Wednesday, November 19, 2008
County Sligo Golf Club: The Jewel of the Northwest of Ireland
Why Ireland?
Simple, they have got some of the best golf courses, whether it be links or parkland courses, that the world have ever seen. Many golfers have discussed the fabulous games they have played and this has made the popularity of Ireland with regards to their golf even grow so much more.
Situated 8 kilometers northwest of the town of Sligo, you will find a century old golf course that has tested many seasoned golfers and have continually to do so. Founded at Rosses Point, the County Sligo Golf Club started in 1894 as a nine-hole links course and was soon developed as a full 18-hole course a dozen years later. Today, this mature golf course has been the site for many prestigious events such as the West of Ireland Championship which calls the course its home. The club has also been chosen as the host for the Irish Close Championship, the Interprovincial Championships, and the Home International Championships, cementing its stature as a world class golf course.
One of five beautiful golf courses found in Sligo, the County Sligo Golf Club golf course is a natural beauty that is encompassed by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a range of mountains on the other. The fresh breeze from the ocean is a welcome accompaniment as you play along the course, but this same wind could get treacherous as strong gusts can greatly affect the game play. This has been a great challenge for many skilled and seasoned golfers and also a great teacher for the novice.
And since it’s a vacation, you're family can tag along as well. Sligo town offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for the whole family. The kids can be taken to the biggest birds of prey sanctuary in the whole of Ireland and watch these predators swoop down and soar in their homes. You can also take them to the Woodville farm where rare animal breeds and historic farms can be visited.
You may also take your family in a horse ride whether it is a run in the beaches or a slow ride through the scenic views of this side of Ireland. True family fun for adults and kids are assured and you get to enjoy nature's best.
But what would an Ireland vacation be if you don’t get a chance to savor a true Irish meal. A number of restaurants are just waiting to serve you the finest that this side of Ireland has to offer. Choose from a wide array of specialties and get a chance to be a witness to great Irish cuisines.
A golf vacation doesn’t have to mean that you need to leave your family behind. No vacation would be fun without them. Going to Sligo would be the best choice as you get to play golf in some of the greatest courses in the world and have the chance to do a host of activities as well with your family.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Golf Instruction: 5 Top Tips on Improving Your Golf Swing
When you have so much information that is designed to address every aspect of your golf game, however, it can be difficult to stop and remember the basics, and it doesn't get much more basic than your golf swing.
Improving your swing is a major part of improving your game, so make sure that you give this topic the attention that it needs. Take the time to think about improving your golf swing and keep the five tips below at the front of your mind.
Golf Instruction: Move the weight over your feet!
Remember that when you are after a good golf swing that you should stand fairly lightly on your feet. You aren't going to get very far when your feet are planted as you swing, and you'll find that your ball doesn't either. Remember to move your weight over your feet. While you shouldn't necessarily move your weight too quickly, remember that a small amount of movement will improve your momentum and smooth out your movement as you swing.
Golf Instruction: Steady your knees
Remember that your knees, when you are doing a golf swing should not be locked. Instead they should be slightly bent and you should be in a comfortable position. If you are not comfortable, there may be a few reasons. You might find that you are tensing up, or you might find that your knees are being shaky and need to be strengthened through exercise. Take some time to think about what you are looking for when it comes to your swing and where your knees are as you do it.
Golf Instruction: Practice and record
One of the most important parts of learning anything about the way that you work is to make sure that you know what you are doing wrong. Many, many things will become obvious to you if you take the time to simply think about what you are doing and you'll find that having a visual representation of your swing will help you a great deal. Get a friend to help or set up a digital camcorder in the yard; this will help you identify weak spots in your game it can tell you a great deal about what you need to learn.
Golf Instruction: Great backswing
When you are working on your backswing, remember that your attention should be equally focused on how far your body is rotating along with your club and your arm extension. This should be all one smooth moment, and you'll find that you might be tempted to break it up at first. The more smoothly you can move, the better off you will be.
Golf Instruction: Get in shape
Although lots of people make jokes, remember that golf is really a sport. You'll find that the better shape you are in, the better your game will be. Take some time to focus on your arms and your back, and you'll soon see the results in your game.
Golf is a game that takes some skill and practice, so make sure that you put in the time that it takes to get your game to where you want it to be!
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Saturday, October 25, 2008
Useful Golf Swing Tips to Help You Reduce Your Handicap Fast
Tip 1: Use the right grip
The grip is the first fundamental of golf swing mechanics you need to master. There are many types of grips you can use and the most popular one is the interlocking grip which works well for people with smaller hands. The other grip types include the ten finger grip and the baseball grip which is used by many beginner golfers.
