Tee Off (Without The Rulebook)

Cardillo has

Hackers: How to Reduce Pain

From the Game of Golf

After retiring and moving to The Villages in 2001, Cardillo made a commitment to take advantage of all the golfing opportunities in his new community. His wife took lessons so they could play together, and their love for the game blossomed from there. During the learning process, Cardillo realized all the resources available were catered to professional golfers rather than a recreational one like himself.

Katie McPherson

Top 5 Golf Tips From Rich Cardillo

Read on for a preview of the golf tips Rich shares in his hilarious manual for recreational hackers.

“Probably 80 to 90 percent of the golfers in Florida are recreational, other than league players. There are really no guidelines out there for recreational golfers—all the books, publications and teaching professionals teach ‘this is how you’re supposed to swing and these are the clubs to use.’ They don’t focus on the unconventional, other-than-pure golf techniques, so I think I’m filling a gap by having a publication for the rest of us,” he explains.

Cardillo says his book is for anyone without a natural talent for golf but who enjoys a game with friends nonetheless and wants to improve. It’s best for golfers with a funny bone.

“Over the years, I learned some tips I thought would be helpful to other golfers and also experimented with a lot of different clubs. I thought ‘why don’t I translate that into a book that would be helpful to recreational golfers?’ League players may not get anything they can use from it, but I think they’ll enjoy the humor and the golf jokes,” he says.

As for the process of publishing his book, Cardillo has selfpublished before but opted for a different route this time to get his book into as many readers’ hands as possible.

“This time, I wanted to go through a publisher that would have distribution channels, more ways to promote the book and more expertise in editing the book. They liked the fact that I addressed golf for geezers and all of the chapters and headings, so when I got that kind of feedback, I was very excited. I felt very comfortable with using a publisher and everything they did to edit and hone my writing skills, and the cover development and distribution through all their channels.”

If you or someone in your family could use their own copy of Golf for Hackers: How to Reduce Pain and Suffering From the Game of Golf by Rich Cardillo, it is available on Amazon.com, BooksAMillion.com and BarnesandNoble.com

Keep your head down for every golf shot.

Always hit to a safe place away from obstacles, such as water hazards and trees.

Always hit from the tee box that matches your ability.

Do whatever is needed to avoid hitting into a bunker.

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Practice all of your golf shots every chance you get. No one gets better at anything without practice.

Trends

Clean Sweep

Each month we create a new challenge for our readers to try to improve their health and wellness.

This month, get out your honey-do list—we’ve got home maintenance on the brain.

The Issue

Loose doorknobs, smelly refrigerators and that smoke detector that won’t stop beeping in the hallway—there’s always something to do around the house. The time in which to complete these monotonous tasks, however, is lacking.

The Challenge

Here’s to those household chores that you’ve been “meaning to do.” Although routine activities involving cleaning may not be at the top of your to-do list, they are inevitable. This month, putting off chores is not an option. So take a room-by-room inventory of all the tasks that can’t wait another day, and each day this month, cross something off the list. Your house will be like new in no time.

November’s To-Do List

Here are a few tasks you won’t want to skip.

Kitchen sink disposals often harbor bacteria. Sprinkle half a cup of baking soda down the drain, adding one cup of white vinegar. Allow this mixture to set in while you bring a pot of water to a boil. Next, pour the hot water down the drain. Last, fill the sink with about two cups of ice and half a lemon. With the water running and the disposal going, this mixture will help loosen debris, clean and deodorize.

Check gutters and downspouts, and clean them if necessary. Pine needles and leaves can clog these spaces, attracting unwanted pests around your home.

Test your smoke detectors to make sure they function correctly. Holding down the test button on most detectors will do the trick. This ensures the batteries are working and not expired.

Examine fire extinguishers for obvious damage, leakage or lightness. You can also measure the pressure gauge to make sure it is within operable range. And if you don’t have a fire extinguisher, add it to your shopping list right now.

Check the attic for insulation, leaks, hiding squirrels, etc. and the basement, if you have one, for cracks, leaks, dampness or mold. This is very beneficial to your health, bringing potential mold infestations to a halt.

Vacuum and clean the coils on the back of the refrigerator and stove. These crevices are often overlooked, but keeping them clean can make appliances run more e ciently, saving you money in the long run.

Inspect kitchen and bath fixtures and cabinets for leaks, and prevent water damage by recaulking or regrouting countertops and tiles in the kitchen and bathroom as necessary.

Make an appointment to have your septic tank pumped. This is one stinky task you don’t want to put o .

Clear dead plants and shrubs away from the house. This prevents spiders and insects from finding their way inside.

Sort out your garage. You may even have enough odds and ends gathered toward the end for a garage sale. Sort items into keep, sell and toss piles. This is an organized way to get things done fast.