The Back Nine by Back Nine Publishing

COMPLIMENTARY

of Pittsburgh

u i c k ly Q s d r a Y d Ad dule e h c s R U O T 2014 PGA S E R V IC E S B U S IN E S S E S & L A C LO Recommended

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table of content s 04

the essentials of golf the collegiate golf tour

2013 PGA tour schedule

10 12

add yards quickly

2013 LPGA Tour schedule

16 18

being the best golf player you can be tips for teeing off how good are you in the sand?

when you’re losing distance

women’s golf equality

36 38 39 42

welcome to beautiful body laser medi-spa improving your golf balance the quickest & easiest way to draw the ball how to drive a golf ball fairway bunker club selection shoulders in the golf swing be a golf mentor SUDOKU PUZZLES EMERGENCY HOTLINES

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The Essentials O f G o l f At the core of golf there is competition. Yet the most essential part of golf is patience. Patient competition seems like a contradiction. Yet golf is not contradictory at all. On the one hand it has been said one person can find golf relaxing, while another individual might think it the most stressful sport in the universe. Professional golfers tend to be graceful. It is as if they are very aware of how the muscles in their body propel them forward. Languid strides and flexibility are words that come to mind when imagining the professional golfer at work. Some people link golf to sports like bowling or billiards. Not particularly something you want to watch unless you understand the game fully and know the participants well enough to be cheering one or more toward the grand first prize. Serious golf fans are loyal and just as radical (in a subdued manner) as any professional football fan can be. As a spectator sport golf ranks high on the television ratings. It is highly unlikely anyone has seen the World Cup void of fans on any given year. The collective silences and cheers of golf fans exude a respect for the game. That respect is the attention grabber. As with any sport, the interest of the young people is a natural part of survival. Without future golf players there is no future to golf. Since golf has been around for arguably five centuries it is not a concern that the sport will ever die away completely or vanish like a lost civilization. Fresh new blood keeps the arterial channels flowing more freely though. The diversity of golf is found most obviously in the participants of golf. Any physically fit person can choose golf as a sport. It is known to be beneficial exercise. When golf becomes a set part of your scheduled regimen it is very likely extra pounds will come off. Anyone can play golf. It is not the game of the rich and famous, on the contrary there are many affordable public golf courses emerging. Whether you are male, female, young or mature golf is a game of competitive spirit. We mustnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget it is a patient competitive spirit. Not only are you competing against other golfers you are also being constantly challenged by difficult golfing courses. A public or private golf course has its fair share of challenging factors on the fairways, in the sand traps and across the rolling hills. The most appealing challenge for most golfers is the challenge of improving your game. You might have seen the cartoons where the golfer has a club wrapped around a tree limb in frustration or yet another where it appears Zen golf might be a new fad. Either account can be considered a fair account when you are talking about a sport with diversity, versatility and class. If you have never golfed in your life, think about it the next time you have some free time. You might be surprised how much fun golf can be. THE back nine of

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the collegiate g o l f to u r What golf club isn’t looking for new members? NCAA and Title 9 rules have KILLED collegiate Golf. Without any university golf teams in Western Pennsylvania, and with over 100-some golf courses in the Pittsburgh area. Something is wrong with this picture! These future golf members are almost in front of our noses. Are we blinded by Title 9 rules? Alums could be recruiting for their favorite college/university while promoting the game and their own personal golf club. If the clubs are to survive, members should be thinking outside of the mental sand trap and get busy with recruiting for today and the future. Each club could have their own golf club team, and it could be sponsored by various golf clubs for practice playing other area colleges. No need to travel outside of the Pittsburgh area, since there are plenty of schools and clubs to participate. Basically all “home” matches. Then in the Spring, they could have more “home games” but do them as collegiate invitationals. Have schools outside of W PA travel here to play, and who knows? Perhaps some of those visiting golfing students will transfer here for school and golf and memberships? I’m sure this situation has happened: A medical student chooses NC State instead of Pitt because of the lack of a school golf team. C’mon Alums... Let’s stir the pot, let’s get creative. I’ll help organize it if necessary. I have connections and a brain. How about your contacts and your ideas? We are literally missing out on alot of GREEN! The start of something BIG. The Collegiate Golf Tour, or The College Golf Invitational. This recruiting tool for your favorite college and golf club can work to everyone’s benefit. I foresee alumni from various clubs literally fighting over college recruits... “Come play a round with me, while I show you around our golf club, tell you about my favorite university and why you should be attending college here next September and playing for Golf Team Pitt!”

