Golf Conditioning- Being in Shape For a Better Score
Golf conditioning is the training of golf related muscles for improving your game of golf. Golf training is one approach that can greatly improve any restriction that may occur during the golf swing in regards to golf posture. Proper preparation is a great way to: increase driving distance & club speed, improve focus and concentration,and prevent and rehabilitate injuries to enhance sport specific-movements. This will increase strength, speed and power. Physical conditioning is even more beneficial when it is started during the winter months to prepare the body for the stresses it will endure during the golf season. Golf conditioning is about strength and flexibility, which is no longer reserved for a select few.
Golf exercise is a physically challenging program that uses most of the muscles in the body. It combines strength training, but in a way that won’t bulk you up or affect your swing. Golf posture is critical to golf swing consistency and efficiency. Conditioning specific for golf will not result in muscle gain which could alter your swing mechanics. Golf conditioning is intended to help a golfer perform better on the course by evaluating the biomechanics, flexibility, and strength of the golfer in relation to the physical movements of the body during the swing. Golf conditioning is the training of golf related muscles to improve the game of golf.
Fitness for golf is prevalent at every level. Fitness is a state of the human body that allows it to function up to its full potential. Fitness can also determine the overall health of all the organs. Search out a fitness professional or golf conditioning specialist to design a golf specific program and you will play better than you ever imagined. It puts a whole new light on golfing and on what is needed for complete fitness information about golf conditioning. The information about golf conditioning will focus on improving golf mechanics through the creation of a complete program.
In conjunction with a stretching program, strength training will improve flexibility, not hinder it. How many times have you heard a teaching pro say you need to improve your golf posture, but didn’t give you any golf conditioning drills to achieve that goal. You will quickly notice an improvement in your ability to maintain an erect spine angle. When you improve functional strength, you have more control and balance, which will improve your feel.
Comprehensive golf conditioning is an individualized program designed to improve your golf game by strengthening your body through a range of golf specific options. A conditioning coach will design a program to help you improve your performance on the golf course. This program will improve your golf game and your overall health and well-being. Most golfers continually strive to improve even when they are playing at the top of their game.
Golf Conditioning or golf fitness refers to performing exercises that are designed specifically to improve muscle groups and parts of the body most required when golfing. Exercises for golfers may seem like an oxymoron, but I’m here to tell you they are most definitely not. Exercises such as good mornings, and rows are excellent to strengthen hip flexion and back extension.
The golf swing is such an unusual motion that yes, you can do traditional exercises, but you also need to do exercises that will cross over into different planes. A good golf conditioning program includes exercises that increase the core stability, increase muscular strength, improve flexibility, balance and coordination. And a well developed program should not only focus on taking care of improving the obvious needs of golf, but should also include exercises that target specific muscular imbalances, lack of range of motion, cardiovascular endurance, and a little weight loss if necessary.
Golf conditioning is one approach that can greatly improve any restriction that may occur during the golf swing in regards to golf posture. This physical training is a form of strength and conditioning designed specifically to improve your efficiency and effectiveness as it relates to your Golf Swing.
Golf Conditioning is not just for the pro’s, it’s beneficial for players of all levels of ability helping to improve your game and to prolong your playing days. This is a gradual process, always keeping technique and competition as the ultimate goal. Golf conditioning is exploding, and a lot of trainers, therapists and even chiropractors are jumping on the bandwagon. Golf conditioning is extremely important to all golfers, including you, and becomes more so the older you get. Planing out a proper routine with or without help could greatly enhance your game and your score.
Andre Arnett is a wanna- be middle handicap golfer who loves to be out with his sticks. To see other good articles, questions and answers about your golf game go to http://beginnergolferguide.info and share your golfing experience with others.
Florida For Golfers – Golf In The Sunshine State 12 Months A Year
Florida claims more golf courses than any other destination in the world, with over 900 courses that will test the skill level of every player. The state hosts the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, PGA of America, the World Golf Hall of Fame, and is home to more professional golfers than any other state. And Florida offers golfing weather 12 months a year, so whether you visit in November, February, or July, you can enjoy the links, as well as Florida’s world-famous beaches and attractions.
Port St. Lucie
On the central coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Port St. Lucie boasts the famed PGA Village, with the PGA Golf Club, the PGA Learning Center, one of the world’s largest and most advanced practice facilities, and PGA of America Golf Schools, recognized as one of the best golf schools in the U.S.A. The PGA Golf Club offers 54 holes of championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The Dye Course, designed by Pete Dye, emphasizes the native surroundings and Dye’s uninhibited creative design. The Ryder Course, designed by Tom Fazio, was named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the founder of the Ryder Cup. The course offers a wide variety of holes, with a distinctive Carolina feel. The Wanamaker Course, also designed by Tom Fazio, is considered one of Florida’s most beautiful courses.
Other notable courses in the area include the Champion’s Club at Summerfield in Stuart, and the Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach. Champion’s Club at Summerfield was named one of the country’s best new public courses by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine when it opened in 1994. The course was designed by Tom Fazio and was the first public golf course awarded Audubon Signature Sanctuary status. The Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach is a challenging Tom Fazio course set in a sprawling 240-acre wildlife preserve.
If you are headed to Port St. Lucie for golf, stay at the Sheraton PGA Resort, next to PGA Village, or Vistanas Beach Club on Hutchinson Island, convenient to Eagle Marsh Golf Club.
Naples
The Naples-Marco Island typically ranks first or second in national Golf Holes per Capita surveys. With over 40 golf courses, there are plenty of choices. Named as one of America’s Top 100 Resort Courses in 2005 by Golfweek Magazine, the Gold Golf Course at Tiburon Golf Club was designed by Greg Norman, and features 18 holes of golf on a 74.7 rated course. The Raptor Bay 1 course at Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs was designed by Raymond Floyd, and was named a Top 10 New Public-Access Golf Course in America in 2001 by Golf Magazine. The Pelican Preserve Golf Club offers 27 holes of championship golf on a course designed by renowned architect Chip Powell.
In Naples, stay at the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, Naples’ only downtown waterfront destination, the Bellasera Hotel Naples, located at the gateway to the heart of Olde Naples, or The Park Shore Resort, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Naples.
Ft. Myers
The Ft. Myers region, including Estero, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel Island, and Venice, has earned a reputation of having some of the most sought after golf courses in the world, causing some to rename the Florida Gulf Coast: Florida’s “Golf Coast.” Eastwood Golf Course is rated one of the top 50 municipal courses in the country by Golf Digest. One of the largest golf schools in southwest Florida, Paradise Golf Academy at Stoneybrook Golf Club emphasizes state-of-the-art teaching techniques, such as video swing analysis, and traditional on-course playing lessons with PGA-certified instructors. Coral Oaks Golf Course has been a local favorite for almost 20 years and not just for the bargain green fees. Bay Beach Golf Club, also a local favorite, is an 18-hole course with Bermuda grass and a variety of water hazards.
In Ft. Myers, stay at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, directly on Ft. Myers Beach, the GullWing Beach Resort on Estero Island, Point Estero Beach Resort, or Santa Maria Harbour Resort, nestled on Estero Bay.
Clearwater/St Pete/Tampa
The Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area has challenging courses for all players. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Club in Clearwater has been an American golfer’s favorite since 1925. Designed by world famous golf architect, Donald Ross, the golf course has a reputation for a challenging design that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Academy offers full-swing fundamentals, short game techniques and course management strategies.
TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz (just north of Tampa) is an annual stop on the Champions Tour. Opened in 1991, designed by Bobby Weed, with assistance from player consultant Chi Chi Rodriguez, TPC Tampa Bay has earned numerous accolades, including a 4 1/2 star rating in Golf Digest’s Places to Play. The course is routed around natural wetlands, cypress heads and numerous ponds and lagoons, which are home to an abundance of wildlife, making TPC Tampa Bay one of only two courses in the Tampa Bay area to be designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Mangrove Bay Golf Course, in St. Petersburg, is one of the most popular courses in the area. Bardmoor Country Club, in Largo, is an upscale public course that offers a private-club experience. Former PGA Tour player and course architect Gary Koch gave the course a makeover in 2001.
In Clearwater, stay and golf at the Belleview Biltmore Resort, Golf Club, Spa & Beach Club (see the CRSHotels.com special deal). Nearby, enjoy the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, or the Tahitian Resort Tarpon Springs. In the St. Pete Beach area, choose the Grand Plaza Hotel and Beach Resort and Conference Center, the Bilmar Beach Resort, the TradeWinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites, or the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, a classic, family-friendly resort.
Orlando
Orlando is home to some of the golf industry’s biggest events, such as the PGA Merchandise Show, and the Golf Industry Convention, as well as many national pro golf tournaments and championships. It’s also a great place to play golf. There are golf courses for every style, level and budget. Shingle Creek Golf Club in Orlando is an award-winning championship golf course. Mystic Dunes Golf Club in Celebration boasts an 18-hole course designed by Champions Tour professional and NBC golf analyst Gary Koch. One of the most popular courses on the PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge, is home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament. Disney World also offers several championship golf courses, including Eagle Pines, Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia, Osprey Ridge, and Palm.
In Orlando, stay and play at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. Enjoy golf nearby at the Caribe Royale Suites, the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, or the Buena Vista Suites. Choose the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, the Parc Corniche Suite Hotel, the Star Island Resort Orlando, the Sheraton Vistana Villages or the Florida Hotel & Conference Center at the Florida Mall.
Find Your Florida Golfing Hotel Deal
Golf in Scotland – Regional Golf Course Guide and Where to Play Golf in Scotland
Golf In Scotland
Over 550 years ago, golf was born in Scotland. It was not the fastest growing sport by any means as by 1850, there were less than 20 golf courses in Scotland.
However, by the early 1900′s there was 275 and today there are more than 550 golf courses throughout Scotland. Figures suggest than 1 in 10 play golf and when you are out traveling, Scotland is simply littered with golf courses at every turn and you can always see someone pulling or pushing their golf trolley down the pavement.
Scotland is the Home of Golf and as you would expect the Scottish Golf Courses are second to none.
Golf was originally played by the sea and the first links golf courses were born. Today, Scotland boosts many of the worlds greatest including the hallowed turf of St Andrews Old Course to the last major arrival on the Open Tour, Turnberry which today is often hailed as the best golf courses in Scotland.
Southwest Scotland Golf
Argyll, The Isles, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway
Every region of Scotland is literally littered with a lifetime of quality golf courses, links, parklands and moorlands included. But the Southwest of Scotland stretches from Gretna in the south to Oban in the north offering over 100 golf courses combined with stunning scenery and tourist attractions at every stage.
Wherever you start your visit, we would recommend that you take a trip to the Isle of Arran where you will find 7 courses to choose from. Our personal favorite would be Shiskine, with Brodick and Lamlash close behind. A new course is Machrihanish Dunes which is receiving wide acclaim as one of the newest links courses in Scotland. It sits on the Mull of Kintye.
Ayeshire is a golfers paradise with Open Championship courses to test all golfers – Royal Troon and Alisa (Turnberry) spring to mind testing all golfers to the limit. Lets not forget Dundonald, the sister course of Loch Lomond. Dundonald was designed by Kyle Phillips who gained worldwide acclaim with Kingsbarns.
Its a magically region with a superb coastline, great accommodation and hospitality and a lifetime of golf.
South East Courses, Scotland
Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Boarders
Any visit to Scotland should be combined with a visit to its capital, Edinburgh. What makes Edinburgh unlike any other capital in the world is that its surrounded by the widest selection of the best golf courses – all within 30 min’s drive.
The Boarders offer the Dave Thomas designed Roxburghe and nearby in Peebles, Cardrona is set alongside the River Tweed with a stunning backdrop. If you in the region, add Peebles, Minto, Innerleithen and The Hirsel as must plays as all offer challenging golf.
East of Edinburgh is East Lothian – and I think you will find it hard to find any coastal stretch so packed with some of the best links courses to be played. Muirfield is one of the Tour’s favorite scottish venues, but combined with the 3 courses at Gullane (No 1 in particular) Cragielaw, Dunbar and my personal favorite North Berwick its an exceptional region less than 30 min’s outside of Edinburgh.
Within Edinburgh, you have some courses such as Braids No.1, Duddingston, Bruntsfield Links and Royal Bursges. Just outside and towards the west you have Marriott Dalmahoy a top quality resort with the West Course being one of the best golf courses in Scotland.
Edinburgh is a very vibrant and beautiful city which makes a perfect back drop for a quality golfing holiday or a base from which to start exploring the rest of Scotland.
Central Golf Courses, Scotland
Central
The central region of Scotland is the most populated area of Scotland and it is home to some of the finest inland courses. Many of the courses can be accessed from Glasgow with was the former European City of Culture. Its the creative center of Scotland and with it comes the restaurants, museums, bars and cafes as well as an upbeat nightlife.
Haggs Castle is one of Glasgow’s top golf courses having hosted many professional tournaments. It is still regarded as one of the best inland golf courses in the country. Cawder should also be visited.
A little further away is Carluke – which combines beautiful views over the Clude Valley with a quality parkland course. Renfrew Golf Club has been used on various occasions for Open Qualifying and the same goes for Erskine and Ranfurly.
A little further north you will find Loch Lomond, and the Carrick on Loch Lomond which is well worth the visit. It was opened in 2007 and designed by Doug Carrick, the Canadian architect.
Traveling towards Stirling, you will find Stirling Golf Club and Glenbervie, an excellent test of golf. Cross over the River Forth and you will once again be spoilt for choice with Tulliallan, Braehead and Alloa.
The central region of Scotland is another golfing delight. You could spend a year playing the courses in the region and never be bored.
Heartlands Courses, Scotland
Perthshire, Angus, Dundee and Fife
There is no point describing the heartlands region as anything else than a golfing mecca. A list of the worlds best golf courses that would bring most golfers to their knees and if you do desire to play the top golf courses, then there is not better place on earth.
For any visit to this region, a base in St Andrews or nearby is ideal. Just being in St Andrews is a golfing experience that no one could deny. You have the hallowed ground of St Andrews Old Course which you can book a year in advance or enter the daily ballot. The St Andrews Links Trust also has 6 other courses including the new Castle Course. Less than 3 miles away your have St Andrews Fairmont and another 3 miles you will be playing Kingsbarns.
Into Perthshire and you have the jewel of Gleneagles with the Kings, Queens and the PGA Centenary Course host to the Ryder Cup in 2014. Lets not forget the hotel, the Gleneagles Resort, which is 5* luxury in the beautiful Perthshire landscape.
Further north lies the monster of Open Championship golf courses – Carnoustie – a simply unbelievable test of golf with the hotel and bar to recount, relive and re-evaluate your golf full-stop. Its got to be played.
There are also inland parkland courses such as Ladybank which deserves a lot of praise, and lets not forget Scotscraig, Crail or Lundin Links. These courses are often overlooked, but situated anywhere else, they would be the top courses in any region.
The Heartlands is simply a mind blowing experience for any golfer and with so many choices making any choices is hard. We have an in depth knowledge of the region, the golf courses, the golf hotels and how to make it the most memorable golfing trip.
North East Golf Courses, Scotland
Aberdeen & Grampian
The north east of Scotland has over 70 golf courses to choose from and its getting a lot of press at the moment with Donald Trump’s new golf course on the move.
Throughout the region, quality golf courses hinge the fantastic links coast. This includes Cruden Bay which is perfectly situated amongst the rolling dunes. And then you have Royal Aberdeen and Murcar running along the coast. Murcar Links staged the Challenge Tour event in 2006 and Royal Aberdeen has hosted a wide range of top competitions including the Seniors Open in 2005 while being the 6th Oldest Club in the world. The Balgownie course is a classic links with 9 holes out and back hugging the shore.
With distilleries and castles everywhere, the region offers a great golfing destination either for short golf breaks or for the long golf holiday.
Newburgh-on-Ythan is another gem south of Aberdeen and lets not forget the Royal Terlair, Peterhead, Fraserburgh or Duff House Royal.
The North East of Scotland combines brilliant golf with excellent value for money. The hospitality is excellent.
Highlands & Island Golf Courses Scotland
The Scottish Highlands offer golfers that something extra special. They combine an unbeatable landscape where simply looking becomes a pleasure, with golf that challenges the very best in Scotland.
Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and it combines local charms with a bustling city. Nairn, a golfing haven is just a few miles down the road and both Nairn and Nairn Dunbar should be played if possible. And lets not forget Castle Stuart, the new golf resort in the Highlands with the course reopening in April 2010.
Further north, we have what many believe to be the best golf course in the country – Royal Dornoch. The reason it does not feature on the Open Championship Tour is because of far northern location and unpredictable weather. For mere mortal golfers like us – this is fantastic news as the green fees are reasonable and the club retains it personal and loveable character. A few miles away you can also play Brora, a loved and admired golf course by those who know.
If you are looking for remote golfing, keeping heading north and combine the Orkneys or even the Shetlands. Whalsay is Britain’s most northerly course.
