As mentioned previously, my buddy, Clay, the golf package pro from Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts, has a great understanding of Myrtle Beach golf courses. After years of some good (and some very awful) golf-filled weekends, he’s become an unofficial authority on the topic of what to play, and what to avoid at all costs. At my request, again, Clay stepped up to the plate to offer his suggestions for the Most Fun golf courses to play in Myrtle Beach. Keep in mind, there’s approximately 83 golf courses along the Grand Strand as of Spring 2008 (we’ve lost a few over the last couple of years thanks to the real-estate development boom and an over-saturation of courses that offered more than the current demand of rounds during that time), so narrowing the field to five is quite a task. But, Clay, ever the one to have a very distinct opinion about everything, pretty quickly drafted up his picks. With only one slight waver between in which order to rank two, he had his picks back to me in a matter of about nine seconds.

Clay’s Top-Five Most Fun to Play Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

5. Man O’War. Not only is it fun—-it’s beautiful. An 80-acre lake winds along, inside and around the course at every turn-creating a truly inescapable foe that’s a blast trying to best. A Dan Maples masterpiece, Man O’War offers back-to-back Bentgrass island greens and a very cool island ninth you won’t find elsewhere.

4. Barefoot Love. Interesting, scenic and once voted first-place in Golf Digest’s list of “Top 50 Courses in Myrtle Beach.” The Love Course (designed by Carolina native Davis Love III) is the jewel in the crown of Legend Golf Courses at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach. Generous landing areas, wide-open fairways and complex greens are the hallmark of this 7,000-yard , 72-par course.

3. Shaftesbury Glen. Capturing the essence of Augusta National and Winged Foot, Clyde Johnston has carved a delicious treat that includes every delicate facet of golf. A beautifully flowing layout, Shaftesbury Glen goes beyond offering traditional wide fairways and elevated Bent greens to flat-out demanding doglegs and make-you-want-to-cry traps. Seriously, some of the finest holes along the Strand.

2. Pine Lakes. (Take note on this one–Pine Lakes–the oldest golf course in Myrtle Beach, is now temporarily closed for renovations geared to maintain the historical relevance of this legendary course. The expected re-opening is 2009.) Designed by Robert White, the PGA’s very first president, and the birthplace of Sports Illustrated magazine, Pine Lakes features starters clad in Scottish Kilts, is sloped at 130 and has 6,200 yards of glorious South Carolina elegance. Since there are some slight modifications being made to the design, I won’t go into to much detail that could become inaccurate in the future.

1. World Tour. Play Augusta National, Cypress Point, St. Andrews, Royal Troon, and so many more, all in one day. At the World Tour, every single hole has been designed based on a famous Championship course hole from around the world. Not only are the individual holes a challenge—but the scenery is ever-changing and filled with manicured fairways, exciting hazards and surprises around every corner. Your game will be challenged, your mind will be working and your sense of satisfaction will be well-met after a round on this entertaining Myrtle Beach favorite. Expect the price per round to reflect amount of fun you’re likely to experience—but, it’s worth it.

A Long. http://www.ttimesonly.com

A Long. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. anglong616@gmail.com

It’s a truism to say that you drive for show, but putt for dough. Whether you can perform a tour-worthy 28 putts a round, or putt way over par, the putter is your most used club. We will help you choose the right putter for your game, with guidelines on weighting, feel and alignment so you can choose a design that suits your style - and your purse.

Mallets v Blades

Putters fall into the categories of blade, ‘heel-and-toe’ and mallet. Purists claim that even a cheap and cheerful blade forces a more consistent stroke, but many golfers - both pros and amateurs - now favour the larger sweet spot and high MOI (moment of inertia), which creates the resistance to twisting that you find on mallets.

Blade

Heel and Toe

Mallet

They help us all to hole more putts with less-than-perfect strikes, as the deeper body also physically pulls the centre of gravity back from the face, encouraging golfers to develop an upward stroke for path-hugging topspin, and reducing the destructive ‘bounce and skid’ that can characterise the early stages of a putt.

