Are Changes to the Rules of Golf Hurting Your Game?

For amateurs during a friendly golf game forgetting, or even neglecting, to follow some of the rules changes may not add up to a big difference in score but, in professional tournaments, the results could lead to unfavorable decisions.

Recently, several PGA Tour players have complained about the new rules of golf.

Rickie Fowler at the WGC-Mexico tournament, for example, dropped a ball from shoulder height (instead of at the knee) and incurred a one-stroke penalty. Fowler said, "I think, with the new rules that have been put in place, it's not doing any favors for our sport. I get to drop from my knee and look stupid.' So, no, like I said, it was on me, but I think it's a terrible change."

Related: How Flubs from PGA Tour Golfers Teach the Rest of Us

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers' take? "As professionals, we all have to know the rules...the rules are an important part of our game."

How are the changes to the rules of golf affecting your game? (For a detailed list, follow the link.)

First, let's briefly go over a few of the positive rules changes:

1. No penalties for accidentally moving your golf ball during search and on the putting green.
2. Relief is given for an embedded golf ball (except in sand).
3. Eased rules on touching impediments in the bunker.

Related Read: Sportsmanship and the Rules of Golf

Perhaps these would be considered negative rules changes:
1. Drop golf ball from knee instead of from shoulder height.
2. Leave flag in when putting.

As an amateur, I struggle with the new rules change of leaving in the flag when putting - my playing partners have asked me, "do you want the flag in or out" when, in previous events, there was no choice to be made.

Dave Pelz has mentioned that the flag left in the hole can actually help the odds of your ball finding the bottom of the cup.

"Perhaps most surprising, when the flagstick leans either slightly toward the golfer or away, the odds of it helping to keep the ball in the hole increase: With the flagstick leaning away from the golfer, the hole becomes effectively larger; when the flagstick leans toward the golfer, the ball rebounds downward, again helping shots find the hole."

It is important, however, to check the severity of the flagstick lean as it can also prevent your ball from going in the cup.

Do you find that the adjusted rules of golf have had unfortunate consequences on your round (you have been penalized, for example)? Feel free to write your comments below and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

7 Ways to Make Golf Off-Season More Productive

For many players in the north, snow and brutally cold temperatures herald in golf's off-season. Golf clubs are carried into the garage from the trunk, and, instead of walking the fairways, golfers find themselves wandering the local PGA Tour Superstore.

Even though spring will be at your doorstep before you know it, a little preparation now will get you out on the course with the first official mowing of the short grass!

Golf for Beginners, a leading blog for amateurs of all levels, has created a list of seven ways to make the golf off-season more productive. You may not be playing golf now but, chances are, you are thinking about it, so why not plan ahead!

1. Identify ways to improve your game and score. Do you flub a lot of your chips? Are you regularly 3-putting?

2. Find a good teaching professional and talk about your weaknesses. Many pros teach indoors and/or, not every day is too cold to get into the sunshine.

3. Clean out your golf bag - junk accumulates! From old, half-eaten snack bars to the hundreds of tees you have stashed in all of those pockets, your golf bag can get really heavy! Rummage through your clubs during the offseason to identify which ones you just don't use and replace them with clubs that you want to try at the range come spring thaw.

4. Regrip your clubs - after reviewing which golf clubs you intend to keep in your bag for the new season, check and regrip the slippery ones!

5. Re-cleat, and clean your golf shoes - do this task regularly as I have been lax here only to find out that some soft spikes do not come out easily if they have been in their socket for too long! Your golf shoes will last longer and give you years of good gripping power on the course.

6. Tis the season for deals! Think ahead for spring - now is the time to find sales on golf balls ...for all the balls you will lose next year!

7. Practice your putting in your living room. If there is one part of your game that you can always find a place to practice, it is your putting! Get out that red Dixie cup and dunk a few, or drive over to the local superstore in your area and roll a few putts while purchasing your golf balls, soft spikes and new grips!

Photo: Footjoy Ladies LoPro golf shoes

An Odd Golf Coincidence?

For those people who believe in odd coincidences...Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood have more of an attachment than just being pro golfers.

Was it just their "time" or did fate play a role in the same day wins of both Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood? This fact, by itself, would appear coincidental but there's more...both golfers also won on the same day four years ago (April 20, 2014) and not again until this past Sunday (even though both have been in contention).

I wonder if any betting parlor determined the odds of this Kuchar - Westwood happening...a million to one? As much as lightning striking in the same place twice? Will this same occurrence happen again in 2022?