Working your way over to the west coast, the landscape is personally the best in Scotland and for any golfer visiting this region try and visit Durness Golf Course. Forget the luxuries of manicured greens and perfect lies, Durness Golf Course offers golf as it would have been and golf as it perhaps should be. The 9 hole course has 2 different tees making an 18 hole circuit and if you love golf, you will simply love it. The Par-3 9th/18th hits the ball over the Atlantic and the views are stunning.
We have some expert knowledge of this region so get in touch if you are looking for a golf break or golf holiday.
For more information on golf courses and golf holidays, please visit us at www.mulliganplus.com/golf-in-scotland.cfm
Reagan Pannell is editor of http://www.mulliganplus.com – Mulligan+ Find. Track. Play Golf
Golf Gifts and Golf Grip Kits
Gifts, as is known are matter of expressing intimacy and are exchanged without price. Golf gifts are no exception. Being a golfer when you think of gifting something to anyone the first thing which will come to your mind will surely be the golf gift. Usually golf gifts are given to potential young golfers to encourage them to play more and more golf.
You have to choose perfect golf gifts for these young beginners considering their style. You have plenty of golf articles and accessories to choose from. To name some of golf gifts they are golf clubs, golf irons, golf bags, golf knickers, classic ball case etc. IN the succeeding paragraphs we will elaborate on importance of each golf gift.
In my opinion golf books are the best golf gifts for beginners. A beginner learns lot of things about game and adds to his/her knowledge of the game by reading golf books
Next come golf lessons. These lessons help potential beginners to decide whether he/she really wants to take the game or he/she likes the golf or not. Golf lessons, golf books and CDs/DVDs are excellent golf gifts for beginners.
Many beginners start playing golf with hired or borrowed golf clubs. Usually, golf clubs are considered as matter of personal choice. However, one may not be willing to purchase expensive golf clubs at the beginning. For such people first set of golf club is considered as best gift amongst other golf gifts. Remember to present these golf clubs in a golf bag.
There are number of golf accessories available in markets which as categorized as golf gifts. Golf gloves, ball markers and tees, though some what expensive, are nice golf gifts. Depending to you affordability and intimacy to the person you are going to present golf gifts you may like to present a full set of golf starter kit to a potential beginner.
Golf balls are also the popular articles for presenting as golf gifts. Beginners are not concerned about the type, compression and construction of these golf balls. You can choose golf balls personalizing with nickname, name or customs logo of the beginner. Only disadvantage of gifting such golf balls is that if the ball is lost the person to whom you have gifted it may get upset.
Golf shoes are other option from the golf gifts. Golf shoes are basic requirement for playing golf. Choosing a right shoe that will be fitting and providing comfort to the person you are gifting is not an easy task. Remember you have alternate option of gift certificate. Instead of presenting golf shoes as golf gifts, present a gift certificate and allow him/her to purchase shoes of his/her choice.
Golf courses are considered to be one of the expensive ventures of sports due to their fees structure. To avoid such expensive venture, driving ranges are considered to be best alternative. Presenting a membership of driving range may be the best among golf gifts for a beginner.
Ball tokens, golf gift certificates and 10 bucket pass are the other golf gifts available. Golf gifts are considered to be a motivating factor for beginners.
Golf Grip kits are a common phenomenon amongst golfers. Golfers are always choosy about their golf grip kits. Golf grip kits consist of tape, instruction book and a CD or DVD containing photos about use of golf equipments. Usually, golf grip kits are provided with golf irons and golf grips. Golf grip kits provide you all information like specification, maintenance guide and instruction about the handling of the equipment. Golf grip kits are of utmost importance for the beginners are they get the required information of golf equipments through these golf grip kits.
Kenyan Golf: The World’s 10 Best Kept Kenya Golfing Secrets and Golf Courses
History of Golf in Kenya
The history of golf in Kenya goes back a long way, with one club in Nairobi due to celebrate its centenary in 2006. Locally, the game is thriving as never before. Young and gifted Kenyan golf players are starting to compete internationally at the highest levels.
But it is only comparatively recently that Kenya as a nation has woken up to the fact that its magnificent golfing inheritance is, in fact, a valuable commodity that can and should be marketed overseas. What’s more, several of the Kenyan top golf courses have been refurbished or upgraded in recent times.
What Golfing in Kenya offers:
For the lovers of the game, Kenyan Golf offers:
o Un-crowded and mostly well maintained courses.
o Comparatively inexpensive green fees and associated playing costs.
o A perfect climate during Europe’s winter months.
o Hotel accommodation of a high standards that is also reasonably priced.
o Frequent flights to Nairobi from Europe and the Far East.
o Manu excellent courses in and around Nairobi, at 100metres above sea level, but even more within two hours’ drive of the capital
1. Muthaiga Kenyan Golf Club
Of the nation’s 40 or so courses, probably the best known is the Muthaiga Golf Club, home to the Kenya Open and founded in 1913. The Kenyan golf course is popular with the locals at the weekends, but it is comparatively easy to play on weekdays. Muthaiga has recently undergone a major refurbishment to lengthen some holes and tighten other aspects of the golf course.
2. Windsor Kenyan Golf Hotel & Country Club
Other good Kenyan golf courses in the Nairobi area are Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club and the Royal Nairobi. Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club is unique to Kenya. Set amid coffee plantations, it consists of a large luxury hotel overlooking its own golf course. The Kenyan golf course itself has some of the trickiest holes and is not for the faint hearted or those a little wayward off the tee.
As such, Windsor golf course is a stiff test for any golfer. There is plenty of water around, not to mention some blind greens, a do-or-die 14th hole and an 18th hole that is capable of wrecking any card.
Like Muthaiga, the Royal Nairobi Golf Club is a golf course with strong colonial ties. Establishes in 1906, this is Kenya’s oldest golf course.
3. Railway Kenyan Golf Club
Along with the Railway Golf Club, it is located right in town. AT 6,600 meters off the back tees, the Royal Nairobi is a testing course. Both the club house and the golf course have been refurbished recently.
Slightly further from Nairobi, but certainly no less interesting, are golf courses such as Karen, Limuru and Sigona.
4. Karen Kenyan Golf Club
The 6,630 meter Karen Golf Club, in the Ngong Hills, proved a worthy alternative venue for the 2004 Kenya Open. This is an admirably maintained course with a well connected membership, strong traditions, high standards and strict dress code.
5. Sigona Kenyan Golf Club
About 40 minutes out of Nairobi, on the Nakuru Road, is the recently upgraded Sigona Golf Club. This course is greatly favoured by local golf players and enjoys a moderate climate. Its par-71, 6015 meter golf course is suitable for players of all levels and its fairways are among the best kept in Kenya.
6. Limuru Kenyan Country Club
Located a similar distance from Nairobi is the par-71, 6,020 metre Limuru Country Club. At 2,330 meters, the Limuru is high above level and receives more rainfall than most other courses. Its greens and fairways are particularly lush, even in the dry season. This well maintained Kenyan golf course is a delight to play, but at this altitude players may need a sweater for early morning and evening rounds.
7. The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort
The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort at Naivasha is about 2,150metres above sea level and consists of a par-72, 6,073 metre course with some of the best views in Kenya. This is not the toughest golf course in the Kenya, but what it lacks in difficulty it more than makes up for by its sheer charm and beauty.
8. Many Other 9 and 18 hole Golf Courses near Nairobi
Apart from those already mentioned, there are nine-hole and 18-hole Kenyan golf courses dotted all around the highland areas above Nairobi. Some are in excellent condition, while others probably require some improvement before it would be worth traveling long distances to play golf.
Golfing at the Kenyan Coast
On the coast, meanwhile, visitors can expect a tropical atmosphere in terms of climate and playing conditions. There is a choice of two fine courses, Leisure Golf Club and the Nyali Golf Club, with rumours of new Kenyan golf courses to come in the area.
9. Leisure Golf Club in the Kenyan South Coast
The unforgiving Leisure Golf Club at Ukunda, on Mombasa’s South Coast, has tight fairways, good quality greens and is in good order thanks to some new grass-cutting equipment. The 6,084 metre golf course is open to non- hotel guests and visitors can expect a warm welcome at the club house.
10. Nyali Golf Club in the Kenyan North Coast
North of Mombasa, the Nyali Golf Club offers a more traditional set-up. This Kenyan golf course is a fair test for any golfer, while the club house has a reputation for excellent food.
Better Winter Golfing in Kenya than in Mediterranean
Whatever Kenyan golf course or courses you decide to play in Kenya, you are bound to be pleasantly surprised by what you find. In fact, compared with the Mediterranean in winter, there really is no contest.
Robert is a tour consultant and co-owner of Landmark Safaris Ltd in Kenya. Visit them http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/sports.php to read more on your Golf tour.
Build a Consistent and Reliable Golfing Swing With These Three Principles
When Australian and international golfers arrive at my golfing school one of the first things I explain to them is that there are just three principles they need to fully understand and learn to help them develop a powerful and repeating golfing swing. I’m sure that as you read this you might be a little skeptical because let’s face it, there is a lot of conflicting and ambiguous advice surrounding the best golfing swing method to learn.
It can be quite mysterious, and with all the advice on offer the question that might be running through your mind right now is “why should you listen to me?” Good question. Like you, I’ve read lots of golf instruction books, golf magazine articles and I’ve been to countless golf websites looking at the systems, methods and techniques on offer.
The difference is that I have spent more than twenty thousand hours on the golf range (you read correctly) helping golfers like you to improve their game. So I’m not confused about what you need to do to develop a consistent and reliable golfing swing. I’ve tried and tested many approaches in my search to find a straightforward, rational and well-organized way to improve the golfing techniques of my students.
The answer I discovered is that you begin your quest for improvement by defining the ground rules of the game. Since golf is a stick, ball and target game the place to start would be to understand how the stick (golf club) influences the ball to fly towards your chosen target. You see, learning how to build a consistent golfing swing need not be confusing or difficult because every single golfer from a novice player to a PGA tour professional has to do just three things.
Since the ball is on the ground and to the side of you, you can appreciate why the golf club when rested upon the ground behind the golf ball is built on an inclined plane angle. From driver to putter the shaft of the golf club is on an angle of inclination. Think about a house for a moment and you can imagine a floor which is a horizontal plane; next add some walls which is a vertical plane; and finally add a roof which is an inclined plane.
This inclined plane guides the direction of your golfing swing as it goes backwards and forwards. Every golf club in your bag follows this plane. In fact because the golf club is built this way it becomes a law unto itself.
So the first principle is to control the direction of the golf club as it swings backwards and forwards in relation to your target by keeping your golf club on or as close to this plane as you can. You can do this by placing a flat piece of cardboard (or similar) the width of your seven iron shaft from the bottom of the club head to the base of the grip on the same angle the seven iron is built on. Prop it on its angle against something so that it will stay there as you practice swinging your golf club backwards and forwards along it slowly.
The second principle relates to the club heads relationship to the golf shaft that it’s attached to, and its ability to rotate on the end of the golf shaft as it travels backwards and forwards. When your golf club travels backwards to the top of your golf swing it turns a little bit like a door turns on hinges. When it swings forwards towards the golf ball it rolls back to its original position, which should be timed precisely as the ball departs from the club face.
Mind you, you only need enough rotation (turn and roll) around the shaft to achieve this straight clubface post-impact position. Any more or less and you’re in big trouble. You can achieve this by making sure that your left hand (for a right hand golfer) is positioned in such a way that you can roll the head more than you can turn it. If you held your golf club in front of you in a horizontal position and you turn it, the clubface would turn towards 2 o’clock. When you roll it, it will roll to nearly 9 o’clock. In other words, you want your club face to close more on the follow through than you can open it on the back swing.
The majority of golfers I’ve worked with at my golfing school over the years tend to open the club face more than they should in the back swing and as such they find it difficult to close it enough in the forward swing. This leads to shots that travel off to the right of the target.
The third principle relates to delivering sufficient force at the correct time in the down swing so you can hit your golf ball a satisfying distance. This principle relates to developing sufficient speed of the club head as close to impact as possible. When you watch a PGA tour golfer on television, if you look carefully you will notice how the left arm and golf club work in unison with one another during the back swing and forward swing phases.
In the address position they are almost in line with one another, but as they travel backwards the left wrist starts to hinge and the golf club moves out of line with the left arm. Ultimately an acute angle is formed between them at the top of the back swing. This angle has stored up the potential energy of the golf swing and is waiting briefly before it transfers it into kinetic energy in the down swing.
The key is to maintain this acute angle for longer so that the energy that’s being released into the down swing is released slowly like a slow release fertilizer for your lawn. If the energy releases too early you move into the deceleration phase too early which will lead to shorter-less powerful drives and irons.
You can store this acute angle for longer by following this advice. Since a force can be defined simply as a push or pull, you need to decide how your hands (which are in front of your golf club at the top of the back swing) move down the plane (see principle # 1) towards your golf ball. Some golfers at the top of the swing will push on their golf club more with their right hand to accelerate the golf club into the down swing, whilst others will pull more with their left hand to accelerate the golf club.
So which is right? Well, image for a moment a line that extends vertically upwards from your golf ball at address; we’ll call this the impact line and it’s a point of reference for us to determine which is the best hand to use to maintain the angle between the left arm and club shaft. At the top of your swing how far would you say your hands are from the impact line? Try it now and find out. You will discover that they’re anywhere from three to five feet.
If you pull the golf club past this impact line the golf club and its energy will be released later than if you push on it with your right hand. In other words, hands first-club head second. You do not want your club head to catch up to your hands before you strike the ball. The best way to do this is to keep the club head following your right elbow in the down swing for as long as you can. The further that your right elbow travels across the front of your body the more likely that the golf club will strike the golf ball at the correct time. Also, you’ll find that by positioning your hands just above your waist at about 9 o’clock that it’s easier to get your hands to pass the impact line well before your golf club can strike the ball.
So there you have it, three principles that will help you to develop a consistent and repeating golfing swing.
If you enjoyed reading my article you can visit my golf blog at www.golfconfidence.org or for information on my golfing school you can go to www.goldcoastgolfschool.com.au where you can find out about my golf improvement programs.
Lawrence Montague has been a leading golf teaching professional in Australia for more than twenty years and runs one to five day golfing schools for golfers of all levels of ability on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia.
Golf Swing Instructions to Help Golfers Improve Their Swing
If you want to score better on the green and improve your overall golf game, focus on working on your golf swing. Many golfers are unaware that the golf swing is an essential part of the game and that working on their golf swing, which involves understanding this complicated biochemical process, can help them improve their game. There are many places where you can find golf swing instructions: golf professionals, golf web sites, golf books and golf magazines, to name a few.
Golf Swing Instructions Straight from the Pros
You can improve your golf swing by following golf swing instructions from professional golf trainers. Professional golf trainers are a reliable source of golf swing instructions. He or she can personally look at your golf swing, analyze it and provide you with specific golf swing instructions on how to improve it. A professional golf trainer can tell you which area of your golf swing needs to be improved and he or she can come up with specific golf swing instructions that you need to follow. Your golf swing can improve after a lesson or two provided by a professional golf trainer.
Inexpensive Sources of Golf Swing Instructions
Getting golf swing instructions from a professional golf trainer doesn’t come cheap, however, and not all golfers can afford to hire one. You can still work on improving your golf swing inexpensively. You will find invaluable golf swing instructions from other sources. For online savvy golfers, golf web sites provide golf swing instructions ranging from articles, short tips and videos. You can also check out the golf books and golf magazines in your local library. You can subscribe to one or two golf magazines and receive up-to-date golf swing instructions from leading golf professionals for a fraction of the cost. There are also golf DVDs you can either rent or purchase. You can follow the golf swing instructions from these inexpensive sources in your own time and right in your own home. You can find out more about perfecting your golf swing at http://www.golftipsofthemonth.com
* Did you know that your grip — how you hold the golf club — is a factor that can affect your golf swing? Your top thumb must point up directly at you and comfortably grip the golf club.
* If you find your hands hurting while you golf or after the game, you may be gripping the golf club too tightly. Loosen your grip a little and relax.
* Having an even golf swing plane also contributes to the success of your golf swing. The club face must be square with the golf ball upon impact if you want to hit the golf ball straight.
* The only way you will improve your golf swing is if you practice consistently and regularly.
Article by Dean Forster. Learn more about improving your Golf Swing at Golf Tips Of The Month
Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?
Basic Golf Instruction
Ask yourself the question, People take up golf for various reasons. Looking at the sport with untrained eye, “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?” It really doesn’t seem like it’s all that difficult. The goal of the game is to get the little ball into the hole with as few attempts as possible. This seems like a relatively easy goal and something most people can achieve on their own.
However, if you go out on the golf course unassisted you will find yourself spending more time searching for your ball in the rough or fishing it out of water hazards than you will actually playing a good game of golf. There’s no need to be frustrated, it happens to pretty much everyone unless of course you began your career as a three year old phenom.
