Ritson-Sole Consolidated Feed

How to Hit a High Soft Bunker Shot

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 21:04:11 +0000

The high soft bunker shot is quite different from your average bunker shot. In this month’s video golf tip, Mel Sole explains how to eliminate hip movement and also discusses stance and ball position to help you master the high soft bunker shot.

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Tee Time by the Beach

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 01:03:04 +0000

We were recently featured in an article called Tee Time by the Beach. If you’re interested in South Carolina Real Estate, check out some of what they have to offer for Myrtle Beach, SC Real Estate.

Here’s an excerpt:

In essence, if anyone is seeking to excel in their golf game, Mel Sole is the person to seek out. He has continued to further his teaching skills over the years by constantly attending seminars and training meetings on instruction.

While Sole admits that much of their training deals with basic ‘muscle memory” and mistakes that beginner golfers make, they also cater to professional golfers as well. Sole says, “Our programs are designed for all levels of golfer, from rank beginner to low handicappers who are aspiring to compete at a professional level. More of our students are intermediate players & novice golfers than highly skilled players.”

Read the full article here.

How to Take a Divot

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 03:22:53 +0000

When you take a good strip of earth up as your club strikes the ball—a divot—it’s a good indication that you made a good swing. Like all things golf, the key to success is in the details, in this case: your sternum. Watch Mel Sole identify the common problem with this type of shot and describe how you can improve this important aspect of your game.

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Master Fairway Woods With the Extension Drill

Mon, 04 May 2015 22:01:28 +0000

A high percentage of golfers have problems getting the ball airborne with fairways woods, particularly women. Indeed, fairway woods are an exact club that demand perfect technique. In this video golf tip, Mel discusses the keys to hitting fairway woods solidly, and shares the “Extension Drill” to help you have more success with these difficult shots.

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Putting Drills: The Ultimate 6-Week Drill to Improve Putting

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:13:28 +0000

One of the key skills that sets amateur and professional golfers apart is a repeatable, square-to-square putting stroke. To help you put like a pro, Mel Sole describes a 6-week training drill designed to improve your putting accuracy. While 6 weeks is no quick fix, the time and effort you invest into this drill will give your short game a solid foundation.

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Want Lower Scores? Manage Your Game!

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 11:30:58 +0000

With spring right around the corner, now’s a great time to get an early kick start to your golf game. For this month’s video golf tip, Mel Sole shares his insights on an oft-neglected area of the game: course management. Course management is so critical to scoring well that you definitely don’t want to miss out on Mel’s great advice. Watch now!

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How to Play Out of Soft & Fluffy Bunkers

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 01:24:25 +0000

Unless you’re playing the PGA Tour, it’s likely that you’re playing courses with bunkers that have varying textures of sand, from hard pan to soft and fluffy. Learning how to manage these tricky situations is critical to lowering your scores.

Last year, Mel Sole shared three pro tips for playing out of hard bunkers. As mentioned, the approach for playing hard bunkers versus soft bunkers is quite different. On location in Mexico, Mel explains the key to successful shots out of soft, fluffy sand in this month’s video golf tip. Watch now!

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Practice With Purpose: Full Swing

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:25:50 +0000

Did golf improvement make it onto your list of New Year’s resolutions this year? If you need a bit of help sticking to your goal, you’ll definitely want to watch this month’s video golf tip. Mel revisits the theme of “practicing with purpose” to show you how to improve your swing efficiently and effectively. Watch now!

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Proper Hip Movement = More Powerful Golf Swing

Thu, 04 Dec 2014 01:43:41 +0000

Proper hip movement plays a key role in a great golf swing, helping you maximize power and club head speed. There’s a subtlety to correct hip rotation: not just a simple turn of the hips, it’s actually a sequence of weight shift and hip rotation.

In this month’s video golf tip, Mel Sole explains proper hip movement and demonstrates an easy drill you can do with a soccer ball to get a better feel for the correct motion. Watch now!

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How To Control Trajectory

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 02:17:17 +0000

One of the keys to becoming a better golfer is learning to control the trajectory of the golf ball with your swing. This skill will get you out of numerous difficult situations on the course. In this month’s video golf tip, Mel Sole shares the secrets of trajectory control, from ball position to follow through.

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Successful Student: Christopher Marsh

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 14:52:31 +0000

Coker College Men’s Golf Team, Hartsville SC

Highest ranked Division II Player in the USA – Oct. 2008
Ranked 7th on GolfStat Cup rankings – Oct. 2008 (all divisions of College Golf in USA)

Chris has been coached at the Mel Sole Golf School since he was 11 years old, and continues to be a student today.

Without the help of Mel Sole, I couldn’t have accomplished what I did this year. Mel’s knowledge of the swing and his ability to make me understand what I need to do to compete at the highest level is huge. One of the most important things Mel worked with me on was tightening up my swing. He was able to minimize the number of moving parts in my swing, so it is now simple and reliable. Very important for my college team tournaments. I recommend that you take instruction with Mel Sole, no matter what your skill level. He has a passion for teaching golf that will leave you excited about playing and practicing.

