Thailand Golf Pro Tips

Improve Your Thailand Golf Swing

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Thailand Golf Magazines, online web pages and Asia golf schools provide tips and solutions for beginners who want to improve their golf swing on their next Phuket golf package. Probably the best important move that rules the golf game is the swing. How can you actually improve your golf swing? There are several ways to do so, but they all share one common element: practice. It also very much depends on where you learn golf: in an organized environment as a course or simply on your own as a hobby. In case you are part of a professional program, you may improve your golf swing sooner than you may expect it.

Your Thailand golf professional will show you how to balance the body weight and move it from one foot to the other in order for you to improve your golf swing. It is important that you feel the stroke with your body as a whole, as its force very much depends on the ability to hit with the centre of the club and imprint the desired direction to the ball. Part of the practice to improve your golf swing involves the control of your eye focus. Very many golf players find it difficult in the beginning to focus on the flight line.

Ask your personal trainer how to improve your Thailand golf swing by also controlling mind focus. Very many tips you find online refer to self-control; once you stop worrying and thinking about the success of your move, you'll actually act on reflex which is far more natural. On the other hand if you're trying to improve your golf swing at home it would be not such a bad idea to have someone record you executing the move. Thus you may analyze the way the body responds to the situation and learn what you should avoid in order to improve your golf swing.

For better and more professional tips on how to improve your golf swing you can visit a highly reliable site such as www.golfthink.com. Though you're explicitly explained how to grip the club, how to keep the feet close to one another for a short shot, how to move your head to the right a little and so on, true skills only come with personal effort. You can improve your golf swing in a matter of days if you learn how to control the right balance. With just a little effort and lots of fun you'll improve your golf swing.

Making The Most of Your Thailand Golf Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:26:00 +0000

Taking a golf lesson in Thailand or anywhere golf in Asia is played is an investment. Not only do you invest money in it (unless you're getting a free 10-minute lesson from a Bangkok Golf Pro from Golfthink), but you also have to invest time, both when you take the golf lesson itself and afterward, on the practice tee, when you work on what you've learned. Given all that, you want to make the most out of your investment. These tips should help.

Before you start
Here's what you need to do before you get to your first lesson.

1. Find a teacher who fits you. Start by asking around for teachers in your area who have sound reputations. You're looking for the following:

First, a teacher who can help you at your level. If you are a beginner, then you don't need a tour-level teacher. Conversely, if you are an expert golfer, you don't want a teacher most noted for working with beginners.

Second, a teacher who speaks your language. If you are analytical, you want a teacher who can explain things in a technical manner. If you are more intuitive or "feel" oriented, then you want a teacher who uses phrases like "a good turn feels like. . . ." Just ask the question: "Is he/she a technical teacher or a feel teacher?"

Third, a teacher who can make the same commitment to your game that you make to the teacher. If you want only one golf lesson in Thailand, then this is not a problem, but if you want a continuing relationship, then you need someone who is willing to provide that time to you.

Finally, all other things being equal, a teacher at your club or course. This makes it easier to keep up with your program. If you can ask questions while at the course and if you don't have to travel far, you'll be a more frequent, committed lesson taker.

2. Once you've scheduled your lesson, come prepared. Make a list of questions you want the professional to answer. Bring your whole set of clubs, not just the club you want to work on. Arrive early enough to loosen up before the lesson. And have all of your equipment with you, including glove, golf shoes, cap or visor and other suitable clothing.

During the lesson

Now you have arrived for the lesson. The following tips will help you use your learning time effectively.

1. Answer all of the teacher's questions completely and truthfully. Be prepared to answer the following: "What is your handicap, or what do you normally shoot?" "How can I help you the most?" "Have you had previous instruction? From whom, and what did you work on?" "Did or do you play other sports?" "Do you have any physical limitations?" "What are the strong and weak parts of your game? What are the patterns of your mistakes?"

2. Emphasize your agenda. A lot of lessons go poorly because the player is trying to accomplish one thing and the teacher another--e.g., you want to hit a fade and the teacher wants to teach a draw. If your agendas are different, listen to the instructor's reasoning and strongly consider it, because that's why you're paying for instruction.

3. Make sure you understand everything that you are asked to do, and why. (That is, if you want to know why.) The language of golf is ambiguous ("Hit against a firm left side"? "Don't get stuck"?). Don't let the teacher assume you are fluent in that language.

4. Empty your cup! If your mind is full of preconceived notions, there will be no room for other ideas that might help you. You are there for the teacher's advice. Try it.

5. Exaggerate changes. It is much easier for a teacher to zero in on a correction if the student exaggerates the feelings of a new move.

6. Demand success. If you've been slicing and you never hit anything but a slice during the lesson, you haven't been taught. But if you go from a bad slice to a bad hook, you're gaining ground!

7. Ask all the questions that occur to you. Make sure you have no uncertainty about what is asked of you. During the lesson you need to have a clear understanding of the messages the pro gives you.

After the Bangkok golf lesson

At the conclusion of the lesson, you should expect the following information. If you don't get it, ask for it.

1. An exchange of feedback. Tell your teacher what you "learned." He or she can then correct any misconceptions or fill in any blanks for you.

2. Ask how to correct yourself. When you change your swing, the ball may act strangely. If you sliced and then change to a stronger grip, you might hit shots to the left. You need to know what to work on to fix that problem so you aren't tempted to revert to your old grip.

3. Get your practice assignments. Have your teacher tell you what and how to practice, including drills, practice swings, etc.

4. Get your playing assignments. Ask your teacher how to handle the changes on the course. You might be asked to make more practice swings, change your thinking or maybe even practice more than play.

5. Schedule your next lesson. Do all this, and I promise you your investment in lessons will pay off.

For Bangkok golf lessons, golf instruction in Phuket or golf schools in Pattaya, visit www.golfthink.com

Thailand Golf Tip: Topping The Ball

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Topping the ball is very common to higher handicappers and new Thailand golfers. In this blog post we look at a few ways to stop topping the ball and hopefully make your Thailand golf holiday a more enjoyable one.

You are guilty of topping the golf ball when your club face hits too high on it. This can be caused by a lot of factors. One of which is when you sway or let the club head pass the hands during impact. You might be trying to swing too hard as well. That alone produces untimely body and leg actions which would eventually delay the release the of the club head.

To stop topping the ball, here are good tips that you can follow:

-Try the penny technique. The penny technique involves the use of a coin in the training. Place the golf ball over a coin or a penny. Try to hit the penny instead of the ball. Practice in hitting the penny from under the ball with utmost consistency. The moment you can do it right, you are sure that your hands becomes trained. If you can't do it, practice with just the penny in place. Don't put the ball in yet. Do so continuously until you do it correctly.

- Work on your tempo. To do this, you have to keep your head still. Extend your arms fully throughout the impact. Try to swing with as much as 80 percent of your arm's power.

- Check your posture. Try to flex your knees properly at setup. This enables you to be comfortable with the ball. Make sure that you are not too upright when you take the swing.

- Consider your ball's position. Is it too far off from your stance? If so, that's the reason for topping it. Most probably, you are hitting the ball on the upswing. Or you are intentionally trying to haul the ball up into the air, hence, the topping. To stop topping the ball, try to place it right at the center of your stance.

- Check your grip on the club. Try to employ the constant light pressure of holding on to it. Observe your grip when you top the ball, then adjust accordingly. Hold the grip with the right tightness throughout the swing. Doing so will keep your body relaxed and topping the ball won't be a concern. The tension on the grip should only be applied during set up.

- Check you wrists. If your wrists break before the impact, chances are, you are going to top the ball. You should keep your hands, arms, and wrist ahead of the golf ball during the swing.

- Swing properly. Don't lift your body away from the ball, especially not as you follow through. Make sure that your left arms do not bend during impact. Because if that happens, there's simply a great deal of tension applied. Keep your swing soft. That's the key.

These are things you have to consider to minimize topping the ball. And another tip: Try to finish keeping your right shoulder in a lower position than your left shoulder when you follow through. And make it a point that your right shoulder is the one driving into the ball. Also, try to practice taking divots.

