10 Tips for Golf Tournaments

Posted on October 9, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , , |

Tips to help make your tournament plan a resounding success

Planning a golf tournament? Here are some tips to help you.

  1. Select a good golf course and facilities that can accommodate all the needs that you have and make sure that their staff employees are likewise accommodating. Check with the employees and ensure that you tell them what you need and what you want to happen, especially if you plan on having an awards or some sort of ceremonies after the tournament. This is also the time you should think of the number of golfers that you would allow to compete. You may want to check the staff recommendations, especially if they have a record of golf tournaments in their place.
  2. It might be great if you make an information brochure explaining and advertising the tournament in a clear and concise manner, with a format that is easy and relaxing to read. Put in a concise registration form along with the brochure.
  3. You should not forget about getting tournament sponsors. Order early the course signage. It might take some time in getting all the logos you need for printing. Be sure that the tournament sponsors you got have first approved the publication materials before taking them for printing. Many tournament sponsors have very strict specifications about the use of their logos and expect you to follow the guidelines that they have.
  4. Consider the goodie bags or giveaways in the tournament. You could give shirts, tees, hats, balls, among others. You could also keep a supply of sunscreen packets and bottled water. If you’re giving awards, you should order the trophies early.
  5. Make sure that the golf staff is recognized easily. They should be easily distinguished with a special hat or golf shirt.
  6. You can buy a database (or design if you can do one) for the registration process in helping you track the players you have as well as the team pairings.
  7. Do a short checklist of the things you need to finish or accomplish in preparation for your tournament. Try to do everything as early as possible.
  8. Make sure that there is proper and enough nourishment at the tournament. There should be enough food and drinks available in the various points around and on the course.
  9. Inform the players of the rules and requirements of the system. Make sure that they do have the necessary equipment or tools for play, such as score cards, balls, tees, among others.
  10. Prepare for worst-case scenarios like course problems, injuries, etc.
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The Basics of Learning Golf

Posted on September 27, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , , , |

Among all the ball games around, golf has been perceived as one of the most difficult. The reason being lies in the many talented and well-known sportsmen around which showcase talent like suggesting that the game leaves no room for novices and not-so-good but interested individuals.

Valid a reason as it may seem, the game in fact is not as difficult as one sees it and is as easy as one, two, three. However, just like any other games available, understanding the rule of the game, the tactics by which you can earn that golf scores and all the significant terms associated with the game, you’ll surely hit the ball like a pro.

Gross Structure of a Golf Course

A real golf tournament is played on a golf course. A golf course is a land area that is designed primarily to take on all the activities related to golfing.

The land area where golf is played consists of several holes, usually from 9 to 18 holes, where the player has to put the hit ball into. The first player who gets to put the ball into these “holes” wins the game.

The golf is specifically engineered to have all of the following characteristic anatomical playing grounds:

  1. A Tee
  2. Greens,
  3. Fairways, and
  4. A number of hazards

There is no typical size for a golf environment for each golf course is designed to the management’s own liking.

An 18-hole golf area ideally has about 140 acres which is translated to 57 hectares. The relative distances of tees are characteristically longer for men than for women (5,900 to 6,400 meters for men and 4,000 to 5,000 meters for women).

An area called a “green” is usually the area surrounding the final hole in the tournament. This area is proximal to the fairway where the grass is cut so low that they are played with less restriction.

Hazards may come in different forms such as trees, high cut grass area, and water which serves as a deterrent to getting the balls into holes.

Playing Golf

Golf is typically played in different ways depending on the players’ agreed type.

In match play, one golfer or a team of golfers play in a tournament and compete with one another. The team who wins the most number of holes wins the competition.

Stroke play, on the other hand, is played differently where the player has to set the golf ball into the respective holes with fewer numbers of strokes. Fewer strokes before putting the ball into the hole means winning the game.

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Golf: Looking beyond the tip

Posted on August 24, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , , |

Golf is not just about looking at the best golf club tip in town. There are also other factors that you should consider.

Stay relaxed

One of things that you should remember is so easy and simple to do but ironically, most golfers forget it. It is to relax. Although of course, for many people, relaxing is easier said than done, especially on the first round, since it brings intense pressure. This additional pressure will increase the heart rate of your body and will diminish your chances of having a great tee shot.

