Golf Die Hard

Perfecting Your Golf Stance Is Essential to Improve Your Game

Golf Die Hard — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:17:00 GMT

**Please welcome our first guest author**

Eric Wilson Ph.D. is a PGA Master Professional and the Vice President of The College of Golf at Keiser University in Port St. Lucie, FL.**

Let's sum up the conversation about perfecting your golf stance and make it simple, direct and without complication. One of the first things taught in pro golf school is the importance of the golf stance and how everything is developed from that point.

Basically there are 5 types of shots in the game.Additionally, there are 3 ways to address the ball. As with most things in life and in golf, variations can and do occur. Circumstances will dictate morphing these generally accepted rules to answer a specific challenge of the moment.Without a clear understanding of the basics, however, your game will likely never get beyond an amateur level. Remember though, “Golf Pros are the Same As Amateurs”….’nobody is consistent”. Trying your hardest to be consistent plays a large part in your success, and of course understanding the basics can help you with consistency.

Addressing the Ball

Generally speaking you will align your toes parallel to the intended flight path you hope the ball to take. From this position you'll adjust your stance based upon the specific action the shot may require in order to be most effective.

Initial drives and long wood shots lend themselves to a closed stance. By this, you'll start with your feet parallel and then move your right foot (for right handed golf swings) back a few inches away from that flight line. Also, you'll want to turn the toes of your right foot out slightly to enhance the effect of closing your hips and overall stance.

The reason for the closed stance is that by turning just slightly to the right your natural swing arc through the ball will now foster the ball to slightly hook. Considering that most golfers tend to naturally slice the ball, applying a slight hooking action tends to counteract that action.

The longer the shot, the more you'll want to close your feet positions. Closer approach shots, chips, sand shots, etc. require that you open up your stance. The less distance to the hole the more open you should stand while addressing the ball.

Open Your Shot

To open your shot, you'll first address the flight path of the ball by standing parallel, again. Then opening your stance means you will inch your right foot forward of the parallel line while sliding your left foot back a bit. Visualize your body as you face the flight path on a vertical pole and when opening your stance you simply rotate from the center of your stance.

One of the mistakes commonly made when moving into an open stance is thinking it only means you need to pull the left foot backwards and shift the toes out, or to the left. Instead of an even rotating which keeps your club head the same distance from the ball, by only moving your left foot back you now pull your club head back and have to adjust for that when you perform your swing. Even the best golfers can have challenges with this type of in-swing mechanical adjustments.

Once you have a clearer understanding of the importance of addressing the ball you'll be better prepared to deal with the 5 types of shots your golf game should include. Those 5 are:

· The Drive

· Fairway Wood Shot

· Long Iron Shots

· Pitching

· Chip Shots

The Drive

When driving you should place your left heel just slightly ahead of the ball by an inch or two. Your stance will be slightly closed, so your right foot will turn out to the right and be behind the flight path of the ball by an inch or two. Finally and naturally your hands should be just behind the perpendicular line between the ball and its intended flight path. Here, behind means to the right.

Fairway Wood Shot

When hitting off the fairway with your woods, you're stance will be more square to the flight path. Additionally, you'll now move your hands just ahead of the ball at the start of your swing.

Long Iron Shots

While extremely difficult, long iron shooting can be made easier if you keep the ball even between your feet while maintaining a square stance. Your hands will need to be several inches ahead of the face of the club as you start your swing. It is good to also place more weight on your left foot as you begin this swing.

Pitching and Chip Shots

Pitching and chipping are very similar. While you will open your stance on your pitch shots, when you chip, you'll want to be a bit more square. With both of these shots at least 60% or more of your weight will be on the left foot and your hands are going to be several inches ahead of the ball at swing start.

In just this quick, informative article you can see why a pro golf school would place so much emphasis on teaching these foundational basics to its students. Maybe you'll find that ingraining this knowledge can help your game of golf as well.

Still have questions about your golf stance? Share them with us in the comments below.

About the Author

Eric Wilson Ph.D. is a PGA Master Professional and the Vice President of The College of Golf at Keiser University in Port St. Lucie, FL. You can find The College of Golf on Twitter (@CollegeofGolf)or on Facebook.

