‘pro tips’

No matter how much we’d all like to avoid them, bunkers are part of the game of golf at most courses. Many would argue that the bunker shot is one of the most challenging shots in the game, and for that reason it seems that many golfers simply bury their heads in the sand (pun intended) and do whatever it takes to get out of the sand. However, armed with the right technique, you can recover after landing in the bunker.

A bunker shot is not a conventional pitch shot!
Take a look at your sand wedge and you will immediately recognize that something is different. It has a bump on the bottom that you won’t find on other clubs. The bump on the bottom of your sand wedge is called a “bounce” and has been designed so that when you swing your club, the “bounce” will be the first part of the club to touch the ground, allowing the rest of your club to slide under the ball and propel it out of the bunker!
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A pitch shot is one of those in-between shots: longer than a chip, but usually shorter than a full swing. A pitch shot is often used to play over a bunker towards the green. Because the pitch shot is an “in-between” shot, it’s often a shot that gets overlooked when it comes to practice!

70% of all shots are played within 70 yards of the green
According to golf great Gary Player, 70% of all shots are played within 70 yards of the green, and for this reason alone it is important to practice and develop a consistent pitch shot. Read more…

It’s often been said that putting is a game within the game of golf, and there seems to be no general consensus as to the best technique for putting.

Choose the technique that’s best for you.
There are a number of proven methods for putting, but it always makes sense to pay attention to the fundamentals and then adapt from these principles to suit your game.
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Last month we talked about the importance of developing a proper golf grip, and mentioned that this, along with set-up and posture were the fundamental elements in your golf game. This month I want to talk about shot set-up and all that entails. It seems obvious that you can’t expect to hit a target if you are aiming in the wrong direction, and the same can be said about your golf shot. If you don’t set-up your shot properly you have little hope of hitting it in the direction you want.

There are a number of key elements that you need to address in regards to shot set-up. Alignment, balance, posture and ball position are all closely related in ensuring that you make the most effective shot you can.
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Ultimately it’s the fundamentals of the game of golf that are the difference between a good round and a bad round! While the fundamentals may seem less glamourous than the latest driver or putter on the market, the importance of grip, setup and posture should not be under-estimated. In fact, I would argue that most challenges to a golfer’s game can be traced back to problems with their golf fundamentals.

Get a (good) grip!
Your golf grip is your only physical point of contact with your golf club, and it clearly has a direct relationship on how your ball takes flight! The primary function of your golf grip is to help you correctly align the club face with the ball, so that you can hit the ball correctly.
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Practice makes perfect, and nowhere is this saying more applicable than in the game of golf.

Don’t under estimate the value of practice. Your local practice facility is as essential to your golf game as your favourite club!

Pre-Game Practice Routine
A pre-game practice routine is essential to establishing your tempo, building your confidence and achieving consistent on-course results. Start your warm-up with some stretching and then move onto stroke practice.

Tiger Woods Preaches Benefits of a Warm-Up Routine
At a demonstration conducted by Tiger Woods before the 35th Ryder Cup, Woods preached the benefits of his warm-up routine, which he says he borrowed from Jack Nicklaus. He begins his warm up by hitting three sand wedges, then moves to the 8-iron, the 4-iron, the 2-iron, the 3-wood, the driver, and then reverses the entire process. According to Woods, “it’s really simple…I hit the same shot with a different club…when I hit my first three sand wedges I don’t care where they go…I just try to feel the club and the ball on the face….from there on out, I hit every shot to a target.”

Loosen up before your round
Try to allow yourself some time before your round to take advantage of your course practice facilities. Loosen up with some easier shots and then work your way up the bag.

Driving Range Practice
When hitting at the driving range, work on your technique, tempo and consistency. It’s better to focus on hitting a few “good” shots with each club, rather than a multitude of bad ones.

At the Putting Green
If time permits, move to the putting green. Start by chipping and putting around the fringe (collar) of the green. Try to take about 10 chip shots before taking out your putter. When putting, start slowly, and get a feel for the speed of the green. It’s a good idea to start putting from a fairly close distance to the pin, taking about 3 or 4 shots, and then slowly work your way back away from the pin in increments.

Buy A Bucket and Practice
If you use the Tiger Woods method on the driving range, hitting 3 balls every time you use a different club, you can get away with a small bucket of balls (40 balls) at the range. Practice — like the pros! Bottom line — give yourself time to practice your game. Enjoy an outing at the practice range, and always allow yourself some time before your round for a proper pre-game practice routine. It definitely pays off in the long run — and if it’s good enough for the touring professionals, we should probably consider it too!

