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R&A:  More than 5,000,000 new golfers in five years

Record numbers of people are turning to golf, all around the world.  

From the R&A, Press Release 14/12/21:

New research figures revealed by The R&A and Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) show golf has enjoyed a significant increase in popularity worldwide since 2016 with over five-and-a-half million additional golfers taking up the sport.

The number of total golfers globally has increased from 61 million to 66.6 million in a five-year growth period, surpassing the previous high mark of 61.6 million set in 2012. The measure includes club members and non-member independent golfers playing nine or 18 holes and users of driving ranges in markets where course availability is limited. 

The new figure reflects a positive trend in golf in which participation levels are now rising worldwide after a period of decline...

Health benefits

The research figures indicate the growth trend began before Covid-19 and then accelerated during the pandemic as the popularity of golf grew due to golfers being able to socially distance in a safe outdoor setting and stay active to boost their physical and mental health.

In Great Britain, the number of adults playing a nine or 18-hole course began to gradually increase before the onset of Covid-19, rising from 2.5 million in 2017 to 2.8 million in 2018, then to 3 million in 2019, before surging to 5.2 million in 2020.  Read more

Junior Golf Program aims to give all kids a chance

From Canada's Calgary Herald, by Jon McCarthy:

RBC Community Junior Golf Program aims to give all kids a chance hit the greens

On Monday, I was at Humber Valley for the launch of the RBC Community Junior Golf Program. The City of Toronto municipal course in Etobicoke was the perfect site for an initiative with big plans to introduce the game to kids who might not have previously thought about picking up a club.  

The program is a joint effort between RBC and Golf Canada that will focus on building greater diversity and equity with affordable access to the game in under-represented communities.

“The hard work really begins now, we will have 15 centres set up in 2022 and then another 20 in 2023, and within three years 15,000 kids touched by the program,” Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum told Postmedia. “The best part is no child will be turned away because of a lack of resources.”  Read more here

[NB: Video above is not connected to the Canadian Junior Golf Program.]

The September 2021 Australian Golf Demo Date Listings are now online, featuring upcoming Demo Days and Fitting Days to check out the top new golf gear at an Australian golf club near you!

NOTE: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, It is highly recommended that you contact the club or course prior to your visit to ensure the event is still going ahead, and to ensure there aren’t any further restrictions.

The post Golf Fitting and Demo Days – September 2021 first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.

When David Zahra and Elias Sarkis took over the 19th Golf Driving Range in Sydney’s west, they felt they had a blank canvas at their disposal and began to improve the whole complex – stroke by stroke.

It’s fair to say that the 19th Golf Driving Range is now widely regarded as western Sydney’s newest and most exciting golf facility. And still the team ‘driving’ the complex is not satisfied they have reached their full potential – even though they are well on their way.

“It was your typical boring driving range when we took it over,” said the head professional David Zahra. 

“We decided to add some realistic landscaping features to the range, such as greens and bunkers for players to aim at to improve the experience. 

“We also insisted on having a professional here at all times to offer tips to customers and offer clinics, as well as individual coaching for those looking to improve their games.”

Then came the state-of-the-art and cutting edge TopTracer ball tracking monitors. 

Using the same technology as the pro’s on TV you can see your shot trails and so much more at The 19th Golf Driving Range. 

‘My Practice’ allows you to fine tune your game with ball flight stats and groupings, while ‘Virtual Golf” lets you play some world renowned courses like Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black. 

There are even some fun games for the kids such as ‘Points Game’ and ‘Go Fish’ that will keep them entertained while you work on your swing. 

With the full range of US Kids Golf clubs at your disposal there is no excuse not to bring the young ones along as well.

“We are one of three driving ranges in New South Wales with the TopTracer system,” Zahra said. 

“We also pride ourselves on offering the best customer service of any range in Australia. 

“Most driving ranges will give you your bucket of balls and leave you to go off on your own and that’s then end of the transaction. 

