The Players Championship has long been regarded as golf’s 5th major. It attracts a high quality field every year which includes the best players in the world. To win it requires precision golf to be played at the highest level under immense pressure. Even though it lacks the status of the 4 majors it holds special significance for the players for a number of reasons.

The generous purse of $9,500,000 in total prize money is the largest in world golf. The winner receives a 5 year exemption to the PGA Tour plus a 3 year exemption to the US Masters, US Open and British Open. They also receive an exemption to the final major of the year, the US PGA Championship.  A massive 80 world ranking points are awarded to the winning golfer placing it only behind the 4 majors in terms of ranking points.

To make the Players Championship field require performances of the highest calibre. Players must meet stringent criteria almost identical required to gain entry into the majors. These include players being ranked inside the top 50 world golf rankings. Won a major championship or the Players Championship within the previous 5 years. Won a World Golf Championship event during the previous 3 years. Won an official PGA Tour event since the previous year’s Players Championship.

Looking at the past champions it’s easy to see why it is held in such high regard by the players. Previous champions include major winners Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman just to name a few. These players alone have won 39 majors between them plus numerous other big tournaments worldwide.  

In recent years the winners have come from all over the world including Matt Kuchar, KJ Choi, Tim Clark, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. Last year Matt Kuchar used his victory as a springboard to a career high world ranking of number 5. KJ Choi’s victory in 2011 helped him to a career high 4th position on the PGA Tour’s money list which included 8 top 10 finishes. South Africa’s Tim Clark victory in 2010 was the catalyst for 7 top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour that season and a personal best 11th on the money list.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson victory in 2009 propelled him to a career high world ranking of 4 and high finishes at the majors that included T9 at the US Open, T13 at the British Open and T6 at the PGA Championship. Spain’s Sergio Garcia victory in 2008 helped complete a successful season which saw him reach a career high number 2 in the official world rankings and number one in scoring average on the PGA Tour with 69.12.

Winning the Players Championship doesn’t just provide the winner with a big pay cheque, it can be the driving force behind a very successful season. The major championship exemptions and world ranking points on offer can set a player up for potential major glory for years to come.

Just ask Tiger Woods what winning last weekend meant to him?

Photo By: Philip Larson

Stop right there, don’t say another word before you tee off!

The very next word you speak could ruin your golf score!

Remember the last game of golf you had when you whinged more times than you care to remember? Maybe you felt by expressing how you felt you might get some sympathy from your playing partners?

We’ve all played with one of those golfers before that constantly complains and comes up with a thousand excuses why their game is off. If it’s not their bad back or lack of sleep it’s their mind being not in the right place because of work!

It’s an easy trap to fall into because when you’re not playing well you like to think there’s an easy answer. The first thing to blame is usually anything but yourself and your ability to make a good golf swing.

You’re not alone in this area as common golf excuses have been muttered for hundreds of years and still happen to this day.

Break the habit by understanding the impact they have on your golf scores. The spoken word can influence even the most seasoned professional so it’s important to find the right solution.  

Here’s 9 of the most common golf excuses I hear on the golf course today.

The old injury

I heard this little favourite just this past weekend. The golfer complained about an old back injury that stopped him from playing a certain type of shot. This excuse holds back many golfers from playing to their best.

Find a way to work around the injury and develop a shot that works for you. You may have to shorten your golf swing, use an extra club or maybe adjust your set-up. Whatever it is experiment or seek out a local teaching golf professional to help you find an answer.

No time to practice

One of the most common excuses for poor play from golfers is lack of practice or specifically lack of time to practice.

Everyone is busy these days and it can be hard to make time to work on your golf game. However, even spending as little as 10 minutes a day from the comfort of your own home can help your game. You can work on simple drills or even practice your posture in the front of the mirror.

Everyone can find 10 minutes a day.

New equipment

The thrill of using a new set of clubs is one of the great pleasures in golf. However, new clubs can take time to get used to … sometimes many months. Different brands have different weights, grips, length and an overall different feel to them.

Instead of making your new clubs as an excuse for poor play, lower your expectations. Don’t aim to shoot close to handicap or lower, aim to shoot no more than say 5 over your handicap.

