Learn From Watching (and Reading) the Pros
This week I have been watching some golf tournaments on TV – the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera course in Los Angeles. I've been trying to pay attention to what the pros do and learn from them. I found this article – Learn to Play Golf by watching Golf on TV – that I thought was very helpful. In addition to the points made in that article, I also try to watch how the players use their balance, shift their weight on their feet and rotate around their torso. This is because I just finished reading an excellent book – The Natural Golf Swing by George Knudson. In this book George dispels the notion that we need to concentrate on a million different actions in our swing and focus on our balance and the target, not the swing and the ball. Learn to relax! I have found this advice very helpful and highly recommend the book.
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Anger and Golf
Yesterday, I was watching Amazing Golf Videos on the golf channel. They had a segment on which they showed all these famous golfers getting frustrated and angry and throwing their clubs, smashing them against trees, pitching them into the water, bending them over their heads, as well as cursing and generally putting on a lousy display. Now, I'm really not a fan of this kind of behavior. The other day I also saw an interview with Tom Watson about Tiger Woods and his predicament. He wasn't so concerned about Tiger's personal life as he was about his angry behavior on the golf course, exhibiting the kinds of activities I just mentioned. I agree with Tom. Here are some of my thoughts on the matter.
- These kinds of actions make people around you feel uncomfortable. It's just rude and self-centered to do this to the people who are playing with you or have paid good money to see you play.
- Golf clubs are expensive. There are lots and lots of people out there who would like to have such a nice club as the one you are willing to toss away. It's just privileged behavior to do this – better to give the offending club to your caddy and have him or her donate it somewhere. There are good school programs for high school students learning to play golf that I'm sure would love to have them.
- Tantrums are very childish and make you look bad. Mature people control these kinds of emotions in public at least.
- Anger is bad for you and affects your physical health as well as produces stress that gets in the way of your game.
In the book I referred to in a previous post, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose, the authors have an entire chapter addressing this issue. This chapter, called "Anger Makes You Stupid" provides a lot of information about the negative effect anger has on your game, as well as some good advice on how to deal with it.
My advice: get your anger under control. You, and everyone around you, will have a better time on the course.
Playing Golf Inside
So, today it's 24 degrees out with a chance of snow, but I discovered a golf dome! This dome, located at the White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville, IL is a great place to go practice in the winter. It has a terrific driving range, with about 30 sites for the driving range, as well as a very nice putting practice green. It is nicely equipped with a lounge, food and beverages, restrooms, etc., and the staff are very friendly and helpful. So now, no matter what the weather, I can go out and get my golf "fix." It's not the same as playing on a course, but it sure beats sitting at home and thinking about golf. Maybe there's a golf dome near you as well.
Off the Tee, Into the Tree
So I'm sitting here playing some armchair golf by watching the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour in Torrey Pines, CA. Ryan Palmer (no relationship to Arnold Palmer although many people assume he is) hit a ball into a Eucalyptus tree and it lodged in the branches. As Golfer Newbies we are more likely than most to hit our balls off the fairways and into the trees, so I looked up the rules related to golf balls in trees. There are three options related to your ball being in a tree:
- You can climb the tree and play it where it lays, which then does not cost you a stroke, but is an unlikely scenario, although there have been cases on the PGA tour when this has indeed occurred.
- If you can positively identify your ball, you can play the ball two club lengths from the spot on the ground directly under the ball in the tree and take a one stroke penalty.
- If you can't play the ball in the tree and can't positively identify it as yours within five minutes, you have to take a penalty stroke and go back to the place the last stroke was played.
In this case, Ryan could not positively identify his ball, in part because there were several balls in the tree. So, he had to go back to the previous stroke location, which in this case was the tee. This did not do anything for his game today.
An interesting side note: the commentators said that one of these trees was cut down last week following damage from all the storms they had in California and they found 500! balls lodged in it. Amazing.
Winter Golf
Lately I've been feeling frustrated about not being able to get out and play golf in the winter here in Chicago and antsy to go somewhere I could play. Then I got the brilliant idea to see if there were any places I could play around here in the winter. I found the following list – this made me happy because Fresh Meadows is where I go to the driving range, and I got a gift certificate to play there for Christmas. So, as soon as it gets above 32 I'm going out! I'll let you know how it goes. You might consider researching your area — I just googled "winter golf in chicago."Winter Golf Around Chicago
Cog Hill Country Club
12294 Archer Avenue
Lemont, Illinois
630-257-5872
Winter green fee: Weekdays – $32, Weekends – $37
Loacation: 30-minutes from Midway Airport, 45-minutes from O'Hare Airport
Fresh Meadow Golf Course
Wolf and Cermak Roads
Hillside, Illinois
708-449-3434
Winter green fee: Weekday – $30, Weekends – $32
Location: 25-minutes from O'Hare Airport, 40-minutes from Midway Airport
Country Lakes Golf Club
1601 Fairway Drive
Naperville, Illinois
630-420-1060
Winter green fee: Weekdays/Weekends – $10
Location: 40-minutes from O'Hare Airport, 50-minutes from Midway Airport
Green Garden Country Club
Manhattan-Monee Road
Frankfort, Illinois
815-469-3350
Winter green fee: Weekday – $14, Weekends – $22
Location: 60-minutes from O'Hare Airport, 45-minutes from Midway Airport
Golf Cart Rules and Etiquette
While in California a couple of weeks ago I played my first round using a golf cart. It's lucky I was with some experienced players, because I realized I had no clue about what rules apply to golf carts. So, when I came back, I researched the topic. Below is an excerpt of an article I found that clears up most of my confusion.Observe the Rules of the Cart Paths
By Brent Kelley, About.com Guide
Cart Path Only
A "cart-path-only rule" is exactly what it sounds like: Keep your cart on the designated cart path at all times. Don't drive onto the grass.
