Golf Tips for Beginners from Non-Golfers: Fresh Perspectives on the Game

Why does golf sometimes seem intimidating to newcomers - is it because of all the technical jargon and rules? Do beginners and most amateurs feel pressured when playing with others? Sometimes, a fresh perspective from someone who isn’t immersed in the sport can provide valuable, simple, and relatable advice. Here are a few beginner golf tips inspired by insights from non-golfers. I suggest that golfers who have been playing for many years read this as well as we sometimes forget that golf is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing as well as a test of our skills! And, why not ask your friends, the ones who don't play golf, why they haven't picked up the sticks? You might just uncover ideas that can change your mind about the sport.

1. Keep It Fun

When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to get bogged down by technique and trying to hit perfect shots. Non-golfers often remind us to keep things fun and not take the game too seriously. Approach your practice sessions and rounds with a sense of humor and enjoyment. Remember, golf is as much about the experience as it is about the score.

2. Don’t Overthink It

Overthinking can be a big trap in golf. Non-golfers suggest adopting a more relaxed attitude. Instead of analyzing every aspect of your swing or strategy, try to stay loose and just enjoy the flow of the game. Sometimes, simplicity can lead to better results.

3. Dress Comfortably

Non-golfers might not know the latest trends in golf fashion, but they do know that comfort is key. Make sure your clothing is not only appropriate for the course but also comfortable and allows you to move freely. If you’re comfortable, you’re more likely to play well.

4. Take Breaks

Many non-golfers stress the importance of taking breaks, especially during activities that require focus and patience, like golf. Don’t be afraid to step back, take a breather, and relax between holes or after a tough shot. This can help reset your mind and keep you from getting too frustrated.

5. Enjoy the Outdoors

Golf courses are often set in beautiful locations, and non-golfers might remind you to take in the scenery. Enjoy the fresh air, the green grass, and the overall environment. It’s not just about playing the game; it’s also about enjoying the time spent outdoors.

6. Be Patient with Yourself

Non-golfers can be great at reminding us to be patient. Golf is a challenging sport that takes time to master. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not hitting perfect shots right away. Improvement comes with time, practice, and patience.

7. Play with Friends

Even if they don’t play golf themselves, non-golfers might suggest that you make the game social. Playing with friends can make the experience more enjoyable and less intimidating. Plus, it’s a great way to spend time with others and share laughs, even if your game isn’t perfect.

8. Try Different Clubs

Non-golfers might suggest experimenting with different tools until you find what works best for you. In golf, that means trying different golf clubs to see which ones you’re most comfortable with. Don’t feel like you have to use every club in your bag—focus on the ones that feel right.

9. Start Small

Non-golfers might suggest that you don’t need to start with 18 holes or aim for a perfect round. Start small, perhaps with a shorter course or even just practicing your swing. Build up your confidence gradually.

10. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Non-golfers often remind us that it’s okay not to know everything right away. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from more experienced players, watch tutorials, or read beginner guides. Everyone starts somewhere, and asking questions is a great way to learn.

READ: Advice for the Average Golfer

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These tips from a non-golfer’s perspective can be incredibly refreshing for beginners. They remind us that golf, while complex, is still a game meant to be enjoyed. Keep these in mind as you start your golfing journey, and you might find yourself falling in love with the game even more.

Five #Golf Tips for Practice Without an Instructor

Golf for Beginners knows that there is no substitute for taking instructions from a professional golf instructor but, what happens when you want to hit a few but you're not taking a lesson?

Practicing on a driving range is good - proper practice is essential! No one wants to ingrain bad habits into the golf swing or into your round; they're so difficult to break! Instead, when you are alone with your golf clubs and no pro in sight, practice your lessons and keep these tips in mind:

1. Just because you are practicing on a range doesn't mean you shouldn't first warm up your body - stretching before you begin will help improve the fluidity of your swing and, chances are, you won't pull a ligament or tendon.

2. Get your tempo down before you start swinging - practice tempo either with a training aid or think "1, 2, 3" (like a waltz) to the top of your back swing and then again "1, 2, 3" to the finish. Also, try holding your position at the top for a sec before your downswing -  this will slow you down and improve your rhythm.

