Improve Your Golf Swing by Improving Your Tempo

We have all heard the word tempo in relation to the golf swing. Announcers on television speak of the "great" tempo Ernie Els has in his golf swing. What does tempo mean to the amateur and their golf swing?

Tempo in the Golf Swing

Tempo in the golf swing is a combination of many parts. Tempo is part timing in all aspects of the golf swing. It is part sequencing of each position within the golf swing, and it is part "feel". Putting all these golf swing parts together creates tempo in your own golf swing.

Interconnecting each phase of the golf swing; address, take-away, backswing, transition, downswing, impact, and follow through is one part of tempo, Performing each of these phases with the correct timing is also tempo. And finally "feel" for the clubhead is part of tempo.

We can probably say tempo is the end goal of all our practice and time spent on our golf swing. Once we have developed tempo in the golf swing, there is definitely a level of mastery within it.

How Do We Develop Tempo in the Golf Swing?

A great question that does not have a simple answer: Developing tempo in the golf swing is a task that requires patience, practice, and time. There really are no short cuts to developing it within your golf swing. One practice session at the driving range will not do it. The use of a single training aide will not get you there. The implementation of a golf fitness program will not achieve this task on its own.

I say this because developing a PGA Tour type golf swing requires a "basket of tools" in your arsenal. Developing tempo and a silky smooth golf swing requires you to:

* Receive proper instruction on the fundamentals of the golf swing

* Maintain a consistent practice schedule with your golf swing

* Use swing drills to develop every as of your golf swing

* The possible implementation of training aides into your practice sessions

* Implementing of golf fitness program to develop your body around the golf swing.

The "basket of tools" listed above put together can lead you to developing great tempo in your golf swing. It requires a comprehensive approach in which no short cuts can be made. Let's take a look at the bullet points above to get a better understanding of how to go about this process.

Proper Instruction in the Mechanics of the Golf Swing

Learning the fundamentals of the golf swing is key to developing tempo. This can be achieved through quality instruction. This will allow your body to learn the nuances of the swing. This is the first step in developing tempo.

Consistent Practice of the Golf Swing

As they say practice makes perfect. In order for your body to learn and be able to repeat to proper mechanics of the golf swing, you must practice on a consistent basis. The body learns biomechanical movements through repetition. The golf swing is no different. Repetition through proper practice session is the second key to developing tempo.

Swing Drills to Develop the Golf Swing

The golf swing as a whole is one of the most intricate athletic movements to perform. In its entirety, it is a very difficult movement to perform and master. It is best when learning the golf swing to break it down into parts. Breaking the golf swing down into segments allows you more easily to master each phase of the swing. This is accomplished through the implementation of golf swing drills. Swing drills break the swing down into manageable parts.

Training Aides in Association with Your Golf Swing Drills

Training aides assist the body in developing the golf swing. Think of training aides as "training wheels" on a bicycle. They simply help your body learn certain movements and positions associated with the golf swing.

Implementing a Golf Fitness Program

Your body swings the golf club and performs the biomechanics of the golf swing. In order to perform the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. It is necessary for your body to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power. If your body is lacking any of this aforementioned list learning the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly will be very difficult. A golf fitness program is the final key to developing tempo in your golf swing.

Summary

To summarize the development of tempo in your golf swing requires a "basket of tools". Tempo requires; proper instruction on the golf swing, consistent practice of your golf swing mechanics, the utilization of swing drills, training aides, and a golf fitness program. Put all of these aspects together and a golf swing with tempo will be yours.

About the Author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

The Golf Digest

As far as golf magazine in circulation goes, Golf Digest remains the most widely read monthly golf magazine. Made available in print by an American media company Advance Publications, this monthly digest concerns itself on golf topics in general flavor. While Advance Publications do circulate specialized golf digests like Golf for Women, Golf World, and Golf Business, Golf Digest remains their flagship when it comes to the golf arena.

Golf Digest is perhaps better known for its rankings of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" that featured the best golf course to be found worldwide. It was a colossal idea, as one researcher stated, since it promotes those major sponsorships and arrangements at the same time made Golf Digest readily feasible to the reading public if only the information for the best golf course was the collective interest.

Either case, Golf Digest's rankings of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" proved to be very successful. So successful was it that ultimately, Golf Digest's biennial rankings are regarded as an actual basis rate as far as every golf course go since its inception at 1985. The Golf Digest's ratings are considered legitimate too, since the entries are voted on by a board of several distinguished golf experts. The most successful qualifier is the Pine Valley Golf Club, who topped the list every time except on the 2001 ranking.

Golf Digest also produces lists of the best new courses, the best golf resorts, and the best golf course in each state.

Golf Digest Magazine offers tips and secrets in golf equipment, starter instructions an techniques explained in articles and even an instructional video, news and top stories about the present and recent tours, feature articles on just about anything but regarding golf, travel suggestions towards the best golf courses, and of course -Tiger Woods. Golf Digest can also be accessed by web http://www.golfdigest.com, where online golfing content are available for browsing.

Golf Digest became a branded circulation because it covers comprehensive issues about golf. A few other golf magazines feature comprehensive critiques, commentary, issues, reports, rumors, and stories about golf, all mixed in a flavorful manner. Golf Digest subscription is offered at $14.97 and the first time customer receives two risk free trial issues along with two free tips booklets. If you are interested, call 800-727-4653 which is toll free in the US and Canada.

For those who want to interested, here's the top 10 of the 100 Greatest Golf Courses for the 2005 - 2006 list.

1. Pine Valley Golf Club of New Jersey

2. Augusta National Golf Club of Georgia

3. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club of New York

4. Cypress Point Club of California

5. Oakmont Country Club of Pennsylvania

6. Pebble Beach Golf Links of California

7. Merion Golf Club of Pennsylvania

8. Winged Foot Golf Club of New York

9. National Golf Links of America of New York

10. Seminole Golf Club of Florida

Milos Pesic is an avid golfer and owner of the most comprehensive Golf Information Pages. Visit now to find out all you wanted to know about golf, golf equipment, tips, resorts and much more.

Golf Course Guide For Costa Del Sol, Spain

The Costa del sol golf course guide is a "rough guide" and is purely the personal opinion of the author. Please take in to consideration that these comments are subjective, personal opinions and standards of golf differ. Please take this rough guide as exactly that, an honest, personal opinion from a fellow golf addict.

Alcaidesa Links Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Alcaidesa golf course is a 18 hole, par 70 golf course.

Address: Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 124.6, La Linea, Cadiz. Tel: +34 956 791 040.

This is a beautiful and tricky golf course for every standard of golfer from 28 handicap to scratch. Allis and Clark have made and admirable attempt to create a rare links course on the Costa. Stunning views across the bay to Gibraltar and hilly terrain make it a delight to play. Take plenty of balls, as the fairways are tight and unforgiving surrounded by gorse and ravines.

A buggy is needed - even for the fittest amongst us- and as you play consider taking an extra club up on par threes because of deceptive wind.

Alhaurin Golf Course, Costa del sol, Spain.

Alhaurin golf course is a 18+18+9, par 72 golf course which was designed by Severiano Ballesteros.

Address: Ctra Mijas-Alhaurin, (MA485) Km6, Alhaurin el Grande. Tel: +34 95 259 5970.

Tight beyond belief, difficult beyond anything I have every seen before.

The first hole is extremely difficult with a narrow fairway and rocks to the sides of the fairway, which send your ball bouncing high in to the sky, never to be seen again. As you progress the course gets tougher and if you are not really on top of your game you could easily become more and more disheartened as you progress around the course. I stopped counting shots after I lost my tenth golf ball! By the 18th I had suffered several episodes of golf rage and was close to a nervous breakdown.

I've read course guides say that this course "compels golfers to concentrate on their game and choose with care which club they should use for every stroke." Personally I would say this course is one of the toughest golf course on the Costa del Sol. This course is at best described as a challenge for an experienced player who is on top form, at worst its tight and downright cruel.

Alhaurin golf course is generally cheaper to play than most other local golf courses.

A buggy is essential as is an ample supply of golf balls.

Cabopino Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Cabopino golf course is a 18 hole par 71 golf course.

It's a relatively new course but it has matured very quickly and is very well maintained. The marshal's are friendly and very welcoming.

There is a driving range on the approach road to the course, so if you arrive early you can loosen up your swing. Alternatively you could take the approach Andy and I prefer, loosen up with a San Miguel at the bar before you tee off.

Cabopino golf has a pleasant clubhouse, with a pleasant sun terrace where you can sit, eat, drink and enjoy the views of the ocean. The staff in the bar and restaurant are friendly staff and they serve good quality food.

The short at only course is only 5,170 meters long but it's has tight fairways and is challenging.

The greens are large and were of fantastic quality when we last visited. The third hole is the one most people enjoy the most and it's not one you will forget, it's a par 4 which drops dramatically from the tee to the green and has outstanding views. A buggy is advisable on this course, which is hilly.

Dama de Noche Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Dama de Noche golf course is a 9 hole, Par 70 golf course.

