playable fairways and greens.
Keep the ball in the fairway and you can score well. Despite the length you can walk this course and have a very enjoyable day.
Practice facilities are good and include a driving range and putting green.
Green fees are $39 weekends / holidays ($26 walking) and $35 M - F ($22 walking). Weekday Senior (over 62) rates are $15 walking and $25 with cart. A MetroPark annual sticker or a $4 park entry fees is also required. Phone 1-800-234-6534.
The food at the grill is good (breakfast specials also available) but we chose to go to the nearby White Lake Inn, on Ormond Road, about 1-mile south of White Lake Rd. The food there is excellent and the experience on the outside patio overlooking the lake is very enjoyable.
Summer Golf Vacation for Everyone (continued)
Hunters Ridge
Hunters Ridge is north of Howell, Michigan, north of M-59, on Byron Road.
When you first approach this Jerry Matthews designed course it looks like you are in farmland, but once you get to the golf you find that you must concentrate on your shot placement or the ball will be eaten by the very deep (thigh -high) natural grasses or the wooded areas that are located all along the edges of the fairway. Bring extra balls as you cannot find them if they go in the high grass.
The greens are excellent, very well protected, and very rolling.
Your shot placement and accuracy, and your green reading and putting skills will be challenged when playing Hunters Ridge.
I played on a weekday afternoon and it was not until the 16th hole that I met up with two other golfers, Bill and Jack. We basically had the course to ourselves. They live in the area, knew the course well, and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the beauty of the various holes. They especially like holes 17 and 18, so I included a picture of 17 so you can see what they see.
Weekday greens fee, including cart, is $25. The weekday rate for Seniors (over 50) is only $20 with cart. Phone 517-545-4653.
The clubhouse is an attractive Superior Log structure that houses the pro shop, snack bar, meeting area, and an outside patio.
Please see the next post.
Summer Golf Review, continued
Huron Meadows
Huron Meadows golf course is south of Brighton, Michigan, east of US-23 and north of Silver Lake Rd.
It is in very good condition and is an excellent HCMP golf course. Practice facilities are also excellent and include a driving range, a bunker practice area, a chipping and pitching practice green, and a large putting green.
Although it appears fairly open, there are many elements in addition to length that present challenge.
Strategically located trees, doglegs, bunkers, and large greens with significant roll and tough pin placements present adequate challenge for most golfers. Wildlife such as deer, foxes, coyotes, sandhill cranes, bluebirds, and geese abound.
One of the very attractive and challenging holes at Huron Meadows is No. 9.
This 467 yard par 4 (white tees are 456 yd) requires a tee shot that must travel over a pond and avoid the large tree on the right that protrudes partially over the fairway. Go too far left, however, and you are in pine trees, or worse, out of bounds.
Most golfers cannot reach the green in two. Be sure to choose the tee box that is within your capability level. The forward tees reduce the angle and the distance over the pond.
The green for No. 9 is very large with a lower and upper tier and sand traps on the right side and over the back.
There are good clubhouse facilities, including a meeting room, but the grill has a very limited menu. There are a number of good restaurants a few of miles north of the course on Whitmore Lake Rd, paralleling US-23.
Green fees are similar to other MetroParks, $39 weekends / holidays ($26 walking) and $35 M - F ($22 walking). Weekday Senior (over 62) rates are $15 walking and $25 with cart. A MetroPark sticker or a $4 park entry fees is also required. Phone 1-800-234-6534.
Golf Vacation Summary
The variety of golf course experiences in southeast Michigan can offer you challenge and a great day of golf that will meet your expectations and your budget requirements. What I find is that playing a course for the first time often makes you want to play it at least one more time. You know that you would play certain holes differently if you knew the course a little better, hence, a second chance.
For each of the courses mentioned above your putting ability and your short game skills are important if you plan to score well. Tee shot accuracy is especially important at Moose Ridge, Hunters Ridge, and Timber Trace.
