Hope springs anew, 18 holes at a time

The ground is coming to life again, and with it, the hopes of golfers.

There is, after all, something so persistent about the spring. Icy ponds melt, and the fish that hid below all winter can now dare to swim freely in open water. Snow cover recedes, revealing dormant grasses and the first signs of active plant life in the form of snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses. The sun reaches a new apex each day, warming the soil temperatures and encouraging golfers to look hopefully at their local courses during their daily drive-bys.

The rites of spring remind us that even amidst hardship, life renews itself. With economic distress commonplace and recent news filled with tragedies in Africa and Asia, it’s perhaps more comforting than ever to find solace and take refuge in the simple joys of sports. For some, that means baseball, with spring training the first evidence that “wait until next year” could pay off this year. With college basketball, it’s the March (and April) madness of bracketology. And with golfers, it’s the knowledge of The Masters coming up soon, and with it, stunning verdant images and dreams of playing great golf courses.

If your head is still,

you see your ball clearly and can not fail to turn your hands at the right instant. You will find that you can not grip your club in the wrong way without introducing at some point in the swing a factor which will disturb your balance and make your head sway. You can not keep your balance at the finish of your swing without following through correctly. If the player will keep in mind this very important fact, and will govern his effort by his ability to keep his head still, he will readily work out for himself ways and means for accomplishing the desired result, and I believe that the average business man with the average physique is as capable of first-class golf as any youngster if he can acquire the right mental foundation upon which to build. Golf is mostly mental and players improve more from a correct grasp of the fundamentals than they do from merely playing around the course.

We're talking about water. Not soda

not coffee, and sorry, not alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so when you are in the air you get a double whammy. Good old H2O. Now what to do after you land? I've found the greatest success in the war against jet lag is immediately changing to the present time zone. I know it can be tough having to go to bed three hours later than what you are accustomed to, but believe me, in a day or so it will pay big dividends. I found this to really help. Those are the two biggest tips I found to beneficial to jet lag. Some of Sensei Sean's other helpful hints are regulating your workouts and eating healthy foods. Workouts for me get that blood pumping and the body moving. I don't feel lethargic on the road if I workout regularly. Now a workout can be something like a 20-minute brisk walk or run around the hotel. Just get something into your schedule that gets the blood pumping. Finally, another key to not getting stung by jet lag is what you eat. If I eat healthy meals, my body is more alert and running efficiently. If I chow down on fast food or candy, my body starts to get run down.

He never trailed in any of his six matches

something no one has done in the 13-year history of the event. And while he didn’t accomplish the feat as the top seed, he was so much better than anyone else in the tournament that he never saw the 18th tee, fairway or green. Also unheard of. Donald played the fewest holes ever in the event, just 89 over six matches. The PGA Tour gets 90 in when they play the five-round Bob Hope. Match play can be quirky, advancing lesser-known players as favorites are upset. And Donald certainly benefited from facing the 14, 6, 15 and 12 seeds before getting fourth-seeded Kuchar in the semi-final and making quick work by winning 6 and 5. But his waltz through the field was decidedly impressive and never more so when he gave up a three-hole lead at the midpoint of his final match with Kaymer. By the 12th, Donald was 2-up and stretched it back to 3-up by the 15th. “I was trying everything I could, I just didn’t play as good as the last few days,” Kaymer said. “And the way Luke plays, even a decent round isn’t enough.”

While there have been thousands of unbelievable golf shots

throughout the centuries, the most famous golf shot must surely belong to Alan Shepard who hit a ball on the moon in 1971, watched by an audience of millions around the globe. Golf--the first sport is space! The club he used can be viewed in the USGA museum in Far Hills, New Jersey.As prize money grows, so does the sport of golf itself. Millions of people around the world now play the sport, and other millions watch the game religiously on television. Golf is a game for young and old, short and tall, thin and hefty. Golf is truly a "people's game," and continues to grow in popularity. Article Source: http://www.golfarticles.net Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently V.P. of Elfin Enterprises, Inc., an Internet business providing valuable information on a variety of timely topics. For a club house full of advice,

