Posts Written by Dianne

We have been practicing every Thursday evening since the start of the year and we thought it would be fun to take those improved skills to LaunchPad  “a new age golf experience”. The multi-level golf and entertainment venue is everything you need for an elevated golf experience. There are 40 hitting bays over two different levels. Each suite is temperature controlled and has couches for the group to relax on, tables to put your drinks and of course, everything you need for a good game of golf.

Heritage Pointe is the newest of the two facilities in the city and after meeting with the manager Scott we thought this would be a fabulous place for us to gather and have some fun with the games it offers.  We promise to plan a fun evening with games, food, bevies and camaraderie. We are planning an event towards the end of March to  go and try out this new facility.

Golfaround is pleased to be able to offer the opportunity for you to purchase the Canada Golf Card. Dianne have purchased in the past and we did not have to use it much for it to pay for itself.  When you check out where it can be used you will find Inglewood Golf Course, Valley Ridge, River Spirit, Wintergreen, Apple Creek and Nanton and many more. You will find free cart with 2 green fees, 50% of second green fee and 25% off purchased green fees. Use this special promo code golfaround23 to purchase the card for $48.95 +GST a savings of $21. Click here to purchase.

Feeling very grateful this year at Thankgiving.

Some of the ladies played the Hawks 9 at Wingfield Golf Club this month and the work they have done at the course does show. This venue also did some teaching for us this year;  a big thank you to  David Tanton and Scott Haswell. What our members had to say…..

“The course was in decent shape. It has been quite a few years since I’ve been there, but what I remember the most is that I always got lost. That did not happen last night. The big difference is they changed the markers on the tee boxes to big, brightly colored balls that you could see from the green. There were 4 of us that went in for drinks/snacks and that was even more fun. It was a great night. Exactly why I love Golfaround! I think it’s worth keeping this course on the list next year. They seem like they are working very hard to improve it.

It is reasonably priced with some great people and the restaurant put up some pretty good food.

“The cost was extremely reasonable. The course was in good shape and overall a really nice experience.”

We are very fortunate to have the number of courses to play that we do and we like to support them all.  We would encourage you to play Wingfield, our ladies that played really did enjoy.

The Play and Stay was a huge success.  We stayed in new digs (Prestige Hotels & Resorts  Radium) this year and were so happy with everything. The staff were fabulous, looking after us very well. It was interesting to learn the story of this family run chain….thank you Cindy H.  We kicked off our weekend with a get together in the banquet room at the hotel where wine and interesting cocktails were enjoyed. The food was excellent and service well done for so many of us. It was a great location having close access to a pub, brewing company and a bakery what more can a girl ask for.

Copper Point  Golf Club has always been a favorite of ours and we have visited a number of times never being disappointed. The greens were slick and challenging, the vistas stunning and the staff very hard working, helpful and friendly, it stems from great leadership. Don’t let the length of the picture perfect Ridge Course fool you. It surprised many offering majestic views and characterd filled terrain.

I think the coolest thing was when Scott McClain Head Professional came out to welcome us on a Paragolfer  Adaptive Sport And Recreation Radsociety   It truly is amazing what has been developed to help those with disabilities.

What a fabulous group of women it was great to see us back together enjoying golf and each other.

“it was FUN and a pleasure to golf with you and Cindy.  I really appreciated your support and encouragement.  WE LAUGHED so much …. the Birdy juice AND Par celebrations I will remember in years to come.” Donna B

It has been a couple of years since we have been able to take the Beginners out on to the loop at Heritage Point. The loop consists of 3 playing holes – a Par 3, 4, & 5, a great way to introduce new golfers to the game and remove some of the intimidation. This year Cindy Judd joined us mentoring the gals around the holes, she is probably the best story teller we know, so I am sure the ladies were entertained as well as learned some good stuff. After learning the basics of the tee box which is the starting point on each hole of a golf course and what the different sets of tees meant, the gals had fun hitting their balls down the fairway. The play was interspersed with advice on how to manage lost balls, balls in the rough and how to know how far away from the pin you were. Then there was the sand bunker and where you leave the rake after raking the trap. The putting green offered the opportunity to learn about the flag stick, minding it and being watchful of someone’s line and repairing a ball mark. We also had some dreaded water to contend with at Heritage, but all was well. Golf is a great game, we don’t have to be athletic or strong we just have to be patient, persistent and thoughtful of others. We finished up on the patio that has a picture perfect setting surrounded by beauty.  Food and service were excellent and a great way to kick the season off taking away some of the jitters for those new to golf.

It is going to be a terrific season as we work at planning a number of events where we can get together and have the fun we have been missing. All events and details can be found on the website. Click here to see what we have in store for you.