Comments welcomed at TJBontempo@hotmail.com Or call 412-417-3320 to discuss. THE back nine of

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2014 PGA TOUR SCHEDULE

Feb 13 - 16 Northern Trust Open Riviera CC. Pacific Palisades, CA. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Feb 19 - 23 World Golf Championships Dove Mountain GC. Marana, AZ. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Feb 27 - Mar 2 The Honda Classic PGA National. Palm Beach Gardens, FL. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Mar 6 - 9 Puerto Rico Open Trump Intrntl GC. Puerto Rico, Rio Grande, PUR. GOLF Mar 6 - 9 World Golf Championships Trump National Doral. Miami, FL. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Mar 13 - 16 Valspar Championship Innisbrook Resort. Copperhead, Palm Harbor, FL. GOLF/NBC Mar 20 - 23 Arnold Palmer Invitational Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Orlando, FL. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Mar 27 - 30 Valero Texas Open JW Marriott, TPC. San Antonio, TX. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Apr 3 - 6 Shell Houston Open Redstone GC. Humble, TX. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Apr 10 - 13 Masters Tournament Augusta National GC. Augusta, GA. CBS/ESPN Apr 17 - 20 RBC Heritage Harbour Town Golf Links. Hilton Head, SC. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Apr 24 - 27 Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana. Avondale, LA. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM May 1 - 4 Wells Fargo Championship Quail Hollow Club. Charlotte, NC. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM May 8 - 11 THE PLAYERS Championship TPC Sawgrass. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM May 15 - 18 HP Byron Nelson Championship TPC Four Seasons Resort. Irving, TX. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM May 22 - 25 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Colonial CC. Ft. Worth, TX. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM May 29 - Jun 1 Memorial Tournament Muirfield Village GC. Dublin, OH. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jun 5 - 8 FedEx St. Jude Classic TPC Southwind. Memphis, TN. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jun 12 - 15 U.S. Open Pinehurst No. 2. Pinehurst, NC. ESPN/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Jun 19 - 22 Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands. Cromwell, CT. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jun 23 - 24 CVS Caremark Charity Classic Rhode Island CC. Barrington, RI Jun 26 - 29 AT&T National Congressional CC. Bethesda, MD. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jul 3 - 6 The Greenbrier Classic The Old White TPC. White Sulphur Springs, WV. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jul 10 - 13 John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Silvis, IL. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jul 17 - 20 The Open Championship Royal Liverpool GC. Hoylake, ENG. ESPN/SIRIUS-XM Jul 24 - 27 RBC Canadian Open Royal Montreal GC. Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Jul 31 - Aug 3 Reno-Tahoe Open Montreux G&CC. Reno, NV. GOLF Jul 31 - Aug 3 World Golf Championships Firestone CC. Akron, OH. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Aug 7 - 10 PGA Championship Valhalla GC. Louisville, KY. CBS/SIRIUS-XM/TNT Aug 14 - 17 Wyndham Championship Sedgefield CC. Greensboro, NC. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Aug 21 - 24 The Barclays Ridgewood CC. Paramus, NJ. CBS/GOLF/SIRIUS-XM Aug 29 - Sep 1 Deutsche Bank Championship TPC Boston, Norton, MA. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Sep 4 - 7 BMW Championship Cherry Hills CC. Englewood, CO. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM Sep 11 - 14 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola East Lake GC. Atlanta, GA. GOLF/NBC/SIRIUS-XM

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A d d Ya r d s Q u i c k ly A golf driving tip that can make the difference between being the shortest hitter in your foursome to the longest consistently would interest you, right? Well, the tip I’m going to discuss is not what you’d think, but you need to take notice and apply it if you want to own your foursome off the tee! When you think of a golf driving tip I’ll bet you think of swing mechanics. Am I correct? If so, has it worked? I mean… have you added 10,20 or even 30 yards to your swing taking this approach? If most of you are being honest you’ll say no. For those of you who have accomplished the above with that approach, congratulations. You are a small percentage of the golfing community that is successful. So if a golf driving tip pertaining to swing mechanics isn’t it, what else is left? Well, you’re looking at it if you look in a mirror. It is your physical make-up. What your body is capable of doing at this moment. All the swing thoughts and golfing tips in the world won’t help if your body can’t physically perform them. And no matter how hard you try, you won’t be successful. You see, your body needs to move with a certain level of flexibility (fluidity), strength (power) and sequence (body awareness). Most of these qualities dissipate with age. Do you feel as flexible, strong or have as much body awareness as you did years ago? If your answer is no, then you need to take the “physical approach” to hitting your drives longer (and straighter). The more you work on your current physical abilities the easier you will be able to make a sound and repeatable golf swing. You’ll look back and wish you would have taken this approach years ago, but it’s NEVER too late! You can improve your physical capabilities well into your 80s if you are willing to put a little bit of effort into it. The areas you need to focus on are rotational strength and flexibility, posture and spinal strength and hamstring/low back muscular endurance (flexibility). Focus on these and you will see dramatic improvements in your driving distance and accuracy. This is my golf driving tip that will change your game forever! THE back nine of

