IRISH OPEN 2012
The Golfers Club – Irish Open 2012 At Royal Portrush
Golf’s European Tour has announced that it is taking the unprecedented step of advising all golf fans planning to attend the 2012 Irish Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club next month to buy their tickets in advance in a bid to avoid the potential disappointment of missing out on the action.
The Tour, as event organizers of the Irish Open 2012, also unveiled detailed Traffic and Transportation plans including additional Translink coach, rail and Park & Ride services. These are designed to ensure that spectators have ease of access to the event and to minimize the disruption to the neighboring community on the roads surrounding Portrush.
The Golfers Club – Irish Open 2012 Ticket Sales
Pre-tournament ticket sales for the Irish Open 2012, which is being staged in Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 60 years, have exceeded all expectations since the spectacular links on the Antrim coastline was named as the host venue in January. Consequently, the Saturday and Sunday are close to being a sell-out.
With the demand to see Major Champions Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and American Keegan Bradley along with a host of other world-class names, it is expected that close to 100,000 spectators will descend on Royal Portrush over the practice day on Tuesday June 26, the pro-am day on Wednesday June 27 and the four competition days, Thursday June 28 to Sunday July 1.
This has resulted with the European Tour recommending that anyone still wishing to see the world’s best golfers up close should guarantee their tickets now by visiting their website at www.europeantour.com/tickets.
Hospitality packages are already sold out for the first two days, but are still available for Saturday and Sunday.
The Golfers Club – Irish Open 2012 Accommodation Advice
The Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Alan Clarke, has also advised golf fans travelling to the Irish Open 2012 to book their accommodation soon.
“With tickets selling so fast accommodation is also booking up quickly. Right now there is still good availability around Portrush but we don’t expect this to last.”
“Even if accommodation options close to the course fill up, Portrush is easily accessible from all areas of Northern Ireland and there are plenty of options a little further out with many hotels running great deals that include accommodation, tickets for the golf and coach transport to and from the course. Northern Ireland is not a huge area so no matter where you’re staying, you’ll still be within a reasonable distance to Portrush,” said Clarke.
Championship Director of the Irish Open, Antonia Beggs, added: “The combination of substantial advance ticket sales and the success of the home grown Irish players were the catalysts behind today’s important announcement in Belfast.”
“With such large spectator numbers expected for the Irish Open, all the key bodies and authorities have put their weight behind this Traffic and Transportation Plan and we at The European Tour would like to thank everyone closely associated with this strategy for their cooperation in creating a plan which we are confident will enhance the experience of attending this superb tournament.”
Following successful experiences from other leading European Tour events and detailed discussions with the relevant authorities, a coach, rail and “Park & Ride” transport plan has been chosen as the best solution to minimize vehicle flows and reduce potential congestion in the local area.
All spectators are being encouraged to refer to the detailed travel information which they will receive along with their tickets closer to the date of the tournament or they can visit the Irish Open section at www.europeantour.com for further details.
So, the Irish Open 2012, what are you waiting for?
GOLF CART ACCESSORIES
Do You Own Your Own Golf Cart?
If you are fortunate enough to own your own golf cart, chances are that you spend quite a bit of time at the golf course. Therefore you would, in all probability, like to get your golf cart to be as useful as possible. When you first buy a golf cart they are usually very basic as far as features and extras are concerned. However, you can make upgrades in the future in order to enhance the golf cart and turn it into a much better experience. This might be something to make the golfing trip easier, or maybe just something that personalizes your golf cart. Either way, golf carts are a lot like cars in that they can be improvised and improved as you see fit.
Deluxe Golf Cart
The first step to creating a truly deluxe golf cart is to personalize the regular components. Do you feel that the seats are not as comfortable as they could be? Perhaps you should consider re-upholstering them with a nice leather finish. All of the components on a stock golf cart can, more than likely, be replaced with something more luxurious and stylish. This means everything from the rims of the wheels to the bumpers or the steering wheel. It would make sense to decide on some sort of theme, such as chrome or a dark varnished wood. Replacing everything may prove expensive and it might require a lot of hard work, but it will be worth it when you are driving a golf cart that is 100% unique.
