Golfing Billboard

photo credit: zone41There are many different golf accessories that can make the sport more enjoyable for you. These range from cases to protect your clubs, to small handheld score calculating computers. If you have a product in mind, you can probably find it at your local golf club store. However, sometimes local golf stores won’t have as big of an inventory as you would like, or they simply don’t carry the item at all. If this is the case, then you will have to look elsewhere for your desired accessory. There are several ways you can track down what you want.

First of all, you should monitor classified ads in as many places as you can. The internet offers many different places for people to post their ads, on sites like Craigs List. Keep an eye on these sites for anyone with the product that you want, so that you can immediately call them up and get the first dibs. Local newspapers are good as well, and also offer yard sale advertisements that might lead you to finding what you need. If you head to the right parts of town for yard sales, you will find quite a few people who are looking to unload their old golf equipment. As long as what you want isn’t too modern, you might be able to find it.

You can also look on sites that are meant to sell the items online. EBay is the one that comes to mind first for most people, and this is a very good place to look. EBay is one of the biggest repositories of all things old and no longer widely available. However, there are also quite a few online golf accessory stores that may offer what you need. The bigger stores are generally more reliable and more trustworthy than the average eBay seller, and they also sell new items. As long as you are sure that you are getting a quality item and not some cheap version that will break right away, these sites are very good to check out.

Your fellow golfers are another great resource when it comes to getting used golf accessories. Golfers tend to go through more accessories than players of any other sport, so you can usually count on some of your golfing buddies having some old items that they wouldn’t mind parting with … so they can go out and buy new golf toys!

If you try all of these different resources, you are almost guaranteed to find what you need. Just remember to be thrifty when it comes to golf equipment. Even if you feel like you can afford it, you still don’t want to get too free with your wallet and start tossing checks everywhere for all kinds of equipment. This is a good way to waste huge amounts of money without having much to show for it in the end except for a bunch of accessories that you might not use very much.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Accessories

For those annoying moments when you can’t be playing golf …

Sports Illustrated publishes the monthly glossy bible for golfers, known simply as Golf Magazine. It is entertaining and informative and golfers of all ability levels look forward to each edition. It appears as a hard copy and can also be accessed on a user friendly web site.

All aspects of the sport are explored from articles about the top competitions to detailed discussions on equipment. The staff reviews products and golf courses. There is also an online search facility of courses from an index of 20,000 locations. Advice is given on the merits or otherwise of a particular course and on golfing vacations. Another search will bring up an index of golf clubs. Golf Magazine also runs an online store, a convenient way of buying irons, drivers, hybrids, putters and wedges etc.

Top golfers on the circuit are featured, as the magazine follows their careers and charts their progress at each event. There are interviews with all the celebrity names, news updates and photographs of the action. Upcoming competitions and participants are previewed. Instruction is another important part of Golf Magazine and there are lessons from experts, demonstrated in videos and photographs. These include tuition on putting, shot making and pitching and chipping.

Another popular publication is Golf International, in print, online and through the Setana Golf TV channel. It has the usual sections associated with a golf magazine with news and feature articles on the world of competitive golf. There is also expert tuition from the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Amateur golf news is also included and there is an index of golf instruction schools, reviews and a golf competition calendar. Archive video provides exciting footage of past tournaments, such as the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie and the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic.

This publication puts a lot of emphasis on the international scene. Any golf magazine is read around the world these days and Golf International includes articles about the development of the sport in Iceland, the Middle East and Asia. The section called Travel Destinations looks at various courses and golf holiday resorts in Ireland, the Caribbean and South Africa. Some of these exotic destinations may be out of reach but there is the opportunity to win equipment in the various contests that the golf magazine runs.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Literature

photo credit: Shayan (USA)If you want to shave a few strokes off your score – but don’t want to pay a lot to do it – then a good pair of discount golf shoes could be the answer. A good pair of shoes designed for the game of golf can help on the course as they grip the grass better than regular shoes and cause much less slippage. Staying balanced is key in golf and a good pair of golf shoes can keep you on the course instead of slipping all over it.

One good place to find them is sporting good stores which specialize in shoes. Many times, just like regular shoes, they have sales and also carry older styles of models that have been upgraded. These type of stores usually have many pairs of golf shoes at lower prices.

Along this line, specialty golf stores can also have many pairs to choose from whether on sale or older models. An advantage of this type of specialized store is that generally they will have salespeople that are more knowledgeable about the sport of golf so they can steer you in the right direction.

