The Ideal Half-Set of Golf Clubs

While you can take 14 golf clubs onto a golf course, in truth a half-set can be fine for a round of golf. However, you need to consider which golf clubs the half-set will include. As such, these are the seven good clubs to make up an ideal half-set.

The Putter:

To begin with the most obvious, as you probably will not putt so well with the iron golf clubs! As such, your putter is the most essential golf club of the half-set. Note that the putter can also be used off the green as well as a Texas Wedge.

Sand Wedge:

After the putter, you will need to take at least one wedge onto the course with you. For this the sand wedge is probably the best option as the club is specifically for bunker play. It can also be a good club for shorter distance chipping and pitching around the green.

The Irons:

You will need to take three irons onto the golf course. A longer distance, mid-distance and shorter distance iron should be included in the golf bag. In this respect, a 5-iron, 7-iron and 9-iron should be suitable iron clubs for a half-set.

The Woods:

Then a couple of woods can be taken out onto the course as well. A shorter distance and longer distance wood for the longer holes should therefore be included. 7-woods are good clubs that can be suitable for both the tees and the fairways, and even if you land in longer rough grass around the fairway. Take one of these onto the course, as well as a long wood of your choosing; anything from a 4-wood to the longest drivers depending on preference.

These seven golf clubs are a good selection of clubs for a half-set. One putter, three irons, a wedge and a couple of woods. If you must take one more eighth club onto the course then an additional longer distance wedge may be handy.

50 Posts on Amateur Golfer!

Well actually, it’s now 51 blog posts on Amateur Golfer with this blog post included. Still, it’s great to make it up to and over the 50 blog post mark. You can browse through the 50 blog posts included on this blog with the blog archive below the Helium article links. Or alternatively, note The Best of this Blog post which includes links to some of the best blog posts on Amateur Golfer. And of course there will be plenty more posts on AG.

The Ryder Cup of Amateur Golf

The Ryder Cup was the Olympics of golf before golf was announced as an Olympic sport. Undoubtedly, alongside the Majors it is one of the great golf championships which includes most of golf’s top ranked players on the EU and US teams. In the amateur game there is also an equivalent of this great golf championship: the Walker Cup.

The Walker Cup is a match-play team based golf championship just like the Ryder Cup, however it is an amateur golf championship played between the US and Great Britain & Ireland teams. As such, it includes top amateur players from these countries.

Like the Ryder Cup in recent decades the Walker Cup has been much more competitive. However, it did not require an EU team to make the difference, perhaps highlighting a notable improvement in British golf. Although, it is the US team that are defending the Walker Cup in 2011.

The Walker Cup is currently taking place at the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland. The latest score-line is 7 – 5 to Great Britain and Ireland after the first day’s play. Of course, this can still change, but if this score is anything to go by then British golf could have more to celebrate in 2011! For further details on the Walker Cup visit the Walker Cup website.

Golf Poll

Some may have noticed the golf poll at the top right of this blog, the first poll ever included on Amateur Golfer. This golf poll asks: which is the best European golf destination? I have included eleven of Europe’s bigger golfing destinations to vote for.

At the moment only one vote has been made on this golf poll. I voted for Spain as this is a great golfing destination that has a number of PGA Tour venues and golf resorts, as found at the Costa del Sol. The Costa del Sol includes the famous golf course Valderrama which has been a venue for the Ryder Cup. Further to this, the Costa Brava, Balearic Islands and the Andalusia also have some notable golf courses. So, for me this is Europe’s best golfing destination.

However, there are ten other potential alternative golfing destinations that you can vote for. So, please vote in the golf poll. The closing date of this poll is the 1st October, and I will post again proclaiming the winner of the best European golf destination poll.

The Golf Course I Play At

The Golf Course that I play at is Westridge Golf Course. It’s a short 9 hole golf course that could almost be a par 3 golf course were it not for a couple of 300 yard plus holes. It has no par five holes. As such, it’s a great course for a quick round. Here’s a brief run-down of its holes.

Hole One: 176 Yard Par 3

The first hole is a fairly average straight par 3 hole, which includes a fairway running up to the green. So, you do not have to make it onto the green. You cannot really lose your ball on this one, but the green has bunkers on the left and right side.

Hole Two: 315 Yard Par 4

One of the longest holes on the course is the 2nd par 4 hole. It’s also one of the hardest on the golf course as is surrounded by trees and bushes so you can certainly lose balls on this one. The hole includes a sharp turn after about 200 yards, with another 100 yards leading up the green. As such, a 200 yard tee-shot is required to give you a clear shot to the green.

Hole Three: 232 Yard Par 3

This long par three is another hole surrounded by bushes and hedges, and requires a tee-shot over bushes to make it onto the fairway or green. On the score card it has a stroke index of one, so it is the course’s signature hole. As such, you can lose balls on this one as well.

Hole Four: 235 Yard Par 4

After those holes the bushes begin to disperse. However, this short par 4 still has bushes along the left side of the fairway.


Hole Five: 342 Yard Par 4

This is the longest hole on the golf course. A good one hundred yards is required to make it onto the fairway, and it also includes fairway bunkers. The green has two bunkers on its left and right side.

Hole Six: 240 Yard Par 4

After the longest hole on the course comes this short par 4. In fact, it was originally a long par 3. As a par 4 it’s one of the easier holes on the golf course with at least one hundred yards of fairway to aim for.

Hole Seven: 101 Yard Par 3

The shortest hole on the golf course is this 101 yard par 3. So, this has the highest stroke index of the course’s holes. However, some may over-hit on this hole even with a nine iron, so wedges can be an alternative. Two bunkers are also located in front of the green if your ball ends up falling short.


Hole Eight: 209 Yard Par 3

This hole is a longer distance par three that also includes the course's only water hazard. Two small lakes are located approximately half-way up this hole, so you require about 125 yard to make the fairway beyond these. The hole also has a sloped fairway which runs slightly up-hill towards the green.

Hole Nine: 130 Yard Par 3

The final hole is a much shorter par 3 that also includes a fairway. As such, a six or seven iron is usually a suitable club for this hole. Although the hole has a ropey sloped green which makes three putts more likely.

As such, with these holes the course is a par 32, and 64 over 18. Although, the course will get much bigger as a further nine holes are scheduled to be added to it which will extend it to an 18 hole golf course.

The Texas Wedge Putt

The Texas Wedge is just another name for the putter. Except that it is only called a Texas Wedge when putting off the green. Mastering the Texas Wedge putt can be a great way to enhance your short game.

For example, you may be surprised how far you can putt a golf ball. In very dry conditions you can certainly putt over 25 yards and potentially up to the 50 yard mark. Given this, when your ball has landed on the fairway a little short of the green you should consider putting onto the green as an alternative to chipping. Even if you have landed on slightly longer grass around the green, if you are close to the green then you can Texas putt your ball onto the green, and even close to the flag.

