Five of the Great Golf Courses in the U.S.
April 29th, 2007
If your vacation is just around the corner then you need to start making your plans and reservations now. It is especially important to book your reservations early for golf vacations because many of the top golf destinations are booked several months in advance. If this is your first golf vacation then you may want to consider buying one of the many golf packages that are available instead of planning a vacation from scratch. These packages include lodging, private golf lessons, and reservations for tee times at the best golf courses.
One of the most popular U.S. golf destinations is the state of Hawaii. Here you will find high quality golf courses on nearly every island. The best of the best in Hawaii is the Makaha Resort & Golf Club in Oahu. This resort offers 18 holes at a par of 72. It is a championship golf course that runs 7,077 yards and it has a 73.2 USGA rating. If you will be staying on the Big Island then you may want to book your tee times at the Mauna Kea Golf Course. This is another championship golf course that offers 18 challenging holes. It has a par of 72 and it stretches 6,737 yards. If you will be staying in Kaui then you may want to try out the Poipu Bay Golf Course. This golf course offers an in-cart satellite navigation device, 18 challenging holes, a par of 72, and 7,034 yards of golfing terrain.
Author: Sarah Freeland
Choosing a Golf Bag
April 25th, 2007
When a golfer is looking for a lightweight golf bag with a variety of features he or she has a plethora of options. There are many manufacturers producing high quality golf bags at affordable prices, in a wide assortment of styles and colors. While style is a key feature that can often persuade a buyer to purchase a particular type of bag, one of the most prominent and desired feature of a golf bag is its’ carrying capacity. Golf clubs, balls and other items that must be carried can not only amount to a hefty weight but also take up a reasonable amount of space, thus spacious golf bags are quite popular on the market.
Another key feature of a golf bag that consumers look for is organization. Forcing a golfer to go rummaging through their golf bag to find the desired club or some specific
item can take some time and result in the golfer losing concentration. Of course, most bags provide the necessary compartments, but many of the less expensive ones do not. Hence, if you are an avid golfer who intends on playing or frequently plays competitive golf, there is no other choice than to purchase an exceptional quality golf bag. If you simply cannot afford to splurge on a bag then look into purchasing one from a wholesaler at discount prices.
Author: Ken Wilssens
The Grip - The Most Overlooked Golf Club Parameter
April 24th, 2007
The Grip, the Most Overlooked Golf Club Parameter The grip on the golf club is the only part of the club to come in contact with the golfer. The grip can also affect ball directional control. Why is it then that the vast majority of golfers don’t even give the size and feel of the club grip a second thought when purchasing or modifying clubs? Manufacturers only offer a very limited selection of grip styles and sizes. This is done mostly for convenience in manufacturing, and to limit customer choices to avoid confusion.
From the beginning of the modern golf club era, leather was the only material used for the grips. Everyone had the same size and material. During the 60’s the grip material of choice was rubber composite. These grips were easy for the manufacturers to assemble. Within the last few years, new manufacturing techniques and materials have allowed grips to be multi- compound. Today, there are a wide variety of grips on the market.
The feel of the club can change considerably depending upon the grip used. The player’s preference for the softness of the grip can now be accommodated. Weight, size, and durability can also be addressed. The feel of the grip is very much a personal preference, so there is no right or wrong choice of grip.
However grip size is an important factor in the fitting process. A player with a grip that is excessively large can inhibit the wrist action that is necessary for optimal performance. This can cause the shot to be pushed to the right. A grip that is too small can cause the club to be gripped too tightly, and cause pulls to the left. Players that have physical disabilities with their hands may need some special considerations. Arthritic players cannot grip the clubs and need a larger grip to avoid pain.
Author: Steven Passarell
Whistler Golf Club Announces $1.2 Million Course Improvement for Upcoming 2007 Golf Season
April 24th, 2007
Whistler Golf Club is introducing a new hole for the 2007 season as part of a $1.2 million course improvement project which is gearing up to take place this upcoming summer. ResortQuest Whistler provides several packages and specials for travelers looking for Whistler accommodations.
