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
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
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
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