How can anything used be better than something that is new?   Simple, while there’s an appeal to new shoes they actually hurt your feet, after they get worn in a bit they actually function better and the same principle can apply to well used or lightly used golf clubs—in spite of all the nay sayers who will tell you why you have to buy new we’re here to tell you buying used makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons.

 HIGHER QUALITY FOR THE AMOUNT SPENT – Sometimes, price does matter.  Your several thousand dollar golf sets are better made and have higher craftsmanship and technology than what you’ll get at most department store chains.   But when you buy used you’re often getting lightly used, high quality goods for your budget which would only allow you to buy that department store or sports chain brand.   So used golf clubs can be better than new because you get a lot more for your dollars spent.

 VALUE RETENTION -- You’re not going to pay top dollar for your used golf clubs, nobody is.   Even for a brand new set of golf clubs given as a gift—never used—neither you nor anybody else is ever going to pay top dollar.   Why would you?   You or anybody can go and get custom fitted golf sets or buy brand new off the shelf if that’s what you were planning to do.  Since you’re not, you’ll actually pay very close to the re-sale value of your golf sets when you buy used.  Be sure to remember that among the many advantages of used golf clubs is that it makes sense economically in a variety of ways.

 MANY ARE ALREADY UPGRADED – when you go into a chain store and buy off the rack, you won’t get any upgrades that have recently become available.   Sometimes, the previous owner has already figured out a way to improve the quality of the club on their own.   It’s like buying a home with a storage house added, or other market value improvements.  Just like buying a previously lived in home has many advantages, so does buying used golf clubs.

 Golf sets are often upgraded, closer to re-sale value, and a higher quality for the amount of money in your budget if you’re willing to buy used golf clubs.

And where do you buy these used golf clubs? From the classifieds, of course. But the classifieds are no long in your newspaper but at free classified sites like http://buysellgolfclubs.com.

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The 11^th annual Diamond Bar Golf Tournament was held on September 22^nd at the Via Verde Country Club. This was a banner year for the tournament as it welcomed 4 new platinum sponsors and raised over $30,000 to help send kids to Champ Camp! Highlights of the days festivities included a putting contest, an 18 hole 4-man team competition, a trophy presentation and an exciting opportunity drawing and auction.
 

AARBF would like to thank Ken and Toni Hewett for 27 years of support and for their tremendous effort to make this tournament happen year after year.

AARBF would also like to thank the Ruch Family, Jim Stamp and the numerous volunteers and participants who donated their time and money to make this tournament an amazing event.

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Golfers' alert: Should you be planning a little autumn action on the Cape, I just wanted to let you know that I played Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds on Sunday, and the course was in primo condition.  The place is lush and the greens are immaculate.

"The Fairgrounds" and Hyannis Golf Course are both "munis"...municipal golf courses...owned and operated by the town of Barnstable.  Hyannis was bought by the town a couple of years ago, and having played there earlier this year,  I can tell you its condition is light years from where it used to be.  The town clearly hires the right people to run its golf courses.

The Fairgrounds is bordered by an old grass field airport.  It's big with gliders, and one of the bonuses of playing on a perfect Sunday was seeing the gliders swoosh in for a landing...and I do mean swoosh.  You're lining up a putt, and all of a sudden, you see a large shadow approach, and swoosh...the glider is just over your head, coming in for a landing. 

Fall colors haven't peaked on the Cape yet, so if you're heading down in the next week or two, that will an an additional bonus, especially if the weather holds up.  The only thing missing on an otherwise perfect day was a trip to our favorite townie bar, where this conversation actually took place last year after my brother and I ordered our beverages:

Waitress:  You want peanuts or Fritos with that?

Me: Ummm...ahhh...hmmm...

Waitress:  Honey, it's peanuts or Fritos.  Not a tough choice here.

(I went with the Fritos.)

You see Seve is one of the reasons I am a sad sports video collector. It goes back to the 1984 Open Golf Championship at St. Andrews. I was on a cricket tour to Holland with my school - a tour where I got 9 runs in 4 knocks, and was dropped for the only game of the five in which we won - and the Open was going on while I was out there (along with the West Indies continued domination of England in that summer's test series). I sort of kept up with the news of the Open, but never totally.