When on the golf course, it’s best to pull out the Texas Wedge when the grass is very dry. As is the case on the greens, the dryer the course the further the ball will role and the further you will putt. If the course is wet then the Texas Wedge can be less effective, and under-hit putts can leave you some distance from the hole and may not even make the green. As such, if the course is very wet then chipping may be a better option.

My tip would be to try longer putting on practice putting greens. If possible try putting from distances further than 25 yards towards the flags. In addition to this, if it’s also possible to putt out of slightly longer grass around the green then you should try it. Aim to get these longer distance putts within five or six feet of the flag, while with a shorter lag putts you may aim for more like 3 ft – approximately the length of your putter.

Golfing Near the Lake of Ozarks, Missouri

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri is a fantastic setting for golf and golf vacations! Aside from the exceptional lake scenery, Ozark's golf courses are hardly a walk in the park with water features and elevation changes built into championship golf courses by famed designers like Robert Trent Jones, Tom Weiskopf and the great Arnold Palmer.

Undoubtedly, Arnold Palmer is one of the most exciting names in golfing history. As a player, he lit up the game with his bold and adventurous play. As a designer, his championship golf course in Ozarks, the Osage National, is one of his foremost creations.

Regarded as the must play course of the lake, it is not difficult to see why. Designed in 1992, this course offers 7,510 yards of zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens. The River and Mountain nine were Arnie's signature courses opened in 1992, with the Links 9 being added in 1999. 27 holes of championship golf provide the luxury of having three 18 hole combinations! With five golf tees, the course also caters for players of all skill levels.

The tranquil setting provides the backdrop for a fantastic round of golf. With the course laid out on forested rolling terrain surrounded by imposing lakes and the Osage River, such a variety of water hazards make it a hard to keep your golf balls dry!

The course has four-signature holes set-up nicely for aesthetics and playability. Two and nine on the River course are great holes, both challenging and scenic. Teeing up from the gold tee, hole 9 on the River course boasts the longest hole within Osage National with an alarming 626 yards of terrain separating the tee from the green! This, combined with water down the left side, makes it a tricky proposition.

On the Mountain course, numbers 3 and 8 are beautiful because of elevation changes. On hole 3, out of bounds and trees puts a premium on the tee shot. Hole 8 offers a forest of a hole, with trees throughout it. At 484 yards off the gold tee, it's also the longest part 4 on the course.

Aside from the courses, the Osage National resort offers a range of amenities for golf vacation seekers. A fitness center, within the clubhouse, is equipped with Nautilus equipment. In addition, an exciting new swimming pool complex is due to be opened in 2008. For dining, the club has the Eagle view bar and Grille boasting a good-sized menu.

Osage National also offers golf packages, which enable visitors to tailor a golf vacation on the Ozark Lake to suit them. This, along with specials such as discount twilight golf, is something that vacation seekers might wish to take advantage of.

With such course variety, combined with a range of amenities, the Osage National stands out as one of the Ozark's premier golfing destinations. An excellent choice for a golfing vacation!

The Best of this Blog

Now there are almost 50 posts on this blog it’s worth browsing through some of the archives for older blog posts included on Amateur Golfer, in addition to the most recent blog posts that I have added. Here are a few links to some of the best posts and highlights of the blog to date.

On-line Golf Games

This post covers some of the great on-line golf games. The blog also includes links to the golf game web pages.

Golf at the Movies

Golf at the Movies covers some of the best golf related films for cinema. Great golf films such as Tin Cup and Caddyshack. The post also includes a video clip from the golf film Tin Cup.

Golf Stats for the Golf Course

There are a number of golf stats that can be recorded during any round. This covers some of the best golf stats such as putting averages etc and the mathematics behind them.

Longest Golf Hole in the United States

There are some very long golf holes on the PGA Tour. Some of these may even be new par 6 holes which are being added to some golf courses. However, none of these are the longest, and this post covers the Guinness Record listed longest golf hole in America.

Top 100 Golf Courses

This is an early post on this blog which includes the Golf Magazine’s top 100 golf course list. Although the list may have changed slightly since then, it is still a good guide as to which are the best golf courses in the sport.

These are a few of this blog’s posts that are worth revisiting. Just click on the links included above for the blog posts. Also consider browsing through some of the older posts I have included on my other blog which is included under my links.

The Fifth Major – the US Amateur Championship

In the amateur game the US Amateur Championship is the golf trophy to win. The US Amateur Championship dates back to the late 19th century, and so predates both the USA PGA Championship and the US Masters. As such, before the US Masters or PGA Championships were established it was considered to be one of golf's Majors, alongside the UK and US Open.

The US Amateur Championship has a great history, and many of the game’s great players have played in and won the US Amateur Championship before they turned pro. These are just a few of the great golfers that have won the US Amateur Championship and the UK Open that is currently being played: Nicklaus, Woods, Palmer, Jones, Trevino, and O’Meara.

Woods won the US Amateur Championship three years running during the ‘90s. This was just a couple of years before winning the first Major at the Augusta Masters. Of the above listed golfers Jones was the most prolific in the US Amateur Championship winning five US Amateur titles. Jones never actually turned pro, but still won the UK and US Opens as an amateur.

So overall, as many great golfers have played in the US Amateur Championship today it can still be considered a fifth Major even if it not a pro golf championship. The US Amateur Championship provides the first glimpse of future UK Open champions and other Major champions. The 2011 US Amateur Championship will be played at the Erin Hills golf course next month in August.

Great American Golf Courses

There are some great golf courses in America, either private or public venues. Generally, they are regarded as some of the best golf courses you will find. So, here are a few of some of America's finest golf courses.

Augusta National Golf Course

The Augusta golf course hosts the Master’s golf championship each golf season. So undoubtedly, the Augusta course is a very hard championship golf course with some particularly notable holes. The 12th hole is one of the most notable holes on the course, known as Rae's Creek, where the creek passes by in front of the green and includes Ben Hogan's bridge crossing. Overall, Augusta is a scenic golf course which has very slick and fast greens. However, few except the top ranked players on the PGA Tour such as Woods and Phil Mickelson actually play on this fine course that is largely reserved for the Master’s golf championship.

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach, in California, is a golf course that plays alongside the Pacific Ocean. It is a par 72 golf course, approximately 6828 yards overall. While Pebble Beach is a championship calibre golf course that has hosted US Opens, it is also open to public play. Many of the course's holes run along the Monterey coast line, with views of the ocean, and are susceptible to prevailing winds. Signature holes on the golf course include the 7th and 8th holes. The 8th 416 yard par 4 hole includes an elevated landing area on a cliff above the green. While the 7th hole is the shortest on the course, at a little over 100 yards, the hole has a cliff-side green.

Pine Valley golf course

The golf course of Pine Valley is regarded as one of America's best courses. Overall, the course is a par 70 at 7,000 yards in length. Set in hundreds of acres of virgin woodland, the course is also one the trickiest. It is a golf course which has a fine collection of par 3 and par 5 golf holes, and a particularly notable 18th hole.

