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Golf News November 15th, 2008

Stanford Leads Lorena Ochoa Invitational

Angela Stanford shot a 6-under 66 on Friday in the second round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational to take a two-stroke lead over LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng.

Stanford had a 10-under 134 total on the Guadalajara Country Club course. Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa, shot her second straight 68. Ochoa followed her opening 73 with a 71 on her home course, leaving her 10 strokes back.

Meena Lee (69) was 6 under, and Karen Stupples (71) was 5 under. Annika Sorenstam (72), leaving the tour at the end of the season, was 4 under in group that included Juli Inkster (69) and Seon Hwa Lee (72).

Golf News

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ELS EASES INTO LEAD

Ernie Els took over at the top of the leaderboard after finishing his first round at the Barclays Singapore Open this morning with two birdies in his final three holes.

The South African trailed clubhouse leader Lam Chih Bing of Singapore by one stroke with four holes to play when darkness ended play at Sentosa Golf Club yesterday evening with half of the field yet to complete their opening rounds.

The ‘Big Easy’ spurned an opportunity to draw level with Lam on four under when he missed a birdie putt on the 15th with his first stroke of the day.

But birdies at the 16th and 18th saw Els card a five-under-par 66 as he moved into first place in the US dollars 5million Asian Tour event.

“I’m pleased with that,” said Els. “I putted nicely and hit the ball okay.

“It’s not an easy course. If you miss shots, you’ll pay the price. I felt comfortable with the swing and I’m pretty pleased with the start.

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Golf Swing Lessons

Golf pushes today for spot in 2016 Olympics

GENEVA | Leaders of several sports, including golf, will present their cases today to the International Olympic Committee, hoping for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games.

Besides golf, officials from baseball, softball, karate, roller sports, rugby and squash also will meet the 16-member program commission, which will deliver an influential report to the IOC’s top decision- making body before the vote by IOC members in October.

The IOC will field 28 sports at the 2016 Olympics, allowing two sports to be added.

Each sport has a one-hour slot, with baseball making the first pitch in the closed-door presentations in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The case for golf, last played at the Olympics in 1904, will be presented by the International Golf Federation. It’s led by PGA executive Ty Votaw and Peter Dawson of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland.

Golf Practice

Golf News November 14th, 2008

golf news

British Open to move to ESPN

All four rounds of the British Open will air live on ESPN starting in 2010.

ESPN and the tournament’s organizer, Royal & Ancient Golf, agreed to an eight-year contract, they announced Thursday. The deal also includes digital coverage and expanded rights for ESPN International.

Same-day highlights will air on ESPN’s broadcast partner, ABC, over the weekend. Through the 2009 event, British Open coverage is split between TNT and ABC.

“It is all important to The R&A that we preserve the traditions of The Open Championship while at the same time ensuring that golf fans are able to enjoy modern state-of-the-art coverage of the event,” chief executive Peter Dawson said.

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Lorena Ochoa

Ochoa Shoots 73 In Hometown Tournament

Lorena Ochoa struggled Thursday in the first round in her own Lorena Ochoa Invitational, shooting a 1-over 73 on her home course to drop five strokes behind Annika Sorenstam and the other leaders.

“I can’t say I’m happy because I’m not, but I’m feel like I can get closer. I hope to do it tomorrow,” said Ochoa, who took up the game 21 years ago at Guadalajara Country Club. “It’s a good pressure to play here, to feel the good vibes, and the love of my fans. I feel motivated because I know that we have three more days to play.”

LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa and ahead of Sorenstam, topped the leaderboard at 68 along with Sorenstam, Angela Stanford, Karen Stupples, Seon Hwa Lee, Nicole Castrale, Hee-Won Han and Brittany Lang.

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No. 2 Garcia now aims at major win, Tiger

Sergio Garcia’s playoff victory over Oliver Wilson in the HSBC Champions gave the Spaniard a career-high No. 2 world ranking.

He also has some unfinished business after passing Phil Mickelson in the rankings – winning his first major and, even more difficult, challenging Tiger Woods for No. 1.

