Never Be Afraid to Bump-and-Run

This guest golf blog is written by Brian Adams, bio after his article. Feel free to comment and, if you want to publish your own thoughts on Golf for Beginners, please contact Stacy: golfforbeginners@aol.com.


You're 20 yards off the green at the end of the fairway, and here it is again, that time of the round where you lose those precious strokes, turning your tally into a number too long to fit on a regulation score card.

Do you take out your pitching wedge and try your best Phil Mickelson flop shot? Best leave that to Phil! Maybe you take out your putter, then grip it and rip it to sink that 60-footer from the fairway? Only if you're prepared to 12-putt.

Your best bet? Take out a high iron and prepare to bump-and-run.

The bump-and-run shot is easy to execute and carries relatively low risk, especially if you've got two particular conditions in your favor.

Condition #1: A green that runs towards you. In other words, a "backboard" to protect your ball, should you skull it. Don't worry, you're not going to skull it. (Ok, who are we kidding? You might skull it, but that's what the backboard is for!)

Condition #2: a slight hill running up to the green, allowing your ball to "bump" before it runs.

You don't always need these conditions to apply, but having one or both will certainly increase your chances of success.

I often use this shot on the second hole on my home course (Pine Meadows in Lexington, MA). This hole features Condition #2, a slight hill before the green, but lacks Condition #1, the backboard. The reason I often use the bump-and-run on this hole is because the green is a "turtleback" design. This means that the edge of the green runs away from the hole in all directions in a way that makes you want to travel back in time and slap the course architect and ask them what you did to deserve a green like this. ALL directions? Three wasn't enough? Sorry...back to our shot.

For the bump and run, I always use an 8-iron to give me enough loft to get the golf ball in the air, but still have some of the forward momentum I need. You can play the ball right from the middle of your stance or towards the inside of your back foot. Playing it too far forward could give you more lift than you want for this shot.

Now, pick a spot a few yards short of the green. If the pin is close to the slope you're aiming for, then you can either take some power off your swing or aim lower on the slope.

Once you've picked your spot, take a quarter or half backswing and finish with your club low. If all goes to plan, the ball will have a low flight, hit the slope, and roll into the cup, as your golf buddies carry you triumphantly to the clubhouse until realizing that you're only on the second hole. The good news is that you've got sixteen more holes to bump-and-run!

Here is PGA Tour professional golfer Jim Furyk with a visual golf tip on the bump and run shot.



BIO: Brian Adams
Brian Adams is a left-handed golfer and financial professional from the Greater Boston area who occasionally writes, performs stand-up comedy, and directs music videos in order to scratch his artistic itch. You can find some of his videos on the Orange Aura Productions Facebook page.

Join the conversation! Place comments about the bump-and-run in the comments section of this golf blog and tweet us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Top 5 Hottest Trends in Women's Golf Clothing for 2017

Golf is no longer a sport dominated by men. That’s something to be thankful of, as golf clothing has had a long sticky reputation over the years. As more and more women discover the pleasure of golf, the fashion of the sport is revolutionizing golf clothing on the green.

Everybody loves to look good whether they’re on the country club green or riding a golf cart on the publinks. Fashion has never been more important before to the game of golf. To know the latest trends, here are top 5 latest trends in golf clothing for 2017:

1. Skort – They’ve got the fashion appeal of a skirt, but offers better coverage like shorts. Perfect for spring time weather when the golf game shines, skort combines fashion and functionality.

Comfortable and stylish skorts have an appeal that stands out on the green. Try blue leopard embroidery for a style that creates its own game. There are different colors of skirts to add color and dimension to any golf dresses.

2. The wilderness of the leopard:
Leopard colors are hot this year, and there is no limit to what you can get. Try the leopard putter cover to protect your club in style.

The blue leopard scarf is an ideal solution for tying the hair out of your eyes with a soft dimension. Leopard scrunches bring a sense of wild to any pony tail, perfect for getting some animal into your game and style.

Leopard headbands are perfect for keeping the sweat out of your eyes with solid fashion to add dimension. Leopard shorts? Well, let's just say that John Daly fans will just love it!

3. Reversible Vests - Golf games range across many different weather climate patterns, even in one afternoon. A vest is a great way to find the warmth you need on a windy day with a fashionable look that shows your best colors. Reversible vests are trendy this year, offering more options. You can adjust the vest to match whatever you’re sporting that day. It becomes two vests in one. Fashion is all about options. A reversible vest or abaya after a round gives you more diversity so you can find the ideal fashion ensemble to make the best of your game.

4. Short shots - This is one of the latest trends in golf clothing for 2017 – shorts are getting shorter (in spite of LPGA dress code issues)! While golf shorts are designed more around freedom of movement than fashion, when the sun finally arrives, maybe you might need to look for something little slimmer and shorter. Don’t go super short - choose a pair that offers both elegant fit and flexibility.

5. White chinos – This is another latest trend when the course is bone dry, and there is no risk of getting muddy cuffs. White Chinos are one of the most recent trends in golf clothing - in fact; you are probably got a pair tucked away in the back of your wardrobe.  Now is the time to remove them. They need to be bright white, not office white. Pair them with a navy top of the jacket.