A-ha, when I got home from the tour, and the school holidays had started, my dear late mother had taped all four days of the BBC's highlights of the Open. It was a brilliant spectacle, with Tom Watson and Seve battling it out, and if I recall correctly, a young Aussie called Ian Baker-Finch had three sparkling rounds before falling away. That was it. I now have video / DVD recordings of nearly all Open's since, somwehere or other, starting from 1987 - I was on holiday in 1985, and in 1986 I have Greg Norman's Golfing Year as a record. Now people who know me will know of the immense amount of sport I have on video/DVD and Seve's Open triumph is one of those reasons.

Of course Seve's exploits in the Ryder Cup were always amazing to watch, and I remember in particular how he was a "liability" in playing terms at Oak Hill in 1995, but his sheer strength of character, powers of recovery and skill around the greens made him a considerable, if faded force. It was one of the best examples of a man's sporting character almost overcoming the terrible technical problems he had. An inspiration as captain two years later, Seve then faded rapidly from the golfing scene, and now casts a sadder figure with news of his terrible illness.

Trite get well soon messages are all well and good, and I'd add my small quiet pipsqueak voice to the other more grandiose figures. All I will say now is that I hope this 80s sporting pioneer and icon lives many more years, and that the memories we have of his brilliance can be aired with him still around to acknowledge them.

Best of luck to him.

Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, a five-times major winner, said on Sunday he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

"I inform you that after an exhaustive check, that was realised at Hospital La Paz, a brain tumour has been detected," the 51-year-old said in a statement issued by the hospital.

"During my career I was one of the best at getting around obstacles on golf courses. Now I want to be the best at confronting the most difficult match of my life with all my strength," he added.

Ballesteros said he will undergo a biopsy on Tuesday and then doctors would decide on a course of treatment.

He collapsed unconscious on Monday and was taken to the hospital where he remained in intensive care while doctors conducted tests.

Hospital officials released a statement on Friday confirming the Spaniard had suffered "a partial epileptic fit" but said he had left intensive care and was in "a stable condition."

Ballesteros won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, a title he repeated in 1983.

He was an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997.

He collected 87 titles before knee and back problems forced him to retire last year.

Known for his flamboyant and imaginative style of play, he won one of his three British Open titles by playing a shot from a temporary parking lot.

http://www.supersport.co.za/golf/article.aspx?id=273807&headline=I%20have%20a%20brain%20tumour%20-%20Ballesteros

Baie sad nuus, hierdie is een van die gentlemans van die sportwereld.

Para construir parque como os esquerdopatas propõem, o poder público vai ter que comprar o terreno. Eu não gosto da idéia de gastar tanto para fazer MAIS um parque abandonado na beira do guaíba.

Escrito por fmobus, em 13/10/2008

When you purchase a set of golf clubs, it is a major investment. Even if you opt to purchase less expensive clubs, you are still spending a lot of money. This is why it is so important to get the right golf clubs. Your golf clubs should be just right for you in order for you to be good at the game. We’ll teach you what to look for when choosing the right golf clubs.

The first thing to look at when choosing the right golf clubs is brand. There are many name brands such as Callaway and TaylorMade that have great reputations. You can be sure when you purchase one of these sets, you are getting quality. Of course, some golfers just can’t afford name brand clubs. Consider in this case purchasing clone golf clubs. Clone golf clubs are made like the name brand with similar materials, but are cheaper.

The next thing to look for when choosing the right golf clubs is size. The right size of golf clubs will give you the best swing possible, whereas the wrong size can hurt your game and your body. Consider going in for a golf club fitting, where a professional will analyze your swing and customize a set of clubs that are perfect for you.

Choosing the right golf clubs isn’t just about the set of clubs themselves, it is also important to select the right kinds of other golf equipment. When shopping for golf clubs, take a good look at the accompanying golf bag to make sure it is sturdy and to your liking. You should also select golf balls with care. Name brand golf balls are great if you’re not quite sure what to get.

We all have tick-lists...Restaurants we have to eat at, hotels we have to stay in, things we have to do. For golfers, it's the tick-list of "Courses I have to play before I die (and preferably whilst I can still get round a golf course under 100)".

