Golf Secrets Exposed

Golf News November 14th, 2008

golf information

British Open to move to ESPN

All four rounds of the British Open will air live on ESPN starting in 2010.

ESPN and the tournament’s organizer, Royal & Ancient Golf, agreed to an eight-year contract, they announced Thursday. The deal also includes digital coverage and expanded rights for ESPN International.

Same-day highlights will air on ESPN’s broadcast partner, ABC, over the weekend. Through the 2009 event, British Open coverage is split between TNT and ABC.

“It is all important to The R&A that we preserve the traditions of The Open Championship while at the same time ensuring that golf fans are able to enjoy modern state-of-the-art coverage of the event,” chief executive Peter Dawson said.

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Ochoa Shoots 73 In Hometown Tournament

Lorena Ochoa struggled Thursday in the first round in her own Lorena Ochoa Invitational, shooting a 1-over 73 on her home course to drop five strokes behind Annika Sorenstam and the other leaders.

“I can’t say I’m happy because I’m not, but I’m feel like I can get closer. I hope to do it tomorrow,” said Ochoa, who took up the game 21 years ago at Guadalajara Country Club. “It’s a good pressure to play here, to feel the good vibes, and the love of my fans. I feel motivated because I know that we have three more days to play.”

LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa and ahead of Sorenstam, topped the leaderboard at 68 along with Sorenstam, Angela Stanford, Karen Stupples, Seon Hwa Lee, Nicole Castrale, Hee-Won Han and Brittany Lang.

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No. 2 Garcia now aims at major win, Tiger

Sergio Garcia’s playoff victory over Oliver Wilson in the HSBC Champions gave the Spaniard a career-high No. 2 world ranking.

He also has some unfinished business after passing Phil Mickelson in the rankings – winning his first major and, even more difficult, challenging Tiger Woods for No. 1.

“I think my next goal is trying to win a major,” Garcia said Monday after making a 7-foot birdie on the second playoff hole – the par-5 18th – after Wilson missed a 10-footer. “Well, we’ve been trying for quite a while.

“Attacking No. 1 probably depends a little bit on how much he takes off and if I keep playing well,” Garcia added. “It’s possible, mainly because he’s been injured. … I’ve never been this close to No. 1, so it’s exciting to be there.”

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Golf News November 12th, 2008

One win puts Love at 20 and into Hall of Fame light

So much for that notion the Fall Series on the PGA Tour is meaningless.

On the surface, Davis Love III winning at Disney might have looked that way.

He scrambled for pars on the last two holes to hold off a rookie (Tommy Gainey) who was 228th on the money list, wears two gloves and looks like he’s trying to kill a snake every time he swings. When it was over, Love posed with a bronze trophy of Mickey Mouse playing golf (just think of the white elephant gift nobody will take off your hands).

But that one victory was enough to change the perception of Love.

Timing is everything.

He won the final event of a season in which Love struggled to return from a devastating ankle injury last October that kept him out of golf for four months, out of the Masters and off another Ryder Cup team. And his victory came one day before the induction ceremony for the World Golf Hall of Fame.

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Golf Tips

PGA chips in more cash

The PGA Tour released its schedule for the 2009 regular season yesterday, with 25 tournaments featuring purses of at least $6 million US and a newly configured “Texas swing” of three events in the spring.

Still to be determined are details on a revamped FedEx Cup, and whether to take a week off before the Tour Championship.

Once that it is decided, the Tour said it would release the rest of its Fall Series schedule.

By announcing the majority of the schedule, the Tour put to rest speculation that some tournaments might be in jeopardy because of the economy. The title sponsors are under contract at least through 2010, and most of them have slight increases in prize money built into their agreements.

Among those that kept prize money the same were the FBR Open and Travelers Championship, both at $6 million.

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Golf Lesson

Garcia Wins The Vardon Trophy

With the PGA Tour season officially over, it’s now official: Sergio Garcia has won the Vardon Trophy, the first European-born winner since 1937 to have the lowest adjusted scoring average.

Garcia played 72 rounds with an adjusted average of 69.12, overtaking Phil Mickelson (69.17) at the Tour Championship. Anthony Kim finished third at 69.28.

The last European-born winner was Harry “Lighthorse” Cooper in 1937, the first year of the award when it was based on points. Tiger Woods was not eligible because it requires 60 rounds, and Woods only played 25 before he was injured.

