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This Week's Video Golf Lesson - The Short Game

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This Week In Golf - by Kevin Ferrarotti, Owner of the Premier Golf Academy

KJ Successful at the Chrysler

KJ Choi overpowered some big names including the struggling Ernie Els, and won this past weekend's PGA Tour stop - the Chrysler Championship. Sharing top honors across the world of golf included Padraig Harrington, who's top 5 finish at the European Tour's Volvo Masters secured his place on top for the year, winning the Tour's Order of Merit. This award is given to the European Tour's top money winner for the year. The Champions Tour finished up the season with Jay Haas as it's leading man, whose successful finish at this past weekend's tour stop secured him as the tour's leading money winner.

The PGA Tour will conclude business for the regular season at the Tour Championship. The field will not include Tiger Woods who pulled out for personal reasons.

This Week's Golf Tip - by Kevin Ferrarotti, Owner of the Premier Golf Academy

PROPER PRACTICE

Knowing how to approach each shot, and aligning our body with a square clubface, neutral grip, and balanced approach is developed with only thing: practice. Being able to practice efficiently and effectively is the key to keeping your body healthy and free from injury, but most importantly, your swing mechanics in check and in tune. Follow these tips for an injury-free and flawless golf swing:

1) Your body is the engine of your golf swing, and just like an engine in a car,

the engine must be finely tuned in order for everything to work properly. One way to accomplish this while practicing is to begin your practice session by not immediately hitting golf balls, but by stretching your golf muscles. Many times a bad golf swing is the result of tightness in your “golf muscles”. Take at least five minutes prior to hitting balls, and work on stretching your back, arms, and legs, which helps to further increase your flexibility and maintain your “engine”. A great warm-up for this tip is to take your driver or fairway wood and rest it on your shoulders. Holding onto the club, slowly make a deliberate back swing, holding it at the peak stretch, and then finish by making a deliberate follow through. Then repeat.

2) Now that you are ready to hit balls, start by practicing chip and pitch shots, slowly moving up to a mid-iron, and finally to shots off of the tee. This not only helps work on your overall game, but also keep in mind that your swing is the same swing for every club, the only thing that changes is the length of the arc and width of the stance. If you can develop good tempo and hit solid chip shots, you can carry that over into each of the other clubs.

3) It is not advantageous to your golf game if you spend the whole time hitting your driver. This is simply because you do not play on a course with just your driver. Try spending an equal amount of time on both your irons and woods, and finish your session with either some on-course scenarios, or some chip or pitch shots.

Golf in the Business World by Professional Golf Champion Mike Colandro

Client Golf Outings

Client Golf Outings are a day on the links with either business associates or customers. I have performed at many Client Golf Outings, and since 1985, started a business in Australia offering my service to play with me. To have a Pro on the course with your clients can really make a difference to that client. For 3 VIP’s or clients to play alongside a professional golfer is an impressive aspect and can enhance your relationship with your guests.

Corporate Outings

Corporate Outings do a similar thing and most companies have one. I have worked for companies such as: BMW, IBM, Toshiba, Ford, Sheraton Hotels, Toyota, Genworth Financial, and many more. Most Corporate Outings are a full day (18 holes) and a dinner with prizes and more. The chance to bring many different people together for one day is now essential for most businesses. One of my most interesting Corporate Outings I was involved in was in Adelaide, South Australia for Toshiba. It was their annual sales meeting, and the night before, they had a gala dinner and awards presentation. They even flew in from Japan a giant container of Saki and everyone had a drink or two. The next day on the course there were a few heavy heads, but they all enjoyed both the evening and the golf.

Charity Golf Days

The Charity Golf Day is another very common event that many businesses get involved with. Whatever the charity is, it is a good function to do for your company and it enhances your company’s image. Each community has several Charity Golf Days to raise funds and have a good time doing it. You can just play in it or you can be a sponsor. As a sponsor, you usually receive a sign on a hole or a banner, and if you are a major sponsor, you get greater exposure. The Charity Events are a great way to network in your local community and are a tax write off.

Networking on the Course

Being involved with a PGA Tour event is great, but it can be very expensive, and there are alternative ways to spend less money and still entertain clients. Networking at the golf course is proving to be a great vehicle to acquire new business. The key here is to become a golfer who can play a respectable game. Whether you are new to the game or been playing a while, one needs to take some lessons. Select an instructor who is similar in size and is someone who has been teaching for at least 5 years. Professionals at practice ranges can be very productive because teaching is their main source of income and they need to get results. Learning good golf etiquette is also important; business associates can tell how you handle yourself on the course and relate your actions to how you might handle a customer. You should dress well and have a set of clubs that suit you. Custom clubs are a big thing today, and I recommend getting clubs that fit you.

Contact CTGolfTips for more information on how to use these events to your advantage

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