Centro Commercial Plaza, Oficinas 51-52, 29660, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella.

Dama de Noche golf course is a nine-hole course, which can be played as 18 holes. It is flat, wide and easy. It is ideal course for a high handicapper or anyone wanting a gentle stroll.

All that changes a night though because the is course is flood lit and can be played at night.

They say that the lighting system is designed to cast no shadows thus giving daylight quality and maximum visibility, does that apply in the rough as well I ask myself?

You do have to make a reservation for night golf because they only put the lights on if there is sufficient demand but for total golfing addicts or insomniac this course offers considerable novelty value and it's one to talk about in the clubhouse when you go home.

El Chaparral Golf Course, near La Cala de Mijas, Costa del Sol, Spain.

El Chaparral golf course is an 18 hole, par 73 course.

Address: N340 / A7 Km 203.

El Chaparral is a club which closed several years ago for reasons that I don't need to go into now. The course has now risen from the ashes and is trying to build a reputation for itself. Purely for research purposes, I tested out the clubhouse both before and after my round at El Chaparral and I found the staff to be particularly welcoming and they really did their best to make us feel at home.

Even though El Chaparral is only a stones throw from the coast it has an English parkland course feel to it. The fairways are long and narrow and I found the course testing, I didn't have enough room to risk my driver off many tee's yet I needed the driver to get the distance I needed off the tee's to get any chance of reaching the green in regulation.

El Chaparral is extremely hilly and walking it is only for the bravest of golfers. Overall I would describe it as a very tricky course, bordering on frustrating, it tempted me to use the driver but punished me when I did!

The course is a little pricey for what you get. It was quiet when I played it but I've been back since and it is gaining in popularity.

Estepona Golf.

Carretera Cádiz, KM 150, Arroyo Vaquero, Apartado 532, 29680 Estepona.

18 hole, par 72 course.

The first time I played this course about nine years ago I was extremely disappointed. The fairways were worn, bare and baked, the greens were unkempt and the whole feel of the place was one of a lack of investment. Since then I have been tempted to re-visit by a friend who told me that improvements have been made yet the cost has been kept down. Well fair play, the cost has stayed relatively low and there has obviously been a lot of investment and as a result the course has improved considerably. It still needs some TLC but it is now playable. Still nowhere near the quality of Monte Mayor, La Cala or the like but it is perfect for a cheap round in between more serious games.

Flamingos Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Flamingos golf course is a 18-hole, par 72 course.

Address: Ctra de Cadiz Km 166, Marbella / Benhavis.

A relatively new course but the work that has gone into the course makes that incredible, it looks like its been established for years.

Clearly no expense has been spared when they built this course. Everything from the hotel toilets to the course itself is magnificent, lavish and downright opulent. A visit to Flamingos really is a treat (and before you ask I don't get a commission for writing this, I just tell it as I see it.)

Flamingos is worth a visit just to have a walk around the hotel, which has clearly been fashioned on the Alhambra Palace and its magnificent water gardens.

As for the golf course itself it is every bit as lavish as the hotel and clubhouse. As you meander around the course the views vary from a panoramic views of the Mediterranean to secluded views of the wild countryside. Around the course there is an incredible variety of trees, plants and vegetation, some native, some clearly imported so as to add to the experience.

Every now and them you stumble across an old (well they genuinely look old but they weren't there in 2005!) ruins or statues and every corner holds a new surprise, all of them pleasant.

The front nine holes have generous wide fairways where you really can open up your shoulders, a rarity for Spanish golf and the greens are ample too, so get the low score on the card in front nine if you can. As you negotiate the back nine the fairways tend to narrow down, especially the 18th which really focuses the mind but even so the back nine are not overly cruel. The fairways are narrower than the front nine but they tend to be shorter and you have loosened up, so even though you have to be a little more precise than on the front nine the golf is still enjoyable.

If you visit Flamingos make sure you take the time to explore the hotel after your round. It's well worth a look.

Over all I would describe Flamingos as a cracking course which tends to be a little on the pricey side but if you want to treat yourself you will not be disappointed. A Masters or Championship course of the future I will wager.

Lauro Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Lauro golf course is an 18 hole par 72 golf course.

Address:Ctra de Coin,(C344) Km 77, Los Caraclilos, Alhaurin de la Torre. Tel: +34 952 4127 67.

Beautiful parkland course surrounded by lots of Andalucian trees. It offers breathtaking views over the valley and Malaga bay. Nine lakes so there is something to think about but it is a relatively easy and relaxing course.

La Cala Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

La Cala has three golf courses, each of 18 holes, par's 72,73 and 71.

Address: La Cala de Mijas, Mijas Costa. Tel: +34 95 266 9000.

A personal favourite, all three courses are equally good. I highly recommend La Cala golf, not only because of the quality of the golf but also because of the quality of the clubhouse, facilities, surroundings and the reasonable pricing.

At La Cala golf there are three spectacular 18 hole courses, which are nestled in the countryside about 15-20 minutes drive in land from La Cala town.

La Cala golf is an enormous luxury golfing resort, which is perfect for golfers who want quality golf at a sensible price in an exclusive environment.

Set out like a Country Club in extremely large grounds it has an exclusive clubhouse and restaurant. It also has a separate five star hotel, where you will find an very exclusive restaurant.

All three courses have terrific obstacles & natural water hazards along with narrow fairways and large well-kept greens. Set amongst tranquil mountains, all three courses are long and sculptured into the natural contours of the countryside which means that you have think your way around La Cala golf and use the contours of the landscape to your advantage.

All three courses hilly and a buggy is a must. The South is my favourite, it's a little more forgiving than the North Course and the Europa.

Try the Leadbetter Golf Academy located at La Cala Golf, it's a little expensive and you will have to book in advance but the instructor's improved my game, so they must be good!

At the academy they also have an excellent grass driving range.

La Noria.

La Noria golf is a nine hole, par 33 course.

It is located at the beginning of the road from La Cala de Mijas which runs to La Cala Golf off the N340 or A7.

This 9 hole course has been a long time in the building and it is obviously eventually going to grow into a 18 holes course but that will probably take some time.

The club house is literally a bar come cafe but it is adequate and serves its purpose.

I am no fan of 9 hole courses but I have to say I enjoyed playing this course. It's relatively simple to negotiate and very easy to walk around. The fairways are wide and none of the holes were particularly long. There is water to cross and a few challenges as you negotiate the course and while it's no Carnoustie for what you pay its not at all bad.

It's not every day that you want to play challenging golf and if that's the case then La Noria is worth thinking about. This course is perfect for a high handicapper, a novice golfer or simply for a warm up for a more serious round later on in your holiday. As nine hole courses go this is one of the better ones and for the price its worth bearing in mind.

Los Naranjos golf course, Costa del sol, Spain.

A relatively flat and wide 18 hole course, something which is rare on the Costa del sol.

The best summary I can give of this course is to say it is wide and forgiving and it allows you to "go for it" when the opportunity arises yet there are enough challenges to keep you focused and maintain your interest.

In all honesty a buggy is not essential but if you do hire one the in built satnav is very hand, it even gives you a distance to the buggy in front of you, so there's no excuse for taking out the four ball ahead of you, never mind such is life!

We found the course to be well marshalled, nothing oppressive but they gave the slow golfers a hint when needed. The course staff were all very polite and helpful and we were made to feel very welcome.

The course has a excellent restaurant and the beer at the end of the round was suitably chilled, what more could you ask for.

Reasonably priced and definitely a course I will be re-visiting.

Mijas Golf Courses, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Mijas golf has two 18 hole golf courses, par 71 & 72.

Address: Urb. Mijas Golf, Mijas-Costa. Tel: +34 95 247 6843

Two relaxing 18 hole courses both having flat and wide fairways. Both courses are generous and forgiving leaving the option of a safe shot down the middle for a bogie or a par, alternatively you can take the driver out and go for the birdie. Good scores are achievable on either of the courses, which are set both in an attractive and tranquil landscape.

If you hire a buggy they have satellite / GPS tracking and mapping which gives you distances from where you park the buggy to the green and to hazards. Watch out though, don't make the same mistake I made, the distances are in meters not 1yards, don't forget to add 10% to get yardages!

All level of golfers will find that both courses at Mijas golf are a fair and enjoyable test of golf. Being one of the better-known clubs Mijas can get busy. A four and a half hour round is not unusual because it is so popular but the surroundings are so pleasant you hardly notice. I recommend both of the Mijas courses, play them and you will see why.

Just a tip for those playing out of season at Mijas golf course. They often close half of each of the golf courses to rest them out of season so you may find that you are playing the front nine of Los Olivios and the back nine of Los Largos one day and vice versa the next day. It's not a problem as both are nice courses but sometimes this takes people by surprise.

Miraflores Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Miraflores golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course.

Address: Urb. Riviera del Sol, 29647 Mijas-Costa. Tel: (952) 83 36 47.