Padraig Harrington wrapped up the points-based PGA player of the year award after winning the PGA Championship, which came with a 50-point bonus for winning two majors in one year. Harrington, who also won the British Open, finished with 116 points to finish ahead of Woods, who had 78 points in six events.

An architect among 6 inducted to golf Hall of Fame

Pete Dye, who designed more than 120 courses with risk-and-reward options that brought pleasure to some and frustration to most, was among six people inducted Monday night into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 2008 class featured an amateur, an architect and an author, along with three major champions.

Craig Wood was the only player elected through the PGA Tour ballot. Wood, the first player to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year and the first to lose all four majors in extra holes, received the minimum 65 percent of the vote.

Three-time major champion Denny Shute and Bob Charles, the first left-hander to win a major, got in through the Veteran’s category.

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Golf School

Golf News Part 2 | November 10th, 2008

Golf Cart

This golfing gear keeps you out of the rough

It’s always golf season somewhere, so these goodies will always have a place in your bag:

1: This “Spectator” argyle vest is a golf fashion classic. $138 at www.peppermintpalm.com.

2: Golf belt by Ame & Lulu has space to carry three tees. $30 at www.ameandlulu.com.

3: Adidas women’s Torsion Euro II golf shoes have a two-year waterproof warranty. $110 at www.golfshoesplus.com.

4: Kali hybrid head cover and bamboo pink absorbent towel. $14.99 each at Golf Galaxy stores or www.golfgalaxy.com.

5: If you can’t wait for the 19th hole, take along the Lolita Purse Party, a four-ounce flask and a one-ounce martini glass. $29.95 at www.jurgeninc.com.

Crystal Announces Its First-Ever Asia Golf Itinerary

Luxury specialist Crystal Cruises is expanding its “Experiences of Discovery” Golf theme cruises into Asia, giving golf enthusiasts the rare opportunity to play at four world-renowned courses in Thailand and Vietnam. Guests will be able to sharpen their skills on board and ashore with instruction from a guest celebrity golfer and PGA golf pro. Crystal Symphony’s 11-day itinerary from Hong Kong to Singapore offers a roster of onboard lectures, clinics, contests and events, including the chance to win a free Crystal cruise.

Every detail of the Crystal Golf Program is arranged in six-star fashion, from onboard practice with TaylorMade equipment — the No. 1 driver on the PGA Tour — to cocktails, caddy and cart service on the greens. Complimentary cleaning and storage of golf clubs and golf shoes will be offered after each round.

Courses include:
* Vietnam Golf & Country Club, Ho Chi Minh City — The country’s first
36-hole golf club, widely regarded as the premier club in Vietnam;
* Burapha Golf, Bangkok — A 36-hole championship course set amid lakes,
hills and tropical vegetation;
* Laem Chabang International Country Club, Bangkok — Three distinct
nines: The Lakes, Mountain and Valley courses, each offering its
one-of-kind challenges, and
* Montgomerie, Da Nang, Vietnam — Asia’s first “Montgomerie”
branded golf set against the Marble Mountains and China Beach
coast.

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Couple takes shot at golf apparel, lessons

Tyler and Kelly Kangas invested about $200,000 to open Alternate Golf Shot at 4680 Cooper Road.

Co-owner Kelly Kangas says the 3,500-square-foot business will sell golf apparel for men, women and children. The apparel as well as golf shoes run from $40 to $350.

The store also sells name-brand equipment for all ages, including golf clubs, bags, travel bags, balls, gloves, caps and more. Those items can sell for $10 to $1,200.

The store includes a golf simulator that allows a person to play a virtual 18-hole round of golf on courses from around the world, including Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.

The golf simulator also can be used for game improvement, club fittings and video lessons.

Tyler Kangas, a professional golfer for 20 years, teaches 45-minute golf lessons that run $30-$55 for adults and $15-$35 for children.

Contact: 513-979-4395 or go to www.alternategolfshot.com

Online Golf Lessons

PGA and LPGA Professionals to offer help during PGA Free Lesson Month

People across the United States have an opportunity to improve their golf game throughout the month of May by participating in Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month.

As a part of the 11th annual event, thousands of PGA and LPGA Professionals at golf facilities across the nation will offer free, 10-minute golf lessons to new and existing golfers of all ages and skill levels. Launched in 1998 by The PGA of America and Golf Digest, PGA Free Lesson Month has provided more than 820,000 personal sessions for player development throughout the past 10 years.