What the LPGA needs to do for the right idea

is look no further than their own organization.
Two years ago, under then-commissioner Carolyn Bivens, the LPGA attempted to force-feed an English-only language policy with its players. It was a thinly veiled swipe at the influx of Korean players, many of whom spoke their native tongue on the golf course during tournaments.
The initiative failed and Bivens resigned, but now the LPGA has taken a more progressive and certainly more productive approach to get their players on the same page linguistically.
In partnership with Language Training Center in Indianapolis, players can study English and other tongues in a mobile language lab at tournaments.
“This may feel like an LPGA thing, but it’s really a business thing,” current LPGA commissioner Michael Whan told the New York Times. “I don’t really consider it a language program. I consider it a cross-cultural program.”
… Don’t know if these players have a case, but if they want to play golf they’d better stay outside the two-day window.

Driving Range Membership

It's very common for a new golfer to want to just get out there and whack the ball! Actually, many experienced golfers want to do that. And while that may not be the best thing to do on the course, it's certainly fun to do at the driving range! You can give a membership to a local driving range. Other options include a gift certificate, ball tokens, or a 10 bucket pass. What the practice facility offers in the form of a membership or package deal will determine what options you have for these beginner golf gifts.

Europe Remains Unified Atop Board

Martin Kaymer scaled to the top of the world golf ranking, but Luke Donald’s win this weekend made it complete.
The Europeans are in charge.
Kaymer supplanted Lee Westwood in the No. 1 slot of the Official World Golf Ranking by getting to the final of the WGC Match Play event in Tucson.
Parlaying a victory to reach third was Donald, who vaulted from No. 9. Holding in the four-hole is Graeme McDowell.
For those repositioning the flags, the order would be: Germany, England, England and Northern Ireland.
In a free fall that shows no sign of gaining any lift is Tiger Woods, who checks in as the fifth-ranked ranked player just a few points ahead of fellow American Phil Mickelson.

Luke Donald won WGC Match Play and moved to No. 3. Photo Getty Images

NASTY SHANKS

Hitting a shank is one of the worst shots in golf. It not only can send the ball a mile offline, but it reeks havoc on one’s confidence, often causing the golfer to tense up with the yips—thus making a shank even more likely. Most shanked-pitch and short-iron shots can be avoided if you remember one simple tip: Keep the head and upper body from leaning too far toward the golf ball during the swing. Because you’re using a shorter iron and your spine angle is greater than with a longer iron or wood, excessively leaning toward the ball becomes a lot easier to do. When this happens, you have little to no hope, as the clubhead is most likely to strike the ball on the heel, or worse, on or near the hosel. The next time you find yourself shanking the ball, try standing more upright at address, and retaining a more upright upper-body posture through the shot. This may steepen your swing a bit, but it will also keep that hosel away from the golf ball at impact.

Ryder Cup heads to National Golf Show

The Ryder Cup is coming back to town as it will be among the star turns at next month's National Golf Show at the NEC.
Samuel Ryder's famous gold trophy will also assist in boosting the coffers of the PGA Benevolent Fund, with visitors to the show given the chance to have their photo taken with the Ryder Cup while at the show between April 15-17.
Joining the Ryder Cup at the show are PGA chief executive Sandy Jones and Ken Schofield, former chief executive of the European Tour.

Imada, Tour donate money to Japan relief fund

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – The distance between Tokyo and Tampa is more than 7,000 miles, but many in the field at the Transitions Championship are feeling the effects of the earthquake and tsunami that affected the island nation in the past two weeks.
Ryuji Imada, who lives in Tampa, was born in Hiroshima and lived there until age 14, when he moved to the U.S. Imada attended the University of Georgia, started his professional career in 2000 on the Nationwide Tour and made the jump to the PGA Tour in 2005.
With Japan in peril, Imada wanted to help. After talking with Vijay Singh, Imada followed Singh’s advice of drafting a handwritten letter asking for the help of his PGA Tour brethren.
Document
Imada's handwritten letter

Download .PDF
Imada drafted the letter on Wednesday and then made 150 copies to be put in each of the players’ lockers and posted in prominent places in the locker room.

