Natural Hazards Line Top Quality Golf Course

By Golf Buddy

All those who play golf are very sensitive to their golf course. Normally a golf course must have 18 holes with teeing ground, rough and other hazards, fairway along with a green that has a pin and cup all necessary for the game of golf.On courses with 27 or 36 holes, players choose two sets of 9 holes to play their round of golf on, depending upon maintenance concerns or course style issues, and courses with only 9 holes see players go around the course twice in one day.

Golfers always want to experience the best golf course around given the oppurtunity to do so. Golf courses will invariably have many different types of hazards to make the experience more interesting and challenging whether they are natural, man made or lake and river water hazards.Built in 1910 on an old dairy farm, Touchet Valley is simply one of the best pasture golf links style courses around in my opinion. For this unique type of golf course setup, it is simply tough to beat and hard to match.When it comes to buying golf accessories there are lots of name of the companies that manufacture good ones.

Cobra golf is a well-known manufacture of golf equipment and has sponsorship deals with various excursion professionals. The quality of the equipments is excellent.Located in Carlsbad, California, and considered one of the oldest golf companies, Cobra has a great range of quality drivers, irons, utilities, and putters. The former number one golfer in the world, Greg Norman, had a landmark relationship with Cobra Golf.Another top quality American golf manufacturer is Cleveland Golf, located in Huntington Beach, California. Since the 1940s, Cleveland has been making classic golf clubs and equipment. They have also entered into many sponsorship deals with famous professionals and golf courses.Working through ownership difficulties, Cleveland has emerged again producing a quality line of golf clubs and equipment. Golf course architects design the courses themselves, and can become quite famous and in demand at times.

A setback to the sport of golf has been the golf course's reputation of not being very kind to the planet.

About the Author:Golf is a tough game to master but it's so much fun! Find your passion for golf and share your thoughts on this beautiful game at OC Golf Course. You won't be disappointed!

Are Online Golf Instruction Programs A Viable Option?

By Mick Euan Tait
As golf is a difficult game to master, the golfing beginner needs a lot of instruction and tips to begin with. I believe that it is best to begin looking for dependable free golf tips to start your golf education. That way, you can learn about the different grip styles, swing techniques, golf equipment options, and other areas like trouble shots - all without spending a single cent.One-On-One Golf LessonsWhen you have learned as much as possible from free golf tips, take a few one-on-one golf lessons. After that, you will need to practice at the range and on the course. By this stage you should be at a more consistent level where you can play some decent shots, and not so many bad shots. But to take your game to the next level, you should continue with your golf education.Golf Instruction OnlineWith golf lessons online, you can go from shooting scores over 100 to being able to break 90 or even 70. You will learn how enjoy the game of golf as you will be able to play with more consistency and accuracy.The benefits of taking online golf lessons are cost and time. For the same amount of money that you would pay for a 1 hour lesson, you will get 2 or 3 months worth of online golf instruction. The other benefit is that you can fit the program into your schedule by practicing the lessons at home or in your office anytime you want.Comprehensive Golf Lessons Every MonthThe best golf lessons online that you should look for are programs that are run by professional and competent instructors. For a really low monthly fee, these programs will give you a ton of information that will take you from a beginner to an advanced golfer. These types of programs give you all this information in an very organized way that is easy to follow.You will get lessons on just one area of golf each month. By the end of the month, you will have perfected and mastered that area - whether it is the full swing, putting, driving, or trouble shots. Every single area of the game is included; from the different types of shots to stretching and flexibility training, different training aids you can use in-doors, and learning the mental game of golf.Many Types Of Golf Material To Learn FromA good golf lessons online program will have many resources for you to learn from. These include DVD clips, breakdown sessions and practice drills on online video, tracking worksheets, live teleseminars, worksheets and assignments, evaluation of training aids, and access to a private apprentice forum to get more answers.Master The Game Of GolfTherefore, if you want to become a better golfer and master the game, I would suggest that you check out one of these golf lessons programs. You will receive expert help to lower your scores in a convenient and very affordable way. Remember, you can go at your own pace so that there is no excuse that you don't have time to practice.
About the Author:
For more information, read Mick's review of the top Online Golf Lessons program. Also, check out his website for Free Golf Lessons and beginners golf tips.

