Golf Tips to Improve Your Game

By: Chad Henry

In this article we will talk about some basic golf tips you can start doing today that can knock strokes off your score in no time at all. These tips are so easy to implement and are essential to any good golfer’s game.

The Grip
How important is the grip to your success in the game? The grip is the fundamental connection between you and your golf ball. In the grip, your hands are close together and apply even pressure with the left thumb providing additional support and control of the club from underneath the grip.

Taking Aim
When setting up your swing, align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel and slightly left of the target. When your body follows rotation through your center, the stroke will send your shot in the direction that is perpendicular to your alignment. To check your alignment, stay in golf stance, and rotate your chin towards the target. A smooth, tension-free swing improves the swing motion. If you watch professional golfers, you will notice that at the top of the swing, their arms are slightly bent, and there is an intentional awareness of being relaxed throughout the swing.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball
As tempting as it may be to look away from your ball, it is critical to your alignment to make eye contact until it is launched. It is very tempting to look towards your target once the down swing is almost complete, but this will change your swing so stay with the ball until it is on its way to the target.

The Athletic Warm-Up
Before any event, a good athlete warms up for competition. The same should be true of golf. Arrive a few minutes early before a game, hit a few shots with your range of clubs taking note of your swing, practice a few chip shots, and finally get a feel for the greens with several putts of different distances. Understanding the greens will help you later when making critical decisions.

Improving Your Distance
What happens to improve your distance happens prior to hitting your shot. It’s all in the swing. Keep a light grip on your club as you coil, keep your left foot on the ground during the backswing, and remain relaxed. Let your arms and shoulders do the work with a fully-extended, wide range of motion. Gradually increase club speed on the down stroke, and swing through the golf ball.

Golfing During Vacations – Get The Best Of Both Worlds At A Golf Resort!

By: John Lim

Looking to get away for a while but don’t know where to go or what to do? Why not plan a golf vacation? Get out of town for a while, take a break from the norm and enjoy your favorite sport.

Golf vacations or golf holidays are getting more and more popular these days. Of course it helps that the sport is now more famous and you have more golf courses to pick from. Apart from having a good selection of golf courses, golf vacations are also popular because of the growing number of golf resorts. They are really your one-stop destination for a great holiday. They’ve got all the luxuries of a hotel with a golf course attached to it. Sounds like a match made in heaven doesn’t it.

As with other holidays, you’ll need to consider your budget for the golf vacation. It’s best to find out how much you can spend early on to avoid disappointment later. Knowing your budget also helps when you’re looking for the right golf holiday package with a travel agent.

Speaking of travel agents, paying them a visit should be the next thing you should do. After all, they will provide you with lots of information and help you make the necessary arrangements. When you visit them to plan your golf vacation, you’ll save time, money and a whole bunch of hassles. When you visit a travel agent, keep in mind that you are organizing a golf holiday and you’ll want to prioritize golf courses over accommodation.

One of the ways to pick a golf resort is to firstly decide where you want to go and then locate a nearby resort. For example, the Caribbean is a great place for a holiday and you can actually head there for a golf vacation as well! There are plenty of golf resorts to choose from. Plus a golf resort in this part of the world is going to offer you amazing courses along with friendly and knowledgeable staff that will be able to help you with anything that you might during your stay. You will also be able to find plenty for the rest of your family to do while you are out on the links if they do not enjoy golf as you do.

To get even more information on your golf vacation, you could also get magazines like Golf Digest and Golf & Travel for additional travel data and golf vacation destinations. Some may even provide detailed descriptions of golf courses.

The best part about heading to a golf resort for a vacation is that you won’t have to leave your clubs behind. You can still enjoy the game while on holiday, and there will still be plenty for your family and friends (who are non-golfers) to do. Get the best of both worlds and a lovely vacation at a golf resort of your choice.

Tips On How To Travel With Your Golf Clubs

By: Jim Johnson

If you really like to play golf, you probably like to spend a good portion of your vacation on the golf course. And with all of the outstanding golf courses that are available around the world, there is plenty for the avid golfer to choose from. But a common problem that may face many golfers when they travel is how to take their golf clubs with them.

