Golf Pro Tips

Tip by: Travis Mann, CPGA Professional                  Granite Pointe at Nelson

'COURSE MANAGEMENT'  The next time you find yourself in a unique position on the course, think about how likely you are to pull off the once in a lifetime shot back to the fairway or onto the green. Make the safe play back to the middle, don't try to make up from a poor shot with a miracle shot.

 

Tip by: Lorne Rowe, Golf Pro                  Mountainside at Fairmont

'HOW TO HIT A DOWNHILL SHOT' On today's new courses, with all the mounds and swails, knowing how to hit a downhill shot is a must. Start by taking one less club than usual as the slope will deloft your club. Play the ball further back in your stance and tilt your shoulders in the direction of the slope. Following this advice will bring the club up at a better angle, to strike the ball first rather than the ground.

 

Tip by: Brian Schaal, CPGA Head Golf Professional                   Eagle Ranch Golf Resort

'MORE DISTANCE, PLEASE' Hitting the ball further depends on 2 factors: flexibility and muscle strength. Flexibility can be improved through a stretching program, which will increase your range of motion and your overall strength. Muscle strength can be improved through a proper and safe weight training program. Golf is a rotational sport, so your workouts should be focused on core strengthening and on the muscles that provide stability and balance. The top players in the world are great examples of flexibility and strength. Always consult with your doctor or professional fitness instructor prior to starting a weight lifting program.

 

Tip by: Billy Kulyk, CPGA                   Riverside at Fairmont

'POSTURE FOR A BETTER BACK' When setting up over the ball, we sometimes tend to have poor posture and this can cause stress on our back & neck areas. A good practice is to set up in front of a mirror at home and check out your upper body posture position to see if your back is nice and straight, and not hunched over. Practice a proper set up for a healthy body.

 

Tip by: Jordan Ray, CPGA Head Professional                  The Springs at Radium

'HITTING INTO THE WIND' Most people make the mistake of trying to hit the ball hard when they are faced with a shot into a headwind. The result of this, is a shot that balloons into the air and gets caught in the wind. Try these simple things to minimize the wind effects: Play the ball back in your stance; this limits the loft of your club. Press your hands forward slightly, this will also decrease the relative loft of your club. During your swing, make sure you are leading with your hands, again so that you are not adding loft to the club. And, remember, you are htting this shot into the wind, take an extra club and trust the shot and swing easy.