Mickelson feels good about his ridiculous score. The trick to hitting a mud ball and celebrity quotes.

Click here to listen.

Mickelson's debut at the FBR Open was more of a fizzle than a roar. Phil not only missed the cut but appeared to be in self-denial as well.

"It doesn't feel as far off as the score indicates," Mickelson said. "I know the score is ridiculous. But it doesn't feel bad."

One interpretation of the above statement may be that, although Phil struck the ball well, it did not go where it was intended, which caused him to search through the cacti on more than one occasion. But Mickelson must have been concentrating his thoughts more on the Arizona Cardinals point spread more than to believe that he wasn't at all rusty, hitting only eight of twenty-eight fairways and flying several greens with his usually faithful lob wedge. At least Phil made it to the finish line at last year's FBR Open before finally succumbing to J.B. Holmes, who came back from the brink of defeat to trounce Mickelson. Come to think of it, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes made an extraordinary last-ditch effort to clinch the Super Bowl title from Arizona. Hmmm…icing on the cake?



The younger guns are making it more difficult for guys like Mickelson to get an easy ride, showing laser-like driving accuracy and length off the tee but there is still room for the forty-and-over age group. In other words, there is still light at the end of the tunnel, Phil, even as you approach middle age.

Vijay Singh, for example, climbed to the number-one position on the PGA Tour at forty-one years of age. Another notable, Colin Mongomerie, has recently been tapped to lead Team Europe after his inability to make the cut in the 2008 Ryder Cup. Perhaps instead of playing in the Champions Tour later in their careers, former professional golfing notables will be taking the desk at the Golf Channel, as captains of the Presidents/Ryder Cup or as hosts of their own charity events.

With Tiger Woods still out of commission and without a comeback date in mind, time is still on Mickelson's side but spending a few extra hours on the practice green and better decision-making where the driver is concerned could only help get his game in gear sooner rather than later.

Golf for Beginners also talks about the interesting way the mud ball flies and we pick out a few interesting celebrity quotes.

Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.

Photo Credit: © In Golf We Trust

Don’t forget to check out our golf gift-giving guide!

No excuses for Mickelson to miss Bob Hope Classic. Also drive into the wind and quotes to live by.

Click here to listen.

This year is considered "fifty years of Hope" and over two million dollars were distributed in 2008 to charities through the Classic event, but even so, the top fifteen PGA Tour golfers are MIA, most with no reason as to why this tournament is not worthy of their support.

Once distinguished as golf's best celebrity pro-am event with comedians ranging from Jackie Gleason to Jack Lemmon picking up the sticks for charity, the "Hope" seems to have lost a bit of its glamour and dimension. Utilizing Arnold Palmer as celebrity host (perhaps because he won the inaugural event) and, for the most part, only being able to conjure up a few old-time has-beens with some notables like Dan Quayle, Kurt Russell and Sterling Sharpe, I wonder when Tim Finchem will stand up for events of such illustriousness and not leave it up to freedom of choice? Can the PGA Tour impose a ruling to force more top-name golfers into faltering events?

Arnold Palmer recently mentioned, "I used to spread my tournament appearances so that I never missed a tournament more than two years in a row," but that was back in the day when guys were living paycheck-to-paycheck, not in this era where the top-100 golfers earn over $1 million per year. Also, events like the Bob Hope Classic were special and players would scramble to get a place in the field seeking publicity and possibly the status of being a winner or even having a top-ten finish.

To try and keep golfers interested in the "Hope", the tournament has even added the private Nicklaus venue, because guys like Phil Mickelson and Pat Perez voiced disapproval over the Classic course, but that has only lassoed in a few guys like Tim Clarke. Big names like Mickelson have not budged.

I just wonder if beloved Bob Hope mainstays such as the Classic and even the USO Tour will eventually become relics with a lack of consideration for the consequences?

Should fans even care whether or not another tournament bites the dust or are there simply too many events glutting the PGA Tour season? Unfortunately, for every event that fails, no matter how insignificant they may be to those who choose not to attend, the only ones that will suffer are those who depend on the charities receiving the funds.

This week Golf for Beginners wonders why Phil Mickelson has chosen the FBR Open as his season opener (we already know why Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods are not playing at this time). We also tell you how to pierce the wind utilizing your driver and offer a few quotes from golf's greats.





Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by San Diego Golf Central, 866-825-4094.

Photo Credit: © LaTimes

Don’t forget to check out our golf gift-giving guide!

Wie's void filled by Tadd Fujikawa, relax your swing without drugs or alcohol and how you can play the best courses in the world

Click here to listen.

Although Zach Johnson created excitement at the Sony Open winning by a stroke against Toms and Scott, it was fan favorite Tadd Fujikawa whom the cameras followed with the same fervor as when Michelle Wie played here.

