Preparing for the Perfect Golf Vacation

by Randall Ulbricht

Your perfect golf vacation with your friends starts and stops with you. Toss the vacation package brochures in a heap and design your own ideal golf getaway. This is the final of four articles to assist you in providing an outing for yourself and your friends that will make you want to do it every year (as we have for 19 years running).

From the last article, you are now at the minus one month point. So far you have rallied the troops, picked the dates, selected the lodging and golf courses and are in the final preparation stage. You will soon see your friends smiling faces at the airport baggage claim. The final preps and smoothly running the whole show are child's play. The tough part was getting your bunch of friends to buy the tickets to enjoy the event. Here are a few things you will want to do before the scream of the aircraft's tires on the tarmac.

1. Transportation. The limiting factor is arrival and departure from the airport due to clubs AND suitcases. If you can just barely stuff everyone in the vehicles at this point, the rest of the week is gravy. From your experience, you know that when you pack up four guys to go golfing locally, you will entirely fill the trunk of a full sized car. With that in mind, you should plan on a full sized car for every three people. We use one minivan/SUV augmented with cars for our adventures. Just make sure you allow for the limiting case.

You need to arrange these rental vehicles ahead of time, but you can only drive one yourself. Here is the minus one-month mandatory. When you figure out your vehicle requirements, contact the group to arrange among them and you who will contact and rent the remaining vehicles. There will probably be some in your group that have existing discounts and can score a great rate. Hash this one out via email.

2. Entertainment. Unless you are going to the deserts in Arizona or get exceedingly lucky, you will have a rain day or two. You will also have a bunch of time at night after golf (after you have all told your lies). We suck that time up pretty effectively watching the golf channel, ESPN, playing cards, or watching videos. The latter is what you can address ahead of time. We have a guy that is pretty good at selecting movies to watch and we task him to bring them with him. Movies like "Gladiator", "Miracle", etc. are big. Some of your group may even have an adult video you may want to avail yourselves of. On severe rain days, we also have gone bowling (a real hoot), done the local movie theater, and toured the area.

3. Checklists. After about ten years of being asked twenty times per day where we were playing the next day, or when we had to leave, or what was for supper, or who stole my teddy bear, I finally started typing out these things. I make a copy of each and post sporadically throughout the house. I make individual laminated cards and hand to each golfer. Know what? It reduced the questions to half and now when asked, I say that I can't remember, let me walk over to the frig and read it for you. Here are the things I prepare ahead of time.

- Listing of course, tee times, course contact number, and departure time. I base departure time on MapBlast directions and factor in a stop for ice for the coolers and if we will need to hit range balls.

- Listing of the menu for the evening meals. If this is your first time, keep the menu simple and make sure you have the recipes in hand. With any size group, you are going to have a chef or two and this won't be a big deal.

- Multiple copies of the "order sheet" for sandwiches. For most of our noon meals between rounds, we dine on our self-prepared, gourmet sandwiches prepared the night before. As you saw from the previous articles, I solicit what the group wants and have that on the shopping list. What winds up being the least confusing way is to have some sheet for people to circle or fill in to specify what sandwiches they want for the next day. You rotate the preparers (two is best) every night and with that sheet, they manufacture the gourmet feast. (Don't discount this! The sandwiches you make will be superior to anything short of the full meal at the course AND you will not have to wait on it if you are pressed for time between your rounds.)

- Biggy! We did not keep a record of our scores for our first few years. Big mistake. What great history we tossed out. Keep a record! I prepare a hard copy sheet to fill in as we go. It allows us to follow who is the overall stroke leader and gives us all ammo to use in negotiating the next day's bets. I take this home and plant it permanently on our golf website.

- Expenses. I pay for everything with minor exceptions. That keeps it simple. I currently use a spreadsheet to administer this. It works great. I would provide this for you, but this article format doesn't allow. Before that, I simply used pen and paper and got it to within a penny. My point is that from the minute you start your adventure, keep a tally of what you have spent! Streamline course check in by paying for everyone, buy all the food and drink, buy all the gas, etc. If someone pays for anything, log it in immediately. If you are religious in this, you will have no complaints, only praise.

4. Things nobody else will bring but you.

- Several decks of cards, poker chips - Cribbage boards - Screw driver and pliers (you never know) - Pens, pencils and permanent markers (you will need all) - Over the counter pain killers - Band-Aids - Game

5. Arrival. So here you have a rambunctious group of friends descending on the Mecca of golf. You have motored to the house your staying in and it is the mad dash to the best room to be found. NOT. To avoid any hard feelings between the lodger that got the queen bed and the lodger that got the twin bed, simply set up a quick draw out of the hat. For subsequent years, do the same, but use the seniority system. Once a person misses, he goes to the end of the list.

6. Once you have dumped your bags in the drawn rooms, it is time to go shopping. With the template I gave you in the last article, and with your modifications based on menu and orders, grab one or two volunteers and get what you need.

This is the conclusion of my recommendations on how you can have the best golf outing or outings you have ever had. Since I have folks coming to enjoy my preparations for 19 years should be testimony to you. At least give it a shot once. It won't be perfect, but my guess is that it will be superior and more remembered than anything you can buy as a package. Go for it!