You’ll be happier in the short term and avoid frustration. Within a couple of months when you have worn them in go back to trying to play to and beat your handicap.

You might be surprised by the results!

Unlucky bounces

Another one of the more common golf excuses murmured every Saturday morning on the golf course. It happens after a player’s ball bounces unfavourably into a poor position on the course.

My advice is to deal with it! This happens to every golfer from beginner to professional level. When a ball hits an uneven surface such as a fairway it can bounce in any direction. We cannot control the ball after it has left the clubface so it’s best to take it as it comes.

Don’t beat yourself up over this as it will keep happening until the end of time.

Too much wind

The weather is out of your control so instead of complaining about it, embrace it. Making an excuse for a poor shot because of the wind is a sign of desperation. We all play under the same conditions so you’re not at any more a disadvantage than anybody else.

Learn how to play a lower, more penetrating ball flight so you can best reach your targets during a round.

Work with the wind and not against it!

Group in front too slow

Slow play in golf is a major problem worldwide and there’s no easy solution to the problem. It happens at the beginner level all the way up to the professionals.

Being slowed down by the group in front is no reason to let it affect your golf game. If it takes you out of your rhythm find a way to make it work for you. Perhaps use the extra time to work on a drill or just chill out.

It’s not going away so it’s vital you manage your way through it.

Left all the good shots on the practice range

Another recent excuse I heard that is all too common. It comes from the golfer that ‘claims’ to hit the ball wonderful on the practice range and then hit it ‘terrible’ when it comes to the competition round.

No player uses up all their good shots! If you practice the right way there’s always plenty more good shots at your disposal. Focus on making your practice session as real to the competition as possible. In other words, add some pressure to your shots so you’re not just blazing away without a care in the world.

Golf course is too long / too short

I have been guilty of making excuses that certain golf courses haven’t suited my game. Being a longer hitter I used to struggle with the shorter courses with numerous dog legs that require precision rather than brute strength.

The key is to play what’s in front of you and make the necessary adjustments to suit the golf course. For me it was about taking shorter clubs off the tee and focusing on accuracy. For you it might be to focus on your short game on the longer courses to make up for the possible longer putts needed to save par.

Always have a bad lie

If you play golf for long enough you’re going to experience a bad lie. It can happen even if you hit the middle of the fairway! It may seem unlucky or unfair but unfortunately is just a part of the game.

Don’t use it as an excuse and learn to play from bad lies as well as good ones. This includes playing from different slopes where the ball is either above or below your feet. Don’t forget to learn the right technique to play from divots in the fairway as well.

Don’t’ make an excuse and master every possible shot and you’ll be in a better position to execute a good one from wherever you end up.

Do you make excuses for poor shots?

Have you have said any of the above to yourself or out loud? Maybe you’ve heard some others that you would like share.

Get rid of these golf excuses from your vocabulary and focus on playing good golf no matter what. Golf will throw at you all kinds of tough and tricky situations. Learn to work with these instead of fighting them and your golf game will flourish.

Please leave a comment or click on your favourite social media icon below 

Don’t rush out onto the golf course just yet!

I understand you’re eager and read to rip into it after buying all of the latest gear. You have the latest top brand shirt, trousers, shoes and state of the art driver. You look good and you feel good! Stop for a minute, it’s not quite as simple as it seems.

Golf unlike a lot of other sports is difficult to master even for the most talented athlete. Whilst your enthusiasm and courage will go a long way to becoming a better golfer, it will only take you so far.

The good news if you take the right steps to getting your game right before you rush onto the course you can become a very proficient golfer.

Here are five of the most important beginner golf lessons that can take your game to the next level. 

Find Your Local Golf Professional

Even the best players in world golf have a regular visit to their coach professional. If it’s good enough for the best players then it’s definitely good enough for you and me.

Why, you say?

A good coach can see things from a different perspective and they are trained to understand every element of the golf swing.  Most coaches are equipped with the latest video technology so they can record your golf swing and analyse it with sophisticated golf improvement software.