Registration for Events – Mark your calendars so you don’t miss out.  You can’t sign up and pay on-line, you send us an e-mail letting us know you are interested. In the past the tournaments and get-a-ways have filled up quite quickly so don’t be disappointed.  If you are a single and need a roomie we can help with this, let us know when you register. Once people have signed up and the details have been sorted out, a 50% non refundable deposit is required to hold the spot and a pay link is sent.

Get-a-ways – The first outing to look forward to is the Day Trip to Water Valley Golf Club which replaces the long time favorite Mystery Bus Trip. But we do plan to get back to this in the future. This “Fun” tournament is for all levels of golfers, Beginners are welcome and it is a perfect way to experience a tournament. No stress we promise! Those that know us know that you can expect a themed event and interesting format that will keep you entertained until the end. We did a shout out to our members for prize donations, thanks to many of you that will help.

In July we are going back to the Copper Point Golf Course for the Play & Stay, they always treat us so well. We do have change up the accommodation to the Prestige Inn this year as the Copper Point Resort  is a little too rich for our blood. This weekend we will play our own balls and enjoy both courses and what happens in BC will stay in BC.

International Travel – We made a decision to stay in Canada this year, travelling to PEI in September. Travel is planned a year out so if you are new to Golfaround this year this why you will see that this trip is full.  Finally we get to have the opportunity to experience a trip of a lifetime, Africa, planned for February 2023. Click here  for details. As many of you know it has been cancelled twice however third time lucky.

Kick Off Social

The season starts with a Kick off Social and this year we will be at Inglewood Golf Club Friday May 6th  6:30 to 9:00pm. We have sent out information for you to review, if you have any questions we will be there to answer them. It has been a couple of years since we have been able to get together as a group so we really want to focus on the social part of the evening. Tiffany Gordon is our guest speaker and she is sure to keep your attention with her wit and knowledge of women and golf. We will enjoy some wine and cheese  and camaraderie. We will also have merchandise to try on and order.

Beginner Golf Course Orientation

Planned for the evening of  Wednesday May 4th Heritage Pointe Golf Club. As a new golfer you may feel nervous and  intimidated and we want to boost your confidence before you head out on to the golf course.  A mentor will take new golfers out and give you some advise and helpful hints. We have never forgotten what it felt like to be a beginner and we want you to love the game as much as we do.

What kind of player are you? Are you a golfer just starting to learn & play or have you been playing the same game for many years. You need to do a bit of a self analysis to figure out the type of golfer you are before beginning your shopping adventure. And yes I am calling it an adventure as it can be a bit overwhelming.

Look at how you play, if you can break 90,  you need to start shopping for some clubs with better feel. For a lot of amateur golfers feeling the clubhead when swinging simply doesn’t happen and probably never will but really good players have an intimate feeling of where the golf club head is at all times during the swing. If you are shooting over 100 consistently, you need to keep your focus on forgiveness and distance.

If it is your first experience buying  golf clubs and you have never played before, keep an open mind to looking for a complete beginner set. The set will give you everything you need to get out there and start practicing and playing while getting some positive results right from the start. When you take your lessons your golf professional will also be a good resource.

How Much Money do you want to spend? Golf clubs can be very expensive the cost of a Driver or Putter can put you back $500, there goes your budget on one club. If money is no object, then you should look into the latest and greatest technology. The newest releases from a company are going to be the most expensive, but they will undoubtedly be packed with power and performance.

Less money to spend? there are a few ways to still get what you need. Look into models that are 2-3 years old instead the latest and greatest. Another way to upgrade your golf clubs on a budget is to do it in pieces or buy used clubs. Existing members often have clubs to give away or sell at a reasonable cost. Watch for that e-mail from us in April.

Usually there is an area in your bag that needs immediate attention. Do you not have a sand wedge? Is your Driver 14 years old? Start with these areas. Look at the weaknesses in your game and attack those areas first. From there, move onto the less imperative needs in your golf bag.

Check the lofts on your clubs before purchasing new ones. If you carry a five iron, the loft might be considerably different than a five hybrid. Plenty of women will bring both a five hybrid and a five iron because of these gaps in loft. Gaps in lofts create differences in yardages. Another common area for a gap, especially in a women’s set of clubs is the Pitching Wedge to the Sand Wedge. A Pitching Wedge in a modern women’s golf iron set is right around 43-45 degrees. The Sand wedge is typically around 56 degrees. Even if you love hybrids and woods, leave room in your bag for that Gap Wedge. The wedges are your scoring clubs; all good players will care more about wedges than they do about woods.

Do you want custom made clubs if your budget allows, a custom fitting can never hurt. Custom club fitting will tell you precisely what length club you need, if you need the loft or lie adjusted and what grip will work best for your game. All of these things are great to know. A standard women’s set is built to fit women who are 5’4″ to 5’9″. If you are 5’9″ or taller, look into the Men’s senior flex golf clubs. The clubs will be the correct height, and the flex will be very similar to the women’s flex.

