Golfing Eighteen Blog

Golf has become its own. With so many sporting goods out there, golf club sales have consistently been at par with that of other sports equipment. Golfing specialty stores have sprung up like mushrooms everywhere. They cater to golfing enthusiasts as well as the beginners.

Golf club sales have sky rocketed over the last ten years and companies have taken advantage of this sudden rise.

Golf Equipment Companies.

With Golf club sales skyrocketing, and reaching all parts of the world companies have resorted to all types of gimmicks and innovations to keep up with competitors as well as maintain high golf club sales. For the marketing people this is a task that is not easy, takes a whole lot of time, effort and imagination.

Here are the companies out there filling up your golfing bag:

Adams golf is well known for its tight lies line of drivers and irons.

Aserta sports are well known for their lineup of putters. They also recently purchased Photon Golf.

Ben Hogan Golf, known for its Hogan apex irons, and apex tour balls was founded by Ben Hogan.

Bettinardi Golf is well known for the ingenious design of putters by its founder. They are well known for high end high performance putters.

Bridgestone Golf, not only markets their line of clubs but also their own line of putters and balls.

Callaway Golf, one of the biggest and most well known brands launched the big bertha line and commanded the attention of the golfing world. They are the leader in terms of golf club sales. They also own the odyssey line of putters.

Curv golf made a beeline for modern innovation and came up with a line of curved putters.

Diamond touch golf, now here’s a girl’s best friend in golf, because they use diamonds for their golf club faces, resulting in an ultra hard face that produces less spin. Although the golf club sales in this one is not high numerically, the golf clubs prices alone will more than make up for it.

Dunlop sports, with all their sporting lines also took a dip in golf club sales, and came up with their own line of wedges, irons, shoes and balls. Their most popular product is the Tad Moore Line.

Honma Golf is known as one of the most expensive golf clubs in the world. Even though their product lines are a bit wallet burning their golf club sales are amazingly at par with that of top competitors. This Japanese company really takes to heart the saying quality for your money.

Last but not least is the Yonex brand with their popular V-mass woods and irons.

If you were to believe everything you read in a golf club review, you would think that by buying every club listed in the review you could shoot the best round of golf ever. Many times reviews talk about how using the club adds distance and accuracy to the shot and minor twisting of a stiff club will keep the ball sailing straight even if the ball strike to one side of the sweet spot of the club. By listening to what is included in the golf club review it would seem that a minimum of 10 strokes can be taken off your bests score.

Of course, if you couple that with information about some of the new golf balls on the market, it would also seem as thought you could score a 16 playing an 18-hole course. When reading golf club reviews it is important to consider the source of the information and how it will translate into the way you play the game. No two people have the same golf swing and no matter how good the club might be according to the manufacturer’s specifications, if the golfer continues to hit the bal on the heel of the club, the ball is not going to go straight.

Information contained in manufacturer’s golf club review material may be a good starting point in making a decision on which club to buy, but looking at insight from the average golfer under typical playing conditions offer an more honest opinion of the club.

Ignore Meaningless Information In Reviews

For the most part a golf club review will talk about the material used in the head and the shaft as well as how soft, or stiff the grips feel. All things being equal grips can be replaced easy enough without a lot of expense, so that as an unimportant aspect of the qualities of the club. the type of glue used to hold the head to the shaft may be important to someone repairing golf clubs but for the average user, it has no meaning.

In most instances a golf club review will provide a good starting point in determining which clubs to look at first. Picking one up is usually the best review a potential customer can find to check the club’s whip and holding firmly on the grip with one hand and twisting the club head with the other will show the golfer how much twist it has in the shaft.

Beginning in 1934, the Augusta national golf club has been the location of the prestigious Masters Tournament. The course is located in Augusta Georgia and is one of the most well known courses in the world and one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. The course is located on land that used to be a tree nursery.

Beautiful Golf Course

The Augusta national golf club is filled with beautiful trees, flowers, as well as shrubs and every hole on the beautiful course has the name of a tree or a shrub that is located on the hole. In the earlier days it stood out from the rest of the golf courses due to the small number of bunkers it contained when compared to other golf courses and the width of the fairways on the course were different from the other quality golf courses.

Changes to the Course

Over the years several architects have made design changes to the Augusta national golf club course such as placing more bunkers on the course, decreasing the contours of the greens and placing more trees on the course and creating more rough areas. The greens at the Augusta course had a long tradition of being made from Bermuda grass; however in 1981 they were changed to being made from bent grass which provides the green with a faster surface and this is the primary factor for the decrease in the contours that were placed in the greens at the course.

Fans of the Augusta national golf club are probably familiar with the big oak tree that is located on the course side of the Augusta clubhouse and is thought to be between 145 and 150 years of age. The Eisenhower tree is a loblolly pine which is situated on the 17th hole of the Augusta national golf club course.

