This article was written by Steve Carroll from our partner National Club Golfer.
Thanks to Kenneth Johnston for emailing in a question I suspect has caught a few out from time to time.
“If I accidentally lift my ball on the green without putting my marker down then realise what I have done when it is my turn to play, what would the rule be, and what penalty would I incur? I have actually done it.”
As have I Kenneth and, as we’re about to see, so did a very famous player in a big tournament.
Cue lots of headlines shouting about ‘bizarre’ rules breaches. But while it’s certainly not common at the professional level, are there any of you out there who have fallen foul?
I did in the opening week back after the first lockdown last year. Clearly being back on the fairways after so long away melted my mind.
The result was I had to add a stroke to my score.
A ball on the putting green can be lifted and cleaned but it also needs to be replaced on its original spot.
Rule 14.1a – Spot of the Ball to Be Lifted and Replaced Must Be Marked – explains that before you lift it, you’ve got to mark that spot. That’s most commonly done with a ball marker, though you can also hold a club on the ground behind or right next to the ball.
If you forget and lift the ball off the green without marking its spot, you get a penalty stroke. And if this does ever happen, make sure you put the ball back where it was before cracking on.
This article was written by Steve Carroll from our partner National Club Golfer.
This is the situation. It’s a par 3 where you can’t see much of the flag and there’s trouble in all directions. You hit a tee shot but don’t see where it lands.
Worried about its location, you announce and play a provisional. You get to the green, spend three minutes looking for the first ball but can’t find it.
Disappointed, you move on and play the provisional, which is on the green, and you now believe to be the ball in play under penalty of stroke-and-distance.
Holing out after two putts, you get to the cup only to see your original ball also nestled at the bottom.
So what now? Is it a hole-in-one, or a double bogey? In both cases, the players who contacted me opted to write the latter on their scorecard. But were they right?
Rules of Golf explained: Our expert says…
This one sounds complicated but the answer is revealed right at the front of the rule book. In Rule 1.1, no less.
In fact, it’s clear if you just stop for a second and think about what the game is really all about – what its purpose is.
Let’s give you the R&A and USGA definition. “Each hole starts with a stroke from the teeing area and ends when the ball is holed on the putting green.”
Got it? That’s right. As soon as your original ball went in the hole, it was over. Everything else, the provisional, the searching, the putts, didn’t count. The hole was completed the moment the ball was at rest in the hole after your stroke.
So get your wallet out, you’re buying everyone a drink. You’ve hit the perfect shot.
Every fairway was stripped, every bunker renewed. Thousands of metres of irrigation piping were laid and more than 30,000 tonnes of sand shaped onto the holes.
The renovation project was massive and the aim – carpet-like surfaces that are playable all year round – was ambitious.
But, following an intensive year-long redevelopment, we’ll finally see the fruits of the labours when Chart Hills officially relaunches on June 1.
The Kent course has always been renowned for being Sir Nick Faldo’s first European design and for a collection of bunkers that were infamous for their scope and ferocity.
In recent years, though, the golf course had fallen on hard times.
Ramac Holdings, who also own Prince’s, bought the property at the end of 2019 and unveiled some big transformation plans.
Led by director of golf, Anthony Tarchetti, and course manager, Neil Lowther, the work pressed on despite the coronavirus pandemic and a series of shutdowns.
Tarchetti thinks the restoration has produced a playable, yet challenging, layout that will be presented and manicured to championship standards – while making the most of some picturesque South East countryside.
“We have made enormous strides and are hugely proud of the product we will be presenting,” he said.
“While the work has been significant, we absolutely will not rest on our laurels. This is just the beginning of a road of continuous improvement at Chart Hills, with plans already in place to continue developments over the coming years.
“We are extremely excited to welcome our members and their guests back to the club in the coming months.”
It was initially thought that completely redeveloping the property would take more than two years to finish and the team hoped for a late summer opening next year.
The pandemic, and forced closures because of government restrictions, gave Tarchetti and company a chance to change tack.
They had an opportunity to dramatically accelerate the timeframe. They decided to completely close the course in July 2020 and not to reopen until all 18-holes had been renovated – something of a risk given members couldn’t play golf on site and with the sport enjoying a post-lockdown boom last summer.
