Reduce Your Golf Handicap

New Golf Equipment and Special Deals.

2011-02-18T11:44:00.000Z

Just a quick post today to let you know that TaylorMade Have released a new Driver to their range, the R11.

Speculation has been rife for a while now that TaylorMade were about to release a driver that was white, and they have duly obliged. But it is not only the colour that is new about the R11, you can adjust settings independently, something that you were not able to do with previous models, the r7 and R9.

If you are looking for a new driver, or are just a fan of TaylorMade, you really should check this model out. For a full review on the TaylorMade R11 driver go HERE

One other bit of info today could be good news if you are looking to change your irons. The people at Onlinegolf have put together a deal where you can buy a set of irons from them that are over £250 in value, and receive 1 weeks holiday accomodation for 4.

So you could buy your new irons and take them to warmer climes to really get used to them. And take 3 friends with you as well. Click HERE to get the full rundown on this deal.

And Happy Golfing.

Phil Backs Scottish Open Move

2010-11-12T13:31:00.000Z

Phil Mickelson has backed the European Tour's decision to move the Scottish Open away from Loch Lomond to a links course.

The move, the US Masters champion says, will better prepare players for the Open.

Castle Stuart near Inverness and the Renaissance Club to the east of Edinburgh are the front-runners to host the high-profile event, and European Tour representatives have already delivered reports after visiting both venues.

The 2011 Open will be played on the links at Royal St George's in Kent, England.

"Moving to a links course will benefit the tournament whether it's Castle Stuart ... or other links courses," the American left-hander said at the Singapore Open on Friday. "The players that will compete there will have a better preparation for the Open and because of that, it should increase the quality of the field even though it's been quite strong for the last few years. But whatever the venue I will be returning."

World number four Mickelson has played in seven of the past 10 Scottish Open's at Loch Lomond, losing a play-off to Frenchman Gregory Havret in 2007.

McIlroy To Play In Europe In 2011

2010-11-09T13:12:00.000Z

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy will not join the US Tour for 2011, saying he enjoys his time in Europe too much.

The 21-year-old told reporters he no longer wanted to play the mandatory number of tournaments required in the States.

"Sometimes you feel as though you have to be in America just to play the mandatory 15 and, at the start of this year, that was something I really wanted to do," he said.

"I did that, but I also realised it wasn't for me but then it doesn't mean to say that I don't want to play full time in the States again."

The world number nine was in Singapore on Monday for a corporate outing but was heading home to Ireland for a week's break rather than contest the Singapore Open starting on Thursday. McIlroy's manager, Andrew Chandler, sought a meeting with US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem last Sunday night straight after the HSBC Champions prize-giving ceremony.

McIlroy had been considering the decision since September, when he was watching TV coverage from the States of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, an event he almost won in 2008. "I found myself in America... especially in the FedEx Cup play-off series, just not wanting to be there, especially on the golf course," said McIlroy. "I switched on the Golf Channel and began watching the Omega European Masters in Switzerland and thinking to myself I would rather be there instead.

"It would be easier if I had a place in the States and that would definitely make it easier to play both Tours.
"Besides, with the Majors and the WGCs, plus a few other events such as my defence of the Wells Fargo Championship (formerly Quail Hollow Championship) I will still play 11 or 12 there next year, and I will be happy with that."

It was a year ago when McIlroy revealed during the UBS Hong Kong Open he would be taking up 2010 membership of the game's greatest money-making tour.

McIlroy said his decision had also been slightly based on a recent European Tour decision to increase the number of events to retain automatic membership to 13 from next season. "I had made my mind up before the new decision you have to play 13 but that does make it more difficult," he said.

"But as I mentioned, I don't have a base in the States and besides I enjoy my time too much back at home.
"Holly (his girlfriend) also has another two years at Uni' and we have two dogs, a nice house and I love my life back in Ireland, back in Europe and I don't want ever to give that up.

"But if I keep playing the way I have been playing, I will get all the invitations I need.

"Also after playing the Ryder Cup, I got a great sense of the camaraderie out there, and I got to know many of the European guys a lot better.

"The thing is that if you are playing well in the States it's a great place to be but if you're not it can be a lonely place. Whereas if you are not playing well on the European Tour you still have plenty of mates to hang out with."

Reuters

Loch Lomond To Lose Scottish Open

2010-10-19T16:37:00.000+01:00

The days of the Scottish Open being played at Loch Lomond look to be numbered. Barclays, the tournament's current sponsor, are keen to extend their sponsorship when the present deal finishes in 2012, but would like it to be played on a links course instead.

The main reason for the change is an attempt to attract more stars to compete in the event, which is played the week before the British Open. Tiger Woods has never played in the Scottish Open in the 15 years it has been played at Loch Lomond, preferring instead to go to Ireland and play on a links course in preparation for the Open. Many other US players opt to stay away as well, and even Padraig Harrington snubs the event to play in Ireland instead.

But finding a venue will prove a problem, and even then switching to a links course might not suit everybody. Playing a links course 2 weeks on the trot will not be everyone's cup of tea.

Read the full story HERE.

What do you think? Where would you like to see the Scottish Open Played? Let us know below.

Play Suspended - Again

2010-10-03T11:23:00.000+01:00

For the second time in three days, the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales has had to be suspended because of heavy rain.

Ironically, the course was under water from the same storm that caused a 7 hour delay to play on Friday. Weather forecasts had predicted that the bad weather could just skirt the venue, but unfortunately it has landed slap bang in the middle of it.

The earliest that play will resume is 12 noon, and only if the weather abates. With the rearranged format for yesterday's play, it was hoped that the competition would still manage to finish today as planned. But it is now certain to go into a fourth day on Monday. And with the uncertainty about the weather, there are no guarantees that all the matches will be completed.

There is a time limit for the event to finish at 18.43 BST tomorrow. If there are still matches on the course at this time they will be deemed as halved matches. So the event will be decided by the scores of the completed matches at that time. But lets keep our fingers crossed that we can get some play today and that all the matches are completed tomorrow.

There have been questions asked from the start why this years Ryder Cup is so late, especially as the British weather at this time of year is so unpredictable. The USPGA are now taking some of the flak, as it now seems that the addition of the Fedex Cup events to their tour is the main reason for the timing of the Ryder Cup. And the general concensus of opinion seems to be that the Ryder Cup could, and should, have been played before the Fedex Cup. Because of the venues for the Fedex Cup, they would not have the same weather problems at this time of year as have occurred in Wales.

What do you think, Should the Ryder Cup be played earlier and before the Fedex Cup?

Leave a comment and let us know your views.

World No.1 Is Gunning For Mcllroy.

2010-09-29T12:30:00.000+01:00

Tiger Woods has set his sights on Rory Mcllroy, taking exception to comments made by the young Ulster-man last month.

Mcllroy said that any European would fancy their chances against Tiger given the current state of his game. Not a grossly outrageous statement ,some might think, in the current climate. But not Woods himself. He has seen it as a slur and has become fired up by the remark.

Woods approached Mcllroy on the practice ground at the BMW Championship in Chicago and told him “Be careful what you wish for.” And according to one eye witness, it was not said in jest!

Read the full story HERE.

Support Your Team- Wear The Gear.

2010-09-28T20:09:00.000+01:00

With Ryder Cup week well and truly under way, now is the time for you to wear your team's colours. With everything from shirts to shoes on sale with the Ryder Cup logo, there is something for everyone, with a budget to suit.

From ball markers that will cost you a couple of pounds, to shoes that could cost a couple of hundred, there is no shortage of items for you to impress. Whether you are going to the actual event and want to be kitted out in your teams colours to show your support, or maybe you just want a sweater or shoes to impress your playing partners when you play your weekly medal, it is all there.

The popular Ryder Cup golf shoe, pictured above, is available through THIS LINK, where you will also find mostly anything you would like with the Ryder Cup logo.

And don't forget when the official team clothing for this year's competition is available to the public, there will be even more chances for you to look your best on the course.

More shoes and equipment available HERE.

No Twits At Celtic Manor

2010-09-28T19:18:00.000+01:00

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has told his players not to make Twits of themselves this week by imposing a no Twitter ban until the event is finished – only for Graeme McDowell to almost immediately defy his skipper!

His US counterpart has made the same decision, the teams being forbidden to use social networking sites until the competition has ended. They are afraid that one of the players might say something to cause controversy on Twitter like some sport stars have done recently.

But as the ban was announced, golfers from both sides were determined to break it!

Full story HERE.

Ryder Cup Woes.

2010-09-14T10:50:00.000+01:00

With the Ryder Cup fast approaching the pressure is starting to mount, on some people more than others.

With the kind of year Tiger Woods has had, no doubt he would have liked to arrive at Celtic Manor under the radar and prepare for his matches with no distractions. Well let's hope he still has a sense of humour as one local company has come up with a novel idea to generate more sales during this year's match.

And if we can believe everything we read or hear, then the European Captain, Colin Montgomerie has some personal issues at the moment as well. This, coupled with the fact that he is desperate to win back the Ryder Cup for Europe, does not make his job any easier.

With the match just over a fortnight away, let's hope that golf takes centre stage.

Read the full story HERE.

Do Your Research When Choosing New Golf Clubs.

2010-09-08T20:48:00.000+01:00

Choosing new golf clubs is never easy, but it is worth putting some time and effort into it. If you spend some time researching the makes and models available, the more satisfied you will be with your final choice. When you start out, you will realize there are a few options open to you regarding how you go about your research. While you could visit your local golf store and rely on the advice of the salesman, it is not the best way to get what you want. You will find out here about resources you can use in your search for new golf clubs.

The first thing to say is if you are reading this then you have found the ultimate source of information - the internet. Here you can visit the web sites of the various companies who manufacture clubs, and discover all the technical specs you'll ever need. Or there are review sites that will tell you about the pros and cons of a particular club and who the club is aimed at. All you really need to do is type in your query to your favorite search engine and sift through the results. It is a good idea to bookmark any site you find helpful, making it easy to find in the future.

Golf magazines are another resource that usually have sections that are dedicated to news and reviews of clubs that are new to the market. If you are looking for a particular make or model it is a good idea to search through these golf magazines (or again, their online resource) to see what their opinion is on this club. You could even visit consumer based web sites that will also provide you with reviews of the club along with the best prices and where to buy. If you visit a few sites and find the reviews to be consistent, you can usually rely on the information.

Another way of getting good advice is to get in touch with the people who use the clubs. The best person to ask about this is your course professional. These guys really know their stuff, and if you let him have a look at the way you swing the club, he won't be long recommending the best club for you at this time. The more you play and the better you get may require a change of club in the future. If you are just starting out and are not yet a member of a club, you could visit one of the many online golf communities. There are many forums that aim to get golfers in touch with each other, and you should definitely consider joining at least one.

By far the best way of choosing new golf clubs is to actually try the clubs out for yourself. If your local golf store has a range attached, you can ask the pro if you can take the club onto the range to try it out. Most stores will let you do this, and it allows you to test the club and see if it is for you, before you commit to buying. If you don't have this facility, then maybe you know someone who has the clubs that you would like to try. Talk to them and ask if you could borrow his clubs for a round or two to see if you like them. There is no doubt that testing the clubs yourself is the best way to find out whether you like them or not.

For more information and help on choosing new golf clubs take a look HERE

Different Golf Bags For Different Rounds

2010-09-01T14:39:00.002+01:00

Buying a golf bag is a personal decision that you will make on looks and styling, but even more so it's a decision based on your own circumstances. There is a golf bag for everyone, but you first have to decide how you need it to work for you. The golf bag is what holds your clubs as you go around the course, so how do you need it to function?

Listed here are the types of golf bags, and what they are used for and by whom:

Carry Bag:

If you are going to walk the course while playing and carry your bag over your shoulder, you will need a lightweight bag with a wide padded strap. If you can, before buying, try the bag on with everything in it you will be carrying, just to see that it fits properly and is comfortable to wear. It should be made of light material, such as canvas or nylon, and should just be big enough to hold the clubs, balls and tees that you will need for your round. It should also have a built -in kickstand so you don't have to lay it on the ground.

