Archive for the ‘Learning to Play’ Category

Slow play

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

I’ve been rereading “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” by Dr. Bob Rotella - a must-read for every golfer. He says so many interesting things, but his analysis of slow play jumped out at me:

“Slow play may be caused by three types of golfers. People who aren’t ready to play when it’s their turn because they’re too busy chatting, or watching their friends hit, are slow. Indecisive players, second-guessing their club selection, are slow. Players who give themselves swing lessons as they address the ball are slow.”

Be sure you’re not one of these players. In my opinion, there is nothing more important in the game of golf than keeping a good pace of play.

Posted in Etiquette, Learning to Play | No Comments »

Finding your distance

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

Have you ever noticed how many different kinds of distance markings are used on the golf course? Before beginning a round of golf - especially on an unfamiliar course - it’s a good idea to find out what kind of marking system is being used. You can ask in the pro shop or check with the starter. Sometimes it’s even mentioned on the scorecard.

Some possibilities:

  • GPS on your motorized cart. (If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’m a walker. So if yardages are only provided by the GPS system, I’m at a disadvantage. I think that golf courses need to provide yardages for both walkers and riders.)
  • Yardage books (usually for purchase in the pro shop)
  • 150-yd stake, pole or disk
  • Colored disks in the fairway (generally blue = 200, white = 150,  red = 100)
  • Yardage indicators on cart paths - a colored line or number
  • Disks along the side of the fairway in 25-yd. increments
  • Specific yardages on sprinkler heads

These days the hand-held GPS device is becoming more popular. I guess I’m old-fashioned in believing that determining yardage is part of the mental part of the game. I enjoy using the course markings to figure out my yardage.

As important as accurate yardage is, I realize my limitations as an amateur golfer and don’t get hung up on whether the yardage is 135 or 139, I’m not good enough to hone in to that extent. I only need an estimate and then I can take into account some other factors, i.e. pin position, wind, slope of the fairway, etc.

Furthermore for me (and most amateurs) there’s an optimal distance, beyond which I have no club in my bag that’s long enough. I laughed when I saw a sprinkler head that said, “Just hit it!”

Taking all this into account, you should be able to figure your distance quite rapidly and make your club selection. Don’t model the pros on this issue; they often take a lot of time making a club selection, because it really does make a difference to them.

Posted in Course Management, Learning to Play | No Comments »

A Course Made for Children

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

What a refreshing idea! There’s a golf course in Minot, ND called Wee Links Golf Course made for children only. Mr. Jack Hoeven, a local banker, conceived of the plan and built a junior-sized course (holes are about 80 yards long) with all the features and amenities of a full-length course. Even the pro shop caters to the “wee ones.”

The cost to play? $1. Adults may walk along or may play for $5, but must be accompanied by a child. Cool!

Golf is a lifetime sport. What a great idea to teach chldren about the game early in life in a non-threatening, kid-friendly environment. Maybe they’ll get hooked, or maybe they’ll just feel more comfortable picking up their clubs later in life. Either  way, it’s a win-win.

By the way, club rental for children is $.50.

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Practice

Saturday, September 13th, 2008

I love Ray Floyd’s quote: “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”

I really enjoy practicing and I generally practice as many times a week as I play. There are a couple of reasons: 1) a practice session can be as short or as long as you want; 2) you don’t have to make a “practice time” nor arrange a schedule with anyone else; 3) practice creates confidence; and 4) see the Ray Floyd quote above.

There are lots of practice methods and tricks to make your practice session interesting and fruitful. The following are a few of the things that I do when I practice.

I begin on the range working with different clubs – generally switching from an iron to a wood and back again. (After all, that’s what we do on the course, right?) I aim for a specific target with each shot and note the trajectory, shape and length of the shot, trying to gain more consistency. I tee a few balls up not only with my driver but with other clubs that I might use on par threes. I also give myself less than perfect lies – divots, uphill, downhill. (That’s what we get on the course, right?) Don’t forget to practice some things that only come up once in awhile. For instance, since my home course is pretty tight, I’ve been practicing my punch-out shots, and it’s helped!

After working on the range, I spend more than half of my time on short game. If you’re one of those who would love to shave a few strokes off your game, there’s no better way than to sharpen up your short game. Work with your wedge from a variety of distances and lies. Get into the bunker and hit short and long shots. Place a number of balls around the edge of the practice green and practice your pitch-and-run shots. And finally, practice putting. The last thing I do is to sink at least six 4-6 foot putts in a row. It’s amazing how many strokes can be saved by sinking the short ones.

Make practicing more fun by thinking up challenge games for yourself.

Happy Practicing!!

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