An Asian Major?

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:33:00 GMT

We're Back! Let's consider last week our Sunday, we needed a break. Normally I prefer to talk about amateur news as that topic brings a twinkle to my eye, but I read an article on Golf360online which made me take notice.

A 5th major has been suggested and is being considered. No, it's not the self-proclaimed Players' Championship, 5th Major kind. A tournament to the winner gets the major spoils. One to be held in Asia.

At first, the mere suggestion sounded a bit far fetched. I dare say I was a bit appalled in the split second of hearing the news. But, in reading and then considering the idea a bit, it would make sense in this global golf market. Asia is filled with golf fanatics, cash and some pretty nice looking courses (based on what I've seen in unsolicited travel magazine sales ads).

What about tradition you say? There was a time when there were no majors and the schedule has since evolved based on demand. The biggest tournaments of the year brings the most interest and a lot of money to the game and its providers. It makes dollars and sense if it continues to grow the Asian market while adding more juice to the current schedule. More money in golf is good for all in the golf business.

I came away from the Golf360 article feeling a 5th Major in Asia is going to happen. Is it really a matter of "if" or a matter of "when?" If the money is there to be made, it's a matter of when!

Golf Pros are the Same as Amateurs

Golf Die Hard — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:16:00 GMT

The game is unforgiving even to those that play it the best. If you've been following the tournaments with a critical eye as I have (because it's an obsession, sadly) you've seen a player shoot a great score of say 6-under on Thursday then a 5-over on Friday. If you play fantasy golf, it's maddening.

But, the solace we amateurs need to take from watching even the top players is that nobody is consistent. The word doesn't exist in golf. Tiger for a long time was about as consistent as we could expect. I know you crave consistency in a game that doesn't allow it. You are never in the same position in the fairway, rough, tee box, or green. Not to mention the wind and pin positions are changing like, well, the wind. If all of these variables are changing, how can we expect to be consistent. We probably shouldn't believe the pros should be either, but we do.

If you play with someone and they tell you they are a 10 handicap, you'll expect them to shoot in the low 80's-ish. If they go lower, you'll think of them as a sandbagger, if they go higher, they are some hack posing as a decent player. Unless, as a golfer, we show consistency and meet expectations, we are in a lose lose situation in the eyes of the players we play with. It's a natural phenomenon in human nature that can't be stopped.

What are we to do? There's a classic line from the movie Wedding Crashers that says it best, "Nature versus Nurture Lodge, Nature always wins!" And with that, we will continue to believe consistency is somewhere to be found in golf. Let me know when you find it!

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Cheap Phone Apps Better than GPS Yardage Devices?

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:56:00 GMT

I have a Callaway uPro and I've seen some of the other devices in the hands of some friends and foes alike. I have grown fond of the uPro especially its pro mode capabilities where I can zero in on the pin and get the yardage to the flag. If you're not familiar with the device, in pro mode you get a satellite view of the course and greens (not in real time) with distances. It's very handy in knowing how far trouble is or what exact distance is needed to get you where you need to go. The draw back is the cost is $10 a course to download to the device. Not cheap if you like playing a lot of courses.

There is a regular mode which is free to download to the device which gives basic yardages such as front of the green, back and middle. Generally the device can cost upwards of $300 and more but I've seen deals for around $200.

I was playing a fun 9-hole with a friend recently and as I reached for my trusty uPro, he in turn was looking at his smart phone. I made some lame crack about leaving the phone and distractions in the car, but to my surprise, he showed me the yardage to the green from his phone. The same yardage my uPro was showing. Apparently for a minimal fee, you can download apps to your smart phone and your phone will do basic yardages the same as the expensive GPS devices on the market.

Sure, there are some bells and whistles the uPro has that I enjoy, but many of us know we need to watch our spending, especially with a double-dip recession being discussed as a not so distant possibility. With that in mind, if you've been thinking of getting a GPS device for the golf course, you may want to look a the low cost alternative you may already possess.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Golf Fills Mens' Need For Competition

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:21:00 GMT

In directing a tournament this past weekend, I had the great opportunity to talk with a bunch of guys getting ready to do battle on the links. Was there a grand prize to be had? In some ways yes and in some ways no.

