The Costa del Sol in southern Spain is the perfect and most popular destination for a wonderful golf holiday. A golfer’s paradise, it has become the “Costa del Golf” for golfers from around the world. It prides itself on having the highest density of golf courses in all of Europe with over 70 golf courses new courses coming up by the day. Four of the golf courses in Costa del sol, Spain are ranked among the top 10 European courses.
One of the major reasons for the popularity of the region is the pleasant Mediterranean climate which remains mild and welcoming all year. The tourist from northern Europe always finds the sun up in the blue skies and the weather just right for a wonderful round of golf no matter what time of the year.
Another reason would be the fact that most of the courses here are designed by celebrated names such as Gray Players or Severiano Ballestros. Many of the golf courses here are championship courses and have been host to prestigious events like the Ryder Cup, Volvo Masters and many more.
Golf holidays in Spain are a rage among northern Europeans as it is an ideal winter golfing destination away from the harsh cold weather back home. The tourism department has ensured that everyone gets the best of golfing experience and there is top class infrastructure on every course to provide for all the requirements of golfers.
Accommodation facilities are available near all the courses and there are some world class golf resorts like the La Cala Golf Resort and many more like it. There are also 5 star accommodation facilities available in hotels surrounding the golf courses. Given all this, it is only natural that the summer months see the highest number of golfers in Spain and it is virtually impossible to find any tee times or accommodation during the peak season.
So take into consideration the following tips to enjoy a hassle free golf holiday in Spain:
Book in advance:
It helps you to weigh all your options and you get to play on the course of your choice. Also you can avail of the lower rates when you book early.
Conduct an online research
Check out all the option in terms of golf courses, tee times, costs, accommodation facilities and car hire. There are pictures, maps & detailed course descriptions on the golf sites.
Golf lessons
By a resident golf pro are offered by most of the golf booking services, and many of the courses. There are even lessons for children. Group bookings are always economical as there are discounts. See what all you need and which booking company offers you all these services.
Choose a golf holiday company which offers you all services under one roof from car hire to golf bookings, hotel bookings, advice and information about the courses, difficulty levels, and golf lessons.
Other Activities in a Golf Holiday
In Spain, when you are not playing golf, there is so much more that you can do. Go exploring the beautiful Spanish cities and soak in the Mediterranean atmosphere. Go shopping, explore the quaint villages of Andalucia, and visit the typical museums…and when the sun sets go clubbing and party the night away in the wonderful nightlife of Spain. If you’ve rented a car have a hired car at your disposal, this isn’t as critical, since you’re free to drive where you’d like.
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
All About Golf Game
The game of golf is no ordinary game. It is the only sport that has special attire that involves so many different clubs and the game that comes with accessories that outrun any other sport accessories. Golf asks for elegance and dignity. It makes you want to have a solid and bold character and personality that makes you stand out in the sports world. All sports have rules and these rules are necessary. But not all games have etiquettes but golf does. Golf etiquettes are no rules, they are mere manners or behavior of golfers that they need to be careful about when they enter the golf course, make their way through the game and finally step out of the golf course. These etiquettes, if followed can help a golfer play a perfect game.
The player should always try to arrive as early as possible on the course to have enough time to find out a few things. Not everyone can do that but it is very convenient if you can grab hold of a caddie. These caddies can be of great support and help to you. They not carry your clubs they can provide you with guidelines, they can give you pointers. They can give you tips that you may be ignoring while you play. They can do readings for you and so on. It's always good to have someone by your side to support your game.
Why you need to arrive early is because it can give you time to check the score boards, because courses may have different rules of scoring and if you don't already know that it can have a bad affect on your game. You can simply roam about and mingle up with the other players, have small talk so that you feel comfortable with the opponents.
Something very important before you start your game is that you get a proper warm up. You should at least give half an hour to 15 minutes to warming up. This little exercise before golf or any other games is very important. It gives you confidence and makes you feel at ease. You get to feel that you are ready to play otherwise you will probably feel stiff and uncomfortable and your swings will definitely disappoint you.
