Ladies Golf Attire and Fashion

Ladies Golf Attire and Fashion

I was perusing Golf for Women the other day and

wondered where are the women who wear the golf attire

modeled in women’s golf magazines? I’ve never seen

women, professionals included, who would dress in such

expensive and outrageous clothes!

It’s easy to spend money outfitting yourself for golf.

Hats, sunglasses, gloves, shirts, shorts, socks,

windbreakers and shoes all add up quickly, even if you

shop the sales. Add in equipment, bag and cart and you

have to play quite often to keep down the "CPU" - cost

per use.

One glossy advertisement showed a model in short

shorts (like that’s allowed on courses!) that cost

$275, the Tse golf shirt ($595), jacket by Ralph

Lauren ($185) and two-toned Utuser shoes ($425).

That comes up to $1480; I could never hope to get the

CPU on that outfit anywhere near a normal level in my

lifetime! Don’t get me wrong; I love clothes. I really

love shoes, but could never afford, or want, golf

shoes that cost more than the national budget of some

small countries.

Granted, you want comfortable shoes that don’t look

like something your grandmother would wear, but you

can easily find less expensive and fashionable shoes.

I have several really stylish golf outfits, none of

them brand name. If I totaled the cost of all of them

up it would not come up to the price of the Tse golf

shirt. Personally, I’d rather have several stylish

outfits and one outrageously priced one.

If I were to wear a $1480 outfit to play golf, I would

simply be too worried about getting dirty or

perspiring to play a decent round.

How to Choose Golf Shoes

How to Choose Golf Shoes

Your swing will change, your accuracy and distance

will improve with practice, and you’ll become deadly

with a putter, but you will always do these things

while standing on your feet.

Your feet need to be comfortable! Have you ever

developed a blister while walking or running? It’s all

you can think about and it ruins the experience. Don’t

let uncomfortable shoes ruin your golf game.

This is one area where you shouldn’t let your

frugality make the decision for you. You will be

wearing these shoes many times and they should be

considered an investment.

Comfort should be your biggest concern when buying

shoes. Your foot should not move at all on your heel

when you walk, yet your toes shouldn’t feel cramped.

Have you shoes professional fit to your feet and walk

around in them before you buy them.

Proper golf shoes should be waterproof so that your

feet remain dry in damp conditions. Good socks are

important too; they will wick perspiration away from

you feet, keeping your feet dry and comfortable.

All golf courses prohibit metal spiked shoes in the

effort to protect their delicate greens. Purchase

shoes that allow you to change the rubber spikes

easily, and while you’re there, purchase some extras.

You never know when you might lose one. Replace the

spikes when they become worn.

With all the things you have to worry about while

playing golf, your feet shouldn’t be one of them. When

it comes to golf footwear, quality counts.

Golf Etiquette

Golf Etiquette

Golf is a dignified game of rules and manners, and

it’s important to know the basics before you play for

the first time.

Whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or a

foursome, you must wait your turn. You must keep aware

of the group on the next hole and wait until they are

well ahead of you before hitting your ball.

It’s never cool to "push" the group in front of you.

If you are playing with others, wait for your turn to

hit the ball; never hit at the same time as another

player.

While you wait for your turn, go to your ball and

determine what club you’ll need and how you are going

to hit it. This is called "ready golf" and keeps the

game moving. Don’t rush, just be ready.

If your team is holding up the players behind you, let

them play through. You would simply wave them through,

or if they are close enough, ask them if they’d like

to play through. You will never make an enemy in doing

this!

When someone is making a shot, you should be behind

them and you shouldn’t make a sound! It is so

distracting to be ready to tee off and just as you

pull back, someone decides to jingle in coins in their

pocket or noisily unwrap a piece of candy.

Replace your divots. When, in the fairway, you hit the

ball and a clod of dirt and grass goes flying, replace

it. On some courses you just put the clod back and

step on it to press it on; on most courses, there is a

sand/seed mixture on your card to put into the divot.

If your ball makes a deep impression when it lands on

the green, use your divot tool to repair it.

As soon as you have completed a hole, replace the flag

and leave the green so that the next players can play.

Count your score and write it on the scorecard when

you’re back at your cart.

Of course, there are many more rules of golf, but

these simple ones will enable you to get through the

course without coming to blows with anyone. We must

all keep the game dignified, right?

Golf - Beginner Basics II What to keep in your golf bag.

Golf - Beginner Basics II What to keep in your golf bag.

There are many golf bags available, some designed for

fashion, some for utility and some that combine both

features. There are big bags, bigger bags and bags so

big that they would keep everything I need for a long

weekend vacation in one of the side pockets!

Generally speaking, you need a bag just large enough

to hold your clubs, extra balls, your glove, tees, car

keys, extra pencils, ball markers, a ball retriever,

sunscreen, a windbreaker and a large umbrella.

It is also a good idea to have a packet of tissues, a

band-aid or two, and if you play courses where insects

are a problem, a can of bug repellent comes in very

handy.

A small pack of baby wipes come in very handy; in your

bag they get warmed by the heat, so when you get

sweaty or a sand trap covered you with sand, a nice

warm wipe can be very refreshing.

