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Archive : July 2007

July 19, 2007

Carnoustie - A Links Golf Course

Well the Open is upon us and will the weather be a devil or an angel? On Monday's practice round Carnoustie delivered all four seasons in one day then by Tuesday she was an angel.

What does playing a links course mean? It allows the players to find a natural style or playing technique for hitting bumps and runs and to keep the ball low in the wind. Players have usually figured out that they need to take more club and they definitely have to be shot shapers and makers.

Links golf is a totally different kind of golf. Playing well at Carnoustie means you have a lot of natural ability and the knowledge to play completely different shots from what we use on our pristine, immaculately green American golf courses. Most of the tour players who don't like this course have probably had some problems reworking their game to make these changes.

It is always a challenge and a wonderful experience if they just immerse themselves in the natural beauty of these courses that are on oceanside sand dunes that were formed by a receding sea and covered with fertile soil from a river estuary. It is beautiful when you remember the beginnings of the game of golf.

Golf in some form, not what we play today, goes back to Carnoustie in 1527. Later there was a 10-hole course fixed upon the links between 1839 and 1842 and around 1867 it finally developed into 18 holes. The course you see today is virtually the same as it was laid out in 1926 to have tougher finishing holes and more yardage -- and yet manages to withstand the test of time.

As we watch the Open this year, I hope we will all view the course as the home of our passion for a game that can delight, thrill and humble us ... every time we step out on a course to play.

July 6, 2007

Life on the beach...Sand Traps

It is the day after Independence Day and I hope everyone had a great holiday. A lot of us probably went to the golf course and we might have been a bit rusty since we've had so much rain and maybe made a poor shot or two that put us "on the beach" or in the sand trap.

Being on the beach is not fun and especially if it is one around the green. These shots can run your score up in a hurry because you have to get it out of the sand, make it pop straight up too to clear the lip, and then keep it close to the hole for a makeable putt.

We don't have to fear these shots; just make some adjustments and it is up, out and just a short putt.

What are these adjustments?

1. Open the clubface wide (about 30 degrees)
2. Take a wide stance for stability and play the ball inside the heel of your front foot
3. Squat down a little at address
4. Make a 3/4 backswing, swing into the sand about an inch behind the ball
5. Take a full turn against a stable body
6. Face the target at the finish

With a little practice, these shots will become much easier and lower your score.

Practice makes perfect and it also makes for lower scores.

Hit 'em straight and long!

P.S. ... how will fatherhood affect Tiger? Let us know what you think.