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What I Love About Golf

There are many of us who are addicted to this magnificent game. It seems that golf is a game which you either love or hate. Golf elicits an extreme reaction from almost everyone who tries to play it. Perhaps this is because golf is not an easy game; in fact, golf is probably THE most difficult game you can tackle.

For the sake of those who do not agree that golf is so difficult, let us take a little look at the extent to which golf poses the human mind and body a challenge. What other sport do you play with such a long club, such a small ball and such a large playing arena? It would make sense that the longer the racket or club the more room for error in its application, would it not? And the smaller the ball is, the most difficult it is to hit with accuracy? And the further away the target, the more room for error in one’s aim?

If that doesn’t convince you as to how difficult golf is, let us look at other elements which have a major impact upon this game. The condition of the golf course varies in terms of type of grass, length of grass, whether its damp or dry, sand or grass, and so on. An individual golf course changes from one hour to the next, one hole to the next, and then each golf course is entirely different from another as well. The weather has a major impact. There are also different games within the game of golf – match play or medal, and so on.

Then of course, there is the length of time it takes to play golf – one has to focus for this length of time. And to top it all off, because you have time to think between shots there is a lot of time in which to “mess with your mind” and subsequently make a corresponding “mess” of your shot! It’s a lot easier on your mind to play a more reactive sport!

Golf is a very, very difficult and demanding game, but this is its attraction, this is what causes golfers to become totally addicted…either that or you absolutely loathe the game of golf. Golf is an extreme sport in that it does provoke these extreme reactions on account of its challenges. Everyone who is learning this game and just beginning to play golf can identify with the pure sense of JOY experienced when that one shot sails into the air and the ball lands exactly where you wanted it to be. The feeling of “I CAN play golf”, “I CAN do this” is like nothing else – it is totally orgasmic. And a mental note is made immediately to get lessons, to practice and to play more often.

You can hit 100 or more shots in those first few rounds of golf, and perhaps only one or two shots elicit this orgasmic reaction, but that is enough. You can spend four hours on the course, and the shot you remember is that one and only perfect one; you play it over and over in your mind and it motivates you to keep on going, to rise up to the challenge of playing golf.

What is funny is that when you get more to grips with the game, and are a pretty good golfer, it tends to be the bad shots which you replay in your mind. This is another challenge to be overcome. 90% of good golf is played in your mind and so you need to train your mind to play good golf. Your very personality is seen and expressed in your game; golf can teach you a lot about yourself that you may not have previously realized. Golf challenges you to grow as a person, and I think this is what I love most of all about golf.

To play golf well you have to master both physical technique and your own patterns of thinking. Golf hypnosis is an amazingly effective way in which you can train your mind to play well, and overcome the many obstacles which your own mind would otherwise create. Whatever level you are at in your game of golf, however good you are at golf, more challenges constantly appear. Once again, this is the cause of the golfing addiction which so many of us are familiar with.

I played yesterday at the Palo Alto Hills Country Club and it reminded me (as every round I play does) of what I love about golf. I love the fact that I’m out of doors, in the fresh air, in the sunshine – it makes me feel as free and relaxed as a bird. I love the beauty of every golf course I have ever seen, the greenery, the flowers, the contours – the contact with nature is grounding, balancing and it helps your spirits to soar. I love the golfing etiquette; how polite and friendly golfers are to their fellow players. I love the company of fellow players, the stroll and chatter. I love the fact that your game doesn’t affect another’s game – you’re playing the course as opposed to the person and so golfers of every ability can play happily together. I love the exercise. And then, of course, there’s the challenge of each and every shot…

You might find your ball in an “interesting” position in a sand trap, or find that you have to stand one foot in and one foot out to enable contact with the ball. You may have to work out how to de-loft your club and hit a half shot between tree trunks and beneath overhanging branches. ANYTHING might happen out there on the course. Golf is unpredictable, it is a constant and perpetual challenge and it is great fun. I LOVE this game.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in golf hypnosis and author of the GolferWithin mental skills tool-kit golf mind training system for golfers who love the challenge of this great game!

