Perfect Golf

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By Jim Nettleton

Another must play in the Tampa region is the University of South Florida Golf Course, located on Fowler Avenue in the northeast area of the city. Affectionately known as “The Claw”, a name derived from one of its holes, the USF course is a stern test for golfers of all abilities.

The course was designed in an around a swamp, which comes into play on many holes. Generally, the fairways are narrow with trouble on both sides on several holes. The Claw starts you out with a relatively benign par 4 of 439 yards, which has little trouble on either side. But things begin to close in quickly as you play the second, another par 4 that is considerably narrower. The par 5 third hole also requires extreme accuracy on both the drive and the second shot.

After playing number 4, an outstanding par 4, and number 5, an excellent par 3 that is a realistic birdie chance, you are face with the tee shot on the sixth. This is a wonderful par 5 that doglegs left around a lake. Big hitters can choose to cut off as much of the corner as they dare to be left with a short second shot to the green. It’s a hole requiring courage off the tee.

Seven, eight and nine are also fine tests, with the par 3 eighth playing a robust 220 yards.

The back nine continues to force players to be accurate off the tee. Nowhere is accuracy more necessary than on the fourteenth, the infamous ‘Claw’ par 5 that winds through swamp and forest to present a severe test.

The USF course features elevated greens and natural surroundings throughout. Greens fees are reasonable and this course should be placed near the top of your list for a play.

Heading southeast, to Valrico, we find one of Florida’s finest courses, in my opinion, The Bloomingdale Golfers Club. You’ll find no tennis courts, no swimming pool here – just golf in beautiful surroundings and a course that is second to none.

Many tour pros have been members here since they find it a perfect spot to work on their games. The course stretches 7,155 yards from the tips and has a rating of 74.4, which should tell you to bring your ‘A’ game when visiting. Golf Digest, in fact, described Bloomingdale as having the best collection of par 5s on one golf course that they’ve seen.

Two of my favorite par 5 holes at Bloomingdale are the fourth and the ninth. The former measures 564 yards. It begins by bending left and then turning right. Finally, it turns left again to the hole. Accurate tee shot placement is a must as is an accurate second shot. The ninth is a 546 yard dogleg left with a lake on the right that comes into play on the tee shot. It plays to a green that is almost an island.

Along with those, you’ll find a collection of some of the best-designed golf holes in the region, if not the state. Another favorite is the eighteenth, a great par 4 at 409 yards that demands a very well placed tee shot to set up an approach over a marsh up to the green.

The Bloomingdale Golfers Club is most certainly not to be missed on your golf tour of the Tampa area.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

There is no doubt that every person is unique and different from everyone else. In terms of golfers, everyone brings unique physical abilities to the game, which consequently affects their golf swing speed and accuracy. This factor is one of the things that makes custom golf club sets such a wonderful addition to a golf aficionado’s collection of equipment. Nowadays, there are many brands of golf clubs that can be customized.

Creating a custom set of golf clubs involves measuring the golfer and then adjusting the clubs for shaft type and length, for the lie angle, and for the size and type of grip. Many people feel that out of all the various golfing equipment they have purchased and all of the golf aids they have tried to improve their game, the best equipment has been the custom set of clubs they invested in.

The process that goes into getting a custom golf club set made is quite straightforward and rather simple. First, the golfer decides on the brand of golf clubs that they want and then they have some measurements taken. In most cases, the person who is getting the clubs customized also needs to fill out a questionnaire and self-assessment of how they see their golf game, as well as their weaknesses and strengths.

In some cases, if the golfer is taking golfing lessons from a pro, then the instructor may be asked to help with the assessment. This can often be very valuable to the process because the instructor is an impartial third party who also has the golf training and expertise to be able to identify the weaknesses that need to be addressed with the club set, and perhaps even by adding a golf training club as well.

No matter what your own level of experience with golf is, a custom set of clubs can be very beneficial. This is because the customization is done with one purpose in mind and that is to make sure that if you execute a proper swing, the club will squarely impact the golf ball in order to produce a good, clean, straight shot.