About the Author

Randall Ulbricht is a retired Nuclear Submarine Officer with a BA in Physics and Chemistry and an MBA from the Citadel. He has owned local businesses and works from home sharing information via several web sites, including: Article Outlet

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Golf Gadgets for the Golfers Who Have Everything

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by John Bolt

Golf gadgets:

Who wants them? Who needs them? These little devices come in as many shapes, sizes, and forms as there are stars in the universe. Unlike short-game training devices or swing aids they do not work directly on teaching you the proper techniques of the golf swing. However they are indeed incredibly creative in unexpected and very imaginative ways. They are made to make the crazy game of golf more fun, a lot less strenuous and simply easier to play.

It is for this reason that the avid golfer in the family can no longer go through any Christmas without receiving one accessory either in their stocking or under the tree. These golf gadgets have become somewhat of a phenomenon and even a tradition in some house holds be it good or bad.

For the golfer who is receiving these gifts it becomes a sheer reminder of how much they need to work on their games. To some it can even become and embarrassment to think that these little golf accessories can help improve their games. For others they give them a great little giggle when they see what some crazy fool has come with to help their golf swing.

Do we as golfers really need them? Some would say yes that these little golf gadgets are essential to improving their performance on the course. These golf addicts will go to every extreme and buy every little gadget out there because they feel that it will help. On the other hand, most of us know that there is no cure other than straight hard practice that nobody really wants to do let alone has time for.

Unfortunately most of the golf gadgets on the market are not perfect and have some sort of a defect or an annoying flaw. That is why most of them don't make it into widespread circulation and use. Having said that, there are a small number of good little gadgets out there that actually work!

These items include the suction cup on the grip of your putter that makes it easier to pickup your ball form the hole without bending over. Another good one that is almost essential to every player is the divot repair tool that can come in many shapes and styles. You also have the Brush-T that is said to make contact with the ball less inhibiting by making the tee flexible. One other must have for the average golfer is the groove cleaner to help remove the dirt from your clubs so you can hit a crisper shot. The most important thing to remember about these items is that they are mainly for fun. They're great to have and enjoy every time you play golf. There are so many golf gadgets out there in the market you just have to pick the ones you think are cool and simply try them!

About the Author
John Bolt is the owner of Golf Equipment Source and has created the ULTIMATE FREE online guide to golf gadgets and accessories. To find out more about your favorite golf gadgets please visit http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-accessory.html.

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Golf Swing Aids

by Trevor Mulholland

Many golfers practice a great deal, and still never achieve the swing that they want to possess. If this sounds like you, you may benefit from golf swing aids. There are many golf swing aids on the market today that will help you greatly improve your swing - in less time in most cases. Choosing the gold swing aids that are right for you, however, often presents a challenge.

One of the most popular golf swing aids in existence today is the launch monitor. These are showing up in more and more pro shops across the country and in other countries as well. These takes data from your golf swing to determine what club or clubs are best for you at certain distances, and even tell you how much spin you are putting on the ball. Personal renditions of these launch monitors are also available, and experts agree that the personal monitors are just as powerful as the more expensive ones used in the pro shops - but golfers need to learn how to operate them properly for best results.

Another useful golf swing aid is the golf swing speed monitor. This little box sits on the ground directly across from you, with the ball in the middle. It should sit about six to eight inches away from the ball. It measures the speed of your swing. Increasing swing speed is vital if you want to improve your long game, and this little gadget can help you do just that, by telling you whether your swing speed exercises are doing any good. Training clubs, which are much heavier than your regular clubs, are also good for swing speed increases. They also help build strength and range of motion.

Golf training clubs and elbow braces are also great aids. These help to train you not to break your wrists when swinging, and to keep your form with your elbows during the swing as well. There are also lots of different training clubs available to help with specific problems, such as slices, and plane devices designed to help you improve your swing plane. There are even mats that are designed to help you line up your shot for an improved game! If you can imagine it, it exists!

There are swing aids available for any swing problem that you can imagine. But do they all work? Well, some work for some people, others work for other people, and some don't work for any people at all. Before rushing out to buy brand new training equipment, slow down and do your research. Talk to other golfers to find out what training equipment they have used, and what results they had with that equipment. Look for used equipment, and if it is reasonable, buy it and give it a try. You should also consider going in with some friends to purchase some training equipment that can be shared by a group.

Training aids are easy to find - both online and offline - but again, not all training equipment is right for you. Talk to a golf pro to find out what equipment you should consider, based on your skill level, and the specific problems you are having. Be careful - if the golf pro you are talking to owns the shop you are standing in - he is a salesman first, and a golf pro trying to help you improve your game second! Talk to other golfers before making a high ticket purchase!

The best information on the training equipment that is available will be found in online forums where golfers hang out - and on the course where golfers also hang out. You can look for customer reviews, but they may not be accurate - or even real. Talk to the real golfers who have really used the products to find out which golf swing aids are most likely to help you. Most golfers are very happy to help each other out with tips and advice - you just have to be willing to take it!

Some golfers are a bit more stubborn and a bit more traditional - they don't want to allow technology to enter into the game of golf. Most of the golf swing aids you will find do represent technology - but if this doesn't bother you, you should definitely take advantage of what's out there!

