Richie

The Perfect Golf Pre-Shot Routine

The best golfers in the world have a set pre-shot routine. It is good for a consistent game to create your own pre-shot routine. When you practice at the range you should go through this routine on each shot; so that it mimics your game out on the course.

I came across this video and decided to share. I like the way that the Pro (Rick Shiels) visually describes the routine with the different boxes.

Putting

The pre-shot routine in putting is slightly different to your iron shots. As with your “hitting” pre-shot routine you should look to replicate the exact same routine for all putting strokes, whether practicing or on the course. After a while it will just become natural and you will do it automatically without thinking about it.

Top tip: most modern golf balls have some kind of line printed on them. Align the line on the ball with the direction you want to putt. Then when you look down at the ball it helps you with your alignment.

iPing – Putting App

A few months back Ping released a app (iPing) to give you putting feedback. It is available as a FREE download for iPhone (4 and above), iPod Touch (iOS 5 required) or Android (Samsung Galaxy 3, Note 2).

To go along with this app you need a cradle which attaches the phone to the club. This retails for $14.99-$19.99. I simply attached the phone to the putter shaft with some rubber bands. You can also get creative and create your own cradle. You just need a shaft clamp/ clip and a spare hard phone case (you can buy on eBay for less than $2). You simply just superglue the clip onto the back of the case and voila!

The app is really simple to use. Basically you can view a bunch of stats about your putting, which is determined from the gyro’s in your cell phone. The main three stats given are; Stroke Type (whether you pull the putter straight back and through, if you have an arc on your swing etc), Impact angle (whether the putter head straight at impact) and Tempo (follow through after impact, i.e. perfect would be 2:1. Meaning you swing though double the distance, of what the back-swing was). After each swing the stats will appear on the cell phone screen for you to see. There are also a number of advanced stats which you can also monitor.

There are some additional features also. You can view and compare your putting stats to Ping PGA Pro’s. You can also do a “fit” where the app will recommend Ping putters which suit your swing. In addition you can save sessions and compare to previous.

I found the app a great tool – especially so as it is totally free! I practiced inside my house using my SKLZ putting mat (review is posted here). I always thought that I was pulling the putter back and through in a straight line. However I discovered I had a 10 degree arc (strong arc). The following day I went to my local golf store and tried a putter which was marked as ideal for a player having a strong arc. It was the Ping ZB S TR. I could not believe it. The putter felt great and 5 of my 10 10ft putts went in the hole. With the other putters I found the balls were going right. This made sense as the strong arc putters are weighted in a way that helps the face of the club to swing around towards center at impact.

I found iPing worked better on the iPhone than the Note 2. Simply because the iPhone is smaller and lighter weight. The Note was a little unwieldy when trying to fasten onto the putter. I did find a glitch when using the Note. I found I could practice fine and the putts were instantly read; but if I tried the Measure or Fit function it would not read any of the 5 putts. I think this could be as I had the cell phone attached to the club with rubber bands and not secure in a cradle.

Overall this is a really fun and useful gadget. The main use for me would be to check that the face of the putter is straight at impact. As it is free tool I highly recommend downloading it if you have an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. I would say that iPing is probably the best app I have downloaded on my phone in the past couple of years.

I am interested to hear your feedback. If you have any questions or thoughts on the product please post them in the comment box below.

The Saucer Pass – For the Hockey Fans!

Modified from a hockey shot, this is an unconventional way of chipping the ball when close to the green. This shot was made famous by James Lepp from Big Break Greenbrier (Golf Channel TV show). I understand as long as there is some kind of backswing on the stroke it is a legal shot to use. If you are a hockey player and have trouble with your short game this may be something you could try out!

Maggie Hathaway Golf Course – Par 3 (Inglewood)

9637 S. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90047

(323) 755-6285

9 holes (par 27)

Yardage: 1,008 yards

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Green fees: Weekday $6.50, Weekends $8.50, Juniors $1.75/ $2.25

Maggie Hathaway is located in Jessie Owen Park, Inglewood. You should access the parking lot from Western and 98th Street. This course is located in South Central LA – not one of the best parts of LA. When exiting the golf course we were called over by a guy who was selling used golf balls out of the back of his car. He was selling a dozen for $5. Not a bad price, but what surprised me was that he was also selling condoms. Just seemed a weird combination to be in a golf course parking lot.

