‘pro tips’

At the start of each new golf season all the buzz seems to be about the newest driver on the market that will allow you to hit farther and straighter. However, I would suggest that the best way to shave strokes off your score is to have a hard look at your short game! The old saying “drive for show, putt for dough” probably makes more sense than we realize.

60%-80% of the game is played from within 100 yards!
Most golf professionals readily acknowledge that 60-80% of your game is shot from within 100 yards of the hole. This being the case, there is nothing that can help you improve your game more than saving some strokes on your short game.

When you are out on the course and your long game is not going the way you like, your short game can help save your round.

The Essence of Chipping!
As you know, a chip is a low trajectory shot that actually rolls farther than it flies in the air. It is a relatively simple shot made with relatively simple swing. However, setup is everything - you want to achieve clean contact with the ball to create a downward blow.

Different clubs will provide different results when chipping. For instance a 60 foot chip with a 6-iron will send the ball approximately 10 feet in the air, with a roll of approximately 50 feet; a 60 foot chip with an 8-iron will send the ball approximately 18 feet in the air, with a roll of approximately 42 feet; and a pitching wedge will send the ball approximately 25 feet in the air with a roll of 35 feet.

Putting - a Game within a Game!
The other element of your short game, putting, is often referred to as the game within the game. This is the part of the game that requires the most personal interpretation and where the decisions you make are often more important than the actual shot itself.

While the 4 to 6 foot putts are the ones we expect to make most of the time, these can often be the most unnerving shots in golf, especially when the pressure is on!

When putting take your time to read the contours of the green; review the distance of the putt; visualize your shot; align your body, the head of your putter and the label on your ball; and then slowly and thoughtfully take your putt!

Knowing that your short game can either make or break your round, consider a few rounds where your key focus will be the short game!

Wednesday, May 23rd
Putter & Wedge Day - try the putter challenge for a chance to win a putter!
If you want some personal advice on your short game, be sure to visit Caledon Country Club on Wednesday, May 23rd from 2-6 pm for our TaylorMade Putter & Wedge Day. Try a few different styles on our practice area and get some advice on what wedges and putters best suit your game. Be sure to try a TaylorMade putter face right on your putter, to see what a difference it can make to your game! Give your short game the attention it deserves this season and see what it does to your score.

Call (905) 838-0200 and let us know if you plan to attend this events.

I regularly see people coming out to the course and I am amazed how many are wearing the same old golf shoes every day.

Your feet (and ultimately your shoes) are an important part of your golf game. Consider that you are spending up to five hours outside, in all kinds of weather, so your shoes need to stand up to the challenge.

Golf shoes are about more than just style. Unfortunately they are often the most overlooked piece of equipment in a golfer’s bag.

In very basic terms, golf shoes help secure a golfer’s feet to the ground. More importantly, by helping you secure your stance they allow you to take advantage of your leg power during a swing. They also provide a safety service - by keeping you steady they help prevent slips and falls on the course.

Golf shoes should be lightweight, provide ample support and grip, have good cushioning, and above all should be comfortable! Many golfers consider waterproof golf shoes a necessity.

Another thing you may want to consider is carrying at least two pairs of golf shoes in your bag. This helps your shoes last longer and allows you to wear the right shoes for specific course conditions. You should have a pair of shoes for those wet days or dewy mornings, and a pair for those bright sunny days. When one pair gets worn out you can rotate a new pair in, but always have at least two pairs at all times.

While there are many great new shoes out in the market that can be purchased for under $100, sometimes a simple cleaning and switching out of your old cleats is all you need, and can be done fairly quickly and inexpensively.

So, to get this season off to a nice comfortable start, why not treat yourself to a new pair of golf shoes! Not only will your feet thank you, but you will likely shave a few strokes off your game - simply by stepping onto the course, in style!

Kevin Purcell,
CPGA Professional

Stop by the Club Saturday, May 5th
Adidas presents their extensive line of golf shoes.
FREE socks for everyone who tries on a pair of shoes!
Check out the new Adidas Tour 360 II Golf Shoe

Enter to win a pair of Adidas Tour 360 II golf shoes

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As the snow is all but gone from the fairways, we are definitely close to teeing it up here at Caledon. Many avid golfers have spent time during the off season reading about all of the new equipment they hope will improve their game this year. With rapidly changing technologies such as square drivers and moveable weight ports, hopes are high for longer, straighter drives and lower scores. There is no question the latest technology can help any level of golfer improve their game, but there is another way to lower your score this season.

Before you go out and invest in new equipment, consider stopping by the course and talking to myself or one of the other CPGA Golf Professionals on staff. Often a spring tune up is in order and a small modification to your swing, stance or grip can make a vast improvement to your game. On Wednesday, May 2nd we will be offering a FREE spring tune up clinic beginning at 6:00 pm (pre-registration is required). Throughout the year we also offer a number of group lesson packages, including special clinics for ladies, juniors and men. And we are always available for private instruction when it suits your schedule.

As we all anxiously await the announcement of dates for course openings, use this time wisely so that you’re ready to tee-off when the season opens. Go through your golf bag, check your equipment, but most importantly, take some time to make sure YOU are ready for the season. Give us a call at the Pro Shop and come to a spring clinic, or consider the 6-week Golf Fitness Conditioning Course at the state of the art Riverdale Fitness Mill, just down the road from us. We are planning to open on or about the first week of April, so stay posted at www.golfcaledon.com. We will have a free gift for everyone playing on opening weekend!
Kevin Purcell, CPGA Professional

Our pros Kevin and Eric can help with your golf swing, but unless you get the fundamentals right, there’s nothing they can do. Here’s what they CAN’T help with…