Contact me if you or your friends or family members need some help in these shot-making areas, or consider one of our online training courses that address the area where you need help the most.
Until next time. Hit 'em straight!
Phil Lawrence
Golf Competition - Support Your Charity
All golfing eyes were on the rain-soaked U.S. Open, taking place last week at Bethpage Black golf course in Farmingdale, New York.
An almost comeback by Ricky Barnes, and excellent play by David Duval, Phil Mickelson, and others to hang in there and make the event very competitive down to the wire, provided for a memorable tournament. A very good job was managed by Lucas Glover to make the birdie when it really counted and have his name added as a U.S. Open champion.
Fortunately there are certain other golf activities taking place that us mere mortals can participate. These occur every week and for some golfers it may be their most enjoyable golfing experience of the season.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending a fund-raising event (golf outing) for the Novi Jaguars FC Scholarship Program. The Novi Jaguars FC is a youth soccer club in Novi, Michigan (30 miles west of Detroit). The teams and players developed by the organization are competitive with the best youth teams in the US. Many players go on to play soccer in college.
A number of the soccer coaches are originally from the home areas of golf, i.e., Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
The organization strives to be certain that any young person in the Novi, Michigan area who wants to play soccer will have the opportunity to play and learn despite the high unemployment rate and very difficult financial issues in the area.
During the event we volunteered to take the Swing Speed and Tempo Time measurements of those participants who would like to know that information. We took the measurements at the tee of the designated Long Drive competition hole.
The data and report might be insightful for the many of us golfers who are not playing in the US Open.
Following is a review of the event and the data generated, with some additional information on golf swing speed, tempo time, and shot distances.
Event Format
· Recreational golf outing, Best Ball Scramble Tournament
· Proceeds benefit the Novi Jaguars' FC Scholarship program
· 112 registered golfers; 64 participated in the measurement survey
· Golfer ability ranged from "very good" to "just learning"
· Conditions: Weather -- Sunny, low 70's; Slight breeze directly toward tee box, occasionally with a left to right presence.
· Location: Cattails Golf Course, South Lyon, Michigan
· Fairway: Intimidating tree on left, smaller trees on right. 100 yd carry over swamp area required. Slight uphill fairway at typical ball landing area.
PLEASE SEE THE NEXT POST FOR CONTINUATION AND MORE INFORMATION
Swing Speed and Tempo Time was measured using a "SwingSpeed Radar™ with Tempo Timer", a device that uses Doppler Radar to make very accurate speed measurement.
Distance Measurement
Distance was measured via a pre-marked rope that extended from the 200 yard center of the fairway to the 300 yard center of the fairway. The actual measurement was then taken and reported by our event coordinator/volunteer.
Data (The data provided is based on the survey participants.)
Observations
1. A number of golfers did not participate in the measurement survey because they believed that the presence of the measurement device would break their concentration on the shot.
Based on the data and observations, there did not appear to be any difference between the number of good drives (those in the fairway or playable near the fairway) vs. poor drives (those that significantly missed the fairway), whether the measuring device was present or not present.
That is, even for those golfers who did not participate in the measurement survey, the number of poor drives was about the same as for those golfers who elected to participate in the measurement survey.
2. For the 20 men participants who's driver shot landed in or near the fairway, the average tempo time was 1.02 sec with an average swing speed of 110 mph and an average distance of 243 yards.
3. Men with higher swing speeds may not have achieved the distance for which they had potential due to several factors. These include club head loft, club shaft flexibility, swing path, applied power / body position, ball selection, the location on the clubface where contact occurred with the ball, etc.
A number of high swing speed drives went very high in the air to the point of losing potential distance while others were lined, low-trajectory drives that did not have enough air-time carry to acquire a longer distance.
PLEASE SEE NEXT POST FOR CONTINUATION OF THIS GOLF INFORMATION / DATA
Comparison Statistical Information
An analysis of data from a report in Golf Magazine demonstrated that a series of mid to low handicap men golfers with an average swing speed of 97 mph achieved an average distance of 239 total yards.