The course is built around a small driving range (about 150 yards with 10 stalls). There is also a nice putting green as you walk into the facility. The starter was friendly and we played with no wait. The course is really quiet during the week and those who were on the course were playing at a very good pace. We completed our round in less than an hour.

Maggie Hathaway was a nice surprise. I did not expect much and there was nothing online about this course in terms of reviews.It turns out the course is the home of The First Tee (kids golf program). If playing at the weekend I recommend calling ahead. They sometimes do First Tee events for kids and close the course to public.

The course is a short 9 hole, par 3. The longest hole being 132 yards. It is great for kids as each hole has an orange tee box much nearer to the green. It is really reasonably priced, just $2.25 for juniors on the weekend. There are no hazards on the course other than hole 8. The 8th green is surrounded with bunkers and I understand that hole was designed by Tiger Woods. The course is pretty much wide open with few trees in threatening positions. Almost each hole had a raised green and a noticeable elevation change from tee to green. The greens were in really good condition but tough! Some of the toughest greens I have played. Each green has a slope and there are few opportunities for a flat putt.

Although the greens are in nice condition, the other grass on the course needs watering. It was really dry. We played in June and we could not stick a tee into the ground as it was that hard. Also I was worried to take a divot as the ground gave the impression of being like concrete. I am sure in August it will be even worse. Adult’s hit off mats, but no plastic tee’s are provided. Each hole has a bench and ball washing station. Also each hole has a sign with the yardage and one of the First Tee’s 9 principles and a short description. The sign at hole 2 (which is shown at the top of post) is about integrity for example.

There is plenty of free parking at the course. The course is also in the flight path of LAX. So every 30-60 seconds you have a plane flying overhead.

Richie says… “Nice surprise. Enjoyable short par 3with a nice flow through the course. The greens were really tough!”

Albino says… “Pretty cool course. During the week you can’t beat it!”

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 – 90 yards

Hole 1 – green


Hole 3 – 121 yards

Hole 2 – 100 yards

Hole 4 – 109 yards

Hole 5- 132 yards

Hole 6 – 114 yards

Hole 7 – 103 yards

Hole 8 – 128 yards

Hole 9 – 111 yards

The First Tee

The First Tee, a youth development organization, impacts the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Supported by golf’s major organizations, including the LPGA, Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and USGA, The First Tee has reached more than 7 million young people since its inception in 1997 and reaches youth on golf courses, in schools and on military installations.

The First Tee’s nine core values –

Honesty
Integrity
Sportsmanship
Respect
Confidence
Responsibility
Perseverance
Courtesy
Judgement

The Numbers

7.6 Million		participants reached since 1997
12,000		volunteers actively engaged
5,300		elementary schools offering The First Tee National School Program during the 2012-2013 school year
50		U.S. states offering The First Tee programming
5		international locations offering The First Tee programming

The number of golfers in the USA (playing 8 rounds or more a year) has been steadily dropping by 3-4.5% each year, since 2006. With golf in the decline, it is important for the game that new people from all backgrounds are introduced to the game. Although the First Tee program is golf based, it teaches valuable life-skills. The First Tee is open to kids aged 7 to 14. If you are interested in enrolling or helping out, more details can be found on their website – http://www.thefirsttee.org. The LA local chapter has a Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/thefirstteelosangeles.

The majority courses featured on my website are ideal for people (kids and adults) starting out, due to their short nature. You do not have to drive the ball 200+ yards to play most of these par 3 golf courses. De Bell par 3 in Burbank has a longest hole of 95 yards for example.

Izzo Mini Mouth 24-Inch Chipping Target Review

With chipping being such a big part of the short game, I decided to buy a chipping net so that I could practice. This is one area of the game where I need to practice and improve. I estimate that I can knock about 3-5 shots off on a par 27 round, with better chips and pitches.

I decided to purchase a chipping net to practice with. The advantage of using a chipping net is that is a fixed target for you to aim at. Also if you are hitting with control the net will catch the balls, saving you the hassle of walking the hitting area to collect up all of the balls at the end.