Topping the ball is one of the common errors committed in golf. But like any other faults, it can be remedied with the proper training and practice. If you really wanted to correct it, you've got to follow all these tips. Only then you'll be able to amaze your friend on your next game of golf in Asia.

Visit www.golfthink.com for all the best golf training in Thailand.

Choosing The Right Thailand Golf School

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Choosing a Thailand golf school is an important decision. Bangkok Golf academies or schools, are popular for many golfers visiting Thailand or Asia on a golf vacation. The quest to improve one's game seems to be a never ending saga for most golfers. Many spend a lot of time and money trying to improve their golf game in preparation for the ultimate Thailand golf holiday. Therefore, it is important to choose a school that will best help you improve your game.

It should not be surprising to learn that many Phuket golfers actually plan their Phuket golf vacation around attending a golf school and golf training program. But, before you sign up to participate in the program at a golf academy there are some steps that you should take to ensure that you have a good experience and more importantly, you achieve what you started out to accomplish, play better golf!

Although golf schools make up a large part of the golf improvement industry, there are also many self-help products on the market to help lower your scores and of course, your handicap.

There is a huge part of the Thailand golf industry that is solely dedicated to providing services and tools to help you improve your game. Each year, almost countless numbers of new gadgets, instruction books and self-help videos emerge. Each claiming to solve, some problem, or other, that plagues your game. They claim that they can knock strokes from your score. Whether they do, or not, is a topic for another article.

Not all of the "new gizmos and gadgets" are the brainchildren of obscure production companies. No, every year, golf club and ball manufacturers create new and improved products to help lower your score.

As well, there are many golf schools, academies and instruction camps available that provide learning opportunities to aid the golfer in his or her eternal quest for pars, birdies and the ever elusive eagles!

There are many Thailand golf schools offering to help you lower your score. But, before you enroll make sure that you know what you want from your golf training experience. If you are like most of us, your expectations will be high. But remember, success is not usually an overnight phenomenon. Even the best schools can only give you the insight and the tools to improve your game. After that, the hard work is up to you!

But, if you sign up for a school or other educational institution eager to learn and understand that there is usually no quick fix that will turn you into a lower handicap player, then your learning experience will likely be an enjoyable event.

Before you sign up for a Thailand golf school make sure that the school offers what you want and need to improve your game.

Golfthink can provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision when choosing a golf training program at a Thailand Golf School

Golf Training Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:51:00 +0000

Are you planning on a Thailand golf vacation and want to improve your scorecard? Who wouldn’t? After all, no one wants to be the duffer all the time playing golf courses in Asia. And being the target for tips and instructions on the 19th hole can be trying at times. So leave your worries to the next man in line and embark now on your long and arduous golf training journey in Bangkok.

Arduous? Long? You bet. Golf is a game of patience and precision. If you have ever played at Blue Canyon Country Club you will begin to understand how precision is so vital to holes like the Island Green 17th hole. A tiny miscalculation will earn you a spot underwater, along all the balls of those who had tried to challenge the 17th. Anyway, you’re still on the maiden voyage of golf training in Bangkok so just stick first to the basic challenge.

Perhaps the most trying challenge for novice golfers on a Thailand golf vacation is the ability to perform a correct golf swing and for most, this is one large mountain. Golf swings are disgracefully hard to perform even a marginally correct execution. Just a fraction of angle on the club face and a banana will effect. And that is only one aspect of the four basic rules of contact you have to watch for.

To start your Bangkok golf training, a firm understanding to the four basic rules of contact should be beneficial. The first rule is how the face of the club affects the curve. A slight angle gives the ball in flight a spin that causes a curve. Next is the nature of the golf swing. The path of the swing will bring the ball to that direction –initially. Next is the how the golf ball is hit, the angle of which the ball contacts the club face affects trajectory. Hitting the ball underneath gives a “lob”, a high trajectory with minimal range perfect for clearing deep bunkers. The last is of course the swing power or the swing speed which is proportional to the distance the ball will travel.

The Golf swing is best learned by observation and experience. No words can dictate a proper golf swing. The best course would be to observe the textbook swings of those PGA Tour golfers and see if you can emulate the form. Then you should ask the help of a professional golf instructor to judge and correct what you have been doing.

In a nutshell, a game of golf when grounded until its basal form is really a battle of who throws the perfect golf swings. One might argue of the strategic elements of a golf course, but hey, most bail out attempts is mostly due to confidence issues regarding golf swings.

Golfthink is Bangkoks leading golf training facility and offers a variety of golf training programs for all levels of golfers.

Golf Fitness Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:43:00 +0000

It is very rare that any top sportsman does not rely in some degree on his level of fitness. When Nick Faldo completely altered his approach to the game in the early eighties a major factor in his rise to be number one golfer in the world was the fitness regime that complimented his obvious talent. Tiger Woods has no problem admitting that he would not be as successful as he is without the golf fitness schedule he adheres to.

There may be a great deal of factors that require improvement in your Thailand golf game, some are technical, and some are mental. One thing that all these elements will have in common is that they are all related in some way to golf fitness for Thailand golfers. Technical issues could be down to your conditioning, and the mental aspect could simply be that we do not function well when under extreme exertion.

So without doubt Bangkok golf fitness is an element that must be worked on and developed according. But what are the key issues? How can we isolate and act to improve these faults?

With the variety of positions the body is forced to undertake whilst playing golf in Asia, the lack of a certain amount of flexibility can be a severe hindrance. A simple stretching exercise can improve your natural fluidity but a golf swing pushes the body to its limits. Everybody has a different body shape; different regimes are required for the each individual. But the fact remains that a Thailand golf specific stretching program will see a welcomed improvement in vital areas of a golfer's game.

Everyone could use a little extra body strength; it is always handy to know you have the power to perform certain shots. However you may have arms like Mr Universe but if your body has areas of fragility you will not be hitting the ball as far as you should. An all round body workout is required to build on those weak points and give your body an all round purpose.

"No matter how strong your body may be, it means little if your core strength is deficient."

This is the key area to generating power through the swing. Exercises targeting this area are without peer.

One must address certain issues to utilise your body's core strength. Power equals speed and speed and strength are the recipe for long drives. Short energetic exercises are ideal for Thailand golf fitness in this area.

Less is sometimes more. When on the range take your time, hitting a rapid succession of technically incorrect drives isn't going to help your game. Relax take your time allow a natural swing to develop in between small breaks.

These are key elements in golf fitness and in addressing them you will undoubtedly see a steady improvement. If you are able to marry these with other forms of less direct training then success will not be far away.

Fitness levels are slowly becoming more important to everyday golfers. With the right application and planning golf fitness can and will improve your body, your game and your score.

Contact Golfthink to learn about Golf fitness in Bangkok and throughout Thailand.

Choosing The Right Golf Pro For Your Thailand Golf Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:31:00 +0000

While every golfer visiting Thaiand wishes they possessed the skills Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam have, no one is as good as the pros without practice. If you want to be the best you can be, it is vital you hire a golf pro and practice, practice, practice, practice.

One of the first things you need to consider when choosing a golf pro in Thailand is whether or not you want to join a Bangkok golf school or take individual lessons. There are benefits to both options as you still get to work with a pro regardless. However, you will get far more individual attention with private lessons. Money is also an issue when it comes to hiring a pro versus attending a school.

While it is going to be expensive whatever route you decide on, it is important you have a budget in mind. How much are you really willing to pay just to improve your golf swing? There will be more experienced Thailand golf pros that will cost more than others. You can expect to pay anywhere from THB 1,000 to THB 2,500 per hour. For this reason, set a price limit for what you are willing to pay for and what is too much.

It can be difficult deciding on or finding the perfect instructor for you. You may find that co-workers or friends have hired a pro themselves. Ask around and see what recommendations you can get from others. In addition to talking to friends, try to get in contact with former students or current students of the pro. This can help you learn first-hand what kind of an instructor they really are. Thailand's most popular golf school and golf training, Golfthink, has a number of testimonials from happy golfers who have golf lessons in Thailand

One of the most important things to do when looking to take Thailand golf lessons from a pro is contact them and ask questions. Do not be afraid to find out what type of person they are, how they will improve your game, and whether or not they will be dedicated to helping you. It is important you and your instructor have the same goals; improving your overall golf game. If the both of you are equally committed, it will be much easier to actually succeed.

