Swinging in the rain
Pro Trevor Moore ensures that you make good of foul weather
Foreboding: Ominous stormclouds loom over a pristine golf course—be prepared—Courtesy of Copper Point Golf Club
Considering how the weather has panned out the past two months, odds are you will end up playing golf in the rain at some point this season.
Playing in the rain does not need to be a bad experience, and with a change in attitude and a little preparation you will be surprised to find that it is just as enjoyable as playing on a nice day.
Keep it in perspective and always remember that golf in the rain is still golf. Maintain a positive outlook on the day and take solace in the fact that the course will be wide open, quiet, peaceful and serene. There is plenty to be said about having the course all to yourself and not having to wait on another group all day.
Many golfers literally invest thousands of dollars on their clubs but then turn around and spend very little on their rain gear. Spending money on good gear will make your rain days all the more enjoyable.
Start from the ground up; purchase leather golf shoes that have a waterproof warranty. Canvas shoes are not going to keep your feet dry and when your feet are feeling drowned, you will too. You don’t have to break the bank—although high-end options exist—you can get a great pair of shoes for around $150.
Not just an umbrella
Do not fall into the trap of thinking that an umbrella is just an umbrella; this couldn’t be further from the truth. Umbrella canopies come in all sizes and you must remember that the canopy has to keep both you and your clubs dry, so factor your bag and/or pull cart into the size consideration.
Remember that a broken umbrella is a useless umbrella, so don’t be afraid to invest in a good one. Your umbrella must be able to withstand strong winds or it will snap at the least opportune time. Cheaper varieties are very prone to breaking in high winds as they have a single canopy that traps the wind. Higher-end options are designed with a dual canopy, which allows the wind to vent through the umbrella rather than trapping it. Dual canopy options are more expensive but far less susceptible to breakage.
With a good umbrella you will still get water on your hands and clubs, so you must carry more than one towel. Keep one on your golf bag that is dedicated entirely to keeping your clubs clean, and another one hanging under the canopy of your umbrella that is dedicated to keeping your hands and grips dry.
Rain suits come in all shapes, sizes and price points, but simply owning one is a good start. You would be surprised to find out how few people actually have one in their bag. The sky is the limit for pricing and you must weight your budget with the options and benefits of higher end brands. Simply remember that fleece jackets and wind breakers are not going to cut it if the rain starts to fall, so bottom line, get something in your bag that will.
It is not if you will play in the rain—it is when—so don’t be surprised when it happens. Embrace it with a positive attitude knowing you are prepared with all the equipment you need to enjoy the day.
Video analysis caveat
Using video analysis can be helpful to your swing—if applied correctly
Practice putting: Analyzing your golf technique is a great way to improve your game.—photo by Joni Krats
Video golf analysis can be an incredible tool when it comes to sourcing out weak areas in your swing; however remember the old saying, garbage in is equal to garbage out, so be sure you approach it with caution. With all the cost effective video technology – cameras, cellular phones, etc – available today, I am seeing more players attempt to analyze their personal video footage in hopes of finding out what is wrong with their swing. Self analysis is often futile and frustrating. Having the capability to capture swings on tape is only helpful if you know what you are looking for when you view it. The overwhelming majority of players don’t understand how to assess and prioritize the sequence of events that takes place throughout the golf swing. Viewing your swing in hopes that something obvious will jump out at you is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Professionals are trained to find the sequence of events that ultimately lead to the obvious mistake; fixing the obvious is only helpful if it happens to be the root issue. h3. More than just pricey equipment Don’t be fooled into thinking that professional training begins and ends with simply spending money on expensive cameras, tripods and computer analysis software. It is not uncommon to see people videotaping from the wrong positions. Having the camera out of place by a few degrees or inches will create illusions that don’t let you see the image for what it really is...and trust me, from my other profession I also happen to know a little bit about creating illusions! Although it only takes a few degrees or inches to create an illusion, I have personally witnessed people taping swings from as much as 90 degrees off the required position. You see significantly different things from a camera facing the player as you do from a camera positioned to their side. To give you a medical analogy, if you had a sore arm and the technicians x-rayed your foot, would you feel that the pictures were going to tell you the real story? Would you trust the plan of action used to remedy the issue? Not likely. Let’s assume your camera angles are correct and you do find something wrong with your swing, do you know how to fix it? Finding a problem is often the easy part; finding the appropriate solution and correction is another. Sticking with the medical example above, if you had an arm that was obviously severely broken, the doctor would still take an x-ray. Is it to decide if it really is broken? No, it is to help establish any collateral damage that may have been done and create an accurate treatment option. It could mean surgery, pins, tissue repair, plates, casting or in extreme cases even amputation. The simple answer is that it was broken and both you and the doctor knew it; however it is the doctor’s specialized training that really helps you positively correct the situation. I am not suggesting that you abandon your personal video use all together, just be certain you use it appropriately. Ideally you should use it to augment your lesson program and monitor your progress along the way…it shouldn’t replace a teacher. Trevor Moore is a CPGA professional and a TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor (CGFI) with the Titleist Performance Institute. Based in Medicine Hat, he runs the Advantage Golf Academy at Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course, coaches the Medicine Hat College (ACAC) golf teams and is the lead instructor with Notre Dame Academy. For comments or questions, you can contact him via his "website(http://www.advantagegolf.ca)":http://www.advantagegolf.ca.
