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Only the best golf pants! Compare
fabric, sizes, price, styles, and patterns to help decide what brands best for
you. We offer the full line of men’s golf pants from Bugatchi Uomo, Ian Poulter, Loud Mouth Golf, Fairway
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Golf Shirts, Shorts and Pants
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Golf Swing
This video was taken on Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ the Pine Trace driving range. In this video I am hitting with a Ladies Adams 6-Iron/Hybrid. Please leave comments that can help me to improve my swing.
Science of Golf
NBC Learn, in partnership with the United States Golf Association and Chevron, explores the science of golf. In this segment, the physics behind the golf swing are discussed and broken down with the help of 2010 U.S. Women's Open champion Paula Creamer and amateur golf standout Michael Miller.
Golf Swing Tempo
In this video I try to explain how to achieve consistent golf swing tempo. Sometimes when a player is on the golf course the first thing to leave them is their tempo. This is a critical part of playing good golf. I try to give different types of golf swing tempo tips. People with bad timing are not going to play great golf...
Mechanics of the Golf Swing
In this video, Justin Kutz, PGA Golf Pro, teaches you the mechanics of the golf swing.
Golf Address Tips
Proper Golf Pelvis Setup
Tiger Woods
www.TigerWoods.com
Golf is an exciting sport and a popular form of recreation. A golf tournament, may attract thousands of fans who watch skilled professionals or amateurs play. Many people enjoy the exercise and friendly competition of playing golf with friends on a beautifully landscaped course.
Golf is a precision club and ball sport in which competing players (or golfers)
use many types of clubs to hit balls into
a series of holes on a course using the fewest number of strokes. Golf is defined, in the rules of golf,
as "playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a
stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules." Olympic: 1900, 1904, 2016, 2020.
Golf etiquette
is a set of rules - both written and unwritten -
that governs behavior on a golf course . Most simply put, golf etiquette
is good manners - being considerate of the golfers you are playing with and
other golfers on the course.
The guidelines of golf etiquette are designed to keep golf enjoyable for everyone on the course by
making sure that golfers keep moving (preventing the rounds from becoming
interminably long), that everyone remains safe, and that golfers are good
stewards of the course. And that players are, simply, nice to each other - no
gamesmanship, no deliberate or inadvertent interference with another player's
game.
Golf Club Distances:
Are you new to golf? A common question I am asked, is “How Far Should I Hit Each Golf Club?” So, how far are you suppose to hit each golf club? There is no clear answer but their is a guideline that can help you understand your distances better. There are a lot of factors that can effect how far you should hit each golf club. Such as, what golf clubs you are using, golf balls, the playing conditions, your physical ability and natural swing speed. Read more>>>
Suzanne Pettersen
GW Player Profile: Suzanne Pettersen
The Many Sides of Suzanne Pettersen
Live Chat with Suzanne Pettersen
Suzanne Pettersen and O'Toole
Suzanne Pettersen Interview
Suzanne Pettersen and Cristie Kerr
A Walk With Suzanne Pettersen
Player Spotlight: Suzanne Pettersen
LPGA Hana Bank Championship
CN Canadian Women's Open - Pre-tournament Interview
Tiger Woods
Comeback
His Legacy
Tiger Woods: 1 on 1
Tiger Woods Interviews
Tiger Woods Documentary
The Tiger Woods Rises (Part1)
2013 President Cup Highlights
Tiger Woods Mental Focus
Golf and Fitness
Golfdigest.com
Golf Fitness Tips
Men's Health: Golf Center
Golf Digest
The Future of Golf
Golf Motivation
Workout for Golf
The Golf Swing
Golf Tips
Golf for Beginners
How to Grip the Golf Club
Keys to Hitting a Driver
Tips for Distance - Long Driver
Two Simple Adjustments
How to Swing a Golf Club
Golf Swing Made Simple
The Perfect Golf Swing
Golf Basics on Putting
Golf Swing Tempo
Distance Power Golf Tips
squaretosquaremethod.com
shopmaxtv.com
Golf Course and Driving Range
Building A Golf Course
Driving Range Tips
Golf Practice at Driving Range
MyGolfTutor.com
Amazing Golf Course
Abama, Canary Islands
Carinthia Golf Club, Dellach, Austria.
Schloss Schornbom, Austria
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10 Best Golf Courses in US
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PGA.com
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Callaway
Top Golf Brands
Most Popular Golf Accessories
Top Ten
U.S. Presidents in Golf
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Tiger Wood Shots on The PGA Tour
Others
Dummies.com
golfwrx.com
Golf.about.com
Gettingtoscratch.com
walkthwwalkpresents.com
www.gothamgolfblog.com
GolfandGolfClubs
History of Golf (Golfing-Scotland)
Professional Events
Golf
Golfer, Golf course, green, fairway, hole, golf club, and bunker
(sand trap, trap).
1. A game of golf is called a round
of golf (nine or eighteen holes).
2. At the start of each hole, a
player tees off
by hitting the ball from the tee (tee = an area of flat ground).
3. The act of hitting the ball is called a shot. The swinging movement players make with their arms and body
when they hit the ball is called their swing:
-My golf
swing is in need of improvement.
4. Players attempt to hit their ball down the
fairway (the fairway = a long
strip of short grass), avoiding the bunker (NAmE
also sand trap, trap) and the
rough (= the part of the golf course with
long grass making it difficult to hit the
ball), to the green.
5. The green
is an area of short grass on which
you putt your ball (=
hit the ball gently
so that it rolls
across the ground a short distance into or towards the hole).
|
Golf is an
exciting sport and a popular form of recreation. A golf tournament, may attract
thousands of fans who watch skilled professionals or amateurs play. Many people
enjoy the exercise and friendly competition of playing golf with friends on a
beautifully landscaped course.
An 18-hole golf course might be designed as shown in the above diagram. Play at each
hole begins at the tee, indicated above by a number in a square. A fairway
leads to the green, marked with a number in a flag. Obstacles include sand
traps, shown in yellow, and water hazards, in blue.
A golf ball has a dimpled cover to add accuracy and distance to its flight
Two types of balls are manufactured- two
-piece, and
wound.
Woods are used by golfers when they want to hit the ball a long
distance. Golfers use the driver to tee off. They use the other woods for shots from the
fairway.
The greater loft (angle of
the clubface) gives iron shots more height but less distance than wood shots.
The greater the loft, the higher and shorter the shot. Skilful golfers can put
backspin on iron shots, which stops the ball when it lands on the green. Golfers
then tap the ball with the putter to roll it into the hole.
The grip is an
important golf technique. Nearly all golfers use one of three grips—the
overlapping grip, the interlocking grip, or the baseball grip. The overlapping
grip is the most popular, but a golfer should choose the most comfortable one.