I don't mean to be cryptic, well maybe a little, but the fact is pride is a big part of a guy's ego. We want to compare ourselves in competition and golf helps provide competition, especially later in life as we age during a time where more and more sports become harder and harder to play or even dangerous to participate in. The guys I talked with said how great it was to be out and taking a break from home life or the rigors of life in general. For 4 - 5 hours they get to compete and satisfy the internal itch to see if on this day, at this time, they are a better competitor than the next guy. It's in our DNA.

This tournament didn't have a large pool of cash to the winner. Certainly some money was up for grabs and some prizes, but those are secondary to the lighting of the competitive flame as we tenderly stroke our egos. I listened to plenty of trash talking which was humorous to say the least from this bunch. The prizes tend to be more like trophies we can look at from time to time and relish the time we were better than the next guy or anyone else on that day at that time.

The key is to remember when it's not your day and not your time to salute the guy next to you who did get his day. A tip of the cap and the acknowledgment of a better day will be returned again down the road.

What a game!

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

US Open Courses - Set up too Tough?

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:06:00 GMT

There were no shortage of complaining/whining about the course conditions during this past week's US Open at Pebble Beach. You'd think it was the first time the USGA decided to host such a tournament. Even the casual golfer knows the course is going to be tough. There will be long rough, faster than fast greens and diabolical pins because the prize to the winner is so great.

I can understand the frustration as every player who plays in this tournament thinks they have a shot to win. And, when they don't play to their expectations, they look for someone else or thing to blame. It's not everyone, but these guys knew coming in the course was going to be rough and it would be a grind. Tell you what, if you don't like the conditions, don't play in the tournament.

It seems almost every other year, some guys come out and complain. It's wasted breath and merely speaking up about it makes the player look like a whiny kid that didn't get what he/she wanted, which of course was to win. The USGA has been directing this tournament for a long time and they want the scores to be representative of the toughest test in golf.

Funny, you normally don't hear the winner complaining. Usually they are telling the story on how tough it was but how sweet it is to come out on top under the circumstances. That's why it's such a coveted title and that's why anyone who wants to complain about the conditions should let someone else have a shot at playing in the US Open who might love the challenge instead of bashing it.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Hole-in-One for a Million Dollars

Golf Die Hard — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:31:00 GMT

If you haven't heard about the 19th hole at Legends Golf and Safari Resort in South Africa, it's not a place to get a cold beer or after golf refreshments. It's a longest par 3 in the world and you'll need a helicopter to tee it up. Get a hole-in-one and you'll get a million bucks. Words can only do so much, check out the video.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Get the Best Golf and Travel Information

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:18:00 GMT

The crew at Golf Die Hard loves to do research. We really do! We've helped many friends and readers with finding as much information about a trip, golf related and otherwise.

We've launched a new service. Anyone looking to take a trip but really doesn't want to do all the research in finding the best information to have that dream trip with as little hassles as possible, contact us. Depending on the scope of the project, we will charge a reasonable fee to help you out. We'll send the information to you in a very concise manner via email and you can make the decision. We'll give you recommendations but in the end, it will be your choice.

Many of our readers don't have time to do the research we enjoy doing. If this is you, contact us at info@golfdiehard.com

Your time is valuable, why waste it?

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Souillac Golf and Country Club = Family Fun

Golf Die Hard — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:14:00 GMT

While I have not personally been to Souillac Golf and Country Club, certainly based on what I've read, it looks to be a place I should. I received an email asking for a mention. While I don't normally do this, I have family in France and thought I would pay if forward and spread the good word. Plus, we have readers from all over the globe and a solid concentration from Europe where a brief article like this could pave the way for some families to take a holiday, and enjoy a new adventure.

As I said, I haven't been there so I will not give my stamp of approval, however, I will provide some links and let the faithful readers of the Golf Die Hard blog, decide for themselves. Below is the information they provided us:

www.souillaccountryclub.com - Souillac Country Club is a child friendly resort in the Dordogne Regionof France. Perfect for a long weekend for two, offers a magnificent venue to eat, drink, play around or two of golf, or just relax around one of the nine swimmingpools.