If you have an extravagant and intricate plan that requires rebuilding the entire golf cart, you may want to get in touch with a professional that will be able to help you to plan out the entire scope, step by step. This could be the most expensive option of all, but if you establish a good contact who can get the job done well, then you are more likely be happy with the final outcome. To find a professional like this, make enquiries in some of your local car body shops to see if they are willing to offer customized golf cart work. Other than that you could look for help online, perhaps on a site like CraigsList.com, where you can post a help wanted ad and wait for people to get in touch with you.
A Tasteful Golf Cart
Some other possible accessories for your golf cart includes body kits that can be installed in just a few minutes, or paint and sign work that will take a similar amount of time. These options will definitely personalize your golf cart as well as make it stand out among the rest of the golf carts on show at any given time. Just be sure to keep your modifications on a tasteful level. Big tip – do not deck the entire thing out to look like the popemobile, that would just be obnoxious and distasteful. Instead, make it look pleasant and easy on the eye as that will go a long way to making your golf club proud to have you as a member.
If you need any further inspiration to get started with modifying your golf cart, look on the internet for some examples.
THE IRISH AUGUSTA – CORK GOLF CLUB
Cork Golf Club – A Warm Welcome Awaits
Ireland’s golf courses have been receiving many accolades in the past few years and have even been regarded as one of the five best countries in the word to play golf. Offering a variety of parkland and traditional links courses, you can pick blindly among the courses that dot the whole country and still make a great choice.
Many of these amazing golf courses have hosted international professional tournaments with their championship courses and great accommodations. The warm Irish welcome alone would make anyone feel right at home.
Irish heritage in golf is unquestioned as a number of golf courses are “mature” dating back to the late 1800′s. One of these is the Cork Golf Club in Little Island, County Cork. Established in 1888, the Cork Golf Club was redesigned in 1927 by that renowned golf course designer Dr. Alexander Mackenzie, who also designed other famous golf courses like the Augusta National, Royal Melbourne and the Cypress point to name a few.
Throughout the course you will see many well established trees and various patches of well grown gorse making the course look more natural. The estuary of the River Lee, Lough Mahon provides the scenic background that stretches almost the entire course. Cork’s limestone quarry provides a crisp heath like playing surface.
Cork Golf Club Entices Golfers
As with wine, the age of the Cork Golf Club has made it more palatable and more enticing to golfers. With finely manicured greens carpeting the par 72, 6,731 yards championship course, the Cork Golf Club course offers an experience equal to, or better than, any other premier golf course in Ireland and even the world.
But it’s not only the golf course that makes the Cork Golf Club a success and a firm favorite. The clubhouse and other facilities also come into the world class category and have been handed accolades by numerous golf enthusiasts and experts.
In 2004 alone, the prestigious All Ireland Award for Clubhouse presentation was given to the Cork Golf Club. Its deluxe top quality restaurant, renowned for excellent service, has a full bar and top notch dining facilities and offers fantastic food. Open seven days a week, it offers a great way to end a day after playing a round of golf. In the clubhouse itself you will find their roomy and well-designed changing rooms that have incredible facilities for both members and visitors.
No Better Place Than Cork Golf Club
How about a bit of stretching, practice and warm up before the game? The Cork Golf Club also provides excellent practice facilities like their perfectly maintained and manicured putting green and a practice area for your swing exercises. You will also have the chance to hire some clubs a caddy and golf carts if required.
If that’s not enough then you can go the Pro Shop and buy some souvenir shirts, caps, bags with the ‘Clubs’ logo on them. You may also purchase any equipment you may need to play your game. You will also be able to talk to the club pro for some pointers or enroll in some short tuition classes to get some tips on improving your game.
Many, many people have grown a passion for golf. This passion has led them to develop a need to play challenging golf courses to test themselves – there is no better place to face that challenge at the Cork Golf Club.
