photo by Lutrus.
For the 2010 golf season, you will need a new set of golf irons. There are some fantastic choices for you. If you are considering a whole set of golf equipment, there are some advices for you, such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Nike, and Mizuno Golf and so on. There are some of the leading brands and manufactures.
Read more on Golf Iron Sets Review (I)…
photo by striatic.
“Links that make you think, spectacular mountain courses and hospitality fit for a gentlemans Club”
- Ian Pemble finds value for money in Oporto, North Portugal”.
Although I went to North Portugal to play some golf, two of the best things about the trip had nothing to do with the Royal and Ancient game.
The first is that Ryanair fly there from Stansted. Not the most convenient airport for the West Country admittedly, but cheap as chips. At Porto the airline has made part of the terminal its very own, complete with cafe/bar, Duty free shop and so on.
The other reason is that my trip was arranged by an English businessman based in Porto called Peter Evens (pronounced Evans). His company is called PortGolf – but he can organise a complete itinerary, including sight-seeing, water sports, an equestrian centre, go-karting, trips to a famous port lodge (including tastings), dinner at a casino with cabaret, and much more. He also caters for the whole family and those who dont want to needn’t go anywhere near a golf course.
But I did; and not only were the courses great fun they were practically deserted. Apart from weekends, expect millionaires golf with the course to yourself.
I played at three clubs and, for those of you impressed by looks, lets get the beauty contest over with first.
Estela, the links course, is not the most attractive. Sadly the beach is masked by an ugly, wire-topped fence – few sea views here – and inland there is low-level agricultural land. Although there were plenty of pumpkins and water melons, it mostly reminded me of UK allotments.
The other two, both carved out of mountain greenery, are much prettier.
Amarante is probably the best designed, certainly in terms of using the space available, and offers a testing layout with lots of scenery to admire between holes.
There are scary blind shots off the first and third tees, a couple of lakes surrounded by greens (but it feels like the other way round) and a few other memorable challenges. The 18th is an up-hill monster par 5, and the fourth is a dogleg-right par 4 with a second shot to a tricky green.
This is nicknamed the volcano: it’s round with a flat top and any ball that doesn’t stop on the short stuff disappears off the front, back or sides.
The most spectacular course has to be Ponte de Lima.
The back nine is fairly traditional parkland with lakes and several ditches to contend with. But the front nine is a wonder to behold. The holes seemed to be individually carved out of the pine forest so that, although a glance at the map shows parallel fairways, they are so far apart any push or pull with leave you deep in the trees.
The signature hole is the par-4 ninth. The tee is at the highest part of the course and you have to aim for a landing area about 200 feet below you. From there it’s another downhill shot to a green guarded by water and, if your drive was too far left, its a blind shot over some trees.
Which was the best course? Estela, funnily enough. But then I am a sucker for links golf.
On man-made courses such as Amarante and Ponte de Lima the architect has decreed that, on a par 4, you will aim your drive thus and so. If, like me, you are not a long hitter, you wont reach any fairway bunkers and your second shot will leave you short of the green, say about 70 yards. You then have no choice but to fly the ball over bunkers, or lakes, or both.
On a links course that 70-yard third shot might well be towards a green guarded by nothing more threatening than the grassed-over swales and hollows of the original dunes. So you can make a perfectly good case for using any iron in your bag, from putter to sand wedge. Do you roll it all the way, punch in a low one, or fly it to the edge of the green? You could even smack the ball straight up into the air and hope it drops, hops and stops by the hole.
With so many choices, I usually end up making the wrong one – or playing the right one badly. Links golf makes you think and that, for me, is the real challenge of the game.
All in all it was a memorable experience and I honestly believe that, if I hadnt played any golf at all, there were enough other attractions to made the trip worthwhile – and even better for the non-golfers in the family!
Accommodation: I stayed at the British Club, or the Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club to give it its full name. And it really is a little bit of Britain, founded in 1855 and tucked away behind big gates and a long drive, yet right in the middle of the city.
The rooms are comfortable and well appointed and the decor throughout is very Gentleman’s Club with wood panelling everywhere. The food is restaurant quality, with generous bar snacks (naturally there’s a full English breakfast on offer), and the bar serves drinks at very reasonable prices. The night I was there the expats gathered to watch the England vs. Austria football match on a big screen in the bar and I felt most at home.
However, Peter can arrange for accommodation from cheap-and-cheerful to five-star luxury. Everywhere you visit, he will have been there first to sample it himself and he prides himself on getting the best possible service for his customers.