Historians of the course claim that the tree was hit with a golf ball numerous times by President Eisenhower and so he recommend that they remove the tree form the course. The chairman of the golf course at the time did not want to have to dismiss the recommendation of President Eisenhower and so he decided the best thing to do was close down the meeting.

Ike’s Pond was named after Eisenhower who at the time was a general. He had taken a walk in the woods on the eastern portion of the Augusta national Golf Club grounds and informed the chairman of the club that he had located a great place to create a pond. The pond was built based on his recommendation. The Augusta national golf club course is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.

Fishing, hunting and cross country skiing are only a few of the activities available at Thunder Bay golf club, but during the season, the 18-hole golf course winds its way through some of the most beautiful wilderness in Ontario, Canada. The 6034-yard, par 72 course may sound like an easy way to start the season, but the average score for the 18 holes is a challenging 86. Carrying a slope rating of 126 and a difficulty of 90.3, it earns an overall rating of 69.1, offering a good challenge to golfers of all skill levels.

Water plays an important part of the course’s challenge, especially with water blocking the way to the green on the par 3, number 3. For this Thunder Bay golf club hole, it is always better to be long and dry as opposed to letting the ball fall short into the water. The sweeping right dog leg on the par 5, number 5 presents some interesting choices. Playing to the right can shorten the distance, but can also put the ball in the surrounding woods. An errant shot to the right of the green can end up wet and the two-tier green can add a couple of shots to the game if the golfer lands on the wrong tier.

Another par 5 at Thunder Bay golf club is number 10 is a hard dog leg to the left, with a bunker guarding the corner 220-yards out. A solid and straight approach shot will be needed to hit the green, which is surrounded on three sides by water.

Holes Offer Challenges Of Water And The Beach

More holes on the back 9 of Thunder Bay golf club offer more water hazards, but the par 5, hole 15 keeping the ball on the fairway will keep it out of the drink, with lakes on either side of the fairway. Just because the ball stayed dry down the fairway does not mean trouble is not lurking closer to the green. Three bunkers guard the front and both sides, requiring an excellent shot to stay out of the beach.

A short par 3 finishes the Thunder Bay golf club course and the water lies about half way between the tee and the green. It is important to heed any wind on this hole and make the proper club selection as short is a lot better than long. Sailing over the green and into the woods will probably add at least two, possibly more shots to the score.

Golf is a very hands on type of game and if you are a golfer there are many resources available to you to help you choose the equipment, accessories, and even the golf course that is right for you.  There are many excellent golf magazines out there and an army of touring professionals and top instructors that offer golf club reviews.  As an amateur you want to use golf club reviews done by professionals to find out the things about your prospective new set of clubs that you may not be able to see on your own.

This is where the accessibility of the touring professionals and instructors becomes a great asset to every golfer and this hands on approach taken by those that really know the game could be one of the main reasons why golf has grown into one of the most popular games in the world today.  It is in your best interest to follow the exploits of your favorite touring pro and then use their golf club reviews to find the clubs that may help you get the same results they get, or at least improve your game a little.

One of the things that many people seem to dislike about golf club reviews is that there are sponsorships involved and that can cause a bias towards certain clubs.  But if you can read past the bias you can find valuable information in many of the admittedly skewed golf club reviews out there that, once again, you would not be able to notice on your own. It is still the reputation of the touring pro on the line so if they recommend shoddy equipment then their future as a product pitch person may be limited.  But if you are still uncomfortable taking the advice of a sponsored pro then you can always turn to the teachers.

Those That Know, Teach

While most golf instructors are certified PGA professionals they are usually not sponsored and it is for this reason that their opinion is coveted by many golf club manufacturers.  A little research will point you towards the instructors that everyone listens to and you can use their golf club reviews to find out which clubs you may want to buy and what to look for when you are purchasing your new equipment.

Without an allegiance to a sponsor the highly trained instructor’s opinion becomes very valuable to the amateur player. Always read a lot of golf club reviews before deciding on which equipment to try out.  Try and gauge the negative aspects of some golf club reviews versus the positive aspects of others.  It is all valuable information that you can use to your advantage when looking for new equipment.

Golf club ratings measure all sorts of things about the equipment that, one hopes, gets the ball from the tee to the green to the hole. You need to understand the ratings before you go shopping for golf clubs to see if one club or another is the right club for you.

Nike Golf Clubs

After 25 years of being a footwear and apparel company, Nike appeared on the golf equipment scene in the late 1990s and has proven itself as an industry leader in a relatively short period of time. Nike has a large number of positive golf club ratings for its drivers.

Rated for accuracy and reliability, the op rated Nike golf drivers are the Nike 350cc forged driver 10.5 degree, and the Nike 450 cc driver. Nike’s CPR woods are also highly rated, getting a 4.5 out of 5 possible points at a popular golf club rating site.

