2005 - The Year of Patience
 by: Paul Wilson

2005 has me going into my 15th year teaching golf. From day one, I thought that if I could come up with a technique that was fast and easy to learn I would be a pretty popular guy. Well, I did ... and I am. So what is fast and easy? Does it mean that if you take one lesson with me I can get you to shoot 72? Well ... if I could get you to shoot 72 in 1 lesson I would charge $10,000 per lesson and the line up to see me would be down the street. I do get lucky sometimes but for the most part it usually takes me a little longer.

Typically, I say that I can give you a pretty good swing in 5 lessons, a great swing in 10 and a phenomenal swing in 15. That's 1 lesson per week for that length of time with practice in between lessons. Considering it took me over 10 years to develop a swing I was happy with, it seems like such a small price to pay. Unfortunately, many people won't wait that long. It's not because they don't have time it's just that they want results immediately.

The funny thing, is that people don't bat an eye at the length of time it takes to learn how to play a musical instrument. They know before they even start that it takes years to be able to play a song half decently. How about learning a new job? Training is going to take you up to 6 months. How about other sports? Other sports take a while to get good at but you're OK with it. So what's so different about golf? Well ... there are many reasons. Maybe you want to impress your friends. Maybe you want to take some money off of your friends on the weekend. Maybe you hit that one brilliant shot and you think you should be able to do it all of the time. Maybe you just think golf looks like a simple sport. Whatever the reason, creating a great golf swing takes some time.

If you've played golf for 15 years and you still shoot in the mid to high 80's or 90's the first thing you have to realize that the golf swing you are using doesn't work. If you played a guitar for 15 years wouldn't you be able to give guitar legend, Eddie Van Halen, a run for his money? Now, I'm not saying you should shoot 72 every time you go out but after playing for 15 years shouldn't you be able to shoot in the 70's regularly? Knowing that you have a golf swing that doesn't work is the first step to playing the best golf of your life.

The second step to playing the best golf of your life, is knowing that if you decide to change your swing, it will be like starting all over again (but this time it won't take you that long). Initially, changes to your game will cause you to hit some very poor shots. This is because you're learning a totally different way to swing. You are un-learning years of bad habits. It is this critical moment in time that you must decide to press on. No matter how bad your game gets ... the future is bright.

The third thing you must do is practice. You have to ingrain your new movements until they are second nature. The best way to make changes is to do consecutive repetitions. What I mean is you have to do the same new movement time and time again. If you do consecutive repetitions of the new movement you will master it faster than if you do old swings in between. In the early stages it's all about making the changes. The faster you can change the faster you will get better.

The fourth thing you have to do is work with a qualified instructor. This does not mean taking 1 lesson. You have to find a teacher that teaches a method and stick to it. I, myself, have a vision of what I want the students swing to look like before we even start. There are certain steps that must be followed to get to this end goal so no matter what it takes, see it through. Some people learn faster than others but with a few weeks you will get used to the changes and you will see some amazing shots. This is the sign of things to come in the future. Keep at it and keep practicing and you will soon reach your goal.

The final thing you have to do (if you haven't figured it out yet) is have patience. It takes time to change you swing. Work hard in 2005 and pretty soon you'll be breaking 80.

Paul Wilson
Director of Instruction
Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate
http://www.paulwilsongolf.com

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FootPower for Golf
 by: William Breland

Although the ankle is the most injured body part of an athlete, very little is ever done to strengthen the stabilizing muscles that prevent rolling in and out. Golfers are no exception in neglecting ankle strengthening. They seldom sprain their ankle swinging the golf club, but strength of ankle muscles is very significant to maintaining positions that establish balance, and create a powerful and efficient golf swing.

During the backswing, the moment a golfer allows body weight to move outside the neutral position of the ankle that was established at address a power leak is created. It then becomes a challenge to transfer weight in the forward swing with any consistency.

Although this lateral displacement of weight often occurs as a compensatory move due to hip inflexibility, it may be accentuated (or even caused) by weakness of the ankle evertors (or muscles that tilt your ankle up on the little toe side).

The ankle position of the forward foot (closest to your target) is a major factor in successful delivery of power at impact. At this “moment of truth” when tremendous force is created from the feet upward your ankle should hold fast to its neutral position. Strength of the ankle evertors becomes a major factor at this point as the body mass is quickly rotating and moving toward the target.

