Pro Shop
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Our resident PGA Golf Professional John McDonald and his staff run a well stocked shop carrying most major brands. Golf club sets, pull trolleys and electric golf carts are available for hire. John provides a full coaching service to members and visitors during daylight hours and also provides a club repair service including re-gripping and re-shafting. Members and green-fee visitors can avail of the clubs own practice ground and short game practice facilities in order to sharpen their game or simply to limber up, before setting out on the many challenges that the course has to offer. For all your golfing needs phone our Pro Shop on 0404-68168. Check out below each month a tip on your game from John....... The Pro Tip August
This month I want to focus your attention on the importance of having a good set-up before you make your golf swing. Contrary to what golfers think in my experience as a coach most bad golf shots stem from having a poor set-up at address. Next time you watch Rory McIlroy and co on TV take note of how they all have a set routine that they follow on each and every shot and the care and attention they take in their set-up.
The set-up consists of
This is the reason why even Tiger Woods still needs a coach to check that all his fundamentals are still correct so that he maintains his standard of play.
The Pro Tip July
One interesting note I have observed from my experience over these years of coaching all types of golfers from both beginners to scratch players is the lack of knowledge and control of distances they hit their irons, particularly the short irons like the pitching wedges and lob wedges. The golf game is generally won and lost from 100 yards in, and is the main difference between the good players and the very best professionals . It is imperative for all players to know exactly how far they hit their pitching clubs and a great way to find this out is by hitting 15 to 20 full shots with your wedge on the practise ground and stepping out the distance that the average shot went. Then do the same with your lob wedge. This exercise will give you the average distance you hit these clubs on full shots. Then practise shortening the pendulum of your swing with these clubs so that you can get a feel for the shorter distance shots you need to hit. By practising this exercise a lot you will then have confidence on the golf course in selecting the right club for the shot in hand and sending the ball the required distance. This in turn will improve your scores dramatically.
The Pro Tip May
Rarely in Unfortunately most players assume that you have to hit the ball much harder in the wind and the result is that these players end up forcing their shots and loosing their balance and in the end hitting lots of bad offline shots and higher scores as a consequence.
My Tip
Then make your normal back swing but reduce your follow through swing to a quarter of normal and swing the club within your self so that you are going to keep your balance throughout the shot.
This will produce low trajectory flight shots from your club and will keep the ball on target. These types of shots require plenty of practise to perfect but are an essential part of any good player’s game.
So next time you encounter those strong winds on the course put into practise the little tips and see if you can improve your scores! You're Professional John Mc Donald
The Pro Tip April
This month I would like to draw attention to the importance of the art of pitching and chipping around the greens and how it can save so many shots in your round of golf. When playing short chip shots or pitch and run shots always adapt your set-up differently than when playing full shots. By standing with your feet much closer together and a slightly open stance (more to the left of your target) and by gripping the club near the bottom of the grip this will create more touch and control of distance. Position the ball between the middle of your stance with your weight more on your front foot and have your hands slightly forward of the ball at address. Try to keep your backswing and forward swing equal lengths which will give you consistent momentum and distance too. Make sure to keep the back of your left hand firm (the opposite hand for left-handers) as you strike down into the bottom of the ball to avoid scooping or flicking. Where the pin is on the green should decide what type of club you will play the shot with. A good rule of thumb is to allow one third carry and two thirds roll on pitch and run shots and three quarters carry and one quarter roll on chip shots. With plenty of practice on these particular shots your scores can be reduced considerably. Your professional John Mc Donald
The Pro Tip March One of the greatest fears of most amateur golfers is the dreaded green side bunker shot. Over my years coaching this shot is one of the more frequently requested short game shots that I am asked instruction on.
Firstly to play the bunker shot well you will need a good sand wedge that has at least a 60 degree loft. Then having a good method is crucial to getting consistent results.
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Blainroe Golf Club, Co. Wicklow Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)404 68168|Email: info@blainroe.com
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