Plan for the Coming Golf Season - Spring for Professional Golf Lessons

As a well known scratch tournament rated professional golfer once pointed out "I am a lazy man. Why make golfing and indeed life in general harder and more difficult than it need be. Buy proper golf equipment. Take professional golf lessons from the beginning. Why make life harder than it is and as well handicap you for years to come?" Indeed this simple, basic advice that should be heeded. Golf is a hard enough game without handicapping yourself with poor equipment or training. For life"

While many golfers will spend an absolute killing on golfing equipment and even golf apparel most will shudder at the thought of devoting any of their golfing budget towards proper instruction.

Perhaps they think it is not worth the time effort and cash. After all you can watch golf TV, golf programs on TV and the gold channel. At the worst their golfing buddies can give them a few tips on the links. What a mistaken view and short sighted decision and even mentality. After all winning one golf round bet can more than pay for those missed lessons.

After all - there is nothing to the sport of golf. Some summarize the game of golf and the sport of golfing as a man standing on one large ball (the earth) and hitting a smaller ball (the golfing ball). Perhaps it's the view point that golf instruction is not tangible item that leaves you with anything of solid material value. It's sort of like paying for life insurance. If your family claims the money - you lose. Money spent on solid items - cars, real estate etc. is something of substance that leaves with an item of property and material value. Not so with golf instruction. Yet many of these same "golfers" will spend a fortune on drinks at the clubhouse or even golfing vacations - which leaves these people or "sportsmen" with precious little after the vacation ends - other than memories or photos.

It is true that you can learn golf and the sport of golfing from golfing videos, golfing on TV and the golf channel as well as golf and golfing books. There are no shortages of these - indeed there is no shortage of golfers willing to pay or watch these golf instructional aids. It shows you both how golfers long for the game during the cold winter season and in addition once these bad habits are learnt it is a most difficult task, if at all possible, to get rid, or eliminate, those bad golfing habits.

However you can only go so far by teaching yourself golf skills from a book. It is akin to a person trying to learn public speaking by watching his presentations on a video camera. Self evaluation, especially with golfers is very difficult thing even more so when a golfing ego and the frustration of learning the sport are added.

You can learn to golf from friends. Nothing wrong with this. Most golfers start this way. Indeed if no one else showed us the basics few would ever pick up the sport. However unless your friends are professional golfers you may well end up with the same poor golf swing habits that plague your friends and limit their golf game. On top of that your friends may lack teaching skills as well as patience. Even if you end up with good golf instruction you may end up with fewer friends in the mix.

The sad fact is that if you do not learn properly from the beginning from an actual golf instructor or a golf pro you will be forever fighting poor golf habits - which you will quickly have adopted and will find very difficult, if ever to unlearn or lose on the golf course or during the golf game.

If you continue to golf as a sport or recreation, somewhere along the line you are going to have to pay for lessons to eliminate or get over these bad golfing habits. Why not do it from the start? You will learn properly. You will golf well from the start. You will have less frustration and more enjoyment on the golf course.

Even from a financial angle learning from golf pro makes sense. It is always more costly to fix a problem than to prevent it in the first place. On top of that, your golf game and golfing reputation will be better from the start, much less frustrating and you will certainly have a much better round of golf with your golfing buddies, feel more comfortable and at ease on the links and overall have a much enjoyable time and better memories of your career with the game of golf and golfing.

Syd E. Nohcud
http://www.glendalegolfs.com
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Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game

Golfing magazines are full of tips and instruction and basic do this but don't do that theories. How is it possible for a new golfer to really understand what aspects of the game are important and which ones are just someone's overgrown opinion? Simple trial and error can significantly help you deduce which golfing magazines, whether they are online or offline, are actually offering useful advice. "Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game" Nobody likes to pay for a service they are unhappy with, so why pay for a magazine that offers unusable tips?

One of the better online golfing magazines is a sweet little secret found at bestprogolfguide. The tips are real and useable and coherent. One of the very basic examples that I truly found helpful is the golf grip. How important is the golf grip anyway? To my surprise, it's actually a vital part of the quality of a golfer's game.

"Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game" The golfer's grip is actually where the basic game begins. A weak and pliable grip will result in a weak and pliable swing. A grip that is too hard and stiff will produce a swing that is better suited for baseball than golf.

The first time anyone placed a golf club in my hand there was very little instruction on how to hold the club. I was taught how to lace my fingers in the right direction, but beyond that there was very little guidance. I hung on tight and baseball whacked the ball straight up a hill and into the windshield of the instructor's car. That is an honest and true story. After that incident my golfing days were numbered. I had excellent power but absolutely no control. I was, incidentally, a fairly good baseball player.