Custom clubs that has been correctly adjusted for your height, your skill level, and your golf swing speed, can improve many aspects of your game and can even help correct a chronic golf slice. When a golfer slices a ball, it is because the toe of the golf club has lead into the golf ball. This could be caused by a poorly executed swing, but it can also be caused by a club face that is too flat. The process of customizing clubs for you can help eliminate this problem, and then you simply have to maintain focus on your golf swing improvement.

Just buying a custom golf club set alone is not going to instantly “fix” your game and make you a pro. However, when you use your new clubs in combination with golf training videos or professional golf lessons, you might be able to unlock your true potential as a golfer. Many people find that this combination is very powerful and well worth the investment of time and money.

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By Jim Nettleton

Today’s review of Tampa area golf courses is focused on two municipal courses owned by the city of Tampa. The city owns three in all, a fortunate state of affairs for residents, who can play these venues at very reasonable rates.

First up today is Rogers Park Golf Course. First opened in 1952, Rogers Park was renovated in 1976 with noted Florida golf architect Ron Garl in charge. Originally a nine hole layout, the course was expanded to additional city property across the street and became a regulation eighteen hole course. More renovation and redesign was done in 2000 including the addition of a new clubhouse facility.

The course now begins with a par 5 that stretches 551 yards. Again, all distances given are from the tips, but the course can play much shorter. From the back tees, Rogers Park plays a solid 6,802 yards. The first hole plays every bit of its yardage and is an opportunity to get your round started with a birdie with two solid shots.

The second is a formidable 432 yard par 4 that is fairly straightaway. This is followed by a relatively easy par 4 of 387 yards, a good birdie candidate. The fourth hole is a good par 4 with water in play off the tee. It plays 417 yards.

Skipping ahead to the eighth hole we find a terrific par 3 of 204 yards with water very much in play in front, to the right and behind the green. This hole requires an extremely accurate tee shot. You’ll be very happy with a 3 here.

The front nine wraps up with a lovely par 5 of 509 yards that is another good birdie opportunity. But if you’re a big enough hitter to go for it in two, you must avoid water tight to the left of the fairway and green.

Now we cross the road and head for the back nine, a very diverse set of holes that you’ll really enjoy. You’ll have a crack at birdie right away on the first two holes. The tenth is a par 4 of 375 that plays downhill to a tricky green. Woods border the hole right and left. Number eleven plays back up the hill and bends right. You need to favor the left side of the fairway on your tee shot.

The twelfth is a great par 3 that plays 202 yards through a chute of trees to an undulating green. Again, a 3 here will put a smile on your face. Number thirteen is a sweeping par 4 of 399 yards that plays over a slight crest and down to the right with water behind the green.

The fourteenth hole is one of the most dramatic par fives in the region. It bends slightly left and requires a very accurate tee shot that must carry water. The water is present the entire length of the hole and you must negotiate it again on your second shot. Add to this the trees and bushes down the right side, so your shots have to thread a needle on this hole.

Fifteen and sixteen are good holes as well, playing 205 and 380 yards respectively. Seventeen is a solid 422 yard par 4 that bends left with water coming into play on the left off the tee and around the green. The eighteenth, which used to be a par 5, is now a formidable 427 yard par 4 that bends slightly right. The second shot is played over a lake.

Rogers Park is a very pleasurable golf experience and certainly merits a play when you’re in the Tampa region.

Not far away from Rogers Park, in the Forest Hills section is another city course, the sporty Babe Zaharias, named, obviously, after the great female athlete. Although ‘The Babe’ plays only 6,200 yards, it is a very enjoyable test. There are plenty of birdie opportunities on this course, but also many possibilities of throwing up a big number.

The greens, for the most part, are small and require accurate approach shots. There are two par fives, numbers 6 and 12, both of which are reachable at 481 and 490 yards respectively. Four of the par 4 holes play over 400 yards, with the longest being the sixteeth at 433 yards. The par 3 holes are nicely setup and are comfortable lengths ranging from 151 to 176 yards. The seventeenth, which is the par 3 of 176 yards, is one of my favorite holes on the course, playing from an elevated tee down to an undulating green protected by a pond.

