Artificial Putting Greens Could Be The Answer!

With golf being such a popular sport and with most players getting hooked and taking it very seriously artificial grass is becoming more and more popular as a solution to the maintenance involved in ‘real grass’ putting greens.

There have been big steps forward in the creation of this much specialised artificial surface that mimics the real stuff and in corporate situations or even your own back yard this alternative should be considered as a very easy to maintain option,

Advantages:

• Can be installed almost anywhere, indoors or outdoors
• Can be used for pitching chipping and putting
• Can be any cut to fit any shape or size
• Is very flexible so it can fit flat or contoured surfaces
• Has a low maintenance requirement - 2 hours a year!
• Specially formulated to hold the ball like natural grass
• Great for your own personal backyard putting green
• Environmentally friendly as no need for fertilisers etc
• Can cope with heavy usage with no loss of quality

Disadvantages:

• Some types of artificial grass can look unnatural
• You will need to carefully consider the type of grass/underlay you purchase as you may incur a water logging problem
• Once you get used to a perfect surface you may find it hard to adapt to the real surfaces on your local golf course
• Perhaps not so unpredictable as the changes that occur on natural putting greens.

So as you can see from the above there are many reasons why artificial putting greens are becoming more and more popular and also available to everyone from a small back yard green too a large corporate golf training course. It is aldso becoming a more economical solution as once laid there is very little maintenance required and very little additional costs to incur

 

Beginning Golf – The Golf Handicap System Will Help You With Competitive Play

 When playing golf there is a standard handicap system that is used by all golf courses. It is used in matches and tournaments. The idea behind the handicap system is to try and level up the game to make it an even playing field and a more competitive competition.

 A golfer’s handicap is based on the differential between score and par achieved by the golfer in the last 20 rounds he has played. The handicap is based on the lowest ten games of these twenty. All games are on 18 hole courses. These games should all relate to one season. Some golf associations will accept fewer games. It is important for a golfer to have a handicap as this will help with fair play when playing golf against others.

 

A golf player is given a handicap numbered one through to thirty-six, the number one being the lowest handicap, and the number thirty-six being the highest handicap. A scratch golfer has no handicap, better known as a scratch player.

 

So how do these handicaps come into affect when playing golf? Well firstly you need to determine the difference between your handicap and that of your opponent i.e. if your handicap is 10 and your opponent’s handicap is 20 the difference is 10. This means that you will have to allow your opponent an extra 10 shots over the 18 hole course.

 

So how do you know which holes you can apply the ‘free’ shots to? On scorecards you will find at the bottom a section for Men’s HCP and one for Ladies HCP and this will order the holes by difficulty 1 being the hardest and 18 being the easiest. They will be out of order as they refer to the difficulty of the hole and not the hole itself. So you will allocate the strokes by the rating 1 first until you have used all the strokes available. In our illustration above this would mean that you would give a stroke on 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 &10 according to the handicap chart

 

Keeping track of your handicap, and using a handicap system, will help make the game fair play in a lot of golf matches, when playing against other opponents.

 

 If you belong to a golf course, they should have a system in place to use for tournament play, which is recognized by most golf courses and golf associations.

 

If you click on the links in my resource box you will find more information to help you with golf and your handicap.

 

Beginning Golf – Important Things To Remember!

Beginning Golf – Important things to remember!
Golf is one of those sports that you get hooked on yet when starting out there are so many things to take in it can be daunting and even scary!! If you remember the following tips I am sure you will find the sport of golf enjoyable and your game, handicap and enjoyment levels should improve.

1. Remind yourself that you are playing one shot at a time and only focus on playing the current shot to the best of your ability.

2. Trying to recover from trouble will land you in more trouble. Everyone plays bad shots try not to let them bother you and focus on playing a better shot next time.

3. Very obvious but make sure there is no one standing behind you when you tee off!

4. Keep moving and don’t hold up other golfers. When you are first starting out take time to practice on the driving range so you are confident that you can hit the ball. When you go out on a full size course you will be more confident when playing with others and will be able to participate in a more enjoyable game.