Cypress Point Club

Cypress Point's golf course is another fine course located at Pebble Beach, California. Like Pebble Beach Links, it has some holes along the Pacific coast such as the 231 yard 16th hole which plays over the ocean. The first nine holes of the course run through the Del Monte forest, while the latter holes run out along the rocky Pacific coastline. Overall, it is regarded as one of America's best courses.

Arizona National Golf Club

Arizona National Golf Club has been rated as one of the top 100 golf courses in the USA. As such, it is one of the best venues for Tucson golf. The golf course was designed by Trent Jones, and is set in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains. As such, the course has some great scenery along its 6, 735 yards.

These are a few great American golf courses. The Augusta and Pebble Beach courses are two fine courses that have hosted Major championships, while Pine Valley and Cypress Point have some of the best finishing holes.

Famous Golf Holes

In the game of golf there are a few famous holes. They have become famous as notable holes on championship golf courses such as Augusta and St Andrews. Or alternatively, simply because of their excellent design and setting. So, here are a few the famous golf holes in the game.

Pebble Beach No 7: 106 yards

Pebble Beach is a fine golf course set alongside the Pacific Ocean. As such, there are a few notable holes on the golf course. However, one of the most famous is this short par 3 golf hole. It may be a short hole, but it is not an easy one. For this hole plays out into the Pacific, and with the prevailing winds can seem a good deal longer. It has been said that golfers sometimes use mid-irons to reach the green. In addition to this, golfers that over-hit will not find their ball! With two large bunkers on the left and right side it is important to make the green.


St Andrews Old Course No 17: 455 yards

The St Andrews Old Course is one that is steeped in history. As a championship course that has staged the UK Open, one of its more famous holes is the 17th hole, called the 'road hole'. The 17th hole at St Andrews has been a pitfall for golfers in pursuit of the Claret Jug. Overall, for length it is a long par 4 hole, and it is something of a golfing relic. The hole also has some very deep bunkers such as the road hole bunker on the left side of the fairway.

Augusta National No 12: 155 yards

This par 3 hole is perhaps one of the most notable par 3 holes of the Augusta golf course, and therefore the Master's golf championship. Located on Amen Corner, the hole has a green that is protected by Rae's Creek where a misplaced tee shot can land. The green also has numerous bunkers surrounding the green. In addition to this, the hole includes Ben Hogan's bridge which crosses over the creek.


So, these are just five famous golf holes in the sport of golf. Holes such as the 17th at the Old Course, and the 12th and 7th holes of Augusta and Pebble Beach. They are great golf holes.

The Longest Golf Hole in the United States

The United States has some long golf courses, and most of the holes on these courses go up to 500-600 yards. However, as courses and holes have expanded, now par 6 holes are being included on some golf courses. These are usually reserved for holes that are seemingly too long to be par 5s.

The longest golf hole in the United States is indeed a par 6. This golf hole is the 12 hole at the Meadows Farm golf course. This hole is 841 yards in length which makes it the longest golf hole in the United States. As this hole is also included in the Guiness Book of Records as the longest American golf hole, Guiness have confirmed this as a record. As such, it is also one of the longest golf holes in the world.

At 841 yards long this hole is actually the equivalent of two 420 yard holes which is an average for par 4 holes. Given this, it seems that this hole should be more like a par 8 hole than a par 6! I doubt that many golfers would be able to par this hole. At any rate, If new golf club designs continue to make further distances possible then par 6 holes will surely become more prevalent at golf courses.

Golf Desktop Wallpaper

There are a few websites that include a variety of golf wallpaper for desktops. Here are a few sites worth browsing for golf wallpaper.

The first worth noting is that of Golf Select. The website includes a number of pages with golf course desktop wallpaper. In addition to this, it has a handy text search box if you are searching for desktop wallpaper for a specific golf course.

In addition to this, DesktopNexus is another good website which includes a few pages of golf wallpaper. This includes a range of golf wallpaper, and some famous holes such as the 7th at Pebble Beach and Rae's Creek at the 12th Augusta hole.

Finally, this sport desktop wallpaper website also has a variety of golf wallpaper. There are nine pages of golf wallpaper here including both animation and photography.

Chip shot golf video

For some further golf tips on the short game, here is a short chip shot golf tutorial. The tutorial is provided by an IMG Leadbitter Golf Academy tutor.



So, to summarize some of the key points:

7 or 9 Iron club selection
Ball inside of back foot
Grip like putter
Strike down on ball

What could also have been noted would be to put most of the weight on the left foot. In addition to this, if your ball has landed in the rough around the green then the wedges will most likely get the ball out with minimum roll on the green.

On-line Golf games

For a bit of golfing action off the golf course there are a variety of on-line golf games at various websites. Here are a few that are certainly worth noting.

Supreme Golf:

Supreme Golf is an on-line golf game that has some good graphics & some audio effects. The game includes a full 18 hole golf course, and has a third person perspective like most golf games on the various console formats. Although the targeting options are a little limited, and the golf bag does not include a sand wedge, aside from this Supreme Golf is one of the better on-line golf games.

Stroke it Lucky:

Among some of the highlights of the BBC website is the Stroke it Lucky flash game. This golf game provides a more birds-eye view of each hole, and three opponents to select from. Although the club selection is limited to only six clubs, with a driver, 3 wood, 6 wood, 9 iron, putter, and wedge this is a reasonable range of clubs.

World Golf Tour:

Quite possibly the best on-line golf game around is that of the multi-player World Golf Tour. This golf game takes advantage of 3D photorealistic georeferencing technology, and includes text chatting options as well. In addition to this, the game is also based on a variety of real-life golf courses such as Bethpage Black, Kiawah Island Ocean Course, and St Andrews Old Course. The best bit is that World Golf Tour has free registration, and for this a password and e-mail address need to be provided.


Tiger Woods PGA Tour On-line:

This is the on-line version of the Tiger Wood golf games, and so has some of the most advanced 3D effects of any on-line alternative. No download is required, and you can sign up at the at website and select from either a monthly or yearly subscription package. Alternatively, if you choose neither you can still play a few rounds a day. Micro-transaction points can be gained, and are required to play on the variety of courses. Overall, there are a number of famous courses included such as Bethpage and the TPC at Sawgrass.



These are just a few great on-line golf games. For further details select the links provided here.

The design and architecture of golf courses

Golf courses can be of different shapes and sizes. Golf course designers have plenty of tools they can use to enhance golf courses and holes, while golf course landscapes can also vary from forested woodlands to desert plains, and even mountainous landscapes. However, despite such variety course design and architecture has a few regulations, and all courses share many of the same features.

Let us first begin by stating that it is a standard that golf courses be 18 holes. 18 holes is a very strict number that is never eclipsed by golf course designers. The only exception is for smaller golf courses, which are called nine hole golf courses. If there is not enough acres for an 18 hole golf course, then a smaller nine-hole golf course is the alternative.

In terms of size large golf courses typically expand up to 7,000 yards. Smaller 18 hole golf courses may be more like 6,000 yards or possibly even less. Much depends on the overall length of the holes included on the golf course which can be either par 3, par 4, or par 5 holes. Par 3 are shorter golf holes, par 4 holes are mid distance typically between 300 to 450 yards, while par 5 holes can go up to 600 yards for the longest. Golf courses tend to have a mixture of these holes.

