Quick Points to Consider in Handling Difficult Golf Shots

In the game of golf, shots can vary in terms of difficulty level. Of course this would depend on the factors that contributing to the complexity of the each hole. Among the many factors that add up to difficult golf shots are the wind and bunkers. As a golfer, you need to know how to overcome these two things in order to have a rewarding golf round.

Let us first consider the bunkers. Dealing with the bunkers on any golf course is just like taking any other kind of shot whether on the greens or fairways. The very thing that makes the bunker quite intimidating is that they have the sands all over the place. A professional golfer once said that, “what makes the sand bunker different is its color and texture. If the sand would have been colored green then golfers would not find each shot very difficult.” It is true. If you consider these bunkers as one of the greens then you can deal with them the uncomplicated way. You only need to master the kind of swings that each shot would require. Once you are already familiar with the kind of swing that you are going to in order to get the ball out of the sand bunkers then it would be easier.

Another factor that you have to deal with is the wind. The key here is to make use of the wind to your advantage. During the golf game, if the wind is blowing towards you, try using the longer clubs when taking shots. Also, make sure that you widen your stance for the purpose of stabilization. As much as possible, limit your weight shifts during the swing and add more weight on your front foot. If on the other hand the wind blows behind you, use the shorter clubs.

Emerald Greens Golf Resort

Considered as one of Tampa Bay’s best conditioned courses, the Emerald Greens Golf Resort has been continuously attracting all sorts of guests especially the golf enthusiasts. The resort features the 27 challenging golf holes designed by the famed Dan Maples. The three layouts that comprise the ultimate test in golf include the Cypress Course, Meadows Course, and the Pines Course.

Each of the par-36 nine at Emerald Greens has been considered by many golfers as tough test of skills. Water hazards come into play on 20 of the entire layout’s holes. Some of the toughest golfers are even challenged when playing from the back tees of this golf course. If you want to take Emerald Green’s best par-3 then have it at the 7th hole of Meadow nine. This 158-yard layout would require the forced carry over a bunker and the water. Another demanding hole is the par-4 on the Cypress nine’s fourth hole. Off the tee, golfers are left with a difficult 2nd shot towards the elevated and narrow green. As for the Pines Course, it offers golfers with the tempting finishing hole. The par-5, 490-yard hole will give you the challenging surprises even to the last swing of your golf round at the Emerald Greens.

Although the resort is close to numerous local attractions, guests still flock Emerald Greens to experience the peaceful retreat that the place exudes. Aside from the challenging golf course, Emerald Greens also offers the practice facility that includes two putting and chipping greens, and a double sided practice range. Golfers, especially the beginners can also take advantage of the golf instructions including the weekend junior programs.

How to Deal with Golf Swings During a Cold Weather

Unlike any fine day at the golf course, a cold weather can affect your golf game. Since the cold air is heavy, it will create more resistance to the golf ball’s flight. This will then naturally encourage every golfer to swing harder leaving each golfer a room for more errors.

Here are some pointers on how to go about your golf game during the cold weather:

First, try to protect your body from the cold weather. See to it that your head, feet, and hands are warm enough to keep you going. Also make sure that your equipments are in good condition in order to keep your tempo while on play. Using a golf club that is not in its perfect condition can affect your concentration as well as focus.

Second, see to it that your shoulders have the correct set up during address as this will encourage a good shoulder motion during every swing. At your starting position, make sure that your right shoulder is slightly lower than your left shoulder. The right arm must be relaxed and that your elbow is gently tucked. This position will now allow you to have your left control the takeaway. Always remember that in golf, the right follows and the left leads.

Third, never pass the ball with your right shoulder. The right shoulder’s position must not be high enough through the hitting area. This will allow you to have the uppercut type blow that is better than having the golf ball with the roundhouse spinning motion.

Fourth, it is best that every golfer should gear their swings toward a lower trajectory ball flight. The arc of the swing plane must be shallow and position the ball slightly in your stance’s back. This will allow the golf club’s head to come in contact with the ball properly.

And lastly, never take reckless swings just to counteract the cold weather. Consider the proper stances that can work to your advantage.

The Bay Club

Fun, exciting, and challenging golf is what the Bay Club offers its guests. Perfectly nestled in Maryland’s picturesque natural wetlands and woodlands, this 36-hole golf gem is all about unique design combined with nature’s finest beauty. The Bay Club is also a golf facility that is dedicated in providing a legendary experience for golfers whether in the on course or off course. The East Course and the West Course comprise this championship golf masterpiece.