Get Set-Up Right

In this game one of the first beginner golf lessons you must master is the set-up. Without a good set-up you are doomed to an eternity of poor golf and frustration. A good set-up creates a chain reaction to the whole golf swing. So what does it entail?

Every good set-up has the body in a very natural and relaxed position that looks like the following (see picture right).

• Feet shoulder width apart – slightly wider for the longer clubs like your driver
• Slight flex in the knees and the upper body bending at the hips
• Arms hanging down comfortably holding onto the club
• Left hip forward with slight upward tilt of left shoulder in Reverse K position

Aim At Your Target

Aim and alignment forms very much a part of the golf set-up above but is so important it deserves a section of its own. In fact the great Jack Nicklaus once said ‘if you’ve mastered the correct aim and alignment you’ve mastered 80% of the game.

Two of the best ways to achieve perfect aim and alignment are as follows:-

• When practising place two alignment in your stance. One should be just above your feet and other one should be just above the golf ball. From here your arms, hips, feet and eyes should be parallel to the left of your target. Hank Haney explains it well below.

• When set up to the golf at the golf driving range get a friend to stand directly behind you. Sometimes we think we are aiming in the right direction when we’re actually a long way off our target.

Get your friend to help guide you on where you are aiming and if your body is alignment to where you want it to be. A second set of eyes is a great help in mastering good alignment.

Swing On The Right Plane 

Every great golf swing rotates around the body in what is known as the golf swing plane. This movement gives the golf club the best chance of returning the golf club to the exact position required to make solid contact with the golf ball.

It’s best explained in the video below as a visual demonstration will help you understand it a lot better.

Grip the Club Correctly

Whilst there are a few different variations of ways to grip the golf club I am going to focus on the most popular. Gripping the golf club correctly is essential to becoming a better golfer as it helps move the clubhead from start finish in a smoother motion.

The interlocking grip is the most popular way to grip the golf club. It’s used by over 90% of touring golf professionals. It allows the hands to work together and control the golf club and best deliver it to the perfect position at impact.

For right handers place the land hand on the grip first holding it in the fingers with the thumb resting on top and slightly to the right of the grip.

Next, the pinkie finger of the right hand should interlock between your index finger and middle finger of your left hand.

Watch this video for a great explanation on the perfect golf grip.

Where Should You Start

The first thing you should do is visit your local golf professional and book in for some beginner golf lessons. What’s great about your local teaching professional is they will go through all of the above tips and cover them in detail and help you implement.

Make sure you ask the professional as many questions as possible to ensure you have a thorough understanding of what they are teaching you.

I hope you got something out of these tips and are ready to start becoming a great golfer.

Let me know if you have any questions as I would love to hear your progress and help wherever I can.

Please leave your comments below  

Does you putter feel sometimes not quite right at address?

You stand over the ball and it feels like you’re going to miss the putt before you’ve even hit it! You resign yourself to another day of missed putt after putt. 

You go looking for the quick fix by changing your grip, your stance or maybe the ball position. Whatever you do you still end up with the same result which is a poorly executed putting stroke and another one missed putt sliding by.

Before you throw your putter away, have a look at the way you grip the putter and you could fix the problem faster than you think. A few slight adjustments to your grip is often all that is needed to start holing putts again.

Here are 3 keys to achieving the best putting grip when things go bad.

Light grip

To get the correct putting grip it’s important that you hold the putter with the right amount of pressure. In other words not too hard and not too light. So what is the right amount of grip pressure required?

Always grip the putter as light as possible whilst still maintaining control of the putter head. You should be able to feel the weight of the putter head in your hands comfortably without too much effort. Too strong a grip pressure adds tension in your forearms and arms and minimises the chances of making a smooth stroke.

Thumbs pointing down

It doesn’t matter what type of putting grip you have such as interlocking, overlapping or hands split. But you must ensure both thumbs are sitting on the putter grip pointing towards the ground.

All great putters of the conventional putter have their thumbs placed this way.

This position is the best putting grip to keep the putter face square right through the putting stroke. It also ensures both hands are working together for a smoother more fluid stroke.

