Most avid golfers love the idea of going on a trip. This is the best chance for them to visit new places and play golf at some of the finest courses that they don't usually have a chance to play on a regular basis. In some cases though, golfers do not plan in advance and can wind up with a ruined weekend. Below are some tips that can help you with planning a golf trip for you and your golf friends.
- Gather as much information as you can: one thing that you should always remember is that no amount of information is ever enough. Look at the various websites that provide information on the areas that you plan to visit on your golf trip. Do your best to find golf trip packages that suit your budget. You should also check out some reviews of the courses included in the packages to find out which of them are really worth visiting.
- Check the course fees: Once you have chosen a place for your golf trip, you should check on the fees for the various golf courses you will be playing on. Be aware that they may charge premium fees during the weekends or on holidays.
Also, check to see if there are any discounts for playing later in the day or for playing a limited amount of time on a particular day. You should keep your expenses in mind and try to save some money where possible. For example choose a slightly lower lever course that is still a challenge.
- Inform the clubhouse staff in advance
You should inform the staff at the golf course in advance about your arrival time and the date you want to play. This is especially important if the trip is with a group. The reason for this is because the golf course staff might have a problem when trying to make last minute arrangements for an entire group. They can make arrangements easier if you are alone however.
- Book your tee time in advance
It also is recommended to book your tee time well in advance of when you plan to go on your trip. It is very important to get this done at least a few weeks before your departure date. Fortunately, most golf clubs allow people to book well in advance either through them personally, through their website, or through a third-party agency or company.
- Understand the payment policyUnderstand the golf club's payment policy in case you have to cancel, you should know whether they will still charge you or not.
- Plan well in advanceMost importantly, always plan ahead. Do not wait until the last minute because this is when problems will arise if you do not plan accordingly.
Utilizing these tips to plan your golf trip can help you avoid a lot of mistakes and will make your golf trip a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.If you fancy a golf trip to Celtic Manor
By: Jamie Hanson
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Where to play golf in Spain
For golf lovers, Spain is a real golfing haven. The country's sunny weather and beautiful green fields add to the excitement of a golf vacation. If you are planning a golf vacation in this beautiful country, have a look below for some of the more interesting places in Spain that will lead to an exciting golf experience. Costa del Sol Golf CoursesThe Costa del Sol region has over 60 golf courses. The following are some of the most popular ones that you may want to consider." Torrequebrada Golf: Located in the heart of the region, this golf course is more than 3 decades old. It was designed by Pepe Garcedo who is considered to be one of the greatest golf course architects. Torrequibrada offers a total of eighteen holes with really magnificent views. Also, the layout utilizes the small land area to its maximum. The course is full of hazards such as lakes and tropical trees. In addition, it has several bunkers that have been placed strategically throughout the entire course. In short, it can be a real challenge, even for the experienced golfer but is well worth it due to the courses' beautiful ambience." La Dama de Noche: This unique golf course is open 24-hours. It is mainly a 9 hole golf course but you can also play it for a full eighteen. The 24-hour play is possible because of the course's innovative lighting system. This system enables you to play even when it is sheer dark. The lighting system is placed in such a way that it does not cast a single shadow. In fact, it feels like that you are playing in the daytime when in actuality you're playing at night. " Alcaidesa: This is the only golf course in the region that comes close to being a links course. It boasts well-defined fairways and very high quality large greens. The course is a real challenge for all players, no matter what level. Beware though; the course has several holes can swallow a ball whole. The Par 3, 2nd is an especially dangerous hole, especially if you are playing from the back tees. Another magnificent hole is the redesigned Par 5, 15th. It can become a problem for those that are not big hitters because what normally would take two shots to get over the water will have to be done in one in order to reach the green.The Majorca Island Golf Courses
This Mediterranean island offers a total of 19 golf courses that have been blessed by a moderate climate including bright sunshine. The nice weather conditions and many features entice golfers to play here throughout the year.The Almeria desertThis is the only desert in Europe; the golf courses here are full of natural sand dunes and other natural hazards. One course is especially amazing. The Desert Springs Golf Course, is known for its astounding natural landscape and is a favorite in the area.Costa BravaCosta Brava has golf courses maintain very high standards. The courses are blessed with a really amazing geographical location that offer excellent weather conditions throughout the year. Two courses that are particularly famous are the Girona Golf Club and the Catalunya PGA Golf Club.Contact us for golf holidays in Spain & Spanish golf breaks at Almeria or Almerimar Golf Resort
By: Jamie Hanson
This Mediterranean island offers a total of 19 golf courses that have been blessed by a moderate climate including bright sunshine. The nice weather conditions and many features entice golfers to play here throughout the year.The Almeria desertThis is the only desert in Europe; the golf courses here are full of natural sand dunes and other natural hazards. One course is especially amazing. The Desert Springs Golf Course, is known for its astounding natural landscape and is a favorite in the area.Costa BravaCosta Brava has golf courses maintain very high standards. The courses are blessed with a really amazing geographical location that offer excellent weather conditions throughout the year. Two courses that are particularly famous are the Girona Golf Club and the Catalunya PGA Golf Club.Contact us for golf holidays in Spain & Spanish golf breaks at Almeria or Almerimar Golf Resort
By: Jamie Hanson
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Teaching Kids to Play Golf
With the newest addition to my family barely a week old, I thought I would address the issue of teaching kids golf.The first question I am usually asked is how old does your child have to be to learn to play golf? Most are surprised when I say two, or three. Tiger Woods was appearing on a U.S. talk show at the age of 3, so keep that in mind.
The real question to be asked is do you want your child to learn to play golf, or learn to enjoy golf? I have found the latter fosters the former. Over the years I have taught a great many kids aged three to five and to be honest, I didn’t teach them much. At least not skills-wise. I started golf when I was eight years old and my initial memories of it were not good ones. “Hurry up, slow down, keep that straight, bend that, don’t move this, move this!†I did not enjoy it.
When I teach golf to very young kids there are three things – and three things only - I focus on. Safety, fun, hit down. The first two sound cliché, but they are too important to gloss over.
Kids – especially boys – love to swing sticks. Look out when they get a golf club in their hands. It is critical to delineate an area in which they are allowed to swing their club, and stress that when outside that area the club remains down. If dealing with multiple kids, it is important to ensure they understand where those areas are for all the kids participating. Without even thinking it is nothing for a kid to drop their club and run to get more balls, and potentially run straight into the backswing of another child swinging. Not good.
If you are teaching your kids to play golf it is likely because you enjoy it. If you want your kids to say, “Can we do golf again?†you must ensure they have fun each and every time they play. Fun – especially in golf - is far more important than learning skills. Skills come easy when you enjoy something. If your right handed child is more comfortable hitting left handed, let them. If your child finds it easier to use a reverse grip or hit back handed (many do for leverage) let them. Let them just have fun. If they have fun they will come back for more, and there will be plenty of time to teach them skills later. You won’t be able to teach them skills, however, if they are not there, or do not want to be there.
The one skill-related piece of wisdom I do try to instill is the need to hit down at the ball to make it go up. The nice thing is they will not question it; kids are not nearly the doubters that adults can be. Hitting down is physically easier for a child than hitting up, so you may even find they are already hitting down. If that is the case reinforce the fact and commend them. Hitting up is the number one curse of an adult golfer - imagine if you had been hitting down naturally since you were three. As I said, I started when I was eight years old and did not enjoy it initially. Imagine where your child will be at eight if he or she is already hitting down at the ball, and most importantly, enjoying golf.
By: Clive Scarff
The real question to be asked is do you want your child to learn to play golf, or learn to enjoy golf? I have found the latter fosters the former. Over the years I have taught a great many kids aged three to five and to be honest, I didn’t teach them much. At least not skills-wise. I started golf when I was eight years old and my initial memories of it were not good ones. “Hurry up, slow down, keep that straight, bend that, don’t move this, move this!†I did not enjoy it.
When I teach golf to very young kids there are three things – and three things only - I focus on. Safety, fun, hit down. The first two sound cliché, but they are too important to gloss over.
Kids – especially boys – love to swing sticks. Look out when they get a golf club in their hands. It is critical to delineate an area in which they are allowed to swing their club, and stress that when outside that area the club remains down. If dealing with multiple kids, it is important to ensure they understand where those areas are for all the kids participating. Without even thinking it is nothing for a kid to drop their club and run to get more balls, and potentially run straight into the backswing of another child swinging. Not good.
If you are teaching your kids to play golf it is likely because you enjoy it. If you want your kids to say, “Can we do golf again?†you must ensure they have fun each and every time they play. Fun – especially in golf - is far more important than learning skills. Skills come easy when you enjoy something. If your right handed child is more comfortable hitting left handed, let them. If your child finds it easier to use a reverse grip or hit back handed (many do for leverage) let them. Let them just have fun. If they have fun they will come back for more, and there will be plenty of time to teach them skills later. You won’t be able to teach them skills, however, if they are not there, or do not want to be there.
The one skill-related piece of wisdom I do try to instill is the need to hit down at the ball to make it go up. The nice thing is they will not question it; kids are not nearly the doubters that adults can be. Hitting down is physically easier for a child than hitting up, so you may even find they are already hitting down. If that is the case reinforce the fact and commend them. Hitting up is the number one curse of an adult golfer - imagine if you had been hitting down naturally since you were three. As I said, I started when I was eight years old and did not enjoy it initially. Imagine where your child will be at eight if he or she is already hitting down at the ball, and most importantly, enjoying golf.
By: Clive Scarff
Where to play Golf in the UK
If you are an avid golf lover on vacation in the UK, there are many locations with beautiful, top-rated golf courses at your disposal. Spending your vacation golfing in the UK can be an incredible experience that you will never forget.
Here is a look at some of the places where you can play golf while in the UK.
Golf Courses in Wales
Wales is a small country within the United Kingdom that is often overlooked as a golfing destination. This country has some of the best golf clubs and courses that are as good as some of the other more famous and well known clubs. Some of the best golf courses in the area are:
- The Roman Road Course - Located at the Celtic Manor, it offers one of the best sceneries. The course is very challenging but is not too physically demanding. It hosts the All Star Club and also been home to the Celtic Manor Wales Open.
- The Montgomerie Course - It is also located at the Celtic Manor and is named after the legendry golf player, Colin Montgomerie, who also designed this course. The Montgomerie Course is very intricate and is quite exquisite as well. It is known for its extremely deep pot bunkers and has a panoramic view from some of its tees that rival even the best courses in UK.
- Royal St. Davids is another famous course in Wales that is internationally renowned. The course's sand makes the intermediate shots really challenging. The weather conditions also add to the complexity of the course. The course has hosted events and championships of both professional and amateur grades.
Other Popular Golf Courses in the UK
The United Kingdom is home to some of the best golf courses in the world. The following is a look at some of the more popular courses found here.
- Royal St. Georges - Located at Kent, this course is considered extremely challenging but highly rewarding. It has some of the deepest bunkers in the UK, fairways that are really tight and that are topped off with really slick greens. This course has hosted The Open Championship a number of times.
- Gleneagles - This beautiful golf course has hosted some of the biggest tournaments. It is considered the most beautiful inland course in the UK. The course boasts a very well designed landscape with natural plant life, as well as well-designed layouts.
- Woodhall Spa - This Lincolnshire spa has a golf course which really is a hidden gem. The spa's Hotchkin course is rated really high. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most under-rated courses by various reputed Golf publications. Last year, it hosted The English Amateur Trophy.
- St. Andrews - This exclusive golf course in Scotland is the world's oldest course and is rated as the world's No.1 golf course. Some of the course's unique features include huge double greens in which seven of the greens are shared by two holes each. Another unique feature is that the course can be played either clockwise or anti-clockwise. It's traditional that courses be played clockwise only.
For golf in England at St Andrews Old Course or Woodall Spa
By: Jamie Hanson
Here is a look at some of the places where you can play golf while in the UK.
Golf Courses in Wales
Wales is a small country within the United Kingdom that is often overlooked as a golfing destination. This country has some of the best golf clubs and courses that are as good as some of the other more famous and well known clubs. Some of the best golf courses in the area are:
- The Roman Road Course - Located at the Celtic Manor, it offers one of the best sceneries. The course is very challenging but is not too physically demanding. It hosts the All Star Club and also been home to the Celtic Manor Wales Open.
- The Montgomerie Course - It is also located at the Celtic Manor and is named after the legendry golf player, Colin Montgomerie, who also designed this course. The Montgomerie Course is very intricate and is quite exquisite as well. It is known for its extremely deep pot bunkers and has a panoramic view from some of its tees that rival even the best courses in UK.
- Royal St. Davids is another famous course in Wales that is internationally renowned. The course's sand makes the intermediate shots really challenging. The weather conditions also add to the complexity of the course. The course has hosted events and championships of both professional and amateur grades.
Other Popular Golf Courses in the UK
The United Kingdom is home to some of the best golf courses in the world. The following is a look at some of the more popular courses found here.
- Royal St. Georges - Located at Kent, this course is considered extremely challenging but highly rewarding. It has some of the deepest bunkers in the UK, fairways that are really tight and that are topped off with really slick greens. This course has hosted The Open Championship a number of times.
- Gleneagles - This beautiful golf course has hosted some of the biggest tournaments. It is considered the most beautiful inland course in the UK. The course boasts a very well designed landscape with natural plant life, as well as well-designed layouts.
- Woodhall Spa - This Lincolnshire spa has a golf course which really is a hidden gem. The spa's Hotchkin course is rated really high. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most under-rated courses by various reputed Golf publications. Last year, it hosted The English Amateur Trophy.
- St. Andrews - This exclusive golf course in Scotland is the world's oldest course and is rated as the world's No.1 golf course. Some of the course's unique features include huge double greens in which seven of the greens are shared by two holes each. Another unique feature is that the course can be played either clockwise or anti-clockwise. It's traditional that courses be played clockwise only.
For golf in England at St Andrews Old Course or Woodall Spa
By: Jamie Hanson
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
How to Improve your Golf Swing
Finding Ways to improve your golf swing is going to play a very key role in your ability to really have a great game of golf. Unless you can master this ability, you can never play golf to your ultimate satisfaction. Of course playing a round of golf is possible without this skill, but to improve the quality of your playing you want to improve your back swing, just like controlling the art of putting. Before you start to work on this area, remember it is not about improving your power, but the distance in addition to the form.
If you are beginning with a good solid stance as you swing, which includes correct posture, as well as golf shoes and alignment with the golf ball you are going to have a much better attempt at improving your swing. Without a good sturdy posture, you are going to twist at the wrong second and have potentially huge troubles with not being able to really grasp the club the right way. These combined together can create huge problems when you are attempting to successfully improve your back swing. The first thing you have to keep in mind is that your stance has to be flawless, so that it allows you to perform the correct follow through with ease and comfort for your swing.
If in doubt regarding your pose, take a picture of yourself or ask someone to do this favor for you. Then take your picture and compare it with one that shows the correct position. If this option is found unsuitable, then take help through lessons, which would allow you to play with someone, till you have mastered the art of right posture. When you have your basic skills right, you can develop on them as you progress with time. If you can get a golf trainer, it is the smartest way to learn the game, as they can give you their frank and genuine view about your ability improvement - which is better than appraising it yourself.