Golfers must do their part to prevent injury
Be good to your body and it will allow you to have a long, enjoyable golf season.
Get ready to play: Preventing injury early on is the key to a long and successful golf season. —Photo by Kris Lindblad
Early season injuries are more common than you may think, and in many cases, players have nobody to blame but themselves. Nobody in their right mind would strap on a pair of hockey skates for the first time each October, jump onto the ice with little to no stretching, fire 150 slap shots at an open net and then proceed to play a full 60-minute game. We are all well aware of the fact that it would require some conditioning to get ourselves in the shape we were in at the end of the prior season. Logic tells us that attempting to perform at a high level on day one would simply be a recipe for disaster. Why is it that golfers seem to think they are immune to this necessary muscle conditioning that all other sports just seem to accept as logical progression? Each and every spring I see numerous players step out and perform the golf equivalent of the scenario described above. They make the trek to the driving range, fail to stretch properly, hit three large baskets of balls with their driver and then peg it up for an 18-hole round immediately afterward. Does it surprise me that we see injuries every spring? No. What is surprising to me is that we don’t see more of them. When you blow the dust off your grass wrenches this season, consider implementing at least a few of the following common sense ideas: * Be sure to adequately warm up and stretch prior to each round and practice session. This is a great place to start; however you should also consider stretching at home between practice days. * Make sure your first few practice sessions focus on developing a sense of comfort, rhythm and feel. This is no time to work on that nagging slice or to attempt to gain a few extra yards off the tee with a driver. * Start your practice and warm up sessions on the putting green. Begin with some putts, progress to hitting some chip shots and then work your way up to some gentle short iron swings. * Before you make your way to the range, allot yourself a quota of golf balls for that specific practice session. Be sure to stick with an amount your body can comfortably handle and slowly grow into a full blown practice session over time. The temptation will always be there to hit just one more basket if you are hitting the ball really well or really poorly; it is important to resist temptation and know when to say when, so stick to your quota. * Your body is not ready to swing long irons or drivers of any kind at this point in the season. Take things slow the first few times out and hit only shorter irons. If you are not able to avoid temptation, simply leave the longer clubs at home when you head to the range. Getting your golf muscles back in shape takes time, so approach it more like a marathon than a sprint. Remember, nothing slows down early season progress like an injury.