If your weight has moved outside the “power zone” and your ankle has rolled to the outside, you have once again created a power leak. The stronger and better trained your ankles are:

• The more power you can deliver at impact
• The better your ability to maintain proper spine angles
• You can more effectively resist compensatory moves in the swing

Perform this as an exercise and hitting drill. You will gain strength, improve footwork, establish better golf balance and increase swing power as you move from the backswing, into your forward swing, to impact and to the finish position.

The exercise---

Take your normal address position. Contract the outside muscles of each lower leg in order to flare up the outside of each foot slightly. Strive to maintain this “flared up” position with each foot as you hit a golf ball with a shortened half swing. As you move toward impact the back foot ( R foot of right handed golfer ) will naturally move out of the starting position as the heel leaves the ground to establish the normal follow through position. Just beyond impact the forward foot (L foot of right handed golfer ) will flatten but do not allow your weight to transfer to the outside of the foot. Your follow through is shortened to parallel to the ground for this drill/exercise. Repeat with 10 to 20 swings or until your leg muscles fatigue to the point of not being able to adequately hold your feet in the proper flared positions.

Remember: During your swing keep proper spine angles, maintain a good solid position of the back knee during your backswing, rotate your center of gravity within the balance zone, and accelerate through impact just as you would in a normal swing.

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Golf Grub
 by: William Breland

GOLO GOLF GRUB
Fuel for the golfer.

“A good diet can not make an average athlete great, but a poor diet can make a great athlete average.”
-David Costill, Ball State University, Indiana

Golf is a lifetime sport that both men and women of all ages enjoy participating in. However, for the competitive golfer, it is a test of the athlete’s physical and mental endurance. While equipment and physical fitness are important to the game, a balanced diet is often the most overlooked aspect that all serious golfers must consider.

DEFINING A BALANCED DIET

For golfers, a balanced diet begins with eating at least 50% of your total caloric intake from carbohydrates such as whole grains, breads, pastas, rice, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source during activity. It fuels the brain and nervous system, preserves protein while helping to burn fat. Consuming carbohydrates during activity helps maintain blood glucose levels, allowing the golfer to have improved concentration.

Protein is another important macronutrient to incorporate into the balanced diet. Have 6 to 8 ounces of protein daily, and choose lean protein sources such as chicken, fish, round or loin cuts of beef, beans or legumes. Protein is needed for growth and repair of muscles, and helps regulate body processes as enzymes and hormones.

Fat is the final macronutrient in the balanced diet. Fat, like carbohydrate, provides fuel for working muscles, but it is a more concentrated fuel source. Recommended fat intake is the same for athletes as for all healthy people – no more than 30% of your total calories coming from fat. This is approximately 4-5 servings of fat (based on 2000 calories). One serving of fat equals 1 teaspoon of oil or margarine, 6 nuts, or 2 teaspoons of peanut butter.

FILL UP ON FLUIDS

Hydration is an imperative component in the successful golfers game. Consuming adequate fluids before, during and after playing golf is beneficial. Even a slight decrease in bodyweight due to dehydration can affect your performance and result in fatigue & mental dullness. Consume approximately 8 oz of fluid before tee time. While golfing consume 4-8 oz of fluid every15-20 minutes or at every hole. If celebrating with alcoholic beverages is planned at the 19th hole, alternate fluid (nonalcoholic) with alcoholic drinks. Alcohol acts as a diuretic and actually increases fluid loss, so it is not a good choice for the replacement of fluids lost during the round of golf.

To help your performance try these nutrition tips as you eat for “peak performance!”

BEFORE THE MORNING ROUND

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 banana or 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup skim milk or 1 cup nonfat yogurt
• 2 slices whole-wheat toast
• 2 teaspoons margarine

AFTER THE 9TH HOLE

• 12 ounces Sports Drink
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter and crackers
• or
• 1 piece of fruit
• or
• 1 granola or cereal bar

POST GAME

• Don’t forget to re-hydrate as mentioned above!
• 3-4 ounces grilled chicken breast
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 cup steamed broccoli
• 1 cup mixed greens salad
• 2 teaspoons low fat dressing
• 1 cup fruit salad

These are just a few tips to jump start proper fueling as an important and integral part of your training program. Each athlete is unique and has different training schedules, food preferences, lifestyle factors, and weight concerns. For a more individualized assessment and recommendations for your needs submit a rquest at: www.GoLoGolFitness.com

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Mastering The Secret Etiquette Of Golf

Tiger Woods may have nothing to fear from you, but you still have to know the (unwritten) rules of the game.

