I don’t care if the itty-bitty ball goes into the itty-bitty hole, and I don’t care if Augusta’s 300-member all-male club wants to keep girls out. I don’t blame them. If I had an all-girls club, I wouldn’t want to let boys in, either.
Besides, I was raised by a man in a household where I was the only female. I’ve also raised nothing but boys in a household where I am the only female. My curiosity about the DaDa Brotherhood has been fully satisfied.
I know, she yawned, it’s about business and status, not sex. So says Martha Burk, chair of the National Council of Women’s Organizations (of which I am not a member) and alleged spokespersona for the sex to which I do belong. Burk is demanding that the Augusta club open its private doors to women members.
Yawns come easily when the issues are so mind-numbingly clear. Private clubs are private and members can invite whom they wish to join. End of story. The constitutional right of free assembly and all that.
Nevertheless, I decided to rouse myself from my ennui-induced nap after seeing Burk on CNN’s “Crossfire” a while back and after reading an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by Hootie Johnson, chairman of the golf club.
I happen to agree with Johnson’s position, echoing Augusta club founder Bobby Jones, that “there is virtue in a place of private retreat.” Would that certain activists had a private place to which they might retreat and practice the virtue of silence. I call mine “the couch by the window.” Men are welcome, but that’s just me.
Johnson declared in his op-ed that he’ll fight the good fight, not because he necessarily wants to exclude women, but as a matter of principle. He and his fellow members can and will decide if and when to invite women as an exercise of free will, not as a result of coercion or feminist extortion.
That thinking, by the way, isn’t just an issue of principle, but is also consistent with Southern manners - you don’t discuss in public that which is private - as well as the Augusta club’s heritage of discretion.
But what really got me off the sofa was watching “Crossfire” co-host Paul Begala introduce Burk and the topic for debate. Here’s what he said:
“Next we’ll ask why a bastion of the old South is clinging to its tradition of blind prejudice. The debate over women in Augusta and a grown man who calls himself Hootie … (or) Bootie or Cootie or whatever his name is … is too frightened to come on ‘Crossfire’ and debate a woman.
Aside from the fact that them’s fightin’ words in Columbia, S.C., the hometown shared by both Johnson and the hugely popular band “Hootie and the Blowfish,” let me inject my alert teenage son’s gimlet observation: “Bet he wouldn’t put it that way if he was talking about a name like Sheneneh.”
For the record, Johnson, a banker known for appointing women to high-ranking management positions, is also recognized for his work in desegregating South Carolina colleges and universities. He’s also recovering from September heart surgery, which might explain his reluctance to food-fight with Begala and Burk on national TV.
But mostly I suspect he doesn’t want to dignify arguments that rely more on political grandstanding than on moral or legal merit. Besides, in Johnson’s neck of the woods, it’s considered unmanly as well as ungentlemanly to fight with women, children and others weaker than oneself.
Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel.
Author: Kathleen Parker
How To Grip A Golf Club Properly
June 27th, 2007
Proper golf grip is so important because the grip is your only connection with your golf club.
You may wonder how to grip a golf club properly. I will try to explain few basic things.
Place your hands properly on the golf club. Well placed hands helps you better control the position of the club’s face. During swing your body turns, since your body is rotating your golf club must rotate at the same time to make perfect swing. Golf club should be like a part of your body.
There are three basic grip types : interlocking, overlapping and baseball grips. Overlapping grip setup is simple , little finger of one hand is placed over the index finger of other hand. Interlocking setup is similar just two fingers will be iterlocked not overlapped. Baseball grip - two fingers do not overlap or interlock they just meet together. If you are wondering which grip type is the best I only could say that they are all good. Just experiment with all three types and then choose the one which is most comfortable to you.
Grip pressure is important too. If your grip is too tense you will lose some yards of the tee. Proper golf grip should be in the middle of really intense grip and extremely loose grip. If you done everything correctly you should have a very accurate shot.
Author: Arturas Gotceitas
Golf Swing Weight - Best Choices For Swing Training Aid
June 26th, 2007
Golfers are constantly looking to improve the golf swing. There are a number of golf swing training and teaching aids that can help with improving your golf swing. One golf swing teaching aid that has gained popularity is the golf swing weight. This golf swing training equipment is inexpensive, easy to use, and can be used at home or when you are away from the golf course.
I recommend using a pitching wedge when practising with a golf swing weight, but you can also use it on any golf iron. Once you have the golf swing weight on your club, you simply swing as normal. You can practice with this piece of golf training equipment on the driving range, or right before a round of golf.
One main reason you should practise with a golf swing weight is to improve your flexibility. Flexibility really is the key to a successful and effective golf swing. You will also be increasing power to your golf swing, and overall strength. Since you are using the weight during your normal golf swing, you are working your golf muscles. Lack of golf strength is one of the most common problems that golfers have, but it is one of the easiest areas to improve.
Another benefit of the golf swing weight is that it makes the club head of your golf club heavier, you will be able to easily track the path of your club head during your golf swing. This can help you improve your golf swing plane, allowing you to work on having a square club face at impact. You will be able to strike the ball more solidly with the improved feel that the golf swing weight will give you.
Author: Staffan Moritz
The top golf equipment brands have been manufacturing quality golf equipment, from golf clubs and golf balls to golf bags and golf training aids, for years, so they have been continually perfecting the design and performance of such golf equipment. In recent years, as more women have taken up golf, these top brands have also designed top-notch golf equipment specifically to suit a woman’s distinct needs.