Buying Guide

So you want to build your own home theater system or stereo system? Well you've got a plethora of choices out there, so many in fact that it can be downright confusing at times.
Often times you'll have lots of technical jargon thrown at you and salespeople trying to sell you with these fancy words and things you might not understand. Like impedance, or Dolby DTS, sampling rates and Signal to noise ratio and many,many more. The fancy words aside, there are a few things you can take a look at easily to determine what receiver is right for you without knowledge of all of the fancy technical terms and jargon used today.

Buying Guide

So you want to build your own home theater system or stereo system? Well you've got a plethora of choices out there, so many in fact that it can be downright confusing at times.
Often times you'll have lots of technical jargon thrown at you and salespeople trying to sell you with these fancy words and things you might not understand. Like impedance, or Dolby DTS, sampling rates and Signal to noise ratio and many,many more. The fancy words aside, there are a few things you can take a look at easily to determine what receiver is right for you without knowledge of all of the fancy technical terms and jargon used today.

Then once you do it out here, you have to do it in contention.

Then once you do it out here, you have to do it in contention.
The long-hitting 32-year-old won the Travelers Championship last year.This is the first event this year for six-time winner Tiger Woods but his erratic three-over 75 ended a frustrating week, earning for him the 44th place.Came out and made a couple birdies to put maybe a little heat on Mark, and he played great, Duffer said.Boyd ended up on 11-under on a shared third place with Dutchman Joust Lucite, Ireland Peter Lawry, and Swede Christian Nilsson.Mickelson on the other hand, tied with Haas as he shot a four-under round of 68 during the final round yesterdayMickelson was looking to make this game his fourth victory even if he has not won at Torrey Pines since 2001.Then once you do it out here, you have to do it in contention.The decision to share the title was made before McDowell victory at the Chevron Challenge in California at the weekend.The Ryder Cup star had been happy with his form and he was pleased to see his hard work rewarded today as he added to his WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship victory from earlier this year.I'm disappointed.But although the rules state that a player who fails to participate in the minimum 12 required shall not be eligible for reinstatement to European Tour membership.I was hopeful of making the team.RSM International has under its mantle RSM McGladrey and McGladrey Pullen, LLP, which co brands with McGladrey in the U.S.Jean Stephens.The presence of RSM International throughout the world is made possible by its independent affiliates covering 76 countries.It is an honor to serve as both as a player and now Captain of my country Ryder Cup Team, said Paving.Team has stepped to the tee, said PGA of America Pre silent Jim Remy.Although it may appear that there was ostensibly little for the Asian Tour to lose if the plaintiffs were allowed to play in non-sanctioned tournaments, the authority of the Asian Tour would be undermined.However, it has already received criticism with the Tour not being able to convince the Japan Golf Tour to join.US ambassador Louis Susan said that apart from the weather the event had been flawless: The Ryder Cup helped showcase Wales, he said.However, the change in schedule seemed to work in Europe favor as they turned a 6-4 deficit into a 9?-6?3 1 loss to Graeme McDowell: That birdie on 16, after I got it to one down, was huge.

Tiger Woods Detects Balance

Tiger Woods decided the Masters as his recovery tournament in April of the former year, after the expanded layoff that implemented stunning revelations regarding his personalized life at the ending of 2009.

Regardless of concluding an amazing joint fourth in his recovery at Augusta, Tiger Woods admits he has been not appropriately prepared for the challenge.

"Of course, that has been tough," he told Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue. "That has been very tough, since I had not been as prepared psychologically or mentally for the event. I went back to greens that I had being successful on, and I realized how to enjoy it."

But Tiger Woods feels that he is in a greater head space now than he ended up being back in April.

"We now have moved on," he mentioned. "We now have moved forward. It really is about getting my life in a balance and that is certainly excellent. It can feel good!

