Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Controlling distance in between yardages
Solutions for when you’re between yardages
You probably feel pretty good when you’re at the perfect yardage for the club in your hands. But what about those annoying yardages, like when a full 7-iron is going to be too much, and a full 8-iron might not get there? Or when you’re 45 yards from the green and your full lob wedge flies 60? I’ve seen many golfers struggle in these situations because they swing too hard or decelerate the club to try to control distance, and neither really works. If you want to hit more shots pin-high, give the methods I’ve used on the PGA Tour a try. Let’s start with in-between yardages. Here I’m swinging a 7-iron. I normally hit it 185 yards, so if I have 175 to the pin, I stand slightly closer to the ball and narrow my stance a few inches.
I also grip down an inch or so. When I swing, the only adjustment is to stop my backswing just short of my usual top position. Then I make my normal through-swing. I don’t change my speed coming through the ball. That’s key.
Swing speed also is important when you have less than a full wedge into a green. This is the area of the course where I’ve noticed amateurs struggle the most. Part of the reason is because they don’t have a consistent plan for how to handle these short shots. If you don’t have a strategy, it’s hard to know what to practice. And without practice, you’re going to struggle on the course.
The way I handle these shots is to regulate the length of the backswing depending on the length of the shot—shorter distances mean shorter backswings. But the thing to remember is, just like with in-between yardages on longer shots, you have to swing through the ball at the same pace no matter the distance.
I practice three swing lengths with my sand wedge that are less than full, so I have three distances locked in when I’m on the course. If I stop my backswing when the shaft is around the height of my hips (above), I know the ball will go 35 yards. When my forearms are parallel to the ground, it’s going 60 yards. And when my hands stop at my shoulders, it’s going to go 80 yards. Again, I can’t stress enough that you never want to slow down as you come through. It leads to inconsistent strikes.
“KEEP YOUR SWING SPEED UP ON SHORTER SHOTS.”
For even better results, add this to your range sessions: Hit 10 balls each with your backswing stopping at three different lengths. Make note of how far the ball goes with each, and rely on those swings to produce the right yardages when you get on the course. You’ll be a lot more confident in hitting half-wedge shots pin-high.—with Keely Levins
SOURCE: Golfdigest
The post Controlling distance in between yardages appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Lower Back Pain Is No Joke, But It’s Preventable
How to Avoid the Most Common Golf Injury
Golf is a unique sport because you can often participate even if you’re not as physically fit as you once were. That said, golf isn’t always an injury-free sport. Low back pain is the golf injury you’re most likely to sustain. Luckily, it can be avoided.
The following tips will help.
Warm Up
Golf may not seem as intense as a sport like football or hockey, but you still need to warm up before playing. Loosening your muscles helps to prevent discomfort. Practice these basic exercises to prep your muscles for a few hours on the course:
- Hold the club behind your neck, one hand on each end, and rotate your torso to stretch your neck.
- Pull your knees towards your chest a few times to stretch out your hips.
- Keep your hamstrings loose by bending down and reaching towards your shoes.
If you’re having trouble with these stretches, or they don’t seem to be effective, getting direct access to physical therapy could help. A few sessions with an expert could help you learn how to properly stretch before golfing to avoid lower back and other injuries.
Practice Your Swing
Golfers apply torque and torsion to their lower backs in order to generate sufficient club speed when swinging. This puts strain on the lower back. That’s why practicing a swing regularly is important. You want to emphasize smooth motions. Additionally, researchers have found that attempting to mimic the “X-factor” swing of professionals (in which you attempt to maximize rotation of your shoulders relative to your hips) may result in injury.
Maintaining proper balance while swinging also helps protect your back. Keep your knees bent and shoulder width-apart, while maintaining a straight spine.
It will take practice to develop a smooth swing, but it’s necessary. Doing so will keep you comfortable while also improving your overall performance while playing.
Get the Right Golf Bag
Lifting heavy items incorrectly or repeatedly can result in low back pain. In other words, your swing isn’t the only part of your game you need to optimize if you want to avoid discomfort. You also need the right golf bag.
Don’t use one you have to set down on the ground every time you’re ready to take a swing. Get a bag that has a stand, so you don’t have to lift it up repeatedly throughout a round.
Don’t Make Assumptions About Age
It’s easy to assume low back pain is something only older golfers need to worry about. However, the X-factor swing described above is often more likely to cause certain injuries in younger players. They tend to have more muscle mass than older generations, which puts significant pressure on their spines during the swinging motion. They may also be more likely to apply excessive force. Even if you’re a younger golfer, you should keep these tips in mind. Doing so will also help avoid injury as you get older.
