Basis Golf Etiquette

Basis Golf Etiquette

The Golf is considered a gentleman's game and since this is so, exact policy of etiquette in playing apply. Even though these are not hard and fast rules, they show that the person practicing these has respect not only for other golfers, but also for the game itself.

Some general policies of golf etiquette practiced at all levels whether they're amateur or professional. It is then followed by some certain rules at particular times throughout a game.

The Quiet
- Keeping quiet as a person steps up to the ball is a sign of respect for the player as you are allow him/her to concentrate.
- A golf course is not a race track. Do not run as this will distract and bother other players.

The Safety
- Before swinging, always check for other people or objects in the area your ball will be going. Others may not see you approaching with a shot. Make sure they are out of range..
- Similarly, it is not only unsafe to take practice swings in someone's direction, it is also considered rude.
- Make sure people are not walking around before you swing and stand still when others are swinging.

The Pacing
- When you and your group may not be the only players on a course, try to keep your pace of play at a rate that keeps up with the group ahead of you to avoid holding up the ones behind.
- It is very, very rude to advance into the group playing ahead of you. If it was accidental, you would have failed to observed safety etiquette. If it was intentional and you did so because they are playing slowly, it is still no reason to drive a ball in their direction.
- When you need to play through a group, observe common courtesy by first asking permission to do so. But before asking, make sure that the next hole is vacant so that there is enough space between groups as you pass through.
- If the group allows you to play through, take the least amount of time to finish the hole and move on to the next one as quickly as possible.

When on the teeing ground
-Try to stay out of the player's line of sight as well as peripheral vision to allow him to concentrate. Standing behind him/her is the best way to do so, as well as keeping quiet as he/she prepares to swing.

When on the fairway
-hitting some divots is perfectly fine, but avoid causing too many. Furthermore, try to put a few back in by simply stepping on the divot into the hole.
-don't take too much time looking for a lost ball. The group behind you may not appreciate the delay. If it can't be found within a few minutes, simply replace the ball.

When on the bunker
-use the course-provided rake when you've finished with your shot to rake out marks left by you, your ball and your footprints, then leave the rake outside the bunker handle parallel to the fairway.

When on the green
-avoid stepping on the ball paths of other players as this can affect the putt. Walk behind the ball on its direction to the hole or at least step over the imaginary line between the ball and the hole.
-repair ball marks made by the force of the ball landing on the green. This shows courtesy to the player following you as you've taken the time to leave them an unmarked green.
-put your ball back on the green before picking up the ball marker just so you can avoid possible points of contention between another player as to whether you've properly positioned your ball or not.

When at the practice grounds
-continue to observe the general rules of golf etiquette as you would on the course.

Though these are not all of the good golfing etiquette practices, they are the basics you need to follow for each other's safety and love of the game. This will keep the experience all the more pleasant for all concerned.

Become a More Athletic

Become a More Athletic Golfer to Improve Your Golf Game

Golf and Fitness are two terms that can finally go hand in hand, thanks to one Tiger Woods and his famous mystery workout routine, and the other professional and amateur players who have followed his lead. Once an activity perhaps identified more with pot bellies, motorized carts and cups of beer on the course than physical strength and a good physique, there is now no question that golf has entered the world of a full fledged sport that requires physical training to perform at its best. Golfers on the professional tours look like athletes now, with more and more toned athletic bodies being seen on TV crushing the ball down the longest, most difficult courses in the world. Spending some time in the gym has been shown that it can make as big a difference in a golfer's score as time on the range or putting green. The game itself has changed, and the way players approach it has changed, as well.

What my friends on the golf team did in the high school weight room in the early 80's was primitive to the workout science and programs that are available to golfers now, but they were definitely on to something. One way to look at it was that before it became popular, they were athletes who happened to play golf, and it showed in the length they had off the tee. This athletic approach can be applied to any golfer's game in the present day and immediately improve their ability to play better. With some examination, it is easy to see why.

The golf swing itself is actually an incredibly complex movement that combines virtually every muscle in the body into one coordinated action. The requirements of balance, coordination, flexibility, stability, strength and power all come into play in just one swing. Over the course of a practice session or round, endurance becomes a factor as well. Having some physical fitness in all of these areas can make for a much more effective swing. It is a bit ironic that golf itself does not require you to be in shape to play (unlike running a 10 k race, for example, which needs a level of fitness to even be attempted), nor will it really get you in shape by playing regularly (unless you walk rather than ride a cart). Yet working out overall dramatically increases the ability to perform the golf swing itself. So many players look to the next big expensive driver to add yardage off the tee. Well, what it they could hit it harder by being in better shape, and straighter, too?

