Could Golf Schools Be A Thing Of The Past?

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.