Cart Bag:

This bag is bigger than the carry bag and will hold more clubs and accessories. It's also heavier and is not meant to be carried,but to be used either on a golf cart or hand-pushed cart. There will also be more pockets in these golf bags to allow for more storage.

Tour Bag:

The tour bag is the biggest and heaviest of all golf bags. This is the bag the pros use, and you will see this bag being carried by the caddie. They're high quality, hold the most clubs and equipment, and are also the most expensive. And they are VERY heavy. The caddies have to be fit!

Junior Bag:

These golf bags are made for the young golfer. They hold less clubs, have a shorter shoulder strap and are lighter in weight. They are also less expensive, which is always a good thing when your not sure if junior is going to take to golf or not.

Travel Bag:

Travel bags are available in soft or hard sides. If you are flying with your bag, though, the hard sided bag will be the better option. Also, if you can, get one with built in wheels so it is easy to transport across the airport parking lot. And look for one that has a locking mechanism as well, to help ensure that none of your clubs accidentally fall out or worse, get stolen.

Choosing the color and design of a golf bag is a personal thing that only you can decide. Keep an eye on quality and price, certainly, but above all make sure you get the right golf bag for you in your situation.

For more on choosing a golf bag and equipment CLICK HERE

McDowell Wins US Open

2010-06-21T13:47:00.001+01:00

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell has won the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach. The 30-year-old shot a three over par 74 to finish on level par, one shot ahead of France's Gregory Havret. McDowell joins famous names Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Tiger Woods on the list of US Open champions at the Californian links.

The drama started early in his round when playing partner and overnight leader, Dustin Johnson squandered his three shot lead at the second hole, to open the door for the Irishman. Johnson never recovered from his horrendous start and finished with an 82, to go from 6 under at the start of his round to finish on 5 over.

Havret finished second, shooting a final round 72 for a one over par total of 285. Els was third on two over after scoring a 73, and the world's top two ranked golfers finished tied for fourth, Woods scoring 75 and Mickelson 73.

McDowell, starting the tournament as world number 37 but now up to number 13 thanks to his victory, follows fellow Portrush golfer Fred Daly, winner of the 1947 Open, as a major winner. He almost didn't make the field though, after his tie for 28th place at the BMW PGA Championships opened the door for US Tour players Brian Gay, Scott Verplank and Michael Sim to knock him out of the world's top 50 if they could finish high enough in the Byron Nelson Championship. They didn't manage it though, and McDowell was in. He went on to win the Celtic Manor Wales Open two weeks ago, and brought that form in to Pebble Beach.

American Johnson, who up until the last day had shown an unflappable manner, had outscored him in the third round to take a three-shot lead into the final. But that manner didn't last long with the pressure of a Sunday lead at the majors. He walked off the par-four second hole in a tie with McDowell after a terrible triple-bogey seven and then proceeded to lose his ball off the third tee, which led to a double bogey. lost his ball off the third tee en route to a double bogey. Having to wait for the hapless Johnson, McDowell did well to sink a far from easy par putt, and the Portrush man went to the fourth having taken over the lead again at three under as Johnson slipped to one under.

Johnson was all over the place and after dropping another shot at the fourth, his day was effectively over. But while the American faltered, McDowell did not drop a shot until the par-four ninth, the last player in the field to bogey on the final day. And although he dropped a couple of shots on the back nine, none of his challengers could make any headway, and so the famous trophy was his.

CLICK HERE for independent reviews.

Callaway Unveil Their New X-24 Irons

2010-05-06T19:54:00.000+01:00

Callaway Golf today announced their latest X series irons, the X-24's will be available to buy from May 28th.

These new clubs boast all of the attributes of past X series irons, with some new additions to make the X-24 the longest, most accurate set yet.

“The X-24 Hot Irons are the latest evolution of our award-winning X-Series Irons, which have helped make Callaway the No. 1 Irons company in the game for the last 13 consecutive years,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell, Senior Vice President of Research & Development, Callaway Golf.

For more information on the new X-24 Hot Irons, please CLICK HERE

Choosing Golf Equipment.

2010-04-22T18:32:00.001+01:00

Buying golf equipment can be like dumping money into a
money pit, but armed with some knowledge you can save
time and money in selecting the right clubs for
yourself. As with most things in life, you can spend a
lot or you can spend a little several times before you
get what you really need.

If you are first starting out and not completely sure
you want to commit to this addictive game, you should
either rent clubs at the golf course, or buy a starter
set of clubs.

Buying a set of starter clubs enables you to become
accustomed to them; enabling you to concentrate on
your swing instead of wondering how this set of
miss-matched clubs you just rented are going to work
out.

As you become better at the game, you should invest in
a better set of clubs, fitted to you.

Generally, a set includes a driver, one or two fairway
woods, 4-9 irons, a wedge or two and perhaps a putter.

As you become more experienced and start thinking
about new clubs, you may want to consider buying your
driver separately. Some players want a driver to give
them more accuracy; some need the distance.

There are numerous balls available and the box will
usually have a chart on the back and direct you to the
right ball for your needs. As you learn the game and
get better at it, you should experiment with different
balls which could improve your accuracy or distance.

Having the right equipment is an important aspect of
the game; buy wisely!

For more information on buying golf clubs and equipment visit www.the-golf-course.com

Could Golf Schools Be A Thing Of The Past?

2009-09-21T16:30:00.000+01:00

Hi All,

Hope you are all well and getting plenty of golfing action. The weather here as been a lot better for playing in recently, so it has been very pleasant to be on the golf course.

Up until this good spell, the weather was so bad that a fair number of players had gone undercover and headed to the driving range. And a lot would be working with a golf pro to try and iron out some faults. Which got me wondering if this was the best way to go.

And then recently, I stumbled across something every golfer is going to want to know about. It's an online golf school. And it's the first, fully featured, personalized golf school online.

Some of the benefits are:

* You don't have to travel.
* You can practice when and where you want.
* You can practice what you want to make the biggest improvement in your golf game instead of being told what to practice.
* It's A LOT cheaper than a regular off-line golf school.

And best of all....you'll only pay if you improve.

So before you pay good money for a golf school, or pay any other money hoping to improve....make sure you go here TheConsistentGolfSchool and check out this online golf school now.

I really don't think you'll be disappointed, and better than saving you money, chances are it will really improve your game. So have a look at the site today. TheConsistentGolfSchool. And your game could take off.

Speak Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Free Ebook!

2009-09-06T19:06:00.004+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well and have managed to get some golf in over the weekend. The weather here in Scotland hasn't been too good for golfing this weekend, in fact the last month at least, we've had constant rain. The courses are getting no chance to dry out.

This is just a quick post to let you know about the FREE ebook that is on offer when you sign up for the email tips ( also FREE, of course ). Understanding and Enjoying Golf is a 63 page book crammed with selected tips and tricks to help you to play better golf.

So, all you have to do is leave your name and email in the box at the top right of the page, and your ebook will be on it's way to you. And it won't cost you a penny. Nope. It's FREE. As are the email tips! FREE. So what have you got to lose. NOTHING. Now is the time to send for your FREE stuff. Fill in your name NOW.

Well, I'm off to have a look at the weather forecast to see if we're going to have any rain free days this week.

Speak Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

1 Hour Golf Practice Plan For Improvement.

2009-09-01T20:13:00.003+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well, and the golf is good.

Today we have an article from golf professional Nick Bayley, on how we should plan our practice to improve our game.

If you can spend an hour of your time practicing your golf game here is what I suggest you do to get the most benefit out of this time.

When you arrive at the practice area the very first thing you should do is a few stretches to warm up and you should do this for anything up to 5 minutes or until you're warm. Once you're loosened up the next thing you should do is to start off hitting a couple of wedge shots and then slowly go through each club in your bag, hitting a few shots with each one until you reach your driver. This process should take about 20 minutes. When hitting these shots you should treat each one as though it's a real shot on the golf course. In other words, choose a precise target for each shot and then go through your normal pre-shot routine.

Once you've finished the 20 minutes of hitting full shots you should now practice pitching for 15 minutes and you should do this by hitting shots to all different distances.

What I mean be hitting shots different distances is that you should aim to hit one shot 30 yards, the next one 60 yards, one 75 yards, the next 40 yards etc, etc. And remember to treat each shot, as you would on the course i.e. pick a target and do your pre-shot routine.

Now practice your chipping and bunker play for the next 10 minutes and once again pick a target and go through your pre-shot routine for each shot. It's important that you treat each shot as a real one and not some practice shot that doesn't matter.

When practicing get yourself into the mindset that you have on the course. That way when you get to the course you'll be better prepared.

You've now got 10 minutes left to work on your putting. And I suggest you practice putts outside of 10 feet, concentrating on your distance control and then end the practice session with some short putts (e.g. 2-3 footers). Do this so you leave your practice session on a successful note. Here's a summary of your 1 hour practice session ...

1 Hour Weekly Practice Session

* 5 minutes of stretching to get warm.
* 20 minutes of hitting a couple of shots with each club, starting with the wedge and then progressing through your clubs until reaching the driver.
* 15 minutes hitting pitch shots different distances i.e. 20 yards, 45 yards, 60 yards, 30 yards etc. Never attempt to hit a shot the same distance during this 15 minutes period.
* 10 minutes of chipping and bunker shots.

Final 10 minutes of putting, mainly working on distance control on putts outside of 10 feet and then finishing off this time with some successful short putts.

Remember To Approach Each Practice Shot As Though It's a Real Shot On The Golf Course.

Article used with permission from Nick Bayley (Professional golfer) who has discovered just one golf swing fault that could be stopping YOU from ball striking consistency and success. But luckily for you, now you can take a simple 2 minute golf swing test to see if you have this swing fault or not. So don't delay! Go here to take The Golf Swing Test™ now: http://www.yourgolfswingtest.com/

Hope that was of some use to you, and I'll speak to you soon.

Happy Golfing,
Gordon.

Fix Your Swing To Fix Your Game.

2009-08-28T18:48:00.003+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all well and looking forward to getting some golf in over the weekend. This is just a quick heads up on a programme I reckon you should have a look at if you are having problems with your swing.

This is a problem that research shows affects 90% of golfers. It causes the golfer to hit the ball shorter, less accurately, and a lot less consistently than he should.

gordon/recommendsswingfix.

If you don't suffer from any of these things, that's great. But if you do, then you'll want to know how to fix it. It'll take less than 2 minutes to discover if you have this swing fault. But it could be a very important 2 minutes for your golf swing.

gordon/recommendsswingfix.

That's all for now, so have a great weekend and Happy Golfing.

Gordon.

P.S. You really have nothing to lose with checking this programme out. And you'll never know what you might gain. Check it out today.

gordon/recommendsswingfix.

Be On The Lookout For A Good Deal.

2009-08-24T20:09:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all well and getting plenty of golf in. Up here in Scotland the weather hasn't been all that great lately, with a lot of rain falling. So if you did manage to get out, the courses were all pretty damp.

Just thought I'd let you know of a service being provided by Direct Golf in the UK. They now have a tee booking service that everyone can use, and it'll save you plenty of money too. If you have a look HERE you will see the courses are extensive, and the green fees are excellent. Well worth a look if you fancy a change of course.

Another good deal is Bunkered magazine's Green Fee Savers. You buy vouchers from Bunkered magazine which then entitle you to play some great courses at half price. 2 can play for the price of 1 or 4 can play for the price of 2.

The way things are at the moment, if you can save some money, it can only be a good thing. These are only two examples of deals that are out there. There are probably plenty more, so if anyone knows of a good deal that can help us save some money, please post a comment on here and let us all know.

Speak To You Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Which Golf Bag Suits You?

2009-08-11T15:50:00.003+01:00

There is a huge choice of golf bags available these days, so let us know which golf bag is best for you.

Do you like to carry your golf clubs in a nice lightweight carry bag. Obviously you can't get as much equipment in these bags, but they do suit a lot of golfers, especially if the weather is set fair.