I've been lucky enough to play golf on five of the six continents (Australasia here I come!) and have always travelled with my clubs since the age of nine. Over the years I have seen amazing variety in golf course design - I calculate that I've played circa 1,500 golf clubs and I don't want to know how many balls I've lost! It was inevitable that I've played golf courses that would be better used as cow fields and others that I could play for the rest of my life. Some of the golf courses' architecture is flattering on the handicap and others make you think hard, struggle some more and eventually abandon all thoughts of posting a decent medal card. Nevertheless, if the course can beat you up and still entice you back for more, it must be good. Here's my top 10 golf courses that provide a difficult challenge.

Kingbarns

Wow, this golf course's design is good. Off the coast to the west of Saint Andrews, it's quite a new course but you certainly couldn't tell and the test is relentless. Stunning links golf with large greens, thick wispy rough and views to take your breath away. You need a good caddy, a strong drink and concentration. Deservedly rated by many Pro's as their favourite course in that part of the world.

Ballybunion

Every time I've played here, it's blown a hoolie but it's the west coast of Ireland so what can I expect? The golf courses' architecture (both new and old) provides wonderful tests of golf with every shot in the bad needed. Massive dunes, treacherous greens and wind coming from every direction. You know you've played golf after 36 holes here. The clubhouse is great but avoid buying waterproofs - it would be cheaper getting wet!

Hunstanton

I actually prefer Royal West Norfolk just down the road but Hunstanton is a sterner test of nerves. Particularly as I always seem to be playing it in scratch foursomes and I'm playing the evens. The main difficulty here is the greens - many of which are below or above you and all of which are very well guarded. The prevailing wind plays havoc with your drives but a good shot is rewarded and a bad shot is penalised so you can't complain. Wonderful and traditional golf with a clubhouse to match, ensures this golf course's design easily makes the list.

Les Bordes

Robert von Hagge is one of my favourite designers and he's created five courses in France that are rated in the European Top 50: Seignosse, Royal Mougins, Golf National and Kempferhof are the other four. Les Bordes is his best and, as such, easily makes my top 10 golf courses. With water on 14 of the holes and huge white bunkers and some very narrow fairways, you have to concentrate for the full four hours. I can't think of one easy hole. However, what von Hagge does do well is to offer an easier (albeit longer) route to the green but if you want to play to a decent handicap or just like taking risks then go for broke and rest easy (albeit with a few balls less) at night. You can sleep and eat at this hideaway in the Loire Valley.

Chantilly Vineuil

A beautiful Tom Simpson gem. This designer is probably my favourite and was incredibly prolific considering he was at his peak well before the age of aeroplane travel. And not only did he work hard, he worked brilliantly and his creations have past the test of time to remain amongst the best golf courses in the world with effortless ease. Chantilly, north of Paris, is a parkland course with thick rough and tricky greens. The bunkers are perfectly-placed and every hole presents a challenge - whether it's the length, an oak tree overhanging the fairway corner, a triple-tiered green or a massive bunker in the middle of the fairway. One of the best golf courses in the world, and definitely deserving of a place in my golf top 10!

Canouan Island

Having just come back from here and lost about five balls per round, I want to go back again better prepared. Part of the Grenadine Islands, this is a corner of paradise and the Jim Fazio golf course fits in perfectly. The front nine is demanding off the tee as the landing zones are quite narrow and the wind off the beach (just yards away) can really punish the ball. The back nine is treacherous and wonderful at the same time...every shot has to be spot on. The greens and fairways are immaculate but the rough is fluffy and the thick stuff is a no-go zone! The best golf course architecture in the Caribbean by a long way.

Pebble Beach

I haven't played that much in the States but I have played some of their best. For me, Pebble Beach is the tops. There's the usual US-style slick service that sets you up nicely and the condition of the course is typical of the California climate. Rated No.1 public USA golf course, it isn't the most difficult challenge you'll ever face but you know the green-keeper is being kind on you. However, get a little bit of wind and let the history of the course affect you and there's a very nasty bite behind the beautiful façade of the golf course's design...

