Tipping

photo credit: Mataparda     There are two questions about tipping:   When?   and how much?   The answers  depend on the service quality.

When arriving at the course an attendant will take your bag from your car to your golf cart.   A tip is required (generally two dollars per bag).   When you  return your  cart, an attendant will clean your clubs (two – five dollars per bag).   If you go into the locker-room and have your shoes cleaned and shined you should tip at least ten dollars.   For women that drive the refreshment carts, a tip of one dollar per drink is  adequate.  

For caddies, a tip of fifty to one-hundred dollars is required.   Remember, the amount of the tip is determined by the service given.

Preserving Memories

photo credit: torkildr     If you are preparing for your dream golf vacation to Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No. ll or even St. Andrews, taking good photo's is essential.   Here are some ways to take good photo's:  

A).   For good  pictures you need sunlight, and plenty of it.   Sunshine  enhances shadows  which create mood.   Partly cloudy is OK, just make sure you shoot when the clouds are not obstructing the sunlight.   If it is grey and overcast, take photos another day.   B)   The best kind of light is warm light.   Warm light occurs when the sun is low which is either in the early morning or just before sunset.   During this period, shadows will be very pronounced.   C)   Frame your subject with objects in the foreground (trees, flowers, limbs)  for good depth perception.

Par 3 in Pinetop, AZ.

photo credit: tombothetominator     Pinetop, AZ is a resort community located  200 miles  NE. of Phoenix.    It is  in the White Mtns., located in the largest ponderosa pine forest in the US.    It's a seasonal area with skiing in the winter and golf and fishing in  the summer.

COURSE REVIEW:         Pinetop Lakes Golf & C.C. is an executive course (par 3) located on Bucksprings Rd.   Upon entering the Pro Shop I was greeted by a friendly staff.   The greens fee was very reasonable, however, they do  charge  an extra cart fee for non players ($16.50).    

In spite of the rain, I found the course to be  finely manicured, with greens that were impeccable and some of the nicest I've ever played on.   All in all, it was a wonderful treat to play this great little course.   RATING:   8  out of 10.

Know Your Equipment Terms

photo credit: Jim Epler     BOUNCE:   The degree to which the sole of the club angles up and away from the ground plane when the club is in a square setup position.   BULGE:   The face curvature from heel to toe that corrects spin or mishits.   CAMBER:   The radius measurement of the sole from front to back or heel to toe.   CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG):   A point that defines the average location of weight in a clubhead and the internal point about which an object rotates.   A low CG launches the ball higher.   CHAMFER:   A beveled or rounded edge connecting two surfaces.   LEADING EDGE:   The forward edge of the sole.   RELIEF:   The angling, or the curve up and back, of the sole to reduce turf contact.   SKIRT:   The perimeter of a clubhead.   MOMENT OF INERTIA (MOI):   A club's resistance to twisting on off-center hits (forgiveness).

Club Buying Tips:

photo credit: MargaretNapier     1)   Replace your 3 and 4 irons with hybrids.   2)   Have adequate bounce on your sand wedge.   3)   Before adding a lob wedge do plenty of practicing with it first.   4)   A gap wedge is necessary around the greens.   5)   Choose a regular shaft flex.   6)    Do not  buy a driver with a slice or hook correcting feature.   Purchase one with extra loft instead.   7)   Hit the ball a little above the sweet spot with your driver to take advantage of the vertical gear effect (less spin, higher launch).   8)   Hitting into a 10 mph. headwind shortens your drive by 30 % more than a 10 mph. tailwind will help.   9)   A 150-yard shot to an elevated green plays out to 175 yards., a two club difference.

How Many Wedges?

photo credit: andrea.pacelli     Most amateurs have two problems with their wedge play:   Hitting high wedge shots with enough spin and hitting shots that require less than a full swing.

If you  play with  3 or 4 wedges, there should be at least five degrees of difference between each club.   If your gap wedge has a fifty-one degree loft, your sand wedge should  have a  fifty six or fifty seven degree loft.  

It is also important to make certain that at least one of  your wedges has less bounce than the others.   The most likely candidate would be the lob wedge.   When you need to chip or pitch the ball  high from a tight lie,  a club with less bounce works best.   Less bounce also helps  from wet sand.

The Sore Loser Tiger Woods

photo credit: Keith Allison     Real champions know how to accept defeat graciously.   Real champions don't throw clubs, don't swear when they make a bad shot, don't throw temper-tantrums in front  of  their fans.   Real champions want to win but they don't EXPECT to, every time they play.   Any of this sound familiar?

Tiger Woods' poor sportsmanship and hissy-fits  in the 2009  Open Tournament were inexcusable.   His childlike behavior for missing  the cut, may have shown the world what he's really like.   Nicklaus, Palmer, Player,  Snead, Hogan, all  knew how to accept defeat.   Woods' infantile behavior proves that he is not cut from the same mold as these others.

Tom Watson leads the Open after 54 holes.   If Watson wins, Tiger Woods  will  learn what a real  champion is.  GO TOM,  GO  !!

Counterfeit Clubs

photo credit: andrea.pacelli     It isn't surprising that even in golf, there is fraud.   Counterfeit clubs are present in today's marketplace.   Check your equipment carefully prior before forking over big bucks.

Purchasing Tips:   1)   Buy from a reputable dealer.   Paying big bucks for an online purchase can be hazardous to your wallet.   2)   Be skeptical if the clubs you want are offered at a ridiculously low price.   “You always  get what you pay for,” applies here.   3)   Check the serial no. and call the  manufacturer to verify the numbers.   4)   Look for imperfections in the labels or markings on the clubs.   They usually exist on fakes.   5)   With a coin, tap the head of the woods, if they make a pinging sound, they are usually counterfeit.

Cavity-back or Forged?

photo credit: Brian J. McDermott     Cavity-back clubs, in the scheme of golf's long and illustrious history, are a relatively new invention.   The weight is distributed around the perimeter of the clubhead, which is more forgiving for off-center hits.   What this means is, if you don't hit all your shots on the “sweet spot,” you should be using Cavity-back irons.

A Forged club has all of the clubhead mass centered, they are  more  suitable for better players who are able to shape their shots.   More distance is another important consideration when forged clubs are used.   In general, forged clubs are much more difficult to use for the average player.   Before cavity-back clubs were invented, everyone used   forged clubs which were all that was available.

Mulligans?

photo credit: nsaplayer     How many of you  have ever taken a Mulligan?   I'm sure it's a huge percentage of golfers everywhere.   If your playing partners agree on Mulligans, when do you decide to take it?

I believe that every player, PGA Pros excluded, should be granted one Mulligan, of their choice, during a round of golf.   Some foursome's  only  allow a Mulligan on the first tee  ,   I believe otherwise.   As far as I'm concerned, everyone who does not have their PGA card should be allowed at least one Mulligan, after all,  we're not all as good as the guy makeing over a million on the PGA tour.

If someone offers me a mulligan, I take it every time !   Wouldn't you too !

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