Another favorite is the thirteenth, a 430 yard par 4 that plays over the crest of a hill down to an elevated green protected by water.

All in all, Babe Zaharias is a fun golf course that gives you room to breathe but can also take your breath away with some of its tougher holes. It’s a sporty course, as mentioned earlier, that is enjoyable and not overly taxing.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

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By Jim Nettleton

Recently the LPGA and its Commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, has been at the center of a storm of controversy concerning the organization’s intent to suspend players who did not speak English. This proposed action was quickly deemed discriminatory by some lawmakers and a few corporate sponsors.

Let’s try to examine this issue rationally and logically. As we all know, each tournament features a Pro-Am event preceding the major competition. Amateurs fork over large amounts of entry monies to participate in these Pro-Am events, principally for a chance to play with the professionals, of course. Would any of us be happy if we turned over a considerable chunk of change only to find that we couldn’t even communicate with the pro in our group?

I’ve played in several PGA Tour Pro-Am events over the years and once in an LPGA event some years back and in all cases one of the highlights was the interaction with the professional. The players in whose groups I participated made all the amateurs feel at ease, dispensing tips and telling stories that made the events delightful.

Communication with amateur players is a necessary skill for pros both male and female. Naturally, some are better at making amateurs feel at home than others, but all need to have the skill sets to at least make a good try at creating a cordial, fun atmosphere during the Pro-Am event. If the pro simply can’t communicate, the participating amateur golfers are being cheated of a large part of the reason that they spent money to be there.

One of the time-honored traditions in Pro-Ams is that of the pro golfer imparting tips to his amateur flock. This would not be possible if the pro spoke no English. It further complicates rulings, as well. A tour official can’t explain a rules situation to someone that doesn’t understand him or her. The added expense and inconvenience of having interpreters all over the golf course becomes burdensome, as well.

A requirement that players speak English isn’t discriminatory, it’s logical. It’s not as if the golfers only play in this country occasionally. Most are regulars on the LPGA Tour. In fact, the LPGA currently has some 121 players that hail from 26 different countries, which includes 45 from South Korea. That would certainly be quite a Tower Of Babel if all 121 spoke no English.

Carolyn Bivens rightly points out that speaking English is advantageous for the players from a monetary standpoint as well. Many endorsements, speaking engagements and the like would be far easier to come by if the players spoke English.

In my opinion, requiring the players to be at least minimally proficient in English is certainly not beyond the pale. It is for everyone’s benefit as well as their own. All involved with the LPGA Tour, the amateurs who pay to play, the officials and even the spectators benefit, since players could communicate with them during the tournament.

Given the huge amounts of money they are privileged to play for on a regular basis, it seems a small price to pay. Speaking English will pay them dividends on many levels in the years to come. At the time of this writing, the LPGA has softened its stand and is rethinking its proposed policy. Hopefully, the right final decision will be made so that all involved will be winners.

About The Author

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is an avid golfer and golf historian. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux

for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

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By Jim Nettleton

Certainly one of the most dramatic, riveting victories in professional golf history occurred at the US Open this past June, when Tiger Woods, playing essentially on one leg, captured the coveted title.

We of course didn’t know the extent of the injury he was suffering through until after the contest. Nor did we realize that he had been enduring pain in playing for some time before the Open. Naturally, the facts that came to light after the tournament made his accomplishments in this year of 2008 even more remarkable.

Now, in the aftermath of Tiger’s surgery and with the specter of a long rehabilitation looming, the PGA Tour must go forward and attempt to maintain a level of excitement and anticipation in the game of professional golf that was easily attained when Tiger was playing, but might not be quite so easily maintained while he is not.

Consider these facts. More than two months, at the time of this writing, since Woods last played, he leads in regular season Fedex Cup points after having entered only 6 events. The player in second place, Kenny Perry, entered 22 events. He maintains the world number one position with a rating of 17.99, nearly double the total of the second place player, Phil Mickelson, who has 9.95. And with those mere 6 events, he still leads the money list at the time of this writing with $5,775,000, over a million dollars more than Phil Mickelson, who’s played in 17 events.