By Thomas Wailgum

You may golf well. Or, you may stink up the course every time you put on your soft spikes.

But one thing is certain: Golf outings are as integral to corporate life as board meetings, annual reviews and holiday parties. And if CIOs want to play along, they have to know the subtle points of the game—not necessarily the rules or basic playing techniques but how to behave on the course and avoid perpetrating the cardinal sins of golfing etiquette.

Among the most egregious missteps: There's lying, of course. People lie about their scores; they lie about their handicaps; they lie about their lies.

There's rudeness—such as moving when someone is teeing off, talking when someone is about to swing or casting your shadow where someone is putting.There are errors of omission: failing to rake sand traps, fix ball marks on the green or replace divots in the fairway.

In fact, that serene golf course can actually be a minefield where CIO careers can be made or broken if you happen to believe—as many golfers do—that the sport reveals a person's true character. "Golf tells no lies," says Suzanne Woo, founder of BizGolf Dynamics, a company that helps executives better understand the nuances of the game. Golf, she says, "puts you under this weird pressure and expectations—and in this competitive mode."

In such a pressure cooker, CIOs need to be prepared for all types of situations on the links—including strategies for dealing with a cheating CEO who's giving you the nod and wink, or a pushy vendor who wants to monopolize the conversation with talk of business. "You learn more about a person in four hours on the golf course than you can possibly learn by only having business meetings," says David Guzman, the former CIO of Owens & Minor who's now chief research officer of The Yankee Group. "No matter how you try to be on your best behavior, your true personality will emerge on the golf course." But CIOs need to watch themselves as well. They are representatives of their companies, and any unprofessional behavior could kill future business deals or crimp their career plans. "If you are acting like a buffoon or cheating, the word will get out," says Woo. "And it won't bode well for you or your company."


First Things First
Among business golfers, the most debated topic is whether or not players should even talk business. CIOs and business golf experts advise to leave that up to the other people in your foursome—whether it's a vendor salesperson, your boss, your biggest customer or your CEO. "Your customer may use the golf course to ask you a question that's very important to him, and which is equally important for you not to fumble," Guzman says. Of course CIOs should answer, but they should keep it short. "Even when given such an opening, do not use it to drive a Mack truck of business through it," Guzman says. "Simply answer the questions and go immediately back to the casual camaraderie."


Expectations Management
A little bit of communication before a round can help CIOs set and manage the group's expectations for the day. Whether you are the host or the guest, make sure you find out about the expectations and abilities of the others in your group before you head out to the first tee. What are their handicaps? Do they even have one? Are they serious about their games? Or do they consider themselves perennial duffers who just like the outdoors? If CIOs are more interested in "shooting a number" (golfspeak for serious playing) than hearing about a vendor's latest product release, they need to make that clear up front. "If the sales guy hits with a pitch on the first hole, it's fine for CIOs to be able to say, 'Let's focus on golf, and we'll talk business at the 19th hole,'" says Woo, referring to the watering hole at the clubhouse. And a good salesperson should always accommodate his CIO guest. "It's not rocket science," says David Collins, a PGA professional and owner of The Business Golf Academy, a company that helps salespeople interact better with clients on the golf course. "If all the sales guy wants to do is talk business, that's not a good sign [for the CIO]."


Playing with the Boss
A CIO who is invited out for a day on the links by the CEO, CFO or other senior executive had better be prepared for anything. After all, those executives may be thinking about about promoting him or testing his psychological makeup, or maybe they simply want to get to know him better. "If you're ever invited to go and play with the boss, it's a job interview," says Roger Ham, former CIO of the Los Angeles Police Department and a veteran of many corporate and business outings. "That three-foot putt is the longest yard in business, and it will show them your skills, your tenacity, whether you have good sportsmanship, and whether you can lose with grace and win with grace."

An old golf adage says that golf matches are won and lost on the first tee. Translation: Perceptions are everything on the golf course, and CIOs need to be aware of their body language—whether you're having the best or worst day of your life. "You do form opinions of people on the course," says Guzman. "Are they confident and comfortable with themselves? Are they extraordinarily nervous or calm in a stressful situation? Are they too hard on themselves?"

One thing business golf experts universally advise against is tanking a match in an effort to land in your boss's good graces. "If you get caught throwing the game, it will be more embarrassing to yourself and more career-damaging," says Bill Storer, president of Business Golf Strategies, a company that sets up golf outings and seminars for businesspeople. "You ought to be worried about what your CEO is thinking at all times." Besides, Storer adds, if you are a great golfer, most people would want to play with you and see you score well—as long as you're humble about it.

