Should Beginners Attempt to Play Caledonia Golf Course?

Passing beneath the stately oaks that lead to the clubhouse of the famed Pawley's Island Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, I wondered about the course we were about to play; would it be a test or an easy walk along the fairway?

From which tee box would I hit?

What awaits me, as well as others at my skill level, better players as well as beginners? A golf blog was formulating in my mind right at the entrance to this scenic experience.

Although this golf course is considered a bucket list must-play for Southerners and Northerners alike, Caledonia, as well as other well-known upscale masterpieces, may not be suited to all levels of golfer unless he or she is there for the high-end experience more than for the score.

Natural beauty surrounds, and dominates, the senses - egrets are in flight,  alligators are lazily surrounding the lakes; yes, Caledonia is most certainly a beautiful golf course and, on the first day of March, it was wonderful to see the azaleas in bloom, reminding me that The Masters Tournament is just around the turn.

This Mike Strantz masterpiece proudly shows itself to be the perfect respite for the vacationing golfer and for players like myself and my husband who wanted to feel like we are on vacation even though we live only half an hour up the road in Myrtle Beach. The greens are in perfect shape, the fairways are cushioned and the course is immaculately maintained.

What should all level of golfer know before playing Caledonia Golf and Fish Club?

Fairways are tight, strategically placed bunkers, water and waste areas abound so the golf course should be reviewed before heading out for the first time.

First tip? Pick up a play book at the front desk to help guide you through the holes, download a golf app for correct distances and watch video flyovers of the holes on the Caledonia website before you attempt to play the course. Don't go out unprepared if you plan to score well.

In my opinion, the holes got increasingly difficult as the round progressed. I ran out of fairway at hole thirteen as I couldn't see the trouble that lay at the edge of the fairway, causing a blow-up hole. Precision shots are important on Caledonia.

Try These Three Golf Swing Thoughts to Avoid Blow-Up Holes

For the first nine, we played with members of Caledonia who were invaluable as they helped us through trouble spots. As we came upon the ninth hole, it was relayed to us that the course ran out of room making the hole very short. Playing from the forward tees with my partners, the hole measured eighty yards with sand guarding the entire front of the green and through me for a loop as I was in between clubs. Feel shots are just as important as precision on Caledonia!

As we approached hole 18 on Caledonia Golf Club, I pulled out my camera as this is one of the most beautiful finishing holes in golf and was included in PGA.com's  "Dream 18 of South Carolina". Caledonia was also selected as America's 4th Best Golf Course by My Golf Spy.

The eighteenth hole did not disappoint; water along the right side of the fairway created an island green effect. I landed my drive too far left but still in the fairway, leaving me approximately 160 yards to the pin...it looked like 200 yards to the pin from where I stood and was extremely intimidating to me. I pulled out way too much club and choked on the shot. I said, "this round isn't going to end this way for me" and so I asked Barry if I could "mulligan" the shot, taking what I originally thought would be the right club. Since he won the round already, he agreed and I plunked the shot pin-high just off of the green. TIP? Don't be intimidated and select the club that you feel comfortable with that you know will do the job!

The final tip is for beginners: should a relative beginner golfer play Caledonia? It depends on how "new" you are - can you move the ball forward, do you understand strategy basics or are you still banging the ball on the driving range, trying to learn the basics of the swing and the game? Attempt to play Caledonia only if you can affirm that you are up for the challenge and follow the below tip in case you get into trouble.

To keep the game moving along, pick up your ball if you think you might be on a "blow-up hole" and move it forward to your playing partner's ball or play best ball instead of playing traditional stroke play.

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club will be a memorable experience to stand among the best resort courses that you play in your lifetime; it oozes with southern charm and makes you feel that you are in a very special place.

Thank you to Bob Seganti for the invitation.

Have you played Caledonia Golf Club? If so, what were your thoughts on the course? Let us know in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and @caledoniagolffi

Ben Hogan's Secret Fundamental Tips for #Golf

When an advance copy of Ben Hogan's Secret Fundamental came to me via snail mail, my husband, an avid player, snagged it for himself.

Uncovering golf tips from a legend who was one of the best technicians of the game can always help those who want to learn.

My better half took some of Hogan's "secrets" to the range and, when he returned, acknowledged that this book helped him through some of his rough moments.

That being said, it was my turn to read golf tips offered by the great Ben Hogan, written by direct protege, Larry Miller, and to learn a few secrets to take to the course with me.

What is Ben Hogan's well-guarded "Secret"?

According to Miller, some of the best golfers in the world had their own opinions; Sam Snead said, "hands never cross" and Harvey Penick, in his "Little Red Book" touches upon the secret, basic geometry of right angles and parallel lines which Hogan used to create his "perfect golf swing". This new book, in my opinion, is NOT for beginners, unless, of course, that newbie has the fundamental knowledge of the golf swing and can put these tips into practice.

In this Golf for Beginners Podcast, we help break down Ben Hogan's secret into simpler terms.

