How to get started?

How to get started?

Golf for anybody?

Golf is a great game: sometimes rewarding, often frustrating but highly addictive. Getting started in it is actually not so difficult, and hopefully this article can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls.

The first steps.
The biggest mistake by people wanting to start in golf is to rush out and buy a brand new set of shiny and expensive golf clubs. While they are nice to look at you should keep in mind that today’s golf equipment comes in great varieties to cater for different golfing types and abilities. Since you're just starting out you do not know which set fits you best. Just imagine the envious looks you get at the driving range when you come with your $2000 set, and the subsequent laughter when you try and just 'hack away' - not worth the embarrassment! Once you spend a few hundred or even thousand $$ on a set that doesn't suit your style you're stuck with it or you have to sell it to somebody else at a loss.
If you feel you want your own clubs get a half set. This generally comprises five irons and perhaps two woods and a putter. Usually the irons are the odd numbers 3,5,7,9 and wedge. These clubs are more than enough to get you started.
A better alternatively: most Driving Ranges will have clubs for hire, so you can try out a few different ones. You can also borrow one or two clubs from a friend. The shortest iron (nine iron) or a wedge are the best clubs to start, practicing with it will give you the feeling of hitting the ball in the air and should be fairly straight forward.

Where to get golf clubs?
Most Pro shops and driving ranges sell second hand clubs. They will also be able to offer you advice and let you try some clubs out. Nearly all driving ranges will have clubs for hire if you want to have a go without committing to a set until you get the hang of it. Or ask other people at the driving range, you will soon find out that many have another set of clubs at home because they made the exact same mistakes I mentioned above. Make sure you try before you buy, if they fit (and only if they fit!) you can often get them for a steal. Make use of these opportunities, and also take a look at our website ‘LearnAboutGolf.com’ as to how to choose a club. I again stress that you need to have a basic understanding on which club suits you reasonably well before you buy. DO NOT buy expensive brands at this stage.

"I want to play!"
As hard as it will be to contain yourself, don't even contemplate going anywhere near a golf course. Golf is technically quite demanding, and without at least some basic training you'll end up with a lot of frustration. You've seen the top players on TV loosing their cool in frustration, imagine how you will feel if not even a single shot goes where you want it to. Besides, the other people having to wait for you will also not be happy.
As a beginner at the great game of golf, start off at a driving range, take at least four or five lessons, learn the fundamentals, progress to a 9 hole course and eventually venture out into the great unknown of an 18 hole golf course. Believe me, it will be a lot more fun for you and those around you if you follow this path.

Where to get lessons?
You'll meet lot of people at the range who will teach you the 'innermost secrets' of golf. Fact is that most of them have started playing not long before you. So the answer to the above question is: go to a Professional. As you have seen on TV, even the world’s top players have a coach. Tiger Woods, probably the best golfer the world, still takes lessons. Certified Golf Professionals are the only people qualified to teach you how to play the game. Lessons from a Pro will cost you money but will be the best investment you'll ever make. Taking the advise from the 'know-it-all' people at the range will likely screw-up your game at the very early stage, and it will take a long time to correct the faults later.
The 2 places to get golf lessons are at driving ranges and golf clubs. You don't have to be a member of a club to get a lesson from the Pro. You bring in money, so they will be glad to help. The usual cost is about $25-40 per 45 min, but you will get reductions for a block booking. If you are a bit on the budget see if they do group bookings, those are also cheaper than individual lessons.
What else to do?

The Books and the videos can be invaluable in learning the basics. To build a sound golf swing you will need the three fundamentals: Grip, Stance and Posture. There are some very good books and videos on the market that will help you to establish the three fundamentals. And watch the Pro's on the TV, or better still video them and play back in slow motion, you'll learn a lot this way. Don't get blinded by too much science, you're still a beginner. Stick to Grip, Stance and Posture and you'll be on your way. Take a look at the golf tips and golf lessons on our website ‘LearnAboutGolf.com’ for some advice as well.

Summary
1.Don't waste your money on expensive clubs until you have reached a basic level of competency.
2.Don't go near a Golf Course, again until you have reached a basic level.
3.Get lessons from a qualified professional.
4.Learn the three fundamentals
5.Watch the Pro's.
6.Practice.
7.Learn the rules of golf and the basic golf etiquette .

How To Reach The Proper Impact Position

How To Reach The Proper Impact Position.

It's All That Counts!

Keep in mind that when someone slices the ball, their body is moving faster than their arms and club. A person who hooks the ball too much is doing the opposite. Their hands, arms and club are moving faster than their body. Since most people slice the ball, it is easy to see that it is almost impossible to swing your arms too fast.

The Swing Plane

The swing plane is the angle at which the club travels throughout the swing. There have been numerous theories about which swing plane is the proper or best swing plane. After viewing thousands of golf swings, both amateur and professional, our conclusion is that
the swing plane has not been properly described to date.

Most golf instructors today draw a line up the golf shaft and consider that the plane.

We believe that the line drawn up the shaft is an indicator of where you want the club to be at impact, (within about three degrees to allow for the bowing of the shaft). If you are able to maintain a swing path that is parallel or directly on the original shaft angle at address then your chances of returning the your address position at impact increase.

For example, if you were to swing the golf club very steep to the plane, or original shaft angle at address, then you must make a rapid adjustment to reroute the golf club back to the plane or address angle. Not impossible to do but far more difficult.
Here is a good example of keeping the golf club traveling on a proper plane. Notice that the address plane and the impact plane are not exactly alike. The golf club is in motion and your thrust toward the target will make the golf club attack the ball from an angle slightly higher than the address position. This is why the toe of your club head should be slightly off the ground at address to accommodate the higher plane at impact.

Impact:

The impact point is simply another location along the swing path. Of course, in mechanical terms, impact is the moment that matters. However, it is not the thing that should matter most in the mind of the golfer. It is more useful to imagine where you are
going in the swing rather than where you are at a given moment. This is the reason we would like to limit your focus on impact.

I have found that most great golfers end up in an impact position that is slightly higher than that of the address position.
A more accurate measurement is a line drawn from the golf club head through the elbows.

The most important thing to understand is that the golf club head must be as close as possible to 90 degrees from the path of the golf club in order to hit the ball straight.

Your left wrist should feel slightly bulged at impact. The left leg also straightens at impact.