If You Cheat, You're a Cheater
While it's OK to exaggerate or underestimate your golf skills, outright cheating is just plain wrong. Many knowledgeable golfers have a sense about how many strokes you have taken per hole and can spot a cheater early on. "People think they're being subtle about cheating," says Guzman. "And cheating may be an indicator of how they will behave in other circumstances." CIOs who witness cheating by a member of their foursome shouldn't hesitate to bring it to the attention of others in their group, so long as the group consists of peers. However, Woo advises CIOs to think twice if the cheater in their midst happens to be a CEO, CFO or other senior executive; cheating is indicative of some degree of dishonesty, so CIOs might wonder how trustworthy their bosses are.

Lose the Cell Phone
The current hot-button issue in the golfing world is mobile technology. While some golf courses have banned the use of cell phones on the course, many golfers still take and make calls between shots. "If you think of it as a business meeting, it's incredibly rude," says Woo. Perhaps you have to make an important call, especially if you're golfing during normal business hours. The best bet, says Woo, is to warn other players in your group that you may have to use your cell phone, and then try to do so when it's most considerate—such as at the snack bar often located at the ninth hole. Above all, common courtesy dictates turning off your cell phone's ringer so that it doesn't sound at inopportune moments—such as when your CEO is attempting a match-winning putt.

Scott Hicar, CIO of storage vendor Maxtor, finds other devices such as BlackBerrys to be equally distracting. He once watched in amazement as a playing partner (a fellow IT exec) at a charity tournament spent most of his time on his BlackBerry. "On the tee box, he was clicking out e-mails, and his thumbs were twiddling away as we were hitting," says Hicar. If you're that attached to your BlackBerry—and the office—what's the point in even playing? Your miserable day will ruin the experience for everyone else.

The key to any successful business golf outing lies within the participants and their willingness to use the time to solidify friendships and enjoy social relations in a relaxed atmosphere. But don't presume you'll discover business nirvana simply because you're on a picturesque golf course on the company's dime. "You should never believe or behave in a way in which you think you are owed business because of a golf outing," says Guzman. "This is an investment in your relationship regardless of whether there are any immediate business results."

And just because you've heard "business gets done on the golf course," don't bother with the game if you detest it. The investment of your time and psyche is just too great. "You won't be able to get away with saying you love it when you are hating every minute of it," says Woo. Which is the reason why golf bonds businesspeople like few other interactions. "You know each other's pains and each other's victories," says Woo.

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Move Your Head
 by: Paul Wilson

I still remember years ago when I first started to play golf, the tip you heard the most was "keep your head still". My father used to say it to me at least 50 times a round. He thought he was doing me a favor, when really, he should have been telling me to do the exact opposite. He should have been saying "move your head a little on the way back".

Why move your head as you take the club back? You want to move your head because in order to swing in a circular motion you need an axis to swing around. An axis has a top and a bottom. When you set up to the golf ball, you have 1 top to an axis (your head) and 2 bottoms (your legs and feet) to an axis. This means that on the way back your head should be moving 3 - 5 inches to the right in order to create your first axis to swing around. Your head will stay there as you come down and fall even further back through impact. Then, after the ball has been hit, your head will move forward over top of the left leg to create a second axis. This second axis will allow you to complete the circular rotation in your golf swing allowing you to finish your swing. So what you have is a floating top to an axis. Your head floats back and forth to create 2 axis when you swing. This allows you to swing in a circular motion. It's not a perfect circle though. It's a slight oval. Because your swing is a slight oval, you will never hit the ball 100% perfect.

The only time you would keep your head still is if you had one leg. If you had one leg, you would have 1 top and 1 bottom to an axis. This means that if you moved your head you would destroy this axis. So maybe we should all be playing standing on one leg and keeping our head still? Unfortunately, this will never work because you will not generate enough power and you will probably fall over. Most people have enough trouble keeping their balance with 2 legs never mind 1 so it's best that you keep both legs on the ground and learn to move your head.