Being unable to solve this riddle, Golf for Beginners moves on to what Kuchar and Westwood did to secure their victories. Below are a few quotes from the pros.

Matt Kuchar was hoping to create more of a cushion for himself, "I certainly didn’t want a 3-footer on the last hole to win this thing, I was hoping to have a three-, four-shot lead and some wiggle room."

Lee Westwood's plan was to remain calm, aim and shoot at his target, "Until now, my emotions have felt really under control all day, which is what I’ve been working on. I was just trying to hit fairways and stick to my game plan and hit it in the right places.”

How can amateurs use Kuchar's and Westwood's plans to secure their own wins, whether it's with their regular foursome or at a business tournament?

To gain more of a cushion during your golf round, try hitting more safe shots to get onto the green in regulation, giving yourself more birdie opportunities.

As far as remaining calm, take a deep breath before each shot. With regards to aiming and shooting at a target, you should first have a repeatable pre-shot routine - after this process is "in the bag", try visualizing one shot at a time.


Photo by Peter Lewicki on Unsplash

Questions Not Normally Asked by Golf Beginners

Learning all there is to the game of golf isn't easy - aside from attaining a repeatable swing, selecting the right golf clubs and cultivating proper etiquette, newbies need to understand how to count their shots and learn the basic rules of golf.

Golf for Beginners understands that some of this knowledge is provided by your instructor or through the internet but there are nuances to .the game that may or may not have come up.

Here are a few beginners (and not so newbie) questions answered:

Should I tip at the bag drop?
Whenever someone offers you a service, and you accept, it is customary to offer a tip. In this case, depending on your generosity, a dollar or two should suffice for basic service and more for those attendants who offer you special service.

Where do I bring the ticket that is given to me in the Clubhouse?

This receipt goes to the starter; it offers information such as how many players are in your group and at what tee box you report to as well as acknowledging that you paid, so keep it safe!

In what order do I play?
Golfers tee off in order from the back tees to the forward tees.

When all players are starting from the first tee and on the same tee box, it is customary to throw a tee up in the air to determine the initial order of play. During a round, on the fairways, whoever is farthest back from the green hits first.

Do I have to repair the mark I make on the fairways and greens?
Yes, ALWAYS! If you make a divot on the fairway, there is usually a sand/grass mixture located on the golf cart - shake it on the divot. If you see ball marks on the green, take out your ball mark repair tool and fix them for the next group of golfers and to keep the course in great shape...at the very least, repair your own mark.

How long should I take when getting a snack from the Clubhouse between the front and back 9?
You should limit your time at the snack bar to about 5 minutes - that should give you enough time to order something from the snack bar and visit the bathroom.

What do I do if I feel uncomfortable with the people with whom I have been paired?
Be polite. Play your own game. Enjoy the day and your surroundings.

Do I really need golf etiquette?
Even if you don't know how to swing a golf club, you will appear much more like a golfer than if you do all of the "no-no's" associated with bad golf manners. For example, don't step in someone's line and don't talk in a golfers' backswing - most golf etiquette rules are just common sense so use yours when out on the course.

If you don't know, ASK! Golfers are always willing to help bring another lover of the game into the fold.

Golf beginners questions are always welcomed in the comments section of our golf blog and on Twitter! Tag us @Golf4Beginners.

photo: pexels.com

Just the Facts - 150th World Almanac Features All-Time Golf Winners

Rankings play an important part in golf and every fan has an opinion.

This is particularly true when golfers discuss topics like, "who is the best player never to win a major" or the flip side, "who is the worst golfer to win a major".

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." ―  John Adams

The 150th Anniversary edition of The World Almanac and Book of Facts for 2018 is a repository for golf facts as well as lists of notable personalities, science and technology innovations, maps and U.S. History.

With a week off for some R&R, I had the chance to peruse this reference book and it is an eye-opener for anyone interested in learning more about the world in which we live.

If you are a fact lover and are interested in who won the Olympic Gold Medal in golf (do you remember...seems like a really long time ago) or the Women's All-Time Leading LPGA Tournament Winners, this book may be just what you're looking for!

"The World Almanac is considered America's top-selling reference book of all time, with more than 82 million copies sold. Since 1868, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for all your entertainment, reference, and learning needs."

Many internet aficionados may say, "you can simply search these facts on the internet" but there is something "novel" about thumbing through a physical book that makes this World Almanac a special resource. True, you may consider the 1,000 or so pages a bit of a paperweight but, when I received it in the mail, my husband grabbed it, commenting that he can't wait to read through it. And yes, there is a Kindle edition of The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2018 so, for all of you who prefer to go paperless, there is an option for you.