Or what about the cart bag? These are getting ever more popular just to sit on an electric buggy, or even if you are driving a golf buggy. There are so many pockets in these bags you can carry everything you need, and if you are in a golf buggy it makes for a really easy and relaxing round of golf.

Of course your bag doesn't guarantee that you will play good golf, that is something that you have to work on.

So leave us a message and let us know what type of bag you use, and why you chose that bag.

Speak Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Kaymer Wins Scottish Open.

2009-07-13T15:12:00.006+01:00

Hello All,

Well, after a terrific four days of golf at Loch Lomond, Germany's Martin Kaymer became The Scottish Open champion on Sunday. Kaymer had a final round 69 for a 15 under total and a two shot victory over Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Raphael Jacquelin. This victory made it two in a row for the young German, who also won last weeks French Open in Paris, to take his winnings to just over 1 million pounds in a week.

Despite living not too far from the Loch Lomond course, I made my first visit to the tournament at the weekend. And I have to say it was everything I expected. The course was presented in immaculate condition, but the setting, with the loch as the centrepiece and the surrounding hills, make it a truly magical place. With the weather being at it's best, I would say it is a course to rival any in the world.

And now we move on down the west coast to Turnberry, for The British Open. I'm sure young Kaymer will take plenty of confidence into this week, as will a few others after their performances at the weekend. But this will be a totally different test of golf, and with a few more "names" competing, like Tiger and Garcia it will be interesting to see how the young guns get on. More reports as the week progresses.

Don't forget to sign up for your FREE email tips and bonus FREE eBook. Just leave your name and email in the box at the top and you can have instant access.

Talk Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

The Scottish Open.

2009-07-09T20:21:00.004+01:00

Hello To All,

Well, it's time for a fortnights top class golf in Scotland. Next week we have the big one, The Open, at the magnificent Turnberry. But Before that, starting today, we have the Scottish Open, being played over the superb Loch Lomond course.

So, do you think last years winner, Graeme McDowall, can retain his title on the Bonnie Banks? If he does he will be the first person to achieve it. It is a tournament that attracts the top golfers in the world every year, so it is ultra competitive, and ultra hard to win. Geoff Ogilvy, Angel Cabrera, Tim Clarke and Retief Goosen along with Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els are all competing this year, so we should have another terrific tournament.

And then on to next week, just down the road to Turnberry for The Open.

All eyes will be on Tiger Woods, to see if he can win his 15th Major Championship. But a world class line up will make sure that it will not be a cakewalk, whoever triumphs at the end of the week. And we will all have our favourites, so let us know, on here who you think will win next week at Turnberry.

I'm hoping to get along to at least one of these great tournaments in the next week, so I will keep you all posted. And don't forget, leave your comments on here about who you think will win, or indeed anything golf related, and we could all share our thoughts.

Talk Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

The Driving Range - How It Can Improve Your Golf.

2009-06-13T13:08:00.004+01:00

Hello Everybody,

Hope you are all well and playing some really good golf. And I hope you have picked up a few tips and tricks from here.

Today I want to talk about how using the driving range can make you play better golf. Below is an article of mine on this subject, so have a read and see what you think. And as always, anything you want to add, please leave a comment and let us know.

"For golfers to improve their golf game, particularly beginner golfers, they need to put in plenty of practice. Because our weather can sometimes be inclement, it is not always possible to practice on the course. This is where the golf driving range comes into it's own. These ranges are now mostly under cover and can be used to keep the rhythm in your swing in any kind of weather.

Golfers have different reasons for going to the driving range. Obviously to practice, but a lot of the time they will be trying to sort out something that is causing a problem with their game. The driving range is ideal for this as you can take your time and analyse your swing. If you were on the course you would be holding other people up plus getting frustrated with yourself. Basically, golfers use the driving range to develop and improve their golf swing."

The full article is available to read at EzineArticles, so either go there to complete your reading, or click this link HERE. They will both take you to the article.

I hope you enjoyed the article and that there was something in it to help you.

Talk Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Hope The Putting Tips Helped.

2009-06-03T14:29:00.002+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are all fit and well and the world is treating you good.Did anybody have a chance to try out the putting tips from yesterday's post? Did they do you any good? Please leave a comment and let us know if there is something that worked for you, or you think might help others.

Another couple of quick putting tips for you today, so lets see if any of these can help you.

1. Find the sweet spot of your putter and learn to use it every time. Another key to consistently successful putts is to strike the ball with the sweet spot of your putter. Don't know where the sweet spot is? Try this.

Hold the club vertically, between your thumb and index finger, and make sure the putter head is directly in front of your eyes. Now, tap on the putter face with something small and firm, like a golf tee. When you hit the putter face, it will move back and twist either left or right. Keep hitting until you find the spot on the putter face where it moves back and through without twisting. This is the sweet spot. Learn to hit the ball using this spot on the putter face every time.

2. Always have your eyes and shoulders perfectly parallel to the putting line. Once your putter face is in line with your target, set your eyes and shoulders in perfect alignment with that line. This is the only way to have a real sight of the pathway to the hole. If you have a habit of viewing the path of the ball with your eyes either inside or outside of the line, and your putting is erratic, this is usually because of an inaccurate view.

Once again, if you get a chance try these tips out, and see if they can work for you.

And don't forget there are more tips like this when you sign up for the FREE email tips, along with your BONUS FREE eBook. Just leave your name and email in the box above.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing.

Gordon.

Putting Tips.

2009-06-02T13:45:00.003+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Well, I don't know where you are in the world, but here in Scotland the weather has been glorious. And because of this the fairways have been so busy. But please, take care when out in the sun, especially here and in countries where the sun is not standard weather. Always make sure you have your sun cream on, to block out the harmful rays and to avoid discomfort later on. And always have plenty of fluids on hand, so as not to dehydrate. Make sure there is plenty of water bottles in your bag.

I am still on doctor's orders, so even though the weather is ideal, I am not allowed out on the golf course. Because of this I have been reduced to practice putting in the garden. Not great, but better than nothing, it is always good to practice and keep your hand and eye in.

So for the next couple of days I would like to give you some putting techniques that you can have a try at and see if any of them work for you.

1. First up is what I call the quick putt. Basically all this entails is lining yourself up, take a quick, one off look at your target, and swing the putter. This method has produced good results for golfers who have altered their putting style. The key is not to take so long standing over the ball, trying to analyse every bit of information you can. Still focus on the task at hand, but just speed everything up. Too much thinking about your technique, ground conditions, length of stroke etc. can cause fear. Instead, set yourself up, take a quick look at your target, hold the thought and swing the putter. You'll be surprised at how many more putts you sink from now on.

2. Number two is easy. Forget about style, just putt the ball. Remember the end result is always to get the ball in the hole. It doesn't matter how you look while doing this as long as the end result is success. So instead of practicing the style of your favourite player, you master your own style. Looks don't matter at the business end of a hole, your aim is to get the ball to fall.

Well, that's enough for today. I'll be back tomorrow with a couple more putting tips for you.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing.

Gordon.

NEW eBook FOR SENIOR GOLFERS.

2009-05-28T20:42:00.003+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Just to let you know of a FREE eBook for every reader. As you know, recently when you have signed up for the FREE email tips there was also an extra BONUS of a FREE eBook, Understanding and Enjoying Golf.

Well, such was the success of that eBook, I now have another that you can pick up for FREE. This eBook is sure to appeal to some of our more mature readers. Golf For Seniors is a 56 page book packed full of information for the senior golfer.

With sections on Golf Equipment for Seniors, Vacation Packages for Senior Golfers and Golf Swing Trainers for the Senior Golfer, this book has all this and much more. Senior golf has a huge market nowadays, and this book gives you a head start in the game.

So, all you have to do to get your copy of this excellent resource is to leave your name and email address in the box at the top. And don't forget, you will also receive the email tips as well, ALL FREE.

I look forward to sending you your eBook.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Denis Pugh Lesson 9 - The Lob Shot.

2009-05-27T15:59:00.002+01:00

Hello Everybody,

Ever watch Phil Mickelson play the high flop shot from just off the green.

Here Denis Pugh shows you how.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Denis Pugh's Short Game-Lesson 8

2009-05-23T09:56:00.003+01:00

Morning All,

The start of another weekend in which we will play our weekly medal, or maybe just have a relaxing fourball with friends on a Sunday morning.Unfortunately, I am under doctor's orders and am not allowed to play for a few weeks, so I am reduced to watching the weekend action on television.

But for everyone else, get out and enjoy the fresh air and the company of friends, and play the best golf you can. But most of all have FUN.

I hope the Denis Pugh series on the short game is giving you some ideas. Here is lesson number 8.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing.

Talk Soon,

Gordon.

P.S. Any comments you may have about the site or golf in general, please feel free to add them. Anything that helps is always welcome.

5 Step Drill To Increase Your Distance.

2009-05-22T16:20:00.003+01:00

Hello All,

Bit Of a gaffe yesterday, when I said that Sky Sports were covering the 4 days of the PGA Championship from Wentworth. Turns out they are only covering the first 2 days, with the BBC showing full coverage over the weekend. My apologies.

Now, have you signed up for your FREE email tips yet. Just fill in your name and your email in the box on the top right and your tips will be delivered straight to your inbox. And if you sign up now you will also get the FREE bonus eBook Understanding and Enjoying Golf, containing 63 pages of selected tips. So go ahead and sign up today, you've nothing to lose.

And just as a taster, here is a drill you can use to get you more distance.

Swing Tips: A Five Step Drill.

Do you want to know a common trademark of golfers who have the knack for sending the ball flying with phenomenal distance? It's the turning of the hips to the left during the downswing, while at the same time extending the right arm through the swing.

Here is a quick drill that can help you accomplish this:

1. Start by teeing up the drive in your normal stance.

2. Now set the ball down off of your left heel (and/or opposite of the left armpit).

3. Without moving your stance, reach down and slide the ball towards your target by approximately the length of the grip on your driver.

4. Tee up your ball at that very spot, which should be 10 to 12 inches closer to the hole. Your address for the ball should be back where your normal position was at.

5. Now to finally hit the ball you will have to move the hips to the left so your arms will be able to “reach” the ball. This will invariably cause your right arm to extend.

This drill should be practiced at least 30 times before hitting the ball in its normal position. By that time you should have made significant improvement in your distance.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing,

Talk Soon,

Gordon.

PGA Championship At Wentworth.

2009-05-21T13:06:00.004+01:00

Today is the start of the PGA Championship at Wentworth, the flagship event of the European Tour. Always a great event to watch, if you are in the vicinity, get yourself down there and watch some of the world's best golfer's in action. You never know what tips you can pick up.

Or if you can't make it in person, there is always TV coverage of the four days. This event has always been covered by the BBC, but this year, for reasons best known to them, they are only broadcasting the final two days!!!

But fear not, Sky Sports have come to the rescue and are covering all four days. And one of Sky's team is Denis Pugh, so he might just pop up with a lesson for us. If not, here is his latest short game lesson, just for readers of the blog.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing.

Talk Soon,

Gordon.

Denis Pugh's Short Game Basics-Lesson 6-Chipping.

2009-05-20T13:33:00.002+01:00

Hello all,

On to lesson 6 of the excellent series by Tour coach Denis Pugh. Denis is starting to get to the meat of the course now, so sit back and enjoy. Today's subject is chipping.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing.

Talk Soon,

Gordon.

Denis Pugh-Short Game Lesson 5.

2009-05-18T12:13:00.003+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all had a good weekend and the golf was great. We'll continue with the Denis Pugh short game course today. I hope you are all enjoying this course and are picking up a few things that will help you with your short game.

Just before we get to the video, let me remind you of the FREE email tips you can get straight to your inbox, just by leaving your name and email in the box at the top of the page. And as an extra BONUS right now, when you sign up you will also get a FREE 63 page eBook, Understanding and Enjoying Golf, packed full of tips to help you with your golf game. So sign up now and get your FREE gifts.

Now on to the video.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

How To Hit A Draw.

2009-05-15T11:46:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

We'll let Denis Pugh have a rest today, and return to his excellent short game course tomorrow.