The European

They say that tour pro's have walked off this course - but they only play for money and the rest of us can play for fun! A simple clubhouse belies the genius of the design. Quite long and with plenty of cunningly-placed bunkers, you have to be Gary Player and John Daly if you are going to beat this golf course's design and score well here. Again, the views are as distracting as a beautiful girl in a church and you need plenty of balls or a caddy with a long stick. South of Dublin and better than the big-name courses of the area.

Le Touessrok

For a so-called holiday golf course, this one is tough! Mauritius is now one of (if not the) best exotic golf destinations in the world with no less than six first-class courses. Le Touessrok, though, takes the biscuit with tight fairways and tiny greens. I've played this course several times, each with a different game plan...every time I've failed, but I've come back for more as the course does offer a birdie or two and a wonderful lunch. This golf course's architecture is unique as it is the only course in the world to take over an entire island, and to get there you take the private launch from the hotel. In fact, maybe that's why I never play well there as I'm too relaxed by the time I arrive!

Barbaroux

Designed by Pete Dye and located in the heart of Provence, this is a beast of a golf course with a charming three-star hotel and two restaurants. Even by today's standards it's long off the back but I remember it being one of the very first courses that I had to hit a driver and a three-wood just to hit a par four in regulation...today's balls make it shorter but it's still one of the rare courses where you can play every shot, and every club, in your bag. Plus, some of the greens are 80 yards long so clubbing is so important (unless you like four-putting). Terrific target golf with scenery to take your breath away ensures this memorable golf course's design was always going to sneak into my top 10!

Reed Exhibitions with its singular charitable foundation, Just a Drop gives to various good causes around the planet. The machinery of the show moves on.  Its all a bit impersonal already, yet without this grand  commerce, how would the tourism industry survive. One wonders if the giving is a marketing tool or a real emotional fulfillment for the benefit of others. The commercialisation of charity into something of a sideshow is a depressing though, however this too may be the reality of modern life, Small charitie such as www.eyeonthewild.org who do local projects for the benefit of people, environments and causes damaged or influenced as a direct result of tourism struggle to achieve funding and promotion of worthy beneficiaries. An analogy somewhat akin to the tourism business.

     November 10 - 13th Excel London

    World Travel market

An example of how this is best seen and dealt with, in Asian countries may well be the ATF. The Asean Travel Forum.

The next show is due to be held in the city of Ha Noi, Vietnam from the 5-12th January 2009

tp://www.atf2009vietnam.com

Unlike the WTM and other global exhibitions, ATF is also a collective of the Asian countries governmental ministers all debating and actioning the best way to self promote, protect their sovereign states at the same time as working together and acting in unison without compromising each delicate balanced tourism industry at the expense or each other or to the lost of another destination. Diplomacy at its best.

Unlike most European countries and other global destinations, Asean may be best compared to Central America. There are one or two prime destinations within a pennisular of several countries, very advanced enjoying the wealth from foriegn investment and taking the largest slice of the tourism pie.

Simiarly, Asia, a union of countries all self and jointly promoting (as long as it not at the expense of their prime locations). Malaysia certainly takes a prime position within the Asean group and having spent vast resources over the last few years to establish itself as a safe destination, friendly 2nd home  and retirement location. Investment into KL in particular is evident of the success of this programme. The Uk, South Korea and China being the major players there. 

Thailand (currently sufferring political unrest) best compared to Costa Rica, the pearl in the shell of Asia. Jealously guards its tourism industry despite concerns on the large established sex industry which no doubt accounts for a vast slice of its income. A lot of information, promotion and the clean up of the under age and criminal elements of this trade has been put into displaying the other side of Thailand and if reading various travel blogs of younger, first-time travellers to thailand is anything to go by, there is a curious balance between enjoying, and frowning on this aspect of tourism within Thailand, the exploits of middle-aged men, and women seen within the redder entertainment regions of the country.

India, a major player in investment, tourism and travel throughout Asia is a likely brother in arms, or a threat to the current stablibity of the group. whilst China hovering on the peripheral of introduction into the Asean family, the group's top members may well be concerned about how their cousins may influence travel trends but is the lure of the yellow dollar too alluring as many Chinese travellers are now seeking international travel since relaxation of travel restrictions and easy access/visa agreements are forged.

