Green Golfer

Five holes-in-one in a one week period

Friday, November 7th 2008 at 10:54 am

A 22-year-old man from El Paso, Ill., made five holes-in-one at an area golf course in a six-day period, witnesses say. Unidentified witnesses said Curt Hocker was able to place his first golf shot directly in the hole at the El Paso Golf Club on five occasions in less than a week's time, the Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star said Thursday.

Hocker said he is still in shock from his successful six-day golfing span, which began on Oct. 29 and ended Tuesday. "If somebody told me they made five holes-in-one in a week, even on a par-3 course, I'd say 'No way,'" the former Illinois State University student said. "It's unbelievable. I'm just stunned."

Francis Scheid, a retired Boston University math department chairman, said the chance a golfer with a low handicap would make a hole-in-one on a routine par-3 hole is 5,000-to-1. More.

Amazing golf tricks

Monday, October 27th 2008 at 5:23 pm

I have a hard enough time just hitting straight, accurate shots. I can't even begin to imagine how much practice something like this would take, but it sure is amazing.

Tiger Woods is designing a golf course on the Mexican coast

Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 12:15 pm

An ailing knee couldn't stop Tiger Woods from winning the 2008 U.S. Open, and it hasn't slowed his golf course design career, either. Woods announced Tuesday that Tiger Woods Design is building an 18-hole private course on the tip of a jagged peninsula near the Mexican resort town of Ensenada, about 65 miles south of San Diego.

The 6,835-yard, par-70 course will be the centerpiece of a high-end community named Punta Brava ( "Wild Point") and Woods's first design in Latin America. It is his third project overall, joining Al Ruwaya Golf Course at the Tiger Woods Dubai, which is scheduled to open late next year, and The Cliffs at High Carolina in Asheville, N.C., slated to debut in the middle of 2010. Punta Brava should be completed in 2011.

Though the three sites are all works in progress, they are decidedly distinct. Al Ruwaya is set in the middle of a desert, The Cliffs is nestled in a tree-lined mountain range, and Punta Brava clings to the edge of a rocky spit of land framed by the Pacific Ocean and the Bay of Todos Santos. From a peak 1,200 feet above the crashing tide, the 264-acre property cascades down a steep mountainside to a craggy coastline pocked by inlets and sea coves. Nowhere on the routing ' or the entire property, for that matter ' is the ocean out of view.

"As soon as I got on site, I was in," Woods said Tuesday as he stood next to a giant rendering of Punta Brava at a press conference at the swank Hotel Bel-Air. More.

Tiger Woods' caddie gives 1 million to cancer kids

Wednesday, October 8th 2008 at 12:12 pm

Steve Williams has the best view of the world's best golfer, but he says being able to afford to chip in $1 million to help rebuild a child cancer ward is the highlight of his "exceptional" life.

Williams, Tiger Woods'caddie since 1999, handed over a $1 million cheque to Starship children's hospital in Auckland yesterday.

He has witnessed his boss'meteoric rise in world golf but told The Dominion Post yesterday: "I've been very fortunate to have an exceptional life ... but nothing will compare to the feeling of being able to help and possibly save some lives."

Williams said his cut of Woods'earnings had contributed but he and wife Kirsty had worked hard to raise the donation they pledged a year ago. More.

What are your divots telling you?

Monday, October 6th 2008 at 11:04 am

Your divots are speaking to you, in this context we are referring to a divot as the mark your club leaves on the grass after making your shot. There are many things we can learn from our divots, including angle of attack, swing path, lag creation, ball position and wrist release. It's funny to think that something we rarely think about can give us so much insight into our swing faults.

Take a look at the picture to the right, what can you see? My first comment would be the position of the tee in relation to the divot. This swing, made ball first contact, and proceeded to make contact with the ground afterwards. This means this player was creating lag and had a solid, well timed wrist release. Furthermore, the divot is not too deep, meaning this player's swing arc is bottoming out in a good spot, which tells me their ball position is close to bang on target. Do your divots look like this? With a little wider view we can see even more details about a swing.

The next time you're hitting balls at the range, start by setting a club down along your feet line, parallel to your target line. Start making some swings, then take a step back and look at your divot. Is your divot parallel to your feet line? If the divot is pointing to the right, your swing path is in to out ' which means you're hitting a push. If it's pointing left, your swing path is out to in, the common over the top path ' which means you're likely losing distance due to an early release, and hitting a pull slice. More.

Better putting with a golf ball toss

Monday, September 8th 2008 at 6:08 pm

Putting distance is one of the hardest things to accomplish on the green. Next time you're out golfing, try this:

I read that when Tiger Woods was very young, his father used to tell him to pick the ball up and roll it towards the hole. If you are throwing a ball to someone else to catch you don't fill your head with complicated sums trying to workout the distance, you simply look at your target and gauge the amount of power you need to apply to send the ball to the recipient.

