GOLFING IN PARADISE

By JOSE CALLEJA
General Manager, Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course

This week’s tip covers the value of having a lesson. If you have recently considered having a golf lesson you are probably consciously or subconsciously analyzing your current level of play. Last week’s article covered the value of practice however if you are practicing with incorrect technique it’s better not to practice. The ease with which a golf professional swings a golf club is not obtained over a couple of months but over countless hours of practice over many years combined with tuition. If you genuinely wish to play well you should consider practice and having a golf lesson.
Beginners may easily think that a few tips from their fellow golfing buddies will give them ability to play the game. However, what works for one golfer not necessarily applies to another. All golfers have different body compositions therefore swing a club differently. This game can be frustrating if you have developed a persistent slice or a hook. Maybe you have developed a terrible occasional shank to your game and it’s on your mind as you address the ball every time.
The best way to handle these and countless other problems is to have a lesson with a certified golf professional. A golf professional can inform you how to transform your golf swing technique by identifying the flaw in your swing. The golf swing occurs so quickly, anywhere between 1.2 to 1.4 seconds approximately. So without supervision you’re probably going to spend considerable time, energy and finally end up disappointed after you struggle to obtain the results you would like to achieve.
Bad habits and incorrect: posture, grip, stance, alignment, swing plane, the type of shaft you are presently using, past injuries you’ve sustained, medical conditions, flexibility, fitness levels. As you can see, these are substantial areas of concern and can be addressed with the assistance of your golf professional. The introduction of a golf training programme combined with golf lessons can to take your game to the next level.
Best results are achieved when the pupil has had the time to practice the proposed swing change. Quite different to the daily lessons a golf professional may have with his coach whilst undergoing a desired swing change. But even then they too will also need to practice the swing change.
In the end the words practice and golf, go hand in hand.

How I play the 15th at Natadola Bay.
The 15th Hole measures 113 meters from the blue tees and I absolutely enjoy playing this hole. Depending on the wind I normally play a controlled ¾ pitching wedge. This controlled shot has been very successful, finding the green but more importantly close to the pin. One putt, birdie and can’t wait to get to the next tee.

Rajnesh Goudon Director of Golf at the Natadola Bay Gold Club

Equipment review and tour
updates
This week we provide a review on the Method Core Drone putter.
The following are the features of the Method Core Drone putter:

• It delivers stability and confidence in every putt.
• Its extreme mallet design and Opti-mass weighting in the centre and wing tips keep the club head on its path, thus preventing twisting and creating a smooth accurate stroke.
• The Poly Metal Groove Technology generates a faster forward roll at impact for increased accuracy.
• It’s Polymer and Aluminum grooves lesson impact vibrations thus providing pure sound and feel.

If you are looking for a putter with the above features that gives you a better feel then try out the Method Core Drone Putter. Please contact the Natadola Bay Golf shop on 6733500 if you are interested in purchasing one for yourself.

PGA Tour events update
Last week’s Wells Fargo Championship played at the Quail Hollow Club was won by Rickie Fowler. Fowler birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff with Rory Mcllroy and D.A. Points, all at 14 under par. Fowler again birdied the 18th hole in a sudden death playoff and won the event. This win is Fowlers first on the PGA Tour.
This week’s event:
This week the PGA Tour heads off to Florida for the Players Championship. It is scheduled from May 10 to 13 and will be played at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach. The total prize purse for the tournament is $9.5 million. The defending champion is Mr K.J. Choi.

LPGA Tour
Last week’s HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup played at the par 73, 6285 yards, Itanhanga Golf Club was won by Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand. Phatlum shot a final round 6 under par, 67 to win by four shots over Amy Hung of Taiwan.  This is Phatlum’s first LPGA tour victory and she is currently ranked 73 on the Rolex Ranking.
This week’s event:
This week the LPGA tour takes a break, however the Ladies European Tour heads off to Turkey for the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open. It is scheduled from May 10 to 13 and will be played at the National Golf Club, Belek, Antalya, Turkey. The total prize purse for the tournament is Euro$250,000 and the defending champion is Christel Boeljon of Netherlands who won on a score of 5 under par 287.

Natadola Bay competition results:
Last Saturday’s Open Competition results are as follows:
Winner- Mr Neil Stokes – Nett 80
Runner up – Mr Rossco Greenville – Nett 85
Next week’s competition at Natadola Bay Golf Course
The following competitions are scheduled for next week:

• 16/05/12 Wednesday Mixed Competition Stableford Competition (9am tee off)
• 18/05/12 Bula Friday Competition -Stroke (3pm tee off).
• 19/05/12 St. Mary’s Charity Golf Day.

PLAYER REVIEW

Mr Darren Allen

This week’s between shots is Mr Darren Allen of New Zealand.
What clubs do you use? Callaway Prototype blade irons, Callaway TX Tour driver, Cleveland Lob wedge and a Ping Putter.
Where is your home club? Formosa Golf Club, Auckland
Who is your favourite player?
Miguel Angel Jimenez.
What course do you love to play?  Belmont (Wanganui).
What is your favourite hole? The 10th at Natadola Bay
What shot will you always remember? Hole in one on the 7th at Formosa.
Who are your dream playing partners? Mick Hucknau, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter.

• This was what Mr Allen had to say about Natadola Bay Golf Course: “The course has an outstanding layout, excellent greens, views are amazing. Better to sacrifice distance off the Tee, I would like to come back on a calm day.”