IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK AT HOME!
It is more than one hundred since golf was last played in the Olympics and Canada's George Lyon took the gold as only men competed. The women golf was in the 1900 Games in Paris and Margaret Abbott of the USA took the gold medal.
According to Finchem, in 2016 golf Olympic there are 60 men and 60 women from about 30 countries will appear in a 72-hole stroke-play tournament.
"I think it's going to start right away," PGA tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said about golf return to the Olympics at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. "When you consider that over 100 countries will now invest in the sport to grow the game, it will catapult the level of growth, particularly in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Golf in the Olympics is going to strengthen the image and texture of the game. "It is going to be more recognized as a truly athletic endeavor."
If golf stays in the Olympics — it was reinstated for 2016 and 2020 — John Strawn, president of the course design firm Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, give his expectation of the game's growth to continue for years.
"The real impact here is that governments in China and India will now spend significant funds on the development of golfers just as they spend on the development of gymnasts and field hockey players," he said. "In China, the creations of golf practice facilities alone — not to mention golf courses — will run into the billions of dollars."
Golf growth will affect the entire golf industry. "Anything that grows the game, gets more people playing the game and more people watching the game, impacts the interests of sponsors," Finchem said. "It impacts the strength of the manufacturing companies. It impacts the strength of destination golf resorts." The tour coordinated efforts with leading golf organizations around the world to prepare for the 2016 Games.
Then Aug. 5-21 2016 Games will be a busy summer for golf for the eight huge events in that time— four FedExCup playoff events, a World Golf Championship event, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the Olympics.
"We know there's going to be some scheduling challenges, and we knew that going in and we have all just agreed to fix it," Finchem said. "We'll start the process for 2016 right away. And in the case of the PGA Tour, we will be negotiating in about a year and a half our television agreements which will go through 2016 and maybe beyond. So we have to address that.
Related news Golf has a tee time for Olympics
wholesale golf clubs online: http://www.golfwholesaleonline.com< /p>
Golf is a funny game. Some days, your swing is near perfect. Other days, the club feels like a snake in your hands. But that doesn't mean you can't shoot a good score. The key to scoring is to take advantage of your opportunities when you get them. When you're standing in the fairway with a wedge in your hands, you've got to be thinking about getting it close. If you do that, you'll end up with plenty of birdie chances and a few good par saves, too. I work with everyone for junior golfers to players on the PGA and Senior PGA Tours. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how good you think your game is your wedge play can always get better. That’s why I spend so much time with all of my students on the 30-, 60- and 90-yard shots. Once you develop consistency and confidence from these distances, good things are bound to happen for you on the course. I approach these shots with the same philosophy I use on every part of the game-keep it simple. Golfers who struggle with these distances are almost always trying to overcomplicate matters. They hit low-percentage shots, and they make long swings that are vulnerable to mistakes. The key to good wedge play lies in making a smooth, short stroke that lets you accelerate through the ball and use the loft of the club to hit the shot you want, whether it’s a lob or a pitch-and-run. The pitching stroke is really very simple. I focus on three keys: I keep my right elbow close to my side, make sure my head stays behind the ball and accelerate through the hitting area. Be sure to break your wrists early and give your hands control of the shot. Vary the distance of your shot with the length of your swing.
If any of you golfers out there reading this blog have attended a
golf lesson will know the first thing the instructor will teach you is
how to grip the golf club correctly. This one of the foundations of a
consistent 
and
accurate game. For those of you who’d like to find out more about golf
before attending lesions at your local club or driving range, here are
a few tips to learn how to grip a golf club correctly.
The first thing to keep in mind is that your grip on the club is your only way to get feel and feedback from your strike on the golf ball. Hitting off the center of the club face will have a smooth, powerful feel through your grip. On the other hand hitting off the heel or toe of the club face will send an uneasy vibration through the grip or even turn the golf club in your hands and result in a very poor shot.
In order to grip a golf club correctly you need to place the last joint of your index finger on the underside of the club shaft. So keep the club shaft at a downward angle and place your lead hand on the angle, placing your thumb on the top of the shaft. You might want to get a good resource book like The Beginners Guide to Golf. This will give you good detailed pictures and a fool proof grip set up which you can easy repeat every time you pick up a club.
There are not many people who are taught how to grip the golf club correctly actually manage to give the right strokes from the beginning. Of course the key to becoming a better golfer is to practice correctly and practice often. This should be the first step in your learning process and soon you’ll be moving onto mastering the swing and produceing the best shots possible. I hope this helped in some way and good luck with your round this weekend.
