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Golf Tips

A Return to Good Golf Etiquette

Golfing can be a great sport but it can also be very frustrating, especially when you play with or behind players who are not abiding by the golf rules of etiquette as set forth by the USGA. The rules are simple and follow normal courtesy guidelines. Be respectful of your fellow golfers and we can all have a great day on the golf course. Here are those rules:

1. Don't move, talk or stand close to a player making a stroke.
2. Don't step on another player's line of putt.
3. Always play without delay and keep up with the group in front.
4. Don't play until the group in front is out of the way.
5. Shout a warning if your ball may hit someone.
6. Invite faster groups to play through.
7. Repair divot holes and ball-marks. Smooth footprints in bunkers.
8. Don't drop clubs on the putting green or lean on your putter.
9. Replace the flagstick carefully in an upright position.
10. In the case of a serious breach of etiquette, the Committee has the authority to disqualify a player.
11. Leave the course in the condition in which you would like to find it.

Hole-in-One Insurance

Have you ever wondered what happens if you actually get a hole-in-one during tournament play? You win the car, cash, clubs, whatever the prize may be... but who pays? According to USA Today, the odds of an amateur golfer getting a hole-in-one are 1 in 12,500. These low odds allow tournament planners to purchase insurance to cover the risk if a golfer does indeed make a hole-in-one.

The cost for insurance generally varies depending on:

1. the number of golfers,
2. the distance to the hole,
3. and the value of the prize awarded.

According to www.holeinoneinsurance.com, the average cost for a tournament with 72 golfers and a prize worth $7,500 is $180. With more players, the odds are reduced for the insurance company so the cost goes up. There are stipulations that must be met as well. The hole-in-one has to come on the players first shot and there has to be a third party observing the hole to witness if a hole-in-one does in fact take place.

If you are running a tournament, check with your local insurance company or you can find several insurance companies online that specialize in hole-in-one insurance. Car dealerships who donate cars to tournaments may be able to arrange for the insurance as well.

So, go out and give it your best shot! And if you need help counting your shots check out our golf stroke bracelets.

Golf Tips For Beginners

If you are a beginner, the first thing you should know is that everyone has their good and bad days on the golf course, even the pros. You may think that you are the only one on the course that can’t hit the ball. Believe me, not everyone on the golf course plays well and we all started somewhere! Go out and have fun with the game.

Listen to the advice of seasoned players but don’t feel like you are the only one who is struggling. We all struggle at different times on the golf course. If not, we’d all be on tour. The idea is to go out and play, the more you play, the better you will become at the game.

I came across a website that has some fun observations about golf. It tells me, don’t take the game too seriously. It’s a great game to play but if you get too bogged down in the rules and stressed out that everyone is better than you, you’ll never play well. Click here to read Golf Tips for Beginners.

Are Mulligans Legal?

What is a mulligan? It is basically a free shot taken to make up for a bad shot that is not added to your score card. But is it legal to do so? Well, officially no. The USGA rules do not allow mulligan shots. Can you imagine Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson asking for a mulligan during tournament play? I think not.

However, there are a couple instances where mulligans are allowed.

1. In a friendly game of golf, if all agree, mulligans can be allowed. They are mostly taken off the tee but some will allow such shots on the fairway as well.
2. During a tournament, tickets are often sold for mulligans to raise money for a charity. In that case the mulligan can generally be used off the tee, on the fairway and on the putting green.

Remember, when you play golf it is important to count every stroke, unless in the case of a mulligan if it has been agreed upon by the people you are playing with. If you have trouble keeping track of your scores try our wide variety of golf stroke counters.

What are Preferred Lies?

In winter months or times of extreme weather such as a lot of the country has experienced this spring, there comes the need to move your ball to improve your lie. Heavy snow and rain, spring thaws and extreme heat can leave fairways in less than desirable condition. Your ball could land in a muddy area or bare spot with no grass. To promote fair play and to protect the fairways from extensive damage, the USGA created what are called winter rules or preferred lies.

In order to take advantage of this rule, the course you are playing at must have it posted that Winter Rules or Preferred Lies are in effect. At that point you are allowed to move your ball to a better lie on the fairways. Moving your ball means you may move it 6 inches to 1 club length (depending on the golf course rules) without moving it closer to the hole.

This rule makes it fair for all golfers and keeps the golf course from being damaged further.

What do Local Rules Mean in Golf?

The PGA has a standard set of rules for golf that are used universally so that all golfers are playing by the same set of rules whether they be about playing golf itself, or the etiquette involved in being a golfer. In addition, each individual golf course has the ability to apply some local rules that are in effect only at that particular golf course. These rules may be a modification of the traditional golf rules or they may be new rules created just for that golf course.

Local Rules at a golf course are generally posted so any golfer can read them. They may be in the Pro Shop, in the Locker Room, on the golf carts or printed on the score card. The starters may also inform you of any local rules when they are sending you up to the first tee. A very common local rule could be what they call “winter rules,” where you may move your ball to a better lie on a bare or wet fairway. Or if you are using a golf cart, there may be rules that let you know where you can drive the cart, whether it be a 90 degree rule or if there are restrictions on certain holes such as on par 3s.

In order to play a good and fair game of golf it is important to pay attention to the local rules and who knows, it could even improve your play.

And don’t forget, if you need help counting your strokes try our unique golf stroke counters, because golfing in style is just as important as golf itself!