One of the most difficult aspects of picking up the game of golf is learning to drive the ball. It should be simple enough. The idea is to wrap your hands around the club, keep your body straight, pull back and swing. Unfortunately, those first few principles don’t even begin to cover the basic golf swing.
Any half decent golf instructor will tell you that the ultimate goal is to keep your head perfectly still during the entire swing. If you are trying to hit the ball too hard, your end result will be somewhere off in the tall grass hunting for a little white ball that you now want to bash into pieces. By now you are asking yourself “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?”
Relax your body and your muscles before even attempting to swing. Trying to hit the ball too hard with tense muscles typically have poor results. Any golf instructor will tell you that focused energy will make the ball sail farther and straighter. That focus comes from a relaxed body and a head that doesn’t bobble about.
By being able to keep your head in a stationary position, you can keep a solid focus on the ball and bring your energy directly to the center of the ball with a flat club. Your stationary head will also automatically send the signal to your hands to turn correctly and at the right time. This timing is crucial to your follow through and allowing the ball to maintain a straighter trajectory.
Maintaining your balance is important to creating a long and straight drive as well. Golf instructors report spending a significant percentage of lesson time focusing on keeping the head straight and balancing the body. Balancing the body in a game of golf is more than simply not falling over. It is about evenly distributing the body weight in all directions. Most people are able to maintain a good percentage of left and right balance, but often the front and back balance needs to be taught by a qualified golf instructor.
When playing golf, the head angles downward to allow the golfer to see the ball and maintain focus. This position encourages poor posture and the body weight to edge too far forward. A qualified golf instructor can assist a golfer in finding a good and solid position that is more balanced to allow for a much better swing. This is an unnatural position for most people and often there is a great benefit in taking some lessons from a qualified golf instructor to help correct the problem. Are you still asking yourself “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?”
It is often recommended to watch oneself in front of the mirror to help correct imbalanced golf swings. This trick can help produce a much better swing, but keep in mind while you are watching yourself you are not watching where the ball should be. This is where a qualified golf instructor can really benefit both the novice and practiced golfer. Often someone else’s eyes can pick up on what we ourselves cannot.
If you are self coaching instead of taking the advice of a qualified golf instructor, read as often as you can about methods of improving your golf swing. There are countless helpful articles, tips and news on the best-pro-golf-guide website. Remember that while the information presented on the web site is very good and comes with high recommendations, it is also valuable to recognize that every human body is unique and it may take a little trial and error to really get things moving in the right direction. Often the articles presented can enhance instruction given by a qualified golf instructor. The goal is achieve the best results in as little time as possible, and it can be advantageous to combine both resources.
The Benefits of Private Golf Lessons, “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?”
Private golf lessons can be quite costly. One of the first things to examine if you are considering taking private golf lessons is your motivation for doing so. Are you looking to use golf for business relations or are you simply interested in the game? Those who are looking to be able to tee off with clients or the boss can gain quite a bit very quickly by soliciting the help of a qualified golf instructor for private lessons.
If you are truly not interested in perfecting your game and simply want to hold your own with your clients on the golf course, a qualified golf instructor can help tailor your golf education to help improve your weaknesses without training you for eventual professional competitions. Often business people will pay top dollar for a qualified golf instructor to produce significant results in a short amount of time. If you view it as a business investment, the money you are paying the qualified golf instructor seems much more reasonable.
If, however you are interested in the game of golf and you enjoy the sport, a qualified golf instructor can give you accurate, cutting edge guidance in improving the quality of your game. You can insist on perfecting your basics and move through the process more slowly and gain a remarkable amount of information from a qualified golf instructor. Again, private golf lessons can be quite expensive, so it’s a good idea to make sure that not only are you motivated enough to make good use of the instruction provided, but that you will have the required time to devote to practice.
Whatever your reason is for choosing private golf lessons, you will have to devote ample time to practice. Practice is the key to any sport, and despite its simple appearance, golf is not any different. When choosing an instructor you should ask them how much practice time they prefer to see from their students. Any instructor who does not emphasis practice time is not interested in your overall success and is more interested in keeping you their student (and their income) for as long as possible. This is not the foundation for a healthy qualified golf instructor and student relationship.
The Benefits of Group Golf Instruction, “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?”
Group golf instruction is available and can be much less expensive. Group golf instruction may or may not fit your current needs, but for many people it is a premium option as it fits nicely into their golfing budget. Remember that you not only have to pay any qualified golf instructor, but you more than likely will need to pay club fees and tee fees. These extra fees are not only for lesson time, but for the ever needed practice time as well. Often the total cost of everything involved is quite high and opting for a group lesson is more feasible. If you are worried and concerned “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?” Then this might be the option and a grate way to learn the game.
Group golf instruction also allows for a quiet gathering of novice golfers who are simply trying to improve on their skill. Often the pressure that comes with a round of golf with the boss is alleviated during group golf instruction. Group golf instruction typically allows for you to choose which direction you would like your golf instruction to head. There are groups offered for driving, putting, hazards, and basic skills. While you can explain to a private qualified private golf instructor that you feel you need to focus on a specific area, groups are often tailored to specific, targeted skills.
If you are interested in group golf instruction but want to enhance your learning experience, you can add the informative tips provided on best-pro-golf-guide to your golfing repertoire. Combining the article information with the qualified group golf instructor’s advice and the tips of those in the group lesson with you may very well be an adequate combination of sources for you to seriously improve your golf game without breaking the bank.
Selecting a Qualified Private Golf Instructor, “Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?”
If you have decided to engage a qualified private golf instructor to hone your golf skills, don’t rush into a commitment. It’s better to shop for a high quality instructor rather than just rush into lessons with the first person willing to give them. Ask a lot of questions before beginning. If you know that someone else is taking private golf lessons, as them how they feel about the quality of the instruction they are getting. Is the golf instructor punctual? Do they always give the full scheduled lesson or do they shave a few minutes off here and there? What are their cancellation policies? If the instructor cancels are you entitled to a free makeup lesson? How often do they cancel?
It is perfectly acceptable to request references from a potential private golf instructor. Most will have a reference sheet readily available for you as it is a fairly common practice. It is also acceptable to interview the instructor prior to committing to the lessons.
Keep in mind that just because someone has excelled in their sport doesn’t mean that they excel at teaching it. There are plenty of high ranking golfers who make excellent instructors, but there are some who truly can only play the game. Don’t get stars in your eyes and be a bit skeptical if their credential sheet has an overwhelming number of golfing achievements but no teaching credentials or achievements. Someone who presents with a solid mix of both teaching and golfing achievements may very well make for a better instructor. Golf instruction, or any kind of sport instruction, is really about the ability to communicate the skills rather than perform them.
Choose wisely and often you will find the experience of learning to play golf quite enjoyable. For more tips and references about everything golf, visit BestProGolfGuide.
Bobby Ryatt, If you enjoyed reading this articles, then go to my website where I have lots more on the subject. You will have all the information and links, make your game more enjoyable, no more bad golf after this. http://www.bestprogolfguide.com http://bestprogolfguide.blogspot.com
How Custom Golf Clubs Can Improve Your Golf Game
Do you love to play golf but are tired of having to visit the golf club repair shop on a regular basis? If this is the case then you are like many other golfers out there who have to deal with golf club repair on a regular basis just to enjoy the game you love so much. But, what if there was an option for you to avoid frequent trips to the golf club repair shop? What if you could finally play a round of golf with a set of golf clubs that really fit your size and swing without worrying about golf club repair? Well, you can and the way you can is with a set of custom golf clubs. Custom golf clubs may seem like a major expense up front, but if you sit down and consider the price of your current set of clubs in addition to all the golf club repair bills then you will see that when you do the math a custom golf club set really is not that expensive. And, the benefits of having custom golf clubs is that you will play better golf than ever and will enjoy the game even more. But, what are the benefits of custom golf clubs and why should you choose custom golf clubs over others? The following information will guide you to all the benefits and information you need to know about custom golf clubs.
All About Custom Golf Clubs
Just to make a point about custom golf clubs take a look around you the next time you are out on the golf course. Is everyone the same height, weight, sex, and age or are there major differences in appearance? Now, check out everyone’s golf clubs. Are all of the clubs practically the same with standard grips, lengths, and the like? So, what does this observation mean? It means that standard golf clubs don’t fit the majority of golfers. So if you truly want to improve your game you will customize a set of custom golf clubs, just for you. Now, you are probably thinking that custom golf clubs are even more expensive than name brand golf clubs. However, that is not necessarily the case. Not to mention that the fitted custom golf clubs you hear about aren’t anything at all like custom golf clubs, they are made from scratch just for you. Don’t get confused between fitted custom clubs and custom golf clubs. The fitted custom golf clubs simply start out with the standard set of clubs from any golf manufacturer and then they proceed to make the clubs more suitable to your personal and playing traits. Although the custom fitting doesn’t do too much other than cost you money because they are starting with a product that doesn’t fit you to begin with!
Why would anyone anticipate that mass produced clubs would help them play golf at their best? The reason is because golfers want to be better and they believe the hype from the golf manufacturers that the “newest” technology will improve their game. Well, the real answer is not in buying mass produced clubs but rather customizing your own golf clubs. Anyone who has ever had a set of custom golf clubs can tell you that finally having a set of clubs that are the right length, with the right grip, will greatly impact what you shoot the next time you are out on the golf course.
It is simply logical to buy custom golf clubs that are made to fit you or customize your own set of golf clubs. That means your golf swing is analyzed as well as your personal characteristics to create a custom golf club set that works with your golf style and not against it. A custom golf club set will allow you to have grips that are the right size for your hands, heads that reflect your skill, and shafts that are the right length and flex.
When you have your first custom golf club set made you may see some big differences from your last set of clubs. Your custom golf clubs may be a different length or the grip may be smaller or bigger. The flex may be different and the head might be different as well. For some people who set out to play with their custom golf clubs the first day they see amazing results. Others will need to make some changes and practice because although the custom golf clubs really fit their personal characteristics it’s difficult to change after playing with clubs that don’t fit for so long. Just a little practice and patience is all that is needed to see the difference custom golf clubs provide. Not to mention that when you have a custom golf club set made you will have new clubs that won’t be in need of golf club repair any time soon! If you really love golf then a custom golf club set is really worth the investment.
Ant Onaf is a content producer in association with EZGolfClubRepair.com (http://www.ezgolfclubrepair.com), the official site of the popular e-book “Golf Club Repair Made Easy” and “The Ultimate Golf Package”. Golf club repair is essential for any golfer. EZGolfClubRepair.com teaches you how to create and repair your own custom golf clubs.
How To Set Up a Golf Fitness Program to Improve Your Golf Game
Professional golfers on the PGA Tour understand the connection between golf swing mechanics and the body. The most notable players in the world have regimented golf fitness programs they adhere religiously too. The benefits of such programs have been well documented in the media. Press clippings from Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson all refer to golf fitness exercises being a component of their regular practice schedule.
The amateur can learn a lot from the pros. They can learn the importance the body has in relation to the golf swing, how golf swing mechanics and the body are intertwined, and improvement in the golf game requires the implementation of a golf fitness program.
Where most amateurs get “off-track” with their golf fitness training is the components and exercises incorporated in such a program. Golf fitness programs are quite different then “general” fitness or “weight training” programs. A golf fitness program is designed to develop the golfer’s body around the golf swing. In order for this to occur certain parameters and exercises are required in such a program.
First and foremost the amateur golfer must understand the connection between the golf swing and body. The golf swing is a complex series of biomechanical movements execute by the golfer. In order for the golfer to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. It is necessary for the golfer to have certain physical parameters well developed.
These physical parameters are flexibility, balance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and muscular power. High levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required to execute the golf swing correctly. Often times the amateur golfer is not flexible enough, strong enough, or powerful enough to execute the golf swing correctly.
This results in the golfer developing compensation patterns in their golf swing. The result being poor shots and high scores on the golf course. Bottom line is a physical foundation of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power is required to develop an efficient golf swing. If the amateur golfer is lacking in anyone of these categories the foundation upon which the golf swing is being built will be insufficient.
Once the amateur golfer understands the connection between the golf swing and the body it is necessary to implement a golf fitness program, A golf fitness program is different than “traditional” training programs in such this type of program develops the body around the golf swing.
A golf fitness program trains the body to the positions, movements, and requirements of the golf swing. A golf fitness program is not concern about “beach muscles” or how one looks in the mirror. Rather a golf fitness program has the primary goal of improving the scores on the golf course and play of the golfer.
This type of improvement is a result of using exercise to develop the physical parameters of the body relative to the golf swing. A golf fitness program will include flexibility exercises, balance drills, muscular strength exercise, endurance training modalities, and power drills. Exercises from all of these categories are included in a comprehensive golf fitness program.
Understand the exercises and drills within each of these categories are not necessarily traditional type of exercises. For example, flexibility exercises for golf are less concerned about touching your toes, and more concerned about completing a full shoulder turn. Flexibility exercises for golf are geared towards developing the flexibility within your body to execute the components of the golf swing correctly.
The same can be said about every other category of exercise and drill incorporated in a golf fitness program. The balance drills in a golf fitness program are designed to improve the golfer’s balance capacities relative to the golf swing. Power exercises in a golf fitness program are designed to improve clubhead speed. Where as power drills in other programs may be geared towards improving how fast you run.
Once the amateur golfer understands the connection between the golf swing and body, the elements of the body needing development relative to the golf swing, and the components of a golf fitness program. The final component of understanding is golf fitness training order.
Often times the amateur golfer desires more power (i.e. clubhead speed) in their golf swing. As a result they perform only exercises to enhance the power components within their body. What the amateur golfer fails to realize is developing golf strength, endurance, or power is useless if they do not have the flexibility or balance capacities to execute the golf swing. Developing the body for the golf swing requires the amateur golfer to follow a specific order relative to their training programs.
It is necessary for the amateur golfer to first develop their flexibility for the golf swing. Secondly proceed to increasing their balance capacities in relation to the golf swing. Continue the process with developing strength and endurance for the golf swing. Completing the process with power drills to enhance clubhead speed. This guarantees the effort placed within a golf fitness program will enhance the golfer’s swing. It becomes a simple process once the golfer is educated on the relationship between the golf swing and the body. The benefits a golf fitness program has upon the golfer’s swing, and how to implement golf fitness exercises correctly.
About the Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
Improve Your Golf Swing and Driving Distance with Golf Stretches
The golf swing is arguably one of the most difficult athletic actions to perform. The golf swing requires you to draw the golf club through a long range of motion with proper technique and exact timing.
Any error in swing plane, timing, or sequence will cause your golf swing to suffer, and suffer it will. Unfortunately, the result of your golf swing suffering will be errant shots, poor golf scores, and frustration on the golf course.
Often the amateur is at a lost for why their golf swing results in errant shots. Countless hours are spent at the range in an effort to improve their golf swing. Hundreds or even thousands of dollars are spent on lessons each year, and not to mention the purchasing of new equipment.
It all adds up to a lot of time and money spent on improving the golf swing. Unfortunately, for many amateur golfers their handicaps and score never improve. Leading to the question “why is my golf game not improving?”
If this is you and this question lingers in your mind. The answer to your question could easily be staring right back at you in the mirror. The failure of improvement may have absolutely nothing to do with the driver you are swinging, the teaching pro helping you with your swing, or even your practice routine. It could all do with you! Yes you, the physical body swinging the golf club.
Keep in mind the golf club does not perform the mechanics of the golf swing. Nor do the mechanics of the golf swing execute themselves without you. It is you and your body executing the mechanics of the golf swing. The point to make is your body directly affects the mechanics of the golf swing.
Additionally, the golf swing requires your body to encompass certain physical qualities to execute the mechanics of the golf swing correctly. These physical qualities are certain levels of flexibility, muscular strength, balance, and power. If you are lacking the minimal amounts of flexibility, balance, strength, and power to execute the golf swing correctly. Compensations will occur even before you swing the golf club.
For example, let’s look at your flexibility. The golf swing requires you to draw the golf club through a large range of motion. The backswing requires a full shoulder turn to set the club in the correct slot for the downswing, and the finish position is almost a mirror image of the backswing.
In order to perform these parts of the golf swing correctly, the muscles of your body must be flexible. An inflexible body in which muscles are “tight” creates restrictions in movement. Restrictions in movement in relation to the golf swing will undoubtedly result in limitations pertaining to golf swing. The limitation will impede you from creating a full shoulder turn and balanced finish position. This causes compensations in the mechanics of the golf swing.
The entire body needs to be flexible for the golf swing. Certain muscles more than others are involved in the golf swing, and if these muscles are “tight” they will directly affect your golf swing. One such set of muscles is your hamstrings.
The hamstrings (back side of your upper leg) are often “tight” and cause problems to many people, not just golfers. However, they have a profound effect on the golf swing and it is not a good effect. Hamstrings that are “tight” are in a shortened position. The shortened position of the hamstrings has a direct effect on the position of your hips. Your hips will be “tucked”, directly affecting your posture. This in itself can hamper the ability to place oneself in the correct position at address within the golf swing, not to mention maintaining a proper spine angle during the swing.