3. Practice a comfortable hold on your grip - if you're holding on too tight it can cause a pull hook and callouses on your fingers. If you have problems with your grip pressure, there are grips that you don't play with but can help properly align your hands and fingers.

4. You're not John Daly so don't practice with a "grip it and rip it mentality"- there's no need to take a mighty swing every time. Instead, start your routine with quarter and half swings to improve ball contact. And, since golf is a target sport, pick the smallest specific target you're aiming at before you take your practice swing. Practice your visualization - how you look at a hole and the course.

5. Make sure you spend some time each session on the putting green - practice your putting stroke which is the beginning of your golf swing so you can see and hear the ball fall into the cup.

What practice tips can you share? Share on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on this golf blog.

photo: en.wikipedia.org, Golf for Beginners

Mental Clarity That Helped Tiger Woods and Frittelli Win Golf Tournaments

PGA Tour rookie winner Dylan Frittelli stated after his John Deere Golf Classic win that Tiger Woods' amateur career sports psychologist helped give him mental clarity to push through to victory.

How can clearing the cobwebs in your mental game make beginners and amateurs into better golfers?

After a bogey-free weekend, Frittelli discussed how, for the past several months, sports psychologist Jay Brunza has changed his game.

"The plan for this week was just to be creative and have fun," mentioned Frittelli during his post-tournament interview. “Mentality clarity was the difference this week,” Frittelli said.

Although the exact communications between Jay Brunza and Frittelli remain confidential, Brunza did state that positive encouragement was a focus of their messages.

Mental clarity is easier said than accomplished but think of the song lyrics by En Vogue, "Free your mind and the rest will follow" and you are on the right track.

According to an article in The Independent, Brunza, a retired U.S. Navy officer and caddie/sports psychologist to an amateur Tiger Woods, said this about the junior Woods,

"...the process that followed was to teach him to deal with critical situations by emotionally detaching himself from them, while at the same time being completely immersed mentally in the challenge of the moment. With the inhibition of the fear of the moment removed, Woods could respond to the best of his burgeoning physical ability."   [paraphrased, Paul Trow]

Jay Brunza is also credited by several other tour players (Charlie Howell, for example) for his unique mental game strategy.

"You don’t focus on win or else," mentioned Frittelli in his post-round interview. Winning is a process. An easy thought to remember would be Brunza's catchphrase, "Relax, Review, Refocus".

A few more mental golf tips from the superstar sports psychologist are to...

Focus on a “pre-shot routine” in the pursuit of “peak performance” and "letting everything go, all the distractions, before playing a shot.”


Also cited, Timeslive.co.za
Photo by Regine Tholen on Unsplash

You CAN Be a Successful #Golf Beginner. Here's How

After introducing several of my colleagues to the wonderful world of golf, they caught the bug. It was inevitable - the ball was airborne, the weather cooperated...all things necessary for a successful start.

What steps were taken to ensure success for these two golf beginners and what is needed by the newbie to establish advancement of their golf goals? Here are three tips to help beginners get in, and stay in, the game.

1. Set a plan into motion. Most beginners want to get right out there on the golf course but that is not the best course of action. Time on the driving range is essential and, although practice is good, targeted practice is even better.

You have to be able to move your playing piece before you take the next step, otherwise, playing "military" golf is no fun (left, right, left, right). Step one leads us directly to step two (see below).

2. Qualified instruction is key to success. Although I put my colleague in the correct positions so that she could get started (she was very eager to hit the ball), when the professional golf instructor arrived, he noticed things I did not, such as a weak grip which was causing her to slice the ball. Take lessons but make sure to understand and learn each one before moving to the next.

3. Get custom fit for golf clubs. (This tip goes for all golfers!)
Did you know, it costs the same amount of money to buy golf clubs "off the rack" as it does to get them fit to your exact specifications? Also, a custom club fitter makes sure that the lie and weight of the golf clubs suit your particular swing.

