Tucson Golf Lessons 6-10
A series of 15 articles on how to play better golf in Tucson Arizona

Lesson #6 - Should you hire golf pro to teach you the game?

There are golf pros and there are golf amateurs. And fortunately, the twain can and do meet, with very pleasant results for both parties.

Many would protest to the idea that golf is a game that should be enjoyed for its own sake and that a measure such as hiring a pro to teach you the game defeats the purpose of the game as leisure and recreation.

But while (in the States alone) over 26 million people play golf, most of them hardly or ever get to break a score of 100. Many complain not only over a game less than exemplary but also of body aches and pains after playing.

Mastering the game by playing on one’s own may work for some people, but perhaps not as efficiently as getting someone more knowledgeable (like a coach) to help you. Besides, getting to be good at golf AND enjoying it at the same time can only double the enjoyment the game already brings you.

The decision to get a golf coach is about as important as choosing your golf equipment. You’d need to know what your goals are, to what extent you’re willing to pursue those and how much money you can put into the activity. Here are some things you may want to know about getting a pro to teach you.

- A big advantage in hiring a coach is that your specific weaknesses are addressed. Having identified these, your coach will be able to prescribe exercises to correct these and see to it that you’re doing it right.

- A golf coach should also help you take away some nasty playing habits that result to painful injuries such as the golfer elbow. He/she should also be able to lead you through a warm-up routine. This is by far the biggest advantage as the help you get goes beyond mere play and helps relieve pains you might not have to live with at all.

- Talk to the prospective coach on their take in playing and teaching golf. A pro worth his salt should readily tell you that they would build on the basics of golf and not go with the latest fads and quick-fix methods. A reply such as the latter may get you faster results. But more often than not, as soon as you stop working with them, your performance dwindles back to what you were before. The tried and tested fundamentals may take a while to learn but the results are more long-lasting.

- The average rate for a one-on-one lesson with a golf pro is about $75 for an hour’s lesson. Of course, the price can vary with the pro you’ll be working with and with the golf club or school you’ll be taking your lessons at.

- If the rates for an exclusive one-on-one lesson are too expensive for you, you may opt to go with a group of other golfers to share the expenses. However, try to go with a class that is no bigger than 4 students to a coach. That way, you get as much attention as a one-on-one session without spending too much. A one-hour group lesson for 4 people would cost about $120.

- An important thing you should also remember when working with a pro is going for quality rather than quantity. After all, this is the reason you hired them in the first place. With a limited number of lessons, go for the goal of being excellent at a few good techniques than knowing so many but being unable to execute them properly.

- A good coach will teach you things you can eventually do on your own even without his/her supervision. The idea, after all, is so that you can play a better game on your own. That includes not only the playing proper but also your warm-up and stretching routine as well.

- Finally, even after your lessons and (hopefully) seen improvements in your game, it is still a good thing to come back to your coach at least once a year for him/her to check up your game and see if there are things you need to work on again. There’s always room for improvement, so as long as you can play you might as well play better.

Lesson #7 - How to practice effectively

Simple as this point may sound, it is one that is easily overlooked. Many golfers think that for as long as they spend enough time on the practice range, their score will improve. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily so. To get a better game, it is important that your practice sessions be as regimented as the way you play the game itself, if not more.

Before you groan about how boring practices are, it might help to think that practices are what build good playing habits when you hit the greens. And if you approach your practice sessions as more than chores and see them as yet another fun aspect to your game of golf, the results can only be a game all the more fun than it already is.

First of all, think of your practice session in three parts consisting of:
- the warm-up,
- the fresh stage
- and the fatigued stage.

In these three stages, you will carry out different sets of exercises that when done in the right stages will make your practices more effective giving you results you can see on the greens as you play.

- Warm-up
Many are deceived into thinking that golf requires no strenuous physical activity as it only involves swinging and walking. Nothing could be further from the truth. The very nature of swinging causes your muscle groups to work in ways not common to everyday routine.

