GolfStinks

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40 Games FORE The Golf Course

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I love small, practical things you can carry with you on the golf course – from a simplified pocket rulebook to a pint-sized warmup guide, my golf bag pocket is stuffed with useful booklets I can easily access on the course.

The most recent addition to my collection is the booklet “40 Games FORE the Golf Course” published by a new golf company, ForeFun.com. Fore Fun has a great mission statement that really aligns well with what we’re all about here at GolfStinks:

Fore Fun is a company all about making the game of golf more fun, FORE everyone! All of the golf industry reports say that people aren’t playing as much golf today because they are not having enough fun. That just doesn’t make any sense to us because here at Fore Fun we can’t get enough of the fun that golf provides…Our first initiatives focus on educating golfers (both new and old) about all the fun that playing a game can add to the golf experience.

So, do you like to bet while golfing? Then this booklet is for you! Don’t necessarily bet, but like to play games within the game of golf? Then this booklet is for you! Perhaps you would just like to learn different types of golf games? Then this booklet is definitely for you!

Or maybe you’re like me – my problem is I can never remember the rules to all the different golf games to play. Do you know the difference between Bingo Bango Bongo and Stableford? How about Perfecto and Nassau? Remember how to play Skins? Well, 40 Games FORE the Golf Course has them all explained in an easy-to-digest format.

40GamesFOREtheGolfCourse2I also appreciate how the book is categorized – by how many players you have. Only have a threesome? No worries, just lift the “Three Players” tab and there are six games to choose from right at your fingertips. There are also games for twosomes, foursomes and even large groups too. And just to have all your bases covered, 40 Games FORE the Golf Course includes a section for “games on the side” too – all of which can be played in combination with any of the games listed or in the midst of a normal stroke- or match-play round.

The booklet is capped-off by a handicap projector – which is really a nice touch. Many games require some sense of your handicap to play fairly, but some golfers have no idea what their handicap is. Don’t fret – these handicap-less golfers can still partake in all the fun! 40 Games FORE the Golf Course includes a simple-to-use handicap estimator that is based on your average golf score. Just glance at the back page, find your average score and presto – you have a pretty good estimate of your handicap. Let the games begin!

There’s no doubt 40 Games FORE the Golf Course is a great addition to your golf bag. But what’s more, it can really help you get more fun out of this game – which, let’s face it, is the whole point of golf in the first place…to have fun! Furthermore, it’ll make a great gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays. And in all seriousness, I’m really looking forward to using it the next time I’m out on the links with my golf buddies.

40 Games FORE the Golf Course can be purchased HERE. But one lucky fan can get one “fore” free! Just head on over to our Facebook Page and “like” the post on our wall entitled “Win a copy of 40 Games FORE the Golf Course booklet!” (PS: It helps if you comment too!). That’s it – we’ll choose one winner at random next week.

Good luck!

8 Warm Up Exercises for Golfers; A Pocket Guide

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fitlander1Just after my senior year in high school, I aggravated my sciatic nerve – the cause? Too much golf, not enough stretching.

I had played nearly every day till the end of the school year for my high school team – including tons of chipping practice. Once the school year ended, I continued playing golf and not once did I warm up first.

Hey, I was 17 years old and thought I was invincible. But, of course, I wasn’t. About a week into summer vacation, I could hardly get out of bed and walking was slow and difficult. I was hobbled like this for nearly two weeks and once I felt good enough to play golf again, I made sure I warmed up beforehand and have (thankfully) never re-aggravated that nerve.fitlander2

Recently, I received a package from Slovakia. What does that have to do with anything? Well, inside the package were two golf warm up guides courtesy of Fitlander.com. Though you can tell from their promotional material that English isn’t their first language, the site looks very professional and their product is simple and valuable.

Their “golf warm up” guide contains eight easy to follow exercises. But there are two things that I really like about this guide: The size – it appears to be the exact size of an iPhone 4/4S; and a unique technology called lenticular printing – which in effect is a moving hologram. This is key because it demonstrates how the warm-ups should be done. See video below:

Clip it to your golf bag so you remember to warm up and play well. I love things that are simple yet effective. And let’s face it – we golf hacks need to warm up the most since we only play once a week or less!

So, how do you get your hands on one of these? Well, the good folks over at Fitlander.com did send me two guides – one of which can be yours free! Just head on over to our Facebook page and comment on the post titled “Win a free Golf Warm Up Guide from Fitlander.com.” That’s it – we’ll choose one winner next week!

And if you don’t win, you can always head over to ebay and purchase one for $10.

Good luck and warm-up this spring!