Left arm more upright in one piece with golf putter

In a standard golf shot with an iron or driver there is an angle created at address between the hands and the line of the golf club. However, when you set up for a putt you need to make an adjustment as the putting stroke is a lower, flatter movement which requires a shallower swing path.

Michael Breed explains it perfectly in the video below.

The key is having your left arm sitting more upright at address and almost forming a straight line with the putter. This keeps the putter nicely on plane and optimises your chances of a smooth putting stroke.

Let me know if you have success with these tips, I would love to hear your results. 

Please share your thoughts below …

Photo By: rioncm 

Is your putting stroke leaving you feeling frustrated and angry?

Maybe you’ve even tried changing grips and putters thinking that was the problem?

We’ve all been in the same situation before searching for that allusive tip or secret to the perfect putting stroke.

The good news is finding the perfect putting stroke is a lot easier than you think. You only need to understand some basic fundamentals and you are on your way to holing more putts.

The 3 keys to a solid putting stroke are:-

Maintain a consistent arc

The putting arc is the path that the putter head travels going back and through the golf putting stroke. Golfers either take it back and through on a slight inside path or some prefer to take it straight back and straight through.  Both methods work!

Former PGA Champion Paul Azinger explains both putting strokes here.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, what does matter is that you keep it consistent every time. In other words, if you like to putt on an arc make sure on the downswing that you stay on that same arc. A common fault is pushing the putter head outside of the line and cutting across the golf ball. This causes sidespin on the ball and your putts to move offline.

Conversely if you’re a straight back and through putter maintain that arc. Common faults are to pull or push the putter head across the ball which also result in poorly struck putts starting off line.

Maintain the triangle

To achieve the perfect putting stroke it’s vital that you maintain what is known as the triangle for the entire length of the stroke.

The triangle is formed at address between the shoulders and arms. (see picture right). This triangle is the foundation of every good putting stroke.

The shoulders and arms should rock back and forth from start to finish in one smooth motion. It is often referred to as putting like a pendulum in a grandfather clock.

If you’re not making many putts, this is the first place to look!

No breaking wrists

This forms part of maintaining the triangle but is so important it deserves a headline of its own.

Breaking the wrists is arguably the most common fault I see in golfers with poor putting strokes. It usually sees some hinging of the wrists resulting in the putter head moving offline.

If this is your problem then the fastest way to fix it is to focus on maintaining the triangle above. This ensures both wrists are steady and keeps the putter head smooth and on the correct path back and through the golf ball.   

It’s your turn   

Give these tips a try and develop your own perfect putting stroke. It’s not as hard as you think and soon enough you’ll be dropping putts from everywhere.

Let me know your results, I would love hear from you.

Photos By: wwarby

Have you ever missed the hole completely putting from 2 foot?

Embarrassing isn’t it?

It happens to every golfer at some stage … I’ve seen pros on television do it!

What’s frustrating is you probably spend 20 minutes working on your putting before teeing off. Yet still you find yourself missing putts during your round that don’t even seem to start where you think you were aiming!

Believe it or not poor putting alignment is not always a case of your body not being properly aligned to your target. If you fix a few other key alignment check points you are a great chance of rolling all your putts on the intended target line.

Here are 2 tips to get your putts rolling at your target and falling into the hole more often.

1. Is your putter face really square?

Most putts don’t start on the intended line because of poor aim. Sounds too simple to be true, doesn’t it? However, if you think about it’s really the most logical explanation.

To check which way you are actually aiming trying a couple of things:

Firstly, line up in front of a mirror with a golf ball and try to aim the putter face square. You should be able to tell from the reflection which way your putter face is aiming.

Secondly, line up a 3 foot putt on the practice green and have a friend stand right behind the hole. Get them to tell you which way the putter face is aiming.

The second method works best because a second set of eyes reveals everything. The most common fault I see is a golfer’s putter face being slightly open and aiming to the right of the target. Simply turn the putter face slightly in and your alignment is fixed.

2. The effect of loft on your putter

The loft on your putter could be affecting the direction of your putts more than you think!

Did you know most lofts on putters are different? They vary from 2 – 4 degrees depending on what brand you have. In the case of Scotty Cameron’s (like mine) some have a loft of 4 degrees.