Focus on the breathing that you have before you go straight hitting the ball off. A few deep, long breaths would do the trick. The key point here is you should have the main focus on your shot.

Your wrists should not be used

When you’re to hit your drive, it is of paramount importance to remember that your wrists and hands are not the ones giving you enough power you need in driving the ball. The power you need should come from your shoulders in your back swing, when you’re winding the body up while you prepare for your down swing.

Any wrist movement could lead to inconsistent ball striking, leading to an inconsistent trajectory of the ball. Keep the wrists straight, and you’ll see how your drive has become more and more consistent and accurate.

In order for you to realize, visualize

Before you really hit the shot, stand some few feet, maybe about two to three feet, behind the golf ball and try to visualize how the ball would take the flight path you want. Visualize how the ball is going to take off, “watch” it in air and its landing place. This will dramatically increase the chances you have in putting the golf ball in the exact place where you prefer it.

Prepare what you need to prepare

Before you go straight hitting your target, make sure first that you have spent some hours practicing to get a sense of how to sing. Don’t strike your first drive without you warming up. If you have no time anymore for hitting some practice balls, spend at least five minutes to warm up. Before you step on to the tee, make sure you’ve spent some time on the practice range, to get into the feeling of the swing. Never, ever, hit your first drive without warming up. Do some exercises. This will give you a more relaxed and flexible feeling.

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Callaway Golf

Posted on April 3, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , |

Callaway Golf – tips and useful information for the avid golfer

Callaway Golf is one of the most respected names in the golf industry for its quality of products that cater to both recreational and professionals alike. As part of its efforts to give its customers the best, be it with their products or services, the company has produced Callaway Golf Magazine and released its first issue early 2004. Just recently, last November 2005, the Custom Publishing Council (CPC) of New York City’s University Club made the magazine the Bronze Award winner for Best New Publication.

The magazine is distributed to loyal customers, upscale golf clubs and key retailers free of charge and is also available online for downloading from the company’s website. The publication, with a distribution output of over 800,000 quarterly, has useful information not found in most golf consumer magazines.

For one thing, Callaway Golf magazine features exclusive content such as interviews with Callaway Golf Staff Professionals. Michael Campbell, Phil Mickelson, and Annika Sorenstam are just some of the names that have been associated with Callaway.

Aside from interviews and the information on Callaway’s latest offerings, the magazine also contains useful tips on golfing provided by none other than the company’s own staff professionals.

In its first issue (February 2004) Annika Sorenstam featured tips on efficient swings. The Swedish Sorenstam tops the LPGA’s list of the highest average driving distance with a yardage of 269.7 after making the ERC Fusion her driver of choice.

A brief sampling of that feature (which you, too, can use for your own game) follows:

1. At address, Annika focuses primarily on good balance and comfort, with her whole body relaxed and tension-free.

2. Annika maintains the relationship formed between her club, hands, arms and shoulders, sweeping the club away low to the ground.

3. Annika rotates her upper body away from the target, while swinging her hands into a position directly above her right shoulder.

4. Annika drops the club into the hitting position while retaining her wrist angle. Her arms, shoulders and body release together.

5. At impact, the ball gets in the way of the club. The feeling is of “collecting” the ball as she releases her hands, arms and club head.

6. Annika points her right shoulder at the target and keeps her spine straight. Her key thought is complete her follow-through.

(From Callaway Golf Magazine ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2004)

These tips along with other useful in-depth information on Callaway’s products (such as the Big Bertha Titanium 454 Driver or the HX golf balls with the hexagonal dimple system) all serve to present to its readers the exciting possibilities that Callaway can offer golfers of any level.

 

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Lowering Your Golf Score

Posted on March 15, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , , , , |

Tips on How to Lower Your Golf Score

Golfing is typically played in different forms depending on the agreed terms between the competing parties.

These may come in two forms with corresponding rules to be played on and these are the match play and the stroke play.

In any given type of golf games, winning is determined by the fewer number of strikes before the ball gets into their respective holes. How you would be able to lower your golf score depends on how you strategize and effectively hit the ball to get it to the nearest holes you are trying to reach. But this objective makes it even hard for us due to a variety of reasons.

There are a couple of tips by which novice golfers could take advantage of in order to get away with the restrictions imposed by your physical infirmity and eventually lower your score in any given hole target.

