Sunday, June 5, 2011

How to Find the Best Discount Golf Tee Times

It's hard to believe in this day and age that anyone would still be inclined to purchase golf tee times directly from the course. The internet has changed the way we play golf. There are many opportunities online to purchase discount tee times from the best golf courses in States like Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana and no reason to contact golf courses directly and pay full price for your round of golf.

If you play golf as much as I do then you likely already know that booking a round of golf Weekend after Weekend can be very expensive. Paying $100 for a round of golf instead of $50 is not the end of the world if you are an occasional golfer, but if you play every Weekend this can add up. Over the years you are literally throwing money away by purchasing your golf tee times directly from the golf course.

Reputable Companies work with golf courses to create a network, some courses choose to participate in this network to book more golf rounds and other courses that do not need to book more golf rounds choose not to participate in this network. The point is that if these companies set up a very good network of participating golf courses with discount golf tee times then you can save up to 50% off the direct golf course price when you purchase.

Golf tee times are traded like stock and bought at 30 to 40 percent less than the direct golf course price and then the company can turn around and sell it to you at 50 to 60 percent less so that you save a lot of money over time. It's that simple and frankly I cannot imagine why any golfer would not want to purchase their round of golf in this fashion. The price of gasoline is at an all time high, groceries are more expensive than ever so this is one way you can save a lot of money over time and play more golf.

The concerns that golfers have is obvious because there are so many websites claiming to offer these deep discount tee times so how can you know which are reputable. Google and Bing provide excellent editorial judgment since fly by night Companies are unlikely to be top ranked in the organic listings. Golf media publications are another excellent source for Companies that offer a valuable network of golf courses to book discount rounds of golf.


View the original article here

How Does Ernie Els Hit the Ball So Far?

When Tiger Woods swings his driver, or Bubba Watson, you can see the power and you almost hurt yourself just watching. Then there's Ernie Els, every recreational golfer's favorite player. With what seems like no effort at all, he hits the ball just as far as anyone. How does he hit the ball so hard with such an easy swing? To begin with, appearances are deceptive.

Ernie hits it harder than you think he does, but let's back up first to his development as a young golfer. The story goes that when he was a boy, he would hit plastic balls in his back yard. With an easy swing, they would go about 70 feet. If he hit one as hard as he could, it would go about 70 feet. This taught him that swinging out of his shoes wasn't the key to good golf.

What he does is obey the fundamentals of the golf swing, the first of which is the setup. The grip, stance, aim, and posture that you get yourself into before you take the club away define the movement that can follow. A good setup tends to restrict your movements to the right ones. In a poor setup, anything goes, and most of it is wrong.

The second fundamental of his swing, the one that makes it stand out so, is his rhythm and tempo. He never rushes matters, letting them unfold in the right sequence and in the right time. He really does swing hard. If you have a chance to see him live, you will get a big surprise. But his rhythm and tempo allow his swing to flow gracefully and effortlessly from start to finish. They allow all his power to be concentrated at the moment of impact in a square, in-line hit.

Imagine you've hung up a carpet and you're beating it with a tennis racket to get the dust out of it. You know that to get the maximum effect from your blow, the racket needs to hit the carpet traveling straight into the carpet, not at an angle to it, and the entire racket head needs to hit the carpet flush, not hitting the carpet first with an edge of the racket.

Now think of the carpet as a golf ball, and the racket as your club's head, and there you have it -- a square, in-line hit. That's how to hit the ball hard, and that's what Ernie does. Always keep in mind that swinging hard and hitting hard are two different things.

There is one more thing about him that try as we might, most of us won't be able to copy--talent. Ernie, along with all professional golfers, has a talent for hitting the ball a long way. You're either a long hitter or you aren't. Paying attention to the fundamentals allowed him to develop his talent fully. You can do the same thing, and hit the ball as far as your talent allows, which will be plenty.


View the original article here

3 Basics of the Golf Swing

Sure, there are an exhausting number of variables that can play out in any round but there are three basics of the golf swing that you need to master every time. Learning which iron to pull and if the green is faster or slower when wet are all things you will learn with practice. In fact, you never stop learning in the game of golf, there is always going to be a new shot with a different challenge but if you can master the basics, you will be able to address everything else more effectively.

So, just what are the three most important and difficult components in the game of golf? Stance, grip and swing! If you can't excel at these three things, you'll never have a chance at becoming an exceptional golfer.

Begin with Your Stance

Is your stance really that important? Who wants to be bothered with evaluating their head to their toes, right? The funny thing is, the stance is where the majority of errors are made, and for many golfers, a few corrections can solve many of their problems.

Unless you're chipping or putting, your feet will be about shoulder width apart so you can distribute your weight a little easier. Your back needs to be straight, but your chest should be low, with your knees slightly bent. The easiest way to achieve this position is to simply tilt your pelvis upward.

Finding Your Neutral Grip

Your grip should never be tight or loose. Imagine putting masking tape from your wrists down the club, this is how your hands are meant to act, which is as an extension piece from one point to another. If you grip the club too tight, you will likely slice or hook the ball, too loose and you will lose control!

