The angle of attack in golf is a fuzzy subject for me. I understand it, but have never really been able to explain it very well. Mark Crossfield does a very good job in the video below.
This makes total sense to me. How about you? Is your angle of attack correct or do you need to adjust something? Let us know what you think!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
On Wednesday, I am entering a stroke-play tournament to hopefully make the team to represent my military Wing at the Ontario Regional Golf Championship in July. This tournament is a three-day combined stroke event where the top five male and top two female players will move on to the next level. The Wing golf tournament will be played at my home course of Roundel Glen Golf Course in Astra, Ontario.
The Ontario Golf Regionals, played at the Petawawa, Ontario, is a three-day stroke-play event with several competitions in one. First, there is the overall team competition. Each day, the lowest 4 scores of the seven players are used to determine the total score for the Wing on that day. (For those who think that the female scores do not count, think again; they are usually used a couple of times during the tournament) After three days of competition, your total team score will be used and the lowest team score wins the event and crowned Ontario Regional Team Champions. They receive a pennant which is proudly displayed at their home Unit.
Another event inside of the team competition is the singles competition. The person with the lowest gross score after three days is crowned the Ontario Region individual champion (men and women). Additionally, the lowest five male and two female gross scores make up the Ontario Regional team that represents their region at the Canadian Forces National Golf Competition.
The National Competition, played at Shilo, Manitoba, is the same format as the Regional Competition except the players are significantly better. It is an exciting time of military golfers and believe me, bragging rights are as important as the hardware.
I am excited to start for the upcoming competition and my GAF (Golf Attitude Factor) is extremely high!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Scoring in golf is sometimes very challenging. A player can play well and score poorly. Conversely, a player can play poorly, but score well. Regardless of where you fit into this spectrum, being engaged in each shot is very important.
To explain what I mean, golf pro Darren Everett, from National Club Golfer, explains the importance of engaging with your target during all phases of your swing. Everett’s point of being engaged and focused on your target during your pre-swing routine, during contact, and after contact is a simple, yet extremely important lesson for all amateur and professional golfers alike.
Next time I am on the range or the course, I will engage the my target with intent. This important point will help me stay focused and should result in lower scores! We shall see tomorrow.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Down the left side of the fairway on the fifth hole of our course, a large areas is marked as ground under repair. Due to storms late last year and the lack of time to clean up the mess, our managing committee has declared this area as Ground Under Repair. It is a well know local rule and the area is marked by a white line.
Recently, I was playing a round of golf with my usual friends and one of us hit their ball into this area. We searched and searched, but we did not find the ball. As the default rule guy, they asked me for a ruling. I stated that since we did not find the ball, it had to be declared lost, and he had to go back to the tee to rehit.
Well, I started thinking and after a bit of research, I found out that I was wrong.
According for Rule 25-1c, my friend was able to take a free drop, without penalty. Here is how the rule reads:
Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found
It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having
been struck toward an abnormal ground condition is in such a condition. In
order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball
is in the abnormal ground condition. In the absence of such knowledge or
certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.
If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in an
abnormal ground condition, the player may take relief under this Rule. If he
elects to do so, the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of
the abnormal ground condition must be determined and, for the purpose of
applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player must
proceed as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the
abnormal ground condition at a spot through the green, the player may
substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in
Rule 25-1b(i).
(ii) In a Bunker: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal
ground condition at a spot in a bunker, the player may substitute another
ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(ii).
(iii) In a Water Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard): If the ball last
crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition at a spot
in a water hazard, the player is not entitled to relief without penalty. The
player must proceed under Rule 26-1.
(iv) On the Putting Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the
abnormal ground condition at a spot on the putting green, the player may
substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in
Rule 25-1b(iii)
Basically, not remembering and my playing partner not knowing the rules cost him 2 stokes. I will rectify this error this morning as we play our weekly round. With an important tournament approaching, I will have to reread the rules and make sure I am aware of all their nuances.
Rules are important in golf. They even the playing field, only if players actually know them. Have you read the rule so of golf lately? If so, how long ago?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
There are times when I feel that here is never enough time to golf. Other days, and they are very few, I am ready for a break and try something new. Wait, scratch that last statement!!!
In the immortal words of Ben Hogan:
Do you have enough time for golf?