1. Understanding the Physics of Golfing – Players may not be aware that golf gaming operates on several principles of physics.

A beginning golfer should understand that in order to achieve the least possible strikes before they get the ball into the winning holes, they must know how a golf ball with weight flies and cuts the air into trajectory motion before reaching the ground.

Being able to estimate the relative weight of the ball and the clubs being used will surely put you on a winning edge.

2. Physical Training – You must understand that golf is a type of physical activity and in order to perform a certain kinetic workout well, one must be able to handle and put together all the elements of bodily strength, endurance, and full coordination and balance and perform at your utmost potential. In short, one must be physically fit.

3. Take on a Daily Routine – There is truth to the old cliché that practice makes perfect. However, it should be put in mind that proper practice in the right environment with the right experienced people around makes most of the difference.

4. Take on That Ideal Swing – As an individual golfer, you must create your own unique swinging technique. You should learn to understand how you could best perform your drive and take on fewer strikes before reaching the hole.

5. Proper Mindset – Emotions play an important role in setting your goals to their completion. Body chemistry works in any physical activity such as golf games. If you are upset and worrying about anything else, leave it at that and start focusing on a playing mode.

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Walking in the Green

Posted on February 20, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , |

Playing golf is being with nature. It makes one get up early in the morning while the sun isn’t out yet and enjoying the game in the company of people from work or with friends. It is just one of the many forms of relaxation people can do these days and a great escape from the pressures of the city.

Being in nature’s bounty may not happen everyday. Traveling between the city and the countryside can be difficult at times, which should make the person seize the moment of enjoying the freshness of the air and the serenity of nature while walking in the green.

Golf courses have been designed with various landscapes surrounded by trees, the hills, the lake or river and sometimes the ocean. Each of these adds up for the person to be one with nature. While one is standing in the course or driving in the golf car, that person can easily notice how well managed the grass, which is sometimes the wish of some people that could have the same thing in the backyard.

The best way to enjoy the scenery is taking ones time and just walking slowly. There will be some uphill climbs and some downhill turns. One should remember to cherish it so when that person feels stressed out work, the individual can recall that moment and relax even for just a short time then get back to work again.

Most exclusive golf clubs have other facilities that other members of the family can also enjoy. These places have pools, spas, tennis courts and a lot of other recreational things that other family members can do while one is walking in the green.

Some of these places offer residential homes inside the vast acres of space that a person can buy which is inclusive of the golf membership. This makes it easier for people to leave for the weekend and come back the day after refreshed and ready for another challenging week ahead.

Such facilities offer 18 holes and 36 holes courses and can be found by searching the web or by checking the local directory. This is usually advertised so it kind of impossible to miss.

Golf is always fun be it that person is a beginner or already a pro. Playing the many holes and walking the distance is also a good exercise that can be done with the other family members so there is time to bond and make everyone enjoy some good fresh air that is quite rare living the city life.

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Improving your golf score

Posted on February 20, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , , , |

In all sports, it is essential that you warm up properly to attain the best performance. If you go to any professional or even amateur sporting event, you will see competing athletes doing pre-game warm-ups. Golfers, especially those in the professional level, are not different from them. When tour professionals are about to begin their first tee, they would have made full warm-ups to be able to make their best swings.

However, most amateurs have their “warm-ups” done by racing from their autos to the shop and check in, then dashing to their first tee, in just about five minutes. Most of the time, this is followed by an unsteady and inconsistent play for the first holes, ending up with another lackluster round. The result: Disappointing golf scores.

Here are some tips for you for improving your golf score.

• First, go to the golf course as early as possible. You need time in taking care of your matters in the shop, in using the restroom, changing clothes and shoes, among others. It is crucial that you do not feel pressured or rushed, allowing you to get warmed up at a relaxed pace. Remember that your warm-up time sets your mood and tempo throughout the day, so just relax and move slowly. A minimum of an hour or two before you begin hitting your first tee would probably help you get a nice and relaxed warm-up.

• Start your warm-up routine at the putting green. By spending some time on warming up on the green, you will be ready for the speed of the greens. More importantly, you will start up your day with a nice, deliberate, and smooth tempo.