This used to be a favourite and regular golf course for me, sadly there has been extensive building work all around the course edge of Miraflores golf course and it appears never ending. In my opinion the building work has taken the edge off the natural beauty and spoilt the course somewhat. While prices have been reduced in an apparent attempt to tempt golfers back to the course I have to ask myself if I want to go all the way to Spain to play golf in the middle of a building site?

It is one of the more forgiving courses on the Costa and a buggy is not essential.

If you do try Miraflores golf course loosen up in advance of the first tee, the first hole is a tight and requires a straight shot or you could end up in the garden of one of the many villa's next to the fairway.

Monte Mayor Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Address: Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 165.6, La Cancelada, San Pedro. Tel: +34 95 211 3088.

A challenging course but in my opinion this is the best golf course on the Costa del sol, if your game is on form. It is extremely tight, very hilly and is carefully sculptured into the natural mountainous terrain. The natural views and beauty of this course are second to none.

Your golf needs to be accurate, sensible club selection and course management are a must. If you play sensibly and stay on the fairways you will be rewarded, if not make sure you have a good supply of golf balls.

If you play Monte Mayor golf course you are guaranteed a day to remember and you will want to go back as often as I do.

Most of the year golf buggies are included in the green fee's. If you visit in high season they may not be, in which case I strongly recommend that visit hire a buggy, you will need it.

This is a very isolated golf course, in a location where you have to ask "Who thought of putting a golf course way up here?" The isolation adds to attraction of this incredible golf course but it means that it is difficult to find, so I strongly recommend that you drive to it for a "test run" the day before your golf.

It is set in spectacular mountainous terrain where you will find peace and tranquility combined with natural beauty and unforgettable golf. A challenge but a fantastic golf course in surroundings that are literally unsurpassable. To sum up, if your game is on form do not miss this golf course, its brilliant.

Parador Malaga Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Parador golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course.

Apartado de Correos, 324 29080 Málaga. Tel. +34 952376677

Parador golf Course is famous because it hosted the Spanish Open's in 1992 and 1999. Personally I am not sure why they would host such a prestigious event at this course because it is literally at the end of the busy runway of Malaga International Airport and there is constant noise as planes take off and land right next to the course.

I found this course boring, the greens were in a terrible condition and bunkers were in a state of total disrepair with bare soil and mud instead of sand.

Famous it may be but I found it to be a total let down. In my opinion the best way to view this golf course is out of the airplane window as you land or from the main road as you drive past to one of the many more pleasant courses in Andalucia.

Rio Real Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Rio Real golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course.

Urb Rio Real, P.O.BOX 82, 29600 Marbella, Malaga. Tel: +34 95 277 95 09.

A mature, tranquil course that gradually meanders way up into the hills and then it wanders all the way back down to the beach. At one stage you feel you are alone in the middle of the mountains, next you are on a green that is literally next to the beach.

The course generally has wide fairways and while you have to concentrate it does not punish you unfairly. Water come in to play on a few times but in all honesty if you play sensible golf it won't cost you any golf balls. Pleasant countryside and views in the hills and a fantastic vista as you play down to the edge of the Mediterranean Ocean. A relaxing day of golf, this course comes in my top three golf courses but it does tend to be pricey because of its popularity.

The club house has a magnificent balcony / terrace restaurant where you can sit, watch fellow golfers playing out the 18th and reminisce on your "shot of the day."

The down side of Rio real golf course is the cost. A round of golf here tends to be expensive and the golf buggies, which I would recommend hiring due to the hilly location, are an expensive addition to this already high cost.

Santa Clara.

18 holes, par 71.

Address Ctra A7, KM 187.5, Junto a Hospital Comarcal, 29600, Marbella. Tel. +34.952.85.01.11.

Being next to a busy main road you could easily assume that it would suffer from traffic noise. For some inexplicable reason it doesn't. As soon as you tee off the course meanders away from the Coast following the gentle contours of the land leading you into a natural and peaceful setting. The course has several wide and relatively trouble free fairways where you can open your shoulders and let the ball fly but that said there are holes where course management is wise and where a little caution can pay dividends.

Santa Clara is relatively flat and is suitable for walking. The course is a fair test of golf and is similar in difficulty to many UK golf clubs, as opposed to many of the Spanish golf courses, which can be cruel at times. The course is perfect for an easy and relaxing round or for a golf society. It has many similarities to Rio Real but it is slightly easier, slightly flatter and has slightly less trouble. The course is relatively new and consequently it is not as well established as Rio Real.

When you arrive in the car park you will be met by an attendant on a buggy, who takes you your bag to the magnificent clubhouse, even thought it is only about forty yards from the car park. In the palatial clubhouse there are excellent changing rooms, shower facilities and a restaurant that serves a variety of quality food and drink.

My only reservation with this course is the green fee, which is very high compared to other courses in the area. The choice is yours.

San Roque Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

San Roque golf course is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course, which was designed by Dave Thomas.

Address:Urb. San Roque Club,Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 127, San Roque.Tel: +34 956 61 30 30.

The old course is expensive but is ideal for both experts and those looking for a leisurely game. Superb practice facilities and wonderful manicured greens and idyllic fairways. A real treat, if you are prepared to spend the money..

As a cheaper alternative you can always try the new course at San Roque, we visited and got a really good deal, half the price of the old course and we found it a fantastic days golf. There is a course is what I can best describe as a fair test, not too tough but not too easy either. They have got this course design absolutely spot on.

Santa Maria Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Santa Maria golf course is an 18 hole, Par 72 golf course, which was designed by Antonio Garcia Garrido.

Address: Coto de Los Dolores, Urb. Elviria. Tel: +34 95 283 1036.

A pleasant and popular course, which is challenging. It has plenty of long holes where you can open up and swing the driver but every now and then they throw in a tight par three to bring you back down to earth. The course starts off with a hole over a lake where you can "go for it" and get the driver out. There is ample fairway and a decent drive makes it a short par four. The course gradually winds its way into the hills and far, far away, we recommend a buggy.

Santa Maria golf course tends to be a little on the pricey side. I found the staff to be unhelpful and less friendly than most other golf courses in the area but if you let the golf course speak for itself you will enjoy a round here.

If you want a buggy or a Powakaddy we strongly recommend that buggy pre-book it, they have a limited supply and they soon get taken.

Sotogrande Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Sotogrande golf course is an 18 hole (Par 72) with an additional nine holes. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Address: Paseo del Parque, Sotogrande, Cadiz. Tel +34 956 785 014

Another Robert Trent Jones success. He is reputed to have described Sotogrande as one of his proudest pieces of work, that's a compliment from a golf course designer of such ability.

European Tour pros battle here at the end of the season to gain their cards for the forthcoming season so that's an indication of the quality of this golf course.

Torrequebrada Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Torrequebrada golf has an 18 hole, par 72 course and addition nine holes, which were designed by Jose Gancedo.

Address: Ctra de Cadiz (N340), Km 220, Benalmadena-Costa. Tel: +34 95 244 2742.

Every hole is a different experience. Fantastic views of the Mediterranean and has the shortest par 3 on the coast. The 1979 Spanish Open was played here and you can see why after you turn for home on the back nine. A large number of lakes and strategically placed wide bunkers ensure that this course retains its reputation as one of the most popular courses on the Costa. Welcoming and luxurious clubhouse.

Valderrama Golf Course, Costa del Sol, Spain.

Valderama has 18 holes and is a tough par 72.

Valderama golf course is a world famous golf course and is ranked number one course in Continental Europe.

Valderama golf course is always in superb condition and enjoys worldwide fame, not least due to having had the privilege to have hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup and the last two American Express World Championships.

Extremely expensive but if you can play a round of golf here you are privileged!

One word of warning, I have pre-booked to play Valderama twice and had the booking cancelled at very short notice by the course. Both times they blamed disease on the greens. Strange how this never happens when the Volvo Masters is being played there!

There are new golf courses appearing all the time in Andalucia and the Costa del sol has understandably become known as the Costa del golf. As avid lovers of golf we are regularly visiting the area and we will try to play as many golf courses in Andalucia as we possibly can just so that we can keep this web page up to date (well that's the reason I give to my wife for playing so much golf anyway!)

The Costa del Sol Golf Guide is purely the subjective and personal opinion of the author.

The Costa del sol Golf Guide is "rough guide" of golf courses on and around the Costa del sol, Spain.

© copy write http://www.spanish-apartment.com all rights reserved

Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?

Basic Golf Instruction

Ask yourself the question, People take up golf for various reasons. Looking at the sport with untrained eye, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?" It really doesn't seem like it's all that difficult. The goal of the game is to get the little ball into the hole with as few attempts as possible. This seems like a relatively easy goal and something most people can achieve on their own.

However, if you go out on the golf course unassisted you will find yourself spending more time searching for your ball in the rough or fishing it out of water hazards than you will actually playing a good game of golf. There's no need to be frustrated, it happens to pretty much everyone unless of course you began your career as a three year old phenom.

One of the most difficult aspects of picking up the game of golf is learning to drive the ball. It should be simple enough. The idea is to wrap your hands around the club, keep your body straight, pull back and swing. Unfortunately, those first few principles don't even begin to cover the basic golf swing.