5. Keep Your Head Down! When lining up for your next great shot keep your head down as looking up will lift your shoulders which will alter the flow of the club sending your ball slicing off into the wild

6. Remember that putting is 50% of the game if you can master this shot the rest of the game will not be as important so you can relax more.

7. Watch where you stand – Other golfers will not mind the level at which you play as handicaps take care of this however they will mind if you do not follow the correct etiquette, i.e keep away from someone’s line, don’t talk when someone makes a swing, repair your ball marks and divots and let faster players through.

8. Follow the rules of the game – Turn up on time; keep correct count of all your strokes, complete your scorecards correctly, don’t hit out of turn.

9. Keep a note of the shots you find most difficult then go away and spend time practicing that particular shot i.e a putting green, driving range or even consider some lessons.

10. Remember it is just a game! – Staying calm, mixing with others, exercise are all brilliant attributes of golf enjoy it and don’t take it too seriously and you will find you can play a sport and love it.

Beginning to play the game of golf is an exciting experience there is so much to learn and the scale of the golf course and the time it takes to complete a round of golf add to the event. If you can remember some of the above advice I am sure it will be the start of a long sporting relationship

Full Release Golf Grips

Full release golf grips have been warmly welcomed as the best thing that has happened to golf clubs this century, Before you jump in an buy the first set you find it ma be wise to consider your options and the types available.

 

Using a full release golf grip should help you improve your game as it will make your shot go further and straighter improving your confidence and hopefully your score!

 

The technology used in creating these grips is called ‘Taperedo’ which means the specifications are similar to those of a baseball bat thinner at the top getting thicker towards the end this will fit in with your natural grip making it easier to release the club and making your cub have a quicker swing speed.

 

Types of full release golf clubs are as follows;

 

• X-line – full release golf grips are made of rubber that is extremely smooth, they are usually sold singly or in packs of 13 so you can update your whole set of golf clubs.
• X-wrap – full release golf grips are also made of smooth rubber but have the traditional wrap feel.
• X-line cord golf grip – The same technology as the above but with the look of a cord wrap
• 2 Colour wrap – These grips have the attractiveness of two colours combining to make the grip
• Designer wrap full release grip – These are made from polyurethane and are tacky to the touch. They also have the property of becoming tackier when the weather is not so good helping to prevent the slip caused by dampness.

 

When buying these grips you will usually have the option to but a whole set and they will also come with full instructions on how to replace your grips (you may find you even get a video).

 

Golf – A Good Walk Spoiled

When one looks at the history and public awareness of golf, it is easy to see how this supposedly most relaxing of games has received attention from wits through the ages. The trend for humorous golf quotations was arguably lead by writer and traveller Mark Twain, who when asked to define the sport quipped it was: “a good walk spoiled”. The phrase has since become synonymous with golf itself, even leading to a Mark Twain Golf Course being opened.

However, Twain is not the only historical or cultural figure to make a lasting comment about golf. Some of the mutterings from notable – and occasionally not-so-notable – individuals have gone down in golfing folklore, providing plenty of opportunity for both fans of the game and fans of clever wit to enjoy.

A favourite for those who subscribe to the popular notion of golf as a game for gentlemen are often found to quote American journalist Art Spander. Spander himself must agree with this idea, as he once said: “golf is a game not just of manners, but of morals.” Lovers of the sport will also find great resonance with the following words, said by American – now retired – golfer Arnold Palmer: “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening and it is without doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.” Both quotes, from Spander and Palmer, are often repeated by modern golfing enthusiasts.

However, those in possession of drier wit – and arguably a less worshipful opinion of the game – have turned their attentions to golf also. American writer and humorist Dave Barry once famously said: “for me, the worst part of playing golf, by far, has always been hitting the ball. Barry is not alone in lamenting the difficulties of the game; another famous quote is “many a golfer prefers a golf cart to a caddy because the car cannot count, criticize or laugh.”

However, the true stars of golfing quotations of the unknowns, whose words have passed through generations purely due to their dryness and intelligent. Perhaps the best known is: “when I die, I want to be buried on a golf course because at least my husband might visit then.” An equally dark and equally amusing quote is as follows: “Golf can be described as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.”

We shall conclude, as we began, with writer Mark Twain. As well as the most famous golfing quote of all time, he also spoke of the sport with the following: “It’s good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.”

