Category: Golf tips (page 1 of 2)

Five Things To Practice To Improve Your Mental Game

I get a lot of requests to submit content for this site. They usually want to buy the space somehow, whether it’s a paid post or just links within a post. I always turn them down because of my policy to keep this site authentic and unpaid. The only advertising I offer is in the sidebars, and clearly marked as such. Recently I was contacted by Paul Bradshaw, a South African golf professional, who offered to write exclusive content for The Golf Chick, and offered a number of topics for me to choose from.

As someone who struggled to break 80, and a big proponent of the mental game being critical to playing better golf, I jumped on the chance to share his thoughts on the topic (unpaid). So I’m publishing this rare guest post in the hopes it will help someone else crack whatever milestone they’re trying to reach. There’s a lot to learn in this post, and I hope you enjoy it. And, for the record, the 5th tip in this post is what I believe tipped the scale for me when I finally broke 80.

Five Things To Practice To Improve Your Mental Game

by Paul Bradshaw

Embrace Tough Conditions

You arrive at the golf course and it’s freezing cold outside. Basically snowing. And miserable. All you want to do is stay inside the clubhouse and sip on a hot cup of coffee and keep warm! Well unfortunately (or fortunately) for you play has not been suspended and you have no choice. You’re going out.

This is your opportunity to get ahead of the game and your opposition. As Jack Nicklaus said “In torrid conditions half the field has already given up – so you’re actually only up against the other half”. You have to realize that scores are not going to be great in these conditions and par is your friend.

Play sensibly and don’t go for risky aggressive shots that you might usually do in calm conditions. You have a blow out on a hole and then you’re going to be playing catch up all day long.

Your aim is to churn out the pars and if a birdie comes along at any point then grab it with both hands as you’ve just beaten the field by a shot and a half on that particular hole.

Be Clear Cut In Terms Of Shot Ahead

This is where most amateurs and players in general are not top drawer. Too many of us get over the golf ball and almost forget about what their target or distance is when hitting their shot. This causes indirect doubt and doesn’t allow your body to put a confident swing on the ball.

Visualize this scenario. You’re playing a par 5 with a wide creek running through the fairway at 120 yards from the green. You’ve got 300 yards left to the hole. You realize that taking out a fairway wood and trying to clear the water is risky as if you don’t catch it you’ll be penalized. You need to take the correct club in order to fully commit to the shot, but still end up short of the water. If you were to take a long iron you’re going to subconsciously doubt yourself and whether it’s too much club so you bail out of it and strike it poorly. You leave yourself a lot further away now and having to work harder than you would ideally like. And on top of this your mind is also now thinking about how poorly you did strike that last shot.

Establish yardage, establish target and establish wind direction and strength. And then commit yourself to the shot knowing it’s the correct club in hand.

Change From Result To Process Driven

This is so difficult to master, but you need to start trying to! We all want the best results possible for each and every shot and let’s face it. That’s just not going to happen. There are outside influences beyond your control that will also affect your golf shot. You have to accept that before you’ve struck the golf ball otherwise you’re going to fighting with yourself mentally all round long.

Create small mental goals/targets for yourself before the round and perhaps remind yourself of these along the way. Say things like “I will consistently execute my pre-shot routine each and every time,” and “I will execute each golf shot as best as I can,” and “Each and every club I get my hands on today I will love.” Things like that.

You keep doing the right mental things and those process goals will turn into successful results. Don’t put a time frame on that either and start putting pressure on yourself unnecessarily.

Visualize Each And Every Shot

Jason Day is a perfect example here. He stands behind every golf shot, holds his club and the end of his glove together and closes his eyes for roughly 5 – 10 seconds depending on the shot at hand.

He is visualizing the shot he ideally wants to play. Right from impact he visualizes the strike, the launch, the trajectory, the shot shape and finally the ball descending toward the target and coming to a stop.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve done this when I really needed to hit a quality shot in a pressure situation and my actual shot was basically a repeat of my visualization. And that feels so good! It gets your mind into the correct state when addressing the ball rather than still doubting certain things and not being sure if you want to draw it or cut it for example.