Unless you're planning on playing at a course that is nearby, you will most likely have to fly to your destination. And unfortunately, airlines will not allow you to bring your golf clubs with you as carry-on luggage. So most likely you'll have to check your clubs with the regular baggage instead, and here is where a lot of damage can take place due to rough handling in the baggage area.

Obviously then, you're going to need to have some form of protection for your clubs when you fly. One way to do this is to get a golf travel bag that is specifically designed for transporting your golf clubs. Generally speaking, these golf travel bags come in two varieties, either hard or soft.

The hard golf travel bag is the most expensive, often costing several hundred dollars. However, it is also your best line of defense against rough baggage handling. These hard cases are almost indestructible, and they provide an excellent barrier of protection for your expensive clubs. If you find that you travel quite a bit on golf packages to distant locations, the investment in a hard golf travel bag can be well worth it in the long run.

The soft golf travel bag is much less expensive than the hard variety, but as you can imagine, it also does not afford quite the same level of protection that is found in the rigid golf travel bag. However, it will usually stand up to all but the roughest of treatment.

Some golfers also feel that shipping their clubs to the golf package destination may be a better choice than just trusting it to baggage handlers on an airline. If you choose to do this, it will still probably be a very good idea to use a golf travel bag in the packing procedure too. And make sure that your destination hotel will be able to accept the shipment of your golf clubs before your arrival.

Besides protecting your clubs from exterior damage during travel, it's also a smart idea to protect them against each other while they're being transported. As a golf bag is moved and tossed around the clubs inside often bang against each other and sometimes can cause damage to the club faces which can affect their usefulness.

A good way to prevent damage from clubs as they travel is to buy a good set of clubhead covers so that if the clubheads do bang against each other, the only material that will actually touch are the covers themselves, which are usually made a fairly soft material. Another good investment to help protect your golf shafts as you travel is to buy a set of plastic shaft covers to fit inside your golf bag. These do a good job of keeping your clubs in place in the bag, and not allowing the shafts to clang against each other and perhaps even cause damage.

Traveling to a golf vacation package getaway is an exciting, enjoyable adventure. And if you follow the tips listed above you should be able to take your golf clubs along with you and keep them safe as you travel.

Easily Find The Best Golf Course in Your Area

By: Dave Lloyd

As Americans have increased their disposable income and technology has increased to the point of enabling always-accessible availability, this is changing our recreational and leisure patterns. For example, Blackberries and cell phones enable employees to pursue leisure pursuits more easily. This is certainly true of golf. The great thing about these technologies is they allow you to be reachable for critical conversations and emails, and yet able to turn off your attention to focus on your playing time.

Golf play has increased dramatically

In the last decade, golf's popularity has exploded. Whether due to the factors mentioned above or a combination of Tiger Woods' success, the expansion of golf courses, better golf technology, or more television coverage of golf's PGA and LPGA tours, Americans are playing more golf and playing more frequently. The increase in playing time has led to a community of golfers consistently looking for ways to improve their game and have access to the best equipment available. And with it comes a need for players to get more instruction, buy better clubs and accessories, and play more variety of courses. And with avid players in the baby boomer range starting to retire over the next few decades, golf activity is bound to increase.

Finding the Best Golf Course in Your Area

Now, you most likely know about the favorite courses in your area, but if you haven't found new courses that you can try, consider the resources available at the website below. Here are some suggestions to consider. Obviously, price is a primary consideration. Weekday fees and weekends are different, but so is time of day - maybe twilight hours are less expensive than otherwise. Availability is usually the second factor. Consider which courses may attract more or less players depending on your objective for your day at the links. You'll also want to consider which courses have the length you play best on - if you're a beginner you may want a course with wide fairways and moderate yardage. If you're an advanced player, perhaps half of your holes could present a big challenge while still allowing you to hit a good game. Other important facets of a golf course include the driving range fees, whether food is delivered on the course, how crowded it typically is on the days and hours you're planning to be there, and of course how far it is from your home. Once you've determined the right course for you and found some friends to go play with, hit the links.