Today I'd like to give you a quick guide on how to play the draw. This is the shot which is favoured by a host of Tour players, and is a great shot to have in your bag.

Hitting a draw involves moving the ball through the air from right to left for the right-hander, and left to right for the left-hander.

1) Aim the clubface straight at the target, as if you are hitting a straight shot. Then align your feet in the direction that you want your ball to start off, without adjusting the clubhead.

2) Now make a normal backswing following the line of your feet.

3) Pay extra attention to rolling your right hand over your left hand through the hitting area to promote a good release of the clubhead.

4) Follow through to a well balanced finish.

The opposing angles at address, and the resulting path of attack and the clubface positioning at impact, impart the necessary sidespin and cause the ball to start off in one direction and curve away through the air.

Practice this routine and let us know how you get on.

For more tips like this, and your FREE BONUS eBook, just sign up for your FREE email tips at the top of the page. Absolutely NO obligation, and you could shave shots off your handicap.

Speak Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Denis Pugh's Short Game-Lesson 4.

2009-05-13T18:26:00.004+01:00

Hi everyone,

Here is video number 4 in this short game course by tour coach Denis Pugh. Some excellent short videos with some great content that hopefully can help you improve your short game.

Watch and Enjoy and Happy Golfing.

Gordon.

Common Mistakes in The Short Game.

2009-05-11T15:22:00.002+01:00

Video number 3 in the Denis Pugh series of the short game. Some really good tips in this series, so I hope you are enjoying it.

And don't forget your FREE EMAIL TIPS and your bonus FREE EBOOK when you sign up. Just fill in the box on the right and your FREE tips and eBook are yours for the asking. There's no obligation, so you've nothing to lose.

Enjoy,and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

No. 2 Video-Short Game Course.

2009-05-09T15:07:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Hope you enjoyed yesterday's opening video on the short game, and you have an idea about choosing a wedge.

Here is video number 2 in the series, with some more on the technical side.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Short Game Course.

2009-05-08T12:05:00.003+01:00

Hello Folks,

Sorry I have not been on lately, I have had a health problem and am under doctor's orders to take it easy.

Anyway, this is the first in a series of videos by well respected coach Denis Pugh. I will post video number 2 tomorrow.

Enjoy and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Golf in Plain English?

2009-05-02T11:11:00.003+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Another video for you here:

And if you don't understand that, why don't you sign up for your email tips and eBook.

These FREE tips, right to your inbox, could help you to knock shots off your golf handicap. And with the bonus of a FREE eBook full of tips and useful information to help you understand golf more easily, now's the time to sign up.

Off course, if you understand the video above, you really don't need any more help(or maybe you do)!!!

But if you want your FREE tips and eBook straight to your inbox today, then sign up now.

Talk Soon and Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Hit Straighter Shots-More Often.

2009-04-29T11:59:00.003+01:00

Hi to you all,

Another short video for you today, to help you stop sliding towards the target on the downswing, and to hit straighter, more solid shots, more often.

Enjoy the lesson.

And don't forget to sign up for your FREE eBook full of useful tips to help you on the golf course. So as well as the FREE email tips, you now have a bonus eBook to collect as well. So what are you waiting for, sign up today and get your two FREE gifts instantly!

Talk Soon,

Gordon.

Free Ebook For All.

2009-04-28T12:37:00.004+01:00

Don't forget to download your FREE eBook crammed full of tips to help YOU reduce your golf handicap.

Your under absolutely no obligation, other than to leave your name and email address and collect your FREE book. If you don't think it's for you, just throw it away, it's FREE, so you won't have lost anything.

BUT, you might just gain a few hints and tips that could cut the shots you are taking and reduce YOUR handicap!

Go on, fill in the box at the top right, what have you got to lose? Except, maybe, a few shots off YOUR next round.

Talk Soon,

Gordon.

Free eBook For Every Reader.

2009-04-26T19:12:00.004+01:00

Make sure you download your FREE 63 page eBook on golf tips.

When you sign up for your e-mail tips, you will receive, ABSOLUTELY FREE, this 63 page eBook, Understanding and Enjoying Golf, crammed full of tips for the avid golfer.

Advice to help you with:

Choosing your golf clubs

Know where and how to find free golf instruction on-line

Learn about the golf swing

What's in a golf ball.

All this and much more.

So sign up today, it's so easy. Just leave your name and e-mail address in the box on the right and your FREE golf tips and FREE eBook will only be a short chip away from your in-box.

And YOU could be reducing your golf handicap!

Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Fred Funk-The Clock Technique.

2009-04-23T09:18:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone,

Another short video from Fred Funk today, on how to get the distance right with your short shots. Have a look at Fred's "clock" system and get the correct distance every time.

Enjoy, and Happy Golfing.

Gordon.

The Bump And Run.

2009-04-21T16:40:00.004+01:00

Hi All,

Just a quick video for you today. US Tour player Fred Funk on how to play the bump and run. It's a great shot to have in your armoury and, played at the right time can save you a few shots.

Enjoy the video and I'll talk to you soon.

Gordon.

How To Set Up To Hit Your Wedge Straight.

2009-04-20T18:21:00.005+01:00

Hello all,

Today's video will help golfer's out there who are struggling with their wedge play.

A common problem for a lot of players is to hit their wedge shot to the left. This video shows you a simple set up routine that will eliminate this fault.

I hope this short video has helped you to hit your wedge straight at the pin.

And remember for some more great golf tips straight to your in-box, don't forget to leave your name and email address in the box at the top right of the page. These FREE GOLF TIPS can have you knocking shots off your handicap in no time. You are under absolutely no obligation, so what have you got to lose. Sign up today.

Talk Soon, and Happy Golfing.

Gordon

Saturday Morning Tip.

2009-04-18T09:21:00.004+01:00

Good Morning Golfers,

Another short video this morning which might help you in your Saturday or Sunday competitions. It's less than a minute long, but has some good solid information.

And for some more tips, don't forget to sign up for your FREE 7 day email course straight to your in-box. This completely FREE course will have a new tip for you every day, so you could be knocking shots off your handicap within a week. You are under no obligation, so what are you waiting for, sign up today and you could be playing better sooner than you think.

Enjoy the video.

Talk soon,
Gordon.

New Video-Easy Chipping.

2009-04-17T13:50:00.005+01:00

Hello All,

Today I have a video that I think you will like. Now I know you are not all like me, but for those of you who have trouble with your chipping, this video should help a lot. It's explained in simple terms and will have you chipping next to the pin in no time.

Hope you like it.

And before I go, let me remind you about your FREE email tips. If you sign up to this course you will receive your FREE golf tips straight to your in-box.These tips cover various aspects of the game, from driving the golf ball to fairway shots, so there will be something for everyone.

So, what have you got to lose? All you need to do is put your name and e-mail in the box in the top right hand corner and your FREE golf tips will be just a chip shot away from your in-box.

And you will be on your way to Reducing YOUR Golf Handicap!

Talk soon,
Gordon.

Want To Play Like A Master?

2009-04-14T15:42:00.003+01:00

Just a quick post to recommend a programme that could help you in your quest to play better golf.

After watching the Masters at the weekend, we would all like to play like the superstars. Well we might not reach that level, but we can improve, and this programme WILL help you do this. Have a look, I promise you will be amazed at the information that can help you lower your score.

CLICK HERE for advice on how to lower your scores. You will take shots off your round. Have a look now, you won't be disappointed.

If you want to astound your playing partners this weekend, don't delay, have a look at this shot reducing golf instruction programme today. CLICK HERE now.

Happy Golfing,

Gordon.

Final Day Drama At The Masters.

2009-04-14T14:28:00.003+01:00

Well, I've deliberately waited a day before I write this post. Just to get my breath back. Just to let it all sink in. And just so I can remember the very dramatic final day of the 2009 US Masters.

It all started so calmly until Messrs Mickelson and Woods made their way onto the course. Phil just played fantastic golf and to cover the front nine in six under was phenomenal. For once Tiger was virtually a spectator. And Perry and Cabrera at the top were just treading water. It looked like the winner was going to come from off the pace.

But then Mickelson dropped two shots at the par three twelfth hole, Perry picks up a birdie at the same hole, putting in from off the green, and the tournament is back up for grabs. But Phil misses from around eight feet at the thirteenth for eagle, and again from the same distance at fifteen, and although he gets two birdies, he only gets back what he dropped at the twelfth. Tiger birdies sixteen to get to one off the lead.

But neither player can sustain the challenge, and with two holes to play, Kenny Perry has a two shot lead and looks set to be the oldest ever winner of a major. The way this last round has gone that was never going to happen, and with Perry dropping shots at each of the last two holes, we are set for a three way play-off.

Perry, Cabrera and Chad Campbell set off back up the eighteenth, and by the time this hole is finished Campbell is out and will finish joint second. Up the tenth now, and when we finally get to the green, some poor play from Perry again, leaves Cabrera two putts to win. He takes the two putts and claims his first Green Jacket.

What a truly great afternoon of golf. It certainly made for dramatic viewing on the television, it must have been even better if you were actually there. Lets hope the three remaining majors are just as good, or if possible, better!

Talk soon,

Gordon.

Final Day At The Masters.

2009-04-12T18:40:00.003+01:00

Hi all,

Well, it won't be long till the leaders tee off in this year's last round of the Masters. Time to settle down for the ups and downs of the final day. Will Kenny Perry become the oldest winner of a major championship?

Or will Angel Cabrera play some magical golf to claim his second major trophy? He can play really good golf, and for a big man has a deft touch.

Or will Tiger come from off the pace, something he's never done in a major, and win another Green Jacket?

We're in for a great day's entertainment, watching the drama unfold. There's some really good pairings today, with the two co-leaders going out after Furyk and Campbell, and for the Europeans the two-some of Westwood and Poulter could be attractive. But the pairing that catches the eye is Woods and Mickelson. It will be good to watch just to see if the caddies behave themselves!

I'm off to watch on television now, and see it all unfold.

Speak to you later,

Gordon.

Day 2 At The Masters.

2009-04-10T17:29:00.003+01:00

Same links as yesterday for you, click and enjoy.

AMEN CORNER and the OFFICIAL MASTERS WEBSITE.

Can Chad Campbell play as well today? Can he keep it going through the weekend? Or will the Tiger pounce again? Tiger started with a 70 yesterday, the fourth time he has had a 70 on the first day of the Masters. On the three previous occasions he has went on to win. Same again this year?

Settle down for another fine day of golf.

Speak soon,

Gordon.

Day 1 At The Masters.

2009-04-09T19:01:00.002+01:00

Just a quick post today with a couple of links for you to follow the day's golf.

THIS LINK HERE will take you to a live streaming of Amen Corner.

And here is the link to the OFFICIAL MASTERS WEBSITE.

Enjoy the golf, and I'll speak to you later.

Gordon.

Free Tips To Your Inbox!

2009-04-08T19:03:00.003+01:00

Hi to you all,

Just a quick post today to let you know you can still get the free e-mail tips direct to your inbox. You never know, there might be something in there that could reduce your golf handicap. Here is an excerpt;

Driving The Ball.

While driving the golf ball might seem like a simple process, it really isn’t. Some seasoned golfers just look at driving the ball as a simple process. “Grip it and rip it” is a common phrase you can hear on many tee boxes. However, there are some things you can do to get more distance on your drives.

First and foremost, you need to be relaxed when you begin addressing the ball. You must be loose before pulling back the club. Do not tighten up over the golf ball. It is important to waggle the club back and forth a few times in order to create some flow to start the golf swing. This action will promote proper rhythm and tempo.

Just a snippet to whet your appetite. To read the full text, just fill in the box at the top right hand corner.

Until next time,

Gordon.

Paddyslam Offer.

2009-04-07T19:41:00.005+01:00

Just come across this offer for anyone who fancies Padraig Harrington to win The Masters.

If you fancy a Wilson Tw9 wedge, onlinegolf.co.uk have a special offer on at the moment. If you buy one of these wedges, and Padraig wins The Masters, onlinegolf.co.uk will refund your purchase price. And even if he doesn't succeed, you will still have a nice wedge at a nice price!

But be quick, this offer ends at midnight tomorrow.