USGA Rules are Good for Golf

Our USGA package came in the mail this week and it reminds us of the simple yet important rules we all need to follow on the golf course. To you who don’t like rules, keep in mind these rules are to make golf fun and fair for all.  There is no place for arrogance on the golf course. So here are some very simple rules:

1. Plan your shot while walking to your ball or while others are playing.
2. Don’t step off yardage for every single shot, develop an “eye” for distance.
3. Walk briskly between shots. If riding, take several clubs with you to your ball so that you won’t have to walk back to the cart.
4. Play a provisional ball if you think the original might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds.
5. Players should carefully repair divots as well as any damage marks to the greens.

If you want to learn more go to: www.usga.org

Are you Whiffing the Golf Ball?
Have you ever stepped up to the tee, got your ball lined up, checked your stance, practiced your swing… only to completely miss or “whiff” the ball when it was time to actually hit the ball? It is embarrassing and perplexing. Plus, if you are playing by the rules… it should cost you a stroke. Now, it could be in the group you play with, that they will forgive a whiff here and there in the interest of keeping the game moving. But how do you stop the problem from occurring again? There could be an easy fix to your problem. Take a breath and slow down your swing. When my friends and I get together for a round of golf and see someone struggling to actually make contact with the ball… we tell them to “wiggle their butt,” and slow down their swing. It works every time. The first tip gets them to relax, the second gets them to actually strike the ball. Reducing the speed of your swing gives you the control and concentration you need to make contact. You come at the ball more in control instead of trying to force the shot. You’re also less likely to pull up because you are swinging so fast. As a former instructor taught me… it’s a waltz… count 1,2,3,4 as you swing a nice smooth swing. So get up to the tee box, do your pre-shot prep (whatever it may be), but when it is time to actually hit the ball, take a breath, slow down your swing and follow through all the way.

Windy Days of Golfing
It is getting colder and windier in New England and we still love to go out and play golf. Call me crazy but there is something about that crisp autumn air that energizes me. Even though I am already wearing my “winter” golf gloves I still enjoy 9 holes on a Sunday afternoon.

One of the many challenges of playing golf in November is the wind that goes with it. Here are a couple tips to help you get as much distance as you can when hitting in the wind:

1. Most golfers when playing a shot into the wind have the tendency to want to swing really hard and fast. That is the wrong approach. Keep your movement smooth and slow it down. Relax and keep the tempo flowing… like a waltz.
2. Keep your ball lower in the air. A lower iron will keep your ball lower than a higher wood.
3. Adjust your stance. Play the ball back further in your stance so you will hit the ball more solidly which will help it fight the wind more. Use a 3/4 backswing and punch it into the wind with your hands following the ball low to the target.

Happy golfing!

Repairing ball marks
As you improve your game and start hitting the green with strong shots, you’ll make a “ball mark,” a small impression made by the ball slamming into the green. Ball marks make it hard to putt and it will divert your ball away from your intended path to the hole. Make sure you get a “ballmark repair tool,” a tool specifically designed to repair the damage done by your ball. Here’s how to use it:

• Insert the repair tool at the edge of the ballmark not inside the hole.
• Slowly and gently push the tool forward towards the hole. Repeat around the edges of the hole. Do not insert the tool directly into the center of the hole.
• Tamp down the area with your putter to smooth it out.

Now… go repair one more to help keep our greens looking good! There are always golfers who ignore this simple rule of etiquette…and you’ll most likely see another ballmark in need of repair.

What are divots?
There is one thing I see on the golf course a lot, especially with new golfers. A golfer hits their shot… digs up a divot and walks away… without replacing the divot. If you don’t know what a “divot” is, a divot is the chunk of grass that you dig up when your golf club hits the ground as you swing. And it can fly quite a ways out in front of you.

It takes a lot of work to maintain a golf course and it is so important to have a fair playing field for all. Have you ever landed in a dried out patch of dirt in the fairway? That is where the divot was never replaced or as on some golf courses, new grass seed was never added. Please be considerate of your fellow golfers and pick up your divot and replace it back into the spot it came from or add grass seed mix if the course carries it. It is proper golf etiquette and the right thing to do.

Thanks for helping to keep our golf course green!

Fall Golf Tip – Keep your golf balls warm!
The weather is turning cooler in the north and it is getting more challenging playing golf. The leaves cover your ball so you have a lot more trouble finding it. The chance of losing a ball is much greater so make sure you bring extras.

Here’s a tip for helping your ball go further in the fall. Keep your balls warm. Carry 2 balls in your pockets so you can keep one ball warm while you play with the other. The idea is to switch balls on each hole. But… here are two very important things to keep in mind:

1. The rules require you to finish a hole with the ball that you started the hole with unless the ball is lost or becomes unfit for play.
2. You must play the entire round with the same type of golf ball.

So go out there and have fun playing golf in the fall. You might want to get yourself a pair of winter golf gloves too!

What is a Gimmee?
Sometimes when putting, in order to speed up play your golfing group may say that is a “gimmee”. Generally the ball would be within 1 foot of the cup. Don’t make the mistake that some of my friends have done…. a gimmee counts! If someone says that’s a “gimmee” – thank them, pick up the ball and record that as a stroke.

Golf Rule #1 - Keep up with play!
The most important thing you can do as a golfer is to keep up with play. Whether you are new to golfing or have been golfing for years. Always have a club ready when it is your turn to hit. I so often see people roaming around looking for their ball without a club ready to hit it when they find it. They finally find their ball and then they walk back to the cart to find a club. Imagine the horror for the people behind you as they patiently (or not so patiently) wait for you to stroll back and finally hit your ball.

Always, always be ready. It doesn’t matter that you don’t hit your ball as far… it is far worse to roam the course and not be ready when it is your turn. You will certainly be hated on the golf course for that!