The State of Golf

Over the last few years I think it is safe to say that golf has been on the decline or at the very least stagnant in terms of rounds played, dollars spent on equipment, new golfers taking up the game, past golfers dropping off etc. The reasons for this trend can certainly be argued and debated but what we do know is there are a number of initiatives aimed at growing the game of golf.

As a golf professional who has been around the game some 40 years (21 yrs in the business) I have seen many trends come and go as well as the growth and decline of the sport, and like many I have an opinion on why this great game we love has been on its heels as of late.

I think we first have to look at the state of where we are as a country, economy still trying to recover, less disposable income and a variety of outlets trying to capture a piece of our disposable income, busy lifestyles going in 10 different directions and a mindset that wants instant gratification. If I could only add a drive up window to my golf academy I could start a revolution!

Certainly too many areas to cover in one blog, but speaking from personal experience I think a good starting point would be first; A golfing experience that is affordable, doesn’t take 5 or 6 hours out of your day and something the whole family can enjoy and second; Setting realistic expectations in a fun environment for those that seek instruction to help improve their game and the enjoyment of it. There’s a double edged sword at play that I think directly relates to golf’s current state.

So to implement my master plan to get golf back on the rise we need to start refocusing on the executive, par 3 and pitch & putt courses. Think about it, 2 ½ hours of your time you can get the family together for a morning or afternoon on the links, spend time being active outdoors all at a cost equivalent to an evening at the movies (and in some cases maybe less).  These courses have never received the value they deserve and yet they offer so much to the game. A place to hone your short game skills (where a majority of you shots are made; 70% within 100 yds or less and 40% of all shots are putts), learn (or teach your kids) about rules and etiquette in a rather laid back atmosphere all before lunch time. As a child my father would take me after dinner EVERY night to the local par 3 course and we would play until dark. When I got a bit older he then brought me to the BIG course a local 9 holer. To me that is the idea sequence. But in a land of $400 drivers and a mentality of wanting to hit it 400 yards, the forgotten “short” courses don’t stand much of a chance. I guess in a sense I should be grateful to the manufacturing giants who tag their latest offerings with promises of solving world peace and better golf games. They set the bar high and when things don’t go quite as advertised, my phone rings, otherwise I might be forced to get a real job..Yikes!

I also believe for golf to take a turn for the better, FUN needs to be injected for growth. Think of “fun” as a growth hormone. Nobody wants to spend their hard earned cash on doing something that isn’t fun. With that said, we all enjoy the game much more when we are playing well, hence another pitfall. I see golfers every day coming to me because they want to improve their game, that’s what the tell me but is it what they actually want to do? To truly improve takes hour and hours of boring practice and practicing correctly, most folks don’t have the time nor desire to truly devote what it takes to reach their desired goals. This leads to frustration which leads to playing less which leads to rounds per year being down. It is a trickle down or domino effect so to speak. Golf has no short cuts, I repeat no short cuts! Here’s an example, someone comes to me for a lesson and as I always do with first timers, there is a brief Q & A regarding strengths, weaknesses, etc. I then finish by asking the student what is their desired goal or expectation for the lesson(s) and almost 75% of the time the answer is “consistency” which by the way is a great goal. When I get the “C” word as a goal the next question is ALWAYS how often do you play and/or practice? The answers vary of course but many times it’s in the neighborhood of a couple times a month. Well there in lies the problem; consistency doesn’t hang out much with twice a month so it becomes a vicious cycle. Unattainable expectations = frustration + 5 ½ hour rounds + less disposable income = rounds per year down. So how do we put FUN back in this great game? For those who focus on teaching the game, lessons need to be fun and exciting! If a lesson with me or at my academy isn’t fun, then we have failed as professionals. For those who run courses and clubs, have “fun” days. A “Beat the Pro” day once a month, or periodically hold a putting tournaments on the practice green. At one of my former clubs I held a putting tournament inside the clubhouse! As professionals we need to start thinking “outside the white stakes” in a manner of speaking.

And when the day comes that you can pull up to the golf academy drive thru window and say “I’d like to order a slight draw and 3 knockdown shots” you’ll know where the idea first originated.

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Bringing the Range to the Course

One of the most asked questions I get as a golf professional is “why can I hit it so well on the range yet when I get to the course it all falls apart?” My answer; it’s one of the great mysteries of the golfing world! I say that with some humor because there are certainly ways to bridge that gap which I will share with you in this article. However, should you take a survey of 50 different professionals my guess is you will get a variety of theories regarding this much debated topic.