A proper stance is necessary for an accurate swing. The above drawing shows the
position of the feet for right-handed golfers. To maintain balance, a golfer
should use a wide stance for long distance shots and a narrower stance for
shorter shots.
A correct swing requires proper body coordination. First the golfer lines up the
club head with the ball. Then he makes his backswing, shifting his weight to
his rear leg. As he starts his downswing, he shifts his weight forward. He
snaps the club into the ball and follows through.
A diagram of distances shows how far an average male golfer normally hits a ball using the
basic woods and irons. In planning a shot, the golfer should consider the
condition of the golf course and such weather factors as wind
direction and velocity.
Golf stars of the 1950's and 1960's helped make the sport popular throughout the world. Patty Berg was the leading woman
golfer of her time. Well-known men golfers included Ben Hogan, Cary Player, Arnold
Palmer, and Sam Snead.
Golf stars of today include Laura Davies of the
United Kingdom, Nick Price of Zimbabwe, Ernie Els of South Africa, and
Liselotte Neumann of Sweden. All four have won major professional tournaments.
Part of an Iron: Grip, Shaft, Toe, Head,
Face, Heel, Hosel, Ferrule
Golf terms
Birdie. A score of
one under par on a hole.
Bogey. A
score of one above par on a hole.
A double bogey is over par
and a triple bogey is three over par.
Eagle. A score of
Iwo under par on a hole.
Condor - Four strokes under par.
Albatross - Three strokes under par.
Handicap. A method of equalizing competition by allowing a certain
number of strokes to a golfer competing against a more skilful player. The
handicap is computed from a golfers previous scores.
Hole-in-one, also called an ace. This rare
score occurs when the golfer's tee shot goes into the hole.
Lie is the
position in which the ball lies on the course after a stroke. An unplayable
lie exists when the ball's position makes it impossible to hit.
Golf Brands
Adam Golf
Slogans: Hybrids On Tour, Technology you can
see. Power you can feel.
The pros
put their trust in the performance and playability of Idea hybrids and you can
too. Whether you are a tour pro or a weekend warrior, we have the best hybrids
to fit your game.
PGA Players That Play Adams Brand: Aaron Baddeley, Chad
Campbell, Ryan Moore, Andres Gonzales, Tommy Gainey, Naye Smith, Justin Hicks,
Neal Lancaster.
Callaway Golf
Slogans: Winners Play Callaway, More Power. More
Precision. More Wins.
Founded in
1982, Ely Callaway created a company known as Callaway Hickory Stick USA INC.
This has become an iconic Golf Brand. From the introduction of the Big Bertha
line, Callaway has been a leader in golf club production and sales. They also
own the Odyssey line of putters and a hot new brand of ball. Callaway is
arguably one of the best known brands in golf. The Callaway Golf Brand has been
endorsed by such high profile players as Phil Mickelson. Callaway is well known for producing high
performance Golf clubs. They manufacture the very popular titanium driver, the
Callaway X460, as well as the Big Bertha Brand.
PGA Pros That Play Callaway Brand: Stuart Appleby, Ian
Baker-Finch, Cameron Beckman, Notah Begay III, Alex Cejka, Brandel Chamblee,
Ernie Els, Scott Gutschewski, J.J. Henry, Jim Herman, J.B. Holmes, Trevor
Immelman, Fredrik Jacobson, Lee Janzen, Colt Knost, Greg Kraft, Derek Lamely,
Shaun Micheel, Phil Mickelson, Paul Stankowski.
Mizuno Golf
Slogans: New Generation of Style.
Mizuno is
one of the most popular choices of irons among professionals. You’ll also find
putters, drivers, wedges, shoes, bags and accessories. They offer a popular
fitting tool known as the shaft optimizer which helps select the right type of
club for your game.
PGA Tour Players that play the Mizuno Brand: Luke Donald, Charles
Howell III, Jonathan Byrd, Chris Wood.
Nike Golf
Slogans: Just Do It. , Revolutionary To Its Core
Located in
Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel,
balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf Brand, was made
famous by the champion golfer Tiger Woods. They offer a full line of men’s and
women’s clubs, balls and accessories.
PGA Professionals that use the Nike Golf Brand: Tiger Woods, Stephen Ames, Joseph Bramlett, Paul Casey, Stewart
Cink, Lucas Glover, Anthony Kim,
Taylor Made Golf
Slogan: #1 Driver In Golf
Brand
Taylor Made began in 1979, with a single driver made out of metal. Taylor Made
came on the scene with an innovative line of drivers, and remains strong in
that category. Offers a full line of quality products.
Titleist Brand
Slogans: #1 ball in golf. , The best keep
getting better. , Distance never felt so good. , Golf's Symbol of Excellence
Titleist is
owned by the well-known Acushnet Company, a well established manufacturer
responsible for producing top notch golf clubs of all kinds since 1962. Prior
to Tiger Woods becoming a spokesperson for Nike in 1985, Titleist was his golf
club brand of choice. Perhaps the most famous name in golf equipment, and the
leading golf ball brand. A Titleist golf ball was first played in the U.S. Open
of 1949. They also produce popular drivers and irons.
PGA Tour Players that play Titleist: There are so many that
we can't list them all, here are some. Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy,
Steve Stricker, Nick Watney, Ian Poulter, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Zach
Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Tim Clark, Geoff Ogilvy and many more.
Ping Golf Brand
Slogan: Play Your Best
PING is a
family-owned company that was founded in 1959 in the garage of Karsten Solheim.
He was a mechanical engineer who worked in the aerospace and computer industry.
He eventually developed a putter that made a famous "ping" sound upon
impact, hence the name. Ping has been a top manufacturer of clubs for years.
Ping celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2009.
PGA Tour Players who use the Ping Brand: D.J. Brigman, Angel
Cabrer
Nicklaus Golf
Slogan: Nicklaus Golf
Equipment: One Brand. Three Collections.
Jack
Nicklaus Golf Equipment...The man, who changed the face of golf, is now the
face of the equipment. No name is more synonymous with greatness in golf. The
player is now the designer, the equipment maker, the ambassador, the
legend-Jack Nicklaus. They offer three different golf brands, from high-end to
value: Nicklaus Golf Equipment; Jack Nicklaus Golf; and Golden Bear.
Golf is an outdoor sport in which a player attempts to hit a small,
hard ball into a hole in as few hits as possible. Players hit the ball with
one of several kinds of long, slender golf clubs. The kind of club depends on
the ball's location and distance from the hole. Golf is played on a course that
normally is divided into 18 units, also called holes, of varying
lengths and difficulty.