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2014 LPGA

TOUR SCHEDULE

Feb 13-16 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open Victoria, Australia Feb 20-23 Honda LPGA Thailand Chonburi, Thailand Feb 27-Mar 2 HSBC Women’s Champions Singapore Mar 20-23 LPGA Founders Cup Phoenix, AZ Mar 27-30 Kia Classic Carlsbad, CA Apr 3-6 Kraft Nabisco Championship Rancho Mirage, CA Apr 16-19 LPGA Lotte Championship Oahu, HI Apr 24-27 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic San Francisco, CA May 1-4 North Texas LPGA Shootout Irving, TX May 15-18 Kingsmill Championship Williamsburg, VA May 22-25 Mobile Bay LPGA Classic Mobile, AL May 30-Jun 1 ShopRite LPGA Classic Galloway, NJ Jun 5-8 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic Waterloo, Ontario Jun 19-22 U.S. Women’s Open Pinehurst, NC Jun 27-29 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Rogers, AR Jul 10-13 Ricoh Women’s British Open Southport, England Jul 17-20 Marathon Classic Sylvania, OH Jul 24-27 International Crown Owings Mills, MD Aug 7-10 Meijer LPGA Classic Belmont, MI Aug 14-17 Wegmans LPGA Championship Pittsford, NY Aug 21-24 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open London, Ontario Aug 28-31 Portland Classic Portland, OR Sep 11-14 Evian Championship Evian-les-Bains, France Sep 18-21 Alabama LPGA Classic Prattville, AL Oct 2-5 Reignwood LPGA Classic Beijing, China Oct 9-12 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Oct 17-19 KEB HanaBank Championship Incheon, Korea Oct 23-26 Taiwan Championship Taipei, Taiwan Oct 30-Nov 2 New Asia Event TBA Nov 7-9 Mizuno Classic Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan Nov 13-16 Lorena Ochoa Invitational Guadalajara, Mexico Nov 20-23 CME Group Titleholders Naples, FL

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Being The Best Golf Player You Can Be Just like any other game, to be considered a good golf player goes beyond having an average score of below 80. While skill at playing the actual game is commendable, a holistic view is needed to achieve a well-rounded game. To play good golf, you have to get down past the three areas of fitness, practice and etiquette. Fitness Keeping one’s body and mind in shape is a key element to becoming a good, if not great, golfer. Looking after your body and making sure it’s in shape not only gets you to perform better on the course, it also ensures you that you can enjoy golf even well into your years. Achieve bodily fitness by eating right and exercising regularly. Maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone that suits the game of golf. Some indicators of physical fitness are your blood pressure and your BMI (body mass index). Consult with your doctor on what levels are right for your age and body type. Mental fitness is also just as important. Find ways to relieve yourself of stress. Develop a regular meditation time alone or with family/friends. Keep your mind sharp by exercising it with reading or with puzzles like crosswords. Practice Develop a regular and consistent practice routine. Many find themselves wanting to play more and practice less when it is the opposite that gets better results as far as scores go. By practicing more, you develop techniques and muscle memory that will carry well into your game. A good play to practice ratio is 1:2, that is, for every hour of golf you play, you will do 2 hours of practice. This may not be done all in the same day. It is advised to alternate practice and play days so as not to work out too much. Continue your education on the game. Just because you know how to play doesn’t mean you already know everything there is. Remember that there is always something new you can learn so either enroll in a class or take up a lesson or two with a more advanced player. Do this at least on an annual basis. Constantly wanting to level up your golf skills shows your dedication to become a better player than your were the year before. Etiquette Being a great player on the course and on the practice field is nothing if you are not a good person to play with. While golf may be a solitary sport, it does not mean that rudeness is condoned. As a gentleman’s game, rules pertaining to respecting others are of utmost importance. THE back nine of

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Tips For Teeing Off Here’s a driving tip that just about anyone could use and put into practice immediately. It has nothing to do with your swing mechanics, your club selection or even your mood. It has to do with geography and your own style of play (i.e., do you normally fade or draw). It’s rare to come across a course that is all flat or all straight. Courses are laid out with turns and hills and hazards, which makes the game what it is. A key to solid play is to use that geography to your advantage while teeing off. This tip begins even before you step up on the tee. As you’re walking toward that tee, look ahead and get a sense of the layout of the hole. Is it straight, is it a dogleg? Once you determine how the hole is laid out, look for that far away spot that you realisitically feel your tee shot can travel. In other words, where do you want the ball to land? When it’s your turn to tee up, keep in mind that you do not have to place your tee in the center of the tee markers. You are allowed to use whatever room there is and it’s important that you do this. If you watch the pros, you’ll see they take the time to survey the hole and the teeing area. They will “see” where they want their ball to land on the fairway, and then they will tee up in an area that will help them reach that target using their natural swing and ball path. Say, for example, that your natural golf shot is a fade. On most holes you should tee the ball up on the right side of the tee box, fairly close to the right side tee marker. If you then aim at the the left side of the fairway your fade will bring the ball to the middle of the fairway. If for some reason you hit the ball straight, you will finish on the left hand edge of the fairway. If, however, your fade turns into a slice you should still end up on the right edge of the fairway. Either way, you should still have a shot to the green. Having that shot to the green, no matter how your ball flies, is crucial to lowering your score, hole by hole. In fact, this one little tip when used properly can shave as many as 8 or 9 strokes off the average player’s score (on 18 holes). As with everything in golf, this takes a little getting used to, but it’s certainly worth the effort. It will also give you an enormous boost to your confidence when you play a new course for the first time as this tip works everywhere. THE back nine of Pittsburgh* 16