Tiger Woods brings to the game a laser-like focus combined with talent that is almost surreal. His presence guarantees huge paying spectators and usually also guarantees high drama on the golf course. And there are the intangibles that he brings to the mix. When Tiger is there, others are prodded to raise the level of their games, to try to jump that high bar that Woods has raised.

Without that prodding, the level of play on the PGA Tour sags a bit. Without that presence, a little more complacency sets in. We are all at our best when we are challenged and driven to produce our best efforts.

It is unfortunate that the Fedex Cup will be without golf’s greatest player this year. It is doubly unfortunate that America’s team at the Ryder Cup this fall will also lack the intimidating presence of Tiger Woods. This will make it necessary that the rest of the team kicks it up a notch and fills the void.

This is not to say that Tiger is the only bulb in the fixture. Certainly, the Fedex Cup and the Ryder Cup are populated with some of the greatest players in the game. But it is definitely a detriment when the world’s number one player is not present.

The aftermath of injuries and surgery such as Tiger’s are always filled with uncertainties. Hopefully, Woods will rehabilitate intelligently and not force the issue. If he does not, the ramifications are dismal. The condition could become chronic and seriously affect his drive to become the greatest ever. I would submit that he already is, since he’s accomplished an incredible amount against fields that are stronger than ever before in history. However, there came to light during the US Open something that I hadn’t been aware of. It was that snapping back motion of his left leg at impact, a move that probably brought on the injury in the first place. He’ll no doubt have to modify that violent move in order for the surgery to be successful long term.

The PGA Tour will be the poorer while Tiger is away. Nonetheless, if he rehabilitates successfully and returns at the level he achieved before the injury, his drive toward the record for major titles and overall titles will continue to invigorate the game and escalate interest in golf. And, like the greats before him, he will inspire those who will become his future rivals.

About The Author

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is an avid golfer and golf historian. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux

for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

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By Jim Nettleton

As we continue to examine some of the fine courses in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, we’ll concentrate on two more fine examples, one relatively new and the other a venerable course that’s been around for many years.

The relatively new layout is Westchase Golf Club, located just about ten minutes from Tampa International Airport in western Tampa. This 6,710 yard track was designed by Lloyd Clifton and features a beautiful golfing trip through local fauna and flora that you’ll truly enjoy.

Westchase starts you out with a fairly benign hole that measures only 347 from the back. But it’s benign only if you hit it straight. Water lines the first all the way down the right side and guards the green partially from the front and totally from the right and back. An iron off the tee might be a good choice.

Number 2 is a lovely par 5 of 549 yards with water coming into play on the left. The third is one of the most dramatic par 3’s in the region, if not anywhere. It plays 212 from the back down through a chute of trees to a green guarded by water in front. An outstanding and difficult hole.

Moving ahead to number 5 and 6, you’ll get all the par 4 you can handle from this pair. #5 is 426 and #6 is 440. Although water is present on each, it is not, or shouldn’t be, in play. But if you’re playing into the wind, 4 is a very good score, indeed.

The 8th is a superb par 5 that bends right all the way. The second shot must be well placed to get at the green, which is tucked near a stand of woods.

The front 9 finishes with a solid 404 yard par 4 with water on the right. The second shot must carry a waste area.

The back 9 begins with a short par 5 at 505 yards, but those able to try for the green in two must be very accurate. Water guards the green very closely.

The 11th is a crackerjack of a par 3, 190 yards over water. The 12th is, to my mind, the most difficult driving hole on the course, requiring a long carry off the tee and an accurate second shot to a difficult green.

At 13 we come to another par 5 of 507 yards with water in play all along the left side. 14 is a straightaway par 4 and 15 a very nice par 3 of 160 yards.

The 16th is a very interesting hole requiring an accurately placed tee shot. Big hitters can reach a waste area that juts out into the fairway from the right, making the second shot semi-blind.

Number 17 is a solid par 4 of 402 yards requiring an accurate second shot over water to a tricky green. The finishing hole, which parallels #9, measures 388 yards and requires a second shot over the same waste area that borders the 9th green.

Westchase is, all in all, a tremendously enjoyable golfing experience.