Aside from the distance considerations the golf holes themselves will all share a few features. The tee box and greens can be strategically placed by the designer, either at higher or lower elevation. Then, most longer holes will include fairways to aim for which can be either narrow or wide. These fairways are more like a pathway towards the green, and are then surrounded by longer grass which is called the rough.

In addition to this, almost every hole will include pit-falls of some sort. The most frequently used by golf course designers are those of bunkers, which are effectively sand traps. There are two types of bunker, either green-side or fairway bunkers. The fairway bunkers tend to be larger, and are found along the fairway. Then, the green-side bunkers are placed around the green. Overall, bunkers can vary in size and depth, some can be deep and others shallow. Usually, there are at least a few bunkers on each hole.

Bunkers aside, course designers can also make use of other pit-falls. These can include trees and bushes, whereby holes are built through and round them. With trees around the hole, wayward tee shots can be lost. Then, there are watery lakes and streams which can run alongside holes, or alternatively even around greens. When a ball lands in a lake there is not a chance of finding it!

Today, golf designers such as Trent Jones are designing particularly innovative golf courses. Making use of the natural landscape and features, such as cliff-sides and ocean (such as the Ocean Course), as well as course elevation changes, their golf courses can be great to play on. As such, the design and architecture of modern golf courses is not entirely the same as the older more traditional courses.

Great countries to play golf

Which are the best countries to play golf at? Overall, most countries have at least a few golf courses, and some have lots. These are a few of the great countries and destinations to play golf.

United States:

Well, this cannot be considered much of a surprise as the United States probably has more golf courses than any other country, and hosts three Major championships. When you consider that a number of these are also some of the finest golf courses in any country, the United States is hard to beat for golf. On the Pacific Coast there are great courses like Pebble Beach in California, while next to the Atlantic there are courses such as the Ocean Course. Golf resorts such as Kiawah Island and Pinehurst are also great for golf vacations.

United Kingdom:

The United Kingdom also has some great and famous golf courses. St Andrews is probably the most notable of these, but other great golf courses in the UK include Sunningdale and Wentworth. Admittedly, the climate in Scotland is not always ideal for golf, but at any rate golf courses in the south of England have warmer average climates more comparable with those southern European hot spots.

Spain:

Spain has some of the finest golf courses in Europe, particularly in the south of Spain. Mediterranean resorts, such as at the Costa Del Sol, have an excellent variety of golf courses. Spain also has some of Europe's most famous golf courses such as Valderrama. Aside from golf, Spanish coastal resorts, such as the Spanish Riviera, are also among the top vacation resorts in Europe.

Portugal:

Portugal is another of Europe's top venues for golf. Lisbon has a great variety of golf courses and golf resorts. Golf courses in the Algarve, such as Mon Reid and Quints de Ra are among some of Europe's top golf courses.

The Bahamas:

The Bahamas is a destination of the PGA Tour with its tropical climate making the Bahamas a great destination for a golf vacation. Whatever the season, you can play golf in the Bahamas. As such, the Bahamas has some top golf courses such as the Trent Jones designed Reef Golf Course, or the the Lucayan Course.

Golf vacation resorts in the United States

If you are planning on a US golf vacation, then there are a few potential destinations worth considering. American golf resorts have plenty to offer, be it on or off the golf course. So, here are a few suggestions for an American golf vacation.

Pebble Beach:

Pebble Beach is considered to be one of America's best golf courses and resorts. The course is based beside the Pacific Ocean, with its prevailing winds, and fine coastal setting. Overall, Pebble Beach golf course hugs the Pacific coastline, with cliff-side fairways and sloping greens. Pebble Beach has some fine holes, such as the 7thwhich has a number of bunkers around the green beside the Pacific coast. Certainly, it is a golf course of championship calibre but it also remains a public venue.

Equally, the resort is not just about the Pebble Beach golf course. The Links at Pebble Bay, and Spy Glass Hill golf course are also both commendable courses. In addition to this, the Pebble Beach resort has spa, fitness and a variety of catering options. For further details, the Pebble Beach website is worth noting.

Pinehurst Resort:

Pinehurst resort, in North Carolina, is a golf resort which boasts up to eight golf courses. Prominent golf course architects such as Rees Jones, Ross, and Fazio have all played a hand in the design of the Pinehurst golf courses. As such, the resort certainly does not lack variety. The number two course is the championship golf course that has staged a few Majors. Other courses, such as the first course, are also more historic dating back to 1898, and have more classic designs.

You can take your pick from the variety of golf courses, but in addition to this Pinehurst also provides alternative recreation. Pinehurst is not just about golf, with tennis courts, lawn sports, wine festivals, and the Pinehurst Beach club which is a 200 acre private freshwater lake. Spa and fitness suite are also available, along with dining options such as the 1895 Grille. As such, Pinehurst has a variety of packages including golf, spa, and other recreational options linked with its accommodation options.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort:

On the south coast of Carolina lies South Carolina's golf resort on Kiawah Island. Like Pinehurst, it offers some diversity of golf courses with up to five championship calibre courses designed by the likes of Nicklaus, Player, Dye, and Fazio. The Ocean Course has staged great golf championships such as the Ryder Cup, and World Cups. This course runs close to the Atlantic, and few golf courses are impacted by prevailing winds like the Ocean Course is. The Ocean Course also has a number of sea-side holes which provide views of the Atlantic Ocean. Overall, it is regarded as one of the best public golf courses.

So, these are three suggestions for golf vacations. The resorts of Pebble Beach, Kiawah Island, and Pinehurst are all recommended American golf resorts with some great golf courses, and other recreational options.

Golf at the Movies

There have been a number of golf films over the decades. Some of these have been good films, featuring plenty of great golfing action. Here are a few of the best golf films.

Tin Cup:

Tin Cup starred Costner as Tin Cup, a great golf pro who is inspired to resurrect his golfing career by Molly Griswold. Tin Cup qualifies for the US Open, and is among the leaders going into the closing holes. Only an ambitious shot over the water onto the green prevents Tin Cup from US Open glory, which lands in the water a number of times before going in the hole. And here is that great final shot, on video:



Caddyshack:

Caddyshack is another great golf film, starring Chase and Rodney Dangerfield. The film set a benchmark for comedy sport films with some hilarious golf scenes. It was also followed by the sequel Caddyshack 2. As such, it's also the only golf film with a sequel. This classic film even had its own TV ad released over a decade later when Woods starred as Spackler in the American Express Caddyshack commercial.


The Greatest Game Ever Played:

This golf film is one that covers the history of the sport in greater detail. The film is based on the true story of Ouitment's victory at the 1913 US Open, with the screenplay adapted from the book The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf. Ouitment was the first amateur to win the US Open, finishing ahead of Vardon. As such, it's an interesting film and one of few that covers historically significant golf championships.