For more golf tips and videos of the pros in action visit The Golf Player Blog
@import url(http://www.golflink.com/community/js /rte/);Well, here in the Northeast/MidAtlantic region of the U.S., the weather has cooled and golf season is winding down, or is it? Maybe you won't be able to play your local golf course once the biting chill of November hits, but that is no reason to cease working on your game! From now until about mid-December, the weather will still be reasonable enough in the southern MidAtlantic (basically, south of Richmond, VA), and still close enough to take a long weekend to play a little golf. After that, as the season wears on, the further south you must go.
Still, if you don't have the opportunity to get away for a few days, find your nearby indoor golf range to hit a few balls and maybe work on your short game. Or, check out where you can play a round of golf on an indoor golf simulator.
Most importantly, this is the time of year to work on body improvements that can help your golf swing. As we get older, we tend to lose flexibility and strength if we do not keep up with our workouts. However, studies have shown that it is still possible to build muscle int our 70s and beyond.
It is my belief that this time of year is the best time to really go to work on your body and your golf swing! By combining strength training, stretching, and golf specific exercises along with a thorough understanding of what you want to do with your golf swing, you can make significant improvements in the off season. Then, when Spring arrives, you will have full confidence in your swing, and you can focus on your short game, where you will be able to drastically reduce your scores!
Go see your golf instructor now to set up your plan for Winter Golf Training!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Having good balance is an absolute necessity for generating a powerful golf swing. If you do not have a strong foundation, then you simply will not have the ability to generate a full turn, and thus, you will lose power in the swing.
But, what are the keys to good balance? Well, this is where improved fitness comes in. Probably the most significant muscle involved in proper balance is the hamstring. Not only must it be flexible, it must be strong.
The hamstrings must first be flexible. The reason for this is that the hamstrings, through the glutes, are tied to the lower back. Since it is crucial to maintain a straight spine angle throughout the golf swing, there is pressure on the lower back. The lower back gets support from the glutes and hamstrings. So, if the hamstrings are not flexible, they will not provide proper support to the lower back muscles. This is one reason why many golfers suffer from a tight back during and after a round of golf.
First, determine your own personal flexibility with a little test. We’ve all done this! While keeping your legs straight, bend at the waist slowly and try to touch your toes. Can you do this? If not, you need to work on stretching the hamstrings.
I generally prefer stretching one leg at a time. Here is my stretching routine for the hamstrings:
Sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you. Pull the right foot in so that the bottom of the foot touches the inside of the left knee. Point the toes of the left foot straight up. Keeping your back as straight as possible, reach down to the leg, starting at the knee, and move your body forward, pushing the chest toward the knee. Reach further down the leg as far down as you can go, and try to draw the chest as close to the knee as possible. Once you have hit your limit, feeling a good stretch, hold that position for 15 seconds. Try and relax as much as possible, then try to reach further down the leg to the ankle or foot and move the chest even closer to the knee, and hold for another 15 seconds. Slowly rise up, and switch legs, repeating this sequence.
In order to work on strengthening the hamstrings, my favorite exercise, since it also works the quadriceps, is the step-back lunge. This exercise is performed as follows:
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, holding a pair of dumbbells, step back with the left foot at one full step, and sink down into a lunge position with your right leg. Your upper right leg should be parallel to the floor. Hold this position for a second, then push off with the left foot and return to the starting position. Repeat by stepping back with the right foot and sink down into a lunge position with the left leg. Repeat each side for 8 to 12 repetitions, so don’t use a heavy weight.
If you can develop flexible and strong hamstrings, you will better be able to get into a good golf posture, and maintain that spine angle through impact, and that is the key to solid, consistent ball striking.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Brand New Titleist AP2 Iron Set $298.99 at http://www.golfwholesaleonline.com
Titleist AP2 Iron Set
Titleist AP2 irons provide a comfortable and confidence-inspiring appearance in the set up position with a traditional blade profile and hosel junction. The metallic back cavity plate contributes to the AP2's great looks and bag appeal.