Implement this as soon as possible and build it into something that just happens rather than you consciously thinking about doing it.

Rather ‘Under Care’ Than ‘Over Care’

Now I’m not saying hit the ball on the walk or finish off your putts from 20 feet while your partners take their time over their shots. What I’m saying is that the outcome really isn’t the end of the world. If you notch up a high number one round and almost embarrassed yourself – don’t care so much!

Come back the following round with a character building low one and set the record straight. If you post another poor one – then keep reminding yourself it’s just a game. You’ve got to have fun more importantly than anything else. When you do that you’re going to start performing better as well.

By not phasing yourself too much with outcomes you’ve also got to stay in the present. Don’t even think one shot ahead and that is TOUGH! But it is so important.

If you get to a tee box and think to yourself “Man this is definitely a birdie hole”…you’ve already jumped the gun. You’re way ahead of yourself – slow down!

So there you have it! I hope you found this guest post useful. Thanks, Paul! You can find out more about Paul Bradshaw on his website: www.golfassessor.com.

New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

January 9, 2016 / golfchick / 7 Comments

Happy New Year! This article about New Year’s golf resolutions was originally published in View on Mesquite Magazine Jan/Feb 2016 issue. If you’re here to follow Doug’s progress, please keep checking back. Unfortunately, he had a medical setback that has delayed his resolutions so they could not begin January 1. But he’s determined to make a big comeback and get going on these ASAP!

Please join in and share your own resolutions or your thoughts/progress with those listed here.

golf ball 2016

New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

by Doug Lesko

It’s 2016 – Is this your year? Is this the year you stop smoking? Stop drinking? Lose 30 pounds? If you put your mind to it I have no doubt you could. Doesn’t sound like much fun to me though. I’m choosing to focus on golf in 2016; I want to take five shots off my game. By June I want to be a +2 handicap. It doesn’t matter what your goal is – breaking 100 or breaking 70 – a desire to get better is all you need. I’ll give you eight easy things everyone can do to make golf more fun.

Stay hydrated.

This one is so easy and so important to playing good golf, especially in the desert. Staying hydrated is a daily requirement; your body needs water, and a lot of it. Drink a glass first thing in the morning, have a glass with every meal, and have 2 glasses between each meal. You’ll feel fuller and eat less.

Eat healthy (most of the time).

I like food, most of it not very healthy. I like pizza, wings, mashed potatoes, cake, and bacon. To say I’ll stop eating the foods I love is unrealistic and sets me up for failure. I’ve found I also like salmon, tuna, chicken, sweet potatoes, salad, and many types of fruits and vegetables. If we can just eat healthy five or six days a week, a cheat day or two is acceptable.

Stretch.

As we get older, our muscles start to shrink. We need to stretch every day, even if it’s just bending to touch our toes. Stretch your back, your arms, your shoulders, your legs, and your neck.

Swing a club 100 times everyday.

Start with slow easy swings, make a full swing and proper weight shift. Lay another club on the ground and pay close attention to your alignment. You can use any club but switch it up from day to day. On the seventh day swing two clubs at once.

Practice your putting.

You can do this anywhere – at the course or in your living room. Work on five to ten foot putts. Proper techniques are the first priority: straight back and straight through using your shoulders and keeping your hands still.

Commit to at least one day a week at the range.

Go through odd number clubs one week, even the next. Always use alignment sticks or a club to make sure you are aligned square to the target. Hit the driver on each trip. Range balls do not fly as far as your normal ball, so don’t worry about distance. Focus on hitting the sweet spot on every shot. Technology has made the sweet spot bigger but it’s still very important to hit the center of the club for consistency. Finish with full swing wedges; again, make good contact and control the ball flight.

Find a club you can chip with consistently.

Just because Jordan Spieth uses a 60° wedge doesn’t mean you have to. I prefer my 50°, while you might find an 8-iron to be your best fit. Whatever works for you, spend at least 20 minutes practicing chipping to inside a three foot circle.

Get fit.