Bay Club’s East Course takes pride on being a nominee to the list of Golf Digest’s best new courses for 1999. The golf course was designed by the renowned golf course architect Charles Priestly and was opened for play in 1999. Beautiful as challenging, this course is being highlighted by the exquisite Zoysia grass fairways. This spectacular 18-hole championship layout also features the acres of glistening lakes, man-made and natural wet land areas, sand traps that were strategically placed, and the unparalleled “Paradise Island” green. The layout’s tees and greens are also placed into the area’s natural woodlands. The course was given a course rating of 72.4 and a slope rating of 122.

The West Course on the other hand has been considered as the original of Bay Club’s courses. This layout is said to be the home of the “Devil’s Island”, an infamous par-3 island green on the #14, and the “Green Monster”, a 100-yard double green on the #9 and #18. This 18-hole challenging layout was designed by the famed golf course architect Russell Roberts and was opened for play a decade before the East Course. From the black tees, the layout offers the par-72, 6,951-yard of play with a course rating of 73.1 and a slope rating of 130.

Golf Hooks

A hook shot in golf is a kind of shot that starts from the right of the target and curves back severely to the left portion of the target of a right-handed golfer. This kind of shot is a result when a golfer’s body is aligned too far from the target’s right portion. Another type of hook shot is the pull hook that starts from the left of the target and curves farther left. The latter shot is said to be the result of a strong grip that is rotated far enough to the right on the golf club grip. That is why at the point of impact; the club’s face is excessively closed resulting to the ball’s counter-clockwise spin.

Here are some of the techniques on how to deal with the golf hook and pull hook when playing golf:

First, see to it that your alignment is parallel to your target line. Try to visualize if possible. Thinking that you are standing on a railway can somehow help you with the visualization.

Second, make sure that you have the neutral grip, not too loose or too tight.

Third, make a swing all the way down to the target line and not the out-to-in ball flight.

And lastly, always ensure that the club face of your golf club is square during the impact. Before hitting the greens, take some time practicing at the driving range in order to check the consistency of your club’s face position.

4. Ensure that your club face is square at impact – perform a few practice swings to check club face position.

These simple techniques are easy to follow. You only need to master your golf swinging skills in order to succeed and prosper in golfing.

World Woods Golf Club

The World Woods Golf Club is home to two of Tom Fazio’s greatest designs – the Rolling Oaks and the Pine Barrens. Both of the courses is among the “Top 100 Courses in the U.S.A.” and were given a 5-star rating by Golf Digest. This semi-private golf facility offers the two challenging courses including a 9-hole executive course.

The Pine Barrens Course has been ranked as the 26th among “America’s Best Modern Course” by Golf Week. This highly-acclaimed golf layout features the stunning combination of the area’s native terrain and the magnificent golf course design. When playing at the Pine Barrens, golfers are often confronted with the layout’s expansive untamed waste bunkering framing the large manicured fairways. The golf course is often compared to New Jersey’s Pine Valley. The front nine offers the par-4 play while the back nine a par-3 plays.

The Rolling Oaks Course on the other hand offers an entirely different level of experience. Being a second-world class layout, Rolling Oaks features the bleached white sands that fill the sharply defined bunkers as well as the rich green fairways. A reminiscent of the renowned Augusta National, the layout’s landscaping is being highlighted by numerous Azalea bushes. To add up to the fair test in golf, the course also features the undulating greens and beautiful rolling fairways. At play, golfers will face the great blend of holes that would demand a strategic approach and variety of shots.

Aside from the championship courses, the club also provides guests with a Pro Shop, Driving Range, Chipping Green, and a Practice Bunker. Dress code is strictly observed. And when doing reservations, guests can already book 60 days in advanced.

How to Deal With Trouble Shots in Golf

Every golfer has to deal with various challenges when hitting the greens. And dealing with the trouble shots are among the golfing tests that a golfer must defy if one would want a successful golf round. Here are some of the common trouble shots that you may encounter when playing golf and how you can get through them the uncomplicated way.

Not all golf courses are flat. In fact, most of the layouts are hilly. When playing the downhill, sidehill, and uphill lies, always take note where the golf club is hitting the ground. The general rule here is to position your golf ball about the center of the higher foot for the uphill lie and in the stance nearer your higher foot when dealing with the downhill lie. And from the sidehills, golfers normally have the ball position at the left center. To really come up with effective hilly shots, try to practice from any position to determine what really works for you.

Another thing that you have to deal with at the greens is the deep rough. In order to take the golf ball out of the roughs, it might be best that you use the more lofted clubs. The #5, #6, and #7 will work if you want to work out a long distance left. At the green, try working with the 9-iron or the wedge. The key here is that these lofted clubs can lift the golf ball out of the rough effectively with the right techniques and delivery.

In dealing with putting in golf, the key is to combine the putt’s distance and the putt’s direction. The only thing that you need to keep on learning here is to hit the golf ball at the right distance as rolling the golf ball on line can be fairly automatic even for the beginners. When making the practice stroke, always take note of the force exerted on each hit and then try to duplicate that kind of stroke when already dealing with the actual putt.

