August 13th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
Out of all of the mistakes you can make out on the course, a slice is probably the most common. This refers to a ball that goes to the right after you hit it, usually right into a nice stand of trees or a nearby water hazard. A slice is devastating to your game, and fixing it can be a little complicated. Here are some great tips to help you get over your slicing problem and get your score back on track.
One of the first things that many golfers try to eliminate their slice is to angle their body to the left. This is a natural compensation, and logically, you would think that it would work. However, this is a huge mistake and can actually result in slicing worse than before. Your stance may need a little work, but aiming the wrong way is not going to be very helpful.
To correct this, stand in front of your golf ball, without your club. This is an exercise that will help you get aligned properly. We’ll be adding the club in a second, but first, you need to focus on your feet and your hips. Your feet should be facing perfectly forward and should be slightly apart. As a result, your hips should also be facing the same direction.
If you notice that you’re leaning a little bit, or that your hips are not perfectly in line with your feet, bring them into line. Now, put your arms into position for your shot. If your hips move, correct them. Pretend that you are swinging your club back and again, mentally check the position of your hips. Correct them if necessary.
Repeat this until your hips are no longer pulled in the wrong direction. Once you’ve got it down, add the club back into the equation and start again. Get the feel of the right body position down until it comes absolutely naturally. This is a good exercise that you can do at home, in your backyard or even in your living room. The key is finding that “sweet spot” when your posture comes together and everything just feels right.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look at some common swing issues that can exacerbate a slice. The most common problem occurs when you actually hit the ball. Instead of following through, you may pull up. This force sends the ball careening in the wrong direction.
To fix this, practice your downswing and don’t stop when you get to your golf ball. Keep the club traveling in the exact same direction for a few more inches. You’ll be using that force to literally guide the ball in the proper direction. Work on this until you have your club going perfectly straight in the right direction.
With a little practice and using these tips, you can cure even the nastiest slice and make it a lot easier to get a better score during your next round of golf.
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August 11th, 2008 — Tips and Tricks
Few players realize just how important their grip is when it comes to their swing. If you are not gripping your club correctly, you will not be able to effectively harness the power of your swing. You may slice, you may hook, but you will most likely get frustrated. Your grip plays a huge role in the overall effectiveness of your swing, and this is the first place you should start if you are having trouble. Let’s go over some grip basics and start fixing this problem right now.
First, you may need to unlearn bad gripping techniques. This can be pretty tough, so we recommend practicing off the course. You can do this in the privacy of your own home. We recommend a few hours of this a week until you have managed to retrain yourself from your bad gripping behavior. It may take less, or it may take more, but stick with it until you are able to naturally grip the club the right way.
First, take hold of the club with your right hand, but don’t grip it tightly. A tight grip is actually a very bad grip to have. Now, bring your left hand down, but don’t touch the club yet. Your arm should be lose and your hand should be curved a little bit in towards your body. Bring your hand in line with the club and gently line it up. You should be able to draw a diagonal line upwards, following the shaft of the club, from your index finger back to your palm.
Practice this until the club is at a perfect diagonal in your palm. Now, close your hand around the club and remove the right hand. Your left hand should now be naturally positioned into the perfect grip, provided that you did not move the club in any way. Remember, the shaft should be at an angle towards your pinkie finger. Your thumb should be pointing towards the ground. Take the club back into your right hand again and repeat this process until you can just naturally grab the club the right way.
So, now that the left hand is behaving, let’s work on the right. Holding the club properly with your left hand, relax the right hand and arm and bring it in line with the club. Clasp your right hand over the club gently. A real quick way to tell if you’ve got the right grip is to imagine that you are pinching the shaft of the club. Your index finger should be on the backside of the shaft, while your thumb should be on the front.
Again, practice this until placing your right hand correctly on the club is second nature to you. You may need to go back for a little practice now and again, but this should give you a strong foundation for playing a better round of golf. Remember, don’t grip the club too tightly and you’ll be on the road to a better score.
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July 29th, 2008 — CA, Lake Tahoe, golf courses, restaurant
Coyote Moon Golf Course is located near Lake Tahoe, CA (This is one of my favorite courses… Played it when they first opened before they had their license to sell beer… Beer was free! Water you had to pay for.)
Phone: 530-587-0886
Website: http://www.golftahoe.com/coyote-moon
Course History:
Coyote Moon is a fairly new golf course but it has been incredibly well received and quickly shot to fame. Although it is one of the most difficult courses to master in this area, it is also one of the most enjoyable to play. Professionals will find it challenging, but even novices will be able to enjoy a round without feeling too intimidated. The scenery alone makes this well worth the trip and overall, this is one of the nicest courses in the area.
What You Need to Know:
This course is very eco-friendly and has numerous features that make it a very “green” course. There may be some areas that are parked off from the public and the management asks that visitors observe these rules. That’s a small price to pay considering the overall beauty of the course.
Although no dress code is specified, we highly recommend traditional golf attire since this is a more conservative course. The facilities are definitely top notch and the grill is a definite must-stop-by. They are open every day for breakfast and lunch, and the bar is open until 7pm.
Playing Hints:
The terrain makes for a very challenging round of golf and the management states that you’ll need to use just about every club and every technique at your disposal to beat this course. It’s definitely one of the toughest courses to play and you’ll find that distance combined with accuracy will make your game a lot easier and will keep your scores higher.
