WAM Golf

MGA Announces Play Day Schedule for 2014

The Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) has announced its 2014 "Play Day" schedule. Open to all members of the MGA, the Play Day events provide an opportunity for players of any handicap to compete at the tournament level. This year the MGA Play Day schedule features 9 events starting May and ending in October. Here are the golf courses and dates:

• May 19th, Rock Spring Club (West Orange, NJ)
• June 17th, The Links at Unionvale (Lagrangeville, NY)
• June 26, Doral Arrowwood Golf Club (Rye Brook, NY)*
• July 7, Hollow Brook Golf Club (Cortlandt Manor, NY)
• July 21, Colonial Springs Golf Club (East Farmingdale, NY)
• Sept. 8, Richter Park Golf Course (Danbury, CT)
• Oct. 7, Long Island National Golf Club (Riverhead, NY)
• Oct. 9, Knollwood Country Club (Elmsford, NY)
• Oct. 20, Black Oak Golf Club (Long Valley, NJ)

*Denotes 9-hole event

For more information visit the MGA Play Days page on the MGA website. 

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Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club Review

Dubai doesn’t do anything subtle.  They build the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa), the world’s only 7 star hotel (Burj Al Arab), the world’s largest mall (Duabi Mall) and the world’s largest man-made island (The Palm).  So when it comes to golf in the Emirate of Dubai, you’d be right to expect some of the best, which is exactly what Dubai Creek Golf Club delivers. 

Billed as one of the world’s top 100 must-play courses, the club offers a combination of ideal playing conditions, stunning views and top class service.  Now this was actually my second time playing the course, the first coming in the dead of summer back in July.  However with temperatures reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit during that round, I was more focused on not passing out and getting back to the club house alive than on my round of golf.  So with those memories fresh in my mind I waited till February to book this day out.   

Booking:

http://www.dubaigolf.com/dubai-creek-golf-yacht-club/the-club.aspx

Which brings me to my first bit of advice for golfers wanting to play in Dubai, do not book during the peak summer months!  Summer here starts around May and runs through September.  During June/July/August it’s honestly too hot to go outside during the day, with temps pushing 115-120 degrees.  But visit Dubai from October through March and you’ll be treated to some of the best weather anywhere in the world.   

And with people clamoring to golf during that time at one of the world’s best courses, you’re going to pay for it!  Deals can be had during the summer, with rounds at Dubai Creek costing about $100 USD. Come the prime winter season, you’re going to fork over somewhere around $225 USD per round.  Which explains the exact reason I’m not a regular visitor to Dubai Creek!  

Now once convincing yourself the cost is ok since “it’s a once in a lifetime experience” (that’s what I’ve gone with), you’re going to enjoy every minute.  Bookings fill up weeks in advance for a weekend round so be sure you book online early at their website.

The Course: 

In an effort to improve pace of play, Dubai Creek utilizes a shot gun start, the first coming at 8am and the second coming at around 1pm.  If you can get the 8am tee time don’t pass it up, or you’ll miss out warming up at the range against the backdrop of one of the most spectacular sunrises in the world.  And I can assure you that looking into the sun just once as you practice your iron shots will teach you more about keeping your head down than any instructor could ever do.   

Once you actually fire the first tee shots of the day, you’ll spend the next 4 hours walking incredibly maintained fairways and greens.  Which means hit the fairways and you’ll be rewarded. It took me a few holes to realize that (for the millionth time!) at which point I put the driver away and relied on irons and Hybrids off the tee.  This is an ideal course to have a 3-wood which you can trust (Which of course I don’t). There area however a few par 5’s with wide landing areas where you can feel free to grip it and rip it, so take advantage. 

As the course name suggests, it’s located along Dubai Creek which is more like a river and is being expanded to become a shipping route around all of Dubai.  So as you might expect, water comes into play on many holes.  The course was designed masterfully and makes you believe that maybe there is not as much water on some holes as there actually is.  But trust me it’s out there and protects the area around many of the greens.  So being bold and going for it is often rewarded with a ball in the drink. 

The Views:

In the end though, every golfer who plays Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club will get rewarded.  The closing 2 holes (17 and 18) run straight down the creek with water all along the left.  But bring your camera because watching over your final two holes will be the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.  At a cost of 1.5 billion USD to build and a height of 2,717 feet, it is the symbol of Dubai.  And getting a look from the distance, you’ll appreciate just how massive the building is, as it towers over the rest of the Dubai skyline.

Another great place to snap some photos is the 6^th hole, where you’ll be treated to hitting your drive from one of the course’s most famous features, the “floating tee box”.  As if we needed more help hitting it in the water.

Something people may not know:

The course is actually located in the same facility as the Park Hyatt Dubai which offers a fantastic Friday brunch with free flow Champaign and outstanding views of the creek and the city.  So you could tee it up at Dubai Creek in the morning and then keep the family from getting to upset with you by booking everyone in for one of Dubai’s most famous traditions, Friday afternoon brunch. Brunches around Dubai kick off between 12:30pm and 1pm each Friday.  Here are some of the best: http://www.timeoutdubai.com/restaurants-awards-2012/gallery/30979-10-best-dubai-brunches?image=3

 

Article written by Ryan MacNeil. You can find it him @Relaxed_Mac.

Forged vs. Die Cast Golf Clubs – Which Is Right for Me?

If you’ve spent time on the golf course then you will have no doubt heard the debate about whether forged or die cast golf clubs offer the best performance on the course and whether either can improve an individual’s game. Both types of golf club heads have their advantages and disadvantages related to performance and costs. Below is an overview of the history and benefits of each type of club head.

Which came first?