Assess your clubs
The right clubs are essential for success
Boost your game: There are tips and tricks to make your hard work on the course pay off. —KPI file photo
Shooting lower scores does not begin and end with committing yourself to regular lessons, practice and playing time. You must be sure to assess your equipment and its role in the process or you will be fighting an uphill battle. If your clubs or set make-up do not complement your needs, then you may find your gains are modest in comparison to your efforts. Take note of the most common issues and ask yourself if you are guilty as well. Struggling with your putting stroke may be a direct result of a poorly fit putter. I would estimate that about 90 per cent of the students I work with are using putters that are too long. With an oversized putter, players are unable to get themselves into a good posture, and ultimately, posture is the foundation for solid stroke mechanics. h3. Solving the problem Players routinely overestimate their club head speed and in turn have shafts that are far too stiff for their game. Contrary to popular belief, a whippy shaft does not cause you to slice the ball. If you are searching for a stiffer shaft in an effort to straighten out your curve ball, you are heading down the wrong road. Get the appropriate shaft flex in your clubs—if that does not solve the problem, then you have swing issues that need to be addressed. Trying to solve your slicing problems with a stiffer shaft is like trying to spend your way out of debt. Decreasing the loft on your driver is not always the key to more distance. The loft you should have on your driver is relative to many factors and swing speed happens to be one of them. As I mentioned above, players are often very poor judges of their swing speed, causing them to take the wrong approach to loft. h3. A new perspective For players with high swing speeds, the lower loft strategy may be an appropriate method for squeezing out a few extra yards; however for lower speeds the reverse is often true. The best way to maximize your distance off the tee is to find a healthy blend of both carry and roll yardages. Most players do not carry the ball far enough in proportion to their roll yardages, and additional loft will help them find a better balance. Learning to hit half and three-quarter wedge shots are an important part of any well rounded game improvement plan. Unfortunately too many players are trying to learn these shots without having the correct equipment in their bags. Having one wedge is simply not enough; players should have a minimum of two wedges in their bag, with three or four being ideal. When purchasing your wedges, be sure that they are spaced out four degrees apart to generate nice tidy yardage gaps within your set. Having the correct equipment for your game will not reduce sweat and blisters on the driving range, but it will certainly make your efforts far more productive.
Keep it fun in the sun
Practical advice for sun safety.
Catching rays: The risks of sun exposure can be reduced with proper precautions.—Photo courtesy of Mieke Dusseldorp
A golfer can spend their entire day trying to avoid hazards; however the single biggest hazard of all is one that nobody is truly able to escape from. I am not talking about bunkers, water hazards, deep rough or trees; I am specifically taking aim at the sun. As golfers we are unable to eliminate the risks associated with long-term exposure to the sun’s harmful rays—but that does not mean we are powerless when it comes to reducing them. Virtually every golf bag today will contain sunscreen, and players are far more diligent in their efforts to apply it today than they have ever been. However, is it enough to carry it in your bag and apply it before you play? h3. Reapply frequently After much research on the Internet, I was surprised that I still make two key errors—and from experience I can tell you that the vast majority of players do as well. Consider the fact that a round of golf will take anywhere from four to six hours to play and the most highly sought after weekend tee times are in the mid-morning. This places many players out for extended periods during the peak sun and heat of the day. During these times the sun is at its hottest, and players are most vulnerable to its potentially damaging effects. It is not uncommon to see golfers applying sunscreen prior to play, but how many of those players will be reapplying later in their round? The simple answer is almost none. People often forget that the effectiveness of sunscreen diminishes the longer they are out in the sun, especially if they are sweating. When spending multiple hours in the sun, reapplying is almost as important as applying in the first place. The general rule of thumb would be to reapply every two hours, but that does not mean you need to be a clock watcher. Try to get yourself into the simple habit of applying on the first tee box and reapplying on the tenth tee box, as this will cover approximately a two hour time window. h3. Replace your sunscreen Be sure to replace the sunscreen in your bag on a regular basis, because it will typically lose its effectiveness over time. After thinking about this further, I began to realize, I can’t even remember when I bought the bottle that is currently in my bag; chances are it was far too long ago. If you apply an old product, you may be giving yourself a false sense of security. You can still get burnt quite badly if you apply something that is no longer providing you with the protection you believe it does. Occasionally you will hear of someone that is surprised at how badly they got burnt, even though they conscientiously applied the sunscreen as recommended. Utilizing sunscreen effectively may not stop you from burning the edge of the cup all day long but it certainly may stop you from burning your skin. Trevor Moore is a CPGA professional based in Medicine Hat. He runs the Advantage Golf Academy at Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course, and teaches golf at Notre Dame Academy as well. For comments or questions, you can contact him via "his website.( http://www.advantagegolf.ca)":http:// http://www.advantagegolf.ca
