JOSE CALLEJA General Manager, Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course

GOLFING IN PARADISE

By JOSE CALLEJA
General Manager, Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course

This week’s tip covers the importance of great footwork in a golf swing.
All great players have great footwork. The great Ben Hogan is an ideal golfer to emulate and replicate, specially his footwork. Correct footwork is the base and support for all the movements required during the golf swing. Proper footwork also provides balance and stability which in turn allows the proper transfer of weight and power throughout the swing. If you fall of your feet when you are swing a golf club you are over swinging and not allowing the body to work efficiently for you. Another result of poor footwork is swaying and sliding in an attempt to create the required transfer of weight.
When you setup to the golf ball your weight should be on the balls of your feet and not on your heels. Golf is played from a static position which turns into a dynamic position and this is the reason why you should not address the ball with your weight on your heels. You need to be able to explode onto the golf ball and this is achieved through creating power by the use of the upper body coiling around your lower body which is supported by your feet.
 This diagram demonstrates weight distribution during the golf swing for right handed players and is ideal for developing great foot work. The address position in frame 1 shows even weight distribution. During the backswing in frame 2 you have 65 per cent of the weight  shifting to the back foot and you should feel as though the coiling of the body is being braced by the inside of the right foot instep. In frame 3 we are in the down swing and the weight shifts to 65 per cent over to the left foot. Finally in frame 4, 90 per cent of the weight is on your left foot and you should be able to retain this position which indicates you have produced a balance golf swing through great foot work.
Combining footwork with the golf swing.
Powerful golf swings require great footwork, correct leg action and flexibility if they are to be efficiently repeatable, powerful and consistent.  Your need to remember it is the lower body which serves as the engine of the golf swing by pushing against the ground.  Pushing against the ground reminds me of Ben Hogan who always commented that the secret to the golf swing was in the dirt.

Food for thought
During the back swing you take the club back and your feet are planted on the ground.  As your legs and feet start to resist this rotation it creates what is called torque. Torque is difference of rotation between your lower and upper body. Tiger Woods has enormous torque due to his incredible flexibility. When you are half way through your back swing your body continues to turn and weight is transferred to the right foot. It is at this point where the footwork kicks in and 65 per cent of the weight is shifted to your right foot. So if you can produce torque you will produce a powerful golf swing. At the top of the backswing you should have your shoulders turned to 90 degrees and the hips turned to 45 degrees. The greater the difference in these two angles, the more torque the body can generate. On the down swing and with your club head approaching the golf ball your weight distribution should be 65 per cent on you left foot. After impact the weight continues to transfer to you left foot and your right foot starts to raise and turn similar to this photograph.
Happy golfing to all this weekend.

EQUIPMENT REVIEW AND TOUR UPDATES BY RAJNESH GOUNDON

DIRECTOR OF GOLFAT NATADOLA BAY GOLF CLUB

This week we provide a review on the Nike Dri-Fit Tour Glove.
The following are the features of the Nike Dri-Fit tour Glove:

• This glove is customized to fit all hand shapes and sizes;
• Its new tab design gives a superior ergonomic fit;
• Its perforated fingers offer enhanced breathability and a better range of motion
• Its premium cabretta leather tanning process provides a soft, supple feel and excellent grip
• Its strategically placed Dri-FIT material in back of hand, fingers and gussets provide a great fit

If you are looking for a golf glove 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 Pacific Links Hawaii Championship played on the Par 72, 7001 yards, Kapolei Golf Course was won by Willie Wood. Wood birdied the final two holes and shot a final round 66 to win the event by one shot from Bill Glasson. This win has earned Wood $270,000 in prize money.
This week’s event: This week the PGA Tour heads off to Atlanta, GA for the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola. It is scheduled from September 20 to 23 and will be played on the Par 72, 7316 yards, Crooked stick Golf Club. The total prize purse for this tournament is $8 million with the winners share being $1,440,000. The defending champion is Justin Rose who won on a score of 13 under par.

LPGA Tour             
Last week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open played on the Par 72; Royal Liverpool Golf Club was won by Jiyai Shin of Korea. Play was called off on Friday due to bad weather and players had to play 36 holes on the final day where Shin shot rounds of 71 and 73 to win by 9 shot from runner up Paula Creamer. Shin’s 9-stroke margin of victory is the largest in the history of the RICOH Women’s British Open.
This week’s event: This week the LPGA Tour heads off to Atlanta, for the Navistar LPGA Classic. It is scheduled from Spetember 20 to 23 and will be played on the Par 72, RTJ Golf Trail, Capitol Hill Course. The total prize purse for this tournament is $1.3 Million. The defending champion is Lexi Thompson who won on a total score of 17 under par.

NATADOLA BAY COMPETITION RESULTS:
Last week’s competition results are as follows:
Saturday Open Competition – Hotel & Tourism Golf Day – Stableford
Date:  September 15, 2012
Winner:  George Stock – 34 points C/B
Runner-up:  John Sheather – 34 points
2nd Runner up: Neil Stokes – 33 points
NTP 7th: Peter Lowing
Natadola Bay would like to thank the Warwick Hotel for sponsoring the Hotel & Tourism Golf Day.

NEXT WEEKS COMPETITIONS AT NATADOLA BAY GOLF COURSE

• Wednesday September 26 – Mixed Competition – Stableford Competition
• Friday September 28 – Bula Friday – Modified Stableford Competition
• Saturday September 29 – Stroke Competition (Monthly Medal)

Player review

This week’s between shots is Kim Brant
What clubs do you use? I use Callaway clubs.
Where is your home club? I am a member of Sanctuary Cove Golf Course, Australia.
Who is your favourite player? Adam Scott.
What course do you love to play? I love to play at Hope Island Golf Course, Australia.
What is your favourite hole? The 14th hole at Natadola Bay.
What shot will you always remember? My approach shot on the 17th
Who are your dream playing partners? Adam Scott, Tiger Woods and Andy Haigh.
This was what Mr Brant had to say about Natadola Bay Golf Course: “Natadola is a fantastic course, loved every hole, very thankful the wind did not blow, very friendly staff- thank you for a great day.”