Developing Your Own Golf Style

You really do need to develop your own golf style. Now, that may seem like an obvious statement, but some beginners think that all they have to do is imitate Tiger Woods' every move and they'll become an instant golf success.

Unfortunately, it's just not that easy. There are no shortcuts to becoming a good golfer.

To begin with, no two people ever swing at a golf ball in exactly the same way. Next time you're at the driving range, stand and watch the rows of people slapping away and you'll quickly see this is absolutely true. Each person has their own unique body build and develops their own individual set of muscles. Therefore, the style of golf played by a person who is large and lanky and swings the club like a hockey player taking a slap shot has a whole different set of muscles than a person who is small and wiry.

Golf will always be an individual sport and finding a style of playing that produces the best results for you will go a long way in determining how much you enjoy playing the game.

With golf, imitation is not necessarily the best form of flattery. If you find yourself trying to copy someone else's style, and you're not having much success, perhaps hiring a professional coach for a few lessons will help you find your own groove and help you make corrections to your swing. Try to hire someone who works with the natural swing that you already have rather than a teacher who tries to teach you general rules that don't necessarily apply to every type of golfer.

It's also a good idea, if you do hire a pro, to make sure that he or she is a top notch player and teacher as well. If they just stand there and watch you swing without actually showing you how to get out of a sand trap, or hit a fade, or the proper way to putt from the fringe, then you're really not getting your money's worth. The best teachers will try to understand your natural abilities first and then adjust their advice to suit your specific needs.

Once you're ready to play a game, it's important not to think too much before taking your shot. I've played with people who stood so long over the ball trying to remember everything their coach taught them, you wondered how they ever got through 18 holes. It's impossible to make a shot while trying to think of a dozen things like your grip, where your feet are, where the ball is, keeping your eye on the ball, keeping your head straight, and so on. If you make a bad shot, don't fret. You'll get another chance to take that shot again, so get on with it an always try to use your natural way of doing things. The worst thing you can do is to keep changing your style just because you had a bad game.

As you're learning the game, however, there are some fundamental principles that need to be observed.

Here are two basic tips to help you improve your personal game:

1. An important foundation you need no matter what shot you're making, no matter what club you're using, is balance. You must keep your balance when you strike the ball.

2. And remember, of course, to always keep your eye on the ball. Make sure your stance allows you to see the ball from every point of the stroke.

Take your time and develop your own methods that work best for you. Unless you're playing golf for a living, you have all the time in the world to get it right.

Like everything else in life, golf takes time and practice and if you're patient and try doing everything as natural as possible, in no time you'll get your first birdie, and then your first chip in for par, and before you know it, you'll be breaking 80 on a regular basis.

Man Cave and Gift Ideas for Golfers

The items below are featured in this golfer's man cave. They have been created by Zazzle independent artists.

Every golfer needs to decorate his man cave to reflect his love of the game. The above example was created by Susan Golis of Designer Home Decor by Susan. To visit her blog or hire her to design a room for you, contact here HERE.

3 Tips to Improve Your Golf Swing

Do you have a favorite golf player? Is it Tiger Woods or Ernie Els? Have you ever thought that your swing looks like theirs? Woods and Els are two great golf players. When you watch them play, you will definitely notice their graceful and powerful swings. Honestly, it is difficult to imitate that just by watching.

Having a good swing needs constant practice. Also, your body needs to be well tuned up for it to perform well. Here are some basic tips to help you improve your golf swing and may help you shoot in the 90s or even 80s.

1. Warm up. Just like any other game or sport, golf players need a little warming up before starting a round. This is what most players, especially amateurs, often take for granted.

It is best to arrive at the golf course a little early and take a few minutes to stretch those muscles and warm up. This will make your muscles "know" that they are in for something and that they should be prepared. Taking a few swings in the driving range will also help you get tuned up and perform better.

2. Exercise. This is really important, not only for golf. Constantly exercising your body and muscles will keep them toned and ready for any activity. This will also prevent common body aches and pains that you usually feel when playing golf.

Getting into the habit of exercising, especially tuning up your muscles, will have a great impact on your swing. It will help you have a good stance and increase total balance and control on your swings. Never underestimate the power of a good strength training program.

3. Do not swing too hard yet. It is really tempting to give your swing that extra effort. However, it is not recommended unless you already have the control of your swing. The key to a powerful and graceful swing is the balance and control that you have, and then add to it the proper form and stance.

So how do you get to learn to control your swing? Again, it's tip number 2. Regular exercise will, in time, allow you to have a faster, more controlled swing.