Getting into the specifics of golf fitness, flexibility is paramount in the modern golf swing. The ability to turn the body through the trunk away from the ball, storing potential energy on the backswing, while maintaining an anchored, solid stance through the legs and hips, is what has been shown to generate the most power. Tiger Woods has a tremendous shoulder turn on his backswing which sets him up to uncoil with great speed through the ball on the downswing.

A person taking golf lessons and attempting to emulate Tiger's shoulder turn typically doesn't even have a body physically capable of doing that motion effectively! They may be taking lessons, yet are prevented from practicing the motion that they are learning by a lack of flexibility and fitness in the muscles of the trunk and back. Only by improving their fitness in these areas through proper training can they then expect to perform the proper motion.

To flexibility, core strength and stability throughout the body are essential as well. These fitness terms refer to the body's strength in the trunk and the ability of the muscles of the entire body to operate in a coordinated, athletic way, which provide a stable "platform" in the body for hitting the golf ball. The more coordinated and stable the body is, the less motion is wasted during the swing and the more effort goes straight into hitting the ball where it is meant to go.

After flexibility is attained and a good amount of core strength and stability as well, more basic strength can then be added into a fitness routine. This could be along the lines of the classic term "lifting weights" that my high school buddies wanted me to do. A flexible and stable body that gets stronger, as long as the flexibility is not lost, can add significantly more effort to the golf swing, especially in situations where the ball may be in the rough or have a lie that requires more effort than the typical swing. If you watched Tiger Woods during the US Open in June, 2007, his physique from his fitness routine looked more muscular than ever, yet was very flexible. There were comments from the TV announcers many times on the level of his fitness and how it played out in making his game more effective. He is quite capable of hitting shots no one else on earth can because of his fitness level. As a result, he has more shots available to him to help him score.

We know now how fitness has changed the game of golf and what is available to the player who chooses to add more fitness to their routine and golf game. Anyone can benefit from some exercise that is golf specific, and can participate at the level that they want. A person doesn't have to workout like Tiger Woods to get better. Sometimes even just working out regularly itself can make all the difference.

Finding The Best Possible Golf Career

There is barely a golfer in the world that wouldn't trade in their day job to get paid to be on the course all day long. However, most do not realize that obtaining a golf career is actually not as difficult as they might originally believe it to be. You don't have to be a professional on the PGA circuit to enjoy all of the freedoms and fun of a career in your favorite sport.

There is a wide array of opportunities right from the beginning golfer all the way up to the professionals. Ideally, most would want to have a career simply playing golf. Although this is entirely possibly, it is advisable to discover if the idea is plausible before going ahead full steam. Perhaps you could start by playing in a few tournaments with cash prizes. If things go well and you end up with some money in your pocket, perhaps a career as a professional golfer isn't all that impossible. However, most golfers don't quite have the stuff to be able to compete for money. Thankfully, there are a lot of other golf careers that will keep you involved in the game even when you're not even on the course.

One thing to consider is to become a golf pro. If your friends are always remarking that you have the perfect swing or how your drives always reach a far distance and are always straight away, then a golf career as a golf professional may be the perfect choice for you. This is also a very flexible job because you decide how many hours you work per week. You could either do a few lessons a week just for supplementary income at the start and once your client base gets big enough, you could start doing it full time. The best advertising is word of mouth, so if your clients are happy with your service they will undoubtedly inform their friends and family as well.

There is also a wide variety of careers that involve the retail aspect of golf. You could start your own golf specialty store, which would keep you surrounded in golf gear every day and talking about golf to your hearts content. There is a booming industry presently with imprinted golf balls, which is a business that you can run directly from your own home. Many people are searching for golf balls with team logos, pictures of family or slogans emblazoned on them. The technology is a bit expensive at the beginning but all you would need to sell your items is a website. There is such a wide variety of golf careers that if you decide you want to work with golf full time, you shouldn't have a problem finding a suitable career.

A golf career doing maintenance on your favorite course will keep you on the grounds all day. Most people that work directly for the golf course either get to play for free, or at a discounted rate. If you have a love for golf, there is sure to be a golf career out there that fits perfectly with your talents. Whether as a golf pro, a retailer, a groundskeeper or even a professional golfer, the options are basically unlimited. So don't be intimidated by those who say you could never have a full time career in golf. Prove them wrong by landing the job of your dreams.

