Golf Confessions

The golf tournament gift business has become a very large endeavor.  There are very few organizations both large and small that do not use golf tournaments to raise money, for charity, fund raisers or to entertain their customers or prospective customers.  These tournaments will always have some sort of golf gift for the participants.  The gifts can range widely in value and practicality.

Some of the larger corporate and member guest tournaments can have some extremely nice and valuable prizes.  These gifts can range from airline tickets, golf shirts, fine crystal, or a variety of personal items.

The golf gifts do not always have to be affiliated with a golf tournament, there are any number of occasions that golf gifts are approiate for the golfer. A few of the occasions that one may receive a golf gift are weddings, birthdays, retirement, Christmas, Father’s and Mother’s Day.  Some of these gifts often consist of prank gifts, exploding golf balls, Goof balls-ex-wife or ex-husband.  Some of the finer gifts could be personalized crystal, framed pictures of famous golfing destinations, paperweights for the home or office.  Something that most all golfers can use is a golf valuable pouch, these can be made from cloth or fine leather. 

So keep in mind the many options you have when planning your next golf tournament or a gift for your golfing friend. 

There are several places that one can find great values on excellent used golf equipment.  Several golf stores in all areas usually take trade-ins on golf equipment.  This offers shoppers the oportunity to pick up good deals on used equipment.  I have a friend that will buy the latest set of irons, drivers, putters, fairway woods, or anything he thinks will help his game several times a year.  He always buys new equipment and invariably will trade it for something else within a few months if not days.  This constant buying and trading will offer some other golfer the opportunity to pick up a good deal on used golf equipment.  This used golf equipment so many times has hardly been used and is just like new.

Callaway golf also is a great source for used golf equipment.  Callaway will certify their used clubs before offering them for sell.  This will give the customer a feeling of security that he or she is getting a good peice of equipment.

Some golf businesses will offer a program to first time buyers and or junior golfers that the business will help the player trade up as the player matures or developes into a better player.  One of the most important things for a beginner is to have proper fitting equipment.  The better the fit, such as length and weight of the clubs  the better control the player will have.  This control of the club will help to develp better swings because the player will not be laboring with a club that is usually too heavy.  So many youngsters start off with clubs that have been cut down from their dad or mom’s sets and they are too heavy and this usually promotes an over the top move that may stick with the beginning player for a life time.

So there are a lot of places that you may find good deals on used golf equipment and you owe it to yourself or someone else that you are helping start in a game for life get some proper fitting equipment.

More and more people are suffering from a wide variety of allergies these days.  When you are on the golf course and you are haveing a sneezing spell or you can’t get your eyes to stop tearing, you may be suffering from an allergy.  These problems can be very aggrivating and may make your time on the course miserable.

Steve Elkington from Australia, who has had a very successful career on the PGA tour suffered for years with his allergic reaction to grass.  For a professional golfer, being allergic to grass is not something you want to hear.  Today with proper diagnosis and care most people with allergy problems are able to get proper medical treatment that can make their lives more tolerable.

This time of year most golfers are looking forward to getting back on the course and enjoying their golf game.  The tempratures are starting to rise and the beautiful Spring time of the year is blooming  all over.

All golfers should be very aware of the dangers that prolonged exposure to the sun can cause.  The threat of skin cancer is something that everyone should take serious and take the proper precautions to try and avoid any complications.  Merkel cell carcinoma, also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin can be quite serious.  This form of cancer may be associated with older golfers that are constantly exposed to the sun.  Also if there is a family history of skin cancer one should be extra cautious.  Anyone that is playing in high altitudes should take care to cover up.  Some of the things that all players may want to think about when they are out for extended exposure is sun screen 15 or greater, wide brim hats and wear sunglasses. 

To play better golf is something we would all like to do no matter what your handicap.  I beleive the biggest problem in golf may be that we try to hard to hit the ball rather than let things happen.  To let it happen in golf sounds simple enough but our hit instincts come into play and we get in our own way.  If someone told you to take a ball and throw it at an object 10 yards away, you would problably hit or come close to the target every time.  On the other hand if that same person bet you on how close you could come to the object and the amount of the bet was out of your comfort zone, then you might start aiming and not releasing your throw.  When you start aiming and trying to throw you will probably grip tighter, not finish your back swing and try to hit the target.  All of these same things happen when we get a golf club in our hands and we try too hard to make a swing.  Most everyone makes a pretty good practice swing, but things get wild when you put a ball in the equation and you are asked to make a swing that will reslut in a good shot.

