The Golf Slice

I’m sure some of you out there think you’re good enough at the game of golf to turn professional and start your own golf career. If you’re thinking about going pro, or just interested in finding a new job in the golf industry, you might want to check into the program the San Diego Golf Academy has to offer for aspiring golf professionals.

There are a lot of golf schools around the United States but the San Diego Golf Academy is certainly one of the best. The SDGA is a two-year golf college that offers both golf instruction and courses on golf business management. Graduates from SDGA have an excellent chance of finding a job in the golf industry upon graduation. The school currently has a 90% placement rate for students completing their 16-month program.

The San Diego Golf Academy has schools available in four states: California, Arizona, South Carolina and Florida. Students who attend are not required to have a particular handicap but if you’re concerned you might not be good enough you can talk to the staff at the SDGA beforehand and they can direct you as to whether or not the school or program is right for you.

A lot of new golfers forget one of the basic principles of golf: you have to swing down in order to make the ball go up. This applies to every golf club you have in your golf bag except for the putter and your driver.

Beginners sometimes think they have to lift up during their swing to get lift on the ball and that’s just not true. When you hit the golf ball on a downward swing the ball gets lift based on the clubhead alone.

You don’t need to “lift” up to get the ball in the air during your swing. When you do try and force that lift you end up missing the ball completely or hitting an awfully weak shot.

As always, if you’re unsure turn on the television and watch the professionals swing to get a better idea of what you should and shouldn’t be doing.

It’s apparently putting week here at the Golf Slice. I talk about it a lot on this blog (probably way too much) but it’s such an important part of the game of golf and people have such a hard time with it that I feel its important to discuss it as much as possible.

I thought I’d toss out a really simple method for lining up a putt. A lot of golfers, beginners or advanced players alike, tend to stand or squat behind their golf ball and try and line their putt up from that position. That’s fine and I do that myself but there’s another method you can try.

The next time you’re ready to line up your putt try walking the line to the cup. Try and do this without stepping in either your ball’s or anyone else’s path though to avoid potentially disrupting their shot. Walk the line of the ball in short intervals and as you go try and examine the slope and condition of the green.

By checking things out in small chunks you’ll actually have a better idea of the big picture of the green conditions and hopefully help you make a smarter putt.

You might want to file this under the “Hardcore Golfer” category but some people like to get down and find out which way the grass on a green is growing before they putt.

The theory, I suppose, is that grass growing towards the hole will make the ball run faster to the cup. Then the opposite would be true for grass growing away from the hole. Your ball will travel slower on its path.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of tips and tricks people suggest and try for putting. I’m not personally sold 100% on this grass direction idea but if you’re struggling with your putter it might be something to check out for yourself.

Just don’t get caught on your hands and knees inspecting grass growth patterns in front of your good friends. That sounds pretty embarrassing.

Over the last few summers I’ve noticed more and more people at my regular courses with their own golf carts. They usually haul them to the course themselves on a trailer but I’ve also heard, from time to time, about people storing their carts on the actual course themselves and paying a fee.

A lot of folks, particularly retirees, who now live out their golden years living in a condo on a golf course have their own golf carts. Owning your own golf cart is obviously not for everyone. You would probably need to either be a diehard player or someone with a lot of free time to get full use out of the purchase.

The used golf cart market is surprisingly large. You can find a used golf cart to fit your needs for as low as a thousand dollars or as high as several thousand dollars. If you’re looking to do a bit of customization to your cart check into golf cart lift kits. You can get a lift kit for a bunch of different makes and models of golf carts.

As a new golfer a lot of emphasis is placed on your swing and making contact with the ball. That’s fine but as your game improves and your time on the golf course increases you need to begin paying more and more attention to your grip on the golf club.

Everyone has their own style and way to grip a golf club that they develop over the course of time. The really important part of the grip is that it gives you enough control over your golf club. A lot of people talk about the feel in your hands and whatnot but I’m more about the end result.

The “feel” folks want you to have one solid presence between your hands, the shaft of the club and down to the clubhead. They’re concerned with making sure you’ve got the right tension and that you aren’t gripping too tight (or not tight enough).

I say practice makes perfect and that you won’t find what feels right until you start seeing results that satisfy you. Once you start making shots you’re happy with analyze your grip and stick with it. There’s no perfect solution for everyone.