How to Survive and Conquer Golf in the Rain

A seemingly beautiful golf event turns from sunshine to soaking rain in a matter of minutes...but, is your round ruined? 

Most players do not have the luxury of rescheduling eighteen holes to another day, so you carry on, pulling out of your bag your waterproof gloves and one of your stylish waterproof golf jackets from Galvin Green.


Can playing in the rain also be a fun experience? Of course it can, with a few golf tips under your belt! 

Here are a few tips from some of the best known "mudders" and instructors:

1. Five-time Briitish Open winner Tom Watson knows about playing in adverse conditions. His top weatherproof swing tip? Aside from always carrying a lightweight rainsuit, Watson says, "from a wet turn, swing your irons on a shallower (flatter) plane so you pick the ball off the grass without taking a divot. If you hit even slightly behind the ball, the club will dig too much into the wet ground. When the conditions are wet, a thin shot is better than a fat shot. Plus, a thin shot will probably still stop on the green if it's wet."

2. Don't overswing like Phil Mickelson says Doug Wade, head golf professional at Miami Valley Golf Club. Thinking back to a classic pull from Mickelson at Quail Hollow which resulted in a loss, Wade says to stay in control, shorten your golf swing and swing easy.

3. The Shark, aka Greg Norman, says to "keep yourself and your equipment as dry as possible." 

"If there's one part of your body to keep dry it's your hands. Once you lose your grip, you lose everything, so keep your hands in your pockets except to play. Also, be sure to keep the top of your golf bag covered so that rain doesn't drip down the shafts and get your grips wet."

I will add to this tip that you should make sure you keep a hat in your golf bag and, as Tiger Woods sometimes does, turn the flap upward to allow water to pour away from your face.


4. Golf Channel Swing Instruction says you will need more carry from the tee. I would add that you should consider taking an extra golf club during most of your distance shots as the ball will not travel as far nor will it roll on soft, wet ground.

Be sure to check out the range of Nike golf clothing from Function18 before hitting the links!

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photo credits: function18.com, windsorgolf.co.th, shark.com


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Greg Norman hopes Adam Scott gives Tiger Woods a Presidents Cup thrashing

A face-off between Tiger Woods and Adam Scott at the Presidents Cup tourney in Royal Melbourne GC would certainly make great "must see TV" but is Greg Norman using the Aussie to unload his own sour grapes?

The Aussies (?...ha) are "sick and tired of losing," said Norman, whose International team hasn't won the Cup since 1998. Furthermore, Greg Norman was "dethroned" by Tiger Woods in the 1990's to become top-golfer in the world. This isn't just a case of "my yacht is bigger than your yacht," this is personal.

"Tiger and Greg don't speak," said a source who knows both men. "There's a lot of animosity between them."

Greg Norman has turned The Presidents Cup into a battle between Australia (not necessarily the "International Team") and the USA. Doing so, however, has had it's ramifications, with Couples now comparing Aussie golfers to Woods.

After Tiger Woods was slammed by Norman, Couples retorted with a comparative dig at Melbourne golfer Robert Allenby.

"Robert Allenby is his (captain's) pick, and Aaron Baddeley, and they're Australians and I think they're great picks,"claimed Couples. "But I think I can sit here and say Robert Allenby hasn't won a tournament in ten years.''

Other Aussies have jumped on the "trash-talking Tiger" bandwagon but members of Team Norman such as Geoff Ogilvy seem spurred on by Greg Norman's personal vengeance against the former world's number-one golfer.

Geoff Ogilvy, for example, does not agree with Team USA Captain Fred Couples' pick, "I'm not going to stand up and say Tiger is a horrible pick, but I'm going to say it's very disappointing that Keegan Bradley doesn't get to play."

Placing Adam Scott against Tiger Woods is also a personal slam against the former world's number one as Scott's caddie, Steve Williams, has said a few bitter words recently about his former boss.

That being said, an Adam Scott - Tiger Woods match would make for sensational end-of-season golf TV and both teams know it, as the Presidents Cup has never been as monumental as the Ryder Cup.

When Norman asked Scott if he had a problem going up against the former world's number one, Adam said, "Not at all. I'll play him and win a point for you."

Presidents Cup action begins Wednesday November 16th. Check your listings and voice your opinions about Tiger Woods on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on Facebook.

 

 

 

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LPGA Ambassadors on Olympic Golf Mission to Brazil

Three top golfers on the LPGA Tour have decided to become golf ambassadors in order to gain more interest in the sport and to insure future Olympic success.

Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen and Meghan Francella are "on a mission" to Brazil to spread the word about the great golf the LPGA has to offer. The three ladies have committed to play in the HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup at the Itanhanga Golf Club in Rio De Janeiro on May 28/29 partly because golf will be featured in the 2016 Rio Games. The field will be made up of thirty golfers and event purse will be $720,000.


Another reason for Suzann's call to action is because Pettersen was part of the official delegation that successfully presented golf’s "case" to the IOC in Copenhagen sixteen months ago. She believes the HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup has a vital role in growing the popularity of golf in South America before it returns to the Olympic family for the first time since 1904.