You should always play heartily, never be rigid. Never offend your opponent. Stay calm and never leave a bad impression on the other players. Take care of the tee and never leave prints and even if you do make a mark; remove it before leaving. Encourage others, watch your steps, plan ahead and play for fun and enjoy!
The player should always try to arrive as early as possible on the course to have enough time to find out a few things. Not everyone can do that but it is very convenient if you can grab hold of a caddie. These caddies can be of great support and help to you. They not carry your clubs they can provide you with guidelines, they can give you pointers. They can give you tips that you may be ignoring while you play. They can do readings for you and so on. It's always good to have someone by your side to support your game.
Why you need to arrive early is because it can give you time to check the score boards, because courses may have different rules of scoring and if you don't already know that it can have a bad affect on your game. You can simply roam about and mingle up with the other players, have small talk so that you feel comfortable with the opponents.
Something very important before you start your game is that you get a proper warm up. You should at least give half an hour to 15 minutes to warming up. This little exercise before golf or any other games is very important. It gives you confidence and makes you feel at ease. You get to feel that you are ready to play otherwise you will probably feel stiff and uncomfortable and your swings will definitely disappoint you.
You should always play heartily, never be rigid. Never offend your opponent. Stay calm and never leave a bad impression on the other players. Take care of the tee and never leave prints and even if you do make a mark; remove it before leaving. Encourage others, watch your steps, plan ahead and play for fun and enjoy!
Coverage Of Golf Tournaments
Some golfing enthusiasts will turn to the major television networks when they need up-to-date information and coverage about certain golf tournaments. The information that they see might be offered on the hour or in increments that could be fifteen minutes apart. People know that there is a good chance that they can keep up-to-date at work because many networks post the golf action through their internet websites.
Other people interested whose interest in golf tournaments is keen will arrange to be notified of golf tournament action through much slower means. These golf fans are more patient in learning about the golf coverage for that day and choose to receive that coverage through internet email systems which are typically slower than any other means available to them. They might even exude a certain degree of patience because they will wait until late evening to read the emails of the updated golf action for their favorite player.
Golf fans can get extremely organized in the way that they receive their golf coverage. While they may join the email notification lists provided through many websites that are devoted solely to golf, they might choose to get their notifications through the email systems at work and double up with a notification that is sent methodically to their PDA's, cellular telephones, or through RSS feeds that they download to their personal computer each night.
For fans that are more technologically advanced, they might prefer to get notified of the results of the latest golf tournaments held throughout the world by using Bluetooth technologies and the browser programs installed on their personal digital assistants. With these devices, they can gain access to their email programs and log the scores that they need to a document file.
Some fans might be in the gallery watching the golf action up close and personal but still choose to use their personal digital assistants to find out what another golfer is doing who may be several holes ahead of their favorite player on the golf course. They know that most of the golf action will have ended by the time they reach the final green on the 18-hole golf course and they want to keep abreast of all of the action around them even if they can not see it personally.
For those who choose to watch the television broadcasts of golf tournaments at home, there are still other ways that they can keep abreast of the golf action that is occurring on another network. Some people form friendship circles and converse on the telephone with their friends and find out all the information that they need to satisfy their zest for golf that particular day.
Other people interested whose interest in golf tournaments is keen will arrange to be notified of golf tournament action through much slower means. These golf fans are more patient in learning about the golf coverage for that day and choose to receive that coverage through internet email systems which are typically slower than any other means available to them. They might even exude a certain degree of patience because they will wait until late evening to read the emails of the updated golf action for their favorite player.
Golf fans can get extremely organized in the way that they receive their golf coverage. While they may join the email notification lists provided through many websites that are devoted solely to golf, they might choose to get their notifications through the email systems at work and double up with a notification that is sent methodically to their PDA's, cellular telephones, or through RSS feeds that they download to their personal computer each night.
For fans that are more technologically advanced, they might prefer to get notified of the results of the latest golf tournaments held throughout the world by using Bluetooth technologies and the browser programs installed on their personal digital assistants. With these devices, they can gain access to their email programs and log the scores that they need to a document file.
Some fans might be in the gallery watching the golf action up close and personal but still choose to use their personal digital assistants to find out what another golfer is doing who may be several holes ahead of their favorite player on the golf course. They know that most of the golf action will have ended by the time they reach the final green on the 18-hole golf course and they want to keep abreast of all of the action around them even if they can not see it personally.