These are a few of the best golf films. Tin Cup, the Caddyshack films, and The Greatest Game Ever Played are four of the best golf films available on DVD.

Brief history of golf in America

Golf in America is considered the best in the world. They have many of the best golf courses, and a good number of the top ranked golfers are in the US. The history of golf in the US dates back to the late 19th century as the first US golf courses were established.

Among the first golf courses was the Oakhurst Golf Club which had some of the first golf holes in the US. Today, the oldest golf course in the USA is that of Foxburg Country Club, a 9-hole public course in Pennsylvania opened in 1887. This golf course was designed by Joseph Fox, an American who had visited St Andrews, and aimed to bring the game to America. The golf course itself is America's home of golf.


The first Major to begin in the US was that of the US Open. The US Open began in 1895 at the Newport Country Club of Rhode Island. The first winner of this golf championship was an English golfer, and it was not until 1911 that J McDermott became the first US golfer to win the US Open.

PGA professional golf in America began in 1916 when the PGA of America was founded. The PGA of America was founded by Robert White. It also marked the beginning of the PGA Championship which was first won by Jim Barnes.

The last of the four Majors was established during the 1930s. With the opening of the Augusta National golf course in Georgia the US Masters was first staged as the Augusta Invitational in 1934. This was then later renamed to the US Masters.


The 1960s was a golden era for US golf as some great US golfers emerged. Palmer was one such who was the top ranked US golfer in the late '50s and early '60s. However, the emergence of Nicklaus saw the Majors of the '60s keenly contested, particularly at the Masters. Nicklaus would go on to win a record 18 Majors with the final win at Augusta during the 1980s.

The emergence of Woods in the 1990s saw another great US golfer win their first Major titles. In the 2000s Woods started to dominate the golf Majors, winning all four of the Majors in a row. With such dominance Woods has remained at the top of the golf rankings since, and won 14 Majors in total.

So today, golf in America is one of the nations favorite sports with most of the golf championships of the PGA Tour in the USA. US golfers dominate the sport, and like baseball America considers the game to be one of their own. From Pebble Beach in California to Augusta National golf course in Georgia, golf is America's sport.

How high to tee-up a golf ball?

For tee-shots there are a few different sized tees which can range from 55mm to 83mm. As such, the length of tee required for a tee-shot can vary. So, how high to tee-up a golf ball?

The length of tee required for a tee-shot is largely determined by the golf club used. To be more specific, the amount of loft that the golf club has. The loft of each golf club varies, as the shorter irons such as 9 irons have the most amount of loft, and the longer wood clubs have the least amount of loft.

Given this, the clubs with the most loft require only the smallest golf tees. These can then be pressed far down so that the ball is very close to the ground. As such, this is best for the short irons such as the 9, 8, and possibly 7.

However, if you are teeing-off with a long wood for a long drive, then a longer tee will be better. With these tees the ball can be placed a few cms above the ground. This will provide a greater degree of loft for the tee-shot.

In the event that there is a fair amount of wind, then less loft will also be required. Under such circumstances it can be good to tee-up a little lower than you would usually. Alternatively, you can also consider an alternative club with less loft.

So, how high you tee-up really depends on the club selected, and amount of loft required. For the most lofted clubs the smaller tees are more suitable. However, for the longer clubs tee-up higher for greater loft and potential distance.

Golf stats for the golf course

Golf is a game of numbers, and so there is some variety of golf statistics. After keeping golf scores there are a few golf stats that can be recorded. Here are a few of the more notable golf statistics which are worth noting.

Score average:

This statistic is basically a mean average of all the hole scores recorded during a round. As such, by taking your total score and dividing it by the number of holes played an average score for each hole can be provided. Usually, the scoring average will certainly be real numbers with fractional components such as 4.8, 5.5, or 6.2. As such, these can also be rounded up or down for a nearest whole number average.

Putting average:

The putting average is very similar to the hole score average, except it includes putts only. As such, during a round the total number of putts on the green also need to be recorded. Then, at the end of the round a putting average can be noted in the same way as above, after adding all the putts up and dividing by the number of holes played. For a lot of golfers this average will usually be between two – three per green, and perhaps also between three – four.

Modal score average:

The modal average actually requires no calculator! Quite simply, this is the most frequent golf hole score you record over 9 or 18 holes. So, if you score five scores of five over nine holes then this will certainly be your modal score for the round. At pro level the modal score may be something like a three or four depending on how many par three or par four holes there are on a golf course.

Tee-shot accuracy:

This is a good golf stat that will record how accurate your tee shots are. After each tee-shot a tick will need to be noted on the score card if your ball lands on the fairway or green. Then, the number of ticks record over the round should be divided by the number of holes played and then multiplied by 100. So, if six ticks are recorded over 18 holes then 33% of the tee-shots were accurate and landed on the fairway or green.

These are just a few great golf stats for the golf course! Keep a record of these after a round.

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Golf tips: How to break 100 on the golf course

The first scoring milestone to break is considered to be 100. Breaking 100 and moving into double figures is a good target for those that start to play golf. To break 100 for the first time there are a few golf tips worth noting.

To begin with, it is worth considering what sort of average scores are required for each of the holes to break 100. 99 divided by 18 gives an average score of 5.5. Finishing two over par on each hole will give a score of 18 over 9 and 36 over 18. Depending on the par of the golf course, this may or may not be enough to break 100. Most courses will have a par somewhere between 60 – 70 strokes. However, finishing each hole with a double bogey will at least give you a chance of being close to breaking 100, and could even do so on lower par golf courses. As such, this is a good scoring target to go for on each hole.

Overall, the first thing that should be noted is that penalty strokes are something that need to be reduced and removed. Penalty strokes that are added when a ball is lost or needs to be moved inflate golf scores. As such, it is worth taking note of any position on a hole where the ball may be lost be it the hedges, water, or trees. Check the score cards which can have maps of the holes. Then, make sure that the ball lands away from these positions.

In this respect, more emphasis needs to be put on accuracy than distance. Great distance is not required, but better accuracy with the ball always lying in playable lie will make breaking 100 more likely. So, in this respect it is better to use shorter golf clubs than longer ones. Shorter irons and woods for tee-shots will be more accurate than longer alternatives.

The short game will also be more important when more balls are left lying around the fairways and greens. Always chip when you can, and also consider putting onto the green if possible. With reasonable chipping and pitching the ball can be played out of the rough onto the greens and fairways, leaving a few putts to finish within two of par for the hole. Then of course, with sound putting the greens can be finished in few strokes.

So, breaking 100 will really require more accurate golf and staying clear of potential penalties. To this extent, using shorter clubs for tee-shots can make some difference. On shorter holes chipping and pitching can then get the ball onto the fairway and green leaving a few putts to finish at two of par.

The Potential Golf Course Pitfalls

The golf course can have a variety of potential pitfalls in place. Golf course designers make use of a few traps for golf balls that will likely increase golf scores should they be landed in. These are a few of the potential golf course pitfalls that golf courses likely will and could include.

