All Putting Greens

By Gary Jack Palmer

Chipping instruction – now why in the world would I need to spend any time or money on that? Chipping’s just a short little shot before you get your putter out. Does chipping really play much of a role in an 18 hole round of golf? You bet it does, for touring pros as well as beginners.

The best players in the world only hit 65% of the greens in regulation. So what does that mean? Well, hitting a green in regulation means getting your ball on the putting surface by the first stroke on a par 3 hole, the second stroke on a par 4, or the third strokes on a par 5. Touring pros only do that about 12 times per 18 hole round. But on the other holes, they chip it close to the pin nearly every time. That’s a really big difference between average players and the guys on TV.

An 80 shooter only hits about 8 greens in regulation per round, a 90 shooter only hits 3, and a 100 shooter plays most of his rounds without ever hitting a green. So where should we spend our practice time – on the driving range or around the putting green? That’s right, grab your shag bag, get over to the practice green or out in the backyard, and work on the chipping basics that follow. You’ll very quickly see the results of your efforts on your scorecard.

Chipping Instruction – Mechanics-Based Fundamentals

Address the ball with most of your weight on your front foot

The ball should be positioned slightly towards your back foot

Place your hands ahead of the ball

Keeping your lower body quiet, make a short backswing with your arms and accelerate the club through impact

Check Point – Make sure your hands lead the clubhead through impact

Check Point – Make sure there is only minimal body movement except with the arms

A tendency of poor chippers is to allow the clubhead to overtake the hands, causing a flipping of the hands in an effort to scoop the ball into the air. Keep the hands in front of the clubface throughout the downswing, letting the loft of the club elevate the ball.

Another major cause of poor chipping is taking too long of a backswing and then decelerating the club at impact to prevent hitting the ball too far. Keep the backswing short so you can accelerate through the ball on the downswing while keeping the clubface square to the intended line.

Practice the chipping instruction above and you might just cut 5, 10, maybe 15 strokes off your 18 hole scores.

For more help with your chipping, you might want to visit Short Game Instruction. And, you might also want to get a copy of my Free Short Game Guide.

“Perfect practice makes perfect, but any practice will help.”

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Tags: Backyard Putting Greens, Home Putting Greens, Putting Practice Tips by rmvalles
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By Hank Kerfoot

When it comes to golf course putting greens, MiniVerde has been the most popular Bermudagrass in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Trials for more than a few years. Golf course owners and superintendents are very specific in their demands for turfgrass products, and MiniVerde seems to be the choice to meet their unique needs the best.

Characterized by a very fine leaf blade and deep green color, this type of grass is also known as MiniVerde Ultradwarf Bermuda and has a lower temperature color retention than other similar varieties. Because it is so versatile, the grass can be closely mowed to heights even lower than 1/8 inch. Golfers appreciate the low height and lack of grain while golf course superintendents say they spend less time baby sitting their greens after planting MiniVerde sod or sprigs.

Golf course owners and course maintenance workers are fans of MiniVerde because it makes their jobs easier. The surface is easily managed in comparison to other ultradwarf grasses due to deep roots and the ability to bounce back from high traffic and cultural practices. Owners also love the fact that it requires less down time which means more tee times!

Primarily a warm season grass grown especially for golf course putting greens, MiniVerde can be planted with a no-till process if the location and site is right. Other qualities that make MiniVerde the top choice of golf course superintendents include:

o Far less grain than other ultradwarf Bermudas.

o Significantly less thatch than others.

o Lower maintenance than other ultradwarf Bermudas.

o Deep roots and plenty of rhizomes.

o Ultra fine leaf blade.

o Deep green hue.

o Velvety look and feel.

o Superior disease resistance.

o Quicker recovery from injury compared to other ultradwarf types.

o Ability to spread quickly during establishment.

Normally planted as sprigs, MiniVerde sod is also available. MiniVerde sod offers a quicker solution to replacing or establishing greens when waiting for sprigs just won’t do. MiniVerde sod is more expensive than sprigs but significantly decreases down time allowing for revenue streams to begin more quickly. Many end users also find MiniVerde sod useful for repairing existing stands of turf that may need to be replaced from time to time.

Keeping putting greens fast, true, attractive and in ideal condition for demanding golfers can take a lot of hard work and money, but using MiniVerde sod and sprigs simplifies the process. You can rest easy when you select MiniVerde, because you know its excellent reputation speaks for itself. With MiniVerde putting greens and the right kind of maintenance, your golf course will keep golfers coming back time and time again.

To learn more about the high quality sod and grasses Modern Turf grows in South Carolina visit their website at www.modernturf.com. Schedule a consultation today to end your search for the perfect high-quality sod- the most durable grass you have ever worked with, guaranteed.

