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.