Obtaining a Better Golf Grip "Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game"

Understanding the basics to a better golf grip can significantly lower your scores and best of all, improve your control. Starting with the left hand, this hand is responsible for gripping the club handle. The fingers of the left hand begin the base grip. This is of course aimed at right handed golfers. Those who are left handed golfers would switch the entire process to adjust to their predominant hand.

Most people have heard the analogy that you want to grip the golf club as though you are shaking hands with it. While it is a good analogy in getting people to reach for the club in the appropriate manner, "Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game" there is a lot of play in that golfing advice. Let's add a more specific notion of shaking hands with the golf club and meeting the knuckles of your left middle joint of the forefinger reaching approximately two inches from the top of the club handle and the bottom three fingers approaching the base of the club.

The right hand is then going to join in on the action and take its grasp around the golf handle. The club handle should rest right at the knuckle/palm intersection of the hand. You don't want the club to be too far toward the finger tips and you want the club to rest firmly toward the base of the fingers toward the hand.

Now you successfully have both hands on the club. Looking down at their position you should be able to find a V shape created by the thumb and forefinger on the left hand. This V shape should have a direction. It should be aimed toward the right shoulder, pointing right about the middle of the shoulder to be precise. Adjust your grip until you have the club lying toward the base of your fingers toward the palm and the V shape of the left thumb and forefinger pointing directly toward the middle of the right shoulder. This seems like an awkward position, but once you adjust the grip accordingly, it should actually have a mildly normal feel to it. Get comfortable with it and practice getting just those basics of the golf grip down without having to spend twenty minutes adjusting your grip every time you pick up a club. You should be able to get it to the point where this part of gripping the golf club is natural and automatic.

"Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game" Once you have mastered this basic approach to gripping the golf club, start to take notice of some finer details in your grip. There should be a little flex to your left wrist. The wrist should take on a mild angle that resembles a "cupping" angle. Relax your wrists until you find that motion and angle.

The V shape that your right forefinger and thumb produce should be aimed up toward the right ear. All of these "aiming" suggestions are assuming that you are gripping the golf club in the stance you take just prior to swinging the golf club.

The palm of the right hand is basically responsible for the direction the ball will go once it is in the air. While you are standing their adjusting your grip on your golf club and finding the stance that works best for you, you want to keep in mind that your goal is to "aim" the golf ball with the palm of your right hand. This of course only works if your grip on the golf club is accurate and your hands mold together as one cohesive unit.

When gripping your golf club, you want your hands to be able to work together. Aside from that, you want your hands to work in sync with the rest of your body. By developing a natural but distinct grip on the golf club you can encourage your entire body to work cohesively all the way through to the end of the golf club and produce a swing that will carry the ball both the distance and the direction you are aiming for.

Practice your swing often and carry your follow through all the way through your body. This will help eliminate chop shots that result from an uncomfortable grip on the golf club. Spending a little time at the driving range is always a good idea when making even minor adjustments to your swing. Practicing the adjustments for the first time on the fairway with a bunch of golfing associates is typically a frustrating maneuver.

White Knuckles "Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game"

White knuckling the club is a common mistake when learning new procedures to gripping the golf club. A golfer tends to get nervous about his new technique or small adjustments and wraps the club in an all out death grip. Relax a little and enjoy the challenge of creating a better golf swing.

On the opposite end of the scale avoid gripping the golf club with limp hands. This eliminates the control you are gaining by adjusting your grip in the first place and creates a very sloppy swing and follow through.

You want to grip the club firmly in your grasp and hold it with confidence. This confident but relaxed grip can help to flatten the head of the golf club as it makes contact with the golf ball, which can ultimately assist in cleaning up a slice.

Golfing Tips "Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game"

The basics of gripping a golf club, while often an ignored or barely recognized intricacy of improving a golf game, is really only the beginning of overhauling an entire golf game. From grips to stances to head movement issues there is a chronic plethora of advice and tips floating around out there on the internet and in golfing magazines. How do you asses which tips are worthwhile and which ones will simply destroy what golf skill you have picked up over time?

Not all golf tips apply to all people. Just because one set of tips is completely useless to you doesn't mean they won't help someone else recover a lost game. Every individual's physical body is different, so sometimes just a small adjustment in the tip makes it a valuable golf tip to add to your game. Perhaps you are taller than average or smaller than average. Most golf tips are written with the average body in mind. If you have particularly long arms, you may have to take that into account as you read through golf tips.