Summary: Golf is your game. There are many trends since golf has become fashionable, and it's important to find the one that suits you. Choose the style that makes you look your best. You will feel better, and you’ll "up" your game in the process.

About The Author:

Rachel Stinson has always had a knack for writing, food, fashion, and places. Blogging has combined all four for her with an added bonus of enthusiastic audiences.

She expertly analyzes real estates, restaurants and online fashion stores with respect to pricing and people involved and can express her opinions in an unhesitant, engaging manner for all matters.

What's your take on women's golf fashion? Open up in the comments section of this golf blog!

Myrtle Beach World Am and Golf Courses Celebrate the Amateur Golfer

Billed as the "Largest Single-Site Golf Tournament in the World" with 72 holes of net, stroke play on many of Myrtle Beach's most exquisite (and demanding) golf courses, the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Tournament draws 3,300 golfers from around the globe for both the competition and the camaraderie.

Golfers have been coming to this tournament for years, some since the 80's when the World Am was called the "DuPont World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach" and only offered ten golf courses along the Grand Strand. Within thirty years, the number of courses in this tournament has swelled to over fifty and the number of players has grown in kind.

A few of our favorite golf courses in Myrtle Beach which offer its own mystique include:

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, which never fails to impress players with its stately demeanor.
Pine Lakes Country Club, well known on the Grand Strand as "The Granddaddy" of Myrtle Beach courses.
Grande Dunes with its Intracoastal Waterway views and technology-driven Golf Performance Center.
World Tour Golf Links, unique as its holes simulate some of the finest in the world!

Pine Lakes Golf Club - The Granddaddy of Myrtle Beach Courses

To play the World Am is definitely a golfers dream and, if you love to compete in a fun and rewarding environment, you should definitely punch your ticket for next year's event.

Each year that I visit the 19th hole, billed by the Myrtle Beach World Am as "a Really Big Golf Party", I speak with dozens of people.

Although the game of golf takes center stage, friendships are forged and merriment is high on the list of priorities - what could be better than playing golf by day and being wined and dined by local restauranteurs and entertained by some awesome dance bands?

Cool accessories!

Tin Cup was sporting their unique metal ball markers again this year and Snell Golf was debuting their hot, new golf ball (of which I received several sleeves for testing)...this golf ball's inventor also worked in R&D for Titleist and TaylorMade so this ball should show promise!

Visit the Myrtle Beach World Am website to view the full list of golf courses, scoring, handicap system and events and you will want to place this tournament on your bucket list!

Have you played in the World Am? If so, let us know your thoughts below in this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners!


photo: PineLakes.com

Top 10 Scottsdale Golf Courses Great for the Beginning Player

You may have heard a lot of hype about how Scottsdale, Arizona, is a fantastic destination for golfers from all over the world to come test the world class golf courses that lie in the desert.  The weather is terrific and the breathtaking landscapes offer a "WOW" factor.

Many of the golf courses in Arizona feature that desert-style environment which can make a round of golf challenging due to the forced carries off the tee boxes and fairways - but don’t fooled by it - there are many golf courses in the State that cater to the average golfer as well, featuring wide fairways and more links style golf.

Phoenix and Scottsdale are two destinations which cater to all level of golfer from intermediate to experienced.

Below is a list of the top 10 golf courses in Scottsdale that are great for the beginning golfer to play while on an Arizona Golf Vacation.

These courses below are very playable for the average golfer and are recommended based on their quality and scenery.

1. Legend At Arrowhead Golf Club: an award-winning Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf course.
2. Superstition Springs Golf Club: Regional qualifying site for PGA Tour events, so you know it is in pristine shape!
3. McCormick Ranch Golf Club: Water in the desert? Palm trees and mountain vistas too!
4. StoneCreek Golf Club: Recognized by Golf Channel as one of Arizona's "Best Kept Secrets."
5. Wigwam Golf Club: Three Memorable Courses to Choose!
6. Arizona Biltmore Golf Club: Two courses with a choice of traditional or links-style Golf.
7. Camelback – Padre Course: A traditional-style course with awesome views of Camelback Mountain.
8. Orange Tree Golf Course: Once an orange grove, now a desert oasis, this course is recognized as "green" with great Camelback Mountain views.
9. Starfire Golf Club: Formerly Scottsdale Country Club, this is a 27-hole Arnold Palmer designed facility.
10. Grand Canyon University Golf Course: A muni-golf course with state-of-the-art amenities.

Think we need to add a few more golf courses to this list? Use the comments section of this golf blog to state your case!

Why the Line on Your #Golf Ball Could Hurt Your Putting

Do you draw a line on your golf ball and use it to point to where you want your ball to roll on the green? If so, you could be diminishing your chances to hole out.

During a recent lesson with my PGA instructor, Dale Ketola, at the Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center, the focus was on putting and the mental game. Dale made me realize that I don't need the line which I currently place on my ball to point to the target - the line, speed, confidence, and feel are all in my head.