Aside from performing these simple steps, it is also best to ask help from the pros, personally or through online methods. They can give good advice as they already have learned a lot from their experiences. Keeping updated with the latest about golf will also help.

Also, most players tend to be so conscious in their desire to improve their swing that their minds are focused on every aspect of the swing itself; doing that will only make your swing look awkward. Instead, it is best to keep your mind off your swing. Try to focus on something else and the good swing will just follow.

Try to follow the above tips when you play golf again. Perform them regularly regularly, then notice the change it will make on your next golf swing.

Making The Right Golf Community Decision

For golfers, choosing to buy a home in a golf course community might seem as easy as swinging the club on a fine spring morning. Over 2700 golf course communities have been built across the United States, with more anticipated each year. With over 26 million golfers in this country, builders clearly have a ready-made clientele for homes designed with a view of the greens. But golf course communities have an appeal for buyers who are not avid golfers, too. Many people enjoy the country club lifestyle, the view of the manicured lawn and the fact that they own property backing to land which won’t be developed with more homes or shopping centers.

While making the decision to move into a residential development designed around a beloved sport can be easy, golfers and their families may find that picking the right community can be complicated. Often the first consideration when choosing a community will be location.

While many people assume golf course communities are for retirees, most are built as multigenerational developments which appeal to young families as well as aging ones. For families with children, a big concern is always the local system. Local real estate agents can direct families to web sites with information and statistics on school districts. Older couples and singles may prefer to live in an age restricted community with other residents in their age group.

Obviously being within commuting distance of a job is important, too, and many developers are designing golf course communities within driving distance of major metropolitan areas. Potential golf course buyers should also consider whether they prefer living in a rural or suburban location. Proximity to cultural activities, the beach, a lake or mountains should also be taken into account.

Other aspects to choosing an appropriate location include the climate. In the past, retirees migrated often to warmer climates. But for golfers, a little too much blazing sun can be a problem.

Retirees may also want to check out health care facilities and transportation. As they age, it can become more important to have doctor’s offices and a good hospital located nearby. Public transportation or other options for getting around can also be crucial once seniors become less expert at driving.

For the golfers in the family, a big factor in the choice of a golf course community should be the course itself. Golf course communities are built around public, semi-private and private courses, with varying greens fees required. Golfers should look into whether the course will be complete and available for play when they move into their home, because some developments build the homes before the course is ready. In addition, golfers should determine whether the course will be appropriate for their changing level of play, whether they want an easy, relaxing game or a more challenging play.

Golf course communities often include a clubhouse or country club and a range of community amenities for the whole family, including tennis courts, swimming pools, concierge services, on-site
restaurants, boating, fishing and even nearby skiing. Each family should decide which of these amenities are the most important when choosing a community.

The clubhouse atmosphere is also something to consider. For some golfers, an upscale, resort-like atmosphere is desirable, including a formal restaurant for entertaining business associates and family members. Other golf home buyers prefer a more laid-back, family-oriented style with plenty of children’s activities and casual social events such as barbecues and ice cream parties.

More important even than all these considerations, though, is the price range of the homes and the associated homeowner fees. Planned communities universally charge homeowner association fees for maintaining the property and keeping the value in the development. Golf course communities are no exception, and sometimes have higher fees depending on the range of amenities in the development.

Home styles in golf course communities can range from one-level villas, to mid-rise condominiums and larger single family homes, sometimes all within the same community. While golf used to be thought of as a rich man’s sport, players of both sexes and a wide range of income levels now enjoy the game. The variety of homes in golf course communities reflects this trend, with many of these developments offering affordable housing choices. Many others, of course, cater to upper income buyers, but middle income golfers can now find a wide range of homes on the greens as well.

An Internet search, narrowed down by the above considerations, can be a good start to finding a home in a golf course community. Then it may time to “make the sacrifice” and play a few rounds of golf in each potential development before narrowing the choice further.

Play Better Golf - Strengthen Your Rotator Cuff

Many golfers are not aware of the rotator cuff and its function in golf.  This group of muscles around the shoulder is crucial to the golf swing.  Not surprisingly, the shoulder is one of the areas most often affected by the golf swing.  Many golfers fall prey to strain and injury in this area. 

Since most golfers don’t realize the importance of the rotator cuff area, they don’t do any conditioning to strengthen and help prevent injury.  By using a golf fitness routine that includes strength and flexibility exercises, many problems with the rotator cuff can not only be improved but prevented as well. Increasing flexibility and strengthening these muscles, will help to increase power and control in your swing.