And why not? Both Hawaiian teenagers have caused quite a stir with solid length off the tee, hustling to create opportunities to keep them in the game. Wie's claim to fame to date has been her numerous exemptions with slim success into men's events while Fujikawa has earned his way in, with congratulations flowing from guys like 2007 Masters winner Johnson who consider Tadd, "borderline phenom."

Michelle Wie, once considered a "phenom", has finally taken the necessary steps to ingratiate herself with the LPGA Tour, hoping to reinvent herself and get the fans behind her once more. It is nice to see her name listed in the roster. There were huge crowds following Tadd this weekend, hoping to see the short, stout-framed teen make the cut and put pressure on the leaders.

With the season-opening LPGA event in Turtle Bay and Michelle faring well out of the gate, Wie could easily make this combo a one-two Hawaiian punch!



Kidzworld.com thinks these two would make a great couple. "Perhaps he'll hit a growth spurt and she won't wear heels?"



Aside from a blatant man/woman distinction, Golfchannel.com jokingly calls this a "game of inches" noting that Fujikawa almost shot his height this weekend, 62, which would be easier for Wie to do on any given day considering par is a very likely score.

This week we discuss the Fujikawa/Wie phenomenon as well as offer an easy drill from Jim Flick which could help to relax you before a round of golf.

We also talk about the 3-Trak technology behind About Golf high-tech indoor simulators and the PGA Tour's agreement to partner with this innovative leader. With Immersive Play Technology, the PGA Tour hopes that the average golfer will soon be able to actually feel as if they are on golf courses once only available to professional golfers or amateurs with plenty of bucks to spend. But I ask, while in this simulator, can you flip grass into the air to determine the wind direction?

Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages, 1-866-444-0992.



Photo Credit: © Kidzworld.com

Don’t forget to check out our golf gift-giving guide!

Vijay Singh follows in Tiger Woods' footsteps. Sorenstam returns and how to practice the aloha shot at home

Click here to listen.

With the feature golf story of 2008 being knee surgery for Tiger Woods, it seems almost ironic that, just after winning the Chevron World Challenge, Vijay Singh would be in a similar predicament. Singh claims that he was hurt during the event but obviously didn't know the extent of his injury.

Waiting for Tiger to arrive at the podium, Vijay cajoled, "Tiger, take your time. Don't come back too early. In fact, take a year off." Isn't Singh aware of the saying, "be careful what you wish for?"

It is said that Singh is looking at a recovery time of about five weeks which puts a comeback a bit closer to the Masters Tournament than should be attempted. I know that it took much longer for my husband, who underwent similar surgery, to be 100% so I doubt that Vijay, even with his ménage of sports trainers, will be in tip-top form.

Following in Tiger Woods' footsteps, in this case, is not necessarily a good thing for Singh as the past several years of developments have kept Singh on Tiger's tail. In 2003 it was Vijay who took the money spot on the PGA Tour away from Woods by almost a million dollars (of course Singh played a third more tournaments than Tiger in order to accomplish this feat.) In 2004 Singh dethroned Woods at the top of the World Rankings, if only for the single year when Tiger battled back.

More recently Tiger won the inaugural FedEx Cup, Singh rallied to take the second cup, both accomplishing their respective goals in similar gung-ho fashion.

Also, did you know that Vijay Singh's name means "Victorious Lion"? Quite a coincidence to Tiger Woods' moniker!. However, in the battle of tiger versus lion, it is theorized that the tiger would be victorious under most conditions.

This week we not only discuss the departure of Vijay Singh but the return of both Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam-McGee. Wait a minute, didn't the LPGA superstar recently retire?

Also, in honor of the return of the PGA Tour to Hawaii, we offer a drill to help with the "aloha shot".





Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.


Photo Credit: © indrajit.wordpress.com

Don’t forget to check out our golf gift-giving guide!

Tiger Woods' billion-dollar record, Daly's down-under, winter golf drills

Click here to listen.

Fear not Bill Gates! Tiger Woods will not topple the richest man in the world off of his pedestal! Tiger would require about $57 billion in order to achieve this goal but he is certainly on his way! It has been reported that Woods, even with a bum knee and attending only six golf tournaments this year has made (both on and off the course) an estimated $117 million, bringing his total earnings to just under $900 million.

If Tiger plays equally as well in 2009 as he did last season and picks up another sponsor to offset the $50 million loss of his General Motors contract, there is the possibility that Woods could crack the $1 billion mark by the end of the year.

Even if Woods barely grazed the billion dollar ceiling, it is improbable that he would join Gates on the Forbes 400 as "the price of admission … is $1.3 billion for the second year in a row." Heads up, George Steinbrenner, the Tiger is on your tail!

