posted on May, 2 2007 @ 01:00 PM
Funny I should find your golf thread, I am heading down to Virginia Beach next week for the first annual Tournament with my three brothers, a chance
to hang out with my brothers for a day and see how everyone is doing and enjoying a little competition and hopefully some bragging rights.
Some tips to keep in mind when starting out:
Keep some bug repellant in your bag, in certain areas this time of the year, horse and deer flies, mosquitoes, gnats can be very aggravating
especially if you are walking the course so this helps.
You are right to go to the range to practice, it is nice to crack a 275+ yard drive down range, but spend most of your time on your wedges, 9,8,7,6
irons, chipping, pitching and putting. These shots from 150yds and in are the ones which will save you a tremendous amount of strokes whether you are
a beginner or a long time player.
I spend 70% on these and 30% on the rest of the clubs.
While you are at the range, have a purpose, don't just hit ball after baLL seeing how far or straight it goes without having a goal in mind. I act
like every shot is one I am taking during a round, the benefit of being at the range allows you to hit 5-10 of the same distance and helps you to hone
in on your abilities and give you an idea and feel for this when you go to the course.
One example, start off with a wedge usually 75yds - 120yds (depending on your experience and swing speed), put your ball on the turf or mat, pick your
target and visualize how you see the ball getting to the target, pick your intermediate point between your ball and the target and this helps you to
line up your stance when you take your shot. Keeping your vision of the shot, take a couple of practice swings to get the feel and maintain that
vision when you address the ball. Then just trust yourself and your vision and take your swing, it should "feel" effortless, if you feel any
tension, you should start over until you get to that feel. This takes more time, but will keep you fresh and focused and will prevent you from
machine gunning balls downrange which doesn't really help and eventually results in blisters, and possible muscle injuries. Nice and Easy, like a
stroll in the park, or along the beach, enjoy the time you practice and you will get results sooner rather than later.
There are many, many ways to play the game and different teachers will use different ways to help you in the beginning, you have an instructor which
is good, don't go overboard and seek out all the different videos or game improvement aids etc. Keep it simple, once you have the grasp of the game
and are comfortable with your clubs and abilities, then you can tweak or try something new every now and then, but do this at the range until you are
confident enough to use it in a round.
I could go on but it looks like I have rambled on for far too long already, plus you have inspired me to get my clubs out and get the swing grooved in
for next week.
You have selected the greatest individual game on earth to play, just remember to enjoy yourself and enjoy those you meet, enjoy the game and the most
important thing to remember is always think of your next shot, don't waste any time thinking about how your last shot went, good or bad, that shot is
over and there is nothing you will ever be able to do about it.
Enjoy yourself Grady and if you ever make your way to Luray, give me a u2u and we can hit the course.