GOLF TIPS
SUMMER IN THE GARDEN JULY Planting: seed bush and pole beans, arugula, lettuce, beets, kale, cabbage, chard, spinach, leeks, and carrots. CHORES: Mulch, weed, water, and apply fertilizer as needed. Pest patrol is an ongoing summer task. Be on the lookout for aphids, slugs, snails, ants, pillbugs, and assorted garden chewers. Armed with a sturdy spray nozzle, a cup of beer (for the slugs, mind) and some soapy sprays and potions—non-toxic ones please—the garden will survive the occasional muncher. AUGUST Planting: seed peas, arugula, beets, corn salad, cilantro, turnips and oriental greens, carrots, kohlrabi, pac choi, swiss chard, lettuce, and spinach CHORES: All of the above, and fingers crossed that even after a rather slow start to the season we will have had enough sun and heat to start harvesting fruit and veggies. If you are leaving some of your plants to go to seed, collect them as they ripen, let them dry for a couple of weeks, and then store in a cool, dry, dark place for use next year.
SEPTEMBER PLANTING: seed corn salad, beet greens, mustard greens, garlic and purple sprouting broccoli (for a spring harvest) and of course arugula… mine grows pretty much year-round here! CHORES: Thin out the winter root crops (beets, carrots etc.) to give them enough room for that final growth spurt. Mulch, water judiciously, and harvest. Seed saving continues. Remove spent plants. And start looking up those recipes for green tomato chutney and salsas, because you know there will be some that don’t have time to fully ripen.
PRE-SHOT ROUTINE by Hélène Delisle Head of Instruction, Fairwinds Golf Club
I often see golfers making multiple practice swings beside their ball and taking too long to hit their ball, or standing over their ball and taking too much time hitting it, which shows that they are thinking too much. Below is an example of a good pre-shot routine to allow you to be confident in your shot and to reduce your thinking time. 1 Determine the distance to your target using a rangefinder, GPS, or the yardage markers on the course. Assess the wind direction and the elevation. 2 Decide which club you need. 3 Stand about 10 ft. behind the ball and visualize your target and the shot that you are trying to make. 4 Pick a spot in line with your target about 2-3 feet in front of the ball. 5 Address your ball and aim your club face at that spot with your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to your target line. 6 Visualize and hit your shot. The longer you wait over the ball, the more you allow doubts and tension into your body, so be decisive, committed, and hit your shot. Quit thinking and play!
A couple of rangefinders with great reviews.
31 PASSIONS | SUMMER 2022
