A new year and so a fresh start to the 2011 Golf season
Practice that Short game to be a better Golfer
It is a new year and so a fresh start to the 2011 golf season. A year that promises so much what with Tiger Wood’s new swing and the prospect of more majors, Lee Westwood’s quest to retain the world number one slot and also the upcoming talent and fresh faces such as Matteo Manassero and Ricky Fowler. This year should be one to remember!!
Despite this expectation, we see that the start of the season is blemished and that rules of golf are again in the limelight. Camilo Villegas was disqualified from last week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions for the breaking of rule 23-1. A straight forward rule that was spotted by a spectator on television resulted in Camilo signing for the wrong score and thus being disqualified. This was the last thing we wanted to see especially after coming off a season filled with peculiar rules decisions, the most notable being Dustin Johnston’s misfortunes at the PGA Championship.
This week’s example yet again acts as a simple reminder of how important it is to follow the rules of golf. We can, however, learn from the honesty and integrity shown by these players in what can only be described as a “frustrating” situation to own up to their mistakes and carry on.
Tip of the week – The Importance of the Short game
More than 50% of the game of golf is played from within 100 Yards of the green.
Knowing this it is surprising to see that most of us spend all of our time practicing with the long irons and of course the driver. Although this part of the game is important, improving your short game is crucial to improving your scores.
Try par 18……Hit one ball from 9 different locations around the chipping green, the aim each time is to get the ball in the hole in no more than 2 shots. This practice drill is designed to improve your confidence around the greens which will overall improve your short game. By recording a score each time, this will ultimately put you under more pressure and help keep your practice more productive.
“Proper short-game practice will help you post lower scores and improve every club in your golf bag”.
Best Wishes
Steven