If you’re holding the putter with your hands in line or slightly the behind the ball you are effectively adding an extra degree or two of loft to the putter. It’s like putting with 5 – 6 degrees of loft … which is not far off putting with the same loft as your driver!

How does this extra loft effect your putting? The more loft you have the more difficult it is to hit the golf ball straight and on your target line. 

How to fix? Place your hands and the putter grip slightly ahead of the ball at address. Not only do you want to set up this way but also stay in this position as you stroke the ball.

If you’re not sure of the loft on your putter take it to your local golf professional who can work it out for you in seconds.

Let me know if you have success with these tips, I would love to hear your results. 

Please share your thoughts below …

Photo By: makelessnoise 

This year will see the 77th edition of The Masters take place, the first of golf’s four Major Championships and many a golf fans favourite.

The event, which is never fails to entertain, will take place from 11th-14th April and will see the world’s best golfers compete on the 7,435 yard Augusta National Golf Club which is famous as much for its lightening quick greens as its beautiful surroundings.

It’s officially an invitational event, but there is also a set of qualifying criteria that determines who will be competing for the green jacket. With the smallest field out of all the major championships, The Masters is also one of the most exclusive and sought after golf competitions to compete in.

The event itself is getting closer by the day, so we thought we’d take a look at how the favourites are shaping up ahead of the most anticipated tournament of the year thus far:

Tiger Woods – Winner: 1997, 2001, 2002 & 2005

So far this year Tiger has either been unstoppable or very mediocre. He has won, and won well, at two of his favourite courses – Torrey Pines and Doral – but has by no means played to his best at the other three events he’s entered. 

If Tiger and his putter get along at Augusta then he will be a very difficult man to keep up with. Tiger’s putting game was especially on form in the recent Arnold Palmer tournament where he came out on top and reclaimed his title of being the World’s number 1 golfer.

Even though he hasn’t won the tournament since 2005, he is almost always up near the top of the leader board at the end, so often in fact that he is second in the list for “Most Top 5 Finishes” with 10 – just 5 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is also the most recent player to win the tournament in two consecutive years (2001 & 2002).

Rory McIlroy – T15: 2011

The Northern Irishman’s start to year has certainly not gone the way he would have liked or planned. He received great criticism after famously walking off in the second round whilst trying to defend his Honda Classic title and has also been under pressure from the media for the effect that changing his clubs to Nike has had on his game. On the other hand he finished in a respectable eighth position at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, secured by a final round of 65. This has certainly helped to silence his doubters and make him the bookies second favourite to take the green jacket at Augusta.

The former world number 1 recently claimed that he needs to play more competitive golf before the Masters takes place next week. This came off the back of his pretty average performance at the Houston Open where he struggled in the early stages but fought back to make the cut and finish respectably.

Phil Mickelson – Winner: 2004, 2006 & 2010

Similarly to Woods, Mickelson has been up and down so far this season. He was on fire when whilst on his way to winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open and also played well finishing third in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral. The lefty topped the greens in regulation chart there so he’ll be hoping to carry this form with him to his annual Masters challenge.

Coincidentally, he fought back strongly after a slow start at the Houston Open last week to finish in the top 20 which will definitely give him confidence going into the Masters next week. If he wins this year he’ll have the same number of green jackets as his great rival Tiger Woods!

Brandt Snedeker – T3: 2008

The American was the talk of the town for the opening month and a bit of the season after a rich vein of world-class golf.

He finished third in the first event of the year in Hawaii, runner-up to Tiger at Torrey Pines and again to Mickelson in Phoenix before he justifiably got his hands the trophy following great play at Pebble Beach.

However a rib injury as seen the American miss out on a few tournaments which means he hasn’t played much competitive golf in the lead up to the Masters – this could potentially ruin his chances of taking the Green Jacket at Augusta next week. Saying that, he won the A&T Pebble Beach National Pro AM back in February and has since featured at the Houston Open and the Arnold Palmer invitational.

Justin Rose – T5: 2007

The Englishman has, thus far this season, shown a level of high-class consistency which has only been matched by Brandt Snedeker. He was a lip-out from forcing a play-off in his first tournament of the year in Abu Dhabi and his three starts in America have produced finishes of fourth at the Honda Classic and eighth when defending his WGC-Cadillac Championship crown.