If you have been golfing for years and you have developed particular habits that are hard to break, remember ("Correcting Your Golf Grip To Improve Your Game")h that often the initial habit breaking period will lead to a decline in your golf game. This is actually true of any sport. If the unusual habit is working well for you, there may not be a need to change it. If it isn't working well for you and you decide to change it, be patient with yourself. It will take time to see any actual improvement.

Bobby Ryatt, If you enjoyed reading this articles, then go to my website where I have lots more on the subject. You will have all the information and links, make your game more enjoyable, no more bad golf after this. http://www.bestprogolfguide.com http://bestprogolfguide.blogspot.com

Golf Tools, Gearing up nicely for Golfing

Like all other sports, golf needs that you are geared up with the best equipments to properly play the game. This paper gives you an idea of the standard golf tools one requires to be able to learn and play golf properly.

For novice, the main golf tool is a golf ball. Golf balls are dimpled tiny balls, use in to play golf. They are dimpled to go far when driven by golf clubs.

Also another important golf tool is a golf club or golf driver. Golf drivers come in too many varieties. This is because a golf course has too many kinds of landscapes and different golf clubs are required to make the best drive. Depending on the landscape, if sand, grass or cement, a golf club is important to make the perfect drive. Expert golfers usually have a case or two of golf clubs to cater to their golf requirements. Most golf stores and sports tool store sell golf clubs. Some golf clubs are sold in sets while other are sold alone.

To take care of your golf equipment, such as your golf club, a golf bag golf club cover is important. A golf bag will, for sure, hold your golf club in one place and will make it more easy for your caddy to bring your many golf clubs. Golf bags can also hold golf balls and also other golf equipment such as water bottle to quench your thirst while under the beautiful sun or extra shirt or your regular shoes. On the other hand, a golf club cover covers the edge of your golf club. This is done so to protect your golf club from unwanted scratches and dents. Dents can cause your drive to go from good to bad. Dents in golf clubs can affect the drive of your golf ball. With these golf tools, you can take care of the state of your club and your rich sport.

One golf tool that you also need to invest on is a nice pair of golf shoes. Golf shoes are different from standard rubber shoes or jogging shoes. Golf shoes are made to walk on greens - the type where the sport is played. Golf shoes usually have pointed rubber under the soles to grip the earth and sand under your feet. This way, unnecessary shaking or moving is prevented. This is useful because shaking can cause you to not hit the golf ball or to hit the golf ball in the wrong way. If you plan to play good golf a nice pair of golf shoes is a important golf tool to add up to your list. Choose one that is sturdy yet comfortable enough for you to walk into. Golf is a sport that requires walking from one hole to the other or to where your ball goes (you can not use golf carts on the greens) and thus, if your golf shoes are no good, you would have a hard time playing your game.

A golf tool usually provided by most golf courses (aside from the golf ball) is the tee. The tee is the tiny pin like thing that you punch to the ground to stand your ball into. The tee is use in teeing off (the start of your first drive) thus the name.

The most great golf tool ever created (for me, that is) is the golf cart. Golf carts can take you from one hole to the other, though as I said earlier they are not allowed on the greens, they still lessen the burden of having to walk under the hot sun. This golf equipment can be acquired from golf courses. Golf players are normally made to use golf tool such as this to give them a good and easier time playing the game.

Many specialty shops and sport shops offer golf tools. The internet is also a great source of golf equipment. Used golf tools are even auctioned off the internet, if you are on a tight budget. Check out your golf shop, sports shop, specialty shops, E-bay or Yahoo! for your golf equipment requirements.

About the author:
Khaled Naser is working in Engineering for several years and has been writing for quite some time. His article directory at Team77.com carries a lot of useful articles and reviews.

Minnesota Golf Courses in the City of Rochester

Minnesota golf courses come in a wide variety, from 9-hole mom and pop operations to 54-hole resort complexes and we have been discussing different destinations in this series of articles. Today we will highlight the city of Rochester in the southeastern portion of the state.

Rochester is located approximately 85 miles southeast of the Twin Cities on Hwy. 52. Rochester is known worldwide as the home of the Mayo Clinic. There are plenty of places to stay and other activities to participate in while in Rochester when you are done golfing. A good reference site is http://www.rochestercvb.org, which is the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau, but we are here to primarily discuss the golf opportunities that Rochester has to offer.