Play Golf America’s PGA Free Lesson Month is designed to bring new people to the sport and help existing golfers improve their game with free instruction. Consumers can find updated lists of participating PGA and LPGA Professionals nearby by entering their zip code at PlayGolfAmerica.com.

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Golf Practice

Beginner Golf Lessons

If you are a beginner golfer just starting out you will need some basic lessons. You will first need to find someone who can show you the basics, such as a golf instructor. A golf instructor will teach and help you to learn about the game of golf before you actually play a real game. Beginner golf lessons should teach you how to swing a golf club. Practicing golf swings can better prepare you for playing golf. Learning all the basics of golf will get you ready for the real thing. You can learn basics by watching golf on television and on videos. Putting is a good place for beginners to get started. It will give you the feel for your swing and for hitting the ball. You can practice your aiming skills when you are putting. After putting it may be easier for you to learn how to use your other clubs. You will learn your own style when putting.

When having beginner golf lessons you will need to learn about gripping your club. Your club should be comfortable for you to hold. This is the important no matter how you decide to grip the club. Every person will have their own way of doing this and they may have more than one grip that they use. Your stance is very important and will be different for everyone. You will have your own style and it should feel right to you. When you stroke the putter you should use your entire body including your hands, arms and shoulders to do this, moving all at once. Practicing putting can build your confidence to learn other Golf Clubs techniques. Keep everything as simple as it can be in the beginning until you catch on better later.

Chipping will be a lot like putting. You will swing your entire body just like you do when you are putting. The difference is you will use a different club and the ball will be leaving the ground and going into the air. Practicing putting and chipping can help you to build a stronger foundation. When you go to try a full swing make sure that you align your golf club and your body up in the right position. Then this will allow your body to have a naturally flowing swing. Aligning your club up to your target properly will help you to get an easier more accurate swing. It is important to remember when chipping one of the most important parts of the swing is getting underneath the ball with just enough force to get it into the air. You do not want to use too much strength unless your ball is buried halfway into the sand.

There is really no right or wrong way to swing a golf club. Just so you are comfortable with the way that you do it. With everybody having a different body structure the way they play golf will be their own style and different from someone else’s. You can still learn the basics of playing and just play your own way. The main thing is to put the ball in the hole and however it works for you is the right way.

These Amazing Secrets Discovered By Golf Guru Turns Bogey Golfers Into Scratch Golfers By Immediately Slashing 7-12 Strokes By Adding Distance To Your Drives and Straightening Out Your Iron Play here: Golf Tips

Golf News November 7th 2008

Golf USA

Rain wipes out second day of HSBC Champions

Heavy rain wiped out all play Friday at the HSBC Champions tournament, forcing organizers to find a way to squeeze in 54 holes over Saturday and Sunday to complete the event.

Henrik Stenson led the damp first round Thursday with a 7-under 65. Four well-known players were a stroke behind: Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson.

Officials for the tournament, which includes 10 of the world’s top 20 players, said they hoped to complete 72 holes by Sunday, but some play may be required on Monday to finish the tournament. Playing only 54 holes is also possible in the $5 million event at the Sheshan Golf Club.

“If we have any further delays … there is a strong possibility that play in the fourth round may need to be completed on Monday morning, and this has been provisionally agreed with all parties within the tournament,” said David Probyn, European Tour tournament director.

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PGA commits to tournament in New Orleans

The PGA Tour and Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday announced that the Tour has committed to having a tournament presence in the New Orleans area through at least 2014.

That means the Fore!Kids Foundation, which last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the organization’s founding, will produce the PGA Tour’s annual springtime stop for at least six more years at TPC Louisiana.

The Fore!Kids Foundation, along with title sponsor Zurich Financial Services, has hosted the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the last four years.

The tournament, which had a $6.2 million purse last spring, annually turns over $1 million to children’s charities in south Louisiana and generates $25 million to $30 million a year for the New Orleans economy.

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golfing

Curt Hocker - golfing beyond the odds

For all the golfers out there, how many of you ever hit a hole in one? I don’t know anyone that has, and I know maybe 100 golfers who have played they game for a combined total of 1,000 years. The closest I personally have ever gotten was 48” on a 125yd par-3. I won a prize in a tournament for it too. But the best part was that 9 golfers were around at the time to see it.

Now I mention that one moment of golf competency for a reason. The odds of getting a hole in one are variable depending on where you look. But going with Golf Digest the following seems accurate:

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