Walsh And Nicholls Call Time

When two of arguably the greatest names in National Hunt Racing get together you know that success is undoubtedly on the cards. Such was the case of Irish jockey Ruby Walsh and Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls who in October 2002 formed one of the most successful partnerships in recent racing history.

In the eleven years that followed, together they achieved unparalleled success enjoying multiple victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the World Hurdle, and the King George VI Chase as well as two triumphs with Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Walsh enviably also partnered magnificent horses including Denman, Master Minded, Big Bucks, Silvianco Conti and Al Ferof to name just a few.

But, it seems, that all good things must come to an end and with his decision to live in Ireland, the vast amount of travelling required for the job of Ditcheat’s stable jockey took it’s toll on Walsh who announced recently that his days as stable jockey to Nicholls had come to an end.

Writing as a columnist for the Irish Examiner, Walsh cited many reasons for his departure not least of which was that his family life was clearly suffering and likened the situation to ships passing in the night.

With a wife, two young children and an over whelming schedule Walsh admitted that getting up at 4.50am, out the door at 5 to be in Dublin Airport at 5.45am for a 6.30am flight and not getting home until 8.15 or 8.30pm that evening meant that by the time the week’s done, he may have only seen his children for a couple of hours.

Understandably it was not an easy decision to make and walking away from a position that enables you to ride in and win the biggest races in the industry as well earn you a very decent living, was always going to be difficult particularly when you love it. But at 34 years of age, Walsh has decided that his family will come first and looks forward to sitting down for breakfast rather than grabbing a quick coffee while running out the door.

So what now for two of the most sought after figures in the world of horse racing? Walsh will strengthen his already existing partnership with Irish trainer Willie Mullins and concentrate on more racing in Ireland, while Nicholls must now take a serious look at his yard and decide which jockey will have the dubious task of filling such enormous shoes.

And Nicholls has his own issues to contend with, only one of which is the departure of Ruby Walsh. For the first time in eight years he lost out to competing trainer Nicky Henderson for the title of Champion Trainer in 2013 when he finished the year on total prize money of £2,924,917 versus Nicholls on £2,375,585.

That was hot on the heels of his very public split with race horse owner Clive Smith, a dramatic spat regarding the retirement of Kauto Star, that was played out in full view of the public via twitter and guest columns.

Shortly after that his long-time assistant, Dan Skelton, decided to start training in his own right and so he too left Ditcheat for greener gallops, leaving Paul Nicholls to no doubt ponder the roller coaster that has been his life for the last twelve months.

But all is not lost for the trainer who finally captured the elusive Grand National title in 2012 when jockey Daryl Jacob romped home on Neptune Collonges. Certainly with a stable yard full to the brim of horses such as Big Bucks, Silvianco Conti and Al Ferof it’s easy to see how a trainer of Nicholl’s quality has turned a small training yard with 28 loose boxes and an uphill woodchip gallop into one of the top establishments for Champion racehorses in the UK.

So from a young jockey and an up-and-coming trainer in 2002, to two of the most well known, successful and respected members of the racing community, they part as friends in 2013, and may even go head to head for the 2014 Grand National.

About the author: 

Paul Warrander is a leading contributor on some of the interest's best horse racing websites. Connect with him on Google Plus.

Be a rugby player - Get rugby boots, kit and then train hard!

Developing muscle really fast is one challenge that may come effortlessly to some. However, for others dedication and training does not always translate into developing muscle mass at a level quick enough. This information piece has been designed with 3 stages in mind. Diet training rest or food, training and restYou'll find a large number of individuals who get the working out aspect right and spend up to five hours a week at the gym but destroy all that awesome work through lousy eating habits. Men and women like this should apply the 60/40 concept whereby every day one looks at their diet as 60% fundamental whereas the exercising being 40% important. Through the use of this way of thinking the person is likely to make enormous progress in muscles tissue gain and size.

Let’s begin with your diet. Eat, eat and eat a great deal. Nevertheless, your food really needs to be the very best food, so bad fats and constant intake of very high calorie foods without protein will not pay rewards. All things considered protein is what builds, shapes and repairs muscular fibres therefore , endless intake of this nutrition type every two to three hours is important. Food is really significant, and truly being strict in one’s process is considered the only way. Daily meals cannot be skipped but sugary foods should not be consumed, it's all about a balance. As you see in the visualization beneath there are additional important things to pay attention to likewise.

Working out. It is important that when working out, all areas on the body are worked frequently. Legs, back and chest will be the 3 essential areas to target. A lot of men and women usually tend to focus just around the chest area and neglect their legs. So why? Because they believe individuals don't look at them regularly enough or they just would like large biceps and a cut chest. The fundamental problem with this is that you result in looking disproportionate and also in extreme circumstances quite silly. Getting out of proportion is not the lone thing to worry about but working on major compound routines most notably deadlifts and squats produces optimum hormonal testosterone that helps muscle tissues get bigger sooner.

And lastly is rest. Rest is very important for the reason that ultimately you're trying to gain weight which means saving as much energy as is possible while simultaneously exercising extremely hard. Walk if you do not have to run, sit if you don’t need stand and take a nap a little more than usual. Getting as regularly as sleep as you possibly can is essential so at the least 8 hours a night would be perfect. I hope you find the infographic useful.

My name is Eddard Blake and I am a freelance writer of Canterbury of New Zealand. If you are looking to get into rugby you're going to need quality rugby boots and rugby gear but you will also need to train extremely hard in the gym to get size. Hope you find this content useful.

Radar Golf Balls

What do you get when you put a microchip in a golf ball? A radar golf ball! RadarGolf have introduced a few golf balls that have small microchips within them.

The addition of the the microchip ensures that golf balls that land in hedges, or around trees, can be found more quickly. When the ball has landed the RadarGolf Handheld will then locate the golf ball. The handheld detects the golf ball by homing in on its microchip!

The handheld includes an LCD display as well as audio tone. The audio tone strengthens as you get nearer to the ball. Consequently, when at its loudest you are closet to the ball.

Nor is the microchip supposed to have a big impact on the ball's distance etc. It's a 2-piece ball that still matches the standard requirements for golf balls. Currently they are packaged in one dozen packs.

At the moment this isn't something that's included on the PGA Tour. But with further expansions on the first RadarGolf System it could be a great golf gadget. For further details on the RadarGolf System and balls, check out this website.

Finding new Golf Balls on the Golf Course

We've all lost a few golf balls right? As such, there's probably millions of lost golf balls scattered around golf courses the world over. That much is a guess, but for the millions that play golf, and lose balls, there has to be.

At TPC Sawgrass there is the Island Green par-3 hole. That's the one with a green in the middle of a lake. It is said that over 100,000 balls are lost in that lake each year, on just that one hole. Bring some diving gear, a couple of oxygen tanks, and you could probably find quite a few balls in the hole's lake!

The Island Green hole.

I was playing golf yesterday, and discovered three lost balls. Two were discovered in a ditch, with yellow stakes around it, which can fill with rain water during the winter period. After winter the pond becomes a ditch. Nor is that the first time I have discovered lost golf balls in hedges, ditches etc. Consequently, you can find new golf balls on the course!

To have a chance of finding lost golf balls do not go straight across the middle of the fairway up to the green when going up the hole. Stick to the left or right side of a hole, otherwise longer grass, that has trees and bushes along it. That's where lost golf balls usually are, so on your way up the hole you could pass one or two that landed in bushes.