Whistler, BC (PRWEB) April 23, 2007 — “Arnies Extra”, the new temporary hole was constructed last summer in preparation for the installation of a leading-edge irrigation system. Arnies Extra will be opened as other holes are closed during the installation ensuring that there will be 18 holes of golf in play at the Whistler golf Club all season. View WhistlerGolf.com for more information on the upcoming golf season.
This past February, Whistler Blackcomb surpassed the average annual snowfall of 33 feet with 103 days left in the season and has received a total of more than 42 feet of snow overall.
With record-breaking snowfalls in the early season and outstanding snow conditions throughout the winter, guests are quickly booking Whistler accommodations. ResortQuest Whistler has several vacation packages and specials for travelers of the Whistler Wellness Week and other upcoming events. Guest can take advantage of Stay and Spa Getaway Package and Sizzling Summer Specials starting in May through the summer months to help you relax after a hard day on or off the slopes.
About ResortQuest
Author: JOHN ELLIS
Author: Ashley Augello
Investment Properties in the Fourth 18 Hole Signature Golf Course in Larnaca, Cyprus
April 22nd, 2007
Backed by the European Golf Federation, the new 18 hole golf course will soon start taking shape in Larnanca. Investment opportunities here start from CYP68,500 with a minimum capital uplift potential of between 40% to 60% in 2 years time. Similar apartments in existing golf courses are selling for over 50% more expensive today.
(PRWEB) March 26, 2005 — One of the first new golf courses planned for Cyprus will soon be taking shape a few kilometres outside Larnaca, in the valley of a small village known as Tersefanou. This spectacular project is developed as an 18 hole signature golf course designed and backed by the European Golf Federation. At present, there are only three golf courses in the whole of Cyprus, and all are located in the surrounding area of Pafos. By offering a resort catering for high quality hospitality services to foreign and Cypriot citizens, this new course is aimed at increasing the Cyprus tourism market and to make a positive contribution to the Cypriot economy.
The resort will feature a hotel, club house with multiple restaurants and bars, a state of the art business centre, equestrian facilities, a retail village complex, entertainment area and spa, a number of villas, 1,000+ apartments and a 6,000m golf course - all lying in a scenic valley with beautiful natural rock formations and grand trees adding maturity to a relatively new course. With the apartments and villas being built over four phases, some of them are situated on the hills around the course and will have magnificent views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The resort is designed to be a comprehensive and integrated golf and leisure resort that combines the advantages and privileges of living in Cyprus.
There are currently three major golf courses in Cyprus and with the golf craze sweeping the island, plans are underway for the development of four or five more within the next five years. The present three are situated very much in the same region of Pafos, with the three new 18-hole golf courses ones planned in the districts of Limassol (Pentakomo), Larnaca (Oroklini) and Famagusta (Agia Napa) by the consortia of local authorities and hoteliers.
In the cases of Oroklini and Agia Napa, the government has decided to offer public land to the consortia on a long-term lease. The relevant environmental impact studies have already been completed.
The Cyprus Golf Federation, which was elected as a new member of the European Golf Federation in 2001, has joined 31 other countries in promoting the sport in Europe. It has been active in organizing local golf tournaments and matches with British golf societies, and the PGA has been to Cyprus to inspect the golf courses. For the last two years, the Federation has organized the first and second annual Cyprus Amateur Golf Open Championship Tournaments which took place at the golf clubs of Tsada and Secret Valley and attracted golfers from 15 countries in Europe and the US.
Investors Provident have secured the rights to 13 apartments in a development called Regal Gardens on this fourth 18 hole golf course in Larnaca. Situated only 500m away from the course, all apartments in this complex will include light and airy living spaces complete with terraces and/or balconies with views of the course and surrounding area. The complex will include gardens, swimming pool and tennis courts for recreational purposes. The current master plan and space allocation has been modified by a consortia of local authorities and hoteliers to reflect the predominantly apartment orientated concept.