The second course we’ll look at today is Pebble Creek Golf Club, located in the northeast area of Tampa, one of the oldest courses in the area. They recently underwent extensive renovations (2006) and have improved the facility greatly. It’s a sporty course featuring a very solid layout that plays 6,436 yards to a par of 71.

The scenic layout begins with a 370 yard par 4 with the second shot over a creek. #2 is a strong 193 yard par 3 that forces you to contend with a big tree on the left.

To play #3 well, you’ll need to work the ball left to right off the tee. This 400 par 4 is a solid test. #4 is a 368 yard par 4 which is best played by favoring the left side of the fairway, but water lines the left side, so caution is necessary. A tee shot to the right will block your approach to the green because of woods lining the fairway on that side.

Number 5 requires a tee shot over water and an approach shot over water as well. Number 6 provides respite in the form of a 160 yard par 3. Number 7 is a straightaway par 4 of 372 yards with water on the left. The 8th hole is the first par 5 on the course at 504 yards. There is water on the left, but it shouldn’t come into play. The third shot carries a creek.

The front 9 finishes with a strong, 434 yard par 4 that requires a tee shot down the right to right center to avoid being blocked by trees on the left as the hole bends left.

The back 9 gets going with a neat little par 4 of 367 yards. It’s a good birdie opportunity, but you must place your tee shot down the right side to avoid being blocked on your second shot.

On #11 you don’t want to pull your tee shot or it will meet a watery grave. It’s a straightaway par 4 of 385 yards. Number 12 offers a nice par 3 of 168 yards with a tricky green. The 13th hole is a lovely par 5 that sports water protecting the green, making reaching it in 2 difficult.

Number 14 is only 346 yards at par 4, but placing your tee shot is imperative. Number 15 plays 181 yards at par 3 and you must be below the hole on your tee shot. Number 16 is a good birdie chance at 360 yards at par 4.

The penultimate hole, #17, is a wonderful par 5, requiring an accurate tee shot. There is water along the left and the driving area is tight.

Number 18 is a fine finishing hole at 394 yards. Pebble Creek runs in front of the green, making an accurate approach a must.

Pebble Creek is a fine test and a must play when you’re in the Tampa area. The club has lovely amenities, good dining and a terrific atmosphere.

About The Author

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is an avid golfer and golf historian. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux

for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

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By Jim Nettleton

This time around we’ll look at two wonderful Tampa Bay area courses in our continuing examination of golf in the Sunshine State.

A long time favorite of mine has been a municipal course owned by the city of St. Petersburg, Mangrove Bay Golf Course, located just off Interstate 275 in the northern area of the city.

Mangrove Bay is set in a lovely natural area bordering the bay and possesses sweeping vistas of both land and sea. It plays at just a tad over 6,600 yards and is laid out, in my opinion, beautifully. Water comes into play on 12 of the 18 holes, although in some of those instances, it is only really in play for a player who is fatally wild off the tee.

Your round begins with a relatively mild first hole, which is always a good idea, in my estimation. It’s a 349 yard affair that bends very slightly to the right and is very much a birdie possibility.

The second is a 579 yard par five with water down the left side, but that shouldn’t come into play. After a dry par three and par four, we come to the fifth hole, playing at 380 with water on the right. The sixth is a short par 5 at 506 yards, presenting a good birdie opportunity.

The seventh is a short par four, at which you’d be wise to use an iron or hybrid off the tee, since water lines the left side and position for your second shot is everything here.

Skipping ahead to the back nine, you’ll see that it starts quite benevolently, with a short par four and par three. Number twelve, however, will definitely get your attention at 400 yards, bending left. Thirteen is a neat little par four with water well left and fourteen is a straightaway par five that is a good birdie opportunity. Fifteen is the longest par three on the course.

Sixteen is probably my favorite hole at Mangrove Bay. It’s a par four of 400 yards that plays uphill for the second half, with a second shot over a creek. But you need to take a moment to look to your left as you walk or ride the hill and observe a lagoon in which mullet leap almost constantly. It’s a beautiful sight, indeed..

Mangrove Bay ends on a very strong note, with two excellent holes, the par five seventeenth at 565 yards and the par four eighteenth at 438 yards with water on the left.