Analysis of data reported in a specific robot swing testing study demonstrated that a swing speed of 105 mph and a launch angle of 12.25 degrees resulted in an average carry distance of 254 yards and an average total distance of 288 yards (robot was set up for perfect contact with the ball).
According to data published by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), the average driving distance for players on the PGA tour is about 285 yards, with an average of 64% of drives landing in the fairway.
Another report in a national golf magazine stated that a swing speed of 110 mph is required to achieve a 300 yard drive, which included carry in the air and roll on the ground. It also stated that in addition to the speed of the swing, other important swing and equipment factors must be in place to achieve that distance.
Although it helps to be physically strong, you do not need to have the build and strength of a football tight end to have potential for very long drives. The ladies on the LPGA tour can routinely deliver 260+ yard drives.
Why Measure Swing Speed and Tempo Time
The measurement of swing speed and tempo time is important for those golfers who want to increase their ball striking consistency and their distance.
For the purpose of this survey, swing speed is defined as the speed that the club head is moving as it contacts the ball.
Tempo time is defined as the time it takes for your club head to leave the address position, proceed through the take away and back swing and then return to the impact position.
Although most professional men golfers have a tempo time less than 1.0 second, it is most important to maintain a tempo time that you personally are comfortable with so that you can consistently bring the clubface back to a square position to the target line at the point of impact. Rushing your take away and backswing can lead to very poor ball contact and bad shots.
If you are just learning to play golf other elements of the your swing and playing might be more critical, (grip, posture, alignment, ball position, swing path, etc.), but eventually you will need to manage your tempo and may want ways to increase your swing speed without adversely affecting your accuracy and consistency.
One measurement of swing speed and/or tempo time can only provide a starting point for discussion and evaluation. Typically, I like to start with a minimum of three sets of 10 shots per set. The objectives are to 1st identify the swing speed and tempo time, and then to maintain consistency with the results being no more than 0.1 second of tempo time and 5 mph of swing speed differences from shot to shot.
There is no incorrect or correct tempo time. Each golfer has their own tempo comfort level.
In the long drive competition at the Novi Jaguar's FC golf outing, the men's winning drive of 270 yards had a tempo time of 1.14 seconds and a swing speed of 109 mph. The fastest men's tempo time was 0.78 seconds, (with a 118 mph swing speed), which resulted in a similar length playable drive that did not land in the fairway.
The overall objectives for measuring swing speed and tempo time are to assure that your swing is very close to the same tempo time with each club. A consistent tempo time will help you achieve very consistent distance for each club. This helps you score better because if you know your distance for each club then you will have confidence in your shot length and end up close to your target.
Swing speed will vary with each club based on the length of the club. The longer the club the slightly faster the swing speed. (E.g., 9-iron, 80 mph; 5-iron, 92 mph; Driver, 101 mph.)
PLEASE SEE THE NEXT POST FOR MORE INFORMATION / CONTINUATION
Getting More Distance
Despite all of the commercial advertisements, there is no simple formula or easy fix for acquiring more distance. There are, however, proven methods to help a golfer increase swing speed, applied power, and driving distance, as well as iron shot distance. You learn, practice, and improve. See our training course, "Get More Distance".
Elements that help all golfers gain more distance include primarily optimizing your set up and grip, your swing path, your angle of attack toward the ball, the position of your weight and your balance when contact is made with the ball, your release point of the golf club during your swing, and several other elements.
Equipment factors such as the loft of the clubface and the shaft flex and bend point in relation to your type of swing and your swing speed are also important, as is using a ball designed for your swing speed and optimum ball flight trajectory.
Summary
Measuring swing speed and tempo time with a focus on improvement can help a golfer become more consistent and accurate with each of their clubs, increase their swing speed, and gain more distance.
I hope you found this information interesting and of some benefit for your golf game.
Small non-profit organizations often provide significant benefit to community residents but generally do not receive charitable donations provided by large commercialized activities such as PGA tour events.