Additionally, “tight” hamstrings place an undo amount of stress on the lower back. Large amounts of stress on the lower back cause fatigue, soreness, and increase the possibility of injury. If you are a golfer that has ever experienced lower back pain you know the effect it has on your ability to swing the golf club correctly.
A combination of a postural change and undo amounts of stress on the lower back, just begin to scratch the surface of the effect inflexible muscles can have on the golf swing. “Tight” muscles change the kinematics of the body. As a result, the biomechanics of the golf swing must be altered. These alterations usually lead to compensations in the mechanics of the golf swing resulting in errant shot patterns on the golf course.
And no matter what you do in terms of practice or instruction these alterations will not go away until you address them. Just as you address swing faults, you must address flexibility faults. Flexibility faults can be addressed through golf stretches.
Golf stretches enhance the flexibility of your body in relation to the golf swing. Golf stretches often times return muscles that are “tight” such as the hamstrings to their proper length. This results in the ability of your body to perform the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. If you are one of many golfers who are not finding their golf swing improving through practice and instruction. Take a moment and look at the body swinging the golf club. This very well may be the root of your golf swing problems. Fix your flexibility faults through golf stretches and find yourself on the road to lower golf scores and more enjoyment in the game of golf.
About the Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
Golf Fitness Exercises for the Amateur Golfer
With all the talk about the players on tour getting stronger and more flexible, we hear a lot about exercising for golf from television commentators and read about it in the golf publications. But what exactly are the best exercises for the amateur golfer?
A great question that has a good answer, but before we give you the answer let us provide some background so the answer makes a little more sense to you. First of all, discussing the golf swing for the time being will get us rolling.
What exactly is the golf swing? The golf swing is an athletic movement that requires using of the entire body from “feet to fingertips” in order to complete the swing. Realize that the golf swing is not about the club, not just about your grip, or where your head is during the swing. The golf swing is a movement that requires your entire body to move through a sequence of movements with the correct timing. To perform the “athletic movement” of the golf swing requires the body to begin at address, move through the actual phases of the golf swing and complete it with the follow through. In order to perform this activity with efficiency and repetitively, the body must have certain physical parameters.
These parameters, as I call them, are actual physical categories of the body that need to be developed to a certain level. These categories of the body are the platform from which the body is able to perform the athletic movement of a golf swing efficiently. The categories are probably familiar to many of you, but for the purpose of this article let us briefly run through them.
The body is required to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power to complete a golf swing. If the body lacks in any of the above categories, then the results will be seen in the golf swing. The results are usually in the form of poor mechanics, bad shots, or poor scores on the course. So, now that we know what the connection is between the “body” and the “swing” let us address the question about the best exercises for golf.
The Best Exercises for Golf
Let’s say you walk into your local health club and see all the fancy machines and aerobic machines at the facility to get you shape. What ones would choose? Would you choose running on the treadmill for 30 minutes, or would it be better to push out a couple sets of bench presses? Well, the answer to our question really lies within the connection between your swing and your body.
I will tell you that exercises meant to “pump you up!” or give you that “six pack” are not necessarily the correct exercises for your golf game. Neither is that weight training program you used back in high school. So, with those thoughts in mind what do you think the best exercises for golf are?
Right now we know, in general terms about the golf swing, what is required of the body for the golf swing and what exercises are not good for the swing. Armed with that knowledge we can decipher what the best exercises for golf are for you.
Beginning with flexibility, we know that the entire body must move through certain ranges of motion to perform an effective golf swing. And what happens if your body is not able to move through the required ranges of motion of the golf swing? The answer: the golf swing will mechanically suffer resulting in shots that are less than optimal. So part of the exercises that are good for golfers are flexibility exercises and, even more so, flexibility exercises that work the muscles used in the golf swing through the movements involved in the golf swing. So first and foremost flexibility exercises should be on the top of your list.
The second category of exercises that would be conducive to the golf swing would have to do with balance. We hear about balance in reference to the golf swing all the time. “Stay balanced through the swing; transfer your weight to maintain balance during the swing…” But what does balance exactly mean? Balance is the ability to control your body through a specific movement pattern. The movement pattern we are discussing just happens to be the golf swing. We know the importance of balance in relation to the golf swing, so how do we train our body for better balance in the golf swing? Before we answer that question we need to know a little more about balance. Balance in relation to the body has to do with the connection between your nerves and muscles. Essentially your nervous system, as a result of messages sent from your brain, tells your muscles how to move to maintain the body’s balance. The more efficient your nerves and muscles are to these messages the greater balance abilities the body develops. So balance exercises train both the nervous system and muscular system to become more efficient at this function. Summing it all up, balance is the second category of exercises that will assist your golf game.
The third category of exercises that are beneficial to golf have to do with your muscles. The golf swing requires the muscles of your body to move through a specific range of motion (flexibility) and help with your balance capacities. In order to perform these actions and others, your body needs certain levels of strength and endurance. The definition of strength is the ability of the muscles to exert force for the given “athletic action” (simplified definition but a good working definition for us). Endurance is the ability of your muscles to do the same activity over and over again for a specific amount of time.
First off, let us discuss strength. The golf swing has one intention of developing club head speed while maintaining balance through the swing. The muscles in your body must have enough strength in them to do both. Now, when we discuss building strength for the golf swing it is NOT the type of strength needed to bench press 250 lbs. Or squat 500! It is strength geared towards the improvement of your swing. I refer to this type of strength as “golf strength.” So when you get to the gym, performing strength exercises like bench press will not help your swing. Exercises that train the body in the positions and through the movements of the golf swing will help your swing.
In addition to strength, we need to develop endurance in your muscles. Think of how many swings you may take over the course of 18 holes. In order for you to be able to swing the club the same way on the 18th hole as you did on the 1st hole. Your body has to have high levels of endurance. This will allow your body to perform the golf swing without getting tired. You develop endurance similar to how you develop “golf strength.” Utilize exercises that train the body in the positions and through the movements of the golf swing. Lighter loads with higher repetitions will be used for these exercises. The end result will be the development of “golf endurance.”
The final segment of exercises beneficial to your golf swing is power training. Power training is geared towards the ability of your body to generate high levels of club head speed. Power development by the body is what allows for greater distance on your shots. Clubs help, golf balls help, but it really comes down to the piece of machinery, your body, swinging those club and hitting those golf balls. Development of power for the golf swing is very similar to the development of “golf strength and endurance.” It is the utilization of exercises that place your body in the positions and move you through movements similar to the golf swing.
Summary
So there you have it, the answer to the types of exercises best for the improvement of your golf swing. I think you now realize it is not one exercise, but a group of exercises that incorporate flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power. A combination of these exercises is what will enhance your golf swing.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness progams go to http://www.seancochran.com
Develop the Correct Golf Swing for Women with Golf Fitness Training
The woman golfer has a myriad of questions on how to develop the correct golf swing as does most any amateur. The questions from woman golfers center on a myriad of topics such as; how to hit the golf ball farther, how to develop a more repeatable golf swing, how do I hit half shots with my wedges, what are good putting drills? The list can go on and on in relation to the woman golfer and how to improve their golf swing. An area that is now presenting more and more questions from the woman golfer centers upon golf fitness. Questions such as; what are good golf flexibility exercises, and how can golf fitness exercises help me drive the golf farther? These and many more questions are arising in relation to golf fitness and the woman golfer.
It is well known on the LPGA tour the number of players utilizing golf fitness programs to improve their golf game. Annika Sorrenstam has publicly stated the benefits she has received in her golf game from golf fitness training. One area that always appears to be a concern for the woman golfer is distance. How to hit the golf ball farther and Sorrenstam does hit the ball a long way, and utilizes golf fitness training. A simple connection can be drawn between increased driving distance, women golfers, and golf fitness exercises. The bottom line is this; golf fitness exercises can benefit the distance of drives for the woman golfer.
The questions that need to be answered are how and why. First off an understanding of increased distance, the golf swing, and the woman golfer needs to be addressed. Driving distance is contingent upon clubhead speed. The faster the clubhead is traveling at impact with the golf ball. The golf ball will travel farther, an easily understood concept.
Clubhead speed in the golf swing is contingent upon two components. Component number one is golf swing mechanics. The biomechanics of the golf swing in and of themselves create clubhead speed. It centers upon physics and the coiling/uncoiling of the body during the golf swing. In relation to improving clubhead speed and golf swing mechanics. The more efficient the woman golfer performs the mechanics of the golf swing. A greater amount of energy can be developed and transferred into the golf ball as a result. First and foremost for the woman golfer; the development of efficient golf swing mechanics can improve driving distance.
The second component of increasing clubhead speed is the body. Remember, the body is the implement swinging the golf club. It is the woman’s body executing the biomechanics of the golf swing. In addition it is also the body generating power for the golf swing. Power is the ability of the body to generate the greatest amount of force in a short amount of time. Increase the ability of the body to generate more power within the biomechanics of the golf swing. An increase in clubhead speed can occur. How does the woman golfer increase power outputs of their body? This is where the implementation of golf fitness exercises can be a benefit. Golf fitness exercises can increase the power outputs of the body. Power golf fitness exercises increase the ability of your muscles to develop more force within the golf swing.
How do golf fitness exercise achieve this outcome? Golf fitness exercises develop the body around the golf swing: Very different than ordinary fitness training or aerobic classes. Golf fitness exercises develop the required flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within the body for the golf swing. This allows the body to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. In addition, golf fitness exercises can improve the swing in areas such as clubhead speed.
This is accomplished with golf fitness exercises training the body in the positions, movements, and physical requirements of the golf swing. This allows for the proper levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power to be developed within the body. Improving the capacities of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power can improve the ability of the body to perform the golf swing and increase distance.
To summarize, the questions surrounding women and developing the correct golf swing are many. How to improve the golf swing through golf fitness exercises is one of these questions, and one specific area within this topic is distance. Increasing distance is contingent upon increasing clubhead speed. Improving clubhead speed centers upon golf swing mechanics and the body. Improving the efficiency of the golf swing mechanics will allow a greater transfer of energy into the golf club, thus improving clubhead speed. The second component of distance lies within the body and its ability to generate power. Increasing the power outputs of the body will enhance clubhead speed. Power outputs of the body can be improved through golf fitness exercises. These exercises differ than normal gym based exercises in that they develop the body around the swing. This allows for the proper levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to be developed within the golf swing.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
Top 25 Golf Vacations
The United States has a number of golf vacations which would enchant all golf lovers. If you are familiar with golf then you know that golf courses fall under four categories: Private, Resort, Semi-private and Public. Here are the top 25 golf vacations:
1. Myrtle Beach
This location is referred to as the Miniature Golf Course Capitol of the world. There are about sixty accommodations, eighty-five golf courses and four golf schools in Myrtle Beach. This is one perfect place for a golf vacation for all the golf lovers. There are two alternatives for accommodation: rent a condo or check in to a hotel. One hotel that I would recommend is the Holiday Inn as it has a lovely beach front view. It has five pools and you may also get free continental breakfast. Majority of the people in the country come to this location to relax and play golf.
2. Palm Beach
Palm Beach is one of the locations that have first class golf courses like the TPC at Heron Bay and PGA National Courses. This is the location that is not only famous for golf courses but also shopping and lovely beaches. The West Palm Beach resort is the place to stay when you are in Palm Beach. The Breakers West Palm Beach golf course is well-known golf course in Palm Beach. Palm Beach is a home to an excellent art museum, Professional Golfers Associations and excellent Japanese garden.
3. Tucson
Tucson is the 32nd largest city that is located in Arizona. Tucson is the right place for you to spend your golf vacation because it has bright sunshine and excellent golf. Playing golf in Tucson would be different because it would be a play in a desert. Some good resorts are JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa, the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, etc. Of course the most expensive of all would be the Cany Ranch Resort.
4. Traverse City
The Traverse City golf is located amidst the hill, water and woods. It is one great place to play golf. Traverse City is where many people head to when they are looking for a golf vacation as well as a place to relax. Park Place Hotel is a good place to stay when you are in Traverse City. Some excellent golf courses here are Antrim Dells Golf, High Pointe Golf Club, etc.
5. Scottsdale
There is huge number of golf courses in Arizona. Scottsdale in Arizona is one perfect place for golf vacation. It has lovely blue sky, light and mild breeze that makes Scottsdale a perfect place to play golf. Private as well as public courses are scattered around Scottsdale. Some hotels which you can check out are the Hilton Scottsdale Arizona Hotel, Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, etc.
6. San Diego
San Diego is truly one golf vacation which you should not miss. It has fifty private, fifty semi-private courses and more than fifty public courses to its name. This place is perfect for playing golf but it is not limited to golf courses only. There are other places to check out like the Seaworld, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. There’s even a beach close by and that is the Mission Beach. The hotels you can stay at are Hilton Hotel, Park Manor Suites, etc. It is one great place to go to when vacationing with your grandchildren.
7. Saint George
The location near Las Vegas has 11 golf courses which are near to one another. Saint George has bright sunlight, blue sky and colorful settings which makes this town a perfect place for golfing. It only has one private golf course but a number of golf courses in this town have been granted esteemed awards. Crystal Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriot is few hotels which you can stay at while in this town.
8. Renditions in Davidsonville
The Renditions in Davidsonville is a very well-known Golf course because of the eighteen holes there which are the exact copy of a golf course where quite a few important championships have been held. It started in the end of the year 2001 as a public golf course. Davidsonville may only have one golf course but visiting this place is worth it. Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, Springhill Suites are few hotels which you can check in to when in Davidsonville.
9. Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen
These are the small towns that have more than forty well-known and classy golf courses. They have a perfect setting for playing golf as the sky is blue and the surrounding is colorful with a lot of greenery. This location has been renowned as a first class golf course location. The courses here are public as well as private. Some courses are part of the resorts. Whispering woods, Anderson creek, and Legacy are few well-known courses. You can stay at the Residence Inn by Marriot when you are in the area.
10. Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach in California is a place where tournament action first took place in the late 1920s. A huge number of tournaments have taken place in the golf course of Pebble Beach. The US Open has taken place in this location four times. The 18th Hole of Pebble Beach is very popular among the Golfers. Places where you can stay are The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay, etc.
11. Palm Springs
You will find more than a hundred golf courses at Coachella Valley in Palm Springs. This location has spectacular desert landscape, low humidity and plenty of sunshine. Few well-known golf courses in Palm Springs consist of Westin Mission Hills, Tahquitz Creek, Shadow Mountain, Marriot Desert Springs, LaQuinta Resort, Landmark, Golf center at Palm Desert Cathedral Canyon, etc. L’Horizon, Villa Royale Inn, Hyatt Regency Suites are some of the hotels where you can put up your family and yourself in when you are at Palm Springs.
12. Orlando
Orlando in Florida is considered as the Golf Capital of the World. There are excellent golf courses on the suburbs of Orlando Metro region. It has approximate a hundred and fifty golf courses. This location has more to it than just golf courses. There are Seaworld, Disney World, Universal Studios, EPCOT and MGM Studios in Orlando. Some popular examples are North Shore, Mission, ChampionsGate, etc. The hotels where you can stay at are Marriot Orlando, Westin grand Bohemian, etc. So this is one perfect place to go to with your family.
13. Maui
Maui, an island in Hawaii is home to United States’ finest golf courses. Usually the climate there is very good but sometimes the wind blows a little hard. If you are tired from playing golf then you can relax or take a swim in the beaches in Maui. After all, Hawaii is well known for its beaches. Maui Seaside Hotel, Sunseeker Resort, etc, are places to stay at when in Maui.
14. Las Vegas
We all know Las Vegas to be a city of entertainment and gambling but not everyone knows that it is also a great place to be to play golf. There are number of courses in the city as well as on its suburbs. Most of the courses are resort or public. So a golf vacation in Las Vegas can get you all the fun that one can get as you can have lots of entertainment when in this city. Few hotels that you can book yourself in are Marriott Suites, Venetian Hotel Resort, The Mirage, etc.
15. Kiawah Island
It has been said that Kiawah Island holds some of the best golf courses in the United States. You can try out tennis, beaches, bike trails, etc when you are tired of playing golf. When in Kiawah Island, check out the designs of five contemporary golf course designers. Holiday Inn, The Sanctuary, Kiawah Island Golf and Tennis Resort are few places where you can think of staying when in Kiawah Island.
16. Hilton Head
Hilton Head is an Island where many families go to for their vacations. It has forty golf courses and as such, you can spend your golf vacation hoping from one golf course to another. Choose from various kinds of resorts ranging from private to public, to semi-private to resort-type courses. The Beaches in Hilton Head are also very clean and safe so when you are done with golfing you can always go to the beaches. Hilton Oceanfront resort is one great place to stay at.
