GOLFING IN PARADISE

Mr Jose Calleja

By JOSE CALLEJA
General Manager, Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course

This week’s tip covers the importance of confidence when putting.
Confidence plays a crucial part in a golfers round. As I indicated in last week’s article confidence and feel are the two most talked about topics in putting. The great Ben Hogan referred to putting as a game within a game and he is absolutely correct. A golfer’s ability to maintain a consistent putting stroke and drain putts under pressure is a clear indication this player has confidence firmly ingrained.
Putting isn’t difficult, we can all make short putts. The difficulty lies in consistently making the short putts.  Once you start missing a few putts and doubt sets in its all downhill from there. So how do you regain your confidence so you can start holing them again? Well the answer is simple, you need to boost to your confidence. Missing short putts is no fun and destroys the enjoyment you should be having when playing this wonderful game.
You need to develop the solid belief that stops you from being tentative, one that comes from having real confidence. Real confidence can only be earned through practice so it is ingrained into your mind and body. A few putts on the putting green prior to your round should not be used to measure your consistency. These practice putts should be used to measure the speed of the greens, only.
To develop consistency you will need to spend time on the putting green and develop and ingrain the following:
A putting pre-shot routine: Once you have established a putting pre-shot routine it simplifies your game on the green. A consistent routine which you can rely under pressure will give you an advantage over your golf buddies and opponents. A routine will help you focus on each and every putt. As you repeat each putt, continually hitting one solid putt after another your confidence will naturally increase and gradually the routine will become automatic.
Practice regularly to build your
confidence: If you want to increase your confidence you have to find time to practice your pre-shot routine, as this reinforces belief and self confidence. Learn to focus for short periods of time no longer than 20mins then take a break for 5mins. Refer to the drills below for specifics on what to practice.
Stick to your line: Your confidence naturally increases when you stick to the line you decided on. Once you are committed you remove any indecisions and doubt.
Build your confidence: Confidence is built through repetition and we can all remember putts we have made in a tough situation. So if you feel your confidence wavering try to draw from your memory the many putts you have made during practice, on the course and during a competition.
Positive self talk: We all at times have a habit of undermining our confidence with negative comments.  So to maintain your confidence positive self talk should be supportive self talk. When I want to make a put I use the following self talk
“One more putt, like I have done a million times before”.
Starwood Classic 2012: The Starwood Classic 2012 was held at Natadola Bay Golf Course and the Denarau Golf & Racket Club from the 13th to the 16th of June. The weather dominated the first two days however players soldiered on with high spirits to enjoy a memorable  Starwood Classic. I would like to thank the staff at Natadola Bay Golf Club for their fabulous team effort over the four days. I would like to congratulate Michael Hendry for winning the event in the Professional ranks and Olaf Allen Jnr in the Amateur ranks. Also we would like to thank Shane Cunning and his team at Denarau Golf & Racket Club for their effort with all the preparations required for staging this event. A special thanks to Richard Ellis and his team in successfully organizing another Starwood Classic. We look for forward to supporting the event in 2013. Thank you everyone.

EQUIPMENT REVIEW AND TOUR UPDATES

BYRAJNESH GOUNDON
DIRECTOR OF GOLF
AT NATADOLA BAY GOLF
CLUB

EQUIPMENT REVIEW AND TOUR UPDATES
This week we provide a review on the Ping i20 irons.
Ping has designed the i20 irons whose performance is optimized through a progressive set design. The following are the features of the Ping i20 irons:

• The long irons are slightly larger, high launching and more forgiving.
• The smaller short irons feature less offset and provide exceptional control.
• The thicker hitting area and stabilizing bars in the cavity helps in distance control and gives a solid feel.
• Its high density tungsten toe weight provides forgiveness across the face for accurate results.

If you are looking for a new set of irons with the above features then please contact the Natadola Bay Golf shop on 6733500 and we will order one for you.

PGA Tour events update
Last week’s US Open played at the Olympic Club, San Francisco California was won by Webb Simpson. Simpson started the final round four shots away from co leaders, Jim Furyk and McDowell. Simpson fired a final round 68 to win the tournament with a total score of 1 over par 281. Michael Thompson and Graeme McDowell finished runner up on two over par, 282.
This week’s event: This week on the PGA Tour heads to Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship. It is scheduled from June 21to 24 and will be played on the Par 70, 6841 yard TPC River Highlands Course. The total prize purse for the tournament is $6 million with the winner’s share being $1.08m. The defending champion is Fredrick Jacobson.

LPGA Tour               
This week’s event: After a week’s break, this week the LPGA Tour heads off to Canada for the Inaugural Manulife Financial Classic scheduled from June 21to 24. The tournament will be played on the par 72 Grey Silo Golf Course, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The prize purse is $1.3m and will be played over 72 holes. Let’s see who will be the first to win this Inaugural event.

NATADOLA BAY COMPETITION RESULTS:
Last Sunday’s Open Competition results are as follows:
Winner: Neil stokes – 34 Points
Runner-up: Kavitesh Prasad – 34 points
NTP 15th: Kavitesh Prasad

NEXT WEEKS COMPETITIONS AT NATADOLA BAY GOLF COURSE

• Wednesday 27th June – Mixed Competition – 2 Person Ambrose
• Friday 29nd June – Bula Friday Stableford Competition
• Saturday June 30 – Stroke Competition (Monthly Medal)

PLAYER REVIEW

Michael Mullens

This week’s between shots is Michael Mullens.
What clubs do you use? I use Callaway clubs.
Where is your home club? I am a member of Burleigh Golf Club, Gold Coast.
Who is your favourite player? Ernie Els.
What course do you love to play? Natadola Bay.
What is your favourite hole? The 6th hole at Natadola Bay.
What shot will you always remember? The tee shot on the 12th hole at Natadola Bay.
Who are your dream playing partners? Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones.

This was what Mr. Wilson had to say about Natadola Bay Golf Course: “Awesome course – can’t say enough about staff and condition of course – Fantastic…. Jose is an asset to avid golf…Nothing was a problem – very approachable… “