About the Author
We provide you with the best golf tips available, instructions on how to get your strokes down and more. Dozens of golf tips and info on golf swing aids waiting, come and take a look! http://www.golf-game-tip.com/

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Beginner Golf Basics

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by Carlie Edwards

Golf - yep it's a great hobby. You'll get plenty of exercise, fresh air, new friends and acquaintances.

If you like to meet new men and women, golf provides you with opportunities for community interaction. You may get to see new people in a surroundings in which you both maintain an enthusiastic interest. This makes for effortless dialogue and additional opportunities to better your game. Most clubs offer single players the chance to play the round with other members. However, if you would choose to play by oneself just mention this to the club. They will make the proper arrangements prior to tee time.

Take notice of your personal traits. Are you excessively competitive' If you are, remember the approach to a low handicap is littered with bunkers, bad shots, water hazards and triple digit scores on your round. Expect to invest a lot of time in practice. Every hook, slice and 3 putt should be looked upon as a learning opportunity. Many professionals use coaches to help them with their games.

If you wish to increase the exercise benefits of golf you can elect to walk the 18 holes. When you are selecting a golf bag you will first need to determine if you are going to walk the course or ride, your preference here is a determining factor in whether you need a carry or cart bag. Golf bags are obtainable in a range of materials so pick one that is suitable to the weather in which you will play majority of your golf. Golf shoes are critical, make sure they are waterproof and comfortable . Rain gear is also a great addition to your golf bag.

How to determine how much golf equipment you absolutely need. Golf can be a really costly pastime but there are affordable options. Before you buy clubs it is a great idea to stop in or by golf stores and club pro shops. A high-end trade name set of clubs can set you back a few thousand dollars but a satisfactory used set will cost you a few hundred dollars, big difference. You can check out different types of clubs, decide which club length is superior for you, get to understand the different types of grips available and find out the difference between graphite and steel shafts. You can find out about the kind of golf ball that will best suit you as a novice. Having a golf ball with the right compression will assist you in making the most of your game.

Golf lessons are costly but if it is within your budget it may be rewarding. You may be wondering, should you take lessons from a golf professional' Your budget is the decisive element here. You will discover that lessons will elevate the measure of your game rapidly. A more affordable way to get lessons is to buy one of the numerous training programs present on video and dvd. Numerous experienced golfers use these programs to raise the measure of their game and new golfers can understand at their own pace.

Before you ever even lift a club it's important to develop a good mental demeanour. Stay positive, still your mind and visualize your shot before you hit the ball. A great mental game is half the fight on the route to a low handicap. Over all the most important thing to remember is to enjoy the game and your time in the open fresh air!

Carlie Edwards publishes articles & useful resources on Today's Issues & Topics. For info on Golf Swing Training visit Golf Swing Trainer

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Improve Your Golf Swing

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by Dan Farrell

Golf can be a terrific game but the most frustrating to see improvements. Some of the frustration comes from too many people giving too many 'swing adjustments'.

Follow these few tips and you should start to see your golf shot greatly improve.

So, your golf swing needs improvement and you know it? Here are some tips in making better golf swings. Tip no. 1. A great golf swing does not mean you have to swing with arms.

Behind your back, put your golf club while you turn your back to your target. It is like taking your club back as you hinge your arm at your shoulder. You could also practice the drill known as no arm. Tip no. 2. You should not forget cocking wrists. Do not forget cocking your wrists. This might be difficult at first, but it will be natural to you with enough practice. Uncocking your wrists in your follow through. Tip no. 3. You should let the left arm rotate clockwise slightly when you start the back swing. It is not really something that you actually should remember. It naturally happens if you would just allow it. This just means that you should not resist this movement that is just natural. You might not notice it, but you might have been resisting this movement because this causes the head of your golf club to go open slightly when you swing it. Just allow it to happen. Tip no. 4. Plant your feet firmly on the ground. You might have copied this from baseball. That is, letting your foot heel in front to come above the ground when you swing your golf club back. Some people think that by doing this so, their back swing feels more huge.

It is something of note that lifting the front heel can easily make the body coil and for tension that much harder to build. Letting the foot roll freely to the inside is fine. However, one should keep that foot on the ground to make golf back swing well-anchored. Tip no. 5. From the bottom golf down swing.

Assuming that you accomplish all the drills correctly -from the golf stance, the golf grip you have, and your golf back swing. But you can still ruin everything if you begin the golf swing that you have with the shoulders. You might want to use a swing trigger to begin the golf down swing that you have with the lower part of your body. Tip no. 6. And again, on your golf down swing. You should turn the belt buckle to your target.

Try turning your hips as powerful and fast as possible in your golf down swing, it works.

There is a way to lower your golf score, and the most efficient and quick way to do so is by putting. Although there are those golfers who put the blame on the putter thus the reason for their bad putt, it also helps if the grip of the putter is on a surface that is flat.

Dan Farrell is the owner of How To Improve Your Golf Game Without Tearing Your Hair Golf Blog

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Golf's Most Important Rule! - Golf Ball Contact

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by John Bolt

Ever wonder how to get that great distance and control on the course? It all has to do with golf ball contact. Everything depends on how and when you hit the golf ball, and you'll see it in your results.

Hit Down to Get the Ball Up:
This may sound a little bit crazy to some but, with every club except the driver and putter you should be striking the ball with a slightly downward blow. What this does is, it allows the loft of the club to work as it's supposed to and launch the ball up into the air. Proper golf ball contact will also increase distance because when the ball is hit at impact, the descending movement compresses the ball witch in turn releases more energy sending the ball further.

