Tales From the Red Tees

Staying Fit

2009-07-12T07:39:00.002-04:00

Many years ago it was considered taboo for a golfer to workout with weights. The misconception was that if you "bulked up" you would lose the flexibility needed in the gold swing. However, as experts learned, you can workout, and maintain flexibility while adding strength and muscle tone. Today we see a whole new breed of golfer. One that now believes in the benefits of the gym. If you look at Tiger Woods and many of the young guns on the PGA Tour it is quite obvious that they are pumping some iron.

Working out and training with weights can help improve your game in several ways. Most women do not have a great deal of natural upper body strength. So many times I watch as my fellow female golfers struggle when they get off the fairway and into the high rough because they just don't have the strength to go after the ball and get it out of the grass. Doing some upper body strength training can help improve upper body strength and aid you in those more difficult shots.

Working out can also help add some distance to your shots. As you begin to develop some strength, you will be able to generate more club head speed without over swinging. Don't neglect your lower body either.

Lastly, if you are a walker, developing a stronger body will help improve your endurance making carrying or pulling your back up and down the hills on a golf course much easier.

I highly recommend the use of kettlebells and a good kettlebell workout to help improve your game. What's a kettlebell you ask? Definition

Later I will tell you how working out with a kettlebell has improved not only my golf game, but my over all fitness level!

Playing From the Sand

2009-07-11T09:41:00.002-04:00

One of the things I have learned as a student of the game, is that confidence plays as much of a role in how well you play the game as skill and athleticism. I grew up hitting the ball with the driver, because it was fun, and I found that it earned me an audience. My dad would have me show off to family friends by having me tee it up and drive it as far as I could across our property. The more I hit it, the more my confidence in the club grew. So for me, hitting the driver is like second nature. It may not always go where I want it, but I am not fearful of pulling it out of my bag.

The same goes for hitting out of the traps. I secretly would rather land in a green-side bunker that have to chip from 60 yards in. Whaaaaat? Yep, I feel more confident hitting it out of the trap with my wedge than I do having to land it and make it stick from anywhere within 100 yards.

It is all about believing that you can hit it out of the sand, and not feeling defeated because you are there. I once watched a video by golf great Raymond Floyd called "From 60 Yards In." In the video Floyd covers hitting out of the sand. I watched, I learned, and now, I believe I can hit it out with success. Do I sometimes mishit? Sure. Do I sometimes find myself still in the sand? You bet, but so does Tiger Woods.

I believe that one key to this game is seeing the shot before you take it, and believing you can make the shot!

Welcome!

2009-07-06T07:26:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Tales from the Red Tees a lady golfer's blog.

I have played the game since I was nine years old, and was informally coached by the local PGA Professional that lived next door and owned and operated an 18 hole par three course and driving range where I spent a lot of time as a kid growing up in Latrobe, PA the home of none other that Arnold Palmer.

Years later I learned that Marty, the PGA professional, was taught the game by Arnie's father!

I hope to share stories that will bring a smile to your face, information on how you can improve your game, as well as your golf fitness level.

I am not a teaching pro, but I am a student of the game, as well as a high school golf coach. I play golf regularly, and I play with those of all ability levels.