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.

Tips For New Golfers.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.