Playing with clubs that are too short, too long, too upright, too flat, or don’t have the proper shafts can cost you several strokes. Bring your clubs to Ready Golf and Gear and have them fit you for your swing. You might be playing the right clubs; you may just need your clubs bent to fit you. You may decide to get new clubs, but playing the right clubs fit for you is the only way to play your best golf.

I will be implementing these resolutions personally and blogging about it at thegolfchick.com. Feel free to follow along and share your process and progress with me.

Make 2016 your best golf year ever – go play!

Say No to Five Hour Rounds!

August 30, 2015 / protipsgolf / 4 Comments

I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t play golf, but even more than that I don’t understand why some people that do play have no idea how to navigate a golf course. I don’t like five hour rounds. Correction – I hate five hour rounds. I’ve never heard anyone say “That round was way too fast. We need to slow down next time.”

All too often while waiting on the tee I see two carts sitting side by side up ahead. Three of the guys are sitting in the carts, one is on his phone, and one is telling the other guy about the birdie he made on this hole in ‘96 or ‘97. The 4th guy is standing next to his drive doing his best Tiger Woods grass toss, trying to figure out how this 2mph wind is going to affect his upcoming bladed 5 iron. Having decided it’s a two club, wind he pulls the 7. Now the fun begins: practice swing, practice swing, practice swing… no, wait. He’s only 210 out, 2mph downwind. It’s got to be the 8 – he saw Bubba hit this exact shot last week. The fact that he just ripped his driver 190 never enters his mind. Four more practice swings, this time with the 8, then pures it 70 yards. Still not out of our landing area, but on to player #2 where the show begins again then again and one more time. Unless the 2 players in one of the carts are women. Most women hit it then hit it again until they get to the green where they are lining up their putts while watching their husbands toss grass in the air.

Golf is hard, playing golf doesn’t have to be. Golf is a game where you police yourself and call penalties on yourself. Only you can speed up play – unless you are scared of those 90 year old volunteer rangers that most courses use now.

Here are a few easy things that everyone can do to make golf more enjoyable for everybody.

1. Play the right tees. Most scorecards have recommended tees based on handicaps. A better way may be to look at the holes on the card. You should be able to comfortably hit a 6 iron or less to most of the par 3’s and 4’s.

2. Practice on the range, play golf on the course. The only time I take practice swings on the course is when I’m trying to stay loose because I’m waiting, I have a difficult stance or lie, on chips to get a feel for the lie, or if I’m trying to hit a big draw or fade. Three or four practice swings on every shot just wastes time and wears you out.

3. If you’re the longer hitter in your cart, walk to your ball and get ready to hit while your partner is getting ready. Take a couple clubs with you; twenty seconds after your partner hits you should be pulling the trigger. Even if you grabbed the wrong clubs he can drive over and you’re ready to go.

4. Unless you’re playing in a tournament, play ready golf. Common decency tells you an eagle or birdie has honors, but any other time, hit at will. Same goes for around the green. If you have a 50+ foot putt and no one has made it to the flag to tend it, putt it if you’re ready. Chances are it’s not going in. If it does and you’re playing a friendly round, nobody’s going to make you take that penalty.

5. Be aware of your surroundings. Park the cart on the path at the back of the green. If you brought a club with you to chip, lay it at the back of the green after your chip so you can pick it up on your walk back to the cart. Start lining up your putt and fixing ball marks while others are putting as long as you can stay out of their line.

6. Write the scores down on the way to the next tee. No eagles or birdies? Grab your club and swing away.

*This post is a section taken from my “bio page” which is here.

Editor’s note: I had a discussion with some people on twitter yesterday after a 5+ hour round. Here are some ideas we threw around:

Golf courses – offer green fee discounts to people who play in less than 4 hours. Perhaps in rebate form, or in discount on their next round.

Public/private courses with members who don’t pay green fees? Maybe a discount on monthly minimums. Or, how about a rewards program/points card. Every time they play in less than four hours they get points towards money to spend in the pro shop.

Any course – Use your marshals to move people along! Also, implement a “wall of shame,” on which you display photos of players who take more than 5 hours a round.