Golf is one
of the most popular outdoor sports in the world. Millions of men, women, and
children play golf as an individual or team sport. Millions more enjoy golf as
a form of recreation and exercise. Golf is also a popular spectator sport,
attracting thousands of fans to tournaments. Millions more may watch
tournaments on television.
The course
Golf courses
have no regulation length or shape, but most consist of 18 holes numbered 1 to
18. Playing all 18 holes makes up a round of golf. On
courses that have only nine holes, each hole is played twice for a round.
An 18-hole
course averages about 55 hectares. Each hole includes a tee, a fairway, a green, and often
one or more hazards. For the layout of a typical golf course, see the diagram in this
article. Courses for men generally range from about 5,900 to 6,400 metres in
length. This distance is the total length from the tees to all 18 holes.
Courses are shortened for women by positioning the ladies'
tee closer to the hole.
A golf
course contains a mixture of par 3, par 4, and par 5 holes. A player achieves a
par score by hitting the ball from the tee into the hole in a certain number of
strokes, usually 3,4, or 5. A typical par 3 hole measures up to 229 metres, a
par 4 from 230 to 430 metres, and a par 5 measures at least 431 metres.
Most courses
are laid out in a loop that brings the golfer back to a point near the first
tee at the end of each nine holes. The holes are arranged so that players are
relatively safe from balls hit by players on another hole. Golfers shout the
traditional warning "Fore!" to alert other golfers that a shot is
about to be hit or that a ball has been hit in their direction.
The tee. Each golf hole begins at the tee, a small flat area
from which the golfer takes the first stroke, or shot.
This stroke is sometimes called a drive. Before
hitting the ball, the golfer places it on a wooden or plastic peg that is also
called a tee. The peg may only be used on the tee. After the tee shot, the
golfer must hit the ball as it lies on the course.
The fairway is a stretch of closely mowed grass that extends
from the tee to the green. The fairway may be a straight path to the green or
it may be laid out at an angle, called a dogleg. The fairway
is designed to give the golfer the clearest route to the green.
Golfers who
hit their ball outside the fairway land in the rough. This area
borders each side of the fairway.
The rough
has higher grass and may include bushes and trees.
The green is an area at the end of the fairway. The green is
covered with special grass that is mowed very closely. It contains a hole 10.8
centimetres in diameter and at least 10 centimetres in depth. A movable marker
called the flagstick or pin is placed
in the hole to show its location.
Play on the
hole is completed when the golfer hits the ball into the hole. The number of
strokes the player takes to hit the ball into the hole becomes the player's
score for that hole. The player normally takes progressively shorter shots
from the tee to the green. Once on the green, the golfer putts (rolls) the
ball into the hole with a club called the puller. The surface
of the green is usually gently sloped, and the golfer should allow for the
slope when putting.
Hazards are obstacles placed throughout the course to make play more
difficult. Golfers try to avoid them. Hazards include bunkers and water
hazards. Bunkers are depressions in the ground. If they contain sand they
are called sand traps. Water hazards include ponds and streams. If the
ball lands in a water hazard, the golfer may hit it out if the ball is
playable. Otherwise, the golfer lifts it out by hand or plays another ball,
adding an extra stroke to the score as a penalty.
The equipment
A golfer's
main equipment consists of the ball and a set of clubs. Each club is designed
to play a particular type of stroke or to hit the ball a certain distance. Some
clubs are used to hit the ball along a steeply curved path; other clubs give a
nearly straight path.
Golf balls used in competition throughout the world can weigh
no less than 45.9 grams and must measure at least 4.27 centimetres in diameter.
There are
two types of balls, wound and two-piece. Wound balls are made of thin rubber thread wound
tightly around a core. The core may be solid rubber, or a sac filled with water
or another liquid. Wound balls are softer and take more spin, allowing skilful
golfers more control of the ball's flight. Two-piece balls have a solid core
with no rubber thread. They are harder and more popular with less skilful
golfers. Both types can be covered with rubber or synthetic material. The cover
has numerous tiny depressions called dimples that
increase the ball's distance and accuracy.
Golf clubs are slender tubes, usually of steel, with a grip at one end
for the golfer to hold and a head at the
other for striking the ball. There are two types of clubs: woods and irons. Woods have
a large, thick head made of a solid block of wood or of laminated wood. But
some woods may have hollow metal heads. Players use woods for the longest
shots. Irons have much thinner, bladelike heads of steel. They provide less
distance than woods but more accuracy. Although it is sometimes considered an
iron, the putter is usually sold separately. Most club shafts are made of
steel. Shafts of such materials as aluminium, fibreglass, graphite, and
graphite and steel are also available. In golfs earliest days, shafts were
often made of ash, and later of hickory.
Woods and
irons are usually numbered from 1 to 9. The higher the number of the club, the
greater is the loft (slope) on the face (front of the head). Each
club has a different vertically angled loft. The greater the loft, the higher
and shorter the ball will travel.
The No. 1
wood, also called the driver, has the least amount of loft of any club except the putter. It
also hits the ball the farthest. The driver is used off the tee. Pro
fessional
golfers and top amateurs will average about 230 metres on a drive. Other woods,
called fairway woods, are used for long shots off the fairway. Fairway
woods include the No. 2 (rarely used today), No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 woods.
Professional golfers usually do not carry woods beyond No. 5.
The loft on
an iron ranges from the No. 1 iron, which has the least amount, to No. 9, which
has the most. Other irons include the pitching wedge for short,
accurate shots, and the sand wedge, for shots
from sand traps. Most golfers carry both wedges.
Golfers may
carry a maximum of 14 clubs during a round. Golfers are free to choose their
own set. By the mid-1980s, the set used by professional or top amateur golfers
consisted of a driver, a No. 3 wood, and either a No. 4 or No. 5 wood, No. 2
iron to No. 9 iron, the two wedges, and a putter. When a No. 1 iron is
included, one of the fairway woods is usually left out.
Golf competition
The game of
golf is played in two basic ways—match play and stroke
play.
Match play. In match play, one golfer or team plays against one
or more others. The player or team hitting the ball
into the hole in the fewest number of strokes wins that hole. The player or
team winning the most holes wins the match. The score is determined by the
number of holes won. For example, a player who is 2 up" has won two holes
more than the opponent. A match is decided when a golfer leads by more holes
than there are holes left to play. If both golfers or teams make the same score
on a hole, that hole is said to be halved.
If the two are tied at the scheduled end of the match, it is halved and play
may continue. Then the player or team who first wins a hole wins the match.
Stroke play. In stroke play, the winner is the golfer who takes
the fewest number of total strokes to complete a competition. Most
professional tournaments use stroke play for a total of 72 holes (four rounds).
