Tiger Woods

In August of 1996, the face of golf was forever changed when a very successful amateur player named Tiger Woods officially became a professional golfer. Tiger has been credited with renewing interest in the game of golf. At just twenty-one years old, he brought youth and vitality to the game of golf with his great game and his outgoing attitude.

Woods was a child prodigy who began to play golf at the age of two. In 1978, he putted against comedian Bob Hope in a television appearance on The Mike Douglas Show. At age three, Woods shot a 48 over nine holes at the Navy Golf Club in Cypress, California, and at age five, he appeared in Golf Digest and on ABC’s That’s Incredible.

At the age of 15 Tiger Woods became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur Open Champion in golf history. He would go on to win the tournament three more times making him the event’s only multiple winner as well as the youngest. Continuing his record breaking career, Woods was the youngest to win the U.S. Amateur Championship which bought him a ticket into the PGA Masters. He tied for 41st making him the only amateur to make the cut.

His professional career has been just as prolific. Immediately upon turn pro, Tiger signed endorsement deals worth $60 million with Nike and Titleist. He played his first round of professional golf at the Greater Milwaukee Open. He tied for 60th place in his pro debut, but would go on to win two events in the next three months, and qualify for the Tour Championship.

Tiger Woods is the only golfer to win the PGA Player of the Year award in the year following his rookie season. The following April, Woods won his first golf major, The Masters, by a record margin of 12 strokes, became the youngest Masters winner, and the first winner of African or Asian descent.

He eventually set a total of 20 Masters records and tied 6 others, and has been the highest-profile golfer in the world ever since. He would go on to win an additional three PGA Tour events that year, and on June 15, 1997, Woods rose to the number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time. Tiger Woods achieved this in only his 42nd week as a professional — the fastest ever ascent to the No. 1 ranking.

There’s no doubt about it that Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time. He has made the game of golf fun again as we all watch to see him continue to break records and win tournaments.

Written by Golfswing Analyze on December 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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Golf Weather

Golf Weather – Affect Your Golf Game

Weather certainly plays a huge role in a good golf game. Obviously, if it is raining, you aren’t going to be able to golf as easily as if the sun was shining. While summer golf provides great weather conditions, you also won’t want to be on the course when it’s 110 degrees in the shade (which makes it hotter on the fairway!)

Monitoring the weather is something avid golfers do faithfully. Ideal golf weather is about 70 degrees with clear skies and a soft breeze. Sometimes you’ll get this kind of golf weather and enjoy it when you do. But you can golf in other weather as well.

I know one golfer who is so obsessed with the game; he played on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Of course, it was unseasonably warm that winter, but it was still cold enough to keep normal people off the links. Most people won’t go to that extreme, but there are many who do, believe it or not!

What do you need to know about playing golf in certain weather conditions? The answer is more than you know! Different weather conditions should be approached differently when it comes to your golf game.

If you are playing golf in cold weather, you need to remember to take extra time to warm up and stretch. You are more prone to injury in cold weather, so take the time to stretch out. Wear layers of clothing with cold weather golf. You will also want to keep your head and hands covered as those are the two places where we lose our heat the quickest.

In extremely hot weather, your approach to the golf game should also be tended to. Most golf clubs have dress codes that you will have to adhere to and tank tops are usually not on that list. Wear clothing that is made of lightweight, breathable fabric. Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen and a hat to protect your eyes. Have plenty of water on hand and take time to rest in the shade of a tree.

Under no circumstances should you play golf in weather where it is thundering and lightning. More people are struck by lightning on the golf course than in any other place. It’s alright to play in a light rain – although it probably won’t be much fun – but if you heard the thunder roll or see light in the sky, vacate the course immediately.

While the weather can have an affect on your golf game, you can still play when you want to as long as you take proper precautions.