The rotator cuff is the area of the shoulder that is a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint. It is made up of the capsule of the shoulder joint blended with tendons and muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the head of the humerus, the bone of the arm.  Golf can result in what is known as a repetitive strain injury to the rotator cuff.   Repeated movement of the shoulder causes it.  The sheaths that cover the muscle tendons can swell and press on the nerves causing pain. Tendonitis, bursitis, and tears in the rotator cuff are common injuries for golfers. 

To improve your power and control of your golf swing as well as prevent injury, it is a good idea to do regular stretches and exercises designed specifically for the rotator cuff.     
This conditioning should be done on a regular basis both before play and in between rounds.  It is especially important to warm up the rotator cuff area before exercise.  This helps to increase blood flow to the deeper muscles and prepares them for activity. 

One simple way to warm up is by holding the arms at should level.  Do at least 20 circles with both arms.  The next step should be stretching exercises to help reduce tension in these muscles.  Three areas should be stretched: the back, the front and the under side of the rotator cuff.  Once the stretches have been completed, exercises to strengthen these muscles should be performed.  After exercise, golf practice or rounds, be sure to cool down these muscles with stretching. 

By simply practicing a few stretches and exercises, you’ll not only help to prevent injuries, you’ll see a more powerful and controlled golf swing.

Phil Mickelson’s Pebble Beach History & A Treat For Autograph Seekers

The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am consists of six hour rounds that often take their toll on other golfers, but not Phil Mickelson.  Always found in the top golf news stories, he actually enjoys the tournaments while admitting that patience is the key to success.  It seems that golf news usually surrounds Mickelson and every turn he makes, but that’s all a part of being one of the top professional golfers in the PGA and in the world. 

Many fond memories remain with Mickelson as he recounts previous Pro-Am competitions.  One such recollection includes celebrity saxophonist Kenny G, who was an amateur partner with Mickelson at one point.  Of course, there are plenty of other reasons that would lend to his fondness of Pebble Beach, including the fact that he made his professional debut in 1992 at the U.S. Open and ended up winning the longest PGA Tour event in history after a rain delay that put the competition on hold for six months.

In 2005, Mickelson enjoyed one of the best performances of his career as he played a 10-under 62 at Spyglass Hill in California.  Known as the second most difficult course in Northern California, this is the site that led Mickelson to a memorable victory.  He once again found himself in the golf news spotlight, but that’s not an uncommon occurrence for this veteran of the sport.  Recognized as being one of four top 10 players from the world ranking at Pebble Beach, Mickelson finds that golf news and the eyes of the press are always waiting to see his next move. 

In addition to making golf news wherever he competes, Mickelson believes in his fans just as they believe in him.  A kind autograph signer, both in person and through the mail, he is a popular fan favorite.  Golf fans who aren’t fortunate enough to ask in person may request an autograph through the mail.  Collectors may request a signed photo or send their own item to be signed.  Fans should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail their request to:

Phil Mickelson
Gaylord Sports Management
Attn: Phil Mickelson Fan Mail
13845 N. Northsight Blvd., Suite 200
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

This south paw golf professional is an active member of the PGA and shows no signs of slowing down.  Wherever Phil Mickelson is found, fans can rest assured that golf news isn’t far away.  In fact, golf news is more likely to be found right alongside him at every swing.

Flexibility For Golf Will Not Be Lost With Weight Training

There is no doubt that flexibility is extremely important to your golf game. Little wonder that one of the biggest fears among many golfers looking to improve their game is that of losing their flexibility as a result of weight training.

This is one of the reasons why many amateur golfers still avoid joining golf-specific exercise and conditioning
programs. They mistakenly link every weight-training program with muscle building and bodybuilding.

Although it is true that muscle building and body building will tend to make somebody stiff, the facts are that weight training can either be used for body-building and building of muscles, or it can be used to build strength.

The golf specific weight training programs are aimed at building strength and endurance. Not muscles. A genuine golf exercise program will have nothing in its weight training routine to remotely relate it to muscle or bodybuilding.

In fact, stronger conditioned muscles will tend to dramatically improve flexibility for golf, rather than reduce it. Flabby, weak, unexercised muscles are the ones that will tend to be very stiff and over time will take away the flexibility required for golf in anybody.

Stretch exercises, which work best with strengthened muscles are very effective in helping to increase flexibility. These exercises usually have a major impact on the quality of the golf swing for most players.

Therefore, it is not true that incorporating dumbbells into golf specific exercises makes a golfer lose flexibility. Rather the entire program plays a major role in enhancing flexibility for golf and the results from players who have tremendously improved their game, speak for themselves.