Golf is a hands-on game. You will not learn how to play well by studying a video or playing a Nintendo game. You can watch all the pro golf games on TV you like, but can you remember how Tiger Woods did it when the ball is in front of you and the club is in your hands?

People make millions out of golf videos, golf tutorials and golf games, but few people have ever learned anything from them. You will learn much more by spending an hour with the club golfing pro.

If you truly would like a video to watch at home, why not create your own whilst you are spending an hour with the golfing pro? Take a kid with you to film your lesson on a camcorder.

The first suggestion for novices is to keep your eyes on the ball. This might sound self-evident, but if you watch beginners taking a shot, you will often see that they look away too early. This can result in a sliced stroke or even a miss. If you have your eyes on the ball, you will not lose it either.

Whilst putting, stand squarely over the ball. The ball should be midway between your feet and your head should be directly over the ball. This also permits you to get a decent line of sight to the hole. The stroke ought to be smooth, with a graceful follow through.

Keeping the ball on the fairway is difficult for most novice golfers. It seems all to easy to slice the ball into the rough. This has to do with your stance. A sliced ball is one that has been hit on its side, like putting side on a snooker ball to make it spin in that direction.

If you put side on a golfing ball, it will spin in that direction and veer off in that direction as well. The answer to this difficulty, is to always hit the ball squarely will the centre of the blade of the club, unless you want it to curve in mid flight. That is for advanced players though. Beginners ought to concentrate on learning how to hit the ball straight.

Hooking the ball is a different difficulty altogether although the affect is similar – that is that the ball goes off to the side. Hooking the ball has to do with swing and posture. It is usually the result of not driving the ball straight ahead of you, but slinging it to the opposite side of your dominant arm. That is, right-handed golfers will hook the ball to the left.

To correct this, practice hitting the ball only a couple of yards into an upright bucket or a dog’s basket. Every day you should move the basket back a couple of feet until you can confidently chip almost every ball into the basket. Then go for power and endeavour to hit the ball from the tee onto the green.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is at present involved with Golfing Tips for Beginners. Click a link if you are interested in the Golf Swing Secrets.

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01 January 2012 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

A lot of debate has gone on concerning the history of golfing, long traditionally believed to have started in the area surrounding the Firth of Forth in Scotland. A golfing-like game is recorded as taking place on 26 February 1297, in the Netherlands, where the Dutch played a game with a stick and leather ball.

However, contemporary research into the history of golf has uncovered references to a game very comparable to modern day golfing being played in China during the period of the Southern Tang dynasty, at least 500 years before golf was first documented in Scotland.

It has been suggested that the game was first taken to Europe and later Scotland by Mongolian travellers in the later Middle Ages.

In Scotland the first recorded documentary evidence for golf was in an act of the Scottish parliament in 1457 which prohibited the playing of ?gowf? and football in case they detract from the necessary military exercise of archery practice. In a subsequent ban of 1491 golfing was described as ‘an unprofitable sport’!. Something which Tiger Woods is probably ignorant of!

There are reports in the accounts of a Scottish lawyer, Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, that he played golf at Musselburgh Links on 2 March 1672, and this has been accepted as proving that The Old Links, Musselburgh, is the oldest golf course in the world. Mary, Queen of Scots is supposed to have played there in 1567.

The Company of Gentlemen Golfers, later renamed The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers set down the oldest existing rules of golfing in 1744. Their “Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf, known as the Leith Rules, after the course at which they played sustain the club’s claim to be the world?s first golf club, though an almanac published around a century later is the first record of a rival claim that The Royal Burgess Golf Society had been set up in 1735.

The directions in the Leith Rules formed the basis for all subsequent codes, for instance requiring that “Your Tee must be upon the ground” and “You are not to change the Ball which you strike off the Tee”

When King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603 the spread of golfing to become a world wide sport commenced. He and his courtiers played golf at Blackheath, London, from which the Royal Blackheath Golf Club traces its beginning.

The spread of golf world wide was started by Scottish soldiers, expatriates and emigrants who took the sport to British colonies and elsewhere.

The Royal Calcutta Golf Club (1829) and the club at Pau (1856) in south western France are significant reminders of these trips and are the oldest golf clubs outside of the British Isles and the oldest in continental Europe respectively.

Proof of early golfing in the United States includes an advertisement published in the Royal Gazette of New York City in 1779 for golfing clubs and balls, and the notice of the annual general meeting for a golf club in Savannah printed in the Georgia Gazette in 1796.