Rose chased Tiger Woods all the way at the recent Bay Hill Invitational and finished just 2 strokes behind in 2nd place. The world number five and Ryder Cup hero will certainly have an outside chance of claiming his first ever major at Augusta National.

The following article was brought to you by Jerome Wright who is a golf writer and enthusiast over at Your Golf Travel.

Is poor putting leading you on the verge of quitting golf for good?

When it comes to playing golf do you find yourself constantly missing short putts? Or maybe you struggle to get the golf ball close to the hole from 20 feet?

It’s easily done and happens to the best golfers from time to time. You put the time in on the practice green but still find yourself missing those must make 4 footers for par. 

The truth is if you are not performing the right fundamentals no amount of practice will stop you missing putts. Practice these fundamentals and better putting in golf is within your reach.  

Here are 4 reasons why your putting sucks right now and how to fix it.

1. Eyes move after hitting the ball 

Every golfer has done this at some stage and you’d be surprised at how often I see it on the golf course. It’s the most common fault I see in poor putters today!

When your eyes move too quickly the shoulders rise and the putter blade opens. Not only is your direction affected but often the putts are hit off centre on the putter face. This results in your putts coming up way too short or too long. 

Focus on keeping your eyes over the ball until it has left the putter face and rolling towards the target. This will ensure a solid strike on the ball and a putt rolling towards your intended target line.

2. Putter face not aiming at your target

It’s the first thing you learn in most sports and golf is no different. If you’re not aiming at your target then your chances of holing any putts are slim.

I was shocked when my golf coach told me on some putts I was aiming about 15 inches offline! Here I was thinking I was aiming at my target and he tells me I’m aiming in another direction!

Use the help of a friend to see if this is your problem. Get them to stand behind the intended target line and have a look at your putter face. You might be surprised at what they point out!

3. Gripping the putter incorrectly

When I talk about the gripping the putter I’m not talking about gripping it either overlap, cross handed, the claw or any other type of grip. I’m talking about the fundamental way the hands should work together on the putting grip.

Regardless of whether you are right or left handed both palms should be facing each other on the grip. Both thumbs should be on the grip pointing towards the ground. Use a mirror to see how your hands are placed on the grip.

This position of the hands is consistent amongst the best putters in the world.

4. Putter blade doesn’t move in unison with the arms and shoulders

A fundamentally sound putting stroke moves similar to a pendulum in a grandfather clock. The arms, hands and shoulders should move in unison with the putter (see picture right).

Any break in the wrists will cause the putter blade to shut closed or flare open and the ball will move offline.

This sequence is a must in all good putting strokes and you should strive to do the same. 

Practice and more practice  

If you suffer from any one of the above putting problems, there’s only way to fix them and that’s practice. Most importantly, practice fixing them the right way!

Grab a mirror, grab a friend or whatever it takes and start working your way through them. Improving your putting in golf is easily done if you follow this advice and add a little bit of persistence.

What’s your biggest putting problem that is holding you back?

Please share your thoughts below …

When it comes to playing wet weather golf do you find yourself struggling to get the ball airborne? Or making any sort of solid contact on the ball at all?

It’s not hard to do because Mother Nature has added an extra degree of difficulty on every shot you play. Instead of the golf club sliding easily through the grass it slows down causing major problems. The grass becomes heavier and thicker making hitting your golf irons especially more difficult.  

The technique you use in dry conditions won’t always work the same in the wet. The  key is to understand how to work with the conditions instead of fighting against them.

Here are 3 valuable tips I’ve learned over the years that work effectively when playing wet weather golf.

1. Slice it out of the Rough

It’s not often I’d recommend playing a slice in golf but sometimes it’s necessary. In fact, slicing across the ball is effective in dry conditions out of the thick rough just as it is in the wet. This is because if the clubhead is square or closed the thick grass tends to grab the clubhead and twist it inwards. It results in a low, fat shot that ends up half way to the target.

