Tips from the golf pros

Play by the rules:
2008 is a Quadrennial Rules Change Year for the United States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf and there are nearly thirty changes. Many are minor, but the most substantive and potentially penalizing change involves the removal of the exemption from penalty for playing the wrong ball in a hazard, and the associated change to allow the player to lift the ball for the purpose of identification in a hazard. Pass Holders can pick up a free copy of the 2008 Rules of Golf at the Golf Shop.

Wedge Play:
Effective wedge play makes golf a more pleasant and enjoyable game for many reasons. Among them is the fact that creating an effective wedge swing helps a golfer develop an effective impact position, one where the hands and handle of the club lead the club head through impact.

Furthermore, being able to use your wedges takes the stress off other parts of your game. If your wedge game is good, when you get into trouble you need only to play out to wedge distance, hit to the hole and one or two putt. This confidence allows for freer swings from the tee, which helps improve tee shots.

Grips:
Your golf clubs should be re-gripped regularly. Even if you don’t play every day, exposure to sun light and oils in your hands makes your grips slick and leaving your clubs in the trunk of the car can be even worse with the dust, heating and cooling.

Slippery and worn clubs make them harder to hold which causes you to squeeze harder. This creates tension and prevents you from swinging freely. New grips can give life back to a clubs and to your swing. If you’re looking to play better golf, new grips are a great place to start.

Playing from the Sand:
When playing from the sand, the secret to success is in the bounce – not the one the ball takes, but the bulging piece of metal on the bottom and back of your club. In essence, it’s the weight that cuts thru the sand and move your ball closer to the hole. To use the bounce open the clubface by spinning the toe of the club away from the target. Once your bounce is exposed to the sand, dig those feet in to get low. Then, take a swing that throws sand and the ball out of the bunker.

Sinking more putts:
In order to see the line of the putt and make a straight back and through stroke, it is essential that the eyes remain directly over the ball and the shoulders are parallel with the target line. If your eyes are inside the line of the putt an inside-out motion may result, and conversely if the eyes are to far across the line of the putt an outside-in stroke may result. Either motion is destructive to consistent putting. The most consistent motion is a square-to-square motion where the putter travels on a straight line back and through the ball on towards the target.

Stretching:
With the onset of fall and cooler temps it becomes increasingly important to stretch before you play. Not only will this help prevent injuries, but it will improve your golf game as well. Start with some light stretching and work into hitting a few practice balls before your game. To assist you, we’ve added the True Stretch Machine, located in the practice area. Following a light stretch, try hitting some practice balls before going out to shatter the course record. For more assistance ask your PGA Professional or visit the Sugarbush Health & Racquet Club and see a fitness instructor.