Prediction as to how Tiger Woods will climb the ranks of the world's richest humans? His "mini-tour" will become the place where the top golfers play for high purses, turning the PGA Tour into a shell of its former self.

While Tiger is busy building golf courses and instituting himself as the harbinger of a new age in sports, John Daly is complaining that this is the "lowest point" in his life. At one point, Daly had enough money to gamble away some $50 million but now the US PGA Tour has suspended John, forcing him onto the European Tour to play in their events.

Daly, who has dived to an unimpressive 736 position in the world rankings, should be grateful for this new opportunity to "reinvent himself". Unfortunately, I think the European Tour would be more appreciative if John would continue his antics across the pond. The Australian Tour offers him a pittance, equivalent to about $50,000 of flights and accommodations (and probably all of the beer that he wants) and, in exchange, receives about $3 million in publicity that they certainly would not have had otherwise!

This week, Golf for Beginners talks about Tiger Woods' ranking both on and off the course as well as John Daly's opportunity for a change of pace. We also offer a few golf drills to practice during the cold of winter.





Send 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.


Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages, 1-866-444-0992.


Photo Credit: © Smh.com/AP, stopmikelupica.com

Don’t forget to check out our Holiday Gift Giving guide!

Did women's long drive winner shaft the competition? Things to think about during golf's off-season.

Click here to listen.

Recently, a former SWAT team cop from Los Angeles won the golf RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship. The nearest competitor lost by only a few yards in windy conditions and, where some of the challengers didn't seem to mind the outcome, a few had problems with it. Why, you may ask?

By the way, I am not talking about newly crowned RE/MAX long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski, who, with his 160-pound frame, defeated guys almost twice his size with great timing and a convincing hockey-esque style slap shot. Instead, this blog focuses on the controversy surrounding 55-year-old Lana Lawless, a 175-pound transgender who once weighed in at 245-pounds and was considered by law enforcement peers to have a very "tough and mean exterior" as Lawless admits. Lawless took women's RE/MAX honors this year after a narrow defeat at last year's semifinals.

Clubhead speed, not power alone, made the difference in the case of Sadlowski who carried his drive 400 yards. Lawless claims that her muscles have atrophied with the help of drugs that stem the flow of testosterone and that she is, for all intents and purposes, more woman than man. Sure she had drives of over 300 yards but she only bested her nearest opponent, 21-year old former long drive champion Phyllis Meti, by four yards.

About three years ago the Ladies Golf Union, which oversees that British Open, allowed transgenders to compete and Mianne Bagger took them up on their offer, becoming the first transgender since Renee Richards to play a professional sport. Looking at Bagger's 2008 stats, she appears to be a solid player with no advantage over the other players in the field but instead seems to fit right in to the middle of the pack.

The question is then, is there a definitive advantage of transgenders over "real" women and should transgenders be allowed to compete against their "peers"?

Three-time world champion Sean "The Beast" Fister said, "It's not an apples-to-apples deal. Men and women are different." Former women's world long drive champion Lee Brandon added, "if a woman has the knees, hands and feet of a man, she has genetic real estate that is more gifted."

Fox Sports polled the internet asking if it is fair for women who used to be men to compete as women and, out of almost 90,000 respondents, the answer was an overwhelming "No".

Where the average person may have trouble accepting transgenders into the fold, the media has said, "Vive la difference!" with ABC-TV leading the way featuring characters in both "Ugly Betty" and "All My Children". Of course transgenders don't have to physically compete in this platform so the question of athleticism still remains but, as long as proper procedures and guidelines are followed to ensure that transgenders do not have an unfair advantage, I think they should be allowed to compete. However, for those men who cannot adequately compete alongside their own gender and choose to make the switch solely for one-upmanship over the fairer sex, think again. Is the mandatory onsite testing really worth it?

I guess we won't be seeing "Philomena" Mickelson on the LPGA Tour any time soon!

This week on the Golf for Beginners show we not only talk about transgenders making their way onto the sports scene but also offer some great golf tips courtesy of Butch Harmon.






There is still time to get your golfer a gift! Check out our Holiday golf gift-giving guide!

Send 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.


Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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


This podcast is supported by San Diego Golf Central, 866-825-4094.



Photo Credit: © House of Forged-Whiteshaft, FoxSports.com

Nicklaus builds a golf town, will Tiger Woods erect a city? Also, playing in the zone.

Click Here to listen

Don't tell Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods that the country is in a recession and that the rest of the world is suffering as well because neither will believe you. Both golfers have moved forward with plans to build high-end communities in spite of the downward trend perhaps hoping that the number of "haves" will be enough to pave the way for future development.

Nicklaus, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Grupo Viveros to create a private town complete with two hotels, marina, airstrip, hangars, two hundred fifty high-end villas as well as a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course on a currently uninhabited island off the coast of Panama. Oceanfront lot prices start at $530,000.