Your upper torsos, arms, as well as your lower back muscles are the groups most worked when playing golf which only shows that it is important to warm up with some stretches. Start from the top of your head and work your way down to your feet. Flexibility and getting your muscles’ full range of motion is your goal. If you are unfamiliar with stretches, you may consult a trainer or the instructor in your club for some tips.

- Fresh Stage
After your warm-up, start working on exercises that build on a skill you haven’t mastered yet, or on parts of your game that’s been causing you higher strokes. This could be anything from putting, chipping or driving.

The idea is that when you work on these problem areas while you’re still fresh and limber from a stretch routine, your body responds more positively to the exercises you’re subjecting it to.

The thing about most people’s idea of golf practice is simply spending time on the driving range without even considering whether or not driving is their waterloo. But if you’re aware that your short game is what’s giving you problems, then you’d do best to hit the greens to work on your putts as soon as you finish warming up. (As an aside, it has been observed that more than 60% of a player’s strokes take place on the green. Unfortunately, this fact is overlooked by many players thus resulting in poor practice habits.)

- Fatigued stage
Once you start feeling winded from the earlier exercises, move on to work on facets of your game that simply need reinforcement. Since your body already knows this motion, this stage in your practice serves as maintenance to your form.

If any correction is necessary, your stressed out body isn’t as pressured to master a difficult form. As in the previous example, only after working on your problematic short game can you then go to the driving range to give positive reinforcement to your drives.

Finally, here are some more observations and suggestions in carrying out your practice.

- To be able to see continuous improvement, a good practice-to-play ratio is about 2:1, which means giving twice as much time to practice as to what you would spend in playing.

- However, give yourself sufficient time to rest in between exercises and in between stages. While it is a work out, you should not be winded down by the activity. Doing so may actually do more harm than help.

Your game should see improvements as you give your sessions a more defined structure. Be consistent and note the results of your exercises to step up that game one stroke at a time.

Lesson #8 - Practice good etiquette

Gold is considered a gentleman’s game and since this is so, certain rules of etiquette in playing apply. Although these are not hard and fast rules, they show that the person practicing these has respect not only for other players, but also for the game itself.

Here are just some general rules of golf etiquette practiced at all levels whether they’re amateur or professional. It is then followed by some specific rules at particular times during a game.

Quiet
- Keeping quiet as someone steps up to the ball is a sign of respect for the player as you are allowing him to concentrate.

- Do not run on the course. While this may not affect your own group of players, you may distract and bother others who are trying to play.

Safety
- Before swinging, check if anyone is standing in the general area your ball will go into. Do not assume that others will check to see if they’re standing within range of someone about to swing.

- Similarly, it is not only unsafe to take practice swings in a person’s direction, it is also considered rude.

- Do not swing your club when someone is walking around and conversely, do not walk around when someone is going to swing.

Pacing
- On a given day, you or your group may not be the only players on a course. That said, try to keep your pace of play at a rate that keeps up with the group ahead of you to avoid holding up the ones behind.

- It is very, very rude to hit into the group playing ahead of you. If it was unintentional, you had failed to observed safety etiquette. If it was intentional and you did so because they are playing slowly, it is still no reason to drive a ball into their direction.

- When you need to play through a group, observe common courtesy by first asking permission to do so. But before asking, make sure that the next hole is vacant so that there is enough space between groups as you pass through.

- If the group allows you to play through, take the least amount of time to finish the hole and move on to the next one as quickly as possible.

When on the teeing ground…
…try to stay out of the player’s line of sight as well as peripheral vision to allow him to concentrate. Standing behind him/her is the best way to do so, as well as keeping quiet as he/she prepares to swing.
When on the fairway…

…hitting some divots is perfectly fine, but avoid causing too many. Furthermore, try to put a few back in by simply stepping on the divot into the hole.

…don’t take too much time looking for a lost ball. The group behind you may not appreciate the delay. If it can’t be found within a few minutes, simply replace the ball.

