Phil Mickelson's Year in Review
Phil's end of term report in his own words
The 2005 season is over, which means the next few weeks will be full of quality time for me and my family. It also means there will be time for thinking about the past season and how to make the next one even better.
It was a great year for me on the course. Two early wins confirmed once again that my off-season preparation schedule works and my Callaway equipment is the best I've ever had. The PGA Championship win reinforced the fact that my pre-majors preparation is invaluable. And that working overtime was both fun and stressful – coming from behind and taking a playoff at BellSouth on Monday and sleeping on a lead for five days at the PGA.
Aside from the PGA Championship win, there were other highlights. The second-round 60 at the FBR Open was my best score on tour and equaled the tournament record. The next week a 62 was the Spyglass Hill record and it put me in position to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. That combination of low scores and early wins gave me a lot of confidence for the year.
At the end of the season, playing in the Presidents Cup for Captain Nicklaus was a week I'll always cherish. He has done so much for the game and for each of us as tour pros that it was an honor to help give him his first Presidents Cup win. And it was great to be paired with my buddy Chris DiMarco and have it all come down to the last couple of matches on Sunday, especially after my not-so-hot performance in South Africa two years ago.
My schedule for the coming year will be very similar to the one I've had for the last couple of years, busy early building toward the Masters, prepping for the majors a couple of weeks in advance and of course looking forward to the Ryder Cup and playing for Captain Tom Lehman. I've known Tom for a long time. He's a good man and has some interesting ideas about captaining. I hope one of them is a DiMarco-Mickelson pairing.
Looking even farther ahead, there's been a lot written and said about the proposed schedule for 2007 and beyond. I really don't have enough information about it, so I really don't have an opinion about what might happen. I do think two things are important. Having the best players meeting consistently over a season that doesn't try to compete with football is key for our TV contract and to grow interest in our game. And having the PGA Tour commissioner and his people sell the new product to the players and make it happen.
My hat's off to Tiger for another incredible year, to Vijay for another nice season at age 42 and to Ryan Moore for getting his card in just eight events. I played with him four days altogether at Augusta and he's a guy to watch next year.
I know our family will be enjoying the holiday season and we certainly hope you do the same. Until next year, thank you for your support. And don't forget to work on your short game.
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Buying Custom Fitting Golf Clubs
Every golfer's physical capability and swing is distinctive. Many of today's best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. This custom golf club has become more than a fad that even not so professional golfers test its waters.
Custom fitting is the process for tailoring a golf club to suit your personal swing.
Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.
Custom Golf Club How To's:
To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.
Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard length" for men and women.
Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 ½-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 ½-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.
Continue reading "Buying Custom Fitting Golf Clubs"
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Fred Funk in a Pink Skirt
Fred Funk laughs as he pulls on a floral pink skirt, given to him by Annika Sorenstam, left, after she outdrove him on the third hole on the first day of the Skins Game at Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005.
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Abu Dhabi Golf Tournament Looking for Volunteers
With the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship around the corner, the tournament committee is actively recruiting volunteers at various levels to assist in staging one of the most prestigious sporting events ever held in Abu Dhabi. . Various volunteer opportunities are available, from caddies to marshals, crossing stewards, scorers, spotters, TV spotters, to operating mobile scoreboards, hole by hole scoreboards and media scoreboards.
Volunteer support is pivotal to the success of any event and as members of the organising team that help to make the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship the most successful sporting event to have taken place in Abu Dhabi. At 68, the oldest volunteer Jack McGuiness celebrates his passion for the game with his wife Joan, and talks about his past experiences and expectations from the tournament.
“It's an opportunity to give something back to Abu Dhabi,� says 68 year old Jack:
Jack's past experiences have given him numerous opportunities to meet the world's leading golfers, see top quality golf, total focus and true professionalism in action. It also gave him insights into a more ‘human' side of the golfing stars, their interests, hobbies, and above all their dedication to charities and community involvement. “I had exciting opportunities to meet Tiger, Montgomerie, Garcia and other star players on many occasions. These unique experiences go beyond golf and there are always things to learn from such fantastic athletes who are also outstanding personalities - true lessons in life.�
“Being a volunteer will give us a unique opportunity to give something back to Abu Dhabi as a sign of gratitude for what Abu Dhabi has been giving us over the years,� says McGuiness. “During our time here we have seen tremendous growth of the emirate and we are thrilled to be a part of this unique event that will spotlight Abu Dhabi as a genuine jewel of the Middle East.�
He believes that the golf culture is developing rapidly in the UAE. “Sixteen years ago, we could only play on a sand course. When the first grass course was created in 2000, we were still a small group of enthusiastic expatriates. Five years later, UAE already has a professional national team – that is quite an amazing development in such a short time span.�
With recent efforts to boost incoming tourism to Abu Dhabi and the construction of new golf courses under way, the number of European tourists coming to Abu Dhabi on golfing holidays is on the increase. In the near future, Abu Dhabi is expected to open up to more Asian tourists and golfing enthusiasts, especially Thai, Japanese and Chinese.