The course, at least in my experience, was always in very nice shape and the environment is unbeatable.

Now let’s head north to the town of Palm Harbor in Pinellas County, a few miles northwest of Tampa and check on Tarpon Woods Country Club, another of my favorites in the region. Wildlife abounds in this beautiful setting located just off Route 19. Water is present on every hole on this course that sports tricky greens and a varied layout of holes. It plays at just under 6,600 yards from the tips and requires accurate tee shots and carefully thought out approaches.

Sadly, at the time of this writing, the course may be on its way to disappearing. Because of the usual short-sighted development without regard for consequences, the Tarpon Woods community is prone to flooding in the rainy season and pressure has been brought to dispense with the golf course and turn the area into a virtual water basin to relieve the condition.

Brooker Creek runs through the golf course, and is the source of the problem, only because of thoughtless development upstream. But it is also one of the sources of the charm of the course. So get there and play it while you can, because it’s worth the effort. If you get a chance, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this layout and its abundant flora and fauna. From the par four opening hole, throughout the picturesque layout, to the visually appealing eighteenth, this course is a delight.

Let’s hope it will be around a lot longer.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com

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By Jim Nettleton

Bermuda has been my favorite vacation retreat for decades. Its friendly people, clean environment and wonderful weather are always a joy.

Being an avid golfer, experiencing the game and the courses on that beautiful island is also a never-ending joy. Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any place in the world. There are 8 courses there and each offers a splendid test.

The Belmont Hills Golf Club is a short but challenging layout that measures a little over 6,000 yards from the tips. It was rebuilt not long ago to USGA standards.

If you’re looking to spruce up your short game, try the Fairmont Southampton executive par three course, located near the southwestern tip of the island. It’s a fine array of 3 pars that will test every aspect of your iron play.

Farther along the southwestern tip you’ll find the spectacular Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed Port Royal Golf Course. Several of its holes hug the cliffs overlooking the ocean. My personal favorite is the par three 16^th, which plays 176 yards over a chasm to a green perched on a cliff. At 6,561 yards, Port Royal is Bermuda’s longest course. Don’t miss it.

Heading back northeast, you’ll come upon Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club, a short but testing course along the water, measuring 5,800 yards.

Not far from Hamilton, the Ocean View Golf Course affords lovely views of the ocean. It’s only a 9 hole course measuring a little over 2,900 yards, but the scenery is worth a play.

Traveling farther north, Tucker’s Point Golf Club, the former Castle Harbour, presents itself. It was recently redesigned a while back, but maintains the elevation changes that made the old course so challenging.

Farther along the north route in the lovely town of St. George is the 18 hole executive course, St. George’s Golf Club. It consists of 8 par fours and 10 par threes. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this stunning layout wraps around historic Fort St. Catherine and offers challenging play and terrific views. Sadly, this course is closing soon, so enjoy it while you can.

I’ve saved the best for last. Heading back toward Tucker’s Point you’ll find the marvelous Mid Ocean Golf Club, ranked for years among the top 50 courses in the world. Play it and you’ll see why. Although it measures just under Port Royal in length, play it from the tips and you’ll think you’ve just come up against a 7,300 yarder. Spectacular holes along the ocean are to be savored. Be sure to bring plenty of memory cards for you cameras.

Some of these courses are private – but arrangements can be made through your hotel.

I can’t wait to get back there and enjoy those lovely links again.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

When it comes to learning about golf, golf equipment for beginners, is a subject sometimes greatly overlooked.

There are of course those lengthy books on how to swing, practicing tips, and how to train to be a good golfer, and you will find some of the best known sports stars endorsing some great products, making them even more desirable.

However, not every golfer is Tiger Woods, so not everyone will need the same equipment that he uses, especially if the golfer is just beginning to learn about golf.

Also juniors will need more specialist junior golf equipment which has been designed with smaller heads for slower swings and with shorter, more flexible shafts, these great package sets of clubs ensure that your kids hit the ball properly and really enjoy the game.

When you are just starting out, using a professional club will make your life more difficult than is neccesary as they are not designed with the beginner in mind.