Immediately after the impact position, the forearms rotate, allowing the golf club to remain square to the follow-through path and allowing the left arm to bend. One might need to feel as though this is happening before the impact area, in order to accomplish the club face passing the hand position through impact.

If these principles seem a bit abstract to you now, do not worry. They will become much clearer as we analyze your swing in more depth with the video camera. Just keep them in mind now and refer back to this section as you proceed through your instruction program.

The Faulty Movement

Scooping
Typical Cause: Body too far in front of the arms, falling back on your right foot.
Remedy: Keep the left hand bulged at impact, limit the body movement in the swing, get your upper body to move forward on the follow through.

Starting Your Down Swing For Power

Starting Your Down Swing For Power

The Transition:

The transition from loading to unloading should be smooth and rhythmic. The tempo may vary form person to person but it is important not to make the transition too “jerky.”

The downswing is always initiated from the ground up. Most people feel that they initiate the swing with the body.
Cause the body has a small circumference around which to travel, verses the very large circumference the club has to travel, it will feel like the arms must begin the downswing rather than the body. This is only a feeling. The video will show this to be the case.

Some players have described the downswing as pulling down on a rope. Some may describe the downswing as a driving of the knees toward the target or swing path.

In any case, the one thing a golfer must avoid is an unwinding of the shoulder in the downswing. Since the body does have less territory to cover in the downswing, a premature unwinding of the shoulders will cause the body to be either ahead of the arms or open at impact. This may cause a pulling of the golf ball or a pull slice if the club face is open to the path.

Faulty Movement

Starting Down with the Shoulders
Typical Cause: Beginning as if in a baseball swing, with a turning of the shoulders.
Remedy: Pull down with the hands and arms first, and begin the downswing with the knees driving toward the golf ball.

How To Lower Your Handicap

How To Lower Your Handicap Over The Winter

An excellent time to make lasting changes in your swing movement. Why? Because it takes slow deliberate repetitions to teach your body to change motions or patterns which you probably would not be willing to do during the season because you want to play.

1) Must Have a Good Grip.

Most golf professionals have a golf club along side they’re sofa. After all, we do have to make any television viewing productive. When a silly commercial message comes on you hold the golf club in your hands right up in front of your face so you so you can see your grip. Grip the golf club slowly.

Notice where your fingers are and how it feels to you. You need to grip the golf club in your fingers. If you have one of those training grips that would be a good idea as a reference. One commercial use the training grip, and next commercial use the golf club. Compare the too and keep doing it until the golf club grip feels and looks very similar to the training grip.

Once you think you have the two grips feeling similar then stand up and make a stance. After you make a stance lift your grip up in front of your face again so you can see and feel the proper grip.

2) Drills for Your Address Position.

It would be best if you could do this in front of a full length mirror. You’ll also need a helper the first time to help put masking tape on the mirror.

Stand before the mirror as in the picture below. Then place the tape where I have the lines drawn. If your address position does not match the one in the picture below, please put your masking tape according to my picture and now follow those lines and angles in setting up to a golf ball.

Step back and set up to the ball again once the tape is on the mirror. Once you think you’re set up properly swivel your head up so you can see where you are. BE CAREFUL NOT TO LIFT YOUR BACK OUT OF POSITION! Just slowly swivel
your head. If the angles are perfect step back and do it again. You can’t do this too much. If you can’t set up to the golf ball perfectly every time, how can you expect to produce the same ball flight every time.

Next get to work on your down line view. Look at the picture below and follow the same procedures. The big key here is the 90 degree spine angle found in every successful golfer.

3) Top of the Back Swing Position.

Remaining in the down line view make a back swing, hold the top of the back swing position, turn very slowly and swivel your head looking at the mirror to see if you have lifted your spine out of position. You MUST maintain spine angle to be consistent! You may need to feel as though your chest is working downward on the back swing in order to stay level. Many golf professionals talk of the back swing as being down hill.

Go for the frontal view and see if you remain in the proper position at the top of the back swing. Also notice if your head moves slightly backward at the top of the back swing. Moving your head laterally if fine just avoid any upward or downward movement.

4) Starting the Down Swing.

Once you’re at the top of the back swing position, stop and look at the mirror, then very very very slowly start your arms straight down toward the ground while holding your body perfectly still. The more you do this the better.

The arms and golf club have more territory to cover on their way to the impact position so they must get a head start on the body. This drill will really help in
your creating a feeling of the arms moving first on the downswing without the body helping or shifting laterally prematurely. An early turn of the body is the killer of many a good golf swing.

5) The Finish.

Go ahead a make a full golf swing now. Once you make a swing hold your finish. If you have trouble holding your finish position you have a problem somewhere in your swing motion.

Once holding the finish swivel your head over to the mirror and see if your back is nice and straight and that you’re balanced on your front foot. Any bending in your spine, (the reverse “C”) is not desirable.

Golf Tips for Beginners

The Important Golf Tips for Beginners

Starting in the game of golf can be confusing with all of the equipment available, people offering you free tips, and the feeling that you have to take everything so seriously.
There are three golf tips for beginners that I was given by my instructor when I started, and that has really been a big help to me.

1. Don't Break the Bank With Your First Set of Clubs

As a beginner, you are not going to get all of the benefits that come from a top of the line set of golf clubs. As a beginner, you are not going to have the consistent contact or club head speed needed. Instead, think about buying a cheaper set, or better yet, get yourself a used set. You may also be able to use a free set from one of your more experienced friends until you figure out which clubs would be best for you.

2. Be Aware of Who is Giving You Instruction

Your friends, relatives, and sometimes people who don't even know you will think they have the golf tips for beginners that will fix all of your problems. Granted, if you have friends who are pretty good golfers, it may help to listen to them when you are first starting. However, to really understand the game, as a beginner, get your instruction from a professional. Golf pros are experienced in fixing swing problems and explaining things to you in terms of how they affect ball flight. Lessons are available at most any golf course, and even just a couple will really help set a good foundation for your game.

3. Enjoy Yourself

It may sound simple, but one of the best golf tips for beginners is to just have fun with the game. Keep in mind that you are probably not going to be getting your PGA card. Being competitive is fine, and of course you are going to want to continue to improve, but golf is a leisure game. Take your time out there and have fun with your friends.

These 3 golf tips for beginners can make all of the difference in the world. If you just get the right clubs to start, take instruction from those who know the game, and have fun, then golf will be a great way for you to spend your leisure time.