Here are some informational links:

www.souillaccountryclub.com/pdf_files/Souillac_G_CC_Page_10.pdf

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187081-i2144-k1582635-Souillac_COuntry_Club-Dordogne_Region_Aquitaine.html

Golf Die Hard does provide a service if you have a trip in mind but don't want the hassle of doing the research yourself, contact us at info@GolfDieHard.com and we'll do the research for you for a small fee of course.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Swing for Survivors: Take Your Swings at Helping Fight Cancer

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:39:48 GMT

Cancer seems to effect everyone today either directly, a relative, a friend or someone you know. We try to find ways to help and when we find people taking on challenges, we want to help spread the good word. If you're reading this, we implore you to take part or let others know who may. A.J. Ali will be taking his swings and he's looking for playing partners. The details below are taken directly from the web site:

Time: July 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010
Location: United States
Web Site: www.SwingForSurviors.com
Phone: 443-463-5009

FOR GOLFERS
A.J. Ali is playing 100 rounds in 100 days with golfers all over America. He will be joining two foursomes at each of 50 golf courses to play 36 holes.Each golfer needs to raise a minimum of only $250. Individual golfers get prizes based on how much money they raise, including golf equipment,apparel, trips to top resorts and more! Each golfer will get special recognition on the Swing for Survivors website through the end of 2010.

There are ways for golf courses and sponsors to be involved as well. Check out the SwingForSurvivors place on the web for all the details.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

1st Annual Charity Shootout at Menifee Lakes

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:32:39 GMT

Breast Cancer is a terrible disease which affects so many women and an increasing number of men which if an opportunity arises where we can help get the word out about how golf and golfers can help the cause, we jump at it. If you happen to be in the area, please consider participating.

This golf tournament will be a 4-player scramble, ages 15 and up. There will be awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places as well as raffle items, silent auction and post-tournament dinner.

Below are the details to know.

Schedule of Events

1st Annual Breastcancer.org GolfTournament

June 11th, 2010@ Menifee LakesCountry Club

Join us for agreat day of golf to help raise money in support of breast cancerresearch and awareness

Scheduleof Events

11:00a.m.LateRegistration / Warm-Up / Chipping Contest

12:00p.m.PairingUp / Cart Assignment

1:00p.m.ShotGun Start

5:00p.m.Silent Auction

6:00p.m. Dinner / Award

Contact
Web Site: www.stroke4breastcancer.com
Phone:(951) 296-3310
Email: eventinfo@stroke4breastcancer.com

Fee(s):

Tournament Player Fee = $125
Reception Dinner Only = $40

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Tips If Attending 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:49:21 GMT

Will you be walking the famed links of Pebble this year for the US Open? Then you may hear some hints of jealousy throughout this article as I attended the 2000 US Open. It's truly a magical place.

Here is a list of some things to know before you go:
1) Traffic is chaos so be prepared to wait. Small roads are the only way to get into the resort.
2) Make sure you spend some time looking around the small village and resort as there are some cool stores and watering holes if the need arises. Plus, most places have really sweet golf art from the days of yore.
3) Check out the driving range as Pebble is pretty cosy and you can get fairly close and watch your favorite players prepare for battle.
4) Walk the entire course! You'll be surprised how hilly it is.
5) Generally at the tee on hole 5, the short par 5, there is a bottleneck and players get backed up. It's a good place to hang and listen to some banter.
6) At least visit the tee on hole 6, the picturesque par 3 which is known world wide. Not visiting for a brief moment would be sacrilegious.
7) Make sure you visit hole 7's green. Look back at the gorge where the balls come over from the fairway. It's beautiful and one of the most spectacular sights to see.
8) Visit the tee on hole 13. It's not the most renowned holes, but you can get super close to the players as they bomb drives through the chute.
9) Check out the green on hole 14. For a par 5, it's one of the smallest you'll ever see.
10) Visit the grandstands on holes 17 and 18. There have been so many memorable shots over the decades at these holes and you may get a chance to see one in person.
11) Hole 18 is simply stunning. You may have seen it on TV (even in HD) or seen pictures, but the truth is, in person, watching the waves crash mercilessly into the barrier protecting this sacred hole, for the golf die hard, is a must see.
12) Finally, do yourself a huge favor, and buy something as a keepsake. A hat is nice, but odds are if you wear it, it's trash within a year. A divot tool, ball marker, head cover, or pin flag are get mementos. If you're going with a bunch of people, have everyone with you sign the flag, frame it when you get home and put it up on a wall for all to see.

