Tips For Choosing a Golf Bag

Weight – Not all bags weigh the same.  A weight of 6 lbs. is considered light.  Choose the right weight.  Type – There are three choices: Cart Bag, Stand Bag or Sunday Bag.  Each style is different so choose wisely.  Pockets – There should be enough pockets to fit your needs including a cooler pocket and a lined pocket.  Material – Choose a material that will be easy to maintain and clean.  Cleaning ease depends on material.  Handles – The bag you choose should have at least 4 handles, including a wide strap for good support.  Color – Ease of maintenance depends on color.  Dark colors show dirt easily and are harder to keep clean.  Club Sockets – Before you purchase a bag try sliding a club in each and every slot to assure there are no tight slots that can wear your grips.

Choosing a Golf Bag

photo credit: eMaringolo   There are several types of golf bags to choose from: Cart bags, Stand bags and Sunday bags.  Choosing the right kind is a matter of personal preference.

Cart bags are large and  more cumbersome because they are used in conjunction with golf carts.  They have innumerable pockets with more than ample storage space.  The stand bag is preferred while walking and is much lighter than the cart bag.  Stand bags are very convenient since they remain upright during play.  The metal legs, attached to the bag, extend when the bag is placed upright.

The Sunday bag is the smallest and usually used while traveling.  It is lightweight and easy to transport while holding a full set of clubs and a few essentials.

The Greatest Athlete Ever

photo credit: mandj98   In modern day sports the name that stands out in every corner of the earth is Tiger Woods.  From the African Savannah’s to the Arctic Circle this is one man that everyone knows.  For all of his popularity where will he be on the list of the ”World’s Greatest Athletes?”

Many people feel that he is destined to be the greatest athlete that ever lived, for when his career is concluded he will have accomplished goals previously thought of as being unattainable.  His career could easily last another 25 years with accomplishments far surpassing the likes of a Nicklaus, Ruth, Robinson, Andretti and so many more sports figures in history.  

Tiger Woods is a living legend, a sports icon and an athlete for the ages.  If he remains without injury his legacy will live on for centuries.

LPGA Drug Testing Program

photo credit: msspider66   In November 2006, the LPGA Tour instituted a drug testing program for all participants in LPGA Tour events.  The new policy began with the 2008 season.  The LPGA became the first tour in golf to design a plan to administer a testing program in professional golf.

The presence of any quantity of prohibited substances will constitute  an offense.  The program has a Prohibited List which sets the standards for testing.  It is the players responsibility to know what types of conduct may constitute an offense and what substance and methods are actually on the list.

According to the program, a player shall be personally responsible for any Prohibited substance found in her body regardless of how it entered her body.  For more information go to www.LPGA.com.

Excess Movement When Putting

photo credit: Two Roses     Ever wonder why you missed your last 4 foot putt?  Presuming your alignment was correct, you missed because of  premature body movement.  In other words you may have “looked up.” 

Putting is a true art and the keynote to all good putters is that they remain completely motionless until well after the ball has been struck.  Even the slightest movement (other than the arms and shoulders) can throw your ball off line.  Most of the time this occurs when the player is overly anxious to see where the putt is going.  If you are aligned correctly, there is no need to look up. 

Tip:  Try practicing those five and six footers with your eyes closed and just listen for the putt to drop.  Doing this repeatedly should give you the kind of control you need to become a really great putter !

Alignment Correction

photo credit: diluvi   In the game of golf, alignment is everything.  How far you hit the ball from tee to green or how good your putting stroke is doesn’t matter if your alignment is off.  Correct alignment is misunderstood among many amateurs.

Note:  when you fire a bullet at a distant target, if your alignment (aim) is off slightly, by the time the the bullet reaches the target you may miss the bulls-eye by several inches or feet.  In other words “a little bit goes a long way.”

Tip: Make sure your feet are in line with the imaginary line to your target.  Address the ball, take your normal stance, then place a club along the tip of your toes.  Now step behind your ball and inspect where the club is pointing.  Do this test often and watch your scores improve.

Where Have all the Caddies Gone?

photo credit: mandj98   Years ago, golfers played the game the way it was originally intended, by walking.  Caddies played a critical role, consequently, they had all the work they could handle.  It was not unusual for a caddie to carry two bags during the same round.  Today, caddies are found only at the most exclusive golf clubs.

Yes, using a caddie may be more expensive than renting a cart but if you believe in global warming, eliminating most of the gas operated carts is welcomed.  Furthermore, don’t overlook the added health benefits one receives from walking.

Another forgotten aspect of using a caddie is their contribution to lower golf scores.  With their course knowledge and helpful tips, how could one not play better?  If this weren’t true, why do PGA Tour Players use them?  It’s a good question, isn’t it?

Good Caddie or Bad Caddie?

photo credit: smaedli   While playing in the Nigerian Open one year, the South African Pro Philip Walton found himself faced with a tricky shot underneath a thick tree branch that would restrict his swing.  He took his stance, made a couple of practice swings and eventually punched the ball out.  As soon as Walton hit his ball, his caddie pointed out that a large snake was resting on a branch above his head

“Are you mad?”  Watson shouted.  “That snake could have fallen on me and bit me, why didn’t you tell me the snake was there?”

“I wanted you to hit a good shot and not worry about the snake,” retorted the caddie. 

Nigeria contains some of the world’s most poisonous snakes which cause many deaths each year.

Outspoken Dave Hill

photo credit: dno1967   Dave Hill was one of the finest shot-makers on the PGA Tour but his outspoken nature earned him a healthy number of fines from the PGA Tour commissioner.

His most celebrated outburst came at the 1970 US. Open at Hazeltine, Minnesota which was a brand new course designed by the famous architect, Robert Trent Jones.  After the first round Hill, one of the tournament leaders, was brought into the press room and asked  what he thought about the course, which had been criticized by players all week.

“What does the course lack?” a writer asked him.  “Eighty acres of corn and a few cows,” he quipped.  “They ruined a good farm when they built this course.”  For his insightful and outspoken remarks, he was promptly slapped with a $150 fine.

Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro Am

photo credit: mandj98   Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills, on California’s Monterey Peninsula, is the home of the Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro-Am.  The tournament, formerly the Bing Crosby Pro-Am (named after it’s founder), draws some of the most famous Hollywood stars.

Pebble Beach Golf Links:  Hosted 63 tour events and ranks 21 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA Tour.  Low score: Tom Kite and David Duval, 62.  Most difficult hole:  The par-4 418 yd. 8th.

Poppy Hills:  Hosted 19 tour events and is ranked 19 in difficulty.  Low score:  Matt Gogel, 62.  Most difficult hole: The par-4 426 yd. 5th.

Spyglass Hill G.C.:  Hosted 41 PGA Events and ranks 12 in difficulty on the PGA Tour.  Low score: Phil Mickelson and Luke Donald, 62.  Most difficult hole: The par-3 197 yd. 5th.

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