Bunkers:

To begin with the sand bunkers, which are the most prevalent golf course pitfall that are included on golf courses. Sand bunkers are included on almost every hole of the course, and can come in various sizes and depth. There are really two types of bunkers, those of the green-side bunkers and fairway bunkers. The difference lies in their relative position on the golf hole, with the green-side bunkers located around the greens, and fairway bunkers which are located along the fairway. These bunkers are strategically placed by course designers, and while smaller shallower bunkers are a relatively minor pitfall, deep bunkers can be harder to escape from smoothly. Even if you do not land in a bunker, it may be that a bunker can prevent a chip to the green and require an alternative approach. For sand bunkers, there are sand wedges which are clubs specifically designed to assist with escaping the bunkers.

Water:

The water pitfall is one that is included with lakes, ponds, and creeks included on the golf course. These are not included on every golf course, however on those that do have water and lakes can be one of the biggest golf course pitfalls. This is because if a ball lands in a lake or creek then it is more than likely that it will be gone, and you will likely have to drop ball and add a stroke to the score-card. If a ball lands in very shallow water then it may be possible to avoid the penalty, but this is less than likely. As such, water and lakes is something to aim well clear off, even if that means a shorter distance shot.
Trees:

Trees can come in various shapes and sizes, and all golf courses will surely have trees on a few holes. Most will surround the golf hole, meaning that any shot that strays some way left or right of the fairway could end up landing close to the trees. In such an event, if a ball lands very close to a tree trunk then this could prevent a standard swing, and in the worst cases make the ball unplayable. As such, the trees are very much something that golfers need to take into account.

Bushes:

Like trees, most golf courses will have at least a few bushes surrounding the holes. Golf holes that have many surrounding bushes can be higher scoring holes with balls lost in the bushes. If a ball lands in a bush, then almost certainly it will be unplayable, even if found. Even if a ball lands close to a bush, then this could still have an impact on the swing. So bushes are in some ways comparable to water pitfalls, in that you can expect that if your balls land in them they will be lost and result in a penalty stroke.

Rough grass:

Rough grass is really longer grass than surrounds the fairway or green. Overall, the rough can be short rough, or longer rough. Overall, in most cases if a ball lands in the rough then it will likely still be playable. However, it may require a number of potential adjustments in terms of club selection and swing

Overall, these are the most standard golf course pitfalls that will be included on the golf course. Bunkers, the rough, lakes and creeks, bushes, and trees are all potential pitfalls on golf courses and holes. Such golf course pitfalls could all potentially inflate golf scoring.

Golf during the off-season

November means the golf season is all but over. However, that does not mean that all golf courses close, and so golfing can continue during the off-season. So, why not?

Certainly, the climate will drop a few degrees as winter sets in. Still, in certain parts of the US you can certainly expect mild climates to remain in those southern US states such as Florida, Arizona etc. Beyond winter, as spring emerges you can expect milder climates still before the golf season really begins.

However, playing golf in colder weather may still require warmer clothing. A good golf jumper should be okay. In addition to this, vests, gloves, and woolly hats are recommended. In addition to this, a thermos flask with tea or cocoa will also be worth taking onto the golf course.

You can also expect that golf course conditions will likely be wetter. That is to say, with annual precipitation greater beyond summer and during the winter months. If the weather is colder still, frost can also make golf courses damp. Damp golf courses will mean that the ball will not roll as far, and so in this respect less distance. For putting, putts can be under-hit and missed on damp greens.

The chances of downpours may also be greater off-season. In this respect, if it starts to rain heavily you might have to abandon the course. Take an umbrella out onto the golf course, and as a rule: do not play if overhead clouds are very grey.

Despite this, there are a few advantages to playing golf during the off-season. Some golf courses may reduce rates during the off-peak periods. As such, off-season golf can be a more cost-effective option.

During the off-season golf courses you can expect the golf courses to be more empty. Emptier golf courses means that you can play round the course more quickly. Alternatively, quite the opposite if no golfers are behind the requirements to reduce slow play are less. So overall, golf courses will be easier to get on to.

Still, if you must not play on a golf course during the off-season, then ranges are a better alternative. Whether it's pouring or not, golf ranges will be open. As such, this can be the next best thing to playing on course.

So, playing golf in the off-season has its advantages and disadvantages. For sure, weather conditions can vary, and golf courses will certainly be wetter during the off-season. However, during the early spring you can expect more sunshine, and potential discounts during the off-season

Golf tips for Par 3 holes

Par 3 golf holes are the smallest golf holes on the golf course. Their distance ranges from a typical distance of 100-200 yards though some may be a little longer still. Here are a few tips for playing these holes.

Typically, club selection is the first consideration. Overall, playing par three holes requires more careful club selection in relation to distance. Either too long or short could leave you in rough grass, or sand bunkers. On these holes, usually iron clubs are appropriate. For a longer par 3 hole perhaps a 4 or 5 iron, and then on shorter par 3 holes an 8 or 9 iron will likely be appropriate. Be careful not to over-hit on shorter holes.

Tee off from an appropriate spot off the tee box. Remember that you can tee up either left or right. Tee up on a side of the box that is seemingly best placed for a shot towards the flag. This could be the left, right or center. If there are more bunkers on the right of the green, then perhaps consider teeing up from the left side of the box.

On par 3 holes, you can likely reach the green from the tee. Aim for the flag, or alternatively if there is some fairway included on the hole then you might aim just short of the green and be on the fairway.

If you do indeed land on the green then you can reach for the putter. However, if not then you will need to reach for a shorter club for a chip shot or pitch onto the green. Shorter iron clubs such as the eight or nine iron will be best for chipping while the wedges are best for pitching. If possible, avoid pitching and chip onto the green as the chip shot is more accurate. Alternatively, you may even be able to putt onto the green if you are close to it and on shorter grass.

If the ball lands in green-side bunker, then you will need the sand wedge. For a bunker shot, you will need to make sure that you do not touch the sand with club before the shot. Open the club-head and grip the club a little lighter for bunker shots. Finally, you need to hit about one or two inches before the ball.

When you are on the green you can reach for the putter. Most likely, you will need a longer lag putt to get the ball closer to the hole, if beyond 10 feet. However, if you are close enough for a shorter putt towards the hole then you may be able to putt in one. Try not to under-hit any putts, but have them go a little beyond the hole. While an over-hit putt can go in the hole, an under-hit putt will not.

Remember that a ball can also be lifted and cleaned on the green if needed. A ball may have mud on it and then should be lifted and cleaned. Use a ball marker, and make sure you put the ball back where it was!

Therefore, those are a few tips for playing par three holes. Off the tee, and then on and around the green in relation to shorter play, appropriate club selection can make the difference.

Winter golf tips

When the autumn passes and winter begins, the golf season may be over but golf courses remain open. Whether you play in the winter or not is really a matter for preference. Certainly, it may be a little colder but then so long as it remains dry that may be fine.

