How to Introduce Kids to Playing Golf

by Rick Fletcher



You love to go golfing and you always, well almost always, have a great time on the course. Getting outdoors in the sunshine, on beautiful park-like grounds does something to remind you how much fun life can be. You've thought about it - wouldn't it be great to share the experience with the kids? Maybe you've even imagined giving each other high fives after a great shot, or sharing memories for years to come after a great trip to the course. You haven't brought them along yet, because you're concerned about them hitting the ball all over the place, keeping up with the group ahead, and the resultant stress turning your beloved sport into an exercise in discipline and disappointment on all sides.

I'm here to tell you you're not alone. As the father of three boys (I began teaching them how to play golf at 5 years old - they're now 17, 19 and 21), I too was hesitant in bringing them to my "outdoor sanctuary". I'm glad I gave it a try as it has resulted in a lifetime of fun for all of us, and I'll share some tips in the hope you too will give golfing with your kids a try.

• Get them some good equipment. Junior golf clubs have come a long way since we used cut down clubs as kids. There are now even junior hybrid clubs! I have been building custom junior golf clubs for a little over nine years now (over 20,000 clubs at last count) and the quality and technology that's available for juniors these days is spectacular!
• Teach your kids the basics of the grip, stance and swing in the backyard, or in the house with plastic whiffle balls. At this point there is no need for formal instruction for the youngest ones, as they need to get out there and have fun right away. All they need from you is to show them how to place their hands on the club, not grip it too tight, and how to swing with smoothness and tempo, rather than as hard as possible.
• Get the clubs into their hands as much as possible. If there's a driving range nearby, perfect. Try to get them down there as much as possible, and make sure to not skimp on the sodas or trips to their favorite fast food restaurant afterwards. Or set up some cups in the house or backyard. Pins and cups are available on-line for the backyard; tournaments can even be set up with neighborhood kids. Our kids even constructed trophies using cardboard, felt pens and scraps of wood.
• Contact the local course to find out the best times for kids to play. Your local Par 3 is the absolute best place to take kids when they are just starting out.
• When you arrive, keep the list of rules short, but make sure to give them the following guidelines: no running on the greens, do not hit until I tell you it's OK to hit, do not set your clubs on the green, and last but not least, we're here to have fun. If at any time you are not having fun, let me know and we'll go home. Let them know it's OK to get frustrated, just keep trying and remind them it took you a long time to learn to play. If they lose interest, leave right away before it turns ugly.
• To keep score or not to keep score - you be the judge. As a tee ball coach we were told not to keep score, but many of the parents did anyway. It's part of our competitive nature to know "who won". If you do keep score, that's fine, just remind them they are there to learn, not to score well on every hole. What matters most is that they have fun, learn more about the game and want to come back and do it again!

Golfing with kids can be a blast or it can be a disaster. Hopefully these tips will help you eliminate the disaster part and replace it with a lot of fun and great times out on the course!

About the Author
Rick Fletcher is co-owner, head club builder and junior golf instructor at http://www.allkidsgolfclubs.com, an on-line company dedicated to introducing kids to golf by bringing the latest and greatest golf clubs, golf accessories and unique golf products to future stars across the country.

Thanks to Rick Fletcher for this article.

Superbreak offers golf fans short breaks to the Open Golf Championships

by Madeleine Roast


Superbreak, the UK's online holiday specialists in short breaks, is offering golf fans exclusive short breaks to the Open Golf Championships in Carnoustie this July.

Superbreak's Open Golf Championships short break offers a unique chance to experience the 136th Open Championship, which moves to Carnoustie in the east of Scotland this year. Superbreak customers can enjoy two nights bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Express by Holiday Inn hotel in Perth, two all-day visits to the Open as well as return coach transport between the hotel and the golf course. The Express by Holiday Inn in Perth is ideally located in central Scotland, boasting 81 guest bedrooms with a range of amenities.

Alternatively golf fans looking to get right in the middle of the action and looking for a hotel in Carnoustie itself could stay at the Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, which is situated adjacent to the 1st tee and 18th green of the famous Championship Course which is due to host this years event.