“I think my next goal is trying to win a major,” Garcia said Monday after making a 7-foot birdie on the second playoff hole – the par-5 18th – after Wilson missed a 10-footer. “Well, we’ve been trying for quite a while.

“Attacking No. 1 probably depends a little bit on how much he takes off and if I keep playing well,” Garcia added. “It’s possible, mainly because he’s been injured. … I’ve never been this close to No. 1, so it’s exciting to be there.”

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golf dvd

Golf News November 12th, 2008

One win puts Love at 20 and into Hall of Fame light

So much for that notion the Fall Series on the PGA Tour is meaningless.

On the surface, Davis Love III winning at Disney might have looked that way.

He scrambled for pars on the last two holes to hold off a rookie (Tommy Gainey) who was 228th on the money list, wears two gloves and looks like he’s trying to kill a snake every time he swings. When it was over, Love posed with a bronze trophy of Mickey Mouse playing golf (just think of the white elephant gift nobody will take off your hands).

But that one victory was enough to change the perception of Love.

Timing is everything.

He won the final event of a season in which Love struggled to return from a devastating ankle injury last October that kept him out of golf for four months, out of the Masters and off another Ryder Cup team. And his victory came one day before the induction ceremony for the World Golf Hall of Fame.

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Golf Clubs

PGA chips in more cash

The PGA Tour released its schedule for the 2009 regular season yesterday, with 25 tournaments featuring purses of at least $6 million US and a newly configured “Texas swing” of three events in the spring.

Still to be determined are details on a revamped FedEx Cup, and whether to take a week off before the Tour Championship.

Once that it is decided, the Tour said it would release the rest of its Fall Series schedule.

By announcing the majority of the schedule, the Tour put to rest speculation that some tournaments might be in jeopardy because of the economy. The title sponsors are under contract at least through 2010, and most of them have slight increases in prize money built into their agreements.

Among those that kept prize money the same were the FBR Open and Travelers Championship, both at $6 million.

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Golf Swing Lessons

Garcia Wins The Vardon Trophy

With the PGA Tour season officially over, it’s now official: Sergio Garcia has won the Vardon Trophy, the first European-born winner since 1937 to have the lowest adjusted scoring average.

Garcia played 72 rounds with an adjusted average of 69.12, overtaking Phil Mickelson (69.17) at the Tour Championship. Anthony Kim finished third at 69.28.

The last European-born winner was Harry “Lighthorse” Cooper in 1937, the first year of the award when it was based on points. Tiger Woods was not eligible because it requires 60 rounds, and Woods only played 25 before he was injured.

Padraig Harrington wrapped up the points-based PGA player of the year award after winning the PGA Championship, which came with a 50-point bonus for winning two majors in one year. Harrington, who also won the British Open, finished with 116 points to finish ahead of Woods, who had 78 points in six events.

An architect among 6 inducted to golf Hall of Fame

Pete Dye, who designed more than 120 courses with risk-and-reward options that brought pleasure to some and frustration to most, was among six people inducted Monday night into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 2008 class featured an amateur, an architect and an author, along with three major champions.

Craig Wood was the only player elected through the PGA Tour ballot. Wood, the first player to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year and the first to lose all four majors in extra holes, received the minimum 65 percent of the vote.

Three-time major champion Denny Shute and Bob Charles, the first left-hander to win a major, got in through the Veteran’s category.

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Break 80 Golf

Golf News Part 2 | November 10th, 2008

Golf Cart

This golfing gear keeps you out of the rough

It’s always golf season somewhere, so these goodies will always have a place in your bag:

1: This “Spectator” argyle vest is a golf fashion classic. $138 at www.peppermintpalm.com.

2: Golf belt by Ame & Lulu has space to carry three tees. $30 at www.ameandlulu.com.

3: Adidas women’s Torsion Euro II golf shoes have a two-year waterproof warranty. $110 at www.golfshoesplus.com.

4: Kali hybrid head cover and bamboo pink absorbent towel. $14.99 each at Golf Galaxy stores or www.golfgalaxy.com.