When on the bunker…
…use the course-provided rake when you’ve finished with your shot to rake out marks left by you, your ball and your footprints, then leave the rake outside the bunker handle parallel to the fairway.

When on the green…
…avoid stepping on the ball paths of other players as this can affect the putt. Walk behind the ball on its direction to the hole or at least step over the imaginary line between the ball and the hole.

…repair ball marks made by the force of the ball landing on the green. This shows courtesy to the player following you as you’ve taken the time to leave them an unmarked green.

…put your ball back on the green before picking up the ball marker just so you can avoid possible points of contention between another player as to whether you’ve properly positioned your ball or not.

When at the practice grounds…
…continue to observe the general rules of golf etiquette as you would on the course.

These rules are but a partial list of other good golfing etiquette practices. But these are the basics that are built on mutual respect for each other’s safety and love of the game. The experience becomes all the more pleasant for everyone concerned.

Sunny weather can be very conducive for most sports enthusiasts. The scorching heat of the sun can even boost ones stamina to do better in any game. However, ever knew of any game that can be played even when there's a rainstorm? Not many people can enumerate any sport that can be executed even when it’s raining hard.

All sports, especially those played outdoors are affected by the changes in weather conditions. The first to be really impacted upon are the players who have to adjust physically, mentally, and emotionally -- factors which often dictate what could happen at the end of the game.

Playing golf entails proper training in order to hit the tee perfectly under a gloomy climate. Weather conditions, for example, since it affects the growth and texture of the grass, have a big impact on the leveled surface vital to a golfer's performance. This is usually called "throwing darts", it means that the ball and the shots are not high enough which results in lower points.

Remember that the conditioning of the green can influence the game of the golfers and the golf course operation. That is why a change of strategy is helpful when playing golf during bad weather since golf is a game that is specifically dependent on the weather.

When there is low humidity and dryer soil, the greens are maintained more easily. That is why golfers often play during fall or spring. The favorable and consistent sunny skies and growth of the turf allows a considerable and reliable time for golfers to hold their tees.

The roughs can become heavier which makes it difficult for shots to recover when soaked in water. Water ends up between the ball and the clubface because of the fewer spins than a normal spin. Bad consequences are then more inevitable after an off-line shot. This is when a good golf playing strategy during wet weather is needed for it will be more considerable to have the ball always elevated off the grass as fast as possible. During these situations, footprints and marks of the ball are deeper and the sad part is that scores tend to be lower. When this happens, extra effort is needed for the player to end with better scores.

Points to remember when playing in a wet weather condition:

· Make it a point to keep the grips and the hands dry during a rainy day. The caddy can bring one towel for grip drying and another one to dry hands.
· Ask someone to bring a cover for the golf bag. This will be a good idea since it will keep the grips of the tee dry.
· A golfer will be comfortable and can sustain long hours of golf game if the equipment and he himself is dry.
· Just be patient and the scores will be higher even during the wet weather condition.
· Strategize more and visualize the goal in mind prior to entering the game. This will prepare the player for any difficult situations he will need to face on wet and uneven fairways.

Golfers need to have the balls to land as close as possible to holes to lessen the amount of rolls of the balls on wet grass. Balls will have to be hit harder to prevent breakage and to halt sooner.

Even expert golfers can surmount the challenge of playing on soaked grass field at times when the weather does not permit any good sunlight to watch over them. Rule of thumb is that even if a golfer is faced with such a difficult task, he must keep in mind that his competitors are too. When golfers are wet, the playtime is longer for the ball can't roll smoothly and far which is a plus for those who drive the tee off longer.

Weather conditions might affect the environs of the game, but a skillful and prepared player won't have a hard time thinking of ways to ward off the weather's bad effects on one's game. Enough determination to play well and a little knowledge on how to outsmart the weather will make playing golf a cinch even when the day's weather is not that good.

Golfers are very picky about the golf course where they want to play. They don't like playing in areas where the greens were just punched. That is why keepers of the greens implement a lot of methods to make sure expert care is given and golfers play golf without being annoyed.