If you are reading this and you are the beginner, remember that only focused practice will allow you to improve. I know you are in a hurry to get out onto a golf course but you will have so much more fun if you learn the basics! Remember, this is a game that will last you a lifetime. Take your time and enjoy the process.

What is the mentality of any golfer who wishes to become a winner? With so many different skill sets needed, from mental to physical, Golf for Beginners took one section from an infographic from Onlinegolf.uk to show you what, in their opinion makes The Perfect Golfer.

1. Every shot counts, so remain focused on one shot at a time. If you hit a bad shot, it's automatically in the past and you must then focus solely on the shot you face next.

Play to your own strengths and try not to overthink shots. Keep it simple: aim to find the fairway and middle of the green every time.

Make your practice time a pressured environment. Imagine being in a scenario where that one shot counts. Apply your pre-shot routine and evaluate the success of each shot. This will help you when you play in your local weekend Stableford or medal competitions.

Are you a golf beginner who needs answers? Ask away, we're here to help.
Contact golfforbeginners@aol.com, leave a comment below or tweet us @Golf4Beginners.

Thanks for sharing Onlinegolf.uk!

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.

Golf Tips to Improve Your Game from Tee to Green

Some of the most interesting emails we receive at Golf for Beginners are tips which are begging to be shared with our readers! In addition, we are always scouring the internet for interesting and relevant ways to improve your game.

Compiled below are a few game improvement tips - we hope that the journey to lower your score this season is an educational and joyous one.

Golf Tips to Improve Your Game from Tee to Green

1. How Many Ways Can You Play a Par-4 hole?

It's short enough to be a driveable hole but that par-4 may have bunkers or water in areas which are reachable if you don't hit perfect shots. Do you play it aggressively or conservatively? The choice in shot, and score, are up to you. Steve Elkington provides you with two different thoughts in strategy in his video, "How To Play A Short Par-4."

2. The 40-Yard Chip Shot - Awkward Distance

Use More Body, less arms says instructor Stan Utley. "When your clubhead speed is generated by turning your body, instead of by throwing your hands, you make a much more consistent swing and will have better contact." More tips: GolfDigest.com

3. Putting - Focus on the Mental Game

"The fastest and easiest way to improve your putting is to adopt a routine that gets your eyes up on your target and allows you to feel the length of stroke needed to get the ball to roll the right distance," says instructor Craig Jones of FaceFirstGolf.com.

Improving distance control will help you eliminate three putts that can drive up your scores quickly.

Read Putting tips that are Elementary for Mr. Watson.

Finally, don't have a golf course meltdown when you find that things are not going your way. Take a step back, a deep breath and refocus on each shot. Remember, a successful journey in golf usually takes you through a winding path.

Do you have golf tips to share with our readers? Place your tips in our golf blog below and follow us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photo: commons.wikimedia.org

How Will You Start YOUR #Golf Season?

The golf season is already in full swing down in the southern and western states (East and West Coast Swing) but for many golfers who are just dusting off their clubs, the hard and fast rules have not yet settled in.

Have no fear!

If you are not playing in competition and are out for a friendly round with a few of your mates, set the rules right from the beginning of the round.

Here are a few helpful golf tips to get you started:

- If the golf course is very muddy (and they usually are this time of year), make sure you emphasize the ever important, "Lift, Clean and Place" Rule. Although the PGA of America did not consider using this rule during the U.S. Open, it sure can help during a sloppy round on your home course!

- It might also be equally important to make known the embedded ball rule.

According to Golf Digest, it's not a good idea to use your new Titleist Pro V1's either as your swing is not yet in the groove and these pearly whites (or yellows) will probably find their way into someone else's bag. Better to stick with leftovers for now.

- Since you are not Tiger Woods and if you are not in competition and only out for a bit of fun, if your ball lands safely on the fairway but lands in a divot, MOVE YOUR BALL OUT OF THE DIVOT! Make sure you alert your playing partners beforehand but... why should you be penalized on the fairway because a previous golfer did not replace the turf?

- Read up on Etiquette and respecting another golfer's space and line. Be polite to your fellow players. Did you know that "nine out of ten greenskeepers believe that players should pass an etiquette test before playing golf?"