For those who choose to watch the television broadcasts of golf tournaments at home, there are still other ways that they can keep abreast of the golf action that is occurring on another network. Some people form friendship circles and converse on the telephone with their friends and find out all the information that they need to satisfy their zest for golf that particular day.
A Pro Golf Career Takes Much More than Just Skill
Golf may not be as bone crushing as football or as fast-paced as basketball, but it is a sport that requires skill and practice to master. Only the patient and gifted can play at an advanced level. If you feel you are part of this elite group of aficionados, perhaps it is time to consider a pro golf career.
Making it in this industry may not be as easy as one would expect. Sure, you should be knowledgeable about the game itself; however, it takes much more than golfing skills to excel in the industry. Here are some things you must have in order to become successful in the business and advance your career.
A Passion for the game: You may find yourself at work or in class continuously daydreaming about golf. Or, you may feel the need to read and absorb every single article you come across. You might even find yourself watching the Golf Channel into the wee hours of the night, viewing same episodes of shows you have already seen time and time again. If you have found yourself in most of these situations or thoughts, you are officially a golf fanatic, and may just have the passion and aspiration for a professional career.
Ambition: In order to become successful, you must have a driving sense of ambition. There are thousands, perhaps millions, of people who want to work in the business, just like you. So, you need to not only spend time working on your craft, you also have to work hard at landing that employment opportunity of your choice. Make connections on the course, send out those resumes, and think positively. Ambition will help you find the necessary ideas and experiences that will place you above your competition.
Golf school: The first physical step to the sport career of your dreams is to attend an accredited golf academy that offers a certified associates degree. A good school will teach its students not only the fundamentals of golf, but also the various components of the business itself, such as management, operations, marketing, profitability, etc. The curriculum of a high-quality school will be up to date and the education will be top notch. And, after you graduate, an accredited golf school will not forget about you. Many schools offer their alumni exclusive employment opportunities on an ongoing basis.
To become a success in this business takes more than great swings and a good eye. It takes patience, time and persistence. In other words, you may have to eat, sleep and breathe golf, which is most likely not a problem for all of you enthusiasts out there.
Making it in this industry may not be as easy as one would expect. Sure, you should be knowledgeable about the game itself; however, it takes much more than golfing skills to excel in the industry. Here are some things you must have in order to become successful in the business and advance your career.
A Passion for the game: You may find yourself at work or in class continuously daydreaming about golf. Or, you may feel the need to read and absorb every single article you come across. You might even find yourself watching the Golf Channel into the wee hours of the night, viewing same episodes of shows you have already seen time and time again. If you have found yourself in most of these situations or thoughts, you are officially a golf fanatic, and may just have the passion and aspiration for a professional career.
Ambition: In order to become successful, you must have a driving sense of ambition. There are thousands, perhaps millions, of people who want to work in the business, just like you. So, you need to not only spend time working on your craft, you also have to work hard at landing that employment opportunity of your choice. Make connections on the course, send out those resumes, and think positively. Ambition will help you find the necessary ideas and experiences that will place you above your competition.
Golf school: The first physical step to the sport career of your dreams is to attend an accredited golf academy that offers a certified associates degree. A good school will teach its students not only the fundamentals of golf, but also the various components of the business itself, such as management, operations, marketing, profitability, etc. The curriculum of a high-quality school will be up to date and the education will be top notch. And, after you graduate, an accredited golf school will not forget about you. Many schools offer their alumni exclusive employment opportunities on an ongoing basis.
To become a success in this business takes more than great swings and a good eye. It takes patience, time and persistence. In other words, you may have to eat, sleep and breathe golf, which is most likely not a problem for all of you enthusiasts out there.
Golf Careers to Suit Your Personality
According to a 2005 study by Golf Digest magazine, there are over 35,000 golf courses currently operating worldwide, and over half of these courses are located in the United States. This means the golf industry is a booming job market filled with seamless opportunities for enthusiastic golf-lovers, like you.