Golf for the Adult beginner

An introduction to Golf for the Adult beginner

Every day more and more people are taking it up for the first time. I was once a beginning golfer myself and I remember the frustrations of learning the swing and playing well. And that was with a Golf Pro Father.

There are a lot of books and other information products available for established golfers, but not a lot for adults who are brand new to the game. Amongst all the tour talk, long drives and 400cc drivers, it seems beginners are left out.

A golf is a great game providing a lifetime of enjoyment and when you finally achieve a certain level of proficiency, a whole new element of the game appears, ensuring there is always a challenge.

Many schools offer an introductory 4 hour class - usually for around $320 - on the basics of golf, but you are better off to work on those yourself, then pay for lessons when you are comfortable with the basic knowledge. You won't be effective until you have mastered at least the basics, so by doing it at home, by yourself can remove much of the embarrassment that is often felt by beginners.

I have seen beginners made to play rounds of golf way too early in their development. The result is a bad experience that can, in some cases, turn them off golf forever. A much better strategy is - you guessed it - get the basics down first.

There are many opinions on the golf swing but we can agree that without doubt, the most effective, not to mention quickest way to improve is to study, then practise what you have studied.

You've heard it all before - there are no short cuts... Well, for golf it is especially true. Study and practise will get you there. Repetition of the skills and the swing will help develop your game, playing will help you develop the magical quality called 'touch.'

Having the right knowledge is the key.

Just as there is a technique to hitting a ball in tennis, or throwing a football, golf has a correct motion which must be learned. The swing can be broken down into phases to assist with learning where the body should be for each phase of the swing. The sooner you can do this, the sooner you can start to enjoy playing the game of golf.

Some of the basics you need to know in order to get started.

The game: etiquette - You need to know about the game and the things you shouldn't ever do on the golf course. It is a game with rules of conduct. This is listed first, because respecting the traditions of the game is vital.

The swing - The fundamentals of the movement and how to repeat it. Knowing the plane the club should swing on and getting familiar with where things should be at the various stages of the movement.

The grip - The point of contact between the hands and the golf club takes some getting used to - I am yet to meet a person who doesn't think it feels strange at first.

The address position - How to line up with the ball for both hands and feet.

The back swing - The check points to ensure a correct back swing and proper setup for the Down swing.

The down swing - Knowing how it is initiated and where the club needs to be at impact.

Club and ball positions - Where you should play the ball in your stance for different clubs.

The short game - Handling shots around the green, including basic putting technique.

Difficult lies - The adjustments you need to make for a non-level lies and other tricky situations that exist on the golf course.

Rules of play - The most common encountered rules on the course.

Most people start out in golf with no knowledge whatsoever. They watch the PGA tour and expect to be able to play just as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. It takes knowledge and practise. Lot's of it.

Having an understanding of all these things is the key to experiencing some early improvement. If you don't understand the basics, then golf lessons won't help you. If you do have some knowledge, then you can consciously understand the instructions you'll be given and will well on the way to getting the basics of golf together so you can start enjoying this wonderful game.

Taking Up The Game of Golf

Taking Up The Game of Golf

Golf has always been a popular sport among many different people.
It's often associated with executive businessmen and while it is true that golf is a particularly popular choice with many businessmen, it is also popular in other walks of life.
There are a number of good reasons to take up golf but the only real way to find out if it is a good choice for you is to give it a go.
You should be able to borrow or rent some clubs in order to play a couple of rounds of golf because a set of clubs can prove fairly expensive if you only use them a couple of times before putting them in the attic.

Golf is a healthy sport.
As well as getting you out in the fresh air it also exercises the heart, the lungs and many muscles when you are walking round the course.
It may not seem much, but playing a round of golf every week is a very good way of helping to prevent heart disease and other illnesses.

A Golf can be a good way to socialize. Visiting the clubhouse after a round of golf gives you the opportunity to meet new people and chat to friends about how your round went and your life in general.
As another aspect of this, it also gives you the opportunity to network if you are a businessman.

The modern golf game is centered around perfect shots, scientific practice and ability.
Gone are the days of wearing plus fours and cloth caps and in are the days of larger heads, metal woods and graphite shafts.
While talent and ability are obviously the most important factors, there is certainly a lot of equipment around that claims to improve different aspects of your game.

Attaining The Perfect Golf Swing

The game of golf has a Holy Grail, a mythical thing that everyone is searching for but nobody ever seems to find: the perfect golf swing. The reason for this is simply that there is no such thing as a perfect golf swing. Each person is different, and so the swing style that is right for them will vary somewhat. However, there are a few basics that when applied can dramatically improve your golf swing.

There is no doubt that a professional golf swing is at the heart of the game and it is not possible to expect to play a reasonably good game of golf if one is not able to produce a consistent and good professional golf swing. Golf specific exercises play a key role in helping any golfer dramatically improve on their game quicker and perfect various aspects of their game much more rapidly, such as the golf swing plane.

The Swing Plane

The swing plane represents the path on which your golf club should travel upon during the swing. A good swing plane is vital if you want to be a consistent golfer. The idea that separates the high handicapper and low handicapper is usually the ability to rotate your body, keeping the club on a consistent swing plane.

One of the easiest ways to analyze your swing plane is have someone film you. A more high tech way to assist you in correcting your swing plane is a laser light that fits onto the end of the club handle. A swing trainer can also help you with your swing plane. Don't try to force the club into the correct swing plane, as this is counter-productive.

Swing Speed

When it comes to swing speed some players just cannot swing the golf club very quickly. It takes an optimum level of strength to produce a high enough swing speed to hit the ball the correct distances. Using a golf training club is one of the most effective ways to increase golf swing speed and power. The Speed Stik Golf Swing Trainer is one of the better golf swing trainers available on the market today.

Developing core strength is important for increasing golf power levels and swing speed, which is why the proper exercise is also very important to improving your swing.

Swing Exercises

When you are implementing a golf fitness exercise into your golf swing improvement program, you must be able to place the body in the correct starting position of the exercise. It is a proven fact that muscles used in the golf swing that are not exercised and conditioned on a regular basis with the correct exercise will usually not respond to the correct golfing techniques.

Most of the touring pros are now using exercise for golf to strengthen their swing and have seen their driving distance go way up. I can’t tell you how many golfers have emailed me telling me their amazing improvements in power, distance and accuracy from using exercise for golf to strengthen their swing.