The Genius Continues: Golf Genie Practice Drills

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When I was playing golf wretchedly competitively on my high school team, we used to practice every day of the week. Drills, drills and more drills. And then walk 9 holes. I have two points to make on that:

First, I always needed a reminder on how do the drills. I mean, I remembered two or three of them, but I would always forget the rest (and there were a bunch). Second, for some reason (perhaps it was the omnipotent teenager in me), I never thought to stretch. On that later point:

The summer after my senior year (golf season had just ended) my sciatic nerve decided to incapacitate me for two weeks straight. I couldn’t drive (mainly because I couldn’t get in the car), or even walk really. And I certainly couldn’t golf…for like two months! I blame the whole ordeal on not stretching before teeing-off on the first hole.

Nearly 19 years later, I received the one product that would have solved both my problems: The Golf Genie Practice Drills Pocket Guide. The first four pages? Pre-swing stretches. The rest of the book? All the golf drills you could possibly imagine – all in one place and conveniently located right in your golf bag.

I’ll tell you what; I like this Golf Genie company. Last summer, I had nothing but praise for its Tee to Green Pocket Guide; “a practical, quick reference guide to pulling-off all the different golf shots you may encounter out on the course.”

The Practice Drills Pocket Guide, the company’s second offering, is the perfect compliment to the Tee to Green Pocket Guide. Packed with more than 60 pages of stretches and drills, this guide will get you prepared for your round, tournament or just a Nassau with your golf buddies.

Not playing golf today? Even better – the Practice Drills Pocket Guide features plenty of practice routines that can be performed at home, at the range or on the putting green. And perhaps my favorite; There’s a quick guide for 45-, 30-, 15- and 5-minute pre-round routines that can get your muscles an mind focused on the task at hand (of course, knowing how late I show up at the course, I’ll probably only have time for the 5-minute routine)!

As with the Tee to Green Pocket Guide, the Practice Drills Pocket Guide is easy to use. Each drill features a few numbered steps with simple and fun diagrams to get you going through the proper motions in seconds flat. No gimmicks or gadgets – just “PGA-proven” drills that were contributed by top PGA instructors.

Ready to add one to your golf bag? The Golf Genie Practice Drills Pocket Guide retails for $15 in pro-shops all over the country or at golfhelptips.com. But in preparation for the upcoming season, we’ll be giving away 25 for free! Yep – five Practice Drills Pocket Guides a week for the next five weeks – all through our Facebook page. What do you have to do to get one? Just become a fan and wish yourself luck, because we’ll be choosing the winners at random!

Good luck Golfstinks fans! And remember: Practice makes perfect (or at least less wretched).

Golf Genie is Genius

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We here at Golfstinks don’t typically review golf products – in fact, we tend to poke fun at all the crazy gadgets out there. So when we post a review of something, it’s because we feel it can serve some use to the average weekend golf hack.

That being said, a few weeks ago I was contacted by someone over at Golf Genie who asked me if I would be interested in receiving their product – the Tee to Green Pocket Guide. Not being able to pass up something for free, I decided to see what this pocket golf guide had to offer.

First, let me tell you this is no zany golf gadget – it’s a practical, quick reference guide to pulling-off all the different golf shots you may encounter out on the course.

A few years ago, I read a tip in a golf magazine that actually helped me (I think it may have been the only time that’s happened)! Anyway, Nick Faldo recommended creating a tiny spreadsheet listing all your club distances (along with your half-swing distances). Then print it out, laminate it and keep in your golf bag. You have no idea how much that little paper has helped me decide which club to use while out on the course – it was the best thing I ever did to improve my game.

First section of Golf Genie? Same thing. It shows the average distance for each club for both men and women (perfect for beginners), but then gives you space to write in your own distances (once you get those down to a science). Golf Genie then proceeds to breakdown the grip, swing, shot-making, chipping, putting and even bunker play and advanced shots – all neatly and clearly explained while using graphics to enhance your understanding.

I pointed out in a post recently one of the major problems with reading swing tips in a magazine: How are you supposed to remember all the stuff you read once you’re out on the golf course? Well, Golf Genie solves this problem by packing all the swing info you’ll ever need into one pocket-sized guide – each section conveniently tabbed for easy reference. What I like though is they don’t try and get too fancy on you – they just show you the basics – which are usually what you need when you’re a beginner or have been struggling with a slice or hook (it sort of clears your head, you know? Gets you thinking straight again – back to the basics).

OK, I know this is starting to sound like an infomercial now, but Golf Genie has already shaved a few stokes off my last round – seriously. I corrected my grip mid-round based on a diagram in the guide and subsequently my shots straightened out over the last few holes.

Golf Genie has found permanent residence in my golf bag – had I not received my copy gratis, I would have gladly forked-over the $15 for it. Even more affordable is the app version, which is only $5 on the Apple app store.

So yeah, Golfstinks typically avoids telling people how they can improve their game. I mean, it’s your game, who are we to audaciously think it needs improvement? But when something affordable, practical and truly helpful actually comes along, trust us…we’ll let you know.

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