Set up slightly left of the target line and open the face up a bit and let the clubhead slide slightly across the ball. The result will be less friction against the wet grass and solid contact with the golf ball.

2. Play Bunkers like Chip Shots

I originally learnt this tip online as an alternative method to playing the traditional style bunker shots in dry conditions. However, when the sand is wet and compacted it works really well too.

Set up similar to a short pitch or chip shot with your feet closer together. Take a half back swing and hit closer to the ball than normal with plenty of speed. Hold off or abbreviate the follow through and punch the shot out. This finishing movement is the key & where the real success in this shot comes.

You’ll find the ball pops out quite easily with a little bit of backspin making it easier to get closer to the hole.

3. Go with an Extra Club

Playing wet weather golf you not only get less run on the fairways but less bounce off the clubface. Allow for this on just about every shot you play including your putting.

Any water that gets caught between the clubhead and the golf ball will reduce the amount of power you generate behind your shots. This is especially true for iron shots and fairway woods off the grass.

What to do next

It’s difficult to practice these wet weather golf tips until you actual find yourself in the situation. My advice is to write them down in a notebook and keep safe in your golf bag. This way you can refer to it when you need it most after the heavens have opened up during a round.

What have you learnt playing in wet conditions that has helped your game?

Is there some other technique or strategy that has really made a difference to your game?

Photos By: Phil Hawksworth & Emaringolo

Golf as we know it is under threat.

Technology advances are transforming every golfer into a big hitter, and risk fundamentally changing the dynamic of the game we know and love.

It’s a time when strong leadership is needed but the R&A and USGA’s recent handling of the long putter ban has proved beyond doubt that they have totally lost touch with the game.

The hierarchy must change.

The Problem with the Long Putter Ban

I’m certainly no fan of the long putter, but by deciding to delay the ban until 2016, the R&A and USGA have missed a huge opportunity to give players a fresh slate now.

Let’s face it; tensions are already building between players and fans.

At December’s Tiger World Challenge a fan yelled, “You’re a cheat!” to Keegan Bradley, and incidents like this are only likely to increase. So why wait until 2016?

The long putter ban has become an unnecessary distraction. Instead of focusing on a piece of equipment used only by the minority of golfers, the R&A and USGA needs to put its energy into tackling the wider issue.

The Real Threat in Professional Golf

It’s no secret that technology in golf is changing the very way we play the game compared to 20 years ago.

Golf courses once feared for their length are changing to accommodate the ever increasing distances professional golfers are hitting. Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the US Masters has progressively moved its tee blocks back over the last 10 years to combat the issue.

Technology in golf balls and driver heads are at the centre of the biggest technology improvements in recent years. No fewer than 16 players on the US PGA tour in 2013 are averaging over 300 yards compared with just one in the year 2000.

Technology Out of Control

No question a lot of today’s professional golfers are great athletes. Players like Dustin Johnson are so gifted that he could have played either professional basketball or golf. However, the improvements made in driver heads and golf balls have had more of a significant impact on golfer’s scores than the physical attributes of the players. 

Golf manufacturers are producing driver heads that seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year. The R&A and USGA have at least capped it at 460cc which is a positive … but is this enough? In the last few years we’ve seen the introduction of adjustable drivers that golfer’s can set up to manipulate the club head to help promote a desired ball flight every time.

It doesn’t end there.

Golf balls have advanced far beyond where they were 20 years ago. Yes, a certain amount of advancement was necessary to improve ball longevity, but distance-wise it is out of control. Every new model golf ball out today goes farther than its predecessor.

When will it stop?

What the R&A and USGA Need to do

The R&A and USGA need to stand up and tackle the real issue with professional golf — technology.

While advancements in certain aspects of golf are good for the game, we can’t have players continually hitting farther and farther every year, forcing golf courses to change their layouts to keep up.

Golf has always been a game of shot making where only the very best golfers would prevail over four championship rounds. The people in control of our game need to get golf back to these days.

Stronger leadership is needed to tackle technology head on to help provide a fair and equal playing field for all to enjoy – now and in the future.

Over to you:

- Do you think technology in golf has gone too far?

- What do you think the R&A and USGA should be focusing on to improve the game of golf?