The power exercise in the golf swing can also tremendously improve on the enjoyment of the game by eliminating pain, even as your body is strengthened to play a better game. Failure to execute a proper golf swing has even been responsible for numerous nagging injuries many golfers suffer, which further hampers their game.

So there you have it. There is no Holy Grail, no perfect golf swing, but there are three fundamental improvements that can be made: in the swing plane, swing speed, and regularly engaging in swing exercises. If you are careful to pay attention to each of these three aspects of swing training, you are sure to see significant improvements in your golf game.

Basis Golf Etiquette

The Golf is considered a gentleman's game and since this is so, exact policy of etiquette in playing apply. Even though these are not hard and fast rules, they show that the person practicing these has respect not only for other golfers, but also for the game itself.

Here are just some general policies of golf etiquette practiced at all levels whether they're amateur or professional. It is then followed by some certain rules at particular times throughout a game.

The Quiet
- Keeping quiet as a person steps up to the ball is a sign of respect for the player as you are allow him/her to concentrate.
- A golf course is not a race track. Do not run as this will distract and bother other players.

The Safety
- Before swinging, always check for other people or objects in the area your ball will be going. Others may not see you approaching with a shot. Make sure they are out of range..
- Similarly, it is not only unsafe to take practice swings in someone's direction, it is also considered rude.
- Make sure people are not walking around before you swing and stand still when others are swinging.

The Pacing
- When you and your group may not be the only players on a course, try to keep your pace of play at a rate that keeps up with the group ahead of you to avoid holding up the ones behind.
- It is very, very rude to advance into the group playing ahead of you. If it was accidental, you would have failed to observed safety etiquette. If it was intentional and you did so because they are playing slowly, it is still no reason to drive a ball in their direction.
- When you need to play through a group, observe common courtesy by first asking permission to do so. But before asking, make sure that the next hole is vacant so that there is enough space between groups as you pass through.
- If the group allows you to play through, take the least amount of time to finish the hole and move on to the next one as quickly as possible.

When on the teeing ground
-Try to stay out of the player's line of sight as well as peripheral vision to allow him to concentrate. Standing behind him/her is the best way to do so, as well as keeping quiet as he/she prepares to swing.

When on the fairway
-hitting some divots is perfectly fine, but avoid causing too many. Furthermore, try to put a few back in by simply stepping on the divot into the hole.
-don't take too much time looking for a lost ball. The group behind you may not appreciate the delay. If it can't be found within a few minutes, simply replace the ball.

When on the bunker
-use the course-provided rake when you've finished with your shot to rake out marks left by you, your ball and your footprints, then leave the rake outside the bunker handle parallel to the fairway.

When on the green
-avoid stepping on the ball paths of other players as this can affect the putt. Walk behind the ball on its direction to the hole or at least step over the imaginary line between the ball and the hole.
-repair ball marks made by the force of the ball landing on the green. This shows courtesy to the player following you as you've taken the time to leave them an unmarked green.
-put your ball back on the green before picking up the ball marker just so you can avoid possible points of contention between another player as to whether you've properly positioned your ball or not.

Become a More Athletic Golfer to Improve Your Golf Game

Golf and Fitness are two terms that can finally go hand in hand, thanks to one Tiger Woods and his famous mystery workout routine, and the other professional and amateur players who have followed his lead. Once an activity perhaps identified more with pot bellies, motorized carts and cups of beer on the course than physical strength and a good physique, there is now no question that golf has entered the world of a full fledged sport that requires physical training to perform at its best. Golfers on the professional tours look like athletes now, with more and more toned athletic bodies being seen on TV crushing the ball down the longest, most difficult courses in the world. Spending some time in the gym has been shown that it can make as big a difference in a golfer's score as time on the range or putting green. The game itself has changed, and the way players approach it has changed, as well.

What my friends on the golf team did in the high school weight room in the early 80's was primitive to the workout science and programs that are available to golfers now, but they were definitely on to something. One way to look at it was that before it became popular, they were athletes who happened to play golf, and it showed in the length they had off the tee. This athletic approach can be applied to any golfer's game in the present day and immediately improve their ability to play better. With some examination, it is easy to see why.

The golf swing itself is actually an incredibly complex movement that combines virtually every muscle in the body into one coordinated action. The requirements of balance, coordination, flexibility, stability, strength and power all come into play in just one swing. Over the course of a practice session or round, endurance becomes a factor as well. Having some physical fitness in all of these areas can make for a much more effective swing. It is a bit ironic that golf itself does not require you to be in shape to play (unlike running a 10 k race, for example, which needs a level of fitness to even be attempted), nor will it really get you in shape by playing regularly (unless you walk rather than ride a cart). Yet working out overall dramatically increases the ability to perform the golf swing itself. So many players look to the next big expensive driver to add yardage off the tee. Well, what it they could hit it harder by being in better shape, and straighter, too?

Getting into the specifics of golf fitness, flexibility is paramount in the modern golf swing. The ability to turn the body through the trunk away from the ball, storing potential energy on the backswing, while maintaining an anchored, solid stance through the legs and hips, is what has been shown to generate the most power. Tiger Woods has a tremendous shoulder turn on his backswing which sets him up to uncoil with great speed through the ball on the downswing.

A person taking golf lessons and attempting to emulate Tiger's shoulder turn typically doesn't even have a body physically capable of doing that motion effectively! They may be taking lessons, yet are prevented from practicing the motion that they are learning by a lack of flexibility and fitness in the muscles of the trunk and back. Only by improving their fitness in these areas through proper training can they then expect to perform the proper motion.

In addition to flexibility, core strength and stability throughout the body are essential as well. These fitness terms refer to the body's strength in the trunk and the ability of the muscles of the entire body to operate in a coordinated, athletic way, which provide a stable "platform" in the body for hitting the golf ball. The more coordinated and stable the body is, the less motion is wasted during the swing and the more effort goes straight into hitting the ball where it is meant to go.

After flexibility is attained and a good amount of core strength and stability as well, more basic strength can then be added into a fitness routine. This could be along the lines of the classic term "lifting weights" that my high school buddies wanted me to do. A flexible and stable body that gets stronger, as long as the flexibility is not lost, can add significantly more effort to the golf swing, especially in situations where the ball may be in the rough or have a lie that requires more effort than the typical swing. If you watched Tiger Woods during the US Open in June, 2007, his physique from his fitness routine looked more muscular than ever, yet was very flexible. There were comments from the TV announcers many times on the level of his fitness and how it played out in making his game more effective. He is quite capable of hitting shots no one else on earth can because of his fitness level. As a result, he has more shots available to him to help him score.

