Golf Tips. Golf Articles. Golf News.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be rich to play golf. While it can be a challenge to play golf on a limited budget, it can be done! Here are some tips for making your day at the course, and buying your golf gear, more affordable:

First of all, start with the course you play on. You can have a great game of golf and not play on Pinehurst or Pebble Beach. If you just want to play, try a municipal or public course. Your greens fees will be cut by at least half. Take advantage of any deals the courses may have. They’re not so busy mid-week, or in the late fall, so try to go when everyone else won’t be there.

If you’re looking for a tournament, try nine-holes. Nine-hole tournaments take half the time of 18-hole rounds and usually cost less.

You certainly don’t need to buy all of the latest golf training gear. Just getting a bucket of balls and honing your skills at the driving range or putting greens can provide more benefit.

Buy a set of used clubs instead of new or even renting. The long term investment will pay off if you buy rather than rent. Don’t spend your money on fancy golf accessories. And don’t rent a cart – walk it! You’ll get more exercise and save some money in the process.

Instead of buying at a retail store, you can also search online to find many discount golf clubs of brand names such as Taylor Made, Mizuno, Cobra, and more. You will usually find a better deal online that you will find in any local shops.

And lastly, go light on lunch and the nineteenth hole. Many golfers find the actual golf playing to be less expensive than the meal and the cocktails after the round. Be mindful of these costs – they add up and you’ll be happier about it tomorrow!

A.A. Milne once said, “Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.” Well, with some of these quick tips, maybe your game will improve a bit!

1. Select the correct club for uphill/downhill shots.
2. Read the greens and adjust for breaks and hills - most golfers under read putts by more than 70%.
3. Learn about the physics behind new golf club and golf ball technology so you can hit a longer ball.
4. Determine how different weather conditions can affect the way the ball lands and rolls.

Wondering about some of the etiquette for the game of golf? Here are some Q&A’s from the Pro:

Once I have hit the ball into the hole, is it OK to leave it there?

No, do not leave your ball in the hole. This will cause some of the more supertstitious, think their ball won’t fit too, and will not appreciate your ball being there!

If I come close the hole when I putt, can I just leave my ball there until my next shot?

No, your ball can be a distraction to other players, and, if they hit your ball on the way to the hole, they will get a 2 stroke penalty if they hit your ball. Pick up your ball and use a ball-marker to note where your ball belongs for the next shot.

Should I compliment or critique fellow players’ shots?

Only if you know the person very very well! If you are playing for the first time with someone, don’t assume you know what he or she considers to be a good shot, or a bad one, for that matter. Best to keep your comments to yourself until you have played a few times with a new partner.

What’s the difference between woods and irons?

Interestingly, woods and irons are made of neither! The wood was once made of wood, but not they come in a variety of materials. Woods are long distance clubs, meant to be used when distance is more important than accuracy. Irons, now made mostly from steel, are smaller than woods, and are thought to be your ‘finesse’ clubs, used for accuracy rather than distance.

What does the number on each club mean?

Usually, the number printed on your clubs indicate the amount of ‘loft’. The lower the number, the lower the loft and the longer the club. If the loft is low, that club is for greater distance

What’s in a set of golf clubs?

You are allowed to carry no more than 14 clubs during the game. What clubs you choose depend on your own personal game, but typically, a set will include 3-9 irons, a pitching wedge, a 1, 3 & 5 wood and a putter. Again, you don’t have to carry all of these clubs, this is an example of a typical set.

What about the golf balls?

Today, most golf balls are covered with one of two different materials – balata or surlyn. A balata ball usually has a core wound with rubber and covered with balata, which is a soft substance. It’s said to offer better play, as the ball is more pliable when hit. A surlyn covered ball is solid in its core, so it is much harder and doesn’t experiences as many nicks and cuts as a balata ball may. The surlyn ball is known for its quick action.

“If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.”…So said Lee Trevino, one of the greatest golfers of all time about playing golf in the rain.

The first drops of rain have the potential of ruining your round, and if there’s lightning or thunder involved, be sure to get off the course quickly. But if it’s just a rainy day, or a temporary downpour, you can play on – with these tips:

Shorten your swing - A quick swing will give you more control. Hit an iron shot as if the ball were in a sand bunker.

Loosen your grip – When it’s wet, there’s a natural tendency to tighten your grip. Instead, do the opposite. This will decrease the likelihood of a closed club face at impact.

Be prepared by having some rain gear along with you. A rain jacket, pants and waterproof gloves will have you ready for any rain you might encounter along the course. Who’s afraid of a little rain?!

This article was written by guest blogger Ronald Montesano of TravelGolf.Com

I’m Ronald Montesano, and I’m chipping in for Carly’s Club by golfing 100 holes in one day this June. Let’s clean out our golf bags, count that change, and send it to Roswell Park Cancer Institute to fight the battle against this disease.

