Strategies to Beat Your Partner in Match-Play Golf

Instead of playing for lowest score, as in stroke play, consider the finesse of playing the oldest form of golf, namely match play, the next time you go out on the course for couples' night!

Stroke play is about how few strokes you have at the end of the round while match play is all about how many holes you win.

There is a strategy to winning both competitions but in match play, it's all about understanding both your partner's as well as your own position and making decisions based on his or her moves.

Settling the score will be so much fun when you don't have to rely on score and handicaps and instead plan a psychological attack which offers the golfer a chance to be rewarded for winning one hole at a time.

Here are a few ways to feel empowered during match-play and win in spite of the deficiencies you might have during stroke play.

KEEP EMOTIONS IN CHECK: Try not to feel negative if you lose a hole to your opponent. In stroke play, getting a snowman can really blow your round both on the scorecard and psychologically but in match play, losing one hole will not determine the final outcome. It is important to hold your emotions in check and put on your best poker face. No worries about blow-up holes will also allow you to recover more quickly which keeps you calmer and focused on the mission at hand...beating your spouse or partner!

GIVE GIMMES? There is no harm in giving 2-foot putts to your playing partner, now is there? Especially when/if he or she returns the favor. The fun part comes into play if you are down later on in the match and then, instead of giving that "gimme", you decide to have your partner make the shot. Doubt may creep into your mate's mind about whether or not he makes the shot and...hey, you never know what can happen.

SHOW CONFIDENCE: Consistency breeds confidence, something you need to outwardly show in match-play so make sure you practice your short game on the range, especially putting (see above note.)

IT'S NOT OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER: This quote on pga.com says it best...

"Always stay positive. This has got to be the Golden Rule when it comes to match play. You're not out of it until you run out of holes."

Now that you have a few golf tips on how to beat your partner in match play, suggest this format the next time you are out on the first tee!

What golf tips can you share about match play? Post them in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us with them on Twitter @Golf4Beginners!

Consistency from Tee to Green With These Simple Golf Tips and Drills

What good is a training aid if it sits in your garage and what is the use of learning proper setup or putting if you don't put it into regular practice? Proper practice will give you a consistent golf game.

Golf tips and drills are only as good when they are put into action - if you don't use it, as the old saying goes, you lose it. 

This week, Golf for Beginners offers up three golf tips and drills for driving, chipping and putting - a well-rounded practice for the range which should help you during your round. The simpler the golf tip or drill, the more likely you are to remember and to use it so let's get started.

Golf Drill for Driving

You hit a pop-up and your golf ball only flew about 100 yards off the tee...and it was straight up! You could see your mates shaking their heads and you knew your next shot wasn't getting you on in regulation. Your golf club came down too steep and you need to shallow out your swing.

Top 100 Teacher Cameron McCormick offers this simple driver golf drill (during practice) to shallow out your swing which uses a towel or golf grip placed directly behind the golf ball.

Golf Tips for Approach Shots

PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk says he is not as long off the tee as the big bombers on Tour but what good is finding the fairway with your drive if you can't get that golf ball on the green with your second shot (on a par-4)?

Furyk's golf tips for approach shot accuracy include:

• Choose the right club, not just based on sprinkler head distance marker, but also based on conditions such as wind and how fast the green is or where trouble might be near the green. I was told by Hank Haney to always take more club than you need - club up if you feel that you may not make the distance.
• Avoid the bunkers and go long rather than short, if you aren't the best bunker player.
• Go for the center of the green - don't try to stick it close. Instead, get on in regulation and roll a solid putt.

Golf Drills for Putting

"Good putters are good aimers." says Dale Ketola, Director of Instruction at Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center. "You have to be able to read the line, have the correct speed and read the green."

Watch this short video for techniques/drills on making putts:



READ: Golf Tips to Improve Lag Putt Percentages

These golf tips were meant to inspire you and show you that, with a little bit of targeted practice, you can improve your game.

Offer up your best golf tips and drills in the comments section of this golf blog and follow Golf for Beginners on Twitter for more ways to improve your game!

Self Improvement On and Off the Golf Course

While we can’t control everything in our lives...like a bad shot on the golf course, we do have some say in what happens during our daily routines.

With a few smart strategies in place, you can employ some incredible self-improvement strategies that will enhance your life. Think through what you want to work on, whether it’s kicking a bad habit, developing a healthy one, or trying new things.

Below are a few ideas you should consider both on and off the golf course. Thanks to Stephanie Haywood for her help writing the non-golf portions of this blog.