There are three types of grips which are the interlock, overlap and baseball grip. There is no right or wrong grip; you should choose one that you feel the most comfortable with. This may take a little trial and error.

? Interlock - The pinkie on your right hand will be intertwined with your left hand's index finger.
? Overlap - Your right hand's pinkie finger will rest over the area between your index and middle finger on your left hand.
? Baseball - Your right and left hand rest side by side, just like if you were swinging a baseball bat.

Perfecting the Swing

Your swing includes the backswing as well as the downswing, all the way through till the end. None of the components of a swing should be thought of as their own entity but rather as one whole piece. Everything about the swing should be fluid from the takeaway to the follow through.

Many golfers make the error of trying to generate or force power in their downswing. This is a mistake. Your power begins with your hips, not your shoulders, wrists or knees. Make the most of your hips by simply shifting your weight and the rest of your body will follow.

To see the most distance, make sure that you follow through after impact. Don't pause or stop, finishing off the arc of your swing is imperative. Most importantly, never stop evaluating and practicing the basics, regardless of how good you get. There is always room to improve in the game of golf!


View the original article here

Golden Advice on How to Break 80 for Average Golfers

It can take as long as three to five years to learn to break 80 in golf. If ever you have decided to take on this game as a hobby, well, you have to make things happen by allowing yourself to practice as often as you like. Having this game as a pastime is good but you can always upgrade from being a so-so player into a pro golfer if you only know how. Learning this game takes practice (lots of it) and perseverance to make the most of what you have spent for your clubs. Think about the time that you have spent playing and still finishing with the lowest score ever.

Learning how to break 80 in golf is something that you have to take into consideration as it is one of the things that a golfer needs. For what in the world did you want to learn the sport for if you wouldn't want to be satisfied in every game that you have finished? Haven't you tried going a little above the usual scores that you have earned? Stop flipping on the idea that all you need is a little game; a game well-played is a far better than a game within a game itself. It takes physical and mental capacity and enhancement for a player to achieve the highest score desired by players and competitors.

It is not a question whether you have just taken on the game or not. Learning to break 80 could be considered as one of the biggest challenge as it is considered as the magic number in the game. Once you know how to break 80 in golf, it is no longer impossible to add up to make a better one the next time you step on the greens. Practice can take you to greater heights. If this is your aim, learning the techniques will make your score soar above the rest of the competitors' arena.

By watching other players how they do their thing makes one great observer and a good follower. You learn by the mistakes that they do and in turn, you get good ideas on how to address your own shot as well. One of the things that would make it easy on you is to think hard on where your ball should go and what you want your ball to achieve. Golf involves the brain and the heart. Focus on what you want your game should be and that would be the start of everything good for you.

Learn how to play short game. Think of your clubs as a tool and not a disadvantage when it comes to hitting your shots. With enough experience in handling different kinds of clubs, you can take on even the oldest one and still break 80 in golf. Since every golf player has had their own experiences with frustrating games before you, treat every game as relaxed as possible. Nothing comes close to being comfortable with the clubs and the game itself.


View the original article here

Saturday, June 4, 2011

What Is a Golf Swing in Slow Motion All About?

A golf swing in slow motion is a technique that you can use right away to see what happens with your golf swing in order to fix it. Since swinging the golf club happens so quickly, in a matter of seconds, it is very difficult to notice what you are doing wrong with your swing. If you have a slow-motion golf swing, it is much easier to notice how to improve your swing and where you might be swinging wrong.

A common mistake that many golfers encounter with their swing, if everything else is right, is called "going over the top". Going over the top is when your upper body is going faster than your lower body. The result of this is that you hit the outside of the golf ball and a slice occurs. How can you correct this basic mistake? One way to correct this mistake is to practice your swing slowly. Your swing should be carried out in one consistent motion. If you think you may be going over the top, slow down and practice your swing in slow motion.

Take notice of your lower body, your upper body, your hands, feet position and most importantly the golf club position. Practice hitting some golf balls in slow speed and gradually speed up your speed until you are comfortable with your swing at full speed. If your golf swing plane is still not correct, slow it down and practice your swing again in slow motion. It may help to have someone watch you take a swing to pinpoint where you might be swinging the golf club wrong. If you do not have the option for someone to watch you, find or buy a mirror that allows you to see yourself. If you need a more advanced approach, you can try to capture your swing with a golf simulator or related equipment that will enable you to see what your normal golf swing is like in order to analyze your swing.

Something else that you may want to try is to close your eyes when you are practicing your golf swing and try to sense your balance and what your positioning is at the different levels of your swing.

The last thing about using a golf swing in slow motion technique is to remember to keep your eyes on the ball and concentrate. I know I was just talking about closing your eyes but this is just to get a sense of how to fix your golf swing. If you want the perfect swing you need to focus on hitting the golf ball and that involves keeping your eyes on the ball.