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How Good Are You In The Sand? Think about it, if you could convert 5 out of 10 attempts from a normal lie in the trap, how many strokes could YOU save per round? If you’re like most people, you could save yourself at least 3-4 strokes per 18 holes. I consider myself a decent player and having said that, I played recently at Pilot Knob Park in the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains. I found myself in green side bunkers 4 times during my round. Let’s just say my iron play was a bit less than stellar. I got the ball up and in 4 times out of 4 and I’m going to explain to you right now exactly how I did it and how you can do it as well. It is my belief that every golfer, regardless of skill level, physical condition, gender or age, is capable of playing good bunker shots and converting the up and in at least 50% of the time. The following tips will set you on a solid foundation that you can practice and achieve these results. ///1. Practice your putting. I know this is a sand play article but if you practice holing putts 10 feet and shorter for 30 minutes a week, sand saves as well as all other shots become a little less daunting. If you feel good about holing a 10 footer, it takes a lot of heat off the rest of your game so just humor me and work on your putting for 30 minutes weekly. My saving putts at Pilot Knob Park were 3 feet to 8 feet and I made all four. ///2. Use a neutral grip. You don’t want to use a strong grip for bunker shots because it’s absolutely THE back nine of Pittsburgh* 18

essential that the club face slides under the ball and into your finish without the club face closing. A neutral grip is one that has the back of the left hand facing parallel to the target line and the right palm facing the same direction. Slap your hands together in front of you and you’ll instantly see what I mean. ///3. Aim the club face down the target line which should be just left of the hole. You’ve heard all the hype about opening the club face and such and that’s fine if you hit a lot of bunker shots but most folks don’t, so aim the club face down the target line which should be just left of the hole. The target should be just left of the hole because the method I use will impart some left to right spin which will move the ball from left to right once it gets on the ground. ///4. Aim your feet on a 20-30 degree angle to the left of the target line.The greater the angle you create between your feet and the target line, the higher and softer the ball will come out of the trap. Practice these shots a bit with varying angles and you’ll see what I mean. Find the angle where you’re most comfortable and which produces the best results and stick with it whatever it might be. ///5. Anchor your feet in the sand to enhance your balance and stability. ///6. Swing the club out to and across the target line parallel to the line that your feet are on and keep the face of the club square to the target line. The club should enter the sand 1 - 2 inches behind the golf ball and “slice under it’ into a nice full finish. This will produce a shot that comes out of the bunker and lands softly on the green. Your arms and forearms should remain relaxed throughout the swing. This will produce wrist action and speed through the ball which will produce a shot that spins and stops quickly under normal circumstances. ///7. PRACTICE. It’s very important for the average player to take as many variables out of play as possible. Thus the need for a neutral grip, and constant set up position. Practice and play with these points in mind and I guarantee you that your bunker play will improve. www.backninepublishing.com * THE back nine of Pittsburgh* 19

When You’re Losing Distance One of the most annoying (and disheartening) problems that golfers often face is losing distance on their shots. One round of golf and you’re hitting the ball like Tiger Woods, the next week you’re hitting so poorly you probably feel as if you could throw the ball farther than what your club face is doing for you. So what happened? Could be any number of things, really. Before blaming it on your swing (which you will eventually do) consider a few other suspects--which can and do affect your swing. If you’ve had an especially stressful week or if you’ve been hitting the gym and your muscles are tight or sore, that could be the culprit. When your muscles aren’t lax enough to make a full swing without hurting, they will compensate (with or without your permission or knowledge) to avoid moving into the painful position. It doesn’t take much to throw your swing off and that can certainly lead to losing distance. If by chance you’ve changed drivers and have one of the new power woods, you may want to try to tee your ball up a little higher. These wonder woods need a bit more height on the tee to connect with the ball properly. In fact, you may need to buy some longer tees. Lifting your head even a fraction of a second too soon can result in a poorly hit ball. Keep your head down and keep your eyes on the tee spot until you’ve followed all the way through your swing. Make sure you take a full swing at the ball. Again, this can go back to your muscle tone. But it could be you’re just hanging up before you get the full arc completed. Have a buddy watch to see if you’re turning fully or not. Or set up a video camera and record a few swings and then watch yourself. One thing is certain, it is nearly impossible to know if you’re taking a full swing without some “outside” help. You need to see yourself or have someone watch you. Make sure that you’re not gripping the club shaft too tightly. If your knuckles are turning white, you need to relax. You also want to ensure that your left side stays firm and your left knee is bent through impact. Again, too much tightness will kill your distance. Swing through the ball and not “at” the ball. Being fluid is key. And lastly, make sure your arms stay extended through the arc. Don’t let them collapse too soon. The best advice, perhaps, when you’re losing distance is -hey, it happens to all of us. Don’t panic or stress over it. Your game will return and then it will be your buddy’s turn to “throw” his ball. THE back nine of