Click HERE for details. And good luck.

Gary Player To Say Farewell To Augusta.

2009-04-07T18:15:00.005+01:00

Gary Player yesterday said he will play in this year's Masters for the 52nd and last time. The South African, now 73, and who has won three Green Jackets, in 1961, 1974 and 1978, will now retire from all four of golf's major championships.

Player has never missed a trip to Augusta since he made his debut in the tournament in 1957. He said last night "I've decided I would like to make this my last appearance. I've enjoyed it so much. We all have our favourite tournaments, but this has been the best organised one I have ever played in. This will be my last major championship that I will ever play on the regular tour."

However, Player said he will still participate on the seniors tour.

He credited his fitness for being able to play so long, but added that with the golf course playing so long, it was getting more and more difficult for him to get round. He said " I've managed to break 80 the last two years, but it's getting to a stage now where I don't know whether I can do that out here, it's so long and I'm getting weaker."

A pioneer of the modern game, he will be a loss to tournament golf for the quality of his game. He might not be missed quite as much for his self opinionated views, that regularly rubbed people up the wrong way!

It's US MASTERS Week.

2009-04-06T19:35:00.003+01:00

Hi All,

Well, it's US Masters week again. I don't know about you, but for me, this is the week that the golfing season really begins. The Masters just gives you such a buzz, you really want to get out and hit the ball yourself, and get right back into the routine.

It's such a wonderful setting for a golf tournament, with the best players in the world all trying to win the first Major of the year, that it never fails to inspire you. Well, it does me anyway. It's just a pity it can't inspire me to play the same standard of golf.

So who will it be this year? We all know who the favourite will be to win. With Tiger back to winning form last week at Bay Hill, he will be a very short price with the bookies to win his fifth green jacket. But has he had enough playing time after his injury lay off?

Or will it be one of a host of in form players from all around the world. Padraig Harrington is playing for his third straight Major. Geoff Ogilvy is in great shape. Or what about Greg Norman, can he repeat his form of last year's British Open? Only time will tell,and come Sunday night we'll all know.

Unfortunately, as I'm in Scotland, I will have to follow it on television, but some of you people might be going to see the action live. What an experience that would be. If anyone out there is going, or has been in the past, leave a comment and share your day with us.

And just in case you can't get to a television, here's the link to the OFFICIAL MASTERS WEBSITE.

Until the next time,
Gordon.

Must Do Better!

2009-04-05T17:05:00.004+01:00

Just back from the Sunday morning fourball, and have had a lot better days with my golf game.

I'm really suffering on and around the greens. Chipping it close just isn't happening, and my putting is even worse. I know it's early in the season, but I really can't remember my short game being this bad. It probably has been, but I can't remember it!

So I'm searching again for any training hints or drills that can help me through this blip. Well, I hope it's a blip. Anybody out there with some tips or tricks I could use please, post them on here and I'll give them a go. And if I come up with anything useful I'll leave it on here as well.

I think I'll have a beer now and try and forget it for now.

Improve Your Chipping.

2009-04-02T12:45:00.003+01:00

Hello all, just another quick post of a video that might help you.

We all have trouble from time to time with out chipping. These short shots from around the green can catch any one of us out, so here is a short video with a drill that could help us out.

CHIPPING CLOSE.

Watch and enjoy.

Until the next time,

Gordon.

A Masters Class From Tiger.

2009-04-01T12:01:00.005+01:00

Tiger Woods got the perfect boost for The Masters, and also proved his fitness problems are behind him, with victory at Bay Hill on Sunday.

After being out for eight months following surgery on his knee, the Arnold Palmer Invitational was only his third start back. And the world No.1 put on a master class as he came from five behind, sinking a 16-foot birdie on the last green, to defeat 54- hole leader Sean O'Hair by one shot.

It was Woods sixth victory in the Arnold Palmer event and his 66th win on the PGA Tour. In his previous event at the WGC-CA Championship at Doral he finished ninth.

Woods has said that his game has improved with every round in the three events he has played in since his comeback, and that was the goal leading up to The Masters. It certainly didn't take him long to get back to winning ways. And he has his eye on another Major at Augusta.

Grip It And Rip It.

2009-03-31T12:42:00.003+01:00

Just a quick video today about how to grip the club. Basic information I know, but gripping the club in the correct manner can make all the difference to your shots. This video is only about 5 minutes long, so have a look and see if there's something in it for you.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

Until next time,

Gordon.

Has The Weather Made A Difference To Your Course?

2009-03-30T12:39:00.003+01:00

Hi and good afternoon to everyone.

Just a quick post today to see how you are all doing.

First of all, did you all get the links in my previous post regarding the rules of the game. It will help you no end if you have a copy of the rules in your bag, and you can cope with any situation you are faced with on the course. For a very small amount of money, it is worth clicking on the link for whatever continent you are on and securing a copy.

Now, for a bit of a moan. I was out yesterday playing in my weekly medal. We have two courses in our town and one club I am a member of plays each of these courses on alternate weeks. We all realise, because of the weather we have had lately ( I'm in Scotland ) that it is very difficult for the greenkeeper to get the course into really good condition. It is still early in the year, and trying to get all the work done in between the terrible weather is a very hard job.

But yesterday we played what we would call our second course, for the first time this year. And what a disappointment. And I do have to say that it wasn't all down to the weather. The course was in an awful state, untidy with grass not cut, ditches dug to get rid of lying water, and water lying on parts of the course where it's never been before. Is this down to ditches being dug in the wrong places and diverting the water elsewhere?

But the really disappointing part was the condition of the greens. I would have said the course should have been closed because the greens were, in our opinion, unplayable. Covered in sand and full of holes, you just had no idea what the ball was going to do. If you fired in a wedge, the ball just stopped dead. Not with backspin or any kind of action, just the state of the greens. Putting was a lottery, we had no idea where the ball was going to end up.

So it was a disappointing game yesterday. When you pay a lot of money for your ticket, you expect the course to be in reasonable condition.

Anyone else with similar problems. Was it down to the weather or the greenkeeping staff? Let us know of any problems you have had and how they were overcome.

Until the next time,

Gordon.

The Rules of Golf-And You.

2009-03-27T13:39:00.004Z

In a previous post I briefly mentioned the rules of golf. Well to be honest, it's not something that should be mentioned briefly. Every golfer should be aware, at least to some extent, of the rules that govern our game.

Now I don't mean we should all be so tuned in that we know the rules backwards. If you have ever had a look at a rule book, you will have realised you need a Philadelphia lawyer to understand quite a few of them. So to remember every single one, and to recall them when you are on the course, is simply not possible for your average golfer. The pro's even have a referee that they can call on for a ruling, just to be sure that they have got it right.

But we should have a general idea of any given situation. You can bet that one of your partners will be up on the rules, so if you are not sure of a situation it could cost you, and ultimately could lead to disqualification.

The easiest way is to have a rule book in your bag. You can get rule books that are made to slip easily into your bag nowadays. They hardly take up any room and can be just as handy as a set of waterproofs. Knowing the rules can win you a match. Not knowing them can cost you.

To obtain a copy of the rules, there are two places to go, one on either side of the Atlantic. If you visit the R & A website there is a full page of publications that you can obtain for free. All you have to pay is postage.And for our American friends, the USGA website has similar publications at a small cost. Click on these links to take you to the relevant pages.

Invest in a copy of the rules today, and make sure you don't get caught out by something you didn't know.

Golf Balls-What You Should Know.

2009-03-26T19:25:00.003Z

Today's post is a little of what you should know when buying and using golf balls.There are a multitude of balls to choose from nowadays, so let's see if we can make the buying process a little easier.

Not so long ago you didn't have a great deal of choice as far as golf balls were concerned. The options you had were probably between a three piece golf ball, which was covered with balata, had a soft feel and a high spin. The type of golf ball a professional would use. Or you had the golf ball the normal club player would use, which was a two piece ball, covered in surlyn and brick hard. Good for distance but very little spin control.

Today's golf balls however, offer a much wider variety for every level of golfer. So let's try and simplify the choices that are available. The professional golfer will still use the most expensive ball. These are usually of three piece construction with a soft feel and high spin for greater control. At the other end of the spectrum we still have the two piece golf ball, built for distance mainly, with very little control. These balls are usually inexpensive. But now there is another choice of golf ball which falls in between the two general ball types. These balls are made for distance but have a softer feel to them, which makes them good for controlling shots into a green.

The beginner golfer will probably be better going for the hard golf ball. As a beginner, first and foremost, you are trying to find a repetitive swing. You will want to have distance and providing you are swinging well, these balls will provide that with some control to keep the ball in the fairway.

As your game improves, and your golfing skills get better, you will start thinking about using a better golf ball. The so called middle range of golf balls are really quite good, and very playable, although this is where it starts to cost a bit more. If your golf has progressed to the standard of being able to shape the ball from the tee, or with an iron, then these balls are perfectly acceptable for this kind of shot.

But for the ultimate control, you will need to go to the most expensive golf balls. Sometimes beginners don't see the relevance of spending big money on golf balls. After all, one bad swing on the tee and the ball could be out of bounds and gone forever. An expensive one hit. But if your golfing skills allow you to shape the ball when you want and whichever way you want, and if you can fizz balls into the green with plenty of spin, then these top of the range golf balls won't let you down.

Although the above suggests there are three types of golf ball, in theory there are many more. Because today, every major company in golf makes their own ball. And not just the one ball, but usually a series of different golf balls for different conditions. You can get a golf ball for windy condition. Or for wet weather. The choice is huge. But if you stick to a ball that suits you and the level of golf you are at, you won't go far wrong.

Just to add an update to this. You can now also buy what are called re-finished or re-conditioned golf balls. Basically, these are top of the range balls that have probably only been hit once or twice and then been sliced or hooked and lost forever!

That is until the golf retailers send out the troops to recover these balls. They are then given a makeover so that they look and feel like a brand new premium golf ball.

But the big difference is the price. These balls sell for about 1/3 of the price of brand new balls, so they really are a good option for someone wanting to try a better ball without breaking the bank.

Looking For a Utility Club.

2009-03-25T18:02:00.004Z

After playing on Sunday, and struggling a bit with my long irons, I've decided to have a look at some utility clubs. It's something I've been thinking about for a while but still can't seem to make my mind up.

Most of my mates have at least one utility club, also called a hybrid, or a rescue club, and all say they are a great investment. But I'm still not convinced. I have had the occasional shot with one of these clubs, but never really felt comfortable with it. Maybe it's just a case of using it on a more regular basis, and getting a feel for it.

So off I went to my local store in search of a utility club that would suit me. First thing to strike me was the choice available. Most of the major club manufactures have many of these clubs on the market. Different lofts, different shafts, clubs that replace 3, 4 or 5 irons. The list is endless.

I've decided I want one club that will maybe take the place of both the 3 and 4 iron. I ask one of the friendly assistants ( don't know whether they are all qualified instructors or not ) and eventually I have three clubs that I can take to the driving range and try out.

After about an hour on the range I'm still not convinced that one of these clubs will be any better ( for me ) than the long irons. So back into the store to check out the prices, and am pleasantly surprised to find that the club I felt most comfortable with was the cheapest of the three I'd selected.

So I decide to go home and do a bit of research on the internet and see if he prices are any better with some of the on-line golf stores. I have used these stores in the past and a couple I liked and would recommend are
Online Golf.

Golfonline

These companies are very good on price, and I would also say their customer service is excellent, but always try and test the clubs you are interested in first. Don't buy blind, even though the price might be tempting. Test drive the clubs first and then you are sure that what you are buying is good for you.

Anyway, I still haven't bought a utility club, but I'm sure I will in the future. When I have found one that I'm happy with.

Sharing Golf Clubs- What are The Rules.

2009-03-23T16:38:00.002Z

Also yesterday, the fourball in front of us asked for some advice after the second hole. One of their group had forgotten his putter (???) and had asked to borrow one of the other partners. Unwittingly he had given him his putter, and let him use it on the first hole.

