Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Official 2018 Masters #Golf Gear GIVEAWAY!

The Masters logo
The Masters is one of our favorite golf tournaments! Every year this writer is practically glued to her television or laptop, watching the action from one of the most famous golf courses in the world.

Are the azaleas in bloom, what changes have been made to Augusta National
...what dramatic moment is being played out at Amen Corner?

Another tradition is also at hand - the Official 2018 Masters Golf Gear Giveaway! The nice folks at MMO Golf have been supplying Golf for Beginners with official Masters swag for five years and we are ready to offer up something new for this year's event.


This year we are giving away a PRIZE PACK of two prizes! The winner will receive a prize pack consisting of a 2018 Masters Embroidered Golf Pin Flag and a 2018 Masters Green Caddy Hat!


MMO Golf Giveaway

It's easy to enter and I will be reviewing all entries personally.

In my opinion, these are two of the most memorable and sought-after items at The Masters. Your foursome will envy you thinking that you learned the secret to getting swag from The Masters (how else could you have gotten this hat...either by invite or lottery!)

What do you have to do in order to try and win this Officially Super Cool Masters Merchandise?

The Official Giveaway Rules:

This is a Twitter-based giveaway but we will also watch for the hashtag on Facebook.

You must follow and tag @Golf4Beginners on Twitter (so we know it's your entry).
Send us a tweet with the hashtag #MastersHat briefly telling us WHY you want to win these prized possessions.

Postings must include entrants' @username and @Golf4Beginners in addition to #MastersHat to be considered an entry.

Look for this post on my Facebook page. If entering via Facebook, you must tag me so I know you are entering. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/GolfforBeginnersYou can also search for Stacy Solomon...that's me!

One Masters prize pack consisting of a 2018 slouch hat and 2018 pin flag will be given away by Golf for Beginners blog and MMO Golf.

Prizes contributed by MMOGolf.com (see below).

Winner will be selected by me, Stacy Solomon, so please try to make nice yet opinionated Masters mentions as I will be reading and responding to all comments!

Only one entry per person. Feel free to RETWEET this Great Giveaway and tell your friends.

Winners will be announced the Tuesday after Monday after The Masters - no, Hootie and the Blowfish will not be playing at the announcement!


What else can you do to increase your chances? 

Follow MMOGolf on Twitter and add their handle to your tweets.

Like MMO Golf on Facebook, suppliers of great Masters Merchandise and the site responsible for this giveaway.


GOOD LUCK!


As always, please follow Golf for Beginners on Twitter and subscribe to this golf blog.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

INPUTT Golf Training Aid Review

Can a tee, a string and Inputt help improve your putting? Golf for Beginners recently put this training aid to the test - results below.

Golfers know that proper speed and correct alignment are essential to rolling solid putts. We also know that you "drive for show and putt for dough", which means that you may be able to get away with a wayward drive but the importance of dropping in that final putt for par (or sinking a bogey putt when a hole "blows-up" on you) is essential for improved score and handicap.

Inputt Putting Training AidThat being said, Golf for Beginners was eager to test Inputt - any training aid that can help improve our "1-putt percentages" would be a boon to our game!

Inputt is a portable, rectangular guidance system which teaches a repeatable putting stroke.

Like any training aid, you have to use it repeatedly to see results. The website states that "when used correctly, Inputt helps you put the ball in the same place every time. Even if you miss the hole, the ball should come to rest at the same place when using the device." Stance and stroke are corrected so golfers can focus on stroke.

Inputt strengthens "muscle memory and creates strong neural pathways through repetition."

Setup of this training aid is rather simple - the string and tee used are guidelines to position the Inputt so that, when you stand behind it and take your stroke, you are properly aligned. Inputt comes with access to several videos. Here is the Inputt setup video posted on their site:



We have only been using the Inputt for about a week - the Inputt website states that "repetition and consistency are the keys to controlling your putt."

My husband also tested Inputt and had this to say, "Inputt works to correct your stance and stroke path.  It can help you develop a repeatable putting stroke and puts it into your muscle memory.  It does, however, take consistent practice to accomplish this - four to five days a week for several weeks to start to see results.  I don't know how many people are that dedicated.  This is much better for the serious golfer."

Designed for lefties and righties, the Inputt flips over and is the same on both sides.

If you are serious about improving your golf game, like to try new training aids and want to lower the number of three-putts per round, you might be interested in INPUTT.