Your participation in an event such as the Novi Jaguar's FC Golf Outing can be fun for all and, most importantly, provide funds for worthwhile organizations that help children learn and grow, and receive a better education.
The Jaguar's golf outing raised several thousand dollars for their scholarship fund. Look for events such as this that are sponsored by your favorite charitable organization.
Other Information
The Cattails Golf Course is a very challenging course that is in excellent condition and is very affordable to play. Bring some extra golf balls. There are a lot of locations on the course to permanently misplace the one you begin with! Cattails is located in the South Lyon, Michigan area, west of Novi and north of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
There are numerous golf courses in this area that provide a challenge to all levels of golfers and most provide very reasonable golf rates.
Earlier this week I played Coyote Golf Club in New Hudson, Michigan and found that course to also be in excellent condition and also very reasonably priced, especially for us seniors.
Coyote Golf Club, New Hudson, MI
Remember, if you are looking for a swing speed and tempo time measurement device, the Swing Speed Radar with Tempo Timer is our choice and can be purchased, with our online "Improve Your Swing Speed and Tempo" training course, from the website www.golfinstructioncourses.com/swingspeed.
If you would like a detailed program to help you increase your ball striking and improve your accuracy, consistency and overall distance, consider the online training course, "Get More Distance", also available from the www.golfinstructioncourses.com website.
If you are a beginner or just learning to play golf, we suggest beginning with the "Improve Your Putting" training followed by the "Set-up, Swing, and Success" online golf instruction course.
2009 PGA Golf Merchandise Show
Everything new and many things old were at the 2009 PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL (Jan 29 - 31).
The newest equipment, golf training aids, clothing, golf course management tools, and swing analysis equipment and software were on display and demonstrated.
Of primary interest from our golf training and improvement point of view were new artificial putting greens, golf swing and distance improvement devices, mats, nets, tees, putting and ball striking analysis software, and quality golf equipment for juniors and youth players. We thank Sports Sensors, Inc. (Swing Speed Radar™) for letting us help and participate with them at this year’s PGA Golf Merchandise Show.
One important device that was demonstrated at the show has been well proven as a golf training aid for over 40 years. The “SwingRite” can be used to help you learn to release your golf club at the perfect time as well as improve your swing path and approach angle.
This training aid is a good tool to use with our swing instruction course and the “Get More Distance” training course. A short training segment, with video, on how to best use and benefit from this device will soon be available and included with the SwingRite when purchased from this website.
A unique putting mat called the KC Track Putting Mat leaves a ball track where your putt rolled. You can see if you are skipping your ball the first few feet, if you are pushing or pulling your putts, or if you have a good roll. By lightly brushing the mat in the opposite direction of the ball roll the tracks disappear.
The speed of this practice green can be quickly decreased or increased by simply stretching the length of the mat. These putting practice greens will soon be available on our golf instruction courses . com website.
There was a number of very good practice hitting mats at the show. One that we liked was the 5-ft X 5-ft “Real Feel” golf mat. These golf mats are already in use by many top golf instructors and at numerous golf clubs and academies.
The mat has a density and thread thickness that lets the golfer take a normal divot-producing swing without a bounce-back from the mat. The contact with the ball followed by contact with the mat provides for “Real Feel”. You can also use real tees. These mats will also soon be available from our website.
From a fitness perspective a set of devices from Smart Body Golf helps increase strength of the muscles used during the golf swing. The weighted SONA Core Trainer combined with the Swing Fit Elite stretch bands golf system helps you to parallel your strength training with your golf swing.
In addition to all the new clubs from the major manufacturers, demonstrated at the show were many high end golf swing analyzers, swing plane devices, and golf simulators that are typically seen in golf stores and golf schools, and are often used by sponsored professionals.
These analyzers and devices are excellent and provide outstanding information but they are beyond the financial recourses of most individual golfers so I won’t discuss these items.
