GOLF
Getting Ready for Spring
SPRING SUNSHINE WARMING THE HILLSIDES REVEALING THOSE PATCHES OF NEW GRASS MAKES IDLE
We are eager to get outside, escaping the confines of winter and quelling our thirst to return to the world of “golf green.” March is a good time to make a plan; prepare and improve. This includes getting in shape physically and mentally, equipment review, new purchase needs and a search for early season specials. If you weren’t looking for deals over the winter spring is a great time to look for those bargains. In these economic times there are more deals then usual on the internet for new or used equipment sales and out of business close-outs. Getting your equipment out and looking it over for repairs you may find reasons to purchase new equipment. Remember that golf uses tools and like any craft that uses tools, the better the tools the easier the craft. Getting the right clubs that fit and using them correctly are paramount to becoming a better golfer. You may have outgrown your equipment as you have improved, or aged! Now is a good time to check in with your local course golf pro and have them assess your equipment, swing and areas for improvement. Having a pro review your swing, before many practice repetitions, can help make corrections needed early and help diminish bad swing habits. Mark Johnson, director of Golf at Breezy Point, offers a free assessment lesson for equipment and technique and can be reached at 800950-4960. It’s important to have a regimen of exercises for conditioning and flexing to prepare the arms, legs and body for the motion of swinging a club. Most of us get a little stiff over winter so flexing is good to get the muscles, joints and heart accustomed to our new activity. If you do not have a regular exercise program and have been mostly idle over the winter, it is important to begin a program to get you into shape prior to picking up a club. Determine a list
GOLFERS ITCHY FOR ACTION.
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of stretching and strengthening exercises targeted at your weaknesses. Conditioning should focus on balance, strengthening and mental preparation. Stretching arms, legs, hand squeezes, squats, sit-ups, push-ups and bending should be included. First and foremost, walk. Walking is a natural exercise that we were designed to do. Everything external and internal, including our minds, gets stronger from walking. It should be a three-times-a-week ritual always but if you haven’t been walking, it’s time to start. The main benefit of walking is strengthening our core being. When we walk our abdomen tightens, our breathing is more correct and we strengthen our core internally as we also exercise our legs and arms. Literally everything on our bodies moves when we walk. We want to increase our breathing, strengthen our core abdomen and cardiovascular system to become stronger and better balanced. Try to walk a mile minimum each time. Work on hand grip strength, as a firm grip is important to improving drive distance. Use a hand spring and do repetitive squeezes. This can be done while walking as well. Having good balance and comfort in your stance is vital to accuracy. For balance, start by standing on one leg with eyes closed, then alternate. Sitting on a large exercise ball or straddling a roller board are excellent. The usual conditioning exercises are great and should be done three times weekly; sit-ups, push-ups, lunges, squats and others you enjoy, working on your specific weaknesses. Mental preparation is accomplished by different methods that work for you. We are all a little different but approaching the ball and swinging is a ritual that we must master to be consistent and to improve our game. Concentration is necessary to become a consistent golfer and for rebounding from bad shots. It is important to see the shot and not to be distracted by all the negative ele-
Spring