Grip pressure is important and it is ideal to use a very light grip pressure in most situations unless you are in deep rough in which case you may need to use a slightly stronger grip. Gripping the golf club too tightly can result in a poor release which will send the ball off target in most target with a loss of distance as well. The interlocking grip is used by most good players and involves simply locking the small finger of the right hand with the index finger of the left hand and this applies to right handed players.
Tip 2: Setup the right way
The setup to the golf ball is important. A good setup will make it more likely that you will execute a good golf swing which will send the ball far and straight. Make sure your feet are aligned directly at the target so check for this by using a golf club on the ground that points to your target on the driving range or have a fellow golfer check your alignment for you.
Your stance should get wider with each club until roughly shoulder length for the driver. If you are really tall then your stance may exceed shoulder length slightly as you will need the wider stance for more stability. The ball position should start at the center of your stance with the wedge and gradually move up to line up with the right foot for the driver.
Tip 3: Use a proper backswing
Do not rush your backswing and at the same time do not go too slowly either. Move at a pace that fits your personality. If you are generally a fast talker and walker then you will probably have a backswing that is relatively quick. It is best to start the backswing in one piece and keep the left arm as straight as you can for the entire backswing. At the top of the swing you should feel some tension in your right hamstrings and keep both feet planted on the ground.
Tip 4: The right downswing and follow through
Start the downswing by pulling the club with your left hand and do not get your right hand involved too much otherwise you will end up casting the club and releasing it too early which will result in loss of power and accuracy. Keep your head down and let the momentum of a complete follow through bring your head up instead of trying to peek to see where the ball went. Try some of these golf swing tips to help you reduce your handicap and shoot lower scores.
Joe is an author and webmaster. Visit us and discover useful golf swing tips and the best putting tips to help you become a better player.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Five Quick Golf Tips
1. If you have any time before your event to practice, you do need to take advantage of this. Current golf instruction will say that you should spend twice as much time on your short game as you do your full swing. I know, I know, I know. How are you going to get the ball to the green? Without much time before the event, you will improve faster by spending time on getting the ball in the hole as opposed getting the ball just close to the green. If you do not get to play often, chances are that you hit many of your irons close to the same distance. Unless you have time for some golf instruction, this will not be fixed in a short period of time. Get the feel for and mechanics of chipping, pitching and putting.
2. When it comes time to play your round, make sure you loosen up before the round. By loosening up your muscles, you are allowing yourself to relax and prepare your body for the athletic movements you will be making during your round. Your time should also include some time on the practice putting green. You will want to become familiar with the speed of the greens.
3. Grip pressure and arm tension is something that all golfers should monitor during every single swing. Your shoulders and your forearms should not feel like they have any tension in them at all. To give you an example, if you take your grip and hold the club out in front of you with the shaft parallel to the ground. If your shoulders and forearms are relaxed enough then the golf club should drop to the ground. This is the feeling of how relaxed your shoulders and forearms should be during your golf swing.
4. Balance is an underestimated part of the golf swing by most amateurs. In your setup, you will need to check your balance from side to side (left to right) as well as from front to back. You can do this by simply swaying side to side until you feel balanced and do the same from front to back. This will allow you to find your perfect balance. Now the key is once this is found you may need to move closer to the ball or farther away from the ball to stay in balance.
5. Once you start playing your round of golf, leave your ego at home and make and aggressive swing at a conservative target. What does this mean? Do not always go flag hunting on every hole. With not playing very often you are not going to hit every shot where you are looking. Increase your chances of playing better by aiming at the largest part of the green or the part of the green you are most comfortable with trying to hit a golf shot.
Assuming you do not have much time until your event, use these five quick golf tips to have a successful day. To conclude the five quick golf tips, let me give you the best of all of the quick golf tips of them all. Make sure that you HAVE FUN! It is just a game.
VGS Golf has customers throughout the US such as in Birmingham, Alabama, Los Angeles, California, Indianapolis, Indiana, Bakersfield, California, Phoenix, Arizona, Clearwater, Florida, Macon, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington DC, Richmond, Virginia, Boston, MA, Stuart, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Nevada, Jacksonville, Florida, Huntsville, Alabama, Nashville, Tennessee, Miami, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Denver, Colorado, Long Beach, California, Cincinnati, Ohio, San Antonio, Texas, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Kansas City, Missouri, Dallas, Texas, Tampa, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Nashville, Tennessee, New Orleans, Louisiana, Denver, Colorado, New York, New York, Orange County, California and Chicago, Illinois. Also ask questions and receive free golf advice on the golf swing or golf products from a PGA Professional at The Wireless Golf Coach Blog.
