Tag Archives: james irons golf

Lexus Tees Up for the U.S. Open Championship With Online Golf Survey

Calling all golf fans: Lexus wants to hear from you. What would you rather have, the perfect golf game or the perfect marriage? Are you willing to give up a full head of hair, a vacation, even celebrating an anniversary, for that perfect swing? Will Phil Mickelson, Jason Day or Nick Watney perfect their game in time to win the 2011 U.S. Open Championship?

Starting today, in celebration of the automaker’s fifth year as the exclusive automotive partner of the USGA, Lexus is asking golf fans how far they will go in their pursuit of the perfect golf game. In the weeks leading up to the U.S. Open Championship, Lexus will launch an online golf survey on the Lexus Facebook page (http://on.fb.me/LexUSGA) where golf fans can vote on the sometimes outrageous things they have done, all in the name of golf.

“Since not everyone can make it out to Congressional for this year’s U.S. Open, we want to share our passion for golf with fans by letting them express their love for the game on the Lexus Facebook page,” said Dave Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing. “We value the golf community and invite them to check in with us daily and vote on everything from how far they are willing to go for the perfect swing to how many golf bags they can fit in their car. The page will be an engaging destination for golf fans to connect.”

Every day leading up to the U.S. Open Championship at Congressional Country Club, Lexus will post new questions on its Facebook page to see how obsessed fans actually are with the game of golf. After submitting an answer to the survey question of the day, visitors can view poll results in real-time. Fans on the page can also watch videos with Peter Jacobsen and USGA Sr. Technical Director Dick Rugge about why golf balls have dimples and why wedges have grooves.

In addition to the online golf poll, Lexus will be enhancing the onsite experience for U.S. Open attendees. A Full Swing Golf simulator located inside the Lexus Performance Drive Pavilion will encourage golf enthusiasts to take their best shot on a virtual Congressional course for the chance to win an all-new CT Hybrid. Other activities in the Pavilion include a photo with the U.S. Open Championship Trophy that can be shared on Facebook and Twitter, autograph signings with golf pros and the opportunity to create a personalized flipbook using golf props. The LFA supercar will be available for golf fans to explore.

To participate in the survey or for more information about Lexus at the U.S. Open, please visit http://on.fb.me/LexUSGA.

 

The Leuka Mini Masters

An event I look forward to every summer is the Leuka Mini Masters  – ‘Golf’s Unofficial 5th Major’ which takes place at Dukes Meadows Golf Club every July, and has done for the last three years now.

I’m delighted to say that this fantastic charity tournament, which is hosted by actor Dougray Scott, returns to Dukes Meadows for its 4th year on 15th July 2011. A totally unique blend of charity golf day and summer garden party, it is now a firm fixture in both the golfing and social calendars.

The tournament’s unique atmosphere has attracted some of the biggest names in celebrity golf including Tim Henman, Hugh Grant, Rob Brydon, Jimmy Tarbuck, Jimmy Nesbitt, Jodie Kidd and Gianluca Vialli to name but a few.

The event kicked off in style yesterday evening with a Penthouse Launch Party at The Mayfair Hotel in Central London. My good friend Scott Margetts took some great photos which you can see by clicking here.

You can visit the official event page by clicking here, or follow the organisers on Twitter by clicking here.

Great Golf Apps: Number 4

Welcome to part four of my look at the greatest Golf Apps currently available.

Now you can have a Stimpmeter — that angled track that releases a golf ball at a known velocity so that the distance it rolls on a green’s surface can be measured — at the touch of your fingers.

Using an accelerometer and complex algorithms to work out the stimp reading, iStimp can compare the speed of the greens on a new course with your home course to improve your putting, or use it to compare different greens on the course to check the consistency.

You also can store stimp readings to review at a later time. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

 

Steve Stricker wins PGA Memorial Tournament

Despite bogeying the 18th in a tense finish, American Steve Stricker held his nerve to win the rain-delayed Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

He finished on 16 under to beat Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe by a stroke, for his 10th career victory.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy finished five shots behind Stricker, after a final-round 68.

Stricker, who led by three shots going into the final round, birdied five of the opening eight holes to increase his lead to four shots after Kuchar and Jobe took advantage of a huge wobble from Jonathan Byrd.

Byrd began the day in second place but saw his challenge disappear after a bogey on the third and a double-bogey on the eighth.

Stricker, whose win moves him to number four in the world rankings, twice saved par from bunkers, at the 16th and 17th, after a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay, but missed the par putt at the 18th before tapping in for victory.

 

A Beginners Guide To Golf Accessories

So we’ve covered irons, woods, putters and balls – it’s now time to take a look at the various accessories on offer to golfers.

As you look around the average Pro Shop you will see that there is a huge, sometimes confusing array to choose from. There will always be fads that come and ago, but the following are essentials that will be of benefit to you when playing your first rounds of golf.

Towel
Most players carry a towel to wipe their clubs – and if you are lucky enough to be using a caddy,  they should do this after every shot for you.

Your towel clips to the side of your bag, and only needs to be small – however you may need a couple when it’s raining to keep your clubs dry.