For example, I had to skip my trip to the port lodge, so I gave him 30 euros and asked him to get me a good deal on some bottles of port. I was expecting him to come back with 30 euros worth of port. Instead I got exactly what I asked for: two bargain bottles and 15 euros change. Ive never before met anyone who is more careful with my money than I am.
The courses:
Ponte de Lima; 6,006 metres, par 71, mountainous forest, spectacular views, hotel at the course:
Amarante: 5,085 metres, par 68, mountainous parkland, spectacular views:
Estela: 6,017 metres, par 72, classic links, no views to speak of (so concentrate on your golf):
Please note: These are merely the three courses I had time to visit.
Portgolf can also offer trips to three more 18-hole courses, including one across the border in Spain, and several smaller courses with one in the centre of Porto itself.
Getting there: Ryanair seem to have the cheap-flights-to-Porto market sewn up. Be aware that hand luggage is strictly limited (coming back I put my laundry in the golf bag to leave room for a few bottles of port). My return flight was 43, with an extra 34 for the golf clubs. At least Stansted is easy enough to get to via the M4/M25/M11 or by train via London Paddington/tube/London Liverpool Street.
As for your trip, talk to Peter Evens at Portgolf. He will plan a trip (including giving you advanced warning of any cheap flights available) to match your own specifications and budget, meet you at the airport, ferry you around, and wave goodbye from the airport. Thoroughly recommended.
Read more on Golfing in the North of Portugal…
photo by scraggy & fluffy.
Today, golf tips and lessons on the Web are extremely popular, as just about everybody is putting their two cents in how to improve your golf game. Quite simply, there are literally thousands of different tips that you can find on the Internet; some of them are helpful and some of them are. Here are some important tips and information to help you to sort through the clutter and find the best tips that will really improve your game.
Be very wary when searching for golf tips and lessons on the web. Remember, these tips can only be very general, because they are dealing with just about every type of golf swing imaginable. The owners of the sites don’t know who will be visiting, and therefore can’t offer customized instruction for you. While some of their tips might be useful for some golfers depending on their specific swings, some of it might actually hurt another golfer.
In fact, finding golf tips on the Web might not necessarily be a good idea for you, as there are literally thousands tips that you can search for four. Therefore, it is very easily to get information overloaded after doing a search on the Web, because you might have 10 or 15 different tips right to your head.
Remember, don’t simply blindly believe everybody you hear; when a tip is written for thousands of golfers, it probably won’t great for you unless you have just the right type of swing.
Probably the best way to get golf tips and lessons is to go to your local country club, where you can take lessons from your pro. This is definitely the quickest and easiest way to see improvement in your golf game, because you will be taking lessons from a proven golfer who knows how to help other people improve their games.
Also, you might consider purchasing a swing trainer, because these incredible machines can teach you the best swing simply by using them on a regular basis. With these devices, you get the feel of the right golf swing, and the more you use it, the more natural it will become. Remember, many PGA pros utilize these swings for their games, and they would certainly benefit you as well.
However, finding golf tips and lessons on the Web is not futile; in fact, the Web can be very helpful in helping you to find the best golf gloves, shoes, and other primitive or your golf game. Yes, your swing is the most important thing, but these other equipment factors can certainly play a huge role in improving your golf game.
For these, simply read reviews on different websites that have gone over the different golf clubs, and find the top clubs that will improve your game as quickly as possible. These are great sources of golf advice to help get you a lower handicap through better equipment.
Once you find the one that the majority of sites like best, just head down to your local country club and test them out. if you like them and hit the ball well, you’ve found yourself a winner. Hopefully these tips and information will help you to benefit from golf tips and lessons on the web, and start to golf better as quickly as possible.
Read more on Getting Golf Tips and Lessons from the Internet…
photo by lukesaagi.
Muskoka is every golfers dream destination in Ontario and with very good reason. This toronto condo exquisite golf destination has some of the most breathtaking backdrops that you can imagine. With outcroppings of granite, white pines that tower high over you, the glorious morning sun and some excellent golf what more could any golfer want? Muskoka is by far one of the most popular golfing destinations in Ontario.
The golf courses
Muskoka boasts of over 32 golf courses that are championship level. Some of these toronto condos courses have been designed by some of the greatest golfers there ever were. In addition to this Muskoka also has other golf courses clubbed together with places to stay. These make ideal vacation destinations with or without family. You can choose from golf resorts,clubs, inns and spas.