The golf courses in Rochester and telephone numbers are:

· Eastwood Golf Club 1-507-281-6173

· Maple Valley Golf & Country Club 1-507-285-9100

· Meadow Lakes Golf Club 1-507-285-1190

· Northern Hills Golf Club 1-507-281-6170

· Oak Summit Golf Course 1-507-252-1808

· Rochester Golf & Country Club 1-507-282-3170

· Soldier's Memorial Field Golf Course 1-507-281-6176

· Willow Creek Golf Course 1-507-285-0305

As you can see there are plenty of opportunities to play golf in Rochester. You can either come for a weekend or stay for a week and never have to play the same golf course twice.

Eastwood Golf Club: Eastwood Golf Club is city owned golf course that is located in the southeastern part of the city. This facility is an 18-hole course that plays 6,205 yards from the back tee markers. Par at Eastwood Golf Club is 70. The course rating is 69.6 and the slope index is 121. The green fee for 18-holes is $26.75 and golf cart rentals are available for $24.00 for 18-holes. If you have a group outing planned in the Rochester area you can rent the entire golf course for half or full day. Contact the golf course management staff for more details.

Maple Valley Golf & Country Club: Maple Valley is a par 71, 18-hole golf course. The course plays at 5,916 yards from the back tee markers with a course rating of 68.1 and a slope index of 108. Maple Valley Golf Course is located approximately 15 minutes south of the city of Rochester in the beautiful Root River bluff country. Elevation changes in this area of the state are quite dramatic so don't let the yardage of this course deceive you.

Weekend 18-hole rates are $31.00 plus tax. A power cart can be rented for $14.00 per person plus tax.

Meadow Lakes Golf Club: Meadow Lakes Golf Club is an 18-hole par 71 "links style" course and has water hazards on 15 of the 18 holes. There are two island greens featured at Meadow Lakes. There are four sets of tee markers to choose from to challenge golfers of all abilities. Power carts are also available for rent. After your round of golf, don't forget to stop in the lounge for cold refreshments.

Northern Hills Golf Club: Northern Hills Golf Club is a city owned golf course that is located in the northwestern part of the city. Northern Hills Golf Club is an 18-hole facility that plays 6,335 yards from the back tee markers with a course rating of 70.9 and a slope index of 129. Green fee for 18-holes is $26.75 and golf cart rentals are available for $24.00 for 18-holes. If you have a group outing planned in the Rochester area you can rent the entire golf course for half or full day. Contact the golf course management staff for more details.

Oak Summit Golf Course: Oak Summit Golf Course is located five miles south of the city of Rochester and just ¼ mile west of the Rochester Municipal Airport. Oak Summit Golf Course is an 18-hole par 70 facility that features 4 sets of tee markers. The course plays 6,434 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 71.0 and a slope index of 118. The cost to play at Oak Summit Golf Course is $25.00 for 18-holes with power cart rental available for $14.00 per person additional.

Rochester Golf & Country Club: Rochester Golf & Country Club is a private members-owned club located on the western edge of the city. You will have to be a guest of a member to play here or if you are moving to the Rochester area you can apply for membership. There are also non-resident memberships available if you live 40 miles away from Rochester. The Rochester Golf & Country Club features four sets of tee markers, the course plays at 6,469 from the back tees with a course rating of 71.4 and a slope index of 131. If you are in the area and have the ability to get in a round, it certainly will be an adventure for you to experience the history of this club that dates back to 1915.

Soldier's Memorial Field Golf Course: Soldier's Memorial Field Golf Course is a city owned course that is located in the center of the city that was built in 1927 and the Zumbro River runs through the course. The course plays just 5,706 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 66.8 and a slope index of 116. Strategy and ball placement are vital to scoring well as the Zumbro River comes into play on several holes. Green fee for 18-holes is $26.75 and golf cart rentals are available for $24.00 for 18-holes. If you have a group outing planned in the Rochester area you can rent the entire golf course for half or full day. Contact the golf course management staff for more details.

Willow Creek Golf Course: Willow Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole par 70 course that plays 6,053 yards from the back tees. There is also Little Willow 9-hole executive course that plays 1,434 located on the property. The weekend rate to play 18-holes is $26.00. There are also power carts for rent at Willow Creek. After your round of golf don't forget to stop by the 19th Hole Lounge for a cold beverage and a sandwich from the daily menu.

The Rochester area is filled with variety, not only in the choices of golf courses but also in accommodations and other points of interest in the area. Whether you decide to stay for a weekend or a week, and choose to stay in a Bed & Breakfast or a luxury hotel, Rochester has something for everyone. When making plans for your summer vacation make it a Minnesota rural golf vacation!