Reading greens
How to use educated guesses to anticipate breaks
Break potential: Putts can consist of obvious breaks, subtle breaks, or a combination of the two. —Photo courtesy of iStockphotos
Struggling to understand what your ball will do on the putting surface is a common problem; however a little education can go a long way toward putting you at ease. Golf greens are riddled with bumps, humps and various undulations which at times will create winding putts that are tough to make sense of. The curvature on a putt is called break—learning to read and understand the breaks on a green is an art form that confuses many. h3. Educated guesswork Reading greens is always a bit of a guessing game, but that doesn’t mean it should be an uneducated guess. Putts can consist of obvious breaks, subtle breaks, or a combination of the two. If you look at a putt and find that the direction of the slope is immediately identifiable, that is an obvious break; however if you are unsure of the direction it will break (or if it breaks at all) that would imply that there may be some subtle breaks in play. When you have a putt that consists of an obvious break, your job is not to determine which way it will break, but rather how much. Learning how much break to play comes with time and experience. h3. Factors to consider It is important to remember that the speed your ball is moving as it crosses the slope will have a dramatic impact on the amount of break that you need to accommodate. On a slope of identical severity, a ball that is moving slowly will curve more than one that is moving quickly. Based on this fact, you will find that the majority of a ball’s curvature will happen in the last third of a putt’s length, as the ball’s speed begins to bleed off. When dealing with subtle breaks you must become aware of your surroundings. Golf greens are never entirely flat because they are designed to shed water and avoid pooling in severe rain conditions. h3. Where the water flows There are always exceptions to the norm. When in doubt, consider the fact that golf courses prefer to utilize existing creeks, ponds and lakes for drainage purposes; therefore water will usually be moved toward any natural greenside water sources. In an effort to avoid pooling, greens are also generally designed to keep water flowing away from low lying areas like ditches or sand traps. Noting that the ball will break in the same direction as water would flow, will enable you to use your surroundings to form an educated guess on a putting surface that initially looks flat. Remember that it takes time to get comfortable with green reading. When hitting your next putt, be sure to make an educated guess, pick your line, commit to your choice and simply hit the putt. You will learn more from your committed attempts; indecisiveness will hinder your learning experience.
Making contact
Tips to help you increase your driving yardage
Pro at work: Golf pro, Rob Anderson, demonstrates what a balanced swing looks like.—Photo by Kris Lindblad
Tiger’s prodigious tee shots have created the perception for some that the key to shooting better golf scores lies in one’s ability to overpower the course. This is not the case, however. Don’t get me wrong—a little added length certainly wouldn’t hurt anyone’s game. It would simply be careless of me as an instructor to focus solely on hitting the ball further. h3. Short game fundamentals The way Tiger launches the ball into orbit makes it easy to forget that he has a short game that is as sharp as a razor. Before you try to work on increasing your yardage be sure to direct some of your resources toward the development of your short game fundamentals. Lecture over; now let’s get back to the fun stuff: hitting it further! For the sake of the information in this column let us assume that your equipment specs match your swing needs. There is a list of potential equipment issues that could be limiting your distance gains and experience tells me that this is often a part of the problem. h3. Keep it simple I am also not going to delve into specific mechanical swing flaws because there are simpler things we should tackle first. Let’s start by taking a simple look at the physics behind hitting it further. The faster you swing the club the more club head speed you generate, and this increased club head speed translates to longer shots—sort of. Making solid contact in the middle of the club is an important part of the equation; the closer you hit the ball to the centre of the clubface the further the ball will fly. Inversely, the further from the middle of the clubface you contact the ball, the shorter it will fly. In most cases the sad reality is that players swing faster only to see their ball contact get worse. The math is simple—a 10 per cent increase in swing speed combined with a 20 per cent decrease in power due to poor contact, equals a net loss of 10 per cent in yardage. Bottom line, swinging harder only pays off if your contact remains solid. h3. A solid recommendation What would I recommend you do to improve the quality of your contact? The answer is simple: place an emphasis on balance in your swing. Balance creates stability, allowing you to deliver the solid part of the club to the ball more often. This will have an instant impact on your distance and allow you to maximize the power you currently generate. A general rule of thumb is that you should start and finish your swing in a balanced position. Spend some time on the range working on holding your finish for a full three seconds after each shot. It may seem like an easy task, but you will be surprised how many players are not able to do it. With some focused time and effort on the range, you should see both your balance and ball contact improve, and distance gains will naturally follow.