Discount Myrtle Beach Golf Packages

By: Charles & Susan Truett

One of the most popular activities while vacationing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is golfing. In fact that area has become very well known for it, with some people planning vacations specifically around golf. The Myrtle Beach area consists of over sixty miles of sunny beaches, and is nicknamed the Grand Strand. An easy and affordable way to book a golf trip in this area is by booking it through a package deal.

The lodging in packages covers many different options. There is everything from golf resorts to villas specifically meant for golfers, to hotel suites, to chain hotels, to beachfront condos, to luxury homes. This allows you to travel individually, as a family, with a friend, or within a group. No matter who your traveling companions will be, you will have adequate accommodations, with whichever amenities you are desiring.

Rounds of golf are included with all of the different golf packages you will find for Myrtle Beach. Different packages obviously offer different courses. Just some of the courses offered are P. B. Dyes' Founders Club at St James, George Cobb's Bald Head Island Course, Freddy Couples Carolina National, The Eagles Nest, The Meadowlands, Tigers Eye, Thistle, The Witch, Shaftesbury Glen, Arrowhead, Byrd, Maples, Jones, Lion's Paw, Panther's Eye, Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, and The Wild Wing Courses. Given all these choices, you could come back to the area often, and enjoy different courses every time.

The prices of the golf packages in Myrtle Beach vary, with most packages including accommodations for three or four nights, with three or four days of golfing, and in most cases including three different golf courses. The time of year can also vary the price of a package, looking at off-season and in-season golfing for Myrtle Beach. The prices range anywhere from $169 to $605 depending on the package length, location and time.

Golf is just one of the things that can be done in this well-traveled vacation area. There are amusement parks, water parks, shopping, theaters, and other night life, making enough things to do to fill your time when off the green, as well as offering your other traveling companions choices in activities if they don't choose to golf along with you.

A package deal can be the best way to go for any golfer, serious in his pursuit or just pursuing a casual hobby. With so many different choices, it can be the best option, especially considering you can have all your traveling secured with just one phone call.

Tips For A Fun And Successful Golf Vacation

By: Jim Johnson

Fun and exciting golf vacation packages from all over the world are available just about year round. No matter where you want to vacation, you can usually find a golf package nearby to satisfy your inner golfer. But golf travel also has its own set of challenges too, so here are some tips on how to make your golf vacation a fun and successful one.

Almost everyone prefers to take their own golf clubs with them as they travel. And most likely, your travel arrangements will involve a flight to your destination. Unfortunately though, airlines will not allow you to bring your golf clubs on board with you as carry-on luggage. So that means that you will have to check your clubs in with regular baggage instead. And here is where a little advance preparation can come in handy.

If you've ever watched baggage handlers as they load and unload an airplane, you know that they are not especially gentle with the baggage. So if your expensive golf clubs are in with all the suitcases, you can count on your clubs being tossed and thrown around throughout the journey. Some golfers have even found that their clubs were pretty well destroyed at the end of the flight because of the rough handling that they received.

In order to avoid that, there are golf travel cases that are available to help protect your clubs as they go through baggage handling. Generally, these golf cases fall into two categories, either hard or soft. The hard cases are the most expensive, perhaps costing even several hundred dollars, but they do a very impressive job in protecting your clubs. In fact, the case itself is almost indestructible. So if you happen to travel a lot and take your golf clubs with you, a good hard golf travel case can be an excellent investment.

If you can't afford the extra money for the hard golf travel case, there are also soft ones that are available that can do a very good job too. Of course, the protection is not quite up to the standards of the hard case, but the soft golf travel cases usually handle most baggage situations that they will encounter very well.

You also have to be prepared for the possibility that your golf clubs could be lost in transit, as this sometimes happens. So before you leave on your trip, check to see if your homeowners or property insurance will ensure your clubs in transit. If not, carry with you the receipts for your golf equipment so that you can easily and quickly prove ownership and value of your clubs if they happen to be lost.