5: If you can’t wait for the 19th hole, take along the Lolita Purse Party, a four-ounce flask and a one-ounce martini glass. $29.95 at www.jurgeninc.com.

Crystal Announces Its First-Ever Asia Golf Itinerary

Luxury specialist Crystal Cruises is expanding its “Experiences of Discovery” Golf theme cruises into Asia, giving golf enthusiasts the rare opportunity to play at four world-renowned courses in Thailand and Vietnam. Guests will be able to sharpen their skills on board and ashore with instruction from a guest celebrity golfer and PGA golf pro. Crystal Symphony’s 11-day itinerary from Hong Kong to Singapore offers a roster of onboard lectures, clinics, contests and events, including the chance to win a free Crystal cruise.

Every detail of the Crystal Golf Program is arranged in six-star fashion, from onboard practice with TaylorMade equipment — the No. 1 driver on the PGA Tour — to cocktails, caddy and cart service on the greens. Complimentary cleaning and storage of golf clubs and golf shoes will be offered after each round.

Courses include:
* Vietnam Golf & Country Club, Ho Chi Minh City — The country’s first
36-hole golf club, widely regarded as the premier club in Vietnam;
* Burapha Golf, Bangkok — A 36-hole championship course set amid lakes,
hills and tropical vegetation;
* Laem Chabang International Country Club, Bangkok — Three distinct
nines: The Lakes, Mountain and Valley courses, each offering its
one-of-kind challenges, and
* Montgomerie, Da Nang, Vietnam — Asia’s first “Montgomerie”
branded golf set against the Marble Mountains and China Beach
coast.

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Couple takes shot at golf apparel, lessons

Tyler and Kelly Kangas invested about $200,000 to open Alternate Golf Shot at 4680 Cooper Road.

Co-owner Kelly Kangas says the 3,500-square-foot business will sell golf apparel for men, women and children. The apparel as well as golf shoes run from $40 to $350.

The store also sells name-brand equipment for all ages, including golf clubs, bags, travel bags, balls, gloves, caps and more. Those items can sell for $10 to $1,200.

The store includes a golf simulator that allows a person to play a virtual 18-hole round of golf on courses from around the world, including Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.

The golf simulator also can be used for game improvement, club fittings and video lessons.

Tyler Kangas, a professional golfer for 20 years, teaches 45-minute golf lessons that run $30-$55 for adults and $15-$35 for children.

Contact: 513-979-4395 or go to www.alternategolfshot.com

Golf Lesson

PGA and LPGA Professionals to offer help during PGA Free Lesson Month

People across the United States have an opportunity to improve their golf game throughout the month of May by participating in Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month.

As a part of the 11th annual event, thousands of PGA and LPGA Professionals at golf facilities across the nation will offer free, 10-minute golf lessons to new and existing golfers of all ages and skill levels. Launched in 1998 by The PGA of America and Golf Digest, PGA Free Lesson Month has provided more than 820,000 personal sessions for player development throughout the past 10 years.

Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month is designed to bring new people to the sport and help existing golfers improve their game with free instruction. Consumers can find updated lists of participating PGA and LPGA Professionals nearby by entering their zip code at PlayGolfAmerica.com.

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Golf Practice

Golf News November 10th, 2008

Golf

Garcia targets majors after Sheshan triumph

SPAIN’S Sergio Garcia won the US$5 million HSBC Champions in Shanghai yesterday to become world No. 2 and immediately targeted a victory at one of golf’s major tournaments next year.

Garcia beat Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff. The Spanish star made a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th ?? the only hole used for the playoff at Sheshan Golf Club ?? after the Englishman missed a 10-footer.

The 28-year-old Spaniard overhauled American Phil Mickelson to claim the title of the best active player in the world.

“It’s awesome, it’s great, it’s something extra for the year,” he said of claiming the second ranking behind the injured world No. 1 Tiger Woods.

“I think next goal is trying to win a major,” he added. “Well, been trying for quite a while, but winning a major would be the next goal.

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Online Golf Lessons

Top 25 Nationwide Tour Players Earn PGA TOUR Cards for 2009 Season

Twenty-five Nationwide Tour
players were awarded 2009 PGA TOUR cards last night following the
Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch.

