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by Vince Paxton

Every golfer would agree that no golf course is the same as another. Although playing a variety of courses can be challenging and fun, playing at a home course is going to be different regardless of how many times it has already been played.

Yes, it is the same golf ground. In fact, the only thing that has changed is the cup position on the green. However, no golf course is the same two days in a row or even during that same day. Training golf beginners to understand this concept is often not something they truly learn until they have experienced a course a few times. And this is true whether you are having a holiday in Spain or in your backyard.

Will Smith played in a movie entitled “The Legend of Bagger Vance” in which he expressed to his protégé that the grass follows the sun. A putt that breaks in one direction during the morning will break in the opposite direction that same afternoon.

The weather is one factor that certainly influences the golf course and can make a certain course different day-by-day. In fact, weather conditions are a significant factor in how a golf course plays. For instance, a dry course will play faster than a wet course. On a wet course, the ball does not travel as far after it hits the ground whereas it will roll much farther after hitting dry ground.

The temperature also influences how the course plays. A nicely hit ball will travel farther on a warm day, as compared to colder weather in which the ball will not travel as far. Further, an area that has been dry for a period of time will become nearly as hard as concrete providing extra distance for the ball once it hits the ground. This is the case unless the fairways are watered heavily daily.

The golfer’s attitude and frame of mind also impacts the course. How a golfer reacts to the course influences how he or she will play that day. The game of golf requires a focused, calm mindset so that the golfer can concentrate on each and every shot.

Another factor in how a course can play differently is how the golf ground is kept. Fairways trimmed close to the ground allow for the ball to roll further, whereas a fairway grown longer prohibits the balls from rolling as far.

The rough is another story as well as the other many obstacles you may find on the course like sprinkler heads. Although the rough will always be thick and difficult to pay out of, a wet and heavy rough makes it nearly impossible to do much more than try to chip the ball back to the fairway. Sprinkler heads are another problem golfers often face as they are situated throughout the course and will certainly affect a ball that hits them.

Finally, who is playing with a golfer or whether or not he or she is playing alone will affect how the course is played.

As you see, there are many factors that contribute to the same course being a “different” course no matter how many times a golfer has played it.

Vince Paxton works mostly for http://www.alicante-spain.com , an internet site covering information on golf package spain and golf vacations spain. You might see his work on golf holidays in spain over at http://www.alicante-spain.com .

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by James Beckett

Many times people who are just getting started in the game of Golf become as absorbed in a buying spree as they are in learning to play the game well. The urge to run out and buy professional caliber golf clubs is strong as though owning expensive and high quality clubs will make you a great golfer. But for most new golfers, buying used golf clubs is a smarter move.

For a lot of people, the option of buying used clubs can make starting this new hobby not such a financial strain. And by starting out with a less expensive set, you can find out if you will fall in love with golf for life or if your interest will pass. And if you do find that golf is not a sport you will stick with, you have not sunk so much money into the sport and you can always sell the used clubs for little or no financial loss. But the real value in using inexpensive clubs at first is that you can use this time to find out what you need in a quality set of golf clubs so when you do invest in your permanent set, you are an informed customer.

Even if you do decide that it’s smart to go the used club route, it’s even smarter to not buy in the first few weeks or months of learning to play gulf but to rent clubs at first. You can work out a deal with your favorite golf shop to rent the same set for several weeks so you can get used to them. This way you can focus on learning golf along with what you like and don’t like about how your rental clubs work for you. A side benefit is that by establishing a relationship with the rental shop you like, they can let you know when they are putting used golf club sets on sale and you can get a bargain.

Just because you are going to buy a used set of golf clubs doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get some sage advice about how to shop for good clubs. A set of clubs that is not a good fit to your body and to how you play the game will be a nightmare for you and could ruin your love of the game that is so important especially when you are just starting out. So turn to professionals who know how to evaluate clubs to give you a checklist of what to look for when you are checking out a used set you might want to buy. You will feel so much better about writing that check if you have put the clubs under some scrutiny.

Probably the most important criteria for whether this set of clubs is a good choice for your first set is the “feel” of the clubs when you hold them and use them to swing or put. You notice in the golf shop, golfers always have the clubs out getting into position to see how the club feels in use. For you as a novice, you need to first understand how a golf club is supposed to feel in your hands so you know if the one you will buy feels right. The club should feel comfortable, not be awkward to use and help you with the shot you want rather than get in the way. By playing a few weeks or longer before even buying used, you will have some experience in this type of club evaluation.