Mallets really are all the rage as their deep bodies offer the most scope for the bold alignment features that have transformed the market. We used to be satisfied with tiny notches, dots or small arrows to point us in the right direction, but today’s graphics include colourful stripes, long perpendicular sight lines, and even golf-ball sized circles that encourage us to line up the ball with the hole itself.

The Feel Factor and Insert Technology

Feel is vital when buying a putter, with a whole range of distinctive face inserts offering a slightly different sound and feel at impact. Heavier weights, such as tungsten and brass, are recommended for slower greens, whilst lighter alternatives such as aluminium reduce the total weight, which is of benefit on slicker surfaces. Many of the latest putters favour the soft feel of copper, aluminium or synthetic inserts, which offer a more controlled strike on today’s manicured greens. Meanwhile, their lightness enhances a putter’s perimeter weighting for extra stability.

The quest for perfection has brought us some amazingly exotic inserts, including gold-plate, platinum, and even 12-carat industrial diamond! As well as the more usual tungsten, nickel, copper and aluminium, of course. All are naturally reflected in the price, but generally you do get what you pay for.

Expensive putters tend to feature more accurately engineered weighting, more precisely milled (i.e. flatter) faces, and of course more sumptuous headcovers to protect that precious insert. Computerised milling of head from solid blocks of metal, especially, offers a high-precision alternative to forgings and castings, whose feel can be compromised when the hosel is welded to the head. Look out also for other features ranging from perfect face balancing (for golfers with ’square to square’ strokes), premium grips (like the excellent Winn range) and belly or broomhandle shaft options for those seeking a more mechanical action.

Putter Shafts

The other thing to consider is the shaft length. Most will opt for a standard putter length, but long putters can benefit some golfers. Broomhandle and belly-putters, pioneered by 2002 European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance among others during the late 1980s and early 1990s, are tucked under the chin or into the belly. They are swung in a pendulum fashion, and crucially make demands on a different set of small muscles and nerves - and have revived the careers of several Tour players who have suffered from the yips.

Greatvaluegolf.co.uk - Golf Putters

When choosing their equipment, women golfers have largely the same considerations to think about as men. Just as for men, we would advise starting with a club pack as your first set, with a combination of driver, fairway woods, hybrids to replace the long irons, irons from 5-SW and a putter. Most new golfers find that they rely on their 7-iron and pitching wedge at first, slowly gaining familiarity with the other clubs. Equally the same as for men, we would recommend cheaper cavity back, cast head on your clubs, as the more refined forged blades are really for the better player. And we’d recommend a set of two or three wedges, to play all the chip shots, and probably a mallet putter as these are easiest to align, and weighted to help you achieve a square, balanced stroke.

Women’s shafts are crucial to help you play your best

However, for the women’s game, there are special options to consider. The shaft is the axle of the club, so the better the shaft, the better the club. As your game improves, it is very much worth considering investing in decent ladies’ clubs, with ladies’ flex.

Ladies’ flex

Flex has a major effect on the feel of the club, and also makes a difference to the distance you will achieve. Most women struggle to really power down on the ball - when hitting a driver, they tend to achieve a swing speed of less than 60mph. This would give a carry distance of under 180 yards. If you use a driver with a ladies’ flex, then you will be maximising the carry of the ball, whereas if you tried to hit a driver with a stiff shaft, designed for swing speeds of over 80mph, you would probably find it difficult to achieve the momentum you desire.

Ladies’ loft

Loft angle has a major effect on distance off the tee, and generally the slower your swing speed, the higher loft you should choose, to really get the ball airborne so it can travel further. You should be looking at lofts of 13-15 degrees in a driver.

Graphite shafts

To help achieve a faster swing speed, women are also more likely to do well with graphite shafts in their woods, as these are more flexible and lighter than steel. You may also consider them for your irons, as you will probably find them easier to swing.

Get the length right

In terms of length, it is worth getting measured to make sure your clubs are right for your height. If they are too long, you will find your whole set-up is out of kilter and you are probably making lots of mis-hits. Do it yourself by taking a wrist-to-floor measurement from the crease of your left hand (for right-handed players) down to your feet and then making a simple calculation. For example, if you are between 5′4″ and 5′7″ in height, but your wrist-to-floor measurement is between 33 and 34″, then you will need shafts which are a quarter to half an inch shorter than standard. If however your wrist to floor measurement is 36 to 37 inches, you will need clubs half an inch longer.

