2013年9月2日星期一

The Best Golf Drivers

Considering the variety of golf clubs available, you may find everyone from golf amateurs to golf professionals debating which golf clubs and golf drivers are the “best”. It is a question that, in many cases, boils down to personal choice, budget, and performance. This debate has been further intensified by the improvements in golf driver technology. Adjustments in aerodynamics, size of the clubs, launch angle and certain sweet spot modifications all play a role in constructing the perfect driver.

However, while searching for an answer to this elusive question, it is a good idea to keep in mind what the golf driver is specifically intended for. Your driver is the longest and lowest lofted club in your bag, and it should be the lightest club you own. Your driver is designed for the longest range and is frequently used from the tee making it one of the most important clubs in your bag.

Construction

The engineering involved in making of a golf driver is a complicated process that takes into account different aspects such as volume, moment of inertia, center of restitution, and center of gravity. Moment of inertia explains how resistant the club is to twisting. Overall, the less it twists the more stable it is, and the straighter and further the ball will go. Center of gravity measures how bouncy the club is during impact.

Generally, a center of restitution of “1” bounces perfectly with no loss of energy while a center of restitution of “0” means that the club has little elasticity and sticks to the ball on impact. Try to position the center of restitution and center of gravity high vertically. To position the center horizontally and back away from the face of the club, you need to carefully reposition your weight.

Materials to Consider

When making a choice about which golf driver to purchase, it is a good idea to consider the weight and length of the shaft, and how the head of the club is shaped. Initially, golf drivers were constructed from wood. Today, however, many modern drivers are made from stainless steel, titanium, or an alloy material.

Of the available materials, alloy golf drivers are typically one of the most inexpensive. Alloy drivers are high quality and are very affordable which makes them popular with beginners. Stainless steel is another inexpensive option. Stainless steel makes the driver heavy yet reliable and extremely durable as well. Stainless steel heads are generally smaller, but a golfer is assured a solid strike each time the ball is hit. For this reason many veteran golfers use stainless steel as the additional weight allows them more control over their swing.

As far as price goes, on the other end of the scale are titanium drivers. Titanium drivers are expensive due to the fact that, besides being one of the newest developments in golf technology, titanium is a lightweight and long lasting material. Titanium makes the club head extremely lightweight and, the lighter the club head, the faster the swing. Titanium drivers can also help to increase tee distance.

A titanium golf driver can be a beginner golfer’s best friend. Titanium drivers are “forgiving” as well, which means that the club will correctly adjust an imperfect swing. Titanium drivers are also a popular choice with professional golf players, as they are the lightest and strongest.

A driver constructed out of a combination of titanium and other non-metallic materials generally has a smaller head than a pure titanium driver, yet they are still very lightweight. Composite drivers allow the weight to remain centered near the face of the club. Composite drivers are considered by some to be the best drivers available.

The materials used in the club head are not the only consideration you should think about when purchasing clubs. The material the shaft is made from is also important. The shaft needs to stay intact and not break while giving ‘spring in the swing.’ For this reason, graphite is commonly used in shaft construction as it is strong and lightweight which helps not only with breakage, but also affects club head speed and distance. Stainless steel, which is more rigid and much heavier, does suit a few golf players, but usually graphite is the preferred choice of most golfers.

The Evolution of the Driver

Considered the second most important club in a golfer’s arsenal, the driver has changed by leaps and bounds over the years. One thing that stands out is how much bigger the head has become, as well as the shaft. Today’s modern driver is typically made from highly flexible graphite. The only reason a club head can be as large as they are today is because of the lightweight and durable materials available for construction. Titanium, in particular, influences the spring when hitting the ball.

The Famous Asian Golf Resorts

Asian golf offers a variety and choice of golf destinations to select. Some of the best golf resorts in Asia are located in Brunei, Cambodia, China, UAE and Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Asian Golfers such as Jeev Milkha Singh and the Japanese teenage golfer Ryo Ishikawa have found places in the Asian Golf News as well as in the International scenario.

The most famous Asian Golf Resorts are as follows:

United Arab Emirates, Brunei – golf resorts like the Empire Country Club, RBA Golf Club, The Royal Brunei Golf and Country Club.

Thailand is famed for its golf courses such as the Laguna Phuket Golf club. Bangkok has the famous Alpine Golf and Sports Club, Pattaya

Malaysia has the famous Mines Resort & Golf Club near Kuala Lumpur.

