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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For this months article I wanted to talk about pace of play. This article is intended to be of help for the beginner to intermediate player and as a refresher for others. For the advanced players it goes without saying that pace of play is very important and from the perspective of a professional golfer it is a top priority. We all need to respect the fact that golf is a game which should be played in a certain timeframe. As a guideline par 3′s should be played in 8-10 minutes, par 4′s about 10-12 and par 5′s around 15 minutes. These numbers will usually go up exponentially in direct proportion with increased number of players. Just for reference in Scotland, at the home of golf, it is customary to play 18 walking in just over 3 hours!
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With the beginning of the season fast approaching, I was thinking about how course conditions in April can be quite different. I don’t mean the condition of the course, instead environmental elements which include rain, wind and cold. 

These factors can wreak havoc with our games. As I was driving down Highway 10 I thought about how strong the wind was and how wind affects driving conditions. This made me think about playing golf in windy conditions and how even a little wind can affect our ball flights. As the early-season weather conditions vary, learning to play while taking the wind into consideration will make your round more fun.  Continue reading →

With every new golf season comes new optimism and expectations. Optimism is great but expectations often need to be reorganized. Too often right from the start we create goals that are too lofty. This year I suggest your first full month of golf should be clear of all expectations. Consider these rounds as warm up rounds only and use the opportunity to get your feel and swing back from the long layoff. Instead of focusing on a score set smaller goals like hitting more fairways, greens or eliminating 3 putts. So keep it simple, have fun and don’t worry about your score. Fewer expectations may result in better play.

Matthew Belacca,
Head Professional, CPGA
CALEDON COUNTRY CLUB