Copyright 2006 Dana Buttenhoff

Dana Buttenhoff is an avid golfer and a native Minnesotan. After 20 years of golf and traveling around the USA, Dana would like to share the golf gems rural Minnesota has to offer. http://www.minnesotaruralgolf.com

Golf Fitness Training Improves Your Golf Swing with Core Training

The words core training, golf fitness, and improving your golf swing have become common words in golf. It is well known the number of professional golfers utilizing a golf fitness program to improve their golf swing. Addition to this well-known situation a common word has become connected to the phrase golf fitness. This phrase has become a buzzword in the world of golf. Unfortunately many do not understand the phrase and the relevance it can have on the golf swing. The phrase is core training. Core training can be a great benefit to your golf swing as a part of comprehensive golf fitness program.

Unfortunately many amateur golfers are unsure of the exact definition of core training and the relevance it may or may not have on a golf fitness program. The core is a reference to an anatomical area of body. The core is the anatomical area of your body from above the knees to below the chest. It includes all the muscles, nerves, and bones within in this anatomical region of the body. It must also be noted that the core includes all the neuromuscular structures on the front, side, and back of your body. For example, your lower back muscles are a part of the core as are your abdominals.

Core training is an integral part of a comprehensive golf fitness program because this is the anatomical area of the body where the majority of the golf swing occurs. For example, the golf swing requires you to rotate around a fixed spine angle. The majority of muscles allowing rotation to occur around a fixed spine angle are found within the core region. The golf swing requires a full shoulder turn to execute correctly. The muscles allowing the shoulders to rotate are mostly found within the core region of the body. These are just a few examples providing a reference between the biomechanics of the golf swing and the core region of the body.

Understanding the connection between the biomechanics of the golf swing and the core should begin to shine some light on why core training can be beneficial to the golf swing. Overall, the golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. If the body lacks the required levels within these physical components the golf swing will be difficult to execute correctly. Knowing that a large portion of the movements in the golf swing occur within the core region, it becomes obvious developing these physical components become necessary in order to improve your golf swing.

The key component of core training in relation to the golf swing centers upon the principle of cross-specificity training. Cross-specificity training implies the exercises within the core program train the body to the positions, movements, and requirements of the sport. A core training program beneficial to the golf swing must train the body specifically for the anatomical positions, movements, and actions encountered on the golf course.

The goal of cross-specific core program is to develop a transfer of training effect. The majority of fitness programs and many core programs do not address the needs of the golfer relative to improving flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power. A cross-specific core program will provide the foundation for a better golf swing. Just because a program is labeled a "core program" does not necessarily mean it will be beneficial to improving the golf swing.

Once the golfer understands the concepts of cross-specific training, transfer of training effect, core, and the biomechanics of the golf swing. You can begin to piece together the components of a golf fitness program. Outside of providing the foundation for the golf swing through providing the golfer with the needed levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to efficiently execute the golf swing. A golf fitness program can also improve a golfer's swing.

One common area of desired improvement for most any golfer is increased distance. Increased distance in the golf swing is equated to increased clubhead speed. And increased clubhead speed is directly related to the golfer's power outputs. Increasing power within the golf swing is connected to both swing mechanics and the body. The coiling and uncoiling within the golf swing directly affects the power outputs generated. In addition the body has a direct affect upon power development in the golf swing. Power in relation to the body can be defined as the ability of the body to create the greatest amount of force in a short amount of time.

If the golfer increases the ability of the body to generate more force, what will be the result within the golf swing? The golfer is more powerful, an increase in clubhead speed will occur, and the golf ball will probably travel farther. Interestingly enough improving power outputs by the body in relation to the golf swing, centers upon developing greater power outputs by the core region. Again, the golf swing is a rotational movement centering in the core region of the body. Increasing the force outputs of the muscles in the core can invariably improve the power in your golf swing. This again is only one example of where core training and golf fitness can improve the golf swing. Many additional areas of improvement can occur when the golfer develops the body correctly for the golf swing.