Woods and Federer: A Friendship of Champions

When people daydream about becoming the best of the best, the top of their chosen field, few pause to consider the potential drawbacks that such elevation may bring. Yet, for those who are truly remarkable within their own discipline, being so vastly superior to all the other competition can be surprisingly difficult to comprehend. Being the best has its perks, but one must also concede that it can be worryingly lonely.

It is therefore little surprise that two champions, who have dominated their respective sports for much of recent memory, have forged a friendship based on understanding how lonely being the best can be.

In golf, Tiger Woods has been there and done it all. The king of the greens, he is so vastly superior to most other players on the golfing circuit that few bother to even imagine success against him.

In tennis, Roger Federer has very nearly – with the exception of the French Open, which proves elusive – been there and done it all. The king of grass, he plays with the grace of a ballet dancer and many opponents know they have lost before the first ball has even been served.

Woods and Federer have become close friends, these two giants of their own sports. The two were brought together by Nike, who saw the potential of these two living sporting legends and united them for an ad campaign. They have since starred, together with footballer Thierry Henry, in advertisements for razor brand Gillette alongside their Nike commitments. Before the 2007 Wimbledon final – in which Federer played his tennis arch-rival Rafael Nadal – Woods recorded a video message for Federer, via Nike, encouraging his friends to win his fifth title. Both men confess to a friendly rivalry as to who can win the most majors in their respective sports; currently, Woods holds the record at 14, with Federer on 13.

Their friendship has extended beyond the advertising suite. In 2006, Woods was photographed supporting Federer from Federer’s own players’ box as he bid for the US Open title. Both have also openly talked of their friendship in interviews and how it has helped them; citing that only each other, out of everyone on the planet, can really understand the position they are in.

A History of Balls And Holes: Golf Through The Ages

In terms of the sports modern society is used to, golf has one of the longest and most interesting histories. This is a sport that has been dominating the public conscious for nearly 500 years, and as with anything with roots in Medieval times, has been forced to adapt and change as the world around it does so too.

The first game of recorded golf was in 1456 in Edinburgh, Scotland. This, however, does not mean the Edinburgh game was the first time the sport was played, merely that it was the first time a person took the time to write down the events. In a period of low literacy levels, it is little wonder that some golfing historians say the game has social origins up to 200 years before the first recorded date.

The game itself was recorded in the archives of the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society, and can still be seen today. This confirms golf as a primarily Scottish game, which soon became popular throughout Europe and eventually the world. Much of the spread from Scotland is attributed to King James, who in 1603 became the first monarch of both Scotland and England, creating what we now know as the United Kingdom. Having grown up in Scotland, when King James became King of England following the death of his kinswoman Elizabeth I, the game came south with him. Golf obviously now has a worldwide appeal, yet the Scottish roots remain, with many famous courses still being played by world famous players in the northern country.

The foundation of golf is widely accepted to be the act, usually done by shepherds, of knocking stones into rabbit holes in Scotland during tedious watchings of sheep flocks. From these humble beginnings, the worldwide popular game we now know and love is believed to have stemmed.

All of the traits we associate with modern golf originated and were developed in Scotland. This includes the first 18-hole golf course, the first set of written rules of play and the first membership of golf clubs. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews is a popular destination for the golfing fan, due to their vast collection of documentation about the foundation of the game.

While some argue that golf has changed and developed from a basic game of hitting stones into rabbit holes to the cultural phenomenon it is today, others say simply: it’s still just about hitting stuff into holes. While this opinion may be crude, it is nevertheless truthful!

Interpreting Golf Terminology – A Thankless Task

If someone came back from the golf course and told you that they had “chunked an approach that left them having to take a Mulligan, and then ended up on the apron, before lipping out and relying on a come-backer to save par”, you would be entirely within your rights to assume that they had spent too long at the 19th Hole. But the actual fact is that they would be describing something that happens every so often to most golfers. They would be couching it in dense terminology and making it almost impossible to understand for anyone but other golfers, but they would not be lying or, necessarily, drunk.