When searching for your own golf ball in bushes, or around trees, you can also discover new ones. Even if you do locate your ball in a bush, so long as there's nobody behind you spend another five minutes checking out some other nearby bushes for lost balls. You might find more than just your own ball.

Of course, you should be sure that it is indeed a lost golf ball, and not one that's landed on the wrong hole. Do not pick up a seemingly lost golf ball from a fairway, or in longer grass close to the fairways. They might not be lost balls.

Famous Golf Courses in California

California is blessed with golf courses. The Californian climate is great for golf, and so there are a number of great golf courses and course designs from renowned golf course designers located in the state. These are a few of the famous golf courses in California.

Pebble Beach

No listing of nationally recognized golf courses in California would be complete without that of Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach is not just the best golf courses in California, but many consider it to be one of the best golf courses in North America. This is perhaps due to its fantastic location along the Pacific coastline of Monterey Bay. On this golf course players play along the coast, with some holes sneaking out towards the ocean. Famous holes, such as the short par-3 seventh, include a hole surrounded by bunkers and ocean. The 18th hole also has an ocean-lined fairway on the left side. As such, it is one America's favorite golf courses, and a recognized venue of the PGA Tour which has hosted a number of US Opens, including the most recent 2010 Open.

Spyglass Hill

One of Pebble Beach's sister courses is that of Spyglass Hill, another one of the highly ranked U.S. golf courses. Spyglass was designed by Robert Trent Jones who included slightly variable terrain with some holes that have sandy seaside dunes, and others passing through majestic pines with elevated greens. Like Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill is a PGA Tour golf course which has some very tricky holes, such as the sixth and eight and a course rating that makes it one of the harder on the PGA circuit. As such, it is a course that has hosted championships such as the AT&T National Pro Am and the Pebble Beach Invitational.

Mountain Course

The Mountain Course is one of the golf courses at the La Quinta resort in California. This course has a unique design, and a great location beside the Santa Rose peaks. The surrounding mountain vistas link to the fairways, while the grassy green holes are in stark contrast to the desert landscape. Overall, the La Quinta resort has plenty of good golf courses, but the Mountain Course is one of its flagship courses that is ranked among the top 100 best public golf courses.

Torrey Pines

Another gem of southern California is that of the Torrey Pines Municipal golf course.  The golf course is a PGA Tour stop, which is up to 7,607 yards long. Torrey Pines has some great coastline views of the Pacific, and was renovated by Robert Trent Jones in time for the 2008 U.S. Open that the course hosted.

These are just four of the best nationally recognized golf courses in California. Pebble Beach, Spyglass, the Mountain Course and Torrey Pines are great courses that have hosted a few of the majors and other PGA Tour golf championships. Aside from being great championships courses, they are also resort courses.

200 Blog Posts!

This is the 200th post on Amateur Golfer! Now it's time to celebrate, or at least browse the blog archives. Below I have selected, and added links to, a few of the more notable posts on the blog. Remember that you can also browse the blog's archives on the right.

The First Golf Club and Course in North America

"Golf came to North America during the 19th century in 1873. Then Scottish colonialists arrived in Montreal to establish the very first golf club on the continent. That was the Royal Montreal Golf Club...."

Best Golf Courses Video

"Which are the best golf courses? This video includes a great compilation of some of the world's best golf courses. Check it out...."

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

"Robert Trent Jones is a famous golf course designer. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama is one of the largest golf construction projects attempted. The 11 golf clubs stretch from the Lakewood Golf Club in the south, to the Shoals in the north. In total, the trail extends 384 miles...."

A Brief Guide to the Wedges

"The wedges are a group of iron clubs which have the highest lofts. They are fairly essential golf clubs to have in your bag, so you'll need to bring at least one of them out on to the course with you. Overall, there are four primary wedge clubs which are ideal for short play...."

The Highest Golf Course.. Anywhere!

"Apparently there was a golf course at Tuctu that rose some 14,000 feet above the sea. That's some altitude, and needless to say it was the highest golf course with fairways that flirted with the clouds. However, now that it has been abandoned since the '90s, with the former course overgrown with vegetation and weeds other mountainous courses lay claim to the highest golf course altitude record...."

The 1,410 feet Tee-Shot

"Yup, that's right, this par-3 hole includes a tee at the top of a mountain with a 1,410 feet elevated tee-shot. Check out the video below for further details...."

Desert Golf Courses

"There are a variety of desert golf courses. Courses that are not only in the deserts of America, but merge some desert elements into the courses. And they are also sweltering during the summer. These are a few desert courses that are worth noting...."

Night Golf 

"Well it’s November, and that means shorter daylight hours. However, who says you cannot play night golf? In actual fact there are numerous floodlit golf courses which are lit up when daylight visibility diminishes...."

Golf Holes With Lots of Water 

"A number of the world's more famous golf courses have golf holes that are surrounded by water. These are holes in which you can lose your balls, in more ways than one, when they fall down into the water. Water holes can be located alongside expansive lakes, creeks or perhaps even the sea and oceans. These are a few of the great golf holes in which you could take a swim on...."

Golf Summer Vacation Destinations

When the summer comes, golf resorts can be a good summer vacation destination. Summer is the best season for golf, as you can be sure of greater distance on the dry summer grass. The best golf summer vacation destinations are in the United States, Mediterranean or the Caribbean which have some of the finest golf resorts on the coast and further inland. These are a few great golf summer vacation destinations to visit.

Pebble Beach Golf Resort

The legendary Pebble Beach Resort is one of the best golf summer vacation destinations. This golf resort includes four renowned golf courses which play alongside the Monterey coastline in California. Among them are Pebble Beach Golf Links, the Links at Spanish Bay, Spy Glass Hill Golf Resort and Monte Golf Course.

As it is usually ranked among the top 10 golf courses in the United States  Pebble Beach Golf Links is probably the most famous. This fantastic ocean-side golf course has hosted five U.S. Opens, and includes some famous holes. Holes such as the short par-3, a little over 100 yards, which has a green located beside the Pacific Ocean. The 18th hole is also considered to be one of the best finishing holes in golf in which the ocean runs alongside the left side of the hole. When combined with the other great courses at the resort, you can be sure that this is one of the hottest golf summer vacation destinations.

Kiawah Island

On the east coast, Kiawah Island is another of the great U.S. golf summer vacation destinations. Kiawah Island is a barrier island in South Carolina, and includes five top-class golf courses such as the Ocean Course, Osprey Point, Coughar Point, Oak Point and Turtle Point.

Of the four courses, the Ocean Course is the championship course that has hosted PGA Tour golf championships. It has also hosted the Ryder Cup, and will be the venue for the 2012 PGA Championship as well. Like Pebble Beach, this golf course includes a variety of seaside holes. In actual fact, there are approximately 10 holes which run alongside the Atlantic coastline.

Sandy Lane

With a tropical climate the Caribbean also has some great summer golf vacation destinations. Take note of the Sandy Lane golf resort in Barbados on the Platinum Coast. As such, the resort also has great nearby beaches with unique coral reefs. This is ranked 10th in Golf Digest's top 10 North America golf resorts.

Currently, Sandy Lane has three golf courses including the Monkey Course, the Country Club Course and the Old Nine. Of these, the Country Club Course includes some long 600 yard plus holes, and the Old Nine is the oldest of the courses which date back to 1961. The Old Nine is a nine hole course which has some narrow fairways and small greens.

The Costa Del Sol

Another fantastic summer golf vacation destination is that of the Costa Del Sol in the south of Spain which includes the famous Valderrama golf course. There are over 60 golf courses in the Costa Del Sol in Malga, Marbella, Santogrande and Mijas. Here you can make the most of the Mediterranean summer at resorts such as the Marbella Golf and Country Club.