Again, golf is the type of sport you can play well into old age. You’re more likely to be able to if you avoid low back pain. Remembering these points will help you stay out on the course for years.
SOURCE: Golftipsmag
The post Lower Back Pain Is No Joke, But It’s Preventable appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Callaway Demo Day this Wednesday!
Wednesday, Feb. 20th – 10 am to 2 pm
Here is your opportunity to TRY before you BUY!
All the New Callaway equipment will be on display for you to hit and get fit!
Have you wanted to try the NEW Callaway irons, woods and hybrids?
Here is you chance…meet us on the driving range on Wednesday, Feb. 20th.
Representatives will be on-site to answer your questions and take orders for your NEW CALLAWAY CLUBS!
The post Callaway Demo Day this Wednesday! appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Friday, February 15, 2019
What is a hole-in-one on a par 5 called?
Who Knew?
A “condor” is term given to a hole-in-one on a par 5.
It is almost as rare as two hole-in-ones in a single game of golf.
How awesome would that be to make a hole in one on a par 5?
Time to tee it up!
The post What is a hole-in-one on a par 5 called? appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Mickelson — the Golden State Star
Phil Mickelson ties tourney record with 5th win at Pebble Beach
With plenty of sunlight and no drama, Phil Mickelson finished off a 7-under 65 to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Monday and match the tournament record with his fifth victory.
Mickelson had a three-shot lead over Paul Casey with two holes to play when it was too dark to finish Sunday night — no matter how hard Mickelson lobbied to keep going — because of delays from rain and a hailstorm.
Casey’s only hope was for Mickelson to make a mistake on the closing holes, and there was little chance of that.
Mickelson was at his best on a course he loves. He drilled a 7-iron into 8 feet on the par-3 17th and made par, and then played conservatively up the par-5 18th and finished with a 6-foot birdie for a three-shot victory.
He matched the low score of the final round while playing in the last group, turning a three-shot deficit into a three-shot victory. Mickelson never came close to making bogey and won for the 44th time on the PGA Tour.
He finished at 19-under 268 and joined Tiger Woods as the only players to surpass $90 million in earnings.
Casey finished with a birdie that was worth $152,000 because he wound up alone in second place. He also won the pro-am with Don Colleran, the chief sales officer for FedEx.
Even so, it was the fourth time Casey took a 54-hole lead of at least two shots into the final round on the PGA Tour and failed to win. There wasn’t much he could do to stop Mickelson, who at age 48 looks just as tough as when he won his first PGA Tour event in 1991 when he was still at Arizona State.
Mickelson tied Mark O’Meara’s record with his fifth victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach, the first one also a Monday finish in 1998 because of bad weather, with one big difference — that Monday finish was more than six months later in August.
Mickelson argued that he could “see just fine” on Sunday evening, moments after sunset with two holes remaining. Casey said there was no way to finish and they had to return Monday morning.
Mickelson, seen shaking his head when the horn sounded Sunday night, said he thanked Casey on Monday morning for holding his ground because it was fair to both of them.
“Sometimes I get in my own bubble,” Mickelson said.
Scott Stallings finished Sunday night with a 66 to finish alone in third.
Mickelson won on American soil for the first time since the Phoenix Open in 2013. He won that summer’s British Open at Muirfield and last year’s Mexico Championship.
He will return to Pebble Beach in June for the U.S. Open, where he made his pro debut in 1992. The U.S. Open remains the final piece missing for him to complete the career Grand Slam, though Lefty was quick to caution that this week had no bearing on this summer.
Pebble Beach was so soft that balls were plugging in the fairway when they landed. And while the fairway lines already have been brought in to be much narrower than usual, the rough was light.
“It’s nothing like the course we’ll see,” Mickelson said. “I’ll deal with that in six months.”
For now, he was glowing over another victory that keeps him as relevant as ever. Along with five titles at Pebble Beach, he ties Woods and Billy Casper — all three native Californians — with his 14th career victory in the Golden State.
SOURCE: ESPN
The post Mickelson — the Golden State Star appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Wine Tasting at The Eatery
It’s time to get our WINE ON! 
We invite you to enjoy a night of delicious Wines and fabulous entertainment at The Eatery.
Friday – February 22nd • Tastings begin at 5:30 pm
We will have LIVE MUSIC by Brooke from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Just $15 ++ per person – includes the wine tastings and paired food choices from the chef.