Read more: Should Golfers Have to Pass an Etiquette Test?
Do You Believe that Golf Is Becoming an Impolite Game?

- This is not the time of year to play the odds - instead of trying low percentage shots, get your golf ball safely to the green, putt in and move on to avoid the dreaded snowman making an appearance on your card.

- Is this your first round of the season? It's probably not a good idea to keep score. If you're out with another single, why not suggest another type of format like match play; it's fun to play, less stressful, each hole is it's own adventure and it's easy to score without having to mark a card!

- While PGA.com emphasizes the Rules of Golf for all level of play, some newbies, returnees, recreational golfers (or players who haven't hit the links all season), might be inclined to take advice from US Recreational Golf Association founder, David Felker, who believes that fun, friends and a beautiful course trump score when you are playing with like-minded mates. Enjoy the journey... and remember, "you do not have to be a great golfer to have fun."

How do YOU Kick Off your Golf Season? Comment below on this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Why Zach Johnson Is One Tour Player You Can Emulate #golf

Everybody wants to know what Jordan Spieth is doing, but Zach Johnson is the golfer you should really be paying attention to if you’re a 12+ handicap player. He has all of the preferred swing positions that will help you eliminate that weak slice, gain distance and hit the golf ball with authority. 

What are those swing postures? Johnson's exceptionally strong grip is something that’s easy to copy and adding it will immediately help with that open club face that plagues almost all higher handicap players. 

Next, Zack sets up with his shoulders square to his target. Most higher handicap players have their shoulders open or aimed left of target at address, which makes it more likely you’ll swing over the top and slice the ball. 

Lastly, ZJ's left arm (forward arm for lefties like me) is flatter at the top of the golf swing than most tour players. For you, the flatter left arm makes it easier to swing the club more from the inside instead of swinging over the top. 

If you can get your club face more square by adopting a more closed face (strong grip), square up the shoulder at address and swing the path of your club more from the inside on the downswing, you’ll hit the ball farther and straighter and that weak slice will be a thing of the past.  

These changes will also free you up to turn your hips more through impact. Most players stop their hips through impact to give their hands time to try to flip the club square at the last second. That’s big power leak. When you don’t have to worry about your club face being open at impact, you can turn your hips more freely through impact which is a big source of power and consistency. 

The golf instruction video and information in this blog comes to you from Craig Jones of FaceFirstGolf.com, who has recently released a new online training program ... a bootcamp...for 12+ handicap players. Not only has Craig taught 10,000+ lessons and owned five golf learning facilities over the past twelve years, he was once a 15+ handicap player himself and worked his way down to a ONE handicap (super impressive).  Craig breaks down the more difficult concepts into simpler terms AND respects the rules and etiquette that make golf such a great sport. 


photo: Wikipedia

Easy Tips to Play a Better Round of Golf

After returning from a round of golf this week, my husband offered his usual outpouring of what he did right and what he could have improved upon from tee to green. I listened attentively (as all good wives do) and took a few notes to share with our readers.

Together, we came up with a short list of basics which we all should remember but sometimes, as we we get caught up in the overall experience, tend to forget out on the course...in real life situations.

These golf tips, because of their simplicity, should enhance your round and improve your overall golf experience. Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section of this Golf for Beginners blog - your notes could help improve someone else's game!

Easy Tips to Remember During a Round of Golf

1. Eliminate three-putts. Get into the "circle of trust" when making longer putts (snuggle up to the pin) so that your next putt is an easy drop-in.

2. Choose the right club. Hank Haney once mentioned to me that beginners and amateurs rarely take enough club when moving the ball down the fairway. Click on the Haney link (above) to listen to the entire interview.

3. Don't go for low percentage shots. What is a low percentage shot? It's a shot that you aren't likely to make and where your downside is adding more strokes. An example of such a shot is when you are looking down the fairway to get as close as you can to the green but the fairway gets really skinny with traps or water surrounding it; don't try to go for it, Lay-up instead in a safe spot. Play smart - plan each hole.

