capt_photo_1268884824708-1-0A short time ago it appeared as if Tiger and Elin were trying to salvage their marriage after he had completed the first part of his sex addiction treatment. Now it is rumored that Elin will be returning home with their children and Tiger Woods will be competing in The Masters without his wife and family in the stands cheering him on. This is a good indication that the reconcilliation is not going well and it may be over for them.  

The big question is will his personal problems and the lay off from golf competition affect his performance in The Masters. This is a tough venue to return for and it will be a true test of how this situation has affected perhaps the greatest golfer who ever lived. We should be able to make some determination by how he is hitting golf balls in the first two rounds if he will be around on  Sunday to make a run at the Green Jacket. What do you think? Send in your opinion and comments. Happy Golfing to All!

Hawaii SunWhat a great weekend for golf and outdoor activities in general. Spring is in the air and golf fever is spreading quickly. It was nice to see the sun shining again after the harsh winter months and the “Hurricane Without a Name” just a short weekend ago. My significant other and I enjoyed golf at the Brentwood Country Club on Long Island this past weekend. As noted in previous posts this is a no frills golf course but it does promote and allow walking, which is our prteference whenever possible. Since we were trapped indoors for the past few months due to the snow, rain and cold this was a pleasant reprieve and very enjoyable to be out in the sun and getting some good exercise walking the golf course at the same time.

We started out early and hit some golf balls to warm up before our round. It was a real pleasure especially since it was not crowded and the pace of play was well above average for Brentwood. We played in about four hours, which is great as the average time for a round here is normally five hours plus. I am looking forward to playing golf again very soon to prepare for my Myrtle Beach trip in a few weeks. I played well this past weekend but I still need to fine tune my game and get the rust off before the trip. My buddies are very competitive and if I don’t bring my A- Game I will be paying the tab at the 19th hole after each round which is not my preference. So let’s get the clubs out, shake the rust off and schedule your first round for this golf season if you haven’t already done so. The green fees are still priced at winter rates at most courses so take advantage of the good weather and low prices while you can. Happy Golfing to All!

Can the golf season finally be here? I sure hope so because at this same time last week there was near hurricane conditions throughout the metropolitan area and through much of the northeast, in fact some areas are still without power. This is a new week  and it appears that spring is in the air and golf fever will be catching on soon. We have enjoyed some warm weather over the past few days and the sun has finally come out from behind the clouds. This is the weather that golfers around the country dream about for March.

The weather forecast for this weekend will be most enjoyable for golfing. Hitting golf balls is one of my favorite pastimes and having seventy degree temperatures to actually play on a golf course in March is the icing on the cake. I look forward to the weekend and golf on Saturday and maybe Sunday? I hope you will be joining me. Happy Golfing to All!

imagenewsfetcherThe return of Tiger Woods to golf for The Masters this season was the most logical prediction for the once illustrious golfer. Most of the writers in the golf media, inlcuding myself had determined that this tournament would be the most likely for his return. As good as Tiger is he still needs every chance he can get  if he is to allow himself the opportunity to tie or beat Jack Nicklaus’s incredible 18 major record, which inlcudes six Masters victories.

This goal has been in the forefront of Tiger’s mind since he first held a golf club in his hand. In a few short weeks we will see how the layoff and his personal dilemma has affected his golfing skills. Will he return in true Tiger form or will he even make the cut at Augusta, one of the toughest major venues on the PGA roster? Either outcome is possible but I’m looking forward to his return to golf and to watch him hitting golf balls again as he does like no other since Jack. Happy Golfing to All!

TTH_luanaAs most of you know we’ve had to endure extreme weather conditions in the northeast and also in many other parts of the country. For the past five days the weather has been brutal with torrential rain and high winds causing power outages, property damage and even loss of life. We’ve had enough. It is time to be out doors again, hitting golf balls and playing the game we love.

The projected forecast for this coming weekend is 66 degrees and sunny so guess what I’ll be doing, Golf, Golf, Golf! Can’t wait. I’ve only played once in the past four months and I’m looking forward to the spring and  summer temperatures and hopefully not too rainy April. Let’s shake the rust off, take out the golf training aids and get ready to play golf. Happy Golfing to All!