Our research today shows that these golf properties will significantly increase in value during the build program of 2-3 years. If compared with current prices of similar apartments on the three existing courses in Cyprus, it can be seen that there is a potential for a minimum capital growth of between 40% - 60% within the next two to three years.
Key Facts about Regal Gardens & Surrounding Area:
- All apartments in Regal Gardens will have commanding views of the sea and the horizon and the golf course
- Approximately 500m from the golf course
- All apartments come freehold with terraces, gardens and balconies
- Communal areas will include two tennis courts and swimming pool
- Whole area will be extensively landscaped with local species of trees and other plants
- Pre-launch availability of all apartments on only the 4th 18 hole golf development on the Island of Cyprus
- Only 30% payment required upfront and no further payments until June 2006
- Properties on the three existing golf courses are well over 50% of the pre-launch prices
- Capital growth potential of between 40% - 60% in the next two to three years
- Option to resell at anytime before completion in January 2007
- A few kilometres west of Larnaca and an ideal spot for holidays
- 7km to Larnaca Airport, 10km to the City Centre, 5km to the beach, and less than 1km to the golf course
- One car parking space included with each apartment
- 10 years building guarantee on all apartments
- Prices start from only CYP68,500
For further information, please contact:
Investors Provident Ltd.
Tel: 0044 870 1999 859
Author: Investors Provident
Biomechanics Of The Golf Swing - A Little Science Goes A Long Way
April 21st, 2007
High speed video technology can record the way a golfer’s body moves in minute detail. We can study the images and learn a lot about the way it works. It may sound super high tech and scientific, but the results of biomechanical analysis can help you lower your score!
The key to the golf swing is torque. When you wind up for the backswing, you rotate and twist your body on the axis of your torso. Physically, you’re like a tightly wound spring, full of potential energy.
The downswing is the release of that energy. The potential energy becomes kinetic energy, and it’s all that stored energy and not the golf club that really smacks that ball and sends it flying.
Golf Uses The Whole Body
Nowadays, golfers realize that golf doesn’t just require your arms and shoulders. When you swing for the golf ball, you use your whole body. Biomechanics looks at the way the body works together to create that golf swing.
Through biomechanics, we’ve learned that a golfer’s whole body has to be in great shape. Recommended training exercises for golfers have gone from simple swing training to whole body fitness programs and weight training. Keeping your whole body in good shape will help improve your swing.
Let’s look at the biomechanics of golfing step-by-step.
- Address. In your address position, your muscles are fairly relaxed. What the address requires is good balance. Your training for the address should focus on this. Most of your muscles are not active, but are in a ready position.
Good balance in the address position means that your shots will be consistent.
- Backswing. Remember, this is when you’re winding up that torque, to be released in the downswing. This movement begins with the feet. As you start to wind back, your weight shifts to the back of your right foot and the front of your left foot. In other words, your back foot begins to get the weight.
Next, there is a twisting motion in your torso, shoulders and lower back. Your exercise routine should definitely work the muscles you’ll use here. It’s important for the motion to be fluid and relaxed, so your lower back muscles should be in good shape.
- Downswing. This is where that stored energy gets released. But, it happens gradually. It starts with the “transition,” where the coil reaches its upper-most point.
There is a split second where your lower body starts to release and the upper body is still stretching back in the coil. This is an important split second actually, because there is some additional elastic energy in this movement that gets released when you swing.
The downswing is the release of all that stored energy. Your lower body muscles are especially important here. The unwinding starts in the lower body and works its way up, all the way to your club as it impacts with the ball. Then, it releases all that stored energy and your ball goes flying.
Author: Mandy Fain
Golf Irons Buying Guide
April 21st, 2007
Find The Ideal Irons For Your Game
Choosing a new set of golf irons is no easy task. The variety of designs, materials, aesthetics and prices can be confusing to even the most knowledgeable golfer. Aspects such as clubhead design, composition and shaft flex are all important in matching a set of golf irons to your game.