How Ben Hogan Created Power

Hogan was not a big man and created a tremendous amount of lag but there were other factors which were present in his golf swing. "The Hawk" had a very consistent golf swing, kept his swing on track, considered geometry in relation to his hands, knees and position and had perfect acceleration and speed through to impact. 

Putting Ben Hogan's Secret Fundamental to Work for You

Ben Hogan once said, "Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you are inclined to do, and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing."

Read the book with Hogan's quote in mind, considering the scientific aspect behind the golf swing.

There are some really good golf tips within this book, starting from the basics and moving deep within the geometric framework of your body in correlation to the golf club. A few thoughts to consider when swinging away involve:

- Starting from a completely neutral address position

- Keeping the triangle intact from your shoulders at takeaway until the shaft of the club is horizontal

- Keeping your golf club on the line in which it began.

Ben Hogan was also terrific with keeping his focus / concentration and course management, to such a degree that, when you turn to page 123, Miller states, "Implementing this section is a guaranteed way to lower your scores even if you ignore the rest of the book."

From Hogan's strategic way of mapping the golf course to walking the course backward and the value of "pin high", just reading this section starts the average golfer thinking of ways to better visualize shots, approaches and how to avoid trouble.

One drill which was regularly used by Tiger Woods and Johnny Miller is called the "Nine Shots Drill", where you practice hitting different trajectory shots - draws, straight shots and fades.

"With each club you are hitting nine different shots," mentions the author. The idea behind this drill is to gain confidence in your ability to use each club in a different way - the more shots in your bag, the more comfortable you are when in a particular situation using the idea of "I can do this!"

Watch as Johnny Miller on this YouTube.com video explains the Nine Shots Drill.

Ben Hogan's Secret Fundamentals book should be added to your "must-reads" list if you are ready to attack your golf game and take it to the next level. I am personally going to re-read sections of this book and take parts from it that I need help with, mostly to improve my course management skills.

Which Ben Hogan Golf Tips Do You Use? Post your comments in this golf blog and tag @Golf4Beginners on Twitter with your responses.

How to Play Boring Golf Like Jordan Spieth

The game plan for Jordan Spieth last week at Pebble Beach was to play "boring golf" and it paid off, winning the AT&T, tying Tiger Woods for most PGA Tour wins before his twenty-fourth birthday and securing a bucket list dream.

What is boring golf and what tips can we take away from Spieth's AT&T Pebble Beach win to help improve our round?

1. On the tee box, Jordan's caddie reminded him to play boring golf, in other words, play it safe, don't be a hero. Remind yourself to aim for center of fairways, avoid trouble taking the correct clubs to go short of trouble and look to land in the center of the green, not necessarily right at the pin.

2. Be patient - Spieth spoke about taking calm and easy swings - improve your tempo and take a breath or two before you swing away.

3. Visualization: Jordan picks specific targets and stays with it. He didn't go for the pin, especially with Pebble Beach winds gusting, instead planning how to shape his shots so that they land where he wanted.

Watch Jordan's Spieth Pebble Beach Interview.

What can we learn from Spieth's overall return to the winner's circle?

1. Set goals each week and look to accomplish them.
2. Stay with the process - keep practicing what you need help with to better your game.
3. Hard work pays off - off-season, work on your long game, ball striking and putting, like Spieth did and you will see alot more fairways in the spring!

What do you do to play "boring" golf? Comment on our golf blog (below) and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

How President Trump is Using #Golf to Perfect The Art of The Deal

The White House announced that President Trump will be playing a round of golf with a group that includes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago course.

The first thing that Mr. Trump stated is that he is going to make sure that Mr, Abe is his playing partner, not his competitor, and that they were going to have "fun".

Trump uses golf for business and this event is no exception as he expects to "get to know (Abe) better on a golf course than (he would) over lunch." And, as Mr. Trump once said in a GOLF Magazine interview, "You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play under pressure."

Editor: Wonder if he'll also pull out that awesome golf gift he received from Mr. Abe, a Honma Beres S-05 driver with 9.5 degrees of loft with a 5S Armrq Infinity stiff shaft?

Will he be using his time-tested tactics to work on building bridges with our Japanese ally? Most definitely! This is a combination of The Art of the Deal and the basic rules of business golf.

So, aside from the obvious "fun" factor which Mr. Trump plans to have during the round, the time spent will also be like a four-hour business meeting on some of the greenest fairways in the country.

In a survey by a global hotel chain, over one-third of CEO’s at top-level companies interviewed said, “Some of my biggest business deals were made on the golf course”. Women executives weighed in as well with more than a third saying that "playing golf resulted in additional business for them”.

So, how can you use time on the course to better your business relationships?

Here are a few golf tips you can use to make an unforgettable golf impression on prospective clients:

1. Golf shows character traits: don't cheat - be honest about a miss, A future boss or business partner does not want to work alongside of someone who has "improved the lie". The way you play golf directly resembles the way you conduct business. Play fair!