Transitions Optical, Inc., the PGA TOUR’s newest official marketing
partner, hosted a celebratory toast and post-card ceremony party to honor
the players for their achievement.

“This class adds to the Nationwide Tour’s strong tradition of
transitioning players to the PGA TOUR and having a significant impact once
they get there,” said Bill Calfee, Nationwide Tour President. “With
Nationwide Tour alumni amassing 237 wins on the PGA TOUR, we look forward
to seeing one in the winner’s circle at the Transitions Championship next
spring,” he added.

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Junior Golf Tour Attracting National and International Players to North Carolina Junior Golf Tournaments. Tarheel Jr. Golf Tour Looks Like a National Junior Golf Tour.

The Tarheel Golf Foundation’s new Tarheel Junior Tour promises to be one of the most competitive in the country. With a membership list that includes multiple winners of American Junior Golf Association, AJGA, Allstars Junior Tour, Future Collegian World Tour, FCWT, National Junior Golf Club, NJGC, TGTJT, Future Masters, Callaway Junior World Championship and US Kids Golf tournaments. The tour has recieved membership requests from junior golfers from multiple states and inquiries from other countries. “We have a very stong list of members and exceptional golf courses convenently located to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Events scheduled for golf courses in Pinehurst and at several leading unversity golf courses have been drawing inquiries from international players,” stated TGF Tournament Operations Director. “Our intent and focus is to create a high value junior tour for North Carolina’s junior golfers. The fact that the tour may at times look like a national junior golf tour, or even an international junior golf tour, verifies our belief that some of the best junior golfers in the world are North Carolina boys and girls. The potential for global fields at some events enriches the experience for our local players.”

Lessons for Golf

Golf Tips and Lessons November 15th, 2008

Gate Drill can help your putting | Golf Tips

Lessons for Golf

Here is an oldie but goodie drill for putting that is making a big comeback, thanks to a company called Momentus. They make many well-made teaching aids for golfers of all abilities and ages.

This one is called the gate drill. If you don’t want to pay the $50 fee for the device itself, you can make your own for with some supplies you most likely already have.

Pictured on the left is a simple practice putting station with two golf tees and a string representing your line to the hole. On the right is the Momentus teaching aid that does the same thing.

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Gimmies take away satisfaction of making putt for birdie

Golf Lesson

You’re playing with your regular foursome and hit a great iron shot up onto the green with your ball landing only two feet from the hole.

What do most weekend players do next? They walk up and knock the ball away, giving themselves the putt either before or after their partner said, “that’s good.”

Not only did you break a rule, but you’ll never know if you actually would have made the putt.

You’ll forever lose the satisfaction of making a real birdie since you didn’t actually putt the ball in the hole.

Golfers do this everywhere, on every course, and they’re breaking the rules every time they do it.

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Golf tips from a pro

Golf

There is not much movement needed to make short putts, but we often leave the green with a sour taste because we miss one too many of them. The problem is we get so caught up in mechanics, that we forget how simple they really are.

The best way to start to make more short putts is to practice them and learn to free your mind. I’m going to give you a few drills and games that you can do to improve your putting.

* Place six tees surrounding the hole, about 2 feet from the hole. Play a putt from each spot until you can make them all in a row a couple of times. Then try to make them with your eyes closed. Listen, too. Hearing the ball going in the hole will help to build your confidence.

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Golf tips: getting the kids started

It is definitely a great idea to get your kid or kids started out in this great game early and correctly.

It teaches them so many wonderful things like self control, honor, respect, teamwork, problem solving and the list goes on, and on.

Your child does not have to be the next great thing in the game, just get them started and just watch what happens.

You do not have to go to the golf course to work on this game with kids. Keep it fun, I would suggest getting them to enjoy putting first. Any decent simulated putting green will be fine.

Once they learn some basic rules and etiquette start taking them to your nearest driving range or par-three golf course to learn the full swing and how to play the game. If you are not sure of the basics yourself, get the “summary of the rules of golf” for juniors from the USGA or PGA. Your local pro can help you. Good luck and keep it simple.

Golf News November 11th, 2008

Callaway wins court order over golf ball patent

CARLSBAD, California: Callaway Golf said it has won a court order permanently halting sales of Acushnet Co.’s Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, which Callaway argued infringed on patents that it holds.

Acushnet said it will appeal the ruling, and has converted production of the golf balls so that they are outside the patents in question.

Callaway said late Monday that the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, has granted the company’s request for a permanent injunction on sales of Acushnet’s current line of the Titleist Pro V1 balls, effective no later than Jan. 1. At Callaway’s request, professional golfers will be allowed to use the balls through the end of this year.

The court also rejected a request from Acushnet to overturn a jury’s December 2007 ruling in favor of Callaway in the patent dispute.

Golf Clubs

Celebrity Golfers play the green at Shell Landing

“The more putts you make the more fun you have,” joked Fred Hooter, a pro golfer from Louisiana.

His theory wouldn’t help anyone win an average round of golf, but today at Shell landing, the rules were different. The pros were taking advantage of a day where the competition was low, and the scores didn’t matter. It’s a drastic change from a regular tour, which ended Sunday.

“Today you get to have fun. When you’re playing for real it’s like your office. You don’t get to have any fun when you’re in your office and when your’e working,” said PGA pro golfer Woody Austin. “It’s very rare when you get to have fun when you’re working. But today its all about fun.”

Golf Swing Tips

Exclusive Yellowstone Club files for bankruptcy as Wall Street’s woes hit elite retreat

The Yellowstone Club, an exclusive mountain retreat for the ultra-rich, said it filed for bankruptcy Monday after failing to secure new financing — underscoring that even the elite can’t escape the country’s current economic troubles.

Spokesman Bill Keegan said the club filed for Chapter 11 protection in federal bankruptcy court in Montana. The move came just two months after the club announced an ambitious expansion plan through a partnership with the Arizona-based Discovery Land Company.

The gated, millionaires-only club on 13,400 acres in Montana’s Gallatin Mountains boasts a private ski hill and golf course. Opened in 1999, it counts former Vice President Dan Quayle and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates among its 340 members.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the club said it had been unable to secure financing arrangements with its creditors and bondholders. It plans to reorganize its finances and emerge from bankruptcy “as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Golf Pro Shop

All golfers no matter their abilities, from amateur to professional, continuously seek to drop golf scores by one or two strokes. For most, it is a never ending commitment to practice, driving on the range, and practice sessions spent with a golf professional. For golf enthusiasts seeking guidance, there are several easy insider’s secrets you can implement that can significantly improve your golf score.

Begin with with your swing. A sage bit advice is to try to develop a good sense of rhythm in accordance to your swing and golf game. There are plenty of golfers who get themselves into a bad rhythm simply because they rush themselves through their swing. Slow it down and you gain more control over the club face with determines the direction of the ball goes[/spin]. The truth is by taking your time and developing a steady swing it can save you on those poorly hit shots, thus saving you a stroke or two.

Many golf rounds are ruined by bad putting. The second piece of advice to shave some strokes off your golf game is to change your putter to one that is more suitable to your tempo and swing. Many times golfers tend to use a putter that is either too light or too heavy for them. This can lead to either over hitting or under hitting the golf clubs on the putting green, not to mention what it does to your line of the put. That is why the putter of choice for many golfers is a belly putter, it’s a putter with an extended shaft that pokes the golfer’s belly, they’re able to regulate their putting stroke better since the weight distribution is so much better.

When playing golf, you should also use the right tees to enhance your performance. A lot of beginners achieve better results when they use a tee that positions the golf clubs higher from the ground. This can help the golf player who needs that extra height get off a clean drive without worrying about hitting the turf.

Prior to beginning a round of golf, make sure you are properly outfitted for the game. Start with a good pair of golf shoes so your feet not only feel good but help your overall posture during the swing. After that, there are many little things that cumulatively improve your experience on the course. When looking at golf accessory you have a sizable list of golf aids. golf towels are best made of absorbent cotton so it can absorb any sweat on your hands and clean your clubs. Other golf items include:

• divot repair tool
• statistics tracker
• golf scope

A final insider’s secret to consider in reducing your score on the course is to lighten up your approach to the game and enjoy the course and the playing experience. Many golfers are too focused on winning the match and can play particularly poorly as a result of this hyper-competitive though process. Many golfers will tell you that positive thinking does more to help a golf game than many of the other insider’s secrets one can take into account.

Also, remember that all the golf items you wish for also make presents for golfers for your friends. With the holiday season coming up, these gifts and accessories are something your golf buddies would really appreciate.

Golf News November 8th, 2008
Golf

Stenson Takes 1-Stroke Lead At HSBC Champions

Henrik Stenson shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the HSBC Champions.

The Swede dropped a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th, putting him a shot ahead of four of the game’s top players: Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, defending champion Phil Mickelson and Australia’s Adam Scott.

Garcia nearly tied for the lead, but the Spaniard missed a four-foot eagle putt on the 18th. “Unfortunately, my putting stroke didn’t feel as good as it’s been feeling lately,” Garcia said. “Maybe it’s the jet-lag or something.”

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Learn To Golf Now!

Golfer John Daly Drunk, Detained in N.C.

Professional golfer John Daly was placed into police custody early Sunday morning after passing out at a Hooters restaurant and refusing to be taken to the hospital, police said.

When police arrived at the restaurant, emergency medical personnel were treating Daly, who had apparently lost consciousness earlier. According to EMS, Daly refused to go to the hospital.

Police said Daly appeared extremely intoxicated and was uncooperative, repeatedly refusing to be escorted to the hospital. Hooters personnel eventual asked Daly to leave the restaurant.

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Marino joins Verplank in Disney lead

Steve Marino posted a six-under 66 on Saturday to join overnight leader Scott Verplank atop the leaderboard after the third round of the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.
Verplank, who bogeyed the 18th hole for the second consecutive day, shot a three-under 69 to match Marino at 19-under 197. The pair is two shots ahead of Davis Love III (64) and Scott Sterling (66).

The Magnolia Course hosts the final two rounds after players competed with amateurs the first two days. Action was split between the Palm Course and the Magnolia Course.

This is the final PGA Tour event of the season, and players are fighting to get into the top 125 on the money list to keep their PGA Tour cards for next season.

Practice and perseverance can help you attain anything you wish for in golf swing. This is even more important than talent, a fact that is amply exemplified by the familiar hare and tortoise fable. Only the one who works hard will get the laurels in the end. This stands true with golf as well. One who subscribes to a good golf training program, and keeps at it regularly, will definitely reach the ranks of pro sooner rather than later.

The Importance of Being Regular With The Prescribed Golf Training Program

Many beginner golf-enthusiasts sign into reputed golf training centers and, for about six months to one year, have their workout regularly and systematically. After about a year down the line, when they feel they have stabilized themselves somehow at the game, they start neglecting the golf training programs they were utilizing. The regularity and the zeal put in the workouts gradually cools off.

The point is that without constant and regular golf training program workouts, the body tends to regress. Very soon you will find that your body does not ‘listen’ to you anymore when you try to hit the golf ball a certain way. You will find that your swing does not flow as it should have been and your alignment simply goes off at the certain moments.

You will be surprised to learn that the best golf champions train constantly, on a daily basis. They do not let their bodies relax lest it will fail in coordinating the movements, the flow and flexibility that is required in the golf short game. Golf looks extremely easy and cool – but it is one of the most demanding games in terms of stamina, concentration and coordination of body movement and mind.

Any athlete will tell you that even one day less in working out can have major effects on your game. Hence, for a beginner, the golf training program workout should be of paramount importance. As you gain the expertise required to play better and better, you will realize yourself the importance of being regular and constant with the golf training program workouts that have been prescribed for you.

You will do good if from time to time you have your exercising style and methods evaluated by an expert who can see if you are missing out on any of the subtle points of body movement, posture or technique that are needed for a perfect game.