Golf Scoring: Strokeplay and Matchplay

One of the good things about golf is that the handicap system allows players of different standards and abilitites to compete against each other. There are various types of competitions or ways of scoring golf which suit different playing abilities and different numbers of players. Two of the most well known methods are strokeplay and matchplay.

Strokeplay
Strokeplay, or medal play, as it is sometimes known, is generally thought of as the most demanding form of competition play. The scores for each hole are added up and a gross score is calculated from these. If strokeplay is being used in a professional competition then the gross score is used to determine the winner. However, if the competition is for amateurs then the players' handicaps are deducted from the gross score to give a nett score. Quite simply, the player with the lowest gross score is the winner of the professional competition and the player with the lowest nett score is the winner of the amateur competition.

In a strokeplay competition you can be competing against a whole host of other players rather than having just one opponent. Your playing partner is known as the marker, which basically means that you exchange scorecards at the start and mark each others card throughout the round.

You have to have a good mental approach when playing strokeplay and not let certain things get to you. Always concentrate on the shot you are playing and try not to think ahead or go over previous holes in your head. In fact, try to put the score out of you head completely!

Matchplay
Matchplay is a type of competition where you play against an individual or in a partnership against another partnership. Holes are scored one by one with the player with the lowest score (either gross or nett depending on how you are playing) winning the hole.

At the start of the round both players are level. If player A wins the first hole then he goes one up while player B goes one down. If they draw on a hole then the hole is 'halved' and each player's score remains the same. If player A wins the next hole then he goes two up and player B goes two down but if player B wins the hole then they go back to being level and the match is 'all square'.

If eventually player A is three up at the 15th hole - i.e. three up with three to play- then he is 'dormie' three which means he cannot lose unless they have to play extra holes. If A gets to the stage where he is, for example, three up with two to play or two up with one to play then he has won. This is abbreviated to saying he has won 3 and 2 or, 2 and 1.

If the round finishes all square then depending on the rules of the competition the players either start at the first hole again (which becomes the 19th) and continue playing until someone goes one up or the match finishes there.

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The Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Golfing With Your Kids

Golfing with your kids is a lot different than golfing with adults, obviously.

Your kids have a shorter attention span, and they are also shorter than your friends.

Your kids have to be supervised the whole time, whereas your friends do not (usually).

Your kids sometimes act like they are being tortured just by being on the golf course, whereas your friends do not (usually).

It would be so much more fun if your kids acted like they were having fun rather than being tortured when you are out golfing with them. It be even better if they looked forward to going and told all their friends how much fun golfing is, right?

I have spent a lot of time with kids on golf courses over the last 15 years, and I have learned by trial and error what works and what does not. Let me share with you seven common mistakes I have made that you should avoid when playing golf with kids:

Mistake #1: Not Preparing Mentally

You want to be in the best mood possible for your sake and the kids. Do whatever it takes to get in a good mood before you go. Think happy thoughts, leave work and bills behind, stop at their favorite fast food place on the way there, whatever it takes. If you are not in a good mood, they will know it and it will affect the enjoyment for all.

Mistake #2: Not Preparing the Equipment

The last thing you and your kids want to be doing on the course is fumbling around the golf bags looking for golf balls, tees, ball markers, etc. Take some time before you go to get all of the bags (including yours) set up with everything they will need, including a full water bottle or sport drink and snack. Make sure each person knows where these things are before you leave.

Mistake #3: Going at a Crowded Time

As mistakes go, this one is not so bad. It can happen regardless of planning. Just do your best to go on off times (the pro shop can suggest the best times to golf with kids). The less waiting you have to do on tee boxes, the less opportunity for distraction and boredom.

Mistake #4: Making Too Many Rules

There are many, many rules of golf, most of which we do not know and do not think about. Kids need to learn the rules, but not all at once. Start off with just the basics: no running on the green, do not hit until I say you can, be quiet when others are hitting, do not lay your clubs on the green. After a few trips, these things will become automatic and you can begin teaching them how to take proper relief and what the different color markers mean. You will be pleasantly surprised when, all of a sudden, you all play a round of golf and everything just clicks. Let me tell you it is marvelous!