SwingVision Tiger Woods Iron II

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 - Your New Golf Coach

McGrane rues Tiger absence

Irishman retains fond memories of partnering world number one

Damien McGrane has acknowledged he will miss the opportunity to lock horns with Tiger Woods again at this week's Dubai Desert Classic.
European Tour stats package
The Irishman played two rounds with the world number one in last year's tournament, outscoring his illustrious partner during the third round.
They played again on the final day, but while Woods went on to claim the title for the second time with a dramatic late charge, McGrane ended up down in 44th after a disastrous final round of 79.
Woods will not be present in Dubai as he continues his rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery, but McGrane - now at 130 in the world and with a European Tour title to his name - will be and intends to build on his fourth-place finish at the Qatar Masters last week.
The result in Doha was McGrane's best since he clinched his maiden victory at last year's Volvo China Open.
"I am hitting enough good shots and I am holing my share of putts, although I miss a few as well, but you can't get them all. The main thing is my frame of mind is good which helps," said the 37-year-old.
"The experience of last year will definitely help me this year, but it is a pity the man himself is not going to be back.
"I have played a lot of good golf so hopefully there are plenty of good things to come of it this year," he added.
"I have good memories of last year, I remember it fondly and it was a positive experience for me and I used it in a positive way and used it to my advantage afterwards.
"Obviously it was nice and I was glad I had that time with him. It's a great memory to have and the sooner he gets back here the better."

injury triumph tiger's finest hour

TIGER Woods turned 33 on December 30 last and the world awaits the Great One's return.
Meanwhile, let's just remind everyone of the facts and figures that underpin his deserved reputation as the king of golf.
Since he turned pro in 1996, Tiger has won 65 times on the PGA Tour and claimed 14 Major wins -- four Masters, three US Opens, three British Opens and four US PGA titles.
He has failed to win a major in only four years as a pro -- 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2004.
A survey in the latest edition of Golf Digest Ireland asked 21 PGA Tour players: 'What was more impressive to you -- Tiger Woods winning the 2000 US Open by 15 strokes or winning the 2008 US Open despite his knee injury?
The result was 67pc impressed by the'08 achievement and 33pc by the 15-stroke victory.

The Shapes: Evolution of Improvement

We are getting better. And equipment technology is the reason.
Either that or we're in the midst of one of the most curious coincidences in the 500-year history of our game. First, to the evidence about us. The USGA is unequivocal about average golfers: Despite decades of naysayers and experts alike suggesting that the average handicap is not dropping, has not dropped and never will drop, the fact is, it has. Let's say that again: The average handicap of all golfers -- men, women and children -- has decreased consistently for the past 15 years. The average handicap today is two strokes better than it was in the early 1990s, according to research provided to Golf Digest by the USGA's Golf Handicap & Information Network (GHIN). This decrease coincides with a remarkable decade of equipment innovation that has brought us titanium drivers in every shape and size, game-changing hybrids and oversize putters.
Those clubs and others like them have been introduced in record numbers the past dozen years. All because a lot of smart people have come to golf with ideas to make the game easier. Consider that the number of products tracked by Golf Datatech, an industry-research firm, has more than doubled since 1997, and equipment submissions to the USGA have gone from about 500 a year in the early 1990s to almost 2,500 in 2008. One reason for that increase is that the USGA evaluates more products for rules conformance, but all those new products and improvements can't be unrelated.
What's that, you say? Your handicap hasn't budged since the first Bush Administration? Maybe the problem is that the contents of your golf bag haven't changed. Oh, sure, we've heard the familiar protests: "I'm not good enough," "None of this stuff really helps average golfers that much" and our favorite: "I'm doing just fine with what I've got."
Not really. Or at least you could be two shots better. For those of you who need further convincing, we present the Golf Digest Hot List. Our annual equipment review and analysis has yielded 116 exceptional products in 12 categories, the most exhaustive review ever of the game's top clubs.
What we've learned over the years is that new equipment is designed to help average players more than tour players, and the engineers behind golf's new technologies can explain in detail how they're making improvement happen.
"Golfers have gotten better because new equipment helped make it easier to produce adequate launch conditions," says Benoit Vincent, chief technical officer at TaylorMade. "New equipment also has allowed golfers to maintain adequate launch conditions for bad shots and to maximize launch conditions with their best swings when custom-fit."
The game can be made easier. Not easy, mind you, but easier, and probably easier than it has ever been. (Of course, golf courses are getting longer and more difficult, so for many of us it might not seem like we're improving. But take a trip back to that muny where you grew up, and see if you aren't driving to places you did in your youth or even farther.)
Technology update. This year's technological advances go a step beyond engorged drivers and ridiculously strong-lofted irons. Drivers, for example, feature the performance properties of extreme geometries within a more pleasing, almost traditional frame. The best iron designs reflect a pattern of optimizing each individual iron within a set based on how a player might best use it. Companies, for instance, are designing 7-irons significantly different from 4-irons, even within the same set.
Most important, fitting has become nearly automatic, thanks to adjustable fitting systems and the virtual omnipresence of launch monitors. It's so vital (and no doubt related to our two-stroke improvement) that we're beginning every section of the Hot List with a golf success story based on a proper fitting.
Of course, in the onrush of the present, we sometimes lose sight of how much progress is being made. Golf has benefited from technological leaps the past dozen years, but in real time they can seem like baby steps.

