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Playing with Pace

Golf is sometimes perceived as a secret society with its own mores, culture and language, which can make it feel exclusionary, elitist or unwelcoming. Yet, while the sport is deeply rooted in history and traditions that make it great, today’s golf scene is getting with the times like never before. In fact, golf will present you with such unbelievable personal and shared experiences that the only fear you’ll have nowadays is a FOMO –a “Fear of Missing Out!”

There are almost too many reasons to list for taking up this great game, but here’s eight of them to get you started:

Connections Abound – Golf’s a relationship game. Every angle of the sport is rooted in relationships—both personal and business. And your time spent in and around the game allows you to make connections and foster relationships through shared experiences that you wouldn’t otherwise make.
“Grass Ceiling” No More – Tired of being excluded from the informal networks your colleagues, especially the guys, are building on the course and then leveraging for career advancement? Grass ceiling no more, girl. Get in the game. You’ll break down those barriers, and build a network for a lifetime.
The Great Outdoors – In this high-tech generation of being chained to our mobile devices while doing more with less at the office, who couldn’t use a little more time outside in the fresh air? Can’t you just hear your mom saying, “Go outside and play!”? Mom knows best, especially when it comes to what a little fresh air can do to boost your mind, body and spirit.
Calorie Burn – Who couldn’t use a little extra off? You’ll burn approximately 2,000 calories during an 18-hole round (while walking and carrying your clubs) or even 1,300 calories when riding a golf car as you play!
Your Wardrobe Awaits – Forget about the stodgy, starchy, boxy and, yes, tacky golf shirts of days gone by. Cute, fashion-forward, sexy, professional, sporty; whatever look you’re going for on the course, the fashion world is your oyster in golf. Oh, and the shoes! One word. Love.
Your Significant Other – Golf is such a special sport to share with a spouse or partner. You’ll leave the world behind and be together, undisrupted in a beautiful setting where nothing else matters but the two of you. Fun and closeness are sure to result. (And don’t fret if you don’t currently have a significant other, many happy couples are known to have met on the golf course.)
Destinations Await – Around the corner or even the globe, golf travel can take you to stunning locations all over the world.
That One Shot – There’s no way to do justice to describing the feeling of pure exhilaration you’ll experience the first time you connect your golf club with that little white ball. There’s really nothing like it! You can do it…And you’ll never forget it! Believe me, it will keep you coming back to the game you love!

So, no more FOMO…Get Golf Ready today!

Spirit of Golf

spirit of golf thought of the day

April 28, 2013

Most do not understand that true power comes from releasing internal resistance rather than from pursuing, chasing, toil, and grind. We become conditioned to believe that we have to effort hard in order to achieve everything we want; in effect, we must struggle to deserve our success. In truth, we could relax and chill our way into receiving anything we want and desire, unless we don’t believe this to be true. Our belief about how easily results will unfold is ultimately what makes them appear. It is we and we alone who get to decide how much joy or misery is going to be involved along the way.

Orlando, FL – April, 2013

Upcoming events

Join us in the following cities for upcoming Spirit of Golf workshops and clinics. For a full listing of our upcoming events, including our webinars and player/instructor certification programs, click here.

PGA Golf Etiquette

By PGA.com and Kevin Cotter, PGA

What to Expect During a Round of Golf: From Start to Finish

Arrival:

If caddies are available, remember that caddie programs provide young people with a chance to earn money and gain exposure to a sport that can positively shape their character.
A good caddie can enhance your experience by offering tips that might help lower your score. They provide information on yardage, club selection, reading greens, and understanding the course layout.

Warm-Up:

Arrive early enough to give yourself time to warm up properly.
Start with your short irons, then move to mid and long irons, and finish with your woods.
End your warm-up by hitting a few soft wedge shots, then practice a few putts on the green.
Avoid hitting too many balls and tiring yourself out before the round.

First Tee:

Check the scorecard for local rules specific to the course.
If your playing partners suggest a match, ensure everyone is comfortable with the stakes.
Mark your ball with an identifying mark and let the other players know what ball you’re using.

Avoiding Slow Play:

Keep pace with the group ahead of you by walking at a reasonable speed between shots.
Plan your next shot as you approach the ball by considering the wind and course layout.
When it’s your turn, check the lie, choose your club, visualize the shot, and play it. This process should take no more than 30-45 seconds.
If you’re not ready when it’s your turn, encourage another player to go ahead.

Maintaining the Course:

Replace your divots. If you can’t replace the divot, either use the toe of your shoe to smooth the edges or fill it with a soil/seed mix provided by the course.
Always bring a rake into the bunker, entering from the low side nearest the ball. After your shot, rake the area and any footprints, leaving the rake near the bunker.
Repair any pitch marks on the green using a tee, knife, or repair tool by gently pushing the edges toward the center and smoothing them with your foot or club.
Remember, while you can repair pitch marks on your putting line, spike marks must be left alone until after you putt.