Ties are broken by a playoff. In most tournament playoffs, the tied golfers
play until one scores lower on a single hole. Some ties are settled by an
18-hole playoff.
Tournaments. A group of four competitions is recognized as the
modern "Grand Slam" of golf for men. These tournaments, in order of
play, are the Masters Tournament, the United States Open, the British Open, and
the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) Championship. The two open tournaments are open to both
professional and amateur golfers. Both may also be invited to the Masters
Tournament. The PGA sponsors its tournament for professionals only. Leading
competitions for women golfers include the U.S. Women's Open and the LPGA
(Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournaments.
Most
countries have amateur competitions for youths and adults. One of the best
known international competitions for professionals is the Ryder Cup match, in
which an American team plays against a combined team from the United Kingdom
and other European countries. The
match is
played every two years, and its site alternates between the United States and
Europe.
History
Beginnings. Some authorities trace golf back to a Roman game
called paganica, played with a
bent stick and a leather ball stuffed with feathers. Other historians trace
golf to a Dutch game called het kolven,
a French and Belgian game called chole,
a French game called jeu de mail,
and an English game called cambuca.
But most believe golf probably developed into the game as we know it in
Scotland. The
Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers in Edinburgh, Scotland, is often recognized as the
first organized golf club. It was established in 1744. The club set down the
first written rules of the game. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
was founded in 1754 as the
Society of St. Andrews Golfers. It became the leader in establishing golf s
regulations and standards, such as the standard round of golf at 18 holes. Golfers
played with a leather-covered ball stuffed with feathers. It was replaced in
1848 by the gutty, a solid ball
made of gutta-percha (see
Gutta-percha). It was later replaced by
the rubber-cored ball invented in 1898 by U.S. golfer Coburn Haskell. The first
British Open Championship was played in 1860. The first golf club established
outside Britain was the Royal Calcutta in India in 1829. The first North American
golf club was the Royal Montreal, organized in 1873.
Amateur Golf
Association of the United States (now the United States Golf Association) was
founded in 1894 to serve as the governing body for golf in the United States.
In 1951, the USGA and the United Kingdom's Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews agreed to jointly interpret the rules and
standards that now govern golf throughout the world.
A
party of Scotsmen introduced golf into Australia in 1847.
About 50 years later, the Australian Golf Union was formed. Greg Norman was
among the most outstanding Australian golfers of all times. In 1986, Norman was
ranked number
one in the world, winning both the British Open and the European Open. Among
New Zealand stars was Bob Charles, who won the New Zealand Open four times. He
won more than 20 world titles, including the
British Open.
The rise of professional golf. The British Professional
Golfers' Association was formed in 1901, making it the oldest in the world. The
second oldest is the Professional Golfers' Association of Australia, formed in
1911.
In
1916, American professional golfers formed the PGA. Until then, amateur golfers
dominated the sport. Bobby jones, who retired in 1930, was the finest amateur
golfer of his day. But outstanding professionals, notably Walter Hagen, were
beginning to establish golf as a major sport. Hagen was a superb golfer w'ho
won additional fame in the 1920's for his showmanship and flamboyant style.
Other leading early professionals included Tommy Armour, Gene Sarazen, Horton
Smith, and joe Turnesa.
Americans
Ben Hogan and Sam Snead dominated the major golf tournaments of the late 1940's
and early 1950's. The top professionals of the 1960s and early 1970's included
Americans Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Casper, along with Gary
Player of South Africa.
Women's golf has enjoyed a growth similar to that of
men's golf. From about 1900 to the 1920rs, British amateurs
dominated women's golf. Joyce Wethered was the top British golfer during the
1920's and some experts consider her the greatest woman golfer in history. By
the 193ffs, the United States had become important. Top U.S. golfers included
Patty Berg, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, and Betty Jameson.
Widespread
interest in women's professional golf developed after World War II
(1939-1945). Among the top women golfers of the 1980's were Laura Davies of the
United Kingdom, Nancy Lopez of the United States, and Jan Stephenson of
Australia.
Golf
today. United States golfers dominated golf internationally until the late
1970's, when golfers from other countries began to emerge. These golfers included
Greg Norman of Australia, Severiano Ballesteros of Spain, Bernhard Langer of
Germany, Isao Aoki of Japan, and Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle of the United Kingdom.
Professional tours included the U.S. tour; the European tour, based in the
United Kingdom; the South African tour; the Japanese tour; the Asian tour; and
the Australia/New Zealand tour.
In
1980, the PGA Tour established the Senior PGA Tour for players at least 50
years old. The tour included Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and other prominent professionals
from the 1950's and 1960's.
Related articles: Cotton, Sir Henry; Player,
Gary; Faldo, Nick; Hagen, Walter; Hogan, Ben; Jones, Bobby; Nicklaus, Jack; Norman,
Greg; Palmer, Arnold; Rees, Dai; Trevino Lee; Vardon, Harry; Zaharias,
Babe Didrikson
Outline
The course
The
tee
The
fairway
The equipment
Golf
balls
Golf
clubs
Golf competition
Match
play
Stroke
play
History
Questions
What
is the professional tour?
How
long is a typical par 3 hole?
When
does a golfer use a wood ? An iron? A putter?
What
is a birdie? A bogey? A hole-in-one?
Who
was Joyce Wethered? Bobby Jones?
How
do match play and stroke play differ?
Why
does a golf ball have "dimples"?
What
is the fairway?
Who
competes for the Ryder Cup?
How
many clubs may a player carry during a round?
Golf Swing
Swing Simply
The Arms
THE GRIP
Golf Grip - According to the
dictionary, grip is “the act of taking firmly and holding fast with the hand,
teeth or instrument, etc. secure grasp, firm grip.” (Webster’s New Twentieth
Century Dictionary, Unabridged). This definition is opposite of the grip
definition given by most golf professionals. They state that you should have a
light grip, as if holding a bird in your hands. My question is what size is the
bird? How firm would your grip be if the bird were an eagle? Most golfers when
they grip the club firmly also tighten the muscles of the elbow and the
shoulders and therefore the appearance is that their grip is too tight when the
fact is they are using the wrong the muscles.
How to Master Golf Grip
Golf Grip Tips
Fixing Your Posture
Posture is to bend forward until your arms hang straight down.
The correct posture is crucial to a solid shot. I’ve described
the posture here in 3 easy steps: Step 1: With your feet shoulder width apart stand tall. Step 2: Try not to slouch over the ball. Bend forward from the
hips keeping your back and head straight. Step 3: Your knees should be slightly flexed with your rear
slightly protruding.
The address Position
Golf Downswing
Rhythm & Tempo
The Correct Ball Position
Power Up Your Golf Swing
Downswing
Golf Club Irons
Driver
Golf Courses
Golf's Technology (Ball and Clubs)
Take note:
HOW TO PLAY GOLF
A complete
guide from starting out to advance technique.