The first golf clubs available in metal were forged by blacksmiths in the early 1900s. Although this was a huge leap in golf club manufacturing (previously clubs had been made from wood), forging the metal by hand meant that there were inconsistencies in the shape and detailing in each club and no two club heads were the same.

In the late 1960s, the golf club brand Ping began using die casting methods to manufacture golf club heads and transformed the golfing industry. High pressure die casting, where liquid metal is forced into a mould under high pressure, means the shape of the club head is cast in one go so this includes the head’s grooves, brand name and logo, cavity holes and any other detailing you’d expect to find on a golf club head. The heads are made by injecting metal into a pre-formed die. This produces a non-ferrous metal, which means it doesn’t contain high levels of iron, making it a low weight which is vital for a golf club.

 

Die cast golf club heads

Die casting follows a similar process to making anything in a mould such as ice or jelly where a liquid is poured into the mould and then once set, the mould is removed to reveal the cast item. Die casting uses very hot, liquid metal (usually stainless steel) but essentially the principles are the same - metal is poured into a mould, hardened, cooled and then the mould is removed, leaving the cast item.

The main advantages of die cast golf club heads is that as the heads are mass produced, they are much quicker to manufacture which is reflected in the lower priced golf clubs this manufacturing technique produces.

Although die cast club heads can be made on a large scale, the process of pouring hot metal into a cast can trap minute air bubbles which remain when the metal sets. If you have ever made a model out of Plaster of Paris you will be familiar with this issue. In terms of performance, these tiny bubbles can make the surface of the club head inconsistent so a player could hit a golf ball at exactly the same point with the club but it could produce two very different shots. F                  or most amateur golfers this is unlikely to be a problem, especially for golfers who have never used a forged club and can’t compare the differences.

However, for golfers looking to take their game to the next level, it might be worth trying a forged club.

Forged golf club heads

Forged golf club heads were very expensive until relatively recently as the shape of the head is hand crafted and takes much longer to make. Although they are still made in a similar way, advances in the type of metals available for manufacturing golf clubs and advances in finishing technology means that the process is now faster and prices have come down slightly, although they are still much more expensive than cast clubs.

The key advantage of forged club heads is that the ‘sweet spot’ for hitting the ball is much smaller than on die cast heads but it is much more focused due to the fact that the club is made from one piece of metal which doesn’t have any air bubbles in it. This means that to perform well with a forged club, the golfer needs to have a better aim and a steadier swing but will produced more controlled shots, hence forged clubs are generally associated with more advanced players.

Conclusion

If you’re a golfer with a higher handicap or if you are new to golf, die cast golf heads offer higher levels of consistency and greater forgiveness on miss-hits due to less vibration (again, thanks to the tiny air bubbles which absorb much of the vibration). Die cast clubs are also much more affordable and offer a more sensible investment if you’re new to golf or are in the mid handicap range. Forged golf clubs are a better option for more serious golfers with a lower handicap. If you’re not sure where you fall, try out some forged clubs first before investing in a full set to see if they’re right for you. 

*Guest post by Sarah Stewart

Analyze Golfing Mechanics to Reduce Pain & Injury

Soreness and a tight back are often common ailments after a day on the course. Chronic back pain and severe joint tension are not. From poor posture and techniques to insufficient stretching and conditioning, golfing mechanics affecting more than a golfer's game may need to be tweaked to avoid long-term injury. The golfer can stay in shape and protected on the green by analyzing mechanics and adopting the following pointers.

Pre-tournament Stretching & Strengthening

Stepping onto the tee and swinging the club without proper stretching can affect a golfer's range of motion, resulting in injury or chronic pain. Sports specialist Dr. Mark Gulyas recommends on GolfWeek.com that golfers have a warm-up regimen to prevent sprains to the spinal disc or ligament, lower-back problems, torso stress and muscle tightness. Stretching is just as important as strengthening for improving accuracy, consistency and a powerful swing.

Avoid injury and increase flexibility with the following tips by Dr. Gulyas:

• Stretch throughout a round of golf, especially before and after
• Strengthen the core, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and knees
• Engage in prolonged and slow warm-up stretches
• Train with rotational exercises and flexibility

Quick stretches from spine-health.com include:

• Hold the golf club behind the neck and shoulders; rotate the torso
• Pull knees to the chest to stretch hips
• Bend over and reach for toes to open up the hamstrings

Laser Spine Institute has been specializing in neck and back surgery alternatives since 2005. The outpatient surgery center offers spine recovery and rehabilitative exercise videos for a golfer who's already experiencing spinal strain and discomfort.

Swing Analysis

A golfer can only improve his game by practicing, and optimal practice includes self-analysis. Golfers rely on the Ubersense Golf app for recording and analyzing golf swings. Use the golf bag as a camera stand and make sure the camera is 6 to 10 feet away from the subject. (A mini-pod and the ground work fine too). An entire video recording of multiple swings can be split into single clips. Record 3 to 10 continuous swings for an optimal swing rhythm.

The golfer can use the footage to compare their various swings and technique. Videos can be controlled separately using the playback bar and viewed stacked on top of one another. Users can also save and capture annotations, such as drawings and slow motion, using the Coach Review feature.

Golf Yoga

Golf requires skill as well as stamina, core strength and flexibility. Yoga practice can help shape bodies and sharpen minds for dynamic movements. Katherine Roberts' Yoga for Golfers specializes in high-level golf training using yoga postures. She offers instructional videos that concentrate on the following areas:

• Flexibility
• Strength
• Balance
• Core
• Focus

The goal of Roberts' yoga-golf training is to condition the mind and body for top performance. The golfer can also learn about neck and back mobility, healthy eating habits and mental tips for improving the golf game.

Guest Post by Andy Wallace.