Basic Golf for Beginner - Part 5: Putting

"Drive for show, putt for dough" is the lesson we’ve all seen and learned from watching professional golfers in every tournament and championship.

The masters of golf can drive a ball from here to eternity, but it all boils down to how many strikes of the ball it takes to put the ball in the hole. The long accurate drives don’t amount to anything if you’re unable to putt accurately.

Choosing a putter is important, but using whatever putter you have consistently is more so. I’ve had the same putter for fifteen years; I know what it feels like in my hand, I know its weight and how that plays into my putts.

Putting takes lots of practice. Typically, we drive the ball eighteen times in a game, but putt at least double that number. Doesn’t it stand that we should practice our putting at least twice as much as driving? If you can’t get to the practice green regularly, practice on your carpet at home.

Keep in mind that no ball can make it into the hole if it doesn’t have enough power behind the ball to get there. Take the time to get down and look at the path from your ball to the hole; does it slant one way or the other? Is it uphill or downhill?

Stand with your feet spread for balance and line up the putt. Keep you hands, arms and shoulders
completely still; imagine that you are a "bobble head" but you move from just below your chest. Keep your head directly over the ball. Pull your club back; keep your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders steady-the movement comes from your chest. Hit the ball, following it with your club.

Learn from each putt and remember the lesson. Perfect practice, make perfect !!

Basic Golf for Beginner - Part 4: Golf Short Game

We’ve all the seen the long accurate drives of Tiger Woods. The ball flies through the air and lands in the middle of the fairway, 300 yards away.

The green-eyed monster of envy consumes us as we wonder if we could ever hope to drive like that. Fortunately, long drives are not the be-all-end-all game of golf.

Enter the short game. Without good short game skills, all the long drives are for naught.

The short game is those shots that get us onto the green from about one hundred feet out, be it from the fairway, a bunker, the rough or a drop zone and includes chips, sand shots and pitches.

This is where your higher numbered clubs would be used, as well as your pitching iron, sand wedge or lob wedge.

Most golf courses have practice areas as well as a driving range. Spend some time working on hitting your ball onto the green from different distances. Aim for a ten-foot circle in the center of the green at first. Experiment using your wedges; what works for someone else, might not work for you and your particular swing.

After you get accustomed to doing this drill consistently, it’s time to spend some time in a sand trap. Knowing how to get the ball out of a trap will cut your score.

 Plant your feet firmly into the sand, with your left foot turned toward the hole. Imagine a 4-inch circle around the ball and try to hit the edge of the circle that is away from the ball.

Take lots of sand with your ball and swing completely. Don’t decelerate at all when or after you hit the ball. It should pop up onto the green and stop. This doesn’t work unless the sand is very soft and powdery. On hard surfaces, you might need to avoid actually hitting the sand.

As in all aspects of the game, only practice will help you to improve.

Basic Golf for Beginner - Part 3: Golf Long Game

Golf long game refers to your drives (shots off the tee) and fairway shots; everything short of the shots you make to get onto the green.

Each hole has a different difficulty level, different par and distinctive hazards, so instructing you to use your Driver on every tee would be blatantly wrong.

This is something you will learn over time as you learn the various shots you make according to the club, the placement of the ball and your personal swing.

Generally speaking, the lower the club number, the longer and lower your ball will go. A 4-iron shot will travel long and low and will most likely roll, whereas a 9-iron shot will have much more loft and go less distance both in the air and on the ground.

The professionals on television make it look so easy; they consistently hit the ball long and straight and never miss-hit the ball making it dribble ten feet, or completely miss the ball.

Driving is very important to the game, and many hours spent at the driving range will help improve your distance. Experiment with the same club to see what works for you if you move the ball forward or backward in your stance. Take a lesson, if possible, and learn the proper swing from the beginning.

Mastering the long game helps you get to the green in fewer strokes, keeping your score and frustration level down. Remember that it takes a long time to learn consistency and remember, Enjoy and have fun!

Basic Golf for Beginner - Part 2: What to keep in your golf bag

There are a lot of golf bags available on the market. Some designed for fashion, some for utility and some that combine both features. There are big bags, bigger bags and bags so big that they would keep everything you need for a long weekend vacation in one of the side pockets!

Nike Golf Bag

Generally speaking, you need a bag just large enough to hold your clubs, extra balls, your glove, tees, car keys, extra pencils, ball markers, a ball retriever, sunscreen, a windbreaker and a large umbrella.

It is also a good idea to have a packet of tissues, a band-aid or two, and if you play courses where insects are a problem, a can of bug repellent comes in very handy.

A small pack of baby wipes come in very handy; in your bag they get warmed by the heat, so when you get sweaty or a sand trap covered you with sand, a nice warm wipe can be very refreshing.

Some people happen to be allergic to bees, hornets and wasps, so a Epipen is an important addition to my bag. For people who hypoglycemic so to carry carry Lifesavers, which has to be replaced several times throughout the year because they tend to melt.

One item that doesn’t need to be in your golf bag is your cell phone. If you must carry it, turn off the ringer as a courtesy to other players. If you must use it, be aware of others who might be taking a swing or putting their ball. Be considerate!

Having these items in your golf bag should provide everything you will need, even in a minor emergency(like a blister) or a major inconvenience, like a sudden rainstorm. Being prepared makes the game a great deal more fun.

Fun Things to Do in St. Andrews, Scotland

One of the great things about playing golf in St. Andrews is the wonderful, quaint village lifestyle. Beyond the phenomenal golf courses, there's a wealth of great activities to enjoy.

To extend your golf enjoyment away from the fairways, here are five activities to enhance your experience:

British Golf Museum-Conveniently located a 5-minute walk from the town center and across the street from The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse, this well organized, recently renovated museum will immerse you in the history of golf. There are thousands of items detailing more than 500 years of history with exhibitions, hands on activities and extracts from the R&A’s film archive. You’ll see clubs, balls, clothing, trophies, medals, films, photographs, artwork and books on display. 

Himalayas Putting Course—Home to the St. Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club since 1867, this roller coaster-like course, adjacent to the Old Course, allows you to practice uphill, downhill and sidehill putts. All you need is a putter and a willingness to have fun. The course is open from April to the end of September (7 days a week) and there is a slight fee with discounts for senior citizens and under 16s.

Tom Morris Golf Shop—Originally opened in 1866, the Tom Morris Golf Shop, facing the Old Course, is the oldest golf shop in the world. In addition to a wide selection of golf clothing, there’s a display area that celebrates the shop’s namesake, Tom Morris, the legendary four-time Open champion who is widely regarded as the father of the modern game. Among the items on display are his original workbench where he made golf clubs and balls, his locker where he stored his clubs and the fireplace he used to heat and shape gutta percha balls.

Official Old Course Walking Tour—Staged from early April to late September, the 50-minute guided tour of the Old Course is the next best thing to playing the celebrated course. Walks are scheduled for everyday of the week except Monday during July and August. Tours start at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at. Longer tours start at 10 a.m.

Jigger Inn-It’s one of golf’s most famous 19^thholes. Set adjacent to the Old Course Hotel in an historic building that dates back to the 1850s, this traditional Scottish pub is brimming with golf memorabilia. It’s a great place to grab a pint and sit near an open-hearth fire and listen to golf stories from other patrons or spin a few yourself. When it’s time to dine, a golfer’s favorite is the Jigger Burger with Mull Cheddar, Ayshire Bacon and Fries.