17. Destin
The Jewel of the Emerald Coast is the name that is given to Destin because it has water that is emerald blue in colors and lovely white sandy beaches. It was once a tiny fishing village but now it has become a well-known destination for golf, tennis and beaches. There are four excellent golf courses in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and they are The Raven, The Links, Burnt Pine and Baytowne. You can consider staying at Days Inn or Emerald towers.
18. Dallas- Fort Worth
Here you will find golf courses that are private, semi-private and public. It is a place where you can expect finest golf courses. Apart from golf courses there are public parks and lakes, museums and different other types of entertainment. You can stay at the Crowne Plaza Suites Arlington.
19. Columbus in Ohio
There are more that 80 public golf courses and 35 private courses in Columbus. According to the Golf Digest in the year 1993, EagleSticks Championship 18 holes course was the top public golf course in Ohio. When in Columbus you can stay at Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza Hotel or Hampton Inn and Suites.
20. Colorado Springs
Apart from the Seven Falls, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Garden of Gods, Colorado Springs is also famous for its golf courses. It does not have many golf courses but still, it’s the quality that counts and not the quantity. The scenery in Colorado Springs is excellent and the beauty is there is natural and not artificial. You can stay at The Broadmoor Hotel or Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel.
21. Coeur d’Alene
It is a town which is considered as the promising location for golf courses. Accommodation at any of the four well-known and excellent resorts would be worth it: Coeur d’Alene Resort, Stoneridge in Blanchard, Hidden Lakes in Sandpoint and Highlands in neighboring Post Falls. The magnificent Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course has been built near the lake, creek and hills. There are lovely lowers, fairways and greenery here. It is one great place to relax too.
22. Chicago Suburbs
On the suburbs of Chicago there are more than a hundred and ten golf courses. There are also a huge number of championship courses that have 36 or more holes. After playing golf there are other forms of entertainment as the city of Chicago has a huge number of entertainments. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites or Hilton Garden Inn are places to stay in if you happen to be on a golf vacation in Chicago.
23. Austin
Apart from being the Live Music Capital of the world, Austin is also one great place to go for a golf vacation. You will find four excellent award winning courses in Austin at the Bartin Creek Golf Resort. These courses are the traditional Crenshar Cliffside, the lovely Palmer lakeside, the latest Fazio Canyons and the high-ranking Fazio Foothills. As for the accommodation, you can stay at Omni Hotel, the Driskill Hotel or the Intercontinental Stephen F Austin Hotel.
24. Augusta
This is one town that will give golfers the feel of pro golf legends and pro golf. Here there are public as well as private golf courses. You can stay at the Marriot Augusta Hotel, Ramada inn and Convention Center or Country Inn and Suites.
25. Atlanta
You will find a huge number of excellent golf courses in Atlanta. Apart from golf there are water parks, theme parks and various historical places.
Swati Banerjee is the owner of Writing Ink, a web content management firm based out of India, that services clients from across the globe. Please take a minute to visit http://www.writing-ink.com to experience how the bright young minds here make magic with words!
The Golf Digest
As far as golf magazine in circulation goes, Golf Digest remains the most widely read monthly golf magazine. Made available in print by an American media company Advance Publications, this monthly digest concerns itself on golf topics in general flavor. While Advance Publications do circulate specialized golf digests like Golf for Women, Golf World, and Golf Business, Golf Digest remains their flagship when it comes to the golf arena.
Golf Digest is perhaps better known for its rankings of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” that featured the best golf course to be found worldwide. It was a colossal idea, as one researcher stated, since it promotes those major sponsorships and arrangements at the same time made Golf Digest readily feasible to the reading public if only the information for the best golf course was the collective interest.
Either case, Golf Digest’s rankings of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” proved to be very successful. So successful was it that ultimately, Golf Digest’s biennial rankings are regarded as an actual basis rate as far as every golf course go since its inception at 1985. The Golf Digest’s ratings are considered legitimate too, since the entries are voted on by a board of several distinguished golf experts. The most successful qualifier is the Pine Valley Golf Club, who topped the list every time except on the 2001 ranking.
Golf Digest also produces lists of the best new courses, the best golf resorts, and the best golf course in each state.
Golf Digest Magazine offers tips and secrets in golf equipment, starter instructions an techniques explained in articles and even an instructional video, news and top stories about the present and recent tours, feature articles on just about anything but regarding golf, travel suggestions towards the best golf courses, and of course -Tiger Woods. Golf Digest can also be accessed by web http://www.golfdigest.com, where online golfing content are available for browsing.
Golf Digest became a branded circulation because it covers comprehensive issues about golf. A few other golf magazines feature comprehensive critiques, commentary, issues, reports, rumors, and stories about golf, all mixed in a flavorful manner. Golf Digest subscription is offered at $14.97 and the first time customer receives two risk free trial issues along with two free tips booklets. If you are interested, call 800-727-4653 which is toll free in the US and Canada.
For those who want to interested, here’s the top 10 of the 100 Greatest Golf Courses for the 2005 – 2006 list.
1. Pine Valley Golf Club of New Jersey
2. Augusta National Golf Club of Georgia
3. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club of New York
4. Cypress Point Club of California
5. Oakmont Country Club of Pennsylvania
6. Pebble Beach Golf Links of California
7. Merion Golf Club of Pennsylvania
8. Winged Foot Golf Club of New York
9. National Golf Links of America of New York
10. Seminole Golf Club of Florida
Milos Pesic is an avid golfer and owner of the most comprehensive Golf Information Pages. Visit now to find out all you wanted to know about golf, golf equipment, tips, resorts and much more.
Golf Fitness Exercises For the Pre-Season
Golf fitness exercises can be very beneficial in getting you ready for the upcoming golf season. Golf exercises with swing drills can prepare you for a successful year on the links right from the start.
The PGA Golf Tour is in full swing and for many parts of the country and world the golf season is upon us. Many of you are anxious to dust off the golf clubs and get out to the golf course for your first round of golf. A question that may be on your mind is how do I get ready? How do I knock off 6 months of rust on my golf swing, feel comfortable with my driver on the first tee, and post a good golf score at the end of the round?
All questions that are asked often in the world of professional golf and this article will provide you with the answers. Answers to these questions and many more fall under the category of how do I prepare myself for the golf season?
Interesting enough if the guidelines from this article are followed the golf score you post for your first round of the year may be lower than you ever expected, the distance of your drives may well be farther than you imagined, and the number of accurate golf shots you hit may be even more surprising!
The answer to all the questions on how to get ready for the upcoming golf season centers on preparation. Preparation is the key to a successful first round of golf and every round you play in the upcoming golf season.
We all probably understand the definition of preparation but lets take a quick look in order for us to all be on the same page. Preparation can be defined as the work or planning involved in making something or somebody ready or putting something together in advance (Encarta Dictionary, MSN.com).
A definition that sheds light on getting ready for the upcoming golf season. Using the above definition we can see the process of preparing for the upcoming golf season does not begin 10 minutes before your first tee time, but rather in advance of when you get ready to hit driver off the first tee. Bottom line the process of getting ready for the upcoming golf season begins weeks or even months before your’ first round of golf of the year.
To have a successful first round of golf and a good season of golf you must begin the process of preparation well in advance of your first time on the golf course. If you look at professional golfers they begin the process of preparing for the upcoming golf season months in advanced. I would suggest doing the same. Develop a plan that will get your golf swing ready once the snow thaws, the birds are chirping, and the greens are ready for putting.
What does such a plan contain? This type of “golf preparation plan” would contain drills, exercises, and programs to improve and prepare every aspect of your golf game. If we break down the game of golf into categories the “golf program” becomes much easier to understand. Obviously, we have the different shots made on the course. A brief breakdown would indicate the need to implement swing drills to work on the full swing, short game, and putting. We could obviously get a little more detailed than a breakdown of the golf game into three different categories, but lets’ keep it simple.
Now that we have this breakdown of the game of golf into full swing, short game, and putting the next step is to implement a series of drills to work on each of these aspects. Simply put I would suggest devising a series of drills to work on each part of the golf game/swing. This can easily be accomplished by purchasing a few books or videos from one of the top-teaching professionals in the world of golf.
Each one of these qualified golf instructors have numerous materials available to help you with your golf swing. And if you are one of those individuals that lives in a cold climate and is unable to get to a driving range or practice facility, no need to worry. Most all of the instructional videos/books available have drills that can be performed in the comfort of your own home.
At this point we have a couple of bases covered in the “preparation plan” for the upcoming golf season. We understand preparation is key to a successful year on the golf course, the “preparation plan” begins well in advance of the first tee time of the year, and a portion of the plan consists of swing drills. This brings us to final part of your “preparation plan” for the upcoming golf season.
This part of the plan centers on the implementation of golf fitness exercises to go along with your swing drills. We must understand the concept of your body and the golf swing. The golf swing is executed in its’ entirety by your body. In order for your body to execute the golf swing correctly. It requires you to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within it. If you are lacking in any one of these physical areas compensations will occur in your golf swing.
It comes down to this: In order to be prepared for the upcoming golf season and to improve your golf swing. The implementation of golf fitness exercises geared towards developing your body around the golf swing is necessary. This type of program will prepare the body for the golf swing and the upcoming golf season.
To summarize, the process of preparing yourself for the upcoming golf season begins with a “preparation plan”. This plan begins weeks to months in advance of your first time out on the golf course. Additionally, this “preparation plan” for the upcoming golf season contains a series of golf training drills to prepare your golf swing. The golf training drills break down the golf game into three sections; full swing, short game, and putting. A series of swing drills are implemented to work on each one of these parts of your golf game. In addition golf fitness exercises are implemented into the golf-training program to develop your body around your golf swing. Put all these pieces together and your first time out on the golf course this year should be an enjoyable one.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
Golf Head Cover Designs
Playing golf can be one of the most favorite past times for a wide variety of people. If you have the time, the right golf technique, a good movement coordination, and of course, the resources to acquire golf equipment and to get to a golf course where you can play golf, you are almost all set to enjoy golf. However, although many may seem to nod to the idea that golf is all about those mentioned basic requirements, some beg to disagree. There’s more to golfing if you are a fun-loving person and that is making your equipment top of the line, golfing accessories included, such as golf head covers.
What is a golf head cover, a newbie in golfing might ask. It is that golf accessory that protects the golf driver, and even irons if you have a full set, from getting damaged during travels or just when you are in a hurry to pull a club out or drop one into the bag.
What’s the use of a golf head cover, as mentioned, it is for protection. Since golf is a not-for-the-pauper game, golf equipment can be with very hefty price tags. The expensiveness of golf equipment is the very reason that many golfers need to protect their stuff. A golf head cover can help in this arena.
Golf clubs need utmost care and one of the most critical parts of golf clubs that require care is the golf club head. Why? The golf club head can make or break your game since this part of the golf club is the very part that gets in direct contact with the golf ball. Using golf head covers can solve a golfer’s dilemma about how to care for this important part of his or her golf clubs.
One of the greatest nemesis of many golfers is rust on their golf club heads. And as nature has made it to be, rust can’t be avoided. A golf enthusiast can be very particular in maintaining their golf club heads clean and safe from rust. But it’s just impossible to expect rust to never visit your golf club heads because these golf equipment are made of carbon steel which is plated with chrome. As one uses a club, it gets exposed to abrasion, friction, and moisture, which builds up to produce rust. And rust on golf club heads can eventually turn a great golfer’s greatest hit into a bad one. You can slow down the process of allowing your priced golf club heads from succumbing to annoying rust – use golf club head covers. The golf head cover will keep the club head dry, which will consequently delay rusting.
Now after the uber-functional discussion about golf head covers, let’s go to the fun part. Golf head covers are also considered status symbols. The style of your golf head cover will indicate what your preferences are in terms of aesthetic value and of course, it will show what you can afford to buy. This is because there is a myriad of golf head covers, even designer ones that the more sophisticated type of golfer will definitely love.
So what are your golf head cover design options? Choose among the following popular designs by deciding which will suit your personality best.
Plain golf head cover exists for those who hate too much trinkety sporting equipment. It can be less taxing if you are someone who gets disturbed by too much color or attention, especially from other golf players.
Popeye golf head cover is available for those who never get tired of the Popeye cartoon show. You will almost hear your golf club head munching on spinach if you use this style of golf head cover. Just kidding!
A bulldog golf head cover is for you if you simply love dogs, especially bull dogs. Great for really virile guys who want more fun from golf and some attention from other golfers, say girl golfers. Arf!
State flag design head covers are for those who are very patriotic and would always appreciate anything that symbolizes his or her country.
Your own golf club might be giving away free golf head covers. Just ask.
Enjoy protecting your golf club heads with fun golf head covers!
For more complete information on golf please go to: http://www.easyandfungolf.com/golf-head-cover.html http://www.easyandfungolf.com http://www.drnathaliefiset.com
Mental, Physical, Nutritional, and Biomechanical Preparation for Your Golf Game
Golf is a game requiring mastery in a variety of areas for success. Breaking down the game of golf into categories. Success and development within is required in the areas of mechanics, physical, nutritional, and mental. Mechanics is the development of the proper biomechanics of the golf swing. Physical entails developing the body around the golf swing. Nutrition incorporates fueling the body for proper success on the golf course. Mental is the development of the correct mind set to excel at the game of golf.
Each and every one of these categories has a direct affect on the development of your golf game. Often the golfer tends to focus only upon the development of the golf swing through mastery of biomechanics of the golf swing. Developing the biomechanics of the golf swing requires you to correctly master each phase of the golf swing. Often the golf swing is broken down into phases. These phases are address, backswing, transition, downswing, and follow through. Not only is it required of the amateur to master each movement entailed in the phases of the golf swing. It is also necessary to perform each specific movement with the correct timing. Finally, the discussion of the biomechanics requires you to create efficiency and repeatability within the golf swing. After recognizing all the intricacies involved in the development of efficient golf swing mechanics. It is understandable why golfers spend an in ornate amount of this part of developing their golf game.
What golfers at times fail to recognize that additional categories exist requiring development to create the optimal golf swing. If ignored these aspects can negatively affect the development of the golf swing and golf game. The next category requiring development within the golfer is categorized as physical. Physical refers to the development of the body around the golf swing. Often times the body is a hindrance in the development of the biomechanics of the golf swing. The golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within the body to execute the golf swing correctly. If the body is lacking in any one of these physical categories, the ability to perform the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly will be hindered. The end result is the possible inability to master the biomechanics of the golf swing. The common result is the development of compensations in the golf swing. For example, the golf swing requires a high level of flexibility to complete a full shoulder turn. If the golfer is lacking flexibility, the ability to complete a full shoulder turn will be compromised, thus causing compensations in the golf swing.
Each and every physical component has a direct effect on the execution of the golf swing. Compensations can easily occur if these physical aspects are not developed around the golf swing. In addition to developing these physical aspects of the body, it is of equal importance to develop these parameters around the biomechanics of the golf swing. This type of training is termed cross-specific training. Cross-specific training can be defined as the developing the physical parameters of the body to the positions, movement, and requirements of the golf swing. This simply states the components of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power must be developed around the requirements of the golf swing.
After understanding the physical component of golf swing development. The golfer must understand two additional categories directly affecting the game of golf. The next category the golfer must understand and develop is nutrition. Nutrition is a fairly basic component to understand in relation to golf or any other athletic endeavor. Essentially, nutrition is the process by which one fuels their body for their sport. Basically if poor nutrients are given to the body during athletic endeavors, outputs on the field of competition (i.e. golf course for golfers) will be less than optimal. Nutrition in relation to athletes is not solely concerned about weight loss, but more so on providing the body with the nutrients required for success on and off the course. Weight loss and good health go hand-in-hand with proper nutrition, but with athletes the number one concern is properly fueling the body for success in their chosen sport. Nutrition in golf and athletics in general are required for success during competition and development of the athlete in their chosen sport.
For example, nutrition fuels the body in the development of it physically. In order to develop higher levels of strength and power within the golfer, proper nutrition will undoubtedly increase the success within this category. If the body is provided proper nutrients, the ability of it to develop the physical requirements needed of the golf swing will occur at a much more optimal process.
The final category lending itself to develop of one’s golf game is mental. Often referred to as a key element of success within the game of golf. Numerous materials exist on the development of the mind within golf. It is often a category that is address once a proficiency in the area of golf swing mechanics has materialized, but at times is overlooked by many amateurs within the game. A grasping of the basic concepts of positive mental outlook, visualization, and preparation can improve a golfer’s success rate on course a great deal. As with all other categories requiring development for the game of golf, the mental side of game is in need of attention.
