Conference 7.286::golf

    Move to Phoenix and you are always ready.  Only fly in the ointment
    is the 10 days in the year it storms (dust, thunder or rain).

    
    Not a ritual but......
    
    I noticed a slight tint of GREEN in the grass today. This has
    got to mean that the worst is over. Even if we were to get a few
    inches of the white stuff it won't last long. Now if I can only
    find that driver I've been looking for....
    
    
    Warm-up include swinging a club. Start with easy swings left hand
    only. Do 20 -30 swings at a time. Work yourself up to 20 hand swings 
    with only the left hand.
    
    
    Tom

    Tom, I'm looking for a driver too.  If you find one you like, please
    let me know.
    
    	He/she can take both of us to the course, so that we can loosen
    up with a few buds on the way!!!  :-)  :-)
    
                                                       Beak

    Last year I noticed I would fatigue in the legs and arms, especially
    in the hot/humid Mass. summer. So I am working on aerobic stamina
    improving excercises like bicycling. The health club I joined has
    a great waist turn machine... ideal for adding a little punch to
    your shot.
    
    Indoor activity -  putting while watching golf tournaments ( it's
    so tough just sitting there)
    
    		       pitching - down in the basement we have a good
    rug to pitch from... so I try and hit into a bucket. Also pitch
    and rolls.
    
    re.0 (I think)  How do you like the indoor lessons? Have you felt
    they helped? How much do they cost? How long is one lesson? 
    
    	thanks  Walt

    
    The leasons that I'm taking are through Mount Wachusett Community
    College in Gardner MA.  The course is offered a no credit course
    through the division of continuing education.  They offer three
    different levels of leasons.  Beginners (have never held a club),
    intermediates, (you play on a regular basis but need some work)
    and advanced, (under a 12 handicap).  My mother is taking the 
    beginners course (self defense), my father and I are taking the
    inter level course.  The beginners course started from the very
    basics.  What clubs did what, golf eddiquette (sp), basic rules,
    terms (loft, flex ...).  They have clubs and driving nets there
    so you can practise what they teach you.  The leasons go on for
    eight weeks, each week they concentrate on a different aspect of
    the game.  (IE the first week was grip)  In the int session the
    format was slighly different, he started us by having us warm up
    in the nets for 15 minutes, then he gave us a talk on the correct
    grip, we all tried this and then went back to the nets to work on
    using this grip.  Then the instructor, (yes he is a PGA teaching
    pro, but I don't remember his name) came around and checked us out
    to make sure that we were using the right grip.  The rest of the
    night was practice.  The cost for the course was 45$ for eight one
    hour leasons, once a week.  This comes out to 5.50$ per hour.  Just
    for reference, last year I took a private leason from a golf course
    pro, and the rate was 20$ for a half hour leason or 40$ per hour.
    For 34.50$ and hour, I didn't mind that fact that it was a group
    leason ;-).  The registration for this course was in Jan, but you
    might still be able to find a slot in an open session if you call
    the school.  I would also check other colleges that offer a continuing
    Ed program.
    
    Steve
      

    
    	Walt brought up a good point in .4. Aerobics, jogging, etc are
    	very good for getting ready for and staying in shape for the
    	golf season. The other thing that is a must, particularly as
    	you/we start getting a little bit older, is stretching.
    
    	Last year I lost about 5 to 10 yards. During the season last
    	year I attributed it to the fact that I was no longer going
    	to karate/loosing some strength. But, the more I think about
    	it I think it is more that I have lost some flexibility from
    	not doing all the stretching that I used to do during karate
    	classes (last year I was still doing exercises, but not
        stretching). So, this year I have been trying to do some 
    	stretching along with the push ups and sit ups. Give it a
    	try, you might be surprised at the results...
    
    	Gene
    	
   

    
      You guys talk of flexability. Well that is my biggest concern.
    I have had a bad back for years but this winter has been the worst.
    i swing all winter in the garage so I stay realitivly loose but
    my backswing keep, or seems, to be getting shorter. Aerobics may
    be the answer.                                                  
                                         

    I've been putting a little in the family room, but my ceilings are to
    low for me to do any indoor  swing  practice.    I  prefer  to  do it
    outside and hope that this weekend the weather will allow,  I so this
    morning a forecast that said it's going to be in the fifties!!
    
    Tavo

    Reply .5
    
    	Thanks for the info Steve, Wachusette Community College has
    covered all the bases/greens ;) . The cost is cheap and the way
    they teach at different experience levels will help everyone
    get a type of personal lesson.
    
    Reply .8
    
    	Last year I was ONLY golfing for the first time in my life.
    I usually spend time doing other sports. But what happened, late
    in the year I experienced lower back problems ( felt like my lower
    spine was low on lubricant) I feel it might be do to the twisting
     turning motion of the swing... without ANY previous strength
    building or stretching as Gene talked of. I started to show up at
    the course and immediately start swinging hard. This year I hope
    to avoid the back problems by constant aerobic and stretching with
    a good warmup before every match.
                              
    
    50's this weekend !!!!   
    
    	See you out there   Walt

    Why don't you just put your tights on and buy the Jane Fonda workout
    video. I heard you look good in pink Peter

     
     My Dearest Fran, I would tell you to go out and buy a pair of pink
    tights but the thought of seeing you in a pair of tights makes me
    gag. It would be like stuffing fifty pounds of jello into a Baggies
    sandwich bag.
    
       Hog- eat you heart out Jane Fonda- Head
    
     

    re .9
    
    	I've read that lower back pain is usually caused by a weakness
    in the abdominal muscles.  This was in reference to golf, anyway.
    There are approx. 500 muscles that support the spine (fact).  I
    would guess that less than half of them are in the back.  Much of
    the spinal support is provided by the abs.  When the abs start doing
    less than their share the lower back muscles try to take up the
    slack, hence lower back pain.
    	I'm no doctor, obviously, but it's possible the other sports
    you were involved in helped maintain abdominal strength.
    
    -Alan- (who wishes he had the abs he had 10 years ago)

    
    	For more info on exercises and back problems see entries
    	#179 and #183...

         One thing that I do prior to the beginning of the season is
    to read Ben Hogan's book on fundamentals and watch Jack Nicklaus's
    tape "Golf My Way".