Commenting on the challenges involved in organizing such a complex event, McGuiness said: “The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has done an amazing job over such a short period of its existence. Not only that it organized a world class event, but it also managed to gather the world's best players to come and experience the national course. This means the whole world will see what wonderful facilities Abu Dhabi has to offer. In addition, opening of the Emirates Palace doors to the participants is an important step in promoting Abu Dhabi with its unique tourist offer. After being pampered in luxury for a week, the players will definitely want to come back next year!�
Jack's advice for the next generation of golfers:
Advising parents who want to recognize golfing talent in their children, Jack says, “Golf is physically and mentally demanding – it is just you and the ball out there. It is a great sport for cultivating patience in children and an excellent opportunity to get them out in the fresh air.�
Micah Foster, 14, is the youngest volunteer who will be volunteering at the event with his family, brother Nick, 17 and parents Jim and Susan. “There is a wide scope of options that appeal to everyone,� says Nick. “This is the first volunteering experience for me and I am eager to see all the hard work involved in staging of such an event and everything that happens behind the scenes. It is a chance of a lifetime to be a part of a first-time event and one that will create its own history – something to look back at with pride. I think it will be a very rewarding and satisfying experience for the entire family.�
A chance to become part of Golfing history:
If you are inspired by this story, you can also become a part of the action and get a unique opportunity to get close to the world's best players. All volunteers will receive volunteer uniforms and accreditation which will give them access to the course and the clubhouse facilities. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a Volunteer Golf Day to be held at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2006 [confirm date]. You don't have to be a member of the golf club, or an Abu Dhabi / UAE resident to become a volunteer – anyone with passion for golf can apply. While knowledge of golf is preferable, it is not necessary for all volunteer roles. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please visit www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com/volunteer
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Top 10 Best Selling Golf Videos on Amazon
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Top 10 Best Selling Golf Books on Amazon
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Golf Courses Round the World
Quick Guide to Golf Courses around the World
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The Simple Golf Swing
Putting Trainer Conquer The Mental Side Of Golf Golf Clubs - Golf Courses and Golf Links Golf Equipment Instruction Guides Golf Gifts, Golf Prizes and Golf Apparel The Golf Shrink The Dave Way
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Nike's New Golf Balls Next Year
When you have a good product, it seems churlish to cast it aside and launch a new one. One option is to relaunch it in new packaging. Another is to improve the basic design and bring out a new version. With their new One balls, Nike have opted for both: product enhancements to the successful One Platinum and One Black golf balls, plus new packaging.
All Nike's Tour pros use the One balls, most preferring the platinum version (including Tiger and Michelle Wie). The aim behind the enhancements is to keep and boost the strengths of each ball, while improving the other characteristics.
The One Platinum gained plaudits for feel and spin control, so Nike sought to add distance. The reverse is true with the One Black - it was already strong on distance, so the engineers looked to add more feel and control.
The One Platinum ball has a new core, where the density increases progressively as you move from the center (soft) to the outside (harder). According to Nike, that reduces any excessive spin from the tee, which translates into more distance.
The One Black ball has a new softer urethane cover and remodeled dimple pattern. Nike say this helps give the ball a more penetrating flight and achieves those feel and spin control benefits they were looking for.
Nike didn't get where they are today, though, without keeping an eye on the box as well as its contents. So the new balls will appear in a cube pack (see photos), with a more distinctive color look than the current versions.The new golf balls are targeted at the more skilled golfers among us, and will go on general sale in February 2006 in the premium price bracket (recommended at $54).
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How You Can Cure a Golf Hook
If you've been battling a hook for a while you understand how frustrating they can be. Everyone else is, more than likely, slicing the ball, and you are playing from the opposite side of the fairway.
But… the hook really is pretty easy to cure. Try this sequence of corrections, and most likely the hook will be fixed in no time. Your goal in correcting a hook is to swing from outside to in.
1) Weaken your Grip - You could be playing with a grip that is too strong. You'll want to simply rotate both hands around the grip and towards the target. This will make it much harder for the clubface to naturally close through the impact zone. Don't over do it, and like everything else, testing is crucial. Make sure to test this, before moving on, unless you are positive that you already play with a weak grip.
2) Move the ball forward in your stance - It is common of players that slice the ball to play the ball forward in their stance. So copy them. If you hook, the result should be a relatively straight ball. (Side Note: Whether you hook or slice, your first goal should be to learn to do the opposite.) Moving the ball forward in your stance should get some things back on track.