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
10 Tips for Selecting the Perfect Golf Club
1. Commitment If you're just taking up golf, you may want to wait a little while before purchasing your own clubs. Golf is a fun and healthy hobby to take up, but the equipment is not cheap and the sport itself takes a pretty good amount of skill. Before buying yourself brand new clubs, make sure this is something you truly enjoy.
2. New vs. Used The first choice you have to make is whether you want to buy new or previously owned clubs. The advantage of a new set is that they are clean, new, and likely to be more accurate. However, used clubs can be a great way to get in to the game, and upgrading to a new set won't make you feel guilty once you do because the first set was not costly.
3. Choosing your Irons The prominent equipment in your golf bag is obviously your irons. The first choice you need to make when choosing an iron is whether you prefer cast iron or forged metal. It usually depends on your skill and need, most beginners use cast iron as the sweet spot is larger.
4. Shaft Choice The shaft of your club also depends on skill and preference. Shafts come in either steel or graphite-made. Most professionals prefer steel shafts, as they're more durable, although some golfers still look to graphite because of its lightweight that gives an easier swing. Typically, beginners use the lighter graphite shaft to start with.
5. Head Material While each head material has its own advantage, the decision may be up to your wallet. Cast iron and stainless steel are both less expensive than the pricey titanium. The disadvantage of the stainless steel as a beginner is they are a bit heavy, which may inhibit your swing and make it harder to get used to. Titanium is the prime choice for a beginner, because the metal is both durable and light, allowing you to have a higher swing speed as well as a large head and sweet spot. The cast iron is a good compromise, at a fairer price and not too heavy to handle.
6. Head Size As a beginner, head size can make a huge difference to your learning process. A larger head means a larger sweet spot, which is the face that hits the ball, it also means the club will be heavier and harder to control. To find a compromise between a small and large head, you could use a medium head, which has a pretty good-sized sweet spot, but is not too heavy to control.
7. Sweet Spot The size of the sweet spot you choose on your club is totally dependent on your skill level and accuracy rating. If you have a very accurate swing, but not a quick one, you might want a lighter and smaller head, and a lighter shaft to improve your swing speed.
8. Grips Grips should be standard to your club, but some golfers prefer to re-grip their grips for one reason or the other. If you choose to adjust your grip, make sure your aware of your hands grip size as well as the core grip of the club itself. You can determine your clubs grip size by matching it to the shafts diameter you’re re-gripping. Measure the diameter of the butt of the shaft you’d like to re-grip tot determine this.
9. If the Club Fits If the club you choose is not proportionate to your body type it will harm your game. Make sure you're choosing a club that is as close to the right size for you as possible. A salesperson should be able to tell you exactly which size club you should be using.
10. Swing Speed Assuming that you have swung a golf club a couple of times before deciding to buy, you should have a relatively good idea of your swing speed ability. If your swing speed is pretty high, factor in a heavier shaft to improve your accuracy. A low swing speed is okay too, just compensate with a light, flexible shaft and a medium sized-head with a pretty good sweet spot.
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Friday, October 10, 2008
Tips For A Memorable Arizona Golf Vacation
After the long Summer heat, many are just waiting for the weather to cool down and jump at the chance to golf in cooler temperatures.
Some enthusiasts do not care about the heat and just adjust their outings to a much cooler time slot, say 6:00 am or after 7:00 pm when the temperatures have significantly cooled off.
There are literally hundreds of AZ courses where you can golf which makes Arizona the ideal state to golf in. Whether you want to tee it up in the northern, southern, central, eastern, or western part of the state, it really does not matter. That is because courses pretty much exist in all areas of the state.
It also does not matter whether you are looking for a public or a private Arizona Golf Course either, because you will easily find both.
But before you just jump on a plane or in your car, you will likely fare better if you do a little planning ahead to ensure you have a memorable outing.
First things first. You should consider who your traveling companions. Who are they? If you are traveling with your family, do you have other activities planned for those who will not be golfing?
With any vacation, you certainly want to have your plans in place to prevent any major frustrations. A couple key questions are how much money you have to spend along with how long you plan to spend.