The east coast of Scotland is world-renowned for its first-rate golf courses, and this year's Open will be the first time the championship has returned to Carnoustie since 1999, when the world saw the victory of Scotsman Paul Lawrie. What's more, the golfing tradition at Carnoustie dates back as far as 1527 - a whole quarter of a century before the first record of golf being played at the more famous site of St Andrews.

Superbreak specialises in providing customers with the best sporting breaks in the UK. Anyone planning to take advantage of Superbreak's Open Golf Championship short breaks can also enjoy a range of sights in the surrounding Scottish central belt, including lush scenery and fantastic landscapes. Golf fans might even have time to put in a few hours on a nearby golf course themselves, thereby participating in the true spirit of the Open Golf Championship!

About Superbreak:
Superbreak, incorporating Theatrebreak, is the internet division of Superbreak Mini Holidays Limited, the market leader for short breaks throughout the UK. Superbreak is part of Holidaybreak plc, a publicly quoted leisure company whose share price can be found in most major UK newspapers, or at Holidaybreak.com.

Based in York, England, Superbreak specialises in booking 2-5 star hotel accommodation throughout Britain for the leisure traveller. Superbreak hold allocations of rooms at all hotels and can make bookings up to and on the day of departure.



About the Author
madeleine@magneticpr.co.uk
Magnetic PR
12-50 Kingsgate Road
Kingston
Surrey
KT2 5AA
Tel: 020 8547 4006
Fax: 020 8547 1569


Thanks to Madeleine Roast for this article.

How to reduce stress on your lower back in the golf swing

by William Wetere


"How to Reduce stress on your lower backin the Golf Swing"
Golf swing tips to reduce stress on your lower back in the Golf Swing
The modern golf swing with the focus on a rotational swing has caused many a golfer to suffer from lower back pain.
The stress caused on the lower back with this type of golf instruction has resulted in many golfers simply giving up or worse suffering back pain for their golfing life.
Rehab for golfers suffering from back pain normally comes in the form of stretching, massage and gym work outs. Strengthening your core muscles increases your bodies ability to reduce harm to your lower back. Your core is used to provide stability in your set up and retain balance throughout your swing.
Whilst this is a good fix for some, the REAL problem or the cause still remains.
The cause is your current "golf swing"
Mike Austin and Dan Shauger the author of "How to Kill the Ball" and "the 21st Century Golf
Swing" have the secret for reducing stress on your lower in the golf swing......"The Perfect Swing Golf Instruction" course.
Mike Austin a master in Kinesiology understood the bio mechanics of the golf swing better than most. He knew every muscle and joint in the body and their role in making the perfect golf swing. He spent 70 years of his life teaching and demonstrating his golf swing instruction.
He is known world wide for driving the golf ball 515 yards at the age of ........64. Even in
his 70's Mike Austin was driving the ball over 300 yards.
When the body is used in the correct way the golfer is able to swing as hard as they want without any FEAR of pain.
We use our hips in a lateral movement from left to right on the upswing and a lateral movement from right to left on the downswing. The use of the hips this way allows the body to move with out causing any pain as rotational movement is limited.
In our golf swing we move the hips from "side to side" they only turn as a result of the shoulders turning in the backswing and the right knee turning in the downswing.
We release the club head from the top of our swing and use the right knee for directional control. The use of the right knee actually takes away any stress on your lower back.
I have worked with golfers who have been able to overcome their back pain by using the swing method developed by Mike Austin and Dan Shauger.
We have the tools available to help you restore your golf game so that you can start enjoying golf without the fear of back pain.
We guarantee our results as this golf instruction method has been proven time after time.
About the Author
William Wetere is an accredited teaching professional based in New Zealand. Working with Dan Shauger"A Perfect Swing" method and Geoff Mangum "PuttingZone" William provides some of the best golf instruction available for both the Long game and the short game. Free online video instruction's are available at his website www.golfinstruction.co.nz

Thanks to William Wetere for this article.