Tiger Woods, is working on courses in Dubai, Punta Brava and in the high Carolina area where two of Jack Nicklaus' Signature golf courses are already situated alongside of courses designed by Gary Player and Tom Fazio.

Woods mentioned recently during his tour of the Punta Brava site, "My goal is to design a collection of amazing golf courses around the world." Following in Nicklaus' footsteps as he has chosen to do will be a lifelong venture as the Golden Bear currently has 337 courses open for play in 33 countries with 55 golf courses and projects under construction in 45 different countries.

Will Tiger Woods find filling the shoes of Jack Nicklaus an easy feat and will he be able to conquer all of Nicklaus' accomplishments both on and off the golf course? Nicklaus recently stated that he doesn't want Tiger to break his records. Do you blame him? Just ask kids today if they ever heard of the Beatles and about their contribution to music. Nicklaus just doesn't want to fade into obscurity.

As for the race for "best golfer ever", Woods may well be on his way to beating Nicklaus' record but, with a recurring bum knee thrown into the equation, only time will tell.

In this week's Golf for Beginners broadcast, we discuss "King" Nicklaus atop his huge empire and Tiger Woods' need to build equally large scale private communities for the wealthy. With the assistance of Joan King we also identify "the Zone" and discuss ways that the average golfer can use the mental game to their advantage.

Don’t forget to check out our Holiday golf gift-giving guide!




Send 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.


Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Florida Golf and Travel, 1-800-514-5131.

Photo Credit: NY Daily News/Haynes/Getty

Is unemployment taking its toll on the Tiger Woods team? John Daly flashed by spectator; eyes still burning. Callaway Big Bertha Irons Review

Click here to listen.

If you have ever taken an extended leave from your job, you also factor into it that there will be a mess to clean up when you return. Such is the case with Tiger Woods as his "brand" is taking a hit.

Woods' Gillette commercial was a flop so said the British, Buick (GM) decided to end his contract, an outburst from his caddy, Steve Williams, required damage control and today, Padraig Harrington took the coveted GWAA Player of the Year Award. Team Tiger is showing cracks in the armor. What will it take to right the ship? The only solution is for Tiger Woods to get back to work, and soon, otherwise his next scenario could be that he loses his number-one spot on the PGA Tour.

In other news, the camera smashed by John Daly has been placed on eBay in the hopes that the alleged 'space invader' will earn enough to purchase another camera. Should Daly have offered retribution after destroying the spectator's property? So far neither Daly nor tournament officials have offered assistance but that doesn't matter as the current bid is at $500 with interested parties lining up to "own a piece of this very controversial incident".

Golf for Beginners also reviews Callaway Golf Big Bertha Irons made exclusively for women. Forgiveness is key as i-brids are used in place of longer irons. Fat shots are no longer an option as the wider sole glides effortlessly on the turf. The set features distinct Callaway technology which translates into a lower center of gravity creating a higher launch angle and better trajectory to get the ball airborne. I think both male and female golfers can relate to this strategy. I played golf with a foursome that included three left-handed golfers. One player asked me to try the Big Berthas and effortlessly picked a ball clean with a five-iron off the turf with his first shot.



Don’t forget to check out our Holiday golf gift-giving guide!



Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages, 1-866-444-0992.


Photo Credit: © Oldmencrying.com

Barack Obama swings left on the course. Kodak waves checkered flag for PGA Tour. We have the fix for your mental game.

Click here to listen.

It has been said that you can tell a good deal about a person by the way he/she plays golf, and former Presidents are no exception. Which of our Commanders, for example, exemplified the integrity of the game and which men have bent the rules in their favor?

In his book, "First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers and Cheaters From Taft to Bush", Don Van Natta Jr's neatly organized categories helped define Presidential proclivities noting that more than just a few in the top job have "improved their lie" during a round.

Both Clinton and Nixon made it into the book's "Hail to the Cheats" category with number forty-two often giving himself "billigans" and "Tricky Dick" often not counting wayward shots. FDR, Ford and Kennedy, on the other hand, were considered "purists."

So, where does that leave President-elect Barack Obama?

According to a golf swing analysis by Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs, Obama is a good study of preparedness however the outcome lacks aggressiveness, pushing his shots far left. Perhaps that makes the future president just like the "Average Joe"?

The category which President-elect Obama falls into will eventually become apparent as the story unfolds.

In addition to our assessment of Mr. Obama, we also discuss techniques for positive thinking from William Oliver's new book, the "Law of Focus for Golfers". A few fixes from his ebook, "Master the Mental Game of Golf" are also mentioned.

Kodak, the EWGA and a notable distinction for Turning Stone Resort round out our News summary.





Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.

Learn more about Thumb Caddy, the simple way to get a grip on your game!