Nike’s highest rated golf club driver, however, is the SasQuatch Sumo 460, receiving a 4.59 rating out of 5 points. The SasQuatch won Golf Digest’s Editor’s Choice award for drivers in 2006.

One SasQuatch reviewer wrote, “I can’t count how many times my regular playing partners ‘demanded’ to hit this driver.” Another wrote, “Quick 7 month upgrade. Still in love with this club.” The user wrote that he was able to concentrate on his short game now that the Nike SasQuatch driver had gotten his long game under control.

Finally, a third reviewer wrote that he got “huge distance, literally unbelievable forgiveness, yet workable when you want it to be.” The rater urged everyone who reads golf club ratings to “buy this, not some ‘draw’ or ‘fade’ driver of a weight adjustable club.”

Titleist Golf Clubs

Titleist is more of a long-term player in the golf equipment industry. Golf club ratings for Titelist clubs reveal that the highest rated Titleist driver is the Titleist 905T driver. However, the Titleist golf club ratings were inferior compared to the Nike club ratings.

Readers Beware

When reading golf club ratings on the Internet, beware of ratings that sound too good to be true and find nothing at all to criticize about the club. Some manufacturers or marketing companies hire freelance writes to write positive product reviews of products they have never even tried before.

When reading an online review, click the user’s name and see what other product he or she has reviewed. People tend to get a reputation on the Internet, and by reading a few reviews this person has written, you will better be able to assess how much value to give their golf club ratings.

Sure, anyone can walk into a sporting goods store and buy a set of golf clubs, but golfers who want the clubs that work according to their physical build and swing capabilities will seek out golf club makers to put together a set of clubs custom made for them. When business is bad, in the winter for instance, many golf club makers will pass their time repairing clubs for customers or putting new grips on shafts they may have previously made. In the spring, just before the season begins, it may be tough to find one with the time available to make a new club.

Many times golf club makers got their start by making their own golf clubs or making alterations to the ones they had. Shortening clubs is not a big issue for most of them, but lengthening clubs is like starting from scratch and making them to fit the individual for whom they are being made.

Most pro shops can perform a fitting for custom clubs as can most golf club makers, but the quality of the fitting can cause it to take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours. Simply measuring for club length is the quickest and easiest, but the average time for a decent fitting takes around 30 minutes.

Finding Quality Workmanship Important Part Of Game

When looking for golf club makers for a custom set of clubs, it is always best to start with people who have their own clubs. Finding out who made them and if there were any troubles with the clubs is a good first step. No golfer wants to take the chance of striking the ball and having a detached club head travel further than the ball.

A set of clubs made by reputable golf club makers will take into account the combination of the shaft’s length and flex as well as the kick point. They will want to see you swing the different clubs to determine the lie of the club, that is to make the club parallel to the ground on impact as well as the grip strength of the golfer.

Buying mass produced clubs off the shelf, which are made for the typical golfer may be good for those matching the typical golfer’s size and stature, but golf club makers do not match ready-made clubs to golfers, rather they match the golfer to a new set of custom made clubs.

There are a lot of reasons why golfers use golf club head covers and they range from protection to identification.  It has even gotten to the point where golf club head covers are being sold not only for woods but also for irons and that is because of the value of protecting your investment and also being able to tell your clubs from a crowd.  For protection the golf club head covers offer protection from the elements and golfers are known to play in all kinds of weather.

But when the rain, or snow, stops that does not mean that your clubs are out of trouble just yet.  What about the water that is still on the ground?  Most golf clubs are obviously designed to handle the elements but water on your golf club, and mud, can change the way the ball leaves the club and using golf club head covers to protect those clubs from the elements can help to insure that the ball leaves the club head just the way you want it to each and every time.

Many people still use wooden headed clubs for their woods instead of metal and if you leave your wooden headed clubs in your bag to bang around they will start to mark each other up pretty good.  Good quality golf club head covers will help to prevent any damage that can happen from your clubs banging around in your bag and they can also help prevent any scratches or gouges from happening to the face of any of your clubs.  Some people take this for granted until something causes a huge gouge in their club face that could have been prevented by just using golf club head covers.

What’s Mine is Mine

Many people also use golf club head covers as a way to identify their clubs in a crowd.  On a Saturday morning that first tee can be pretty busy and chances are pretty good that you are not the only person that liked that set of Big Bertha woods enough to buy them.  A unique style to your golf club head covers can help to insure that you know which clubs are yours and that someone else does not walk off with your set of woods or irons.

People use golf club head covers for a lot of different reasons but the fact is that if you do not protect your clubs then you are looking at inviting damage that can change the way you play the game.  In golf you need all the help you can get so do yourself a favor and get some good golf club head covers.