Callaway and Ping both supply excellent ranges of clubs for women, with their Big Bertha ladies ranges (Callaway) and G5L (Ping). Wilson also has a substantial women’s range, with their L6 series of irons, hybrids, woods and more.

Choose the right golf balls

For women as much as men balls can make a big difference to your game, the more complex multi-layer constructions will provide more feel and control, whilst the simple two-layer offerings will give you the distance you need before you start to think about finesse. But for women, balls such as the Srixon Soft Feel for Ladies (pic) are designed to give a higher launch trajectory for greater overall distance, performing best in tandem with women’s slower swing speeds. They should also provide excellent feel around the greens.

Choosing the right golf shoes

There two different types are recommended for both men and women - a heavier-duty winter pair and a lighter summer one which allows the feet to breathe. For women, of course, style is all important, so why not consider something like FootJoy AquaLites which offer women golfers ultra-lightweight comfort with added stability. This performance waterproof golf shoe comes in a choice of styles, at affordable prices. Meanwhile, Hi-Tec has now brought out several shoes incorporating their excellent CDT (custom directional tracking) technology for women, for unbeatable stability.

Choosing the right golf bag

For women just as for men, golf bags have enjoyed a high-tech makeover in recent years with everything from lightweight parachute materials and graphite-friendly tops to ‘club management systems’ and mobile phone pockets revolutionizing the market. 2007 will see the bag scientists pushing the boundaries further, with ergonomic handles, adjustable dividers, elaborate trolley-fixing mechanisms, ingenious shoulder harnesses and more.

But for all that, your main options when choosing a bag are a sturdy cart bag (some are specifically designed for buggies, so be sure to check), a stand bag suitable for trolley or carrying; or the new generation of lightweight ‘pencil’ carry models for a quick nine holes. And when it comes to women’s bags, the idea is to make them as light-weight and easy to handle as possible, as well as colour-coordinated to go with the rest of your equipment. Sun Mountain, Wilson and Yonex all have excellent women’s bag ranges available.

Finally of course when it comes to clothing you want to look your best, and these days there are golf clothes that perform, keeping you cool in hot weather and dry in wet, without making you look like you’ve been stranded in the 70s! All leading manufacturers provide women’s options, from simple golf tops through to waterproofs, and there are even gloves, such as the Wilson Staff Grip Soft, which are designed for the shape of women’s hands.

For more information on Ladies Golf Equipment read here.

Titelist is no new player in the game of golf, and Titelist golf balls have effectively become a powerhouse in the golf equipment industry. But how do you determine which of Titelist’s golf balls is the best fit for your style of golf? As an avid golfer and dedicated student of the game, I’ll share with you my analysis of Titelist’s top balls in helping you make the most informed and educated decision as to which ball can help take your game to the next level.

First thing is first. What type of swing do you have, and what is the most important function of a golf ball to you? For example, some may choose golf balls that have a softer feel, higher spin factor, longer distance, or more accuracy. Another very important factor is the picking a ball that is right for your club swing head speed. A local pro shop or golf retailer should be able to analyze your swing and tell you your club head speed with a normal swing - oftentimes for free!

After much adeu, let me share my feelings on Titelist’s top 4 golf balls. The first one I will critique is the Titelist Pro V1 - this ball is their top of the line product retailing for $44/dozen. This ball is made for expert golfers and is a 3-piece ball. I give this ball my highest rating for spin, distance, softness, and accuracy with a driver. Besides its high price, the only other complaint that I have with this ball is its mediocre accuracy with irons.

If you have a swing that generates a slower head speed, the 2-piece Titelist DT So-lo ball may be your best choice. The price is right, at $22/dozen - or half the amount of the Titelist Pro V1 and it had some strong advantages. I rated this ball excellent with distance, and softness of feel. I rated this ball as better-than-average for its iron accuracy, driver accuracy, and its spin factor.