We will continue our focus on the use of specific products that can help the average golfer improve their ability at an affordable price. We were able to initiate agreements with several equipment manufactures and are making arrangements for their products on our website. For some of these products we will include our own training that will help you best utilize the products to improve your golf ability.
We are very excited about the equipment that we will have available for juniors and young golfers.
Hit ‘em straight.
In many northern areas the golf season has now passed. Even the Indian Summer autumn season has come to an end as cold, wind, and wet weather arrives and sunshine hours dwindle.
It’s a good time to reflect on how we played this past season and what areas we need to focus on most to improve our scoring potential. For some, it might be getting the ball on or near the green in regulation. For others it might be improved putting, and for others, it might be driver distance and control.
My main issue, as I suspect is an issue for many golfers, is consistency. I can birdie the toughest hole on a golf course, have a good round going, and then get a double bogie on the easiest hole on the course. This may be due to a mental lapse, poor judgment regarding club selection, poor shot positioning, misread greens, or a host of other reasons.
The important element is to determine if one or two patterns have developed, such as frequent misread greens, or weak chip shots, or iron shots off to the right or left, or weak or poor drives. By recognizing a common or frequent cause for poor position on the course, we can then focus our practice or learning time on those specific shots or clubs that will help us the most.
Our newest training course, “Get More Distance”, is designed to help improve ball striking and to increase applied power and distance for all clubs, especially the driver. If you are not getting good distance off the tee, then this training course will definitely help you increase your distance and consistency.
From the other end of the fairway, the “Improve Your Putting” training course will help anyone who has difficulty managing speed of putts and getting the 1st putt in the cup or close to the cup. This is a great training course for new or beginning golfers, or for experienced golfers who 3-putt greens or miss more than 50% of their putts that are less than 10-ft.
In those areas where golf can be played year round there is still a lag in the action. This is often the time to find great deals on this years close-out clubs, golf balls, apparel, and other golf items and gifts.
If you plan a Florida get-away this winter, be sure to read the Blog of March 20, 2008 (scroll down, below). It highlights a number of Florida golf locations and activities along the east coast from Jacksonville to Key West.
Now, think about what area you want to improve and what steps you plan to take to make those improvements. Look at our training course offerings and consider taking the one course that addresses your most important area for improvement. Don’t settle for mediocrity. You can improve with a training program that is focused on your needs.
Hit ‘em straight!
Due to family issues I was unable to go to Scottsdale, AZ in May, so I have no report at this time on affordable courses in that area. Perhaps next year?
I see two common areas of concern among the students and many other average golfers who are now trying to enjoy their time on the golf course.
Putting - The first area of concern is in putting. Some golfers over-do the time it takes to line up a putt and make their stroke, only to still miss the putt. This often leads to aggravation, more tension, and even longer time for the next putt.
Taking too long builds tension and provides time for too many thoughts.
Other golfers continually make the same basic mistakes and do not seem to understand what they are doing wrong or how to correct it.
Without a focused pre-putt routine, you are simply guessing and likely setting yourself up for a number of 3-putt greens.
To help all golfers establish a solid routine, assess their putt situation, and make a higher percentage of their putts, we have developed a new training course appropriately named “Improve Your Putting”.
The training provides focus on technique, successful putting methods, and process for improving accuracy and distance control.
The course includes 7 student booklets with learning exercises, and access to ten video demonstrations.
If you are a beginning golfer there is no better place to start that to develop the feel for contact with the ball using the putter.
Watch your scores quickly improve.
Hybrid Clubs- The second area of concern is a combination of club selection and the lack of use of hybrid clubs.
Many golfers choose the wrong club for the lie or distance situation. They still do not understand that hybrid clubs will help them hit the ball higher, straighter, and farther than typical mid and long irons.
Let’s assume that you have a reasonably good drive but it is in the first cut of rough along the edge of the fairway. The distance to the middle of the green is 170 yards.
