November 2005

Here’s what the sign on the road to my house will say….someday !

If you ask nicely, I’ll let you live there, too.

It’s the weekend, so I’m gonna give you an off topic post that I think will be of some benefit to everyone who reads this blog.

A friend of mine, Paul Short, has started a blog about….Toys !

It’s time to start thinking about Christmas gifts, for those that celebrate it in that fashion, so here’s some help for you to get the skinny on all the new toys out there.

I’m figuring everyone of us has our own children, younger brother’s or sister’s, nieces, nephews, friends kids… someone who we have to buy a toy for, so this blog will be of use to all of us.

If it ain’t for you, just don’t click THIS LINK that will take you to the world’s greatest toy blog !

Just in case you happen to read this highly ranked golf blog AND are also looking for a job in the golf industry, I just ran across an internet job board called GolfSurfin.com

It may well be the only job service dedicated to golf and only golf.

For job seekers, from their website :

” Looking for the perfect job only in the golf industry ? You’ve come to the right place ! We feature a FREE job board, a resume listing service, an email alert system, and more. “

For employers, from their website :

” Looking for the perfect employee ? GolfSurfin.com provides Employers in the Golf industry with important cost-saving benefits for listing positions on our targeted job board. Our rates are less expensive than classified advertising in a newspaper and you gain access to a targeted pool of highly qualified candidates. “

I haven’t tried their service, as I’m not looking for employment, but I’d pay their fees if I were. Targeted jobs and targeted seekers. Seems like it ought to work.

Let me know if you try them or if you already have.

Tell ‘em Mike sent you !

I had the good fortune to go play Covered Bridge (again) a few days ago.

I used to live down the road and have played there at least 20 times. Probably more.

And, yes, they have a covered bridge, you can see it on their site and in their logo.

Fuzzy has built a heck of a golf course and an even better 19th hole ! They absolutely have the best food you’ve ever had at a golf course and some of the best I’ve ever had at a restaurant. On chicken dinner nite, people come from miles around to Fuzzy’s Place.

The course has zoysia fairways and great greens. It’s got fair landing areas and it’s pretty fair around the greens, too.

As any golf development with houses, they are too many and they are too close, but that’s part of the deal. Fuzzy and his partners ain’t in this for the good of humanity.

With those houses that close, you’ve got what we all hate about American golf courses…OB !

Way too much of it here for my liking, but if you don’t stray very far off center, you won’t care.

The first coupla holes were mine for the taking, on this day, but the rest of the track whipped my butt. My cellphone going off every few minutes didn’t help matters. Something about a van broke down and my wife and daughters stranded on the side of the road. Messes up your round. Or it does mine.

The course is normally in great shape spring thru fall. Greens are big enough and well maintained. Zoysia fairways rock, in my book !

The rough is a little intense, but if I was arrow straight, I wouldn’t know.

The carts are great, fairly new, with GPS. A real plus, in my yardage book.

The starters and Pro Shop personnel are nice and informative.

The Pro Shop is well stocked.

The clubhouse is a thing of beauty. I’ve only seen a few that could stand up to it.

Plenty of yardage markers and with the GPS, you can’t use that as an excuse.

They’ve got Stay-N-Play Golf Packages, so call today and set up a long weekend or more.

If you do, gimme a shout, as I’m not that far away.

Let me tell you, sitting in the dining room, waiting on some great food and looking out at the 9th & 18th greens and fairways is a site you’ll remember for a long, long time.

Go by their website and then call ‘em up and set up a great golf experience.

Tell ‘em Mike sent you !

PS - when you see Fuzzy, tell him the Big Dawg sez ‘Hey !’

I not only played there every few weeks for 7 years, I was a member of New Albany Country Club, where he started his golfing life.

Well, I’m headed for the top with a bullet !

My value has gone up from $7339.02 on October 26th, to this :

I’ll take PayPal, Certified Check or will trade for a vacation home in the Hampton’s !

Here’s Mike Pedersen, of Perform Better Golf, with some info on how we can get those winter golf workouts in without having to change our routines that much.

Here’s Mike with todays tips :

In home golf fitness can be more effective than belonging to a gym, paying monthly dues, and dealing with all the “muscle-heads”. Many golfers think they need fancy golf fitness equipment or a gym membership to be successful with their golf improvement program.

Not so!

I have designed all the programs in my membership sites, dvds, manual and ebook to utilize minimal equipment in the convenience of your home. Many of my customers and members have been shocked at their results with in home golf fitness equipment as simple as exercise tubing, a stability ball and hand weights.

That’s it!

For all of a “one-time” cost of under $60 you can have your total “in home” golf fitness gym. I’ve now eliminated the reason (excuse) that you need to belong to a gym or spend hundreds of dollars in equipment.

I’ve also eliminated the reason (excuse) that you have no time. All the programs I’m referring to are to be done in the convenience of your home saving you hours per week. This includes the time it takes to commute the gym, getting showered, and the time it takes to get back to where you need to be.

Coming up with golf fitness programs using just the above equipment can be fun, challenging and reduce boredom. The programs I design incorporate both strength and stretching within the same program, saving you even more time and killing two birds with one stone.

More and more golfers are realizing they can do almost as much with in home golf fitness programs as they can in a crowded gym…with all the privacy they want.

I have always said that exercises done on a machine in a gym that isolate one muscle group while sitting is the farthest thing from a golf-specific exercise. Golf utilizes every major muscle group in the body, and in a sequential movement pattern. Sitting in a machine will not improve your body for golf.