As it may seem obvious, for winter golf you should consider more clothing. At least a good jumper will be required. However, try to avoid playing in coat for this is not ideal. Also, bring a suitable hat for the course. You may also consider another glove, or winter gloves.

Golf shoes are also good for the winter. They have a solid grip, and can also be waterproof if the golf course is wet. So, do consider these as well.

In addition to the extra clothing, a warm drink flask can also be good to have on the golf course. Consider taking hot cocoa, tea, or something along those lines.

At any rate, you have to draw a line at some point and if it is very cold then you should consider not playing golf. If it is icy, then reconsider playing a round. If it is snowing, the chances are that the golf course could be closed.

When on the golf course, you should consider using slightly longer clubs in the winter for more distance. For example, consider using slightly lower irons on the golf course like the five or six iron. Possibly even a four or five iron for longer distance shots. Equally, longer wood clubs such as the three wood for tee shots, will also be better.

Alternatively, if there are a few alternative tee markers around the tee box, then consider playing from a shorter distance tee marker in the winter. For example, the red tees can be more suitable and will reduce some playing distance further.

If the winter winds blow then that could send your ball beyond the fairways or greens. To better avoid the wind it is recommended that less lofted clubs be used on the golf course. Consider using longer iron clubs than usual for a tee shot, or alternatively fairway shots. For the shorter game, chip shots are better to use around the green than pitch shots in such conditions. With pitch shots, you can use less lofted wedges.

So overall, golf in the winter can be fine. Just consider these tips, and do not play if it is very cold.

The Best Golf Clubs for the Short Game

The golf short game is an essential part of golf. As such, there are a number of specifically designed clubs for the short game, as well as other shorter clubs that can be used for putting, chipping, and pitching around the green.

To begin with, obviously putting is the short game that usually requires most shots. Obviously, the putter is perhaps the most unique golf club designed specifically for putting. However, putters can be in various shapes and sizes, and it's difficult to say if there is best putter to use on or around the green. However, the toe-and-heel golf putter is the most traditional and is most dominant in the professional game. As such, these are perhaps good putters to consider for putting.

Aside from the putter, the sand wedge is another short club you will find have to take onto the golf course for bunker play. The sand wedge is a specifically designed club for splash and explosion shots out of green-side bunkers and onto the green. However, as will soon be noted the sand wedge can also be used for alternative short play.

It is chipping onto the green that has the most flexibility for golf club selection. Which are the best golf clubs for chipping? Well really, that depends on how far you want the chip shot to go. The seven iron is a fairly standard golf club for chipping, that will give small loft as well as a good amount of role for chips 20-30 yards off from the flag. The mid-irons are most suitable for longer distance chip shots, and then shorter irons such as the eight or nine are more appropriate for slightly shorter distance chips.


However, for short distance chipping such as out of the rough for example, then the wedges such as the sand wedge can be good clubs to use. The wedges provide a good amount of loft to get the ball out of the grass, and then the chips will not role that much when they land on the green. As such, for chips of less than 15 yards they can be suitable. It should be noted that if you are on the fairway not far off the flag perhaps consider using a putter, or the Texas Wedge, to putt towards the flag.

Chipping aside, pitching will require the shortest golf clubs overall. While pitching can cover slightly longer distances perhaps over 50 yards, they are very lofted and so require the more lofted golf clubs. As such, the more lofted golf clubs are the wedges which are also the shortest overall. Golf clubs such as the sand, pitching and lob wedges are most suitable for the pitch shot, with the lob wedge providing the most amount of loft. They can also be good clubs for playing out of longer grass, or the rough.

So really, the best golf clubs for the short game are the shortest clubs! This may seem obvious, and includes the putter along with wedges such as the sand, pitching or lob wedge for either pitching, chipping or bunker play. In addition, the short to mid iron clubs nine down to seven irons are also good for chipping. So, a good variety of wedges are best for short play as well as shorter iron clubs.

Recommended nine-hole golf courses

Nine-hole golf courses can be small wonders. They are becoming rarer, with the 18-hole golf courses the standard; however you can still find some nine-hole golf course gems. Here are a few great nine-holes worth considering for a round.

The Dunes golf course in New Buffalo is one that is worth considering and is ranked amongst the best nine-hole golf courses in the States. Such is the calibre of this course, it is compared with the likes of Pine Valley. This exclusive golf course, has a nine scenic and equally diverse golf holes. With a variety of tee positions to play from, the same holes can be played from different spots so the course is flexible. The greens of this course are smooth and slick, so be careful with putting. Overall, the course has a few great holes, with signature holes such as the eighth.

Aside from the Dunes golf course, Crow's Nest in England is another fine nine-hole golf course. Set in 70 acres of scenic parkland, the course stands 450ft above sea-level and is sheltered by trees allowing for play in most months. Like the Dunes course, it also has alternative tees for each of the nine-holes. Euro pro tour member Chris Hanson said of Crow Nest:

“The best nine-hole golf course in England.”

Northwood golf course is a redwood beauty with a Mackenzie challenge. Designed by course architect Mackenzie, this nine-hole golf course dates back to 1928 and today remains a scenic golf course open to the public. The course has undulating fairways and contour greens set in the redwoods of Northwood. When it comes to holes, the ninth is the signature hole for the course and the longest at 532 yards, with trees on either side of the fairway.


Birchwood country golf course is a also a top rated nine hole golf course. Located in a scenic setting, the course has tree-lined fairways which are well groomed. The greens are also silky smooth, with velvet grass. The course also includes some water and creeks that come into play on certain holes.

Overall, these nine-hole golf courses are recommended. Courses such Dunes golf course, Crow's Nest, Northwood golf course, and Birchwood are great nine-hole courses that can make for a fine short round.

Sources: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf -courses/2010-02/nine-hole-cou rses-whitten?currentPage=1

How to find your lost golf ball

You can lose your golf balls in a variety golf course pitfalls. Hedges are the most likely way to lose a ball, but then they can also land in the water, or end up in long grass where you may not be able to find the ball. However, golf balls can be found in most cases unless they have gone way out into the water or trees. So, no ball is ever lost until you reach for another golf ball.

The first thing is to make sure you that you are fairly clear where the golf ball may have landed. If you have a caddie, or a playing partner at least, then they can keep a good eye on the shots and where they land. If you are not sure, ask your playing partner where the golf ball may have landed. Most likely, he will then be able to assist with this.

Hereafter, you need to head towards the expected point of landing. When you reach this point it is important to note if anybody is behind you on the hole. This is because you may slow play down when searching for a seemingly lost golf ball. As such, invite any players right behind you on the same hole to play through.

When you have done this, then you can begin to search for the golf ball. Look around the area where you and your playing partner feel the golf ball landed. It should have landed somewhere within 10-20 yards of this spot. Do not start looking beyond the point you expect the golf ball landed, as it is most probably lost.

If your ball heads towards a water lake, you may be unsure if the ball actually landed in the lake or just escaped. Under such circumstances, if you feel that a golf ball could be lost but are not sure then consider taking a provisional shot. Do this and if you find the golf ball then the provisional shot will not count on your score.