Three Misconceptions about Playing Golf Well

What could be simpler than golf? There lies a perfectly quiet, still ball, ready to be dispatched to the desired spot. The player can take as much time as he wants and he has a whole kit full of clubs specifically designed to produce whatever effect he desires. All the golfer has to do is to swing the club.

I must inject: tennis, compared to golf, is difficult. In tennis, the ball is moving, it never comes to the same spot, it’s in front of the player, it’s behind the player, it may be low, it may be high, and the poor tennis player has just one racquet to do the job. To play the ball in its various positions, the tennis player must learn and perfect several different strokes. Not so the golfer. All the golfer needs is the one perfect stroke – and let the club do the work.

But confusion and contradiction are rampant in golf. There are more theories and more ideas on golf than any single subject in the world. Here is how these numberless ideas have developed.

Originally, in trying to explain the various clubs and their uses in golf, an impression was created that each club in golf required a certain technique. In other words, there was a certain way to use the driver for the long shots, the use of wooden clubs for fairway shots was something different, long irons required another technique, short irons something different again, and so on through the pitch shots and the chip shots. When it came to putting, the experts had run out of ideas and techniques, until today the notion prevails that putting is something that cannot be taught.

What a silly situation! Putting can be taught and learned just as any other shot in golf. But more on putting later.

On top of this contradiction about using the different swings for each club in golf, there is another theory in golf, to wit: that no two people can or should swing a golf club in the same way. There is a belief that each player must develop a golf swing designed to suit his own specific needs. From this school of thought we are swamped with ideas of how the tall, the short, the thick and the thin should play the game.

However, a serious consideration will soon prove that there are certain basic physical mechanics that exist in the human body and all persons – thick, thin, tall or short – must conform to that basic setup.

As if the above idea, of a different swing for each player and a different swing for each club in golf, has not developed enough confusion and conflict, there is still another prominent school of thought that has inhibited and restricted the naturalness in golf and the enjoyment that flows from such naturalness.

I refer now to the school that insists there should never be any body action in a golf shot. This school does admit that on the longer shots with the driver and other woods there may be some body action; but when it comes to the iron shots there must be none. Of course, when putting, complete rigor mortis should set in.

If ever one wanted to develop unnaturalness in a physical endeavor, the way to do it is to eliminate or restrict all body action. Nothing could be more unnatural because the basis of all athletics is a full, free use of the body. For example, whether one is throwing, kicking or punching – whenever one is trying to get power into a hand or a foot – it is with a sense of body action. In fact, it is only with a full, free sense of body action that the desired effect of throwing, kicking or punching is accomplished.

It has been recognized that the greatest need of people learning the game – and the greatest need in producing a consistency of play – was the need of a pattern, a clear-cut program whereby a player not only knew what he should do, but by knowing exactly what he should do he automatically learned exactly what not to do.

Caddies- What’s It About Them? Why Not Without Them?

As a Golfer, no matter if you are an amateur, professional or even semi-professional; you would undoubtedly come across a lot of players who come to the fields along with a caddy. You might as well want one for yourself. However, is a caddy really required? Could you go about having none? Quite many give up on arranging caddies for them whereas other few insist on one every time they play. This is an individualistic choice; however making the right choices would require ample information for effective decisions.

When do you essentially need a caddy?

When any game is played casually or on general basis, caddies are essentially not required. On the other hand when it is some professional or semi professional golf game, you can consider employing a caddy. At times if you think you need to participate in competitions, you may again consider about caddies. There are various duties that get assigned to a caddy. The simplest of tasks could be done by the player himself; however, a few things are complex, which is exactly why caddies are employed. Harder the job, greater is the skill required.

Duties

Fundamental duties for any caddy would be cleaning clubs and golf balls which are used, replacing and fixing divots, obtaining yardage, raking bunkers and sand traps, tactically removing the flagstick. If you feel your caddy is quite skilled, you can approach them to choose the right clubs on right situations, read the greens for you, and also keeping track of other minor things so that the best possible game is played.

