Golf Course Management: The Complexities Of The Career

It's easy to picture a golf course manager as someone who just makes sure everyone is having a good time playing, but golf course management is actually a complex and challenging career. Anyone who wants to enter this field should understand just how many different hats he or she will be wearing and how many different types of jobs they will be doing to make sure the facility they manage is running smoothly and their customers are happy.


The most obvious focus of the work is Operations; keeping the day to day working of a course, country club or driving range running smoothly. Operations management includes everything from making sure the course opens up on time to making sure cart rental is handled properly and that caddies are lined up for patrons. In the end, it is all about making sure that things happen without a hitch so that patrons are happy and can enjoy playing the game without worries.

The nuts and bolts of Business and Accounting are never far from the mind of a successful course manager, from tracking inventory in the pro shop to knowing what the monthly cash flow is in each department of the course, the manager will oversee millions of dollars and will need an in-depth understanding of how to budget and allocate funds. Fortunately, a bachelor's degree offers business and accounting courses that prepare students for handling all of these details.

Actual course management is another part of the job that contributes to the success of a facility. It requires knowledge of everything from pest management to course design and renovation to make sure the course is always in peak condition and able to compete successfully with other facilities. Changing environmental requirements must also be a concern for anyone in course management.

There is also a portion of managing that requires the same skill set that is needed to successfully run a fine restaurant or hospitality suite. Food and beverage management is taught at academies as a part of the curriculum so that managers can oversee everything from beverage service at the driving range to catering of weddings and banquets in the dining facilities at the club house. These courses will also cover the essentials of ordering and organizing the preparation of the proper quantities of food for special events and tournaments. Decor, inventory and understanding cooking and wait staff needs are all a part of making sure that those dining or drinking at a club's facilities will have a memorable experience.

Marketing and Publicity is essential to successful management. No matter how smoothly the business runs or how fabulous the food and drink service is, if you aren't consistently bringing in new business and successfully retaining the current customers, you won't grow the business. This is why management schools prepare students with courses in marketing, public relations and media relations. Developing strategic partnerships, designing and promoting tournaments, promoting in-house activities and special events and encouraging community outreach are all a part of the success of any club or course, and an experienced administrator will excel in these areas.

Finally, Human Resources are crucial to being the best possible administrator. Recruiting professionals who are the right fit for your green, finding chefs and wait staff who will be an asset to your club's restaurant and understanding how to properly train and retain employees are all crucial skills. You will also need to understand complex payroll, safety and worker's compensation issues. A university offering a bachelor's degree in this industries management will cover all of these areas thoroughly in its coursework.


It's obvious that it takes a well-rounded, highly educated individual to run a country club successfully. A strong business sense is needed in addition to a love of the game and genuine people skills in order to pursue the long term goals of a growing golf facility. Today's academies offer a balanced blend of classroom work and on the greens instruction to prepare students in order to enter the field of golf course management prepared for anything.

About the Author:
Andy West is a writer for Golf Academy of America, a great learning center for those interested in a golf course management career. For more information please visit GolfAcademy.edu.

Golf Exercises For Increasing Golf Swing Speed

Golf exercises in the form of core training can be very beneficial to the golf swing. First and foremost we must understand the hierarchy of core training. As with any other aspect of golf fitness training, core training follows a progression. Progression is the process of implementing exercises of greater difficulty over time. This in turns forces the muscular and nervous systems of the body to work harder, allowing the body to become stronger and more powerful as the athlete continues to train.
A simple example of progression is a standard dumbbell bicep curl. If you began performing bicep curls with a 10 lb. dumbbell for 15 repetitions, the exercise would be difficult. The reason for the difficulty is the curling action with 10 lbs. is above and beyond what your muscles are accustomed too. But over time, if you were consistent with your dumbbell bicep curls, your body would adapt to the 10 lbs. and the exercise would become easy. If the desire were to continue to get stronger biceps, it would be necessary to progress (i.e. principle of progression) to a more challenging exercise.

Continuing on with this example, at the beginning of this process of getting stronger biceps. If you were to attempt to lift 20 lb. dumbbells and could not lift the weight, the benefit of such an exercise would be minimal and the possibility of injury would increase dramatically. The reason is the body is simply not ready to perform this exercise. That being said, the principle of progression works in both directions. Not only must you increase the difficulty of exercises when the body is ready to perform them, you must also begin exercise programs with the appropriate exercise selections.

This thought process is extremely important as it pertains to core training and especially power training for the core. All to often a golfer will introduce power exercises into their golf fitness program before the body is ready to perform such high intensity training. It is like trying to perform dumbbell bicep curls with 20 lbs. when the body is only ready for 10 lbs.! It provides no benefit to the body and increases the possibility of injury.