Features:
Multi-material, dual cavity, technically forged
Advanced performance with a traditional solid feel and looks
provide shot control for the skilled player handicap 5-9
more golf iron set : http://golfwholesaleonline.com/goods.ph p?id=447
How to beat the golfer that bombs the ball 300 plus yards
1. Hit it straight
Nothing gets inside a long hitters head faster then a fairway hitting opponent. Chances are the long hitter is not the most accurate driver of the golf ball, keep the heat on by hitting the fairway as much as possible. If you have to use a hybrid club or a iron off the tee to keep the ball in the fairway, the mental edge of hitting the fairway outweighs the loss of distance.
2. Hit the green
Most of if not all of the time you will be hitting first, keep the heat on by hitting the green If he knows you are looking at birdie putts all day, it starts to wear on him
3. Have a good short game
The short game is the true equalizer on the golf course. If you have a sharp short game you can compete against any golfer on the planet.
4. Ignore his distance
Accept the fact the he hits the ball 50 to 60 yards past you. If you accept the fact that distance doesn't matter, you will have another psychological advantage. What difference does it make if he is hitting a pitching wedge and you are hitting a 7 iron for your second shot? Golf is all about getting the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes, not how you got the ball in the fewest strokes.
When you are playing a match against a long hitter, and lets face it, with the technology in golf clubs, golf balls, strength training and nutrition, guys are hitting the ball 300 plus yards on a regular basis. The fact still remains that when you are on the golf course you are walking (or riding) with a bag of tools. It is just a matter of using the right tool for task at hand. Does it really matter what club it takes you to hit a golf ball 150 yards? Weather it's a 6, 7,8 or 9 iron should not matter to you, and your opponents club selection should be the last thing from your mind during a match.
The pride of the long hitters game is hitting it long, so the fact that you can compete with him without having to hit the 300 yard drives is already a advantage in your favor if you choose to look at it that way. As a short hitter you should focus on keeping the pressure on as much as possible. The four steps that I have outlined will give you the mental edge that you need to negate the long drives that your opponent is blasting past you.
-----------------------------------
Author Bio:
Amr Hanafy is an amatuer golfer and a full time webmaster. Please visit the following links if you are in need of any of his services for your own websites:
http://www.webmasterztoolbox.com/CheapA ffordableWebHosting.html
http://www.webmasterztoolbox.com/Design .html
http://www.webmasterztoolbox.com/Softwa res.html
http://www.webmasterztoolbox.com/Traffi c.html
I am nearly 4 years into this and have yet to settle on a permanent swing and am constantly either making adjustments or switching clubs. At this point I believe I would be better off joining a bowling league as I have spent so much money on this sport!
In any case we are promoting our new Florida health insurance website at echealthinsurance.com and are trying like no one's business to extend health coverage to everyone regardless of medical conditions or financial history. We are motivated not by profit anymore and are constantly updating our public assistance programs for the needy and uninsured. Please support our efforts by shopping for your Florida health insurance quotes at our website.
We also just threw up a bogey and finished our Florida Annuity website as well.
@import url(http://www.golflink.com/community/js /rte/);
We recruit and train business facilitators, worldwide.
We select Active Members on quality and ethics standards. Business opportunity for business network leaders.
You want to know more ? Our New opportunity : "Dematerialization" : electronic exchanges, electronic invoices...morethan 15 international patents !
Recently, I had the opportunity to receive hands-on instruction from golf teaching guru, Hank Haney. Now, this was obviously a special opportunity since Hank basically only teaches Tiger Woods, and the junior players at his academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Hank has a specific golf swing theory that he is confident will allow the golfer to hit the nine main golf shots with consistency, at will. This includes the straight shot, with low, medium or high trajectory, a draw with these three trajectories, and a fade with these three trajectories. If a golfer can swing the golf club efficiently, he or she should feel comfortable hitting any one of these shots when the situation calls for it.
Hank’s theory is that the club shaft should maintain the same angle throughout the golf swing as its starting position at address. This is not the so-called one-plane golf swing. Hank dismisses that idea. However, he does suggest that there is one plane “angle” that the shaft should maintain, on different planes, throughout the golf swing.
Now, although I always felt I had a pretty good shoulder turn, my lesson with Hank indicated that I was not getting the full shoulder turn I need to maintain this one plane angle with a full golf swing. Instead, my left shoulder would drop slightly, and my head would also drop, during the back swing. As a result, I was not making the full shoulder turn that would allow me to swing the club on the consistent shaft angle that Hank indicates will lead to more consistent ball striking. Instead, the angle of my club shaft would at times be too flat or too steep, and ultimately I would need to have exceptional timing to hit the ball straighter.