Enjoy your trip as you'll be a part of golf history!

Tees to Greens and All that's Between.

Fantasy Golf Frustration

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 02 May 2010 21:34:00 GMT

I have to vent for this week's article. We amateurs know how crazy our scores can go up and down. It's expected we can go low one day and blow up the next time we play. We don't expect it from tour players.

If you play in fantasy golf leagues similar to Yahoo, you have 8 players to choose from during tournaments of which you only start 4. You can switch players daily as long as they make the cut and play into the weekend. The problems arise as I expect if a tour player shoots 4 under that he should shoot something similar the next day. But, it rarely happens that way. These guys are the best in the world and they will shoot 7 under one day and plus 7 the next. A strategy I've conceived, but have such a tough time implementing is switching to a player who had a blow up round the previous day. Odds are this player will right the ship and shoot well the next. But, switching from a guy who shoots 5 under to and guy who shot 5 over is not easy to do. The mental anguish can be intense.

It seems this year has been a bit more strange as the pro players have been even more up and down than in years past. Although I have absolutely no scientific, empirical data to back up that assertion, I believe it to be true. If you're ready to pull your hair out, try to remind yourself, as I'm trying to do now, that it's only fantasy golf. Good luck with that one!

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Chicago Park District Golf: Price = Playability

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:35:00 GMT

Chicago Park District Golf or otherwise known as CPDgolf.com has an interesting collection of courses to choose from, rich in history and tradition. 9-hole courses Robert A Black, Sydney R. Marovitz, Columbus Park, Marquette Park and South Shore could be confused with people rather than courses. Included in their stable of courses is the short but testy 18-hole Jackson Park course. And finally for those who would prefer to work on tuning up those last few swing kinks, the Diversey Driving Range is right next to Diversey Harbor and fairly close to Wrigley Field.

The courses are fairly priced but have gone up slightly in recent years. Billy Casper Golf company manages the properties and has gone to great lengths to improve the conditions of the courses. The greens roll truer, the fairways are cut shorter and you can now tell there's some rough to avoid. However, if you believe paying $25 for 9 holes will get you on Augusta-like fairways and greens, you should lower your expectations the size of the Grand Canyon. But, many of us want to catch a quick 9 and some of the courses have beautiful views of Lake Michigan such as the 5th hole at Marovitz. It really is a beautiful spot to look out at the lake.

There is a discount card called the Player's Advantage Card which is a good deal at $25 if you plan to play golf and use the Diversey Range quite a bit. Generally you can save about $5 each time you play and if you play 5 times or more it will pay for itself. A couple of years ago before the Casper company took over, the card was $20 and that included a large bucket of balls (no longer available) at the Diversey Range ($10 value). But, back then we used to say the courses were 2-putt greens. After 2-putts, pick it up!

All in all, the courses offer some fun layouts with some genuinely tough holes here and there. If you haven't played golf in the City of Chicago, give it a try. TIP: Play early morning on weekends and not late afternoon on weekdays.

Tournaments are also scheduled throughout the summer at all the venues.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Chicago Golf Tour - Better Than Ever

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:36:00 GMT

The Chicago Golf Tour is kicking off its 2010 schedule at Klein Creek Golf Club on May 1st. This amateur tournament will be a 2-player best ball with prizes up for grabs for team placement, skins, long drive and closest to the pin contests.

New sponsors, The Famous Grouse Whisky and Chicago's own Half Acre Beer Company are excited to be joining the tour this year. On two separate, closest to the pin contests, a 1.75 liter bottle of The Famous Grouse Whisky will be the prize and on the other contest hole, a big bottle of beer from Half Acre Beer Company will be awarded.