Aside from this, it is important to note that you should not take too long searching for a golf ball. The R&A decree that searching for the golf ball should be about 5 minutes in duration. As such, if you do not find the ball after 5 minutes of searching then you may have to acknowledge that the ball is lost.

You also need to be clear of the sort of golf ball it is. Golf balls have a golf logo on them such as Callaway and Titleist, and so when you do find a ball you expect is your own you can identify the golf logo. Alternatively, you may want to add your initials to the ball with black pen just to make it extra clear that it is your golf ball and not another golfers.

So hopefully, you will not lose too many golf balls. Having a caddie at hand will help in finding lost golf balls, and remember that you should not spend too long searching for golf balls. If you do lose a ball then you will just have to re-take and add a penalty to your score. Always take a few golf balls out onto the course, as even the best players might still lose a ball.

The appeal of nine-hole golf courses

Today, 18-hole golf courses may be something of a standard for golf courses. Indeed, golf's great championships are played on such courses. As such, the nine-hole golf course has become somewhat overshadowed by its larger 18-hole counterpart. However, in the amateur game nine-hole golf courses are still good alternatives that can provide all the thrills and spills of 18-hole golf courses.

The first nine-hole golf courses date back to the 19th century. In Scotland, the nine-hole Cupar's Golf Club was founded in November of 1855. As such, it is considered the oldest nine-hole golf course in the sport's history. Today, the nine-hole golf course remains and has some of the best views in the whole of Fife. Admittedly, at 2608 yards it is not especially big even for a nine-hole course, but it still has some varied and exciting holes.

In America, the Chicago Golf Club was founded in 1892 by Blair Macdonald who was a great pioneer of golf in America. Mr Macdonald soon had a nine-hole golf course constructed as Downer's Grove Golf course. As such, aside from being the first nine-hole golf course in America, it was also America's first golf course west of the Allegheny mountain range. This course was then expanded to an 18-hole golf course in 1893.

So, golf in America has much to thank these nine-hole golf courses which helped establish the game in the US. However, they should not be considered just relics of the past. Today, there are many more nine-hole golf courses that golfers can and should play on. Some notable nine-hole golf courses include the likes of the Dunes Club in New Buffalo, a great but private course, Doral Arrow golf course, and Crow's Nest course which is regarded as one of the finest nine-hole courses.

Nine-hole golf courses like these are small wonders. They offer fantastic but affordable golf at a fraction of larger 18-hole course fees. Indeed, on average due to the fewer holes played nine-hole courses are a budget alternative to larger 18-hole golf courses.

Another advantage of nine-hole golf courses is indeed that they are shorter. As such, for casual golfers looking for a quick, or at least a quicker, round nine-hole golf courses can be much more suitable. Nine-holes will likely take half the time of an alternative 18-hole golf course. Golfers new to the sport may also prefer to start playing on the nine-hole courses, before stepping up onto larger ones.

Overall, architecturally the nine-hole golf courses are pretty much the same as 18-hole courses. Quite a few can be more authentic older golf courses such as Granada golf course in Coral Cables, which dates back to 1925. So, courses such as these may retain older layouts. Generally, you can expect that nine-hole golf courses will have quite a few par 3 holes, and fewer par 5s.

So really, nine-hole golf courses retain all the fun of the game. They are shorter, and some are older, golf courses but can be equally challenging as 18-hole courses and there are some great nine-hole golf courses to play on.

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Golf tips for Par 4 holes

Par 4 holes, need 4 strokes for par; they can range in distance from 250 yards up to a potential 500 yards. As such, there can be quite a big difference in distance from the largest to the shortest. Careful club selection and some strategy may come into play on these holes.

To begin with, off the tee you need to aim for a good spot on the fairway, that will leave a better approach shot to the green. Of course, you might just be tempted to use the longest club in your bag, but if the fairway is smaller then some accuracy may be needed. Opt for a shorter wood or iron if greater accuracy is needed as opposed to distance. For example, a 4 wood or even 7 wood on a par 4 may be appropriate.

After making this first tee shot, then hopefully a shot to the green will be required. It may be the case that a lay up could be needed. If you are not well placed to shoot for the green, consider a shot for better position. Of course, if you end up in the longer grass then a pitch shot might be needed onto the fairway.

The shot towards the green could likely involve a number of possible clubs as dependent on distance. For a longer shot, then a fairway wood or shorter iron like 6, 5 or even 4 would be suitable. Alternatively, if it is a shorter shot then maybe a shorter iron like an 8 or 9 iron. A very short shot to the green of less than 75 yards might only need a pitch shot. However, unless you can hit the ball far on most pars 4s you will probably fall a little longer.

A word of caution, if the flag happens to be close to a bunker then aim more away from the bunker. It is the safer shot, which is usually the better shot.

  (Beware of fairway bunkers on par 4 holes)

At any rate, if you miss the green for some reason, a chip or pitch should be enough to get onto it. Chips from within 50 yards are possible, but also consider using a putter if you are close enough to the flag. A pitch to the green will be better from the longer grass.

When you are on the green, a longer lag putt may be required first, then a shorter putt into the hole to finish the hole. Be wary of the slope of the green, and you can clean the ball before a putt by using a ball marker.

Overall, playing a par 4 will for most be more like playing a par 5 (even shorter holes). You cannot really go for the green from off the tee on a 350-yard par 4. So, appropriate club selection will ensure better scoring.

Golf Websites

There are some good golf websites available. For me, the official golf websites are well worth visiting. Here are a few that are recommended.

PGA of America

Let us start with the PGA of America website. This pro golfers web-site has excellent resources and presentation. From golf tips, to golf travel as well as coverage of the professional game. The website also includes a number of video clips and equipment guide.

St Andrews Links

This is the websites of the St Andrews Links. It has good presentation, and a variety of details relating to St Andrews Links. Included on the website is a picture gallery of the courses, including wallpaper and screen-saver. Also included is accommodation of the town, and details of other local sites of St Andrews.

Golf.com

This is a general golf site. It covers most areas, including golf tips, equipment guides, golf course details and course rankings as well as the pro game. Golf.com also includes video.

USGA

This is the official site of the US Golf Association. While the site does include registration and membership, quite a lot is available without. The site includes guides on USGA championships, clubs and courses. In addition to this, the site also links to the USGA museum, which seemingly is another website.

USGA Museum

As mentioned, this is linked to on the USGA site. The USGA Museum site, provides details of the museum, and is also interactive. With good presentation, it includes a Hall of Champions, exhibits and artifacts of the museum, a photo gallery and film archive covering golfing heritage.

The Masters

The official site of the Masters is the best site for this most prestigious Major. Aside from the event, it provides an Augusta course guide with details on each of the 18 holes and landmarks. In addition, the site includes three golf related games, such as the putting game. This site also includes Master's records and stats. Overall, it has good presentation and content.

Overall, these are a few recommended golf sites. Official websites such as The Masters, St Andrews Links, along with PGA of America, PGAE of Europe, USGA and Golf.com.