The Costa Del Sol, Sandy Lane, Pebble Beach and Kiawah Island resorts are great destinations for golf summer vacations. With fantastic championship golf courses that have great landscapes, sizzling summer climates and a variety of golf vacation packages these golf resorts could be ideal golf vacation destinations.

Fairway Farm Golf Course Video

Fairway Farms is an 18 hole golf course located in Harwinton, CT. It's a championship course that extends some 6,619 yards. Check out this golf course video tour:

Golf Digest's Top Five Golf Courses in Canada

Among the new Golf Digest Course rankings is that of the top golf courses in Canada. Canada has some fantastic landscapes, and some great golf course layouts. These are the top five in Golf Digest's rankings:

1. National G.C. of Canada, Woodbridge, Ont.
2. St. George's G. and C.C., Etobicoke, Ont.
3. Capilano G. & C.C., West Vancouver, B.C.
4. Hamilton G. and C.C. (West/South) Ancaster, Ont.
                                                     5. Jasper Park Lodge G.C., Jasper, Alb.

As such, the National Golf Course of Canada tops the rankings. It has also been ranked 17th in Digest's Top 100 Outside USA. This is a 7,235 yard golf course that has undulating greens, and tree-lined fairways. The course architect Fazio has also added the odd pond to some of its holes, such as around the third and fourth hole. On the 13th hole ponds also come into play with a fairway snaking between a pond and large hill.

It pips the St George's Golf and Country Club to top spot, which has been ranked 10th in Golf Digest's Top 100 Outside USA rankings. That's a championship golf course which extends some 7, 025 yards. The golf course has hosted the Canadian Open five times.

They are not exactly public golf courses, but the Jasper Park Lodge is. That's a 6, 600 yard scenic golf course located at the Jasper National Park that includes lakes, waterfalls and mountains. The golf course is situated on the shores of Lac Beauvert.

For the full Golf Digest Canada course rankings click here.

Golf tips for Club Selection

Golf club selection is largely a matter of club distance. However, different clubs are required for short play and long play, and some can be more accurate than others. With up to 14 golf clubs to select from there can be a few clubs that may be suitable for tee-shots. Here are a few noteworthy golf tips for effective club selection.

Tee-shots

When selecting your club for tee-shots the club that will get you closest to, or on, the green is usually the most suitable golf club. This is certainly the case for par-3 holes where you can make it onto the green from the tee. Select an iron club that best matches the distance required, and note that you can potentially over-hit on short par-3s. If the par-3 has a fairway then it’s better to under-hit.

However, for longer holes the longest club is not necessarily the best to select. Note that these longer clubs are also the least accurate, so if there are lots of areas on a golf hole where you could potentially lose a golf ball it could be better to select a shorter more accurate golf club. This could potentially save you a penalty-stroke.

Short Play

For shorter play there are a greater number of golf clubs to select from. For starters, your club selection can depend on whether you’re pitching or chipping from off the green. In some cases it may well be possible to either chip or pitch onto the green, in which case always go for a chip as a better alternative to a pitch. This is especially the case when there is more wind, as pitching will be all the less accurate.

You can chip with a number of clubs from off the green. Again, the longer the club the further the chip will go. Note that the roll of the ball will cover most of the distance, and the ball will roll further on dry golf courses than wet ones. So, if it’s wet you should consider chipping with a slightly longer club than you might do from the same distance if it were dry.

When the course is very dry, and if you are not too far away from the green, then putting onto the green can be more effective than chipping. Just so long as you’re on the fairway you can putt the ball up to the flag with the putter. Even if you are in longer grass around the green you may still be able to putt onto it, and close to the flag.

The Rough

When in longer grass around the fairways and greens more lofted golf clubs are the most effective. As such, the wedges such as the sand and pitch wedge are among the best golf clubs to select for short play from longer grass. With these you can chip and pitch your way from the longer grass onto the green.

From further distances consider the 7-wood if the grass is not too long. The 7-wood is the shortest of wood clubs, and so it also has the most loft. With a 7-wood you can shoot your way out of the rough from over 100 yards.

These are just a few tips for golf club selection. Consider selecting shorter clubs for longer holes where you could potentially lose your ball from the tee, select the putter for chipping on dry courses, chip with longer clubs if the course is wet, and select shorter golf clubs with more loft if you are in longer grass.

Great Wall of China Golf Hole

An exciting fantasy golf course is to be constructed at the Mission Hills Hainan Island Resort. The golf course will include a 400-yard tee-to-green reproduction of the Great Wall, as well as a jungle themed hole, volcano themed par-3, noodle bowl hole and par-5 that weaves through the Mayan ruins. The course architect said:

“Unlike mini-golf on artificial grass, the fantasy course is played at full-scale with standard equipment on real turf. Other regulation courses frame holes with trees, bunkers and lakes; this course will incorporate many unique visuals while still requiring players to execute full shots and hole putts.”

So, this could be a great golf course! Check out this article for further details. This is a video of the Great Wall hole that could be among the more exciting on the golf course:

The El Cardonal Golf Course

You've probably never heard of the El Cardonal golf course, as it hasn't been built yet! But when it is it will be the first Woods, and TWD, golf course. Woods has teamed up with Diamante to construct this golf course.

The El Cardonal golf course is one located in Mexico. Once constructed it will be an 18-hole championship course. The expected yardage of the golf course, which is located within a 20 acre resort, is something like 7,300 yards. "While the Dunes course is reminiscent of a classic Scottish links course, this course is going to remind people of the old-style California courses." - Woods

TWD will merge the golf course with the surrounding Diamante rolling hills. It's not expected to be comparable to the Diamante Dunes course in Cabo San Lucas. Construction of the course has begun in earnest.

In addition to that one, other TWD courses include the The Cliffs at High Carolina. This is expected to be the first TWD golf course in North America. If complete that course will be located at the Blue Ridge Mountains, California, with an altitude of some 4,000 feet.

The Punta Brava is another TWD golf course in construction. That's also a golf course that will be in Mexico,  and will be located alongside the Pacific Ocean. As such, it will be a 6,835 yard coastal course, possibly comparable to Cypress Point etc.

Those make up a triumvirate of TWD golf courses under construction. They could be the first of many TWD golf courses. For further details check out this page.

Great Golf Courses in Western America

Golf courses in the wild west of the USA are among the top ranked golf courses in the sport. The western States, such as California and Arizona, have a number of great courses with a diversity of terrain. The golf courses of western America can include green forests, deserts and Pacific coastlines.  

Pebble Beach Links

Pebble Beach Links is in California, and perhaps the most famous of the Pebble Beach resort courses. The course extends some 7,040 yards across the coastline of Monterey Bay. It's most famous for its scenic coastal landscapes, as a number of its holes play alongside the Pacific coastline.

The seventh, eighth, fifth, fourth, sixth, 17^th and 18^th hole are all located adjacent to the coast, whilst other holes are further inland. Among the most famous of the holes are the seventh and 18^th hole. The seventh is located on the right side of Stillwater Cove, a short par-3 hole of little more than 100 yards that has a green surrounded by Pacific coastline, and plenty of bunkers. The 18^th is one of golf's great finishing holes. It's a 500 yard + par-5 hole that is dominated by the Pacific Ocean on the left side. On the right there's plenty of grass, plus a few fairway bunkers and Cypress trees.