BUYING A GOLF CART
Tips For Buying A Golf Cart
There are not very many people who actually have a worthy reason for buying a golf cart for their own personal use, however, if you decide that you need a golf cart there are a few things that you should bear in mind so that you can make the best buying decision possible. Of course buying a used golf cart will save you a fair chunk of money, but you should know what you are looking at when you go to buy a golf cart in order to ensure that you get a really good deal, after all you don’t want to waste your money on something that does you no good.
Step number one, if you want to purchase a golf cart for your own personal use at a golf course – find out if the course will allow you to use a cart on the course. A number of golf courses do not allow carts, however many others do. One reason you may want to purchase a golf cart is if you happen to live on a golf course and would simply prefer to drive the cart to the clubhouse rather than your car. With the increasing expenses for fuel alone, this can lead to massive savings over a number of years and more than pay for the expense of the golf cart itself. However, remember to check with your local area to ensure that it will not be a problem driving it on the roads in and around your area, as well as with the golf course to ensure that it is ok with them.
Golf Cart Research
When you have completed all of the research for your area you have more things that you need to consider. An electric golf cart is obviously a much wiser and cheaper purchase, certainly in the long run. With an electric golf cart you do not have to purchase gasoline continuously and there are typically fewer parts that may need to be repaired or replaced as well. This will make the maintenance upkeep that much cheaper which will allow you to get further usage from the golf cart before it needs to be replaced.
When you are looking around at golf carts, you must look for a cart that has a new battery as well as battery connectors. You should also look for a cart that has a good clean connector and charger that looks in decent condition. It goes without saying that the cart itself should be clean and in good working order. Do not buy a cart that is not working properly in the hope that you can fix it on the cheap. Buying a cart that is not working properly is more than likely going to turn into a nightmare project due to the continuous repairs that will be required. If the cart does not work properly at the time of purchase, move on.
Golf Cart Test Drive
You will also want to make sure that you can take the cart for a test drive. If you are not able to take the cart for a test drive, you really should just walk away. If you do manage to take it for a test drive ensure that you can stop within a space of 10-15 feet without sliding. Golf courses are not going to appreciate you bringing a cart to the course that can cause any sort of damage. Don’t forget to check the steering and make absolutely sure that the cart turns properly. The final consideration should be to look at all of the wheels to ensure that they are all in good condition. With a bit of careful research and knowing what you are actually looking for you can save as much as 75% off the price of a new golf cart by purchasing a used model.
DO WARM GOLF BALLS TRAVEL FURTHER?
Heat Up Your Golf Balls
It is a recognised fact that warm golf balls will travel further than cold balls everything else being equal.
The simple reason for this is the fact that the additional heat influences the compression of the ball.
It is hard to say how much heat would be needed to gain additional length and the gain in distance would be relatively minimal anyway, but every little bit extra helps, right?
Having said that, I think it is fair to say that in golf it is all about making gains, no matter how big or small they are and in as many areas as possible.
Put Your Golf Balls In Your Pocket
It is not uncommon for some golf pros to carry their golf balls in their pocket as this helps to retain heat within the ball. So whether this helps mentally or actually enhances the true distance they get, it is definitely going to benefit them at the end of the day.
If you happen to be playing in particularly cold conditions your golf balls will lose their heat quite quickly so you will only get the benefit of your first shot in all likelihood.
Once again, even if you can make just one gain in one particular area of your play at every hole, that will add up to a lot of good when your score card is tallied up after the eighteenth.
Heat Your Golf Balls Before You Play
You could always heat your golf balls before play but you had better make sure that you don’t damage the inner core of the ball while doing so or you will end up doing more harm than good.
With the mental part of golf being such an important part of the game, having your golf balls heated might just be the edge you need to give you the confidence to play that little bit better.
If that is the case, then the benefits will be far more than any increase in distance you might possibly gain.
One thing you could do is practice with a few heated golf balls and a few at normal temperature and if you notice a difference then you should just run with it.
GOLF SHOES
Golf Shoes – Are They Essential?