The beauty of hand weights, tubing and balls is the ability to put your body in the exact same positions you’re in for your golf swing. The more exercises you can do that simulate your golf swing, the bigger the benefit will be.

You will also be more apt to stick with it when you realize it will definitely improve your golf swing power and distance. Linking golf and fitness creates a commitment level that’s not there with general (gym) fitness programs. Knowing your in home golf fitness program will help you play better and also feel better is a motivating factor.

When you get that itch to improve your game through fitness, don’t think you need to join a gym. All you need is a little bit of space in your living room to start your in home golf fitness program.

Thanks Mike, and I’ll be the first to attest to the power of being in shape and how it helps your game. I used hand weights and bodyweight exercise last winter and they improved my game immensely.

I can now hit it hard for all 18 holes and am better able to control the clubface angle for all the shots I want to try.

I’m looking forward to using Mike’s methods over this winter nad getting my handicap down form 6 to 2 or so.

I’m not interested in being a scratch golfer, ’cause then I’d never want to work !

For more golf fitness tips, see Mike’s Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide !

It’s time for another post from our favorite golf swing and fitness trainer, Mike Pedersen of Perform Better Golf.

Today’s info is about how your winter workouts can improve your golf game come spring.

Take it away, Mike :

Winter golf workouts are a great approach to taking advantage of the time you now have available to improve your golf since you’re not playing as much, if not at all. It’s a way to stay connected to your golf game when you’re not able to play due to the conditions (snow, temperatures, ice, etc.).

Have you ever gone into depression mode when winter hits and you can’t play golf anymore? I know this used to happen to me until I finally moved to a year-round nice climate. The transition from playing golf regularly to not at all can be depressing.

What do you do with all the time you now have since you’re not playing?

The answer? Winter golf workouts ! This is your “off-season” and like most athletes, you have to work on your body to take your game to the next level. This is a time when you evaluate your game and work on your weaknesses.

A common denominator for most golfers, especially senior golfers is their “physical capabilities”. This is your current level of golf-specific strength and flexibility. It’s highly unlikely you have no physical limitations in your golf swing. 80%, or more, of amateur golfers play with an injury during the season.

What better time than winter to workout to greatly improve this situation. There is no excuse. You’ve got the time and hopefully you’ve got the motivation to improve your game. You’ve just got to set up a game plan in regards to your golf workouts this winter.

The first step is to get a physical evaluation done to diagnose your current level of fitness specific to golf. You can hire a local golf fitness trainer or look on the web. Golf workouts are becoming so popular you can’t miss finding out information about them.

Once you’ve gotten your golf fitness evaluation, assess the areas that need the most work and spend the majority of your time on those areas. Most likely this would be flexibility and core strength. These are two very common areas that are lacking and can make the most impact on your golf improvement.

You will be shocked at your progress if you stick with it through the entire winter. The first time you step on the range, you’ll feel like a different golfer. It will be like an “out-of-body” experience. You’ll soon realize this is what you’ve been missing all along.

So when you put those clubs up for the winter and go into depression mode…remember this article and start your golf workouts for winter.

For more info, click over to Mike’s Ultimate Golf Workout Guide !

I was just reading a post on Golf Home Connect about Heron Creek and decided to do a little research.

They have three different 9 hole courses designed by Arthur Hills and you guys know I love courses designed by Mr. Hills. The Heron Creek Golf Course looks like it will be a very good track for all skill levels, which seems to me to be a trait of all the Hills designed golf courses I’ve played.

From their website :

” The moment you step onto the first tee at Heron Creek, you’ll experience the exhilaration of playing the brilliantly designed and meticulously maintained championship course. The challenging, but not intimidating, course design includes elevation changes unique to Southwest Florida, sparkling water features, and all the natural beauty of Heron Creek. With the variety and challenges offered by the Oaks, Marsh and Creek Nine layouts, playing golf at Heron Creek is an experience you’ll want to repeat over and over again. “

I’ve noticed that layouts with three differnet 9’s have a tendency to be better maintained, since they can take one out of play every day and give it some TLC. I’m betting Heron Creek will be no different.

Their website is well done, informative and is visually appealing.

Go by and give ‘em a view and if you’re near North Port, Florida, take a tour and let us know what you find.

Tell ‘em Mike sent you !

Here’s another avenue for you to travel down in your quest for golf and family fun in Myrtle Beach.

Coral Beach Resort has several golf packages and almost everyone of them is family friendly.

Their website has links to the Economy Golf Getaway, Signature Club Collection, The Royal Tour and many more.

You can go cheap, go big and go now !

AAA loves them and the Travel Channel voted them ” Best Family Accomodations In Myrtle Beach. ”

Go by and book a family golf vacation today.

Tell ‘em Mike sent you.

If you want to play some great golf and enjoy some great weather, now’s the time to head down to Myrtle Beach and take advantage of the ” Wild On Myrtle Beach Golf Package “.

For under $500 per person, you’ll get to play four rounds of golf ( 1 each at ) at Belle Terre, Wild Wing Falcon, Wild Wing Wood Stork and Grande Dunes.

You’ll stay at the Myrtle Wood Villas and you can book it by visiting Myrtle Beach Golf Trips.

By the way, take a couple of sand wedges…you tend to need them, several of them, when you play golf in the bunker capital of the world.

Tell ‘em Mike sent you !