Pebble Beach Links is a PGA championship course that has been the venue for some of the majors. Five U.S. Opens have been played at the course, as well as the PGA Championship. It's ranked among the top 10 in the USA.

Cypress Point

Cypress Point is another of California's gems which is also located along the Monterey coastline. The golf course is approximately 6,524 yards, and like Pebble Beach has some exciting coastal holes. This is one that meanders through coastal dunes, combining the rocky coastline with the Del Monte forest.

The most famous hole at this golf course is probably the 16^th. That's a 200 + yard par-3 hole that plays over the Pacific Ocean that separates the tee from green. The par-4 17 also has an exquisite coastal location.

Troon North Monument Course

The Troon North is a long way from the coast drenched courses at Monterey. This is a 7,070 yard golf course located at the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Cactus plants, rocky outcrops and surrounding sand dominate this golf course's landscape. There's not much water on this one, except at the 16^th & 17^th holes that have a couple of small lakes. For many it's the finest golf course in Arizona, and a hallmark for desert course architecture.

The Stadium Course

The Stadium Course in Scottsdale, Arizona is another of the most exciting golf courses in the wild west. This is where the PGA Tour plays in Arizona. The golf course can stretch some 7,216 yards from the championship tees, but from shorter tees that can be reduced to less than 6,000. The course is famous for the 16^th Coliseum golf hole. That's a par-3 hole which is surrounded by stands for thousands of fans during the Phoenix Open.

The Coliseum golf hole during a championship.

The Lake Course

Another great golf course in California is that of the Lake Course that is located close to Lake Merced. That's a course that expands some 7,170 yards. The Lake Course doesn't have any lakes, but plenty of trees that surround its holes. It has hosted five U.S. Opens to date, and has been ranked some way up Golf Digest's course rankings.

Those are a few of the wild west's great golf courses. From the shorelines of the West Coast to the barren deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, you can have some great rounds of golf!

Great Golf Courses Beyond the United States and Europe

Most of the golf courses are in the United States or Europe. However, there are still some great courses in other destinations such as the Caribbean, Canada, etc. These are a few of the great courses beyond the States and Europe.  

Banff Springs  

Banff Springs golf course, in Canada, is one that has a great setting. The course is located along the Canadian Rockies which provide an illustrious mountain setting. From the black tees the course extends some 7,074 yards, but that can be less than 6,000 yards from other tees. As the course is located at the Banff National Park it has a diversity of wildlife.

This golf course is one that has a variety of world-class holes, surrounded by coniferous woodland, such as the fourth hole. That hole is a 192 yard par-3 that is located beside a glacial lake, and nestled at the foot of a mountain. The hole is ranked as one of the most exciting golf holes.

Cape Kidnappers  

The Cape Kidnappers golf course is among Golf Digest's top ranked golf courses. This a New Zealand golf course located alongside the towering cliffs of the Cape. It's a coastal golf course that plays alongside the shoreline of Hawkes Bay. This is a par-71 golf course that stretches some 7,119 yards.

Casa de Campo Teeth of Dog

The Casa de Campo Teeth of Dog course, in the Dominican Republic, is among the top ranked golf courses in the Caribbean. Golf Magazine ranked it 43^rd within its top 100 golf courses. This is an exhilarating coastal course set alongside Dominican's coral coastline. Several of its holes play alongside the coast, and the golf course expands some 6,989 yards.

Mid Ocean Club

The Mid Ocean Club course is an exotic Bermuda golf course located beside the Atlantic Ocean. The course is approximately 6,548 yards, and a number of the holes are located along the coastline. Others, such as the fifth, play alongside lakes such as Mangrove Lake. That hole is a 433 yard par-4 that swings around the lake, with a bridge crossing connecting the tee with fairway. Golf Digest ranks the Mid Ocean Club among the top 50 courses beyond the United States.  

These are golf courses that have some great landscapes and thrilling holes. They are ranked among the top golf courses in the sport. The golf courses are great destinations for golf vacations in New Zealand, the Caribbean and Canada.

Kawartha Golf & Country Club Video

The Kawartha Golf & Country Club is one of the more exciting golf courses in Canada. It's a 6,464 yard golf course that Golf Digest ranked 24th in its Canada Classic Course rankings. Check out this short course video: 

Sharp clarity on the green with Oakley Radar Sunglasses

Imagine the ideal pair of sunglasses for the golf course, comfortable, resilient and not only protective from the sun but also gives you perfect clarity of vision at all times and you’ll discover it is the exceptional collection of Radar Sunglasses from the optics specialists and global brand icon Oakley.

Each type of Oakley Radar Sunglasses is specially designed for sports use and made with incredible precision and feature the pinnacle of technologies exclusive to Oakley. In particular the Oakley Radar Path Sunglasses are favoured by golfer Rory McIlroy, but both the Oakley Radar Pitch Sunglasses and the Oakley Radar Range Sunglasses are also up to the task of any golfers needs.

The Oakley Radar Sunglasses have a wrap-around frame made from O-Matter which provides a lightweight comfort including impact resistance, but also has integrated surge ports near the temples for a cooling airflow. Each pair also comes with two nosepieces sizes for the best fit and they’re made from Oakley Unobtainium which actually increases its grip when you sweat so they’ll stay put at all times. The Radar frames also make use of the Oakley Three Point fit giving not only increased comfort but also holds the lenses in precision alignment.

Oakley lenses are certainly something to behold, utilising the pinnacle of Oakley technologies like Oakley High Definition Optics for unrivaled crystal clear vision which when combined with the Oakley Polaric Ellipsoid lens geometry allows perfect clarity across the entire lens. The actual lenses are made from Plutonite, another Oakley innovation that protects your eyes from one hundred percent of UVA, UVB and UVC including rays from the blue light spectrum up to 400nm. Incredibly the lenses are interchangeable as well so with a simple and secure swap you can choose the lens suited to current weather conditions, whether it’s the golf specific G30 lenses, clear lenses or Iridium coated lenses to vastly reduce unwanted glare.

You can’t ask for a better pair of sunglasses to aid your game when you are enjoying a round of golf at your favourite green than the Oakley Radar Sunglasses collection consisting of the Oakley Radar Path Sunglasses, Oakley Radar Pitch Shades and Oakley Radar Range Sunglasses.

About the author:

Adam Berryman is a marketing copywriter for Blackleaf which is the UKs leading online retailer for skate, surf and snow clothing and equipment. Head over to the Blackleaf blog for upcoming news and offers!

Great Finishing Holes

When it comes to golf holes, architects usually save the best for last. Many of the most famous are the 18th holes. In the PGA championships these can be the holes in which the championships are won or lost. For any golfer they can be the holes in which you set a new scoring record, or alternatively fall short of your records. These are a few of golf's great finishing holes.  

18^th at Pebble Beach  

The 18^th at Pebble Beach Links is perhaps the most exciting finishing hole in golf. This is ranked among the top 18 golf holes in the sport by various golf magazines and books. What sets this hole apart is the left-breaking ramble along the Carmel Bay shore, that dominates the left side of the fairway. The hole stretches some 548 yards along the shoreline, and has a green surrounded by bunkers. Few finishing holes can match it, and on this hole five U.S. Opens have been won and lost.  

18^th at TPC Sawgrass

This is the finishing hole of the Players Championship that is played at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. After the 17^th island green on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course comes the 18^th, which has a substantial lake along its left fairway. The water sweeps up to the left of the hole's green. The hole stretches some 447 yards, and certainly makes for a great finale at the Players Championship.