To “chunk” a shot is to drive your club into the ground before, or in (accidental) lieu of hitting the ball. Coming from the sound that such an impact makes, it is something horribly familiar to a great many golfers. And it could lead to a Mulligan, which is a replay of the shot without any stroke being counted. This is not allowed in competition golf, but is allowed to pass in most casual rounds. From your Mulligan, could you end up on an apron? You certainly could. Assuming you were aiming for the green, if you ended up on the slightly rougher patch of grass around it, that’s exactly where you would have ended up.

From such a position there would be two options. Firstly your sober friend could try to chip the ball from the “apron” towards the hole, or secondly they could attempt a putt. If the ball rolled around the outside of the hole and stayed out, this is described as “lipping out” – from where the ball can go anywhere, sometimes heart breakingly a few feet past. When the ball rolls past the hole, you must rely on a putt coming back the other way – or, as the terminology has it, a “comebacker”.

There are a great many other golf terms which may be considered impenetrable and arcane to the uninitiated. The best advice that one could possibly pass on to a novice trying to get a handle on the terminology for the sake of a relationship is to watch with a notepad and learn as you go along with some help from the Internet.

Watch The Birdie? No, Wait, Was That An Eagle?

Watching golf can be a very confusing way to spend time if you are a novice to the sport. Like any sport, it has its own scoring system, but that is a little idiosyncratic in itself. Then there is the way the players dress, which in some cases is enough to confuse anyone in possession of a working pair of eyes. But perhaps the most confusing element of watching a game of golf is the seemingly arcane terminology used to refer to different elements of the game. This can make the whole sport seem like some sort of prank being played on an unsuspecting novice. So maybe some of the terms need to be explained better.

Firstly, what is with those terms used in the scoring system? Well, “par” had been used for anything that was considered an acceptable standard for years before its application in golf. So in this respect, it was a new application of existing terminology. But why “Bogey” for a bad score? Well, the story goes that a song of the late 19th Century had the lyric “I’m the Bogey Man, catch me if you can”. This led to people seeing the “bogey” on the golf course as something to be aimed for – and among amateurs, who still tend to play off a handicap, it still is. But the term was used interchangeably with “par” for many years, only adopting its current meaning in the early 20th Century.

As for “birdie”, this comes from further back than “bogey”. Early in the 19th Century, the word “bird” was used in much the same way as people nowadays would say “cool” – something that really stands out and impresses. Playing a hole in one shot fewer than is expected – now that is cool, surely? Hence the term “birdie” came to be used in reference to people doing just that. So why an “eagle” for someone playing a hole in two shots less than the par? Well, it’s obvious, is it not? It’s a kind of birdie, but it is bigger. And as you may have guessed, the use of the term “albatross” to describe playing a Par 5 hole in two shots is simply a continuation on that theme.

Golf Clubs – No, The Other Kind

When you take up golf, one thing that you will almost always seek to do is get membership of a club. The fact that a club is both something you use to hit a golf ball and something you join in order to get the chance to hit a golf ball has led to no small amount of confusion in the past. But simply put, if your friend tells you he is going to join a golf club, he probably does not mean that he is going to attach himself to a reinforced titanium stick while, unless your friend is very wealthy, should he tell you he is going to buy a golf club on his lunch break, he probably doesn’t mean he is off to put a down payment on several acres of real estate.

Joining a golf club is actually surprisingly difficult in many cases. There has been no small amount of controversy in the past over people seeking to join one and being refused on what seemed like either very arbitrary, or possibly heavily discriminatory, grounds. One of the world’s most famous clubs, the Augusta National (home to major golf competition the US Masters), first had a black member in 1990. As of yet, it has never had a female member, although it does allow women to play the course as guests of its members. The Augusta National is far from the only club not to have female members, but it is – as the current permanent home of the Masters – the highest-profile club with single-sex membership. Its chairman, Hootie Johnson, says that the club may well have female members in the future, but that he will not be threatened into making a change.

In general, though, most golf clubs have a far more relaxed membership policy than the Augusta National or Scotland’s Muirfield, although in many cases membership policy is dictated by the club’s current members whose own opinions and motivations are theirs and theirs alone. The best way to ensure you can get membership of a club is to be friends with someone who is already a member. A little light lobbying on their part, and if you are lucky, you’ll be given the call.

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