Yours in golf,
Kevin Purcell
CPGA Professional

Practice Facilities at Caledon Country Club

Have you tried our driving range?

Hit a bucket of balls before your round, or if you don’t have time for a round, just make time to practice at the range and putting green. Practice will pay off in taking strokes off your game in 2008!

Our practice green/chipping area is located next to the clubhouse and first tee. The green is large and a very good representation of what you will encounter on the course. We also offer ample area to practice your chip/pitch shots before teeing off. Our driving range is a short walk from the Pro Shop. We offer several hitting stations with mats, a large grass area to hit from, a smaller grass tee deck and a practice bunker. The range is about 230 yard long, but netting at the far end allows you to hit with any club in your bag to warm up! Hit a bucket of balls before your next round, or grab a bucket and give every club a work out before you hit the course — the perfect tune up for for the 2008 golf season!

Large Bucket of Balls (80 balls) $9.00
Small Bucket of Balls (40 balls) $6.00

Golfers know that the winter months can be tough when the links are covered in snow and you are counting the days to get back on the course! However, these “off” months are a good opportunity to put into motion a golf exercise or conditioning program that will help prepare your body for the upcoming golf season.

A well-balanced training program will benefit you not just on the course but in your everyday life, as well. Consider the following areas of training in preparation for the golf season:
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Golf tournaments are a great excuse to get an extra few rounds in over the course of the golf season - in fact, they are a perfect way to combine business & pleasure.

Tournament play - a different game!
From a golfer’s point-of-view, playing in a golf tournament is completely different than playing with your regular golf buddies at your favourite course. Depending on type of tournament you are entering, your game strategy may be completely different.

Charity & Social Tournaments
If the tournament is a fundraiser or charity event, or an event for your company’s employees, you may find yourself playing with golfers with little or no experience on the course. In this type of tournament the event is usually all about fun and camaraderie - enjoy it for what it is. There are usually prizes at these type of tournaments, and while it is great to win one of the top places, remember that the primary goal of the event is not just about winning - so play your game accordingly.

Playing in Competition
On the other hand, you may find yourself playing in some more challenging tournaments, where your score definitely matters and where you want to come out on the leader board.

This type of tournament requires a different type of mindset. After all, you will be playing with three different players than you regularly play with - and they are definitely trying to beat you. In fact, there may be up to 154 other players in the tournament who also want to end up on top!

Winning a golf tournament is usually a combination of skill and luck. Not only does your game play affect your score, but sometimes the very combination of golfers you are playing with can impact how well you play.

Stay Focused on Your Game
Ultimately, you need to stick to your game basics. Plan a strategy for your round and stick to your game plan. Stay focused on your game, and be less concerned what others are doing.

Do your Homework
There’s nothing like preparation and practice. Do your homework before you head to the course. What are the yardages to the front, centre and back of the green? Plot yardage not just from the tee, but from other every possible location you think may play a factor in your game. Consider fully charting the course you will be playing on. Study slopes and plot out what clubs you will use on each hole.

Check out the Course Beforehand
Get to the tournament course early on the day of the tournament. Take this opportunity to breath in the atmosphere and surroundings, but don’t be overwhelmed by them. Rather pay attention to weather and wind conditions and consider how they will impact your game, and make any adjustments to your game strategy. Not matter what the format, golf tournaments are another opportunity to hit the links. Play your game according to the type of tournament your are entering, and remember to have fun!

PS Check out our Tournament Planning Check List .

Did You Know this about Tournaments?

* The Canadian Open was founded in 1904.
* John H. Oke was the first winner of the Canadian Open in 1904 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. They played 36 holes.
* The Canadian Open is considered the most prestigious tournament NEVER won by Jack Nicklaus. He was a runner up 7 times!
* The first US Open was played at Newport, Rhode Island in 1895 and was won by H. J. Rawlins.
* The first Masters, created by Bobby Jones, took place in 1934, and is the only major tournament that is always played on the same course each year.
* The USPGA was first played in 1916, the same year the US Professional Golf Association was established.
* The Ryder Cup, played every two years, with teams from North America versus Europe, had its first official match in 1927, though two unofficial matches took place in 1921 and 1926.