Understand the biomechanics of the golf swing require certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. The golfer requires minimal levels of these physical components at the very least to execute the golf swing correctly. The core is an anatomical region of the body where much of the movements within the golf swing occur. A core training program can be beneficial to improving the golf swing if the exercises within the program are cross-specific to the movements, positions, and physical requirements of the golf swing. If the core program is not cross specific to the golf swing, the benefits may less than optimal. Realize a comprehensive golf fitness program includes core training to develop the body around the golf swing. Such a program can improve the golf swing in areas like clubhead speed. And remember just because a program is labeled "core" does not necessarily mean it will improve your golf swing. The exercises within the core program must correlate with the movements of the golf swing.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Florida For Golfers - Golf In The Sunshine State 12 Months A Year

Florida claims more golf courses than any other destination in the world, with over 900 courses that will test the skill level of every player. The state hosts the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, PGA of America, the World Golf Hall of Fame, and is home to more professional golfers than any other state. And Florida offers golfing weather 12 months a year, so whether you visit in November, February, or July, you can enjoy the links, as well as Florida's world-famous beaches and attractions.

Port St. Lucie

On the central coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Port St. Lucie boasts the famed PGA Village, with the PGA Golf Club, the PGA Learning Center, one of the world's largest and most advanced practice facilities, and PGA of America Golf Schools, recognized as one of the best golf schools in the U.S.A. The PGA Golf Club offers 54 holes of championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The Dye Course, designed by Pete Dye, emphasizes the native surroundings and Dye's uninhibited creative design. The Ryder Course, designed by Tom Fazio, was named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the founder of the Ryder Cup. The course offers a wide variety of holes, with a distinctive Carolina feel. The Wanamaker Course, also designed by Tom Fazio, is considered one of Florida's most beautiful courses.

Other notable courses in the area include the Champion's Club at Summerfield in Stuart, and the Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach. Champion's Club at Summerfield was named one of the country's best new public courses by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine when it opened in 1994. The course was designed by Tom Fazio and was the first public golf course awarded Audubon Signature Sanctuary status. The Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach is a challenging Tom Fazio course set in a sprawling 240-acre wildlife preserve.

If you are headed to Port St. Lucie for golf, stay at the Sheraton PGA Resort, next to PGA Village, or Vistanas Beach Club on Hutchinson Island, convenient to Eagle Marsh Golf Club.

Naples

The Naples-Marco Island typically ranks first or second in national Golf Holes per Capita surveys. With over 40 golf courses, there are plenty of choices. Named as one of America's Top 100 Resort Courses in 2005 by Golfweek Magazine, the Gold Golf Course at Tiburon Golf Club was designed by Greg Norman, and features 18 holes of golf on a 74.7 rated course. The Raptor Bay 1 course at Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs was designed by Raymond Floyd, and was named a Top 10 New Public-Access Golf Course in America in 2001 by Golf Magazine. The Pelican Preserve Golf Club offers 27 holes of championship golf on a course designed by renowned architect Chip Powell.

In Naples, stay at the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, Naples' only downtown waterfront destination, the Bellasera Hotel Naples, located at the gateway to the heart of Olde Naples, or The Park Shore Resort, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Naples.

Ft. Myers

The Ft. Myers region, including Estero, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel Island, and Venice, has earned a reputation of having some of the most sought after golf courses in the world, causing some to rename the Florida Gulf Coast: Florida's "Golf Coast." Eastwood Golf Course is rated one of the top 50 municipal courses in the country by Golf Digest. One of the largest golf schools in southwest Florida, Paradise Golf Academy at Stoneybrook Golf Club emphasizes state-of-the-art teaching techniques, such as video swing analysis, and traditional on-course playing lessons with PGA-certified instructors. Coral Oaks Golf Course has been a local favorite for almost 20 years and not just for the bargain green fees. Bay Beach Golf Club, also a local favorite, is an 18-hole course with Bermuda grass and a variety of water hazards.

In Ft. Myers, stay at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, directly on Ft. Myers Beach, the GullWing Beach Resort on Estero Island, Point Estero Beach Resort, or Santa Maria Harbour Resort, nestled on Estero Bay.

Clearwater/St Pete/Tampa

The Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area has challenging courses for all players. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Club in Clearwater has been an American golfer's favorite since 1925. Designed by world famous golf architect, Donald Ross, the golf course has a reputation for a challenging design that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Academy offers full-swing fundamentals, short game techniques and course management strategies.

TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz (just north of Tampa) is an annual stop on the Champions Tour. Opened in 1991, designed by Bobby Weed, with assistance from player consultant Chi Chi Rodriguez, TPC Tampa Bay has earned numerous accolades, including a 4 1/2 star rating in Golf Digest's Places to Play. The course is routed around natural wetlands, cypress heads and numerous ponds and lagoons, which are home to an abundance of wildlife, making TPC Tampa Bay one of only two courses in the Tampa Bay area to be designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Mangrove Bay Golf Course, in St. Petersburg, is one of the most popular courses in the area. Bardmoor Country Club, in Largo, is an upscale public course that offers a private-club experience. Former PGA Tour player and course architect Gary Koch gave the course a makeover in 2001.