Vietnam is still an up-and-coming golf destination, but the Nick Faldo-designed Ocean Dunes Golf Club that opened in 1996 has already gained some acclaim. The Dalat Palace Golf Club is also located in Vietnam.

In China golf is booming and the country already has a number of world-class championship courses, of which the most famous is the Mission Hills Golf Club, spanning Shenzhen and Dongguan.

The most famous golf club in Macau is the18-hole championship course at the Macau Golf & Country Club.

The Philippines is home to a number of world-class courses, including the well-known Manila Southwoods Golf & Country.

In Japan there are more than 2,000 courses in the country. The best among them are the Hirono (which has hosted all the major Japanese championships), Tokyo Golf Club and Naruo.

Indian golf courses. Most Indian metros have a reasonable golf course or two. New Delhi boasts the charming Delhi Golf Club, the oldest in the capital. The Classic Golf Resort in Gurgaon is just across the Delhi border to the south. At the hills are the Ooty Golf Club, the Gulmarg Golf Club, a par-72, 18-hole, 6,760 the Shillong Golf Club an 18-hole with 5,873 yards to play across. Then there is the Royal Calcutta Golf Club at Kolkata the oldest Golf Club in the world outside Great Britain.

Dubai in the Middle East has the magnificent Emirates Golf Club.

Nepal the Himalayan country has excellent golf courses in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bhaktapur.

It is needless to say that Golf in Asia made its entry with the expansion of the British Empire.

Golf Tips for Beginner Golfers

You might be a golf beginner looking for your first set of golf clubs and equipment or a pro shopping for upgrades, but all will have the same opinion that golf bags are essential in the game. Next to golf clubs, a golf bag is one of the most key golfing equipment there is.

It is considered a requirement. A good golf bag will lessen your worries on the golf course, (i.E. All your clubs are in their proper place) and you can focus on your teeing.

If you're a beginner golfer, then golf bags are without doubt a must. However, there are things that you should know before going to the nearby golf store and buying a golf bag on impulse. First, there are two types of golf bags? Carry bags and cart bags.

Carry bags are golf bags that are used when you are planning to have a lot of walking on the golf course. Cart golf bags are those that you use when walking is not achievable (as some golf courses prohibit walking), and riding a golf cart is your option. A beginner golfer will most definitely buy a walking bag at first, although if you are a serious beginner of the game, then you will eventually buy both types of golf bags.

If you are a newbie in the game, you might ask "What is a golf bag for? I only have four golf clubs." A golf bag is a functional equipment rather than a fashion statement. It is not just for your golf clubs, but it can also hold your other golf equipment and accessories. Some innovative golf bags even have pocket coolers that can keep your drink ice-cold even for hours! You might want to consider that, especially when you will buy a carry golf bag.

When buying a golf bag, especially a carry golf bag, find a comfortable one. One should check the straps to see if it fits comfortably and whether it can be carried easily. Remember that your golf bag will be one of your trusted companions on the greens, and that you will spend hours with it. So select wisely. Don't buy low quality bags, as you will end up purchasing a new bag in the next few months if your old golf bag tears up. You ought to also buy your golf bag depending on the number of golf clubs that you have. Most golf bags can carry up to 15 golf clubs. A tournament however limits the amount of golf clubs in your golf bag.

Another key thing to consider when purchasing a golf bag is its weight. This is one of the most significant things to know. Golf bags should be light enough to be carried or carted easily, but sturdy enough to hold your clubs and protect them. Some golf bags are even water resistant, and are rain proofed for the protection of your clubs. Most of these golf bags have 8 or 9 dividers or pockets. Again, the amount of dividers that you will need depend on the amount of clubs and accessories you will carry. If you have many golf clubs then go for a golf bag with many dividers. However, these types of golf bags have the tendency to be heavier. Some bags can weigh less than 5 pounds! These types of bags are made up of space-age resources such as graphite, however, they more expensive.

Remember that when buying golf bags, the lighter it is, the better and more comfortable it will be.

The Amazing Saga of Marion Golf Club a little Outside Philadelphia

Merion Golf Club, home-base for the 2013 US Open golf championship, not just has a status as one of the top golf courses around the world, but its saga is really exceptional.  When the club membership in 1910 decided to construct a brand new course, they selected  a club member who was 32 years old and had not designed one golf course.  To think that a person who was on his first piece of work would create such a stunning success that would host five Opens within the next 100 years is really remarkable.  Positioned a little west of Philadelphia, there exists an East and West Course, but what we are going to discuss now will be the East Course, the first of the two constructed and the one where the tournaments are held.