South Korea has certainly been an agressive golf frenzied market driven high end tourism target for many of the current members who can offer sophisticated destination. Investment by South Koreans who too have been allowed relaxed monetary controls due to the stock piles of devaluing dollars within their country, have been keen to examine local international markets,  Brunei, Philippines, Malaysia have lured these travellers, investors and residents, not just from Korea particularly, but on a global targeted promotion. 

But its all done on a friendly and civilised level. I do wonder and have for many years how the role that the Asean management group will evolve at the very top of the tree. Will it support, police the poorer members, Cambodia, Laos. Comment, influence and bring about harmony to Myanmar. Certainly, when the recent cyclone hit this troubled region, the Association of South East Asian Nations was one of the first to broadcast and promote relief aid requests and support.

Currently there are thirteen member states, but that can quickly change as korean, south and north, China, India, other Asian countries may deem this the best way to self govern, promote and support their regions within the unity of the group. Hopefully, Asean will not go the same as Europe in trying to introduce an expensive regional state that governs all. A fat cash cow for the bureaucrats to milk dry for years to come.

As the governments and tourism industry of Europe and other regions of the world looks at the Asean operations and working profile, they must wonder if they have seen the magic formula to self-support and self promote and how long will it be before the voice of Asean becomes the unified voice of all of Asia.

Threat or friend, it is at the very least a powerful and united voice. Fair trade agreement and other politically correct proceedures are introduced and debated on an almost daily basis.  The joint statements issued by members as a collective can be viewed on http://www.aseansec.org.   once you have seen how the system is working then the realisation that somehow and through a lot of hard work, Asean has become a voice to be recognised and soon I suspect a policital machine to influence the views of all asian countries to stand beside the EC commission and possible too the United nations.

We live in a world of information overload and most of us are overwhelmed as a look at our inbox confirms.

This is certainly true of what happens when we address the golf ball, trying to remember our body position and where we want to swing the club instead of where we want to place the ball.

For most of us amateurs, the final location of our ball is a crap shoot. We simply have to much to think about with our golf swing to really think about where the ball will actually end up. So we marvel at the professional who, like Babe Ruth of old, can simply point a finger and will the ball to that location.

The beauty of golf instruction combined with golf fitness and practice at the driving range is that it programs the mechanics of the golf swing into our subconscious. The swing becomes second nature and forms the platform for us to make small adjustments that will direct the ball whereever we would like it to go....and that's a nice place to be.

Have a great game!

Steve McMurray MPT
For a free golf informational newsletter and free golf videos, click here now:www.ezgolfrx.com

  The applicant, Golf In Dubai, LLC (in short GID), is a company registered in United Arab Emirates (in short UAE), having its registered office in Dubai. The applicant states that it is engaged in the business of promoting Golf nationally as well as internationally by way of organizing Golf tournaments in different countries.  The applicant’s role is that of an event organizer who earns income by way of organizing such events. The applicant has reportedly got affiliations with the European Professional Golf Association (in short EPGA) by virtue of which many of the tournaments organized by GID are recognized as “European Tour events”, being extremely prestigious events with the participation of the top ranking international Golf players.

  In keeping with the aforesaid objective of promoting Golf tournaments worldwide, the applicant organized two Golf tournaments in India.  The first one known as EMAAR-MGF LADIES MASTERS, 2007 was organized in Bangalore at Eagleton, the Golf Resort (in short Eagleton) from 3rd December, 2007 to 8th Dec.,2007. The second tournament, known as EMAAR-MGF INDIAN MASTERS, was organised on the Golf course of the Delhi Golf Club (in short DGC) in February 2008 i.e. from 4th February 2008 to 10th February 2008.

  For organizing the tournaments at Delhi, the applicant had entered into formal Venue Agreement dated 30 January, 2008 with DGC and had agreed to pay DGC a fee of US $ 80,000 in consideration of granting of the right to use the premises (of DGC) to host the event which was sponsored by EMAAR-MGF, an Indian company along with OMEGA and CNN as co-sponsors. The applicant entered into a formal agreement with EMAAR-MGF also for three years from 2007 presumably with an eye on such future Golf tournaments. No formal venue agreement seems to have been entered into with Eagleton, which is reportedly a division of M/s Chandeshwari Build Tech Pvt. Ltd., an Indian company incorporated on 29th June, 1994.  In pursuance of the oral agreement, GID paid US $15,000 as venue charges fees for obtaining the right to use the Eagleton. Incidentally, no ticket income was generated from both these tournaments, as entry was free.