The fairways were exposed to the bare soil, and the finishing team spread creeping-rye grass on each before watering and fertilising.
This carried on despite a wet, cold, and challenging winter and new touches were applied to the green complexes, as well as a complete overhaul of Chart Hills’ famous collection of more than 100 bunkers.
The course was just the start. The entire venue has been remodelled, with a completely redecorated clubhouse, a new club shop and modernised bar area, along with an improved car park and signage and upgraded practice facilities including a state-of-the-art simulator room.
While Chart Hills, like all other golf facilities, will still have to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines for the time being, the reinvigorated facility will be fully operational from the start of June.
This article was originally published by our partner National Club Golfer.
Shoulder stability is important in golf performance for a number of reasons – including allowing golfers to hit the ball further. A research study has found that 20% of total clubhead speed is, in fact, generated by the shoulder.
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body due to its inherent nature. This is great for a variety of movement but not so great for instability and injury. In many cases where shoulder movement is restricted – overhead or in rotation – it is due to the lack of stability in the joint.
The shoulder blades (scapular) are extremely important in shoulder health and a restriction in their movement can cause lots of issues.
Often due to postural issues (forward head position, flat back, excessively rounded back) and muscular imbalances, we see restricted movement of the scapula which can make it difficult to get optimum arm and shoulder movements.
Good scapular control allows a golfer to…
Adequately rotate in backswing
Increase the stretch-shortening ability of the muscles in the trail shoulder for more elastic power
Increase clubhead speed
Control the clubhead through impact
The ability to do all of the above with reduced injury to the shoulder
Having the ability to control the scapular and maintain good connection with the ribcage is vital to getting into a good backswing position.
In addition all the energy that we create in the lower body due to ground forces, has to migrate into the trail shoulder to then allow the golfer to apply the force to the club.
If you do struggle with shoulder stability and movement, there are certain exercises that you can work on to improve this. Check out my video below which has a number of exercises that you can easily perform at home with only a band.
Golf fitness tips: Shoulder stability
If you would like a more specific programme aimed at improving shoulder mobility to improve your game and performance, then why not arrange a FREE 30 minute consultation. We can discuss what specifically you are looking for and how we can help your game with a remote or face to face training programme.
About Rachael Tibbs
Rachael Tibbs is a TPI L2 certified golf fitness professional based in Leeds, specialising in golf-specific strength and conditioning.
She is currently offering FREE online TPI assessment when you sign up to 3 months of our online coaching.
The gluteus maximus – glutes, to you and me – are the largest muscles in the body and are extremely important to the golf swing.
Sitting down on them for long periods can cause them to be inactive and underused, which results in them weakening. This is not great news for the golf swing as they are a powerful hip extensor – along with the hamstrings – so are crucial for sports and athletic movement and performance.
Stronger glutes aid in golf performance as they:
Help to stabilise the hips and pelvis
Pelvic and hip stability is important in the golf swing as it helps to reduce lateral or excessive lower body movement, particularly in the backswing.
As the upper body and shoulders rotate into the backswing, the pelvis should stay stable to allow internal rotation into the hip. This allows the golfer to create coil and elasticity in the backswing, which can be used to generate speed to the club in the downswing.
Stability is also key for posting into the lead leg on the downswing as the upper body continues to rotate through impact and beyond.
Maintain posture through the swing
Being able to hinge at the hips and maintain this position as you rotate around it through the swing is linked to glute strength.
Maintaining posture allows the golfer the space needed to be able to use the legs to generate power and be consistent in striking the ball.
Generate power through extension in the downswing
The ground is a major power source for the speed produced in the golf swing and this has to come from the legs initially. Having the ability to transfer this force from the ground relies on a big push into it from the legs.
The force then comes back through the legs and results in a powerful extension of the hips – from the glutes – which is subsequently transferred into the trunk and golf club.
So if you feel you have spent far too much time sat down over the last few months and you want to maximise your golf performance, check out this 10-minute glutes workout that you can do at home.
About Rachael Tibbs
Rachael Tibbs is a TPI L2 certified golf fitness professional based in Leeds, specialising in golf-specific strength and conditioning.
She is currently offering a progressive and structured programme aimed at improving glute and core stability – why not check out her 16-week online programme?