Are you a fact lover? Which is the most unique golf fact that you have come across? Tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners or let us know in the comments section of this golf blog.

AWESOME #Golf Driver and Putter Headcover GIVEAWAY!

When Golf for Beginners was approached by Craftsman Golf to offer a golf GIVEAWAY to our readers and social media friends, we checked out the items and, after we said "WOW", we agreed!

Craftsman Golf, the leader in custom and distinguishing headcovers, is helping us to give away a 2-piece matching set; driver and a putter cover! These headcovers are awesome and will most certainly inspire you as you pull out your clubs on the course.

Did I mention that this GIVEAWAY is for a 2-piece set? Yes, I did! However, we are also authorized to give away just the driver and/or putter cover as we see fit...

Here is what YOU could win:

Skull Leather Driver Head Cover
(description as taken from the site):

- Fit almost 460cc driver
- Premium synthetic leather, water - stain resistant
- V-shaped design with cool skull pattern, fashionable
- Soft inner lining will protect your clubs
- Durable elastic inside secures to a tight fit

Skull Leather Putter Head Cover With Marker Holder
(description as taken from the site):

- Fit almost blade putter
- Premium synthetic leather, Water, and stain resistant
- The soft plush Inner Lining well protect your club
- Strong magnetic closure keeps your cover on the club
- Magnetic utility platform to secure ball marker


Okay, now you know what you can win. Here are the easy-peasy details on How to Win these amazing headcovers and be the envy of every golfer on the course:

Here it comes... it's the Official Giveaway Rules!

This is a Twitter-based giveaway but Golf for Beginners will also post and watch for the hashtag and your comments on Facebook.

Retweet our post, follow @Golf4Beginners and @craftsmangolf on Twitter and hashtag us back with #CraftsmanGolfHeadcovers telling us why you want to win this prized possession, so that we can see that you have entered the Giveaway!

Tag 3 friends (more, as you could to win these amazing head covers).

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

WINNERS MUST BE BASED IN THE USA only. Winners will not be selected from any country other than the United States.

Two headcovers - one driver and one putter, will be given away to two golfers by Golf for Beginners blog. Golf for Beginners has the right to split up the prizes and give out 4 prizes instead of two: 2 driver headcovers to 2 separate individuals and 2 putter headcovers to 2 different individuals.

Prizes contributed by CraftsmanGolf.com. (see below).

Winnings provided directly by Craftsman Golf and substitutions may occur. Golf for Beginners is NOT RESPONSIBLE for any substitutions in head covers or putter covers nor are we responsible if CraftsmanGolf.com fails to deliver on the prizes.

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

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

Winners will be announced on November 3, 2017 and will be notified via private message. Shipping will be provided by Craftsman Golf. The winner must provide a real name, an accurate address within the USA as well as an email address and phone number upon winning the prize.

GOOD LUCK!

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

Check out more wonderful items, pls go to www.craftsmangolf.com. Want custom head covers?
Email Bella: info@craftsmangolf.com.

Golf Tips to Keep Players on the Short Grass

Getting out of trouble and back into play may be a fundamental of golf but wouldn't it be nice to improve your chances of success? Staying in the fairway involves not only a repeatable golf swing but also playing smarter, not harder.

Golf for Beginners offers a few tips to help golfers of all skill levels keep the ball on the short grass.

1. Club Selection: If you hit a bomb of a drive grumbling, "I shouldn't have taken out my driver!", you chose the wrong club...a common problem among amateur golfers.

Instead of always reaching for the driver, think about the hole which lies ahead - note the distance to water, traps, and trees to determine whether or not you should pull out a different club.

2. Straight Shooter: If you know you are slicing or hooking the ball during the day, it is better to compensate than to change your swing. "Set-up to play the fade," according to Keiser University's College of Golf and Sport Management.

3. Center Your Shots: Don't try to "place" your ball in a certain spot - instead, aim for fat parts of both fairways and greens.

4. Playing it Safe: Golfers have a tendency to "go for it" when playing it safe could keep you in play and, with a nice lie. Although you may have some great shots in your bag, you are not Phil Mickelson or you would be playing in The Open this week. Use wise course management and minimize your penalty strokes.

5. BREATHE!!! - Before every round, my husband always reminds me to take a deep breath while over the ball; it relaxes my body and hands and the overall result is a more comfortable, lazy swing. Think TEMPO. Try it next time you are standing over that little white orb.

What creative ideas can you share to keep your golf ball in the fairway? Let us know on this Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.