Golf is such a popular sport that in many discount malls and outlet malls there are sporting goods stores or golf specialty stores. These are great places to pick up some discount golf shoes. Many times they are newer models but if it is an outlet establishment then they are generally overstocked with them and therefore are less expensive.

No matter where you go the best time to buy anything golf is in the dead of winter. If where you live is too cold to play golf in the winter then to make up for lost revenue sporting goods stores and specialty golf stores will have big sales and slash prices on merchandise. You may not get to use your new shoes for a while, but you will save some money in the process.

It seems as though you can find just about everything you need on the Internet these days. You can buy an entire set of clubs along with a nice new golf outfit all from your computer. Discount golf shoes can be bought this way too. Be careful though as you do not have the option to try them on first, and golf shoes especially need to be comfortable for walking around the course. A good option can be to go to a store that has golf shoes and try some on and see if you can find that type on the Internet. Even though discount golf shoes can be had on the Internet you don’t want to be looking over a birdie putt worrying about your blisters.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Apparel

In most endeavors in life, success or failure starts in the mind. If you believe you can’t do something, it will be difficult for you to do it at all or certainly to do it well. The same applies to golf. The masters of golf are those who play with the right mentality, those who refuse to be intimidated, who believe they can win and go ahead to do all they can to win. The right mentality can be cultivated, and here are some tips on how to go about doing that.

Believe In Yourself

If you are going to be the best in anything in life there is a need for you to first believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself you won’t be able to overcome the challenges that come your way easily and you will be intimidated by other people’s success. In golf, the same applies; you need to believe in yourself, believe you can master the game and compete with the best of the best. If you believe it you can achieve it.

Visualize Playing Perfect Games In Your Mind

As good as it is to believe in yourself, it’s not enough … you must learn to practice playing golf on and off the course. Since success starts in your mind, you should learn to visualize playing golf in your mind, and getting it right. If you get it right in your mind you’ll be surprised how easy it will be when it’s time to actually play it on the course.

Refuse To Be Intimidated By Others

The reason why some people find it difficult to improve their game is because they feel intimidated by the people they play with. They see themselves as not good enough to compete with such people. This sets up a mental barrier that’s actually reflected in their game. You must be confident in your game, believe in yourself and refuse to be intimidated by others. You are all playing on the same course with the same kind of clubs, it’s just about getting the ball into the hole as quick as you can with less attempts. Refuse to see the others, see yourself as having a good time and you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to beat those you think are too good for you to play against.

Having said all this, it is worth noting that no game is completely won in the mind. Victory starts in the mind but it doesn’t end there. You must make an effort to translate what you have in your mind into real life games. Practice and training is what bridges the gap between winning in the mind and winning in real life, so practice is very important in improving your game in golf.

Make sure you cultivate the right mentality and develop a good training and practice schedule, then you will able to improve your game since you won’t be easily discouraged even when you don’t get it right in your first attempts. When you have the right mentality, your initial failures and setbacks are perceived as part of the process of getting better and becoming a master golfer.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Psychology

photo credit: striaticSome people do not realize that when you are playing on those green hills on a beautiful Saturday morning there are rules to follow. You can’t just show up, hit some balls into some holes and call it a day. There are rules of golf. There are long, descriptive, detailed books about these rules. But you don’t need to read them all … here are the five basic etiquette guidelines to follow when playing golf. Guidelines that veteran players need to brush up on as much as beginners need to know.

Tee Times – Generally you’ll need to reserve a tee time to arrive at the golf course to play. When you and your golf buddies schedule a tee time, actually show up for the tee time. There is nothing ruder than making an appointment and not sticking to it. If your group misses your tee time, you could lose your spot and have to wait around for another opening. In fact, a good rule of thumb will be to arrive earlier than your scheduled time. This way you can warm up by hitting a few balls at the driving range.

Equipment - Make sure you have your equipment with you. Borrowing clubs is not necessarily frowned upon but you do not want to bother your companions by continuously asking to borrow their clubs. When arriving at the golf course, make sure you have all the clubs you need, not to exceed fourteen. Also, have enough tees and balls with you.

Dress - Check on your golf course’s dress code. Most courses do require certain attire. Khaki shorts and a button up shirt will fit the attire at most courses, but you may want to check just to make sure. Golf shoes and golf gloves are usually up to the player but you should check before arriving empty handed. Be sure to have extra loose bills on you for tipping purposes.