Power training for the core and golf swing requires high levels of flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance to perform correctly. As a result, it is necessary for the golfer to build a base of flexibility and strength through the aforementioned core exercises.

Knowing the importance of progression and the significance this principle bears upon the benefits of your training, following the hierarchy of core training is equally essential. This is simply the order of exercises to follow during this section of your training.

Core training begins with the development of postural strength with exercises such as the Cobras. Once a level of postural strength has been developed we can progress to the strengthening of the abdominals and glutes with exercises like the Jack Knife. After a sufficient amount of strength and endurance has been created within these muscles, we can then add power training to the core program.

Power training exercise for the core ideal for the rotary movements of the golf swing are: Medicine Ball Chop Throws and Address Position Medicine Ball Swings.

To execute the Address Position Medicine Ball Swings requires the use of a 3-6 lb. medicine ball. Begin this exercise in your normal address position, grasping the medicine ball with both hands. Rotate to the top of your backswing maintaining hold of the medicine ball. Pause slightly at the top of your backswing and transition smoothly into the downswing. Continue executing the downswing and release the medicine ball into the floor at the impact position of your swing. Pick up the medicine ball, return to the starting position of the exercise, and repeat for 8-10 repetitions.


Remember to begin your core training with postural strength exercises and utilize the hierarchy of core training and the principle of progression as you advance to power training. The utilization of these guidelines with your golf exercises can improve the speed within your golf swing. Keep in mind the importance of core training relative to your golf fitness program and what golf exercises you choose to place in this type of a fitness program.

About the Author:
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. To learn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness exercises and training programs go to http://www.seancochran.com.

Shorten Your Backswing for More Power

Shorten Your Backswing For More Power By Clive Scarff
(This golf article is followed by a drill, and a link to that drill on video.)

Have you noticed recently that while the golf courses the tour pros play are getting longer and longer, their golf swings are getting shorter? Tiger’s done it. Sergio’s done it. Phil’s done it. Why is that? How can players whose livelihoods depend on dominating long golf courses give up distance by shortening their golf swings? Well, they’re not. Not giving up distance that is.

One of the most important facts to remember when playing or learning golf is that the number one variable in swinging a golf club - that directly relates to distance - is clubhead speed. In my teaching experience most players either do not realize this, or wrongly associate size of swing with clubhead speed.

It’s really this simple: given clubhead speed equals distance - with all else being equal - if my swing is big yet slow and yours is small but fast, you will get more distance than I will. The added bonus is that your shorter swing is likely to be more consistent than my big one.

In my writings I talk a lot about – and try to explain away – many golf myths. One such myth is the supposed need to get the club shaft to horizontal at the top of the golf swing. Why should the golf club get to horizontal? Why is this the ideal position? What is the scientific reasoning for this? Because it is parallel with mother earth? What if it is a little shy of horizontal? What if it goes beyond horizontal (see John Daly)? Getting the club to horizontal is an arbitrary instruction that unfortunately cripples many a player in their efforts to get it there, and distracts them from the primary ingredient of the golf swing: the downswing. What if someone came along and told you it did not matter if you got the club to horizontal or not? What if someone told you you do not need to be a contortionist while executing the backswing? Wouldn’t that lift some big burdens in playing golf?

There is an irony in the fact that most of us try to make a big backswing, while telling our buddies to slow down. What if you were told you could speed up? Should speed up? While many will say that even on the PGA Tour there’s nearly as many different golf swings as there is players, there is one undeniable common denominator among them, and that is acceleration.

Every good player accelerates the golf club to impact. Many a struggling player makes such a big swing that they either get themselves into a position from which acceleration is difficult, or they feel so out of control that they unwittingly decelerate in order to try to gain some control by the time they reach impact. Either way the result usually does not produce the distance desired, or the contact required. Deceleration is contrary to centripetal force while acceleration contributes to it. Suffice to say, two swings that were 90 mph at impact are not the same if one was accelerating from 80 to 90 at impact, while the other was decelerating from 100 to 90 at impact. Consider the racecar driver (or yourself depending on your driving habits) who slows before a curve in the road, and then accelerates into it. Then consider an occasion when you were going too fast for a curve and had to slow down. Remember feeling the difficulty of maintaining control of the vehicle as you encountered the turn? The golf swing is no different. A decelerating golf club cannot remain on its intended path and usually veers wider. This creates a wider arc, the bottom of which is now behind the golf ball. Hello fat shot. Even if your club was going 200 mph before it hit the ground, hitting the ground will have slowed it down immensely, not to mention all the other negative aspects of hitting the big ball (earth) before the small ball (Titleist). The answer is not slowing down.

