Chipping is equal parts technique and creativity. It requires touch and imagination to land in the proper spot on the green and roll the ball out to a close proximity to the pin. It requires a solid understanding of trajectory and release. You have to be able to estimate how far a ball will fly and then how far it will role with a given club. Seeing as it is such a short shot we don’t want to be throwing away strokes by flubbing and topping our way to the hole. Hopefully these tips and drills will help you get up and down more often.

Here are a couple of key points to think about when setting up and executing a chip shot.

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For this months article I wanted to speak to the topic of  practice.  The concept of practice is to work on a skill using correct technique.  When practicing with correct technique the results will be much more consistent.  If your time is limited then I would recommend spending your precious time on the short game: chipping, pitching and putting.  This area will help to improve your scores more than any other.  The short swing is a “mini” full swing.  If the “mini swing is completed with proper alignment and path then it bodes well for full swing mechanics.  Any new golfer or seasoned golfer would be doing themselves a favour by practicing the short swing.  I’m a firm believer that golf should be learned from the green back to the tee.

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Having a sequence to your swing is very important.  Everyone’s game can benefit when following a proper sequence of triggers in their golf swing. The following are four separate swing triggers to be aware of.

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With summer having ended just a little while ago we are now in the “shoulder season” at golf courses across Canada. Here are a few reasons why fall golf should be a top priority for all golfers.

Some of the best golf can occur this time of year especially if you are a fan of scenery and the outdoors. At Caledon Country Club we happen to have some very nice vistas and views particularly because of our many elevation changes. With the changing of the colours of the many trees it can be a sight to behold. And, having played all season you should also be hitting the ball your best so why stop playing?

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For this months tip I was thinking about the changing of the weather and the increasingly windy conditions we are experiencing. I thought it might be beneficial to talk about keeping the ball low and how to play smart golf in high winds. Something that we must understand about playing into strong winds is that a slightly less than straight shot will be exaggerated further by the wind. So it is far more beneficial to swing slower, use more club and keep the ball lower in order to help keep the shot in play. This is especially true when hitting directly into the wind. Many golfers swing out of their shoes trying to make up for the loss of distance that the wind represents and then actually end up losing their ball!! Instead of trying to swing for the fences in high winds try these tips:

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This month I wanted to discuss the importance of balance as it pertains to the golf swing.

Outside of the static fundamentals (grip, stance, posture, alignment and ball position) which all take place before the swing even starts I think that balance is probably the most important factor in making a sound stroke. So many times we see a golfer make a nice smooth practice swing and then they fall completely off balance and swing out of control when they hit their shot. This usually results in a shot that goes offline or nowhere at
all. I say usually because sometimes the ball can still fly towards its intended target. I think it goes without saying that every golfer wants to have that beautifully balanced smooth “tour swing” with the “held” follow through. The only way this can happen is if there is balance at address and throughout the entire swing. Here are a few tips to help improve your chances of making a balanced swing:
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Here are some strategies to walk you through playing the golf course at Caledon Country Club. There is much to be said about playing a course with strategy instead of teeing up and swinging for the fences with driver every par 4 and 5 and hoping for the best. If we don’t have a plan, we are putting ourselves in potentially tough situations by ending up behind trees, in bunkers, out of bounds and in water hazards. Unless driver is needed in order to hit over 200 yards then there is some thought and strategy which can highly benefit your scores. If you play thoughtful golf then you are giving yourself the opportunity to take out the “high scores” in your round. This isn’t to say that strategic golf guarantees no more bad shots just that it helps average out scores and provides more consistency during your round. A hole by hole overview of how I would recommend you play the course follows: Continue reading →

Sweet Spot

I want to talk about the importance of catching the “Sweet Spot” on the golf club. When the ball is struck with the middle of the face we can achieve consistent distance. The ball feels like we have just hit a marshmallow because there is virtually no vibration or twisting happening in the club head. The three main keys to distance are club head speed, centeredness of contact and launch angle. If we swing with a consistent effort and a consistent swing plane (angle of attack) then we can conclude that impact position will be our primary distance factor. Here are some key points which should help with that consistency.
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