Types of Irons
There are two main types of golf iron; cavity back (usually cast) and bladed-style (usually forged) irons - and now many sets are being sold with hybrid options. In these, the hard-to-hit 3 and 4 irons are replaced with hybrids, or golf iron-woods, which add the playability and power of a wood to the feel and control of iron construction. For more information on hybrids, please see our section on choosing the right golf hybrid
Cavity Back
These are designed to distribute the weight away from the centre of the clubface and create a larger sweet spot, giving greater forgiveness on off-centre shots. Moving the weight towards the bottom of the clubhead creates a lower centre of gravity when striking the ball, allowing you to get it airborne more easily. This type of club is ideally suited to mid to high handicap golfers, who benefit most from the forgiveness and higher trajectory - they are also more likely to offer off-set options, to help square the face at impact and avoid a slice.
Bladed
These are designed with a full back and no special weight distribution. With a smaller sweet spot, ‘muscle-back’ golf irons are less forgiving on mis-hits. This type of club is ideally suited to a more skilled golfer looking for more control and a softer feel, and when the ball is struck square, they often offer more accuracy.
Cast versus Forged Golf Irons
Cavity backs tend to be cast - molten metal, usually stainless steel, is poured into a mould to create the clubhead. It is less expensive than forging, and cast clubs tend to offer less feel - so they are most appropriate for medium to high handicappers, who do not need as much subtlety in their golf irons.
Blades are usually forged, meaning that they are made from a solid metal block which is beaten into the desired club head shape. Forging uses more expensive materials, such as carbon steel, which lead to better feel, performance and quality - and the smaller sole makes blades easier to hit off tight lies, as well as offering more versatility around the green. These are ideal for better players, for whom the nuances of a shot can make all the difference.
Clubhead Design
Sizes
Clubhead profile can range from standard to oversize. Standard cavity-backs and blades are similar in size to traditional muscle-back clubs, and offer better control for an advanced player. Meanwhile, oversized clubs, with larger cavities, are more forgiving on mis-hits, making them a good choice for mid to high handicap golfers.
Offset
The offset distance is the space between an imaginary line down the centre of the shaft and the leading edge of the blade. An offset club helps a player to align the clubface with the target, thus reducing slice and helping produce a higher ball flight. In progressively offset golf irons the offset will vary, with more in the longer irons to correct the tendency to slice with these clubs.
Shafts
Choosing the right shaft is equally as important as getting the right clubhead design, as it plays a critical part in distance and control.
Materials
Golf irons are available with stainless steel shafts, which are strong, durable, cost-effective and provide better consistency for very good golfers. Alternatively, graphite shafts are lighter, allowing a golfer to gain more club head speed and better feel for the clubhead, generating more power and distance.
Author: Jonty Driver
European 2005 Golf Season Reaches Climax at Valderrama
April 20th, 2007
Author: Chris Monaghan
Where to Find Discount Golf Clubs
April 19th, 2007
Being a cheap and affordable alternative to buying from a retailer, purchasing discount golf clubs is an excellent way to save a little cash. Buying a brand new set of clubs from a local retailer can be quite expensive and often consumers are forced to purchase individual clubs or just a few golf clubs at separate times. This can easily be overcome by buying via a discount method, as with discount pricing the consumer can buy virtually an entire set for roughly the same price as just a number of clubs from a local department store. Also, despite what some may think, one of the main advantages of purchasing discount golf clubs is that nearly any brand name you desire can be bought in this fashion and obviously at a much cheaper price.
More often than not, many of the manufacturers who offer their products at discount prices, sell via a wholesaler. A common place to find a wholesaler is on the Internet as a wealth of producers sell over the web. This provides the consumer with a number of benefits. Firstly, wholesale prices are generally up to 50 percent cheaper than department store prices. As if the savings were not enough at this point, most wholesalers provide free shipping and handling directly to the door of the consumer. Great care is taken when shipping also, to ensure that the golf clubs are in as good a condition as possible.
Author: Ken Wilssens