Let’s get right to it! What is the reason for success on the range and then the lack-there-of on the course? In a word….Pressure! Let us examine further. You go to the range, get your bucket of balls, find your spot and off you go! You progress through a variety of clubs in your bag and at some point maybe you hit your stride and string together maybe 8, 9, even 10 good shots in a row and you’re feeling good about your swing and your practice then you start asking yourself why this same success doesn’t duplicate itself on the links.

The range, although the BEST place to work on your game provides little stress or pressure on your swing. Stress or pressure meaning a tight tree lined fairway or a 200 yd body of water that has to be carried or a green surrounded by 6 bunkers. When those objects are staring you in the face you swing feels the pressure that it doesn’t feel on the range. And when the swing feels pressure it changes, and not for the better unfortunately.

So unless you favorite practice facility installs water, trees and lots of sand, how do we overcome this lack of obstacles? Use the most powerful tool in our bag, your mind. To truly carry over your success from the range to the course you need to create a practice routine that in many ways replicates being on the course.

For example, visualize a fairway in your mind, pick two objects on the range (maybe two target flags that are spaced apart 25 to 35 yards) and that now becomes your fairway. Hit 10 drives trying to keep the ball within that “imaginary” fairway. One of my favorite ways to bridge the gap is through alignment. When practicing, change your targets often. Hit 10 balls at one flag then change your target and hit another 10 balls. This process should continue throughout your practice session. Too many times a golfer gets to the range and spends the entire session hitting to one target. Again, just like on the course your target is ever changing and so to should your target always be changing on the range.

Another area I see golfers neglect all too often is the development of a pre-shot routine. Use the range to develop a pre-shot routine and then execute it while you practice. Very rarely do I see amateur golfers execute any type of routine (from start to finish) during their practice time on the range. If you were to ask a tour pro how they maintain consistency in pressure situations a majority of them would tell you “by sticking to their routine.” By going through a routine and sticking to it greatly helps with rhythm and tempo (which is ultimately what breaks down between range and course).

So if you’re looking for a way to get your game to the next level, you might want to start with revamping how you conduct your practice sessions. Anything you can create on the range that can in some way simulate what happens on the course will go a long way in the development and improvement of your game.

                                                     Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Winds of Change

Having been around the game of golf all my life which includes the last 20 years (give or take a year or 2) as a professional, a lot of things have changed over in that time; some good and some not so good. And like any stretch of time in ones life that was enjoyable, we often miss those days and look back with fond memories. But if you're a golfer whose taken the game up in the last 10 years, you might not even realize that clubs were once made of metal…yes metal…. let alone wood. Wood was way back in the day although the name “woods” has kind of stuck when referring to our driver and fairway clubs, however in many circles they’re starting to be referred to as “metals” so maybe “woods” is slowly on its way out (no pun intended). For the newer golfers reading this article, there was once a time when hybrids didn’t make up half  your set of clubs…that’s because hybrids didn’t exist. But like all things, change is inevitable and we can either roll with it or get left behind.

And I will admit change can be good….sometimes, but I do still like to muse over the days when you had a plethora of golf equipment to choose from; when going to pick out your next set of sticks was an event; at least for me it was; it was better than Christmas! Many of the club manufacturers I grew up with are either exclusively produced overseas or are no longer in existence. Many of which were extremely well built, high end stuff. To me, this is a piece of golf’s history I truly wish had never changed. Again, for most, you won’t recognize the names on the following list if you’re a golf newcomer, and by newcomer I mean new in the last 10 - 15  years. Sure the 5 or so big name manufacturers we get bombarded with were around back in the day, but they just didn’t dominate like today. There were too many other choices, good quality choices.

I thought it would be fun to take you on a trip back in time to do some shopping for your next set of clubs. You go to your local club or golf course, oh ya, I didn’t mention? That’s where a majority of golfers bought their stuff, especially if you were any kind of golfer at all. Buying your clubs at a retailer, um….no. Maybe a few select locally owned off course shops but that’s about it.

Let’s take a look at the brands you would be pondering over in your quest for the perfect set:

• Yamaha: Awesome clubs! They were ahead of their time. One of their best sets was the “Secret” which had a shallow cavity with a carbon fiber insert within the cavity with a gunmetalish finish. Yamaha now exclusively manufactured overseas.