After you have taken the time to talk to several people and perhaps interview each Bangkok golf pro, weigh your options carefully. Take into account their experience, professionalism, and of course the cost for golf lessons. While it can be a difficult decision, keep in mind you are not signing your life away. If one instructor does not work out, you can always jump on board with another.

Contact Golfthink for your next Thailand golf school.

Thailand Extends Royal Invitation to Golfers Worldwide

noreply@blogger.com (Thailand Golf Pro) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:01:00 +0000

With Golf in a Kingdom, premier courses and luxury hotels aim to put country on world golf map.

BANGKOK (June 24, 2009) - In an bid to tell world golfers what Asian golfers already know, the golf establishment in Thailand has launched 'Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience', a cooperative itinerary that matches the country's top courses with its most desirable hotels.

The Kingdom of Thailand has for decades been the destination of choice for Asian golfers, thanks to its stellar courses, superb year-round climate and welcoming culture. By banding together to form 'Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience' (www.golfinakingdom.com), these courses and hotels mean to cement a place for Thailand alongside the world's premier golf destinations.

"I think golfers in North America have an inkling that golf is played in Thailand; Europeans have slightly more of an inkling, but I don't think golfers on either continent fully realize that this is a country with more than 250 courses, many of them as good as you'll find anywhere in the world," said Mark Siegel, president of Bangkok-based tour operator Golfasian.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with eight premium golf properties, Golfasian and six of the country's premier hotels to form 'Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience'.

The cooperative effort has been in the planning since 2007, but its launch this month is timely. According to TAT, some 3.2 million visitors arrived in Thailand the first quarter of 2009 - a 19 percent decrease from the previous year. It's unclear whether this drop is attributable to the peaceful-but-ongoing political disquiet in Thailand or the worldwide economic slump.

"I live here and the reality is, the political issues in Thailand haven't had any effect on the day-to-day lives of citizens or tourists - but the economic slowdown has surely affected tourists: prices have dropped across the board," Siegel asserted. "I don't think there's ever been a more economical time to visit here. That's not hype; it's a fact. Launching 'Golf in a Kingdom' now has allowed us to offer value we could not have offered in 2008."

In May 2009, a CNN International tourism poll asserted that Thailand, among first-world nations, represents the best value for travelers in the entire Asia Pacific region. Conducted across CNN English websites, the survey had more than 5,000 respondents globally.

"The world gets a bit smaller every day," Siegel continued. "We hope to shrink it just enough with 'Golf in a Kingdom' to give North American and European golfers a taste of Thai culture and hospitality, because one visit is normally all it takes. The number of golfers who try Thailand then return for a second and third helping is pretty extraordinary."

From the mystical hill country of Chiang Rai in the northwest corner to the breathtaking beaches of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, 'Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience' takes in some of the most lush and varied terrain on the planet. That sort of real estate - linked by Thailand's enviably modern transportation infrastructure - translates into the Kingdom's stunning golf properties, including:

Banyan Golf Club, a new hillside course just outside the charming coastal town of Hua Hin, preferred holiday retreat of the Thai Royal Family for almost a century.
Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, an inventive Schmidt/Curley design 1,000 feet above sea level in the cool, northern region.
Muang Kaew Golf Club, the closest course to bustling Bangkok, with sterling greens and a par 3 that looks eerily similar to the 12th at Augusta National.
Santiburi Chiang Rai Country Club, where Robert Trent Jones II crafted 18 dramatic holes that either skirt a chain of lakes or flow over the low hills of Bang Bor.
Santiburi Samui Country Club, site of the newest Asian Tour event, the Queen's Cup, and traversing a jungle of towering coconut trees at the foot of Khao Pom Mountain.
Siam Country Club, Plantation Course, this 27-hole Schmidt-Curley design played host to the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand just two years after opening
Siam Country Club, Old Course, always immaculately maintained, it hosted the 2007 Honda LPGA event and features perhaps the toughest closing stretch in the country.
Thai Country Club, site of Tiger Woods's 1997 Asia Honda Classic victory and the 'Best Championship Course in Asia', as voted by Asian Golf Monthly readers in 2008.

Thailand also harbors the Asia's newest and broadest collection of 5-star accommodations ¬- at prices North Americans and Europeans may not believe at first. 'Golf in a Kingdom' embraces that development by bridging rounds of golf with nights at posh, brand-name resorts, including:

Anantara Phuket, a collection of 83 private pool villas set within indigenous gardens of jasmine, orchids and birds of paradise. Conde Nast Traveller magazine just named this property to its coveted worldwide "Hot List" for 2009.
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, located across the Chao Phraya River from the city center but with all the tranquility and kick-back appeal a traveler could wish for in an urban setting.
Anantara Golden Triangle, a luxury nature retreat set amid 160 acres of tropical jungle, all of it hewing to the winding Mekong River and a border dividing three countries.
Anantara Hua Hin, nestled in 14 acres of luxuriant tropical gardens along the white sand beaches on the Gulf of Thailand.
Anantara Koh Samui, serenely perched above a quiet stretch of sand, and just steps from the shimmering waters that lap Samui Island.
Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa, whose architecture combines space, color and natural light with traditional Thai design themes to create a sense of harmony and grandeur.

"The beauty of this marked shift toward high-quality lodging, which has been taking place here for 20 years actually, is that Thailand remains affordable," said Boyd Barker, Hua Hin Marriott's general manager. "If there's a positive to the hit tourism has taken here, of late, it's that prices reflect this drop in demand. There's no better place to go on holiday, and there's no better time than right now."

The attraction extends beyond golf and resorts. Never colonized by foreign powers and known as Siam until 1939, Thailand remains a constitutional monarchy. But during the past half century it has managed to seamlessly blend Western influences and Buddhist beliefs, producing a first-world destination with an Old World feel.

Six distinct geographical regions - ranging from 8,000-foot-high mountains in the north to a maze of limestone islands rising out of the Andaman Sea in the south - only add to the country's diverse allure.

"Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand provides the greatest value," said Santi Chudintra, Director of TAT Los Angeles. "The people are welcoming, the culture is unique and the scenery is spectacular. Thai food, which everyone wants to talk about, is just a small part of the menu."

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For more information on 'Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience', or to make golf travel plans in Thailand, visit www.golfinakingdom.com, or send email to info@golfinakingdom.com

JUNIOR GOLF IN THAILAND

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:24:00 +0000

Increasing junior golfer participation at Thailand golf courses boosts revenues and rounds played. Most Thai golfers were introduced to the game as a youngster by a parent or relative. It's a bonding experience that many Phuket golf course owners and operators likely see every week-watching Mom or Dad show their son how to hold the club or hoisting their daughter into the golf cart for the first time. For the parent, it's a cherished moment. For the child, it's just plain fun, as is playing golf in Bangkok in general.

For the Asia golf course owner-operator, it's rewarding not only to witness family togetherness but also to increase revenue. This young person is a new customer. If Mom is the only customer in the family and the two youngsters become regular customers, things are looking up. Not only did you pick up two new customers, but Mom will also be able to play more now, usually at off-peak times.

According to a recent Golf 20/20 study, adding a Thailand junior golfer to the mix has a dramatic impact on the bottom line. A golfing household in which the golfer was introduced to golf as a junior in a structured program plays 58 percent more rounds and spends 71 percent more annually than its counterparts. Here's an even more startling statistic: There are 6.4 million juniors not currently playing who want to play. Ninety percent of those would definitely go to the course if they only had a parent or mentor to play with. Imagine the same effect in Thailand, one of Asia’s best golf destinations.

Take Your Daughter To The Course Week in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:50:00 +0000

Take Your Daughter to the Course Week would be a great opportunity to grow Golf in Thailand - It's easy, fun and a great way for many of Thailands golf courses to get more customers.