Development of a golfer’s swing and game consists of much more than the golf swing itself. It requires efficiency within the biomechanics of the golf swing. Inside these biomechanics of the golf are ingraining the correct sequence of the golf swing and the timing required. Developing the biomechanics of the golf swing can hinge upon physical components of the body. Certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required to execute the golf swing correctly. On top of developing the body for the golf swing proper nutrition is required. Nutrition fuels the body during a round of golf and assists in the process of developing a well rounded golf game. Finally, the correct mental approach is required for success within this game of golf. The mental side of the game requires just as much attention as the other components in the development of your game of golf. All in all a comprehensive approach in the development of your golf game is required for optimal success in the game of golf. This entails time and effort in the areas of: golf swing biomechanics, developing the flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power required physically of the golf swing, properly fueling the body with optimal nutrition, and development of a sound mental approach to the game of golf.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
A Spain Golf-Portugal Vacation Planning Guide – An Insider’s Perspective to Spain Golf and Portugal
As boutique providers of upscale golf travel to exceptional destinations worldwide, we take the opportunity from time to time to share our findings regarding some of the great new courses in our footprint, which covers the U.S. West Coast including the Pacific Northwest, Europe and Argentina, among other dynamic destinations. One needs to be prudent when booking golf vacations outside the U.S. As you might also find with hotel properties, you simply can’t believe everything you read in a guide book or on the Internet. Have you ever been to a hotel or resort that hasn’t met your expectations or is living on past glories? Probably so! That’s why we personally play and inspect the courses we recommend to our upscale clientele.
In the past year, we have either played or inspected more than 40 golf courses in Spain and Portugal. While Spain golf and Portugal golf experiences are tops in the continent, what we found was surprising. Specifically, we uncovered some very strong new courses we had never heard of both in golf-rich regions as well as provinces not known for golf. Additionally, we found some much-heralded courses that no longer make the grade, in our professional opinion. With careful planning and expert counsel, your Spain golf vacation or Portugal golf vacation can be the stuff of lifelong memories.
So here are the unvarnished reviews of what we consider to be the top Destination Golf Courses in Spain and Portgual. Our criteria are based on a U.S. perspective from the point of view of a golf professional or scratch amateur (yes, I am a former PGA professional), which means we match our courses with the wishes and abilities of our guests as we place the highest value on the following course attributes:
o Design
o Conditioning
o Service
o Value
Spain Golf – Destination Golf Courses:
When Americans and Brits think of Spain golf, they naturally think of the Costa del Sol, which straddles the Mediterranean coast from Malaga to near Gibraltar. Yes, some of the best golf courses lie in this year-round resort area, but golf in Spain is about much more than the Costa del Sol. One can experience championship golf in the Barcelona area, in Seville, and we even found very strong courses in the Basque region (most notable are Izki Golf, a Ballesteros design, and Jose Maria Olazabal’s Golf Artxanda). Here’s our take on the best of the best of Spain golf:
Barcelona Golf
o RCG El Prat is the private, but accessible, Greg Norman-designed complex of 45 holes set in the upscale western suburbs of Barcelona. As all of the nines were designed and constructed simultaneously by the same architect, players can forge ten distinct 18-hole combinations that fit together seamlessly. As expected from Norman, most fairways are reasonably wide, but trouble lurks beyond their borders and approach shots challenge your iron skills. You will feel like a member for a day when you experience Real Club de Golf El Prat. This is a lovely setting and very relaxing getaway from the energy of Barcelona.
o PGA Golf de Catalunya is one of several properties owned and operated by the PGA European Tour, and is the only one in Spain. It’s easy to fall in the love with this place that is located in the Costa Brava (“Wild Coast”), just 75 minutes from Barcelona. There are two courses on the site, Green and Red, with the Green being the longer and stronger test of the duo. The Green is a big, tournament-ready course nestled in the forest just a bit inland from the Costa Brava shore. Mature “umbrella” pines and cork oaks line the well-manicured fairways, and the smooth but undulating greens will test one’s short game. The Verde is simultaneously challenging and fun. There are quite a few elevation changes on these tracks and the scenery is outstanding. There’s just something about those symmetrical umbrella pines that spells relaxation.
Costa del Sol Golf
o Valderrama arguably is the finest course in Continental Europe. The course is located in the upscale Sotogrande development that includes some of the finest golf courses in Spain. Sotogrande is located approximately 45 minutes from Marbella, the gem of the Costa del Sol. Valderrama is literally a legend in mainland Europe, having hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup, the World Golf Championship and countless Volvo Masters tournaments. That tournament elevated the stature of Spain golf to completely new heights. This Robert Trent Jones, Sr. gem is a must-play for the serious golf enthusiast touring the Costa del Sol. One can easily be distracted by the spectacular scenery and mesmerizing cork oaks that line the fairways, but this course demands your undivided attention. You can measure yourself against the best players in the world as you tackle the infamous 17th. The service is outstanding, the design is challenging and the conditioning is nothing short of world class. This is European golf at its very best and a must play for any Spain golf vacation! Maximum handicap: 24 Men; 36 Women.
o Sotogrande is the granddaddy of Costa del Sol golf and perhaps of Spain golf. Sotogrande is Valderrama’s older and less-menacing sibling, located at a lower elevation than most of the others courses on the Sotogrande property. Approximately ten years the senior, she provides wider landing areas and less intimidating greens complexes. Nevertheless, the ever-present breeze is enough to heighten the challenge on this nearly-seaside track. Although Valderrama tends to overshadow it as the best of Spain golf, Sotogrande remains one of the top five venues in mainland Europe.
o La Reserva is an impeccably-maintained and relatively new private club on the Sotogrande property. This Cabell Robinson design stretches to more than 7,300 yards from the back tees. Fortunately, there are four additional sets of tees from which to choose, so choose appropriately! La Reserva’s length is somewhat mitigated by meticulous grooming and generous fairways and greens, so relax and enjoy the wonderful Costa del Sol setting. Few courses offer such incredible curb appeal. The course straddles the rolling hills of the Western Costa del Sol, making this one of the most beautiful golf courses in Spain. The course view from the drive to the club house alone is worth the trip.
o Santana Golf is not a course you read so much about as it is new, but rest assured that it is one of the most talked-about new golf courses in Spain. Set in the hills above the coast in a beautiful, former avocado orchard, Santana is the young upstart of the Costa del Sol golf scene. This track blends a beautiful setting, quality design, attentive service and splendid conditioning to create a grand Spain golf experience. Santana Golf is easily walkable, employs water hazards and bunkers prudently and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the Mediterranean. The par-72, 7,000-yard Cabell Robinson design offers four sets of tees so that you can bite off as much or as little as you desire of this wonderfully-diverse layout. If you are in the Costa del Sol, experience Santana while it is young and relatively undiscovered.
o Finca Cortesin is another newcomer to the Costa del Sol. The course is located near the mountaintop “white village” of Casares, which looms like a beacon amidst the majestic Sierra Bermeja mountain range. This new Spain golf course opened in early 2007 and is quickly making a name for itself as one of the best golf courses in all of Spain. The Cabell Robinson design offers a challenging variety of holes, as evidenced by the scenic par-4 13th that confronts the player with two water hazards, yet sooths with eye-pleasing green complexes. As bonuses, the routing remains unspoiled by development, the modern practice facility is quite extensive and the customer service is absolutely among the best we have encountered in all of Spain. We suggest that you play this one before the word gets out about one of the best new Spain golf courses!
Portugal Golf – Destination Golf Courses:
As is the case with Spain golf, Portugal golf is much more than a slew of courses situated in one location, which, in this case, is the Algarve. Sure the Algarve has long been known for great golf and great beaches! Quieter and less overbuilt than the Costa del Sol, the Algarve is experiencing a bit of a golf course building boom. There are no fewer than 10 Algarve golf courses either under construction or on the books. But there also are some very strong golf courses on or near the coast in Lisbon. Here’s our take on the best available Portugal golf experiences:
Algarve Golf
o Vilamoura-Old Course is the elder-statesman of golf in the Algarve. Owned by the Oceanico consortium, this landmark course was constructed in 1969 by Frank Pennink and has been consistently refurbished over the years; however, it has not lost its original and classic parkland charm. The many umbrella pine trees that border the fairway corridors are definitely in play, the rolling landscape challenges your club selection and the undulating greens test your short game, but all the difficulties are mitigated by meticulous grooming. Add to all that the soothing views of the surrounding hills down to the coast. We love this property.
o Monte Rei is a course that you definitely will hear quite a bit about if it hasn’t already come to your attention. This delightful new Jack Nicklaus design, located in a pristine natural setting in the eastern Algarve not far from the border with Spain, is winning the hearts of all those who play it. The first of two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, Monte Rei North, opened in 2007 to rave reviews. The second is in the advanced stages of construction. Nicklaus has utilized the natural landscapes to sculpt a unique layout of approximately 7,200 yards, with eight par 4s, five par 3s and five par 5s – of these eighteen holes, water comes into play on eleven. Monte Rei is a must-play on the Portugal golf scene, especially while it remains somewhat undiscovered. That won’t last long!
o San Lorenzo Golf Club is located in the central Algarve, which is the most developed part of the region. This Joe Lee design undoubtedly is one of the best Portugal golf courses, as it combines a fabulously diverse layout with a gorgeous setting. You will likely use every club in your bag as you traverse this track of slightly less than 7,000 yards, and you will believe that the scenery cannot get any better until you reach the 17th and 18th holes, which are set in the serenity of a bird reserve. On the downside, San Lorenzo gets quite a bit of play, but once you experience it, you will understand why.
Lisbon Area Golf
o Praia d’El Rey is links golf at its best and ranks near the very top of the Portugal golf list of best courses. In 2003, Golf World ranked it the 13th best course in Continental Europe, and we do not argue the point. Cabell Robinson has done another masterful job creating a Portugal golf course that exemplifies tasteful diversity. Ten holes meander along the coast in a links fashion, as the other eight twist their way through a thinly-forested section. To top it off, all the holes offer strategic bunkering and quick greens with plenty of movement in them to keep your attention. There has been some recent real estate development on the perimeter, but so far, not so much as to destroy the ambiance. Praia d’El Rey is Portugal golf at its best!
o Oitavos Dunes is a newcomer to Portugal golf, having opened in 2001. This Arthur Hills design is one of the most intriguing that you will find anywhere and it reminds us quite a bit of Bandon Dunes in Oregon. The design itself is excellent, as the par-71 layout can stretch to more than 7,000 yards and the fast, undulating greens challenge even those with the finest short games. Add all of this to spectacular ocean vistas on one flank and mountain views on the other, and you get one very special property. You might not want to worry about your score here, at least not after your first round, for the course’s challenges and the distracting scenery can create some high numbers. Oitavos Dunes is a great addition to the Portugal golf scene and is worth every additional stroke!
So that’s our take on the best of the best of Spain golf and Portugal golf. The Ryder Cup at Valderrama in part contributed to a golf course construction boom on the Iberian Peninsula. Thankfully, we’ll be back there soon to check out new courses such as the second course at Monte Rei and Nick Faldo’s Oceanico course, also in the Algarve.
Gene Holland is a principal of CORK & TEE http://www.corkandtee.com a boutique travel company that specializes in customized Epicurean Golf Travel, blending championship golf with insider wine and interactive culinary experiences. He has more than 15 years of experience in the golf industry. He spent 11 years as a club professional and also was a member of the varsity golf team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played with notables such as Davis Love, III and Jack Nicklaus, II.
The Begining Of Golf
Golf Score
When you are playing the great game of golf, your golf scores become both your best friends as well as your worst enemies. Many players live by their golf scores and judge their progress according to what the score card says. While you might think that your golf scores are the best gauge of how you are coming along as a golfer, that isn’t necessarily the case.
The way golf scores are tallied can mean so many things. Just because you shoot an 8 on a par 4 doesn’t necessarily mean you are a bad golfer. It might mean that you had a bad drive and a mis-aimed chip – but it doesn’t make you a bad golfer. So don’t put too much stock into what the scorecard says. Judge your golf game by how you play rather than what your scores are.
Golf scores are only meant to help you keep track of the strokes you take to get from tee box to the hole. They don’t ever take into consideration things like hazards, weather conditions, or anxiety. Sure, you can’t keep track of how you are doing without paying attention to your golf scores, but you still need to keep in mind that there are a million variables that can make your score fluctuate.
Of course, if you’re a golfer, you know all the terminology – birdie, eagle, bogey, double eagle (if you’re really lucky) – but the real story in golf scores lies in how you played the course and navigated the hole. Instead of keeping track of scores, why don’t you keep track of where you were for a particular shot and how that shot came out?
Let’s say, you make a horrible drive on a par 4 and only end up 100 yards off the tee box. Let’s hope it’s past the women’s tee – if you know what I mean! So now you are faced with a long fairway shot. You pick up your favorite club and smack a beautiful flyer right on the green. Who’s going to say that wasn’t a good golf shot? You end up with a par on the hole, but your score doesn’t really reflect that amazing shot now does it?
The point is, don’t put too much emphasis on the amount of strokes on your scorecard. Think about your golf score as a reflection of the amazing shots you’ve made as well as the flubbers you’ve had to live through as well. Then you can find out what kind of a golfer you are and not have to live by the golf score alone.
However, the Scots are generally adamant that the game of golf was a Scottish invention on St. Andrews golf course. The name “golf” is a derivative of the Dutch word “kolf” however, so as for who really invented the game, we say who really cares!
It really doesn’t matter who actually invented the game, but what does matter is how the history of golf has evolved over the years. Golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. St. Andrews began with eleven holes dictated by the topography of the land the course was located on. Players would play the eleven holes out and then back in to total 22 holes. Later, several of the holes were deemed too short and were combined with each other. That reduced the number from 11 down to 9 so a complete round of golf was comprised of 18 holes.
By 1744, the game of golf had become wildly popular. So much so that a group of men called Gentlemen Golfers decided that a set of rules must be laid out for fair play. They came up with a list of thirteen guidelines on playing the game.
Major changes since the 19th century have occurred in the equipment needed for play. Better mowers made greens easier to play on. Golf balls designs would evolve by using rubber and man-made materials which made the ball fly longer on a drive. The wooden golf tee would make the drive easier.
No discussion of golf history would be complete without talking about the advances made in golf clubs. Metal shafts came about in the 1930s and most drivers were made of wood which is why they are called woods today even though they are most commonly made these days of metal or titanium. The golf shaft design has also gravitated towards graphite which is lighter and makes the club easier to swing.
When referring to the history of golf, we can debate exactly where the game originated, but the game of golf as we know it today, most certainly came about in Scotland. Even if we’re wrong, we do still have this wonderful game – and most of us are very glad about that!
Golf Course
The game of golf is played on a golf course – obviously. But have you ever thought what goes into making a good golf course? I mean, what makes a good golf course, and what makes a not-so-good golf course? While we don’t have the space to go through specific design layouts, we can touch on some of the aspects of a golf course that makes it fun to play yet challenging too.
Like the miniature golf course, a regular golf course should be fun. You really can’t add the fun windmills or other hazards on a regular golf course, but you can use the natural elements of the land to help build challenges into the layout.
Obviously, the first thing you’re going to need is land. I mean, you’re going to need A LOT of land! The golf course must have some long yardage holes as well as some shorter yardage holes. However, most golfers will agree that having mostly longer holes is a great challenge. But they also need those short par 3s for a little ego boost!
Challengers on the golf courses are numerous especialy when you have several sand bunkers. Bunkers are now placed on the fairways as well as around the bunkers causing more golfers headaches! Having to hit out of the sand provides for all sorts of stroke modifications, and golfers love to have the challenge at hand!
The challengers on the golf courses are numerous one such is the dreaded water hazards. Rivers and lakes in theire natural enviroment are found everywere on the golf course. and man made water hazards are dug out and then filled with water over large areas! Water hazards make a player have to use finesse to avoid them and make a golf course fun to navigate.
The golf course that we play most often used to be a cow pasture. The rolling hills that used to have Holstein’s instead of golf carts make this particular golf course a lot of fun to try and get “up and down” on. Rolling hills cause the golf ball to- you must guess here – roll! You think you have a great drive and you just might have but when you ball lands on the side of a hill two things will happen either it will stop dead a harder shot or it wiil carry on down the side of the hill. Either way, this is another way to make a golf course challenging.
Natural trees and woods are also part of the golf course environment. When you hear the sound of your ball hitting a tree on the golf course there is no sound worse. Then you have the fun task of trying to find out where the ball landed. Did it go further in or did the tree propel it out into the fairway? You have a great way of either way to challenge yourself against natural elements.
The fun of designing a golf course is shared by player and designer alike. Take in the natural elements of your favorite golf course and then navigate through those hazards with a positive attitude. Then you’ll be having fun!
Discover how to hold your club. Learn the secret to your back swing. Does balance really effect your at game? Discover the mental game and learn the basics. Find out how your stance plays a role, learn about chipping. Discover common mistakes.
Plus much MUCH More at [http://www.golfsultimateguide.com]
Golf Fitness Training in the Off-Season
Golf fitness training in the off-season can greatly benefit golfers of any age in the improvement of their skills on the course. All to often the golfer will neglect the physical components relative to the execution of a biomechamically efficient golf swing. Rather than develop the physical requirements of the golf swing, the golfer will spend an insurmountable amount of time practicing and money on golf lessons with minimal improvement.