Photo Credit: © USAToday.com, Alex Brandon, AP, LifeintheTrap.com

European Tour Shanghai's PGA Tour golfers on road to Dubai. Mickelson swing changes tested at HSBC and Thumb Caddy training aid

Click here to listen.

The European Tour is sending a message to PGA Tour players, loud and clear, that a new era in golf is beginning with the 2009 season.

A new spruced-up tour, in which the European Order of Merit has been replaced with "The Race to Dubai" offers a $10 million pie at the end of the season with another shared purse after the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Phil Mickelson may be defending this week at the first stop on the Euro Tour, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, but guys like Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas are ready to pounce. Villegas, for example, is not content to just play, he's "definitely going there to win." Mickelson, on the other hand, is hoping that swing changes he has been working on since 2007 will finally take effect. We discuss a few of these swing changes in this week's show.

With players like Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott working towards another FedEx Cup-like purse on the European Tour, how soon will it be before golfers like Anthony Kim "jump ship" entirely and shift alliances? Or, perhaps one day, the PGA Tour might be forced to "merge" with the European Tour forming one huge conglomerate. Then there would be no more "off-season", no more "silly season" and viewers would be able to watch their favorite golfers throughout the year!

As Garcia noted, "Some of the tournaments we play in the Middle East ... are bigger than the ones they play in the U.S. You get good players there, so world rankings points increase. At the end of the day, that's what the big players do it for."

Of course, if Tiger Woods has any input, his new golf course in Dubai might just host one of these events. Woods' foray into golf course design is yielding several new courses, possibly with a consideration towards building his own "mini-tour". It is conceivable that Tiger could one day be "tapped" as the head of this global Tour...perhaps aptly named the World Tour! Who knows...stranger things have happened!

We also review Thumb Caddy, an inexpensive training aid which helps keep hands in their proper position throughout the golf swing.

Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@worldgolf.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831.


Photo Credit: © OverseasPropertyMall.com

How to Choke like Anthony Kim. Tiger Woods, Natalie Gulbis in the news and you can lose but you're not a loser

Click here to listen.

Since Anthony Kim is now being heralded as one of the rising young stars of the PGA Tour (and this weekend with a third place finish at the Korea Open), it seems befitting that we spend some time examining the reasons behind his choked down golf grip. The obvious intent is to improve upon basic contact but it's also a way to establish better control over all of your shots.

Kim's grip even caught the eye of announcer Johnny Miller who made this assessment. "If you grip down, you don't get the club stuck behind you. Your body can move much faster." Miller went on to say, "It's probably something that could help Tiger, who tends to have that problem. But if you don't have that kind of arm and body speed, you're not going to hit it so far gripping down like that."

Whereas some golfers prefer to use this grip at all times and sacrifice a bit of distance, Butch Harmon, for example, mentions that it would behoove most amateurs to follow suit with all golf shots from 130 yards and in!

Even though you might feel your shots are going to be shorter, crisp contact between the golf club and the ball will often nullify the effects of a shorter shot. Just remember to never change the tempo of your swing but, instead, follow this "choke-chart" to determine how to best utilize this golf tip, taking it to the range before using it on the golf course!

This week, Golf for Beginners podcast discusses the benefit of the choke shot and how you can get the most out of it. We also talk about my participation in the Paper Cup, an EWGA annual best-ball team match play event. While Paula Creamer was busy making waves at the Samsung Tournament, I was struggling with my partner to strategize, losing our match with four holes to play! Not very good golf for either of us!

Although the event coordinator purchased "winner" and "loser" shirts, I questioned the idea between being a "loser" and losing a match. Naturally, I refused to wear the shirt.

Finally, we dig deep into the internet and find some interesting news on both Tiger Woods and Natalie Gulbis.


Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free! and check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.


Photo Credit: © Streeter Lecka/Getty Images .

Miller sends Tiger Woods a "Dear John" letter. Aging Mickelson falls prey to Villegas, Kim. Nicklaus hits it big with Performance 18

Click here to listen.

Golf Analyst Johnny Miller maintains that Tiger Woods was not missed at either the Tour Championship or the Ryder Cup. He has even gone so far as to blame Woods for Team USA's problematic history. I can understand Miller's Ryder Cup theory as Tiger Woods has rarely been known to be a team player but, taking his idea a step further, would the PGA Tour be better off with, or without Woods?

It's true that some of Miller's off-the-cuff commentary can be a bit absurd (Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger’s swimming pool, for example") but after watching up-and-coming flamboyant and charismatic young guns Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas excite the crowd time and time again, some of Miller's musings are believable.

I disagree, however, that age played a factor with Mickelson, ever the punching bag, who was beaten over the head for being thirty-eight years old. Age is not the reason why Phil could not make putts, and I'm sure that V.J. Singh would concur with that fact.