Where To Find Comprehensive Golf Tips Online

By Mick Euan Tait
Golfers have been fascinated with dominating the often frustrating game of golf ever since the game was invented in Scotland back in the 15th century. Since 1750, the modern game of golf evolved into what we know it as today. Mastering the game of golf is still as difficult as ever, even though golf equipment technology and teaching techniques have improved. Thankfully, today we have the Internet and access to many golf tips online. Although I have played golf for over 30 years, I struggled to master the game until recently. With the many golf resources you can find online, it is now easier to discover the little "secrets" that can make a big difference with your game.You can also buy many outstanding products, like golf swing training aids, golf instructional videos, and even several golf e-books that can help you master the game. But, it is also a good idea to start looking for some valuable free golf tips online. Take into account that you will find many different techniques - especially as regards to the transition from back-swing to downswing and the golf grip.
To see what works for you, just try out the different techniques until you feel comfortable. The golf swing is a fairly complex movement and there are several styles; from the newer stack and tilt golf swing to the traditional swing. Some online golf tips instruct you to grip the club firmly, tightly, or even loosely. These terms are quite subjective as they don't really tell you the amount of pressure to use - so just experiment until you find the right grip - I prefer a firm grip.When finding golf tips online, remember that there is more to golf than just the golf swing. Search for websites that show you the most all-inclusive golf tips. Probably one of the most important aspects of golf is the mental game of golf; which is often ignored. Here is a free golf tip - learn the inner game of golf techniques.
Also, it is important to know what the right golf equipment (golf clubs and balls) is for your type of game. If you are starting out, look for clubs that are suited for the beginner golfer as they are more forgiving. Buy a driver and fairway woods with a graphite shaft, large titanium head, and perimeter weighting. For irons, choose iron shafts for accuracy, more sole weighting, and wider soles. For beginners or high handicap golfers, play a two-piece, mid spin, firm feel golf ball.
Like I said before, look for golf tips online that covers every area of the golf game. Some of the things you need to learn are the grip; setup and stance; backswing, transition, and downswing; driving, fairway shots, chipping, bunker shots, and putting; course management; how to fix problems like the slice, hook, and pull / push shots; and the different trouble shots you will encounter - playing into the wind, deep rough, hill lies, and more.You could of course pay a professional golf instructor to learn all these things, but you will end up paying a lot of money for many lessons. My recommendation would be to start out to learn as much as possible with free online golf tips. You could then take a few one-on-one golf lessons and then visit the driving range to practice what you have learned. Finally, get out on the golf course and play a round of golf - and remember, to master the game of golf, you need to practice - happy golfing!
About the Author:
To find the most complete online golf tips, sign-up for Mick's Golf Tips Newsletter. Also, visit his Free Golf Tips site for ways to improve your game.

TAYLORMADE R9 DRIVER REVIEW

"New Classic" Clubhead Shape with Ultra-Thin Wall Technology
The R9 driver features a new clubhead shape that merges modern and classic lines with incredible effectiveness. It's best described as a cross between the r7 SuperQuad and the r7 Limited – a triangular shape with beautifully contoured corners. TaylorMade calls it "New Classic" because it is at once modern and traditional, and should prove to be popular for a long time to come. The triangular shape offers four distinct advantages: 1) it allows for a deep back, far-from-the-face CG location that makes it easier to launch the ball; 2) it contributes to a higher MOI for greater stability on off-centre hits; 3) it allows for an exceptionally low CG location that's lower than that of the r7 Limited and the r7 SuperQuad; and 4) it works more efficiently with MWT, allowing it to use only three ports and cartridges to more effectively influence trajectory than the r7 SuperQuad could with four.

The R9 clubhead is constructed with the aid of TaylorMade's Ultra-Thin Wall (UTW) technology, which allows for clubhead walls measuring as thin as 0.6 millimeters, with the saved weight redistributed to make both MWT and the low-and-deep CG possible.