Fitness for the Average Golfer

Fitness for the Average Golfer

Lately, a more careful look at the professional golf ranks will reveal many well-conditioned people. Such conditioning is needed to perform consistently well at a high level. After all, it isn't often noted, but the golf swing is an intensely athletic motion. Some professional golfers don't look like athletes, the fact remains that golfers are athletes.

Given that fact, even the most casual golfer who incorporates the simplest of exercises can help himself or herself shave strokes off the handicap, and maybe a few inches off the waist.

A golf analysis company based in Germany, Golf Biodynamics, conducted a study using twenty-eight weekend golfers. They were introduced to an eight-week, “five-column” workout plan. The five columns were different sets of exercises that concentrated on five different fitness-related aspects of golf – coordination, balance, strength, the swing itself, and flexibility.

The results of the study were overwhelming. The group as a whole experienced an increase in upper-body rotation and an 80 percent gain in upper-body strength. The stability of their hip rotation also increased, resulting in a more controlled swing, and their collective clubhead speed increased by 9.4 percent. Think they’re having fun knocking their drives past their playing partners now?

As with any workout regimen, the older a person gets, the harder it is to see results. Younger golfers and women, all with lower handicaps, saw more immediate results on the golf course. But seniors and bogey golfers can take heart; the sport is a game of inches. The slightest change any golfer makes can have a significant impact in her game, and will help avoid back pain, knee pain, and other health problems many middle-aged to senior golfers experience.

Learn To Play

Golf - Learn To Play

There are many options available to learn to play golf. You can self teach, have a relative or friend teach you, go to your resident pro at the driving range, take lessons from the golf professional at your country club or pro shop, go to golf-tec at the Golfsmith locations or if your high school or college offers a golf program join the program. The method you choose can greatly affect how quickly you learn and how adept you become at the game. At the time I started playing I opted to teach myself. I read "The Golfers Bible " and "The Five Fundamentals of Golf" by Ben Hogan. The books were both very informative and contained valuable information to help one get started to play. In my opinion, and any one who knows about the history of golf would agree, Ben Hogan was one of the most natural and skilled golfers who ever played the game. I was confident that any book that he authored on golf could only be informative and benefit someone who wanted to learn to play. I can attest first hand that it helped me tremendously.

Depending on one's budget and how quickly someone wants to develop their skills, I would recommend lessons from a teaching professional. Unless you are born with a natural talent for the sport, which from my experience those so gifted are few and far between, lessons are the way to go. As I stated earlier I am self taught and have been playing for about 30 years. The learning curve is different for everyone, but I noted that most golfers who are good at other sports, especially baseball and hockey have a tendency to learn to play well. Having been self taught I had to experiment with different techniques over the years to improve my game. Until today I am still reading up on the latest and greatest on Instruction and Equipment and continuing to experiment to try to play better. With the increased popularity of golf, thanks in most part to the arrival of Tiger Woods on the scene, the teaching techniques and availability of teaching professionals has increased tremendously.

I would strongly recommend that lessons are the way to go. Golf is a sport which requires muscle memory for a repetitive swing. Once your swing techniques and mechanics are ingrained in the subconscious, it will be harder to correct if you do not learn properly at the onset. Having the proper basics is crucial for learning to play the right way. Golf will be so much more enjoyable if you play well and learn the proper techniques for the swing.

There are a number of steps to master the correct golf swing and a teaching professional will be able to show each of them to you. You will learn much quicker than reading about them and experimenting for years like I did.

Some of the steps are as follows:
The Grip - How you set the club in your hands, The Set-Up - (How you address the ball) the positioning of your body and alignment in relation to the ball, The Waggle - This is a trigger or initial movement to allow the swing to start properly, Tempo - The speed and timing from the start of the back swing through the hitting area and the follow thrugh, Back swing - the move immediately following the waggle -the cocking of the wrist and the turning or coiling of the body together with the arms and shoulders away from the target to prepare for the Downswing, The Downswing - immediately follows the back swing and is the part of the swing where impact with the ball takes place including the pronation of the hands through the hit, The Follow Through - the completion of the golf swing which concludes the transfer of your weight from your right side to your left (for right handed golfers - opposite would be true for lefties) and body positioning to face the target.

If any of the aforementioned steps is not executed properly it can greatly affect the result of the shot. With the advent of Video Instruction, the instructor can play back the video and explain and show you exactly what you were doing right or wrong during the course of your swing.

Golf Ball Speed And How It Effects You

Everyone wants to hit the golf ball farther.