18^th at Harbour Town Golf Links  

Another famous golf course of the PGA Tour is that of the Harbour Town Links. At the end of this hole is the the red-and-white striped Harbour Town lighthouse, and surrounding moored yachts. It stretches almost 500 yards, with out-of-bounds stakes on the right side of the hole, and the marsh of Calibogue Sound on the left of the fairway. Beyond that is the Port Royal Sound. Overall, it's one of the great PGA Tour holes.  

18^th at Doral Resort

The finishing hole at the Doral Resort, Florida is another that is dominated by a lake. This is a 467 yard hole has a lake along the left of its fairway and green. On the right of the hole there are five notable greenside and fairway bunkers. The photo on the left includes the hole's lake fountain.  

18^th at Bay Hill Club

The 18^th at the Bay Hill Club is a 441 yard par-4 hole. The final third of this hole includes a lake along the right side of its fairway and green. When the lake comes into play the fairway narrows up before the green. The left of the green is dominated by sand bunkers, with the lake on the right.  

Those are some of the great finishing holes. The holes are among the most exciting on the PGA Tour.

Rolling Greens Golf Club Video

The Rolling Greens Golf Club course is among the top ranked golf courses in Pennsylvania. It is ranked 10th in the Golf Digest Pennsylvania course rankings, and 78th in Golf Week's top 100 Classic Courses. The course has substantial rolling hills and variable elevations. It also has some extensive holes such as the ninth par-5 which expands some 614 yards. Check out this Rolling Green Golf Club course video:

Ping G25 Irons Compare Sale Prices

The G25 is Ping's latest offering brand new for 2013. The G25 range consists of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons, and one thing is for sure they are all very special - just ask Bubba Watson!

The Ping G25 irons offer the latest in Ping’s game improvement technology and offer more forgiveness, great news for all of us amateur golfers out there, with technology aimed at offering an improved trajectory helping you reach those greens much easier. The irons feature a bigger head size, features a much sleeker profile than the G20 and has a narrower sole, a thinner top line and a moderate offset. The G25 appeals to golfers of all abilities with their features and design.

The longer irons have a wider sole width and offset which helps with getting the ball higher, and helping you hit it longer whilst also offering greater degrees of forgiveness. The soles get progressively narrower as you club down to the smaller irons, which help by offering more versatility and control on all conditions.

To maximize forgiveness in the streamline profile, Ping have thinned the faces of the G25 irons so that the weight is redistributed at the back and base of the club with the aim of offering more power and control. Heal and toe support bars and a low toe weight stabilize the face even more and really helps with distance control. The biggest contributing factor to the improved performance of the Ping G25 irons is the more efficient CTP design. Ping have integrated the CTP structure further down into the sole of all irons, which moves mass down and aligns the support of the CTP directly with the striking area of the iron that improves with power and distance, and also give the G25 irons a real solid feel.

The Ping G25 irons are available in right and left handed models with steel or graphite shafts in both mens and women’s sizes. If you are looking for a full set then you can match these irons with the Ping G25 driver, fairway woods or hybrid clubs. You’ll be able to find the full set of Ping G25 irons- 3 to 9 irons starting at anything from around £600. If you are thinking of treating yourself and upgrading your irons in 2013, then the Ping G25 should certainly be on your shopping list. The irons are a versatile performer suitable for all conditions and all skills of golfer aimed at helping shave those precious couple of strokes of your game.

The Tierra Del Sol Golf Club

The Tierra Del Sol Golf Club course, in Aruba, is ranked as one of the top golf courses in the Caribbean. This Trent Jones golf course expands some 6,811 yards. It is located alongside the eastern and western Caribbean shores, just a couple of miles off Palm Beach. You might even find some lizards on the course. Check out this course tour video of its 18 holes:

Five Putting Pitfulls

Putting is a big part of the game of golf. You will certainly make at least one putt for every hole you play. Indeed, you will probably make more putts during an average round. Lots of putts on the green will inflate scoring, so here are a few of the pitfulls to note when putting.

Select the Wrong Putter

Let us first consider the putter itself. Putting with an inappropriate putting club could raise your putting averages. Putters can come in various shapes and sizes, so make sure that the putter you use is suitable. Overall, the putter will need to be of a suitable size, and not be too heavy.

Not Reading the Green

When on the golf course there are a few things to consider when putting on the green. Before you even step on the green make sure you pay attention to the topology. Do not forget that few greens are exactly flat, and will likely have a variety of upward and downward slopes. If you hit an uphill putt as you would a putt on a flat putting green then the ball will likely not reach the hole, and could even start rolling back depending on the steepness of the slope. A downward putt needs to be a little lighter as the ball will roll further. It should also be noted that longer putts will break towards or away from the hole on more sloped greens. Balls also roll further on dryer greens than wet ones.

Underhit Putts

Even if you are lagging a putt towards the hole, do not underhit the putt so that it doesn't reach the hole. Evidently, an underhit putt will never go into the golf hole. As such, with lag putts you should really try and over hit the putt slightly, so it goes a little past the hole leaving just a short putt to finish. With a degree of luck such a lag putt may even go in the hole! I've put a few longer distance putts in the hole myself. But over hitting the ball a little is more essential for short putting.

Hit lag Putts Like Short Putts

Lag putts and short putts are not the same. While short putts are aimed to go in the hole, this is not necessarily the case with lag putts. Most of your longer lag putts will probably not go in, and so you need to aim to finish just a few feet off the hole (within three feet would be great). As such, accuracy is not so important with these, but how hard you hit the ball, and the tempo of the putt, is more so. While the setup is the same, lags require a longer, sharper putt.

Forget to Remove the Flag

Remember that in the game of golf you should remove the flag before you putt on the green. This is because if you do not, and the ball goes into the hole touching the flag, then you should add a two stroke penalty to your score. So overall, it would be good to remove the flag from the hole!

Those are five putting pitfulls. Make sure you have a suitable putter, read the green, don't underhit putts, do not play longer putts the same as shorter and also remove the flag from the hole before you putt on the green.

Golf Digest 2013 Golf Course Rankings

Golf Digest have updated their top 100 American golf course rankings! Eight new courses have made it into the rankings. In 2013 their official golf course ranking list is as follows: 

1. (2) PINE VALLEY G.C.

Pine Valley, N.J. / George Crump & H.S. Colt (1918)

7,057 yards

2. (1) AUGUSTA NATIONAL G.C.

Augusta, Ga. / Alister Mackenzie & Bobby Jones (1933)

7,435 yards

3. (5) CYPRESS POINT CLUB

Pebble Beach / Alister Mackenzie (1928)

6,524 yards

4. (3) SHINNECOCK HILLS G.C.

Southampton, N.Y. / William Flynn (1931)

7,041 yards

5. (4) OAKMONT C.C.

Oakmont, Pa. / Henry Fownes (1903)

7,255 yards,

7. (6) PEBBLE BEACH G. LINKS

Pebble Beach / Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919)

6,828 yards

8. (8) WINGED FOOT G.C. (WEST)

Mamaroneck, N.Y. / A.W. Tillinghast (1923)

7,258 yards

9. (9) SAND HILLS G.C.

Mullen, Neb. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1994)

7,089 yards

10. (11) FISHERS ISLAND CLUB

Fishers Island, N.Y. / Seth Raynor & Charles Banks (1926)

6,566 yards

The Pine Valley golf course.