There is no pressure on a practice swing and there are no resuts that you have to worry about.  When you are hitting the golf ball to a target don’t let results become the focal point, just make the swing and let the shot happen.  Do your mental preparation before the swing and once you get over the golf ball trust your preparation to give you the best results.  The same idea is true on the practice tee and you hit shot after shot, there is no consequence to a bad shot as there is on the golf course.  If you miss hit a shot on the practice tee, you just rake another golf ball over and try again.  You should try and practice as though you are playing golf and see if you can get the same consistancy.  Understand where the club head is and the relationship of the club head and your hands are during the swing, especially in the contact zone with the ball.  It does not matter what kind of backswing you have as long as you can deliver the club head back to the ball in a manner that will produce the shot pattern you want.

Relax, let things happen, don’t get caught up in the results and enjoy the game of golf.

See you on the next tee. 

You may ask yourself why should I attend a golf school verses getting a series of lesson from my local professional?  There are several reasons why attending a school can be very beneficial to your game.  Most club pros are caught up running a business-the club-and find themselves squeezing a lesson in between meetings and the running of the business.  This does not mean that there are not a lot of very good teaching club pros and that you can’t get some great lessons and improve your game locally.  What I am saying is the golf school has a single purpose in mind and all the attention is dedicated to teaching.

The surroundings are set up to provide you the maximum opportunities to learn and be exposed to the latest teaching techniques.  The instructors at these schools do nothing but give lessons and constantly search for the latest methods that will give their students the most for their time and money.  Also most schools see thousands of students over the course of many years and this constant exposure to the multiple  problems that they see challenges them to become more efficient at fixing problems in the swing.

The student also has the opportunity to spend several continuous hours practicing instead of a hurried thirty minute lesson in between taking kids to soccer or rushing to the course from the office and beating the setting sun.  With this single focal point in mind from a one day to a seven day school you can put all of your attention to the instruction.  Another side benefit of most schools is the fact that you are in a new and different location which may allow you to focus more on your game and benefit from others in your school. 

Remember the schools are for the single purpose of teaching and usually have all of the latest teaching aids and equipment.  The teachers have developed top communication skills which are so vital in being a good teacher.

See you on the next tee. 

To play better golf is something we would all like to do no matter what your handicap.  I beleive the biggest problem in golf may be that we try to hard to hit the ball rather than let things happen.  To let it happen in golf sounds simple enough but our hit instincts come into play and we get in our own way.  If someone told you to take a ball and throw it at an object 10 yards away, you would problably hit or come close to the target every time.  On the other hand if that same person bet you on how close you could come to the object and the amount of the bet was out of your comfort zone, then you might start aiming and not releasing your throw.  When you start aiming and trying to throw you will probably grip tighter, not finish your back swing and try to hit the target.  All of these same things happen when we get a golf club in our hands and we try too hard to make a swing.  Most everyone makes a pretty good practice swing, but things get wild when you put a ball in the equation and you are asked to make a swing that will reslut in a good shot.
 
There is no pressure on a practice swing and there are no resuts that you have to worry about.  When you are hitting the golf ball to a target don’t let results become the focal point, just make the swing and let the shot happen.  Do your mental preparation before the swing and once you get over the golf ball trust your preparation to give you the best results.  The same idea is true on the practice tee and you hit shot after shot, there is no consequence to a bad shot as there is on the golf course.  If you miss hit a shot on the practice tee, you just rake another golf ball over and try again.  You should try and practice as though you are playing golf and see if you can get the same consistancy.  Understand where the club head is and the relationship of the club head and your hands are during the swing, especially in the contact zone with the ball.  It does not matter what kind of backswing you have as long as you can deliver the club head back to the ball in a manner that will produce the shot pattern you want.
 
Relax, let things happen, don’t get caught up in the results and enjoy the game of golf.
 
See you on the next tee. 

Most golfers have a variety of pains.  What most golfers do not realize is that a lot of this pain begins in the feet.  The feet are your skelton foundation and support all the bones in your body.  When the feet get out of alignment the rest of the body can suffer from this misalignment.  An expression heard often is when your feet hurt you hurt all over and this is true because the feet are effecting the alignment of the body.  The back, knees, hips, ankles and the entire body may get relief from wearing orthotics.

One problem so many golfers suffer from is heel spurs which can be very painful. 
 
Golfers find themselves walking up and down slopes getting to tee boxes and greens.  The feet need the support that an orthotic provides to stabilize the foot properly.  The support from the orthotic can help eliminate pressure points and correctly align the feet.  With proper alignment you may also receive the benefit of better balance which is always important in your golf swing.
 
See you on the next tee.

Note the new rule change in regards to the ball hitting you or your equipment.  RULE: 19-2