Trying out the Equipment The most important thing when trying out new equipment is to bring your old equipment with you. You may have the latest Hybrid in your hand designed to be longer, more forgiving, and higher launching than the club you have now. However, when you hit it , both clubs go the same distance. There are many reasons this happens but if you did not have your club(s) with you with you the difference would not be noticed. Golf stores and simulators are a great place to hit new equipment and today a number of the courses have simulators  so you have lots of options and the bonus is maybe working with someone you had lessons from.

If you can find an outdoor range that also allows you to try out clubs, that is the best option. Swinging outside is less restrictive, and you will get a better idea of what you are truly capable of doing. Seeing a real golf ball fly on the range, just as it would on the course is the best possible feedback you can get.

Conclusion Buying a set of golf clubs can be a significant undertaking, but with these steps, you will be well on your way to lowering your score. Make sure you first determine what type of player you are, set your budget, and decide which type of clubs you need. Next, you can make some decisions about stock or custom sets, and eventually, it just comes down to finding the deal that works for you.

Most of us want to get more distance when we tee off and so we are always looking for the driver that will do that for us. We see a fellow golfer hit the ball beautifully and we ask what driver do you have? it looks great. Just because you like how it looks doesn’t mean that it is the correct club for you. Choosing a driver because it looks great is not the way to buy one if you want to play a better game of golf. In fact, nine out of 10 golfers play with drivers that do not have sufficient loft and their drivers are too long for their swings. Furthermore, just because some drivers cost a lot of money does not mean that you will instantly improve your game. Here are a few things to think about as you select your new driver.

Ask a golf Professional? This always a good thing to do. The golf course Pros are there to help you choose the right equipment for your individual swing, height and age. Many golfers have drivers that are too long for them and also do not have enough loft to give them increased distance

Choose the right club head. There are many choices out there and many sizes but for simplicity lets divide them into small, medium and large.

A smaller club head is lighter and gives you more control of your swing but you may sacrifice distance for control. In addition smaller club heads have smaller sweet spots so if you hit tee shots often that miss the “sweet spot,” you probably need a driver with maximum forgiveness.

Large club heads have a larger sweet spot as well as more mass to help create momentum and distance to your swing. A larger club face is much more forgiving on a mishit. A mid size club head is a compromise between control and distance. There are also different materials for club heads, titanium and stainless steel primarily. Titanium allows you to have a larger club face with less weight but stainless steel will be cheaper. Ultimately what the driver is made of will be immaterial it all boils down to how it feels to you.

Choose the right shaft  The type of shaft is also just as important as the driver head. Different materials provide different flex. Flex is the amount of “bend” in a shaft. Basically, the slower the swing you have, the more flex you need to create the right impact speed. If you have a fast swing, you will need a stiffer club shaft.

Choose the right loft  Loft is the measure of the angle of the club head. The greater the loft, the greater the angle on the face of the head and the more control but less distance. Slower swings need more loft. Faster swings need less loft. If your swing speed is over 100 mph and you hit the golf ball a long way, you should have a driver with a loft of about 12 degrees, or less, and that will produce less backspin. But if you are like most golfers with swing speeds that are below 90 mph, you will need a more lofted driver that increases that backspin to keep the ball aloft. In some cases, you may need a more lofted driver to get the ball airborne.

Choose the right length You will need to choose the right length shaft to ensure you have proper positioning on the ball during your swing. Additionally, a longer club may give your more distance, but may give you less control. Swinging clubs of improper length can create inconsistency in ball contact due to improper club path to the ball and an ineffective swing plane.

When choosing a driver, it should look and feel comfortable in your hands. Swing-weight, length and flex should all feel right to you. How a club feels will differ from each person but the club head should generally always feel light and manageable while still having enough weight to create the feeling of drag.

Having the right club in hand will not guarantee a good shot there are other considerations to hitting a good tee shot. You should have a slightly closed stance, a low, smooth and wide takeaway and a full turn of the torso. Fifty percent of the ball should be above the club head and it should be positioned ahead in the stance. Consentrate on letting the hips and lower back do most of the rotation and do a full body turn for maximum power.

Early indoor lessons got underway in February,  there were a few eager to work out some of the bugs before the season starts. The Eaglequest Golf Dome in the north at Fox Hollow golf course is our home for our Level programs and Brent Grosart is helping them work through their issues.  These lessons wrap up soon and another set will start mid  March to mid April. The Short Game lessons were once again done at Riverside Golf Academy and when we meet the golf professional Matt Cook we learned that he is the son of Grant Cook who taught for Golfaround back in our early days. A major influence in Matts’s journey towards the PGA was his father Grant Cook, who was a part of the PGA of Alberta for many years. Grant has since passed, and through the unfortunate loss of his father, it propelled him forward to keep his last name in the industry.  A few of the dirty dozen will attest that Grant was an amazing instructor, person and it looks like his son Matt is following in his foot steps. Matt is very passionate and the ladies loved his teaching style and the tips and drills that they took away.