Why this wasn't picked up before he used the putter, no-one knows, but anyway after the deed was done they decided the rules had been breached. They wanted to know if we knew the ruling.
None of us could come up with a definite answer, and nobody had a rule book to hand.

So, anybody got the definitive rule to help us out. We had a couple of suggestions, either disqualification or a two shot penalty for each hole that was breached.

But what really had us stumped was whether the penalty for the rule breach applied to the golfer who had borrowed the club, or whether it applied to both players.

Anybody out there who can come up with the definitive answer?

Chipping Problems.

2009-03-23T16:25:00.002Z

Had a game yesterday morning, first for a while because of the weather. In general, I felt I was hitting the ball ok'ish, but was having some problems with my short game. Putting felt a bit off but that was probably down to the length of putt I was leaving myself.

Chipping was way off, I just couldn't find the correct weight at all. Pitching wasn't too bad but the problem again was distance control. So much so that I started scouring the net last night to see if I could find anything to help me. Found a couple of videos, so have a look yourself and see what you think.

HERE and HERE.

500 Not Out For Monty.

2009-03-20T18:24:00.004Z

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie reaches another landmark when he competes in the Andalucia Open next week. Monty will make his 500th appearnce on the European Tour when he tees up in Seville. He is also Britain's most prolific winner on the European Tour.Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain will be aiming to win his 32nd Tour title, 20 years after winning his first.

Montgomerie turned professional in1987 and collected his first pay cheque-for £1905- when he finished tied for 45th place at the German Masters. 20 years later he won the slightly more substantial sum of £593,580 with a one shot victory at The European Open at The K Club in Ireland. He also surpassed Nick Faldo's previous record of 30 European Tour titles with this win.

His first win was in the 1989 Portugese Open where he cruised to an 11 shot victory, his biggest winning margin on the tour.

Since then, the 45 year old has a total of £23,639,775 in official career earnings. He has recorded 182 European top ten finishes, set 13 course records and lifted the Harry Vardon Trophy for winning the European Order of Merit eight times. He has had eight holes in one on the European Tour, won six European Tour titles in a single season, captured three consecutive BMW PGA championships and has received theTour's Golfer of the Year award four times.

He also remains unbeaten in eight Ryder Cup singles matches stretching back to 1991.

The only thing missing from that tremendous record is a victory in a Major championship, and you would have to think that time is now against him in that quest.

By his own admission, he is now set to fulfil a lifetime's ambition by captaining Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Tips For New Golfers-Part 3.

2009-03-19T15:16:00.004Z

Hi everyone. If you are new to the wonderful world of golf and have been reading the last two day's posts, lets hope they made sense to you and also that they can be of some help to you.. The aim is really to make you nice and comfortable when you are on the golf course.

So, for now, here is one final tip for golfing rookies. And this possibly could be the most important tip you could get.

Golf is FUN. Please, as a beginner golfer never forget this. You are supposed to be on the golf course to enjoy yourself, not to beat yourself up because you played a bad shot. As a new golfer, try to keep things simple and have some fun. Now is not the time to get competitive. You can experiment with your swing and your game will get better. But trying too hard to win, at this stage, will only result in frustration.

Just relax and enjoy the company of your friends. Remember you are not playing for prize money or a trophy, you are out to enjoy yourself. Given time, and with proper golf instruction, you will get that competitive edge. You can then join a club and play in some tournament golf. Maybe beat your friends. How cool would that be. But always remember it has to be fun. You have to enjoy yourself.

Being new to golf, these are things you have to remember. You can't expect to take up the game and play like Tiger Woods overnight. To get to a decent level you have to put in a lot of practice and a lot of time. But it's hardly going to hurt you, and you will be having a good time as well.

I hope, if you are new to the game, that these tips will have helped you in some way to get out on to the golf course and make things happen. Please leave any comments you might have about these tips, or indeed any advice that could help your fellow golfers.

If you are new to golf, and are determined to get your game to a better standard, I can recommend this TRAINING MANUAL. While it is not a substitute for golf lessons from a qualified instructor, it will complement that training, especially for beginner golfers.

And why not sign up for my free email tips. There's some good information in there as well, from buying equipment to reading greens. Sign up is on the top right of the blog.

Well, that's it for now, so Happy Golfing.

Tips For New Golfers- Part 2.

2009-03-18T15:18:00.002Z

Hi everyone, hope you are all well. Hopefully you will have had a chance to read yesterday's post and, also hopefully, it made sense to you! Basically, what I'm saying is you can get good quality golf clubs, that suit you, for not a lot of money.

On to today's topic which is golf instruction. You have bought your clubs, so what you want now is to be able to use them effectively. You need to have a smooth, repeating swing to be able to enjoy your game. We're not even talking about competing yet, but to enjoy it. So that you want to go back.

Now, there are many forms of golf instruction available today and a lot of them are available for free on the internet. There are also many programmes available for sale, of which I have bought many, and generally I would have to say that in my experience, the golf aid that you pay for is a better product than free golfing lessons. But do still look on-line for an aid that will benefit you.

But my number one suggestion for any new golfer to get golf instruction would be to visit a professional golf instructor. To me, this is a no-brainer. A PGA golf instructor will get you set up correctly, from how you stand to how you swing your clubs. You need to have the basics right, and by visiting a qualified instructor to achieve this will really be money well spent. There will be times on the course when you need to know golfing etiquette, or you need to know the rules. These are all things your golfing friends can help you with. But getting you set up correctly, from your stance, to shoulder turn, to transferring your weight, this is where a good instructor is worth his weight in gold. Getting into good habits from the start will have you enjoying your golf for life.

Also, I just touched on the subject of rules above, but it is a good idea to have some understanding of them. The R&A website has some free publications available, so have a look HERE and get your copy.

And,after you have had a few lessons from your local professional you feel you might like to try something extra to bring your scores down, a website that I can recommend is THIS ONE. Have a look and see if it could benefit you.

Happy Golfing.

Tips For New Golfers.

2009-03-17T20:33:00.005Z

Good evening everyone. Over the course of the next two or three days I will leave some tips on here for the new golfer. These won't be technical or anything difficult. Two reasons for this. First, new golfers don't need to be bombarded with techie stuff just when they are starting out. And secondly, it's me that's writing it and I don't know any techie stuff!

Right, first things first, new golfers need to get set up with some equipment. It can be very easy to go over the top here, and spend a fortune, but there really isn't any need to do that. In fact, it probably isn't wise for rookies to buy top of the range equipment. If you struggle from the start, you won't be long in thinking that maybe golf is not the game for you. You end up with a room full of very good but also very expensive new gear gathering dust.

No, it's far better to start on a modest scale. As you progress it is easy to upgrade your clubs rather than the other way.

There are countless outlets now available for buying golf equipment. Golf magazines have classified pages and you can pick up some very good deals if you know what you are looking for. For someone starting out, second hand clubs can be a great buy because models change so quickly so last years clubs can be bought for a very good price. If you are not sure what you are buying, take one of your golfing mates ( who does know ) with you to keep you right.

There are quite a few golf stores now that have driving ranges attached to them. These outlets are excellent for the new golfer, as he can try a variety of clubs until he finds something to suit him. (Or her!). Remember you will probably buy a matching set of irons, but you don't need to buy a driver or fairway woods to match. As long as the clubs you choose feel comfortable and are suited to you.

One of the most convenient ways to buy clubs nowadays is on the internet. There are some very good internet companies at present, and you usually find, because of their buying power, that they have very good prices as well. What I would say though is still do your homework. Don't just buy without trying the club out. There is no point in getting a really good price on a driver for instance, and then finding out out that you can't hit it. One internet company I can recommend are called Onlinegolf.co.uk. I have always found them to be efficient and have a friendly and reliable service. There is a link to their store at the top right of the blog.

So, just to summarise. Do get good quality clubs. Clubs that suit you and you feel comfortable with. But you don't need the very best clubs. You can buy better clubs as your game progresses. If you buy the top of the range to start with, you may find them too difficult to play with and that might just be enough to put you off. And we don't want that. We want you to have a long and happy association with the game of golf.

WGC-CA Championship at Doral Golf Resort.

2009-03-16T13:43:00.002Z

Well Phil Mickelson overcame illness to register his first WGC title at Doral resort in Florida yesterday. The new world number two shot a final round 69 for a 19 under total to hold off playing partner Nick Watney by one stroke.

Mickelson had to have emergency treatment on Saturday night for heat exhaustion and dehydration which resulted in a doctor walking the course with him yesterday to ensure he was getting enough fluids and to generally keep an eye on him.

The two co-leaders both started well and had stretched their four shot overnight lead to seven as they fought one another for victory. But bogeys at the 11th and 12th left Watney chasing Mickelson, and in the end not being able to catch him.

Another American, Jim Furyk, birdied 15 and 16 but left it just too late to catch the top two.

Tiger Woods, in his first strokeplay event since returning after injury, had a final round 68 to tie for ninth position. He started to look pretty good in his last round and I don't think it will be long before we see him back as a winner.

And Rory McIlroy had a disappointing final round of 73 but the nineteen year old Northern Irishman still managed a second consecutive top 20 finish in the US.

WGC-CA Championship.

2009-03-15T14:01:00.005Z

Haven't had a lot of time this week to see any of this tournament, but I managed to catch a little of it last night.

American duo Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney (pictured right) share the lead on 16 under, four shots clear of the rest of the field. 27 year old Watney carded a 67 to join countryman Mickelson ( 69 ), the second round leader, at the top of the field.

Jeev Milkha Singh (68) of India and Columbia's Camilo Villegas (69) are next best placed at 12 under, with five other players, including Americans Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry at 11 under.

Norther Irish teenager Rory McIlroy had three bogeys in four holes on the back nine for a level par round of 72 to leave him on 10 under and six shots off the pace going into today's final round.

World number 1, Tiger Woods, continued on the comeback trail after several months out with a knee injury with a 68, that left him nine shots behind the leaders.

Final round later on today, at the Doral course in Florida.

Improve Your Wedge Play.

2009-03-09T19:53:00.002Z

To score well in a round you will probably have to use your wedge on more than one occasion. Good and accurate wedge play is a major part of achieving good scores.

Here, professional golf instructor Joe Beck takes you through a few pointers to improve your short game.

It's That Time Of Year Again!

2009-03-08T13:53:00.004Z

Yes, it's just about time for the new golfing season. We've come through the long winter and now, heading into spring, eagerly await the better weather and the chance to get back into competition.

And along with the anticipation of the coming season comes the need to buy new golf equipment. Whether there is anything wrong with the golf irons that you already have. Or the golf driver that you only bought this time last year! No, we all feel the need to upgrade at least some of our equipment believing it will make us play better golf.

Well, to a certain degree it can but only if we buy the correct equipment. By that I mean the golf irons or golf driver or a putter, anything you are thinking of changing, that suits you.

Please, don't go out and buy the golf driver that Tiger Woods uses, or the golf irons that Sergio Garcia plays, because the chances are they won't do anything for your game. And they will cost you a pretty penny as well.

What you should be doing is going to the range and try a selection of golf clubs until you get a driver or golf irons that you feel comfortable with. Something that you are hitting consistently and suits your style of play.

And you will probably find that it doesn't cost the earth either. There are some great deals to be had at this time of year, so shop around. And don't forget the on-line retailers when you are doing your research, they are usually very competitive on price.

So, if you are one of the many golfers who will be upgrading their equipment, let's hope you make the right choice and have a fantastic season.

A Brief History of The Ryder Cup.

2009-03-06T13:18:00.004Z

The Ryder Cup is a contest that is held every 2 years between the PGA tours of Europe and the United States. Samuel Ryder was an English entrepreneur and also a keen golfer who funded an international golf competition in 1926.

While watching this competition he thought it would be a good idea to make the match a regular event. So he donated a gold trophy, and in 1927, after the trophy was named after him, the first official Ryder Cup competition was played in Massachusetts between teams from the USA and the UK.

After a long period of US domination in the Ryder Cup, in 1979 the UK team was extended to include Europe and since then the competition has been a lot closer.