Most people I teach try to move their head back when I tell them to but they have a hard time actually doing it because it feels so uncomfortable for them to move their head. To get the proper feeling, you must feel like your head is moving about 1 foot to the right. If you feel like your head is moving 1 foot to the right on the way back, it will actually only move a few inches. Try swinging regularly towards a mirror. As you watch yourself swing, you can clearly see if your head is moving back 3-5 inches. As your head moves back, feel how your weight loads into the right leg. This is the tell tale sign that you have created your first axis in the backswing. If you don't have a loaded, powerful feeling in your right leg, you will have to move your head a little more as you go back. If you are wearing a hat when you play golf just take your backswing and look to see if the brim of the hat is level to the ground not tilted to the left. If the brim of the hat is level to the ground at the top of your backswing your head will have moved the proper amount. As a final check just ask a friend to watch your head to see if it moves back a few inches or use a video camera to see for yourself. If your head is too still then constantly remind yourself to move it back or have someone constantly remind you to "move your head".

As you move your head back, beware that it may cause you to hit behind the ball a little. This is a good sign at first. It's telling you that you are moving your head back but you have too much weight on your right foot at impact. To remedy hitting behind the ball (fat shots), all you have to do is feel a little more weight shift off of your right foot through impact. If you do, you will hit the ball perfectly and with much more power than you are used to.

Paul Wilson
Director of Instruction
Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate
http://www.paulwilsongolf.com

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You don't have to be a millionaire to have your own backyard putting green. United Turf Industries of Wichita, Kan., reports that some recent buyers of its SofTrak greens were a dairy farmer, a roofing contractor, and a doctor.

    The American Society of Golf Course Architects says artificial greens aren't just a trend. They have a solid niche because people understand how difficult it is to maintain a natural-turf green. It has to be mowed five days a week, hand-watered every other day, and protected from insects, diseases, and mold.

    An artificial green costs from $7,500 to $12,000 for the average 600-square-foot surface. The more options the higher the cost. The upkeep costs are virtually zero. A bent-grass green costs less, from $3,000 to $9,000, but is very expensive to maintain costing up to $6,000 a year, not counting the price of specific equipment, fertilizers, pesticides, seed, and irrigation tools.
    A number of companies are marketing faux greens including FieldTurf International of Montreal, Mirage Putting Greens of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Novagrass of Chattanooga, Tenn.

    Novagrass will ship rolls of its turf for $3.50 to $4 a square foot including turf, underpad, cup, pin, and lightweight aggregate.

    Golf course designer Michael Hurdzan of Columbus, Ohio, says there are two important installation factors in a successful installation. One is the skill of the installer and the other is the quality of the pad that goes between the layer of crushed gravel and the green. Pads that bond to the green are best.

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Purpose Driven Golf
 by: Dave Moore

I want you to meditate on a couple points for a moment:

1. Why an earth are you playing golf?

2. What are you getting out of each round?

3. What is the point?

Have you ever thought about any of these points before??

Here is an excerpt from "The Dave Way"... if you already own "The Dave Way" please read this one more time to get a few ideas of why you are on the course every weekend.

Pride

It’s almost like a proud parent raising a child successfully. You start out hardly knowing anything about the game. Your scores are usually horrible (in my case around 125) and your swing mechanics are usually pathetic. Your shot making is non-existent and your drives are short and very unimpressive.

And then, round after round (and after many nights and $’s spent at the practice range) you slowly start to improve. I remember the first day I broke 100 - and then the first day I broke 90 - and then the first day I broke 80... few feelings in the world come close.

Status

Let’s face it, golf is rich in tradition. And whether right or wrong, those that have mastered the sport are generally stuck at the top of the social ladder in the clubhouse locker rooms and sometimes even in the workplace.

Let’s say you’re talking to your buddies about a local golfer and then somebody in your group mentions this person is a scratch golfer, no matter what you though beforehand you hold that person in a higher regard for some reason.

Focus

Even though focus is not necessarily why a person would pick up the game of golf, after playing for a little while you will realize the game can improve your mental toughness, your mental awareness, and eventually your outlook on life.

Now I know that may sound a little deep and possibly a tad cheesy, but it’s the honest truth. If you have been playing golf (even for just one season) you know there are many ups and downs associated with the sport. Those ups and downs can be found between years of playing, between rounds, between holes, and sometimes (but hopefully not) between shots.

Through all these good times and bad times you learn perseverance. You develop goal setting skills. If you stick with the sport (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “I’m going to sell my sticks in the paper tomorrow!”) you will build up a “stick to it” type of attitude.

Your mind will become sharp!

No wonder those that have mastered this sport are generally known as over-achievers.

Health

Even though I have listed health as number 4, this is one of the main reasons I picked up a golf club.

My body was never in, what you would call, real good or athletic shape. And when I would watch golf on the tube I noticed a some of the men playing had guts… excuse me… un-chiseled abs J. Kind of like yours truly.