Develop Confidence

Probably the most important part of a solid score on the course and for life, in general, is to develop a confident attitude. Do not live in fear of your next shot, think of yourself as a good golfer and always remember your best shots. Positive self-talk will help you immensely both on, and off, the course!

Tend Those Pearly Whites

Being busy, stressed, or tired can often mean something’s got to give. If you have neglected your dental visits for any reason, why not get back in the habit? Believe it or not, your oral health is actually a reflection of your overall health. There appears to be a link between what’s going on in your mouth and your mental health, heart health, and gut health. By making improvements in your oral health, you can be happier, healthier, and see all around betterment in your well-being. It’s a great way to ensure you have plenty to smile about, as well!

Go on a Golf Getaway Weekend

We all need a break every once in a while to recharge our batteries and clear our minds. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had some quality downtime, perhaps it’s time to head off on a much-needed weekend golf getaway. The good news: You don’t have to travel very far!

Myrtle Beach, for example, is a wonderful place to recharge as it offers everything from gorgeous beaches (including the 60-mile Grand Strand), dunes, and numerous shopping opportunities. Golf enthusiasts can also take advantage of the many beautiful courses throughout the area, giving you a great opportunity to get in a little exercise and stay active during your stay.

Make your getaway easier by booking a golf package with better rates on both golf and hotel accommodations. Leaving the chaos of life behind for a few days will allow you to recharge your batteries.

Address a Hurting Heart

Sometimes, when we go through something very upsetting or traumatic, it can be easier to set aside our emotions than to deal with them head-on. This can be especially true when it comes to grief, although as Psychology Today explains if we don’t explore our painful emotions stemming from a loss, it can lead to what is termed incomplete grief. There are some wonderful resources out to help connect you with support groups, information, and advice.  

Straighten Out Your Finances

As tax time rolls around, many of us have to pause to consider our overall financial picture. If you aren’t in the position you would like, it may be time to take a gander at your finances and set things right. If you never created a budget for home use, it’s the perfect time to do so.

Start by listing your monthly income from all sources and tally it. Then, list all your monthly expenses, including your fixed expenses and your more flexible ones.

Your flexible expenses are things that you can alter, such as clothing and entertainment (golf is not flexible for many people like myself), while the fixed ones you can’t change easily, such as your housing and car payment. Deduct the expenses from the income, and your end result should be zero. If you’re in the red, cut some expenses, and if you’re in the black, put more money into savings or toward paying down debts.

Pulling Things Together

In golf as in life, once you set goals for yourself, how will you achieve them? You might be surprised to learn setting goals doesn’t normally prove helpful. You are actually more apt to see success by setting goals in a stepping-stone style. Clarify what you want to achieve and how you will get there, and rather than trying to do things in an all-or-nothing manner, pick just a few ideas to work toward at a time. That way, you’re less apt to become overwhelmed and discouraged.  

We all have things we could be working on in our lives. If you are looking for ways to enjoy a better quality of life, there are choices you can make and gains to be had. Do some self-introspection, set some goals, and make self-improvement a priority!

What type of self-improvement methods do you apply to your golf game? Let us know in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

3 Reasons Tiger Woods Won The Masters

A game plan was in place, as Tiger Woods reported after his long-awaited Masters win, and the follow-through was extraordinary as throngs of fans stood by to see the reawakening of their long-lost hero.

As Masters.com stated, it was Tiger Woods' "Return to Glory".

The 2019 Masters with Tiger Woods as a frontrunner reminded fans of days gone by, with steadfastness and purpose of action, shot-after-shot was placed almost effortlessly into scoring position.

As Woods gained strength and momentum during the Masters, golfer upon golfer laid a path to his eventual win. Even with a bogey on 18, Woods could not be caught, and the triumph was both sweet and spectacular to watch.

How did Tiger do it? He mentioned he had a game plan like all professionals do before they play in tournaments, but the average golfer rarely puts a plan into practice. In this blog, Golf for Beginners takes a look at the three reasons Tiger Woods won The Masters and what we, as amateurs, can do to improve our own golf games.

When interviewed after The Masters, TW said he, "kept control of my emotions, my shot placement...I still stayed present and focused on what I had to do today." How can these actions apply to us?

1. GAME FACE ON! Keep control over your emotions.

As you could see from Tiger Woods, as well as from every golfer at Augusta National, there were no outbursts, and you could not tell whether or not they hit decent shots from the looks on their faces - keep your game face on throughout the round in spite of difficulties.

2. SHOT PLACEMENT: Know where you are going to place each golf shot. Tiger Woods took a controlled, aggressive approach - he looked at each hole, acknowledged the trouble areas and was safe yet aggressive when hitting each shot.

