Should golfers Lift weights?
You might wonder why golfing needs weightlifting. I was in that position when my school started weightlifting practices during my sophomore year. The connection between golf and weightlifting can be found everywhere, such as power, balance, stability, and endurance.
Lifting can improve swing power and increase your average distance. Strengthening muscles in the legs, arms, hips, core, and back provides greater power and swing speed. The extra power and swing speed will add a few more yards for each of the clubs, which is certainly beneficial overall.
Lifting also enhances stability and helps improve core strength. Core exercises help gain balance, control, and accuracy, which is significant since golf is not an ordinary daily motion.
Lastly, lifting helps decrease the risk of injury. Abnormal posture can lead to easy injuries. However, building and exercising the muscles that we don’t usually use can help prevent unnecessary injuries.
The ideal situation is to have a whole workout routine that is regularly trained. Some recommended places to focus are core strength, flexibility, rotational movements, and lower body. Example exercises include plank, dumbbell squats, Pvc pipe hinge, ab crunches, lat pulldown, etc. Usually, many golfers improve their game through lifting regularly. One thing to keep in mind is not getting injured, so focus on forms before adding more weights. Weightlifting is essential for improving individual performance, which helps with power and stability, reduced injury, and overall score.
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/5-reasons-every-golfer-should-lift-weights
why is it important to play golf as a kid?
A common stereotype about golf is that it is a sport only for seniors after retirement. However, golf is a diverse sport that can be played by people of most age groups. For multiple reasons, it is crucial to start golf at a young age.
First of all, the most straightforward reason is physical activity. Golf is a long sport that can take up to four hours to complete and requires a lot of effort to practice swings. Also, walking from hole to hole gives cardio exercise. When hitting a ball, coordination is required, and it can be challenging at first. All of these skills require practice and effort to master.
Another reason is the low risks, as other sports are aggressive and can lead to injuries. Golf is an individual sport and has no contact, which reduces the chances of injury. Injuries that happen during golf are mostly minor due to incorrect swing postures. However, proper lessons will reduce the chances even more.
There is no limitation to age, size, physicals, etc. Other sports need some physical ability to have an advantage over others. Regardless of the child’s ability, golf can be a fit since it is solely based on skills. They will not feel disadvantaged due to their physical appearance. Also, golf is not a team sport, so if the child does not fit in a large team sport due to pressure, golf can be the right one. There is no one else to blame and get blamed on. As they learn golf, they will learn patience and individualism.
When practicing, kids will have time to spend outdoors, getting fresh air and sun for helpful vitamins. In addition, kids will socialize and make friends while playing golf. Yes, golf is an individual sport, but it is not isolated to other players. One round of golf usually has four players.
Starting a sport early gives a head start for high school golf or competition later on. It provides kids additional time to master skills and be more consistent. While learning golf, kids will also learn sportsmanship, how to follow the rules, etiquette among players, manners, etc. Many of these skills will apply in the future, so it will be beneficial to learn them earlier on.
https://golfbluesky.com/blog/31-8-great-reasons-why-you-should-get-your-kids-playing-golf
why is it important to clean the bunker?
All golfers should consider the conditions of the bunker. To make the cleaning process more manageable, you should enter and exit nearest to your ball so you don’t have to sweep the entire bunker. A rake is a tool that is used to sweep the bunker. Usually, you will find them next to the bunker. Once you finish your shot, grab the rake over all the disturbances you made on the sand until it is neat. The disturbances include footprints, impact zones, and more. To rake the sand evenly, you must push and pull the rake over the sand with even pressure. The last part is walking backward while raking the footsteps made until you exit the bunker. This way, you eliminate all the footsteps made on the sand. Finally, replace the rake where you found it. Done! You aim to make an even surface, like when you entered the bunker for the next person. Sweeping the bunker is another manner that everyone should follow on the golf course. It would be best to sweep the sand to make it fair for everyone. The disturbances in the sand might unexpectedly affect another golfer’s ball, which would be unfair to golfers behind you. Let's make it fair for everyone with some simple actions!