And, best of all, there are many different kinds of golf careers in this lucrative industry. If you are wondering which career will suit you best, simply allow your personality to guide you in the right direction. For example, if you are a people-person, always ready to help a fellow golf enthusiast improve his or her swing, then maybe a golf instructor is the job for you. Or, perhaps you are more of a quiet artist. Maybe you would enjoy a career in golf coarse design rather than out on the playing field. Below are some golf careers, which may interest you as a trained golf professional.
Professional golfer: Many golfers dream about being the next Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam. Anything is possible. With time, patience, and a boatload of skill, you can also become one of the golfing elite. However, don't think this is something that is instantaneous. Most professional golfers have paid their dues, and have worked their way up the career ladder by starting as assistants.
Sales and marketing: No doubt about it, golf is a huge business. Courses and resorts are always in competition to draw players. This is why they need the best sales and marketing team they can acquire. If you have sales or marketing skills and a strong passion for golf, consider incorporating both your interests into a sales or marketing golf position.
Golf course design: If it weren't for the visual conceptions of artists and architects, the beautiful golf courses located around the world would not exist. If you are an artist who happens to love golf, put your skills to the test and study for a golf career in golf course design.
Equipment specialist: Even the big guns, like Camilo Villegas or Vijay Singh rely on equipment specialists to help them with their game. After all, if a golfer's equipment is not suited flawlessly to the individual, his or her game will suffer noticeably. As an equipment specialist, you will fit golfers in the proper equipment using a fitting system and a PGA-recognized golf range. You will be the go to guy for fixing and perfecting golf equipment.
But before you can pursue your dream of working in the golf industry, you must choose an accredited golf school to attend. A golf academy will not only show you how to master your golf skills, but it will also train you on the fundamentals and artistry of the game. Plus, this is the best way to learn much more about all of the different golf careers at your fingertips.
And, best of all, there are many different kinds of golf careers in this lucrative industry. If you are wondering which career will suit you best, simply allow your personality to guide you in the right direction. For example, if you are a people-person, always ready to help a fellow golf enthusiast improve his or her swing, then maybe a golf instructor is the job for you. Or, perhaps you are more of a quiet artist. Maybe you would enjoy a career in golf coarse design rather than out on the playing field. Below are some golf careers, which may interest you as a trained golf professional.
Professional golfer: Many golfers dream about being the next Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam. Anything is possible. With time, patience, and a boatload of skill, you can also become one of the golfing elite. However, don't think this is something that is instantaneous. Most professional golfers have paid their dues, and have worked their way up the career ladder by starting as assistants.
Sales and marketing: No doubt about it, golf is a huge business. Courses and resorts are always in competition to draw players. This is why they need the best sales and marketing team they can acquire. If you have sales or marketing skills and a strong passion for golf, consider incorporating both your interests into a sales or marketing golf position.
Golf course design: If it weren't for the visual conceptions of artists and architects, the beautiful golf courses located around the world would not exist. If you are an artist who happens to love golf, put your skills to the test and study for a golf career in golf course design.
Equipment specialist: Even the big guns, like Camilo Villegas or Vijay Singh rely on equipment specialists to help them with their game. After all, if a golfer's equipment is not suited flawlessly to the individual, his or her game will suffer noticeably. As an equipment specialist, you will fit golfers in the proper equipment using a fitting system and a PGA-recognized golf range. You will be the go to guy for fixing and perfecting golf equipment.
But before you can pursue your dream of working in the golf industry, you must choose an accredited golf school to attend. A golf academy will not only show you how to master your golf skills, but it will also train you on the fundamentals and artistry of the game. Plus, this is the best way to learn much more about all of the different golf careers at your fingertips.
6 Essentials of the Golf Swing
To conquer the correct swing in golf, there must be constant repetition of the correct movements. We do not know just where in the system it resides, but whether it is muscular memory, or the wearing of certain grooves or channels in the mind, or - as is probable - a combination of the two, it is obvious that the more often the same succession of movements can be repeated the clearer the memory will be.
It is mainly for this reason that I teach and preach and practice that every shot from the full drive to the putt should be played with the same movement. Of course in the drive the movement is both more extensive and bolder than for the shorter shots, but fundamentally it is the same. The result must be a feeling of "in-to-out" stroking across the face of the ball - played not at the ball, but through it. The "in-to-out" refers to the relation of the feel of the path of the club head to the desired line of flight of the ball.