Both Ryder Cup teams are made up of 12 players and are captained by an experienced golfer from their respective countries. The majority of both teams are made up from the top players on each tour's order of merit, the exception being that the captain's are allowed a number of picks. At present, the US captain has 4 picks while his European counterpart has 2.

Currently, the format of the Ryder Cup is played over 3 days. On days 1 and 2 there are 4 foursome matches and 4 fourball matches. The team playing at home gets to choose whether they play foursomes or fourballs in the morning or afternoon. A foursome match has 2 players from each team and the players play alternate shots. Player 1 on each team tees off, and player 2 takes the second shot and continues like this until the hole is completed. In the fourballs, there are still 2 players on each team but they play their own balls this time until the hole is completed.

On day 3 there are 12 singles matches. With 1 point available for a win and ½ point available if the match is drawn the magic number to reach is 14 ½ points to win the trophy outright. The present holders of the trophy will retain it with 14 points. All matches are played as matchplay as opposed to stroke play

A lot of changes have been made to the Ryder Cup over the years, but it is still one of the most exciting and hard fought competitions in the golfing world. The USA team are the current holders of the trophy, but the European team will be bidding to win it back when the next event takes place at Celtic Manor golf club in Wales in 2010.

Golf's Mental Mindset.

2009-03-04T13:31:00.003Z

To play a really good game of golf you have to be in the correct frame of mind every time you go onto the golf course.

It may seem easy to say you were ready for the game only to come off feeling that you didn't play your best.

To help you try and get in the right mindset have a look at this by Michael Campbell and see if his advice can help you get in the zone.

After you read Michael's tips about getting in the right mindset, click the link for some nice putting tips.

Short Game Tips from Padraig Harrington.

2009-03-02T12:01:00.003Z

Are you needing to hone your short game? Is your chipping letting you down or your putting giving you problems?

Have a look here for some advice from the Open champion.

World Golf Championships Day 5.

2009-03-02T10:40:00.004Z

Well, the final of this Match Play event turned out to be a rather one sided affair, with Geoff Ogilvy defeating Paul Casey by 4 & 3 to lift the $1.4 first prize.

Casey got of to a nervous start, missing a short putt on the first hole for a birdie and a half, and that sort of set the tone for the day. Ogilvy just played relentless golf and anytime Casey looked to be getting near him he just stepped it up a gear and pulled away again.

In the morning round, playing the 10th hole, Casey, who was already four down, holed his 6 iron second shot for eagle and a win, and you start to think we may have a game here. Then at the next hole, Ogilvy, who had been in trouble all the way up the par 5, chips in from the front of the green for an unlikely par and Casey misses his par putt and he's back to four down.

And that was just how it went all day. Ogilvy finished the morning round 3 up, birdied the opening hole of the afternoon round to go back to 4 up, and it was then just a case of consolidating his position from there.

Casey, who has yet to win in America, maybe played a bit cautious to give himself much of a chance. He can hit the ball a lot further than Ogilvy but most of the time was content to hit 3 wood from the tee rather than go with driver and leave himself with a much shorter second shot.

In saying that, the mood Ogilvy was in it probably didn't matter what Casey had done. Right from the start he looked so calm and focused and determined to win.

In the third place match American Stewart Cink edged out Ross Fisher at the 18th to win 1 up.

World Golf Championships Day 4.

2009-03-01T13:20:00.004Z

England's Paul Casey will face 2006 winner Geoff Ogilvy in today's 36 hole final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Casey beat fellow Englishman Ross Fisher by 2 & 1 while Australian Ogilvy beat America's Stewart Cink by 4 & 2 in yesterday's semi finals.

Earlier in the day Casey had beaten Sean O'Hair ( 4 & 3 ) in their quarter final match, but afterwards it was revealed that O'Hair had suffered through the night with food poisoning. Ogilvy brought to an end Northern Ireland youngster Rory McIlroy's promising start to his golf in America, defeating him by 2 & 1. McIlroy said "I can take a lot out of this week, I played well and I've held my own against some of the best players in the world, so it's been good."

In the other two quarter finals Stewart Cink defeated South Africa's Ernie Els by 2 & 1 and Englishman Fisher had the same margin of victory over Justin Leonard.

Casey now has the chance to be the first player to win the Match Play event who has never trailed in any match in the entire week. Indeed, he has led for 79 of the 80 holes he has played.

Ogilvy has now featured in three of the last four finals, having won in 2006 and finishing runner-up to Henrik Stenson in 2007.

And the two finalists are also neighbours, both having set up home in Arizona and both being members of the same club, Whisper Rock Golf Club.

World Golf Championships Day 3.

2009-02-28T19:21:00.005Z

A couple of impressive wins yesterday for two young European Tour players. Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy and Ross Fisher from England both secured 4 & 3 wins in the Arizona desert yesterday.

McIlroy, who is playing his first tournament in America since turning professional, dominated his match against Tim Clark, who in the previous round had beaten world number 1 Tiger Woods. The Irishman is showing a lot of maturity for his age and never looked in danger against the South African.

Fisher had victory over former US Open champion Jim Furyk, a day after Furyk himself had a crushing victory of 6 & 5 over fellow American Pat Perez. Fisher was three up at the turn and eventually sealed the win at the 15th.
There were also victories for Ernie Els (2up ) over Luke Donald, Stewart Cink (1up ) over Phil Mickelson, 2 & 1 wins for Geoff Ogilvy and Sean O'Hair over Camilo Villegas and Ian Poulter respectively, Justin Leonard beat Oliver Wilson at the 19th and Paul Casey beat Peter Hansen by 3 & 2.

Quarter- finals and semi-finals are played tomorrow ( Saturday ).

World Golf Championship Day 2.

2009-02-27T16:50:00.004Z

Tiger Woods return to tournament golf was short lived as Tim Clark defeated him by 4&2 in round 2 of the Accenture World Match Play in Arizona yesterday. After Tiger's easy victory on Wednesday, things got a little tougher yesterday, and although he played some good golf he seemed to lack the competitive edge that comes with playing every week.

In saying that, Clark thoroughly deserved his win, playing steady golf all day. As far as Woods is concerned, I would expect normal service to be resumed sooner rather than later.

Elsewhere in the field, there were some big wins for Ross Fisher (6&5) over Pat Perez, Paul Casey (6&4) over Mathew Goggin and Camilo Villegas claimed victory over Miguel Angel Jiminez by 5&4.

There were extra hole wins for Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald respectively, over Shingo Katayama and Vijay Singh. And Stewart Cink had to go to the 23rd hole to see off Lee Westwood.

Some good ties in prospect today, with the pick being Phil Mickelson against Stewart Cink and Rory McIlroy versus Tim Clark.

World Golf Championships Day 2.

2009-02-26T16:51:00.004Z

Well, as expected Tiger Woods made it through safely to Round 2 after a rather tepid match yesterday, winning 3&2 against Brendan Jones. It was a comfortable win for the World number 1 as the Aussie didn't offer much resistance at all. Woods is up against Tim Clark in the second round later today.

There were a couple of big name exits yesterday with Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia tasting defeat. The matchplay format certainly throws up some shocks, when you have to perform over one round or go home.

Phil Mickelson only scraped through after apparently cruising against Angel Cabrera. The Argentinian won 3 of their last 4 holes to take the match in to overtime. Mickelson then produced a birdie at the 1st extra hole to claim victory.

World Golf Champioships.

2009-02-25T18:53:00.003Z

Just about to settle down and watch the TV coverage of the Accenture Match Play WGC from Arizona.

All eyes will be on Tiger Woods as he makes his return to the course after having surgery to repair his damaged knee. Tiger plays Brendan Jones in the first round, and is expected to progress comfortably. And, depending on how his knee holds up, no doubt he will. You wouldn't expect him to be back on the golf course if he wasn't fully fit.

Early results already in for Anthony Kim ( 7&5 ) over Wen-Tang Lin, Lee Westwood (2&1 ) against Prayad Marksaeng and Camilo Villegas beat Australia's Rod Pampling ( 7&6 ).

Should be a great week of golf ahead. Another report tomorrow.

European Tour Has New Youngest Winner.

2009-02-23T17:15:00.004Z

New Zealand teenager and amateur golfer, Danny Lee, made history yesterday when winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth to become the European Tour's youngest winner.

The Kiwi kid was two shots off the pace going into the last round and went ahead to birdie four of his last six holes for a 67 and 271 total to win by a stroke at The Vines.

At 18 years and 213 days, Danny is 77 days younger than South African Dale Hayes when he won the 1971 Spanish Open.

Lee said "It still feels like I am in dreamland. Hopefully no one wakes me up. But I played really well the last few days and it's pretty amazing what I've done - winning a European Tour event."

The youngster, who also won last year's Western Amateur title, is all set to turn professional after this year's US Masters in April.

Quick Putting Tip.

2009-02-18T13:07:00.003Z

Just talking last night about the new golfing season only being about three to four weeks away. You know the sort of thing, what we felt were the good points of our game, what things we were doing right last season, and of course what parts of our game we felt we needed to brush up on.

During this discussion we remembered one game we had last year, just a friendly fourball on a weekday morning. We were playing for the usual small stakes, and although it was just a bounce game, they do get competitive!

Our opponents, Jack, a 12 handicapper, and Bob who plays off 1 are really nice guys, but Bob in particular doesn't like getting beat.

So we get to the 12th hole, and we're all square, but Jack in particular had missed three or four short putts to win holes which would have put them in a comfortable position. He was always up at the hole, or past it, but everything was slipping by either left or right. And Bob was beginning to quietly bubble!

So, when we get to the 14th, and Jack slides another one past the hole, Bob's had enough. He says " Jack, would you like a quick tip about short putting? " And Jack being eager to find out what he was doing wrong, nodded his agreement.

Bob looks him straight in the eye and says "AIM AT THE %*&%*&% HOLE."

More Picks For European Ryder Cup Team?

2009-02-16T11:42:00.003Z

New European Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie, could be set for a struggle to increase the number of wild card picks he can have for next year's competition at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales.
The Scot will reveal his plans to change the selection system when Europe's tournament committee next meet in Ireland in May.
However, opinions on the Tour seem to be divided as to whether the captain should get more than the usual two picks.
Sergio Garcia says " We've won five of the last seven Ryder Cups with two picks. There's no need to panic, the system works."
But Paul Casey, one of Nick Faldo's wild card picks for the defeat at Valhalla in September, thinks that Monty would have a better chance of winning the trophy back if he was given more say in the make up of the team. "If I were captain, I would want as many picks as possible, it's the only way to make sure you have the best team available" says Casey.
In 1991 at Kiawah Island, where Montgomerie made his Ryder Cup debut, captain Bernard Gallacher was allowed three wild card picks for the 12 man team. But this changed in 1995, and since then the captain has only been allowed two picks.
What do you think? Should the European team captain be allowed more than two picks? Or can he still get his strongest team by leaving the system as it is at the moment?

Now Bob Wins A String Of Titles.

2009-02-14T14:21:00.000Z

Padraig Harrington's coach, Scotland's king of swing Bob Torrance, is threatening to upstage the Irishman after picking up a string of coaching awards for himself.
After Harrington's back to back wins in The Open and USPGA, the Scot has been showered with titles of his own.
These include PGA of Europe Professional of the Year, PGA of Europe Five Star Professional of the Year and the National Coaching Foundation High Performance Coach of the Year.
Torrance, a remarkably fit 77 said "These awards mean a lot to me and I feel honoured to have been recognised by bodies operating at the very highest level."

Tiger Celebrates Birth Of Second Child.

2009-02-11T20:43:00.004Z

Tiger Woods Has become a father for the second time. Wife Elin gave birth to baby boy Charlie Axel on Sunday. The couple already have a daughter, 19 month old Sam Alexis.

Woods said " both mother and baby were doing well, and the family would like to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes. Sam is so excited to have a little brother and we feel blessed to have such a wonderful family."

Tiger's fans are eagerly awaiting his next big announcement - when he will make his return to the golf course.

He has been out of action since last June, having to have reconstructive knee surgery after winning his 14th Major, the US Open.

He has been practicing for several weeks, but it may well be next month before we see him back on the golf course when the US Tour arrives in Florida, where he lives.