There is a common mistake made by beginners. What they tend to do is try to scoop the ball and help it into the air with their fairway woods and irons. This is a critical mistake because hitting up on the ball will only causes a lot more miss hits and give the player poor distance on each shot. When you are swinging your irons and even fairway woods you should be aiming at the bottom front of the ball itself or even a little bit before the ball. This will allow the very bottom of your swing arc to still be on a descending path when you make contact with the golf ball.

If you watch a good player when they hit the ball with a 9-iron for example, you'll notice that their divots always begin in front of the ball and never after the ball. What this means is the golfer is making contact with the ball first still on the downswing, and then contact with the turf takes place. When this is done correctly the golf ball gets squished or pressed between the clubface and the ground, witch increases the compression and results in more distance and spin for that particular shot. If you try to hit up on the ball with your fairway woods or irons you could end up topping the ball or even missing it.

The Exception:
There's always one exception to every rule. This one involves hitting your driver off the tee. With this club you want to try to make golf ball contact on the slight upswing or the beginning of your upward swing arc. One of the main reasons for doing this is because the driver has very little loft and it's harder to get the ball into the air. The other reason is the drivers now have very few grooves witch helps to eliminate spin that is put on the ball during compression. It allows the ball to travel through the air with a piercing or floating type action and travel great distances.

One of the most important tips you can learn about equipment and your golf game is when to make proper golf ball contact. It all depends on what club you are using and the situation. Try and use this little bit of info the next time you're on the course and watch what happens.

About the Author
John Bolt is the owner of Golf Equipment Source and has created the ULTIMATE FREE online guide to properly fitted equipment used for golf. To learn more about golf equipment and what's best for your game please visit our website at http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/

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Jerry Newham's 7 Key Golf Swing Stages

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by Jerry Newham

There are 7 key stages to the golf swing. Popular golf coach, and Director of Coaching at The Sussex Golf Academy, Jerry Newham explains:

Address / Setup
Tilt forward from the hips, keeping the back straight and the chin up. Flex both knees with weight evenly spread between both feet. Arms hang freely under the chin. Active body, passive arms and hands.

Halfway Back
Left arm and hand swing club back on a slight inside path. Right arm folds. This will allow backswing position to be achieved creating width and depth. Shoulders fully turn along the same hip turn. Both knees stay flexed and poiting to the front. Toe of club should be pointing to the sky.

Top of Backswing
A correct position is achieved by swinging the left arm and hand. The right arm is passive but supportive. Shoulders should be fully turned 90 degrees and hips turned 45 degrees. The knees stay flexed with weight in the feet. Balance and body position / height should be maintained. Downward resistance powers the hands.

Downswing
The hands initiate the downswing which makes the body respond. The angle of the backswing is maintained through the downswing, allowing the club to be released just prior to impact, thus club head speed is created through the ball.

Impact Position
The club returns square to the target and is now able to extend forward along the intended line of flight. Note the shoulder line should be parallel to the club line just as in the setup but the hip is open. This creates space to allow us to swing through to our finish.

Extension Through
Ball The weight is transferred to our target side through the hip and foot action, this allows the arms, hands and club to be swung through the ball towards our target generating prolonged contact and most importantly the direction. Note the head remains still looking at the point where the ball was to allow backward resistance.

The Follow Through
The follow through tells us what has gone before. If we finish the swing in the correct position and are poised and balanced facing the target then we have completed the swing with a consistent flowing movement which must be repeated until it becomes automatic.

About the Author
Jerry Newham is one of Europe's most popular golf coaches. Thousands of pupils each year take golf lessons at his indoor golf academy in Sussex, UK in order to learn the ultimate way to swing. Jerry is also star of the new golf instructional DVD, The Swingmakers.

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Improve Your Golf Swing and Driving Distance with Golf Stretches

By Sean Cochran

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. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com

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Interesting Golf Facts

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by Rob Daniels

The World's Longest Golf Course is the International Golf Club in Massachusetts, a long par 77, 8325-yards, from the tiger tees.

The World's Highest Golf Course is the Tactu Golf Club in Morococha, Peru, which sits 14,335 feet above sea level at its lowest point.

The Longest Hole in the World is the 7th hole (par 7) of the Sano Course at the Satsuki Golf Club in Japan. It measures a long 909 yards.

The World's Largest Bunker is Hell's Half Acre on the 585-yard 7th hole of the Pine Valley Course in New Jersey.

About the Author
Rob Daniels is a professional golfer with a passion for a number of sports. Additional information available on Rob at Golf Clubhouse http://www.golf-clubhouse.net/ and Horse Stall http://www.horse-stall.net/

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Why Golf Practice is Important

by Carlie Edwards

How many times have you been at a driving range and witnessed stall after stall filled with tired looking golfers endlessly pounding balls. Many golfers, in spite of of their proficiency level, are guilty of wasting their practice time. Most have chosen the large bucket and believe only of launching all those small pellets with the big stick.

Are you practicing without a purpose? Why?