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Women's Golf Equalit y Women have been trying for years to be viewed as equal competition for men, especially in sports. Unfortunately, society fails to measure women’s abilities on the same scale as men’s abilities. Golf is one of few sports that show great potential for women and men to compete on the same level. Recently, there have been many developments in the world of women’s golf. Women’s golf has been become extremely popular over the past few years and there are currently as many professional women golfers as there are men. Golf equipment companies have also recognized the amount of women interested in the sport and have customized many pieces of golf equipment including golf clubs, drivers and golf bags to be more comfortable for women. Women can also have thier own golf equipment custom made, thus making golfing more efficient for women as men’s clubs are often too large. These are just a few of the steps which have been taken to welcome women into the world of golf and ensure that they are comfortable and treated as equally as possible. Women’s golf associations such as the LPGA have also contributed to the popularity of women’s golf and given women the respect they deserve. Women golfers are now featured in Golf Digest magazine, Golf for Women and a number of other magazines dedicated strictly to women’s golf. Videos and TV shows are also contributing to the popularity of this sport and giving women the “drive” they need to pursue careers in this field. It was not until earlier this year, that women’s golf took a leaping step in the right direction when professional golfer and top LPGA player, Annika Sorenstam was told she could play against the men in a PGA tournament. Many people predicted how they thought Sorenstam would do when she teed-off against some of the best male golfers in the world. Some people had positive encouragement to contribute while others were chauvinistic and downright rude. Phil Mickelson, 2nd in the overall moneymaking standings last year, had no problem playing against a woman and claimed that he thought Sorenstam would end up 20th overall, when she predicted herself to be 28th. Other golf professionals were not so eager to give Sorenstam the benefit of the doubt. Vijah Singh actually resigned from the tournament because he felt he could not play with a woman. He claimed that Sorenstam simply “did not belong” in a men’s tournament. Nonetheless, having a woman play in the PGA, even for a short while, was a huge accomplishment which could potentially pave the road for future developments in women’s golf. THE back nine of

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Improving Your Golf Balance The need for balance for golf just sounds so simple and easy. As a golfer, you know that maintaining proper golf balance is a key to a good golf game. And it’s more than just having the correct stance. Optimum golf balance depends on three aspects: your visual perception, the signals from the inner ear, and signals from your muscles and joints. Sometimes these aspects get out of sync, causing a balance disorder. Most of which can be easily fixed with some simple ideas. A lack of balance usually occurs when your head position changes, which is a good reason to keep your head still during your swing! How many times have you been told or noticed yourself that you looked up during your swing? Everybody wants to see where their ball is going and when you move your head and throw off your balance, the ball doesn’t usually go anywhere. At least not where you wanted it to go. So, keep your head down and still and let your playing partners watch for your ball. Migraines can attribute to a balance disorder. So if you have frequent migraines, seek medical attention. These headaches can affect your golf game in ways you may have never imagined. Not to mention they are debilitatingly painful. Also, don’t go spending a fortune on new golf equipment hoping for better play before you check your medicine cabinet to see if any drugs you’re taking affect your balance. The condition “ear poisoning” seriously affects your balance. Ear poisoning is usually caused by side effects of some medications. Always be aware of the possible side THE back nine of

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effects of any prescription drugs you may be taking. This is just good advice all the way around, let alone it having an effect on your golf game. Diuretics can pose a problem as well. So if you’re taking any of these and you start feeling dizzy, get medical help! Sometimes the dizziness can literally become a lifelong problem, so don’t delay in seeking help. If your golf balance is a little off in your game, you may want to do some simple exercises to improve it. Just kicking a ball around your backyard can help. You can also set up a little obstacle course and weave in and out of it to improve your balance. If you have kids, they will have fun with the course, too! Actually, they may even set up one for you! You can also buy a balance board to help you with your center of gravity. You can easily make one yourself out of some scrap wood or you could find a nice one online or at a local fitness equipment store. These boards are challenging and fun to use. Once you can balance for an extended period on one, pick up a golf club. Then practice your backswing while balancing yourself. This will dramatically improve you golf balance. In addition, working with flexibility exercises helps increase your golf balance by releasing muscle tension. Try some simple yoga stretches to help with loosening up tight muscles. Yoga or pilates can be a real benefit for the golfer. These types of exercises tend to create long lean muscles and promote flexibility. Just what the golfer needs for the right golf balance and a fluid swing. Another useful item is a yoga ball or exercise ball. Even just sitting on one of these balls requires balance - so try using one for part of the day. Work up gradually until you can sit on the ball for 30 minutes at a time. These ball exercises can help you develop proper posture, increase the mobility of your lower back, and develop overall control of your body core. Improving your core strength and flexibility will help you develop the correct golf balance. Since balance is fundamental to every aspect of your golf game, spend some time each day working on developing it. Who knows? You could find your swing and your score improving significantly, and who couldn’t use that? www.backninepublishing.com