Course - These beautiful courses don’t deserve you coming in and being all rough and rude to it. Follow the rules of the golf cart. Do not drive where you aren’t supposed to, and especially keep them away from greens and hazards. Be sure to repair any divots and ball marks on the green. Never take a divot on a practice swing. And, finally, rake all sand traps to erase footprints and damage to area where your ball was.

Pace Appropriately – Having to wait on people is annoying. Making people wait on you is rude. Watch the game. Be ready for your turn. Wave faster groups around you if you are moving slowly. Keep pace with the group ahead of you. Do not waste too much time looking for a lost ball. If you want to keep to the five minutes allowed, wave groups behind you ahead so you will not hold them up.

Golf can be a fun, relaxing way to spend a morning, afternoon or even a full day. You can enjoy that time either alone or with a group of friends or coworkers. Just remember that golf is a game and just as in most games there are rules to follow. Remember the golden rule? Yeah, keep to that.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Basics

A backyard putting green is any golfer’s dream come true. What better way to spend a relaxing evening than practicing your putt? There are some options available and many fantastic ideas for this backyard game. Adding this feature to your landscape is a great way to improve your outdoor space.

You may be tempted to take the do-it-yourself approach to this kind of project. This is fine for those who have a lot of experience working with landscape design but most of us don’t fall into that category. After all, if a backyard putting green were simple to install, we would all have one.

Of course, I don’t want to caution you to take on an expensive project when you can do some of the work yourself. However, I have seen many landscaping projects fall apart. This can be very costly. Consulting a professional is the best approach to this venture.

The first thing you want to consider is your overall landscape design. If you have a lot of hills and bumps then you have your work cut out for you. This is not to suggest that a putting green in your backyard is out of the question, though. You’re just going to have to move some earth to get things organized for the project.

Next come the materials used to get the job done. Are you interested in a grass putting green that grows naturally? Maybe you prefer artificial turf. Do you want the green to be used indoors as well as outside? You are going to use different materials for different greens.

I like to keep things simple. Instead of trying to work out my own design for our yard, I decided to go with a reputable company. The company that I chose offered a synthetic backyard putting green that can be used indoors and outdoors. The sturdy material is ideal for both environments.

The company also implemented a design that is quite similar to a real golf course. I was amazed when I first stepped on my backyard putting green. I felt as if I had just stepped onto the green on my favorite links. Even though the material is synthetic, it feels just like real grass.

My backyard putting green has helped me improve my game. I also love the idea of playing a little golf after a long day at the office. This backyard feature is way more valuable to me than a pool or hot tub.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Putting

My golf game has always been good.  Anyone who has ever played with me will tell you that I am a good golfer.  None of them, however, will ever tell you that I am great.  I used to think that it was just a matter of my limited natural golf skills.  I thought that I had gotten as good as I could get, and couldn’t get any better.  But then one day, I discovered that I had no idea how to swing a golf club.

It turns out that I knew almost everything about golf except how to swing a golf club.  I knew how to select the right club, how to compensate for wind shear, how to stay out of the traps, how to wear those bizarre clothes, and how to take my time and line up my shot carefully.  I knew what golf equipment to get, how to keep track of my game, and even how to psych out my opponents.  It was just that, being a self-taught golfer, I had never learned how to swing a golf club correctly.  I had no follow-through, my approach was all wrong, and even my stance was off.  None of my friends had ever told me this, because they figured that my game was good enough as it was.  Nonetheless, it needed a lot of work.

That was when I decided to find a golf tutor.  I looked at all of the videos that promised they would teach me how to swing a golf club, but I was skeptical.  I have some money, after all, so why not work one on one with a professional golfer?  Even watching videos by pros showing you how to swing golf clubs, I reasoned, was not as good as having a solid amateur show me the proper way.

It turns out that my approach paid off, but not in the short run. When I learned how to swing a golf club correctly, it actually threw off my whole game in the short run. I would not swing in my accustomed manner, and so I often had no idea at all how far, how fast, and in what direction the ball would go. It was almost like being an amateur again. In the long run, however, learning how to swing a golf club made me a much better player.  Once I adjusted my game to accommodate my new swinging style, I was better than I had ever been before.

No Comments » Posted by Tuppy / Golf and Golf Basics