On the Green:

Avoid stepping on another player’s putting line, the imaginary line between their ball and the hole.
If your ball is in someone’s line, offer to mark it with a small coin or plastic marker.
If you’re asked to tend the flagstick, ensure you’re not standing on anyone’s line. Hold the flagstick at arm’s length so it doesn’t flutter and cast shadows, and remove it carefully after the player putts.
Lay the flagstick off the green to avoid damaging it. The player closest to the hole usually tends the flagstick.
After everyone finishes putting, walk directly to the next tee.

Miscellaneous:

Play a provisional ball if your tee shot goes into the woods or might be out-of-bounds. You have five minutes to search for the original ball once you reach the area. If not found, continue with the provisional, incurring a one-stroke penalty.
If you find your original ball in-bounds, continue playing it and pick up your provisional.
Out-of-bounds balls result in a penalty of stroke and distance.
Never hit if there’s a chance of reaching the group ahead. If a shot might hit others, yell “fore” immediately and apologize if your ball lands near anyone.
Displays of frustration are fine but avoid temper tantrums like yelling or throwing clubs. It’s unsafe and unsportsmanlike.
Learn and understand the basic Rules of Golf, such as out-of-bounds, lost balls, unplayable lies, cart paths, and water hazards.
If your group stops for refreshments at the turn (after nine holes) or at the end of the round, offer to pay, especially for the caddies. Whoever buys at the turn shouldn’t be expected to pay at the end of the round.
Finally, shake hands with your fellow players, congratulate the winners, and thank everyone for their company. At the end of the day, the real joy of golf is the time spent with friends, old or new.

For a complete discussion of the Rules of Golf, visit the USGA’s web site.

GOLF ETIQUETTE 101

The Spirit Of The Game

Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.

Safety

Players should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like when they make a stroke or practice swing.

Players should not play until the players in front are out of range.

Players should always alert greenstaff nearby or ahead when they are about to make a stroke that might endanger them.

If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he should immediately shout a warning. The traditional word of warning in such a situation is “fore.”

Consideration For Other Players

No Disturbance or Distraction

Players should always show consideration for other players on the course and should not disturb their play by moving, talking or making any unnecessary noise.

Players should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players.

On the teeing ground, a player should not tee his ball until it is his turn to play.

Players should not stand close to or directly behind the ball, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to play.
View Avoiding Distraction Animation

On the Putting Green

On the putting green, players should not stand on another player’s line of putt or when he is making a stroke, cast a shadow over his line of putt.

Players should remain on or close to the putting green until all other players in the group have holed out.
View Putting Green Animation

Scoring

In stroke play, a player who is acting as a marker should, if necessary, on the way to the next tee, check the score with the player concerned and record it.
View Scoring Etiquette Animation

Pace Of Play

Play at Good Pace and Keep Up

Players should play at a good pace. The Committee may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.

It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.
View Playing At A Good Pace Animation

Be Ready to Play

Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play. When playing on or near the putting green, they should leave their bags or carts in such a position as will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.
Viewing Being Ready To Play Animation

Lost Ball

If a player believes his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, to save time, he should play a provisional ball.

Players searching for a ball should signal the players in the group behind them to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found.

They should not search for five minutes before doing so. Having allowed the group behind to play through, they should not continue play until that group has passed and is out of range.
View Saving Time With A Lost Ball Animation

Priority On The Course

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group’s pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round.
View Priority On The Course Animation

Care Of The Course

Bunkers

Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose.
View Bunker Etiquette Animation

Repair of Divots, Ball-Marks and Damage by Shoes

Players should carefully repair any divot holes made by them and any damage to the putting green made by the impact of a ball (whether or not made by the player himself). On completion of the hole by all players in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoes should be repaired.
View Divot Repair Etiquette Animation

Preventing Unnecessary Damage

Players should avoid causing damage to the course by removing divots when taking practice swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground, whether in anger or for any other reason.

Players should ensure that no damage is done to the putting green when putting down bags or the flagstick.

In order to avoid damaging the hole, players and caddies should not stand too close to the hole and should take care during the handling of the flagstick and the removal of a ball from the hole. The head of a club should not be used to remove a ball from the hole.

Players should not lean on their clubs when on the putting green, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.

The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before players leave the putting green.

Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed.

Conclusion; Penalties For Breach

If players follow the guidelines in this Section, it will make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

If a player consistently disregards these guidelines during a round or over a period of time to the detriment of others, it is recommended that the Committee consider taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending player. Such action may, for example, include prohibiting play for a limited time on the course or in a certain number of competitions. This is considered to be justifiable in terms of protecting the interest of the majority of golfers who wish to play in accordance with these guidelines.

In the case of a serious breach of Etiquette, the Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7.