Take it one step at a time
Precision on the course outweighs brute strength
Go for accuracy: If this fairway were narrow or heavily punctuated by technical hazards, this golfer might opt for using his fairway woods instead of his driver, and play the course with precision and restraint. —Photo by Jeffrey Cooper
Tiger Woods’ two-stroke victory in the 135th Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in the summer of 2006 could not have surprised anyone; however, the same cannot be said for how he pulled off the victory. Tiger Woods has long been seen as the poster child for the modern golfer. He is one of the longer drivers on the PGA Tour and has the ability to tear courses apart—and players for that matter—by overpowering them with prodigious tee shots. Royal Liverpool, at slightly more than 7,200 yards, was not exactly a long golf course by PGA Tour standards. The par 72 layout should have given Woods numerous opportunities to smash long drives and allow him to attack the pins with short iron approaches. That is, after all, what the prototypical modern golfer of today would do, right? Wrong—Woods attacked the course with surgical precision rather than brute strength. He hit the overwhelming majority of his tee shots with either his three wood or two iron. As a matter of fact, he only used his driver once over the course of the entire 72-hole tournament. Woods obviously placed an emphasis on accuracy, not distance, and the statistics prove it. Make the game simpler for you to play by employing Tiger’s Open Championship game plan. Place a larger emphasis on hitting the fairway at all costs. This will mean sacrificing distance by using your fairway woods, hybrids or long irons more, and your driver less. Deciding to employ this game plan is one thing; being patient enough to stick with it is another. Don’t be sucked in by your playing partners’ long drives; simply lull them to sleep with safe plays and a consistent mindset. This game plan worked for Tiger Woods and it will for you. Woods simply focused on safely advancing the golf ball around the course by hitting fairways, avoiding bunkers, and placing the ball on or around the greens. His short game is what allowed him to relax and put his game on cruise control. Hitting more controlled tee shots will help your scorecard slightly, but placing an emphasis on your short game—both chipping and putting—will improve your card in leaps and bounds. The next time you go out for a round, think and play like Tiger Woods. Hit the fairway, advance it to the green, make a few putts, and the rest is simple. The only thing left to do is collect your winnings from your long-driving playing partners!
Juniors need to be given time to learn
Etiquette is best learned from example
Formative years: Young golfers are the future of the great game of golf.—
With the school year coming to a close golf courses will soon be flooded with junior golfers. Their presence at the course makes some golfers cringe, and the general attitude towards youth is often pessimistic. Some players view junior golfers as an inconsiderate, immature and disrespectful bunch. Negative opinions do vary in severity, but nevertheless they are very present. Young players are often treated as a nuisance, similar to a seagull at a family picnic. It is important to understand that the children of today are the future of this great game. They are the ones that ultimately become responsible for passing on its rich history, tradition and enjoyment. Juniors will become the next golf consumers and golf course users, and will represent the sustainability of the game. I am not going to tell you that they are all angels on the golf course, in fact, often far from it. I made etiquette mistakes, my friends made mistakes, and likely many of you did as well. The learning curve is steep and often a very daunting task. Etiquette is tough to teach through lectures, books and discussions. It is much easier to learn in a situational setting, one that is only available while on the course playing the game. Etiquette rules can sometimes be vague at best. We must not expect players to come into this sport with a complete understanding of all that is required of them. Simply put, learning etiquette is done best through trial and error. Juniors rarely make mistakes on the golf course out of disrespect. It is usually a case of simply not knowing any better. Working with juniors regularly myself, it is amazing what they will pick up on, if only given the chance. When you see a youngster making a mistake, turning away and grumbling about it will help nobody. Take the time to pull the player aside, explain the situation, and offer a suggestion for next time. Encouragement is often all that is needed. Never assume that they know better and are simply ignoring the rules. Many adults don’t even know or understand all the rules. Consider how you figured out the etiquette of the game, likely from a parent, older sibling or by learning from your mistakes. Showing support to juniors will help them—and ultimately the game—grow. Do your part to help mentor the juniors around your club. Many of them only need a pat on the back, some patience and understanding, and a little encouragement.