Harrington Gears Up For The Masters.

2009-02-11T11:09:00.000Z

Padraig Harrington began his build up to the Masters at the weekend with a 24th place finish in the Buick Invitational. It was the first in a run of four American tournaments.

The three times Major winner knows all eyes will be on him. His main aim is to try and peak for Augusta in April, where he will attempt to become only the third player to win three different Majors in a row. It would be a dream come true for The Open and US PGA champion to emulate Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods.

Harrington, who returned to action last week in Dubai, was honest enough to admit his score of 17 under flattered him somewhat. He said "There were plenty of mistakes, but you get a good idea of how you stand after your winter break. Overall, I'm happy with how it went."

The Open qualifying in Australia.

2009-02-10T21:35:00.002Z

Qualifying for the Open at Turnberry in July is due to go ahead in Melbourne today, despite the deadly bush fires in the state. Peter Dawson, the R&A chief executive, took the decision after talks with officials in Victoria.
Craig Parry will be in the field to try to reach his 19th open.

Golf On TV - How Television Has Influenced Golf

2009-02-09T14:30:00.000Z

Television's Influence On Golf

Golf was not yet considered a distinguished sport until the mid-1950s. However, tremendous changes happened during the late 50's when television made its way into more and more homes. It was during this time then the rise of one man who would change the course of golf forever.

Meet The Great Arnold Palmer

The game made its way into the hearts of golf fans everywhere after the introduction of sports in television, along with the help of a professional golf player, Arnold Palmer, considered to be one of the greatest and most celebrated players in the history of golf.

Nicknamed “The King”, Arnold Palmer started as a young, enthusiastic golfer and brought an unconventional way on how the game was played. He conquered renowned golf courses with absolute success, and gained an enormous loyal group of followers who called themselves the Arnie's Army.

Television was able to cover this celebration. Every event was captured on the screen, and the rebirth of golf began. Since then, the game became a mainstream to the public.

Greg Norman In 2009 - The Shark Returns

2009-02-07T14:28:00.000Z

Another great story of 2008 was Greg Norman turning back time at the Open at Birkdale. To arrive at Birkdale as virtually a weekend golfer, and play as he did, was a pretty special effort on Greg's part, even if he did come up short in the end. He rarely plays nowadays because of business commitments, but once he got going he remembered what to do, and came very close in the end. Whether that was enough to rekindle his passion for tournament golf only time will tell. One things for sure, for a 53 year old he's still in great physical condition, so don't be surprised if we see Greg in a few tournaments in 2009.

Golf Sun Glasses – The Sporty New Trend In Golf That May Also Be Healthy For You!

2009-02-06T14:27:00.000Z

If you watched the Masters this year, you would have noticed Zach Johnson wearing some very fashionable glasses. And he isn't the only golf player who is adding golf shades to their list of must haves on the course. Sporty eye wear can be seen on the faces of Tiger Woods and Brett Wetterrich.

Why are so many professional golfers turning to eye wear to cover their eyes?

It is mostly due to more players being educated about possible damage from the sun.

Because golf is played for such long hours at a time, all spent underneath the sunshine, there is a good chance that eye damage can occur in time. In fact, nearly 30% of men and women over the age of 60 have vision impairments due to some light. As the age bracket climbs, this percentage rises.

If you are currently playing off without any protective gear for your eyes, consider investing in some specific golf shades and golf sunglasses that will not only protect your eyes from sun damage, you can also rest assured knowing that when you hit old age, golf will still be a sport you can enjoy as a result of taking care of your health early on.

Bunker Shot – How To Adjust Your Swing According To The Sand's Texture

2009-02-05T13:27:00.000Z

The sand used to fill up bunker areas can vary from course to course. Some locations use very soft, fine sand. Other bunkers have tight, firm sand. Some courses may even have less sand in their bunkers than others. All of these conditions will require different techniques if your ball lands in a bunker.

You Can Look But You Can't Touch

If you enjoy playing by the rules, you should know that the regulations dictate that you are not allowed to test the sand's texture before playing a bunker shot. However, you can at least take the time to be conscious if the sand appears to be wet and hard, or soft and light.

Hard Sand: Bunker sand that is on the hard side will require that you slow down your swing speed a bit. This means that you will not take the club back as far as you normally would. The ball will pop out faster because there is no cushion of soft sand between the clubhead and your ball.

Soft Sand: Soft sand will require more speed from your swing. Because the sand is light and fluffy, there will be a lot of it coming between the ball and your clubhead. Soft sand actually slows down the club as it follows through.

Custom Golf Clubs - How To Choose The Right Custom Golf Clubs

2009-02-04T14:25:00.001Z

You may want to have your golf clubs custom made to fit your body type, shape, and swing style. More and more of today's golf players are choosing to pay the extra money for a set of golf clubs that are specifically designed for the individual.

A man that stands over 6 feet tall should not have to play with the same clubs that suit someone who is much shorter. Likewise, if you have shorter arms and legs, you would need clubs that differ in size than a person who has the same stature, but with longer limbs.

Shaft Length Adjustment

The shaft length is one of the most important adjustments that will need to be custom fitted for personalized golf clubs. The club fitter will be the person to determine what length your clubs should be. This length can vary by as much as 12 inches in some cases.

Shaft Flex Adjustment

The second important adjustment that is made for a custom set of clubs is the shaft flex. This term describes the stiffness (flex) of your club shafts. They must be matched to the exact speed at which you normally swing your clubs. You will need to have your swing speed test to get the right adjustment.

Balance Drill – A Simple 2-Step Drill To Help Beginner Golfer's Perfect Their Swing Balance

2009-02-03T13:25:00.000Z

A common problem that beginner golfers have on their downswing is properly transferring their bodyweight from the back foot to the front.

New golfers tend to be slightly tentative with their swing, so they end up hanging back a bit. The result from this bad habit ends up with scooped shots that veer off to the right with very little power.

In order to get your balance in order, there is a simple drill that is designed to help you feel the proper weight shift over to the front foot. The beauty of this drill is that there are only two results that can happen; A) You properly shift your weight, or B) You topple over.

1. Set up with your normal stance, but before taking your backswing, slide the back foot behind the right foot, leaving only the toe touching the ground for support. Yes, this will leave you unbalanced when you take your backswing, but that is part of the design.

2. Now when you have reached the top portion of the backswing, swing through the golf ball like you would on any normal shot. With your feet positioned as instructed in step 1 above, your body should automatically make the proper weight transfer to your front side.

Artificial Obstructions On The Golf Course

2009-02-02T13:15:00.000Z

Artificial obstructions on the golf course are made up of anything man-made that gets in the way of the ball. There are two types of artificial obstructions that you will find; movable obstructions and immovable obstructions.

Movable Obstructions: Movable obstructions can be anything such as a cigarette, a soft drink can, shovel, food wrappers, etc. These items can be simply removed from the course so that you can play your ball from where it lies. If any of these objects are actually touching the ball, then you are allowed to mark the spot, lift the ball up, remove the item, then put the ball back in the original position.

Immovable Obstructions: The second type of artificial obstruction is known as the immovable type. Such examples include large trailers, sprinkler heads, grandstands, etc. Basically, anything that is too large or heavy to be moved by a golf player is considered an immovable obstruction. If your ball happens to land in or underneath one of these items then you are allowed to move the ball back into play without being penalized.

Windy Conditions – Why I LOVE Playing Golf In The Wind

2009-02-01T13:11:00.000Z

One of the great things I enjoy about golf is the fact that the playing conditions on the course can change at any moment due to the weather. Now some of you might be wondering why rain, wind, or extreme temperatures gets me excited on the golf course. Well the answer is simple: I like the challenge!

Beginner golfers have the exact opposite attitude, and rightfully so, as they are just learning the basics and would like nothing more than to simply make contact with the ball each time they swing. Rain and heavy winds are not going to improve their day, only cause them to quit.

On the other hand, more experienced golfers, like myself, look up and smile when stormy weather comes to join me on the golf course. One of my favorite challenging weather conditions is high winds, blowing everything around on the course.

Embrace The Challenge

The next time you are playing golf and heavy winds start to interrupt your game, do not get frustrated, instead, try to embrace the new playing conditions. It is inevitable that your score is going to be higher, so except that truth and welcome the challenge. Once you can understand this, heavy winds will not be as stressful as usual and having a positive mental attitude will make the game more interesting for you.

Expect The Worst

Expect the wind to do its best to challenge each and every shot you make. A good wind tends to shorten a well-hit drive and increase the length of an approach shot that was perfectly hit, sending it flying past the green.

Perfect shots will be reduced to slices or hooks. The wind will blow your ball in every direction but its intended target. Long holes become twice as long. Dozens of golf balls may be lost in the adventure after being forced by the wind into the rough, heavy wooded areas, and water hazards.

What You Resist, Persists!

If you have not heard the old saying “whatever you resist, persists”, it simply means that the more you try to fight something, the more it fights you back. This is a perfect way to describe playing golf during windy conditions. The best way to handle this strong adversary of mother nature is to use the wind to your advantage.

For example, let's say that you are getting ready to tee off and the wind is coming in strong from the left and blowing hard to the right. This is a perfect opportunity to see how well you can work with the weather by teeing off your shot far left then you would have normally.

The wind is obviously going to push the ball towards the right, so it will be interesting to find out how well you can judge the wind strength by making a far left shot, and getting as close to your target is possible.

2009-01-30T20:53:00.007Z

Have a look here. It's an interesting theory, especially if it works. I have seen a couple of tour players using this method recently, with some success. You know, once they are over the ball they just pull the trigger and let it roll. There's no hanging about, waiting for the right moment.
Whether it will work for the rest of us, well we can only try it an see. Just don't hold your breath waiting for the ball to drop. And let us know how you get on, if you give it a go.

USGA Rules – Get Your Copy Of The Official Golf Rulebook From The United States Golf Association (USGA)

2009-01-30T15:09:00.000Z

Did you know that there are literally hundreds of printed rules that pertain to the game of golf? In fact, the United States Golf Association (USGA) releases an updated official golf rulebook every year that contains approximately 100 pages of rules that every golfer should be familiar with. It would behoove of you to purchase one as soon as possible. The booklet is pocket-sized so you can carry it around with you while playing on the course.

It is important that all beginners sit down and become quite familiar with the USGA rule booklet. It is filled with a list of do's and don'ts when playing golf, clauses, subclauses, basically everything you need to know, and then some.

The reason why there is so much power-packed information and rules associated with golf is because the game itself has evolved over hundreds of years and its rules have had to be amended and changed over the course of time.

Rules, Rules, & Then Some...

One of its key features is providing material in order to help resolve disputes. The USGA rule booklet not only provides specific information pertaining to every rule of golf in existence, it also provides official explanations of everything else that pertains to the game, including golf equipment, the type of game being played, and accurate specifications of the course.

No More Disputes!

Without a doubt one of the most important reasons to carry along an official USGA rule booklet while playing golf is to use it to help resolve and avoid disputes with other players.

Like all sports, your golf game will have its share of debates with your fellow players. Instead of arguing back and forth about what is supposed to be the rules, by quickly thumbing through your official guide will put to rest any confusion, and fast!

You can find more information about the United States Golf Association by checking out usga.org. This is the official website of the USGA and provides a complete and up-to-date rulebook, in addition to info on the handicap system, tournaments, and a tour of the golf museum.

2008 - The Year Of The Tiger - What Will He Do In 2009?

2009-01-29T14:32:00.000Z

2008 was quite a year for golf and in a curtailed season, also for Tiger Woods.

To win the US Open at Torrey Pines last year with a shattered left leg was truly unbelievable. Remember it took him 91 holes to win that trophy, and to do so with such an injury was just incredible.

As much as we were all impressed with him before, it is the real mark of the man by the way he said very little about the severity of his pain during the championship. It was another example of how he handles himself. He doesn't run around boasting and telling people how good he is. He just goes about his business.

Tiger will be back in 2009 and although nobody knows how he will react to his knee surgery, he will have all of the intensity and determination he had before.