As most people know, there are shoes for practically every sport imaginable. There are relatively few sports that don’t have a special shoe that is intended to improve the way you perform when you are wearing them. Yet many people can’t always afford to buy all of the additional shoes that are a supposed necessity. This leaves a number of people to wonder if it is really necessary to buy golf shoes in order to play golf. In trying to balance monetary considerations with safety considerations there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Perhaps your first consideration should be your level of skill. A beginner golfer typically cannot justify the expense of buying golf shoes. Golf shoes are certainly not cheap, and since they can only really be worn on the golf course they have a very limited usage away from the golf course. The likes of basketball and tennis shoes can be worn for different circumstances, golf shoes must remain on the golf course in order to avoid damaging them unduly, or for that matter, the ground surface on which you walk.
Invest In A Decent Pair Of Golf Shoes
If you happen to be a highly skilled player or even play the game on a regular basis, you will probably want to invest in a decent pair of golf shoes. When you do decide to invest in a pair of golf shoes you will want to find a pair of shoes that you are completely comfortable in. Bearing in mind that many golf courses require you to do a vast amount of walking you can see why it is so important that the fit is comfortable, something with plenty of cushioning as well as good support is essential.
It is always a good idea to check out or contact the golf courses where you plan to play golf in advance. There are some clubs that have a strict golf shoes policy, in other words, no golf shoes = no play. While this may seem draconian and a bit of a killjoy, especially if you were not planning to buy golf shoes initially, golf courses require golfers to wear the shoes as a safety consideration to ensure that you do not slip when you are playing a shot. A good pair of golf shoes will have spikes or a softspike system that will deliver exceptional grip in all conditions and ensure that you are not slipping when you swing your club.
Choose The Right Golf Shoes For You
Take your time to shop around for golf shoes, you will come to realise that this is a very wise move. There are plenty of different colors to choose from, so selecting the color for you can turn out to be a harder decision than you might think. In addition, not all shoes are made the same. The shoes that are best for your feet may not be best for someone else’s feet. Also, there are numerous diverse material styles that you can choose from such as hard materials to soft leathers.
Be assured that choosing the right shoes to play golf in will ensure that you are comfortable and well supported, just what you need to hit that great shot. If you happen to be playing a lot of golf, you will quickly see how a good pair of golf shoes can do wonders by helping to improve your comfort level as well as your game. Don’t dismiss the ability of a good pair of shoes to dramatically increase your overall golfing performance. Take your time when choosing your golf shoes, you will not regret it.
COMMON GOLF INJURIES
Back Golf Injuries
Every sport tends to have specific injuries associated with the relative activity; the problem is in identifying what is likely to occur and learning exactly how you can avoid any potential golf injuries in order to ensure that you are as healthy and safe as possible when out on the golf course. One thing that you should and can do is make sure that you are in good physical condition before you start to play golf, but this is not always as easy to do as it sounds. However if you take the time to ensure that you are in a good physical shape you will greatly reduce the number of potential golf injuries that you are likely to otherwise have.
As you can imagine, with all of the walking and swinging of golf clubs, back injuries are one of the most common golf injuries. However, aside from using muscle rubs, and ice packs or back braces simply taking the time to do proper a proper warm up and conditioning of your back muscles can go a long way to help avoid these problems. It is also important to ensure that you get the necessary rest following a game of golf to ensure that your back has the time to recover between activities. If you play continuous games back to back (no pun intended), you may want to consider a massage or a visit to a chiropractor.
Elbow Golf Injuries
Another of the fairly common golf injuries is tennis elbow otherwise known in golf as – golfer’s elbow. This injury typically occurs when players start to play too much – too soon, not allowing their body’s to adjust. However, there are a few slight differences between tennis and golfer’s elbow. The main difference is that tennis elbow impacts on the outside of the upper arm, while golfer’s elbow impacts on the inside. Although there is no definite way to avoid these golf injuries they are most often caused by suddenly playing a lot of golf. For example, if you normally play one game a month then suddenly started to play every day then potentially you will be at risk for developing either tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow.