Whether it is a used set of golf clubs that you just picked up at a garage sale or a set that you purchased brand new and have been playing for years, re-gripping your golf clubs is a terrific idea. After all, your grip is the only direct contact that you physically have with your golf clubs. Just a very minor twisting of the grip will be magnified many times over in the inaccuracy of the shot result.

If you play many times a week you should re-grip your golf clubs more frequently than if you play twice a month. The re-gripping of your golf clubs must be done correctly or the problem could actually get worse.

Core Size     

Proper re-gripping of your golf clubs requires you to know the core size of the grip that you require and the size of the grip that best fits your hand. Grips come in standard core sizes of; .520″, .560″, .580″, .600″, and .620″. To determine the core size, simply measure the diameter of the butt of the shaft that you are going to re-grip.

It is critical that the diameter of the shaft match the core diameter of the grip. The next step in the re-gripping process is to determine what size grip best fits your hands. Grips come in a variety of sizes; small, medium, large, and jumbo.

Grip Sizing Your Golf Clubs

To accurately determine what grip size fits your hands, measure from your wrist (base of hand) to the end of your longest finger. If the result is less than 6.5 inches you should use a small grip. Use a .560″ if the distance is 6.5 to 7.0 inches, .560″ if 7.0 to 7.5 inches, and .580″ if 7.5 to 8.0 inches. For anything over 8.0 inches, select a jumbo grip.

Materials Required to Re-Grip Your Golf Clubs 

You will need grip solvent, two sided, two inch wide grip tape, a container to catch the unused solvent in, a vise and a special rubber shaft holder. Many of the golf club re-gripping experts use Coleman camp fuel because they claim no residue is left over and it does a great job. These same experts caution against using WD40 because it leaves an oily residue and as a result the grips could come loose.

Re-Gripping Steps  

Put the shaft holder over your club shaft and tighten the vise. Cut a piece of tape 8.0 inches long. Place it along the butt of the shaft leaving a half-inch over the end of the shaft. Wrap the tape around the shaft and push it slightly into the shaft to seal the end of the club. Squeeze solvent along the tape, fill the grip about three quarters full of solvent, put your finger over the hole in the end of the grip and then squeeze the grip opening closed.

Now shake the grip so that solvent covers the entire inside and pour the solvent along the tape. Push the grip up and over the shaft butt then hold the grip by the front and back and push applying equal pressure with both hands. Clean up any excess solvent from the grip and let it set for an hour. Good Luck re-gripping your golf clubs!

Hailed as the best and number one Texas golf destination, and #17 worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler, the Hills Country Golf Club is where you go to experience truly unforgettable golf.
Part of the Hyatt Regency Chain and located in San Antonio Texas, the Hills country golf club is set on a 200 acre piece of land. The championship golf course has wide-ranging terrain, wooded ravines, rolling meadows, steep hillsides, and tree-shaded plateaus, as well as the serene threat of lakes and ponds really proves to be both a challenge and a delight for avid golfers.

This Texas golf destination was designed by Arthur Hills and Associates. It has a remarkable, stable and beautifully designed 27 hole facility. The Hills Country Golf Club really exceeds all your expectations. As it is not only a beacon for golfers to play but also a place to wine, dine, unwind, and relax.

Amenities, Facilities, And Services

The Hills Country Golf Club, greet their guests with facilities, amenities and services that are contemporarily Texan.

It has a complete clubhouse facility with men’s and women’s locker room, private dining rooms and a full service restaurant. The golf course has a practice facility for beginners that include a putting green complete with an instruction area. The shop has an extensive collection of golf gear, golf wear and golf accessories; for added convenience the staffs are fully trained and absolutely helpful in addressing your needs.

You can’t get lost while going around the 27 hole championship golf course; because our golf carts are equipped with GPS navigation system. This high tech golf carts illustrates the golf course in full color, which accurately pin points the location of each hole.

To further illustrate how truly important their guests are the Hills Country Golf club also equipped their golf carts with a sort of electronic caddy. This electronic caddy can give you playing tips, and keep tabs on you’re your scorecard as you play.

The Hills Country golf club is the first golf club in San Antonio Texas to that has the global positioning satellite system in our golf carts. Aside from that each golf cart also has a scorecard, a pencil, yardage books, ball mark repair tools, ball markers, tees, a club and ball washer; plus for added comfort a beverage cooler and towels are also included.

There are also assortments of programs available for all the guests regardless of their handicap or playing skills. Starting at $75.00 an hour, you can get playing instructions for yourself, your wife and even your kids; and for a fun and wholesome family outing you can also try the family instruction package.

The most memorable vacation awaits you at Hyatt Regency’s Hills Country Golf Club. It’s a vacation package in one with its 27 hole award wining golf course, spa facilities and amusement park rides.