Friday, May 29, 2015

Does This Sound Like You on the #Golf Course?

Trying to concentrate on that ever-important putt which will place you 1-up on your playing buddies, eyeing from every angle, you are finally ready to swing when you say to yourself, "hmm, maybe just one more cup to the right!" Naturally, you miss right. Ahh, the mental game of golf wins again!

Why do golfers use negative self-talk and what can you do to prevent...or at least control it? In a previous article, Golf for Beginners offered ways to improve upon the way we think and speak to ourselves during a round.

Today, instead of lurking within the realm of the Twilight Zone, let's just take a look at some of the ridiculous things we say to ourselves. Maybe if you read this rhetoric out loud, you'll be able to stop before the downswing, flip it around to something more positive and improve your confidence and your game!

Here are a few funny and oh so true thoughts that go through golfers' minds at different times on the course.

1. I ALWAYS hit a bad shot on the first tee!

2. Another downhill lie - I know I'm going to top it...

3. I can use my putter to go through that rough - isn't there four degrees of loft on a putter?

4. I can get this shot over that body of water - I don't need that extra club - this should do it.

5. (On the tee) - Don't aim for that bunker! Water on the right!


6. I don't need to carry a rain jacket today, there's only a forty percent chance I'll get caught.

7. Trees are 90 percent air.

8. This sure looks like my golf ball.

9. How many strokes was that... one in the water, so I'm hitting two, right?

10. . I don't need to punch out - I can clear that tree!

So many more ruminations to mention like, "Keep out of the rough!"

What self-talk do you utter during a round of golf? Share on our Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

How to Play #Golf in the Twilight Zone

Which golf books are on your Memorial Day weekend reading list?

Almost everyone has a few books lined up for lazy beach days, from "how-to" improve the golf swing to mental game tips, possibly with a New York Times best-selling fiction thrown into the mix.

Since the start of 2015, although I have been reading books on game improvement, I have also been enthusiastic about fictional tales written by storytellers who weave golf into the mystery of life.

This year, my first tale of machinations and conspiracies, Shari's Shot by noted author James Ross, proved to be a real page turner filled with intrigue and a plot which ended quite differently than I anticipated - kudos to James!

My next page turner was "Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When It Matters Most."

Golf Is No Ordinary GameCurrently I am in the middle of "Golf is No Ordinary Game" by G. Guilford Barton. Have you read it?

Each of the fourteen tales is its own chapter and takes the reader into a world of imagination, science fiction and magic - similar to tales by renowned Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling but not as dark (so far) as The Night Gallery.

So, if you are intrigued by a magical golf club that can change a life, wonder what it would be like to play golf with a clairvoyant caddie or, maybe, you're considering taking a train trip to get to your next golf destination, you may want to read this book before you pick up your next iron.

The Golfing Bard (internet nom de plume for G. Guilford Barton) sells this book on Kindle for $2.99. The quick-read tales allow you to put down/pick up the book at intervals and begin a whole new journey with your next poolside margarita.

Enjoy and have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Which books are you reading this Memorial Day? Share on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on this golf blog!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

#Golf Tips Learned from TPC Sawgrass & How YOU Can Make More Birdies

Meeting and chatting with golf instructors on Twitter has great benefits for Golf for Beginners blog; they love to impart their knowledge of the game to willing students and we are happy to share this information for the benefit of our readers. With that said, guest blogger, golf coach Stephanie Wagemann (bio below), has sent in three easy tips to improve your game and lower your score.

Enjoy!

Birdies at TPC Sawgrass and How YOU can make more Birdies too!


Wow!  What an exciting finish at The Players Championship - TPC Sawgrass this past Sunday!

Excellent conditions and great players led to plenty of birdies and some moving action coming down the stretch; most notably by the Champ himself, Rickie Fowler, who went 6-under in his last six holes with eagle, birdie, birdie on the famous holes 16, 17 and 18 to finish the tournament 12-under and put the pressure on the guys behind him.

Rickie proceeded to make birdie two more times on the par 3, 17th hole island green to win the playoff and ultimately become The Players 2015 Champion.  There is no doubt that Rickie’s play on that hole was a key to his win!

My college golf coach wisely told us, “2’s don’t add up very quickly on the score card.”

That may seem obvious, but hey, it is true.  So, how do you as average golfers, work towards making more 2’s on your card?  Or maybe for you it is making more 3’s, 4’s or 5’s ;-)  

Wherever you are in your golf game, here are three things to take away from watching the best player’s in the world.  Apply these tips and let’s work on making some birdies!

1. Know your yardages: If you watch professional golfers on tour, you will realize very quickly that they know EXACTLY (I mean to the 1/2 yard) how far every club in their golf bag goes.  Now, it may not be possible for the average golfer to be this precise, but, I have found most golfers have an extremely vague idea of how far they hit each club.

Spending an hour on the range, hitting 5-10 shots with each club and figuring out the average distance each club in your golf bag flies will be an hour well spent and will get you closer to hitting more greens and making more birdies.

2. Have a game plan: When a tour player is competing in any tournament, they have a detailed, strategic game plan for every shot they want to hit while out on the golf course.  They know exactly where they want to land the golf ball on the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass for each pin position they will play that week.

Although you may not have pin sheets for every round, or plan out your rounds days in advance, you can and should pick a target for EVERY shot you play, keeping in mind where you want to play your next shot.

When learning how to make a game plan for a golf hole, a great way to start is to think of playing the hole backwards. Start at the green, and think where do I want to be hitting from as I approach the green?  Then, where will my target be off the tee to get to my ideal approach shot?  Pick targets to hit targets to make more birdies!

3. More Control for More Precision: Watching the pros on Hole 17 at TPC Sawgrass this weekend, you may have noticed that many of them choke up on the golf club and make a shorter, more controlled swing.  The reason for this is, the shorter the swing, the less room for error!

A chip is easier to get close to the hole than a pitch shot or a full swing shot.  Makes sense, right?     Next time you face a shot into a small green that requires more precision, try taking one club longer than usual for that shot, grip down about one inch from the end of the club, and make a smooth 3/4 length swing.  This will give you a bit more control over the golf club and add some more precision when the pressure is on.

Let’s not let the pro’s have ALL the fun; you can enjoy watching them achieve greatness, and then go achieve greatness within your own golf games!

Here's to your golf game and making more birdies!

If you enjoyed reading these tips you can find Stephanie Wagemann sharing more golf instruction, coaching and insights at www.coachbirdie.com.

Stephanie Wagemann is a former competitive golfer, college coach and Michigan golf instructor whose mission is to help beginners enjoy the game.

Ask golf questions on Twitter to Stephanie on @CoachBirdTweets and to GFB on @Golf4Beginners.