HAVE A SYSTEM FOR YOUR PRACTICE If you do not desire to get lessons, there is a wealth of knowledge accessible in books, magazines and on the Internet. The principal step in improving your golf is finding out more about the swing. Find some knowledge connected to a portion of your game you are battling with. You'll probably find numerous articles connected to any and every golf sin you could possibly commit. You need to understand what you need to do to improve, and what are the possible causes of your problem. Concentrate on what the causes and effects are. There are likely to be multiple reasonable causes and solutions.

NOT HITTING THE DRIVING RANGE YET Instead of running to hit that next large bucket, gather those golf tips you learned and apply them in front of a full-length mirror. This is peculiarly productive if you are working on your setup or stance. You can simply compare your body posture with those of the pros in the magazines. Take your back swing in slow motion, stopping at different points to again compare your stance with the pro. This exercise is intended to help you picture and feel a good golf swing.

GO FOR A SMALL BUCKET OF BALLS When you ultimately get to the range, your mind is no question filled with energy and excitement, as you get ready to apply your new thoughts. This is excellent. But, bear in mind that it is quality golf practice, not quantity, which counts. Go with the small bucket and take your time. Relax between shots. Agree in your mind to believe about what you are striving for on or before each shot. Apply one thought about your swing before each practice shot. Too many thoughts will end in 'paralysis of analysis'. After each shot, reflect not just exclusively on the result, but how the swing felt. Always ask yourself what you did right, not what you did wrong.

MAINTAIN PATIENCE - YOU WILL SEE IMPROVEMENT Don't be impatient. This can only help enhance your game in the long run. Don't forget to remain focused on improving your weaknesses. It makes little sense to expend 75% of your golf practice time working on your strong points. Know that betterment takes time! No person goes from a twenty-handicap down to a single-digit overnight. But, if you apply these tips, you'll be building your grasp of the sport as you practice.

PRACTICE WITH SOMEONE You can triple the effectiveness of your golf practice if you take a partner with you. You can share a large bucket and one stall. Taking turns, you should each take a few shots. Tell your companion what you are working on and ask him to recount how it looks. Observe one another from the side and behind to get different types of angles. Ask your partner to concentrate on different types of fundamentals of the swing: the grip, setup, plane, top of back swing, lower body position, shoulder turn, etc.

About the Author

Carlie Edwards publishes articles & useful resources on Today's Issues & Topics. For info on Golf Swing Training visit Golf Swing Trainer

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Customizing Your Golf Clubs

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by Evan Roufeh

Learning how to build golf clubs a little bit tough to do at first, but with some time and effort it will save you money, allow you to customize your clubs and gives you a great deal of satisfaction.

Just make sure that you follow all of the steps the first time around, and then you can experiment once you get more confident in how to build golf clubs.

How to Build Golf Clubs Step 1 - Find a catalogue that has shafts, grips, heads and adhesives in order to determine what combinations you like. Make sure you research your items and work within your budget. Step-by-step instructions generally come with the purchased product.

How to Build Golf Clubs Step 2 - Trim the shaft. You will need a true measure rule, which costs approximately $25, in order to measure the cut accurately. Mark the spot where the trim will go with a felt-tip pen so you know where the cut needs to be made.

How to Build Golf Clubs Step 3 - Cut the shaft using a shaft cutter or a hacksaw. If you are using a metal shaft, you are better off using a shaft cutter, which can be found anywhere golf supplies are sold for about $10.

After cutting the shaft, remove any masking tape before continuing with the next step. This portion of how to build golf clubs is the most difficult and most important.

How to Build Golf Clubs Step 4 - The shaft of the club is a smooth surface and in order for it to fit and properly adhere to the club, you will need to rough the edge. This is done by sanding the paint and finish using medium grade sandpaper. Apply the adhesive. Make sure you follow the adhesive instructions to make sure mix amount is correct.

How to Build Golf Clubs Step 5 - Time for you to apply the grip. Once the adhesive is completely dry you can measure the club for the final fitting. Mark the butt end of the shaft in the same manner used for the club head and trim it using the same tools. Prepare the shaft with tape then add the solvent that came with the grip before sliding on the grip carefully. Ensure the grip is on straight then attach the butt cap. Now all that is left is drying time and you will be able to use your new club.

How to Build Golf Clubs Step 6 - Stand up and take a bow. Feel good about yourself. You have successfully built your own golf clubs.

Experiment with different combinations of tools and materials to get the club that fits you and your golfing style the best. Just make sure that you always have fun with it!

About the Author

Evan Roufeh is the creator of the web site/web community http://improving-our-golf.com. His web site offers lots of FREE, hard-to-find information on golf and golf-related subjects, product reviews, general golf articles, and the opportunity for you to get your opinion across to the rest of the golfing community.

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Golf Stance Tips

By Robert Partain

Many newer golfers (and a few older ones, too) have a tendency to misalign themselves when they take their stance. Normally, what they will do is aim way right of the target and they do this for a reason. Players who are misaligned from the get go and aim right are usually players who try to swing with their arms. When they do this the ball will almost always take off to the left. So what they are doing with this "right side" target trick is trying to fix a problem before it even happens!

In theory, this shouldn't be a problem...but this is not theory, it's golf. When an "arm swinger" forces his ball back on the fairway by overcompensating his alignment, he thinks he's doing himself a favor. But on those occasions when he actually makes a good, solid full body swing, his ball zips off into the trees on the right or into a right side bunker and he gets mad, and what's worse is that by using this misaligning method he's never going to reach his full potential as a golfer.