For the top names in golf clubs, turn to brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Lynx, Titleist, Cobra, Ping, Mizuno, Wilson, Adams, Cleveland, MacGregor, Nike, Spaulding and more. These top golf club manufacturers offer a wide range of top-quality golf clubs for golfers of any age or skill level.
Many golfers may not know that there also is a difference among the types and brands of golf balls; for example, some golf balls are of a smaller weight to be used by female golfers. To find a golf ball that suits your skill level and needs, try Dunlop, MaxFli, Callaway, Nike, Pinnacle, Precept, Prostaff, Slazenger, Srixon, Titleist, Top Flite, and Wilson.
Author: Sarah Freeland
Author: Michele Kruchkowski
Add Some Spunk to your Game with Golf Club Head Covers
June 24th, 2007
A great set of golf clubs that helps you maximize your game and lower your score is a very valuable investment for any golfer. Golf club head covers help you protect that investment while you carry your clubs from hole to hole, tote them to and from the garage, or leave them to roll around in the trunk or back seat of your car.
Not only do golf club head covers protect your golf clubs, they allow you to bring some personal flair to the golf course. In various styles and designs, golf club head covers can say a lot about your personality, hobbies or interests as well as add an element of fun to your game.
Check out all of our various styles, from basic to novelty, to find which ones suit you best. You’ll find collegiate head covers showcasing your school’s colors, crest or mascot to help you express your school spirit. Also look for NFL team head covers and head covers designed as your favorite animal or cartoon character like Betty Boop or Jessica Rabbit, or in a patriotic theme.
Author: Sarah Freeland
Normally, the peak-season green fee alone ranges from $150 to $170, and a lesson is another $60. Tee times can be made up to seven days in advance, and lessons are based on teacher availability. For more information, phone 480-860-2221 or visit www.troongolf.com.
Author: Array
5 Golf Swing Tips For Instant Improvement!
June 21st, 2007
Did you know that a few simple golf swing tips may be all you need to avoid hitting those slices, hooks, or fat shots? One simple change such as moving the ball position may fix that thin shot that you keep hitting off the tee.
Today, it’s very easy to find a good place with good golf magazines or books. Spending an afternoon in the sport section of your local book store can give you free valuable golf tips. Here you can find golf swing tips from professionals or teachers and coaches of professional golfers. Books and magazines with the latest golf swing tips can also be found online.
Here are 5 simple but very powerful golf swing tips that cover the golf swing basics.
1. One of the most important golf swing tip is to keep your club face square. Striking the golf ball with a square club face will allow it to fly straight and far. You need to maintain a consistent golf swing plane in order to keep your club face square. Take the golf club straight back and then following through on the same swing plane.
2. Timing is essential when it comes to your golf swing. Do not take the golf club back slowly and then accelerate down through your swing. A consistent swing speed throughout the entire swing is the key.
3. Golf fitness is another important factor for improving your golf swing. A few simple flexibility and strength exercises can change your whole golf game.
4. What about your golf grip?. Do not keep your golf grip too tight, it will hinder your golf swing movement. One way to determine if you were gripping the golf club the wrong way is if your hands or arms ache after playing golf.
Author: Staffan Moritz
A Brief History of Golf Communities in United States
June 21st, 2007
Golf communities began as country clubs and the first country club in the United States is still operating in Brookline, Massachusetts. It is called The Country Club and its prestigious history is part of what keeps this club one of the biggest in the northeast with more than 1300 members. This club was started in 1882 and was not really a golf community at first because golf did not appear until about 10 years later. However, when golf did become a US pastime The Country Club implemented it in stages building a couple holes at a time. Before long golf courses had become an American sport and more golf courses started popping up over the country. The thing about golf courses, though, was that they were expensive to build and required a lot of room. So, making the golf course a club that also sold exclusive real estate was an attractive idea. As a result golf course communities were born and in the beginning they all had the country club appeal of being “the” place to live. That was very lucky for golf course developers who needed money from the sale of the surrounding land to finance the golf course.
Today, golf communities are still very popular and more and more of them are popping up across the country as more individuals find that they enjoy the idea of living in a golf course community. For a while only established families and seniors chose to live in golf course communities. However, things have changed substantially over the years and now there are many singles and young couples that are also choosing to live in golf communities. This type of living has become so popular because not only is golf close by for the residents but so are many other amenities like pools, tennis courts, ponds, walking trails, and more. It makes lush living more affordable and enjoyable with so many residents.
Author: Caitlina Fuller
The Basis of Golf
June 20th, 2007
The basis of golf begins with an understanding of what exactly must happen in a good golf stroke. I call this, “The Basis Of Golf.”
Good golf MUST comply with the laws of force and motion. We obey these laws everyday of our lives without even knowing it. When you get up out of bed, jump into your car, open a door eveything we do is in full compliance with these laws.
1. Three parts of a Golf Club
1. Clubshaft
2. Clubface
3. Clubhead
2. Three Major Concepts of the Golf Stroke
1. Inclined Plane - Clubshaft
2. Hinge Action - Clubface
3. Centrifugal Force - Clubhead
3. Three Essentials For a Good Golf Stroke
1. Steady Head
2. Balance
3. Rhythm
4. Three Imperatives For a Good Golf Stroke
1. Flat Left Wrist at Impact
2. On Plane Club Shaft
3. Club Head Lag
5. The Principle of the Golf Game -
Line of Compression:
Hitting the ball from the inside of the target Line toward the outside of target with a Flat Left Wrist
6. Three Dimensions of the Golf Stoke - (on an Inclined Plane)
1. Downward
2. Outward
3. Forward
Author: Chuck Evans