However, as in England, it was not until the late 19th century that golf began to be firmly established. There are a number of competing claims to be the oldest club, but what is not contested is that in 1894 representatives from the Newport Country Club, Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, Yonkers, New York, The Country Club, Chicago Golf Club, and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club met in New York City to kind what was to become the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on lots of topics, but is at present concerned with the London 2012 Olympics mascot. Click a link if you are interested in the 2012 London Olympics Volunteers.

Tags: entertainment, Fitness, Golf, Golf Tips, history, hobbies, Kids, Olympics, other, outdoor, recreation, School, sport, Teens, Uncategorized

07 July 2011 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

There is a commonly-held belief that golf is the pastime and sport of entrepreneurs and businessmen. It also has the reputation of being exclusive and elite and not being available to ordinary blue collared workers. However, this is not really true, since modern technology and globalization have brought this so-called elite sport into the reach of normal people.

This is because you don’t need to get hold of expensive equipment to join in. Unlike big game fishing and polo which require a lot of resources – a boat or a horse respectively – golfers just require a set of golf clubs, which are reasonably affordable these days. Bearing this in mind, retirement gifts for golfers and aspiring ones are more easily thought of.

Personalized retirement gifts to personalize golfing equipment is very simple. You could easily make personalized gifts by embroidering such items as golf club pouches or caddy covers. These can be knitted, if you are a knitter or by any similar craft which may use different materials.

Another good idea is to think about the apparel fashion of golfing which means to look at the clothing worn by golfers. You may even be able to establish a new fashion in golfing apparel by using your imagination to create an interesting design.

Normal gifts. The most common and usual method of getting a retirement gift for golfers is to go over to the nearest sports shop and get your retiree some of the things sold there. It may sound a little impersonal to just get the retiree a commercially made gift but then this may actually prove very useful if the retiree is still a novice or beginner golfer. Maybe you might want to get him a golf club set as this is the basic requirement to be able to play golf.

Moreover, you may find some more accessories there that your retiree golfer still needs, but then perhaps you could also use your imagination to think about what things can be made to enhance the golfing equipment he may already have.

Shop bought golfing equipment is handy too, eg, you could make your retiree feel good, giving him a set of famous golf clubs, making him look like a pro.

Gags and Jokes The fun part of choosing to give a gag gift instead is the humour such items can create. It also adds to the lighter side of the golf-playing retiree’s party and his friends will be able to join in with smiles, laughs and jokey comments too.

The gag present should be bought quite carefully as the joke present may represent a sensitive matter for the retiree, especially if he is still a newbie player. Joke gift in relation to golfing might be taken negatively and discourage or at least hinder their learning and progress as they are disturbed by the idea emphasized by the gag gift given to them.

However, for more veteran golf players who are already acquainted with the way golfers think, the gift of a good joke present on their retirement day would be very amusing as they would already know golf not only as a method of relieving their stress and getting some decent exercise but of actually just having a laugh too.

You should see retirement gifts for golfers as just a simple way to make your golfer friend enjoy life after his career is over.

Good luck if you are going to or planning a Golfer’s Retirement Party, however if you want to get a better understanding of retirement, please go to our web site Retirement Planning. Free reprint avaialable from: Retirement Gifts For Golfers.

Tags: careers, enjoyment, Family, Fitness, Gifts, Golf, Golf Tips, old age, other, outdoor, party, pension, retirement, Seniors, sport

10 October 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

Buying golf clubs can be just like throwing your money into the sea, but fore-waned, you can save yourself plenty of time and money when you’re selecting your golf clubs. As in many cases, you can either spend a lot of money in one go or you can spend a little several times, until you get what you really need.

If you are just beginning and are not 100% sure that you want to commit yourself to the addictive game of golf, you should either rent golf clubs at the clubhouse on the golf course, or buy a beginner’s set of golf clubs.

Buying a set of starter golf clubs enables you to become accustomed to them; enabling you to concentrate on your swing instead of wondering how this set of miss-matched golf clubs you just rented is going to pan out.

After you become better acquainted with the game of golf, you should consider investing in a better set of clubs more suited to you.

Generally, a set includes a driver, one or two fairway woods, numbers 4-9 irons, a wedge or two and a putter.

As you become more experienced and start thinking about new clubs, you may want to think about purchasing your driver separately. Some players want a driver to give them more accuracy, others need more distance.