Dale incorporates really high line golf technology into his lessons to show where players need improvement or if they are on the right track. Along with V1 software, BODITRAK and Flightscope, my very able instructor utilizes FocusBand with his students.

FocusBand is a mind-sensing neurofeedback device which shows when a golfer is thinking too much negative thoughts when playing the game. Sounds like it comes from the head of Gene Roddenberry, doesn't it? Several well known PGA Tour, LPGA and Web.com Tour players, such as Jason Day and Michelle Wie, use this apparatus...and now it is my turn to try it out!

We used this headband during my putting lesson to help measure my subconscious thoughts while standing over the ball. Am I:
- Overthinking (Excessive Fear or Anxiety)
- Having Fear of Failure
- Frustrated
- In the Zone

Dale dropped a ball on the green (as if it landed in that perfect position) and watched as I performed my pre-shot routine.

The simple interface showed that, while standing over the ball ready to putt, my brain was "in the red zone".

Uh, oh,...I was definitely thinking too much! But, what was I thinking of? That was for my instructor to determine as machines cannot give you that piece of the puzzle...yet.

It is his experience as a teacher and player that made me understand what I am thinking, sensing and how to limit my thoughts to one visual before striking the ball.

I asked Dale what he does during his pre-shot putting routine. He says that, before taking his putt, he analyzes the green, then stares at the dirt in the bottom of the cup and puts that thought of the circle into his mind; he goes up to the marker, places his ball (with a small circle drawn on top) into position, aims and shoots.

At address, I need to, "Occupy my mind with what's going to happen, not how it's going to happen."

You can also relate putting to driving a car and how you don't consciously think of pressing down on gas or brake pedal or placing your hands on the steering wheel or turning your car to the left or right - you just know how to do it already and make it happen.

I learned quite a bit during my putting lesson at the Golf Performance Center - thank you, Dale! Now, I need to practice my new routine so that, when I get onto the course, my brain is in the "green zone" on the green!

A parting thought about the importance of putting...

After his sobering loss at the 99th PGA Championship, David Duval said of Hideki Matsuyama, "On a Sunday, I don't think you have to make a ton of 15-footers, but you have to make the four and five footers to win a golf tournament."

Here is a great putt from Justin Thomas during the 3rd round of the U.S. Open which helps prove that the mind is what gets the golf ball to the hole:

ARE YOU KIDDING? WHAT. A. PUTT! @JustinThomas34 #USOpen (🎥: @usopengolf) pic.twitter.com/foKFJsNo1K

— GOLF.com (@golf_com) June 17, 2017

What techniques do you use to "see" the ball to the hole? Let's talk putting! Post comments below on this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Bermuda Sands Apparel for Women - Fit for #Golf!

Golf apparel, once only designed for style, has blossomed into functional wear which works well both on and off the course. Fit, fashion, and comfort are just as important during an eighteen hole stretch as they are at the 19th while having a snack with your foursome. So, what makes certain golf apparel perennial favorites?

Although certain styles are naturally de rigeur, like polos, cardigans, and khakis, brands are reaching out to millennials with more trendy pieces sporting bolder colors, changes in collar design and added functionality such as cell phone and scorecard pockets.

Where a few fashion-forward items are meaningful to every wardrobe, comfort is probably the most important functional spec which determines what I wear for my round of golf. I usually reach for the same pieces over and over again and, when I add a new skort or shirt to my attire, it had better serve a purpose.

I recently added to my closet a golf shirt and skort from Bermuda Sands Women's Fall Collection, "Evelina" Women's polo and the "Vera" skort from the  Creston Peak Collection.

Black and white complement any season and the bold lavender definitely stands out against the changing Autumn scenery. The medallion pattern on the skort carries onto all of the available tops which means if it gets chilly, I can add a cover-up to the outfit!

Yes, I will be a fashion statement on the golf course come this fall but that is not why I will be excited to wear my new Bermuda Sands outfit.

The quality of the materials used is excellent. As I held both pieces, I couldn't help but notice the silky feel and weight of the fabric. I thought it would be heavy when I tried on the outfit but was impressed by its lightweight comfort.

The Greer line of golf apparel is 92% Polyester and 8% Spandex stretch jersey, which offers a great range of motion and should also help to keep me comfortable and dry, even when I am sweating out those ten-footers for par.

Bermuda Sands also offers a men's line of short and long sleeve shirts and outerwear.

I can't wait to take this outfit onto the golf course but, since it's new in my closet, it needs to air at the appropriate time and at a top-notch golf course...perhaps Grande Dunes...Pine Lakes? Or maybe TPC Myrtle Beach...

Bermuda Sands, an innovative golf apparel company, has been creating fine clothing for both men and women since 2009 and, since the quality of their clothing is first-rate, in my opinion, this company deserves a look.

Do you love shopping for golf apparel? If so, are you partial to polos...skorts? Feedback requested on our golf blog in the comments section and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

I may receive free services, items or payment from miscellaneous providers of golf-related merchandise. ❀ I promise that I will always deliver my honest opinion!