So we know now how fitness has changed the game of golf and what is available to the player who chooses to add more fitness to their routine and golf game. Anyone can benefit from some exercise that is golf specific, and can participate at the level that they want. A person doesn't have to workout like Tiger Woods to get better. Sometimes even just working out regularly itself can make all the difference.

Did The Game Of Golf Originate From Outer Space ?

Art Bell I live by the golf course and almost eveynight there are UFOs at the links . I have it figured out why the UFOs come back everynight. It is for the 9th hole on the golf course.

The exact origins of the game of golf remain a subject of continual debate. Although Scotland is generally considered as the birthplace of the game, as it is played today. This claim is due in large part to a number of specific historical references dating as far back as the mid 1400s.

The most commonly cited of these references is a written record that a games called either geoff, gowf or gawd , this is a hard game was played during the reign of James II of Scotland. In 1457 King James proclaimed by royal decree that the playing of “fluteball : and “gowf” were forbidden so that the men of Scotland could concentrate on their archery practice.

Thus the pursuit of golf remained outlawed until the signing of the Treaty of Glasgow in the year of '1501 m which brought peace between the warring parties. At this point even Scotland James IV took up the game of golf himself. A long relationship between golf and royalty ensued – although both commoners and gentry alike frowned upon Mary Queen of Scots when, in 1567 was found to be playing golf just days after the death of her husband Darney.

In an alternate theory of golf’s beginnings, a Dutch historian, Steven von Hengel, has argued that golf originated in Holland around 1297. A form of the game called spel metten kove and also called Colf. Colf, it is believed, was played primarily on ice. Nevertheless golf may have grown out of this game and another game that was popular in Holland, called Jeu De Mail. This letter carrying game was played in wooden shoes with soft spikes.

Without question golf’s major growth occurred in Great Britain, primarily in Scotland. Golf became an accepted part of the culture as early as 1604, when William Mayne was appointed Royal Clubmaker, although the game was still reserved for the elite who had the wealth and leisure to enjoy it. Early golf was played with a feathery golf ball - a stitched leather ball stuffed with boiled goose feathers. A feather ball cost three times as much as a club and because feathery balls were so delicate, players had to carry three to six balls In addition the balls flew poorly in wet weather, a fact that further dissuaded the working class who, unlike the gentry did not possess the flexibility of flexible time and leisure for scheduled games of golf.

The ball, as it has throughout history, dictated other matters pertaining to the development of the game. Because the feathery ball performed so inadequately when damp, early golf was played predominantly on the relatively arid eastern side of Scotland. Furthermore the eastern seaside location was popular because the underlying sandy soil drained more rapidly than the and the grass was naturally shorter. It must be noted that the invention of the lawn mower is a relatively current occurrence. Along the way this short grassed seaside golfing location came to be too referred to as links.

If the debate over whether the Scots or Dutch created the game of golf, the Scots certainly had a hand in creating the golf club. Leith is considered the birthplace of organized golf, and the golf club called the Honorable Company of Gentleman Golfers was founded by William St. Clair in Leith in 1744 and later became the Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Ten years later, the Royal and Ancient Golf Company was founded under it original name, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club runs the British Open and British Amateur duties that it assumed in 1919 , and since 1951 has administered the rules of golf in cooperation with the United States Golf Association . The R & A also established 18 holes as the standard golf course. In 1764, the Old Course at St. Andrews consisted of 22 holes with golfers playing 11 holes out and 11 back. Eventually the last 4 holes on each side, all short converted into 2 holes leaving 18 to be played.

Do The Golf Swing Aids Really Help Improve Your Golf Swing?

The Golf swing aids haven't always had the best reputation in the golfing industry. Upon first hitting the scene, they were viewed as little more than gimmicks, making the user look silly while using or wearing them, and providing no real benefits. As the game has evolved globally, taking on more and more players at a rapid rate, the technology surrounding golf has also improved quite a bit, and this extends to golf swing aids, which have shed their dubious skin to attain a well-respected position in the golfing world as valuable teaching tools.

For a sport as technically demanding as golf is, arguably the most technical and challenging in the world, it's not a surprise that players of all skill levels can benefit from devices which help spotlight weaknesses in their game and shore them up. The golf swing is an intricate mechanic, but for all that intricacy, it very much becomes rote to the body, which can reproduce the exact same swing mechanics repeatedly through muscle memory. This is perfect when you have a good swing, but if your swing is less than stellar, this can cause obvious dilemmas. How do you correct flaws in a swing that's so ingrained, it performs of its own accord?

The answer is to use swing aids which force the user into correct positions. The body has no choice but to adapt the new positions, and through enough use, this new form will eventually take the place of the old, giving the user the ability to successfully reproduce without the help of the aid. These aids can extend to all areas of the swing, be it the swing plane itself, the positioning of the hands and wrists, proper alignment with the ball and target, and much more.

The first step in determining which golf swing aid would be of the most use to you is to identify where your trouble areas are. A second set of eyes is useful in this situation, be it a friend or family member, or a golfing instructor. Another possible method is to record video of yourself from different angles during your swing, so you can see your motion in a different light.

Once you know your weaknesses, you can look into a beneficial golf aid which targets that weakness. Take the time to read up on the different products, and especially the reviews of those products from other golfers to determine which one sounds right for you. Most golf swing aids are available for purchase online, often at a fraction of the price of what you'd pay at a pro shop of sporting goods store. Be sure to share your experience with the device with other golfers as well, so they know which products are worth their weight in golf balls. Your golfing buddies on the other hand, well, we'll leave that up to you. Bragging rights go a long way on and off the golf course, and it may be that some things are better kept secret from your friends.

Does The World Need Another Golf Pro?

There's a new way of thinking in the golfing community and it just might affect the career choice that you make. The new movement of anti golf pro is starting to emerge and for those that want to make a career out of the sport that they love, it just might cause you to listen to what everyone has been saying.

As a golf pro, your job is to help other golfers be the best golfer that they can be. You might work with them on their swing, their putting and even their sand traps. All of the work that you are doing is helping them to get closer to their dreams of being a better golfer. This sounds all fine and dandy, but with all of the new books and videos available, it almost seems like the personal touch is going out of style.