These players need to work on the basics of their swing, using their body as a whole and not just their arms. But they also need to know what their alignment is.

So how can you (or anyone else for that matter) see what your alignment is to the target?

Well, here's a simple and very effective tip to determine what your target alignment really is.

Take a stance (your usual stance), aim at a target that you would hit at, and then lay a club down on the ground from toe to toe. Now step back about 8 or 10 paces behind the ball and club that you laid down and sight down the club. Sighting down this club will reveal your alignment.

If the club is a bit left of the target, then you're fine. But if it's to the right of the target, you are out of alingment. Simple but effective.

If you discover that you are out of alignment (that the club on the ground is pointing to the right of the target) then you need to work on squaring up your stance.

Being square to the target is one of the most important tips in golf. Every ball you hit will be effected by this stance--either in a good way or (if you're in a misaligned stance) a bad way. It really is that simple.

Now when you are certain that you are in a square stance, hit a few balls. If the ball goes way left of the target, you know you are pulling it by trying to use too much of your arms. If the ball goes way right, you know you are allowing your body to slide too much through impact.

By being in a square stance and evaluating a few practice shots, you can determine a lot about your swing and those areas that you need to work on.

About the Author Robert Partain has been an avid golfer for over 40 years. He publishes a golf blog that is updated 4 times a week with golf tips, techniques, and information

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Best Golf Courses

by Rob Daniels

So what are the best golf courses in the world? Take a look at our top picks! Check out our list of top 10 Golf Courses.

1. Augusta National Golf Course (GA)
Augusta National Golf Club, a private golf club in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the most famous and exclusive golf clubs in the world and is considered Bobby Jones's masterpiece. It is the site of the annual Masters Tournament.

2. Pebble Beach Golf Course (CA)
Pebble Beach was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant and opened on February 22, 1919. Jack Nicklaus made alterations to the course prior to the 1992 U.S. Open, including rebuilding the 4th, 5th and 7th greens, and he designed a replacement 5th hole in 1998. Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of the ocean.

3. Pine Valley Golf Course (NJ)
Pine Valley was founded in 1913 by a group of amateur golfers from Philadelphia. They purchased 184 acres (0.7 km?) of rolling, sandy ground deep in the pinelands of southern New Jersey, and gave George Arthur Crump, who knew the area from hunting expeditions, the opportunity to design the course. This was Crump's first and only golf course design, and he set himself some idiosyncratic principles: no hole should be laid out parallel to the next; no more than two consecutive holes should play in the same direction; and players shouldn't be able to see any hole other than the one they were playing. He also felt that a round of golf on his course should require a player to use every club in the bag.

4. Winged Foot Golf Club (NY)
Winged Foot Golf Club is a 36-hole golf club located in Mamaroneck, New York. The course architect is A. W. Tillinghast.. Winged Foot Golf Club was founded in 1921, by a cosortium comprised mainly of members of The New York Athletic Club.

5. Oahu Ko Olina Golf Course (HI)
A spectacular Ted Robinson designed course provides expansive landing areas and measures up to 6,867 yards from the back tees. Stunning views of the Oahu coast.

6. Crystal Downs Country Club (MI)
Crystal Downs offers the best of two worlds. Unlike many links courses, the greens are its primary defense. Like many links courses, its other defenses are the wind, the fesque rough, the imaginative bunkering that highlights the terrain, and the lumpy, bumpy fairways. A challenge for all golfers.

7. Fishers Island Club (NY)
Fishers Island Club, usually called The Big Club, is at the island's eastern tip. It is home to a world-class links golf course that is rated eighteenth in the US by Golf Magazine.

8. Shadow Creek (NV)
Shadow Creek in Las Vegas is a legendary golf course sculpted from the Nevada desert by renowned architect Tom Fazio. Every hole at Shadow Creek could make a signature statement at most golf courses throughout the world. Sparkling creeks, towering waterfalls and lush gardens are framed by commanding mountains. Shadows slide across dramatic landscapes, changing shape and contour from dawn to dusk.

9. Victoria National Golf Course (IN)
Sculpted from a reclaimed coal mine, Victoria National Golf Club is like a diamond. Brilliant and beautiful, yet in perfect harmony with her natural surroundings, this private club for members only is truly spectacular!

10. The Ocean Course (SC)
Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1991 before the Ryder Cup Matches, The Ocean Course gained instant notoriety as the of the most dramatic "War by the Shore," a battle decided literally by the final putt of Sunday's final match. In 1997, The Ocean Course hosted the World Cup of Golf, with the world's finest golfers from 32 countries competing in the stroke play tournament.

About the Author
Rob Daniels is a professional golfer with a passion for a number of sports. Additional information available on Rob at Golf Clubhouse http://www.golf-clubhouse.net and Horse Stall http://www.horse-stall.net

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Golf Basics

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by Jeff O'Brien

I would like to focus the jest of this article on the basis of the golf swing... the grip. With spring in the air and golf on our minds let's get this year off to a good start by not overlooking the basics.

Unquestionably the biggest mistake I see in people's golf swing isn't in their golf swing itself.

Nope. Not at all.

More often than not the mistakes happen before the swing even begins. The first mistake is made in how the golfer holds the golf club. After that the next mistake usually comes in with how they stand up to the ball. Poor posture. Then after having two strikes against them, they then finish the job of making it almost impossible to hit a good golf shot by improperly lining up to their intended target.