Once your posture is perfect, give a closer look at your grip. If you are over extending your grip, or even gripping the golf club the wrong way you are going to have a bad backhand from the very beginning. Unless your grip of the club is flawless, you can never control a good back swing. It is physically out of the question and you will find that you are met with an infinite number frustrations from trying it. Sometimes even changing the position of your hands by just a fraction of an inch can offer a dramatic difference in results that you would not be able to otherwise notice.
Finally the other golf swing technique to improve your back swing is to pull the club back from the ball, ahead of raising it off the ground. One of the most common mistakes made by most golfers is to raise the club from the ground and back nearly at the same time. This not only results in hitting the golf ball off center, but also spoils your movement. Foremost pull the club back in a straight direction and then raise it off the ground, and watch a dramatic improvement instantly. There is nothing inconceivable or unnatural to do. To improve your back swing, the most critical thing to think of is to pull your club back straight and then raise it off the ground.
By: Ivan John
If you are beginning with a good solid stance as you swing, which includes correct posture, as well as golf shoes and alignment with the golf ball you are going to have a much better attempt at improving your swing. Without a good sturdy posture, you are going to twist at the wrong second and have potentially huge troubles with not being able to really grasp the club the right way. These combined together can create huge problems when you are attempting to successfully improve your back swing. The first thing you have to keep in mind is that your stance has to be flawless, so that it allows you to perform the correct follow through with ease and comfort for your swing.
If in doubt regarding your pose, take a picture of yourself or ask someone to do this favor for you. Then take your picture and compare it with one that shows the correct position. If this option is found unsuitable, then take help through lessons, which would allow you to play with someone, till you have mastered the art of right posture. When you have your basic skills right, you can develop on them as you progress with time. If you can get a golf trainer, it is the smartest way to learn the game, as they can give you their frank and genuine view about your ability improvement - which is better than appraising it yourself.
Once your posture is perfect, give a closer look at your grip. If you are over extending your grip, or even gripping the golf club the wrong way you are going to have a bad backhand from the very beginning. Unless your grip of the club is flawless, you can never control a good back swing. It is physically out of the question and you will find that you are met with an infinite number frustrations from trying it. Sometimes even changing the position of your hands by just a fraction of an inch can offer a dramatic difference in results that you would not be able to otherwise notice.
Finally the other golf swing technique to improve your back swing is to pull the club back from the ball, ahead of raising it off the ground. One of the most common mistakes made by most golfers is to raise the club from the ground and back nearly at the same time. This not only results in hitting the golf ball off center, but also spoils your movement. Foremost pull the club back in a straight direction and then raise it off the ground, and watch a dramatic improvement instantly. There is nothing inconceivable or unnatural to do. To improve your back swing, the most critical thing to think of is to pull your club back straight and then raise it off the ground.
By: Ivan John
Golf Is More Than Just A Walk Through The Pasture
Mark Twain once wrote playing golf was a good way to spoil a walk through the pasture. The inimitable Mr. Twain, from this statement, could be believed not to be a golfer. After all, there is more to golfing than just walking through a pasture.
First and foremost, golf is a way to either work out stress and frustration, or, for many, to get even more stressed out and frustrated. It can be the most infuriating game ever played or invented, or the most fun. And, no two trips to the golf course will ever be the same, regardless of how good a player someone is.
This is because the weather conditions are never identical, and weather does play a big part in golf. The more intelligent golfers will not go near the course in a thunderstorm, but there are a few brave, and foolhardy, souls who will brave the elements just to play. The wind also plays a major factor in golf, as the wind will affect the way the ball travels. When hit, golf balls have spin. The spin can be enhanced by the wind, causing the ball to drift away from its intended target. Therefore, the golfer has to take the wind into consideration and plan his or her shot accordingly.
Golf is also a good form of exercise, for those golfers who walk the course. A good course is about two miles around, so playing eighteen holes is roughly equivalent to walking four miles. Any doctor will tell you that such a walk can only be beneficial to the walker’s heart and lungs.
Additionally, playing golf is good for getting out of the house and being outdoors. Golfers can enjoy the sun and wind note the beauty of the nature they’re surrounded by, as the majority of courses are well landscaped and quite pleasing to the eye. Golfers can also watch squirrels and rabbits on the course, sometimes, and take pleasure in the antics of these creatures. This also helps free the golfer from thinking about the mistake he or she made on the last shot or previous hole, calming them down and getting them ready for their next shot.
For others, however, playing golf is a great way to beat stress. After all, a golf course is about the only place a person can knock the crap out of something, not only not get in trouble for hitting something, but being praised and rewarded by knocking the crap out of the ball well. How perfect is that?
Golf is also a game of honor. Surprised? Don’t be. After all, golf is the only game where a person can call a penalty on themselves, and those who play with honor do. Of course, there are the jerks who claim to play golf, but wouldn’t think of calling a penalty on anything they’ve done. Their scores, though, are meaningless, and this kind of behavior will also show up in their day to day lives.
By: Joe Smithson
First and foremost, golf is a way to either work out stress and frustration, or, for many, to get even more stressed out and frustrated. It can be the most infuriating game ever played or invented, or the most fun. And, no two trips to the golf course will ever be the same, regardless of how good a player someone is.
This is because the weather conditions are never identical, and weather does play a big part in golf. The more intelligent golfers will not go near the course in a thunderstorm, but there are a few brave, and foolhardy, souls who will brave the elements just to play. The wind also plays a major factor in golf, as the wind will affect the way the ball travels. When hit, golf balls have spin. The spin can be enhanced by the wind, causing the ball to drift away from its intended target. Therefore, the golfer has to take the wind into consideration and plan his or her shot accordingly.
Golf is also a good form of exercise, for those golfers who walk the course. A good course is about two miles around, so playing eighteen holes is roughly equivalent to walking four miles. Any doctor will tell you that such a walk can only be beneficial to the walker’s heart and lungs.
Additionally, playing golf is good for getting out of the house and being outdoors. Golfers can enjoy the sun and wind note the beauty of the nature they’re surrounded by, as the majority of courses are well landscaped and quite pleasing to the eye. Golfers can also watch squirrels and rabbits on the course, sometimes, and take pleasure in the antics of these creatures. This also helps free the golfer from thinking about the mistake he or she made on the last shot or previous hole, calming them down and getting them ready for their next shot.
For others, however, playing golf is a great way to beat stress. After all, a golf course is about the only place a person can knock the crap out of something, not only not get in trouble for hitting something, but being praised and rewarded by knocking the crap out of the ball well. How perfect is that?
Golf is also a game of honor. Surprised? Don’t be. After all, golf is the only game where a person can call a penalty on themselves, and those who play with honor do. Of course, there are the jerks who claim to play golf, but wouldn’t think of calling a penalty on anything they’ve done. Their scores, though, are meaningless, and this kind of behavior will also show up in their day to day lives.
By: Joe Smithson
Monday, June 29, 2009
Handicapping for Casual Golfers
Golf handicaps are used to make the game of golf more competitive for golfers with different skill levels. I was introduced to the game of golf by a friend who was an avid golfer and, of course, I was a beginner therefore there was no way I could even consider beating him in the game of golf. When I had reached what I call the advanced beginner stage my friend introduced me to the concept of handicapping. With handicapping, the game was more competitive for both of us.
There is a standard system of handicapping that is used for tournament play on all golf courses. This system is quite complicated and takes into account the golfers average score, the course ratings (total par for the course) for the courses played and the slope rating (course difficulty) for each course played. Computer software is used for this calculation and this system is always used to establish your official handicap.
For casual, non-tournament golf play where the players have not established an official handicap, here is an unofficial system that I find quite useful.
1.Keep track of your score and the course rating (total par for the course) every time you play golf. 2.Take the difference between your score and the course rating. 3.Calculate the average of the 10 best of your last 20 differences (or the best half of the differences you have recorded if less than 20) and multiply by 96% (drop everything after the 1st decimal place). The maximum allowable handicap is 36 .4 for men and 40.4 for women 4.Compare the result with the other golfers who are playing. 5.The lowest average receives no handicap. All other golfers have a handicap which is the difference between their average and the lowest average. 6.Each player subtracts their handicap from their total score to determine the winner (if match play, apply the handicap first to the number 1 difficulty hole then number 2, etc.) 7.The group could agree on whether to do the above calculations using the gross score or adjusted gross score (described below)
Adjusted Gross score The gross score is the total strokes for 18 holes. The adjusted gross score places a cap on the number of strokes counted on any hole for handicapping purposes to eliminate the effect of a disaster hole when calculating a handicap. Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) rules are used to determine the maximum strokes per hole based on your Course Handicap as calculated in # 3 above.
Course Handicap: 0-9, Maximum Score: Double Bogey; Course Handicap: 10-19, Maximum Score: 7; Course Handicap: 20-29, Maximum Score: 8; Course Handicap: 30-39, Maximum Score: 9; Course Handicap: 40 or more, Maximum Score: 10
If you are doing this for the 1st time use the maximum handicap, 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.
By: Jay Evans
There is a standard system of handicapping that is used for tournament play on all golf courses. This system is quite complicated and takes into account the golfers average score, the course ratings (total par for the course) for the courses played and the slope rating (course difficulty) for each course played. Computer software is used for this calculation and this system is always used to establish your official handicap.
For casual, non-tournament golf play where the players have not established an official handicap, here is an unofficial system that I find quite useful.
1.Keep track of your score and the course rating (total par for the course) every time you play golf. 2.Take the difference between your score and the course rating. 3.Calculate the average of the 10 best of your last 20 differences (or the best half of the differences you have recorded if less than 20) and multiply by 96% (drop everything after the 1st decimal place). The maximum allowable handicap is 36 .4 for men and 40.4 for women 4.Compare the result with the other golfers who are playing. 5.The lowest average receives no handicap. All other golfers have a handicap which is the difference between their average and the lowest average. 6.Each player subtracts their handicap from their total score to determine the winner (if match play, apply the handicap first to the number 1 difficulty hole then number 2, etc.) 7.The group could agree on whether to do the above calculations using the gross score or adjusted gross score (described below)
Adjusted Gross score The gross score is the total strokes for 18 holes. The adjusted gross score places a cap on the number of strokes counted on any hole for handicapping purposes to eliminate the effect of a disaster hole when calculating a handicap. Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) rules are used to determine the maximum strokes per hole based on your Course Handicap as calculated in # 3 above.
Course Handicap: 0-9, Maximum Score: Double Bogey; Course Handicap: 10-19, Maximum Score: 7; Course Handicap: 20-29, Maximum Score: 8; Course Handicap: 30-39, Maximum Score: 9; Course Handicap: 40 or more, Maximum Score: 10
If you are doing this for the 1st time use the maximum handicap, 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.
By: Jay Evans
Why Is Golf So Popular?
Mark Twain once famously observed that to play golf was to ruin a good walk in the country, but a sport that has so many millions of dedicated players and followers, along with over 30,000 courses worldwide, must have something going for it. So why is it that golf is such a popular sport?
Aside from P.J. O'Rourke's assertion that "Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: taking long walks and hitting things with a stick", the game of golf has many benefits to offer to players of all standards. The first and most obvious is that it provides a way of escaping from the hurly burly of modern urban life. The life enhancing qualities of fresh air, pleasant scenery, and a temporary return to seemingly rural surroundings are hard to overstate, and golf provides all these in abundance. As an aside, golf can also be good for the environment, with the courses providing a managed 'wilderness' in the heart of urban areas, which has great benefits both ecology-wise and for the community.
In today's world, many people are deskbound during their working days, and while they may work extremely hard mentally, their bodies aren't put under anything like the same kind of physical strains that our forebears used to endure. While this is generally a good thing, a lack of exercise can cause serious health problems, and a round of golf provides light to moderate exertion - even a short course will involve a walk of at least two miles, even if you play to par! The muscles of the upper body also receive a gentle workout during the repeated swings you make as you progress around the course.
Golf also provides an arena for competition, whether against your peers or simply against your self and your skill level. No golf player will ever be satisfied with their game, and the quest for greater technical perfection can be a powerful spur to carrying on playing the game - the thought of knocking an extra shot off your scorecard can quickly become addictive.
Finally, golf is a very social sport, as it is played at a pace which allows conversation among the players. Not only does this mean you can relax with friends while playing, it has also led to the sport becoming popular in business circles, where negotiations and deal making can often be conducted in a much more relaxed setting than the average boardroom.
By: Andrea Flint
Aside from P.J. O'Rourke's assertion that "Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: taking long walks and hitting things with a stick", the game of golf has many benefits to offer to players of all standards. The first and most obvious is that it provides a way of escaping from the hurly burly of modern urban life. The life enhancing qualities of fresh air, pleasant scenery, and a temporary return to seemingly rural surroundings are hard to overstate, and golf provides all these in abundance. As an aside, golf can also be good for the environment, with the courses providing a managed 'wilderness' in the heart of urban areas, which has great benefits both ecology-wise and for the community.
In today's world, many people are deskbound during their working days, and while they may work extremely hard mentally, their bodies aren't put under anything like the same kind of physical strains that our forebears used to endure. While this is generally a good thing, a lack of exercise can cause serious health problems, and a round of golf provides light to moderate exertion - even a short course will involve a walk of at least two miles, even if you play to par! The muscles of the upper body also receive a gentle workout during the repeated swings you make as you progress around the course.
Golf also provides an arena for competition, whether against your peers or simply against your self and your skill level. No golf player will ever be satisfied with their game, and the quest for greater technical perfection can be a powerful spur to carrying on playing the game - the thought of knocking an extra shot off your scorecard can quickly become addictive.
Finally, golf is a very social sport, as it is played at a pace which allows conversation among the players. Not only does this mean you can relax with friends while playing, it has also led to the sport becoming popular in business circles, where negotiations and deal making can often be conducted in a much more relaxed setting than the average boardroom.