• Head: Yes the tennis and ski company. Another great set of clubs. High quality visually appealing higher end clubs. One of memorable sets the “Head Pro.” Currently: No longer manufactured to the best of my knowledge.

• Prince: Once again best known for their tennis, these clubs were hot sellers. Grips made out of the same material as their tennis rackets, shock absorbers in the shafts and known for having an over sized sweet spot on both woods and irons. Currently: No longer manufacturing to the best of my knowledge.

•   Cubic Balance: Another quality product. As I remember, many of the better players played this brand. Most of their clubs were forged and they were also known for having a groove less driver. Just a smooth face! Currently: No longer manufactured to the best of my knowledge.

•  Daiwa: You might know them for their fishing gear but they once made very nice golf clubs. Some were even on the higher end at a cost of 8 to 9 hundred for a 3-pw set. Currently: Daiwa now manufactures under the name “On|Off”. More prominent oversees but I believe they are available in the US as well.

•  Founders Club: Another club manufacturer that appealed to the better players. Their most notable  line was the “Fresh Metal” line and had a solid loyal following. Currently: Still manufacturing but I believe they are much scaled back.

•  Zevo: You might know this brand if you are a frequent shopper in any Golfsmith as they are the companies low end house brand. But what you might not know is Zevo was once a well respected brand that was not uncommon on the PGA Tour. Currently: Part of the Golfsmith brand.

Oh how things have changed! And this is just a sampling of what was once available and it wasn’t that long ago relatively speaking. Early to mid 90’s in most cases. But, as in life, all good things must come to an end and who knows what we’ll be swinging in another 15 years or so. But it’s always nice to take a trip down memory lane in golf, or life in general and share with others what it was like “back in the day”. I think the next time I go out to play 18 I’ll break out the Yamaha’s or maybe the Head’s; I’m a sucker for golf nostalgia!

                                             Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Advice, Advice & More Advice

There are many ways to achieve a common goal and that is one of the big reasons why so many amateur golfers get stuck in their quest to improve. Think about it, you pick up the latest edition of your fav golf magazine and read an article on a particular topic, let’s say “proper set up.” Later in the day you turn on the golf channel and they’re giving their version of the “proper set up.” You go out to play with your Saturday group and your buddies (who are all closet golf pros) give you their version on “proper set up” after seeing you struggle through your first 9 holes. Finally you decide it’s time to see your local pro who no doubt has his/her version of yet the same topic. The best part is that all the opinions you gather are all different. Is there only one right theory in that whole bunch? No not at all, in fact each and every opinion on the subject probably yields reasonable results.

The problem lies in…what works for you! And that is the true quest towards improvement. One of the toughest things for an amateur golfer to do is subscribe to one theory and stick with it through both the highs and lows of the transformation. As soon as one technique starts to go sour we look for another, then another, and another and so on. Remember there is no quick fix or short cuts in golf yet golfers continue to look for that pot o’ gold, hence the reason so many golfers can’t control the urge to purchase the next greatest driver that claims to cure world hunger, only to end up ultimately as the back up to your trusty Wilson Deep Red. Believe me, I hear this dilemma all the time from my students and it is truly a problem for today’s golfers. Why do you think technology has improved by leaps and bounds over the last 25 years in all categories yet the average golfer’s handicap has barley improved by 1 stroke?

The advice I always give is simple…..find one source that fits your style of learning, understanding and personality and stick with that source…period. Testing the waters so to speak is inevitable but most golfers test the waters for years and years…..and years. Any teaching professional worth his/her salt should be able to get you hitting a driver from the discount bin (assuming the shaft is right for you but that’s for another topic) every bit as well as the $400 club that proudly shines like a beacon in your bag if you subscribe to their theory and STICK WITH IT.

Oh, I almost forgot…proper “Ball Position.” This should muddy the waters a bit.

•       For a driver place the ball on the instep of your left foot (for righties)

•         For all your irons (yes all of them) place the ball in the middle to maybe 2” forward of middle. If       you have a good solid weight transfer just forward of center if not more middle.

•         And for your fairway woods and hybrids place the ball somewhere between the driver and irons (some trial and error required)

We all know the best advice is FREE! Hope this helps J

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Quality Golf Equipment You Probably Have Never Considered

I started this blog as another outlet to share with golfers, information that will hopefully benefit all those who play this game we love so much. Whether that be via golf tips, drills, best courses to play, golf destinations, equipment reviews etc. This blog is designed to be a potpourri of all things golf from one golf professionals prospective.