The green has a pond along the right edge, a large sand trap along the front center and left side, and brush / woods over the back. It slopes from back to front and the cup is located in the front left, just behind the bunker.
For a low handicap golfer this is not a difficult shot or club selection. Choose your 170 yard club, focus on left center of the green, staying away from the right / pond side, take your two putts, maybe one if you’re lucky, and be off to the next hole.
For the average golfer who typically shoots 95+, this could be a scorecard wrecker.He/she sees the pond and the sand trap. The 170 might be a 4-iron or even a 3-iron or a fairway wood.
If you have a reasonable swing, this might be an excellent shot for a hybrid. 1st, the lie in the light rough on the edge of the fairway provides a good situation for a hybrid club. The grass won’t catch the clubhead as easily as it might with the iron.
The ball should quickly rise and land on the green with less roll distance than it would have if struck by a corresponding iron, thus keeping the ball on the green.
The hybrid is likely more forgiving, also minimizing the likelihood of going right, into the pond.
If you are not convinced, or if you cannot acquire a hybrid at this time, then you could play the ball short of the green and to the right of the sand trap. This would provide you with a good angle toward the flag and perhaps an opportunity to chip or pitch a shot close and one putt for a par.
There are many brands of hybrids available, and each brand has a variety of lofts. For example, a 21 degree hybrid might replace a 4-iron or a 3-iron. A 24 degree might replace a 5-iron. And don’t be afraid of trying a 29 degree. This is an excellent club for the 130 to 160 yard range, depending on your swing speed.
Well, it’s time for me to go play some golf.
We finally had some decent weather here in Michigan. Still cool and windy, but many golfers have been out playing.
And, the best of all, spring rates are in effect. We can play at fairly reasonable pricing, e.g., anywhere from the $20 to $35 range for 18 holes with a cart at many very nice courses.
Some greens may only be in fair condition. Some are likely okay, while others are growing in, as many are aerated and/or recently dressed.
IMPORTANT: You have not been playing for months, the weather, despite some sunshine, is cool and windy, and your unused golf muscles are like tightly wound rubber bands. This is the time of year to heed some warnings.
Be sure to thoroughly warm up and get some practice in before you start blasting your shots on the course. You do not want an early season injury that continues to affect you over the summer months.
A quick practice routine might begin with some of your favorite general stretching exercises to loosen up. Then you can do some putting practice followed by some short chip shots with a wedge, followed by perhaps a 9 iron or an 8 iron. Then move your way up to a mid-iron and a hybrid or fairway wood before bringing out the driver.
10-minutes of putting practice followed by only a few shots with each of the clubs mentioned will help you be ready to play and to get your round, and your season, off to a good start.
Golf Instruction
Early in the season like this you might feel as if you have never hit a golf club before. A long lay-off can do that to the best golfers. Parts of your game might respond well, but other parts are simply not sharp. For example, you might have your putting touch but can’t seem to chip it or pitch close. Or perhaps your driver feels like a hammer throw.
This is a good time to refresh yourself with some at-home fundamentals practice to help you re-acquire your rhythm, and your eye to hand to club coordination. Practice some drills that you may already be familiar with, or take the online instruction, “Set-up, Swing, and Success”, to help you quickly get back into your proper set-up and swing.
Florida Golf: Snowbird Retreat
To define, a snowbird is anyone who leaves the ice, snow, and cold of the north to spend some time during the winter in Florida (or, I suspect southern Arizona, California, or Nevada).
Many are unacceptably expensive for the average golfer with family responsibilities, or for seniors who have dwindling incomes, but there are courses where reasonable prices can be found if you are willing to do a little research and play in the afternoon, especially during the week.
I will not provide a research project on Florida golf, as there already are considerable advertisements and other available information on golfing in Florida.
I will mention a few golf courses that are somewhat reasonable in price and may be a good challenge and fun to play, and a few activities along the east coast of Florida (north to south) that may be interesting to all family members.
Jacksonville / St. Augustine area
If you can spend any length of time in the St. Augustine area you should visit the World Golf Hall of Fame, located just west of I-95 exit 323.