By: Andrea Flint
Sunday, June 28, 2009
How To Play Golf For Free On Some Of The World's Best Courses
Would you like to learn how to play golf for free on some of the world's best courses? You might find that you can golf free while staying at various types of locations such as hotel chains and suites, beachfront condos, golf resorts and villas and even luxury homes. This of course will depend upon the budget you will be working with, the length of your stay as well as your destination.There are so many fun and interesting golf courses to enjoy in various locations around the globe. Some of them are themed areas or locations that have great benefits for those who visit their establishments. Some golf packages may include fishing and golfing. Others may feature yoga and meditation classes, others may include beginner golf classes or a nearby golf academy, various courses to match your level of skills, competitions and tournaments as well as the amazing opportunity for visiting other geographical areas, discovering various traditions in cultures and customs.Do you know that by planning strategically you can get some of your golf privileges free? It is true. Although not every institution will honor such, there are some that will give you a free golfing vacation package free according to specific conditions. Besides, it never hurts to ask.How do you do get to play golf free on some of the worlds best courses?Well to begin with you will have to become the group leader of a golfing group of at least 16 or more players in order to qualify. After achieving this task you will begin searching for the best golf packaging companies in order to find those with the most agreeable group rates to match your golf group vacation budget. Once you make contact with the golf packaging company of your choice you should tell them immediately that you are the group leader of your large golfing group of sixteen players or more and that you want to make group course accommodation reservations. However, you will only do so on the condition that your own golfing accommodations of playing and staying are free for you to use.Remember to keep an eye out for hidden golf related fees such as for the golf carts. Ask if the golf cart fees are included for you and your golfing group. If they are not included in your package, you should insist on having them or find another golf course package. You should also make sure you understand the conditions of any course that may be offered in an upgrade which involves course surcharges. This means taking the time to call the various golf courses to find out about their course conditions and their schedule of maintenance, yourself.When you want to make the most of your free golfing privileges you should learn all you can about the local market of any area destination. You should also find out what the distance is between your preplanned accommodations and the golf course you plan to play through. Keep in mind while planning your golf vacation that you might get a better deal if you plans are to be made during the summer and winter rather than during spring of fall as these are generally slower. When you are searching for the best options for your golf buddies and yourself, you will need to do some research rather than just picking any old golf package. You will also benefit by reading all the fine print and booking with a knowledgeable and reputable golf related company. You may as well ask for any customer references too. Keep in mind when dealing with hotels you may find that they can be very accommodating about their own business golfing faculties.Getting to stay and play free golf courses can be loads of fun for you as well as your group. By taking the time to properly plan out your golfing vacation you may find that there are other interests that might be worthwhile while you are visiting a new area or even returning to a favorite location. When you need some downtime from golfing you may be able to spend your extra time visiting the local business market or entertainment offerings such as theaters, museums, shopping, dinning, amusement and water parks or even some exciting night life entertainment. This of course will depend upon the area you chose for your group golfing excursion.Make the most of learning how to play golf for free on some of the worlds best courses. Imagine yourself and your group of golf players enjoying all that your destination location has to offer. You can be improving your swing techniques during the day and then relaxing in the evening in any manner you chose. You can all have the enjoyable and relaxing golf vacation you have been dreaming of, while making memories that will last you a lifetime.You should also consider investigating any other type of discount that may be offered by golf related businesses that can enhance your free play and stay accommodations while being a golf group leader. You might find that you can take advantage of other small free golf items such as hats, clothing, drink holders and balls or even holiday discounts if you nose around a bit. Perhaps you may even be able to swing a discount for your airfare when you are the leader of a golf group. Do not be shy, ask questions, make suggestions, but always be thoughtful and courteous. And remember, if you and your golfing group of players leave a long lasting and responsible good impression, you will be welcomed back to any establishment again and again. You just may enjoy playing golf free on some of the best courses whenever you get good and ready to do so. Who knows, if you get really good at it, you may never have to pay for your own golfing accommodations or games again!
By: Randy Zlobec
By: Randy Zlobec
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Golf Holiday
Golf is the one ball game which is not supposed to be played on a standardized playing area. This game is played on golf courses, each having a unique design. People who are crazy for golf, loves to play on new courses in different parts of the world. They like to travel all around and always try to discover the most exotic and beautiful Golf Course. In fact you can say that Golf players are great explorers by nature.
While playing Golf there is no hassle or hurry kind of thing. That is why it is considered to be the most peaceful game and people really love to play this. Some golfers prefer to play golf at new places and plan out a short break holiday with their family members. This golf holiday makes them to discover new golf courses along with a fantastic family holiday.
These days, golf courses also provide classic range of resorts just to make your golf holiday more magnificent. For this all you have to do is get a booking of golf resort. These resorts also provide other exclusive range of facilities like – swimming pools, spas, mouth watering food and much more to make you feel more relaxed.
Now you might be thinking that all this will make your holiday more expensive. But this is not the case. Cost of such holidays is not much. Any middle man can afford it. You just give a single click to http://www.golfexplorer.com.au/ and plan an economical Golf Holiday with you family.
Conceived in 1998, International Pairs started out with just 20 golf clubs in one English county. It has gone from strength to strength and now more than 100,000 amateur golfers from 30 countries on three continents compete for the title of International Pairs world champion. In 2008, Golf Explorer Pty Ltd became the Australian license holder for the International Pairs, giving Australians the chance to represent their country in the world's largest tournament for club golfers.
Golf Explorer understands all your needs and takes you to any place you have dreamt of for your holiday. They know that your holiday is about more than just a Golf game, so always aim to deliver a memorable experience to non golfers too. Browse through our wide range of golfexplorer packages including corporate golf, Links Golf, Mountain Golf etc and choose the best one for your holiday. It’s very easy to choose your golf holiday destination with us. Just plan your holiday online and get your bookings done with a great ease at golf explorer.
With the personal relationships developed over the last 15 years, we guarantee that there isn’t a place on earth where Golf Explorer can send you where you won’t be met by a personal contact. You can rest assured that this extensive knowledge and experience will enable you to explore the golfing world, in the knowledge that you will be looked after from beginning to end.
Read about Best Golf Experience Also know more about Golf Holidays And Golf Travel Agents in Australia
By: golf club
While playing Golf there is no hassle or hurry kind of thing. That is why it is considered to be the most peaceful game and people really love to play this. Some golfers prefer to play golf at new places and plan out a short break holiday with their family members. This golf holiday makes them to discover new golf courses along with a fantastic family holiday.
These days, golf courses also provide classic range of resorts just to make your golf holiday more magnificent. For this all you have to do is get a booking of golf resort. These resorts also provide other exclusive range of facilities like – swimming pools, spas, mouth watering food and much more to make you feel more relaxed.
Now you might be thinking that all this will make your holiday more expensive. But this is not the case. Cost of such holidays is not much. Any middle man can afford it. You just give a single click to http://www.golfexplorer.com.au/ and plan an economical Golf Holiday with you family.
Conceived in 1998, International Pairs started out with just 20 golf clubs in one English county. It has gone from strength to strength and now more than 100,000 amateur golfers from 30 countries on three continents compete for the title of International Pairs world champion. In 2008, Golf Explorer Pty Ltd became the Australian license holder for the International Pairs, giving Australians the chance to represent their country in the world's largest tournament for club golfers.
Golf Explorer understands all your needs and takes you to any place you have dreamt of for your holiday. They know that your holiday is about more than just a Golf game, so always aim to deliver a memorable experience to non golfers too. Browse through our wide range of golfexplorer packages including corporate golf, Links Golf, Mountain Golf etc and choose the best one for your holiday. It’s very easy to choose your golf holiday destination with us. Just plan your holiday online and get your bookings done with a great ease at golf explorer.
With the personal relationships developed over the last 15 years, we guarantee that there isn’t a place on earth where Golf Explorer can send you where you won’t be met by a personal contact. You can rest assured that this extensive knowledge and experience will enable you to explore the golfing world, in the knowledge that you will be looked after from beginning to end.
Read about Best Golf Experience Also know more about Golf Holidays And Golf Travel Agents in Australia
By: golf club
Are You Ready to Play Golf in Spain?
In last few years golf has become the most popular game among millions of people, golfing package and golf holiday packages offered by various countries have made this game even more popular. Are you one of the golf lovers? Don’t miss the opportunity of golf holiday packages to play golf in Spain.
Most people who love watching golf or playing golf love Spain golf. Spain golf is most popular among all age groups. No matter whether you are a golf player or not, golf Spain can prove out to be really exciting and fun. People normally take Spain golf a fun game and even children can also play this game. Golf Spain as a game has reached the great heights and gained a great popularity among the teenagers. So if you are on holidays and thinking for what to do, go for golf Spain and it will be surely a good memory.
Discount green fees Spain mainly offers golfing package at the cheapest prices. These discount green fees Spain provide you with information relating to various golf courses using their own reviews and maps. After looking at these reviews it becomes easy for you to locate various discounted green fees Spain and which one to play. Besides this, some of the courses provide details about hotel accommodation, holiday resorts and booking forms when you have finally decided for your selection.
There are several golf holiday packages. These packages provide you details about various hotels and resorts and the facilities provided by them. You can even think about golf resort holiday in Spain. The room and sport facilities provided by this golf resort holiday in Spain are unique and luxurious. The rooms are of different style and consist of antique pieces. Sports facility mainly includes Water Park, swimming pool, water bikes, speed boats, horse riding, sailing ships, well equipped gymnasium and tennis court. If you want to go for a mountain ride, golfing package also offer mountain bikes at the receptions of various hotels absolutely free of cost.
Golf in Spain has great thing to be offered and provides maximum satisfaction to your heart while playing. Golf in Spain provides you with great spectacular views and you can play golf in Spain by the sea side or in the mountains. You can choose from 50 golf courses and many are under construction so that you can play golf in Spain at several places. The demands for playing golf in Spain have increased which further has increased the development in Spain. Only Spain golf can fulfill your golfing dream providing you with right location at reasonable prices.
So if you are thinking about golf resort holiday in Spain it’s not at all a bad idea. Many hotels and resorts in Spain will be ready to guide you. These resorts will provide you information relating to various idyllic and unique spots where you will surely enjoy the golf holidays in Spain. So have you prepared your self for playing golf in Spain if not finalize a trip to Spain with your family as soon as possible and have some memorable times with your family and golf.
By: Andy Hunter
Most people who love watching golf or playing golf love Spain golf. Spain golf is most popular among all age groups. No matter whether you are a golf player or not, golf Spain can prove out to be really exciting and fun. People normally take Spain golf a fun game and even children can also play this game. Golf Spain as a game has reached the great heights and gained a great popularity among the teenagers. So if you are on holidays and thinking for what to do, go for golf Spain and it will be surely a good memory.
Discount green fees Spain mainly offers golfing package at the cheapest prices. These discount green fees Spain provide you with information relating to various golf courses using their own reviews and maps. After looking at these reviews it becomes easy for you to locate various discounted green fees Spain and which one to play. Besides this, some of the courses provide details about hotel accommodation, holiday resorts and booking forms when you have finally decided for your selection.
There are several golf holiday packages. These packages provide you details about various hotels and resorts and the facilities provided by them. You can even think about golf resort holiday in Spain. The room and sport facilities provided by this golf resort holiday in Spain are unique and luxurious. The rooms are of different style and consist of antique pieces. Sports facility mainly includes Water Park, swimming pool, water bikes, speed boats, horse riding, sailing ships, well equipped gymnasium and tennis court. If you want to go for a mountain ride, golfing package also offer mountain bikes at the receptions of various hotels absolutely free of cost.
Golf in Spain has great thing to be offered and provides maximum satisfaction to your heart while playing. Golf in Spain provides you with great spectacular views and you can play golf in Spain by the sea side or in the mountains. You can choose from 50 golf courses and many are under construction so that you can play golf in Spain at several places. The demands for playing golf in Spain have increased which further has increased the development in Spain. Only Spain golf can fulfill your golfing dream providing you with right location at reasonable prices.
So if you are thinking about golf resort holiday in Spain it’s not at all a bad idea. Many hotels and resorts in Spain will be ready to guide you. These resorts will provide you information relating to various idyllic and unique spots where you will surely enjoy the golf holidays in Spain. So have you prepared your self for playing golf in Spain if not finalize a trip to Spain with your family as soon as possible and have some memorable times with your family and golf.
By: Andy Hunter
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Golf: The Lure of the Game
Golf is more than just a sport. It is an obsession, addiction, and a way of life. Why do golfers enjoy golf so much? After all; what could be so exciting about walking around a field, and swinging a stick at a ball? I mean come on! Golf is just a boring non-contact sport that old people play; a “good walk spoiled,” as Mark Twain once said. Or is it?
I can tell you one thousand reasons, why I like golf so much. Just within the past couple years, it has become my obsession. The summer is the one time of the year that I look forward to; because I get to spend it at the golf course. Let me try explain to you the lure of golf. I don’t think I can justify the beauty of the game in words, but I will attempt it. I am going to try and explain why golfers are so nuts about golf.
The Addiction
The first time I attempted to go out on a golf course, I of course, was not a very good golfer. I did take naturally to the sport though, and my friends were pretty impressed. At first the game was frustrating, because I could not finish a hole. I just had to keep trying though! I would have a relatively nice shot every once in awhile. Each time I had a little taste of success with my hit, I would crave that feeling more and more. Eventually, I pared a hole! I wanted to par every hole; just paring one hole wasn’t good enough for me.
The rest of that summer, I continued to go golfing on a very regular basis. By the end of the summer I was out playing every single day. Each day, my goal was to beat my current personal best score. I became a perfectionist at golf, and would get mad if I messed up on a shot. Basically, I became addicted to the game that summer; and golf has been a part of my life ever since.
The Environment
So golf is a boring sport for old people, huh? NO! I can’t think of any sport that is half as entertaining as golf. In baseball, football, and soccer, you are stuck within a 100 yard radius the entire game. In golf, you are never in the same place for more than a few minutes. You are able to spend time in the great outdoors, enjoying the weather, and scenery.
I love golf, because I can either play by myself, or it can be a social sport. Going out on the course, and walking eighteen holes alone provides for some great thinking and reflecting time. At the same time, golf can be played with other people, and is an ideal activity in which to bond with other people.
Not to mention, what other sport can you get drunk while playing… and sometimes even play better drunk than sober! “Party Golf,” as I call it, can either loosen you up enough to hit the ball smoothly; or can be disastrous, depending on how many beverages are consumed. Either way; it is fun!The Social Aspect
By far, my favorite part of golf is the social aspect of the game. I have met some of the most awesome people, and have befriended individuals that I never thought I would ever socialize with.
Golf is an amazing way to create bonds with people. I have gotten to know so many people by just playing golf with them. Something about the game brings people together. Everyone at the club that I work at all has the same goal in mind; to play well! It makes for endless amounts of conversation. Put two strangers in a room together; and if two of them are golfers, they will have an instant conversation.
Not only has the golf club given me unexpected friendships, but it has given me connections. I know lawyers, real estate agents, doctors, and countless other professionals.
Like I said; I don’t know that I can put words to how much golf has changed my life. It just has. I will stop trying to explain the lure of golf to you; and let you find out for yourself. Trust me; once you become addicted to golf, you will understand.
By: Savannah Durbin
I can tell you one thousand reasons, why I like golf so much. Just within the past couple years, it has become my obsession. The summer is the one time of the year that I look forward to; because I get to spend it at the golf course. Let me try explain to you the lure of golf. I don’t think I can justify the beauty of the game in words, but I will attempt it. I am going to try and explain why golfers are so nuts about golf.
The Addiction
The first time I attempted to go out on a golf course, I of course, was not a very good golfer. I did take naturally to the sport though, and my friends were pretty impressed. At first the game was frustrating, because I could not finish a hole. I just had to keep trying though! I would have a relatively nice shot every once in awhile. Each time I had a little taste of success with my hit, I would crave that feeling more and more. Eventually, I pared a hole! I wanted to par every hole; just paring one hole wasn’t good enough for me.
The rest of that summer, I continued to go golfing on a very regular basis. By the end of the summer I was out playing every single day. Each day, my goal was to beat my current personal best score. I became a perfectionist at golf, and would get mad if I messed up on a shot. Basically, I became addicted to the game that summer; and golf has been a part of my life ever since.
The Environment
So golf is a boring sport for old people, huh? NO! I can’t think of any sport that is half as entertaining as golf. In baseball, football, and soccer, you are stuck within a 100 yard radius the entire game. In golf, you are never in the same place for more than a few minutes. You are able to spend time in the great outdoors, enjoying the weather, and scenery.
I love golf, because I can either play by myself, or it can be a social sport. Going out on the course, and walking eighteen holes alone provides for some great thinking and reflecting time. At the same time, golf can be played with other people, and is an ideal activity in which to bond with other people.
Not to mention, what other sport can you get drunk while playing… and sometimes even play better drunk than sober! “Party Golf,” as I call it, can either loosen you up enough to hit the ball smoothly; or can be disastrous, depending on how many beverages are consumed. Either way; it is fun!The Social Aspect
By far, my favorite part of golf is the social aspect of the game. I have met some of the most awesome people, and have befriended individuals that I never thought I would ever socialize with.