The quality of materials in a good set of golf clubs will make or break your game. The heads of a good set of used clubs should be stainless steel and not an alloy that will not perform well in play. Good designs for golf clubs especially at the beginner level are what is called perimeter weighted clubs, cavity backed clubs which means they are hollow near the back of the club or clubs with larger or oversized heads. Buying clubs with larger heads gives you a bigger striking surface which means more of your shots will perform well as you learn the game. Then once you are accomplished at golf, you can buy conventional sized golf clubs to use long term.

But the heads are not the only aspect of the golf club you should learn to consider when looking at used clubs. The long part of the club that makes up the shaft should make for an easy swing and be light and easy to handle. But in your early weeks of golfing, you learned that the grip is a crucial part of the golf club and it must be right for you to be a success. But if the grips of the used clubs are a bit worn, that’s not a big deal because they can be fixed inexpensively. But even before that is fixed, test how the club feels when you hold it and take some test swings in a drive or putt position so you know if all of the parts of the club work well for you.

Shopping for this first set of clubs is both exciting and intimidating. By getting some criteria such as we have described here and with your check list from the golf pro in hand, you will be a smarter shopper. And when you take each club out and put it through its paces as part of the evaluation process, you will feel better about your ability to ask questions and interact with the club owner and about your final decision whether it is to go ahead and buy the clubs or keep on looking.

If you are looking for the best then check out this article on golf shafts in graphite to cut through the hype and find out if they really are as good as people say.

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by John Bakers

Most golfers have a nine-iron in their golf bag, but perhaps many golfers do not know exactly what its intended used is. This is, probably, even more true for beginner golfers who are still trying to figure the use of every golf iron in their bag.

The nine-iron is not to be used if the ball is farther than 130 yards from the green. If it the ball is any further back, he or she would want to choose a seven-iron or eight-iron. Although the nine-iron does have a highly angled club head, for a regular golf iron, it simply does not get the loft you would get from a lofting, pitching, chipping or sand wedge. However, the nine-iron does offer more distance than the wedge clubs.

At this point, those new to playing golf may ask why the nine-iron is even included in the golf bag. It is heavy enough as it is. The nine-iron does serve a purpose, though. It is a good short-range utility club that provides good elevation from the fairway and back to the green. It can also be used to chip with and also works well as a sand wedge in the event a sand wedge is needed but not available.

There are times when a nine-iron can be used as a substitute for the seven-iron or eight-iron. If the golfer finds him or herself 180 from the hole, a nine-iron can be used but with some extra thought. The golfer may want to consider intentionally blading the golf ball to gain some additional distance, though this would sacrifice some elevation. Such shots are sometimes required during a game since a seven-iron or eight-iron might be too much club for the distance. Of course, golf courses vary resulting in much depending on that course and the obstacles the golfer may be facing for the shot in question.

For chipping within 100 yards, the nine-iron is one of the better clubs to choose. The golfer can get more elevation with the ball, yet cut the distance, if the ball is placed in back of his or her stance. Keeping his or her feet closer together makes it difficult for the golfer to strike the ball as hard which will result in the ball not flying the green (when a ball carries over the green when hit).

Additionally, the nine-iron is a good club if the golfer is playing a short par 3 hole which are as short as 100 yards on some golf courses. In fact, using anything more than a nine-iron will be too much. Stance is important here as well since the golfer does not want to drive the ball too far. A closed stance in this case will help him or her limit the distance the ball travels, and placing the ball further back in his or her stance will cause the ball to get loft faster. If struck correctly, the ball should fly perfectly onto the green, hopefully rolling into the cup or at least close to it.

As you see, the nine-iron serves a good purpose and is, certainly, a club to have in your bag!

John Bakers very often publishes web pages on things associated to golf clubs in murcia and map of murcia golf courses. On his site one can find his abstracts on golf clubs in murcia and la manga golf courses.

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by Guy Morris

Have you ever thought about when or where golf originated? Golf actually originated around five centuries ago. In fact, James II of Scotland had banned golf by an act of Parliament in 1457 due to the game’s interference with military combat drills. Historians and avid golfers generally agree that the Scots were the first golfers who became somewhat addicted to the game. However, who actually invented golf is still a matter of debate.

Some have suggested that bored shepherds became very skilled at knocking round stones into rabbit holes with their wood staffs. Turning such “entertainment” into a competitive game was seemed inevitable, especially considering shepherds at the time were all men who by nature tend to be quite competitive.