For the players who want to turn everyones heads off the tee, the 2-piece Titelist HP Distance MX could be the right ball for you. The ball is reasonably priced at $19/dozen, and I rated it excellent for distance with the driver. It is better-than-average with driver accuracy, but it is mediocre with its spin factor, softness, and iron accuracy.

The final Titelist ball I critiqued was the 2-piece NXT. It’s a little pricier at $28/dozen, but has some perks that might be worth paying for. I rated this ball as top notch for distance, and it is better-than-average with driver accuracy, and softness of feel. However, I found its accuracy with irons, and its spin factor to be only mediocre.

I trust that this article has helped educate you on the benefits and drawbacks of the different Titelist golf balls, and you can now make the best decision as to which is right for your form of play … and your pocketbook. More important than anything else, I hope that the information presented about Titelist’s lineup of balls helps you enjoy the game more than you would have otherwise.

For more information on Titelist Golf Balls, visit the Golf Ball Forum at

http://www.DiscussGolfing.com today.

Here is a good one for all you golfers out there.

This is one opportunity I was a bit skeptical about at first, but I was doing ok with my home business and thought what the hell.

I play Golf at least twice a week with my friend Zac aka Mr Taylor Made this guy is flasher than Michael Jackson. When he walks on to the course he has got the best of everything, he also works from his home and has become very successful.

Lucky he is successful because he has to pay for all his bling bling golf gear. (He is so going to kill me when he reads this)

I dont Know why the pair of us bother with golf, we both struggle to make under 100 each time.

But thats OK we have a good laugh and a nice cold beer at the clubhouse afterwards and tell each other how good some of our shots were.(yeh right)

For the last 2 months we have not paid for one green fee or cart hire and you wont believe this part we have made some money.

Don’t worry this is legal, legitimate and ethical you wont believe how simple the concept is, it will totally blow you away

Its worked so well for us over the last couple of months that we are now planning a road trip with our wives around the States and over to the U.K. and it wont cost us one cent.

I guess the best way for you to find out more is to visit the site and see for yourself.

If your not into playing golf for real, there is a free download for one of the hottest golf games on the web.

See you on the course

Go here to get link

http://petalac.blog-city.com/golf.htm

I play Golf at least twice a week.

When a golfer is looking for a lightweight golf bag with a variety of features he or she has a plethora of options. There are many manufacturers producing high quality golf bags at affordable prices, in a wide assortment of styles and colors. While style is a key feature that can often persuade a buyer to purchase a particular type of bag, one of the most prominent and desired feature of a golf bag is its’ carrying capacity. Golf clubs, balls and other items that must be carried can not only amount to a hefty weight but also take up a reasonable amount of space, thus spacious golf bags are quite popular on the market.

Another key feature of a golf bag that consumers look for is organization. Forcing a golfer to go rummaging through their golf bag to find the desired club or some specific
item can take some time and result in the golfer losing concentration. Of course, most bags provide the necessary compartments, but many of the less expensive ones do not. Hence, if you are an avid golfer who intends on playing or frequently plays competitive golf, there is no other choice than to purchase an exceptional quality golf bag. If you simply cannot afford to splurge on a bag then look into purchasing one from a wholesaler at discount prices.

Many bags come with an abundance of additional convenient features also. Adjustable and comfortable straps are always welcome as carrying a heavy bag with little padding can be somewhat painful and obviously then, affect the performance of the golfer. Another appreciated feature of some bags is a stand, which allows the bag to be set up for easy access and also keeps the bag off of the fairway. As mentioned previously, style is quite important as well, thus many manufacturers provide a range of styles and colors for their golf bags, so one can easily find something that suits their taste and perhaps even makes them look and feel more professional.

For lots of information on
golf
equipment and
other golf related topics, visit
Your Golf Guide at
http://www.yourgolfguide.com

When you first begin to play golf this is of the mistakes you are likely to make.

You come to the course, you’re relatively new to the game of golf, and your first tendency is to put everything you have in your tank into your golf swing.
That’s the America way, right? You have to ‘try’. You have to put in a lot of effort. If you don’t, then you must not be taking yourself seriously as a golfer. Yeah, sure.

As you play a little more golf, it doesn’t take you too long to figure out that this approach will kill your golf game. I have firsthand knowledge of this, trust me.