3) Aim to the left (to the right if left handed) of the target - Start out with an open stance to the target. This will put that clockwise rotation on the ball that you are looking for. Just open your stance a little bit, and swing along the line of your shoulders.
4) Make sure that you are finishing with your weight on your forward foot - This is the single best solution for the hook. If you hook the ball, chances are that you finish with some of your weight still on your back foot. This causes you to come around the ball with a closed clubface. This is the number one cause of the deadly snap-hook. Finish with all of your weight forward, and you'll never experience it.
David is the author of “The Simple Golf Swing� which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to http://www.golfswingguru.com
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The Year of Tiger and Annika
No one should find it too difficult to name the first five winners on the 2006 European Tour as the events have already been played. David Howell, Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are the players who are benefiting from a head start to the new season.
Luke Donald is another with reason to celebrate, even if his recent win in the 2005 Target World Challenge smacks of the past rather than the future.
Thanks to the latest feats of Howell, Casey, Montgomerie and Els, the outlook is promising for the Europeans in next year's Ryder Cup. Some say that the Americans will be at their most dangerous, having not won the match since Brookline in 1999. However, Keith Rushworth, one of the game's leading statisticians, has come up with a set of figures to subdue any good cheer among those Americans who defeated the Rest of the World in the 2005 President's Cup.
Non-Americans landed so many top-10 finishes on the USPGA Tour this year that 40 per cent of all Ryder Cup points were lost by the home players. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the figure was 15-25 per cent. Rushworth's opinion is that if the Americans lose at the K Club, they might well decide to revamp their selection system.
Overall, 2005 was as much about the stories behind the statistics as the statistics themselves. There was, for instance, nothing to compare with Jack Nicklaus' final appearance in the Open in a year when, since he had suffered the loss of a much-loved grandson in a drowning accident, nostalgia was laden with melancholy.
Nicklaus, who had won at St Andrews in 1970 and 1978 and was wearing a replica of the sweater he had worn on the latter occasion, missed the cut by two strokes on his farewell. But he bowed out in style, holing from 15 feet to birdie the 18th and bring his favourite crowd to their feet.
The cheers for Tiger Woods, Nicklaus' admirable successor, were on much the same scale as when the world No 1 won his second Open, and his 10th major, compared with Nicklaus' 18 major titles.
Another memorable image was the 18 holes' worth of warmth extended to Montgomerie as he finished second behind Woods. Scottish crowds are arguably the best-informed of all, but none who followed the Scot's every shot was harping back to the so-called 'Indonesian incident' in March, even though it had been splashed all over the papers. It occurred after an electrical storm sent him rushing for the clubhouse without marking his ball on a bunker's bank. The ball had disappeared by the following morning and Montgomerie, in replacing it, appeared to end up with an easier shot.
When shown film of the balls' differing positions, Montgomerie thought it did not look good and gave his prize-money to charity. Not everyone thought that went far enough but he felt that he had made suitable amends for an "unwitting" mistake.
The world at large seemed more interested in his winning an eighth Order of Merit. From 1993-99, when he captured his other seven, Montgomerie hit the ball left to right and was mostly anchored by a happy home life. From 1999 onwards, he tried, without success, to change his shape of shot and, at the same time, prop up a deteriorating marriage. In those years he slipped so far out of the reckoning that his world ranking had plummeted, from a high of second, into the 80s. It is now eighth.
In sorting himself out, Montgomerie left his wife, Eimear. Meanwhile, on the course, he returned to the left-to-right flight which so clearly works best for him.
If Woods wore the expression of 2004 - after Phil Mickleson put the American drive hard up against the out-of-bounds fence at Oakland Hills' 18th, in the Friday foursomes of the Ryder Cup - the face of 2005 belonged to Montgomerie. Nick Dougherty, his playing companion, was given a free drop from the front verge of a gaping bunker at the 16th in the Caltex Singapore Masters, because of the dangers presented by the railway sleepers shoring up the trap. Montgomerie looked sick. So sick that he was wise enough not to attempt to pretend all was well.
More than one player was reduced to tears this year: joy, in Paul McGinley's case, as he won the end-of-season Volvo Masters, but of unutterable misery for 16-year-old Michelle Wie at the Samsung event in California, her first tournament as a professional.
All had been well until she pulled up on the final day, believing herself to be fourth behind Annika Sorenstam - as dominant in the women's game as Woods in the men's. Instead, Wie was ferried out to the seventh hole after a journalist, Michael Bamburger from Sports Illustrated, reported an incorrect drop there on the Saturday morning.
Tournament officials concurred and Wie was disqualified, though the officials seemed rather more concerned about Bamburger's failure to report the incident on the day.