Over time, golf carts speed up soil compaction, which can lead to less-than-ideal growing conditions for turfgrasses. And that can lead to less-than-ideal fairways for golfers. So even when "cart path only" is not in effect, it's a good idea to keep the cart on the designated path.
But when the rule is in effect, it's a requirement.
When "cart path only" is in effect, drive the cart on the designated path until you are parallel to where your golf ball rests on the course. Stop the cart, get out, pull a couple clubs (so you'll have some options when you reach your ball), and walk out to the ball.
90-Degree Rule In Effect
The "90-degree rule" means that the golf course is allowing carts onto the grass – but only at 90-degree angles from the cart path. In other words, don't drive the golf cart up the middle of the fairway from the tee box to your golf ball. Stay on the cart path until you are parallel to your golf ball, then turn off the cart path and drive straight to the ball.
The "90-degree rule" minimizes the time a golf cart spends rolling over the grass, while still allowing convenience for golfers.
Cart Path Only on Holes X and X
A course may post signs that designate certain holes off-limits to carts, for example, "Cart path only on No. 4 and No. 16 today." In this situation, the course's regular golf cart rules apply (remember, ask when checking in), but on the specified holes you are required to keep the cart on the designed cart path. The reason is usually moisture on the specified holes – they may be too wet for carts – or ground under repair on the specified holes.
No Carts Beyond This Point
This sign is one you might see in a fairway as you close in on the green. Courses don't want golf carts near the putting green; the "no carts beyond this point" sign makes sure golfers get that message. Even if you are allowed to drive the cart on the fairway, be sure to observe these signs. When you see one, stop and return to the designated cart path before proceeding forward again.
This sign may also come in the form of an arrow pointing toward the cart path. The meaning is the same: Don't take the cart beyond this point on the fairway; go back to the cart path.
Finding Individual Irons
I have been finding it very difficult and frustrating trying to find individual women's irons. The big stores seem to have woefully small selections. When you go in the big box golf stores, you can rarely even find a decent selection of individual wedges and putters for women, and women's irons only in sets. Well, I don't want a complete set. I don't need a complete set. I can't afford a complete set. However, after spending a significant amount of time researching on the internet, I found Morton Golf Sales (I have applied to be an affiliate and should be posting a link in the sidebar soon). They have a very large selection of women's (and men's) individual clubs and I am transferring my loyalty to them effective immediately. Do you have other sources? Let me know.
New Format for Blog
If you've been here before you no doubt have noticed this site has a new format. I haven't finished fixing all the little quirks, but I wanted to create my own custom template – the previous one was an off-the-shelf theme. If something isn't working on the site, please let me know and I'll fix it.
Practice with a Purpose
In an earlier post I mentioned a book I am enjoying called Every Shot Must Have a Purpose. I thought the chapter on practicing with a purpose was especially helpful. Some of the main points in that chapter are:
- Have a plan when you go to the practice range
- Hitting balls for an hour is not a plan
- Change your target with each shot
- Change your club after each shot
- Putt with one ball to several holes rather than several balls to one hole
- Chip and then putt
- Create a par-2 course around the practice green
- Great play begins with thoughtful practice
These tips are designed to simulate what actually happens when you play a round of golf. Not only am I finding them helpful in improving my game, but they make practice much more fun as well.
Walk It Off
This morning I was reading the January 2010 issue of Golf Magazine where I found the following factoid.
"2,900: Number of calories burned by golfers who walk 36 holes a week, which could translate into a 40-pound weight loss over one year, according to a study by the Rose Center for Health and Sports Science in Denver. The study also concluded that on average, walkers score better."
Now, I don't know how I could possibly fit in 36 holes a week while working, since that would take at least 8 hours (not to mention I don't know anyplace in Chicago I can play in the winter) and I am not yet retired. Also, I can barely make it through 18 holes while riding in a golf cart. However, I think I could fit in 2 9-hole outings that included walking the course, so if I can figure out how to do that in the winter, it could mean 20 lbs loss a year, and that's something I can definitely use. It would be great to be in terrific shape by the time I do retire – sometime in the next four years.
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