Hugh Wilson is the designer who was from Scotland, a member as well as an excellent golfer.  First thing he would do was tour England and Scotland for seven months studying and playing the celebrated golf courses of the time that had been there.  When you walk Merion during the Open or watch it in the media, you'll likely make out some of the features that you will discern in old courses in Great Britain.  Probably the most notable will be the bunkers; the 120 steep-faced bunkering can be quite reminiscent of just what you will see in Great Britain.

The other remarkable thing regarding this great golf course is how tight it is.  It was initially constructed on only 126 acres, as in comparison to some which might be 300 acres and more.  The initial course was around 6500 yards, and subsequent to the 1981 U.S. Open it had been believed that the small space might make this great golf course obsolete for future Open tournaments.  Not only were most professionals able to overpower some of the shorter holes, but bigger galleries and corporate tents required more room.  Concerns became alleviated when additional adjacent real estate was then purchased, lengthening the course to its present almost 7000 yards.

Merion Golf Club has had a major impact on several of the golf greats, but two of the all-time premier players stand out.  For Bobby Jones, the 1916 U.S. Amateur was the first time Jones appeared in a national competition at 14 years of age.  In 1924 he would be triumphant in his first U.S. Amateur victory, as well as in 1930 Jones finished winning the "Grand Slam" of golf by winning that year's U.S. Amateur, every one at the Merion Golf Club's East Course.  Seven weeks later Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf at 28 years of age.

The other great player who made golf history at Merion was Ben Hogan.  He won the 1950 U.S. Open in one among the great athletic achievements of all time, playing 16 months following a head-on crash with a bus that nearly killed him.  He somehow won in a playoff, playing through incredible pain while still recovering from the accident.  Really one among the great moments in sports history.

Golf Tour that Prepares Players for the Professional Game

The National Professional Golf Tour or more fondly called the NPGT is offered by the Arnold Palmer Golf Management. This is described as a developmental tour that gives golfing professionals of any age the chance to further hone their sporting skills in preparation for professional tournaments. It also gives scores of golf enthusiasts the opportunity to join national professional golf tournaments. The general objective is to prepare the golfers for the Holy Grail of golf: the PGA, Nationaltours, and Championship tournaments. The NPGT creates a level playing field for professional golf which is about celebrated tours, tons of prestige, and big prizes. It is also a convenient golfing event on a national scale because players in the NPGT need not travel across their state just to find a tournament they can join.

Bringing the Tour to Players

Passion for golf is the overarching concept behind the National Professional Golf Tour. Tour founder Larry Lunsford had seen the odds golfers face as they try find and get into professional golf tournaments. So what Lunsford did was to start bringing the tour to the players instead. The NPGT soon became a significant opportunity for both amateur and professional golfers to develop their skills. The convenient and affordable tour now exists in 16 foremost markets in the US. As for amateurs, the NPGT serves as a smooth and logical transition opportunity on their way to professional golf. The tour brings in more participants because it takes away the costly need for travel and accommodation. The idea of bringing the tour to the golfers has gained much popularity.

Ads by Google

Cost-effective Golf Tournament

Tour travels can prove to be expensive. NPGT tournaments are held in sites that are very accessible to golfers, making it cost-effective for aspiring professional golfers. With the concept of the NPGT of bringing the tour to the players, avid golfers on a quest for professional gaming can do away with high tour travel expenses. Players are also given incentives via the tour's affiliations and partnerships with major companies like Choice Hotels International and Hertz. With the NPGT's National Open Championship, players are exposed to the world of professional golf tournaments on a national scale. The stops and highlights of the NPGT nationwide tour are some of the most current events in sports and entertainment.

Privileges of the Pros

Professional means money-earning. The NPGT starts with its Regional Majors with more than 150 participants. The coveted prize is the opportunity to qualify for the NPGT National Open Championship that carries a $1 million purse. However, the regional majors alone carry a $125,000 minimum prize pot. The non-cash prizes are some of the best in the business. Tour membership offers the competing golfers a number of exclusive and extended benefits. Each participant has the chance to compete in six major regional tournaments for the equivalent cost of a single mini-tour event. To underscore its affordability, these golfers can also join local tournaments for a 25 percent discounted rate. With its many activities in various sites, NPGT spells current events in sports and entertainment.