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The Quickest & Easiest Way to Draw the B a l l

I’ll tell you right now... this is going to be painless, contrary to what you may think. I’ll start with a single definition. Level Shoulder Turn - a turn that stays level (parallel) with the ground through the backswing. So, now that we have that out of the way, let’s continue on with this quick and easy tip to draw the ball. And if you’ve battled a slice for years upon years, just wait until you try this. The next time out to the range, your slice is going to be dramatically reduced. Here it is. Instead of taking your normal shoulder turn (whatever that may be), focus on keeping your shoulder turn as level as possible (parallel to the ground). So as you are setting up to the ball, feel your feet on the ground to determine if there is an uphill or downhill lie. Then in your backswing, just focus on keeping your shoulders level to the ground. Now, this may actually produce a HOOK of all things, so remember to adjust accordingly. And remember that you are attempting to wrap that club around your body. You want a horizontal swing plane, not vertical. That’s what this level shoulder turn is really accomplishing. You’ll find it so much easier to release through the ball correctly, and to square up the face of your club at impact. Give that a try on your next trip to the range and you’ll be amazed to see that dreaded slice going away, especially if you use this in conjunction with the rest of the “The Simple Golf Swing” system. I know this probably seems incredibly simple to anyone who has been battling a slice forever, but just remember that simple solutions are usually the most effective. THE back nine of

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how to drive a golf ball The tee shot is the ego shot in golf. Learning how to drive a golf ball far is way up on the list for most beginning golfers. The only problem is most amateur and beginner golfers drive it way shorter than they want to, because their golf swing technique is not proper to encourage longer golf drives.

Strengthen Your Golf Grip

One very effective way to quickly improve driving distance is to have a proper golf grip. The preference is a strong one so you can rotate the clubface over through impact encouraging a draw and more yards when it hits the ground.

Golf Ball Position Forward

To promote maximum launch angle you need an ascending blow on the golf ball. Positioning it up in your stance, just inside your left heel will make it much easier to hit â&#x20AC;&#x153;up on the ballâ&#x20AC;?.

Spine Tilt

This is where beginner golfers screw up. Instead of a spine angle away from the target at impact, many have either a vertical one, or even worse, one that is more towards the target, encouraging a descending blow resulting in pop ups. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a few simple golf tips to get you on the right track to hitting your golf drives long and straight. THE back nine of Pittsburgh* 30

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fa i rway b u n k e r club selection Of all the golf shots in the world, the one I personally hate the most is the fairway bunker shot. I’m not entirely sure why I hate this shot so much, but I do. Well, that’s not true...I know exactly why I hate this shot so much. It’s because they make me nervous. They always have, and I suspect they always will. Even so, there are a few tips that have helped me get out of these nightmares and perhaps they can help you as well. If you are anything at all like me, the first problem you’re faced with when you land in a fairway bunker is which club to select. Your first priority in this selection is to make sure you have enough loft to clear the lip of the bunker. Take it from me, it doesn’t a bit of good to gaze down the fairway visualizing where you want the ball to land if it doesn’t clear the lip of the bunker first! So, is there an easy way to determine the right trajectory that the ball will need to take in order to clear the lip of the bunker? Actually, there is. Pick the club that you think is going to work. Take this club outside the bunker (remember, you are not allowed to ground your club inside the bunker) and face the target on a line that is behind where your ball is. Put the club on the ground and “gently” stand on the club face with the shaft pointing in the direction of the target. As you press your foot down on the clubface, the shaft will begin to come up at an angle. Look at this angle and compare it to the lip of the bunker. If the angle is above the lip, you have the right club and should be able to clear the bunker lip. However, if the shaft angle is below the lip of the bunker, chances are you won’t make it out of the bunker and you should take one or more club to increase the trajectory path. Keep in mind (and I know I don’t need to say this) it’s better to come up short of the green than it is to bury your ball in the sandy lip of the bunker. Two things to keep in mind as well when playing out of a fairway bunker are: Don’t wiggle your feet too deep into the sand. This will only make you lower than the ball and you might hit the ball fat. Second, don’t try to hit the ball too hard or to “scoop” it out. Just take a normal swing, the same swing you would make if you were in the fairway. Trying to “blast” it out will almost always end up in a poor shot. But, of course, the best advice to playing fairway bunkers is to stay out of them altogether! That’s what I try to do. THE back nine of