The answer is acceleration, from an advantageous position. Interestingly, while a big backswing tends to promote deceleration, a short backswing does the opposite. A short backswing promotes acceleration. Your proverbial win-win. Mentally, it is almost like you don’t believe the short backswing will do the trick, so you accelerate to make up for it. Hello good shot. Being it was good, you are willing to try it again. And it works again. The next thing you know, rather than trying to attain difficult physical positions (such as getting the club to horizontal at the top of the backswing) you are practicing accelerating. Imagine practicing something good. Hmmm.

And here’s the bonus to the bonus. Practicing (consistently) leads to muscle memory. Muscle memory leads to speed. Think of anything you do that requires muscle memory and that which you do repeatedly. Whether it is tying your shoelaces, or your tie, or phoning home, you do it quicker now than when you first started. I highly doubt that since you mastered phoning home, you began trying to phone home harder. I highly doubt that since you mastered tying your tie, you began trying to tie your tie bigger. I highly doubt that since mastering tying your laces, you began trying to tie bigger laces. Okay, I am pushing the point. But I think you see the point.

Believe it or not PGA Tour players do not enjoy one luxury we do. They do not have the luxury to mess around with their swings. We can mess around and only our game suffers. They mess around and their day-to-day existence suffers. Tour players have learned that by shortening their swings and working on acceleration they can attain the same (or more) distance they used to, and gain accuracy and consistency – two staples to life on the Tour. That is why we have seen, and will continue to see a growing trend of shorter backswings on the long golf courses of the PGA Tour.

Clive Scarff is a teaching professional and author of Hit Down Dammit! More info can be found at www.hitdowndammit.com.

Drill: Right Hand Thrust Drill

The Right Hand Thrust Drill is one of several found on “Hit Down Drills!” which is one of four DVDs in the Hit Down Dammit! DVD series. The goal of this drill is to learn to accelerate from a shortened backswing position. It’s harder than it looks, but the results will be surprising.

Repeatedly swing your club back to waist-high, pause a split second, then use your right hand to "thrust" the clubhead toward the ball. In doing so, you may find you have created sufficient speed with the clubhead that it follows through to the target automatically, leaving you in a finish position whereby the clubhead is pointing at the target, the toe is up, and the shaft is roughly horizontal (waist-high) and parallel to the target line. This position should roughly mirror your top-of-backswing position.

As you get more proficient at this exercise, you will create more clubhead speed, the momentum from which will see a follow-through that "naturally" swings through a little higher than the height of your backswing. It is important this follow-through is natural - neither forced or abbreviated.

(To see this drill demonstrated on YouTube, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXj0vZxJQzg)


For more information or more articles on golf, contact Clive Scarff at clive@hitdowndammit.com and/or (250) 594-4653.

Uefa Brings All The Excitement to Soccer Fans In 2009

Also known as UEFA, the federation is one of the biggest of the six continental confederations of FIFA. It consists of some of the world's top football clubs and soccer players from England, Germany, Italy and Spain and brings a lot of thrill and excitement to thousands of Soccer fans worldwide.

In 2009, UEFA brings another round of exciting matches to be played before the 2009 UEFA Cup Final in Istanbul, Turkey on 20 May 2009. This season will be the 38th season of the UEFA Cup, with the final football tournament to be played at the Sukru Saaracoglu Stadium. Other than the UEFA Final Cup, the association also holds a number of other championship leagues and under 17, 19 and 21 championships. The schedule for some of the important events and soccer tournaments organised by UEFA in 2009 are highlighted below:


UEFA Champions League - 2008-09 will be the 54th edition of Europe's premier soccer club football tournament which will be played in Rome, Italy on the 27th of May 2009. The semifinals for this event have been scheduled to be held on 28 and 29 April 2009, and on 5 and 6 May 2009.

UEFA Finals Cup - The 2009 Finals Cup will be held in Istanbul, Turkey on 20 May 2009. It will be the biggest event of the year, and will be watched by thousands of soccer fans all over the world. The semifinals for this event have been scheduled to be held from 30 April to 7 May 2009.


European Under 21 Championship - The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship is to be held in Sweden from 15 June to 29 June 2009. This will be the 17th edition of the now biennial event which will see 51 of the 52 nations compete separately for the first time to decide the seven other teams to join Sweden at the finals.