The common thread in such instances is physical limitations in the areas of mobility, flexibility, stability, strength, and power limiting the ability of the golfer to execute a biomechanically efficient golf swing. The golfer must remember it is the kinetic chain of the body executing every phase of the golf swing, and in order for the athletic movements of the golf swing to be performed efficiently, certain physical parameters must be evident within the kinetic chain.
If the golfer is lacking in the physical parameters required of the golf swing, compensations in the execution of the swing results. These compensations lead to swing faults such as a loss of club head speed, poor ball striking, inconsistencies, and poor play. To prevent such a situation from occurring and provide the golfer with a physical foundation to execute the golf swing, the introduction of golf fitness exercises can be of great assistance.
Golf fitness exercises as with any sports-specific training program have the goals of developing the physical components within the kinetic chain required of the athlete’s chosen sport. The end result of the implementation of such training modalities is a transfer of training effect into the execution of the golf swing. A transfer of training effect is the ability of a training program to have a direct benefit on the performance of the athlete during competition (Juan Carlos Santana, Institute of Performance, Boca Raton, FL).
Once the golfer understands the physical components connected to the execution of the golf swing as well as how a sports-specific training program can assist in the development of these physical components. The next step is the introduction of a sports-specific training program for golf. The ideal time for the introduction of such a program is during the off-season.
The off-season consists of the time of year in which competitive golf is not being played, and the amount of practice time associated with the sport is minimal. The traditional off-season for golf is the winter months where weather is not conducive to rounds of golf and the professional tour is on a hiatus. This provides an ideal off-season for any golfer from the recreational to professional level to implement a sports-specific conditioning program for golf. The ideal time frame for an off-season golf specific training program is 8-12 weeks. This is the minimal time frame required to introduce golf-specific training modalities into ones conditioning program to create adaptation in the kinetic chain. In addition, a time frame of 8-12 weeks allows for progressions to occur within the specific modalities of the clients off-season golf specific conditioning program.
Outside of the ideal time frames associated with an off-season golf specific conditioning programs are the goals of such a program. The general goal of the off-season program as stated previously is the development of the physical parameters within the kinetic chain required in the execution of the golf swing.
In order to achieve the goal of developing the physical components within the kinetic chain for the golf swing, a basic understanding of the biomechanics of the swing is needed. A brief review on golf swing biomechanics indicates the following: the golf swing is typically separated into phases which are; address, takeaway, backswing, transition, downswing, impact, and follow through. The goal during each of these phases is to keep what is termed the kinematic sequence in tact.
The kinematic sequence is a model determining the efficiency in the human body at which speed is generated and transferred to the golf ball during the swing. Researches behind the development of the kinematic sequence include Dr. Greg Rose of the Titleist Performance Institute, biomechanist Phil Cheetham of Advanced Motion Measurement, and Dr. Rob Neal of Golf BioDyanmics. The kinematic sequence allows a viewer to look at how efficiently and effectively a golfer generates speed, transfers speed through the body, and where in the golf swing a golfer may be lacking the physical or biomechanical requirements to execute the swing with the greatest amount of efficiency possible.
Understanding the kinematic sequence is imperative to the development of a biomechanically sound golf swing. The information provided by the kinematic sequence allows us to begin to dissect where the golfer physically is breaking down within the kinetic chain during the execution of the golf swing. This will be a cornerstone in the development of a golfer’s off-season conditioning program.
Once an understanding of the kinematic sequence is in place, attention can be turned to the physical side of this equation in the form what physical requirements are needed by the golfer to execute a biomechanically efficient golf swing where the kinematic sequence remains in tact.
The ideal model to reference for determining the physical requirements of the golf swing is the mobility/stability pattern of human movement. This principle was first noted by physical therapist Gray Cook and strength coach Mike Boyle, and popularized in the sport of golf by Dr. Greg Rose. This principle states efficient movement within the kinetic chain of the human body occurs in an alternating pattern of mobile joints and stable segments. If this pattern of mobile joints and stable segments is altered, dysfunction in movement patterns will occur, and compensations in these movement patterns will be the result. A joint-by-joint view of the mobility/stability pattern of human movements is as follows: foot – stable, ankle – mobile, knee – stable, hip – mobile, pelvis/sacral/lumbar spine – stable, thoracic spine – mobile, scapular-thoracic – stable, gleno-humeral/shoulder – mobile, elbow – stable, wrist- mobile, cervical spine – stable.
As you can see the human body operates “feet to fingertips” in an alternating pattern of a mobile joint followed by a stable joint throughout the kinetic chain. Relative to the golf swing the mobility/stability pattern of human movement allows for the creation and transfer of energy through the kinetic chain from “feet to fingertips” into the golf club. If the mobility/stability pattern is dysfunctional relative to the golf swing, the development of speed will be limited, transfers of this speed to the golf ball will be compromised, and compensations in the golf swing will occur.
At this point, we understand the goal of an off-season golf conditioning program as well as the guidelines dictating the development of such a program. The next step is the implementation of a golf-specific conditioning program during an 8-12 week off-season time frame. The first step in this process is a physical assessment. An assessment through a series of physical screens will determine any dysfunctions within the kinetic chain relative to the mobility/stability pattern of human movement. If any dysfunctions are found during these physical screens, a series of corrective exercises will be incorporated within the golfer’s off-season conditioning program for correction of these dysfunctions.
Once an assessment is complete, the next stage in the development of an off-season golf fitness program is a need analysis. A needs analysis is the process of determining what requirements the golf fitness program must fulfill. Such an analysis not only includes goals, but in addition, what pieces of equipment are available, time constraints on training, and the information from the physical screens. Once the needs analysis is complete, the development of the actual off-season program can commence.
An off-season strength and conditioning program is typically separated into the following training segments:
1. Mobility/flexibility training
2. Neuromuscular efficiency development
3. Strength/stability training
4. Power training
All or only a couple of the training segments listed above may be incorporated into a single training. Corrective and performance enhancement training modalities are incorporated within each of these categories. The actual exercises within each category are dependent upon a number of individual variables such as kinetic chain dysfunctions requiring attention within the golfer, goals of the golfer, and training experience.
The final steps in the development of the off-season golf specific training program is the introduction of the exercises into the program. Guidelines to adhere in this section are the introduction of exercises that are geared towards the individual needs of the golfer in a systematic and progressive approach. A useful methodology to utilize in the selection, introduction, and progression of exercises into an off-season golf fitness program is a periodization schedule.
A periodization schedule is the cycling of loads, volumes, intensity, and exercise within a given time frame. The time frame may be divided into days, weeks, months, or even years. The cycling allows for a systematic approach to achieving improvement in the mobility, flexibility, balance, strength, stability, and power as well as prevents overtraining.
Each time frame has a specific arrangement of load, volume, intensity, and exercises within the give time frame. The cycles of a peridiozation program are broken down into macrocycles and microcycles.
A macrocycle is the complete training time, which for golfers is usually one year. A mesocycle is a specific time frame within the macrocycle (for example, the off-season). The subdivisions of mesocycles for the golfer are as follows:
Phase 1: corrective, strength, stability, and endurance training
Phase 2: strength and stability training
Phase 3: Power training
Phase 4: Sports-specific training
Phase 5: competition/maintenance training
The off-season of a periodization schedule will typically find phases 1,2, and 3, phases 4, and 5 are found in the pre-season and competitive playing year.
Knowing the off-season consists of phases 1,2, and 3. The training for the golfer or golf fitness trainer can be focus upon the modalities incorporated within these segments, in addition to the development of these components within the kinetic chain.
To summarize, the off-season is the ideal time in which the golfer can take advantage of developing a physical foundation for the golf swing. In order for this to occur, the golfer must have a basic understanding of the connection between the physical body and execution of the golf swing. Once this basic component is understood, the development of an off-season golf fitness program can commence. The first step in this process is an understanding of golf swing biomechanics and the kinematic sequence. The second step is a basic understanding of mobility/stability pattern of human movement. After this final component is acknowledged, commencement of an individualized off-season program can begin.
The development of a golf fitness program in the off-season follows a specific order in terms of its development. A physical screen begins the development of the program to determine if any dysfunctions exist within the kinetic chain. Once complete with the physical screen a needs analysis is initiated to recruit the individual requirements and goals of the program. Finally, the development of the off-season golf fitness program commences with the utilization of a periodization schedule.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notable PGA and Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness exercises and training programs go to http://www.seancochran.com.
Golf Course Guide For Costa Del Sol, Spain
The Costa del sol golf course guide is a “rough guide” and is purely the personal opinion of the author. Please take in to consideration that these comments are subjective, personal opinions and standards of golf differ. Please take this rough guide as exactly that, an honest, personal opinion from a fellow golf addict.
Alcaidesa Links Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Alcaidesa golf course is a 18 hole, par 70 golf course.
Address: Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 124.6, La Linea, Cadiz. Tel: +34 956 791 040.
This is a beautiful and tricky golf course for every standard of golfer from 28 handicap to scratch. Allis and Clark have made and admirable attempt to create a rare links course on the Costa. Stunning views across the bay to Gibraltar and hilly terrain make it a delight to play. Take plenty of balls, as the fairways are tight and unforgiving surrounded by gorse and ravines.
A buggy is needed – even for the fittest amongst us- and as you play consider taking an extra club up on par threes because of deceptive wind.
Alhaurin Golf Course, Costa del sol, Spain.
Alhaurin golf course is a 18+18+9, par 72 golf course which was designed by Severiano Ballesteros.
Address: Ctra Mijas-Alhaurin, (MA485) Km6, Alhaurin el Grande. Tel: +34 95 259 5970.
Tight beyond belief, difficult beyond anything I have every seen before.
The first hole is extremely difficult with a narrow fairway and rocks to the sides of the fairway, which send your ball bouncing high in to the sky, never to be seen again. As you progress the course gets tougher and if you are not really on top of your game you could easily become more and more disheartened as you progress around the course. I stopped counting shots after I lost my tenth golf ball! By the 18th I had suffered several episodes of golf rage and was close to a nervous breakdown.
I’ve read course guides say that this course “compels golfers to concentrate on their game and choose with care which club they should use for every stroke.” Personally I would say this course is one of the toughest golf course on the Costa del Sol. This course is at best described as a challenge for an experienced player who is on top form, at worst its tight and downright cruel.
Alhaurin golf course is generally cheaper to play than most other local golf courses.
A buggy is essential as is an ample supply of golf balls.
Cabopino Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Cabopino golf course is a 18 hole par 71 golf course.
It’s a relatively new course but it has matured very quickly and is very well maintained. The marshal’s are friendly and very welcoming.
There is a driving range on the approach road to the course, so if you arrive early you can loosen up your swing. Alternatively you could take the approach Andy and I prefer, loosen up with a San Miguel at the bar before you tee off.
Cabopino golf has a pleasant clubhouse, with a pleasant sun terrace where you can sit, eat, drink and enjoy the views of the ocean. The staff in the bar and restaurant are friendly staff and they serve good quality food.
The short at only course is only 5,170 meters long but it’s has tight fairways and is challenging.
The greens are large and were of fantastic quality when we last visited. The third hole is the one most people enjoy the most and it’s not one you will forget, it’s a par 4 which drops dramatically from the tee to the green and has outstanding views. A buggy is advisable on this course, which is hilly.
Dama de Noche Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Dama de Noche golf course is a 9 hole, Par 70 golf course.
Centro Commercial Plaza, Oficinas 51-52, 29660, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella.
Dama de Noche golf course is a nine-hole course, which can be played as 18 holes. It is flat, wide and easy. It is ideal course for a high handicapper or anyone wanting a gentle stroll.
All that changes a night though because the is course is flood lit and can be played at night.
They say that the lighting system is designed to cast no shadows thus giving daylight quality and maximum visibility, does that apply in the rough as well I ask myself?
You do have to make a reservation for night golf because they only put the lights on if there is sufficient demand but for total golfing addicts or insomniac this course offers considerable novelty value and it’s one to talk about in the clubhouse when you go home.
El Chaparral Golf Course, near La Cala de Mijas, Costa del Sol, Spain.
El Chaparral golf course is an 18 hole, par 73 course.
Address: N340 / A7 Km 203.
El Chaparral is a club which closed several years ago for reasons that I don’t need to go into now. The course has now risen from the ashes and is trying to build a reputation for itself. Purely for research purposes, I tested out the clubhouse both before and after my round at El Chaparral and I found the staff to be particularly welcoming and they really did their best to make us feel at home.
Even though El Chaparral is only a stones throw from the coast it has an English parkland course feel to it. The fairways are long and narrow and I found the course testing, I didn’t have enough room to risk my driver off many tee’s yet I needed the driver to get the distance I needed off the tee’s to get any chance of reaching the green in regulation.
El Chaparral is extremely hilly and walking it is only for the bravest of golfers. Overall I would describe it as a very tricky course, bordering on frustrating, it tempted me to use the driver but punished me when I did!
The course is a little pricey for what you get. It was quiet when I played it but I’ve been back since and it is gaining in popularity.
Estepona Golf.
Carretera Cádiz, KM 150, Arroyo Vaquero, Apartado 532, 29680 Estepona.
18 hole, par 72 course.
The first time I played this course about nine years ago I was extremely disappointed. The fairways were worn, bare and baked, the greens were unkempt and the whole feel of the place was one of a lack of investment. Since then I have been tempted to re-visit by a friend who told me that improvements have been made yet the cost has been kept down. Well fair play, the cost has stayed relatively low and there has obviously been a lot of investment and as a result the course has improved considerably. It still needs some TLC but it is now playable. Still nowhere near the quality of Monte Mayor, La Cala or the like but it is perfect for a cheap round in between more serious games.
Flamingos Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Flamingos golf course is a 18-hole, par 72 course.
Address: Ctra de Cadiz Km 166, Marbella / Benhavis.
A relatively new course but the work that has gone into the course makes that incredible, it looks like its been established for years.
Clearly no expense has been spared when they built this course. Everything from the hotel toilets to the course itself is magnificent, lavish and downright opulent. A visit to Flamingos really is a treat (and before you ask I don’t get a commission for writing this, I just tell it as I see it.)
Flamingos is worth a visit just to have a walk around the hotel, which has clearly been fashioned on the Alhambra Palace and its magnificent water gardens.
As for the golf course itself it is every bit as lavish as the hotel and clubhouse. As you meander around the course the views vary from a panoramic views of the Mediterranean to secluded views of the wild countryside. Around the course there is an incredible variety of trees, plants and vegetation, some native, some clearly imported so as to add to the experience.
Every now and them you stumble across an old (well they genuinely look old but they weren’t there in 2005!) ruins or statues and every corner holds a new surprise, all of them pleasant.
The front nine holes have generous wide fairways where you really can open up your shoulders, a rarity for Spanish golf and the greens are ample too, so get the low score on the card in front nine if you can. As you negotiate the back nine the fairways tend to narrow down, especially the 18th which really focuses the mind but even so the back nine are not overly cruel. The fairways are narrower than the front nine but they tend to be shorter and you have loosened up, so even though you have to be a little more precise than on the front nine the golf is still enjoyable.
If you visit Flamingos make sure you take the time to explore the hotel after your round. It’s well worth a look.
Over all I would describe Flamingos as a cracking course which tends to be a little on the pricey side but if you want to treat yourself you will not be disappointed. A Masters or Championship course of the future I will wager.
Lauro Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Lauro golf course is an 18 hole par 72 golf course.
Address:Ctra de Coin,(C344) Km 77, Los Caraclilos, Alhaurin de la Torre. Tel: +34 952 4127 67.
Beautiful parkland course surrounded by lots of Andalucian trees. It offers breathtaking views over the valley and Malaga bay. Nine lakes so there is something to think about but it is a relatively easy and relaxing course.
La Cala Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
La Cala has three golf courses, each of 18 holes, par’s 72,73 and 71.
Address: La Cala de Mijas, Mijas Costa. Tel: +34 95 266 9000.
A personal favourite, all three courses are equally good. I highly recommend La Cala golf, not only because of the quality of the golf but also because of the quality of the clubhouse, facilities, surroundings and the reasonable pricing.
At La Cala golf there are three spectacular 18 hole courses, which are nestled in the countryside about 15-20 minutes drive in land from La Cala town.
La Cala golf is an enormous luxury golfing resort, which is perfect for golfers who want quality golf at a sensible price in an exclusive environment.
Set out like a Country Club in extremely large grounds it has an exclusive clubhouse and restaurant. It also has a separate five star hotel, where you will find an very exclusive restaurant.
All three courses have terrific obstacles & natural water hazards along with narrow fairways and large well-kept greens. Set amongst tranquil mountains, all three courses are long and sculptured into the natural contours of the countryside which means that you have think your way around La Cala golf and use the contours of the landscape to your advantage.
All three courses hilly and a buggy is a must. The South is my favourite, it’s a little more forgiving than the North Course and the Europa.
Try the Leadbetter Golf Academy located at La Cala Golf, it’s a little expensive and you will have to book in advance but the instructor’s improved my game, so they must be good!
At the academy they also have an excellent grass driving range.