The only shots in golf which I have been unable to play or to teach as sections of the fundamental "in-to-out" swing are certain shots which call for cut pulled under and across the ball.
But for ninety-nine out of every hundred shots a golfer must play, the swing is the movement necessary. So to clear the ground I will list what I consider to be the essentials of the swing:
1. It is essential to turn the body round to the right and then back and round to the left, without moving either way. In other words this turning movement must be from a fixed pivot.
2. It is essential to keep the arms at full stretch through out the swing - through the back swing, the down swing, and the follow through.
3. It is essential to allow the wrists to break fully back at the top of the swing.
4. It is essential to delay the actual hitting of the ball until as late in the swing as possible.
5. It is essential not to tighten any muscle concerned in the reactive part of the swing (movement above the waist).
6. It is essential to feel and control the swing as a whole and not to concentrate upon any part of it.
In a sense this last point is the most vital. The swing must be considered and felt as a single unity, not as a succession of positions or even a succession of movements. The swing is one and indivisible.
If you have these six essentials well embedded in your system and if you have developed some conscious control of your swing by getting the feel of the right movements - your game will rarely or never desert you.
Of course the comfortable, reliable, right feel is not a thing that comes all at once. For instance, it takes years - though not if your teacher teaches by feel - to feel nicely set and comfortable before the ball; weight between the feet, perfectly free and active and yet firmly planted.
There is no check anywhere in a good swing. There is no such thing as the "dead top" of a swing - there are four points each one of which might be so considered if it were not for the other three! They are: (1) When the pivot (feet to shoulders) has reached its top, the arms are still going up. (2) When the arms have reached their top, the body is on its way down. (3) When the arms begin to come down, the wrists have still to break back, and (4) When the wrists break.
There is of course a great deal more to be said about the swing than I have said here, which is intended simply as an outline of the fundamentals as I see them. Practice your swing along these guidelines, and you will improve.
It is mainly for this reason that I teach and preach and practice that every shot from the full drive to the putt should be played with the same movement. Of course in the drive the movement is both more extensive and bolder than for the shorter shots, but fundamentally it is the same. The result must be a feeling of "in-to-out" stroking across the face of the ball - played not at the ball, but through it. The "in-to-out" refers to the relation of the feel of the path of the club head to the desired line of flight of the ball.
The only shots in golf which I have been unable to play or to teach as sections of the fundamental "in-to-out" swing are certain shots which call for cut pulled under and across the ball.
But for ninety-nine out of every hundred shots a golfer must play, the swing is the movement necessary. So to clear the ground I will list what I consider to be the essentials of the swing:
1. It is essential to turn the body round to the right and then back and round to the left, without moving either way. In other words this turning movement must be from a fixed pivot.
2. It is essential to keep the arms at full stretch through out the swing - through the back swing, the down swing, and the follow through.
3. It is essential to allow the wrists to break fully back at the top of the swing.
4. It is essential to delay the actual hitting of the ball until as late in the swing as possible.
5. It is essential not to tighten any muscle concerned in the reactive part of the swing (movement above the waist).
6. It is essential to feel and control the swing as a whole and not to concentrate upon any part of it.
In a sense this last point is the most vital. The swing must be considered and felt as a single unity, not as a succession of positions or even a succession of movements. The swing is one and indivisible.
If you have these six essentials well embedded in your system and if you have developed some conscious control of your swing by getting the feel of the right movements - your game will rarely or never desert you.
Of course the comfortable, reliable, right feel is not a thing that comes all at once. For instance, it takes years - though not if your teacher teaches by feel - to feel nicely set and comfortable before the ball; weight between the feet, perfectly free and active and yet firmly planted.
There is no check anywhere in a good swing. There is no such thing as the "dead top" of a swing - there are four points each one of which might be so considered if it were not for the other three! They are: (1) When the pivot (feet to shoulders) has reached its top, the arms are still going up. (2) When the arms have reached their top, the body is on its way down. (3) When the arms begin to come down, the wrists have still to break back, and (4) When the wrists break.