Golf instruction DVDs and seminars are mainly geared to one thing: making money. Along the way, they might also help the golfer to improve their swing and maybe shave a few strokes off their games. However, in the end, they're just another product on the market that may or may not work. The videos are neither able to give corrections if the golfer is doing something wrong, nor are they going to be available when the golfer is actually working through what they've learned. But a golf pro is a hands-on teacher that can move with the golfer through the issues that they have as they're actually experiencing the problems.

A golf pro can help the golfer adjust their swing as they're practicing so that they can build the muscle and memory to be able to take the skills that they have learned onto the golf course. A relationship between the golfer and the pro emerges and allows them to interact with each other in order to create better golf players and better golf scores.

What's happened recently is that many more 'golf pros' are touting themselves as such without the background in the game. These are business profiteers that are trying to get into the high price golf market with flashy slogans and big promises. However, they do not have the skills to back them up. But to the average everyday consumer, they don't realize this fact and succumb to inferior instruction that doesn't help them at all. And then they need to move onto the next 'golf pro' that they find.

The real golf pros have had to prove to their clients that they are more than just another person trying to make money. You'll find these true professionals employed through golf retailers as well as through country clubs and golf courses. These are pros that have had extensive training in golf and teaching golf skills in order to improve someone else's game.

What a golfer should do is investigate the credentials of the golf pro that they have chosen. Perhaps they can look into the classes that the pro states they have taken or perhaps look at their golfing scores to see if they practice what they preach. Any 'pro' that touts his or herself on the Internet or via another print media should be looked upon with caution as you can't verify their credentials or see them in action.

So, if you're looking to become a golf pro, you will want to make sure that you know what you're doing and that you can show your prospective clients that knowledge. All of the videos and training books in the world cannot teach golf as well as a true professional can.

Golf In South Africa

South Africa golfing has seen huge growth since the 1980s when our courses compared dismally with those of international standards in the rest of the world. Following negative feedback from local golfers who traveled abroad and reported back on the high quality of courses in other countries, local courses started major overhauling of the greens and facilities, and the effect snowballed as other courses followed suit.

The results have been spectacular. Today South Africa stands proudly alongside the world’s finest golfing destinations with numerous courses on offer, many of them of the highest international standard.

South Africa has hosted many international golf championships. Our own top golfers Gary Player, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els have played on South African greens alongside Tiger Woods and other living golfing legends, as well as celebrities like Jodie Kidd. In fact, South Africa has fast become the most successful golfing nation per capita on the professional circuit!

The Presidents Cup, the Million Dollar Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Sunshine Tour and the South African Open are just some of the golf events that are regularly held in South Africa.

However South Africa is not just a golfing destination for professionals – far from it. For the holiday maker who likes to include golf on his itinerary, South Africa offers an extensive selection of great courses all around the country. Whether you’re vacationing in beautiful Cape Town, balmy Durban, vibey Jo’burg or even on safari in Kruger you’re never far from an excellent South African golf course.

The Cape Town golf courses boast views of beaches, mountains and the oceans – making full use of the stunning natural environment as a backdrop to a great game of golf.

Heading out to the Cape Winelands? More breathtaking surroundings make the wine route golf courses equally impressive – and what better way to end a round than tasting some of the best wines in the world? Talk about a classy 19th hole!

Combine a day of whale watching (in season) at Hermanus with a visit to the 6 star Arabella golf course near Hermanus. The whale route is loved by nature and golf lovers as well as those wishing to experience more dangerous adventures like shark cage diving and paragliding.

A drive up the Garden Route along the scenic coastline from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is another popular tourist experience. With its perennially green location it is a great location for golf courses, and there certainly are plenty of them here! They are most cleverly set out to blend with the natural geographic surroundings.

The Eastern Cape with its strong gusty winds makes golfing extra challenging! The scenic backdrop to the different East Coast golf courses varies from evergreen forests to arid Karoo plains, while eternal beaches and unspoiled vegetation abound.

From the south to the north coast, Durban is offers relaxation with a cosmopolitan buzz. The Durban south coast is known as the Golf Coast with its comprehensive selection of beautiful yet challenging golf courses. Durban itself is balmy year round, with a sub-topical climate and great golfing weather throughout the year.

Johannesburg boasts some particularly fine golf courses and it is unsurprising that some of these have hosted European PGA Tours and South African Sunshine Tour events.

The Johannesburg climate is well-suited to golfing and the area offers a great number of excellent golf courses

When holidaying in South Africa’s premier holiday resort, Sun City, you’ll have a host of activities including golf available to you.

You will discover here The Gary Player Golf Course, where the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge is hosted, as well as the Lost City Golf Course complete with crocodiles at the 13th hole!

One of the most memorable experiences of a golfing enthusiast’s life must surely be the opportunity to play golf while elephants, giraffe and other African game wander by.

At the golf courses around the Kruger Park this is exactly what you can expect! This is a great location for golfing in the winter months which are cooler and dryer.

Welcome to South Africa, golfers! We know you’ll find everything in place to make your holiday or business trip a sun-filled, golf-filled experience that will surpass your highest expectations!

Golf Training Aids

Are they any good for a new golfer?

Some golfers take up the game after they retire from more strenuous ball games such as baseball, football, soccer or cricket. I mean after playing in a game were a bowler or pitcher is sending a ball towards you at a high sped and you are expected to hit it out of sight how difficult can golf be?

When you watch it on TV Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Justin Rose make it look so very easy to propel the ball to the exact spot they want to. And lets face it why should it be difficult? The ball is just sitting there waiting to be hit, and you don’t just have one bat to hit it with, you have a choice of fourteen. So it has got to be an easy game, right? Wrong.

Go to a driving range just for a quick practice before launching yourself on your local golf club. And you suddenly discover the game is not quite so easy as it appears. The ball has an annoying habit of not going where you want it too. It may slice to the right or hook to the left; even more embarrassingly it may just roll a few feet forward as you hit your divot further than the ball.

Of course the sensible thing at this point is to book a series of lessons with a club pro. But you’re a golfer now, so commonsense tends to go out of the window. Instead you look through the golf magazines and find advertisements for a whole host of training aids that are going to sort out every aspect of your game.

There are training aids that will improve your swing, stance and your alignment. Nets and buckets that it is claimed will make you the best short game player in your club.