European Under 19 Championship - The final tournament of the 2009 UEFA European Under 19 Football Championship will be held in Ukraine from 21 July to 2 August 2009. This will be another thrilling and exciting event in 2009 in the soccer calendar. The Elite round for this football event has been scheduled to be held from 1 March to 31 May 2009.

European Under 17 Championship - The UEFA European Under 17 Football Championship will be played in Germany from 6 May to 18 May 2009. The Elite round for this event will be held from 1 March to 31 March 2009.

UEFA Women's Cup - 2009 UEFA Women's Cup is one of the major football events to be held in this football calendar year. The final championship will take place from 16 May to 23 May 2009. Semi finals for this football event will start from 28 March and will go on till 5 April 2009.


Women's Euro - The UEFA Women's Championship or the Women's Euro is held after every four years, and 2009 will see this event in Finland from 23 August to 10 September 2009. 12 teams will compete in the competition, to decide the winning champions at the final event.

Women's Under 19 Championship - The Second qualifying round for the UEFA Women's Under-19 Football Championship is scheduled to be held from 23 April to 28 April, with the final tournament being held in Belarus from 13 July to 15 July 2009.

Women's Under 17 Championship - Another important event under the UEFA Football Association, the final tournament for the UEFA Women's Under 17 Championship will be held on 25 June 2009.

About the Author:
Each of these exciting events is sure to bring more thrill and excitement than the previous one. Log on to ScoresPro.com to get latest soccer scores online.


Article Source:
http://www.freearticles.co.za/recreation-and-leisure/sports/uefa-brings-all-excitement-soccer-fans-2009.html

Five Tips For Getting Started With Kayaking

Kayaking is a great sport that combines physical activity with the beauty and tranquility of nature. If you would like to get started with this sport, there are a few things you need to know. As with any form of outdoor recreation, learning the basics before you begin will make your kayaking adventure much more enjoyable.



Tip 1 - Choose the Right Kayak



Choosing the right kayak is the first step on your adventure. There are many different types out there. The boat that is right for you will depend on your goals as a kayak enthusiast.



First, what type of water will you be using your boat on? Calm water and fast-moving water require different boats. Are you going to paddle by yourself, or will you want someone else with you? How often do you anticipate using your boat? The more often you use it, the more durable you will want the kayak to be.



You can always rent kayaks first to get the feel for the different types that are available.

Once you have chosen the right boat, carefully time your purchase. Buying in the off-season will help you get an affordable price. You can also shop online or buy your boat through the classifieds. Before shopping, however, make sure you know what you want. Visit a few showrooms to get an idea of what is available.



Tip 2 - Getting the Right Gear



Other than the boat itself, what do you need to start kayaking? One of the most important pieces of safety equipment that every person in a kayak needs is a PFD, or Personal Flotation Device. These are high-tech life vests that will keep you above water if the boat should capsize. Kayaking requires a Type II or Type V PFD. These are lightweight, fairly easy to put on, and quite fashionable, not like the life vests you are probably picturing.



Typically, the more you pay for a PFD the more comfortable it will be. The more expensive models have softer foam and can be adjusted easier than the cheaper options. If you need to save money, consider buying new.



The other piece of equipment you will need is a kayak paddle. If you can, try out a variety of paddle types. If you do not have this luxury, you will probably be happy with an aluminum shaft adjustable paddle with a flat blade that has blunt or tapered ends as you are beginning your kayaking adventure. After you have learned more about the sport you may want to upgrade your paddle, but this paddle will give you the flexibility you need to paddle in a variety of situations.



Tip 3 - Getting in and out of the Kayak



Now that you have a kayak and your basic gear, you are ready to begin. You take your boat to the river, don your PFD, and suddenly realize you have no idea how to get into the kayak. Here is what you need to know.



If you are in shallow water, dip your paddle into the water and brace it against the side of the kayak to keep it steady. You can also use the dock edge to steady the boat if you are in deep water. Once the boat is steady, sit on the edge of the dock with your legs hanging over the side. Line your feet up evenly with your entry point, and drop the line into the cockpit. Swing one foot and then the other into the cockpit, crouch down, and sit. Grab your paddle, adjust your line so it is out of the way, and you are ready to go. Getting out of the kayak is basically the same, only backwards. Be sure to keep a good hand on your paddle so that you do not lose it.



Tip 4 - Paddle Correctly




Paddling does involve exercise, but it should not be exhausting. Avoid using a motion that is similar to digging into the sand. Instead, lean back in your seat and relax. This not only helps you paddle more efficiently, but it also keeps the boat stable. Hold the paddle in both hands using an over-handed hold. Your thumbs should be underneath the bar. Let your torso make most of the movements. Pull with the arm that is making the downward stroke and push the shaft away with the arm that is making the upward stroke. This sounds complicated, but you will get the rhythm as you practice.