Hawaii Golf Course -2I’m sorry to say it appears that the Farmers Almanac’s prediction for a harsh and snowy winter was on the money. This winter was not at all conducive for all of us die hard golfers to keep our games in shape for the coming golf season. Now is the time to start to exercise and preparing to allow yourself to play your best once the season arrives, which will hopefully be in a couple of weeks.

Some suggestions to help shake the winter rust off are as follows: 1) Take about ten to fifteen minutes each day and stretch. This will loosen the muscles and allow for a better fluidity in the swing and help avoid injury once the golf season arrives. 2) If weather permits take a few clubs or a weighted club and swing in the backyard which will also promote a better golf swing as the season is quickly approaching. 3) Get out the putting cup and practice rolling those putts whether in your living room, bedroom, den or any other available space in your home. Though not the same as putting on the golf green, you can still practice your set up, lining up your putt,  your grip on the putter, keeping your head down, and your putting stroke, etc. 4)If you have an area in your backyard to actually hit golf balls then take advantage of this opportunity. If the golf range is open in your area this is another opportunity to check out your full swing and get the kinks out prior to the season arriving.

Have fun and Happy Golfing to all!

“The Fairway”

9 March; Author: mikedeagle

When all of the players in your group have hit their tee shots, you will go to the player’s ball that is furthest from the green on that particular hole and allow them to hit first. You will all then proceed to hit your second shots in order of who is furthest from the green or away as referred to in golf lingo, while observing golf etiquette and no longer using a tee.

The subsequent shots must be played where they lie in adhering to the normal rules of golf. In inclement weather conditions or after rain or where there is standing water in the fairway or rough, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and placed without penalty so that a player is not unfairly penalized for abnormal conditions they may encounter on the course on a particular day. There are also winter rules and ground under repair situations whereby you may remove and replace your golf balls in a new location, no closer to the hole, without penalty. The most important thing to remember is to have a good time. Happy Golfing to All!

Ballamor Golf ClubAlthough winter is not yet over the weather this past weekend allowed for an enjoyable round of golf for the first time in almost four months. A good friend invited me to join him at Ballamor Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township in Southern New Jersey. Although over 100 mile trip I gladly drove there to be able to finally play the game I enjoy more than any other. Besides my good buddy Ferd, two other members of our annual golf competition in Myrtle Beach also joined us for some golf fun. I was definitely rusty as I shot almost 100 which is well over my average score of approximately 85.

It felt good to be outdoors in the fresh air and hitting golf balls again. We finished playing about 1:30 pm and then enjoyed a couple of beers and some chicken wings while dividing up the winnings from our golf bets. I actually lost a few dollars because my game was off and I was stiff from the lay off over the winter. Ballamor Golf Club was very well maintained and enjoyable to play. The layout of the golf holes was challenging, interesting and well presented. I would definitely include it on my places to play again list for this coming golf season and I’m already looking forward to my next golf round. Happy Golfing to All!

thumbnail.aspxTiger Woods is for the moment resuming his role as dad and doting husband to Elin and their children. He is back in Orlando and if I had to guess he is also inconspicuously preparing for his return to golf this year in golf’s most prestigious tournament in April, The Masters.

I imagine it will be difficult for him at first to face his peers, golf fans and the press when he appears for the first time in public at the beginning of April, which is only a few short weeks away. But if I know anything about Tiger Woods he will be looking to make a statement by staying in contention from start to finish of The Masters. He’ll be back in form hitting golf balls and competing again in the game he loves. This is speculation on my part but I can’t see him foregoing an important opportunity on his march to golf history and Jack Nicklaus’s remarkable 18 major record. We shall soon see. Happy Golfing to All!

ThumbnailServer2After teeing up your golf ball, pick an object a short distance in front of you that will align your ball with the intended target line of your landing area. When preparing to hit golf balls set your shoulders and chest parallel to that object and target line. This will increase your odds for a successful and accurate swing result more so than just swinging the club at the ball without a target or goal in mind. Make sure to tee the golf ball at the proper height to allow for a good angle of impact. The ball should sit approximately one half of the diameter of the golf ball above the head of the driver when it is grounded adjacent the tee. The main goal of the drive is to get the ball into the air so to achieve maximum distance.

Remember you are just beginning and as much as I love the game of golf it is not an easy game to master for most. It is a game however, that can be played and enjoyed by players of any skill level. So give golf a chance, for “It is truly the game of a lifetime”. Happy Golfing to All!