If you ever get the chance to play golf in Arizona, I would definitely recommend Desert Canyon Golf Course in Fountain Hills. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! My brother and I played there while they were out for a vacation last year. Because it was July in Arizona (it was 112 degrees by noon), we got on the course for super cheap - around $40. The course is well kept - even in that heat. It had some breath-taking views - I believe it was the 8th hole, a Par 3 where you're basically look down a large hill on the entire Valley of the Sun - simply awesome. And the course was difficult in a good way. Par 71, 6,500 yards but the holes were difficult. I will definitely play there again. Check out their web site at http://www.desertcanyongolf.com/html/golfcourse.html
I'm going to be playing at Palm Valley Golf Course this Sunday. It looks really nice too. That ones down at the opposite end of the valley in Goodyear. It should be a very good time. I'll make sure I post something about it after I've played.
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Hope everyone had a nice Easter...
Hey everybody. Hope you all had a nice Easter and Passover, Spring Break, whatever...
I STILL didn't get to play this weekend. I stayed home and watched the Masters instead (it was mostly because I didn't have someone to go with). I also had a lot of work to do, so I figured I'd work and watch the tournament.
I've been working on a lot of things. Long lists of freelance stuff as well as day job stuff. I've been trying to keep up, but its a little harrowing. Everytime I turn around someone is asking for something else. I need that release, I need the relaxation of going out there and hitting a solid round. My buddy Jim has SWORN that he can make it this weekend, so I'll definitely be able to get out there. I can't wait.
So you know I've brought up PurePoint Golf's Bobby Eldridge here before. Well, Bobby's got a bunch of new videos up on YouTube. Check 'em out at http://www.youtube.com/group/golfswingsecrets
I think I'm going to start posting more links up in this blog. I'd like to point out a lot more places that I've gotten advice. The problem is that if you take advice from too many people and try to follow too many systems, you won't get anywhere. I've been trying to to stay with one system for a while and seeing if it works. I'm really into the PurePoint System now, so that's why I keep hitting on it. I've set up a separate file on my laptop here to keep all of my golf links in. I'll share what I find.
Thanks guys!
Joe
I STILL didn't get to play this weekend. I stayed home and watched the Masters instead (it was mostly because I didn't have someone to go with). I also had a lot of work to do, so I figured I'd work and watch the tournament.
I've been working on a lot of things. Long lists of freelance stuff as well as day job stuff. I've been trying to keep up, but its a little harrowing. Everytime I turn around someone is asking for something else. I need that release, I need the relaxation of going out there and hitting a solid round. My buddy Jim has SWORN that he can make it this weekend, so I'll definitely be able to get out there. I can't wait.
So you know I've brought up PurePoint Golf's Bobby Eldridge here before. Well, Bobby's got a bunch of new videos up on YouTube. Check 'em out at http://www.youtube.com/group/golfswingsecrets
I think I'm going to start posting more links up in this blog. I'd like to point out a lot more places that I've gotten advice. The problem is that if you take advice from too many people and try to follow too many systems, you won't get anywhere. I've been trying to to stay with one system for a while and seeing if it works. I'm really into the PurePoint System now, so that's why I keep hitting on it. I've set up a separate file on my laptop here to keep all of my golf links in. I'll share what I find.
Thanks guys!
Joe
Monday, April 2, 2007
Didn't get to play this weekend...
So I had planned all last week to go out and play on Saturday and it just didn't happen. Grrr! I hate it when I think I'll get to play and I can't. I'm definitely going to go out next weekend now (maybe sooner!). I'm itching to try some of the new techniques I've been picking up. I really think they'll help my game. I'm planning on breaking 100 my next time out. I know I can do it, I just have to get out there!
So I've been watching and watching my Short Game DVD from PurePoint Golf and watching their little video clips on YouTube and I think I've got this system down. I decided a long time ago that my short game is my undoing. I have a tendency to top the ball and watch it scoot over and through the green and I think the DVD has pointed out why its happening. I'm trying to get under the ball and lifting up my front shoulder pulling myself away from the ball. That obviously is bad. I've been practicing with the low follow through that Bobby mentions on the DVD and it has proved to work much better than my normal short game swing.
Anybody got any other pointers on the short game? I'd like to hear 'em.
Joe
So I've been watching and watching my Short Game DVD from PurePoint Golf and watching their little video clips on YouTube and I think I've got this system down. I decided a long time ago that my short game is my undoing. I have a tendency to top the ball and watch it scoot over and through the green and I think the DVD has pointed out why its happening. I'm trying to get under the ball and lifting up my front shoulder pulling myself away from the ball. That obviously is bad. I've been practicing with the low follow through that Bobby mentions on the DVD and it has proved to work much better than my normal short game swing.
Anybody got any other pointers on the short game? I'd like to hear 'em.
Joe
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Painted Mountain in Mesa, AZ - February 2007
So I thought I'd start with my last outing. I played a course named Painted Mountain in Mesa, AZ (which is just south of Scottsdale if you're not familiar with the area). www.PaintedMountainGolf.com We played while all of the wives were at my fiance's Bridal Shower. It was a nice time with all of the guys. My foursome included my friend Brent, my future brother-in-law Erik and some dude named Frank. Frank was really nice and he pointed out some thing I could do to improve.
Erik is pretty bad. Worse than me and that's saying something. But Brent has been playing for a long time and is quite a bit better than me. I've played with Brent before and we always have a good time.
This time out I shot a personal best - 107. My previous best was the last time I was out which was a 108. The course was a little short at around 6,000 yards. My long game wasn't horrible - I tried to stay away from my driver and I didn't quite hook the ball as much as I normally do. I tee'd the ball a little higher than normal and got a couple quite nice shots off the tee. My short game was my usual hot and cold. One shot will look great, the next will be a horror show. I was good as always out of the bunkers.
