Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Golf Basic Rules for Beginners.

There is a universal set of rules of golf. The following will provide an outline of some of the most important rules in the game of golf for beginners. For more details of golf basic rules refer to the actual golf rule book.

• Starting out announce the make and number of golf ball you are going to play with.

• You are allowed only to have 14 clubs in your golf bag.

• Penalties for too many golf clubs are: For stroke-play it is two penalty strokes are given on each hole where the fault occurred. In match-play you loose the hole where the violation occurred stableford deduct 2 points for every hole the violation occurred. Maximum deduction 4 points.

• The player with the honour of teeing off first: In organized competition the player whose name appears first. Otherwise toss a coin.

• Teeing off, make sure to stay within the line of the two markers.

• Teeing off outside the line of the markers in match play your opponent can ask you to take your shot again, but there is no penalty. In stroke-play you are penalized by two strokes and have to re-take your shot.

• Ball falls off the tee even if you touch the ball with the club head there is no penalty. If you have started your down swing and making a glancing blow on the ball or even if you miss the ball, it counts as a stroke. But if you are able to stop your swing it does not count as a stroke.

• Once you have struck your ball, you must play as it lies which means you may not touch the ball as it lies. Often during winter some courses will permit you to clean and place the ball on the fairway, and allow to place the ball within 6” of its original position, but it cannot be closer to the hole. The course may also have a specific ruling on the rough, which you will have to check with the golf club.

• Always make sure the ball you are about to play is your ball. Playing the incorrect ball will incur a penalty. In match play you loose the hole. In stroke-play you incur a two-stroke penalty and then play your own golf ball. If the ball belongs to a fellow player the ball must be replaced.

• Lost Ball: you are allowed 5 minutes to look for your golf ball. Always remember to direct the match behind you to play through. If after 5 minutes you cannot find your ball, in match- play and stroke-play you must play your new ball at where you played your last shot, if on the fairway you play near as possible to where you played your previous shot. Penalty is added, for example if your shot was a tee shot well you would then be playing your 3rd shot.

• Finally for golf basic rules always refer to the golf rule book if in any doubt about a particular question, and dont forget to look at that great e-book i mentioned earlier called "Renegade Mindset Techniques for Golf!" by a guy called. Stephen Ladd. It has easy-to-use golf techniques to overcome lack of confidence, skill, physical power and practice time on the range.

Mental Golf - The Simple Frame of Mind to Adopt

Golf is every bit a mental game as it is a physical game. There are hundreds if not thousands of books out there in the market written on the subject of mental golf attitude, and can be of fantastic benefit to read up on them, but reading up on too many books on the subject you will probably be more confused trying to remember what they all said on mental golf attitude, yes they are great and one should read up on the subject, it can only be good for ones game of golf, maybe find a book you enjoy reading on the subject, but probably not a whole library on the matter, especially for beginners starting out.

There is an excellant e-book on sale by Wade Pearse called " THE MENTAL GAME OF GOLF!" it also includes 6 Bonus Audio Coaching Sessions, have a quick look at it, i think you will be impressed.

The one true fact that is written in every book on mental golf attitude is with out the right mental attitude especially positive over negative your game will be in severe trouble from beginning to end.

For beginners the following are some short tips to might keep in mind before and during your game of golf, and will help to contribute towards a relaxed frame of mind.

• Before leaving home or the office for the golf course have a quick check with your clubs and accessories if they are all in order.
• Are they clubs clean and in the correct order in your golf bag.
• Have you got all the required accessories such as: golf glove and is it dry. (Have a spare glove) tees. golf balls, pitch marker, pencil, golf cap, umbrella wet suit, golf shoes.
• It makes such a physiological difference being organized and equipment clean and dry.
• A last minute check before leaving the office or home, that nothing is left undone that might come into your mind while on the course. Feel relaxed and free, very important.
• Be at the golf course in plenty of time, at least one hour before tee off time.
• Go to the driving range and practice on a few different clubs, also practice on the putting area, practice hitting golf balls from different distance and angles.
• Relax with a cup of tee or coffee before starting to play.
• When it is your turn to tee off, wish all of your partners best of luck, and then most importantly slow down take a few deep breaths , put everything else other than the golf out of your mind, completely focus on the game ahead. And you will enjoy your game , that is the frame of mind to adopt.

Remember to take a quick look at the e-book i mentioned called THE MENTAL GAME OF GOLF!

Adult Golf.- Retirement. Answers to Your Questions

For those who have just retired, the game of golf has to be one of the best hobbies if at all possible to take up. Don’t worry if you never played the game, some might think one would have to have played the game at some stage in their life, if they are to take up the game when they retire. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unless of course you intend taking on Tiger Woods or Padridg Harrington.

Just a quick note to let you know of a very good e-book which tou can down load, it is called " How To Golf And Why!" By Teddy Webber, there are 6 differant golf lessons in the book, very well worth getting.

Maybe some of your friends playing golf in retirement and you would like to consider playing the game.
You will have the best opportunity to spend some fantastic leisure time with your friends. It is also a great game to pass away time as when you get to playing the 18 holes it will take up to 4 hours with a group of 4 players. You will find it to be the fastest and most enjoyable 4 hours ever spent.

Golf is fantastic when away just for the week-end especially if your partner also plays the game. There are fantastic courses available, The majority of the golf courses are more than welcome to visitors and glad to have them, just remember always check at the golf course as to the time slots available.
The afternoons during week-days are usually the quietest times to play, that is why golf in retirement can be fantastic sport to consider playing.

A couple of suggestions to getting started.
• Don’t just go out with some friends and experiment casually at the driving range and rely on their tips and advice, do it properly as the tips and advice could be totally unsuited to your style of play.

