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| Every week resident PGA Professional George Finlayson
answers your questions on every aspect of golf. |
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I'm coming from Florida to visit St Andrews
in Scotland next year. I'm used to playing parklands courses
here in Florida and would like to know if I need to make any
adjustments to my game to accommodate the Scottish courses?
Jon , Florida, USA |
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Well, Jon, the courses in St Andrews
are links courses which are a bit different from the usual
courses in the States. The flight of the ball will need to
be kept lower to compensate for the Scottish sea breezes.
I often find American visitors are used to playing across
water hazards where the ball requires to be flighted higher.
This would have disastrous results. Try moving the ball back
in your stance, take an extra club and hitting a little softer
than you might normally do. Also bear in mind that links courses
have longer stopping distances. You should be proficient in
the famous St Andrews chip and run. That is take a 7 iron
from any distance up to 50 yards and chase the ball into the
green.
George Finlayson, PGA Professional |
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Q: I have heard something
about a Scottish Inititative to have all children introduced to
golf by the age of 9. Can you explain?
Anne, West Lothain, Scotland |
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The initiative requires the recruitment of
volunteer coaches (amateur golfers) from all regions of Scotland.
PGA Professionals will train the volunteers so they may return to
their clubs and regions and introduce golf at Level 1 to Juniors.
More information is available from the Scottish region of the PGA
by calling +44 (0) 1764 661 840
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Q: Can you recommend any
exercises I can use that will help my swing?
Jordan, Wiltshire, UK |
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| Avoid exercises that put on bulk. What you should
concentrate on is strong fingers and wrists, improved forearm strength
and legs. Increased cluhead speed will improve your length, as long
as you can control it. Try and achieve a balance between strength,
flexibility and technique. Some exercise techniques you can do at
home to aid your grip strength include squeezing squash or tennis
balls and arm curls for your forearms. |
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Q: This might sound daft
but how do I go about joining a golf club?
Craig, Perth, UK |
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| A: Golf Clubs often have lengthy waiting lists,
for some of the well known Clubs you can expect to wait over ten years.
Phone the Secretary of the Club to find out exactly how long the waiting
list is. Some Clubs require an exisiting member to propose your membership
an another to second it. For more information try an internet search,
or look in the Yellow Pages for a Club near you and contact them for
membership details. |
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| Q: I'm new to golf and wondered, where should
I buy, and what should I pay for my first set of golf clubs?
Stephen, Edinburgh, UK |
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| A: I would advise you go to a PGA Pro shop and
get professional advice because every golfer has individual requirements
for the type of clubs they need. Variations include the lie of the
club, the stiffness of the shaft, grip size and length. For a full
set of clubs of good quality expecty to pay around £399. |
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Q: I was thinking of coming to Scotland and wondered
what the best courses are in St Andrews?
James, California,
USA |
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| A: It depends on the ability of the golfer. If
you have a handicap of 24 or under for men and 36 or under for ladies
then you can play the Old Course. No handicap required to play the
other championship courses in St Andrews. The New Course and the Jubilee
are excellent Links courses. |
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Q: We are new golfers with little experience and
hope to take a golf vacation in Scotland soon. What advice would you
give?
Eric, Detroit, USA |
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| A: I would suggest a golf school at the "Home
of Golf" St Andrews, which would combine a complete course of
instruction to suit the individuals ability combined with accompanied
and self play on the Strathtryum and the Balgove courses. |
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Q: Is it actually important to spend a lot of
money on top of the range golf balls?
Peter, London, UK |
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| A: Those new to golf probably wont notice the
difference but as you become more proficient in the game you will
begin to feel the difference in control. |
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Q: How many destinations is it possible to fit
into a golfing holiday?
Herve, Paris, France |
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| A: For a 7 day tour try two destinations. For
example a tour of East and West Scotland courses, playing courses
such as Turnberry and Troon in the West and Carnoustie and Kingsbarns
in the East. |
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Q: Help! I'm always slicing. It's driving me crazy!
What am I doing wrong?
Leslie, Aberdeen, UK |
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| A: The main cause of slicing is too tight a grip,
which prevents the natural rotation of the forearms and hands.This
stops the club from returning to a square position at impact, resulting
in an open clubface position which causes a slice. |
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