I had a friend, John, who many years ago introduced me to the game of golf. John wasn’t a very big guy compared to me, but he could always out drive me (at first). And, he seemed to do it effortlessly. I hated him.

One day early on, I asked him how he could consistently out hit me.

“You swing the golf club like it’s a baseball bat. It’s not. Don’t hit the ball, stroke it. Think about the difference. When you figure it out, with your size, you’ll out hit me by a long ways.”

John and I then had a long conversation about the mental approach to the game of golf, and he introduced me to two words that I believe are the lifeblood to any good golfer: consistency and control.

John had me associate the way I approached putting to the way I would drive off the tee. “In many ways, they are the same. You easily maintain control of your body while putting. It should be the same off the tee. Control and consistency. If you can’t control your golf swing, how are you going to control where the golf ball goes?”

John was making a lot of sense. Early on as a golfer, I was completely out of control and hoping for the best. It was only when I downsized my approach and started ’stroking’ the golf ball that I began to see better results.

With every golf swing you take strive to maintain that control and stroke the golf ball wherever you are on the course; leave the hitting to baseball players and boxers. When you are able to do this your golf swing will give you the consistency to become a better golfer.

Stan Thomas has been playing golf since before dirt covered the earth. He knows he’ll never master the game, but he can’t deny the quest.

He invites you to visit his websites:

http://www.golfimproveswing.com/

http://www.squidoo.com/golfimproveswing/

In golf, there are two categories of players - the golf pros and the golf amateurs. Fortunately for all, the line between these two categories does meet at some point.

There are many people who are of the opinion that golf is a leisurely game. Its purpose is for recreation, thus hiring a golf professional to teach you how to play defeats the purpose of the game and drains it of any real enjoyment.

However, although there are close to 30 million golfers in the States alone most of them have never had or will never get to break a score of 100. Many of these golfers complain not only of a less than satisfactory game, but also of the aches and pains that they feel after a game of golf.

Being able to play golf like a pro through one’s own practice may work out for some golfers, even if it is not as effective as having the assistance of someone more professional to help you with the game. Furthermore, being able to play golf well and being able to enjoy playing golf can maximize on the satisfaction and pleasure that the game promises.

Deciding on whether or not assistance from a pro is needed is as important as choosing the right golf equipment. You would need to first identify and prioritize your goals, decide on the level of commitment that you are prepared to give, as well as the amount of money that you can afford to invest in the game. The following are some pointers that you would find helpful with regards to enlisting the help of a pro.

- Having a coach or a pro to assist you could help in zeroing in onto your specific weaknesses. Once your weaknesses have been identified, your coach could give several targeted exercises to help you to correct your weaknesses. With a coach by your side, this will be monitored to see if you’re doing things right.

- A golf coach could also help with getting rid of bad golfing habits which normally result in injuries like the golfer’s elbow which can be very painful. Your coach will also be able to guide you through a proper warm-up routine. This is one of the greatest advantages of having the help of a professional, as it helps you not just with the way you play but also by avoiding injuries and unnecessary aches and pains.

- Discuss with your prospective coach and get their opinion on teaching and playing the game. A good coach or golf pro will readily tell you that the best way is to build up on the basics of playing golf and to avoid the short cuts and latest fads. If someone tells you the latter will get faster results, keep in mind that although this is true, as soon as you stop working with them your golf performance will drop back to where you were before. Thus, it is best to stick with the tried and tested basic rules of playing golf, which could take longer to master but will guarantee a better performance.

- The average rate for a personal lesson with a golf pro could be about $75 per an hour’s lesson. However, remember that prices may vary with the different pros that you will be working with, or with the different golf school or club.

- Should the rates for a personal one-on-one lesson be too high or expensive, you may choose to go for a lesson with a group of other golfers. This way expenses can be shared. Please remember though, not to have more than 4 people to a golf pro. This lets you have attention as good as a personal one-on-one lesson but with less expenses. A golf pro coaching for an hour for a group of 4 golfers would cost somewhere around $120.