Have you tried this golf training aid? Let us know your thoughts on this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Golf Courses Around Myrtle Beach Great for Beginners and High Handicappers

Pine Lakes Golf Course aerial
Are you a golf beginner looking to take a trip to the Myrtle Beach area and want to play a few rounds?

The Grand Strand has over eighty golf courses; some are definitely NOT for newbies while others are perfect for an amateur just starting to "feel his or her oats".

For many years I have championed for Myrtle Beach and it's golf courses; aside from the great value, the atmosphere is one of fun, the golf courses are exceptional and South Carolina, in general, is a warm, sunny and welcoming place for a visit.

I have played many breathtaking Myrtle Beach golf courses and would like to share my favorites for beginners with you so, when you decide to take a Myrtle Beach vacation, you will have an idea of the lay of the land. Feel free to ask in the comments section of this golf blog about restaurants and things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Let's start with the "beach" in Myrtle Beach - there are sixty miles of soft sand along the Grand Strand and there are north, middle and southern locations to stay and play which are filled with atmosphere. Below are the main areas and a couple of golf courses I have chosen based on amenities, ease of play and just plain beauty of their surroundings.

South Strand and Pawleys Island: There are so many golf courses in the south end of Myrtle Beach, I was hard-pressed to select just a few!

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club: If you want a real taste of the south, visit Caledonia in Pawleys Island; this golf club is a Lowcountry staple, complete with towering oaks, an antebellum-style clubhouse and nature preserve teeming with wildlife. The course is difficult yet fair and, as review upon review has stated, "One of the best I have played." From the forward tees, beginners' yardage is under 5,000 - even if you don't play well on this course, you will certainly admire the scenery.

Tupelo Bay Golf Course: An executive golf course and par-3 course located just south of Myrtle Beach in Garden City, Tupelo Bay executive has the look and feel of a full-size course, and it is a great test for beginners as well as those golfers who want to ease into their stay and play vacation.


Central Myrtle Beach:

Pine Lakes Country Club: The "Granddaddy" of Myrtle Beach golf and host of many "firsts" along the Grand Strand. Between the beautiful Clubhouse (a wedding and event favorite) and the simple, aesthetic golf course design, this Pine Lakes is a "must-see" and a "must-play" along the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach National West CourseMyrtle Beach National - West Course: Arnold Palmer stands guard at the entrance to Myrtle Beach National Golf Club, a three-course enclosed compound along the 501 corridor; King's North and Southcreek round out the triad of courses and all have different personalities.

The West Course, in particular, has been chosen for beginners and high handicappers; from the forward tees the course is about 5,200 yards, has open fairways, a traditional layout and is pretty straightforward. There is also a feeling of seclusion and natural forestry surrounding the fairways and the course is well maintained.



North Myrtle Beach:

Grande Dunes Resort Course:

Grande Dunes Resort Course

I didn't place Grande Dunes Resort Course on this list because it was easy - I placed it here because of that "vacation feel" it exudes right from the entrance where you cross over the bridge through the eighteen holes. Grande Dunes plays a little over 5,300 yards from the forward tees which offers a test but also offers inspiring views to relax the mind and spirit of any level of golfer.

Hole 7, a par 5 is a tester but beginners have a better chance at moving forward using their irons so, if played smartly, the course will be fun and memorable. You can also visit Dale Ketola, Director of Instruction at the Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center, before, during or after your round...just make sure to call for an appointment!

Meadowlands Golf Club: I played Meadowlands when I was a beginner and, after reading an article by Ian Guerin recently, thought back and added this course. Just over the South Carolina border, in Calabash, Guerin states that Meadowlands, "gives players the opportunity to go after more greens with less risk. Combined with a wide-open design, and there is plenty of room for error on nearly all of the par 4s and 5s here."

Have a golf course you would like to add to this list? Place it in our golf blog comments section below and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photos: Founders Group

Wednesday, March 07, 2018

Golf Advice You Should NEVER Follow #golf

You're standing behind the golf ball visualizing your next shot. Standing nearby, waiting to take his shot, your playing partner innocently (?) says, "wow, is that your 6-iron? You're never going to make it over the water with that club!"

What happens next...?

Your ball takes a splash and you grumble something under your breath.

Unsolicited advice can get inside your head, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on your own golf game. You only hear the "never" in the above sentence, much like when a playing partner says, "watch out for that bunker"...your eyes and your attention look towards the bunker and, ultimately, your ball finds its way into the sand.

golf advice you should never follow

What other unsolicited advice should you steer clear of during a round of golf? Golf for Beginners has put together a few tidbits - feel free to add to our list in the comments section of this golf blog!