Getting on the right track
A lesson on proper alignment techniques
In the pin: When taking a shot, make sure your clubface is aimed at your target while your body is aligned parallel to the target line.—photo courtesy Windermere Valley Golf Course
A technically sound golf swing and a solid game plan will both go to waste if your body and clubface are not aiming appropriately when you start your swing. Each and every day I watch players struggle with alignment issues on the lesson tee. Most of these struggles are simply because the student misunderstands the entire concept of aiming and aligning; essentially they fall victim to myth. Golfers are routinely told to visualize a line being drawn across their feet, with the thought being that if they are lined up properly then this line should point directly toward their target. This myth couldn't be further from the truth, so please allow me to clear up the entire concept for you. The first thing you must do prior to hitting a shot is locate your target line. What exactly is a target line you ask? It is essentially the term used to describe the imaginary line that exists between your golf ball and its intended target. Once you locate this line you are ready to begin with the aiming process. You start by setting up for your shot by placing your club on the ground behind the ball. Once you get it in place, take time to ensure that the clubface is aiming directly at the target. Once you are done aiming the clubface, you are now ready to begin setting your body lines in place. Body lines are simply the imaginary lines you would draw across your feet, knees, hips or shoulders. Your body lines should all be aligned so that they run parallel to the target line. Imagine for a moment that this process was happening on a set of railway tracks. The far rail would represent your target line, and it would have the club, ball and flagstick on it. You would then place both feet on the near rail and it would represent your body lines. This image should help emphasize the fact that your clubface aims at your target, while your body is aligned parallel to the target line. The body lines never actually point at the target; in reality they will point somewhere slightly to the left of it, for a right-handed player. If you want to ensure that your game improvement is on track, consider looking at it on a shot-by-shot basis. Proper alignment may just be the answer to some of your problems.
Beat the heat
Hot weather may present the greatest hazard in the game of golf
Slick shades: A hat and sunglasses will help to keep the direct sunlight off your face and head.—
Sand traps, trees, rough, ponds and streams are not the only hazards you face when playing golf in the excessive heat of the summer. Dehydration can and should be a major concern for all of us on the golf course. It is not only a health issue—if severe enough—but a performance issue as well. Allowing your body to become even moderately dehydrated will cause a slight decrease in body weight. Anytime you lose weight due to dehydration you will suffer from a broad range of symptoms—including fatigue and lack of mental clarity—which will ultimately lead to inflated golf scores. Advance planning is an important part of staying hydrated on the golf course. Be sure to dress appropriately: avoid dark colours and wear a hat or cap to keep the direct sunlight off your face and head. Your body is unable to absorb fluids as quickly as it depletes them so you must give it a running start by pre-hydrating yourself. Try to build up your fluid levels the night prior to playing as well as the morning of your round by consuming several large glasses of water. Once you head to the course continue to keep up with your pre-hydration efforts; routinely drink water while hitting range balls, putting and preparing for your day. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they actually accelerate dehydration, which is what you are trying to avoid in the first place. If you absolutely must partake, I suggest doing so in moderation—you need to become more mindful of your body’s fluid needs and ensure you drink water periodically between drinks. Continuously consuming water by sipping it all day long has proven to be more advantageous than guzzling several large drinks a couple of times during the day. This means that you must sip water constantly even when you are not yet feeling thirsty. By the time your body triggers you to feel thirsty it is too late; your body and your game are already beginning to feel the impairment of the heat. It is commonly suggested that we consume between four and eight ounces of water every 15 minutes while actively performing in the sun and heat. It is also suggested that you supplement your water consumption by ingesting an occasional sports drink to help replace the electrolytes your body loses while sweating. Dehydration and excessive exposure to the heat and sun can become dangerous, leading to heat stroke, coma or even death. Be sure to educate yourself and identify the early warning signs. Exhaustion, headache, nausea and dizziness are just a few keys that indicate it may be time to pack it in for the day. A trip to the clubhouse is much better than a trip to the hospital. In order to perform to your potential you must keep your body and mind feeling strong, and it all begins with hydration.