Any half decent golf instructor will tell you that the ultimate goal is to keep your head perfectly still during the entire swing. If you are trying to hit the ball too hard, your end result will be somewhere off in the tall grass hunting for a little white ball that you now want to bash into pieces. By now you are asking yourself "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

Relax your body and your muscles before even attempting to swing. Trying to hit the ball too hard with tense muscles typically have poor results. Any golf instructor will tell you that focused energy will make the ball sail farther and straighter. That focus comes from a relaxed body and a head that doesn't bobble about.

By being able to keep your head in a stationary position, you can keep a solid focus on the ball and bring your energy directly to the center of the ball with a flat club. Your stationary head will also automatically send the signal to your hands to turn correctly and at the right time. This timing is crucial to your follow through and allowing the ball to maintain a straighter trajectory.

Maintaining your balance is important to creating a long and straight drive as well. Golf instructors report spending a significant percentage of lesson time focusing on keeping the head straight and balancing the body. Balancing the body in a game of golf is more than simply not falling over. It is about evenly distributing the body weight in all directions. Most people are able to maintain a good percentage of left and right balance, but often the front and back balance needs to be taught by a qualified golf instructor.

When playing golf, the head angles downward to allow the golfer to see the ball and maintain focus. This position encourages poor posture and the body weight to edge too far forward. A qualified golf instructor can assist a golfer in finding a good and solid position that is more balanced to allow for a much better swing. This is an unnatural position for most people and often there is a great benefit in taking some lessons from a qualified golf instructor to help correct the problem. Are you still asking yourself "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

It is often recommended to watch oneself in front of the mirror to help correct imbalanced golf swings. This trick can help produce a much better swing, but keep in mind while you are watching yourself you are not watching where the ball should be. This is where a qualified golf instructor can really benefit both the novice and practiced golfer. Often someone else's eyes can pick up on what we ourselves cannot.

If you are self coaching instead of taking the advice of a qualified golf instructor, read as often as you can about methods of improving your golf swing. There are countless helpful articles, tips and news on the best-pro-golf-guide website. Remember that while the information presented on the web site is very good and comes with high recommendations, it is also valuable to recognize that every human body is unique and it may take a little trial and error to really get things moving in the right direction. Often the articles presented can enhance instruction given by a qualified golf instructor. The goal is achieve the best results in as little time as possible, and it can be advantageous to combine both resources.

The Benefits of Private Golf Lessons, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

Private golf lessons can be quite costly. One of the first things to examine if you are considering taking private golf lessons is your motivation for doing so. Are you looking to use golf for business relations or are you simply interested in the game? Those who are looking to be able to tee off with clients or the boss can gain quite a bit very quickly by soliciting the help of a qualified golf instructor for private lessons.

If you are truly not interested in perfecting your game and simply want to hold your own with your clients on the golf course, a qualified golf instructor can help tailor your golf education to help improve your weaknesses without training you for eventual professional competitions. Often business people will pay top dollar for a qualified golf instructor to produce significant results in a short amount of time. If you view it as a business investment, the money you are paying the qualified golf instructor seems much more reasonable.

If, however you are interested in the game of golf and you enjoy the sport, a qualified golf instructor can give you accurate, cutting edge guidance in improving the quality of your game. You can insist on perfecting your basics and move through the process more slowly and gain a remarkable amount of information from a qualified golf instructor. Again, private golf lessons can be quite expensive, so it's a good idea to make sure that not only are you motivated enough to make good use of the instruction provided, but that you will have the required time to devote to practice.

Whatever your reason is for choosing private golf lessons, you will have to devote ample time to practice. Practice is the key to any sport, and despite its simple appearance, golf is not any different. When choosing an instructor you should ask them how much practice time they prefer to see from their students. Any instructor who does not emphasis practice time is not interested in your overall success and is more interested in keeping you their student (and their income) for as long as possible. This is not the foundation for a healthy qualified golf instructor and student relationship.

The Benefits of Group Golf Instruction, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

Group golf instruction is available and can be much less expensive. Group golf instruction may or may not fit your current needs, but for many people it is a premium option as it fits nicely into their golfing budget. Remember that you not only have to pay any qualified golf instructor, but you more than likely will need to pay club fees and tee fees. These extra fees are not only for lesson time, but for the ever needed practice time as well. Often the total cost of everything involved is quite high and opting for a group lesson is more feasible. If you are worried and concerned "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?" Then this might be the option and a grate way to learn the game.

Group golf instruction also allows for a quiet gathering of novice golfers who are simply trying to improve on their skill. Often the pressure that comes with a round of golf with the boss is alleviated during group golf instruction. Group golf instruction typically allows for you to choose which direction you would like your golf instruction to head. There are groups offered for driving, putting, hazards, and basic skills. While you can explain to a private qualified private golf instructor that you feel you need to focus on a specific area, groups are often tailored to specific, targeted skills.

If you are interested in group golf instruction but want to enhance your learning experience, you can add the informative tips provided on best-pro-golf-guide to your golfing repertoire. Combining the article information with the qualified group golf instructor's advice and the tips of those in the group lesson with you may very well be an adequate combination of sources for you to seriously improve your golf game without breaking the bank.

Selecting a Qualified Private Golf Instructor, "Are Golf Lessons Worth The Price?"

If you have decided to engage a qualified private golf instructor to hone your golf skills, don't rush into a commitment. It's better to shop for a high quality instructor rather than just rush into lessons with the first person willing to give them. Ask a lot of questions before beginning. If you know that someone else is taking private golf lessons, as them how they feel about the quality of the instruction they are getting. Is the golf instructor punctual? Do they always give the full scheduled lesson or do they shave a few minutes off here and there? What are their cancellation policies? If the instructor cancels are you entitled to a free makeup lesson? How often do they cancel?

It is perfectly acceptable to request references from a potential private golf instructor. Most will have a reference sheet readily available for you as it is a fairly common practice. It is also acceptable to interview the instructor prior to committing to the lessons.

Keep in mind that just because someone has excelled in their sport doesn't mean that they excel at teaching it. There are plenty of high ranking golfers who make excellent instructors, but there are some who truly can only play the game. Don't get stars in your eyes and be a bit skeptical if their credential sheet has an overwhelming number of golfing achievements but no teaching credentials or achievements. Someone who presents with a solid mix of both teaching and golfing achievements may very well make for a better instructor. Golf instruction, or any kind of sport instruction, is really about the ability to communicate the skills rather than perform them.

Choose wisely and often you will find the experience of learning to play golf quite enjoyable. For more tips and references about everything golf, visit BestProGolfGuide.

Bobby Ryatt, If you enjoyed reading this articles, then go to my website where I have lots more on the subject. You will have all the information and links, make your game more enjoyable, no more bad golf after this. http://www.bestprogolfguide.com http://bestprogolfguide.blogspot.com

Kenyan Golf: The World's 10 Best Kept Kenya Golfing Secrets and Golf Courses

History of Golf in Kenya

The history of golf in Kenya goes back a long way, with one club in Nairobi due to celebrate its centenary in 2006. Locally, the game is thriving as never before. Young and gifted Kenyan golf players are starting to compete internationally at the highest levels.

But it is only comparatively recently that Kenya as a nation has woken up to the fact that its magnificent golfing inheritance is, in fact, a valuable commodity that can and should be marketed overseas. What's more, several of the Kenyan top golf courses have been refurbished or upgraded in recent times.

What Golfing in Kenya offers:

For the lovers of the game, Kenyan Golf offers:

o Un-crowded and mostly well maintained courses.

o Comparatively inexpensive green fees and associated playing costs.

o A perfect climate during Europe's winter months.

o Hotel accommodation of a high standards that is also reasonably priced.

o Frequent flights to Nairobi from Europe and the Far East.

o Manu excellent courses in and around Nairobi, at 100metres above sea level, but even more within two hours' drive of the capital

1. Muthaiga Kenyan Golf Club

Of the nation's 40 or so courses, probably the best known is the Muthaiga Golf Club, home to the Kenya Open and founded in 1913. The Kenyan golf course is popular with the locals at the weekends, but it is comparatively easy to play on weekdays. Muthaiga has recently undergone a major refurbishment to lengthen some holes and tighten other aspects of the golf course.

2. Windsor Kenyan Golf Hotel & Country Club

Other good Kenyan golf courses in the Nairobi area are Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club and the Royal Nairobi. Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club is unique to Kenya. Set amid coffee plantations, it consists of a large luxury hotel overlooking its own golf course. The Kenyan golf course itself has some of the trickiest holes and is not for the faint hearted or those a little wayward off the tee.

As such, Windsor golf course is a stiff test for any golfer. There is plenty of water around, not to mention some blind greens, a do-or-die 14th hole and an 18th hole that is capable of wrecking any card.

Like Muthaiga, the Royal Nairobi Golf Club is a golf course with strong colonial ties. Establishes in 1906, this is Kenya's oldest golf course.

3. Railway Kenyan Golf Club

Along with the Railway Golf Club, it is located right in town. AT 6,600 meters off the back tees, the Royal Nairobi is a testing course. Both the club house and the golf course have been refurbished recently.

