Three Courses of Must-Play Golf

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

Golfing at Breezy Point has long been a favorite activity for visitors and residents to the lakes area.

“This is looking to be a really busy season,” says Nolan Toft, head golf pro at Whitebirch and the Traditional courses of the upcoming year. “Our pre-bookings are off the charts again and we have some exciting additions coming this year that we are really looking forward to.”

With three acclaimed courses to golf at Breezy Point, there is truly a golf experience waiting for everyone.

Deacon’s Lodge is named by Arnold Palmer after his father and features both exquisite lakes and woods that define the area. Whitebirch was one of the first championship course layouts around and it never disappoints, whether you are looking for a relaxing round of golf with friends or something a little more serious. The traditional course is a long-time favorite for everyone to play for fun in the summer. latest in apparel. This year offers an opportunity to find a club that fits your swing perfectly because Breezy Point is now a Mizuno club-fitting facility with a full-fitting cart. The service was offered last year but this year it has already become even more popular.

“We had a really successful off-season with several fitting days and individual fitting sessions,” says Toft. “That’s been really fun.”

Antler’s Restaurant offers a full bar and a light meal to unwind with after a good round of golf, as well as something a little more savory, including steak and seafood. The pro shops and clubhouses at the courses at Breezy Point feature the

Another exciting addition to summer golf at Breezy Point this year will be for the up and coming youth golfer. A junior kids’ camp and a short-term kids’ league at the Traditional course are both set to begin.

For more information on Deacon’s Lodge, Whitebirch or the Traditional

Tips FROM A PRO Short Game: The Biggest Game Changer

Savannah Nelson, Crosswoods Golf Course

When executed correctly, short games can reduce strokes and make the game of golf more enjoyable. When teaching these shorter shots, I like to have my students focus on three important aspects: grip pressure, stable body position and ball position. Chipping and pitching, similar to putting, are very delicate and take a bit of touch.

One of the most common mistakes I see around the green is golfers tensing up and getting stiff with a wedge in their hands. In reality, golfers should have a lighter grip and let the club do most of the work. The club was designed to get the ball in the air, all the golf has to do is take a swing in the proper position. My recommendation for the player who tends to stiffen up is to think about having “dead hands.” Let the club feel heavy in your grip, while lightly holding it. Another way of thinking about it would be to imagine holding a baby bird. You don’t want to crush the bird, but also don’t want it to fly away.

The second aspect to a proper chip is having a stable body position. When addressing the ball, the golfer should have most of their weight on their lead foot (foot closer to the target). The reason behind this is that chipping does not require a full weight transfer. By establishing weight on the front foot before the shot, it will help get the club through the ball. The golfer should also be focusing on a stable upper body, meaning limited head movement while taking the shot. Keeping the head stable will help eliminate those thinned and chunked shots.

The last piece to proper chipping is ball position. Due to the fact that chipping is typically done with the shortest clubs in our bag

(sand wedge, gap wedge, pitching wedge), it doesn’t take as long for that club to reach the ground. Shorter clubs also mean a steeper swing, where the club hits the ground sooner. With this being said, the ball should be played closer to the back foot. One recommendation I have to ensure proper ball position is starting with feet together, take a normal step out with the lead foot, and a smaller step out with the back foot. The golfer can always make small adjustments as they see fit.

With these simple steps, chipping can become fun and used to improve one’s game. When chips end up closer to the hole, putting becomes much easier. Even though chipping takes one of the smallest swings, it can be the biggest difference between a birdie and a bogey.