What kind of shocked me on this round was my putting. I missed quite a few relatively easy putts. That 107 could have been a 104 or even a 102 really easily if I had sunk a few more putts on the first try. If I miss a fairly easy putt, I almost always get mad and miss the next putt too. Its infuriating! I actually missed a 6 foot putt that would have given me my first ever birdie. It was a relatively short Par 4. I made it on in 2 and then I missed the putt. I finished the hole with a bogey (as is my way). Argh!
In the last couple weeks, I've been watching those videos from www.PurePointGolf.com and their pro Bobby Eldridge has pointed out a few things that I'm going to try right away in my short game and my putting.
For the short game, he advocates a shorter swing with more of a chopping motion at the ball with a short follow-through. I've always kind of used one club inside 100 yards and tried to vary my back swing to accomodate the different distances. Bobby's got a simple little pitching method that I found really useful. I could explain it, but its easier to just suggest you watch the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1YV-8ThI4M I'm definitely going to try this out next time.
Alright, I'm going to play again this weekend. I'll put up another post after I've played. Thanks for reading!
Erik is pretty bad. Worse than me and that's saying something. But Brent has been playing for a long time and is quite a bit better than me. I've played with Brent before and we always have a good time.
This time out I shot a personal best - 107. My previous best was the last time I was out which was a 108. The course was a little short at around 6,000 yards. My long game wasn't horrible - I tried to stay away from my driver and I didn't quite hook the ball as much as I normally do. I tee'd the ball a little higher than normal and got a couple quite nice shots off the tee. My short game was my usual hot and cold. One shot will look great, the next will be a horror show. I was good as always out of the bunkers.
What kind of shocked me on this round was my putting. I missed quite a few relatively easy putts. That 107 could have been a 104 or even a 102 really easily if I had sunk a few more putts on the first try. If I miss a fairly easy putt, I almost always get mad and miss the next putt too. Its infuriating! I actually missed a 6 foot putt that would have given me my first ever birdie. It was a relatively short Par 4. I made it on in 2 and then I missed the putt. I finished the hole with a bogey (as is my way). Argh!
In the last couple weeks, I've been watching those videos from www.PurePointGolf.com and their pro Bobby Eldridge has pointed out a few things that I'm going to try right away in my short game and my putting.
For the short game, he advocates a shorter swing with more of a chopping motion at the ball with a short follow-through. I've always kind of used one club inside 100 yards and tried to vary my back swing to accomodate the different distances. Bobby's got a simple little pitching method that I found really useful. I could explain it, but its easier to just suggest you watch the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1YV-8ThI4M I'm definitely going to try this out next time.
Alright, I'm going to play again this weekend. I'll put up another post after I've played. Thanks for reading!
Welcome to my first blog posting!
I put up this blog to track how my golf game has improved since I moved to Arizona in February of 2005. If you play golf, or would like to play more often, I doubt there's a better place in the world than Arizona - and namely the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.
I've heard good things about North Carolina and how beautiful the courses are, but I've found that most of the courses in the Valley are well kept, relatively inexpensive and play well. Yes, in the summer you have to play early as the temp crests 100 degrees by noon, but that's also the time of year when its cheapest to play golf here.
When I lived in New York, I'd get to play golf from around April to September. If you really pushed it, you could play in March or October, but few courses were open. Most of the courses were either public and poorly kept or private and inaccessible. The average course I've played out here is definitely nicer than the average course back in NY and here I can play year round.
So anyway, the point of this blog is going to be how I improve my game from round to round in the great state of Arizona. When I left New York, an average round for me was about 126. That's pretty high by anyone's standards. As I said, I'd only get to play 3 or 4 times a year in NY. My average since I've lived in Arizona has gone down to 115 and it keeps decreasing.
I've been reading over tips and hints on www.PurePointGolf.com and I've liked a lot of things I've read. If you've never checked them out, feel free to run over there. The pointers that they give are very easy to remember and I've been able to implement quite a few right away. They have a DVD set that they sell or you can check out some video samples. They also have a group on YouTube where you can see some of their free tips - www.youtube.com/group/golfswingsecrets.
So the point of this blog is to track my progress as I improve my game. I'll post any pointers I find interesting and let you know what my scores are every time I play.
Thanks for stopping by.
Joe
I've heard good things about North Carolina and how beautiful the courses are, but I've found that most of the courses in the Valley are well kept, relatively inexpensive and play well. Yes, in the summer you have to play early as the temp crests 100 degrees by noon, but that's also the time of year when its cheapest to play golf here.
When I lived in New York, I'd get to play golf from around April to September. If you really pushed it, you could play in March or October, but few courses were open. Most of the courses were either public and poorly kept or private and inaccessible. The average course I've played out here is definitely nicer than the average course back in NY and here I can play year round.
So anyway, the point of this blog is going to be how I improve my game from round to round in the great state of Arizona. When I left New York, an average round for me was about 126. That's pretty high by anyone's standards. As I said, I'd only get to play 3 or 4 times a year in NY. My average since I've lived in Arizona has gone down to 115 and it keeps decreasing.
I've been reading over tips and hints on www.PurePointGolf.com and I've liked a lot of things I've read. If you've never checked them out, feel free to run over there. The pointers that they give are very easy to remember and I've been able to implement quite a few right away. They have a DVD set that they sell or you can check out some video samples. They also have a group on YouTube where you can see some of their free tips - www.youtube.com/group/golfswingsecrets.
So the point of this blog is to track my progress as I improve my game. I'll post any pointers I find interesting and let you know what my scores are every time I play.
Thanks for stopping by.
Joe
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