This month's golf news and features

GREG HANRAHAN VICTORIOUS IN BANGKOK OPEN
Gregory a long time resident of Hua Hin, and an occasional guest in our tournaments won a thrilling professional competition at the Thai Country Club on May 17th which was televised live on UBC, anybody who saw his chip in from about 30 yards at the 18th in regular time must have been overjoyed for Greg. This brought him to eight under and into a three way play off, which he won at the 2nd extra hole.
MARTIN FURZER ON THE MEND
Our chairman has been hospitalised since January and is feeling much better, but still is unable to walk more than a hundred yards, he reckons he will not be back for another month.
SOCIETY ON TOUR
For our trip to Pattaya beginning on 1st July the itinery is as follows: Leave Hua Hin Bazaar at 8 am, stop and play at Bangpra International Golf Club then proceed to our hotel, The Areca Lodge. Day 2 will be at Laem Chabang, day 3 at Siam Country Club and on Thursday 4th July, return to Hua Hin. Transport will be by luxury coach.
RECENT RESULTS: 19th April at Lake View A grp 0-20 hcp 1st Dave McBurney 73 net 12 hcp, 2nd Al Reed 73 net 15 hcp, B grp 21-40 hcp, 1st John McMorris 40 pts 24 hcp, 2nd Barbara Astee 39 pts 22 hcp. 23rd April at Milford one grp 1st John Anstee 40 pts 22 hcp, 2nd Bernie 36 pts 17 hcp, 3rd Fritz 34 pts 12 hcp. 26th April at Sawang one group 1st Peter Gouldby 44 pts 9 hcp, 2nd David Buchan 38 pts 33 hcp. 30th April A grp 1st Mike Anderson 63 net 20 hcp, B grp 1st Tobie 33 pts 21 hcp. 3rd May at Palm Hills one group Special Format Stroke Play (par +5 max) 1st Han Hackvoort 65 net 25 hcp, 2nd Walter Sroka 70 net 22 hcp, 3rd Roland Van Dalen 70 net 23 hcp. 7th May at Majestic Creek one group, 1st Mike Anderson 38 pts 17 hcp, 2nd Woldgang 37 pts 26 hcp, 3rd Peter Gouldby 35 pts 7 hcp. 10th May at Springfield one group 1st Robert Baker 65 net 17 hcp, 2nd Alain De Rocker 69 net 22 hcp, 3rd Dave McBurney 70 net 12 hcp. 14th May at Palm Hills one group 1st Mike Anderson 41 pts 17 hcp, 2nd Ruth Kennedy 40pts 23 hcp, 3rd Bernie 39 pts 16 hcp. 17th May Milford one group 1st Alex Singh 37pts 27 hcp, 2nd Bernie 35 pts 16 hcp.
GOLF SOCIETY FIXTURES FOR JUNE
4th Tues Royal Hua Hin tee off 9 am
7th Fri Majestic Creek tee off 9.04 am
11th Tues Springfield tee off 10 am
14th Fri Palm Hills tee off 8 am
18th Tues Royal Ratchaburi bus 8 am
21st Fri Lake View tee off 9 am
25th Tues Hua Hin tee off 9 am
28th Fri Milford tee off 9 am

Pro Tips - Distance

This week we look at the concept of hitting the ball farther. Everyone can benefit from extra distance. It makes courses play shorter, it allows golfers to play more offensively, and if combined with accuracy, can definitely contribute to lower scores.
There are new, high tech golf clubs that allow golfers to hit it farther, but they're expensive. And without good swing fundamentals, you sometimes run the risk of paying a lot of money and still not hitting it any farther. Longer distance can te attained with the clubs you've got, but it requires both understanding and some work. Lets look at some ways to increase your distance.

MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE DRIVE SQUARELY.
The bottom line is, distance equals clubhead speed through the hitting area, times the squareness of contact. If you don't hit it square, you miss half of the equation and you lose distance. Why is it that a slender, petite LPGA pro can often hit it farther than your average, bigger stronger male golfer? Because they consistently swing in a way that achieves square contact. Hit drives squarely, and they will go farther.
DO EXERCISES TO BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE.
Flexibility plays a vital role in allowing the golfer to get maximum use of the muscles in his or her body during the golf swing. Stretching exercises for the shoulders, stomach, hips, legs, arms, and especially the back, do wonders for the golfer's flexibility and allow the golfer to take a fuller, more complete backswing, and to get optimum extension through the hitting area.
Everyone can find moments during the work day where they can stretch and become more flexible. Do it, and you'll be on your way to better golf.

DO EXERCISES TO GAIN MORE STRENGTH.
The object of strengthening exercises is to get stronger, particularly in the muscles that control the golf swing. Then you can swing at a nice smooth pace, but the added strength will translate to more clubhead speed through the hitting area, which should translate into more distance. It's only logical that strength exercises for the finers, hands, arms, shoulders, back, stomach and legs give you a body that will allow you to hit it farther than a body that doesn't exercise. Do Nautilus workouts at a health club, swing a weighted club, squeeze a handball or tennis ball, do sit-ups, or abdominal crunches, but do some exercises to get yourself stronger. It will help.

UNDERSTAND THAT THE BACKSWING IS WHERE YOU LOAD UP THE POTENTIAL POWER TO BE UNLEASHED DURING THE DOWNSWING.
During a good golf swing, there's a certain understanding of the fact that you're not "hitting the ball on the backswing." You are swinging it back as smoothly as possible with the thought that you will reach a completed backswing position with an optimum amount of stored power waiting to be unleashed.)
Remember this - the backswing is simply that - a backswing. You are similar to a pitcher in baseball winding up before striding forward and releasing the ball. A pitcher with good mechanics winds up completely, and you as a golfer should be patient until you finish the backswing.

BE PATIENT AND UNDER CONTROL AS YOU TRANSITION FROM BACKSWING TO DOWNSWING, AND BEGIN IT WITH THE LOWER BODY FROM THE GROUND UP.
The one moment during the golf swing where you need to be focusing the most is that moment where you begin your downswing. Once you trigger the downswing, everything will happen so fast you will not be able to catch up. You will not be able to correct anything. You have a fraction of a second until you hit the ball. This is where you need to have a clear head and be under control. and this is the single most visible place where you can tell a good golfer from a bad golfer.
Since you swing your weight onto the right side during the coil of the backswing, you have to uncoil and get your weight onto the left side during the downswing. Simultaneously, you are pushing off the right foof while you are transferring your weight onto the left foot, after which the rest of your body - knees, hips, shoulder, arms, hands - follows as your downswing proceeds to deliver the blow. (Again, this is explained better in whole chapters of the better golf books.)

No tip really matters unless you strike the ball squarely. So think of a trigger thought to start the downswing, and concentrate on swinging through the ball.

If you work on the fundamentals and the exercises we have discussed, you can probably add some distance to your game. Remember, though, it doesn't come easy. If it did, everyone would be doing it. And they're not. The rewards of golf usually come to those who grasp the fundamentals and then work most successfully at refining their skills.

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