4. Swing easy and let the club do the work. Don't rush your swing which is the tendency when you are excited or anxious. When you over-swing or when you swing too hard, you are much less likely to make good ball contact.

What golf tips can you add to ours in order to play a better round of golf? Share in the comments section or on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

#Golf Tips to Help You Stop Hitting Behind the Ball

During the past few rounds of golf with my husband, we both start the round hitting the ball clean and crisp and then Barry begins to chunk down behind the ball.

Next thing I hear are grumblings about how much grass he took, how short the ball went, how many inches he hit behind the ball...and the list goes on.

Naturally, this problem could not continue - Barry just wasn't having any fun during his rounds and his next step was to make an appointment with a qualified instructor for help and for golf tips on ways to stop hitting behind the ball. Here is what he learned about his swing:


- Probably the most important thing Barry learned was that he wasn't properly transferring his weight. He was keeping the weight on his back foot throughout the swing. A video from PGA Teaching pro Eric Hogge suggests a baseball drill, stepping into the swing from behind the ball.


- Another problem causing chunky shots was that Barry's golf swing was not beginning with his chest (shoulders) turning; instead, his swing was beginning with an arm movement. If this is happening when you swing the club, take a tip from Michael Breed on Golf Channel - use the Elephant Drill which also improves tempo. I also regularly place a golf club parallel to the ground up against my shoulders and turn back and through.


- Finally (and isn't that enough?) Barry was using the dreaded "death grip"; he was gripping too tightly, not allowing the golf club to swing freely.

Too much squeeze and everything in your swing gets affected from wrist hinge to a loss of power and control. A tip to improve your golf grip pressure comes from one of our early Golf for Beginners podcasts and from this visual at Golf Tips Magazine.

Hold the golf club in front of you with just enough pressure to stop it from falling down in front of you. Also, something that I always try to do is to think about holding a bird in my hands - you don't want to crush the little one so you want just enough pressure to keep her from flying away.

Do you have tips or drills to stop fat shots? If so, please share here on this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photos: videojug.com, Golf Tips Magazine

Life Lessons Your Kids Can Learn Through #Golf - Guest Blog

We are aware that golf is good for the health and the heart. It helps one to stay fit, improve muscle tone and endurance, and lose weight and body fat, but what make this game even more great are the priceless life lessons it instills in every player, including your little ones.

“Golf is played on an uneven terrain designed to surprise. Good and bad bounces are built into the essence of the game. The reason golf is so much like life is that the game — like life — is all about how you react to those good and bad bounces”. - Thomas Friedman

Teaching kids to play golf can be beneficial in imparting values and helpful lessons about life. The sport instills the value of honesty and integrity at an early age. The game builds on the honor system because the player keeps track of his own strokes and most of the time, the rest of the foursome will keep track of their own progress considering honesty as the best policy.

Water, bunkers and dense vegetation can make for a difficult day of tournament play. These hazards are very much part of the game and cannot be altered in any way. These course conundrums can be a favorable circumstance for ingenious problem solving and personal growth for your kids.

Like any other sport, success in playing golf doesn’t happen overnight. Constant practice teaches your kids discipline and the value of determination. They may have more misses than hits, but with practice and persistence, all efforts will eventually pay off. These values will help kids face tough challenges in life.

Listen to this great Golf for Beginners interview with Hank Haney - Tiger Woods former instructor - as he offers golf tips for beginners to tournament players.

These are just few of the many virtues kids can develop through healthy sport. It would be wise for parents to invest in an activity that their kids would both enjoy and learn good habits.

What makes golf more amazing is that golf can be a wonderful and fun activity for the whole family – dads, moms, kids, gen-y'ers, even senior citizens find it a great way to stay active! It’s a game you can play from the moment you’re able to hold the club until the time your arms could no longer swing. Introducing golf to your kids might be introducing them to the sport of a lifetime.

Kids as young as three (but more likely five to seven years), can already begin formal instruction – even if it’s just hitting balls at a practice range.

You can provide them age-appropriate clubs. A lot of sporting good stores offer cost-effective clubs designed for kids of specific age, height and skill level. You may even get your little girls some special golf clubs with a great range of colors like purple and pink or your little boys some fun and fancy junior golf headcovers. These could be great gifts or rewards for that awesome and perfect first swing.