Golf
is probably the most fascinating, enjoyable, addictive and yet irritating
Game
you can ever take up.
Videos:
GOLF
HISTORY
The
definite origin of the game is still unknown today although there are several
theories.
Ancient
games played by Chinese, European and South American all had some similarity to
the actual game but an absolute connection is yet to be made.
Ancient
games played by the Chinese and South American used sticks to hit the pieces of
bone into large circles drawn on the ground, while the Europeans played a game
where one player would hit a rock towards, a fixed landmark while the other
player was to hit in opposite.
The name
of GOLF itself has several theories with two being the most common. One
Scottish gentleman plays a game on his property. After seeing a lady playing this
game on this property he placed signs saying Gentleman Only Ladies Forbidden’
G.O.L.F.
However, GOLF is said come from German word
Kolf meaning club.
EQUIPMENT
GOLF CLUB AND ACCESSORIES
You need
basic equipment to get started half-set of clubs golf balls and suitable
footwear. Until you are certain that golf is for you there is no need to spend
large sums of money on full set of clubs.
However, it is important to select clubs that suits your height and
build.
 |
| Golf Club |
The rules
of golf hallow the use of 14 clubs. A typical set of clubs consist of 3 metal,
9 or 10 ‘iron’ clubs and a putter. The number on each clubhead indicates the
angle, or loft of the clubface. The degree of loft determines the distance and
height of the balls as it flies through the air.
Are you a beginner at the great game of golf? Then allow us to introduce you to the golf clubs.
There are several different types of golf clubs in a typical golfer's bag. There are woods, irons, wedges and a putter, and sometimes utility clubs or hybrids.
What are these clubs? What are the qualities of each type of club, and its uses?
The following articles offer newbies to golf a general overview of the form and function of each type of golf club.
Take note:
Long, Mid- and Short Irons:
Irons are generally categorized as long irons, mid-irons and
short irons. Long irons are the 2-, 3- and 4-irons; mid-irons, the 5-, 6- and
7-irons; short irons, the 8- and 9-irons and pitching wedge.
Golf Clubs Distances:
Wide Variation in Golfers' Distances - It depends, and it varies widely from golfer to golfer. One
person's 5-iron distance is another person's 3-iron distance is another
person's 7-iron distance. There is no wrong golf club distance, there is only your distance.
And knowing your distances
(also known as "knowing your yardages") is much more important than
knowing how far each club is "supposed" to go.
Here's an
interesting fact: While PGA Tour pros
hit their drives anywhere from 280 yards to 320 yards on average, and LPGA Tour pros
hit their drives from 230 to 270 yards on average, most recreational golfers -
according to Golf Digest - average somewhere around 195-205
yards with their drivers.
The moral of
that story? Don't compare yourself with the world's best players. Although some
recreational players do outhit the pros, they are rare and you probably aren't
one of them.
Learning Your Yardages - You'll quickly get an idea of whether you are a "long" hitter or
"short" hitter by simply playing golf and comparing yourself to those
you play with. There's no shame in being a short hitter, and being a long
hitter doesn't guarantee anything, and certainly not a lower score.
And of course,
hitting the ball far doesn't matter at all if you can't also hit it straight or
then get the ball on the green.
But you didn't
click on this topic to read all this, did you? You want those yardages, darn
it! OK, we'll give you a distance chart, but consider everything you've read to
this point to be caveats on this subject.
Others:
SUN
PROTECTION
If you
play golf in hot weather, you should wear visor, or cap to protect yourself
from harmful UV rays. You should also apply sunscreen to your arms, face, and
neck.
CLOTHES
Wear
comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that do not restrict your movement as you
you’re your swing.
Some golf clubs expect their members to wear smart, casual
clothes, T-Shirts with collars and do not allow jeans on the course.
GOLF GLOVES AND SHOES
GLOVES
Many
golfers wear a leather or synthetic golfing glove.
This prevents their grip
from slipping, even if they are holding the club lightly.
Take note: When it comes to playing your best golf, if
you can't grip the club properly, your chances of ever playing well greatly
diminish. If you need a device that will help you feel how the club should come
in contact with palms and fingers, the right glove product is just the ticket.
It not only helps you correctly position the grip in your hands, but it also
neutralizes unwanted tension and the classic "death grip." It took a
little getting used to, but the right product really worked; those palmy, weak
grips we had on the club were a thing of the past.
Product Description:
Footjoy GTX All Weather Golf Glove (FJ GTX)
Soft-feeling, comfortable and very durable the Footjoy GTX
glove has it all. It even comes equipped with its very own Q Mark,
ball marker to save all that rummaging around in your pocket on every green.
The Tech Zone
The Footjoy GTX glove comes equipped with a fibersof microfiber
palm and APL digital leather for that essential soft feel and tight grip. A
combination of lycra and powernet mesh enhance that contoured fit around your
hand. The digital leather patches on the palm and thumb maximize durability and
grip performance, and the angled comfortable closure ensures stress free
comfort and precision fit. In our opinion the best all weather glove on the
market.
Footjoy GTX Weather-Sof All Weather
Golf Glove Facts & Stats
-Comes with Q Mark ball marker
-APL Digital leather
-High durability
GOLF SHOES
 |
Classic Golf Shoes
Walter Genuin,
Dexter,
Oakley,
Puma,
Ecco,
True Linkswear,
Adidas,
Nike, and
FootJoy.
|
You may
walk a long way during a round of golf, so it is important to wear a good pair
of golf shoes.
2013 Shoes Guide
(These 20 new shoes offer the right mix of control and comfort).
Comfort. That's what we demand from golf shoes today.
But for many years, golfers had been forced to compromise
comfort for performance. The more painful the shoe, the more support
it offered. The more rigid the shoe, the more stability it had. Not anymore. Designers are borrowing technologies found in
cleated-shoe sports like soccer and baseball, and non-cleated ones like
skateboarding and wrestling to create footwear that offers the ideal
combination of stability, traction, support and even comfort. "In its
purest form, the game is played walking," says Dav Mattuicci, footwear
product manager at Adidas Golf. "So we design all of our shoes for
walkers."
As more engineers construct
golf shoes for walkers and make comfort their No. 1 priority, they're
increasingly adopting footwear techniques used for other sports.
"Tiger was our muse for the TW '13s," says Lee Walker,
footwear-product director at Nike Golf. "He was training in Nike Free
running shoes and wanted to get that same fit and feel in his golf shoes."
When we
evaluated more than 50 pairs of shoes to pick the 20 here, we considered
comfort and style. "Footwear is
grounded in style," says Golf Digest fashion director Marty Hackel.