Ride For Roswell

I’ve had the great fortune to participate in every Ride For Roswell since its inception. I’ll be riding again this June, God willing, with a few family members in tow.

Golfing in Memory of Wendy Wolf

I had the great pleasure to meet Wendy Wolf at Sweet Home High School. She and her husband were parents of my student, Michael Wolf. Years later, I worked with Wendy at Nichols School. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she fought the bravest of fights. Although the disease claimed her life, her spirit lives on, and I remember her and her wonderful family each time I pass their neighborhood. I’ll be chipping in and riding this year in Wendy’s honor…trust me when I say that the honor is humbly mine.

Please support me as generously as possible, as I golf on behalf of Carly’s Club. Just click on the “Support Ronald!” button to make a donation.

Some golfers, when asked what will make or break their game, will say “My grip”. The way you grip your club will make a huge difference when you swing. If your hands are not placed properly on your club, you will not feel the rhythm or the smoothness that you should experience. A golf swing should be a fluid movement, and your grip can make it so. Here are some tips for getting your grip ‘just right’:

To start, place your golf club head on the ground, like you were ready to hit the ball. Release your right hand so only your left hand is holding the club. Adjust your club so they grip is in your fingers.

Move your left hand so your thumb is heading straight down the golf grip. Where your thumb meets your hand is at the very top of the club. Place the grip in the fingers of your right hand.

Now, pretend you are pulling a trigger of a gun. Place your index finger and thumb of your right hand on the grip. The “V” where your thumb and finger meet should be pointing toward your right shoulder.

Hold the club lightly with both hands. The more relaxed your grip, the straighter and farther you’ll hit the ball.

Sometimes, it’s good to experiment with a few grips to be sure you are comfortable. This is best done at a driving range or during your lessons, so you can see what works best for you!

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the green! You’ve almost achieved your goal of putting that little ball into what feels like an even smaller hole. Putting is next, and this part of the game is as much about the grass and surface your ball is on as it is about the actual putt itself. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you ‘read the green’ and prepare to sink your shot:

First, the slope of the green. Look at all the bumps and curves that your ball may encounter on its short trip to the hole. Keep the terrain in mind as you line up the shot. You’ll see the professionals squat down and squint at their ball so they can plan around the green.

Is the grass too long? Golf course maintenance workers spend hours insuring the quality of their course, but there may just be a few blades in your way as you putt. The shorter the grass, of course, the faster your ball will roll. If the grass is a little long, put a little more ‘oomph’ in your putt.

Is the grass wet? That can also slow your ball down – sometimes quite dramatically.

Reading the Green carefully will give you good info on where to aim your ball. Doing this well is a very important component of your game!

As you know, putting is the last step in completing a hole. The ability to putt consistently well can make the difference between a good round of golf or a terrible one. Putting is an underrated action; it is a difficult technique that requires a lot of practice before you can really call yourself a golfer.

To be able to putt well, maintain a relaxed body and use a pendulum swing using only your arms and your shoulders. Grip your club using whichever grip is more comfortable - an overlapping grip or a cross handed grip. Set up to the ball, lining it up with your belt buckle and nose. Look down - directly at the ball.

Think of a pendulum on a clock and bring your putter about ten inches away from the ball. Strike the ball. Here’s a hint: The closer you can come to taking your putter straight back from the ball and swinging it straight through on a line, the better chance your Putt will go where you direct it.

Your follow-through should also go the same as your backswing. So, if you started ten inches from the ball, your follow through should also be ten inches.

The real key to putting is distance control. Practice with different distances in the backswing and the forward swing to determine how far the ball will roll on the ground when a swing of a certain length is applied to it.

With putting, it is certain that practice makes perfect!

After you tee off, your ball will (hopefully) make it to the fairway and you will be ready to make your next shot. With about 100 yards to go (which is usually the case on a Par 4 hole), you will want to consider a pitch shot. A pitch shot is an intermediate length golf shot, less than a drive and more than a chip shot. The Pitch Shot is done with either a pitching wedge (PW) or a sand wedge (SW). For longer pitch shots, the 5 or 6 irons are recommended.

Here are tips for the perfect pitch shot:

Start with a slightly open stance, positioning your right foot toward the ball. Keep your hands in a direct line in front of your ball. Keep your weight on the left side of your body throughout the shot. Keep your shoulders square with your right knee flexing toward your left. Make a full swing so the back of your left hand and the club face are at the front of the shot.

The goal in a pitch shot is to get the ball high enough in the air to miss any hazards. It’s an important golf shot as, if done properly, can get you much closer to the green!