GOLFING IN PARADISE

By JOSE CALLEJA

GENERAL MANAGER NATADOLA BAY CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE

This week’s tip covers how to hit a fade.
Jack Nicklaus also known as “The Golden Bear” is considered by many to be the greatest ever to play this wonderful game. His last win on the PGA Tour came at Augusta National in 1986 and I still recall the put. His classic style with the putter pointing skyward indicating the ball is on its way into the hole is just magic. With this win in 1986 he became the oldest player to have won The Masters.
Jack Nicklaus’ stock shot was the fade which means he would set up with a slightly open stance to the ball. The balls flight initially begun to the left of the target and then bend right towards the flag.

How to impart side spin
To impart any side spin on the golf ball you need to alter the swing path of the golf swing. It is critical for the club head to cut across the ball and allow the grooves of the clubface to grab into the surlyn of the ball and impart a left to right spin.
To allow the club head grooves to impart this spin does not require you to alter the basic swing. What is required from you is an alteration in your stance so that the club head swings through the contact area with a cutting action.
You will also need to change the address position to accommodate the above mentioned cutting action. Your feet, hips and the shoulders need to be aligned slightly to the left of the target area.
Not all golf holes are straight holes, this requires golfers to produce a ball flight such as a fade to maneuver the ball around a dog leg. So your ability to create a fade is a great advantage if you don’t want your ball ending up in a hazard or in thick scrub.
Most high handicapped golfers find it easier to fade the ball because they are facing the target. This feeling of facing the target creates confidence in the golfers mind purely because they can see the target. The mind is reinforced by what the golfer’s eyes see and this settles the nerves. However many high handicapped players don’t only fade the ball from this slightly open stance, they also slice the ball. This will required some tuition with your local PGA professional to correct some fundamentals with your present technique.

Executing a fade

• Clubface aiming to your target.
• Your body: feet, knees, hips and shoulders should point slightly left of the target.
• Make a normal swing along your body-line.

Remember to make the necessary changes to create a fade if you would like to see the ball start to the left of your target and then move right towards your target just as the great Jack Nicklaus.

EQUIPMENT REVIEW AND TOUR UPDATES BY RAJNESH GOUNDON 

DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT NATADOLA BAY GOLF CLUB

This week we provide a review on the Wilson FG62 irons. Wilson has designed the FG62 muscle back irons renowned for its delicate balance of sleek look, soft feel and shot-shaping ability.
The following are the features of the Wilson FG62 irons.

• The lower muscle back position of this iron widens the sole and strategically moves the CG lower for improved launch angle and ball flight control.
• Its mildly cambered sole improves ground interaction for perfect divots and less digging.
• Every detail of this iron delivers the look demanded by better players, including a thinner topline, slight offset, optimum blade length and shape.

If you are looking for 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 Wyndham Championship played on the par 70, 7130 yards Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro was won by Sergio Garcia who finished on a total score of 262, 18 under par. Garcia claimed $936,000 in prize money and maybe on the way to sealing a spot on the European Ryder cup team. Tim Clark finished runner-up, 2 shots behind Garcia with a total score of 264, 16 under par.

This week’s event
This week the PGA Tour heads to Farmingdale, NY for the Barclays Tournament. It is scheduled from August 23 to 26 and will be played on the 7468 yards, Bethpage State Park course. The total prize purse for this tournament is $8 million with the winners share being $1,440,000. The defending champion is Dustin Johnson who won on a score of 19 under par.

LPGA Tour
Last week’s Safeway Classic played on the par 72, 6522 yards Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Golf Course was won by Mika Miyazato of Japan who finished the tournament on a total score of 13 under par. Brittany Lincicome finished runner-up on 11 under par.

This week’s event
This week the LPGA Tour heads to Coquitlam, Canada for the CN Canadian Women’s Open. It is scheduled from August 23 to 26 and will be played on the par 72, 6427 yards Vancouver Golf Club. The total prize purse for this tournament is $2 million. The defending champion is Brittany Lincicome who won on a score of 13 under par.

NATADOLA BAY COMPETITION RESULTS:
Last Saturday’s Open Competition results are as follows:
Winner: Olaf Allan Jnr – 36 points
Runner-up: Neil Stokes – 35 points

Last Sunday Natadola Bay hosted the NGAF Men’s Team Fundraising Golf Day. We would like to congratulate The First Landing team consisting of Natadola Bay members (George Stock, Neil Stokes, Rossco Greenville and John Kemp) who won the first prize.

NEXT WEEKS COMPETITIONS AT NATADOLA BAY GOLF COURSE

• Wednesday 29th August – Mixed Competition – Stableford Competition
• Friday 31st August – Bula Friday – Stroke Competition
• Saturday 1st September – Modified Stableford Competition

This week’s between shots is Hazeem Hussein
What clubs do you use? I use Callaway clubs.
Where is your home club? I am a member of Labasa Golf Club, Vanualevu, Fiji.
Who is your favourite player? My favourite player is Vijay Singh.
What course do you love to play? I love to play at Natadola Bay Golf Course
What is your favourite hole? The 18th hole at Natadola.
What shot will you always remember? My chip shot onto the 18th green at Natadola.
Who are your dream playing partners? Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods

This was what Mr. Hussein had to say about Natadola Bay Golf Course: “Natadola is an excellent course, good environment and has good restaurant meals.”