Tip 5 - Be Prepared



There are some things that you need to have ready in order to be safe on the water. Make sure that you have an audible safety signal device clipped to your PFD. Also, be sure that you have a spare paddle, especially if your kayaking trip will be long. Paddles can get lost in deep water, so having a spare is always a good idea. This can be a collapsible paddle if you need to save room.



Before you leave, check the weather and water conditions, not just in your current location, but also at your destination. If a storm is approaching, postpone your trip. This is essential if you are a beginner, because a sudden storm could mean disaster.



A repair kit and first aid kit are also important. Be sure that your repair kit includes some duct tape. Your first aid kit must be contained in an airtight, waterproof container. Finally, pack a flashlight, even if you do not intend to be on the water at night. If you get stranded after dark, a flashlight will keep you safe and help you find your way to shore.



With these tips, you should be as prepared as possible to start kayaking. Remember to go with experienced kayak enthusiasts the first few times you go out, as they can help you with the problems you will face as you learn this exciting sport.

--
Jay Gaulard writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of MyBoatMarket, a popular boating parts and accessories website.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Lance Armstrong - Return To The Cycling World

Submitted by Osborne
Thu, 18 Dec 2008






Legendary Lance Armstrong is back on his bike, competitively speaking. The legendary professional road-racing cyclist recently announced his intention to race in 2009.

He's already hard at work preparing for a possible return to the Tour de France next summer. In fact, early in November, he won a Texas mountain bike race.

Born in 1971, Lance Armstrong's sports career began in Plano, Texas. At age thirteen, he won the Iron Kids Triathlon.

During his senior year of high school, he was training with the U.S. Olympic cycling developmental team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 1991, he was the U.S. National Amateur Champion. Shortly thereafter, he joined the professional ranks.

He experienced significant success early in his professional career. He quickly earned a USPRO Championship title. He won stage victories in the Tour de France.

He also won a World Championship and garnered several wins at the Tour du Pont. On top of all that, Lance Armstrong achieved a number one world ranking and a U.S Olympic Team position.

In 1996, he was a member of the U.S. Cycling Team. That year he competed in the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. This was also the year that Lance Armstrong signed a professional contract with the French-based Cofidis Racing Team.

However, the next battle facing Armstrong in 1996 was not on a cycling course. His next battle was a personal fight against cancer, which had taken hold inside him.


His particular form of cancer was one where his chances for recovery were considerably less than fifty-fifty. On the advice of his specialists, Armstrong began an aggressive program of chemotherapy. This course of treatment worked.

Lance Armstrong overcame the odds and beat cancer. Today, he devotes his efforts to helping others fight their personal battles with the disease.

After fighting his battle, he started the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He is a leader and activist, through this foundation, on behalf of cancer survivors.

The foundation provides information and tools that people require to battle cancer. The Foundation does this through education, advocacy, public health programs and research grants. Lance Armstrong works in this area with the same passion and determination that he brings to the cycling track.

Upon winning his fight with cancer, Lance Armstrong returned to cycling. Building his strength back up, he was back on course in 1997. He won his first Tour de France in 1999 as a member of the U.S. Postal Service team.

He wasn't finished, though. He proceeded to win the race the next five years in a row. He retired from cycling in 2005 after winning a record seventh Tour de France title.

Now, in 2008, Lance Armstrong is spinning his wheels again. He is training and plans a full return to racing with the Astana team next year. There is the possibility that Armstrong will attempt the Tour de France race next summer.

The Tour begins in Monaco in Casino Square on July 4, 2009 with the first stage individual time-trials over a 15-kilometer or 9.3-mile stretch. On July 5, the second stage begins in Monaco-Brignoles over a 182-kilometer or 113.1-mile stretch.

Before all that, Lance Armstrong has work to do. He is aiming at competing in the first event of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Pro Tour.

He is training to prepare himself for the Tour Down Under in Australia, which takes place in January 2009. This is his first step of his comeback in preparation for a possible run at the Tour de France title once again.

Grit, determination, and a passion for sport and quality of life are what make Lance Armstrong tick. He's a fighter on and off the cycling track. He now works to instill that same fighting spirit in others who face challenges he can definitely understand and appreciate.




About the Author
For further information about Monaco, and the hotels in Monaco, visit monacoproperty.net

The Tour de France will include Monaco next year and also include many areas of France familiar to those who have holidays there.

More news about the Tour de France will be reported on monacoproperty.net's Monaco blog