Johnny Miller, whose ramblings are worthy of note (that's why he's a commentator), should aspire to change the FedEx Cup points distribution system. Under the close circumstances in which both Singh and Villegas came to their eventual respective positions, perhaps a play-off would have been in order to create that end-of-season fervor that the PGA Tour, and the fans, are desperately looking for?

In addition to our commentary about the Tour Championship and both Mickelson and Garcia's inability to win in the face of challenge, we also offer our experiences while wearing Jack Nicklaus Performance 18 apparel at Turning Stone Resort. Performance 18 offers Coolplus® technology, UV protection, is fashionable and lightweight and had me feeling so stylish and comfortable that I felt as if I was on the LPGA Tour!

A golf tip on how to hit a 460cc driver is also featured. With clubheads as large as garbage cans, it shouldn't be that difficult, should it?


Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free! and check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831.

Photo Credit: © Outside the Beltway.

Turning Stone invites you to be their next champion. Steve Flesch tells us how to count your way to perfect rhythm

Click here to listen.

The drive up to Turning Stone Resort and Casino in upstate New York was definitely part of the adventure during our only weekend away this summer. There were farms and cows everywhere and both Barry and I felt the history of the area as we passed through the bucolic countryside.

Who would have ever imagined such beauty existed outside of the confines of the City? But, once I heard that Turning Stone Resort is one of the top-five tourist destinations in the entire State, I could understand why!

The Oneida Indian Nation opened Turning Stone in 1993 and has been awarded numerous accolades including a AAA Four Diamond rating as well as a Condé Nast Johansens 2007 Award For Excellence in the “Most Excellent Resort” category. One of only four resorts in America have been nominated for that award!

The golf courses are challenging and immaculately maintained. Although we wouldn't suggest Kaluhyat as the first course you play during your stay because of its level of difficulty, there are several options available like the par-three, Rick Smith designed Sandstone Hollow which will fine-tune your game for Shenendoah and Atunyote.

During our stay we met Steve Flesch, last year's winner of the upcoming Turning Stone Resort Championship. Although he was prepared to stand at the dreaded par-three eleventh hole at Atunyote and hit our shot for us, it rained and we were given a clinic instead (I wonder if I could have gotten my shot closer to the hole?). I even whacked a few golf balls for Flesch and he gave me his honest opinion on my golf swing, which you can hear on our broadcast!



Turning Stone Resort and Casino should be savored like a fine wine. The restaurants range from quick eats to fine dining and each dish is carefully and lovingly prepared. Although I didn't visit Skana Spa on this visit, I can still smell the Lavender (you'll know what I mean after one treatment). We also made our small donation to the Casino...you can't win them all!

The area is rich in history and, if we had more time there I would have loved to explore or even signed us up for a romantic balloon ride!

Turning Stone Resort offers the "Be Our Next Champion" package as well as an inexpensive stayover to watch the Turning Stone Resort Championship, October 2-5. With one of the biggest purses after Fed Ex Cup mayhem, this will surely be a tournament to watch!

Reach Turning Stone Resort and Casino on the web or call: 800.771.7711.


Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Get to know us on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831.

Hank Haney talks Tiger Woods, gives easy golf tips in our one-on-one interview

Click here to listen.


Imagine Tiger Woods' instructor, Hank Haney, standing right in front of you, offering you advice on your golf game. That is exactly what happened to me at Chelsea Piers in New York in an event held in conjunction with The First Tee and FedEx.

Okay, so Mr. Haney didn't help only me that day, his main focus was on the hundred or so kids that belong to the New York Metropolitan Chapter where he mentioned, "What could be better than to help the best player in the world and to help kids?"

The few minutes that I taped with Mr. Haney is literally a gold-mine of information which will definitely assist both the beginner and advanced amateur golfer. And yes, there is even some commentary on Tiger Woods, his philosophy and how he's faring during his forced rest.

Thanks to Mr. Haney for helping me with my game. Barry even learned a few things from my interview! And why not? Even Tiger Woods has a coach to assist him with his game and he's the greatest golfer on the planet.

Also, thanks to the First Tee Program and FedEx for the invite.

Click here to listen to my interview with Hank Haney.

Next week, an interview with Jim Furyk!




Send 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.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Get to know us on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.


Photo Credit: © Lohud.com

Outdoor apparel that's great for golf and tips for pace of play (and other reminders)

Click here to listen.

"The problem is up ahead about two or three groups," is the usual canned reply from the golf course ranger as our foursome is eagerly waiting to tee off. Patience is supposed to be a virtue but completing a round in over five hours is just ridiculous!

We all know that the publinks are generally known for slow play and other etiquette faux pas so Barry and I, with help from the National Golf Foundation, have made it a point this week to assist both newer golfers and those duffers who have forgotten the basic niceties of the game.