There are numerous types of golf ball available and the golf ball box will usually have a chart on the back to direct you to the right ball for your needs. As you learn more about the game and get better at it, you should experiment with different balls which could improve your accuracy and/or distance.

Having the right golfing equipment is an important aspect of the game, so buy wisely!

If you are a golfing novice, you could do worse than visit our Golfing Tips for Novices, where you will find out more about choosing Golf equipment. This article, Choosing Golf Equipment is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

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10 October 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

I was reading one of those ‘Golfing for Women’ magazines the other week and began wondering where the women live, who wear the golf attire modeled in women’s golfing magazines? I’ve never seen women, not even the professionals, who would wear such expensive and outrageous clothes.

It’s easy to spend money fitting yourself out for golf: hats, sunglasses, gloves, shirts, shorts, socks, windbreakers and shoes all add up quickly, even if you shop at the sales. Then factor in equipment, bag and cart and you have to play quite often to keep the “CPU” – cost per use down to an acceptable level.

One glossy advertisement showed a beautiful model in really short shorts (like that’s allowed on courses!) that cost nearly $300, a golf shirt at almost $600, a jacket by Ralph Lauren at almost $200 and two-toned Utuser shoes costing $400 plus.

That adds up to almost $1,500! I know that I could never hope to get the CPU on that outfit down to anywhere near a normal limit in my lifetime! Don’t misunderstand me – I love clothes and I really love shoes, but could never afford, or even want, golf shoes or pants that cost more than most people’s weekly wage.

Granted, you want comfortable golfing shoes that don’t look like a pair of clogs, but really, you can find less expensive and still a la mode golf shoes.

I have bought a couple of very stylish golf outfits, even though none of them are famous brand names. If I were to add up the cost of all of those articles of clothing, it would not add up to the cost of a Tse golf shirt. Personally, I would prefer to have several trendy outfits than one that is priced way over-the-top.

If I were to wear a $1,500 outfit to play golf, I would simply be too worried about getting it dirty or sweating in it to play a proper round.

If you liked this article on fashion and ladies’ golf apparel and you would like to read more about golfing tips, please go to our website on Golfing Tips for Novice Golfers This article, Fashion And Ladies Golf Attire has free reprint rights.

Tags: apparel, attire, clothing, Equipment, fashion, Fitness, Golf, Golf Tips, health, hobbies, other, outdoor, recreation, sport, walking

08 August 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

Nike golf shoes are one of the things you can use to improve your game. If you have only played golf in casual footwear before, or if you’re looking for a way to improve your general game, buying a good pair of golf shoes can make a large difference. Like in other sports, the shoes you wear can directly impact on your performance.

Since you have to develop a smooth swing and be able to follow through on that swing in golf, all without losing any control of the strength in your stroke, your golf shoes can assist or hinder your game for you. Nike golf shoes are designed to help you balance, gripping the turf as much as needed yet allowing you to put full power and control behind each and every stroke.

Since these golf shoes have special compartments in the heels, every step is easier and lighter to make. They offer the level of support your feet, legs and knees need in order to play golf very comfortably for longer periods of time.

As golf very often involves a great deal of walking, Nike golf shoes have been made like a blend of walking shoe and golf shoe. They cushion the joints of your legs and knees against the impact from each step you take, allowing you to concentrate your strength and effort on your game of golf, rather than on how you are going to get to the next hole or to wherever it is that your ball has landed.

When you go to buy Nike golf shoes, there are several things that you ought to keep in mind. The first thing you should consider is your level of skill. Golf, like many other sports, has apparel that can be used by amateurs or advanced professionals alike, but it is better to differentiate between the skill levels.

In many cases, beginners pick Nike golf shoes suited for professionals, but never end up finding the full potential of the shoe, since they are not sure how they can be used to their best advantage.

While professionals definitely can get great advantage out of these Nike golf shoes, it is often better for beginners to purchase entry level Nike golf shoes which would better suit their needs. The increase in power afforded to your stroke would often be wasted on those who are amateurs, as they do not yet have the requisite skill to control the stroke as they need to.

Therefore, it is better to buy Nike golf shoes that fit your skill level, as these shoes will have the comfort and functionality you need. You can purchase Nike golf shoes from a variety of sources. For those who want cheaper shoes and the same quality of professional shoes, you can buy last season’s shoes from Nike outlet centers.