As such, Pine Valley has eclipsed Augusta as Golf Digest's top U.S. golf course. This golf course, which is surrounded by virgin woodland, has climbed up from second spot. For a golf course that has hosted no notable championships, except perhaps the Walker Cup, it doesn't have huge championship pedigree compared to courses such as St Andrews, Pebble Beach etc. But as is stated on the Golf Digest site, "Pine Valley blends three schools of golf course design." 

Overall, there's not a notable shift in the top 10 of the rankings at least. Fishers Island Club, in New York, is one of the new entries at number 10. This is a supposed Cypress Point of the east, a coastal course which has a variety of holes located along Block Island Sound. 

Aside from that, the top 10 are pretty much the same. Cypress Point, at Pebble Beach, is another of the climbers, which is the shortest course in the top 10. That's the one with the terrific par-3 hole, which has green separated from the tee by its ocean coastline. Its neighboring course, Pebble Beach Links, has dropped a place, but remains the top ranked U.S. public course. 

I'm sure I've added posts about some of these courses in previous posts on AG. Check them out via the archives. For the full rankings check out the Golf Digest site. 

The First Golf Club & Course in North America

Golf came to North America during the 19th century in 1873. Then Scottish colonialists arrived in Montreal to establish the very first golf club on the continent. That was the Royal Montreal Golf Club.

It was there that the first North American golf course was constructed. This was a small six hole golf course, which was later expanded to nine. That golf course occupied Fletcher's field on the outskirts of Montreal. Here the first interclub games in North America emerged as they took on Royal Quebec Golf Club. Thus the Canadians were among the first beyond the British Isles to embrace the game.

The other golf course constructed soon after was that of Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club. That golf club's nine hole course was established in 1875. Unlike the first course at Royal Montreal it remains intact today as one that you can play on.

The Royal Montreal Club relocated to Dixie, approximately 10 miles out from the city. Later the club moved to  Île-Bizard, Quebec in 1959. There the club remains today with an 80,000 square foot clubhouse that is the home of North American golf. Here the club has three modern golf courses: the Blue, Red and Dixie course which has nine holes.

The Blue Course is one that has been rated among the top 100 within North America. The course stretches some 7,153 yards overall. On the latter nine holes there are some substantial lakes which surround the 15, 16 and 17th hole, bringing water into play along their fairways. The 17th par-3 hole includes a green separated from the tee box by water, reminiscent of Augusta's Golden Bell hole. As a venue of the PGA Tour it has hosted the Presidents Cup.

As a the home of golf in North America the club is steeped in history. Here you can also play at one of Canada's great courses. Check out the Royal Montreal site for further details on the historic club.

Golf in the Maldives

So it's clear that the floating island golf course is set to put the Maldives on the golfing map. But that's not exactly set to be the first golf course in the Maldive island chain. In actual fact two golf courses are already there.

One of the golf courses can be found at the Kuredu Island Resort. You can reach the Kuredu Island via seaplane, and here there are some lovely tropical beaches. This resort has also added it's very own golf course.

However, that golf course has just six holes. All the holes included here are par-3s. The average yardage of the holes is approximately 55 yards, and so it is more of a pitch and putt golf course. But the resort does include a range as well.

At Shangri-La's Villingili Resort there is an altogether larger golf course. That is a new golf course which is located across seven and a half hectares of land. This is a nine hole golf course with holes that average 123 yards. If that is so then it should be 1,107 yards. The course has a variety of exotic plants, palms and pandanus scattered alongside the holes and adjacent beach coves.  

I checked the course map, and the more exciting holes here could be the ninth and third. Those holes seem to have the most distance, and also play alongside the coastline. The ninth finishing hole includes the most bunkers, and also has a small lake (or possibly pond) located just ahead of the green. Check out the course's website for further details, photos and the map.  

So, you can now play golf in the Maldives at these golf courses. Even if the courses lack distance, they still have some great landscapes alongside the sea. When the floating golf course becomes the first full sized 18 - hole course in the Maldives who knows what could follow with additional man made islands.

The First Floating Golf Course

An island in the Maldives.

Golf courses up mountains and in deserts are one thing, but now the first floating golf course is to be constructed. It is at the Maldives, a low elevation island chain in the Indian Ocean, that plans have been drafted for a new floating golf course that will be surrounded by sea water. Forget about Pebble Beach, as this will be more than a mere coastal course.

This golf course is just a part of a wider plan in the Maldives to replace sinking, or flooded, islands with a network of new artificial islands. The Maldives have turned to the Dutch Docklands International to construct a series of new man made islands. Among them will be the floating golf course that will consist of three small interconnected floating islands, and that is supposed to pave the way for the construction of further islands in the Maldives. One of the architects stated, "When it comes to the golf course, the islands will be floated into position first and then the grass will be seeded and the trees planted afterwards."

The golf course's islands will be interconnected with a series of underwater tunnels. The underwater glass tunnels will be a little like some of those aquariums you might find. Check out the images from Daily Mail's report. The course's clubhouse will also be connected underwater, via elevator.

The more specific destination for this new golf course will be just off the Maldive capital, that of Male. It is expected that a short speed boat ride will be required to reach the course from there. The course is scheduled to be complete sometime in 2013, and the overall resort by 2015. Then you can play at the first floating golf course!

Amateur Golfer Makes Top 10 of Technorati's Golf Blog Rankings

Amateur Golfer is now ranked among the top 10 Technorati golf blogs! It was ranked 10th (although may have dropped to 12th) in the rankings. Here's a shot of the Technorati ranking page when it was in the top 10:

Hopefully this upward trend will continue, and who knows how much further the blog can climb in their rankings. Keep coming back, I promise more posts.

What to Check For When Selecting a New Golf Bag for Your Clubs

A golf bag is a fairly essential bit of kit for the golf course which is used for carrying the golf clubs. As such, unless you hire golf clubs with a bag you will need to have your own golf bag for the golf course. Overall, there are a few types of golf bags, and here are a few things to look for when upgrading your golf bag.

Firstly, you should consider whether the golf bag is a female or male bag. The main difference between these bags is that ladies bags are usually a little shorter than the male bags because ladies golf clubs are also shorter. In addition to this, they can also have additional extras and variable designs.

As mentioned, there are various different types of golf bags, and so this is also something to consider. For example, there are cart bags, stand bags, and tour bags. The main difference between the cart bag and stand bag is that the cart bag is designed to go into the back of golf carts. If you happen to ride around golf courses in the carts then cart bags are something to look for. If not, then you can overlook them in favor of other alternatives.

Those other alternatives include the stand bags and tour bags. The stand bag is a golf bag that comes with stands, and this is really the most prevalent golf bag for the course. With these stands the golf bag will not need to be rested on anything, or put on the ground. As such, stand bags are the better bag for most.

The tour bags are really the largest of golf bags that are included on the PGA Golf Tour. In the pro game tour bags are more prevalent because the golfers usually need to fill the bags up with the maximum number of golf clubs. Then, in addition to this numerous other accessories. If you are after a large golf bag then the tour bags are certainly something to look out for. If not, then you may want to overlook them in favor of smaller alternatives.

As such, the size and dimensions of a golf bag is certainly something to take note of when looking for a new golf bag. While larger bags such as the tour bags will certainly be able to fit more of the largest clubs, and more accessories, it's worth noting that they are also not particularly light-weight. Most amateurs will not have caddies to carry their bags, so this is a disadvantage. Equally, most amateurs will not likely take a full set of clubs onto the course, and so smaller light-weight bags can be a better alternative. Either way, the size and weight is certainly something to note.