- A vital thing to keep in mind is that when working with a pro, it means going for quality rather than quantity. This is after all why you hired them in the first place. Since there is a limited number of lessons, work hard to ensure that you achieve your goal of being an excellent golfer at a few techniques, rather than knowing many techniques but being the master of none.

- A professional coach will instruct you on the techniques to a better game on your own in the future without his supervision. The main purpose is of course so that you can become a better golfer on your own. This includes not only playing with the right techniques but also having a good warm-up and stretching routine.

And finally, even after you have completed all your lessons and after some improvements in your game, you should still go back to see your coach maybe once a year. This will enable him to check up on your golf game and to see if there are any other techniques or aspects that you still need to work on. There will always be room for improvement, more so if you want to play a better game of golf.

Juzaily Ramli and his friend Tommy Lehmann are golf enthusiasts and proud owners of golf school website. You’ll discover how you can increase your distance and lower your golf score with golf training.

In general, I am not much of a jock, but I do love playing sports outdoors. What is so great about outdoor sports is that you get to enjoy the beauty of nature while having a little bit of friendly competition. On top of that, you get to exercise as well. All in all, it is a great way to spend time. I have a lot of friends who like to go to a gym and workout on treadmills, but to me this is just a waste of time. Why would you want to spend all of your time walking on an imaginary sidewalk in front of a TV when you could be playing sports outdoors and enjoying the beauty of nature?

The great thing is that you can play almost every sport outdoors provided that the weather is right. During the summer, you can play outdoor basketball, baseball, soccer - you name it and you can play it. When it gets rainy and cold, however, a lot of people give up on playing sports outdoors. In my opinion, this is a big mistake. There are plenty of outdoor adventure sports that you can do in the rain, the snow, and the freezing cold. For example, you can go cross-country skiing in the snow. Dirt bike racing is a lot of fun in the mud! If you use your imagination, you can play outdoor sports almost all year round.

The only problem with sports outdoor is the amount of gear that it requires. Outdoor sporting gear can be extremely expensive. This is where gyms definitely have an advantage. Your typical gym will have a swimming pool, sports equipment, exercise machines, and courts to play some games. When you go to play sports outdoors, however, you have to furnish all of the supplies yourself. A lot of people can’t afford many of the sports outdoors, or are hesitant to invest the money that it requires.

My advice is to keep it simple. There are many sports outdoors that you can play with virtually nothing. You can play football with nothing but a ball and some cones to mark where the boundaries of the end zone on are. You can play soccer with little more, provided that you are in a field with soccer goalposts. You can even play something like capture the flag, which requires nothing but a field and a piece of cloth. The possibilities are limitless if you let your imagination run wild.

Ian Botham (no relation) runs his own online sports goods mail order business as well as several sports related websites. If you are struggling with golf then check out this great Golf guide.

http://www.theultimateguidetogolf.com/

Golf training aids are a hot topic among golfers. Golf instructors and professionals are seen on television spouting the benefits of the latest and greatest golf swing instructional device that has just come out. Who are you to believe and what really works.

If you look at the definition of an aid, you will find that it means to give help or assistance. So for golfers, a golf book or a golf video would be considered an aid, because both might help you improve your golf game if you choose to follow the instructions. There’s is one drawback, though. If you are constantly telling yourself how to do the ‘move’ or ’secret’ while you’re playing a round of golf, you might as well give it up. It’s not going to help or assist you in any way. All it does is stop you from naturally swinging the golf club the way your body should.

There’s a better training aid, and you just haven’t figured it out yet. It’s a rock! Seriously. I bet that you can’t hit a green from 50 yards five out of ten times with a golf ball. But if I told you to pick up a rock, throw it at the flag, that the rock would in fact head straight towards the flag. There’s your golf training aid right there. Try it. Go out, pick up some rocks, pick a target, and see if you don’t get most of the rocks pretty close to what your target is.

That’s the way that you need to approach your golf game. Focus your mind on the target that you are trying to hit, not on how to do it. Take this golf tip for what it’s worth, forget swing mechanics next time you play golf, and just go out there and throw them rocks!

Clint Hitchcock (The Simple.Golf.igist)
Deer Park, TX
Have you ever asked yourself how you can take your golf game to the next level?
This Is One Way