Now more than ever in Thailand and throughout Asia, there is an increased awareness of the need for player-development programs that increase both short-term profits as well as programs that increase long-term profits With an emphasis on family golf.

Take Your Daughter to the Course Week in Thailand would target both areas, thus making it one of the most popular and successful player-development programs Asia golf has seen. The National Golf Course Owners Association of Thailand could sponsor this event in partnership with some of Thailands biggest golf businesses like Golfasian and Golforient.com.   Suzy Whaley, the first woman to qualify for a PGA Tour event since Babe Zaharias in 1945, is the national spokesperson for the Take Your Daughter program in the USA. In 2003, approximately 650 courses (not in Thailand) registered and more than 15,000 girls participated

This event could garner much media attention on both the national and local level in Thailand, and consumers could call in from all over the country looking for a golf course in Thailand to take their daughters to .  The attention from consumers and the Bangkok golf media would be one of the reasons for the possible great success of this event.

Take Your Daughter to the Course Week could be advertised in Thailand golf publications and on www.phuket-golfthailand.com a web site that will be advertised nationally in many different ways including links on other Thailand golf industry sites. Bangkok golf courses participating in the event could receive a free listing on one of Thailands best golf web sites, complete with contact information, details about their offerings and a hyperlink to their course site.

Thailand golf’s Take Your Daughter would be open to golf courses in Phuket and actually everywhere in Thailand, and there would be no fee to sign up. To participate, golf courses courses must offer a complimentary green fee to a young lady accompanied by a paying adult all during the week and offer a free clinic for the girls sometime during the week.

Courses would be welcome to modify these guidelines as needed. For example, while the suggested age range for the "daughter" is between 7 and 17, each course is welcome to modify the age range to suit their goals.  Participating courses receive a promotional toolkit designed to help create a successful event. A course must register for the event to receive the toolkit and be recognized in publicity efforts. What do you think about such a week in Thailand?

Thailand Golf Tips from Bangkok Golf Pro

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Welcome to another Thailand golf tip from Golfthink.com, the leading golf school in Thailand the, All great players have the ability to swing every club at a consistent tempo and with great balance. Rhythm and balance are linked. Some players, like Tom Watson, exhibit faster tempos. Some, like Ernie Els, exhibit a slower tempo. Yet all remain balanced.

The key to consistency when playing golf in Phuket or Thailand is to maintain your balance and use a smooth rhythm.

If you rush your swing you will loose your balance and the end result is inconsistent contact and poor ball flight. This is important when playing at golf in Asia at great courses like Red Mountain Golf Club Phuket Outstanding ball strikers are rarely off balance at impact and their rhythm is the "glue" that bonds their positions and movements. Often their swings seem effortless and they, as Julius Boros described it, "swing easy and hit hard." Great rhythm allows you to properly sequence your body motion and arrive at impact in a position of leverage and power.

Ten-time PGA TOUR driving accuracy champion Calvin Peete says the three keys to straight driving are "Balance, Balance and Balance." If you want to be a more consistent ball striker, you must understand how the body should be balanced in four key positions. This will help when preparing for a golf lesson in Bangkok

Although your spine is tilted away from the target at address, you should have your weight evenly balanced between your right and your left foot with your middle and long irons. Also, you should feel your weight evenly balanced between your heels and your toes, roughly on the balls of the feet.

As you pivot to the top of the back swing, your weight moves into the inside of the back foot. You should feel approximately 75-percent of your weight on the back foot and 25-percent on the front foot. The weight must never move to the outside of the back foot.

By the time you arrive at impact, approximately 70- to 75-percent of your weight should be shifted onto the front foot. Your head must be behind the ball and your hips must shift forward approximately 4 inches past their starting position. This increases the spine tilt by at least double.

At the completion of the follow through, you should have the majority of your weight - about 90-percent of it - on the outside of the front foot.

Follow the above and when you book a Thailand Golf Holiday you might have something exciting to tell your Golf Professional in Bangkok

Golf Fitness Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This is a common dilemma to which there seems to be no good answer. The chicken and egg question for golfers is this: when you get hurt in golf is your body the problem or is it your swing? The answer to this question is a bit easier. The answer seems clear…your golf swing hurts your body, it’s that simple. The Thailand golf swing is a complex motion on a tilted plane with great torque and shearing, and swing faults that are injury inducing abound. End of story, right…well not really.

According to Greg Rose, DC, Co-founder of the Titleist Performance Institute, the reverse spine angle is the number one injury-inducing swing fault. I cannot agree more. But let’s examine that assertion: is the swing fault causing the injury, or is there something below the swing fault that is driving the fault and that is the real cause of the injury? I know that Dr Rose agrees with the second part of that statement as well.

Most of the Thailand golf instructors will tell the golfer “do not reverse the spine at the top”, and give drills to that end. They do not seem to clear concept that the physical makeup of the golfer seems to be driving the swing fault most of the time. It’s not that the world’s teacher bad teachers, on the contrary, Thailand golf instructors to me seem to be magicians. They take a person with all of his or her physical imperfections, imbalances and flaws, and somehow manage to help the golfer get the ball airborne and in the general direction of the target. They are really good at helping the golfer “fix” swing faults. Because golf instructors are not trained in human anatomy or biomechanics, the study of human motion, there is no way they could know that the body is responsible for most swing faults and as a result most golf injuries. Give these guys a break…they are doing the best they can with what you give them to work with.

Let’s study this concept of the body and the golf swing more closely. In healthcare we know that the human body is basically flawed. Even the perfect specimens on the tours are flawed in some way. Don’t be insulted ladies and gentlemen on the tour, it is the reality of being human. The Thailand golf tour players, like the rest of us have frame asymmetries, muscle imbalances, flexibility or strength issues, balance challenges, etc. Why would the best in the world still suffer with some of the inconsistencies that we see week to week in their play?

Golfer, you want to play golf, you want to be good at golf, you want to stay healthy so that you can play more at a higher level. You can control this…you can prevent problems…you CAN stay healthy and play good golf. It takes a little bit of work. All you need is a small a team of professionals to help you.

Your golf instructor is your team leader. He or she should be able to screen your body as a part of your lessons. It’s like going to your primary care physician when you are sick. Your primary care physician will evaluate your total situation, and make a diagnosis. If the problem is more involved or more serious your doctor may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation and treatment. We could view the process of being a better golfer in the same way.

Your teaching professional is like your primary care physician. You go to him or her for initial diagnosis of your swing. Sometimes the golf professional will prescribe treatment in the form of drills and practice and whalla you get better and stay healthy sometimes. Your Golf Asia teacher might be trained to fit clubs. If the evaluation proves your clubs are why your golf swing is sick you might be asked to get new clubs. Your teacher might also be trained to understand the body influence on the swing. If that is the case, part of the workup your teacher does might include some basic physical assessment. If your teacher screens your body he or she might find that your body is why your golf swing is ill and why you are injured. In that case he or she may send you to someone trained to deal with the anatomy and biomechanics of the human body.

The idea here is that in addition to your instruction, and club fitting, a quick 5-10 minute body assessment can help identify the risk factors that lead to swing faults and injuries. It is that simple.

There are few key areas that you can look at yourself. You need to look and some simple motions like touching your toes, squatting, trunk stability, range of motion in your hips, spine and shoulders, and how well you coordinated motion between the top and bottom of your torso.

There is the number one injury inducing swing fault Ah, but are the swing faults due to poor concept, poor body or bad habit? Stay tuned.

www.golfthink for golf lessons and golf instruction in Bangkok and thoughout Thailand

Driving The Ball in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Sun, 24 May 2009 11:57:00 +0000

Driving is one of the most important aspects to anybody’s golf game in Thailand. A strong, straight drive that land on the fairway every time is a good way to lower your handicap – but it certainly isn’t easy. Even the professionally have difficulties with their drives now and then, and an entire industry has sprung up around this very thing. Throughout golf in Asia Millions of dollars are spent every year on lessons, equipment, and magazines promising the weekend duffer tips on improving their drive. Yet all of the fancy equipment in the world won’t do much if your swing is faulty. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure that your form and your swing are doing their part to help you drive the golf ball the best you can.