By rolling the ball to the hole you are using those same instincts. Try it, if it works then attempt to hit the ball with equal power using your putter. More.

Tiger Woods is expecting another child

Thursday, September 4th 2008 at 3:39 pm

This makes child number 2 for the happy couple, Tiger Woods and wife Elin. Tiger injured his knee earlier this year. It looks like some of his "healing" time was spent making his family ever bigger.

"Elin is feeling great and we are both thrilled," Woods said. "While my injury has been disappointing and frustrating, it has allowed me to spend a lot of time watching Sam grow. I can't begin to tell you how rewarding it is being a dad and spending time with her and Elin."

On his website, Tiger Woods said Elin is expecting "sometime in late winter", not getting any more specific than that.

Tiger Woods was an only child (despite being adopted), and he hated it so much that he decided not to have just one child. Mission accomplished! Now I wonder how many more they're going to have. This world can only take so many pro-golfing-children. More.

Tripp Isenhour kills a protected hawk on purpose

Wednesday, September 3rd 2008 at 8:53 pm

Tripp Isenhour is well-liked among most golfers, but environmentalists don't like him at all. While he was filming an instructional golf video, a red-shouldered hawk just wouldn't shut up. So Tripp Isenhour started hitting golf balls at it until he finally hit and killed it.

The problem is, the red-shouldered hawk is a endangered, and therefore protected, species. Here's what Isenhour said about the incident: "As soon as this happened, I was mortified and extremely upset and continue to be upset," Isenhour said in a statement issued through his management company, SFX Golf. "I want to let everyone know there was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away". There's a big problem with his story though.

The people who were there with him testified that he shot multiple shots at the red-shouldered hawk before hitting it. He even bragged, saying "I'll get him this time", so you can see how sincere his apology really was.

In the end, the judge slapped him with 40 hours of community service. He got off very easy considering the testimony against him. Maybe set him up as a target on the driving range for 40 hours. More.

Tiger Woods Jesus shot

Thursday, August 21st 2008 at 12:18 am

I guess there's a glitch in one of the EA Sports Tiger Woods games that lets Tiger Woods walk on water. EA Sports is now using that glitch to marker Tiger Woods 2009, by letting the real tiger walk on water!

I loved the tag-line on this one too. "It's not a glitch. He's just that good".

Check out the video for yourself below.

Charles Barkley gets his own show on The Golf Channel

Thursday, August 21st 2008 at 12:12 am

The Hollywood Reporter announced that former NBA star Charles Barkley could be getting his own show on The Golf Channel.

A network representative confirmed that the channel is developing a project eyed for 2009 that would feature famed golf instructor Hank Haney, who has coached Tiger Woods on his swing, giving the TNT basketball analyst tips on his own golf game.

The spokesperson said it could end up as anything from a special to an episodic series.

More...

Cut your handicap by 12 strokes in 2 weeks

Sunday, August 10th 2008 at 12:40 am

By no means am I a professional golfer. I try to do nine holes once a week, work permitting. I've always struggled with consistency. I'll birdie and par the first 5 holes, then I'll start slicing the ball out of nowhere. I've tried a lot of different things to fix my slice and become more consistent, and I finally found something that works. He goes by The Golf Swing Guru.

Guaranteed to lengthen your drive and cut your handicap by 12 strokes in just two weeks. It sounds too good to be true, but it worked for me, which means it will work for you. The best part of this system is, you'll see a 7 stroke improvement during your first two games. This means your golf game will start to improve immediately.

What will you get? DVD clips with breakdown sessions showing you exactly what you need to do to improve your swing. Practice drills you can do anywhere, so you'll be ready next time you play 9 or 18 holes. Live Teleseminars so you can discuss the system and tips with other aspiring golfers. You'll also get private forums, a stat tracking system, breakdown worksheets, and much more. You'll also get 8 free e-books and lifetime upgrades to the system.

This system normally sells for over $200, but for the next week I can offer it to you for the price of a game of golf. That's right, only $47 and you'll be in the number one spot when you're golfing with friends and co-workers. And if you still don't think the price of one game of golf is worth a better swing for life, listen to this. If this system doesn't work for you, return it for a full refund within 60 days, no questions asked.

Click here to take advantage of this limited-time price-cut now!

Golfing in the water

Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 9:04 pm

This kid is so lucky his friend was filming him. He whacks his friend, then the ball shoots back and knocks him unconscious, into the water.

Golf is going to get big in Russia

Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 7:42 pm

Here's an interesting fact: in the entire country of Russia, there are only three 18-hole golf courses. Most of us have 3 full courses within 30 or 50 miles of our houses. Imagine only having three full courses in America.

Russia is one of the biggest rising economic powers in the world, and people are going to want to use that new found money to relax and have fun. People predict golf will be one of the fastest growing sports in Russia in the next 10 years.

