CT Golf Tips - Your Online Golf Resource

Berlin

Southington

Connecticut native World Class Golf Pro Mike Colandro has championships including the Air New Zealand Shell Open in 1987, the West Australian PGA, 2 Connecticut and Maine Open Victories, and a playoff win in the Victorian Open on the Canadian Tour. Mike brings his expertise and experience to CTGolfTips to help you improve your game, keep up on the latest info on Golf, Courses, and Equipment.

Weekly Golf Update for May 13, 2006

This week we visited Quarry Ridge Golf Club in Portland, and I was joined by Bernadette and Colleen. The course is in great shape and we played 9 holes, where I shared some unique scoring tips along with some course management. Our playing lesson was part of a six lesson package that I offer to take my clients on the course as well as on the practice tee at Total Golf of Newington.

We were also guests of Head PGA Professional, Mike Grigley, of Edgewood Golf Club in Southwick, MA. Mike just won the PGA Tournament of Champions event and can still play great golf as a senior. Edgewood is a fine layout and well worth the drive up to Southwick. I was joined by good friend and former Golf Pro, Jack Socha, of Century 21 in Wethersfield, CT. The front nine is fairly flat, however, Jack birdied 3 of the first 4 holes, then had a hard time with the long uphill par 3 eighth hole as well as the ninth a dogleg par 4.

After a quick stop at the nineteenth hole and a cool drink, we started the back and it is up the hill and is well tree lined. The eleventh hole is a picturesque par 3 downhill with a pond in front of the green. The tight uphill eighteenth hole is a great finish to an interesting, challenging public golf course. You can play during the week for only $29.00 with a cart and/or weekends for $40.00. Click on Edgewood’s Banner below to find out more about this great value golf course only 35 minutes from Hartford.

We at CTGolfTips.com are offering sponsorship opportunities for our new feature Video Golf Lessons. You can see past video golf tips right now, and we plan to air 18 different new tips each week starting June 3^rd through September 30^th. Click on Video Golf Tips to see tips and find out how your company can be a sponsor.

A Tour-Eye’s View

Mike the Magician

In 1990, I decided to stay in Australia through April and compete in several events throughout the country, mostly Pro-am events and some even on sand greens. At one point, most all golf courses out of the major cities were only sand greens. We did finally get to West Australia for the PGA Championship at Joondalup Golf Club just out of Perth. At the time, it was a very new course and quite unique in its layout. Built in a hilly area, many holes were carved in between caverns of rock with many carries over large waste areas and hazards.

The PGA of West Australia was reduced down to a 36 hole event due to rain, and after the first round, no one broke 70. I shot 72, even par, and was well in with a chance to win. After an average 17 holes the second day, I needed to eagle the last, a par 5 hole, to win. Only 480 meters (530 yards) but with water all the way up the left side to the green. After a good drive down the fairway, I had about 230 yards to the flag for my second. The wind was helping me a little, so I chose my trusty old 5 wood and hit it about 10 feet from the hole.

Making the eagle putt to win was a great feeling, and at the prize giving, I sang one of my golf songs. It was a great feeling of accomplishment to win by eagling the last hole and one I will never forget.

Golf Tips

Last week we talked about golf equipment clubs, balls, etc. However, your most important piece of equipment is your body. The fitness craze in golf is here to stay, and if you do not keep yourself in good shape, then your game will suffer. There are many vehicles to keep yourself in good playing shape and one is walking.

The more you walk both on the course or off, the better your legs and feet will feel while playing. Working out is a good way to maintain stamina and increase your body strength. Try to work your lower body and core muscles during the golf season and less of a workout in your upper body. This will give you a better base and keep you more supple in your upper body.

Stretching is a key to anyone’s golf swing, and there are several ways to stretch. Golf-specific stretches are good, also some Yoga stretches such as: Hang Dog, Sun Warrior, Breathing, Boat Pose, Rock in Cobbler, Chair Pose, Half Moon, Tree Pose. Yoga will help you expand your awareness and, therefore, see a new prospectus by challenging your own beliefs. Expand your horizons by asking yourself, “What if…?” Also, you can utilize Thai-Chi, therapeutic message, physical therapy, meditation, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and any other natural remedy that works for you. Golf is such a mind game, you must keep yourself in good shape both body and mind. So look after that body of yours, you only have one, and it is the most important piece of equipment you have on the golf course.

click here to watch Video Golf Lesson 1 "The Short Dead Hand Pitch"

There are many other tips that we will go through each week. I hope these tips will help and visit CTGolfTips.com next week for more Golf, and check our Archives for past Golf Tips.

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See you on the course! - Mike Colandro

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