• Spend about 10 minutes or so trying to hit the chips around the green using a tee as your target. First test the greens’ firmness to see how much or less the golf ball will roll. In general, the ball tends to move more on hard greens than the soft greens. In addition, there are various kinds of rough that make the ball move differently when it touches the green. Spending some time around the green helps you to have some thoughts on choosing the great greenside shots during your round, and also, the spots where you are landing the golf ball on the putting surface.


Remember: If you do not get enough warm-ups, you should not expect to have an optimal performance, and consequently, a good golf score.


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Tips on How to Lower your Golf Score

Posted on February 13, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , |

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.

Shaft Length

It is advisable for the shaft to be at the appropriate length for the golfer to have a posture that allows the arms to hang down straight from the shoulders to ease the swing of the arm.

The head of the putter should as much as possible be heavy especially if the golfer plays on slow-greens. But if the golfer plays on fast-greens, the putter should be light.

Grip it good

When engaging in an actual play, the putter should be gripped in a way that is comfortable to the golfer. The thumbs must be on a surface of the putter grip that is flat.

The face of the putter should be perpendicular to the line of the target. You would be able to know if the putter is correctly aimed if you look at the direction of the ball from behind. You can try this exercise: on your ball, make a distinguishing mark. Then, pick up the ball and replace the ball. Point the writing you made on the ball towards the line of the target.

After which, place the head of the putter behind the golf ball and put the head of the putter in a direction perpendicular to the mark put on the ball. By doing so, you were able to aim the face of the putter towards the line of the target.

Wasn’t it easy? Now you can stand in a relaxed manner as you direct your eyes over the golf ball. Your shoulders should be in a position that is parallel to the line of the target. Notice that if your shoulders are correctly aimed, it is sure that the golf ball is on the correct path.

Distance and direction

A good golf putter must be able to have a sense of direction as well as distance.

If you have a sense of direction, chances are you will have a great putting set-up. As much as possible, try to use the method of the Triangle. This method makes use of your shoulders and both your right and left arms. These three parts must work together as a single component especially when the putter is moved back and moved forth with a pressure grip that is light. Doing so enables you a chance to sense the correct distance.

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Golf Swing Tips 2

Posted on February 9, 2007. Filed under: Golf, Outdoor | Tags: , , , |

Some tips to improve your golf swing

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 arms.


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.

Tip no. 3. You should let the left arm 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 that seems lifting the front heel can easily make the body coil and for the tension to build that much harder. 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 when you do your golf down swing, it works.

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Golf Swing Tips 1

Posted on February 9, 2007. Filed under: Golf | Tags: , , , |

Tips for good golfing: it’s all in the swing

Believe it or not, when one performs a golf back swing, it is not just your arms. It is also more about the golfer’s back as it turns away from the target. The club is more so as being put behind the golfers back than it is swung up towards the air.

The move backs-wing

If you look at it closely, the golf back swing actually works from up to down. The takeaway back swing begins from the top as you make the movement on your arms and follows as you do that turn on your shoulders. The movement then goes straight down towards the legs and the hips.

The golf back swing is primarily about how the body is being coiled upwards thus creating the needed tension in the muscles as well as torque to be able to let out that all-powerful downswing. Particularly, that swing is created anywhere in between the golfer’s turning his or her upper body as well as shoulders and the turning – to a lesser degree – the lower body and the hips.

Relax

It is highly advisable that one should not do the swing in a hurried manner. If a back swing is in any way done in a hurry, the downswing does not become fast; actually it could do the opposite.

The backs-wing speed should be in a tempo that is steady and should neither be fast nor slow. Although some golfers have that tendency to go way faster than the regular. Anytime you catch or are aware of yourself doing this, try to slow it down a bit.

The move downswing

When you reach the downswing, all you really need to do is to just let it go. Let the downswing happen. However, this only applies if ever you were able to start with a golf stance, backs-wing and grip that are correct.

The downswing must be the organic result of all that went before it. If you were able to do your backs-wing in the correct manner, your body will unwind in itself thus releasing the club and striking the ball that will therefore result in a follow through that is balanced.

The follow-through move

A follow-through should be best seen as the feather in your cap move. The legs must be adequately straight and the hips have to form a straight line together with the legs.

This move will serve as the gauge of the whole swing you have just done. You know that you were able to pull a swing that is smooth and balanced if in the end you have a position that looks like the letter C only in reverse.


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