The Summer sun and heat are fast-approaching and I'm trying a new experiment....

 

Usually I wear Banana Boat SPF 100 but don't always have time to reapply, still get tanned (am very fair) and sometimes just don't like putting all those chemicals on me constantly. I have been trying various long-sleeve sun protection tops and am finding more and more on the market, happily enough. I'm also wearing longer pants more consistently (capris instead of shorts or skorts). I've ordered some arm sleeves but haven't found a set yet that stays up well enough. My next step is to convert into bucket hats (will need to cut out a ponytail hole!) that protect the neck, ears, top of the head (where sun can still get to the scalp) and face more.

 

If you want to cover up and not apply sunscreen to your extremities all the time, a line I just found is called Sans Soleil. I also have some PING Ranger tops I wear over my sleeveless shirts and then found some great Callaway long-sleeve...

Putting, putting, putting. Often time people spend much more money on driver fitting (a club that is used 14-18 times per round) or iron fittings but not many golfers fit their putters, a club used nearly 50% of the time! Just a reminder to have your putter fitted for you based on your height, arms length, putting style, etc.

 

 

Also, remember that it takes quite a lot of practice to gain excellent accuracy and distance control skills. While some golfers are blessed with great touch, even the golf professional must train their putting skills. The golfers we see on television each week are playing at the top of the leader board that week, so they are making many putts. The ones who are lipping out, missing putts and are just not scoring will not be shown on television but I dare say that many amateurs could relate to seeing their putting stats that week. Here is a great way to keep your putting expectations in check...http://www.pgatour.com/r/strokes-gained-putting-baseline/index.html....

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Good quality versus Good result...

Take a moment to think about why you play the game of golf.  Family, friends, social environment, competition, course aesthetics, exercise, low handicap/ scores, it’s always been a part of your life… those are some very common and excellent reasons for playing the game.  Did you notice that these answers did not deal with hitting perfectly pure shots?  Many golfers like the moments when their shots and putts are right on, but my reason for this article is to make golfers aware that one does not have to hit a great shot to play great golf!

During a lesson, I often see shots that turn out very well (airborne, target-oriented) but the student comments (without looking at the result while pulling over another golf ball) that it was a terrible shot.  I think as golfers we tend to fall into the habit of sighing disgustedly at a shot that doesn’t feel great yet turns out decently.  Could we have wanted the shot to turn out perfectly, as well as feel good, look...

Welcome to a new series of articles on golf's mental aspects! These articles were first published in This Week at The Landings in Savannah, GA over the past 6 years. With a master's degree in Sports Performance, my goal is to provide food for thought, inspiration for game enhancement and an outlet to organize my thoughts compiling up in my head! I look forward to your thoughts and comments... Happy Golfing!

 

Playing Lessons

 

 

One of the most useful lessons in golf is a lesson on the course. Sometimes instructors will start a series of lessons with a current golfer to ascertain what areas can be improved upon. For instance, if a golfer states s/he is having a tough time hitting out of the rough, perhaps the key problem isn’t immediately how to hit out of the rough but the fact that the drives aren’t accurate enough to stay in the fairway. The instructor might explain the importance of working on driving accuracy as well as on how to hit shots more effectively out of the...

Thanks goes out to Wayne Yamagichi for his kind comments in his latest blog...  http://originalgoochgolfblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/think-like-kid-and-learn-to-really-live.html?spref=fb.  Happy to help grow the game!

Wow, can't believe it's nearly a week since we're back from the PGA Show.  Feel like I need a 1 month sabbatical to catch up on all the cool ideas I want to implement.  Had some SNAG fun today with juniors but also some new golfers using Left on Yellow, Connect, Right on Red for grips... easy!

Had fun making some golf etiquette tips at our club... here is another release as a good reminder about green conditions...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx5u6kgbTk0&feature=plcp&context=C38231daUDOEgsToPDskKr8_eK3urg2FNiAS9zqKfN

 

I think 2012 is going to be a good year for golf.... SNAG, US Kids, Golf 2.0, Tee It Forward.  Can't wait!

What an amazing finale to PGA Show Week... a great conglomeration of networking, relationship-building, product, meetings and future ideas to help grow golf.  The last 2 days included a wonderful GBN lunch panel with greats Martin Hall, Mike Malaska, Mike Bender, Todd Anderson... a commercial shoot and a book signing at The Littlest Golfer booth (partner with Stick to Sports), meetings for Tee It Forward and The Golf Channel Swing Fix, booth visits to Eyeline Golf, SNAG Golf, PING, Starting Time Golf, Golf Around the World, FootJoy, Bushnell/Tour Tempo and more.  

Ran into Nancy Dunn Kato on the floor and saw her truly wonderful junior golf book and games.

Tested the PING I-20 irons and LIKE!  Upgrade time?  They've come a long way from Eye 2 but that's a very good line...

Found some great sushi before driving home with a great book on tape.  Very tired but very energized by this year's PGA Merchandise Show!

Pics: 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.316340245068251.66498.208337432535200&type=1

Long but good day... resting my shin splints!

Lots of pros, buyers, reps, exhibitors, consumers, juniors, celebrities, PGA / LPGA pros and more...



Met up with PGA hubby Ty for lunch and post-show reception with Golf Channel Swing Fix staff...



Saw half of the booths today... among them Callaway, partner The Littlest Golfer Booth (with friend/partner Brendon Elliott from Little Linksters Best Pee Wee Swing Contest winners - guest judge Lexi Thompson!)

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Looking forward to seeing PING, training aid companies, US Kids Golf, SNAG and more before...