View the original article here

Six Tips to Improve Your Putting Game

A friendly golf game between friends or colleagues can be quite relaxing, however no one is willing to admit that they still want a better golf swing or score than the rest of their foursome, no matter how "friendly" the game is. Luckily there are ways to improve your golf swing and your golf game that just take some basic tweaks, and some good old fashioned practice. Whether you are a novice at golf or some what of an expert, there is nothing wrong with wanting to tweak your golfing skills so that you are constantly improving.

There are various shots, strokes and swings involved when it comes to golf. You can enroll in golf swing training where you will be professionally shown how to improve your golf swing. A perfect golf swing is imperative to playing a proper golf game. If you can not get the various swings right for the various shots that you have to make, you are not going to enjoy your game.

Another aspect that is important to the golf game is one's putting technique. A putt is a shot taken on the green, and it's usually a straight shot with the intention of getting the golf ball into the hole or as close to it as possible. Putting is the most important part of the golf game when it comes to scoring. A perfect putting technique will ensure that you get more ''eagles" and "birdies" on your score card than anybody else. There are a few tips when it comes to putting and these can essentially help you make great strides to improve your putting technique.

Grip your putter in the reverse overlap (overhand) grip as this is the best way to line up your feet and shoulders as squarely as possible, keeping your head over the golf ball. The ball should be positioned between the left heel and the center of your stance with your hands also over the ball.

Feel the stroke in your shoulders and arms. By doing so you should subsequently avoid "flipping" your hands and wrists. If you have difficulty keeping your hands and wrists still, try using a long shafted putter, (it worked for me!).

Keep your body and legs still, only yours arms and shoulders should move during putting. If you find yourself moving your legs or even slightly twisting your hips, it could be the culprit for your poor finish.

Take note of the hole location, paying attention to breaks and direction of grain of the green. This will also help you determine the "speed" of the green.

Incorporate a lot of feel drills into your practice, with an emphasis on distance control when you play, as this will help you achieve optimal distance adjustment during a game, and also help you adjust easily to different speeds of the greens.

Practice, practice, practice. Spend adequate time on the green. Dedicate a good part of your time at the driving range. If your range doesn't have a green or at least a putting area, find one that does.

Remember the famous saying: "you drive for show, but you putt for the dough". Your short game is what makes the difference in being the club champ, or a serial 2nd place finisher.


View the original article here

Eco Golf Balls and Eco Golf Tees - Why They Matter

Did you know that in the US alone, it's estimated over 300 million golf balls are lost per year? Yes, many balls are reclaimed, but nowhere near the volume that are lost. Now let's talk about golf tees. Stick with me, and we'll do some simple math.
486 million rounds of golf played annually(The National Golf Foundation/ US / 2009)Average golfer uses 6 tees / round75% using wooden tees(PGA estimates 90% of professional use wooden tees; using conservative 75% for general public)2,187,000,000 total estimated golf tees consumed per year!

Combine the lost golf balls with the used golf tees and you have an incredible amount of golf 'trash' left lying around on those beautiful courses where we play. Compelling, isn't it? That's why using eco-friendly golf balls and eco-friendly golf tees DOES matter.

So, you ask, what is the difference between a regular golf ball and an eco-friendly golf ball? Read on and learn about three top-sellers.

The Wilson Eco Core golf ball has a core molded from unvulcanized automobile tires instead of the polybutadiene used in 99% of all other golf balls. The packaging does away with sleeves, and uses a recycled "pizza" cardboard box approach. The net effect is a ball that uses 40% less materials and energy to produce.

The Dixon Earth golf ball is "green" to the core. The Dixon Earth ball's core is made from a proprietary polymer that maintains the playable properties of the ball, but ensures that it is 100% renewable. In addition to the core, the entire Dixon Earth ball is manufactured with materials that can be recycled and used to make other consumer products.

The Eco Tournament Sleeve contains three balls that are molded over a regulation size Recycled Rubber Core. They also feature a Recycled Plastic Surlyn cover with an improved high performance LS 432 dimple design. These balls feature the Recycled Symbol and ECO name printed opposite your branding.

As for eco-friendly golf tee options, I recommend using biodegradable tees. Our biodegradable tees are made of cellulose, starch and other natural polymers. These tees degrade in just six to twelve weeks! As for their play, you'll find these biodegradable tees won't mark up your club face, they are more durable than wooden tees, and they won't slow your swing speed on impact.

Price points of eco-friendly golf balls and eco-friendly golf tees are very comparable to their non-eco counterparts. You won't see an impact on your budget by changing to eco-friendly golf products. (Although you may realize some positive PR!)

If your business has a sustainability policy in place, eco-friendly golf products will be a natural fit for your promotional marketing. Whether or not you have a formal policy in place, choose eco-friendly golf products. It's just the right thing to do.

Jean A Braun is a promotional marketing professional, with over 18 years of industry experience. Her website, http://www.ecogolfpromos.com/ is the result of her passon for promotional marketing and the game of golf, along with her belief in being socially responsible.

When looking for unique branding methods, you can count on the experience and creativity Jean has to offer. Visit http://www.ecogolfpromos.com/ to contact Jean and request more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Braun


View the original article here