"Nobody should wear an ugly shoe, no matter how great it is."
Even the most
classic-looking shoes in this guide offer
elements of comfort, but some models push the idea of natural motion, offering a super-flexible, low-profile,
spikeless sole that is designed to allow your foot to grip the ground while
you swing. In fact, more are accepting the merits of spikeless soles; sales of
non-cleated shoes increased by 136 percent in 2012 versus 2011, according to
Golf Datatech. But how can you know which shoe is best for you? "It comes
down to preference," says Grant Knudson, Puma Golf's product manager for
footwear. "Ian Poulter grew up wearing FootJoy Classics, so he likes a
rigid shoe. But Rickie Fowler wants more flexibility."
Technology now allows a
seamless transition from everyday footwear to on-course footwear. If you wear a
dress shoe eight hours a day, for example, you'll likely want to stick with a
more structured shoe on the course. If you spend a lot of time in sneakers, you
might want a flexible, street-style or sport-performance shoe.
Thankfully, the days of
forfeiting comfort for performance are over. Walk on.
Videos: Golf Gloves and Shoes
Safety on
the golf course is the responsible of all golfers. Prior to making a stroke or
making a swing be sure that no one is standing in a position to be hit by a
club or the driver. If you hit the ball that flies in the direction of other
players you should warn them of the danger by shouting ‘FORE’
THE FUNDAMENTALS
THE
BUILDING BLOCK OF GOLF
(Grip,
set-up and posture)
The
fundamentals are the basis of long-lasting, successful golf swing.
They may
seem trivial, perhaps even dull at times, but the importance of grip, set-up
and posture cannot be exaggerated.
GRIP
Grip means (to seize or hold firmly) to grap or hold (something) tightly or to get and hold the interest or attention of (someone).
In golf, a good Grip is essential because it has an effect on clubface positions.
Too weak of a grip, with your hands turned too far to the left, will lead to an
open clubface through impact, and hence, a slice.
A strong grip makes the club feel lighter and
easier to handle on the backswing, while also making it easier to square the
club face at impact.
The proper/good grip is actually the most important fundamental in golf, which we often overlook or neglect.
A good swing starts with a good grip. A bad swing starts with
a bad grip. Because most amateurs fail to put their hands on the club properly,
they'll never be able to play as well as they should.
Developing a proper grip requires a sound understanding of
how the placement of the hands impacts the direction of the clubface and the
wrists throughout the swing.
It is also important to understand how the hands
connect on the club and how the various grip types allow you to vary your ball
flight.
The weak grip has been classified as "weak" because of
the limitations it places on wrist action, and the effects it has on the loft
of the club.
The modern grip has been used by many generations of golfers and
represents the standard in terms of recommended hand placement.
The strong grip
has been classified as "strong" due to the effects it has on the
clubface and the wrist action during the swing.
All round, having a great swing with a bad grip is like having a great automobile with a bad engine.
A good way to measure a strong grip is to make the
"V's" formed by the thumb and index finger point towards your right
shoulder.
So, if your grip it strong, you will hit it long, and you can't go wrong!
Grip methods/instructions:
The club
runs diagonally across your left hand.
Hold the
club mainly on the fingers of your right hand.
And make
your ‘V’
Maintain
an even grip pressure in both hands.
Type of
GRIP.
Interlocking grip -The next most common grip is called the Interlock, or
Interlocking. This grip is very popular on the LPGA Tour and has been used by many top male
players includingJack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. This grip
literally locks the hands together, but the golfer also runs the risk of having
the handle stray into the palms of the hands. People with small hands, weak
forearms and wrists, and beginners in many cases prefer this style of grip.
Ten-finger - The Ten Finger grip (sometimes called the Baseball Grip) is
the least preferred grip among teachers. It does, however, have its advantages.
Hall of Fame Member Beth Daniel, PGA Tour members Bob Estes and Dave Barr and
Masters champion Art Wall Jr. have all used the Ten Finger grip.
Teachers often suggest this grip to beginners as it simplifies early
instruction. People who experience joint pain, have ARTHRITIS
or small, weak hands often benefit by using
the Ten Finger grip.
 |
| Type of GRIP |
STANCE, ALIGNMENT AND POSTURE
STANCE
As the
clubs get longer, your stance widen.
A
shoulders-width stance is best for a 7-iron.
ALIGNMENT
You want
to have your feet, knees, hips arms, shoulders all line up parallel left of
your target.
Line up
your feet with ha club along your toes.
SET-UP
POSTURE
Bend
forward until your arms hang straight down.
The correct posture is crucial to a solid shot.
I’ve described
the posture here in 3 easy steps:
Step 1: With your feet shoulder width apart stand tall.
Step 2: Try not to slouch over the ball. Bend forward from the
hips keeping your back and head straight.
Step 3: Your knees should be slightly flexed with your rear
slightly protruding.
BALL
POSITION
If you play the ball too far back in
your stance, you’ll have a tendency to hit shots to the right of the target.
Conversely, if the ball is too far
forward, there is a chance that your shots will miss the target to the
left.
Most
professionals advocate playing the ball between your left foot and the middle
of your stance, depending on the club.
For example, the most popular ball
position for the driver is just inside the heel of your front foot.
This position allows you to hit the
ball further forward in your stance, producing impact on a slight upswing,
taking advantage of the loft and design of the club.
The
suggested ball position for the remaining clubs progresses from left to right.
Subsequently, the long irons are
played a ball or so to the right of the driver’s position.
Mid-irons are played about one or two balls to
the right of the long irons, finishing with the short irons, which are played
at about the middle of your stance.
The
objective of each of these positions is to allow you to hit the ball at the
lowest point of your swing, taking advantage of the club’s loft and allowing
you to make crisp contact with the ball.
So, always remember:
The
general rule is as follows:
Wedges,
9, 8, – The ball should be in the middle of your stance.
7,
6, 5 irons – One ball width from centre towards the target side foot.
4,
3 irons, hybrids, and fairways woods – Two balls width from centre towards the
target side foot.
Driver
– Three balls width from centre toward the target side foot.
Take note:
For a
driver, your hand should be behind the ball.
WAGGLE
A good
waggle sets you up to make good swing. It’s a mini practice swing.
Its
important part of swing.
PRE-SHOT
ROUTINE
What
exactly you should be doing in the last seconds before your address position.
Stand
behind the ball look at your target and visualize your ball flight.
Walk to
the ball still thinking of the ball flying to the hole.
Align the
clubface to the hole.
Then take
your stance
Glance up
at the target.
Then,
waggle your hand.
Start your
swing.
THE FULL SWING
A visit to
any professional golf tournament provides ample evidence that text book style
isn’t necessary, there are many different ways to swing the club.