Like many sports, golf in Phuket and other Asia golf destinations such as golf in Bali and golf in SIngapore is a largely mental game. The drive is no exception to this. Most great golfers have a pre-swing routine that they go into even before they approach the tee. Although these routines vary from golfer to golfer, the important thing is that they help you get into the proper mental frame of mind to drive your best. Tiger Woods, one of the great golfers of our time, recommends focusing on a point in the distance along the fairway, and visualizing the ball flying to that spot. Find a routine that works for you.

The proper mindset is important, but you must also have proper form if you expect to execute a good drive. A mistake many beginners make is to think that the key to a good drive is power. They rush to the tee and swing with all their might, thinking nothing of balance, control, or form. Although occasionally these golfers might hit a mammoth drive, they will usually find themselves the laughingstock of the course. Instead, they should be following a few simple rules for a solid drive.
First, you must take your stance. Stand with your feet a comfortable distance apart – enough so that you can shift your weight comfortably to get some momentum in your swing, but not too much so that you’re off balance. The tee should be closer to your front foot than your back foot, and your feet should be parallel. Lean on your back foot slightly, so that fifty-five to sixty-five percent of your weight is resting on it. Make sure your knees are not locked out. Your strong hand should be lower on the club than your weak hand. Find a grip that is comfortable – many golfers like to lock the pinky of their strong hand through the index finger of their off-hand, and clasp the thumb of their off-hand with their strong hand at the same time as they are clasping the club. This provides support and balance for the swing. Line the center of the club face up with the ball.

Next, begin the swing. On the backswing keep your head straight and your gaze on the ball. Keep your front arm locked; your back arm will bend to almost a ninety-degree angle. Rotate your hips back as your club rises into the air. Once your hands have reached head high, rotate back toward the tee, bringing the club down in a graceful arc, until you’ve made contact. Make sure your head is straight and your gaze is on the ball the entire time. Once you’ve made contact, follow through with the same clean stroke – the club should swing above and over your front shoulder, and your weight should have shifted onto your front foot.

A few important tips to remember: Driving requires intense concentration. Visualize your club following a perfect arc on both the upswing and downswing. Your body should be relaxed and your grip should not be too tight. Finally, remember that driving takes practice, so don’t get frustrated when your first few shots go awry. It sometimes seems that there are so many mechanical things to consider that you’ll never hit the perfect drive. But the more you practice, the more automatic these things will become. Don’t get too upset with yourself if you struggle here and there. Again, even the best golfers in Thailand have bad drives.

More Thailand golf tips at www.golfthink.com

The Perfect Golf Swing a Myth?

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Here's this week's Thailand golf tip: Golfer's believe the perfect golf swing is a myth, but it is attainable all you need to do is practice the basics until the swing becomes second nature. Golfers, like everyone else, benefit from all four health-related categories of physical fitness.

These are cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, join flexibility, and body composition. Golfers end up playing with complete strangers at times. If the whole group does not know the golf rules, there could be dissention in the group when you play golf in Phuket or any other of Thailand's great golf destinations.

Golfers are also familiar with the term power. They know that power is directly related to clubhead speed. Golfers like Tiger Woods have been the subject of studies that show that their professional golf swing not only produces much longer drives but is consistent.

When Tiger Woods entered professional golf for the first time, he was at the tender of age of 20 and he played a major role in ushering in the modern exercise=program golfer.

Golfers that hook are victims of a blocked swing, as well. However, the manipulations they use to compensate are not well timed, causing them to over manipulate. Perform 15-25 repetitions of the exercise. Perform 10-15 repetitions back and forth. Repeat the exercise balancing on the right foot.

Strength exercises develop and improve this capacity within your body for the purpose of improving your golf swing. Strength, in terms of golf, is not about how much you can bench press or how much your biceps bulge! Golf strength and weight room strength, are very different. Power development in the golf swing is very important relative to clubhead speed. Assessing the power development levels of your body can be a key component of increasing clubhead speed in your swing. Power is the ability to create the greatest amount of force in a specified amount of time. Power is contingent upon the combination of strength and speed of motion.

Imagine that here and now as you read this, your unconscious mind has carved out a distinct way of you swinging your golf club and this way is well defined by repitition from the past.

Every time you step up to perform your golf swing, at any of the excellent Bangkok golf courses your unconscious mind carries on down that well trodden pathway that you have always gone down; your golf swing is the same. Imagine what the circle would look like if the metal point was moving. In the golf swing, the head represents this center point.

Training aides assist the body in developing the golf swing. Think of training aides as “training wheels” on a bicycle. Training the muscles of your body to properly perform specific movements takes time and practice. The effort spent improving your golf swing will pay off on the course.

For more golf tips in Thailand golf, check out www.golfthink.com or www.thailandgolfzone.com

Thailand Golf Putting Tips

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Every golfer playing golf in Asia needs to work on their putts. I don't care how long you've been playing golf in Thailand or golf in Asia, or what kind of golf pro you are. We all need to practice putting. Here are some Thailand golf putting tips from the pros that will help you get your putting up to par. Try some of these and see what works best!

- Always do a couple practice putts before you start your game of golf in Phuket. Don't try to make a hole; just get the ball in the general direction. Focus on your swing, not making the hole. By doing some practice putts, you can also get a feel for how fast the ball will run on the green.

- Practice easy putts in Thailand. Don't worry about making a long shot. Definitely practice a few long ones, but for the most part, stick to within 6-feet. Missing every practice putt will only hurt your confidence, and there's more to a good putt than just making the hole. There are some good driving ranges at the best golf courses in Thailand.

- It's amazing how much confidence has to do with putting. In Asia golf, more than any other sport, player confidence is key. And, it's a problem that amateurs and pros alike have to deal with. Keep this in mind when you're putting, and train yourself to stay confident, even when the ball doesn't go where you want it to.

- Don't look at the ball when you're making your target - look just ahead of the ball. Focus on a spot right in front, a spot that you want that ball to roll over. After you hit it, you'll know if you've made the shot or not by whether you see it cross that spot.

- Don't move! Check your position before the shot and make sure it's perfect. But, don't move out of your position until the ball is well on its way. If you get impatient and want to watch that ball fly toward the hole you're playing in Thailand, you may straighten up too fast and lose control over your putt.

- There are some ways you can keep yourself from naturally following that ball and ruining your putt. For example, look at the spot the ball was on, after it rolls off. To practice this, you can lay a coin under the ball, and keep your eyes on the coin after the ball has rolled completely off. Your Thailand golf professional will help you with this.

- When you're practicing, there are putting drills specific to playing golf in Asia you can do. For example, put in 5 balls from a distance of 1 foot; then move back a foot. Then another and another, and if you miss one shot, you have to start the whole thing over again from one foot.

- For some really deep, heavy-duty putting practice, close your eyes when you putt. With your eyes closed, you'll be more aware of the way the rest of your body moves. You'll feel your torso twist and your shoulders swing steadily, just like a pendulum with the club swinging from it.

- Practice like crazy. That's the best golf putting tip anybody can give you. The longer you're out there practicing, the more you'll develop a feel for it. Like everything else, practice makes perfect!

Enjoy your golf in Thailand!

Toms Thailand Golf Tips

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:21:00 +0000

If You Shoot Over 100 on Thailand golf courses

If you currently shoot over 100, you are probably new to the game. Golf in Thailand is
game that takes plenty of practice and understanding. At your level, you're
probably very excited to just get out to play. You always have a big grin on your
face because you've found a new hobby that gives you a little exercise and
gets you breathing some fresh air. Unfortunately, shooting over 100 will get
old very quickly, especially if you're a competitive person by nature. So your
smile will start to turn into a frown, and you may end up giving the game up. It
is quite easy to break 100 if you know what to do.