If you only want to wear top of the range Nike golf shoes, you can buy from online Nike stockists or through a number of online retail outlets (see below).

If you are want to find out more about Nike golf shoes, visit our website on Golfing Tips for Novices for tons of free recommendations. Unique version for reprint here: Are Nike Golf Shoes Any Good?.

Tags: celebrity, champions, Equipment, Fitness, Golf, golf apparel, Golf Tips, golfing, health, hobbies, other, outdoor, recreation, sport, walking

07 July 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

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06 June 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

It is never easy asking for help, but in golf, it is almost a must-do. More’s the pity, we often ask our friends and partners, when, in reality we should take a few lessons with a professional, usually called the Club Pro.

We probably think that a Pro would criticize us too harshly, but in fact,they are honest, positive and usually very helpful.

Golf lessons at the local golf course aren’t as expensive as you probably think and they are worth it too, since your game will get better more rapidly and cause you less frustration, making the game much more enjoyable for you.

It is of vital importance to be absolutely honest about your game. The Pro will ask you what you think you need to learn: driving, chipping, putting or whatever you feel you need help with.

Listen to the Pro golfer very carefully and follow the Pro’s instructions. You may have doubts if the Pro changes your stance, your grip or your swing, but honestly, the Pro does know what is best.

Please don’t hesitate to ask the Pro golfer any questions you may have and don’t worry about whether your question or concern may sound stupid – they’ve been asked it all before and will not make you feel like an idiot for inquiring. If you don’t understand, tell the Pro that you do not get it. You should never walk away from a lesson with unanswered questions.

For example, a course of lessons might be to start with one thing during a lesson, or on several things. You might begin with a lesson on driving; get the grip, the stance, the swing and the follow-through right in one lesson and then practice it ‘for real’ for a few weeks until you feel that you’ve got it more or less right. Next time, you might decide you need help with your short game, or putting.

You’ve invested in your golfing equipment and it isn’t cheap, so it doesn’t make sense not to learn how to use it to it’s best advantage and improve your abilities, does it?

If you want to find out more about golf for novices, visit our website on Golfing Tips for Novices for loads of free tips. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

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06 June 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments

Golf is a game of rules and etiquette, and it is quite important to know the essentials of golfing etiquette before you go up to the tee to play your first game of golf.

It doesn’t matter whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or in a foursome, golfing etiquette demands that you must always wait your turn. You must stay aware of the group on the next hole and wait until they are well ahead of you before hitting your ball.

Golfing etiquette also means that it is never correct to “hurry” the group in front of you. If you are playing with others, wait for your turn to hit the ball; never hit at the same time as another player.

While you wait for your turn, go to your ball and determine what club you will need to use and how you are going to hit it. This is called “ready golf” and keeps the game moving along. Don’t rush anybody, just be ready.

Another useful piece of golfing etiquette, especially for novices is ‘playing through’. For example, if your team is holding up the players behind you, perhaps because you are playing consistently over par or taking a long time to choose your club, let them play through. You would simply wave them through, or if they are not far away from you, just ask them if they would like to play through. You will never make an enemy by doing this!

When someone is taking a shot, you should be standing behind them and you shouldn’t make a sound! It is very distracting to be about to to tee off and just as you draw back, someone decides to play with coins in their pocket or noisily unwrap a piece of candy.

Replacing divots. Let’s say you are on the fairway and you hit the ball a bit thick and a clod of dirt and grass goes flying, no problem, but golfing etiquette says that you ought to repair the hole. On some courses you just put the clod back into the hole and step on it to press it down, but on most courses, there is a sand/seed mixture on the course to put into the divot. Also, if your ball makes a deep impression when it lands on the green, you should use your divot tool to repair it.

As soon as you have finished a hole, replace the flag and leave the green as quickly and quietly as possible (there may be another team teeing off at the next hole) so that the next players can play that hole. Add up your score and write it on the scorecard as soon as you get back to your trolley.

For sure, there is much more to golfing etiquette than this, but these basic rules of golfing etiquette will enable you to get around the course without upsetting anyone. If we all uphold golfing etiquette we will keep the game nice and friendly, or not?

If you are interested in learning more about golfing etiquette, go along to our website on Golfing Tips for Beginners for tons of free tips. Free reprint avaialable from: Essentials Of Golfing Etiquette.

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05 May 2010 in Golf Tips 0 Comments