Stretch Out The Kinks!

As time goes on we all lose flexibility. We see it more and more with each winters passing. What does that mean for your golf game? It can mean several different things. The most evident will be a loss of distance. You may also may see a drop in your accuracy as well.

What can you do to help? Here are a couple of simple exercises that will help you regain your Flexibility.

1. Put a club behind your back and put your arms over the club. The club should line up in the crease of your elbows. Work your upper body back and forth like you are making a full swing. try and hold you lower body still to give slight resistance.
2. Hold each arm one at a time across your chest with the other arm. You should feel a stretch in your shoulder.
3. Go outside and grip two club together and swing them as you would if you are hitting a full shot.

This will be a start to helping to stretch the kinks out for a new season. Remember, there is only so much you can do without solid fundamentals. Stay tuned as I will outline the fundamentals in future posts.

Sincerely,

Michael Dugas PGA Professional

Unplayable Ball

There are times in a round that you will find yourself in this position. A shot has been played and it is impossible or dangerous to swing at the next shot. The rules allow for this instance with the "unplayable Ball" rule 28. It is important to understand the options under the rules.

Under rule 28 "Unplayable Ball" there is three options under penalty of 1 stroke:

1. Drop a ball with in 2 club lengths from where the ball lies in any direction no closer to the hole.
2. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is to be dropped. There is no limit on how far back you may go.
3. Replace the shot from the spot where you just played from.

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed with options 1,2 or 3. If you elect to proceed under option 1 or 2 a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

While proceeding under this rule the player may lift and clean his/her ball or substitute a ball.

Penalty for breach of rule: Match Play- Loss of Hole Stroke Play-2 stroke

Option 3 is the most penal because it is a stroke and distance penalty, however to play a shot you may need to choose this option. There are some key factors to keep in mind, the rule allows the player to solely determine whether or not the ball is playable. It also does not mean you will have a clean and clear shot once proceeding under this rule.

Do not confuse the penalty of breach with the one stroke for involking the rule. The penalty for breach of the rule is only applied if you fail in the procedure of the rule.

Rules Questions

I am looking to answer any rules questions you may have. Send them to jwparksgolf@myfairpoint.net and I will post the question and answer to Mixed Grille Room.

Are you ready for the 2010 season?

As the weather turns to spring, we are all excited about breaking out our clubs. After five months of cold weather and indoor activity, it is refreshing to get outdoors. Here are a few tips to kick the 2010 season off right.

Make your clubs feel like new. All it will take is a new set of grips. After being in storage for five months and usually in the garage grips will harden. Sometimes they will even start to crack. It is a small amount of money to get a new set of grips today. A basic set installed will only run about $60.00. That's not much to make your clubs feel new again.

Get the most out of your old shoes. Chances are the ground will still be wet when you play your first round. This is why I always use my older shoes for the early round. I accept the fact they will get wet and dirty. This will also keep the new pair I bought last season fresh for when the ground hardens up.

One last thought, If I had a dollar for the times I have heard "I started out playing well and now my game has gotten worse" I would not have to work at all today. This is my theory, we all start a new season just happy to be outside. For this reason we do not have any expectation on our golf game. This allows us to just play and be thankful for the opportunity. As time goes on, we all think that our games should and will get better. There are no "givens" in golf other than we will have good days and bad. Practice and a pure enjoyment of the game will lead to more success.

Start the season off right. Maybe get some new grips or take a refresher lesson. Give yourself an opportunity to get the most out of the season.