Why is it important to repair ball marks on the green?
Long and high chipping shots usually cause the ball marks on the green. These marks are called divots. Repairing the marks you made for the people behind you is critical. It is an action of manners that should be followed by everyone playing the game. However, why should we repair them? According to USGA Rules of Golf, “A player should ensure that any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired.” Repairing the marks helps maintain the condition of the green. Usually, the marks make a hole or a bump, which disturbs the putting of golfers. By repairing them, greens will stay in a smooth and healthy condition for golfers in the future. It would help if you had some tools to repair these marks. I use golf tees or specific tools for the divots. Divot tools have two pointy prongs made with plastic or metal designed to make it easier to dig the grass. In the following video, I will discuss repairing these ball marks. Please check it out! Lastly, please be respectful to other golfers and fix your divots.
https://www.wbyc.com/Files/Library/2020REPAIRINGBALLMARKS.PDF
golf grip pressure
How you grip the club is essential in making your swing and hitting the perfect ball. Individuals grip the club in different ways based on their convenience. I first grip the club with my left hand and then place my right hand on top. I also cross the index finger of my left hand with the pinky of my right hand. This way, the grip gives me extra support for my swing. The last thing I checked was that 90 percent of the pressure in gripping was from my left hand. This means that you're mostly holding the club with your left hand. This helps me swing faster and turn quickly. It might be just me who finds it helpful. It is crucial to find a grip that works for you!
Now, let's say you found a grip that works for you. It would help if you considered the pressure of your grip. If you grip the club too tightly, the tension in your upper body builds up, causing a decrease in swing speed. The reduction in swing speed doesn't allow you to use full strength and possibly hit the ground instead of the targeted ball since you cannot swipe quickly. This doesn’t mean you can grip your club too loose. If the grip is too loose, you can lose control of the club and decrease swing speed. Therefore, find a pressure that supports your swing, resulting in a perfect hit. Next time, I will talk about different grips you can try out! Trying out many different grips will help since you will have an idea of the various choices you can choose from.
Korea vs. America screen golfing
In both countries, there is more participation and diversity in golf regardless of age and gender, but in different ways. Both countries try to expose more people to golf more easily with their given conditions/restrictions.
First, Korea is a tiny country, so they cannot build a golf course everywhere like in America. This resulted in the development of screen golfing and practice range. The two major brands that deal with screen golfing are Kakao Friends and Golfzon. The upside of this screen golf is people can travel quickly, and it is less formal. In Korea, if you want to play golf, you must commit to a whole day, including traveling, golfing, and dinner with drinks. It might be overwhelming to some people. Screen golf, on the other hand, solves all of these problems. You can visit casually with no valid attire since they lend you everything and are less time-consuming. Overall, screen golfing puts less pressure on the Korean golf culture.
Next, America has a different view of on-screen golfing than Korea. Screen golfing in America is less well developed in Korea since the U.S. has golf courses everywhere. People can golf whenever they want to since it's easier to access. In the U.S., finding a screen golf place is more challenging due to the cultural differences, which is fair. However, the U.S. has a similar concept, which is Topgolf. Topgolf is more famous for its entertainment and games involving golf. It is slightly different from Korea. However, it has the same purpose: to get more people to try it out in a fun way, like a game! Like Topgolf, the U.S. is also developing technological elements in the golf field, which I am excited about.
Clothes Golf Trend
The first trending clothing brand is Lululemon. They have simple but very comfortable clothes that have thoroughly considered athletics. The Swiftly Tech Short Sleeve Shirts and ABC Pants have been the most popular items for golfers. Their pants especially have performance technology and weather-ready elements, perfect for golf. They also considered design. For example, Lululemon always has a simple and clean design.
Additionally, they made the scorecard fit in the back pocket, making it convenient for golfers. I can also see this trend in my school golf team. Most of the girls wear Lululemon skirts on match day. Lululemon has it all: looks and convenience.