What to Do To Break 100

If you're new to the game, you have not ingrained any bad habits yet. So before
you do, take some lessons from a qualified pro. It's usually quite easy to
teach you the proper fundamentals of the golf swing because you're eager to
learn and never second guess the teacher. If the relationship between the
student and teacher is good, the speed at which you will see results is very
quick. Usually within a month or two, the "over 100" shooter can easily take 10
- 20 shots off of their game. Once you break 100 on a regular basis, you'll start
to see the game differently. Although shooting in the 70's is a few years into
the future, it may be attainable because taking lessons initially has given you a
great start on the game of golf in Thailand.

If You Shoot Over 90

If you currently shoot over 90, you're someone who has to play more often.
You're probably playing about 20 - 30 rounds a year and most of these rounds
are in corporate tournaments. Corporate tournaments are a definite game
wrecker. The usual scramble format leads you to just bashing the ball as
hard as you can trying to get that one drive that helps your team. Unfortunately,
this leads to a HUGE slice with the driver -- which doesn't help your team at all.
I know it's fun to try to hit the ball as hard as you can, but If wailing away at it
was the way to play good golf in Thailand, everyone would be a pro. You will also find the
short game very difficult. Although the short shots around the green look easy,
they quickly become a nightmare to you because of the amount of touch that's
required.

What to Do To Break 90

For starters, you have to get out to the course more often. You can still play in
corporate events but you have to do so with a new attitude. You have to quit
trying to be the hero and start actually helping your team. This can be done by
swinging easy and trying to get the ball in the fairway or the middle of the
green. If you swing easier and try to become more accurate, you will be
amazed at how many of your shots the team actually uses. You would greatly
benefit from weekly lessons. The golf lessons in Bangkok would not only give you a better
swing but they would get you out to the range and course on a regular basis.
Finally, you have to take at least one short game lesson to see how easy it can
be. This will create a better understanding of the short game which will then
make practicing it more enjoyable.

If You Shoot Over 80

You're the kind of person the major club manufacturers love. You think that
you can "buy your game," so every opportunity you get to try the latest and
greatest clubs you take it -- because you don't think that your swing is the
problem. So you buy that new driver and for a while you hit it great. A few
weeks later that great new club isn't so great anymore, and it's back to your old
game. This leaves you scratching your head because you thought you had it
and now it's gone. At some point in your golf career you probably have taken 1
- 3 lessons and you always try every golf tip you hear about. Because of these
constant changes in both your swing and your clubs you never really have the
opportunity to get used to anything, so you are left in a state of limbo -- always
thinking that the elusive 70's are just around the corner.

What to Do To Break 80

In order to break 80, you have to admit that it's not the clubs. It's about
developing a repeatable swing and a great short game. To create this
repeatable swing and great short game, you have to work with a qualified
teacher on a weekly basis. You're going to forget trying different tips and quick
fixes because you will destroy the changes the teacher is trying to make. This
whole process is not going to be easy because you basically have to re-learn
the swing (making changes to your swing may cause you to hit some very
poor shots at first because you're not used to it and you're in between swings).
If you stay determined, you'll start to hit some shots that will totally amaze you.
These amazing shots are telling you that your hard work is paying off and
pretty soon you will be playing in the 70's.

If You Shoot Over 72

You have a great swing. It'll still go astray from time to time, but you can
usually get it back rather quickly. You usually make a few mistakes in a round
that you just can't seem to let go of. This creates stress and pressure that
affects the rest of your game. Your short game may not be as good it could be.
You know this but actually finding time to practice it is sometimes a challenge.
Finally, you may be taking the game a little too seriously -- causing you to try to
hit every shot perfectly. This may lead to second guessing your swing which is
definitely trouble when you are on the course.

What to Do To Break Par

You have to find the time to do some serious work on the short game. If it's
difficult to make it out to the course, you can always chip and pitch balls in your
backyard and putt on an indoor carpet every night. This dedication to the short
game is what will allow you to still shoot good numbers when your swing is
not at it's best. It will also reduce pressure on your approach shots because if
you can get the ball up and down regularly, it's not that big of a deal if you miss
the odd green. When you do work on your full swing try to work on the weaker
clubs in your bag and hitting the ball from poor lies. Also, forget distance. At
your level you are probably long enough. Concentrate on never swinging over
80% of your ability. If you can resist the temptation to hit the ball too hard your
miss hits will not stray to far off line, eliminating the need for that miraculous
shot to get you back it the game. Finally, have fun out there. If you lighten up a
little you will reduce your stress levels allowing you to switch into automatic
mode instead of having to grind it out all of the time.

Paul Wilson (paulwilsongolf.com) is the director of instruction at the Nicklaus
Golf Club at Lionsgate in Overland Park, KS. Paul teaches people to copy the
perfect swing of the Iron Byron swing machine through private lessons,
corporate clinics and online instruction.

MORE DISTANCE WHEN PLAYING GOLF IN THAILAND

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:12:00 +0000

One thing in common to all golfers who play golf in Thailand is the need for more distance. You want it, you need it, and you don't know how to get it. Tiger Woods has it and plenty of it. Jack Nicklaus was one of the longest of his time and played a game that most were unfamiliar with, frequently disabling his opponents with monster drives and then taking golf vacations to Thailand. Perhaps there is a direct correlation between driving distance, earnings potential, and career accomplishments. Whether you are a Thailand weekend golfer or seasoned amateur in search of more power, please inspect your game for some of the following hot spots to maximize your energy and efforts.

Thailand golf equipment research and space technology have continued to develop and enhance the chance for all Phuket golfers to hit the ball further than ever. Throwing money at the game by purchasing the latest and greatest equipment is one direction most golfers travel at one point, usually in desperation. Taking a golf lesson from a Thailand PGA Professional would be less frustrating and would be a better investment of your money and certainly your time, especially if you are constantly surfing the web for prices. Everybody needs to play a golf ball, so the one affordable recommendation in Bangkok golf equipment I would pass along is to use the correct ball for your game. Try one of these new solid core balls that Tour players are praising.

If you feel you are still missing out on those precious extra yards or think that you deserve a few more bounces down the middle from that 20,000 baht titanium ball launcher, then annually review the following facts. Adding distance to your Thailand golf game requires observing a few basic fundamentals that improve your chances. Checking hand strength, club length, driver clubhead speed and shaft frequency allows us to get the cold hard facts and an understanding of potential mismatches. Any "weak spots" discovered will show up worse if you start without inspecting these fundamentals. Stay tuned for Thailand golf tips…

BEN HOGANS THAILAND GOLF SECRET

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:35:00 +0000

Many Thailand golfers wonder if Ben Hogan really did have a secret. It's not possible for most golfers playing golf in Koh Samui to gain Hogan's accuracy from just a single golf tip because Hogan's secret was in the process he used to control his golf swing to become one of the most accurate Thailand golfers of all time. This is also the very reason his secret has been an enigma for over 40 years.

Ben Hogan's secret was his extraordinary ability to focus. This was not a gift from heaven. No, Hogan spent long hours perfecting his focus technique, probably in preparation to play at Chiang Mai’s newest golf courses – Alpine Golf Resort Chiang Mai.

Hogan would take hours to hit just forty balls. He would hit a ball and spend a few minutes to rewind the shot in his mind and go over every aspect of it. Before he hit the next ball he knew everything he did right and wrong with that shot and was ready to hit the next one even better.

Hogan fine-tuned every swing until it was perfect. He didn't want any bad swings to creep into his system and create any bad habits while preparing to play golf in Phuket. His swing is not one to emulate unless you are built like him, but his methods will make any Thailand golfer strike the ball well.

If you read very carefully, you can see in Hogan's books just what he did. The problem is that you must understand the swing and his process before you can properly interpret what he wrote and take it with you on your next Thailand golf vacation. It was only after discovering and perfecting Hogan's system that I re-read his books for probably the tenth time, and realized that he did share his secret, but that he was looking at it from a stand point of someone who already understood.

Hogan's swing secret was not just the balance and setup...it's about how he achieved and controlled balance during his swing and how you can get similar results on your next golf holiday to Kanchanaburi.

The key phrase is how he controlled his swing movement. Anyone can make a great swing once in a while, but Hogan was known for doing it almost every time.