"My life is undoubtedly a lot more balanced where it has to be today, than it ended up being then."

He [Rose] resigned with a view to rejoining next season and then playing 12-plus counting events. Said Keith Waters.

He [Rose] resigned with a view to rejoining next season and then playing 12-plus counting events. Said Keith Waters.
Whose father Gerry died late last year after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, said greenside.I'm just enjoying the ride here and that's just kind of the way I'm going to look at the year here.Wilson ranking also improved greatly from 91 to 51 in the world ranking.The young golfer is already being compared to Save Ballesteros.Didn't feel comfortable, as I said, until 16.So it's a process, a building process.But a quick rundown of the duo achievements this year it is understandable that the panel of judges, made up of representatives of all sections of the golfing media.Pouter concern should not come as a surprise considering that he ended up at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai and Singapore Open with disappointing finishes.With Tiger Woods waiting to learn the identity of the golfer to leapfrog him at the end of the menthes.Rose has only played three events all season on this side of the Atlantic.He [Rose] resigned with a view to rejoining next season and then playing 12-plus counting events. Said Keith Waters.RSM International has under its mantle RSM McGladrey and McGladrey Pullen, LLP, which co brands with McGladrey in the U.S.Jean Stephens.Team captain and golfers will be Play Golf America Universities and Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy.Their team captain, will earmark $100,000 to their favorite charities, $50,000 to the selected schools for Play Golf America University planning.Such a combination makes the Ryder Cup Outreach Program a tradition that we all can be most proud. Ryder Cup rookies Dustin Johnson and Matt Kocher said.Five players who earlier this year got suspended by the Asian Tour have seen their restraint of trade action against the tour lost in the Singapore High Court.PGA and European Tours.Loss.U.S.However, the change in schedule seemed to work in Europe favor as they turned a 6-4 deficit into a 9?-6?That was an easy putt, Wilson said.

And then once you're able do it there, you have to do it out here.

And then once you're able do it there, you have to do it out here.
Keeping his challengers at bay on Torrey Pines tricky course.All I thought about today was keeping my head down.Amasser started the final round on two shots behind the leader, British Gary Boyd, and made it to the front after an excellent homeward nine.Amasser, who only turned professional at the Italian Open in May this year, said he is proud to be compared to Ballesteros.Didn't feel comfortable, as I said, until 16.And then once you're able do it there, you have to do it out here.The 2011 Live golf scores have a lot to live up to.Ian Pouter cheered by win at UBS Hong Kong Open Ian Pouter may gave disappointed a lot of people in the past weeks but he more than made up for it by bringing home a trophy from the UBS Hong Kong Open.Golf Betting pundits note how the tournament celebrated its tenth renewal this year and Martin Kaiser.With the Scottish public thought to be a massive factor lying behind the admiration the players clearly have for the tournament.Els quite obviously believes that the tournament strikes the ideal balance between the golfers all enjoying each other's company and having a great time and remembering that the tournament is a serious one.The Tour's chief operating officer.The tournament which is open to both active and retired military personnel for free will be held on October 6, 2010, at the Seaside Course in St.Members' title sponsorship of such a prestigious event on a global stage.Their team captain, will earmark $100,000 to their favorite charities, $50,000 to the selected schools for Play Golf America University planning.I hope that my contributions to Coastal Carolina University and those whom I reach through the Dustin Johnson Foundation make a small difference in the lives of others.The Singapore High Court disagreed with the players restraint of trade claim; the claim was that the rule preventing them from playing in non-sanctioned tournaments constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade and should be nullified, the court ruling said.In light of this, the court ordered the players to pay costs.The challenge now is to build on it, to follow the leads we've had talking to business people and make sure that as far as we're concerned it's not just tourists who come to Wales in the future.Who on Monday lost an important half after his singles match against Rory McIlroy.The teams agreed to the change in the competition usual format in order to finish the cup on time?Wilson won on the par-4 10th, setting up the deciding putt with a 7-iron approach from the middle of the fairway.