After searching online for a chipping net I found the Izzo Mini Mouth 24-Inch Chipping Target. The net is 24″ in diameter and folds so that it can be put into a standard golf bag. The product had good reviews online and cost under $20 shipped which attracted me to the product.

I have a small park directly across from where I live and there is a nice quiet area where I can practice. I take the Mini Mouth net and a bag of balls with me. I typically go a couple of times a week after work and hit for about 30 minutes in a session. From doing this I have already noticed a significant increase in my game. The short game is all about touch and from practicing, I have improved my touch around the green.

When I first went to practice I made the mistake of setting up the net with some bushes behind. After loosing 5 golf balls in the first couple of minutes I figured out that I should turn it around and ensure there is clear space behind the net. So if I missed, the balls would not be lost in the foliage.

The net itself works really good. I was worried it may be too small, but it is not an issue. Only minor negative is that it is a little tricky to fold down. There is not really too much I can write about this net as it is a simple product and self-explanatory. But overall it is a handy piece of equipment to have and I recommend this product, especially at the low price point.

Positioning the net with bushes behind = lost balls!

How to Mark Your Ball

It is important to mark your ball in order to avoid any confusion on the course. You can get special monogram devices or stencils, but I find they do not work great and the ink usually runs. I personally just put a dot on the ball using a gold sharpie.

Justin Rose – 2013 US Open Champion

Earlier today Justin Rose won the US Open at Merion Golf Club, PA by 2 strokes. Justin (a fellow Brit) is the first Englishman to win a major golf championship in 17 years. The previous being Nick Faldo MBE, who won the 1996 Masters. He is also the first Englishman to win the US Open in 43 years (Tony Jacklin, 1970).

Justin finished at +1, 2 shots ahead of Phil Mickelson and Jason Day. Rose’s previous best major finish was tied-third in the US PGA behind Rory McIlroy in 2012, while he has had six other top-10s in majors.

Here is a brief bio of Justin Rose…

Born: July 30, 1980
Nationality: British
Residence: Orlando, Florida / London UK

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Turned Pro: 1998

Victories

2012 2013 US Open

2012 Turkish Airlines World Finals

2012 2012 WGC Cadillac Championship

2011 2011 BMW Championship, PGA Tour

2010 2010 The Jack Nicklaus Memorial, PGA Tour

2010 2010 AT&T National, PGA Tour

2007 European Order of Merit (Number 1)

2007 2007 Volvo Masters, European Tour

2006 2006 Mastercard Masters, European Tour

2004 2004 Bilt Skins, India

2002 2002 Victor Chandler British Masters, European Tour

2002 2002 Chunichi Crowns, Japanese Tour

2002 2002 Nashua Masters, Sunshine Tour

2002 2002 Dunhill Championship, European Tour

Team Honors

2012 2012 Ryder Cup (won 3 out of 5 matches)

2011 2011 World Cup

2008 2008 Ryder Cup (won 3 out of 4 matches)

2007 2007 Seve Trophy (winners)

2007 2007 World Cup

2003 2003 Seve Trophy (winners)

2003 2003 World Cup

2002 2002 World Cup

1997 1997 Walker Cup (Represented England and GB&I at all levels throughout his amateur career).

Bio (courtesy of www.justinrose.com)

Justin announced himself to the golfing world when, as a 17 year old amateur he pitched in at the last hole in the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale G.C., a shot that claimed him 4th place. With that shot Justin captured the imagination of the British public and the rest of the golfing world.

In the 14 years following the dramatic scenes at Birkdale, Justin has proven himself as one of the World’s leading golfers, winning the European Tour Order of Merit in 2007 and reaching No.6 in the World in 2008. He was also the best performing rookie of both teams in the 2008 Ryder Cup.

In 2010, Justin was billed as one of the World’s hottest golfer with two victories on the PGA Tour in the space of a 4 week period. His maiden victory in the US came at the famous Jack Nicklaus Memorial tournament and he was close to making it two wins in two events at the Travelers Championship. Following the disappointment of letting a final round lead slip from his grasp, Justin showed his depth in character to go on to secure his 2nd win in the US just a week later at the AT&T National.