Don't just hit the ball, think your way around the golf course and visualize each shot.

3. FOCUS: Remain focused on your intended goal. Where Tiger kept relentless focus, Molinari mentioned after his round that one reason for his loss is that he lost focus.

Tiger Woods won The Masters through focus, sheer will, and determination - if you follow his lessons, you may be able to lower your score around the course and stop any real blow-up holes.

Follow Golf for Beginners on Twitter and feel free to post golf comments to this blog.


Photos: NBC Sports after the round taken from my TV!

Olazabal With a Chance to Win The Masters? You Bet!

Online betting is hot and heavy with odds for whom will win The Masters in 2019 - projections from advanced simulations can go by the numbers but the fun comes from waiting for the unexpected to occur.

There are the familiar favorites that you regularly see on the front page of the leaderboard - Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, and Tiger Woods - and there are also the 5,000 to 1 "long shots" which should also be considered as they were all major champions.

Ian Woosnam, Larry Mize, Sandy Lyle, and Jose Maria Olazabal; these four former champions still have a chance at winning The Masters...even at odds upwards of 3,000-1, according to the Action Network.

Woosnam won The Masters in 1991, Mize won thirty years ago in 1987, Lyle had his moment in the sun in 1988 and Jose Maria Olazabal donned the green jacket twice, once in 1994 and again in 1999.

The chances of a sixty-something professional golfer are unheard of, putting Woosnam, Mize, and Lyle at a distinct disadvantage but, with strength training and better eating habits, a tour winner from the senior set is bound to happen.

Bernhard Langer won the Senior PGA Championship at fifty-nine years of age but, on the PGA Tour, the oldest winner in a PGA Tour tournament is said to be Slammin' Sammy Snead (52 years old, 1965 Greater Greensboro Open)

So, at fifty-three years of age, it stands to reason that Olazabal could win a third Masters - he has been playing against top pros like Langer and Singh on the Champions Tour and has been placing in the middle of the pack - he knows the Augusta golf course well and has eight top-10s there...

Olazabal could be the "comeback kid" from the list of former Masters champions!

Just because a golfer is considered a longshot, don't count him out - in 1999, Olazabal had 3000 to 1 odds. Time may not be on his side, or with the older set but experience often wins out over long hitters on Augusta National as long as the short game (and putting skills) are exceptional.

Enjoy watching The Masters this week and may the best golfer win!

Who is your choice to win The Masters? Let us know in the comments section of our Golf for Beginners blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners with your pick!

Photo: Wikipedia

The Golf Club You Need to Win Tournaments

Kevin Kisner picked away at his opponents during the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship and, on the 16th green against Matt Kuchar, rolled in a spectacular putt to win.

Prevailing after a first-round loss to Ian Poulter, Kisner defeated Francesco Molinari after the former Open Champion 3-putted on the 18th green.

What "sealed the deal" for Kisner during the championships, and sent home the other opponents, were putting skills... or lack thereof.

Did you know...you can tell a lot about a golfer's performance and handicap from the 25 foot putting "make" percentage?

According to Stuart Leong, Chief Swing Officer of Swing Index,

"...data found that players who tend to leave themselves a two-footer or less on a 25-foot putt generally corresponds with a scratch handicap. Players who leave themselves between two feet and three feet generally shoot in the low 80s, while players who finish between three and four feet (or more) generally shoot in the 90s or above."

Sure, it's important to be able to stick the approach shot close to the pin so that you have a better chance of making the putt but you need to close the deal. Golf for Beginners has a few tips to make your putter shine during a round.

How to Pick the Right Putter

• Putting is about feel and comfort, not just design and function. The PGA asks golfers to consider shaft length, weight, balance point, and head design before you purchase so that your flat stick fits you properly.
• Find a grip that suits your putter stroke.
• Select a style of putter you are comfortable with - do you prefer a blade or mallet?

Putting Drill Before You Play Golf

Proper practice is essential at the range and just before you head out for your round as you can get a sense of the speed of the greens and visualize the lines in your mind's eye.

Try this on the practice green: Hit lag putts to get the speed of the greens. Line up four balls and put the first ball three feet from the cup and then put a ball behind it every two feet. Before you leave, make every one of those putts in succession - if you miss a putt, don't putt the next one, instead, line 'em up again and start over - you will probably miss fewer putts when you play your round!

Do you practice putting before a round and, if so, how long do you dedicate to it? Comment below and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners (make sure to tag us so we see your comments!)