Make sure you include your food, tips, any shopping expenditures, hotel costs, car rentals, special events that you or your family might like to attend, and the money needed for those in your party who may not be golfing.
Referrals are a key tool at determining where Arizona Fall golfing is at its best. Ask other enthusiasts for suggestions. Chances are if they have golfed in AZ, they can refer you to some of the more preferred courses.
You may want to do the planning yourself or may want someone else to do the planning. Either is find. Just make sure that you have delegated someone who will take care of all the particulars on your requested list.
Any good hotel will cheerfully help you with planning your Fall golf vacation. And if you need to rent your clubs for whatever reason, the pro shop can set you up with the best choices to fit your needs.
Don't forget to check your clubs. Make sure they are in good shape. Are all of your clubs in good condition? Do you need to replace any of them? And don't forget your golf glove, balls, tees, cap, golf shoes, towels, or any other pertinent golf equipment you will need.
Another option is to choose a travel agent who can help you make all of the necessary travel arrangements. Many treasure the thought knowing that a professional travel agent is there to handle all the little details that usually take an enormous amount of time.
Many of these travel agents have the inside golf vacation expertise to help you make the most of your trip, too. That just might be a real incentive for you to allow someone else plan your trip.
When planning, make sure your lodging location is close to where you will be golfing in AZ. Spending hours to reach your selected course does not make a lot of sense to most people.
Here are some other tips:
* Consider renting a house instead of a hotel. You will many times find a better deal especially if you consider sharing the lodging expenses with others.
*If you do not have a lot of money to spend on your trip, consider looking for a hotel that is less expensive. Many times you can still get all or most of the amenities you would find at a more expensive hotel. If you do your due diligence, you can usually locate some discount coupons. Contact the hotel or travel agent to see if they exist at that time. Call the hotel or your travel agent for details. Packing inexpensive snacks will also cut the cost of eating out.
* Make sure that you plan well in advance of your target date. Hotels fill up quickly as the weather gets cooler. So, if you want to golf in AZ during a specific week, you would have a much better chance at getting your selected time slot.
*Just remember this: the sooner you choose your destination, the better choices you will have to choose from.
*Understand exactly what your Arizona golf package includes. You don't want to be hit with additional fees at the end of your trip. That would certainly put a sour taste in your mouth.
*Make your Arizona fall golfing experience the best that it can be by planning ahead. You will be glad you did.
Cecilia Valenzuela is a full time entrepreneur and business owner. Valenzuela is a translator, teacher and successful online business entrepreneur. She is an avid fan of golfing in the desert. She also believes in preserving the precious earth by using natural products that preserve the earth. View a list of public and private golf courses and discover the state of Arizona at http://www.my-arizona-desert-living.com/Arizona-Golf.html
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Some Golf Tips For Beginners
Golf is a superb way to relax and is a form of exercise. It is a game where a player, using a lot of kind of clubs including a putter, irons and driver, hits a small ball into every hole on the golf course in the minimum number of game strokes. Golf is among the very few games of ball that do not use a specific playing area; in fact, golf is played on the golf courses, each one of them being very different and unique in style and design. It normally consist either nine or eighteen holes.
Playing golf is not a simple game. If you are a beginner, you should follow certain tips so that you can play a good game and have fun altogether. Here are some golf tips for beginners that will surely help them to play a better game.
The Stance: It is among the most important golf tips for beginners. It is very important to get the stance very correct so that you get the right swing and strike while playing golf. While playing, your feet should be just about shoulder width spaced out, which will give you the required balance.
Grip the club: It is very important to get the right grip while playing golf and is one of the most important golf tips for beginners. There are a lot of ways to grip a club, but it is very important to adopt only what is comfortable for you. However, the overlapping grip is considered to be the most apt technique while playing golf.
Ball Position: The perfect positioning is the most important golf tips for beginners. You should not position yourself very far or very close to the ball. Getting the exact distance is very important but difficult at the same time. You will get the correct position only with time.
Each golfer has its own style of getting ready when they go to driving range. Some players choose to start with the smaller clubs and go on increasing weight to finish with the woods. Others prefer to start with heavier club. Others prefer to practice with a single club.
By using a single club, players can concentrate better on every shot and his technique and more easily realize what they are doing wrong. You can concentrate on the grip and modify it to achieve the perfection on it. Anyway, the point is that when you practice, a driving range is the best way to do it.
These golf tips for beginners can help the people who wish to start playing this superb game which is fun as well as a great way to stay fit. So enjoy!
Alex is developer of Golf Tips For Beginners website.