La Noria.
La Noria golf is a nine hole, par 33 course.
It is located at the beginning of the road from La Cala de Mijas which runs to La Cala Golf off the N340 or A7.
This 9 hole course has been a long time in the building and it is obviously eventually going to grow into a 18 holes course but that will probably take some time.
The club house is literally a bar come cafe but it is adequate and serves its purpose.
I am no fan of 9 hole courses but I have to say I enjoyed playing this course. It’s relatively simple to negotiate and very easy to walk around. The fairways are wide and none of the holes were particularly long. There is water to cross and a few challenges as you negotiate the course and while it’s no Carnoustie for what you pay its not at all bad.
It’s not every day that you want to play challenging golf and if that’s the case then La Noria is worth thinking about. This course is perfect for a high handicapper, a novice golfer or simply for a warm up for a more serious round later on in your holiday. As nine hole courses go this is one of the better ones and for the price its worth bearing in mind.
Los Naranjos golf course, Costa del sol, Spain.
A relatively flat and wide 18 hole course, something which is rare on the Costa del sol.
The best summary I can give of this course is to say it is wide and forgiving and it allows you to “go for it” when the opportunity arises yet there are enough challenges to keep you focused and maintain your interest.
In all honesty a buggy is not essential but if you do hire one the in built satnav is very hand, it even gives you a distance to the buggy in front of you, so there’s no excuse for taking out the four ball ahead of you, never mind such is life!
We found the course to be well marshalled, nothing oppressive but they gave the slow golfers a hint when needed. The course staff were all very polite and helpful and we were made to feel very welcome.
The course has a excellent restaurant and the beer at the end of the round was suitably chilled, what more could you ask for.
Reasonably priced and definitely a course I will be re-visiting.
Mijas Golf Courses, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Mijas golf has two 18 hole golf courses, par 71 & 72.
Address: Urb. Mijas Golf, Mijas-Costa. Tel: +34 95 247 6843
Two relaxing 18 hole courses both having flat and wide fairways. Both courses are generous and forgiving leaving the option of a safe shot down the middle for a bogie or a par, alternatively you can take the driver out and go for the birdie. Good scores are achievable on either of the courses, which are set both in an attractive and tranquil landscape.
If you hire a buggy they have satellite / GPS tracking and mapping which gives you distances from where you park the buggy to the green and to hazards. Watch out though, don’t make the same mistake I made, the distances are in meters not 1yards, don’t forget to add 10% to get yardages!
All level of golfers will find that both courses at Mijas golf are a fair and enjoyable test of golf. Being one of the better-known clubs Mijas can get busy. A four and a half hour round is not unusual because it is so popular but the surroundings are so pleasant you hardly notice. I recommend both of the Mijas courses, play them and you will see why.
Just a tip for those playing out of season at Mijas golf course. They often close half of each of the golf courses to rest them out of season so you may find that you are playing the front nine of Los Olivios and the back nine of Los Largos one day and vice versa the next day. It’s not a problem as both are nice courses but sometimes this takes people by surprise.
Miraflores Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Miraflores golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course.
Address: Urb. Riviera del Sol, 29647 Mijas-Costa. Tel: (952) 83 36 47.
This used to be a favourite and regular golf course for me, sadly there has been extensive building work all around the course edge of Miraflores golf course and it appears never ending. In my opinion the building work has taken the edge off the natural beauty and spoilt the course somewhat. While prices have been reduced in an apparent attempt to tempt golfers back to the course I have to ask myself if I want to go all the way to Spain to play golf in the middle of a building site?
It is one of the more forgiving courses on the Costa and a buggy is not essential.
If you do try Miraflores golf course loosen up in advance of the first tee, the first hole is a tight and requires a straight shot or you could end up in the garden of one of the many villa’s next to the fairway.
Monte Mayor Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Address: Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 165.6, La Cancelada, San Pedro. Tel: +34 95 211 3088.
A challenging course but in my opinion this is the best golf course on the Costa del sol, if your game is on form. It is extremely tight, very hilly and is carefully sculptured into the natural mountainous terrain. The natural views and beauty of this course are second to none.
Your golf needs to be accurate, sensible club selection and course management are a must. If you play sensibly and stay on the fairways you will be rewarded, if not make sure you have a good supply of golf balls.
If you play Monte Mayor golf course you are guaranteed a day to remember and you will want to go back as often as I do.
Most of the year golf buggies are included in the green fee’s. If you visit in high season they may not be, in which case I strongly recommend that visit hire a buggy, you will need it.
This is a very isolated golf course, in a location where you have to ask “Who thought of putting a golf course way up here?” The isolation adds to attraction of this incredible golf course but it means that it is difficult to find, so I strongly recommend that you drive to it for a “test run” the day before your golf.
It is set in spectacular mountainous terrain where you will find peace and tranquility combined with natural beauty and unforgettable golf. A challenge but a fantastic golf course in surroundings that are literally unsurpassable. To sum up, if your game is on form do not miss this golf course, its brilliant.
Parador Malaga Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Parador golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course.
Apartado de Correos, 324 29080 Málaga. Tel. +34 952376677
Parador golf Course is famous because it hosted the Spanish Open’s in 1992 and 1999. Personally I am not sure why they would host such a prestigious event at this course because it is literally at the end of the busy runway of Malaga International Airport and there is constant noise as planes take off and land right next to the course.
I found this course boring, the greens were in a terrible condition and bunkers were in a state of total disrepair with bare soil and mud instead of sand.
Famous it may be but I found it to be a total let down. In my opinion the best way to view this golf course is out of the airplane window as you land or from the main road as you drive past to one of the many more pleasant courses in Andalucia.
Rio Real Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Rio Real golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course.
Urb Rio Real, P.O.BOX 82, 29600 Marbella, Malaga. Tel: +34 95 277 95 09.
A mature, tranquil course that gradually meanders way up into the hills and then it wanders all the way back down to the beach. At one stage you feel you are alone in the middle of the mountains, next you are on a green that is literally next to the beach.
The course generally has wide fairways and while you have to concentrate it does not punish you unfairly. Water come in to play on a few times but in all honesty if you play sensible golf it won’t cost you any golf balls. Pleasant countryside and views in the hills and a fantastic vista as you play down to the edge of the Mediterranean Ocean. A relaxing day of golf, this course comes in my top three golf courses but it does tend to be pricey because of its popularity.
The club house has a magnificent balcony / terrace restaurant where you can sit, watch fellow golfers playing out the 18th and reminisce on your “shot of the day.”
The down side of Rio real golf course is the cost. A round of golf here tends to be expensive and the golf buggies, which I would recommend hiring due to the hilly location, are an expensive addition to this already high cost.
Santa Clara.
18 holes, par 71.
Address Ctra A7, KM 187.5, Junto a Hospital Comarcal, 29600, Marbella. Tel. +34.952.85.01.11.
Being next to a busy main road you could easily assume that it would suffer from traffic noise. For some inexplicable reason it doesn’t. As soon as you tee off the course meanders away from the Coast following the gentle contours of the land leading you into a natural and peaceful setting. The course has several wide and relatively trouble free fairways where you can open your shoulders and let the ball fly but that said there are holes where course management is wise and where a little caution can pay dividends.
Santa Clara is relatively flat and is suitable for walking. The course is a fair test of golf and is similar in difficulty to many UK golf clubs, as opposed to many of the Spanish golf courses, which can be cruel at times. The course is perfect for an easy and relaxing round or for a golf society. It has many similarities to Rio Real but it is slightly easier, slightly flatter and has slightly less trouble. The course is relatively new and consequently it is not as well established as Rio Real.
When you arrive in the car park you will be met by an attendant on a buggy, who takes you your bag to the magnificent clubhouse, even thought it is only about forty yards from the car park. In the palatial clubhouse there are excellent changing rooms, shower facilities and a restaurant that serves a variety of quality food and drink.
My only reservation with this course is the green fee, which is very high compared to other courses in the area. The choice is yours.
San Roque Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
San Roque golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course, which was designed by Dave Thomas.
Address:Urb. San Roque Club,Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 127, San Roque.Tel: +34 956 61 30 30.
The old course is expensive but is ideal for both experts and those looking for a leisurely game. Superb practice facilities and wonderful manicured greens and idyllic fairways. A real treat, if you are prepared to spend the money..
As a cheaper alternative you can always try the new course at San Roque, we visited and got a really good deal, half the price of the old course and we found it a fantastic days golf. There is a course is what I can best describe as a fair test, not too tough but not too easy either. They have got this course design absolutely spot on.
Santa Maria Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Santa Maria golf course is an 18 hole, Par 72 golf course, which was designed by Antonio Garcia Garrido.
Address: Coto de Los Dolores, Urb. Elviria. Tel: +34 95 283 1036.
A pleasant and popular course, which is challenging. It has plenty of long holes where you can open up and swing the driver but every now and then they throw in a tight par three to bring you back down to earth. The course starts off with a hole over a lake where you can “go for it” and get the driver out. There is ample fairway and a decent drive makes it a short par four. The course gradually winds its way into the hills and far, far away, we recommend a buggy.
Santa Maria golf course tends to be a little on the pricey side. I found the staff to be unhelpful and less friendly than most other golf courses in the area but if you let the golf course speak for itself you will enjoy a round here.
If you want a buggy or a Powakaddy we strongly recommend that buggy pre-book it, they have a limited supply and they soon get taken.
Sotogrande Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Sotogrande golf course is an 18 hole (Par 72) with an additional nine holes. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones.
Address: Paseo del Parque, Sotogrande, Cadiz. Tel +34 956 785 014
Another Robert Trent Jones success. He is reputed to have described Sotogrande as one of his proudest pieces of work, that’s a compliment from a golf course designer of such ability.
European Tour pros battle here at the end of the season to gain their cards for the forthcoming season so that’s an indication of the quality of this golf course.
Torrequebrada Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Torrequebrada golf has an 18 hole, par 72 course and addition nine holes, which were designed by Jose Gancedo.
Address: Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 220, Benalmadena-Costa. Tel: +34 95 244 2742.
Every hole is a different experience. Fantastic views of the Mediterranean and has the shortest par 3 on the coast. The 1979 Spanish Open was played here and you can see why after you turn for home on the back nine. A large number of lakes and strategically placed wide bunkers ensure that this course retains its reputation as one of the most popular courses on the Costa. Welcoming and luxurious clubhouse.
Valderrama Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.
Valderama has 18 holes and is a tough par 72.
Valderama golf course is a world famous golf course and is ranked number one course in Continental Europe.
Valderama golf course is always in superb condition and enjoys worldwide fame, not least due to having had the privilege to have hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup and the last two American Express World Championships.
Extremely expensive but if you can play a round of golf here you are privileged!
One word of warning, I have pre-booked to play Valderama twice and had the booking cancelled at very short notice by the course. Both times they blamed disease on the greens. Strange how this never happens when the Volvo Masters is being played there!
There are new golf courses appearing all the time in Andalucia and the Costa del sol has understandably become known as the Costa del golf. As avid lovers of golf we are regularly visiting the area and we will try to play as many golf courses in Andalucia as we possibly can just so that we can keep this web page up to date (well that’s the reason I give to my wife for playing so much golf anyway!)
The Costa del Sol Golf Guide is purely the subjective and personal opinion of the author.
The Costa del sol Golf Guide is “rough guide” of golf courses on and around the Costa del sol, Spain.
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How to Integrate Weight Training Properly into Your Golf Exercise Program
Are you too confused about weight training for golf?
There are many opinions in the golf world on whether weight training is beneficial or counter-productive to the golf swing.
On the PGA Tour it is a well-known fact that the majority of professional golfers are implementing golf fitness exercises into their training regimen. The goal of such golf fitness exercises is to improve their play on the golf course.
First and foremost, as a professional strength and conditioning coach on the PGA Tour, I see the benefits of a golf specific exercise program are well documented.
The confusion for most amateur golfers probably centers around what specific training modalities and exercises should they include in their golf fitness programs and what are the professional golfers doing.
I get a lot of questions on how are the professional golfers programs set-up, what specific exercises do they incorporate in their programs, and are the exercises in such programs similar to those found in local health clubs. A lot of people ask me if they should include actual dumbbell and barbell exercises into their golf exercise program.
The goal of this article is to provide you information on what the components, modalities, and exercises that compromise a good golf fitness program.
I will also provide you with a breakdown and sequence of a good golf fitness program.
First and foremost, I need to define a few terms to help you create an understanding of the basic goals of a golf fitness program. The main goal of a golf fitness program should be to improve your golf game through the development of your physical body. In order for you to meet this goal, the golf exercises within your program must develop the body relative to the golf swing.
At this point, I must explain a few things about the biomechanics of the golf swing. The golf swing is a total body athletic activity. Meaning the entire body is utilized to swing the golf club. Just as in baseball, you do not throw with only you’re your, but rather your entire body. The same is true of the golf swing; you swing the golf club with your entire body. This in the world of strength and conditioning is defined as an “integrated total body athletic action”.
The golf swing is easily defined as an athletic action incorporating the entire body to execute. Knowing this point, a golf fitness program must incorporate exercises for the entire body. A term we like to call “integration”. Integration is the utilization of exercises that incorporate the entire body. For example, the golf swing incorporates a rotational movement of the core (abdominals, lower back, hips, and obliques). An integrated golf specific exercise incorporating all these muscles would be a physio-ball Russian Twist in which all these muscles are working in a rotational pattern.
This is very different than isolating each muscle of the core and training them separately with isolation exercises such as abdominal crunches. The point to be made is; integrate the muscles of the body rather than isolating each muscle in a golf fitness program.
Secondly, the exercises within a golf fitness program must be “cross-specific” to the anatomical positions, movement patterns, and energy requirements of the golf swing. Simply stated this means train your body with exercises that place your body in the position your perform the golf swing, utilize exercises that move your body through the ranges of motion of the golf swing, and develop the needed energy requirements of golf.
For example, a golf swing is performed in a standing “athletic position”. Knowing this fact, it would probably be of greater benefit to perform a physio-ball squat rather than a seated leg extension for the golf swing, why? Because the physio-ball squat places your body in a position similar to a position in which the golf swing is executed. A leg extension isolates the quadriceps in a seated position, which does not train the body in an integrated movement pattern, nor in a position similar to the golf swing.
Cross-specific training results in a “transfer of training effect” onto to golf swing. This simply means the exercises you are performing directly affect your golf swing in a positive manner. One goal of a golf fitness program is to get the greatest amount of benefit from each of your exercises.
If you keep these two principles integration and cross-specific in mind when developing your golf fitness program. The choices made in the selection of exercises will undoubtedly be better for your golf swing.
Once these basic principles are understood you may begin the process of developing a golf fitness program. A golf fitness program consists of a series of modules. The modules are essentially different pieces of the program geared towards developing a specific improvement within the body. As a whole, the separate modules together comprise a golf fitness program. For example, flexibility training is one module that is contained within a golf fitness program. The goal of the flexibility module is to develop the flexibility parameters within the body required of the golf swing. Listed below in sequential order with a brief definition are the modules that comprise a comprehensive golf fitness program.
1. Flexibility Training: exercises to develop flexibility within the body required of the golf swing.
2. Balance Training: modalities geared toward improving your balance capacities in relation to the golf swing.
3. Joint Integrity Training: Exercises to develop strength and endurance in the joints of the body. Injury prevention based exercises for the shoulders, hips, and knees.
4. Core Training: Exercises to develop the required stabilization, strength, and endurance in the core region of the body for the golf swing. Utilizes a variety of modalities and equipment such as physio-balls, medicine balls, tubing, and dumbbells.
5. Total Body Training: Integrated total body strength, endurance, and power training exercises. Geared towards developing the needed strength, endurance, and power within the body in a cross-specific manner relative to the golf swing.
The most important principle to remember relative to the modules comprising a golf fitness program are the goals of each module and the order.
Training order is of the greatest importance with a golf fitness program.
Often times the golfer will attempt to develop power within their muscles before achieving the proper levels of flexibility that the demanding golf swing requires.
If you train this way, you will most likely develop power in the body, but you will likely not be able to use it effectively.
For example, if you develop greater amounts of power in the core region of the body, but don’t have the flexibility to execute a full shoulder turn. The ability of your body to utilize your increased power will be less than optimal. I can’t emphasize to you enough, keep the training order consistent as I outlined above.
Finally, the number of exercise choices you have in terms of flexibility, balance, joint integrity, core training, and total body exercises for the golf swing are too many to count.
There is also many types of equipment you can use for each component of your golf exercise program.
You can use stretch cords, tubing, medicine balls, dumbbells, and all other types of equipment within a golf fitness program. The points to keep in mind when choosing the actual exercises for your program are:
1) Do the exercises train the body in the anatomical positions of the golf swing?
2) Do the exercises take the body through the ranges of motion entailed within the golf swing?
3) Do the exercises develop the required energy requirements of the golf swing?
If you use these questions in the decision making process of exercise selection, the final program you develop will most certainly be beneficial to your golf swing.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com