Golf is an amazing way to create bonds with people. I have gotten to know so many people by just playing golf with them. Something about the game brings people together. Everyone at the club that I work at all has the same goal in mind; to play well! It makes for endless amounts of conversation. Put two strangers in a room together; and if two of them are golfers, they will have an instant conversation.
Not only has the golf club given me unexpected friendships, but it has given me connections. I know lawyers, real estate agents, doctors, and countless other professionals.
Like I said; I don’t know that I can put words to how much golf has changed my life. It just has. I will stop trying to explain the lure of golf to you; and let you find out for yourself. Trust me; once you become addicted to golf, you will understand.
By: Savannah Durbin
Monday, June 8, 2009
Free Golf Training Videos
I came back from a round of golf and was curious to find out if there were any free golf training videos on the market. Needless to say, when I typed the words into Google, an overwhelming number of results came up! If there ever was any question of how to play golf, there shouldn’t be. Free golf training videos will answer all of them.
Here are some examples of a couple of great ones available:
At LearnAboutGolf, there’s a free golf training video teaching you how to get a ball out of the bunker without it flying off into all directions or rolling back into the sand. The instructor is very personable and friendly. Check it out, it's worth it!
The DreamSwing offers a free golf training video online. The video depicts exactly what it takes to make that perfect swing using The DreamSwing. A golf instructor actually gives you step by step training on how to obtain the perfect swing using The DreamSwing. The goal of the video is to teach you how to remain on the perfect planes with your arms and club. Many other website also offer free training videos to help you improve your swing and your score.
Many free golf training videos will show you how the professionals do it and provide inspiration for the overall improvement of your game. As I watched these videos, I was inspired to actually try the tips myself. The videos give you a bird’s eye view of exactly what it takes to come in under par. The instructors are well-versed in their golf game. It’s almost like having a professional teach you right in your own living room. Plus, they go through the motions of the swing and techniques very slowly so that you can learn as efficiently as possible.
I think that free golf training videos are essential to every golfer’s game. They offer valuable insight at no cost and, if you’re lucky, you can find one that is instructed by a pro. The video quality is usually very good so that you can actually see the fluid movement of a correct golf swing or technique that the instructor is trying to convey.
The instructions are slow enough so that you don’t have to pause and replay the video in order to have the best understanding of the instructions. Most free golf training videos can be played with a Windows Media Player directly from the Internet. So, take the time to look up free golf training videos. Your golf buddies will come to you for advice.
By: Staffan Moritz
Here are some examples of a couple of great ones available:
At LearnAboutGolf, there’s a free golf training video teaching you how to get a ball out of the bunker without it flying off into all directions or rolling back into the sand. The instructor is very personable and friendly. Check it out, it's worth it!
The DreamSwing offers a free golf training video online. The video depicts exactly what it takes to make that perfect swing using The DreamSwing. A golf instructor actually gives you step by step training on how to obtain the perfect swing using The DreamSwing. The goal of the video is to teach you how to remain on the perfect planes with your arms and club. Many other website also offer free training videos to help you improve your swing and your score.
Many free golf training videos will show you how the professionals do it and provide inspiration for the overall improvement of your game. As I watched these videos, I was inspired to actually try the tips myself. The videos give you a bird’s eye view of exactly what it takes to come in under par. The instructors are well-versed in their golf game. It’s almost like having a professional teach you right in your own living room. Plus, they go through the motions of the swing and techniques very slowly so that you can learn as efficiently as possible.
I think that free golf training videos are essential to every golfer’s game. They offer valuable insight at no cost and, if you’re lucky, you can find one that is instructed by a pro. The video quality is usually very good so that you can actually see the fluid movement of a correct golf swing or technique that the instructor is trying to convey.
The instructions are slow enough so that you don’t have to pause and replay the video in order to have the best understanding of the instructions. Most free golf training videos can be played with a Windows Media Player directly from the Internet. So, take the time to look up free golf training videos. Your golf buddies will come to you for advice.
By: Staffan Moritz
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A Little History About Golf
The history of golf is a debate as to whether the game was invented by the Chinese, the Dutch, or the Scottish. A game somewhat similar to golf was first mentioned in Dongxuan Records which is a Chinese book of the Eleventh Century. It was also mentioned in the year 1297 in the Netherlands where the Dutch played a game with a stick and a leather ball. Whoever hit the ball in a target several hundreds of meters away the least number of times, won.
However, the Scots are generally adamant that the game of golf was a Scottish invention on St. Andrews golf course. The name "golf" is a derivative of the Dutch word "kolf" however, so as for who really invented the game, we say who really cares!
It really doesn't matter who actually invented the game, but what does matter is how the history of golf has evolved over the years. Golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. St. Andrews began with eleven holes dictated by the topography of the land the course was located on. Players would play the eleven holes out and then back in to total 22 holes. Later, several of the holes were deemed too short and were combined with each other. That reduced the number from 11 down to 9 so a complete round of golf was comprised of 18 holes.
By 1744, the game of golf had become wildly popular. So much so that a group of men called Gentlemen Golfers decided that a set of rules must be laid out for fair play. They came up with a list of thirteen guidelines on playing the game.
Major changes since the 19th century have occurred in the equipment needed for play. Better mowers made greens easier to play on. Golf balls designs would evolve by using rubber and man-made materials which made the ball fly longer on a drive. The wooden golf tee would make the drive easier.
No discussion of golf history would be complete without talking about the advances made in golf clubs. Metal shafts came about in the 1930s and most drivers were made of wood which is why they are called woods today even though they are most commonly made these days of metal or titanium. The golf shaft design has also gravitated towards graphite which is lighter and makes the club easier to swing.
When referring to the history of golf, we can debate exactly where the game originated, but the game of golf as we know it today, most certainly came about in Scotland. Even if we're wrong, we do still have this wonderful game - and most of us are very glad about that!
By: Jeff Seward
However, the Scots are generally adamant that the game of golf was a Scottish invention on St. Andrews golf course. The name "golf" is a derivative of the Dutch word "kolf" however, so as for who really invented the game, we say who really cares!
It really doesn't matter who actually invented the game, but what does matter is how the history of golf has evolved over the years. Golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. St. Andrews began with eleven holes dictated by the topography of the land the course was located on. Players would play the eleven holes out and then back in to total 22 holes. Later, several of the holes were deemed too short and were combined with each other. That reduced the number from 11 down to 9 so a complete round of golf was comprised of 18 holes.
By 1744, the game of golf had become wildly popular. So much so that a group of men called Gentlemen Golfers decided that a set of rules must be laid out for fair play. They came up with a list of thirteen guidelines on playing the game.
Major changes since the 19th century have occurred in the equipment needed for play. Better mowers made greens easier to play on. Golf balls designs would evolve by using rubber and man-made materials which made the ball fly longer on a drive. The wooden golf tee would make the drive easier.
No discussion of golf history would be complete without talking about the advances made in golf clubs. Metal shafts came about in the 1930s and most drivers were made of wood which is why they are called woods today even though they are most commonly made these days of metal or titanium. The golf shaft design has also gravitated towards graphite which is lighter and makes the club easier to swing.
When referring to the history of golf, we can debate exactly where the game originated, but the game of golf as we know it today, most certainly came about in Scotland. Even if we're wrong, we do still have this wonderful game - and most of us are very glad about that!
By: Jeff Seward
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Golf on a Budget and Why
You are probably thinking, golf on a budget! Can there be such a thing? Well, it is possible, if you take a balanced, objective look at the strategies used in marketing golf products.
Case in point, local golf shop owners today receive new golf balls from representatives of different companies for them to use, hoping that they will recommend them to their customers.
Usually, these owners try just about everything, and in their opinion, they all play about the same now. Picking up a box of 12 Titleist balls are probably the best around. They cost $24.99 for the dozen. Then pick up another box and say, “But this one is our best seller.”
The box would be priced at $44.99 for the dozen. A marketer would say, “It’s all hype. People think that if the balls cost double, they are bound to play better.”
Now, there are new hybrid ironwoods that are really going to change your golf game. Or is it all a part of the marketing pitch?
A marketer would say that since the golf market was so saturated, he priced his clubs at three times the price of anyone else’s. And he sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth. The clubs were not any more expensive to make than other clubs. It was just a “market test”. And that is way golfers would buy like crazy.
Since no two people play golf the same, and everyone has an individual physique and swing, a product that adds distance for one player may not help another player at all.
Think about something you do very well that requires a piece of equipment. You are the expert in this area. Should everyone who attempts your job then buy the exact same equipment as you have? Will that mean they will be able to do the job better or as well as you?
Food for thought, right? An example would be if you enjoy gardening, and have a flower garden. You would probably only have one or two garden tools that are considered the best.
So just because one golf pro buys one kind of ball or club does not mean that it is the best for you.
The sales pitch that swear you are going to add 30 yards and never hit another slice entices golfers to shell out the big bucks. But if you are careful and have a healthy dose of skepticism, you will save both time and money in the long run.
Remember, in the golf world, just because a product is more expensive, does not mean it is necessarily any better.
By: James Murray
Case in point, local golf shop owners today receive new golf balls from representatives of different companies for them to use, hoping that they will recommend them to their customers.
Usually, these owners try just about everything, and in their opinion, they all play about the same now. Picking up a box of 12 Titleist balls are probably the best around. They cost $24.99 for the dozen. Then pick up another box and say, “But this one is our best seller.”
The box would be priced at $44.99 for the dozen. A marketer would say, “It’s all hype. People think that if the balls cost double, they are bound to play better.”
Now, there are new hybrid ironwoods that are really going to change your golf game. Or is it all a part of the marketing pitch?
A marketer would say that since the golf market was so saturated, he priced his clubs at three times the price of anyone else’s. And he sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth. The clubs were not any more expensive to make than other clubs. It was just a “market test”. And that is way golfers would buy like crazy.
Since no two people play golf the same, and everyone has an individual physique and swing, a product that adds distance for one player may not help another player at all.
Think about something you do very well that requires a piece of equipment. You are the expert in this area. Should everyone who attempts your job then buy the exact same equipment as you have? Will that mean they will be able to do the job better or as well as you?
Food for thought, right? An example would be if you enjoy gardening, and have a flower garden. You would probably only have one or two garden tools that are considered the best.
So just because one golf pro buys one kind of ball or club does not mean that it is the best for you.
The sales pitch that swear you are going to add 30 yards and never hit another slice entices golfers to shell out the big bucks. But if you are careful and have a healthy dose of skepticism, you will save both time and money in the long run.
Remember, in the golf world, just because a product is more expensive, does not mean it is necessarily any better.
By: James Murray
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Beginner Golf Lessons
If you are a beginner golfer just starting out you will need some basic lessons. You will first need to find someone who can show you the basics, such as a golf instructor. A golf instructor will teach and help you to learn about the game of golf before you actually play a real game. Beginner golf lessons should teach you how to swing a golf club. Practicing golf swings can better prepare you for playing golf. Learning all the basics of golf will get you ready for the real thing. You can learn basics by watching golf on television and on videos. Putting is a good place for beginners to get started. It will give you the feel for your swing and for hitting the ball. You can practice your aiming skills when you are putting. After putting it may be easier for you to learn how to use your other clubs. You will learn your own style when putting.
When having beginner golf lessons you will need to learn about gripping your club. Your club should be comfortable for you to hold. This is the important no matter how you decide to grip the club. Every person will have their own way of doing this and they may have more than one grip that they use. Your stance is very important and will be different for everyone. You will have your own style and it should feel right to you. When you stroke the putter you should use your entire body including your hands, arms and shoulders to do this, moving all at once. Practicing putting can build your confidence to learn other golf techniques. Keep everything as simple as it can be in the beginning until you catch on better later.
Chipping will be a lot like putting. You will swing your entire body just like you do when you are putting. The difference is you will use a different club and the ball will be leaving the ground and going into the air. Practicing putting and chipping can help you to build a stronger foundation. When you go to try a full swing make sure that you align your golf club and your body up in the right position. Then this will allow your body to have a naturally flowing swing. Aligning your club up to your target properly will help you to get an easier more accurate swing. It is important to remember when chipping one of the most important parts of the swing is getting underneath the ball with just enough force to get it into the air. You do not want to use too much strength unless your ball is buried halfway into the sand.
There is really no right or wrong way to swing a golf club. Just so you are comfortable with the way that you do it. With everybody having a different body structure the way they play golf will be their own style and different from someone else's. You can still learn the basics of playing and just play your own way. The main thing is to put the ball in the hole and however it works for you is the right way.
By: Christian Bayler
When having beginner golf lessons you will need to learn about gripping your club. Your club should be comfortable for you to hold. This is the important no matter how you decide to grip the club. Every person will have their own way of doing this and they may have more than one grip that they use. Your stance is very important and will be different for everyone. You will have your own style and it should feel right to you. When you stroke the putter you should use your entire body including your hands, arms and shoulders to do this, moving all at once. Practicing putting can build your confidence to learn other golf techniques. Keep everything as simple as it can be in the beginning until you catch on better later.
Chipping will be a lot like putting. You will swing your entire body just like you do when you are putting. The difference is you will use a different club and the ball will be leaving the ground and going into the air. Practicing putting and chipping can help you to build a stronger foundation. When you go to try a full swing make sure that you align your golf club and your body up in the right position. Then this will allow your body to have a naturally flowing swing. Aligning your club up to your target properly will help you to get an easier more accurate swing. It is important to remember when chipping one of the most important parts of the swing is getting underneath the ball with just enough force to get it into the air. You do not want to use too much strength unless your ball is buried halfway into the sand.
There is really no right or wrong way to swing a golf club. Just so you are comfortable with the way that you do it. With everybody having a different body structure the way they play golf will be their own style and different from someone else's. You can still learn the basics of playing and just play your own way. The main thing is to put the ball in the hole and however it works for you is the right way.
By: Christian Bayler
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Where Can I Play Golf?
Just look around you. You will probably see a golf course or a sign pointing the way to a golf course. You may want to check out these golf course tips.
So many courses
Nearly every small town, mid-sized city and large city has a golf course. Most have more than one. So finding a place to play should not be a problem. In fact there are entire organizations devoted to public golf courses. People from all walks of life now enjoy playing golf. For example, since women were historically banned from playing golf, this is a distinct modern difference. Golf is no longer an exclusive country club game.
Is it expensive?
Golf can be surprisingly inexpensive. If you take time to find a good used set of clubs to start with and play at a nearby public course, golf is affordable. By asking golf equipment department stores, you may discover returned items available at much lower cost, but in good condition. Of course getting into the game as a member of a country club and buying the best clubs available will change things, especially your expenses.
Which state has the most courses?
That title probably belongs to California, Arizona and Florida. California has 600 public golf courses, in addition to the private clubs scattered across the state. All three of these states have drawn people to go on vacation or become year around residents, The sharp rise in retirees has also added to the increase in the number of golf courses as well. In fact, it is thought that the U. S. has as many golf courses as the rest of the world combined.
What if I want to go on a golf vacation?
That should not be a problem either. Many of the best golf destinations are actually public courses. Some of these are so good they are used for professional tournaments. Of course, if you go far enough that you will have to fly, there are some challenges in taking your golf clubs with you. By calling the airport ahead of time, you should be able to get an area designated for your golf clubs and keep them from being damaged or getting lost.
Golf is easily available to most people these days both in nearby locations and at low costs. You can play golf in just about any area in the U.S. whether you want to travel across the country or drive across town.