Inverted Cone Technology
The R9 driver also incorporates TaylorMade's renowned Inverted Cone clubface technology, which expands the area of the clubface that delivers high ball speed. Characterized by an inverted cone that's milled directly onto the inner side of the clubface, Inverted Cone Technology increases the R9's forgiveness on mis-hits. The combination of the R9 driver's Inverted Cone Technology, high MOI and exceedingly low CG makes it incredibly easy to hit.
New Fujikura Motore graphite shaft with High Inertia Tip (HIT) Technology
The R9 driver comes equipped with a brand new shaft by Fujikura Golf. The 65-gram Fujikura Motore graphite shaft is engineered with a new, advanced tip construction that promotes faster ball speed. Called High Inertia Tip (H.I.T.) technology, it's characterized by an optimally designed tip architecture that promotes added kick through the impact zone to promote increased ball speed and distance.

The Most Advanced Driver in TaylorMade History
"When you consider the extraordinary list of technologies and innovations that make up the R9, the undeniable conclusion is that this is the most advanced driver TaylorMade has ever created," said Harry Arnett, TaylorMade's senior category director for equipment. "More important is how those technologies work together to make the R9 driver perform. It's forgiving and easy to hit. Its total adjustability makes it easy to tune its characteristics to best fit the player, the course, the weather, etc. TaylorMade started making adjustable golf clubs five years ago with the r7 quad. Clearly, we've come a long, long way since then."

The R9 driver is offered in 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5 degree lofts (9.5 and 10.5 left-handed), and in X, S, R and M shaft flexes. The recommended retail price is £349, €449* and availability will begin on March 23, 2009.

The R9 TP driver is offered in 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5 degree lofts (9.5 and 10.5 left-handed), and in X, S, and R shaft flexes. The recommended retail price is £399 and €499* and availability will begin on March 23, 2009. According to Taylormade the R9 is 'the best driver' they've ever produced. The jury is still out on that one right now as we have yet to hit it but expect to see an exclusive first hit video of the new TaylorMade R9 driver very shortly right here on http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/.

http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/News/Taylormade-R9-Driver/?&R=EPI-26078

Top Ten Golf Courses in the World

Check out this list of the Top Ten Golf Courses in the World.



From the site:http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/

1. Pine Valley, USA


2. Royal County Down, Ireland


3. Cypress Point, USA


4. St Andrew (Old), Scotland


5. Shinnecock Hills, USA


6. Pebble Beach, USA


7. Augusta National, USA


8. Oakmont, USA


9. Merion (East), USA


10. Sand Hills, USA

Check out the website, the pics there are just totally awesome.

Golf needs Tiger now more than ever

For the majority of players, the PGA Tour will begin its 2009 run today with lots of big banks hurting, almost as many automotive makers hurting and Tiger Woods still plotting his official return from a left-knee surgery that took place when the economy looked reasonably sound last June.
To say major league professional golf is standing on shaky ground is like saying it's fairly difficult to sink a 4-foot downhill putt with a million dollars dangling in the balance.
That folksy Southern guy with the even folksier name -- Boo Weekley -- wasn't just whistling "Dixie" when he said last week that 2009 will be "purdy important" for everyone hoping to make a fancy living off fancy shotmaking.

AP Photo by Danny Moloshok - Tiger Woods is still recovering from major surgery on his left knee. No one knows when he'll be able to compete.

Yep. It's safe to predict that the near future of the circuit will hinge on Woods' ability to come through with a one-man financial bailout performance for his fellow pros.
Woods will not play in this week's Sony Open in Honolulu, and almost no one expects him to be in the field when the PGA Tour returns to the mainland for next week's 50th Bob Hope Classic on four courses in the La Quinta, Calif., area.
If most of the speculation is on target, Woods won't debut until at least mid-to-late-February, possibly as late as the Accenture Match Play Championship, which will end March 1 in Arizona. That would give him a few weeks to properly gauge his durability before the Masters, which will begin April 9.
No one in his right mind would bet against Woods making a reasonably quick recovery and moving back into the dominant position in the sport.
But for many of us, it's easy to forget that Woods turned 33 years old on Dec. 30, and only the most devoted golf fans recall that the reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament last June technically was the second operation on the same knee. There was another, although less extensive, surgery last April.
Whether Woods has chronic left-knee trouble can't be known for a while, but it's not too early for the lords of the tour to start worrying about that possibility. While many of the television contracts have been signed and sealed through the 2011 season, a period of corporate default is upon all of us, even the world's elite golfers.
The emergence of Woods as the sport's ruler was a double-edged sword. On one hand, he came along just as Jack Nicklaus was exiting and brought with him a once unimaginable infusion of advertising and fan involvement.
In the TV era, it all came easy for the PGA. Arnold Palmer and Gary Player created a mania that Nicklaus and Lee Trevino quickly extended and Woods turned into an outright financial mother lode.
But there's been a certain downside to Woods. Unlike Palmer, Player, Trevino and Nicklaus, Woods quickly equated to such a tour windfall that it became easy for also-rans to earn a fortune without winning tournaments on a regular basis.
Trevino summed it up accurately a couple of years ago when he said, "The great thing for the tour is Tiger. The bad thing, though, is going to be no Tiger. What then?"
Any number of candidates have offered periods of hope -- Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia and of late, Padrig Harrington.
But Woods changed the PGA financial formula to the extent that it became almost as lucrative to contend as to win. That's been great for players, but not so great for the future of tour business.
If Woods doesn't come back soon -- and strong -- the future is here for those many players who banked early and often by living on his coattails.