“We believe in giving our customers a lasting experience, which is why we will always have a PGA professional on staff to give you tips to help your game and make sure you have what you need to hit your best shots.

“We want to get to know our customers so that we can help them not only improve their golf but get the most enjoyment possible out of the game of golf. 

“We have a strong focus on introducing people to the game and we believe that our driving range is a great place for new golfers to start.

“Finally, we also want our customers to hit quality golf balls, so we have the premium range balls from Mizuno and Volvik that make up the majority of our ball stock. 

“And we are always swapping out the old balls and replacing them with new ones. 

“Once the current work on the range is complete, we intend to overhaul our ball stock and have heaps of new fresh premium range balls for our customers to use.”

The exciting news, however, is that these owners won’t be resting on their laurels and have no intention of stopping there. Future plans include:

• a putt-putt course;

• a bar/grill;

• Pitch and Putt;

• Putting green; and

• A 2nd floor with more Toptracer range bays.

“Our first target was to complete the renovation of the range, to fix the areas that were damaged in the floods and re-turf those areas,” said Zahra. “Next, we plan on opening the second level of the facility with all new mats and our TopTracer system in each bay. 

“We also plan on building an 18-hole mini golf course that will be fenced off and will be great for the kids. “Our proposed mini golf site will be fun for any level of golfer having different tees for different abilities.

“It will also be big enough to cater for birthday party and functions. 

“After that we plan to open up a restaurant and outdoor area overlooking the mini-golf so parents can sit back and enjoy some food while the kids are out having fun,” events manager Elias Sarkis said.

“The restaurant will cater for functions and events as well as provide food and beverage for customers of the range, mini-golf and pitch-and-putt.” 

Elias has plenty of experience in the hospitality industry and has big plans for how he can cater for his customers – even hosting regular visits from popular food trucks at the 19th as well which have been a real hit with the locals. 

He goes on to explain: “The final stage will be the pitch-and-putt course that we plan to have lit up of a night, just like at Terrey Hills, so golfers can work on their short game and play after dark. 

“The overall aim will be for the 19th to become a complete golfing facility that caters for all ages and all levels of golfers who wish to enjoy the game to its fullest.” The 19th Golf Driving Range is located at 2-70 Blaikie Rd Jamisontown (across from Cables Wake Park) and attracts golfers from a massive region. 

The majority of customers do come from the Penrith region and many are members of golf clubs at Glenmore, Dunheved, Leonay, Penrith and Wallacia.

Yet the 19th has a following from all over Sydney, who come to experience the TopTracer system. 

Additionally, there are a number of customers from the Blue Mountains area that visit, as they are not far from the M4 and have become a pit-stop for many workers on their way home from working in Sydney. Staffed by David Zahra, Elias Sarkis and Bradley Ward, there is no shortage of experience there either. Zahra has been a PGA professional since 2010 and is a former assistant pro and head coach at Cumberland Golf Club. 

Many will recognise him when he appeared on TV when he won the World’s Best Putter – Australia competition in 2008. He is a devoted golf coach who loves seeing nothing more than his clients achieving their goals on the course.

Bradley Ward is the Junior Academy manager with more than 40 youngsters currently in his program and growing each term. He completed a PGA traineeship at Dunheved Golf Club and then worked a year at Jack Newton Junior Golf, doing everything from school golf clinics to junior tournaments. With a business degree from WSU, he has a strong passion for growing the game of golf.

So, what do most people want to do when they get to the 19th? 

“Our customer base is pretty evenly divided between those regular golfers from the surrounding clubs, who come to practice and use the TopTracer to fine tune their game,” says Ward.

“There are also the new golfers who come to play the various game modes offered through the TopTracer system and have a fun and exciting golfing experience. 

“There will always be those players who love using the long drive mode to see how far they can hit their drivers and try to hit it over the back net of the range. “Then there are also those who love our 40m and 60m green areas where they can work on their short game and chip shots.”