I happen to be allergic to bees, hornets and wasps, so

my Epipen is an important addition to my bag. I am

also hypoglycemic so I carry Lifesavers, which has to

be replaced several times throughout the year because

they tend to melt.

One item that doesn’t need to be in your golf bag is

your cell phone. If you must carry it, turn off the

ringer as a courtesy to other players. If you must use

it, be aware of others who might be taking a swing or

putting their ball. Be considerate!

Having these items in your golf bag should provide

everything you will need, even in a minor emergency

(like a blister) or a major inconvenience, like a

sudden rainstorm. Being prepared makes the game a

great deal more fun.

Golf-Beginner Basics I

Golf-Beginner Basics I

The popularity of golf has increased tremendously over

the past forty five years, giving us champions like

Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods, and

world-renowned courses like Pinehurst, Augusta

National and the Blue Monster at Doral.

Why has golf become so popular? It’s the opportunity

to be outside, to get a good whole body workout,

network with friends or business colleagues at a

leisurely pace, and to play a game that you can never

perfect.

Your scorecard, over time, shows your improvement,

which keeps you playing again and again.

Here is a very basic lesson in golf for the person who

has no clue about the game.

Golf is played on an eighteen-hole course; each hole

has its "par", which is the number of tee shots

(drives), fairway shots, chips (short hits as you

approach the green), and putts.

The par number is based on the length and difficulty

of the hole. Pars range from 3 to 6. If you get the

ball in the hole in five shots on a par five hole, you

"made par." If it took you six shots, it’s called a

bogie, if you made it in four, it’s a birdie.

There are usually "hazards" of some sort on all the

holes. Bodies of water, sand traps, and trees are

strategically placed to make the hole more

challenging. Beginner golfers should seek to find

courses to play that are easier to play, with fewer

hazards.

Each player keeps their own score, marking the number

of total number of shots for each hole. At the end,

each person adds their scores-the lowest number is the

winner.

It is important for beginner golfers to not take

themselves too seriously. It takes a long time to get

good at this game; even though the professionals make

it look so easy.

Take a lesson or two at the onset; it will help you

develop a proper swing and help you get off to a good

start.

Remember that it’s just a game. Have fun and look at

the big picture-you’re outside and you’re not at work!

Golf - Beginner Basics V Putting

Golf - Beginner Basics V Putting

"Drive for show, putt for dough" is the lesson we’ve

all seen and learned from watching professional

golfers in every tournament and championship.

The masters of golf can drive a ball from here to

eternity, but it all boils down to how many strikes of

the ball it takes to put the ball in the hole. The

long accurate drives don’t amount to anything if

you’re unable to putt accurately.

Choosing a putter is important, but using whatever

putter you have consistently is more so. I’ve had the

same putter for fifteen years; I know what it feels

like in my hand, I know its weight and how that plays

into my putts.

Putting takes lots of practice. Typically, we drive

the ball eighteen times in a game, but putt at least

double that number. Doesn’t it stand that we should

practice our putting at least twice as much as

driving? If you can’t get to the practice green

regularly, practice on your carpet at home.

Keep in mind that no ball can make it into the hole if

it doesn’t have enough power behind the ball to get

there. Take the time to get down and look at the path

from your ball to the hole; does it slant one way or

the other? Is it uphill or downhill?

Stand with your feet spread for balance and line up

the putt. Keep you hands, arms and shoulders

completely still; imagine that you are a "bobble head"

but you move from just below your chest. Keep your

head directly over the ball. Pull your club back; keep

your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders steady-the

movement comes from your chest. Hit the ball,

following it with your club.

Learn from each putt and remember the lesson.

Practice, practice, practice!

Golf - Beginner Basics IV The Short Game

Golf - Beginner Basics IV The Short Game

We’ve all the seen the long accurate drives of Tiger

Woods. The ball flies through the air and lands in the

middle of the fairway, 300 yards away.

The green-eyed monster of envy consumes us as we

wonder if we could ever hope to drive like that.

Fortunately, long drives are not the be-all-end-all

game of golf.

Enter the short game. Without good short game skills,

all the long drives are for naught.

The short game is those shots that get us onto the

green from about one hundred feet out, be it from the

fairway, a bunker, the rough or a drop zone and

includes chips, sand shots and pitches.

This is where your higher numbered clubs would be

used, as well as your pitching iron, sand wedge or lob

wedge.

Most golf courses have practice areas as well as a

driving range. Spend some time working on hitting your

ball onto the green from different distances. Aim for

a ten-foot circle in the center of the green at first.

Experiment using your wedges; what works for someone

else, might not work for you and your particular

swing.

After you get accustomed to doing this drill

consistently, it’s time to spend some time in a sand

trap. Knowing how to get the ball out of a trap will

cut your score.

Plant your feet firmly into the sand, with your left

foot turned toward the hole. Imagine a 4-inch circle

around the ball and try to hit the edge of the circle

that is away from the ball.

Take lots of sand with your ball and swing completely.

Don’t decelerate at all when or after you hit the

ball. It should pop up onto the green and stop. This

doesn’t work unless the sand is very soft and powdery.

On hard surfaces, you might need to avoid actually

hitting the sand.

As in all aspects of the game, only practice will help

you to improve.