But all
good players have one thing in common, the ability to consistently deliver the
club head correctly to the ball.
From a
solid set-up position, the club head moves away low to the ground.
Gradually,
arching inside the target line as the left arms extends away.
 |
| Backswing, Downswing and Impact |
BACKSWING
Naturally,
the wrists should hinges in harmony with the swinging motion of the club head.
DOWNSWING
Try to
feel that you start your downswing with a subtle move of your left knee
towards the target.
This move
initiates an unwinding of your hips and torso which automatically slots your
hands and arms down into ideal position to hit the ball.
Now you
are on track to hit the back of the ball.
FINISH
It is good
idea to image yourself finishing in good balanced position.
Closed to
the green is an area where imagination and versatility are essential qualities.
First
through you need to understand the necessary techniques involves.
THE
STANDARD CHIP
Adopt an
open stance with your feet fairly close together hand your weight favoring the
left side.
Keeping
your weight left, make a compact back swing.
Wrist
break is fairly minimal, slight hinging as you complete the back swing.
Ideal
position to lead the club head down into the ball.
At impact,
you should feel that the ball is compressed between the clubface and turf. The
sensation of squeezing the ball forward toward the target which produce the
necessary back spin.
The
technique is very versatile and thus can be used with your 7-iron, 9-iron and
sand-wedge.
 |
|
The goal on a pitch is to
make consistent, predictable contact. That's how you develop a feel for
distance. It starts with a good setup. Take a slightly closed stance and square
the face (1); this
makes it easier to start on the correct path. If you swing the club on plane
from there, you'll be lined up to make the ball go at your target. On the
backswing, let your right wrist hinge a little so the handle stays fairly close
to you (2). Make sure
you turn your body -proven here by the creases in my pants at the top of my
right leg. On the downswing, turn toward the target, with your hips level at
the finish (3).
Your hands and grip should finish close to your belt, the butt of the club
almost in your left pocket. You'll create clubhead speed by turning your body
and releasing your hands, not by tugging the handle.
|
PITCHING
Pitching
shot are the in between shots-longer than a full swing.
Use your
hands and arms to swing the club away from the ball.
The length
of the swing should be at shoulder height.
In the
downswing the arms and hands should consciously swing together.
Accelerate
the club head down into and through the ball.
Practice
the technique with a number of club say, your
9-iron, pitching-wedge and sand-wedge.
Golf Tips: Chipping/Pitching
Correct Ball Position
PUTTING
Putting
represent the sharp end of golf.
Good
putting can cover up a multitude of ball striking sins and make a bad score
okay an okay good and a good score great.
Bad
putting can do just the opposite.
In putting
your hands should be ahead of the ball at address.
Stance should
be square.
Your eye
line should be over the ball
BUNKER
One of the
keys to becoming a better bunker player is understanding that that the bounce
effect created by the specially designed sole on sand wedge is best utilized
when the clubface is open (i.e. - aligned to the right of your target. So, your
set-up is crucial.
Open your
stance by aligning your hips, shoulder and feet to the left target. Adopt
slightly wider stance than normal.
Take the
club back along your body line-keeping the clubface open.
As the
club swings back, hinges your wrist t set it on slight steeper plane keep the
club face open.
In the
down swing you need to smoothly accelerate the club head through the sand under
the ball.
The open
clubface combined with an out-to-in swing path sends the ball floating straight
towards the flag.
The length
and force of the swing required.
Imagine
you are playing a shot from the fairway twice as long has the one facing you in
the sand.
Improve Your Bunker Game
Here are a few key basic things to remember about getting out of
bunkers.
1.) Put the forward in your stance. Think it's far enough forward? Luke Donald says you can't put it
forward enough.
2.) Keep the face wide open throughout the swing. Some teachers will you to visualize a cup of water on the
clubface and that you don't want to spill it by rotating the face in any
direction. You should practice to find the optimal rotation of the face for you
out of the trap, but the intent is correct. You want to have the clup open as
you splash down into the sand.
3.) You do not hit
the ball, you hit the sand behind the ball. Don't try to "pick" the ball out
of the trap. The closer you hit to the ball, the more your ball will spin - but
regardless, on the greenside bunker shot, you'll want to hit the sand first
Golf Tips (bunker shots)
Perfect Bunker Shots
Bunker Shot Tips
Bunker Technique
PGA Golf: Bunkers
Bunker With Gary Player
Maria - Bunker shots
Phil Mickelson - Bunker shots
 |
Sand Play (Bunker)Setting up with an open stance and cutting across the ball from out
to in is the traditional technique used to play greenside bunker shots.
|
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Rory Mcllroy (Part1)-Rory Mcllroy (Part2)
Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup 2014-The 2014 Ryder Cup-Top 10 Ryder Cup Matches-
The Ryder -up at Gleneagles-RC-The History (2006)-Three Ryder Cup Heroes.
Ryder Cup
Background
The Ryder Cup is
a biennial three-day matchplay tournament in which 12-man teams of
professionals from the United States and Europe compete for a gold trophy
donated by Samuel Ryder, a wealthy seed merchant, Congregationalist and
helpless golf nut, for the transatlantic contest he inaugurated and sponsored
in 1927.
This
year's match, which begins at Gleneagles on Friday, is the 40th and only the
second time it has been hosted in Scotland, the spiritual home of the game. USA
have won 25 times, their opponents (Great Britain from 1927-1971, Great Britain
& Ireland 1973-77 and Europe 1979 to date) 12, with two ties (in 1969 and
1989) when the holders retained the cup. However, USA have won only four of the
past 14 and just once in Europe since 1981. Tom Watson, who won four of his
five Opens in Scotland and led the team to their last away victory in 1993, has
been reappointed captain to turn the European tide.
Ryder
Cup 2014-Tournament Information
Establish:
1927
Par: 2014: 72
Length: 2014: 7,262 yd (6,640 m)
Prize Fund: None
Month Play: Usually September, rarely October
Former Champion: Europe
Play takes
place over three days and includes foursomes, four ball and
singles match play.
On Day 1, there are
four foursomes matches and four four ball matches. One format is played in the
morning and the other in the afternoon. Which goes first - foursomes our four
balls - is decided by the home team captain.
One Day 2, there are
another four foursomes matches and another four four ball matches. Therefore,
there are four sessions over the first two days: two morning sessions and two
afternoon sessions.
On Day 3, there are
12 singles matches, ensuring that all 12 members of each team have to play
singles.Note again that all players on a team must play in the singles session
on the third day. However, only eight golfers per team are needed for each of
the doubles session. That means that four golfers per team are sitting in each
of the foursomes and fourballs sessions on Days 1 and 2.The format has changed
multiple times over the history of the Ryder Cup. In the early days golfers
played a maximum of two matches; in some years of the 1960s and 1970s, there
were two singles sessions (morning and afternoon) on the final day. For all the
formats used throughout the history of the Ryder Cup, see Page 2 of
our Ryder Cup history feature.