To inspire kids pursue and excel in this sport, you may also want to take them to events like the U.S. Kids Golf Tournament or Junior World Golf Championships. Tickets to these events may be bought online through the organizers’ website or event ticket brokers with a reliable event ticket broker merchant account.

Spending time for special rounds of golf with family is a great way to devote quality time with them and an avenue to grow, learn, and have fun time together. On top of that, it’s a very amusing and engaging way to stay healthy as a family.

Blair Thomas is a successful entrepreneur who co-founded eMerchantBroker.com, the top high risk credit card processing firm voted by top credit card processors. He has managed several successful agent offices and registered ISO's.  When he isn’t working hard in the payment’s industry you can find him hiking the hills of Los Angeles.  Check him out on Google Plus.

photo credit: http://www.pequesymas.com/

To Chip or To Putt? A Golf Dilemma Answered!

Your golf ball lies on the fringe of the green with the pin forty feet in the distance - you're scratching your head... are you going to pull out the putter, a pitching wedge or a 7-iron?

You want to keep the ball low for the best results. Arnold Palmer mentioned that a low ball means a lower risk - your worst putt may probably be much better than your worst chip.

Although you can strike the ball with any club in your bag, Golf Tip Reviews writes that amateurs "should putt whenever they can. It will save you strokes on the golf course."

Dave Pelz suggests a unique idea - the "Chiputt" for very long putts.

"The longer the putt, the more likely you are to leave it short, because your stroke (and everyone else's) naturally evolves to favor accuracy over power. You can overcome this tendency by adding a chipping motion to your putting stroke-think of it as 'chipping with your putter.'"

Dave goes on to say, "On super-long putts, stand upright for a better perspective on distance, and then putt with the same body motion you use to chip with a 5-iron. On 75- to 110-foot putts, every golfer I've tested, including Tour professionals, lags closer to the hole with the 'chiputt' method."

A few more creative ideas for using a putter during a game?

Golflink suggests that you can use your putter for getting a ball out of the rough and back into the fairway, from behind a tree or even out of a greenside bunker (if there is no lip and it is reasonably flat!)

When should you opt for a golf club other than your putter and still keep the ball low?

When you have to go over bouncy, rough ground.
When there is an obstruction like a sprinkler head on your putting line.
You may not want to putt when the green is very elevated above your ball position.

The iron, wedge or wood you choose depends on how far the cup is from your position. The further the distance, the lower number club you use. For example, if the pin is close, you might use a pitching wedge - if the pin is very far, you would perhaps choose a 5- or 6-iron (as Dave Pelz explains above).

You should definitely practice these techniques on an outdoor putting green before you play your round of golf. You'll please yourself and amaze your golf buddies!

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Golf for Beginners blog.

Photo credit: SYNLawngolf.com

When the Weather gets Tough, the Tough play ColdFusion Golf

It is rumored that Arnold Palmer once said that watching golf on TV was about as much fun as watching paint dry.  I am sorry Mr. Palmer, but I have to disagree with that.  Being a junkie for golf on the course, on TV and online, I just can’t get enough of it!

Which is why I was delighted to see someone find a way to make the game more enjoyable even when Mother Nature thinks it’s time to hibernate our clubs. 

Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than playing with cold balls.  And there’s nothing fun about freezing one’s butts off while trying to keep our precious Pro V1s warm enough to perform the way a $5 golf ball should.

But the problem is that all the major brands are manufactured for an optimum temperature of ~ 80 degrees F.  When those balls getcold, they’re less resilient and don’t compress as they should off the club face. 

Frank Thomas, former USGA director shared in his book, “Dear Frank...: Answers to 100 of Your Golf Equipment Questions that for every 10 degree drop in temperature, golfers can lose up to 2.5 yards of distance.   That yardage really adds up when the mercury takes a dip.

Enter ColdFusion Golf.  They have just launched the first cold weather golf ball that is designed to perform better the frostier it gets.