The Simple Golf Swing Technique

by Charles


Are you tired of continually ending up in the hazards at your favorite course? By simplifying your golf swing you can greatly decrease your handicap and improve your enjoyment of the game.
Complexity is the killer of accurate, consistent golf. By simplifying the biomechanics involved with the swing you will be able to deliver the ball consistently to hole each and every time.
Minimal wrist action is a key factor in perfecting your golf swing. By reducing the angle of your wrist cock you will immediately see improvements in your ball distance and accuracy which will put you closer to the optimal golf swing.
By shortening the arm swing you are able to control the ball better than with the over swing that most players are burdened with. By keeping the arm swing short you force the head and upper body into correct spinal alignment allowing you to obtain the best golf swing technique.
Controling your rhythm, or fluidity, will make you considerably more consistent than any of the "rapid pull and release" techniques. You should make sure to keep your head and body steady as well as keeping your arms loose and fluid in order to get closer to the simplest golf swing technique.
By reducing the complexity of your swing you will move closer to your perfect game. By working on the three things above you will be about as close as you can get to the perfect, simple golf swing.
You will hit the ball farther and more accurately, not to mention more consistently. As a result you can lower your handicap and achieve the perfect, simple golf swing.
About the Author
Did you find those tips on Simple Golf Swing Techniques useful? You can learn a lot more about how to lower your handicap and increase your consistency at Click Here! .
The Simple Golf Swing Technique

Thanks to Charles for this article.

To golf or not to golf in Puerto Banus

by Seb Jay


To golf or not to golf in Puerto Banus: That would be the question facing the golf enthusiast who might find himself in this playground of the leisure class. The wide-ranging feast for the senses afforded by this destination is awesome enough to tempt even the most die-hard golf enthusiast to forsake the green for some swinging of another kind.
Let the putting go on - Now that would be the mantra of a fanatic golfer, and Puerto Banus' La Dama de Noche serves to cater to this genus. Presenting to you the first of its kind--a golf course illuminated at night so you can putt away to your heart's content or till you drop. What could be more enervating than golfing in the tranquillity of the night with a tropical moon for company? Los Naranjos is another golf course which however, is famed for its daunting 18th hole rather than any such curiosities. All courses on the Costa del Sol are within easy reach if you have transportation handy.
The Marina - What distinguishes Puerto Banus from the other holiday destinations in the area is the spectacular beauty of the Marina, which at any given time can harbour a thousand sleek yachts. Another popular sight is that of celebrities who frequent this spot and are quite at home in the sunny surrounds.
Saturday Morning Market - This is the place where you may find articles ranging from exquisite antiques and fake designer merchandise, to fancy baubles and trinkets at bargain prices: if you know the art of bargaining that is. It covers the area from the entrance of the port to the Plaza del Mar Shopping Centre, and is open 9.00a.m to 2.00p.m, which leaves you free to head back to your favourite golf course for a session if you are so inclined.
When hunger strikes in Puerto Banus - That's when you realize the incredible range of the gastronomic adventures available. You are simply spoilt for choice. The Lonestar Brasserie whose menu includes the basic pasta as well as spiced fish fillet, would somehow seem rather tame in comparison with the El Rodeito bill of fare which includes blood pudding from Burgos, stewed pigeons, and others which defy description.
Getting around Puerto Banus -This Andalucian wonderland is best explored at your leisure where you are not tied to unreasonable time-tables that cramp your style. This is easily done by hiring a car for the duration of your stay. You can pick up the vehicle of your choice right from the airport, provided you make an advance booking. This can be done online at Your-Carhire.com - specialists in Spain car rental services along with your other travel arrangements and it saves you hours of waiting in long queues, when you could be checking out the golf courses. It would be a good idea to request an air-conditioned vehicle if you are planning a summer visit, and to also reserve a child car seat in case you are travelling with children, as this is mandatory according to Spanish road laws.
About the Author
Article written by Seb Jay for http://www.your-carhire.com - specialists for car hire in Spain.

Thanks to Seb Jay for this article.

Golf from the Perspective of a Businesswoman

by Patty Frasure


It is hard for most women to understand why men enjoy playing golf so much. How can it be fun to spend two or more hours walking around a large golf course while facing the heat, wind, cold, rain, or whatever else nature might throw at you. A woman's perspective on this game usually changes, however, once she is invited to a golf outing, particularly a business meeting in the form of a golf outing.
Attending a business meeting while playing golf is much more enjoyable than attending a meeting in a board room. The time that is spent talking with the top executives of your company as well as many of your potential clients will really open your eyes to a new world that is the game of golf. Before you know it, you will begin to feel that a golf course is the only place you want to conduct business anymore.
Conducting business on the golf course could also lead you to want to play more in your spare time. For one reason, you will want to improve your game so that you can impress your colleagues and clients. Another benefit of taking up golf is that you can network with other businesswomen who play golf. It is a great way to bond while sharing ideas. Golfing with your fellow business women can be much more fun than attending a purse party and can even be more effective than trade shows. You don't have to be a professional golfer to get on the clients good side and close a sale, you just have to go out there, have fun, show them a good time, and relate.
If you are a businesswomen who has never tried incorporating golf into your life, why not give it a try?
About the Author
Nelson Frasure is a featured author for , a web site that includes golf tips, golf tips, and a golf blog.