Setting a plan in place
Consider using some of your down time to create a personal golf journal.
Making progress: Setting goals and establishing a timeline gives you a way to monitor your progress at various stages of the golf season.—
As any golfer will attest, disappointment is always potentially around the next corner. This time of the year, a golfer’s disappointments are more often associated with the weather than they are with poor rounds of golf, missed putts or poor golf shots. Using your time wisely is not solely weather dependent. Consider using some of your down time to create a personal golf journal. You will find that a journal can be a useful tool for recording your golf rounds during the season, golf scores, swing thoughts and keys, a practice log, and most importantly, goals. Goal setting is an essential part of any improvement plan. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t know where you are intending to go, how do you know when you get there?” Setting goals and establishing a timeline gives you a way to monitor your progress at various stages of the golf season. If you are achieving your desired results, you will be able to identify them instantly. And if the desired results do not follow, this allows you an opportunity to revise your future practice plans, and massage your progress back on track. I suggest that the first page of your journal contain the answers to these three questions as honestly and in as much detail as possible: Where is my golf game today? Highlight your strong and weak areas and provide examples, details and statistics as often as you can to support your assessment; Where do I want my golf game to be, and when do I want it to be there? Provide long and short-term goals for yourself, and set a timeline for those goals. This gives you a measuring stick and helps you decide when it is time to revise an old plan or start a new one; How do I intend to get there? List the instructional options you wish to use, and how. How many lessons and how often, are you going to use training tools, magazines, books, etc. Emphasis needs to be placed on writing the answers to these questions down in the journal. Experience shows me that golfers are more likely to follow through on their plans if they are written down. Writing your goals down in the front page of your journal provides you with a chance to review your goals prior to each practice session, and will present you with a constant reminder to remain committed and accountable to your plans. Begin your golf journal now while the weather is poor and unpredictable. If you wait until the weather improves, you will be more likely to put it off and hit range balls instead. And would someone please forward this column to Mother Nature—I think she needs to put a plan in place and stick with it!
Pain, no gain
Highlighting the importance of warming up and stretching before games
Words of wisdom: Consider hitting the range prior to playing.—
Golf is not what you would consider to be a high impact sport like soccer, football, hockey or lacrosse, however it does not mean injuries aren't present. I see numerous golf injuries each year, many of which may have been prevented with proper warm-up and stretching. Warm-up and stretching is an important part of golf and it provides a variety of benefits to you and your game. Not only can stretching decrease your risk of injury, it can improve your overall athletic performance, as well as increase your general body strength and flexibility. You will often see golfers heading straight out to the range each spring, only to grab their driver and immediately start swinging for the fences. This sight is not only limited to the driving range. Golfers often head straight from paying their green fees at the pro shop counter, to teeing the ball up on the first hole. Both situations are simply accidents waiting to happen, and believe me they do more often than you would think. To those golfers that do not stretch at all, consider this. You have likely not swung a golf club in five months, your body is stiff, your flexibility is poor and your muscle strength is likely not what it was at the close of last season. Mix that with a less than smooth swing technique, a driver, and you are simply playing with fire. It is often not a case of if injuries will happen it is more a case of when they will happen. To the avid player that does take the time to stretch, be aware of some seasonal factors that are present. Firstly, the weather is usually not as warm as it would be in mid-season and secondly, your muscles are likely tight due to lack of use. These factors both require a slightly slower, yet longer, warm-up period. Consider hitting the range prior to playing and begin by hitting shots with some shorter clubs first and save the driver for the golf course. Take my word for it, if you miss playing golf during the winter months when the course is closed, you will certainly miss it infinitely more when you are forced to stop playing due to injury during the prime season when the weather is great and the courses lush.