The golf trails
Added to all the golf clubs and resorts are 3 of the best trails ever. These incredible courses can be quite affordable depending on when you book them. The Muskoka highlands golf course can match a Scottish links course where shot making challenges are concerned. The Windemere Golf and Country club is packed with tradition and beauty. The Huntsville Downs Golf and Country Club established in 1925, set amongst 200 acres is also worth a visit.
The Muskoka Bay Golf Course
The latest addition to the golf courses in Muskoka is Freeds Muskoka Bay Golf Course. This toronto condo property is located in the mature woodlands of Gravenhurst. The entire club will be spread over an area of 850 acres. There will be bungalows that are custom built. These bungalows will lie next to the championship 18 hole golf course designed and developed by Doug Carrick. Doug Carrick is known for developing golf courses while keeping their natural surroundings intact. Similarly the natural settings of this property have not been disturbed. So how difficult is this golf course? With all the natural landscaping intact, walking on this course is next to impossible. However if you get your hands on a golf cart and sit back the ride will be quite enjoyable.
Read more on Golf in Muskoka and Freeds new Muskokabay golf course…
photo by Max Nathan.
What follows is a FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT about direct marketing that you MUST understand if you want to MAXIMIZE YOUR INCOME while MINIMIZING YOUR EFFORT on eBay …
Read more on How To Increase Your eBay Profits By Selling More And More To Your Customers…
photo by mkpelland.
The golf industry is a multi-billion dollar market with a global presence. It is responsible for the employment of many tens of thousands of people around the world, and it provides pleasure to millions who love to play or watch the game of golf.
photo by Vicious Bits.
I generally go to sleep, yawn, get restless, surf TV channels and do all sorts of other stuff when golf is on. Quite frankly, golf absolutely bores me. If you are a gamer though, things are quite different.
The Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 on Playstation 3 is a very exciting game to play. This particular series is going to be a blast. Right from the beginning you will be amazed at the performance of the game. It loads in a few seconds.
When the loading is done you are given many different options to choose from. The most noticeable option is that of Career Mode. In this mode you can create your own custom golfer.
Some of the other modes include: match play, alternate shot, battle golf, best ball, stroke play, skins, practice and many more. Each type of game has its own rules, but there is still something there for everyone.
One of the best matches to play is Battle Golf. It is basically match play with an entertaining twist. During this match you will play a normal golf game. But after every hole the winner gets a special treat.
That treat is the removal of an opponents golf club. That means any club in their set can be removed. It is a great feeling when your opponent has only a few clubs at his disposal while you still have all of yours.
Creating and developing your own unique golfer is one of the highlights of the game. You get to design them to look like whatever you want. You are free to design your golfer right down to the very last detail.
You can also choose the type of reactions they have on the course. If all you got to do was design a character and just look at that character, the game would quickly lose its appeal. Luckily, theres much more to do with your created character than just looking at him/her, and the best thing to do is to start a career.
Career mode allows you to take your character through many different tournaments and matches. You will face off with some of golfs well known names, such as Tiger Woods, John Daly, Justin Leonard, Mike Weir, Jim Furyk, and many more.
In order to compete with these pro golfers and become the best, you will have to create one heck of a great golfer. However, creating a superstar golfer is not that simple.
After all, Tiger Woods did not become a great golfer over night. But thats beside the point. The point is you will need plenty of training and practice to reach your peak as a golfer. You do that by taking your character through a few different mini games. They will develop your character’s individual attributes.
These are your characters different attributes: ball striking, driving accuracy, putting, recovery, power, power boost, approach, and spin. After each mini-game some of those attributes may increase.
However, that will depend on your overall performance during the game, as well as what the mini-game’s main focus was on. Your starting character is going to suck. But with a few mini games under his belt the character will grow in talent and become a star golfer in no time.
Read more on How Would You Like To Play Golf With Tiger Woods?…
photo by Kivus.
Golfers today are learning that custom fit golf clubs and lessons are just pieces of the puzzle when trying to lower their scores. They are starting to realize that the golf ball itself can make a large contribution to playing a great round.
photo by ArchiM.
Mizuno MP-68 Irons for Sale $339.99 from the Best Online Golf Shop
Mizuno MP-68 Irons
N.S.PRO-950R steel shaft & Dynamic Gold ture temper steel shaft & Royal Precision Rifle Project Xshaft available
Read more on Best Offer Mizuno MP-68 Irons for Sale from the Best Online Golf Shop…
photo by chuckyeager.
As well as their fantastic new range of golf clubs TaylorMade have bought out TaylorMade have also bought a great new range of golf bags and golf bag accessories.
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