Thanks to Patty Frasure for this article.

Rolling Around the Course: Knowing your Golf Carts

by Nathalie Fiset


Golf has been around for centuries, and has become the subject of movies, music videos, books, even songs. The game of golf is also associated closely with the rich and famous, as the game itself seems to conjure up a slow life without care, and with all the comforts of servants and free time. There are caddies to carry everything, a large course through which golfers can putt or swing their way through, and golf carts on which they can get from one place on the course to the next.
Golf carts, or golf cars, as they are sometimes known, are small automobiles that were once designed to carry two golf players, along with their clubs. Golf carts were also meant to carry players and equipment faster around the golf course, so that the golfers would not waste their time walking. In recent years, however, golf carts are used in larger courses, where walking can be exhausting. Some players can opt to eschew golf carts in favor of a day spent strolling on the green, where everything, from simple chats to business deals can be discussed.
Today, golf carts are designed to carry more than two golfers and their equipment. These carts are open, with no air-conditioning, and are designed to carry more than two people through short distances. In general, golf carts can run at about twenty five miles an hour; they will generally be four by eight by six feet in volume, and will weight anywhere from nine hundred to about a thousand pounds.
Golf carts were once run with gas engines, since these allowed them to be filled with ordinary fuel that could be easily available to most golf courses. However, many golf courses are located in isolated areas, where gasoline can be difficult, and often dangerous to transport. Instead, carts today are powered with electricity, and were the very first kinds of automobiles to be powered in such a manner.
In fact, electrically powered golf carts are now mass-produced for many purposes other than ferrying golfers across a course. These electrically powered vehicles are also used in small housing communities, beach resorts, and desert areas. They have also been modified to fit certain weather and lighting conditions. However, because most of these carts are open, they can be difficult to use where pollution and noise are high, and where high speed cars or heavy trucks are used alongside them.
The latest models of golf cars have also been fashioned to resemble cars, and can have their own entertainment system, customized wheels, and body panels that can be custom built and painted in a variety of colors. In fact, with recent modifications made to golf cars, a market seeking aftermarket parts has also grown. Parts, such as electrically powered engines, can be important to other vehicle manufacturers. In fact, a Hummer golf cart has since been made available.
How important is a golf cart to a golf course? Not all golf courses are green, and neither are all of them flat. The most challenging golf courses will be composed of varying shades and textures of grass, and will be overlain not only with greenery, but with trees, bushes, water hazards, and sand as well. The most difficult courses will also be set on different elevations, making shots and estimations even more complicated. In such cases, a golf cart can benefit golfers who want to trek the entirety of a golf course without dropping dead from exhaustion first.
Most golf courses are composed of eighteen holes, all of which will be situated in different areas that are ensured to be hard to reach by golf course designers. Each area, as well as the tee-off point, will be composed of different materials, and will require different putting or swinging techniques. For instance, fairway grass, which consists of short, even grass, allows a player to see a ball well and thus strike it easily. The rough is an area where grass is allowed to grow to its maximum height, so that players caught in it can find it hard not only to strike the ball, but get it out of the rough in the first place.
Because such unevenness and variety runs rampant on the average golf course, any golf player will need a golf cart to get around. If you are interested in golf carts, whether for your community, resort, or golf course, or for your private use, then inquire at your local golf equipment provider and merchant. If you can steer the advantages of a golf cart to your side, and if you know the market and aftermarket parts market well enough, you can enjoy your cart, whether or not you play the game.
About the Author
For more complete information on golf please go to: http://www.bestgolfer.net/golf-carts.htmlhttp://www.bestgolfer.netwww.drnathaliefiset.com

Thanks to Nathalie Fiset for this article.