Selecting your golf ball
Here are some helpful pointers on how to find the perfect golf ball
Need help?: A golf professional at the pro shop can suggest a ball that suits your game, budget, preferences and your ability level.—Photo by Tanya Laing Gahr
Does playing the same golf ball as Tiger Woods mean an improved golf game? Through the power and appeal of marketing, every manufacturer today would like you to believe that if their product is good enough for the best players in the world, it surely must be good enough for you. The golf ball can be an important part of your golf equipment, and the decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. Selecting the correct golf ball for your game can be difficult, but breaking it down to a few important considerations will make the task much simpler and ultimately far more effective for you and your game. To the beginning golfers that read my column, you need not read any further than this paragraph. A golf ball will only respond and react as consistently as the person swinging the club; therefore, you will lose many more strokes each round to pilot error than you will to improper golf ball selection. This makes it very difficult to select a golf ball that will enhance your performance. Your decision should be based on value alone. Get as many balls as you can, for the least amount of money. Start by shopping for large volume value packs, or recycled balls. However, as your golf game progresses, you will begin to show signs of consistency, as well as an increased sense of feel. You’ll begin to see some tendencies and develop some preferences for how your golf ball should feel and respond when you hit it. It is at this point that your golf ball decisions become more important to your game. When shopping for balls consider the following: Price – it is important to select a golf ball that you can afford to play and even more importantly, one that you can afford to lose. Major manufacturers make a variety of golf ball models so be sure to choose one that fits into your target price range. If the cost of losing a golf ball bothers you, you are undoubtedly paying too much; Needs – do some brainstorming about you, your game and your preferences. Figure out what you require your golf ball to do for you. Do you lack distance? Do you require a softer feel around the greens? Do you like a ball that spins more or one that spins less? Knowing what you want out of your ball is an important key to finding the ball that will give you what you want; Research – use the resources that are available to you. Search manufacturer websites, or consider asking your teacher or club professional. They will be able to suggest a ball that suits your game, budget, preferences and your ability level. Still confused? Don’t fret…at the end of the day it is far more important to select a ball and commit to playing that same ball, all season, than it is to select the perfect ball. With golf balls displaying various playing characteristics—spin rates, carry distances, feel—it is tough to play consistently when your ball is reacting inconsistently. During your quest for the perfect golf ball, remember that Tiger Woods ultimately uses a golf ball that is built for him. So to improve your golf game, work on buying a golf ball that is built for you!
Swing into fall
Advance planning is important for late season golfing
Dress for success: The temperature can fluctuate dramatically, so when getting dressed for the day be sure to put clothing on in layers.—
As we head into late September it is important to remember that in spite of falling leaves, morning frost and early sunsets, we still have some great golf left. For a variety of reasons fall happens to be my favourite time of the year to play golf. The mild temperatures are a relaxing change in comparison to the stifling heat we deal with in the summer. The courses are still in reasonably good shape, fall green fee specials are in effect, and nothing beats a quiet golf course that is not packed wall to wall with players and tournaments. In order to make the most of your late season rounds you need to plan and prepare in advance. The temperature can fluctuate dramatically over the course of an hour and you must be able to adapt quickly, so when getting dressed for the day be sure to put clothing on in layers. This will give you an opportunity to remove or replace layers on an ongoing basis. Start with a long-sleeved golf shirt or turtleneck, followed by a vest, sweater or fleece, and finally cover it all up with a light jacket or wind shirt. If you find your body temperature warming up, try to anticipate the removal of a clothing layer. Once you find yourself sweating—even lightly—it is too late to remove a layer. The moisture you generate will make it difficult for your body to sufficiently warm up and you will suffer the chills for the remainder of the round. Be aware of the cooler conditions that are present, and spend a little more time on your warm-up and stretching routine prior to play. Periodic stretching is important throughout your round as well, so do some light stretches and walk briskly to your ball to help keep you loose and limber. If you regularly ride a power cart, have your playing partner take over driving the last 15 yards to your ball—this will allow you a brief moment to get the old blood pumping again and keep you warm. The hardest thing to do during a round in the cold is maintain your feel for putting and chipping. Be sure to pack a pair of gloves in your bag so that you can wear them between shots, while walking or riding the cart. The warmer your hands are the better sense of touch and feel you will have on and around the greens. Getting yourself prepared in advance is the key to fully enjoying the day. If the only rake you pick up this fall is used for the leaves in your yard, you are missing out on a great opportunity—even if it does involve raking the sand trap behind you.