But, since golf courses are like highways and one slow group causes a traffic jam, only penalize the first group that fell behind. This one’s tricky because you’d need a marshal out there to identify the offenders. And if he’s out there and didn’t speed them up – he’s the one who should be penalized! Offer a drink or something to the groups whose rounds were miserable behind them.

Other ideas? Please share in the comments! – Kristen @thegolfchick

When Will The Golf Chick Break 80? Pool Announcement and Progress Report

July 21, 2011 / golfchick / 8 Comments

As my golf swing continues to progress, I started the pool about when I will break 80 over on my Golf Chick Facebook page last week and people are getting their votes in. There is an over/under for the less adventuresome but some people are also naming specific dates. I’ll tell you something – there will likely be a prize or two and it will be a lot harder to choose a winner from people who only picked over or under. Just saying. Wagering amongst one another is up to you and the laws that govern you (does that cover my ass?).

People who read this blog regularly will have an advantage because you’ll know the progress I’m making. Scores I’m shooting, how practice is going, how dedicated I am (or not) day to day, week to week, how I’m feeling about it all, etc. Some people are choosing the “over” in the pool, which I perceive as an underestimation of me – one I look forward to proving wrong. Perhaps they’re doing it on purpose to motivate me, but if you haven’t voted and are considering the same – here’s another clue: I’m plenty motivated now. That grenade has been jumped on. Pick a more winning date.

A couple people have chosen their own birthdays as my break 80 date, which I think is fantastic. I wish I could give that birthday gift – the first one is next week though! Zoinks! Plus, I should tell you potential pool participants that while I do manage to play during the week at times, I’m much more likely to play on weekends. By the way, if you don’t use Facebook, feel free to make your pick here in the comments of this post. If you are dropping by my FB page to make your pick, I’d love it if you would click its “like” button if you haven’t yet!

Quick answers and summary of progress: People have asked me on Facebook and Twitter about my progress. All my golf and swing progress is documented here on my blog. Quick review to date – best score before swing change: 82. Best score since swing change: 86, however that was too soon and I don’t feel it was my authentic new swing. I played 5 rounds with a flawed new swing and am now back to only practicing to get it more ingrained and it’s feeling better already (details below). I’m playing a scramble charity event this Friday (July 22) and plan to continue to grind away at the range after that. I will throw in a round from time to time to keep practice interesting. As I mentioned earlier, weekends are far more likely for such rounds to occur but some weekdays are possible.

Golf Swing Progress Update:

I had three amazing practice sessions the last three nights. I focused only on my irons and really had them working well. Getting back to the fundamentals after so many days on the course really made a difference and I was able to focus on how what I should be doing and feeling rather than the outcome of each shot on a course. I was striking the ball very well and more consistently than ever. Not just since I got my new swing but EVER. Which, according to Jay Lim, my swing coach, (and perhaps every other instructor) is precisely the objective. ConsistentÂ repeat-ability. I’m getting there and it feels amazing.

Golf Tip – From the Horse’s Mouth – Am to Am Translation

I’m sure it has been spoken and written countless times but something occurred to me on the range the past couple days that really made a difference for me and felt like a breakthrough. One of my weaknesses Jay has been coaching me on is how I lead with the hands or arms instead of the shoulders on the backswing. He keeps telling me the shoulders need to start the swing. If he explained why I don’t recall but the reason I just figured out on my own is that it makes it 10 times easier to keep my left arm straight(er) and control the steepness of my swing plane. Jay usually speaks my language very well, which is important in a student/swing coach relationship, but whatever he said or I read about consistency and leading with the shoulders did not really click for me until I came to this revelation two days ago and reinforced last night and tonight. I share it with you now in the hopes it might do the same for someone else. To put it the way it made sense in MY head: lead, almost push back, with the front shoulder to keep the arm “connected” in the swing. If I lead with my hands or club, the shoulders have a hard time keeping up and it’s almost impossible not to bend my left elbow. If I turn my shoulders first, it practically keeps itself straight! Then if I keep my plane (which I’m doing better by keeping my right knee bent), it’s much easier to contact the ball consistently because my arm doesn’t have to “figure out” where to go. It has already been there.