Head Cover
These are useful for protecting your clubs from knocks, and are mostly used on the woods. You can also buy them for irons which are useful when transporting or storing your clubs, however this can become a major pain if you’re having to constantly take them on and off your irons throughout your game! They come in various shapes and sizes, and one stage or another, everybody owns a novelty head cover, it’s kind of an unwritten rule 🙂

Pitch Fork
This is used to repair pitch marks on the green. A pitch mark occurs when the ball lands heavily on the green and creates a dent. You can use the Pitch Fork (Or Pitch Mark Repairer as they are sometimes referred to) to even these dents out and restore an even playing service to the putting green. A tee can be used instead if you don’t have one.

Marker
A marker is used only on the green, and is placed just under your ball in order that you can lift your ball off and clean it, or create room for your opponent to putt without your ball being in the way. Many golf gloves include a small pop-off marker on the wrist, otherwise you can buy plastic markers extremely cheaply, or silver / bronze markers are usually available in pro-shops in various designs. If you’re stuck you can easily use a ten-pence piece, or similar sized coin.

Pencil and scorecard
When you pay for your round in the pro-shop you will be given a scorecard, which usually acts as your proof of purchase and of course enables you to keep track of how many shots you hit on each hole.

Umbrella
It’s a sad fact that, particularly in England on Bank Holidays, it will occasionally rain during your round of golf. I would suggest an umbrella, which in most cases will keep you dry between shots. However if it’s thundering, then an umbrella (along with swinging a golf club) is not a great idea – best to head for the clubhouse on these occasions! You can also carry a set of waterproofs in your bag – these days you can get excellent lightweight waterproofs that fit easily over your existing clothing and are designed especially for golfers.

So there you go – all the accessories you need!

Did I miss anything out? Let me know, or if you have any questions, that’s what I’m hear for!

Have a great weekend 🙂

 

Junior Golf Coaching: Summer Programme

I’m really enjoying teaching the Juniors this half-term – it’s been great fun and there are some very talented young golfers out there.

Starting from next week we are also running a Summer Programme at Dukes Meadows.

It runs from 6th June17th July and is a five week course covering every aspect of golf starting at beginner level. There are two separate age groups running, 5-9 and 10+.

The juniors will then be split into smaller groups based on ability, thegroups run on a 6:1 ratio per coach.

The cost is £15 per session / £65 per term.

Please contact me for more details!

 

Great Golf Apps: Number 3

Welcome to the third part of my feature on the best apps out there for golfers.

Today I’m looking at SwingPlane, which captures video using the built in video camera on your device. You can easily analyze your swing with its playback and drawing tools, allowing you to see if your swing is on plane, check your set up angles and monitor head movement, shoulders dipping, etc.

SwingPlaneSample videos of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and others are included. Additional purchases of videos featuring Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and others are available.

Frame by frame advance and rewind is available, as well as slow-motion playback and repeat playback. You can export videos to Facebook, Twitter or email.

Available for the iPhone at the App Store.

PowerPlay Golf – What’s It All About?

PowerPlay Golf is professional golf’s new tournament format, which can be played at any golf club worldwide. The club simply needs to be a PowerPlay Golf Official Venue.

PowerPlay Golf is relatively easy to play. It’s simply a 9-hole variation on golf’s Stableford points scoring system. You score double points for net birdie or better when playing to the Black Flag (which is called ‘going for a PowerPlay’), but with limited PowerPlays you must choose your PowerPlays wisely.

And on the last hole, it’s decision time. A last-hole PowerPlay birdie wins points galore, and possibly the tournament … but failure to make par spells disaster!

You may have seen the tournament on Sky Sports over the weekend, but in case you didn’t – here’s a video demonstration:

 

Donald Is World Number One After PGA Win

Luke Donald beat Lee Westwood in a play-off to win the PGA Championship at Wentworth and overtake him as the world number one.

Donald won at the first play-off hole when Westwood found the water in front of the 18th green.

Donald hit 70 to Westwood’s 68 to tie on six under, while Englishman Simon Dyson (69) was third at four under.

On climbing one spot to the top of the rankings, England’s Donald said: “Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?”

The American-based golfer added: “It’s something I’ll be very proud of. Obviously, there’s a lot of work still to do and hopefully there’ll be much more to come, but I’ll savour this.

“It’s a lot of responsibility and I’m looking forward to the challenge of being number one and hopefully I can hold onto it for a few more weeks. I know Lee and Martin [Kaymer] will be chasing me hard.

“To come through in these circumstances in one of the biggest tournaments in the world, going head-to-head with Lee is pretty special. It doesn’t get much better.

“To win here with the top three in the world, top six out of seven, all of the Ryder Cuppers, all four major champions, and to beat them in stroke play feels pretty good.”

 

Donald Sets The Wentworth Pace

Luke Donald set the pace on day one of the  PGA Championship at Wentworth, shooting a wonderful 64 to go into day two leading the pack on -7.

Donald, currently world number two, equalled his best ever round on the European Tour and held firm despite occasional treacherous conditions at the famous Surrey course.

He leads by two shots from 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero and Sweden’s Johan Edfors.

Another Swede, Oscar Floren, will resume today on -4 with four holes of his first round still to play, as a 36-minute delay for thunder and lightning during the afternoon left several players with unfinished rounds.

England’s Ian Poulter and Ross McGowan, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara were three under.

Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie also lit up the morning with some vintage golf to lead alongside Donald for a spell before slipping back to a two-under 69.