In Clearwater, stay and golf at the Belleview Biltmore Resort, Golf Club, Spa & Beach Club (see the CRSHotels.com special deal). Nearby, enjoy the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, or the Tahitian Resort Tarpon Springs. In the St. Pete Beach area, choose the Grand Plaza Hotel and Beach Resort and Conference Center, the Bilmar Beach Resort, the TradeWinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites, or the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, a classic, family-friendly resort.

Orlando

Orlando is home to some of the golf industry's biggest events, such as the PGA Merchandise Show, and the Golf Industry Convention, as well as many national pro golf tournaments and championships. It's also a great place to play golf. There are golf courses for every style, level and budget. Shingle Creek Golf Club in Orlando is an award-winning championship golf course. Mystic Dunes Golf Club in Celebration boasts an 18-hole course designed by Champions Tour professional and NBC golf analyst Gary Koch. One of the most popular courses on the PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge, is home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament. Disney World also offers several championship golf courses, including Eagle Pines, Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia, Osprey Ridge, and Palm.

In Orlando, stay and play at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. Enjoy golf nearby at the Caribe Royale Suites, the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, or the Buena Vista Suites. Choose the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, the Parc Corniche Suite Hotel, the Star Island Resort Orlando, the Sheraton Vistana Villages or the Florida Hotel & Conference Center at the Florida Mall.

Find Your Florida Golfing Hotel Deal

Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?

Basic Golf Instruction

Ask yourself the question, People take up golf for various reasons. Looking at the sport with untrained eye, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?" It really doesn't seem like it's all that difficult. The goal of the game is to get the little ball into the hole with as few attempts as possible. This seems like a relatively easy goal and something most people can achieve on their own.

However, if you go out on the golf course unassisted you will find yourself spending more time searching for your ball in the rough or fishing it out of water hazards than you will actually playing a good game of golf. There's no need to be frustrated, it happens to pretty much everyone unless of course you began your career as a three year old phenom.

One of the most difficult aspects of picking up the game of golf is learning to drive the ball. It should be simple enough. The idea is to wrap your hands around the club, keep your body straight, pull back and swing. Unfortunately, those first few principles don't even begin to cover the basic golf swing.

Any half decent golf instructor will tell you that the ultimate goal is to keep your head perfectly still during the entire swing. If you are trying to hit the ball too hard, your end result will be somewhere off in the tall grass hunting for a little white ball that you now want to bash into pieces. By now you are asking yourself "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

Relax your body and your muscles before even attempting to swing. Trying to hit the ball too hard with tense muscles typically have poor results. Any golf instructor will tell you that focused energy will make the ball sail farther and straighter. That focus comes from a relaxed body and a head that doesn't bobble about.

By being able to keep your head in a stationary position, you can keep a solid focus on the ball and bring your energy directly to the center of the ball with a flat club. Your stationary head will also automatically send the signal to your hands to turn correctly and at the right time. This timing is crucial to your follow through and allowing the ball to maintain a straighter trajectory.

Maintaining your balance is important to creating a long and straight drive as well. Golf instructors report spending a significant percentage of lesson time focusing on keeping the head straight and balancing the body. Balancing the body in a game of golf is more than simply not falling over. It is about evenly distributing the body weight in all directions. Most people are able to maintain a good percentage of left and right balance, but often the front and back balance needs to be taught by a qualified golf instructor.

When playing golf, the head angles downward to allow the golfer to see the ball and maintain focus. This position encourages poor posture and the body weight to edge too far forward. A qualified golf instructor can assist a golfer in finding a good and solid position that is more balanced to allow for a much better swing. This is an unnatural position for most people and often there is a great benefit in taking some lessons from a qualified golf instructor to help correct the problem. Are you still asking yourself "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

It is often recommended to watch oneself in front of the mirror to help correct imbalanced golf swings. This trick can help produce a much better swing, but keep in mind while you are watching yourself you are not watching where the ball should be. This is where a qualified golf instructor can really benefit both the novice and practiced golfer. Often someone else's eyes can pick up on what we ourselves cannot.