Slightly further from Nairobi, but certainly no less interesting, are golf courses such as Karen, Limuru and Sigona.

4. Karen Kenyan Golf Club

The 6,630 meter Karen Golf Club, in the Ngong Hills, proved a worthy alternative venue for the 2004 Kenya Open. This is an admirably maintained course with a well connected membership, strong traditions, high standards and strict dress code.

5. Sigona Kenyan Golf Club

About 40 minutes out of Nairobi, on the Nakuru Road, is the recently upgraded Sigona Golf Club. This course is greatly favoured by local golf players and enjoys a moderate climate. Its par-71, 6015 meter golf course is suitable for players of all levels and its fairways are among the best kept in Kenya.

6. Limuru Kenyan Country Club

Located a similar distance from Nairobi is the par-71, 6,020 metre Limuru Country Club. At 2,330 meters, the Limuru is high above level and receives more rainfall than most other courses. Its greens and fairways are particularly lush, even in the dry season. This well maintained Kenyan golf course is a delight to play, but at this altitude players may need a sweater for early morning and evening rounds.

7. The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort

The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort at Naivasha is about 2,150metres above sea level and consists of a par-72, 6,073 metre course with some of the best views in Kenya. This is not the toughest golf course in the Kenya, but what it lacks in difficulty it more than makes up for by its sheer charm and beauty.

8. Many Other 9 and 18 hole Golf Courses near Nairobi

Apart from those already mentioned, there are nine-hole and 18-hole Kenyan golf courses dotted all around the highland areas above Nairobi. Some are in excellent condition, while others probably require some improvement before it would be worth traveling long distances to play golf.

Golfing at the Kenyan Coast

On the coast, meanwhile, visitors can expect a tropical atmosphere in terms of climate and playing conditions. There is a choice of two fine courses, Leisure Golf Club and the Nyali Golf Club, with rumours of new Kenyan golf courses to come in the area.

9. Leisure Golf Club in the Kenyan South Coast

The unforgiving Leisure Golf Club at Ukunda, on Mombasa's South Coast, has tight fairways, good quality greens and is in good order thanks to some new grass-cutting equipment. The 6,084 metre golf course is open to non- hotel guests and visitors can expect a warm welcome at the club house.

10. Nyali Golf Club in the Kenyan North Coast

North of Mombasa, the Nyali Golf Club offers a more traditional set-up. This Kenyan golf course is a fair test for any golfer, while the club house has a reputation for excellent food.

Better Winter Golfing in Kenya than in Mediterranean

Whatever Kenyan golf course or courses you decide to play in Kenya, you are bound to be pleasantly surprised by what you find. In fact, compared with the Mediterranean in winter, there really is no contest.

Robert is a tour consultant and co-owner of Landmark Safaris Ltd in Kenya. Visit them http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/sports.php to read more on your Golf tour.

Top 25 Golf Vacations

The United States has a number of golf vacations which would enchant all golf lovers. If you are familiar with golf then you know that golf courses fall under four categories: Private, Resort, Semi-private and Public. Here are the top 25 golf vacations:

1. Myrtle Beach

This location is referred to as the Miniature Golf Course Capitol of the world. There are about sixty accommodations, eighty-five golf courses and four golf schools in Myrtle Beach. This is one perfect place for a golf vacation for all the golf lovers. There are two alternatives for accommodation: rent a condo or check in to a hotel. One hotel that I would recommend is the Holiday Inn as it has a lovely beach front view. It has five pools and you may also get free continental breakfast. Majority of the people in the country come to this location to relax and play golf.

2. Palm Beach

Palm Beach is one of the locations that have first class golf courses like the TPC at Heron Bay and PGA National Courses. This is the location that is not only famous for golf courses but also shopping and lovely beaches. The West Palm Beach resort is the place to stay when you are in Palm Beach. The Breakers West Palm Beach golf course is well-known golf course in Palm Beach. Palm Beach is a home to an excellent art museum, Professional Golfers Associations and excellent Japanese garden.

3. Tucson

Tucson is the 32nd largest city that is located in Arizona. Tucson is the right place for you to spend your golf vacation because it has bright sunshine and excellent golf. Playing golf in Tucson would be different because it would be a play in a desert. Some good resorts are JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa, the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, etc. Of course the most expensive of all would be the Cany Ranch Resort.

4. Traverse City

The Traverse City golf is located amidst the hill, water and woods. It is one great place to play golf. Traverse City is where many people head to when they are looking for a golf vacation as well as a place to relax. Park Place Hotel is a good place to stay when you are in Traverse City. Some excellent golf courses here are Antrim Dells Golf, High Pointe Golf Club, etc.

5. Scottsdale

There is huge number of golf courses in Arizona. Scottsdale in Arizona is one perfect place for golf vacation. It has lovely blue sky, light and mild breeze that makes Scottsdale a perfect place to play golf. Private as well as public courses are scattered around Scottsdale. Some hotels which you can check out are the Hilton Scottsdale Arizona Hotel, Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, etc.

6. San Diego

San Diego is truly one golf vacation which you should not miss. It has fifty private, fifty semi-private courses and more than fifty public courses to its name. This place is perfect for playing golf but it is not limited to golf courses only. There are other places to check out like the Seaworld, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. There's even a beach close by and that is the Mission Beach. The hotels you can stay at are Hilton Hotel, Park Manor Suites, etc. It is one great place to go to when vacationing with your grandchildren.

7. Saint George

The location near Las Vegas has 11 golf courses which are near to one another. Saint George has bright sunlight, blue sky and colorful settings which makes this town a perfect place for golfing. It only has one private golf course but a number of golf courses in this town have been granted esteemed awards. Crystal Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriot is few hotels which you can stay at while in this town.

8. Renditions in Davidsonville

The Renditions in Davidsonville is a very well-known Golf course because of the eighteen holes there which are the exact copy of a golf course where quite a few important championships have been held. It started in the end of the year 2001 as a public golf course. Davidsonville may only have one golf course but visiting this place is worth it. Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, Springhill Suites are few hotels which you can check in to when in Davidsonville.

9. Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen

These are the small towns that have more than forty well-known and classy golf courses. They have a perfect setting for playing golf as the sky is blue and the surrounding is colorful with a lot of greenery. This location has been renowned as a first class golf course location. The courses here are public as well as private. Some courses are part of the resorts. Whispering woods, Anderson creek, and Legacy are few well-known courses. You can stay at the Residence Inn by Marriot when you are in the area.

10. Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach in California is a place where tournament action first took place in the late 1920s. A huge number of tournaments have taken place in the golf course of Pebble Beach. The US Open has taken place in this location four times. The 18th Hole of Pebble Beach is very popular among the Golfers. Places where you can stay are The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay, etc.

11. Palm Springs

You will find more than a hundred golf courses at Coachella Valley in Palm Springs. This location has spectacular desert landscape, low humidity and plenty of sunshine. Few well-known golf courses in Palm Springs consist of Westin Mission Hills, Tahquitz Creek, Shadow Mountain, Marriot Desert Springs, LaQuinta Resort, Landmark, Golf center at Palm Desert Cathedral Canyon, etc. L'Horizon, Villa Royale Inn, Hyatt Regency Suites are some of the hotels where you can put up your family and yourself in when you are at Palm Springs.

12. Orlando

Orlando in Florida is considered as the Golf Capital of the World. There are excellent golf courses on the suburbs of Orlando Metro region. It has approximate a hundred and fifty golf courses. This location has more to it than just golf courses. There are Seaworld, Disney World, Universal Studios, EPCOT and MGM Studios in Orlando. Some popular examples are North Shore, Mission, ChampionsGate, etc. The hotels where you can stay at are Marriot Orlando, Westin grand Bohemian, etc. So this is one perfect place to go to with your family.

13. Maui

Maui, an island in Hawaii is home to United States' finest golf courses. Usually the climate there is very good but sometimes the wind blows a little hard. If you are tired from playing golf then you can relax or take a swim in the beaches in Maui. After all, Hawaii is well known for its beaches. Maui Seaside Hotel, Sunseeker Resort, etc, are places to stay at when in Maui.

14. Las Vegas

We all know Las Vegas to be a city of entertainment and gambling but not everyone knows that it is also a great place to be to play golf. There are number of courses in the city as well as on its suburbs. Most of the courses are resort or public. So a golf vacation in Las Vegas can get you all the fun that one can get as you can have lots of entertainment when in this city. Few hotels that you can book yourself in are Marriott Suites, Venetian Hotel Resort, The Mirage, etc.

15. Kiawah Island

It has been said that Kiawah Island holds some of the best golf courses in the United States. You can try out tennis, beaches, bike trails, etc when you are tired of playing golf. When in Kiawah Island, check out the designs of five contemporary golf course designers. Holiday Inn, The Sanctuary, Kiawah Island Golf and Tennis Resort are few places where you can think of staying when in Kiawah Island.