2011 was another exceptional year with a further victory on the PGA Tour at the BMW Championship. He backed this up with ten top 15 finishes on the European and PGA Tours, to include 3rd place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 5th at the Transitions Championships. He rounded 2011 off by coming 2nd at the World Cup in China.

2012 saw Justin become the World’s 4th best golfer – his highest ever world ranking. He started the year with an impressive run at the Masters, finishing 8th, and followed this with his biggest win to date at the WGC – Cadillac Championship. This win makes Justin one of just 3 Brits to have won 4 events or more on the PGA Tour. He then almost won the FedEx series Tour Championship and was full of confidence going into the Ryder Cup at Medinah. He claimed an impressive 3 points for the team including a remarkable win against Mickelson in the singles. Justin rounded off 2012 by winning the Turkish Airlines World Finals, an event featuring the top 8 players in the World, and also by finishing 2nd at the season ending DP World Tour Championship having posted a thrilling final day 62. He has kicked off the 2013 season in sublime form as well finishing 2nd at the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championships.

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Giveaway – Nike Dri-Fit Tech 2013 Glove

Richie’s World of Golf is giving away Nike’s brand new Dri-Fit Tech 2013 Glove. To enter please submit the form below. Please be assured that your info will not be shared and you will receive no junk mail.

This is one of several giveaways we will be having to thank our loyal followers.

Note – this is for USA residents only, I can not ship internationally. I also only have left hand gloves (for right handed hitters). Sizes available are M, L and XL.

Competition closes at noon PST on Sunday June 16 2013. Winner will be drawn at random and announced later that day. One entry per person please.

Good luck!
_____________________________________________

We did the random draw earlier today and the winner was Scott from Northridge.

Congratulations and your glove is on its way to you. Thank you for all of those who entered. Check back soon for our next giveaway.

Weddington Golf & Tennis – Par 3 (Studio City)

4141 Whitsett Ave
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 761-3250

9 holes (par 27)

Yardage: 975 yards

Hours: Varies according to time of year

Green fees: Weekday $10, weekend $11, seniors $7.50

This course is located is located in Studio City. Just south of Moorpark between Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon. I must admit that I am somewhat biased as this is my home course. I seem to play my best – hitting my all-time best score of 29 (+2) on this course in 2012.

For me this is one of the best par 3 courses in the L.A. area. The course is very well kept. The grass is nicely manicured and the greens are large. The quality of the course is that of your typical 18 hole course, which is rarely the case with par 3’s.

The course is well laid out with good variation of hole length. Unfortunately there are no bunkers or water hazards, however some of the greens and pin positions are in challenging locations. Hole 2 is a relatively long 130 yard hole with an elevated green. This is followed by a short 75 yard hole. The closest I have ever got to hole in one in my life was on this green. My tee short ended up about 3 foot from the hole. Watch out for hole 4 – I consider one of the toughest. The green is really tough with a large dip in the middle. Typically the pin is in a really tough position on this hole.

Hole 3 – 75 yards (site of my “near” hole in one)

Although there are trees throughout the course, leaves are not an issue. Play on the course is usually at good pace. I have been at peak times and not had to wait all that long.

There is a driving range at this course also. As you can see on the pic above the prices are high. Also the driving range always seems to be busy. You have to be careful around holes 5 and 7 as sometimes a stray golf ball from the range can make its way through the net. In fact on one occasion we witnessed a guy on the hole behind us get hit on the head and get carted off to the emergency room in an ambulance.

Note… strict no alcohol policy on this course. They have marshals driving around in golf carts and they will eject you if you are found with an alcoholic beverage.

Hole 9 – 90 yards; looking back at the hole from behind the green

Richie says… “I love this course, it is one of the best par 3 courses I have played. The course is very well maintained and the people working and playing there are friendly. Parking can be tricky at peak times, but there is usually plenty of parking by the tennis courts in the second parking lot.”

Albino says… “Fast greens and well maintained course.”

Chris says… “It’s ok. I think it is a little over-rated in Richie’s eyes. Overall good course, it’s local, the greens runs fast and the staff are friendly. Do not drink any beer on the course or you will disappear forever.”