Aside from this, it's also worth checking how many dividers the golf bag has for golf clubs. The number of dividers the bags have for golf clubs is one of the biggest variations between golf bags. For those who take more than a half set out onto the golf course there more dividers for golf clubs will likely be required.

In addition to this, it's also worth noting how many additional pockets the golf bag may have. A good number of additional pockets may be required, not just for golf balls and golf tees, but for bottles, wallets, and additional golf gloves. In this respect, a golf bag with a number of pockets, or some large pockets, is something to look for as well.

These are just a few things to consider when looking for a new golf bag. Check whether the bag is a men or ladies bag, check whether it is a cart or stand bag, consider the size and weight of the bag, note how many dividers the bag includes, and also check how many pockets the golf bag includes.

Mountain Golf Courses

Have you ever played golf up a mountain? Probably not, and it should be noted that very few golf courses are actually located on mountains. But then there are a wide variety of great golf courses that still have scenic mountain settings. Those are courses that sit right next to, or within the proximity of, mountain ranges so that they are integral part of the course landscape. These are a few of the more famous mountain golf courses to note.  

Banff Springs Golf Club

The Rocky Mountains at Banff

One of the most highly rated golf courses in Canada is the one at Banff Springs. This has a fantastic mountain setting with the course located beside the Canadian Rockies. The Stanley Thomson course at this resort is set among a forest of pine trees, as well as the Bow River which runs alongside its holes. But its the towering mountain located right beside this course which dominates the landscape.  

From the black tees the course stretches some 7,000 yards. Its most famous hole is most probably the par-3 fourth hole. That is a 192 yard hole which includes a lake that separates the green from the tee. The Canadian Rockies tower above the hole which is rated among the top 18 in the game. But the course is not a one hole wonder, and includes a great stretch of holes along its back nine as well.  

Troon North  

At the Troon North club, in Arizona, there are two 18 – hole courses. Those are the Mountain Course and Pinnacle Course, which may sound familiar as I might have added a blog post about them previously. Those are desert courses which are set alongside the foothills of Pinnacle Peak Mountain, and the Troon Mountain and McDowell Mountains are also nearby.

Royal County Down

Hey, this one might be familiar too! Check out the last blog post for further details. And of course this is another that has a fantastic mountainous landscape. There it's the majestic Mountains of Mourne that provide the backdrop for this course. One of the top ranked golf courses in N Ireland, this is one with an exciting compilation of holes.  

Gallery at Dove Mountain

The Gallery Golf Club North Course is a modern golf course located in Arizona. Alongside this golf course is the minor mountain range of the Tortolita Mountains which rise some 4,652 ft. The two golf courses, which include the North Course, have considerable average elevation of approximately 2,875 yards.

There's considerable desert landscape here, and the course's holes meander through two rugged canyons. It's ranked among the top golf courses in Arizona, and also boasts one of the longest holes in the United States. That's the one which extends some 725 yards, and there's already a post about that hole on the blog.

La Quinta Mountain Course

The Santa Rosa Mountains

The Quarry at La Quinta is a scenic 18-hole golf course. It's a golf course that has relatively level fairways. Nestled along the Santa Rosa Mountains, in California, its holes flirt with the mountains. Holes such as the second and 14^th  both lie at the steps of the surrounding mountains. Its 16^th hole includes an island green surrounded by rocky desert landscape.

Those are a few of the more famous mountain golf courses. Here there's some great mountain landscapes alongside the courses. 

The Top Ranked Golf Courses in Northern Ireland

There are some great golf courses in N Ireland. Golf Digest Ireland has ranked the top 100 courses in Ireland, a few of which are among the top ranked within Britain. These are the highest ranked N Ireland courses in Golf Digest Ireland's rankings.

Portstewart Strand  

Portstewart Strand course is one of the top ranked courses in N Ireland. The course is set among gigantic sand dunes alongside the Inishowen peninsula and Causeway Coast. From its championship tees it is a 6,912 yard golf course. There's plenty of great holes at this course, but it's the first opening hole, a downhill 425 yard par-4, that is perhaps the most exciting.  

Mount Juliet Golf Course

This golf course is ranked at 15^th within their rankings. The course is located in a country estate just outside Thomastown. It extends up to 7,112 yards, although this can be more like 5,554 yards from other tees. Mount Juliet has a wooded layout with holes that have plenty of trees and rolling fairways. Water also comes into play on eight of the course's holes. The most notable holes on this course are its finishing holes that include lake alongside their fairways and greens.

Royal Portrush G.C.

The Royal Portrush Dunluce Course is one of N Ireland's foremost golf courses that is approximately 7,143 yards. This is located at the Causeway Coast, close to Dunluce Castle. It is more famous as the one golf course in N Ireland that has hosted a major golf championship, that of the British Open.

Among its signatures holes is the fourth. That's a long par-4 golf hole that extends some 480 yards. Several bunkers run alongside its undulating fairway, and the green is located between two small sand hills.

Royal County Down G.C.

The top ranked golf course in Ireland, and beyond the United States, is that of Royal County Down. This is located below the majestic Mountains of Mourne. Combined with the Dundram Bay coastline it is a scenic golf course with great landscapes. Royal County Down G.C includes an exhilarating front nine routed near the sea which have dunes that rise some 40 feet above you.  

The ninth 486 yard par-4 is among the course's highlights. Here you play from an elevated tee atop a hilltop, with the fairway some 80 feet below it. As such, it provides an ideal vantage point for the surrounding landscape. Along the fairway there is a wide corridor which sits between a couple of sand hills. It is ranked among the great 18 holes in the sport.

These courses are great venues for golf. They are among the top ranked courses in Golf Digest's rankings. For the full rankings check out this page.

Tee Box tips

At the tee box your ball position could be essential to the overall score for that hole. Where you put the ball in the tee box, and its relative position for the set up, can be essential. Let us consider how that can enhance your scoring.

Let's suppose you were playing the 18th at Pebble Beach Links. That's an 18th hole with a lake along the left side of the fairway. If you tee up on the left side of the tee box, and the ball then flies further to the left, that could potentially leave you in the Pacific Ocean. Add one stroke and tee off again!

As a suggestion, play a provisional ball if you're not sure if you'll find your ball. Then you won't have to walk back to the tee box if the first balls disappeared. If you do find the first ball you need not include the provisional ball for the scoring.

If the reverse is true, and you're playing a hole where you could lose your ball on the right, either in water or trees, do not tee up on the right. If you pull shots more to the left then at least position your ball center. If more of your balls go to the right then you should station the ball as far left to the tee box as possible.

What if the fairway bends to the left or right? If that is so then tee up further left if the fairway bends right. If it's the opposite, then place your ball more to the right of the tee box.

If you're playing a shorter par-3 hole, less than 150 yards, then note the position of the pin (or flag). If the pin is located in a larger spot to the left of center on the green place the tee more to the right of the tee box. As it stated in my golf book, "This will give you best angle to the flagstick."

With regard to the set up, place the ball further left for longer clubs, and more to the center for the short irons. Make sure you don't tee the ball up too far to the left or the ball could fly leftwards. If too far to the right it might be sky high with reduced distance.

The golf tees can come in variable sizes. Generally the longer the club the larger the tee you'll need. With the longer woods at least an inch of tee should be above the grass. For short irons with more loft select shorter tees, and press them down more. If you tee the ball too high then you could undercut it, sending the ball skywards with little distance.

More effective tee box positions will ensure you land on the fairway or green with greater regularity. Check the hole layouts with score cards beforehand, and then position your ball appropriately.