Shoulder Golf Injuries
Next on the golf injuries list are the shoulder injuries which top the list of major problems for golfers. You can just imagine the amount of pressure that is put on the shoulders when you are swinging golf clubs constantly. Take a body that is already tired or worn out and you have a prime recipe for an injury. In order to avoid this you have to ensure that you are warming up your shoulder muscles as much as possible before every game and keep working hard to ensure that you are taking proper care of your body.
Wrist Golf Injuries
One of the golf injuries to avoid if at all possible, and it is an injury that tends to affect a fair amount of golfers, is carpal tunnel syndrome. This happens mainly due to repetition stress. For example, if you play continuously for several months straight you could be looking at a potential injury in progress. The results of the injury can be serious, but if you are careful and catch it early enough, just a brace will normally solve your problems. However, the more serious cases of carpel tunnel can cause you to be incapacitated or in extreme cases require surgery in order to use your hands properly. The problem is that carpel tunnel syndrome often shows no serious signs until it actually appears and causes problems. Therefore, always make sure that you wear a wrist support if you start to notice that you are experiencing wrist pain. And remember, you can help yourself to avoid a number of potential golf injuries.
GOLF EQUIPMENT
Golf Equipment: Proper Set Up For Golf
Just like any other sport, golf requires that you are set up properly to be able to play the game to the best of your ability. Hopefully, this article will give you some idea of basic golf equipment that you will require to be able to learn and play golf.
For starters, the most basic golf equipment is the golf ball. All golf balls are dimpled, this is to maximise the distance they can reach when hit by golf clubs.
A more important piece of golf equipment is a golf driver. Golf drivers come in various shapes and sizes. Golf courses have different landscapes and therefore different golf clubs are required to execute the proper drive. Depending on the landscape the correct golf club is essential if you want to make the perfect drive. Professional golfers will have numerous golf clubs to choose from to cater for all their needs on the golf course. All good golf stores and sports equipment stores will sell golf clubs in sets or individually depending on each golfers requirements.
Protect Your Golf Equipment
To protect your golf equipment, such as your golf clubs, a golf bag with a golf club cover is essential. A golf bag itself will, of course, hold your golf clubs in one secure place and will make it easier for you (or your caddy) to carry your golf clubs. Your golf bag will also hold golf balls, tees and other golf equipment like a water an extra shirt or your regular shoes. On the other hand, a golf club cover will cover and protect your golf club. This is done to protect your golf club from unwanted bumps and scratches. Dents in a golf club can cause your shot to go from ok to – well you know… With this piece of golf equipment, you can take good care of the state of your clubs and your game.
One piece of golf equipment that you really need to invest in is a good pair of golf shoes. Golf shoes are different from the usual every day rubber shoes or walking shoes. Golf shoes are fashioned to walk on different terrains – the type where you need a good pair of shoes to grip the grass, earth and sand under your feet. Choose a pair of shoes that are sturdy yet comfortable enough for you to walk around a golf course for a few hours. Golf is a sport that requires a fair amount of walking, therefore, if your golf shoes are uncomfortable, you would have a hard time concentrating on your game.
Speciality Golf Equipment
My personal favourite item of golf equipment is the golf cart. Golf carts will take you from one hole to the other and lessen the burden of having to walk under the hot sun (hot sun, I wish). This piece of golf equipment can be hired, per round, directly from golf courses.
Many specialty shops and sport shops offer golf equipment and the internet is also a good source for finding golf equipment.
GOLF STORES
Don’t Miss The Real Golf Stores
With an increasing market of high-end retailers selling golf equipment there is probably a good chance that you will miss the “real” golf stores.
Typically, golf stores will have the latest, and probably the best golf equipment and accessories needed by anybody that wants to plays golf. Items for sale will range from golf clubs to golf balls, to the likes of posters, shirts, and even wallpaper.
The majority of golf stores focus on ensuring that they stock the right equipment for any interested golfer. They will provide suggestions on how to choose the right clubs and the appropriate golf balls. Golf stores will not only supply items relative to all the various areas of golf but some will also offer services and knowledge about the sport itself.
