Sep
28
Golfers consider themselves a different breed. Most of those who play golf find there is no “in between” with this game. If a person tries the game of golf a couple of times, and does not enjoy it, he or she may never play again. People that try golf and come back again and again are probably hooked. The history says, they will probably play at some level for the remainder of their lives.Those who become lifelong golfers usually spend many days at the local course, playing in mildly competitive matches with friends. Others enjoy a leisurely trip around the course on a summer afternoon just for the recreation and enjoyment of an outdoor game. Eventually the most avid golfers, and some of those who are less enthusiastic, get the urge to combine a vacation with playing golf.
Jack Nicklaus designed the private SouthShore Golf Club and the resort Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas Resort, Bear’s Best Las Vegas, and is currently designing courses at the new Coyote Springs project north of Las Vegas.
One way to begin making your own arrangements, without the assistance of a travel agent, is to contact an organization in the area you are interested in. For example, golfers can get in touch with the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina group that specializes in golf vacations for that area. You can do the same with the many golf courses in Arizona. The Phoenix area has similar assistance available, as do many resort destinations.In this case, you select your favorite golf courses, then contact your selected accommodation, and ask for the Golf Director. This is a combination of making your own decisions while relying on the expertise and local knowledge of golf vacation specialists. If you really want to do this on your own, you may have a few more challenges and a little more work, but you and your friends may also enjoy the extra bit of freedom and sense of accomplishment.
Swing slowly and steadily using a nice rhythm. Standing over the ball for too long a time and wondering whether you’re going to swing the club correctly can easily result in a skewed shot, or completely missing the ball. Accomplished golfers purposely use sidespin to steer their ball around obstacles or towards the safe side of fairways and greens.
Set your standards high and then back down to a more manageable level if your budget doesn’t look as if it will handle Scotland, England, the Bahamas or a similar overseas destination.Make sure you have lodging in place, then plan to play courses within a reasonable distance. Minimum travel to and from golf courses is very important. In addition, you should make these arrangements as early as possible to give you and your friends the best opportunities available. If you wait too long, then decide to go to your original choice of destination anyway, you may end up with less than favorable rooms and less than favorable tee times.
Some recommendations for getting the lodging set first:
Arnold Palmer designed the two golf courses at Angel Park (The Mountain and the Palm), in addition to the golf courses at Red Rock Country Club and the Oasis Golf Club in Mesquite.
As you begin to plan your dream golf vacation it may be best to write down some thoughts about an ideal golf trip, breaking the subject into a few areas to focus on. Here are some categories to get started with:
Ask your golf pro to evaluate your posture while swinging. At the end of a swing, the weight has shifted almost entirely to the left foot, the body is fully turned to the left and the hands are above the left shoulder with the club hanging down over the players’ back.
Many golfers have improved their golf game by concentrating on golf fitness. The golf swing is mostly rotational so it makes sense to concentrate on your turning ability as it relates to range of motion and speed. Conditioning your golf muscles will reward you with straighter swings.
Basic Planning
The initial idea opens up dozens of possibilities for a family trip or a golfing-buddies trip. But before rushing off to hit the little white ball in the sunshine of another state or another country, every golf vacationer should take some time to think about what the ideal golf trip should include. As with any vacation, a golf trip plan should include some key elements: estimated cost, how to pay, length of stay, extras and so on. The golfer should consider what family members and friends will do if they are not golfers. A good question to ask: Should we golf at the seashore, in the mountains, on the links of Scotland? Some basic planning will eliminate many small problems and can greatly improve the chances of a worry-free vacation.
Johnny Miller co-designed The Badlands Golf Club, 27-holes of desert golf intrigue, with Chi Chi Rodriguez. “For several years there … everybody wanted their golf course to be better than the guy’s next door,” Miller once told VegasGolfer Magazine. “Vegas really became a golf crazy place. Vegas is the only place I know where you find every type golf course in the world. You don’t have to go to Scotland, Hawaii or Pinehurst to play. All of those type courses are in Vegas.”