Hogan said that the game is played keeping the weight on the inside halves of the feet, but that is as far as he went. It's too bad because this statement is the key and the starting point for understanding Hogan's secret of control. His secret? The swing is controlled from the feet, ironic since the Thai’s consider the feet lowly, which you can read more about in this Thailand Golf Blog.

Most of the Thailand golf pros on tour use his methods, except they use them subconsciously. Hogan took the process to the conscious level so he could monitor and correct his swing in motion.

Today's pros have been convinced that they shouldn't think about anything during the swing, but it has been proven that the mind will not think about nothing. Like it or not, your mind works all of the time, as shown in your dreams. The trick with the golf swing is to focus in such a way so that those thoughts are completely visual, thereby never bothering the brain with any distracting conscious thoughts, and allowing you to play the best golf courses in Phuket at your peak.

Try these Thailand golf swing tips and keep a note of those that seem to help improve your game.

GOLF TECHNOLOGY FOR THAILAND GOLFERS

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:17:00 +0000

We are all looking for that little extra something that is going to make this wonderful game a little bit more forgiving. Here are a few suggestions that will help you play Thailands best golf courses:

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #1 . Shorter Driver Length and More Loft Today’s drivers that are sold off the rack are made in lofts from 8-11 degrees, and in lengths of 45” to 45 ½” However, only 10% of all golfers have the required swing mechanics and athletic ability to warrant playing such equipment. If you swing over the top or have an inconsistent tempo, and your wrist to floor measurement is less than 40” then a 45. driver is probably too long for you to play the Phuket golf courses successfully. If you’re swing speed is less than 95 mph and you are using a driver with a loft of 9-11 degrees, then you are probably not maximizing your distance off the tee. If you hit a 3 wood better and more consistent than a driver, you can definitely play golf courses in Hua Hin with lower scores.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #2 . Closed Wood Face Angle Wood face angle is the BEST equipment correction device for driver accuracy. Face angle is the direction the face points when the head is placed in playing position or soled.
It is a design factor that helps correct minor swing path faults or the inability of the golfer to square the clubface at impact. How many Thailand golfers do you think have that problem? Most golfers with driver problems either push or slice the ball off the tee. Yet, when you purchase “off the rack” drivers at Bangkok Golf shops you have very little opportunity to alter the face angle. They just don’t offer that as an option. Most drivers will only have a closed face angle of 1 degree. A face angle with a 2-4 degree closed face angle will cut down a slice from 5-15 yards – excellent for playing Phukets most difficult golf courses.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #3 Set Make-Up. Today’s 7 iron has the same loft as a 6 or 5 iron of 15 years ago. Ever wonder why it is so difficult to hit today.s 3 and 4 irons? With today’s stronger lofted long irons, many Phuket golfers are going to higher lofted woods or hybrids. Which one is best for you when on your Phuket golf holiday? That depends. If you are currently having success with higher lofted woods, then staying with woods makes perfect sense. However, if you are not consistent with the fairway woods, then the shorter lengths of the hybrid. clubs may make you more consistent on courses such as The Vintage Club in Bangkok. Each option has its pros and cons. The lower and deeper center of gravity of the wood heads will tend to hit the ball higher and are easier to hit. But the shorter lengths of the hybrids should be easier to hit on center and with more control. Either way it is probably time to get rid of your 3 and 4 irons and take a serious look at higher lofted fairway woods or hybrids and make your Phuket golf package more fun.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #4 . Use the Most Flexible Shaft You Can Control when playing golf in Thailand By using a more flexible shaft, you will probably hit the ball a little higher, the shot will feel a little bit more solid, and the face might close a little more at impact. These are all things that will allow you to score better at Bangkoks best courses such as Summit Windmill Golf Club. By using a stiffer shaft you will probably hit the ball a little lower and with less distance, and the impact will be slightly harsher while the clubface may remain slightly open. Therefore, consider dropping down a flex and you might just be rewarded with a tighter shot dispersion and lower scores at all of Thailands best golf courses.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #5 . Use Cavity Backed Irons during your Phuket golf vacaction. Cavity backed irons truly are more forgiving on off center hits. You have probably heard this before, but take a cavity-backed iron and muscle-backed iron to any Phuket golf course and take a 10 shots with each and plot the results (when the greens keeper is not around). Plotting these shots will show you which type of iron performs best for you. I’m sure you will see better results with the cavity-backed iron and score better at places like Red Mountain Golf Club and Loch Palm Golf Club in Phuket.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #6 . Go With a Wider Sole on the Sand Wedge when playing golf courses in Thailand. If you tend to leave the ball in the sand from digging too deep under the ball, look for a sand wedge with a much wider (thicker) sole than on your current sand wedge. Also, if you tend to have a very steep downward swing plane, look for a wide sole angle and more bounce to get out of the sand more consistently. Sole angle will allow the club head to create lift as it travels through the sand to get the ball out of bunkers at Thailand’s more difficult golf courses. Bounce allows the leading edge of the head to glide through the sand because the trailing edge is actually lower than the leading edge. Having a wider sole angel and more bounce together creates favorable conditions to get out of the sand consistently.

Thailand Golf Technology Factor #7 . Add weight to your Putter. More Thailand golfers are starting to notice a more consistent stroke with a heavier putter. But not just by adding weight to the head. I’m talking about counterbalancing your putter by adding weight to the grip end and sinking more putts at some of best golf courses in Chiang Mai. I will be talking more about this in future articles, but many of my customers are noticing huge performance gains by adding weight to the butt end of the putter.

Try these on your next Thailand golf vacation!

THAILAND GOLF PRE-SHOT ROUTINE

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:34:00 +0000

When playing golf in Thailand you might ask yourself, "Why do I need a pre-shot routine?" Or for that matter, "What is a pre shot routine?" A pre-shot routine is quite simply the habits or actions one takes in the few seconds before the golf swing is made.

So, why is a good routine necessary? It is important because it allows us to relax, and it enables us to develop something that is repeatable in a game where even the best players in the world struggle with constancy, accuracy, and repetition.

The next question to ask yourself is, "Do I have a pre-shot routine?" If the answer is "yes", is it a good one? If the answer is "no", your golf game in Thailand will benefit from developing one.

Let's take a look at some components of professional's pre-shot routines vs. amateur's routines to see how yours measures up.

The difference that I see between most amateurs and professionals lies in the quality of their pre-shot routines and their ability to repeat their routine time in and time out. Most Thailand golf amateurs will hastily walk up to the ball and then make two practice swings, then one time they will make no practice swings, and then waggle three times the next. These random actions breed inconsistency which is something you don’t need when playing a course such as Alpine Golf and Sports Club in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, professionals will go through the same repeatable course of action each time. This enables them to put their mind at rest. By knowing you have done your routine thousands of times, it allows the mind to focus on the actual shot at hand, thereby eliminating negative thoughts, which wreak havoc on most amateur golfers who love to golf in Thailand at places like Thai Country Club. A good pre-shot routine will also distract you from the pressure of each shot. You can concentrate on repeating your routine, rather than worry about the possible negative outcomes of the shot at hand.

A great example of this would be David Toms' performance during the 2001 PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Toms had a 12-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win his first major championship. Toms was able to focus on the task at hand by relying on his pre-shot routine. It enabled him to put his pounding heart and shaking hands aside and concentrate on his speed, line and stroke. When the ball was halfway to the hole, Toms knew he had sunk the putt and won his first major championship. I bet he wanted to take a golf holiday in Thailand and play great courses such as Chiang Mai Highlands and Blue Canyon Country Club

A good pre-shot routine is beneficial to players of all abilities. Not all pre-shot routines should be the same, but yours should be one that is repeatable and relaxing. Here are a few tips to work with to develop a good pre-shot routine while playing golf in Phuket.

Start behind the golf ball and envision your target. Once you have focused on a target, make a practice swing with your eyes remaining focused on your target. As you swing, envision the perfect result from your shot. Now step up to the ball and take your address. Once you are comfortable with your address, take a deep breath, releasing the tension in your body as you exhale. Finally, take one last look at target to improve focus and let it rip. This will definitely make your Thailand golf holiday much more enjoyable.