Romance in the Air

I am falling in love with my new golf swing so I need to name it now more than ever. You know, before I start calling it some cutesy name like “Cupcake” instead of a fierce name like a honey badger deserves. I’m considering Chuck, or Norris (not both – I can’t see myself loving Chuck Norris but he could be my swing’s namesake). I am so excited. I seriously cannot stop thinking about my swing and when I’ll be able to spend more time with it. It feels like new love. For a golf nerd. If you read this far, I bet you know just how I feel. Admit it.

UPDATE: I DID IT! July 11, 2015.

Took me long enough, but I finally broke 80! I shot 78 at Falcon Ridge golf course from the maroon tees (4440 yards). I normally play the gold tees there but we played with another couple and I decided to step up and play the forward tees since the woman was playing there and the guys were split, so rather than stop at four sets of tees… you know how that goes. Anyway, even though it’s exceptionally short, it’s still a challenging course and you have to make the shots. So it counts! 😛

Then, less than a week later we went back and I played the gold tees (5279 – still short, but with a 124 slope that’s my spot). After breaking 80 from the forward tees, breaking 80 from here was my next goal. Guess what? NAILED IT! Shot a smooth 77 for a new personal best!

Haven’t seen the 70’s again since, but my new goal is to break 80 at any other golf course. Then just try to keep it in the 70’s.

I’ve always been pretty chill on the golf course because, well, I’m “not good enough to get mad.” But now that I’ve seen and felt the 70’s, I find myself feeling more frustrated out there when I don’t play well. Maybe I need to look into meditation.

~May they all roll true.

Warm Your Golf Balls – Great Test on Video

January 10, 2011 / golfchick / 11 Comments

The guys at Cleobury Golf Club are putting out some entertaining and informative videos for us all to enjoy (and learn something).

If you’re an avid reader of all things golf, you’ve likely seen studies and comparisons of different golf balls, their construction and performance. If you’re an average (and typical) golfer, you probably ignore most of the data and just think you MUST have the Titleist ProV or ProV1. Well you’re free to spend your clams however you like. I won’t even mock you for it. As you may know from other posts here, I’m a believer that golf is mostly a mental game, and if you THINK you play better with the most expensive golf ball used by so many Tour players, you just might. (Here is an article with lots of information on different golf balls, if you’re interested.)

That being said, if distance is your priority and you’re a mid-handicapper with a slower swing speed (whether you admit it or not), you’re better off with a 2-piece ball. Plus, you’ll save a lot of money. The video here from the Cleobury guys shows the difference in distance of 2- and 3-piece balls by just such a player. But what I found more interesting was the test on the temperature of the golf balls. I’d heard that if you keep your balls warm, they’ll perform better but I can’t recall ever seeing a video test or even reading any research on it (not to say it doesn’t exist). I think I may have even heard it from an LPGA player – Paula Creamer, perhaps. Great to see the distance theory proved here.

These guys obviously have fun making these videos, which you can see more of on their youtube channel.

Another one I particularly like is “How to Repair a Pitch Mark Correctly.” Not funny, just informative. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen people do it wrong and correct them. Don’t pull UP (the guy in the vid even messes up his first pull in the “do-it-right” segment but corrects it nicely). I’m a big advocate for taking care of greens.

Keep the videos coming guys, and good work!

Next post.

Amateur Golf Tips from Bobby Cobb

August 3, 2010 / golfchick / 10 Comments

You may be asking, “Who is Bobby Cobb?” He’s the dim, crass buffoon that you somehow can’t even hate to love on ABC’s unfortunately named sitcom Cougar Town. An aspiring pro golfer who lives on a boat in a parking lot, he’s now giving golf tips to amateurs with his “caddy,” the friend who worships him. Tips? Well, it’s comedy. I wouldn’t mind seeing some inventive dances on the greens around here, but I don’t know how many other golfers would appreciate it.

So here’s the video clip “Bobby’s Bag of Tricks” from the new Cougar Town DVD. Enjoy!

Cougar Town: The Complete First Season on DVD comes out on August 17th.

Next post.

Ask The Goose: Question About the Indio Effect

April 7, 2009 / The Goose / 6 Comments

Dear Goose,

What is the Indio effect, just mentioned moments ago during the Kraft Nabisco broadcast? We all know it means the greens tend toward the town, the question is WHY??