Caulton Tudor - Staff Writer
caulton.tudor@newsoberver.com or 919-829-8946

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1367970.html

How to swing a golf club like Tiger Woods

This about ok!

Amazing Shots

Golf clubs could damage your hearing

By Jonathan Brown

Monday, 5 January 2009

It is the sound every would-be Tiger Woods yearns for – the sweet high-pitched "thunk" as the oversized head of their favourite driver sends the ball soaring up the fairway.
Yet the latest must-have titanium clubs, which can cost hundreds of pounds each on the promise of delivering longed-for extra yardage, could be hurting more than your bank balance.
Ear specialists have found that the hearing of one 55-year-old player could have been damaged by the sound of his new ultra-thin club striking the ball and have suggested golfers should consider wearing ear plugs to minimise the threat to their health. Research published in the British Medical Journal, which pitted six brands of titanium clubs against thicker-faced and older stainless steel models, found that the former produced greater sound levels.
It was carried out by a team of ear, nose and throat specialists based at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after a golfer attended their clinic suffering from reduced hearing in his right ear along with unexplained tinnitus. He complained he had been using one super-lightweight club three times a week for 18 months which made a sound "like a gun going off".
One of the study's authors, Malcolm Buchanan, said: "Thin-faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals." Golfers should consider ear protection, particularly on an enclosed driving range where they might hit hundreds of balls over a short period, researchers said. Professionals believe they could prevent players hearing cries of "fore".
Dr Buchanan, a keen golfer, conceded that wearing ear plugs could be "a bit too radical" for many players, even though some golfers had likened the sound to a "sonic boom" and others said it made them unpopular on the tee.
Scott Gourlay, head professional at Craigmillar Park Golf Club in Edinburgh, said: "On a range, you might get an effect from these drivers. But it's not as bad on the course because the noise dissipates in the open air and you are only hitting a drive every 15 minutes."

Sentosa Golf Club

THE CLUB boasts two magnificent championship 18-hole golf courses and is highly regarded as one of the best golf destinations in Asia. With ever-changing views from every hole that is at once dynamic and utterly dramatic, this golf club is an oasis of tranquility that few can duplicate in this region. Capitalising on Sentosa's natural and historical heritage, both the Serapong and Tanjong courses boast fairways lined with verdant greenery and soothing vistas of either the Singapore harbour or South China Sea.

If you call yourself a golfer and are in Singapore, you must visit and play a round.

The experience - memorable....

Tiger Woods and the 18 Majors and beyond

It something that will inevitably happen, most probably within the next few years.
Tiger Woods will definitely win more than 18 majors, most probably 25 or 30 for that matter at the rate he is going at.
But then again, its not at all, about chasing the magnificent achievement that Jack Nicklaus has accomplished. Its really about making things happen, making the right things happen, and doing the best you can in a sport like golf, you work to post the best score, not besting the next guy, but just a comparison of the two scores and the better score receiving the prize.
I have played in little tournaments myself and most of the time, as many players know, that you have no idea , or a vague general idea of what scores the others are posting, most of the time, you really don't care. So for Tiger Woods, at the age he is at, and the way he is looking after himself and his knee, he is going to come back better than ever, and he is going to achieve a score far beyond what Jack ever did and Jack himself will approve of it.
And a new record of achievement will stand and people will be in awe of it, and Jack's record will also stand forever, as it will be known to some as the achievement that Tiger had to go for.
But all golfers will still recognize the magnificence of it.