If you are self coaching instead of taking the advice of a qualified golf instructor, read as often as you can about methods of improving your golf swing. There are countless helpful articles, tips and news on the best-pro-golf-guide website. Remember that while the information presented on the web site is very good and comes with high recommendations, it is also valuable to recognize that every human body is unique and it may take a little trial and error to really get things moving in the right direction. Often the articles presented can enhance instruction given by a qualified golf instructor. The goal is achieve the best results in as little time as possible, and it can be advantageous to combine both resources.

The Benefits of Private Golf Lessons, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

Private golf lessons can be quite costly. One of the first things to examine if you are considering taking private golf lessons is your motivation for doing so. Are you looking to use golf for business relations or are you simply interested in the game? Those who are looking to be able to tee off with clients or the boss can gain quite a bit very quickly by soliciting the help of a qualified golf instructor for private lessons.

If you are truly not interested in perfecting your game and simply want to hold your own with your clients on the golf course, a qualified golf instructor can help tailor your golf education to help improve your weaknesses without training you for eventual professional competitions. Often business people will pay top dollar for a qualified golf instructor to produce significant results in a short amount of time. If you view it as a business investment, the money you are paying the qualified golf instructor seems much more reasonable.

If, however you are interested in the game of golf and you enjoy the sport, a qualified golf instructor can give you accurate, cutting edge guidance in improving the quality of your game. You can insist on perfecting your basics and move through the process more slowly and gain a remarkable amount of information from a qualified golf instructor. Again, private golf lessons can be quite expensive, so it's a good idea to make sure that not only are you motivated enough to make good use of the instruction provided, but that you will have the required time to devote to practice.

Whatever your reason is for choosing private golf lessons, you will have to devote ample time to practice. Practice is the key to any sport, and despite its simple appearance, golf is not any different. When choosing an instructor you should ask them how much practice time they prefer to see from their students. Any instructor who does not emphasis practice time is not interested in your overall success and is more interested in keeping you their student (and their income) for as long as possible. This is not the foundation for a healthy qualified golf instructor and student relationship.

The Benefits of Group Golf Instruction, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

Group golf instruction is available and can be much less expensive. Group golf instruction may or may not fit your current needs, but for many people it is a premium option as it fits nicely into their golfing budget. Remember that you not only have to pay any qualified golf instructor, but you more than likely will need to pay club fees and tee fees. These extra fees are not only for lesson time, but for the ever needed practice time as well. Often the total cost of everything involved is quite high and opting for a group lesson is more feasible. If you are worried and concerned "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?" Then this might be the option and a grate way to learn the game.

Group golf instruction also allows for a quiet gathering of novice golfers who are simply trying to improve on their skill. Often the pressure that comes with a round of golf with the boss is alleviated during group golf instruction. Group golf instruction typically allows for you to choose which direction you would like your golf instruction to head. There are groups offered for driving, putting, hazards, and basic skills. While you can explain to a private qualified private golf instructor that you feel you need to focus on a specific area, groups are often tailored to specific, targeted skills.

If you are interested in group golf instruction but want to enhance your learning experience, you can add the informative tips provided on best-pro-golf-guide to your golfing repertoire. Combining the article information with the qualified group golf instructor's advice and the tips of those in the group lesson with you may very well be an adequate combination of sources for you to seriously improve your golf game without breaking the bank.

Selecting a Qualified Private Golf Instructor, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

If you have decided to engage a qualified private golf instructor to hone your golf skills, don't rush into a commitment. It's better to shop for a high quality instructor rather than just rush into lessons with the first person willing to give them. Ask a lot of questions before beginning. If you know that someone else is taking private golf lessons, as them how they feel about the quality of the instruction they are getting. Is the golf instructor punctual? Do they always give the full scheduled lesson or do they shave a few minutes off here and there? What are their cancellation policies? If the instructor cancels are you entitled to a free makeup lesson? How often do they cancel?

It is perfectly acceptable to request references from a potential private golf instructor. Most will have a reference sheet readily available for you as it is a fairly common practice. It is also acceptable to interview the instructor prior to committing to the lessons.

Keep in mind that just because someone has excelled in their sport doesn't mean that they excel at teaching it. There are plenty of high ranking golfers who make excellent instructors, but there are some who truly can only play the game. Don't get stars in your eyes and be a bit skeptical if their credential sheet has an overwhelming number of golfing achievements but no teaching credentials or achievements. Someone who presents with a solid mix of both teaching and golfing achievements may very well make for a better instructor. Golf instruction, or any kind of sport instruction, is really about the ability to communicate the skills rather than perform them.

Choose wisely and often you will find the experience of learning to play golf quite enjoyable. For more tips and references about everything golf, visit BestProGolfGuide.

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