• Take some lessons they don’t cost a lot, it is the perfect and the proper way to start off.

• Taking lessons, you will learn the proper fundamentals of the game, which will help build your confidence.

• At every golf course you will find a golf pro. Who will give you private lessons? That way you will get full attention to get you started.

• Rules and golf etiquette. Don’t let that frighten you or put you off in anyway. First off via the golf lessons it will be a start. Talk to your golfer friends and they will give you a list of the basic rules and golf etiquette to abide by. Always have total respect for the golf course and other players on and off the course.

• Golf Rule Book, you can acquire one at the golf pro. shop.

• Always have your rule book in your golf bag, as it will come in very useful on the course to answer various questions and situations on the course.

• Tip. When starting out on the course with your friends and in order to keep up with play, or to avoid embarrassment if you are playing behind, pick up your golf ball and move on to next hole, don’t be afraid as you are quiet entitled to do so, it is very common with beginners, and remember that is what you are, a beginner.

• Scoring. This should be the last thing on your mind starting out in the game of golf, your purpose is to get to know the game, get used to and like the game.

• Finally the game of golf is and can be a fantastic game regardless of age, from the very young to the very old. With the best of scenery and fresh air it is the best of all worlds.
Finally have a look at the e-book i mentioned at the beginning called" How To Golf And Why
!

Golf Bunker. Super Ideas and Suggestions for Beginners

Most greenside golf bunkers you will find have greater banks than fairway bunkers have, so you will require a good height to your shot and a very short distance.

Remember with a bunker shot one can not ground the club in the sand when addressing the ball, including not touching the sand before you play your stroke. If you do either you will be penalized two strokes in stroke play or in match play the penalty is loss of a hole.
Before playing your shot, move to the back outside of the bunker and take a few practice swings as if you were in the bunker.
An e-book which you can down load called" "How To Golf And Why"
!
By Teddy Webber has 6 differant lessons on golf with one specifically on golf bunkers, have a look at it.

Access your line of target, stand with your feet apart, make sure to have your stance and club face open.

Have the golf ball so it is back in your stance, but not too far back. Always remember the more of a back swing you adopt the greater the distance you will have.
Firm both your feet in the sand to create a solid footing, as you rotate your feet creating a solid footing you will get a feel as to how loose the sand is, and also a guide as how much sand there is.

Make sure never to change your posture. How hard a player should hit down into the sand it all depends on the texture and depth of the sand.

When striking the ball hit the sand approximately four inches before the golf ball. Most importantly make sure to follow through with your shot, this is vital, if you fail to do so your ball will most likely fail to clear the bunker lip. Don’t apply brute force as an attempt to blast the ball out will only cause all kinds of problems, Try and imagine the club head travelling on a U-shape into and through impact
By hitting the sand approx the four inches before the golf ball and making sure to follow through, the club should slide under the ball and should therefore have a lot of spin in the ball preventing the ball from rolling too far.

Finally always remember when in golf bunkers to smooth out the foot marks and any other marks with the rake provided.
Failure to repair a golf bunker is as with any damage to the golf course is unforgivable. If there is no rake available try and use your club to smooth out the marks best as possible,and do click on " How To Golf And Why!" that i mentioned earlier.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Golf Etiquette - Beginner Tips. Advice and Suggestions

Golf Etiquette is sometimes defined as a code of behaviour that is correct and polite; it is much more than just a hand shake. Not observing the code of conduct can be one of the big pit falls for golf beginners.
Golf is a sport that relies on the integrity and honesty of each individual player to show consideration for their fellow players. To assist you in observing golf etiquette, the following is a short guide for same. Before I do there is a very good e-book I would like to mention and that is "Pure Point Golf!" by Bobby Eldridge, and it includes a Free Golf DVD, worth at a look at.

Teeing Off:
• Be ready to play as soon as it’s your turn.
• Never stand too close to the person who’s teeing off.
• Be completely silent always when a player is taking their shot.
• When you have completed your shot move aside, and again be silent while
the next player is taking their shot.
• Never stand directly behind a player taking their shot, stand behind but slightly right
of player if it’s a left hand player stand left, be well back at all times.

Fairway.
• Repair your divot always. A divot left not repaired can take weeks to heal, where as
a repaired divot will heal in the space of 4 to 5 days. It only takes a few second to
replace and firm down with your foot.

Safety:
• Never be tempted to walk onto your ball while your partner is taking their shot.
Apply the habit of always looking behind you before moving on.

Bunkers:
• Remember always to smooth out all marks made by you, use the provided rake to do
so, also look out for any other marks you might repair, in total leave the bunker as
you would ideally like to find it. If no rake is provided use your club to smooth as
best you can.

Greens:
• Place your golf bag or trolley to where you will be walking towards the next tee box.
• Never place your golf bag or trolley on the green.
• Repair any pitch marks created including any other pitch marks you might see on the
green.
• Repairing the pitch mark, stick the repair tool into the ground behind the pitch mark,
and gently lift the compact dirt and tap it down gently and even with your putter and
not with your golf shoe.
• Be conscious of not dragging your feet on the green as it leaves several spike marks.
• Remember the green surface is a very tender area of the golf course, and treat it as
such.

• Pin:
• Don’t throw or drop the pin on to the ground, place it down gently.
• Don’t stand or cross another player’s line.
• Complete silence while partner is analyzing, practice swing and actual putt.
• Be ready to play as soon it’s your turn to take your shot.

Finally as I already stated earlier take a look at Bobby Eldridges e-book Pure Point Golf! and get his free DVD I think you will be happy you did. And always keep golf etiquette in your mind.