Could YOU Play 100 Holes of #Golf In One Day?

This Golf for Beginners blog not only provides readers with reviews of new equipment and training aids, travel updates and opinionated arguments, but we also are very interested in people making a difference in their golf communities through charitable means. 

With that said, please read the following blog written by Neil Johnston and, if you can, help him to support Misericordia through his Hundred Hole Hike , which "offers a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged."

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Guest Blog Written by Neil Johnston:

The Hundred Hole Hike (HHH) is a national-network of golf marathons where participants plan to walk 100 or more holes of golf in one day in order to raise money for various worthwhile charitable causes. The Hundred Hole Hike includes events at some of the top golf courses in the country, including many courses listed in the Top 100 by the various golf publications. In its inaugural year, the HHH raised $270,000 for a wide range of charities.

100 golf holes? 1 day? No mulligans?

Among those who have seen me play golf, the feedback is unanimous: Optimistic. Impossible. Ridiculous. Dude, lose some weight.

While caddying for a friend in last year’s inaugural Hundred Hole Hike, I watched a handful of similarly skilled (and in some cases, unskilled) hikers overcome physical and mental challenges to complete 100 holes. And I thought…hey I could do that. No, I should do that.

I live in the West Rogers Park area of Chicago within a lob wedge of Misericordia’s main campus. Misericordia supports individuals in Chicago with developmental disabilities by maximizing their level of independence and self-determination. Put simply, Misericordia believes that people with developmental disabilities not only have a right to life, but to one worth living. Currently, Misericordia supports more than 600 children and adults in Chicago, from all backgrounds, with developmental disabilities.

www.misericordia.com

Misericordia makes my neighborhood a better place. Hacking my way around 100 holes seems like the least I can do to thank them. As a slightly overweight, 12 handicapper, it’s going to take a lot of help to complete the hike! Please consider supporting my hike and one of Chicago’s most worthy charities, using the following link:

hundredholehike.com/golfers/neil-johnston

All Golf4Beginners on Twitter readers who make a $25 pledge will receive a signed, unwashed sock of mine from the Hundred Hole Hike....just mention that you saw my blog. This is truly a one of a kind souvenir. Alternatively, if you would prefer a hearty thank you and a tax receipt, then that can also be arranged. 

Your comments are welcome on this blog, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and Facebook...or wherever you happento see Golf for Beginners!

Golf Training Aids for the Beginner AND Serious Golfer

Golf for Beginners believes in the importance of going back to the basics in order to refresh the fundamentals of the golf swing. Most players don't have time to continually visit their teaching pro whenever they feel their swing getting "out-of-sorts" so we rely on golf training aids in order to maintain a repeatable swing.

The guest post below is written by Bruce Hubley, single-digit handicap golfer and inventor of The Slinger Golf Improvement System.

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You wouldn’t take a road trip without a map…

Yet most golfers attempt to learn a golf swing with little or no knowledge of critical golf swing fundamentals.

The pros I work with tell me that the percentage of golfers who take lessons is around six percent.  Of those six percent, about fifty percent spend more time telling the pro what they are doing wrong then listening to what the pro has to say.

That leaves around ninety-four percent of all golfers that have chosen to learn the game by watching TV, videos, DVD’s and reading magazines, etc.  

Good luck to that idea!

At this point you need to ask yourself …Are You a Social Golfer Or a Serious Golfer?

The Social Golfer plays golf to get out of the house, have fun and socialize with friends, with little regard to improving their golf game.

The Serious Golfer wants to play better and will take the time, spend the money, and make the effort to become a better golfer.  

You know which one you are.     

Okay, you’re a serious golfer.  Now what?

You have probably heard that the best way to learn a complicated body motion...and golf has plenty of them... is by repetitions…hundreds of them.

But, repetitions are only beneficial if it is done correctly, otherwise they can be counter productive ….even harmful.

So, how do you manage to make hundreds, even thousands, of correct swing repetitions without going broke at the local driving range and also be able to improve your golf swing, stay fit and “golf ready” year round, anywhere-anytime?

Pull out the Golf Training Aids

There are many golf training aids on the market, so how do you know which one(s) to try?

Portablility, the ability to use indoors, simplicity and feedback are most important when choosing a golf training device.

One excellent way to hit hundreds, even thousands, of correct repetitions is with a portable, indoor-outdoor Swing Practice System.  

The Slinger Golf Swing Practice System includes a Velcro Target and six Velcro balls and the InsideMove.  

The Target has a Velcro stripe sewn down its center. This is what you try to hit, the same as a flag on the green.   