This latest entry is going to take a look at some of the quality golf equipment on the market today that fly’s under the radar or gets overlooked for a wide variety of reasons. Because the golf equipment industry is so dominated by the big names, smaller companies need to rely on specific (and limited) target advertising, word of mouth, quality customer service and of course quality of the product.

Being in the business for a number of years I have been fortunate to be able to hit, play, own and demo just about every club under the sun. With that said, I have gone out of my way to do so in many cases because inevitably a member, student, client or whomever will ask my opinion about driver X or irons Y or this ball or that ball and I have always made it a priority to be “UP” on whatever is out there that golfers need, want or think they want….It comes with the territory. Let’s get started……

Ray Cook Wedges & Putters: Ray Cook putters have been around for many many years having been in the winning bags of every major winner from years past. If you’ve played golf for at least 25 years you probably owned a Ray Cook putter at some point as they were as good as any back in the day. Fast forward to 2014, Ray Cook is still putting out quality equipment. And although RC is known for their putters, I can tell you they have some nice quality wedges (Premium Black Nickel Wedges) as well. They have even expanded their lines to include a full set of clubs and junior clubs, bags, clothing, some training equipment and other unique items. Also in the RC portfolio now is Solus wedges which I have recently hit and really like the feel and weight. RC putters still have the solid feel (I like the Blue Goose BG 10) they have always been know for and their wedges are very playable, eye appealing with that classic look …all for about a third of the cost of the other guys.

Other Highlights From Ray Cook:

        Solus Tour 720 CS Wedges

MacGregor: Another blast from the past and once a fixture on the PGA Tour. Now-a- days, not so much. But what I think is important to note is that all things NOT on tour does not mean a lack quality. Case in point, the new MacGregor MT Pro-C Forged irons. Ball comes off the face solid with great feel in the hands and the overall appearance is sharp, with that darker gun metal look. For the budget conscious golfer these are overall a nice set of sticks….and forged!

Other Highlights From MacGregor:

        VIP Wedges

        Lytham Putter

F2: If you like different these may be the clubs for you. F2 is a company that brands itself on Face Forward Technology. What that means is the face has been moved forward and the hosel back. The look, just to give you and idea, at first glance reminds me of the old Cleveland VAS irons. For those who remember, VAS irons had a radical look but were really easy clubs to hit. I saw these wedges in a golf shop and asked the pro if he happened to have a demo because my curiosity was rather high. He had a 56* and was happy to let me hit it and asked for my thoughts as he was thinking about putting them in his bag. In short, very accurate, loved the weight of the club and how the ball felt coming off the clubface. Not sure about spin as I did not hit any shots into a green. The price point on these are in the same ball park (although slightly less) than a Vokey, but for those who purchase based on what feels best rather than purchasing based on what everyone else does or thinks, these might be something to look at.

Other Highlights from F2:

        No other clubs hit

Thomas Golf: I had heard about Thomas Golf but up until recently had never hit or tested any of their products. Now, as a golf professional I can tell you my students come to me with everything and anything ever made as you can imagine. And when I see something in their bag I have never hit, I have to ask myself …do I feel lucky….well do I? And as always the case in these situations, I inevitably asked if they mind me hitting a few.  This particular club was a 9* Driver (AT 460 if memory serves me correct) and to spice it up a bit it was a square headed club. Interestingly though, unlike some of the earlier square headed clubs this (although squarish in nature) club had a better eye appeal to me with much more rounded edges so the appearance of “square” was not so prominent. Hit my first shot straight, second shot straight, third shot straight…I was sold! Have never considered a square driver before but if Thomas Golf would like to comp me one I will proudly endorse it. Easy club to swing, nice feel and also liked to sound. Distance was every bit as good as my current driver. If you don’t know, Thomas Golf is a custom club company and builds everything to your specs. If you have thought about custom clubs, I would start here. Haven’t tried anything else by Thomas but you can bet the next time a student comes through my academy with one, I might not wait until after the lesson to try it!