There is of course a great deal more to be said about the swing than I have said here, which is intended simply as an outline of the fundamentals as I see them. Practice your swing along these guidelines, and you will improve.
Golf Travel Bags Make Lovely Gifts
Golf travel bags make excellent gifts for anyone who enjoys golfing. They allow you to transport your golf clubs safely and without you having to worry about damaging them. They also come in a variety of styles, shapes and colors. So how do you know which one you need? It really depends on who the golf travel bag is for.
Like I said before, golf travel bags come in a variety of styles, shapes and colors. However, the look of the bag is not the only thing you should consider when buying one - especially for a gift. Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is what kind of distances will the person travel that you are purchasing the gift for.
If they travel fairly substantial distances with their golf clubs, then you will definitely want to get something sturdy and strong. In this case, I would suggest buying a hard sided golf travel bag which is also known as a golf travel case. This is particularly true if the person travels on airplanes on a regular basis. An advantage of using golf travel cases while flying is airlines will often pickup the cost of replacing any damaged golf clubs if your golf clubs were in one of these protective cases during the flight.
Another advantage is of course the peace-of-mind knowing that your golf clubs should be well protected from any damage during the trip. If you are confident that the person you are buying this gift for does not frequently travel long distances with their golf clubs, then you should be able to get by with purchasing a soft sided golf travel bag. In fact, I would strongly suggest going this route in this case.
An advantage of using a soft sided golf travel bag is that the bags themselves typically include several pockets for you to put gloves, shoes, etc. into. They are also less bulky and can fit easier into the trunk of a car. Soft sided golf travel bags also typically come with wheels that make it easier to transport the clubs from place to place.
Again, knowing what features the golf travel bag would need would depend on who the bag is for. If they use golfing shoes, then they would probably appreciate the fact there is a place to put them in the bag.
In addition to the sturdiness of the golf travel bag, cost is obviously going to be a factor that you will want to consider. Not surprisingly, golf travel cases are typically more expensive than soft sided golf travel bags. However, the difference in cost is not massive and there are some golf travel bags that are more expensive than the cases.
Most golf travel cases will cost you around $150 while the average golf travel bag will cost around $75. However, some golf travel bags can cost you well over $200. Of course the differences in prices are often a reflection of the differences in name brand, quality and features.
Like I said before, golf travel bags come in a variety of styles, shapes and colors. However, the look of the bag is not the only thing you should consider when buying one - especially for a gift. Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is what kind of distances will the person travel that you are purchasing the gift for.
If they travel fairly substantial distances with their golf clubs, then you will definitely want to get something sturdy and strong. In this case, I would suggest buying a hard sided golf travel bag which is also known as a golf travel case. This is particularly true if the person travels on airplanes on a regular basis. An advantage of using golf travel cases while flying is airlines will often pickup the cost of replacing any damaged golf clubs if your golf clubs were in one of these protective cases during the flight.
Another advantage is of course the peace-of-mind knowing that your golf clubs should be well protected from any damage during the trip. If you are confident that the person you are buying this gift for does not frequently travel long distances with their golf clubs, then you should be able to get by with purchasing a soft sided golf travel bag. In fact, I would strongly suggest going this route in this case.
An advantage of using a soft sided golf travel bag is that the bags themselves typically include several pockets for you to put gloves, shoes, etc. into. They are also less bulky and can fit easier into the trunk of a car. Soft sided golf travel bags also typically come with wheels that make it easier to transport the clubs from place to place.
Again, knowing what features the golf travel bag would need would depend on who the bag is for. If they use golfing shoes, then they would probably appreciate the fact there is a place to put them in the bag.
In addition to the sturdiness of the golf travel bag, cost is obviously going to be a factor that you will want to consider. Not surprisingly, golf travel cases are typically more expensive than soft sided golf travel bags. However, the difference in cost is not massive and there are some golf travel bags that are more expensive than the cases.
Most golf travel cases will cost you around $150 while the average golf travel bag will cost around $75. However, some golf travel bags can cost you well over $200. Of course the differences in prices are often a reflection of the differences in name brand, quality and features.
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