Tom Straub is a successful author and webmaster of the Best Golf Tips website featuring hundreds of golf tips on clubs, courses, and much more.
By: Thomas Straub
So many courses
Nearly every small town, mid-sized city and large city has a golf course. Most have more than one. So finding a place to play should not be a problem. In fact there are entire organizations devoted to public golf courses. People from all walks of life now enjoy playing golf. For example, since women were historically banned from playing golf, this is a distinct modern difference. Golf is no longer an exclusive country club game.
Is it expensive?
Golf can be surprisingly inexpensive. If you take time to find a good used set of clubs to start with and play at a nearby public course, golf is affordable. By asking golf equipment department stores, you may discover returned items available at much lower cost, but in good condition. Of course getting into the game as a member of a country club and buying the best clubs available will change things, especially your expenses.
Which state has the most courses?
That title probably belongs to California, Arizona and Florida. California has 600 public golf courses, in addition to the private clubs scattered across the state. All three of these states have drawn people to go on vacation or become year around residents, The sharp rise in retirees has also added to the increase in the number of golf courses as well. In fact, it is thought that the U. S. has as many golf courses as the rest of the world combined.
What if I want to go on a golf vacation?
That should not be a problem either. Many of the best golf destinations are actually public courses. Some of these are so good they are used for professional tournaments. Of course, if you go far enough that you will have to fly, there are some challenges in taking your golf clubs with you. By calling the airport ahead of time, you should be able to get an area designated for your golf clubs and keep them from being damaged or getting lost.
Golf is easily available to most people these days both in nearby locations and at low costs. You can play golf in just about any area in the U.S. whether you want to travel across the country or drive across town.
Tom Straub is a successful author and webmaster of the Best Golf Tips website featuring hundreds of golf tips on clubs, courses, and much more.
By: Thomas Straub
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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.
As a personal trainer and avid golfer, the relationship between fitness and golf is a natural one to maintain, but it wasn't that way when I started playing the game as a junior. I first picked up clubs when I was about 5, then started playing seriously by about the seventh grade. By seriously I mean it had become the obsession that many golfers feel when they realize they would rather be golfing than just about anything else. A group of friends and I played regularly, and by high school, we were not only on our golf team together, we were some of the best players in our entire small town.
I was never able to hit the ball as far as my friends on the team, and one thing they told me over and over was that I should lift weights and get stronger, which at the time they did because they also played on the basketball team in the winter. As a skinny cross country runner at the time, I saw no need nor had any interest in lifting, as the weight room intimidated me in high school. I look back almost 30 years later as a much stronger, longer and better player than I was then (because I lift weights!) and wonder what might have been had I listened to them.
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.
In addition 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.
So 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.
By: Charles Carter
As a personal trainer and avid golfer, the relationship between fitness and golf is a natural one to maintain, but it wasn't that way when I started playing the game as a junior. I first picked up clubs when I was about 5, then started playing seriously by about the seventh grade. By seriously I mean it had become the obsession that many golfers feel when they realize they would rather be golfing than just about anything else. A group of friends and I played regularly, and by high school, we were not only on our golf team together, we were some of the best players in our entire small town.
I was never able to hit the ball as far as my friends on the team, and one thing they told me over and over was that I should lift weights and get stronger, which at the time they did because they also played on the basketball team in the winter. As a skinny cross country runner at the time, I saw no need nor had any interest in lifting, as the weight room intimidated me in high school. I look back almost 30 years later as a much stronger, longer and better player than I was then (because I lift weights!) and wonder what might have been had I listened to them.
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.
In addition 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.
So 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.
By: Charles Carter
Monday, June 1, 2009
47 Relationship-Building Activities
The list below is intended to stimulate your own thinking about relationship building. Some of these ideas will work for you while others will not seem appropriate. Stick with what feels right.
You will also note that many of the items on the list below have nothing to do with business. While business relationships can be built on purely business interests, personal connections are likely to build stronger bonds.
1. Send notes of congratulations. Commentary: If you get in the habit of reading industry publications, you will become more aware of what your clients are doing.
2. Help someone's family member with a job search. Commentary: If job notices come across your desk, forward them to people who might be interested. Introduce the family member to a client of yours. Even if the client does not have a job for the individual, they can help the individual by providing contacts and other useful information about their industry.
3. Refer business to them. Commentary: One of the best ways to generate business referrals is to make referrals yourself. Be sure that the referrals you make are "quality" referrals (quality as defined by the person who is getting the referral).
4. Introduce them to someone who can solve a problem they have. Commentary: Perhaps they need a good computer consultant to help set up an office network or a good plumber to unclog their sewage line at home. Either way, referring good vendors to your contacts shows that you are resourceful.
5. Introduce them to someone who you think they should meet. Commentary: Perhaps you know an accountant who does work for a company they are courting. The accountant can give them useful background information about the company. Maybe you know someone who has dealt with a similar business issue and might be willing to share his experience.
6. Participate in a charitable cause that is of interest to a potential client or referral source. Commentary: Only get involved on an ongoing basis if you care about the cause yourself.
7. E-mail an article to them. Commentary: Keep track of people's interests in an electronic contact manager so you can match articles with people's interests. Many online publications make it very easy for you to forward articles by e-mail. If you take the time to track people's interests in your contact manager, you are more likely to remember that person when something of interest does come across your desk or your computer desktop.
8. Invite their comments on an article you are writing. Commentary: If it makes sense, ask several people for feedback. You will end up with a better article and by asking, you will be communicating that you value their opinion.
9. Invite them to a sporting event. Commentary: Make sure it is a sport that you like and a sport that the prospect likes.
10. Do great work for clients and celebrate any victories.
11. Send holiday gifts. Commentary: When possible, try to make the gift personal or at least choose something you think the individual will like.
12. Invite them to a reception at your firm or ask them if they want to join you at someone else's reception.
13. Ask about their spouse and children. Commentary: A wedding ring is a good clue that they are married. If it feels appropriate, ask them what their spouse does. If you happen to be in their office, ask if the pictures on the walls are their kids.
14. Go on a dog walk together.
15. Lend them a book you enjoyed.
16. Co-author an article with them.
17. Invite them to participate on a panel with you.
18. Establish a common connection. Commentary: same school, town, common professional or personal contacts
19. Teach them something about a non-legal subject that you know something about (e.g., how to use a piece of office technology; good places to vacation in Ireland; how to find a reputable dog breeder).
20. Write a personal note on any form letters you send out.
21. Plan an activity with your children (if they have children the same age).
22. Send acknowledgments if you see that they are mentioned in the press.
23. Send congratulations on significant life events (e.g., births, weddings).
24. Send condolence cards when you learn about a death in their family. Commentary: Most people will really appreciate this. It is unlikely that you would offend someone.
25. Recommend a good movie, book, play or other cultural activity.
26. Introduce them to a hobby or activity that you are passionate about.
27. Recruit them to participate in a nonprofit cause that interests you (make sure they seem genuinely interested).
28. Go out and celebrate with the client after settling a big case or closing a big deal.
29. Take the time to learn about their interests.
30. Mention their name as a source to a reporter.
31. Send them a brochure for a seminar that might interest them.
32. Tell them about a website that might be helpful or interesting to them.
33. Respond to business announcements they send out. Commentary: People generally appreciate feedback after they send out a mailing, particularly if it is marketing literature. If you liked something about the mailing, let them know.
34. Send back comments about an article they have sent to you.
35. Follow up on a referral you made and ask how it turned out. Commentary: if you think the person you referred actually followed up
36. Let them know about your significant life events.
37. Call the person you gave a referral to and ask them if the individual or company was able to help them.
38. Thank them for referrals and thank them again if the referral hires you (or keep them posted).
39. Invite them to your dance, piano or choral recital or the opening of your photography exhibit.
40. If a family member of theirs is sick, call to ask how the family member is doing.
41. Pay a condolence call if a parent dies and/or attend the funeral. Commentary: Unless you have good reason to believe that the person does not want to see you, showing up is likely to be appreciated.
42. Come to their functions when they invite you.
43. Put all of your time on your bills and show a discount (or indicate "no charge" for certain activities).
44. Call or write to send compliments about something good you've seen or read about the company/client.
45. Start a discussion by e-mail about a common interest (e.g., politics, sports).
46. Attend a presentation that the contact makes and send a note or a comment about the presentation.
47. Find out what organizations they are involved in and join one that interests you.If you make a point of trying to be helpful to the professionals in your network, your relationships will grow. Whether you use any of the suggestions above or find other ways to connect, relationship building will lead to business if you stick with it over a long period of time.
By: Stephen E. Seckler
You will also note that many of the items on the list below have nothing to do with business. While business relationships can be built on purely business interests, personal connections are likely to build stronger bonds.
1. Send notes of congratulations. Commentary: If you get in the habit of reading industry publications, you will become more aware of what your clients are doing.
2. Help someone's family member with a job search. Commentary: If job notices come across your desk, forward them to people who might be interested. Introduce the family member to a client of yours. Even if the client does not have a job for the individual, they can help the individual by providing contacts and other useful information about their industry.
3. Refer business to them. Commentary: One of the best ways to generate business referrals is to make referrals yourself. Be sure that the referrals you make are "quality" referrals (quality as defined by the person who is getting the referral).
4. Introduce them to someone who can solve a problem they have. Commentary: Perhaps they need a good computer consultant to help set up an office network or a good plumber to unclog their sewage line at home. Either way, referring good vendors to your contacts shows that you are resourceful.
5. Introduce them to someone who you think they should meet. Commentary: Perhaps you know an accountant who does work for a company they are courting. The accountant can give them useful background information about the company. Maybe you know someone who has dealt with a similar business issue and might be willing to share his experience.
6. Participate in a charitable cause that is of interest to a potential client or referral source. Commentary: Only get involved on an ongoing basis if you care about the cause yourself.
7. E-mail an article to them. Commentary: Keep track of people's interests in an electronic contact manager so you can match articles with people's interests. Many online publications make it very easy for you to forward articles by e-mail. If you take the time to track people's interests in your contact manager, you are more likely to remember that person when something of interest does come across your desk or your computer desktop.
8. Invite their comments on an article you are writing. Commentary: If it makes sense, ask several people for feedback. You will end up with a better article and by asking, you will be communicating that you value their opinion.
9. Invite them to a sporting event. Commentary: Make sure it is a sport that you like and a sport that the prospect likes.
10. Do great work for clients and celebrate any victories.
11. Send holiday gifts. Commentary: When possible, try to make the gift personal or at least choose something you think the individual will like.
12. Invite them to a reception at your firm or ask them if they want to join you at someone else's reception.
13. Ask about their spouse and children. Commentary: A wedding ring is a good clue that they are married. If it feels appropriate, ask them what their spouse does. If you happen to be in their office, ask if the pictures on the walls are their kids.
14. Go on a dog walk together.
15. Lend them a book you enjoyed.
16. Co-author an article with them.
17. Invite them to participate on a panel with you.
18. Establish a common connection. Commentary: same school, town, common professional or personal contacts
19. Teach them something about a non-legal subject that you know something about (e.g., how to use a piece of office technology; good places to vacation in Ireland; how to find a reputable dog breeder).
20. Write a personal note on any form letters you send out.
21. Plan an activity with your children (if they have children the same age).
22. Send acknowledgments if you see that they are mentioned in the press.
23. Send congratulations on significant life events (e.g., births, weddings).
24. Send condolence cards when you learn about a death in their family. Commentary: Most people will really appreciate this. It is unlikely that you would offend someone.
25. Recommend a good movie, book, play or other cultural activity.
26. Introduce them to a hobby or activity that you are passionate about.
27. Recruit them to participate in a nonprofit cause that interests you (make sure they seem genuinely interested).
28. Go out and celebrate with the client after settling a big case or closing a big deal.
29. Take the time to learn about their interests.
30. Mention their name as a source to a reporter.
31. Send them a brochure for a seminar that might interest them.
32. Tell them about a website that might be helpful or interesting to them.
33. Respond to business announcements they send out. Commentary: People generally appreciate feedback after they send out a mailing, particularly if it is marketing literature. If you liked something about the mailing, let them know.
34. Send back comments about an article they have sent to you.
35. Follow up on a referral you made and ask how it turned out. Commentary: if you think the person you referred actually followed up
36. Let them know about your significant life events.
37. Call the person you gave a referral to and ask them if the individual or company was able to help them.
38. Thank them for referrals and thank them again if the referral hires you (or keep them posted).
39. Invite them to your dance, piano or choral recital or the opening of your photography exhibit.
40. If a family member of theirs is sick, call to ask how the family member is doing.
41. Pay a condolence call if a parent dies and/or attend the funeral. Commentary: Unless you have good reason to believe that the person does not want to see you, showing up is likely to be appreciated.
42. Come to their functions when they invite you.
43. Put all of your time on your bills and show a discount (or indicate "no charge" for certain activities).
44. Call or write to send compliments about something good you've seen or read about the company/client.
45. Start a discussion by e-mail about a common interest (e.g., politics, sports).
46. Attend a presentation that the contact makes and send a note or a comment about the presentation.
47. Find out what organizations they are involved in and join one that interests you.If you make a point of trying to be helpful to the professionals in your network, your relationships will grow. Whether you use any of the suggestions above or find other ways to connect, relationship building will lead to business if you stick with it over a long period of time.
By: Stephen E. Seckler
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Inexpensive Ways to Build Business Relationships
So what are some of the ways that you can build relationships that will lead either to business or business referrals? In this article, I will offer guidelines for relationship building and provide you with 47 ideas that you can put to use right away.
12 Guidelines For Relationship Building
1. Become a great listener. Commentary: If you want to succeed at building business relationships, try listening 80 percent of the time. Active listening is a great way to gain trust. It is the best way to find out how you can be helpful to potential clients and referral sources.
2. Be genuine. Commentary: If you are a strong believer in gun control, don't congratulate someone for the award they received from the National Rifle Association.
3. Follow up quickly. If you meet someone at a networking function and decide you want to get together with them, call or e-mail them within 24 hours to set something up. Commentary: Quick follow-up increases the chance that you will actually do it. It also increases the chances that the contact will remember you. Following up right away does not mean that you have to meet right away.
4. Don't get involved in activities that do not interest you. Doing things because you "should" will not work. If you don't like golf, don't play golf.
5. Avoid activities that do not feel comfortable or appropriate.
6. Relationship building takes time and cannot be rushed or forced.
7. Find out about people's interests by asking open-ended questions. For example: "What do you do for fun?" "Where are you going on vacation?" "What are you doing for the holidays?" or "What are you doing this weekend?"
8. If you meet someone in their office, you can get a lot of clues about their interests. Just look at what they have on their walls.
9. When reading articles, read with intention (Is there anyone I can forward this to? Is there anything in this article I can discuss with my clients or contacts?)
10. Find out ways to be helpful by asking: "What is keeping you up at night?"
11. Get in the habit of following up on small things right away. Timely thank-you notes are much more meaningful than cards that arrive three months after the fact.
12. While politics and religion can be very poor topics to discuss with a stranger, common political and religious beliefs can be a very strong source of connection. Commentary: the recent election is a good illustration of this.
By: Stephen E. Seckler
12 Guidelines For Relationship Building
1. Become a great listener. Commentary: If you want to succeed at building business relationships, try listening 80 percent of the time. Active listening is a great way to gain trust. It is the best way to find out how you can be helpful to potential clients and referral sources.