Other Highlights from Thomas Golf:

        No other clubs hit

Powerbilt Golf: Again, another blast from the past. A company that’s been around a loooog time and in my opinion putting out quality equipment all the while. Companies like Powerbilt are like aging rock bands most people think their dead but in reality many are still putting out quality music….and PB is doing the same. I had the pleasure of hitting their AFO Players Irons as well as their AFO DF Driver. The PB mantra these days is NITROGEN! Yes, the clubs are filled with N7 to pressurize the heads, allow the face to be thinner, create solid feel without adding extra weight. Now I am not a scientist but I can tell you these irons felt awesome and great playability! I would go so far as to say this…if you could do a blind taste test  (like the old Coke vs Pepsi ads) or club test in this case and had X number of golfers hit these clubs along with 4 or 5 of the top brands and asked them to evaluate I would guess these clubs would get as good or in some cases better reviews than the big names

Other Highlights from Powerbilt Golf:

        AFO DF Driver

So there you have it! An honest review on some of the clubs I have recently hit and liked. I have always been one to pull for the smaller guy in hopes they will make it big, with most people that’s probably the way. So if you’re in the market for new irons, a flat stick or even a driver, with a little extra effort you may find a real treasure that you might otherwise have overlooked and the extra few buck you save you can take your significant other out for a nice dinner…it’s a win win!

Have something you’d like me to review…. clubs, balls, bags, whatever… contact me I would be happy to accept a “COMP” …shameless I know, but someone has to do it!

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Looking For A Way To Elevate Your Game?

In this latest entry I thought I would share some of the many drills and techniques I use when working with my students. Drills are a great way to train your muscles and create the motions you are seeking to develop a fluid and repetitive swing. In addition, not all drills require hitting golf balls, and in my opinion that’s a good thing. Believe it or not the ball can be the biggest distraction for many golfers during a lesson or practice session. And the nice thing about drills that don’t require a ball, most of them can be practiced in the comfort of you living room or office. Let’s take a look at a few……

Full Swing: The “Whoosh” drill is a great way practice proper release and can also be used to build up your swing speed.

How it works: Flip the club upside down so the grip of the club is pointing towards the ground. You will now be gripping the club just below the head of the club. Set up as if you’re going to hit a shot placing a golf ball in your normal ball position of your stance. Now make a full golf swing at your normal swing speed. You are not trying to hit anything (don’t try and hit the golf ball) you are only trying to create a sound, hence the “Whoosh” sound.

Listen for the whoosh and determine if you hear it before your club gets to the golf ball or after it passes by the golf ball. If the whoosh happens before the golf ball you are releasing too early and if the whoosh happens after the golf ball you are releasing too late. Try and create the whoosh right at the ball. This will help improve ball striking. As an added bonus the better you get at this drill the louder the whoosh will get which means the faster your swing speed, and faster swing speeds, when executed properly can equal more distance.

Chipping (using the same club for all chip shots): Many golfers feel comfortable using the same club for all types of chip shots. If you happen to be one of these golfers this might help.

How it works: Take your set up with a very narrow stance (feet close together). Place the ball towards the back of your stance and place about 60 to 70% of your weight on your front leg (that’s the left leg for righties) you will basically be leaning slightly towards your target. Press your hands forward of the ball so your club is also leaning slightly towards your target as well. During the swing try and use very little wrist motion as this will help develop consistency. The keys to a good chipping stroke are keeping your down swing and follow through just slightly faster than you back swing (but not by much) and try and keep both you back swing and your down swing and follow through equi distant. Try and avoid long back swings and short follow through’s and vise versa.

Chipping (using a variety of clubs): Some golfers like to change clubs when chipping depending on the situation at hand. If this is you keep these ideas in mind.

How it works: For set up see the above mentioned set up as it will be the same regardless if you are a one club chipper or multi club user. The difference here really is where is the hole location in relationship to where your ball sits relative to the green. If you’re chipping you are obviously somewhere around the green but the key is how far from the hole are you. The more real estate you have between your ball and the hole the longer club you may use (maybe a 6, 7, or 8 iron). Using the technique mentioned above this will allow you to get the ball started on your desired line much like an extra long put. And because you are using a less lofted club your swing will be shorten which means less chance for error.

Putting: The goal of all golfers once on the green is always…don’t 3 putt! But how many times have you had a 15 footer and left it 3 feet short or blown it 5 feet past? We’ve all been there. The “No Look” drill is one of the best putting drills to help you eliminate so many 3 putts and help turn them into 2 putts and even 1 putts.