The Russian Golf Association has plans to build 500 golf courses around Russia by 2018. The PGA tour makes a stop in Moscow to appeal to aspiring golfers. And last year, Moscow held its first ever Golf Expo show.

Currently, trying to golf in Russia is not easy. Since there are only three full courses in the entire country, you have to be somebody to play. Much like bouncers at a VIP club, unless you're known, you will remain unknown. Hopefully in the coming years, that will change.

Golfing on top of a mountain

Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 1:09 pm

This has got to be a day ruining event. Hiking with your golf clubs all the way up a mountain, and ruining the rest of your golf fun in one hit!

I'm not sure if I could have enough energy to hike with my golf clubs.

The perfect golf swing from Tiger Woods

Thursday, July 31st 2008 at 11:13 am

So you want to see Tiger's perfect swing? Check out this awesome video slowing down Tiger's driver shot and shown frame by frame. View the video here.

You'll notice is club on his back swing is totally horizontal, simply amazing power and flexibility.

The key to a consistent golf swing

Monday, July 28th 2008 at 4:52 pm

I've talked about it before, consistency is one of the most important things while to maintain while you're golfing. If you're consistent, and consistently accurate, you're probably doing pretty well every time you play 18 holes. If you often struggle (like most of us), we have more tips to help you maintain a more consistent golf swing.

Remember to keep your swing in constant motion.

Get about 10 balls, and put them in a line about a foot apart from each other. Step up to the first one and hit it, just like you would any other time. But don't stop swinging! Bring your club back and step up to the next ball and smack it, and so on until you hit all 10 balls. It might be hard to keep your alignment at first, but this is great practice for keeping your swing in constant motion.

If you run that exercise, you may notice your last 3-5 balls were probably pretty decent. Nothing spectacular, but hopefully not bad. Next you can go to the driving range and try this exercise. Line up on your ball just like you are taking a practice shot. When you're ready to hit, wiggle your club back and fourth (like you're doing a little chip), then go into your full swing and hit the ball. For a lot of golfers, that pre-hit motion gives them a much more consistent swing.

Swing it like a baseball bat. This is a good stretching exercise too, but it defiantly falls into the category of helping consistency. Take your driver, and swing it like a baseball bat, but don't stop. Swing it back and fourth a few times, making sure nobody is close enough to get hit. This way when you step up to your ball, your muscles are still in "swing mode" and ready for a great hit.

The main thing to keep in mind is constant motion. When you step up to your ball, wiggle your club, even if it's just a little bit. You will be more ready for your actual swing. After you've practice this a few times you'll get a good feel for how much pre-hit motion is good for you.

If you've tried this before, let me know. I've heard a few people say this causes them to close focus, but the majority of the golfers who do this (who I've talked to) say it helps tremendously. Tell me what you think by leaving me a comment below.

Rudy Giuliani's son got kicked off the Duke golf team

Saturday, July 26th 2008 at 8:33 pm

Andrew Giuliani was kicked off the Duke University golfing team after he threw a temper-tantrum, probably after missing an easy 9.11 foot putt. But Andrew isn't going down without a fight. He's suing Duke University for "damages", whatever that might be, and for the right to use Duke's golf center for the rest of his life.

Sure it would be nice to have a place to golf for the rest of your life, but this rich prick? Give me a break.

He was kicked off the team after he threw an apple in his teammates faces, took his putter and threw it hard enough to break it. Then he got in his car, revved his engine and peeled out of the parking lot.

I really hope they made this kid sign a contract saying misbehavior will be punishable by removal from team and loss of promises (like free golf for life) made earlier. Just because he's the son of "America's Mayor", doesn't mean he deserves any special treatment. And if he's going to disrespect his teammates and throw temper tantrums, he deserved to be kicked off the team.

The fastest game of golf ever

Thursday, July 24th 2008 at 10:26 am

Last weekend in Michigan, 40 people went golfing in an attempt to break the world record for the fastest game of golf. After only 7 minutes and 56 seconds, the game was over and these guys held a new Guinness World Record.

The event format required golfers to be strategically placed on the course’s tee boxes, along the fairways and on the greens. The timing began once the opening tee-ball was struck, with golfers in the fairway running to hit the ball when the ball came to rest. As golfers on the green sunk the putt, the players on the next hole immediately hit the next tee shot.

Of course they didn't release scores because, well, they were probably over 100 (per 9 holes)! But they weren't going for the fastest game of golf with the best score, just the fastest game of golf. And they did it!

I'd personally rather enjoy my time golfing, even if I'm not the greatest golfer in the world.

Michelle Wie's scorecard gaffe

Tuesday, July 22nd 2008 at 6:28 pm

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last year, you've heard of Michelle Wie. Taking the LPGA by storm, she's amazing golfer and a great person. But some people think she's rising too fast and she hasn't payed her dues. Now they'll have one less thing to complain about.