16. Hilton Head

Hilton Head is an Island where many families go to for their vacations. It has forty golf courses and as such, you can spend your golf vacation hoping from one golf course to another. Choose from various kinds of resorts ranging from private to public, to semi-private to resort-type courses. The Beaches in Hilton Head are also very clean and safe so when you are done with golfing you can always go to the beaches. Hilton Oceanfront resort is one great place to stay at.

17. Destin

The Jewel of the Emerald Coast is the name that is given to Destin because it has water that is emerald blue in colors and lovely white sandy beaches. It was once a tiny fishing village but now it has become a well-known destination for golf, tennis and beaches. There are four excellent golf courses in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and they are The Raven, The Links, Burnt Pine and Baytowne. You can consider staying at Days Inn or Emerald towers.

18. Dallas- Fort Worth

Here you will find golf courses that are private, semi-private and public. It is a place where you can expect finest golf courses. Apart from golf courses there are public parks and lakes, museums and different other types of entertainment. You can stay at the Crowne Plaza Suites Arlington.

19. Columbus in Ohio

There are more that 80 public golf courses and 35 private courses in Columbus. According to the Golf Digest in the year 1993, EagleSticks Championship 18 holes course was the top public golf course in Ohio. When in Columbus you can stay at Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza Hotel or Hampton Inn and Suites.

20. Colorado Springs

Apart from the Seven Falls, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Garden of Gods, Colorado Springs is also famous for its golf courses. It does not have many golf courses but still, it's the quality that counts and not the quantity. The scenery in Colorado Springs is excellent and the beauty is there is natural and not artificial. You can stay at The Broadmoor Hotel or Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel.

21. Coeur d'Alene

It is a town which is considered as the promising location for golf courses. Accommodation at any of the four well-known and excellent resorts would be worth it: Coeur d'Alene Resort, Stoneridge in Blanchard, Hidden Lakes in Sandpoint and Highlands in neighboring Post Falls. The magnificent Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course has been built near the lake, creek and hills. There are lovely lowers, fairways and greenery here. It is one great place to relax too.

22. Chicago Suburbs

On the suburbs of Chicago there are more than a hundred and ten golf courses. There are also a huge number of championship courses that have 36 or more holes. After playing golf there are other forms of entertainment as the city of Chicago has a huge number of entertainments. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites or Hilton Garden Inn are places to stay in if you happen to be on a golf vacation in Chicago.

23. Austin

Apart from being the Live Music Capital of the world, Austin is also one great place to go for a golf vacation. You will find four excellent award winning courses in Austin at the Bartin Creek Golf Resort. These courses are the traditional Crenshar Cliffside, the lovely Palmer lakeside, the latest Fazio Canyons and the high-ranking Fazio Foothills. As for the accommodation, you can stay at Omni Hotel, the Driskill Hotel or the Intercontinental Stephen F Austin Hotel.

24. Augusta

This is one town that will give golfers the feel of pro golf legends and pro golf. Here there are public as well as private golf courses. You can stay at the Marriot Augusta Hotel, Ramada inn and Convention Center or Country Inn and Suites.

25. Atlanta

You will find a huge number of excellent golf courses in Atlanta. Apart from golf there are water parks, theme parks and various historical places.

Swati Banerjee is the owner of Writing Ink, a web content management firm based out of India, that services clients from across the globe. Please take a minute to visit http://www.writing-ink.com to experience how the bright young minds here make magic with words!

Mental, Physical, Nutritional, and Biomechanical Preparation for Your Golf Game

Golf is a game requiring mastery in a variety of areas for success. Breaking down the game of golf into categories. Success and development within is required in the areas of mechanics, physical, nutritional, and mental. Mechanics is the development of the proper biomechanics of the golf swing. Physical entails developing the body around the golf swing. Nutrition incorporates fueling the body for proper success on the golf course. Mental is the development of the correct mind set to excel at the game of golf.

Each and every one of these categories has a direct affect on the development of your golf game. Often the golfer tends to focus only upon the development of the golf swing through mastery of biomechanics of the golf swing. Developing the biomechanics of the golf swing requires you to correctly master each phase of the golf swing. Often the golf swing is broken down into phases. These phases are address, backswing, transition, downswing, and follow through. Not only is it required of the amateur to master each movement entailed in the phases of the golf swing. It is also necessary to perform each specific movement with the correct timing. Finally, the discussion of the biomechanics requires you to create efficiency and repeatability within the golf swing. After recognizing all the intricacies involved in the development of efficient golf swing mechanics. It is understandable why golfers spend an in ornate amount of this part of developing their golf game.

What golfers at times fail to recognize that additional categories exist requiring development to create the optimal golf swing. If ignored these aspects can negatively affect the development of the golf swing and golf game. The next category requiring development within the golfer is categorized as physical. Physical refers to the development of the body around the golf swing. Often times the body is a hindrance in the development of the biomechanics of the golf swing. The golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within the body to execute the golf swing correctly. If the body is lacking in any one of these physical categories, the ability to perform the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly will be hindered. The end result is the possible inability to master the biomechanics of the golf swing. The common result is the development of compensations in the golf swing. For example, the golf swing requires a high level of flexibility to complete a full shoulder turn. If the golfer is lacking flexibility, the ability to complete a full shoulder turn will be compromised, thus causing compensations in the golf swing.

Each and every physical component has a direct effect on the execution of the golf swing. Compensations can easily occur if these physical aspects are not developed around the golf swing. In addition to developing these physical aspects of the body, it is of equal importance to develop these parameters around the biomechanics of the golf swing. This type of training is termed cross-specific training. Cross-specific training can be defined as the developing the physical parameters of the body to the positions, movement, and requirements of the golf swing. This simply states the components of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power must be developed around the requirements of the golf swing.

After understanding the physical component of golf swing development. The golfer must understand two additional categories directly affecting the game of golf. The next category the golfer must understand and develop is nutrition. Nutrition is a fairly basic component to understand in relation to golf or any other athletic endeavor. Essentially, nutrition is the process by which one fuels their body for their sport. Basically if poor nutrients are given to the body during athletic endeavors, outputs on the field of competition (i.e. golf course for golfers) will be less than optimal. Nutrition in relation to athletes is not solely concerned about weight loss, but more so on providing the body with the nutrients required for success on and off the course. Weight loss and good health go hand-in-hand with proper nutrition, but with athletes the number one concern is properly fueling the body for success in their chosen sport. Nutrition in golf and athletics in general are required for success during competition and development of the athlete in their chosen sport.

For example, nutrition fuels the body in the development of it physically. In order to develop higher levels of strength and power within the golfer, proper nutrition will undoubtedly increase the success within this category. If the body is provided proper nutrients, the ability of it to develop the physical requirements needed of the golf swing will occur at a much more optimal process.

The final category lending itself to develop of one's golf game is mental. Often referred to as a key element of success within the game of golf. Numerous materials exist on the development of the mind within golf. It is often a category that is address once a proficiency in the area of golf swing mechanics has materialized, but at times is overlooked by many amateurs within the game. A grasping of the basic concepts of positive mental outlook, visualization, and preparation can improve a golfer's success rate on course a great deal. As with all other categories requiring development for the game of golf, the mental side of game is in need of attention.

Development of a golfer's swing and game consists of much more than the golf swing itself. It requires efficiency within the biomechanics of the golf swing. Inside these biomechanics of the golf are ingraining the correct sequence of the golf swing and the timing required. Developing the biomechanics of the golf swing can hinge upon physical components of the body. Certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required to execute the golf swing correctly. On top of developing the body for the golf swing proper nutrition is required. Nutrition fuels the body during a round of golf and assists in the process of developing a well rounded golf game. Finally, the correct mental approach is required for success within this game of golf. The mental side of the game requires just as much attention as the other components in the development of your game of golf. All in all a comprehensive approach in the development of your golf game is required for optimal success in the game of golf. This entails time and effort in the areas of: golf swing biomechanics, developing the flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power required physically of the golf swing, properly fueling the body with optimal nutrition, and development of a sound mental approach to the game of golf.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Develop the Correct Golf Swing for Women with Golf Fitness Training

The woman golfer has a myriad of questions on how to develop the correct golf swing as does most any amateur. The questions from woman golfers center on a myriad of topics such as; how to hit the golf ball farther, how to develop a more repeatable golf swing, how do I hit half shots with my wedges, what are good putting drills? The list can go on and on in relation to the woman golfer and how to improve their golf swing. An area that is now presenting more and more questions from the woman golfer centers upon golf fitness. Questions such as; what are good golf flexibility exercises, and how can golf fitness exercises help me drive the golf farther? These and many more questions are arising in relation to golf fitness and the woman golfer.

It is well known on the LPGA tour the number of players utilizing golf fitness programs to improve their golf game. Annika Sorrenstam has publicly stated the benefits she has received in her golf game from golf fitness training. One area that always appears to be a concern for the woman golfer is distance. How to hit the golf ball farther and Sorrenstam does hit the ball a long way, and utilizes golf fitness training. A simple connection can be drawn between increased driving distance, women golfers, and golf fitness exercises. The bottom line is this; golf fitness exercises can benefit the distance of drives for the woman golfer.