The portable Velcro Practice Target comes with six Velcro golf balls.   Hang it on a wall at home, office, school, fire station, penthouse, anywhere.  Grab your trusty wedge, or any iron and you’re ready to take charge of your swing and finally “Get It Right”.

The InsideMove is an amazingly simple device that teaches a very counter-intuitive golf swing fundamental; how to swing “on plane” correctly.  The InsideMove is placed on the floor and aimed at the vertical stripe on the target: it is a remarkable device that teaches you how to swing “on plane” like all the great pros and is the perfect partner for the Velcro Practice Target.  

Once the nickel drops, and you understand what it take to approach impact with the ball from “inside” the target line, a very counter-intuitive move…nothing will ever be the same for you and your golf game.  It’s a true “Game Changer”.


The Slinger is our most revolutionary product.  It’s designed to be used indoors, it’s only 27” long, it fits in your luggage and goes where you go.  It doesn’t touch the ground and never impacts a ball.  It’s the perfect way to learn and master golf’s swing fundamentals.  It’s a pure training tool, and by far your most important golf club.

Now you have your own portable personal practice area that’s quick and easy to setup and use anywhere you go.  More importantly, the visual feedback of the ball trajectory will tell you if each swing was done correctly or not.  With this precise visual feedback you can self improve yourself to an excellent golf swing.


At Slinger Golf we’re all about swing fundamentals the “road map” to a winning swing. With these products you will have the knowledge, and “knowledge is power”, to become the golfer you always dreamed you could be.

You’re now a charter member of the five percent of all golfers who know what is takes to swing a golf club correctly.  Yahoo!




Bruce Hubley Bio:
Bruce Hubley was raised in San Francisco and began playing golf at the tender age of twelve at Harding Golf Course, producer of many a great player including Venturi, Miller, Archer, and Lema. 

He caddied and was Captain of his High School and College Golf Teams. Soon after retirement as General Foreman of the San Francisco Water Department, Bruce decided to approach the game as an inventor, creating a golf training system that would teach fundamentals of swing plane and proper release. 

Seven years after visualizing his product and working with professional golfers and engineers, Hubley developed the patented “Slinger” training club and formed Slingergolf, Inc. Bruce also invented the patented “InsideMove”, to address the swing plane training issue. Together with Velcro Target System, all three training aids are a complete portable, indoor-outdoor, 24/7, Swing Practice System.


Do you have questions for Bruce about The Slinger Swing Practice System? 
Bruce Hubley and SlingerGolf,com can be reached at:

Website: SlingerGolf.com
Twitter: SlingerGolf
Facebook: SlingerGolf ...and check out customer reviews of The Slinger on Amazon.com.

As always, feel free to share your comments and questions on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Facebook page too!


Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Links Between #Golf and Skin Cancer-Which Tour Players Had It?

After receiving a golf press release about "Melanoma May" I realized that the probability of skin cancer during this season merited another blog which will probably sound more like a public service announcement!


Here are the latest stats about skin cancer and the necessity of athletes, especially golfers, using a serious, water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen.

 ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDIES from SkinCancer.org:

·         65% of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

·         Men over age 40 have the highest annual exposure to UV radiation.

·         The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over age 50.

·         Melanoma is one of only three cancers with an increasing mortality rate for men.



WHY ARE GOLFERS AT A HIGHER RISK?

·         Getting four to six hours of sun exposure from a round of golf
·         Not wearing or reapplying sunscreen
·         Teeing off mid-morning when the sun’s rays are at their strongest
·         Having little or no shade if you stay on the fairways



GOLFERS WHO HAVE SURVIVED SKIN CANCER:

·         Fred Couples, a former golf world number one and US Masters winner, has had numerous cancerous lesions removed from his hands
·         Texan PGA player, Tom Kite
·         US Open winner, Andy North
·         English golfer, Brian Davis
Other famous people who have had a brush with skin cancer include Senator John McCain, former President Ronald Reagan, Ewan McGregor and Bob Marley.

To help prevent skin cancer, performance golf clothing is not enough! Doctors recommend applying a generous amount of water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed areas thirty minutes before heading outside to play any sport. Look for a sports sunscreen formula that is designed to stay put if you sweat and won’t run into the eyes and sting, like the SkinCeuticals. No, I have not tried this particular sunscreen so I cannot recommend it personally. If my readers have tried it, I would appreciate your comments below.

SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 50

Bottom line is to protect yourself. 

Have a safe, healthy and happy Memorial Day weekend.

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