Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or it’s your first time, every golfer wants to improve their game. Follow these golf tips inspired by some of the best players in the world to sharpen your skills before hitting the courses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Whether you plan a trip to the Gulf Coast as a seasoned golfer or are hitting the course for the first time, every golfer will want to improve their score. The philosophy that “golf is not a game of perfect” is without a doubt something that everyone should follow, but that does not mean we shouldn’t all strive for perfection as we hit the course or driving range in the hope that we can hit a series of near-perfect shots.
Golf is undoubtedly one of the most challenging sports to master, but the beauty of this game is that it’s open to everyone. We may never achieve the success that Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus have experienced over recent decades but hitting that perfect 7-iron or holing a long winding putt is something that makes us all want to return.
As we look to maximize our potential and hopefully achieve great things on the course, we can all follow these tips to put us in the best position to succeed when walking around the golf course. Try following these tips not only on your next golfing trip to the Gulf Coast but when you return to your home course.
8 Golf Tips For Every Golfer
Start on the Practice Range
Start on the Practice Range
While heading over to play 18 holes may be incredibly tempting, it is always best to start on the practice range to get a feel for holding a golf club, hopefully eliminating all those bad shots, and simply relaxing in a low-pressure environment. You don’t need to worry about a stray golf ball because you can always hit another one. Don’t worry about anyone else at the practice range as everyone was once a beginner, and it’s common knowledge among golfers that this game is difficult!
Visitors to Gulf Shores can head over to the Orange Beach Golf Center to hit a couple of buckets of balls before heading to one of the awesome courses in the region. The beauty of this location is that it’s a self-pay service, meaning that visitors can enjoy range balls at any time of the day without worrying about heading inside a pro shop to purchase them.
Golfers of all standards should follow the same philosophy of frequently visiting the driving range. Whether during the week after work or before a round at the course, the range should be your go-to spot to work on your game and practice various shots. Perfect these on the range, and your chances of success on the course itself have increased substantially!
Work with a PGA Professional
Work with a PGA Professional
Golfers of all abilities should learn the foundations of the golf swing from a fully trained PGA professional. Organize a private session with the local pro at one of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach golf courses and listen to the fundamentals and head back to the practice range to master those core components that will allow you to succeed on the course.
As you venture onto the course with friends and family, you will likely start hearing tips and tricks from fellow golfers that think they are the next best teaching professional. Be sure to ignore their advice and only listen to those qualified to share expertise on perfecting the golf swing. It is often a recipe for disaster if you listen to a spouse or friend who thinks they are ready to head over to the PGA Tour!
Get Fitted for the Perfect Clubs
Get Fitted for the Perfect Clubs
Many amateur golfers frequently believe that they are not good enough to be fitted for golf clubs. Instead, they simply head to the local golf store and purchase a set of standard clubs without thinking about customization. Regardless of your golfing ability, it is critical that you take the time to visit a golf store and ask the local professional to fit the clubs to your height, swing, and posture to maximize your opportunities to be successful on the course.
If a club is too short or too long, or the lie angle is entirely wrong, you could be setting yourself up for failure. It is important to remember that you do not have to purchase the latest and greatest equipment for it to be a good fit, and golfers of all standards can find clubs to satisfy their budget.
Drive for Show, Putt for Dough!
Drive for Show, Putt for Dough!
Golf can be both exhilarating and highly frustrating…a 300-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, followed by a missed putt from less than two feet! On the scorecard, they are both the same number of strokes, and while the frustration of missing a short putt is understandable, the short game is where amateurs should focus much of their attention.
The statement that golfers “drive for show and putt for dough” is 100% accurate, so don’t hesitate to spend time on the practice putting green and master the touch and tempo needed to be successful on all putting surfaces.
One tip that many PGA professionals offer amateurs is to listen to the ball going into the hole rather than watching it fall. Doing so enables golfers to get into the habit of keeping their head still throughout the stroke, and while the technique is essential in all aspects of the golf swing, touch and feel is undoubtedly the most important aspect when faced with a tricky downhill, undulating putt!
Aim for the Center of the Green
Aim for the Center of the Green
It can be all too tempting to start attacking pins on every green. Still, the reality is if you are looking to maximize your potential and achieve the best score possible, you would greatly benefit from always aiming for the center of the green.
Golfers of all abilities frequently suffer the consequences of getting a little too greedy and “pin seeking” when they would be better suited just to take a safer approach and hit the heart of the green. If you hit every green in the heart of the putting surface, the likelihood is that your score will dramatically improve.
Focus on the Mental Game
Focus on the Mental Game
Golf is frequently recognized as a sport that is both mental and physical. Everyone hits bad shots, but what separates the best golfers from those who will continue to struggle is how quickly they can eliminate that poor hit from their mind and get ready for the next one.
Watching the pros on the PGA Tour is the perfect example to see how many will hit an unfavorable shot, only to follow that up with one that many of us could only dream of hitting.
Yes, the physical aspect is critical in terms of the fundamental swing characteristics, but much of what you see is simply because of their ability to push that lousy shot out of their mind and focus 100% on their next shot.
Play Smart with Course Strategy
Play Smart with Course Strategy
While it can be so tempting to think about hitting that perfect shot that will lead to an easy birdie, the potential risk of finding a nearby hazard frequently outweighs the benefit of attempting these difficult shots.
It’s no surprise that the difference between a good golfer and a great golfer is the understanding of when to attack and when to play safe with an effective golf course strategy. Creating the best angle to approach greens from the tee box or preventing yourself from being short-sided around the green are strategies that the best golfers in the world are thinking about on every hole.
Every golfer will hit a bad shot, but being able to walk away with only one dropped shot because of an effective on-course strategy is much better than facing a disastrous score that could ruin the scorecard.
Stick to a Routine
Stick to a Routine
As you watch the great icons in their sports, you will notice that many of them have a routine that they follow every time. Whether it’s an NBA player preparing to shoot a free throw or a professional tennis star preparing to hit a serve, they always follow the same routine.
The same is true for golfers with their pre-shot routine. Get in the habit of establishing that “trigger” that puts you into the zone and prepares you to picture the perfect shot before executing.
This is particularly helpful when faced with high-pressure situations such as a daunting tee shot over water or perhaps a short putt on the 18th hole to achieve a low score.
