Golfer Newbies

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

While I was in California my sister-in-law took me to a very nice golf store called Roger Dunn (near the Mission Viejo Mall). One of the things I bought while I was there was a book called Every Shot Must Have a Purpose by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. This has turned out to be a really great book and is changing the way I think about my strokes and my scores. The front flap says,

“Unlike any other golf book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose offers cutting-edge techniques for integrating the physical, technical, mental, emotional and social parts of a player’s game. The book’s revolutionary pre-shot routine improves a player’s focus, leading to a golf swing that is not only successful but can be repeated under extreme pressure. Emphasizing the individual golfer rather than a rigid set of mechanics, their VISION54 method takes the frustration out of the game.”

Now, I recognize that the book flap is meant to make high claims for the book so that people will read it, but in the case I have found it to be true. When I apply the principles of the book my shots are much better. So, I highly recommend this book. It has a foreword by Annika Sorenstam and she recommends it highly as well.

Well, from a golf standpoint, being back in Chicago after 2 weeks in California doesn’t have too many advantages, but today I did get to participate in the “Great Eskimo Shoot Out” at the Fresh Meadows Practice Center. The deal was, if you bought one small bucket of balls (50 balls) you got another one free. There was a large plastic tub out on the range at about 75 yards. At the end of your practice, you got five extra balls. The golf pro watched, and if you got any in the bucket you got a prize – there were prizes for 1, 2, 3, 4 and all 5 balls getting in. I didn’t get any in, either during my practice or with my last five balls, but I did manage to hit the bucket 4 times from rolling balls. Overall, I was very pleased with how generally straight my shots were, and the pro even commented on that. And, it was great fun playing in the winter. Snow on the ground, light flurries coming down, lots of people having fun trying to hit the bucket. If you live in a cold climate, you might see if your driving range has something like this you can participate in.

In a previous post I mentioned the importance of putting in improving your overall scores. There was a brief sidebar in the Sports section of the Wall Street Journal on November 28, 2009 that provided some interesting data in support of this.

“LIKE THEY SAY, IT’S THE SHORT GAME

Go figure: none of the PGA Tour’s top 10 players in greens in regulation for 2009 won a tournament. But six players who led a tournament field in putting won that event, while five who led the field in getting up-and-down did likewise. Only one driving distance-leader for a tournament, Dustin Johnson, son that event. – J.P.N.”

So, even though it’s a lot of fun to go out on the driving range and hit the long-distance balls, you’ll likely get more bang for your buck by working hard on your putting.

For those of you who have been following my blog and wonder why nothing has been updated – well, it’s because I have been in California playing golf. Lucky me! I apologize for being away so long, but it was worth it. Although, that being said, I had my worst game ever back at the Lake Forest 9-hole course. I did get to go play at another course while I was there – Casta del Sol. It is a beautiful short 18-hole public course near Lake Mission Viejo. My first 18-hole game. I won’t tell you my score, but I will say that I did have some really great shots that I was very pleased with. In that game, I played with my brother Rob, my sister-in-law Carrie, and Carrie’s mother Mary. Mary told us a story about a time she played at Casta del Sol. The first hole starts up on a hill and at the bottom there is a little ditch with a creek running through it. Mary teed off and her ball lofted high and then plunk went straight down into the ditch. She heard something when it hit the creek, but didn’t know what it was. When she went to retrieve the ball, there, laying on it’s back, wings outstretched was a dead duck. I’m not sure Mary will ever get over it, but it does give new meaning to someone yelling “duck!”