Caddy levels; know their Ranks

Typically, there are 4 levels of caddies. Each level has a varied skill set. At the bottom, it is the B level caddy who is not much experienced; however, they could be employed at a much lower price when compared to other caddies. They carry a single golf bag and are generally found in almost all golf courses. Then comes the A level Caddy. These caddies are a level above the level B caddies. The level A caddy is permitted to carry with him 2 bags. In spite of having more skills, they don’t belong to the ultimate choice for a caddy. These caddies can be usually seen during competitions or golf tournaments which happen in golf courses.

Most professionals would only employ an Honor caddy or a Pro. Again, both of these caddies are allowed carrying two golf bags and are supposed to be the top caddies available. A pro caddy stays at top and is often what most professional golf players actually want. On certain occasions, an Honor caddy is employed as their understanding of the game is quite decent.

Not an easy task

It should be known that a caddy’s job is not all that easy ever. There are quite many things required to be done in all different circumstances taking in to consideration various situations as they make decisions. They need to make best decisions possible when clubs are being selected and should have real knowledge about the game. Professionally, a golf players could be penalized when their caddies’ make mistakes. This conversely means that every golfer should work with a caddy having right information about the game rules. A caddy needs to ensure to remind the player about following right rules when playing the game.

If you think you are casually going about the game of golf, then you of course, would not require a caddy. On the other hand, if you are a professional player considering about a competition or going towards some high end golf course, you could choose to employ one. The payments for caddy would vary depending upon their level of expertise and also the golf course you are playing in. checking with the employees of your gold course would provide you information about the caddies and the price tag they come with.

Caddies are referred to by several names. They have distinctive attire as well. When you think you essentially need one, make sure you employ as per the requirement. Always remember, any mistake from the caddy’s end would be an indirect mistake of the player.

Things You Need To Know About Golf Bags

Do you like playing golf? For some people, learning a simple golf swing for best results golf is a great relaxing activity. There are many different small things that must come together in order to achieve the maximum distance in playing golf. The first step that you must take in order to prepare for a great swing is to have a golf bag.

What is so important about golf bags? Why do you need to be careful when choosing golf bags? Some professional golfer may want to change their bag each time they participate in a game. What about you?

You probably need to have same perception about golf bags. A golf bag is an integral part of golf equipment. If it carries easy, if it is functional, your mind is going to be where it needs to be – on your golf playing. That’s what most of golfers said about having a golf bag.

What golf bag should you choose? Golf bags vary widely in terms of design, size, weight, and the number of clubs they can hold. Most are designed specifically to either be used on a golf cart or to be carried on the shoulders, though most carry bags will also work on a cart in a pinch. When choosing a golf bag, it’s important to consider your style of play, the number of clubs you currently own, and might own in the future.

If you are traveling and wanted to bring your golf equipment, golf travel bags offer protection for your clubs, particularly when traveling by air. Hard-sided bags offer more protection, but are heavier, while soft-sided bags offer somewhat less protection, but tend to be lighter.

The similarities between the luggage and golf bag categories start with the same user-friendly theme. In the case of golf bags, it’s ‘enjoy golf; don’t kill yourself.’ Therefore, lightweight is important for golf bags.

The golf bag industry has come a long way in making golf bags much friendlier to the golfer since 1995. With the way technology has evolved, manufacturers have made an effort to make the golf things you carry easier to find and simpler to organize.

The carry bags are so lightweight, just about anyone can walk with their golf bags now days — but still there are a lot of golfers opting to pull their golf bag on a cart or strap them onto a powered riding cart. This fact has not escaped the golf bag manufacturers and so they have put a special eye toward creating functional, good looking golf bags for the cart as well as for the shoulder. You can either carry or roll along the course; your golf bag will always be with you.

Where you can find your golf bag? The easiest way is buying online. There are so many golf bags with different design, style, size, etc. that you can find in online shopping. Only a click of your hand, you can see so many golf bags before you. Choose the one you like based on your need. Not long after you order, you going to have a golf bag that you want.

So, what are you waiting for! Start order, you’re golf game is waiting! Good Luck!

Some Handy Golf Tips:

1. Source any natural dietary supplements which will help to keep you fit and healthy and keep your body in good shape to play golf.

2. Develop complete confidence in yourself and your game – need to be tough-minded and totally focused when you play golf.

3. Learn all known golf bets so that you can bet to your advantage and apply psychological pressure on your opponents at opportune moments.

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