Of course, after hitting several (possibly several hundred) balls with only a minute few being what they think is acceptable the tired frustrated golfer asks... what am I doing wrong with my swing?

For the purposes of this article I want to discuss the very first part of the proper golf swing ... the golf grip. In fact, let's be even more precise here; the left hand grip on the golf club. Oh sure... there's much more than just the grip including the aforementioned posture and alignment. But there's only so much typing I can do at one time so let's stay with the grip for this communication.

The position of your club face is greatly influenced by your grip. And this is especially true as your club face enters the impact zone and contacts the ball. Certainly there is an abundance of golf swing peccadillo's that can occur that can cause those woeful golf shots. You know the ones I'm talking about: the banana ball, the smothered hook, skied, skulled, and chili dipped. Ok, I'll stop... If you'll stop trying to correct your golf swing by in incessantly hitting ball after ball trying to make every physical adjustment known to man (and some that aren't) within your golf swing itself and begin by using a fundamentally sound grip.

So you're going to continue on with me... great! Let's talk about the left hand (right handed golfers) first and foremost.

The left had should come in contact with the grip of the club in such a manner that the grip cuts a diagonal across the palm of the left hand from the crook in the index finger down and across to the bottom right pad of the left hand.

When you close your left hand, your club should be held in the first to fingers and your palm.

The key that you look for out of your left had grip is quite simple. As you address your ball and look down, you should only see two knuckles of your left hand. As an instructor standing directly across from you, I too should only see the same. If I don't see EXACTLY two knuckles of your left hand then we take a step back and re-grip until we get it right. And don't try to cheat and re-grip club just as you begin to take the golf club away and into your back swing. FOUL I say. And I will stop you.

Ok. I certainly haven't given you that much to remember here. But seriously golfers, resign yourself to go through a quick, short checklist before you begin the journey we call the golf swing. Start with your grip. Get used to it. A proper grip will feel awkward to you particularly if your grip has been way off. Stay with it. Know that it's the right way to grip the golf club. Piece by piece let's lay the foundation for a good swing.

Jeff O'Brien is a youth and beginning golfer instructor with a real insight on getting your golf swing and game off to a start by establishing a good foundation onto which you build your golf swing and game. Be sure to visit (http://www.golf-ology.com)

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Improving Your Golf Driver Swing

by Bobby Eldridge

Read this sentence then stop for 10 seconds and ask yourself what you think the three most important elements to the game of golf are. Four, three, two, one...

Ok, now I will list mine in the order of importance.

Driving the golf ball in play. Putting the golf ball with consistent speed control (distance). Pitching the golf ball with loft. Today we are going to concentrate on what I consider the MOST important aspect to the game of golf, DRIVING THE GOLF BALL IN PLAY. This aspect of the game is the number one confidence builder in our sport. As you probably know and have experienced, your score adds up quickly if hit your tee shots out of play.

Buckle up - Because if you read this special report every time before you play a round of golf this summer, your friends will think they are playing with Fred Funk come September. Fred Funk has led the P.G.A. Tour in driving accuracies for the past four years. He averages hitting 76% of the fairways every time he plays 18 holes of golf. If you are going to change the way you drive the golf ball you will need to implement the following four fundamentals.

THE PICTURE: Approach every tee shot with a clear picture in your mind of what you want the golf ball to look like in flight PROPER DRIVER: Choose the proper driver for your swing. CORRECT TEE HEIGHT: For your golf swing. CORRECT SWING PLANE: Swing the driver on the correct swing plane for your swing. THE PICTURE: If you can see it, you can have it. Before you take your driver, or any club for that matter, out of your golf bag, you better start seeing what you want the golf ball to look like during its journey down the fairway. Of the millions of words my mother (the first woman to teach at a golf school in the United States) passed on to me, the one phrase that has stayed with me all of these years is THE PICTURE. You must have a mental picture of how you want the ball to fly through the air and where you want it to wind up. When you have a driver in your hands, you have to pick out an exact area you want the ball to land on. IF YOU DON'T SEE THE PICTURE, YOU ARE HEADED FOR TROUBLE.

Important Tip: During the course of a round of golf, you can find yourself driving the ball well, but all of the sudden you are faced with a difficult driving hole. Shortly after I turned professional, I played a practice round with Tommy Bolt the 1958 U.S. Open Champion. We came to great par four, 435 yards long, water down the right side of the fairway from the tee to the green, out of bounds markers down the entire left side of the fairway from the tee to the green. After I teed my golf ball up I turned to Tommy and said, "What do you do here with O.B. left and water right?" Tommy looked me straight in the eye and said "Son, if you see the water and the O.B. markers, you better go find another line of work."

That stick with me to this day, and I wanted to pass it on to you. Don't worry about the challenges, just think about what you want the ball to do. I have benefited immensely during my career, and I want you to benefit from this as well.

PROPER EQUIPMENT: Now that you can see the picture, let's see if you brought the correct brush to paint with. If you are still trying to buy 20 more yards every time you walk into a golf shop. It is time to stop-NOW! If you own a driver that is metal, has a graphite shaft, and the grip is new then you own what it takes to send the golf ball straight down the fairway.