This applies to all types of golf equipment so when you are at the golf shop or are shopping at an online golf shop try not to focus to much on endorsements.

What you should consider using

When buying golf equipment, golf clubs are going to be one of the most expensive things that you buy. Because of this, you should spend a little extra time researching clubs that will work for you. Don’t get drawn in to brand snobishness. Find a club that fits what you need.

Golf clubs are usually made of steel and graphite. However, some are made of carbon fibre and titanium and composite alloys. For you, it is best to stick to steel and graphite clubs.

Clubs that are steel shafted are much more durable than carbon fibre or graphite clubs. They are much stronger, but are heavier to carry and use. Steel shafted clubs are said to have much more accuracy and control compared to graphite ones.

They require a less level of twisting, but don’t have the effective range that graphite shafted clubs do. You will have to use more power and a quicker swing to make the golf ball go the distance you need it to.

These work best for beginners because they help to develop accuracy and control from the start.

Picking the right shaft flex or level of stiffness for the club is also important to a beginner golfer. Pro’s tend to favor higher stiffness levels as this helps them obtain higher swing speeds. This means more power from a stiff flex.

Golf Balls

It can be uneconomical to soend large chunks of cash on top class balls when the economy balls will do the job nicely. As a beginner golfer, you will find that you lose a lot of the balls so start at the cheaper end until your basic game improves.

For great deals on golf equipment and expert advice visit golf equipment UK

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By Jim Nettleton

Is anyone else as troubled as I am by some of golf’s incredibly arcane rules? Having played the game all my adult life, I’m familiar with the rules and even agree with most of them. But there are others that are frustrating, if not infuriating. Now, bear in mind that I’m talking about the professional or top-level amateur game here. For what should be obvious reasons, normal amateur events are a different animal altogether.

Chief among the above-mentioned frustrations, I think, is the scoring scenario. As we all know, if a player signs an incorrect score card he or she is disqualified from the competition. It makes no difference if half the western world knows what a player’s score is. It makes no difference if a national television audience has just watched in rapt attention as Tiger drilled a thirty-footer for a three. If he inadvertently signs for a four, that’s what he gets.

With today’s technology, there is no longer any need to rely on backward conventions to score a golf tournament. I know all the arguments. The players police themselves, it’s part of the game, it’s an integral ingredient of the integrity of the game, yada, yada, yada.

Listen, how can those arguments hold any water when we’ve allowed technological advances in golf equipment to trample the game’s foundations and fundamentally change the nature of the sport?

Today, the golf swing has become a lethal weapon. Players are hitting the ball practically into orbit and golf courses have to be about six miles long to keep today’s tournament pros from shooting twelve. Yet we still cling to outmoded, primitive methods of keeping score. It’s difficult enough to swing a golf club correctly and play the game well without having to worry about signing a paper scorecard in the age of the Blackberry.

I’ll always remember the tragic incident that cost Roberto DiVicenzo the 1968 Masters Tournament. As you know, players keep each other’s scores in a tournament. Roberto’s fellow competitor that day, Tommy Aaron, had incorrectly marked down a four at the seventeenth hole, when Roberto had actually shot three. Because Roberto signed that card, he had to accept the higher score. As a result, he missed getting into a playoff with Bob Goalby the next day and Goalby walked off with the green jacket.

It never should have happened. That kind of circumstance isn’t satisfying or rewarding to any player involved. Goalby couldn’t be justly proud of his accomplishment, having backed into it through a clerical error on the part of someone else. And DeVicenzo was understandably devastated by the loss.

Surely the golfing powers can do better. Surely, the rules for important tournaments can be brought into the twenty-first century. Tournament golf audiences know instantly which player is doing what all over the golf course. For reality to be ignored because of a glitch in scoring by hand is intolerable in today’s sporting world. We need to bring things up to date and we need to do it quickly, before another DeVincenzo type of tragedy mars the sport again.

About the author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and TV professional who is a lifelong golf addict and golf historian. He recommends The Simple Swing for those struggling with their games:

http://www.jaynetinc.com/SimpleGolfSwing. Visit his golf blog at:

http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com