Scott

(Answering from beyond the grave):

Dear Scott,

In the early 1900s there was a Pavuul (shaman) of the Agua Caliente Indians who held a ceremony to bring rain to the area of Palm Springs. The ritual was held in Indio, thus the rain that followed was more heavily concentrated there. It is believed that the pull of force extended beyond water and indeed acted like a magnet for all manner of objects and continues to this day.

I know this because I speak coyote, which was that shaman’s totem animal and is his permanent form in the hereafter. Apparently, he became one on occasion during his time on Earth, especially after such rituals as mentioned above. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

The Goose

Editor’s note: OR, the elevation and terrain of the area surrounding any golf course is often a large factor in the slope of the greens. Indio is lower than Rancho Mirage. Course designers can integrate such natural slope to create optical illusions when forming greens with more “obvious” ridges and breaks. Ever play a course near the ocean and the greens all tend to break toward it? Or near a mountain where the greens break away from it? Tricky.

Next post.

How to Cure a Slice

July 15, 2008 / golfchick / 9 Comments

I’d write a book but it’s just too simple. I had this epiphany on the range awhile back. Many golfers probably know this and it’s just too bleepin’ basic, but I think we all forget it from time to time.

Have problems with a slice or just pushing the ball to the right? Here’s the answer, and it’s yours for the low, low price of finding this post:

Let the golf club get to the ball.

Easier thought than done sometimes, I know, but it really is that simple. My problems began with my driver and progressed to my fairway woods. When I started blocking shots to the right with even my irons, I had to figure it out. I could probably have done a quick google or read a tip in a magazine or something, but I learn better from doing or figuring it out myself. It just seems to stick better that way.

I addressed the ball normally, then figured in order to push the ball right, the club face would have to be open at impact. I turned the club face that way at address without adjusting my grip or stance and thought “how did I get here?” The only way I could end up like that after having addressed the ball correctly was to turn my body towards my target. That was it. I was simply turning my hips too soon and not letting the club reach the ball. I implemented the swing thought “wait, wait, wait, release” (for tempo) and refused to turn too soon. Sure enough, no matter which golf club I used, the ball went straight. I could even start drawing the ball again. It was magical.

Of course there are other issues that can cause a slice but this was my problem. It’s easy to find out if it’s yours. Just try it.

Next post.

How to Play with a Woman

March 20, 2008 / golfchick / 2 Comments

Much of the advertising on golf broadcasts and in magazines already gives the older guys medicinal “advice” for a playing around with a woman, but I’m focusing on playing a round of golf with a woman. And while many of the younger men already seem to have a handle on it *ahem* and I’m targeting this discussion towards the less evolved individuals of the older generations, there are some young lads who have picked up on certain behaviors from the adult males in their worlds and should also have a read.

The main premise of it all is: She’s a golfer, just like anyone else you play with.

The golf game itself

When it comes to her game, there is no need to offer unsolicited pointers. Just like anyone else, she’ll ask if she’s interested. And, just like anyone else, she may know more or less about rules and etiquette than you do. Don’t assume she needs your advice in this area. Just like anyone else, she’ll ask if she wants confirmation that the drop she’s taking is correct. And, just like anyone else, it will be obvious if she is an inconsiderate playing partner. Would you correct a man in that situation or just complain about it with your buddy and never invite them to play with you again (or hope you never get paired up with someone like that again)? Don’t alter your behavior by condescending to her just because she’s a woman. She’s just another golfer; some you enjoy playing with and some you don’t.

Standard behaviors and civility

Think about all the rounds you’ve played with all the different men and their individual styles. Your behavior adapts to certain situations, doesn’t it? No difference here. You might tone down your antics if you played with an esteemed colleague. Think how your behavior would change if you were lucky enough to play with Tiger Woods. You might enjoy a rare cigar if you played with a sales prospect who happens to bust some out. The point is, you’re already applying the following simple guidelines when it comes to playing with different people. If you’re not already applying them to women as well, why not?