Apparently the ColdFusion Golf ball uses a custom core that retains its elasticity even when frozen.  The softer core also makes the ball more responsive off the club face and gives golfers better feel for every club in their bag, even the putter.

Teaching professional Randy Davis of Fairways and Greens Golf School in Cary, NC tested them out and gives them high praise.

“As a retired PGA Touring Pro and year round golfer, I understand why my normal ball doesn’t perform its best in colder weather. And when it loses compression and feel, it makes my rounds less enjoyable,” shared Davis. 

“I’m very particular about how my ball spins and feels off my wedges and putter and the ColdFusion is especially great with these shots. That’s why I recommend the ColdFusion cold weather golf ball to my students who play in cooler climates.”

So if you’re feeling frost bitten by lost yardages because your balls feel more like rocks and rockets when the chill hits the fairways, why not give ColdFusion Golf a try?  In fact, why not play alternate shot with your standard ball and a ColdFusion Golf ball and see if you notice a difference.  Then tell me what you think.

But remember what they recommend… For optimal performance, chill’em before you drill’em down the fairway!

Do you play golf in cold weather...even with a bit of frost on the fairway? Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Facebook page.

Want to Play Golf? Three Tips for Beginners

If you've dabbled in a few rounds of golf, or if you've never played but have friends, family or a partner who is an avid golfer, you might be seriously thinking about getting into the sport. And, there are plenty of reasons to try out this "sport that will last you a lifetime"...if you're truly interested.

Golf is a uniquely flexible sport – you can play a few holes or stretch out the fun over the whole day.

Golf can be a social experience with a group of friends, or a chance to get a few hours by yourself on the course trying to beat your best. It's a sport that can be enjoyed by young and old, men and women, in any level of competition. And finally, there's a certain inexpressible joy in experiencing the rolling countryside, the song of birds and the clunk of a neatly aimed putt.

Golf is not that hard to get into and to appreciate. Here are three tips to help anyone to get started:

1. Find a Golf Course:

There are nearly two thousand golf courses in England (with the number of golf courses worldwide in 2008 at over 35,000) and you're bound to know one in your area. If you're interested, you can find a taster session near you – many are free to try and you get equipment provided as well.

Once you think that golf is the sport for you, why not book a few lessons: there's no better way to discover the rules, etiquette and skills required to become a talented golfer than to have a qualified instructor show you the ropes. Depending on your preferences and comfort level, you can book a one-to-one session or learn as part of a group.

If there's not a conveniently-located course near you, or if you don't have the time initially to practice as often as you'd like, you can try visiting a pitch-and-putt or driving range to practice your skills. Super-twilight golf is also a fun way to play a few holes without having to struggle through a four-plus hour round.

2. Get The Equipment!

At some point, if you're even half-way serious about playing golf, you'll want to purchase your own set of clubs. This is a big undertaking, so don't rush into it! Ask your instructor for advice on the best clubs to suit you, book yourself in for a an in-depth club fitting, or, at the very least, see what the staff at your local golf store can do to help you find clubs which are forgiving and right for your game. You are allowed fourteen golf clubs in your bag but try to pick the ones that work best for you.

Spend according to your enthusiasm. If you've become a regular player, you'll just end up frustrated if you don't go for the best quality clubs you can afford – conversely, if you only get to go a few times a year, it won't hurt to save money on a second-hand pair of clubs if you don't want to stretch.

3. Dress to Impress!

Golf Clothing should blend fashion-forward style with comfort.

When you play your first few rounds, all you really need is something flexible and comfortable, but as you get more serious as a golfer it's important to pick out the right clothing. You can layer your clothing to ensure you're able to adapt to all conditions, stripping down to a shirt for warm weather or donning a waterproof jacket in more inclement conditions.

Choosing a few good pairs of golf trousers and shorts are essential too, combining protection from the elements, comfort throughout the course and unrestrained mobility through the swing. Plus, of course, for the fashion-conscious, golf clothes can be a whole new avenue of expression, with styles that change from year to year.

Thanks to Bunker Mentality for these Golf Tips for Beginners.
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photo credits: GetIntoGolf.org, Bunker-Mentality.com


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