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY
WINEMAKER’S NOTES – Almost black with reddish hues. The nose is both complex and intense, of black plum, china ink, blood orange and hints of pencil lead. A very fresh and vibrant wine with flavors of blueberry, boysenberry liquor and garrigue, underlined by hints of toast and cocoa. It is framed by refined tannins and good acidity.
The post Wine Tasting at The Eatery appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
A Firm hip for a solid swing
Keep The Lead Hip Firm For A Solid Swing
Most of us, when we first started playing the game, were told to hit against a firm left side. When the left hip moves well past the left foot, there isn’t a whole lot of firmness. And, there isn’t a whole lot of rotation. And without rotation, power is dramatically reduced.
Here is an analogy that might help put you back on track:
Maybe you have a fenced-in back yard with a gate. If you don’t, humor me and just pretend that you do. If the post that the gate is attached to is straight up and down, the gate opens and closes perfectly. If the post is tilted, good luck with the gate. Same with your golf swing. At impact, if the left hip is over the left knee and left ankle, forming a straight vertical line, your right hip will rotate perfectly just like the gate. If the left hip slides past the left foot, rotation is diminished along with power and accuracy.
Here is a drill to help you get the hang of it:
Stand in a doorway with the outside of your left foot touching the door jam. Cross your arms across your chest. Make a backswing turn and then a through swing turn. During the latter allow your left hip to move laterally just enough to make contact with the jam. That amount will put you in a vertical left leg position, the perfect place for maximum lead hip rotation. And hip rotation translates to more power, which we all want.
John Marshall is a two-time American Long Drivers Association super senior national champion and five-time RE/MAX World Long Drive finalist
SOURCE: Golftipmag
The post A Firm hip for a solid swing appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Driving range will be closed on Tuesday, Feb 12th – Book a Tee Time Today!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
The Driving Range will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 12th.
The putting green will still be accessible for those wanting to work on their putting strokes.
BOOK A TEE TIME and PRACTICE YOUR DRIVE on the Course itself…
The post Driving range will be closed on Tuesday, Feb 12th – Book a Tee Time Today! appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Let us cook for you this week!
A great week of dining at Heritage Harbour Golf & Eatery!
Come enjoy the Great Food, Nightly Specials, Entertainment and Camaraderie.
Dinner Service will run from 5 pm to 8 pm
• (longer if busy) •
BAR OPEN LATER!
WEDNESDAY
SEAFOOD SPECIALS NIGHT
THURSDAY
VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER
Reserve your table today
FRIDAY
PRIME RIB NIGHT
plus other specials and standard menu items available.
2 FOR 1 Happy Hour Specials all night long
Let us know you will be joining us…
The post Let us cook for you this week! appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
NINE & DINE every Thursday at Heritage Harbour
Couples Nine & Dine
Let’s have a fun time of playing Nine Holes of Golf followed by a delicious Dinner at the Eatery!
Every Thursday thru April, 2019
TEE TIMES start at 3 pm with Dinner following
Members $29 pp includes $15 dinner credit | Non-members $39 pp includes $15 dinner credit
Call the Pro Shop to reserve your spot!
941-746-2696
The post NINE & DINE every Thursday at Heritage Harbour appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Girl power in Golf
Who knew??
Long before Annika Sorenstam competed in the 2003 Bank of America Colonial, Babe Zaharias became the first – and only – female golfer to make the cut at a PGA TOUR event, shooting 76 and 81 during the first two rounds of the 1945 Los Angeles Open.
Who is your favorite female golfer?
Time to tee it up!
The post Girl power in Golf appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
You’ll want to watch this interesting swing at the AT&T this week
Ho-Sung Choi and his swing gyrations already have everyone’s attention at Pebble Beach this week
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Ho-Sung Choi was so excited to talk to the media Tuesday afternoon at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that he ran from the player hospitality tent to the media center, a lengthy jaunt, when he could have just waited for a shuttle ride.
“It is my first time here in the United States, so I can’t even put into words how incredibly happy and grateful I am to have this opportunity here,” he said through an interpreter.
When the likes of Aaron Rodgers, the All-Pro quarterback from the Green Bay Packers, requests to be paired with the late-blooming Korean sensation, it’s safe to say that the excitement is mutual. America is ready to embrace him.
Choi might not speak much English, but he is the undisputed World No. 1 in body language. His pirouetting, leg-kicking golf swing, a cross between the Gary Player walk-through and an Olympic ice dancer – called a “fisherman’s swing” in some circles – has caught the attention of golfers and fans the world over.