The questions that need to be answered are how and why. First off an understanding of increased distance, the golf swing, and the woman golfer needs to be addressed. Driving distance is contingent upon clubhead speed. The faster the clubhead is traveling at impact with the golf ball. The golf ball will travel farther, an easily understood concept.

Clubhead speed in the golf swing is contingent upon two components. Component number one is golf swing mechanics. The biomechanics of the golf swing in and of themselves create clubhead speed. It centers upon physics and the coiling/uncoiling of the body during the golf swing. In relation to improving clubhead speed and golf swing mechanics. The more efficient the woman golfer performs the mechanics of the golf swing. A greater amount of energy can be developed and transferred into the golf ball as a result. First and foremost for the woman golfer; the development of efficient golf swing mechanics can improve driving distance.

The second component of increasing clubhead speed is the body. Remember, the body is the implement swinging the golf club. It is the woman's body executing the biomechanics of the golf swing. In addition it is also the body generating power for the golf swing. Power is the ability of the body to generate the greatest amount of force in a short amount of time. Increase the ability of the body to generate more power within the biomechanics of the golf swing. An increase in clubhead speed can occur. How does the woman golfer increase power outputs of their body? This is where the implementation of golf fitness exercises can be a benefit. Golf fitness exercises can increase the power outputs of the body. Power golf fitness exercises increase the ability of your muscles to develop more force within the golf swing.

How do golf fitness exercise achieve this outcome? Golf fitness exercises develop the body around the golf swing: Very different than ordinary fitness training or aerobic classes. Golf fitness exercises develop the required flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within the body for the golf swing. This allows the body to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. In addition, golf fitness exercises can improve the swing in areas such as clubhead speed.

This is accomplished with golf fitness exercises training the body in the positions, movements, and physical requirements of the golf swing. This allows for the proper levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power to be developed within the body. Improving the capacities of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power can improve the ability of the body to perform the golf swing and increase distance.

To summarize, the questions surrounding women and developing the correct golf swing are many. How to improve the golf swing through golf fitness exercises is one of these questions, and one specific area within this topic is distance. Increasing distance is contingent upon increasing clubhead speed. Improving clubhead speed centers upon golf swing mechanics and the body. Improving the efficiency of the golf swing mechanics will allow a greater transfer of energy into the golf club, thus improving clubhead speed. The second component of distance lies within the body and its ability to generate power. Increasing the power outputs of the body will enhance clubhead speed. Power outputs of the body can be improved through golf fitness exercises. These exercises differ than normal gym based exercises in that they develop the body around the swing. This allows for the proper levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to be developed within the golf swing.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Golf Fitness Exercises For the Pre-Season

Golf fitness exercises can be very beneficial in getting you ready for the upcoming golf season. Golf exercises with swing drills can prepare you for a successful year on the links right from the start.

The PGA Golf Tour is in full swing and for many parts of the country and world the golf season is upon us. Many of you are anxious to dust off the golf clubs and get out to the golf course for your first round of golf. A question that may be on your mind is how do I get ready? How do I knock off 6 months of rust on my golf swing, feel comfortable with my driver on the first tee, and post a good golf score at the end of the round?

All questions that are asked often in the world of professional golf and this article will provide you with the answers. Answers to these questions and many more fall under the category of how do I prepare myself for the golf season?

Interesting enough if the guidelines from this article are followed the golf score you post for your first round of the year may be lower than you ever expected, the distance of your drives may well be farther than you imagined, and the number of accurate golf shots you hit may be even more surprising!

The answer to all the questions on how to get ready for the upcoming golf season centers on preparation. Preparation is the key to a successful first round of golf and every round you play in the upcoming golf season.

We all probably understand the definition of preparation but lets take a quick look in order for us to all be on the same page. Preparation can be defined as the work or planning involved in making something or somebody ready or putting something together in advance (Encarta Dictionary, MSN.com).

A definition that sheds light on getting ready for the upcoming golf season. Using the above definition we can see the process of preparing for the upcoming golf season does not begin 10 minutes before your first tee time, but rather in advance of when you get ready to hit driver off the first tee. Bottom line the process of getting ready for the upcoming golf season begins weeks or even months before your' first round of golf of the year.

To have a successful first round of golf and a good season of golf you must begin the process of preparation well in advance of your first time on the golf course. If you look at professional golfers they begin the process of preparing for the upcoming golf season months in advanced. I would suggest doing the same. Develop a plan that will get your golf swing ready once the snow thaws, the birds are chirping, and the greens are ready for putting.

What does such a plan contain? This type of "golf preparation plan" would contain drills, exercises, and programs to improve and prepare every aspect of your golf game. If we break down the game of golf into categories the "golf program" becomes much easier to understand. Obviously, we have the different shots made on the course. A brief breakdown would indicate the need to implement swing drills to work on the full swing, short game, and putting. We could obviously get a little more detailed than a breakdown of the golf game into three different categories, but lets' keep it simple.

Now that we have this breakdown of the game of golf into full swing, short game, and putting the next step is to implement a series of drills to work on each of these aspects. Simply put I would suggest devising a series of drills to work on each part of the golf game/swing. This can easily be accomplished by purchasing a few books or videos from one of the top-teaching professionals in the world of golf.

Each one of these qualified golf instructors have numerous materials available to help you with your golf swing. And if you are one of those individuals that lives in a cold climate and is unable to get to a driving range or practice facility, no need to worry. Most all of the instructional videos/books available have drills that can be performed in the comfort of your own home.

At this point we have a couple of bases covered in the "preparation plan" for the upcoming golf season. We understand preparation is key to a successful year on the golf course, the "preparation plan" begins well in advance of the first tee time of the year, and a portion of the plan consists of swing drills. This brings us to final part of your "preparation plan" for the upcoming golf season.

This part of the plan centers on the implementation of golf fitness exercises to go along with your swing drills. We must understand the concept of your body and the golf swing. The golf swing is executed in its' entirety by your body. In order for your body to execute the golf swing correctly. It requires you to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within it. If you are lacking in any one of these physical areas compensations will occur in your golf swing.

It comes down to this: In order to be prepared for the upcoming golf season and to improve your golf swing. The implementation of golf fitness exercises geared towards developing your body around the golf swing is necessary. This type of program will prepare the body for the golf swing and the upcoming golf season.

To summarize, the process of preparing yourself for the upcoming golf season begins with a "preparation plan". This plan begins weeks to months in advance of your first time out on the golf course. Additionally, this "preparation plan" for the upcoming golf season contains a series of golf training drills to prepare your golf swing. The golf training drills break down the golf game into three sections; full swing, short game, and putting. A series of swing drills are implemented to work on each one of these parts of your golf game. In addition golf fitness exercises are implemented into the golf-training program to develop your body around your golf swing. Put all these pieces together and your first time out on the golf course this year should be an enjoyable one.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Golf Fitness Exercises for the Amateur Golfer

With all the talk about the players on tour getting stronger and more flexible, we hear a lot about exercising for golf from television commentators and read about it in the golf publications. But what exactly are the best exercises for the amateur golfer?

A great question that has a good answer, but before we give you the answer let us provide some background so the answer makes a little more sense to you. First of all, discussing the golf swing for the time being will get us rolling.

What exactly is the golf swing? The golf swing is an athletic movement that requires using of the entire body from "feet to fingertips" in order to complete the swing. Realize that the golf swing is not about the club, not just about your grip, or where your head is during the swing. The golf swing is a movement that requires your entire body to move through a sequence of movements with the correct timing. To perform the "athletic movement" of the golf swing requires the body to begin at address, move through the actual phases of the golf swing and complete it with the follow through. In order to perform this activity with efficiency and repetitively, the body must have certain physical parameters.

These parameters, as I call them, are actual physical categories of the body that need to be developed to a certain level. These categories of the body are the platform from which the body is able to perform the athletic movement of a golf swing efficiently. The categories are probably familiar to many of you, but for the purpose of this article let us briefly run through them.

The body is required to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power to complete a golf swing. If the body lacks in any of the above categories, then the results will be seen in the golf swing. The results are usually in the form of poor mechanics, bad shots, or poor scores on the course. So, now that we know what the connection is between the "body" and the "swing" let us address the question about the best exercises for golf.

The Best Exercises for Golf

Let's say you walk into your local health club and see all the fancy machines and aerobic machines at the facility to get you shape. What ones would choose? Would you choose running on the treadmill for 30 minutes, or would it be better to push out a couple sets of bench presses? Well, the answer to our question really lies within the connection between your swing and your body.

I will tell you that exercises meant to "pump you up!" or give you that "six pack" are not necessarily the correct exercises for your golf game. Neither is that weight training program you used back in high school. So, with those thoughts in mind what do you think the best exercises for golf are?

Right now we know, in general terms about the golf swing, what is required of the body for the golf swing and what exercises are not good for the swing. Armed with that knowledge we can decipher what the best exercises for golf are for you.