Forget what Bryson DeChambeau is doing for a moment – hitting 250 drives a day at maximum speed – and remember that a strong short game is the key to shooting lower scores. Most amateur golfers would be better off working on those more delicate shots.
Mastering the basics will go a long way to improving your performance on and around the greens – but what are they and how else can you become more proficient in this crucial area of the game?
PGA Master Professional Keith Williams offers five ways to improve your short game.
1. Nail the fundamentals
For distances of 25-40 yards, remember that a smooth, co-ordinated swing action is key to gaining both the distance and direction control needed to get the ball close.
Generally speaking, the backswing and follow through distances should be approximately equal, and the speed of the swing one of smooth acceleration. In other words, there should be no panic and sudden effort to try and hit the ball.
Set up with the weight slightly favouring the lead foot and retain this position throughout the swing. You should feel that the hands, arms, and upper torso work together and that you turn through impact to face the pin. I like to see players standing ‘tall’ and balanced on the forward foot, with the hands and arms positioned opposite the middle of the body.
2. Use less loft pitching from fluffy rough
Assuming you’re fairly close to the green, shots out of the fluffy rough can be quite intimidating. In this situation, you require elevation and distance control of both the airborne and roll aspects of the shot.
My advice would be to not always choose your most lofted wedge. Instead, use a mid wedge (50-54 degrees). Position the ball off the inside of the back foot, with your weight slightly favouring the lead foot.
Next, open the clubface slightly so that the bounce of the sole of the club is more exposed. You want to execute a smooth, simple pitching swing – approximately waist-high back will be enough.
Avoid trying to help the ball out of the grass. Instead, allow the clubhead to descend smoothly and contact the grass fractionally behind the ball – yes, behind it!
If you make contact with the ball first, you’re likely to thin or top it. The idea is to allow the club to move down under the ball. What you’re looking to do is ‘gather it up’, to send the ball up softly and control its route to the flag.
Watch the pros and you’ll see they have this wonderful smooth swing action, with the hands, arms, and body working in harmony.
3. Work on your bunker basics
If you have a decent lie in a bunker, you should have nothing to fear.
Select your most lofted wedge (usually 56-60 degrees). Your stance must be wider than normal, and the knees should be more flexed to help you feel you’re slightly squatting down into the ground. Get a good footing in the sand itself. Now ‘open’ (left for right-hander) your stance just a little and position the club ever so slightly opposite (to the right).
Get your weight towards the front foot and keep the ball forwards in your stance (inside forward heel). You want to use the bounce of the club correctly so that it travels down, under the ball, and through the sand efficiently to help elevate the ball softly upwards and on its way towards the flag.
You’ll need a longer swing than for a pitch shot, as the impact into the sand will slow down the speed of the club. Think of the hands as swinging from shoulder height back to shoulder height through.
It requires smooth acceleration, and you should keep your weight forwards and turn the body to face the flagstick as you swing through.
4. Groove a centred strike
It’s crucial to strike your putts from of the centre of the clubface, as this will impact distance and direction. To improve your strike, I recommend trying this drill.
Start three feet away from the hole with three balls. Before hitting the first putt, position two tee pegs, one on each side of the putter head, just wide enough for the club to pass through during the stroke.
Then, position each ball in the centre of the putter face and make your normal stroke. If you hit the ball cleanly, then you’ve struck the ball in the sweet spot of your putter. If you catch a tee peg on either the heel or toe of the putter, your stroke is incorrect. In this instance, you won’t get the best roll and you’ll lose control of the ball.
Carry on moving away from the hole in three-foot increments up to 15 foot, each time marking out the putting gate with your tees. It can come as a surprise to learn how your strike is sometimes off-centre. However, this drill is really effective in helping you to groove a better stroke. Give it a go and you’ll soon start holing more putts.
5. Putt from the apron
It’s almost always a safer and more reliable strategy to use a putter from the apron, assuming it’s a decent grass surface.
In this situation, try to make a longer and smoother putting stroke to allow for the grass on the apron being a few millimetres longer than the green itself. Employing this strategy can have a dramatic effect on your putt speed if you have quite a length of apron to go over.
This is something you need to practise, as getting the knack of judging the two speeds – apron and green – is the secret. However, you should find it to be a more consistent and reliable way to get down in two.