Written by Golfswing Analyze on December 16th, 2008 with no comments.
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Myrtle Beach Golf

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is one of the best places to take a golf vacation to in the United States. Myrtle Beach boasts 85 golf courses, 60 places for accommodations and four golf schools. Many golfers say that Myrtle Beach is one of the prettiest places to golf in the United States as well as offering some very challenging courses. Here are some of the top golf resorts in Myrtle Beach:

* Blackmoor Golf Club – Gary Player’s only Grand Strand signature course is built on the historic Longwood Plantation, which parallels the Waccamaw River. This spectacular undulating design takes advantage of the natural terrain and beautiful vistas making it a most enjoyable place to play.

As the world’s most traveled golfer, Player was able to use his wisdom and talent to provide a challenging course for the most capable golfer. Yet, the clever layout provides the high handicapper a very fun round.

When you couple the charm of this course with its truly hospitable staff and inviting facilities, Blackmoor becomes a “must-play” year after year. Be sure to visit the website to see the area’s only live course web cam!

* Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort – Brunswick Plantation, a 27-hole golf resort located just minutes from Myrtle Beach, features quick champion Bermuda greens.
Each nine has a special flair, presents challenges and provides a scenic backdrop with tall Carolina pines and water views.

The 14,000 square foot, plantation-style clubhouse offers a fully-stocked pro shop with friendly, professional service. A putting green and driving range are also available.
Located just three miles north of the N.C./S.C. state line, you’re sure to experience a special brand of Southern hospitality.

* Burning Ridge East – While playing golf at this great Myrtle Beach course, you will encounter elegantly shaped mounded fairways and large yawning bunkers before you reach our smooth putting surfaces.

Burning Ridge was the winner of the “2006 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year” and winner of the Myrtle Beach Golfing News’ “Hospitality and Operational Excellence- 2002.”

There are plenty of places to stay in Myrtle Beach when you go for a golf vacation. Most of the resorts in the area are lush and beautiful. They offer excellence in both service and accommodations and pride themselves on providing some great Southern Hospitality.

Golf in Myrtle Beach is an experience beyond no other. You can easily spend a full week in one of the resorts and play on a beautiful golf course every single day. Myrtle Beach truly is a golfer’s paradise.

Written by GolfSwing on December 10th, 2008 with no comments.
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Business on the Golf Course

There’s probably no better place in the world to conduct business than on the golf course. Business executive all over the world know that sharing a common frustration with their golf game promotes the perfect environment for business talk. More partnerships and businesses have been changed on the golf course than you could ever imagine.

When you are conducting business on the golf course, you have the luxury of sharing a common goal – to beat each other. Yet at the same time, when you are playing with business associates on the golf course, you really need to practice some decorum when playing golf with a potential business affiliate.

So how do you balance business with sport on the golf course? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Just as with any decision in business, you have to weigh the outcome with what is happening. If you are trying to land a big account, you probably won’t want to make fun of your potential client’s missed chip shot.

However, you won’t want to gain a reputation as a suck-up either. If your potential client makes a 7 on a par 3 hole, you really don’t want to whoop and holler because it will be obvious you are just trying to stroke his (or her) ego. Conducting business on the golf course is a delicate proposition, so start with a plan in mind.

DO NOT – and we stress this a lot – DO NOT begin your golf match with a declaration of what you hope to accomplish by the end of the round. If you want to insure that you will be landing that big account, don’t put on your golf glove on tee #1 and declare your intention. The idea behind conducting business on the golf course is to make friends first and then do your business.

As you are playing, keep in mind that you will want to bring your “A” game as much as is humanly possible. Sure, you might be playing against a person who is head and shoulders above you, but if you are the better player, DON’T let them win just because you want to gain their business. Play golf like you mean it and gain that prospect’s respect.

There is much business that is done on the golf course every day of every week. You won’t find a better place to make a business deal than on the links. However, you will want to use some form of decorum to insure that your business goals will come to reality. Taking business on the golf course could be the best business decision you ever make!

Written by Golfswing Analyze on December 4th, 2008 with no comments.
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