Lowering Your Golf Scores Through Putting

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by suegold

Mastering the short game in golf is a key to lowering your scores. Without a doubt, if you can master your putting game, you can dramatically cut strokes off your game.

Good putting starts with your grip. You need to pick a grip that is comfortable for you and allows you to easily control your putter. The reverse overlapping grip is the most widely used.

The index finger on your left hand overlaps the little finger of your right hand. Many golfers prefer the index finger to overlap more than one finger.

The thumbs are straight down the front of the shaft. Your hands should be at the top of the club, or close to it. Gripping too low on the shaft is not recommended because of the longer distance the club would have to be swung for the longer putts.

Your feet should be about shoulder width apart. Stand close to the ball with your arms close to your body and your eyes directly above the ball. Bend your knees slightly and bend your elbows.

The swing should be a relaxed swing. Your arms and your hands move together through the ball in a perpendicular motion. You want to stroke the ball with the middle of the putter head. Keep your eyes on the ball at all times and you should see the putter hit the ball. Do not look up to follow the flight until you have completed your swing.

Adjust the length of the swing according to the distance of the putt. The swing mechanics remain the same for short putts and for long putts. The length of the swing is all that changes.

When lining up the putt, the putter head should be square to the target. If you anticipate a break to the right, for instance, your intended target will be above the hole. How far above the hole you aim depends on the break of the green. Your putter head will not be square to the hole but will be square to the point above the hole where you expect the break to occur.

You want to practice putting before you start your round. Too many golfers hit the practice green and begin trying to drop long putts. It will be to your advantage to start your practice putts close to the hole. Get this stroke down until you are comfortable and the ball is dropping consistently.

Now begin to move away from the hole and continue putting. As you get more comfortable, begin to move farther away. For most weekend golfers, the objective is to get long putts as close as possible to the hole to make the putt more manageable. If you can consistently make putts from a short to midrange distance, you will easily lower your golf scores.

About the Author: Joe Smithson is the owner of the golf instruction website that offers great golf technique and instructions products online. Joe is presently offering great discount golf products on his website.

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Information about Calanova Golf on the Costa del Sol Golf, Spain

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by Richard Allard

Calanova Golf is one of the newest courses on the Costa del Sol Golf, located in the heart of Mijas Golf Valley, approx. 10 kms from Fuengirola and 15 kms from Marbella with easy access from the N-340 Costa del Sol coast road.

It is a private club with some 1,100 members but it is also open to paying green fee customers.

The 18-hole, par 72, 5.866 metres layout has been built to USGA specifications with regard to the tees, bunkers, drainage and greens, ensuring the best possible golf course conditions throughout the year and due to its unique design it has quickly become a local favourite.

Calanova Golf has been designed using its natural surroundings beautifully so that the medium handicapped golfers will find it a pleasure, yet challenging.

Tees are situated at different angles and levels providing golfers with the possibility of playing the golf course in a variety ways.

The greens have an average area of over 400 sqm and they have been shaped so that pin positions can be varied from the simple to the extremely difficult. The course has matured swiftly and the designers have made a first class job of what they had to work with.

There is ample parking but at the moment there is only a temporary clubhouse where you will find the pro shop, reception, changing rooms and showers. There is also a very fine restaurant, which has spectacular sea views from the terrace.

Richard is a keen golfer that has lived on the Costa del Sol for a number of years and has a good insight to golf in this area. Many of his articles and drawings have been published to view a complete guide to golf on the Costa del Sol visit his Website - http://www.costadelsolgolf-web.com/index.html

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Senior Cycling Tips

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by Kerry Graylor

Cycling is great exercise for seniors, just as it is for any other age group. It is an aerobic form of exercise, which means a form of fitness which uses oxygen and the lungs. This type of exercise is generally very good for the heart and circulation, and is believed to help reverse some of the physical effects of ageing.

Cycling can also aid in reducing symptoms of other health problems such as asthma, hypertension (high blood pressure), arthritis and even depression. However, if you suffer from a heart condition, obesity, high blood pressure or other health problems, or if you are over 45 and a smoker, see your doctor before starting any exercise program to check that it is suitable for you.

There are two main ways to enjoy cycling: indoor and outdoor.

Indoor cycling

This form of cycling involves a stationary cycle or exercise bike which you keep in the house. The main advantage of this is that it can be used in all weathers, at any time of day and even in the busiest of cities. It also means you can exercise in privacy.

Stationary cycling can be a little boring compared with cycling outdoors. Whatever type of exercise program you follow, it should always be enjoyable and fun. This makes a huge difference to motivation and success. Most people find music helpful for staying motivated when exercising alone.

Some people even watch TV. Be sure though not to become completely distracted. Staying aware of the movement of the body and muscles during any form of exercise makes the activity a lot more effective and also helps reduce the risk of injury.

Outdoor cycling

One of the main benefits of outdoor cycling is that it gets you out into the fresh air. The benefit to your lungs and blood from receiving fresh oxygen into the body is likely to be much greater than if you are cycling in the stale air of your house with closed windows.