2. Don't go out cold - make sure you are ready to impress whomever you are playing with - that doesn't mean that you are a professional player, but it does mean that you can move the ball forward and that you know the rules of the game. There is nothing worse than stepping on your playing partner's line on the putting green just after you slipped in a pitch for something important to you.

3. Learn about your playing partner early in the game.

Sometimes you might want to give putts thinking that it's a good thing but it could be a double-edged sword. Donald Trump calls it an "interesting dynamic" because giving too much to a partner you are trying to impress may make him/her think (as Trump says) "you are feeling sorry for him". Not a good way to play. As Trump says, "It's a very fine line."


Next read: How Much Would You Pay to Play Golf on a Donald Trump Course?

What are some of your best tips playing golf for business? Let us know in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photos: Golf Digest, scmp.com

VIDEO: Tiger Woods Golf - Venturing Into the Unknown

Tiger Woods returned to Torrey Pines after a seventeen-month hiatus. Woods has won on this golf course an astounding eight times, so this seemed to be as good a course as any to kick off his return.

"We all know I haven't played s full schedule in a long time, so this is an unknown," mentioned Woods at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Tiger also stated that he needed to get into the playing rhythm once again.

Fortifying the former number one golfer in the world's comfort level was being paired with friends Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.

Was his comeback a success or is Tiger Woods a little rusty?

The rough got the better of him but, overall, the most important thing is to put one foot in front of the other, which is what Tiger Woods did at Torrey Pines.

According to a quote found in the New York Times, "Woods acknowledged that he needed to cut down on the 'dumb mistakes', saying, 'Playing tournament golf is a little bit different than playing with your buddies at home in a cart. I need to get more rounds under my belt, more playing time and that’s what I’m trying to do.'

Think Tiger Woods will win a PGA Tour tournament in 2017? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Video: Golfing World

Three New Technologically Advanced #Golf Drivers for a Beginners' Swing

A beginners golf swing is different than one that has been fine-tuned through the help of time, instructors and technology. A lack of confidence and awkwardness in the golf swing is especially noticed with the driver, as it has the longest shaft (and biggest clubhead) in the bag. It is also usually the club which can make, or break, the score for a beginner so it is important that you have the right driver in your bag.

When I first considered which golf drivers are best for beginners in 2013, I selected a few which offered game-improvement technology. Updates to my golf blog in 2015 made sure to list drivers with 460 cc heads and adjustable weight and loft technology.

But, do golf beginners really need all of the bells and whistles in order to get the ball airborne and safely onto the fairway? Do they need something as technical as the Wilson Staff Triton, which won Golf Channel's Driver-vs-Driver competition? Probably not.

Yes, distance matters but accuracy and consistency in your golf game matters more. There is no better feeling than to walk to your golf ball which has landed safely in the fairway, hole after hole! (Okay, distance really DOES matter!)

Technology also matters if it helps create golf clubs which make it easier to get the ball airborne or to, almost effortlessly, get the ball lofted off of the clubface and fly straighter down the fairway.

Here are three golf drivers with new technology, selected to give newbies (and players who need more consistency) a head start on their 2017 golf game.

1. Callaway Big Bertha Fusion Driver: Forgiveness for both men and women is the keyword for this driver. The club designers positioned substantially more weight in the perimeter and far back from the face, resulting in a dramatically higher level of forgiveness.

The new titanium Exocage and shape cuts through the air lightly and with "an especially satisfying sound and feel", says Callaway. I love the sound my Callaway X2 Hot driver makes as it connects with the sweet spot of the ball, so I know this club manufacturer understands the value in that aspect for beginners!

2. Ping G Series Drivers: My favorite set of Ping Karsten irons has prompted me to look into Ping drivers as I hit those irons like a champ (most of the time, otherwise, I would be on Tour!)

Ah dragonfly, are you the reason that Ping redesigned their popular line of drivers?

According to Ping, the wing pattern of this insect helped in the design of the crown sections to improve the MOI (moment of inertia) and CG (center of gravity) with biomimicry in mind. According to a Golf.com review of the Ping G Driver, there are many pros to using this club including a high level of accuracy and forgiveness with "point-and-shoot" playability.



3. Cobra King F7 Driver: Golf World testers landed this driver in the gold medal position along with the Callaway we placed on this list.

The new Cobra Connect Powered by Arccos system in the grip could be one reason as you receive instant feedback of distance and accuracy with every swing directed to your smartphone.

A carbon fiber crown redistributes the weight in the clubhead and the E9 face offers distance even if you mis-hit the ball.

Might be just a little bit too much for the first-time beginner but, for someone who is in that second stage of learning and ready to try something a little bit different (because we're always learning), get over to your local retailer and take a few swings to see if this driver is right for your next stage of development.


Editor's note: Before purchasing any new golf driver, make sure you visit an authorized retailer with custom club fitting capabilities. A purchase as important as this one, which inspires confidence off the tee, should never be left to chance.


Have you tried any of the above golf drivers? Leave your comments below in our golf blog and share with us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.