It is fortunate for the manufacturers of these training aids that golfers tend to spend more money on their game than almost any other sportsmen or women. Because training aids do not tend to come cheaply and you can spend a great deal of money on some of these tools and devices.

The Golf training aids have a place to play in many golfers development but they should be used after you have learnt the basics from a skilled trainer such as your club professional. Teach yourself golf and you not only have an idiot for an instructor but you will ingrain faults into your game that will be difficult to eradicate later down the line when you want to improve your game.

How To Use Golf Training Aids To Get Rid

How To Use Golf Training Aids To Get Rid Of Your Slice

The erstwhile golfer groans as the ball dives impudently to the right into trouble, despite his best efforts to guide it to the left. This all too familiar scenario is played out over and over at golf courses across the country. Many golfers are stricken with that most dreaded of golf ailments, the vicious slice.

Likewise, most golfers don't know how to fix the problem so they do the intuitive thing, which is to line up their feet and shoulders to the left of the target. This only exaggerates the slice and leads to great frustration. As if the game of golf isn't frustrating enough already without adding additional difficulties.

Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. If you want to ditch the slice and improve your game, then consider adding a couple golf training aids to your practice routine. There are a large variety of training aids designed to help the average guy hit it straighter. So many, in fact, that it can be confusing finding ones that will actually help. I'll give you some tips here that will set you on the right path (pun intended) to getting rid of your slice affliction.

The first type of golf training aid you will need is a swing path device. Most slicers suffer from a nasty outside-in swing path. This means that the clubhead comes from outside the ball (away from the golfer's body) to the inside (closest to the body) at impact, cutting across the ball. This leads to both a loss of power and a tendency to slice.

To correct this problem, get a golf training aid that visually (or physically) shows you the correct path through the ball at impact, which is square to slightly inside-out. Some training aids have a foam device that the club will hit if you swing outside to in. This is great because it gives you instant feedback when you make a bad swing. Grove the inside-out swing path and you will be 90% of the way to getting rid of your slice.

The second golf training aid that can help get rid of a slice is a device to help you train the timing of your release. This is the point of the downswing at which the wrists release, snapping the club through the ball. The release point is important in generating clubhead speed at impact, and also in squaring the clubface.

If your release is late, then the clubface will be left open at impact, resulting in a fade or slice. Golf training aids for the release point are usually some type of shortened club with a device built in that 'clicks' when you release your wrists properly. This provides the instant feedback you need to time your release for impact.

To use these two types of golf training aids, swing path and release, you should straighten out your shots and add some yards as well. Good luck and happy hitting!

Rules and Regulations of Golf

Golf without rules and regulations there is no game. Every game has its own rules and regulations. The rules of golf {2} {3} are internationally standardized and are jointly governed by the royal and ancient golf club of st.andrews, which was founded in 1754 and the united states of golf association. After the agreement with R&A, USGA jurisdiction on the enforcement and interpretation of the rules is limited to the United States and Mexico. Canada has the separate royal Canadian golf association, but generally follows the lead of the two larger bodies. The rules of golf continue to evolve, and every four years, the amended versions of the rule book are published. Any brand of Golf Equipments can be used. But it is better to go in for Good brands of Golf Equipments

The rules are made keeping in mind “fairness”. There are few statements stated “play the ball as it lies”, “play the course as you find it”, and “if you can’t do either, do what is fair”. Some rules that are stated:

• Every player is entitled and obliged to play the ball from position where it has come to rest after the stroke, unless a rule allows or demands otherwise

• A player must not accept assistance in making a stroke.

• The condition of the ground or other parts of the country may not be altered to gain an advantage except some cases defined in the rules.

• A Golf ball may only be replaced by another during play of a hole if it is destroyed (rule 5-3), lost (rule 27-1), or unplayable (rule 28), or at some other time permitted by the rules. The player may always substitute balls between the play of two books.

The decisions on the rules of golf are based on formal case decisions by the R&A and USGA and are revised updated every other year.

The Amateur golfers:

There are strict regulations regarding the amateur status of golfers. Anybody who played golf for money or who has ever received payment or compensation for giving instruction in golf game will not be considered an amateur. He may not be allowed to participate in competitions limited only to amateur only non-cash prizes won in competition may be accepted within the limits established by the rules of amateur status.

Golf course architecture and design:

There are many kinds of golf courses. Each country has one kind of golf course. It varies according to the climate, etc.

The different kind of golf courses:

• Link courses
• Parkland courses
• Heath land
• Desert courses
• Browns courses
• Sand courses
• Snow courses
• Par 3 courses
• Executive courses.

1. Links courses: this is the most traditional type of golf course. It is located in the coastal areas, on sandy soil, often amid dunes, with few artificial hazards and few trees if any.

2. Parkland courses: this happens to be in typical inland courses, they often resemble British parks.

3. Heath land: this means less manicured and more open area. They often feature gorse and heather and typically less trees.

4. Desert courses: this course has been recently started in Australia and parts of USA and Middle East. It’s a new invention.

5. Browns courses: akin to sand courses, but not much involved in terms of using layers of tar and gavel below the sandy surface layer, to give firmness and support and ensure a consistent bounce/roll.

6. Sand courses: instead of heavily irrigated green, the players play on sand unlike most golf players. Holes are less involved than browns courses. And are only for the casual golfer.

7. Snow courses: can be played in arctic or sub arctic regions during winter. This is a recent invention. Golf is played on snow, typically with an orange colored or any brightly colored ball.

8. Par 3 courses: this course consists entirely of holes with par 3. These are considered a good test of iron shot precision and short game, as the driver is rarely used.

9. Executive courses: the course is generally smaller than the typical 18 hole course.

Teaching Children to play Golf

You think your little guy might be the next Tiger Woods? If you think your child has a propensity for golf, or if you have a love for the game that you want to share, how can you best teach your youngster the game? How can you tell that they are ready to learn? What age is best to start a child on learning golf if you want to develop a quality player?

Golf, a detailed and complex sport, can be tough to teach to kids. For this reason, get them started early and ensure that you build a firm foundation in their gameplay so that they learn to be confident in the sport and in their own abilities. This type of learned confidence can help them embrace the complexities of the game as a whole and will turn them into golfers that are ready to learn.