  Since GID did not have, as stated, any Permanent Establishment in India, these tournaments were organized on ‘remote basis’ i.e. by hiring independent third party local contractors and suppliers, having local expertise and experience.  In fact, GID entered into a formal agreement with one consultant company of Kolkata, namely Par Golf Tours & Accessories Pvt. Ltd. (in short ParGolf) which had requisite experience of organizing such events in the past.  GID made total payments (after withholding tax) to ParGolf who provided the services in relation to organizing the events.  As stated in the application, GID proposes to continue organizing such events in future also so that India is publicized as a venue for international Golf tournaments.

  In the wake of organizing both these tournaments as referred to above, the applicant has received the following income from the Indian sponsors: -

(i) Sponsorship fee, which essentially represents reimbursement expenses on prize money, accommodation for players, Golf course fee, catering, advertisements and publicity expenses etc. and

(ii) The management fee, which represents the actual fee for organizing the tournament.

(iii) Income from sale of merchandise at the venue and over the internet.

Questions before the Authority:

Q 1. Whether Golf in DUBAI (“GID / the Applicant”) could be deemed to have a Permanent Establishment (“PE”) in India in terms of Article 5 of the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement, entered between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of United Arab Emirates (“India-UAE DTAA”)?

Q 2. Whether  Eagleton The Golf Resort, Bangalore and/or the Delhi Golf Club could be deemed to be an agency PE of GID in India since the tournaments were held at grounds of each of these clubs and/or for providing ancillary assistance to GID in organizing the Golf tournaments?

Q 3. If the answer to any of the queries above is in affirmative, whether any or all of the following income generated by GID from the Golf tournament held in Delhi and Bangalore would be liable to tax in India in terms of Article 7 of the India-UAE DTAA?

(i) sponsorship income and a nominal management fee from Indian as well as foreign sponsors and;

(ii) income from sale of merchandise at the venue and over the internet;

Q 4. In the event that GID does not have a PE in India, would any of the income arising to GID under any of the above heads be taxable in India under any other provision of the India-UAE DTAA?

T H E   R U L I N G:

Que.No.1 That on the facts and circumstances of the case the applicant does not have a PE in India in terms of Article 5 of the Treaty.

Que.No.2 In view of ruling on Que. No.1 above, this question requires no ruling.

Que.No.3 In view of ruling on Que.No.1 above, the receipts earned by the applicant in India are not liable to tax in terms of Article 7 of the Treaty.

Que.No.4 That on the facts and circumstances of the case the income of the applicant is not taxable under any other provision of the Treaty.

(Click here for full text of Ruling AIT-2008-362-AAR)

(Source: Allindiantaxes)

Seve, the swashbuckling, Spanish golfer brought excitement and creativity to golf like no one I have followed since Arnold Palmer.

May God be with Seve and his family. I pray that his health will improve.

In the episode, Ari was on the Golf course with some people and one of the guys (Warner Brothers Studio head) he was golfing with was a lunatic.  He loved to scream, typical Type-A.  Well after his blood began to boil, the poor guy had a heart attack right there on the green.

It really put things in perspective.

This episode got me thinking...

I often watch a coach on the sidelines and observe the behavior.

I often wonder why some scream their heads off and some are cool, calm and collected.

In the past, I was a screamer; both during games and practices.

I have learned to tone it down, and down and down and down.

It's almost to a point now where I'm like, "These kids don't want to be yelled at."

When I was younger, I hated to be yelled at.  It scared the living daylights out of me when a coach, parent or even teacher screamed at me for making a mistake.

I have made a commitment to myself to stop screaming, stop yelling and taking that energy and using it in a more positive way.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I think I know what I was doing wrong - I let some old bad habits creep in.  My stance was too wide and my grip was too weak.  I went out one evening and played a couple holes and hit the ball much better.  Not sure I can play this week though, I'll be out of town for a couple of days for work.