2. Be genuine. Commentary: If you are a strong believer in gun control, don't congratulate someone for the award they received from the National Rifle Association.
3. Follow up quickly. If you meet someone at a networking function and decide you want to get together with them, call or e-mail them within 24 hours to set something up. Commentary: Quick follow-up increases the chance that you will actually do it. It also increases the chances that the contact will remember you. Following up right away does not mean that you have to meet right away.
4. Don't get involved in activities that do not interest you. Doing things because you "should" will not work. If you don't like golf, don't play golf.
5. Avoid activities that do not feel comfortable or appropriate.
6. Relationship building takes time and cannot be rushed or forced.
7. Find out about people's interests by asking open-ended questions. For example: "What do you do for fun?" "Where are you going on vacation?" "What are you doing for the holidays?" or "What are you doing this weekend?"
8. If you meet someone in their office, you can get a lot of clues about their interests. Just look at what they have on their walls.
9. When reading articles, read with intention (Is there anyone I can forward this to? Is there anything in this article I can discuss with my clients or contacts?)
10. Find out ways to be helpful by asking: "What is keeping you up at night?"
11. Get in the habit of following up on small things right away. Timely thank-you notes are much more meaningful than cards that arrive three months after the fact.
12. While politics and religion can be very poor topics to discuss with a stranger, common political and religious beliefs can be a very strong source of connection. Commentary: the recent election is a good illustration of this.
By: Stephen E. Seckler
Thursday, May 28, 2009
A Great Place to Play Golf in Minnesota is Pezhekee National
As I travel around Minnesota discovering great places to play golf I like to share with you what I uncover. What I am going to share with you today is the location of the longest public golf course in Minnesota. As you travel northwest on Interstate 94 from the Twin Cities to Alexandria you will exit on state highway 28 and make your way to Glenwood. As you observe the only stop light in town, turn left onto state highway 104.After traveling about 1 1/2 miles you will come Peters Sunset Beach Resort. You have now discovered a sleeping giant of a golf course and it's name is Pezhekee National.This golf course has evolved over the past four decades to what you will witness today. Hitch up you pants, because you will need to bring your best game to tame this monster.
If you are a long ball hitter and are looking for a challenging Minnesota golf course, this is the place to play. Pezhekee National measures 7,263 yards from the championship tees with a course rating of 75.2 and a slope index rating of 138. I played from the middle tees, which was a challenging enough experience for my game. The middle tees play at 6,592 yards having a course rating of 72.2 and a slope index of 132. You have to be prepared to face four par-4 holes over 400 yards when playing from the middle tee boxes. The shortest par-3 hole measures 151 yards. The remaining par-3's measure from 185 to 199 yards. Another interesting bit of local history on this Minnesota golf course is that each hole is named with a Native American Indian name, most revolving around the folklore of Princess Minnewaska and friends and enemies of her tribe that made this region of the state their home.
Pezhekee National is a Minnesota golf course that makes you consider risk-reward options. Aggressive play can come back to bite you if you hit an errant shot. You cannot blindly go into all the par-4 holes and hit a driver. There are many holes where calculated distance control, especially off the tee, is vital. If you simply want to play mindless golf and "grip it and rip it", this may not be the Minnesota golf course for you to play if you want to score well. On the other hand, if you are patient and play with a strategy you will have birdie opportunities. A perfect example of this is on one of the new holes, number 11, also known as Yo-he-wa, which is a 381-yard par-4 from the middle tee box. This hole plays to an island green. If you play your tee shot properly and the wind is not swirling you can have a birdie opportunity. On the other hand, if you don't place your drive properly or you get too aggressive on your approach shot double bogey or much worse is a definite possibility.
An interesting feature at Pezhekee National is the "19th hole". I know what you are thinking,and this is not a bar. Though there is a small clubhouse with a patio where you can enjoy a cold beverage after your round, the "19th hole" at this Minnesota golf course is exactly that, an additional hole to play after your 18-hole round is complete. This is a nice little 140-yard par-3 hole that was part of the decommissioned holes from the original nine. This comes in very handy to break a tied score or to see who buys the frosty cold beverages as you make your way down to the clubhouse.
Pezhekee National at Peters Sunset Beach Resort is an easy 2-hour drive from the Twin Cites area northwest mostly on Interstate 94 then concluding on one of several state highways leading into Glenwood. An excellent value in a family or group golf vacation would be to use Peters Sunset Beach Resort as a home your base and play unlimited golf at Pezhekee National; then make day trips to any of the other area golf courses within a 45 minute drive from Glenwood. Visit their website at www.petersresort.com for additional information on their Sports Special Package. If you are interested in being a daily fee player and not stay at the resort, the fees are quite reasonable. You can play 18-holes Monday through Thursday for $30.00 and just $35.00 Friday through Sunday as well as holidays. Golf carts are available for rental at $28.00 for 18-holes or $64.00 for all day. The all day fee comes in nicely when taking advantage of the Sports Special Package.
The pace of play at this Minnesota golf course, as is true for many of the rural golf courses, is excellent. We played our 18-hole round in just over 4 hours. I encourage you to take the opportunity this summer and visit any of the over 300 Minnesota rural golf courses for their excellent value, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, brisk pace of play and friendly staff members.
By: Dana Buttenhoff
If you are a long ball hitter and are looking for a challenging Minnesota golf course, this is the place to play. Pezhekee National measures 7,263 yards from the championship tees with a course rating of 75.2 and a slope index rating of 138. I played from the middle tees, which was a challenging enough experience for my game. The middle tees play at 6,592 yards having a course rating of 72.2 and a slope index of 132. You have to be prepared to face four par-4 holes over 400 yards when playing from the middle tee boxes. The shortest par-3 hole measures 151 yards. The remaining par-3's measure from 185 to 199 yards. Another interesting bit of local history on this Minnesota golf course is that each hole is named with a Native American Indian name, most revolving around the folklore of Princess Minnewaska and friends and enemies of her tribe that made this region of the state their home.
Pezhekee National is a Minnesota golf course that makes you consider risk-reward options. Aggressive play can come back to bite you if you hit an errant shot. You cannot blindly go into all the par-4 holes and hit a driver. There are many holes where calculated distance control, especially off the tee, is vital. If you simply want to play mindless golf and "grip it and rip it", this may not be the Minnesota golf course for you to play if you want to score well. On the other hand, if you are patient and play with a strategy you will have birdie opportunities. A perfect example of this is on one of the new holes, number 11, also known as Yo-he-wa, which is a 381-yard par-4 from the middle tee box. This hole plays to an island green. If you play your tee shot properly and the wind is not swirling you can have a birdie opportunity. On the other hand, if you don't place your drive properly or you get too aggressive on your approach shot double bogey or much worse is a definite possibility.
An interesting feature at Pezhekee National is the "19th hole". I know what you are thinking,and this is not a bar. Though there is a small clubhouse with a patio where you can enjoy a cold beverage after your round, the "19th hole" at this Minnesota golf course is exactly that, an additional hole to play after your 18-hole round is complete. This is a nice little 140-yard par-3 hole that was part of the decommissioned holes from the original nine. This comes in very handy to break a tied score or to see who buys the frosty cold beverages as you make your way down to the clubhouse.
Pezhekee National at Peters Sunset Beach Resort is an easy 2-hour drive from the Twin Cites area northwest mostly on Interstate 94 then concluding on one of several state highways leading into Glenwood. An excellent value in a family or group golf vacation would be to use Peters Sunset Beach Resort as a home your base and play unlimited golf at Pezhekee National; then make day trips to any of the other area golf courses within a 45 minute drive from Glenwood. Visit their website at www.petersresort.com for additional information on their Sports Special Package. If you are interested in being a daily fee player and not stay at the resort, the fees are quite reasonable. You can play 18-holes Monday through Thursday for $30.00 and just $35.00 Friday through Sunday as well as holidays. Golf carts are available for rental at $28.00 for 18-holes or $64.00 for all day. The all day fee comes in nicely when taking advantage of the Sports Special Package.
The pace of play at this Minnesota golf course, as is true for many of the rural golf courses, is excellent. We played our 18-hole round in just over 4 hours. I encourage you to take the opportunity this summer and visit any of the over 300 Minnesota rural golf courses for their excellent value, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, brisk pace of play and friendly staff members.
By: Dana Buttenhoff
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
3 Steps To Swing A Golf Club
Have you just started playing golf and realized that it seems extremely difficult to swing the club the right way?
Learning how to swing a golf club is not an easy process and takes time to perfect. A golf swing is an unnatural motion that you can only be perfected through practice. Also, you are most likely going to be nervous when you first Learn how to swing a golf club. After all, you don't want to make a bad swing in front of the other golfers. These emotions will affect your swing and performance.
Wouldn't it be easier if you could follow a few simple steps about how to swing a golf club? You could avoid many of the major mistakes that people make when they first play golf.
Follow these simple steps about the golf swing and improve instantly.
Step 1: Backswing
The backswing should be equally focused on the body rotation and club and arm extension. The backswing is a fluid and on-piece motion with a straight front elbow, although this can be hard to do in the beginning. The back elbow should be bent at around 90 degrees if possible. If you do all these things then your backswing will be smooth and consistent.
Step 2: Downswing
A lot of golfers make the mistake to think the downswing begins with the arms. It should actually start with your legs. You should move your knees, then thighs and hips forward to transfer your weight from back to front. By doing this this you will increase the distance you hit the ball. Remember, this movement is supposed to be smooth and fast, just like a snake when it uncoils.
Step 3: Impact and follow-throughNow this is the action part, which is the impact with the ball. You club shaft has to form a straight line with the left, which is the forward arm. Your weight needs to be on your forward heel to the outside and on the inside of the back foot. Your hands and wrist should turn so that the grip of the club points at the target where you want to hit the ball. Then the wrists should rotate over and elbows bend, with the head of the club behind you. This will give you the distance and control you desire in your golf swing.
Whilst all of this can seem like a very complex motion, as long as you continue to practice you will start to get used to this motion. Again, make it a point to practice your swing whenever you can, even if it just going through the motions at home. Your muscles will be trained and conditioned to the movement. It will seem natural after awhile.
Follow these 3 simple steps to improve your consistency, and speed up the process of learning how to swing a golf club.
By: Staffan Moritz
Learning how to swing a golf club is not an easy process and takes time to perfect. A golf swing is an unnatural motion that you can only be perfected through practice. Also, you are most likely going to be nervous when you first Learn how to swing a golf club. After all, you don't want to make a bad swing in front of the other golfers. These emotions will affect your swing and performance.
Wouldn't it be easier if you could follow a few simple steps about how to swing a golf club? You could avoid many of the major mistakes that people make when they first play golf.
Follow these simple steps about the golf swing and improve instantly.
Step 1: Backswing
The backswing should be equally focused on the body rotation and club and arm extension. The backswing is a fluid and on-piece motion with a straight front elbow, although this can be hard to do in the beginning. The back elbow should be bent at around 90 degrees if possible. If you do all these things then your backswing will be smooth and consistent.
Step 2: Downswing
A lot of golfers make the mistake to think the downswing begins with the arms. It should actually start with your legs. You should move your knees, then thighs and hips forward to transfer your weight from back to front. By doing this this you will increase the distance you hit the ball. Remember, this movement is supposed to be smooth and fast, just like a snake when it uncoils.
Step 3: Impact and follow-throughNow this is the action part, which is the impact with the ball. You club shaft has to form a straight line with the left, which is the forward arm. Your weight needs to be on your forward heel to the outside and on the inside of the back foot. Your hands and wrist should turn so that the grip of the club points at the target where you want to hit the ball. Then the wrists should rotate over and elbows bend, with the head of the club behind you. This will give you the distance and control you desire in your golf swing.
Whilst all of this can seem like a very complex motion, as long as you continue to practice you will start to get used to this motion. Again, make it a point to practice your swing whenever you can, even if it just going through the motions at home. Your muscles will be trained and conditioned to the movement. It will seem natural after awhile.
Follow these 3 simple steps to improve your consistency, and speed up the process of learning how to swing a golf club.
By: Staffan Moritz
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Dooks Golf Club: One of Irelands Best Kept Secret
Ranked one of the Top Golf Courses in the world. Dooks Golf Club has a few things to brag about...No. 8 in the top 10 courses for welcome, No. 6 in the worlds 10 most difficult courses no 1 in the world in the 10 best value courses, and No. 1 in 16 in the world for the 10 best value courses makes Dooks Golf Club one of Irelands best tourist spots not to mention the spacious and slope greens.
It is surrounded by mountains on its three sides and alongside the Dingle bay. Dooks Golf club is a mixture of flat and wide greens for some holes and very high terrains on other holes. The course runs 6500 yards and offers some blind shots and obstacles. It has contrasting flat holes that are easily visible.
Formed in 1889, the Dooks Golf Club was suggested by the Royal Horse Artillery to the neighboring aristocratic golfers while they were training in that area. It is currently one of the oldest golf links in Ireland. The setting itself has offered most of its members and guests the chance to experience genuine Irish traditional culture and the prestigious traditions. If you’re looking for a peaceful environment, the Dooks Golf Club can give you that feeling perfectly.
It started as a nine-hole course and soon developed into an 18-hole course around near 2070. This was agreed upon by the members to add more holes.
Dooks Golf Club has offered a lasting impression to every golfer who has been there. The golfers would be astonished at the great scenery including wildlife and the topography. You will see the abundant number of flora that fills its courses and leaves an unforgettable memory to those who have experienced there.
If you enjoy the birds alongside playing golf, a lot of nesting ground for many beautiful birds can be found there. Skylark, Pennyroyal, and the Whimbrel are among them.
With the natural beauty, you can also see the modern state of the art amenities that have classical designs that display the history of Dooks Golf Club and its transformation into a world class link golf course.
Although the clubhouse has been restructured from time to time in the previous years, it still maintains a rustic and friendly feeling inside it. Irish and other meals are served in their restaurant as well as chilling drinks during the late afternoons in their bar.
Although not as popular as other golf courses, they are still one of the best one around and offers a different feeling than the usual more popular ones.
Only rarely negative comments have been left by previous golfers who have been there. The good thing is they're still returning there from time to time and still regard it as one of the best golf courses all over Ireland.
Dooks Golf Club can be found at Glenbeigh, County Kerry and should be considered in the top list of every golfer's plan to golf in Ireland. If you haven't checked this one yet, try it for once in your life and you'll see yourself coming back again.
By: Roland Washington
It is surrounded by mountains on its three sides and alongside the Dingle bay. Dooks Golf club is a mixture of flat and wide greens for some holes and very high terrains on other holes. The course runs 6500 yards and offers some blind shots and obstacles. It has contrasting flat holes that are easily visible.
Formed in 1889, the Dooks Golf Club was suggested by the Royal Horse Artillery to the neighboring aristocratic golfers while they were training in that area. It is currently one of the oldest golf links in Ireland. The setting itself has offered most of its members and guests the chance to experience genuine Irish traditional culture and the prestigious traditions. If you’re looking for a peaceful environment, the Dooks Golf Club can give you that feeling perfectly.
It started as a nine-hole course and soon developed into an 18-hole course around near 2070. This was agreed upon by the members to add more holes.
Dooks Golf Club has offered a lasting impression to every golfer who has been there. The golfers would be astonished at the great scenery including wildlife and the topography. You will see the abundant number of flora that fills its courses and leaves an unforgettable memory to those who have experienced there.