How it works: A good fundamental practice of any good pre-shot routine usually includes a few practice strokes before you putt. But I have found that over half of the students I see, while taking their practice strokes are looking at the ball, but why? If you are one of these golfers try this; Start taking your practice strokes looking at the hole, it’s just a good habit to get into. If you watch golf on TV take note of where your favorite pro is looking when he/she takes their practice strokes. Now on to the drill… When on the practice green take it a step further. Start at about 10 feet from the hole. Take a few practice strokes while looking at the hole, then step up to the ball, take your set up, keep your eyes on the hole and putt! Putting while not looking at the ball will have you dropping putts and eliminating 3 putts in no time. This drill is amazing! Give it a try! GUARANTEE you'll make a bunch during your practice session!

Bunker Shots: For some this can be one of the most dreaded shots to execute, but when practiced properly it will be feared no more.

How it works: Most golfers over exaggerate their sand set up way too much by setting up way too open and generally swing too hard. Remember this; it’s regular sand not quick sand. Next time you find yourself in the bunker only open your stance slightly and open your club face only slightly. Place the ball forward of middle in your stance and put a little more weight on you left leg (for us righties). When you swing remember the 2 most important things: 1. Aim for a spot about 1 to 2 inches behind the ball (this varies depending on how dry or wet the sand is) and 2. Make sure you follow all the way through! Don’t stop your swing! And soon being in the bunker will truly be a day at the beach!

Give these drills and techniques a try and soon you’ll be dropping strokes off your game before you know it!

Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Golf & Business.......Business & Golf

Playing golf has become more and more important as it relates to business and I would say that right now about 1/3 of my students/clients are pursuing instruction for just that reason, business. Donald Trump, one of the best known businessmen in the world has often spoke about the importance of using golf as a vehicle by which business is done.

This article looks to explore how business and golf can lead to opportunities that might not otherwise come along. Golf can be the porthole to people and possibilities that can help you flourish in business, regardless of what business you’re in.

Let’s start with the arena or golf course if you will. An average round of golf takes about 4 ½ hours to complete (give or take an hour... mostly give), you can learn a lot about a person in that amount of time. Think about it, you have a captive audience, like shooting fish in a barrel as long as your aim isn’t reckless. The amount of time spent on the golf course during a round can allow you to establish a foundation of common ground, business relationships and maybe even long term relationships.

So now that you’ve come to realize golf as a form of business opportunity it’s time to explore what opportunities may be out there. You could join a country club, typically the swankier the club the more likely you’ll find higher end business people although that is not always the case 100% of the time. However, if you’re not at that stage of wanting to join a club there are other avenues to make connections. One of the best ways is to get involved is local charity tournaments. Every community around the country has there fair share of golf events throughout the season whether it be a fund raiser, church group outing or local charity event….get involved! These types of events tend to bring out business people from all walks of life because it’s a way supporting local business. Also, make sure you have a stack of business cards in your golf bag and plan on handing them out. It is true that playing golf generally can/will help improve your odds on crossing paths with a number of business professionals.

Another avenue to help build your business contact portfolio is to join a local golf league. This is a great  way of networking to build long lasting relationships. Many public courses offer a variety of men’s, women’s and mixed leagues almost every night of the week. And because many leagues are 9 holes the time commitment isn’t as great (as opposed to 18 holes) but yet the business benefits can still be reaped.

So, wonder if you’re not a golfer but you like the idea of what the game can offer you from a business or even personal stand point? My suggestion is to do some research on locations in your area where lessons and/or clinics are given and get yourself signed up. Clinics are a great intro to the game but to get you comfortable with all aspects of the game I suggest finding a professional and getting yourself a series of lessons that will cover all facets of the game. I once had a female attorney contact me about lessons (for business purposes) and asked if the first couple of lessons we could not touch a golf club but rather spend the time covering things like how to make a tee time, what to wear and not wear to the course, what are the guidelines for gratuities basically get comfortable in the environment. Make sure your golf professional has the flexibility to work with you and your needs.

So, in these difficult economic times if you are looking for a way to have an edge in the business world, golf might just be the partner you’ve been looking for. Golf is kind of like technology in a sense. If you’re still using a rotary home phone, a 7 year old computer, and have no idea what Twitter is or means….you're behind the times no doubt. And if you are not using golf as a vehicle to network and build business, it’s kind of like being in that same boat.

 Blog written by Vince-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy