“Drive for show, putt for dough” is the lesson we’ve all seen and learned from watching the professional golfers in every tournament and championship either live or on TV.

The masters of golf can drive a ball from here to eternity, but it all boils down to how many strikes of the ball it takes to put the ball in the hole. The long accurate drives don’t amount to anything if you’re unable to putt the ball accurately.

Your choice of putter is very important, but using the putter you have consistently, is even more so. I’ve had the same putter for fifteen years, so I know what it feels like in my hand, I know it’s weight and I know how that plays into my putts.

Putting takes a lot of practice. Typically, we drive the ball eighteen times in a game, but putt at least double that number. So doesn’t it stand that we should practice our putting at least twice as much as driving? If you can’t get to the practice green regularly, just practice on your carpet at home.

But bear in mind that the ball will never make it to the hole, if it doesn’t have enough wallup behind it to get it in there. So, why not take the time to get down on the ground to look at the path your ball must run to the hole. Does it slope one way or the other? Does the path run uphill or downhill?

So, stand with your feet spread apart for balance and line up the putt. Keep you hands, arms and shoulders completely still. Imagine that you are a “bobble head” but that you move from just below your chest. Keep your head directly over the ball. Pull your club back; keep your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders steady – the movement comes from your chest. Hit the ball, following the ball through with your club.

Learn from each putt and remember the lesson. Practice, practice, practice!

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Golfing Tips for Beginners: 5

What to keep in your golf bag.

There are many types of golf bag out there. Some are practical, some are just beautiful and some are both! Then there different size bags. Again, some are large, some even larger and som so enormous that you could take all you need to go on holiday in it!

A basic, practical golf bag is one just large enough to hold your clubs (obviously), spare golf balls, tees, golf glove, pencils, keys, sunblock cream, ball markers, a ball retriever, an umbrella and a plastic raincoat.

You could also include other items that are handy when outdoors, such as tissues, a small first-aid kit or at least some plasters and some anti-insect spray.

A small pack of wipes can be just what you need too if it gets hot or you get covered with sand in one of the bunkers or you have to fish your ball out of a stream.

If you suffer from any allergies or illnesses, it is a wise precaution to carry antidotes with you. For example, if you are sensitive to bee stings then anti-hystamine or whatever you take if you are a diabetic. However, remember to replace drugs before their expiry date.

Please remember to turn off your mobile phone before you put it away as a courtesy to the other players. No one is going to be best pleased to hear your phone go off just as he is about to take a shot. It is part of golfing etiquette too. If you must use it, walk away from the teams.

If you have these items with you in your golf bag, you will be covered for most minor tribulations, like a bee sting, an ant bite, a blister or even a sudden downpour. If you know that you are well prepared, you will be able to relax that little bit more and enjoy your game that much more too.

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Basic Golfing Tips for Beginners: 2

What to keep in your golf bag.

There are many golf bags available; some are designed for fashion, some for utility and some that combine both features. There are big bags, bigger bags and bags so big that they would keep everything I need for a long week-end vacation in one of the side pockets!

Generally speaking, you need a bag which is just large enough to hold your clubs, extra balls, your glove, tees, car keys, extra pencils, ball markers, a ball retriever, sunscreen, a windbreaker and a large umbrella.

It is also recommended that you carry in your bag: some tissue paper, sticking plasters and, whether necessary or not, some insect repellant.

A small pack of wipes can be just what you need too if it gets hot or you get covered with sand in one of the bunkers or you have to fish your ball out of a stream.

Other things that could come in useful are certain drugs: for instance, antihistamine, if you are allergic to wasp stings or medication to counteract an illness like diabetes (if you suffer from it, that is). It is vital to remember to replace these medicines before their expiry date though.

Please remember to turn off your mobile phone before you put it away as a courtesy to the other players. No one is going to be best pleased to hear your phone go off just as he is about to take a shot. It is part of golfing etiquette too. If you must use it, walk away from the teams.

Knowing that you are prepared for most of the minor problems that can arise while you are out on the course will help you to enjoy your game. And the game is mostly about being relaxed. You are prepared for bee stings, ant bites, blisters and rain, so you can get on with your game safe in that knowledge!

Post from: Aromatherapy

Golfing for Beginners: Part 2

We’ve all the seen the incredibly long yet accurate drives of Tiger Woods. The ball flies through the air and lands in the middle of the fairway, 300 yards away.

The green-eyed monster of envy rises in us as we wonder if we could ever possibly hope to drive like that. Fortunately, long drives are not the be-all-and-end-all of the game of golf.

So, we get to the ’short game’ because without decent short game skills, all those great long drives are not worth a candle.

The “short game” is made up of those shots that get you onto the green from no more than about a hundred feet out, whether it’s from the fairway, a bunker, the rough or a drop zone. It includes chips, sand shots and pitches.

This is where you get to use your higher numbered golf clubs, as well as your pitching iron and sand wedge or lob wedge.

You will find practice areas on most golf courses. You really ought to spend some time practising hitting the ball onto the green from various distances. Try to hit the ball into a ten-foot circle in the centre of the green at first. Experiment using your wedges, but remember that what works well for one person, might not work so well for you because your particular swing is an unknown factor in the equasion.

When you can perform this skill fairly consistently, it is about time to start practising how to get out of a sand bunker. Being able to get the ball out of a bunker can really cut your score quite dramatically and it is very frustrating if you can’t do it.

The way to do it is to plant your feet firmly in the sand with your left foot turned to face the hole. See an imaginary 4-inch circle around the ball and try to hit the outer edge of that circle.

Take lots of sand with your ball and swing through completely. Don’t decelerate at all when or after you hit the ball. It should pop up onto the green and stop. This doesn’t work well though unless the sand is dry, soft and powdery. On hard surfaces, you might need to avoid actually hitting the sand at all.

However, as in every skill in the game of golf, it is only continual practice that will help you to improve your game.

Post from: Aromatherapy

Basic Golfing Tips for Beginners: 4