1. Assess the delicacy of the situation

When you’re playing with your usual group, you know those personalities and what is acceptable or what is not. When people play together for the first time, it’s courteous for both parties to act in a civil manner and not use foul language. The default setting in golf (and in life) should be polite. Golfers understand that bad shots can cause spontaneous reactions and you’ll be able to take cues from such outbursts or reactions to them to establish one another’s comfort level with language. A woman may have a fouler mouth than you and should be equally attentive to your preferences.

2. Treat the person like a human being who happens to play golf: with respect

If men play from different sets of tees, they still treat each other with respect and appropriate etiquette on the tees. If a woman plays from the forward tees, have the courtesy to give her the same. She may have to trek up 20 yards to tee up, but she can still hear and see you as you fiddle with your clubs or carts and talk about your shots. And just like your buddies, she’d appreciate another set of eyes tracking her ball as well. Also, if you’re riding in golf carts, please remember to always stop at the forward tees if she’s playing from there. You may be excited to go find your golf ball but there’s still another golfer who needs to tee off. If you were all playing from the back tees, you wouldn’t drive off before the last golfer took her shot.

Don’t treat her like being a woman is a handicap (even if you think it is). Just like any other golfer, she may be more or less skilled than you. Women are generally more realistic about their skill level than men and will play from the appropriate length. Whether or not she plays from there, calling the forward tees “the ladies tees” implies that all women should be required to play from that length no matter their skill or distance and is degrading. Plus, it only further cements your unwillingness to play from there even if you should. And if you should, she knows it. She has choices just like you, and if she doesn’t want to sit in the “back of the bus,” she doesn’t have to. If she’s old fashioned or otherwise not offended by this, you should still behave as if it would. It’s a good habit to adopt.

Don’t talk about how important it is to you that your final score be better than hers (even if that’s how you feel). Being a man doesn’t entitle you to play better than she does. Story time:

I played with an older gentleman who thought it was appropriate to keep mentioning how all he wanted to do was score better than I did. Throughout his long life, he never played passionately or developed his game, and only played occasional rounds over the years. He should have been playing from the forward tees, he took (we gave him) all the mulligans he needed to maintain a modicum of pride, and as we kept score, we were quite generous. Even with all of that, he still couldn’t have bested my legitimate score but kept the delusion alive and out loud. Being fond of this man and knowing his style (his position in life has him accustomed to “yes men”), I finally told him that even “if” he didn’t beat me, we’d be sure to tell him he did. He laughed, and was duly appeased. Without that fondness and established relationship, had that behavior come from anyone else, I would have reached a breaking point, unleashed, and brought him down to size.

The point is, no matter how good you are (or think you are) you’re not entitled to play better than anyone else because of their gender any more than you are because of their race or religion. Would you assume you could beat someone just because they’re Latino or Jewish? And if you actually would, would you say so? And if you would, would you please not go out in public?

The vast majority of the men I’ve played with are polite and respectful and don’t need these guidelines. But for those who do, you know who you are. And I can only hope you’ll pay attention. And I’ll leave it at that for now. Yes, it turned into a little of a rant there, but what can I say? I’ve gots me passionate opinions.

Next post.

Cure your slice by squeezing breasts

December 5, 2007 / golfchick / 4 Comments

Sound too good to be true? Okay, so it’s only your own breasts.

This tip was submitted in the form of a comment from the glorious Golfgal on my last post. I thought it deserved full-post attention:

Although everyone has their favorite cure, this really did work for me and came from Ben Hogan.

He said, “Ladies, squeeze your breasts together to remove a slice.”

When my slice comes back, that’s what I remember and it always seems to do the trick.

disappointed or contemplative chimp I’m pretty sure he meant while you’re holding the golf club and to do it with the sides of your arms. Not quite as titillating but probably more effective that way. I haven’t tried it yet but you know I will. I also don’t know if he was actually speaking to just the females or maybe there were some man-boobs in the crowd. Perhaps it’s just the motion of putting your upper arms closer together and keeping them there that works, so it really might work for anyone.

What do you think? Anyone tried it?

Next post.

The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Category: Golf tips (page 1 of 2)