I was impressed! In addition to the history, information, and memorabilia presented at the Hall of Fame, the admission includes your try at one hole at St. Andrews via a golf simulator, admission to a movie at the onsite Imax Theater, and one round of play at an 18 green putting course.
18-hole Putting Course at the World Golf Hall of Fame
If you need to test your ego, for $5 you can take a couple of shots to a real island green that imitates a par 3 at the TPC Sawgrass.
There is one golf course onsite adjacent to the Hall of Fame. The Slammer & Squire golf course is a top of the line course that provides a professional level golf experience. Another snowbird who played the course told me that; “The fairways are like fine carpet". He said that they are nicer than most of the greens that he plays on in his home state.
Slammer & Squire Golf Course
For $20 at the Slammer & Squire Golf Course you can use the practice range for the entire day. There is also an excellent putting green and a chipping and sand trap practice green.
Section of the Practice Range at the Slammer & Squire
A short drive away in another area of the World Golf Village is the King and The Bear. This is also a very beautiful high-end golf course.
Although these two courses are out of my price range, I can appreciate their condition, challenge, and beauty. (NOTE: Summer rates are lower.)
There are a number of golf courses in the immediate area that are also very nice and quite challenging, yet can be played at a reasonable price, especially on weekday afternoons.
These include; South Hampton; Cimmarone; St. Johns Country Club; Royal St. Augustine Golf and Country Club; St. Johns County Municipal Course; Magnolia Point; The Sanctuary Golf Course (in Georgia, north of Jacksonville).
The sun is now setting on this winter's practice in Florida.
If you would like to see this entire picture-filled article we will e-mail it to you. Please CLICK HERE.
Hope you enjoy the article. Hit 'em straight!
Phil Lawrence (e-mail: lessons @ golfinstructioncourses.com)
Right now, we are buried in snow and ice here in Michigan, (US), but there are many very nice warm-weather places to visit and play golf for a reasonable price.
The warm weather was ideal, as temps were in the 70s and low 80s ºF, and as you can see in the pictures, the sun was shining bright.
Boulder City, NV
The municipal courses in Boulder City were in good shape and uniquely challenging. The afternoon (after 2PM) prices were in the $50 to $60 range.
Although I was in the LA area during the time of the Santa Anna winds and the brush fires, I was able to get to a couple of golf courses. One course that I was able to play was very nice and very challenging, the views were spectacular, the service was great, and the price was within a reasonable budget at $39.
If this winter you are in the Corona area east of LA, I suggest you try the very nice Eagle Glen golf course. Be sure to keep it in the fairway and on the greens!
Eagle Glen Golf Course, Corona, CA
In May, I will be in Scottsdale, AZ, and although it will be a long way from winter in that location, I will provide you with info on some of the reasonably priced courses that you might want to try if you travel to that area of the country.
Right now, I think I will get out my putter and work at getting some contact with the ball and keeping the stroke in tune for the next time I get to play.
Hit them straight!
Phil
Do What The Pros Do
A clip or comment that I read somewhere last week (5-Sept, 2007) suggested that late this summer Tiger Woods changed his set-up to a slightly more upright position. Apparently he had not been playing up to his standard as he was approaching the Fed-Ex tournament series, and, after some evaluation, decided his set-up had slipped to some degree.
He addressed the issue by re-establishing one of his basic set-up fundamentals, namely posture at address. He set to a more erect position and has been able to better control the clubface and the ball. His performances at the Fed-Ex demonstrated his improvement compared to only a few weeks prior to that tournament.
The important point is that a golfer as great as Tiger Woods can further improve his game by focusing on the basics, such as his set-up, and by making certain that he is in exactly the best position for him to strike the ball.
When average golfers start playing golf it seams that they want to just start swinging the clubs and hitting balls, forgetting, or not knowing, that a proper set-up and pre-shot routine places them in a position to make the best swing they can.