Great Dye Golf Courses

The architect, Pete Dye, has opened some famous golf courses in the United States and beyond. Some of Dye's courses are regular PGA Tour venues, and are ranked among the top golf courses. These are a few of the more famous Dye golf courses.

The Players Stadium Course (TPC Sawgrass)

As the seasonal venue for the Players Championship you might have heard of this one already. This course is set within 415 acres of Florida Swampland. The Players Stadium Course extends some 7,215 yards from the gold tees, although this can be reduced to almost 5,000 from its green tee positions. Along its fairways there are a variety of waste bunkers, otherwise long strips of sand, and the course includes slick putting greens.

This course includes the great Island Green hole. That's a short par-3 hole that has a green located in the middle of a lake. At 132 yards you can probably reach the green with an 8-iron, and certainly a seven, but if the ball lands a few yards off it then it's in the water.  

The finishing hole at this illustrious course is also among the more exciting. The 462 yard par-4 has a fairway that plays alongside a large lake. It's similar to the 18^th at Pebble Beach, with water dominating the left flank of the hole.

Whilstling Straits

Whilstling Straits Course is located in Wisconian. This is a golf course that is located alongside two miles of Lake Michigan, and so there's plenty of water on the holes. Eight of its holes play alongside it. The course is also notable for its rolling greens, grass-topped dunes and elevation variations. Having hosted the PGA Championship its a notable championship course, and among the top ranked in the United States.

It extends some 7,790 yards. As such, its holes have plenty of distance. Among them the par-5 fifth hole which is 603 yards. With a hole layout that zigzags from left to right this is the Snake hole. Here a notable slice of the lake comes into play with water along the left side of the hole's fairway.  

Harbour Town Links

The Harbour Town Links is another of Dye's classic golf courses. This golf course, located in South Carolina, is one that is ranked among the top golf courses in the United States. It is approximately 7,101 yards, and is dominated largely by par-4 holes. Along its holes are narrow fairways, oaks, pines, dark lagoons and palmettos.

The signature hole is most probably that of the 18^th. This is a 472 yard par-4 that plays alongside the Calibogue Sound on the left side of its fairway. Behind its Bermuda grass green is that of the red and white striped Harbour Town lighthouse which rises some 90 feet.

The Ocean Course

This Dye golf course is one of five at the Kiawah Island resort in South Carolina. Having hosted the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship the Ocean Course is probably the most famous. As a course located on the coast it has some scenic coastal golf holes which cover some 7,365 yards. Check out this post for further details.  

The Ocean Course, Players Stadium Course, Harbour Town Links and Whilstling Straits are among the most famous Dye golf courses. They include innovative holes combined with scenic landscapes, and are certainly exciting golf courses to play at. The best thing is they are all resort courses which can be played at without club membership.

Golf Vacation Destinations: Bandon Dunes

The Brandon Dunes golf resort at Brandon, Oregon could be a suitable destination for your golfing vacation. This is the resort that tops Golf Digest's top resorts in North America. With four top class golf courses located on the Pacific coastline there's plenty of variety at this resort.

Among its courses is that of the Pacific Dunes golf course. The course extends some 6,633 yards. This is a course that has a variety of holes that play alongside the ocean, such as the par-4 13^th. This is a course with shore pines and 60 acre sand dunes. As the architect notes, “The rippling fairways are very much as we found them; so are the natural bunkers at the 2nd, 7th, 11th, 13th, 16th, and 18th holes, which guided our routing.” Golf Magazine ranks it the top public golf course in the United States.

Or you can play the Bandon Dunes Course. This is located on a bluff elevated above the Pacific Ocean. As it unfolds across pristine native dunes a variety of the course's holes have scenic ocean views.  

The Bandon Trails golf course is one that merges with sand dunes and the coastal forest. This is a 6,732 yard par- 71 course. Unlike other courses at the resort it does include any coastal holes.  

The longest course at this resort is that of Old MacDonald which extends 6,944 yards. This is the most recent layout to be added to Brandon Dunes. Old MacDonald begins further inland, plays across dunes on the third hole and then the course expands to the resort's Pacific coastline. Along its holes there are notable variations in elevation, and some huge greens are included. At the 377 yard par-3 there is an uphill climb to the hole which is plopped atop a dune ridge with the ocean below. With a variety of coastal holes it seems the course is comparable to other gems at the resort.

With a collection of great modern golf courses the Brandon Dunes resort is one to note. Check out its website for further details.

Golf Course Reviews: Old Course St Andrews

St Andrews Links, in Scotland, is considered the home of golf. This is because it is one of the oldest golf courses. Golf was being played at St Andrews some time before the first United States golf courses were established in America. As such, it is a great golf course.

To begin with the basic stats. The Old Course is an 6,721 yard 18-hole golf course. Overall, the golf course is a par 72. For the most part the golf course is dominated by par-4 holes, with two par 5s and two par-3s included among its 14 par-4 holes. The female Old Course is shorter than the male course, and includes a number of short par-5 holes.

The Old Course is a links course, and is one that is notable for its bunkers. The golf course has over 100 bunkers scattered among its holes. Some of these bunkers are many feet deep, and can trap any golfer.

In addition to this, the Old Course is also renowned for its giant double greens. These double greens are two greens combined, with a number of the Old Course's holes sharing the same greens. In fact, only a few of the holes at the course have their own greens.

Given its great championship history, St Andrews has a few famous holes. Among the most notable of these is the 17th Road Hole. The Road Hole is a long par-4 which is almost 500 yards long. The replica sheds that stretch out from the Road Hole Hotel require tee-shots over onto the fairway. This hole also includes the Road Hole Bunker, which is one of the deepest bunkers on the Old Course. The longest hole on the Old Course is the par-5 14th, which is 530 yards from the white tees.

As mentioned, the course is a great championship golf course. The golf course has staged the UK Open 28 times. Many of the game's great golfers have played and won at St Andrews Old Course including Nicklaus and Woods. Most recently Louis Oosthuizen won the UK Open at the Old Course. Other notable golf championships that have been staged at the Old Course include the Dunhill Links Championship and the Walker Cup.

Overall, the Old Course is one of the game's more famous courses. The course is a public one, and the St Andrew's resort also has further accompanying golf courses. For further details visit the St Andrew's website.

Golf Course Elevation

A number of golf courses have variable elevations. Golf course architecture can include holes that have tees someway above the green, from an elevated tee box, or alternatively they can be below the green if the hole has some upward slopes. As stated in a previous blog post overall course altitude will impact distance, but so too can variable elevation on the course itself.

Any ball will travel further on a hole that has elevated positions than one that is entirely flat. For example, let us suppose that a par-3 hole has a tee box 50 feet above the green and hole. If you select the same club that you usually would for the equivalent distance the ball might land 20 yards past the green.

In my KISS golf book it states, "Generally speaking, for every ten to 15 feet of elevation change... you need to change your club selection to the next club up." So, if you were 50 yards above the green then you might have to select a club with a number three bigger, i.e. an 8-iron instead of 5-iron, than what you may select if the hole were flat. This would compensate for the extra distance on a short par-3 hole.

But what if the green is elevated above the tee box?  There are quite a few holes that can have elevated greens, with upward slopes, such as the seventh Pampas hole at Augusta National. On that hole there is an upward approach to the green. If there's an upward elevation of 50 feet, with the green about 50 feet higher than yourself, then that will mean that you'll have to select a longer club to enhance your distance.

Your distance may be enhanced or decreased with holes that have variable elevation. If there's any notable elevation changes on the hole you should select an alternative golf club.