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s h o u l d e r s i n the golf swing The shoulders in the golf swing play an important role. One of the ways I simplify my golf swing is to rotate my shoulders back and through and try not to think of my hands and arms. It works for me and I think it can work for you if you give it a try. This is an overall general thought as the shoulders are critical to clubhead position at the top, backswing range of motion as well as follow through. If your shoulders are restricted in range of motion, you will not be able to set the golf swing at the top consistently. You will also have a hard time following through without the “chicken wing” happening. If the your shoulders don’t rotate properly a whole host of swing faults may occur. But... if you focus on strengthening your shoulders AND stretching them specific to the movements of your golf swing you will nearly perfect your golf swing. Does this make sense? Do you think hitting more balls will improve your shoulder strength and flexibility? I can tell you not! You must incorporate golf exercises and golf stretches to eliminate any faults caused by your shoulders in your golf swing. THE back nine of

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b e a golf mentor Those of us who have been playing golf for any length of time understand that it is more than just a game. There’s no denying that golf instills certain physical attributes and that it’s good exercise but there’s more to it than that, and most golfers that I know would wholeheartedly agree. That extra component that golf offers its players is a set of life skills that serve us daily--whether we know it or not. This holds true for new golfers as well as they begin to learn the game and appreciate its overall value not just on the course but in life in general. But golf isn’t like basketball or soccer or baseball when it comes to our younger players. Kids who want to play but don’t have the resources to buy the needed equipment or mentors to teach them the game are pretty much left out. The truth is golf can be horribly expensive, even at the junior level. So what can the average Joe do about this? That depends on how much you want to do. If you live a metro area, chances are there are mentoring programs already in place. A call or visit to one might lead you into taking personal active action by becoming a mentor. If you don’t have the time or feel as if you don’t have the skills to teach others, perhaps you can do other things to help the program. If you live a rural area or an area that simply doesn’t have a golf mentor program at all, well, consider creating your own mentoring program. You don’t have to be a pro to teach a youngster the fundementals of the game. Schedule a chat with your course manager and discuss the idea with him or her and see if you can’t work something out. If you’re not the mentoring type, consider donating to a program. Many golfers (at least the ones I know) have old clubs and bags sitting in their garages that they will never use again. Why let them gather dust and spider webs? Give them to a program of your choice and let someone else enjoy them. Even if you only have a few old clubs (meaning less than a full set, or even an old putter or driver)...donate it to them. Frankly, I think it’s something of a shame that kids who can’t afford clubs or have no one to teach them this game are left out. It doesn’t have to be that way, and you could be the one to change that in your community. THE back nine of

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local businesses & services INDEX A PPLI ANCE S

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appliances......................................................................29

A RCHI TECTURA L DE S IG N

Penner & Associates Architects...............................................35 Thomas Pierce Architecture & Interior Design......Front Inside Cover, 31

AU DIO & V ID E O

Music to My Ear.........................................................................03

AU TO RES TOR AT IO N

Hahn and Woodward Auto Restoration....................................13

AWARD S & TRO PHIE S

CHi Signs & DeSigns................................. Back Inside Cover, 23

BA R/B AT M IT ZVA HS

Entertainment Unlimited.......................................................... 17

BU Y & SELL H O ME S

Barbara Slade - Coldwell Banker.............................................35

CERTIFIED ARBO R IST

Emery Tree Service................................................................... 07

COMM E RC IAL

Barbara Slade - Coldwell Banker.............................................35

COMM E RC IAL DE SIG N

Thomas Pierce Architecture & Interior Design......Front Inside Cover, 31

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local businesses & services IND EX C O NSIGNMEN T S HO P

High Quality Consignment Boutique........................................23

C O RPORATE EVE N T S

Entertainment Unlimited.......................................................... 17 Pastries A-La-Carte...................................................................13

C O RPORATE LO G O S

Embroidery Etc.......................................................................... 21

C O SMETIC LASE R ME DICA L S PA

Body Beautiful Laser Medi-Spa...................................09, 25, 37

C U S TOM AUTO IN T E R IO R

Hahn and Woodward Auto Restoration....................................13

C U S TOM B LI N DS

Elegant Charm...........................................................................29

C U S TOM CAK E S & PA S T R IE S

Pastries A-La-Carte...................................................................13

C U S TOM INV I TAT IO N S

Crème Fraiche Design........................................................ 05, 33

C U S TOM WINDOW T R E AT ME N T S

Elegant Charm...........................................................................29

C U S TOM IZ E D CLOT HIN G

Embroidery Etc.......................................................................... 21

D ESI GN SE RV ICE S

Crème Fraiche Design........................................................ 05, 33

www.backninepublishing.com

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local businesses & services INDEX D R APERIES

Elegant Charm...........................................................................29

EMB ROI DERY

CHi Signs & DeSigns................................. Back Inside Cover, 23 Embroidery Etc.......................................................................... 21