The team at the 19th are there because they have worked out that a driving range is a great way to introduce someone to the game of golf, especially if they are too nervous to head out on the course for the first time with little or no experience. 

Their qualified PGA members are always there to give some tips and advice to help improve their game, which is not something you would see at most driving ranges or golf clubs these days.

The 19th offers a range of hire clubs for all its customers who are new to the game as well as the full range of US Kids golf clubs designed specifically for the younger ones to use free of charge. 

The pro shop stocks a number of major brands such as Mizuno, US Kids Golf and Under Armour as well as smaller upcoming brands like Dark Matter Golf.

They also offer a full fitting service from Mizuno Golf with a fitting cart to ensure you can get fitted for the right clubs.

David Zahra offers individual coaching seven days a week at the range which includes video analysis and Flightscope launch monitor systems. 

He also hosts both men’s and ladies’ clinics every eight weeks, targeted at introducing new players to the game of golf. 

He has an expanding roster of clients who have had great results under Zahra’s tutelage, lowering their handicaps, winning club competitions and shooting record scores. 

He currently coaches local young gun Joshua Gadd and has a strong focus on the body’s role in the golf swing as a TPI certified golf coach.

The 19th also boasts an on-site gym where their personal trainer Brayden screens clients for physical limitations that could impact their game. 

Ward’s Junior Academy runs four days a week with multiple smaller classes to maximise coaching time with programs running throughout the term. They also run school holiday programs where they take youngsters out for some extra experience on nearby courses like Penrith Golf Club. 

Currently, the 19th operates from 10am-8pm seven days a week and is fully lit-up at night. They currently have 16 bays on the ground floor open for use. And bookings are recommended.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
19th Hole Driving Range
2-70 Blaikie Road, Jamisontown 2750 NSW
Telephone: (02) 8381 6819
www.the19thgolf.com.au

The post Driving Range of the Month: The 19th Golf Driving Range first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.

Hitting the ball a long way with driver is a fun and challenging aspect of the game. People are always looking for length off the tee for a variety of reason such as making the hole shorter with a good tee shot, the excitement of hitting the ball a long way, or just simply outdriving your playing partner.

Many people are searching for the answer to help hit the ball further. Some are going to the gym more to get stronger, some are stretching more, others are buying new equipment, and then there are the ones that are getting lessons.

To hit the ball further with the driver, I believe there are a couple of simple fundamental points that will help improve distance. It all comes down to having a good body angle when hitting the driver. Being strong, flexible, and what seems fast with your swing, may seem like it will help you gain distance, but if the position of your body at impact and the sequence of movement is not correct, you will simple leak distance.

Using Trackman or a video camera to see data and swing movements can be very beneficial. These can all be useful and at the same time inefficient if the player is not looking at the right things. Getting a lesson to understand your movement patterns and what data to look at when using a Trackman, can be very beneficial for improving your distance.

The first thing I notice when players are losing distance is their head positon during the swing. A quick point about gaining distance, the head position should not be left of the ball at impact and nor should it be moving left on the backswing and then right on the downswing. This would mean that your sequence of movements in not efficient for creating speed.

Grip pressure is another problem for those losing distance. The pressure in your hands needs to be relaxed to allow the club to swing freely during your movement. It is very hard to have tight hands on the club yet swing the body freely.

Weight shift during the swing is key for distance. If you watch some of the long drive competitors, you will notice they are over emphasising their weight shift movements before they hit the ball. It is very hard to create speed if your weight shift is incorrect.

Which now leads me to one of my favourite “tiles” on Trackman. The tile that helps players with their understanding of movement, in my opinion, is “low point”.  This number tells us the lowest point is the swing arc before it comes up. When hitting an iron, this point will be after the ball where in most cases with driver, it is said to be before the ball.

For example, it would be difficult to have a low point that is in front of the ball when trying to have a suitable launch angle with low spin.