"Baby, it's hot outside!" With the 'dog days' of summer in full swing, golf apparel has to wick moisture while keeping the body cool as well as feel featherweight as you swing your golf club. Royal Robbins has taken outdoor wear to the extreme, incorporating UPF40 into their clothing as well as adding ventilation to assure a gentle breeze at your back. Climbing pioneers Royal and Liz founded this company over thirty years ago "to enhance the lives of their customers and make the world a better place through comfortable, rugged clothing that fits well and looks great." In addition to garments keeping you cool and dry, remember to drink plenty of water, find shade where ever you can and make sure to use sunscreen!

Do you really want to feel like this during a round of golf?




Finally, be sure to check out my upcoming interviews with both Hank Haney and Jim Furyk. Fans will appreciate the great golf tips and Jim Furyk will even give us some of his strategy for defeating Harrington and Garcia for the coveted Ryder Cup!

Send 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.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.


Photo Credit: © New York Times

No stopping Asian invasion on LPGA Tour believe Inkster, Ochoa. Also, look down go down and turn bad shots into new opportunities

Click here to listen.

Golfers Lorena Ochoa and Juli Inkster are struggling to keep up with the influx of hard-hitting Asian women entering the LPGA Tour. Players from Japan, Taiwan and South Korea flooded the top of the Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard this weekend with only one American, Cristie Kerr, noticeable in a high-ranking position.

There were always foreigners ensconced in the LPGA Tour. Many of the ladies play amateur golf here while attending school. So what's all the fuss about Asians sharing the spotlight?

Well, for one thing, a bogey-free round with six birdies is a tough act to follow. Even number-one seed, Lorena Ochoa, is starting to worry. "Now we can see that the Asian Tour is becoming very strong," Ochoa mentioned. "The top players are coming to the States and they can also win in the States. Before it was a different story."

Mexico's Ochoa was the "Lady of the Lake" at the Kraft Nabisco, Taiwan's Yani Tseng grabbed the LPGA Championship, Korea's Inbee Park took the U.S. Women's Open and now Ji-Yai Shin, also from Korea, easily won the British Open. Where are all of the American hopefuls?

Juli Inkster is double the age of some of the latest LPGA entrants and is feeling the heat. Although she led the Open in the first round, the American slid behind ninth place finishers, Creamer and Gulbis, on Sunday. "They're all coming," Inkster noticed. "And it's not stopping either."

With Annika Sorenstam stepping down, could Inkster be far behind? Furthermore, is this "new era" helping or hurting the LPGA Tour's television presence? With venues in jeopardy for the 2009 season, perhaps the LPGA should be looking towards Suzuki, Toyota or Honda for an influx of much needed revenue.

Dave Hollander believes that the advent of the 'Wilhelmina 7' will add much needed "exposure" to the floundering Tour. Adding an Asian golfer to the lineup could successfully incorporate these women into the fold while introducing them as a viable asset to the Tour.

Ji-Yai Shin, ranked number one on the KLPGA, originally planned her future in Japan but just received an invite to join the LPGA Tour. "I want to play here, because very big tournaments...and great players,'' she said. "Yeah, I want to play here."

In addition to a discussion on the influx of Asian golfers on the LPGA Tour, Golf for Beginners talks about our weekend round at Casperkill. A positive attitude and the ability to turn bad shots into golden opportunities were our targets as we navigated the course. Find out what we had to pull out of our bags to accomplish our goals!

Send 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.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by GolfCanadasWest.com 877-323-3633

Photo Credit: © North Point Photo, Campeonato, Jamd, Scoregolf.

Can Michelle Wie save the LPGA? Also, one way to conquer a troublesome course and can Stacy bring team spirit to stroke play?

Click here to listen.

Michelle Wie didn't make the cut and received no exemptions for the Ricoh Women's British Open this week so what does she do? She shrugs it off and goes Tour-hopping, increasing the box-office revenue at the Reno-Tahoe Open instead!

With a star-studded list of PGA Tour professionals attending the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, tournament directors at the B-List event realized that offering a precious exemption to a relative unknown was tantamount to television suicide, so why not offer the golden ticket to the princess of DQ's and MC's?

Add to that the last minute entry of David Duval and you have a recipe for the highest ratings ever on a Sunday. Could you imagine a final round pairing of Duval and Wie? That's like Frankenstein going head-to-head with Godzilla in a celebrity death match!

With the LPGA struggling to keep several of its its events alive for 2009, it would be a wise idea for Carolyn Bivens to consider giving Michelle Wie a full-blown exemption for the new season. The Ginn Company, primarily a real-estate business, pulls the strings to the tune of $25 million over four yearly events on the circuit. A restructuring due to a downturn in the economy means that the Ginn Tribute will be out of the loop next year. The Safeway, the Fields Open and the SemGroup Championship have also backed out their support of the Tour.