In order to have the most fun while on a golf vacation package, you'll need to be prepared for whatever weather you may encounter at your destination. So before leaving, it's a good practice to check online to see what the upcoming forecast for your vacation destination is going to be. Then make sure that you pack accordingly. There is nothing more uncomfortable for a golfer than playing a round of golf in very cool weather with not enough warm clothes on, or playing in very hot weather with clothes that are too heavy and insulated.

Finally, it's a good idea to choose a destination that has activities that can be enjoyed other than just playing golf. Sometimes the weather just doesn't cooperate with your plans and you may not be able to play at all on some days. So having other points of interest in the area can save the day in such situations.

Hopefully these ideas and suggestions can help you better prepare for your next golf vacation, and help you have a great time on your getaway.

How to Choose a Golf School

By: Ian Williamson

Different students will have different criteria to satisfy when choosing a golf school - but there are some requirements that should be generic.

Some will place a high value on the teaching skills of the professional instructors; others will be more interested in the facilities available. Some students of golf will be basing their decision purely on cost and some will want to explore the social scene at the school.

At the end of the day, people go to golf school to learn to play golf and all of the other facilities have to be ranked in accordance with personal preference.

When considering a school, it is important to explore its teaching principles. Ask if the school welcomes students of all ages and abilities. It is very beneficial for absolute beginners to have the opportunity to mix with and observe more experienced players. Check to see if the school caters for a particular age group - sometimes this is the case.

Find out the student to instructor ratio. The cost of one-to-one tuition is usually prohibitive and attending golf school will usually be a lower cost option but it is essential that the student instructor ratio is low to ensure that the student will still receive adequate instruction in a group environment. Tuition in large groups is not to be recommended as too much time is lost whilst the instructor manages the group.

Many schools now offer a wide variety of high tech gadgets and training aids to assist the student to model the perfect swing and also to analyze their own efforts. Whilst all of these gadgets look very impressive and they undoubtedly have a part to play in teaching the novice, nothing beats quality face to face instruction with a professional who knows and loves the game.

When making a decision about which golf school to attend do not be afraid to ask about the instructor's qualifications and experience and also his or her status with the PGA. The very best way to learn is from someone who can play, and play well. Classroom theory is fine but it is experience and the practical application of the theory from which students learn most.

Price may be a factor when considering which golf school to attend and, as with all things in life, the cheapest is not always the best option. Rather than looking for cheapness look for value for money, there is a distinction. Calculate your budget and decide how to spend it. Consider taking fewer lessons at a better and probably more expensive school if funds are restricted.

Remember, learning golf, as with the learning process of any new skill, can only be accomplished if the student is prepared to practice. It really does not matter how good the school nor how good the instructor if the student is not willing to translate what he has learned into practice on the green.

Our First Golf Trip to Scotland

By: Rick Hendershot

It is difficult to play golf for any length of time without hearing about the famous golf courses around the world. Golf began its gradual spread late in the 1800s. But this only happened after an incubation period of three or four hundred years in Scotland.

During that time the rules of the game were formulated, the basic equipment was developed, and many of the ancient Scottish golf courses took on mythic status. And that is why, to this day, one of the dreams of most golfers is to visit the ancient golfing links of Scotland.

After a couple years of planning our own first golfing trip to Scotland became a reality in 2001. It was the result of a house swap that Judy and I arranged with an acquaintance who lived in Linlithgow, an historic town in the middle of the southern part of Scotland. Our Scottish contact would use our Florida house for two weeks in July, and we would reciprocate by using their house in Linlithgow. This sort of arrangement is very popular with people from England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Linlithgow trade sounded perfect. It is roughly 50 miles from St. Andrews, midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. We had done a fair bit of research and had already decided we wanted to be near enough to St. Andrews to visit. But what we really wanted to do was get a less sanitized feeling for the country by playing a few of the more obscure, remote courses further north in the Highlands.

As a focus for our trip we decided to visit Royal Dornoch three or so hours north of Edinburgh, and Machrihanish over on the Mull of Kintyre about as close to Ireland as you can get on mainland Scotland.

So we had booked a two night stay in the beautiful little town of Dornoch during our first week, and another two night stay at a quaint old bed and breakfast in Campbelltown about ten miles from Macrahanish.