There are a lot of problems that resemble a nightmare if no perfect trouble shooting tips are used. One aspect that is very important in keeping a good green is the drainage. Although, this is often overlooked, it is a vital part in keeping the green especially during rainy seasons.

A real golf course will eat up from $65,000 or more for just a single green. A base layer to maintain the shape is required for a green. The drainage should be made up of crushed stones, a layer of sand, PVC pipes, and at least 13 to 14 inches of cheaper sand with peat for the root zone layer. The sprinklers should be available including bunkers. A more expensive part, which is the sod, is needed also for the surrounding area.

The labor needed in providing maintenance for the green is not for golf course owners who do not like cutting the grass more than once a week. The hard part of the work is preventing turf grass problems and being vigilant on how to maintain it as it should be. Cutting of the grass should be made every two to three days or everyday if there are golfers who want to play on the green everyday. There is also other work that demands more time and cost such as aeration, fertilization, putting herbicides, top dressing, putting fungicides and/or pesticides. Below is a list of some methods and time frame needed in taking care of the golf course greens.

Care for Greens Activity and Scheduling
Irrigation: 1 - 3 days interval
Mowing: 1 - 3 days interval
Top dressing: 3 to 6 times a year
Aeration: Once a year
Pesticide: Only when it's needed
Herbicide: Only when it's needed
Fungicide: Once a month
Fertilization: Once a month

The types of grass that can be used are either the creeping Bentgrass or Bermuda grass. Bentgrass is considered by golf course owners in areas where the climate is moderate to cool while Bermuda is the type of turf recommended in tropical or sunny temperatures. Bentgrass is easier to grow and provides an income for a greenskeeper. Using Bermuda in hot climates makes it more costly. The techniques used in maintaining the two kinds of grass are the same; the only difference is that it would be difficult to use Bentgrass in places that are tropical since it is hard to keep it moist. Only 22% of American golf course owners use Bermuda while 78% prefer Bentgrass. Here are the list of places and the turf type they use according to a survey made by GCSAA.

US State: Bentgrass/Bermuda grass

Alabama: 19/81
Arizona: 59/41
Arkansas: 60/40
California: 86/14
Florida: 2/98
Georgia: 49/51
Louisiana: 2/98
Mississippi: 9/90
Nevada: 93/7
Oklahoma: 90/10
North Carolina: 67/33
South Carolina: 14/86
Tennessee: 65/35
Texas: 50/50

Hawaiian owners are using one hundred per cent Bermuda grass while all the other US states are using a hundred per cent Bentgrass. Southeast Texas is using Bermuda while Bent is being used in Northwest Texas.

Standard mowers, preferably the rotary types, are needed since the greens should be rolled and cut to a height of 4/16 inches. Others are still considering synthetic grass than Bentgrass for the golf course. Although synthetic ones can be cheaper, some golfers may not like the idea. Here are the pluses and minuses of each type of grass:

Type of Greens: Pros vs. Cons

Real bent grass

1. Maintenance can be a hobby but skills and training are needed
2. More pleasing and attractive but can be time consuming
3. Whole locations can be changed but costly grass mowers are needed
4. Grows fast and cheaper than seeds but irrigation is needed

Fake grass

1. Maintenance is not needed but concrete holes are permanent
2. May look real during playing but can be discovered fake by expert golfers
3. Can take any weather condition but a bit more expensive than real bent grass seeds
4. Worry free maintenance but requires labor fees for installation.

Golf Sites and Golf Forums

http://forums.golfreview.com/
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/golf/
http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1398&p=16
http://www.iznadgolf.com/golfforum.html
http://www.lowprogolf.com/cfbb/
http://www.oilcontrol.it/dg/dgindexe.shtml
http://www.network54.com/Forum/403301
http://www.torontogolfnuts.com/
http://golf.about.com/mpboards.htm
http://forum.ottawagolf.com