I’ve stated in a previous article that flexibility is more important than strength for initially trying to add distance to your golf game. In trying to make the fuller shoulder turn that Hank was making me do during my lesson, I realized that I probably need to work on stretching my upper body some more. I will note that I also have a bit of a neck issue related to a skiing wreck when I was a teenager. As such, this may limit how much of a turn I can ultimately make. The swing can still be effective if I must make only a three-quarter swing, and I can still generate power in other ways, but I will make a go out of trying to generate a full swing by increasing my flexibility.
Increased flexibility is so important to improving the golf swing, that even Charles Barkley is working on this as he works with Hank Haney in trying to solve his full swing yip problem. At the same time, he has lost 30 pounds as well. It is no secret now that fitness is one of the big keys to improving your golf game!
With that in mind, in the coming weeks, I will continue to focus my attention on stretching the upper body. Below are descriptions of the primary stretching exercises I will utilize in improving my flexibility. If you want to improve your golf game, I suggest you work on these simple exercises as well!
Back Stretch – Twist
Lay flat on your back, arms out to sides and palms down, with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor. Shift onto your left hip, keeping your back flat to the floor. Lower your knees to the left side, so that the left knee and thigh lay on the floor. Place your left hand on your right knee, and pull the right knee down to floor…at the same time your head should be turned to the right, facing your right hand. Hold for 30 seconds, then slowly switch positions to the other side.
Lying Down Shoulder Stretch
While sitting on the floor, legs stretched out front, and back straight, interlock your hands on the floor behind your back. Slide your feet forward as far as they will go, feeling the stretch in the front of the shoulders. Hold that position for 30 seconds.
Trunk Rotations
Hold a staff or a broomstick behind your neck, with your arms outstretched along the staff. At the golf course, you can do a version of this with your driver, with on hand on the grip, and the other down near the clubhead.
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, slowly turn your body as far to the left as possible, hold for a second, then slowly twist to the right, as far as possible. Repeat 10 times to each side, and each time try to turn a little further.
Elbow Pull Shoulder Stretch
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, or sitting in an upright position with your back straight, extend your left arm forward, reach under and slightly behind your left elbow with your right hand, then draw the left arm in toward your body and across to the right. You should feel this stretch in the back and side of your left deltoid muscle of the shoulder. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, then perform this same stretch with the right shoulder.
There are plenty of golf fitness gurus out there who insist that you can gain greater distance by doing a few exercises and stretches. This will be true if you already have a good golf swing. But, the bottom line is, if you have a faulty swing, you can exercise until you are blue in the face, and it won't matter.
A week ago I was in Dallas attending the Hank Haney "Teaching the Teacher" seminar that he holds annually. We all had the opportunity to work with Hank's staff on our swings. Fortunately, I also had the opportunity to get a full swing lesson from Hank in front of the rest of the pros. He analyzed video of my swing, showed me my faults, then showed me how to improve my swing. He essentially gave me the same lesson that one of his instructors, Doug Alexander, had given me a couple days earlier. However, it did reinforce what I needed to work on.
A couple hours later, I took these ideas to the driving range. I struggled for a while, mainly because I was not getting the release at impact correct, and my follow through was off. After a while though, it finally clicked. I ripped four straight 5-irons with a slight draw, and decided to pull out the driver. I made perfect contact with the driver, and the ball flew dead straight. I have no idea how far it went, but the ball flight was beautiful, and the ball shot off the clubface like a bullet. The beauty of all this was that the physical effort required to hit these shots was far less than with my old swing.
So, first thing is first. If you want more distance, improve your swing. Then, when you want to take it to the next level, work on your fitness.
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
This is a follow up to a recent post discussing the keys to generating more power in your golf swing. In the first installment, I discussed the importance of a good set up with balance. In this post, the focus is on the shoulder turn.
What I have noticed in most average players is the lack of a good shoulder turn. This may be the result of a physical issue, but in most cases, it is due to a swing flaw, such as a reverse pivot. Most golfers that learn the game as adults have difficulty developing a big shoulder turn since they are primarily focused on trying to either just make contact with the ball, or keep it in play. Junior golfers and those that learn the game at an early age rarely have this problem.
However, generating a powerful golf swing requires that full shoulder turn, since when you combine that with a smaller hip turn, you generate significant torque. When this torque is unwound, significant clubhead speed is generated.
If flexibility is your issue in trying to generate a full shoulder turn, I suggest you learn some basic stretching exercises that will help to loosen up your upper body. My ebook, "How to Improve Your Golf Swing Power" provides a number of such exercises along with strength training routines you can perform at home with no equipment.