Usually those who have a low point that is in front of the ball with driver will be comfortable hitting the ball left to right or low. When trying to hit a high draw, it will be more common to see the low point behind the ball.

The low point will tell give your coach and yourself a picture to what might be happening in your swing.

A good low point will help create a better launch to the shot, which will ultimately help you increase your distance.

Work on this to help increase your driver distance.

The post Find your Low Point for longer drives first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.

Learn the game (or improve your current swing) with golf lessons from a team of leading PGA Professional coaches and leading Gold Coast club fitters. The expert team at The Golf School is ready to help you on your journey into the golfing world.

Located at Palm Meadows Driving Range on the Gold Coast, The Golf School offers quality service, professional golf tips, master fitting and expert tuition. They offer the latest in technology and on range data which enables you to see real ball flight using a Trackman device and fitting technology.

Their personal golf lessons are a great option for beginners while intermediate or elite players can benefit from their expertise, repair and fitting centre. The golf shop is stocked with all the golf equipment you need including golf a full range of Demo gear in all leading brands from drivers, Fairways, Hybrids, irons and shafts to golf balls, gloves and bags. They can demo and fit you into any brand through our fitting centre 7 days.

Do you want to learn to play Golf?  The Golf School offers a wide range of golf tuition including: 1-day to 5-day executive golf tuition/golf lessons/play packages; Weekly tuition and golf coaching on the range at Palm Meadows; Individual golf lessons with video and/or launch monitor; Dedicated clinics for ladies, men and Juniors; School term Junior Program and School holiday Junior programs.

If you are interested in learning more or booking a golf lesson or club or shaft fitting with one of their golf coaches please call 0755945494 or visit www.thegolfschool.com.au.

R&A, USGA Propose Amateur Status Rules Changes 

"Many of the players need financial support to compete and develop to their full potential, and the proposed new rules will give much greater scope for this." 

- Grant Moir, director of rules at The R&A

From Golf Digest:

The USGA and R&A announced Monday proposals to the rules of amateur status in golf, one of which would allow endorsements to amateur players.

From the R&A, February 2021:  The Rules Skool

The R&A is launching a new video series which has been created for junior golfers to learn about the Rules of Golf and improve their enjoyment of the sport by understanding how to apply them on the course. 

The Rules Skool Open features ten episodes and each instalment follows the progress of featured player George Harper Jnr as he gets to grips with the Rules of Golf when faced with a number of different situations during the championship. 

Claire Hargan of The R&A’s Rules team joins the commentary to explain how the Rules are applied in each situation while her colleague Conor Finlay becomes ‘Conor on Course’ to provide practical demonstrations for young golfers to build their knowledge and understanding of the Rules.

Grant Moir, Director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We have created an entertaining and light-hearted video series that introduces the Rules of Golf to a younger audience in a new and fun way which will help junior golfers learn the key Rules and how they are applied on the golf course.   More information at R&A Junior Rules Skool Series.

From the R&A, February 2021:  The Rules Skool

The R&A is launching a new video series which has been created for junior golfers to learn about the Rules of Golf and improve their enjoyment of the sport by understanding how to apply them on the course. 

The Rules Skool Open features ten episodes and each instalment follows the progress of featured player George Harper Jnr as he gets to grips with the Rules of Golf when faced with a number of different situations during the championship. 

Claire Hargan of The R&A’s Rules team joins the commentary to explain how the Rules are applied in each situation while her colleague Conor Finlay becomes ‘Conor on Course’ to provide practical demonstrations for young golfers to build their knowledge and understanding of the Rules.

Grant Moir, Director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We have created an entertaining and light-hearted video series that introduces the Rules of Golf to a younger audience in a new and fun way which will help junior golfers learn the key Rules and how they are applied on the golf course.   More information at R&A Junior Rules Skool Series.

Struggling with your takeaway and concerned it's causing a lot of your poor shots? This is the one exercise you need to try NOW to upgrade your golf game: Watch this video and see how to improve today!