Pettersen further said she wanted, "sports fans in Brazil to know who we are and how good we are and we need to build their desire to see us in five years’ time."

More golfers on both the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour should reach out worldwide to grow the game of golf. Greg Norman and Annika Sorenstam attend forums considering ways to attract newcomers and this grass roots approach of going out and gaining fans with the sole purpose of showcasing their talents will go a long way in promoting the sport.

Crisite Kerr said, “This is the biggest single opportunity that women’s golf has ever had! It’s not about who wins the gold medal in five years’ time; it’s about an opportunity to grow and expand the sport more than it has ever grown before"

"We," Kerr maintained, "as the current stars of women’s golf will absolutely kick ourselves if, in ten years time, we can’t look the new young professionals coming through in the eye and say we did everything we could to make being in the Olympics a success. That’s why we need to be in Rio now!”

 
credit: Getty Images

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Ochoa wins Asia's biggest Golf prize, Montgomerie incurs penalty.

Although technically retired, former LPGA golf legend Lorena Ochoa stepped back into competitive golf holding off Colin Montgomerie to win Asia's largest prize at the inaugural Mission Hills Star Trophy event in China this past weekend.

Credit (Alexander F. Yuan / AP)

The international celebrity pro-am golf tournament, held at the new, five-star Mission Hills Resort Haikou on tropical Hainan Island consisted of eighteen teams with one celebrity and a professional. A few notable golfers on the celebrity front included Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Grant, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Phelps and Christian Slater. They joined forces with golf heavyweights and Host/Ambassador of the event, Greg Norman along with Annika Sorenstam, Sir Nick Faldo, Rosie Jones, Montgomerie and Ochoa.

In the team event, played in the four-ball stroke play format, LPGA golfer Candie Kung and Hong Kong celebrity Eric Tsang emerged as champions. They added a blistering 63 to yesterday's five-under 68 to finish on 15-under 131 and beat home-town favorites Kong Wei Hai and Ye Zhao Ying by one shot. China pop star Sun Nan and LPGA player Feng Shanshan were another shot behind in third place.

Ochoa and Montgomerie added sizzle to the Mission Hills Golf Tournament staging a seesaw battle all afternoon, with the pair each recording four birdies for the day, swapping the lead on numerous occasions. Montgomerie reached four-under and took a one-shot lead with a ten foot birdie putt on par-four 17th, before making a regulation par-five at the last hole.

However, it was the 2010 Ryder Cup-winning captain, playing two groups in front of Ochoa, who incurred a two-shot penalty after his caddie moved an advertising sign at the par-four 16th. Combined with Ochoa's up and down for birdie at the final hole, Lorena earned a two-shot buffer and the US$1.28 million check.

After winning the trophy, Lorena Ochoa said,

"It was really an amazing day. It was just a case that everything went well over the two days and I was a 100-percent focused on every single shot. I tried to do my best all the time and it paid off.

"I made some great par saves, making some six and ten-foot putts and I think that's why I'm here (as the winner). Right now I'm going to enjoy it, there's no more golf to think about. I'm going to enjoy it and go home really happy."

The Mission Hills Star Trophy was beamed to over 150 countries around the world from Africa to Russia but no golf action seen on United States TV!

The press release that I received mentioned, "The Mission Hills Star Trophy is one of the first major events supporting a government-led initiative to make Hainan a leading international tourism destination in the coming years and reaffirms Mission Hills Haikou as the world's most memorable golf resort."

Note to esteemed broadcaster Terry Jastrow,  veteran Emmy-winning sports producer of sixty-eight golf majors and six Olympic Games during his career and to those people responsible for improving relations and golf initiatives (Mission Hills Group for one?) between Asia and the USA:

In order to introduce Asian golf and the latest resorts and travel destinations in Hainan (and throughout Asia) to the USA, it would have been a good idea to send the television signal out to the millions of golf fans here so that the average fan could watch the tournament. Reading a by-line on the internet and after-the-fact post scripts rarely work as golf is a visual sport.

Check a few of the posts on Sharkwatch.com where Norman fans say, "Wish we could have watched you in action!"  Me too!

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Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam worried about the future of golf

In an effort to find innovative ways for golf to be more "affordable and accessible", Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam and golf creative thinkers convened at the fourth annual Asia Pacific Golf Summit.

This 'call to action' in Thailand was only one of several forums designed to effect a change in the sport in order to attract more newcomers and to keep the golfers that already play interested in the game. Earlier this year, a Golf Business Forum in Turkey tackled similar questions with both Norman and Sorenstam in attendance.

Believing interest in the sport has hit its limit and is now declining, Hud Hinton, Troon Golf president and chief executive officer warned that, "The game is too expensive to play, too difficult to play, too expensive to operate and the pace of play is too slow."

Greg Norman came up with an interesting idea regarding the premise that it takes too long to play a round of golf.

"There's nothing to say that a golf course has to be 18 holes. Why shouldn't 12-hole courses be successful in Asia?"

Although it seems like an age-old question, what suggestions would you make in order to improve the sport and to bring in newcomers?

My idea?
Children are the future of the sport so perhaps add golf to a school's curriculum? Instead of just playing dodge-ball in a gym where kids learn it's okay to hit one another in the head with a ball, golf can also teach the nine basic principles of the First Tee Program.