Rees Jones, who is annually on the list of the most powerful men in the game of golf, is the designer of the Harrah’s-Owned Cascata Golf Club and Rio Secco Golf Club. Cascata was once called “golf’s toughest ticket” when it opened because of its exclusivity and greatness. And Rio Secco is a gem located in the hillls above Las Vegas, and is the home of the Butch Harmon School of Golf.
There are golf swing aids that act as driving range simulators. Golf swing aids come in all shapes and sizes including apparel type accessories to correct alignment or a golf club add-on accessory to monitor your swing. If you’re looking for an aid to improve your stance they’re not hard to find.
Overall, investing in golf swing aids will greatly improve your golf swing and your golf game. Ask an expert, who is not associated with the shop you would buy your golf swing aid from, for advice on the right aid for you. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting out, pick just one golf swing aid and go to work on your swing.
Billy Casper teamed with architect Greg Nash to design the two Las Vegas golf courses at The Revere at Anthem (Concord and Lexington) in addition to Desert Willow Golf Club and the three courses of Golf Summerlin (Highland Falls, Palm Valley and Eagle Crest).
There are a number of good golf swing aids on the market today. Look for golf swing aids at your local golf course. Make sure to look for reviews and ratings online for any golf swing aid you’re considering.
As the body matures, the ability to rotate the upper torso is affected by age, and the hand action can also slow down requiring a slightly stronger grip. After the ball is hit, the follow-through stage consists of a continued rotation to the left. Putting can become a nightmare and a condition called the ‘yips’ has affected not only amateurs but professionals as well; get expert advice and consider a golf swing aid.
Perry Dye designed Desert Pines Golf Club and Royal Links Golf Club while Lee Scmidt and Brian Curley designed Bali Hai Golf Club.
Ted Robinson designed both Rhodes Ranch Golf Club and Tuscany Golf Club, two fun, friendly courses with terrific par three holes.
Try not to grip the club too tightly. Make sure to use the proper technique. At the end of a backswing the hands are above the right shoulder, with the golf club pointing more or less in the intended direction of ball flight.
- Set a general time of the year for the trip (a few months or a year in the future)
- Decide how many days or rounds of golf the trip will include (don’t overdo it!)
- Set a range of prices for the entire trip ($2000 to $3000, $4000 to $5000, for example)
- Decide on the number of people who will be in the group
- Decide on who will go on the trip – just golfers, family etc.
- Start gathering golf trip information from magazines, library, web sites etc.
- Talk with friends who have been on a golf vacation and ask if they made their own plans, used a travel agent, purchased a golf package vacation etc.
Of course, you can follow up this original planning by making all the travel, hotel and golf arrangements on your own. Here are a few tips if you want to take care of the arrangements yourself.If you are planning to drive to your golf vacation destination, carrying your clubs in the trunk of the car or the back of the SUV solves most of the transportation problems. If this is your method of getting to your favorite golf site, take a few minutes to make sure you have all the clubs in the bag. It may sound strange, but it is certainly no fun to arrive for a few days of golf at a beautiful location only to find that your 8 iron is at home, because your son or daughter took it out of the bag for practice.
Approach the game with a positive attitude and repeat affirmations if you can, such as “I play great golf all the time.” Visualize where you would like the ball to land, as you swing. A common mental error golfers make when driving the ball is to hit it as hard as possible.
Tom Fazio created Las Vegas golf course Shadow Creek Golf Club, the two golf courses at Primm Valley Golf Club (Lakes, Desert) and the new WYNN Las Vegas. Fazio is currently working on Rainbow Canyon at Lake Las Vegas Resort. “The Las Vegas Region has always had a tremendous allure, and the addition of so many quality golf facilities over the last 20 years has truly added another variable to its tremendous entertainment and recreation portfolio,” says Fazio, also in VegasGolfer Magazine.
There are golf swing aids that will help you with swing alignment. Keep in mind that with some golf swing aids, you may still need advice or help from an expert.