If you enjoy the birds alongside playing golf, a lot of nesting ground for many beautiful birds can be found there. Skylark, Pennyroyal, and the Whimbrel are among them.
With the natural beauty, you can also see the modern state of the art amenities that have classical designs that display the history of Dooks Golf Club and its transformation into a world class link golf course.
Although the clubhouse has been restructured from time to time in the previous years, it still maintains a rustic and friendly feeling inside it. Irish and other meals are served in their restaurant as well as chilling drinks during the late afternoons in their bar.
Although not as popular as other golf courses, they are still one of the best one around and offers a different feeling than the usual more popular ones.
Only rarely negative comments have been left by previous golfers who have been there. The good thing is they're still returning there from time to time and still regard it as one of the best golf courses all over Ireland.
Dooks Golf Club can be found at Glenbeigh, County Kerry and should be considered in the top list of every golfer's plan to golf in Ireland. If you haven't checked this one yet, try it for once in your life and you'll see yourself coming back again.
By: Roland Washington
Tips and Techniques on screenwriting comedy part 2
THE VISUAL PARADOX
The first global film star was Charlie Chaplin. He was asked to make films while still a vaudeville comedian, and he turned it down. He was working on his character the little tramp. Two years later he came back and had it perfected. He described the little tramp as follows: “Shoes too big, hat too small, pants too baggy, jacket too tight, you can’t tell if he is a rich man on his way down, or a poor man on his way up”. That is a visual paradox. It creates an unconscious question in your mind, and you want to answer that question. Paul Newman is a very good-looking actor. In a movie, he goes to a kitchen, picks up the old coffee grounds in the garbage can, and uses them to make some coffee. Here’s your visual paradox. This very successful looking person is seemingly down and out, and we want to know, what is his problem? It is not one thought “Good looking guy”, it is two thoughts. Woody Allen creates a character who should never end up with beautiful women, but somehow he does end up having relationships with them. You want to find out why. If you could create a visual paradox, you will have a much more interesting character.
PUNCTUATION
At the beginning, I want to slow down the reader’s eyes just a little bit. The reader is accustomed to seeing very rapid cutting in the movies, on television. But I do want the eyes to take in what’s on the page, to take in the jokes, but if his eyes are going too fast, they won’t take in anything. He hates to read, he wants to go through this as quickly as possible. So I am going to slow down his reading by using appropriate punctuation. Comas, periods, dashes, “ …”, I create breathing spaces. Even in dialogue, I will use “…”. I never write “pause”, because it takes energy to the eyes to read it. For short pauses, I’ll use “space, dash, space” ( - ), a longer pause may be “space, hyphen, hyphen, space” ( -- ), but most of the times I use “…” which is a full pause. Particularly for dialogue, you want to deliver with pauses. We don’t talk fluently and smoothly all the time. And two-third into the movie, the story stops being about a lot of things, and starts to narrow down about one thing. The movie moves very quickly to the last third. I’ll start dropping the punctuation, and shortening sentences, because I want the eyes to move more quickly, which leads to a faster heartbeat, to more excitement. So I’ll write two-word sentences, even one-word sentences. Example, a good one-word sentence is “Blood.” You don’t need anything else, such as descriptions. You put the location, that’s it, in order to move forward. Remember, a hundred pages have gone by, his eyes are more tired, you give him new things to keep his eyes energized, such as jokes, sexuality, physicality, “Wham!”. Intellectual conflict does not energize the eye. I am talking about writing in order to make a good living. I am not trying to wash away your deep thoughts. I am just talking about this: you want to get the check, use those techniques that I have developed over twenty five years, knowing who the reader is.
THE BATHROOM SYNDROME
I want the reader to actually want to turn pages not only for the first twenty pages, but for the entire screenplay. Even after I know they are interested in the story. I want the reader to finish the entire screenplay before having to get up to go to the bathroom. A guy over forty, who doesn’t like reading, chances are he is going to want to give his eyes a break, go to the bathroom half way through. But if I can make those eyes move nice and smooth towards the end, pages turning very quickly, you will find him read it with one sitting, and then he will go to the bathroom. If he goes to the bathroom, whatever emotional or action momentum built up is going to be hurt. He will have other thoughts, read a magazine, maybe get a snack; his mind will be cluttered with other things than your characters and their problems. But if you can have him read in one sitting, the momentum will build up, he will have a big laugh, get excited, then he goes “Wow! I think I like that!”. He will go to the bathroom and ask himself if he really liked it…
If he does, he now has to decide if he is going to commit fifty million dollars to making it, another fifty to advertise it… But, he will show it to other people, maybe senior members of his team. That is why I am using these techniques. As a writer, you are creating a relationship with the reader. It is a seduction, even though the writer should stay invisible.
A GOOD STORY
What is a good story? In a nutshell, if it happens to me, it is a good story (laughter)… In the sense that if I am personally emotionally involved with the story, the better the writing will be. I am talking about habits to take on the page, to give the reader’s eyes a positive experience. For the past 15 years, my approach was to ask myself : “How am I going to write this movie? What is the reason that keeps me going back to the table everyday? What am I trying to achieve for myself, not money wise, but as a writer?”. And once I think I got that, things go pretty smoothly. There is no formula. It is different each and every time.
By: Alex Vachon
The first global film star was Charlie Chaplin. He was asked to make films while still a vaudeville comedian, and he turned it down. He was working on his character the little tramp. Two years later he came back and had it perfected. He described the little tramp as follows: “Shoes too big, hat too small, pants too baggy, jacket too tight, you can’t tell if he is a rich man on his way down, or a poor man on his way up”. That is a visual paradox. It creates an unconscious question in your mind, and you want to answer that question. Paul Newman is a very good-looking actor. In a movie, he goes to a kitchen, picks up the old coffee grounds in the garbage can, and uses them to make some coffee. Here’s your visual paradox. This very successful looking person is seemingly down and out, and we want to know, what is his problem? It is not one thought “Good looking guy”, it is two thoughts. Woody Allen creates a character who should never end up with beautiful women, but somehow he does end up having relationships with them. You want to find out why. If you could create a visual paradox, you will have a much more interesting character.
PUNCTUATION
At the beginning, I want to slow down the reader’s eyes just a little bit. The reader is accustomed to seeing very rapid cutting in the movies, on television. But I do want the eyes to take in what’s on the page, to take in the jokes, but if his eyes are going too fast, they won’t take in anything. He hates to read, he wants to go through this as quickly as possible. So I am going to slow down his reading by using appropriate punctuation. Comas, periods, dashes, “ …”, I create breathing spaces. Even in dialogue, I will use “…”. I never write “pause”, because it takes energy to the eyes to read it. For short pauses, I’ll use “space, dash, space” ( - ), a longer pause may be “space, hyphen, hyphen, space” ( -- ), but most of the times I use “…” which is a full pause. Particularly for dialogue, you want to deliver with pauses. We don’t talk fluently and smoothly all the time. And two-third into the movie, the story stops being about a lot of things, and starts to narrow down about one thing. The movie moves very quickly to the last third. I’ll start dropping the punctuation, and shortening sentences, because I want the eyes to move more quickly, which leads to a faster heartbeat, to more excitement. So I’ll write two-word sentences, even one-word sentences. Example, a good one-word sentence is “Blood.” You don’t need anything else, such as descriptions. You put the location, that’s it, in order to move forward. Remember, a hundred pages have gone by, his eyes are more tired, you give him new things to keep his eyes energized, such as jokes, sexuality, physicality, “Wham!”. Intellectual conflict does not energize the eye. I am talking about writing in order to make a good living. I am not trying to wash away your deep thoughts. I am just talking about this: you want to get the check, use those techniques that I have developed over twenty five years, knowing who the reader is.
THE BATHROOM SYNDROME
I want the reader to actually want to turn pages not only for the first twenty pages, but for the entire screenplay. Even after I know they are interested in the story. I want the reader to finish the entire screenplay before having to get up to go to the bathroom. A guy over forty, who doesn’t like reading, chances are he is going to want to give his eyes a break, go to the bathroom half way through. But if I can make those eyes move nice and smooth towards the end, pages turning very quickly, you will find him read it with one sitting, and then he will go to the bathroom. If he goes to the bathroom, whatever emotional or action momentum built up is going to be hurt. He will have other thoughts, read a magazine, maybe get a snack; his mind will be cluttered with other things than your characters and their problems. But if you can have him read in one sitting, the momentum will build up, he will have a big laugh, get excited, then he goes “Wow! I think I like that!”. He will go to the bathroom and ask himself if he really liked it…
If he does, he now has to decide if he is going to commit fifty million dollars to making it, another fifty to advertise it… But, he will show it to other people, maybe senior members of his team. That is why I am using these techniques. As a writer, you are creating a relationship with the reader. It is a seduction, even though the writer should stay invisible.
A GOOD STORY
What is a good story? In a nutshell, if it happens to me, it is a good story (laughter)… In the sense that if I am personally emotionally involved with the story, the better the writing will be. I am talking about habits to take on the page, to give the reader’s eyes a positive experience. For the past 15 years, my approach was to ask myself : “How am I going to write this movie? What is the reason that keeps me going back to the table everyday? What am I trying to achieve for myself, not money wise, but as a writer?”. And once I think I got that, things go pretty smoothly. There is no formula. It is different each and every time.
By: Alex Vachon
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tips and Techniques on screenwriting comedy
Len Blum Tips and Technique on Screewriting
An interview with Len BlumMontreal, March 27, 2006
Len Blum has written many hit comedies in the past 30 years, such as Over the Hedge, The Pink Panther, Heavy Metal, Feds, Beethoven's 2nd, Meatballs, Howard Stern's Private Parts. He lives in Montreal.
Len Blum:
Let’s discuss the physical experience at the movie theatre. The audience paid their money for a good time, their body feels pretty good. The very first joke in a comedy is very important. Because it either gives them the confidence that they are in good hands, and their chest begins to open with the first laugh, their voice relaxes, it gets easier to laugh. So they feel that they made a good choice, the anxiety goes away, or they begin to worry ... “that wasn’t very funny, maybe I wasted my money” . The chest and the throat tighten, the second laugh is even harder. So the first joke needs to be strong.
Sometimes if you laugh a lot, your voice will actually hurt at the end of it. And you can hear the audience laughing. Certain things are funnier to women, with high laughter, other things to men. Very often, one person has a very funny laugh. Or something happens on the screen, you don’t find it that funny, but you hear the funny laugh, and you go “hey, somebody out there thinks this is funny” and it makes you laugh. So that vibration gets shared, and it becomes a powerful physical experience…
THE HOLLYWOOD READER
The important reader is a person who can sign a check that will deliver a lot of money to the writer. That reader tends to be a man over the age of 40, sometimes you get a woman in which case you are luckier, they are more patient, their eyes will move more slowly and they will take it in better. Chances are, it will be a man over 40, and the first thing you need to know about him is that the Hollywood reader hates to read. Repeat that: HE HATES TO READ! He has a staff between three and thirteen people, who read everything that comes in. They have a young Chinese woman, a young black man, a young MBA from Harvard, they all read stuff that come from agents ( a lot of stuff), because these readers form a large cross-section of the audience. Each reader might read 10 pieces a week. Only one of those pieces is good enough to be sent to the Hollywood reader. These are scripts or books, but they won’t be treatments or synopsis (a treatment is usually pitched in person , for three or five minutes). And the person who is pitching is very open to ideas, it usually is not a set thing. If the executive suggests ideas, or changes, the writer is responsive to them.
It is a team sport. So let us say the Hollywood reader has 10 readers sending him one script each. He has ten scripts to read on Saturday morning. He hates to read. He wants to go play tennis, gold, have a swim, or watch movies on the screen, but he cannot until he finishes reading those 10 scripts. He is expecting that they will all be "shit". He is motivated to throw the first one in the garbage can, as soon as he can. So if he can reject it on page one, it is a good thing. At this rate, he can go golf by ten in the morning. He picks up the first script, the first thing he does is look at how many pages it contains. If it is 130 pages, he thinks “this asshole, thinks he is gonna keep me interested in hundred and thirty pages, let’s see!”. He is feeling negative, he has got a chip on the shoulder, and if he can reject it on the first paragraph, he will throw it away. If he sees the script has 119 pages, he will feel okay, if it is 109, he will feel good, it won’t appear too long.
His eyes will start in the upper left hand corner, page one, and it will move to the bottom right-hand corner. Job number one is legibility. It means that his eyes have to have the easiest task of moving, which means no complicated words – use the shorter simpler words – and minimum description. Don’t describe a room with four pictures unless one of those pictures becomes a murder weapon. You don’t mention anything specific, unless it plays a part in the action. Describe the room in 2 or 3 words, so that you convey the attitude of the decoration, for example, rather than the details. Understand that his eyes are going to go much too quickly! So job number one, give him an easy time, and you want to slow down his eyes by creating some interesting things.
At the end of page one, something has to compel him to turn to page two. He would rather throw it in the garbage. That “thing”, for my purposes, is a joke. Then as he is reading, his eyes are moving smoothly, nothing complicated intellectually, he laughs, visual stream freezes, he still sees the joke, chest is pleasantly shaken, eyes re-attach to top left corner of page two, hungry for the next happy experience. The eyes are going to move down to the bottom of page two, happier than it was on page one. Where should the next joke be? On the bottom of page two. The reader will be greatly disappointed if there is no joke. He is going to think “Maybe the thing is running out of steam”. If he laughs again at the bottom of page two, he will turn the page.
The next best thing, if you don’t have a joke, is a compelling question, at the bottom of page one. “Did you sleep with her?”. He will turn the page just to find out if he slept with her – a very simple transaction. This approach is very important for the first twenty pages. Why? Because the Hollywood reader has no emotional commitment to your story, he does not know your characters, he doesn’t care about their problems yet. By the time he gets involved, it becomes easier to turn the pages. It is a relationship, and you the writer, are manipulating the reader. A little treat at the end of page one, to make him turn to page two. You have to keep those pages turning to increase his sense of commitment and interest in your characters and their problems.
You cannot introduce their problem on page 25, you will not get him to page 25, their problem, or the extraordinary event has to happen rather quickly. YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP HIS EYES MOVING SMOOTHLY AND HAPPILY, WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK, AND KEEP THE PAGES TURNING.
Within that architecture of the page, there are a few things that I do. I have a paragraph of description, let’s say a 3-line log, then I have dialogue. Let’s say the first and second lines are very long, and the third one is just 2 words. This is not good. His eyes are a muscle, and he is over 40. His eyes get tired easily. Here, his eyes are going from the far left to the far right, twice. Then he has to jump in the middle for the dialogue. I would rather have a three-quarter length line, a second three-quarter length line, and the third line would be half the page, so that it ends right above the dialogue line. That said, I want this to be logical syntax.. I don’t like to end the line with a word like “of”. It looks funny, it is incomplete. Sometimes, I will end the line with something like “and”, because I want his eyes to find out “and what?”. You are manipulating his eyes all the time. I know this sounds like a lot of work, I know you want this to be about your brilliant idea , but he will not get to the content, unless you reward him all the time, for keeping his eyes moving and turning pages, that is your first job.
THE CHARACTER NAMES
The names of characters: no 2 names should begin with the same letter, or should be the same length. A character name is like a brand name. A very good character name is for example AZA, because the reader’s eyes don’t even have to read it, he can tell from the way it looks who is talking. You can have a character named Beatrice, but you can’t have another character named Bettina, because remember, he wants to play golf, he hates reading. Try to have the main characters names have a look, that he will take in. The name is a logo.