The sixth hole is particularly challenging and you’ll be facing a water hazard right from the tee. Keep to the left a little bit and keep in mind that your shot will be pulled towards the water. On the fourteenth hole you may feel as though you’re playing hopscotch, not golf, as you try to avoid the rough. Try to make your tee shot as long as possible and head straight. This should put you in a great position to make it to the green in about another shot with the right club and the right amount of power.
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Fees:
Regular Rate May 23 - October 19 (18 Holes): $160
Twilight Rate $100
Twilight Times
Opening through June 12th: 3:00pm
June 13th through September 7th: 4:00pm
September 8th through October 19th: 3:00pm
All rates include use of warm up station and shared golf car.
Booking Policy
For 8 Players or Less:
Regular Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance.
Twilight Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance.
Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance.
How to Get There:
Reno
Take I-80 West to exit number 184, Donner Pass Road. Turn right onto Donner Pass Road. Turn left at Northwoods Blvd. Course is 1/2 mile up the hill.
San Francisco/Sacramento
Take I-80 East to exit number 184, Donner Pass Road. Turn left and cross over the interstate. Turn left at Northwoods Blvd. Course is 1/2 mile up the hill.
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July 11th, 2008 — Book Review
Manuel de la Torre is a legend in golf and he also happens to be the son of a golfing legend. When you put this together in one book, you have an incredible resource that you will want to turn to again and again. Although the book tends to wander a little bit in places, it is a very enjoyable and quick read. Novices to the game will find it extremely enlightening and pros should be able to walk away with more than a few hints that will help them improve their game.
De la Torre’s father learned golf from a man who lost a leg in World War One and went on to become a champion with a killer drive. It’s from this tradition and foundation that de la Torre went on to become one of the most skilled golfers in present time. His book is a wonderful look at the philosophy and skill that went into perfecting his own game and of course, the most important thing - the swing.
Numerous books are written every year that try to dissect the swing and figure out how everyone can turn into a powerhouse over night. Millions of dollars are spent every year by golfers that are seeking that magic bullet, either in the form of a can’t miss system or a special driver that promises the moon. All of these things add up into one lucrative cash cow but usually leave the recipient with little more than a few tips and no improvement in their swing.
De la Torre’s approach is much different and you’re not left feeling as though you’ve been ripped off after reading it. His tips can be put into immediate use by any player and although they may not work for everyone with the same results, they are certainly tested remedies for fixing common problems. The book is an incredibly enjoyable read and never once did it wander into dry territory.
This is considered a classic in the golfing industry and there is a reason. By far, when it comes to books about the art of the golf swing, there simply is no competition. It’s concise, helpful and very engaging. The reader never feels overwhelmed or intimidated, and most end up feeling as though they can go out and hit the course and actually improve their swing. The author is considered one of the top 100 teachers in the world and it’s easy to see why he earned that distinction after reading this book.
Overall, we highly recommend this book and it deserves a place of high honor in any golfer’s bookcase. It’s a thoroughly entertaining read that is also incredibly useful and packed with real world advice. It is an older title, but the book is a timeless read that is just as helpful now as it was when it was first released. Sometimes, the old ways really are better, and if you don’t work on the fundamentals, no special driver is going to give you the results you want.
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June 13th, 2008 — Book Review
Over the past few years, the amount of new courses in America has been dwarfed by the amount of courses that are closing. While the sport isn’t close to dying anytime soon, many are starting to see some warning signs that the industry may be struggling. There is a lot of finger pointing, but the majority of it seems to be centered on the manufacturer’s of golf equipment. While this may seem a bit odd, many believe that since new clubs that promise better scores come out every year, consumers are hesitant to plunk down a lot of cash on something that may be outdated within a few months.
This raises another big issue in the sport - do these clubs really work and can you buy hope? The answer is usually a no. While these clubs may help improve your game a little bit, you’re not really addressing the problem and all too often, the results are nothing by disappointment in more hype. This leaves many players the choice of either becoming better or just quitting the sport. As this title of this book indicates, the author wants consumers to just forget all about this hype and hit the ball.
When it comes down to it, the only thing that can make you a better player is practice. Sure, you can buy that fancy new driver, but if you think it’s going to turn you from a 150 yarder to a 400 yarder overnight, you are sadly deceived. We are all limited by our physical make-up and prowess, and no club is going to be able to change that. However, with time and practice, you can become a better player and at the very least, a more consistent one.
This book does a good job at addressing the new kinds of equipment that are being released and their strengths and weaknesses. New materials and designs are discussed as well as how they will affect our games. The author covers the evolution of the new clubs and in some cases, proves that the old stand-bys were actually better for our games. Also on tap is a discussion on the evolution of the golf ball and whether or not this is also a contributing factor in the way we play.
The author’s viewpoints, statements, and actions as the former USGA technical director have even resulted in litigation (now resolved) by the golf equipment manufacturers. We recommend this book simply because it offers an interesting viewpoint and some much needed discussion into the phenomenon of golf club evolution. You may not agree with the author, but it is an interesting read. He certainly has a gift for making even complex issues easy to understand and the book is very well written.
If you are interested in golf equipment and finding which materials and clubs really do deliver on their promises, this book is well worth the purchase price.
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