No golfer should be found without a putter. Putting is the most exact aspect of any golf game. The putter must be created to make the golfer experience smooth strokes, glide, impact, and a non-bouncing topspin ball launch. Putters should be made with the latest in golf technology so that these moves are perfected. The latest putter technology designs offer power adjustability and being able to convert from practice to play.

There are basically three kinds of putters: the conventional putter, the long putter and the belly putter. A belly golf putter is about 6-8 inches longer than the conventional putter. This type of putter is designed to be propped against the stomach of the golf player. A belly putter is designed this way to reduce the importance of wrists, hands, elbows and shoulders.

Disadvantages of the Belly Golf Putter
Belly putters decrease the putting power controls; also, the feel of the act itself is reduced. One other disadvantage is the reduction in distance that should have been attained with other types of putters.

The use of belly golf putters in professional golf tournaments is still contested. Golfers like John O' Hara and Vijay Singh have used the belly putter at one time on their tournaments and have been observed to have improved their short games. Others condemn the use of belly putters, stating that it is an unfair advantage on the users.

Why Belly Golf Putter Would Fit You
The belly putter creates a third point of contact which is the player's stomach or abdomen. The other two points of contact are the player and the putter. When these three-legged points of contact are established, putting would be highly stable because of the stroke balance.
The great advantage of the length of a belly golf putter is that it can be anchored against the body of the player, thus, wrist action is much easier to control. Also, the golfer is at a posture that is, somehow, close to the ideal.

If you do choose to make the belly putter your baby when it comes to putting, then you have to learn to control it. After all, everything can be achieved with constant practice and perseverance.

Helping her effort is the Back Bay Rugby Football Club with their 6th Annual Golf Classic to be held at Rancho San Joaquin in Irvine, California, on 22 November 2008. This 18-hole course designed by William F. Bell is located in the heart of Irvine. With rolling hills and gentle terrain, this players’ course appeals to golfers across all skill levels. With three different lakes as a backdrop, it has the finest and most challenging greens and the Southern California Golf Learning Center. The range offers a superior practice experience daily and has separate chipping and approach areas and sand bunkers available on rent.

This is a great little tournament and has a silent auction with fabulous prizes and plenty of golfing characters to challenge. Remember everything donated and spent will be a tax write-off for you or your company. Hole Sponsorship will guarantee your company gets a spot. The prizes are substantial with a Putting contest for $10,000, Closest to the PIN and the longest Drive and a hole in one contest for a new BMW. 

Challengers Club Online keeps you in touch with the golfing community and touches your mind, body and soul with the sport. Here you can meet golfers for a game, share experiences, or get clarity and good advice, depending on your golfing need. What are you waiting for, register with the Challengers Club California by calling them on 408-501-8821 or email to info@challengersclub.com.

"I've been working on my putting over the last six weeks with my teachers and it really paid off this week," Johnson said. "I had a tough year, but the putts started to fall into today and that is why I'm at the top of the leaderboard."

The 2007 Masters champion who entered the week with only one top-10 finish this year, Johnson followed his third-round 62 with a 64 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Charlie Wi (61), Mark Wilson (63) and Tim Wilkinson (64).

The win in the Falls Series event, capped by a 5-foot birdie putt on 18, was his first on the PGA Tour outside Georgia. In addition to the Masters, he won the 2004 BellSouth Classic and 2007 AT&T.

"This week I was just concentrating on the process not the outcome," Johnson said. "I had six weeks off this fall (after not qualifying for the FedEx Cup playoffs) and I just rededicated myself to getting back to what I used to do."

Wi parred the final two holes.

"I didn't look at the scoreboard until I got to the 15th hole. I knew Zach was close, but I was playing very good," Wi said. "I was very happy to make those birdies on 15 and 16. I wish I could have made one more."

Third-round leader Rory Sabbatini shot a 72 to finish seven strokes back at 12 under.

Johnson never trailed on the back nine, but both Wi and Wilkinson kept the pressure on with birdie putts of their own. On the par-4 18th hole, Johnson hit his drive more than 300 yards and put his 9-iron approach to 5 feet.

"I'm not proud of many shots, but I was proud of that one," Johnson said.