GETTING OUT OF FAIRWAY BUNKERS IN THAILAND

noreply@blogger.com (golfmarketing) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Let me cut right to the chase of this Thailand golf tip. To get out of a bunker in the fairway you should hit the ball not the sand first. If you hit the ball cleanly and pick it, it will fly far, if you hit the ball and pinch it against the sand, the golfball will come out and fly lower than normal.

Imagine staring at a wall of sand or railroads ties 8 feet high, and a pin 150 yards away! How in the @$%@$% are you going to get out of that one? Quite often players will have to reverse course and pitch the ball out either sideways or back towards the tee.

A guaranteed lost stroke on the hole, and quite often the majors are won or lost by a single stroke. Fortunately for golfers playing at any of the great golf courses in Thailand, pot bunkers are uncommon hazards, especially when it comes to fairways bunkers. Occasionally you will see pot bunkers around the greens, but only a few golf courses in Thailand feature pot bunkers in the fairways.

Fairway bunkers in Thailand tend not to be to deep and have a small lip if any. But what is the best way to advance the ball forward? It actually is quite easy. Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, and a few other pros have shared their secrets that can help you on your Thailand golf holiday! First off, a fairway bunker is completely different than a green side bunker. Green side bunker shots require you to open the clubface, open and place the ball forward in your stance. You will .bounce. the club and hit sand before the ball. This is not the case in fairway bunkers.

A fairway bunker requires you to hit the ball and not the sand. Here is an easy way to set up properly for a great fairway bunker shot. Select the normal club for the distance of the shot you are hitting. I would suggest staying away from fairway woods unless you are a very low handicapper. Place the ball in the middle of your stance. Plant your feet firmly in the sand. Thick sand will require you to choke down on the club slightly to compensate for your feet digging in the sand. Align your clubface, feet, and shoulders towards your target. You are now in the proper position to hit a fairway bunker shot. At this point take your normal swing path and attempt to hit the ball only. The key to the swing is hitting the ball first and not the sand. Try it on your next golf holiday to Pattaya, Hua Hin or any of the other superb golf destinations throughout Thailand.

THAILAND GOLF PUTTING TIPS

noreply@blogger.com (Thailand Golf Pro) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:28:00 +0000

This Thailand golf putting tip works only if you are using a conventional putter. ( 34-35 inches or so ).

The preshot putting routine is different ( or slightly different ) for every golfer. Why? Because each golfer has a slightly different and unique physiology. This difference means that each golfers shoulders, arms, hips, knees, hands, and neck all make up a different set of size and mass. No two wrists are exactly the same size. The process that will square one persons shoulders will open anothers, and close yet another persons shoulders.

Try this routine to see if it helps you putt better on the many great golf courses in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. You may find that some or all of the components of this routine may be incorporated into your routine to assist you in putting better. First Get into an Athletic Golf Setup to Putt the Ball into the Hole. How? You have heard this many times. Do not bend forward from the waist!

You get into an athletic golf position by bending forward from the hips. Grip the putter in your left hand to start while standing behind the ball. Pass the putter back and forth between the left and right hands two times finally stopping with the putter in your right hand. Then, take your left arm and push it straight out from your body and let it drop comfortably to your side. This has the effect of "tightening the rope" ie the muscles in the lead arm. Watch the pro's - most all of the good putters do this including Vijay and Tiger. Next, keep your left hand in front of your body and push the putter with the right hand into the left hand. Do not move the left hand to the right hand, move the right to the left. When you grip the putter handle grip first with the top of the palm pad nearest the pointer or index finger, then the rest of the fingers. This is an important setup key as there is a direct relationship between this grip position and the rocking of the shoulders up and down on the spine.

What you have done is activate the large golf muscles in your shoulders, neck, lats, arms, triceps, and biceps. This as we know is important because in golf we want to use the bigger muscles for consistency and repeatability. In addition, you have enabled the right side of your body (for right handed players ) to control the putt. This is important because it enables the shoulders to stay square and your head to stay back behind the ball resulting in the proper release of the putterhead down the target line. If you do not stay back on the ball you will most likely lunge a bit forward and push the putt to the right of your target.

Lastly, while staying in your current posture, walk to the golfball, address it and putt it to the hole. If you follow this preshot putting routine you will make more putts. That is the way to score. Practice this technique to build confidence in your putting stroke and enjoy your golf in Thailand!

Thailand Golf Instruction Technorati

noreply@blogger.com (Thailand Golf Pro) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:27:00 +0000

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Thailand Golf Swing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Thailand Golf Pro) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:19:00 +0000

The following Thailand golf swing tips will help you to build your skill level and your confidence to hit the golf ball more consistently. Here’s a tip for each of the great golf destinations throughout Thailand.

Chiang Rai Golf swing tip #1: Maintain a positive image of hitting the golf ball. Remember the last time you played this hole and made a good swing at the golf ball. Negative self-talk will adversely impact your game at the best Chiang Mai golf course which is Santiburi Country Club.

Chiang Mai Golf swing tip #2: Develop a good tough mental attitude. Confidence in your ability to put a bad shot behind you and move on, turn the page in the book in your head to hit a good golf shot and then go and book a Chiang Mai golf package with Golfasian.

Kanchanaburi Golf swing tip #3: Practice does make almost perfect. You do not need to go to the driving range to lower your scores when playing golf in Kanchanaburi. You can practice putting and chipping on your carpet in your house. Chipping and pitching to a close target in your backyard are proven to be effective ways to drop strokes from your short game. Practice your full swing in front of a mirror, or in the back yard during a Kanchanaburi golf vacation. Go through your preshot routine many times until it becomes second nature. When you practice your fullswing check to see if you finish the swing in balance, if not make some adjustments in your setup.

Khao Yai Golf swing tip #4: Learn how to play competitive golf in Khao Yai with a playing partner by having a match. This will help you become a tough competitor and ingrain the kill instinct that you need to win while playing the best golf course in Khao Yai – Kirimaya.

Bangkok Golf swing tip #5: Purchase golf swing aids or a golf training aid to help groove your swing. My favorite is the speed stik, and the medicus, both of which can be found at our favourite golf shop in Bangkok – OnlyGolfThailand.com

Pattaya Golf swing tip #6: Take a lesson with a golf pro on your next Pattaya Golf vacation. Ask to have your golf swing videotaped at one of the many driving ranges in Pattaya. This will help if you are a visual learner to see the weaknesses in your swing. If you do not care for the style of the golf pro in Pattaya then find another. There are many Pattaya golf pros and many styles of teaching - find the one that is right for you.

Hua Hin Golf swing tip #7: Reading a golf swing tip website such as www.golfthink.com will help learn new Thailand golf swing tips to practice. Look for new articles and tips that may work for you when playing the best Hua Hin golf courses such as Banyan Club and Black Mountain Golf Club. We are all different and find different tips work well for some and poorly for others.

Phuket Golf swing tip #8: Watch golf video(s) or a PGA tournament during your next phuket golf holiday . By watching a Phuket golf pro you will come to realize the importance of the preshot routine to consistent play. The Phuket golf pros do have many diiferent swing and setup keys, see if you can identify them and then try them out for yourself to see if it makes a difference. When playing golf in Phuket.

Koh Samui Golf swing tip #9: Work on a few golf swing tips each week until you have mastered them on your next Koh Samui golf vaction. Pay special attention to putting tips and practice your putting the most. This is where most matches are won and lost on Koh Samui’s wonderful Santiburi Samui golf course.

Thailand Golf swing tip #10: Focus on your swing Tempo when playing golf in Thailand - say 1,2,3,4 to yourself during your swing. 1 is the target, 2 is the golf ball, 3 is the backswing, and 4 is the downswing.

Come back each few days to get new golf swing tips designed especially for golfing in Thailand.

Welcome to Thailand Golf Pro Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Thailand Golf Pro) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:08:00 +0000

Welcome to the Thailand Golf Pro Tips Blog! If you enjoy playing golf, and in particular playing golf in Thailand, check back here often as we bring you all the latest golf tips to improve your game, with some extra special golf tips and lessons for playing golf in Thailand.

See you soon!