Here's what's for 2010:

1. Lower entry fees (up to $20 less than last year!)

2. Weekend and weekday events

3. Optional prize pools including placement, skins and day games

4. Payouts as VISA and Austad's Golf gift cards

Year End Player of the Year Points Placement Prize Pool (paid out in Austad's Golf gift cards)
1st place - $100; 2nd place - $80; 3rd place - $60; 4th place - $40; 5th place - $20

This tour is designed for players generally shooting 100 or less for 18 holes. If you're interested in meeting some fun golfers, looking to get out on the course and have a great time, this is the event for you. It's low prices make it affordable and the Tour Director will make you feel part of the tour from the start. There are no member fees or dues to be a part of this amateur tour.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Once In A Lifetime Golf Trip to Scotland and St. Andrews

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:46:00 GMT

Scotland Golf Tour

Ever dreamed of playing the Old Course of St. Andrews? Maybe time has slipped through your fingers and it remains on your bucket list. Here's an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of golf legends and hit shots similar to the players of yore.

In conjunction with Pioneer Golf, a very successful golf tour company, a 7 day, 6 night and 5 rounds tour has been created for May 2011.

Courses

Carnoustie-Championship Course - host to the 2007 Open
St. Andrews-New Course - considered by many as the best of the St. Andrews courses
St. Andrews-Old Course
Fairmont St. Andrews-Kittocks Course - formerly called the Devlin, a tremendous cliff-top course at your hotel that will serve as a qualifying course for the 2010 Open
Crail-Balcomie Course - a fine links, one of the oldest in the country

Accommodations

The Fairmont St. Andrews Hotel (www.fairmont.com/standrews) is a five-star luxury resort four miles to the southeast of St. Andrews.

Please visit the link below to find out about this amazing golf experience. Time to reserve a spot is limited and if you're interested, click the "I'm Interested" icon once you visit the site below to get more details.

http://www.pioneergolf.com/1pagegolf

Tips for Attending Masters Practice Rounds

Golf Die Hard — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:00 GMT

On Monday, I had the great pleasure of walking along the famed fairways of Augusta National for the 1st time. I will tell who I followed a little later, but yes, I did "follow" Tiger for a few holes. In short, here are a couple of quick tips if you get lucky enough to get a badge:

Listen to the radio station broadcasting traffic tips before you get to Augusta. I know you want to spend your time walking the course and not stuck in traffic.
Spend $20 and park across the street from the golf course. It's very easy and money well spent.
Don't go to the souvenir shop before you scan your badge. The one inside near the practice area is much bigger with a better selection.
The inside pro shop/souvenir shop gets packed and supplies run out fast. Go when you first get there. Once you purchase your goodies, next door is a bag check. Check your bag and pick it up when you're ready to head home. You can even ship it home if you want.
Go to the boards and find out who is on the course and when they teed off. Then figure out who you want to follow and what hole you'd like to see them play.
Tiger is the main draw and getting close to him is very tough.
Finding a top player like Angel Cabrera or Padraig Harrington is easy and if you go ahead of them a hole or two near a tee box, you can get almost close enough to breathe on them! But don't!
See the entire course.
Wear sunscreen.
The food and drink prices at the Masters were very reasonable with sandwiches costing around $2.
Beware beer sales get cut off at 4 PM.
The restrooms around the course are as clean as clean can be and attendents are there to help you before and after your business.

One of the amazing things about walking Augusta National was the lack of weeds and how well maintained the grounds are with 1,000's of people around. For any golf fan, it's a place you should visit at least once if you get the opportunity.

Following Tiger is like going to an amuzement park early and trying to be the first on the most popular ride. There is a lot of running and jocking for position. My advice is to get ahead of him by two to three holes and stake a claim to a good spot where you'll see him up close. Then go and watch the other guys.

