“Warm Up- Routine Before Tee Off:
Start with your short game”
by Bob Baldassari, PGA Professional

• START on the putting green to get a feel for the pace of the greens
  
  
• Work your way off the green with some chip and wedge shots
  
  
• Driving range is the last stop, hit some irons, fairway woods
  
  
• Finish the routine by hitting with your driver because 9 out of 10 times your first shot of the day will be with your driver. Try to get less than 5 minutes between hitting your most powerful driver swing and your drive off the 1st tee.

“Information on Scoring”
by Leslie Guttenberg, LPGA Professional

Scoring can be a very intimidating part of the game for the new golfer. Scoring starts to define you as a golfer. As a new golfer, you can begin to keep score but in a different way. For example, you may want to keep score on:

• How many fairways did I hit?
  
  
• How many chips did I take to get to the green?
  
  
• If I landed in a sand trap, how many strokes did it take for me to get out of the sand trap?
  
  
• How many putts did I have on each hole?

It is a different way of thinking. Use of the Golf Road Show’s Personal Best Score Card can help chart you progress. The idea is to have fun while you are playing.

“Speed and Distance Control”
by Bob Baldassari, PGA Professional

Speed control is a key to sinking putts.

• One way to check the distance from your ball to the pin, is to pace it off.
  
  
• By pacing off the distance you also get a feel with your feet for the downhill / uphill terrain.
  
  
• Is it a dry day? The putt will be a little faster.
  
  
• Is it a wet day? The putt will be a little slower.
  
  
• Train your eye on rough estimates of distance.
  
  
• Start training your eye with 15 foot putts. Once your groove this distance, you will be better able to adjust to the speed and distance control for shorter and longer putts.
  

“Mental Part of the Game”
by Jim McGee, Ph.D., Sports Psychologist

Dr. Jim’s 5 Tips for the perfect golf game

1. Practice makes perfect. You have to practice to get the skill embedded in muscle memory.
   
   
2. Remind yourself that golf is to be played for fun. If you can lighten it up, you’re much more likely to get into that mental groove that’ll improve your game.
   
   
3. Conditioning. Good physical shape, nutrition and hydration will help your game.
   
   
4. Mental rehearsal. Practice in your mind before making the stoke. Visually imagine yourself making a perfect shot.
   
   
5. Learn from your mistakes. Use it as an opportunity to learn something about what you did wrong so you’ll improve the next time around.
   

“60 degree wedge shots from off the rough to an elevated green”
(Hole 17 at Mt. Pleasant Golf Course)
by Jim Deck, PGA Professional

About 25 feet away from the 12 foot high elevated green

• Open the wedge slightly
  
  
• THEN position your hands on the club
  
  
• Position ball in center of stance
  
  
• Since the club face is open, align a little left of the pin.  Swing to the left and the ball should go towards the target.

• Being closer, you need to open the club face a bit more which in turn will loft the ball up on the green easier.
  
  
• Hands are directly straight down the club
  
  
• Choke down approximately an inch on the club, just work back and through
  
  

Chipping from the Deep Rough
By Natalie Gulbis, LPGA Professional

• Open the clubface.
  
  
• Accelerate through the shot.
  
  
• Prepare for release – the ball will roll more than normal.
  
  

Hitting Less than Full Shots into the Green
By Natalie Gulbis, LPGA Professional

• Determine maximum distance with full swing.
  
  
• Determine distance with 2/3 and 1/2 swings.
  
  

Chip from the Fringe – Club Choice & Stroke
By Natalie Gulbis, LPGA Professional

• Chip with a fairway wood.
  
  
• Use the putting stroke.