1. "You Should Look At That Putt From A Different Angle":
     My husband is always telling me to walk around every putt in order to see how the green breaks...which is good advice, however, according to GolfDigest.com, it might not be the best advice for some golfers.
"If you're a shaky putter, bringing in another view of the line won't be constructive. If anything, it will confuse you, or cause you to see something that isn't there. Plus, this isn't the Ryder Cup."
2. Taking Tips from Pros on the Driving Range:
    According to "The Women's Guide to Golf: A Handbook for Beginners", range pros who walk up and down the line looking for potential students may be giving you tips which may not work for your swing or game. This is called, according to the book, "trade dynamiting the tees" and a pro may throw you a "barrage of advice" which will probably confuse you more than help your game....then they get to fix the problem! Politely say "no thanks" for the time you are at the range and schedule an appointment with a golf teaching pro who has your best intentions.

3. ANY advice to help you DURING your round:
     Did you know...in any USGA tournament, the Rules of Golf state that giving advice to another golfer (even with a motion) is not permitted - it's a two-stroke penalty during the round and a disqualification after the scorecard is signed.

If a pro golfer receives unsolicited advice, however, and did not initiate the conversation, no penalty is given unless advice is offered twice. "The player should take action to stop this irregular procedure." He would incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play if he allowed such advice to be given again.

Tip: During a friendly round, skip the swing advice completely,; it won't help your game to hear that the way you are cocking your wrists is wrong or your ball is too far forward in your stance...it will just further mess with your head. Instead, here are a few golf tips to help when things just aren't going your way on the golf course!

Follow Golf4Beginners on Twitter!

Photo by Fancycrave from Pexels


Friday, March 02, 2018

What to do When Things Aren't Going Your Way #golf

Whether your golf ball consistently finds the water or you are playing military golf (left, right, left, right), there are some days that you wished you never played the sport. When things aren't going your way on the golf course and you can't get into the zone, don't chuck your clubs in the pond! Here is what you need to do.

golfer-pexels-photo

Even the tour pros have bad days and suffer from nerves or tension... which leads to a tight grip, pulled or pushed swing, the yips, and/or condescending mental attitude. One bad swing can lead to two and a round can blow up for the best of players.

Trying to hit "perfect shots" and negative self-talk can wreak havoc on your round!

Chez Reavie, a PGA Tour pro, won a tournament in his rookie season and began pushing for results instead of hitting shots one at a time. When his game began to collapse, he analyzed his thoughts - he may have been judging himself too harshly - and backed off a bit.
"I needed to realize that just because I hit this shot poorly or that it didn't go perfect, it has zero bearing on the next shot that I hit," Reavie said.
 "The next shot that I hit could be the best shot that I ever hit…It didn't matter. I started thinking about that and was like, 'Wow. I've never really looked at it that way.' I was always like, 'Oh, s---, I pulled my last 7-iron so let's try and hold this one off a bit. Well, then I'd probably hit the next one to the right. I was just chasing my tail, whereas this way, every shot was a fresh start."
If you are not playing in a tournament, this is a great time to change your mindset during the round work on your game. Turn a bad round into an opportunity to work out the kinks in your game. If you are playing in an event, take a tip from Reavie and start playing the game one shot at a time.

For the beginner, average (or better than average golfer), Golf for Beginners offers up these bullet points to remember when you see your game starting to collapse.

1. Remember that golf is a mental game - you may not be physically swinging the golf club well today but the way you talk to yourself is important - use your mind to turn your game around. Think about the good shots and keep your chin up. (Re-read Chez Reavie's quote above...every shot is a fresh start).

2. Whether or not you are in a tournament, if things aren't going your way, stop looking at your score and put the scorecard in your pocket. Instead, play each shot one at a time, stay in the present moment and don't worry about the final outcome.

3. DON'T QUIT or think of quitting - it is easy to just stop playing golf. and sulk. Always finish your round. Stop being a perfectionist and understand that golf is a game of working past bad shots.

As I read in Psychology Today, author and coach Fred Shoemaker stated, "ultimately golf is just a motion of the body, a club, a ball, an intention, and a target." Keep your highs and lows in check and you will improve your score and mental attitude during any round.


What do you do when things aren't going your way on the golf course? Share in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.