If you have a swing flaw such as a reverse pivot, you are losing significant power in that regard. Seek a qualified golf instructor to help you deal with that issue.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
I did a little bit of research, as usual, in recent weeks, and came to the realization that there is one muscle group that most golfers do not work on much, but it is definitely a key to achieving distance potential. This group is the lats, the muscles of the upper and middle back. Women in particular tend to have much smaller lat muscles than men.
The reason this muscle group is important is that it is very involved in the winding and unwinding of the golf swing. The stronger these muscles are, the more torque you can put into the golf swing.
The best way to work out these muscles without much in the way of equipment, is the pull up. Unfortunately, pull-ups can be quite difficult, and most people, especially people who are a bit over weight, find it difficult to perform just one repetition. However, by simply using a chair to support some of your weight, you can still do pull-ups and increase your strength.
We do this by setting one foot on the chair. This takes away some of the body weight, which makes it a little easier to do a pull up. Doing our best not to push up with that foot, we pull ourselves up until our chin as even or slightly above the bar. If you lower yourself back down slowly, you will continue to work the muscles.
You can try a variety of grips on the pull up bar. First, try an overlapping grip with the hands shoulder width apart. A more difficult version would be to place the hands outside of shoulder width apart. Or you can also try a very narrow grip, with the hands just a few inches apart. You can also do a chin up, which is done by grabbing the bar so that palms face toward you.
Since the pull up hits the back and arms, and the shoulders to an extent, it is a great exercise for the golfer seeking to add some distance without spending hours in the gym.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
I’ve been a golfer for over 30 years, and a student of Pai Lum Kung Fu for the past eight years, achieving the rank of 1st Degree Blackbelt. Although these are obviously radically different activities, to excel in either one, you must develop similar characteristics. Both golf and Kung Fu are total body activities that also engage the mind.
First we will focus on flexibility. The more flexible you are, the more potential your golf swing will have, as you will be able to generate a longer golf swing with a wider arc, one of the major keys to increased power. Obviously, flexibility is very important to the martial artist. Again, the greater the flexibility in your technique, the greater the range of motion you may have, and thus, the greater potential for power. Also, greater flexibility helps prevent injury.
Next is strength. In both golf and the martial arts, you do NOT need to be super strong to have significant power. Huge muscles typically are not important to either activity. However, a decent amount of strength is clearly important. Traditional martial artists tend to work out the body in more traditional ways, without the use of heavy weights. This results in a lean and hard body, rather than a big and bulky body. A less bulky body allows the martial artist to maintain greater flexibility. This is also important to the golfer. We don’t often see 250 pound linebackers who have a good golf game, but it is not uncommon to see a quarterback play golf well, not to mention a hockey player.
It is also important for the golfer and martial artist to be strong mentally. When in a fight, the martial artist must maintain his cool and composure at all times. By doing so, he will make few mistakes that his opponent may capitalize upon.
I am reminded of the early days of the UFC when Royce Gracie dominated that sport. He was often matched against opponents much larger than he (he usually weighed in at about 170 pounds). Typically, he would wait until his opponent would charge in and try to kick him to the head or body. This type of technique often results in less balance for a martial artist and Gracie would capitalize on this by moving in quickly to take his opponent down, then work into a position where he could choke out his opponent, or put him in a joint lock, forcing a tap out or a broken limb.
There is no other sport that requires you to be more mentally tough than in golf. That is why Tiger Woods is the best. He is simply much stronger mentally than any of his competitors, and that is why he often wins even when he is off his game.
In Kung Fu, we generate power by maintaining proper balance and being rooted to the ground. In the movies, you will see fighters leaving the ground and performing those fancy, jumping, spinning kicks. But, once you leave the ground, you lose power. If you watch any of the old Bruce Lee movies, you did not often see him leaving the ground when he finished off a kick or a punch. Occasionally, but not often.
In golf, the best players will keep their balance. This is the most important factor to having a powerful golf swing and consistent ball striking ability. That is why even when they swing hard, they maintain good balance.
Finally, both activities require you to remain relaxed to perform at the best of your ability. If there is any excess tension, you lose power, flexibility and touch. That is why breathing and relaxation techniques play a crucial role in the mastery of both.
So, if you have the opportunity, go learn a little Kung Fu! I guarantee it will help your golf game!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net