Photo source: Chris Marsh – A Cobra Golf Great

Changing Your Golf Swing By Influencing Your Subconscious Mind

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 23:47:01 +0000

If you’re like most golfers, you’ve learned that changing your golf swing isn’t something that happens overnight. Even if you know what you need to do, getting your body to do it is another matter. That’s because your swing is a series of habits that reside in the subconscious. To change your swing then, you need to consciously undo the subconscious memory of your swing and store a new memory into your subconscious via repetition. While this isn’t a shortcut to a better swing, understanding how the conscious and subconscious mind interact with one another and learning to influence your subconscious, will help you improve your mechanics and make you a better player mentally.

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Successful Student: Lorraine Ballerano

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:59:34 +0000

Duramed Futures Tour Player 2007, 2008 & 2009

Lorraine has been a student of the Mel Sole Golf School since she was 11 years old. She captained the North Carolina State Golf Team, and was a quarter finalist in the US Women’s Amateur Tournament in 2005.

Lorraine continues to work with Teaching Pro Mel Sole on all aspects of her game, and hopes to advance to the LPGA tour in the near future.

Successful Students: LPGA Tour Players

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:04:32 +0000

These LPGA Tour Players have all been coached by Jennifer Shillington at our Greenville South Carolina golf school.

Mary Beth Zimmerman, Winner of 4 LPGA events
Deana D’Alessio, Top 5 LPGA finisher
Jennifer Hanna, Top 10 LPGA finisher
Nina Foust
Angie Ridgeway

Successful Students

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 14:10:14 +0000

We’re proud to have worked with some fantastic students over the years. In the next few blog posts, I’ll highlight students who have relied on us for coaching and enjoyed great success in the golf world. Without further ado…

Trevor Gliwski
PGA Pro. Trevor won the Massachusetts State Amateur as a college player while being coached at the Mel Sole Golf School.

Jeremy Pope
Professional player on several mini-tours in the USA. Course record holder at 13 top South Carolina golf courses.

Scott Blundo
Finalist in the 2008 Texas Mid-Amateur Tournament in Dallas, TX. Scott has been a student at the Mel Sole Golf School for several years.

“Thanks for the special attention at school. You really know your trade, and I admire your passion for instruction.”

David English
Winner of club championship in 2007 at DeBordieu Club in Pawleys Island, SC.

“I never could have won without the help of Mel Sole, a great golf teacher.”

John Miller
Winner of club championship in 2008 at DeBordieu Club in Pawleys Island.

“Your instruction over the last 3 years enabled me to win my Club Championship. Thank You.”

Are You Ready for Golf School?

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 14:30:57 +0000

Here are some tips to help prepare you for golf school and make your experience at the Mel Sole Golf School a real success.

Do: Some flexibility exercises daily for at least two weeks prior to golf school. You will be hitting a lot of balls and if your muscles are not used to stretching, you will feel a little stiff the next day. Below are some recommendations:

Take your driver, put it across your shoulders, and do a slow twisting motion to duplicate the golf motion. Start slowly and do several repetitions daily.
Take a club into the yard and swing back and forth in a nice rhythmical motion starting with five minutes and gradually building up the fifteen minutes. Use a weighted club if you have one.

Do: Buy both a left and a right handed glove if you are not used to practicing or have soft hands. The last thing you want to spoil your learning experience is blisters. The school provides band-aids, but a glove on the hand is worth two band-aids on the finger.

Don’t: Come to golf school with unrealistic expectations. Golf school is a learning experience not a miracle cure. You may experience some frustrating moments as your body adapts to the changes needed to make you a better golfer. Be prepared to see gradual changes as you practice, and be persistent and patient in your leaning process. Finally, relax and have fun. You’re on your way to great golf!

Mel Sole On Golf Talk Radio’s Hooked on Hickories

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 22:58:40 +0000

South African golf instructor Mel Sole recently joined host Mitch Laurance on Golf Talk Radio’s Hooked on Hickories show for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on the topics golf in South Africa, students, teaching, his wife Rose, and three legendary South African figures who influenced his own life and career: Hall of Famer Gary Player, world-renowned instructor Phil Ritson and Nelson Mandela.

Of particular interest is Mel’s most recent honor, and the one that reflects a lifetime of service to the game both in South Africa and the US: being presented Master Professional status by the South African PGA. Mel is only the second teacher living outside of South Africa to achieve the status. Listen as Mel describes the ceremony at the iconic Royal Johannesburg Kensington Golf Club, what the prestigious award means to him, and how it brings him full circle to the club where he got his start as an assistant professional long ago. It is clearly an emotional moment, and makes for a great start to the show!

Listen Here!

Top 5 Reasons To Choose South Africa For Your Next Golf Vacation

Fri, 13 Dec 2013 21:00:20 +0000

November ’13 Trip Reveals a Rejuvenated South Africa

I’ve just returned from escorting a small group for Golf & Safari to the nation of my birth, South Africa. While the country’s spectacular scenery and the game-viewing safari always elicit oohs and aahs, this time I found new reasons to be impressed.