A lack of television exposure doesn't help either, making the climate ripe for Michelle Wie to earn her weight in gold!

This week Golf for Beginners addresses television dynamo Michelle Wie, and whether or not it was a good idea for her to jump ship, leaving the LPGA for greener pastures.

Last week we discussed the three steps to go from beginner to winner. Taking Barry's advice, I wound up winning a team best-ball event, posting a terrific score at Branton Woods in the process. Find out how I did it!

Finally, I offer Barry an easy way to defeat Hudson Hills golf course, where blow-up holes abound.

Send 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.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Grand Bahama Vacations 1-800-422-7466

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...


Send 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.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

This podcast is supported by GolfCanadasWest.com 877-323-3633.

Photo Credit: © SI.com/AP, InGolfWeTrust.com.

Can Els, Mickelson ignore Tiger Woods' absence at the British Open? Are LaFresh travel packs golf friendly and an important tip about golf lessons

Click here to listen.

There are golf fans and then there are those who come out of the woodwork just to see Tiger Woods blast the ball. These "Tiger enthusiasts" would not think of missing an event with Woods in the field but what happens now that the world's number-one player is out for the season?

In relation to the British Open, sports agent Andrew “Chubby” Chandler claims that there will be, "zero economic impact" and that "he would have been the biggest show in town, but he would not have been the only show. Besides, most of the people there watching will be rooting for a British winner."

Ernie Els, who kissed the coveted Claret Jug in 2002, believes that the Open is bigger than any one golfer, including Tiger Woods. "Although we will miss him, the game of golf is there and the Open Championship will be played whether Tiger is there or not, and I think that's what we've got to realize."

Mickelson has smartly decided to focus his efforts not on the field but on Royal Birkdale. Learning how to take spin off, hit shots lower and play better in the wind has made Phil feel as if he is a solid contender at this year's Open Championship.

And what about cocky Anthony Kim, the strutting response to the next Tiger Woods?

Kim acknowledged, "I know if I give it everything I've got, I'll have a pretty good chance to contend."

Besides discussion of our picks and pans for this year's Open Championship, Barry and I discuss LaFresh travel golf packs wondering whether all golfers will find them useful on the course.

We also talk about Barry's introduction to GolfTEC and what he learned from his experience.

Send 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.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!


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

This podcast is supported by Grand Bahama Vacations, 1-800-422-7466.


Photo Credit: Tribune India, ClackamasReview.com

Anthony Kim shoving disabled Tiger Woods out of the picture? Fiz your clubs clean and greenside bunker basics

Click here to listen.

"Fearless", "cocky" and "arrogant" were descriptive terms used by fellow golfer Fred Funk after Anthony Kim's decisive victory at the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods. Without Woods in the hunt the field is wide open with devotees waiting anxiously for a confident PGA Tour golfer to step up and take the reins.



In sashayed 23-year-old Anthony Kim who, with a bogey-free Sunday (the only final round like it since Chopra took the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship), stepped up to meet the demands of fans who were growing restless without a hero in their midst.

Anthony is no different than many golf afficionados who, for the past ten years, have been watching and learning from the number one golfer in the world, idolizing Woods as Tiger had done to Jack Nicklaus when he was just a kid.

It was only after meeting Woods face-to-face that Kim realized that he needed to step-up his game. And with a "thumbs-up" from Tiger after his victory with a profound, "the sky's the limit" pat on the back from PGA 'royalty (or as Kim calls Tiger, "the Michael Jordan of golf"), Kim knew what he had to do.

After Anthony realized that his "preparation and work ethic couldn't have gotten any worse", Kim decided to "kick it up a notch" and we are all watching the result of his diligence. After two wins and eleven top-twenty-five finishes this season, could we be looking at a man to threaten the solid base of Tiger Woods' throne? Can Kim maintain the effort necessary to keep himself at the top of the leaderboard?

His stats are adequate, but are his efforts enough to push him into the top spot for the FedEx Cup and shuffle the PGA Tour standings?


Golf for Beginners also tried the latest cleaning tool for both your golf balls and clubs. FizGOLF introduces Fiz which easily attaches to your bag and effectively scrubs both golf balls and clubs squeaky clean using a bubbly solution in a CO2 cartridge and its attached scrub brush. Fiz eliminates the need for too many items hanging on your bag and makes those grooves spotless!

I also talk about the sweet smell of victory out of the sand as Barry, always a competent instructor, changed my way of thinking in a greenside bunker.


Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.worldgolf.com/stacy_solomon 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.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by GolfCanadasWest.com 877-323-3633

Photo Credit: Golfdigest.com