The golf instructors understand the relationship between distance and golf ball speed and are turning to launch monitors and other types of golf ball tracking technology. Golf launch monitors can be simple and affordable to very complex and cost thousands of dollars.

Learning about golf ball speed, depending on the launch monitor the club fitter is using they can also learn information about the spin rate of the golf ball, launch angle and carry distance. Doppler radar is used in some of the least expensive units to track the flight of the golf ball.

The Golf ball speed is determined by a simple equation. The easy equation is that your golf ball speed is equal to one and a half times your club head speed. For example if you have a golf swing speed of 100mph then your golf ball speed will be 150mph. Another example would be the television announcers over the weekend said the PGA Tour average club head speed is 112 mph. This equates to 168mph golf ball speed.

What is going on have you lost distance?
Every 25 degree drop in temperature the ball will fly approximately eight yards shorter than before.

With all of the new technology available to the golf world, it has never been a more interesting time to try to improve and learn about your game. A great way to do that is through a golf club fitting with a launch monitor. Since the technology is becoming more affordable, golf players are purchasing a personal launch monitor to help themselves with improving their very own game. You can also.

Golf In South Africa

Golf In South Africa

South Africa golfing has seen huge growth since the 1980s when our courses compared dismally with those of international standards in the rest of the world. Following negative feedback from local golfers who traveled abroad and reported back on the high quality of courses in other countries, local courses started major overhauling of the greens and facilities, and the effect snowballed as other courses followed suit.

The results have been spectacular. Today South Africa stands proudly alongside the world’s finest golfing destinations with numerous courses on offer, many of them of the highest international standard.

South Africa has hosted many international golf championships. Our own top golfers Gary Player, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els have played on South African greens alongside Tiger Woods and other living golfing legends, as well as celebrities like Jodie Kidd. In fact, South Africa has fast become the most successful golfing nation per capita on the professional circuit!

The Presidents Cup, the Million Dollar Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Sunshine Tour and the South African Open are just some of the golf events that are regularly held in South Africa.

However South Africa is not just a golfing destination for professionals – far from it. For the holiday maker who likes to include golf on his itinerary, South Africa offers an extensive selection of great courses all around the country. Whether you’re vacationing in beautiful Cape Town, balmy Durban, vibey Jo’burg or even on safari in Kruger you’re never far from an excellent South African golf course.

The Cape Town golf courses boast views of beaches, mountains and the oceans – making full use of the stunning natural environment as a backdrop to a great game of golf.

Heading out to the Cape Winelands? More breathtaking surroundings make the wine route golf courses equally impressive – and what better way to end a round than tasting some of the best wines in the world? Talk about a classy 19th hole!

Combine a day of whale watching (in season) at Hermanus with a visit to the 6 star Arabella golf course near Hermanus. The whale route is loved by nature and golf lovers as well as those wishing to experience more dangerous adventures like shark cage diving and paragliding.

A drive up the Garden Route along the scenic coastline from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is another popular tourist experience. With its perennially green location it is a great location for golf courses, and there certainly are plenty of them here! They are most cleverly set out to blend with the natural geographic surroundings.

The Eastern Cape with its strong gusty winds makes golfing extra challenging! The scenic backdrop to the different East Coast golf courses varies from evergreen forests to arid Karoo plains, while eternal beaches and unspoiled vegetation abound.

From the south to the north coast, Durban is offers relaxation with a cosmopolitan buzz. The Durban south coast is known as the Golf Coast with its comprehensive selection of beautiful yet challenging golf courses. Durban itself is balmy year round, with a sub-topical climate and great golfing weather throughout the year.

Johannesburg boasts some particularly fine golf courses and it is unsurprising that some of these have hosted European PGA Tours and South African Sunshine Tour events.

The Johannesburg climate is well-suited to golfing and the area offers a great number of excellent golf courses

When holidaying in South Africa’s premier holiday resort, Sun City, you’ll have a host of activities including golf available to you.

Here you will discover The Gary Player Golf Course, where the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge is hosted, as well as the Lost City Golf Course complete with crocodiles at the 13th hole!

One of the most memorable experiences of a golfing enthusiast’s life must surely be the opportunity to play golf while elephants, giraffe and other African game wander by.

At the golf courses around the Kruger Park this is exactly what you can expect! This is a great location for golfing in the winter months which are cooler and dryer.

Welcome to South Africa, golfers! We know you’ll find everything in place to make your holiday or business trip a sun-filled, golf-filled experience that will surpass your highest expectations.