South Africa is enjoying a renovated and expanded infrastructure, and I found the airports, freeways and highways offered easier access and were cleaner than some in the USA. I witnessed growth in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and found services provided by people of all colors to be exemplary. While there are still many challenges for this emerging nation, there is also great pride and confidence.

How does all of this affect you? I offer you the Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Golf & Safari Trip To South Africa for your next vacation:

1. THE BIG FIVE SAFARI: Imagine photographing lions, elephant, buffalo, leopards and rhinoceros from 20 yards away, in their natural habitat. The oldest and most respected privately-owned game preserve is Mala Mala. I’ve visited others, but Mala Mala provides an unrivaled wildlife experience.

2. THE SCENERY: Cape Town, in particular, offers a visual feast of pristine beaches, rocky bays, and broad glacial valleys. Majestic Table Mountain provides a dramatic backdrop to the city and bay below. Think coastal California on steroids, relocated to a sunnier climate!

3. THE WINE ROUTE: South Africa is famous for its fine wines, which they’ve been cultivating since 1600. Visit the Stellenbosch region, near Cape Town, to view over 15 wine estates, taste a wide variety of vintages, and enjoy lunch from terraces that look down over spectacular green vineyards.

4. THE WEATHER: Go in late October or November, which is late Spring/early Summer. You’ll experience warm, sunny days with a high of 72 and slightly cooler temperatures in the evenings. A great escape from the onset of winter at home. And perfect for playing South Africa’s best golf courses!

THE VALUE: We marveled every day at the low cost of enjoying meals, wine, and buying gifts. The American dollar buys “$10 worth” of goods in South Africa, as it takes 10 Rands (S.A. Currency) to equal $1.00 USD. Very affordable!

Let me know if you have visited South Africa. Leave a comment below and share your stories with me or make inquiries for a future visit to South Africa.

For more info about the Mel Sole Golf School, please call (843) 237-4993 or toll-free 1-800-624-4653.

Photos From Our 2013 South Africa Golf & Safari Vacation

Mel Sole Earns Master Professional Status With SA PGA

Tue, 03 Dec 2013 03:13:32 +0000

Myrtle Beach Golf Instructor Mel Sole has been receiving accolades from golf industry pundits for his teaching since 1991. Both GOLF magazine and Golf Digest have named him a “Top Teacher,” the Mel Sole Golf School has remained on GOLF magazine’s “Top USA Golf Schools” list since it debuted in 1999, and the golf school has received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence awards for 2012 and 2013. Now the PGA of South Africa, where Mel has retained membership since 1966, has awarded Sole the coveted Master Professional status.

Master Professional is the highest category on the PGA pyramid and reserved only for the “legends” of the game. At present, there are just 18 Master Professionals in the South African PGA, and Mel is one of only two who live outside of South Africa. These individuals have made significant contributions to the PGA and to the game of golf during their career. A Master Professional has achieved great accomplishments in all aspects of their profession, such as Player, Club Pro, Teacher, Mentor, etc.

“It’s been my life’s ambition to attain the status of Master Professional. I have people to thank, such as my mentor, Phil Ritson, for their many contributions to my career over the years,” said Sole.

Are You Up For Some Family Golf This Summer?

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:42:22 +0000

One question I hear often is “How young should I start my child in golf?” When a child expresses a desire to swing the club, that’s when you start. Even children under 5 years can learn golf skills if you make it fun for them.

I like to start Juniors off by helping them to get the ball in the hole from a short distance. They see quicker results this way and it’s much easier to putt than to perform the full swing.

How can you guarantee the fun factor for your children? Play games! For example:

Best of Three … On the practice putting green, hit three balls each at the same hole. Closest to the hole gets five points, second-closest three, and third-closest one. Play three holes and add up the scores. Winner gets ice cream.
Blind-Man’s Bluff … Have a short putting contest, only you putt with your eyes closed!

I then move on to chipping and short pitch shots, and include contests to see who can get the ball closest to the targets I’ve set out. The kids yell with excitement when they compete on my obstacle courses (I set up plastic dishes, cups and pails in strategic places on the tee area), and cheer their friends on. Little prizes bring smiles to their faces and keep them feeling positive about themselves.

As your children progress and move on to the full swing, take them to a Par 3 course. These fit their skill level and they can learn about bogeys, pars and birdies.

Want proof that this approach works? All of my Juniors, including a once terribly shy young girl of 7, have grown to love the game and have made it onto their high school and/or collegiate teams. My opinion is that if you make it fun to learn golf, it will be their game of a lifetime.

Did you know? KIDS LEARN & PLAY FREE at the Mel Sole Golf School and their affiliated National Golf Management courses in the Myrtle Beach SC area.

For more information about the Mel Sole Golf School call (843) 237-4993 or toll-free at (800) 624-4653.