Of course, you will want to avoid heavy traffic, otherwise the pollution will counteract the benefit of the fresh air. So keep to quiet roads or dedicated cycle paths. Another good reason for doing this is to avoid the dangers of cycling in traffic.

If you can find a group to cycle with, you can add another benefit, that of increasing social interaction. This is very important as we get older. We tend to become set in our ways and limited in our new social contacts. Meeting new people helps with broadening the mind and keeping it active, both vital to staying mentally alert. This is just one of the ways that an exercise program such as cycling can help us regain or hold onto our youthful energy.

Considering taking up cycling? See our mountain biking tips for seniors and baby boomers at CafeBabyBoomers.com

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Women’s Tennis Keep Losing Top Players

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by David Rosenthal

This past week watching the Williams sisters loose so horribly in France at the 2008 Roland Garros Grand Slam was disheartening. In fact it was downright bad news as far as I'm concerned. Because in my mind it's over for them. The sisters are done. They may play as professional single players for the next 2 years, but after that I foresee them leaving the game. And they got knocked out early! The slam started and I felt like I hadn't even had a chance to get settled in. Usually I catch as much of the first week as I can, but ok, I might miss a game or two with no harm done. But this year if you weren't on top of it, you would have missed their self-defeating performances altogether.

Most people believe that Venus and Serena are too distracted by all their varied interests, hobbies, ventures, and general lack of attention to tennis. But my strong belief is that the Williams have lost their momentum due to a dramatic shift in family life. Their sister, Yetunde, was killed on the streets of Compton. And she wasn't a distant sibling; she was older and worked as their assistant. She was ever present at games and function. Their parents Richard and Oracene also split and both began acting as "coach," although let's be honest Richard was the coach and once they began splitting up duties the tennis stars began to be erratic. So I've got to suggest; with a family in disarray like that is it so remarkable to imagine they've lost their core, their momentum, and their focus? All the fashion, design and experiments with Hollywood are symptoms of 2 young women who aren't as focused as they used to be because the entire family isn't as focused as it used to be. Game over.

But they're not alone, women tennis players have been retiring for the last few years at a surprising rate. All at the top of their game. Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and most recently Justine Henin. And every time the tennis world expresses great shock and disbelief. At some point people have to stop being shocked. This is how it goes. New players come on the scene and freak everybody out, players get injured, and women players start feeling the biological clock and start thinking about having a family. For women there seems to be a 10 year run, from say 15-16 years old to maybe 25-26 years old. For the first couple of years they're the "youngest ever," then they have maybe 5 good years, then for the last couple of years they're in and out of games with injuries. Followed by a sudden retirement. It's happening a lot. The Williams initially scared a lot of players out of the game and now the women from Eastern Europe have cleared the rest of the field. And I believe they're about to push the Williams out too.

David Rosenthal writes about things he reads in comic books, sees on TV, at that movies, and finds on his computer. Also documenting a home renovating project.

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What’s It Going To Take To Win This Year’s U.S. Open

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by Simple.Golfigist

During recent years, you could speculate on who was going to win the USGA's U.S. Open. Many variables would need to be considered. But when it all comes down to it, one name jumps out. That would be Tiger Woods, of course.

With Tiger recovering from knee surgery, this year's picks might be a little more difficult. Who can handle the pressure of our national championship? Who has the game to conquer Torrey Pines' difficult terrain? It will take an all around game to determine this year's winner.

First off, driving accuracy is of the utmost importance at any U.S. Open venue. We all know how Phil Mickelson fared in 2006. One player that has a distict advantage would be Sergio Garcia. His skills with the driver were never more apparent than with his victory at the Players. Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are also fairly decent drivers. Ernie has struggled lately, but he always seems to step up to the plate at our national championship.

Another factor will be the rough. If the rough is escapable, some of the weaker players may go for shots that they wouldn't otherwise try. That could play havoc with their scoring.

Putting: the one factor that always brings the best players to the top of the leaderboard. If the USGA sets up Torrey Pines for the 2008 Open like it has in past years, the player that can keep his cool on the greens stands a great chance of winning. Four to five foot putts will not mean gimmies, even to the best putters in the world. If Tiger can get his putting going, after being off for the past few months, there may not be any competition. He is the world's best putter, no doubt.

The Scramble Factor. There is no telling right now exactly how important it's going to be for the players to be able to get the ball up and down. If Torrey Pines plays anything like Shinnecock did a few years back, it might just be survival of the fittest. Or best at scrambling. Everyone knows that Woods is great around the greens, but is his lack of playing time going to hurt him in that area. Sergio, Phil, Retief and other top ten players all have excellent short games.

The Pressure Cooker: final day rounds in the U.S. Open have often determined winners or losers. Many of the top players in the world have succumbed under the heat of battle during the final round. How a player performs on Sunday is most likely going to be the determining factor on if he takes home the trophy or not.