As early as the fourteenth century, various forms of the game were being played in France, Holland, Belgium and Scotland. As such, the debate as to golf’s origin is justifiably fueled by several countries not only knowing about golf but also playing it.

However, another fact we do know is that Scottish Baron James VI delivered the game of golf as it is known today. For years, golf was played on extremely rugged terrain where no upkeep was needed as opposed to the golf courses today requiring a significant amount of maintenance and upkeep. In the past, the “course” or terrain consisted of holes cut into the ground in areas where it was acceptably flat.

In 1744, a group of golfers from Edinburgh were the first to establish an organized golf club known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Thirteen golf laws were drawn up for the club’s annual competition with the first competition including players from any part of Ireland and Great Britain.

An early golf club formed beyond the boundaries of Scotland, golf’s debatable origin, was the Royal Blackheath Golf Club of England which was established in 1766. In 1818, another golf club was founded on the Kersal Moor known as the Old Manchester Golf Club.

Golf clubs began to form in North America by the late 1800’s with the Quebec Golf Club and Royal Montreal Club as two of the first established. Golf did not resurface in the United States more fervently until 1888. But, Scotsman John Reid built the first course but not like the courses today. The course was a simple course of only three holes near in New York and, thereafter, the St. Andrews Club of Yonkes was built near this three-hole course but now set on a beautiful thirty-acre site.

Although slow at first, golf quickly became the new favorite pastime in America. Founded in 1891, the Shinnecock Hills was quite modern for its time as compared to some golf clubs. Before the century closed, though, North America saw more than a thousand esteemed golf clubs open.

The game of golf is interesting in terms of its historical value. The path it took to develop from the shepherds playing in the field to the breathtaking, impressive golf courses we are familiar with today leads it to be no surprise that the game is now one of the most popular pastimes throughout the world.

Concentrating on the topic of golf in benidorm, Guy Morris is writing mostly for http://www.alicante-spain.com . You can learn about his abstracts on benidorm golf courses and golf in benidorm on his site.

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by Vince Paxton

If you are a beginner golfer, there is a good chance you have never heard the terms stimp meter or stimp rating. In fact, the occasional golfer who heads out to the course for leisure may also not know what a stimp rating is. But, a stimp meter is rather important to the speed of a course so it does help to know about it, even if just a little.

Now, if you have played golf for any significant length of time, whether playing on golf propertyin Costa Rica or Spain, you have probably heard experienced golfers mention how a golf green is “stimping.” In short, a stimp meter is a tool used to measure the speed of a golf course. The stimp rating is obtained by rolling a ball down a small ramp (stimp meter) in eight varying directions. The rating is actually the average distance the ball rolls after touching the green.

For example, a stimp rating of ten indicates that, based on eight separate rolls, the ball rolled an average of ten feet after reaching the green. Most golf courses that are part of the Professional Golfers Association run at a stimp rating anywhere from 10 to 12. The higher the stimp rating, the faster the course will be. Most local golf courses maintain an average stimp rating between seven to ten.

Unless you are playing competitively or alongside other golfers who play competitively, you probably will care very little about the stimp rating of a course. Regardless, the stimp rating really is quite important and can impact your game. Actually, it may explain why you had a “bad” day on the green. For example, you may score fairly well on a local course with an average rating whereas you may score much lower on a course with a higher stimp rating and, consequently, a faster course.

Something else to consider in measuring the stimp rating is the turf you are playing on. In the past, the difference between the stimp rate between artificial turf and natural grass was obvious. However, manufactures today are more much serious about artificial grass. Many have developed a unique “natural bend” feature that moves just as real grass. With that in mind, there really should be little difference in the stimp meter reading with the artificial turf today.

For golfers who prefer to putt at home to get some extra practice time, you can buy an outdoor synthetic turf to use in your backyard. If you know the stimp rating of the next course you will play, you can adjust the putting green’s rating to that of the anticipated course. Of course, with any purchase, research the product and manufacturer to get a good grasp of the pros and cons of the practice green before you go out and purchase a particular system.

If the speed of a course is really not that important to you, then you probably need to know little, if anything, about the stimp rating at the courses on which you play. However, if someone asks you how the golf green is stimping, you can now impress them with an answer!

Vince Paxton wrote primarily for http://www.alicante-spain.com , a website on costa blanca golf . His comments on blanca costa golf property are found on http://www.alicante-spain.com/costa_blanca_golf_courses.html .