I though to myself “All my buddies are skiing, shooting hoops, hitting tennis balls, or playing golf… looks like golf is the best way I can fit in”.

But what I soon found out is that golf has a sneaky way of adding a little bit of exercise to your life. And that’s great for those of us that hate to take the time out to exercise.

On a side note, I would encourage everyone to walk the course once in a while. Here is what I suggest to my students who are golf newbie’s: After playing a year or two, instead of trying to back up from the white tees to the blue, try to walk more this year and wait until next year to back up to the blue tees.

Fun

When I play golf I have a great time.

Fellowship with friends or being paired up with someone I don’t know and making new friendships is another awesome benefit golf has to offer.

And there is nothing more exciting than dropping an approach shot next to the pin, sinking a monster putt, or smashing a long drive in front of your playing partners.

These are some of the reasons I play, but I think it is very important to figure out why you are out slapping balls around too.

Figuring out the purpose of golf in your life can only make you a better golfer... let me explain:

When I started off playing, I was not that good, as I'm sure many of you weren't. That being said, I would get so frustrated at the poor shots, the missed putts, the doubles and triples, and double pars. And most of the time I would act like a complete fool. I would get frustrated to no end... slamming my clubs down, or throwing them, and it was a given that I would be ticked off the rest of the day.

I can't imagine what I must of looked like, probably an imbecile. There are guys that I'm playing with that are 20-30 strokes better than me, but I'm the one acting like an idiot. And there is no doubt in my mind that this foolish behavior and mindset totally stunted my growth as a baby golfer.

Then I realized, the only way to learn and get better is to play purpose-driven golf... even if the only purpose for my next round was strictly just to have fun.

What I would like for you to do before the next time you go play a round is ask yourself "Why am I going out today?"

If you keep a focus through your round that:

I am out here to have fun

or

I am out here to hang out with my friends

or

I am out here to get healthy and be physically active

or

I am out here to feel like I accomplished something today...

then you will have that reason and not let your mind run aimlessly with emotion.

I'm sure some of you old-timers have learned this over the years (and by the way I would love to hear from you if you have a relative story dave@thedaveway.com). This is usually why if you have hit a round with a person that has played for years... they may not have the talent that you do... but they can score right with you or sometimes beat the snot out of you.

Let the poor shots go away, let the good shots not get you too emotionally high... just learn from each swing!

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Who Invented The Game Of Golf ?
 by: David Humphrey

Well, who actually did invent the game of Golf? The question has been asked and argued for many years with no true winner. Many countries have a valid claim to an early game that resembles the game of golf. Some of the countries that make this claim are England. Scotland, China, Rome, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Laos. The most heated debate over who invented golf definitely comes from Great Britain and Scotland.

The first area to look when deciding the answer to our question must be what actually determines when a game with sticks and balls is golf or another game. Most countries in the world have had games where you hit an object with a stick at some sort of target. Is this enough to be called golf, I don't think so. If so, then these early games could claim the origin of many sports played today. I think it takes more than just a game with some kind of object being hit by a stick to qualify as the origin of golf.

Holland is believed to be the origin of the name of golf but not the actual game itself. Holland played a game in the 1200s called Colf, which means clubs. This was a form of golf but once again the form of many other sports.

Colf has been traced back to Dec. 26, 1297, in the town of Loenen aan de Vecht in northern Holland. On that day, the local townsfolk played four holes of the game to commemorate the relieving of the Kronenburg Castle exactly one year before. The fact that colf was chosen to mark the occasion is proof that the game was already popular by that time.

Great Britain The earliest traces of golf history has golf being played are said to date back to 1340, where in a sketch from a stained glass window, the Great East Window, in the east wing of the Gloucester Cathedral, England, scenes of the Battle of Crecy in France showed a man apparently preparing to strike a ball in a golf-like manner.

One of the early forms of golf were all missing one important ingredient to their games to truly make the game golf and that was the hole. Scotland is widely believed to be the first country to put all the ingredients together and actually start a primitive form of the great game of golf.

Yes, this will always be a disputed point, who actually invented the game of golf. If you believe some of the claims that the game they were playing was golf and they didn't have a hole, then you could take this same game and turn it into the origin of many games we still play today. I believe the hole is what separates all the early claims to who originated the game of golf.

Look at our Golf History section at the World of Golf Handicap for more detailed information on the History of Golf.

http://www.dave-and-maggie-world-of-golf-handicap.com/golf-history.html

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