Tuesday, June 12, 2007

U.S. Open pressure, Butch Harmon's nerve-busters, Ogilvy's concerns and is this Mickelson's year?

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U.S. Open week is one of the most highly anticipated times of the year for both professional golfers and fans alike. Where the Masters is like a "spring fever" wake-up call to all golfers, this second major of the season has the PGA Tour pros in fine form, ready to take on all competitors as well as a golf course which proves to be a real "tester".

Geoff Ogilvy related a bit of his concern for both the greens and longer holes at Oakmont in a recent pre-tournament interview. Last year's winner talked in particular about both the six hundred yard par-fives as well as the long par-three eighth hole. The interview sparked interest in a discussion on how the amateur should tackle the longer par-three's through practical course management. It's not all about bombing the long drive, you know!

The pressure will be on all of the great players this week so we also relate a few golf tips from Butch Harmon on "how not to choke". We found these nerve-busting thoughts in the pages of a Golf Digest Magazine. Hopefully Harmon has been offering up drills to Phil Mickelson on this subject so we don't see a repeat at this year's U.S. Open. Let's also hope that Phil doesn't use his sore wrist as an excuse if he doesn't make the grade. That just wouldn't be right!

Finally, Barry and I give you our U.S. Open picks. Naturally, being a huge Lefty fan, I'm rooting for Mickelson once again. Listen in to hear Barry's selection and how we came upon our decisions.


Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

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Monday, June 04, 2007

Tiger Woods' golf tips for side-hill lies, stay one-up by beating the heat and a few thoughts from Sam Snead

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This past week, Barry and I were guests at the Canyon Club, a private golf club located in Armonk, New York. The course was both well manicured and picturesque. My main problems stemmed from the side-hill lies. Barry took issue with the undulations on the green. Tiger Woods, being one of the most creative golfers on the PGA Tour, helps us alleviate problems with the ball being both above, and below your feet on this week's Golf for Beginners broadcast.

Although we utilized a cart during our round (you had to be a billy goat if you wanted to walk the golf course) it was still a hot and sunny day. No relief was in sight even though the breeze was comforting while driving. We give you a few tips to make the summer heat more bearable.

Finally, we offer up a few thought-provoking quotes from the great Sam Snead.

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Pioneer Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Palmer tells us why Tiger Woods beats Mickelson, a golf tip for kids and more!

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Arnold Palmer believes that Tiger Woods is "every bit as aggressive as Phil (Mickelson)" in the June issue of Golf Digest Magazine. There is one difference, however, which gives Tiger the edge. Find out on this week's episode of Golf for Beginners.

In the same interview, Palmer gives us a simple putting tip which Barry questions in certain circumstances. When should you give yourself the option of playing it safe and when should you make sure you drain the golf ball in one shot?

We also discuss the proper form for hitting out from under a tree, commonly known as the "low shot". Practice this shot and you'll get out of trouble and back into the fairway in fewer strokes.

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Pioneer Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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Monday, May 21, 2007

Michelle Wie "Dancing with the Stars" at the Samsung, hybrid tip and an email asks lefty or righty?

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Will Michelle Wie accept an invitation to the Samsung World Championship in October, "Dancing with the Stars" of the LPGA's finest?

The PGA Tour's John Deere Classic is also awaiting a response from Wie, B.J. Wie that is, to confirm her status in yet another PGA Tour event. In the interim, swing coach David Leadbetter is probably wishing that he hadn't mentioned Wie's possibility to "commit herself" to the women's tour.

She has the right stuff and everyone, including Golf for Beginners, wish that she would take the step from competitor to winner. We offer Wie a mental game tip from Dr. Robert K. Winters, a sports psychologist whose tip we found on the David Leadbetter website.

We follow up with a discussion of the hybrid, how efficient it is compared to long irons and how to use ball position and proper setup to maximize each shot you take with it. You may never use a three-iron again!

Finally, a beginner asks what golf clubs she should purchase, left or right-handed?

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Pioneer Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Tiger Woods' escape from deep rough, Zagat Golf Course Guide and Stan Utley's chipping drill

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Tiger Woods may not have had a stellar performance at the Players Championship (his putting let him down once again), but at least he came away with a smile on his face on Sunday after redeeming himself with a five-under-par 67.