A GUIDE to the format used for the Ryder Cup match between Europe and the
United States.
MATCH PLAY
All
games are played under Match Play rules, where the result of each game is
determined by the number of holes won.
The
order of play for the first two days is fourballs in the morning and foursomes
in the afternoon.
The
final day’s play will be in Singles format.
FOURBALL (four groups of two two-man teams)
“Fourball”
play is a match in which each member of the two- man teams play their own ball.
Four
balls are in play per hole with each of the four players competing.
The
team whose player has the lowest score on that hole wins the hole.
Should
players from each team tie for the best score, the hole is halved.
FOURSOMES (four groups of two two-man teams)
“Foursomes”
play is a match where two golfers play together against two other golfers and
each team play one ball.
The
golfers play alternate shots
(player
A hits tee shot, player B hits second shot, etc) until the hole is played out.
Team
members alternate playing the tee shots, with one golfer hitting the tee shot
on odd-numbered holes, and the other hitting the tee shot on the even-numbered
holes.
The
team with the better score wins the hole. Should the two teams tie for best
score, the hole is halved.
SINGLES (12 groups of two one- man teams)
“Singles”
is a match in which one player competes against another player.
A
player wins the match when he is up by more holes than there are holes
remaining to play.
PAIRINGS
Each
Team Captain independently submits the order of play for his Team to the
appointed tournament official.
The
lists from each Captain are matched, resulting in the “Pairings”.
Players
in pairings can be modified by the Team Captains only if a player is ill or
injured.
Pairings
are subject to change and should not be considered that until play begins for a
particular match. AFP
Ryder Cup
Advantage
Europe as US seek revenge
ON the face of it, Europe are
ideally placed to extend their domination over the United States when the 40th
staging of the Ryder Cup gets underway at Gleneagles today.
The Europeans have won seven
out of the last nine editions and five out of the last six and there has not
been an American win on foreign soil since 1993.
Current form shows that four Europeans
are in the world top six, including top-ranked Rory Mcllroy, while the
Americans are without the injured Tiger Woods.
The competition is taking place
in Scotland on a course set up to replicate European Tour courses and Europe
need just 14 points to retain the cup. The Americans need 141/2 to retain it.
And if that were not enough, Europe
have legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in their corner as a
motivational speaker.
Success breeds success in
golf, McGinley believes.
“I see the template that’s in
place,” he said.
“There’s reasons we’ve been
winning these Ryder Cups. We’ve come from underdog positions and won The Ryder
Cups. So it’s not always that we have the best players.
“The fact that I’ve ridden
shotgun on that twice as a vice captain (2010,2012) has been huge.”
Mcllroy apart, Henrik Stenson,
Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose are all in the world top six and there is a
wealth of past Ryder Cup experience in Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn, Ian
Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer.
Even two of the three European
rookies — Stephen Gallacher and Jamie Donaldson — are hardly unknown quantities
at 39 and 38 respectively.
On the American side Phil
Mickelson will be the leader in the locker room as he makes a record 10th
straight Ryder Cup appearance for the United States.
With Tom Watson the oldest ever
Ryder Cup captain at 65 and returning to the competition for the first time in
21 years, Mickelson’s
role with the players is likely
to be doubly important.
The five-time major winner believes
that the Americans have a winning formula provided they all pull together.
“Certainly we’re here without
Tiger Woods. We’re without Dustin
Johnson. We’re without Jason Dufner. And we’re playing a team that have players
like Mcllroy and Stenson who have played just incredible golf over the years,”
he said.
“I’m sure they’re going to play
every match, and they’re going to be extremely tough to beat, whoever gets
paired against them.
“Certainly we are the underdog.
But rather than focus on what we don’t have, what we do have is a great group
of 12 guys that really enjoy each other’s company, have a lot of fun together,
and are hopefully bringing our best games to Scotland, because we are going to
need it to make it a tight race and a close one for Sunday.”
two-man teams)
“Foursomes” play is a match
where two golfers play together against two other golfers and each team play
one ball.
The golfers play alternate
shots
The Americans, who last won the
Ryder Cup at Valhalla, Kentucky in 2008, will also look to Jim Furyk, Zach
Johnson, Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan for their past experience of the
competition.
But much will also depend on
the performance of their three rookies, Jimmy Walker, Patrick Reed and above
all Jordan Spieth, the most exiting emerging star on the US Tour and at 21 by
far the youngest player at Gleneagles.
Unlike in the past two times
the Ryder Cup has been played on European soil — at the K-Club outside Dublin
in 2006 and at Celtic Manor in South Wales in 2010 — the weather is forecast
set fair through the weekend with just an isolated shower or two expected.
The Jack Nicklaus designed PGA
Centenary Course is expected to play host to 45,000 fans daily as golf’s
greatest competition is held in Scotland for just the second time, 41 years after
Muirfield. AFP
TROON GOLF ACADEMY
Greatest Tips
Get into Golfing
 |
| Get into Golfing |
Golf is a fantastic social sport that’s good
for your health and your heart. An 18-hole course provides about four miles of
rigorous walking in the great outdoors, giving you plenty of fresh air and
access to Vitamin D.
Better with age
The number of
people over 65 playing golf is increasing dramatically, according to surveys by
Sport England, with more women taking it up for the first time, too. Regular
golfers happily spend five hours at a weekend enjoying a leisurely game.
Playing regularly helps you stay mobile, and improve your muscle tone and
endurance.
Our expert says
“People often
question the fitness and health benefits of golf. However, research has
demonstrated that playing 18 holes of
golf three times per week improves cardiovascular fitness and decreases heart
disease (if you walk). Golf gets
the body moving by taking the joints and
muscles through range of motion, improving flexibility while keeping the bones
and muscles strong. The best thing about golf is the ability to play and
enjoy the game at all ages, from nine to 90 years. You can play with, and
compete with, your parent or even your grandparent!” Rod Hidlebaugh,
Physiotherapist and Director, Tomsville Clinic, Australia
Antonia’s Story
“I first
played golf over 20 years ago, but as I didn’t take lessons I just hacked
around. A couple of years ago, I gave it another shot and really started
enjoying it, and I’m constantly improving.
“Golf is something I can do
with my husband, either at home or on weekends away. It’s great because it’s
something we do together, sometimes with another couple or in a group. There's
also a huge social aspect to playing, with drinks and regular events outside
the club to attend. I've seen some beautiful countryside and different terrain.”