Golf Stores Provide Additional Services
Additional services may include club repair, club fitting, and golf swing analysis. Most of these golf stores use the True Temper Shaftlab and Achiever Launch Monitor swing analysis. These machines measure absolutely everything, from ball speed, club head speed to the carry distance. They will also provide printouts illustrating extreme deflection, shaft loading, downswing time and face angle.
Also, there are other golf stores that offer golf classes with the tuition being provided by local pros. Another offering is golf tutorials for junior golfers together with clinics designed specifically for women golfers.
Golf stores may prove to be an Aladdin’s cave for avid golf collectors as they will find plenty of interesting items on show, and available for purchase. Collectors’ items such as golf balls used by some of the world’s most renowned players together with an array of signed items and articles are sure to be available too.
Passion In Golf Stores
Plus, there are golf stores that offer the more obscure golf gifts. These will vary greatly from the most common to the most creative golf gifts you could think of and suitable for just about any occasion.
It is not uncommon for golf store owners to be keen golfers themselves. Like most successful businessmen, it’s a real asset when you are passionate about what you are selling. This “passion” will give feelings of satisfaction and gratification to the golf shopper, something that money alone can’t buy. So what are you waiting on – get along to one of these “real” golf stores now and see what you have been missing.
GOLF BALLS – EXPENSIVE ACCESSORIES?
Are Golf Balls The Most Expensive Golf Accessories Of All?
Golfers are always faced with a constant barrage of items that they can possibly spend their money on. These things range from the necessities like golf clubs, to completely unnecessary things like trophy cases for hole-in-one golf balls. It would appear that a golfer’s money could continuously be thrown away on the countless things that are available for purchase. However, one of the most expensive items that a golfer has to spend money on is, perhaps, not what you would expect. Golf balls are possibly the most irritating thing that a golfer has to buy. We seem to buy them over and over again, as they disappear into bushes, water, or sand traps. Prices for golf balls can seem fairly unreasonable too, with some selling for over $25 for a pack of 12. If you would like to save money on golf balls or even get them for free, read on for a few tips on how you can do just this.
Golf Balls – Find Them & Keep Them
When you happen to be playing a round of golf, there are usually plenty of opportunities to find golf balls that have been left behind by errant golfers. It is not a particularly good idea to constantly interrupt your game in search of golf balls, but if you happen to walk right by a cluster of bushes or a small water hazard, you might as well take a moment to look for golf balls that have been left behind. If you don’t mind getting a bit of a soaking, ordinarily you can find a number of golf balls just by reaching into a water pool. Bushes and other similar obstructions are also good places to look. Fellow golfers may find you strange when you are searching around for golf balls, but it is definitely worth it in the end when you don’t need to pay insane amounts of cash for golf balls every week. All you have to do is shove them into a bag and take them home with you, then wash them clean and you now have golf balls that are like new.
Buying Used Golf Balls
You can also buy used golf balls from a number of different sources including your local sports stores. These are sold at a huge discount off of the original retail price and you will find it hard to tell that they have been used thanks to the cleaning processes. They are not normally sold in matching brands or colors, so if uniformity is your thing you may be disappointed. Unless you are more than just a casual golfer, used or second-hand golf balls will probably do the trick. It takes a very trained hand to be able to tell the difference between a new ball and a used ball, or between an expensive ball and a cheaper version. The spin and the hardness of the balls generally vary, but probably not enough for you to notice. You may want to try two contrasting balls in a row and see if you notice anything different and if not then you can be happy that you are able to stick with your cheaper golf balls.
Although it may not seem like much of a money saver to get all of your golf balls for free or at a discounted rate, but the money you save will certainly add up. It may just be a few dollars a week or you notice a significantly large saving, either way it’s still money in your pocket that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Therefore, you should remember the golf ball savings techniques that have been discussed so far, first of all, you should always take whatever chance you get to search for golf balls that have been left behind by previous golfers in areas that they are likely to have lost them. Secondly, buy used golf balls from sports stores in order to save money. If you follow these two guidelines, you are sure to experience the benefits of being free from paying full price for golf balls.