Once a child is walking well independently and able to hold a child-sized golf club, he or she is probably ready for the first introduction to the sport. This can happen when the child is as young as two or three years old. Preschool children will not be ready to play golf as a game, but they can be given small putters and practice swinging the club correctly.

The children at this age learn almost everything through imitation. The best way to teach them proper swinging and putting techniques is to demonstrate, and then have them imitate the motions. But use caution that you do not make this tedious for the child. These imitation sessions should be short and fun. Try having the child hit a small balloon. Not only will this be fun, but the child will also have success in hitting the balloon, which will keep the frustration at bay. To make it even more fun, try filling the balloons with water for added resistance! This is a great summer time activity for you and for your child!

Once the child has entered school and has a good handle on the swinging and putting techniques learned through observation, it is time to start teaching the game of golf. School aged children are accustomed to verbal instruction and can listen to explanations about the game better than their preschool counterparts. You need to keep in mind, however, that they are still children! They will thrive on encouragement, and all teaching sessions should be kept upbeat!

Start by taking your child to the driving range. Show your son or daughter how to hit the ball correctly, aiming for distance. The driving range is a good place to start since there is not a specific target they must reach, so the child is less likely to get frustrated. After the child demonstrates aptitude on the driving range, you can head to the course. By this point you should be able to tell whether or not your child is going to share your love for the game of golf.

The parents need to remember that no matter how hard they try, not all children have the same likes and dislikes that their parents have. If you have introduced your child to the game of golf, and he or she does not enjoy it, try not to push them. By pushing, you might find that you drive your child away from the game. All you can do is give them the experience at an early age, and they must come to a conclusion about the game on their own.

Finding The Best Possible Golf Career For Your Needs

There is barely a golfer in the world that wouldn't trade in their day job to get paid to be on the course all day long. However, most do not realize that obtaining a golf career is actually not as difficult as they might originally believe it to be.
You don't have to be a professional on the PGA circuit to enjoy all of the freedoms and fun of a career in your favorite sport.

There is a wide array of opportunities right from the beginning golfer all the way up to the professionals. Ideally, most would want to have a career simply playing golf.
Though this is entirely possibly, it is advisable to discover if the idea is plausible before going ahead full steam.
Perhaps you could start by playing in a few tournaments with cash prizes.
If things go well and you end up with some money in your pocket, perhaps a career as a professional golfer isn't all that impossible.
However, most golfers don't quite have the stuff to be able to compete for money.
Thankfully, there are a lot of other golf careers that will keep you involved in the game even when you're not even on the course.

The one thing to consider is to become a golf pro. If your friends are always remarking that you have the perfect swing or how your drives always reach a far distance and are always straight away, then a golf career as a golf professional may be the perfect choice for you.
This is also a very flexible job because you decide how many hours you work per week.
You could either do a few lessons a week just for supplementary income at the start and once your client base gets big enough, you could start doing it full time. The best advertising is word of mouth, so if your clients are happy with your service they will undoubtedly inform their friends and family as well.

There is also a wide variety of careers that involve the retail aspect of golf. You could start your own golf specialty store, which would keep you surrounded in golf gear every day and talking about golf to your hearts content.
There is a booming industry presently with imprinted golf balls, which is a business that you can run directly from your own home. A lot of people are searching for golf balls with team logos, pictures of family or slogans emblazoned on them.
The technology is a bit expensive at the beginning but all you would need to sell your items is a website. There is such a wide variety of golf careers that if you decide you want to work with golf full time, you shouldn't have a problem finding a suitable career.

A golf career doing maintenance on your favorite course will keep you on the grounds all day.
Most people that work directly for the golf course either get to play for free, or at a discounted rate. If you have a love for golf, there is sure to be a golf career out there that fits perfectly with your talents. Whether as a golf pro, a retailer, a groundskeeper or even a professional golfer, the options are basically unlimited.
So don't be intimidated by those who say you could never have a full time career in golf. Prove them wrong by landing the job of your dreams.

Golf Instruction On A Budget

It must be nice to drive around in a little golf cart and play the perfect game on a perfect green. The golfers everywhere are envying you as we speak. What's that? You aren't driving around in a cute little cart or playing a perfect game? And no one is envious of your supremely skilled game? One would assume that means Tiger Woods isn't on hold on line 2 then.
Odds are good that Tiger is never going to be eagerly awaiting your call, but that doesn't mean that with effective golf instruction you can't be the envy of the green.

Let's face it; most of us can't afford private lessons with a pro or even with the local country club's golf instructor. Knowing where to look and what to look for go a long way in finding help with golf instruction however.
It doesn't matter if you play on the finest golf courses in the world or join up with your buddies occasionally for a round on the local public course. In this era of high speed information the tips, hints, and techniques used by golf pros can be at your fingertips.

Finding advice on golf instruction is simple really.
Books and magazines are printed by the hundreds on this very subject. Either one would be an excellent addition to your birthday or Christmas wish list.
It is a good bet that your significant other would be delighted with an original gift idea and at the same time give themselves the gift of not hearing you lament your golf game anymore.
Check out the library for a selection of books that highlight every different aspect of the game of golf. This technique will save you bundles on your bill at the local bookstore. Another way the library can be useful in finding golf instruction is in their DVD department. Check out the ones that seem interesting. The DVDs you find especially helpful can always be purchased later.
When your golf skills dramatically improve all your friends will think you spent a mint on private lessons. They'll be so jealous.

While talking about acquiring golf instruction on a budget, don't underestimate the usefulness of friends and family. If golf is a family passion, maybe Mom or Dad has some helpful hints that you overlooked.
And the friend you are always trying to impress with your game may be the perfect instructor.
You can always sway him by stating the obvious, if he helps you, just maybe he will at least have a little competition the next time the two of you hit the greens together. That should be enough to encourage some cooperation.

The information highway is the place to go for information on all kinds of subjects. You already pay for your Internet connection, make it earn its keep. There are countless websites and forums dedicated to the game of golf and many of them offer tips on a wide variety of golfing issues.
For example, you can learn the best clubs to use for each shot and how to factor weather conditions into your game. This is seriously some useful golf instruction. Your budget will love you because you are using a resource that is already paid for.

When a lot of people think about golf instruction it is rarely associated with inexpensive. Considering that golf course time, the equipment, and golfing extras tend to cost so much, budget golf instruction is the way to go. Who knows? Before long maybe Tiger will be calling, or maybe not. Either way you will be playing better and the kids can still go to college.