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Tiger Woods Not Alone on Jupiter Island

The 10,000 square foot behemoth on Jupiter Island that Tiger Woods calls home is finally near completion but will Woods feel lonely when he moves back in?

Hardly as he shares the Island with some very high profile celebrities including Celine Dion, Nick Price, Burt Reynolds and Greg Norman. Norman tried to sell his digs last year for $65 million, couldn't find a buyer, dropped his price to $45 million, took it off the market and now has placed the mansion back into circulation for $65 million.

Former Lehman Bros. CEO Richard Fuld used to own digs on Jupiter Island but "sold" it to his wife for $100 after the company plummeted into bankruptcy.

Here is a picture of the old TW "house" and a link to the renovated Tiger Woods estate which includes a 9,500 square foot exercise building, oxygen therapy room (for when the air gets too thin) and two pools. I understand that one of those pools is a "reflecting" pool for when Tiger needs to rethink how his life has changed over the past year.




<=====Tiger Woods' house BEFORE renovation

Click here to see the NEW and IMPROVED Tiger Woods Estate and pictures of Celine Dion's and Greg Norman's digs.

How Harrington used course management to top Norman at the British Open, Michelle Wie DQ, take the first step to winning and choosing a first driver

Click here to listen.

Padraig Harrington came out the victor this week at the British Open, the third major winner of the year with an injury to do so, hiding under the radar of many who thought he could not win back-to-back major tournaments. Harrington concentrated his efforts on course management and the short game to overtake an unlikely favorite of the over-fifty set, namely Greg Norman, whose "foot-on-the-pedal" mentality cost him yet another win.

It's a shame, though, that in 2007, Harrington thought so little of the Claret Jug he fought so hard to win he used it instead as a fill for swill! We hope that Harrington didn't do this again this year!

This week Golf for Beginners internet broadcast discusses the mental clarity and forethought it takes to make it to the final round and persevere under treacherous conditions. Chris Wood found little pressure in his "surreal" situation and easily made his way to the 18th hole with a forward focus. Others like Phil Mickelson, always the optimist, may have stated that he hit the ball well but it was evident he was clearly disappointed as he had spent the prior week at the Scottish Open finding similar results. Perhaps the pressure of having to take Tiger Woods' place on the leaderboard made him falter?

*****

Choosing your first driver without ever having hit one can be harrowing. We tell you what to look for in a driver and how to make the process easier!

*****


I had my first competitive round with the ladies of the EWGA at Doral Arrowwood this past week and my play was far from pretty! Find out how I intend to take the three steps from playing to competing and finally to winning!

*****


Finally, how many DQ's, withdrawals and mistakes will be had before Michelle Wie reads the Rules of Golf?

Wie stepped outside of the scoring area after round two and a volunteer had to call her back into the tent for the infraction of one of the basic rules of golf...that is, she didn't sign her scorecard! Michelle knew that she forgot but felt that this was yet another time she could get off the hook with a shrug and a "sorry" claiming, "I thought it would be okay. It was an honest mistake."

Her third round, which placed her squarely in contention for a Sunday showdown did not count. Perhaps Wie should have listened to our previous podcast where we discuss some of the most basic and overlooked regulations of the sport.

Wie was disqualified. Unfortunately, it cost the LPGA a Sunday of high ratings and Michelle Wie her possible first win on the Tour.

Michelle choked back tears looking for pity and said, "I don't know what happened to me."

Should this rule have been overturned just this once for the benefit of the sport?

Of course, once one of the Rules of Golf is slackened, it is only a matter of time before others follow suit. In our opinion, the Rules should be followed to the letter until a rule is changed for everyone. It isn't the first time something like this has occured and it surely won't be the last time.

It is unfortunate incident for Wie but I'll bet she will never make this mistake again. Penalties will surely occur from a lack of concentration...


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Tiger Woods moving on up, Greg Norman selling out. Also, how to get out of hardpan sand and putting tips

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The world's most affluent zip code has been getting a workout as of late. Tiger Woods is flattening existing edifices on his estate, replacing the original mansion and assorted other buildings, with updated but "quite modest" appointments.

Approved plans include a 10,000 square foot dream house, a guard house, small golf course, pool and other amenities necessary to the enjoyment of the world's richest PGA Tour golfer and family. Famous neighbor Celine Dion won't be angry with the constant commotion as she began building her new digs earlier this year.

Not to be outdone by Tiger Woods, Greg Norman is seeking $65 million for his home on Jupiter Island after a messy break-up to his estranged wife. Originally purchased for $5 million sixteen years ago, the Shark is looking to make a real estate killing. Always the saavy businessman, Norman realizes that the elite will pay BIG to live near the greatest golfer on the planet (Jupiter?).

The rich just keep getting richer. But just how much is too much?

The cold weather has not put a damper on our golf activity but we must remember the importance of playing smarter and considering every shot. For example, Barry found himself in a sand trap that had frozen over. Golf for Beginners discusses the correct way to exit this trap the very first time. We also talk about an easy way to visualize your putting line.

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