Both of these towns have an interesting history going back hundreds of years. But of course, our primary interest was the golf courses that lay just outside of town. These are two ancient golf courses at opposite ends of Scotland, both with a well-deserved reputation for authenticity. Their remote locations almost guarantee they will not be overrun by masses of golfers.

We spent the first couple days at Linlithgow seeing the local sites. The first night there just happened to be a jousting match on the grounds of the Linlithgow Palace -- an historic ruin that was once the home of Mary Queen of Scots.

Before leaving for Dornoch on Wednesday we wanted to play at least one round in the south. Our host had recommended we go over to North Berwick just south of Muirfield on the east coast (the St. Andrews side).

So we played our first round of golf in Scotland at North Berwick. This was a fitting start to our trip, since North Berwick is considered a "primitive" links course with quirky features such as blind shots and walls you have to shoot over. It is the home of the original "Redan" par three -- which at the time seemed fairly unremarkable. Since then we have learned this hole has been copied by golf course designers more than any other in the world.

My own most memorable shot was the approach at #13, "The Pit". I hit what I thought was a beautiful iron just over the stone wall onto the green (yes, there is a wall in front of the green!) When we got there it was down in the "pit" behind the green and required a massive uphill putt, which turned into at least a four-putt before I got it down.

The next day we visited St. Andrews. Having played at North Berwick we were now accustomed to the "public" nature of these courses. People are perfectly free to walk across the fairway to and from the beach. So this gave us the opportunity to walk parts of The Old Course. We walked out a couple holes along the beach side, then came back along the famous "Road Hole" (17) and along the road to the even more famous Swilcan Bridge over the "burn" on 18.

On Tuesay we played the local course at Linlithgow as a guest of our host. This offered an interesting taste of the other kind of course in Scotland -- an inland or parkland course -- more like what we Canadians are used to, but a bit more rugged.

Then on Wednesday we headed north to Dornoch for what was to be perhaps the most memorable part of our trip. Dornoch is a beautiful little town on the Dornoch Firth about 30 miles north of Inverness. The town itself is historically significant as one of the focal points for "the clearances" that took place in the 1840s. This was when the Duke of Sutherland evicted his peasant farmers and replaced them with sheep. This event still forms part of the bitter undercurrent in the relationship between locals and nobles, peasants and gentry, Scottish and English. Dornoch is also the site of the last witch burning that took place in the Great Britain.

The golf course at Royal Dornoch is one of the most famous in the world. Its isolation makes it even more appealling for golf romantics like me. On Wednesday night we walked the course as darkness settled in (at around 11pm).

Then on Thursday I played my first round on the hallowed links. It was not one of my best rounds. I was a single sandwiched between two foursomes, playing an unknown course.

It was a memorable round nonetheless. Even if the shots were not particularly good, and the golfer was confused and somewhat at loose ends, the day was warm and pleasant, the course was strikingly beautiful, and I had played one of the world's best courses.

Later that day Judy and I played the Struie Course which is the 2nd course on the Dornoch links. It was then under development and not particularly outstanding. On our second visit in 2003 the Struie Course had been much improved and was well worth playing.

The next day we had the opportunity to explore some of the local points of interest. A trip up the coast to Dunrobin Castle at Golspie was well worth it. The falconry exhibit was outstanding.

In the afternoon we played the golf course at Brora, further up the coast another 15 miles or so. It was perfect Scottish golfing weather. The gusty wind was blowing in off the Firth bringing short bursts of light rain punctuated by sunny breaks.

This was one of those rounds you never forget. Brora is one of the few courses in the world where neighbouring sheep and cattle are free to roam the links and the greens are fenced off with electrical wire.

The course features lots of interesting shots over rugged grazing terrain. If you manage to survive with a fairly decent score, that can quickly be ruined by a miscalculation at 18. It's a longish par 3 (190) with a huge catchment area in front of the elevated green sitting right up beside the club house.

