GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS

  How Far And What Club?

  Playing league or recreational  golf give players the opportunity to see what other golfers use when it comes to determining golf club distances.
  Knowing how far you are supposed to hit each  golf club is not a simple question  and it depends on a lot of factors. 
  As golfers age this factor becomes more important because with age a lot of golfers realize they can 't hit that seven iron as far as they use to and so they go down to a six or sometimes a five iron.
  Another good guide to help is knowing the golf club distance  for each club in your bag.
  Golf club distance depends on a lot of factors...the clubs you are using, the balls your are using, the conditions under which you play (hard or soft fairway), wind or calm and humid or dry.
  As I noted above age is also a factor as is gender, ones physical fitness, coordination and athleticism and how solidly you are connecting with the ball.
  There is a wide variation in golfers' distances and it varies from golfer to golfer.
  One person's five iron distance is another person's three iron distance.
  There is no wrong club distance and the  major difference is your distance.
  Having caddied at a young age and learning distances has been a big factor in my club selection but my club selection has changed as my age changed.
  Knowing your distances (yardages) is much more important than knowing how far each club is supposed to go.
  We all watch professional golfers and how far they drive the ball but recreational golfers should not even attempt to compare themselves with the world's best players.
  Golf club distance charts are interesting to look at but golf teaching professionals will tell you that golf club distance depends more on the player than on the clubs.

  Ed's Outlook

  Just got a telephone call from one of my golf buddies asking me to play in a scramble golf tournament next weekend.
  Now I have played in hundreds of scramble golf tournaments but I began thinking that some golfers are not familiar with the terminology "scramble."
  The definition for this type of tournament is that "scramble" is one of the primary forms of tournament play for golf associations, charity events and the like.
  A "scramble" is played with 4-person teams, but  2-person  scrambles are popular too. At a 2-person scramble, handicaps are usually applied. Handicaps are usually not applied at a 4-person scramble.
  In a scramble each player tees off on each hole and the best of the drives is selected and all players play their second shots from that spot.
  The best of the second shots is determined, then all play their third shots from that spot and so on until the ball is holed.
  In some scramble tournaments the foursome are constructed with an A. B. C and D player with these players designated based on handicaps.
  Some scrambles might require the A and B players to tee off from the back tees and the C and D players from the middle tees.
  There are many variations on the basic scramble golf tournament but they are basically designed to to help all participants enjoy the game and obtain the lowest score they can.

  Ed Townsend is a PR Consultant to the sport of golf. Ed writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even shoot your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's pictures at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

  Getting Your Rhythm In Order
  Here's a real simple exercise you can do anytime on the course to regain your rhythm.
  Simply turn a driver or wood up the other way and swing.
  Doing this will make the club very light and it will change the feelings that you've been having with the club.
  Once you've had a number of swings like this, I suggest you grip the club normally and go back to swinging it the way you normally would.
  But, doing this drill will help you to feel the club head and that's critical in the golf swing.
  Have yoour heard the expression "swing the club head?" Well, if you have or your haven't....just do it.
  Swing the clubhead and not the club. Let the club head do the swinging and feel the power you get without forcing it. Keep turning the clubhead over so you can get the feeling of the club head more often.
  You'll soon regain your rhythm and with it will return your confidence.
  Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by phone at 845-292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net

Putting Tip
By Joe Bermel

  Here is one of the best putting drills.
  A Quadrant Drill
 1. Take a golf ball.
 2. On practice green, establish on one hole at four four foot distance only.
 3. First putt straight uphill.
 4.Second putt straight downhill.
 5. Third putt right edge slight right to left.
 6. Fourth putt left edge slight left to right.
  Every golfer has these four putts many times every round. Do this drill again and again.
  Make yourself make three consecutive putts at each quadrant.
  This will make you a better 2-putt per hole average.
  Joe Bermel Jr. is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows-tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" and his Putting Tip Of The Month Calendar is available by calling 631-589-1384, at his Web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com