ENTE RTAINME N T

Entertainment Unlimited.......................................................... 17

EVE N T PHOTO G R A PHE R

The Leeann Marie Collective....................................................15

EVE N T S

CrĂ¨me Fraiche Design........................................................ 05, 33

F LORALS

KLS Landscaping and Supply................ Back Outside Cover, 11

GOLF APPAREL

CHi Signs & DeSigns................................. Back Inside Cover, 23

H A RDSCAPING

KLS Landscaping and Supply................ Back Outside Cover, 11

H IGH- E N D AU T O MOT IVE R E S T O RATI O N

Hahn and Woodward Auto Restoration....................................13

H OLI DAY PART Y

Pastries A-La-Carte...................................................................13

H OM E AUTOMAT IO N

Music to My Ear.........................................................................03

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local businesses & services INDEX H OME D E SIGN

Penner & Associates Architects...............................................35

H OME FURNIS HIN GS

High Quality Consignment Boutique........................................23

H OME THEATR E

Music to My Ear.........................................................................03

H ORTIC ULTUR E S

Emery Tree Service................................................................... 07

INTERI OR DESIGN

Elegant Charm...........................................................................29 Thomas Pierce Architecture & Interior Design......Front Inside Cover, 31

INV ES TMEN T PRO PE R T IE S

Beverly Koribanic - RE/MAX..................................................... 21 Roxane Agostinelli - Keller Williams Realty.............................23

INV ITATIONS

CrĂ¨me Fraiche Design........................................................ 05, 33

JEWELRY RE PA IR S

Lisa Marie Kotchey.................................................................... 17

JEWELRY S TO R E S

Lisa Marie Kotchey.................................................................... 17

K ITCH E N & BAT HRO O M DE S IGN

Thomas Pierce Architecture & Interior Design......Front Inside Cover, 31 Penner & Associates Architects...............................................35

www.backninepublishing.com

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local businesses & services INDEX LA ND SCAPE D E SIG N & B UIL D

KLS Landscaping and Supply................ Back Outside Cover, 11

LA ND SCAPE M A IN T E N A N CE

KLS Landscaping and Supply................ Back Outside Cover, 11

LAUNDRY

Don’s Appliances......................................................................29

LIPOSUC TION

Body Beautiful Laser Medi-Spa...................................09, 25, 37

LU XURY H OME S

Beverly Koribanic - RE/MAX..................................................... 21 Roxane Agostinelli - Keller Williams Realty.............................23

OF FI CE D E SIG N

Thomas Pierce Architecture & Interior Design......Front Inside Cover, 31

OU TDOOR KITCHE N

Don’s Appliances......................................................................29

OU TDOOR LIV IN G SPACE S

KLS Landscaping and Supply................ Back Outside Cover, 11

PA RTI E S & E VE N T S

Entertainment Unlimited.......................................................... 17

PLANT HEALTH CA R E

Emery Tree Service................................................................... 07

P ORTRAITS

The Leeann Marie Collective....................................................15

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local businesses & services INDEX PR EC IOUS & S E MI PR E CIO US J EW EL S

Lisa Marie Kotchey.................................................................... 17

PR IN TI N G

CHi Signs & DeSigns................................. Back Inside Cover, 23

PROMOTIONA L PRO DUCT S

CHi Signs & DeSigns................................. Back Inside Cover, 23 Embroidery Etc.......................................................................... 21

R EAL ES TATE

Barbara Slade - Coldwell Banker.................................................35

Beverly Koribanic - RE/MAX..................................................... 21 Roxane Agostinelli - Keller Williams Realty.............................23

R ENOVATIONS

Thomas Pierce Architecture & Interior Design......Front Inside Cover, 31

S IGN SH OP

CHi Signs & DeSigns................................. Back Inside Cover, 23

S PEC IAL E V EN T PHOT O G R A PHE R

The Leeann Marie Collective....................................................15

S PINE & D ISC

Body Beautiful Laser Medi-Spa...................................09, 25, 37

TR EE M AINTEN A N CE

Emery Tree Service................................................................... 07

TR EE SE RV IC E S

Emery Tree Service................................................................... 07

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local businesses & services INDEX VA RICOSE V E IN S

Body Beautiful Laser Medi-Spa...................................09, 25, 37

WATE R FEATU R E S

KLS Landscaping and Supply................ Back Outside Cover, 11

W EDDI N G & E N G AG E ME N T R IN G S

Lisa Marie Kotchey.................................................................... 17

W EDDI N G CA K E S

Pastries A-La-Carte...................................................................13

W EDDI N G PHOT O G R A PHY

The Leeann Marie Collective....................................................15

W EDDI N GS

Crème Fraiche Design........................................................ 05, 33 Entertainment Unlimited.......................................................... 17

WO MEN ’ S APPA R E L

High Quality Consignment Boutique........................................23

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