Myrtle Beach World Amateur Championship - #Golf Major for the Rest of Us

It is the "granddaddy" of amateur tournaments and, each year, well over three thousand golfers turn out to play in the Myrtle Beach World Amateur wondering how their games compare to players from around the globe.

Anyone with a handicap can play in the World Am and many people return year after year to this tournament with a focus on fun. 

After speaking with several players, I learned that people come to this top South Carolina beach destination to play 72 holes of intense stroke play on amazing Myrtle Beach golf courses for the bonds that are formed and the ability to test oneself against others with similar handicaps.

One player and his wife in particular whom we met at the 19th hole told me that his wife first saw the event online, purchased entrance for him as a birthday present and are now here for their third annual tournament. He is a ten handicap and was very interested in sharing how he did during his rounds and how happy he was to be matched so evenly with his foursome. When I asked his wife if she played golf, she said yes and then we got into a conversation about how to get more power out of her driver.

In other words, the talk of the evening was all about golf, how to improve and about how to score low on some of the most pristine courses along the Grand Strand.

Top instructors were on hand to happily offer advice. Randy Joyner, who coaches players on both the Web.com and PGA Tour, took the stage and gave indispensable tips on ways to break 90, chipping and the full swing...I took notes during his lesson.

I was super stoked to receive a personal on-stage lesson from Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and PGA Master Professional in Instruction, Brad Redding, who showed me the benefits of improving my grip to increase my distance while maintaining accuracy (he also said I had great posture lol...thanks Brad!)

Several golf courses were represented in booths within the perimeter of the 19th hole; Caledonia, True Blue, Thistle and Legends to name a few and there were all kinds of new technology and fun giveaways to view, touch and play around with...for example...

I will be playing golf at Legends Golf Resort in a few weeks while trying out and reviewing their latest acquisition - the Golfboard (watch for my video and review).

Other companies showing off their wares at the 19th hole included gadgets such as Birdieball which is said to mimic the feel and flight path of a real golf ball but travel no more than forty yards, new ways to mark your ball from Golfdotz and Tin Cup and even nutritional energy bars...delicious snacks to help keep your hunger at bay on the course. PGA Tour Superstore had a large display of clothing to make sure attendees were dressed super-slick for the tournament.

Myrtle Beach is also a food-lovers destination. Visitors to the area can find every kind of delicacy that is available anywhere else in the country from sushi to ribs. At the 19th hole this week, delicious crab rangoons were served up by Black Thai Restaurant, awesome filet mignon was carved from Greg Norman’s Australian Grille and much, more including Barry's favorite...Chick-fil-A. Did I mention Friendly's ice-cream ...? Well, the Nuts over Caramel stole my heart...

Golf is the name of the game but the camaraderie, fun and sportsmanship found at the Myrtle Beach World Am is what keeps players coming back each year.

Did you attend this year's Myrtle Beach World Am? If not, do you plan to play golf in South Carolina sometime in the future? Send us a note either below in the comments section of this golf blog or on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

#Golf Tips for Breaking 90 - You're Almost There!

For golf beginners, there are certain milestones which, when achieved, make playing the game even more fun; breaking one-hundred is one of those moments. The satisfaction of knowing you can get from tee to green in double versus triple digits is the first goal of many to conquer for newbies.

To break 100, what is the best course of action?

PGA Pro Ron Labritz states that, "instead of going out to work on your full swing, work from the green backwards."

In other words, work on your putting, then chipping, until you get to your driver, which should come last in the rotation.

Once you can honestly say that your short game is getting into shape, get out onto the golf course and take stock of the positive results.

What about breaking 90? The next goal in golf is where the focus and attention turn more to improving your tempo and the execution of shots according to Lynn Marriot and Pia Nilsson.

Dean Reinmuth says that it's not necessarily about breaking 90, its celebration time whenever you shoot a score better than your current personal best. Also, play shots that have a high success rate, learn to manage your emotions and "use shots that you can perform with a high degree of consistency and will accomplish what you need."

My husband, Barry, has been working on his game and is now regularly in the 80's. I asked him how he did it; here are a few of his golf tips.

1. Stay focused on every shot
2. Always take the low risk, smart shot
3. Don't let an errant shot blow up the hole - get back in play and quickly forget the bad shot
4. Have fun and play the round with a light heart
5. Keep accurate score for the hole but don't total your score until the end of the round

Correct practice makes perfect...don't just hit golf balls at the driving range - have a purpose, play smart and you will see that score hit 89 and lower before you know it!

Comments for this golf blog are welcome below and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Three Reasons to Play #Golf as a Single

As a small business owner, if the opportunity arises and all bases are covered at work, the time may be perfect for a round of golf - you just might not have anyone to play with on such short notice.

Men may not have a problem with going out as a single but I have heard from several golf beginners and women that they feel uncomfortable walking over to the starter and getting paired up with a stranger. Well, fear not and get moving! Aside from the obvious benefits of exercise, fresh air and sunshine, being paired up has its advantages.

Here are three good reasons why you should go out and play golf as a single:

1. New Playing Partners: You never know who you may meet going out as a single golfer. Whether you are a business owner like me, a divorced dad, a single mom, or someone looking to make a new friend, a new group gets you socializing in one of the most pleasant and fun settings anywhere.

I have met several people throughout my years on the course whom I now consider a friend - I have even met a few people who have helped me in my career; it all started with a handshake and an introduction.

2. Competition: Having a handicap makes the game fun and even. The scoring system is designed to allow all level of player to compete. You can actually see where your game is in comparison to people you don't know and how you compete in a situation that is unlike your normal routine. This scenario also teaches you how to play your own game and maybe get in the zone.

3. Improves Your Confidence: If you are worried about what people think when they meet you at the tee or how you might perform during the round, think of the confidence boost you will receive after you take the plunge - this type of activity will take you out of your comfort zone where you know what to expect and give you the impetus to become more comfortable with taking risks.

Have you ever played golf as a single? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section of this golf blog or on Twitter tagging @Golf4Beginners.

Photo: Wikipedia