See how Saturday at Bethpage Black played out in the 2019 PGA Championship. PGA.com is the official website and YouTube page of the PGA of America and …
Plan Your Next Golf Vacation in the Tampa Bay Area
May 14, 2019
If you’re a golfer who’s planning a vacation focused on your favorite pastime, it can be difficult to decide where to go. After all, there are outstanding courses all over the United States – the particularly famous ones at Pebble Beach or Augusta may come to mind – but when you want the whole package of beautiful weather, excellent courses, and top-notch hospitality, Tampa Bay is the place to turn. Located in the middle of Florida’s west coast, in close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the area enjoys gorgeous summers and lovely, mild winters that are sure to please. After all, what could be a better alternative to slogging through a dreary gray winter in the Northeast or Midwest than playing a few holes in the Florida sunshine?
If you plan to fly into town, you won’t need to go far to make tee time because the Westchase Golf Club is right around the corner. Not only does the club provide GPS on every golf cart, but they keep the course very well maintained so the fairways are always challenging and the greens are always smooth. On the other hand, if you plan to stay or visit in North Tampa or anywhere near the University of South Florida, you may want to visit the Pebble Creek Golf Club, which sports an 18-hole, 71-par course that has recently undergone a massive $2 million upgrade and has new sand bunkers to challenge every golfer.
If you would rather stay at a resort that offers golfing onsite, you can always look to Saddlebrook, with its 800 rooms and suites. Saddlebrook is located 30 miles north of Tampa, in Wesley Chapel away from the bustle of the Tampa metropolitan area. The resort offers two golf courses for your enjoyment, both of which were designed by PGA legend Arnold Palmer. You can also utilize the 3.5-acre driving range and browse through the well-stocked Pro Shop, in addition to taking in all of the resort’s other amenities.
Although all of these courses offer excellent opportunities for golfing fun, the crown jewel of Florida’s golfing options is the Innisbrook Resort. Located in beautiful Clearwater, this golf resort has been recently renovated and is well known for hosting an annual PGA championship. The Innisbrook Resort has four courses to choose from, all of which were designed by architect Lawrence Packard, including the highly rated Copperhead course. One of the other courses, the Island, offers the opportunity to take on a unique layout with more than 70 feet of elevation changes – a true treat in the usually flat Florida landscape.
Tampa Bay’s collection of courses isn’t only challenging, but even allows you to experience a bit of the natural environment, with cypress, pine, and oak trees lining the fairways, as well as the occasional glimpse of Florida wildlife. Of course, if you’re looking for other activities after you finish the 18th hole, you can visit one of the many local parks or beaches to witness more of the area’s natural beauty. You can go for a swim, take a short fishing trip, or hike a nature trail to rejuvenate the mind and make the most of your time in Tampa Bay.
Bethpage Black Virtual Tour – Play at Your Own Risk
May 14, 2019
Bethpage Black – Get to know all the best spots at the people’s country club on Long Island ahead of the 2019 PGA Championship.
Virtual Tour of some of the most difficult holes in golf.
Bethpage Black is no stranger to big-time golf. It hosted the U.S. Open in both 2002 and 2009, and it’s also twice staged the Barclays Championship during the FedEx Playoffs. Soon New York’s most beloved muni will again take center stage as a first-time venue for the PGA Championship.
Is Your Golf Course Management Up to Par?
April 30, 2019
Golf course management is essential to your success as a golfer. Do you know what separates the great players from the good players? It is course management! While you may not be able to hit the ball like a pro or putt like a pro, you can learn to think your way around the golf course like a pro. Here I am going to give you 3 tips on how you can manage your game better.
1. First and foremost you need to realize the number one mistake that many golfers make is that we all tend to not take enough club. By this I mean that most golfers, especially men try to hit the ball hard and think they can hit their clubs further than they really can. I know for the longest time I tried to hit my 9 iron 150 yards on every shot, and then I realized that I have much more control from that distance with an 8 iron. The point is that in most circumstances it is better to hit too much club than not enough.
2. Another thing that many golfers do is try to get too close to the greens on a par 5. This may sound weird but what you need to do is lay up to a yardage that is comfortable to you. If this means laying up to 60 yards or 80 yards then that is what you should try to do. Most professional golfers tend to lay up at around the 100 yard marker because this gives them a full sand wedge to the green. This is a great way to improve your golf course management.
3. Last but not least you must remember that every golfer has weaknesses, but you must play to your strengths. Every successful golfer at every level does this. If you have trouble with your driver, then hit 3 wood off of the tee, if you have trouble with hitting your wedge then try to hit bump and run 8 iron shots around the greens.
Golf course management is crucial to your success, so to maximize your potential make sure you do not neglect this vital part of your game.