Introducing your main characters, generally, the first reference does not use their name. “A young man, filled with energy, walks into the room, and trips over a dog. This is Bobo”. You give him an action before you give him a name. The action has to be a distinctive happening. So you first have the picture, then you have the label. Then, right after you give him a name, you go over to the dialogue “Who put this god dam dog here?”. These are not strict rules, but for a comedy, if he says something funny, then our reader gets to laugh. You established a positive relationship. Or if he is the villain, you visualize him doing something evil, you see the name, and then the villain says whatever evil thing he wants to say. The villain has to say something more imaginative and more creative than the reader expects. The villain has to be smarter than the reader expects. The first thing the characters say is a wonderful thing, that sets the character in the reader’s mind. Unless he is a silent character, as a Ninja, he can come in and kill someone and leave. But he still has to do something distinctive; he still has to paint his mark on the forehead of the victim, before he leaves. Then you know, you are dealing with an interesting character.
THE EYES
In movies, they say it is about this (Len indicates a close-up of the eyes with his hands). The close-up is the most important shot in any movie. The eyes are in fact a window to the soul, and the actors who become extremely successful can say anything just with their eyes. When Rudolph Valentino died (he was the first romantic silent movie star), thousands and thousands of women threw themselves to the ground weeping and screaming because their lover had died! Why was he so powerful? Cinema was relatively new, and his eyes would say “Now, I’m gonna make love to you”. The women would be turned on by him because the message in his eyes was so powerful, they would have a physical response. Film still operates at that level. John Travolta is very successful because, as he says, he has a very transparent face. You could see what he thinks, what he is feeling, it is not that hidden. He is not overacting and you can just see what he feels.
So how does the writer deal with the eyes? When we want to provide a look into the character’ soul, into his emotions, after the character’s name (in the dialog mode), you put brackets and write “eyes brightening”, or “eyes narrowing”, because the reader suddenly feels he is looking into the character’s face. You can do that only for main characters, only at the most important time, as a way to look into the character.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
The main female character in my most recent screenplay was described something along the lines as “She is so beautiful you can’t stop looking at her. She is so beautiful, you hate yourself for looking at her, and you wished you could stop, but you can’t. She is just that beautiful. Her name is … “. You might think it is pretty transparent, but in fact, when the actress reads it, she is saying “that’s me!”, because she is beautiful and men have responded that way to her beauty. What she wants is to magnetize the men, unconsciously. So she identifies with the description, and so does the studio executive, who wants to put her in his movie, because he thinks she is so beautiful. Not every character has to be beautiful, of course, but if you are writing for a beautiful woman, I use that kind of language because I am selling it both to the executive, and also to the actress.
The description of your main male character is about energy, or attitude, such as “he has a special magnetism, that is almost never seen, but when you see it, you know he definitely has it”. It is bullshit, but they believe it! Then you give him a good initial action, so that he is memorable.
By: Alex Vachon
An interview with Len BlumMontreal, March 27, 2006
Len Blum has written many hit comedies in the past 30 years, such as Over the Hedge, The Pink Panther, Heavy Metal, Feds, Beethoven's 2nd, Meatballs, Howard Stern's Private Parts. He lives in Montreal.
Len Blum:
Let’s discuss the physical experience at the movie theatre. The audience paid their money for a good time, their body feels pretty good. The very first joke in a comedy is very important. Because it either gives them the confidence that they are in good hands, and their chest begins to open with the first laugh, their voice relaxes, it gets easier to laugh. So they feel that they made a good choice, the anxiety goes away, or they begin to worry ... “that wasn’t very funny, maybe I wasted my money” . The chest and the throat tighten, the second laugh is even harder. So the first joke needs to be strong.
Sometimes if you laugh a lot, your voice will actually hurt at the end of it. And you can hear the audience laughing. Certain things are funnier to women, with high laughter, other things to men. Very often, one person has a very funny laugh. Or something happens on the screen, you don’t find it that funny, but you hear the funny laugh, and you go “hey, somebody out there thinks this is funny” and it makes you laugh. So that vibration gets shared, and it becomes a powerful physical experience…
THE HOLLYWOOD READER
The important reader is a person who can sign a check that will deliver a lot of money to the writer. That reader tends to be a man over the age of 40, sometimes you get a woman in which case you are luckier, they are more patient, their eyes will move more slowly and they will take it in better. Chances are, it will be a man over 40, and the first thing you need to know about him is that the Hollywood reader hates to read. Repeat that: HE HATES TO READ! He has a staff between three and thirteen people, who read everything that comes in. They have a young Chinese woman, a young black man, a young MBA from Harvard, they all read stuff that come from agents ( a lot of stuff), because these readers form a large cross-section of the audience. Each reader might read 10 pieces a week. Only one of those pieces is good enough to be sent to the Hollywood reader. These are scripts or books, but they won’t be treatments or synopsis (a treatment is usually pitched in person , for three or five minutes). And the person who is pitching is very open to ideas, it usually is not a set thing. If the executive suggests ideas, or changes, the writer is responsive to them.
It is a team sport. So let us say the Hollywood reader has 10 readers sending him one script each. He has ten scripts to read on Saturday morning. He hates to read. He wants to go play tennis, gold, have a swim, or watch movies on the screen, but he cannot until he finishes reading those 10 scripts. He is expecting that they will all be "shit". He is motivated to throw the first one in the garbage can, as soon as he can. So if he can reject it on page one, it is a good thing. At this rate, he can go golf by ten in the morning. He picks up the first script, the first thing he does is look at how many pages it contains. If it is 130 pages, he thinks “this asshole, thinks he is gonna keep me interested in hundred and thirty pages, let’s see!”. He is feeling negative, he has got a chip on the shoulder, and if he can reject it on the first paragraph, he will throw it away. If he sees the script has 119 pages, he will feel okay, if it is 109, he will feel good, it won’t appear too long.
His eyes will start in the upper left hand corner, page one, and it will move to the bottom right-hand corner. Job number one is legibility. It means that his eyes have to have the easiest task of moving, which means no complicated words – use the shorter simpler words – and minimum description. Don’t describe a room with four pictures unless one of those pictures becomes a murder weapon. You don’t mention anything specific, unless it plays a part in the action. Describe the room in 2 or 3 words, so that you convey the attitude of the decoration, for example, rather than the details. Understand that his eyes are going to go much too quickly! So job number one, give him an easy time, and you want to slow down his eyes by creating some interesting things.
At the end of page one, something has to compel him to turn to page two. He would rather throw it in the garbage. That “thing”, for my purposes, is a joke. Then as he is reading, his eyes are moving smoothly, nothing complicated intellectually, he laughs, visual stream freezes, he still sees the joke, chest is pleasantly shaken, eyes re-attach to top left corner of page two, hungry for the next happy experience. The eyes are going to move down to the bottom of page two, happier than it was on page one. Where should the next joke be? On the bottom of page two. The reader will be greatly disappointed if there is no joke. He is going to think “Maybe the thing is running out of steam”. If he laughs again at the bottom of page two, he will turn the page.
The next best thing, if you don’t have a joke, is a compelling question, at the bottom of page one. “Did you sleep with her?”. He will turn the page just to find out if he slept with her – a very simple transaction. This approach is very important for the first twenty pages. Why? Because the Hollywood reader has no emotional commitment to your story, he does not know your characters, he doesn’t care about their problems yet. By the time he gets involved, it becomes easier to turn the pages. It is a relationship, and you the writer, are manipulating the reader. A little treat at the end of page one, to make him turn to page two. You have to keep those pages turning to increase his sense of commitment and interest in your characters and their problems.
You cannot introduce their problem on page 25, you will not get him to page 25, their problem, or the extraordinary event has to happen rather quickly. YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP HIS EYES MOVING SMOOTHLY AND HAPPILY, WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK, AND KEEP THE PAGES TURNING.
Within that architecture of the page, there are a few things that I do. I have a paragraph of description, let’s say a 3-line log, then I have dialogue. Let’s say the first and second lines are very long, and the third one is just 2 words. This is not good. His eyes are a muscle, and he is over 40. His eyes get tired easily. Here, his eyes are going from the far left to the far right, twice. Then he has to jump in the middle for the dialogue. I would rather have a three-quarter length line, a second three-quarter length line, and the third line would be half the page, so that it ends right above the dialogue line. That said, I want this to be logical syntax.. I don’t like to end the line with a word like “of”. It looks funny, it is incomplete. Sometimes, I will end the line with something like “and”, because I want his eyes to find out “and what?”. You are manipulating his eyes all the time. I know this sounds like a lot of work, I know you want this to be about your brilliant idea , but he will not get to the content, unless you reward him all the time, for keeping his eyes moving and turning pages, that is your first job.
THE CHARACTER NAMES
The names of characters: no 2 names should begin with the same letter, or should be the same length. A character name is like a brand name. A very good character name is for example AZA, because the reader’s eyes don’t even have to read it, he can tell from the way it looks who is talking. You can have a character named Beatrice, but you can’t have another character named Bettina, because remember, he wants to play golf, he hates reading. Try to have the main characters names have a look, that he will take in. The name is a logo.
Introducing your main characters, generally, the first reference does not use their name. “A young man, filled with energy, walks into the room, and trips over a dog. This is Bobo”. You give him an action before you give him a name. The action has to be a distinctive happening. So you first have the picture, then you have the label. Then, right after you give him a name, you go over to the dialogue “Who put this god dam dog here?”. These are not strict rules, but for a comedy, if he says something funny, then our reader gets to laugh. You established a positive relationship. Or if he is the villain, you visualize him doing something evil, you see the name, and then the villain says whatever evil thing he wants to say. The villain has to say something more imaginative and more creative than the reader expects. The villain has to be smarter than the reader expects. The first thing the characters say is a wonderful thing, that sets the character in the reader’s mind. Unless he is a silent character, as a Ninja, he can come in and kill someone and leave. But he still has to do something distinctive; he still has to paint his mark on the forehead of the victim, before he leaves. Then you know, you are dealing with an interesting character.
THE EYES
In movies, they say it is about this (Len indicates a close-up of the eyes with his hands). The close-up is the most important shot in any movie. The eyes are in fact a window to the soul, and the actors who become extremely successful can say anything just with their eyes. When Rudolph Valentino died (he was the first romantic silent movie star), thousands and thousands of women threw themselves to the ground weeping and screaming because their lover had died! Why was he so powerful? Cinema was relatively new, and his eyes would say “Now, I’m gonna make love to you”. The women would be turned on by him because the message in his eyes was so powerful, they would have a physical response. Film still operates at that level. John Travolta is very successful because, as he says, he has a very transparent face. You could see what he thinks, what he is feeling, it is not that hidden. He is not overacting and you can just see what he feels.
So how does the writer deal with the eyes? When we want to provide a look into the character’ soul, into his emotions, after the character’s name (in the dialog mode), you put brackets and write “eyes brightening”, or “eyes narrowing”, because the reader suddenly feels he is looking into the character’s face. You can do that only for main characters, only at the most important time, as a way to look into the character.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
The main female character in my most recent screenplay was described something along the lines as “She is so beautiful you can’t stop looking at her. She is so beautiful, you hate yourself for looking at her, and you wished you could stop, but you can’t. She is just that beautiful. Her name is … “. You might think it is pretty transparent, but in fact, when the actress reads it, she is saying “that’s me!”, because she is beautiful and men have responded that way to her beauty. What she wants is to magnetize the men, unconsciously. So she identifies with the description, and so does the studio executive, who wants to put her in his movie, because he thinks she is so beautiful. Not every character has to be beautiful, of course, but if you are writing for a beautiful woman, I use that kind of language because I am selling it both to the executive, and also to the actress.
The description of your main male character is about energy, or attitude, such as “he has a special magnetism, that is almost never seen, but when you see it, you know he definitely has it”. It is bullshit, but they believe it! Then you give him a good initial action, so that he is memorable.
By: Alex Vachon
3 Amazing Golf Training Tools
Are you still having difficulties improving your swing? What you need is some good golf training tools to lower your scores and perfect your swing. Golf training tools can help improve every aspect of your game—from your swing, to your grip, and how you make contact with the ball. Golf training tools will also teach you how to have the proper stance.
There are many golf training tools on the market and they range anywhere from instructional videos to radar equipment to calculate the speed of your swing. You can watch Instructional videos in the comfort of your own home and are an excellent to really observe how to play golf correctly. Another benefit, if you are a beginner,is that you will the fundamentals of the game of golf.
These are 3 of the most popular golf training tools and they are designed to work on different aspects of your game.
1. the Power Stance Trainer the Impact BallFirst, the Power Stance Trainer is perfect for those golfers who have problems shifting their weight during their golf swing or have difficulties aligning themselves properly. It is currently the only golf training aid on the market that focuses on the lower body and how it affects your swing.
2. the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/IronThe Impact Ball is a rather unique invention for golf training tools. It will help you hit the ball square in the face, thus allowing for better direction and greater distances. Placed correctly between your arms, the Impact Ball is a golf training aid that is sure to improve your swing. If you swing properly, the Impact Ball will stay in between your arms and not fall down. The tool will create the perfect alignment between your body, hands, and wrists. The Impact Ball is without a doubt one of the best golf training tools on the market.With the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron, if you hit the ball correctly the hinge will not break. Using the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron is sure to improve your game with great ease.
3. Speed StikThe final golf training aid, the Speed Stik, will help increase the power and speed of your golf swing. This is one of those speed tools that let you know your swing’s speed as soon as you swing. It will also help you strengthen your muscles that are used for your swing, which in turn prevents injury.Using golf training tools is a proven way to improve your game to levels beyond your imagination. Golf training tools are not only used by beginners but also advanced players. They have worked exceptional at bringing golfers under par and lower scores.
By: Staffan Moritz
There are many golf training tools on the market and they range anywhere from instructional videos to radar equipment to calculate the speed of your swing. You can watch Instructional videos in the comfort of your own home and are an excellent to really observe how to play golf correctly. Another benefit, if you are a beginner,is that you will the fundamentals of the game of golf.
These are 3 of the most popular golf training tools and they are designed to work on different aspects of your game.
1. the Power Stance Trainer the Impact BallFirst, the Power Stance Trainer is perfect for those golfers who have problems shifting their weight during their golf swing or have difficulties aligning themselves properly. It is currently the only golf training aid on the market that focuses on the lower body and how it affects your swing.
2. the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/IronThe Impact Ball is a rather unique invention for golf training tools. It will help you hit the ball square in the face, thus allowing for better direction and greater distances. Placed correctly between your arms, the Impact Ball is a golf training aid that is sure to improve your swing. If you swing properly, the Impact Ball will stay in between your arms and not fall down. The tool will create the perfect alignment between your body, hands, and wrists. The Impact Ball is without a doubt one of the best golf training tools on the market.With the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron, if you hit the ball correctly the hinge will not break. Using the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron is sure to improve your game with great ease.
3. Speed StikThe final golf training aid, the Speed Stik, will help increase the power and speed of your golf swing. This is one of those speed tools that let you know your swing’s speed as soon as you swing. It will also help you strengthen your muscles that are used for your swing, which in turn prevents injury.Using golf training tools is a proven way to improve your game to levels beyond your imagination. Golf training tools are not only used by beginners but also advanced players. They have worked exceptional at bringing golfers under par and lower scores.
By: Staffan Moritz
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