“I’m actually fascinated clearly by his swing and the way that he … moves around,” said former world No. 1 Jordan Spieth, who won here in 2017. “But I would almost say funniest … the most entertaining videos I’ve seen were actually some of his putts where he’ll spin the way he wants the ball to start moving around and then when it goes in he’ll give one of those kind of fist pumps and it’s just, it’s really entertaining.”
It also has been pretty effective. Choi, 45, is a two-time winner on the Japan Tour, having won most recently at the Casio World Open in November, and he is No. 194 in the Official World Golf Ranking. But it’s his penchant for natural showmanship with his homemade swing that made him a perfect fit for a sponsor exemption – adding another layer to an event famous for its inclusion of celebrities and entertainers.
Comedian Bill Murray once spun around an old lady in a bunker here. This guy needs no assistance, corkscrewing himself into a pretzel after most shots.
“I know sometimes after I’ve hit the ball I sometimes will the ball to go in the hole and in my mind I feel like that helps the ball go in the hole, so I’m going to keep doing that this week,” Choi explained. “And I feel like in my mind the way I move my body, sometimes it feels like I have remote control that wills the ball to go in the hole, so I’m going to keep doing that, because I feel like it helps.”
Choi is hardly self-conscious about how he looks on his full swing. He was happy to demonstrate it during his press conference, standing up on the dais to show the full move. The swing, he noted, was even wilder in his earlier years than it is now. It was born from hitting a shot out of the rough and following through with his whole body, something Tiger Woods has done routinely when he goes for extra speed from heavy lies. Choi, who averages about 280 off the tee, figures he gains an extra 10 yards from the pronounced action.
“I personally love my swing,” he said. “I didn’t start golf until I was in my late 20s, so technically I didn’t take any lessons growing up. But regarding flexibility or anything like that, I might not have as much compared to the other tour players, but I do what I can with what I have. And also with the advancement in technology and with how far these players are hitting it nowadays I needed to find my own unique way to get that extra distance. And by hitting it hard and by swinging hard I was able to swing the way I do right now, so that might result in to how I’m swinging it.”
It also results in delight from those who watch it.
“Yeah, I think it’s great. I think it’s unique, for sure. Nobody swings a golf club like that and I’ve never seen anybody move that way when they swing a golf club,” said U.S. Ryder Cup player Tony Finau. “I think it’s great for the game, and obviously he’s playing with Aaron Rodgers this week. And I was just with Aaron this morning, and he’s excited to watch him play. I mean, how is that not really cool for our game to have someone like him wanting to play with someone like Ho-Sung Choi? So that’s, I think he brings some excitement to this tournament. And as players it’s really cool to see someone that that’s different and that unique of a golf swing.”
Some guys would cut off their right arm to have a chance to play golf professionally. Choi cut off his right thumb.
As he tells the story, he went to school to specialize in a job in the fishing industry. When he was 23, he accidentally amputated a portion of his right thumb with a chain saw. (Somewhere Greg Norman is cringing knowingly.) Though the tip was reattached, Choi’s right thumb is shorter than his left. But from that mishap started his long road to an unlikely golf career. About two years after the accident, in 1995, he got a part-time job at a golf course. He said his responsibilities included “anything from from cleaning locker rooms to stocking vending machines, to taking the coins out of the vending machines. On hot summer days I would be the one responsible for putting the cold ice towels inside the locker, inside the ice boxes for the players.”
When the course opened a new practice area, the owner encouraged employees to learn the game. From these humble beginnings, a star was born – and the Internet sure helped. Everyone recognizes Choi, who actually will partner for three rounds with actor Chris O’Donnell. Rodgers and Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly, one of several Champions Tour players in the field, are paired with them. They are in the celebrity rotation, meaning Choi will likely get his share of airtime during Saturday’s CBS telecast from Pebble Beach.
Good thing he’s not shy – and that his real strength, he said, is his mental game. He doesn’t care what others think. He just wants to play.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” he said when asked about how others might view him. “My only goal is to give it my all and to play my best when I’m on the golf course. I’m just not worrying about what other people say or do and just focusing on my own game.”
Before he left the dais, he was asked to demonstrate his swing one more time. He was only too happy to oblige, and he was so focused that once he was finished, he left behind his cell phone.
SOURCE: Golfdigest
The post You’ll want to watch this interesting swing at the AT&T this week appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Let us cook for you this week!
Dinner Formats for the Whole Season you can count on !!!