Let's back up a foot or two. The loft on the golf club will play a major role in how accurate you are. If you are struggling with your driver you might consider buying a driver with at least 10-12 degrees of loft. The less loft a driver has the more you are apt to slice and hook the ball. If you are driving the ball well you can buy a driver with less loft.

An important side note: If you are driving the golf ball short, low and to the right the shaft might be too stiff. If you are driving the golf ball too high and to the left the shaft might be too weak.

Another item to consider if you have small hands, have the club repair shop regrip all of your grips with either a junior grip or a small grip. If your hands are large, have the shop regrip you clubs with oversize grips.

Bottom Line - worry about getting the ball in the fairway first, and then focus on distance generation. Chances are, you own the equipment right now, that will give you the fairway shots you're looking for. Remember - It's the swing, not the equipment. The equipment helps once you have a good swing, but you'll never FIX your swing with an equipment upgrade.

CORRECT TEE HEIGHT: The tee height does not seem like such a big deal, but it plays a huge roll in whether or not you drive the golf ball consistently down the fairway. Something so simple can often be the biggest challenge.

The two major mistakes are teeing the golf ball too low or teeing the golf ball too high. You may have heard that golf is a game of opposites. This is a perfect example. Let me explain why. If you are constantly swinging your driver too vertical into the ground in the downswing, you probably tee the golf ball to low. Most golfers with a vertical driver swing fear swinging underneath the golf ball so they tee the ball low in hopes of catching it square. For those of you with this challenge, the next time you are on the golf course, tee the golf ball up a little higher and sit back a little bit more on your heels and keep your weight there in the downswing. After your shot has landed, look down to see if your tee is still in the ground. If you are always conscience of leaving the tee in the ground, you will not pop your tee shots up anymore.

If you are topping your tee shots to the right you might have the ball teed too high because you are trying to hit the ball on the upswing. The next time you go out to play, tee the ball down a little. After the golf ball has landed, make sure your weight is on your left foot and meaning you have transferred your weight correctly.

CORRECT SWING PLANE: With this final tip I feel confident you will be on your way to driving the golf ball straighter and with more consistency. The golf club in your bag that swings the most vertical, (up and down) is your sand wedge. The golf club that swings the most horizontal (around you-baseball swing) is your driver. The mistake I have seen most amateur golfers make is that they swing their driver like their sand wedge and they swing their sand wedge like their driver.

A couple of things to remember when you are addressing the driver:

Chin up Turn your right shoulder in the back swing level Swing the golf club around you/not up and down Leave the tee in the ground after you hit the ball When you are ready to begin your backswing, keep your swing thoughts to a minimum. Just think about swinging more horizontal.

At the beginning of this special report I promised you would drive the ball more with more confidence, accuracy and more consistent if you read this article every time before you tee it up this summer. This stuff seems simple, but give it a try and send me an email letting me know the results. You'll get some really good results.

This is only a starting point that will provide a great basis for more consistent driving. At the end of this month, we're going to get back to you with some in depth information on how to get more accuracy and consistency with your driver. Stay tuned...you'll love the results you get this season.

About the Author

Bobby Eldridge is the Head Instructor for the PurePont Golf Academy where he teaches "The Simple Golf Swing" theory. You can check out PurePoint Golf instructional DVDs at http://www.golfswingguru.com/dvd.php

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Perfecting Putting

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by Carlie Edwards

Do you ever wonder why the simplest golf shot seems to cause the biggest problem for golfers?

Golf putting is the only shot that's possible to execute without flaws. Some of us start off as kids putting and some of us are pretty darn good at this even at a young age. This golf shot is often what leads us to our lifelong addiction to this wonderful game of golf.

OK, so if this is the case then what goes wrong? How is it that the easiest of golf shots become an absolute nightmare in an adult golfers life? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Experts find this to be just as baffling as the inexperienced amateurs do. One would say it's all in the mind, and this is probably not far from the truth in the case of golf.

A number of years ago an American company designed a golf-putting machine to aid in golf training. Tests were carried out in optimum putting conditions, and they were to discover that their new pride and joy could not even make every putt. Even though they dismantled this machine, tweaked it here and there until they felt they were certain that it was going to work perfectly, well guess what, it still failed to hole some of the putts. So maybe there is something to the black art about golf putting?

So, what lesson do we learn from the above? The fact is that you're never really going to achieve perfection in putting. If a perfectly working machine under perfect operating conditions fails to hole every golf putt, we can safely say that, as humans will never be able to be perfect. After all as humans we all have our imperfections.

As a good rule of thumb stop giving yourself a hard time over missing a few putts. Even the top professional golfers find themselves in the same position. Golf putting problems are more likely to be psychological than physical. So under these circumstances you shouldn't be getting down on yourself mentally, as we can see this can only make matters worse.

Now the question is, is there anything that you can really do if you have some sort of putting problems? One suggestion would be to think about your mental state and picture that you really can putt, you may want to look into self hypnosis tapes as this can help you get into a stronger mental state. You may also want to try changing your putter; sometimes this will do the trick. Keep your eye on the professionals as some of these golfers have suffered from the same situation. Often times we can learn from just watching and following others that are successful at golf putting.

About the Author

Carlie Edwards publishes articles & useful resources on Today's Issues & Topics. For info on Golf Shot Trick visit Golf Shot Trick

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