December 2009

You are currently browsing the articles from Golfswing Analyze written in the month of December 2009.

Senior Golf- The Senior Open History

The very first Senior Golf Open was played in New York in June of 1980 at the Winged Foot Golf Club on the East Course. It was established because of the interest of senior golfers who wanted to compete on an amateur and professional level. The very first Senior Open had six hundred and thirty-one entries. At this time, the senior golfer had to be at least fifty-five years of age the day of the tournament. Some of the former champions competed in the first Senior Golf Open such as William Campbell, Tommy Bolt, Jack Fleck, Ed Furgol and Lew Worsham.

The winner of the first Senior Golf Open was Roberto De Vicenzo while William Campbell was in second place. The age limit was lowered to fifty just one year later to allow for more participants in the tournament. Arnold Palmer went onto win the second Senior Open at the age of fifty-one in Michigan. Miller Barber won the Senior Open in 1982, which was just one of his three wins for a Senior Open. The other two wins were for 1984 and 1985. As of 2002, there were a little over three thousand entries for the Senior Golf Open.

In 2006, Allen Doyle became the new oldest winner of the Senior Open at the age of fifty-seven, eleven months, seventeen days. The oldest winner before that was De Vicenzo at the age of fifty-seven years, two months and fifteen days. Don Pooley won his way into the Senior Golf Open by qualifying and went onto win the tournament in 2002.

Today, you will see only a three or four hole playoff if needed were in the past it used to be four playoffs of eighteen holes. There have only been a few times in the Senior Open history of a playoff occurring, once in 1981, 1983, 1988 and 1991 with the winners being Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Gary Player and Jack Nicholas respectfully.

In 2007, the Senior Open was played at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin where senior golf player Brad Bryant won the Championship. He had winnings of four hundred and seventy thousand dollars to take home with him. He did share his revenue with his caddies Tony Smith. The golf course designed Pete Dye was designed to attract PGA tournaments in the future. It proved to be a tricky course that is considered rugged terrain that does not have golf cart abilities.

If you want a chance to watch the U.S. Senior Open when it comes to your town, you can buy advance tickets, walk around with your favorite players, and see how they fair in the tournament. Some of the courses they play are set up according to the guidelines established for the tours. This is just another way to see how the pros do it and how they apply different stances and what clubs they use to get distance and win the game. It is always a spectacular event for any city and golf course when the Senior Open comes to town.

Written by GolfSwing on December 28th, 2009 with no comments.
Read more articles on Senior Golf.

Working Up To Be a Senior Golf Pro

Some interesting facts about the senior golfer might have some people amazed. There are three classifications that some believe in strongly. The top golfers/pros, the good amateurs and the hackers. It is said that to become a pro you will need to start early in life and hit over three hundred and sixty thousand golf balls by the time you reach twenty. Now this may be an exaggeration, but it is possible to hit a hundred balls a day if you do not work or have any other hobbies or obligations.

For a top golfer or a pro it is said that they started as kids, had a mentor or a coach, were natural at athletics, hit thousands of balls and spent hours perfecting the game. It is also said they have belong to some sort of golf club and play eighteen holes of golf regularly. The younger they start the more they have learned and have hit many balls to lead them on their way to becoming a pro.

Now for the amateur senior golf player, they may have started as a kid, but usually start as a young adult. For the most part, they have some type of lesson whether professional or by someone, more experienced. They are also naturals as athletes and can say they have hit thousands of balls in their game. This is someone who also plays eighteen holes more often than not.

Now the hacker is said to be someone who starts out later in life and some have even had lessons or are just learning as they go along. This might just be a new hobby that they discovered and are probably not very athletic by nature. The hacker also usually only has a couple thousand hits and a few games to such as ten to twenty or so a year.

Some senior golfers believe you have to hit so many balls before the age of thirty to become a scratch golfer, which is someone that plays at par. This might not always be true since some golfers are just naturals at the game. Some pro golfers have the opinion that it is how you learn the game and how you achieve the distance needed to play the game. Whether you are a pro, amateur or a hacker, you can still come in at par or even under par if you have the god given talent at any age.

For the most part, if you start out young, you have a better chance of becoming a senior golf pro. The idea of giving up your childhood is not for everyone, but you can still make your way in life as a golfer by enjoying life as well. Most players that play the game still like to live a little and do have active family and social lives. Becoming a senior golf pro boils down to dedication and the ability to take guidance and run with it. As your game improves so does your recognition.

Written by GolfSwing on December 15th, 2009 with no comments.
Read more articles on Senior Golf.