“Golf shops are becoming lifestyle shops, and this is going to continue in 2023,” Chamblee, a golf fashion and lifestyle reporter, notes. “People want to wear clothes that represent who they are, and this casualization of golf clothes that we’re seeing gives more people that opportunity.” As Chamblee says, formal golf attire is leaving, and more comfortable wear is trending. This makes golfers more lenient about expressing themselves through fashioned golf wear. I see fewer golf courses requiring specific attire to be allowed to play at their course. I also see less typical tucked-in shirts in knee-length shorts with belts. Now, people want to show their style in golf wear and be comfortable. I think it is a positive change as a variety of new people get interested in golf. They are less intimidated by so many rules they need to follow. It is always easier to be casual, not too strict.
I will keep updating the trends as they advance!
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/top-golf-trends-pga-show-frisco
Women Business Networking & Restrictions
Some people face an unbeatable wall from golf networking. Based on the CSB News, “Women in business who don't know how to swing a golf club are whiffing on networking opportunities that could advance their careers.” Recently, more women and children were involved in golf. However, there are still more guys golfing on courses than women. For these reasons, men are more often invited to these golf networking opportunities than women. They are giving no chance to women who can’t play golf. Even though more women have been exposed to golfing recently, the situation hasn’t changed much. Based on my observations, the problem is similar in Korea and other countries. I have never seen my dad play golf with women's business partners. My dad is an active businessman who plays my rounds of golf with his companions, mostly guys. It could not be objective since it is not based on various data. However, I could get a sense of it. The reality and social stereotypes that remove women from networking opportunities are unfair—one of the reasons I want kids to be exposed to golf as kids. I am trying to make it fair for everyone by at least helping them get exposed to the sports. If more kids get exposed, they will have broader choices and experiences as they grow older.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golf-women-executive-networking/
Business field golf networking
BUSINESS FIELD GOLF NETWORKING
In the business field, people network in various ways. Some people like to grab a coffee or dinner. Today, we will focus on golf networking. Golf networking helps entrepreneurs, which gives them time to negotiate since golf takes about four hours to finish. In those 4 hours, they can talk a lot or build relationships. They might involve business plans, stories, swapping ideas, current trends, etc. These talks allow you to get to know each other better since you spend time with quality people outside the usual office environment. This doesn’t mean you need to be at a professional level at playing golf. It would be better if you were good at the sport itself. However, most people are not at that level, meaning the time they spend together matters more than their skill level. In the business field, it is advantageous to play golf since it is easier to interact with people. Golf networking is more informal, giving less pressure, which might result in better consequences. I think golf networking is a great idea to save time, as it allows you to do two things simultaneously, combining hobbies with work.
PGA vs. LPGA prize money
A few differences are shown between PGA vs. LPGA. There are several differences other than gender between these two golf organizations that have been presented throughout the years. PGA is more popular than LPGA, which could bring these differences. However, the gap is far too big. Over the years, the gap has been closing due to more attention paid to LPGA, but more is needed. Some differences are found in broadcasting, tour arrangements, and prize money. The prize money shows the distinct differences. According to Statista, PGA has 460 million dollars, whereas LPGA only has 101.4 million dollars. The PGA has more than 4 times more prize money than the LPGA. However, the PGA has more golf events, which is true. However, the PGA had 460 million in 38 events, whereas the LPGA had 101.4 million in 33 events. On average, PGA had 12.11 million per event, whereas PGA had 3.07 million per event, which shows a distinct difference. It is not an uncommon situation in other sports as well. Soccer has the most gap, and tennis has the slightest gap. There are differences in intensity, but they still exist in most sports. The primary reason behind this is viewership. There is far more availability and attention, which creates this gap. It has improved as golf has become famous for all ages and genders. More females and kids are getting involved in the sport, which brings diversity and closes the gap. With this continuing attention, the gap will, at some point since it is improving.