If he had, Wie would have been docked two shots and there would never have been any mention of the word disqualification.
Now, just as the Indonesian incident has receded for Montgomerie, so everything is back to normal for Wie. Or as normal as it can be for a teenager who the R & A deemed worthy of adjusting the regulations to allow women to qualify for the Open.
Courtesy of Telegraph.co.uk/mair
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3D Golf Holidays - Costa del Sol, Algarve etc
3D organise superb golfing holidays of a lifetime - and they won't break the bank SCOTLAND is already known as a golfing haven but it is now also famous for 3D Golf, arguably the finest golf travel company in Europe. Founded over 25 years ago by father and son team Frank and John Derwent the company's motto is "Work less, golf more".
Fancy seven nights golf during the winter at the five star Le Meridien hotel at Penina, one of the Algarve's finest courses and home to the Portugese Open? No problem with 3D, who will get you a week there from just £287 per person bed and breakfast with FREE golf.
Or how about a fortnight in Mauritius half board, again with free golf for £1511 per person There are thousands of other offers, from America's fabulous Myrtle Beach to the desert golf paradise of Dubai.
And of course there are fantastic prices for those revisiting the old favourites on the Costa Del Sol. And, vitally, 3D offer top deals from Edinburgh airport.
John can do these low prices - and never put his clients in less than a three star hotel - because he has spent decades travelling "to build up the personal contacts needed with golf clubs and hotels across the world".
John said: "I describe what I do as 'missionary' work with hotels so I get the best deals possible for groups of four, eight or more. If you book your own flights and hotel and want us to get you a hire car and tee times we can do that too. But we can just as easily put together the entire package." 3D also offer week-long specials where you can take lessons, play in Pro-Ams, and even Seniors Am-Am weeks.
Golf schools are on the sun drenched Greek island of Corfu, staying at the Ermones Golf Palace. Expert tuition on chipping, putting, driving, bunkers and irons is by Ken Stevely, pro at Cawder Golf Club near Glasgow.
Try the Golf Weeks in either Corfu or the El Paraiso Hotel on Spain's stunning Costa Del Sol where you'll enjoy a fabulous social week with drinks receptions, golfing dinners, and a gala dinner and prizegiving.
3D offer a Golf Week with all the same trimmings at the historic Kenmore Hotel on the banks of the River Tay, the golf being played over the renowned Taymouth Castle course. And 3D's famous Pro-Am weeks are an experience every true golfer would die for. For more info, log on to 3Dgolf.com or call 08701 200 300 CONTACT 3D Golf Tel 08701 200 300 www.3Dgolf.com
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New Online Golf Clothing Shop
Polo Executive ( www.poloexecutive.com) is a new online shop for women and men who want to buy high quality clothing on internet for less money and get it delivered direct to their home. Shirts, polo's and sweaters with printed or embroidered logo.
Fuengirola, Malaga Spain.
Polo Executive is founded 2001 in the southern Spain by the owner Alf Erik Cristiansen who after many years in the building business finally got some time over for this project who had been on his mind for many years. The idea was a completely new line of high quality clothing for the internet buyers. High quality for less money, as no expensive stores in shopping malls is needed.
After years of design and testing new collections, both in Spain and Sri Lanka, his first product lines for active people now finally are online and for sale on internet. High quality Shirts like Pin Point, Oxford and Twill, Polo's like Golf and Pique, T-shirts, Crew-neck and V-neck and sweaters with a printed or embroidered Polo Executive logo. Most of them in both short and long sleeves, and in different colours. In the Accessories section you will find boxer shorts, caps and socks. You find Polo Executives website here: http://www.poloexecutive.com
The website http://www.poloexecutive.com is produced in six different languages. English, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, German and Dutch.
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Golf Excercise - New Body - New Year
Golf exercise is mainstream thanks to Tiger, Annika, Larry Nelson and all the top tournament golfers who are doing it and seeing fantastic results from it.
You are a “golfing athlete!� And ALL athletes work on their “machines�.
Why wouldn't you?
Participating in a golf exercise program that works on all your personal, physical limitations is the approach you need to take.
Every golfer has different physical needs, and they should be at the top of your golf exercise program list.
This is the year you're going to make it happen! 2006 will be your year! No more excuses. No more reasons not to do it. Just one thing on your mind.
Playing BETTER golf and feeling like you did years ago.
The “use-it-or-lose� phrase is SO true. The human body declines rapidly in both strength and flexibility if you don't keep up with it.
Don't you feel like you've lost these two key components for optimal golf performance? It's a natural occurrence, but you can do something about it!
It's called “golf exercise�.
Exercise that's specific to the demands the golf swing puts on your body…and there are many.
Just getting in your golf posture takes a higher level of both strength and flexibility in your hamstrings. Just getting in your posture! Now how about making a decent swing? It's not going to happen if your body is broken.
I don't like to sugar-coat things. I like to wake people up and get them going asap! That's the only way.
I don't want to say I'm not empathetic, but “crap-or-get-off-the pot�.
A fitter body and better game aren't going to happen on their own. You've got to start your golf exercise program right now.
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance experts in the country. He is Golf Magazines golf performance expert author, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance membership sites. Take a look at his just released golf training dvds and manual at his golf exercise site - Perform Better Golf.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Pedersen
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Return of the Monty
In the world top 10 and with an eighth Order of Merit title in the bag, all Colin Montgomerie wants is time to wash the car... and a major title
It's not easy being Colin Stuart Montgomerie. Not easy coping with the driven ambition, not easy dealing with a private life that has been splashed here, there and everywhere, most of all it's not easy having nowhere to wash your car.
Despite a year in which the European Tour's most prominent golfer has recaptured the number-one title he last held in 1999 - at which point he had won a forever-and-a-day record seven Order of Merits - Monty is happy enough in some ways. But, post divorce, he is far from content, the enforced move from family life in the epicentre of the Surrey stockbroker belt to a central London pad still causing him problems, even if the apartment block was designed by one of Britain's greatest architects, Sir Norman Foster.
Do you know, I haven't washed my car for nearly two years,' he says. 'Well, you don't when you live in temporary accommodation and you park the car in an underground garage. Truth is, I miss washing my own car, miss having the time and the space to do that sort of mindless, ordinary job. Am I content? No, I won't be content until I can do that sort of thing again. What I want is to have a home and a proper front door to return to after a tournament and to have someone - I've no idea who - waiting on the other side.'
This is the Montgomerie you rarely see or hear, the vulnerable man inside the barricade built around the modern multi-millionaire sportsman. He occasionally displays a reassuring instinct to offer an honest answer to questions, no matter how transparently obvious the hidden agenda might be.
Some time ago, when Montgomerie's inability to keep his mouth shut upset some sponsor or other, the then chief executive of the European Tour, Ken Schofield, told me: 'Maybe the problem with Colin is not that he has an opinion but that he seems to have an opinion on everything.' What Schofield also knew, and appreciated, was that Montgomerie was vital to his tour's progress because, almost on his own a lot of the time, he has provided the oxygen of publicity to a game that sometimes can seem rather dull to those who view it from a distance and often with prejudice.
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Golf Holiday Experience in the Napa-Sonoma Wine Country
Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, "Luxury Golf Experiences" , created by Kris Moe of Kris Moe Golf Schools, are packages offering a tantalizing array of activities to satisfy the senses of golfers with gourmet tastes in wine and food. It is an “over the top� package that happens, of course, in Napa/ Sonoma wine country.
Some folks to like to lounge by the pool on their vacation, while others enjoy a more active approach to their vacation time. It's the latter Kris Moe has in mind. With one of his “Luxury Golf Experiences� you can improve your golf game, sipping and learn about wines, put on a chef's hat and do a cooking class before luxuriating in the spa then sitting down to a superb four-course dinner. Who's to say “learning vacations� can't be in an environment of utter relaxation. For this unique pro-active vacation the wine country is a special destination, because it has everything a gourmet and spa queen may be looking for. That includes a fascinating history, fine shopping, biking, hiking, racecar driving, and especially a classic golf course, the Sonoma Golf Club , that the great golf champion of the past, Sam Snead, once pronounced as one of his all-time favorites.
The golfer's experience with Kris Moe and his team of teachers is always customized, even if it means bringing a massage therapist onto the range. As Kris likes to say, “Why wait until the hotel spa? Golfers can benefit from some rubdowns during the golf school session. I know they will feel more relaxed, and it makes for a higher quality experience.� This type of trademark personalized touch created by the school's founder and owner, Kris Moe is what golfers and their companions can expect on arriving at the resort, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa ; the little things that make a vacation superbly rewarding. Another nice touch, if you'd rather not deal with the stress of driving and rental cars, is a chauffeured limousine to take you from and to your home or the airport.
Another component unique to this golf experience is the personalized attention each golfer receives. Classes average only two persons per instructor, and some might be totally one-on-one private teaching sessions. With this level of intimacy the golfer dictates the format. He may want to work on his swing all day on the range, or have a playing lesson on the course. Either way the learning can be profound. It is Kris Moe's experience that when he has an entire day or two with any golfer, the learning crosses over into many areas that convey much more than simple golf mechanics. It holds for professional tournament players, or novice golfers. This kind of coaching connects or reconnects a golfer to why he plays golf in the first place. The experience has a lasting impression. It is why seventy percent of those who come to a Kris Moe golf school come back again, and refer friends.
Continue reading "Golf Holiday Experience in the Napa-Sonoma Wine Country"
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How to Evaluate Golf Schools
As the phrase goes "nothing is created equal." The same applies to golf schools. With the many golf schools and academies available, it is more important than ever to do your homework in making the right choice.
First, select a desirable destination. Whether it is a high-profile location like Las Vegas or Orlando, or a place near home, it is important to be comfortable with the location.
Next, make sure there are playing lessons involved. It is important to get out on the course with your instructor to fine tune your progress.
Be sure to check out the teaching philosophy of the school you are considering. Do they teach the latest quick-fix or do they concentrate on proven fundamentals?
Many schools offer unproven strategies that may not last after you leave. Be sure you will get the type of instruction you want. Learn as much as you can about their instructors, such as age, years teaching and how long they have been with that particular school.
Finally, make sure the maximum student/teacher ratio 4 to 1. Remember this is going to be your school, do your homework.
What to Expect at Your Golf School
You arrive with excitement. You're anxious to get started. You may be a little nervous. This is natural. Your instructor should immediately put you at ease and fully explain the schedule of activities.
Continue reading "How to Evaluate Golf Schools"
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Vijay to Play Abu Dhabi
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) announced today that VIJAY SINGH, ranked No. 2 in the world, will play the inaugural Abu Dhabi Championship to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Course, January 19 – 22, 2006.
Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority commented, “We are delighted that Vijay Singh, the World No.2, has decided to play the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. His presence will add stature to an already impressive field of professionals.�
There has been no more improbable a success story in golf than that of Vijay Singh, whose career began in his native Fiji and has since spanned the globe. With three ‘major' Championship victories, the 1998 and 2004 US PGA Championships and the prestigious US Masters in 2000 under his belt, Singh had the year to end all years in 2004 winning nine tournaments on the US PGA Tour finishing the year as not only the leading money winner, but also World No. 1 for the first time in his career, ending Tiger Wood's five year reign.
Vijay, whose name means ‘victory' in Hindi and who traces his ancestors to India, has won on four continents and has triumphed in 16 countries from Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea to Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Zimbabwe and South Africa and on to Sweden, Italy, Spain, Germany, France and England. He arrived on the PGA Tour in the United States in 1993 and won in his very first year while gaining ‘Rookie of the Year' honours. Now with 28 PGA Tour victories, along with 22 international triumphs, he has amassed some $35 million in worldwide career earnings. Known for his work ethic and long hours on the practice range, Singh has been a model of consistency and his string of 53 events without missing a cut was the fifth longest in PGA Tour history.
This year, Vijay has won three times on the US PGA Tour and with another 15 top 10 finishes, is without doubt the most consistent golfer in the world today.
Surprisingly, for one of the most widely travelled golfers in the game, Vijay has never played in the Gulf before. Commenting on his decision to add Abu Dhabi to his long list of countries visited, Vijay said
“I have heard good things about Abu Dhabi and the golf course and am looking forward to seeing it for myself in January. With players like Sergio, Monty, John Daly and Thomas Bjorn already entered, it looks like it’ll be a tough tournament – but that’s how I like them!�.
In all, there will be 120 players in the statutory field for the Championship, which is offering US$2 million in prize money and will be televised world wide.
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Golf Holiday in the Gulf
An oasis of tranquility and beauty carved out of the desert, just 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 30 minutes from the city centre, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton boasts world-class golfing facilities, a striking clubhouse with three floors of restaurants, a fully equipped executive meeting room, an extensive sports and fitness club.
Described as a 'super course' by leading sections of the golfing press, the 162 hectares of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton features two world-class 18-hole golf courses - the challenging 7,204 yards, par 72, fully mature National Course and a more forgiving 6,524 yards, par 72 Garden Course, with 9 holes floodlit.
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| Hole 1 - 406 yards par 4 |
Undulating terrain meandering through pockets of palms and ornamental shrubs and trees, flawless fairways, incredible greenery and seven salt-water lakes are part of two international golf courses, designed by Peter Harradine - the man responsible for some of the best golf courses in the region. The challenging 18-hole, par 72, 7,204-yard National Course and the more forgiving 18-hole, Par 72, 6,498-yard Garden Course feature nine holes floodlit to facilitate night play.
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Hole 7 196 yards par 3 |
Visit the Abu Dhabi Golf Club
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Majorca as a Golf Holiday Destination
The largest of the Balearic Islands – the group also includes Menorca and Ibiza – Majorca is a green jewel set in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the south east coast of mainland Spain. In addition to its stunning countryside and charming villages, the island offers a host of excellent water sports activities, as well as having earned a reputation as a golfer's paradise.
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Claudia Fans Visitor Interest in Majorca |
Having fallen in love with Majorca as a child, Claudia Schiffer remains a big fan of the Spanish isle. And while earlier this year she sold her luxurious holiday home complex there, the German supermodel was clearly more than happy to share her enthusiasm for the region by promoting the Balearic Islands at the World Travel Market in London.
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Claudia was appropriately eye-catching in a brilliantly coloured ethnic outfit as she helped publicise the charms of her favourite Spanish isle |
Dressed in a brilliantly coloured ethnic dress and this season's hottest new footwear look – low-heeled, knee-high boots – the hard-working blonde put on a star turn with a traditional Spanish fan to draw attention to upcoming events, including the Majorca Classic golf tournament next October.
Before wedding British film director Matthew Vaughn, Claudia spent numerous holidays on the island with her parents and continued to visit with her new family, two-year-old Caspar and daughter Clementine, one.
Having constructed a six-acre, multi million-pound holiday complex on the island, however, the catwalk star found that she had become too much of a local attraction in her own right and in August sold Camp de Mar to a Russian multi-millionaire for over £7.5 million. The largest of the Balearic Islands – the group also includes Menorca and Ibiza – Majorca is a green jewel set in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the south east coast of mainland Spain. In addition to its stunning countryside and charming villages, the island offers a host of excellent water sports activities, as well as having earned a reputation as a golfer's paradise.
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Property for Sale in Estepona
What could be better than owning an estate in Marbella? Possessing one near it.
Since the 1950s, Spain's Costa del Sol has been attracting members of the jet set, with Marbella in particular being notorious for its extravagant night clubs, pricey boutiques and tourists.
But about 15 miles away, halfway between Gibraltar and Marbella, lies the port town of Estepona. Nestled next to the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Bermeja ("Red Ginger") mountain range, which is green with rare pines and red with iron oxide, the town offers glorious scenery and Andalusian charm without all of the noise and glitz.
Various civilizations have occupied this area over the centuries. The Phoenicians appear to have arrived between the 6th and 8th centuries B.C., and the Romans conquered it a few hundred years later. (It is thought that Estepona may have been the site of a Roman city called Salduba.) In the 7th century, the Moors took over the Iberian Peninsula, and various Muslim kingdoms wrestled over resource-rich Estepona. In the mid-15th century, the place was seized by Enrique IV of Castille. The town's mosque was replaced with a church, the clock tower of which survives.
Today the "old town" of Estepona has a population of less than 40,000 and is full of white-washed homes, tapas bars, street cafes and steep, stone-paved streets. The main promenade is lined with palm trees. Estepona has several miles of coastline and lovely beaches. From the hills, one can see across the Mediterranean Sea to Africa.
Fishing and farming still take place here, but Estepona is also surrounded by golf courses and has a modern marina that can accommodate yachts, which helps explain why luxury developments have been spreading around the area.
Perfect for those seeking a private-yet-convenient property, Cortijo Los Gavilanes is on the market for approximately $7.6 million (€6.3 million). It is currently owned by Richard, Earl of Bradford, a British restaurateur. Earlier this year, he and his wife announced they would divorce after 25 years of marriage; the sale is said to be a result of the split.
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The estate comprises about 150 acres of land tucked into a green, secluded valley
Continue reading "Property for Sale in Estepona"
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America's Best Courses
For the 23rd consecutive year, Golf Digest unveils the results of its survey of America's Best New Courses. The newest ranking appears in the January 2006 issue (on newsstands December 13).
The magazine selected Bully Pulpit Golf Course, in North Dakota, as America's Best New Affordable Public Course; The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, in northern Minnesota, as America's Best New Upscale Public Course; and The Alotian Club, outside of Little Rock, Arkansas as the year's Best New Private Course; and Dakata Dunes in Saskatchewan as the Best New Canadian course.
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The
Wilderness at Fortune Bay, America's Best New Upscale Public |
The full ranking and feature story on America's Best New Courses, along with additional course photography not appearing in the magazine, can be viewed now at http://www.golfdigest.com/bestnew .
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Golf in Madeira
Like a haughty dowager, the island of Madeira remains proud of her pedigree and standoff-ish about mixing with the hoi-polloi. Year after year, she has rebuffed budget airlines' pleas to land on her shores, conscious that part of her allure recalls the era of elegant cruise ships visiting en route to the southern hemisphere and white gloved ladies taking tea on the terrace of Reid's Hotel.
With its dramatic scenery and balmy climate, Madeira offers the charms of mainland Spain and Portugal, but without the hefty price tag, writes Catherine Moye
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Hillside haven: while its topography means building space is limited, Madeira is home to properties such as Casa Velha, above |
This ritual conservatism has preserved Madeira to this day and the forces of progress shaping its future are correspondingly subtle. The topography of the island and strict planning regulations mean that the growing second homes market will not lead inexorably to the march of the JCB digger, as has happened on the Algarve in its mother country, Portugal. Indeed, Madeira's unfavourable landscape for building and the limitations on development put a very high premium on owning a property there, a premium that is likely to rise.
Why buy in Madeira?
EU grants have revitalised Madeira's infrastructure, especially roads linking the capital Funchal to other parts of the island, and this has attracted a new breed of visitor with cash to invest in second homes and those planning an active early retirement. Old fincas and farmhouses are being rapidly restored and land suitable for development is being snapped up.
Seventy per cent of the island has been designated as a natural park and its dramatic mountainous landscape means there is very little flat land available for development. Much of the property is built on inclines, so the average villa has fabulous views of the Atlantic or overlooking the bay of Funchal and other villages, nestling around the edge of the island. Despite this, prices here remain much cheaper than on mainland Portugal.
Continue reading "Golf in Madeira"
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Gary Player - Man With a Mission or Three
When a man reaches the biblical and stately age of three score years and 10, it would not be unreasonable to suppose that he might have an inkling to take things a little bit easy. Not Gary Player. At the age of 70 - his birthday was on November 1 - Player is still driven by dreams and missions and he is still doing with a passion all those things that he loves the most - playing golf competitively all over the world, building homes for his ever-growing family, designing new golf courses and refurbishing old ones, being an ambassador extraordinaire for South Africa and, above all, trying to be a force for good wherever he can.
'I still have that passion to compete'
Player may have one or two more lines of experience on his ever-tanned face and there may be some distinguished streaks of grey in his neatly-slicked coiffure, but the eyes are undimmed, the vigour as unbounded as it ever was.
| And the urge to pursue his ambitions remains as fierce as ever. The man who has travelled something like 25 million kilometres in his quests for glory, for gain and for good has just returned to South Africa from another trip around the world, completed in just 13 days, on various business ventures. |  |
Player was in the Cape recently to pursue another of his abiding passions - creating another home for his family.
This new home is a legendary place, 25ha of land set among the vineyards of the estate of Boschendal on the slopes of the Simonsberg, near Franschhoek, with panoramic views across the Dwarsrivier Valley.
Player is one of the first buyers of a "Founders Estate" at Boschendal, one of 20 plots ranging in size from 20 to 40ha, each with only one home. Player's son, Marc, is also one of the "founders".
Continue reading "Gary Player - Man With a Mission or Three"
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Plenty of Water for the Costa del Sol's Golf Courses
The use of recycled water from sewage treatment plants along the Costa del Sol for washing streets and watering gardens is one of the ways that the western coast water company Acosol is coping with the drought.
In 2004 3.3 cubic hectometres of recycled water were used for gardens and streets but this year the rise in the demand has been spectacular: 5.7 cubic hectometres of treated water from western Costa del Sol sewage plants has been supplied in nearly 11 months.
The golf courses, along with Mijas race course and Selwo Wildlife Park, are the main customers for this water provided by Acosol. Currently 21 of the 30 golf courses on this part of the coast use recycled water. Under the drought decree currently in force fines can be levied for using drinking water for watering gardens and cleaning streets.
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About Us
Hi. Are names are Roger and Shaun and welcome to our site - MarbellaGolfBreaks.com.
We live in the centre of Marbella - right in the middle of over 40 sun-soaked Golf Courses. We hope you enjoy your visist to our site and will return over and over. Don't forget to subscribe to our RSS feed to keep abreast of events here in Spain.
Please look at VllaZahraMarbella.com if you are looking for holiday accommodation in Marbella. We're not the cheapest but you'll have a great time.
More news soon.
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Tiger Joins the Over Thirties
THE numbers add up for Tiger Woods, just as they always have: $US55.7 million ($A74 million) in earnings on the PGA Tour, $US67.9 million ($A90 million) worldwide, 46 victories on the PGA Tour, 17 more worldwide, 10 major championship titles, seven times voted by his peers as player of the year.
There's one more important number. He turns 30 on December 30. Tiger? 30? It doesn't seem possible. Even so, he will begin his 10th full year on the PGA Tour in the second week of January.
When he looked into the television cameras, said, "Hello, world," before his pro debut at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, only days after having won his third consecutive US Amateur championship, Woods was 20. It was only the start of what became a clear-cut Tiger decade.
"If you look at most of the guys' careers, it looks like their peak years are in their 30s," Woods said last week. "Hopefully, that'll be the case for me. Obviously, there's a lot deeper competition, a lot more work I need to get done.