These are just some of the many golf tests that a golfer can encounter on the golf course. The secret to overcoming each challenge on the layout is to master the kind of strokes for each kind of shot. And in order to master your strokes, keep on practicing.

Belmont Hills Golf Club

The Belmont Hills Golf Club is among Bermuda’s finest golf vacation destinations designed by Algie M. Pulley Jr., a professional golf course architect. In 2002, Belmont was created out of a featureless layout. But after the extensive course rebuilding, the entire layout now features the 6,100-yard multi-tiered greens, slender fairways, and the intense bunkering that serves as a true test for golfers of various ability and skill levels. The Tiff Eagle Bermuda Grass greens are built to the standards of the U.S.G.A. Its fairways now feature the 419 Bermuda grass providing players with the best playing surface that is beyond compare. And to add up to the challenge, Pulley placed the kind of sand bunkers that most of the golf players of the Master’s try to steer clear of at Augusta National.

Aside from the intimidating bunkers, golfers can also spot several water hazards on the layout that may seem unusual for a golf layout in Bermuda. Two large sized man-made ponds come into play complementing Belmont’s dramatic rolling landscape. Also featured is an automatic irrigation system that keeps greens, tees, fairways, and the Island’s only double green in its peak condition. And in order to increase safety and define the fairways, hundreds of trees were planted.

This 18-hole golf facility was also created to showcase Bermuda Islands’ captivating beauty. That is why the place is often filled not just by golf enthusiasts but also guests who love to relax with nature’s finest. While on play, golfers will have their fair share of the best views that capture the Great Sound and the Hamilton Harbour. With the warm breezes, breathtaking sunsets, and first-class amenities, Belmont Hills Golf Club is indeed a place where you can have the days of your life.

How to Get Rid of Your First Tee Nerves

The game of golf is not just a physical test but also a mental ordeal. That is why it is very important that you compose yourself before heading your way to the greens and take the challenges of the bunkers, fairways, and the various hazards. Any negative feelings on the golf course can get yourself into a fearful or nervous state and contribute to the build-up of tension.

Consider these helpful pointers on how to get rid of your first tee nerves:

Pointer #1: Try to verify your feelings. If you started the game with the cycle of negativity, it will eventually influence the entire game. You do have almost all the feelings that are associated with failure, and your mind, powerful it is, can support these feelings.

Pointer #2: Develop a positive self talk. It is a fact that whatever it is that you tell yourself, your subconscious mind acknowledges it. The whole thing will then manipulate your performance. That is it very important that you make a conscious effort to stop having the negative self talk.

Pointer #3: Take your time before taking the first shot. Do not try to hurry things especially when you are not yet composed. If for instance you approach the first tee with an anxious feeling, deal with the feeling first. Deciding to take the shot right away may not be a good idea since being worried often gives rise to poorly executed shots.

Pointer #4: Learn how to compose yourself during a golf game. First, take a deep breath and make sure that your shoulders are relaxed. Then try to focus. After getting the needed composure, you need to visualize where you would want the ball to end up and culminate with a follow through.

For the budding golfers, it is but normal to feel nervous especially with your first few games. But everything is part of the game. You only need to come up with an effective solution on how to go about the first tee nerves. Try to apply the above mentioned pointers and see where the game of golf will take you.

The Majors Golf Club

The Majors Golf Club is an Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay masterpiece that is reminiscent to most of the Carolina layouts. The entire layout was set in the Florida’s vast acres through, around, and across the lakes, natural wetlands, preservation areas, creeks, and the natural wetlands. Being one of the unspoiled semi-private golf facilities in Brevard County as well member of the prestigious Florida Golf Trail, the Majors continue to attract all sorts of golfers. This 18-hole challenging golf course opened in 1999. And in 2003-2005, the Golf Club was home to the PGA Sunshine State Championship.

What makes this challenging golf course quite different from the rest is that it has no less than five spectacular golf holes. The #1, #5, #7, #14, and #15 comprise the impressive golf holes, each playing on an amazing island green Par-3 with the silky smooth rolling greens. To add up to the challenge, golfers will have to go through the tight fairways that are often difficult to hit, the true and fast greens, and the numerous bunkers. From the tips, golfers are to take a 7,352-yard Par-72 play. The layout was given a 73.8 course rating and 141 slope rating.

Aside from the incredible golf course, The Majors Golf Club also features an award-winning practice facility that was cited by The Golfer Magazine as one of the “Top 10 in the World”. The place also boasts about the extravagant 6,000-square foot Augusta styled clubhouse that provides guests with the best views of the layout. The Majors Golf Club is definitely not a mind-numbing “out-and-back” golf facility. Once an Arnold Palmer designs a course, it always lives up to the quality that is beyond compare.