Hank Kerfoot owns and operates Modern Turf, the SE US premier sod farm and are golf turf experts. For more information about how to prepare your soil for sod, contact http://www.modernturf.com today

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Tags: Backyard Putting Greens, Outdoor Putting Greens, Putting Greens by rmvalles
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By Ben Nystrom

Diehard golf fans are a breed all their own. Many travel hundreds of miles and spend thousands of dollars to play in new, exciting locales. Others pay outrageous membership fees every year just to have a place to practice their swing. However, any avid golfer can create a private golf sanctuary right in his or her own back yard. All you need is some space, a few resources, creativity, and the correct landscaping techniques. Below, you’ll find ideas and useful tips that can help turn your plain old yard into the envy of every golfer on the block.

The first step in creating a backyard golf course is to understand your yard’s terrain. Figure out the size, shape, natural elevations, and the amount of sun and rain in the area you wish to turn into a backyard course. Check your city’s zoning laws to make sure your landscaping ideas won’t be in violation of any code. This may seem like a lot to consider, but doing so will only make your project that much easier to complete

Next, decide which aspects of a traditional course will fit on your property. Chances are, you won’t be able to fit eighteen holes. However, if you do have a few spare acres, you can easily create a one- or two-hole course. Choose the course features for your course. These may include: a tee-off area, a chipping area, a sand or a small water trap, a rough, and a putting green.

If your budget and space is limited, just include your favorite aspects of golf. Are you a fan of teeing off? If so, why not add a driving range to your property? Relatively simple to design and construct, driving ranges won’t disturb the neighbors too much, assuming you have enough space and the proper safety netting. Or perhaps you need a space to practice chipping? Chipping areas are another fairly small, easily landscaped choice. Design your chipping area with plenty of rough grass, mounds, or water or sand traps. Chipping areas don’t need to be immaculately manicured, either. Letting the area get a little overgrown will probably help your game even more.

Putting greens do require a bit more planning than other features, but they can be designed to fit nearly any space. Make sure your putting area is flat. Design and install a drainage system, and dedicate time to properly cultivating the turf. A grass green is a fairly long-term project, so if you are looking for more immediate results, opt for artificial turf. Artificial grass is quick to install and requires a lot less maintenance.

If you are restricted by size but still want a full course, try designing a mini-golf course. Mini courses can be a lot of fun, but they also a lot of work, especially if you want each hole to be different and challenging. Hiring a professional designer is probably your best bet when building a mini-golf course; however, that doesn’t mean you can’t be in on the design process.

Yes, golf fanatics around the world have started to build their own courses, holes or practice areas. And if you have the means and have done the research, there is no reason why you can’t have your own personal course as well.

~Ben Nystrom, 2009

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Don’t replace it, repower it using an inexpensive engine repower kit from the Repower Specialists, the people dedicating to Jacobsen small engine replacement kits.

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 By Thomas Johnsen

Artificial grass has been around for a while now – over fifty years. It was first developed to help people in cities get more exercise, and has been through a lot of changes. The first synthetic fibers were made in the 1950s by a subsidiary of Monsanto. This fiber turned out to be the father of what we now think of as Astroturf – the Monsanto trademarked artificial grass used in playing fields. A lot of research went into how to cushion, weather proof, drain and protect this substance against wear and tear. The Astrodome in Houston, Texas, was the first stadium to be built with artificial grass, and 1966 was the first baseball season to be played on it.

By the 1970s, this material had spread, with many companies producing sand filled carpets of artificial grass that mimicked Astroturf. However, for most people, this synthetic grass was just a little too harsh. This continued until the 1990s, when a new kind of rubber filled, nylon artificial turf was created. It was more comfortable to walk, run, and play sports on, breathed better and was much better for all kinds of sports. Now, it’s being used to create artificial putting greens for golfers, and it’s so effective that many big commercial golf courses are replacing their lovingly maintained natural greens with synthetics.

Why play on a synthetic green? There are all kinds of reasons. Artificial greens are easier to maintain and keep in good condition, meaning that you know your green isn’t going to contain any unpleasant surprises. They’re more even and more consistent than the real thing, too. That means no surprise bumps and lumps in the green. If you own your own backyard putting green, synthetics make it easier to practice. After all, no one wants to go through the effort to maintain the real thing without a dedicated staff. Plus, they’re cheaper in the long run. A synthetic green might cost a bit to buy and install, but it costs nearly nothing in maintenance afterward.

Artificial greens can actually improve your game, with their even, reliable surfaces and easy maintenance. You’ll be able to know that there’s nothing getting in the way of a good shot. Plus synthetics can come home with you! Create your own artificial putting green in the backyard, and see how much better the convenient practice area makes your game out on the links. Real grass comes in a distant second when compared to the best synthetics on the market. In fact, if you’re used to playing on an artificial green, the real thing can be downright frustrating. Take the time to find out more about artificial greens. You’ll be happy you did.

For more tips and advantages of playing golf on artificial putting greens as well as the opportunity to receive a free golf newsletter, come visit us at Golfandcarts.com.

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Tags: Artificial Putting Greens, Backyard Putting Greens, Outdoor Putting Greens, Putting Greens, Synthetic Putting Greens by rmvalles
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