February thru April
Come enjoy the Great Food, Nightly Specials, Entertainment and Camaraderie.
Dinner Service will run from 5 pm to 8 pm
• (longer if busy) •
BAR OPEN LATER!
WEDNESDAY
SEAFOOD SPECIALS NIGHT
THURSDAY
BABY BACK RIB NIGHT
YOU KNOW THE FLAVOR, COME FOR THE TASTE!
Baby back ribs plus other great specials and standard dinner menu items.
FRIDAY
PRIME RIB NIGHT
plus other specials and standard menu items available.
2 FOR 1 Happy Hour Specials all night long
Let us know you will be joining us…
The post Let us cook for you this week! appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Avoid big approach shots – keep things simple
SIMPLIFY YOUR TEE SHOTS
I’ve had a successful PGA Tour career, including a pair of wins, by keeping things as simple as possible. Yet, in the numerous pro-ams I play, I notice everyday golfers tend to make things more complicated than they need to be, and their games suffer. One area to simplify is off the tee. For amateurs, it’s the most critical part of the game to avoid big numbers. Keeping it uncomplicated will result in better consistency, which allows you to pay more attention on your approach shots and short game. Here’s your first tip: Swing with the thought of putting the clubface on the back of the ball. This will help keep your body from lunging ahead of it, which causes those toey slices no matter what club you’re using.
GET READY FOR TAKEOFF
If we’ve learned anything over the past decade, it’s high launch with low spin is key to maxing driver distance. Most everyday players, however, have a negative angle of attack, with some hitting downward several degrees. That causes a low, spinny tee shot—not great for producing distance. Here’s a simple fix: Adjust your tee height. The people I play with in pro-ams tee the ball too low. You can’t possibly hit up on the ball if it’s only an inch off the ground. Tee it so two-thirds of the ball is higher than the crown of the driver (above), and adjust the ball’s position so it’s in line with the big toe on your front foot. Now drop your right shoulder slightly at address. You can see (below) how this helps get it in the proper position at impact. These simple adjustments at address will automatically improve your tee shots, and they’re so easy to make.
GROOVE THE RIGHT PATH
Swinging on an in-to-out path in relation to the target line is something most amateurs really struggle to do in the downswing, but it’s vital to making solid contact. I’m a big fan of the Orange Whip training aid to help with this. With its weighted end and flexible shaft, the Orange Whip keeps the arms and body moving in the proper sequence for that desired in-to-out path. For me, it’s not about where the club is at any given moment. It’s about feeling the proper motion. Another key is getting your chest behind the ball during the backswing. If your chest hovers over the ball, you’ll likely pitch forward on the backswing, eliminating any chance of being in the proper sequence on the way down. To help, set your lead shoulder so it’s pointing a little right (closed) of your target line at address. It gives you a head start for an in-to-out downswing.
GO SLOW TO FIND SOLID
The biggest problem I see amateurs have off the tee is, they don’t make solid contact very often. In trying to squeeze as many yards as they can out of their tee shots, they lose control of the swing. Their hands and legs are moving all over the place, and there are too many motions going on to find the center of the face. You need to back it down. A great drill is to swing a 7-iron at 30 percent of your max speed, and keep doing that until you’re hitting solid shots most of the time. Then increase to 50 percent, 70 percent and eventually full speed. This builds the feeling of controlling your swing. If you can’t find the center of the face at less than half speed, you have no chance full throttle. You can do this drill with any club, and I think you’ll be surprised to find how far you hit it without swinging out of your shoes. Better tee shots are as simple as that.
SOURCE: Golfdigest
The post Avoid big approach shots – keep things simple appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
NINE & DINE every Thursday at Heritage Harbour
Couples Nine & Dine
Let’s have a fun time of playing Nine Holes of Golf followed by a delicious Dinner at the Eatery!
Every Thursday thru April, 2019
TEE TIMES start at 3 pm with Dinner following
Members $29 pp includes $15 dinner credit | Non-members $39 pp includes $15 dinner credit
Call the Pro Shop to reserve your spot!
941-746-2696
The post NINE & DINE every Thursday at Heritage Harbour appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.
Friday, February 1, 2019
The grass was literally greener!
Who knew??
Augusta National Golf Club, which is one of the most famous courses in the world, closed for three years at the height of World War II. Golf was replaced by cattle and turkey on its grounds to help support the war effort.
The grass was literally greener!
The countdown is on for THE MASTERS — Who do you think will win the green jacket?
Time to tee it up!
The post The grass was literally greener! appeared first on Heritage Harbour Golf Club.