Although Tiger might have difficulty putting, rest assured that Woods is one of the best putters around. He is also terrific out of deep rough. We give you a Tiger tip to assist you when the rough is as deep as it was at Winged Foot during the 2006 U.S. Open.

Also on Golf for Beginners, Barry and I look at the new Zagat guide:America's Top Golf Courses. With input from over 6,000 golfers (most were men) and a rating system similar to their popular nightlife and restaurant guides, this Zagat Guide is an interesting addition to their lineup.

Stan Utley is a professional advisor to Golf Digest. In this month's magazine he gives us a very easy-to-learn chipping drill. We pass it along to you.

Finally, congratulations to Phil Mickelson! Lefty is now second only to Tiger Woods in FedEx Cup points. The race for PGA Tour dominance is on!

With Butch Harmon on his team, is Mickelson now feeling confident enough to take on Tiger Woods head-to-head?


Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Pioneer Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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Monday, May 07, 2007

PGA Tour discovers Turning Stone, a great New York weekend getaway plus putting drills and driving range tips

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"Turning Stone leaves no stone unturned!"

That's Barry's quote, plain and simple, after we accompanied a group of golf travel writers to Turning Stone Lodge. Our mission? To let our listeners in on the buzz accompanying this multidimensional casino/resort. The PGA Tour has chosen Atunyote golf course at Turning Stone for the start of its 2007 fall series.

From beginning to end our weekend at the Lodge at Turning Stone offered us the opportunity to relax, unwind and forget about our day-to-day routine.

We boarded the Turning Stone motorcoach in Manhattan. This coach is hired for corporate conferences and "team building". Our "team" got to know one another here and we were offered massages, food, gaming table and all of the amenities necessary to comfortably carry about twenty people the four hour drive to Verona, New York.

Once there we received our itinerary which included a tour of the premises and several opportunities to sample the gastronomic wonders created by Chef Daniel Graban. Our supper at Wildflowers and lunch at Rodizio were memorable events. Wildflowers offered creative cuisine, right down to the "donut soup" at the end of our meal. Rodizio is a Brazilian steakhouse where roasted meats are served tableside. This restaurant is a meat-lovers paradise!

I decided to try my first ever spa treatment at the highly touted Skana Spa. "Lavender Dreams" will not disappoint spa afficionados although there are a wealth of treatments available. You will want to relax here all day (especially if the weather doesn't agree with your golf plans), either lazing by one of the several fireplaces sipping herbal tea or taking a dip in the mineral pool.

But for golf lovers, it's all about the courses, right? Although Atunyote was off-limits, being groomed for its debut on the PGA Tour, Barry played Shenendoah GC, one of three eighteen hole courses operated by the Oneida Nation and rated by Golf Magazine as one of the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play". I decided to take a lesson with PGA Professional Steve Campanaro. His putting drills and golf tips for the driving range were easy to understand so we discuss them in this week's Golf for Beginners podcast.

The golf dome is great for short game practice. Turning Stone is now building a tennis dome connected to the golf dome by a clubhouse for times of inclement weather.

Although there is also a main casino hotel, in my opinion the place to stay is at the Lodge. Be sure to inquire about a fireplace and plasma screen television in your suite as these items add to the ambience of your stay. The robes and slippers in the room as well as the spa bathroom are also a nice, upscale touch.

The main resort is elegant and has a more cosmopolitan feel, making you wonder if you are staying at Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun rather than the adirondack feel of the Lodge. The smell of cigarette smoke emanating from the Casino into the main lobby made me feel as if my healthy spa experience had come to a shrieking halt.

Video slots instead of the "one-armed bandits" and a special card that must be constantly refilled when the money runs out are both positive and negative experiences. We're not big gamblers anyway but I found that I didn't invest as much as I normally do when I travel to Atlantic City.

This is a BYOB establishment but we were told that there are shops that will deliver liquor to your room.

Turning Stone is a luxurious, upscale and restorative resort for a long weekend jaunt. There is plenty to do if you're seeking action and adventure but also gets the "thumbs up" when you're looking to unwind and alleviate stress from the week.


Check out other great New York Hotels.

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

This podcast is supported by Pioneer Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

My Podcast Alley feed!