Beginning with flexibility, we know that the entire body must move through certain ranges of motion to perform an effective golf swing. And what happens if your body is not able to move through the required ranges of motion of the golf swing? The answer: the golf swing will mechanically suffer resulting in shots that are less than optimal. So part of the exercises that are good for golfers are flexibility exercises and, even more so, flexibility exercises that work the muscles used in the golf swing through the movements involved in the golf swing. So first and foremost flexibility exercises should be on the top of your list.

The second category of exercises that would be conducive to the golf swing would have to do with balance. We hear about balance in reference to the golf swing all the time. "Stay balanced through the swing; transfer your weight to maintain balance during the swing..." But what does balance exactly mean? Balance is the ability to control your body through a specific movement pattern. The movement pattern we are discussing just happens to be the golf swing. We know the importance of balance in relation to the golf swing, so how do we train our body for better balance in the golf swing? Before we answer that question we need to know a little more about balance. Balance in relation to the body has to do with the connection between your nerves and muscles. Essentially your nervous system, as a result of messages sent from your brain, tells your muscles how to move to maintain the body's balance. The more efficient your nerves and muscles are to these messages the greater balance abilities the body develops. So balance exercises train both the nervous system and muscular system to become more efficient at this function. Summing it all up, balance is the second category of exercises that will assist your golf game.

The third category of exercises that are beneficial to golf have to do with your muscles. The golf swing requires the muscles of your body to move through a specific range of motion (flexibility) and help with your balance capacities. In order to perform these actions and others, your body needs certain levels of strength and endurance. The definition of strength is the ability of the muscles to exert force for the given "athletic action" (simplified definition but a good working definition for us). Endurance is the ability of your muscles to do the same activity over and over again for a specific amount of time.

First off, let us discuss strength. The golf swing has one intention of developing club head speed while maintaining balance through the swing. The muscles in your body must have enough strength in them to do both. Now, when we discuss building strength for the golf swing it is NOT the type of strength needed to bench press 250 lbs. Or squat 500! It is strength geared towards the improvement of your swing. I refer to this type of strength as "golf strength." So when you get to the gym, performing strength exercises like bench press will not help your swing. Exercises that train the body in the positions and through the movements of the golf swing will help your swing.

In addition to strength, we need to develop endurance in your muscles. Think of how many swings you may take over the course of 18 holes. In order for you to be able to swing the club the same way on the 18th hole as you did on the 1st hole. Your body has to have high levels of endurance. This will allow your body to perform the golf swing without getting tired. You develop endurance similar to how you develop "golf strength." Utilize exercises that train the body in the positions and through the movements of the golf swing. Lighter loads with higher repetitions will be used for these exercises. The end result will be the development of "golf endurance."

The final segment of exercises beneficial to your golf swing is power training. Power training is geared towards the ability of your body to generate high levels of club head speed. Power development by the body is what allows for greater distance on your shots. Clubs help, golf balls help, but it really comes down to the piece of machinery, your body, swinging those club and hitting those golf balls. Development of power for the golf swing is very similar to the development of "golf strength and endurance." It is the utilization of exercises that place your body in the positions and move you through movements similar to the golf swing.

Summary

So there you have it, the answer to the types of exercises best for the improvement of your golf swing. I think you now realize it is not one exercise, but a group of exercises that incorporate flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power. A combination of these exercises is what will enhance your golf swing.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness progams go to http://www.seancochran.com

How to Integrate Weight Training Properly into Your Golf Exercise Program

Are you too confused about weight training for golf?

There are many opinions in the golf world on whether weight training is beneficial or counter-productive to the golf swing.

On the PGA Tour it is a well-known fact that the majority of professional golfers are implementing golf fitness exercises into their training regimen. The goal of such golf fitness exercises is to improve their play on the golf course.

First and foremost, as a professional strength and conditioning coach on the PGA Tour, I see the benefits of a golf specific exercise program are well documented.

The confusion for most amateur golfers probably centers around what specific training modalities and exercises should they include in their golf fitness programs and what are the professional golfers doing.

I get a lot of questions on how are the professional golfers programs set-up, what specific exercises do they incorporate in their programs, and are the exercises in such programs similar to those found in local health clubs. A lot of people ask me if they should include actual dumbbell and barbell exercises into their golf exercise program.

The goal of this article is to provide you information on what the components, modalities, and exercises that compromise a good golf fitness program.

I will also provide you with a breakdown and sequence of a good golf fitness program.

First and foremost, I need to define a few terms to help you create an understanding of the basic goals of a golf fitness program. The main goal of a golf fitness program should be to improve your golf game through the development of your physical body. In order for you to meet this goal, the golf exercises within your program must develop the body relative to the golf swing.

At this point, I must explain a few things about the biomechanics of the golf swing. The golf swing is a total body athletic activity. Meaning the entire body is utilized to swing the golf club. Just as in baseball, you do not throw with only you're your, but rather your entire body. The same is true of the golf swing; you swing the golf club with your entire body. This in the world of strength and conditioning is defined as an "integrated total body athletic action".

The golf swing is easily defined as an athletic action incorporating the entire body to execute. Knowing this point, a golf fitness program must incorporate exercises for the entire body. A term we like to call "integration". Integration is the utilization of exercises that incorporate the entire body. For example, the golf swing incorporates a rotational movement of the core (abdominals, lower back, hips, and obliques). An integrated golf specific exercise incorporating all these muscles would be a physio-ball Russian Twist in which all these muscles are working in a rotational pattern.

This is very different than isolating each muscle of the core and training them separately with isolation exercises such as abdominal crunches. The point to be made is; integrate the muscles of the body rather than isolating each muscle in a golf fitness program.

Secondly, the exercises within a golf fitness program must be "cross-specific" to the anatomical positions, movement patterns, and energy requirements of the golf swing. Simply stated this means train your body with exercises that place your body in the position your perform the golf swing, utilize exercises that move your body through the ranges of motion of the golf swing, and develop the needed energy requirements of golf.

For example, a golf swing is performed in a standing "athletic position". Knowing this fact, it would probably be of greater benefit to perform a physio-ball squat rather than a seated leg extension for the golf swing, why? Because the physio-ball squat places your body in a position similar to a position in which the golf swing is executed. A leg extension isolates the quadriceps in a seated position, which does not train the body in an integrated movement pattern, nor in a position similar to the golf swing.

Cross-specific training results in a "transfer of training effect" onto to golf swing. This simply means the exercises you are performing directly affect your golf swing in a positive manner. One goal of a golf fitness program is to get the greatest amount of benefit from each of your exercises.

If you keep these two principles integration and cross-specific in mind when developing your golf fitness program. The choices made in the selection of exercises will undoubtedly be better for your golf swing.

Once these basic principles are understood you may begin the process of developing a golf fitness program. A golf fitness program consists of a series of modules. The modules are essentially different pieces of the program geared towards developing a specific improvement within the body. As a whole, the separate modules together comprise a golf fitness program. For example, flexibility training is one module that is contained within a golf fitness program. The goal of the flexibility module is to develop the flexibility parameters within the body required of the golf swing. Listed below in sequential order with a brief definition are the modules that comprise a comprehensive golf fitness program.

1. Flexibility Training: exercises to develop flexibility within the body required of the golf swing.

2. Balance Training: modalities geared toward improving your balance capacities in relation to the golf swing.

3. Joint Integrity Training: Exercises to develop strength and endurance in the joints of the body. Injury prevention based exercises for the shoulders, hips, and knees.

4. Core Training: Exercises to develop the required stabilization, strength, and endurance in the core region of the body for the golf swing. Utilizes a variety of modalities and equipment such as physio-balls, medicine balls, tubing, and dumbbells.

5. Total Body Training: Integrated total body strength, endurance, and power training exercises. Geared towards developing the needed strength, endurance, and power within the body in a cross-specific manner relative to the golf swing.

The most important principle to remember relative to the modules comprising a golf fitness program are the goals of each module and the order.

Training order is of the greatest importance with a golf fitness program.

Often times the golfer will attempt to develop power within their muscles before achieving the proper levels of flexibility that the demanding golf swing requires.

If you train this way, you will most likely develop power in the body, but you will likely not be able to use it effectively.

For example, if you develop greater amounts of power in the core region of the body, but don't have the flexibility to execute a full shoulder turn. The ability of your body to utilize your increased power will be less than optimal. I can't emphasize to you enough, keep the training order consistent as I outlined above.

Finally, the number of exercise choices you have in terms of flexibility, balance, joint integrity, core training, and total body exercises for the golf swing are too many to count.

There is also many types of equipment you can use for each component of your golf exercise program.

You can use stretch cords, tubing, medicine balls, dumbbells, and all other types of equipment within a golf fitness program. The points to keep in mind when choosing the actual exercises for your program are:

1) Do the exercises train the body in the anatomical positions of the golf swing?

2) Do the exercises take the body through the ranges of motion entailed within the golf swing?

3) Do the exercises develop the required energy requirements of the golf swing?

If you use these questions in the decision making process of exercise selection, the final program you develop will most certainly be beneficial to your golf swing.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com