After a thoroughly enjoyable round we visited the dining room in the club house for an early dinner. Then we headed back to Linlithgow to prepare for the next leg of our journey -- our trip out past Loch Lomond and down the Kintyre peninsula that juts out into the Irish Sea.

Golf Teaching Aids - Teaching Your Kids Golf

By: Terry Edwards

More and more children than at any time before are wanting to learn how to play golf. Why? Tiger Woods may have something to do with that. He has popularized the game of golf among children of all ages.

It seems that kids are finding out what the adults already know: golf is a lot of fun! As your children may enjoy banging out golf balls with one of your golf clubs, where do you start in developing their skills? Here are some helpful golf training aids in giving your child a head start in learning to play golf.

Get Them In A Class
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to enroll them in a golf class. Let the professionals teach them the right golf teaching tools. Many local golf courses have golf instructional classes just for kids. There is also no need to rush out and purchase a set of golf clubs for your child. The class will provide the golf clubs for them. Not only will you save some money right now, but it will give you time to find out if your child truly enjoys the game of golf or not. The last thing you want to do is go out and spend a few hundred dollars on golf clubs only to find out later that your child doesn't like golf after all.

Be Patient
This tip is an important one for both you and your child. Have patience with your child. It's so easy to want to see your child start pounding long bombs like John Daly and sinking 30 foot putts. For them to enjoy golf and want to continue learning the game they need your support. Let them progress at their own rate. The golf classes will do a world of good in helping to develop their own skills.

Encouragement
While your out hitting golf balls on the driving range, be sure and give your child a lot of encouragement, even if they are spraying balls all over the range. They will pick up the finer points of the game later as they grow older. Take a moment and think about how it was for you when you first started out.

After your child has taken some classes and shows a real interest in the game of golf, then go ahead and get them there own set of golf clubs. Gave your child fitted properly. Of course, since they will be continually growing in height and weight, understand that the clubs you buy today may be too small within a year or two at the most.

Have Fun
Take the time that you spend golfing with your children as a time of bonding. Enjoy yourselves and the time you're out on the course. Use this time to develop good communication with your child. Talk about other issues going on other than golf. You'll be surprised at how the golf course can help you and your children bond together. It will spill over into other areas of their lives as well.

Golf - How To Bomb It Off The Tee

By: Terry Edwards

Regardless of what anyone thinks, every golfer secretly desires to bomb the golf ball a mile. Watching John Daly effortlessly hitting 350 yard drives makes us want to do the same thing in our weekend foursome. When you stop to think about it, it's only natural to want to hit long drives. Here's 7 keys that will help you start increasing your distance off the tee.

1. Set up with a wider than normal stance. This will give you more stability. A couple inches wider than normal will work well.

2. Point your left toe (for right-handers) more toward your intended target.

3. Waggle your club head over the ball to help release tension and to get yourself mentally prepared to start your backswing.

4. Stay calm and don't rush your backswing.

5. Take the club back as far as you can with your backswing.

6. Swing harder than usual.

7. Practice on a regular basis. Regular practice promotes good technique.

When you're on the tee box and have your target in line, set up your stance that will give you maximum power. Move your feet apart a little more to give yourself a more solid base and better stability. This will allow you to have a more powerful swing. Idealy, you want 60% of your weight on your left side.

As you take the golf club all the way back in your backswing, turn your shoulders a full 90 degrees. You should strive to have your back actually face the target. John Daly has a massive shoulder turn in his golf swing.

As you are at the top of your backswing, don't rush into your downswing. Rushing your downswing will only lead to miss hit shots that will go offline. Even worse, you can easily chili dip, or miss the ball completely. Keep your left arm straight during your transition. This will enable the club to remain square to the ball. You want to keep your swing as smooth as possible without any herky-jerky motions. Have the image in your mind of hitting through the ball, not just to it.

Use the wind to your advantage when it's blowing. If the wind is at your back, tee the ball higher and let it fly. You will get increased distance from teeing it higher. On the flipside, when the wind is in your face, tee it lower to encourage a lower ball flight.

Practice these techniques as often as possible. You will only get better with practice. Soon enough you'll see yourself driving the ball much farther and giving your playing partners something to talk about.