The ensuing walk up the 18th fairway was filled with smiles and waves for the crowd, while his wife and young son waited behind the green.

"Hopefully this is the first of many to come," Johnson said.

I wrote at length about my admiration for him in my posting of 17 July 2007 following  the announcement of his retirement from pro golf. There was a third thing that made him my golfing hero - it's because he played shots from all the places that I played my golf - out of the car park, deep in the rough, up a tree etc. The difference is that typically he went and played the next shot onto the heart of the green for an outrageous birdie opportunity, whereas mine went into the lake or up against the face of the course's deepest bunker or onto the fairway of the next hole but one.

That was usually the only time I hit a fairway - inadvertently and the wrong one. I never played golf on nicely trimmed grass; it was always from long stuff, tough stuff, gravelly stuff, watery stuff, sandy stuff. Good golfers don't know how hard a round of golf can be played from only these conditions. Before I threw the golf bag away in disgust at my ineptitude I was seriously tempted to start a tour for really bad golfers like myself who never scored beneath 100 shots on a round, whose typical progress along a hole was to zig-zag from one side of the fairway to the other and who, as a consequence, walked more than twice the  distance of any other golfer on the round. I was going to christen it the PAG Tour, for Pretty Awful Golfers.

I had a hook more fearful than Peter Pan's nemesis. I once hit a pony up the arse in a field 100 yards or more to the left of the fairway (thus adding a new term to golfing vocabulary - a 'pony' - for a truly dreadful drive). To compensate I would attempt to hit a shot (I ended up only using a 7 iron) way off to the right in the hope that the resulting hook would bring the ball back to somewhere close to the centre of the fairway. I can tell you it was bloody hard to get this shot right.

Once we were playing some charity tournament up near Southport on one of the classic links courses there. I'd been zig-zagging between the sand dunes and the railway line that defined the boundaries of the course along most of the holes. A lot of my golf was of the Out Of Bounds variety. On this one hole the rail line had headed off way to the right and between it and the course's right hand boundary was this large Victorian cemetery. I lined up my T-shot aiming way to the right as usual. Our celebrity playing partner, the ex-Liverpool footballer Alan Kennedy, was rapidly becoming exasperated with my performance and to be honest I was close to giving him a clout just to shut his mouth and staunch the flow of his incessant words of advice. He was about to come up and tell me for the umpteenth time to aim the shot straight down the middle of the fairway but I ignored him knowing that that would result in my shot ending up lost in the  dunes to the left. I hit the ball as cleanly as I've ever hit a ball in my life. It shot off straight as a die - but of course it was heading in a direction way to the right. I'm pleading for the hook to kick in but oh no, it just went straight as an arrow landing up some 250 yds away right bang in the middle of the cemetery pinging off all the angels and monumental stoneware like an open topped pinball machine. It must have ricocheted at least 7 or 8 times before finally coming to rest, appropriately, against the chapel of rest, and of course way OOB.

Strangely Kennedy never asked to be in my team again. Indeed nobody ever enjoyed partnering me in a foursome/fourball, not even my good friends. I felt bad for them. Just once I played with a guy who was as bad if not a little worse than I was on the course. He was Richard Field, Head of Commercial Affairs at the RFU at the time and I think it was the RFU's annual golf day. My old friend Geoff was a team member and one of Richard's guest made up the 4th player. Those two went off and played their own two-ball virtually whilst Richard and I had a sublime round of 120 shots+ lasting almost 6 hours. We laughed and chatted and encouraged each other by heartily applauding the very few shots which sort of went more than 30 yards in more or less the right direction. Never have I enjoyed a glof round so much - two PAGs equally matched. It was a Titanic struggle between the hackers' equivalent of Seve v the Golden Bear. I was Seve, of course, and just won by a single shot. We lost nearly 20 golf balls between us that day but they were all Cellnet or RFU-provided so we didn't care too much.  That's how to play the game, in the spirit of Seve and sod the scores.

Come on Seve you can beat this.

pp

We are now half way through the season, and I was waiting for a bit of a slow episode, and we got it. It was just too good for the first five.
So what do you think so far? Are you still as avid a fan as you were in the beginning of the season? Please comment!