I was able to watch Padraig Harrington up close on a few holes and there was hardly anyone around me. Plus, practice rounds are the best as the players hit multiple shots and tend to joke around with the galleries quite a bit. If you want to really interact with a player, go find a lesser know player. I followed Todd Hamilton for a bit and he was hysterical. One drunk guy was asking him questions and he gave the guy some M&M's to eat. The next hole his caddy asked him what line was he looking to hit the ball down the fairway and he responded, "Between the trees! Classic!

Beyond the Masters, if you get an opportunity to visit a professional golf tournament, visit during the practice rounds. Then, follow the action at home during the tournament.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Golf for a Year Sweepstakes

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:34:00 GMT

You won't see sweepstakes on this blog hardly ever, but when one comes along which offers a grand prize like this, we had to pass it along. The generous crew at Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday are conducting this promo as a way to build their email database and push their newsletters out to the spending golf public.

The rules are simple but click here for all the legalese . One lucky winner will be randomly selected "on or about November 5, 2010." The deadline to submit your info is November 1, 2010. The prizes are good for 2011. The Grand Prize information below is taken from their web site.

Golf for a Year which includes the following:
- 12 monthly visits to Myrtle Beach, SC⁽¹⁾, with each visit consisting of the following:
- 4 Rounds of Golf for Winner and a Guest ⁽²⁾
- 4-Nights Accommodations (double occupancy)
Round Trip Air for Winner and a guest from nearest non-stop flight market to and from Myrtle Beach ⁽³⁾
Rental car in Myrtle Beach⁽⁴⁾
3 Dinners-for-2

Additional Grand Prize gifts and prizes include:

A set of premium, custom-fitted clubs from PGA TOUR Superstores for Winner and a guest
Four half-days of Golf Instruction for Winner and a guest from one of Myrtle Beach Golf Holidays member golf academies
Entry and accommodations for Winner and a Guest into the 2011 GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, hosted in Myrtle Beach, SC.
12 Dozen premium Golf Balls

To sign up, visit their site and try your luck.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between.

Be A PGA Tour Caddy For A Day

Golf Die Hard — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:57:00 GMT

Caddy For A Cure is a charitable organization which benefits a wide array of other charities. The concept is very simple. Give a sizable donation and you'll get to caddy for a tour player on the Tuesday or Wednesday practice round before a PGA sanctioned tournament.

Depending on interest for the given player for the given tournament, an ebay auction is the standard means to be the caddy. Or, you may contact russ@caddyforacure.com where he may arrange another way. Based on the Caddy For a Cure ebay store, you may buy it now for $4,200 or get into a bidding war.

There are many charities which benefit from this program. If you're planning on donating to charity and would love to have once-in-a-lifetime experience with a tour pro, then consider Caddy For A Cure. YouTube video below tells the story!

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!

Salute Soldiers with the Spirit of America

Golf Die Hard — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:40:00 GMT

Here is a great program which helps welcome home troops back from tours of duty and those still on duty. Jim Beam Bourbon has launched this contest where anyone of legal drinking age can nominate service members aged 21 years or older.

Grand prize winners and their nominees will get a once-in-a-lifetime trip. 5 trips will be awarded. Nominations are done at www.jimbeam.com or their Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/jimbeam by submitting in English, 250 words or less, why their friend or military family member should win.

Here are the official rules:

"No purchase necessary. Must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or D.C. (except CA) and 21 years of age or older to participate. Void where prohibited. Subject to complete official rules, available at www.JimBeam.com or www.Facebook.com/JimBeam. Contest started February 2, 2010 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET"). On-line entries must be transmitted and received by June 21, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Enter online at www.JimBeam.com or www.Facebook.com/JimBeam."

The grand prize winners and their nominees will receive VIP treatment to one of events below:

1) The final two days at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, June 19-20, 2010.
2) Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2010. Plus, visit the Jim Beam distillery as well as a VIP bourbon tasting and meal with Fred Noe, great-grandson of Jim Bean, and 7th generation distiller.
3) Baseball game on Chicago's south side on July 10, 2010.
4) Meet Kid Rock and see one of his concerts in 2010.

You can text SALUTE to 90999 to add $5 to your phone bill as a donation to Operation Homefront which provides emergency and morale assistance to troops, their families and to the wounded veterans.

Tees to Greens and All that's Between!