Follow along with the latest information about the 2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship at Torrey Pines at U.S. Open Golf Info

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Block Island North Rip Fishing Tactics

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by Arthor Pens

The rip at Block Island's north end can be a very productive fishing ground if you know when to fish it and what to use. I used to go there and catch very little to nothing, never really thinking of it as a productive place until I learned how to fish it. Even after all these years I am still learning how to fish it. There are a variety of ways to fish the rip, but in each case conditions that work best for that type of fishing should be followed. Pay attention to the tide and time of day, and see if you detect a pattern which repeats itself. This is how you'll become better at fishing any area.

Trolling. I find that the best trolling occurs when the tide is incoming and you arrive around 6:30-7:00am with the tide coming in for about an hour already. Then you can troll wire line outfits with umbrellas or parachutes and catch bass and bluefish for about 3 to 4 hours until the tide begins to slow down. I always troll against the current from 70 feet deep to go over the top of the hump at 40 feet, going very slow by the time I reach the 40 foot mark. Every time I'll hook up under these conditions. If you don't hook up, try letting out more line. The current can get very strong and if your not near the bottom nothing will happen.

Drifting. Drifting is another very productive method, and works best on the outgoing tide. Best to arrive around 6:30 with the tide having been outgoing for at least an hour. You can drift over the middle hump, which is about 12' deep over the top. Use soft plastics like the Storm pearl 6" swim shad, cast them out, let them sink near the bottom, and use a jigging retrieve. Be ready, when you lift the rod, the fish will be there. If you feel a hit and don't hook the fish, work it very slowly with lots of short jigs, as if it were an injured fish. This will bring more strikes. Drifting can be used at any point along the length of the sand bar. Different rigs can be used, even live bait, like eels.

Top water plugs are another good option, but they only work with a running tide and during overcast or foggy days, when the fish can't get a good look at the plug. They also work in the dim light of dawn, but it isn't very safe to be crossing over to the island in the dark unless you are a very good navigator and there is radar on the vessel. It isn't fun to end up on the bow of a barge as it is being towed east or west by a big tugboat. Top waters are worked when near the rough water, after you drift out of range you'll have to go around for another pass.

Another useful technique when drifting the Rip is diamond jigging. For this to be successful, you need to be in deeper water usually near the outer rise of the sandbar where it comes up to 48 feet or so. Also, this works best when the tide is running slowly, as it gives the fish a chance to see and hear the diamond jig. A minimum depth for diamond jigging would be 40 feet. Best conditions are early morning with the tide running slowly.

Keep your eyes open for any surface activity. If you see feeding fish, position the boat up drift and let the current bring you into casting range. Then cast in to the fish and work your offering. Try to match whatever they may be feeding on.

It's not always easy to use your fish finder at the North rip. The current can sweep many things past the bottom, many of which may show up as fish icons on your depth finder. So marking a lot of fish doesn't always mean that fish are there. During a "spring" tide (the largest tides that occur when the sun and the moon are on the same side of the earth) the current can get very strong. When the current gets near its maximum, it's not often good fishing on the rip because the current makes noise as it travels over the bottom structure at those speeds. This makes it harder for the fish to find your lure, especially as you get into deeper water. Best to fish soon after the high or low water mark on these days and avoid the mid-tide time when the current is screaming.

So follow this advise and you can have some success fishing the North Rip.

The Author lives in RI during the summer. For more info on fishing Block Island visit the Rhode Island fishing charters website.

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8000 Race for Life In Leeds

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by Krissy Haze

This year's Race for Life saw 8,000 women run 5km around Temple Newsam in Leeds. The all-woman race saw thousands of women run in memory of friends and relatives and raise plenty of money for Cancer Research UK.

Many of the runners wore signs to show who they were running for. Among those running in the event were friends and relatives of June Rowling, who died aged just 48 in July 2007 from a rare form of sarcoma. A 14-strong team ran in memory of June, including her sister Carolyn Green and best friend Bev Myers. Ms Myers was proud to be running for her friend and said that June was a very charitable person. She said: "June actually raised thousands of pounds for charities through Mirfield Ladies Circle." Ms Rowling echoed this sentiment, she said: "She was always a doer. She had even done a couple of these races before she got ill."

Alice Patterson, a 21-year-old trainee teacher, was also racing in memory of a loved one - her mother, Christine, who died from breast cancer when Alice was just eight years old. Claire Kirby and her cousin completed the race in Minnie Mouse outfits in memory of her mother and father-in-law. She said: "There's a great atmosphere. We want to raise as much as possible... hopefully £800 between us."

Jenny Key, who organised the event, said that she was thrilled with the way the year's event had gone. She said: "It was absolutely fantastic. The weather stayed out for us, it was dry, there was a really good turnout and everybody finished. It was a great day."

The Cancer Research UK Race for Life started in London's Battersea Park in 1994. There are now over 260 Race for Life events throughout the UK, which have raised over £200 million for the cancer charity. In 2006, a men's version of the event, Run for Moore, was launched and it has already raised over £450,000 for charity.

Source: Mckenzies

Krissy used to be a brunette model in Leeds, taking advance of her busty model curves.

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