Mistake #5: Yelling When They Make a Mistake

Kids are going to get angry and wild and make mistakes on the course, after all they are kids. In fact they are going to do things you never even dreamed of: throwing golf balls at each other, slamming clubs on the ground, hitting when someone is in front of them, climbing trees, etc. While it is tempting to yell at them to stop, I have found it to be much more effective to walk over to the offender and tell them the next time you do that we are all going to have to leave. This adds a little peer group pressure to the equation and works quite well. If the behavior continues, do not be shy about following through with your threat and taking everyone home. It just might turn out to be a great lesson for them all to learn, and pay great dividends in the future.

Mistake #6: Forgetting the Kids at the Course (Just Kidding). Let us call this one Taking too Much Time and Getting Stressed Out

I have always been a fan of prompt play. Nothing gets to me quicker than continually waiting on the group in front, or worse, watching the group behind leaning on their clubs waiting for a slow person in my group. When I first started playing golf with my kids and their friends, I would obsess over our pace of play - constantly looking back to make sure we were not holding anyone up. It really robbed me of a lot of the enjoyment I should have been experiencing with kids on the course. The next three ideas sum up the solutions I have found to ease this stress and increase the level of enjoyment for everyone.

Teach your kids that their place on the course is behind the group in front of them, not in front of the group behind them.

Teach your kids how to play ready golf to catch up to the group in front, i.e., it is OK to hit when you are ready, as long as no one is in front of you.

Teach your kids how to let the group behind play through. Make sure to demonstrate the proper etiquette, telling the group playing through to have a great round! What if you have to let more than one group play through? So what, you are out here to have fun, and the longer time spent having fun the better, right?

Mistake #7: Staying Too Long

This one takes a little observation and feel, kind of like the game of golf itself. If they are just getting a little tired, a few words of encouragement from you may work fine to get them through the last few holes. If, on the other hand, their fatigue is affecting their interaction with others (name calling, curt, angry responses to simple comments, etc.), maybe it is time to head for the car. You do not have to blame stopping on them, which will make them feel bad. You can say you are getting tired and you sure could use a cold drink. This way they do not feel like they were on the Bataan Death March and will remember a good time, which is critical in your quest to get them interested in golf.

Playing golf with kids is definitely different than playing golf with your friends, but it can be a rewarding experience. Their youthful energy and natural exuberance can even wear off on you, bringing a whole new level of fun to your own game!

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Golf Fitness Training - Build Muscle For A Better Swing

In the game of golf, having the ball go where you want it to is not always as easy as it looks. There are so many different elements that all have to come together to culminate in the perfect swing, golfers who aren't doing as well as other players are turning to golf fitness training to improve their game. One of the first things they learn is how to strengthen their legs in order to maintain balance during the swing.

The term golf fitness training conjures up a lot of different ideas like jogging or pumping iron when you play the sport, but what it really has to do with is conditioning the muscles you use to play golf with to improve your game. Not only does this type of training give you more power in your swing but also better accuracy. It also prevents pulled muscles and other injuries.

The reasoning behind completing a golf fitness training program is to strengthen the muscles that you only use for golf and rarely use any other time. Think about it like this. The way a golfer must turn and twist their back and legs aren't exactly natural, which is why this may be the only time you use these muscles. Don't be surprised if after nine holes you will be able to feel the pain in every muscle you need to work on.

Balance can be improved by using different muscles. Strength training the quads, the hamstrings and calves will also help improve your stance. If you combine the strength of your legs with solid upper arms and abdominals you will have more control over you balance during the stroke.

The back swing and the downswing are the parts of the swing where a golfer has to shift their feet. Ideally you want to hit the ball with your weight positioned over the right foot. Being able to do this will send you ball farther and with more control, but you really need stronger legs to maintain balance in order to accomplish this.

There are many easy exercises that can help someone who only plays golf once a week. A golf fitness program will explain these exercises, but it is up to you to take a few minutes everyday so that you can strengthen these muscles. For example, there are back muscles called lats that you use during your swing. A few minutes of pull-ups will strengthen them so they don't cramp up during the game. For more information and golf tips visit http://www.golftipsofthemonth.com

If you really do get into better shape by sticking to golf fitness, don't stop just because you aren't playing during the winter. Exercise year-round and you will begin to see that you can spend more time on the course playing instead of hurting.

A golf fitness training program is really only meant to improve your golf game, so the workouts are only twice a week and only last approximately twenty five minutes. But as with attempting any other exercise, talk to your doctor and see if you are in good enough shape to benefit from the program.


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