At the LPGA State Farm Classic, Michelle Wie forgot to sign her scorecard after her win, which disqualified her from the tournament. Oops! A tough break for anybody, but especially a rising star like Michelle Wie.

I read one comment saying this is more a problem with the LPGA, and not Michelle Wie. Sure, technically she didn't sign her scorecard, but the outcome should be decided by actual play on the golf course, not in the score tent.

Michelle isn't letting this incident set her back. She already announced that she's going to play with the guys later this month! At the Legends Reno – Tahoe Open she will be playing on the PGA tour for the 8th time.

"It's not every day that a woman is given the opportunity to play on the greatest tour in the world," Wie said in a statement. "This is a tremendous opportunity for me to learn from these great players and take those lessons into the future to becoming the best player I can be on any tour. This is another step in the process of making me a better player".

The world's biggest indoor golf arena.

Sunday, July 20th 2008 at 6:38 pm

When I first say this, the only thing I could think was "wow"! This indoor golf arena might just change the way people think about vacation, work and golf.

This indoor arena is open 365 days a year because it has a cover to keep bad weather out. It has a driving range with 34 bays, and ProTee simulators with 20 bays. The practice course has synthetic grass, sand bunkers, and even little lakes.

But they don't just do golf. They have a 5-star restaurant, complete business meeting facilities, sky boxes and more. Of course there's a full bar too. They have 200 hotel rooms for families. For the ladies they have saunas and spas. And for the kids they have a big play area and fitness training program.

They plan to have this project done by 2010, and I'm excited to visit it when they open! You can find out more about the indoor golf arena, just click here.

How you can improve your overall accuracy

Friday, July 18th 2008 at 9:52 pm

Whether you're teeing off with a driver, or going for that long chip, accuracy is one of the most important parts of golf. Unfortunately it's not always the easiest thing to be consistent with, but I'm here to give you a few tips to be more accurate, more consistently.

First, if you're going to practice on a driving range, make sure it's real grass. If you practice on the fake grass, things will feel very different when you go play your next 9 holes on real grass. And we're all prone to hit a divot or two now and again. But just a few low swings on the fake grass can put so much pressure on your wrists, you might not be able to practice for much longer. So at the driving range, do your best to find one that has real grass.

I like to play the local par three when I practice. It's short, quick, and very easy to practice new swing styles. If you're trying to practice with your driver, you might consider doing 9 holes instead. But when you finally get out to practice, here are some things you can do to increase your accuracy.

Take a tee and stand behind your ball. Find the flag and line the tee up with the flag, a few inches from your ball. That way when you look down to swing, you will see exactly where you need to aim. Using a tee is great once you get a feel for your placement, but it's not always the easiest way.

Grab another club out of your bag. If you're going to shoot with an 8 iron, take a 9 iron out too and, just like the tee, line it up facing the flag along side your ball. Having a longer, thicker focus will make your aim much easier. Once you line up the club with the flag, take a few practice swings. You will see the grass move under your club from your swing. Make sure that grass movement is parallel with your club, and take your shot.

Put your foot behind your ball, facing the flag. Twist your other leg 90 degrees inside, and line up on your ball. Doing this will give you a pretty good estimate of where you need to be aiming. Even if this isn't totally accurate, take note of where you hit your ball. Then you can re-adjust your stance while still using this method to shoot accurately.

I know these might not be game-alerting tips, but they could be for some golfers, especially beginners. Accuracy was the biggest thing I struggled with in my early days of golfing. I was so inconsistent it hurt. But then I tried the tee-trick and almost over-night I was consistent. From there I learned exactly where I need to line the tea up, and change my shot to not slice. Today, I just step behind my ball and twist 90 degrees. It's fast and you don't need anything extra to make consistent accurate golf shots.

The radar golf ball tracker will find your ball instantly

Monday, June 30th 2008 at 9:24 pm

Even the best golf players among us sometimes hit a stray ball and spend way too long looking for it. This happens way too often for amateurs. If you're one of these people, there's a new radar system out that will keep track of where your balls are at, so you won't have to.

The RadarGold System Golf Tracker comes with a radar system, and special golf balls. These balls emit radio frequencies that communicate with the radar system, giving you an exact location of your ball. So next time you shank your driver shot and forget to watch your ball because you're too busy banging your driver into the ground, this might be beneficial for you.

The radar system cause work from up to 100 feet away, so as long as you know the general direction your ball was hit, you're guaranteed to find it. It can also help your overall score, because if you can't find your ball it costs your a penalty stroke. At least this way you have a chance to save a bad shot.

The balls that come with this radar system aren't second class by any means, but you will have to use the balls that come with the radar system to take advantage of it. Unless you're really set on the balls you use, the radar system is a great utility for any golfer to own.

Golf legend Greg Norman marries tennis star Chris Evert

Monday, June 30th 2008 at 5:18 pm

That's right! Greg Norman married Chris Evert in the Bahamas on Saturday. It was a small event, only 140 friends and family were invited, but it sounds fantastic.

Evert's 12 year old son Colton was the ring bearer and sons Nicky,14, and Alex, 16, walked their mother down the aisle. Norman’s son Gregory Jr. was his best man and his daughter Morgan, 23, was in attendance.

The wedding guests enjoyed a nice day of golf (surprise), and tennis on Friday, and the couple was married on Saturday. This is the second marriage for both newlyweds.

Youngest US Women's Open Winner is 19 years old

Sunday, June 29th 2008 at 11:29 pm

Her name is Inbee Park, and she finished 9 under in today's US Women's Open. She is the youngest women to ever win a US Women's Open tournament.

Inbee Park is from South Korea, and she started playing golf professionally in 2007. She has had 6 other top-ten finishes, and has earned just over 1 million dollars in her short career so far.

Inbee finished four strokes ahead of the second place winner, destroying her competition his her huge victory today. She will be celebrating her 20th birthday in two weeks.

www.uswomensopen.com

What is the cause of green anxiety?

Saturday, June 28th 2008 at 10:57 pm

You've probably been there. Lining up your putt on the green and at the last second something happens, you know it happened but it's too late to stop it. And just like that you add another stroke to your golf game.

The disorder has been viewed as a psychological issue, prompted by performance anxiety that's so severe it makes putting nearly impossible in the most severe cases. But research carried out more recently suggests that it may also be caused by focal dystonia - a disorder characterized by involuntary, rapid muscle movements.

The root cause of this problem may actually be over-practicing. This may explain why some get relief and play successfully by changing their grip or by switching to a longer putter.

www.discoverychannel.ca

A golf ball with no dimples

Tuesday, June 10th 2008 at 4:13 pm

The guys over at The Golf Blog discovered something interesting recently. Golf balls without dimples. I wrote an article about how dimples affect the flight of a golf ball, but these new Caesar Featherie balls might change my mind about the need for dimples in golf balls.

So how does it work and who does it work for? It's made for “regular" every-day amateur golfers. It's great because without the dimples, the ball won't hook or slice. That means if you aim straight, you can hit the fairway every time. As I said before, a smooth golf ball hit by a professional golfer would travel only about half as far as a golf ball with dimples does. Even with this new Caesar Featherie ball you will sacrifice some distance, but certainly not half.

From the company website itself, they say this ball isn't meant to be used for as a long-distance ball, although it has been hit over 200 yards in tests. They say it's great for shots into the green from 100 or so yards out, chip shots, and putting. That's because the ball will go straight when it lands, so if you line up your shot correctly you can vastly improve your short and medium game. The Golf Blog says this ball putts better than any other ball on the market, dimples or no dimples.

I have not played with these balls myself yet, because you can only order them on their website right now. I have placed an order for one sleeve ($30 / 3 balls) and as soon as they arrive I will post a review and tell you if it's really worth it.

Local golfer nails a 397 hole-in-one

Wednesday, June 4th 2008 at 5:45 pm

His name is Ben "Crusher" Kruizenga, and he's becoming well known among his local golfing community. People call him Crusher because he's able to drive the ball over 400 yards. On the 7th hole of his recent game, 3 yard under would do just fine.

Ben crushed his tee shot got a lucky bounce off a ridge, and rolled right into the hole. But Ben was golfing alone that day and didn't think anybody saw it! When he finally got to the green, the owner of the golf course was sitting there, and she saw it. This was the first hole in one on a par-four on her course. It also doubled the old record of a 200 yard hole-in-one on a par 3.

The course owner gave Ben a big trophy, and added his name to the list of aces on that course. Callaway, the type of ball Ben was using at the time, sent Ben a big plaque and some brand new golf balls. Ben's last ace came just last month on a long 246-yard par 3. He finished two strokes under even.

Becoming a more consistent putter

Friday, May 23rd 2008 at 9:42 pm

Don't you hate it when you have a great first shot to the green, then you spend 3 strokes actually tapping it in the hole? Have you ever noticed how you're putting strokes usually go down after the first 9 holes? It's because after 9 holes, you've adjusted to the greens and you have a good feel for them. But there are some things you can keep in mind to improve your putting in the front 9 holes.

90% of all putting greens in the world are built low in the front and high in the back. This means that the majority of putts hit from the front of the green going to the back of the green are going to be slower than putts hit from the back of the green going towards the front of the green. And that also means that when you are facing the green, putts from the right side will have a tendency to break to the left and putts from the left side will have a tendency to break to the right. If you're still confused, this means if you land on the front of the green, you'll have to hit your putt harder because there's more resistance putting towards the back of the green.

Amateur golfers can spend 50% of their shots on the green because of small errors. If you just remember to get a feel for the green, you can improve your game overnight.

Lucky Hole-in-One

Tuesday, April 8th 2008 at 11:25 am

What are the odds that your ball lands off the green and rough, sits for a few seconds then rolls 20 feet into the hole? Very likely if you're this guy!

How Dimples Affect Ball Flight

Friday, April 4th 2008 at 3:21 pm

Engineers and scientists in the golf industry study the impact between a golf club and a golf ball to determine the ball's so-called launch conditions. The impact typically lasts only 1/2000 of a second, but it establishes the ball's velocity, launch angle and spin rate. After this brief impact the ball's trajectory is controlled entirely by gravity and aerodynamics--no matter how much the golfer hopes or curses. As a result, aerodynamic optimization--achieved through dimple pattern design--is a critical part of overall golf ball development.

A smooth golf ball hit by a professional golfer would travel only about half as far as a golf ball with dimples does. Most golf balls have between 300 and 500 dimples, which have an average depth of about 0.010 inch. The lift and drag forces on a golf ball are very sensitive to dimple depth: a depth change of 0.001 inch can produce a radical change to the ball's trajectory and the overall distance it can fly. Dimples have traditionally been spherical in shape, but it is possible to optimize the aerodynamic performance of other shapes. The HX golf ball by Callaway, for example, uses hexagons.

Air exerts a force on any object moving through it. Holding your arm out of the window of a moving car easily illustrates this phenomenon. Aerodynamicists break down the force into two components: lift and drag. Drag acts to directly oppose motion, whereas lift acts in a direction perpendicular to motion (it is usually directed upward in the case of a golf ball). As you rotate your hand in the air stream, you vary the amount and direction of the lift and drag forces acting on your hand. Read the full article on sciam.com.

Life Lessons Learned on the Golf Course

Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 at 11:16 am

Bruce over at Brucisms.com has an absolutely wonderful article he wrote up last week called "Life Lessons in 18 Holes of Golf". He associates everything that happens on the golf course to his real life, and how he can learn from his golfing experiences.

Appreciate the Beauty - Golf courses are typically beautiful places. Manicured grass, stately trees, pristine lakes - on the course I always take a moment to appreciate just how beautiful it is. I need to do this in my everyday life as well. We are surrounded by wonders everyday - I need to take a moment to appreciate the beauty in my life.

Be In the Now - I've always played "athletic" sports - football, baseball, basketball. Sometimes I could "get in a zone" and couldn't miss a shot, or could hit anything that came near the plate. But in golf - with that little ball just sitting there, and no stimulation from direct competition - I have a hard time finding that zone. Everyday life can get that way, too. I need to find ways to be in the now - to slip into "the zone".

Play the Ball As it Lies - In golf, the rules state that you must play the ball as it lies. Life is like that. I need to accept my situation whatever circumstances may bring - and take my best shot to be successful.

Be Honest - In golf, everybody keeps their own score. I read somewhere that Bobby Jones once penalized himself a stroke because his ball "shuttered" as he was taking a practice swing. Both the tournament official, and his opponent, said that they did not see the ball move and that he need not take the stroke. But Bobby said that it had moved, and took the penalty - and lost the tournament by one stroke. What an inspired life I would lead if I could hold myself to the same level of integrity!

Plan ahead - Good golfers don't just grab a club and hit the ball as hard as they can! They "work the hole backwards" - they decide where they need to put the ball on the green to have a makeable putt, what approach shot will put it there, and where their tee shot needs to land to give them that approach. I need to look at my life like that and ask, "Are the actions I'm taking now putting me in the best position to take my next shot?"

Narrow Your Focus - To make a great shot you have to narrow your focus to the point that you can see the exact point of impact where the clubhead meets the ball. I need to apply that same level of attention and narrowness of focus to my everyday activities.

Let Go - No matter how great or how lousy your last shot was, let it go! A guaranteed recipe for a bad shot is to be dwelling on the last one. I need to let go in everyday life as well. Let go of my insecurities, past grievances, past successes and failures. I need to give myself a clean slate every day so that I have the opportunity to make something spectacular!

Be Aware of Your Emotions (so they don't get the best of you) - Part of letting go is to approach each shot objectively and with purpose. I need to approach both my failures and successes with same level of objectivity. This isn't to say that I should become an unemotional machine. It means to be aware of my emotions - the ups and the downs - and to make sure that I take action with intention rather than reacting based on emotion.

Keep Your Eye On the Ball - To make a great golf shot, you have to keep your eye on the ball all the way through the point of impact. It's the same in life. If I find that I'm not making the progress I want toward my goals, it is usually because I've let myself get "busy", but with activities that don’t really help me achieve my goals.

This is just the advice from the front 9. Please read his entire article on his blog by clicking here.

A Couple Golf Jokes

Tuesday, April 1st 2008 at 1:06 pm

Two men were playing golf on a course right next to a cemetery. After they teed off, one of them noticed a funeral procession passing by. So he takes off his hat, places it over his heart and bows his head. When the funeral is over the other golfer looks at his friend and asks 'That was a very nice gesture, why did you do it?' The man replies ' Well, we were married for almost 40 years. It is the least that I could do'.

A Lady golfer had just started playing her first round of golf when she suffered a bee sting. Her pain was so intense that she decided to return to the clubhouse for help... and to complain. Her golf pro saw her come into the clubhouse and asked, "Why are you back in so early? What's wrong?" "I was stung by a bee", she said. "Where", he asked? "Between the first and second hole", she replied. He nodded knowingly and said, "Then your stance is too wide."

Free Golfing Game

Monday, March 31st 2008 at 5:17 pm

I ran across this game a little earlier, a fun little over-head golfing game for free. It's a nice way to pass the time at work while you're wishing you were out golfing!

Tiger Woods' First Loss in 7 Months

Monday, March 24th 2008 at 9:02 pm

Geoff Ogilvy hung on to win the Doral Championship by posting 17-under, shooting a safe 71 in the final round. The leader board looked like a "who's who" list of the best players in golf, with Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, and Retief Goosen all tied for second at -16.

Tiger Woods, who had an off day for this 3rd round (which extended over 2 rainy days), managed to finish at 15-under, two shots back. Adam Scott who shared the lead for some of the third round finished back in ninth place at -12. Geoff Ogilvy secured his first PGA Tour victory for almost two years and a $1.4 million dollar check, but the 2008 CA Championship at the Doral course will be remembered not for who won it but, rather, for the identity of the man who lost: Tiger Woods.

Woods was mounting a charge that kept alive his hopes of an improbable victory. After his opening birdie at the 12th he added another at the 15th when he all but holed his tee shot but missed an opportunity at the short par four 16th before adding another birdie at the 17th when he pitched to four feet and converted. Woods was then within two of Ogilvy who was on the 15th and if the defending champion could birdie the last he might set a target. He hit a great tee shot at the last but seemed a little unsure of the shot he was trying to hit with his approach, mis-hit it a little and came up 40 feet short. He made par but it was not enough to challenge those on the golf course.

Woods conceded that he'd struggled to read the lines at Doral over the past week of competition and had found the grain on the putting surfaces something of a mystery. He'd three-putted on four occasions and accepted he made too many mistakes to win. That said, finishing in a share of fifth, two strokes behind Ogilvy, was no cause to hang his head in shame. He will still arrive in Augusta next month as the overwhelming favourite to land the first major title of 2008.

Here are Tiger's last 7 months of wins, before today:
Sept 2007 BMW Championship
Sept 2007 Tour Championship
Dec 2007 Target World Challenge
Jan 2008 Buick Invitational
Feb 2008 Dubai Desert Classic
Feb 2008 WGC Match Play
Mar 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational

How to Repair a Divot

Monday, March 24th 2008 at 7:14 pm

Each time a golf ball hits the putting surface, it leaves a mark. Proper golf etiquette dictates that you repair any damage to the putting surface, especially damage due to a ball. Turf damage caused by golfers intentionally or unintentionally ignoring proper course etiquette has become a national epidemic. Adding insult to injury, many golfers boldly complain about divots and ballmarks ruining their game when they themselves are ultimately responsible for timely repairs. In other words, the Rules of Golf clearly state in Section I that, "a player should ensure that any divot hole made by him and any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired."

There are plenty of tools on the market to repair divots (which I would absolutely recommend), but if you lost or forgot yours you can use an ordinary golf tee to repair that divot. Check it out:

It's pretty basic. Insert the repair tool at the edge of the ball mark. Do not insert the tool within the depression itself. Push the tool forward from the edge of the ball mark toward the center. Do this around the edges of the indentation. Do NOT insert the tool under the indented area and push up. Think of it as pushing turf in from the edges toward the center.

Top United States Golf Courses

Saturday, March 22nd 2008 at 3:35 pm

If you live in Sunny California, you have some of the best golfing in the country, and the whole world. In fact, Pebble Beach, California has two golf courses ranked in the top 5 of over 20,000 courses in the United States.

The number one rated golf course in America is Pebble Beach Golf Links Course. This course opened way back in in 1919, and will be celebrating 90 years next year. They offer spa services and full resorts for the family, and would be a great place to vacation.

Here are the top 10 golf courses in the United States:
Pebble Beach Golf Links Course - Pebble Beach, CA
Riviera Country Club - Pacific Palisades, CA
Pine Valley Course - Clementon, NJ
Cypress Point Club - Pebble Beach, CA
Pelican Hill Golf Club - Newport Beach, CA
Bethpage State Park - Farmingdale, NY
Navy Golf Course - Cypress, CA
Sage Valley Golf Club - Graniteville, SC
Los Angeles Country Club - Los Angeles, CA
Ahwatukee Country Club - Phoenix, AZ

If you live in California, stop taking it for granted and go play some golf!

WGC-CA Championship Rained Out

Saturday, March 22nd 2008 at 3:01 pm

At about 1:15 PM local time, heavy rain caused the championship came to come to a halt, and there haven't been any signs of improvement over the last couple of hours. Tiger Woods was just 3 strokes from taking the lead when play stopped, although he started the day just one stroke down.

However, on a languid morning at the Doral Resort's Blue Monster, Woods struggled uncharacteristically with his putter in the early going. Ogilvy, the 2006 United States Open champion, led at 14 under, one stroke ahead of fellow Australian Adam Scott, with Woods equal third at 11 under. The three frontrunners had completed 11 holes when the horn sounded to stop play, with only 24 players having completed the round. Joining Woods at 11 under was Fiji's Vijay Singh.

Woods, seeking to preserve his seven-event, six-month winning streak, missed a short birdie putt at the first hole and an even shorter par putt at the second. Scott, on the other hand, started like a house on fire with a 15-foot eagle at the par-five first, followed by a birdie at the third to pull level with Ogilvy, before taking the lead two holes later.

A stiff breeze is the only defense this course has, but there was hardly a puff of wind at the start of play, so it was little surprise that the world's best players were plundering birdies and eagles, and as the delay stretched into its second hour, it was far from certain whether the round would be completed.

Golfing: Arizona's Tourist Attraction

Friday, March 21st 2008 at 5:51 pm

Down in Phoenix Arizona, state legislators are working to keep the local Fountainhead Golf Course open. Why could lawmakers want anything to do with golf? Besides loving to play golf, this particular course is a big tourist attraction, but has been going downhill in the past few years.

Area legislators are scrambling to find a way to keep Fountainhead Golf Course open. The state Department of Tourism and Recreation, which operates the course, has let the grounds and facility deteriorate. According to the department, the course now attracts about 14,000 rounds each year compared to 20,000 a few years ago. The department and others in the area contend, however, that the course is needed and in great demand.

If this course is shut down, don't worry, there are plenty of beautiful courses all over Arizona that any golf enthusiast love to play.

Tips From Golfing Greats

Thursday, March 20th 2008 at 9:12 pm

Hitting the Ball Longer

Tiger Woods, one of the best golfers in the world, only weighs 180 pounds but he hits the ball 20 yards longer off the tee than the average tour player. If you're like most golfers, including those who have been playing for quite some time, you'd like to add yards to your tee shots, too. How does Tiger do it? Watch him and you'll see the same small, dark grass area next to his hips when he is at the top of his swing and at impact. Many amateur golfers make the mistake of pushing their hips toward the ball when they make their downswing. Tiger rotates his hips in making his downswing but he doesn't make the mistake of moving them toward the ball. There's something else Tiger does that you might want to follow. When he begins his downswing, he starts rotating his left forearm. With that action he begins to square the face and gradually release the clubhead. His swing is already halfway down when the uncocking of his wrists begins.

Etiquette on the Green

There are certain rules you are expected to follow when your ball is on or near the green. Suppose one golfer in a Par-3 hole hits his ball into a sandtrap not far from the pin. Another player lands his ball on the green but it is several feet farther away from the pin than the first ball. Who shoots first? According to the U.S. Golf Association, the ball that's farthest from the hole is always played first. So in this case the ball on the green would be played first. What about finishing out the hole? If the player in the trap gets lucky and places his ball near the cup, with only a tap-in left, can he finish it off before the other player tries his putt? It depends on whether they're involved in stroke play or match play. In either competition there is no penalty for playing out of turn. However, in match play his opponent has the option to recall the stroke and make the player finish his shot in order.

How the Pros Like Their Balls

Some pros like the Titleist ProV1 golf ball for many reasons, the most important being that it was designed specifically with the pro in mind. It is the golf ball of choice for such pros as Mike Weir, Fred Funk, and David Toms. This ball is described by the manufacturer as a soft ball with a l.550. diameter core formulation. Other features include a speed-enhancing, spin controlling ionomer casing, with an 0.30. urethane cover, plus 392-count dimple coverage in an icosahedral or 20-faced design. The pros on the PGA circuit put tremendous energy into their explosive shots on tee and fairway for days at a time and need a ball like this to meet their standards. Golf balls designed for the pros, such as the Titleist Pro V1, which has a soft, thin cover and costs about $60 for a dozen balls. Contrast that price with what you would be paying for a lesser ball, but one that could certainly be a good ball for your game, such as the Srixon Hi-Spin, priced about $15 a dozen, or the MaxFli A3, at about $25 a dozen. If you'd like to know what the pros look for in a golf ball, keep in mind that the characteristics of all golf balls are strictly governed by the rules laid down by the U.S. Golf Association. It is these rules that determine maximum initial velocity, total distance, and all the other features advertised by manufacturers.